Dancing with the Stars Austin Dazzles, Raises a Staggering $2.95 Million
The 19th Annual Dancing with the Stars Austin (DWTSA), a signature benefit gala for the Center for Child Protection, recently brought together cast, volunteers, sponsors, and more than 1,000 guests in the Grand Ballroom of the downtown Austin JW Marriott, raising a record-shattering $2.95 million to support the Center’s mission to help abused children find hope and healing.
The glamorous evening featured dazzling dance performances that paired local celebrities and community leaders to raise awareness about child abuse and engage the community in support of vulnerable children.
The event was chaired by Amy Beard and Bridget Ramey, and, for the first time, DWTSA welcomed emcee Hunter Williams, KVUE’s Chief Meteorologist, who kept
the fast-paced affair on track.
Jeff Jumonville, J.R. Martinez and Amanda Tatom served as judges for the competition.
Guests enjoyed an immersive evening of old-Hollywood elegance that included cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and a spectacular showcase of dance styles that set the ballroom on fire.
The captivating production kicked off with an energetic opening number performed by Impact Arts Select Ensemble, composed of musical theatre performers from area high schools. The dance competition followed, featuring nine couples. From Western TwoStep to Cha-Cha to Viennese Waltz and beyond, the dancers thrilled the audience with their dips, spins, and turns, delivering high energy performances.
Each couple brought such precision and flair to their routine that the judges surely had
a challenging task in scoring.
Top honors were presented to 1st Place, Mark McCollum & Sarah Berens, 2nd Place, Dana Sasser & Nolan Whitely, and 3rd Place, Allison Ellsworth & Tristan Reimann. A stand-out performance by Dr. Tejas Patel & Angeline Sullivan earned the Judge’s Choice Award.
The Center for Child Protection, a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center, is the only non-profit in Travis County involved in investigating and prosecuting crimes against children. For over 30 years, it has provided a safe, child-friendly space, offering trauma-informed services, including forensic interviews, therapy, and medical care, with a vision to end the cycle of child abuse through education, advocacy, and community support.
To learn more, visit centerforchildprotection.org
Our PATRON SPONSORS/SUBSCRIBERS
Around the Neighborhood: openingexpandingcelebrating
Austin Crop Hunger Walk is March 1 at Camp Mabry, featuring McCallum High School’s Samba Knights Brazilian drum group beginning at 2 pm, and official step-off at 2:30 pm. Walk. Give. Change the World. Local agencies benefitting include Central Texas Food Bank, Casa Marianella, Micah 6 of Austin, iACT for Refugees, Hope Food Pantry, Urban Roots, and Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Texas. Crop Hunger Walks around the nation support the ministry of Church World Service, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world — food, water, seeds, tools, wells, water systems, technical training, micro loans, people working together to identify their own needs and strengths. See austincrophungerwalk.org. This is Crop Hunger Walk’s 79th year.
Jim Jim’s Water Ice closed shop at 615 6th St. and stowed its pushcarts late in 2025 after 31 years of 40 flavors of Italian ice and homemade ice cream at schools, fundraisers, parties, Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, the shop, and everywhere that fun was happening. But owner Jim Moy kept the recipe, just in case.
Roya at 7858 Shoal Creek Blvd is coming soon, according to its Insta, which shows a now hiring entry. The upscale Persian cuisine restaurant is headed by chef Amir Hajimaleki, who has done exuberant Roya pop-ups all around town for years. See Royaaustin.com
City of Austin Summer Camp Registration begins in February. The City has a robust offering of summer camps — therapeutic, culture and arts, nature, community centers — for kids and teens at locations across Austin. Details and registration at austintexas.gov and click on Save the date City Summer Camp Registration.
