New businesses and movies in the mix
NOTE: Scroll below for a full photo gallery of the recent Coupland events.
COUPLAND — Movies and merchants are the buzz this week in town.
Wells Mason — a designer, sculptor and founder of Coupland’s Ironwood Industries — is producing a documentary about Coupland sculptor and artist Jim Huntington.
“Jim has been awarded countless public and private commissions. His work is in museums and sculpture gardens. And he has a beautiful sculpture garden in downtown Coupland,” Mason said.
Huntington, 85, still produces art. The nonprofit Huntington Sculpture Foundation, as well as the documentary, are preserving the artist’s legacy, Wells said.
“We’re working with documentary filmmakers Nick Berard and Judith Schomp from Austin, and the film is nearly complete. We’ve wrapped up the interviews with the artist, and we have all the footage we need from his sculpture garden. We hope to complete the film at the end of this year,” Mason said.
The first screening will be in Coupland, with more in Austin.
In other cinematic news, the sanctuary at St. Peter’s Church of Coupland, 108 Wathen St., is appearing in a movie expected to premiere in December. In June, independent filmmaker Austin Keith used the sanctuary for a film titled “A Letter from the Father.”
Charles Stark and Judy Downing assisted him.
Business developments
A July 15 Community Business Lunch at St. Peter’s Church of Coupland gave merchants a chance to meet and discuss what they have to offer, said organizer Prissy Rumel.
“Everyone in the community was invited to join and talk a little about your local business or just learn about what businesses we have in the area,” Rumel said. More lunches are planned.
In the meantime, an old building known as “The Blue Cat,” located behind the Coupland Veterinary Office, 320 Hoxie St., is being converted into a business that will feature rentable spaces, including a commercial kitchen, three private rooms for small businesses and shared common areas.
The business is owned by Martha Poldrack and the renovation project is being managed by Rummel, who is Poldrack’s sister. The site will be run by Rummel’s daughter, Tessa Strider.
Coupland School news
Football pre-season workouts are Aug. 3-10.
Players will receive football equipment, learn about the strength and conditioning weight room and study the fundamentals of six-man tackle football, officials said.
Superintendent Earl Parcell noted special dates for the Coupland Independent School District:
• Aug. 11, school starts including the debut of the new Coupland Junior High and High School.
• Aug. 19, first home volleyball game in the new gym.
• Sept. 10, first home football game at Memorial Field in Taylor.
• Sept. 17, homecoming football game.
The Spirit of Coupland band members will meet August 3-5 to study the basics of reading music.
St. Peter’s Church of Coupland
The Rev. Burt Burleson is no longer pastor of St.
Peter’s Church. Duties will be filled by visiting ministers while church officials seek a replacement.
St. Peter’s potluck lunch is moving to the fifth Sunday of the month, instead of every other month. “Lunch Out” events may be organized during the year.
St. Peter’s is also helping Coupland ISD students who need school supplies or special equipment, officials said.
New Sweden Lutheran Church
Homesteading/ Everyday Living free classes are continuing at the church, 12809 New Sweden Church Road in Manor, open to all community and church members. Trusts and wills were the topics of the July class.
Church representatives attended the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Texas District Annual Gathering, July 24-25, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in New Braunfels.
New Sweden’s flagpole fell during recent storms and split in two.
Replacing it will cost several thousand dollars, church officials said.
To donate toward a new flagpole, send a donation to the church or put it in the offering and designate it for the new flagpole.
New Sweden is collecting school supplies for the students at Coupland, McDade and Thrall independent school districts.
Supplies are placed in backpacks and blessed.
For more, visit www. newswedenchurch.org.
Independence Day
Mayor Russell Schmidt credited the successful Independence Day festivities to the work of organizers, City Council members Sue Rogers and Machelle Sandbulte, and volunteers including Danny Smith, Mick Lemp, Peter Wabbel and Ruby Wabbel. Organizers hope to make this an annual event.
