Cofran's Texas . . .
Hill Country Portal

>> NATIONAL & LOCAL ELECTIONS: Early voting is underway, leading to the big day, Nov 3 election day. Finished your homework? Got questions? See our updated Voting Guide. Comprehensive and very handy! If you have election notices, contacts or other important election information for the Hill Country, please email to us: editor@HillCountryPortal.com

PUMPKIN PATCHES & CORN MAZES IN HILL COUNTRY: Take a look at our freshly updated Hill Country Fruit & Nuts Focus Page, at hillcountryfruit.html. Covering the entire Hill Country, this focus page profiles Fruit (Pumpkins, Peaches, Apples, Berries, Olives) & Nuts. It now has a special section on local Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes. Enjoy!

APPLIANCES . . . might be a mundane subject, but we sure need appliances, and in working order. We receive lots of inquiries for help in locating local appliance shops. So, our team has culled our entire database of Hill Country businesses and we now have a comprehensive listing of shops that specialize in sales and servicing of appliances, including refrigerators, ice makers, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, dryer vent cleaning, etc. Very handy! Click: APPLIANCE SALES & SERVICE IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.

Our focus page on BOATING IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. This awesome resource presents a handy and comprehensive directory of businesses and organizations involved with boating and marine products and services in the Texas Hill Country. The scope includes marinas, PWC, sail and power boat sales & service, rentals, tours, accessories, supplies, storage and all other related things.

ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCES . . . freshly updated with great learning resources for kids (including homeschooling) and adults alike. Take advantage of your time while waiting out the CoronaVirus and delve into these amazing online resources: eBooks, distances learning courses, virtual tours, webcasts and web cams. Tons of fun and very educational. Click: Education

TUBING, KAYAKING, PADDLING IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY: This freshly updated and popular Focus Topic page profiles all the local tubing rivers, outfitters, tube, canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle services, camping and related entertainment. Plus lots of other great resources. Just click: Tubing

Our 2020 CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS & MAJOR EVENTS IN THE HILL COUNTRY . . and chock full of fun things to do in the Hill Country. Just click: Calendar.
We update it regularly. If your Hill Country organization will have events in 2019, be sure to submit them as early as possible for listing on our calendar, the most comprehensive in the Hill Country. See handy submission form link on same page or >> Free Event Listing Form

REMINDER: SEE OUR GUEST BLOG FROM AN UP-AND-COMING FREELANCE LYRICIST -
Nancy Byrnes: on our focus page at Bands, Singers & Musicians. Career inspiring thoughts you might enjoy and value. And, this page is now updated with latest, so take a look!

IS YOUR CELL PHONE SCREEN BROKEN? COMPUTER SLOW? BAD VIRUS? BEEN HACKED? JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO IT? See our new Hill Country tech services locator & guide at: Tech Repair. Very handy to zero in on who and where nearby your tech devices can be repaired.

THE PORTAL IS NOW POSTING LISTINGS TO OUR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR,
LOCATED AT: Entertainment Calendar & Venues. Entertainment Venues and Entertainers can now send in their live entertainment booking announcements for us to post to our Hill Country-wide Entertainment Calendar for a minimal fee.

SCAMS IN THE HILL COUNTRY: Sorry this is such a negative subject. But, this new Focus Topic Page may help our Hill Country folks lessen their risk of being scammed. Click: Scams. Let us know what you think.

PETS, VETS, ANIMAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES: Check out this comprehensive Focus Topic Page. Includes all of the PAWS programs, rescue groups, shelters, low-cost clinics, vets, trainers, boarders, groomers, trimmers and sitters are profiled here. Very handy! Just click: Pets & Vets

HILL COUNTRY ON-LINE REACH: The Portal is now serving over 1,500 pageviews per day!! Awesome web exposure for a Hill Country-specific market. Please "Like Us" on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/hillcountryportal and "Share" with your friends.

MAPS: We have greatly expanded our specialized map resources regarding the Texas Hill Country. Check out this handy Focus Topic resource page at: Lots of Maps

HOME WARRANTIES: If you are looking for a home warranty provider in Texas, please view this list of top Texas home warranty providers.

AWWW - Thanks: A Portal user's note to the editor just received, regarding our Focus Topic Page on Jobs: "Please pass along a major "Thank You" to the people behind this website. I wish I'd found it months ago!"

JOBS !!
We have developed a very helpful resource for finding a job in the Hill Country. And resources for employers as well. We have assembled a simple to use, clickable entry to each of the job posting web pages we have found in the Hill Country. This fast method of zipping through the listings by city makes the "hunt" a lot easier. Good luck in your search. Click: Jobs

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VETERAN'S SERVICES: Our new focus page at Veteran's Guide is a very handy and comprehensive guide to special services in the Texas Hill Country that are oriented to military veterans. Awesome tool! Hope it helps our wonderful veterans. We thank you for your service and protection of our freedom!

WEATHER: The Portal now sports an updated, dedicated, focus topic page all about weather in the Hill Country. Lots of resources, including hurricane information, the best of the web-based national & local weather reporting & forecasting sites, water & flooding resources, plus terrestrial information (sun, moon, time, etc.). Check out this handy and timely resource page at: www.HillCountryPortal.com/hillcountryweather.html

LIST-STYLE MENU OPTION: Back by popular demand, an alternative Portal menu in a full list format (like our previous menu system), just click: Menu List

EDITOR'S CHOICE - SPECIAL EVENT:

The Science Mill is NOW OPEN (10am-1pm
and 2-5pm)! Purchase tickets online at sciencemill.org.

Choose your exploration style to plan your visit: Hands-on (with a twist!), Hands-free, and our new expanded outdoor Science & Art Park.

Easily purchase tickets online to reserve your preferred date and morning or afternoon session:

Now open Thursday-Saturday from 10am-1pm (morning session) and 2-5pm (afternoon session)
and Sunday from 12-4pm.

Save on STEM gifts, toys and books this Labor Day weekend in our Science Store! 25% off select items through Labor Day starting September 3!

Learn how we're safeguarding the health of our guests, staff and community by following the latest state and CDC guidelines.

Can't join us live? Catch up on this episode and others at the Explorer Zone on the Science Mill website. Explore each week's topic through DIY activities, educational games, Career Connections info and more.

Check website for details. Web, Email

PSA: Public Service Announcement !

VOTING
- - - - - - -

• FIRST, BE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED HERE. Last day to register is Mon, October 5, 2020.
   If you were registered elsewhere, that does not work here. You have to register here
   in the county you live in to vote here.

• EARLY VOTING IN PERSON: Oct 13 - Oct 30, 2020

• LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR BALLOT BY MAIL (received, not postmarked): Fri, Oct 23, 2020

• LAST DAY TO RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL: Tue, Nov 3, 2020 (Election Day) at 7p.
   See detailed postmark rules.

• GENERAL ELECTION: Tue, Nov 3, 2020

• SEE ALL ELECTION AND VOTING DATES: www.votetexas.gov/voting/when.html

• LOCAL ELECTION ITEMS: Many voting jurisdictions are also having local items on the ballot
   for voting. For details, check with your County office as described in the Guide below.

• See this Portal's COMPREHENSIVE Voting Guide

• Completed your homework? Use these references to help.

• Your local party County Chair or Precinct Chair can be excellent sources of
   information and help.