HCAF taking input on future of campus

By Emily McClure | The Hill Country Community Journal

Community members and foundation staff packed the gallery at the Hill Country Arts Foundation (HCAF) on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for a public meeting on rebuilding the campus after floods in each of the past two summers left much of the property unusable.

Executive Director Sarah Tacey opened the session by asking attendees what they wanted to see on the grounds going forward.

"We are going to get into what physical buildings you would like to see here," she said. "We don't need to get into super deep discussions about implementing anything just yet. Right now we're going to take notes on what you guys would like to see."

Tacey said the foundation had never experienced flood damage until last year's flood.

"We've been here 67 years, and we've never had water in these buildings," she said of the main buildings. "It's unsalvageable."

She said the foundation is working with an outside firm on new designs.

"We are working with Lake Flato Architects in San Antonio," Tacey said. "They're excellent. They are artists too and like to work with the space and make it look like it fits."

Despite extensive property damage, one structure did survive largely intact.

"The outdoor stage is very fixable," Tacey said. "It was built so that the walls would blow out. It keeps the water from taking the entire structure with it."

The foundation plans to rebuild the outdoor stage in its current location and completely rebuild most other buildings on campus.

Visual Arts Director Rachel Lovelace said accessibility is part of the plan for the new campus.

"Making the whole campus ADA compliant is a priority," she said.

Attendees also asked about environmentally friendly upgrades in the rebuild.

Staff member Treston Woods said the foundation had just begun installing rainwater catchment systems when the flooding hit and plans to continue incorporating similar "green" designs in the remodel.

"We started installing them four months before the first flood," he said. "Unfortunately, the flood took them, but we fully plan on starting that again."

He also credited a volunteer group with limiting erosion.

"Before the flood, we had the Master Naturalists out here, and they're a big reason why we didn't lose acreage," Woods said.

Texas Master Naturalists assessed damage from last year's flood and advised the foundation on how to care for its riparian land, leading to procedures that lessened the erosion impact of the flood.

On finances, Tacey said the foundation is stable day to day but does not have the funds on hand for new construction.

"We're in very good shape financially for our regular day-to-day operations," she said. "We don't have millions of dollars to build new buildings at this moment."

Lovelace added that a fundraising effort is coming.

"We're not going out of business anytime soon. We are solid and we will be doing a capital campaign for all of this building that we're doing," she said.

Attendees offered a range of ideas for the rebuilt campus, including more studio and rehearsal space, a central bathroom facility, a cafe, a community garden and murals throughout the grounds.

Another attendee who has kept a studio on the property asked for more room for artists to work.

For more information about the Hill Country Arts Foundation, or to donate to the rebuild, visit hcaf.com.

Conservation easement protects golden-cheeked warbler habitat at Kerr County ranch

A newly finalized conservation easement will permanently protect old-growth cedar woodland and riparian habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler on a 44-acre ranch in Kerr County.

Guadalupe River Conservancy announced the easement on Eternal Blue Sky Ranch, marking the nonprofit land trust's first completed easement in Kerr County and one of 20 it has finalized across the Guadalupe River watershed. The ranch, which will remain private property closed to the public, sits over the Trinity Aquifer and includes karst features that help recharge the aquifer after rainfall. The property is also adjacent to Bear Creek, meaning the protected upland habitat contributes to the health of the creek's aquatic habitat as well.

Landowners Pamela Slutz and Ronald Deutch documented the golden-cheeked warbler, a species native to the Texas Hill Country and listed as federally endangered, on the property before pursuing the easement.

"We chose to make Eternal Blue Sky Ranch our retirement home for its immaculate setting and the abundance of birdsongs you hear every morning," Slutz and Deutch said in a joint statement. "But when we documented the golden-cheeked warbler, we knew we needed to take steps to ensure safe habitat forever.

We are so fortunate to call the Hill Country home and we believe it is the shared responsibility of those of us who live here to ensure it remains a vibrant and thriving ecosystem for generations to come. Supporting local conservation land trusts like Guadalupe River Conservancy is how that happens."

