TJM Education Issue 2016 by editor@tjmag.com

LIFE & DESIGN

SCHOOL/MDO LISTINGS

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

WORKSPACE

IN THE AREA

BRANDON BELT

STYLISH YET FUNCTIONAL

AN EASY GUIDE TO SCHOOLS

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ON

WELCOME : A

Note from the President

ewind to August 24 and 25, 2015. I was big emotional mess! I know I am not alone, because I cannot tell you the number of mommas I saw crying down the sidewalks and in their cars as they left their babies for their first day of school. For me, it was the first time in 12 years I had so much alone time. The first time in 12 years I didn't have someone needing me for a majority of the day. For the first time in 12 years, ALL of my babies were with someone else. For the first time in 12 years, ALL of my babies were at school ALL day long. Just rip my heart out already. I remember back to when I would walk my oldest, Bosten, into preschool with two babies on my hip. Then the next year, I dropped off Bosten and Brynn into preschool with one baby on my hip. I will never forget Mary Gail McCarty stopping me so many mornings encouraging me with a sweet, nurturing smile and reminding me to savor every minute. It seems like yesterday my babies were in diapers. Now, 12 years later, all of my babies are out of diapers. I never imagined in a million years I would think I would miss those days of dirty diapers and sleepless nights, but here I am. I would do anything to have those days back.

My saving grace, and what ensured my days of crying and heartache only lasted two days, are these sweet women pictured with my big kids. We have been so extremely blessed to have had amazing teachers that love these kids like their own. Every year we have had phenomenal teachers and I think it will be impossible to ever top it. Then a new year roles on, and once again we are blown away. Our community is so blessed to have the amazing teachers that we do. If you read Melissa Radke's article this month, I could not agree with her more. We all know, and we all agree that teachers do not get paid enough! We as parents do not have the means to supplement what they deserve, but we can definitely do small things to show our appreciation. Small tokens sure can go a long way. Thank you to all teachers who get up every morning ready to love on those kids, especially to the eight teachers that love on my babies everyday. If they cannot be at home with me, you are the next best thing! Thank you is simply not enough, but thank you for all you do!

STEPHANIE OLIVER

PRESIDENT

ON THE COVER:

president: Stephanie Oliver

Attorney: Carter Williams 1st Grade | Temple Elementary Parents Crystal & Ray Williams

managing editor: Beth Johnson editor@tjmag.com

Scientist: Brooke Sutherland 2nd Grade | Bonner Elementary Parents Sabrina & Kyle Sutherland Teacher: Allie Gwyn Wright 1st Grade | Pineywoods Charter Academy Parents Lindsay & Justin Wright Judge: Logan Houl 1st Grade | Temple Elementary Parents Chenda & Henry Houl Doctor: Rishona Mopur 4th Grade | Brandon Elementary Parents Pauline & Dr. James Mopur photo by: Jenni Blackledge

staff writer: Cami Rhome editorial photographer: Jenni Blackledge event photographer: Lisa Crow layout and design: Macy Haffey ad design: Samantha Miller contributors: Melissa & Tiffani Claire Brody Heather Buchannan Emily Courtney Majal Minguez Angie Nichols Payton Pogue Melissa Radke Luke Tarbutton Britany Vinson

EDUCATION 2016

CONTENTS

cover shoot | photo by Jenni Blackledge

12 BURLAP & BESTIES 14 IN THE KITCHEN 16 LIFE & DESIGN 18 HOME TOUR

44 46 48 50

66 RECOGNITION 68 CHAMBER NEWS 70 EDUCATION 72 IN THE KNOW 74 BUSINESS SALUTES 76 DOWNTOWN HAPPENINGS

24 EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR 26 MAKING AN IMPACT 36 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 38 TEACHER NOMINATION 40 PRIZE PATROL

54 SCHOOL/MDO LISTINGS 58 BULLYING 60 PRETTY BABIES 64 LOOK AT ME

HOME

LIFE

COMMUNITY

BUSINESS

FASHION STRETCH MARKS SOMETHING ABUNDANT {DIY}

GROWING UP

SPORTS & OUTDOORS 78 WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW 80 ON THE TRACK 82 NATURE'S EYE 84 FITNESS 86 TACTICAL 87 TROPHY ROOM

Mailing: PO Box 150537 | Lufkin, Texas 75915 | Physical: 115 E. Shepherd | Lufkin, Texas 75901 936-634-7188 | advertise@tjmag.com facebook.com/tjmag

twitter.com/tjmeast

in East Texas 12 BURLAP & BESTIES | 14 IN THE KITCHEN | 16 LIFE & DESIGN | 18 HOME TOUR

HOME

A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Gutter Bookshelves SUPPLIES: gutters, end pieces, and screws with anchors

1. If needed, cut gutters with hand saw to desired size. 2. Attach gutters to wall using your anchors and screws. 3. Slide on end pieces and fill it up with books!! The gutter shelves are a great way for your little one to be able to see the covers of their books and help them easily grab the one they want!!

11 | TJ M a g & C o â&#x20AC;˘ t j m a g . c o m

written by Melissa & Tiffani

HOME : Burlap & Besties

e love encouraging learning with our boys. It’s important to have things easy for them to access and interact with. Here are a few ways we have done this in our home while staying true to our convictions about style and design.

Bookshelf SUPPLIES: old bookshelf,

wooden feet with screws attached, drill with bit, wood glue, sand paper, paint, polyurethane, and anchoring hardware

1. First find an old bookshelf that is the size you need. Clean it up and sand it if necessary.

2. Purchase some little wooden

feet or legs from your local hardware store. Use your drill to drill the appropriate size hole in the bottom then attach your feet by screwing them in with the screws that came with them. You might also add a dab of wood glue to the

tops of your shelves, which will get the most

screw to secure the legs even fur-

use sliding books in and out, have plenty of poly.

5. Anchor your bookshelf securely to the wall 3. Give your bookshelf and legs a so it will not tip forward. 6. Now fill your booknice fresh coat of paint! 4. Allow shelf with your child’s favorite books or baskets ther. Sand the feet if necessary.

Melissa is a housewife who loves her husband and son, Ben and Ty, more than anything else on earth. In a previous life, she was a CPA. Her passion for serving Jesus took her and Ben to Africa for two years where, among other things, she learned she can never pack too many crafting supplies. If you want to see a happy girl, give Melissa an old piece of furniture and a paintbrush then stand back and watch the magic happen. Tiffani Brantner is a part-time nurse and student, a constant crafter, partythrower, "idea-comer-upper", and a richly rewarded wife and mother to Jeff and Cullen. Call her to come and get your old junk, she LOVES it! She'll turn it into something beautiful, create a theme, throw a party around it, and invite you as the guest of honor. You can reach Tiffani day or night at tifandmel@gmail.com.

your paint to dry completely and

full of toys! Try changing out books periodically

then finish it with several coats

and rotating them so they can always find new

of polyurethane. Make sure the

and exciting books to read.

Reading Chair SUPPLIES: old wicker chair, spray paint, paint for legs, fabric, and staple gun

1. Find an old chair that fits your space and child. I found mine at an estate sale and it was in need of some TLC! Wipe down your chair or use an air compressor to blow it off really well. Remove the seat cushion completely if you are able to.

2. Spray paint works best on wicker. Use several coats from different angles and be sure to dry it completely. 3. Paint your legs a different color if you’d like to give your chair some extra detail. 4. Rip off the old fabric on the seat and replace the foam cushion if needed. 5. Staple on your new fabric making sure to pull it snug and make sure your pattern is straight. Sometimes choosing a floral or patterned

fabric works better than stripes. 6. Re-attach your seat when your paint is dry. Add a throw pillow or a fun stuffed animal.

12 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

A Learning Environment /// Continued

Magnet Board/Chalkboard SUPPLIES: oil drip pan, chalkboard paint, animal shapes, magnets, hot glue gun, and pictures

1. Buy a new oil drip pan. We’ve found these at Walmart in various sizes, but Auto Parts stores would also carry them. 2. Paint your pan with several coats of chalkboard paint. Be sure to paint your first coat with your brush strokes going left to right, your next coat up and down, and your last coat left to right and let the paint

3. We found wooden animal shapes at Hobby Lobby and attached big magnets on the back with a hot glue gun. 4. Print some pictures

dry completely in between.

of real animals, trucks, letters, or words and stick them inside a magnetic picture frame. It’s fun to print several and rotate them out so your child has new things to interact with and play with to hold their attention. We put some magnets on fuzzy balls and spelled his name in foam letters. These are different textures for him to explore and learn which is great for children struggling with sensory issues like my son!

5. Hang pictures of family members. Display artwork from school. The

possibilities are endless and learning is fun with these boards!

Party tip:

Next time you’re invited to a child’s birthday party, try buying an inexpensive book to use as your “card”. Even a gently used book from a thrift store would be an excellent choice. Write a personal note or birthday wish on the front page so the child can now have a new book to read over and over. What an excellent way to encourage reading and learning, and who knows, it might even save you a buck or two in the process!

