By Roger Lanse

Tracy Spikes, Director of the Silver City Museum reported on museum activities to the Silver City Town Council Tuesday evening, Sept. 9. Spikes regaled the council with such pearls as "We're looking in, reaching out and moving forward" and "We're a wheel in a hub."

Spikes richly described a museum as "a place to begin a dialogue" and to "have a whole-body experience," and the museum's purpose as "community." Continuing, Spikes proudly stated, "We're developing the future."

"The museum shows how all our different cultures combine to make us what we are today," Spikes said, which kind of left this reporter scratching his head.

More specifically, Spikes did relate how the museum's staff recently unearthed the story behind how Gough Park got its name, that the results from the programs conducted each weekend are "really phenomenal," and that the New Mexico Office of Historic Preservation just gave the museum permission to paint their building – the Ailman House.

Spikes sais that exhibits such as Gila Wild, Chicano Music Project and others, and the revamping of the whole downstairs, have been accomplished. He stated that attendance this fiscal year has been more than 17,000, up from 2010's and 2011's attendance.

Cruz Bustillos of the Copper Country Cruizers told the council that 140-plus show cars registered at their end-of-August event and that the club sponsors scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 for students from Cliff, Cobre and Silver high schools who plan to study the automotive disciplines.

Silver City MainStreet Board President Lucy Whitmarsh told the council of a fundraiser Oct. 25, to benefit the Silco Theater Restoration Project. The fundraiser involves a foot race using the Boston Hill Urban Trail System.

District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison advised the council of a street dance to be held this coming Friday evening near the Co-op, as part of the Mimbres Region Arts Council Pickamania!

Town Manager Alex Brown commented that the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, Local Government Division, has approved the town's budget for fiscal year 2014-2015.

The council approved a restaurant liquor license application for the El Gallo Pinto, 901 N. Hudson Street; applicant Simon Ortiz.

Finally, the council approved rescheduling the Sept. 23 council meeting at 6 p.m. in the Grant County Administration Building, to Sept. 17, same time and location.