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Governor Abbott Proclaims May 2-8 Travel And Tourism Week In Texas

By
Luis Ruperto
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PHOTO: Office Of The Governor 3/22/21

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation recognizing May 2-8 as Travel and Tourism Week in Texas. This week highlights the critical impact of the travel and tourism industry on the state of Texas and celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of Texans working in this industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition to the proclamation, Governor Abbott also released a video celebrating Travel and Tourism Week. 

“In Texas, we know that it is not our challenges that define us, but rather how we overcome them, and the men and women of our travel and tourism industry have set their sights firmly on the future by charting a road to recovery,” reads the Governor’s proclamation. “At this time, I join my fellow Texans in recognizing the power of travel to drive economic recovery in Texas and in celebrating the contributions of the travel and tourism industry in the Lone Star State. I encourage everyone, both Texans and non-Texans alike, to visit TravelTexas.com to learn more about the boundless opportunities that await those who are ready to take on their next adventure.”

Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 10 Texas jobs were created by travel, and the travel industry was responsible for a $169.8 billion economic impact to the Texas economy. Texas has already started to see rebounds in travel based on hotel bookings during and since spring break.

The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism (Travel Texas) is responsible for promoting Texas as a premier travel destination. The office works in concert with its partners (convention and visitors bureaus, local chambers of commerce, private travel-related organizations and associations) to promote travel to Texas in both the domestic and international tourism marketing arenas. 

View the Governor’s proclamation. 

Texas Decreases Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Facilities

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

Texas has decreased its use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing facilities by 58 percent – more than any other state, according to a report from the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes.

“Reducing the use of these medications directly improves the quality of residents’ life in nursing facilities, and we are proud of this result,” said Stephanie Stephens, state Medicaid director at Texas HHSC.  “We have worked closely with providers to educate them on the use of these medications and on alternative strategies to address behavioral issues with residents, particularly those with dementia.”

Texas now ranks 11th in the nation in terms of reducing prevalence of antipsychotic drug use for long-term-care residents. A key measure of nursing facility quality — and one tracked closely by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — is the use of antipsychotic medications for residents, particularly those with dementia.

In 2011, Texas was ranked 51st in the nation for highest use of antipsychotic medications, with 28.8 percent of nursing facility residents receiving antipsychotic medications.

Since that time HHSC launched several initiatives to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facility residents, including implementing specialized training programs focusing on dementia care for nursing facility providers and staff, creating an online toolkit for licensed vocational nurses, and establishing the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long-Term Care, a collaboration between HHSC and The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing that provides web-based training and resources for best practices in geriatrics and disabilities.

The collaboration between HHSC, providers, advocacy groups, industry groups and many others has resulted in a significant, sustained reduction in the use of antipsychotic medications. At the same time, starting in 2015 HHSC identified an increase in new diagnoses of schizophrenia in Texas nursing facility residents. HHSC convened a workgroup of stakeholders and partners to address this and discuss the state’s shared commitment to working collaboratively to ensure accurate diagnoses and quality of care.

The Texas HHS Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman also educated residents on the use of antipsychotics. The program published an educational brochure for residents, family members, and facility staff to ensure residents were only getting prescribed these powerful drugs with an appropriate diagnosis.

“Texans deserve to be supported in the care planning process, and we have worked closely with residents and families all over the state to ask questions about the purpose of a new prescription, help residents communicate any side effects of a drug, and support residents with seeking alternatives to antipsychotic drugs when possible,” said State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Patty Ducayet.

Other efforts to decrease antipsychotic use in Texas have included the implementation of the Music and Memory program, which provides MP3 players to seniors with dementia to help them reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories, which can improve quality of life and quality of care. The program was launched in 2015 as a pilot program in nursing facilities and at HHSC’s state supported living centers and Austin State Hospital in 2016. Since then, more than 1,000 nursing homes across Texas have taken part in the HHSC Music & Memory program. For more information on the Music and Memory program, visit the HHS website.  

More information is available at hhs.texas.gov. Texas residents can dial 2-1-1 to learn about programs and services.

