December 20, 2021
Christmas arrives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County
Christmas gifts for our club kids and list of families in need have arrived.
Lowes Grocery Store Manager Ryan Fennochi delivered 275 gifts; the Lions Club of Bandera delivered 100 stuffed animals; Ashley Wetherill-Garcia delivered 27 gifts and a $420 donation from the Christmas Cornhole Tournament; the Silver Sage delivered 33 cases of Planters Peanuts, 10 cases of Oreos and two cases of Coco Puffs.
We are very thankful and appreciative for all of the gifts and donations given to us for our club kids and families of the community.
Lowes Grocery Store Manager Ryan Fennochi delivered 275 gifts; the Lions Club of Bandera delivered 100 stuffed animals; Ashley Wetherill-Garcia delivered 27 gifts and a $420 donation from the Christmas Cornhole Tournament; the Silver Sage delivered 33 cases of Planters Peanuts, 10 cases of Oreos and two cases of Coco Puffs.
We are very thankful and appreciative for all of the gifts and donations given to us for our club kids and families of the community.
December 16, 2021
To our community, friends and family,
Thank you to each of you for your generous donations, prayers, kind words, and hugs. Though our home was destroyed by fire in early November, our faith has been renewed.
We are blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by so many compassionate people. Because of you, we will be able to rebuild our home and demolition has already started.
With a humbled heart, we wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Mary and JM Clements
We are blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by so many compassionate people. Because of you, we will be able to rebuild our home and demolition has already started.
With a humbled heart, we wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Mary and JM Clements
December 12, 2021
Thanking our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us
The Bandera American Legion Post 157 was established 101 years ago shortly after World War I “For God and Country.” As Rick Riordan wrote, “Out of every tragedy, comes new strength.”
Although the pandemic business dampened our celebrations and fundraising, we thank the community for their continued support to the Post, our veterans and their families. We thank our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us.
Although some programs had to be cancelled, other opportunities took their place. The critical need for blood and the suspension of mobile van use led to the Legion coordinating monthly blood drives at the Silver Sage and Lakehills Community Centers which continue to thrive. Memorial Day flag placement expanded beyond Bandera, St. Stanislaus and Oak Rest cemeteries: West Prong was added. We missed providing military demonstrations at Alkek Elementary School in 2020, but we were back this year with a flag ceremony, airborne, marching and feeding instruction. A new scholarship program was established for award in May of 2022 at local high schools.
Here are a few examples of the results of new “strength.” Social distancing meant that the Frontier Times Museum required space to spread out for meetings, as did the Bandera County Historical Commission. Word of mouth led to the Bandera County Retired Teachers Association meeting, book collection and fundraising there too - that partnership continues. Local small businesses held holiday parties at the Legion Hall. A Girl and A Gun spent some hot summer hours “shooting” at the walls indoors. The facility was used for the Bandera County Republican Women meetings and due to our non-partisan requirements, the Democratic Club was invited to use it also. Bingo fundraising was sporadic, but those who used the facility donated to assist in keeping our programs alive.
The 19th annual Bandera Honors Veterans celebration on Nov. 13 returned with a “Roar” and a “Soaring” Colonel (Retired) and astronaut, Jack Lousma, music and tributes. It was wonderful to see the support lining Main Street and at the courthouse. The Post appreciates the volunteers and supporters who made it happen for our community. The dedication of the Wall of Honor at Bandera High School will provide a lasting tribute to all graduates who have served their country in uniform. We look forward to a stronger 2022 and beyond – excelling in our motto, “Veterans Strengthening America.”
With deepest gratitude,
Susan Junker
Commander, Bandera American Legion Post 157
Although the pandemic business dampened our celebrations and fundraising, we thank the community for their continued support to the Post, our veterans and their families. We thank our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us.
Although some programs had to be cancelled, other opportunities took their place. The critical need for blood and the suspension of mobile van use led to the Legion coordinating monthly blood drives at the Silver Sage and Lakehills Community Centers which continue to thrive. Memorial Day flag placement expanded beyond Bandera, St. Stanislaus and Oak Rest cemeteries: West Prong was added. We missed providing military demonstrations at Alkek Elementary School in 2020, but we were back this year with a flag ceremony, airborne, marching and feeding instruction. A new scholarship program was established for award in May of 2022 at local high schools.
Here are a few examples of the results of new “strength.” Social distancing meant that the Frontier Times Museum required space to spread out for meetings, as did the Bandera County Historical Commission. Word of mouth led to the Bandera County Retired Teachers Association meeting, book collection and fundraising there too - that partnership continues. Local small businesses held holiday parties at the Legion Hall. A Girl and A Gun spent some hot summer hours “shooting” at the walls indoors. The facility was used for the Bandera County Republican Women meetings and due to our non-partisan requirements, the Democratic Club was invited to use it also. Bingo fundraising was sporadic, but those who used the facility donated to assist in keeping our programs alive.
The 19th annual Bandera Honors Veterans celebration on Nov. 13 returned with a “Roar” and a “Soaring” Colonel (Retired) and astronaut, Jack Lousma, music and tributes. It was wonderful to see the support lining Main Street and at the courthouse. The Post appreciates the volunteers and supporters who made it happen for our community. The dedication of the Wall of Honor at Bandera High School will provide a lasting tribute to all graduates who have served their country in uniform. We look forward to a stronger 2022 and beyond – excelling in our motto, “Veterans Strengthening America.”
