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Three Ways to Maximize Space in a Smaller Kitchen

Statepoint
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Three Ways to Maximize Space in a Smaller Kitchen

Too often, the kitchen is the first room of a home to suffer the consequences of tight living quarters. But there’s no need to forfeit big-scale cooking in a small-scale kitchen.

Ditch the compromises and maximize the space you do have to make your kitchen work for you, and all your culinary aspirations.

Cut the Fat

Do a top-to-bottom inventory of your kitchen implements to assess what you need and what you can discard or donate.

Sleek newer designs of certain appliances tend to take up less space than their clunky, older counterparts. They also offer more multi-functionality.

For example, ovens that contain a warming drawer that can be used for slow cooking, potentially eliminates the need for a standalone slow cooker. Blenders that come with food processor attachments can help you de-clutter your countertop.

A periodic audit of your kitchen can keep things running smoothly and efficiently.

Space Efficient Appliances

New appliance options designed for compact kitchens can help ensure that limited space is not a deterrent for those passionate about cooking. For example, Verona Appliances offer upscale, space efficient ranges at 24 and 30 inches with both gas and electric options.

These ranges include features like space-saving drawers for pots and pans, multi-function ovens featuring a closed-door broil, European convection fan, heavy-duty racks and a broiler pan, and multi-functional warming drawers with settings suitable for proofing dough and slow cooking.

Creative Storage

Your conventional storage options will only get you so far in a compact kitchen. Stretch your concept of storage to open up a world of new possibilities.

Wall-mounted magnetic units can be a great place to store knives, pots and pans, freeing up limited cabinet space. Corkboard added to the backs of pantry and cupboard doors is ideal for hanging light utensils, recipes and notes. Shelving can be built under kitchen tables and kitchen islands. The possibilities are endless.

For happier cooking, give your compact kitchen a functional makeover.

Ways Students Can Use Summer Vacation to Prepare for the Future

Statepoint
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Ways Students Can Use Summer Vacation to Prepare for the Future

Is your family thinking about the skills and experience your child needs for college and future success? The majority of college admission officers recommend that students start preparing before or by ninth grade. Yet, more than half of middle level students haven’t started prepping for college, according to statistics from the National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

Experts say that summer is the perfect time for children to get ahead in building skills and experience for the journey to and through college and lifelong success.

“It’s never too early to start building your future,” says Jonathan Mathis, director of the National Honor Societies. “The down time during the long vacation can be an ideal opportunity to make progress working toward this goal.”

As part of “Honor Your Future Now,” an NHS and NJHS campaign to encourage students to prepare now for college and success beyond, the National Honor Societies are offering the following advice to families with college-bound students:

• Don’t Wait: No matter what grade your student is entering in the fall, encourage extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities that foster well-roundedness.

• Be a Leader: Encourage participation in leadership programs to learn important skills like resourcefulness, problem-solving and cooperation. Becoming a strong leader early can help your student throughout college and his or her career.

• Build Character: Teach your student about the importance of demonstrating high standards of honesty, integrity and showing respect toward others. Building strong character can serve as the foundation for future success.

• Give Back: Suggest joining volunteer projects that your student is passionate about, and emphasize the importance of being active in and giving back to your community.

• Find a Voice: It’s important for your student to understand his or her role and rights as a citizen. Take advantage of this election year to talk with your child about the political process and why it’s critical to get involved.

• Be There For Your Child: Getting to and through college can be daunting for students, but teaching the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship can help children prepare for college and beyond. Involved parents can make a lasting positive impact.

• Understand Finances: College costs can be overwhelming. It’s never too early to start planning. Spend time with your child this summer researching what need-based and merit-based financial aid options are available. Talk to your child about putting some of the money earned through jobs or received as gifts into a savings account, such as the 529 plan.

More tips and resources for parents and students can be found atHonorYourFutureNow.org.

Between the sun and fun of summer, help your child spend time now preparing for college, career and a lifetime of success. It’s never too early to begin thinking about a successful future.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BEGIN IN SAN JACINTO COUNTY

Rhonda Oaks
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CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BEGIN IN SAN JACINTO COUNTY

LUFKIN – Construction is scheduled to begin next week in San Jacinto County that will include upgrading bridge and approach railing and road and guardrail improvements along US 59.

