December 2017 Hays County Echo

HAYS COUNTY

ECHO DECEMBER 2017

INSIDE:

Holiday gift-giving traditions, from making your own to buying local

HAYS COUNTY

ECHO is published monthly by Barton Publications, Inc 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX Contents © December 2017.

Publisher Cyndy Slovak–Barton Editor Moses Leos III Graphics Director David White Graphic Designer Christine Thorpe Contributing Writers Moses Leos III Samantha Smith Timothy Stuckey Maria Gardner

Contributing Photographers Moses Leos III David White

EDITOR’S NOTE

Get in the holiday spirit N

o matter where you go in Hays County, the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season are now upon us.

Walk into a store and you’re bound to find bright red and green ornaments strewn about, while the iconic sounds of brightly sung holiday carols and tunes fill the air.

Ah, yes, the holiday season is here and the Hays County Echo is celebrating right with you.

This month, we highlight several aspects of the holiday season and how it can impact our community.

Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the commercialism of the holidays. Reporter Timothy Stuckey reminds us that sometimes,

it’s the reason for the season that makes all the difference.

For some, the holiday season means a time to worship. Reporter Maria Gardner sheds light on the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Guadalupanas Society and their annual ritual of making a Tex-Mex holiday staple for a celebration to honor a patron saint.

The holidays are also a time when local, small businesses are able to obtain most of their business. We

Stockings Full Of Tradition And Love ........................ 3 Top 10 Reasons to Support Locally Owned Businesses........... 4

Marketing Tracy Mack Jim Darby Leon Vigil

Handcrafted with love: Say more this season with DIY gifts.... 6-7

Office Manager Wendie Hyer

The Guadalupanas: Local society expresses devotion through annual tradition................ 8-9

See the Hays County Echo online for free at www.HaysFreePress.com

Moses Leos III Editor

IN THIS ISSUE...

Distribution David White

For advertising information, please contact our sales department at 512–268–7862.

give insight this month on shopping local and why it’s important.

Purchasing a gift, however, may not be as heartfelt as a handmade one. Reporter Samantha Smith talks with a local crafter who wants to create gifts from her hands, but also from the heart.

Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of laughs, drinks and maybe the occasional “ho, ho, ho.”

We at the Hays County Echo hope you and yours have a safe and happy holiday season.

Thanks for reading and until next year...

Hays County Echo Service Directory............................ 10 Local Holiday Events..................... 12 Grub Buzz....................................... 14-15

ABOUT THE COVER:

Members of the St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church Guadalupana Society, a group devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe, make tamales for the Christmas Bazaar and for fellow parishioners. On the cover: Norma Garcia carefully places the meat filling in the corn dough before sealing the corn husk to complete a tamal on Nov. 4. (photos by Maria Gardner)

f o l l u f s g n i k Stoc e v o l d n a n o i t i trad

BY TIMOTHY STUCKEY

N

ot just presents or cards during the holidays – why do we give at all?

Why do we take time out of our day and money out of our pockets to put ourselves through stressful situations? Why do we stand in long lines, sift through heavy traffic and bring ourselves to the very edge of sanity?

Love.

A simple answer for such a powerful force, yet regardless of our personal reasons to give, the defining factor for why is simply love.

The love you have for your fellow man compels you to remember those who are less fortunate and slip that extra bill into the fundraising jar or volunteer your time to help serve food at a nonprofit organization. The ringing of laughter from friends and family sitting around the dinner table after preparing a large feast from scratch can reinvigorate a tired spirit, at least enough to escape before it’s time to wash the dishes.

Elbowing that stranger in the mall who got too close was kind of a gift on its own; however, the tears of joy in the

eyes of a spouse or significant other put the long lines and heavy traffic back in their insignificant places.

The hours of work wrapping boxes and tying bows only to have it furiously and mercilessly torn asunder by tiny fingers are made worth it when you witness the look of pure bliss on your child’s face. Love is also the reason my grandmother continues to hang a stocking for my cousin who passed away years ago.

