Friday, March 6, 2009
Boy Scouts to honor Jeff Gordon
According to an article in ScoutingNews.org, NASCAR great Jeff Gordon is being honored for some of his off-the-track work by the Boy Scouts of America. Those of you with boys in Cub Scouts over the past few years may remember promotional material at sign-up time featuring Gordon's photo and urging boys to "Race into Cub Scouting." In addition, since 1999 The Jeff Gordon Foundation has raised more than $7 million for children's charities. So on March 24, the BSA will honor Gordon's efforts by awarding him the Silver Buffalo award, which is the highest honor that the organization bestows on adults for their contributions to youth on a national level. Others who have received the award include Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Hank Aaron, Gen. Colin Powell and 13 Presidents of the United States. Great job, Jeff!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Coming this weekend
Reagan Park playground
As those of you who have driven past Reagan Park over the past week have undoubtedly noticed, the city's flagship park isn't looking quite the same. City workers removed most of the old playground equipment last week and prison work crews have been hard at work this week preparing the site for the installation Friday and Saturday of new equipment. This is the fruition of the Palestine Junior Service League's big fundraising efforts. The PJSL raised approximately $250,000 in donations to use to purchase new playground equipment, and around 150 volunteers are expected to turn out over the next two days to install it. Rather than toss away the old equipment, the city is planning to move it to a different park. No word yet on where it will wind up.
Classic Movies in the Park
Saturday marks the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Movie in the Park night. This month's feature is 1963's "Hud," which stars a young Paul Newman as a young man who's willing to cheat his way to whatever he wants, no matter who's in the way. The movie won three Oscars - one to Melvyn Douglas for Best Supporting Actor, one to Patricia O'Neal for Best Actress and one for Best Cinematography. Newman was nominated for Best Actor, Martin Ritt for Best Director, and the movie also earned nominations for Screenplay and Art Direction. The movies are free, but donations are taken for the Pleasant Hills Children's Home on U.S. 84 near Fairfield. If you go, take your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
Embrace the Arts
This Saturday is an "Embrace the Arts" Saturday. The Museum for East Texas Culture will be hosting an art exhibit entitled "Color Me Spring," featuring the work of local student artists. The "Embrace the Arts" reception will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; the exhibit runs through the end of March.
As those of you who have driven past Reagan Park over the past week have undoubtedly noticed, the city's flagship park isn't looking quite the same. City workers removed most of the old playground equipment last week and prison work crews have been hard at work this week preparing the site for the installation Friday and Saturday of new equipment. This is the fruition of the Palestine Junior Service League's big fundraising efforts. The PJSL raised approximately $250,000 in donations to use to purchase new playground equipment, and around 150 volunteers are expected to turn out over the next two days to install it. Rather than toss away the old equipment, the city is planning to move it to a different park. No word yet on where it will wind up.
Classic Movies in the Park
Saturday marks the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Movie in the Park night. This month's feature is 1963's "Hud," which stars a young Paul Newman as a young man who's willing to cheat his way to whatever he wants, no matter who's in the way. The movie won three Oscars - one to Melvyn Douglas for Best Supporting Actor, one to Patricia O'Neal for Best Actress and one for Best Cinematography. Newman was nominated for Best Actor, Martin Ritt for Best Director, and the movie also earned nominations for Screenplay and Art Direction. The movies are free, but donations are taken for the Pleasant Hills Children's Home on U.S. 84 near Fairfield. If you go, take your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
Embrace the Arts
This Saturday is an "Embrace the Arts" Saturday. The Museum for East Texas Culture will be hosting an art exhibit entitled "Color Me Spring," featuring the work of local student artists. The "Embrace the Arts" reception will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; the exhibit runs through the end of March.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Looking forward to flying
I'm really excited to circle Wed., March 25 on my calendar. That's the first of three days that the Wings of Freedom Tour will be in town at the Palestine Municipal Airport, featuring a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang. I really enjoy World War II history since I had an uncle and a great uncle who served in the European Theatre, and my parents were teens then. I've read several of Stephen Ambrose's books on World War II (Band of Brothers, Citizen Soldiers, D Day, Wild Blue) as well as James Bradley's book, Flyboys, about the Pacific air war near Chi Chi Jima and Iwa Jima. I've also had the privilege to interview several World War II veterans. So I'm very excited about the chance to fly in one of the aircraft for a story and photos (videos, too, hopefully). Now I just need the weather to cooperate.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Why 8-year-old girls should not have cats
This is Katie the Wonder Cat, the most patient cat in the world. She only wants to be loved, fed and scratched, not dressed in a teddy bear's graduation gown. She has since been advised that the wise thing to do next time is run and hide, not wait to be picked up.NOTE: No animals were harmed and no children were scratched. However, there's probably something to be said about people who take photos before disrobing the cat.
