That’s an open invitation – and a friendly challenge – to the public to get directly involved with the 2012 Bastrop/Smithville Relay for Life Friday and Saturday, May 18-19 at Bastrop High School’s Erhard Field, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday.

The annual Relay is an opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people that have been lost, but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives through further cancer research.

This year will also mark the first “Wings of Hope” butterfly release, which will take place during the cancer survivor ceremony at 8 p.m. A butterfly in honor of a survivor or a caregiver can be purchased for $5/each and all proceeds will be donated to the Relay For Life of Bastrop/Smithville. Order forms can be obtained by contacting Cheri Ray at 512-718-8745.

And one of the repeat popular events is the lighting of luminarias, shortly after the survivor ceremony.

White luminaria bags are transformed and illuminated after dark at every local Relay For Life event. Each one is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing by a Relay For Life participant or supporter in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer.

It is quite an event to witness as the sun sets. Luminarias, lining the track, illuminate the growing darkness and a quiet falls over the event that had been filled with the sounds of celebration just minutes before. Relay For Life participants, survivors and caregivers then gather together for a ceremony to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease. Participants walk the track lined with luminara bags in reflection. It is often a very emotional moment in which hugs and tears flow freely.

“A caregiver who has lost a loved one may find comfort from a fellow caregiver who has faced a similar loss,” according to ACS officials. Meanwhile, a survivor can gain hope and strength from others who have taken the same journey and survived.

There are multiple opportunities to donate to the Relay, both before and during the weekend event. Many local groups, including “teams” walking in the event have already been busy raising funds for battling cancer.

For more information on how to get involved with the Bastrop/Smithville Relay for life, see the website: www.relayforlife.org and look for “Bastrop/Smithville.”

Starting with the sheriff to the chief deputy and on to other deputies, you can try to do just that. And, even better, how about a judge? Judge Donna Van Gilder will be sitting in the “hot seat” from 11 a.m. to noon to take her turn in the water.

Or, for $1, you can throw them in jail. Problem is, they can’t bail themselves out. Someone on the outside has to post the bail for them to get out. Monies collected for the dunking booth and the “jail” will benefit the Citizens Sheriff’s Academy to purchase items for crime prevention and the child ID that they provide to the county for free.

Admission to the fair is one can of food per person to benefit the local food pantry. There will be numerous booths with information on the many different public services provided in Bastrop County.

“It’s a lot of fun, very informative and is definitely for a good cause,” said Vicki James, one of the organizers.

Food items will include hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage wraps, gorditas, tacos, fajitas, sno cones, popcorn and more. On display will be police cars, fire trucks, EMS helicopter, LCRA with their boat, an ambulance and a bouncy house for the children.

CSA president Hank James says, “It promises to be a great time for the whole family, along with being very informative of what our county has to offer in the way of help and support.”

There is still booth space available, so if you have something to sell, contact Vicki James at (512) 549-5072 or email at cedarcreek50@yahoo.com.

“It’s a wonderful way to have a great family day, educate your children on safety and water safety, besides bringing our community together,” Hank James said. “We hope you will come out and join us and get to know what all we have to offer.”

Willie DeLaRosa, who served on the city council from 1987 to 2009, received 471 votes (63 percent) to 279 votes for Kristi L. Koch for the Place 4 seat that was contested after Julie Hart decided not run again.

Mayor Terry Orr and council member Joe Beal (Place 2) were unopposed for reelection.

DeLaRosa, a postman, said one of the first priorities for the council should be “to make sure we establish new water resources, both in the short and long term.” Last week, the city announced it was having pumping problems in three of its five active wells. The city has temporarily shut down one of those wells in Fisherman’s Park, while the other two were pumping well below norms.

DeLaRosa cited the budget process as another council priority, adding that “setting spending limits” would be one of his key budgetary goals. “We have to prioritize our projects and spending,” he said.

The city is the early stages of developing its fiscal year 2013 budget.

“I’m sure they’ve started the budgetary process, but I’ve yet to see anything, so I’ll wait till I get more information” to give input to the council, DeLaRosa said.

