Hawn developers eye 2023 opening
New and renovated buildings along Central Avenue in Downtown Temple will become home to more than a dozen new retail shops, eateries and office spaces, and they could be open by summer. According to Jonathan Garza, director of development for Waco-based Turner Brothers, the first floors of the former Sears building, the old Hawn Hotel and the new 4th Street Parking Garage will be leased as retail and office space.
FIRST OUT OF 950+ PAINTINGS
Susan Sterle won first place in the Western category of Plein Air Magazine’s November art contest with her painting, Let’s Go for a Spin. The painting will be entered in the annual competition in May
BEAU KNOWS CONDUCTING
Beau Benson is an distinguished and experienced conductor who will lead the Temple Symphony Orchestra’s Jan. 28 performance. Benson is one of four finalist hoping to replace the retired Thomas Fairlie as TSO’s next conductor and artistic director.
GOING FOR A HAT TRICK
The owner of a Temple-based soccer club is opening a new Downtown sports bar complete with food, drinks and an indoor four-on-four soccer field. Manuel Velasquez, owner of Coyotes FC, a pair of Fort Hood food trucks and a Colombian food delivery service, is opening Hat-Trick Sports Barat 217 N Main in the former L&M Electronics building.
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
This photo of a Blue Jay by Daniel Kelch was taken a couple days after the Dec. 17 Bell County Bird Count, but it was captured in the general area near Salado where the count was administered. This year, 27 members and friends of the Twin Lakes Audubon Society counted 112 species inside the 15-mile diameter circle northeast of Salado.
Classic with a twist
Get ready classical music fans: Two big concerts featuring small but talented ensembles are coming to the Cultural Activities Center this month. The Merz Trio — featuring a violinist, a pianist and a cellist — will bring their big sound to the CAC on Saturday, Jan. 21, for a 7:30 p.m. concert. Tickets are $25.
2023 to be big music year
Season tickets to the eight-show Texas Music Series are now on sale at cacarts.org and the Cultural Arts Center, 3011 N 3rd Street in Temple.
Local group forms Hospice House
A local group has formed with the purpose of opening a non-profit hospice care house in Central Texas for families needing a place for a loved one to spend their final days.
GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
A Bell County family is taking the lead in restoring the grave of a Donahue woman who died 160 years ago after falling into quicksand.
WINTER ‘PIE’ NEEDS FRITOS
The No. 1 sign that it’s cold in Texas? The Frito shelf is bare at H-E-B. I’m sorry, Amanda Sheppard, but it’s happening again.