Grant: Downtown Temple is vibrant but there is work to do
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
More clothing stores and improved sidewalks and roads are on City Council member Zoe Grant’s wishlist for downtown Temple.
Grant serves District 2, which includes the downtown business and entertainment area.
“Downtown Temple has a lot going for it,” Grant said in an exclusive interview with Downtown Adventure. “We have a lot of variety — food, bars, retail. Offices — it’s not one-sided.”
“More retail would be great, especially more clothing retailers,” she added. “I love the fact that we have more and more downtown living.”
“Bringing an arts and culture district downtown would be amazing, and the farmer’s market is opening later this year. There are so many things downtown we didn’t have just three years ago that we now have.”
Grant said the improvements are great, but there is still work to do to make Downtown more attractive to visitors and residents alike.
“We need to work on underground drainage,” she said. “And we have streets and sidewalks that need attention.”
“When sidewalks were put in many years ago, they were not handicapped accessible. We have to make sure everyone can come Downtown — people in wheelchairs are in the streets because some sidewalks aren’t accessible.”
Grant pointed out that some Downtown streets are full of potholes, making for a bumpy ride.
“So much has been accomplished Downtown,” she added. “Every city has a downtown, for years ours was just sitting there looking pitiful. That’s no longer the case — we have businesses, parking, parks — everything a downtown should have. I would like to see more clothing stores.”
“Bringing Downtown back to life is important to bringing people together. The Culture District would help bring more people downtown. The city’s marketing department has done a great job, but we need to get information to people who don’t have the internet.”
Grant said the MLK Festival Grounds could be a great draw to downtown Temple.
“At first it was just for city events, but now it is being rented out,” she said. “I’m really going to miss the Bloomin’Temple festival — it had a good mixture of diversity, something for everyone.”
UPDATE: Arts & Culture Master Plan has support
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
A plan to develop a Cultural District in downtown Temple includes moving the Cultural Activities Center to a location in or near the MLK Festival Grounds, and CAC Executive Director Annette Farmer is OK with such a move.
“I think as the downtown area grows and revitalization continues, a move downtown would make the Cultural Activities Center highly visible,” Farmer said this week.
“The CAC is an aging facility,” she said. “It was built in the ‘70s, and its location makes it not so desirable at times.I think having a downtown Cultural District would keep the community vibrant and it would offer more opportunities to be engaged in the visual and performing arts”
“We could have more concerts and art exhibits, and it would open the door to more tourism,” Farmer said. “Bringing more people to Temple would spur the economy.”
The current CAC is owned by Cultural Activities Center Inc., but the land it sits on is leased from the city.
The consultant who developed the Arts & Culture Master Plan — Ohio-based DesigningLocal — said the current CAC is too far from where a Cultural District should be.
“They say putting the CAC on the Festival Grounds would allow the two venues to work together,” said Erin Smith, Temple’s assistant city manager. DesigningLocal recommends building a large, permanent stage at the Festival Grounds and it could be used in part by the CAC.”
Smith said one of the city’s goals is to “develop and showcase Temple as a unique place with amazing arts, culture, dining and recreation experiences and amenities.” Developing an A&C Master Plan would advance this goal.
“The master plan will likely be presented to the City Council at their July 17 meeting, and it could be adopted in August,” Smith said.
According to Smith, work on the A&C Master Plan began in April 2024.
“We did a lot of research and looked at similar projects in other communities,” she said. “We also hosted community events and focus groups to get feedback. We conducted a community survey and got back more than 700 responses.”
DesigningLocal developed a Master Plan based on four “big ideas.” The first is to create a Cultural District. The district includes most of Downtown south of Adams, plus Temple Public Library and the upcoming Storybook Grove on Barton Avenue just north of the library.
The district includes current cultural amenities such as the MLK Festival Grounds, Santa Fe Plaza, the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, the Temple Children’s Museum, Whistlestop Park, City Hall, Temple Public Library, the Arcadia Theatre, Santa Fe Market Trail and the African American Churches Historic District. It also includes Santa Fe Community Market, which is under construction.
