TERLINGUA MOON - Vol. 37, No. 7, February 16,2026

TERLINGUA MOON
Feb. 16, 2026            
by Terlingua Thinking Team!!!

SAMPLE BALLOTS FOR UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION
https://www.brewstercounty.gov/page/elections.information 

SPEAK YOUR MIND ABOUT THE WALL BEING BUILT IN THE BIG BEND!
Take Action to Protect the Rio Grande and Big Bend Ranch State Park
                                            
A border wall along the Rio Grande through Big Bend Ranch State Park and isolated desert communities will damage fragile desert ecosystems, put cultural and historic sites at grave risk, impede wildlife migration, and affect enormous devastation to an already endangered river system.

It is a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. However, the Real ID Act of 2005 allows the U.S. government to formally waive all applicable laws in order to build a wall, and therefore, the U.S. government is unlikely to follow any normal review process through any agency, outside of Congress's oversight responsibility.

Call your U.S. Senators and Representative today. Urge them to oppose any border wall construction in Big Bend Ranch State Park and to defend our environmental laws and public lands.

Your voice matters. Speak up for Texas parks, for wildlife, and for future generations.

EASY-TO-FOLLOW STEPS:
Call both of your Senators and your representative at (202) 224-3121.  If you do not know their names, the operator can still connect you using your zip code.

Sample comments:
"Hi, my name is ____, and I’m a constituent from ___. I’m asking you to oppose any construction of a physical border wall along the Rio Grande in Big Bend Ranch State Park and nearby communities. 

"A wall along the Rio Grande will violate environmental, cultural, and historic protections, devastate fragile ecosystems, and damage local tourism."
Call today and every day!

MILKY WAY TREATS 
Saturday morning bakery cart will be open this weekend 10 AM till sell out! We’ll have warm, homemade cinnamon rolls, kolaches, scones, coffee and more! Caragh is taking a break so Valerie will be baking breakfast goodies throughout the spring. The ice cream trailer will also be open this weekend, Sat-Mon 4-9 p.m. We’ll have our vanilla and chocolate soft serve along with some fun sundaes and delicious homemade pints of ice cream to go! Treat yourself! Gracias, Terlingua!

YOGA WORKSHOPS
Join CERTIFIED Iyengar teacher Jerri Crowley from San Angelo who is offering 3 workshops: Feb. 28 Yoga for low back pain 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Yoga for posture neck/shoulders 4-5:30 p.m.
March 1 Happy Hips and Hamstrings 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
$30 per workshop or $75 for all 3. Preregistration required and space is limited. 

EARLY EVENING YOGA CLASS AT COMMUNITY CENTER
Community Yoga Class Forming. Starts 2/16/26 - TODAY! Donation $5
Red Pattillo Community Center, Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bring your own Mat. 
Some Props Provided. Local Residents/Service Workers OnlyBeginners Warmly Invited
Led by Kate Healy, CYT

MORNING YOGA CLASS AT COMMUNITY CENTER
Morning Yoga at Red Patillo Community Center M/W/F 10 a.m. Beginner friendly. Mats available. $10 suggested donation or equal value barter ( we love art!) LIMITED TIME thru March 13. Join us and learn proper alignment of poses. Gain knowledge you can practice at home! Wear loose, comfortable clothing. 

GROUNDWATER DISTRICT MEETING
 Brewster County Groundwater Conservation District will hold their monthly Board Meeting Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, 9:00 a.m, at the Longhorn Ranch Motel, 52370 TX-118, Terlingua, TX 79852. Or join online with Microsoft Teams | Meeting Link | Meeting ID: 255 863 013 300 60 | Passcode: gU6mT3bE . A presentation will be given by Steve Finch, Hydrogeologist, John Shomaker and Associates Inc., on the District’s Study of the Santa Elena Aquifer. To view the meeting agenda visit BrewsterCountyGCD.com/meetings, or contact General Manager,  Sydney Bauer, at (432) 244-6030 or GeneralManager@BrewsterCountyGCD.com.

