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Remember all those meals Mom cooked for you? Payback time.

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*21% gratuity added to all parties. **18% gratuity added to all parties.The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2014 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

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The lights are popping up around town and the winds are getting colder. Football pads are knocking heavily all across Texas. The smells of turkey and pumpkin and pine trees are filling up homes. The end of the year is coming fast, but the festivities in Bastrop County are just cranking up.

All across the County, Main Streets are buzzing with activities, as volunteers and workers set about making the holidays shine for residents. This winter, make sure to get out in the community and take in all of the unique seasonal splendor that can only be found in the heart of Texas.

Climb into the car with the family and make your way down to the Smithville “Festival of Lights” or take in the “Holiday by the Tracks” in Elgin. The holidays are the perfect time of year to get to your local downtown and experience all of the excitement and wonder. Have you ever been ice-skating in Bastrop? This December you can do just that in downtown during the annual Lost Pines Christmas Weekend.

As gift giving season creeps closer, take to those same downtowns to support your local retailers while finding the perfect things to put under the tree and stuff those stockings. Get into the Christmas spirit with the unique experience of chopping down your own Christmas tree at Elgin’s Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm.

Inside this magazine lie holiday shopping tips and great seasonal savings! Flip on through the new, larger Bastrop Adventure Book and get inspired to go out and have your very own holiday adventure in Bastrop County.

Introduction

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As houses around town start taking on that distinct holiday cheer – bright lights hung from gutters and wrapped around trees, colossal inflated snowmen, and solemn manger scenes – it’s easy to get caught up in the magic of the holiday season. And you should. The air is cool, football’s on TV. It’s a time for families to gather and share and love. But as we gallop merrily toward the holidays, let’s not forget that for a lot of households in Bastrop County, the holidays are a time of difficult decisions and restless nights. In September Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry supplied three weeks’ worth of groceries to 230 households. “I’ve been here going on my thirteenth year and I’ve never seen us hit over – that’s high,” said Executive Director Tresha Silva. “I’ve never seen us hit 200. That’s for one month, one program.” On average the Food Pantry serves a little over 1,000 households a month with all of their programs combined. These households consist of Bastrop County residents that are predominantly going through periods of transition. “That looks a number of different ways depending on what

is happening for that individual,” said Silva. The Food Pantry provides them with emergency food, education and support while they await further assistance. “Hunger can’t exist alone,” Silva explained. “It doesn’t exist in isolation. Usually our clients are facing lost jobs, housing issues, health care issues. You have to have a component in your organization that can give some direction on how to address those issues or you’re just Band-Aiding the hunger.” And that’s exactly what the Food Pantry is doing in Bastrop County. Low income seniors are vulnerable to a unique risk that the Food Pantry strives to help alleviate. While living on a very fixed income, many seniors struggle to make ends meet paying fluctuating bills while still affording meals for themselves. Twice a month seniors can visit the

Food Pantry to receive a hot plate lunch as well as take part in classes about health education – breast cancer awareness and screenings for example – and socialization opportunities. “If they don’t play Bingo, I’ll get run out of town,” joked Silva. These opportunities as well as the supplemental groceries go a long way to allowing these low income seniors to live their lives confidently and independently for as long as they can. Providing this sort of peace of mind is what the Food Pantry does so well. It’s hard to articulate the feelings a struggling parent goes through as they battle to provide for their children. On average, 18.3% of children are food insecure in the state of Texas. That number is very similar in Bastrop County itself where 15.1% of children don’t know where their next meal is coming from. But through

A Visit to the Bastrop Emergency Food PantryBY

CHASE S. WILKINSON

“15.1% of children don’t know where their next meal is coming from in Bastrop County

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working with Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, parents experiencing periods of transition are able to bring home up to six weeks’ worth of groceries for their families. But the holidays bring new challenges for these struggling families. “Who wouldn’t want their kids to wake up and have gift opportunities?” asked Silva as we spoke about the struggles between buying gifts for their children during the holidays and providing food for their family as well. For many parents it is important to do everything in their power to make sure that their period of transition does not affect their children’s ability to wonder and hope. Through partnerships with The Ladies of Charity’s Pink Santa toy drive, they are able to refer families from one organization to the other to make sure that everyone will have both food and presents during the holidays. At the time of this writing, the Food Pantry was starting to take sign ups, preparing for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. “That week of, if you come through Emergency [Food Pantry], we’ll add those [Thanksgiving] items to your box anyway,” Silva elaborated. That way everyone can experience a festive Thanksgiving complete with turkey, stuffing and other fixings. This generosity is made possible due to charitable giving during the holidays. With food drop-off available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, the shelves start to pour over with food donated in the spirit of the season. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the holidays around this time of year. We’re roasting marshmallows by fires and annoying our co-workers with cheery music. We’re waiting in line for the best deals on all our gifts and picking out trees and avoiding our in-laws. In Bastrop County everyone is getting the opportunity to enjoy the season thanks to selfless work the Bastrop County Emergency