Every year one of my favorite gifts is the Christmas stocking my grandmother hangs up for me and all her other grandchildren. The stocking also contains oranges, apples, walnuts, a few candy treats and the holy grail: McDonalds Dollars. The fruit and nuts are added to remind us where we come from as my grandmother grew up on a small farm in East Texas.

Her father would spend the days tilling the fields and harvesting crops while her mother would take care of the home and their five children.

As a poor farming family in the 1930s, Christmas was far from the large and extravagant affair it has become today. It was humble, small

and quiet. Gifts were usually practical because they had to be and often my grandmother and her siblings were given fruits and nuts in lieu of toys.

During one particulary tough year, a harvest had failed and my great-grandparents were left with barely enough money to survive until the next planting season.

When Christmas came, they managed to gather a small tree and at least one toy for each of their five children – a small doll for the girls and a wooden truck for the boys.

Ashamed that they couldn’t afford more than this, they wept in front of the tree and their humble gathering – afraid that their children would be disappointed. Come morning however, not only were the children not dissapointed, they were so grateful for the gifts “Santa” had brought that my great grandparents were brought to tears once again.

Except this time, they were tears of joy and relief.

In rememberance of this, Christmas stockings are hung on my grandmother’s mantle to remind us not only from where we have come, but that with love, we can survive anything as a family.

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Top 10 Reasons to Support Locally Owned Businesses 1. Local Character and Prosperity

In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

2. Community Well-Being

Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes.

3. Local Decision-Making

Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impact of those decisions.

4. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

5. Job and Wages

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

6. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship fuels America’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.

7. Public Benefits and Costs

Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls.

8. Environmental Sustainability

Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers – which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss and air and water pollution.

9. Competition

A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

10. Product Diversity

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of choices.

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Visitng local market days is an easy and fun way to support local entrepreneurs and get more in tune with your community.

...and thank you to our

wonderful community for the GIFT you are to us. page 5

Handcrafted with love Say more this season with DIY gifts

By Samantha Smith

S

traightening her fabric and smoothing out an errant seam, Kyle resident Andrea Slaughter reflects on a current project she’s undertaking.

For Slaughter, her hard work goes toward her preference of making holiday gifts, as opposed to buying them for loved ones.

In a world filled with technology, the practice of gift-giving has evolved over time from a desire to show one’s love for another with a special gift to a competition to buy the best, most popular trendy gift of the season.

But there are many people, like Slaughter, who are trying to resurrect the practice of giving handmade gifts to

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“The memory of you buying something is not the same as the memory of you making something.”

–Andrea Slaughter, crafty Kyle resident

loved ones instead of mass-produced trinkets.

“With iPads and iEverything these days technology keeps going further and further and gifts are becoming more impersonal,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter said her love of giving handmade gifts to people began at childhood when she saw everyone else in her family giving gifts to others and wanted to be able to give people gifts too.

“Growing up we didn’t have a lot of

money so as a kid I would have to make gifts for my mom and dad,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter said she began by giving homemade baked treats to her family and friends. She then started a tradition with her best friend years ago to make gifts instead of buying them.

That eventually grew into a creative outlet for Slaughter.

“The memory of you buying something is not the same as the memory of

you making something,” Slaughter said about the experience of making gifts.

In fact, Slaughter said when she and her boyfriend of three years started dating, she told him she preferred handmade gifts as opposed to store bought gifts.

He quickly got on board and joined in the tradition.

Slaughter said this holiday season, she is making her boyfriend a set of whimsical handkerchiefs that was inspired by a trip to Target last year. She saw him admiring a package of monogrammed handkerchiefs as a gag gift to wear as pocket squares.

She said she watched several You Tube videos in order to learn how to gauge the measurements to make her own hand-

Here are a few easy DIY gift ideas BAKED GOODS

A classic holiday present, homemade tasty treats will be appreciated by almost everyone. Be aware which recipients have allergies or other health restrictions to avoid issues. Make it festive with themed cookie tins or ribboned mason jars.

TREE ORNAMENTS

kerchiefs and has perfected the process since last year.

