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My Five Cents: A Message From Senator Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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We recently observed Presidents’ Day. George Washington, who is also known as the “Father of our Country”, is one that I admire the most. Through his skills, leadership and longing to live in a country of free people, he helped lay the foundation for our country’s future by building a lasting democratic institution. These principles have stood the test of time and guide every decision I make as I represent you in the Texas Senate.

Here are five things happening at your Capitol this week:

Celebrating STAR Day

This week, we celebrated the State of the Anniversary Remembrance (STAR) Day, which was formally established by Former Governor George W. Bush in 1996, to celebrate the birthday of the State of Texas when they joined as the 28th state in the Union. In addition, we honor James Pinckney Henderson who became the first Governor of the State of Texas in 1846. The celebration takes place at 12pm each year to acknowledge the exact time the Lone Star flag of the Republic of Texas was lowered for the last time and was replaced with the U.S. flag.

To make the day even more special, I had the pleasure of welcoming the San Augustine High School Band to the Capitol as they played for this annual celebration. By partnering with Texas schools and organizations STAR Day helps to inspire a greater appreciation of the history of our great state.

ETCOG Reception

I was honored to be named Legislator of the Year by the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) during their legislative reception in Austin on Wednesday of this week. The members of ETCOG provide valuable services for counties and communities. I am grateful for this honor and look forward to continue to work with them for the people of East Texas.

ETCOG is a voluntary association of counties, cities, school districts and special districts which serves Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. They help to assist local governments in planning for common needs, provide peace officer and homeland security planning, deliver rural transportation services, and assist in grant writing services.

First Transportation Committee Hearing

The first Senate Transportation Committee hearing was held this week. As Chair of the committee, I shared my goals for this session in working towards ensuring the State is efficient and effective in moving people and goods safely. We also heard updates from the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. I look forward to working with the other members on the committee on ensuring a safe and reliable transportation system for the State.

House Appropriations Committee

In previous columns, I have shared with you the Senate Finance Committee process of hearing from each agency in the state and starting our workgroup meetings to evaluate the budget in more detail. The House Appropriations Committee has begun holding their own meetings this week in hearing from each agency.

Over the next few weeks, both chambers will finalize their own versions of the budget. Once this happens both chambers will appoint members to a conference committee, which will help to reconcile the differences between the budgets. The primary purpose, and only constitutionally required task, of the legislative session is to prepare a balanced state budget for the next two years.

Texas FFA Day

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. This holds true for the Texas FFA Association, which is the nation’s largest state FFA association with over 115,000 members in more than 1,000 active FFA chapters in the state. With so many members, they made a great impression when they came to the Capitol this week. By participating in tours and workshops they had an opportunity to learn about the legislative process, as well as the history of the Texas State Capitol.

FFA members study a broad area of agriculture including landscaping, animal science, computer applications, mechanics and engineering. Through their FFA chapters they have an opportunity to develop their talents and build upon their leadership skills. These young men and women represent Texas and remind us of how important agriculture is to our state. It is always an honor to meet with this and other organizations who are training tomorrow’s Texas leaders.

Photo Puzzle Tutorial

By
Ginger Bowie
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Happy Thursday!

Here is such a fun way to display your photos. Plus, your kiddos will love a personalized puzzle of themselves.

So let’s get started!

DIY photo puzzle using Americana Satin Decoupage #DecoArt

photo puzzle by GingerSnapCrafts.com

You’ll need a few supplies to get started:
4×6 photo print
4X6 unfinished wooden puzzle (You can find these at any craft supply store.)
Foam brushes
Americana Satin Decoupage
Americana Acrylic Paint (I used Sea Breeze & Espresso.)
X-ACTO knife or scissors
Pencil
Cutting mat#DecoArt supplies for photo puzzle project

First, I turned my photo over and traced the outline of all the puzzle pieces on the back with a pencil.
step 1
After I was done it looked like this. Then I used an X-ACTO knife to carefully cut my puzzle pieces apart. You could also use scissors if you wanted. Be careful to cut on the lines. step 2
Then I flipped the pieces over and this is what it had: a puzzle.

step 3

Next, I got my Americana Acrylic Paints out. I painted the puzzle frame a warm Espresso color.

step 5

Then I painted the puzzle pieces Sea Breeze to match my picture.

step 6

I gave everything two coats of paint letting them dry between coats. Once all the paint was nice and dry I grabbed some Americana Satin Decoupage. I love this Decoupage! It is water based, has low odor, dries fast, and it is acid free. It is perfect for so many projects. It can be used on cardboard, wood, canvas, glass, and more. It worked perfectly for this project to adhere the photo cut outs to the puzzle pieces.

step 7

First, I put a thin layer of the Americana Satin Decoupage onto the puzzle piece.

step 8

Then I put the photo cut out on top of the puzzle piece, smoothed it into place, and then I put a thin layer of the decoupage on top.

