Membership is not required for anyone who wishes to drop in between 1-8 p.m.

You can bring something to work on or just come along to observe and be in the presence of other creative people just like yourself.

First Saturday

Remember that this weekend is the first of ten “First Saturday Arts Festivals” in Smithville.  You can see original works of art and can meet the artists who create them.

The Ann Powell Train will be there to give tours of our historic town and children can enjoy working on art projects – all at no charge. You’ll be able to sit under the 100 year old oaks and enjoy live music by Sarah Page, the Peterson Brothers and perhaps even Tom and Jim Watts.

This festival runs from 10-5 p.m. at the park surrounding the gazebo at the south end of Main Street. Tell your friends to meet you there.

"Need Any Help?" by Jo Watts is a preview of what will be in the LPAA March-April show.

Mary Nichols

The new show “A Texas State of Mind” will open at the Mary Nichols Gallery, 301 Burleson in Smithville. The gallery is open from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and on Wednesdays from 1-8 p.m.

This show, celebrating the history of the great state of Texas will be in the gallery until the end of April. Everyone is invited to the opening reception on March 12 from 5-8 p.m.

Enjoy some refreshments, a glass of wine and meet our talented artists who are sharing with you their impressions of what makes Texas great.

Call me for more information at 577-5252.

MIxed emotions

Photographer Carol Lyon is the current featured artist at the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild gallery. Carol is most well known for her animal photography.

Called “Mixed Emotions” it’s just that. All of her photographs will elicit at least two different emotions. Some will make you laugh out loud and then feel slightly guilty for doing so; others will melt your heart, then give you courage, while others will repel and fascinate you at the same time.

The show can be viewed the entire month of March from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Sunday at 1009 Main St. in Bastrop at the guild’s Fine Art Gallery. An artist’s reception will be held March 5 from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery and is open to the public.

For this special show, most framed pieces will be $50. This is an excellent opportunity to start collecting a local emerging artist.

Postcards

The Family Crisis Center is building public awareness through an art postcard campaign titled “Share Your Voices – Speak Out Against Sexual Violence.” Use your creativity and imagination to create an image on a 4×6 card stock postcard and share your voice by speaking out against sexual violence.

You may use whatever materials you choose: Metal, wood, fabric art, paints, images, words, phrases or mixed media.  The postcards will be collected by Family Crisis Center staff or can be returned to the Center’s office located at 431 Old Austin Hwy in Bastrop.  The deadline for entry is March 24. Please do not sign your name on the front side of the postcard.

However, please provide your name on the backside of the postcard allowing your entry to be matched to your name on the signed release.

Three children are dead and four persons injured following a two-car collision in northern Bastrop County this past weekend.

Those killed in the crash occurring Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Texas 21 and U.S. 290 were identified as nine-year-old Paul Gonzalez, eight-year-old Noel Gonzalez and a five year old girl, Leah Gonzalez, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson.

All three victims were children of 26-year-old Pricilla Gonzalez who was a passenger in a 2000 Dodge Caravan being driven by 30-year-old Tiffany Bowman.

Both women were injured and taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge where they were later released Sunday night.

One-year-old Apolinar Saldana and six year old Angie Gonazlez were also injured in the crash and transported to Dell Children’s Medical Center. As of Tuesday afternoon, Saldana was still listed in good condition while Angie Gonzalez was listed in critical condition, according to Matilda Sanchez, spokesperson for the Seton Family of Hospitals. Both adult women and the five children were from Houston.

The accident occurred close to 4:30 p.m. Sunday when the van being driven by Bowman failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic as it was in the process of turning off U.S. 290 onto Texas 21, said the DPS.

The minivan was struck by a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 whose driver was not injured.

The only occupant of the van listed as wearing a seatbelt was Pricilla Gonzalez, according to the DPS.

On Saturday, March 13, class will be at the pond in Bastrop State Park. On Tuesday March 16, class will be at the pond in Buescher State Park.

Both events start at 9 a.m. There will be five instruction stations where kids will learn about fish ecology, tying knots, casting, learning about Texas fishing laws and reviewing water safety skills. Bring fishing poles or use the ones TPWD provide.

The event will be over by 12:30 p.m. There is no advance registration for this event. Park entrance fees apply.

For more information, contact the park office at 321-2101.

We will also be asking for volunteers to work at the Bastrop/Caldwell counties WMA Extravaganza on May 15 at Riverbend Park in Smithville.

Door prize will be a game camera. Hot dogs, chips and other refreshments will be served after the meeting. Please call Victor Moberg for information at 512-659-4608 or Jean Hajdik at 830-839-4252.

Sexual abuse of a child – it’s a subject that no-one wants to talk about and everyone hopes will never be their problem. The statistics are grim.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 3.2 million reports to Child Protective Services of child abuse in 2007 – 8 percent of those were sexual in nature. It’s believed that one in every five boys and one in every three girls will suffer some form of sexual or physical abuse before their 18th birthday. It’s easy enough to understand why most would prefer to stay as far away from this tragic problem as possible.