WOODLAND HEIGHTS MEDICAL CENTER Nationally Recognized with an ‘A’ for the Spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

Lufkin Texas (August 29, 2020) –  Woodland Heights Medical Center received an “A” grade in the spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Woodland Heights’ achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care.

 Woodland Heights was the only facility in Lufkin/Angelina County to receive an “A” rating.

 “Our entire team works diligently to keep patient safety at the forefront of our mission at Woodland Heights,” states Drew Emery, CEO of Woodland Heights. “Caring for our friends and neighbors throughout deep East Texas is an honor and I am extremely proud to work alongside the physicians, nurses and entire care team at Woodland Heights.”

“An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, but Woodland Heights shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.”

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

Woodland heights was awarded an “A” grade today when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2021. To see WHMC’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Entrepreneurs: Start Your Business Now and Watch it Thrive

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

If you are an entrepreneur who has been thinking about a great business venture, now is an excellent time to pursue that idea and get the ball rolling. Some may be fearful about starting a business during a pandemic, and with all the economic and societal mayhem that COVID-19 has caused, it is an understandable fear. Rather than allowing fear to hold you back, consider the many benefits of creating your startup at a time like this. 

As you begin the planning stages of your business, remember that your startup will be even more successful with an effective marketing strategy. You don’t have to know how to do everything, but you should know how to connect with the right people to help your business grow and thrive. To get your ducks in a row before you get started, read these tips from Texas Forest Country Living.

Making an Effective Plan

A business plan can help keep you on track with your business goals. Create a statement of intent that will guide your choices throughout the development of your company. When you use the SMART method, you’re more likely to meet your goal, as it will be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. 

In your business plan, identify how you will initially fund your startup, whether through an online lender, grant money, or a crowdfunding campaign. You will do best with a combination of funding sources, and this may offer more safety if one resource falls through. As you map your financial plans for the business, consider some ways you can save money in the process of your startup.

Look for Ways to Cut Costs

A key reason why it’s a smart time to launch a startup is how inexpensive it can be given the current economic circumstances. With low interest rates and many closing businesses selling equipment at a reduced rate, you can begin your startup with far less initial cash flow than in “non-pandemic” times. You can make the most of your capital with these deep discounts, and have a greater chance for success. 

Filing your business as a limited liability company (LLC) is another smart way to save money as a business owner. Tax advantages, reducing time spent on paperwork, and building greater flexibility into your schedule are valuable assets that LLC ownership offers. Before you begin this process, determine state requirements to ensure you’re in compliance. You can also save money with this step by relying on a formation service that helps facilitate registration instead of turning to a lawyer. 

Finding Helpful Resources

Online tools and resources can be particularly helpful as you begin your business venture. Everything from hiring platforms to resource and product management can be accomplished online. Businesses can access resources to assist with information, finances, and commerce-related knowledge as well as legal guidelines. There are endless resources for businesses to access that can make a startup successful even during a pandemic. 

As you begin implementing your business plan, remember the importance of having a solid marketing strategy in place to expand your customer base. Your business can reach unexpected success with proper marketing.

CORRECTION: Roadrunner Baseball Offering Youth Summer Camp

By
Gary Stallard
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0

Instructional Camps Offer Fun Ways to Learn Game Skills

Angelina College baseball coaches are offering a three-day summer camp for youths ages 6-13 beginning Monday, June 7 on running through Wednesday, June 9 at Roadrunner Field on the Angelina College campus. Camp times will run from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. The cost for the three days is $100. 

The camp is designed to teach young players the fundamentals, drills and skills of the game while emphasizing the “fun” in “fundamentals.” Skills upon which the camp will focus include fielding, throwing, hitting, base running, sliding and pitching.

Campers are instructed to bring their own gloves, cleats, pants, bats, helmets and “whatever you normally bring to a baseball game.”

Instructors for the camp include Roadrunner head coach Jeff Livin, who just completed his 24th season as AC’s skipper. Livin’s program has helped more than 40 players on their way to the major league draft – including several former players currently serving on major league rosters.