Insurance agent James Allen was reelected to a third term on the BISD school board for Place 1, overcoming challenger Jim Clark by a margin of 168 votes – 1,117 for Allen and 949 for Clark, who is a school counselor in Manor.

Allen cited two key goals as he rejoins the school board.

“We have to focus on academic achievement, that’s priority No. 1 – continuing to raise the bar academically for all kids, all grades,” said Allen, who is currently the board secretary and has also served as president.

He added that two BISD schools that are rate academically unacceptable.
“We have to lift the bar. It starts with accountability and goes from there,” Allen said of academic achievement.

Allen said he will also push “fiscal responsibility” for the school district.

In the Place 2 race for the school board, David Long, a land acquisition manager won over Laurie Bauer, a professor at Concordia University, by a vote of 1,205 to 870. Former board president Ty McDonald did not seek re-election in Place 2.

Voting results remain unofficial until canvassed in late May.

Long said he wants BISD to “get back to more of an academic focus,” and believes the district is moving in that direction.

“We’ve got facilities in place and great things, but we need to make sure to support the teachers in the classrooms,” Long said.

He said from the input he’s had from teachers, he believes the majority are favorable to the C-Scope curriculum program.

Long said he would also like to hear from citizens during board meetings about the positive aspects of the district.

“I wish there was more community input from time to time, not just when folks are upset, but when they think (the district) is doing well,” Long said.

On Saturday, elections administrator Nora Cano said voting was going smoothly overall, but some people were confused when they showed up to vote, thinking they were also voting for county and state primary races. That voting occurs on May 29.

Bastrop County Veterans Service Officer

You’ve seen magazine articles, newspaper reports and PBS specials about the use of Agent Orange in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. To some, this is a part of our history and to many of our Vietnam era veterans and families, Agent Orange is an unwanted legacy still impacting them today.

Agent Orange was used as a defoliant in Vietnam, some air base perimeters in Thailand and during a specific time period in the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ).  A veteran is considered to have been exposed to Agent Orange if they were on-the-ground in Vietnam or served in the “brown water Navy.”

There a difference between a veteran who slogged through the highlands, a veteran who served on an air base, a veteran who served on a river patrol boat or a veteran who transited through Vietnam on their way to Thailand or other locations. Yes, there are differences but the general rule is if you set foot in Vietnam you are considered to have been exposed to Agent Orange. Are you automatically considered to have been exposed if you served on the perimeter of an air base in Thailand or in the Korean DMZ? Well, maybe.

Vietnam-era veterans whose service involved duty on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand anytime between Feb. 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975 may have been exposed to herbicides and may qualify for VA benefits.

Veterans who served in a unit in or near the Korean DMZ anytime between April 1, 1968 and Aug. 31, 1971 and who have a disease VA recognizes as associated with Agent Orange exposure are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. These veterans do not have to show they were exposed to Agent Orange to be eligible for disability compensation for these diseases.

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense must determine if the veteran’s unit operated in the DMZ area and if the veteran was physically there.

Was Agent Orange transported, used or stored outside of these areas?

Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam were tested or stored elsewhere, including some military bases in the United States. The Department of Defense gave VA a list of dates and locations of herbicide tests and storage.

Can a veteran claim Agent Orange exposure in and of itself?

No, the claim would have to be for one of the presumptive diseases or for a disease/physical problem that the veteran believes was caused by Agent Orange exposure. The presumptive disease is pretty cut-and-dry.  Do you have the disease and were you on-the-ground in Vietnam, including “brown water navy?” Veterans presumed exposed to Agent Orange should claim any disability that has a possible connection to herbicide exposure. While service connection is highly unlikely if it is not on the list, the condition could be added later as an Agent Orange presumptive. By claiming the condition now, it will preserve an effective claim date if it is added to the presumptive list later. But remember, it’s not over until the disability claims process is complete and you have the final VA disability decision.

Also, keep in mind that veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam and health care, in addition to disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits.

