National Wreaths Across America Day is December 17th, volunteers getting ready

Devine’s first National Wreath Across America Day ceremony and wreath-laying event is less than two weeks away! The Current Events Club would like to thank you for your financial support and volunteer hours in these months of preparation. Thank You to the boards of both cemeteries and groundskeepers. Thank You to so many people who walked to help locate veteran graves. Thank You to friends and families who have called to sponsor a wreath for their loved ones and generously donated more for many other veterans who will be remembered. “I’d like to get a wreath for my family member,” would be followed by, “and here is money for others.” Thank You to The Devine News for working with us and to staff writer Kathleene Runnels for articles on veterans and life during times of military service to our country. Thank You to VFW Post 3966 in being hands-on in the planning and execution of our upcoming ceremony day, and for service and church groups who plan to take part. Thank You to Devine High School’s FCS classes for making posters and wreaths that are now hanging at VFW Post 3966. Thank You to Devine Intermediate for the Veteran’s Day gallery of art on display at the Veterans Day programs and welcoming us at their program. Thank You to businesses who plan to help, and to school groups and youth organizations such as American Heritage Girls and our local Girl Scouts, their leaders, sponsors, and parents. Thank You to our spouses!  This could not happen without All of YOU.
Thank you!
The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember the fallen; Honor those who served; and, Teach future generations the value of our freedom because of their sacrifice. Gather at Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Catholic cemeteries on Saturday, December 17. The ceremony begins at 11 o’clock, but you are invited to arrive early to walk the grounds and take part afterward in the laying of wreaths on almost 500 Veterans’ graves!
If you’d like to volunteer to be on mission with us, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX1147P and click on “Volunteer” to register.
God Bless our Veterans and God Bless America.

“Merry on Main” a new event Dec. 9 & 10 at Devine Acres Farm, featuring
Interactive Hayride, SNOW, food & drinks

Merry on Main-
December 9 or 10 from 6 – 9pm,
Reservations only event.
New this year! An evening on the farm for the whole family to celebrate the Christmas season. Enjoy an interactive hayride, visit with Santa in Santa’s Silo (pictures are additional), make a few sticky S’Mores around the campfire. You will be serenaded by the Victorian Secrets carolers. And Grana Claus (Santa’s sister) will be singing and story-telling with all the kiddos! We will have a Nativity, too! And, hey! Did we mention that Market Square will have plenty of sparkly lights and it will be snowing on Main Street? Yep!
Merry on Main Farm admission includes pizza by the Dirt Road Cookers, hayride, campfire, live entertainment, reindeer food making for the kiddos and an atmosphere that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit! Event Admission $31.95 (Devine Discount for Friday night Dec. 9 Merry on Main Event Save $10 per ticket with the code: MERRY (Everyone attending ages two and up need a ticket whether they eat or not) Buy date specific tickets online. Reservations only event.
Featuring Dotty and the Starry Night
A Christmas story that is set right here on Devine Acres Farm, Dotty and the Starry Night, is written by Debi Capps, the Farmer’s Wife and illustrated by local artist Kirsten Schneider. The interactive hayride at our Merry on Main event will follow the story line of this children’s book. Buy the book at Devine Acres or online at The Book Patch!
Optional purchases: Cookie decorating at The Homestead, and photo sessions with Santa. A special reminder that guests can visit with Santa for no additional fee, but a photo package is required for purchase in order to take pictures with your own device. Drinks, desserts, gifts and goodies are available for purchase. Capps & Cork will be on hand with a cash bar and fun Christmas cocktails
Special Christmas Mission
Audrey Jane’s Light
This year, we have a special Christmas mission at Devine Acres Farm — one that will benefit the A-T Children’s Project. Our granddaughter, Audrey Jane, is fighting a very rare disease, and we hope to raise money to help find a cure! For every tree that you purchase, we will donate $10 to the project’s privately funded research for an Ataxia-Telangiectasia cure. Merry Christmas, y’all!
Schedule of December Events:
It’s the most Devine season at the farm! Come cut a Christmas tree — stay to shop, eat and play at South Texas’ Premier Christmas Tree Farm!
Special events this year include Dec 9 and 10 in the evening — the new Merry on Main. Don’t miss the snow on Main Street! Plus the interactive hayride following the story line of the children’s book Dotty and The Starry Night, campfire, live entertainment, pizza and more!
On the mornings of Dec. 10 and 11 is the annual Pancakes with Santa Events by reservation only.
Open for Choose-n-Cut Tree Cutting December 2-4 | 9am – 5pm. $10 Gate Fee on Christmas Tree Weekends — per person (age 3+). Each household will receive a credit voucher (up to $50) towards purchase of a tree. Tree weekend cutting dates are while supplies last this season. Tree availability is subject to change.
More information or to buy tickets online go to devineacresfarm.com.
(Enter code: MERRY for the $10 Devine Discount to save $10 per ticket to the new Merry on Main Event for the Friday evening Dec 9 reservations.) I would just add tree availability is subject to change under the Dec 2-4 part.