Food Pantry does year-round to provide for the people in need in our community. They’ve worked tirelessly for 27 years to keep the dream going and with some help here and there, they can be around to help transition families and residents smoothly for years to come.

Visit www.bastropfoodpantry.orgFood drop-off available Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

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An artificial Christmas tree certainly has its pluses – no watering needed and it lasts pretty much year after year, thereby saving money. But there’s nothing like going out and cutting one’s own live Christmas tree at a specialty farm. In fact, it can be a fun and instructional experience for the whole family.

Bastrop County offers a couple of choices, including Evergreen Farm Christmas Trees, south of Elgin and Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, just east of Elgin off of Hwy. 290. But first up, some basic tips ought to make one’s Christmas tree search a bit easier, before going out for a buy. First off, know the dimensions of the space that you plan to put your Christmas tree in – measuring the ceiling height (leave a little breathing room for the top of the tree) and the approximate width available for your tree, in whichever room it is put. Do some research online – or quiz your retailer – about particular species, since they vary in having more open foliage, stiffer branches or longer needles.

For those who are “green” savvy, real Christmas trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest. On the other hand, artificial trees are generally a petroleum-based product. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill for centuries after disposal.

For retailers who obtain trees from other sources, ask the retailer when they get the trees: are they delivered once, at the beginning of the season, or are there several shipments during the season? Often, a tree obtained soon after its arrival on the retail lot will be very fresh

because it was cut recently. Also ask the retailer which tree type performs best in Texas. Some species last longer and remain fresh longer than others in different climates. Do a branch/needle test for freshness: run a branch through your enclosed hand - the needles should not come off easily. Bend the outer branches - they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry.

Mike and Beth Walterscheidt, who own Elgin’s Evergreen Farms Christmas Trees, offer a great opportunity to cut your own tree on their property, as well as their own tips on buying and maintaining trees for the approximate

month they are in homes during the holiday season.

Mike said they have approximately 18,000 trees “in the ground,”

from seedlings to sale-ready ones. “We have Virginia Pines, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress and a few Loblolly Pines,” Mike said.

The Walterscheidts owned a Christmas tree farm in Bryan, Texas before opening

the Elgin farm. And Mike has plenty of professional experience when it comes to

trees. He is a retired forestry professor, and department head, at Texas A&M University. He is also the executive

director of the Texas Christmas Tree Association. Beth is also a

retired teacher, having spent over 20 years teaching and

she continues to educate children and adults who come for their farm tours. The enthusiasm the Walterscheidts brought to education spills over into the

work they love at their Christmas tree farm.

And Mike’s not shy about advertising the value of a

Christmas-tree farm experience, versus buying from tree lots and

retailers. “They sell Christmas trees – we sell a family experience,” Mike declared.

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The trees they have are from three to nine feet tall. Buyers are given a bow saw to cut their own tree that they pick out. “Most of the trees we sell are from 6-9 feet,” Mike said. He gave some tips for after buying a tree and transporting home. “Keep it in water continuously, and not near the fireplace or a window,” Mike said, adding that window light on a tree can dry it out more quickly. “If you get a tree after Thanksgiving, it should last until January – if you properly water it. And, Christmas trees don’t spontaneously combust!”

The Elgin Christmas Tree Farm also offers a fun educational experience for kids and adults. They have “the largest selection of Christmas trees in Central Texas,” according to their website. They grow Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress and pre-cut Fraser Fir trees. They furnish bow saws to cut one’s own trees, so there is no need to bring

any type of saw or axe.  After cutting they “shake and wrap all trees.” Field trips are also offered by the farm and are designed for students from Pre-K to 5th grade.  The field trip includes an educational talk, plant cycle and farming, according to the season.

Potted Christmas trees are available at Bastrop’s Lost Pines Nursery. Bastrop Gardens also offers a wide selection of christmas trees including Nellie Stevens Holly, Arizona Cypress and more. No matter where you find your tree, just follow these tips to make sure it’s the perfect centerpiece for your family’s holiday cheer.

