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Holiday Gift-Giving Tips and Inspiration

By
Megan Whitworth
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Looking for a way to “Sleigh the Holiday?”

Raise the bar on gift-giving with thoughtful items for everyone on your list.

The experts at Bed Bath & Beyond are offering some inspiration for spreading holiday cheer.

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Home chefs will appreciate new gear to spice up their cooking and entertaining.

Foodies and Party Hosts

Home chefs will appreciate new gear to spice up their cooking and entertaining. Consider stylish, high-quality items such as those available in the Artisanal Kitchen Supply line. Long-lasting pre-seasoned cast iron open stock cookware adds both form and function to kitchens, and two-piece salt bowl and spoon sets make setting the table more fun.

Seasonal Enthusiasts

For some, the holidays are truly the most wonderful time of year, and they let guests know by the way they decorate their homes. Give them a hall-decking boost. Consider traditional elements like holiday stockings, ornaments and pinecone wreaths. Or, get creative and modern with a reversible chalkboard wreath, to which celebrants can add their personalized messages and greetings. The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Holiday Collection features both new and old decorative pieces to brighten any home.

Tech Lovers

A photo of a Nestcam.
Tools like the Nest Cam, for example, allow users to stream live video to one’s smartphone for remote monitoring of the home, kids or pets, night or day.

For techies, give the gift of a smarter home and greater peace of mind. Tools like the Nest Cam, for example, allow users to stream live video to one’s smartphone for remote monitoring of the home, kids or pets, night or day. The camera will notify users if sound or motion is detected in a place that should be empty. Nest also makes an outdoor security camera and a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, which connect to one’s devices for alerts away from home, as well as a voice-operated thermostat that learns your schedule to help you save energy and money.

Give your recipient the ability to control ambiance with a touch of a button. From a smartphone or tablet app, the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit allows you to change bulb settings and color throughout your home.

Personalized Fun

Consider personalized housewares, such as monogram wine stoppers or barware or state-shaped cutting and serving boards. Both functional and decorative, your recipient will appreciate the extra thought that went into the gift.

More holiday gifts and inspiration can be found at bedbathandbeyond.com.

By discovering great gifts for every hobby, interest and aesthetic, at every price point, you can make gift-giving more fun for you and everyone on your list.

(StatePoint)

Angelina College’s SBDC Creates New Businesses and Jobs in East Texas

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Angelina College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helped start 20 new business during the 2015-2016 year. According to the center’s director Larry Cain, nearly 160 new jobs were created through the SBDC’s efforts.

Best Friends Community Services serves adults and children diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Houston County and the surrounding area. Nikki Steinsbo and her staff train family members to care for the needs of the disabled person and that family member becomes an employee of Best Friends.

By working with the SBDC, Steinsbo has obtained a contract with the State of Texas, leased additional office space, purchased a new van for transporting clients, hired 47 full-time and 16 part-time employees, and renovated a separate building to train employees and assist those with disabilities in improving their life skills. She recently purchased and remodeled a house to use as a group home. Steinsbo is researching options to provide health insurance to her employees, many of whom have not been able to afford coverage in the past.

“Nikki’s business is particularly special due to the great work she is doing in a low-income area (Grapeland) that did not offer these services prior to her opening the business,” Cain said.

The SBDC at Angelina College provides training, counseling, advising and start‐up services for individuals starting a business. The center also assists business owners with business valuations, financing, accounting, marketing and real estate. The center’s staff helped clients acquire more than $14 million in capital totaling during the last year.

Cain and Richard Hughes, Angelina College SBDC adviser, have both earned their Certified Global Business Professional designations to better assist any clients with any exporting issues.

For more information about the Small Business Development Center at Angelina College, contact Larry Cain at lcain@angelina.edu or 936-633-5400

Quick Easy Lunch Idea

By
Susan Domingue Bell
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I ate a peanut butter sandwich every day for lunch for five years, until one day I was burned out.

I ate the same lunch for five years.

A natural peanut butter sandwich on homemade whole grain bread. It was delicious for five years and then, just like that, I was burned out.

Now, I’m always on the lookout for a new, easy, healthy lunch idea.

I came up with this one on my own and have been loving it.

Here is step-by-step on making this delicious, healthy dish for a simple lunch.

Ingredients:

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Place all of the ingredients on the tortilla and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts. 