13 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

written by Britany Vinson

HOME : In

the Kitchen

learning to eat better Food for Thought:

Educate yourself in your HEALTH... You will either pay for it now or pay for it later. Pay for it NOW with educating yourself about eating healthier, self-discipline in eating right, and purchasing better foods at the grocery store or pay for it LATER through medical bills and prescriptions in attempt to fix your poor health. “Today I make the choice to treat my body as a gift. It was bought with a price, and I will glorify God in the choices and actions I make when it comes to my body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Are you being a good steward of your body? I don’t know about you, but I need to do better. We can do it!! Share your success stories on the Facebook page “Tome Catering”

Chef Britany’s Tricks and Tips:

“How to Blanch Vegetables Quickly” A vegetable correctly blanched is still crisp and full of nutrients! A quick way to perk up the color of a green vegetable or precook before grilling is to use this boiling-water method. 1. Place vegetable pieces, such as broccoli florets, in a large bowl; fill it no more than half-full. Fill a large bowl with ice water; set it and a slotted spoon nearby. 2. Bring a full kettle of water to boiling. Pour the boiling water over the vegetables, covering them completely with water. Blanching time varies with the vegetable or purpose of blanching. For perking up the color, plan on about 2 minutes. 3. Use the slotted spoon to transfer the vegetables to the bowl of ice water. Once the vegetables are cool, remove from the ice bath. http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/ cooking-basics/how-to-blanch-vegetables/

Recipe:

Eat your VEGGIES!! Great tasting dips are a good way to get your kids to eat their veggies! You can pack some blanched veggies into your kids’ lunches instead of chips! (See Tricks and Tips on how to create a healthy and crispy snack for your kiddos) Ranch Bacon Dip 1 8 oz package of cream cheese 1/2 cup mayo or miracle whip 1/2 cup sour cream 1 TBSP lemon juice 1/2 cup bacon bits (optional) 1 tsp fresh parsley or dried parsley 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 garlic powder

Soften the cream cheese in microwave. Stir all ingredients with a whisk until combined.

Educate Yourself:

Here is one of my favorite books/ devotionals on Health: “Devotions for a Healthier You” by Katie Farrell (includes meal plan and recipes)

Did You Know?

Tomé started as only a thought on paper over 7 years ago and has since then grown into what it is today. To God be all the glory!

Chef Britany Vinson, a 2011 graduate from the Art Institute of Houston, is passionate about feeding people physically and spiritually. She has been catering for over 7 years and can’t see herself doing anything else! For more information about Chef Britany and Tome Catering, check out tomecatering.com.

written by Claire Brody

HOME : Life

& Design

how to create a stylish yet functional workspace in your home Adding an office to a home is possible, no matter what the size of your house or living situation. Consider these tips to create a stylish, yet functional workspace.

Storage: If the desk area doesn’t allow for storage, consider adding your own storage through floating shelves, storage boxes or bookcases. Create a “junk box”. Have a stylish box on your desk to serve as a catch-all for pens, pencils, notes, etc. Choose the right size desk. Assess the space you have and determine the size of desk that will work best for your space. Add mood lighting. Adding a table lamp will create a warm and inviting vibe for your workspace. Consider the chair. Choose a chair that is comfortable to you and a right size for your desk. If the office has a dual function (guest room/home office), consider a desk chair that can also serve as an accent chair. Decorate around the desk. Consider details like art, accessories, paint color and rug in order to create a space where you want to spend time. Add plants. Plants are essential to life and also great accessories. Consider adding a few to your workspace. Personalize. Choose accessories that are true to your personal style in order to really feel at home while working at your desk.

Hello. I’m Claire, an interior stylist living in Austin, TX with my husband, Parker. I’m the blogger and business owner behind Claire Brody Designs. I specialize in providing unique and one of a kind spaces on an affordable budget.

16 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

photography by Ashley Courtney

HOME : Home

Tour

When Brandon Belt isn't playing professional baseball for the San Francisco Giants, he and his wife Haylee look forward to coming home to East Texas. Their favorite part of off-season is enjoying their beautiful custom home that sits on 3.66 acres. The home is just over four years old and provides a great place for the family to relax. Their 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home is nestled in the woods and is complete with an upstairs mother in law quarters. The space boasts many unique upgrades; indoor/ outdoor auto with video Bluetooth system, outdoor video surveillance, gas start fire pit, and a Generac generator for the entire house. What's even better about this beautiful home? It's for sale and ready to be enjoyed by another special family.

Inside the Belt's Home

18 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

INTERESTED IN BUYING THIS HOME?

Contact Ashley Courtney | Timber Country Real Estate 936-366-0405

PLACES & FACES :

Brandon Daddy/Daughter Dance

20 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

in East Texas

photo by Jenni Blackledge

Suzanne Jones

uzanne Jones was born and raised in Hudson, Texas to Rufus and Sarah Dunn. She attended school in the Hudson Independent School district as a child where she was very involved as a student. As a cheerleader in high school, Suzanne learned how to cheer people on – which would remain one of her greatest attributes in her education and career.

23 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

24 EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR | 26 MAKING AN IMPACT | 36 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | 38 TEACHER NOMINATION | 40 PRIZE PATROL

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY : Extraordinary

Educator

Suzanne Jones /// Continued Suzanne began teaching in 1979, and over the course of her educational career, she has thrived in many roles. She has taught kindergarten, third grade, and fourth grade, as well as being a curriculum specialist and principal. In 1993, Suzanne began working for Hudson ISD, her home district. From 2004-2014, she was principal at Bonner Elementary. For the past three years, Suzanne has been the head principal at Peavy Primary. Altogether, her wonderful career in education spans 37 years. Suzanne’s peers and coworkers are very quick to sing her praises. They have witnessed her incredible teaching career and have been the recipients of her encouragement and praise, as well. Mary Ann Whiteker, Superintendent of Hudson ISD, has known Suzanne since she first came to work for Hudson ISD in 1993. “Her reputation as a teacher preceded her arrival. It was a tremendous blessing for Hudson ISD when she joined our staff. And the Peavy students love Mrs. Jones. When a student sees her, there is an immediate 'Hi Mrs. Jones,' followed by a big hug! They love her, and she loves them!” Suzanne endured a very difficult personal struggle when she discovered that she had cancer while working for Hudson ISD. However, throughout this mentally and physically trying time, Suzanne remained positive and strong. Mary Ann Whiteker remembers, “Suzanne has never allowed a challenge to take away her smile, her optimism, or her determination to overcome! That was most evident in the way in which she faced the most frightening of health issues - cancer. Those characteristics combined with her faith resulted in Suzanne becoming a cancer survivor!” Assistant Principal at Peavy Primary, Laura Mikeal, has been able to work with Suzanne for the past 2 ½ years. In that time, she has also witnessed Suzanne’s passion and commitment to her career. “One phrase that I hear Suzanne say all the time is, “It is all about the kids”. She truly inspires all kids to follow their passions, while letting them inspire us to do the same. Suzanne has patiently mentored and led the Peavy Staff, sharing words of wisdom and meeting everyone’s needs. She has an open door policy and is always there to support and give advice. One that thing that I truly love about her is she tells staff members, parents, students, and the community, ‘My door is propped open for a reason, I welcome you at any time. Please come visit me and share your concerns or triumphs.’ She takes pride in getting to know every student, and their family.” Suzanne not only encourages her staff to meet high expectations, but she encourages her students to a high standard as well. She has been a wonderful asset to the Hudson ISD administration and to the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Peavy Primary during her time as principal. Her dedication to the children of our community and her illustrious career are truly something to be celebrated.

24 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

photo by Jenni Blackledge

The Future Starts Here n Loans n Checking and Savings Products n eBanking n Customer Service You’ll Tell Your Friends About

Call, stop in, or visit us online today!

Lufkin - Downtown 415 S. 1st Street • (936) 639-2141

Lufkin - West 805 S. John Redditt Dr. • (936) 632-6621 Member

CNBTexas.com

FDIC

photograph by Hardy Meredith

COMMUNITY : Making

an Impact

Brigettee

HENDERSON

rigettee Henderson was born and raised in Tyler, Texas until middle school when her parents moved the family to Lufkin. She attended school in the Central Independent School system and graduated high school in 1981.

Because Central High School was so small when Brigettee was a student there, it was easy for her to be involved in a large variety of activities.

“I was a cheerleader, class president, Diamond Doll and a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. I was also very involved in Angelina County 4-H and the Angelina County Youth Fair; my sister, brother and I road the local horse show and rodeo circuits, along with participating in the horse, steer and lamb shows at the youth fair.” After her high school career, Brigettee went on to attend Stephen F. Austin State University where she majored in Communications and Journalism. She graduated with her Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1985. Brigettee married her husband, Trey Henderson, in 1983. Together they had two sons, Hall and Hudson. When her boys entered school, Brigettee returned to SFA to earn a second degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design. “Since graduating SFA, I have worked in several professions from free-lance photographer to interior designer and feel very fortunate to have been able to be a full-time mom and volunteer. Over the years, I have been involved in many organizations including the Salvation Army, Lufkin Landscape Task Force/Angelina Beautiful Clean, the development of and active Board member of The Buckner Family Place, The Museum of East Texas, Angelina Arts Alliance, the Pines Theatre Re-development Project, The Junior League of Lufkin, First United Methodist Board of Trustees, and most recently chairman of the American Cancer Society’s 2011 Pineywoods Cattle Baron’s Gala and a member of my alma mater, Stephen F. Austin State University’s, Board of Regents.” In 2013, Brigettee was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Board of Regents. She works alongside a dedicated group of administrators, educators, and staff and has seen the University make great strides since her time working there. Some of these accomplishments include increasing enrollment standards and student retention rates, enacting an engineering degree, receiving funding from the Texas Legislature for the construction of new buildings, and much more. “Working on the Board has been the most rewarding, educational and gratifying experience I have ever had. I have always had a passion for learning, and boy, have I learned a lot!” Brigettee and her husband feel proud to pour back into the community they grew up in through bettering its education system. Even their children have chosen to live, work, and raise their families close to home. Brigettee is proud of her daughter in laws, Rebecca and Laney, and enjoys being a grandmother to George H. Henderson V and his new brother, Charles Cook Henderson. When she isn’t working hard at SFA, Brigettee enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling.