Wild Birds Unlimited celebrates 45 years this year, and our local Wild Birds Unlimited at 3535 Bee Caves Road in West Lake Hills is celebrating along with the more than 360 locations across the U.S. The nature shop has everything birdy: bird books, bird earrings, bird windchimes, bird note cards, bird seed, seed pillars, bird feeders, and the systems that hold the feeders and the things that try to thwart those squirrels. And art. I’m a bluejay gal, so I lug home their big bags of peanuts in the shell, and, yes, I do feed a few squirrels with those peanuts. At austinsouthwbu.com and 512-328-9453 and @wildbirdsunlimitedatx
Around the Neighborhood
Old Quarry Branch Library at 7051 Village Center Dr in Northwest Hills had its opening date pushed back again. After a teaser around Thanksgiving that the renovations would be complete in mid-January, now the opening date is mid-March. I miss that branch, closed now since summer 2024, but I know the wait will be worth it: Besides new infrastructure for the aged building, we’ll see an outside reading area, new shelving, reconfigured spaces for children, a new teen area, and shared learning rooms. MidMarch, y’all.
Dog Pit BBQ at 4707 Burnet Road closed this month. Surprised me when I drove by this week and saw the place boarded up. I loved it as The Pit when my kids were young, and then Big O’s more recently. That’s all I know, and we’ll see what happens next on that hopping part of Burnet Road.
Petition Drive for Independent Audit of City Finances
A local advocacy group called Save Austin Now is asking Austin residents to sign a petition by February 1st. The petition, which requires 25,000 signatures from Austin residents, aims to put a proposed amendment to the Austin City Charter on the ballot for voters to decide in a future election. If approved by voters, it would add a new rule to the city’s charter requiring the City Auditor to hire an independent firm, selected through an open, competitive process, to conduct recurring reviews of city finances, staffing, and performance. The audits would cover all city departments, funds, and enterprises, including capital assets, revenues, and expenditures.
The petition effort follows the defeat of Proposition Q, a proposed city property tax rate increase of 20.2%, which voters rejected by a margin of 64% to 37%, in the November 2025 election.
According to Save Austin Now, the wide margin of opposition to the tax increase signals deep concern about affordability, transparency, and city spending.
“This is about honest numbers and transparency,” the organization states in its outreach materials. “Austin can’t become more affordable without a clear understanding of how taxpayer dollars are being spent and whether city services are being delivered efficiently.”
Marc Duchen, city councilman for District 10, which covers parts of West, North, and Central Austin, supports an audit of the city. Duchen was the only city councilman to vote against adopting the most recent budget and the 20.2 % tax rate increase. A key advocate for defeating Proposition Q, he is fully supportive of an audit of the city of Austin and has explicitly recommended a third-party audit of the city’s spending on several occasions.
“I promised to bring public spending under control when I took office a year ago, and I strongly support the ongoing efforts by
Mayor Watson and our city manager to reduce operational costs. I proposed a citywide efficiency audit last August as part of the solution, and community interest in that process has clearly grown. There are some promising approaches for getting the job done, but we need to ensure the city has the latitude to go about it in an agile, thoughtful, and independent way. I’m working to ensure the draft ordinance put forth by the mayor will give the audit the muscle and flexibility it needs, but my top priority at this point is accelerating the process and building on the efforts already underway. I hear from constituents every day who believe these spending reductions are long overdue, and they’re right. If we don’t continue to move forward with urgency, I fear City Hall could find itself in another budget crunch this fall, “ Duchen stated.
According to Save Austin Now, the goal is to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and benchmark Austin’s spending and staffing levels against similar Texas cities. They believe that legally required audits would identify savings that exceed the cost of conducting the reviews themselves, tying accountability and oversight directly to measurable outcomes.
Residents interested in learning more about the proposed audit initiative or supporting the effort can find additional information on Save Austin Now’s website at https://www.saveaustinnow.com/.
Nick Campbell
WBY FORREST PREECE
ith his actress wife, Kelly Frye, Nick Campbell is half of one of the most interesting and dynamic couples currently gracing the Austin social world, and he is addressing his role as an art advisor in creative ways.
I enjoyed speaking with him recently and hearing about his background and his initiatives in the Austin art scene.
British-born Nick had the spark for his career path in childhood, when he showed an interest in art and architecture. He attended Stowe, a boarding school in Buckinghamshire, renowned for developing change-makers. While he was matriculating there, he was fortunate enough to study with an influential art history teacher. The inspiration he gained from that experience set him on the path to his profession. He never intended to be an artist, but he wanted to work in the art world, and the background he gained at Stowe provided a solid foundation for his career.
