Lifestyle

Fr. Joe Raj pauses for a photo at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Parish Hall on June 27 for a farewell party as he leaves Alpine. Raj served the church for two years, and is now departing for Monahans. Parishioners joined Raj and held a barbecue lunch with all the trimmings, as well as treats, desserts, and a farewell cake for the popular parish priest. Avalanche photo by Roxanne Hill

When I think of July 4th, I think of homemade ice cream. Fireworks, parades, festivals, and barbecues all come to mind after ice cream.

Ingredients: 8 cups fresh apricots, peeled, pitted, and crushed ¼ cup lemon juice 6 cups white sugar (pure cane if you can find it) 5 (1 pint) canning jars with lids and rings Directions: 1. Mix apricots and lemon juice in a large pot; add sugar.

Ingredients: 1/2-3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk 2-3 tablespoons sour cream 1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon, dill, parsley, chives or celery leaves (or a combination) 1 clove garlic, finely minced with a microplane grater 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard A few dashes Tabasco sauce (or hot sauce of your choice, but a little vinegar twang is what you’re looking for) Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mason jar and shake it. Open it, taste it, and season to taste with salt and fresh black pepper.

Originally rescheduled for late March this year, after much consideration, Alpine’s Gallery Night, Inc., Board of Directors has decided to reschedule Alpine’s 27th Artwalk for Nov. 19-20, with Tim Roberts as the honored artist.

Alpine Humane Society Pet of the Week is Maenita who came to the shelter when her owner passed away. She is a happy girl, and a bundle of energy. She loves to run and play tag. She also enjoys quiet time where she loves to cuddle. She gets excited when you first take her out for a walk, but settles down nicely on-leash. She is a smart and sweet pup, and will make a wonderful addition to an active family.

Alpine Fightin’ Bucks football players Fabian Equihua, Allen Vargas, and Aaron Lara signed letters of intent to play football for the Sul Ross State University Lobos on Feb. 5 at the high school library.

Dear Neil: This is a three-year-old dwarf apple tree. As you can see in the photo, all of the growth is on one side of the graft line. The opposite side has no bark. Do I have to leave the tree staked? My concern is that I’ll come out some morning, and find the tree broken off.

February 3, 1971 Astronaut Alan Shepard, center, who hopes to walk on the moon tomorrow, was greeted by a large number of Big Bend residents when he and others in the space program arrived at the Presidio County Airport on April 1, 1964.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long taught girls how to run a business via cookie booths, door-to-door, and the Digital Cookie platform online. When the pandemic hit in the middle of the 2020 season, girls were faced with the same challenges as other small businesses.