PRSRT STDAUTOCR

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDWIMBERLEY, TX 78676

PERMIT NO. 21

POSTALPATRON

FREE

Llano’s 24th

Crawfish

Open

Good eats, good

music, golf & more

RBoot scootin’ at

Dripping Springs’

MerCer street

DanCe hall

RCJ Wright’s

hill COuntry

wilDlife

Certain signs of

spring’s arrival

RpOunD hOuse

Gala in

Dripping Springs

RTime for Bandera’s

wilD hOG

explOsiOn

RThe Hill Country’s

most complete

CalenDar

Of events

Serving Austin, Bandera, Blanco, Buda, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Comfort, Concan, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Gruene, Henly, Johnson City,Kerrville, Kyle, Llano, Leakey, Luckenbach, Marble Falls, Medina, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Sattler, Sisterdale, Stonewall, Wimberley, Utopia, Vanderpool & More

Hill Country SUNMARCH 2013

Find us on FacebookHillCountrySun

Jason Boland& the StragglersJason Boland& the Stragglers

PAGE 2 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

frio/sabinal river valleys

www.friolodging.com • www.hillcountryadventures.com830-966-2320

Paradise is closer than you think!Retreat to the Hills for a Week or

Weekend of Relaxation & Adventure

Rio Frio Lodging & Nature CenterJoin us for 14th Annual Nature Quest: April 24-28, 2013

River Rim Resort

Cabins & RV Sites • www.RiverRimResort.com(830) 232-5758 • 1204 CR 350 • PO Box 72 • Concan, TX 78838

Warning... Experiencing Fall on the Frio could become habit forming

Find Us on at River Rim Resort on the Frio

Warning...Experiencing the beauty of the Frio could become habit forming

Get Your Sun on the go!Read the Hill Country Sun ONLINE at

hillcountrysun.com

By LaureL robertson

Before 1989, most folks in Llano thought the only use for crawfish was as catfish bait. But that year,

hunters from Beaumont helped the Hill Country town, their home-away from-home during deer season, sponsor a traditional Cajun crawfish boil/golf tournament to raise money for charity. Though the locals were a little reluctant about the new food (300 of the 500 pounds of the craw-fish that year ended up as fish food in the Llano River), a taste for fun and fundraising for charity stuck with them.

This year marks the 24th year in a row for the Llano Crawfish Open, which takes place in City Park April 19-20, and crawfish – 12,000 pounds of it - is the most popular item on the menu.

Of course, eating is only part of the fun. The Crawfish Golf Open at the Llano River Golf Course offers prizes for winners, including a free car from Marble Falls’ Johnson Sewell Ford Lin-coln for the first hole-in-one on Hole #5, plus other prizes.

There’ll also be “plenty of fun activi-ties for the kids,” says Bobbie Lou Gray, Vice President of the Crawfish Open board. And kids can pit crustacean against crustacean at the Saturday after-noon Crawfish Races. Check the web site for complete details.

The Gypsies Motorcycle Club will sponsor a Motorcycle Poker Run Satur-day in which participants ride to busi-nesses all around the Llano area to accu-mulate a five-card poker hand.

There will be team roping competi-tion in the Llano Rodeo Arena on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Three live auc-tions offer treasures up for bid and ven-dors from across Texas will sell hand-made arts and crafts.

There’ll be live music both Friday and Saturday afternoons. Enjoy Eleven Hundred Springs as they open both nights around 7 pm with a live auction around 8:30 pm —followed by live music by Johnny Bush Friday night. And don’t miss Jason Boland and the Stragglers

24th Llano CrawfishOpen, fun for family

Head to Llano April 19-20 for great food, live music, family friendly entertainment and more at the 24th Llano Crawfish Open. Photo courtesy Llano Crawfish Open.

headlining Saturday night’s dance.Throughout its 24-year history, the

Llano Crawfish Open has gradually grown from a one-day festival netting about $400 (used to buy a motorized wheelchair for a local man with multiple

sclerosis) to a three-day celebration that in 2012 brought in about $70,000 to help charities in Llano County.

Now organized as a 501c3 non-prof-it, the Llano Crawfish Open, Inc., sup-ports many local charities. The Beaumont contingent has also grown from the few original deer hunters.

Many continue to come yearly to Llano to cook crawfish and help out. All in all, about 200 volunteers help keep the Llano Crawfish Open going.

“Dont miss the great food, music and fun on the banks of the beautiful Llano River. Come out and let the good times roll, or in Cajun terms ‘Laissez les bons temps rouler,’” smiles Bobbie Lou.

FYI • Admission to the park is free until 7 pm Friday and $5 after 7 pm. Admission for adults is $10 until 7 pm Saturday, and $15 after 7 pm, including the dance Saturday night. Kids under 12 are admitted free. Crawfish, jamba-laya, barbecue and all the trimmings will be served Friday from 11 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 11 am until it’s all gone. Plates are $10 (with crawfish, potatoes, corn, brisket, sausage, beans and jambalaya); flats of crawfish (with po-tatoes and corn) are $20. No ice chests allowed in the park. Call the Llano Chamber of Commerce for RV hookup infor-mation at 325-247-5354. For more information, call 325-247-2270 or visit the web site at www.llanocrawfishopen.com, where you can also find a schedule of events.

HILL COUNTRY SUN R MARCH 2013 PAGE 3

March 2013Volume 23 • Number 10ISSN: 1524-2315

Entire contents copyright © 2013 by TD Austin Lane, Inc., 100 Commons Rd. Suite 7, Number 319, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620. Writers and photographers retain copyrights to individual work. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any fashion without the written consent of the publisher.

•The Hill Country Sun is published monthly. For advertising rates or information, call Julie Harrington at 512-484-9716 (email julie@hillcountrysun.com). Credit cards accepted.

•Circulation: 24,000. Distributed monthly to more than 450 popular Hill Country locations (see list on front cover) and home delivered to all 5,181 Wimberley homes and 8,240 Dripping Springs homes by the US Postal Service.

•Cover: (See story, page 2). Photo courtesy Jason Boland, Inset photos Llano’s 24th Annual Crawfish Open is April 19-20. Photos courtesy Llano Crawfish Open.

•Deadline for calendar events 15th of each month.Email melissa@hillcountrysun.com.

Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/HillCountrySun

Julie HarringtonPublisher

Advertising

Melissa MaxwellEditor

laurel robertsonC.J. wrigHt

Writers

gerry burnsDelonn bowie

Delane ibarraaDelle spellDistribution

Hill Country SUN

julie@hillcountrysun.com • melissa@hillcountrysun.comwww.hillcountrysun.com

HENLY

Texas Hill CountryLocator Map

© 2013 by TD Austin Lane, Inc.

INDEXAustin J5

Bandera B10Bergheim D9

Bertram I2Blanco F6

Boerne D9Buchanan Dam F2

Buda J7Bulverde G10

Burnet G2Camp Verde B8

Canyon Lake G9Castroville C12

Center Point B8Clear Springs H11

Comfort C8Concan A11

Driftwood H7Dripping Springs H6

Fischer G8Fredericksburg C5

Georgetown K2Granite Shoals G2

Gruene H10Hancock G8Helotes G6

Henly G6Highland Lakes F2/3

Hondo B13Hunt A7Hye E6

Ingram B7Johnson City F5

Kendalia F8Kerrville B7

Kingsland F2Kyle I8

Lampasas G1Leakey A9Llano D2

Liberty Hill I12Luckenbach D6

Luling K10Marble Falls G3

Martindale J9Mason B2

Medina A9New Braunfels H10

Oak Hill I6Oatmeal H2

Pipe Creek C10Round Rock K3

San Antonio F12San Marcos I9

Sattler H9Seguin I11

Sisterdale D8Spring Branch F9

Startzville G9Stonewall D6

Utopia A10Vanderpool A9Wimberley H8

Denture Shop

Dentures & General Dentistry for Less

Need Dentures?No Insurance? No Problem!

Call now to schedule a free consultation!

Dr. Joni Avery & Associates290 at Bell Springs Road Dripping Springs, Texas

Toll Free 855-858-2250mydentureshop.com

PAGE 4 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

See MERCER STREET DANCE HALL, page 5

wimberley

EAGLE MOUNTAIN FLAGS• Flags & Flagpoles• Patriotic Gifts• Knives & Cutlery

333 FM 2325 • Wimberley, Texaswww.EMFlag.com

Mon-Thurs 9 am-5 pm • Friday 9 am-3 pm

512-847-0010 • 800-385-5605

On the Square at • 100 Oak Dr. Ste. 200, Wimberley, Texas (Across from Kiss the Cook)

TERRY GRISHAM, DIRECTOR

512-847-7278 TheArtGalleryAtWimberley.net

Ben Carter, “The Leader,” 60” x 48,” Oil

A DISTINCTIVE COLLECTION OF

Fine Art in the Hill Country

Like us on Facebook.www.facebook.com/HillCountrySun

matchpoint linenschalet clothing

monoreno and z & l hippie chicbedding & pillows

domestic goods • funky art

the quarter at cypress creek • 512-847-2300

vintage girl

By LaureL robertson

Ten years ago Dripping Springs residents couldn’t buy a beer in the local grocery store.

Today they can quaff hand-crafted brews in the local beer pub, enjoy re-gional and international wines in a wine bar two doors down—and now dance to live music two nights a week just down the street at the new Mercer Street Dance Hall. Welcome to Dripping Springs’ own version of 6th Street!

Nick and Gay Dotin are the own-ers and entrepreneurs behind Dripping Springs’s newest entertainment venue.

As a musician, Nick spent 35 years on stage in other dance halls and honky-tonks playing in rock ‘n roll and country bands. Now the 50-year-old is ready to keep it closer to home by running his own dance hall.

Gay, who worked in hospitality at the Hyatt Regency Austin and now is general manager at Whim Hospitality in Dripping Springs, rounds out the per-fect dance hall husband and wife man-agement team.

“There are lots of people out here who don’t want to have to drive out to Blanco to enjoy an evening of danc-ing,” Nick observes. “There was just no place to dance regularly in Dripping Springs.”

That problem became acute for Nick and Gay a couple of years back when their (then) 14-year-old daughter, Shelby, learned to two-step and wanted to regularly go out to Blanco to dance at Twin Sisters Hall, or to Buda to dance at the Painted Horse Saloon.

“We were driving 40-to 80-mile round trips to take her to the nearest dance hall,” Nick bemoans.

Then Shelby came up with a great idea: “Hey, Dad – why don’t you open a dance hall here?”

It didn’t take Nick and Gay long to locate the perfect building – a former

auto warehouse-turned-baseball acad-emy at the back of the Sunrise Café’s parking lot on Mercer Street.

Its pole barn construction with wooden trusses created a large open space perfect for filling with a band stand, a 1400-square foot wooden dance floor and raised platforms for table seat-ing.

Nick, an experienced carpenter, and crew added spacious new restrooms along the front wall and a long wooden bar along the rear wall.

Repurposed barn wood and rustic old signs lend the new hall an atmo-sphere reminiscent of traditional dance halls like Gruene Hall, which Nick cites as an inspiration for their design of Mer-cer Street Dance Hall.

The venue will be family-run and family-friendly.

Gay will meet and greet at the front door, Shelby will be keeping the dance floor active, along with many of her friends (all ages admitted). Nick will run the sound systems and tend bar.

Nick insists on good behavior in the establishment. “I’m well-behaved – if not upstanding,” he confides.

House rules include no beverages or

It’s Mercer Street Dance Hall for boot scootin’ good times

LEFT TO RIGHT Nick, Shelby and Gay Dotin welcome you to Dripping Springs’ new Mercer Street Dance Hall. Photo courtesy Mercer Street Dance Hall.

HILL COUNTRY SUN R MARCH 2013 PAGE 5

MERCER STREET DANCE HALL, from page 4

“The Boot Whisperer”

“Best Vintage Find” Southern Accents • “Where to Buy” London Financial Times 2006

Wild WestHUNDREDS OF VINTAGE

COWBOY BOOTS•Buy! Sell! Trade!

Just off the Wimberley SquareOlde Towne Plaza - 13709 RR 12

512-847-1219www.koolboots.com

Store

The O

“Go for a consultation with the Boot Whisperer, who reads feet like a psychic reads palms.” Texas Monthly, August 2010

Open by appointment only due to family illness. Please call in advance.

wimberley

Find Out How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Change Your Life

Custom Smile Creations at Ron S. White, DDS

Call 512-858-LOVE to reserve your complimentary consult today!

