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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On February 18, 2015, citizens from the city of West |
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are coming to Austin to celebrate West Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Established at its present site in 1881, the town |
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was named West nine years later in honor of farmer, postmaster, and |
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businessman Thomas West; the area's rich soil attracted Czech |
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immigrants who farmed the land, opened businesses, shared their |
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European culture, and planted roots that are now indelibly woven |
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into the identity of West; and |
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WHEREAS, The courage and resilience of early pioneers became |
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enduring characteristics of the community; in the wake of the |
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tragic West Fertilizer Company plant explosion that devastated the |
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town in 2013, citizens came together to comfort and support one |
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another; dozens of homes have since been rebuilt, and progress |
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continues on other construction projects, including a $50 million |
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campus for the middle and high schools; and |
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WHEREAS, Determined to maintain a cherished way of life, the |
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people of West have united to move forward while holding fast to the |
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traditions that make the city unique; West is widely known and |
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officially designated as the Czech Heritage Capital of the State of |
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Texas, and it is informally referred to as the "Czech Point of |
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Central Texas"; it is the place to be on Labor Day weekend for the |
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annual tradition of Westfest, a celebration of Old World foods, |
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music, arts and crafts, and numerous other activities; and |
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WHEREAS, West has long been a premier stop for travelers on |
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the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Austin, due to the bakeries |
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that lure visitors with the promise of kolaches, delicious Czech |
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pastries filled with sweet and savory ingredients; the city is home |
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to the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, With a population of nearly 3,000 people, West is a |
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small and friendly town with a big can-do attitude, and residents |
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may indeed take pride in the many admirable qualities that have |
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defined their community since its inception; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2015, as West Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best |
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wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit to Austin. |