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 fulfillment 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.
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
WHO WE ARE
In a world where daily headlines often drown out meaningful local stories, Liberty Hill Digest stands as a beacon of positivity and connection. More than just a lifestyle magazine, we’re passionate about telling the stories that define who we are as a community—through the people, programs, and values that help Liberty Hill thrive.
Since our launch in 2020, we've shared more than 550 stories highlighting the spirit of our city and have proudly mailed over 400,000 copies—free of charge— to keep our community informed, inspired, and united.
Our mission extends beyond the printed page. Each issue supports causes close to home, from promoting adoptable pets through the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter to spotlighting local nonprofits like L4 Cares. Our rotating nonprofit column creates space for advocacy, awareness, and connection.
We’re especially proud to showcase the heart of Liberty Hill—from students, FFA and 4-H youth, and Liberty Hill ISD to essential organizations like Operation Liberty Hill. Through in-depth features and cover stories, we honor those making a difference and inspire others to get involved.
Cultural touchstones like Whimsy & Wonder and city-wide events are celebrated not just as happenings, but as expressions of our shared identity. We also amplify the voices of first responders, veterans, and everyday heroes working behind the scenes.
Every November, our Giving Thanks & Giving Back issue reminds us of the impact of gratitude and community support, shining a light on the philanthropic efforts that make Liberty Hill stronger.
At its core, Liberty Hill Digest is more than a publication—it’s part of the community fabric. It advocates, educates, and celebrates. It reflects what’s good and possible when we choose to lift one another up.
We’re proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited about what’s ahead.
by Charlotte Kovalchuk and Ann Marie Kennon
Turning Backyards into Bird Havens
Wild Birds Unlimited: A Great Local Shop for Birdwatching Essentials
It starts with an ordinary backyard visit from a feathered friend. “One morning, you’ll spot a bird in your backyard and go, ‘Huh, I wonder what kind of bird that is,’ ” says Chris Darlington, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. What begins as a moment of curiosity quickly turns into a joyful obsession—complete with bird identification apps, multiple backyard feeders, birdwatching adventures in local parks, and, eventually, a trip to Chris’s beloved shop where nature lovers come to swap sightings and stories. “I love my customers and their passion for birds and nature in general,” she says.
A NEW KIND OF CLASSROOM
As a child in Michigan and Ohio, Chris was inspired by her mother’s love of birds and still notes sightings in her mom’s dog-eared Audubon book. She carried her passion for nature to the classroom and before she became a store owner, she taught elementary science for 15 years. “I just love sharing knowledge and, working in the store, I am still teaching about nature, just to a different demographic.”
She found her way to the Wild Birds Unlimited franchise when her neighbor explained that yes, anyone can get a 20-pound bag of birdseed from a big box store but she happily drives 30 miles to the Lakeline Wild Birds Unlimited to get hers. Once Chris tried another brand and no birds came to her yard, she was inspired. She got online that night, realized it was a franchise with over 300 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and the rest is history. She purchased the Lakeline store in 2012 and opened the Georgetown location four years later.
Her Wolf Ranch store is crammed full of products: tray feeders, cylinder feeders, bird baths, books, and nearly 7,000 pounds of seed and mixes per week. Although part of a nationwide franchise, Wild Birds Unlimited feels more like a cozy boutique and is staffed with local experts who not only love birds but go through extensive training. Chris notes that staff do not work on com-
mission and she never wants customers to have buyer’s remorse. “For instance, we have the best feeders but we will not sell you a bluebird feeder if there aren’t any bluebirds in your area. Plus, we carry only the best seed you can buy, and many of our seed cylinders are made in New Braunfels, Texas.”
Every staff member can and is excited to answer questions about seed, feeders, nesting, squirrel and critter solutions, local species, eating periods, and the best use of anything in the store to help nurture new hobbies and interests. Even as the owner, Chris often helps customers in the store herself. “My favorite place is out on the floor. People come in here because they like to talk about their birds. They could get their bird supplies at other places but they love to come here and talk about their birds and which ones they’ve seen.”
In the spring and summer, the conversation revolves around one beloved bird in particular—hummingbirds.
TINY BIRDS, BIG FASCINATION
With fall migration just around the corner, now is the time to keep your eyes peeled. For many bird lovers, spotting the first hummingbird of the season—often around St. Patrick’s Day—is like seeing an old friend. Their arrival marks the unofficial start of spring. But the real spectacle comes in autumn, when thousands of hummingbirds head south— many flying nonstop across the Gulf of America in an 18 to 22-hour journey that can span up to 600 miles.
These tiny creatures pack a big punch:
They’re the smallest birds on Earth and the only ones that can hover, thanks to their unique figure-eight wing beats.
