Liberty Hill Digest • March 2021

Liberty Hill digest

MARCH 2021

STRAIGHT TALK

Texas Representative Terry Wilson Shares His Vision For Texas, Williamson County & Liberty Hill IN THIS ISSUE

Spring Is In The Air...

Welcome Our New Community Editor | Megan Diane Beatty Are You Ready For Some Baseball? | Liberty Hill Youth League Good And Good For You | Hagler Ranch Longhorn Beef

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INSIDE

FAVORITES 10

EVERYDAY HEROES Warrior Birthday Parties

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KIDS Liberty Hill Youth League

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WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS” Cheerleading

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WILLIAMSON COUNTY Cemetery Restoration Volunteers

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WORTH THE DRIVE Cameron Park Zoo

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ASK THE EXPERT COVID Tax Questions Answered

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BELLE CHIMES IN Sno-VID Perspectives

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FOOD Irish Fare for Texas Fancy

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PARTING SHOTS Fun is Elementary!

ON THE COVER: Representative Terry Wilson sat down with our publisher and editor to talk about storm recovery, 2021 legislation, and invites constituents to tune in and participate in his frequent town halls.

Cover Photo by Todd White

FEATURES 3 SIT-REP WITH REP. TERRY WILSON 2021 Issues, Updates, and Looking Forward

11 COMMUNITY ACTION

WORTH THE DRIVE

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Zeke is just two months old, and he’s already taller than all of his handlers.

photo courtesy Liberty Hill ISD

photo courtesy Cameron Park Zoo

Photo by Vicky McCown

Community Pathways, Paving the Way to Independence

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28 MAKING LEMONADE (WITH ICE) 2nd graders Mason and Jackson enjoyed making a special memory the week the water went out.

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Digest Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

COMMUNITY EDITOR MEGAN DIANE BEATTY

PUBLISHER

Cathy Payne

Like many of the best in her craft, Cathy has a specialized degree—in her case, hard science—and a gift for writing. She found her voice and fulfilment reporting and writing news and magazine features for a regional Central Texas audience. Along with serving as the publisher of the Liberty Hill Digest, Cathy oversees multiple magazines, marketing campaigns, and books.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ann Marie Ludlow Kennon

With a quarter-century of writing, reporting, and marketing behind her, Ann Marie enjoys sharing her vision and voice with a Central Texas audience. She believes being involved in and writing about local communities is the best way to show her affection and appreciation of everything Texan.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Kovalchuk • Miranda Bradley • Greta Bauer GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Pistole • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rudy Ximenez • David Valdez • Todd White Charlotte Kovalchuk SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Jenny Campbell ACCOUNT SERVICES Debbie Tolliver ADMINISTRATION Kristina Poché DISTRIBUTION David Schumacher IT/WEBMASTER Jesse Payne CONSULTANT W. Ben Daniel ADVERTISING Mark Elliott 512-240-2267 • 512-746-4545 mark@lhtxdigest.com Liberty Hill Digest is a Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC publication.

Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. Liberty Hill Digest is published monthly and mailed USPS, free of charge, to homes and businesses in Liberty Hill, TX zip codes. Mail may be sent to Liberty Hill Digest, P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537.

Email: info@lhtxdigest.com 2

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EDITOR’S NOTE I am thrilled to be part of the Liberty Hill Digest team.

I have been a part of Liberty Hill for 11 years and cannot see myself living anywhere else. I’ve made my way around town selling and donating cupcakes. It didn’t take me long to realize my cupcakes weren’t the sweetest thing about Liberty Hill. Instead, it’s the hearts and souls that build this community. It is my ultimate goal, as your new Community Editor, to express the beauty of our small town by shining a light on the compassion within it.

I am also pleased that our Liberty Hill Digest staff was able to get some wonderful stories to share before the lights went out last month. We were also honored to sit down, after, with Texas Representative Terry Wilson, who was happy to share insights on the state’s response to Uri, as well as the many bills he is sponsoring and supporting, many of which were suggested or inspired by constituents.

One of our fun themes this month is cheerleading. While many teams don’t even have in-person fans right now, March is Cheerleader Safety Month, and it is a time when young women and men start planning for tryouts. And, on the field, it’s also time to start thinking about youth league sports, and we got all the inside info on Liberty Hill Youth League from April Thomas for the 2021 Spring season.

You’ll also find some helpful information if you’re still working on those taxes for 2020 (Hint: don’t rush to finish them yet). We talked to the experts about some rule changes relating to COVID and winter storm recovery.

I was especially moved, and I’m sure you all were too, by the way our community responded to the very unexpected, and certainly unplanned, Texas frozen snowpocalypse. In a pandemic world, where all we see are eyes, it was nice to be reminded of the smiles behind the masks.

We are, and always will be, Liberty Hill strong.

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com

2021 sit-rep

2021 “Sit-Rep” with Representative Terry Wilson

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ews of the 2021 Texas legislative session took a back seat to Winter Storm Uri last month, but Colonel Terry Wilson (State Representative for House District 20) is steadfastly attending to issues related to both, often at the same time, every day.

Our publisher was pleased we were able to spend an afternoon with the Representative to talk about State issues and his eagerness to keep Liberty Hill constituents informed. “There is no question Texas met many challenges in February,” Rep. Wilson said.

“I am pleased to know Liberty Hill has a local magazine that provides balanced information about what is going on in the community.”

TEXAS ENERGY Since power seems to be on everyone’s mind, Rep. Wilson talked about Texas energy up front.

“Storm hearings are happening now,” he said. “The Governor convened us, specifically, to investigate failures that occurred with ERCOT and across the board, and while we have no idea how long it will take, we will not leave until it is done. Rest assured that we all happily accepted the task, knowing we will be learning many things over the next few weeks and we do not expect corrections to happen on the turn of a dime.”

Conversely, he was pleased to know there were also companies state-wide who were ready for the storm, and the legislature expressed thanks for their preparedness. The task, now, is to determine where the various responsibilities lie, discuss solutions, and set a path forward. “I do believe that, regardless of where faults exist, we need to shore up the process; summer is right around the corner and we are quite familiar with our energy needs in hot weather. We continue to be very concerned for citizens’ utility bills moving forward.”

STORM RECOVERY During and after the storm, Colonel Wilson contacted city council members, school officials, law enforcement, and mayors, including Liberty Hill Mayor Liz Branigan, to discuss the wellness of our citizens, as well as property and agricultural losses. “Most of the calls my office received from the Liberty Hill area were regarding water. We helped coordinate supply chains with nearby Georgetown because that is the primary water source. We will continue to assess and investigate the needs of the city as recovery continues.”

