On Oct. 18, local and international artists and visitors gathered on the grounds of Liberty Hill International Sculpture Park for the annual Liberty Hill Sculpture Festival. The event features live sculpting demos, art activities, live music and a variety of vendors from Texas and beyond. With a 50-year anniversary coming up in 2026, the festival celebrates the city’s first International Sculpture Park symposium held in 1976.
“It is [a] time for our community to [come] back together and work to help relive that wonderful time when a small Texas town got on the map,” said Diane Williams, Liberty Hill City Council member. “[Liberty Hill’s] citizens, young and old, were exposed to different cultures from around the world [at the symposium], and people put their differences aside to make this community proud. It is about celebrating that great time in our town.”
 

Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids is coming soon to the border of Liberty Hill and Georgetown with an expected opening date of Dec. 15, said Danny Stewart from Fishman Public Relations.

Learn more: The children’s hair salon has over 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada, providing over 1 million haircuts each year, according to the company’s website. Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids currently has locations in Round Rock, Austin and San Antonio. 

What they offer: Services at the salon include the signature kidscut, hairstyling, teen cut and braiding. The business also offers haircuts for parents, as well as a baby’s first haircut package with a certificate of completion, photo and lock of hair. 
Opening Dec. 15
2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill
 

The Austin Empty Bowl Project is returning Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 to raise funds to support Central Texans facing food insecurity.

What to know: Since 1997, the project has hosted annual events where attendees purchase handcrafted bowls to enjoy soup in and proceeds benefit neighbors needing nourishing meals. The nonprofit has raised over $1.4 million since its launch, as stated in a news release.

Interested participants will have two chances to get involved with this year’s event:

Austin Empty Bowl Project Preview Party
Attendees can select a bowl of their choice, hors d’oeuvres, soup, bread, drinks and door prizes.

• Nov. 22, 6–9 p.m.
• $125 per person
• Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin

• Nov. 23, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• $30 donation per person
• Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin

Texans began receiving full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Nov. 14, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced. The renewed SNAP payments came after two weeks of delays due to the 43-day federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12.

The overview: SNAP is a federally funded program that provides low-income individuals and families with monthly stipends to spend on groceries. The food assistance program ran out of funding Nov. 1, one month after the government shut down amid disagreements over federal health insurance subsidies.

The details: Over 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, according to Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks. Payments are issued on a rolling basis throughout each month.

“For SNAP clients who receive benefits on or after the 14th of the month, full benefits will be issued on their normal issuance date,” the HHSC website states. “SNAP clients who already received partial benefits will receive the rest of their monthly amount on or after Nov. 14.”