WAN 12/15/2023

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church holds first Snow Day

By Bart Stephens

On Sunday, December 4th,

Good Shepherd Church held its first Snow Day event on the church grounds.

Magically, about 3:30 that afternoon literally tons of snow appeared covering part of the yard half the size of a football field.

The event kicked off at 4, and quickly proved to be what could only be described as “wildly” successful.

500 people were there. Hot chocolate and scrumptious chocolate, banana and strawberry crepes were served by a food truck from Crepe Crazy.

Ornament and holiday Christmas card making tables were jammed with joy.

At 5:00 the eight-person Choral Scholars group performed a cappella in the church singing all the traditional and much-loved Christmas Carols.

At 5:30 the choir moved outside and led the crowd in more Christmas carol songs. Reverend Channing Smith led a brief service prior to the lighting of the Christmas Tree, followed by one last carol, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

Mary Richards Smith, wife of Reverend Smith was the event organizer and Chief Inspiration Officer.

Mary said about the event “We thought offering an Advent Snow Day and Christmas Tree Lighting was a great way to start a new tradition at Good Shepherd and for Tarrytown. Advent Snow Day seemed to be a fun, exciting way to continue building community in our neighborhood. The snow was just part of it.

It was such a joy to create a Christmas village with holiday treats and children’s activities. We are so grateful to our committee members and offer special thanks to Callie Hester, Jessica Riels, and Amelie Sanders

To contact the church call 512476-3523 or email info@gsaustin. The web site is www.gsaustin.com.

BY FORREST PREECE

After I read that he has been named King Brio by the Knights of Symphony for this season, I decided it was way past time to write a column about him. Turns out he has been in Austin for 50 years; and he has made a mark here – all for the good. He now serves as the chair of the finance committee for both the Austin Symphony Orchestra and for Austin Opera and is handling his duties quite ably.

After we settled in for lunch, I asked about his background and how he developed an appreciation for classical music.

Jim grew up on the south side of Chicago and attended a small private boys’ school near his home. Through his school he was able to attend Young People’s Concerts at Symphony Hall from the sixth through eighth grades. He says that at the time, it seemed to be a good excuse to get out of afternoon classes, but he really did enjoy the music.

where he enrolled at MIT to work on his MBA and Jo got a job in Acton teaching Latin. They went to the Boston Pops a few times and Jo also went to see the Metropolitan Opera when it would come to Boston. She took Jim to one performance in senior year, but opera did not have the appeal to him at that time that symphonic music did. After they got married and Jim got his first job with Ingersoll Rand, they continued to listen to classical music at home. But they had few opportunities to hear live performances while residing in Big Flats, New York.

—JIM GREEN

When he entered Yale, he met a young lady named Jo Heim. He was introduced to Jo by his sister Ginny in September of Freshman year. The two young ladies were living on the same floor of a dorm at Wellesley and Ginny decided that Jim and Jo would be a good match. That was in 1959. They dated all through college, and they got married in 1964. After they met, he started to develop an appreciation and love for classical music, and he started buying classical records and listening to them regularly. That became a lifelong source of pleasure for the Greens.

After they both graduated, Jim and Jo moved to Boston

After six years with Ingersoll Rand, Jim was hired away by Westinghouse and he and Jo moved to Wilmington, Delaware outside of Philadelphia in February 1972. Not long after that, his superiors started talking to him about interviewing to be the Production Control Manager for the new Gas Turbine plant the company was completing in Round Rock.

Jim got the job, and Westinghouse moved them here in September 1972. He laughs about it now, but he says that he was shocked to see so many green trees and other vegetation, not to mention Town Lake. “It was a good move, coming to this new plant, and we learned to love being here in Austin,” Jim says.

Even though he was working in Round Rock, Jim and Jo decided to live in Austin and settled into Northwest Hills. That gave him the best of both worlds – being in the city and still offering a reasonable

commute. Jim was eager to be back in a city, having been raised in one, and thought that Austin could be a great place to live. It was a totally new adventure with their two young sons. Their third son was born here in December of that first year. Luckily, Jo and Jim both liked Austin and especially their surroundings in Northwest Hills, and they made new friends quickly through work and from meeting neighbors.