26 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

I’ve spent the last few days trying to come up with a few words to say, but everything I write just seems inadequate in expressing who my mother is and what she has done in her life. How she spent the last 30 years raising 2 knucklehead boys and still came out on the other side with grace and poise, I’ll never understand. Between baseball, basketball and soccer games, tennis matches, UIL meets, and every other extra-curricular activity, plus camps, birthday parties, colleges, careers, etc., she still found time for everything and everyone else. She has given blood, sweat, and tears, as well as countless hours, to organizations with causes near and dear to her heart. She has never been afraid to step up when needed and made sure that everything she got involved with was a huge success. From the Junior League to the Chamber and the Museum of East Texas to the SFA Board of Regents, East Texas is better because she is here. She has set a standard in all of our lives for the type of person we want to be and the type of people we want to surround ourselves with. Hall and I were lucky enough to find women in our lives who match her selfless spirit and heart of gold. With mom at the helm, I can’t wait to see what Lufkin is like when the Henderson women are finished. Her life has always been built on a foundation of faith and family, and she has worked hard to set an example for others. I just consider myself lucky to have had a front row seat to witness everything she has done.

– Hudson Henderson | Son I’ve always called my mom a ‘professional volunteer’. She gives more time to the community through her work with the Junior League, American Cancer Society, First United Methodist Church, and SFA ( just to name a few) than most do their paying jobs. Then she was PTA President, Team Mom, Classroom Mom, professional re-bounder, catcher, goalie, chef, maid, and, too often, referee. She isn’t good at saying ‘no’, but that’s because her heart always says ‘yes’. And ‘yes’ is the only answer she gives now that she is a grandmother. I think her example of community involvement is a huge reason that both myself and my brother moved back to Lufkin. We’ve witnessed her fully immerse herself into the lives and activities of those around her and it’s something we want to continue. It’s become part of our DNA. I’ve always said that I want to be like my dad, and I think that’s because he’s always had my mom. She's a wife that loves him, her family, her community, and her God so passionately, selflessly, and gracefully.

– Hall Henderson | Son SFA President Baker Pattillo was friends with Brigettee and Trey Henderson for years before Brigettee was appointed to SFA’s Board of Regents. Pattillo said Brigettee’s presence on the board has been a great asset to the university. “Brigettee and Trey have demonstrated the value they place on education by devoting their time and energy to improving the educational offerings available in East Texas. Brigettee is thoughtful and wellinformed, and her opinions are highly regarded by SFA administrators and her fellow regents. As an SFA alumna, she is knowledgeable of the university and dedicated to its success. Brigettee and Trey are highly supportive of the university and our basketball program, and we are grateful to count them as friends of the university.”

– Dr. Baker Pattillo | SFA

President

COMMUNITY : Making

an Impact

GARRETT NERREN

arrett Nerren was born in Nacogdoches, TX and grew up in Huntington, TX. He attended Huntington High School and graduated in 2010. During high school he was involved in student council, National Honor Society, Destination Imagination, basketball, cross country, track, and tennis. He was also very active in his church, Huntington First Baptist, playing piano on the worship team in his youth group.

A last highlight would be when

After high school, Garrett went on to attend Texas A&M to study political science. As a student at TAMU, he was involved in student government, making a run for Student Body President during his junior year. He was also part of the Greek Governance Council, a fraternity, a men’s Bible study, and a mentorship program for young leaders. He graduated with his bachelor’s in 2014.

the White House called my phone with the President on the line to talk to the Governor about the floods in Texas.

Immediately after graduating from Texas A&M, Garrett started working on Greg Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign. In this position, Garrett has made lasting memories and is gaining firsthand experience in politics.

“I have had the opportunity to travel with the Governor to hundreds of cities across Texas, multiple states and several countries. Some highlights thus far have been attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with the Governor, getting to meet Richard Branson, Eric Schmidt, Jill Biden, Kevin McCarthy, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Another highlight was attending a Texas A&M football game with the Governor at which he did the coin toss and I accompanied him on the field. A last highlight would be when the White House called my phone with the President on the line to talk to the Governor about the floods in Texas.” Garrett feels that all of these amazing opportunities have grown out of his childhood and upbringing in East Texas. “I loved growing up in East Texas. My family has lived there for decades and my parents were really invested in the school system in Huntington. My dad was on the school board for a number of years, and my mother is an Associate Dean at Stephen F. Austin. I think that growing up in a small town with such a tight knit community is great. We lived down the road from both my grandmother and my aunt and uncle, so it was always extremely easy to be with family. I loved how the communities in East Texas rally around their sport teams, and some of my fondest memories as a kid entail a crowded basketball gym with my whole family in the stands cheering me on.”

28 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

COMMUNITY : Making

an Impact

30 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

CLAIRE CRISP

pon graduating from Nacogdoches High School, Claire Crisp went on to attend TCU. “I don’t think I could have gone to a school that was a better fit after growing up in a small town. I feel so fortunate to be given the opportunity to go to a Christian college that allowed me to be well-rounded and gave me the confidence to go out into the real world after graduation.”

Late one night, while home visiting her parents, she knocked on her parents’ bedroom door and told them all about her plans to build her own store. The idea had been on her mind after being home for a few weeks from NYC. “I realized I wanted to live closer to my family and start my own business. Nacogdoches seemed like the perfect community where I could tell my story.”

While in high school, Claire made up her mind that she would one day move to NYC. After graduating from college, she saw an opportunity. “I did most of my job searching in NYC. I majored in advertising and started to do some research on AD agencies in NYC. I discovered that one of the big fashion/lifestyle AD agencies was actually started by a guy who also grew up in Nacogdoches. I did some research on him, Trey Laird, and his company, and after reading his story, I realized it was like my dream job. A few weeks later, I was boarding a plane to go meet with him. Long story short, I packed three suit cases and moved to NYC for the internship program at Laird and Partners. I didn’t pack my bags to come home until 5 years later.”

Her vision was to create a store that had a little bit of everything for women ages 15-70, similar to Anthropologie. Crisp had a few special brands she wanted to include and then the others she just started researching at market. Once she found the historic building downtown and started drawing up the plans, it all fell into place.

Crisp later went on to work with a few different fashion companies. “Gilt Groupe was my first job where I worked as a merchandise assistant in women’s apparel and home goods. This was the job that lead me on the buyer path where I later worked as an assistant buyer at Calvin Klein and then MaxMara the following 3 years.” Just for fun, while she was living in New York, Crisp started a blog. “It was a way to show my interest in the fashion business. It turned into a side income and brands would sponsor me to wear their clothes. I never had any intentions of making it a job, but it was fun to learn how blogging can be a full time business and I learned so much about social media, online marketing and was even published in two big magazines, People Stylewatch, and Instyle.” (http://claire-crisp.blogspot.com)

Crisp lived on Thompson Street, between Spring and Prince Street, in the ‘very trendy’ SOHO district of NYC her last 3 years in the city in what she says is the world’s smallest apartment. “The area is known for its fashion scene and flagship stores, so it’s where I got a lot of my inspiration and collected ideas for the store. I used to love walking those two streets after work and at night to people watch and keep up with all the trends and store merchandising. It was very inspiring!” Last May, Spring and Prince began. It took seven months to remodel the building, buy inventory, and build the brand. Spring and Prince officially opened its doors in November. This past year, Claire also got engaged to her fiancé, Kyle Drewery. “I would love to raise a family in Nacogdoches and hopefully give them a childhood like my parents were able to give me here. I love Nacogdoches and that’s why I found myself back here today. There is something about how much people truly value spending time with one another (family and friends) that makes this place so special.”

Spring and Prince is located in downtown Nacogdoches 111 North Pecan Street | 936.585.0056 | www.shopspringandprince.com

31 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

COMMUNITY : Making

an Impact

Dr. Brian Hafernick and Dr. Angela Hafernick grew up in Lufkin, Texas where they attended Lufkin High School together as close friends. Though their educational paths took them away from East Texas and away from each other, they stayed in touch. Eventually, Brian and Angela began dating, and now, they live and run their businesses back in Lufkin once again. Here is the story of the journey, from the “HIS” and the “HER” perspective.

