North Lake Travis Log » Events

Haircut fundraiser benefits singers

Special to the Log — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:48:27 +0000

Who would have imagined that a nifty haircut could benefit your favorite local singing group?
That is exactly what will be happening 1-4 p.m. Sept. 18 at Luisa’s Salon and Spa. Luisa’s has sponsored the event for three years, giving all proceeds to the Hill Country Singers to help defray concert expenses. The stylists agree to donate their talents. Haircuts cost $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 11 and younger. All proceeds benefit the Hill Country Singers organization.
Customers should arrive with hair already shampooed, and there will be no blow-drys, just haircuts.
“A concert costs between $6,000 and $8,000 to put on, and therefore, we are very dependent on community support and ticket sales,” said HCS Board President Ginger Halsted.
HCS Director William Parcher will be on-hand at the event to greet customers.
The haircut benefit will follow with a fundraiser in the spring including an Italian dinner. People will recognize the concept from big city restaurants like the historic Asti’s in New York and Caruso’s in Houston, where the waiters are singers, usually operatic.
The Hill Country Singers are in the early stages of rehearsals for the Fall Concert Nov. 19-21. New singers can join until mid September by stopping by rehearsals 6:45 p.m. Mondays at Lakeside Christian Fellowship Church on American Drive and Highland Lakes Drive. Auditions are not required, except for solo work.
The Fall Concert theme is “An Olde English Christmas,” and Parcher is composing an arrangement based on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and the musical “Scrooge” for a portion of the program. Best-loved carols are also included in the concert, always with some audience participation.
For more information about the hair cutting event, rehearsals or concert performances, call 267-1628, or visit hillcountrysingers.com. Luisa’s Salon and Spa is located at 1918 American Drive near Highland Lakes Drive. Call the salon at 267-8881.

—Kaye Greer, Special to the LOG

Lake Travis clean-up Sunday

Special to the Log — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:33:33 +0000

More than 1,000 dive and shoreline volunteers are expected to remove and recycle five tons of trash and debris from the waters and shoreline of Lake Travis during the 16th Annual Lake Travis Underwater and Shoreline Cleanup 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
The cleanup is the largest scuba diving and shoreline cleanup in Texas and helps to raise public awareness of the importance of Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes, as well as helping to keep the lake healthy and clean. The event’s participants include several hundred certified scuba divers and shoreline volunteers who help collect trash from the bottom of Lake Travis and the nine Travis County parks surrounding the lake. The cleanup is followed by a volunteer thank-you party at Carlos ‘N Charlie’s on Lake Travis.
For 16 years, the community has come together to help protect and preserve one of Central Texas’ vital resources. The cleanup began in 1994 as an informal gathering of local dive shops and has grown dramatically each year. The event is now managed by a partnership among the Colorado River Foundation, Keep Austin Beautiful, Travis County Parks and the Lower Colorado River Authority.
Community support and involvement has been the key to the continued success of the Cleanup.
Last year’s cleanup was the most successful regarding the amount of trash and recyclable materials that were collected—volunteers gathered more than 35 tons of debris from the water and shoreline of Lake Travis. The large amount collected was due to last summer’s drought, one of the drought’s few benefits.
Volunteers are needed for both the underwater and shoreline cleanup and pre-registration is required. To register as a diver for the underwater cleanup or for the shoreline cleanup, contact Keep Austin Beautiful at 391-0622 or visit www.keepaustinbeautiful.org.

Cedar Park Splash Jam event this weekend

Special to the Log — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:31:19 +0000

Residents will have a chance to send the summer of 2010 out with a bang at Splash Jam this weekend.
The festivities—all of which will be held at Elizabeth Milburn Park, located at 1901 Sun Chase Blvd.—will start with a washers tournament at 4 p.m. Concessions open at 5 p.m. along with family activities. Attendees will be able to enjoy face painting, laser tag, temporary tattoos, temporary hair painting, live music, video games and more. Time Warner will sponsor a science and technology station as a part of its Connect a Million Minds initiative.
The science and technology station will have an experiential station where kids can learn about the science behind cable television.
At 8:30 p.m., the fireworks display, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, will wow guests before the Movie in the Park caps off the event. The Cedar Park Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Community Newspapers Northwest and Time Warner Cable will present “Planet 51,” an animated film about American astronaut Captain Charles “Chuck” Baker. Baker lands on Planet 51, and to his surprise he realizes little green people already inhabit the planet. These Planet 51 inhabitants have the same fear as Baker: being invaded by aliens. The movie is rated PG.
In conjunction with Splash Jam, Austin Sports Center will sponsor a beach volleyball tournament Saturday and Sunday, with men’s and women’s doubles taking place Saturday, and co-ed teams of four competing Sunday.
For more information on the beach volleyball tournament, call 260-0333 or e-mail ryan@austinsportscenter.com. For more information on Splash Jam, visit the city of Cedar Park’s Web site, www.cedarparktx.us.
—Press release

Garden club invites residents to join during its 36th year

Special to the Log — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:30:56 +0000

“Miracles of thy Creation
Most beautiful gifts that surround us
Cathedrals of hills
Cardinal’s morning song thanking God to be alive
Hummingbirds and swallows that come to us
Food, medicines and perfume from plants
Wildflowers …”
—“The Beauty of the Earth” by Past President Kay Bjelland (1986-1987)

The Lago Vista Garden Club will usher in its 36th year 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at K-Oaks Clubhouse. The program topic will be “Landscaping with Yard Art” presented by Marlene Gillman.
Whether you are a successful Texas Hill Country gardener or you secretly curse our area’s grazing deer and unforgiving limestone, you’ll find kindred spirits supportive of your beautification gardening project.
This year you’ll learn from experts at the monthly educational programs on topics like Native Plant Week and Wildlife Habitat; Growing in Containers; Starting Seeds; Reuse, Recycle and Conservation; Designing with Vegetables; and by touring Point Venture and Lago Vista Gardens. Local civic projects like the Butterfly Garden, Game Day and Blue Santa Silver Tea offer you more possibilities to engage.
Members include men and women of all ages ranging from their 30s to their 90s with various backgrounds and experiences. The common thread between us is a love of gardening. Come join us 12:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at K-Oaks Clubhouse. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided.
Started in 1974, the mission of the LVGC is to advance gardening, encourage civic beautification and promote interest in the conservation and embellishment of nature.
—LVGC release

Local Rotary Club’s annual Newcomers’ Nite Saturday

Mike Parker — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:51:05 +0000

K-Oaks Clubhouse will host a night of games, food and entertainment during the North Shore Neighbors’ and Newcomers’ Nite 6-9 p.m. Saturday.
The North Shore Lake Travis Rotary Club has organized the event for a second year in a row, giving the local community a chance to meet fellow neighbors in a family-friendly environment. The club has invited local businesses, civic organizations, clubs and places of worship to join in the fun.
Games 2 U is providing a video arcade, Kona will serve sno-cones and prizes will be given away.
For more on the event and the Rotary club, visit www.nsltrotary.org.

‘Hill Country student’ to speak at Wildflower Society meeting

Special to the Log — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:49:12 +0000

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society will welcome Chuck Sexton as its guest speaker Sept. 2.
Sexton has spent more than 30 years as a student of the Texas Hill Country and is well known among outdoor people of the area for his expertise on plants and wildlife, particularly birds. He will be discussing historical and environmental aspects of the Hill Country. Best of all, he loves sharing his knowledge, often revealing an entirely new facet of nature.
Since 1994, Chuck has been the wildlife biologist at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.
Meet Chuck and bring questions for him at the meeting, 10 a.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Marble Falls Library, 100 Main St. Coffee and refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m.

WWII heroine to speak at Women’s Club luncheon

Special to the Log — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:48:30 +0000

The Lago Vista Women’s Club will hold its first meeting of the 2010-11 season Sept. 14 at K-Oaks Clubhouse with a program featuring World War II veteran Millie Inks Dalrymple.
Dalrymple will regale the club with her stories about adventures as one of the first female pilots to serve in the military during WWII. She and a thousand other WASPs went unrecognized for more than 60 years.
However, on March 10, Dalrymple and others received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that can be awarded to a civilian for service, courage and dedication. She is the daughter of Llano icon Roy Inks, the namesake of Inks Lake, Inks Dam and the Roy Inks Bridge.
Leaders of the various subgroups, like bridge, Out and About, Let’s Kick the Bucket, Literature Group and Click, Focus and Snap, will be available for members to sign up.
Membership in the LVWC is only $25 per year. Luncheons cost $13. The meetings let members socialize and raise money for local scholarships and charities. For more information or to join the club, call Lil Burch at 267-2278.
Dagar’s will cater the Sept. 14 luncheon, and club members will be able to participate in a raffle. Social hour begins at 11 a.m.
—Katie Evans, LVWC