“When we moved here, I don’t think either of us planned to be here longer than three to five years, but we liked Austin so much and we both had careers here that we enjoyed a lot. We also found it to be a great place to raise our boys,” Jim says. All three of their sons have gone on to have successful professional careers.

Jo has also done quite well in Austin. In 1977, she started the Latin program at Kirby Hall School. Then she moved to Johnston High School in 1980 to restart their Latin program when crosstown busing began. For her efforts, she was named Teacher of the Year. Jo moved to Austin High School in 1987 and taught there for nine years. She was Chair of the Foreign Language Department and was named Teacher of the Year. After her success at Austin High, she was recruited by Westlake High School to take over their Latin program and retired in 2009 after 13 years. At Westlake, she was Foreign Language Chair and Teacher of the Year.

A pivotal moment in Jo and Jim’s life here happened in 1973. Jo discovered that the Austin Symphony was offering a twofor-one subscription ticket deal and they decided to try hearing live classical music once more. It was an instant match -- they have been subscribers since then and donors almost that long.

“It is really the ASO that got us back to live classical music and it has become a very important part of our lives here in Austin, because of the great friendships we have made and because of the board work I do,” Jim says.

They are just as involved in the Austin Opera. Their good friends Terry and Diana Kendall invited them to attend a performance when the company had its inaugural season in 1986 and they loved what they saw. Both the Symphony and the Opera have given Jim a chance to put his business skills to use. He now serves as Chair of the Finance Committee for both organizations. For any arts group, that is a crucial area that demands his level of expertise.

I can see why Jim is a good fit for overseeing finances. Knowing how to project the future and implement the moves along the way to make for successful outcomes is key. Jim studied production management in both undergraduate and graduate school, and he spent the majority of his career in the factory doing a wide variety

of jobs related to building a product.

Production control, production planning, shipping, receiving, storeroom management, and more were part of his job responsibilities. Although the Westinghouse plant in Round Rock was specifically built to manufacture gas turbines for power generation, the oil crisis of 1973 forced the company to close the plant and retool it to build large industrial electric motors and generators. That is what it still does.

Jim’s outstanding work with the Symphony has led to him being named King Brio, one of the highest honors in Austin society. I asked him what he sees in the future for the Austin Symphony and how he brings his management skills to bear on work there.

He says that the future of the Austin Symphony is

US Government’s COVID relief programs. He says that even though he does not have a degree in finance, he worked closely with finance departments throughout his career, so he developed a strong, reality-based understanding of that field.

Jim adds that coming from a for-profit business to the non-profit world, where the majority of the revenue is contributed, forced him to learn new skills and ideas. He has had many jobs on the Symphony Board: Individual Giving Chair, Strategic Planning Chair, and Executive Vice President. All those posts led up to Jim being Finance Chair and his experiences gave him a substantial foundation for knowing the ins and outs of running the ASO.

As he says, “Even though our financial position is strong coming out of the pandemic, we face the never-changing problem of procuring enough earned and contributed revenue to break even every year as our costs continue to rise.”

WHEN WE MOVED HERE, I DON’T THINK EITHER OF US PLANNED TO BE HERE LONGER THAN THREE TO FIVE YEARS, BUT WE LIKED AUSTIN SO MUCH AND WE BOTH HAD CAREERS HERE THAT WE ENJOYED A LOT.”

—JIM GREEN

After Westinghouse went out of business, the large motor business became a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Electric and Machinery. In a turn Jim did not expect when he started his career, he spent the last 25 years on the job working for a Taiwanese company. During this time he worked with the TECO factories in both Taiwan and China and traveled to those countries about 20 times. While in the Far East, he made good friends with many people in a different culture. “Being able to do all that while living in Austin made my career very rewarding and enjoyable.” In 2011, he ended his career as general manager of the large motor business unit, where he was responsible for sales and delivery of approximately $100 million worth of product per year.