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$20 off $10 off a pair of Kid Boots with the purchase

of any Kids Clothing

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of the Lost Pines Art Bazaar in downtown Bastrop, you know you’re in for an experience quite unlike anything else in town. The heavy metal is embossed in elaborate designs, a bit of its old-world mystique spilling out into the Texas streets.

Open the door and walk in on a beautifully unique spectacle. A giant bronze cowboy readies his lasso to rope in a steer in a sea of exquisite Persian rugs. The statue greets you right at the door but serves as the perfect intro to this elegant world of Persian/Western art fusion. Laid out across the expansive showroom, beneath the vaulted ceiling is a jaw-dropping collection that feels both daring and inventive yet oddly at home. A bronzed statue of a Native American chief stands against a wall; ornate cabinets hold fragrant candles and teas; colossal antique vases stand proudly at the far end of the store. Rugs are everywhere in the store. They’re in action, resting beneath couches and tables, stacked high on pallets, even hanging from the walls like beautiful tapestries. The collection is displayed masterfully, creating awe while inviting you to explore.

Amid all this wonder is Naseem Khonsari. The daughter of owner Kazem Khonsari, on any given day it is Naseem who is in the store. Even at 25 she has a hand in most of the Art Bazaar’s affairs alongside her father, helping to

shape it from the layout and design of the showroom and displays to the inventory in the store. “We share the same vision and hope for downtown,” said Naseem.

The Lost Pines Art Bazaar has given her a way to not only show her savvy as a business woman but also served as a way for her to get involved in the community of Bastrop. As a prominent board member of the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA), Naseem is at the forefront of many initiatives that are shaping town, from spearheading marketing campaigns designed to promote Bastrop’s downtown economy to expanding the Lost Pines Christmas Weekend, bringing in many exciting new programs and activities including an ice-skating rink at 921 Main St.

While walking through the showroom, it’s easy to be intimidated by the works on display. When you know that each rug is hand-woven from Iran, you may feel the need to restrain from touching such precious items. But

Naseem readily assures you that is ok. Each rug is a testament to both form and function. Collected from different weaving regions in Iran, every rug is infused with a storied history of craftsmanship, combining rich, beautiful visuals with sturdy construction that allows it to remain at the heart of a room for years to come.

While the rugs hail from across the globe, a lot of the art and products on display are hand crafted by local artists. From bowls and honey dippers made from salvaged wood from the Bastrop Fires to beautiful bronze sculptures made by “Deep in the Heart Foundry’s” Clint Howard.

When speaking of her father’s influence on the art in the store Naseem commented, “As much as he’s Persian, he’s Texan.” The collection has been a bit of an evolution. Kazem Khonsari has a knack for finding similarities between Native American style art, Western art and the art of his home country of Iran. “My dad always wanted to contrast art from

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around the world. You see so many similarities with art. No matter how people are fighting or where they’re from, they’re still making art and there are still similarities between it,” Naseem continues. “It’s all about blending these different art forms from around the world.”

The experiment has worked wonders. The Khonsaris have found a way to create a high-end Persian rug gallery right in the heart of Bastrop that somehow feels like it belongs in Bastrop. In a town that has become so art conscious, embracing the hard work of artisans and giving them a place to be seen and appreciated, the Art Bazaar has curated a one of a kind collection. “There’s something neat about handcrafted things, they’re not perfect. Like the edge of Persian rugs are not normally straight. There are some bends to them. There are some imperfections,” said Naseem.

But how does something like the Lost Pines Art Bazaar stay open in Bastrop, Texas? Who in town is buying thousand dollar Persian rugs? The truth is not many. Naseem has been very conscious about bringing in more marketable items to balance out the store. She’s brought in home décor items and gifts for men, scarves and other fashionable items. But the main appeal of the Art Bazaar lies beyond central Texas. “We want people to come from all over the world to Bastrop,” Naseem said. “Because it’s a one of a kind collection, you can’t find

this anywhere else.” Building on Bastrop’s support for the arts, the Art Bazaar is actively drawing affluent, art-minded people to our town. Naseem works tirelessly to maintain this tourism draw while helping out with programs such as the First Friday Art Walk and leading campaigns to keep these out-of-town buyers in Bastrop and experiencing the culture of our little hidden gem.

“It doesn’t matter about our business but bringing business to downtown as a whole,” said Naseem.

