WAYA Marks 45 Years of Empowering Youth and Strengthening Community
On February 12th, the West Austin Youth Association ( WAYA) marked its 45th anniversary at its Legacy Luncheon. The event brought together past and current board members, community volunteers, financial supporters, and WAYA staff to celebrate the organization’s continued success in serving local youth and families.
Brent Metschan, WAYA’s current president, kicked off the event with a heartfelt thank-you to attendees for their ongoing support. Family Day Chairs Katie Romano, Linsey Nixon, Wesley Joseph, and Jessica Pieratt unveiled the theme for Family Day 2025 — “WAYA City Limits” — and invited everyone to join the festivities on Friday, April 11th.
WAYA Executive Director Melissa Morrow thanked the event’s sponsors, including HEB, for providing lunch and presenting sponsor Dell Children’s Ascension. She commended the chairs, past board members, and staff for their tireless efforts to create a place where children and families can thrive.
During her address,
Morrow honored past board members for their vision in creating a safe, fun space for children to play, learn, and grow. “You have made a place (WAYA) where kids can learn life lessons on the field and in the classroom every single day. How to play, win, lose
and be a good sport no matter the outcome. To play with integrity, to make friends, and sometimes after a hard-fought game, lose graciously and then have the resilience to show up for the next game ready to go and have fun.” she said.
WAYA’s Director of
safety and functionality of the complex. He also announced the groundbreaking of a new, state-of-the-art multipurpose field, which will be completed this spring. “This field isn’t just about aesthetics- it’s about safety, performance, and longevity,” Morrison stated.
future; teach them well and let them lead the way.” She reminded the audience that WAYA’s community is here to support children through their growth, fostering an environment where they can have fun, learn resilience, and build lasting memories.
Operations, Rich Morrison, shared exciting updates on facility improvements and future plans. Recent upgrades, including new LED gym lights, gym garage doors, additional storage space, and parking lot paving, have enhanced the
The new turf field will feature a Brock pad underneath to reduce injury risk and a natural infill to keep it cooler and more eco-friendly.
Preschool Director Yvette Aguilar concluded the program with an inspiring quote from Whitney Houston’s song,
The Greatest Love of All: “I believe the children are our
As the event ended, attendees were reminded of the powerful impact of their vision and commitment, knowing that their support has changed the lives of children for the better. In the spirit of WAYA’s mission, Aguilar left everyone with a heartfelt reminder: “As you go, always remember to play, play, play!”
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The Salvation Army Austin Hosts Luncheon with Peter Zeihan
Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical strategist and author, presented at a luncheon at The Headliners Club in Austin, Texas, benefiting The Salvation Army Austin. Following his presentation, there was a live Q&A session. Tom Sweet, Curtis Ford, and Major Lewis Reckline from The Salvation Army spoke about their involvement with the organization and the importance of The Salvation Army Austin’s mission.
Zeihan, known for his expertise in global affairs, founded Zeihan on Geopolitics in 2012 after serving as vice president at Stratfor. All proceeds from the event support The Salvation Army Austin, which provides a range of vital services in Central Texas, including shelter, housing assistance, job support, childcare, therapy, and more. For more information, visit salvationarmyaustin.org.
