Volente Beach Waterpark and Resort marks 30 years of being a local destination on Lake Travis—though what used to be a seasonal waterpark has now been transformed into a year-round resort with special events, festivals and live music.

The context: The pools at Volente Beach Waterpark and Resort officially opened in 1995, and the slides and stage were added over the following year, according to a statement from Volente Beach Waterpark and Resort.

What they offer: The waterpark features four waterslides, a main pool deck, a pirate ship splash zone and beach and lake access. The park opens May 1 for the 2026 season. Visitors can stay overnight at the Volente Beach Bungalows.

The celebration: Adam and Kara Weedman are planning many upcoming events to celebrate the milestone anniversary, including a Summer Tribute Concert Series featuring tribute bands. 

• 16107 FM 2769, Ste. D, Leander

Sami Sumeli blends a mixture of Georgian and Eastern European flavors to create a lineup of dishes for locals in search of the bold and herb-laced comfort food. 

A closer look: Olga Davydova and Andray Davydov opened the restaurant last April, bringing together a team of employees from Eastern Europe and a sous chef, who is from Georgia, to form a menu that blends Slavic and Turkish cuisine. 

Main course: The most popular menu item is the Adjarian Khachapuri, which is a bread boat filled with cheese and topped with butter and an egg yolk.

The drink menu: Sami Sumeli serves 20 Georgian wines, the majority sourced exclusively for the restaurant, offering selections rarely found elsewhere. 

• 401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. A101, Cedar Park

Election day for the Democratic and Republican primaries is March 3. Williamson County voters will use precinct-specific polling locations on election day, with election results expected to be delayed due to other countywide changes, County Elections Administrator Bridgette Escobedo said.

What you need to know: The local Republican and Democratic parties determine election day procedures for primaries. This year, the Williamson County Republican Party opted for precinct-specific polling locations, which in turn requires the local Democratic Party to follow suit.

There are 177 voting precincts in Williamson County. The two local parties decided not to operate a joint election, meaning there are party-specific polling locations.

Both parties will combine some precincts, resulting in 55 Republican polling locations and 42 Democratic polling locations.

What else? Residents can check the county voter precinct map to identify which precinct they are in. Updated precincts went into effect Jan. 1. The county election page has links to specific polling locations for each election by precinct and party.

Check out six ongoing or completed transportation projects across the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects
Kohlers Crossing road extension
Project: The project will develop a new section of Kohlers Crossing running from I-35 frontage road to Seton Parkway, with a future I-35 underpass connecting to this section. 
Update: Construction on the east-to-west connection began in late 2025. The underpass is in the design phase and is expected to enter the construction phase in late 2027.

• Timeline: 2025-29
• Cost: $66.1 million
• Funding source: 2022 bond

• Timeline: 2022-26
• Cost: $612 million
• Funding source: federal funding, sale of toll revenue bonds

Primary election day in Texas is March 3. With dozens of state, regional and local races on the ballot, voters in the Republican and Democratic primaries will determine their parties’ nominees for the November midterm election.

At the polls: Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. March 3, according to the secretary of state.

On election day, voters in the following counties in Community Impact’s coverage areas can vote at any polling location within their county of residence: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Collin, Comal, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant and Travis. Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

Voters are required to bring photo identification to the polls.

On the ballot: Voters will choose their political parties’ nominees for the U.S. Senate, seven state offices, 10 state judicial seats, 38 congressional seats, nearly all state legislative seats and over half of the State Board of Education. Candidates who win their primaries will advance to the November ballot.