Ellises, Richard Schmidt Jewelry Earn Community Keyholder Awards
The Greater Fayette Community Foundation recently announced their 2026 Community Keyholder Award winners. The awards celebrate the nonprofits, leaders, philanthropists, businesses, and community partners who generosity, service, and commitment are helping strengthen rural South-Central Texas. Our Round Top community congratulates locals for being chosen as award winners.
Ed and Suzanne Ellis received the Greater Fayette Community Foundation 2026 Joe and Carolyn Bailey Philanthropist of the Year Award. This award celebrates the enduring power of generosity and recognizes philanthropy that creates meaningful opportunities and lasting community impact. For more than 20 years, Ed and Suzanne have strengthened Fayette County through their generous support of education, the arts, literacy, historic preservation, youth programs, and community services. Their philanthropy and personal involvement have helped sustain organizations across the region while creating lasting opportunities for generations to come.
Richard Schmidt Jewelry received the Beeman Family Community Partner Award. Richard Schmidt Jewelry exemplifies what it means to be a true community partner through creativity, generosity, and a commitment to giving back. By creating custom jewelry pieces for nonprofit fundraisers across the Greater Fayette region, Richard helps organizations raise vital funds while adding a personal touch to their events. His willingness to consistently say “yes” makes him a trusted partner in strengthening our community.
Our Round Top area community is so proud of Ed and Suzanne Ellis and Richard Schmidt for helping our own rural community thrive. The Greater Fayette County Community Foundation will be celebrating and honoring them and other community leaders at their upcoming Community Keyholder Awards event, presented by Fayette Savings Bank, on Oct. 1.
Round Top Festival Institute
The Round Top Festival Institute will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a special performance by Mariachi Aztlán on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 3–5 p.m. in the Festival Concert Hall. This lively performance will showcase the rich musical traditions of Mexico and the vibrant sound of mariachi music. The nationally awardwinning Mariachi Aztlán has toured all North America, with performances in the Hollywood Bowl, the White House, and our own Festival Concert Hall. For tickets and reservations, please visit FestivalHill. org or call (979) 249-3129. A lunch option will be available with reservations. Follow the Round Top Festival Institute on Facebook and Instagram for event updates and more.
Festival Hill is holding a “Gardens and Grounds Service Day” on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9:30-a.m.-12:30 p.m. They are asking for volunteers to help with the care of Festival Hill’s gardens and trails. Projects vary from clearing paths and raking leaves to planting, mulching, and more, all helping keep the grounds thriving. Call (979) 249-3129 if you can help.
Round Top Rifle Hall
The next Monday Night Burger Social will be held on Monday, Sept. 14, at the Round Top Rifle Hall, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is a community event, and all are welcome. St. Paul, Shelby
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Shelby invites everyone to join them on Sept. 27 at 8 a.m. for their annual service in their Historic Church, which is located across from their main sanctuary at 6814 Skull Creek Road. There will be no airconditioning so please bring a fan. After the service, there will be fellowship, bingo, and burgers in the main education building. If you plan to stay for lunch, RSVP to Verlyne Aschenbeck at (979) 2501442 before Sept. 20.
Booster Club Fundraiser On Saturday, Sept. 26, the 3rd Annual Round Top-Carmine Booster Club Shrimp Boil Fundraiser will be held at the Round Top Rifle Hall beginning with a 5 p.m. happy hour and 6 p.m. meal. There will also be a live and silent auction, a DJ, and entertainment. Proceeds support the RT-C ISD Athletics. To reserve your table or buy tickets, call or text (979) 203-4343 or email amy@bluebonnetabstract. com.
Hermann Sons Life, RT The next monthly meeting of the Hermann Sons Life will be held on Sept. 22 at the Round Top Rifle Hall.
Round Top Family Library Round Top Family Library’s fall programs begin this week, and a few spots are still available. Classes include ballet, chess, Taekwondo, art, guitar, Shakespeare, creative writing, ukulele, sign language and gardening. Visit the library’s website at www.ilovetoread. org for program details and registration information.
Round Top Family Library’s 2026 Gala is this weekend, Sept. 12. Thank you to the Gala Co-Chairs and Committee, volunteers, sponsors, donors and everyone who has purchased raffle tickets, donated auction items or supported the event in so many ways. The Gala helps make the library’s programs, services and continued growth possible. The library looks forward to celebrating with everyone.
Round Top Family Library is working hard to plan for the return of Storytime. As soon as the main library renovation is complete, Storytime will resume. An exact start date will be announced as the renovation gets closer to completion. In the meantime, the entire book collection and Book Sale remain available in the classrooms attached to the Children’s Wing. Patrons can continue to browse and check out books while the renovation is underway.
RTFL hosts The Bluebonnet Mahjong Society on campus in the beautiful, historic Rummel Haus every week. Mahjong at RTFL is quickly becoming a favorite weekly tradition in our community. Consider joining the group every Thursday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. as they gather for a little strategy, a lot of laughter, and the best kind of community.
RT Christian Fellowship Round Top Church Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational church located at 440 E. Mill Street, just past the Round Top Post Office. Sunday School begins at 9 a.m. and Sunday Service begins at 10 a.m.
On Wednesday evenings from Sept. 2 - Nov. 4, a Bible Study is being held called “The Authority and Reliability of God’s Word.” All are welcome to come for a potluck dinner beginning at 6 p.m. and bible study from 6:30 – 8 p.m.
The church will be hosting a Friday Night Sing with the Skaggs Brothers on Sept. 25, 7-9 p.m. with light refreshments being served. Due to the extreme Texas heat, the event will take place inside their air-conditioned building. Everyone is invited to attend.
The church also holds an after-school program for children 2nd - 6th grades on Mondays through Thursdays from 4-5:45 p.m. on days when public school is in session.
For more information, go to roundtopchurch.org. Bethlehem Lutheran Church Ruth Circle met on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 9:30 a.m. in the BLC Education Building. Those in attendance were LaVerne Albers, Joys Baird, Sedalia Ullrich, Sherry Pennington, Jeanette Schoenst, Pearlie Wagner, and Pastor John David Nedbalek. Jeanette Schoenst was the hostess. The study stressed how we must have bold faith on the unexpected journeys in our lives and trust that God walks with us through these challenging times. The BLC Praise Team is currently recruiting any musicians and vocalists to join them in providing music at the Lutherhill event on Oct. 25. If you can join them to make a joyful noise, contact Lanette Williams at (979) 249-3686.
Sunday Church Services Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Round Top, at 9:30 a.m.; Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Round Top, at 10:30 a.m.; Round Top Church Christian Fellowship, Round Top, at 10 a.m.; St. Cecilia’s Episcopal Church, Round Top, at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Warrenton, at 8:30 a.m.; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shelby, at 8 a.m.
Celebrations
Happy Birthdays to Will Moore–Sept. 10; Jed Leppard-Sept. 11; Elsie Schulze, Kyla Goebel, and Bryn Behnke-12; Calvin Krause and Lester Keilers- 14; Ashley Farris, John David Nedbalek, and Rich Forst-15; Kyle Fricke, Frank Johnston, Denise Jacobs, and Marvin Wessels-16.
Happy Anniversary to Rodney and Diann Goebel on Sept. 13.
Have News?
Round Top area, please send any news you wish to share to SherryPen@icloud. com by Monday morning for the following Friday’s paper.