Casino Night this Friday

Come on out and join the Devine Education Foundation for a Casino Night this Friday from 6-10 p.m. at the Devine Community Center.
The event is being hosted by the foundation to raise money to support the students and staff at Devine ISD.
“Our mission is about kids and staff. We raise money to help with items and programs the normal budget cannot,” Mrs. Brenda Gardner, DEF executive director, said.
Contact Brenda Gardner to purchase tickets, brenda.gardner@devineisd.org or call the Central Office, 830-851-0710.
“It will be a fun evening. Plus, we have lots of Silent Auction items,” she said.
Items include a large basket of Mary Kay body care products along with some wine, a Jon Hart Revolver Holder and Shag Bag from Mag’s Place, Quarry Golf for four, two pieces of French Kande Jewelry, Orka Ice Chest, Guided Bay Fishing for two, Meat Box, Deathgrip Precision Tripod, Toolbox from Alamo Truck Accessories, Fire Pit, Yeti Bucket Plus, Tito’s Basket, Golf at Castroville, and Elmer T Whiskey.
“We will have more items that evening. We still have tickets left, so I hope lots will come help us in our mission to help those in our school district,” Gardner said.

Finto diagnosed with Stage 4 gall bladder cancer, benefit January 14

“I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support for my sister in law Tina (Barron) Finto and her family”, said Kim Finto.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 gall bladder cancer earlier this month. She is a kind and generous person always willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends and the community.
“We will be having a benefit for her at our next Market Day here at Brown Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram on January 14th. We will have drawings and will be selling BBQ brisket plates with all the trimmings. If you or someone you know would like to donate items for our drawings, please let me know as soon as possible so we can get the tickets made up”. said Kim. If you plan on donating items, please let me know what they are, and pictures would be great so that I can post them to our event.
Again, thank you so much for all the love and support for Tina Finto, Charles and Christy.
To help contact Kim Finto, 210-825-5390, kimfinto@browndodge.com or kimfinto@gmail.com

TUNESdays
live music at historic downtown building in Devine

Over the years Claude Butch Morgan has shared the stage with greats such as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr.

