November 3, 2025
New playground, fitness upgrades coming soon to Manuel C. Castilla Park
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
(Seguin) -- Big things are happening at Manuel C. Castilla Park, where the city of Seguin is putting the finishing touches on a major renovation that includes a brand-new custom playground and upgraded fitness equipment.Jack Jones, Seguin Parks and Recreation director, says located along the walking trail at the park on North Guadalupe Street, the new features are part of an ongoing effort to enhance recreation spaces for residents of all ages.He says the project is one of the most significant upgrades the park has seen in years.“Manuel C. Castilla Park is a community park, and we know that the community has used that park for years and years and years.
Park, pg. 4
“Safe and Sound” Project aims to bring comfort to children in crisis
Order donations online or drop off items at Seguin Radio KWED
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
(Seguin) -- A local nurse is turning compassion into action through a new community project designed to bring comfort to children in crisis.
Seguin resident Cynthia Ponce, RN, BSN, is launching “Safe and Sound Comfort Kits,” a heartfelt initiative benefiting children who arrive at Thriving Hearts Crisis Center after fleeing situations of domestic violence.
The effort is part of her master’s degree in nursing
administration capstone project -- a program she says she hopes will inspire others to serve.
“The effort is creating these kits called Safe and Sound Comfort Kits. So, they will have things depending on age – they’ll have books, coloring items, some toys, stuffed animals – for the older kids, they’ll have nail polish, board games, journals they can write in, advanced coloring books –Project, pg. 3
Seguin’s Art & Wine Walk Returns This Saturday
Special by Lindsay Hajek, assistant director of Main Street and Destination Management
(Seguin) -- Art lovers and wine enthusiasts will want to attend the annual Art & Wine Walk, happening Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in downtown Seguin. Hosted by the Seguin Commission on the Arts and the Seguin Main Street Department, the event offers a relaxed experience where visitors can explore displays from area artists and sample wines at downtown businesses.
Event check-in will be at Central Park, where participants will receive a wristband, tasting tickets, a commemorative wine glass, bag, and an event program. Shuttle service will be available at Central Park, 1916 Bar & Bistro, and The Wayside, providing an easy way to navigate the walk or hop between stops.
Tickets are on sale now for $40, with a $10 discount for veterans. Discounted tickets are available exclusively at the Seguin Visitor Center. Each ticket includes 12 tastings to enjoy throughout the evening.
Additional tastings may be purchased for $1 each
and select wineries will also offer wine by the glass or bottle. Light hors d’oeuvres will be available at every stop.
Gift and Gourmet will sample offerings from Windmill Farm Winery alongside Laura Dodson’s vibrant landscapes. Just a short walk away, Pecantown Books & Brews will feature their house wines and nature- inspired designs by Marcia Shelf Orlandi. At You’re So Crafty, attendees will have the chance to taste selections from Blue Mule Winery while exploring culturally inspired creations by Ohso Fabone. Southern Good will highlight wines from Austin Custom Winery, complemented by Chad Chamness’s nature-inspired photography. Southern Traditions will showcase Winery on the Gruene alongside Marchel Walker’s bold, colorful works, while the Seguin Art League pairs wines from Rusty Hook Winery with Sara Rosales’s whimsical creations. Lion’s Den Art Collective Walk, pg. 3
Project, continued.
things that can keep them distracted off of the things that are going on in their world,” said Ponce.
Ponce says the decision to partner with Thriving Hearts Crisis Center, formerly the Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter, was an easy one. She says the organization provides safety, counseling, and resources for individuals and families escaping abusive homes -- a mission that aligns closely with her own values and nursing experience.
“Before I became a nurse, I was a patient sitter at a children’s hospital and I actually worked with kids who were actually going through crisis and just giving them things to do like the little card games that I chose on the list or the journals, you could see a big difference in their emotional state and how they reacted with people after they were able to have some crafty release I would say,” said Ponce.
Ponce says each “Safe and Sound” kit will include items meant to provide comfort – her overall goal in helping children feel seen, safe, and valued during one of the hardest times in their young lives.
Walk, continued.
will feature offerings from Blue Lotus Winery alongside Betti Gregoire’s artwork, and Seguin Cabinetry highlights wines from H-E-B while showcasing student art from Seguin ISD.
At Big Chief Cigar, participants can enjoy a bonus tasting from Johnny Pickles Distillery, which does not require a ticket, along with Alejandro Luis Guerra’s patterned designs. 1916 Bar & Bistro will feature Jud McCallick’s colorful paintings, and the historic Mosheim Mansion will serve wines from Driftwood Estate Winery, paired with Ampy Morales Klonek’s intricate beadwork.