Complimentary

Cosmetic Consultation

Expires 3/31/13

FREE Whitening

with all accepted cosmetic cases

Expires 3/31/13

Restoring Health, Happiness, and Self-Confidence One Smile at a Time!

Sue at Red Horse Ranch loves her bright smile

Joe is smiling more than ever!

www.ronswhite.com

dripping springs

loitering on the dance floor, kids under control (“They can dance on the dance floor, but not run loose…”) and no dogs (“It’s a dance hall, not a kennel….”).

“We’re gonna offer clean restrooms, cold beer and good bands that don’t play too loud, Nick promises. “We’re gonna start on time and end at a decent hour,” he continues. “Some of us have to get up the next morning ...”

Each Friday night, music will begin at 8 pm; Saturday nights music gets going at 8:30 pm.

And dance lessons—taught by a ro-tating team of instructors—will be includ-ed with admission each night and start an hour before the music begins.

Outside, guests can enjoy a tree-shad-ed side yard offering washer pitching pits

and a smoking area (there’s no smoking allowed inside). A deputy from the Hays County Sheriff Department will be on hand each evening to ensure everything goes smoothly.

“As a musician, I’ve spent a lot of time in honky-tonks and bars. I’ve seen it, I know it, and I know what to do,” Nick says confidently.

“This is not my first rodeo.”FYI • Mercer Street Dance Hall is located at 332 Mer-

cer Street, next to The Sunrise Café. The Dance Hall will be open Friday and Saturday nights – doors open at 6 pm, band starts at 8 pm on Fridays and 8:30 pm on Saturdays. All ages admitted.

Dance lessons are included with price of admission and begin one hour before the band plays. Beer, wine, setups and snacks are available. For more information, visit the web site at www.mercerstreetdancehall.com.

DRIPPING SPRINGS H Using last year’s wildly successful event as a model, The Heritage Gala planning committee is polishing this year’s event to perfection with some exciting new additions. A second elegantly decorated tent will offer additional space for partying, a well-known local emcee will help keep the evening lively and a popular area band will entertain with favorite dance music.

Revisiting last year’s theme of “An Elegant Evening in Old Texas” the yearly fundraiser for the Dr. Pound Farmstead Museum will retain many of the highlights from last year’s outstanding event.

“Poundtinis” – signature cocktails created for the event by Dripping Springs Vodka – will make an encore appearance during the opening happy hour. The evening’s sit-down dinner will be served with wine and presented by a variety of Hill Country chefs. Exciting silent and live auction items will include a Horseshoe Bay Resort stay, gift certificates from Segners Jewelers, a travel bag from Pack Monster and a football signed by the 2013 Dripping Springs High School Varsity Tiger Team.

FYI • The Heritage Gala is Saturday evening, April 13, on the grounds of the Dr. Pound Farmstead Museum in Dripping Springs. Business and individual sponsorships are currently available and silent or live auction donations are ongoing through early April. Proceeds from the Heritage Gala benefit the Dr. Pound Farmstead and Museum for the continued preservation and promotion of Dripping Springs area history.

For more information, visit the web site at www.drpoundhistoricalfarmstead.com or call 512-858-2030.

Heritage Gala to benefit historicDr. Pound Farmstead Museum

BANDERA H Looking for something really outrageous to do for Spring Break? Its time for squeals and spills at the 11th annual Wild Hog Explosion and All Bike Rally-March 15-17. Bandera will not disappoint those looking for good time, as this fun filled weekend includes the hilarious Wild Hog Catch, the always crowd pleasing Barbecue Cook-Off and an awesome All Bike Rally. And let’s not forget about the bicycle rodeo for the kiddos.

What exactly is the Wild Hog Explosion? Well, first you start with about 150 wild hogs that vary in size and age. Then you take a group of willing humans that also vary in size and age. Match up the size and weight, put them all in a ring and challenge the humans to catch the smart, fast, and loud wild hogs. The object is to catch the hog and get him to the finish line. Teams are judged on time. Most of the time the hog wins…but not without a lot of action, adventure and tons of laughs!

Plan to spend the day and bring the kids. There will be lots for them to do, begin-ning with a Bicycle Rodeo, a Hog Catch for runts (ages 3 and 4 years), piglets (ages 5 and 6 years) and shoats (ages 7 to 9 years). For Mom, there are arts and crafts, and for Dad, commercial booths and a CTBA sanctioned Cook-Off competition. Visit the cook-ers where you can nibble at the competition meats or buy a plate lunch and “Pig Out.” All proceeds go to the Bandera County Kronkosky Library.

Sounds like quite the fun filled day? Well, things get better…enjoy the music of the Three Peace Band or check out the bikes in the All Bike Rally. Better yet, bring your bike and enter the Hill Country Poker Run and win great prizes for the best hand. Even the Worst Hand wins.

Saturday morning the event moves to Mansfield Park for the Poker Run. Follow-ing the run, bikers can participate in a special “Biker” Ride and Shine Competitions at 4:30 pm. Sunday riders can enjoy church services by the Christian Motorcycle Associa-tion at the Mansfield Park RV Park and then riders can make the “Pie Run” to Love Creek Orchards Apple Store in Medina.

FYI • For more information, or to enter any of the competitions and for a complete schedule of events, visit the web site at www.wildhogexplosion.com.

Bandera’s Wild Hog Explosion

Calendar Events? melissa@hillcountrysun.com

We love what we do & so will you!

4909 Lone Man Mountain Rd. • Wimberley, TX512-842-2246 HuntersChaseFarms.com

After School LessonsSummer Overnight & Day Camp

Hunters Chase Farms Inc.

PAGE 6 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

DRIPPING SPRINGS

C.J. Wright

512-858-WINE www.drippinwine.com211 Mercer St • Dripping Springs, TX

Thanks for voting us Dripping Springs’

best new biz 2012!

Pottery • Drapery Hardware • Toys

Designer Fabrics at Discount Prices

• Fabric • Trim • Pillow

s • Body Care • Furniture • More Fabric

Book

s •

Artw

ork

• Ca

ndle

s •

Mor

e Fa

bric

• S

ofas

• F

urni

ture

•

20% off

Trail Head Market • Hwy 290 West • Dripping Springs512-894-0350 • 800-982-7424 Mon-Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5

Tremendous Savings Off Suggested Retail Every Day!

• Custom Furniture• Designer Fabrics• Decorative Trims• Unique Gifts• Accessories • Toys

Let Our Design Staff Assist You with Custom Draperies, Bedding, Baby Bedding, & In-Home Design Service.