Joining Livin will be AC assistant baseball coach Seth Spivey, who after his own career as a Roadrunner was drafted by the Texas Rangers. Spivey spent five years with the organization before embarking on his coaching career.   

For more information on registering for the camp, contact Angelina College’s Community Services Division at camproadrunner@angelina.edu.

For further information, contact Coach Jeff Livin at jlivin@angelina.edu.

Weed-eating fish for your farm pond

By
Cary Sims
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0

If you are a landowner of any size, you most likely have a pond. And if you have a pond of any kind, you most likely have aquatic weeds that you would like to get rid of.

Even though there are a wide variety of safe, effective, and environmentally responsible herbicides that one can use, most folks are tickled to hear that there are two kinds of fish available that love to eat weeds.

These two fish are the Triploid grass carp and tilapia. 

Triploid grass carp is a sterile (non-reproducing) form of grass carp. This fish is primarily a plant-eater and is a relatively effective biological tool to control some, but not all, species of nuisance aquatic vegetation. Grass carp love to eat weeds such as eloda, hydrilla, naiads, parrotfeather, and pondweeds. Bushy pondweed, American pondweed, and hydrilla are preferred vegetation. Grass carp are not effective for bulrush, filamentous algae (pond scum or moss), water primrose, coontail, Eurasian milfoil, or cattails.

Grass carp are a state-restricted fish that you must apply for (with a fee) through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  The application is available online or you can simply call or visit your local Texas Parks and Wildlife office and request the form. You will need to tell them about your location and information about your pond(s), pay a fee, and then you should get permitted to purchase a specified number of grass carp. 

Once you have this permit in hand, I would suggest that you call your favorite feed store and find out when the “fish truck” is coming. Be sure to tell your feed store owner or manager that you do have a grass carp permit in hand and wish to purchase some the next time the truck comes through town. 

The second type of fish that you could buy for aquatic weed control is tilapia. Tilapia can be found on the menu at red lobster, in the fish section at your local grocery store, and you can buy them live, by the pound, to stock in your farm pond to eat some of the smaller nuisance weeds. Specifically, tilapia are great at controlling filamentous algae (often called pond scum), duckweed, and watermeal. Outside of those three weeds, they are not effective on other aquatic vegetation. Mozambique tilapia aren’t restricted in any manner, but one should remember that they are a tropical fish that are not expected to live through the winter. 

Being a tropical, warm-water species, tilapia cannot survive at water temperatures below 55 F. Therefore, tilapia usually cannot be stocked before mid-April or May and are expected to die the following November or December. Recommended stocking rates are 15 to 20 pounds of mixed-sex adult Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) per surface acre. Tilapia are often not effective for vegetation control if the pond has a robust bass population due to intense predation. In Texas, stocking of Mozambique tilapia does not require a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Before going further, please realize that I am only speaking of the Mozambique tilapia. In Texas, stocking of Mozambique tilapia does not require a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Blue or Nile tilapia (or any other variety of tilapia) require an exotic species permit and are not to be used for recreational pond stocking. 

One other advantage to using tilapia is that if you are intent on raising big bass, you should consider stocking this tropical fish as a forage specie.  As the water cools in late fall, and before the tilapia perish, they get slow and sluggish, allowing bass to fatten up for the winter.  

So, as you head out to a local farm pond, and are tired of pulling the weeds off the hook each time you cast, remember that there are two types of fish that might just eat those weeds while benefitting your ponds aesthetics as well as feeding the bass population. 

If you wish to learn more about farm pond management, the Angelina County office of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a farm pond management seminar on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 pm.  There is no fee for the seminar. 

SFA Sylvans take top honors during Louisiana Forest Festival

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

Following more than a year hiatus in competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stephen F. Austin State University timbersports team, the Sylvans, made a triumphant return during the Louisiana Forest Festival, winning the collegiate portion of the event’s timbersports competition.

“Our team did a great job representing SFA and our programs,” said Dr. Jeremy Stovall, professor of forestry and Sylvans faculty advisor.

The team took first-place in the Jack and Jill crosscut, ax throwing, log chopping and single buck crosscutting events. The team earned second place in men’s crosscut, women’s bowsawing and men’s bowsawing.

