Hungry? Ready for a picnic? Having company for Mother’s Day? Treat yourself! This Saturday, May 7, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is the 45th annual Chicken BBQ.

This year delicious smoked brisket will be available to purchase in addition to the chickens and sausage (all lovingly smoked on the St. Mark’s BBQ pits) as well as all the trimmings (coleslaw, beans & brownies). Plan ahead and order early (especially the brisket–it goes fast) or just come by on Saturday and satisfy your hunger.

A downloadable order form is available online (or you can pick up an order form at the church). Drop your completed order form and payment at the church office and we’ll have your order ready to pick up between 10:30 and 2:00 Saturday.

Prices are: Half chicken @ $3.75 each, Sausage @ $1.00 per 1/4 lb. link, Brisket $8.00 per lb. (in 1/4 lb. increments) The BBQ coincides with the City Council Election, as well as the St. Mark’s Day School carnival, so it will be a busy and fun-filled day!

Our friends at the Austin Police Department provided us with a new edition of their Southwest Area Command monthly newsletter, and included a helpful brochure about identity theft. Both are available for your viewing online:

Identity Theft Awareness

APD SWAC Feb’05 Monthly Report for Neighborhood Associations

Holiday Lights (Luminarias, which are candles in paper bags) in Barton Hills Return December 22 to 24, 6-9 pm, Briargrove Drive

Thanks to the wonderful dedication of John Luther and his Briargrove neighbors, we will renew a beautiful tradition in Barton Hills for the holidays this year. Briargrove Drive (off of Barton Hills Drive just south of the Barton Hills Market) will be transformed by luminarias into a glorious community of lights. The luminarias will be on display from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, December 22 to December 24. Walking and fellowship are encouraged; please park your cars outside of Briargrove and enjoy the lights with a walk in the clear night air.

To help celebrate the return of this luminous tradition, we will have caroling and hot chocolate the first night, Wednesday, December 22, from 6:30 to 7:30. Neighborhood Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will help lead the chorus, strolling house to house. Long before the Trail of Lights in Zilker Park, Barton Hills? holiday lights were a much-anticipated annual celebration and this year will inspire an even greater celebration of luminarias next year. A special thank you to Sun Harvest and Walgreens for their generous support.

So please mark your calendars for this holiday cheer. Bring your friends and neighbors, especially for the first night celebration.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Don Long

President

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association