Cookin' up something special for holiday market
Bakers, artists, farmers among 75 booths coming to local event
Elizabeth Savage, owner of Never Enough Bread Company, specializes in egg-free sourdough breads, as well as scones and cookies. Never Enough Bread will be one of about 75 vendors at this year’s St. Nicholas Market in Temple. Courtesy
St. Nicholas Market is Nov. 1 & 2 at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
Central Texas artists and artisans are busy painting, sewing, baking and decorating in preparation for the upcoming St. Nicholas Market at Christ Episcopal Church, 300 N Main in Temple.
The event is a local holiday market held annually on the first Friday and Saturday in November at the church. This year’s market is Nov. 1 and 2 from 9 to 4 p.m. each day.
Market proceeds from vendor space sales and a raffle support outreach ministries of the Christ Episcopal.
“Last year we had more than 750 guests, and this year we expect 1,000-plus to visit the market,” said Ami Hopper, one of the event organizers. “As of today, there are 75 vendors signed up to participate.”
On Friday, there will be booths inside the church, and on Saturday additional vendors will be set up outside. Indoor booths are $1.25 per square foot and outdoor spaces are $50. The market is free for shoppers.
“This is an outstanding market with exceptional merchandise,” Hopper said. “All items will be handmade.”
There will be a massive variety of booths at St. Nicholas Market, and some will be quite tasty. Elizabeth Savage of Never Enough Bread, for instance, will be selling her signature sourdough breads, scones and Christmas cookies.
“I started selling my breads about a year ago,” Savage said. “I had been baking for my family, but I was making more than they could eat. In my mind, there’s never enough bread, so that inspired the name of my business.”
Savage follows Texas’ Cottage Laws for selling home-prepared foods, so she can’t ship her products.
“I take orders online, then customers pick up their orders from my Copperas Cove porch on Wednesday evenings,” she said. “I also sell at pop-up markets in the area, and I’m really looking forward to the Temple market (St. Nicholas Market.)”
Savage lists all allergens on the label of her products and most do not contain eggs.
“My son son has severe egg allergies, so I started baking so he could have cookies and bread,” she said. “I’ve continued that.”
In addition to talented artists and crafters, the St. Nicholas Market will feature visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus both days.
“Santa will be there all day, both days,” Hopper said. “It’s a great photo opportunity — bring your camera, your kids, your dog.”
Hopper said food trucks will be located at the church for those who work up a hunger while shopping.
Temple College students walk across campus on the first day of the fall 2024 semester. Steve Lemmons photo
Continued fall 2024 growth expected at Temple College
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
Temple College continued its trend of year-over-year enrollment growth this fall, notching an 11 percent increase over last fall and a 22 percent increase since fall 2021.
As of Monday morning, Oct. 14, Temple College’s credit headcount enrollment was 5,381 – an increase of 559 students since fall 2023. Since 2021, fall headcount enrollment has increased by more than 980 students.
Administrators expect continued increases this fall as the college is enrolling for the semester’s second round of eight-week classes, which begins Oct. 21.
Headcount enrollment numbers represent those students enrolled in credit courses, said Dr. Christy Ponce, president of Temple College. The College has an additional 3,000 students who are enrolled in workforce training and Adult Education & Literacy programs, bringing Temple College’s overall enrollment to more than 8,000 students.
“In addition to the students in our college-credit programs, we are educating thousands more who are earning certificates and credentials to enter the workforce,” Ponce said. “Our Adult Education & Literacy programs, including English as a Second Language and high school equivalency courses, continue to grow as well.”
Much of this semester’s growth is driven by a substantial increase — more than 30 percent — in high school students taking dual-credit courses.
“Temple College is experiencing growth in so many areas — from enrollment and scholarships to the physical construction on campus and the number of programs we offer,” Ponce said. “Enrollment continues to rise as we expand opportunities and outreach throughout our service area. We now offer more than 80 academic, certificate and workforce programs to serve our growing population in Central Texas.”
The increase in dual-credit students can be attributed, in large part, to the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) scholarship program for dual-credit students on free or reduced lunch, established by the passing of House Bill 8 in 2023.
“The FAST scholarship program allows more students from our service area to participate in dual-credit courses at little-to-no cost,” said Dr. Susan Guzmán-Treviño, Temple College provost and vice president for Academic Affairs & Student Services. “This provides wonderful opportunities for these students to take college courses and identify career pathways.”
