Terlingua Moon🌙
Volume 36, No. 33 August 19, 2025
by Blue Grama
Send your MOON news
and submissions,
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Email to terlinguamoon@gmail.com.
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On the web at: theterlinguamoon.blogspot.com.
Updated every Tuesday (or maybe Monday).
For 36 years, THE source for news in South Brewster County.
We are what YOU share.
______________________________
According to MesoWest weather stations, we
have had 12.93” of rain in the Chisos Basin so far this year!
THE
NIGHT SKY THIS MONTH
🌑
8/23 New Moon 1:06 am
🌓
8/31 First Quarter
🌕
9/07 Full Corn Moon 🌽
Perseid
Meteor Shower: Peaked 8/12-13 and continues to taper off toward the end of
the month. See the Perseids in the early morning hours, facing NE towards Perseus.
Moon and Mercury: 8/20, the planet Mercury will stand close to the
Moon during the dawn twilight. It looks like a fairly bright star, to
the lower right of the Moon. The brighter planets Venus and Jupiter align well
to their upper right.
Protect our dark skies! Turn out the
lights at night, use warm colored, downfacing or shielded lights.
PAISANO POST - FROM TERLINGUA SCHOOL
Terlingua CSD school registration is 8/18 - 8/21 from 8:00 -
4:00 at Big Bend High School. The first day of school is 8/25/25! Terlingua CSD
would like to thank the team at Far Flung Outdoor Center for the incredible
donation of school supplies and backpacks for all students in grades
PK-4th!
BIG BEND CRISIS CENTER
Good morning, Terlingua. I was just notified that the
WTFB truck will be arriving Wednesday August 20th around 11:30 a.m.. Food
distribution will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. at 3:30 p.m.. Please note that
if you have not yet signed up to get your scanner card, you will have to wait
until after 1:00 p.m. to sign up and get a box. Please bring ID and proof of
home. A special thank you to all our volunteers - we will need you both
Wednesday and Friday. Thank you.
FREE PET CLINIC!!!!
Alpine Humane Society and Operation Kindness, both
non-profit organizations, are collaborating to bring the first FREE clinic
to offer spay, neuter, vaccines, and microchips on August 30 and 31.
Surgical and wellness services will be no charge, and
heartworm tests and flea and tick products will have a nominal fee.
Operation Kindness will be bringing 13 team members,
including four veterinarians, with all the equipment needed for the clinic.
We have 4 or 5 team members coming from Alpine, with the large number of
kennels that we will need, and 1 experienced volunteer from Sanderson.
Any assistance or donation that you can provide to help
move this project to the finish line would be greatly appreciated.
Several local businesses have already offered lodging and one meal.
We are still in need of lodging, and the four veterinarians would
prefer individual lodging, as well as a couple of our team members.
Brewster County is providing the community center for the
clinic’s location.
Things
that we need:
- Funds to subsidize the
services (we currently have $7000, we need $14,000).
Thank you, High Sierra Bar and Grill, for the fundraising!
- Lodging for about 11
(we have lodging for 7 or so, already pledged)
- A breakfast and two
lunches for 18 to 20 people (we have one breakfast already pledged)
- Help to bring a large number
of kennels and supplies from Alpine to Terlingua and back. (We have
one offer of assistance so far)
- Ice, water, and cold
drinks
- Help with advertising (hang flyers in local businesses)
If you, a friend, neighbor, or coworker, need assistance
with veterinary services, please call Alpine Humane Society at 432-837-2532.
We are happy to provide tax-deductible donation receipts for
any cash or in-kind donations.
To donate, offer support services, or for any questions,
call Mary Ann Vega, Director, Alpine Humane Society at 432-837-2532, the Thrift
Store and Cattery at 432-837-3400, or email: maryann@alpinehumanesociety.org.
With much gratitude, Mary Ann
PAINT & SIP
Join us for a "Paint & Sip" event with Amanda
Johnson at the Far Flung Outdoor Center on August 23, 2025, from 6 PM to
9 PM. Hosted by AJJ Art, the session will feature an 11x14 landscape
painting of Santa Elena Canyon. Enjoy appetizers and sangria from Fly Gap
Winery. All-inclusive price: $60. Reserve your spot by calling/texting Amanda 432-244-1547
EARTH AND FIRE ART GALLERY
August
Guest Artist - David Secor.
SUMMER
SALE! The handmade pottery created by the award winning
ceramicist Domingo Garcia of Mexico, will be 15% off during August.
MILKY WAY TREATS
Ice cream trailer will be open this weekend, Sat-Mon, 4
p.m.-9 p.m. Stop by for delicious homemade pint of ice cream or try our
or creamy chocolate or vanilla soft serve. Treat yourself! Gracias, Terlingua!
UPCOMING SHOWS & EVENTS
Starlight:
8/21 – Marc Utter
8/22 – Moses Martinez
8/23 – The Whitmores
8/25 – Marc Utter
8/26 – Comedy Open Mic
8/28 – Laird & Friends
8/29 – Moses Martinez
8/30 – Bill Palmer
Boathouse:
Open Mic Hosted by Rory Hancock every Wednesday night!
