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Prescribed Fire Grant Applications for Texas Plains Region Now Open

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service is now accepting grant applications for the State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Plains Prescribed Fire Grant through August 15th, 2023. The grant will provide nearly $92,000 in funding for prescribed burns.

Prescribed fire is the planned application of a low-intensity fire to the landscape by fire and fuel specialists. The practice is a strategic, planned land management tool that uses fire to achieve set goals that are in accordance with applicable laws, policies and regulations.

“Prescribed burning is one of the most commonly used tools for managing hazardous fuel buildups because of its relatively low cost per acre,” said Jake Gosschalk, Texas A&M Forest Service Fuels Program Specialist IV. “Reintroducing fire to the landscape also improves wildlife habitats and rangeland conditions for grazing.”

Properties near communities in the panhandle, northwest, west and south Texas at a risk for loss during a wind-driven wildfire are eligible.  The application process is entirely online which allows landowners to work directly with the certified prescribed burn manager of their choice to complete the application, burn plan and map requirements.

“This year, we have adjusted the program to allow recipients a full 12 months to complete the burn, running September 15, 2023, through September 15, 2024”, said Gosschalk.  “By extending the burn window for landowners, they’ll have the opportunity to conduct both cool-season and warm-season summer burns.”

Grant recipients will be reimbursed actual per acre costs associated with conducting the prescribed burn up to $30 per acre with a limit of 800 acres per recipient.  The burn must be conducted by either a private or commercial Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager, which landowners must identify on the grant application.

Priority will be given to treatment sites that provide protection to the highest-risk communities based on the Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, are located near homes and contain ecosystems that will benefit from prescribed fire.

Check eligibility and complete the online application here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/PrescribedFireGrantsApplication/.

Learn more about prescribed fire by visiting Texas A&M Forest Service Prescribed Burns or the TDA Prescribed Burning Board.

For more information on wildfire preparedness visit: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/content/landing.aspx?id=19841 and https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/ProtectYourCommunity/.

Vacation Bible School (San Jacinto County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Looking for an activity for the kids?

Don’t forget to sign up your kiddos for VBS!! Just scan the QR and register them! This is open to all kiddos pre-k thru 6th grade. Please share to get the word out!

What: Vacation Bible School
Where: San Jacinto County Cowboy Church (1011 State Highway 150 Coldspring, TX 77331)
When: July 24-28, 2023, 1-4 p.m

This is the link to register in case someone can’t get the QR code to work.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfISyuNBLa84jgjNl915w393rVxrnCpvDGUgXlgOHOmSx7kiw/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3H5pX7VhBY_h5cfVfakCyowj7LfoDw3CtdjmAiHNckzfXBhoPfLrHfejA&pli=1

Christmas in July (San Jacinto County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Join the fun on the Square in Coldspring, Texas!
Live music on both sides of the courthouse! Vendors all around the Square!
Bluegrass on Rosalie’s porch!

July 29th at the San Jacinto County Courthouse
9:00 a.m to 3 p.m

SUMMER SANTA MAY SHOW UP!

For more information call Paul at 713-471-3460 or Helenmarie at 936-653-2332

New Survey Reveals Gen Z and Millennials Struggle to Keep a Tidy Home

By
Statepoint
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Home organizing is more than a trend; it’s a lifestyle. From streaming shows demonstrating how to color-code your pantry to magazines offering tips to unclutter quickly and even a litany of organization products, there’s an abundance of information in the world of home organization. Yet, despite all this great content, younger generations still struggle with staying organized. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Pollfish on behalf of the Duck brand finds that nearly 75% of Gen Z and millennials, ages 16 to 42, need a better organizing system or routine at home. Here’s what these generations struggle with the most:

Clutter is Chaos: While about half of Gen Z and millennials clean and organize for up to an hour a day, they still have an issue with clutter. The survey finds that the kitchen counter is the biggest clutter hotspot, and car or house keys are the top misplaced items. Among their worst organizing habits, 54% of the younger generations throw everything into a junk drawer, while 40% say they don’t hang up their purse or jacket. Additionally, their top challenges to staying tidy are too much clutter and not enough room.

Family Dynamics: Living with messy family members is another top challenge. Less than half of Gen Z and millennials say their spouses and children pick up after themselves and more than 40% wish their significant other was neater/tidier at home. Most Gen Z and millennials (nearly 64%) feel they are the best at staying organized at home compared to others they live with about 30% of Gen Z say their parents are the tidiest and 16% of millennials say their partner is the neatest.