Finally, The Wayside will offer house selections from Ranch Brand Winery & Distillery, alongside Denise of Noni’s Natural Soaps’ handcrafted creations, rounding out what promises to be a delightful evening.
“Wander downtown, chat with the artists, and of course, try some fantastic wine. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening in Seguin,” said Lindsay Hajek, Assistant Director of Main Street and Destination Management. She emphasized the event’s role in supporting the arts, “Every ticket
“I guess I look back on that now and realize that a lot of these things that I put in these boxes actually do help children either with the journals where they can write what is going on in their head or in their life, the games where they can go play with other kids because a lot of these kids really don’t have the cell phones from my understanding. So, they don’t really have a way to interact with other kids unless they are at school so when they are at this crisis center, I was told that they like the games and they like to paint each other’s nails so this is more of a way for them to bond so they can all help each other in a way,” said Ponce.
Ponce is collecting donations over the next few weeks and hopes to make “Safe and Sound” an annual community effort. Items can be purchased directly through her Amazon Wish List or dropped off at Seguin KWED Radio. The radio station located at 609 East Court Street is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Fridays until 2 p.m.
For those wanting to contribute online, donations can be made through the project’s Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guestview/11PIYA1IL7QID
purchased helps keep Seguin’s arts community thriving, supporting local artists, downtown businesses, and programs that bring creativity and culture to our city.”
This event is made possible by participating downtown businesses, artists, wineries, and sponsors,
including TRC Engineers, Inc., Southern Good, First Commercial Bank, The Virginia, Seguin Gazette, and Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.
For more information and ticket sales, visit visitseguin.com/events/ annual-events/art-wine-walk .
Park, continued.
You’ve got the walking track. You’ve got a playground there in the middle of the walking track and that is probably about 25 years and that park needed a brand new big playscape like the one we have in Starcke Park and like the one we have in Bauer Park as well. In the budget this year, city council approved $700,000 for a brand-new playground,” said Jones.
Although they will be new like the other parks, Jones says this new playscape will stand out from the rest.
“What is cool about this playground, it’s actually custom designed. It’s pretty unique. It has a forest theme and there is going to be a squirrel out there as well. If you notice it, in the middle of it, it looks like a tree. It will have some pecans out there that you can step on. It looks like the river. You have blue going through the playground so it really encompasses Seguin with the river and with the squirrels and with the trees and so it’s a very unique design and I think the folks in Seguin are really going to love to see something a little bit different than what they’ve seen at other parks in Seguin,” said Jones.
In addition to the playground, Jones says new adult fitness stations are
being installed around the 400-meter walking track, offering park visitors a new way to add workouts to their workout.
“What I have been told is it should be done by Thanksgiving, and we will have a ribbon cutting out there. There will be a plaque out there. We can also highlight the 40x60 foot pavilion that was done by the Seguin Chamber Leadership Class, so we also have a sidewalk tying into the pavilion and walking track out there. There are also going to be four fitness stations positioned around the walking rack so if you are doing that quarter mile walk every day or jog, you can stop and there’s four stations to work your arms, work your legs — the point is this Manuel C. Castilla Park is a very active park with tackle football, flag football, baseball, softball practices and with the playground out there, it just makes it where there is something for everybody to do,” said Jones.
Approximately two or three years ago, the community park received its first major upgrade with a lighted full-size basketball court. The park also recently added new backstops providing the community with a total of four additional spaces for baseball or softball practices.
Manuel C. Castilla Park is located at 2261 N. Guadalupe St. in Seguin.
Report: ACA Premiums To Double If Tax Credits Expire
(Washington, DC) -- A non-partisan report says the average out-of-pocket costs for Obamacare premiums will more than double if Congress allows the tax credits to expire. The new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that annual premium payments could be one-thousand dollars on average if the Affordable Care Act tax credits are not extended. The report predicts “dramatic” premium spikes in Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming, which already have high premiums, as well as spikes for older individuals. Open enrollment for the ACA Marketplace begins Saturday, and is scheduled to end January 15th.
Kennedy Announces New Cost-Saving Drug Plan
(Washington, DC) -- The White House is announcing another plan meant to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the FDA will be making it easier for “ biosimilars” to enter U.S. markets, something Europe has been doing for decades. Biosimilars are drugs similar to those that work and have already been approved by the FDA. Kennedy says he’s cutting the red tape, and clinical trials that are necessary before these types of drugs can be sold in the U.S.
Eli Lilly, Walmart To Sell Zepbound
(Bentonville, AR) -- Eli Lilly and Walmart are working to increase access to the weight loss drug Zepbound. The partnership announced Wednesday will let customers buy the drug directly at retail locations for the first time. Next month, customers with a prescription and paying cash can get single dose vials of the drug over the counter or through home delivery. It will cost about 350-dollars a month for a single-dose vial.
