TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

“Cookie dough is fun, simple and delicious, and ours is totally safe.”

Frank and Mary Senese cut the ribbon at the Belton location of Dough Re Mi this past spring. The couple opened a Waco location last week and have a thriving online store that has shipped to 42 states.

Booming business is making dough

By DAVID STONE, Our Town exclusive

Cup or Cone?

That’s a question usually reserved for ice cream parlors. But at Dough Re Mi, it’s all about cookie dough.

Chocolate chip, sugar cookie, pumpkin spice, salted caramel, s’mores … and that’s just a few of flavors mixed up by doughmaster Mary Senese.

“Right now my favorite is butter cookie, but that changes day to day,” laughed Mary during an interview this morning. “It’s hard to choose. I wouldn’t sell them if I didn’t love them!”

After graduating high school in Temple, she moved to Nashville to study business.  While in Tennessee, she met Frank, a restaurant manager, and they fell in love. After college — and a wedding — they moved to Belton.

“I wanted to start a business, but I thought it would be good to get some experience before doing my own thing,” Mary said. “While I was searching for jobs, I sold cookie dough to friends and family. It was just a way to make a little money.”

During her middle school and high school days, Mary loved to bake and had become quite skilled with doughs. She continued baking in college and even made her own wedding cake.

Then came 2020 and the life-altering COVID-19 pandemic.

“The job search was on hold — no one was hiring,” she recalled. “I talked it over with Frank, and with my educational background in business and his experience as a restaurant manager, Dough Re Mi was born. We decided to pursue cookie dough seriously.”

The couple started a website — doughremitx.com — and began taking orders. Business boomed from the start.

“We set the website up in May 2020 and the next month I started doing pop-ups all over Temple and Belton,” she said. “I’d take a tent and table and set up shop in front of local businesses and at farmer’s markets.”

The orders kept pouring in and not just from Central Texas.

“We started offering shipping through the website, and right now we have shipped to 42 states,” Mary said with a smile.

Wow! People really love cookie dough.

“Yes they do,” she said. “Cookie dough is fun, simple and delicious, and ours is totally safe.”

Mary pointed out that there are two things that make traditional cookie dough unsafe to eat raw.

“There’s the raw egg thing — most people are aware of that — and you aren’t supposed to eat raw flour,” she said. “We don’t use eggs, and we bake our flour before making the dough. You can eat it like ice cream, and our dough is delicious raw and delicious baked.”

To keep up with Dough Re Mi’s growing popularity, the Seneses opened their first store in March. It’s located at 2415 N. Main in Belton.

“It’s set up like an ice cream parlor — a unique twist on two desserts people love,” she said. “We offer dough on cones, in cups and with toppings like a sundae. We also have cookie dough milkshakes.”

Just months after opening that first store in Belton, Dough Re Mi expanded to Waco in early September.

“We are one of 20 food vendors inside Union Hall,” she said. Union Hall can be described as an upscale food court with several restaurants and a community dining space.

“We totally plan to keep expanding, We love Central Texas, and we would like to open shops in Temple, Austin, College Station … maybe even start franchising in the future. We’ll just see where that road takes us.”

For now, the couple is busy with two stores and a growing online business, and they are even doing some catering.

“With COVID, we are offering prepackaged 2 ounce containers of doughs and toppings,” she said. “We also have a build-your-own dough bar that is a popular option for birthday parties.”

The build-your-own dough bar serves up to 16 people and includes a half-gallon of dough, four toppings, a dough scoop, spoons and paper goods.

“We try to make it fun,” Mary said. “We have something for everyone.”

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Part 3 in a series on the history of Texas football mascots

Owl bet you didn’t know this…

By JENNIFER WILSON, Our Town exclusive 

I know this series of articles is supposed to be about college mascots, but while I was researching the history behind Rice University’s famous owl, I stumbled upon a bit of intriguing and sordid information regarding the founding of the University itself. 

So, before we tackle the owls, indulge me for a moment as I relay to you a tale of fraud, betrayal and murder.

William Marsh Rice was born on March 14, 1816, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He had the good sense to travel to Texas in 1838 where he hoped to make his fortune. He bought 320 acres of land in Houston, and opened a general store on the east side of Main Street between Congress and Franklin Avenues. Providing cotton, manufactured goods, and banking services, Rice was worth over one million dollars by 1865.