Speaking of enjoyment, Jim and Jo appreciate the recreational options Austin offers, and so did their sons when they were growing up here in town. They have been involved with a lot of cultural organizations and social groups, such as The Knights of Symphony, The Women’s Symphony League, Knights of the Vine, the Austin Assembly, and OLLI at the University of Texas.

bright. They have an excellent new CEO, David Pratt, a talented artistic director, Peter Bay, a dedicated staff, and a board of trustees all working to make the Symphony better both through performances and educational programs. He also pointed to their great support organizations like the WSL, the Knights of the Symphony, and the BATS, their young professionals’ group.

In addition, they have a strong financial position due to a well-managed endowment, and board reserves that have been enhanced by the

The ASO and the Austin Opera both are continuing to try generating more earned revenue through changing programing models, but the majority of their revenue still needs to come from donors. As with all arts groups, finding and cultivating individual donors is a major focus, particularly finding those people in hightech industries who are classical music lovers.

Jim says that one of the things that he has enjoyed about Austin is the wide variety of things to do, but having that variety works against the Symphony, Austin Opera, Ballet Austin, Zach Theatre, Conspirare and all the other arts groups when people are making choices on where to attend performances and make contributions. “Although I believe the future is quite bright, there is lots of hard work to do to keep the arts thriving in Austin.”

for HeartGift Foundation

By Anne DeVries

Thirteen years ago, Malena Kunik of Westlake underwent lifesaving surgery at one week old. Born a twin alongside her brother Gael , Malena was diagnosed with atrial and ventricular septal defects and needed corrective surgery to close the two holes in her heart.

Thanks to the successful surgery, Malena has been able to live a healthy life. However, her family has never forgotten the life-saving procedure she received as an infant. As she and her brother approached their B’nai Mitzvah – a dual coming-of-age celebration in the Jewish faith – they decided to use the occasion to give back to the cause that saved Malena’s life.

The twins made their “Mitzvah Project,” a fundraiser for the HeartGift Foundation, a charity that provides specialized care to children in need of heart repair. Through a video they made explaining their mission, the Kunik twins invited guests to their B’nai Mitzvah and to donate to the foundation.

The twins’ efforts were successful,

and they were able to present the HeartGift Foundation with a check for $25,000 on November 22. In attendance at the presentation were the twins’ parents, Agustina Kunik and their father, orthodontist Dr. Randy Kunik, HeartGift Medical Director and Malena’s cardiologist Dr. Karen Wright, and Malena’s pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Charles Fraser. Also present were Walter Maradiaga, a recent HeartGift patient from Honduras, and his mother, Yohana Maradiaga.

always been our intention to find a way to give back to the cause that saved our daughter’s life.”

Agustina, originally from Argentina, also noted that the HeartGift outreach is significant to her because many of the children the foundation helps are from Latin America.

DR. WRIGHT AND DR. FRASER WERE MALENA’S LIFESAVERS. THE FUNDRAISING WAS ALL OF OUR IDEAS BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR INTENTION TO FIND A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE CAUSE THAT SAVED OUR DAUGHTER’S LIFE.”

—AGUSTINA KUNIK

Dr. Wright and Dr. Fraser were the doctors who saved Malena’s life; both are integral members of the HeartGift Foundation. Founded in 2000 by Dr. Chip Oswalt and Ray Wilkerson, the charity provides lifesaving treatment to children outside the United States who suffer from congenital heart defects. Over 90% of congenital heart defect patients worldwide do not have access to specialized pediatric care, and the HeartGift Foundation has provided over 600 surgeries to children needing heart repair since its inception.

Malena’s mom, Agustina Kunik, said of the twins’ fundraising efforts, “Dr. Wright and Dr. Fraser were Malena’s lifesavers. The fundraising was all of our ideas because it was something we were directly affected by, and it has

The Kunik twins are currently in 7th grade at Hill Country Middle School in the Eanes ISD. Malena enjoys hiphop dance, playing the flute and piccolo, and caring for her animals.

Her brother Gael enjoys biking, hunting, fishing, and spending time with friends. Malena hopes to become a pediatric cardiologist, and Gael wants to be a movie director.

