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Marco’s Pizza to Host Year of the Rooster Children’s Party

By
Grace Baldwin
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Marco’s Pizza in Lufkin will be holding a “Year of the Rooster Children’s Party” from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, in celebration of the Chinese New Year at their store on John Reddit Drive in the Palms shopping center.

Dragon coloring pages, fortune cookie crafts, and a hong bara (Chinese wishing tree) will be available for kids to enjoy, as well as traditional Chinese snacks and mandarin oranges. The mandarin orange is a traditional Chinese symbol of good luck and strong friendships.

Some educational and fun facts about Chinese will also be given during the party.

“At Marco’s Pizza we are constantly trying to be innovative with the events that we hold for the community,” said Chasity Boatman, Lufkin Marco’s Pizza co-owner. “I didn’t see a celebration of the Chinese New Year in Lufkin, and I thought throwing an event for it would give local children the opportunity to be educated on a different culture’s traditions.”

Boatman said she thinks it is important for children to have the opportunity to understand and empathize with other cultures and peoples. She said this is especially true because they will be growing up in an increasingly globalized world.

“Marco’s Pizza will be decorated in traditional decor, and we will be explaining to the children the symbolism of the colors and decoration items in the store as we do the kitchen tours,” Boatman said. “We are going all-out on the celebration, and I hope that children feel like they are at a traditional celebration. We have put a lot of time and research into this event. Grandough Baking Company has graciously donated cupcakes to be used for the event as well.”

For more information on the event, visit the Facebook event page.

AC Basketball Teams Earn Home Sweep of Coastal Bend, Jacksonville

By
Megan Whitworth
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After suffering a pair of recent road losses, both Angelina College basketball teams used fuel from a big home crowd to sweep conference wins Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium.

The Lady Roadrunners snapped a three-game losing streak with a 72-50 win over Coastal bend College, and the Roadrunners followed by holding on for an 89-76 win over Jacksonville College.

Lady Roadrunners 72, Coastal Bend 50

Angelina College’s Charisma Shepherd glides in for a layup during Wednesday’s game with Coastal Bend. The Lady Roadrunners handled the Lady Cougars 72-50, and the Roadrunners followed with an 89-76 win over Jacksonville College at Shands Gymnasium. (AC Press photo/Marcy Flores)

Three games ago, the Lady Roadrunners learned they’d be without All-American candidate LaNeique Nealey for the remainder of the season after Nealey suffered an injury. The question arose as to where AC’s ladies would find the double-digit points and rebounds Nealey offered on a nightly basis.

On Wednesday against Coastal Bend College, the Lady ‘Runners learned they can spread the wealth.

Four Lady Roadrunners scored in double figures, with Kennethah Harden leading the way with 18 points. Tyanna Barlow added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Charisma Shepherd and Erin Sanchez chipped in 10 points each. Karley McHenry added nine points, knocking down a trio of three pointers in the game.

Perhaps most importantly for the Lady Roadrunners was winning the rebounding battle, grabbing a total of 47 boards to the Lady Cougars’ 41. AC also converted 17 of 21 free-throw attempts, with Barlow connecting on seven of her eight tries from the line.

Hadiya Norman led Coastal Bend with 18 points. Marilyn Davis scored 13 points while pulling down 16 rebounds.

The Lady Roadrunners (12-8, 5-5) play at Paris College on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.

Roadrunners 89, Jacksonville 76

After seeing Jacksonville’s Jaguars battle back to cut a 17-point lead to just four points with a minute and a half remaining in the game, Angelina College’s Roadrunners needed a big play to stop the bleeding.

Angelina College’s Quenton Bush hits a baby hook from the baseline during Wednesday’s game against Jacksonville. The Roadrunners took an 89-76 win over the Jaguars, while the Lady Roadrunners handled Coastal Bend in a 72-50 win at Shands Gymnasium. (AC Press photo/Marcy Flores)

They got it from Isaiah Bailey, and he nearly had to bleed to make it.