The people who voluntarily step up to work on these front lines care deeply enough to try and right the wrongs, even though dealing with it makes it hard to sleep at night sometimes. It takes a tough man or woman to crawl down in that darkness with a child – and pull them back out into the light.

And even though the members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, or BACA, are about as tough as it gets, even they will admit to having trouble controlling their emotions around these volatile and devastating circumstances.  To honor these men and women for their commitment and courage, BACA, Lost Pines Chapter, will be the honorary chairs of this year’s Children’s Advocacy Center’s main fundraiser, the sixth annual Cowboys & Caviar, scheduled for Saturday, March 27 at Smithville’s Riverbend Park.

“We honor those who have made a significant impact for the Center by helping spread the word and volunteering,” said Kathleen Handy, this year’s chair for Cowboys & Caviar. “They do a lot for the children.”

BACA

BACA was started in 1995 in Utah by a licensed child therapist who saw a need for a group like BACA to help innocent victims overcome the trauma they have been subjected to, and help them to face their abuser in court.

And it’s easy enough to imagine that any child may feel empowered if he or she has several leather-clad, chain-bearing, biker-types forming a protective barrier around them. The rewards for both bikers and child can be plentiful. But there are sacrifices, gladly made, too.

“An important part is that we hope to make them feel comfortable with themselves,” explained ‘Big Daddy’*, president of the local BACA chapter. “We want them to stand tall when they get on the stand. We become extended family.”

It all starts when a child enters the legal system. If the child’s family invites BACA in to help, an ‘adoption’ is arranged. Big Daddy became involved when he saw an adoption in the local newspaper.

“I knew when I saw it that it was exactly what I wanted to do,” he said. “When I saw ‘Mapster’ and ‘Big Foot’ walk in wearing their vests, they were bigger than life.”

Mapster says that even though he had the perfect upbringing, helping kids who have run into trouble has turned into a calling.

“It’s like nothing else,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of things and taken pride in doing them, but the first time you see a kid going from hiding to pumping their fist, it brings tears to some eyes.”

He means his eyes – and he’s not the only one.

When Big Daddy found himself getting emotional, he wondered if it was normal.

“It didn’t take long to find out that it was normal,” he said. “You can level it out but there are times when the circumstances are extraordinary and it all comes out.”

Mapster agreed.

“The strength of some of these kids is amazing,” he said.

Adoptions take about an hour and it’s typical for 20 or more bikers to show up. When they roar noisily down a suburban street or rural dirt road, people notice. A certificate is presented and the child comes to understand that he now has a new extended family of brothers and sisters – brothers and sisters who are not afraid to go to the mat with him. The child receives a BACA vest with his or her name on it and, if acceptable to mom, gets the ride of his or her life on the back of a motorcycle. Most kids come out of this ceremony with a new lease on life, BACA and Center members agree.

“If you haven’t hooked them by then, when you take them for that ride, it’s a done deal,” said Mapster. “It’s all about empowering them to feel good about themselves.”

What BACA members do for abused children cannot be overemphasized, according to CAC director Cheryl Gartner.

“It’s amazing that they take their time to show this child that what happened to them is not okay and it’s not their fault,” said Cheryl, director of the CAC. “These guys are out there doing it – they jump in full force. I interview a lot of kids. You can see and feel the terror they’ve had to live with. These guys come in and give those kids a sense of safety. I can call them at the drop of a hat and I know they will be there.”

Besides the adoption ceremony, BACA members have different levels of involvement with abused children, including putting up a barrier between the child and his or her abuser.

“We are not a vigilant group,” Mapster said. “However, if there is a need, we are more than willing – and able – to be the obstacle between the child and further abuse.”

That may include camping out at a child’s house and escorting them to and from school until the threat has gone away.

“One of the best things is to pull up for a follow up visit and realize that the child has moved on and doesn’t need us anymore,” said Big Daddy. “That’s when we know we have done our job.”

And even if that happens, the group stands ready to come back if necessary.

“Once a BACA kid, always a BACA kid,” Mapster said.

BACA applicants are subjected to full background checks and must be active for a year as a support member before they earn their BACA patch. Both Big Daddy and Mapster know they are where they should be right now.

“I had never found a real place to give back,” Mapster explained. “ It was a natural match between my love of bikes and the opportunity to give back.”

*Psuedonyms are used to protect the members of BACA from retribution at the hands of the accused child abusers, and because children are more comfortable with names that sound friendly and familiar.

CAC

The CAC offers hope and help to children who have been abused and their non-offending family members. In 2007, the Center helped more than 800 children in Bastrop, Fayette and Lee counties. The Center provides abused children with a warm and non-threatening environment in which they can feel safe to talk about their abuse during forensic interviews that can be used to help put predators away.

Besides their own trained staff and volunteers, the Center is comprised of members of law enforcement, district attorney’s office, medical professionals, Child Protective Services and more.

Each year, the CAC sponsors Cowboys & Caviar, their main fundraiser. The CAC has seen a large part of their normal governmental funding dry up in the last year, so the need for help is larger than ever.

“Government funding has been cut significantly,” Handy said. “We’ve seen an 18 percent increase in the number of children we are interviewing. Our needs are up and our funding is down. We really need the community to support us.”