Barricades will be set next week that will mark the beginning of the $3 million project that will consist of resurfacing the roadway and upgrading bridge and guardrails along US 59. Roadwork will be done from just south of FM 2914 to the Liberty County line. Guardrail improvements are planned from the Polk County line to the Liberty County line. The upgrades will include the removal and replacement of bridge railings which will improve them to design standards.

Moore Brothers, Lufkin, TX, contractor for the project, will work to complete the work in about three months, weather permitting. Signs will be placed warning motorists of an approaching work zone and rumble strips will be in place. Motorists should expect intermittent lane closures throughout the project as work progresses.

Drivers are urged to be alert to workers and equipment in the work areas, reduce speed and expect delays. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.

For more information, contactRhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov<mailto:Rhonda.OaksDonaldson@txdot.gov> or (936) 633-4395.

Community Calendar Of Events This Week

Grace Baldwin
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Community Calendar Of Events This Week

LUFKIN

Power Networking Breakfast

Friday, May 20, from 8-9 a.m.
Free breakfast with speaker Ty Shafer and networking with attendees.

Bring your business cards for the door prize drawings.

This event is for members only. Please RSVP to the chamber at 634-6644.

Located:

Shafer Funeral Home

5th Annual Veterans Family Fun & Resource Day

Saturday, May 21. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This day includes fun activities for children, free hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and more. There will be live music and a magic show. Resource information will be available for all active duty military, veterans and their families.

Admission is free.

Located:

Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic 2206 N. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin TX 75904

Panthers of Prestige Banquet

Wednesday, May 25, from 7-10 p.m.

The banquet is the primary fundraiser for the non-profit organization Lufkin ISD Education Foundation. Their mission is to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students. All funds from this banquet go to teachers through grants. 

Located:

Pitser Garrison Convention Center

$350 for a reserved table of 8 $25/ each

 

NACOGDOCHES

Early Voting

Ends Friday, May 20.

This is early voting week in Nacogdoches. Click HERE for more information.

 

Alive After Five hosted by Splash Kingdom

Thursday, May 19 from 5:30-7 p.m.

 

Get the chance to mix and mingle with the Chamber leadership. Free admission

Located:

401 N. University Dr., Nacogdoches, TX 75961

Fourth Friday Lunch

Friday, May 20 from 12-1 p.m.

This is the Chamber’s monthly membership meeting. All are invited to join. Registration is required and lunch is $16.

Located at Austin Hall, 4603 North St.

Sculpture For All Outdoor Exhibition and Competition

SFA-Sculpture For All is a national juried exhibition of outdoor public art in the Gardens on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. The 2015-2017 exhibition features the work of national artists from California to Kentucky and Texas artists from Beaumont to Throckmorton.

Swan Lake

Saturday, May 21, from 7-8 p.m.

For the 40th anniversary, the Global Studio of Dance presents Swan Lake.

Located at W.M. Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches, TX.

Story Time

Wednesday, May 25, from 10-11 a.m.

Introduce your child to the richness of literature through stories, songs, crafts, and activities. Story Time helps instill a lifelong love of reading, and it is informative and engaging for parents as well.

Free, no registration. For kids 12 and under.

Located at the Judy B. McDonald Public Library, 1112 North Street.

If you would like to see your event published in this calendar, email info@texasforestcountryliving.com

Angelina College Baseball Holding Evaluation Camps

Gary Stallard
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Angelina College Baseball Holding Evaluation Camps

Angelina College Roadrunner baseball coaches will host a pair of evaluation camps this summer at Roadrunner Field on the Angelina College campus.

The first camp will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 28; the second will take place at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15.

This camp is open to all high school graduates, underclassmen or anyone with college eligibility with an interest in playing baseball for Angelina College. It is not an instructional camp and is for evaluation only. Players will be graded on hitting, fielding, throwing and running 60s. Pitchers will throw bullpen sessions for evaluation purposes.