8- 11 pm
Big Bend Ranch State Park – West Contrabando
Trailhead:
8/23 – Star Party - Reservation
needed
Behind the Store:
8/30 – Last Minute Low Budget Productions presents – Comedy
Roast Battle!
Doors at 8, Show at 8:30, $5 Cover
DESERT SPORTS AND FURTHER ADVENTURES
Change is in the air at Desert Sports!!
Our goal is to focus on our BIKE SHOP with bicycle supplies, repairs and
mountain bike rentals! We also plan to expand our RETAIL STORE with more
exciting outdoor gear, and recharge the ART WALL with local art!
I After 29 years of serving outdoor enthusiasts, Desert Sports is suspending
all of our Guided Tours in Big Bend. We will also discontinue boat rentals and
shuttles. But don’t despair ...
We will be working with and referring our customers to our longtime friends at
Further Adventures – a Far Flung Adventures Outpost (the river company out of
Taos, NM). Further Adventures will be using the Desert Sports’ location as
their base of operations, and most of the Desert Sports’ guide staff will be
working with Further Adventures starting this Fall Season.
Desert Sports highly recommends that you book your next Big Bend adventure with
Further Adventures, making for a smooth transition for both our longtime guide
staff as well as our old friends and valued guests. Many thanks to the
wonderful folks and extraordinary guides for your support and dedication for
nearly three decades!!
Visit furtheradv.com for
more Big Bend tour info.
Visit desertsportstx.com for
more Bike Shop updates.
CALL FOR ARTWORK – BBAC
PROSPECTUS:
“Delicious...All about Food” (any type of food)
THEME:
A variable Smorgasbord of art relating to food
Show
Dates: September 11- October 2
Take-In:
On or before TUESDAY, September 9, 10:00am – 4:30pm
(Artwork
may be brought in BEFORE September 9, during regular gallery hours: from 10:00
am to 4:30 pm. Please try to bring in before 4:30 pm during those days to have
time to sign in your work.)
Reception:
Friday September 12, 5:00 to 7:00pm
Pick
up artwork: TUESDAY, October 2, 2025
Questions:
bigbendartscouncil@gmail.com
Curator:
Emory Holman: emoryh29@gmail.com, Nyssa Mariah Barrick residuethoughtclay@yahoo.com
[More
Info and submission form attached to Moon email OR click the flyer at the end.]
MASK COMPETITION! – FUNDRAISER FOR ALPINE PUBLIC
LIBRARY
The Alpine Public Library has recently lost some of our
much needed funding. As a result we are having to increase our fundraising
efforts. We are borrowing from the Ft Collins Museum of Art that has sponsored
a mask fundraiser for 22 years making it their major fundraiser.
Attached [to the bottom of the Moon] are examples of the
masks we will
provide at the library free of charge. There are no rules. They may be
decorated any way you want with anything you want. The masks will be available
in August & we ask that they be returned by November first. They will be on
display & up for bids at the library’s silent auction. They will also be
judged & awarded ribbons.
Masks can be picked up at the Alpine Public Library -- Check
in at the Front Desk.If you have questions just call me at 432-386-0640 or
432-364-2816.
BIG BEND COMMUNITY CHORALE
Next Monday, August 25, at 6pm, the Big Bend
Community Chorale will begin rehearsals for their Fall/Winter Concert (planned
for early December).
In two weeks, the BBCC will be back to singing with joy in
our hearts. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, August 25, at 6 PM at
the SRSU Fine Arts Building 200 (choir room). Rehearsals will continue
every Monday until the week of our performances. As always in the
fall, we will be working on our Christmas/Holiday music. So I hope
you are ready for Christmas Music in August! YAY!
The concerts this year will be on Friday, December 5 at
7:30 PM in the Methodist Church in Alpine and Sunday, December 7 at
3 PM in the Presbyterian Church in Marfa. The dress rehearsal will be
on Thursday, December 4, from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM in the Methodist Church
in Alpine.
If interested in joining the chorale this semester, please
contact:
Andrew D. Alegria,
DMA
Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies
Sul Ross State University (432) 837-8216
Big Bend
Community Chorale - Artistic Director
www.bigbendcommunitychorale.com
TAQUERIA EL MILAGRO
Opening for the season this Friday, August 22, for street tacos, steaks and huge side dishes from authentic Mexican recipes. All in a great setting. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3pm until 9pm. 432 371-2060 for takeout via our drive through window. BYOB.
ESPRESSO … y POCO MAS
We serve home cooked breakfasts and lunches and great
coffee, smoothies, iced drinks along with fresh pastries. Located in the
Ghost Town, we have strong wifi, newspapers and fantastic views. 432 371
3044 for to-go orders. Open at 7:30 a.m. The views from here are
great, too!
THE BIG BEND MOBILE LIBRARY
“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of
library.” – Jorge Luis Borges
> Hours: Thursday August 21st
3:00pm-6:00pm Canyon View Community Park (next to the Terlingua school) and
Saturday August 23rd 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Community Garden in Terlingua Ghost Town.
> Children's Story Hour: Storytime is
back at the Library on Saturdays at 11am. Parents and children are encouraged
to join Texas teacher Alison Weiss for a read-aloud story time in the ghost
town!
> Origami Club: Unfold your creativity
with our new Origami Club! Learn the art of paper folding and meet new friends.
All skill levels are welcome – come fold with us on Saturdays at the Library.
> Library Tech Services: Computer stuff?
We've got you covered. Visit us for all your printing, scanning, and copying.
Tech support on site.
> Exchange Box: The new and improved
free porch! One person's trash is another person's treasure! Unless it's
actually trash… all donations must be approved by library staff. If you have
large donations, please bring them on Thursdays.
Follow us on social media for more updates @BigBendPublicLibrary.
DON'T LOSE THAT PRECIOUS RAIN WATER!
We can
help - Call: TANKS A LOT TERLINGUA
Water
Catchment Tanks, Pumps, Filters and Installation
Locally
owned - located near the Terlingua Ranch Lodge.
Call
Mark or Michelle: 432-371-3096 (home/office) or 806-781-7814 (cell)
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.
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
up-cycled, practical and artistic items made of reclaimed steel and more -- you
never know just what or who you'll find here.
We welcome new vendors. 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'll be here all summer, in the shade. This year,
we're celebrating the summer season by waiving the set up donation on the last
Saturday of each of our summer months. It's a great way for a creator or
new vendor to try out our market. We typically have a table and chair or
two to loan to new vendors.
For more information, text or call 432.213.1863 or pop in to
the market for a chat. Prepared food vendors must display current food
handling license. (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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ring Huggins, owner of Many Stones, near the
entrance to the National Park, died last night (8/17) of COPD. Ring was a
fascinating character who had been a student at Sul Ross during the mid-60’s
and spent most of his life in the park area. There was very little he did
not know about Big Bend and he will be mourned by all who knew him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary of Alice Wildermuth
Alice & Richard Wildermuth
Alice Blythe (Allison) Wildermuth, 85, of Erie, Illinois and Terlingua, TX,
passed away at her home in Erie on August 4, 2025, after a brief battle with
pancreatic cancer. She was born February 9, 1940, in Wilmette, Illinois, to
John and Louise (Tiffany) Allison.
Richard A. Wildermuth passed at the age of 87 on March 18, 2021, in El Paso,
Texas from complications after a fall near his winter home in Terlingua. He was
born to Virgil and Mina (Letherman) Wildermuth on July 26, 1932.
Alice graduated from New Trier High School in Wilmette, Illinois in 1958 and
attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where she met Richard. A 1955
graduate of the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla, he was pursuing a Masters in
Industrial Engineering. They were united in marriage on February 4, 1961, in
Wilmette.
Alice worked in the insurance and travel industries, and Richard was an
industrial engineer for manufacturers including Bell and Howell, Hyster, and
McLaughlin before becoming a full-time farmer near Erie. Both were volunteer
Whiteside County 4-H leaders, and Alice was active in Home Extension and
assisted youth groups at Erie United Methodist Church. In retirement, they
split their time between the farm in Erie and their daughter's home in
Terlingua, Texas on the edge of Big Bend National Park. There, they enjoyed
volunteering for the Terlingua Recycles program and the South Brewster County
Library Project, and hiking or "porch picnicking" with many dear
friends.
They are survived by their son, John Wildermuth of Port Byron; daughters, Ann
Wildermuth of Terlingua, TX, Marilyn (Art) Granzeier of Pittsburgh, PA, and
Arlene Williams of Warren, PA; sisters, Cindy Wildermuth of East Moline and
Mary Wildermuth of Muscatine IA; sister-in-law, Sheila Wildermuth of Hampton;
nephew, Randy (Melinda) Wildermuth of Port Byron; and niece, Darcy (Andrew)
Carter of Tauranga, New Zealand. Their grandchildren are Amy Scott Williams
(Oscar Murillo) of Williamsburg, VA, Towodi Williams of Warren, PA, Art (Melani)
Granzeier of Lower Burrell, PA, Kenneth (Shay) Granzeier of Hookstown, PA, Sean
(Mattie) Granzeier of Canyon Lake, TX, Scott (Niccole) Granzeier of Georgetown,
PA, Jeffrey Granzeier of Pittsburgh, PA, Paul (Lakiya) Granzeier of Allison
Park, PA, Katie (Reid) Granzeier of Peters Township, PA, Stephen (Molly)
Granzeier of Resort, TX, and Peter (Ashley) Granzeier of Cleveland, OH. They
also leave 19 great-grandchildren.
They were preceded in death by their parents; brother, Peter Wildermuth; and
son-in-law, Al Williams.
Per their wishes there were no services, as they wanted everyone to remember
them as they last met. In lieu of flowers or travel expenses, memorial
contributions may be made to the Big Bend Citizens' Alliance (https://bigbendcitizensalliance.org/)
or your favorite NPR or PBS station.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Loren and Tara Gabriel of Erie,
Tim and Julie McKenna of Terlingua, and the entire team at Beacon of Hope
Hospice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, Terlingua! 🌞
Masks that can be decorated from Fort Collins Museum
of Art to help raise money for Alpine Public Library:
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