“It’s actually a whole lot more fun making a gift rather than going to a store, fighting the crowds, and then buying a gift,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter also believes that a person receiving a handmade gift seems to appreciate it more than a store bought gift. She felt the reason centers on the thought, time and effort that went into making the gift.

“The entire time that you make that gift your heart is in it,” Slaughter said.

“It’s a lot like you, it’s not perfect but it’s

made perfectly with love,” Slaughter said about the beauty of giving handmade gifts.

Slaughter said that an idea that was born out of necessity to not spend too much money during the holidays became a fun, creative tradition that she plans on passing down to her own children.

“I truly believe that I’m going to pass this on to my kids because the whole point of gift giving isn’t to be perfect but for the gift to symbolize how much a person means to you based on the love and effort put into making it,” Slaughter said.

There are tons of ways to put together a unique and memorable tree ornament that will be used for years to come using little more than ribbon and hot glue. Build Santa’s sleigh out of popsicle sticks, make a tree out of wine corks and tinsel or make a Christmas star by wrapping yarn around festive cardstock. Make ornament making a family tradition – cut a 1/2” slice off of the bottom of the trunk of your tree, let it dry out a few days and use a woodburner to mark it with the year.

RECIPE IN A JAR

This easy gift can be put together anytime and kept in the pantry in case of a giftgiving emergency. Pick your favorite simple cookie, brownie, cake, coca or quickbread recipe, stack dry ingredients in a glass jar and attach a handwritten cooking instructions with a ribbon.

Classic festive favorite mix options include peppermint brownies, hot cocoa, cinnamon spice muffins and snickerdoodle cookies.

BUY, THEN DIY

Cheap DIY starter options can be found at local stores. Buy a cheap case of plain tree ornaments and contact your local newspaper office for newspapers from dates that are important to your recipient. Apply modge podge to the outside of each ornament, cover with strips of newspaper with the date showing, let dry and apply two coats on top of the paper.

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Las Guadalupanas

Local society expresses devotion through annual tradition

by Maria Gardner

T

he sounds of Mary Lou Rizo and Janie Rubio striking knives onto cutting boards slicing cooked pork meat echoed in the kitchen.

Sophia Ramirez, who at 86 years old is one of the oldest members of the St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church Guadalupana Society, a group devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe, stood at the stove occasionally prodding chopped meat that was simmering in maroon salsa made of chile guajillo and pastilla, garlic, cumin and salt.

All three are part of a group comprised of mostly women that annually makes tamales en masse for their church community. While tamales are a Central Texas holiday food staple, or in some cases given as a gift similar to homemade cookies placed in a tin can, these corn dough, meat filled delicacies from the Guadalupanas hold a much higher purpose.

At St. An-

Lydia Cisneros ties up a batch of tamales that puts the Guadalupanas closer to their goal of 600 dozens for the Christmas Bazaar and Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. (photo by Maria Gardner)

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thony’s Church, the Guadalupanas ego, an indigenous peasant during make tamales to sell at the church’s Mexico’s colonial period, to gather Christmas Bazaar. But the tamales roses not common in the area in are also given out his tilmátli (a during the feast of piece of cloth their devoted on found tied to While tamales Dec. 12, said Janie the waist), said are a Central Rubio, vice presDeacon Aurelio ident of the GuaMedina.

Texas holiday dalupana Society.

After meeting The celebration, a church official, food staple, or in which includes a Juan Diego 5 p.m. mass and dropped the some cases given a mariachi band roses and what playing a tradiappeared on his as a gift similar tional birthday humble tilmátli to homemade tune from Mexico, was the image of is then followed Mary. cookies placed in Virgin by the Guada“It could be lupanas inviting you, it could be a tin can, these the community to me, it could be partake in a variany of us that corn dough, meat ety of goodies. she appears to,” Along with the Norma Garcia filled delicacies tamales, the Guasaid. from the dalupanas also The Virgin offer pan dulce, Mary’s appearGuadalupanas or Mexican sweet ance to an indigbreads, coffee enous man, who hold a much and champurawas considered do, which is a person low in higher purpose. a hot drink society at the made of time, demoncornmeal and chocolate. strated that everyone has value.