In college at Oxford Brookes, Nick studied art history and arts management. Soon after graduating in 2009, he had the inspiration and fortitude to establish the first art advisory business in the UK for clients with budgets under $20,000. These were people who could spend $3,000–$5,000 on specific pieces but lacked understanding of the art world, how to coordinate their purchases, or where to find the best sources for their acquisitions. Nick had been collecting art himself since he was 19, so his path in the field
was already ingrained. This was a bold move for a young man just starting his career, but as he notes, this part of the market needed attention. By investing significant energy in building his company’s brand, he achieved strong results in this market niche.
In 2018, Nick founded another advisory firm, geared for clients not constrained by budget, specializing in contemporary art. The following year, fate smiled on him, and he met Texas-born actress Kelly Frye at a party in London, where she was vacationing with some girlfriends. They started dating and soon became a committed couple. During the pandemic, he felt compelled to leave the UK, and Kelly suggested Austin as their new home. Kelly was at the height of her film and television career at the time, traveling between Los Angeles and Houston, her hometown, to care for her mother. Los Angeles wasn’t really Nick’s milieu, and then Kelly suggested Austin. “I fell in love with this city immediately,” Nick says. They moved here, put down roots, and he created Campbell Art Advisory.
During his time here in town, his firm has gained traction among many important art collectors. Nick says he has been fortunate to grow his client base through word
of mouth since arriving here. Early on, he became involved in the community as much as possible and joined the Arts and Culture committee for The Trail Conservancy, with a goal of bringing artwork to the trail. Kelly is also involved with the Trail Foundation and chaired one of their major fundraising events. They have also done fundraising for the improvements to the Seaholm Power Plant structure on Lady Bird Lake. “Everyone in Austin has been very welcoming to us,” Nick says, “and we have enjoyed meeting so many people who have broadened our knowledge of the city.”
Over his 15 years in the business, Nick has established connections with artists worldwide. Once he identifies artists whose work interests him, he reaches out to meet them. He gravitates toward contemporary pieces made by living artists, which allows him to encourage them in their work. Nick says that he likes to make clients aware of how gratifying it is to support younger artists. He adds that it’s inspiring to take clients to studios and help them get to know the artist on a personal level. In the long run, these connections between artists and collectors lend a tangible gravitas to the collecting process.
I asked Nick for the names of some famous, now-deceased artists he often recommends. He immediately said, “Mark Rothko.” Not only did he write his dissertation on Rothko, but he also married Kelly in the Rothko Chapel in Houston, thanks to a special dispensation. Others include Louise Bourgeois, known for her large-scale sculptures (one of her famous spiders is on display at the Mueller development), and the legendary surrealist Salvador Dalí.
Among living artists, Nick admires the work of Grayson Perry, an iconoclastic British artist who creates ceramic vases and tapestries. Nick says that Perry will go down in history as a key figure in the British art canon. He also mentioned the German artist Julius von Bismarck and New York-based Kathleen Ryan, who produces large sculptures made from beads and gemstones.
Nick says that he feels people should consider setting aside a percentage of their collections to reflect the work of local artists, people who are enhancing what our city has to offer. In that vein, he mentioned talents such as Anya Molyviatis, who produces stunning tapestries, Connor O’Leary, and Sara Carter.
Many of Nick’s clients are people who have reached a point in their lives when they can move here from a larger city and enjoy the Austin lifestyle. When he takes on a new client, he gets to know them, finds out about their lifestyle, and their stage in life. He then visits their homes and gets a feel for their tastes in all areas — even food, music, and recreational activities. Of course,
their available wall space is also a factor. He smiled and said he had just installed an 8-foot-by-9-foot painting in a local home.