He expressed concern over the stories that will continue to be told, and the stress the damage will certainly put on families and local economies that have been in a down-revenue year already. ► M A R C H 2 0 2 1  L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T

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2021 sit-rep “Our aggregate losses are worthy of great attention,” he says. “Many citizens lost more than pipes or property; they lost livestock and crops. People need to be aware, we were only able to save 40 percent of our current citrus harvest, and this will play out as a loss for next year’s harvest because the trees were just beginning to bud.”

On a positive note, the Representative gave high praise to Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason and Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd, who traveled many roads on his behalf to determine a safe route for trucks to transport an energy transformer and supplies from Florence to Liberty Hill. “We told both Sheriffs about the plight of the people in Liberty Hill who had no water or food. [Williamson County] Judge Bill Gravell also pushed a road and bridge crew out for us to treat roads along the route for the emergency package.”

SCHOOLS Always a Colonel, Rep. Wilson and his staff are pushing the envelope when it comes to his battle command philosophy of leadership. “We expect the population of Texas to grow by 70 percent by 2050, and Liberty Hill ISD is a great example of the ‘why’ for that growth. The ISD is being innovative about career and technical education, and adapting the skill sets of students for explosive future success. I highly respect [Superintendent] Steve Snell, and I count on him for feedback when we have school-related bills,” he says. “I maintain a text connection to all my superintendents so I can communicate with them in real time during the session.”

He explained the need for these direct connections because, while House members know when a bill will be up for discussion or vote, there is no way for them to know what amendments will be included ahead of time. Rep. Wilson says, “I send a message to all 25 of our superintendents to let them know a bill is coming up. They send me their thoughts—pro and con—on the bill via email, which are prepared for correspondence when the bill is heard. This is where my team shines; they built me a system in which, when the amendments start flying, I text the superintendents from the floor, and their responses are fed into a spreadsheet in real time so I can reference them during the debate.”

Rep. Wilson retired from the Army after serving more than 30 years.* He was a highly regarded senior leader within the Department of the Army.

He is well versed in major weapons systems development, as well as command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. As a DoD Acquisition Executive, he managed research and development programs with multi-billion-dollar budgets and partnered in systems development with major corporations and universities.

He is eager to see the arrival of Army Futures Command in Central Texas, as well as the Prototyping and Testing Evaluation Center. “People in Liberty Hill will actually see it all around them.

This command will determine the future of our Army because the primary mission is research and development. That means discoveries. Those discoveries will require manufacturing, which means high-tech jobs, and a shift in what we teach in our high schools, community and technical colleges to fill those jobs. The technology and the ability is here, and that’s why they chose Central Texas as the location.”

EDUCATION FINANCE REFORM Rep. Wilson is proud of the work being done in 2021 to implement last session’s landmark education finance reform package, which, for the first time, addressed issues at the state level without the court system having to force the change. He says, “It has been talked about for years, but we have been working without actually finding solutions.” He refers to the state attaching school taxes to private property, which he believes pits schools against the community; i.e., those who pay taxes but have no children in public school. “We are removing the anguish

*Terry Wilson is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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2021 sit-rep associated with that bill by slowing the ability of the tax rate to increase. The bottom line; while local governments are not satisfied with the new caps on their revenue, taxpayers benefit because we increased the state’s share of public school costs to fill the gap, which increased our schools’ budgets without raising property taxes again.”

WATER Rep. Wilson is confident that even with the significant growth in Liberty Hill, the city will be able to maintain infrastructure and water supply. “We have made great efforts for the sake of smart growth, keeping in mind that Liberty Hill has two sources for water; Georgetown and Aqua. We have held town hall meetings to address residents’ concerns where there is a shortage, and our staff has made significant efforts to make sure our plan for growth is solid.”

He went on to say that, in Texas, water tends to be political, and it takes courage to address needs versus wants. “When we look at growth, we have to first focus on efficiency and not hurt others in our use of it. For Liberty Hill to prosper and control their own destiny, we need to understand where the water is, how much we can use, and how surface water works with ground water. The science is not always sexy, but at the end of the day, it is the bread and butter for communities to prosper, chambers to grow with new business partners, and our children to attend great schools like we have in Liberty Hill.”

STUDIES AND SCIENCE Despite what we see in the movies, drilling a well does not always guarantee water, and there are gaps in our understanding of it. Rep. Wilson says, “When looking at the data in municipalities that have water districts, we realize the data calculation is dated. Unfortunately, the studies that exist are only for individual water districts that can afford to pay $300,000-$500,000 for results. It is critical to remember water doesn’t honor county boundaries, and because of that, I find these studies potentially incomplete.”

He explained that what water data we do have is siloed with different agencies that do not share in-

formation easily. TCEQ keeps data on surface water, Texas Water Development Board has groundwater data, and our universities research all areas of water including soil moisture. “We want to bring all that data together, see the whole picture, identify gaps and build models to benefit the whole State.

“Basically, we have a lot of ingredients, and now we need to make a cake. For instance, we would not tell farmers how to use their own water, but we can provide them with volumes of information that will enable them to make informed decisions, take the guesswork out of their plans, and enable them to better forecast usage.”

INDUSTRY While growth and expansion are a win for Liberty Hill, maintaining safety and quality of life is also paramount in the Representative’s day-to-day work.

“We recognize that with growth comes the need to increase our road capacity, but also to maintain the integrity of existing roads. We regularly look at roads showing signs of wear, but we are also working with TXDOT to add left turn lanes and acceleration/deceleration lanes on SH-29 for driver safety.”

Wilson is concerned about the growth of aggregate (stone) and mining in and around Liberty Hill.

“Williamson County is number one in the state for current and planned mining, and Burnet County is number two, but I do not want our local economies to be bookended in a negative way.”

He explains that although mining means revenue and jobs for localities, we can not change where stone is in order to keep trucks and dust away from residential areas. “With aggregate, our work is about protecting neighborhoods from ‘bad actors’ who will plant themselves between two new housing developments. We have been working with constituents to make sure protections are in place so we don’t allow mining operations near schools or hospitals.”

The HD-20 office works with companies to ensure, if they are going to relocate, they choose a site that can accommodate truck traffic without putting unreasonable stress on nearby roads and bridges.

“Many county roads are not made to handle the weight required to transport rock, and even the ►

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2021 sit-rep smallest operations require 200 trucks per day.

First, this is a hazard in places that do not have left turn or acceleration and deceleration lanes. These trucks take much longer than passenger vehicles to change speed. Second, average wear and tear on a given road is $.26 per mile for an 80,000 lb. truck, and more on bridges, across the state. We only receive $.03 in return for gas taxes, and smaller towns do not have sufficient tax base for that level of road repair.”

Aside from road integrity, Rep. Wilson also seeks to protect trees and livestock from the dust nuisance created by this industry. “We insist on maintaining a good quality of life in our communities and I wish all companies operated like Texas Crushed Stone; they are the gold standard in aggregate and we are asking everyone to follow their example.”

