GOOD MORNING
We are 16 days away from the magic of Christmas morning! It never gets old! We've been out four consecutive nights to see the Christmas lights around town, our Christmas music blaring, and sure enough, we're starting to see more and more impressive displays. Keep it up, Kerrville.
ON TODAY'S THE LEAD LIVE
Our Thursday host Delayne Sigerman will chat with Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing's Kristin Hedger about the progress the North Dakota-based company is making in starting up its Kerrville operations. We also may be joined by Kerrville Parks and Recreation Director Ashlea Boyle. We're live at 9 a.m.
COMING FRIDAY ON THE LEAD
Representatives from Peterson Health, the Dietert Center and the Kerrville Fire Department will discuss fall prevention and recovery. During a recent show, Fire Chief Eric Maloney said 20% of the department's calls for medical aid are falls. We are inviting people to join us at Pint and Plow. Coffee will be served to those who join us. The show starts at 9 a.m.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA
Hill Country Youth Orchestra Tours of Schreiner Mansion
Schreiner Mansion, Earl Garrett St., Kerrville
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Hill Country Youth Orchestra members guide you through the historic Schreiner Mansion downtown. All proceeds benefit the HCYO.
The Schreiner Mansion holiday tours benefit the Hill Country Youth Orchestras program during December. Tours include wassail, cookies, holiday sled photo opportunity and holiday carolers. This event is each Tuesday and Thursday. https://www.caillouxfoundation.org/schreiner-mansion/
Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis Holiday Shindig
Arcadia Live, Kerrville
7 p.m.
Here's what Arcadia Live Executive Director Mike Kelliher said: "They do this performance every year. This is the first year to do this at the Arcadia. It should really be amazing. I just can't wait. We had them booked last year for this event, and, of course, things were canceled. So, we're really thrilled. Bruce is a local guy and he's spent time in Kerrville and Bandera. He's had a lot of No. 1 songs he's written for other artists." https://www.thearcadialive.org/show/bruce-and-kelly-holiday-shindig/
BIG SEED AND THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL BALLET
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Big Seed performers and the troupe from the Performing Arts School of Classical Ballet provided another example of why Arcadia Live! is such a unique experience. The performing arts venue saw one of its biggest audiences thanks to a large, yet condensed, performance of The Nutcracker — one with about 30 performers. Elizabeth Saathoff, one of the teachers at the ballet school, said this performance was a way of showing gratitude to Arcadia Live, which was the only place that allowed the school to perform last year during the height of COVID-19. We'll have more about the performance later in the week. However, you can check out our photos from the night: Nutcracker wows the Arcadia Live crowd on Wednesday night.
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RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR BIG SEED MURALS
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The Kerrville City Council will hold ribbon cuttings for Big Seed-funded murals at the city's parking garage, H-E-B Tennis Center, the Olympic Pool and along the Guadalupe River Trail where it passes along Texas 27/Memorial Boulevard. The City Council will tour each of the sites starting at 9:30 a.m.
"We are very pleased with the addition of more public art for our community to enjoy, particularly along our beautiful River Trail," said Ashlea Boyle, director of parks and recreation for the city of Kerrville. "We are very appreciative of our partnership with the Big Seed to bring this project to fruition, and we look forward to the continuation of further art installments."
Schreiner University graphic design graduate Mackenzie Wade, who grew up in Kerrville, designed the mural under the Highway 27 bridge. The mural tells the area's natural history, with bright colors and adorned by native animals.
"We wanted to recognize the natural elements that make the River Trail experience so enjoyable," Wade said. "And as a new gateway to Schreiner campus, we also wanted it to be educational and engaging."
The murals inside the city parking garage, along Water Street between Clay and Sidney Baker streets, serve as markers for the Kerrville Public Utility Board's new electric vehicle charging stations.
The project, commissioned by KPUB and Big Seed, is titled "Restore, Recharge" and was completed by Ren Wright-Trapino, Notre Dame High School Art Teacher, and several of her students. The artwork is symbolic of the evolution of clean energy. It depicts the transition from humankind's first mode of transportation, horses, to the advancement of electric vehicles emerging in today's market. The design in shades of greens with black and white highlights is a nod to the environment, new development and growth.
The project at the tennis center was the work of Fredericksburg High School senior Olivia Findley, with an assist from her younger sister, Bella. That 48-foot mural is a call-to-action to play tennis. H-E-B partially funded the mural.
THEY NEED YOUR INPUT
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Over the last few weeks, we've reported about some of the impressive work done by the Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department, and now they're looking for guidance from the public. The department will hold a public meeting about the master plan for the parks, which has not faced updating in 13 years.
"Our current master plan is from 2008 and its time for an update," said Ashlea Boyle, director of Parks and Recreation. "We'd like to invite the community to participate in this process and provide feedback on our parks system, priorities, and potential future projects."
The meeting will be at 5:15 p.m., Dec. 15, at the Dietert Center, 451 Guadalupe St. in Kerrville.
Boyle said she's soliciting feedback from the public, and those interested can email her at ashlea.boyle@kerrvilletx.gov. Please include "Parks Master Plan" in the subject line.