Their wings flap 20–80 times per second, enabling speeds of up to 60 mph.
Their heart rates can exceed 1,200 beats per minute—and drop to 50 during rest.
They feed every 10 minutes and have incredible memories, often returning to the same yards year after year.
Their tongues capture nectar at lightning speed—up to 15 times per second.
Hummingbirds are found only in North, Central, and South America and thrive in a variety of habitats—from deserts to mountains to backyard gardens. During migration season, if you spot 10 at your feeder, chances are 50 may have passed through that day.
WALKING ALMANACS
Ready to begin your birding journey? Chris and her staff are eager to help, starting with a few simple but essential tips.
Keep feeders clean—especially hummingbird feeders, which need fresh nectar every two to three days in the summer to prevent mold that can harm the birds.
Make sure your birdseed smells sweet, not stale or rancid, and place feeders in open areas where birds can easily spot them—not tucked into dense branches.
When new birders visit the store, Chris’s team starts by asking a few simple questions about their yard and the birds they hope to attract—then helps them find just the right setup to bring those feathered friends flying in.
WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED IS LOCATED IN THE WOLF RANCH SHOPPING CENTER
1013 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE
SUITE 330 GEORGETOWN (next to ATI Physical Therapy) 512-763-1081 georgetowntx.wbu.com
IMAGE CREDIT CHRIS DARLINGTON
IMAGE CREDIT CHRIS DARLINGTON
CHAMBER CORNER
BUILD, GROW, THRIVE. Liberty Hill’s Business Landscape Is Booming
Liberty Hill, Texas, is rapidly emerging as a prime destination for businesses seeking growth, community engagement, and strategic advantages. Located just 40 miles north of Austin, this once-small town has transformed into a bustling hub of opportunity, making it an ideal location for entrepreneurs and established companies alike.
POPULATION GROWTH, COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Between 2020 and 2024, Liberty Hill's population surged by an astounding 236 percent, growing from 3,568 to nearly 12,000 residents. This rapid expansion is fueled by a supportive business climate. The EDC and ISD leadership are committed to accommodating this growth through significant infrastructure investments along with improvements to the educational process with a $23 million upgrade to Liberty Hill High School, a new Legacy Ranch High School, and the addition of an eighth elementary school. “Liberty Hill is experiencing a commercial boom with major retail developments,” Mayor Crystal Mancilla says. An estimated $75 million project will introduce a new Costco Wholesale and fuel station, while an estimated $22 million Target store is also under construction.
On the industrial front, the Platform 183 x 29 mixed-use project is set to deliver more than one million square feet of industrial space, positioning Liberty Hill as a competitive location for attracting large employers. To further enhance the city's appeal, this development includes plans for multifamily units and retail spaces.
STRATEGIC LOCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Liberty Hill's strategic position offers seamless connectivity to major transportation routes, including US-183 and SH-29, linking the city to I-35 and facilitating easy access to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport just 42 miles southeast.
DIVERSE AND SKILLED WORKFORCE
The city has a robust labor pool drawn from Williamson and Burnet Counties, totaling an estimated 378,000 individuals. Liberty Hill's local labor force exceeds 2,500, with more than 65 primary employers across industries like construction, metal fabrication, and wood products manufacturing. This diverse workforce supports a wide range of business needs, from manufacturing to professional services.
COMMUNITY-CENTRIC GROWTH AND REVITALIZATION
Despite rapid growth, Liberty Hill maintains its smalltown charm and strong community values. The city leadership and Economic Development Corporation are actively investing in downtown revitalization, creating a walkable destination with dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Projects like the acquisition of key downtown properties and the implementation of a Downtown Strategic Master Plan reflect the city's commitment to balanced development that honors its heritage while embracing the future.
WHY JOIN THE LIBERTY HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce is a vital partner for businesses aiming to integrate and thrive in the community. With 275-plus members, the Chamber offers networking opportunities, business visibility, resources, training, and advocacy. By joining the Chamber, businesses can connect with local professionals through networking events and increase their exposure to the growing community.
Liberty Hill, Texas, presents a compelling case for businesses seeking a dynamic, supportive, and strategically located environment. Its growth, robust infrastructure, skilled workforce, and community-focused initiatives make it an ideal place for businesses to start, grow, and succeed.
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
A New Way Home
Williamson County’s Microchip Stations Make Pet Reunions Easier
For pet owners, the idea of their furry friend going missing is a nightmare. But what if the path home didn’t have to start at a shelter? What if reuniting lost pets with their families could happen right where they were found—before the animals ever enter the system?