Nick feels that the in-depth
appreciation of fine art should be an experience shared by as many people as possible. Towards that end, he created The Campbell Art Collective three years ago. When Nick start-
ed networking in Austin, he found more and more people new to town who wanted to get involved in the arts scene, meet other collectors, and find out which artists were notable. He says that there is an arts scene in town, but it is spread out and somewhat hidden. It seemed a shame to him that the people gaining access to it were his private clients, so he decided to create a way for people to meet and expand their knowledge. They get together once a month. The collective has 35 local members at this point, and he has started another chapter in Houston. As his website states, the experiences range from private studio visits with artists and designers to exclusive access to exhibition openings, behind-the-scenes tours of galleries and museums, and invitations to view distinguished private and corporate collections. No doubt, Nick is a busy man. He attends at least 25 art fairs around the world each year and returns to London in the summer. When he’s in town, he and Kelly find time to walk the trail around the lake as much as possible. “We love being in Austin, and we’re trying to add what we can to the cultural scene.”
Angelina Eberly: Tavern Slattern or Pioneer Heroine?
No one who walks around downtown Austin can miss the startling bronze statue of a rather robust woman about to fire off a cannon. It stands on the west side of Congress Avenue near 6th Street. It celebrates Angelina Eberly, heroine of Texas’ Archives War, who touched off a cannon to discourage Sam Houston’s crew from stealing the state archives.
In 1842, the identity of Austin as the fledgling capital of the Republic of Texas was tenuous. Sam Houston, then President, was waging a campaign to move the archives back to his namesake city, Houston. Angelina Eberly ran a prominent boardinghouse, The Eberly House, fronting on Lavaca and Pecan (now 6th) Streets. The Eberly House became known as the best boarding house in the new capital of the Texas nation.
Who was Angelina Eberly?
How did she come to Austin to run a boardinghouse? Hers was an interesting journey, one quite typical of the early Anglo settlers. Angelina Belle Peyton was born in Tennessee in 1798. She married her cousin, Jonathan C. Peyton, in 1818. Like many others, they were eager to get to Texas. In
BY MARTHA HARTZOG
June 1822, they arrived on the Good Intent, at Matagorda Bay on the Texas coast. It was only the second ship of Anglo emigrants to arrive! From Empresario Stephen F. Austin, Angelina’s husband received a grant of land in Matagorda County. By 1825, the couple had moved to San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos River. The Peytons were among the first to purchase several lots in the Empresario’s newly minted town. Here the couple set up an inn and a tavern. At the time, inns serving food in a tavern dining area were where all visitors to any town stayed. Angelina’s husband died in 1834. She continued to run the inn/tavern until the Spring of 1836, when the Texas Revolution began in earnest. Remember the Alamo?
After that siege, the Mexican Army began to move east to continue its military successes. The settlers began to flee east, too, to escape the army in what became known as “The Runaway Scrape.” The Texans burned the town of San Felipe to the ground so that
the Mexicans could not occupy it. At the Battle of San Jacinto in April of 1836, the Texans prevailed over Santa Anna and his army. Texas becomes a new nation, and things settle down. At some point, Angelina moves down the Brazos River to Columbia (now West Columbia), where she marries Jacob Eberly, a widower and a veteran of the Texas Revolution.
In 1839, Angelina and her second husband arrived in Austin, now the capital of Texas. Here they purchase lots fronting on Lavaca and Pecan (now 6th) streets. The town of Austin had just been laid out and lots platted and sold by Edwin Waller. The Eberlys established and ran what became the finest boardinghouse in the capital, the Eberly House, known for its excellent food. By now, Angelina is 41 years old. When Sam Houston visited Austin at the end of December 1841, he chose to stay at the Eberly House rather than the rather rustic accommodations up Congress Avenue provided for the President of the Republic.
