The Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday awarded a $921,752 safety project to the Lufkin District that is planned in Houston and Trinity counties.
The project scheduled in Houston County on SH 19 from SH 7 in Crockett to 1.6 miles north of FM 231, and in Trinity County on SH 19 from the Houston County line to just south of SH 94. The work will include safety treating fixed objects that will include upgrading culvert ends and improving guardrail to design standards.
The safety treatment from SH 7 to 1.6 miles north of FM 231 was approved for $280,370, and the safety treatment and guardrail improvements from the Houston County line to just south of SH 94 was approved for $641,382. No timeline has been established for project completion.
As this work begins, motorists should stay alert and expect lane closures throughout the project. Motorists should obey all road signs and be aware of traffic delays, warnings and barricades through the work zone. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.
Cooler weather and fall activities bring an end to your lawn maintenance chores. While you’ll soon be stopping all mowing of your lawn, there are still some chores to do that will ensure a good transition of your lawn into winter months and a stronger lawn come next spring.
You can (and should) treat for weeds. One of the more difficult ones that I hear folks complain about recently is Virginia Buttonweed. This creeping perennial lays low, making knotted stems and a white flower that appears as this time of year. It is most difficult to control.
Treatment of it needs to be with a stout plan. Don’t even try a weed and feed product. Go for something with Atrazine. There are lots of products on the shelves at lots of stores that contain this active ingredient. It is very safe to use on our most common turf grass, St. Augustine. If you have a Bermuda lawn, go for a 2,4-D product or even really stout product such as MSM (available at many feed stores).
The cooler weather also allows many fungal diseases that got their start in the spring, struggled in the summer, to then run amuck in the fall. If you have a full blown problem, I recommend a product called F-Stop. To prevent fungal disease problems in your yard, quit spoiling it.
When you over-fertilize and over-water lawns, you spoil it and set it up for problems. Water lawns only once, maybe twice, each week. And when you do water, water deeply to encourage deeper roots and allow the top inch to dry out, thus hampering any fungal spores.
I’ve had a number of folks ask if they should water during the winter months. It’s true that your lawn and shrubs and other perennials need moisture year-round, but our climate typically provides enough moisture in our winter not to water.
Fall fertilizer applications are a good idea. That said, I venture that most fall applications are done too late with the wrong kind of fertilizer. Consider that in less than 60 days, we have better than a 50% chance to have our first frost. Giving your lawn a good dose of “wake up and grow” fertilizer when it’s getting ready for a winter slumber doesn’t make much sense to me.
Yes, a fall application in September would have made sense. Or simply using a fertilizer high in phosphorous or potassium would be good. Not a heavy dose of a high nitrogen (the first number on the bag).
If you have a Bermuda lawn, feel free to give it 2-3 lbs. of 0-0-60 per 1000 sq. ft. That straight potash fertilizer applied in the fall is a secret of good hay growers. Bermudagrass loves potash (another name for potassium) and it won’t stimulate vegetative growth or fungal problems.
If you need to add lime, add lime now to your lawns. Lime helps to neutralize the pH in our commonly acidic soils. Lime isn’t really a fertilizer although it does contain Calcium, a secondary nutrient for plants. Lime’s purpose is to provide a better environment for the plants to grow. One of its better attributes is that it allows nutrients to be more available.
It may be hard for us to understand how the complex environment of soil works. Suffice it to say that fertilizer applied to a very acidic soil may never be avaialbe to the plants it was intended to feed. In the chemistry of soils, some nutrients are much more available in a more neutral pH environment.
So does everyone need to lime? Not at all! Who does? I don’t have a clue. But with $10 spent on a soil test, anyone and everyone can find out exactly how much lime they’ll need to apply. Look up SFA soils lab on your computer’s search engine and download the form you’ll need. If you just want to pick one up, our office (located next the Angelina County Farmers Market) and some feed stores have soil testing forms.
I trust you’ll enjoy this transitional season and prepare (already) for a lush lawn in spring 2017!
Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful is hosting an event called Make a Difference Day by joining with hundreds of other organizations around the country that engage their communities in service.
Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful will celebrate Make A Difference Day by organizing volunteers to participate in a highway clean up, tree nursery care, multiple park beautification projects, and more on Oct. 22.
People who attend Make a Difference Day will get information on opportunities to serve in the community and increase the strength of civic engagement,
Conssandra Williams, (left) Angelina College counselor and Dana Smithhart, AC GEAR UP coordinator answer Central High School students’ questions at a GEAR UP event held Sept. 23 in the Community Services building at Angelina College.
Angelina College hosted nearly 80 Central High School students Sept. 23 for a GEAR UP program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The students were able to talk with representatives from each division regarding their chosen major. Faculty and staff advised students regarding admissions, coursework and transfer information.
Dana Smithhart, AC’s GEAR UP coordinator, arranged for each student to receive a packet of customized information including a specially design roadmap tool to guide students through their education. “The seniors’ visit to Angelina College provided a first-hand view of the campus, but more importantly gave each student the opportunity to attend an informational session and tour from the division housing their number one career choice,” Smithhart said. Students took a full tour of the campus after their information sessions.
Gina Small, AC counselor, told the students why they should attend Angelina College, “There are three good reasons to attend AC: transferability, affordability and proximity. We work with you to ensure that your courses will transfer, if that is your plan. AC courses are affordable and we have many scholarships you can apply for. Choosing a college close to home helps keep your cost of attendance low.”
Sarah Gandy, AC counselor spoke to the students about how to plan for college. She emphasized that there are many scholarships available to those wanting to attend Angelina College. She also encourage students to apply for the federal work-study program, as it allows students to schedule their work hours around their college courses.
For more information about the GEAR UP program at Angelina College, contact Dana Smithhart at dsmithhart@angelina.edu or (936) 633-3213.
As Election Day draws near, the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding political parties, candidates and their supporters that the law dictates where campaign signs can be placed along Texas roadways.
“We want to remind everyone that TxDOT has specific guidelines about sign placement on a right-of-way,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “We see more signs during election time and we tend to forget that if a political sign is placed on or within the right of way, maintenance crews will remove it without notice. So it is important to review the guidelines prior to posting the signs.”
Posting signage on public lands is illegal. TxDOT is urging candidates, constituents and supporters to remember:
It is illegal to place any signs on or within the right of way. This includes posting signs on trees, telephone poles, traffic signs and other objects on the right of way.
Campaign signs along Texas roads can be placed on private property with the owner’s permission.
Signs must be made of lightweight material and be no larger than 50 square feet.
Campaign signs may be posted as early as 90 days before an election (no earlier) and must be removed within 10 days after the election.
Before placing a sign inside of incorporated city limits, check with the city for applicable ordinances.
If a sign is placed in the right of way or poses a traffic hazard, it will be removed without prior notice. All costs associated with sign removal will be paid by the sign owner.
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[tab title=”Miserable Mother”][dropcap]I[/dropcap] am a mother of three, and my youngest daughter went off to college this semester. I sometimes feel lonely and bored, especially on Sundays and evenings after work because that is when we would spend a lot of time together. Of course, I am really enjoying certain aspects of it, like spending more alone time with my husband, but so much of my time is less enjoyable without my kids. How do I make the transition of learning to live with just my husband and I again?[/tab]
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Dealing with an empty nest can be hard, but you can rest in the knowledge your kids will always come home…even if only to do a load of laundry.
Dear Mother,
Dealing with your last baby moving out can be so difficult. I am not a mother myself, but I have seen my family and friends go through this, and I am making the transition with my mother myself.
First of all, don’t think your kids don’t love you or want to spend time with you. Chances are, your daughter is really missing you too now that she is in a strange, new place without the comfort of home. Her life will be filled with business, however, so she may not contact you as much as you would like. But never fear, she will always come home for some help with laundry or a comforting hug and homemade dinner.