ABOUT ANGELA I was born and raised in Lufkin and graduated from Lufkin High School in 2002. I went to the University of Texas at Austin where I received my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2006. Then I went to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where I completed my medical degree in 2010. From there, I moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M Family Medicine Residency where I completed my internship and residency to become board certified in Family Medicine. While in medical school, I was nominated into the Gold Humanism Honor Society which recognizes students who practice medicine with respect, dignity and compassion for patients and professionals. (I am a Texas Longhorn at heart, but had to embrace Aggie land for 3 years to be close to Brian and allow him to complete his veterinary training.) I was a good student in high school, but I didn’t have plans of going to medical school at that

point. I studied to do well and graduate high in my class so I could go to a good college and have opportunities available to me when I decided on my career path. I did not decide to go to medical school until approximately 2 years into my undergraduate training. When I began at UT, I was in the school for aerospace engineering and wanted to work at NASA in mission control. I quickly learned that I was not the kind of person who could spend the majority of my day in front of a computer. I switched my major to chemistry because it was a subject that seemed to come naturally to me and then explored my options from there. I was hesitant to commit to medical school because of the amount of school and training required, but with some good counsel from others who had chosen this path, I realized that it would be well worth it! Brian and I have been friends since middle school and were particularly good friends in High School. We did not date in high school,

32 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

but went to several functions together including prom and homecoming as friends. We continued to meet up when we were in town for holidays throughout our schooling and began dating when Brian was in Lufkin getting his prerequisites for Veterinary school and I was in medical school at UTMB. We survived the long distance dating with a lot of phone calls and weekend trips to see each other. I did not know I would come back to Lufkin until I started dating Brian seriously. He has always wanted to come back to Lufkin so I had to jump on board! I love East Texas and am very glad that our paths have led us back home. I really enjoy what I do working with people on a daily basis to help them achieve their best health. I also serve on several hospital committees and am involved at Carpenter’s Way. Brian and I are both involved with an organization called Young Life, which is a non-denominational Christian outreach organization for high school students. We were both involved with

theHAFERNICKS

this organization at varying degrees through high school and college and now try to serve as the volunteer camp physician once a year at different locations throughout the country. So far we have attended two camps in Colorado and had the privilege of going to one in upstate New York last year.

ABOUT BRIAN I was raised in Lufkin and graduated from Lufkin High School in 2002. My father, Mark Hafernick, is a retired forester and my mother, Ann Hafernick, is a retired teacher. I attended Texas A&M University where, in 2005, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After graduating from Texas A&M, I moved north of Dallas where I took a job doing accounting and business work for a veterinarian. I soon (like days) became uninterested with office work and very interested in veterinary medicine. My boss was gracious enough to allow me to do both office work and

assist him with the animals. After a year, I decided to move back home to Lufkin and attend Stephen F. Austin State University where I received my bachelor’s of science in biology in 2008. I was accepted in to veterinary school and moved back to Texas A&M to begin Veterinary School later in 2008. I was the 2010 recipient of the Pfizer scholarship for students wanting to work with food animals such as cattle. I completed my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. I commuted to Brenham, Texas for one year while Angela finished her residency training in the summer of 2013. Although it was a long road, I always knew I wanted to get back to Lufkin as quickly as I could after finishing school.

Angela and I started dating while I was finishing my degree at SFA and she was living in Galveston going to medical school at UTMB. We got engaged about a year later and got married while I was half way through vet school and she was weeks away from graduating from medical school. It was really a good thing that

33 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

our lives were so similar, as a lot of our dating was at the library. I have always wanted to live in Lufkin. I have also always wanted to work as a mixed animal veterinarian, meaning that I work on both small and large animals. I treat every case with the type of compassion and quality that I want to receive myself. I am so thankful I was able to purchase Pineywoods Veterinary Clinic and have my own practice. This has always been my goal, and I have really enjoyed the new clinic. My plans are to work and continue my practice in Lufkin for many years to come. At Pineywoods Veterinary Clinic we are dedicated to clearly communicating with people to meet their needs. I really consider it an honor to be trusted with people’s pets and livestock. I approach cases from the perspective of how I can best serve the animal and the owner.

COMMUNITY : Making

an Impact

Oksana Orlova

y name is Oksana Orlova, daughter of Dr. Alexander and Lynne Orlov. I grew up in East Texas with my 5 siblings, Dean, Erika, Adam, Lukas, and Rafe. I always spent a lot of time with my siblings; we are all very close and they are very important to me. We grew up on a ranch which meant spending a lot of time riding horses, four-wheelers, dirt-bikes, playing sports, and enjoying the outdoors. I have definitely developed a great love for adventure, the great outdoors, and nature. I am constantly wanting to travel, explore new places, and try new things. I attended Hudson High School and graduated in 2013 as the Valedictorian of my class. I was very focused throughout high school; I have always been a very motivated, hard worker and I strive to achieve great things and great success. I went to the University of Texas at Austin for one year on a full ride scholarship. I was studying pre-med and majoring in bio-genetics. I am so grateful for my experiences at UT, that first year of living on my own gave me the push and confidence I needed to make my move to NYC. My scholarships are currently on hold at UT, and I am able to go back and continue my studies whenever I want. I am very thankful for this fallback which gave me the security I needed when making such a big change in my life. As a child, modeling was something that I sometimes pictured myself doing in the future (my family would often bring up the topic because of my height and body build), but it never really seemed like a reality. When I was about 17 years old, my mom and I started discussing it seriously and figured we should do whatever it takes to at least try it. We soon realized we would have to go to New York City, the capital city of fashion, if I really wanted to give it a try. So thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what we did. I moved to New York City by myself during the summer of 2015, hardly knowing anyone here. I had been here the previous summer with my mother, and I signed with a small modeling agency. When I came back I immediately began working with them. Since then I have signed with a top agency and walked in New York Fashion Week, shot magazine editorials, traveled, and have gotten the opportunity to meet and work with so many interesting and talented people from all over the world. I think that pushing myself out of my comfort zone and moving to one of the biggest cities in the world, somewhere I never pictured myself, has really given me the opportunity to grow and develop as a person. It has really taught me to go after my dreams and has given me the strength and confidence to believe in myself and really push myself to work for what I want and to never give up. I have learned so much about myself, including that I am a very strong person who never gives up. I have already faced many challenges in my career that I have had to struggle through, but I have realized that hardships only make me stronger and that continuing on is precisely how a successful career begins. I plan to continue modeling in the future and am looking forward to traveling more for my career as well. I am definitely planning on returning to school one day and completing my studies. I plan to attend a school in NYC as this city so magical I really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I could part with it for too long.

XX, OO @oksanalorlova

34 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

I think that pushing myself out of my comfort zone and moving to one of the biggest cities in the world, somewhere I never pictured myself, has really given me the opportunity to grow and develop as a person.

COMMUNITY : Calendar

of Events

MARCH 16

MARCH 17

Big Thicket Brewery presents

Fresh from a sell-out performance at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, the Annie Moses Band brings Rhapsody in Bluegrass to the Temple Theater on the Angelina College campus March 17 at 7:30 pm.

Unhappy Hour with Joshua Black Wilkins Wednesday, March 16 at 8pm

The Annie Moses Band has been inspiring and entertaining audiences for over a decade with their unique blend of folk and classical music. These virtuosic siblings combine their Juilliard-honed chops with the Nashville sound – and the results are captivating. Tickets are on sale now and range from $25-$35 (Premium/Box $38). Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents The Annie Moses Band along with 2015-2016 15th Anniversary Season sponsors Georgia Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.

MARCH 17 Shamrock Sprint at Central Elementary Thursday, March 17 from 6-8pm

MARCH 17 Bella’s Salon and Boutique Annual Fashion Show March 17, 7pm – 10 pm Pitser Garrison Convention Center | 601 N. Second St. Local boutiques and styling talents are coming together to create an entertaining night benefiting the Gulf Restoration Network. Please come be a part of this special night. There will be something for everyone including performances by Tall Timbers Gymnastics and local vocalist, along with food trucks and a one of a kind antique car show. Tickets are available at Bella Salon & Boutique at 601 N. Second St in Downtown Lufkin. VIP tickets for early entry are $35; General admission tickets are $20. 100% of the proceeds go towards the Gulf Restoration Network.

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.

MARCH 19 The Junior League of Lufkin proudly announces TOUCH-A-TRUCK Saturday, March 19, 2016 10am-2pm Rain or Shine George H. Henderson Exposition Center

36 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

MARCH 19

APRIL 16

The Junior League of Lufkin proudly announces Sprint into Spring Fun Run

Annual Hoedown Festival

Crown Colony Country Club

In the early 1800s a hoedown was a community dancing party with lively music. In Lufkin we take our Hoedown to the streets for a 21st century version of the Hoedown. Arts and craft vendors line the streets with a variety of food vendors, children’s activities, and all-day entertainment on two stages makes our Hoedown a fun event for the entire family. For more information on how to become a vendor, entertainer, or car & truck entrant, contact Main Street, 936.633.0205.

Saturday, April 16 from 10am – 4pm

APRIL 7-9 Pineywoods Children’s Consignment Sale Abram’s in Downtown Lufkin | 110 S. First Street Sale Hours: Thursday and Friday | 9am - 6pm Half Price Saturday | 8am - 3pm

PCC-Sellers register at www.pccsale.com APRIL 17 6th Annual Family Kite Fest

APRIL 9

Presented by The Helping House

Downtown Lufkin Merchants Sprint Fling

Sunday, April 17 at A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport

This will include sidewalk sales, shop specials, and warehouse sales.  If you are interested in setting up to sell your own vintage items, call or drop in to let us know. Our list has begun and is growing! For more information call Laura at Heritage Antiques, 110 W Burke, Downtown Lufkin, 632 0110, Mon - Sat 10 – 5.

