Step Right Up! Follow us behind the scenes of one of America’s oldest theatrical traditions: the circus. September 1st through October 20th at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot you will be able to explore the dramatic pageantry, colorful past and living presence of this grand American tradition. The Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department welcomes one and all to run away with the circus and explore a history fraught with intrigue and majesty.
By the 1900s, there were hundreds of circuses navigating the United States through the use of the improved railroad system brought on by the American Industrial Revolution. Circus promoters and practitioners were known to adapt to all social, political, and technological changes. This is the opportunity to view some of the fruits of their labor, including full-color posters, costume regalia, historic photographs, billboards, oversize graphics, and oral histories from past performers. The exhibit juxtaposes the romanticized imagery, backstage stories, and photographs to reveal both the fantasy and reality of circus life, exploring the illusions that played to the imagination and inspired of so many.
Step Right Up! is sure to amaze with its opening event held on Thursday, September 8th from 6 to 8 p.m.; where everyone is encouraged to come enjoy carnival games, food, and extended exhibit hours for the evening. There will also be a Family Day on October 8th from 10 a.m. to noon with crafts and activities for the whole family.
This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department, and the Tegge Circus Archives. StepRight Up! will dazzle visitors with the history of the king of early twentieth century entertainment – the circus. Our normal exhibit hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m.
For additional information about Step Right Up!, please contact the Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4443 or email historicsites@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.
Angelina Arts Alliance kicks off their 16th season and the 2016-2017 Performing Arts Series Sunday, September 18th, at 7:30 pm with ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS.Rick Thomas is a premier illusionist having completed five world tours covering over 50 countries.Just last month the International Magicians Society awarded Rick Thomas ‘Illusionist of the Year’ for 2016, joining the ranks of previous winners: Penn and Teller, Siegfried and Roy, and David Copperfield. Rick’s extensive award list includes the coveted “Magician of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts and “Stage Magician of the Year” by the World Magic Awards. Thomas is the first illusionist to perform for an Arts Alliance audience.
Tickets are on sale now and range from $30-$45 (Premium/Box $50). Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS along with show sponsor Brookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation. 2016-2017 Season Sponsors are Georgia – Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.
Thomas has performed for 15 years in his own show in Las Vegas and Branson. At the age of five, Thomas, whose family was already active in ballroom dancing, began teaming with his sister, Tamara, in ballroom dance competitions. With hard work, they earned the title of Amateur United States Ballroom Dancing Champions while in their teens. The lessons he learned, including dedication, practice, perseverance, winning and losing, would later help him in his pursuit of success as an entertainer. Thomas performs the most intriguing and innovative grand illusions in the world with a style unlike any other magical entertainer. His stage presence is unmatched as he weaves magic, music and dance into a seamless spectacle.
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 late-breaking news, photos, videos and ticket giveaways.
That’s how Angelina College head men’s basketball coach Kyle Manary introduced every Kurth Elementary School student as the youngsters entered the door on Monday for their first day of school.
Following Manary’s introductions, with members of the Roadrunner basketball team forming a walk-through line, each child received from the players high fives, fist bumps and, on a few occasions, hugs. The tiny kids combined with what must have appeared as giant basketball players made for some hilarious interactions, with the little guys jumping and the big guys stooping.
Parents and faculty members at the school got the same treatment in the walk-through line. They just didn’t have to jump as high.
The event was part of Manary’s and other AC coaches’ community services focus, where teams from AC Athletics make contributions to area schools and other entities.
The idea, Manary added, came from over his head: His wife, Heather, is a second-grade teacher at Kurth.
“My wife thought it would be a great idea for our guys to come over and cheer the kids on for their first day of school,” Manary said. “We wanted to make it special for them. It was an opportunity to meet and greet the parents while getting the kids all fired up for their first day.”
And while it might seem a tough task to rouse college students at 6 a.m. on a non-class morning, Manary said his guys were pumped from the time they got the word.
Angelina College head men’s basketball coach Kyle Manary (right) greets incoming Kurth Elementary students during Monday’s first day of school. Manary and the rest of the Roadrunner team formed a welcome line complete with high fives and fist bumps for each youngster and faculty member who came through the doors. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
“Truthfully, they were fired up about it,” Manary said. “When we got to the school, our players were bouncing up and down, clapping and doing chants. This group of guys is special. They get how important it is for young kids to have role models, and they’re buying into it. They knew when they signed on to play at Angelina College, it’s what we’re about. We want the community to embrace these guys, and we want all the kids to look up to them. They’re the Michael Jordans for some these area kids.
