Wolf introduction needs rancher perspective
In your September 11 issue of The Sentinel, you have an article, “Welcoming the Wolf.”
I would hope that The Sentinel will follow up that article with the story on the other side to that coin which is asking ranchers what they feel or know about bringing Mexican wolves back to inhabit West Texas.
Environmentalists are great advocates for their own pet projects, but sometimes more things need to be considered than just one animal or one advocacy group. I would like to hear more feedback on this topic from those in agriculture.
Thank you,
Nancy J. Wood
Austin, Texas
Gratitude given for the Judd Architecture Office opening
Dear Editor,
We want to thank everyone who attended the Architecture Office opening weekend celebrations. The building has been part of Marfa’s history and community for generations.
We are thankful for the continuous support of the City of Marfa and its residents, who have trusted Judd Foundation with a piece of their home. The restoration and rebuilding of this corner of Highland Avenue was possible through the work of our project team, which includes the talent of our architects, contractors, engineers, and craftspeople.
Here in Texas, we are especially thankful to the following: Troy Schaum and Andrea Brennan of Schaum Architects; Kyle and Faith Melgaard, Jimmy Magliozzi, Creighton Weidner, Colt Miller, Cale Hand, and Moritz Landgrebe of Method Building Company; Juan Martinez and Jose Martinez of RC Concepts; and Jon Antonides of High Desert Woodworks. Thank you all for your steadfast commitment to the restoration and rebuilding. To all of those involved in the restoration efforts, we thank you.
We would like to thank all of those who made the Architecture Office opening weekend program possible, in particular Mayor Baeza and the City of Marfa for supporting the community supper celebration on Saturday. We would also like to thank Mark Scott and Kaki Aufdengarten-Scott for the delicious food; Primo Carrasco and Tres Hombres de Marfa for their beautiful music; Monika Bernstein for her organization; and Alex Marks for his photography of the weekend events.
Thank you to Joe Cashiola and Riley O’Brien for helping us make our films. Thank you to the Crowley Theater and Tim Crowley for hosting our talks. Thank you to Caitlin Murray and the Chinati Foundation for your generosity with Don’s tables on Oak Street. Thank you to Rob Crowley, Chris Hillen, and Tim Johnson for your tech expertise. Thank you to Chief Gary Mitschke for keeping us safe on Highland Avenue. Your contributions brought so much to the celebrations.
To Judd Foundation staff and guides, we thank you for the hard work you do and for your dedication to preparing the Architecture Office for everyone to engage with Don’s ideas about space, buildings, and people. Your work means so much to us here and to the whole community. Special thanks to Natalie Melendez and Hannah Parker for organizing the Architecture Office opening weekend programs and celebrations. And very special thanks to Peter Stanley, Randy Sanchez, Rico Roman, Jesse Dominguez, Jonathon Lujan, Shelby Rogers, Diana Simard, Scott Bell, and Beau Buck for your work on the restoration.
It is always special for us to open Don’s spaces, but this building is particularly meaningful to us, and we hope to you. It means a great deal to us to be able to share his ideas about architecture, restoration, and preservation. We hope you will visit throughout the year. A reminder that admission is always free to residents of the tri-county area in Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties.
You can call us or book on our website; if you need help email marfa@juddfoundation.org. Thank you and see you all soon—our doors are always open.
Rainer Judd & Flavin Judd
Judd Foundation
Marfa
Include the community in outreach for help
To Marfa ISD Leadership, Teachers and Staff, Parents, and the Community of Marfa, TX:
This letter is written in response to the past month of meetings, articles, and conversations—whether held publicly, in workplaces, or in our homes—that have left many feeling concerned, unheard, or even offended. My intention is not to attack, but to speak honestly, address these concerns directly, and invite all of us into a dialogue that moves toward healing, accountability, and true community involvement.
Does the school district truly want the community to be more involved? If so, parents and townspeople need to be informed about how they can help and be included in creating opportunities for real community-driven engagement. The community is ready and willing to step up and organize events—as long as the school is open to asking and accepting that help. And can it look like more than just football participation and sports? The Marfa Education Foundation, Marfa Live Arts and the Chinati Foundation are already trying—how can we help too?!
Community involvement does not mean just going to football games, attending the homecoming parade, or showing up for sports-related events. Yes, those can be fun, but that’s not the heart of community. Real community looks like working together to strengthen the school in ways that ensure every child feels safe, supported, valued, and given the chance to grow and succeed.
That might look like dropping pride and asking for help instead of worrying about appearances. I am not impressed with someone trying to do all the work and wear all the hats. That doesn’t make the school stronger—it only burns out staff, causes lost direction, and leaves students without the support they deserve. We want staff to focus on the jobs they were hired to do, not try to carry everything alone. True growth looks like admitting when things are too much, asking for help, and actually partnering with the community.