There will be a $10 fee for each participant. Coaches ask that players arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the workouts.

AC head coach Jeff Livin will head the camp. He currently boasts four former Roadrunner players on Major League Baseball rosters: Clay Buchholz (Boston Red Sox), Andrew Cashner (San Diego Padres), Josh Tomlin (Cleveland Indians) and Jason Gurka (Colorado Rockies). Several of Livin’s former players also are working their way through the minor leagues.

For more information, contact the AC baseball staff at (936) 6333-5367, or e-mail jlivin@angelina.edu<mailto:jlivin@angelina.edu>.

Bridge Railing Upgrades Scheduled In Angelina County

Rhonda Oaks
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Bridge Railing Upgrades Scheduled In Angelina County

Construction is scheduled to begin next week in Angelina County that will include upgrading bridge and approach railing and improving guardrails along three heavily traveled roadways.

Barricades will be set that will mark the beginning of the $2.4 million project that will consist of upgrading bridge and guardrails along US 59, from the Nacogdoches County line to SL 287 in Lufkin; along BU69/Kurth Drive from SL 287 to BU 59; and along SL 287 from FM 2251 (Sayers Street) to US 59.

The upgrades will include the removal and replacement of bridge railings which will improve them to design standards.

A.L. Helmcamp, Buffalo, TX, contractor for the project, will work to complete the work by late January, 2017, weather permitting. Work on the project is scheduled to begin near BU 69 (Kurth Drive) near the A&NR Railroad.

Drivers are urged to be alert to workers and equipment in the work areas. Motorists should be prepared for intermittent lane closures during the project, reduce speed and expect delays. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.

For more information, contactRhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov<mailto:Rhonda.OaksDonaldson@txdot.gov> or (936) 633-4395.

Awards To Be Presented At The 47th Annual DETCOG Membership Meeting

Grace Baldwin
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Awards To Be Presented At The 47th Annual DETCOG Membership Meeting

The Ralph W. Steen East Texan of the Year Award, and the President’s Award for Outstanding Committee Work on behalf of a DETCOG board member, will both be presented at during the 47th Annual Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) membership meeting and awards luncheon. It is being held Thursday, May 26th at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin.

The Steen award was named after the beloved Past President of Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Ralph W. Steen. It honors an individual who has played a major role in leadership and service to the twelve county DETCOG Region. The award is unusual in that its recipient is chosen by those who previously received the recognition.

This year’s special guest speaker will be the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) W. Nim Kidd. Kidd is responsible for the state’s emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. TDEM response activities include

disaster field response and daily operations, which include statewide alert monitoring, management of the AMBER and Silver Alert programs, and the processing of daily requests for assistance from local jurisdictions.

DETCOG’s Board President, Angelina County Judge, Wes Suiter would like to extend an invitation to the public to attend. The luncheon starts at noon and tickets can be purchased at the door. Anyone needing information may contact the DETCOG office in Jasper at (409) 384-5704.

Brand-New Technology Used in Cardiovascular Procedure

Misty Boggs
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Brand-New Technology Used in Cardiovascular Procedure

Two Lufkin physicians use brand-new technology to drastically repair a patient’s aortic aneurysm in a safer, less traumatic procedure.

Utilizing the talents and skills of local Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon David Ladden, M.D. and Interventional Cardiologist M. Musa Khan, M.D., an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedure using an aortic branch device was performed Thursday, May 12. This was only the 5th procedure done like this in the state, and the only one done outside of the major medical centers in Houston and Dallas.

As described by Dr. Ladden and Dr. M. Khan, blood flows down from the heart where it then branches off near the pelvic region into the two iliac arteries that flow through the legs. In this case, the patient had three aneurysms – one in the aorta and two aneurysms in each of his iliac arteries. The new technology – just recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – allows the physicians to place a stent in the main artery and then connect separate modular grafts creating one piece for optimal blood flow and a successful outcome for the patient. All of this is done via two small incisions in the legs.

