PLACES TO GO Around the Neighborhood Page 3
WEST SIDE STORIES Lee Leffingwell
INSIDE Million Dollar Homes
Page 4
Pages 13-25
VOLUME 36 ISSUE 2 - SINCE 1986
W E S TA U S T I N N E W S . C O M
FEBRUARY 23, 2023
IMAGINE MUNY II GALA RAISES OVER $1 MILLION TO
PRESERVE LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE O By Anne DeVries
n February 19, the second annual Imagine Muny Gala was hosted at the ACL Live Moody Theater in Austin by the Muny Conservancy. The focus of the event was to raise funds to purchase the land where the Lions Municipal Golf Course is located from the University of Texas. The Muny Conservancy’s mission is to protect, promote and preserve the 141-acre golf course, a wildlife sanctuary home to hundreds of heritage oak and pecan trees. The Imagine Muny II Gala featured a silent auction, sit-down dinner, live auction, and an all-star line-up of performers. Iconic radio host and “Save Muny” board member Ed Clemons emceed the show, which featured longtime supporter Ray Benson. The concert included Benson and his band, Asleep at the Wheel, Lyle Lovett, Charley Crockett, and Jack Ingram. The sold-out event raised over one million dollars for the initiative. The decades-long effort of the community to “Save Muny” is a testament to the perseverance of Austinites. The golf course, which is almost a century old, sits on a water recharge zone and celebrates the progress made in civil rights on its grounds. It is considered the first racially desegregated public golf course in the southern United States, and the community is committed to preserving its historical significance. The Muny Conservancy is a 501c-3, and funds raised by individuals and the foundation will purchase the land from the University of Texas and provide capital for renovations and the addition of public amenities to the property. Lions Public Golf Course is a place where families and individuals of all ages can learn and practice the core values of honesty, integrity, and good sportsmanship that the game of golf inherently provides. Nevertheless, preserving this iconic recreational green space is a priority for many individuals, not just those involved in golf.
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Scout Sunday at Highland Park Church By Alana Moehring Mallard
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The Scouts of Troop 410, Pack 55, Troop 2019, and Sea Scout Ship 410 were recognized during worship at The Church at Highland Park on Feb. 12. Finnegan Griffith, Boone Macon, and Charlie Presnell, Scout leaders of Troop 410 presented the troop’s report of hundreds of merit badges earned by the scouts as well as rank advancements and leadership growth. Viper and Cyclops patrol members Ben Mabry, Levi Riley, Aaron Schmidt, and Oliver Land reported for Troop 410 also. When Werner and Wilhelm Pfeffer reported for Cub Scout Pack 55, Wilhelm mentioned that besides their community service projects, the pack “camped all over Texas.” Some of the lessons
O u r PAT RO N S P O N S O R S / S U B S C R I B E R S ! "
learned o n camping trips were tying knots, knife safety, cooking, and fire safety. “Thank you for hosting Pack 55,” the boys told the congregation. Gianna Navarro, Ruby and Kaleigh Manning, Chris Horwedel, and Lindy Green represented Troop 2019 as the girls reported on their campouts and adventures: San Antonio Merit Badge Extravaganza, white water rafting at Camp Alexander at summer camp, horseback riding in bandera, Top Chef Cooking competition, and an Evil Emu Campout. Highland Park Baptist Church charted Troop 410 in 1956 and expanded the charter over the last few years to include an all-girls Troop 2019 and Sea Scout Ship 410 .
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