Wanting to give back to the city of Houston, on May 18, 1891 Rice chartered the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art — stipulating that work on the new institute could only begin after his death.

Unfortunately, Rice did not have to wait for long for the Grim Reaper to appear. Conspiring with attorney Albert Patrick to claim Rice’s estate using a forged will, Rice’s long-time valet, Charlie Jones, chloroformed the old man to death on September 23, 1900. 

When an autopsy revealed foul play, Jones agreed to testify against Patrick in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Patrick was convicted of murder and sent to Sing-Sing. He was pardoned in 1912 — the same year that classes began at the Rice Institute.

The Rice Institute opened on September 23, 1912, with 77 students enrolled and a dozen faculty members. Edgar Odell Lovett was the first president. The academic seal was designed in 1912 as well. The designer, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose, combined elements of the arms of 16 prominent families bearing the names Rice or Houston. Owls of Athena, symbols of wisdom, were chosen for the charges. Thus, the Rice Owls were born.

Rice’s owl remained nameless until 1917, and then Texas A&M got involved (as they are wont to do). At the time, a six-foot tall, 191-pound stuffed canvas owl acted as the athletic mascot — travelling with the students and teams to various events. 

Apparently, the students of Texas A&M did not take kindly to losing a basketball game one evening and kidnapped the giant bird. Rice University received the following note: “If Rice wishes to claim their bird and ever think they are able to take him back to the Institoot, they can find him at 37 Milner Hall, College Station, Texas.” (Whether or not Institoot was a deliberate pun or an unlettered misspelling is still deliberated to this day).

Forming the Owl Protective Association, a group of students hired a private detective to find their beloved mascot. It wasn’t long before the detective sent back a coded message: “Sammy is better and would like to see his parents at 11 o’clock.”

Seventeen Rice men raced to College Station to rescue “Sammy” from the U.S. Armory. Unfortunately, in the melee a night watchman fired a pistol and awakened the sleeping A&M students. A foot chase involving well over one hundred Aggies, 17 Rice students, and one giant bird commenced throughout the dark College Station countryside. Nine Rice students were initially caught.

The remaining eight decided to jettison Sammy to save their own skins. Cutting away and sparing the canvas skin, the men burned the wood-shaving stuffing. This was not a very brilliant move, as the smoke attracted some cadets who managed to capture four more Rice men. The remaining four were rescued by hunters. What was left of Sammy was returned to Rice University, and President Lovett petitioned the Texas A&M president for the return of the imprisoned Rice students.

The Rice Owl now had a permanent name, and his run of bad luck seemed to be permanent as well. In 1935, SMU students attempted to kidnap another canvas Sammy during a football game — only to be thwarted by the Rice band. 

In 1943, the Aggies kidnapped Sammy once again, stashing him in a Houston hotel. Fortunately, the manager of the hotel was a Rice fan and was able to contact a local funeral home that sent an ambulance to the hotel. Wrapped up in sheets in corpse like fashion, Sammy was placed on a stretcher and wheeled right past his A&M kidnappers.

Rice University had several live mascots from the 1960s to the 1990s but abandoned them in favor of a costumed version that started appearing with the live birds in the 1970s. 

Costumed Sammy is still around today — cheering on his team and providing entertainment and hijinks to fans of all ages. Rice University believes this is for the best. Canvas is not that entertaining, owls should fly free, and the current Sammy can definitely fight back should anyone attempt to kidnap him.

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HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ...

Who the heck is Cooter Brown?

By DAVID STONE, Our Town exclusive

I stopped by a convenience store on South 31st Street this afternoon and had a moment of wonder.

A young man — probably in his late 20s — staggered up to the checkout with a big ol’ can of beer, bumping into shelves and a display on his way. Once at the register, he began digging in his pocket for change.

The cashier politely raised his hand to a “stop” gesture, and said: “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t sell you alcohol — I think you’ve had enough.”

I had already paid for my purchase and I was behind the fellow as he left the store. But before the door closed, I heard a comment: “That guy was drunker than Cooter Brown.”

I’ve heard that saying before — many times — and it always is in reference to a person’s lack of sobriety. This time, though, I thought to myself: “Who the heck is Cooter Brown?”

