Published by the Hill
Country Sun
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July 2016
LOCAL INFORMATION & ADVERTISING
Exciting new developments at Springs YMCA
T
By Laurel Robertson
he Springs YMCA is tearing down walls, and building new ones, to become the ultimate fitness and community center serving the Dripping Springs area. Renovation plans are already underway and will continue through late winter/early spring to bring upgrades, additions and changes to the present facility on Ranch Road 12, just south of Highway 290. Two new outdoor swimming pools, a bathhouse and a new Welcome Center will be added to the three existing buildings to expand program offerings and community space at the facility. Phase I, which focused primarily on construction of new parking areas and the installation of new utility lines, was completed in June. Phase II is currently underway with the construction of a new building that will connect the three
existing buildings and serve as a main entrance/Welcome Center and extended workout space. Its back-to-back glass walls will give a view from the new parking area onto the two new outdoor swimming pools A 25-meter competition lap pool will be heated and open all year long, with eight lanes dedicated to lap swimming. Next to it, a family pool will be open seasonally to offer interactive fun for all ages, with a large percentage of “zero entrance” (wade-in) access and splashpadlike features. The existing indoor pool will still be available throughout the year for water fitness classes and lap swimming. A new bathhouse opening onto the two new pools will house shower facilities and lockers. The existing building housing the See SPRINGS YMCA, page 2
Two new outdoor swimming pools - a year round 25-meter competition lap pool and a seasonal family pool — are in the works at the Springs YMCA. Photo courtesy YMCA.
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gym and upstairs yoga studio will be redone, with added cycling class space and a new stairway. A shaft for a future elevator is included in the plans. An expanded Child Watch Space will be created, where parents can leave their children for supervised play for up to two hours while they use the Y facilities. New improvements are expected to be completed this late winter/early spring. “We had originally planned for Christmas — but all the spring rains created weath-
er setbacks during the first phase,” says YMCA Executive Director Jason Daniels. Operations at the Y during the construction will be a challenge, he concedes, “but we have a great staff out in full force with good communication - so we’re handling it with ease.” The fulltime staff of eight, with parttime employees ranging from 80--120 seasonally, function well as a team, he says. The new renovations will give the loSee SPRINGS YMCA, page 3
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Visualizations of the exciting changes underway at the Springs YMCA. Photo courtesy YMCA. cal Y the opportunity to serve more people and offer more community programs, says Jason. One program he’s especially exicited about is Project Safe, a joint effort between the Springs YMCA and DSISD, which which will train every first grader in the school district to be “water safe.” With the new improvements, the Springs YMCA is preparing for a growth commensurate with growth in the area. Jason expects membership at the Springs YMCA to rise from about 2000 “membership units” (approximately 5,000 members) to around 2500 membership units in the next three to five years The Springs YMCA is part of the YMCA of Austin - which extends from
McNeil Lane to Buda, Bastrop to Dripping Springs. Improvements and programs are funded with operational reserves and bank notes among the nine member YMCAs in the district. Renovations at the Dripping Springs facility follow on the heels of improvements at the NW Austin YMCA and the Hays Community facilities. Members of the Springs YMCA enjoy reciprocity in any YMCA in Texas, and all YMCAs in the USA that participate in the Away Program, says Jason. FYI • The Springs YMCA is located at 27216 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs. Membership are available, with assistance for low-income individuals and families available. For more information, visit the web site at www. austinymca.org, or call 512-894-3309.
