Fellowship begins at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Claudia Conner with BIGAUSTIN and Bobby Howard, HSR, Inc. Imaginative Graphic Design, will facilitate the January session to help those interested start a new business or grow an existing one.

Bastrop Business Women, BIGAUSTIN and the SBA’s Women’s Center have partnered to bring the true spirit of entrepreneurship back to the community.  BIGAUSTIN is the leading non-profit micro-enterprise developmental organization in Central Texas, providing entrepreneurial education tailored business counseling for flexible loans for small business owners.  Since 1994, BIGAUSTIN has helped thousands of business owners turn their dreams into reality by offering cutting edge comprehensive small business solutions.

Bastrop Business Women will be presenting other programs, both educational and entertaining during these meetings. All are invited. For more information, contact Twila Charter, president, at 303-0539.

Artists showing are James Watts, Karol Rice, Ann Brown, Jo Watts, Gretchen Deuble, Carol Lyon, Debbie Sager, Edgar Diaz and Alan Klemp .

The artists were given a tour of the exhibit on Jan. 19, along with other permanent and short term art at the airport. The Lost Pines Alliance of Smithville also has a few temporary pieces on exhibit at the airport.  Some of these members are also members of the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild.

The exhibit will run through March 15.

Under the Texas Department of State Health Services jurisdiction each food establishment is required to have one certified food manager on site. Food manager certificates will be valid for five years.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Fayette and Bastrop counties are offering a professional food manager certification training course. This program will be offered for $115 on Jan. 30-31 at the Fayette County Agricultural Building, 255 Svoboda Lane, Room 104 in La Grange. Cost includes training, materials and a national food manager certification examination.

The program is designed to not only prepare food service managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food.

Foodborne illnesses are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance and medical bills. With these statistics, knowledge of how to prevent foodborne illness is essential. The benefits of improved food safety include:

• Increased customer satisfaction

• Improved relationships with health officials

• Prevention of bad publicity and lawsuits due to foodborne illness

By attending the course, food service managers will learn about:

• Identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling

• Preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food

• Teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees

• Complying with government regulations

• Maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings

• Controlling pests

For more information about the Professional Food Manager Certification Training course, called “Food Safety: It’s Our Business,” contact the Bastrop County Extension Office at (512) 581-7186 or access the brochure through the Bastrop County Extension website at http://bastrop.agrilife.org/ under the events section.

The BEDC is proposing to spend 4B economic development funds in an amount not to exceed $52,000 to hire a consultant to prepare a strategic plan. For additional information, contact Dave Quinn, BEDC executive director, at (512) 303-9700, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The BEDC is co-hosting a “networking luncheon” at the Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St., on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited.

The Bastrop County Commissioners will hold their regular meeting Monday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. in the commissioners courtroom at the Bastrop County Courthouse.

Once again, this year’s event will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in La Grange on Saturday, Jan. 28. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. catered by the Knights of Columbus. The Triumphs will take the stage at 8 p.m. to play “tropical” rock and roll tunes.

There will be a dance contest and a “cool coconuts” costume contest, plus silent and live auctions and a drawing.

Tickets are $40 per person. They may be purchased by credit card by calling the Family Crisis Center at (512) 321-7760. Ticket purchase is also available at Heritage Hallmark or Fayette Savings. Space is limited, so ticket purchase at the door is not guaranteed.

Make your plans to escape to Margaritaville and come as you are or take a “day-cation” in tees and tanks, flip flops and sarongs!

The Family Crisis Center’s stated mission is “to be the expert resource and service provider in eliminating domestic and sexual violence in Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette and Lee counties.” Proceeds from this event support the programs offered by the center, as well as their “vision of a safe community built on equality without the existence of violence.”

Social

The chapter had its Christmas social on Dec. 17 in the meeting room of Smithville Public Library. Kay Wesson gave an interesting program about the lives of the First Ladies.  Did you know that one of them had passed on several years prior to her husband’s election and she was still considered the First Lady?  That particular president did not remarry while in office.

Registrar Ella Sheffield presented papers for new member Ruth Taylor from Florida to her sponsor Debbie Sewart.  Sheffield also proposed Willa Means Charba and Shari Smith Eichler for membership. They were approved pending membership from national.  At this time, there are 84 members. Sheffield congratulated Melba Schneider for her 10-year anniversary and Dorothy Barton for her 30-year anniversary in NSDAR.

Regent Michelle Kee (in absence of Joy Kee) gave an Indian Minute about an article on Geronimo printed in the Austin-American Statesman.  Vice Regent McCulley reported that there is a nominee for the DAR Good Citizen awards, which will be announced next year in February or March.  Judy Grundy gave a report and said she sent out the last boxes for the DAR Project Patriot.

