One of the interesting things about living in Central Texas is taking in the culture of the area.   In Granger, just a few miles up the road from my home in Taylor, Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church has been hosting an annual parish bazaar for longer than anyone can remember.   The church steeped in Czech culture dates back to the late 1880s and has been an integral part of that community.   I’d suggested a story for the Williamson County Sun

, not knowing what to expect, thinking maybe something to document would be there.   Wow, was I ever surprised!  This is a huge fundraiser for the church.   Even though the Sunday I was there was the start of dove hunting season, church volunteers beat the hunters to the punch, preparing wonderful portions of chicken, barbecue and all the fixings. Folks like church members Henrietta Hajda and Linda Knapek were on hand in the recreation center kitchen by 4a.m.  to get the treats prepared for hungry attendees.   The huge space in the rec center filled with diners, including 2-year-old Kaleb Amidon, sitting with his grandpa, Billy Meissner (opening photo).   Of the over 1,200 plates served, more than 500 were “to-go” orders, where customers lined up outside for their orders.  It was a very long line that included David Eschberger of Taylor, accompanied by his little dog Cujo, the pup’s nasal passages obviously liking the aroma.   One fellow, Granger’s Mike Anderson, joined by his girlfriend, Rose Rollins, arrived on his 1952 rickshaw.   Once the eating was done, the afternoon included a live auction and bingo.   As evening settled, the tables were cleared for a dance of traditional Czech music provided by The Fabulous Six.    No doubt about it, I made the right call in driving to Granger!

As is often the case, I find myself toiling away on Labor Day, but it’s a day meant for work, at least for me.  At Lake Georgetown, a group of young soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas decided some cool water was just what they needed as the temperature hovered around 100 degrees or so.   Showing off his acrobatic skills in my opening shot was  Barry Ashcraft, one of those fine young fellows.   San Gabriel Park in Georgetown was another popular destination where I found 4-year-old Angel Sotomayor getting some big pushes on the swing from his grandpa, Angel Talavera.   Michael Haley demonstrated his grilling skills as he cooked a load of juicy burgers for friends from Georgetown’s Faith Impact Church.   And 4-year-old Callie Wilson was indeed proud to show off the big perch she caught while fishing with her dad and big sister.    It was a good day for labor, but also for fun.  These were some offerings for my friends at the Williamson County Sun

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Taylor, Texas is a great place to visit if you love barbecue.   There’s those venerable businesses, of course, including Louie Mueller BBQ, Vencil Mares Taylor Cafe and Davis Grocery, all worthy stops.  But every year, the amateurs head to Murphy Park for the Taylor Chamber of Commerce’s International BBQ Cook-Off.   This was the 36th year for the event, which actually happened a couple of weekends ago, but I’m just now catching up to my postings.   Among the contestants were an all-ladies’ team, Barbie Q Queens, from Thorndale, Texas.   They’re in the opening photo.    Beyond food, there was music, and Tom and Juanita Bolt of Pflugerville just loved dancing to slow music while briskets and ribs slowly smoked their way to perfection.   Judging, of course, is a big deal in the various categories that included beans, fish, chicken, goat, pork, ribs, brisket and “wild game.”   Nobody’s ever sure what’s been consumed in that category.   This year, Annie Warren, one of the wild game judges, was obviously not thrilled with a box she opened to find some sort of critter’s foot inside.  “Not much meat,” she explained.  No argument there.  Her and fellow judges thought the feet might’ve been originally attached to turkeys, but it was a mystery meat for sure!  Go to this fine event next August if you’re in the area.

As a  kid growing up in the late 1950s, I recall going to Belk-Jones,  a large  department store in downtown Texarkana, and seeing two water fountains, one marked “white,” the other “colored.”  Or going to a Saturday afternoon movie at the Paramount Theater, a huge edifice with seating on two floors.  Outside was a separate entrance for “colored” patrons, who had to sit upstairs even though the theater seated over 1,600 people.  With that in mind, on the 50th annivesary of the March on Washington, I post a few photos taken Saturday on the Georgetown square, where about 175-200 people gathered near the steps of the Williamson County Courthouse  for a “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony to  commemorate that day and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so many years ago.  Georgetown’s gathering included Jean Tankersley of Round Rock, wearing a shirt emblazoned with Dr. King’s likeness, holding onto her 6-year-old granddaughter, Rayene Johnson.   And the day’s main speaker, Rev. Wendell Hosey, an imposing man with a big voice and frame to match, but not too big to offer words of encouragement to 6-year-old Malulani Lesu of Georgetown.   This morning, while on my daily 5-mile walk through Taylor, Texas, I noted during that stroll how streets in the poorer areas were rough and unkempt, while not so much in areas of where folks had been blessed with better economic luck.   50 years ago, inequality stared you in the face.   Today, it may be more covert, but signs tell me there’s still work to do.