Local musician Claude Butch Morgan will be performing at Bon Cafe every Tuesday from 6-8 pm. It will bring back many old memories of times past, he said.
“The start of my musical history is right here in good old Devine. I wrote my first song in 1963 at my parent’s house at 601 Mockingbird Lane, I’ve written 1,000’s since that time,” Morgan said.
“I had several bands while in high school here, The Electras, The Illusions, The Shannon’s, and Chapter XVI. I don’t remember all the details. I was busy and not taking good notes.
“Somewhere around 1964/65 our band “The Illusions” opened a teen club in what was the Wooten Bakery, (now “the Bon Cafe.”) We called it, “The Illusions A Go-Go.”
“I think it was only on Saturday evenings and I’m not sure how long it lasted, but not long.
“Across the street was Schott’s Model Market. Out front of it there were two soda machines. We realized soon that teenagers wanted sodas. They would run across the street and buy them. So I had a brilliant idea. I started getting there early on Saturdays and buying up all of Mr. Schott’s sodas, paying full price, then I’d bring them across the street to The Illusions A Go-Go and sell them, adding another nickel to the price we paid and wah la, we made a little profit and it kept our fans at the Go-Go!
“We did that a few Saturdays until my mother got a phone call from Mr. Schott. He was not happy about us emptying his machine on Saturday night and told my mother just that. My mom was on our side of course and quickly said to him, “I thought selling sodas was the point of your machine.” He replied, “Yea but they’re taking them across the street to the Go-Go and selling them for a profit!” Mom said, “Well with all due respect, they paid for them and technically aren’t yours anymore right?”
“We never heard another thing about it.
“I tell you this because I am once again playing in this historic old building. Starting on Tuesday, Nov 29th from 6-8pm, I will be performing some of the songs I’ve written, as well as some old favorites you might recognize.
“We are calling this event The TUnESDAY Music club. Nothing would please us more than to have you make it your weekly hang. I promise good, wholesome music with uplifting lyrics and joyful attitude.
“I will do my very best to put a smile on your face and promise you won’t have to go across the street to get something to drink. The Bon Cafe has great non-alcoholic beverages and pastries for you to enjoy.
“Please consider this your personal invitation to join “The TuNESDAY Music Club.”

Castroville Business Power Lunch workshop December 7th

(Castroville, Texas – November 8, 2022) The City of Castroville will host the first Castroville Business Power Lunch Workshop on December 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., at Sammy’s Restaurant, in Castroville. The workshop theme is “Getting access to capital for your business.” The workshop will feature information about state and federal funding opportunities available to businesses or aspiring entrepreneurs.
“As a Texas business owner, I know first-hand the challenges that business owners across the state face, especially when looking for working capital to grow a business. My goal is to share information about various funding sources and how to meet funding requirements and position your business to successfully obtain capital, says Janice M. Gonzalez, Owner of Founder, EMC Strategy Group, LLC.
The City of Castroville will host monthly lunch workshops throughout the year aimed at supporting business development and job creation in support of economic development.
This workshop luncheon is sponsored by EMC Strategy Group, LLC. Space is limited to the first 15 businesses that register. Register by email to Mitchell.gonzalez@emcstrategygroup.com.

Devine Education Foundation to host Casino Night Dec. 2

Devine Education Foundation will host a Casino Night Friday, Dec. 2 at the Devine Community Center from 6-10 p.m.
The event is being sponsored to raise money to help fund DISD programs and teaching grants.
In only its second year, the foundation has awarded $15,000 to help fund the newly organized Fire/EMT Academy and to help lower tuition costs for students taking dual-credit courses at DHS. Several teaching grants will be awarded in the next few weeks.
Casino Night will feature lots of fun, food, and a Silent Auction.
“We are excited to bring this to our community. It will be a fun evening and help our students and staff in the process,” Mrs. Brenda Gardner, DEF executive director, said.
Because of space, only 325 tickets will be sold. Only those 21 and over will be allowed to attend.
Tickets may be purchased by contacting Gardner at brenda.gardner@devineisd.org or calling 830-851-0717.

Natalia Mustang Band to host Golf Tournament and Holiday Extravaganza Dec. 17 at Devine Golf Course

The Natalia ISD Mustang Band and Agriculture Program are joining forces to raise funds. The funds raised will support program needs, enrich experiences, and provide scholarships for students.
Join us on December 17th at 1:00 pm for golf, games, shopping, Santa, and more!
Golf Tournament: 4-person scramble with cash prizes for the top three teams. Location: Devine Golf Course 1:00 pm shot gun start. You can sign up your team by calling Devine Golf Course (830) 665-9943. $100 per person, includes cart, meal, and drink.
Shopping: Come shop local vendors and small businesses. Great time to find those special gifts for the holidays!
Santa & Hot Chocolate: Santa will make a very special visit to take pictures with kids of all ages. Enjoy some hot chocolate and goodies with Santa.
There will be music entertainment and games as well!
Stop by on December 17th starting at 1:00 pm to support amazing programs at Natalia ISD!