COURTESY PHOTOS

Majors Michael and Shelly Mendieta will lead Lakeway’s 37th annual Fourth of July Parade and Celebration as co-grand marshals.

By SHELLY ANSBACH

Contributing writer

It’s been said many times that people who enter the priesthood respond to a special calling. Yet, seldom does one hear about a military calling.

Nevertheless, military personnel respond to something greater than themselves when they pledge to serve their country and preserve the freedoms Americans enjoy. Many even make the ultimate sacrifice.

Majors Shelly and Michael Mendieta will lead Lakeway’s 37th annual Fourth of July Parade and Celebration as co-grand marshals.

Shelly Mendieta serves in the U.S. Air Force and is attending Air Command and Staff College for Professional Military Education. The native Texan will return to an operational F-15E squadron when she finishes her re-qualification class in September. She was also the narrator for the F-15E flight demonstration team based out of Seymour Johnson AFB.

While in high school she was selected for a USAF ROTC scholarship and enrolled in UT-Austin. She was 22 years old when she graduated college with a bachelor’s in biology and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

When asked why she chose a career in the military, she replied, “It was something I needed to do to give back. Also, during my first year in college, the military opened up combat aircraft to women, and that’s when I decided to try to fly. I love what I do, I love the mission.”

As an F-15E Weapons Systems Officer instructor with two combat deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, she also completed instructor tours at the F-15E Flight Training Unit and Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Senior Air Force Officer and F-15E Demonstration Team.

“A Weapon Systems Officer manages all sensors, guides the weapons to the target, working with people on the ground and the Joint Terminal Air Controller, in support of the ground forces,” she explained.

She completed 92 combat missions in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Her husband, Major Michael Mendieta, was born in Fort Belvoir, Va., where his father, a lieutenant colonel, was stationed. The family moved back to Texas when his father retired in 1973. Mendieta graduated from Crockett High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marines, shortly after his 18th birthday in 1988.

In 1989, Mendieta was assigned to 6th Marines Regiment at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and made three deployments in support of contingency operations in the Republic of Panama from 1989 to 1990.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines in November 1990 and participated in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In fall 1995, then-Staff Sgt. Mendieta was selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program, and graduated from University of Texas-Austin with a bachelor’s in history.

There, he met Shelly.

“We’ve been together for 15 years, and coincidentally, we will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on July 6 in Austin with friends and family,” he said.

He presently serves as Air Officer for the Special Operations Task Force-82 which will deploy to Afghanistan later this year.

His unit is part of the 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion, which falls under the Marine Special Operations Command – the Marine component of Special Operations Command.

“We have roughly the same mission as U.S. Army Special Forces or the Navy SEALs; we are training the Afghanistan military,” he explained.

Mendieta also serves as the Senior Forward Air Controller and air planner for the battalion.

He is on his second FAC/Air Officer tour. The first was with 3D Battalion, 8th Marines in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the completion of his deployment he was assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola as a flight instructor with Training Squadron Eight-Six (VT-86).

He has a total of 1409 flight hours with 596 hours in the EA-6B Prowler.

“Prowler squadrons are expeditionary, so we are strictly land-based,” he said.

Before Operation Desert Storm, he served seven months in Panama participating in contingency operations for Joint Task Force -Bravo, where he also attended the Jungle Operations Counter-Insurgency course at Fort Sherman in l989.

Mendieta served in Somalia in 1993 with the Reconnaissance Platoon for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit/Special Operations Capable.

He completed USMC Command and Staff Course last May and was promoted to major in October 2009.

Conducting ground reconnaissance and jumping out of airplanes appealed to him, so he chose the Marines.

“The Marines impressed me, First to Fight,” he recalled.

By the time Mendieta’s tour of duty comes to an end with Marines Special Operations Command, he will have served 27 years.

When asked about what effect their military careers have had on their marriage, the couple responded positively.

“We’ve been relatively lucky with co-locations,” they wrote. “Time apart makes us appreciate each other more. We have done very well over the years by spending a lot of money on plane tickets and gasoline. We rarely miss holidays.”

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

COURTESY PHOTO

Daniela Pennycook, left, and Evan Cordiner hike Cerro Castillo, the highest peak in the central Patagonian Andes, while on a 90-day expedition to explore the southern-most regions of Chile and Argentina last year.

By MEAGAN O’TOOLE-PITTS
Staff writer

Daniela Pennycook, 18, recently completed a 75-day expedition in Patagonia to explore the southern-most regions of Chile and Argentina.