1 brown rice Food for Life tortilla (or whatever big tortilla you like)
A few slices of purple onion
Several grape tomatoes cut in halves
Cooked chicken breast
Shredded cheese – I usually put a little mozzarella and a little Parmesan or Parmesan and a little cheddar.

Note: You can put a little hummus on the tortilla, but I didn’t have any when I came up with this and I’ve just stuck with it.

Directions:

Put everything on the tortilla and bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts. Slice like a pizza. Serve.

Plus, you can get creative and put other veggies on it. Enjoy!

Roadtripping East Texas: Polar Express

By
Sarah Shaw
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Siblings Mason, left, Anna Kate, and Eva ride the Polar Express.
train
A photo of one of the train cars on the Polar Express.

All aboard

Near Rusk lies the Polar Express.

“The Polar Express” is a popular children’s movie about a doubting child and his adventure to the North Pole. Although most people know about the movie, few know that it is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas picture book.

The Polar Express located in the East Texas area is a reenactment of the train from the movie and is a fun activity for the family around the holidays. The train even features songs and dances from the 2004 movie and a warm cup of the train’s famous hot chocolate.

The Polar Express train ride is featured in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Tickets for the train can range from $20 to $109, depending on class of service and date of travel. Families are encourage to wear their pajamas.

Santa and two of his helpers.
Santa and two of his helpers.

This magical train is only running through Dec. 23, so grab your golden ticket and come along on our adventure as we explore the Polar Express.

The train ride

You pull into the parking lot and see the magical train ride you are about to embark on.

After grabbing your ticket, you make your way to an assigned seat on the train. You hear the conductor yell “all aboard” and you feel the train begin to move.

A photo of
Charlotte Paek rides the Polar Express.

A chief delivers you a chocolate chip cookie, when all the sudden the staff breaks into song and dance. Singing “Hot hot chocolate, we’ve got it,” the servers deliver your cup of delicious hot chocolate. You sit back and enjoy the live storytelling of the Polar Express.

Before you know it you’re already approaching the North Pole. You see lights, snow, elves, and Santa! There he is, the big man himself, dancing along side his elves. The staff tells you that if you close your eyes and wish really hard, maybe Santa will join you on the train.

You close your eyes super tight and begin to wish.

A few moments pass and before you know it, there is Santa right on the Polar Express with you. He’s coming your way and then he gives you a special bell only for those who truly believe. You tell him everything you want for Christmas, give him a hug, and he’s on his way.

You then sing and dance with the crew all the way back to the train station.

What riders thought

A few characters from the movie that made their way onto the Polar Express.
A few characters from the movie that made their way onto the Polar Express.

After Santa had passed through, I sat down with a few children to see what they thought about this magical ride.

Siblings Mason, Anna Kate, and Eva said their favorite part was when Santa came on the train. Their parents said they heard about the train through word of mouth and thought it would be fun for the kids.

I also talked to Charlotte Paek about her experience. Paek said she enjoyed the North Pole, hot chocolate, and seeing Santa Claus. She also said she asked Santa for a My Little Pony.

The Polar Express is a fun activity that everyone in the family will enjoy during the holiday season. Make sure to check out their website and buy your ticket today.

travel-tip-from-sarah

Lufkin Dream Center To Close December 17

By
Grace Baldwin
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The Lufkin Dream Center, a local Christian nonprofit rehabilitation center, will be closing on Dec. 17 because of a lack of funds, according to Jeremiah Campbell, facility director.

Contributed photo
Contributed photo

“The facility takes a pretty good amount of money to survive,” Campbell said, “And given the nature of our nonprofit, there was not enough donated and received this year to continue, especially given the recent economy.”

Campbell said that many attempts had been made throughout the year to save the facility, but after losing several large contributions from private donors over the past few years, even the community support and a $100,000 grant received in May of this year were not enough to keep the facility alive. Nothing short of a very substantial donation would save it, he said.

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Contributed photo

“We are definitely in the winding down period of the facility,” Campbell said. “Both the board and the donors decided it was time to be wise and cease operations.”

The rehabilitation program may be closing, but Campbell said the center’s mission will still continue.

“We will continue to do the things the Dream Center was founded on,” he said.

Campbell then listed community efforts that will continue like providing clothing and food for those in need and the Christmas Eve Feed where more than 7,000 people will be fed, but he emphasized the “greater need than the immediate need of food” that the ministry will continue to work toward satisfying even after the closure.