Then try very hard not to worry. I know, this goes against the very fabric of a mother’s being, but you spent 18-20 years teaching your children how to handle themselves in the real world, and even though you cannot guarantee their safety, you can rest in the knowledge that they will take the wisdom you gave them and fail and succeed at their own rate. They will come to you for advice and comfort, and you will be there with open arms to receive them. Periodically check on them (they will appreciate it even if they say differently!), offer optimism and kind words, and be the mom you are even as you learn how to be a person again.
The next thing you can do will be more tangible and will help consistently move you into a new life: pick up that healthy hobby you have wanted to have time for, for so long. Whether it be voice lessons, exercise, foreign language, writing, book club, martial arts, classic movies, or updating your cookbook or scrapbook, you now have much more time to get better at it! Make a portion or all of your child’s old room into a hobby room or library/study to pursue your endeavors with more space. Take some time to cater to your interests and needs.
Move on from the empty nest syndrome by reacquainting yourself with the man you love again. Now, you may have marital issues or you may have a great relationship with your husband, but regardless, now you are living with him under new circumstances. Chances are, you haven’t lived alone with him for 30 years or so. Relish in an empty house at night. Go out on dates with the excess money you have, and do things you always talked about doing. Talk to him about what you are feeling. He’s the father to your kids, and even if he experiences the feelings in a different way than you do, he still experiences them. An article on empty nest syndrome from the MayoClinic.org says “When the last child leaves home, parents have a new opportunity to reconnect with each other, improve the quality of their marriage, and rekindle interests for which they previously might not have had time.”
It’s very hard, but it seems like you have a good family to back you up as you have to make this transition. Try not to focus on the negatives, and enjoy the time you do get to spend with your children. As the old Proverb says, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
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[tab title=”Food Forager”][dropcap]D[/dropcap]ear Grace, I am allergic to everything. That is a bit of a hyperbole, but I really am allergic to a lot of foods like gluten, dairy, corn, and more. It’s hard to manage all of the allergies, especially in a world so centered on food. And sometimes…I really just want a doughnut! What is your advice on managing the stress of these allergies?[/tab]
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Dear Forager,
Sometimes your food likes to attack you.
The first thing I can say is to consult your doctor and/or nutritionist. They will be the source for the best information for you.
However, I do have some experience with food allergies, and I have researched many different ways to combat the struggle of making food that doesn’t kill or harm you.
Join a Support Group. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with trying to find foods without those staple ingredients you listed. Gluten and other intolerances are certainly on the rise in our culture, and your chances at finding like minded individuals with food allergies are very high. Together, you can create recipes and discuss the difficulties of managing the allergies.
Try foods you never thought you would like. Discovering mangoes was a great experience for me. They always looked horrible on first glance, but when ripe they are absolutely delicious. Play around with new foods you wouldn’t have originally thought to try. Try foods together you wouldn’t have tried before. Make sweet potato fries if you are allergic to potatoes. Have almond milk in your cereal instead of cow milk if you are allergic to dairy. The list goes on, and the best place to find new recipes is Pinterest. There seems to always be something new in their recipe section.
Beat the craving. Food is often a source of comfort for people, and for those with allergies, this is not good. The craving can drive someone to eat a food they know hurts them just to eat it again, but there is a way to beat the craving. When you find yourself craving cake or crackers, do something else you love. Being disciplined in avoiding foods doesn’t have to be completely painful. Replace the bad cravings with cravings for other activities like watching Netflix, playing with your kids, or praying.
Be careful eating out. Eating out can be a dangerous undertaking for a person with allergies. Planning ahead is crucial to avoiding intake of the condemned food or finding yourself with only salad as an option. Google the restaurant you wish to dine at to see if they have an allergy menu or call ahead to ask. Some restaurants don’t include their menus online, but many have an alternate menu available upon request for gluten, nut, dairy, etc. free foods.