When asked how she would encourage other kids to pursue helping a cause they care about, Malena said, “It is totally worth it, and being able to raise that amount of money was really shocking to me, and also, it felt really meaningful. It feels good to know people care about a cause we care about too.”

The HeartGift Foundation has ambitious expansion plans and hopes to save the lives of an additional 1,500 children over the next three years. The foundation has chapters in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and New Orleans. For more information, visit www.heartgift.org.

Author Donates Books to Side By Side Kids Program

By Anne DeVries

Ryan Wekenmen, the author of the children’s book “Right Side Up,” visited all five locations of the Side-by-Side Kids (SBSK) Program in November. During his visits, Wekenmen and the book’s illustrator, Joy Zbinden, read their newly released book aloud, then signed and gifted each child with a copy to take home.

SBSK is an afterschool program that seeks to inspire and equip kids to be excellent students, make wise choices, and follow Christ. The donation to over 300 children by Wekenmen and Zbinden aligns well with the SBSKs values by encouraging reading as an activity, demonstrating generosity, and providing an age-appropriate application for living like Jesus.

The story of “Right Side Up” follows a young boy progressing through a series of events that inexplicably unfold for himself and his family. Engaging rhymes and illustrations immerse a young reader into a relatable, fun, and encouraging story with a beautiful message.

A preacher at Red Rock Austin Church, Wekenmen has loved books his entire life. A recent series of sermons he presented to his congregation inspired him to write his first children’s book. The story’s premise is that our world has been turned upside down by its complexity and the difficulties created by daily struggles. Wekenmen proposes, “our world is upside down, and Jesus came to turn it right side up.”

Regarding Wekenmen’s donation Katy Lanier, the Afterschool Program Director for SBSK, remarked, “We are

so thankful for all the ways that Red Rocks Austin supports our programming throughout the year through various initiatives and gifts. The donation of 300 books to our students was already incredible but coming to do a book tour and personally signing each book was icing on the cake. Due to Covid, so many students are very behind in their reading ability. So, the opportunity to put books in their hands for free and minister the gospel is invaluable.”

Red Rock Austin Church is located at 7625 N Interstate 35 in Austin. Transplanted from Red Rock Church in Red Rocks, Colorado, it has quickly become home to the founders dedicated to building a space to welcome those who feel far from God. Their mission is to provide those who walk through their doors a place to experience God, find family, discover purpose and make a difference.

For more information about Red Rock Austin, visit www. RedRockAustin.org. Adult and children services are available each Sunday.

Copies of “Right Side Up” can be purchased online at https://redrocksstore.com/ products/book-right-side-up or the church for $15.

FAST FACT SBSK IS AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO INSPIRE AND EQUIP KIDS TO BE EXCELLENT STUDENTS, MAKE WISE CHOICES, AND FOLLOW CHRIST.

Great Futures Gala Has Record-breaking night BOYS

and community partners, BGCAA raised over $2.2 million. There were over 400 supporters of BGCAA in attendance.

The $2.2 million total is a gala fundraising record for BGCAA, besting its last record-breaking Gala in 2018 by more than $500,000. This year’s record total, including the special $1 million donation from Sean and Whitney Kelly, one of the largest gifts in the history of BGCAA.

“The record-breaking support we received during this year’s Great Futures Gala was humbling, inspiring, and extremely well-timed,” said BGCAA CEO Gordon Butler. “Given Austin’s rapid growth, the increasing cost of living, and the learning gaps coming out of COVID, we know our kids and their families are suffering. In fact, we are seeing staggering thirdgrade reading results and troubling statistics in some of the schools we support. But that’s exactly where the Boys & Girls Clubs comes in. We stand in that gap, providing vital

academic and enrichment programs that give kids the help they need to excel. The generosity of our gala attendees is what makes it possible for us to continue providing lifechanging opportunities to Austin-area youth, and we are so grateful.”

All dollars raised at the gala will go toward supporting critical out-ofschool-time programming for nearly 3,000 registered Club members across the 17 Austin-area Boys & Girls Clubs.

