Residents and business owners may soon have to adjust commutes as the city makes progress on the Old Fitzhugh Road improvement project in downtown Dripping Springs.

Latest update: Dripping Springs City Council selected Lone Star Sitework LLC to reconstruct Old Fitzhugh Road at a July 7 meeting.

Work will include:

• Asphalt pavement

• Drainage

• Waterline

• Pedestrian amenities

• Illumination

• Landscaping

The project went out to bid in May, and five companies submitted bids. Lone Star Sitework submitted the lowest bid at $5.03 million. City officials included a 25% contingency in the contract, bringing the total to $6.29 million.

Funding the project: The city has approximately $9 million available for the improvements.

Looking ahead: Construction is set to begin in September and be completed in July 2028.

Whether patrons are celiac, vegetarian, keto, vegan or just plain foodies, Nectarine Cafe and Bakehouse in Dripping Springs offers options for all.

A family affair: Nectarine was established in 2018 as a response to a personal need. With two young sons allergic to gluten and dairy, founders Kate and Charles Smith struggled to find inclusive dining options in Southern California, where the family lived at the time.

“Trying to feed a little guy with celiac was really really really hard,” Kate said. “So, it came out of necessity for our family to find something, and knowing that other families really needed things for themselves or their children.”

On the menu: Nectarine’s offerings are organic, gluten-free, and seed-oil-free. The restaurant provides a variety of breakfast and lunch options, as well as coffees, teas, smoothies and baked goods. Nectarine’s culinary team recently added sourdough pizzas to the menu, including the Cheesy Goddess and the Pesto-Rita.

• 2001 Hwy. 290, Ste. 116, Dripping Springs

Lone Star Circle of Care has now brought mobile mammography services to communities across Central Texas for five years. The Big Pink Bus launched in July 2021, increasing access to breast cancer screening in the region, according to a news release.

“For five years, the Big Pink Bus has brought life-saving mammography services directly to women across Central Texas,” said Jon Calvin, CEO of Lone Star Circle of Care. “This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to early detection and expanding access to care.”

What they offer: Through the Big Pink Bus, Lone Star Circle of Care offers mammography services and breast cancer screenings. The resource’s team also supports clients after their initial visit through follow-up support and getting connected to additional resources.

The local impact: Since its initial launch, the bus has given over 10,000 mammograms, and over 80 of those patients were diagnosed with breast cancer through their initial screenings. In the last five years, the bus has traveled over 53,000 miles through Central Texas counties, including Bastrop, Hays, Travis and Williamson.