It’s this heavily community-oriented mindset that drove Naseem to become a part of the DBA. Before moving to Bastrop in 2007, Naseem was involved in a lot of non-profit work in Houston, running a tutoring program for children in the 3rd Ward. Once

she found a home in Bastrop, it felt natural to get back to serving the community in some way. Naseem is now regularly engaging in directing new committee initiatives in Bastrop.

This December one of her major projects is being brought to life right on Main Street. The Lost Pines Christmas Weekend is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever this year. From December 11-14, Main Street in downtown Bastrop will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland. Kicking off with the Lost Pines Christmas Swirl at 5 p.m. that Thursday, the festivities get off to a fun start by showcasing a circuit of wine and food tasting at downtown shops and galleries. “That is personally one of my favorite events to work downtown,” Naseem admitted. “It’s just really lively. You get people out and drinking wine. It’s been really fun.” The ticketed event is a good way to get downtown, enjoying the crisp winter air.

The festivities continue on into the weekend with carriage rides and the ice skating rink set up at 921 Main Street. Families can come out and experience the rare thrill of outdoor ice skating right here at home. There will also be a stage by the ice skating rink where children can take pictures with Santa Claus. The magic continues with the River of Lights event as well as the Lighted Christmas Parade that will take center stage that Saturday night. Naseem and the DBA have gone to many lengths to ensure that once the Lost Pines

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Christmas is kicked off, they can maintain and perpetuate a constant atmosphere of holiday cheer.

“It’s always traditionally just been the Christmas Market and the parade,” Naseem explained. “So we’ve added on a new layer with the ice skating and the carriage rides. Then next year the hope is to be able to build on having a really solid Christmas event downtown.” Talking to Naseem, you see how grand her initial vision for this year’s Christmas festivities were, with many of the events and attractions she sought out having to be scrapped and hopefully used for the years to come. Moving forward, anticipate giant snow-globes and Christmas villages among others. “DBA is transitioning into focusing on Christmas as their main event. The vision is that Christmas keeps getting bigger and better.” This year will serve as a taste of what to expect from the DBA’s new focus on the holidays.

Naseem and the DBA are always looking for ways to strengthen the downtown economy. Large scale events such the Lost Pines Christmas Weekend are a concerted effort into elevating Bastrop into an elite realm of tourist destinations. Where else in the area can you ice skate with the family while watching a parade? Naseem is at the forefront of economic innovation in Bastrop, with a heavy emphasis on developing a unified voice and identity for small business and the community as a whole. By focusing the DBA’s time and attention onto a singular large scale event, they can create larger, more efficient and more awe-inspiring holiday spectacles. Naseem and the DBA also intend to continue to focus on smaller events such as the First Friday Art Walks, strengthening them to the point where fine art and the event become a part of the culture in Bastrop. “We believe

Bastrop will be a destination for fine art,” said Naseem. A belief that is being shared around town as more and more art galleries take hold downtown.

Bastrop is in a period of transition. Growth is happening all around town with new businesses springing up left and right all down HWY 71. Bigger names are moving in. And while these are positive steps for the city that are being embraced by those in town, Naseem and the DBA are having to work harder than ever to ensure the continued growth of the downtown economy. It may no longer be enough to simply be the “Most Historic Small Town in Texas.” Naseem is constantly finding new ways to help solidify Bastrop’s identity as it expands. A new push toward billboards around the surrounding areas is a chance to create buzz and take command of Bastrop’s new look.

Bastrop is becoming a place for fun and adventure where you can ice skate on Main Street even though it’s 65 degrees outside. It’s becoming a place for the finer things in life. Wineries and fine dining restaurants are finding a home downtown, and pairing

them with a burgeoning fine art scene could be a draw for tourists with deep pockets looking for something new.

With guidance and initiative, Bastrop is poised to bloom into something special. Small towns around Texas aren’t operating on this level. The magic of Lost Pines Art Bazaar does not lie in the price tags on the rugs they sell. It lies in what it represents. A draw. Something that reaches out to everyone outside the little bubble of Bastrop County and says, “We’re not like other towns.” With the right fostering and the right engagement from business owners and citizens in the community, Bastrop can forge a potent identity. Naseem Khonsari is out there in the thick of it right now, even at 25. It’s not too late to join her. “I believe that if you want to see change happen, you have to be a part of it,” said Naseem.

Your home is what you make it.

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EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE!