“As a member of the board for the past 15 years, I have seen firsthand the transformational impact the Boys & Girls Clubs has in the lives of local Austin youth. This is why my wife Whitney and I – along with my colleagues at Fortitude and friends of our firm – consider it an honor and privilege to support this organization,” said Sean Kelly.

The impact the Boys & Girls Clubs has on the lives of children and therefore the communities in which they live is significant: 99% of Club members graduate on time, and 74% of the graduates are the first ones in their family to enroll in college. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area or to get involved, visit www.bgcaustin.org.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) had a recordbreaking night on Friday, November 4th at the Great Futures Gala at the Marriott Austin Downtown. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, board members,

St. Gabriel’s Hosts Veterans/Grandparents Day Celebration

By Anne DeVries

St. Gabriel’s Catholic School honored Veterans and Grandparents on November 11 at their schoolwide event. The morning was filled with activities for grandparents and was followed by a heartwarming tribute to all branches of the United States Military.

“We adore having our grandparents on campus on this special day,” said Colleen Lynch, Head of School. “It is powerful to see our students bonding with them, and the grandparents love experiencing what it is like to be with their grandchild in the classroom.”

In the days leading up to Veterans Day, Saber Dads and student council members placed American flags on the school lawn to remember deceased veterans. At the Veterans Day tribute held in the school gymnasium, many grandparents who were veterans wore their service branch uniform or sported baseball hats commemorating their service to the country.

Lynne Sargent, a founder of St. Gabriels, was in attendance for the day. Lynne had a child attend the school, and now her granddaughter Charlie is in kindergarten. She has been a board member and has supported St. Gabriels since its founding in 1999. Regarding her continued commitment to the school, she stated, ” As with most volunteering and serving, I have gotten back more than I have given from the St. Gabriel’s community.”

The student body, from 4K-8th grade, and musicians from St. Michael’s High School, played a role in the day’s tribute. The “On Veteran’s Day” song, performed by the 3rd-grade class, left barely a dry eye in the crowd as the young voices honored those Americans who served in the United States military.

The program included a guest speaker, Captain Mel Parker.

Captain Parker is a veteran and a grandparent to Jaden, a third-grader at St. Gabriel’s. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served with distinction in the 82nd Airborne Division. He transitioned from the

military into civilian life, embarking on a 28-year journey in corporate America. He is the best-selling author of The Parker Principles: 10 Leadership Force Multipliers and a highly sought-after speaker, educator, and executive coach.

Captain Parker spoke to the crowd about the values that make Veteran’s Day so special. He referenced his upbringing by a single mom on his grandmother’s pig and tobacco farm in the back woods of North Carolina. He shared wisdom from his grandmother to pursue faith, family, leadership, and service as guiding principles. He emphasized that these values, coupled with those bestowed upon him during his time at West Point, those of duty, honor, and country, have led him on his path through military service and civilian life.

In concluding his message to the St. Gabriel’s community, Captain Parker made a suggestion to all Americans when thanking a veteran for their service.

He said, firstly, that “saying thank you is enough, but if you want to take things to the next level, there are four other ways to say thank you to a veteran. Live free understanding the sacrifices that were made for you by service men and women. Live as your authentic self by knowing what you stand for and what your values are. Dream big, knowing you live under the freedom to pursue your own dreams and finally know that you are enough”.

The St. Gabriel’s celebration is an annual event. They view the special tribute on Veteran’s Day as an opportunity for their community to share their love and appreciation for grandparents and veterans of the United States Military.

From the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance to the singing of the theme songs for each of the branches of the military by different grade levels, there was a genuine sense of union in the St. Gabriel’s Gymnasium at the event.

Captain Parker said in his farewell remarks to those in attendance, “If your heart is not moved by this event, I am afraid you are a robot.”