The Master Plan recommends moving the CAC to the Festival Grounds. According to Smith, 10 acres would be required for a new 40,000-square-foot CAC facility.
DesigningLocal’s “first idea” also includes creating a continuous walkable area featuring outdoor artwork, sculptures and special lighting. Venues and galleries could be included in this area.
The plan includes recommendations for Santa Fe Depot and Santa Fe Plaza. Art that recognizes the depot’s railroad history, and permanent restrooms, dressing rooms and a greenroom at the Plaza are among the recommendations.
The Master Plan recommends painting the grain silos at Jupe Feed with artwork.
“The city doesn’t own the silos, of course, but the consultant thought that would add to the beauty of downtown,” Smith added.
Artsy crosswalks, plus artwork and lights under the Third Street overpass also are included in the plan.
“The Santa Fe Kids Stop that sits underneath the South Third Street overpass and along the Santa Fe Market Trail is a dark, foreboding space that encourages vagrancy and discourages most people from using its amenities or passing through to explore Downtown by foot,” Smith said.
“Brightening the space with arts and lights will help make this section of the trail a safe, fun experience for pedestrians and families.”
Under the Master Plan, a series of colorful, light-augmented murals on the bridge posts and beams would help turn the space into a friendly location.
Smith said that designating a Cultural District in downtown Temple would increase tourism, including dining and shopping.
“It would also open the door to special funding that could be used to create the district and pay for new projects,” she added.
The plan’s “second idea” is to create a public art program and to formalize a Temple Public Art Commission. A public art coordinator would be hired by the city.
The “third idea” is to install public art at Temple parks, especially those Downtown, and to make sure there is arts and cultural programming within the District.
“This is something that seems to be a need and something people want,” Smith added. “We have a diverse community with several cultures, and we need a diverse slate of community events such as Juneteenth and Dia de los Muertos.”
“The plan calls for artwork along trails in the area, and adding artwork to the ramps at the skatepark.”
The final “big idea” listed in the unapproved plan is the creation of an Arts Council, which would pursue ways to advance the arts in Temple. The council would include CAC staff, as well as local artists and arts organizations. Smith said the CAC would funnel funding for future arts and culture projects to various organizations in Temple.
Ruckers, and some just along for the ride, march through downtown Temple carrying backpacks full of nonperishable food items. At the end of the 6.2 mile Rucks on Main, the food is donated to a local pantry. This year’s Memorial Day ruck will be May 24. David Stone photo
Ruckers have donated thousands of pounds of food in recent years
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
More than 100 dedicated ruckers will hit the streets of Temple on Saturday, May 24, for a physical event that benefits area veterans and local food panties.
Rucks on Main, a group of mostly ex-military men and women, hold 10K rucks twice a year in Temple — once over Memorial Day weekend and again around Veterans Day.
“We’re trying to raise awareness of veteran needs and feed the hungry,” said Wes Albanese, founder of the organization. Albanese said a wide range of residents are expected to participate.
“We have had military and ex-military personnel sign up, a few kids, teenagers … a mom signed up and is going to push a stroller. It’s open to everyone,” he said.
Participants will don rucks — or backpacks — filled with up to 40 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food items.
“We’re asking that participants place a photo of a veteran who has touched their lives in their rucks,” said Jason Deckman, a longtime Rucker and an organizer of the Temple event.
Deckman said the check-in for Saturday’s event is at 7 a.m. at Santa Fe Plaza in downtown Temple.
“Following a brief program, the march will get started at 9 a.m.,” he said.
From the plaza, ruckers will head to Main Street, turn left, and head north through the Jackson Park area. The route crosses Third Street on Nugent Avenue, meanders through the Historic District, then back toward downtown.