The easement bars future development, subdivision or intentional destruction of the property's old-growth cedar woodlands and riparian habitat, with those restrictions binding on future owners as well.

"Conservation easements are a helpful tool for farmers, ranchers, families and nature lovers to protect their land for present and future generations, while retaining their rights to live on, work, hunt and enjoy the land," said Doug Dillow, executive director of Guadalupe River Conservancy.

Guadalupe River Conservancy is responsible for ensuring the easement is upheld in perpetuity and typically works with landowners to develop stewardship and management plans for protected properties.

The Conservancy was founded in 2001 as the official nonprofit land trust of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. Formerly known as the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, the organization rebranded in 2025. It serves a 16-county region stretching from Kerrville to the Texas coast and is the only accredited land trust dedicated to the Guadalupe River.

More information on conservation easements is available at GuadalupeRiverConservancy.org.

"The Voice" champion Jake Hoot to perform at Cailloux Theater Sept. 26

Country singer Jake Hoot, winner of Season 17 of NBC's "The Voice," will play a one-night show at the Cailloux Theater in downtown Kerrville on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Texas-born Hoot has built on his 2019 "Voice" win with a run of country music milestones. He released his debut single, "Better Off Without You," made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and recorded "I Would've Loved You" with Kelly Clarkson, who coached him during his season of the show. Earlier this year, Hoot returned to "The Voice" for a "Battle of Champions" special, where he beat fellow past winner Javier Colon in a featured matchup.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. The theater lobby and concessions, provided by Omakase Hospitality, open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $20, with premium seats priced at $45. They're available through the Cailloux Box Office at 830-896-9393 or online at CaillouxPerformingArts.com, where a $2.50 per-ticket convenience fee applies.

The Cailloux Box Office and CaillouxPerformingArts.com are the only authorized ticket outlets for the show. Theater officials are warning ticket buyers to avoid third-party resellers that may turn up in web searches at inflated prices, and advise confirming "CaillouxPerformingArts" appears in the site address before purchasing.

Riverside Nature Center's September lineup ranges from moth night to tree planting

Riverside Nature Center Association has released its September program calendar, and it's a busy one — butterflies, birds, bugs, tracks and a rescheduled moth night are all on the docket at the center's 150 Francisco Lemos St. campus.

Two programs run weekly throughout the month. Wildflower Bunch meets Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, combining classroom instruction, guided field identification and hands-on seed collection and propagation work, free of charge. Sprouts, a free preschool nature-and-reading program, meets Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 5

Butterfly Walk & Talk runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m., a free family program looking at the butterflies found in local backyards, followed by a walk through the center's gardens. Registration is requested at RiversideNatureCenter.org.

Friday, Sept. 11

"1 on 1 With a Scientist" airs live on the center's Facebook page at 10:30 a.m. The series, which features a different scientist and topic every other month, turns its attention to moths this time around with Dr. Rebecca Keim — a preview of sorts for the center's Moth Night the following weekend.

Saturday, Sept. 12

The center hosts a volunteer information session for the TREES Initiative from 10 a.m. to noon. The five-year effort, led by the San Antonio Botanical Garden, aims to restore 50,000 native trees along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County; Saturday's meeting covers what's involved in signing on as a volunteer. More information is available at sabgtx.org/trees, with registration through RiversideNatureCenter.org.

That evening, the center's NEd+ series presents a rescheduled Moth Night from 7 to 11 p.m. Wildlife biologist Craig Hensley leads a presentation on the diversity and ecological importance of moths before the program wraps up with a hands-on mothing session. Tickets are $5 per person or $20 for a family of up to six.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

A NEd Talk titled "Tracks — Wildlife CSI" runs from 1 to 2 p.m. Lee Burton, owner of Naturalist Ventures and an international naturalist, leads a crash course in identifying the tracks backyard wildlife leave behind. The program costs $10, or is free for Riverside Nature Center Association members; registration requested.