Let the puzzle pieces dry.

After about 20 minutes the pieces will be dry to the touch. It is recommended to let them dry and cure for about 24 hours before you turn the kiddos lose with their new puzzle.

step 9

I made this puzzle for my now five-year-old. I can’t believe how big he is getting! Boy, they don’t stay little long, do they? He just loved this puzzle of himself. He could hardly stand waiting for it to dry so he could put it together again and again.

photo puzzle from GingerSnapCrafts.com #decoart #photo #puzzle (1)

photo puzzle tutorial from GingerSnapCrafts.com #tutorial #decoart #photo

10 Frenemies You Need to Separate Yourself From

By
Megan Whitworth
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We’ve all had those people in our lives who on the surface appear to be our friends, but it quickly becomes apparent they are actual a frenemy in disguise. How can you tell the difference and how should you handle it?

Friends should generally share and be gracious hosts to their guests, but some people take other’s hospitality and abuse it.

Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and the founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, identifies 10 frenemies you need to separate yourself from.

Narcissistic Nat: This frenemy is completely self-centered and only wants one topic of conversation: themselves. If you have a friend who talks endlessly about themselves and their problems, but gives no thought to you or yours, you are dealing with a Narcissistic Nat. Your role for them is simply to listen and acknowledge and expect nothing in return. Maybe it’s time to find a nodding mannequin to take your place and search for someone who appreciates you.

The One-Up Wonder: The motto of this frenemy is “anything you can do, I’ve already done better.” You’ll know you’re friends with the one-up wonder if you are unable to mention anything that you’ve done without them, immediately followed up with their own, superior achievement. They try to overcome their insecurity by besting those around them, or at least claiming to, in every aspect. You ran a mile? Great! They ran three. You met a successful, good looking guy? Guess what, they met a billionaire.

Lying Logan: You can’t always judge a book by its cover. Sometimes people do amazing things you’d never expect or have had some unusual experience. However, if you know someone who has a new fantastic story every time you talk to them, and it’s always something that is totally out of character from your own experience with them, you’re probably dealing with a Lying Logan. They may feel that their own real life is inadequate, so they feel the need to embellish at best and lie at worst, to make themselves sound more important.

Rude Dude: The frenemy that infuriates and embarrasses you in private and in public. This is the friend who will tell inappropriate jokes in front of your family or will say rude things in public. They may be very rude and inconsiderate to you as well. Rude Dude seems to have never learned the basics of polite behavior and often makes you appear to be guilty of the same thing just by association.

What’s Yours is Mine Morgan: Friends should generally share and be gracious hosts to their guests, but some people take other’s hospitality and abuse it. This frenemy doesn’t seem to have a concept that the things in their friend’s house don’t belong to them. Do you have a friend who just goes through the fridge without asking, or uses or borrows your stuff as if they are entitled to it? If so, you’ve got yourself a What’s Yours is Mine Morgan.

Tax Collector Terry: Terry will offer to do nice things for you and go out of his way to please you, but is only disguising them as kind gestures to use against you later. “Remember when I gave you a ride the other day…” Initially you think they’re being a good friend, but then question if they have an ulterior motive. This frenemy will come around later and remind you of something they did for you and say you owe them.

Accessorizing Ashton: Ashton is generally very popular, but will make you seem more like an accessory than a friend. They’ll invite you out “just in case the party is boring,” and leave you alone in the corner if someone more interesting comes along. They’re sweet, but when you ignore or decline their invitation they tend to overreact.

Humorous Hal: This frenemy is a funny and sarcastic person overall, but sometimes takes their jokes too far. Their jokes may be an insult directed towards you or someone else masked by “relax, it was a just a joke.” They will take advantage of a situation and target someone, usually in front of others, using humor to defend themselves.

Stubborn Sal: This frenemy embodies the phrase “their way or the highway.” Any discussion on morals, issues, or even where to eat is always up to them. They generally win all arguments by talking over or tiring out their opponent.