Temple College also offers several dual-credit programs in service-area high schools, including Legacy Early College High School in Taylor, Early College High School in Hutto, and the Texas Bioscience Institute in Temple and Hutto.
“For the past several years, Temple College’s recruitment and outreach teams have been spending time in elementary, middle and high schools throughout our service area to introduce students to college opportunities and to create a college-going culture,” Guzmán-Treviño said. “We want these children to know that college is attainable, that high-paying careers are attainable. Our hope is that we continue to help these students find the right educational pathway to lead them to bright futures.”
To accommodate the continued growth, Temple College’s physical footprint continues to expand with the construction of four new buildings in Temple and expanded operations and opportunities at campuses and centers in Taylor, Hutto and Rockdale.
“We’re excited about the future of Temple College,” Ponce said. “We’re excited to celebrate the successes of our alumni, guide our current students to successful careers and help them transfer to universities, and we are excited to invite new students to our campuses to begin their educational journeys.”
Pianist Joyce Yang performs at the Aspen Music Festival earlier this year. The 2005 Van Cliburn silver medalist is coming to Temple on Oct. 19 for a show at the Cultural Activities Center. Courtesy
Big concerts coming to CAC
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
The Cultural Activities Center stage is about to become a happening place.
In the next two months, the North Temple concert venue will host three big-name performers, including 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist Joyce Yang, plus music legends Rodney Crowell and John Hiatt.
Yang will be the first to perform with a CAC show at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.
“We’re excited to have Joyce perform for us,” said Annette Farmer, the CAC’s executive director. “This concert is a collaboration between the Central Texas Orchestral Society and the Temple Symphony Orchestra.”
Tickets to the Yang show are $40 for adults and $15 for students with a school ID. Purchases can be made at cacarts.org.
Born in 1986 in Seoul, South Korea, Yang received her first piano lesson from her aunt at age 4. She quickly took to the instrument, which she received as a birthday present. Over the next few years won several national piano competitions in her native country.
By the age of 10, she had entered the School of Music at the Korea National University of Arts, and went on to make a number of concerto and recital appearances in Seoul and Daejeon.
Yang moved to the United States in 1997 to begin studies at the pre-college division of the Juilliard School. During her first year at Juilliard, Yang won the pre-college division Concerto Competition, resulting in a performance of Haydn’s Keyboard Concerto in D with the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra.
After winning the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Greenfield Student Competition, she performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with that orchestra at just 12 years old. She graduated from Juilliard with special honors as the recipient of the school’s 2010 Arthur Rubinstein Prize, and in 2011 she won its 30th Annual William A. Petschek Piano Recital Award.
In the past decade, Yang has performed with the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the BBC Philharmonic and orchestras in Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand.
Rodney Crowell will take to the CAC stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tickets are $65 in advance and $70 at the door.
Crowell is well known for his work as a country singer and songwriter, and he had five No. 1 singles on his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt.
John Hiatt will be in Temple on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $70 in advance and $75 at the door.
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Hilltop Recovery Ministries to soon begin overnight service
Facility to host 10 women at South Ninth Street facility
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
Hilltop Recovery Ministries, an organization that helps women deal with life struggles, hopes to begin providing living space for its customers by Jan. 13.
The non-profit is housed in the former Cora Anderson Negro Hospital, 509 S Ninth Street in Temple, helps women deal with issues such as homelessness, mental health, addiction, human trafficking and abuse. It has been in operation in Temple since 2019 and has been renovating the old hospital for the past year.
Tanya Roper, executive director of Hilltop, said the day-time facility will soon provide living space for the women the organization serves.
“The renovated facility has been open for our day programs for a few months while we raised money for a new fire-suppression system,” she said. “Thanks to support from the community, we’ve raised the needed $90,000.”
“A fire suppression system is a code requirement in order to offer residential recovery services,” Roper said. “We have already started working with the construction company to complete the design and work will start in the next couple of weeks.”
Late last year, Hilltop Recovery Ministries, under Roper’s leadership, reached an agreement with Bell County to lease the former Cora Anderson hospital. Renovation began early this year.