All of it is done in homGarcia said that’s what drew her to age to the patron saint they the Guadalupanas. serve.

For some, making tamales has It was on Dec. 12 that devbecome a decades-long ritual. otees believe the Virgin of GuadaRamirez has made tamales with lupe called on Juan Dithe Guadalupanas since 1955, after she married her husband and moved to Kyle from San Marcos where she was born and raised.

At earlier times, the meat was derived from a pig’s head and cooked in a wood burning open fire; the dough was made from freshly ground corn.

Making tamales has always been a full-time job. Rizo said the amount of work and time it takes to make tamales is what discourages her children from making tamales on their own.

Prior to preparing the meat,

Left: Alicia Ganez, a longtime member of the Society of Guadalupanas, works in the tamale assembly line for the upcoming St. Anthony’s Church’s Bazaar and for the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Right: Some of the Guadalupanas who were making tamales pose for a picture at the end of the day Nov. 4, a bit tired but happy with the progress they made: (l-r) Norma Garcia, Mary Alvarado, vice president Janie Rubio, president Lizzet Montero, treasurer Rosario Barrientes, secretary Lydia Cisneros, Mary Reyes-Valle, and Alicia Ganez. (photos by Maria Gardner)

the Guadalupanas wipe down the corn husks and groom them by removing any fuzzy hairs that splintered it. When that part of the process is complete, the Guadalupanas often have three large coolers of ready to go corn husks.

About 14 women and one man made up the tamale assembly line the next day.

Some added masa to a corn husk with what looked like a spatula, while another smoothed out the masa before adding the meat in the middle then folded the corn husk till the filling was mostly sealed.

“82,” yelled, Alicia Ganez, who announced the number of dozens that had been completed so far that day.

Ganez then placed the newly finished dozen into a box that will be sent to Bon Ton Market in Uhland, which volunteered space in their freezer for the tamales. The Guadalupanas only needed 38 more dozens to hit their goal for that day.

Throughout their work, the women are heard sharing stories, laughing, taking breaks to show pictures of their grandchildren’s latest achievements.

It’s these times that help to build community, Ganez said.

A cultural expression of their Mexican heritage, a show of devotion to their Virgen de Guadalupe and a commitment to each other. Those are just some of the reasons the Guadalupanas continue to gather in their pursuit of making tamales.

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Hays County Echo Service Directory AIR CONDITIONING APC Service, LLC

Electrical, A/C, heating Commercial and residential.

Free service call with repair.

512–295–4023 www.APCServicePros.com

NEMEC Heating and Air

Proudly serving Central Texas.

Residential, commercial and after hours available. chris@nemecheatingandair.com 512–312–9081 512–789–5132

AUTOMOTIVE AMM Collision Center

Three great locations!

Kyle: 21681 IH–35, 262–1013 Austin: 11740 Manchaca Rd., 292–1060 Dripping Springs: 3990 Hwy 290, 512–894–3888

Buda Automotive

You know us... by our reputation!

Full service car & truck repair.

601 S. Loop 4 in Buda 512–295–2832

Central Garage, LLC

Complete Auto Repair, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

20 Hwy. 290 West, Dripping Springs 512-894-4114 or 512-858-4252

COMPUTER SERVICE Hays Technical Services

Want help selecting the best value?

Office systems not maintained?

Did your kids or employees leave your computer useless? mike@ haystech.com

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DIRT Rick-Rob Trucking

Loam, topsoil, sand, gravel, roadbase, asphalt millings, granite, compost mix. Tractor work available. Specializing in country driveways.

512-858-7952. robinnds@aol. com, www.rick-rob.com

GLASS SERVICE Berry Glass Company

Commercial and Residential Contract glazing, storefronts, insulated glass, furniture tops, tempered glass and mirrors.

Framed & frameless tub & shower enclosure.

5360 Industrial Way Dr., Buda, TX 78610. 512–312–2767

FENCING HTC Fence & More

Wood fences built right. Repairs, gates, post replacements, fully insured. Mowing $45 for standard yard (mow, edge & cleanup). Free estimates, veteran owned.