COVID VACCINE Initially, when vaccines were made available, Williamson County was authorized to receive them as part of the Austin hub. Rep. Wilson’s office, in cooperation with Williamson County leadership and health officials, was able to help establish a vaccine hub within Williamson County. “What that means is our county receives a designated amount of vaccine rather than requiring our citizens to travel to Austin to get their shots. Our clinics, in return, have provided vaccines to any eligible person who walks in the door, as long as they have proof of Texas residency.

We worked very hard to ensure we would have our own shots, our own supplies, and could manage our own clinics.”

CONSTITUENT OUTREACH With regard to his work in the 2021 legislative session, he reiterated that much of his work at the state level is constituent-driven or, at a minimum, initiated by a citizen inquest or suggestion. “I would put that number at 80-85 percent this year,” he says. “For example, we are working on a bill that will provide property tax exemptions from local tax entities for senior citizens. Residents of Sun City have brought to our attention, many times, that part of their tax bill includes things like hospital districts.”

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In prior years, the State did not provide a means for local entities to exempt anyone from these fees.

This year, the State will provide local, discretionary allowances to allow those exemptions via age bracketing. Rep. Wilson explains, “What we are doing is homestead protection. Our elderly, particularly those for whom social security is their only income, are very vulnerable. It is untenable for seniors, who have worked hard and paid the full mortgage on a home, to have to sell or have their property seized— compromising their independence—because they can not afford to pay the taxes on that home.”

To affect this change, when homeowners reach age 65, their tax rate will be frozen; at age 70 they will receive a discount, which will then increase every five years.

He adds the purpose of this legislation is not to hold back money owed to the government, but it does put the government on the same level as other creditors. The state may put a lien on a homestead, but can not evict a homeowner for non-payment.

When the homeowner sells or passes away, the taxes and any penalties will be collected at that time.

The State is paid when the property transfers.

LEGISLATION Bills Representative Wilson is sponsoring on or supporting: 7 Criminal Justice 4 Aggregate Industry 6 Property Tax 4 Education 2 Family Law, dealing with incidents in which CPS overstepped its authority.

3 Utilities, addressing utility requirements imposed on constituents 4 Agriculture 6 Local Government

HELP FOR CHILDREN Rep. Wilson is very pleased about the progress from HB-2783, establishing the PANS Advisory Council. There is a great deal of science underlying the effort so he explained the benefits of the bill in terms of one family he is familiar with in his district.

2021 sit-rep Rep. Wilson explains, “This bill was created because one mom was committed to helping kids because she felt all we were doing was medicating them. The bill passed easily in both chambers, and the Governor is now being advised by experts on new and alternative treatments; addressing things we are seeing in our schools. It would truly be a tragedy if, say, a child with a strep infection is diagnosed with a secondary condition like schizophrenia rather than an autoimmune condition like lupus, but it is entirely possible. I am proud Texans have the vigilance, and ability, to correct childhood concerns at the source.”

MEDIA SOURCES

Photo by Todd White

PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is the name for an emerging field of medicine that investigates immune responses that mimic serious neurological disorders, which are then misdiagnosed and treated improperly.

For instance, a child he knows experienced behavior changes and developed physiological tics.

His physician diagnosed ADHD and recommended medication, but further investigation showed the child simply had a serious imbalance in his gut flora. After temporarily weaning him off of eggs, milk, and gluten for 90 days, he returned to normal daily function. Doctors traced the source of his symptoms to a series of ear infections for which he was treated with antibiotics, which caused the imbalance.

Rep. Wilson and his staff are committed to sharing information with constituents through reliable and professional print and social media channels. In addition to making himself available to the Liberty Hill Digest for interviews, he has also committed to contribute future “Sit-Rep” columns to ensure Liberty Hill residents receive information about HD-20 that is timely and unfiltered. He adds, “We do frequent virtual town halls, which are open to the public and feature various industry experts to engage on specific topics; industry, education, and the like. I invite all my constituents to call in any time to ask questions of me or my panels.”

The Representative also enjoys radio interviews, which are live, and allow him to respond directly to callers. For balanced news coverage about Williamson County and Texas, he recommends The Williamson County Sun and Community Impact.

As important as all of these issues are, nothing is more important to me, as your representative, than hearing your voice. No matter whom you supported in November, in January we come together as one district and work to better not just our district but our state and nation, as well. I want to hear what is important to you and why it is important. I read every communication, and do my best to respond in kind, so please email me at terry.wilson@house.texas.gov or call the office at 512-463-0309 to let me know your thoughts on upcoming bills and issues coming before the House.

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advertorial

Helping the Community Thrive with Mental Health Care

J

enna Fleming says, “Finding a counselor shouldn’t be hard. We want to make getting help easy, because everyone deserves to love and be loved with a whole heart.”

Inaccessibility of proper mental health care is a problem Jenna and her team of counselors are working to reduce.

The problem hits close to home for Jenna. “My mother was a beautiful human,” she explains. “Her anxiety, depression, and addiction resulted in mistakes that caused traumatic childhood experiences for me. Had she been given mental health support, it could have been different.

I hope to give to the world what we all need at times— loving help. All of us, to various degrees, struggle with life’s stress and anxieties. At times, we all need support.”

SERVICE GAPS

Jenna experienced firsthand the challenge so many go through of finding a counselor who is a proper fit and available. In ten years as a school counselor, she ran into many blocks when working to connect families to mental health support. Long waiting lists, unreturned calls, and improper matches would often lead to frustration and feelings of hopelessness.

Jenna saw this issue as unacceptable and felt our community deserved better. Wanting to be the change she wished to see, Jenna opened Central Texas Child & Family Counseling in Georgetown in 2017.

Jenna and 20 other counselors, interns, and staff embody a Christ-centered, client-focused mission, 8

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serving children three years and older, adults, and couples. Counselors specialize in multiple areas; family communication, anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and trauma. Shannon, their Care Coordinator, ensures calls are returned and clients are matched with the right counselor, even if it’s someone outside their practice.

The goal, as Jenna says, is never to fill an empty slot, but to help the person in need.

She believes when people are healthy, families are healthy and the community is healthy; “We are constantly seeking ways we can make high-quality counseling more accessible and approachable to the community.”

Another way Central Texas Child & Family Counseling helps the community is through free mental health presentations, as well as $5 counseling with a counseling intern available for low-income clients.

GROWING NEED

With the increased need for counseling caused by more turbulence in the world, as well as the explosion of neighborhoods along the Ronald Reagan corridor, Jenna felt called to open a second location in Liberty Hill. Both locations currently offer virtual and in-person services.