Around the Neighborhood:
Cactus Café at the UT Student Union celebrates its 45th year of live music this month. Billboard named Cactus Café one of 15 “solidly respected, savvy clubs” nationwide “from which careers can be cut, that work with proven names and new faces.” February’s music celebration kicked off with a night with local artist Darden Smith, and included during the month a jazz night with local Rabbi Neil Blumofe and two sold out performances with Ray Wylie Hubbard. Songwriters’ Open Mic is on Tuesday nights through April 22. See cactuscafe.org It’s My Park Day all over Austin on March 1. Register for Perry Park’s Mulch Madness or Deep Eddy and Eilers Park Cleanup or Ligustrum Destruction at Allandale Shoal Creek Greenbelt at austinparks.givepulse.com or choose dozens of other park projects around town. Last spring more than 3500 volunteers at 100 park projects removed 42,000 pounds of trash and spread 816 cubic yards of mulch. It’s My Park Day is sponsored by Austin Parks Foundation
Oribello’s Bar & Kitchen has opened at 519 W. 37th Street, serving Filipino-inspired appetizers, signature pizzas, and indulgent desserts. Restaurateur Darrel Oribello and his sons DJ and Wesley with partner Brandon Kim all bring comfort foods and cherished recipes to this family-owned sports bar and its rotating selection beers, craft cocktails, and curated wines. Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. except closed Mondays. See oribellos.com
Russell’s Bakery is now partnering with Genuine Joe’s Coffee at the Russell’s location on Anderson Lane. Genuine Joe’s moved to Russell’s 2525 W. Anderson Lane location on Feb. 1, leaving its old location a few blocks east on Anderson Lane where a condo development will rise. Russell’s added Genuine Joe’s espresso blend from Barrett’s Coffee and an adjacent seating area is decked out with Genuine Joe’s furnishings. Russell’s Bakery original location is on Balcones Dr. at 3339 Hancock Dr., and a third Russell’s is at Jester Estates on 2222. See russellsbakery.com and genuinejoecoffee.com
SXSW kicks off next month, and March 7 showcases one of the featured sessions in Meet the Astronauts Going to the Moon with Artemis II. When Artemis II launches in April 2026, its crew will include the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Canadian to circle the moon. SXSW Keynote on March 12 is musician and songwriter John Fogerty. I just listened again to Bruce Springsteen’s SXSW Keynote in 2012, and I’m hoping for some Fogerty inspiration. March 7-12 at sxsw. com for info
Around the Neighborhood:
ARTscription is hosting an international fine arts sale at 5700 Trailridge on March 8th and 9th from 10 am to 4 pm. A portion of the sale will be donated to the Women’s Symphony League of Austin. Visit www.ARTscription.org to see the full inventory of framed oils-on-canvas available for purchase. ARTscription, founded by West Austinite Stephanie Cooley, provides a platform for art enthusiasts, decorators, stagers, realtors, commercial architects, and designers to purchase carefully curated artwork from around the world — email Event Producer Celeste Hubert with any questions: Celeste@CelestialStrategies.net.
Integral Care in Travis County is offering a free in-person mental health and first aid training class for adults at Dove Springs Rudy Zapata Room A, 5015 S I-35 Frontage Rd Suite 200 Austin, TX 78704, on March 28. The classes are being offered In response to growing mental health challenges facing young people. Integral Care in Travis County offers numerous free courses to the community. CEUs are free and available for certain licensed professionals. Visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/o/integral-care-prevention-services-8536986501 for a full list of classes being offered.
Deep recently opened at 2700 Barton Creek Blvd., in Barton Creek. They feature a massage technique utilizing the DEEP™ method — a fascia-focused, restorative fullbody massage. Therapists are trained in a highly specialized technique at the DEEPACADEMY, ensuring that nobody leaves AUSTINDEEP without experiencing one-of-a-kind bodywork. Visit www. austindeep.com for more information or to book an appointment by calling 512- 476-5226.
Jamie Chandlee
SBY FORREST PREECE
ome people set their
Case in point, Jamie Chandlee. “I want to go to New York City and carry a briefcase.”
Those were her prophetic words when she had her eyes fixed on success back at West Brook High School in Beaumont. On a chilly afternoon a few weeks ago, I had a spirited conversation with Jamie, one of our town’s movers and shakers, about the trajectory of her career and her passion for being a positive force in the Austin non-profit scene — and in the business world.
In high school, she was a cheerleader and class president, and she participated in several clubs.
Upon graduating, she had an impressive variety of experiences on her resume. At UT Austin, she was a cheerleader and a Pi Phi. High achievement followed her after graduation in 2005 when she nabbed a highly prized internship with Time, Inc. and went to yes, New York City. While there, she worked on a new teen edition of People Magazine and then was a part of the rollout of a campus-oriented version of Sports Illustrated.
With that heavyweight magazine experience under her belt, she came home to
Texas in 2006 and took a sales position in Dallas with D Magazine. Three years later, she hit a hurdle in her uphill climb when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She spent the next six months in treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. After ringing the bell at the hospital to celebrate her last round of chemotherapy, she was advised by her doctors to not make any lifestyle changes for a year. With that admonition under her belt, within two weeks, she ended a long-term relationship, quit her job, and moved to Austin to take a position with Facebook. At that point, Facebook had a tiny office here and everyone had a lot of tasks on their plate. “Recruiting, training, ad sales, everything.” That was 2010, and now there are around 2500 Facebook employees in town. What’s more, that is where she met her husband Blake. Now they have two children, Emerson and Max, 11 and 9.