The next year, in 1842, the citizens of Austin became fearful that President Houston would want to move the state papers and thus the capital back to Houston, his namesake city. A vigilante committee was created. By midnight on December 30th, 1842, the Houston-ordered band had arrived in Austin, managed to load the archives in three wagons in an alley behind the Land Office, and began to rumble away. While the vigilante committee slumbered, who was awake and alert to the danger? Angelina
Eberly! She marched the short distance to Congress Avenue where the small, six-pound cannon loaded with grapeshot sat, ready in case of Indian attack. She touched off the tinder to fire the cannon. It hit the Land Office Building and woke up the sleeping town. A posse quickly assembled, rode out, and recovered the archives, including the precious land records. Afterwards, the archives were sealed in tin boxes and stored at Mrs. Eberly’s with a 24-hour guard. She not only had the best boardinghouse in the city, but she also had the safest! What happened next to this Texas pioneer and heroine? By 1847, she had moved to the up-and-coming port of Lavaca (now Port Lavaca), where she ran The Tavern House. Then it was on to Indianola, where by 1850, she was running a hotel. By this time, Indianola rivaled Galveston in importance as a port city along the Texas coast. In fact, in 1849, the Morgan Steamship line began to export beef from Indianola in refrig-
erated ships. Angelina was moving up!
Angelina Eberly died in Indianola in 1860, at the age of 62. This heroine of Texas was among the earliest Anglo pioneers in Texas and a highly successful businesswoman. She left her estate to her grandson, appraised at $50,000 at the time. In today’s estimates, that would represent almost $2 million dollars!
In 1842, did Angelina Eberly look like the barefoot, buxom woman, the innkeeper with a precariously low neckline, as presented in the bronze statue given to the City of Austin in 2004? Or like the idealized engraving of the lithe, elegant woman firing off the cannon in the Texas State Archives Collection? No one really knows. But we do know that those early Republic of Texas years were full of startlingly interesting characters. Sometimes they are noble, sometimes they are unruly. They are always intriguing. Usually, it’s the men who receive the most press, but there were many amazing women, too. Let’s remember Angelina Eberly as the brave, astute businesswoman that she
proved to be and take “with a grain of salt” the image of her represented by the statue on Congress Avenue.
Side note! On February 26, 2026, the Austin History Center Association will host its annual Angelina Eberly Luncheon, an elegant affair, this year honoring John Henry Faulk, another hero in Texas’ pantheon. Like Angelina Eberly, John Henry strove to protect the knowledge and history of his day and time. Click here to find out more: https://austinhistory.org/event/ eberly-2026/
Dear Readers, I hope you enjoy this little piece of history, as you “waller around” in Austin history with me!
Sources: In general, I rely on various articles found in The Handbook of Texas Online (www. https://www.tshaonline. org); for this article I have also used The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 36, 1933, pp. 193-199 (both of these worthies published by the Texas State Historical Association; older issues of the Quarterly can be found in The Portal to Texas History, an on-line source published by the University of North Texas).
Foster Angels of Central Texas: Bringing Hope and Support to Local Foster Youth
In Central Texas, thousands of children and young adults enter the foster care system each year, often facing uncertainty, sudden transitions, and basic needs that go unmet due to limited public funding. Since 2010, Foster Angels of Central Texas (FACT) has stepped in to change that story, providing essential support and creating brighter futures for those who need it most.
Ted Oakley and his daughter Sarah Smith, established FACT to improve the lives of children who experience foster care. Through diligence and hard work, they established an effective model, serving 30 counties with a small staff of seven employees. Over the past 15 years, FACT has assisted over 50,000 young people across Central Texas.
Many children enter the foster care system with only the clothes they are wearing, and limited public resources mean their needs often go unmet. FACT acts quickly — no red tape or long waiting periods — to fulfill needs within 48-72 hours. This assistance covers a wide range of basic needs such as cribs and beds, clothes, therapy, and tutoring. In addition, FACT funds experiences that promote healthy child development, such as
PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT
sports, art, music lessons, and camps.
The majority of children FACT supports are in “kinship care,” placed with grandparents or other family members. Kinship care allows children to live with someone they know, but these providers do not receive state funding equal to that of traditional foster care, which can lead to financial strain.
When Grandmother Pearl’s four grandchildren entered the child welfare system last November, she welcomed them into her home to avoid separating the siblings. However, Pearl is on a fixed income and couldn’t afford beds for each child, as required by the state. FACT quickly supplied a crib, a toddler bed, and two twin mattresses, helping all four siblings remain together with someone they know and love.