“The biggest spirit in a person’s body is right there inside a little kid,” Manary noted. “We want to give them some hope and something to shoot for. Maybe their goals will be to become basketball players one day, but hopefully we got some new Roadrunner fans.”
Angelina College board members and administrators recognized faculty, staff and retirees during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus. Robbie Lacomb Roach was named Minnie Stevens Piper professor nominee. David Henson, respiratory care instructor and Michael Smith, history instructor were recognized for attending the Texas Community College Teaching Association’s Great Teaching Round-up. Those receiving pins for 25 years of service were Susan Bradley, mathematics instructor and Angie Wilcox, radiologic technology director/instructor. Michaelyn Greene, controller, received her pin for 20 years of service.
Those recognized for 15 years of service were Howard Cox, English instructor, Daphne Shepherd, Health Careers II administrative assistant; and Gene Yates, history/government instructor. Those receiving pins for 10 years of service were Charlet Blades, vocational nursing instructor; Dr. Monica Clark, institutional effectiveness and research/QEP coordinator; Bridgett Geist, radiologic technology instructor; Deborah Mareno, athletics office coordinator; Tommy Moreland, custodian; Gary Stallard, developmental English instructor/Sports Information director; Evelyn Walker, human resources specialist; and Tiffany Williams, bookstore cashier.
Those recognized for five years of service include Tim Ditoro, Dean of Community Services; Glenda English, Crockett Center administrative assistant; Kevin Fritze, criminal justice instructor; Sarah Gandy, counselor; Richard Geist, mathematics instructor; Deborah Gibbs, Crockett Center nursing instructor; David Henson, respiratory care director/instructor; Rachel Hunt, reading instructor; James Mills, electromechanical technology instructor; Devon Ries, custodian; James Ruple, Crockett Center custodian/maintenance; Michael Smith, history instructor; and Joshua Turner, groundskeeper.
Retirees recognized include Charles Austin, lab technician; Karen Bowser, special student support services coordinator; Sharon Buffalo, associate degree nursing program coordinator/instructor; Sally Cain, reading instructor; Patricia Crager –science and mathematics division secretary; Barbara Hanak – English instructor; Dr. Patricia McKenzie, vice president and dean of instruction; and Elbert Poulan, maintenance coordinator.
Minnie-nominee: Robbie Lacomb Roach, art instructor, was recognized as the Minnie Stevens Piper professor nominee during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus.
Roundup: Michael Smith, history instructor (left) and David Henson, respiratory care instructor and were recognized for attending the Texas Community College Teaching Association’s Great Teaching Round-up during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus.
25-years: Angie Wilcox, radiologic technology director/instructor (left) and Susan Bradley, mathematics instructor received their 25-year pins during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus. Pictured with Wilcox and Bradley are Board of Trustees member Dr. Bill Kister, Board of Trustees president Robert Poland Jr., AC president Dr. Michael Simon, and Board of Trustees member Jay Shands.
20-years: AC Controller Michaelyn Greene received her pin for 20 years of service during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus.
15-years: Howard Cox, English instructor, Daphne Shepherd, Health Careers II administrative assistant; and Gene Yates, history/government instructor received their pins for 15 years of service during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus.
10-years: Receiving pins for 10 years of service during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus are Tiffany Williams, bookstore cashier; Evelyn Walker, human resources specialist; Gary Stallard, developmental English instructor/Sports Information director; Deborah Mareno, athletics office coordinator; Tommy Moreland, custodian; Dr. Monica Clark, institutional effectiveness and research/QEP coordinator; Charlet Blades, vocational nursing instructor; and Bridgett Geist, radiologic technology instructor.
5-Years: Receiving pins for five years of service during Monday’s annual service awards luncheon held at at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus are Joshua Turner, groundskeeper; James Mills, electromechanical technology instructor; Michael Smith, history instructor; David Henson, respiratory care director/instructor; Devon Ries, custodian; Rachel Hunt, reading instructor; Richard Geist, mathematics instructor; Sarah Gandy, counselor; Kevin Fritze, criminal justice instructor; Tim Ditoro, Dean of Community Services. Not pictured: Glenda English, Crockett Center administrative assistant; Deborah Gibbs, Crockett Center nursing instructor; and James Ruple, Crockett Center custodian/maintenance.
CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial opened its third on-campus cardiac catheterization lab with a state-of-the-art bi-plane system last week. Pictured from left to right: Terri Ener, RT(R), Radiological Technologist; Honey Casey, RN; Connie Benge, RT(R), RN; and Mark Bryan, RT(R), RCIS, Radiological Technologist. (Photo: CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial)
When the Heart and Stroke Center at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial was built in 2009, the goal was to continue growing and building momentum by opening a third cardiac catheterization lab within the facility. In working with Catholic Health Initiatives and recognizing the needs of the community, the Lufkin hospital has seen an increased volume in electrophysiology and cardiac interventional cases over the years making growth a necessity.
Last week, that goal became a reality when Memorial opened its third on-campus cath lab with a state-of-the-art bi-plane system.
“We are providing premier cardiovascular care at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial, and this new cath lab helps us expand our services for the well-being of our community,” said Stacy Garcia, Market Administrator of the Cardiovascular Service Line. “Our patients deserve the very best, and we are proud to have this top-of-the-line technology right here in East Texas.”
In a bi-plane cath lab system, two independent imaging devices go around the patient to provide interventional cardiologists the best possible field of view when performing cardiac procedures.
With Memorial’s investment of nearly $2.1 million, the new Toshiba Infinix Dual Plane cath lab delivers high quality images of the heart with the lowest dose of radiation possible. This is the second bi-plane cath lab in operation at the Lufkin facility. The hospital also operates an outpatient diagnostic cath lab at the Heart and Vascular Imaging Center, conveniently located within the Heart Institute of East Texas.
The first cardiac catheterization procedure, using this new state-of-the-art technology, was performed on Tuesday, August 16 by Dr. Ravinder S. Bachireddy.
Angelina College’s KK Reynoso tries a slide save in front of the Lady Roadrunner bench during Monday’s match against Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Each of Angelina College’s soccer teams have made schedule changes for this week following the recent bout of inclement weather.
The AC men’s team will scrimmage the University of Houston-Victoria at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Victoria.
This is a reschedule of last week’s rainout, and will serve as the team’s first organized scrimmage with an opponent.
The Lady Roadrunners have moved their conference game at Navarro College from Friday, August 26 to Thursday, August 25. Game time is 3 p.m.
For updates, follow ACAthletics on Twitter or visit the Angelina College web site (www.angelina.edu) and Facebook pages.
Angelina College’s Vocational Nursing program held its pinning ceremony at AC’s Hudgins Hall for the class of 2016 graduates from the Hudson and Livingston campuses Friday, Aug. 19.
Those earning their degrees include Hudson students Erryn Havard, Jennifer Heaton, Reanu Koshy, Javier Lopez, Tiffany Oliver, and Chloe Williams, and Livingston students Alyssa Arnall, Amanda Gober, Stephanie Madrid, Shastan McLendon, Katherine Poage, Helen Sheffield, Chelsea Timmons, Gloria Vegam, and Leslie Whitaker.
Amy DuBose, Livingston VN instructor, and Janet Aldredge, Hudson VN instructor, spoke during the ceremony.
AC Health Careers Division Director Winifred Ferguson-Adams and Program Coordinator Amber Murphy performed the “Pinning and Striping of Caps” ceremony; DuBose led the traditional candle-lighting ceremony; and Aldredge led the group in the Nightingale pledge.
Angelina College Fine Arts Division invites the public to attend their annual AC faculty exhibition for the month of September. The opening reception is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Angelina Center for the Arts gallery.
This year’s exhibition will feature our Art instructors’ artworks in various media. Jan Anderson-Paxson will show her award winning photography. Anderson-Paxson has exhibited her works throughout the U.S. and in several shows abroad. Her black and white photographs are distinguished by her spare compositions and beautiful nuances of light and dark.
She says of her work: “I am a photographer who prefers to shoot in black and white. I enjoy paring down the image to the essential components of light, shadow shape and form. The use of monotones in the image helps me to convey those concepts. I want my viewers to also get a sense of place from the images. I will be showing three new photographs and two that I’ve not shown in the ACA Gallery before, but were included in the juried Art Assistance League of Houston Celebrates Texas Art 2016 exhibition in Houston last February. All five photographs do share a fascination I have with windows.”
