There are many forms and varieties of loyalty. Being loyal to a person or an idea means that there is a relationship and bond that makes the relationship special and elevates it above the casual acquaintance. A strong friendship can only exist when there is enough trust for a bond of loyalty that can endure adversity.

We all know of other kinds of loyalties: A doctor’s loyalty to patients; a judge’s to the law; the dedication a teacher has to his or her craft; the loyalty that exists within most families; and, of course, the loyalty we can see in a pet to its master.

When I was a child, a farmer gave my dad a puppy that was part wolf. “Fuzzy” turned out to be a wonderful companion. One day while playing at a neighbor’s house, the tornado sirens sounded an alarm: We were under a tornado warning. Fuzzy tracked me down at our friend’s house and I was dragged home by the seat of my pants. I must add that she did stop and look both ways before allowing us to cross the street. We arrived home safely. Fuzzy was definitely a loyal dog.

As district clerk for Bastrop County and as an elected official, my loyalty in that position is to Bastrop County and its citizens. It was hard work to win the election, and my loyalty dictates I will do the best job I can while I hold that office. I took an oath when I was sworn in and I am loyal to that oath.

There are others who have shown a loyalty to people they don’t even know. We should be reminded of those brave men and women in the Armed Forces who have lost their lives fighting for the freedoms we enjoy; freedoms for which some people don’t give a second thought. Those service members were loyal to our country and for what it stands. For that I am very thankful. For some, there is a way to repay that demonstration of loyalty.

Locally, there is the Honor Guard serving Bastrop County, comprised of military veterans and retirees who volunteer their time and effort to render final military honors to other veterans who have passed away. The families of the deceased are always grateful for such a patriotic service for their loved one. The Honor Guard is loyal to the patriotic tradition of honoring our deceased veterans with a military funeral.

What about loyalty to one’s community? Because of the devastating Labor Day wildfires, all of America saw firsthand the residents of Bastrop County’s loyalty to their fellow man. This whole community pulled together to help each other. This outpouring of compassion gave victims of these fires the encouragement and confidence to put their lives back together and, as a result, “We’re Coming Back.”

The firefighters were our heroes through that disaster. They gave every ounce of their energy fighting that dreadful fire. It was an extremely dangerous fire, incinerating everything in its path, but they were loyal to their goal and persevered.

October 26, 2011. The most devastating day of my life. Our 24-year-old son lost his life tragically. I have never felt such sorrow, shock, helplessness, confusion and anger. Part of me died with him and I did not know if I could survive such hurt. If it had not been for the loyalty and support of people from this community, I would have been totally lost. Your employees in the district clerk’s office stepped up to the plate and took over everything in the office, running it smoothly, as well as keeping tabs on me. I am so proud of them. They are very loyal and hard working and I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful staff.

Meals were organized by friends and Bluebonnet VFD and were delivered to our home each night. I received cards and calls from so many people, some of whom have also lost a child and shared their experience with me.

So many prayers went out for us. Another friend arranged hotel rooms for our grieving family, who came as soon as possible to help make the agonizing decisions that had to be made. We were surrounded by a flock of angels sent to comfort us. I felt as though I was being held up by a wall of people. Their loyalty and God gave me the strength to make it through the fog. I will never forget it. That kind of loyalty can never be forgotten or replaced.

This editorial is presented by the Smithville Times as part of a series, appearing once a month and written by county leaders on that month’s character trait.

As many of you know, I have been held captive by my own house that has been due for some updating.

We chose the house we have now occupied since mid-December because of its location, its historic charm, and frankly, because we missed having a pool.  This past summer of constant triple-digit daytime highs was a huge influence on that decision.

However, as is the case with almost any home that has been previously occupied, there are rooms with wall colors that don’t blend well with your furniture or just flat out drive you crazy.