FACT’s impact is making a difference. “This December, we had seven scholarship recipients graduate from college, while we also filled a record number of requests for food, clothing, and beds. We want
children in foster care to feel equal to their peers and have the same access to education, sports, camp, and more, but first and foremost, they need to have the basic necessities that we all take for granted.”
FACT Executive Director, Terry Quinn, shared.
Another distinguishing feature of Foster Angels is their support of young adults. When older youth age out of the foster care system, they are often without a permanent family or a clear path forward. These youth face significant challenges in securing housing, education, and employment.
FACT provides emergency funding for rent, transportation, food, and clothing to former foster youth up to age 26. Importantly, Foster Angels invests in their future by providing scholarships to college and vocational schools to set these youth on a path for self-sufficiency.
One former foster youth stated, “When I was a teenager going through foster care, FACT drove how I see the world from negative to positive. I used to think everyone
Only 3% of former foster youth in Texas earn a postsecondary degree, while FACT Scholars have a 60% graduation rate.
was against me; no one was here to help me. But FACT has been there for me, from a winter coat to a laptop for school, and they helped keep me on my feet in a world with no other support.”
In 2025, FACT filled over
4,000 requests for assistance; requests submitted by CPS caseworkers, CASAs, LifeWorks, Settlement Home, and Helping Hand Home. They rely on individual donors, foundation grants, corporate philanthropy, and special events such as their annual Shining Stars Luncheon to fulfill their mission.
Further critical support comes from the FACT’S Board of Directors, which includes Austinites Quan Cosby,
ensure no local child or young adult in foster care feels forgotten. Together, our community can help them not just survive, but thrive.
Danielle Delgadillo, Allison Edwards, Lina Flake, Shannon Hicks, Melissa Morrow, Richard Suttle, Alexandria Sooch, Robin Ward Del Conte, Dr. George Willeford, Eric Wright, and founder Ted Oakley. Foster Angels of Central Texas reminds us that with quick, compassionate action, we can
1. What’s something about you that not many people know?
I was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, but I used to lie about it and say Houston, instead. Also, I graduated from UT Law School.
2. What was your first job?
Oh, God — this is a traumatic memory. My first job was as a waitress at the now-destroyed Scharbauer Hotel in Midland. I lasted a week before I was fired for incompetence. A week! I wanted to die.
3. If you could have dinner with three people — dead or alive, at any time in history — who would they be?
How about some of the great wits — Oscar Wilde, Dorothy Parker, Molly Ivins. Maybe they could cheer me up about our current political debacle.
4. If you had to pick three musicians for a playlist, who would they be?
Willie Nelson, the Beatles, and Patsy Cline
5. Favorite book and TV show? Hamnet is the best novel I’ve read in years. And I love Slow Horses and Justified.
6. Most powerful movie you have seen.
Casablanca always reduces me to tears. I’m a hopeless romantic.
7. Favorite place in Austin?
Hike and Bike Trail — our city’s Central Park.
8. Favorite restaurant and watering hole Peacock and Texas Chili Parlor
9. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A visual artist — but I was derailed by a lack of talent.
10. Which living person do you most admire?
Malala Yousafzai
11. What makes you happy?
Being immersed in a writing project, having a free-ranging conversation with friends when everybody talks and everybody listens, being with my family.
12. Best advice you ever received?
Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. (In other words, we know so little of others’ struggles.)
Ballet Austin’s Fête 2025 Celebrates Stephen Mills’ 25th Season
The Austin arts community recently turned out in full force for an evening of black-tie elegance at Ballet Austin’s Fête 2025. The premiere annual fundraising gala, held at the JW Marriott, was attended by more than 350 guests and raised nearly $500,000 to support artistic programming and education initiatives, critical funding at a time when arts programs nationwide are facing historic cuts. The decadent evening celebrated 25 years of artistic leadership by Stephen Mills and featured a preview of the highly anticipated world premiere of his upcoming “Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles.”
Attendees enjoyed cocktails and champagne toasts, followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner. The evening included an exciting auction featuring extravagant items such as a King Air 350 and luxurious vacation destinations, including Little Dix Bay and Porto Portugal.