CENTRAL TEXAS CHILD & FAMILY COUNSELING 14001 HIGHWAY 29 WEST, #101, LIBERTY HILL 418 WILLIAMS DRIVE, GEORGETOWN CALL 512-651-1009 • GTOWNCOUNSELING.COM

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everyday heroes

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com photo courtesy Megan Beatty

Birthday Parties for Warriors

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or most kids, birthdays are a celebration of accomplishments, growth, and anticipation for what’s the come in the next year. It is often one of the highlights of a child’s year, but for those fighting cancer, a birthday may be spent in doctor appointments or hospital treatments.

Enter David Poku and Liberty Hill’s Megan Beatty.

When the time came to plan her daughter’s 8th birthday, Megan had been by her daughter’s side through diagnosis, surgery, and treatment for brain cancer, and she wasn’t sure she could also manage the details of Hayley’s party. But, when David and members of the community showed up at their house, bringing the party with them, Megan realized she had found a new mission. She and David have been planning and managing similar, magical themed birthday parties ever since.

HOW IT STARTED David began planning parties after a social worker at Dell Children’s Hospital asked if he could coordinate logistics—DJ, photographer, or food—for patients on their cancer floor. He says, “I told them just to tell me the date and I’ll figure it out. Seeing the maturity and acceptance of those young people, knowing they go through more pain and inconvenience than most of us will in our whole lifetime, brought me to a place where I can be as mature as they are. The least I can do for children fighting cancer or other illnesses is to help them get out of the fight for a day.”

David and Megan accomplish great feats with help from local and regional organizations that contribute to milestone events in the cancer space. “Dell connected me with Heroes for Children,” David says, “And we aren’t limited to birthdays; we do graduations and end-oftreatment celebrations too.” The pair also frequently collaborate with Kendra Cofer and L4 Cares to provide compassionate support in Liberty Hill and towns around.

THE DIFFERENCE Megan says she fell in love with the idea of people willing to help families they don’t even know, and when David explained that giving parties likely meant more to him and his friends than the family, she wanted to be 10

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part of bringing that same feeling to others. “David is a thrill-seeker,” she laughs. “But what I love about him and our work is that while we work with some wonderful foundations, we are independent, and we have no qualifications beyond knowing a family has a need. When a social worker reaches out to David, I contact the family, then we rally the community to get things done.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP Anyone can contribute gifts to a special celebration via David’s Amazon wish lists, which are posted on his Facebook page (ATXFoodTruckFest), or donate money to community funds like Heroes for Children or L4 Cares that can be earmarked for birthdays or other events. They hope to name their project soon and build a website to centralize donations and arrange everything from character cakes to fire engines. David says, “We have seen some amazing things during the pandemic; people want to help and they just need a calling. We are happy to be something they can rally to.”

For both, seeing the kids’ perspective on life has been an inspiration and a joy. David adds, “I have always been an adrenaline junkie and these kids have changed my perspective on life. I want to cherish every single moment, and helping kids cherish theirs is a big part of that now.”

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@lhtxdigest.com

community action

Paving the Way to Independence list—a work program to help at-risk students find jobs at local businesses. With job coaching from CPO mentors and in partnership with Workforce Solutions, the Pathways to Success Work Program will help youth and young adults find jobs and develop skills aimed at self-sufficiency.

HISTORY Working with students in youth ministry and as a school registrar inspired Vicky to start Community Pathways Organization. “I saw the struggles, the ones who had to quit school to go to work. The ones who didn’t have food,” she shares. “God had been on me to start this organization for young adults to transition to adulthood.”

Mayor Elizabeth Branigan, CPO Board of Directors Treasurer Teresa Hernandez and Executive Director Vicky McCown distribute food at San Gabriel Crossing Apartments during the water outage from the storm. Photo by Kendra Cofer

C

rossing the bridge from adolescence to adulthood, especially for at-risk teens and young adults, can be a daunting transition. Community Pathways Organization (CPO) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers Liberty Hill youth, young adults, and their families to develop independent living skills and become productive members of their community.

Photo by Vicky McCown

Thanks to CPO, at-risk youth and young adults receive help obtaining a driver’s license and other identification, weekend snack bags, school supplies, and mentoring.

CPO also provides medical, emotional, and mental support to facilitate their high school graduation or equivalency. The organization also refers families to other nonprofits if they need something outside CPO’s service scope. “Our goal is to work with all the current nonprofit organizations and fill the gaps where the services aren’t met,” CPO Executive Director Vicky McCown says.

CPO partners with Liberty Hill ISD to find and help youth and families in need; e.g., mentoring a homeless student, helping a first-generation American student get a driver’s license, or helping families apply for food stamps and other assistance.

This summer, Vicky hopes to add another Lee Kinsey, with his daughter, was able service to the to get his driver’s license thanks to CPO.

When she launched CPO in September 2019, the timing was perfect. The following spring, she received a call from the school district, asking if CPO could help students on the free & reduced lunch program who couldn’t return to school in person because of COVID-19. CPO delivered several thousand weekend snack bags through the end of the school year. And, at the beginning of this school year, CPO donated more than $6,000 in school supplies to start the students’ semester off right.

LEND A HAND To help Community Pathways Organization continue its mission of serving youth and families in need, CPO welcomes the following items: Golf tournament sponsors: Caring for Our Community, May 10 at Cimarron Golf & Country Club (Georgetown) A cargo van to pick up supplies for distribution A computer for program tracking School supplies Computers for students during COVID Hygiene items for clients Volunteers To learn more about Community Pathways Organizations, call 512-5283913 or visit CPOtx.org.

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Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com photo credit LYHL.org, used with permission

KIDS

Liberty Hill Youth League

W

hile COVID put a wrench in many athletic endeavors last year, the Liberty Hill Youth League is looking forward to getting kids outside, moving, and enjoying the game again.

Marketing Director April Thomas says the LHYL provides year-round, recreational baseball and softball programs for boys and girls from 4U to 14U. The 2021 season is already underway and coaches are working hard to grow and diversify their young athletes’ talents.

The season—games and tournaments—enable coaches to choose all-stars for summer play. “We compete in baseball as a league; the kids do their own fundraising and compete in round robin tournaments, which seeds them for the finals in June. After that, they get ready for Fall play, August to October.”

Softball follows a similar program, but has fewer players. As such, they are able to play interleague games with Georgetown and Cedar Park. April adds, “Softball is a really tight community and they work and play well across the County.”

She is also is proud to report the league is nearly at maximum field capacity, with more than 500 players. “We are happy to see the number of athletes grow every year, particularly because our focus is to provide a healthy sports avenue for all kids in the community. We are entirely non-profit and offer scholarships to help parents for whom the fees present a challenge, or have siblings who all wish to play. We have a lot of fun and, being a recreational league, our kids are able to play anywhere.

We are also happy to have players from anywhere, which extends everyone’s playing time. It’s great when kids get to play with friends, even if they don’t live in Liberty Hill.”

