Features

Currently, five million people have passed from COVID-19. Photo from Metro Creative

Exploring Nature: Pathogens

Sun, 12/26/2021 - 4:00am

When I think of dangerous animals and life-threatening diseases, I tend to consider lions, tigers and sharks for the animals and cancer for the disease. In truth, it’s not big animals we need to fear most, it’s tiny ones, like ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. And various plagues down through the ages have killed more people than any other single cause. Back in 165 A. D., soldiers returning to Europe from the Near East carried a virus causing smallpox. It ravaged a generation and killed five million people. In 542, bubonic plague, carried by fleas on rats, killed about 20 million people in Asia, North Africa, Arabia and Europe.

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“Portrait of Bill Hutson Next to a Window,” c. 1981, sepia photograph, 11 x 14 inches. Artwork courtesy of the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College. All rights reserved. Photo by A. J. Meek

Bill Hutson’s “Homestead” with signs, symbols and numbers, acrylic on canvas, 1979–1990, 83 ¾ x 113 ¾ inches. Artwork courtesy of the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College. All rights reserved. Photo by Madelynn Mesa

Area galleries collaborate to honor lifetime achievements of Bill Hutson

Sun, 12/26/2021 - 4:00am

The Art of Bill Hutson is a citywide exhibition celebrating the work of artist and San Marcos-native Bill Hutson. Five separate and overlapping gallery shows will serve as a homecoming of sorts for Hutson, born in 1936 and raised in the Dunbar neighborhood of San Marcos, who later became one of the most innovative artists of his generation.

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Melinda and Nick Fore transformed their love of plants and vintage travel trailers into a pop-up nursery that sells live plants at a variety of local events and markets.

“You can just call us South Austin Succulents.” Leaf Porn has a plethora of succulents in stock. Photos by Melinda Fore

Don’t stop be-leafing

Sun, 12/26/2021 - 4:00am

It’s a phrase that seems all-too-common these days: “When I lost my job due to COVID…” Yet for many people, Melinda and Nick Fore included, it presented an opportunity for new growth.

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A monarch butterfly samples the almond bush verbena's blooms.

This scarlet-bodied wasp moth also enjoys taking a sip.

A great purple hairstreak also loves the sweet nectar of the almond bush verbena. Photos by Norman Winter

Love, fragrance & butterflies: Get the sweet almond bush verbena this spring

Sun, 12/26/2021 - 4:00am

If you love flowers that are fragrant with non-stop bee and butterfly activity, then the sweet almond verbena or tree verbena is a must for your landscape. Those traits, coupled with drought tolerance and ease of growing, were just some of the reasons it was chosen as the Florida Plant of the Year in 2008 and will be a winner in San Marcos too.

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Above, a turkey sandwich from Alvin Ord's, which comes with premium roast turkey breast with cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayonnaise. Daily Record photos by Nick Castillo & Lance Winter

Foodie Friday: Alvin Ord's

Thu, 12/23/2021 - 1:52pm

Few dining places conjure up the feelings of warmth and nostalgia the way Alvin Ord’s Sandwich Shop can. Just walking into its location on University Drive and it’s an immersion of the senses.

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Jason Giulietti

The growth of regional distribution in economic development

Wed, 12/22/2021 - 6:01pm

If you're receiving your last-minute gifts and supplies for the holiday season today, it is due to the efforts and hard work of our regional distribution and fulfillment centers.

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M. Ray Perryman

The Economist: Getting ahead

Wed, 12/22/2021 - 5:58pm

The latest jobs report for Texas is replete with good news. November data shows strength across the economy and a new record for total state employment.

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Photo from Metro Creative

Answers to Go

Sun, 12/19/2021 - 5:00am

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY 625 E. H S.

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Photo from Metro Creative

The Journey Continues: Christmas Nativity play, Part Two

Sun, 12/19/2021 - 5:00am

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series; it completes the script of a traditional Christmas Nativity play.

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Tickets available now for Broadway in Austin’s performances of ‘Hadestown’

Sun, 12/19/2021 - 5:00am

Texas Performing Arts will present Broadway In Austin’s “Hadestown” Jan. 11 - 16, 2022 at Bass Concert Hall. Tickets start at $35 and are available at texasperformingarts.org and BroadwayinAustin.com; by phone at (512) 477-1444, or from the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at Bass Concert Hall.