She gleaned more than photos to post on Facebook by learning insurmountable lessons about teamwork while trekking across snow-covered mountains.

Throughout the National Outdoor Leadership School expedition, which lasted from September to December 2011, Pennycook and a group of 17 students tackled activities including sea kayaking, ice climbing and mountaineering.

“The entire time we spent out in the wilderness was 75 days, but the entire time in Chile was 90 days,” said the one-time Lake Travis High School student.

They walked for nine hours nearly every day while carrying backpacks weighing 60-80 pounds, and physical rigors constantly tested the team.

“It was three months of constant living in the wilderness, sleeping in a tent and having to work so closely with so many people,” said Pennycook, who graduated early from Premier High School of Austin for the endeavor. “A lot of the time the relationships aren’t easy.”

Before embarking on the trip, the students spent a few days at a base camp learning CPR and other first-aid practices, becoming familiar with their equipment and weighing out food for the next three months.

The students earned their Wilderness First Aid certification, preparing them for medical emergencies in remote wilderness settings.

“There’s a lot of preparation that goes in before we go out,” Pennycook said.

After setting out from base camp, the group spent 30 days traveling in sea kayaks, learning technical skills such as rolling, surfing and ocean navigation. The group paddled from sunrise to sunset, devoting 17 days consecutive days to travel and covering more than 190 nautical miles between Puerto Aguirre, Chile, and Puerto Cisnes, Chile.

Pennycook, a Canada-born adventurer, said she had been preparing for the challenge all her life, spending up to 22 days at a time on canoe trips in Ontario since she was 12 years old.

But, she said, the experience changed her perspective.

“You really learn to appreciate the simple things in life like running water and a stove and a bed,” Pennycook said. “It makes me appreciate everything that we have so much more than I did before.”

After kayaking for a month, the group trekked across 105 kilometers of glacial terrain while climbing 6,200 meters in the National Reserve of Cerro Castillo, south of Coyhaique, Chile, over 32 days.

The students set up base camp below Pinon Glacier and spent the remaining days of the expedition divided into two groups – one group attempted to summit Mount Pinon and the other attempted to climb Mount Puntudo.

Pennycook said she formed lifelong friendships on the expedition.

“Everything takes so much time, and it’s hard work,” she said. “You just get so close to everyone you’re around. I still keep in touch with all of these people, and I know if any of them came to Austin they’re more than welcome at my house and if I ever went somewhere I would be more than welcome with them.”

During the expedition, Pennycook earned 16 credit hours in biology, environmental science, outdoor leadership, mountaineering and kayaking toward her degree in environmental science at Trent University in Peterborough, Oshawa, Ontario.

Pennycook started her first semester at Trent University this spring and said she plans to visit her family in Lakeway every summer.

After earning her baccalaureate, Pennycook said she hopes to study environmental law with the goal of bettering the world.

“I’m really passionate about issues like the scarcity of fresh water, and I’m thinking in the next 10 years there are going to be some serious environmental issues,” she said.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

COURTESY PHOTO

Addi Padon-Gibson shows off the “bee cave” she created for the Bee Cave Bee mascot at Bee Cave Public Library as children’s storytime specialist Laurie Works, right, gladly accepts the gift.

For the past several years, children who visit storytime at Bee Cave Public Library have been delighted by the Bee Cave Bee, a puppet mascot that frequently appears in special outfits for special occasions.

One family was so taken with the Bee that they decided the Bee Cave Bee needed a “bee cave” as a home.

Rhonda Padon-Gibson and her daughter, Addi, created the cave using a laundry basket as a base. The sign over the entrance reads, “Cave Sweet Cave,” and a tiny mailbox even opens for “mail” Addi made.

The “bee cave” is a wonderful addition to the storytime props used by “Ms. Laurie” Works, children’s storytime specialist at the library. A recent evening storytime at the library was billed as a “cave-warming” for the mascot, and more than 70 people attended.

Parents and grandparents brought children in their pajamas to enjoy stories, crafts and a snack to celebrate the Bee’s new home.

Storytime at Bee Cave Public Library will feature a visit from “Allie Z. Gator” and dentist Brent Rigby at 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. May 11. Rigby will offer tips and techniques for children’s dental health in a fun and engaging storytime.

The following week, Storytime will move to Whole Foods Market on at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. May 17 for a special “Teddy Bear Picnic” at the store.