The celebration continued with an energetic, upbeat set by DJ Cassandra, keeping guests on the dance floor late into the night.
For more information on Ballet Austin and the March 2026 world premiere of “Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles”, please visit balletaustin.org.
Women’s Symphony League Hosts Annual Holiday Celebration
Memories of Frank Cooksey, former Mayor of Austin
Frank Cooksey, the mayor of Austin from 1985 to 1988, died on Dec. 15, 2025, at the age of 92, of complications from a fall. He began his political career at the University of Texas, where he was student body president.
While at UT, he met his wife, Lynn, who survives him. They were married for 67 years. Cooksey worked as an attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Texas Attorney General’s Office under John
Hill, and in private practice. He was an environmental advocate, known for his progressive stance during his term as mayor. I asked a few Austinites to pass along their memories of him.
“Former Mayor Frank Cooksey contributed a lifetime of advocacy to the Austin environment and social justice causes for our great City. Frank and his lovely wife, Lynn Cooksey, embraced and supported our Austin history, and he was honored to serve on the Austin History Center Association’s Advisory Council, comprised of former Mayors. They both respected and fought to save Barton Springs, often swimming there in the early
morning, even in the dead of winter.”
— Charles Peveto President, Austin History Center Association
“Frank Cooksey was a dedicated, enthusiastic, and proud public servant. He was a great person who spent his entire career fighting for the rights of others and for the conservation of our environment. He embodied what it meant to live a life of integrity and never wavered from his belief in doing the right thing. I met Frank back in the early 1980s, when I worked directly in his campaign for mayor. He was a friend and taught me a lot. He made a real difference in Austin and had a profound impact on the lives of Austinites. On behalf of Austin and myself, I thank Frank for all he did for Austin.”
— Hon. Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin
When Kirk was in his mid-twenties, he was Frank Cooksey’s campaign treasurer.
Speaking of Frank Cooksey’s achievements: “A far-reaching achievement between 1985 and 1988 was a comprehensive protective approach (ordinance) to all the individual watersheds in greater Austin. From 1977 to 1986, previous councils had protected watersheds on an individual basis.”
—Hon. Lee Cooke former Mayor of Austin
“From his service as UT student government president to Austin Mayor through his active retirement, Frank remained a force for social justice and environmental protection.”
— Hon. Lloyd Doggett US Congressman
“On a personal note, Frank
— Compiled by Forrest Preece
Cooksey was the first person that I interviewed when I produced Common Ground: The Battle for Barton Springs in the early 90s. I remember that in spite of my inexperience, he took what I was doing very seriously, inviting me into his home to interview him. While the interview itself is an example of how not to compose and light a documentary interview, beginner’s mistakes aesthetically, it was a key component of the documentary itself.
Over the years, I came to know Frank and his wife Lynn, and enjoyed their company whenever we had an opportunity to interact.
“As I am scrolling through the archival footage of important meetings related to Barton Springs and Barton Creek while working on Foreverland, I am struck by his consistent
presence at key community events related to Barton Springs and Barton Creek. I can see by the reaction of the audience at Council meetings how much people respected him and saw him as a champion for the community, and likewise for the councilmembers. His testimony often brought the audience in the chambers to their feet, with loud applause, hoots, and hollers.
“As a lifelong Barton Springs swimmer, he understood the spiritual meaning of the Springs and as a lawyer, he brought his expertise to bear in trying to advocate for its protection. He is an example to me of a life well lived in service to the community and humankind.”
— Karen Kocher
media producer
Snowy Shelter Soiree Brings Christmas Cheer to Families
The Salvation Army’s Rathgeber Center was full of Christmas spirit at this year’s 5th Annual Snowy Shelter Soiree. The event, hosted by the Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary, provided joy and a sense of normalcy for families who were staying at the shelter during the holiday season.
More than 80 children and their families enjoyed the fun-filled afternoon of holiday delights as volunteers and families alike embraced the “Passport to Christmas” theme.