And sometimes…eat doughnuts! I researched and researched until I could find a corn-free gluten-free dairy-free doughnut recipe that looked yummy. Here is my result: This recipe from GlutenFreeGirl.com looks great. When you get to the site, read through the article to the bottom or just scroll down to get to the recipes for cinnamon sugar doughnut holes.
FreeEatsFood.com had a yummycake doughnut recipe I thought would be fun to try, too.
This chocolate doughnuts with butterscotch glaze recipe from FreeEatsFood.com looks absolutely lovely!
If you would like to submit a question, send it to info@texasforestcountryliving.com.
Three Lufkin High School professional athletes were honored Thursday evening during the seventh annual Lufkin Pro Day Group, a banquet that honors excellence on and off the field.
Professional athletes Trey Hearne, Jorvorskie Lane, Sr., and the late Pete Runnels were chosen as the 2016 honorees for the banquet, which was held at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center.
“We’re excited to honor your accomplishments in the area of your high school, college, and professional sports,” said Don Muhlbach, president of the Lufkin Pro Day Group, as he welcomed the crowd to the event. “We also want to recognize our community, because our community has a part of helping, developing students and athletes. Neighbors help, the church helps, family helps, coaches help. So, we also recognize that it’s not only individually that we’re recognized but it’s as a community. We are very proud of you.”
Honoree Trey Hearne addresses the crowd Thursday evening at the seventh annual Lufkin Pro Day Group.
Hearne, a 2001 graduate, was introduced by Diboll High School Head Baseball Coach Todd Foley, who coached Hearne his junior varsity and freshman years.
“As coaches, it’s a great source of pride to watch your players succeed not only on the field, it’s even a greater honor to watch them grow as a person, and this is one of the reasons why I coach,” he said, “In talking to some of his teammates and coaches, some great things they said about this young man, ‘He was very focused, Mr. Consistency. He was reliable, loved to compete, best teammate, mentally tough. He’s as good as advertised, and doggone it, he stepped up and won the game for us tonight.'”
After high school, Hearne continued playing baseball at Angelina College and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. After college, Hearne was selected in the 28th round of the MLB June Amateur Draft. He spent six seasons with the Cardinals organization before his career ended after the 2010 baseball season.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this community,” Hearne said. “I got to play with and against some of the best players in the world. I was very fortunate, but I can tell I had just as much fun playing here in Lufkin, Texas, as I did professionally….Baseball and all of these experiences are hopefully only the beginning. I hope to carry on the legacy of those who have done so much for me….I’m only a product of their hard work, sacrifice, commitment, love, duty, and leadership. And I’m so very grateful for all they’ve done.”
Pete Runnels’ youngest son Steve Runnels accepted the award on behalf of his late father, with his mother, Betty Runnels, in attendance.
Son of the late Pete Runnels, Steve Runnels, accepts the award in honor of his late father Thursday evening.
Pete Runnels was a quarterback and point guard who went on to serve the Marines and attended Rice University after graduating. He played in Major League Baseball for 14 seasons with the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Colts. He was a career .291 hitter with 1,854 hits in his career. He was also a three-time All-Star, and he won American League batting titles in 1960 and 1962.
During Steve’s speech, he told the audience about his father’s four biggest thrills in baseball – winning his first American League battling title in 1960; losing the battling title to Ted Williams on the final day of the season in 1958; hitting a home run in the All Star Game at Wrigley Field in 1962; and winning his second battling title in 1962.
“Dad was a good guy,” Steve said. “On behalf of our entire family, we want to thank you for inviting me tonight.”
Lane, a 2005 graduate, was the final honoree to be introduced by friend James Self, who described Lane as a man with dreams and aspirations.
“I’m really thankful to be honored today,” Lane said.
Lane played tailback and fullback for the Texas A&M Aggies college football team. He holds the school record for career rushing touchdowns. After his college career, Lane played indoor football with the West Texas Roughnecks and Orlando Predators. He then moved on to the Miami Dolphins in 2012. After being out of football for a year and a half, Lane signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014.