These days, Jamie is running an innovative online business, and I’ll get to that. But on another level Jamie has been a huge plus for Austin, thanks to her work with several major nonprofits. One
organization that she loves to talk about is the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. She notes that this gorgeous green linkage between the lake and the University of Texas is transforming downtown into a haven of beauty and walkability. The 35-acre greenspace along Waller Creek on the east side of downtown, boasts 1.5 miles of scenic trails, thousands of native plants, imaginative playscapes, Symphony Square, Waterloo Park, and the 5,000-capacity Moody Amphitheater.
After being urged to join the Conservancy’s board by visionary civic leader Tom Meredith, she has made a lot of good friends. “Some of the most impressive people in town are my fellow board members,” Jamie says. A few years ago, along with Sabrina Brown, Jamie chaired their Glow in the Park gala, which was a huge success in terms of fundraising and excitement.
The Conservancy has two fundraisers each year — Glow in the Park in the fall, where people come in “tennis shoe glam,” (after all, it is a park!) for dinner in Waterloo Park followed by an ACL Fest-caliber performance. “I love seeing all the clever and fashionable outfits people put together for this event,” Jamie says.
The organization’s other fundraiser is Waterloo Picnic, which happens in the spring (April 5th this year) and appeals to a more casual crowd. Austin’s best restaurants donate picnic baskets, which up to 2,000 supporters purchase and enjoy on colorful blankets together in the park.
Jamie says that Waterloo Park is only the beginning of the Conservancy’s plans for downtown Austin. Phase II, the Confluence, is underway and set to be completed in the first half of 2026. Spanning 4th Street down to the lake, it is a series of trails and bridges that will make it possible to walk, bike and jog the entire way without ever crossing a sidewalk. When the Confluence is complete, construction on Palm Park, a four-acre playground fantasy, will commence. For those interested in a sneak peek of the Confluence before it opens next year, the Hartman Bridge just opened along the Butler trail near the Austin Rowing Club.
herself, and Jamie is throttling down her board involvement.
She just rolled off of the board of the School of Human Ecology in The College of Natural Sciences at UT, and the Seton Development Board. Her husband also enjoys civic involvement, serving on the Dell Children’s Board. Now, about the online companies that she founded. In 2016, Jamie and two partners bought the Rank and Style website from three women in
New York. This informative website aggregates links and descriptions of top brands in
the realm of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle for both men and women. (Author’s note: This semi-fashionable old man enjoyed looking through the suggestions for pants and shirts I found on the site.) They brought the management of the site to Austin and quickly scaled the business to over 1 million users in just a few years. They have changed with the times as Google altered algorithms and they scaled staff accordingly. One move they made was to promote email acquisition of users who are loyal to what they are offering on the site, giving them more control and to insure profitability. Her new business is a clean skincare line named ERLY. Teaming up with local dermatologist Dr. Hallie
McDonald, they are seeking to help make sense of the flood of brands and sources of advice about skin care and enhancement in the metaverse. Dr. McDonald was seeing more and more women coming to her office using skin care products that were inappropriate for the outcomes being sought. They decided to fill the white space in this market with professional advice and a line of products that work for all skin types. The “ERLY” site launched to the public in January and is already generating significant interest. In fact, they did a soft launch in December, mainly to the Austin community and sold over $75,000 in product in just four weeks. So when Jamie relaxes, what does she like to do? One of their favorite family excursions is to jump in their boat and motor over to Ski Shores for dinner. They love going to UT sports. Then there’s Reed Park, where her kids like to have fun — in fact she worked with the city on installing nice playscapes there. Also, her children are learning to play tennis at Westwood and many different sports at WAYA. Two of her other lunch spots are Elizabeth Street Café and Tiny Boxwoods. From Maudie’s to Jeffrey’s, their lineup of restaurants covers a lot of ground.
“I couldn’t be happier with my life in Austin and each day is an enjoyable adventure,” Jamie says.
She’s one busy woman — sometimes too busy to suit
West Austin Garden Honored by Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens
By Anne DeVries
A West Austin garden has been added to the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens, making it the first in Austin to receive such recognition.
The Ruthie and Gene Burrus garden, submitted for consideration by the Hill Country Garden Club in Austin, a member of the Garden Club of America, is being celebrated for its outstanding commitment to native gardening and environmentally sustainable practices.
