October News, Events & Information~Austin/Lake Travis & Highland Lakes

October is here and fall approaches.  The Autumn season is one of the nicest in the Texas Hill Country.  Daily temperatures are comfortable and nights are cool. Halloween will be here before you know it.   We'd love to see photos of you, your friends, family or pets dressed up for the occasion - send them to us at info@ppgtx.com and we would love to post them on our blog!  

We are hoping for a bit of rain this fall to help fill our lakes which are still at below optimal levels, especially Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan.  For more information about current Highland Lakes levels, visit the LCRA website.  

Changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were effective October 1, 2013.  A summary of the NFIP changes is available here. If you currently own a property near a lake, stream or other waterway, you can check the FEMA Floodplain Maps by Address to check where it lies in the floodplain.  

Sue has just completed her certification as a Military Relocation Professional (MRP).  She will be blogging some great information about VA loans and special loans for disabled Vets. Remember that we are also USAAMoversAdvantage Preferred Agents and can sign USAA members up for Cash Back Bonuses when buying or selling a home, anywhere in the United States.   

We hope you enjoy reading about information and events in our Austin/Lake Travis and Highland Lakes Areas.  

Sue, Stacey, Brooke, Karen and Brooke

The Paragon Property Group Team 

• October 12, 2013 - PEC offering look at solar options with tour
• October 12, 2013 - Burnet’s Fort Croghan comes to bygone life for annual history celebration
• October 11-13, 2013 - Cooks get fired up for benefit chuck wagon cook-off
• Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame seeks nominations
• Meadowlakes -- Celebrate Fall by Saving a Life!  FALLS Blood Drive is Tuesday, October 15, 9am-3pm, In Parking Lot Behind Super Taco Across from Administration Building, Email back or call Mike @ 830-798-3626 to make an appointment. (Or just show up!) Appointment times are every 15 minutes. Healthy? At least 115 lbs? At least 17 years old? You can do it! Spread the word!
• CASA Superhero 5K, October  19, 2013, Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J South in Marble Falls, $30 through October 18; $35 on race day; $10 for children 12 and younger; and $15 for students 13-18, TO REGISTER OR SPONSOR: Go to www.highlandlakescasa.com or call (325) 388-3440
• Bertram City Council has awarded a contract for a wastewater treatment plant expansion to support city growth. 
• Ferguson Power Plant was at 56% complete as of late August.  The plant is still on schedule to come online in 2014.  The new 540-megawatt combined cycle generating facility will be more energy efficient than its predecessor, the 420-megawatt Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant, which was built in 1974. 
• Marble Falls - Sweet Berry Farm opened Sept. 28.  “We’re very excited to be opening,” owner Dan Copeland said. “This will be our 12th year with the pumpkins. We haven’t added a lot this year, but there are still a few new things.”  Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980 off RR 1431 between Marble Falls and Granite Shoals. Sweet Berry Farm is open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday from Sept. 28 through Nov. 8. It’s closed Wednesday. Entrance into Sweet Berry Farm is free. There are charges for individual activities.
• Chilean winemaker at Highland Lakes vineyard says Texas could be world star
• Grant will help Burnet CISD prepare more students for college and careers
• Government shutdown closes national parks and facilities in Highland Lakes
• Marble Falls, Burnet students tap into after-school enrichment with dash of homework. Afterschool Centers of Education (ACE) program is an after-school enrichment program that entices students to participate in additional tutoring and studying knowing that, after that, they can have fun.
• ‘Dinosaur George’ brings traveling paleontology exhibit to Marble Falls. George Blasing, a self-taught paleontologist, developed a traveling exhibit called “Museum in the Classroom”.
• Mah jongg tourney raising money for Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center. The second annual mah jongg tournament is Oct. 15 at the Hidden Falls Golf Club restaurant, 220 Meadowlakes Drive.
• Trail ride offers look at historic JB Johanson Ranch, helps family crisis center. Trailer riders explored a historic Burnet County ranch on September 14^th while also supporting an organization that offers a safe haven for families in crisis.
• In its third year of educating youth, Llano Christian Academy still growing. As the Llano Christian Academy welcomed back students on September 3^rd , the non-denominational private school also was preparing to open its second campus