Spirits for Spirits

On Jan. 12, spirits will abound at the Old City Cemetery Center, which will host a wine tasting and silent auction called Spirits in the Night. The fundraiser is for the beautification and restoration of Brownsville’s historic cemetery.

The auction will include works of art and a dinner for 16 at the Stillman House. Food at the dinner and fundraiser itself will be prepared by local chef Jessica Villescac, who specializes in Meso-American cuisine.

“She has a bit of a following,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, the Director of the Brownsville Historical Association. “People who go to our functions are always asking her for her recipes.”

Funds from the event, which costs $30 per person and has space for 50 couples, will be used to repair potholes in the cemetery pathways, wrought iron gates, and to plant grass. The wine will be provided by Ben’s Liquor.

Chula Griffin and Gene Balch will also be honored at the event. Griffin began the Brownsville Cemetery Association and dedicated many years of service to preserving the grounds. She created a log documenting where individuals were buried and their cause of death.

Balch was instrumental in repairing the section of the Brownsville Historical Complex where the Old City Cemetery Center is currently housed.

“I don’t know if people put in as many hours (of volunteer work) as they used to,” said Rodriguez.

The center will also host its first Coffee and Culture at the center on Jan. 5, with a focus on Egyptian burial customs. The event will occur the first Saturday of each month, focusing on a different culture’s burial ritual, with refreshments to match.