Nestled atop a hill overlooking downtown Austin, the garden is a testament to the Burruses’ vision of creating a space that beautifies the land and nurtures the local environment. Since moving to Austin in 2009, the Burruses have worked to design a home and garden that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, using native and
pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
“We wanted a garden with purpose,” said Ruthie Burrus. “Not just something beautiful to look at, but one that gives back to nature.”
Ruthie Burrus was blessed to have found her passion at an early age. She grew up living next door to her grandmother, who she followed almost daily in the garden. Her mind and heart learned to appreciate the magnificence of nature at an early age.
The Burruses’ garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat and Monarch Way Station, providing a sanctuary for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A key feature of the garden is its low-impact approach to landscaping. Solar panels power the home, a 10,000-gallon water retention tank collects rainwater, and the Burruses avoid using chemicals
Instead, they focus on building healthy, living soil with organic compost, encouraging a thriving ecosystem for native plants.
The garden spans three distinct ecosystems: a wildflower meadow, a more formal hilltop area, and a shady, protected space. In the spring, the wildflower meadow bursts with native blooms like Texas bluebonnets, pink evening primrose, and Indian blanket, while in the summer and fall, vibrant lantana, rock rose, and milk-
weed take center stage. The hilltop area features sun-loving plants like salvias, roses, and butterfly bushes, while the shaded southern edge is home to live oaks and a mix of wildflowers and perennials.
Submittal and approval by the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens are laborious and took the Burruses three years. Detailed documentation is required, including essential information about the garden’s location, design, and historical context.
The Smithsonian Archives is a learning tool for research and the history of American gardens. It helps those studying horticultural design and identifies the geographical challenges for successful gardening.
The Burruses hope their garden will inspire others to adopt native plants and environmentally friendly landscaping practices. They aim to demonstrate that a garden doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful and beneficial. In today’s world, pollinators are desperate for food and habitat. Remarkably, animal pollinators make possible one in every three bites of food we consume. Without them, there would be no flowers and, ultimately, no people.
“We hope our garden will encourage others to work with nature, avoid chemicals, and create habitats that help pollinators thrive,” Ruthie Burrus shared.
The Burruses open their home up as much as possible through various interest groups to share their garden. Beyond a testament to their love of nature, their creation acts as a gathering place for their nine grandchildren, where they teach them to dig in the dirt, plant seeds, and adore bees instead of running from them. This recognition from the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens highlights the growing importance of native gardening and sustainable practices, particularly in Central Texas, where drought-tolerant, low-water plants are crucial to preserving the region’s natural beauty and biodiversity. The Burruses’ dedication can work to inspire us all to connect with nature, face its challenges, and remember that protecting our soil and water supply from pollutants is a responsibility we all share.
—RUTHIE BURRUS
Breakthrough Central Texas Benefit Concert Supports First-Generation College Students
Community supporters of local nonprofit Breakthrough Central Texas gathered with organization staff as well as students and family members served by the organization in celebration of the Breakthrough Benefit Concert, featuring a silent auction, raffle, event-night giving, and a live performance by Swimming with Bears. Breakthrough alum Nyja Harris shared her journey from sixth grade to college graduation in a keynote speech highlighting the impact of the organization, followed by an inspiring graduation reveal video. Thanks to support from Christie and Clint Bybee and the O’Shaughnessy-Rivers Family Fund, a $75,000 event night matching gift challenge doubled the first $75,000 raised during the evening. With support from the crowd, combined with spon-
sorships, ticket sales, raffle, auction, and event night donations, Breakthrough Central Texas raised a total of $500,000 in support of first-generation college graduates.
Breakthrough is the leading college access and success nonprofit in Central Texas. For more than 20 years, the organization has partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. Breakthrough students attend more than 60 public schools and persist at nearly 100 colleges and universities. The result is that nearly 60 percent of Breakthrough students graduate from college, compared to 15 percent of low-income students in our region. Learn more about the organization’s impact at breakhroughctx.org.
Principal at Privateer Capital; formerly a
1. What’s something about you that not many people know?
When I was 13, I was held at gunpoint in a store robbery. It taught me that life can change in an instant.
2. You can have dinner with three people — dead or alive, any time in history — who would they be?
My grandmothers and my Uncle Bobby. I’d love for them to meet my children, and I have so many questions for them that I never knew to ask when they were still alive.
