Home Blog Page 453

GLO to Open Five Mobile Intake Locations for Homeowner Assistance Program Applications

By
Ezra McMullen
-
0

This week, the General Land Office (GLO) will open five mobile intake locations across Deep East Texas to help homeowners who still need assistance with Harvey-damaged homes. Each location will be open one day each week from 9-4 and have applicant coordinators ready to help survivors through the application process.

Mondays:

SHEPERD PUBLIC LIBRARY

30 N. Liberty

Shepherd, TX 77371

Open every Monday 9-4

Tuesdays:

TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION OFFICE (HOLIDAY PINES MANOR)

1201 Cardinal Drive

Woodville, TX 75979

Open every Tuesday 9-4

Wednesdays:

POLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE

101 W Church St

2nd Floor

Livingston, TX 77351

Every Wednesday 9-4

Thursdays:

DEWEYVILLE SENIOR CENTER

43435 State Highway 87 South

Orange, TX 77632

Open every Thursday 9-4

Fridays:

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH KIRBYVILLE

105 N. Barrow Ave.

Kirbyville, TX 75956

Open every Friday 9-4 pm

Residents with questions can email cdr@recovery.texas.gov or call 1-844-893-8937. For more information on the HAP program, including hours and days of operation for the Homeowner Assistance Center already open in Jasper go to http://recovery.texas.gov/individuals/programs/homeowner-assistance/east-texas/index.html

“Hurricane Harvey had a devastating effect on our region. Now over a year since one of the worst natural disasters in Texas history we are still working on recovery efforts. If you and your family are still in need of home repairs please submit an application as soon as possible online or at the center closest to you,” stated State Representative James White.

Please do not hesitate to contact Saul Mendoza, Chief of Staff, with questions regarding this release at 512-463-0490 or 409-283-3700

My 5 Cents…

By
Senator Robert Nichols
-
0

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with family and good food, as I know mine were.

Here are five things happening around your state this month:

  1. 86th Legislative Session

When you hear from me next, the Texas Legislature will have begun the 86th Legislative Session, which is set to last for 140 days. During this time, the Legislature must pass a two-year budget as well as address existing laws and consider new legislation. To stay involved with what is going on during Session, you can visit www.capitol.state.tx.us. Through this site, you will be able to view a live stream of Senate and House committee hearings as well as watching both chambers when they are in session. You can also look up bills that may interest or concern you.

Another way to keep track of what is happening in Austin is to watch out for this column, as I will be writing it weekly to keep you up to date on what is going on at your State Capitol. It has been an honor to serve as your state Senator since 2007 and I look forward to this next year and working together to make a difference for our state.

  1. Sunset Hearing

This month, the Texas Sunset Commission held a two day hearing where we heard testimony and discussed agencies including the State Office of Risk Management and State Securities Board. The second day we voted on recommendations for the Texas Real Estate Commission and heard testimony on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying. Those agencies whose recommendations we heard for the first time will be voted on when we meet at our next meeting on January 9, 2019. These recommendations will then be turned into legislation which must pass in the upcoming session to continue these agencies.

  1. Texas Bullion Depository Opening

In previous columns I have written about the Texas Bullion Depository which was established by the 84th Legislative Session, and is the first state administered depository in the United States. Other depositories have been run by the federal government or private industries. While a

temporary facility was created earlier this year, a groundbreaking was held at the beginning of December at its permanent location. The 40,000 square foot facility, which is expected to be finished in late 2019, will be built on 10 acres of land near Leander. It will contain the largest Class 3 vault in the State, weighing as much as 10 NASA space shuttles, and have the capacity to hold up to $350 billion in precious metals.

  1. Historic Grants

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has announced that owners of rapidly deteriorating historic or archaeological resources such as properties or historic sites can apply for grant funding until January 31, 2019. They must address issues of ethnic diversity, and other historically underserved subjects, groups, and property types. Heritage education projects which involve training and education about historic resources and preservation techniques are also eligible for these grants. THC estimates that each grant recipient would receive a grant in an amount of $10,000 to $30,000 with a one-to-one cash match required. Projects will be scored on endangerment, significance and project viability. To find out more information about these important grants, you can visit thc.texas.gov/tptf.

  1. Confederate Plaque at Capitol

In the last year, there has been much discussion surrounding a plaque hanging in the Texas Capitol which was installed by the Children of the Confederacy in 1959 and claims the underlying cause of the Civil War was not to sustain slavery. As preservation of slavery was listed in the documents calling for the secession of Texas from the U.S., this has been proven false. Those calling for the removal of the plaque state that it is providing an untrue story and perspective. In addition to the removal, as it is a historical plaque, there was confusion as to who could authorize the removal.