Finnell & Kay Fitzpatrick Finnell

’90s Country Stars Rock the Red Kettle

On Sunday, November 6th, the ninth annual Rock the Red Kettle

concert was held at ACL

Live to benefit The Salvation Army Austin. The night was an incredible trip back to the 90s, filled with delicious food, amazing country music, and lots of dancing. Headliners for the night were Mark Chesnutt and Tracy Byrd with a special performance by Zac Wilkerson. The host, Cory Morrow, joined headliners on stage as they sang and intimately shared the stories behind their greatest hits. The Cowboy Auctioneers led the live auction. There were amazing packages, including a trip to Italy, vacation in Turks & Caicos, and private catered

dinner parties with live musical talent.

Special guests in attendance at this year’s Rock the Red Kettle included The Salvation Army’s Texas Division Commanders, Lt. Colonels Penhale and Southern Territory Commanders, Commissioners Iglehart. They joined together with community supporters in Austin to raise more than $800,000, which will be used to support the three emergency shelters for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Austin.

To learn more about The Salvation Army, the largest non-profit provider of emergency shelter in Central Texas, visit www. salvationarmyaustin.org.

Key to the Cure Raises Over $500,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Key to the Cure, benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, was held on Friday, November 18th at the Fair Market venue on East 5th Street. Raising over $500,000 for the Foundation, this event brought a cure for cystic fibrosis one step closer.

Guests welcomed back celebrity Chef Tim Love of Fort Worth, Texas and owner and chef of local restaurant Lonesome Dove Western Bistro who served a Mexican themed cuisine with his signature western spin including crab stuffed shrimp, grilled king crab and venison fajitas.

The night would not have been possible without the continued support of presenting sponsors Higginbotham and Kirkland & Ellis and their generous donations. Marshall Newhouse and Jake Kirkpatrick co-chaired the event with help from the planning committee. The event not only exceeded its budget goal but a rowdy time was had by all who attended.

Lou Marchetti, chair emeritus and master of ceremonies, did not disappoint with his Elvis impersonation early in the evening and

certainly got the crowd’s attention before introducing his sister Margaret, who is currently living with cystic fibrosis, to come on stage and share her amazing story.

Executive Director, Stacy Dollar, was surprised by volunteers and called on stage to be recognized for her 10 years of service to the local Austin chapter. David Ackel, local auctioneer, brought down the house with auction packages to Cabo San Lucas and the Amalfi Coast as well as a signature Tim Love package and William Murray Golf Tournament with comedian Bill Murray and his brothers followed by an inspiring raise the paddle moment. Maggie Rose, a force of nature vocalist and songwriter from Nashville, had the crowd rocking until late in the evening.

Cystic fibrosis is a terminal disease for which there is currently no cure but recent drug developments, because of monies raised from events like Key to the Cure, have extended the lives of those with CF into adulthood and beyond. If you are interested in making a donation or would like more information, visit www. keytothecureaustin.com.

MACares supporters shop for a cause

By Alana Moehring Mallard McCallum High School PTA benevolent group

MACares held its annual holiday shopping fundraiser earlier this month at Ten Thousand Villages on Burnet Road. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade non-profit aimed at helping small artisan groups around the world.

“Last year we made $2,000 at our two holiday locations,” said MACares chair Cindy La Greca, “and we’re hoping to do as well this year.” Phil’s Ice House, also on Burnet Road, was MACares second holiday fundraiser location this year.

Lamar Middle School choir performed at Phil’s Ice House during dinner and members of McCallum’s classical guitar ensemble performed at Ten Thousand Villages for evening shoppers.

La Greca said last year MACares helped 25 families during the holidays, and the group is planning to help 50 families this season.

“MACares is important to us because it provides help all across our vertical team schools,” said McCallum principal Nicole Griffin. “That isn’t typical of most PTA groups, and it is so important to our elementary and middle schools.”

MACares provides emergency assistance to students and families in the 12 elementary and middle schools that feed into McCallum High, including Kealing and Lamar middle schools; and Blackshear, Brentwood, Campbell, Gullett, Highland Park, Lee, Maplewood, Oak Springs, Reilly, and Ridgetop elementary schools.