3. What’s on your music playlist?
Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Taylor Swift when my daughters are in the car!
4. Favorite book and/or TV show? The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro. I’ve
6. What makes you happy?
My three children and my husband.
7. Favorite place in Austin?
The Trail. The best place to get some exercise, clear your mind, or catch up with a friend on a walk.
8. Favorite restaurants in Austin?
Uchi, Jeffrey’s, and Matt’s El Rancho
9. What living person do you most admire?
My mother. She is the epitome of love, and lights up any room she’s in.
10. Best advice you ever received?
5. Most
A Thoreau quote that has always stuck with me: “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
Obituary
S O O
Dr. Richard Edmunds Coons, age 85, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, in Austin, Texas. His family will remember him as a patient, caring and loving husband and father who enjoyed entertaining them with jokes and clippings from the cartoon sections of the newspaper, which he carried in his wallet to pull out at any moment. His children will remember how he enjoyed reciting poetry by Robert Frost and Robert Service during family dinners. His family cherishes the annual Christmas poems he wrote to honor his wife and each of his six children, as he addressed each person while standing in front of the Christmas tree. His grandchildren remember Granddad’s warm hugs, the funny faces Granddad made at the dinner table, his love of ice cream, his love of telling stories and jokes, and how he liked to hold them upside down for grins. Most of all, his family will remember how he started every conversation with, “How are you?” because he really wanted to know. His friends will remember him for his friendship and wit, and their shared interests in hunting and fishing and their shared interest in wine. Colleagues in the legal and medical communities will remember him as a general and forensic psychiatrist, friend, and mentor. Richard was born on January 6, 1940, in Charleston, West Virginia. Richard attended Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden Sydney, Virginia where he graduated as a Pre-Med major in 1961 and attended the University of Texas Law School from 1961 to 1964. After passing the bar exam and becoming licensed to practice law in the state of Texas, Richard was accepted at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where he earned a Doctor of Medicine
Dr. Richard Edmunds Coons
JANUARY 6, 1940 — FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Degree in 1968, followed by one year of internship at Cincinnati General Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Richard completed a Residency in Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston from 1969 to 1972. He then entered the U.S. Army
Medical Corp., where he served from 1972 to 1974. Richard was sent by the Department of the Army to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army in Europe as Director of the Drug and Alcohol Program. Upon completion of his medical service in 1974, Richard
moved to Austin, Texas, and joined the Austin Neuropsychiatric Clinic, where he practiced General and Forensic Psychiatry for 41 years until his retirement on August 31, 2015. Richard believed that education was very important since it created the foundation on which a person’s life would be built. As a licensed medical professional and attorney, Richard was a Diplomat of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of many professional organizations, including the Texas Medical Association, the Travis County Medical Society, the Titus Harris Society in Galveston and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law and The Journal Club. An avid outdoorsman, Richard enjoyed hunting with his friends in the Texas Hill Country, Montana, Wyoming, Canada, and Alaska and fishing in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Richard had a keen interest in wine, which he shared with others as a member of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and Knights of the Vine and as co-founder and part-owner of the Austin Wine Merchant.
Richard adored his wife, Martha Fletcher Coons, to whom he was married for 47 years. In addition to raising six children, Richard and Martha enjoyed spending time with extended family, traveling abroad, and creating lifelong memories. They enjoyed flyfishing in Idaho, Belize and Patagonia, and motorcycling in Colorado and New Mexico. Richard and Martha enjoyed supporting a multitude of organizations in Austin, including the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Knights of the Symphony, The Dance Club and the Austin Assembly, as well as the Settlement Home of Austin, Friends of the Governor’s Mansion, KLRU, the Lady Bird Wildflower Center, the Texas History Museum,
BOOK REVIEW
and the Rotary Club of Austin, and Richard and Martha served on the Board of the HeartGift Foundation. Richard was predeceased by his parents, Henry Bradbury Coons and Harriet Edmunds Coons, his brother Henry Bradbury (Brad) Coons, III, and granddaughter, Sophie Haddad. Richard treasured his family, who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his wife, Martha Fletcher Coons, and six children and their spouses, Michelle Miller Haddad and son-in-law Sam Haddad, James Milton Miller, Jr., Richard Edmunds Coons, Jr. (former spouse Lesli Chandler Coons), Holly Miller Carroll and son-in-law Jon Carroll, Anna Coons Pyeatt (former spouse Mark Pyeatt), and Edward Newbury Coons (former spouse Irina Coons). Richard loved being Granddad to Ariana Haddad Shabro (spouse Vahid Shabro), Susannah Haddad (spouse Stephen Lindemann), Catherine Carroll, Isabella Haddad, Ginger Rodriguez, Helen Carroll, Perrin Coons, Katherine Pyeatt, and William Pyeatt, and Great Granddad to Armin Shabro and Milad Shabro. Richard is survived by his sister, former Ambassador Harriet Coons Babbitt of Washington. D.C. and spouse, former Governor of Arizona, Bruce Babbitt, and many extended family members, including sisters-in-law, brothers-inlaw, and many nieces and nephews.