Personal Preference: A quick and easy installation is at the top of their priority list when it comes to picking an organizing system, but 29% of Gen Z also favors stylish and modern aesthetics. Among the products they’re willing to try, Gen Z is more likely to use shelves while millennials chose a wall organizer. As for the cost, most will spend $26 to $50 on organizing products.

Space-Saving Solutions: More than 75% of survey respondents feel they have limited space to store items and 70% wish their backpacks, jackets, and hats were better organized.

“Americans are embracing a ‘less is more’ lifestyle and prefer clutter-free spaces, but it’s clear they have challenges when it comes to tidying up,” says Angee Mantell, Insights & Innovation product manager at Shurtape Technologies, LLC, the company that markets the Duck brand. “Simple solutions can help people of all ages create homes that are more efficient, livable, and meet the demands of their busy lifestyles.”

From the entryway to the garage, Duck brand’s EasyMounts Heavy-Duty Drywall Hooks and Heavy-Duty Drywall Tool Holders help restore order to high-traffic areas and give out-of-place belongings, such as keys, bags, and garage gear, a designated home while keeping them off the floor. The universal mounting system comes in a modern matte finish and installs in drywall without the need for tools, solving the problem of limited storage.

While some factors are beyond one’s control, such as the amount of storage space available and the behavior of housemates, smart organizational tools can minimize mess and stress at home, for all generations.

Need more ideas, check out the Duck Brand page on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3pFQZ5g

Angelina College Receives $3 Million Title V Grant: Award from U.S. Department of Education Adds New Programs

By
Gary Stallard
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AC News Service

Angelina College officials on Thursday gathered in recognition of the nearly $3 million Title V grant awarded by the U. S. Department of Education.

In 2022, AC was one of just 78 higher education institutions selected as a Title V recipient. According to the Title V page on the Angelina College website, the Title V grant lists two major components: 1) Establish new technology programs for in-demand occupations, and 2) Develop and strengthen support services.

The recent award certainly will cover those components, according to Marcy Anthony, Title V Project Director at Angelina College.

“With this grant, we’re able to produce two more programs for the college,” Anthony said. “We’re now going to offer a Networking Administration degree, which is actually starting this fall in year two of the grant. Then, in year three, we’ll be able to offer a Software Development program as a new degree.

“Those are two very prominent and sought-after programs that haven’t been available in this area until now.”

Along with the new degree programs, the college also will be able to provide more services designed to ensure student retention and success.

“We’re also going to be able to start a new mentoring program focusing on incoming new students – especially first-generation students – who aren’t familiar with the college experience,” Anthony said. “We’ll have faculty and peer mentors working with those students to help them make the transition to college life.”

Disclaimer: The contents of this [Angelina College Title V] webpage were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

For further information, contact Krista Brown at kbrown@angelina.edu.

Avoiding Plant Stress from Hot and Dry Conditions

By
Cary Sims
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I was just at a conference for agricultural county agents from across the state in Wichita Falls. Their average annual rainfall is somewhere around 25-27 inches – fully half what our 35-year average is. Yet we know that each summer, we expect to get both hot and dry conditions. And since our temperatures continue to look unruly, let’s talk about water stress and how it affects plants.

Recognizing drought stress is crucial, as many plants shut down their specialized leaf tissue openings (stomates) to minimize dehydration loss. With continued drought and high temperatures, this can lead to internal heat load which limits the plant’s ability to function and causes partial or complete collapse of the plant. Even without a complete demise, drought-stressed plants are highly vulnerable to pests such as insects and disease.

Yet there are things you can do. Not only water but make sure you follow good watering practices. We’ll first talk about trees and shrubs.

Give trees a good, deep soaking from irrigation once, maybe twice a week. Newly planted trees and shrubs (1-3 years old) need watering twice a week. Spread wood chip mulch to about 3-4 inches deep and keep it a couple of inches away from the base of the tree trunk. Avoid ‘volcano mulching’ around the tree trunk. With trees and shrubs that are mulched, place the soaker hose underneath the mulch to ensure the soil root zone gets adequate water. Control any weeds or turf growing underneath the tree’s dripline area. Both weeds and your turfgrass compete for water with neighboring plants.