In November, Attorney General Paxton opined that several groups could do it including a vote from the Legislature and the State Preservation Board, which oversees the Capitol. Governor Abbott has called a meeting of the State Preservation Board the beginning of January to discuss the best way to ensure we are not trying to erase history by removing the plaque, but ensuring that we are providing historically accurate information.

How to Rekindle the Romance in Your Marriage

By
Statepoint
-
0

Whether you’re a honeymooner or you’re celebrating your 50th anniversary, there’s a chance that the romantic spark that brought you and your partner together in the first place needs to be rekindled. Experts say that a continually fulfilling relationship requires establishing and maintaining a complete connection.

“Marriage is more than a wedding and a license, it’s a psychological, emotional and spiritual sense of connection,” says Dr. Frederick D. Mondin, a marriage counselor, human sexuality professor and author of the new book, “Erotic Love & Marriage: Improve Your Sex Life and Emotional Connection,” which offers insights on the issues that almost every relationship struggles with, as well as solutions that highlight connection, communication and exploration.

Dr. Mondin is sharing tips and insights to all couples seeking to connect or re-connect with one another.

• Keep dating: No matter how busy you become, you should never stop having the kind of fun you had when you were courting. Whether it’s hiking beautiful trails, going to concerts, or giving and attending parties, these activities should be carried into any long-term relationship if you intend to have a meaningful romantic life together and a healthy emotional connection.

• Take each other seriously: Don’t allow gender stereotypes to lead you to discount each other’s feelings or opinions as irrational. You’ll communicate more effectively, and be happier as a result, if you listen to your partner and take him or her seriously. In other words, there should be no “boss” in the marriage. Work at maintaining a peer relationship.

• Ritualize contact time: Couples need ritualized contact time in which they get together, such as going to lunch once a week, having coffee together in the morning or watching a television program they both like. This is one of the most important components of having a close, emotionally intimate relationship.

• Speak the language of love: Emotional intimacy has its own language, the language of endearment. Focus on all the right features of your partner — the personal qualities you saw when you first met and still appreciate, and start to verbalize that information. If your partner reciprocates, it will create a feeling of closeness. These words don’t have to be rational or logical, but they should always be a validation of the relationship and your partner.

• Lose your inhibitions: Be open with each other about everything — including sex. Unfortunately, lingering guilt, fear and shame on this topic prevent many couples from being candid with one another. Learn to lose those inhibitions so that you can share your needs, desires, feelings and concerns.

• Give each other space: You don’t need to do everything together to have a happy relationship. In fact, the happiest couples tend to give each other the support and space needed to maintain their independent interests.

You don’t have to resign yourself to receding happiness as time passes. A challenge of your current beliefs can help you rekindle the spark and enjoy a closer, more meaningful relationship.

-Statepoint

Tell 2018 to Take a Hike with a First Day Hike at a Texas State Park

By
Misty Boggs
-
0

AUSTIN– Hit the trails at a state park on New Year’s Day and participate in a First Day Hike. As part of the national initiative, Texas State Parks will be hosting a variety of programs for the whole family to enjoy.

First Day Hikes at Texas’ state parks and natural areas aim to help visitors commit to their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy.

“There is no better way to ring in 2019 than outside in Texas,” said Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks. “Home to some of the best views and vistas in Texas, we invite you to spend the day at your favorite Texas State Park and participate in a First Day Hike event. With trails for all skill levels, state parks in Texas are a fantastic way to get active and spend time with the entire family. I look forward to seeing you on the trails!”

The First Day Hikes events range from strolls on scenic trails, midnight walks, polar plunges, bike rides, and short treks with four-legged family members to more strenuous hikes for experienced visitors.

Roll into the New Year with a beginner bike ride at Dinosaur Valley State Park. From 10-11 a.m., a park ranger will lead a group of cyclists through the park. The easy bike ride will be 2-3 miles and include stops around the park. The event is free with park admission and will begin at the park store.

At Garner State Park, visitors can dive into the New Year with a hike to Old Baldy and polar bear plunge into the Frio River from 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Trails are moderate to strenuous and closed toed shoes are recommended.

Start the year off with a campfire and midnight walk at Lake Livingston State Park. The event begins at 11 p.m. Dec. 31 and ends at 1 a.m. Jan. 1. Visitors will sit around a campfire and celebrate New Year’s Eve by roasting marshmallows, drinking hot chocolate and watching fireworks on the shoreline of Lake Livingston. A short half-mile hike will take place after the campfire.