A private family ceremony will take place in memory of Richard. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in honor of Dr. Richard E. Coons, to the HeartGift Foundation at 3310 W. Braker Lane, Ste. 300-704, Austin, TX 78758 www.heartgift.org or to Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Attn: Community First Village at 9301 Hog Eye Road, Unit 950, Austin, TX 78724 www.mlf. org.
BY FORREST PREECE
Migratory Animals by Mary Helen Specht
Austin-based author Mary Helen Specht’s debut novel, Migratory Animals, was named an Editors’ Choice by the New York Times Book Review and also won the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Best Fiction Award.
A well-crafted book, it follows the lives of several modern-day people as they weave through relationships, their feelings about each other and themselves, and the changes that time posits on everyone.
because it’s 2008, the recession has hit, funding has dried up for her artificial snow research project in Nigeria, and she can use lab equipment at a college in Austin for experiments.
Flannery, the primary character, with a name aptly implying wandering, is torn between the feelings she has for Kunle, a man she met in Nigeria, and Santiago, a former boyfriend in Austin. He’s an architect who is repurposing a fire station in Clarksville to be his own dwelling, hence the old flame reference. Flannery has had to return to the States
I’m sure Mary Helen is tired of the Big Chill references in her reviews, but yeah, once I was into this story even ankle deep, that’s what I thought. The characters are college pals who have drifted into marriages and relationships, many of them have relocated elsewhere, then all have settled back into Austin’s embrace.
Each of them are burdened by their uncertainties about their paths in life and the vagaries of fate. For instance, Molly, Flannery’s sister, has the early signs of Huntington’s Disease, hereditary in her family. Alyce has serious depression issues and separates from her husband in frustration. Then there’s Santiago, who has opened an architecture firm with Harry, Alyce’s husband, and a crucial project suddenly gets canceled, causing financial trouble and tension.
The stories intertwine and Mary Helen does a masterful job of keeping their arcs moving ahead. She writes with a
florid style, often interjecting deft literary turns of phrase. Then there are the frequent references to migration – a variety of birds strut their scenes, and the iris bulbs from Molly and Flannery’s mother are shuttled around to various locations and always bloom. I’m not going to be a spoiler, but she wraps it up beautifully — the last scene in the book is a 21st century riff on the ending of James Joyce’s most famous short story. (That’s for all you English majors out there.)
One plus for West Austin News readers is that most of the book’s action takes place in our town and she makes liberal use of place and restaurant names like Quack’s, Stubb’s, La Zona Rosa, and Jeffrey’s, so you’ll feel an extra connection with the story lines.
If you are looking for a book that provides intense looks into characters struggling with their journeys in life and what it means to be looking for home, I recommend this one.
Women’s Symphony League of Austin’s Annual Holiday Party
The Women’s Symphony League of Austin members and their guests dined in the beautifully decorated Chateau Bellevue ballroom for their annual holiday party. With a surprise appearance by Santa, guests enjoyed music from DJRich, food from Alfred’s Catering, and beverages generously sponsored by Twin Liquors. The Women’s Symphony League of Austin provides service and financial support for the Austin Symphony Orchestra and its programs, and offers educational opportunities for children and the community to further develop an appreciation of music. For more information, visit wslaustin.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area Raises More Than $1 Million at the Great Futures Gala
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, board members and community advocates, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) raised more than $1 million at the 2024 Great Futures Gala. The gala featured inspiring stories from Club members, as well as moments of recognition for the Club staff and their steadfast dedication to Club youth and their families. Attendees also enjoyed a cocktail hour, live auction, and dinner, followed by music and dancing at the after-hours party.
