June 2024

Now that two of my daughters are away at college and the one still at home basically views me as an ATM in an unfashionable neighborhood, I’ve tried to find myself a hobby. Since I’m not interested in activities that involve getting out of bed before noon on a Saturday, that pretty much rules out most manly-type-outdoorsy stuff that would require me to sweat profusely in a tent, clean an animal carcass or have one of my friends pluck a tick from a region of my anatomy that I can’t reach.

Unless you are lucky enough to have a vegetable garden of your own, you’d be hard-pressed to find produce that tastes fresher or lasts longer than what your local farmers market has to offer, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. In addition to accessing delicious food, shopping at a local farmers market can also be a good way to support local agriculture and keep your dollars in the local economy.

Gagosian in Basel, Switzerland began exhibiting a series of works by Donald Judd on June 10. The exhibit will run until September 7.

Thanks to funding from the Horizon Foundation, a West Texas Water Research Center will soon be established at Sul Ross State University (SRSU) in Alpine. The Horizon Foundation has committed a $125,000 per year challenge grant over the next three years to help launch the new center, which will be incubated at the university’s Borderlands Research Institute (BRI).

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What is the best part of Matt Merrit’s job? His answer is short, yet poignant: “It’s the reward of seeing joy in people,” he said. Merritt is a rodeo entertainer and clown, and he returns to the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m.

On Monday, June 17 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., the Alpine Cowboys will host Read & Play; a free program for children at Kokernot Field. Limited spots are available. Your child will be assigned to a baseball player to read their book(s) in the stands at Kokernot. After 20 minutes of reading, players and children will go on the field to play catch. Sign up online through our Facebook page or go by Ellyson Abstract.

Send your community events to kara.gerbert@alpineavalanche. com June 14 Terlingua Elementary Artist Cohort, 6 p.m.

Dear Neil: My beautiful Yoshino cherry tree has a gummy or jellylike sap oozing from its trunk. The tree is about five years old. I’ve also noticed little sprouts emerging from its exposed roots. Is this some type of canker? What is wrong with my cherry tree? It’s a beauty each spring and I really want to protect it.