Page 8 THE BULLETIN November 12, 2019 (979) 849-5407 www.mybulletinnewspaper.com
Limo, scavenger hunt brings history alive for students (Continued from Page 1)
hunt was to gather the ingredients for Jane Long’s Pecan Pie, which she made for Stephen F. Austin in the 1800s. I featured the pie recipe in my column in The Bulletin recently. Jane Long, who owned an inn/boarding house and tavern, was a starting point of the adventure to show how a woman built a business in early Brazoria County. The limousine for the tour was purchased and provided by an anonymous Dow Operator retiree who decided to do something for his community by lifting people out of their everyday routine lives - to start having conversations beyond their comfort zones. All the while, they would be getting to know people with different viewpoints and lifestyles by solving clues to get to the next stop, riding in a limo together. His motto is: “See, do and live beyond your own life.” If you meet him, he’ll ask you if you are “That Person” – the person who moves a crowd, who expands the mind, and the person who learns something good every day. “We all have knowledge and special abilities that we can share. Mine happens to be organizing fun events that can energize the family,” said Dona Winzenried, the coordinator of the event.
The first mystery tour – which presenters hope to grow into many per year – consisted of seven stops: 1 -Stephen F. Austin – Munson Historical County Park with Jennifer Parsley presenting the topic, Women’s Business in the early 1800s; 2 - Brazoria County Historical Museum, with Jamie Murray churning butter (an ingredient in Jane Long’s pie); 3. – Bruner - Jamison Cemetery, with Texas Historical Cemetery Guardianship Association’s Roger Beeler presenting information about Life of the Unknown; 4. – Brazoria County Fairgrounds, with manager Jaycie Issacs discussing where to sell and buy products; 5. – Gulf Prairie Cemetery in Jones Creek – with re-enactor Stan Murray portraying Stephen F. Austin and discussing who Austin was; 6. – Brazosport Museum of Natural Science, with me discussing the relationship between the Mother of Texas (Jane Long) with the Father of Texas (Stephen F. Austin). At the end of my presentation, I gave the students copies of The Bulletin with my story with Jane Long’s recipe for Austin’s favorite pecan pie; and 7. – Roc’s American Kitchen in Freeport with Roc Cantu baking the pecan pie. Students taking the tour were
recommended by parents, teachers and other non-profit organizations wanting to give kids an on-the-move live interactive experience. So, the baby boomers for this tour were the Coordinator Dona, and the seven presenters. The millennials, who became the hosts, were Briana Tovar, who is a local brilliant and motivational Culinary Chef, and Skylar Hammond, who photographed and filmed the event and is seeking to expand her portfolio and a career in photography. The young students were Lovelynn, Larissa, Oriona and Aaniya. (Last names are omitted to protect identity.) They all rode together in the limo with lessons about history, social sciences, chemistry, logistics and math, using a strong dose of connecting with each other and their experiences, making their own history, memories and connections. While this is the first tour, Dona says organizers hope it will not be the last. For more limo rides and tours information, please contact Dona by email at yieldingarts@gmail.com with Youth Inspiring Excellent Life Decisions, 501c3 nonprofit. (Jan wants to hear from you. Write her in care of The Bulletin. Email: john.bulletin@gmail.com. Snail mail: The Bulletin, PO Box 2426, Angleton TX, 77516.)