Plenty of activities in store for Women’s Club

Special to the Log — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:17:22 +0000

It’s hard to believe September is right around the corner, but it is. The Lago Vista Women’s Club will kick off its new season on Sept. 14.
Lunch by Dagar’s Catering will be followed by an interesting and informative program. Millie Inks Dalrymple, 90, will share her adventures as a pilot in World War II.
The Oct. 12 program will feature a magical, musical journey by Joseph Burg David and Karen Rego. A fashion show by Kay’s Kloset of Georgetown will be the Nov. 9 program.
On Dec. 14, our own Judy Loehr will sing Christmas songs. Leonard McCormick will accompany her.
At the Jan. 11 program, Tera Hampton, a recent contestant on HGTV’s “Design Star,” will teach us how to use the furniture and accessories we have in new and better ways. On Feb. 8, Leslie Hyland Rodgers will perform a variety of show tunes and classical numbers.
We’ll celebrate the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s 100th birthday with a special presentation by an ASO board member on March 8.
A fashion show on April 12 will feature spring and summer designs. We will wind up the year on May 10 with our annual local scholarship and charity awards.
Circle Jan. 29 on your calendar. That’s the date of the annual Women’s Club Gala. A delicious dinner and entertainment by the Studebakers will be part of a sparkling evening. A silent auction will provide a chance to bid on a wide variety of items. From golf equipment to jewelry, from spa packages to vacation homes and lots, lots more, there is something for everyone.
For information on joining the Lago Vista Women’s Club, call Lil Burch at 267-2278.

—Katie Evans, LVWC

Business of the month: Travis County Constable’s Office

Mike Parker — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:15:37 +0000

The Travis County Constable’s Office received the Lago Vista and Jonestown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month award for August. Chamber President Chuck Wills thanked the Constable’s Office for its service during the AquaPalooza event in July. Pictured are (L-R) Linda Bertram, Sgt. Dwight Bertram, Precint 2 Constable Adan Ballesteros and Chief Deputy George Morales.

Local resident rallies for North Shore 4-H program

Special to the Log — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:07:23 +0000

Lago Vista resident and Austin firefighter Ed Tidwell had a vision in 2008 to create a 4-H program for the North Shore area that would encourage children to develop life skills and get involved in the community. On Sunday, that vision could be realized.
“I have been waiting two to three years to do this, and personally I was just too busy at the time,” he said. “4-H is about a personal project, but a lot of it is geared toward the community, and working to benefit the community.”
After researching the program online, and contacting the county agent, Tidwell put his desire into action by offering his 15 acres of land to make it possible for the program to exist.
“Typically when people think of 4-H, they think of animal husbandry and all animal-orientated, but the program has so many different projects and opportunities,” Tidwell said. “That is the most recognized project, but there are over 400 projects that 4-H has a curriculum for.”
After registering, a child picks a project from under a number of different areas anywhere from gardening and sewing to several sciences, as well as political science and archery.
“The project has different phases in which the kids learn so many different things,” Tidwell said. “They start with an organizing, planning phase, and then go into many different aspects of it, where they keep ledgers of finances, daily journals of their progress. And at the end, they exhibit their project to the community or the group when it reaches completion.”
Members must re-register every year in August according to 4-H rules, but new people interested can register at any time. Though the program has not officially started, Tidwell has at least 17 families interested, and estimates about 25 kids will participate in the start of the program.
“The motto is learning by doing, and I don’t think there is any program that offers that opportunity like 4-H does,” Tidwell said. “I know there is Girl/Boy Scouts, but I don’t think it is as nearly as extensive or requires quite the commitment level of kids and involves and benefits the whole family.”
The program will use community facilities for monthly meetings until the 4-H program fully utilizes Tidwell’s property. The program is a non-profit, and relies mostly on participation and donations to function. For anyone interested in becoming a part of the program, contact Tidwell at 804-832-3759 or visit Travis4h.com.
“If someone wants to do rockets for a project, I don’t necessarily know how to build a rocket, but I will work with them; it’s learning experience for all of us,” Tidwell said. “I hope there is enough knowledge within the community that people can step up and contribute, lead and sponsor these kids and their projects.”

—Kelsey Wesolick, Staff Intern