“We now offer intensive outpatient support to the women — this adds structure to the mission,” Roper said. “Clients must agree to engage in education for 17 hours a week for a minimum of 30 days. They must do this in order to receive help at Hilltop.”
Roper said the Hilltop Recovery center features five bedrooms with two women in each room, plus a workout room equipped with yoga and exercise equipment, an art therapy room, laundry facilities, a full kitchen and a smaller kitchen for preparing snacks.
In addition to the live-in clients, the facility will continue its daytime “drop-in” services.
Hilltop Recovery Ministries will hold its annual fund-raising banquet on Saturday, Nov. 2, at The Hole in the Wall, 104 E Central in Belton. The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/4db5rb8k.
For more information, contact Tanya Roper at (254) 239-7623.
Around Town
Plaza Picture Show to feature Coco
A Dia de Muertos celebration at Santa Fe Plaza on Nov. 1 will include a showing of the popular movie, Coco.
The fun starts at 6 p.m. and the movie will be shown at dusk. Be sure and bring lawn chairs, favorite snacks and blankets.
This event is free and open to the public.
Play set for Oct. 25-26 at Backstage Theatre
The local premier of a play penned by Temple College English professor Chistopher Krejci will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the Jackson-Graeter Backstage Theatre.
The play, The Tragical, Comical, Historical Adventures of Pinocchio, will be performed by Temple College Theatre and Musical Theatre students, according to Dr. Sara Baker, dean of Temple College’s Fine Arts Division.
“This is theater for young audiences,” Baker said. “It’s a retelling of the classic Pinocchio story designed for school-age audiences. This story is the timeless tale but offers different theatrical styles.”
Tickets for The Tragical, Comical, Historical Adventures of Pinocchio $5 for non-students and free for TC students with a school ID. They can be purchased at centraltexastickets.com.
Wet fun at Halloween Splash Bash
Get ready for a night of fun at the Halloween Splash Bash from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Sammons Indoor Pool, 2220 W Ave. D in Temple.
The event will feature a floating pumpkin patch and bobbing for pumpkins. Participants just might find spooky surprises.
Get creative at the Halloween-themed crafts station, or test your skills with thrilling poolside games that will keep everyone entertained.
Splash Bash is $5 per person.
Fright Fest set for Halloween night
The big night of “chill season” is Halloween night, and the city of Temple will be providing a spooky but safe alternative to door-to-door trick or treating.
Fright Fest at Santa Fe Plaza will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will offer the community an evening of tricks and treats featuring a costume contest and family friendly activities.
“Fright Fest is so fun to organize and work,” said Megan Price, public relations coordinator for the city of Temple. “Getting to see kids, teens and adults dressed up and celebrating a fun holiday in a safe environment is so rewarding.”
According to Price, a Prize Patrol will be wandering the grounds randomly presenting prizes for great costumes.
Along with trick or treating and spooky music, local businesses, organizations and city departments will be participating and setting up booths in “the fright zone.”
Fright Fest is a free event and no registration is required to attend.
Haunted Hayride tickets on sale
The 11th annual Haunted Hayride will soon transform the tranquil countryside near the Leon River into a realm of mysteries and ghostly surprises.
The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Reuben D. Talasek Bend of the River, located on the east side of I-35 just north of Belton.
Guests can climb aboard one of eight tractor-drawn trailers for a 10- to 15-minute hayride and a spooky tour full of scary scenes and creepy characters.
The creep-o-meter for the hayride registers medium-low, so all ages are welcome and families will enjoy this fall adventure.
“The Haunted Hayride is a local favorite, and we are diligently preparing to provide some scary fun,” said Amanda Weckbacher, Temple Parks & Recreation’s special events coordinator. “Make sure to secure your spot to experience it.”
Tickets to this year’s hayride are $7 in advance and $12 at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventeny.com/events/hauntedhayride2024-14826/
TCT Fall Fest is Oct. 19
The fifth annual Temple Civic Theatre Fall Fest has been set for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TCT campus, 2413 S 13th Street in Temple.
The festival will include live entertainment, vendors, a pumpkin patch, face painting, food trucks, kids activities and the hugely popular TCT rummage sale.
“We accept donations all year, and we will be selling some of our costumes from past performances,” said Natasha Tolleson, TCT’s artistic director.
Vendors can contact the TCT box office at (254) 778-4751 Ext 1 to secure a booth.