Lane is the half-brother of Jermichael Finley, who was honored last year at Lufkin Pro Day Group.
Honoree Jovorskie Lane Sr. speaks Thursday evening at the seventh annual Lufkin Pro Day Group.
“Being a pro, that’s what we got to teach those kids. We’ve been at the highest level you can go. It’s important we instill these kids the dedication, the countless hours of push ups, bench press, sit ups, massages – it’s all dedication. It’s just work, but a lot of people don’t see that,” Lane said. “I’m a student athlete, a lot of people forget about that first part. Yes, I am a great athlete, but do you understand what’s at the beginning of what I just said? A student first. You have to teach that. We have to teach how to save money. We have to teach how to read, write. It’s up to us. It’s up to me. Today opened my eyes because I look at all of this talent that comes through this small town. I know plenty of business people out here right now – lawyers, doctors, news reporters, teachers, pro baseball players, pro football players. It’s up to us, we have to teach our youth.”
Previous honorees include Jermichael Finley, Bud Maddux, Oscar Kennedy, Guy Davis, Scotty Bailess, Bruce Alexander, Brandon Belt, Elmer G. Redd, Willie Ross, Rex Hadnot, Elvin “Buddy” Lowrey, John Outlaw, J. J. Montgomery, T. J. Turner, and Ken Houston.
“We love our sports, but most importantly we love our students, our professionals, and our people that really put us on the map as a great, great community,” Muhlbach said.
A silent and live auction were held to raise money for scholarships for students in Angelina County. Tome’ Catering prepared and served dinner, while artists Reed Porterfield, Colby Cates, Josh Murray, and Matt Tutt provided music at the event.
When asked to describe who she is, Lufkin native Lindsey Davis said she is a 30-year-old woman, single mother, and a person in long-term recovery.
“I want to get out there and put a face to the name of a recovering addict. I want to show the world that we’re having fun, and we’re sober,” she said. “We need to get the attention of these people to save their lives. We’re not going to save 100 people at a time; it’s going to be one out of 100, but that’s one less person dying a day.”
[pullquote]“We need to get the attention of these people to save their lives. We’re not going to save 100 people at a time; it’s going to be one out of 100, but that’s one less person dying a day.”[/pullquote]
Ten years ago Davis was one of those people that needed to be saved. She drank in high school, but it wasn’t until college she dived into hard drug use, such as meth and ecstasy. She first partied on the weekends, which then turned into every day usage. She then dropped out of college because drinking and drug use became her ritual.
“My thinking process was, ‘I have no kids, I’m not married, I’m not hurting anyone besides myself at this point. So, I’m just going to get as messed-up as possible, and I’m going to party until later on down the road I have to stop. Somebody will have to make me stop,’” Davis recalled. “It really isn’t a thinking process; maybe if I had used my head a little more I wouldn’t have gotten so off track that I had. It was pretty rough.”
Six months turned into a year, a year turned into four years, and four years turned into seven years, “then you’re in the hospital for six weeks because they don’t know what’s wrong with you,” Davis said.
“I didn’t want to die,” she continued. “I didn’t want to overdose and die with nothing to my name and no legacy to leave behind except that I was a drug addict.”
[pullquote]“I didn’t want to overdose and die with nothing to my name and no legacy to leave behind except that I was a drug addict.”[/pullquote]
That was a turning point for Davis, which was then followed by a pregnancy with a little girl who soon would be named Madison.
“That alters your perspective because it’s no longer just my life,” Davis said. “I now have somebody who solely depends on me to thrive. So, it helps you get your priorities straight.”
A photo of Lindsey Davis.
Five years ago Davis successfully became clean for the first time, but then relapsed a couple of years later after losing perspective in 2013.
“I decided, ‘I can just drink a little bit and smoke a little bit of weed. It’s not going to be a big deal.’ And that snowballed. Before I realized it I was back doing meth. My dad called the cops on me, because he knew if I didn’t go back to jail I was going to end up dead,” she said. “ I ended up going to jail, ended up in drug court, and I’ve been sober ever since. It’s been almost two years now.”
