News

We find ourselves in the middle of one of the most hectic seasons of the year. Thanksgiving has just passed, and Christmas, Kwanza, and the New Year are right around the corner. We are literally running around like chickens without our heads. It might seem willy-nilly.

Several area nonprofit organizations have received a portion of the $2.8M in grants awarded by the Permian Basin Area Foundation (PABF). This foundation allows the hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the Permian Basin to fulfill their missions. Raymond Williams, grant administrator for PABF stated, “Every one of these grantees has a story, a dedicated staff, a committed roster of volunteers, and a mission that impacts us all in some way. We trust each organization to make our community thrive with the funding that so many donors have entrusted to us.” The PBAF works on behalf of charitable donors to see that their money goes to organizations fulfilling a mission they feel strongly about. They are the liaison between the donations and the grantees. For this grant cycle, area non-profit organizations awarded grant funding include the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend, Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library, Marfa Education Foundation, Museum of the Big Bend, and the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation-District 6.

This upcoming January 1 will be the 33rd Black-Eyed Pea Off to be held in the Terlingua Ghostown. This annual cook-off allows participants to bring their best black-eyed peas for judging and to share with the community. Peas may be cooked on or off-site but turn-in time is 2 p.m. sharp and the entry fee is $10. Spectators are welcome to participate by eating a “bowl of good luck” peas for a donation of $10 or more. This will include the bowl, spoon, and cornbread until it runs out. This coming year’s event will have local music on hand as well as a “Hot Date” raffle. All proceeds of the cook-off will benefit continuing education scholarships for the Terlingua School graduates. For more information contact LaNetta Barnes at 573-286-5285.

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Dear Neil: I have a bed of red spider lilies that are currently full of leaves. Would it be ok to divide them now? If not, when is the best time? They are growing actively now through early spring.

Dec. 1-2 Alpine Historic Commission Holiday Event, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday the Wassail Crawl followed immediately by the tree lighting at the Brewster County courthouse. The tour of historic homes begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday and continues until 4:30 p.m. There is a $25 charge for the home tour with proceeds benefiting this event for next year. At 5:30 p.m. the annual Christmas Stroll up Sul Ross Ave. will begin with music from student bands and will conclude at the Vaquero House at 208 N. Cockrell with a closing concert featuring The Swifts. Visit the Historic Alpine website for more information.

WEEK Alpine Humane Society Pet of the Week is Champ. Fun and fancy-free is the motto Champ lives by. This guy is quite the hoot. A husky mix, he came in with his two brothers at just three months old, and we swear they have not stopped playing since they got here.

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on the What is the first thing you notice about people? L.

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