Opinion

Have you ever wanted to be a citizen-scientist? If so, you have a great opportunity this month with the Great Backyard Bird Count. The GBBC is a fun, free and easy way to collect data that will give scientists at the Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology an idea of how birds are faring in our beautiful Wimberley and how they might be helped and protected. I am only a casual backyard birder, but I plan to participate.

The Texas Education Agency’s annual report was released last week. It indicates per-student funding in the 2021-2022 school year averaged $14,928 per student, up 42% since 2011. However, state funding has only risen slightly in the past decade, while local funding has increased substantially.

With all the rain we had in January, we can expect a spectacular wildflower show this spring.

A standoff at an Eagle Pass park continues as the Department of Homeland Security has sent a second letter to Gov. Greg Abbott demanding access to the Rio Grande park that is now under state control.

Last year was a rough one for the central Texas landscape. It was a year of extremes. Between the harsh ice storm in early February 2023 and the extreme drought over the summer, Wimberley residents have experienced some dramatic changes to the local landscape that remain challenging. Two summers of brutal heat and drought have killed plants and have left local watering holes, rivers and lakes with notably low water supplies going into 2024.

Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

In addition to the Community Wide City Clean Up events twice a year, KWB volunteers regularly plan and initiate pop-up roadside clean ups. We have certain people that take care of sections of roads and neighborhoods throughout the year.

Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

If you suffer from “Cedar Fever” I do not need to tell you that we are currently in the allergic reaction season. The local plant commonly called “Cedar” is in the Juniperus genus. There are over 70 species of Juniperus but the common one found growing locally on limestone is Juniperus ashei.

Making a New Year’s resolution is a time-honored practice thought to date to the ancient Mesopotamians. We are all aware of the stress our planet is under, so 2024 might be the year to make our resolutions to the benefit of our dear Mother Earth. Here are some suggestions: 1. Plant a pollinator garden. Pollinator populations are in decline across the United States. One reason for this decline is habitat loss. We can help! Visit a local nursery and ask about native pollinator plants. Then create your own habitat.

The deadline to register to vote in the Texas Democratic and Republican primary elections is Feb. 5. Voters on March 5 will choose their nominees for president, U.S. Senator, all 38 U.S. House members from Texas, and a number of other state and local offices, from the Texas Supreme Court to district attorneys, sheriffs and county commissioners.

On behalf of the Wimberley Community Civic Club, we would like to extend our thanks to the many groups who helped make our annual Breakfast with Santa a huge success!

After the Texas Legislature spent much of 2023 in session, a bevy of new laws go into effect on New Year’s Day, though some have been delayed by lawsuits challenging their constitutionality.