Events

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Members of the Marble Falls Senior Center will be dancing the night away on New Year's Eve and the public is invited to join in.

“Our New Year's Eve party will be going on from 7 p.m.-midnight,” said Louise Holden, secretary. “There will be snacks and dancing before black-eyed peas and cornbread. We'll share memories and hold hands to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at midnight.”

Games will be going on all night—canasta, bridge, 42 and dominos.

The Marble Falls Senior Activity Center, tucked away with ample parking at 1200 7th Street in Marble Falls, holds regular meetings for potluck lunches and games from 9 a.m. until after the noon meal on Mondays and Fridays. The meetings are open to the public and anyone who cannot bring a covered dish is directed to the $5 donation jar to grab a plate and take a seat at the table.

The Blue Santa appeal of the Marble Falls Police Department will continue through tomorrow, Dec. 15, collecting toys and donations for Christmas gifts to needy families to be distributed Saturday, Dec. 17.

Their big event to entertain children and attract donors faced bitterly cold weather Saturday, Dec. 10. Nonethless, cars could be seen circling in and handing over donations.

Officer Aaron Garcia said all donations are welcome, but special needs at the 11th-hour are gifts for kids in the 16-year-old category. Check donations may be made to Marble Falls Blue Santa or to Highland Lakes Christmas Is for Kids.

“We will be collecting toys and donations at the police station on Main Street and in boxes around town, like the one at city hall, until Dec. 15,” said Officer Garcia, who heads up the drive.

The curtain will go up tonight, Friday, Dec. 9, on the inaugural Thespian Showcase, an introduction to the Marble Falls High School Theatre Department.

The free public event will begin at 7 p.m. in the MFHS Auditorium, 2101 Mustang Drive.

Actors' National Qualifying performances will be presented and those who attend will have the opportunity to speak to the technical theater contestants and view their designs in the auditorium lobby.

After National Qualifying group and duet scenes, the play marathon show “Tribes”, by Nina Raine will be presented without intermission.

MFHS thespians competed in the Texas Thespian Festival last weekend in Dallas. Every student in attendance participated in either group design events, individual events or the performance of the play, “Tribes.”

Blue Santa, Christmas Market set for Saturday

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Two special Marble Falls events will be going on in the central city Saturday, Dec. 10—one for shopping and the other for giving.

Christmas Market on Main, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. will line the historic Main Street boulevard with great gift selection extras and holiday treats.

Blue Santa will be making his big appeal from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Johnson Park on Avenue J and the event is aimed especially at enjoyment for children.

The Marble Falls Police Department is challenging the city to fill a police car with gifts and donations for families in need. But bounce houses, games and chances to meet police officers, much like National Night Out, are planned for kids who come to meet the actual Santa in Blue.

The annual ballet performance, “Nutcracker—Gifts of Christmas,” by Harmony School of Creative Arts will take place next weekend.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Both will be held at the Marble Falls High School Auditorium, 2101 Mustang Drive.

After 200 years, the E.T.A. Hoffmann story, “Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” endures. This special ballet includes many of the familiar dances and images from the classic tale in a briefer version than set to music by Tchaikovsky for Russian ballet dancers in 1891.

In this performance, dancers also will portray the Nativity story in celebration of Christmas.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Sculpture on Main is celebrating a big coming out party for its 11th annual event all day today and into the night today, Friday, Dec. 2.

The doors open at 10 a.m. at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive, to art exhibition, demonstration and sale until 6 p.m. Nine artists of table top art works will be on hand to meet the public there and discuss their works.

Among them will be Beth Schoen exhibiting for sale her bronze of Willie Nelson and a ceramic of Albert Einstein.

Downtown, tours of the 11 new juried entries in the year-long exhibit of Sculpture on Main will be going on.

“You can ask for a tour or join one that is going on,” said Carolyn Bates of the board of directors of the event sponsor, Highland Lakes Creative Arts (HLCA) “Volunteer docents will be dressed in turquoise artists aprons imprinted with “the arts.” That's how we refer to HLCA.”

Holiday Home Tour set for Dec. 2

The Holiday Home Tour of the Llano Woman's Culture Club will be bringing visitors to enjoy Llano County homestyle hospitality on Saturday, Dec. 3.

From noon-5 p.m., homes and historical buildings in holiday festive décor will be open for the club's annual fundraiser.

One building is a home-turned-office of local builder Bubba Beckham. He and his wife Kathy had always admired the distinctive old rock home and moved quickly to own it when it came up for sale.

Built in 1947, the Beckham Homes new home offered original details such as wood floors, woodwork and charming interior doors that the Beckham's restored. They added architectural details and antiques to give the house even more character.

Another child car seat inspection event of has been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, by the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS).

The MFAEMS is scheduling appointments between 1-3:30 p.m. for car seat inspection and fitting. The inspections will take place at the MFAEMS main station, 609 Industrial Boulevard, in Marble Falls.

The number to call is 830-693-7277. The service is free and the MFAEMS can help provide a seat for families that cannot afford one.

The child to be fitted must be present at the appointment. Every child younger than age eight and shorter than four-feet-nine-inches tall travel in a federally approved child car seat. Fines from $25 for the first offense up to $250 for subsequent offenses are little compared to the heartache of injury or death of a child.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29 anyone who lives, works or plays in Marble Falls is invited to an open house from 6-9 p.m. at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive.

It will allow the final public input into the update of the City of Marble Falls Park, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, slated for council approval in January.

One of the most important components of the update process has been assessing wants and needs of the community.

The Tuesday night meeting will add to public participation begun with an online survey.

More than 40 citizens, or stakeholders, have met with staff of the city and Halff Associates, the company contracted to develop to revise the plan.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The 2016 Celebration of Giving of the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund fill the banquet hall of the Horseshoe Bay Resort Tower Thursday, Nov. 17.

The guests had come to honor friends and neighbors who lived out the spirit of philanthropy in time, service and treasure.

“They exemplify the spirit of giving,” said Donna Klaeger, interim executive director of the Legacy Fund.

Honored were Stuart and Rebecca Nunnally, the Philanthropy Award; Martin McLean, Community Volunteer Award; Ely Banuet Rodriguez of the Marble Falls Children's Day Celebration, Excellence as a Non-Profit Leader Award, and current coordinators of VetRide, Sophie McCoy and Bill Worley, an award dedicated to the memory of the program's founder, the late Chuck Caraway.

In each case, the audience found those honored ready to give credit back to other volunteers and supporters of the work they have championed.