By Adena Lewis

Smithville has the feel of an energized community.  With new home construction going on in every section of the community, with the steady work being done on the Veterans Park, with the strong show of support by citizens for our Smithville Times, and with the many dynamic groups planning exciting events in our facilities, it is an exciting time.  Our chamber office has never been as full of visitors.  Some from far away and some, like the folks last week from downtown McDade (who had never been to downtown Smithville) from not so far away.

We watch movie after movie that has been made in Smithville reach the “big” screen.  Some that have earned huge awards, some to more limited success.  But they are making it – and our community is a huge part in their success.  This economic development resource for us continues to grow.  Thanks to our city leaders and our citizens, we are a team that provides a place to make movies happen.  We continue to be a success story that others want to hear.

People are curious about us. They are not sure how a little community so “isolated” from everything else has managed to survive.  I suggest that after a couple of visits with people and just a little bit of hands on time, they would understand completely.

We care. We are willing to do the work. We are anxious to help. We want Smithville to be Smithville – we just love it.  Bring our community a challenge – we love it.  Bring our community an idea – we love it.  Community leaders are popping up for causes and projects too numerous to name.  A great example would be the A.C.E. (Association for Citizens for Education). This is a group that started without seed money from a major sponsor, without an organization in place, without the “usual” volunteers in place.  What this group did have is a cause – one in which they strongly believed.  Through hard, smart work and the support of their families, they have made a difference.  They formed their organization, created their goals and achieved.  Through their efforts, $3000 of Innovative Teaching Grants have awarded.  They have worked for these funds and those teachers receiving the grants know it. What a wonderful accomplishment – and they have really only just begun.

Is there a more energized person in our community than our Mayor, Mark Bunte?  How many of you have been asked to help on a project recently?  I’ll just bet Mark has come to you with an idea about how you and/or your company can be of help in building our wonderful new facility.  I’ll just bet you’ve seen him driving down the street with the trailer attached to his truck full of metal on its way to be converted into much needed funds.  The number of tons of metal (and old cars) that have been loaded up by Mark is amazing.  With a cutting torch – nothing is too big to convert to the needed building funds.  This community is alive and thriving – what great things are being accomplished!

The Smithville ISD is full of amazing people.  There just couldn’t be a better place for an education.  The tireless work of the leadership with these very, very tough financial times – school funding is really a nightmare – doesn’t get praised often enough.  The devotion of the teachers and staff to helping our students have the very best place to be “the best that they can be” is without question.

For our newly created Boys and Girls Club of Bastrop County – Smithville Unit to have hit the ground serving 200 +/- students in only a small number of grades is a success story in itself.  Congratulations to the SISD leadership and the Boys and Girls Club staff and leadership for such a wonderful accomplishment.  We are serving our students and we are serving them well.

The biggest challenge these days is to find room on the calendar and in our existing buildings for everything that we want to do.  Plenty of lots have been identified inside the city limits for those that might want to consider Smithville for your home.  Plenty of business locations – good ones – are available for those that might want to start/move a business to town.  Smithville is alive and well – we are exactly the community we should be.

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