Saturday, Sept. 19

A guided Bird Walk & Talk runs from 8 to 9:30 a.m., open to birders of all experience levels. The program is free with registration.

Friday, Sept. 25

Schreiner University entomology students showcase their class projects from 1 to 4 p.m., covering a range of topics in bug biology. The showcase is free with registration.

Separately that morning, from 10 a.m. to noon, a certified Texas Master Naturalist will be on hand for "1 on 1 With a Naturalist," answering questions about native flora, fauna and the Hill Country environment at no charge.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Riverside Rangers, the center's monthly nature program for kids ages 8 to 12, meets from 10 a.m. to noon. September's session focuses on careers in the environmental field, with Rangers hearing from working professionals in the field. Cost is $7 per session or $65 for the full year, with registration requested.

That afternoon, from 1 to 3 p.m., the center hosts a DIY Halloween Costumes workshop, encouraging kids to build nature-themed costumes out of reused and recycled materials. Participants are asked to bring spare fabric and RSVP in advance.

Looking ahead

The center's Fall Native Plant Sale is set for Saturday, Oct. 3.

Registration and fee details for all programs are available at RiversideNatureCenter.org, or by calling the center at 830-257-4837.

| Dietert Center News by Brenda Thompson

As we head into Fall, the Dietert Center ramps up its programming

As the dog days of summer fade, the first week of September brings a transition to fall. While temperatures remain high, the Dietert Center offers a comfortable environment to escape the heat.

Those looking for autumn activities are encouraged to volunteer at the center. Opportunities are available with the Meals on Wheels program, Friendship Cafe; dining room, Travel Department, and at the front reception desk. Interested individuals may contact Volunteer Coordinator Angie McDowell or attend the next Volunteer Coffee at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to learn more.

The Dietert Center continues to expand its programming following the philosophy that if you build it, they will come. The Club Ed and Travel programs offer a diverse schedule of art, music, exercise, dance, card games, and educational classes. The travel department also continues to arrange new excursions across Texas and the United States. Club Ed and Travel Coordinator Teresa Carrillo is scheduling new opportunities for members to engage and learn.

While these programs are thriving, community members are encouraged to make the most of these available resources.

To get involved, residents can pick up a new fall catalog at the center, visit www.dietertcenter.org, or call Teresa Carrillo at 830-792-4044.

September's Club Ed schedule includes Defensive Driving on Sept. 3 and the Dementia Caregiver Series on Sept. 8. An introduction to Microsoft Windows 10/11 is scheduled for Sept. 9, followed by a six-session fall painting series beginning Sept. 11. Other highlights include Texas License to Carry on Sept. 12, Estate Planning 101 and a caregiver coping skills workshop on Sept. 17, and a dementia simulation on Sept. 18. A healthy bladder and bowel series also begins Sept. 18, with a Texas Hunter Education course scheduled for Sept. 19.

Peterson Health will provide a free session on support and planning during hospital stays at 10 a.m. Sept. 17. The class offers practical tips for caregivers on navigating healthcare journeys, maintaining relationships with medical staff, and effective communication. This session is designed to help participants address concerns and prepare for the challenges of caregiving.

The Friendship Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kerr County residents age 60 and older may receive meals by donation upon completion of annual paperwork. The meal price is $10 for those under 60 or residing outside the county.

If you are a homebound senior aged 60+, or know of someone that is, please give our MOW Coordinator, Bethanie Miller a call at 830-792-4044, to see about getting you set up for the Meals on Wheels program. 

The menu for this week includes:

• Wednesday — Cheese ravioli with meat sauce

• Thursday — Tuna salad, pasta salad, and broccoli salad

• Friday — Spaghetti and meatballs

• Monday — CLOSED for Labor Day

• Tuesday — Chicken and sausage jambalaya

• Wednesday — Chicken fried steak

Camerata San Antonio to open season with Kerrville concert Sept. 18

The Grammy Award-nominated chamber ensemble's "Classical Foundations" program begins at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The concert kicks off a season built around the theme "Beethoven in Context," marking the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's death.