Established in 1979, the Louisiana Forest Festival takes place in Winnfield, Louisiana, and celebrates the timber industry’s contributions to the state.

SFA announces 2021 Teaching Excellence Award recipients

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Seven Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members recently were selected to receive Teaching Excellence Awards.

SFA’s Teaching Excellence program is an opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty members for their contributions to the university through excellence as teachers. Each of the university’s six colleges selects a member of its faculty to receive an award. One adjunct faculty member from among all colleges also is chosen.

The selection is based upon knowledge of subject matter; quality of lectures and assignments; enthusiasm for teaching; interest in and availability to students; sensitivity to the learning environment; effectiveness as a teacher as assessed through student, peer and alumni evaluations; commitment to continuous improvement of their own classroom teaching; and contributions to the quality of teaching within the university through assistance and encouragement of other faculty members.

Rusche College of Business

Dr. Stephen Shrewsbury is an assistant professor of legal studies who joined the SFA faculty in 2017.
 
“My focus in being a college professor as a second career has always been on employing the most effective teaching methods possible to engage students and help them learn,” Shrewsbury said. “Being recognized by my peers in the College of Business motivates me to press on toward that goal even more.”
 
Prior to his arrival at SFA, Shrewsbury served as general counsel and director of legal services for the U.S. Air Force in the United Kingdom and Japan. He also served as general counsel and chief of operations and international law for Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii; deputy general counsel for U.S. European Command in Germany; legal advisor for the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece; deputy staff judge advocate for the 20th Fighter Wing in South Carolina; and chief of military justice and tort law at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah. From 1993 to 2017 Shrewsbury also worked as an executive trainer and instructor for the U.S. Air Force. His research interests include air and aviation law, corporate ethics, and international business ethics.
 
James I. Perkins College of Education

Dr. Lauren Burrow is an associate professor who joined the Department of Education Studies in 2015. Her service and research focus on service learning through community engagement and MotherScholarhood, which explores the unique realities resulting from the intersection of mothering and scholar identities throughout all stages of academia.

Burrow said this award confirms that, “I am on the right track with the creative risks and innovative pedagogy I am pursuing in my courses. It will push me to continue to develop my own knowledge and skills so I can continue to contribute directly to the communities that make up our city and campus.”

She added that her department promotes collaboration, creativity, innovation and critical thinking.

“My position provides the resources and platform that allow me to put my knowledge and expertise into action to tackle the social injustices that matter with other skilled and talented colleagues,” Burrow said. “Being an associate professor makes me feel like I am actually making worthwhile contributions to future generations.”

Burrow believes that teaching is one of the most important and most difficult careers one can pursue.

“All my personal and professional responsibilities converge to benefit students who are training at SFA to become future teachers,” she said. “I love my job, so this award will always be cherished.”

Burrow said two of the greatest assets she has as a teaching professor are her own children and her colleagues.

“As a MotherScholar, I am constantly inspired by how my children consume knowledge, take risks and enjoy learning. They help me be better at my job, and they are so proud of me winning this award,” she said. “Additionally, I work with some of the most incredible women scholars, who are constantly encouraging me to try out new strategies and always willing to collaborate to take our course instruction to cutting-edge levels.”

Burrow also is co-founder and co-instructor of SFA’s Community Responsiveness and Engaged Advocacy in Teacher Education program, or C.R.E.A.T.E., which allows teacher candidates to gain a deeper understanding of their students’ lives outside school.

College of Fine Arts

Dr. Jamie Weaver serves as an associate professor of musicology. She began teaching at SFA in 2008.

“I believe education should be achievable for anyone who has a passion for learning, and the passion and talent of SFA’s students have inspired me to keep exploring ways to serve them better,” Weaver said. “I am honored to receive this award from the outstanding, dedicated faculty within the College of Fine Arts.”

Weaver holds a Master of Music in vocal performance and pedagogy from Texas Christian University and earned her doctoral degree in music history from the University of Oregon. As the recipient of an International Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship, Weaver conducted her dissertation research in Bologna, Italy, exploring compositional ethics of composers in Florence and in northern Italy during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Her current research interests include the pedagogy of music history, rhetoric in the music of 17th-century Italy and projects in the field of disability studies in music.