“The Great Futures Gala is always a milestone moment for us – one that underscores what a privilege it is to be able to serve and support Austin-area youth in building great futures,” said BGCAA CEO Zenae Campbell, who recently celebrated her one-year anniversary leading the nonprofit. “Proceeds raised at our gala will fund afterschool programming, provide scholarships, and help us launch a workforce development program to equip our Club members with the critical skills and confidence they need to succeed in work and life.”
Not only do these initiatives benefit the nearly 5,400 youth across the 28 Austin-area Boys & Girls Clubs, but they will help BGCAA reach its evergreen goal of serving more kids in more ways more often. The impact the Boys & Girls Clubs organization has on the lives of children, and therefore the communities in which they live, is significant. Over the past 10 years, 97% of Club members graduated from high school on time. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, visit www. bgcaustin.org.
Valentine’s
Memories
— Compiled by Forrest Preece
It’s about a week since Valentine’s, and I thought another story about this special day would be appropriate. Here is a tale from Lois Richwine, wife of author and musician Jesse Sublett.
Two years ago on Valentine’s Day, Jesse and I were boarding a plane in Los Angeles with three cats on our way back to Austin. We had left Austin 12 months earlier with the same three cats for a year-long sabbatical in L.A., the site of so many of our great adventures, where we lived in the late 1980s-1990s. We have many great friends there, plus we love the culture, the landscape, and the history. We also love Austin. Jesse and I met at a Christmas party in Austin in 1977. It was love at first sight. I was living in San Antonio when
we started dating in January. By the end of February I had moved to Austin and we were inseparable, except when he was on the road playing with The Skunks. Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2022, instead of flowers, chocolates, and a sexy dinner somewhere, we were on a plane looking forward to resuming our lives in Austin because we had a new love in our lives, a baby granddaughter named Serafina. In 2023, our thrills were doubled by the arrival of her brother, Mio. We adore being grandparents. — Lois Richwine
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
By Alana Moehring Mallard
Scouts from Troops 410 and 2019 and from Pack 55 reported to the congregation of The Church at Highland Park this month on their activities throughout the last year. Scouts also handed out worship bulletins, collected the offering, and raised money for camp activities with a bake sale.
Senior Patrol Leader Wyatt Cook of Troop 410 greeted the congregation and pastors with thanks for space for weekly meetings and scouting events.
“Each week at our meetings, we work together to teach our younger Scouts the essential skills they’ll need for our campouts and adventures,” he said. “On behalf of Troop 410 I want to extend our deepest thanks for all you’ve done for us. We look forward to many more years of partnership and growth.”
Wyatt reported on Troop 410’s monthly campouts, including a rock climbing trip to Enchanted Rock. Summer trips included Gorham Scout Ranch in New Mexico and sailing in the Caribbean at Seabase, and scouts are preparing now, Wyatt said, for Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and hiking 60 miles over the course of 12 days.
Eight Troop 410 Scouts achieved the Eagle rank this
year, and 17 Life Scouts are currently working toward Eagle rank.
Troop Guide and past Senior Patrol Leader Liberty Mitchell of Troop 2019 reported on her troop’s activities this year, including that three scouts are working to achieve the rank of Eagle.
This summer Troop 2019 took its first high adventure Philmont Cavalcade trek, riding horses through the mountains, rain or shine. In January Troop 2019 camped in South Llano River State Park and in Big Bend’s Chisos Basin.
This summer’s adventures will include a trip to West Virginia, Liberty said, to camp and explore opportunities at Summit Bechtel High Adventure Scout Reserve.
“We are forever and always grateful for the support you provide to us,” Liberty told the congregation during her report. “On behalf of Troop 2019, thank you. I would also like to personally thank the church. A little over six years ago, I decided to start my own troop for girls. If it wasn’t for the support that The Church at Highland Park provided since day one, our troop full of these amazing girls would never have accomplished as much.”