The season-opening program includes Haydn's Piano Trio in C Major, Hob. XV:27; Mozart's Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, K. 493; and Weber's Grand Quartet in B-flat Major, WeV P.5. Performers include violist Emily Freudigman, cellist Ken Freudigman, violinist Matthew Zerweck and pianist Steven Vanhauwaert.

The ensemble's season continues with four more multi-date concert programs — "Beethoven's Circle" in November, "Finding His Voice" in March, "Echoes of Beethoven" in April and "A Legacy Unbound" in May — along with a single-date program, "The Complete Cello Sonatas," on Feb. 21. In addition to Kerrville, the season's concerts are presented at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit and Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio.

Single concert tickets are $20; student tickets are free. Ticket information is available at cameratasa.org or by calling 210-492-9519.

Salvation Army's 39th Circle of Service luncheon set for Sept. 15

The Salvation Army of Kerrville will hold its 39th annual Circle of Service luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Kroc Kerrville.

This year's event, themed "Designing for a Difference," benefits the Salvation Army of Kerrville's social service programs. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for guests to view auction tables, bid in a silent auction and dessert raffle, and mingle before the event closes at 1 p.m.

James Avery Artisan Jewelry is the presenting sponsor for the luncheon, and Cartewheels Catering is providing the meal.

Table reservations can be made by contacting The Salvation Army of Kerrville directly.

Hill Country Master Gardeners launch monthly 'Know & Grow' series

The Hill Country Master Gardeners are launching Know & Grow, a new monthly series of one-hour conversations on gardening and horticulture topics relevant to the Hill Country.

The series will run at noon on the first Wednesday of each month, featuring experienced gardeners and subject matter experts. Organizers say it's aimed at both experienced gardeners and newcomers, or anyone curious about the region's plants and natural world.

The inaugural session runs from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 2 at the UGRA Auditorium, 125 Lehmann Drive. The first presentation, "Foraging Texas & Preserving," features Hill Country Master Gardener Maureen "Mo" Poorman, who will cover water-bath canning, food preservation and ways to use Texas edibles.

The program is free and open to the public. More information is available through the Hill Country Master Gardeners or by calling 830-257-6568.

Doyle Community Center packs September calendar with events, playground build

Doyle Community Center has a full slate of programming this month, ranging from a returning Bible study series to a three-day volunteer playground build.

Community Bible Study meets every other Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m., with September sessions set for Sept. 3 and Sept. 17. The gathering is open to all experience levels, and attendees are asked to bring their own Bible.

The center will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day, reopening Tuesday, Sept. 8, during regular hours.

Two separate events are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11. A Senior Lunch and Bingo runs from noon to 2 p.m., with a meal, bingo and prizes, and music by Ray Gutierrez. That evening, Game Night runs from 7 to 11 p.m., featuring card games, board games and dominoes; attendees are asked to bring their own snacks and drinks.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Doyle's Diez y Seis Celebration, marking Mexican Independence Day, runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the center's pavilion. The free event includes a lotería cake walk, a grito contest, kids' games, music and food from the El Carasuel food truck; guests are asked to bring their own chairs and beverages.

Raffle tickets are also on sale for the center's Diez y Seis raffle, with prizes including a 14-foot above-ground pool, a Ninja air fryer, a commercial ice maker and a TV, among other items, with proceeds supporting the center's programs.

From Thursday, Sept. 24, through Saturday, Sept. 26, Doyle is partnering with KABOOM! and the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation to build a new playground at the center, with volunteer build days running from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Organizers say no construction experience is required and volunteers can sign up for any portion of the three days.

The month's events come as Doyle continues a broader fundraising push tied to recovery from the July floods. The center, which says it has served as a community cornerstone for more than a century, is seeking donations to support its food pantry, youth programs and senior activities, alongside its ongoing volunteer program.

More information on all events, including registration and volunteer sign-up links, is available at doylecc.org or by calling 830-257-4446.

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