TANKS A LOT TERLINGUA
Water Catchment Tanks, Pumps, Filters and Installation
ALSO NOW AVAILABLE:
Food Grade 275 gallon totes - $275/each
Food Grade 55 gallon barrels with removable lids & ports - $85/each
Steel 55 gallon drums with no lids - $50/each
Shop Local!
Located near the Terlingua Ranch Lodge.
Call Mark or Michelle: 432-371-3096 (home/office) or 806-781-7814 (cell)

PET COSTUME CONTEST & FASHION SHOW
Dress to Impress for a Great Cause!
Feb. 22, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., Venga Café.
-Pet Costume Cntest, Pet Fashion Show, Prizes, Games, Live Music, Food & Cash Bar.  Benefiting Terlingua Vet Clinic, supporting spay, neuter & vet care for local pets. Free entry! Bring your friends, bring your family and bring your pet!
Come hungry and ready to groove!
 B.T. Anthenat will be smoking brisket
 Live performance by Two Crows for Comfort
Mark your calendar — this event will be unforgettable.

SATURDAY COMMUNITY MARKET
Come see us at the Saturday Community Market, open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Located at the Community Garden in the Ghost Town, we're here every Saturday with happy vendors offering an array of locally produced goods and other items. You'll also be able to enjoy our fabulous local mobile library and portable free ‘porch’, even consult with Dr. Gigabyte if you have a computer problem. 

Local art, handcrafted textile goods, fresh eggs, sour dough bread, all natural lip balms and skin care products, all natural essential oil fragrances, beard oil and massage oils, handcrafted, creative jewelry, resin creations, block printed textiles and vintage goods, both curated and upcycled, practical and artistic items made of reclaimed steel and more -- you never know just what or who you'll find here. 

Flea market items are also welcome. After all, reusing and up-cycling already existing items is smart and green. We ask a $10 donation to the Community Garden to set up, helping us to continue to improve this space and experience for all of us. 

We welcome new vendors. To make it easy for new vendors to try our market and to show our appreciation to our regular vendors, we waive set-up fees on the first Saturday of the month, offering free set-up on that day.

For more information, text or call 432.213.1863 or pop in at the market for a chat. Prepared food vendors must display current food handling licence. (A quick, easy and affordable online course can provide that).

Please help keep our market space safe and comfortable for all, two-legged and four, by keeping all dogs leashed and under control. We look forward to seeing you there.

THE BIG BEND MOBILE LIBRARY 
Hours:    Thursday. Feb. 19th 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at Canyon View Community Park(next to the school). Saturday Feb. 21st 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Community Gardens in the Ghost Town.

Library Meeting: The next library meeting is Thursday Feb. 19th at 4 p.m. at the Mobile Library Trailer at Canyon View Community Park.

No Spanish lessons this week.  Lessons will return next week, Saturday Feb. 28th.

All-Star Readers Club: Check out 6 books in February for a chance to win a $20 gift card to Front Street Books in Alpine!

Library Tech Services: Do you have computer, printer, or internet needs? We have the fastest internet in town and a laptop that is available for check out hourly at the library. Dr. Gigabyte is also on hand to help with general questions on technology and communications in the Big Bend.

Exchange Box: Our clothing swap was a huge success, and we've used some of the leftovers to replenish the clothing in the free porch! Come check out what's new and drop off your gently used items that you no longer need, let's keep the cycle of things flowing! All donations must be approved by library staff. If you have large donations, please bring them in sturdy boxes :)

24/7 Book Returns: Did you know we have a drop box for book returns at the entrance to the community gardens? This means you can return your books anytime, even if the library isn't open!

Follow us @BigBendPublicLibrary on Facebook and Instagram for more updates!

BIG BEND EPISCOPAL MISSION
Holy Eucharist Services will continue throughout February on Saturdays at 5 p.m. with Father Mike Wallens at Sts. Mary and Joseph's in Lajitas.
Ash Wednesday-"Ashes To Go"- offered at the Otra Vez Thrift Store on Feb. 18th from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. with Father Mike Wallens.

OTRA VEZ THRIFT SHOP
Store Hours on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. throughout February.

