Stacie Anderson of Temple is all smiles as she shows off her tallow-based body care products. Her business, You Say Goodbye and I Say Tallow will be one of more than 100 vendors setting up shop at the Dec. 10 Holiday Market & Food Truck Frenzy in the City Hall parking lot.

100+ vendors coming to Dec. 10 Downtown event

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

Burgers, bread, jewelry, artwork, pet supplies and tallow-based skin products — with more than 100 vendors confirmed, the Temple’s Holiday Market & Food Truck Frenzy likely has something for everyone on your shopping list.

Presented by the Temple Small Business Coalition, Holiday Market will be 2-8 p.m. on Dec. 10 in the City Hall parking lot.

“So far we have close to 20 food truck vendors and more than 100 total booths,” said JD McBride, one of the event’s organizers. 

“And we have musical entertainment — the KCD Band will be playing live that night and they will be incorporating some Christmas music throughout their set,” McBride said. “We will, of course, have a bounce house and the city tree will be up with lights on. There will be lots to do — maybe some photo opportunities.”

One of the many unique vendors who will have pop-up booths at Holiday Market will be You Say Goodbye and I Say Tallow, a business owned by Temple resident Stacie Anderson. Many people expect to find something to eat at the tallow-based business. 

“That happens a lot,” Stacie said with a laugh. “I sell tallow-based women’s body products.”

“Any animal fat can be used to make tallow, but I use beef fat and I process it myself,” she said. “I render it down repeatedly to purify the tallow and get rid of any odors or imperfections.
“Once I have a quality tallow, I make three products — a lip balm, a facial moisturizer and body butter,” she said. “My body butter is a use-all-over general purpose lotion.”

Stacie, who originally hails from Houston but moved to Temple about two years ago, has been making tallow-based body care products for about six months.

“This is a fairly new venture,” she said. “I started out trying to develop something simple and natural for myself that would save me money. Beauty products can cost a pretty penny in stores.”

“I started with a facial moisturizer, then branched out,” she said. “I make things I use. All of my products have just three or four ingredients. I use natural, organic, and when possible, local ingredients.”

Stacie sells her products at pop-ups in Temple and in the Georgetown area. She also takes orders through her Instagram site — goodbyetallow — and is in the process of building a website.

“The Instagram page is perfect for those who want to customize a product,” she said. “Some want to add a scent.”

While Stacie is cautious about growing too fast, she does have some plans for the future.

“Of course having a website will help increase my online presence, and I’m planning on creating some men’s products such as beard oil,” she said. “I also plan to hit more and new markets. I’m exploring some other options as well. But I’m going to take it slow. I don’t want to get my hand in too many pots until I’m more established. It’s great getting feedback at markets.”

In addition to Stacie’s tallow-based products, Holiday Market shoppers also will find a plethora of options such as soaps from Rocky Gutter Soap Co. and Through the Dutch Door, and baked goods from Ed’s Bred, Baked with Grace, Jolene’s Cakes & More, Jessica’s Baking, Funnel Cake Fantasies, Firefly Bake Shop, The Occasional Cupcake, Sweet Enough Cookies and Heike’s Cakes and German Pastries, among others. 

Antiques, body care, jewelry, candles, hummus, crafts and Texas gifts also will be available.

Shoppers who hit the lengthy list of bakeries may want to save those treats for later — there also will be a ton of food truck options at the adjoining Food Truck Frenzy.

According to McBride, booth space is still available. Email TempleSBCoalition@gmail.com.

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56% of America’s pets will receive presents during holidays

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

You better not bark, you better not chew; don’t chase the cat, put down that shoe. Santa Paws is coming to town, and he has a growing number of four-legged friends on his “nice” list.

According to the American Pet Products Association, 70 percent of US households include at least one pet, and 51 percent of pet owners bought a holiday gift for their animal last year — up 4 percent from 2019 — and 56 percent plan to do so this season.

In dog-loving Temple, those numbers might even be higher.

“I always get Beau a few gifts,” said Cyndi Miller of Temple. “A new treat, a dog toy, a new shirt or sweater — whatever he needs.”

Cyndi is hardly alone.

“We do stockings for our pets — dogs, a guinea pig and rabbits,” said Jessica Adkins. “My girls are adamant about it. We fill stockings with treats, toys, new leashes, collars and harnesses if they are needed.”

Need also plays a role in gifts Shannon and Brad Carey give their pets.

“They always get treats and toys,” Shannon said. “Sometimes they get something bigger, depending on what they need around Christmas time.”

Sherry Burnett also plays Santa for her pets.

“Always,” the Temple woman said. “They are a part of the family.”

Pam Griffin Moriarity has two cats — Taz and Cowboy — and this will be their first Christmas as a family.