Surge In RSV Sends More Infants To Hospitals
(New Haven, CT) -- A surge in RSV is sending more infants to the hospital as flu and COVID cases climb. That’s according to a study out of Yale University’s School of Public Health. Researchers say during the week ending October 11th, more than one-percent of emergency room visits involving babies under the age of one involved RSV. That’s triple the rate from a month earlier. The CDC says two to three-percent of infants and toddlers are hospitalized with RSV every year and may require oxygen, IV fluids or mechanical ventilation. There are no antiviral drugs to treat RSV. Health experts recommend that pregnant women get vaccinated for RSV one to two months before delivery.
NOVEMBER
SHS Class of 1965 60th Year Reunion
The Seguin High School Class of 1965 will be hosting its 60th reunion celebration on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Lake Breeze Ski Lodge. The evening will feature a dinner buffet with pork tenderloin, fried chicken, vegetables, salad, and appetizers, along with a cash bar and beverages. Tickets are $50. Payments should be made to “SHS Class of 1965” and mailed to Pat Grigg at 1821 Montclair, Seguin, TX 78155.
November’s First Friday Feast
Join Geronimo Lions November 7, 2025 at the Red Barn at 250 Cordova road for a steak or fish dinner! Serving starts at 5:30. Come out and enjoy the evening. The beneficiary is the Christian Cupboard, and entertainment is provided by the Brushy Creek Boys. A first responder from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department will be honored with special recognition.
Motorcycle Escort for AVTT Wall
The Guadalupe County Veterans Council will be hosting a motorcycle mission to escort the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall into Seguin on November 10 at Rattler Stadium. Riders will meet at 9:30 a.m. and depart at 10:15 a.m. for the escort to the stadium parking lot.
Veterans Day Parade and Events
The City of Seguin, Guadalupe County, and the Guadalupe County Veterans Council will be hosting Veterans Day events beginning with a parade at 9 a.m. on November 11 in Seguin, with line-up at 8 a.m. Following the parade, an
assembly will be held at the Convention Center along with the grand opening of the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall and other memorials.
Wrangler Country
The Silver Center will be hosting Wrangler Country at 7:30 p.m. on November 14th at the Crystal Chandelier Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $10 by calling 830-303-6612. Tickets are $15 at the door.
GRMC helps community fight against diabetes
In honor of World Diabetes Day, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center is hosting a FREE community event on Friday, November 14th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the GRMC East Campus. Attendees can enjoy healthy cooking demonstrations, check out the latest insulin pump technology, and get diabetes education from Endocrinologist Dr. Jonven Attia. The event welcomes everyone interested in learning more!
Más Amor Fest: A Día de Los Veteranos Celebration
The Center for Mexican American Studies and the Mexican American Student Association at Texas Lutheran University are hosting the third annual Más Amor Fest on Saturday, November 22, from noon to 10 p.m. This free, all-ages event honors veterans and is open to the entire community.The festival will feature a lowrider, classic car, truck, and bike show from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Blumberg Memorial Library parking lot. Visitors can also see the 1969 Chevy Impala from the movie Selena. There will be a vendor market, a food court, live graffiti murals, and a live music showcase. Additionally, there will be a free turkey raffle giveaway every hour from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m. The celebration will conclude with a concert featuring Frankie J, DJ Kane, and Amanda Solis from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information, visit masamorfest.com.
Redeemer United Church’s Handmade-Only Craft Fair
The Women’s Fellowship group of Redeemer United Church, 7415 Gin Rd., Marion, will host a Handmade-Only Craft Fair on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. The fair will feature local artisans and offer concessions and a bake sale. Proceeds from the bake sale will support the church’s Sunday school program.
No Dance at Silver Center Thanksgiving week
The Silver Center will not be hosting a dance on November 28th due to the holiday.
Glue Printing on Fabric Class
The Seguin Art League will be hosting Glue Printing on Fabric Class at 1 p.m. on November 22 at 104 S. Austin, Seguin. Participants will learn a simple batik process using gel glue and acrylic paint to create dynamic designs and will take home their own unique fabric piece. Open to ages 10 and up, limited to 10 participants. Cost is $35 with supplies included. For more information call 830-305-0472 or visit seguinartleague.com.
To ensure non-profit organization’s meetings and events appear in this calendar, send information to: communitycalendar@kwed1580.com, or drop off the information at the Seguin Daily News/KWED offices located at 609 E. Court St. in Seguin. For best results, submit information at least two weeks prior to the event.