11am-4pm

OCTOBER 15 Save the Date for the 2016 Cattle Baron's Gala

37 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

COMMUNITY : Teacher

Nominations

Mrs. Douglas We love you, Mrs. Douglas! Mrs. Murphy I feel like my daughter Brooke hit the “Teacher Jack Pot” this year. Mrs. Debbie Murphy has been a Godsend! She is one extraordinary teacher. She has truly changed Brooke’s life! And I (we) will always be forever grateful. It takes a BIG heart to shape tiny minds, and Mrs. Murphy has the BIGGEST!

Mrs. McManus Julie McManus has been my counselor at Lufkin High School the last four years. She puts others first, goes out of her way to accommodate students, and has such a BIG heart. I am truly blessed to have her in my life! Thank you Mrs. McManus for your love and support. -Reagan Jordan

-Sabrina Sutherland

Mrs. Fain Mrs. Theresa Fain is passionate about history. She is helpful, sweet, and forgiving. She is understanding of problems.

Mrs. Dunn Kathy Dunn is not only my teacher, but like a second mom. She is the teacher I go to for advice, and she treats us like her own. Thank you for letting me be me.

Mrs. Frost We love you, Mrs. Frost!

Mrs. Harris We love you, Mrs. Harris!

Ms. Steidley Thank you for being a great teacher Ms. Sarah Steidley!

Mrs. Richardson We love you, Mrs. Richardson!

- Grant Stafford

Mrs. Hubbard Mrs. Susan Hubbard is dedicated and thorough in teaching and preparing lessons. She explains things in a way that is easy to understand. She is knowledgeable and a truly amazing and amusing teacher! She makes math fun. She has tolerance, patience, and kindness even when we don’t deserve it. Mrs. Ehrlich We love you, Mrs. Ehrlich!

Mrs. Kendrick & Mrs. Dugat We love you, Mrs. Kendrick & Mrs. Dugat!

38 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

Mrs. Peterson We love you, Mrs. Peterson!

Mrs. Perkins Mrs. Perkins is the best because... Mrs. Hill Mrs. Kristi Hill cares for us, and she reads the Bible to us.

Mrs. Huffman Mrs. Martha Huffman is awesome, and she challenges us when she teaches.

Mrs. Nash We had Mrs. Tiffany Nash for pre-k and kindergarten. Hunter learned so much from her class. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wonderful and caring teacher!

Mrs. Donaghue Mrs. Flo Donaghue is knowledgeable of the Bible and tells funny stories. She has wisdom and lots of insight. She is dedicated and a good example. She helps us with our problems.

- Hunter Houl (2rd grade)

Mrs. Clos We love you, Mrs. Clos!

Mrs. Dixon My favorite teacher is Mrs. Dixon because she is the BEST teacher in the whole entire school, I mean WORLD! She is patient with my crazy class. She is always giving out hugs to us when we need them the most. She is always happy and smiling, too. I LOVE her so much, even more than that though. Thank you so much Mrs. Dixon.

Mrs. Robertson Ryder would like to thank Mrs. Robertson for a wonderful year in Kindergarten! We love you Mrs. Robertson! - Crystal Sepulvado

Love, Kenzee Burton (2nd grade)

Mrs. Peterson We love you, Mrs. Peterson!

Mrs. Richardson We love you, Mrs. Richardson!

Mrs. Perritte Mrs. Charlotte Perritte is genuinely passionate about teaching. She is soft spoken and fair with all students. The Spanish classes are fun because she plays songs to help the students learn the language. She also plays games to teach Spanish words to all ages. She assigns interesting projects to the literature classes. Most of all, she reminds the students how God blesses each one every day.

Mrs. Gentry Thank you for being a great teacher Mrs. Gentry! - Will Stafford

39 | TJ M a g & C o â&#x20AC;˘ t j m a g . c o m

written by Heather Buchannan

COMMUNITY : Prize

Patrol

LUFKIN ISD

he booming sounds of drums and cheers of excitement fill the hallways as representatives from the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation burst onto campus after campus. Then comes tears of joy and lots of smiles as teacher after teacher receives an oversized check with the good news that their grant has been chosen. It is a celebration that is the culmination of year-round efforts by the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation to raise funds for innovative teaching grants. The Lufkin ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation comprised of volunteers from throughout the community who have joined together with the mission to elevate education in LISD to unprecedented heights. With their efforts, they are able to provide the funding that allows our teachers to engage students in creative, new ways. Whether it is implementing the latest in cutting edge technology in the classroom or helping students develop physically on a climbing wall, these grants create incredible teaching opportunities never before seen in Lufkin.

In the 2 years the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation has been in existence, it has already funded 17 grants totaling more than $50,000. Sixty teachers’ dreams have been launched, and over 5,000 students have been impacted. Those accomplishments would not have been possible without the generous contributions from those individuals and businesses who have partnered with the Foundation to support our teachers and students and create a stronger economic future. The Foundation’s Vice President of Programs, Tyane Dietz, has been part of the Texas Association of Workforce Development for the past 19 years. It’s an organization that strives to create a competent workforce in our state. She knows what Texas businesses are looking for in their graduates, and she believes the Foundation’s impact has the potential to improve our economic landscape by producing more qualified workers that will attract new industry to Lufkin. “Teachers are the first line in economic development,” Dietz said. “When they produce a product that businesses want, they have succeeded.” Dietz goes on to say that a stronger economy benefits everyone in

Real life moments of the Lufkin ISD students utilizing the grants.

40 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

EDUCATION FOUNDATION Catapulting Education to New Heights & Creating a Brighter Economic Future

our area, whether you have children in LISD or not. “We are asking everyone in the community to support our teachers and bless our students by joining this effort to raise the bar in education and produce the smartest graduates in the state,” said 2016 Foundation President, Heather Buchanan. “Our teachers have shown us that when everyone gives just a little bit, it adds up dramatically. A large number of LISD teachers and staff who each gave $5 a pay period as part of the “High 5 Club” donated a combined total of over $36,000 this school year alone!” In addition to grants, the Education Foundation honors Lufkin High School’s top 20 graduating seniors and their selected “Educators of Influence” (educators within our district who have made a big impact on the graduate) every May at their Panthers of Prestige Academic Awards Banquet. You are invited to join the Foundation’s efforts by attending this year’s banquet, sponsoring a table, or underwriting the event. “Bringing their children to the banquet to celebrate these academic all-stars is the

perfect way for parents to encourage their children to excel in their studies,” said Past President Becca Chance. “Kids who attend can’t help but dream of standing on that stage and being honored themselves someday, and it will give them a greater appreciation for their teachers after hearing the often tearful thank you letters the seniors read to their Educators or Influence. It is a truly inspiring evening, and we invite everyone to join us.” This year’s banquet takes place on Tuesday, May 24th, with fabulous food provided by Tome’ Catering. Other ways you can contribute to the Education Foundation include underwriting an innovative teaching grant (which can be given in your name or the name of your business), giving a donation in memory or honor of a special loved one, or making a donation to the general fund online via credit card or PayPal. Visit www.lufkineducationfoundation.org to learn more about how you can join the common goal of strengthening our schools in order to strengthen our community!

(far right) Some members of the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation on Prize Patrol Day, where they travel from school to school awarding grants.

41 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

in East Texas 44 FASHION | 46 STRETCH MARKS | 48 SOMETHING ABUNDANT | 50 {DIY}

LIFE

Model: Megan Harbuck Hair Styled by: Brenda Weaver Makeup by: Rob Fisher Photo by: Jenni Blackledge Love Tank /// Denim Vest /// Black Leggings with Faux Leather Detail Clothing available at Bella Salon and Boutique in Downtown Lufkin.

43 | TJ M a g & C o â&#x20AC;˘ t j m a g . c o m

LIFE : Fashion

Model: Nicole Carter Hair Styled by: Brenda Weaver Makeup by: Ashley Conlon Photo by: Jenni Blackledge Black Lace Peplum Top /// Black Leggings with Faux Leather Detail Clothing available at Bella Salon and Boutique in Downtown Lufkin.

