Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
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| New museum exhibit on display.... Robert Stuckey, curator at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum, stands beside the Museum’s newest exhibit. “Blakemore,” the Buffalo, was presented to the Museum Saturday in recognition of the educational partnership that has been established between the Clark Hotel Historical Museum and the Marian Blakemore Planetarium in Midland. A “Space Frontier” exhibit will be built around “Blakemore” symbolizing Blue Origin’s exploration of the frontier of space. |
- An educational partnership has been formed between the Marian Blakemore Planetarium, of Midland, and the Clark Hotel Historical Museum and the Van Horn Advocate.
Announcement of the formation of this partnership was made last Saturday evening at a reception held at the Marian Blakemore Planetarium in Midland.
“This is a unique educational opportunity for our respective communities,” said Frank Cahoon who made the announcement.
The aim is to bring the planetarium’s resources, along with those of McDonald Observatory, in Fort Davis, to the Van Horn community. At the same time we’ll be bringing what we know and will know in the future about the Blue Origin space launch facility and it’s efforts to launch men into space as a private venture to the Midland community.
Cahoon noted that, “The last Indian battle fought in Texas took place in Culberson County at Victoria Canyon in the last frontier of Texas. And now, Culberson County is on the cutting edge of the frontier of space with the Blue Origin facility.”
To commemorate the educational partnership, the Marian Blakemore Planetarium gave the Clark Hotel Historical Museum a blue buffalo painted in a scheme of celestial planets and stars. A time-lapse photograph of the sky as taken above the Southern African Large Telescope in Sutherland, South Africa. The buffalo symbolizing the last frontier of Texas and the frontier of space in Texas.
One interesting tidbit about “Blakemore” the buffalo. It is presented by the Blakemore Planetarium, and the family that owned the Longfellow Ranch, purchased by Jeff Bezos, were the Blakemore’s of Midland. And coincidentally, the Blue Origin launch facility is built and operating on land that was once the Longfellow Ranch.
“Blakemore” was painted by artist Karen Winkler of the Children’s Museum of the Southwest Museum of Art in Midland.
Just a reminder!
Today is the last day to sign up for Little League/Softball participation. Pick up your information at City Hall today.
Additionally, anyone interested in becoming a coach is asked to attend a meeting tomorrow, Friday, April 27th at the Convention Center. We will also conduct the draft at that time.
For additional information, call 432-284-9385.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Larry and I enjoyed a special treat over the weekend in Midland at a reception and presentation by Dr. Gary Hill on the Dark Energy Project at the Blakemore Planetarium. The Van Horn Advocate was presented a special gift which will be in our Museum. (See related stories in this issue). The educational partnership with the Advocate, the Museum, and the Marian Blakemore Planetarium will develop as Blue Origin progresses.
Our sincere thanks to Mr. Frank Cahoon for putting the concept together, as well as being such a gracious host to us on our visit to Midland.
We had never been to the Blakemore Planetarian. What a great place this would be to take our school children on a special field trip, or a day trip this summer with your family. Right next to the planetarian is the Museum of the Southwest, which includes a children’s museum. You can find information about these educational museums at www.museumsw.org.. Look it up and plan a visit there. Who knows, it might spark an interest in your child that would lead them into a career as a scientist or historian.
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Another dear lady from one of the pioneer ranching families in this area has passed away. Mrs. Vivian Dees, who I remember as a teacher more than a rancher, was a delicate looking, very sweet lady, but I’m sure with a strong and robust side as well, in order to endure the hardships of being the wife of a West Texas rancher and descendant of a pioneer ranching family - The McAdoo family of Hudspeth County. I know she will be missed so very much by her four sons and their families.
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With Little Dribblers drawing to a close last Saturday, it’s already time to start thinking about the Little League program, also sponsored by the Van Horn Youth Association. Registration has been underway, and the deadline is today, Thursday at 5:00. There’s a program for all children through 8th grade. Last year girl’s softball was added, for girls 3rd through 8th grades and they are working on trying to start a Pony League for boys in 7th and 8th grade.
Coaches are needed so check the announcement in this issue for details if you are interested in helping out. For more information about any of the Little League programs, you may contact Michael Baeza at 284-9385.
I really appreciate how this town provides activities for our youth throughout the year. Thanks to all who have a part in this, which is always on a volunteer basis.
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We get a weekly column from our US Senator, John Cornyn. Since we don’t have room to use them, I just scan over them to see what the subject matter is, and sometimes read them through. They are interesting, but this week’s was especially different. The title was “Watching Out For An Original Texan.” You might wonder who that might have been. Well, actually it wasn’t a who, but a what.
When pioneer settlers from the south and east first reached central Texas, they found a particularly appropriate creature already occupying the area. The prehistoric-looking reptile, now known as the Texas Horned Lizard, seemed to reflect the land itself - rugged, fearsome, spiny, tough - and wondrously friendly, all at the same time.
Many of you who grew up here, especially twenty or more years ago, may remember spending much time on a very hot summer day watching these little creatures, or trying to catch them. Being a girl, it really freaked me out to think of holding one, although they are totally harmless. I’ve even seen people lay them on their back in their hand and rub their stomach and it sort of mesmerizes them. I think there used to be a lot more of them years ago than there are now.
The Texas Legislature declared the Texas Horned Lizard - one of the three lizard species found here - the official state reptile in 1993. But their fame extends even further. There was the one named Muriel, who was written about by ‘O Henry’ in a short story titled “Jimmy Hayes and Muriel”.
Among non-fiction Texas Horned Lizards, “Old Rip” is the most famous. He hibernated for 31 years while trapped in the cornerstone of the county courthouse in Eastland County. And did you ever wonder why the mascot for TCU is the Horned Frog. At a time when it was called AddRan Christian University four students were asked to find a school mascot. Looking for something distinctively Texan, they decided on that since at the time lizards were overrunning the football field. The name was changed to Texas Christian University in 1902, and a few years ago, ESPN declared the ferocious-looking and unique Horned Frog to be the best college mascot in the country.
But urbanization, population growth, agriculture and pesticides to battle fire ants have taken a toll on the Texas Horned Lizard. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. is moving to safeguard these valued reptiles and now they enjoy protected status. That means they can’t be captured, possessed, transported or sold in Texas without a special permit. The department has enlisted volunteers across the state to look for these and monitor their well-being. To lend a hand, or learn more, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hornytoads/
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How about getting out Saturday and helping clean our town up? I promise you that you will feel good about it if you do. The weather is supposed to be nice so it can be as much fun as it is work, and you won’t want to miss out. See you Saturday!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
April 26th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
April 27th - Eagle track qualifiers running at Regional Meet in Abilene today and tomorrow.
April 28th - Clean-up Van Horn event scheduled from 9 a.m. until noon.
April 29th - Attend the church of your choice.
April 30th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Van Horn KOA. Trustees of Culberson County ISD are scheduled to meet this evening at 6 p.m. at the District Adminstration Building.
May 1st - The Van Horn City Council is scheduled to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
May 2nd - Nothing scheduled at press time.