Brownwood Juneteenth Celebration & Other Activities

Saturday June 18, 2005
Juneteenth parade rolls this morning
"If we are going to make a difference as fathers, we need to do it now. The decision is practical. It has to do with bedtimes, Saturday football games, stories, and hamburgers; and it has to do with carving those times out of busy lives -- today." -- Rob Parsons, American author
By Candace Cooksey Fulton -- Brownwood Bulletin
Who knew? We would no more than blink last Saturday, and here it is Saturday again. This, of course, is an important Saturday in June -- the third one of the month -- the day before the third Sunday of June, which is Father's Day.
Of course, it's happened before in June, in Texas, and it will happen again, that Father's Day coincides with Juneteenth, which is always June 19, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when Union Gen. Gordon Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, thus belatedly bringing about the freeing of 250,000 slaves in Texas.
Here in Brown County, today, Juneteenth celebrations and support and fund-raising activities to benefit the R.F. Hardin Museum will be going on.
But there are plenty of other activities too. So keep reading, and as soon as possible, start doing.
Mini Job Fair
Demand Staff is sponsoring a mini job fair from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart. Several Brownwood businesses and manufacturers will have job applications available for prospective employees. Texas Workforce Commission will be there providing job applications for Kohler, Superior Essex and other area industries.
Serious about compost?
Here's your chance to learn how easy it is to compost and how it will benefit your garden. Keep Brownwood Beautiful is offering a class on "how to compost" at 6 p.m. this evening at the demonstration site, the City of Brownwood Sanitation Department and KBB built at the recycling center on FM 45.
Compost improves the texture of any type of soil and provides a number of benefits, such as, allowing the soil to hold more water for a longer period of time, acting as a slow-release fertilizer, providing a wide range of nutrients, enzymes, and vitamins, drawing beneficial insects and earthworms, keeping the soil cooler in the summer and reducing what goes into the landfill.
In Texas, almost 25 percent of the solid waste produced is yard waste and food scraps, explained Cary Perrin, executive director for KBB.
"That means the majority of citizens throw items into the landfill system that could be used a better way -- like for compost," Perrin said.
The class this evening will consist of the basics of why composting is a good idea, what compost is, how to compost, what to compost, and also, examples of various composting systems.
Each participant is encouraged to bring yard waste and food scraps. The site is outdoors, so wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for mosquitoes.
By the way, each participant will be entered into a drawing for a home composting bin, and, after class, there will be refreshments.
Juneteenth Parade ... and more
It's an important remembrance for all who cherish freedom, and today, a Juneteenth parade, which begins at 11 a.m. at the Brownwood Coliseum and will circle around downtown and conclude at Cecil Holman Park, is intended to celebrate the occasion. At the parade's conclusion, at the park, a program on the history of the day will be presented. Featured will be a recitation of the Emancipation Proclamation by Tom Bowden, music by Herb Colbert, a presentation by children and remarks by Harriett Wilson.
Throughout the day Saturday, starting as early as 9 a.m., the park will host a children's area, car show, softball game, obstacle course and swimming. Free hot dogs will be served from 2 to 3 p.m.
The local Juneteenth" celebration has for a number of years been a fund-raising effort for the R.F. Hardin Museum, and more than 100 diners enjoyed a soul food lunch on Friday at the Bennie Houston Community Center. Anyone wishing to contribute to that fund may send a check or money order to the R.F. Hardin Museum, Inc.; P.O. Box 1968; Brownwood, TX 76804.
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2005/06/18/news/news04.txt