Be sure to use mulch and create a wide barrier around your trees and shrubs. Don’t think a small circle is nice. Consider making a 6-foot diameter mulched area around even the youngest trees. This is an excellent way to conserve water for the plants it surrounds and, again, helps prevent weeds.

What should you NOT do? Don’t fertilize drought-stressed trees and shrubs. Avoid unnecessary pruning or transplanting them as well. Wait until cooler months to prune and wait until the dead of winter to have the best success at transplanting a small tree or shrub.

Continue using mulch in your vegetable gardens and flower beds. Use any kind of bark or pine straw that we have abundantly in our area. Before watering potted plants, check the soil moisture by poking a finger an inch deep into the soil media. If the soil is dry, give a good soaking.

Try to avoid the temptation to shower the plant leaves but rather water gently around the base of the plants and avoid splashing on its leaves. Morning hours are best, by far, for watering plants. Use your hoe to rid the garden of weeds and reapply mulch as needed.

Hot summer weather is not the time to use a conventional granular fertilizer on vegetable gardens. If you must fertilize, use products containing some slow-release formulation and water it immediately after application.

The same holds true in your flower beds. Water the perennials when the soil surface dries out moderately. Place the drip hose a few inches away from the crown of the plant and water deeply. If using a wand, direct the flow of the water around the base of the plant. Again, avoid overhead watering to prevent foliar diseases. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation loss.

The Angelina County Extension office will be holding their Noon Gardening Program on July 18 on “Water Conservation in the Landscape”. The program will be from 12- 1 pm. Our guest speaker is Chanelle Svehla, County Extension Agent in Sabine County.  She will be discussing irrigation strategies for the landscape. This event is hosted by local Volunteer Master Gardeners.

Kelly Amburn and The Hardtime Band (Shelby County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Come get a cold drink and dance to some good old country music.

Schedule: Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 8:00 am
Location: J’s Bar and Grill

To be hosted by Kelly Amburn and The Hardtime Band

 

Saturday Art Classes at ETAL (Jasper County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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ETRAC will conduct Saturday classes beginning June 17, 2023, at the Center from 11 am-1 pm. Bring the medium of your choice. May work at any level and instruction will be available. Contact the Center at 409-384-2404 or email etal07@yahoo.com for details or just walk in on a Saturday.

Event Venue

364 N Austin St
Jasper, 75951

Event Date

Saturday July 01 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday July 08 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday July 15 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday July 22 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday July 29 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Car Fit Event Scheduled for Seniors in Lufkin

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – TxDOT is taking part in the Mature Driver Program and offering a free event for seniors Friday morning in Lufkin.

The Mature Driver Program/CarFit is a partnership between TxDOT, the Brazos Valley Injury Prevention Coalition and Statewide Initiatives/Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service that works to educate senior drivers and improve safety and the driving experience for seniors.

The event, scheduled from 9-11 am Friday at 1807 North Medford Drive (Loving Toyota), is free and voluntary for all seniors who would like a trained safety technician to check the “fit” of their personal vehicle and review 12 key areas of safety. The safety check takes about 30 minutes per vehicle.

“As the number of older drivers is increasing, it has been determined by the US Census Bureau that by 2030, an estimated 58.9 million people will be age 65 and older,” said Melissa McKnight, TxDOT traffic safety specialist. “It is critically important that mature drivers make safety a personal priority.”

Vehicles have many safety features that offer enhanced protection that many drivers are unaware of. The Mature Driver Program/Car Fit event helps senior drivers explore adjustments to achieve their individual safety fit. It is not a driving test or vehicle inspection. The event is open to all ages but concentrates on mature driving safety.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or Melissa McKnight at 936-219-8922.

Online Cessation Class Starting August 8th

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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The Coalition, Inc. is hosting free online tobacco cessation classes for adults that want to quit tobacco. There are many benefits for people who quit tobacco, including reduced risk of tobacco-related diseases and early death. With support and encouragement, you can double your chances of successfully quitting. The Freshstart program can be your start to a new life without tobacco! This 4-session program is free for all participants and all materials are included. The online class will be on August 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. For more information, or to register, visit Project-Quit.org or call (936) 634-9308.

The Coalition, Inc. focuses on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. The Coalition is one of the oldest substance abuse prevention community coalitions in the United States.

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