Weaver promotes the enjoyment of music throughout the East Texas community by writing program notes for symphony orchestras and other performing ensembles in the area.

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture

Dr. Jared Barnes, associate professor of horticulture, joined the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture in 2014. His teaching and research interests include connecting people with plants; fruit and vegetable production nursery management; plant breeding; southern perennials; and the ecology, cultivation and design of naturalistic plantings.

“I am so honored to receive this teaching award,” Barnes said. “I love cultivating minds by sharing the wonders of the plant world, and having my passion recognized is very touching for me.”

Barnes’ outreach and contributions in the field of horticulture are locally and nationally recognized. In 2016, he was named the Perennial Plant Association’s Young Professional of the Year, as well as a member of Greenhouse Product News’ Class of 40 Under 40. In 2017, he received the Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful Sustainability Award. Most recently, he was honored with the Perennial Plant Association’s Academic Award.

Barnes received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee at Martin and master’s and doctoral degrees in horticulture science from North Carolina State University. When he is not in the classroom, he can be found mentoring students and working with plants in the SFA Plantery and Sprout Garden located behind the Department of Agriculture Building on the SFA campus.

College of Liberal and Applied Arts

Dr. Sudeshna Roy is a professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication. She joined the SFA faculty in 2008. Roy received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature from the University of Calcutta in India and her doctoral degree in communication from Washington State University.

“I am very grateful to have received the Teaching Excellence Award for my college,” Roy said. “My current and past students have allowed me to become a more intuitive and passionate teacher through the years.”

Roy has served on numerous theses committees; presented at local, national and international conferences; served in various leadership positions with the National Communication Association; and is a member of the SFA Office of Multicultural Affairs Caucus. Since 2014, she also has served at the graduate director for the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication.

“I have learned valuable lessons in many aspects of teaching from my peers and students, such as providing more clarity to my coursework, taking the material to another level, being rigorous yet compassionate, staying open to change and, most importantly, actively working to provide historical and cultural contexts about marginalized groups so we can all be more tolerant as human beings.”

Roy’s research interests include intercultural communication, peace and conflict studies, and the media.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Brian Barngrover, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has always had an interest in chemistry. His passion for the science started in his hometown of Wamego, Kansas, with his physics and chemistry teacher.

It was this enthusiasm that piqued Barngrover’s interest and later led him to a classroom of his own.

After graduating high school, Barngrover majored in forensic science and biomedical chemistry with dual minors in physics and criminal justice at Kansas Wesleyan University. He then attended Kansas State University and earned a doctoral degree in computational theoretical physical chemistry.

At SFA, Barngrover teaches introductory chemistry, general chemistry and physical chemistry courses, as well as graduate physical chemistry courses. While he focuses primarily on chemistry, he strives to lay a foundation for students to build on in whatever career they choose.

“I try to be the most excited and passionate person in the room about chemistry as I am teaching, that way the students can try to stay engaged as well as feed off my energy,” Barngrover said.

“Dr. Barngrover does more than just stand in front of a class and give a lecture to the students,” said Dr. Michael Janusa, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “He is always experimenting, refining and improving the delivery and content of the courses he teaches. This is a sign of an excellent teacher who cares about his profession.”

Adjunct Faculty Member

Dr. William S. Davis is a visiting assistant professor of education studies who joined the Department of Education Studies in 2020. His research and service focus on teaching world languages for social justice and well-being.

“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Davis said. “The most meaningful part of the award is the sense of validation I feel for my ideas and the work I do daily within our area of secondary education. It is exciting to know that SFA values building community with students, encouraging engagement with diverse perspectives and approaches to teaching, and teaching for diversity and social justice.”

As a former high school German teacher, Davis started his doctoral program wanting to become more knowledgeable about world languages education and curricular design.