I’m not questioning anyone’s taste here.  I have no room to criticize bold color choices on walls since I am guilty of painting the half-bath of our previous home a citrusy tangerine orange.  You have to consider the fact that I took that shade of orange from an accent color in a framed family photo and extended it into the entire room, a decision that several realtors found “interesting,” to put it politely.  But given the competitive real estate situation in our previous neighborhood, we felt it was necessary to neutralize the area with a coat of light cocoa brown paint.  The market: 1, Mika’s orange bathroom: 0.

Our new abode, lovely as it may be, has a couple of rooms that clash with my decorative conscience.  Where the previous owners had success in coordinating the wall colors with their furniture and possessions, I failed miserably.

Let’s just start with the fact that I’m not a big fan of wallpaper because it’s the most difficult wall cover to put up, and as soon as it’s complete, you can almost hear the stop watch ticking to the time when it will start to look outdated.  If my research bears out, the downstairs bathroom with teal wallpaper and a floral border dates back to the mid 90s, well before our sellers occupied the property.

One day shortly after we moved in, I was cleaning the bathroom in question when my impulsivity got the best of me.  I saw a tiny bubble in a seam of the wallpaper and I began tearing.  The first sheet came down without incident, so I continued on until I was left with a mountain of wallpaper in the bathroom floor and spotty dry wall around me.  With that action, I committed myself to at least a month of work.

I began to panic and snapped pictures of the naked walls with my phone.  I sent the photos to my mother as if I was confessing to a crime.  She thusly responded as if she was helping me cover up a crime.

“Ok, you need to go out and buy some joint compound.  Spread it as thinly as you can with a trowel and use a sponge to lightly texture it.  Don’t worry, you can do this,” she assured me.

I bought the supplies immediately and let them sit for a couple of days while I mentally prepared for the job that lie ahead.  Finally, I owned my decision and started smearing joint compound across every wall, along every baseboard seam and carefully into corners.  For an hour or two almost every day, I put on yoga pants and an old T-shirt and resurfaced the walls of that bathroom that I had once defaced.

After weeks of finding white grit in my hair and along my forearms, elbows and wrists, the bathroom walls were covered and textured.  (Well, almost.  Just don’t look at the wall behind the toilet tank.)

If you need some time to contemplate things in your life or do some creative thinking, I highly recommend texturing walls.  Among other ideas, I think I’ve loosely developed a plot line for a Broadway-style musical based on the songs of Tom Petty.

After a nice coat of paint and new light sconces with coordinating towel ring and paper holder, the bathroom is now presentable and ready for use.

However, just because I’ve wrapped up this project, don’t expect to see me out in public much for the next few weeks either because I just tore down all the wallpaper in my son’s upstairs bathroom.  It’s not my fault I couldn’t control myself.  It was metallic wallpaper, folks.

Metallic.

DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE?

My job at the chamber exposes me to wonderful moments of kindness and there’s plenty of that right here in Smithville.

The random acts of kindness sometimes arise from unexpected places.  I received a call recently from a woman named Cindi Ford who lives in Pennsylvania.  She is a quilter who was watching “The Today Show” when she was moved by the story of Patrick and Tiffany Beasley.

Patrick and Tiffany are just two of thousands of people affected by the Labor Day fires here in Bastrop County, but they were featured on the show because of their association with the Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department.  Cindi was particularly touched when Tiffany spoke of the quilts she had lost in the fire that were handmade by her grandmother and therefore not replaceable.

Cindi then placed a call to the chamber where I got the opportunity to speak with her.  She was determined to help Patrick and Tiffany start their quilt collection anew.  Even though the quilt would not come from her grandmother, it would still be made with love.

Cindi has already sent the quilt to the chamber of commerce office and I would love to present it to Patrick and Tiffany on her behalf.

I have put out a call on Facebook and still have not been able to get a response from Patrick and Tiffany.  Therefore, I’m employing my legion of loyal readers out there.  If you know how to get in touch with Patrick or Tiffany Beasley, please have them call the chamber of commerce office at 237-2313 and leave their contact information.

I’ll keep you all updated on what happens.