830-556-7445

LANDSCAPING Daniel Stone & Landscaping Supplies

We deliver. Grass: St. Augustine, Buffalo, Bermuda, Tifway.

Chopped rock, patio rock, flagstone, drystack, gravel, river rock, mulch, sand and loam.

12015 Hwy 290 W, Cedar Valley, Austin. 512-288-8488.

Who Does Your Lawn

Call Jesse Reyna at 512-7882180 or email apa6207@ sbcglobal.net Offering competitive pricing and superior service in the Manchaca, Buda, and Kyle area since 2010.

Taking care of all lawn needs so you can play. Mowing, trimming, edging, debris removal, flower bed maintenance

LEGAL SERVICES John A. Hall

Attorney and Counselors At Law Business law, wills, trust, probate, family law, divorce, custody, consumer law, deceptive trade, property law, landlord–tenant law, personal, injury, DWI, criminal defense, debt defense, general civil litigation. 130 Hall Professional Center , Kyle, TX. 512–268–6425

PLUMBING Prince Plumbing Company

Residential repair, remodeling, water heaters, sewer maintenance, slab & gas leak repair. 20 years experience, family owned and operated.

512–312–0710

POOL SERVICE G&S Pool and Spa Service

Serving South Austin, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Kyle and Buda since 1994. 512–326–4695. www.gspoolspa.com

High Tide Pool Service

Over 10 years cleaning and maintaining pools. Drain & cleans pressure washing, full service repairs, replastering. Free estimates, call Keith Miller at 512 965-3465.

REAL ESTATE Christy DeWolfe

Residential & commercial real estate. 512-284-4126, christydewolfe.com

REMODELING Tri–County Construction

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Specializing in custom remodeling and insurance repairs since 1984.

Fully insured. 512–282–6224

Wild West Remodeling

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Kitchen/bath remodels, painting, tile, siding, decks, trim, door & window replacements, drywall repair, electrical and plumbing.

Curtis Dorsett, 512–402–4704

ROOFING Area Roofing Company

Serving Hays County. Residential & Commercial. Free estimates.

Insurance claims welcome. Ron Johnson, owner. 512–312–5050

Wrangler Roofing

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SEPTIC SERVICES All American Wastewater Solutions, LLC

Septic problems... Let us help!

Locally serving our community since 1982. Septic repair and installation specialist, septic tank pumping and servicing, aerobic system servicing and more.

Commercial and residential. www. allsepticcheck.com, 512–282–3889.

Sellman Enterprises, Inc.

Septic plumbing, cleaning, repairs Commercial & Residential Serving the Hays Metro area, including Travis, Blanco, Bastrop, Williamson & surrounding counties.

512–312–0002 www.SellmanSepticServices.com

SHOE REPAIR Austin Shoe Hospital

Quality boot & shoe repair as well as purse and luggage repair.

Ten locations in Central Texas including: Ben White & Manchaca, 512-440-8788; Hwy 290 & Nutty Brown Rd., 512-827-3398; and Hwy 290 in Oak Hill, 512-2886386.

TREE SERVICES Lees Trees

Firewood, pruning, tree removal, chipping, planting, cedar posts, bulk mulch. Free assessments & estimates. Affordable oak wilt treatment. Schedule ball moss treatment for June. Call Marcus Lees at (512) 858-4018, leestrees@vownet.net

WINDOW TREATMENTS Made in the Shade

Custom window treatments at affordable prices. Graber, Hunter Douglas, Norman and more.

Blinds, shades, draperies and shutters. Low prices with lifetime guarantees and fast professional installation. Call 512-847-8970, www.madeintheshadeofwimberley. com

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BUDA TRAIL OF LIGHTS

Local Holiday Events Nov. 25-Dec. 28 EmilyAnn Trail of Lights

Head to Wimberley to celebrate the 20th annual festival at EmilyAnnTheatre and Gardens. Enjoy more than 100 lighted exhibits created by Wimberley businesses and organizations 6-9 p.m.