Don't forget to submit Eagle Scout news
This is a note to adults connected with Boy Scouts, whether Scoutmasters, troop advancement chairs, parents or other legal guardians. As you're planning for Eagle Scout Courts of Honor, don't forget to pass on the good news to the Herald-Press. We gladly publicize the accomplishments of our local Eagle Scouts (and likewise for Girl Scouts who earn their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards). Here's the information we need:
• Scout's first and last name, age, Troop number, school and grade currently attending, and parents' names
• Scouting information: How long your new Eagle has been involved in Scouting, whether he started in elementary school as a Tiger Cub or in middle school; what awards has he won (think Arrow of Light, Order of the Arrow, Lifesaving and Meritorious Action awards, 50-miler hike, etc.; if he's gone to a high adventure camp like Philmont or the Northern Tier or has served as a camp counselor at Pirtle or elsewhere; how many merit badges he earned
• Eagle project: A sentence or two briefly describing the Eagle project that the Scout designed and led;
• Educational plans: A sentence stating what your Eagle plans to do, such as attend a particular college or enlist in the military
• A photograph that we can print, preferably in digital format or an original print. Paper copies do not reproduce well because they've already been printed once and the dots show up when we reprint. We will certainly return your photo.
Click here to link to a previous Eagle Scout announcement published in the Herald-Press.
If you have any questions, or would like to submit information, please feel free to contact me (Beth Foley) at bfoley@palestineherald.com or to call 903-729-0281. Leave me a message if I am not in. Thanks!
• Scout's first and last name, age, Troop number, school and grade currently attending, and parents' names
• Scouting information: How long your new Eagle has been involved in Scouting, whether he started in elementary school as a Tiger Cub or in middle school; what awards has he won (think Arrow of Light, Order of the Arrow, Lifesaving and Meritorious Action awards, 50-miler hike, etc.; if he's gone to a high adventure camp like Philmont or the Northern Tier or has served as a camp counselor at Pirtle or elsewhere; how many merit badges he earned
• Eagle project: A sentence or two briefly describing the Eagle project that the Scout designed and led;
• Educational plans: A sentence stating what your Eagle plans to do, such as attend a particular college or enlist in the military
• A photograph that we can print, preferably in digital format or an original print. Paper copies do not reproduce well because they've already been printed once and the dots show up when we reprint. We will certainly return your photo.
Click here to link to a previous Eagle Scout announcement published in the Herald-Press.
If you have any questions, or would like to submit information, please feel free to contact me (Beth Foley) at bfoley@palestineherald.com or to call 903-729-0281. Leave me a message if I am not in. Thanks!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Scout stuff going on
Girl Scout cookies have arrived, which means orders should be delivered and booth sales have begun. The cookies are still $3.50 per box for all flavors, but they are slightly smaller. According to the Girl Scouts office, with rising costs, the choice was either raise the price or shrink the size a little bit. So they shrunk the size, which is fine with me.
Cookie flavors this year are: Samoas (chocolate, caramel, coconut); Thin Mints (chocolate-covered mint wafer); Trefoils (traditional shortbread); D0-Si-Dos (peanut butter sandwich cookie -- certified safe peanut butter); Tagalongs (my personal favorite -- cookie wafer with a thin layer of peanut butter and covered with chocolate); Sugar Free Chocolate Chips (diabetic-friendly chocolate chip cookies); Dulce De Leches (cookies with caramel striping and chips); and Lemon Chalet Cremes (sandwich cookie with lemon filling).