NOT FDIC-Insured NO Bank Guarantee

MAY Lose Value

written by Melissa Radke

LIFE : Stretch

Marks

The following is a list of people who are doing things I will never, could never or would never want to do: Those people that do triathlons. Be cast as a zombie on The Walking Dead. Personal Assistant to Kanye West. Cow Inseminators. Sweat shop workers. Slaughterhouse cleanup crew. School teachers. People that identify dead bodies by the teeth. Do any of those sound appealing to you? When I was growing up and in high school, I remember knowing several girls who could recite exactly what they wanted to do after graduation: “I want to teach 4th grade math.” What? Who wants to teach?? And who for the love, wants to teach 4th grade??? And what kind of havoc did you wreak in your past life that you have to teach MATH of all unholy subjects???? It just seems to me like teaching is an undervalued, under paid, underappreciated job. I could be wrong, but I feel like those who want to teach want to do it not for the fame or

fortune....but for the genuine love of kids. And I’m sorry, but that just smells fishy to me. I mean, I’m with my kids a lot and I’m not super interested in whether or not they learn to divide. But y’all are! I just don’t get this. I taught voice lessons once. (This is a true story.) I have my Bachelors in Vocal Performance and decided I would earn extra money by teaching voice lessons. I taught for three weeks. I taught for a sum total of fifteen days. For those who had paid the month in advance, I had to refund their money. I woke up sick every single morning. I complained that I had the flu ten out of fifteen days. And one day I actually left the lights on in my car the night before so my battery would run down and I could call in. It wasn’t the music that was the issue - it was the students! They scared me! They stared at me and expected strange things from me. And what if they asked a question I didn’t know? Seriously! I honestly want to know what you teachers do if a student asks you a question you aren’t quite sure about. Because I ran to the bathroom with digestive issues! Maybe this is why every year I sit and wait like a kid for Christmas morning to find out who my kids’ teachers will be. It’s so exciting to me! It’s like being introduced to the Bachelorette contestants on that first night of the season; they all look so tan and fresh and well rested.

PICK UP THE CHECK But you know by the time they get to those hometown dates those girls are lookin’ a hot mess! And so it is with teachers. In August they look healthy and focused, and I stare at them like they were just crowned Miss America and I’m a bit star struck, if I’m being honest. They are so dedicated, and I am so weak. They have color coded charts in their room and my pantry has 15 cans of cream of chicken soup, a vase and some cat litter in it. They wear clothes that encourage school spirit. I wear clothes that encourages wearing different clothes. They talk lightly and smile a lot. I tell inappropriate jokes at inappropriate times and also I yell. Do you see why teachers impress me? A few months ago I ran into my old high school English teacher, Mr. Adams, at Cracker Barrel. He had noticed a table with four adults and like, 73 children and apparently was astounded at the lack of supervision these children were getting. He then realized one of the adults was yours truly. When I saw him, I smiled! I jumped up and hugged him as hard as I could. I told him I loved him because I do. See, Mr. Adams told me I could write. He was one of the first people to

encourage my writing. (He also sent me to the office twelve times in one year.) He also cast me in the lead role of our senior play encouraging me to continue in the Arts in college. (He also called my parents repeatedly due to my “smart mouth.”) He told me I was a leader. He told me I had talent. He graded on a curve. So yes, I jumped up and hugged him. Because like the teachers my kids are spending their days with, he didn’t do it for the money. He didn’t do it for the fame. He did it so someday some student would pass from his class into their future with a touch more confidence and a bit more wisdom. I hope I’ve made him proud. To this day I’m mad at myself for not grabbing his ticket. Buying a few pancakes is the least I can do. So let’s take notes students, former students and parents. If you see your child’s teacher or a former teacher out having dinner, you know what to do. Because chances are they aren’t in this business for the glory - or the honor - or the payoff. Chances are they’re doing it because they prize education and they love children. Which is both noble and suspect, to me. But either way, pick up the check!

Melissa

Melissa Radke is married to the best looking man in town, whom she affectionately refers to as The Attorney General. They have two children, Remi and Rocco; you have probably seen their picture in the Most Wanted list at your local schools. She loves movie popcorn, telling her friends what to do with their hair and being the center of attention. You can find her anytime at melissa@lufkin.org or Chik-fil-A. You are encouraged to ask for her autograph. In fact, she insists.

written by Angie Nichols

LIFE : Something

Abundant

Divinely God. Distinctly You.

ou did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 One of the most fascinating blessings a bride of Christ gets to receive is the promise found in John 15:16. I hope you take the Word of God seriously enough to hold on to the many promises available to you in it.

that what a child is? The evidence of intimacy. Cute tattle-tales of what mom and dad have been doing behind closed doors. The spiritual life you produce in Christ will resemble Him and you. Together. The promise of John 15:16 is the screen saver on my phone as of late:

For a bride of Christ, spiritual conception is guaranteed within her intimate Spiritual union with Jesus. Two distinct elements—God and [wo]man become one to form a perfect whole resulting in fruit divinely God and distinctly you. Isn’t that the coolest thought? “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:6 Jesus said, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. [S]He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” (John 14:12). There is freedom for the captives, sight for the blind, healing for the sick, and comfort for the hurting. These are the evidence of abundant life promised those who remain in Him. ABC (A Bride of Christ) in generation XYZ is commanded to operate in nothing other than this promised power. The spiritual life we birth will be as varied as precious children in His sight. Each is unique. A ministry, a message, a song, an art, a craft, a gift, a talent--your begotten life will be the image of God, with the characteristics of your unique heart. God with you -- the evidence of your spiritually intimate encounters with Him in secret places. Because isn’t

As much as I love the promise of those living words, and how pretty they look on my phone, unfortunately, having them there isn’t about aesthetics, but required to save my sanity. The promise is pretty, but lately, the playing out of that promise has been messy for me. What is a bride of Christ to do when the beautiful promise plays out in ugliness unfitting a coming royal wedding? Our sister Hagar from Father Abraham’s generation has some relevant lessons for us brides in the days at hand. (see Genesis 16, 21) Hagar was the Egyptian handmaiden of Abraham’s wife Sarah. Sarah was not yet blessed with children, so she persuaded Abraham to take Hagar as his second wife. Sarah (then Sarai) hoped that she could bring up Hagar’s child and hasten God’s promise and

48 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

blessing of an heir. However, when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she despised her mistress, and Abraham abandoned his second wife Hagar into Sarah’s hands. As a result, Sarah mistreated her, so Hagar fled from her life in Abraham’s household into the desert. In Hagar we see a woman, a bride, pregnant with a promise of God (Gen. 16:10-12) fleeing from her assignment and position. The angel of the LORD finds her and asks her a question of which He already knows the answer. “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” Hagar admits she is running away, so the angel of the LORD instructs her to return to her mistress and submit to her, adding a big promise, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” Her son’s name was to be Ishmael, meaning “God hears.” Following Hagar’s conversation with the angel of the LORD who found her in her flight, she gave this name to the LORD: El Roi, “You are the God who sees me.” There is something stunningly precious about Hagar’s name for the LORD. It is the only account of the use of this particular name for God in the entire Bible. Perhaps to greater display His single-focused, can’t-take-my-eyes-offyou, seeing of only her. “You are the God who sees me.” Here’s the thing: Hagar was manipulated, abandoned, and mistreated by the people in charge of her, people who knew and honored God, who were chosen by God as the father and mother of God’s chosen nation. She became the victim of their mistake. Within this disastrously mishandled situation, the LORD is the God who sees HER.

The master plan of the salvation of the world moves forward exactly as God intends, regardless of the mistakes, missteps and mistreatment of those chosen to carry it out. Dear sisters, as brides of Christ, we are meant to bear the abundant fruit of Christ to the glory of God the Father. An intimate encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit will cause you to conceive of His spiritual seed. In relationship with Christ, you will become pregnant with His promise--with His purpose in your life for this generation. It may sound strange, too mystical and magical to believe, too good to be true. Such exceedingly great and precious promises may cause us to doodle in our journals with exquisite flair, stand among the crowd and proclaim the vision we’ve received, walk in boldness completely uncharacteristic of our nature, and make seemingly questionable decisions based on faith in the coming plan. However, we cannot afford to wither or flee when the plan takes a perilous turn. Go ahead and count on it crashing, burning, or maybe even dying. God most delights in bringing forth life from death, prosperity from pain, a message from a mess. He works exclusively in impossibilities. Go ahead and expect that even among believing sisters and brothers, you will likely encounter jealousy, manipulation, abandonment, despair, blame, even hatred. You will likely dish it out to other brothers

and sisters, as well. But, when you feel like cutting and running-- when the choice to flee seems the only way, when they deserve everything that is coming their way from the fall out--know God’s master plan will not be thwarted. Sweet sister, I am speaking this to you even as I hold on for dear life myself: Amidst the mess, He is the God who sees YOU. He is the God who hears. He is the Living One with a deep well of understanding, righteousness, and justice. When everyone else rejects you, when you feel invisible, disposable, when you are up against a great force of religion’s program seemingly steam-rolling the purpose He planted in your heart, He sees you. And know this, too: He will likely direct you to return to your station. However, I should believe He will also add a promise of even greater plenty (see Gen. 16:9-10). When you want to take flight in a full-on flee, He makes returning worth it. He is the God who sees you. He is the God who hears. In response to His singlefocused love, watch and listen for Him. He has a plan to bear fruit in you...fruit that will last. Fruit only you can bear. Divinely God and distinctly you.