“This procedure required a team approach from both the cardiovascular surgeon and the interventional cardiologist,” said Dr. Khan. “It was an excellent coordination of the two fields of medicine. Dr. Ladden and I were able to use the best of our skill sets to complement each other to provide the best outcome for our patient.”

The standard procedure to repair abdominal aneurysms traditionally has proven successful, but can be very risky due to large incisions and lengthy surgical time.

“Our patient would have been dramatically traumatized by the traditional open procedure, but with the new stent he was able to go home from the hospital the very next day,” said Dr. Ladden. “I really love this new technology because it makes it easy on the patient and on the physicians. We were able to do a major procedure in a safer fashion.”

“The traditional open procedure takes several hours, but with this new stent, it was an elegant procedure both in brevity and low risk to the patient,” said Dr. Khan. “The time of surgery was reduced remarkably – from several hours to about 90 minutes.”

Tee It Up For Teachers Golf Tournament Funds To Support Teachers

Grace Baldwin
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Tee It Up For Teachers Golf Tournament Funds To Support Teachers

The 9th Annual Tee It Up For Teachers Golf Tournament will be held at Crown Colony Country Club, Monday, June 13.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to supporting training opportunities for teachers from all six independent school districts in Angelina County. By giving teachers the opportunity to learn better resources, methods, and more information in general about the developments in education and technology, children across Angelina County will benefit.

Lunch will be served on the course, and beer, soda, water, and snacks will be available on the course throughout the day. Hors d’oeuvres, golfer awards, and door prize drawings will also be available throughout the tournament.

Click here for more information and to download the brochure and registration form.

AC’s Alpha Beta Gamma Generates, Awards Scholarships

Grace Baldwin
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AC’s Alpha Beta Gamma Generates, Awards Scholarships

Angelina College’s Alpha Beta Gamma Rho Upsilon chapter capped a banner year by awarding scholarships to deserving ABG students. Moreover, the chapter generated the funds for those scholarships by holding its own fund raisers.

Students Sophia Reyes, Stacey Woods, Paola Morales Delgado and Leslie Morales were the scholarship recipients. One of the fund raisers included a raffle for a massive gift basket containing gift cards and other items donated by numerous local vendors, including Marco’s Pizza, Carmike Cinemas, Target, Wal Mart, Chick-Fil-A, Los Jarrito’s and others.

Angelina College Alpha Beta Gamma members recently received scholarships following the group’s fund raiser. Pictured are (L-R) Sophia Reyes, Stacey Woods and Paolo Morales Delgado. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)
Angelina College Alpha Beta Gamma members recently received scholarships following the group’s fund raiser. Pictured are (L-R) Sophia Reyes, Stacey Woods and Paolo Morales Delgado. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)

Reyes actually sold the winning ticket to basket winners Sandy and Stan Hankins.

AC Business Division Faculty Adviser Keith New said the scholarships – the first ever awarded by AC’s Alpha Beta Gamma chapter – were part of the group’s biggest academic year since the chapter arrived on the AC campus.

“The scholarship is for ABG students who have excelled not only in their scholarship but also in their contributions to the community, and for helping the club to raise funds for these scholarships,” New said. “They’re part of a group that is a record class. We inducted 46 ABG students this year, and we raised more money than we’ve ever raised in a semester before. It’s just been a great year all around.

“This is the first time ABG has been able to give scholarships to our students. They raised the funds themselves, but they gave us the opportunity to award scholarships for the very first time. It was a great project, and it raised more money for Alpha Beta Gamma than in any other semester since we’ve been on this campus.”

New said the scholarships will assist the recipients in their tuition and books while attending Angelina College.

Angelina College student and Alpha Beta Gamma member Lesley Morales was one of the recipients of a scholarship awarded and generated by the college’s ABG chapter. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)
Angelina College student and Alpha Beta Gamma member Lesley Morales was one of the recipients of a scholarship awarded and generated by the college’s ABG chapter. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)

According to the organization’s official web site, “Alpha Beta Gamma® is an International Business Honor Society established by business professors in 1970 to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year business and professional college students. The society is a member of The Association of College Honor Societies and has initiated 65,500 members.”

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