Pack 55 scouts went to Enchanted Rock and Moody Gardens Aquarium this year,
Cubmaster Chris Ulack told the congregation, and the 40 or so cubs of Pack 55 will compete in their Pinewood Derby Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. Cubs are in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The Church at Highland Park chartered Troop 410 almost 70 years ago and added Troop 2019 to the charter in 2019.
the second semester underway, we know that it is an essential time to make sure that students are on track and excelling in their classes. A little extra
Tutored matches students to tutors based on the subject area at hand, as well as each student’s learning style and interests. We want sessions to not only
Kate Watson Founder/Director and Tarrytown Resident
New Trees and Masonry for Hike and Bike Trail at West 29th
By Forrest Preece
Last summer, Richard Craig, Founder of the Pease Park Conservancy, noticed that the masonry gateway wall at the West 29th Street gateway to the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail was in terrible shape. A large section had collapsed, and other sections were missing or had loose mortar. The wall had been constructed in 1976 as part of Austin’s Bicentennial celebration of its relatively new and growing trail system.
Craig knew that the City of Austin does not have the budget for this type of repair, so he decided to take the matter into his own hands. Working with the Pease Park Conservancy, he raised money privately for the project.
He knows several neighbors in Pemberton Heights and Brykerwoods who are passionate about the trail and use it daily. After asking them for help, he collected $10,000 for the masonry work and another
$2000 for new redbud trees and the labor to install them.
The Pease Park Conservancy envisions devoting more attention to this area of the trail. It is especially attractive, being adjacent to the “Mystic Raven” sculpture which was installed several years ago in partnership with Laguna Gloria Art Museum.
“Now the hard part begins to keep the trees watered through our terrible summers,” Craig said. The Conservancy will be adding them to the long list of trees they hand water annually throughout the park and Shoal Creek Greenbelt.
“We are so grateful for Richard and other friends of Pease Park Conservancy who take personal initiative to improve this beautiful green space. His redbuds will provide ecosystem services and enjoyment for the public for many years to come,” Nicole Netherton, Chief Executive Officer of the Pease Park Conservancy, said.
KKG Kick-Off Event for Kappa Settings 2026
Members of the Austin Alumnae Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) gathered on January 30 at Soho House Austin to kick-off the planning season for their signature fundraising event, Kappa Settings. The 22nd anniversary of this beloved biennial event will take place at Austin Country Club on April 8 and 9, 2026.
Kappa Settings is one of Austin’s most anticipated community gatherings, hosted by the Austin Alumnae Association of KKG. The event celebrates design, creativity, and community, offering a oneof-a-kind opportunity for local designers, artists, and businesses to showcase their talents. Kappa Settings has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for numerous community partners, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Texas, The Child Guidance Center, BookSpring Austin, The
Breast Cancer Resource Center, and The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation.
The 2026 Kappa Settings event cochairs Sheridan Butler and Marianna Elskes welcomed attendees to the kick-off They encouraged alumni members’ involvement in the 15-month-long planning cycle required to orchestrate Kappa Settings. Lanette Smith, who first chaired the event in 1997, provided a history of Kappa Settings, highlighting its role as a true showcase of the extraordinary creativity of top local designers and businesses.
Austin KKG Alumnae President Acia Moody was also on hand to address the group; President-elect Jamie Winter-Johnson spoke to attendees about the task before the association, which she highlighted is “to expand and grow the mission for the funds that Kappa Settings, 2026 will raise.”
The KKG Alumni Association is making a meaningful impact in the community, and their efforts are being recognized. In 2024, Kappa Settings received a special award from NAMI Central Texas in recognition of their exceptional contributions to mental health advocacy and the invaluable support they provide to the organization. The award was presented to acknowledge Kappa Settings’ consistent fundraising efforts and its role in raising awareness for mental health issues in the Austin community. The official beneficiaries for Kappa Settings 2026 will be announced by the Association Board this coming spring. To learn more about Kappa Settings, one of Austin’s most beloved philanthropic traditions, visit www.kappasettings.com and follow them on Instagram for updates at @kappasettings.
2024 OUTSTANDING PRODUCERS
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AN EXTRAORDINARY TEAM OF RESIDENTIAL EXPERTS
ESCROW OFFICERS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
MINDY HALLFORD, CTIP
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ELIZABETH ANTONISHEN
ANNA LOWERY
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This summer, the St. Michael’s Prep 88-acre campus in southwest Austin transforms into a vibrant hub of exploration and curiosity. Come experience “ Summer on Campus,” an engaging and immersive summer program for students from Pre K to H igh School, and adult recreational sports leagues, including pickleball.
From J une 2 nd to J uly 25 th, week-long
This is more than just summer camp—it’s an exceptional summer experience. E nroll today and be a part of it!