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Rodney Crowell to headline Songwriters Fest in October DRIPPING SPRINGS H Organizers are proud to announce two-time Grammy winner and Nashville Hall of Fame songwriter, Rodney Crowell, will headline the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival October 14-16, which boasts an impressive roster of local, national and international song writing talent. Rodney has had five number one hits on the country charts and has written a wealth of songs that have been covered and performed by an eminent group of artists. He will perform at the Saturday evening Headliner Showcase at Mercer Street Dance Hall. Singer-songwriter Drew Womack will open the show. Tickets for this much-anticipated showcase are Rodney Crowell. $40 for reserved seating and $25 general admission, available Photo courtesy Rodney Crowell. now. The third annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival will present more than 25 song-packed shows a day featuring a wide variety of finelycrafted songs and the people and stories behind them. More than 35 talented songwriters from as far away as Australia will play “in-the-round,” Nashville-style, on six intimate stages located at The Barber Shop, Mercer Street Dance Hall, The Mercantile Wine & Tapas, Mazama Coffee Co., The Sidecar Tasting Room and Hudson’s on Mercer. FYI • To purchase tickets for the Rodney Crowell showcase and for more information about the 3rd Annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, visit the web site at www.drippingspringssongwritersfestival.com.
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Locals get creative at Thirsty Thursday
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By Laurel Robertson
ancy Fierstein was “thirsty” to have a poets’ gathering closer to home in Dripping Springs. For years, she’d commuted several times monthly into Austin to take part in writing circles, poetry slams and other creative groups that fed her creative spirit. She wanted the same experience closer to home. So in 2007, she started Thirsty Thursday in Dripping Springs — a place where poets, songwriters, and wordcrafters of all persuasions could come together to appreciate and encourage each others’ works. For the first two years, the group met at New Life Lutheran in Frog Pond Center. When the church moved to their “outdoor ministry” on 12 acres off Ranch Road 12, Thirsty Thursday was adopted by the City of Dripping Springs and began meeting in the Ranch House at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. “For a year-round program that meets in the dark during the winter months, we welcomed the indoor facility,” explains Nancy. Beginning this July, the poets’ and writers’ group is moving their regular
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Thirsty Thursday host Nancy Fierstein. Photo courtesy Thirsty Thursday.
Thom the World Poet. Photo courtesy Thirsty Thursday. monthly meeting to City Hall. Each monthly meeting of Thirsty Thursday begins with informal greetings among the group that includes Dripping Springs writers and poets, along with imports from Wimberley, Austin and some as far away as Round Rock. Then a featured speaker — a poet, writer or musician — presents their work to the group. June’s featured speaker was poet Shubh Schiesser, whose poems describe life in her arranged marriage in India and the bold steps she took to find an escape. July’s meeting will feature Texas’ 2010 Poet Laureate Dave Parsons, reading from his own works. Past speakers have included local award-winning musician Alex Dormont and Dripping Springs’ official poet laureate Doyle Fellers. Following the featured speaker, the group shares in a round-robin. Participants read from their own works, and respond to a suggested start phrase chosen by the winner of the doorprize drawing the previous month. June’s suggested phrase was “You kiss your ________ with that mouth?” -
See THIRSTY THURSDAYS, page 5
JUNE 2016 THIRSTY THURSDAYS, from page 4
Songwriter Ron Kewin. Photo courtesy Thirsty Thursday.
eliciting a wide range of humorous and insightful repsonses. Members of Thirsty Thursday are frequent participants in other poetry gatherings in Central Texas and beyond. Regular attendee Nathan Brown (former poet laureate of Oklahoma) was on the Board of the Austin Poetry Society; Thom the World Poet is a co-founder of the Austin International Poetry Festival held each April. FYI • Thirsty Thursday meets the third Thursday of each month beginning at 7 pm. In July, the group will move to Dripping Springs City Hall, 511 West Mercer Street. For more information, see their listing on New Life Lutheran’s website: at wearenewlife.org, or find them on Facebook.
