HAPPENINGS DECEMBER 2014

• “One day at a time” in Terlingua: Anyone who has a desire to stop drinking or remain sober is welcome to attend our Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Terlingua Thursdays at 7:30 pm (Closed Discussion) at the Big Bend Baptist Church (just north of the Terlingua Post Office, on HWY 118). Literature is available in our local library. Carpooling may be available to Alpine AA (Wednesdays) and Al-Anon (Thursdays) meetings. Contact phone numbers are posted on the church doors. AA is not affiliated with any religious organization but is grateful to the Big Bend Church (north of the post office) for allowing us to meet there. • Yarn Arts meets every Friday morning from 10 am to noon in the community room of the Alpine Public Library. We welcome anyone interested in yarn arts (spinning, knitting, crocheting, weaving, et al.) at all participation levels from listening to personal projects to group activities. Experienced yarn artists are available to answer questions and offer advice on your personal projects as requested. And, as always, last Fridays are FO (finished object) show and tell days! Please join us.

• The Big Bend Chamber Music Society presents a Messiah-Sing-along and an organ concert with Sul Ross Music Faculty member Lana Potts at 6 pm on Friday, December 5 at St. James Episcopal Church in Alpine. The program opens with Ms. Potts performing a selection of variations on Gregorian chants for the Advent season. The second part of the program features two of Ms. Potts Sul Ross students, Marcelino Velazquez, tenor and Ashley Jane Page, mezzo-soprano and Johanna Miller, soprano. All three singers have recently performed in Theatre of the Big Bend summer musicals. Following the overture of George Frideric Handel’s best known oratorio, the singers will perform a selection of solos and duets, culminating in the singers and audience joining in singing the Hallelujah Chorus to end the program. Audience members are invited to bring their copies of Messiah music, although Ms. Potts will have music available for audience use.

A reception with the artists will take place after the performance. The program is free and is part of the on-going First Friday Concert series at St. James, which is located at Ave. A and N. 6th St. in Alpine.

• Soul Track Mind, hot dance band from Austin, performs again in Alpine Friday, December 5, 10 pm at Railroad Blues. An original sound that blends soul and rock with elements of R&B and blues to keep you on the dance floor all night. $10.

• Come to the Alpine Farmers Market on Historic Murphy Street. Get fresh vegetables all year round, plus baked goods, crafts and more from over fifteen regular vendors. Also, we have a secure child play area with chalkboards, sand box, and toys. Every Saturday year round, rain or shine, 9 until noon in the courtyard of the Hotel Ritchey (corner of 5th St. and Murphy St.). New vendors always welcome; call Deb or Mark at 432-837-0118. Like the Alpine Farmers Market on Facebook.

• Terlingua Farmers Market is held in the Community garden in the Terlingua Ghost Town every Saturday, November through March, from 10 am to 2 pm. Area vendors sell locally-grown plants and produce, homegrown herbs & spices, quilts, clothing, food, art and music. New vendors with locally made or grown products are always welcome. For more information contact Shannon (432) 371-3196, [email protected] or Zoey (432) 371-2172, [email protected]. Think community, buy local!

• Girls Rock! is an empowerment group for girls in the 3rd and 4th grades presented in partnership with the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend. The group will meet from 4:30-5:30 in the Community Room of the Alpine Public Library on the following dates: December 4: Healthy Self-Image and Confidence Building; December 18: Peer Relationships (Sisterhood); January 8: Goals and Dreams; January 22: Leadership and Community. For more information, call Caroline Miller, BSW, Community Education and Prevention Coordinator with FFCCBB at 837-7254, or call Mary Beth at the library, 837-2621.

• Bulky Items Drop-Off Day, Saturday, December 6, 8 am - 12 pm at Hal Flanders Recycling Center on E Avenue I in southeast Alpine. Hosted by Keep Alpine Beautiful and the City of Alpine, For more information call (432) 294-3183 or visit www.cityofalpine.com/alpinerecycles.

