, , , , Magic was in the air as patrons lined up for the April 1 reopening of the Wimberley Village Library, this time in its brand new wing. When the doors opened at 10 a.m., a line reached out the door to the parking lot, with everyone excited to see the new facility. Within minutes, joyful sounds from the kids and teens using their new spaces mixed with the “oohs and aahs” of the adults seeing the building for the first time. Library Director Carolyn Manning noted that in just the first four days of April, circulation numbers...

, Scores of cars, trucks and trailers lined up last Saturday to offload unwanted items during Wimberley’s Community Cleanup. An endeavor of the City of Wimberley, with help from Texas Disposal Systems, the cleanup collected tons of bulky unwanted items like furniture, stoves, refrigerators, water tanks, office furniture and scrap materials. Mayor Gina Fulkerson, along with clean up volunteers, remarked that the event seemed to be “growing more and more every year.”

Wimberley split their two game series with their rival, Fredericksburg’s Battlin’ Billies, as the Texans dropped the first game 9-6 before winning in blowout fashion 19-4. The Texans overall record improves to 1010-1 with a 7-4 district record that puts Wimberley in third place in the 4A District 27 Standings. After a scoreless top of the first, the Texans loaded up the bases with two outs. Wimberley forced a bases-loaded walk before a Billies fielding error scored two more runs for the Texans to take a 3-0 lead. A hit batter loaded up the bases for Wimberley once more. Brister Mike connected with a...

“Doubt: A Parable” by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright John Patrick Shanley, is a contemporary classic. Not for its plot, although the plot is superb, not for its comedy, although there are moments that will make you laugh, and not for its thrilling action, although the actions of its characters will keep you glued to the story. It dares audiences to connect with themselves and others through a parable, a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The play, directed by Dr. Heather Barfield, will open on the Wimberley Players stage on April 26 and continue through May 19. It...

Julie Jenkins, the daughter of Rear Admiral Alan Shepard USN, the first American in space, commander of the Apollo 14 mission, and the only Mercury Seven astronaut to walk on the moon, will present a program to the Blanco County Association of Retired Educators on April 25 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Johnson City United Methodist Church, 105 North LBJ Drive, in Johnson City. The talk begins at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. Jenkins’ program will highlight her father’s career, her experiences growing up in an astronaut’s family, and the path she followed into flight. Her talk will also bring attention to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation that her father, along with the other Mercury 7 astronauts, founded that provides more than 60 scholarships annually to the brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. For additional information about the scholarship program go to astronautscholarship. org.

, The Horseshoe Ridge RV resort, located at 17901 RR12, celebrated their grand opening throughout the historic eclipse weekend. Spanning more than 31 acres, visitors toured the resort with its upscale amenities of a luxury outdoor bar and fireplace, a resort-style heated swimming pool and 124 full hook-up sites for short or longterm stays. “We’re excited to have been able to open our doors and invite everyone to celebrate with us. From the live music and delicious BBQ to the communal activities and the solar eclipse viewing, this grand opening weekend was an extraordinary kickoff for our resort,” said owner Billy Rhyne. For more information about Horseshoe Ridge RV resort go to horseshoeridgerv.com or call 512 650-8163.

, , Danforth Junior High English teacher Erin Baumann is the March recipient of the district’s “Texan of the Month” honor, a Wimberley ISD employee recognition program. Honorees are nominated by WISD co-workers for positively exemplifying the district’s vision of excellence, innovation, and service. Baumann, who is in her fourth year at WISD, and fourteenth year as a classroom teacher, was surprised with the award by WISD and DJH administrators on March 28th as she led a lesson in the DJH outdoor classroom. Baumann, who teaches grade seven honors English and is the Danforth English department chair, said she was completely...

Hays County residents will soon be receiving appraisal notices from the Hays Central Appraisal District who scheduled the mailing of its 134,174 appraisal notices for April 5. According to a press release from the district, the Hays County real estate market is experiencing significant growth, particularly in commercial and industrial sectors, as well as in residential single and multi-family properties. The overall market value of Hays County’s 2024 preliminary appraisal roll rose to $72.10 billion, an increase of 8.1% from the previous year. New improvements as of January 1, contributed over $4.62 billion in market value. These improvements included 3,987 new homes and...

, , , As predicted, the 2024 total eclipse plunged Wimberley into darkness for three minutes in the middle of the day while observers on the Square watched and cheered. Thick clouds overhead provided brief glimpses of the moon’s passage in front of the sun, dampening the drama of the two-hour and 41 minute event. Predictions of possible rain and cloudy skies kept huge numbers of revelers at home. Locals stayed home as advised, leaving the charms of Wimberley to visitors from around the world. Organizers and law enforcement officials appreciated the orderly, drama-free progression of events, and visitors remarked on...

Representative Carrie Isaac announced that April 5, 2024 will be celebrated as the inaugural Fruit and Vegetable Day in Texas. Dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of a healthy diet, she hopes that developing good eating habits early in life will help Texans combat the growing obesity in the state. Over the past 30 years the obesity rate in children has tripled, and their expected lifespan is now shorter than that of their parents. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that fruit and vegetable programs have made an impact on decreasing childhood obesity rates in elementary school students. Research also shows that fruit and vegetable intake among school-aged children is linked to improved physical and mental wellbeing. “As a state, we need to take a stand against obesity and make teaching our children healthy eating habits a priority,” said Isaac. “By celebrating Fruit and Vegetable Day, we hope to bring attention to the importance of healthy eating habits and to encourage Texas children to make choices that will lead to a healthier future.” Carrie Isaac serves as the State Representative for House District 73, which includes Comal County and part of Hays County.