All at the BEST PRICES!

Like Us On

www.cowgirlsandlace.comselect last call items

Spring Cleaning - large selection of fabrics $3.97, $5.97, $7.97

To Advertise... email julie@hillcountrysun.com

Mark A Thompson DDS MSSpecialist in Orthodontics

512-858-2916 • www.austinbraces.comcorner of Ranch Road 12 @ 290 West

MODERN ORTHODONTICS FROM FRIENDLY PEOPLE.

hill country WILDLIFE

Signs of spring’s approachThe early morning is overcast and,

except for the harsh cries of distant crows, the woods are silent. Then

comes the soft, steady flow of a breeze gliding through the canopy, music impossible to replicate. One breathes in the gentle beauty of this place and stress falls away.

Now, before the trees and understory plants green, one sees deeper into the forest, sees the damage drought has caused. With not enough rain to go around, weakened trees succumb, lean against neighbors till wind and gravity send them to their final resting place.

Wind takes a toll on the vulnerable. Branches hang at odd angles, like arms broken at the elbow. Others snap off, leaving pale wounds from where they once waved. Some branches of the old and gnarled will sprout leaves come spring, while other limbs, blackened and reduced to stubs, remain bare, a perch from where a hawk holds vigil, waiting for unsuspecting prey to venture its way.

Unable to penetrate the canopy, once-bent saplings lie across the woodland floor. In death they are food for insects and nutrients for soil. Nature leaves nothing to waste.

Nor is nature static. A Wood Thrush lands on a birdbath, bathes, shakes feathers vigorously and leaves without sound while tops of oak, sweet gum and loblolly pines—drought survivors all—bask in the sunlight. Life on the cusp of rebirth.

It’s not quite spring, and temperatures teeter. Warm spells tease plants to bud and prompt flowers to bloom earlier than normal. Butterflies emerge and insect activity increases. Bird migration is off to an early start and soon trees will fill with

feathered activity. While some birds will stop to rest and refuel, others stay and raise young.

Purple Martins are first to herald spring’s approach. Males arriving as early as January, perch upon martin house roofs, their burbling songs brightening the day.

The buzzy song of the Golden-cheeked Warbler fills the oak-juniper woodlands around March first, marking spring for many birders. Endemic to Central Texas, this endangered warbler peels bark from mature juniper trees to weave its nest.

March also signals the arrival from Mexico of monarch butterflies. Over the winter, they kept warm, clustered tightly in the trees of the oyamel fir forest.

As the temperatures warmed, they bred and now females sail and swoop in search of milkweed plants on which to lay their eggs, giving birth to the next generation of monarchs.

Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds replace wintering Rufous hummers. Most American Goldfinches and Dark-eyed Juncos have left, returning to their summer breeding grounds.

By the time spring officially arrives on March 20th, Black and White Warblers, Northern Parulas, Cave Swallows and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are claiming territories. High among the trees, Bald Eagles and Red-shouldered Hawks guard their nests.

Soon one hears migrating Sandhill Cranes calling overhead and, if lucky, Whooping Cranes. Flocks of Broad-winged Hawks kettle above. In the evenings, Chimney Swifts chitter and See HILL COUNTRY WILDLIFE, page 7

Spouses Welcome!

$50/single; $80/couple;$500 Corporate Table**Table of 8 with VIP Seating

Last year’s event sold out... get tickets online at www.ducks.org/texas/events or call Chae at 512-496-8333 or Scott at 512-694-6585

BANQUETTHURSDAY, MAY 16

DucksunlimiteD

The Terrace Club • 2600 U.S. Hwy 290 • Dripping Springs, TX

6 pm: Doors Open 7:30 pm: Bar-B-Q Dinner

8:30 pm: Auction

11th

Annual

HILL COUNTRY SUN R MARCH 2013 PAGE 7

HILL COUNTRY WILDLIFE, from page 6

512-858-1311 • toll free 877-858-1311

131 Benney Ln, Ste A • Dripping Springs

www.cunninghamorthodontics.com

Carly C. Cunningham, D.D.S., M.S.

Smile of the Month...

Please visit our website atCunninghamOrthodontics.com

across from Dripping Springs High School

STORIEDFIREARMS

Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pmSat 10 am - 4 pm

9300 US 290 West, Building 2 Austin, Texas 78736

3-ish miles from the Y at Oakhill & 11 from Dripping

located in The Old DumasTrain Depot

512-394-0125

Turn your guns into cash!WE WILL BUY YOUR GUNS!

BUY AND TRADEYou Need to See Our

Collection of Firearms!Great Prices • Unique Selection

now an NFA Dealer

C.J. Wrightdripping springs

SAMPLE OUR Texas Pride JalaPeno MusTard

Peach salsa

Peach aMareTTo & Pecan JaM

JalaPeno Jelly

Hwy. 290, 7 miles west of Dripping SpringsConvenient to Austin,Fredericksburg & San Antonio

Jams, Jellies, Dips, Goumet Foods, Teas, Gifts & Warm Friendly Smiles

Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm

www.shopncf.com 800-727-5267

Whip-poor-wills call their name.

Bird migration peaks in April. Yellow-billed Cuckoos, buntings, and vireos sing from trees greening with fresh foliage. April also brings an increased chance of severe weather, disrupting avian flight, sometimes causing fallouts along the coast. Such weather can tear tender foliage from limbs, down nests and vulnerable trees.

Once during a strong and lengthy thunderstorm, I watched a Yellow-bellied Woodpecker cling to the leeward side of a live oak tree trunk outside my window. It remained there for the duration, never moving, its claws gripping the bark, its tail anchoring its body in place.

But trees not only offer protection from weather and cover from predators, they provide animals homes.

They are sources of food: nuts, fruits and seeds. They are home to many insects, which in turn are food to some bird species and protein for most nestlings. Their root systems help prevent soil erosion and their canopies intercept rainfall, decreasing runoff that carries pollutants to waterways.

Most important to all life, during daylight, trees—like all normal plants, though trees do it best—photosynthesize, i.e., absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and release oxygen. During nighttime hours they produce carbon dioxide through respiration, as do animals. Throughout periods of growth, they take up more carbon dioxide than they let go.

Although figures vary depending upon the tree species and its age, a mature leafy tree may produce enough oxygen to sustain anywhere from two to ten humans for a year and it can absorb about forty-eight pounds of carbon dioxide.