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Contributed photo

Before he was the director, Campbell was a resident at the Lufkin Dream Center. He was one of the earliest graduates, and he has been an employee for 3 and a half years and director for 2 years. His wife, Meagan, is also an employee at the facility. They have three foster children together.

One of Campbell’s favorite stories of recovery he said touched him the most was the story of a married couple who admitted themselves. At first, Campbell said, they were not happy to be there, but they knew they had a problem. Over the course of their time at the Lufkin Dream Center, they restored their marriage, overcame their addiction, and graduated the program. Today, Campbell said they both have good jobs, and they have regained custody of their children.

Campbell said there are countless other stories he could tell. He is working on helping the current residents to either transfer to a dream center in another city or to make the transition home. He said he cannot force anyone to stay in the program, but he is encouraging them to do so.

What’s In: Baking Your Face

By
Neena Mitchell
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Alright, I know this sounds a little unusual, but believe me it isn’t as strange as you think.

baking-2
A photo of baking. Photo from shemazing.net

The newest trend in beauty after highlighting and contouring is baking. Many celebrities and their makeup artists use the baking technique to allow the makeup to set and create a smooth, flawless look on the skin. Baking is a simple procedure, but it takes up just a little extra time in your daily makeup routine.

What is baking?

Baking is the process of applying a translucent powder to your face to create a smooth or matte highlighted look.

How to Bake Your Face:

Apply an eye cream or moisturizer to the area surrounding your eyes.

Then, apply two coats of concealer to the under-eye area. The first coat should be thicker than the second.

A photo of before and after baking. Photo from shemazing.net.
A photo of before and after baking. Photo from shemazing.net.

Next, you will dust translucent powder onto your face with a regular fluffy makeup brush. The powder should be applied to the under-eyes, chin, and jawbone, or any other areas you like to highlight.

This is where the “baking” comes in. Take a sponge (wedge sponges work best) and dampen in with setting spray. Take the damp sponge and pat on some extra translucent powder. Let the powder bake onto your face from anywhere between 5 – 20 minutes. Take this time to do your eye makeup or anything else to pass the time.

After the time is up, use your fluffy makeup brush with some pressed powder to dust off the leftover powder. Once this is finished, you are all done!

This process can be a bit time consuming especially since it does not include the rest of your makeup routine. If you need to lower the amount of time it takes to bake, you can omit the pre-dust (Step 3) and the pressed powder.

Benefits of Baking Your Face:

Smooth, highlighted skin.
If you have oily skin, it eliminates the shine on your face and it typically lasts all day.
Covers creases and unevenness in skin.

Products Used in Baking:

Translucent Powders
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $38
Ben Nye Bella Luxury Banana Powder, $15
L’Oreal Hydra Perfecte Powder, $12

Setting Spray
Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, $31
Nyx Makeup Setting Spray, $8
e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set, $6

Concealers
Lancôme Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer, $31
L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer, $9

Eye Cream
Olay Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream, $25
First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy AM Gel Cream, $36

Roadrunners Win Foul-a-Thon over Kilgore in Conference Opener

By
Gary Stallard
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Teams Combine to Shoot 106 Free Throws

The record for combined free throws in a collegiate game is 130, set way back in 1953 in a game between Northern Arizona and Arizona.

The Angelina College Roadrunners and the Kilgore College Rangers on Wednesday appeared on the verge of endangering that record.

The teams combined for 106 free throws on 73 personal fouls (and one technical foul) in AC’s 104-96 win in the conference opener for both teams at Shands Gymnasium.

The Rangers converted 44 of 57 attempts from the free-throw line, while the Roadrunners went 36-of-49. AC’s Corinthian Ramsey went 9-of-9 to finish with a game-high 26 points, with Robert Lewis adding 21 points after going 9-of-11 from the stripe. Gary Blackston added 19 points and Jason Towery 10 in the ‘Runner win. Towery’s two free throws with 31 seconds to play gave AC a little breathing room after the Rangers wiped out a 20-point lead to make things close near the end.

Kilgore’s Tre Evans led the Rangers with 20 points; Chad Bowie finished with 18 and Cheikh Diallo 16 in the loss.