Ways to help MACares besides the annual shopping fundraiser include:

1. donate non-perishable snacks to McCallum for students when they visit the school’s Licensed Mental Health Professional and counselors;

2. donate to MACares emergency financial assistance fund, which provides one-time support to families who are in crisis and cannot afford basic needs, such as rent, utilities, clothing, or medical bills;

3. “Adopt a Senior” and assist with dorm room shopping for graduating seniors in need;

4. donate to Prom Swap & Shop, held in McCallum’s library in the spring of each year;

5. donate gift cards for HEB, Target, Walmart, local restaurants, etc., and deliver directly to McCallum for MACares.

PHOTOS BY ALANA MOEHRING MALLARD

Women’s Symphony League of Austin Hosts Annual Festive Holiday Party

In a favorite Women’s Symphony League of Austin tradition, more than 150 guests mingled and made merry at their annual Holiday Party on Monday night.

The splendid home of WSL Member Jannis Baldwin and husband Robert was a sight to behold, with elegance at every turn from the outdoor fountain to the ornately decorated mantle pieces to the terrace overlooking downtown and the Capitol.

Longtime Symphony supporter Sylvia Jabour generously assisted in providing libations from Twin Liquors, and fan-favorite Claude Ducloux stirred the spirit of the party by entertaining guests on the baby grand piano.

WSL Meetings Co-Chairs Yoli Arriaga, owner of Taco Shack, and Celeste Hubert were proud to plan and host a smashing event, with the assistance of Photography Chairs Mildred Hammond and Jennifer Bisang. Exceptional florals were designed by Jane Stein. Fellow committee members Amy Martin, Charlotte Blakemore, Robin Miller and Katie Starley were on hand to ensure a good time was had by all.

“We are grateful to have generations of generous members like Jannis and Robert Baldwin and their son Davis and wife and WSL member Donna who open their homes and hearts to meaningful gatherings like this. The Symphony League’s strength lies in hardworking women who know how to have fun, and last night’s celebration will go down in the books as one of our best!” stated President Katie Kaighin.

Founded in 1953, the WSL has contributed more than $6.0 million to the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Its members work more than 15,000 volunteer hours annually on educational and fundraising projects, reaching over 60,000 area children every year.

For further information on membership or to donate to our many causes, visit www.WSLAustin. org.

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Historic Home Opens as Museum in Clarksville

By Anne DeVries

On November 13, a celebration was held to announce the opening of the Hezikiah Haskell House Museum. The newly opened museum is the oldest documented building in Clarksville.

Located at 1703 Waterston Avenue, the house is registered as a Texas Historic Landmark and a City of Austin Historic Landmark.

The highly anticipated event was attended by Clarksville Community Development Corporation (CCDC) members, the neighborhood organization for historic Clarkesville, and neighbors of the area. The Celebration featured the band Soulman Sam, and activities included games, a petting zoo, an information booth, and light refreshments.

The Haskell House has a deep history and helps tell the story of the formerly enslaved people who settled in Clarksville as a Freedom Colony post-Civil War. Photographs that line the walls of the museum help depict Clarksville’s founding which began in 1871.

“The Clarksville Community Development Corporation is thrilled that the Hezikiah Haskell House is now open to the public,” commented Mary Reed, president of the nonprofit organization. “A visit to the House is an opportunity for people to learn more about Austin’s under-told Black history, including what life was like during Clarksville’s early years as a freedom colony, the people who lived in the House, and the impact that gentrification has had on the neighborhood,” Reed added.

The Hezikiah Haskell House Museum is open from 1-4 on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month except December. Admission is free and museum docents

will be onsite to answer questions. For more information, contact mrpraustin@ gmail.com or visit http://www. clarksvillecdc.org.

PHOTOS BY CCDC

The Center for Child Protection’s (CCP) 19th annual PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon brought together 1,200 influential Austin women and supporters for a common cause: ending the cycle of child abuse along with a common love of bingo.

The popular, sold-out event raised a record breaking $1,000,000 for young victims of abuse in the Austin community. This year’s event held on October 15th, was emceed by Jim Spencer, returning for his 19th year, and Melissa Cason, a member of CCP’s Guardian Angel Society.

The PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon is hosted by the Friends of Christopher Guild, an organization established out of the community’s despair, frustration and outrage over the death of two-year-old Christopher Wohlers. Formed in 1998 by concerned women and mothers, the Friends of Christopher Guild has been sustaining and expanding the

safety net for abused children in Travis County through support of the Center for Child Protection.

Guests arrived dressed to impress to play bingo, sip champagne and bid on more than 125 silent auction packages featuring jewelry, designer handbags, products from local Austin purveyors, several getaway packages and more. Each guest received a stylish bracelet, that was hand strung by the Friends of Christopher Guild, while many of the guests also received a variety of luxurious table prizes.

The Center for Child Protection is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center and the only nonprofit in Travis County involved in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children. In 2021, the Center served 1,761 children through forensic, therapy, medical and support services. For more information, visit www. centerforchildprotection.org.

Trinity School Celebrates Literature and Reading at Annual Book Festival

By Anne DeVries

Trinity Episcopal School recently celebrated literature and reading at its annual Book Festival. The weeklong event featured author visits from Kate Messner and Varian Johnson, who shared their stories and answered questions from students.

One of the highlights of the Book Festival was when students and faculty dressed as their favorite book characters and paraded down the drive. The Blue House Preschool friends also joined in on the fun this year.

The Middle School students hosted a bake sale to wrap up the festivities. Proceeds were used to purchase Spanish language books for families at Rodriguez Elementary School, a Trinity sister school. Trinity has donated books to Rodriguez for several years and hosts some of its students through its summer program, Horizons Austin Trinity.

Book awards were also given out during the Book Festival. In the Lower School, the librarian nominated two picture books, two chapter books, and two graphic novels. Students voted for the winners, which included “Kick Push” by Frank Morrison for the picture book award, “The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza” by Mac Barnett for the graphic novel award, and “The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez” by Adrianna Cuevas for the chapter book award.

In the Middle School, the student literacy club, The Page-Turning Tornados, nominated and voted for the winners of two book awards, one for 5th/6th grade and another for 7th/8th grade. The winners were “Out of My Heart” by Sharon M. Draper and “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart.

Trinity Episcopal School is an independent PK-8 co-ed day school located in southwest Austin. Its 24-acre campus is situated in a quiet alcove of West Lake Hills and is easily accessible by major highways. The school offers a forward-thinking, evidence-based curriculum in a welcoming and nurturing environment.

Doss Owls

Stars book fair features local authors

By Alana Moehring Mallard

The favorite authors of Doss Elementary’s book fair last month came in their pajamas.

“Six pajama-clad and local authors were the stars of the night,” said Doss librarian Bonnie Lang of the book fair’s evening Doss Stories and Milk & Cookies. “They read their amazing stories to a packed house of milk and cookie eating Doss Owls.” Lang said the turnout was so unexpectedly high that it required a quick trip to HEB for more milk and cookies.

Reading their books for the kids on milk and cookie night were Meghan P. Browne, reading from Indelible Ann: the largerthan-life story of Governor Ann Richards; Lindsay Leslie, who read from Dusk Explorers; Melissa Coffey, reading her book Fridge-Opolis; Anne Wynter,

reading from Everybody in the Red Brick Building; Kari Lavelle, who read her book We Move the World; and Robin McGrath, reading Dolly! The story of Dolly Parton and her big dream. And, really, you need to look

carefully in the photo at those PJs the authors are wearing, because they coordinated with their books: retro Austin icons, twilight’s pink and grey swishes, colorful and audacious food snacks, red and black squares, colors of the rainbow in stripes and hearts, starry dots.

Doss book fair, called Owls Under the Stars, was sponsored by Black Pearl Books, and featured special events such as early morning readings on the porch by Doss teachers; happy hour at Black Pearl Books for teachers; a coffee for parents with a discussion of favorite books of the season led by librarians Bonnie Lang and Celeste Pustka, and Doss parent Erin Quinn-Kong; and a special shopping time and social for parents and kids after the Fifth Grade Musical, Four Birthdays and a Recital.

PHOTOS BY BONNIE LANG