Reg Reynolds is coordinator and instructor of Graphic Arts at AC, and his contributions to the annual faculty exhibition have always been a welcome revelation. Reynolds works in many media, including film, video, collage, sculpture and installation, often interactive. This year’s work, “The Landing,” is a representation of a recurring childhood dream. Robbie Lacomb Roach is instructor of Art History, Printmaking and Basic Design. Her primary medium is Photography, with an emphasis on Nature. This year she will be exhibiting photographs documenting her travels in the Balkans.
Adjunct Instructors will also be included in the exhibition. Ann Phifer Reyes has taught at AC for several years, and is an accomplished portrait and landscape painter. Her medium is oil paint. She will be showing recent works. Steve Paul is an adjunct instructor in Graphic Arts and is also an accomplished painter. He will be showing work from his archive. Le’Anne Alexander will be teaching Basic Drawing and Painting I for AC in the Fall. Alexander is an accomplished painter, having recently won the award for Best of Show in the prestigious Texas National Exhibition.
This competitive juried exhibition draws entrants from across the U.S. and abroad and is sponsored by Stephen F. Austin State University’s art department. Alexander studied at the Art Students League of New York and received her MFA from SFA. Aside from teaching drawing and painting at AC, she is also the director of Alexander Art Space, a nonprofit mobile art gallery.
Alexander will also be showing a collection of new paintings in a solo exhibition entitled Paesaggi (Landscapes) at AC beginning Oct. 3. For more information, click this link.
For a group making its debut in its program’s inaugural season, the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners didn’t play like a team out on the pitch just for show. The team pushed Richland College, a 2015 NJCAA Division III national tournament participant, to the limit before falling 2-1 on a Lady Duck golden goal in overtime.
With the Lady ‘Runners already making history just by playing, AC’s Cameryn Garcia etched her name into the Angelina College history books by scoring the program’s first-ever goal in the 32nd minute of the second half.
“I just went for it,” Garcia, a freshman from Leander, said afterward. “I saw the ball bouncing toward me and I just took the shot. I was shocked it went in. I was afraid I’d shank it over the bar.”
“What’s great about the shot is that’s why Cameryn is here,” head coach Freddy Drago said. “Plain and simple, she can just score. It’s no surprise to me that the first-ever goal in AC history came from Cameryn Garcia.”
Garcia’s goal provided the equalizer after the Lady Ducks took advantage of AC’s pressing attack to score in the first half. Lady Duck Jazmine Cuenza found open space behind the Lady ‘Runner defense to convert a breakaway opportunity in the 32nd minute; but after that one miscue, the Lady Roadrunners seemed to pick up the pace on offense, finishing the half with five shots over the final eight minutes while holding Richland without an attempt.
“We wanted to come out and play controlled instead of just running wild all over the pitch,” Drago said. “This was the first college game for a lot of these girls. We didn’t plan to come out too aggressive, hoping to let them get the feel of the game, but as the game progressed, we figured out we can attack and we can get there.
“We were on the attack so much more in the second half, and that may have led to giving up the goals. But overall, I’m very, very happy with what I saw.”
Garcia’s goal came courtesy of Carley Elkins’ second corner kick. After her first attempt at a cross into the box deflected off a Richland defender, Elkins’ second try found Lauren Voss at the top of the box. Voss’ shot attempt ricocheted off a Lady Duck and bounded toward Garcia, who sent the ball into the top left corner for the historic goal.
AC nearly pulled out the win in regulation with Kennedy Sessions attempting to blast one past the Richland keeper with just seconds to play, but the Lady Duck goalie made a sliding deflection for the save.
In the first minute of extra time, AC opened with an attack, only to have the Lady Ducks duplicate their first goal with an open look behind the defense for the game winner.
Despite the final score, Drago said he saw enough from his team to quell any worries arising from a lack of practice time over the past week.
“I loved it. That’s why we coach a sport, or participate in sports or even watch sports,” Drago said. “Soccer is just that type of situation: You can’t really expect stuff to happen. We went out and gave up an easy goal in the first half, but the girls kept fighting, fighting, fighting. We had a tough situation all week long with the weather keeping us from training the way we would have liked, and we could see us getting a little tired. But they didn’t use that as an excuse. They kept working, and that effort led to the goal late in the second half.