Ring – or bark – in the New Year at Martin Creek Lake State Park’s 3rd annual “Tails to Trails” event, with hikes from 9-10 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. The easy to moderate hike has minimal elevation change and is open to people and pups of all ages. Owners must carry waste bags and pick up after their pets. Pets must be on leashes no longer than 6 feet and current on all vaccines.

San Angelo State Park will be hosting a New Year’s Day horse trail ride from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is BYOH — bring your own horse. Shoes are recommended due to rocky spots along the trail. Riders will need to present current Coggins papers for their horses. Visitors can enter the park at the South Gatehouse located at 362 South FM 2288, and will meet and park their trailers at the Burkett trailhead.

Last year, 51 state parks hosted First Day Hike events across Texas. More than 960 participants walked, paddled and biked 1,766 miles at a Texas State Park. Find a complete list of this year’s First Day Hike events on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s calendar page.

4 Simple Tips for Blending a Better-For-You Smoothie

By
Ezra McMullen
-
0

There’s no better time than a new year to embrace healthy habits. And it’s easier to embrace a “new me” mentality by fueling your body with the goodness it needs now. You can incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your daily regimen with one simple snack hack: smoothies! Smoothies are convenient, fast and easy to make — all you need is a liquid base, frozen or fresh ingredients and a blender.

However, not all smoothies are made equally. It’s easy to overlook the amount of sugar we’re sipping, which can make your “healthy” smoothie the sugar equivalent of a candy bar. Yikes! The secret to making a better-for-you smoothie is cherry picking the right ingredients that not only taste good but are good for you.

Here are four tips for blending healthful smoothies that will help you reach your wellness resolutions in the New Year:

  1. Sacrifice sugar, not taste. Smoothies made with fruit-flavored juices or sweetened with frozen yogurt might taste great, but can wreak havoc on your health, often adding up to more than an entire day’s worth of added sugar. Cut back on the excess sugar by making them at home, where you can control what’s inside. Consider smart swaps, like no sugar added Mooala Bananamilks. These dairy-free milk alternatives add great-tasting flavor with sustainably-sourced bananas, roasted sunflower seeds and a touch of cinnamon and sea salt. Whether you’re making a green smoothie, something sweet and creamy or packed with tropical flavors, the Original, Chocolate and Strawberry Bananamilk varieties are packed with real ingredients and won’t leave you with a sugar crash.
  2. Turn flavor into function. Make your smoothie as efficient as you are. Multitask with ingredients to provide your body with all it needs without adding excess calories. Blend in a scoop of collagen for better skin or a dash of turmeric to decrease inflammation. Also consider adding extra fiber, which takes longer for your body to digest, making you feel full longer and on fewer calories. Functional foods can help fill in nutritional gaps of your diet while pairing added benefits.
  3. Incorporate a dairy-free base. Over 65 percent of the population experiences a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy, so if you’re experiencing unexplained bloating after meals, it’s possible that dairy could be the culprit. Daiya, the tasty brand known for creating plant-based versions of favorite comfort foods, now offers delicious dairy-free yogurt cups in fruit flavors, like strawberry, peach and more. These yogurt cups are made with coconut cream, are low in sugar and pack in a healthy dose of B12, calcium and 6 grams of protein per serving. Plus, the coconut cream provides a satisfying creamy texture without the discomforts associated with dairy.
  4. Plan ahead. Let’s face it, busy lives require time-saving measures, and making smoothies is no exception. Prep smoothie packets the night before or, even better, for the week ahead. It just takes a few minutes to portion out the right amount of fruits and veggies, throw them in a baggie and into the freezer. Measuring the night before also ensures you don’t overindulge in the morning rush, plus you won’t have to add ice cubes, which lets you pack in more antioxidants while simplifying the process.

-Statepoint

Holiday Update from Rep. Trent Ashby

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
-
0

As we join together with family and friends this Christmas, it is my hope that amidst the hustle and bustle we will give pause to reflect on the real reason for the holiday season. With all of the fanfare and pageantry surrounding the holidays – from gift giving and stocking stuffing, to bright lights and extravagant decorations – we often overlook the greatest gift the world has ever received. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” I hope you’ll join me this holiday, and everyday thereafter, in sharing the good news by showing how grateful we are for the most precious gift of all.