SCHWANS TRUCK IN TOWN

The Smithville Cheer Booster Club is inviting the Schwan’s truck back to town on Friday, Feb. 3 (tomorrow) from noon to 7 p.m. in the DAEP/Bus Maintenance lot located at the intersection of Highway 95 and Loop 230.

The truck will be stocked with a variety of your favorite ready-to-heat-and-eat favorites, plus frozen treats.  You may shop directly off the truck or pre-order and pick up from the truck that day for speedier service.  To pre-order, call 888-724-9267, select option 4, and enter Campaign ID number 38072.  Please make sure to use the campaign number so the Cheer Boosters get credit for the sale.

The Smithville Cheer Booster Club will receive 10% of the sales for that day.  It’s an easy way to help a local non-profit and a convenient way to feed your family.

For additional information, contact Cheer Booster President Kellye Bonorden at 237-2496.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK

Don’t forget to buy your Fish Fry tickets!  Contact anyone from the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department or the Smithville Noon Lions Club to get more information.  If you can’t find anyone from either group, call me at the chamber of commerce and I’ll get you set up.

So, when was the last time that a film made in Smithville was nominated for an Academy Award?  I think, even from the most stubborn of you, the answer would have to be never. Well, that was never – until now.

Congratulations to the team of “The Tree of Life” for nominations in three categories: Best Picture, Best Director (Terrence Malick) and Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki). This is an exciting time for those hard working professionals.

Congratulations to everyone in the community that has supported our film making efforts. We are all winners.

So, how can we let a moment like this pass by without having a celebration! Everyone is invited to a free awards viewing party at the Smithville Rec Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. Bring your own snacks and wine if you would like – Sherry’s chili, popcorn and beverages will be available for purchase. Prizes will be given to the best dressed “movie stars,” but feel free to come casual. Maybe you’ll be the best in the guess the winner game!

Fish fry

Purchase your tickets now for the annual fish fry on Saturday, Feb.4 also at our rec center. Tickets are $100 and include dinner for two. Proceeds benefit the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and the scholarship fund of the Smithville Noon Lions Club. If you don’t want a whole ticket, partner up with a friend or two and make your own donation smaller. But the fun is in having a ticket and being a part of this fundraising effort. Tickets are available at the chamber or from any of the members of the Lions and fire department. You do not have to be present to win, but your ticket does. It’s a fun night full of cheers and groans!

Thunder

Posters and flyers are in for the Thunder on the Colorado Bike Rally – the chamber’s largest annual fundraiser. Mark the dates – March 16 – 18.

Go to www.thunderonthecolorado.com for details about the event. The Larry Wilson Band will be playing on Friday night and Jeff Haney on Saturday night. Saturday, March 17, will include a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Wrist bands for the entire weekend are $15. It’s a fun time and open to anyone over 21 years of age.

Chamber banquet

Another opportunity for good food and fellowship is the annual Chamber Banquet on Saturday, Feb. 25.This event is an important celebration for our community. You do not have to be a chamber member to attend. Tickets are $30 per person with sponsorship tables of ten for $300. Please join in celebrating an amazing year in Smithville’s history.

Mark your calendar

• 2/13 – Economic Development meeting – 11:45 a.m. – La Cabana – Program:Central Health Connection – A collaborative vision for improved health and economic outcomes in Central Texas

• 2/13 – Smithville Music & Film “Reel Film Expo” meeting – 7 p.m. –Smithville Public Library (507 Main)

• 2/16 – Thunder on the Colorado meeting – La Cabana -  6:30 p.m.

• 2/25 – Annual Chamber Awards Banquet – Smithville Recreation Center  – Tickets $30 – advance sales only

• 2/26 – Smithville Red Carpet Celebration Party – Smithville Recreation Center – Doors open at 6 p.m.