Instead of drugs and alcohol, Davis said she now focuses her attention on other habits such as gardening, traveling to new places with her three-year-old daughter, and working as a waitress. She makes sure she paces herself on a daily basis because being in long-term recovering “is something we will do, live with, and fight for the rest of our lives.”
“If I don’t wake up every morning and thank God every day that I have another day clean and sober under my belt, and if I don’t wake up every morning and remind myself but for the grace of God there go I, then I’m going to fall flat on my face again,” she said. “Recovery and working a program of recovery isn’t something you do until you have so much time clean, it’s something you do for the rest of your life. …Reminding myself that I could fall so quick and come back from where I came from is reality.”
[pullquote]“Recovery and working a program of recovery isn’t something you do until you have so much time clean, it’s something you do for the rest of your life. …Reminding myself that I could fall so quick and come back from where I came from is reality.”[/pullquote]
For those struggling to stay clean, Davis said to contact counselors at Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Deep East Texas. They have counselors who are able to address the situation and are also able to connect community members to local organizations, like AA and Narcotics Anonymous. She also noted to become friends with those you meet at those meetings.
“You have to reach out to these people for help to cope with stress or process the situation. When you’re not trying to use, you need to have as many people in your corner as you can,” she said. “Go to meetings, make friends, plan things to do that don’t revolve around meetings – go bowling, go for a walk, take your kids to a park, fill that time.”
Davis also advised others to “not give up.”
“So many people think they try to get sober one time and then they fall on their face,” she said. “I fell on my face two years before I actually started to get some clean time under my belt. When I got clean in 2011, it was not my first time at trying that. It was my first successful stint of time; it was definitely not my first.”
As Davis looks to the future, she aims to finish college, continue working with recovery programs, and enjoy time with her young daughter. Saturday mornings are now filled with kickball games as her daughter recently joined a local team. She said she is grateful she is sober because “if I was messed up I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of this…that’s the kind of stuff that keeps me going.”
[pullquote]“I’m not going to leave her big fancy things, lots of money in a bank account, but I want to leave her the important stuff – a good moral foundation and a good honest upbringing. I want my kid to have all of that; and for my kid to have all of it I have to have all of it, and I can’t have all of that using drugs.”[/pullquote]
“I want my daughter to know that I’m not perfect, but I try. I try my hardest to give her everything she wants, everything she needs. I want her to know mama is a good person, that mom treats people right, mama has integrity, and mama doesn’t lie. Mama’s nice, fun, caring, and sweet,” Davis said. “I’m not going to leave her big fancy things, lots of money in a bank account, but I want to leave her the important stuff – a good moral foundation and a good honest upbringing. I want my kid to have all of that; and for my kid to have all of it I have to have all of it, and I can’t have all of that using drugs.”
October is here and with it comes the arrival of cooler weather and many Fall festivals across our region of the state. As we search for the light jackets and pull down the Halloween decorations, let me take a minute to update you on some critical issues for East Texas being studied in Austin, as well as offer you a reminder.
House Interim Charge: Public Health
In this update, we continue our look into the interim charges being studied by the Texas House, and in particular the Public Health Committee. Over the course of the interim, the Committee has delved deeply into a wide range of topics, including some which are of particular interest to rural Texas. Among those issues was a study into the cost, delivery, and coordination of our state’s trauma response system. The Committee recognizes that there are some challenges in rural areas when it comes to accessing this service, and they’ll be releasing some recommendations to the Legislature soon on how we can advance the delivery of emergency medical service (EMS) at a low and efficient cost to the provider, regional partners, and hospitals involved.