I have random thoughts often but this one was persistent, and when I got home the research began.

A quick Google inquiry revealed several Cotter Brown origin stories, but all left more questions than they answered. I was about to close the book on the subject when I saw a search engine ad about Cooter Brown’s Tavern in New Orleans. Hmmm.

I had a few minutes to kill, so I made the phone call.

A woman — I think she said her name was Sue — answered the phone and thanked me for calling. I explained that I was trying to track down the story behind Cooter Brown.

“Well, hell, you called the right place,” she said. “I can tell you that.”

So here it is, the Cooter Brown backstory, straight from the mouth of Sue the Bartender:

Cooter Brown lived along the Mason-Dixon Line, the original boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Before the Civil War, the line, along with the Ohio River, divided slave states from “free-soil” states.

Young men living in this region apparently were eligible to be drafted by the military on either side, so to avoid going to war, ol’ Cooter devised a plan.

He had family on both sides of the line, and he didn’t really want to fight at all. So, in the spirit of peace, Cooter Brown got drunk and stayed drunk for the duration of the war. He figured being in a permanent state of intoxication would mark him as a useless, unmotivated mess. Apparently, according to Bartender Sue, it worked.

The metaphor “drunker than Cooter Brown” has endured more than 150 years.

Thanks, Sue. Your explanation works for me.

TPD to host third Coffee with a Cop

The Temple Police Department is inviting residents to grab a cup of coffee and meet with local officers during the next Coffee with a Cop.

Officers will be at Bethel Independent Methodist Church, 707 S. 22nd Street in Temple, from 7a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sept. 28.

“The goal is to build strong relationships with our residents that will hopefully result in positive interactions,” Police Chief Shawn Reynolds said. “We’d love to hear from residents and see if there is something we can do to improve safety in our community.”

The event allows residents to meet with police officers in an informal setting to ask questions or share concerns about the city or the police department.

What’s happening?

September 15, Wednesday - Open Mic Comedy, Corky’s. 8 p.m.

September 15, Wednesday - Tiny Thinkers, Kids 5 years old and younger are invited to the museum to experience the State Fair! Bell County Museum. 10 a.m.

September 16, Thursday - Live Comedy Night hosted by Steven Farmer. Soon Wine Bar & Small Plates, 7373 Honeysuckle, Temple. 7 p.m.

September 17, Friday - Matt Cearley & The Rowdy Few live at O’Briens Irish Pub, 9 p.m.

September 17, Friday - Wade Ralston live at Fire Base Brewing Company, 6:30 p.m.

September 17, Friday - Neal McCoy, Cotton Country Club, Granger. 9:30 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Dale Watson, Texas Music Series, Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Live Comedy Showcase. Corky’s. 8 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - The Chancers, O’Briens Irish Pub, 9 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Night Bright Bike Ride, Pepper Creek Train off North Kegley. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to local food pantries. Trail parking is available at the Scott & White West Campus next to the hospital's parking lot. Look for green trail signs along FM 2305 and Kegley Road to direct you to the parking area. 6:30-9 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Harvest Celebration. Bring your family and friends to enjoy grape stomping, food trucks, music, and wine. This is a ticketed event. 3 Texans Winery. 6 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Detox/Retox Yoga, Fire Base Brewing Company, 11 a.m.

September 18, Saturday - Quest for the Best Hog Show & Sale, Bell County Expo. 4 p.m. Preview, 6 p.m. Sale.

September 18, Saturday - Sip and Spin Pottery Night. Instructors guide you in making pots and bowls on the wheel. Tap Tap Art School, Harker Heights. 6 p.m.

September 18, Saturday - Original Debonaires Reunion Dance, Cotton Country Club, Granger. 8:30 p.m.

September 21, Tuesday - Body of Christ Community Clinic’s Together We Heal Banquet, UMHB, Jimmy Dorrell, keynote speaker. 5:30 p.m.

September 24, Friday - Maxx Carter live at Fire Base Brewing Company, 6:30 p.m.

September 24, Friday - Belton Bacon, Blues & Brews Festival, noon to 9 p.m.

September 24, Friday - Aaron Watson, Cotton Country Club, Granger. 9:30 p.m.

