🌱City Staff Members Appointed To New Positions + Benji Garcia's Voice

Good morning, North Austin-Pflugerville! It's Thursday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in North Austin-Pflugerville.

First, today's weather:

Breezy and more humid. High: 83 Low: 67.

Here are the top stories today in North Austin-Pflugerville:

1. On Tuesday, April 26, three Pflugerville city staff members were appointed into new positions by Pflugerville City Council during its meeting. The appointments come after "Deputy City Manager Trey Fletcher's departure for West Lake Hills on April 22." The city staff members and their new positions are "James Hartshorn, formerly the city's assistant city manager, who will take Fletcher's place as deputy city manager; former planning director Emily Barron will fill the assistant city manager position; and former communications director Terri Toledo, who will move into a brand-new position, director of management services." For more details visit: (Community Impact Newspaper)
2. Benji Garcia is a graduate from Hendrickson High School who has autism. Although he says, "his autism makes it hard for him to talk to others... his voice is what comes through the loudest during softball games." Garcia "uses his charm, booming voice, and plenty of sports knowledge to captivate crowds on softball game days." He said, "My job here at Hendrickson High School is announcing softball games." He added, "What I love most about gamedays is that I love to say, 'Up next!' and say their name." Hendrickson Head Softball Coach Lindsay Eaton said, "His disability does not hinder him...You can just tell the more he does it, the more confidence he gains, the more unique [his delivery becomes], and his personality comes out." Garcia's dad, Joey, passed away when Garcia was in 6th grade but his mom, Melissa Garcia said, "When the games were on, he knew that dad would be there, and he would sit, and they would watch games together." She added, "If Joey were alive today, Benji knows exactly what he would say about his announcing job. He would say 'that's my boy! That's my boy, I'm so proud of you, son!'" For more on this story visit: (KVUE.com)
3. The city of Pflugerville will be receiving "a $24 million loan from the Texas Water Development for water system improvements" with the money coming "from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund... to support the expansion of the city's surface water treatment plant." City spokesperson Maggie Holman said, "the entire project is estimated to cost approximately $91.5 million." According to a recent news release, the upgrade is being done "due to damage caused by a hydrilla and zebra mussel infestation in Lake Pflugerville and to increase the capacity to meet demands over the next 20 years." For more information visit: (Subscription: Austin American-Statesman)

Today in North Austin-Pflugerville:

• Austin Job Fair at Holiday Inn Austin -Town Lake. (11 a.m.)
• Zumba at Pflugerville Recreation Center. Cost is $7 per class or $50 for a 10-class pass. Register at the Recreation Center front desk. (12:30 p.m.)
• Free Board Game Evening at Pflugerville Recreation Center. (5 p.m.)
• Triston Marez North Austin Thursday Night Live Music Series at Maverick's Dance Hall. Purchase your tickets now. (9 p.m.)
• Buy your season passes now to Typhoon Texas Waterpark in Pflugerville. (All Day)

From my notebook:

• "Do you drive through the intersections of Copper Mine Drive/FM 685 or Pflugerville Parkway/FM 685? Give feedback on proposed improvements on these intersections through Thursday, April 28 at bit.ly/3xARi2R." (Facebook)
• "Travis County is teaming up with dozens of community organizations to help you make an informed decision about getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Did you know only 36 percent of our Black residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19? We’d love to increase that number to 70 percent! To reach 70 percent, we need 40,000 Black residents to get their vaccines. Let’s get the facts, make an informed decision, and get to #40KYourWay because your health matters! Visit www.traviscountytx.gov/40KYourWay." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Barre3 + Brews (April 30)
• Healthy Kids Day — YMCA (May 1)
• Hire A Pro to Tackle Mom's To-Do List (May 8)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you around!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!