• Mountain Country Christmas Bazaar, Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at the Alpine Civic Center. A 2-day Christmas Arts & Crafts Show. For more information visit http://gfwcwomansclubofalpine.vpweb.com/Events-and-Fundraisers.html

• Alpine’s Christmas Variety Show Saturday, December 6 at 5:30 pm at Alpine Independent School District Auditorium. Neil Tammell & Dr. John Ray, Bryon Garrison & Sons, Randi Skelton, Brian Hubbard & Kristine Woolsey, Jake Esparza & Isabella Beinhauer, AHS Cheerleaders, and featuring The Alpine Youth Christmas ChoirHosted by Bill BrooksMusic by Vicky Ellis & Malyssa Reed. Admission is free Attendees are welcome to bring an unwrapped toy for the law enforcement toy drive if you wish.

• Amazing Amigos Holiday Dance Saturday, December 6, 6-9 pm at St. James Episcopal Church in Avenue A at 6th St in Alpine. The Amazing Amigos, a social group for teens and young adults with disabilities and their families and friends, will celebrate the holiday season with a dinner and dance The group, which meets several times a year, will dance to the music of DJ Rick Ruiz. Dinner will be provided by Ginger Hillery and St. James members. The event is free and all are welcome. For more information, call 432.386.3772.

• Fiesta de Noche Buena Saturday, December 6 at 6 pm in Marathon. Annual street festival with music, food, and drink.

• Alternative Gift Market and Open House, Sunday, December 7, 5-7 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Alpine. Perhaps you have noticed that “alternative gifts” have made their way into our consciousness in recent years. In case you have missed that term, an alternative gift is a monetary contribution to a non-profit, charitable, or aid organization, given in the recipient’s honor. The recipient receives a beautiful card with an enclosed description of the project. If you are looking for a different kind of Christmas gift experience this year or want to act locally and impact globally, literally shop for the world in some meaningful way, consider stopping by the local Alternative Gift Market and Open House. The public is cordially invited to attend.

In addition to the festive food and family friendly activities, there will be a large selection of alternative gifts to consider, for both adults and children, and the free gift cards and project inserts will be available to take with you immediately. However, only cash or checks can be accepted for donations.

If you have any questions about alternative gifts or need a personal shopper to help you make selections, please contact Rev. Jobeth McLeod, Pastor at (432) 837-2449 or (432) 837-9000.

• Terlingua Tanz (Judy Eron, Tim Callahan, Charlie Watkins, Jane Brown) play brunch at the Starlight on Sunday, December 7, playing dance music from many countries: Tangos from Argentina, waltzes from Finland, Venezuela, Italy, Klezmer and Bosnian music. 99% is instrumental music. “We promise to play Anchors Aweigh for Pearl Harbor Day, and also a tango version of Jingle Bells, for the season.”

• Regular, weekly HOOLA-FIT hoopdance classes every Monday from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Granada Theater, 207 E. Holland Avenue in downtown Alpine. Hoola-Fit classes are open to anyone age 14 and older interested in hooping. Each class will offer a great workout, as well as hooping instruction for hoopers of all ages and interest levels, from total beginners to the experienced. $15 drop-in, or $10-12 per class if you buy a package of five to ten classes in advance. For more information and updates, please visit www.farouthooping.com, or contact certified Hoola-Fit instructor Marlys: [email protected] or 432.386.0479.

Get down and meet new friends at our Alpine hooping jams, every Monday evening from 6:30-8 pm at the Granada Theater on E. Holland Avenue in downtown Alpine. FREE, informal gatherings for hoopers of all skill levels. Get together and enjoy grooving in the hoop: all are welcome and encouraged to join. Bring your hoop and come dressed to dance and sweat.

• Busy Bee Quilters, every Tuesday 1-4 pm, The Sunshine House on E. Sul Ross Ave. in Alpine. For more information call (432) 837-5640.