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To facilitate play for all, the league relies on the many community volunteers who do every job from coach to concessions, and they also take gently-used equipment, which they loan or donate out for kids to practice at home; “We don’t want finances to be a hurdle to anyone’s ability to play,” April says.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT “Liberty Hill is amazing,” she continues. “People purchase equipment and uniforms for individuals or whole teams. Many do it anonymously so the kids can pick their own team name.”

April says their current need is for additional space to accommodate all the games. “All of our fields are on ISD property, or at Foundation Park but, without lights, we are booked to capacity. This year we are looking for support to find land or new sites that give us more room to play.”

She adds there is always a need for more good coaches and volunteers. “We know people have jobs and families to care for, so we appreciate when more parents, older kids doing service projects, and community members are willing to help out so we can save money, and everyone can enjoy the league without feeling like it is a second job.”

Everyone in the community is invited to support the league. Contact April or visit LHYL. org to sign up as a volunteer, driver, or food donor. For social distance safety, players are separated by fields, and games will be broadcast online for those who wish to cheer virtually.

OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

I N V I T E S YO U TO A

TOWN HALL

A p ri l 8 , 2021 ★ 7 p . m .

Shooting Star Ranch 1704 Co Rd 285, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

Pol. Ad. Paid for by Terry Wilson Campaign

Birthplace of Modern

Cheerleading T

here are many icons of American culture that did not originate in Texas, and cheerleading is one of them.

But, like barbecue, pageantry, and law enforcement, Texas went and made it better.

WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?

You may already know the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were not the first in the NFL, but they are about as famous around the world as Mickey Mouse so, whether that is the cause—or effect—of the Lone Star love affair with cheerleading, the sport is still going strong at all levels.

It should surprise no one that in a state that loves football so much, those on the periphery also enjoy a sense of connection and identity as participants in the culture of Friday night lights. In decades past, cheerleading created a social aspect that allowed girls and women who did not play sports to feel connected to teammates and their school. In recent years, as cheerleading has been elevated to a competitive sport, Texas has been equally intentional about being bigger, more creative, and nailing the most challenging stunts.

BACK(FLIP)STORY History books tell us organized cheerleading began at the University of Minnesota in 1898. Women were not invited to participate in the sport at all until 1923, but they brought the first tumbling and acrobatic elements to the routines.

TEXAS STEPS IN In 1939, the dean of Kilgore College in east Texas wanted to encourage more young women to enroll but also keep football fans in their seats during halftimes. With the help of Gussie Nell Davis, the first-of-its-kind Rangerette dance team brought entertainment to the field and

set the bar for on-field performance. The Rangerettes are still the gold standard and the world’s best-known collegiate drill team, performing coast-to-coast in the United States and on frequent world tours.

By the 1940s, professional teams began nurturing entertainment programs of all kinds, and the trend trickled downward.

While cheerleading was still a male-dominated activity, and had remained fairly exclusive to collegiate football, it was growing fast.

In 1948, cheer had grown so much at colleges and high schools that Lawrence Herkimer, a former cheerleader at Southern Methodist University, formed the National Cheerleaders Association, the organization that drew cheerleading off the sidelines and into the national spotlight.

Lawrence held his first camp in 1948 in Huntsville, Texas with 52 girls and one boy. His signature jump while a cheerlead-

what makes texas, texas er at SMU—the Herkie—is still one of the most popular jumps around the world. Today, NCA is headquartered near Dallas and remains one of the largest and most influential camp and competition organizations, holding hundreds of camps nationwide every year and more than a dozen televised championships.

Herkie also created the PomPon and held the patent for the stick with colored paper designed to attract fans’ attention and be more visible on television. Herkie created the “Spirit Stick” in 1957 as a reminder to teams of the importance of positive attitudes, leadership, and supporting the team and leading the fans. It is still a cherished award in cheerleading.

AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS While Herkie gave Texas the inroad to setting many standards for cheerleading, Dallas brought it to worldwide fame. Several NFL teams had cheer and pep squads in the 1960s and the Cowboys were no different.

The team’s Cow Belles and Beaux were a co-ed squad of local high school students who led traditional cheers on the sidelines. Then, in 1971, owner Tex Schramm, having watched the crowd’s reaction to exotic dancer Bubbles Cash walking down the steps in his new stadium, told his cheer director to find professional dancers who would add some glamour to the game.

OFF THE FIELD Texas loves cheerleading so much that many cities and towns have multi-generation dance and pom squads that raise money as well as spirit.

But, if you are a purist, Cheer Austin is an all-volunteer, community-based 501(c)3 now in its fourth season. Director Ernie Barrera says he wanted to be a cheerleader as a child but was told he should probably play football, so he wasn’t able to pursue that dream. Then, at age 35, he saw several “Cheer” teams at a parade and joined Cheer Chicago. “I decided if I ever moved to a city without one, I would create it. I think for many people, particularly in Texas, we just never get over it, even as our opportunities seem to end when we leave school.”

Ernie’s former and woulda-been cheerleaders don uniforms, practice weekly, and perform routines and stunts at parties, 5Ks, and other events in the Austin metro area. Money they raise supports local small non-profits that provide direct care services for those with life-threatening challenges. Their beneficiary this year is Strong Family Alliance and they are holding tryouts right now, virtually, if you want to stretch out your Herkie one more time! (CheerAustin.org)

The new dancers, and their star-spangled outfit, resulted in the birth of an image that changed sports entertainment forever, and that uniform has since been installed in the Smithsonian Institute as a permanent symbol of American culture. It did not hurt the DCC, or Texas’ reputation for being the best, when the ladies began appearing in television shows, USO tours, and even had their own DCC “Barbie” doll.

If that weren’t enough, you can watch or stream 15 seasons of “Making the Team” on the CMT network, which documents the annual tryout for those 45 hard-to-win spots on the Cowboys’ sidelines.

As popularity grew and tryouts for coveted spots everywhere got tougher, other not-so-flattering productions showed the world just how seriously Texas takes its cheerleading, including two television movies about the mom of a junior-high candidate who hired a hit man to kill the mother of a rival student. More recently, Netflix featured students at Navarro College in Corsicana in a docuseries about their journey to their 15th national championship.

The show got mixed reviews for content, but was praised nationally for demonstrating the superior, but often-overlooked athletic skills of many in the sport to a nationwide audience.

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Commitment Carved in Stone

J

oe Plunkett loves cemeteries. He is one of nearly two dozen volunteers in Williamson County who have made it their mission to repair and preserve the pieces of Texas history that our historic cemeteries represent.

Now in his fourth year with the Williamson County Cemetery Restoration Volunteers, Joe is the group’s expert on stone leveling and repair. He began his work as a weeder, the group that mows and clears brush, and, over time, he noticed little was being done to upright and level the stones. “Obelisks may be pushed over by trees, cattle, or vandals. We are an older group; and it’s no easy thing to lift stones 800 to 2,000 pounds, so some laid there for years. It is a complex job, but I am committed to it.” Joe built a portable hoist tripod that could right stones up to 2,000 pounds, and the group uses pinch bars to lift the bases.