That’s the vision behind the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter’s (WCRAS) new Reunion Stations—a network of 24/7 microchip scanning kiosks set to pop up across the community.
These stations would allow anyone who finds a lost pet to scan for a microchip and contact the owner directly, skipping the shelter entirely.
The idea was sparked during a conversation among animal welfare professionals, including WCRAS Director of Animal Services Misty Valenta, about the confusing and often inconsistent messages given to the public on what to do when they find a stray. Wanting to provide a solution in her own community, she began looking into ways to help reunite pets and their families quickly. Around that time, she discovered a reunion station—once an old news-
paper stand transformed by a local Girl Scout troop into a microchip scanning kiosk. Inspired by its simplicity and ingenuity, Misty set out to bring the neighborhood pet reunion concept home to Williamson County.
Since then, the shelter’s team has been working on making microchip scanning a reality countywide. WCRAS’ Community Engagement Coordinator April Peiffer says, “We want to see the community take advantage of all of the tools available to them so when they find a lost pet, they can facilitate a reunion as quickly as possible, which may often mean never coming to the shelter at all. As word spreads, we hope other communities will choose to follow suit and make this the standard everywhere.”
The first official Reunion Station was installed outside the shelter’s Services Center in Georgetown, with plans to launch eight more in Round Rock. WCRAS hopes to eventually place a station in every zip code in Williamson County using GIS mapping to ensure strategic placement and accessibility.
While the project is still in its early stages—so far, no reunions have been logged through the new stations—the shelter’s team is optimistic about its ability to help lost pets get home faster. “We know most
pets are found within two miles of their homes,” Misty says. “By making microchip scanners available at all hours, we’re removing barriers and increasing the chances of a happy reunion.”
JOIN THE EFFORT
WCRAS is now actively seeking local businesses, churches, community centers, and individuals to host or sponsor Reunion Stations. Hosts simply need to provide an outdoor space accessible 24/7 and commit to light upkeep, such as battery checks and occasional wipe-downs. “This is a win for families, a win for lost pets, and a win for the shelter,” Misty says. “It frees up our resources for the animals who really need to be here.”
To get involved—whether by sponsoring a unit or becoming a host site—contact April Peiffer at april. peiffer@wilcotx.gov.
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
Love in Action
Liberty Hill Community Steps Up Following Flood
In the aftermath of the Central Texas flooding over the Fourth of July weekend, it wasn’t long before neighbors began stepping up. Among the first to jump into action were Liberty Hill ISD students, teachers, and staff, who fanned out across the community to lend a hand.
While school buildings were spared from damage, many students and staff weren’t as fortunate. “Several of our families were affected,” Interim Superintendent Travis Motal says. “Our students and staff volunteered to help out their friends and neighbors.”
Beyond individual efforts, LHISD partnered with the city and county to open school facilities as storage and distribution centers for food, clothing, and cleaning supplies. “Seeing everyone jump in without any hesitancy to help each other out is what LHISD is all about—building champions in academics, character, and community,” Travis says.
HEART OF LIBERTY HILL
Katie Amsler, the city’s communications director, described the early response as nothing short of overwhelming. “From the moment the floodwaters receded, our phones and inboxes were flooded with people asking how they could help,” she shares. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it—neighbors checking on neighbors, volunteers showing up before we even had an organized plan, and people just stepping into action. In the middle of so much devastation, what stood out was the heart of this community. The love, generosity, and willingness to serve others has been nothing short of inspiring.”
In response, the city quickly launched a website where residents could sign up to either request help or volunteer. This grassroots movement helped lay the groundwork for larger support efforts, including the Austin Disaster Re-
lief Network’s involvement. A major hub of the recovery was a community supply center launched by Cross Tracks Church and a dedicated team of volunteers. Meanwhile, local businesses provided meals, churches sent volunteer teams, and residents donated everything from bedding to boots. “The clean-up process is ongoing, but it has been powered by an army of volunteers and fueled by compassion,” Katie says.
While the city can coordinate logistics, the real impact, she adds, comes from the people—neighbors, churches, businesses, and volunteers—who stepped up without being asked. “This response has reaffirmed what we already knew—that Liberty Hill is resilient, united, and full of heart. We are proud to serve a community that shows up when it matters most.”
As of now, the City of Liberty Hill has received more than enough donations and is no longer accepting additional items. However, if you or someone you know needs assistance—or if you would like to volunteer—please visit experiencelhtx.com/ flood-disaster-relief for the most up-to-date resources and opportunities to help.
by Ann Marie Kennon
Dogs are still living their ancestral life—no boutique fitness apps, no $8 protein shakes, no self-consciousness about what their “summer body” looks like. Just vibes, naps, and suspicious holes in the backyard.