“They are definitely getting gifts,” Pam said. “They have this special little mouse that’s worn out, so they will get a new one and a few treats — probably some catnip. It’s a good thing they can’t read.”

Mallory Anthony’s Baxter has his photo taken with Santa every year, and he gets gifts “from us and his grandparents.”

Mallory also owns Baxter’s Closet, a pet boutique located inside Vis-A-Vis Galeria, 3 W Mesquite in Rogers. 

“We sell pet clothes, toys, gifts and other animal accessories,” she said. The website is baxterscloset.com.

“My dogs tear up toys in minutes so they only get new toys at Christmas and on their birthdays,” said Maddie Ortis, also of Temple. “We buy pig ears from local vendors so Fitzgerald and Larrold — pit bull brothers — have a special holiday treat. We wrap their presents and they get to open them on Christmas morning.”

Lynda Weatherby’s dogs receive their gifts — usually treats — when the family opens presents.

Demand is high for Christmas gifts for furry family members, and businesses such as Pawsitive Artlook offer shopping solutions.

“A lot of my clients order hand-painted pet-portrait tree ornaments during the holiday season,” said Nicole Carter, owner of the Temple business. “The honor their pets who have passed and those that are still with them.”

“To be able to bring joy and comfort to families is such a blessing,” she said. “I really benefit from getting photos of people’s loved ones sent to me and hearing their stories. I have the best job in the world.”

Nicole, who has been painting pets for about three years, works from her Temple home and sells products through social media (https://linktr.ee/PawsitiveArtlook) and at pop-up booths in Temple and at Razzle Dazzle specialty shop in Belton.

“I have a close working relationship with K9s of Valor and the Wilco K9 unit,” she said. “I paint memorials of their dogs. I also paint canvas magnets, ornaments and I’ve done murals in the past.”

“I specialize in painting pets, but I paint family pictures and other custom artwork as well,” she said. “I also dabble in digital artwork.”

Taylor Tate said she heads to Mobi Dog Pet Salon & Spa to spoil her pets.

“Mobi Dog is a full pet boutique with tons of gifts and treats for Christmas,” she said.

According to the American Pet Products Association, they are sound reasons for an increase in giving Christmas gifts for pets.

Demand for animal companionship soared during COVID-19 related lockdowns, and Americans spent more than $100 billion on pets for the first time in 2020. That figure includes expenses for medical care, food, supplies, services and the cost to buy or adopt the animal.

Given the support that many animals provided in the pandemic, it’s natural for owners to want to pamper their pets. This year, spending on pets is expected to top $110 billion. Pet industry experts compare the influx of new dogs and cats to the baby boom that took place in the years following World War II.

Andrea Felsted of Bloomberg contributed to this report

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Annual event begins at 8 a.m. on Nov. 24 on Pepper Creek Trail

OUR TOWN TEMPLE

Lace up those running shoes and put thoughts of a big feast on hold for a few hours — the 12th running of the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. Thursday at Pepper Creek Trail.

Hosted by the city and presented by Carlson Law Firm, the 5K run will include Pepper Creek and surrounding trails. Guest parking for the run will be available at 6600 Research Loop on Temple’s west side.

According to Allison O’Connor, a spokesperson for the city of Temple, awards will be presented to the overall male and female winners, and the top three finishers in each age group.

Participants can register online at racetemple.com by Nov. 24 for $30.

For more information, visit racetemple.com or call (254) 298-5690.

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Art sale will feature painters from Temple, Belton and Waco

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

Those who have an art-lover on their holiday shopping list are in luck — a Temple studio is having a Dec. 3 event just for you.

The Kris Kringle Artist Caravan, a collection of affordable art by local artists and gifts priced as low as $5, will be at Susan Sterle’s Downtown gallery. Sterle Fine Art Studio is located at 8 N 9th Street in Temple and the event will start at 9 a.m. and end at 5.

“The artists are from the Waco, Temple and Belton areas,” Sterle said. “They all will be presenting two-dimensional art. Items available will include original paintings and prints, and sketchbooks and pencil sets for the budding artists in the family.”

“The event will be inside and on the studio porch, and I will have art outside in a tent,” Sterle said. “This is the first year for the Kris Kringle Artist Caravan, and I hope to make it an annual event.”

Artists participating in the Caravan include Kurt Ritterpusch, Pattie Marek, Melanie Stokes, Jesse Tamez, Doris Wylie Fulton and Sterle.

Sterle is known for her paintings of dogs, horses and other animals, as well as outdoor scenes.

Twenty percent of all sales will benefit the Hope Pregnancy Center.

“This is a very worthy pro-life organization,” she said. “Next year we may have more than one beneficiary. Giving back is so important now and throughout the year.”

