County Parks bond passes, Dripping Springs Skatepark on list
he DS Skatepark is one of the park improvements scheduled to be funded now that voters approved Proposition A on the 2020 ballot. The $76M Bond proposal includes $550,000 for the skateboarding venue, an amount which would enable the group to build the facility that they have been working towards for the past two years.
According to the DS board, SPA Skateparks, the group's design firm, is getting closer to having an initial design concept ready for their review. They expect to see something in December. At that point they will bring together a committee of skaters to provide feedback. The DS group report that it's realistic to believe they can have the design finalized by Q1 next year.
The next step is to work with the City on the mechanics of the funding.
According to the DS board, SPA Skateparks, the group's design firm, is getting closer to having an initial design concept ready for their review. They expect to see something in December. At that point they will bring together a committee of skaters to provide feedback. The DS group report that it's realistic to believe they can have the design finalized by Q1 next year.
The next step is to work with the City on the mechanics of the funding.
Girl Scouts award 2020 scholarships
Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts in partnership with Dripping Springs Community Foundation have announced four girls who have earned 2020 Girl Scout Scholarships. These girls were selected based on leadership, service to community, and personal character. These girls represent that which is excellent in our youth, for which we anticipate great works and achievements ahead.
Catlin Rinehart has been awarded a $1000 scholarship. She graduated from Dripping Springs High School, and has been accepted to the University of Texas. Catlin is planning to major in Health and Society, and Pre-Law, before attending Law School. Her plan is to gain of socio-demographic and ethical considerations that impact healthcare, to lead to a career in public health law.Catilin has been a Girl Scout for thirteen years and has worked as a kayak instructor and lifeguard at Camp Texlake for the past two summers, using that experience to hone her leadership skills.
Elizabeth Kubacki has been awarded a $1000 scholarship. Elizabeth is graduating from the AESA Prep Academy, and has been accepted to Texas A&M University with a major in Environmental GeoSciences and a minor in French.. After being in girl scouts for ten years, she has recently been awarded the highest personal award in girl scouts, the Gold Award. Her Gold Award project was to create a milestone and development template for the use of recording development of foster children, and foster care management, working in conjunction with Foster Village.
Alecia England and Mackenzie Newlan both are graduating from Dripping Springs High School, and have been selected for $500 scholarship awards. Alecia has been accepted to the University of Arkansas, and plans to study English and Journalism with a focus on movie-making. Alecia has been a faithful girl scout for six years. Mackenzie Newlan, a Girl Scout for seven years., now leaves with her fondest memories of camping and volunteering with her troop. She has been accepted to, and will be attending Centenary College of Louisiana, and will be for the immediate future focusing in liberal arts, with a life goal of helping people in her to be chosen career. Mackenzie is a strong believer in teamwork and commitment to service.
Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for North Hays County area girls, developing confidence, courage, and the necessary character traits of women of notable leadership distinction. This scholarship program is a joint venture between Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts in partnership with Dripping Springs Community Foundation with a aim of providing for our area Girl Scouts, in order to grow our girls into leaders for the future.
Catlin Rinehart has been awarded a $1000 scholarship. She graduated from Dripping Springs High School, and has been accepted to the University of Texas. Catlin is planning to major in Health and Society, and Pre-Law, before attending Law School. Her plan is to gain of socio-demographic and ethical considerations that impact healthcare, to lead to a career in public health law.Catilin has been a Girl Scout for thirteen years and has worked as a kayak instructor and lifeguard at Camp Texlake for the past two summers, using that experience to hone her leadership skills.
Elizabeth Kubacki has been awarded a $1000 scholarship. Elizabeth is graduating from the AESA Prep Academy, and has been accepted to Texas A&M University with a major in Environmental GeoSciences and a minor in French.. After being in girl scouts for ten years, she has recently been awarded the highest personal award in girl scouts, the Gold Award. Her Gold Award project was to create a milestone and development template for the use of recording development of foster children, and foster care management, working in conjunction with Foster Village.