Water stations will be set up along the course, and a station where ruckers can refill water bottles and canteens will be located at the half-way mark.
Once the march is complete, rucks will be emptied and the food will be donated to Operation Feeding Temple for local food banks.
“We have a lot of veterans and homeless folks who count on our local food banks,” Albanese said. “We want to keep them stocked up with food.”
Deckman agreed.
“Non-perishable food items can be carried on the march and donated, or they can be dropped off before or during the event,” he said.
Thousands of pounds of canned and packaged food items have been donated by the group over the past few years.
Registration can be done in advance at rucksonmain.org or on Saturday morning.
In the U.S. Army, weighted marching — known as rucking — is a staple of military training. Recruits are expected to complete long journeys — usually 12 miles — carrying a heavy weight in a rucksack. Rucking builds stamina, strength and muscle tone and also includes a psychological “toughness” aspect.
Study to include Railroad & Heritage Museum changes
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
Big changes likely are coming to Temple’s Railroad & Heritage Museum, perhaps as early as this fall, according to Assistant City Manager Erin Smith.
The city has hired CambridgeSeven, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based architectural firm that specializes in museum design and master planning to develop a vision for the Temple museum housed in and around Santa Fe Depot. Smith said CambridgeSeven is no stranger to Temple — the firm has worked on projects for the local Children’s Museum in the past.
“Consultants with CambridgeSeven came to town earlier this spring and toured the city,” Smith said. “We held some focus group meetings with the Temple arts community — it was a full day.”
Smith said the consultants will be looking at possible transformations for the museum, and the focus group meetings were held to give them insight on what Temple needs and wants in a major museum. She said Cambridge could go as far as recommending a city museum district.
“They will be considering a wide array of things for our museum,” she said. “They will give recommendations on exhibits and improvements. They could recommend a complete transformation — it could include a medical museum, not just railroad.”
“Cambridge will look at different parts of Temple’s history, and medicine has played a big role in the city’s development,” Smith added.
While the Museum Master Plan will primarily include the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, other local museums such as the Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center and the Temple Children’s Museum could be mentioned if a museum district is recommended.
“The consultants hope to identify potential museum exhibits that are of interest to our community,” Smith said. “The city owns land adjacent to the Railroad & Heritage Museum, so an expansion could be possible.”
“CambridgeSeven will work up some concept plans that will identify the direction we want to go. They will give us some nice designs and renderings highlighting their recommendations. They got started in late March, and it should take them about seven months to complete the plan.”
Temple College Celebrates More than 930 Students During May 10 Commencement
Temple College hosted its 99th annual commencement ceremony, honoring more than 930 students who earned associate degrees or certificates.
Several thousand people, including family and friends of the graduates, gathered at the Cadence Bank Center to celebrate the milestones and to cheer on the Class of 2025. A number of Saturday’s graduates earned multiple degrees and/or certificates.
“We are so proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished while at Temple College,” said Dr. Christy Ponce, Temple College President. “We are so proud of them. They worked so hard to complete their degrees and their certificates. It’s been our honor to walk beside them, and we are here to cheer them on as they take the next steps, whether they enter their careers or transfer to four-year universities to earn their bachelor’s degrees.”
Among the graduates were dozens of high school students who attended Temple College’s Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) classes in Temple and Hutto, Legacy Early College High School, and Ready for Early Access to College in Hutto (R.E.A.C.H.) programs. Many of those students graduated Saturday with associate degrees before they will graduate from their high schools in the coming weeks.
The commencement ceremony provided the opportunity to recognize Brice Olivier, professor of history, who was named the 2024-25 Claudia and W.T. Barnhart Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Olivier began teaching at Temple College in 2013. During her 11+ years at the College, she has taught U.S. and world history courses at the College’s Taylor and Hutto campuses.
She has served on numerous campus committees and has contributed to a number of campus-wide, division and departmental initiatives. She has served as a mentor to high school dual-credit students in the Legacy Early College program in Taylor and the Texas Biosciences Institute in Hutto, as well as traditional and adult learners.
