This column is going to be a little bit different from my normal ones… more of a few updates and comments to address some things. The theme is – how to be a part of the solution.
On my Facebook page (look me up and follow) I do a series once a month or so that I call “Scattershooting” where it is usually 7 bullet points of thoughts, ideas, or jokes that are going on in my head at the time. This one will kind of be like that, only there won’t be 7, and it’ll mainly be things related to Brownwood…
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In my last column, I memorialized Trenton Ray who died recently, and that column got a lot of traction as far as comments and likes, and I received quite a few private messages as well. In the column, I mentioned that Trenton had been very helpful to the Greenleaf Cemetery and had volunteered to assist in locating and mapping the burial place of our military veterans buried there. Now, in his honor and memory, Greenleaf is launching a “Plant A Tree for Trenton” campaign (with the blessing of Trenton’s father) to commemorate Trenton at the cemetery.
Those wanting to contribute to this campaign can do so by making online donations at www.greenleafcemetery.org or by mail to Plant A Tree For Trenton c/o Greenleaf Cemetery Association / P.O. Box 455 / Brownwood, TX. 76804-0455.
The tree, or trees, will be planted in his memory & honor, and located around the NEW Greenleaf Office/Gathering Center near Texas Street & Center.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
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If you aren’t going out to the Lyric Theater to enjoy some live entertainment this season, you are missing out. Sincerely, this is one of the best and most affordable forms of beneficial entertainment available to us. Turn off Netflix or whatever one night this spring and go see a show. You won’t regret it. If you can’t afford $20 to go to a magic show, musical, or play, cancel one of your subscription services for one month. They’ll be glad to offer you special deals to join back up later. This is a solution for the question “How to love your neighbor.”
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And on that note, I have written on this before, but it is quite common when a business or businesses shut down (especially downtown) for someone ignorant of what is happening here to get online and complain that “revitalization is failing” or some such thing. I don’t use “ignorant” here as a name-calling pejorative, I use it with its actual meaning – someone who just doesn’t know what they are talking about. The fact is that in this economy with inflation, high costs, razor-thin margins, the difficulty for employers to be able to afford good wages, and their corresponding challenges in finding good employees willing to show up and work (BOTH things are true,) running a business is hard. The big corporate chains are often part of, and financing, what is ruining America, and those giants can weather these financial storms because ignorant people often work against their own best interests by supporting these corporate giants rather than their local friends and neighbors. Despite all of these facts, we have quite a few more businesses opening Downtown. The reality of businesses closing and new businesses opening is a regular and expected cycle in any area. Recently, a few businesses announced they would be closing their storefronts downtown, and there can be numerous reasons why – for a particular place and time – some businesses just aren’t able to make it. Meanwhile, the new Wild Duck Bar and Grill has opened on Fisk and Baker and seems to be doing well. My wife and I have been going there at least once a week (and we’re the working poor, by the way) even if it is just to order a few appetizers. We do this because that is how you help locally-owned entrepreneurs. Griping and complaining while you spend your money at the big chains, fast food joints, and big box stores is just crybaby theater. The new Providencia restaurant and bar will be opening across the street very soon, and the new Rocking Oaks Woodworks is already open next door. The ice cream shop is there on the corner too, and waiting to serve you now that the weather is warm. I’m neglecting to mention quite a few new businesses that are new or opening soon because I’m doing this off the top of my head.
The fact is that everyone is holding on by the skin of their teeth. Everyone could use your help. And “I’m poor” is not an excuse. You are spending money, even if you’re poor. Believe me, I know what it’s like. I was watching a commercial the other day and it was a Taco Bell commercial talking about their cheap menu for people on a budget. Well, you can spend that same small amount of money at any number of local joints and get better and healthier food. I laugh all the time at the comments because even Lucille and Mabel – a restaurant that some people think is super expensive – has shockingly affordable burgers and social hour specials that are comparable with burger specials at the fast-food chains (and the food is soooooo much better!)
The anchors of downtown, Pioneer Taphouse, Steves’ Market and Deli, The Turtle Restaurant, Intermission Bookshop, Hamilton’s, and many more – they all could use your business, even it if is once a month. Fuzzy’s on the edge of downtown is a franchise but it is locally owned by a Brownwood High graduate. Stop in somewhere downtown, get yourself a Downtown Map and Area Guide, walk around and find out what is available. If you want someone to personally walk you around downtown and show you what is available, give me a holler. I’ll be writing more soon about why this “buy local” and revitalization is actually our last and best hope for saving civilization – and there is no hyperbole in that. I get angry when I see people funding their self-destruction and then popping off ignorantly at the expense of local friends and family striving valiantly to save what is left. Join me in supporting local businesses and come downtown for a visit soon.
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Michael Bunker is a local columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose columns appear on Wednesdays and Sundays on the website.