• 2/28 – Keep Smithville Beautiful meeting – 5:30 p.m. – Pocket’s Grille

• 2/27 – Smithville Music & Film “Reel Film Expo” meeting – 7 p.m. –Smithville Public Library (507 Main)

** No chamber mixer this month due to the banquet

We’ve had very little winter so far, with temperatures mostly in the 60’s and 70’s, and only two light frosts. Some of my roses are still blooming. As a result of these cool moist nights, I’ve developed blackspot on a few of them, when I usually have no problem. Remember, I grow the old roses, rather than the fussy modern hybrids. They seldom have trouble with fungal leaf disease. This week I am going to go out and spray dormant oil spray on all the rose bushes, hoping to smother the fungal spores and to encourage the old leaves to drop. Once the leaves do drop, I will rake them up and put them out for the garbage man. I never put diseased materials on the compost pile.

In most years, it is too early to prune roses yet. Pruning will stimulate new growth that will likely be killed by later frosts. The extended forecasts for Central Texas are predicting warmer than normal and drier than normal into April and uncertain after that. So if you are “itching” to prune (friends are emailing me asking me if they can’t move the timing up) you could take a chance and prune now.  I’m going to wait another week or two and prune in mid-February, the recommended time.

Right now I am planning for later tasks, gathering the materials I will need. I’m making sure that my pruners and loping shears are well sharpened and oiled and checking my small folding “keyhole” saw for any defects. I’ll need all three for the upcoming rose pruning. I plan to go to Smith Supply and order some materials I’ll use to fertilize the roses: alfalfa pellets/meal (nitrogen), bone meal (phosphorus) and green sand (potash). They don’t always have those on hand, but Melvin will special order almost anything you need in the way of fertilizers. (Give him 1-2 weeks to get it here). I’ll have him add to the order two 40-lb bags of corn gluten meal, the pelletized type. It is expensive (about $30-$35 a bag) but it is the only fertilizer I use all year on my lawn. In addition to providing slow release nutrients that last six months or more, it also prevents the emergence of warm (or cold) weather weeds. I try to time the application to precede the change of seasons from cool to warm. Usually mid to late Feb is the best time.

I need to replace a few shrubs which did not make it through last summer. This is a good time to finish up planting those new shrubs, roses, trees, groundcovers and vines. It is also a good time to divide any perennials that are crowding their “neighbors” and relocate them or give them to a friend.

I’m also going to complete planting the last of my cool season vegetables. Artichoke and asparagus crowns are best planted now.  We can plant snap beans, beets and broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards and kale transplants, as well. I will expand my plantings of carrots, lettuces (red, green, loose-leaf, and Bibb or Romaine types), parsley, peas (English, snap and snow types), radishes and spinach. You can also start kohlrabi, parsnips, rutabaga and turnips now, but somehow I never learned to like most of those semi-exotic root vegetables. Give me instead onions (red, white and yellow), leeks, Irish potatoes, garlic and shallots, which can all be planted at this time in early February.

Next week I will review rose pruning and touch on pruning times/techniques for a few other plant types.

The Paige Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser chili dinner was sold out by 5:30 p.m. with  450 lbs. of meat gone! By 5:45 p.m., the 4-H had sold out of cakes and cornbread.

My hat is off to the cooks. Every year I tell you  how good it is, but this year it was awesome. They make a spicy and a regular and I got some of each. But the spicy was the best to me, not too hot, but so much flavor.

BEE Club

We will have an EEC club meeting Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Paige Community Center at 9 a.m. Hope to see some new faces there.

The Old Frontier

Three Bastrop County men, Ronnie McRee, John Long and Adam Meuth, bought the Old Frontier and the guys said it will be opening soon. They could not tell me anything more at this time. Sure would be nice to have a good steak house in Paige. They were nice and very personal. I wish these guys luck in their new adventure.

Hermann Sons

The next meeting of the Hermann Sons will be Feb. 12 at noon at the lodge hall in Paige. A pot luck lunch will be served.

Birthdays

Savannah Kimey turned five last Thursday, Jan. 26 and the day was shared with family and friends.