Bailey battled two Jaguars to rebound his own miss, somehow scoring on an off-balance shot while drawing a hard foul. Bailey converted the bonus free throw, extending AC’s lead to seven points, and the Roadrunners closed out the game with five free throws squeezed around a Corinthian Ramsey bucket to take the 89-76 win.

With the ‘Runners recognizing Kurth Primary and Anderson Elementary School, along with the Lufkin Youth Basketball League, a big crowd jammed Shands Gymnasium for an entertaining game. Both defenses played well in a low-scoring first half – AC led 39-29 at the break – but the Roadrunners easily solved the Jaguars’ full-court press in the second.

Ramsey led all scorers with 22 points, adding three steals to his totals. Bailey added 19 and nine rebounds; Robert Lewis scored 15; and Gary Blackston finished with 12 points. Victor Bell chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals.

Jacksonville got 16 points from Ben Nakwaasah and 12 points each from Jarrett Henderson and Tevin Townsend.

The Roadrunners (14-6, 6-3) are on the road Saturday, taking on Lee College in Baytown. Game time is 4 p.m.

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

Tips for Living Out of a Backpack for a Month

By
Megan Whitworth
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While many find it the most ideal way to experience the world on a budget, the most important thing backpackers need to think about before embarking on the journey of a lifetime is their actual backpack.

To avoid ruining your momentous life adventure by carrying around a heavy pack and inviting unwanted back pain, Reservations.com has shared the following tips to help survive a month without the stress of “stuff” to hold you back.

The most important thing backpackers need to think about before embarking on the journey of a lifetime is their actual backpack.

Tips for Living Out of a Backpack for a Month

PURCHASE PACKING CUBES

Packing cubes can compress your clothes and squeeze them tight into a backpack. By squeezing out all the air of the small compartments where you place the pieces of clothing in, this not only saves you space but saves you the heavy burden of carrying your clothes around. Not to mention the much needed protection for your clothing against humidity and dirt.

PACK MINIMUM TOILETRIES

By packing many small toiletries, you save room and get to minimize items to the most vital. A list of must have toiletries generally include solid shampoo bars that can last a while, toothpaste, and sunscreen. For all the lady travelers, a diva cup or a moon cup can be an alternative to tampons and pads because they occupy much needed space.

LEARN TO SHARE POWER CABLES 

Taking all your charging cables, whether it be for your phone, laptop, or digital camera tends to waste a lot of space in your bag. So, if you’re traveling with friends learn to share cables and utilize the space in each other’s bags. We also recommend getting a portable charger for those locations that will be far from civilization, they will save you time and space.

TAKE A SMALL CAMERA

For all those traveling photographers, remember you are backpacking for a month. Although, having all your lenses would make your photos phenomenal, it is probably not the best idea. It is recommended to take a smaller camera or if you use a DSLR you might want to keep it out of your bag and adjust to carrying it around your neck.

REMEMBER THE ESSENTIALS

This may seem obvious, but most people still forget: you will be traveling for 30 days. Fresh socks are always an essential, to avoid blisters and wet feet. Packing warm is a must and easy to forget. A water-resistant lightweight jacket is perfect, you cannot go wrong with this. First aid is imperative especially when traveling alone. And please do not forget a traveling towel, it comes in very handy.

My 5 Cents: An Update From Senator Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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This week, the Lieutenant Governor began referring bills to committee and we will soon begin to hear them in committee. The legislative process kills more bills than it passes, which I consider a good thing. Only the best legislation which has had significant public input and survived the hearing process should become law.

Here are five things happening at your Capitol this week:

Senate Finance Begins

The Senate Finance Committee, on which I serve, have begun their hearings. Over the next few weeks we will hear the legislative appropriations request from every state agency and higher education institutions, as well as public testimony. These requests are a starting point to determine their budget needs for the next two years.

The hearings have focused on public education and higher education institutions. As this is a tough budget year for the state, we will be studying each of these programs to determine the appropriated funding is being used appropriately to benefit students and help provide the education they deserve.

School Finance Workgroup

In addition to the regular work of the Senate Finance committee, The Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson has appointed a workgroup to study school finance. The workgroup members will work with stakeholders to propose a new simplified school funding structure.

