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Kerrville Weekly News Roundup

Kerrville Weekly News Roundup: April 13, 2024

Welcome to the Kerrville Weekly News Roundup. Each week, veteran podcaster Tom Fox and his colleagues Andrew Gay and Gilbert Paiz get together to go over a couple of their favorite stories from the past week from Kerrville and the greater Hill Country.

Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee and listen in to get a wrap-up of the Kerrville Weekly News. We each consider two of our favorite stories and talk about the upcoming weekend’s events, which will enjoy or participate in.

In this episode, Tom and Andrew are back to look at some of the things that caught their collective attention over the past week.

  • Tom reviews the Kerrville City Council approval for Nimitz Lake Improvement and the Texas Water Symposium held at Schreiner University.
  • Andrew talks about the Cease and Desist letter sent to We The People for alleged campaign law violations.
  • Both reflect on the April 8 Eclipse.

Resources:

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Gilbert Paiz on LinkedIn

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

The Lead

Kerrville Daily Times

Categories
Kerrville Weekly News Roundup

Kerrville Weekly News Roundup: April 6, 2024 – The Eclipse Comes to Kerrville

Welcome to the Kerrville Weekly News Roundup. Each week, veteran podcaster Tom Fox and his colleagues Andrew Gay and Gilbert Paiz get together to go over a couple of their favorite stories from the past week from Kerrville and the greater Hill Country.

Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee and listen in to get a wrap up of the Kerrville Weekly News.

We each consider two of our favorite stories and talk about the upcoming weekend’s events, which will enjoy or participate in.

In this episode, Tom takes a solo turn to discuss the biggest Story for Kerrville and Kerr County, the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.

Resources:

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Gilbert Paiz on LinkedIn

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

The Lead

Kerrville Daily Times

Categories
The Night Sky

The Night Sky – Mike Zeiler on Mapping The Path of The Eclipse

Welcome to The Night Sky: A Podcast on the Eclipses Comes to Kerrville, a podcast that celebrates that for two days over the next 15 months, Kerrville, TX, will be the Eclipse Capitol of the World. This podcast, hosted by Andrew Gay and Tom Fox, will celebrate these two eclipses and discuss how the town of Kerrville will prepare for an influx of a quarter million (or more) visitors. This podcast is produced by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network. Today, Tom takes a solo turn to visit with eclipse chaser and tracker Mike Zeiler.

Mike Zeiler is a seasoned expert in geographic information systems (GIS) with a particular focus on smart mapping and analytical capabilities. His passion for astronomy has led him to chase solar eclipses since 1991, witnessing numerous total, annular, and partial eclipses. This passion has also driven him to create eclipse maps and establish the renowned website, Great American Eclipse.

Zeiler’s perspective on the 2024 eclipse preparation is centered on strategic planning and maximizing the chances of a successful viewing experience. He emphasizes the importance of selecting a location with favorable weather conditions and good mobility options in the event of patchy clouds on an eclipse morning. His approach to eclipse chasing involves meticulous preparation and a willingness to travel to different parts of the world to witness these celestial events. His dedication to his passion is evident as he looks forward to upcoming eclipses in Spain in 2026 and 2027.

Key Highlights:

  • Eclipse Chaser: Mike Zeiler’s Celestial Journey
  • Double Diamond Ring Phenomenon Prediction Platform
  • 2024 Eclipse: Emphasizing Experience Over Photography
  • Long-Term Eclipse Chasing Plans Around the World

Resources:

GreatAmericanEclipse.com

Twitter

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Categories
The Night Sky

The Night Sky – Bruce Barton from the Hill Country Astronomers

Welcome to The Night Sky: A Podcast on the Eclipses Comes to Kerrville, a podcast that celebrates that for two days over the next 18 months, Kerrville, TX, will be the Eclipse Capitol of the World. This podcast, hosted by Andrew Gay and Tom Fox, will celebrate these two eclipses and discuss how the town of Kerrville will prepare for an influx of a quarter million (or more) visitors. This podcast is produced by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network.

Join hosts Tom Fox and Andrew Gay on the latest episode of “The Night Sky” as they interview Bruce Barton, a member of the Hill Country Astronomers, about the rare and exciting upcoming solar eclipses coming to Kerrville. With over 80 members from various counties, the Hill Country Astronomers Club is at the forefront of astronomy in the region. Barton shares his expertise about the rarity of a total solar eclipse, occurring only once every 4-500 years at any location on Earth. He also reveals that the last total solar eclipse to occur near Texas was in 1878, and the next one won’t happen until 2048. The hosts and guests then discuss personal experiences of watching a total solar eclipse, emphasizing the need for safety glasses and the unique nature of the experience that photos don’t do justice. The hosts offer resources for listeners to learn more about the Hill Country Astronomy Club and the local dark sky group. Take advantage of this fascinating episode filled with expert knowledge and personal stories about the wonders of the night sky.