Sundays-Thursdays and 6-10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. The trail is free, but donations are welcome. Roast a marshmallow at the Yule Log, listen to live music and meet Santa. Get details at emilyann.org

Nov. 29-Dec. 2 Dec. 6-9

Sights and Sounds of Christmas This year’s Sights and Sounds festival has expanded to two weekends featuring carnival rides, arts and crafts, pictures with Santa, local school performances, live nativity scenes and more.

Gates open nightly from 5-11 p.m. at San Marcos Plaza Park. Santa arrives in a different, unique way each night. See a full schedule of events at sights-nsounds.org.

Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Budafest

This annual Christmas celebration will celebrate its 38th year with an expanded schedule of events. On Thursday and Friday, enjoy a carnival from

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4-10 p.m. at Buda City Park. On Saturday and Sunday, festivities include carnival rides, an artisan workshop, a snow slide, pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and more. At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, celebrate the season with a holiday parade with a downtown lighting ceremony.

At noon on Sunday, give your pooch a chance to shine in the “Reindog” parade through downtown Buda. See budafest. org for more information.

features lighted and decorated displays that are provided by local businesses and organizations. Visitors can walk the lighted trail in the park to view the exhibits, sip hot chocolate, and meet Santa. See the spectacles of the holiday season at this annual event from 6-10 p.m. nightly. Senior Citizen Night (RSVP only) will be held Dec. 7, 6-8 p.m. RSVP to Senior Night with the Buda Parks Department by calling 512-295-7170.

Dec. 2

Dec. 9

This annual event will feature an old-fashioned holiday celebration on Mercer Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music and entertainment, arts and crafts booths, kids games and activities, a trackless train and pony rides, photos with Santa Claus and more. The annual Lighting of the Tree will be held at the Triangle at 6 p.m.

Enjoy the enchanting lights and music of the season as you make your way around the Wimberley Square for holiday shopping from 5-10 p.m. at this annual event. Enjoy a family-friendly evening of live music, raffles, food and more. Santa arrives at 6 p.m.

Christmas on Mercer

Wimberley Market Days

On Saturday, Dec. 2, from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. head to the Lions Field in Wimberley for this free monthly event featuring locally made goods and live music. Work on your holiday shopping at one of the largest outdoor markets in the area. For more information visit shopmarketdays. com.

Dec. 8-9, Dec. 14-17 Buda Trail of Lights

Trail of Lights is a free holiday event held at Historic Stagecoach Park that

Wimberley Winter’s Eve

Homespun Holiday

Head to Dripping Springs’ Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead for this free annual event from noon to 2 p.m. Take your photo with Santa next to the covered wagon, enjoy holiday refreshments, listen to Christmas books readings, make Pioneer ornaments, and tour the Pound House and see all the Christmas decorations. It’s fun for the whole family.

Dec. 15-17

Starlight Symphony Orchestra Celebrate the holidays with the Starlight Symphony Orchestra’s performance of its holiday series “Innovative

Traditions.” The orchestra will have three performances this season: Dec. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. at the Hays PAC Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. at the Wimberley First Baptist Church. Warm up with some cozy tunes performed by talented local musicians.

Dec. 16

Blue Christmas Blue Christmas is a free annual holiday event at Blue Hole Regional Park featuring horse carriage rides, an ugly sweater contest, a roaring fire, local music groups, Santa, and blue lights everywhere. The event begins at 4 p.m.

“Elf” will be playing in the swimming area beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets. For more info call 512-660-9111.

Jan. 1

Polar Bear Splash Splash in the new year on Jan. 1, 2018 at the Kyle Pool with this 14th annual tradition. There is no admission charge to take part in the annual Polar Bear Splash. Pool gates will open at 1 p.m. and the splash willl occur at 1:30. At 2:30, the pool will close until Memorial Day weekend. Rain-out make-up day will be Tuesday, Jan. 2 at the same time and place. If you have questions about the event please email Taylor Ray at parks@cityofkyle.com or call 512-562-2476.