In the course of a life, many things change, but some events remain constant.   One of those is a rite of passage, the first day of school.   On Monday, I visited Georgetown’s Mitchell Elementary School to watch the excitement.   Taking that first step into kindergarten can be unsettling.   Nobody seemed to feel that more than 5-year-old Diana Diaz as she held onto to her mother, Maria Flores.   It was obviously a hard moment for both, but the good teachers helped ease them into this new adventure.     Some families were just plain happy to be there, like the Bruton family as they strolled quickly into the school.  There was 9-year-old Emelia leading the way, followed by her sister, Abigail, 7, and little brother, Sean, 5, and their parents, Donnie and Kristi.   Some kids, like 6-year-old Carolina Fuentes, a first-grader, were old pros and walked with purpose to her classroom with little brother, Nicholas, 3, and their dad, Andres.   Teacher Beth Messineo was there to greet them and help get things arranged.   The final photo in this post, also at Mitchell, shows school nurse Marcy Schroeder,  a fast-moving lady zipping down the hallways in her bright purple Saucony running shoes, but slowing down long enough to visit with a first grader who was feeling a bit nervous, but after a few moments and soothing words from Marcy, he was good to go.    I began documenting first day of school events in the 1970s.   They still embrace life’s drama and pleasures.

Georgetown’s Palace Theatre has put together a wonderful cast and crew for their production of “A Few Good Men,” playing weekends through September 8 on the Springer Memorial Stage.   From a visual perspective, I tend to prefer musicals and comedies, but everything about this production is spot on.   Director Ron Watson has a marvelous cast in which to work.   I particularly enjoyed the work of Will Swift, as Pfc. Louden Downey, and Ethen Heeter, playing Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson.   They’re the young men in the opening photo and are the accused Marines on trial.  Everyone, of course, does a great job.   Don’t miss a chance to see some fine performances by everyone.

It’s a given:  football is hard work, particularly in Texas, where high school sports can be all-consuming.  While giving gridiron heroics their due, let’s take time remember the members of the marching band.   Summer band camp was in full force last week at Taylor High School as the 70-member band led by director Scott Simmons was putting the kids through their paces.   During camp, the kids were on the field at 9a.m. until at least noon, then (thankfully), after a brief lunch break, back inside the band hall for sectional and music drills until 4p.m.   Those mornings on the field were rigorous.   Simmons and his team made sure everyone got frequent water breaks, suggesting that they consume at least a gallon of fluid during the outdoor sessions.   The day I joined them for drills, the temperature was supposed to reach 103 degrees.  By the time they headed inside, it hadn’t reached that milestone, but hot is hot.    When you’re at those football games this year, give a nod to the band.

Texas Humane Heroes, a wonderful shelter in Leander (formerly the Humane Society of Williamson County), held a Mega Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer adoption event last weekend.   The neat thing about this event was adoption fees were waived, including spay/neuter fees.  Every  pet left with a microchip and a bit of free food.   Among the happy new families were William Henslee, a soldier based at Fort Hood, shown getting a smooch from Boogie, Jacey Koford, proud owner of Sass, a kitty cat who loved to spin her hair, and  4-year-old Dylan Hellman (last photo), ready to head home with Cassie.   So many municipal shelters around the country are overwhelmed with dogs and cats.   It’s hard to retain no-kill status, but events like this sure help.   Texas Humane Heroes is also one of 49 municipal shelters around the U.S. competing in the A.S.P.C.A. Rachael Ray $100,000 Challenge

, each competing for a $100,000 grand prize to help life easier at their facilities.  Here’s a few images taken for the Williamson County Sun.    Be kind to your pets.   Love them and they’ll love you back.

Georgetown is fortunate to have a real gem in the form of the venerable Palace Theatre, providing classic productions for the Central Texas community for a number of years.   But the Palace is also a place to learn, in the form of year-round workshops focusing on acting, dance, vocal performance and even the technical side of the theater arts.   I was fortunate last weekend to watch twenty anxious teens show off what they learned in a 3-week summer teen workshop, culminating in their “Broadway Revue” before an audience of proud family and friends.   The directors were Sara Burke and Adam Munoz, two Palace stage veterans, in addition to Nikki Bora, who also knows her way around a few stages.    This summer teen workshop is the second of three summer sessions.  Their final workshop is devoted to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”    Workshops are there for the very young folks, too, and also for adults.   By all means, enjoy the Palace productions, but if you’re interested in taking it to another level, check out the workshops.

College football season is coming very soon and the excitement is building.   No place was that more in evidence  than on the University of Texas campus for Fan Appreciation Day, a day set aside for fans to get the chance to meet and greet some of their favorite players and get their picture taken with head coach Mack Brown.   Several hundred people lined up for the event that began at noon on Saturday.   Michael Malick and his sister Amy, true Longhorn fans, arrived from their home in Yoakum, Texas on the UT campus at 7:45p.m. Friday night and slept onsite.   They were the first folks in a very long line.   Michael and Amy, an incoming UT freshman, are pictured in this post.   He’s the young man in burnt orange wearing glasses, she’s standing next to him.   While all the players were kind and generous with their time, I was really impressed with starting quarterback David Ash, who truly made a lot of kids’ day, particularly 5-year-old Dylan Wells of Austin, shown in the opening photo and the two that follow.   While I hope he has a good year on the field, it’s a sure bet he’ll do well in life.   He’s the real deal.    Here are a few photos I shot to accompany a story in Sunday’s Austin American-Statesman.   Hook em’ Horns!