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.

A working artist and writer, Crisp created more than 50 hand-colored linocuts, lithographs, silkscreen prints and photographs for the book to illustrate the changing character of the river and its diverse inhabitants. Detailed maps of each section encourage the reader to travel down the river with Crisp as she hikes, wades, kayaks, floats, canoes and boats the Colorado River from the headwaters at the edge of the Caprock Escarpment down to Matagorda Bay.

From its beginning at the edge of the High Plains of Texas, the Colorado River flows some 800 miles through 20 counties to meet the Gulf of Mexico. On its way, it fills nine lakes and reservoirs to supply water and electricity to vast areas of Texas. The river runs through the center of towns like Colorado City, La Grange, Bastrop, Smithville, Wharton and Austin.  Over 1.1 million people in Central Texas alone depend on the Colorado River for drinking, irrigation, electricity and industry.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and visitors are welcome.

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.

On April 28, it opened the exhibition of art created from the reclaimed fire materials. Seventy loblolly pines recovered from Bastrop State Park have been installed throughout the gallery space in the historic Starr Building, 121 W. Sixth (between Colorado and Congress), so visitors can feel they’re wandering through the Lost Pines as they view art by more than 60 artists.  Most are Texas-based – Leah Godfrey, who handcrafts crosses made of burned barb wire mounted on old barn wood and  Jon Langford,  who created the show logo are to name a few.  They also include ART from the Ashes founder Joy Feuer and AFTA board members Stacy Conde, Shannon Curfman, and Amanda Overton.   The exhibition continues through May 5, with the gallery open from noon-7pm.

SATURDAY MAY 5th 3-4 p.m. Suggested Donation $10
Performance by the Peterson Brothers Band. The Peterson Brothers combine the classic blues sounds of legends with their own unique blend of soul-infused inspiration.

All proceeds benefit the Lost Pines Recovery Team’s restoration efforts in Bastrop County. Funds will be used for reseeding native grasses and wildflowers, planting loblolly pines and hardwoods, and controlling soil erosion. For more information, visit www.artfromtheashes.org.

“Our open house is an important way for us to thank the community for its ongoing support and to provide an update on the important work that we do here,” said Christian Abee, D.V.M., director of the Keeling Center and chair of MD Anderson’s Department of Veterinary Sciences. “This has been an exciting year, we are growing and we need to build on our strong ties in the Central Texas community.”

Visitors are invited to take a walking tour. Abbreviated bus tours will be available. Research exhibits, demonstrations and an interactive lab for school-age students also will be featured.

The tours will include the recently-completed Comparative Medicine Research Building, a $52-million, 73,000-square-foot building that serves as the central hub of the 381-acre campus. Tours will also include the pathology and research laboratories and rhesus monkey, chimpanzee, squirrel monkey and owl monkey colonies.

Registration begins at 3 p.m. The Keeling Center is located at 650 Cool Water Dr., off Highway 95 between Farm-to-Market Road 2336 and Pershing Blvd.

No video or still photography will be permitted.

The Keeling Center houses approximately 2,000 animals of 12 species including chimpanzees, rhesus monkeys, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, sheep, cattle, swine, goats and rodents all used in biomedical research to improve understanding of cancer and other diseases that impact human health. More than 100 employees, including veterinarians, animal caregivers, research technicians and administrative staff care for animals at the Keeling Center. The center also offers training opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and veterinary medical students from several universities, including The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

Animals contribute to research into improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as investigations in hepatitis, HIV, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, vaccine development, cellular immunology, aging and behavior. Since the facility opened in 1975, it has supported the research of 21 MD Anderson departments and 29 other institutions and agencies. Research at the Keeling Center also contributes to the enhanced health and welfare of laboratory and companion animals.

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.

The musical had its premiere last summer at Festival Institute in Round Top. Its success resulted in the decision to stage it again this summer, with productions July 27-29 and Aug. 3-5 at the same Concert Hall in Round Top.

Adults/high Schoolers

In Bastrop, acting and singing auditions will be held Thursday, April 26, from 6-8 p.m. at Inspirations Dance Studio, located in Alum Creek in the Twister Cheer Building, 1289 Highway 71 E , Bastrop, TX 78602. Dance auditions will begin at 8 p.m.

In La Grange, auditions for acting and singing will be held from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 427 South Washington Street, La Grange. Dance auditions will begin at 8 p.m.

In Brenham, acting and singing auditions will be held from 5-7:30 p.m., Monday, April 23, at the Unity Theatre, 300 Church Street, Brenham. Dance auditions will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Acting and singing auditions at all three locations will be conducted individually. All auditioners should bring a prepared song and monologue, if available, or they will be provided sides from a script for reading. An accompanist will be provided for auditioners with sheet music.  Auditioners may also bring a recording of their accompaniment if sheet music is not available. If music is not brought to the audition, there will be available simple music for the auditioners to sing.

Dance

In Bastrop, dance auditions will follow the acting and singing auditions. Dance auditions begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at Inspirations Dance Studio, located in Alum Creek in the Twister Cheer Building, 1289 Highway 71 E , Bastrop, TX 78602. In La Grange the dancers will audition from 8-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at St. Paul Church after the singing and dancing auditions. In Brenham, dancers will audition at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, after the singing and dancing auditions in the Unity Theatre.

Dancers should come prepared to move with proper shoes and clothes. Those who consider themselves “movers” and not dancers are still encouraged to attend the dance auditions, as it will be tailored to suit a variety of ability levels. Similarly, all who consider themselves to be “only” dancers are encouraged to take part in the acting/singing portion of the audition.

Children

Children’s auditions for grades 1-8 will be held only in La Grange from 3-5 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 427 South Washington Street, La Grange.

Children will be asked to stay for the full two hours; however, if there is a conflict with school, they may arrive late. The audition will include a group workshop. Children may bring their own script or read sides from a script, which will be provided. They should bring songs of their choice with either sheet music or a recording of the accompaniment. Songs may be sung without music; however, an accompanist will be available. If auditioners have no songs prepared, they will be asked to sing something simple, such as “Happy Birthday.”

Rehearsals

Rehearsals begin Monday, July 2. Most rehearsals will be held in the evening, Monday through Saturday. The scheduling of rehearsals will maximize performers’ use of time; that is, they will be called for rehearsal when their scenes are active.

For the first two weeks, performers will be called upon for two to five rehearsals a week, depending on what scenes are working. By the end of the third week, performers will be expected to be at every rehearsal, which will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church in La Grange.

Rehearsals will move to the theatre (Festival Institute in Round Top) starting on Monday, July 23.

For questions or more information, visit the website www.heartofthetintrunk.com or contact executive director, Mickey Burdick, at mickeyburdick@hotmail.com or 646-382-3039.