For more information about the art and Sterle Fine Art Studio, visit https://www.facebook.com/sterlefineartstudio.

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RENEE MORALES | HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Looking for the perfect gifts for your loved ones? Holy Trinity Catholic High School will host its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 3.  

Doors will open at 10 a.m. and more than 40 vendors will be selling a variety of wares, crafts and gifts. There also will be entertainment, food and door prizes.

Featured sponsors for this year’s Holiday Bazaar are Big Bru’s Pantry and St. Mary Catholic Church Altar Society.

Holy Trinity Catholic High School seeks to form the Christian leaders of tomorrow and strives to develop the intellect, educate the heart and form the character of each student by giving witness to Gospel values.

For more information, please call (254) 771-0787 

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McBride & The Ride to perform at fundraising event for Bell County Youth Fair scholarship fund

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

This year’s Chisholm Trail Christmas Ball, an annual gala benefiting the Bell County Youth Fair scholarship fund, will feature music by the legendary McBride & The Ride.

The Christmas Ball will be Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Bell County Expo Center beginning at 6 p.m.

“This event benefits local 4H, FFA and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America groups,” said Sheryl Long, a 4H leader with Bell County AgriLife. “We always have big-name country entertainers, and McBride & The Ride is big.”

Tickets are available by the table or individually. Long said there are three levels of table seating — each table seats eight people — ranging in price from $500 to $1,500 per table. Individual tickets are $75.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call Cheri O’Braden at (254) 933-5309.

Known for their three-part harmonies and honky-tonk sound, the McBride & The Ride consists of Terry McBride on lead vocals and bass guitar, Ray Herndon on vocals and guitary, and Billy Thomas on background vocals and drums. The band broke up in 1995 and reformed with the original members in 2021.

As McBride & The Ride, they released 90’s country hits such as Sacred Ground, Going Out of My Mind, Just One Night and Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run.

Although they have had immense success as a band, all three members have had success outside of McBride & The Ride.

Terry has become an established Nashville songwriter. He has written songs for Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire and others.  Ray is Lyle Lovett’s longtime lead guitarist and he co-wrote Kenny Chesney’s Me and You. Billy is Vince Gill’s longtime drummer and he also has performed with Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Steve Wariner and Earl Scruggs.

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Rotary Club will be collecting food for pantries, money for Salvation Army during separate Downtown events on Dec. 2

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

The Rotary Club of Temple will be making a difference during the Dec. 2 First Friday for two local organizations.

The club’s “Fill the Truck” campaign is designed to alleviate low levels of food supplies at Temple-area food pantries. A decorated Rotary Club of Temple pickup truck will be parked in front of Tour Temple/Corky’s, 13 S 2nd Street, from 4-8 p.m. during First Friday.

“The goal is to fill the truck with food items,’ said Rotary Club of Temple president Jason Duckworth. “We will be collecting canned goods, boxed goods and other nonperishable food items. Everything collected will be provided to the Temple Christian Outreach. This is a great way for us to help make a difference.”

Rotarian Rod Henry added: “We invite and encourage everyone to be part of the solution and help restock food bank shelves.”

Two blocks west of Corky’s and the Fill The Truck project, a second Rotary Club of Temple campaign will be held on South 1st Street in front of Fire Base Brewing Co. 

Henry, who also serves as president of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, will be dressed as an elf in support of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

Henry will be ringing the bell from 4:45 to 8 p.m. and collecting money for Salvation Army programs and projects.

Also at the 1st Street location will be a Toy Drive Block Party, which collects toys and books for the Temple Police Department’s Blue Santa Campaign, which provides Christmas gifts for Temple children in need.

Those attending the block party should bring a new unwrapped toy, book or stuffed animal. Those who contribute to the Blue Santa project will receive $1 off their first Fire Base beer.

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First Friday street party also to feature live music by Garrett Smith, vendors, cold beer and The Elf

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

A downtown street party will help provide hundreds of toys, books and stuffed animals to Temple kids in need.

Sammy G’s fifth annual toy drive will be Friday, Dec. 2, on South 1st Street in front of Fire Base Brewing Company, and donations will go toward the Temple Police Department’s Blue Santa Project. 

Blue Santa provides Christmas gifts for Temple children age 14 and under who may not otherwise receive a present.

“There’s a big need right here in our hometown,” said Sammy ‘G’ Gamino, who started the toy drive five years ago along with the King Solomon Lodge in Temple. “Together, we can bring smiles to children’s faces this Christmas.”

JD McBride, co-owner of Fire Base, said First Friday customers are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy or book to the block party.

“We’re going to sweeten the deal — bring in a new toy and we’ll take a buck off your first beer,” McBride said.

