Events

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks carried out against our nation on September 11, 2001.

With support of the mayor and city council of the City of Marble Falls, the Marble Falls Rotary Club holds a ceremony each year on September 11th, for personal reflection, prayer and thought in remembrance of the victims and their families and rescue workers involved in the 9/11 tragedies, and to honor, remember and reunite with the first responders or this area.

Golfers have until 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, to register for the Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation (LBCC) Golf Tournament at the Lighthouse Country Club in Kingsland.

The shotgun start will be at noon for the best ball scramble for four-person teams, but an individual can team up at the tourney even on Saturday arrival.

The hole-in-one prizes include a Hawaiian vacation for two, a Kindle Fire, a set of Cobra and Nike VRS 2.0 Colvert irons and a $500 gift card. Gross and net cash prizes are guaranteed for first, second and third-place teams. Individual prizes are offered for longest drive, closest to the pin, putting and the big hole-in-one.

The $80 per player fee includes the 18-holes of golf, cart fee, practice range and a ticket to the dinner for prizes and awards. Additional tickets to the dinner are $10.

The club is located at 118 Club Circle off Skyline Drive in Kingsland. For more information, call the club at 325-388-6660.

The City of Marble Falls has announced a change in a series Coffee with the Mayor events. They will begin Friday morning, Sept. 16, bright and early--7-8 a.m.--with still more to be announced.

The public is invited to "have a cup of coffee" with Marble Falls Mayor John Packer at Numinous Coffee Roasters, 714 Ranch to Market Road 1431 in Marble Falls.

The city announced the free come-and-go event and more to come on Friday, Sept. 9 as an opportunity 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 ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

While Spicewood Volunteer Firefighters volunteer their time to clean up wrecks and mitigate mayhem, their annual fundraiser is what mayhem is all about.

The 25th Annual Spicewood Destruction Derby will take place Saturday, Sept. 10, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the grounds behind the Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department at 9805 Texas 71 East. Proceeds from the event will benefit the fire department and EMS services.

Assistant Fire Chief Billy Ludwig said the crowds like wrecks and carnage – demolition derby style, that is!

“It's an accident; it's hard to keep your eyes off of it, whether it's in the side of the road or in an arena,” he said. “If there is mayhem, people will come… they'll have a smashing good time!”

One major addition to the derby this year is beer sales, whereas previously spectators were permitted to bring their own coolers.

“People don't know how to keep them out of the stands,” he joked.

Tickets are on sale for the Sept. 23-24 FiestaJAM on Lake Marble Falls, the big music and wine benefit for the artistic programs of Harmony School of Creative Arts and Marble Falls Independent School District.

For the price of a $15 ticket, visitors will enjoy the whole evening's music at Lakeside Park Saturday, including the 6 p.m. Marquee Concert with Joe Ely at Lakeside Park Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive. A $35 ticket adds tastings of featured wine and beer. (Children are admitted free with ticket holders).

A $75 ticket includes Saturday events and adds Friday's Patrons of the Arts reception.

Beyond battling bands and Joe Ely, music fans will hear john Arthur martinez, Mike Blakely, Drew Womack and John David Kent.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Fish will be frying Wednesday, Sept. 7, for the semi-annual Marble Falls Area Emergency Service (MFAEMS) fundraiser.

At the Blue Bonnet Cafe from 4-8 p.m. every plate filled with fried catfish and the fixings will help fill the fund for the area's EMS service.

Price of the dinners will be $10 a plate, except for children age five and younger, $5. Call 830-693-2444 for take out orders.

Tickets are on sale at the cafe and at the EMS station, 609 Industrial Boulevard, or buy them at the door.

The Blue Bonnet dips a fires about 300 pounds of fish each fall and spring to feed around 600 people and raise up to $15,000 a year that goes primarily to training needs. Local EMS technicians and employees, firefighters and elected officials pitch in to bus tables and keep the event moving.

John and Belinda Kemper, owners of the cafe, have made the project for more than 30 years.

The Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) Annual BBQ will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Red Barn Community Center, 2395 Texas 261/Lakeshore Drive, in Buchanan Dam.

The barbecue lunch with sweets from the BVFD Auxiliary and ladies church groups will be served until the food is gone, beginning at 11 a.m.

A silent auction and a free bounce house for children will be available in addition to the lunch and sweet sale. A fire extinguisher training class for all ages will be conducted and fire trucks and equipment will be on display next door at the fire hall.

“We are looking forward to showing off our new fire truck,” said Tommy Phillips, BVFD treasurer. “We worked toward it for more than seven years and proceeds from this event will help us buy equipment for it.”

The students at Falls Career High School have scheduled their community service blood drive a little earlier this fall to meet the need for blood following the Labor Day Weekend.

By Christi Bertelson

Highland Lakes Newspapers

The streets of Bertram and Oatmeal will be buzzing this weekend, as the 39th Annual Oatmeal Festival gets under way.

Kicking off Friday, Sept. 2, arts and craft vendors, barbecue, Mr. Groaty Oats, Music and the Miss Oatmeal Pageant and Auction will take place in the Oatmeal Community Center located at 7324 County Road 336 in Bertram.

“Our final count for Miss Oatmeal Pageant entries is 33,” said April Baladez, member of the Oatmeal Festival association.

“We take entries for the Mr. Groaty Oats Pageant until it’s almost time for them to walk up on stage, so if anyone wants to still join, it is open,”

Saturday gets underway with the Trail Ride from Oatmeal to Bertram and the Run for your Oats 3.3 mile race.

“The Trail ride is a confirmation of the transition from Oatmeal to Bertram for the festival, where the rest of the events will take place,” said Baladez.

Tickets to the 2016 FiestaJAM in Marble Falls are on sale now, but there is a chance to enjoy all the music free.

All the folks, no matter where they are from, who complete the City of Marble Falls Parks Master Plan survey by today, Aug. 31, are entered into a drawing for two FiestaJAM tickets.

The real purpose of the survey is to gather input into a revision of the plan from anyone who visits the city, uses the parks or would like to see more resources there, notes Parks Commissioner Marke E. McCary.

A link to the survey can be found online at the city website, www.MarbleFallsTx.gov or at SurveyMonkey.com: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/marblefallsparksplan.