Many of our funding items have not been updated in 30 to 40 years. This is an opportune time to ensure we are providing an equitable system for all school districts across the state, which also meets the needs of the students in those schools. Education has and should continue to be one of the top priorities of the Legislature, and I look forward to working with the members of Senate Finance to ensure we are able to accomplish this task.

Tuition Set-Asides

In 2003, the Legislature required universities to set aside a percentage of an undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students tuition, to be used to provide assistance to students with a financial need. While the set-aside was not meant to be an extra charge to the students, universities have to raise their tuition to cover this set-aside.

I believe this has created a tax on student’s tuition. Even if a student has taken out loans to pay for their education, they will have to take out much more than is needed for their own education to pay for someone else’s tuition. Senator Kel Seliger has filed Senate Bill 18, I am also a co-author, which would repeal this set-aside program. I look forward to working with Senator Seliger and supporting him in doing away with this program.

Ethics Reform

Transparency and strong ethics laws are critical to good government, which is why I’ve co-authored Senate Bill 14 with Senator Van Taylor to provide ethics reform in the State.  This bill would keep elected officials who are convicted of felonies from staying in office and receiving a state pension.  It would also require more disclosure of money and gifts that lobbyists provide to elected officials, as well as prevent elected officials from immediately turning into lobbyists after leaving the Legislature.  Finally, it requires elected officials to provide more information about their incomes, including government contracts and legal referral fees.  Texans deserve to know whether elected officials may be swayed by special interest groups, and taxpayers should not be paying for these pensions of elected officials who commit felonies.

Timeline of Session

Although we have now been in session two weeks the Legislature is not allowed to fully pass any legislation in the first 60 days of the 140-day session unless the Governor designates an item as emergency legislation. This and other provisions help to place even more value on our time and ensure only the most pressing issues are addressed. The framers of the Texas Constitution envisioned a citizen legislature which only meets every other year for a limited amount of days, and is therefore unable to infringe too much on citizens’ lives. Many years later, their vision is still being fulfilled.

Below are some important dates to keep in mind for this session:

March 10: This is the last date bills in the Senate and House can be filed.
May 29: This is the final day of the 85th regular session, which happens to fall on Memorial Day.
June 18: This is the last day the Governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular legislative session.

Easy Love Canvas Art

By
Ginger Bowie
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I am so, so excited to be sharing another fun idea with Make It Fun Crafts. This month’s challenge was home decor using FloraCraft Make It: Fun Foam sheets in a way that would be tricky using typical canvas. The one huge difference is that foam sheets can be cut and shaped into any size or shape that you need. So you are able to customize your project for your space. So I decided to make this Easy Love Canvas Art for Valentine’s Day. So let’s get started!

Easy Love Canvas Art at GingerSnapCrafts.com #makeitfuncrafts #valentineslove

For this project you’ll need:
2 FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam 1x12x36 inch sheets
StyroCutter® Plus or Make It: Fun® Foam Cutter
12×12 scrapbook paper
White glitter cardstock
Red glitter cardstock
Smooth Finish
Spray adhesive
Red chalk paint
Foam paint brush
Tulle
Silhouette

supplies

First, I used my Make It: Fun Foam Cutter to cut my foam sheets into 4 12×12 inch pieces.

make it fun crafts

Next, I got out some Smooth Finish. This was my first time to use it! I was excited.

smooth finish

Smooth Finish is a paintable coating for FloraCraft Foam! It’s fast drying, it doesn’t shrink or crack, and it is super easy to apply using a spatula (or putty knife). So that is what I did. I gave a good coat to the sides, front and edges on all 4 of my foam squares. Then I let it dry.

smooth finish foam

I slightly sanded it to smooth it all out, and then I applied 2 coats of paint along the sides, edges and about 2 or 3 inches across the front edges. Then I let my paint dry.

foam crafts for Valentines Day

Next, I used spray adhesive to adhere a 12×12 piece of scrapbook paper to the front of each square.

paper crafts for Valentines Day

Then I put on the letters (or heart) using spray adhesive. I cut out my letters and heart using my Silhouette. Then I added a little bit of tulle to the heart canvas. All done!