Angie Nichols is the founder of Something Abundant Ministries, serving women through worship, ministry, and Biblical teaching and the author of Something Abundant: growing from a child of God to the bride of Christ. Her passion is for women to know the beauty of an abundant life knowing Christ as Bridegroom. She is married to Chris and they have one daughter, Mycah. For more information, to read Angie’s blog, or book speaking events visit: somethingabundantministries.org.

written by Majal Minguez

LIFE : {DIY}

Do-It-Yourself

BRAIN BOOSTER BALM H O M E WO R K S U R V I VA L K I T

he struggle is real. Homework is a source of major stress for most families. A recent teacher survey conducted by the University of Phoenix College of Education reveals, “High school teachers on average assign about 3.5 hours of homework each week. For high school students who typically have five classes, that could mean as much as 17.5 hours each week. Middle school teachers assign about 3.2 hours of homework each week and kindergarten to fifth grade teachers assign about 2.9 hours each week.” Homework, which is a tool used by our educators to help build timemanagement skills and foster child-parent interaction, has become a power struggle and can easily turn into a nightly battle. Well, if homework is synonymous with frustration, disrespect, stress and anger in your family, hang in there! Here are a few tools that can help you survive homework time.

Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary and Basil Essential Oils

Whether you want to diffuse, directly inhale from the bottle, or make your own spritz, these essential oils have fragrant influence that can significantly change your homework experience. According to the Essential Oil Desk Reference, lemon essential oil promotes clarity of thought and purpose. Peppermint oil is stimulating to the conscious mind and may help attention, performance and focus, while rosemary essential oil can help overcome mental fatigue and improves mental clarity. Basil essential oil fights mental fatigue. DIY Diffuser Necklace

A DIY diffuser necklace is not only fun to wear, but this continuously diffuses the scent of the essential oil into the air as you breathe. It’s simple to use and the fragrance of the oils is right under your nose the whole time you are wearing it. Add 1-2 drops of any of the essential oils mentioned above into your diffuser necklace and enjoy the oil’s aromatic benefits.

T I P S O N WAY S T O D I F F U S E O I L S : Brain Booster Balm

• Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a bowl of potpourri or cedar chips.

This wonderful balm is very easy to make. Apply this topically on the back of neck and behind ears in the morning before going to school and right before homework time.

• Add a few drops of essential oils to a cotton ball and place in your home air vents.

Recipe: ½ Tbsp. Beeswax Pellets 1 Tbsp. Organic Coconut Oil ¼ tsp Vitamin E oil 3 drops Young Living Lemon essential oil

• Place several empty essential oil bottles in a decorative bowl filled with Epsom Salt or pink Himalayan sea salt. • Make a DIY diffuser necklace or car diffuser. All supplies available at our local shop (Oil Drops DIY Shop).

ESSENTIAL OIL WORKSHOPS: Introduction to Essential Oils – Every 1st, 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month @ 6pm Introduccion Basica a Los Aceites Esenciales – Every 3rd Tuesday of the month @ 6pm Make & Take: Emotional Trauma Clearing – March 4 @ 6pm Make & Take: Oils for Kids & Babies – March 11 @ 6pm Make & Take: Oils for Aches & Discomfort – March 18 @ 6pm, April 8 @ 6pm

3 drops Young Living Peppermint essential oil

Raindrop Technique (This Class Includes a Demo) – March 25 @ 6pm

3 drops Young Living Rosemary essential oil

Make & Take: Sleep Support – April 22 @ 6pm

3 drops Young Living Basil essential oil

Make & Take: Oils for Special Needs Kids – April 1 & April 15 @ 6pm Free Workshop: Beauty Oils – April 29 @ 6pm

3 drops Young Living Frankincense essential oil

Contact Majal at WhollyMerry@yahoo.com or 936.634.4282 to register for the workshops. For more information, follow her on FB at “WhollyMerry - Majal Minguez”. All workshops are held at Oil Drops DIY Shop at 911 Ellis Avenue in Lufkin.

Add all ingredients except essential oils in a stove-safe glass bowl. Steam glass bowl to melt all ingredients. Once everything is melted, stir well. Set aside for 5-10 minutes. Add all essential oils and stir. Carefully pour the balm mixture into a 1 oz. glass jar.

Majal Minguez and her family live in Lufkin. Her youngest son in on the Autism Spectrum. In their journey to recover him from Autism, the family has learned that detoxifying his body and their house are major pieces of the puzzle to Autism Recover. For more information, please follow me on Facebook at “WhollyMerry Majal Minguez” or email me at whollymerry@yahoo.com.

in East Texas 54 SCHOOL/MDO LISTINGS | 58 BULLYING | 60 PRETTY BABIES | 64 LOOK AT ME

GROWING UP

St. Cyprian's Archery Team photo by Jenni Blackledge

53 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

GROWING UP : School /MDO

Listings

SCHOOL

LEGEND ACCREDITED  Yes  No PRIVATE PROGRAM  Yes  No SPECIAL SUBJECTS  After School Creative Care  Archery  Art  Chapel  Computers L Latin ♪ Music PE Physical Education S Spanish  Sports VE Vocabulary Enrichment

MOTHER’S DAY OUT PROGRAMS 1. Carpenters Kids Carpenters Way Baptist Church Director: Michele Pinkerton 400 North John Redditt Lufkin, TX 936-632-6599 www.cwbc.org T/TH; 9am - 2:30pm Ages: 6 months - 4 years ♪ 2. First Christian Director: Patsy Allen 1300 South First Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-9698 www.fcclufkin.com M-F, 7:20am - 5:30pm T/TH, 7:20am - 5:30pm MWF, 7:20am - 5:30pm Or any day from 9am - 2:30pm Ages: 8 weeks - 5 years After School Care for K-5th Grade   ♪ S

3. SFA Early Childhood Lab Director: Lori Harkness 936-468-4006 www.sfasu.edu/echl M-F; 7:30am - 5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years Kindergarten - 5th Grade after school until 5:30pm  4. Sonshine School North Street Church of Christ Director: Susan Bentley 3914 North Street Nacogdoches, TX 75965 936-560-1016 email: susan.sonshineschool@gmail.com M-F, MWF, T/TH Ages: 1 year - Pre-K  5. Wee Care First Baptist Church Director: Rebecca Henderson 106 East Bremond Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-3386 T/TH, 9am - 2:30pm Ages: 12 months - 4 years ♪

SCHOOLS 1. Christ Episcopal School Head of School: Audrey Russell 1428 North Mound Street Nacogdoches, TX 75961 936-564-0621 www.ces-nac.org Voted Best of Nacogdoches Private Schools 7:30am - 5:30pm Ages: 3 years - 6th Grade       ♪ PE S

54 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

2. Crimson Christian Academy Administrator: Jan Allbritton jan.allbritton@crimsonchristian.com 7020 S. Hwy 59 Burke, TX 75941 or P.O. Box 1027 Lufkin, TX 75902 936-639-1222 www.crimsonchristian.com Visit us on Facebook! M-F Ages: Kindergarten - 12th Grade      S  3. First United Methodist Director: Lisa Labosky 201 East Hospital Street Nacogdoches, TX 75961 936-560-4631 www.fumcnac.org M-F, MWF, T/TH, 8:30am - 12pm Extended Care: 7:15am - 5:15pm Ages: 1 year & walking - 5 years  ♪ S 4. Fredonia Hill Baptist Principal: Mrs. Peggy Fedun 1711 South Street Nacogdoches, TX 75964 936-564-4472 www.fhbacademy.com Extended After School for our students Ages: Pre-K 3 - 8th Grade    ♪ S  for 7th & 8th Grade 5. Lufkin ISD DUAL Language Director: Sylvia Eubanks 936-630-4290 seubanks@lufkinisd.org Ages: Kindergarten - 12th Grade   S

DIRECTORY 6. Lufkin ISD Gifted and Talented Director: Betty Harrison 936-630-4254 Ages: Kindergarten - 12th Grade   7. My Growing Place Director: Debbie Denby 805 East Denman Avenue Lufkin, TX 936-639-6884 www.lufkinfirst.com/mygrowingplace.htm M-F; 7:30am - 5:30pm Ages: 2 months - 4 years  ♪ S 8. Nacogdoches Christian Academy Director: Heather Roberts 211 SE Stallings Nacogdoches, TX 936-462-1021 www.nacchristian.com Ages: 18 months - 8th Grade       ♪  PE S VE

11. St. Patrick Catholic School Administrator: Jim Menz 2116 Lowry Street Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-6719 www.stpatricklufkin.com Visit us on Facebook! M-F, 7:15am - 5:30pm Ages: 3 years - 8th Grade    ♪

CHARTER SCHOOLS 1. PARAMUS Early College High School Principal: Dr. Merilyn Session 602 S. Raguet Lufkin, Texas 75904 (936) 634-5515 Angelina College Office (936) 633-3227 Ages: 9th-12th Grade  ♪ S 

2. Pineywoods Community Academy Paramus Early College HighSchool Director: Bruce Marchand Secondary Principal: Monica Gunter Secondary Assistant Principal: Jennifer Shaw Elementary Assistant Principal: Delbert Murphy 602 South Raguet Lufkin, TX 75904 (936)634-5515 www.pcacharter.net Ages: Pre-K 4 - 12th Grade  ♪ S  3. SFA Charter School Principal: Lysa Hagan 936-468-5899 www.sfasu.edu/charter_school M-F, 8am - 3pm Ages: Kindergarten - 5th Grade   ♪ PE

9. Regents Academy Headmaster: David Bryant 200 NE Stallings Nacogdoches, TX 75961 936-559-7343 www.regentsacademy.com Ages: 4 years - 12th Grade       ♪ S  PE L 10. St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School Head of School: Dr. Sherry Durham 1115 South John Redditt Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-1720 www.saintcyprians.org Become a fan of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School on facebook. Ages: 3K - 8th Grade        ♪ PE 

55 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

written by Payton Pogue | photo by Jenni Blackledge

GROWING UP : Bullying

WORDS OF

WISDOM I

think everyone can agree that the first days of school are nerve wracking. But when it’s your first day of high school at a new school, with people you don’t know, in a town you’ve been to maybe twice, it’s frightening. I got bullied at school, online, and I bullied myself. I bullied myself because when someone calls you something over and over again, you start to believe it. I thought that because I wasn’t skinny and I wasn’t pretty that I wasn’t good enough.