September 25, Saturday - Littlest Wildcat Cheer Camp, Temple High School. 9 a.m.

September 25, Saturday - Name That Tune Bingo: Belt it Out Edition. Fire Base Brewing Company, 7:30 p.m.

September 25, Saturday - Belton Bacon, Blues & Brews Festival, noon to 9 p.m.

September 25, Saturday - Baxley & Acadian with special guests Ghost Republic at O’Briens Irish Pub. 9 p.m.

September 25, Saturday - Fun at the Fair! Join us at the museum to for fun at the fair! View the newest exhibit and take part in fun activities - explore symmetry by decorating a popcorn bucket, build your own mini rollercoaster, race your family in duck races, and visit our petting zoo! Bell County Museum. 11 a.m.

September 30, Thursday - TLC’s Celebration of Crazy, Sexy Cool with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Bell County Expo Center. 7:30 p.m.

September 30, Thursday - Funniest Comic in Texas semi-finals. Corky’s.

October 1, Friday - Randy Rogers Band, Johnny Steaks and Bar-Be-Que, Salado. 6 p.m.

October 3, Sunday - Temple Civic Theater’s annual Bazaar Thrift Sale & Blood Drive. Rummage through racks of clothes and tables packed with fun finds. TCT facemarks, wristbands, mugs and memberships also will be on sale. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 5, Tuesday - Temple’s National Night Out. 6:30 p.m.

October 7, Thursday - The Spazmatics, Schoepf’s BBQ, Belton. 6 p.m.

October 8, Friday - Painting with a Twist, 3 Texans Winery. 6:30 p.m.

October 9, Saturday - Shinyribs, Texas Music Series,Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

October 9, Saturday - Oktoberfest 2021, Barrow Brewing Company, Salado, noon to 10:30 p.m.

October 11-17 - Hocus Pocus, The Beltonian Theatre, Belton. Noon.

October 16, Saturday - West Temple Oktoberfest. 3 West Alehouse & Grill. 11 a.m.

October 16, Saturday - Oktoberfest 2021, Barrow Brewing Company, Salado, noon to 10:30 p.m.

October 16, Saturday - Michael Salgado at Schoepf’s BBQ in Belton, 6 p.m.

October 18-23 - The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Beltonian, Belton. 6-8 p.m.

October 23, Saturday - Don Gregory Memorial Lions Club Golf Tournament. Sammons Golf Course. Contact Jeffrey Thigpen Thigpen.jeff@gmail.com to register or for sponsorship opportunities. 4-person scramble begins at 8:30 a.m.

October 23, Saturday - Free Movie Night. Harker Heights Community Park. 5 p.m.

October 23, Saturday - Oktoberfest 2021, Barrow Brewing Company, Salado, noon to 10:30 p.m.

October 29, Friday - Uncasing of the Colors for the 607-member 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Squadron, 36th Infantry Division, now headquartered at the Texas Army National Guard on Airport Road in Temple. Santa Fe Plaza, 10 a.m.

October 29, Friday - Season closing event, Domestics vs Imports, Little River Dragway, 7 p.m.

October 30, Saturday - Barktoberfest, Dog costume contest at 5:30; adoptable dogs on site. Barrow Brewing Co., Salado. 1-7 p.m.

October 30, Saturday - Bulls & BBQ, Live bull riding followed by concert with Jake Worthington and Keith Braxton. Schoepf’s BBQ, Belton, Noon.

November 4, Thursday - Spur Classic Sporting Clay Shoot, Weber Shooting Range. 8 a.m.

November 6, Saturday - Chris Hillman, Texas Music Series,Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

November 13, Saturday - Market in the Vines. Take a walk through the vines and shop with over 50 vendors! Free to the public. 3 Texans Winery. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November 18, Thursday - Taste of the Holidays 2021: A Candy Cane Christmas. Mayborn Convention Center. 10:30 a.m.

December 4, Saturday - Barrow Brewing Christmas Market, Salado. Noon.

Have an event you would like to promote? Email info to OurTownTemple@gmail.com with “What’s Happening” in the subject line. Keep it short and sweet — what, when and where. You may include a short description. You must include a phone number for verification purposes. The phone number will not be published unless requested by submitter.

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