The weather was good for Halloween trick-or-treaters and the rain that followed was good for our soil. Now Thanksgiving is approaching and then Christmas.
We have some serious shopping ahead of us so please shop local where and when you can. We have some new businesses open up, with O’Reilly’s Auto in Shepherd and soon a Dollar General Market there also.
Coldspring and Shepherd Chambers have lists of their members on each website with relevant information, and a Farmers Market opens every last Saturday at the Brewtique in Shepherd by the railroad track.
To be a vendor for the Christmas events in both cities, call the chamber or go online to their website. To be in the parade, the theme is A Country Christmas, call for a form or go online to print one. Coldspring Chamber holds their event around the Courthouse Square, Shepherd holds theirs at Shepherd Community Center and Pavilion. Shepherd has the event first on Dec. 7, Coldspring on Dec. 14.
•The San Jacinto County Senior Center had a Halloween Costume Party on Thursday. It was a lot of fun to see the incredible costumes worn by the seniors. The Center Administrator, Charlene Smith, with her husband beside her, wore T-shirts which sent a happy message to everyone. Judy Chatham was unrecognizable as a murderer carrying a hammer, covered in blood and wearing a wig which obscured her features. Her makeup took ages to get off, she told me later. The witches were amazing and Jo Clarady came as a cat and looked delightful.
Congratulations all who made such efforts. Games were played after the lunch to round out the occasion.
• Shepherd Library has a class on how to make a wreath on Thursday from 3-5 p.m. Supplies will be provided and it helps to call and register though it is not essential.
The library will hold a Books and Banter book forum on Wednesday from 3-4 p.m. This has grown as a group and provides a place for a casual but lively idea exchange and discussion. Talk about your favorite stories or authors, new books or hidden gems you discovered — the conversation is fun and friendly. Cookies and water are at hand to help. Call (936) 628-3515.
• Coldspring Library will have Adventures in Reading Storytime on Friday 10:30-11 a.m. This is for kids 18 months to 5 years. Call (936) 653-3104.
Both libraries have a monthly calendar of events, go to their Facebook or web pages.
• Coldspring Garden Club will meet on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center. This week the guest speaker, Melaney Strickland, will talk about container gardening.
The Club recently formed a group of volunteers for their Bluebonnet Project. Sandra Smith leads the group who have chosen various sites around Coldspring to plant bluebonnets and beautify those places which need it. There is a lot of clearing and weeding to be done before this can happen.
If you want to know more about volunteering call Sandra at (832) 758-2897.
• The Long-Term Recovery Group Committee will meet at the Innovation Center in Coldspring on Saturday from 10-11 a.m. Members should have received an email but here is a reminder. Call (917) 336-4158 for information.
• Don’t forget your raffle ticket for the SJC Historical Commission fundraiser. Tickets are $10 each and will be drawn at 4 p.m. at Christmas on the Square. First prize is a custom design guitar, second is a Bigfoot Quilt and third a 6-in-1 Bluetooth Music Center. The first two prizes are unique and the third is a collector’s piece. Call (936) 653-2091 to buy tickets.
Contact the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.
Yvonne Cones is president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.
