Texans Observe San Jacinto Day April 21st is San Jacinto Day in Texas, commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. On this date in 1836, General Sam Houston and the Texas Army defeated Santa Anna’s Mexican troops, winning independence for Texas in a battle that lasted only eighteen minutes.

Artist of the Month Judy Shoenfeld will be showing her art at the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. Her acrylic paintings, drawings, and paper cutting pictures will be on display from April 8 through the May 3 First Friday Art Walk. Judy has enjoyed painting for most of her life.

The grandson of Indian captive Herman Lehmann visited the Mason Square Museum this past Saturday. Wayne Lehmann and his wife Wanette from St. George, Utah, and their daughter Lynnisel Stoltzfas from Bozeman, Montana, were delighted to find a full panel in the museum dedicated to the Indian captive. Other out-of-state visitors that day were from England and Colorado.

The Heart of Texas Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will hold their next meeting at noon, April 8, 2013, at the Patio on Church Street. Attired in their Republic of Texas finery, the ladies will feature a special “Early Texas” menu and a historical program, “Something’s Funny about the Battle of San Jacinto”, by Shelly Perkins.

“Focus on the shapes not that you are painting a cow”…and slowly a cow surfaced on each person’s canvas. It was Easter Weekend when families and friends gather together. Yolanda Garza set up a Paint & Sip with Anna Osborne, Pilar Hernandez, Diana Reyes and Lou Lange. Lots of laughter and lasting memories of a fun painting experience with loved ones.

Those attending a recent United Daughters of the Confederacy trip to Mason on Friday were: Maud Cain, Marie Holman, Barbara Phillips, JoAnn Myers, Doris Gates, Edna Cheatham, Milli Williams, Ollie Beyer, Pat Schultz. Sitting: Charla Hester and Kathleen Kothman. the group enjoyed a meal at Willow Creek Cafe, and visited Fort Mason and the two museums.

Following the Fine Arts Association of the Hill Country Board Meeting on Thursday, March 28th, Nan Loeffler, President (at left) and Judy Uherek, Treasurer, finalize plans for the Annual Association Meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 9th at 6 PM. Dessert and coffee will be served, so members may want to eat an early dinner before attending.

The Mason Garden Club met at The Green House March 19th. Jeff Durst and his wife, Margaret, own this organic nursery and natural health store. Jeff presented a program on “New Plants for Spring Planting.” He is especially proud of his heirloom tomatoes that he grows from seed. He also gave tips on controlling insects and diseases the natural way and how to improve the soil for healthy plants.

The Mason County Republican Women held its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 20th in the Stribling Room of the Eckert Public Library. We were honored to have as the speaker for the meeting, Pam Kruse, Superintendent of the Mason Independent School District. Ms. Kruse discussed the issues of school safety, curriculum and the ACE program. Upcoming events for the MCRW are Legsilative Day in Austin for the Texas Federation of Republican Women on Thursday, April 18th and the Republican Women

The Mason Garden Club adopted the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library’s front flowerbeds last year, and they are making a lovely difference in the appearance of the grounds. On March 14 members prepared the beds near the Old Yeller statue for planting herbs and native grasses. They also weeded the beds by the front walk.

Deanna Handlin and her grand kids Madison and Kaleb came to the Paint & Sip, while they were here in Mason visiting over spring break. Texas was the theme of the painting showing the state in three sections of the Coast, Hill Country and High Plains.... and them of course our sky filled with stars.

Second Chance – Mason Animal Rescue will be having its monthly meeting this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Strategic Oilfield Services Office located next door to Willow Creek Café. All members and interested persons are encouraged to attend. The group will be discussing the ongoing spay/neuter campaign. There will also be a discussion of fundraiser projects for the rest of the year.

Surrounded by descendents, DRT members and friends, Emily Adaline Craig Russell, 1838-1905, received her “Citizen of the Republic of Texas” Grave Marker in Live Oak Cemetery. The marker was unveiled on March 11, 2013, in commemoration of Emily Russell’s 175th birth date. The ceremony included scripture readings and pledges to the U.

March 13th, members of the Fine Arts Association of the Hill Country met at the Junction City Park for a sack lunch picnic and photo opportunity at Kimble County’s historical First Sawmill. After lunch the group met at the Kimble County Library for an outstanding program by Kim Paxson and Connie Chadwell.

When I first met Tonya Huston in late 2009 she was just getting ready for a trip to Rwanda to assist with a project called True Vineyard Ministries. She had learned how to shear sheep in Ballinger and was ready to transfer what she knew to a very eager group of men and women in Rwanda who were raising sheep, shearing them and then spinning the wool into yarn for sale.