Opinion

“Customer: A person who pays for all your vacations, hobbies, rent, food, car notes, and gives you the opportunity to better yourself.” — Unknown “Good afternoon, Elegante Suites reservations in Abilene,” the voice on the phone said. “How can I help YOU today?” Heavy emphasis on the word, ‘you,’ made me smile.

“A good snapshot keeps a moment that’s gone from running away.” – Eudora Welty, (1909 2001) American short story writer, novelist, and photographer. A McCormick porcelain decanter bust of Elvis Presley was priced at $35.

Listen. Did you hear that? It is a call to action. The current city council understands the importance of community input and actively seeks your ideas and suggestions. Budget workshops, town hall meetings, and city council meetings serve as valuable platforms for engaging in open dialogue.

The City of Alpine celebrated National Public Service Appreciation Week in May. It’s a great time to thank and acknowledge the nearly 90 men and women who work hard every day to make Alpine a great place to live.

It has been explained deftly by City Manager Megan Antrim that a paramount concern regarding the proposed expansion of the Skyway Gardens affordable housing complex is whether extending our city water system services to the development would worsen water pressure issues for residents who live further south.

“Mowing the lawn, because man is the only animal on the planet that plants, fertilizes, and waters a weed that he has to spend his weekend cutting.” — Internet humor “You got a haircut,” one of the ladies at church complimented me Sunday. “Sure did,” I acknowledged.

Before I dive into today’s topic, I want to congratulate our Spring 2023 graduates. Commencement ceremonies were held last Friday in Alpine and Saturday in Eagle Pass. Over 230 educated, eager Sul Ross State alumni are making their way into the workforce or graduate school. Please join me in wishing them the best of luck.

Thank you! Alpine Humane Society would like to thank the local community, as well as those in Marfa, Terlingua, Fort Davis, and beyond for the wonderful support of our Salsa de Mayo event. Area businesses donated more than 125 items for the silent auction, 14 people entered the salsa recipe contest, judged by Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves, and the crowd enjoyed music by the Rick Ruiz Trio.

When it came time for the University of Texas to construct the McDonald Observatory there were two problems. First, they had no location and in addition the university had no working astronomers on faculty. The first was solved by the geography of Texas, where there were mountains reaching closer to the heavens. The second was solved through a unique partnership that brought some of the most famous world astronomers to Fort Davis, one who would remain in the community for years.

“Oh, them golden slippers Oh, them golden slippers Golden slippers I’m a gonna wear To walk the golden street.” — ‘Golden Slippers’ song lyrics by James Bland (1854 – 1911) Bluegrass music came from across the way in downtown Nacogdoches Saturday when we walked out of Dolli’s Diner. I recognized the well-known spiritual popularized by bluegrass musicians in the early half of the last century.