ATX-BAS: Impact 10/15/2025

The Bastrop County Collaborative for Housing and Health launched an online survey to help design a vision for healthy, safe and affordable housing. 

The details: The 10-question survey, available in English and Spanish, will be available to the public through Oct. 22. 

“This survey is based on all the input we heard from the community at the listening sessions and design workshops, but asks people to rank order their preferences and priorities,” Jimmy Jenkins, who serves on the Smithville City Council, said in a social media post. “It also asks for open input that may surface new insights.”

Results will be shared with potential developers, local officials, nonprofit organizations and the public to facilitate a master plan. 

A burn ban will remain in effect for Bastrop County through Oct. 27.

The details: The emergency order prohibiting outdoor burning has now been in effect since Sept. 22.

“The purpose of this order is the mitigation of the public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather conditions by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning,” the emergency order, signed by Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus, states.

Bastrop County outlined the following enforcement measures if there is an outdoor fire:

• Fire departments responding to a scene to contain and extinguish the fire
• A peace officer being sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire
• A fine up to $500 if an individual knowingly violates the emergency order

Texas Ramp Project, which builds free wheelchair ramps for those in need across the state, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, according to a Sept. 15 news release. Over its 40 years, the nonprofit has built ramps for over 30,000 recipients with the help of over 3,500 volunteers.

Some context: The organization began in 1985 as the Dallas Ramp Project before being incorporated as the Texas Ramp Project in 2006, according to the news release. Texas Ramp Project provides the ramps to recipients at no cost, according to the news release. Most ramps cost between $800-$900 to build.

What else: In 2024, Texas Ramp Project built 2,727 ramps in 145 counties, according to its Sept. 1 fact sheet. To get a ramp, recipients must be referred by a health care provider or qualified organization via the nonprofit’s website.

What started out as a two-day Christmas market with 50 vendors has bloomed into one of Austin’s must-do holiday experiences. Now featuring over 200 artists, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is celebrating its fifth decade bringing artists, musicians and community members together, all in one space.

The atmosphere: From Dec. 13-21, the bazaar will fill the Palmer Events Center from floor to ceiling with a variety of art ranging from jewelry and ceramics to woodwork and paintings accompanied by live music, seasonal cocktails and food.

In previous years the event highlighted music legends such as Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen and Count Basie.

“It’s such a creative high,” executive producer Bruce Willenzik said. “We have artists say it's the well spring of creativity. I get around all these other creators and we bounce off of each other. The energy just grows and we come out of there so inspired.”

• Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin