Seguin Decks the Halls

Though Seguin may be on the small side, our small city is certainly accustomed to going big when it comes holiday celebrations. With sweater weather right around the corner, hot chocolate being enjoyed by the masses, and holiday decorations being put out everywhere you look, it’s becoming increasing clear that Christmas time in Seguin is fast approaching.

Starting in December, Seguin will begin with a slew of fun festivities. On Thursday, Dec 4, there will be the Holiday Stroll Parade taking place on Austin Street. Get ready for a parade, entertainment, food booth, pictures with Santa, and the gorgeous lighting of our own Central Park!

This Friday, Dec 5, the Cocoa Sip-N-Stroll will also take place on Austin Street. At this event you can buy an artsy mug with homemade cocoa at participating shops in Seguin. There will even be snow in the park for family oriented fun, more photos with Santa, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Saturday, Dec 6 has even more festivities lined up with the North Pole Stroll oriented for kids. This includes decorating cookies, writing letters to Santa, and making ornaments. 

Also on Sunday the Holiday Heritage Tour of Homes will be occurring. This begins on Live Oat Street, and features a tour of seven beautiful locations in Seguin. Refreshments will be served at Seguin’s First Church on Live Oak Street. Presale for tickets are $10 and are available online at thetexas.org. Tickets at the door will be $12, and the tour runs from 1 to 5 pm.

And if house touring isn’t your cup of tea, BS Brewing’s 2^nd Annual Winter Festival will be happing on Dec 6, at BS Brewing, located at 1408 Old Lehmann Road. There will be live music by “Will and the Wont’s,” food vendors, and beer tasting.

If you’re not exhausted yet, rounding out the weekend of celebration will be the Yulefest Arts and Craft Show on Dec 7, where you can head out to the Coliseum and browse tons of handmade arts and crafts for sale and get a head start on Christmas shopping.

As for what’s happening here at Texas Lutheran University, TLU’s annual Christmas Vespers will be happening Dec 5 through Dec 7 at Jackson Auditorium. This is a crowd favorite, and should not be missed.

Christmas Bells featuring River City Ringers of San Antonio and Mid-Texas Symphony will also be performing at Jackson Auditorium on Dec 14.

It seems impossible not to get into the holiday spirit with the many enjoyable events Seguin will be hosting. Gather your friends, drink some hot chocolate, and go make memories this holiday season!

Tyler Salinas, Reporter

Dash for Disabled Veterans

They gave for us. Let’s give back.

Registering and check-in starts at 8am and starting at 9am on Saturday, Nov 22 at Starcke Park people from all walks of life will gather to walk, or run, a 5K to help raise funds for the Disabled American Veterans’ Chapter 61 in Seguin, Texas.

It is not too late to participate in this event. By paying $30 the day of, one can still help the Disabled American Veterans.

·         Awards will be given in the following age groups: 1-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+

·         Register your dog for $5.00. Registered dogs will receive a bandana.

·         The first registered dog to cross the finish line wins a prize.

·         Dogs on leashes, registered or not, are welcome to participate.

This event was organized by the TLU Honors FREX 134 students, in partnership with Disabled American Veterans’ Chapter 61.

More information can be found at SEGUINRESPECT.ORG/DASH or call 830.372.8160

Empty Bowls Fill Empty Stomachs

Sunday afternoon on Nov 9 various campus organizations and local restaurants brought gallons of soup to the Party Barn to take part in a localized international event to combat hunger. From 11am to 2pm people came to the location and purchased soup from a wide array of options.

The funds raised at Empty Bowls fund a mobile pantry. It fights hunger not only in Seguin but in surrounding areas. The food bank serves 16 counties in south Texas. This is the 4th year TLU has hosted this event. So far TLU has raised more than $25,000 since 2011. To date, more than 200,000 pounds of food has been handed out to families, children, and seniors because of this event.

Ashlie Ford, TLU marketing department, media relations, and senior staff writer, stated: “The whole message of empty bowls is to be reminded of all of the empty bowls in the world. I am very proud to be a part of it. I think it is definitely something that represents TLU and our mission. It goes with our tag line to learn boldly and live to inspire.”

Empty bowls is an international project to fight hunger. TLU has localized it and partnered with the San Antonio food bank and Walt Glass pottery in San Antonio to make the bowls. The local artisans and ceramicists make the bowls, people buy the bowls and soup, and the funds feed the hungry. The heart of the whole event is the hunger relief project. People made a difference by purchasing a simple bowl of soup and bread. This community event brought people together for a common cause to relieve hunger and share in the feeling of thankfulness for food.

Miranda Taylor, Reporter