Chameleon Cal: Did you ever go through a phase? Well, Cal did last week, and the week before, and the week before that. In fact, it always seems like Cal is changing something about himself. Don’t worry about him sticking around long though because he tends to change friend groups just as much.

Award-Winning Hospital Gives Nationally Recognized Cardiac Care

By
Megan Whitworth
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When seconds count for you and your loved one, you need the peace of mind when coming to a top-ranked hospital well-known for its commitment to outstanding cardiac care. CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial lives up to its goal of providing the highest level of care by consistently seeking out and earning the highest designations when it comes to the hearts of our community.

Across the country, hospitals are surveyed, evaluated and ranked according to quality and specialized services by numerous professional societies. These designations and certifications are trademarks for patients to identify quality facilities. This past year, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial received high marks across the board, particularly in cardiac care.

Pictured from left to right: Ravinder Bachireddy, M.D., Chief of Cardiology; Monte Bostwick, Market CEO; Shawn Barnett, Market COO & Lufkin President; and David Ladden, M.D., Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

U.S. News and World Report is nationally recognized for providing rankings on a variety of consumer needs,  including the best hospitals, colleges, cars and places to live or vacation. This year, U.S. News and World Report ranked CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial on its preferred list as one of the nation’s highest performing hospitals for heart failure care.

“This designation is a major milestone for our team,” said Shawn Barnett, Market COO and Lufkin President of CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial. “We have been recognized as a national leader in innovative care models, person-centered care and healthy communities. As an essential element of the value sought by consumers, we have demonstrated distinctive, consistent quality in the form of measurably superior clinical outcomes, patient experiences, and access.”

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial also earned the 2017 America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care, from the Women’s Choice Award – an evidence-based designation reflecting exceptional clinical performance and the voice of the female consumer.

CareChex provides clinical, financial, and patient satisfaction findings to consumers, providers, and purchasers of U.S. medical care based on an evaluation of all components of medical quality including process of care, outcomes of care, and patient experiences. The company’s report showed that Memorial excelled in Cardiac Care.

“Obviously we are proud of the hard work and dedication that goes into earning these kinds of designations, but it means more than just hanging a plaque on the wall,” Barnett said. “The reason why this is so important for our community is that if you’re experiencing chest pain, you can come to Memorial and know you’re getting the very best in cardiac care.”

Award-winning cardiac care starts with a strong partnership with local first responders, the emergency department staff, the cath lab team, physicians and surgeons, and post-op care throughout the hospital. Each team is highly trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of chest pain and heart attacks to more efficiently work together.

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a national nonprofit health system based in Englewood, Colorado. The faith-based system operates in 18 states and includes 103 hospitals, as well as long-term care, assisted- and residential living communities; community health services organizations; home health agencies and outpatient facilities and services.

 

Celebrate National Nutrition Month by ‘Putting Your Best Fork Forward’

By
Megan Whitworth
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Are you finding it difficult to keep up with your healthy New Year’s habits? Tackle those resolutions with renewed energy in March during National Nutrition Month and remember that small changes, made over time, can add up.

The 2017 National Nutrition Month theme, “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” encourages everyone to start small – one forkful at a time. Whether you’re planning meals to prepare at home or making selections when dining out, it’s crucial to develop a healthy eating style that you can maintain.

“To make lasting, healthful changes to your eating habits, it’s important to start small,” said Caroline Passerrello Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson. “Registered dietitian nutritionists can help you develop personalized solutions that will keep you healthy and allow you to still enjoy your favorite foods throughout your entire life.”

Passerrello offers these ways you can “Put Your Best Fork Forward.”

• Choose Healthier Options When Cooking at Home. “Eating a variety of healthful foods across and within all food groups helps reduce the risk of preventable, lifestyle-related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity,” Passerrello said. “Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, lean proteins and oils.”

• Find Healthful Options When Dining Out. “Finding healthful options at restaurants is easier today than it ever has been,” Passerrello said. “Most restaurants offer healthful options. Look for items that are steamed or roasted, and ask for sauce, dressing and cheese on the side. To-go boxes can help control portions. Eat half your meal at the restaurant and take the other half home.”

• Set a Good Example for Your Children. Parents are the most important role models for their children. “Modeling healthful eating habits starts in the kitchen,” Passerrello said. “Involving your kids in the cooking with age-appropriate tasks, serving balanced meals with a variety of nutrient-rich foods and enjoying dinner together as often as possible are among the many things you can do to help your family be mindful of their eating habits.”