Don't forget that the Girl Scouts offer the opportunity to donate boxes of cookies to military troops serving overseas. The cost is the same but instead of walking away with a box for yourself, the money is directed to the Gift of Caring program for the purchase of cookies for troops.
As for the guys, the Three Rivers District will hold its annual District Pinewood Derby competition right here in Palestine at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 28 at VFW Post 3907 at 3800 W. Oak St. If you've never had a boy enter this event, it's a blast! The boys are Cub Scouts, which means grades 1-5, and they use the BSA Pinewood Derby kits - basically, rectangular blocks of soft pine with axles and wheels. The boys (with varying amounts of help) design the cars, cut the wood to the desired shape, sand and paint it, add stickers and wheel assemblies. Some choose to add weight to improve the distance that the cars will roll when released at the top of the track (they're limited to how much weight and where, I think). The designs are really great that these kids come up with and it's a lot of fun watching how excited they get to see their cars in action. In addition, the district is also doing a Raingutter Regatta at the same time, same location, so the boys can double their fun. This is the second weekend of Dogwood Trails -- same Saturday as the Gatherin' Steam Bike Rides starting a little earlier in downtown Palestine, so if you're coming through the downtown area to get to the VFW, plan in a few extra minutes, or take Loop 256 to US 79 West by Jack in the Box and avoid downtown.
Cookie flavors this year are: Samoas (chocolate, caramel, coconut); Thin Mints (chocolate-covered mint wafer); Trefoils (traditional shortbread); D0-Si-Dos (peanut butter sandwich cookie -- certified safe peanut butter); Tagalongs (my personal favorite -- cookie wafer with a thin layer of peanut butter and covered with chocolate); Sugar Free Chocolate Chips (diabetic-friendly chocolate chip cookies); Dulce De Leches (cookies with caramel striping and chips); and Lemon Chalet Cremes (sandwich cookie with lemon filling).
Don't forget that the Girl Scouts offer the opportunity to donate boxes of cookies to military troops serving overseas. The cost is the same but instead of walking away with a box for yourself, the money is directed to the Gift of Caring program for the purchase of cookies for troops.
As for the guys, the Three Rivers District will hold its annual District Pinewood Derby competition right here in Palestine at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 28 at VFW Post 3907 at 3800 W. Oak St. If you've never had a boy enter this event, it's a blast! The boys are Cub Scouts, which means grades 1-5, and they use the BSA Pinewood Derby kits - basically, rectangular blocks of soft pine with axles and wheels. The boys (with varying amounts of help) design the cars, cut the wood to the desired shape, sand and paint it, add stickers and wheel assemblies. Some choose to add weight to improve the distance that the cars will roll when released at the top of the track (they're limited to how much weight and where, I think). The designs are really great that these kids come up with and it's a lot of fun watching how excited they get to see their cars in action. In addition, the district is also doing a Raingutter Regatta at the same time, same location, so the boys can double their fun. This is the second weekend of Dogwood Trails -- same Saturday as the Gatherin' Steam Bike Rides starting a little earlier in downtown Palestine, so if you're coming through the downtown area to get to the VFW, plan in a few extra minutes, or take Loop 256 to US 79 West by Jack in the Box and avoid downtown.
Family emergency
To anyone who has tried to find me at work since Friday morning, I apologize for not being available. My mother-in-law, who lives with us, became very ill early Friday morning and was rushed to Palestine Regional Medical Center, where she's been in ICU since then. Her long-term prognosis looks good, but she's still very weak and sick and being transferred to a long-term acute care center in Tyler. Therefore, I'm anticipating being in and out of the office more than usual (either going to visit or watching kids so that my husband can go) so please shoot me an email at bfoley@palestineherald.com or leave me a voice message at work. I do not have Internet or texting enabled on my cell phone (I have an 11-year-old who would use it too often) but I'll try to check for and return messages as often as I can. Thanks for your patience and understanding!
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