Paige Lions Club

The Paige Lions Club was chartered in March 2009 with 31 members. We are excited to have the opportunity to serve our community and are actively seeking new members. If you would like to join or just to see what we’re like, feel free to come to one of our meetings, which are held the first and third Wednesday every month. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. at the Paige Community Center.

Super Bowl

My house is in a buzz. A good friend is coming in from Houston to watch the super bowl.

We will have a quiet day with football. I know very little about football, so I do more cooking then watching, and it works great at my house for me. For the people that will be out and about, please drive safe and good luck on your team.

Thought

I have been reminded by LaDona Fuchs  to thank God for the rain and perfect weather we have been having.

How soon we can forget the long dry summer we had.

orry the Rosanky News column wasn’t in the paper last week. I had a medical issue that prevented me from getting it in on time. Thank you to those of you who called to check on me!

Rosanky Youths

win big

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about young Kadence Barta from Rosanky who is a five-year-old competitive cheerleader at Twister Cheer Company in Bastrop. Kadence is a member of the Tiny Drizzlers All-Star Cheer Team who competed in San Antonio on Jan. 22. Along with Kadence, there are two other TCC youths from Rosanky that competed. Alexis Rodriquez and Austyn Lastovica are both members of the Level 2 All-Star Cheer Team called Lightning and brought home the first place trophy. The Tiny Drizzlers brought home the second place trophy. Overall, TCC won three national championships, two high point jackets, third and second place trophies in San Antonio. What a great day for the Twisters. A big congratulations to Alexis, Austyn and Kadence and the rest of Twister Cheer Company.

Rosanky Community Center

For February, the Rosanky Community Center will be joining with String Prairie and will have their monthly meeting on Feb. 9 at the String Prairie Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Guest speakers will be president David Gahagan from Emergency Services District #1, as well as commissioner Clovis Boatright and chief Glen Boatright of the 3N1 Fire Department.

“They will discuss the role of the ESD, fire safety and ISO – how to reduce home owner’s insurance,” says Rosie Knowlton, who is the secretary and treasurer of the Rosanky Community Center.

String Prairie folks will be providing a spaghetti dinner and the Rosanky folks will be bring desserts.

“Come join us for a fun and informational evening,” says Knowlton.

Recipe of the week

Ice cream cone cupcakes: This is a great idea for birthday parties or just a simple after school snack. You’re going to need a box of cake mix, and all the ingredients listed on the box to bake a cake. Also make sure you have plenty of ice cream cones.

Mix your ingredients according to your cake mix and pour them into your ice cream cones about half-way up instead of in cupcake papers. You can place the cones in a muffin or cupcake pan and bake as the box instructs. My mother always makes icing from scratch but I cheat and buy it!

After the ice cream cone cupcakes have cooled, top with icing and sprinkles and serve. It’s a fun treat your kids will love.

Kids Korner

Homemade Piggy Bank: You will need a large plastic soda bottle, a detergent bottle cap, four soda bottle caps, pink paint, scissors, hot glue, pink paper or fabric, a pink pipe cleaner, two small black buttons, a black marker, a box cutter or Exacto knife.

To make the piggy bank, cut off the open end of the bottle so that the detergent cap will fit snug. Also make a small hole in the top center of the back for the pipe cleaner you will twist into a tail.

Paint the detergent cap and bottle caps pink. Cut out two rounded triangle shapes from your pink paper and glue them on as ears.

Glue the two small black buttons on as eyes. Make a slit in the top of the bottle where you want the coin slot.

Once your caps are dry, hot glue the small caps on the bottom as feet and the detergent cap on as the pig’s nose. Use your black marker to paint the nostrils on the nose.

Twist the pipe cleaner around a pencil and press through the small hole you make earlier, you can hot glue the tail to the bottle to make sure it stays.

Now, it’s time to start saving! I’d love to see pictures of your piggy banks, let me know if you try it.

Got News?

If you have any news, announcements and/or photos, please email me at rosankynews@live.com.