Imagine the “carbon sink” of an ash tree that can grow to 120 feet and live for a century. Imagine the wildlife it serves: flowers for pollinators, seeds for animals, home for many.

Now consider that over 100 million native ash trees have died since June 2002, all due to the voracious appetite of the invasive emerald ash borer. Larvae feed on new sapwood; adults devour leaves.

Not only are neighborhoods in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois often bare, but the U.S. Forest Service discovered something less obvious.

According to its studies, in counties with borer infestation, mortality rates increased among people with cardiovascular and lower respiratory tract illnesses, drawing a physical relationship between human health and trees.

Other studies such as those conducted by University of Michigan

Professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan and their students find a correlation between natural settings and mental and physical health, noting that nature allows one’s brain to relax and reflect while one absorbs the surrounding beauty. In one study, views of the outdoors lessened inmates’ need for health care.

The Japanese practice forest bathing, finding that time spent enjoying nature lowers stress levels.

Engineer, naturalist, writer, botanist and geologist John Muir, upon discovering and reporting on the trees of Yosemite, concluded: “There is always something deeply exciting, not only in the sounds of winds in the woods, which exert more or less influence over every mind, but in their varied waterlike flow as manifested by the movements of the trees … ”

PAGE 8 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

14th Annual Nature QuestApril 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2013

Texas Hill Country’sBest All Around

Birding-Nature Event!Discover birds,

bats, butterflies, nature photography,wildflowers & more!

Hill country calendar

SUMMER STARTSHERE

SPRINGS FAMILY YMCA 27216 Ranch Rd 12 South

Dripping Springs, TX 78620 AustinYMCA.org 894-3309

l

Register by March 31and SAVE $30!

22 summer camp locations in Travis & Hays Counties

• Weekly sessions June 10-Aug 23 • Ages 4-14• Kinder, Theme, Sports and Adventure Camps• 7:30am - 6:00pm daily• All camps offer swimming, field trips, games, crafts & character-development activities• Financial assistance available

YMCA of Austin Springs March 2013-HC Sun.indd 1 2/15/2013 9:43:06 AM

www.visitwimberley.com/vfw • 512-847-6441 • Lic. #1-74-6066562-7

~B I N G O~

Non Smoking • Plenty of Parking • Air & Heat • Food Available

Every Fridayv 4 Early Bird Games 7:15pm ~ 50/50 Splitv 10 Regular Games 8pm

VFW Hall Post 6441 @ Veterans Park 4 mi. no. on RR 12 to Jacobs Well Rd

NOTE: Dates or locations for the events listed in the Calendar may change. Some require admission fees or reservations. Please call ahead to confirm information.EVERY DAYGRUENE: Live music at Gruene Hall. Enjoy free music shows Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. gruenehall.com.WIMBERLEY: (every day except Monday) Visit Wimberley Glassworks. Gallery open daily 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm. Glassblowing demos daily except Monday (except Tuesday on holiday weekends) 800-929-6686, www.WGW.com.EVERY SUNDAYAUSTIN: Sunday Jazz Brunch. Nutty Brown Café. www.nuttybrown.com.SECOND SUNDAYJOHNSON CITY: Taste Wine + Art Music Events. Entertainment ranging from rockin’ gospel and jazz to Latin music at the Kirchman Gallery. 830-868-9290.EVERY MONDAYCANYON LAKE: Seniors Bingo. 12:30 pm at Habitat for Safe Seniors, 2174 Old Sattler Road, Startzville. 830-899-2256.EVERY TUESDAYAUSTIN: Kid’s Night. Nutty Brown Café. www.nuttybrown.com.CYPRESS MILL: The Bunkhouse Gang at Wenmohs Ranch. Paint and enjoy the fellowship of other Hill Country artists. 830-825-3465.FISCHER: Youth Archery Program. Cowboys for Jesus, 8400 Farm Market 32. 830-935-2920.GRUENE: Two Ton Tuesdays at Gruene Hall. Rock-a-billy band Two Tons of Steel takes the stage at 8:30 pm. 830-606-1281.WIMBERLEY: Hill Country Community Band. First Baptist Church. 512-858-7960.FIRST TUESDAYSBANDERA: Cowboy Capital Opry. Professional entertainers perform to benefit Meals on Wheels. Silver Sage Corral Senior

Center. 830-796-4969.THIRD TUESDAYSNEW BRAUNFELS: Comal Country Music Show. Knights of Columbus Hall, 111 Landa Street. 830-629-4547.LEANDER: Low Cost Pet Spay, Neuter and Vaccination. 512-260-3602, ext. 101.EVERY WEDNESDAYAUSTIN: Austin Farmers Market at Triangle Park. 4600 Guadalupe at Lamar and 46th Street. 512-236-0074.AUSTIN: Open Mic Night. Nutty Brown Café. www.nuttybrown.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Farmers Market. 3 pm to 7 pm at the Triangle (Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12) March through December, rain or shine. cityofdrippingsprings.com.WIMBERLEY: Farmers’ Market. Fresh produce, fresh breads, and more at the Senior Citizen’s Activity Center. 512-264-1637.FOURTH WEDNESDAYSWIMBERLEY: Hill Country Neighbors. 10:30 am. Wimberley Community Center. 512-847-2849.EVERY THURSDAYAUSTIN: Karaoke at the Nutty Brown Café. www.nuttybrown.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Coffee House with Light Dinners, Decadent Desserts and Open Mic. 6 pm to 9 pm. Thyme and Dough. 512-894-0001.FIRST THURSDAYAUSTIN: Austin Air Coolers VW Gang. Meet at 7:30 pm at Deep Eddy Pool, cruise down Congress to Austin Pizza.BUDA: First Thursday. Stroll through the downtown antique and specialty shops, enjoy the food from downtown restaurants. www.discoverbuda.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Dripping Springs American Legion meets at 27500 Ranch Road 12. 7 pm. 512-858-1907.WIMBERLEY: YAPI (Young Artist Perfor mance Incubator). Opportunity for kids

HILL COUNTRY SUN R MARCH 2013 PAGE 9

Hill country calendar

www.BeckerVineyards.com830 644 2681

Becker Vineyards

15th annual

20 13

April 27&28Sat. 10-6 & sun. 12-6

Live Music - Artisan Vendors - Lavender MarketCooking Demos - Gourmet Vintner Luncheon