He also has techniques to repair tablet stones, which break easily due to their shallow depth. “There are three types; limestone, marble, and granite,” Joe says. “Before the 1920s, limestone and marble were common because they were easier and cheaper to carve, but they are not as durable. We have many graves in settlements from the 1850s and they clearly show their age.”

Facebook/ WilliamsonCounty CemeteryRestorationVolunteers

They officially maintain 18 formerly neglected cemeteries in Williamson County, and last year, made more than 100 visitations to 23 cemeteries for grounds maintenance and stone work. Most of the time, volunteers pay their own expenses. But Joe says the County Historical Commission (WCHC) has recognized their efforts with $2,000 in donations for equipment, supplies, and signage to reflect their work at each site. Anyone can contribute to their work by donating to the WCHC and including the group in the memo/message.

A PASSION FOR HISTORY Joe and the team have a unique perspective on the history of the county as well as small towns that are little more than a crossroad or a mention on a map. He notes these cemeteries are not abandoned, just neglected, and connect us to the earliest residents of the area. For instance, the community of Gabriel Mills was absorbed into the City of Liberty Hill nearly a century ago, but the graves remain, despite being forgotten by everyone but the Restoration crew. “All these little towns and communities have a history, and the work fascinates us, particularly when descendants come out to help. Those moments bring it all home and maintain our connections between the living and the past.”

The CRV welcomes anyone who wishes to volunteer to help with the “yard work” of this labor of love. Contact the Williamson County Historical Society (WilcoHistory. org) for opportunities, or email WilcoCRV@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Joe Plunkett. Top: Leveling a stone at Davis Cemetery in Leander • Left: Connell Family tomb cover at Bear Creek

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advertorial

Always Something New at Inner Space Cavern

T

he cave at Inner Space Cavern has changed slowly over several million years but, today, even if you have been on a tour before, there is something new to see and do nearly every month.

The cave was discovered in 1963 when surveyors bored into bedrock at the future site of IH-35. Had they drilled the first hole 50 feet away, we may never have known about the wonders beneath that provide fascinating opportunities for education and amateur exploring.

ACTIVITIES BELOW There are three underground tours, depending on your preference for visuals and adventure. Plus, no matter how many times you take the tour, you’re certain to see, perhaps, a tiny and delicate formation, or unique feature on a huge rock flow for the first time. There’s so much detail, you simply can’t see it all in one trip—cave bacon, anyone?

The Adventure Tour is a guided walk on a paved and lighted trail to see the largest formations and the most decorated rooms. For more rugged types, the Hidden Passages tour provides guests with a flashlight to explore delicate formations in a newly-opened section of the cave. This undeveloped trail allows visitors a closer and more intimate view of the underground.

If you’re ready to channel your inner Indiana Jones, the Wild Cave Tour is a genuine spelunking experience— crawling and squeezing deep underground into tight spots, outfitted with headlamp and body pads. Cavers are rewarded with views of beautiful formations and large decorated rooms.

Regardless of your preference, the caves are always a cozy 72°, making them a good choice for year-round fun.

THE SABER TOOTH zip ride will provide passengers a bird’s-eye look of the Inner Space site, the cave entrance, and views of everything from Georgetown to Austin.

WHAT’S NEW? The best new thing at the cavern is actually 130 feet in the air. General Manager Taunya Vessels says the Cavern’s new zip ride, The Saber Tooth, should be operational by mid-March and is certain to be a breathtaking family experience.

“While it is part of our Inner Space experience, it is separate from our cave tours and packs plenty of excitement in a four-minute thrill-ride.

We hope it will become a new family destination, for all of Central Texas.”

The zip ride, which looks similar to a ski lift, begins on the south end of the property, lifts two passengers backward—facing south, for spectacular views of Round Rock and Pflugerville—then slopes them gently to the ground 630 feet away.

Taunya is also particularly proud of the new logo (above), designed by Round Rock senior and future

FAMILY FUN There are also many things to do at Inner Space if you prefer sunshine to sinkholes. Visitors can try their hand with the sluice to pan for gemstones, rare stones, and maybe even a fossil or two.

This is also the International Year of Caves and Karst, and expert staff have new projects and special events and projects every month to celebrate. Visit the website for activities, Home School and group tours, and special pricing for weekday tours.

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UT art major, Addie Hall. The Saber Tooth will also be managed and marketed by Maddie Brand, who began working at the cavern in high school, and has now made it her career.

Check the website for opening day information or visit Inner Space at 4200 S. I-35 Frontage Rd. in Georgetown.

InnerSpaceCavern.com • 512-931-2283

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by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com

worth the drive

Cameron Park Zoo 1701 NORTH 4TH STREET, WACO • (254) 750-8400 • CAMERONPARKZOO.COM OPEN M-S 9am-5pm, SUN 11am-5pm • TICKETS START AT $9.50

SAVING WILDLIFE When you visit the animals, you’re also helping them.

In addition to donating a portion of your admission ticket, the zoo has many standing campaigns that support operations in Waco, and conservation efforts around the world. In addition to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the zoo also supports organizations that help rhinos, orangutans, and more.

The Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society is the non-profit side of the zoo, which allows them to function as a 501(c) 3 organization. Marketing Manager Duane McGregor says, “Donors are very important to the Cameron Park Zoo’s education and animal care programs, field projects, and local and international conservation initiatives.” Anyone can participate in their giving campaigns and even $5.00 helps purchase enrichment toys like Kong feeders, which help keep carnivores stimulated since, as kept animals, they do not hunt.

I

f you’re looking for something fun to do with the family, and out in the world, the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco is open to visitors every day. Zoo staff confirm all of the wild animals are healthy and outside for viewing as long as weather is relatively clear and above 50°F.

MUST-SEE IN MARCH Springtime visitors are in for a treat at the Savannah exhibit! Its newest resident, born January 22, was 6 feet tall and weighed 135lbs, thanks to Penelope, the zoo’s Masai giraffe. This was her first calf, and the zoo’s first Masai birth. “Zeke” was named after the zoo held a fundraising contest to allow the public to choose his name, which raised $1,754 for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

While still very small for a giraffe, Zeke was already taller than all of his handlers at birth, gained 30 pounds in his first two weeks, and continues to grow rapidly.

When full-grown, Zeke will be the largest of the giraffes.

The Masai are the largest subspecies, found in Central and Southern Kenya and in Tanzania. They are known for distinctive, irregular, jagged, star-like blotches that extend to their hooves.

WHEN YOU GO All exhibits are open and guests are asked to wear masks when inside or visiting designated exhibits in which the animals are believed to be susceptible. Membership manager Kristi Webb says, even with restrictions, zoo attendance during the week is very light, and even Saturdays are generally under capacity. “Spring Break is a very busy time, but as a general rule, if you can find a parking spot in our lot, you will not be turned away. If not, maybe grab a quick bite in Waco and come back to check again and it’s likely some families have left and you can come on in.”