You may already be aware of this information but your buddies may not. I run into veterans everyday who served in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and other locations where Agent Orange was transported, stored or used who have one or more presumptive diseases and are unaware that they and their families may be eligible for a full range of benefits

Go to http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/ for more information about exposure locations, related diseases, research studies, benefits, provider resources and publications and reports.

Contact any veteran’s benefits counselor for additional information or assistance. I can be reached at (512) 581-4006 Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or at richard.hutchins@co.bastrop.tx.us.

An entrance fee of $1.00 buys a ticket for the door prizes.  The door opens Saturday morning at 7:00 A.M.  Proceeds from the swap meet go to help fund the primary club projects.  These are the two repeaters that allow low power hand-held radios to communicate over long distances, up to 50 miles.  Soon to be added to the UHF repeater is an internet connection that will permit worldwide communication with the same hand held “talkies.”

The regular meeting of the Bastrop County Amateur Radio Club will be held after the Friday Dinner.

The Bastrop County Amateur Radio Club’s webpage is  http://bcarc-hams.org/   Its online news and information center is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcarchams/   For more information email “hamclub_bastrop@yahoo.com” or call 512.965.5653.

For more information on this article and event call Al Loeschman at 979 574 3655.

Open to the public, the annual event is at the Paige Community Center in Paige on Tuesday, April 24.

Classes begin at 9 a.m., with salad luncheon at noon, and continue after lunch with demonstrations.  Registration is $4 plus the cost of the craft class you choose. Classes cost between free to $8.

This is a “wonderful day of crafting and socializing,” according to Marie Fargason, county association president.

The event also includes a silent auction, book and magazine sale and an apron contest – so wear your favorite or most unique apron.

Registration deadline is Thursday, April 16, and class sizes are limited. For more information and Fun Fest registration, call the county extension office at 512-581-7186 or stop by the office at 901 Pecan St., Bastrop, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Two group members will tell of their journey to find their families’ stories. Part of the meeting will be devoted to getting “One Step Closer,” which involves working one on one with a more experienced genealogist. Several will be on hand to help and brainstorming in small groups to find new avenues for further research will also be offered.

Forms and literature will be available to keep tract of any research discovered. This workshop format allows everyone to ask questions and expand their knowledge of family history resources.

Reservations are not required and there are no fees or membership requirements.

For more information, call Jean Zurow at 512-789-9903 or Bastrop Public Library at 512-321-5441.

Mack received the early promotion for outstanding performance during all phases of the training cycle. Training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly “Navy” flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.

Special to the Advertiser

Sue Lane McCulley presented a women in American history program, “Who Is Martha Ballard?”, which was based on Martha’s life, her hand-written diary 1783-1812, and book, “A Midwife’s Tale,” by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich at the Saturday, Feb. 18 meeting of the Lost Pines Chapter of NSDAR.  Hostesses were Mary Lucas, Ella Sheffield and Carol Snyder.

Vice Regent Sue Lane McCulley introduced guests Tilda Stovall, Kyle Stovall, Benjamin Anderson, Juanita Voigt and Rebekah Voigt.

Nominees for the chapter’s DAR Good Citizen Awards were Kyle Stovall from Smithville High School, who was recognized for his essay, and Rebekah Voigt from Bastrop High School, who was the chapter winner and was presented with a check.  Both received a certificate, wallet card and lapel pin.

Ella Sheffield reported there are 87 members, but soon five will be leaving.  She also reported that we have two new members, Ruth Elizabeth Ming Taylor and Myrlene Joy Johnston Jack. Willa Charba’s papers were submitted to national for approval.

The Jan. 21 meeting was the annual business meeting. Most of the members turned in reports or asked questions in order to complete their reports.  Jeannie Weigl was the hostess.

At the meeting on Saturday, March 17, TSDAR organizing secretary, Ann Carlton Oppenheimer, presented a program on American History, “The War of 1812.”

Meetings are open to the public. For more information about the chapter, call Regent Michelle Kee at (412) 581-3242 or Vice Regent Sue Lane McCulley in Bastrop at 308-9607.