“I’m super-pleased with everything I saw tonight. I’m excited about the direction the program is heading. It would have been awesome to pick up the first-ever win, but hey, we got the first goal. The girls represented the school and community well. They never gave up. To me, that’s a win in itself.”
The Lady Roadrunners’ next game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at Navarro College in Corsicana, but the recent bout of bad weather may force the teams to move the game to Thursday at a neutral location. Any changes will be announced by Wednesday.
Cameryn Garcia (left) of Angelina College celebrates the program’s first-ever goal with teammates Ashley Felan (11) and Allie Chapman (14) during Monday’s match against Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College’s Lauren Voss (22) celebrates Cameryn Garcia’s goal – the first-ever for the fledgling soccer program – during Monday’s match against Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College’s Carley Elkins (3) sends a slide kick into the box during Monday’s match against Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College’s KK Reynoso tries a slide save in front of the Lady Roadrunner bench during Monday’s match against Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Carley Elkins of Angelina College sends a corner kick toward the box during Monday’s match at Richland College in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College’s Kennedy Sessions tries blasting the ball past the Richland College keeper during Monday’s match in Dallas. The Lady Roadrunners dropped their debut 2-1 in extra time. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
There is a common stereotype of irresponsibility with teens with the media and many adults today. This spirit of irresponsibility also deals with money. It always seems to be the teen or new adult who runs up the credit card debt in the movies.
So, why is it that teens can’t seem to grasp the ideals of frugality in the eyes of the media and other adults?
A lot of the responsibility in teaching teens how to manage their money falls on the parents. It can be difficult to come up with an appropriate way to handle teaching budgeting because each teen is different and requires different handling. Where one teen is good at numbers but bad at splurging, another may be good at saving and bad at budgeting. However, the most important part of a parent’s responsibility to his or her child is being present and bringing this topic up, regardless of the individual child.
“Nearly everyone falls into two categories: spenders and savers,” Cortines said. “Spending is easy, so it’s up to parents to start conversations with their teens on the importance of saving and, just as importantly, giving.”
Cortines and Baumer suggest three ways parents can help teens establish good financial habits before they reach adulthood, and pave the way for those teens to become generous people as well as good savers:
• Help them begin saving for retirement now. Teens who land a part-time job often want to save money to buy a car or they simply want to enjoy a little financial freedom with weekend shopping sprees. Unless they’re careful, that money burning a proverbial hole in their pocket is spent before the next payday. Parents can help them think beyond today by suggesting they invest a portion of that income in a Roth IRA. Mom and Dad can even consider matching their teen dollar-for-dollar on their savings. “Explain the wonder of compounding investment returns – how the money they invest as a teen could be worth 10 to 20 times as much when they retire,” Cortines says.
• Family philanthropy. Even if the gifts are modest, Cortines and Baumer advocate involving teens in the family giving plan. Encourage them to research charities and apply for “grants” from the family’s budget for giving. “The experience of learning about nonprofits will be invaluable,” Baumer says. This is also where another portion of the teen’s earnings from a part-time job could be placed.
• Let them into your journey. Parents should model what they want their teens to emulate. Cortines said this begins with “letting them see your character as reflected in financial decisions.” That doesn’t mean letting teens know their parents’ net worth or the details of their income. Baumer and Cortines suggest explaining to teens how living modestly has short- and long-term benefits, whether it has allowed an early payoff of a mortgage, or demonstrates that frugal purchasing decisions leave money available for charitable giving.
“If you frame the conversation well,” Baumer says, “teens will benefit from seeing your character on display as you navigate your finances.”
Once saving and giving goals are fulfilled, teens can then begin to focus on spending.
“But unless spending is kept under control,” Cortines says, “saving and giving simply aren’t possible at any meaningful level.”
By the 1900s, there were hundreds of circuses navigating the United States through the use of the improved railroad system brought on by the American Industrial Revolution. Circus promoters and practitioners were known to adapt to all social, political, and technological changes. This is the opportunity to view some of the fruits of their labor, including full-color posters, costume regalia, historic photographs, billboards, oversize graphics, and oral histories from past performers. The exhibit juxtaposes the romanticized imagery, backstage stories, and photographs to reveal both the fantasy and reality of circus life, exploring the illusions that played to the imagination and inspired of so many. 