Valentine day decor

I love the canvas look I get without the expense of buying actual canvases.

love

It would be so super simple to swap out the letters and change the colors depending on the holiday. The possibilities are endless!

LOVE

Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below.

Hot or Not? Discover this Year’s Most In-Demand Jobs

By
Megan Whitworth
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Whether you just entered the career world or have been in the workforce for years, if you’re hunting for a new gig, it’s time to discover this year’s hottest jobs.

The 2017 Hot Jobs report, recently released by Randstad US, one of the largest HR services and staffing companies in the country, reveals the most in-demand and emerging jobs across engineering, finance and accounting, human resources, information technology (IT), life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, office and administration, and non-clinical healthcare.

“Our experts, along with many economists, predict a strong economy in 2017, which is likely to result in more job opportunities nationwide,” says Jim Link, chief human resources officer for Randstad North America. “It’s important to stay in-the-know to find out which jobs hold the greatest potential. Job seekers looking for career growth can improve their chances of landing these coveted roles by knowing employer pain points and packaging their skills and knowledge as potential solutions.”

To help candidates better understand what type of job market they face, Randstad is offering tips for landing a hot job.

• If you have a knack for science and technology, consider engineering. The industry continues to evolve based on market trends and technical innovation, and the unemployment rate for the overall field is well below the national average.

• Interested in finance and accounting? Beef up your public accounting and general ledger software skills to be more competitive. You’ll also have a leg up if you speak a second language, as the demand for bilingual candidates continues to rise.

• Passionate about working in a front or back office role within the healthcare system? Non-clinical healthcare is booming, with emerging jobs like medical secretary and medical assistant in facilities needing additional support.

• Discover new opportunities in life sciences by exploring positions flush with research and development funding. With continued innovations in medical technology, the changing regulatory environment and upcoming patent expirations, the industry requires highly specialized talent to fill open voids.

• Be the IT guy and consider a job in Big Data. While IT is an ever-growing industry, Big Data positions are critical to increasing productivity, and innovation is in high demand.

• As office and administration roles grow, these positions are starting to look more like middle management than support staff. If you possess diverse skills with experience in project management, budgeting, marketing and training, you’ll have the upper hand.

• New technology and innovative production systems are sparking a rebirth in American manufacturing and logistics. Job seekers with previous experience, higher education, technological know-how or training will have a competitive edge.

• As employers seek new talent to fill all these hot jobs, consider being the human in human resources. A field with rapid technological advancements, professionals with a digital mindset will lead the pack.

For full study results, visit Randstad’s 2017 Hot Jobs report and learn more about which industry or position is right for you.

(StatePoint)

2017 TLBC Scholarship Opportunity

By
Megan Whitworth
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State Representative James White is proud to announce that the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC) will be awarding over 60 scholarships for deserving students in the State of Texas. The scholarships will include three $1,500 awards for each members district, six $4,000 at-large awards for students living in a members district, and four $1,500 at-large awards for students who do not live in any members district.

Students who meet the qualifications and criteria should plan to send in a complete application alongside an official school transcript, two letters of recommendation including one from a faculty member of their current school, a cover letter, and a 400-500 word essay answering the essay topic: “How I will use my college education to contribute to the betterment of the State of Texas or my local community in the next 15 years.” Applications will be due no later than Jan. 31, 2017.

This scholarship is a great opportunity for students in your school and should be encouraged to apply. We have attached the TLBC scholarship timeline, scholarship information and criteria, and application at this time.

Please do not hesitate to contact Rep. James White’s office at (512) 463-0490 or (409) 283-3700 in regards to applying for this scholarship.

“Barefoot in the Park” Brings Classic Laughs to Lufkin

By
Megan Whitworth
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The Angelina Arts Alliance is proud to present Barefoot in The Park as part of its annual Premier Series of performing arts. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple Theater on the Angelina College Campus.