“Supporting the journeys of preservice teachers is a career I never knew I would be a part of,” Davis said. “After teaching a few courses in teacher education, I soon realized how fulfilling it was guiding new teachers in becoming culturally responsive educators for the diverse children of U.S. schools. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Davis said he looks forward to continuing school-based research to explore how in-service world language teachers enact culturally sustaining curricula.

SFA graduate art students present ‘Collected’ exhibition

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In recent years, people have become familiar with “pop up” events, including spontaneous shopping fairs, street dances, festivals and art exhibitions. Sometimes opportunities arise when least expected, and graduate art students at Stephen F. Austin State University embraced the opportunity to show their work after an unexpected cancellation at the Ed and Gwen Cole Art Center @The Old Opera House.

Their “pop up” show, which features work from a graduate seminar, takes up the ground floor Ledbetter Gallery and the Hallway gallery space on the second floor, and selected works by SFA filmmaking students can be viewed in the upstairs Reavley Gallery. The SFA art students have called their exhibition “Collected” to reflect its character as a group effort.

“The word ‘collected’ here takes on both the basic dictionary meaning ‘gathered together’ and the implied meaning of being emotionally collected, that is, ‘to be calm and composed through concentrated effort,’” said Dr. David Lewis, professor of art history at SFA.

“The title well reflects the cooperative nature of their joint activities in putting the show together within an unusually short time frame,” Lewis added. “The exhibition did come together quickly: it had to, and these emerging artists were up to the challenge.”

The show represents a broad range of styles and media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, digital media and film, and it offers an introduction to some of the larger ideas, issues and media that represent current trends in the visual arts.

Among the works are digital prints by Kendra Brown, including “Fan Favorite,” which playfully uses quilt patterns; large, imposing sculptures in mixed media by Kailan Counahan, such as “The Lines we Walked …,” composed of nylon, wood, nails and thread; and charcoal drawings by Lindsey Creel portraying forms suggesting crumpled paper or cloth, including “Hivemind.” Elizabeth P. Fontenot contributes oil painting, watercolor and prints in various media, with titles such as “Shelter in Place,” reflecting the events of recent times. Work in ceramics is represented by Homero Gutierrez with the whimsically titled “Hare Season.” Jessica Gryder contributes photography and digital media works like “Exaggerated Spin.” Working in a graffiti art style reminiscent of Basquiat, Weelynd McMullan shows mixed media paintings and drawings. “Always Watching” and other digital works by Charles G. Oliveri create dynamic optical effects; and the oil paintings of Travis Walthall portray eerily surreal images of mysterious workers in Hazmat suits cleaning up disaster areas. The film selection includes shorts ranging from 45 seconds to five minutes: “A Siren’s Lullaby” and “Fragmented” by Calvin Henson Jr. and “The Calm Interrupted V3” by Oliveri.

The exhibition continues through June 12.

The Cole Art Center is SFA’s historic downtown art gallery, located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact the School of Art at (936) 468-4804.

Roadrunner Baseball Offering Youth Summer Camp

By
Gary Stallard
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0

Instructional Camps Offer Fun Ways to Learn Game Skills

Angelina College baseball coaches are offering a three-day summer camp for youths ages 7-13 beginning Monday, June 7 on running through Wednesday, June 9 at Roadrunner Field on the Angelina College campus. Camp times will run from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. The cost for the three days is $100. 
The camp is designed to teach young players the fundamentals, drills and skills of the game while emphasizing the “fun” in “fundamentals.” Skills upon which the camp will focus include fielding, throwing, hitting, base running, sliding and pitching.
Campers are instructed to bring their own gloves, cleats, pants, bats, helmets and “whatever you normally bring to a baseball game.”
Instructors for the camp include Roadrunner head coach Jeff Livin, who just completed his 24th season as AC’s skipper. Livin’s program has helped more than 40 players on their way to the major league draft – including several former players currently serving on major league rosters.
Joining Livin will be AC assistant baseball coach Seth Spivey, who after his own career as a Roadrunner was drafted by the Texas Rangers. Spivey spent five years with the organization before embarking on his coaching career. For more information on registering for the camp, contact Angelina College’s Community Services Division at camproadrunner@angelina.edu
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