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…

What to Watch For: 86th Legislative Session

Last year, the Legislature established the Texas Commission on Public School Finance to examine and recommend possible improvements to the way the state funds K-12 education. After months of meetings seeking input from teachers, administrators, and school finance experts from across the state, the 13-member commission recently released a report with 30 recommendations aimed at boosting public education funding, providing property tax relief for Texans, and improving student performance.

While these recommendations cover a wide range of possible improvements, I was pleased to see that the commission’s most notable finding is that the state must allocate more state funding to education. I’ve always maintained that our top priority must be to fix our broken school finance system in a way that increases the state’s contribution to our public schools, rather than relying so heavily on local taxpayers to foot the bill for a quality education through property taxes. As legislators, it is our duty to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to not only provide a world class education, but to also take care of the active and retired teachers who have devoted their lives to the future of our state.

I applaud the Commission on their hard work over the last year, and I look forward to working with my fellow legislators during the upcoming session to invest in our children’s future. I know that the Texas House will remain committed to making substantial improvements to our school finance system that drive positive outcomes for students, establish incentives for our state’s best teachers, and promote equity among all districts – no matter how small or large.

Reminders

With the holiday season upon us and many special events in all areas of House District 57, please be advised that the mobile office has suspended its regular Wednesday schedule until the start of 2019. For any questions you may have, or issues you need help resolving, please reach out to one of our offices. We will make every effort to facilitate meetings and respond to your needs. Our district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, or you can call our Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.

5 Tips to Shed Those Pounds in the New Year

By
Statepoint
-
0

Maybe you want more energy, or perhaps you want to lose weight and keep it off for good. Whatever your goals, a new year means a fresh start to become the best version of yourself.

Here are five tips from Nutrisystem experts to get your scale moving in the right direction and support your long-term health.

  1. Skip “diet” drinks: Of course, you know not to order the regular cola with your meal, but you figure the lower-calorie diet version is an okay choice. Not necessarily. One recent review of research found that artificial sweeteners often used in diet drinks may not be as beneficial for weight management as intended, and that drinking them regularly may be linked to an increased body mass index. If you want something fizzy, opt for seltzer with lemon or lime. But if you can’t stop dreaming of that diet soda, it doesn’t have to be completely off-limits. Just try to cut back. Moderation is key!
  2. Drink more water: Every part of your body needs water to work properly. When you don’t get enough, your body can’t perform normal functions, which can drain your energy. More fatigue means less physical activity. Plus, mild dehydration is often masked as hunger — prompting you to grab a snack when all you really need is water. Nutrisystem experts recommend drinking at least eight, 8-ounce glasses daily.
  3. Slow down: It takes 20 minutes for the “I’m full” signals from your stomach to reach your brain. When you inhale your food, it’s much easier to eat more than your body really needs. One review of 23 studies found that fast eaters were about twice as likely to be obese, compared to slow eaters. To help slow down, take smaller bites, chew 10 to 15 times and put your fork down between each bite.
  4. Don’t eyeball portions: “The super-sized meals at restaurants have given us a skewed view of proper portion size,” says registered dietitian for Nutrisystem, Courtney McCormick.

Even if you’re tracking your food intake with an app or food journal, overestimating portions can sabotage progress.

McCormick’s solution: Measure portions — not forever, but for a while at the start. Doing so will help you get a visual of what portions should actually look like. You may also consider eliminating some of the guesswork with a program, such as Nutrisystem, that offers pre-portioned, nutritionally-balanced meals.

  1. Reduce stress: Stress can cause your body to burn calories more slowly, which could lead to weight gain, according to a study. Plus, stress increases hormones that stimulate appetite, and the foods you’ll crave for comfort tend to be high in fat and sugar. Help manage stress with deep breathing, meditation, exercise, hanging out with friends or listening to music.

More tips on jump-starting your weight loss goals can be found at nutrisystem.com.

With these tips for the new year, you’ll be on the road to realistic weight loss achievement and have more energy for your day-to-day life.

How to Keep Dogs Safe During Cold Weather Walks

By
Statepoint
-
0

Make winter a wonderland for dogs by ensuring they’re safe when temperatures drop.

While dogs have fur coats, they can still get too cold in the snow, frigid temperatures, and severe storms. Particularly at risk are dogs that are short-legged, older, or sick, say the dog-walking experts at Wag! For winter dog safety tips and to find dog walkers in your area, visit wagwalking.com.

This winter, take precautionary measures to keep dogs healthy and happy, no matter what the weather brings.