• Consult a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. “A healthy lifestyle is much more than choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables. While that is important, it’s also essential to make informed food choices based on your individual health and nutrient needs,” Passerrello said. “A registered dietitian nutritionist can educate you and guide your food choices while keeping your tastes and preferences in mind. They are able to separate facts from fads and translate nutrition science into information you can use.” To find a registered dietitian nutritionist in your area, visit eatright.org.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ National Nutrition Month website, eatright.org/NNM, includes articles, recipes, videos and educational resources to spread the message of good nutrition and an overall healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. You can also follow National Nutrition Month on social media using #NationalNutritionMonth.

This National Nutrition Month, keep up the good work you began in January by recommitting to health and wellness in March.

(Statepoint)

Bacon Meets Asparagus

By
Kevin Wilson
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Bacon is a must
When eating asparagus.
It gives it such a flavor
It will change everyone’s behavior.
Serve it to your family and friends
Their compliments will never end.

Kevin is proud to bring you this crowd pleasing recipe. We hope you enjoy it as much as everyone at our table did!

Happy Cooking,
Kevin Wilson & Mom

Bacon Asparagus

Ingredients

24 stalks of asparagus
8 thin slices of bacon

Directions

Arrange asparagus in groups of 3. Wrap bacon in a spiral fashion around each group. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until bacon about 20 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Be sure to turn frequently to avoid burning.

A photo of Bacon Asparagus.

Introducing NacChat

By
Megan Whitworth
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City of Nacogdoches is excited to announce the official launch of their new podcast, NacChat.

Hosted by Communications/Main Street Director, Amy Mehaffey, NacChat is a pre-recorded series which features a new guest every show. These guests discuss a variety of topics including debunking rumors, addressing city related issues, announcing new projects, or telling stories of their favorite experiences.

Each episode of NacChat is now available to download on iTunes, or can be accessed on SoundCloud.com.

Household Hacks: Pantry Spring Cleaning

By
Grace Baldwin
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Organization. It’s some people’s forte and others’ bane, but it certainly can help make life much easier, especially in the kitchen. One of the most important assets to a kitchen is its storage or pantry, and there are many different ways to keep a pantry in ship-shape.

Reduce Unnecessary Messes

Some messes, but not all, we make could be prevented with a simple solution. For example, putting drippy and sticky products like honey or powdered sugar on a lazy susan or shelf liner could reduce the mess they make. Both a lazy susan or pantry liner can be easily taken out of the pantry to be cleaned when a mess occurs.

Organize Items by Similarity or Use

Grouping items commonly used together could reduce the time it takes to search for items. Children’s snacks, for example, could be grouped together. Dinner ingredients, breakfast ingredients, boxed desserts, etc. could be grouped together, too. Make your pantry suited for you and your family.

LABEL LABEL LABEL

For all types of personalities, labeling items in a pantry could be very beneficial. If you keep your flower in a different container, label it to avoid confusion with similar powdered substances like baking soda or powdered sugar.

Contain the Mess

America is the place for new inventions, and people have really taken that to heart, especially with cool gadgets for the kitchen. Many of those include expertly designed plastic and ceramic ware that would help organize foodstuffs in a pantry.

Be Willing to Throw Things Away

From personal experience, I know this is a tough skill to master. Thrifty and practical people like to keep things around just in case they could become of some use, but, at times, it can be thrifty and practical to throw things away, too. Work on letting the less useful items go more often.

Unwrap Excess Packaging before Putting Storebought Items in Pantry

That box of gummy snacks for the kids? It could be broken down, and the packages could be put in a hanging basket on the pantry door to reduce space. Try thinking “outside the box” to reduce wasted space created by bulky cardboard packaging. A few extra seconds of work could save you half a shelf of space.

Make It Your Way

Personalize your pantry. Color code labels, put most often used items at eye or hand height, etc. Coming home from a long day at work can feel much better if you can open up your pantry to your favorite design or color and grab your favorite snack before making dinner. Do it your way.

Bask in Baskets

Using baskets as a way to organize a pantry could truly help the organization process, and it may not be in the way you expect. Try hanging baskets from the pantry door or stacking them on top of lower pantries.  

Be Aware of the Pantry Moth

Pantry moths are a dangerous kitchen force. They are small and can easily get into loosely sealed food items. Know how to check for them and prevent them:

  • If you see a small moth that is reddish white flying around your kitchen, there’s a good chance you have pantry moths. They are usually spotted during the night. Also, webbing on food items or the corners of the pantry is an indication.
  • To clean, follow these steps: remove all items from the pantry. Throw away infested food. Vacuum out the pantry – even under liners on shelves. Scrub pantry with soap and hot water – remember hinges and corners. Wash all containers. Dry everything thoroughly. Take the trash outside. – especially the ones with the infested food and vacuum bag.