May 17 is Library Day with a percentage of Whole Foods’ proceeds going to the Friends of Bee Cave Public Library, a nonprofit whose mission is to support the library through advocacy and fund-raising.

The community is invited to visit the store that day to enjoy storytime, a craft, a photo opportunity with costumed characters from The Cat in the Hat and a chance to win a $100 shopping spree.

Storytime visitors are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear or other stuffed animal along for the fun. Check the library website at pl.beecavetexas.com for details.

The library will kick off its 7th Annual Summer Reading Program from 1-5 p.m. June 2. This year’s theme is Read for Fun @ Bee Cave Public Library, and will include incentives for children, teens and adults to read just for the fun of it. Children logging at least 400 minutes of reading will once again have their photo made into a personal poster that will hang in the library throughout the summer.

“Filling the library walls with posters of our young readers is our favorite part of summer reading,” library director Barbara Hathaway said. “The children are so proud to show their poster to their friends and relatives – it’s been a great incentive to get them reading, and makes a nice keepsake for the parents every year.”

The library is still accepting sponsorships and donations of prizes or gift cards for adults, teens and children. Interested merchants or individuals may contact Hathaway at 767-6624 or bhathaway@beecavetexas.gov.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

Matthew David Lovelace

Matthew David Lovelace earned the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award on April 3.

Lovelace, the son of David and Melissa Lovelace of Lakeway, received the award after earning 50 merit badges and completing his service project of a goat and lamb running track for the Lake Travis High School Future Farmers of America.

He is a sophomore at Lake Travis High School and is active in FFA and football. He attends the Lake Travis Church of Christ in Lakeway. He was recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

His Eagle Scout Court of Honor will be at 2 p.m. May 12 at Lakeway Activity Center.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

COURTESY PHOTO

The Lohmann’s Ford Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently installed new officers, from left, incoming regent Pat Vanderford, vice regent Sue Wright, registrar Patte Wood, recording secretary Mary Montgomery, treasurer Dotty Hord, corresponding secretary Helen Cooper, chaplain Cynthia Weichsel, librarian Marie McShane and curator Gretchen Pachlhofer. Not pictured is historian Jonila McGinley.

Members of the Lohmann’s Ford Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution installed a new board of officers at their April meeting at the home of Pat Vanderford, the chapter’s incoming regent.

Other officers installed were vice regent Sue Wright, registrar Patte Wood, treasurer Dotty Hord, recording secretary Mary Montgomery, corresponding secretary Helen Cooper, chaplain Cynthia Weichsel, librarian Marie McShane, historian Jonila McGinley and curator Gretchen Pachlhofer.

Chapter officials presented DAR Good Citizen winner Kilby Marie Bench, Lake Travis High School senior, with the DAR Good Citizen pin.

Bench’s mother, Sherice Bench, and LTHS counselor Susan Endendyk were special guests.

Kilby Marie Bench will be presented with a certificate and a scholarship at the Lake Travis Year End Awards Ceremony in May.

The meeting also featured guest speaker Kevin Topek, a Houston permaculture landscaper who presented Permaculture Principles and Implementation, which includes using native plantings and resources in homes and gardens.

Topek also gave a hands-on demonstration of pruning trees and shrubs.

Following the meeting, the speaker and honored guests were treated to a luncheon.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

The Village of The Hills Board of Aldermen recently honored Peter Hitt, Lloyd Troeltzsch and Jerry Schmeil as distinguished citizens of 2011 at The Hills Property Owners Association annual meeting.

The Hills Mayor Doug Lindgren presented plaques to all three recipients at The Hills Country Club.

Hitt’s artistic and architectural skills that shaped Village Park in The Hills earned him recognition.

His Distinguished Citizen plaque read, in part, “For donating your artistic and architectural talents to design our wonderful Village Park.”

Hitt and his late wife, Betsy, moved to The Hills in 1999 from Dallas. In 2001, he became a POA Board Member and later became the POA president. During that time Hitt and other POA members, including George Sawyer and Joe Williams, came up with the idea of converting eight acres owned by the POA, used at that time by contractors as a dumping ground, into a park.

Hitt then took it as a challenge and designed the master plan as well as the structures for the proposed park.

He was the Park Commission board president when funds were raised and the park was built.

“Today, the park is a wonderful community asset with a pavilion, walking trails, and playground equipment. It is used by residents of all ages,” Lindgren wrote.

In addition to the park structures, Hitt also designed the municipal buildings used by Village of The Hills and Hurst Creek MUD. He did all of this as an unpaid volunteer.