Wine Tasting & Tours

16th Annual BUDA

Country Fair & Cook OffApril 27-28 • Buda City Park • Buda, TX

512-565-0505512-787-4124

18 and under to perform in an intimate setting. Maui Wowi. 512-847-6215, www.brendafreed.com/yapi.FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYCANYON LAKE: Noon Lions Meeting at Canyon Lake Golf Club. 830-899-4406.THIRD THURSDAYWIMBERLEY: Susanna’s Kitchen Coffee House Concert Series. The best in live music. 7:30 pm, Wimberley UMC, Corner RR 12 and CR 1492, $15, wimberleyumc.org/susannaskitchen.htmEVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Live Music at Linda’s Fine Foods. 500 FM 2325. 512-847-5464.EVERY FRIDAYBLANCO: Tasting Room Open and Brewery Tours at Real Ale Brewing Company. realalebrewing.com.EVERY FRIDAYGRUENE: Friday Afternoon Club at Gruene Hall. Happy hour, prize giveaways and the best in Texas tunes, broadcast live by KNBT-92.1 FM Radio New Braunfels with Mattson Rainer. 4 pm to 7 pm. 830-629-5077.LEAKEY: Fridays at the Buckhorn Bar and Grill. House band and local talent. 830-232-4755, friobuckhornbar.com.WIMBERLEY: Happy Hour at Taste Buds on the Square. Special drink prices and free appetizers. 512-847-7771.WIMBERLEY: Bingo. VFW Hall. 512-847-6441.WIMBERLEY: Celebrate Recovery. First Baptist Church Youth Building. 7 pm to 9 pm, with pizza at 6:30 pm. 512-847-9035.SECOND FRIDAYCASTROVILLE: Friday Night Fever. Cars, trucks, bikes, food, shopping. 6 pm to 10 pm. Lundquist Automotive. www.castroville.com, 830-931-2479.THIRD FRIDAYJOHNSON CITY: Cruise-In. See classic and collectable vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Free admission. www.3fjc.com.

FOURTH FRIDAYBANDERA: Fourth Friday Jam. Musicians jam at the Silver Sage Corral starting at 6:30 pm. 830-796-4969.EVERY FIRST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WIMBERLEY: Late Night Shopping on the Wimberley Square. Stores remain open ‘til at least 8 pm for your shopping pleasure. wimberleymerchants.com.EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAYFREDERICKSBURG: Rockbox Theater. Renowned variety, music, and rock ‘n roll show, great family fun. 866-349-6688.EVERY SATURDAYAUSTIN: Austin Farmers Market. Republic Square. 512-236-0074.AUSTIN: Sunset Valley Farmers Market. Barton Creek Mall. 512-280-1976.COMFORT: Comfort Area Farmer’s Market. 8 am to 1 pm (or until sold out). Comfort Park on Highway 27.COMFORT: Wine Tastings at High’s Café. 4 pm to 7 pm. 830-995-4995, www.highscafeandstore.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Texas Music and Texas Wine at Solaro Estate Winery. solaroestate.com.NEW BRAUNFELS: Canyon Trail Chuckwagon Supper and Cowboy Music Show. Evening of cowboy song and hearty dining awaits. 830-626-8200, 888-408-7245.WIMBERLEY: Tours of Jacob’s Well. Hear the stories about famous floods and scuba divers, learn value of native grasses, experience beauty of spring that started this town. 10 am. jacobswellspring.org WIMBERLEY: Arnosky Family Farms Market. Fresh flowers, vegetables, farmstead cheeses, more. Ranch Road 2325 and Highway 165. 830-833-5428.FIRST SATURDAYBANDERA: Market Days. Downtown. 830-796-4447.BANDERA: First Saturday Book Sale at the Public Library. 9 am to 1 pm. 830-796-4213.

PAGE 10 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

Hill country calendarWINES · SPIR ITSF I N E R FO O D S

TEXAS SUPERSTORE (512) 280-7400 • specsonline.com

LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS:

AUSTIN • BASTROP • BEE CAVE • ELGIN GEORGETOWN • KERRVILLE

ROUND ROCK • SAN ANTONIO WACO / TEMPLE / KILLEEN

®

®

The Hill Country Sun is currentlyconsidering Advertising Sales Staff in

Boerne H Bandera Johnson City/Blanco H Kerrville

Fredericksburg/ComfortKyle/Buda H San Marcos

Interested? Please email Julie:

julie@hillcountrysun.com

Got Sales?

Ball Brothers Paint & Drywall30 Years ExperienceLocally Owned & Operated

Quality WorkmanshipReferences Available

512-360-7062 H www.ballbrotherspainting.com

Exterior Painting H Interior Painting H Drywall RepairCarpentry Work H Power Washing HFence & Deck Painting

Fence & Deck Staining H Rental Property Make-Ready

WIMBERLEY: Market Days. (March through December). Everything you can’t live without at Lions Field. 475-plus booths, free admission. 7 am to 4 pm. shopmarketdays.com.FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Toastmasters Public Speaking and Leadership Club. 10:30 am. Visitor’s Center. 512-913-4804.SECOND SATURDAYCASTROVILLE: Market Trail Days. Houston Square. 830-539-2316.THIRD SATURDAYMARBLE FALLS: Bluegrass, Country and Western, and Gospel. 6 pm to 10 pm. Boys and Girls Club. 830-898-1784.LAST SATURDAYJOHNSON CITY: Taste Wine + Art Reception. Free exhibit of art, plus Wines of Texas available by the glass, bottle or case at Kirchman Gallery. 830-868-9290.EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAYROUND MOUNTAIN: Public Weekend Tours at Westcave. 830-825-3442, info@westcave.org.SECOND SATURDAY AND SUNDAYAUSTIN: Tours of Bright Leaf Natural Area. www.brightleaf.org.MARCH 1-16FREDERICKSBURG: “The Imagination of Casey Craig.” Artisans at Rocky Hill.

