BURRO COMING – The Cottonwood Station in Marathon will reopen as a new restaurant and bar sometime this fall, a project of Neil Chavigny. Seen pausing to discuss “coming attractions” were Tim Thayer, left, Patrick Picasso, Carol Townsend and Aldo Leopold IV, the dog. The two men are involved in the project. Townsend said she was just “passing by.” It will be known as Burro Bar or Famous Burro. Or something like that.

POLE PROJECT – A large pole will support a new sign for the remodeled Cottonwood Station, which will come back to life this fall as the Burro Bar, Famous Burro or some other namesake of the popular donkey. Looking on were “tres zopelotes” – three buzzards – from Houston, two of them visible in the photo.

HOME HOTEL – Mattie V. Stuessy posed recently in front of the house she was born in, the former Chambers Hotel. It was the first hotel in Marathon, built in 1891 as an adobe building, later covered with clapboard. When her dad refused to give Alfred Gage a room all year, Gage decided to build his own hotel. And the rest, as they say . . .

THE CARROT AND... – The second option wasn’t needed. Jaylen Franklin, granddaughter of Ruben and Coy Gonzalez of Marathon, was able to lure Curious, a miniature burro who had strayed away from its pen back home. Looking on were its mother Parade and cousin Valentino, who had stayed behind when Curious became, well, curious.

BIRTHDAY GIRL – Eula Mae Colmenero, right, will celebrate her 80th birthday tomorrow, July 26. She was shown with Jackie Boyd at the Marathon Library where she worked for five years before retiring last year.

THE POST – Marathon’s Post Park continues to be used by locals. Last weekend, a Aguilar family reunion and the Lesly Mendez/Ronny Looney wedding shared the facility. And the pond was reported “full of kids” enjoying the cool water on a warm day.

COMING BACK? – Shafter Mine, closed for 66 years, may get new life next year. Aurcana of Vancouver, BC, plans to restart the mining for silver to take advantage of prices nearing $20 per troy ounce. The price of silver is up nearly 250 percent over seven years.