Good luck on your pantry spring cleaning!

How to Keep Lips Healthy and Hydrated

By
Megan Whitworth
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Much like the rest of your skin, cold temperatures can really do a number on your lips, leaving them dry and chapped. Unfortunately, even the indoors may not provide relief, as heated rooms can dry out lips even further.

To keep your pucker healthy and hydrated, consider the following tips from the makers of Carmex lip balms, and Dr. Neil Sadick, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist.

• The lower humidity in the colder months tends to deplete and dehydrate us. While it can be tempting to lick one’s lips, unfortunately, this approach will only make the problem worse – as saliva draws moisture out of the lips as it evaporates. Instead, keep lips hydrated from the inside out by drinking plenty of water.

• Use moisturizing lip balms with ingredients that will seal in moisture and stay on your lips. If you are not allergic to sunscreen, use a product with SPF 15 or higher, such as the Carmex Lip Balm Stick, to protect from the sun – not just on sunny days, but every day. Make a habit of applying lip balm three to four times daily, ensuring that one application is before bedtime to combat the drying effects of indoor heating.

• Avoid high gloss lipsticks with little-to-no color. They can be potentially harmful to lips because they can attract UV rays. Avoid these shades entirely or try a triple-layer approach for added protection: first apply a lip balm with SPF, followed by a colored lipstick, then finish it off with some shine.

• Cover your face, especially on windy days. Make sure you have a scarf that you can pull up to cover your lips when the wind starts blowing.

• When indoors, consider using a humidifier in dry environments to help moisturize your skin and lips.

More healthy lip tips can be found at mycarmex.com.

There is no reason to suffer through chapped, cracked lips. Great habits, such as applying a moisturizing lip balm or lip balm that contains SPF, can help you keep your lips healthy and moisturized.

(StatePoint)

AC Basketball Teams Hosting Wednesday Doubleheader

By
Gary Stallard
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Both Angelina College basketball teams are hoping to get back on the winning track when they host Wednesday’s doubleheader at Shands Gymnasium, but both teams expect plenty of resistance in doing so.

The Roadrunners have experienced their first two-game losing streak since conference play began after falling Saturday in Jacksonville. That game came just three days after Wednesday’s heartbreaking, last-second home loss to Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

Roadrunner Robert Lewis and Lady Roadrunner Tyanna Barlow lead both Angelina College basketball teams into Wednesday’s home doubleheader at Shands Gymnasium. The Lady ‘Runners face No. 10 Trinity Valley College at 5:30 p.m., and the Roadrunners take on Lee College at 7:30 p.m. (AC Press photos/Marcy Flores)

To snap the mini-skid, the ‘Runners will have to hold off a Lee College team seeking a little payback. On January 28, AC escaped Baytown with a win when the Rebels failed to clinch the contest by missing free throws in the final minute. On the last miss, Roadrunner Gary Blackston grabbed a defensive rebound and drove the length of the floor for a buzzer-beating layup to give AC an 80-79 win. In addition to seeking redemption, the Rebels will attempt to move closer to second place in the South Division standings: AC, at 10-5, is in second place, with Lee College right behind in third at 8-6. The Rebels avoided their own two-game losing streak with Monday’s 61-57 win in Jacksonville.

The Lady Roadrunners also have a tough task on-hand Wednesday night with the 10th-ranked Trinity Valley Lady Cardinals arriving at Shands Gym. TVCC’s record in conference play is 12-3, but two of those losses came via forfeit. However, the Lady Cardinals lost 64-39 to Panola College on Saturday, and Lady ‘Runner head coach Byron Coleman’s teams have notched a few upsets over the Lady Cardinals over the years. AC’s ladies knocked off San Jacinto College last Wednesday in a thriller, with Kennethah Harden scoring the game winner with 13 seconds to play. The Lady ‘Runners, at an even 8-8 in conference play, have four games remaining to secure a berth in the upcoming conference tournament, but only two of those games are at home.

Game times on Wednesday are 5:30 for the Lady Roadrunners and 7:30 for the Roadrunners. Both games will be streamed live, and viewers can catch the action by logging onto the Angelina College web site (www.angelina.edu) and clicking the Athletics link.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

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