“It has been a privilege to work with the students, my colleagues and the community at Temple College, and I am proud of the contributions I have made over the past eleven years,” Olivier said. “My priorities as a teacher have been to help students find success and to support my colleagues.”
Following the ceremony, the new graduates exited the arena along a path lined by Temple College faculty and staff, who celebrated with them.
Temple doctor: Protect yourself against skin cancer
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
The sun is shining and temperatures are on the rise — it’s time to hit area lakes, pools and water parks. It’s also time to protect yourself against skin cancer.
“With summer just around the corner, the risk of developing skin cancer increases,” said Dr. Katherine Fiala, a dermatologist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Temple. “While it may be tempting to spend more hours out in the sun, be sure to take necessary measures to protect yourself from harmful rays.”
According to Fiala, spring and summer sun rays are strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“If you like being outdoors during those hours, find a place out of the sun, like beneath a tree or even a beach umbrella to protect yourself from the direct sunlight,” she said. “Be sure and keep children under 6 months old out of the sun completely.”
She also recommends wearing clothes that cover sensitive skin areas such as the chest and shoulders.
“Dress like a dermatologist,” she said with a laugh. “Sunscreen is very important. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and 50 is even better.
“Make sure it is a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect against multiple UV rays,” she said. “Water resistant sunscreens are best, but be sure and reapply if you sweat a lot or get wet. Even if you don’t get wet, reapply every two hours.”
Fiala recommends wearing protective clothing, especially a hat with a 3-inch brim all the way around.
Most dermatologists don’t recommend the use of tanning booths — they can increase the risks of skin cancer sevenfold, she said.
“I never recommend indoor tanning — it increases the risk of skin cancer,” she said.
There are three common types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, she said.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It starts in the top layer of skin — the epidermis — and it usually can be treated or removed.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type, and it also develops in the epidermis. Both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are more common in elderly people, Fiala said.
The third most common type of skin cancer is melanoma. It usually starts in moles on the skin.
“Melanoma is less common, but it tends to be more aggressive,” Fiala said. “It’s the most common cancer found in young people 25 to 29 years old.”
Anyone can develop skin cancer, but it is more common among people with light or fair skin color, she said.
“People with light-colored skin, green or blue eyes and red or blonde hair should take extra precautions,” she said.
BURGER WITH THE BADGE
City residents are invited to meet with Temple police officers and enjoy a hot-off-the-grill hamburger on Friday, May 30, during Burgers with the Badge.
The popular get-acquainted with Temple PD event gives residents the opportunity to ask question, share suggestion and simply engage in meaningful conversations with the officers who serve the community.
The event is free and open to all Temple residents.
Burgers with the Badge will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Santa Fe Depot in downtown Temple.
Academie Musique prepares for big summer, big shows
DAVID STONE | DOWNTOWN ADVENTURE
Temple’s Academie Musique has several unique events that are right around the corner. According to Shelley Dennis, executive director of Academie Musique, students will be performing three big shows this summer.
Jammin’ in the Jungle, a musical safari, will be June 2-6 at the Cultural Activities Center. Another big show, 101 Dalmatians, will be at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on June 28 at the CAC. And, Bye, Bye Birdie will be performed at Temple College at 7 p.m. on July 18 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on July 19.
“We have some exciting news,” Dennis said. “Registration has begun for our summer session, which will be in our new home at Meadow Oaks Baptist Church (3001 Meadow Oaks Drive) starting June 1. The Academie has a vibrant Suzuki String program and offers instruction in all string instruments, including guitar and ukulele. We also offer instruction in voice, piano, a variety of wind instruments, and trumpet.”
“During the school year, we have choirs for children, teens and adults; plus Suzuki Group classes and two levels of orchestras. Contact us for information on our Suzuki ‘Pre-Twinkle Week’ for the fall.”