artisansatrockyhill.com.MARCH 1 – APRIL 28SAN ANTONIO: Southwest School of Art Spring Exhibitions 2013. www.swschool.org.MARCH 2WIMBERLEY: Market Day at Lions Field. 475-plus booths, free admission. 7 am to 4 pm. shopmarketdays.com.MARCH 2, 9, 16, 23, 30BOERNE: Wings Over Boerne. Outdoor presentation and flying demonstration with hawks, owls, falcons and vultures. Boerne Visitors Center. visitboerne. org.MARCH 2-24WIMBERLEY: “The Princess and the Pea.” Interactive children’s theatre at EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens. Saturdays at 10 am, Sundays at 2 pm. www.emilyann.org, 512-847-6969. MARCH 3AUSTIN: Zilker Park Kite Festival. Watch hundreds of kites dancing in the sky at family-friendly festival, plus kitemaking, rock-wall climbing, demonstrations and more. www.zilkerkitefestival.com.MARCH 6KERRVILLE: Schreiner University’s Texas Music Coffeehouse Series Women’s History Month. Performance by Lisa Morales at 7 pm, Wednesday, March 6 in the Lion’s Den at the Floyd and Kathleen Cailloux Campus

Activity Center on Schreiner campus. www.schreiner.edu.MARCH 8WIMBERLEY: 2nd Friday WineShare at Wimberley Glassworks. Bring one bottle of Pinot Noir wine and your own wine glass. 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Meet new businesses, meet new people, meet new wines. 512-558-2919. MARCH 8-16FREDERICKSBURG: The Auslander Spring Music Festival. Weeklong tribute to Texas music features a different band every night. The Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten, www.theauslander.com.MARCH 9WIMBERLEY: Frank’s Gardening Seminar on Growing. Topics include: vegetable varieties, soil preparation, irrigation, pest control/deer control, weed control, frost protection; herbs and flower varieties; list of sources. Tilling, planting demonstrations, and tour of the farm. Seating limited. 8 am to noon. Complete details at 830-833-5428, 512-517-9372.MARCH 10DRIFTWOOD: 9th Annual Brittany Tuck Memorial Benefit, BBQ Cook-off and Concert. Camp Ben McCulloch. www.brittanytuck.com.MARCH 11 - MAY 31AUSTIN: Wildflower Days. See wildflowers in bloom, and enjoy art exhibits and children’s activities. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. wildflower.org.MARCH 15-17BANDERA: 11th Annual Wild Hog Explosion and All-Bike Rally. Features team competition for all ages in wild hog catching, barbecue cook-off, arts and crafts, piggy pictures and more. Mansfield Park. www.wildhogexplosion.com.MARCH 16 CANYON LAKE: Starlite Ballroom Dance Club’s St. Patrick’s Day Dance. 7PM to 1030 PM at Eagles’ Hall, 257 E. South Street. Music by Moonlight Express. Dress is formal (no jeans). Ask about the dance lesson at 6PM. $30 per couple. Call for reservations. 210-658-7667. FISCHER: Social hour at 5:30 pm, Irish Pot Luck at 6:15 pm (bring your favorite dish) and game time at 7 pm. Fischer Store School Community Center, corner of Farm Market 32 and Farm Market 484.MARCH 16-17GRUENE: Old Gruene Market Days. 100 artisans featuring handmade items.www.GrueneMarketDays.com.MARCH 17AUSTIN: Head for the Cure 5K. Benefits brain cancer research. Camp Mabry. www.headforthecure.org.MARCH 23FISCHER: Community Bazaar. 9 am to 3 pm. More than 30 vendors. Fischer Store School Community Center, corner of Farm Market 32 and Farm Market 484. 832-724-5644.WIMBERLEY: Texas Writes! Workshop. Gregg Garrett presents “Writing Great Dialogue” at 10 am, Scott Wiggerman presents “Poetic Effects: Words at the Speed of Sound” at 11 am and Suzy Spencer with “Writing Reality vs Fantasy” at noon. Preregistration required. 512-847-2188, email wvi-cm@austin.rr.com.MARCH 23-24SABINAL: Wild Hog Festival. Includes a wild-hog chasing contest, arts and crafts, games, entertainment and food. www.wildhogfestival.com.MARCH 24BOERNE: Easter Egg Hunt Boerne City Lake Park, 1 City Lake Road. www.ci.boerne.tx.us/calendar.aspx 830-248-1543. KYLE: 9th Annual Hats Off For Hospice. Join CTMC Hospice for fun and lots of activities, including hay rides, moonwalks, auction,

HILL COUNTRY SUN R MARCH 2013 PAGE 11

Hill country calendar

801 Rueben Street • Fredericksburg, TX

Culvert PipePrice Us

Before You Buy! call 830-997-3247

Main (290)

Live Oak

Windcrest

Reuben

Hw

y 16

N

Walter’s Building & Supply

Shop • Dine • Swim • Tube • Raft • Canoe • Fish • Camp • Sail

800-528-2104 • www.canyonlakechamber.com

CANYON LAKE...YEAR ROUND VACATION LIVING

Come enjoy our clear lake and cool, refreshing river!

9thAnnual

Save the Date!March 24, 2013 2-6 pm

Texas Old Town, KylePlease join CTMC Hospice Care for fun & games including The Kiddie Express,

hay rides, moonwalks, auction, arts and crafts, doorprizes & more

Music by Bob SchneiderHelp Dream-a-Dream grant wishes for CTMC Hospice Care patients & families.

CTMC Hospice Care512-754-6159 • 866-754-6159HatsOffForHospice@ahss.orgHatsOffForHospice.com

Register to win a trip for 6 toRUIDOSO, NEW MEXICO!

11th Annual

Mansfield Park,Bandera, Texas

SaTurdaY,March 16th, 2012

Bicycle Rodeo Arts & Crafts

Family Fun and Loads Of Laughter

WildHogExplosion.com • 830-796-4447Benefits Bandera County Kronkosky Library

March 15th - 17thPre-registration $15: 6:00 pm, March 15th,Longhorn Saloon, 1307 Main St., Hwy. 16 N,

featuring Art & Lisa and Friends

Sat. Mar. 16, 9 am, Registration, $20, at Mansfield Park

Wild Hog CAtCH (GreatPrizes)

All Bike rally& poker run

CtBA BBQ CooKoFF

Sponsored by

Moore Title Company & Billy Walker, Attorney at LawBoard Certified in Residential & Farm and Ranch Real Estate Law

Margo Denke, MD Board Certified Endocrinologist

Bandera Benefactor Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

FREE EL JACALITO TACO BREAKFASTWILD HOG PATCH (first 200 Registrants) • RIDE & SHInE COmPETITIOn

