On Center
by BRENDA STEWART
Looks like the main event in downtown this week is the current round of county redistricting proposals. Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones has scheduled a community meeting tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. and another on Thursday, from 1-3 p.m. at the county offices, 111 Front Street in Kyle. In addition to the question and answer sessions, all of the proposed maps will be on view Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m in the foyer of the county building. The first of three public hearings will be held on Monday, July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Hays County Courthouse.
Now’s the time to get involved and express your opinion about how the county should be represented. There’s talk of splintering Hometown Kyle from Pct. 2 and putting it in a district with Dripping Springs. You’ve got to see these maps to believe them. Redistricting only happens every 10 years so, this is your chance to get involved and let these folks you put into office know what’s on your mind.
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Even though it’s still a couple of weeks until the next Market Days, we actually have a cool little market every day just a couple of blocks west of the square. The Motley Menagerie, that little green and purple house, offers homemade lunches and desserts, and teas from all over the world. If you wander from room to room, you’ll find handcrafted local gifts as well as vintage clothing, a bit of kitsch and some surprisingly well-priced antiques. The Motley is open every day but Sunday for lunch and they offer a home cooked breakfast on Saturday mornings.
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And, just to give you the heads-up, the original spelling of Center Street was Centre Street on all the old maps and there’s been some rumbling around here lately about changing it back to it’s given spelling. I’m in. I wouldn’t British-it-up for tourism, but, taking it back to the original seems legitimate. Any takers?
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And anyone who travels Center Street has to be noticing all the head-turning activity happening on the corner. The Barton-Word Building will house the new offices of the Hays Free Press as well as some very cool downtown lofts upstairs. It’s been crazy to watch that vacant lot morph into this incredible structure. My hat’s off to those guys busting it in this heat all day, they wear me out just watching them. Then, just a couple of blocks west, the new library is actually stopping traffic. Drive by and take a look, it’s already beautiful.