In addition to helping rural Texans with access to trauma care, the committee also understands the difficulty that many Texans have when it comes to seeing specialty doctors close to home – a problem solved in many ways with telemedicine. Telemedicine will allow primary care providers, nurses, and the patient themselves to connect with a participating doctors in order to cut down on the direct costs of healthcare, as well as indirect costs such as transportation. The Committee is working to make recommendations after studying the history of telemedicine in Texas, whether the necessary technological infrastructure exists in rural areas to provide this service and how reimbursements would be structured for providers.
Flu Season
Keeping on the theme of public health, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that flu season is upon us and that flu vaccines have arrived across our state. For more information on the flu, why it’s important to be vaccinated, or where you can get a flu shot in your community, please visit: http://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/flu.shtm
Reminders
The mobile office is again on the road for the month of October. Come see us around the district on these days and times: October 5th – Leon County Courthouse, Centerville, TX – 9am-11am & Madison County Courthouse Annex, Madisonville, TX – 1:30pm-3:30pm; October 19th – Houston County Courthouse Annex, Crockett, TX – 9am-11am & Trinity County Courthouse, Groveton, TX – 1:30pm-3:30pm; and October 26th – San Augustine County Courthouse, San Augustine, TX – 9am-11am.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, or you can call my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.
Tickets for The Pines Theater’s 2017 season, “Boundless Passion, Enduring Inspiration” go on sale next month, and Tara Watson Watkins, executive director of the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau and artistic director for The Pines, is encouraging season ticketholders to secure their seats for a series of world-class performances that will appeal to music lovers of all ages.
“We are ecstatic about the upcoming season at the Pines Theater,” Watson-Watkins said. “This new lineup includes an eclectic mix of gospel singers, traditional country musicians and talented performers who specialize in reimagining popular songs, and they’re all bound together by a common thread of reverence for the power of music. There’s something for everyone, and we hope every music lover in East Texas gets a chance to experience one of these moving performances in this beautiful community treasure.”
Most performances at The Pines sell out quickly, so Watson-Watkins recommends renewing or purchasing season tickets to guarantee a seat.
“Season tickets are the best way to secure a seat at these popular performances,” Watson-Watkins said. “Those go on sale first, but we always have room for a few individual seats at each performance, and those individual tickets go on sale in late October.”
Beginning the week of October 3, season ticketholders who want to keep their seats will be able to renew their tickets. The week of October 10, season ticketholders who would like to change seats will be able to renew their tickets. The week of October 17, new season tickets will be available, and tickets to individual events will go on sale the week of October 31. To purchase tickets, visit www.thepineslufkin.com or call (936) 633-0349.
Season tickets are $245 for floor seats ($35 per show) and $210 for balcony seats ($30 per show). Tickets to individual events are $40 for floor seats and $35 for balcony seats.
The 2017 season begins January 17 with Tenore, an award-winning tenor trio that has garnered international acclaim with powerhouse vocals and passionate performances.
On February 18, The Bellamy Brothers, one of the most successful duos in country music history, celebrates 40 years of crowd-pleasing, chart-topping hits, including their 1976 smash, “Let Your Love Flow.”
On April 20, newly married Broadway veterans Jarrod Spector, Tony award winner for “Beautiful” and “Jersey Boys,” and Kelli Barrett, leading lady in Broadway’s “Dr. Zhivago,” explore love songs from storied musical partnerships with “This Is Dedicated: Music’s Greatest Marriages.”
After a summer break, the Pines 2017 season continues on September 14 with “Comedy and Western” group Riders in the Sky, four seasoned musicians who mix classic Western music with their legendary wacky humor and way-out wit.
On October 19, nationally recognized four-man vocal group The Company Men will take the stage, showcasing their unique ability to weave today’s hits with re-imagined classics of the last six decades.
On November 16, Grammy® and Dove winner Jason Crabb performs. Known for his power, range, and passion, Crabb moves easily among musical styles including gospel, country, pop and southern gospel.
The Pines 2017 season wraps up on December 4, when genre-busting legend Michael Martin Murphey, one of the original “Cosmic Cowboys,” presents a special performance of Christmas classics.
