Views From The 4th Estate

Life Center Fabulous Fall Fundraiser
When: 6:30-8:45 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5
Where: Midland Center
Entertainment: Christian comedians Kerri Pomarolli and Ron McGehee
For more information: Call 683-6072

Annual Gem & Mineral Show, presented by the Midland Gem and Mineral Society
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Midland Center
For more information: call 694-2142.

Christmas Open House
When: 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Scarborough/Linebery House, 802 S. Main St..
Information: Only time each year the house is open to the public at no cost.

Here’s an option for looking for somewhere to spend Halloween.

Check out this and other options in the Reporter-Telegram’s Entertainment publication, “Pulse”

What: Halloween Howl, including showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show”
When: 11 p.m. Oct. 31
Where: Yucca Theatre
Tickets: $20 floor, $10 balcony, $5 gallery (18-and-over only). Special $30 price for “Dracula” and Halloween Howl
For more information: Call MCT box office at 570-4111

The Midland Downtown Farmers’ Market will host the first annual MDFM Local Author Day on Oct. 24 showcasing the talents of the following listed local authors. Their works range from fiction to non-fiction, cookbooks, health and wellness, and poetry.

The purpose of this event is to help offer exposure and visibility to the natural culture and talent that thrives in our community. Each of the authors will sign as well as sell the individual titles. Participating authors include Mary Lou Midkiff,  Patrick Dearen, Kat Copeland, Robyn Conley, Annette Presley, Ricë Freeman-Zachery, Cece Brune, Dan Venzke and Georgia Temple. Hours: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.Location: 501 W. Texas Ave. Under the green, corner of Texas and Marienfeld. For more information: Please contact Matt, 695-4114.

Mayor Wes Perry said Tuesday the downtown area has made a turnaround in the past five years and by 2014 may see significant further development, including a new office building.

In an interview at the opening of Williams Plaza at the Fasken Center downtown, Perry said he has become involved in an East Coast-based oil shale development project and is undecided about seeking a second, three-year term next year.

“When the national economy went down and the local economy dropped a little bit, I was convinced  downtown was going to slow down and stop or maybe even back up,” he said. “But that hasn’t happened. It has continued to go.

“Financially, downtown is 80 percent higher than it was five years ago. What I think is more significant is that people are doing some things. It takes a huge commitment. You’re seeing people put money back into their downtown and that starts to feed on itself.

“Clayton Williams has invested quite a bit in this building here. It’s hard to get outside money and he has done so much for Midland.”

Here is the entire story.

If this becomes a reality, watch out.

Here is a link to the post I had at Newsroom Stew.

We have talked about the need for a theater downtown before. And, yes, we still believe this would be a big piece of the puzzle as far as bringing nightlife to downtown.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, the courtyard of Fasken Center will be dedicated to the Williams Family for their past and continued stewardship of downtown.
The event will commemorate a landscape and hardscape upgrade that signals what Williams feels is a continued bright future for downtown and the businesses located there.
Clayton W. Williams Jr., and ClayDesta Corp., owners of the 500 W. Texas buildings, have carried on the Fasken Center’s name in honor of Murray Fasken, the Fasken family and their contributions to the Permian Basin’s heritage.

The Midland County Public Library will host the second annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Library, 301 W. Missouri.

Kids can come dressed in their costumes, and there will be plenty to eat drink and do. Admission is free but donations to the West Texas Food Bank are welcome. Call the children’s Department at 688-4323 for more information.