Cowboys & Caviar is so named because the event can be as dressed up – or down – as the attendee is comfortable with.

“What I like about our event is that it is fun,” Gartner said. “You can get dressed up – the caviar component – or just kick back in jeans – the cowboy component.”

Gartner said she believes that people will help if they understand what the Center does.

“The business we deal with is ugly,” she said. “This year, we decided that people really need to hear more about what we do. We want to make sure people understand the impact their donation has.”

Cowboys and Caviar starts at 6 p.m. The event includes a silent and live auction and both Gartner and Handy were excited to tell about the big live auction item – a 14-day stay at a private home in Crete, Greece at Agia Pelegia beach. Tickets to the event are by pre-sale only and the Center is still accepting sponsors. Call 321-6161 for more information.

A 50-year-old woman was injured this past weekend after a Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office vehicle rear-ended her vehicle in Smithville, according to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety in Bastrop.

The woman, identified as Cynthia Wolf, was reportedly hospitalized with neck and back pain following the collision at 5:29 p.m. Friday afternoon at the intersection of Loop 230 and Texas 95 in Smithville.

The sheriff’s office deputy, identified as Joseph Chatham, allegedly rear-ended Wolf while failing to adhere to a yield sign in front of Zimmerhanzel’s BBQ.

Both vehicles suffered minor damage and were able to be driven away from the scene.

“A Campfire Meetin,’” presented by a troupe of 40 musicians from Central Texas known as The Grand Ole Gospel Sing Cast of Performers, will host the meeting.

This entourage of singers has been traveling around the State of Texas for the past four years singing in churches and presenting gospel concerts.

The troupe from cities all over Central Texas consists of Behind the Cross Men’s Quartet from Martindale; The Seale Sisters from Winchester; Gone Fishin’ Live Band from Kyle; New Covenant Mixed Quartet from Manchaca; The Steel Magnolias, fully choreographed ladies ensemble from San Marcos; Debbie Daniel & Tracy Tatum, duet from San Marcos and Georgetown; Robert Lanning, soloist from Cibolo; Lauren Allen, soloist from Kyle and Mark Collins from La Vernia, who portrays George Washington.

Two special guests for the March 7 premier of the 2010 Campfire Meetins’ are White Dove Bluegrass Band from Houston and four-year-old Ali Gonzalez from Smithville.

This 2010 season the group will be presenting “A Campfire Meetin’” with a stage simulated to fit the theme with an electrified fire-ring in the middle of the platform; split-rail fencing around the entire stage plus 8-foot posts with electric lanterns. You will truly feel a part of a campfire setting with lots of singing going on.

There is no monetary charge to get into the program, but everyone is asked to bring a can of food as an admission to the concert. It’s called Grub for the Chuck Wagon and the canned good will be received by the Smithville Food Pantry in the parking lot.  This food will be used to feed the hungry in the Smithville area.

Bro. Michael Murphy, pastor at First Baptist Church, invites the public to attend this Campfire Meetin’ presented by the Grand Ole Gospel Sing. The doors will open at 5 p.m. with the live band, Gone Fishin’, playing at 5:30 p.m. for the opening segment. The main program starts promptly at 6 o’clock.

It will be a great night of foot-stomping, hand-raising, hand-clapping, toe-tapping singing. Tell your friends and come on down!

The church is located at 300 Hudgins St. in Smithville. If you need more information, contact the church office at 237-2176 or Debbie Daniel, producer of the program at (512) 757-4901 or go to the group’s Web site at www.thegrandolegospelsing.com.

Kesselus will speak about the things he finds most interesting in Bastrop County history.

Kesselus has published two volumes of a multi-volume history of Bastrop County and is currently working on the third, Bastrop County During Reconstruc-tion. He has also produced three biographies of Texans in various periods of history and writes a column filled with his thoughts and reflections about this area in local papers.

The public is invited and refreshments will be served afterwards. The Society offers programs pertaining to Smithville area history each spring and fall.

The Heritage House museum and archives, behind 602 Main St., is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-noon.

For information about the Heritage Society, contact Carol Snyder at  830-839-4080.

Boys and girls, ages 5 through 12 years old, are eligible for the camp, which includes lots of outdoor fun and adventure like canoeing, fishing, challenge course with ropes, zip line and climbing wall, nature hikes, archery, riflery (BB & Pellet), critters, plants, insects, rainy day activities and games. Bible and missionary times are very interesting and also lots of fun.

Camp vans will pick up the campers at Emile Elementary (Bastrop) at 8 a.m. and drop them off at 5 p.m. Campers may also be dropped off and picked up at the camp during these times.

Campers need to bring their own labeled lunch and snacks. The camp store will be open in the afternoon for snacks and other items that the camper might want to purchase.

For more information, including cost, contact Sandy Hunt at the camp office at 512-237-4442 or e-mail sandy@wildernessridge.com.

Pre-registration is required by March 10. Register online at www.wildernessridge.com.

CWR is on 95 acres of wilderness amid the Lost Pines Forest west of Smithville and is entering its 23rd year.

Wilderness Ridge operates year-round, producing its own summer camps for boys and young men and retreats for outside organizations.