The Leander Table

01/21/2026

One of the absolute highlights of the Leander/Cedar Park MLK festival was the reading by the Elementary School ✍️Essay contest winner.

The submissions to the Essay contests were inspirational.

Thank you Leander Public Arts and Culture Commission for putting that together!

♥️🙌

01/20/2026

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
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Today Leander and Cedar Park celebrated a joint MLK March and Festival. The choir, instrument, poetry, dance, and song performances were stellar and Xavier Alvarado created a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. live which was raffled at the conclusion of the event.
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We also heard official proclamations recognizing Dr. King’s legacy, presented by Leander Mayor Pro Tem Na’Cole Thompson and Cedar Park Councilman Kevin Harris.
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It was powerful to see so many residents, organizations, and local leaders gathered in one place—honoring MLK’s message and celebrating the unity that makes our communities stronger.
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Thank you Leander and Cedar Park.

01/15/2026

Hi Leander neighbors! Be A Part of the Start!👋
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We are looking to connect with fellow residents who are interested in helping form a 📚Friends of the Leander Public Library group.
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The goal of this group would be to support our library through fundraising for immediate needs like shelving, materials, and lighting, and to help strengthen the library as a community space.
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If you’re interested, you’d be part of shaping the group from the ground up:
📖Helping establish bylaws
🖌️Design a logo
📑Organize how the group works and fundraisers.
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If this sounds like something you’d like to be involved in, please send your name and email address to Gaby Jones, and I’ll reach out soon to coordinate an initial meeting.
Thanks so much—I’d love to build this together with our community! 📚💙 -Gaby Jones

01/07/2026

Crystal Falls and Old 183 Railroad Grade Separation Grant Proposal is moving forward. This is the design that will be submitted for the grant application.
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To clarify, this does not necessarily translate into what will be built but rather the design the city has chosen for grant application purposes. The expected grant reward would be up to $40 million if Leander is chosen.
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However, the city would be expected to pay 10% match so in essence, if we were awarded $40 and had to pay $4 million, that would be a be $36 million in actuality.
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The current expected budget of the project is $103 million.
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The Town Hall today is to get feedback from Leander residents about their thoughts on this intersection and design and to offer feedback on their experience with this intersection.
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The consulting firm will then add these comments and the comments from the survey to the design project for staff and council to review.
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The Town Hall is at
Pat Bryson Municipal Hall
201 N. Brushy St.
Leander, TX
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6pm

12/22/2025

I had the privilege of seeing the Blue Santa elves hard at work this week as they entered the final stages of bagging and organizing toys and bikes ahead of today’s distribution.
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Head Elf Marcia was on the phone with Santa Consultant John for days, coordinating details and constantly updating Santa’s list.
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“Four-year-old boy! Loves Bluey, art supplies, and trucks!” Marcia would call out across the workshop.
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From there, the elves got to work—carefully packing bags tailored specifically to each child on Santa’s list.
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Watching the care and intention behind every choice was genuinely impressive. All 561 bags were assembled with the goal of making sure each child received toys that felt personal, thoughtful, and joyful.
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“He’s making a list and checking it twice” wasn’t just a lyric—it was the reality. Lead volunteers like Nancy rechecked names, bags, and details right up until the final moments to ensure everything was exactly right.
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On distribution day, dozens of volunteers came together to organize and distribute bikes and toy bags to hundreds of families.
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Because each bag and bike was unique to a specific child, every elf played a role in managing the line and ensuring the correct items were loaded into the right vehicle. Leander’s finest helped keep things moving smoothly, and families were sent off at the end of the line with warm wishes and a heartfelt “Merry Christmas.”
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It was a powerful example of teamwork, attention to detail, and true community spirit. If you ever have the opportunity to participate in Blue Santa, I strongly recommend it.
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A special thank you to my Marbella community for helping raise funds for bikes, and to Daniel and David from Academy Sports + Outdoors for providing a 10% discount on our purchase.
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Many communities and businesses contributed generously to make this possible—please feel free to recognize them in the comments.
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12/21/2025

A wonderful turnout for Blue Santa Distribution Day!

12/12/2025

🍕 THE ANCHOVY PROBLEM- WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE SATURDAY DECEMBER 13
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Imagine your community decides to order a giant pizza for everyone to share.
Hundreds of people live here, and everyone’s invited to vote on toppings.
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Most folks are busy — working, raising kids, dealing with life — so they assume someone else will weigh in.
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On voting day, only 5% of the neighborhood shows up.
And that 5% happens to really, really love anchovies.
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When the pizza 🍕 arrives, the rest of the community is shocked:
“Anchovies? Who chose this?” 🐟🐟
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“Well… the people who voted did.”
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👉 That’s what happens when only a small slice of residents choose the direction for the whole city.
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🏛️You may not get anchovies on a pizza — but you will get decisions, budgets, ordinances, priorities, and leaders that may not reflect what most people actually want.
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Not because people don’t care.
But because only a few people participated.
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🗳️ But when more people show up, the results finally look like the community we actually live in.
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Families, renters, business owners, teachers, first responders — EVERYONE’s voice matters.
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💬 Come meet the candidates for Leander City Council Place 3 Runoff at the polls.
📝 Ask questions.
🗳️ Vote December 13!
🏙️ Be part of the future of your city.
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Don’t let 5% choose the anchovies for everyone.
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(note: the editor would choose anchovies 😆)
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12/06/2025

A cool interactive map for the Old Town Christmas Festival tomorrow in Leander.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗽!

