Events

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander
 

Families from all over the Hill Country are invited to take a field trip to the Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center (UHLNC) for a day of fun from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

The center took its educational show on nature on the road earlier this year with a series of programs at the Numinous Coffee Roasters in Marble Falls. Now, each of the programs featured in the series, will return to the center with even more to learn from knowledgable volunteers.

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Like a band of gypsies devoted entirely to chili and barbecue, Howdy Roo 2017 contestants will fill Johnson Park in Marble Falls Friday-Sunday, May 5-7.

The event marks the 46th Annual Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) Chili Cookoff for the regional championship and the 23rd Annual Lone Star BBQ Society State Championship.

The event is a charity fundraiser with an emphasis on “fun.” Visitors can stroll among the cooks to enjoy the aroma of some of the state's best cooking or sign up to be judges in the competition.

To enter the competition yourself or to sign up early to be a judge visit the webpage: http://www.lonestarbarbecue.com/2017/02/2017-marble-falls-howdy-roo/.

The Business Model Canvas will be the topic of the Chamber U seminar Thursday, May 4, in Marble Falls.
Bill Thompson, who specializes in business model development, feasibility analysis, financial analysis and forecasting and positioning clients for successful funding, will be the presenter from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 100 Avenue G.
The session is designed to help business owners  build knowledge at an interactive training session designed to provide tools, best practices and ways to grow business and stay ahead.
It is free to chamber members and $25 for non-members, but a reservation is required. Email Sarah@MarbleFalls.org, register online, or call 830-693-2815.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

This Sunday, April 30, is Blue Sunday, the final observance in of Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

Supporters of the work to support prevention efforts in Burnet, Llano, Blanco, Lampasas and San Saba counties, as well as across the country will be wearing the bright blue that signifies their awareness.

The Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Bell Ringing Ceremony sponsored by the Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary Club and Court Appointed Advocates (CASA) for the Highland Lakes Area was held Monday, April 24, at the amphitheater of Johnson Park in Marble Falls. It was the third annual event.

The fifth annual Shake, Rattle and Crawl off-road event will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23 at Hidden Falls Adventure Park, 7030 Ranch to Market Road 1431 East.

Dawn Judson of Bikini Offroad in San Antonio puts her passion for off-roading into the benefit for the Parkinson's Foundation.

Bunnies came to the Marble Falls Library Thursday, a seasonal tradition for pre-schoolers who find books about rabbits, bunnies and Easter under one roof at 101 Main Street in Marble Falls. This year bunnies came from Kelly Thomas of Toby's Pet Stop in Burnet.

See all the bunnies, all the children and all the fun in the photo album on The Highlander Facebook page. Just follow this link http://bit.ly/2nNADGD .

A third annual Cajun Cook Off will be held Saturday, April 8, by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10376 and the vets are looking for cooks and judges and the Cajun at heart.

This year, the cook off is a benefit for the Girl Scout scholarship program.

Competition divisions will include gumbo, pot luck beans, dessert and an open division for anything Cajun.

The food is to be prepared on site and many of the cooks start early for turn-ins that begin with beans at 1 p.m. Judging will be at 5 p.m. Entry fees are $20 gumbo, $10 pot luck beans, $10 dessert and $25 for open.

Entry forms can be filled out any time at the VFW Post, 1001 Veterans Drive, just off Ranch to Market Road 1431, or at the sign-in table Saturday.

Organizers are always looking for judges. They only need to show up and sign in.

This year, a national star of the world of kids — Joe McDermott – will take the Johnson Park amphitheater during Children's Day Saturday, April 15.

The 17th annual Marble Falls event will be going on from 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies and the balloon release to 3 p.m. when prize drawings should be complete.

McDermott is scheduled for 11 a.m., compliments of the Marble Falls Library.

“We have tried to get him for a performance for years,” said Misty Smith, Youth Services librarian. “He is just so popular. His songs for children are catchy and funny. You can see him on YouTube and he has a fifth CD coming out with its own coloring book.”

For the unitiated, a person can tap in to a taste of McDermott's work on YouTube where the video for his all-time kid favorite, “Kitty Fight Song,” plays. That is, if you haven't heard the tune already on XM Radio where it is loved.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

U.S. Representative K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) will hold a town hall meeting Tuesday, April 11, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center of Lutie Watkins United Methodist Church, 800 Wright Street in Llano.

One of Conaway's district offices is located in Llano and he has conducted frequent meetings for constituents since he was elected to the then-new Dist. 11 in 2004.

While many elected officials have taken heat for avoiding town hall meetings, Conaway has posted an invitation to his on his website.

By Amy Prayer
Highland Lakes Newspapers
Visitors numbering more than 30,000 each year won't have to wait any longer. The 34th Annual Bluebonnet Festival is here.
The Burnet Chamber of Commerce will begin closing off the Historic Downtown Square of Burnet on Thursday evening, April 6.
Kim Winkler, executive director of the Burnet County Chamber of Commerce, expects this to be a spectacular year.
“We sold out of spots for venders extremely fast and we had a lot of new entries for the parade,” said Winkler. “The weather is supposed to be nice, so that should bring a lot of visitors to Burnet. This is going to be a really good year.”
Whether festival goers enjoy rides, games, food, or good, old-fashioned fun, The Mighty Thomas Carnival will be on the corner of Boundary and League streets, open for enjoyment to the public with wristband/family night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 6.