Alecia England and Mackenzie Newlan both are graduating from Dripping Springs High School, and have been selected for $500 scholarship awards. Alecia has been accepted to the University of Arkansas, and plans to study English and Journalism with a focus on movie-making. Alecia has been a faithful girl scout for six years. Mackenzie Newlan, a Girl Scout for seven years., now leaves with her fondest memories of camping and volunteering with her troop. She has been accepted to, and will be attending Centenary College of Louisiana, and will be for the immediate future focusing in liberal arts, with a life goal of helping people in her to be chosen career. Mackenzie is a strong believer in teamwork and commitment to service.
Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for North Hays County area girls, developing confidence, courage, and the necessary character traits of women of notable leadership distinction. This scholarship program is a joint venture between Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts in partnership with Dripping Springs Community Foundation with a aim of providing for our area Girl Scouts, in order to grow our girls into leaders for the future.
Kubacki
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Newlan
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 Rinehart
England
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Skate Park makes headway
The Dripping Springs Skate Park task force has made significant progress in recent months.
Dennis Baldwin, one of the co-founders of the initiative, was interviewed by Chris Davis of KXAN news in a segment that aired on February 11th in which he talked about his desire to have the venue operational by June 2021 and about his upcoming meeting with the Dripping Springs City Council. The segment featured architect's renderings of the concept for the park, which is target for an acre of land at the north end of Founders Park donated by the City.
That very evening, Baldwin went before the city council and made his presentation. About 15-20 folks showed up in support. He had some of the youth that attend his skate school and skate night activities speak about what skating means to them. Some of them describe how skating helped them through hard times in their life and was literally a “lifesaver” for them. The city council appeared to be receptive to partnering with the skate park committee in some way, and Mayor Purcell mentioned that maybe there could be more sources of additional funds, such as hotel occupancy tax funds, parkland money or other sources available to the initiative. The council delayed a vote until more work can be done by city staff to be sure and cover all of the bases about what partnering may mean. Kelly Schmidt, the new city parks and recreation staffer spoke in support of the skate park both during the KXAN story and before the City Council that evening.
The DSCF has assisted the skate park committee in obtaining funds and acts as the fiscal agent for the group.
Dennis Baldwin, one of the co-founders of the initiative, was interviewed by Chris Davis of KXAN news in a segment that aired on February 11th in which he talked about his desire to have the venue operational by June 2021 and about his upcoming meeting with the Dripping Springs City Council. The segment featured architect's renderings of the concept for the park, which is target for an acre of land at the north end of Founders Park donated by the City.
That very evening, Baldwin went before the city council and made his presentation. About 15-20 folks showed up in support. He had some of the youth that attend his skate school and skate night activities speak about what skating means to them. Some of them describe how skating helped them through hard times in their life and was literally a “lifesaver” for them. The city council appeared to be receptive to partnering with the skate park committee in some way, and Mayor Purcell mentioned that maybe there could be more sources of additional funds, such as hotel occupancy tax funds, parkland money or other sources available to the initiative. The council delayed a vote until more work can be done by city staff to be sure and cover all of the bases about what partnering may mean. Kelly Schmidt, the new city parks and recreation staffer spoke in support of the skate park both during the KXAN story and before the City Council that evening.
The DSCF has assisted the skate park committee in obtaining funds and acts as the fiscal agent for the group.
Hays County Master Naturalists Complete Bird Watching Deck
The Hays County Master Naturalists recently completed an Avian Observation Deck (or Bird Watching Deck) at the DS Ranch Park and donated the asset to the city. The structure, which is open to the public, overlooks a pond on the Ranch Park property. A feeder and waterer are also planned to allow for closer bird-watching and photography. The DSCF provided a grant to the Master Naturalists that will allow them to purchase binoculars for use in bird watching from the structure.
Foundation Underwrites Wimberley Players Cultural Series
The Players staged "Moon Over Buffalo" by Ken Ludwig.
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The Wimberley group also hosted a series of performances to raise cultural awareness in the region. Here one of the younger members of the Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtil dance troo.p performs an indigenous dance.
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DSCF Funds Archiving Project at Pound House
In its Fall grant cycle, DSCF granted funds to the Friends of the Pound House for the restoration of archival materials.
