Events

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The annual Joseph's Pantry Feast of Thanksgiving expects to serve more than 300 families, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

The event will be held at Highland Lakes Elementary School on H.A. Barnett Drive at Ranch to Market Road 1431.

“We will be Serving a hot plate of turkey with side dishes and also distributing a shopping cart of food items to any family that needs help with a holiday dinner,” said Roy Guerrero of Joseph's Pantry. “The cart will include bread, pastries, canned foods, produce items, dairy products, eggs, drinks and other items.”

No application is necessary, Guerrero said. Volunteers will be outside the school cafeteria ready to help load the holiday food.

“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy fellowship and the praise and worship music by Smoking for Jesus Ministries,” Guerrero said. “It is all sponsored by God, Joseph's Food Pantry, local churches and H-E-B.”

Central Texas Electric Cooperative (CTEC) will be recognizing Veterans Day and beginning its annual toy collection.

“CTEC is proud to employ veterans,” read a cooperative announcement. “This Veterans Day, our offices will be handing out free cookies as a small way to say thank you.”

The organization also is recognizing an employee, Bryan Smith, who served in the U.S. Army for seven years.

Christmas Toys for Brown Santa

The cooperative is collecting toys again this holiday season.

A free koozie will be given to individuals who bring in donation items for the joint effort between CTEC and the Llano County Sheriff's Department annual Brown Santa Program.

The items donated need to be new and unwrapped toys and it is requested that no stuffed animals be donated.

Wrapping materials, such as paper, tape and bows also are needed.

The Falls on the Colorado Museum and the Marble Falls Rotary Club are inviting the public to their annual Veterans Day Ceremony, at 11:30 a.m., today, Nov. 11, at The Falls on the Colorado Museum, 2001 Broadway Street,, Marble Falls.

It will be one of several observences of all the members of the U.S. armed services Friday. Another youth-led program will be held from 9-10 a.m. in the chapel of Faith Academy, 3151 East Ranch to Market Road 1431.

Since Nov. 11, 2008, the Marble Falls Rotary Club has hosted an annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony honoring armed service veterans, and for the last two years, The Falls of the Colorado Museum has observed one. This year, the have joined forces to honor the armed forces.

The Invocation will be by Jason Cullison, a U.S. Army veteran deployed in Iraq in 2004-05. The Bluebonnet Chorale Choir will provide music and the colors will be posted by Marble Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10376.

The first-ever Llano River Lighted Pumpkin Float was held on Saturday evening, Oct. 29, at Badu Park in Llano.

The event's coordinator, Cheryl Quallenberg, has been holding the Llano Pumpkin Carving Contest for the past 10 years.

"The night was pure magic and I could not have envisioned a better setting or turnout when I decided to change the concept,” she said. “While the past 10 years of pumpkin contests was geared for more local family fun, this opens it up to visitors and creates an attractive draw. It was treated as an art installation. There is nothing more beautiful than light reflecting on the river.

“We had visitor-participants from Canyon Lake, Burnet, Blanco and even Spain. I think removing the contest portion of it also makes it more inviting. Everyone can carve a pumpkin!"

A new bridge across the Colorado River below Wirtz Dam will be the topic of a public open house from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive, in Marble Falls.

The program will include a brief PowerPoint presentation at 6 p.m. Maps of the area will be available, including one for children's coloring project.

It is another in a series of outreach programs being conducted by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to gather public opinion about the proposed project.

After an initial meeting with civic leaders, CAMPO began to concentrate on the general public last month, attending special events and sponsoring open house informational meetings.

Everyone in the Highland Lakes area also is invited to take a survey to add to data on the project. Copies of the survey will be available at the public meetings and online at www.CAMPOtexs.org/wirtzdam.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Marble Falls Area EMS celebrated its 40^th anniversary on Saturday with new faces and old stories.

Friends and community members gathered at the Marble Falls Area EMS station on Saturday to celebrate 40 years of history as a first response organization.

In 1976 the department was an all-volunteer organization.

“Our first ambulance – we had it in front of the house for a long time,” said Carol Nunnally Davis Ratliff. “Our first ambulance we got through a CAPCOG (Capital Area Council of Governments) grant.”

Ratliff is one of the original founders of MFAEMS. She has been involved in the department in some sort or fashion since its early years.

“Before our ambulance, we rode with the patient in a funeral home vehicle to the hospital,” she said.

Family fun festivals set for Sunday, Monday

Two events are being sponsored by the Highland Lakes religious community this Halloween but the emphasis is not on Halloween; instead on the bywords “free,” “family,” “fun” and “safe.”

Sunday

The first Family Fun Fest of the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance will take place Sunday, Oct. 30, at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the south end of Phillips Ranch Road in Granite Shoals.

An all-city worship service will be held at 11 a.m. at the park pavilion.

From 1-5 p.m. activities for the whole family will be sponsored by the Granite Shoals police and fire departments. In addition to food, music, door prizes and giveaways, activities for children are planned to include a petting zoo, games and contests.

Monday

On Monday night, Oct. 31, the First Assembly of God Church of Marble Falls will hold its FUNFEST from 6-8 p.m.

Two chances for Coffee with the Mayor remain--this Friday, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4.

Marble Falls Mayor John Packer will share a free cup morning cup of java with citizens at Numinous Coffee Roasters, 714 Ranch to Market Road 1431 in Marble Falls from 7-8 a.m.

The free, informal come-and-go events do not require an RSVP. The are a chance to "come share your thoughts and ideas about your community and hear about some of the new projects in the city."

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet one-on-one with our residents and learn about the issues that are important to them,” said Packer.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Marble Falls Fire Rescue (MFFR) has invited the public to take part in its strategic planning process in two ways—through a survey and by joining in a focus group on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

The focus group will beet at 7 p.m. at the fire department training room, 700 Avenue N.

“It is important for the department to understand the needs and expectations that citizens have about the Fire Department as we develop our plans for the future,” said Fire Chief Russell Sander. “Not only will we discuss the present services of Marble Fall Fire Rescue, but also priorities for the future.”

The department also is seeking input from citizens through a short survey. It can be found on the fire department page of the on the City of Marble Falls website, www.marblefallstx.gov/169/fire-rescue.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Archaeology buffs and curiosity seekers have two of the best opportunities in the Highland Lakes to delve into the ancient past of their home ground on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Falls on the Colorado Museum (FOCM) in Marble Falls will bring experts and demonstrations to an event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, to the old granite schoolhouse at 2001 Broadway Street.

From 1-5 p.m., the Llano Uplift Archaeological Society (LUAS) will hold its annual Archaeology Fair at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Nightengale Archaeological Center near Kingsland.

Visitors can bring their own finds of arrowheads and points or pottery for identification to both events or just sit in on information that can be brought to light about them and that is one of the most important features of the Texas Archaeology Month events.