May 14, 2008 15:00 - Important announcement
By Bill Peterson
The Hays Highway was due for a makeover. Since The Highway launched in 2005, the front-end technology for websites has changed considerably and we've learned more about web hosting providers. We wanted to give readers more of what they want, like graphics and inter-activity. In addition, of course, it was highly desirable to do more updates.
In March, an opportunity presented itself. Brad Rollins, a fine reporter late of the San Marcos Daily Record, finished another engagement and wanted to keep his hand in the news game. Brad and I talked for a few days, and it didn't take long for both of us to realize it would make uncommonly good sense to join forces on a new website that would more comprehensively cover the eastern half of Hays County.
The outcome can be seen here. We're calling it "The Mercury," at www.sanmarcosmercury.com. You can see a much more attractive interface, a cleaner look and better functionality, though with the same reporting and commentary, except there's more of that, too. We believe The Mercury is going to make a splendid addition to life in this part of Hays County, if not the entire corridor from Austin to San Antonio.
To date, the San Marcos Mercury is almost entirely complete. Of course, it will always be almost entirely complete because it will never be entirely complete. Websites are never entirely complete. Meanwhile, the Buda Mercury and the Kyle Mercury are up and mostly functional, though still in development.
We ran a "soft' launch starting on April 21. The response has been very gratifying, and the new tools make for a much more complete Internet publication.
The Hays Highway will continue to publish for at least the next several months, with more updates than ever. However, the posts will actually live on The Mercury, so readers can partake of all the advantages that presents.
We hope you will enjoy the difference, and check in often.
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May 6, 2008 13:46 - Biscuit Brothers play Plum Creek
By Bill Peterson
KYLE – They weren’t planning for a riot last weekend at Plum Creek’s Front Porch Days, and they didn’t have one. But more than 2,000 people showed up for an easy, pleasant time over the weekend at Fergus Park.
The highlight hit the stage at high noon Sunday, when The Biscuit Brothers of PBS children’s show fame performed before about 300 happy kids on the main stage.
The Biscuit Brothers are produced and aired from KLRU-TV in Austin to an increasingly national audience on Saturday mornings. The show is a combination of live action and animation starring Allen Robertson as Buford Biscuit and Jerome Schooler as Dusty Biscuit.
“It was a huge draw,” said Sean Claes, publicity chairman for Plum Creek. “It was a huge win for us that they came down and did the show.”
The event included home tours and a golf tournament for adults, as well as live music on two stages. The kids were entertained by rides and a very popular petting zoo.
But, mostly, the draw was the beautiful weather and a busy park.
“It’s an excuse for residents to come and party,” Claes said. “It started as an event to draw people into Plum Creek and show them what a unique community it is. It has evolved into a party for the residents.”
Plum Creek, a groundbreaking master planned community when it opened in 1998, now has 1,300 completed homes and about 4,000 residents.
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May 2, 2008 19:00 - Front Porch Days this weekend
By The Hays Highway
KYLE – Plum Creek, Kyle’s aspiring town within the town, is holding its annual town-type festival this weekend with its “Front Porch Days.”
Front Porch Days is part family festival and part marketing opportunity for its hosts – Benchmark Development, the Austin company responsible for developing the master-planned community, and the Plum Creek Home Owners Association.
The event, scheduled for May 3-4, will include a garden tour, a tour of Plum Creek’s new model home park, pony rides, a 5K race, a golf tournament, face painting, live music and other family-friendly activities. As planned, according to the official announcement from Plum Creek, that development’s residents and others from the surrounding community will “gather to enjoy the Plum Creek experience and celebrate the family-focused environment.”
The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. May 3 with the garden tour, followed by the 2 p.m. golf tournament and a 7 p.m. movie in the park. On May 4, the event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with pony rides, a 5K and kids’ fun run, a washers tournament, jump castles, inflatable games, face painting and more. The event is free of charge.
“Front Porch Days offers something for everyone,” said Brandee Otto, recreation director for Plum Creek’s Home Owner’s Association. “The music festival features bands geared toward kids, such as The Biscuit Brothers, and music from the Austin Indie Alliance for adults. Between the music, activities and food, this event is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”
The two-day event takes place at Plum Creek’s Fergus Park, sponsored by companies KB Home, Kyle Crossing, Real Manage and Bowen Homes.
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April 26, 2008 21:05 - Water restrictions coming to Kyle
The Hays Highway
KYLE – If it’s spring, it must be time for water rationing. It’s already that time in Kyle.
The city has announced that Stage 1 of its water conservation plan will go into effect on May 1. Per the city’s water conservation ordinance, Stage 1 automatically goes into effect May 1 through Sept. 30, the months of peak water demand.
Stage 1 simply restricts the use of permanently installed outdoor irrigation or sprinkler systems to between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. This stage does not require a specific day for watering, but residents are asked to restrict their watering as much as possible.
“The City of Kyle has invested heavily in the water and wastewater systems and has worked to diversify the supply of water into the city,” said Kyle City Manager Tom Mattis. “This ensures that there is ample supply of water for our homes, businesses and schools. However, we are all compelled to do our part to help the environment and do our part to conserve water.”
The prohibition does not apply to irrigation of a new landscape, if the owner provides notice to the city manager or his designee at least one day before the installation. Nor does it apply during a repair or testing of a new or existing irrigation system, provided the person doing the testing is present. The restriction also exempts watering of nursery stock, including potted plants, shrubs and trees at a commercial plant nursery.
But the restrictions could run deeper as the summer unfolds. According to the city’s announcement of Stage 1, “This year’s dry winter and spring may require additional restrictions should Kyle’s water supplier’s call for pumping restrictions.”
The ordinance stipulates that any person who receives water service directly or indirectly from the City of Kyle must comply with Stage-1 use management regulations when they are in effect.
Residents are also encouraged to implement other water saving practices in and around their homes. These practices include: the use of Ultra-low flush toilets and low-flow shower heads, watering yards only when grass begins to show stress, and checking for water leaks in the yard as well as leaking facets in the home.
Complete information on the status of water management in the City of Kyle is available on the City’s web site at www.cityofkyle.com.
“The City of Kyle has invested heavily in the water and wastewater systems and has worked to diversify the supply of water into the city,” said Kyle City Manager Tom Mattis. “This ensures that there is ample supply of water for our homes, businesses and schools. However, we are all compelled to do our part to help the environment and do our part to conserve water.”
I want to thank the citizens of Kyle for their continue support of our water plans and their stewardship of our environment.”
Complete information on the status of water management in the City of Kyle is available on the City’s web site at www.cityofkyle.com.
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