It should never be “school staff versus townspeople.” If that is how you are interpreting the community’s involvement, maybe it’s time for some personal reflection on how you handle empowered, supportive criticism. Why do you feel attacked when all we want is to work with you? These are our students—our children—that we are trying to help. And some of the children you, as school staff and leaders, are responsible for protecting aren’t just our community’s kids—they are your very own children as well, walking these halls, learning and growing inside these classrooms.
This is not an attack—this is a plea. This is reality. We are standing here saying: What is truly going on? How can we help? How can we be involved? Can you hear us? Because if you can’t, then the divide only grows, and the ones who pay the price are the kids.
If there are needs, go to the City Council and address them. Hold forums where problems can be worked out and openly talked over—not meetings where responsibility is deflected back onto the community. Staff and leadership must remember: you signed up for the responsibility of guiding and protecting these students. That is the role. That is the accountability. We don’t want to pretend “under control” scenarios. We want truth and transparency so we can help. We can’t help if you aren’t being truthful and openly honest—or even willing to simply say, “We’re sorry.”
We bring our children to you for specific reasons—to learn, to feel safe, to grow. Don’t turn it back on us as if we are not doing enough. School may be the only safe space some children have. If they can’t trust that space, then the system has failed them. WE have failed them.
School should also be the place where students learn how to become the future community members who will help this town thrive—where they learn to communicate with each other, create opportunities for themselves, for their chosen future communities, and for wherever they decide to offer their support. Part of growth is showing students, and one another, that no one is perfect. Mistakes and poor choices are going to be made. However, the true lesson is in being humble enough to admit when we’ve made mistakes, instead of covering it up or deflecting blame onto past decisions, other people, or the community as a whole. For example, if a mistake is made in handling a student’s safety, the right response is to acknowledge it, take steps to correct it, and invite solutions—instead of shifting blame onto others.
When bullying comes up, the answer is often “zero tolerance,” which usually means removing the student from the environment and hoping the issue disappears. But pushing the problem out of sight doesn’t solve it—it’s neglect by choice. And bullying doesn’t just happen student to student—it can be teacher to teacher, board to townspeople, coach to student, vice versa, and beyond. People who bully are repeating what they’ve learned—at home, in media, even in schools themselves. If discipline only mirrors avoidance or aggression, we shouldn’t be surprised when they grow into adults who lead the same way, whether as bosses, parents, or public officials. Today’s cast-out bully becomes tomorrow’s authority who rules with fear instead of fairness.
If we want something different, we must teach something different—by example. Accountability paired with restorative practices, mentorship, and safe spaces helps people face harm without humiliation. What we need isn’t “no tolerance,” it’s “no abandonment.” Every person who bullies is also a future leader in some capacity. With care and consistency, we can raise leaders who build others up instead of tearing them down.
It should be a place where caring, compassionate people are shaped, not a place that fosters fear, hate, deceit or mistrust.
I respect athletics and the value they bring, but I will always care more about whether our children are safe, supported, and learning what they need to thrive. Compared to that, the hype around a few big sports events—and the amount of money and time poured into them—is not balanced with the attention given to academics, safety, and student well-being. How can we truly weigh the importance of the two?
So why not organize community-driven cleanup days at the school? If things need to be fixed that the budget can’t cover—let’s have a community day. If the lawn needs mowing so the superintendent doesn’t have to do it—let’s have a community day. If trash needs to be picked up—community day. And pair the cleanup with a potluck, BBQ, or open house where families and staff can eat together, talk, and connect. Students could even perform a play, share music, or display their artwork during the dinner—turning the day into both service and celebration. As part of these efforts, we could also hold after-school trades and volunteer projects—where community members share skills like carpentry, cooking, gardening, or mechanics—so students not only see teamwork in action but also learn real-life skills that connect them to their town.
But none of this is possible if you don’t reach out. That means actively asking parents and community members for support—not just through word of mouth, but by using text messages, newsletters, and social media posts that highlight real needs and opportunities for involvement. And it cannot only be sports-related. If the only messages the community gets are about attending games, showing up for sports events, or celebrating wins, then the broader work of caring for the school is being neglected. People want to help, but they need to be invited and informed.
I want to close with gratitude for the staff who have chosen to be a part of my children’s lives. With that choice, though, comes an expected responsibility. Please don’t take a job if you don’t truly want it or if you’re not prepared to do all that the position requires. Parents know how hard it is to raise children. We all share that reality. Most of us juggle multiple responsibilities on top of parenting—work, homework help, chores, caring for family members—and yes, it can be more than enough to cause discomfort alongside the joys.
So I ask: why don’t we try to make this more beneficial, fun, and rewarding for all of us? We need each other, so why not make this memorable in a way that we are proud of? Let’s send our children out into the world knowing that what we created here together is something they can proudly share with anyone they meet. A school and a community that people will hear about and say: “I’ve heard about that town—they turned things around. What an example of how it can work when people come together.”
In gratitude, hope, and determination for a better future,
Beck Dugan
Parent and Community Member
Marfa