Meanwhile, we humans have gotten so good at survival (hello, grocery delivery and central air) that we had to invent entire industries to trick ourselves into moving again. A hundred years ago, arms day was just... Monday, because survival was the workout—grind the wheat into flour, churn the butter, run from bears, and beat the dust out of the rug and quilts until our deltoids were sculpted like Terry Crews' pecs.
Sometime in the 20th century, we evolved and specialized to the point that we have something that would make our ancestors want to punch us in the throat: leisure time And yet, here we are—sitting pretty in front of as much as 21 square feet of 4K TV and we still dare to sigh, "There’s nothing on," as we scroll past 150,000-plus hours of shows and content no one asked for. And that's just from the big four: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV.
In the 1960s, a coach in New Zealand told the world to "jog" for fitness, ostensibly because we hadn't been dragging deer carcasses through the snow while avoiding scavenging wolves for several decades. Just 60 years later, here we are—decked out in special clothes, buying treadmills and stationary bikes, and paying people $29.99 a month to yell "You got this!" through tiny screens. Meanwhile, our dogs lounge on the couch, and give us that now-you’re-just-embarrassing-yourself look.
If you’re cheap like me—and wise enough to realize movement doesn’t require an expensive subscription if you’d just get up and do it—you walk the dogs because you love them and it's a duty to their physiological well-being. In my 21st-century mind, “duty” is far more persuasive than “because it’s good for you” when it comes to me racking up 10,000 steps before dinner. Besides, my fur babies are basically dragging me along like personal trainers I don’t have to tip.
Walking three dogs at once is, often, less cardio and more like trying to knit a sweater with live ferrets—a cha-
Same Calories, Less Adventure
otic tangle of start-stop, start-stop, sniffs, lunges, and Gordian leash knots that definitely qualify me for a Boy Scout merit badge.
Still, I envy them because dogs haven’t changed. We have. They still believe in chasing squirrels for the thrill, rolling in the mud for the spa treatment, and shaking off pond swims with a full-body turbo spin. If only I could fling water with the same gleeful abandon without having to call a chiropractor and check my deductible. I still have a sore neck when I forget to pack my special pillow that probably cost more than my great grandmother's whole bed. Ah, survival skills!
Maybe we could learn a thing or two from our pets. Less self-punishment, more joy in movement. Less app-tracking, more stick-chasing. For canine companions, the dog days aren't about sweating it out in some fluorescent-lit spin dungeon—they’re about lying belly-up on the cool tile floor, no agenda except dinner and investigating that thing that looks like a piece of Milk-Bone that landed within a paw's reach under the couch.
In the end, maybe they’re onto something: life’s better when you live for the simple pleasures and move for the joy of it—not because your smartwatch said so.
Dogs still run for the sheer joy of it—no mileage trackers, no heart rate monitors, no sponsored playlists blasting motivational slogans. They move because it feels good, then flop down for a nap without an ounce of guilt. And maybe that’s why they always look so content—they aren’t burdened by screens, notifications, or the pressure to optimize every moment.
Meanwhile, we have been scrolling, comparing, and chasing digital dopamine hits until we forget what real play even feels like. Dogs don’t need an app to tell them to get outside or a wellness guru reminding them to “be present.” They just are
I’ve realized my own version of a digital detox isn’t really about turning off my phone—it’s about turning off my inner algorithm. That voice that insists I should be further along, thinner, more productive, and definitely drinking more water. I’m working on unfollowing her.
PARTING SHOT
Addison Thompson’s seventh birthday fell over the Fourth of July weekend, but with the Central Texas flooding, she and her family couldn’t celebrate the way they had hoped. “I thought she’d be upset, but she was more concerned about the families and pets being displaced,” her mom, Brittany, says.
Instead of focusing on the canceled plans, Addison asked if they could do something to help. “She’s just got a big heart for animals,” Brittany says. “She just got a puppy and knows it takes a lot to take care of them.” At first, Addison suggested a lemonade stand or bake sale, but with three kids at home, the family needed something that fit their busy schedule. That’s when Brittany, who owns a T-shirt company, had an idea: “What if we design shirts and donate the proceeds?”
by
Seven-Year-Old Turns Birthday Weekend into Mission to Help Animals
Through the end of August, all profits from shirts featuring Texas designs will go to the Williamson County Animal Shelter, which has taken in animals from flooded areas like Georgetown and Lampasas. “My mom said a bunch of animals went to the shelter, and they don’t have a bunch of money,” Addison says. “So we decided to make money so they can hopefully buy food, toys, and beds.”
Check out all the Texas-themed shirts on TheBAMcollective’s store on Etsy.
Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy Brittany Thompson