Hitt is working with the Lakeway Library Board in the design of the new Lake Travis Community Library building.

Hills Mayor Doug Lindgren presented Troeltzsch with a plaque, which read in part, “For your extraordinary effort and hard work in making the Village of The Hills a safe and attractive community.”

Troeltzsch served as an elected alderman of the Village of The Hills since first elected in 2001. He was treasurer of the board until he retired in May 2011.

“Lloyd was a guiding force, along with Mayor Pro Tem. J.R. Smith and Ben Kueneman, in completing the perimeter fence around the Village of The Hills,” Lindgren wrote.

The installation of the Tiff-419 Bermuda grass along entryway to The Hills on Lohmans Crossing was another project completed by the same team and including Melvin Williams.

Troeltzsch received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado in June 1954, earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and married his wife, all in three days.

His career at 3M included senior positions in engineering, management and business development. He retired in 1993 and moved to The Hills from Minnesota.

He and his wife, Dorothy, have three grown children and five grandchildren ranging in age from 12 to 24. Recently, they moved from The Hills to Longhorn Village, but Troeltzsch continues to enjoy his rounds of golf at The Hills.

Lindgren also presented Schmeil with a plaque that read, in part, “For your cheerful and selfless leadership contribution to The Hills governance.”

Schmeil and his wife, Vicki, moved into The Hills in February 2003 from Singapore after his a 36-year career with Caterpillar. They moved to the Austin area because both of their sons were living here. They now have five grandchildren.

He initially served on The Hills Landscape Committee for the POA and later as a director for two years. He served one year as vice president and chairman of landscape. Schmeil was then elected as the president of The Hills POA. In 2011 he served as the chairman of The Hills Road Committee which was responsible for overseeing the repaying of all the roads in The Hills.

Schmeil and his wife joined The Hills Country Club in 2003 and shortly thereafter he was asked to serve on the membership committee where he was vice chairman for several years and on the club’s board of governors for three years. He served two years as the chairman of membership and then was elected board chairman in 2009. He still serves on the Membership Committee.

The Schmeils joined Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in 2003.

He was elected to the church council and served three years, including two years as chairman of the social outreach committee and one year as chairman of the property and landscape committee.

Schmeil has gone on a mission trip annually for the past six years to Guatemala where Shepherd of The Hills has a Mayan sister church.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting aguidelines

On Saturday, the library will celebrate the author’s 107th birthday at 2 p.m. with Seuss on the Loose, its seventh annual Family Fun Day.

This year’s theme is loosely based on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and includes activities with a distinctly fishy flavor.

The event begins with free temporary Seuss tattoos, stories, games and crafts, followed by the Reader’s Oath with Mayor Caroline Murphy at 3 p.m.

The climax of the afternoon is a rollicking concert by perennial favorite, award-winning children’s entertainer Joe McDermott.

“It’s a great day of free family fun for kids from 2 to 92, and we hope to see [everyone] there,” library director Barbara Hathaway said.

The inaugural Family Fun Day attracted 50 people to the portable building where the library first opened in 2006. The event has grown every year, with more than 500 people attending last year’s event.

Bee Cave Public Library is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays. The library is closed Sundays and Mondays.

For information, visit the library website at pl.beecavetexas.com or call 767-6620.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

Photo by Devin Monk
Lakeway Civic Corp. recognized 2011 Citizen of the Year winner Pat Jacobsen, left, and Meritorious Service recipients Chuck Purbaugh, center, and Al Tyson, whose wife, Annette Tyson, accepted on his behalf, at its annual meeting Feb. 23 at Lakeway Activity Center.

Pat Jacobsen loves to boogie, but she didn’t earn Lakeway Civic Corp.’s 2011 Citizen of the Year honor Feb. 23 by dancing around the issues.

“I consider it a real honor, and I shall cherish it,” Jacobsen told the audience at the LCC annual meeting in Lakeway Activity Center – the very building she fought for many years ago. “And to think, all of this happened because [husband] Jake and I liked to dance.”

Jacobsen, who moved to Lakeway in 1987 with her husband, started Lakeway’s Ballroom Dance Club in 1988. The club is still following its basic format 24 years later.

Ret. Admiral Coleman Smith helped chart her course by suggesting she serve on the Lakeway Historical Society.

The lifetime member of the society volunteered for several years starting in 1996.