With deepest gratitude,
Susan Junker
Commander, Bandera American Legion Post 157
Christmas lights Bandera style
Three years ago, the City’s Economic Development Corp. decided that it was too costly to continue to decorate the Courthouse or the City Park for Christmas.
This Christmas, 2021, with help from the Bandera EDC and a core group of about 20 volunteers a new group has been formed, the “Bandera Community Action Group.”
This Christmas, 2021, with help from the Bandera EDC and a core group of about 20 volunteers a new group has been formed, the “Bandera Community Action Group.”
August 16, 2021
The three R’s; reading, riting, & rithmatic, I lernt them all in Bandera schools (apologies to my teachers).
It’s such a different world in the learning of today as students learn robotics, coding and lessons that we can’t fathom the use or application of.
It seems that the wisdom of our years may need to be gently applied, so as not to be rejected as dinosaur thinking, by the young people who we encounter. They will certainly understand love and understanding, so this is where I will begin to relate.
May God always bless the children of the world and may He help them through a world that we may struggle to understand! First week of school for many, so be patient with your driving.
It’s such a different world in the learning of today as students learn robotics, coding and lessons that we can’t fathom the use or application of.
It seems that the wisdom of our years may need to be gently applied, so as not to be rejected as dinosaur thinking, by the young people who we encounter. They will certainly understand love and understanding, so this is where I will begin to relate.
May God always bless the children of the world and may He help them through a world that we may struggle to understand! First week of school for many, so be patient with your driving.
David Lee Jureczki
Bandera
Courtesy photo
Exciting updates on the Wastewater Front
August 11, 2021
Camp OTX in Tarpley implemented their TCEQ “zero discharge-discharge permit” this summer. There will be verifiable transparency: a Texas Clean Rivers monitoring site just downstream from the camp has been approved by TCEQ, and will be managed by the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District. Friends of Hondo Canyon joint settlement with RR 417 (owners of Camp OTX) has been a win-win for water, and a win-win for neighborliness. It could not have been accomplished without your support.
In another canyon, we have more wonderful news to share. Young Life (the new owner of Camp Lone Hollow on the Sabinal River near Vanderpool ) just issued a press release stating their intention to withdraw their application for a wastewater discharge permit in the Sabinal River! Their press release outlines plans including an application for a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) – so ALL wastewater effluent will be used for irrigation. Beneficial reuse of wastewater for irrigation reduces groundwater pumping, and helps conserve our precious groundwater resources as well as keeping our few remaining clean rivers pristine. This is yet another win-win for water and a win-win for neighborliness. We await confirmation of Young Life’s decision – an official posting of the formal withdrawal on the TCEQ website. We celebrate our community for coming together to defend our shared resources that have no legislation to protect them.
Development in the Texas Hill Country is going like gangbusters. Everyone in Bandera County received their property tax assessment – a real wake-up call. And the Friends of Hondo Canyon funded monitor well for the Trinity Aquifer has not been drilled yet, because there are so many new well applications in the que.
Our work is not yet done. Without legislation, the preservation of pristine streams using zero discharge wastewater systems remains one battle/one permit at a time. Without dedicated monitoring wells to monitor aquifer levels, water waste will be policed by neighboring wells going dry instead of by logical restrictions on pumping during drought. I urge your continued support of Friends of Hondo Canyon. And I will ask for your voice to join our voices whenever an effective opportunity to speak out for clean rivers presents itself.
In the meantime, use your voice to share the cheers!
Remember Hondo Canyon! Celebrate Sabinal!
Let’s stay united in support for keeping the few remaining clean river segments pristine.
More later.
In another canyon, we have more wonderful news to share. Young Life (the new owner of Camp Lone Hollow on the Sabinal River near Vanderpool ) just issued a press release stating their intention to withdraw their application for a wastewater discharge permit in the Sabinal River! Their press release outlines plans including an application for a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) – so ALL wastewater effluent will be used for irrigation. Beneficial reuse of wastewater for irrigation reduces groundwater pumping, and helps conserve our precious groundwater resources as well as keeping our few remaining clean rivers pristine. This is yet another win-win for water and a win-win for neighborliness. We await confirmation of Young Life’s decision – an official posting of the formal withdrawal on the TCEQ website. We celebrate our community for coming together to defend our shared resources that have no legislation to protect them.
Development in the Texas Hill Country is going like gangbusters. Everyone in Bandera County received their property tax assessment – a real wake-up call. And the Friends of Hondo Canyon funded monitor well for the Trinity Aquifer has not been drilled yet, because there are so many new well applications in the que.
Our work is not yet done. Without legislation, the preservation of pristine streams using zero discharge wastewater systems remains one battle/one permit at a time. Without dedicated monitoring wells to monitor aquifer levels, water waste will be policed by neighboring wells going dry instead of by logical restrictions on pumping during drought. I urge your continued support of Friends of Hondo Canyon. And I will ask for your voice to join our voices whenever an effective opportunity to speak out for clean rivers presents itself.
In the meantime, use your voice to share the cheers!
Remember Hondo Canyon! Celebrate Sabinal!
Let’s stay united in support for keeping the few remaining clean river segments pristine.
More later.