Features Editor

Laura Benavides stands beneath the treehouse in her Private Park, which features accommodations for everything from children’s birthday parties to packages for a Valentine’s Day date night. Photo by Jason Cook

Private Park: Benavides opens event space for socially-distanced holidays

Sun, 02/07/2021 - 5:00am

Imagine a Valentine’s date night under the stars in a socially-distanced private park. In San Marcos, all it takes is an acre of land, a dreamer, and a plan.

Read more about Private Park: Benavides opens event space for socially-distanced holidays

San Marcos residents Victoria Rhemann and Laura Benavides have come up with a plan to help combat these figures: Mobile food pantries that will allow an exchange of nonperishable food items in neighborhoods where they are needed most. Submitted photo

Feeding the community

Sun, 01/24/2021 - 12:00am

As we search through a fridge full of leftovers or comb through a pantry of dried pasta or canned goods in search of an afternoon snack, it may seem surprising for many to learn that a number families and college students in San Marcos qualify as food insecure, meaning that they do not have reliable access to a sufficient amount of affordable, nutritious food.

Read more about Feeding the community

A diverse group of San Marcos citizens turned out for last year’s MLK Day parade and celebration. This year, the celebration and wreath-laying event will be shared virtually on the DHA Facebook page.

Right, 2020 events included a wreath-laying at the MLK memorial on the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and LBJ. Left, participants marched in a parade downtown. Photos submitted by Jonafa Banbury, Dunbar Heritage Association

Common-Unity

Sun, 01/17/2021 - 5:00am

Dunbar Heritage Association will host a virtual wreath-laying ceremony on Monday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. The physical event will be filmed earlier in the day, but will be shared online via the Dunbar Heritage Association Facebook page @DunbarHeritage.

Read more about Common-Unity

San Marcos-born hip-hop R&B creator Victor Uzimaki.

Uzimaki as his stage persona, Wevo Lorng.

(Left) With a style that’s part The Weeknd, part Post Malone, Wevo Lorng performs at Bad Habits Hookah Lounge.

(Right) Victor with his Brother, Raymond, who took him in after becoming homeless in 2016. Submitted photos.

San Marcos Son

Sun, 11/22/2020 - 5:00am

Times of strife and hardship will define a person’s character. When faced with crisis, a person can either choose to face it or continue to run away. For San Marcos-born hip-hop and R&B creator Victor Uzimaki, the choice to stand and face his conflicts has been a long and difficult fight, but he’s used it to build up a well of strength, one he hopes to someday channel into something far larger than himself.

Read more about San Marcos Son

Madame Clare is a work curated for an exhibit at The Walker's Gallery in which artists focused on a human virtue. For this piece, Nagel's topic was clarity.

Art in small spaces

Sun, 11/15/2020 - 5:00am

San Marcos assemblage artist Joan Nagel creates big worlds in tiny spaces. Her miniature rooms look like small stages, each intricately-detailed, inviting the viewer to get close, to examine each item, and to be part of the story. Assemblage is a type of 3-D mixed

Read more about Art in small spaces

Area organizations form Hays County Local Homeless Coalition

Sun, 11/15/2020 - 5:00am

The Hays County Local Homeless Coalition formally established a local homeless coalition for San Marcos and Hays County during a recent meeting.

Read more about Area organizations form Hays County Local Homeless Coalition

Allenwood site staff stand with their new delivery van, donated by St. David’s Foundation. Pictured from left to right:Annlise Hernandez, office assisnant; Jerry the driver and office assistant; Liz Denson, site manager; and Karen Walpole, Combined Community Action communications director. Photo by Celeste Hollister

Grant helps Meals on Wheels purchase new van to serve area seniors

Sun, 11/08/2020 - 5:00am

This October, Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area (MOWRCA) received a brand new reason to be grateful. The program, which provides meals to local senior citizens and veterans, received a new delivery van through a grant from the St. David’s Foundation.

Read more about Grant helps Meals on Wheels purchase new van to serve area seniors

Paper Bear, a favorite downtown shot, announced it will close. Above, Carol Powers cradles the Paper Bear shop cat, Dia, the fourth in a line of cats who have called the store their home. Daily Record photos by Celeste Hollister

Downtown legend Paper Bear to close doors after temporary reprieve

Sun, 11/08/2020 - 5:00am

Last November, nearly a year ago, Carol Powers made the difficult decision to close the doors of her beloved gift shop, Paper Bear. The weighty work of shutting down began as Powers, her husband David, and long-time employee, Cathy Natal, took stock of their inventory and made plans for a slow, meaningful exit from their retail space on the Square.

Read more about Downtown legend Paper Bear to close doors after temporary reprieve

Trophies for the winners of the 2019 Dia de los Muertos 5K. Photo courtesy of Photography by Ric, Rick Martinez

Día de los Muertos 5K to honor those lost to COVID-19

Sun, 11/01/2020 - 5:00am

Most countries around the world set aside a day for commemorating the lives of those who are no longer with us. One such holiday, Día de los Muertos, occurs every November to acknowledge the lives of loved ones who have passed away. Though it is called Day of the Dead, it does not celebrate death.