, If you’ve been living under the same rock as I have been, you’ll be amazed to hear that there are serious women motocross riders out there and one of them has a program on KWVH called Dirty Chix. The host is Wimberley’s Ryan Harlan and from 6 to 6:30 p.m. every Saturday she gets listeners up to speed on the sport by interviewing female riders, like herself, from all over the country. From Texas, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Idaho and other places, these top competitors are excited to have a forum for their experience by becoming a guest on...

Two talks, one addressing issues at the Texas-Mexico border and the other about the dangers of Fentanyl will be presented at the VFW Post #6441, 401 Jacob’s Well Rd., on April 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. Border Intelligence expert Jaeson Jones, will present, “Eyes On The Border” from 3 to 4 p.m., and Anthony Hipolito, a longtime area law enforcement professional, will present, “Fentanyl Kills, Keep Your Kids Safe.” Wimberley resident and Border Intelligence expert Jaeson Jones, retired Captain from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Division will share his knowledge of cartels and how they...

, , , , If you’re an artist required to paint the landscapes of other planets, how do you go about doing that? It’s not like you can climb aboard a spacecraft to make a few preliminary sketches of your subject matter. Just ask Wimberley resident and space illustrator Pat Rawlings. Last weekend, he hosted 33 members of the International Society of Astronomical Artists, of which he is a member, to witness the 2024 eclipse and to visit landscapes that could be useful in their depictions of extraterrestrial terrain. In particular, Rawlings found a landscape that resembled the alluvial erosion of...

Since the expansion project began in 2022, the Wimberley Valley Library has worked and planned hard for the day it could occupy its new 8,800 square foot space adjacent to the current building at 400 FM 2325. The day has arrived. On April 1, the library sent out a newsletter to announce the move with the message that the renovation of the original building is now underway. The renovation phase is expected to take two or three months to complete. Until then, the library will observe temporary hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The adult fiction and nonfiction books are available in the expansion’s new meeting room and the youth and teen collections are accessible in their new areas. The Spanish collection, audiobooks, large print, DVDs and computer access will not be available for the time being. For borrowers returning books, there is a new drive up drop box. During the renovation phase of the original building, meeting rooms will not be available.

, If you like the Blues as much as I do there’s no place to park your dial on Monday nights except 94.3 for Mark’s Mojo Monday show from 8 to 10 p.m. On the air since 2019, host Mark Lombardi celebrated his 249th show last week. His deep dive and appreciation of the genre began around 1992 when he simply tired of rock ‘n roll music. He began attending Blues festivals and listening to giants like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Etta James, B.B. King, Fats Domino and Buddy Guy, developing his knowledge until ultimately discovering Alligator Records. Today this retired...

, , , , , , On April 8, from our little slice of heaven, Wimberley will have the opportunity to watch one of the rarer mechanics of our solar system take place. From roughly noon to 3 p.m., we’ll have a front row seat to witness the passing of the moon between the sun and our own planet during its orbit around us. The time the moon completely blocks our view of the sun is estimated to be at 1:35 p.m. For the two minutes and two seconds of darkness that we’ll experience, the air temperature will drop, winds...

Riffs, Roams and Raves uncovers the creative, noteworthy and accomplished in the Wimberley Valley and beyond with tips on who to hear, where to go and what to see from managing editor Teresa Kendrick. After an exciting interview with Mark Lombardi for an “On The Air with KWVH” segment on his Mojo Monday Blues show, I received a long email from him with artists to explore. One of them was Kevin Burt, a guitarist, vocalist, composer and harmonica player who has been inducting fans into the genre for years. YouTube links will show you why this performer is tearing up the...

, , On May 6, two extremely talented Texas songwriters and entertainers, James Mc-Murtry and BettySoo will bring the next installment of the popular concert series, Stars Over Wimberley, to the Wimberley Playhouse. At first sight, the two appear to be an unlikely pairing. Their differences make them stand out, but their similarities bind them deeply because each is an extremely talented singer, songwriter, and storyteller. McMurtry is the son of acclaimed author and Pulitzer Prize winner Larry McMurtry, the author of “Lonesome Dove,” “The Last Picture Show,” “Terms of Endearment,” and other acclaimed novels. BettySoo is the daughter of Korean immigrants...

WimberleyArts.org is offering multiple scholarships for creative Wimberley High School, Katherine Anne Porter, homeschooled or gap-year graduates. Valued at a minimum of $5,000 each, the Robert Moreman Memorial Scholarship is a non-traditional scholarship for graduates who are passionate about pursuing higher education for a career in one of Wimberley Arts’ artistic pillars — visual, literary, performing and culinary — or, in a building trade-related profession. The deadline to apply is April 15. For more information go to wimberleyarts.org/scholarships.

, , , Jacob’s Well Elementary special education teacher Leslie Campbell was named the inaugural “Texan of the Month,” the honor given in the Wimberley Independent School District’s new employee recognition program. Honorees are nominated by WISD co-workers for positively exemplifying the district’s vision of excellence, innovation and service. Campbell was surprised by WISD and JWE administrators as she returned to campus on February 29 following a third grade field trip to John Knox Ranch. Campbell, who is in her seventh year at WISD, said she feels called to empower her students, “I am grateful to be given the opportunity to...