The Center was transformed into
a Christmas wonderland, with beautiful decorations and a Christmas tree, assuring that everyone was in the holiday spirit. More than 30 volunteers, many dressed in festive holiday attire as elves, Nativity scene characters, Santa, and even the Grinch, were on hand to lead the activities.
Children enjoyed exploring the passport stations that were set up, each offering a different Christmas activity, including craft stations with options to make a Christmas ornament and a Nativity scene sticker
craft, a hot chocolate station, a cookie station, a popcorn station, and a Santa photo station. The most memorable station, though, was the live Nativity scene that included the telling of the child’s version of the Christmas Story.
Andie Harding provided the perfect live Christmas music for the afternoon. Major Lewis Rickmen made his annual jolly appearance as Santa, and Jessica Patranella delighted guests as the Grinch, posing for lots of pictures.
My resolution this year sounds simple but encompasses many things. I have resolved to take a deep breath when confronted by the myriad difficulties we face today. In that breath, I will be seeking patience and clarity. I will be trying to give myself permission not to engage or to find strength for the struggle. I will be seeking a second of grace before moving forward.
— Kim Usey
Special education teacher and sometime writer
1.) I resolve to change nothing, because I was never the problem.
2.) I resolve to save money by shopping with intention, confidence, and zero restraint.
New ew Years Resolution esolution
3.) I resolve to enter a room like an expense account with no oversight.
4.) I resolve to build outfits around one dramatic piece, and a strong sense of audacity.
5.) I resolve to pair wine with my emotions, and not food. And to stop drinking during the week. Unless something happens.
—Nathan Idais Fashion Stylist
I like to start out each New Year with a journal entry, considering where in my life I am thriving, and where I need to improve, or what I want to work towards. I have been keeping a journal since March of 1980, when I was six years old. Journaling provides an avenue for me to explore my thoughts and feelings and keep track of my goals. I am a believer in the Journey of Life,
Stephanie Esquivel, Community Relations Manager at the Salvation Army Austin, shared, “One of our biggest goals is to not only provide joy, but also a sense of normalcy during the holidays. We want families at the Rathgeber Center to feel at home and keep their holiday traditions while they’re staying with us. We want to provide hope, comfort, and care while they’re working to rebuild.”
Each child received a goodie bag containing a Prayer Bear, a “Jesus is
the Reason for the Season” bracelet, and candy canes, special reminders of the true meaning of Christmas.
Opened in 2020, The Salvation Army Austin’s Rathgeber Center is a low-barrier, housing-focused emergency shelter for families with children experiencing homelessness. It is the largest facility of its kind in Central Texas, allowing fathers, mothers, and guardians to stay with their children during times of need. . For more information, please visit salvationarmyaustin.org.
not the Destination. So my goals or resolutions tend to be less of a destination, and more of a working towards. A guiding motto of mine is progress, not perfection. That is how I grow best, and that is how I like to mark the beginning of a New Year — a New Opportunity to become closer to the Me I want to Become!
A big focus for us in 2026 is to purge, purge, purge! Less is more for 2026 at our house. And yes, that includes my closet!
—Lisa Jasper non-profit fundraiser
I have had so many friends
either pass unexpectedly or experience serious health issues in the last year that it has inspired me to be more mindful of the gift that every day is. My close 3 a.m. escape from the July 4th flood on the Guadalupe River really brought this into focus for me. So my resolution for 2026 is to actually live each day with that in mind.
— Richard Craig attorney and co-founder of Pease Park Conservancy
For 36 years, I spent New Year’s Eve at Jeffrey’s … teetering around with trays of martinis and trying not to put out an eye with a champagne cork ... I believe they leave the bottle at 55 mph. Then having to sing Auld Lang Syne while
listening to people mentioning diets and gyms. Yeah, right ... like those are gonna last more than six weeks. These days, I usually watch the Wheel of Fortune and go to bed.
— Johnny Guffey legendary server, professional dog-sitter
I resolve: to stretch my mind (what’s left of it) with authors that are new to me; to maintain a Word document of the books I read; and to keep supporting the non-profit groups we love.