Cathy Smith explained the meaning of the red, white and blue colors on the flag of the United States of America.  Pat Small transcribed Betty Weaver’s Bible and submitted 16 pages for genealogical records.

Kee appointed Lucinda Wilcoxen as treasurer. Delegates and alternates were selected for the TSDAR 2012 State Conference March 8-10, in San Antonio.  Delegates include Kee, Zia Lowe, Sue Lane McCulley, Pat Small and Grundy.  Alternates include Wesson, Mary Edith Scott, Cathy Smith, Sheffield and Janet West.

Vice Regent McCulley recognized those members whose birthdays are in December.

She announced hostesses were Mary Edith Scott, Judy Grundy and herself and they were thanked.

Those who would like more information regarding the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution may contact Regent Kee in Elgin at (512) 581-3242 or Vice Regent Sue Lane McCulley in Bastrop at 308-9607.

It was a magical Sunday evening for more than 100 patrons, including dozens of special needs adults who attended the second annual Christmas Concert at Bastrop Opera House, hosted again by the Bastrop Presbyterian Fellowship as the final event of the Lost Pines Christmas weekend. The Grace Notes Ensemble and Pro Musica Handbell Choir of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin were glad to return to Bastrop and the Opera House to perform on the evening of Dec. 11.

The 19-singer ensemble performed a variety of Christmas music, accompanied by guest violinist and cellist Tammy Linn and Catherine Hernando. John C. Schmidt accompanied on piano and organ and the ensemble was directed by conductor Thomas W. Brown.  The Pro Musica Handbell Choir, a five-octave ensemble for ringers, directed by conductor Linda Rutherford, also performed beautiful selections for the audience ears.

The BPF has again provided the concert as a free public offering with a free-will offering. This year’s offering of $700 is pictured being presented to the Bastrop County Mental Retardation Association.

BPF recently welcomed Doug Fritzsche,  as the new pastor. Their fellowship currently worships at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Sundays at 6 p.m. BPF hopes to have a house of worship in the Cedar Creek area soon. Pastor Fritzsche, at (512) 378-3976, may be contacted for additional information about this Christian fellowship.

BCMRA was established in 1978 as a charitable non-profit to serve the county’s mentally challenged adults. It has since expanded to include all surrounding counties and accommodate a wider range of special needs.

BCMRA provides financial assistance to individuals, including funding for summer camp, donates to Special Olympics and local food pantries, advocates for the rights of the disabled and hosts a variety of social activities, including a monthly dance at the Smithville Recreation Center. The organization sponsors Christmas dinners for the local special needs workshop, provides Christmas gifts for those in need, musical entertainment for special needs local events and Santa Claus at Christmas events.

BCMRA is changing its name to “Friends of Special Needs Adults” to reflect their expansion of services and affection for those they serve. Both volunteers and recipients of services in the Central Texas area are truly “friends” and all are very “special.” For information on volunteering, needs for services and contributions, call (979) 242-5220 (Gail Bennett); (512) 360-4501 (Janet Kirkpatrick) or (512) 360-2246 (Mona Drescher).

Because of the fires in Bastrop County this year, there are higher numbers of families who are homeless. Advocacy Outreach is the designated contact point for this year’s Jan. 27 Point-in-Time Survey and the staff needs help in locating and interviewing homeless families. In order for Bastrop County to receive its fair share of federal aid, it is important to gather an accurate count.  If you are homeless or if you know someone who is, please contact Advocacy Outreach by Feb. 27.  “Goody bags” loaded with shampoo, shaving materials, soap and socks will be given to the first 50 respondents.  The interview is short and can be given over the phone or in person at the office of Advocacy Outreach, to school counselors at any campus in the county, at the Family Crisis Center or at the food pantries or soup kitchen.

The contact number for Advocacy Outreach is (512) 281-4180 and its office is located at 200 Depot in Elgin, next to the police station.

In addition to cash donations, they will be accepting donations of cleaning supplies, food (canned goods), diapers and formula and any other non-perishable goods.

These supplies will help with families who are just starting to rebuild and move back to their land. Many of the recipients do not qualify for help from the food pantry and other public assistance programs.

Additionally, Bastrop Liberty Tax Service will be preparing 2012 tax returns free for families who have lost their homes in the disaster.

The roadside party will be on Saturday, Jan. 21 from noon to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of 109 Hasler Blvd. There will be a bounce house for the kids, a Living Statue performance artist depicting the Statue of Liberty, and free food and drinks. They will be accepting cash donations and non-perishable goods for Bastrop County Fire Relief.

For more information, email bastroplibertytax@yahoo.com or phone (512) 321-7775.