• Family Story Time at the Alpine Public Library, every Tuesday 3-3:45 pm.

• Library Lizards at the Alpine Public Library, every Tuesday, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, for first- and second-graders.

• Basic Computer Class at the Alpine Public Library, every Tuesday, 6-8 pm. Instructor Gerardo Gonzalez. For more information call (432) 837-2621.

• Frontier Christmas in Fort Davis, Saturday, Dec. 13. Annual Christmas celebration happening all day in Memorial Square and throughout Fort Davis. For more information call (432) 426-3015.

• Alpine ISD School Board meetingMonday, December 15 at 5:30 pm, Board Room at the Administration Building on W. Sul Ross Ave.

• Alpine Public Library presents and ongoing series of FREE travel talks: Local Residents Share Stories & Pictures from Journeys Abroad. This month: India by Kleo Belley, Wednesday, December 17 at 7 pm in the AEP Multipurpose Room at Alpine Public Library.Take a monthly tour from the comfort of Alpine. Hosted by Jim Glendinning and other area travelers; Join us the 4th Friday of each month at 7 pm. For more information visit the library at 805 W Ave E or call (432) 837-5752.

• “SPACE will be an Art Party…a Display of Wonder…a Chance to Get Funky in the Inter-Galactic Sense…an Opportunity to Visit the Chihuahuan Desert and the Fun Freaks Who Await You!!!”Starlight Theater will host a spatial extravaganza in memory of our phenomenal friend and artist, Mark “Eyeball” Kneeskern. Friday, December 19, 7 pm: Open Mic hosted by Tim Relleva. Saturday, December 20: 7 pm: Art Exhibit and Performances. Proceeds from the sale of Mark’s art will sponsor scholarships for a Terlingua Kid’s Summer Art Camp for 2015. Artists wishing to display art may contact Crystal at [email protected] for more information.

“SPACE will be translated differently by each person…although we are all similar in some ways, each mind is unique and that’s what makes us who we are. Take the theme and do what you wish…” Mark Kneeskern

• This is an annual event you don’t want to miss: the 25th Annual Blackeyed Pea Off will be held on Thursday, January 1st, 2015, in the Terlingua Ghost Town. Turn in time is 2 pm, sharp, on the Terlingua Porch. $5 fee per entry. You can cook on site or off. Two Rules: 1) No Beans 2) Have Fun. For a donation of $5, you get a bowl, spoon and cornbread, starting at 2 pm (after peas are turned in to judges) you can get your “good luck” dose of peas. There will be an open mic, cake walk, “hot date” raffle, and a surprise arrest. Proceeds will benefit Last Minute, Low Budget Productions. This year there will be a special guest Co-host, Tommy X Hancock.

The very first Blackeyed Pea Off was a contest between Pam Ware, long time local, and Tommy X Hancock, which ended in a tie. We are, 25 years later, having the tie-breaker contest on the side. The public will have a chance to vote ($1 per vote) between Pot A or Pot B (you won’t know whose is whose). At 4 pm cut-off, we’ll settle this once and for all! We’d also like to note that this year’s event is dedicated to the memory of David Tinsley, long time contestant of the Blackeyed Pea Off. Come join us and start your year out with “good luck” peas and a great party.

• The Museum of the Big Bend is proud to be chosen as the premier venue for the exhibit and book launch of Paul V. Chaplo’s “Marfa Flights: Aerial Views of the Big Bend Country,” published by Texas A&M Press. The exhibition will be on display now through January 18, and features over 30 large format color photographs taken during Chaplo’s flights over rugged terrain. The works cover a large area from the Rio Grande north to Alpine and Fort Davis including the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, Marfa Flats, Capote Falls, Davis Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert, and many more mountains, canyons, and badlands. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and Sundays, 1-5 pm. Closed on Mondays. For more information: (432) 837-8143, www.museumofthebigbend.com.