Pflugerville City Council Place 1 is up for election this November, and residents will have three candidates to choose from.

Meet the candidates: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 60 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Dates to know: Early voting begins Oct. 20 and Election Day is Nov. 4. Check out these dates and times for when polling booths are open.
Travis County voting

• Oct. 20-25, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Oct. 26, noon-6 p.m.
• Oct. 27-29, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Oct. 30-31, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Nov. 4, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Oct. 20-25, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Oct. 26, noon-6 p.m.
• Oct. 27-31, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Nov. 4, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Pflugerville and Hutto have a variety of events taking place throughout October, including a fundraiser benefitting students, trunk-or-treat events and a pumpkin patch. Check out this noncomprehensive list of events in the area.

Walk Against Hunger: Backpack Friends, a nonprofit organization benefitting Pflugerville ISD, Round Rock ISD and other districts, will host a hunger walk to raise money for food for at-risk children. The event will take place at Pfluger Park, which features a playground area, hike and bike trails, a basketball court and sand volleyball court.

Hutto’s 40th annual Olde Tyme Days: The city of Hutto’s annual festival will be held at The Hutto Co-Op District this year. The celebration will feature live music, food trucks, car show, artisan vendors, local crafts, kids’ activities and more.

Deutschen Pfest: The city of Pflugerville will host its 49th annual Deutschen Pfest at Pfluger Park. The two-day event features a variety of local vendors, German cuisine, live music, a stein holding contest, a pretzel eating contest and more.

Travis County commissioners have approved a new countywide burn ban, effective through Oct. 21, due to ongoing dry conditions. While recent summer rains eased drought severity across Central Texas, the U.S. Drought Monitor still classifies 96% of the county as “abnormally dry.”

The outlook: Fire Marshal Gary Howell said the ban could be lifted early if significant rainfall occurs in the coming weeks. The county’s last burn ban was enacted earlier this year when National Weather Service forecasts pointed to extreme fire weather conditions. At that time, Travis County STAR Flight assisted neighboring Hays County where multiple vegetation fires spread quickly in windy, dry conditions.

What you need to know: Under the ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited, including brush burning, bonfires, trash burning and campfires in non-designated areas. Officials urge residents to remain cautious, avoid sparks from vehicles or grills, and keep water nearby when using fire outdoors.

Residents can sign up for local emergency alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org.

A new QuikTrip location opened on Hwy. 79 in Round Rock.

What they offer: The convenience store and gas station sells a variety of grab-and-go food, such as hot dogs, taquitos, tacos, egg rolls, pastries and sandwiches. Customers can also find made-to-order foods, such as pizza, in addition to a variety of beverages.

The company has over 1,000 locations throughout the country.