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ask the expert

Compiled from IRS.gov, Forbes.com, TaxAct.com

Looking at COVID-year Taxes

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e know 2020 was the longest year ever and, among other things, the IRS won’t let us forget it either. Following are some things to consider as you prepare your returns. Be sure to consult a tax professional for a careful review before filing, particularly if any of these situations apply to your tax situation.

Unemployment: Federal unemployment compensation is taxable and must be reported on a federal return (1099-G). Any of the special unemployment compensation authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted in Spring 2020, is taxable. m Includes any who received federally funded unemployment benefits, including those not traditionally covered (self-employed, independent contractors, and gig workers). m Funds received from Williamson County under the CARES Act (WilcoForward grants) is gross income taxable to a business. Sole Proprietors will receive a 1099-NEC from the County.

Gig work: If you picked up a side job for cash and netted more than $400, you must include it on your tax return as self-employment income. Make sure to note qualifying expenses that may reduce your net revenue and tax obligation (mileage, equipment, etc.).

EIC: Families who received unemployment income should also note, with regard to the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit—unemployment benefits are taxable, but not considered earned income.

Under normal circumstances, receiving unemployment would result in a reduction of both credits when you file your tax return.

Stimulus 1: Stimulus payments received from the government are not taxable. The IRS does not consider it income and it will not affect your refund or tax owed.

Stimulus 2: If you believe you were eligible for the Round 1 and Round 2 Stimulus payment, but did not receive what you expected, or received none at all, you can claim a Recovery Rebate Credit. E.g., if your income was lower in 2020 than 2019, you may be owed a partial credit. Or, if you were claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return in 2018 or 2019 but won’t be for 2020, you may be eligible for the credit.

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PPP Loans: The CARES Act says the forgiven loan amount is not included in taxable income. The December 2020 stimulus plan does allow you to deduct allowable expenses paid with PPP funds.

Retirement Account: If you took a CARES Act 401(k) or IRA distribution in 2020, you can report all of the income on your 2020 tax return, or in equal installments over three years. You may also recontribute money back into a retirement account and undo the tax consequences of the distribution. Note: For 2021, the rules returned to standard hardship and standard plan loan rules.

Charity: If you made cash gifts to charities in 2020, there is a new $300 above-the-line charitable donation deduction per tax return. That means that even if you take the standard deduction and don’t itemize, you can take the $300 charitable deduction. Just make sure you have receipts for your gifts; under $250 you can use credit card statements or cancelled checks. For gifts of $250 or more, you need a written acknowledgment from the charity.

Winter Storm Uri Extension: The IRS announced extensions for Texans in the federal disaster area. Individual returns, Partnership and S Corp annual filings, fourth quarter estimated payments, quarterly payroll returns, and 2020 IRA contributions are now due June 15.

FREE TAX ASSISTANCE The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of United Way is available to wage earners earning $57,000 or less. IRS-certified volunteers provide basic return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

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14362 W. State Hwy 29 Suite 102 Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Bus. 512-778-5217

seth.herbeck@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com/seth-herbeck

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Member SIPC

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2021 Board of Directors & Staff • Dax Oglesby - Director

• Daniel Duckworth - President • Mary Clare Spear - Vice President & Director of Recruitment & Retention Committee

• Jared King - Director

• Mariella Norman - Treasurer • Sabrina Jordan - Secretary t

• Kim Sanders - Director of Community Connections Committee

• Ginger Trevino - Director

t t

• Kelly Michael - Executive Director execdirector@libertyhillchamber.org 512-548-5533

Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce Membership Levels PLATINUM LEVEL - $575

(TOTAL VALUE $845)

Free Ribbon Cutting & Publish on Front Page of Local Paper/Social Media ($150) Chamber Plaque ($60) • Six Tickets to Lunch & Learn ($60) Six Months Free Banner Ads ($300) • Enhanced Listing in Online Chamber Member Directory ($60) • Additional Branch Listings ($10/Listing) Logo with Website Link in Weekly Newsletter ($20) • Promotional Flyer or Brochure in Visitor Guide Packets ($25) • Free Event & Job Postings on Website/Newsletter ($100) Discount to all Chamber Events & Networking ($60) • Lunch & Learn Sponsor Materials Displayed in Visitor Center Lobby • “Proud Member” Digital Icon • “Proud Member” Decal

GOLD LEVEL - $300

(TOTAL VALUE $620)

Free Ribbon Cutting & Publish in Local Paper/Social Media ($100) Chamber Plaque ($35) • Four Tickets to Lunch & Learn ($40) Four Months Free Banner Ads ($200) • Upgraded Listings in Online Chamber Member Directory ($50) • Business Recognition in Weekly Newsletter ($10) Promotional Flyer in Visitor Guide Packets ($25) • Free Events & Job Postings on Website/Newsletter ($100) • Discount to all Chamber Events & Networking ($60) Lunch & Learn Sponsor • Materials Displayed in Visitor Center Lobby “Proud Member” Digital Icon • “Proud Member” Decal

BRONZE LEVEL - $150

(TOTAL VALUE $270)

Listing in Online Chamber Member Directory ($50) Free Events & Job Postings on Website/Newsletter ($100) Discount to All Chamber Events & Networking ($120) Materials Displayed in Visitor Lobby “Proud Member” Digital Icon • “Proud Member” Decal

LibertyHillChamber.org · 1000 TX-332 Loop · Liberty Hill · 512-548-5533 24

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belle chimes in

Sno-VID Sno-V Perspectives R

emember when we had lockdowns and couldn’t find toilet paper or hand sanitizer and we were frustrated about our non-essential conveniences being taken away?

Then, Mother Nature said “Hold my beer...” and made me long for the at-least-we-had-electricity days of lockdown.

Now, dear readers, Belle knows the pandemic is no joking matter, but, like every meme you see on Facebook that generally enrages someone, think back to the days when satire was just supposed to make you smile as you pondered an idea. For me, as we neared the bottom of our wood pile, and I was pondering which bed frame to burn first, I couldn’t help thinking about how our “spectrum” of inconvenience changes as the universe says, again and again, “Oh, no, it can still get worse.”

But God is a great chess player and helps out in ways we wouldn’t (at the time) have imagined. Perhaps our deep freeze was Him finally throwing up His hands, saying, “Now maybe you will stay home with your own family like they told you. You’ve been preparing for this with Zoom calls for months.” Perhaps He cut the power so we could huddle in with family and teach our kids how to play Crazy-8s with actual cards like we kept saying we would if we only had the time, but...we still had Netflix.

Perhaps He also sent the snow first

so we would all have something to melt to use in the bathroom.

Perhaps He nudged my son to forget his water bottle for KidStrong class, precipitating my aggravated purchase of a whole case of water because I didn’t want to use a debit card for a single bottle. But, then, that case of water was all we had for three days. A month ago, I’d have been aggravated just being told to boil water, but today, using a faucet at all feels like a vacation.

I also hope, on a bad day, or my deathbed, I can fully summon the supreme joy of “The power’s back on! Find all the chargers... we’ve got 60 minutes! Go, go, GO!” game, and “Quick, somebody cook something!”

P.T.S.D.O.G.

I also might not have guessed how much I love my dog-that-can’t-swim until I midnight-body-slammed the icy brick around the pool and, crying, reached through a layer of razorsharp slush up to my shoulder to pull him out of the hole he punched through. Naturally, when the pool is liquid, he gives it a knowingly-wide berth but, apparently, when frozen,

it’s “Go” time. He slept the whole next day in front of the fire, like Leo DiCaprio fished him out of the North Atlantic.

Your blizzard story is surely different, but I’m hoping you might have had a providential moment or two in there somewhere. It’s just nice to know Someone is in control.

Still, on the negative side, I am now fully aware of what a lousy pioneer woman I would have made. It occurred to me, while I was pondering whether I could safely make toast over an open fire, my much hardier great-great grandmother might have been outside pounding grain on a rock to make bread. Then again, at least she knew how to do it, having always cooked everything with fire, and likely wouldn’t have been complaining about it. She’d have probably even said a little prayer of thanks that she had wheat in the first place.

Heck, even my grandmother would have had Jiffy Pop, which surely would have worked on a fire.

(Note to self for future grocery trip and prepper-food box.)

One thing I did enjoy in my metaphysical connection with my ancestors... reading paper books, and the Bible by candlelight was kind of nice.

I guess 21st-century living is still relatively easy, even when I think it’s not.

For now, the power is back on and this is the best microwave popcorn I’ve ever had.

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food

Irish Fare for Texas Fancy COWBOY IRISH STEW • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp coarse salt

• 1 Tbsp ground black pepper

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

• 2 1/2 pounds beef stew meat

1 medium onion, chopped

• 8 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups beef stock

• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

1large turnip, peeled and diced

• 3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 Tbsp spicy mustard or Dijon mustard It is believed the first Irishman in Texas was Hugh O’Connor. Born in Dublin in 1734, he left to serve in the Spanish military when England was ruling Northern Ireland.

He came to New Spain (Texas) in 1767, and served as governor until 1770.

Hugo Oconór (his Spanish name) helped reinforce San Antonio and participated in laying stones for the Mission San José church.

The Texas State Historical Association places 12 Irish-born heroes among those who died defending the Alamo in 1836.

The battle of San Jacinto found about 100 Irish natives among the troops fighting for Texan independence.

Many more Irish came to Texas because of the terrible Potato Famine that struck in 1845. During the American Civil War, County Galway-born Richard “Dick” Dowling led an all-Irish unit known as the Fighting Irishmen.

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• 3 carrots, cut in bite-sized pieces • 1 pound potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch pieces • 1 pound crimini or portobello mushrooms, cut in bite-sized pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 300°F. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large, oven proof pot over medium heat. Dredge beef in flour mixture and add to pot with garlic and onions. Cook until well browned on all sides, stirring occasionally. Add all remaining ingredients except parsley and mushrooms. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, stir well to incorporate the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cover and place in oven for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, add parsley and mushrooms and cook, covered, over medium heat for an additional 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve with a good crusty bread.

food

IRISH SODA BREAD MUFFINS WITH CHEDDAR AND JALAPEÑOS Proving that, in Texas, everything is better if you add cheddar and jalapeños!

• 3 c all-purpose flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp white sugar

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1-3/4 c buttermilk

• 1 egg

• 1/4 c butter melted

• 1 c shredded cheddar

• 4 jalapeños seeded and diced

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners, or spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk together buttermilk and egg together in a small bowl. Stir into flour mixture. Fold butter into the batter. Stir in shredded Cheddar, add diced jalapeños.

Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tin. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes.

IRISH BROWNIES • 1 c all-purpose flour

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 c unsweet cocoa powder

• 8 oz dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped

• 3/4 c white chocolate chips

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 c granulated sugar

• 1 c semisweet chocolate chips

• 10 oz Guinness Extra Stout beer, room temperature (no foam) • 2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar (approximate) for dusting • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into cubes

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.

Melt butter, bittersweet chocolate, and white chocolate chips in a double-boiler over very low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar high-speed until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).

Add melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined.

Mix flour mixture into melted chocolate mixture. Whisk in Guinness stout beer. The batter will seem a bit thin. Drop semisweet chocolate chips evenly on top of batter (some will sink in).

Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes on center rack in the oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let brownies cool, uncovered, until they reach room temperature. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving. Makes 3 to 4 dozen brownies, depending on how large you cut them.

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PARTING SHOT

Fun is Elementary!

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inter Storm Uri was a difficult experience even for grownups, but the principal and leadership team at Bill Burden Elementary School took those icy lemons and made some creative lemonade for their students’ return to school.

Principal Tanya Lambert explained the team had a three-fold goal for the first days back after power and water was restored. “We realized everyone’s home likely had laundry piled up; homes that did have water kindly conserved it for essential needs so there would be enough when it came back on for everyone. But we also knew the crisis put pressure on moms and dads to get things ready that first morning.”

The team also felt strongly that it was important no one really stand out from the crowd if they had no opportunities to shower or put on clean clothes. Plus, as elementary experts do, they made it fun. Tanya also gives credit to Liberty Hill High School for opening its doors to the public and offering showers for all.

Back at Bill Burden, leadership created “Mismatched Be-you-tiful” week. Students were invited and encouraged to wear whatever they wanted—pajamas, Halloween costumes, Christmas dresses, or mismatched anything. “Kids came back showing their amazing resiliency. We have awesome kids and amazing families, and we wanted to honor the trauma they had all been through.”

She adds that while everyone knew they would come out of it when the weather broke, Assistant Principal Elizabeth DeFrancisis pointed out some families struggle with days like this all the time. “It gave us perspective on what people are going through every day, and I was very proud to see our teachers reaching out throughout the week. They did laundry, made grocery trips, and generally helped wherever they could. I am happy to see all the good that came out of it.”

She reports the week-long celebration was a great release for everyone. “I think we might even do it again sometime just for fun. I kind of missed it the next week when I was getting ready for a regular day at work.”

From top: Miss Anderson’s 1st Grade Class Mrs. Kovar and 4th grader Tenley 2nd graders Fynnie & Scarlett 28

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by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy Liberty Hill ISD, used with permission

P.O. Box 213, Jarrell. TX, 76537

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON LIBERTY HILL, TX