👉Find the map here: https://bit.ly/48DObrA

This map will show you:
🚧Road Closures.
🚗Parking including - accessible parking, limited availability parking, all day parking and routes to reach those areas.
🏃‍♀️Rudolph 5K route with mile markers and water stations.
🗺️Visitor Map showing restrooms, kids zone, stage, vendor areas, and water stations.
☑️Early Voting information with parking and entrances to the polling location.
📯And the Parade Route!

Find the interactive map here: https://bit.ly/48DObrA

12/04/2025

The Pat Bryson Municipal Hall will be open for early voting during the Old Town Holiday Festival this Saturday December 6. The city has mapped out access for voters.

Early Voting - Parking & Access on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Parking for early voting this Saturday, December 6 during the Old Time Christmas Festival will be available off of Bagdad St (see map or below directions).

Hours for early voting this Saturday will be 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Written directions:
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟴𝟯
Turn west onto W. Broade Street.
In .13 miles (686 ft) turn LEFT onto Bagdad St.
Next turn LEFT into Voter Parking Lot in .05 miles (264 ft).

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘆
Turn south onto W. Broade St.
Travel .19 miles (950 ft) and turn RIGHT onto N. West Dr.
Travel .08 mile (450 ft) and turn LEFT onto W. Willis St.
W. Willis dead ends into Bagdad St.
Turn LEFT onto Bagdad St.
Parking will be on the RIGHT.

𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘆
Turn south onto W. Broade St.
Travel .25 miles (1320 ft) and turn RIGHT onto Bagdad St.
Next turn LEFT into Voter Parking Lot in .05 miles (264 ft).

Additional questions can be directed to City Secretary, Dara Crabtree at 214.929.4820

More election information: https://www.leandertx.gov/elections

11/19/2025

📅 The City Council met today, November 18, to officially certify the results of the November 4th Special Election for City Council Place 3 which has resulted in a run-off. Certification—also known as canvassing—formalizes the vote totals and legally recognizes the outcome.
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Certified Results — City Council, Place 3
•Mohan Marchetty: 981 votes (12.16%)
•Anna Yelaun: 3,254 votes (40.34%)
•Natomi Blair: 3,831 votes (47.50%)
Total Votes Cast: 8,066
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📊 Approximately 14% of Leander’s voters cast a ballot in the November 4 election.
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Because no candidate reached the required 50%+1 threshold, the City Council has called a run-off for Place 3 on December 13, with early voting scheduled for December 1–9 between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes: Anna Yelaun and Natomi Blair.
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🔎The question now is how turnout will shift — and how residents will choose to shape the city’s next chapter.
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🙌 It’s worth recognizing what it takes to get to this moment. Stepping forward to run for office is not a small act; it requires resolve, humility, and a willingness to be tested.
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Each candidate brings their own understanding of what Leander needs and what residents are searching for in leadership. That courage to lead — and the readiness to offer a vision — strengthens our civic foundation.
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🏙 Leander is changing rapidly. Population growth has placed real pressure on infrastructure, governance, and long-term planning.
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The candidates who stepped forward in this election did so at a moment when the city is in transition — and their willingness to lead deserves recognition.
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As we move into the run-off, every voter’s voice will carry even more weight in determining the direction Leander takes next.
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📌Run-Off Voting Information:
Polling Locations
📍Williamson County voters:
Pat Bryson Municipal Hall — Council Chambers, 201 N Brushy St. Leander
(Early Voting & Election Day)
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📍Travis County voters:
•Christ Episcopal Church — Outreach Center, 3520 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park
(Early Voting & Election Day)
•Whitestone Elementary School — Cafeteria, 2000 Crystal Falls Pkwy
(Election Day only)
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🗓️Early Voting Schedule
Williamson County:
•Dec 1–6: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
•Dec 7: 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
•Dec 8–9: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
•Election Day (Dec 13): 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
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Travis County:
•Dec 1–6: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
•Dec 7: 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
•Dec 8–9: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
•Election Day (Dec 13): 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

11/12/2025

🤝 Heads up, Leander. Don't miss this free networking opportunity hosted by the city. The Developer Forum and REF Networking event is tonight.