PAISANO POST FROM TERLINGUA SCHOOL 
Students of the Week: Elementary-Bruno Garcia, Middle School-Marcella Riojas, and High School- Michelle Orozco
High School track season kicks on this weekend, Feb. 21st at the Comanche Relays in Fort Stockton. 2 weeks to go until the Robotics team heads to Lubbock for Regionals. 
Congratulations to Coach Isael Rodriguez for his Half Marathon finish in Austin over the weekend.

TAQUERIA EL MILAGRO
Street tacos, steaks and big side dishes all from authentic Mexican recipes.  Come in and enjoy our food and great setting.  BYOB. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. 432 371-2060 for take out via our drive through window. 

ESPRESSO ... Y POCO MAS
We're open 7 days a week for home cooked breakfasts, lunches and the best coffee in the area.  Located in the Ghost Town, great seating with fantastic views, strong wifi, and newspapers.  432 371 3044 for to go orders. Open at 7:30 a.m.  

AA MEETINGS
ALL YOU NEED TO ATTEND AN AA MEETING IS A DESIRE TO QUIT.  If you have, or think you might have, a drinking problem, we meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Big Bend Church, just north of the post office. 

MUSIC LISTINGS
Music at the Bad Rabbit Restaurant at Terlingua Ranch 

Charlie and Judy, Saturday Feb. 21, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Charlie on accordion and Judy on guitar play old country songs, some funny originals, a bit of Broadway and let's not forget the yodeling.  
Full dinner menu, come for dinner, maybe do a little dancing.

BOATHOUSE
Wed, Feb 18 - Open Mic w Rory Hancock

BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE – Your Front-Row Seat Awaits at Jackass Flats Improvement Association in Terlingua! ????

RV friends & night-sky lovers — this is the event you've been waiting for!

On March 3, 2026 (early morning), a rare total lunar eclipse (the famous Blood Moon) will turn the full Worm Moon a deep, fiery red — and it's the only total lunar eclipse visible worldwide in 2026!

Here in Terlingua, right in the heart of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, you'll have some of the darkest, clearest skies on the planet to witness it. No city lights, no light pollution — just pure cosmic magic right from your site.
Exact Times for Terlingua (CST – March 3, 2026)
Penumbral eclipse starts: 2:44 a.m.
Partial eclipse begins: 3:50 a.m.
Totality begins (full red moon!): 5:04 a.m.
Maximum eclipse (deepest red): 5:33 a.m.
Totality ends: 6:02 a.m.
Eclipse ends / moonset: ~6:35 a.m.

- 58 incredible minutes of totality — the Moon glowing coppery-red against a blanket of stars, Milky Way, and galaxies.

Why Jackass Flats Improvement Association is the perfect basecamp for this exciting event
- Prime dark-sky location — strict shielding & low-intensity lighting rules keep our skies pristine
- Full-hookup sites, spacious pull-thrus / back-ins, mountain & desert views
- Easy access to Big Bend National Park, Terlingua Ghost Town & epic stargazing
- Step outside your RV, grab a chair, and watch the show — no special gear needed (though binoculars make it even better!).

Whether you're planning a solo astronomy trip, a couple's getaway, or bringing the whole RV crew, this is a bucket-list moment you don't want to miss under one of the best night skies in North America.
Spots are already filling up for eclipse weekend —Listed below are the sites for making your reservation to reserve your site today!

Who's coming to watch the Blood Moon with us?

#BloodMoon2026 #TotalLunarEclipse #TerlinguaRV #BigBendDarkSkies #RVLife #Stargazing #BigBendNationalPark #WestTexas #EclipseViewing #DarkSkyReserve

Harvest Host
https://www.harvesthosts.com/hosts/texas/KAjxOpIDZBkEC1XN85Ct?source=map

Hipcamp
https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/texas-jackass-flats-campground-3j29hx9v?share_id=234ucfydi0c&utm_medium=share&utm_source=share_content

VRBO - Greasewood
https://www.vrbo.com/2124245

VRBO - Frontier
https://www.vrbo.com/2195359

VRBO - MAH
https://www.vrbo.com/2564254

VRBO - Farside of the Moon
https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p4964159vb

BIG BEND CRISIS CENTER
Hello Terlingua, looks like the food truck will be on Wednesday Feb. 18th, shout out to all our volunteers. Distribution will be on Friday, Feb. 20th. This should be fun!