PrePlanning • aftercare Program cremation • traditional ServiceS

FARMERS® Debbie Thames Insurance Agency AUTO • HOME • LIFE BOAT • HEALTH

FM 2770 & Kohler’s Crossing • 1715 Kirby, Kyle, TX 78640 in Plum Creek

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Texas Lehigh Sudoku Solution, from page 7

251 N. FM 1626 #2C • Buda, TX 78610 Office: (512) 312-1917 • Fax: 312-0688 Email: dvthames@austin.rr.com Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Your Business & Referrals Are Appreciated

Get all the latest news in Buda, Kyle and surrounding communities at

HaysFreePress.com

www.

Austin Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic Pediatric and adult care

www.AustinENT.com

Hearing Aid & Audiological Services • Programming • Fittings • Cleaning & Repairs • Earmolds • Custom Ear Plugs • Hearing Protection Michael Yium, MD

Ear & Hearing

• Chronic Ear Infections • Hearing and Balance Evaluation • Tinnitus (Ringing in Ears) • Dizziness & Vertigo

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Mark Dammert, MD

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Throat, Head & Neck

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Two locations to serve you KYLE

LOCKHART

1180 Seton Pkwy Ste. 420 Kyle, TX 78640 512-268-5282

1005 W. San Antonio Ste. A Lockhart, TX 78644 512-444-7944

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Grub Buzz

PIES FRIES TACOS ENCHILADAS SOUPS WINGS BARBECUE BURGERS SANDWICHES SNACKS COCKTAILS

Celebrate the holidays with us!

Serving breakfast and lunch and now open for dinner

Now accepting holiday parties and family events 100 N. Main Street in Buda

| (512) 312-4387

|

www.BrooklynsDownSouth.com

Dine In or Take Out! Lunch H Sandwiches Desserts H Casseroles WEEKDAYS: 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

SUNDAY: Closed On the Square in Downtown Kyle 202 West Center Street | 512-268-5885 See our online menus at TexasPieCompany.com

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u

december | 2017

HOLIDAY SEASON PIES

DON’T WAIT - ORDER TODAY Holiday or Company Parties?

Our Quiches, Casseroles and Baked Goods are perfect!

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK (Like us even better in person)

Want to join Grub Buzz?

Call Tracy at 512-268-7862 or email ads@haysfreepress.com to advertise your restaurant today.

OH OH OH

FOOD DRINKS LIVE MUSIC HOURS Mon-Thurs, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sunday, 4-10 p.m.

HAPPY HOUR 3-7 p.m. Mon-Fri

DOG FRIENDLY!

(512) 295-0121

| 116 N. Main Street in Buda

Get a taste of local flavor at these homegrown restaurants

Custom Gift Baskets

Craft Beer & Fine Wine Free Gift Wrapping

Homemade Cakes

Great Cigars

Pies & Cookies

Party Catering

Bulk Soups

10% Off Wine Buys

Deli Trays

(6 bottles or more)

No sauce.

No forks.

No kidding.

GERMAN-STYLE BARBECUE RESTAURANT IN LOCKHART, THE BARBECUE CAPITAL OF TEXAS!

Business Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Closed Sunday

619 N. Colorado St. • Lockhart, TX 78644-2110 Phone: 512-398-2361 • Fax: 512-376-5576 kreuzmarket@sbcglobal.net

Buda, Texas – EST. 2015 –

WWW.PROOFLIQUORANDDELI.COM Next to the Buda Fire Dept. at FM 967 & FM 1626 • 512-361-0152

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Happy Holidays from the doctors & staff at ARC!

MaryAnn Cecelia Katherine Gamble, MD

Margaret “Molly” B. Gilmore, MD

Michael (Mike) Ward, MD

FAMILY MEDICINE

FAMILY MEDICINE

PEDIATRICS

ARCconnectedcare.com ARC Buda

NOW OPEN! Buda Sportsplex Dr

967 Wiley Way

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3420 FM 967 Suite B-100 Buda, TX 78610 1626

december | 2017

Clinic Hours Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 5pm Lab Hours Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm

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