There were 37 fouls called in the first half; both teams were in the bonus with 15 minutes still to play. AC used a 17-2 run to build a 20-point lead in the second half – the ‘Runners had committed just two turnovers at that point – before the Rangers regrouped and began chipping away. Bowie’s free throw with 32 seconds to play trimmed the AC lead to six points, but Towery hustled his way to a rebound, drawing the foul and hitting the free throws to ice the game.

With the win, the Roadrunners (9-2, 1-0) extended their winning streak to five games. AC will play next at Tyler College on Saturday. The Lady Roadrunners, who dropped a 97-85 decision Wednesday at Panola College, will tip off against the Lady Apaches at 2 p.m., with the Roadrunners and Apaches following at 4 p.m.

Angelina College Baseball Holding Evaluation Camp

By
Gary Stallard
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Camp for Prospective Players Taking Place Jan. 8

The Angelina College Roadrunner baseball program has established itself as a pipeline for players seeking to advance to the next level, including the major leagues. With several former Roadrunners on current MLB rosters, AC Baseball is a proven source of locating and developing young talent.

The Roadrunner baseball team will in January hold a winter evaluation camp for prospective players.

The camp will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, January 8 at Roadrunner Field on the Angelina College campus.

The campus will focus on skill evaluation only; there will be no game. Players will be graded on running, arm strength, fielding, hitting and power. Pitchers will throw brief bullpens in order to grade pitches and velocity.

The cost of the camp is $10 for early registration or $20 if registering the morning of the camp. Players can register early by credit card through the Angelina College Community Services office by calling (936) 633-5206. Late registration will take place at 9:30 a.m. on the 8th; that $20 fee will be cash or check only.

For further information, contact the AC baseball staff at (936) 6333-5367, or e-mail head coach Jeff Livin at jlivin@angelina.edu.

Wynonna Judd’s Christmas Tour Stopping in Lufkin, Dec. 17

By
Grace Baldwin
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Angelina Arts Alliance rings in the holidays with Wynonna Judd’s Christmas tour, live on stage at the Temple Theater Saturday, December 17, at 7:30 pm. This is the third year for Wynonna – along with her band, The Big Noise — to present “A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas” tour, which features in-comparable musical arrangements from The Big Noise, putting Wynonna’s voice front and center for what promises to be a truly memorable evening of music and holiday magic.

Tickets went on sale on August 1st priced from $60-$70 (Premium/Box $75) and sold out quickly. The Temple Theater Box Office has a waiting list for those still wanting tickets – just call 936-633-5454 to get on the list. Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents “A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas” along with show sponsors City of Lufkin and The Heart Institute of East Texas. 2016-2017 Season Sponsors are Georgia – Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.

“Every year I look forward to our Christmas tour,” says Wynonna, “It’s so easy to get caught up in the perfectionism that this time of the year often brings. I love singing the music that inspires me to remember the real reason for the season. My hope is that people can come to the show, forget about their ‘to do’ list and, for the time we are together, simply enjoy themselves.”

Her Christmas concert features traditional favorites like “O Holy Night” and “Ave Maria” as well as a mix of hits and new releases. Wynonna’s rich and commanding voice has sold over 30 million albums worldwide spanning a remarkable 33-year career. Charting countless singles, including 20 #1 hits and over 60 industry awards, she was dubbed by Rolling Stone as “the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline.”

Her solo career began 1992 with her quintuple platinum debut, Wynonna. That set spawned four number one hits, and it was the bestselling country album ever by a female artist at that time. In 1994, Wynonna received the coveted Top Female Vocalist of the Year trophy at the ACM Awards. Engaging the soulful bluesy side of her voice, Wynonna went on to sell more than 10 million albums and reach new creative heights with six chart toppers of her own. Not bad for a girl who started her musical career in Austin, TX at the age of 13.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Temple Theater Box Office on the Angelina College Lufkin campus, Monday through Friday 11 am – 5 pm or call (936) 633-5454, or go online at www.angelinaarts.org . Details and video clips from the entire season are on the Arts Alliance website. Follow Angelina Arts Alliance on Facebook for latebreaking news, photos, videos and ticket giveaways.

Angelina College To Host Free Informational on Pharmacy Technology Program

By
Grace Baldwin
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Angelina College is hosting an informational event to provide those interested in enrolling in the pharmacy technology program with more information at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, in the Health Careers Building II, Room 223.

No registration or cost is required for this event.

For more information on this event, contact Nancy Reynolds at (936)-633-5345 or 

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