She recalled attending her first board meeting on a blustery January day and dressing up for the occasion by wearing a skirt as she entered the society’s meeting place, the old Mauermann Ranch bunkhouse.

“I noticed everyone else arrived in heavy jackets and sweaters – turns out there was no heat in that little stone house,” she said.

The shock to her system continued when then-President Varner told all those in attendance that they needed to go to the bank and sign a personal note for $2,000 because the society didn’t have any money at the time.

“I was sitting there wondering how I was going to explain this volunteer job to Jake, but I was too busy sitting there on my hands trying to keep warm to even vote on it,” she said.

She survived her first meeting, fingers and toes intact, to raise funds by peddling T-shirts and towels on the street corner with Smith as he taught her the city’s history.

Then-Mayor Cole Rowland saw some spirit in her and asked her to serve on the newly formed Parks and Recreation Committee.

Perhaps Smith’s teachings and personality steeled her for the fights to come as the city struggled with the decision to purchase 64 acres for $345,000 to establish a city park.

The first vote passed by 19 votes, and vigorous opposition to the park clamored for another election.

At times, the Parks and Recreation Committee would squeeze into the back room of City Hall to conduct its meetings out of the combat zone of council chambers where residents demanded the city ring the park with a 12-foot fence to protect them from nudists and drug dealers that the park would attract.

“It was bitter, and it was a battle,” Jacobsen said with reference to author Lew Carlson’s account of the debates in his book, “Lakeway: A Hill Country Community.”

A second vote – this time to sell the park – came about in 1992.

Jacobsen credited Rowland’s guidance and Donna and Fred Schmidt’s rapidly formed Leadership Enrichment Organization, with the 550-vote margin to retain the parkland.

“That was a real mandate,” she said as she beamed with pride.

Her resolve withstood yet another skirmish over the Lakeway Activity Center that faced stiff opposition when the site selection committee unveiled the proposed project.

“The acrimony of the letters – that was really tough to take,” she recalled.

Chairman Frank Black sought out Jacobsen several years later to serve on the third incarnation of the activity center committee, and voters passed it on its third go-around.

“We had a new location and a new plan, and lots of new people had moved in,” she said. “That election went fairly easily.”

After the center opened in 1999, Jacobsen served on its program committee for four years.

“Now, the Activity Center, like the park, is an integral part of our Lakeway life,” she mused.

Jacobsen’s efforts continued to snowball in time with her residency in Lakeway.

She helped found the city’s Quarter Century Club to honor residents who have lived in Lakeway for 25 or more years and sashayed into service as vice president of the Lakeway Homeowners Association from 2000-02, chartered Lakeway Friends of the Parks and served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee for 12 years.

Her vision fostered the butterfly garden, older children’s playground and dog park at Lakeway City Park and Viewpoints dinner speaker series at the activity center.

Her involvement also extended to organizing the first aerobics class at Lakeway Swim Center and the inaugural Movies in the Park. The portable stage that is a common sight at Lakeway’s Fourth of July parade, Lights On! and Eggstravaganza events was her brainchild.

Lakeway Civic Corp. benefited from her time as a member from 2006-09 during which she served as its treasurer for one year, and she joined the Lakeway Solos a year after her husband died.

Soon, she was developing a host of new activities to entertain the growing group of widowed seniors.

“I was really going through quite a bit of depression, and it was a blessing for me when Ann Garrett asked me to be their activity chair[woman],” she said. “Mostly, I was quite amazed at how many lived here in Lakeway and The Hills that were going through the same new single, social position. I think I … no, we are very grateful for each other.”

Jacobsen could say the same of her relationship with Lakeway – a dance that has brought out the best in both of them.

The organization also bestowed meritorious service awards to Al Tyson and Chuck Purbaugh.

Tyson, who was unable to attend the annual meeting, moved to Lakeway in 1996 and has served as Lakeway’s city treasurer since 2008 when he took on the role after working as its assistant city treasurer for seven years.

He was appointed to the city’s economic development committee in 2005 and served on Lakeway Municipal Utility District’s finance, accounting and audit committee from 1999-2010.

His civic duties extended to a three-year term on the Lakeway Newcomers Board for three years, two terms served on Lakeway Town & Gown’s program board and two years on Lakeway Yacht and Country Club board.

He also served three years on The Lakeway Church executive committee and board of trustees.

The native Canadian who worked in the oil industry for 44 years became U.S. citizen in 1999. He lives in Lakeway with his wife, Annette.

