Dear Editor,
I’m not sure where to begin. The arm wrestling championship organized by Christy Miller at Planet Marfa on April 14 was incredible. There’s no single sentence that can capture it, but here are some words: excitement, gratitude, love, comradery, awe, pride, joy, fun. From Mia Valentini absolutely crushing the national anthem to the unsanctioned after-hours matches that took place once the event was over, I loved being with my fellow Marfans.
On behalf of Marfa Education Foundation, I would like to sincerely thank Christy Miller for conceiving of and orchestrating this event, the MEF Board for their work in support of all things Marfa students, Marfa ISD staff and students inspiring us all, Planet Marfa for being the most gracious hosts, Chris Dyer for being an amazing emcee and more, Mia Valentini for singing the hardest song on record (besides “Happy Birthday”), Kaki Aufdengarten for being a fair and impartial referee, Kevin Pippen for “coming home” and speaking on behalf of MEF, and volunteers Christie Alexander, Peggy O’Brien and Philip Boyd. Our heartfelt gratitude to all of the contestants who showed their personalities and strength in front of such an energetic and supportive audience, and the donors who contributed to MEF on behalf of all those listed above.
If you would like to know how much we raised, you’ll have to read Mary Cantrell’s article in this issue of The Big Bend Sentinel. Thank you, Marfa. We love you.
Sincerely,
Abby Boyd
Executive Director
Marfa Education Foundation
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Dear Editor,
Marfa ISD would like to thank the Hotel Saint George for their kindness and generosity this year. Tim Crowley has gone above and beyond when it comes to supporting our students and accommodating opportunities for new experiences.
HSG has generously supported MISD by donating event space, time and money to our district. The junior class would especially like to thank Mr. Crowley for allowing Prom 2024 to be held at Saint George Hall. It was a beautiful night and one that will be remembered by our students for many years.
Thank you for all you do for our school and community!
Sincerely,
Class of 2025 and Class Sponsors Melissa Firmin and Benny Pineda
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I met Gary Oliver in the 1990s as the movement against the Sierra Blanca nuclear waste dump was growing, thanks in part to Gary’s political cartoons sending out the alarm across the state. I was one of the people in Austin who heeded the call and was welcomed to West Texas by the biggest-hearted hospitality a grassroots activist could ever ask for: homemade bread, a cozy (if cat fur-lined) couch to crash on, an introduction to the wonders of the Chihuahuan Desert, and of course Gary’s charm, humor and endless energy for activism.
Even though I hadn’t seen Gary for years, the news of his passing hit me hard. I had hoped to see him at the 25th anniversary of the Sierra Blanca victory last fall to tell him how much I appreciated him as a leader, mentor and friend, and how important his contributions to the success in Sierra Blanca were. I wanted him to know how much I learned from him about how to treat people and that I think about him often. Even though I can’t tell him those things now, I wanted to share them with anyone who might read this, as we collectively celebrate his incredible legacy as a force for good in this world.
Erin Rogers
San Francisco, CA