·      The Rarity of Solar Eclipses

·      Chasing the Total Solar Eclipse in the Fog

·      Eclipse Tourism Challenges in Small Towns

·      Hill Country Astronomy Club Outreach Programs

·      Embracing the Solar Eclipse Experience

·      Contact Recommendations for Listeners

Notable Quotes:

“If I were to rank it from, say, 1 to 10, it’s an 11.”

“The instant that it went total, I was a crow magnet man. I was absolutely gobsmacked.”

“But as beautiful as those photographs are, they cannot do justice. To what you will see with your own eyes during a total solar eclipse.”

‘Basically, we’re there to provide an avenue for people who are interested in the night sky to become more familiar with it.”

Resources:

Hill Country Astronomers

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Categories
The Night Sky

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides – The Eclipse Evangelist

Welcome to The Night Sky: A Podcast on the Eclipses Comes to Kerrville a podcast that celebrates that for two days over the next 18 months, Kerrville, TX, will be the Eclipse Capitol of the World. This podcast, hosted by Andrew Gay and Tom Fox, will celebrate these two eclipses and discuss how Kerrville will prepare for an influx of a quarter million (or more) visitors. The Texas Hill Country Podcast Network produces this podcast.

On the latest episode of The Night Sky with host Tom Fox and guest Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, they discuss the upcoming eclipse coming to Kerrville. Whitesides, passionate about eclipses, shares her experiences and love for witnessing such a rare and incredible event. The 2024 solar eclipse will be special for Kerrville, as the center line will cross Interstate 10, which passes through the city. Whitesides shares her story on how she decided on Kerrville as the place to witness this rare event.

If you’re interested in witnessing the solar eclipse in 2024, here are three tips to make the most of it:

1. Plan ahead: Book your accommodations and travel plans in advance so you can secure the best spot to watch the eclipse.

2. Pack the right equipment: Bring eclipse glasses, a camera, and a tripod to capture the moment.

3. Take it all in: Remember to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the eclipse and enjoy the experience.

Whitesides shares her excitement for this eclipse and evangelizes about it. If you want to learn more about the upcoming eclipse in Kerrville, listen to this episode of The Night Sky.

Notable Quote

“It was just amazing. And she just had me in tears. It was so beautiful. I was so overwhelmed. It was an incredible experience.”

Resources

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides

Eclipse Evangelist

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Categories
The Night Sky

Karen Taylor – The Eclipse is Coming to Kerr County

Welcome to The Night Sky: A Podcast on the Eclipses Comes to Kerrville, a podcast that celebrates that for two days over the next 18 months, Kerrville, TX, will be the Eclipse Capitol of the World. This podcast, hosted by Andrew Gay and Tom Fox, will celebrate these two eclipses and discuss how Kerrville will prepare for an influx of a quarter million (or more) visitors. The Texas Hill Country Podcast Network produces this podcast.

Get ready for an exciting episode of The Night Sky as hosts Tom Fox and Andrew Gay welcome Karen Taylor, Executive Director of the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the upcoming solar eclipse event expected to attract thousands of tourists to the area. Karen shares insights on the limited hotel availability and the local businesses’ preparations for the expected influx. Tom and Andrew discuss the efforts made by the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce to educate its members on the traffic, safety concerns, and preparations for the event. Listen in as they share locals’ thoughts on the event and how the Ingram School District provides eclipse glasses to all students. Exciting silent and live auction items, including a G Harvey painting and concert ticket packages, are up for bid. Don’t miss the special guest speaker Jeff Stone, who provides information on safety issues related to the eclipse. Join the conversation, check the website for upcoming events, and prepare for a night sky full of stars!

Key Highlights 

·       Preparing for Eclipse Tourism in Kerr County

·       Preparing for Total Eclipse Tourism in Kerr County

·       Potential Traffic and Safety Issues for Eclipse Event

·       Solar Eclipse Preparations and Celebrations in Ingram School District

·       Upcoming auction items and donors for a charity event

·       Chamber Events and Eclipse T-Shirts

Notable Quotes

“The chamber should promote and network and bring our businesses together.”

“ It’s well worth it just to hear him talk in addition to everything else.”

“We still have tables for sale, and we also have individual tickets. The Total Eclipse tables are $1500; the Annular clips tables are $1000, and individual tickets are $60.”

“It is a big deal. And We’re not talking about 150000 people. We’re talking about 150000 people that live for this stuff.”

Resources

West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Tom Fox on LinkedIn