The Dr. Pound Farmstead offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into what life was like when Dripping Springs was first settled. Dating back to 1854, the beautifully restored log cabin is filled with original family furnishings and heirlooms belonging to Dr. Joseph and Sarah Pound, one of the founding families of the town. The farmstead barn, smokehouse, hot house, and garden areas are also renovated as they existed almost two centuries ago. To step onto the grounds is to step back in time. |
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DSHS Intern Upgrades DSCF Website
Kayleigh Dodson of DSHS served as an intern during the Spring semester, working with the DSCF board to upgrade their web and social media presence. The results -- including this website -- have been remarkable. Kayleigh's design and writing talents have been invaluable this year. The board presented Kayleigh with a token of its appreciation prior to her graduation and enrollment this Fall at the University of Colorado.
DSHS FabLab Equipment
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DSCF recently awarded a grant to the Dripping Springs Education Foundation in support of an equipment purchase for the high school's MIT FabLab program. The funds enabled the faculty to purchase a tabletop lathe to expand their students' ability to manufacture parts for various projects.
The FabLab, a local implementation of a program created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is aimed at not only exposing students to the theories involved in several engineering and technology disciplines but also at giving them hands-on experience in manufacturing things that they have designed. In the four years that the FabLab has been in existence, students have delved in depth into mechanical, electrical and plastics engineering -- making circuitry, machining metal parts and molding plastics.
The lathe purchased with DSCF funds enhances their ability to make very small metal parts to exacting tolerances and will be used to machine parts for the radio-controlled cars that students enter in a national competition.
The FabLab, a local implementation of a program created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is aimed at not only exposing students to the theories involved in several engineering and technology disciplines but also at giving them hands-on experience in manufacturing things that they have designed. In the four years that the FabLab has been in existence, students have delved in depth into mechanical, electrical and plastics engineering -- making circuitry, machining metal parts and molding plastics.
The lathe purchased with DSCF funds enhances their ability to make very small metal parts to exacting tolerances and will be used to machine parts for the radio-controlled cars that students enter in a national competition.
Dripping Springs Skate Park Real Ale Fundraiser
A fund raising event, Drop-In at Real Ale, was held on June 22 to coincide with National Go Skateboarding Day. In addition to a silent auction with one-of-a kind skateboards designed by creative artists, this family friendly event included skateboarding, vendors, music, and food.The event was a resound success, raising $57,000 (over the goal of $50,000).
The skate park committee, for which DSCF is a sponsor and fiscal agent, is now working with a skate park designer for a more realistic and detailed set of plans for the facility.
The skate park committee, for which DSCF is a sponsor and fiscal agent, is now working with a skate park designer for a more realistic and detailed set of plans for the facility.
Dripping Springs Girl Scouts 2019 Scholarships
Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts in partnership with Dripping Springs Community Foundation have announced three girls who have won 2019 Girl Scout Scholarships. Girls are selected based on leadership, service to community, and personal character. These girls represent what is excellent in our youth, and these selections anticipate great works and achievements ahead.
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Alyssa (left) and Aubrie (right) Caldwell have been awarded $1000 each for college studies. Alyssa is headed to The University of Texas at Dallas and will major in Speech Language. Aubrie is planning to major in Environmental Engineering, and will be a member of the Cross Country and Track team at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Both girls have been active in 4H and girl scouts for many years. |
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Mary Smith (left), graduating from Dripping Springs High School, has been accepted to Southwestern University. Mary is tentatively planning on a major in Communications. She has been awarded $500 for her studies. Mary has been a long time active member of girl scouts, and used that experience to hone her leadership skills.
Mary Smith (left), graduating from Dripping Springs High School, has been accepted to Southwestern University. Mary is tentatively planning on a major in Communications. She has been awarded $500 for her studies. Mary has been a long time active member of girl scouts, and used that experience to hone her leadership skills.
Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for North Hays County area girls, developing confidence, courage, and the necessary character traits of women of notable leadership distinction. Dripping Springs/Wimberley Girl Scouts operates in partnership with Dripping Springs Community Foundation to provide for this valuable scholarship program for our area Girl Scouts, in order to grow Dripping Springs and Wimberley girls into leaders for the future.