505 JEFFERSON STREET • BASTROP, TX. 78602512 4126202 • WWW.CROSSHAIRSTEXAS.COMOPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MF 107, SAT 106, SUN 125

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NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

Dec 31st

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With the holiday season in full swing, Bastrop’s Downtown Business Alliance is in the forefront of overseeing a multitude of activities to keep downtown vibrant with activities. Deborah Johnson, president of the nonprofit organization composed of volunteers, gave an update during a recent interview of what the DBA is up to, as well as its mission – for those who may not know – including helping to sustain local businesses with the help of sponsors.

After helping to coordinate the very successful Veterans Day Car Show, which was Nov. 7-9, the DBA, in conjunction with other local organizations such as the city’s Main Street Program, was coordinating several holiday events including “Shop, Rock and Stroll” from Nov. 28 through Dec. 19. It will include later store hours for downtown businesses on Friday nights (open till 9 p.m.) and live Christmas music every Saturday and Sunday. There will also be great events during the weekends of Dec. 6, 13, and 20, including the annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 9 p.m. on Dec. 13. The city of Bastrop’s Main Street Program director Nancy Wood is overseeing the marketing for the Lost Pines Christmas Weekend, on Dec. 11-14, in conjunction with the DBA’s Naseem Khonsari running the show. That weekend will include

the Lost Pines Christmas Swirl, Holiday Homes Tour, River of Lights, Wonderland Ice Skating and Lighted Christmas Parade.

Johnson pointed out the crucial financial contributions by sponsors – area businesses and individuals who play a vital role in helping the DBA be able to put on events. “Sponsors are absolutely crucial to the promotion of downtown and our events,” Johnson said. Sponsors help draw the Bastrop community closer together while stimulating the local economy, which is “more important than ever after the devastating wildfires of 2011.”

Johnson said the DBA is “predominantly made up of downtown business owners and volunteers. Several hundred volunteers put on our events. Everything we do is volunteer.” Johnson emphasized the dedication of all the volunteers and city help. “Without the work of all the volunteers and support from city staff, we could not bring 35,000-40,000 people annually to downtown events,” she said. Those main DBA events include YesterFest, the Pet and Pal Parade, Halloween Fest and the Christmas Lighted Parade. Supplemental events include the First Friday Art Walk and “Third Thursday,” which started this summer and includes treasure hunts and drawings for shoppers.

Volunteers, ‘sponsors’ are mainstays of DBAThe Downtown Business Alliance in full swing for holiday events

By Terry Hagerty

Deborah Johnson at Art Connections Gallery

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Texas Snow Stories

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Texas Snow Stories

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Live Well

Cornering The Market with Nik Shehu

I look forward to the holiday season every year. The family get-togethers, the delicious meals, the lights, and the decorations make this time of year very special. But, for any of you wanting to sell your home, this can be a stressful time. As a Realtor I am often asked by sellers if they should pull the house off the market during the holidays, or if they are thinking about listing their home, should they wait until next year or the spring months.

My answer is always the same. Your home needs to stay on the market, and if you are planning on selling, the holidays would be a great time to list it. I understand how you may be thinking that potential buyers don’t want to look at homes in such a busy time of the year but here are a few reasons why the holiday season may be a great time to find buyers.

Conventional wisdom used to be that there is no time for home searching in between the cooking, the shopping, and the holiday parties. Yes, this was true until the internet became an inseparable part of our lives. Technology has completely changed how we operate and that conventional wisdom no longer reflects reality. Home searches are now done online and home buyers never stop looking. Technology is at our fingertips with laptops, tablets and smart phones making it so easy for potential buyers to go through home listings at a click of a button. Buyers are always looking for that one property that will catch their attention. That property could be yours!

The majority of home sellers still believe pulling their home off the market or not listing it during the holidays is the right thing to do. So, as the holidays get closer, the home inventory goes down but the number of buyers does not. For you, this

means less competition. As a home seller you are interested in serious buyers and serious buyers never stop looking. With the inventory numbers going down, your home will get to the top of the list on a buyers home search. Keep the house on the market and don’t be surprised if you see offers coming in!

There is an emotional connection that happens when a buyer finds that one special house that they can see themselves calling “home.” The holidays are a perfect time to contribute to that special feeling with the decorations, the smell of the cookies in the oven, and the warmth of a fireplace. Holidays offer a natural staging environment that can make a deep connection with a potential home buyer.

Because your family, finances and dreams matter, make the right choice with your Real Estate.

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TIS THESEASON

for HOLIDAy PARTIES AND GIFT CARDS.

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C a l l u s a t 5 1 2 . 9 8 8 . 7 0 3 6 o r e m a i l u s a t

I N F O @ N E I G H B O R S T X . C O M f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n .