“It is an honor to receive the Meritorious Service Award, and I thank the Lakeway Civic Corp. for selecting me as one of this year’s recipients,” Tyson wrote in an email. “There are so many talented and dedicated volunteers in Lakeway who contribute so much to make living in this community so enjoyable. We are truly blessed.”

Purbaugh was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Duluth, Minn.

After earning a degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering, the Penn State graduate went on to work for Bill Clements at Southeastern Drig, Sedco and Sedco-forex Schlumberger as engineer trainee, barge engineer, drig engineer, rig manager and vice president.

He lived in 12 countries and visited 95 more during his 32-year career in which he drilled the first well in 2,000 feet of water, mined for silver in the Red Sea, collected manganese nodules in the mid-Pacific Ocean in 18,000 feet of water, drilled offshore Greenland in Iceberg Alley and worked in Australia, Norway and Scotland.

After retiring in 1993, Purbaugh and his wife, Tommie, moved to Lakeway where he has served as a City Building Commission chairman and board member and Tree Preservation Commission co-chairman.

He also is a Lakeway Citizens Police Academy graduate, Fourth of July Parade volunteer and Tennis Tigers member.

“Throughout the time that I knew him when I was involved in city government,” said presenter and former Lakeway mayor Gerry Astorino, “he applied such qualities such as dedication, integrity and unselfish devotion of his time and talent to the successful completion of the task at hand.”

Purbaugh thanked Astorino for the compliments in his acceptance speech and recognized those who made the award possible.

“Thanks to Tom Smith and his committee for choosing me. Thanks to my wife, Tommie, for putting up with me, and thanks to all the staff and all the volunteers that I worked with that made volunteering in Lakeway pleasant,” he said.

LCC president Bob Berry also introduced the organization’s 2012 board of vice president and directory chairperson Peggy Point, treasurer Vickie Taylor, secretary Larry Bishop, assistant directory chairman Searcy Willis and member at large Joe Benasutti.

Berry presented outgoing board members Astorino, 2010-11 past president, and Dennis Brown, directory chairperson 2009-11, with plaques in gratitude for their service to Lakeway Civic Corp.

We welcome your comments on our stories but will publish only those that do not violate our commenting guidelines

The competition for table design at the Seton High Tea is always a highlight of the annual fundraiser.

The popular Seton Tea will take place at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Hills Country Club.

Make reservations now for this delightful event. Local organizations, businesses and individuals design and decorate the tables.
The tables showcase the most exquisite table-settings designed around a theme.
In order to attend this event individual tickets are available for $30 per person which includes a delicious traditional English High Tea.
Mail reservation checks to Barbara Beebe at 712 Vanguard, Lakeway, 78734.
Those who are interested in designing a table of 10 for the competition may contact Barbara Beebe at 261-1711. For information, call  Nancy Clayton at 267-7759.
All proceeds from the event benefit Seton Shoal Creek Psychiatric Hospital in Austin, the only acute care psychiatric hospital in Central Texas that treats children, teens and adults.  The hospital offers both in-patient and outpatient programs for people struggling with mental disorders, chemical dependency, detoxification, emotional and/or behavioral problems.
For membership information about organization, call Beth Maher at 261-8059.

Georgetown CID Detective Ruben Vasquez, will be the guest speaker at Sisters in Crime on Sunday.
Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter meets monthly on the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. at the Westlake Barnes & Noble bookstore at the southeastcorner of Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road in The Village at Westlake shopping center.
Vasquez started his law enforcement career in 1992 for the Nueces County Sheriff’s Department in Corpus Christi.
During his time there, he worked on the streets as a patrol officer as well as in warrants and the jail. He made a move to Georgetown Texas in 2003 and was a dedicated patrol officer for four years and also serving as a field training officer where he would train the new recruits.
He has since moved to Criminal Investigations Division where he is a major crimes detective and an investigator for sexual and physical child abuse. On top of his regular duties, Vasquez is also the lead hostage negotiator for the Georgetown Police Department, as well as a mental health officer and instructor.
As the mental health instructor, he teaches other officers about what to expect, and how to handle situations when they come in contact with people who have mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and others. He’s worked in CID for four years and has been with the Georgetown Police Department for eight years.
Sisters in Crime is an international organization of women and men whose purpose is to promote mysteries written by women, and combat discrimination against women mystery authors.
Speakers include published mystery authors and technical experts who help writers craft better mysteries and readers enjoy what they read.
Meetings are free and open to all.
For information, visit the Sisters in Crime website at www.hotxsinc.org.