-Statepoint

Texas A&M Health Science Center report highlights new ways forward for rural health care

By
Joshua Blackwell
-
0

The A&M Rural and Community Health Institute at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center released a report this week outlining new ways forward for rural Texas communities facing or experiencing a hospital closure. The Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation sponsored the report, titled Optimizing Rural Health: A community health care blueprint.

Through a series of focus groups and other research, a Texas A&M team, in collaboration with EHF, compared the health care needs of three communities with the current services available. What they found was that the true issue for rural health care is not necessarily the lack of a full-service hospital nearby, but instead the need to work with communities to balance needs, capacities and resources to optimize health care delivery and preserve access to health care. See the complete report: https://architexas.org/rural-health/images/optimizing-rural-health-a-community-healthcare-blueprint.pdf

The report includes a blueprint for each participating community based on their individual needs and circumstances. Additionally, the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute prepared community presentations to share research results and answer community members’ questions.

Although each community is unique, the commonalities discovered in this research are “lessons learned” for rural communities in Texas and across America.

“Rural communities in Texas are as unique as the residents themselves, and so there isn’t one way to optimize their residents’ health,” said Nancy Dickey, MD, president emeritus of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, executive director of the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, head of the Department of Primary Care at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and lead author of the report. “Perhaps there are no right or wrong answers at all, but instead steps tailored to and supported by each community to ensure access to care.”

For example, in one community, the hospital had closed, but was in the process of reopening. Therefore, the plan for that community involved ways to make the reopening successful and involve the community in the process.

In another community, in which there was no plan to reopen their closed hospital, the blueprint suggested ways to prioritize needed services, such as mental health and sports medicine, to help advance the health of the community even without the inpatient beds that were in the now-closed hospital.

The themes of this recent research are intertwined and can increase awareness and actions toward optimized rural health care. The report notes that if communities can be aware of their hospitals’ vulnerability, they can be proactive to identify options for health care access.

“The question becomes, ‘How can we deliver care in rural areas on a high-quality basis and do so even if there is not a hospital in town?’” Dickey said. “We need to be thinking about alternatives.”

“The goal is ‘right-sizing’ healthcare delivery in rural communities in a way that provides quality services for families living there,” said Elena Marks, EHF’s president and CEO. “In some areas that includes a hospital, but these blueprints show that communities may be able to find new and sometimes more effective ways of offering affordable access to the services families need the most.” Some of those alternatives might come from the rural ‘moonshot’ announced in November that will allow the Health Science Center to identify and implement solutions for rural and underserved communities, thanks to a $10 million commitment from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

The Rural and Community Health Institute will also be amplifying these research results from Texas to a much broader scale: the nation. This fall, the Rural and Community Health Institute was awarded a five-year grant from the Vulnerable Rural Hospitals Assistance Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant funded the creation of the Center for Optimizing Rural Health, a technical advisory center for the nation, to actively help rural communities maintain their hospital or create other means of access to care after hospitals close.

###

Minor Sting Operation

By
Ezra McMullen
-
0

In an effort to decrease the dangers and consequences of alcohol purchased by minors in our county, The Coalition, Inc. has partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct alcohol stings. Under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink/purchase alcohol are used as decoys to enter businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol and then attempt to purchase alcohol.

“The adults in our community have the responsibility to make sure minors can’t purchase alcohol from our retail stores,” says Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition, Inc. “Our partnership with TABC and the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department will allow for random stings throughout the next year, so we hope that retail establishments will educate their clerks on the consequences of selling alcohol to minors. Ultimately, our goal is to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors and keep them safe.”

During a November minor sting operation, there was one store who sold to a minor and nine who did not. We commend those stores who did not sell alcohol to minors in our community and recognize them for helping to combat underage drinking:

* Huntington Travel Center, 191 Highway 69 in Huntington;

* On the Road, 2909 East Denman Avenue;

* Kwick Check, 2215 East Denman Avenue;

* Adeel’s, 203 South Timberland Drive;

* M & B, 708 North Raguet Street;

* 7 Star, 811 Kurth Drive;

* Family Dollar, 1115 Kurth Drive;

* Brookshire Brothers Express, 6925 Highway 69 North in Pollok; and

* Lucky’s, 1707 N John Redditt Drive.

One business did sell to a minor and administrative action was taken against the individual who sold the alcohol:

* 69 Kountry Store, Highway 69 North in Pollok.

Sale to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail, or both. Persons 21 or older (other than a parent or guardian) can be held liable for damages caused by intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcohol beverages on the premises owned by or leased by the adult.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused 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. For more information on how to help prevent underage drinking, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308.

1...452453454...757Page 453 of 757