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EVERY MONDAY • Rotary Club Meets. 11:45 am at Flores Restaurant, 2440 East Highway 290. 11:45 am. www.drippingspringsrotary.org. • Boy Scout Troop 280 meets at St. Martin de Porres Church Hall. 512-904-0444, drippingsprings280.mytroop.us. • Karaoke Night at Hudson’s on Mercer. 7:30 pm. www.hudsonsonmercer.com. FIRST and THIRD MONDAYS • Dripping Springs Lions Club meets. 6:30 pm at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. Sharon at 512-923-8360. SECOND MONDAYS • Group of Dripping Springs (GODS) Moms meets. Dripping Springs Methodist Church 9 am to 11:15 am. 512-894-0581. FOURTH MONDAYS • Artists of Dripping Springs. Gatherings at area studios. 512-894-0394. • Gen. Ben McCulloch 2435, UDC meets at the Veterans Hall, 27500 Ranch Road 12 at 7 pm. Sharon Hudson at 512-858-7177. EVERY TUESDAY • Dripping Springs Toastmasters. 6:30 pm at Pioneer Bank, 100 Creek Road. Visitors welcome. www.dstoastmasters.com. • Dripping Springs Property Tour. 512-5797711, dshometour@gmail.com. • Hill Country Community Band Rehearses at Chapel in the Hills, Wimberley. 7 pm to 8:30 pm. 512-517-3111.
• Open Mic Night at Hudson’s on Mercer. www.hudsonsonmercer.com. SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH TUESDAYS • Dripping Springs Boy Scout Troop 101 meets. Dripping Springs United Methodist Church. 7 pm. Tom Chenault, 512-707-7488. SECOND TUESDAYS • Friends of the Dripping Springs Community Library. 11 am. 512-771-3217 or friendsofdslibrary@gmail.com for information and volunteer opportunities. EVERY WEDNESDAY • Dripping Springs Farmers Market. The Triangle (Highway 290/ Ranch Road 12) 3 pm to 7 pm. cityofdrippingsprings.com. • Open Mic at Mercer Street Dance Hall hosted by Nick Gatewood. www. mercerstreetdancehall.com. • Wednesdays with Carl Weathersby a t H u d s o n ’ s o n M e r c e r. w w w. hudsonsonmercer.com. SECOND WEDNESDAY • Free Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at Arveda Alzheimer’s Family Care. RSVP to 512-637-5400. www.arvedacare.com. EVERY THURSDAY • Hill Country Jam at Mercer Street Dance Hall with Doug Moreland. Free admission. 7:30 pm. www.mercerstreetdancehall.com. • Thyme and Dough Bistro Nights with live music, dinners and decadent desserts. 6 pm to 9 pm. 512-894-0001.
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The Derailers play Mercer Street Dance Hall July 30. Photo courtesy Derailers.
FIRST THURSDAYS • Dripping Springs American Legion 7 pm. 512-858-5637. • Nonfiction Addiction Book Club meets at the Dripping Springs Community Library from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. New members are always welcome. dscl.org, 512-858-7825. • First Thursday. Participating businesses offer special events from 5 pm to 9 pm. www. drippingspringstx.org. FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY • Lions Club meets at 131 East Mercer Street. 512-858-5159. SECOND THURSDAYS • Knights of Columbus, Council 11695, meets at the St Martin de Porres Parrish Hall on Post Oak Road, at 7:30 pm. Preceded by a pot luck dinner. THIRD THURSDAYS • Dripping Springs Cookoff Club. 6:30 pm in the VFW Hall in Dripping Springs. ryoncrew@yahoo.com. • Dripping Springs VFW meets. 27500 Ranch Road 12. 7 pm. 512-858-5637. • Thirsty Thursday’s. (See story, page 4.) Now at City Hall, 511 West Mercer Street. Poets, musicians, songwriters and storytellers eagerly share their talents. Free admission. Sponsored by City of Dripping Springs and New Life Lutheran Church. 7 pm, Dripping Springs Ranch Park. 512858-2024. FOURTH THURSDAY • Photographers of Dripping Springs (PODS). Dripping Springs Community Library. 6:30 pm. 512-524-7897. EVERY FRIDAY • Men’s Breakfast at Fitzhugh Baptist Church. 6:30 am. 512-913-4808. EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY • Dance Lessons at Mercer Street Dance Hall. 7:30 pm. mercerstreetdancehall.com. SECOND & FOURTH SATURDAY • Pet Adoption Sponsored by Thundering Paws Animal Sanctuary. Tractor Supply. 512-402-9725.
EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY • Live music and food at Twisted X Brewing Company. 23455 West Ranch Road 150. 512-829-5323, www.TexMexBeer.com. JULY 1 • Cameran Nelson with Meagan Tubb. Live music at Mercer Street Dance Hall. Advance tickets at www.mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 2 • Fingerpistol. Mercer Street Dance Hall. www.mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 9 • Tomato Roundup at the Triangle. (See story, page 7.) Live music, food, games, and plenty of family friendly fun centered around tomatoes. www. cityofdrippingsprings.com. • Lisa Marshall at Mercer Street Dance Hall. mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 15 • Clay McCLinton. Live music at Mercer Street Dance Hall. Advance tickets available at mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 16 • We l s o n H e n s o n . L i v e m u s i c a t M e rc e r S t re e t D a n c e H a l l . w w w. mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 21-24 • Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo. Dripping Springs Ranch Park. www. drippingspringsfairandrodeo.com. JULY 22 • Aaron McDonnell. Live music at M e rc e r S t re e t D a n c e H a l l . w w w. mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 23 • Three Chord Rodeo. Live music at M e rc e r S t re e t D a n c e H a l l . w w w. mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 29 • Bobby Mack with Seth James. Live music at Mercer Street Dance Hall. www. mercerstreetdancehall.com. JULY 30 • The Derailers. Mercer Street Dance Hall. www.mercerstreetdancehall.com.
JUNE 2016
Tomato Round-Up July 9
H
By Laurel Robertson
omegrown tomato fans... the wait is almost over! On Saturday, July 9 from 9 am until noon, Dripping Springs fifth annual Tomato Round-Up will gather together the best homegrown tomatoes in northern Hays County for everyone’s tasting pleasure. Tomato growers, whether farmers or home garden variety, are invited to compete for prizes and bragging rights during the coming year. This year’s Tomato Round-Up will be held at the Triangle in Dripping Springs the park at Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12 (also the site of the Dripping Springs Farmers Market each Wednesday). Beneath the large tent there will tomato tasting competitions, good food to eat, live music to enjoy, games to play and information from the Hays County Master Gardeners on how to grow the best tomatoes and other garden plants in Central Texas. Enjoy music by Alex Dormont, food from the Mercantile and Bakery JoJu (wood-fired pizza), plus a tomato toss, faec painting and more. The stars of the show will be the amazing array of garden-fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes - from the smallest, sweetest cherries to the largest, juiciest slicers, to the richest, most flavorful heirlooms. Gardeners from all over the Dripping Springs area are invited to bring their finest tomatoes to compete for prizes in five categories: cherry, yellow, heirloom, red slicers and romas. For just $1 a category, the public can taste all the entries and vote for their favorites. A panel of professional chefs, city of-
Oh, the fun of the Tomato Round Up! Photo courtesy Tomato Round Up. ficials and other distinguished tastebuds will be on hand to render their verdict on the perfect tomato. First, second and third place prizes for both Judges’ Favorites and People Choice will be awarded in all five categories. Best in Show will be honored with the “The Harley Clark” award, in memory of Dripping Springs’ wellknown and well-loved tomato-growing wizard. The Tomato Round-Up is sponsored annually by the City of Dripping Springs and organized by its Farmers Market Committee. Generous business and individual sponsorships help make the event possible. Sponsorships for this year’s event are being sought. FYI • For more information about the Tomato Round-Up, visit the web site at www.cityofdrippingsprings. com and click on the “Farmers Market” tab, find the Tomato Round-Up on Facebook, or call 512-858-4725.
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