Last year’s state qualifiers senior Bailey Johnson and junior Brittany Hairgrove took first place in last Friday’s Hutto Hippo Classic Tennis Tournament.  Johnson and Hairgove had wins over Pflugerville Conally (6-2,6-0), Taylor HS(6-1,6-3) and Round Rock.

“The girls played exceptionally well, it was awesome watching them compete,” said head coach Jason Segal.

Senior Jamie Swartz and junior Blake Hickman won the consolation division in boy’s doubles at Hutto.  They lost their opening match to Hutto (6-2, 6-2).  Swartz and Hickman went on to beat Pflugerville (8-0) and Pflugerville Conally (8-0) to win consolation.

“The boys played very well in their first tournament of the year,” Segal said.

Junior Gray Morris placed fourth in boy’s singles.  Morris beat Khan from Conally (8-2), Davis from Round Rock (6-4, 6-2), lost to Longoria from Bastrop (6-0, 6-0) and lost his third place match to Shea from Round Rock (6-4, 7-5, 10-7).

On the JV side, Sam Crank won the boys singles title.  Last year he placed second at this tournament and will have a great year playing varsity tennis.

The team travels to Pflugerville this week.

REGION IV

District 26 – Cuero, Giddings, Gonzales, La Grange, Smithville, Yoakum.

SMITHVILLE, FEB. 2 STORY

The Smithville Lady Tigers had their best basketball game to date recently.

Smithville demolished Caldwell 64-28 in a game that was never in doubt at Tiger Gym.

The Lady Tigers (9-19, 3-3 District 23-3A) started a 12-0 run after Caldwell scored the first point of the game.

The run started with a pair of free throws from Maygan Washington and culminated from a layup from Valerie Harmon.

Free-throw shooting would be a key for Smithville, as the Lady Tigers were 7-of-10 from the charity stripe for the night.

Offensive rebounding also played a huge part in Smithville’s dominance.

Six of Taryn Leiferman’s game-high 18 points, came from put backs by the junior post.

By the end of the first quarter, Caldwell found itself in a 11-point hole, one Smithville just kept making deeper.

The Lady Tigers extended the game on a three-point play from Harmon, who had seven points in the contest, before Leiferman kept adding salt to the wounds of the Lady Hornets.

Leiferman made a three midway through the second quarter and helped extend the lead to nearly 20 points after earning three points the hard way.

Smithville called off the dogs toward the end of the first half as Caldwell trailed by 13 at halftime.

“It was our best effort by far,” said head coach Robin Ramsay. “We were solid on offense, transition, full court and half-court defense. We shot well from the field and the line.”

The Lady Tigers started firing on all cylinders in the third quarter as Trina Deyo rolled off six straight as part of an 8-0 run early in the period.

Shelby Davee, who scored all eight of her points in the second half, continued the run off a Caldwell turnover as Smithville led by 19 going into the fourth period.

The Lady Tigers kept rolling in the final quarter and outscored the Lady Hornets 22-5 by closing the period on a 17-0 run that featured a three from Audrei Rogers and Madison Hannusch’s back-to-back field goals to close the game.

“We needed a game like that to loosen up,” Ramsay said. “We have been so uptight about this streak it was nice to finally see them relaxed.”

Other scorers for Smithville were Hannusch (6), Brianna Lunsford (3), Harmon (7), Rogers and Washington (9).

The Lady Tigers dominated the boards and outrebounded Caldwell 31-18 with Washington having a team-high nine and Deyo pulling down eight.

On Friday, the Lady Tigers continued their winning ways, picking up their third straight victory by defeating Rockdale 52-42.

Leiferman lead the team in scoring with 18 points. Other scoring players for Smithville were Deyo (10), Washington (9), Julia Kubicek (8) and Davee (4).

“Rockdale is tough and we didn’t do a good job in our half-court defense until the second half,” Ramsay said. “I was happy to see us raise our level of intensity because we haven’t been doing that and the other big factor was that we only had eight turnovers.”

Smithville Times reporter Sarah Acosta contributed to this report.