Sun. Mar. 17, 9:30 am, Church Service followed by an Apple Pie Run to Medina

photo, Chris Daris, Bandera County Courier

arts and crafts, music by Bob Schneider. 2 pm to 6 pm.HatsOffForHospice.org.MARCH 30 STONEWALL: Easter at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Celebrate Easter like a traditional 1915 German farm family with natural dyed eggs, lamb cake and grass Easter nests. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. 830-644-2252 ext. 222. APRIL 5UTOPIA: Utopia Garden Club/ Utopia Art and Craft Guild plant and Bake Sale. Ornamentals, herbs and vegetable plants. birdhouses, feeders and planters made by club members, plus baked goods. 8:30 am to noon next to Town Square, in front of the Fire Hall on Highway 187. rnlross@swtexas.net.APRIL 5-7LLANO: Fiddle Fest Weekend. Experience the power of the bow with air fiddle contest, Llano Open fiddle contest, free concert, jams, musical instrument/history exhibit, and more. llanofiddlefest.com. 325-247-5354.APRIL 5-20AUSTIN: Dr. Seuss Exhibit at ART on 5th Gallery. Never-before-seen hats from Dr. Seuss’s private collection, along with prints & sculpture from the Art of Dr. Seuss Collection. 512-481-1111, www.arton5th.com.APRIL 6AUSTIN: Texas VegFest. Enjoy live music, speakers, vendors, cooking demonstrationsand more to celebrate plant-based diets and sustainable living. Fiesta Gardens, texasvegfest.com. WIMBERLEY: Spring Festival at Old Oaks Ranch Old Oaks Ranch and Fibre Arts Center. Shearing of the alpacas, along with spinning, weaving and felting demonstrations, food, music and vendors. theoldoaksranch.com.APRIL 6-7NEW BRAUNFELS: 26th Annual Train Show. Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Adult tickets are $7 and kids tickets are $2. Civic Center.APRIL 12-14BOERNE: Hill Country Holler at Enchanted Springs Ranch. Featuring the music of Brian Howe and Bad Company, others. www.hillcountryholler.com.BURNET: Bluebonnet Festival. 30th-annual event features an air show, grand parade, carnival, car show, live music and entertainment, street dances, pet parade, doghouse races, wiener dog races and vendors.www.bluebonnetfestival.org.APRIL 13CANYON LAKE: MarketDay. Free admission, free parking, plus concessions open for breakfast and lunch. CRRC Recreation Center from 9 am to 4 pm. Vendor application at www.crrcofcanyonlake.org. 830-964-3003, kbroadway@gvtc.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Heritage Gala to Benefit Dr. Pound Farmstead Museum. Enjoy a sit-down dinner, wine, live music, live and silent auctions and more. www.drpoundhistoricalfarmstead.com.APRIL 18-28SAN ANTONIO: Fiesta ® San Antonio. Citywide celebration showcases San Antonio’s rich, diverse culture through more than 100 official events.www.fiesta-sa.org.APRIL 19-21DRIPPING SPRINGS: Founders Day Festival. Parade, barbecue cook-off, arts-and-crafts vendors, washer-pitching contest, carnival, food, live music and dancing. Mercer Street. foundersdayfestival.com.APRIL 19-20LLANO: Crawfish Open. (See story, page 2.) Enjoy food, live music from Johnny Bush, Jason Boland and the Stragglers and more, golf tournament, 5K Run/Walk and more. www.llanocrawfishopen.com. APRIL 20BOERNE: 21st Annual Texas Corvette

Association Open Car Show. Main Square. Texas-corvette-association.org.KERVILLE: Hill Country Charity Ball. Hills Resort and Conference Center. hillcountrycharityball.comAPRIL 24-28HILL COUNTRY RIVER REGION: 14th Annual Nature Quest. Texas Hill Country’s best all-around birding-nature event. Participants will discover birds, bats, butterflies, nature photography, wildflowers, more. texasnaturequest.com, 830-966-2320.APRIL 26-29LAGO VISTA: Balcones Songbird Festival. Educational tours, exhibits and children’s activities that provide an opportunity to experience the animals, plants and habitats of the Hill Country. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. lagovista.org.APRIL 27AUSTIN: The Camp Fire Walk for Water. Come participate in raising awareness about the importantance of conserving water. Open to youth and families. 9 am at Mueller Greenway Park. www.camp-fire.org.AUSTIN: Heart O’ Texas Orchid Society’s 42nd Annual Show and Sale. Zilker Botanical Gardens. Hundreds of blooming orchids for sale, vendors, raffles and more. www.hotos.org, 512-477-8672. DRIFTWOOD: “Deep in the Heart.” St. Stephen’s Episcopal School of Wimberley’s 24th Extravaganza. www.ststeveschool.org.KERRVILLE: Return to Kerrville Reunion Fly-in. Barbecue lunch at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. xKerrvilleTexasCVB.comSTONEWALL: 15th Annual Lavender Fest at Becker Vineyards. Live music, vendors, lavender market, cooking demonstrations, gourmet vintner luncheon, wine tasting and tours. www.BeckerVineyards.com.WIMBERLEY: 5th Annual Wimberley Arts Fest at Blue Hole Regional Park. 10 am to 6 pm Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm Sunday. Fine

art, music, classic car show, more. Free admission. www.wimberleyartsfest.com.APRIL 27BUDA: 16th Annual Buda Country Fair and Cook Off. World famous wiener dog races, arts and crafts, bake off, IBCA barbecue cook off, live music and more. Buda City Park. www.budalions.com.MAY 16DRIPPING SPRINGS: Ducks Unlimited Banquet. Doors at 6 pm, barbecue dinner at 7:30 pm, auction at 8:30 pm. The Terrace Club. 512-496-8333, 512-694-6585, www.ducks.org/texas/events.JUNE 1FREDERICKSBURG: 9th Annual Masonic Car Show. Live music, food and silent auctions with free admission. Marktplatz on Main Street. FredericksburgMasons.com (click on Car Show).

PAGE 12 MARCH 2013 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

TheWimberleyPoolCo.com512-585-7788

13800 Ranch Road 12Wimberley, Texas

SPECIALIZING IN Custom In-Ground Pools & Renovations

Serving Central Texas for 18 yearsFree Estimates • Lifetime Warranty

POOL SWIM READY FOR AS LOW AS $25,995

SPRING SPECIAL Bring in the paper for a 20% Discount on your ENTIRE PURCHASE!