Kyle City Limits
by BRENDA STEWART

Sadly, I was fully prepared to write an obituary today.  From all indications, the Old Town Kyle Advocates had begun to falter and fade. We had gathered, from time to time, to lament its demise and relish the glory days. We reflected on our past, how in its infancy, our group could be brash and somewhat awkward at inopportune times.  But with guidance and determination it grew into quite a force to be reckoned with. We were forthright and agile, fortunately one step ahead of folks who worked in the shadows, trying to undermine us. Our success in securing the new library in Old Town will surely go down in city lore as a prime example of the power of grassroots efforts. But this begged the question: Are we more than just the victor of the Battle of City Hall?

Indeed. We were the initial group which rallied around our neighbors, the Torres family, the morning their house burned to the ground. We helped organize a benefit, collected clothing, furniture and food and offered financial assistance in the ensuing months. We were the booth at downtown’s fledgling Dia de los Muertos celebration, which gave out a hundred bags we had hand-filled with promotional information gathered from our city’s businesses, encouraging our neighbors to shop locally. We were the flower wall that same night, honoring the generations which had come before us, and reflecting our town’s proud Hispanic heritage.

And to this day, we continue to be the members on city and community committees and boards, holding feet to the fire, making sure that Old Town’s voice is not drowned out by powerful HOAs and hedonistic city employees. We still fill the chambers and commandeer the public comment microphone at council meetings to keep our elected representatives informed and in check. Collectively, we are a passionate, determined group with a love for Kyle which should never be underestimated.

So this elegy has turned into a song of celebration. In retrospect, I can see that the Old Town Kyle Advocates have never been more powerful than they are today. But, instead of the swaggering pillar of energetic youth feeling 10-feet-tall and bullet proof, I think we’ve evolved into the pragmatic voice of reason and determination that only comes with experience and patience. Maybe not quite so exciting, but you are kidding yourself if you ever think that we are not a force to be reckoned with.