Performed by the Montana Repertory Theatre, this Neil Simon classic romantic comedy explores love, relationship, and marriage—the pangs of loss and the joy of reunion. Newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter set up house in their New York apartment, a dysfunctional fifth-floor walkup. Corie is playful, impetuous, and thrilled with the new adventure of married life. Paul, a conservative young attorney, keeps his emotions in check while focusing on his budding career rather than his marriage. Sparks fly as Corie and Paul’s relationship is tested. Can this nascent marriage be saved?

We invite you to join us for the always-incredible journey of live theatre. Tickets are limited for Barefoot in the Park and are available at the Temple Theater box office. Ticket prices range from $30 to $45 each.

The 2016-2017 Premier Series Season Sponsors are Georgia Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial. The show sponsor for Barefoot in The Park is “A Friend of the Arts”, it is produced by Davis Insurance, Huntington State Bank, and it is presented by Mary and Tom Duncan. The Premier Series always features the best in touring arts and entertainment for the people of Lufkin, Angelina County and the surrounding region.

Super Bowl LI Champion Is . . .

By
Kevin Wilson
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We know who will be the reigning champion on Super Bowl Sunday. You can count out the Atlanta Falcons. You can also count out the four-time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots. The champion will be you for making these silky, chocolaty fudge bites for your Super Bowl party. The recipe makes 30 individual mini bites, enough for everyone at your party to taste and fall in love with them; thereby, crowning you the champion of the Super Bowl Snack Award. Kevin’s version of this recipe comes from “Cuisine at Home,” Dec. 2008, edition.

A photo of Fudge Bites.

Happy Cooking,
Kevin Wilson & Mom

Fudge Bites

Ingredients:

12 ounces Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
6 ounces Ghirardelli 60% Cacao, Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
(1/2 – 1 cup chopped pecans), optional

Directions:

Line a 24-count mini-muffin pan with mini-muffin liners. Line only 6 on a second pan. Combine semisweet and bittersweet chocolate with condensed milk in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Off heat, stir in vanilla and pecans.  Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours or until serving time.

 

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful Receives Thank You from TJR Students

By
Megan Whitworth
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Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful has been invited to receive a thank you presentation from students at Thomas J. Rusk Elementary. The presentation will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 9:30 a.m. at the TJR Garden at the intersection of N. Fredonia St. and Arnold St.

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful awarded an education grant in the amount of $400 to support the gardening project at TJR Elementary. The garden is operated by volunteers from Resilient Nacogdoches. Students in the gardening program apply various principles from the Learn, Grow, Eat, Go curriculum developed by the Texas A&M County Extension Office. Objectives include planting, harvesting and sampling vegetables.

“Its wonderful to see all the ways that folks are showing up to support school gardening programs,” said Jocelyn Moore, Resilient Nacogdoches member. “The grant money that KNB awarded to the garden programs at TJR and Carpenter Elementary Schools, as well as the high school, will go a long way to provide quality gardening tools, infrastructure and cooking equipment for the students,” Moore said. “I am proud to live in a city that values teaching its students how to grow their own food and the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.”

 TJR Elementary was one of six schools in Nacogdoches County to be awarded an education grant from KNB. Other schools that received grants are Emeline Carpenter Elementary School, Mike Moses Middle School, Central Heights Elementary and Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language. Two projects were funded through KNB grants at Nacogdoches High School.

“All of the grant recipients are creating gardens or implementing recycling programs this year,” Katie Blevins, KNB Executive Coordinator, said.

“Recipients of KNB grants create beautification, litter management and waste reduction projects throughout Nacogdoches County,” said Cheryl Bartlett, KNB board member, “They involve kids and teach them how to improve the quality of the environment in their own community.”

Any pre-K through grade 12 classroom or campus in Nacogdoches County, public or private, was eligible for a grant. Qualifying applications featured beautification and/or education projects that align with one or more of Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful’s core values: litter prevention, beautification, community improvement, waste reduction and resources, conservation, recycling and environmental education.

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, volunteer organization that promotes beautification, waste reduction and litter prevention through individual responsibility across Nacogdoches County. Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful is a local affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful. More information about Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful and the current programs can be found at keepnacbeautiful.org.

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