This is Fire Base’s third year to team with Sammy G and the Blue Santa program.

“This is growing by leaps and bounds,” Gamino said. “It’s only going to grow bigger every year.”

McBride said he hopes the drive and Blue Santa as a whole becomes a huge community event. It’s definitely getting there.

“Blue Santa has been around since 2012,” McBride said. “Our party is kind of the finish line. All the toys, books, stuffed animals and cash donations will be given to Blue Santa so they can wrap up the gifts.”

The Blue Santa Project has helped more than 3,000 local children have a merry Christmas. This year, 174 families and 433 kids are registered to be served by the toy drive.

The Temple-based Garrett Smith Band will be performing, and Sammy G will provide entertainment for the last hour of the block party. Several other events have been lined up and vendors will be selling Christmas gifts and other items.

“We are going to have a special guest — The Elf,” McBride said. “He will be joining us with the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle.”

The Elf is Rod Henry, president of the Temple Chamber of Commerce.

“This is something I’ve done for several years,” Henry said. “I started out reading holiday books to students in Terre Haute and at Tarver Elementary School on Temple’s west side.”

“About four years ago I started ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. I have a heck of a lot of fun joking with everyone — taking photos with those who stop by, giving high fives and collecting contributions to the Salvation Army.”

“Yes, I dress as an elf — sometimes I have several layers of clothes on and still freeze,” he said. “It’s interesting how many people turn away from me or won’t make eye contact. That’s when I activate the singing hat. About 50 percent of the time that gets a positive reaction and a donation.”

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On the road again. I just can’t wait to get back on the road again. Eatin’  turkey, watchin’ football with family ‘n’ friends. I can’t wait to get on the road again.

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and a whopping 54.6 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home to enjoy the holiday and the trimmings with family or friends.

AAA predicts a 1.5 percent increase in the number of travelers this Thanksgiving compared to last year. Turkey Day 2022 is expected to be the third busiest since AAA started tracking in 2000. The busiest Thanksgivings for travel were 2005 and 2019.

“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” says Paula Twidale, AAA’s Senior Vice President of Travel. “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.”

Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car. While Thanksgiving road trips have slightly risen – up 0.4 percent from 2021 – car travel remains 2.5 percent below 2019 levels.

Air travel is up nearly 8 percent over 2021, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations this year. That’s an increase of more than 330,000 travelers and nearly 99 percent of the 2019 volume. 

“Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Twidale said. “Anticipate long lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.”

Americans are also using other modes of transportation for holiday travel. More than 1.4 million travelers are going out of town for Thanksgiving by bus, train or cruise ship. That’s an increase of 23 perfent from 2021 and 96 perent of the 2019 volume. 

Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman based in Chicago, told Our Town Temple this week that the passenger rail service is encouraging customers to book now for what is expected to be a busy holiday travel season.

“Instead of sitting in traffic or a middle seat, travelers can ride in comfort and celebrate this holiday with ease,” he said. 

He also said Temple residents may notice additional Amtrak trains passing through for a couple weeks. The railway will increase the number of trains operating from Nov. 18 to Nov. 28.

Twidale added that since travel restrictions are a thing of the past, more and more people are feeling comfortable taking public transportation.

“It’s no surprise buses, trains and cruises are coming back in a big way,” she said. “Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination. If your schedule is flexible, consider off-peak travel times during the holiday rush.”

AAA contributed to this report

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Vineyard Voice to perform Christmas concerts on Dec. 4-5

The popular Vineyard Voice chamber vocal ensemble will present its annual Christmas concert — Light of the World — at Immanuel Baptist Church on Dec. 4. A second show is set for Dec. 5 at LifeWay Fellowship in Killeen.

The Temple show begins at 6 p.m. and the Killeen show at 7:30.

The 30-member Vineyard Voice, a downsized version of Central Texas Master Singers, performs throughout the year, primarily at local churches. 

“We employ our orchestra for Christmas concerts and occasionally for spring shows,” said Steven Kirkpatrick, founder and conductor of the choir. “The orchestra is made of professional musicians who also play in area symphonies, band and orchestra directors, and a few advanced and award-winning high school and college students.”

The ensemble formed in 2009 as Central Texas Master Singers and has delivered more than 225 performances — about 10 a year — at churches around Bell, Coryell and Williamson counties.

“We created Central Texas Master Singers with a passion of bringing God-honoring music to the masses,” Kirkpatrick said. “That vision hasn’t changed. We are just a smaller group now.”

“Although the name has changed and the number of singers is fewer, our goal remains the same – to enrich lives through choral music.”

Tickets for the Temple performance are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Advance registration can be made at www.goctms.com or www.vineyardvoice.com, by calling (254) 258-6844 or through any Vineyard Voice singer.

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