Now, I’m not going to call anyone out. I’m not going to go into detail of what happened, because it’s something I don’t want to relive, but I’m here to let you know about the effects of bullying. I have tons of health issues, and a lot of them effect my weight. When I went through this, I felt unwanted, worthless, not good enough and that no one could ever understand what I’m going through. Let me tell you, there are so many people going through so many things. Like me, I put on a fake smile every day for my peers, family and friends, and the sad thing about it is that everyone believed it. I kept things to myself; I didn’t want anyone to know that I was dealing with this. No one knows about the scars I have, the endless tears, and the pain I still deal with today. Well now you know. I want you to know that doesn’t matter if you’re joking or you’re really just trying to be mean- you never know how far someone will go to change the so called “imperfections” you call out. I constantly thought to myself, “What’s my purpose? Would anyone miss me if I’m gone?” The bullying I went through wasn’t as near as bad as others, but bullying is bullying. I just can’t get over the

fact that someone would intentionally hurt someone for their own satisfaction. I went to some ladies in my church and talked to them about my problems. I prayed to God that my mind would be at ease and that he could help me get through this. I honestly think that without these ladies, my wonderful family, my counselors and God that I wouldn’t have gotten through this. But I did and I can’t thank you enough. Today, I’m a senior at Diboll High School, doing better than ever in school and trying to pursue a career in nursing. I’m confident in my body, and I love myself the way I am. I’m happier and stronger than ever. These bullies truly

changed my life, for the better. I want to let you know that if you are going through any sort of issues, whether it’s with yourself or other people, you can get through it. Trust me, I thought I never would, but I did and I know you can too! You just have to believe it yourself and know that you are loved by so many people. If someone bullies you, just know they have insecurities of their own and you’re beautiful the way that you are. Don’t change for anyone. Don’t blame yourself, be proud of who you are. Because trust me, I can’t stress this enough, you are beautiful and you are worth it!!

Enroll today for grades PreK-3 through 8th Extraordinary STEAM Curriculum: Science • Technology • Engineering • Arts • Math Daily Chapel Services • John Caskey Dyslexia Center • Outdoor Learning Center Destination Imagination • Competitive Archery • Jazz Ensemble • Science Fair • Golf

1115 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 936-632-1720 saintcyprians.org

Beyond Ordinar y. Extraordinar y.

GROWING UP : Pretty

Babies

1. Brantley Easton Barrett. 6/4/15. Proud Parents: Riley & Brittany Barrett. Proud Grandparents: Debbie McAdams & Mike McAdams / Lee & Sheri Barrett / Cathy Saxon / Joyce Barrett. 2. Lincoln Grey Dyson. 10/19/15. Proud Parents: Richard & Cherish Dyson. Proud Grandparents: Carlos & Cheryl Martinez / Richard Sr & the late Alissa Dyson. 3. Ava Rose and Grayson Ferguson. Proud Parents: Ronnie & Jessica Ferguson. Proud Grandparents: Zelda Miitchell & Geary Ward (Huntington, TX) / Laveda Raymond (Newton, TX) / Laverne Ferguson (Etoile, TX). 4. Aaron David Flores. 6/15/15. Proud Parents: Omar Flores & Dalia Silva. Proud Grandparents: David & Minga Silva.

5. Mia Isabella Palomino. 1/2/15. Proud Parents: Maria & Pedro Palomino Jr. Proud Grandparents: Maria & Martin Morales / Pedro Palomino & Linda Reyes. 6. Gunner Reed Porter. 8/17/15. Proud Parents: Kyle & Lacey Porter. Proud Grandparents: Kevin & Diane Porter / Terry & Sherry Long. 7. Creed Justin Sikes. 11/30/15. Proud Parents: Justin & Christin Sikes. Proud Grandparents: Jimmy & Cindy Counts / Marty Strickland / Steve Sikes / Diane Savoie. 8. JerMani Evette Thomas. 5/29/15. Proud Parents: Tiffaney Wilson & JaVosky Thomas. Proud GrandParents: Herman & Carolyn Wilson / Yolanda Thomas.

E-mail Pretty Babies submissions to prettybabies@tjmag.com. Please include name, date of birth, parents & grandparents. Submissions are free of charge.

Joy.

Prepared for your little bundle with advanced care. The region’s only Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is here to help your newborn get a healthy start. Should you need high-risk pregnancy care, we’re also home to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic. Schedule a tour of our birthing center today. Call 936-634-8311. Trained, caring staff Spacious private labor and delivery suites Skilled OB/GYN physicians Free childbirth and infant feeding classes 24/7 neonatology coverage

505 South John Redditt Drive, Lufkin • WoodlandHeights.net Woodland Heights Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

brought to you by Smoothie King of Lufkin

GROWING UP : Look

at Me

Do you have a photo you would like to share with us? Send us a short description & image to photos@tjmag.com Submissions are free of charge

Mattie Nicholson. Pre Junior Strawberry Quick Bread, 2nd place.

Mattie Nicholson. Pre Junior Lamb Division, 9th place over all.

Black Cats 9-10. Coach Bart Carr. Hudson Youth Basketball. 1st place.

Savannah Brightwell. Pre Junior Reserve Grand Champion.

Huntington Intermediate UIL

Kolby Adams. 3rd place in UIL Social Studies.

Huntington Intermediate UIL

Smoothie King • 4505 S Medford Dr. • (936) 632-5464 • Like us on

64 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

in East Texas

ROSS MOTORSPORTS Small Business owners are the heartbeat of our community. Since 1985, Ross Motorsports has been a staple to East Texas. | photo by Jenni Blackledge

65 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

BUSINESS

photo by Jenni Blackledge

BUSINESS : Recognition

Ross Motorsports /// Continued

n 1985, Joe and Belinda Ross opened Ross Motorsports as a Yamaha only dealership. Their son, Scott, was 13 at the time. Once he was in high school, he began working at the store. Scott graduated from Hudson High School in 1990. He later began attending SFA and started working full time. Soon, he realized the family business is what he wanted to do with his career. Scott Ross has grown up with the store and that is why the employees are family. Scott shares, “The best change in my life and for the business is when I married my wife Donna in 1998. We could not function without her. The biggest change was losing my father, Joe Ross, on August 10th, 1999. I had to officially take over the store. The last monumental change was when my two daughters were born, Sydney in 2004 and Bailey in 2008, and life has never been better.” For the last 30 years, Ross Motorsports has survived and thrived. They have adjusted with technology, survived the 2009 economic downturn, and added new brands to grow with the market. As a small business owner, you have to work many long hours and have a strong work ethic. Scott is living proof of that. Small business owners do business whenever and wherever necessary. Scott recalls one humorous time when he had to do just that. “One of my best memories was being in the hospital while my oldest daughter Sydney was born. I was working on our first ever boat order while there.” The Ross Motorsport family shares life together. “We are a family business like most. It takes my mother Belinda, my brother Jeremy and my wife Donna to make the store what it is. The people that work here are like family. Carl Bennet has been with us since the day we opened in 1985. Tom Massingill, Glenn Gossage and Kelly Gavehart have all been here more years than I can keep up with. We come to work, we raise our kids and we go home to our families just like everyone else. We would not still be in business if it was not for all the great customers, friends, and family.” Thirty years is not an easy accomplishment; it’s 30 years of hard work and customer service and 30 years of opening the doors for business and turning out the lights at the end of a long work week. That is something of which to be proud. Ross Motorsports has a team that will work hard and earn your business. Stop by and visit them today!

BUSINESS TIME LINE August 1985 Opened as a Yamaha Motorcycle Dealer at 508 S Timberland Dr 1989 Relocated to Our Current Location 1991 Added Honda and Suzuki Motorcycle Franchises 2004 Added the Marine Division Selling Yamaha Outboards and Boats 2014 Added the Arctic Cat Franchise 2015 Added Bass Cat Boats

66 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

Brookshire Brothers Scholarship Winners photography by Laurie Cordray

PLACES & FACES :

Thomas Boulware

Ramsay Campbell

Hannah Grandgeorge

Erin LaRoe

Benjamin Lowther

Cade Milligan

Rebecca Modisette

Chloe Presnall

Jackson Vier

Noah Vier

Dallas Williford

Mikayla Young

67 | TJ M a g & C o â&#x20AC;˘ t j m a g . c o m

BUSINESS : Chamber

News

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Kovar Capital.

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Blown Away Salon & 1975 Boutique.

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Tami’s Bistro.

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce recently held a Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the official opening of the Nacogdoches I.S.D. Technical Training Center. 6003 North St. | www.nacisd.org. Director Bob Coker, Dr. Michael Simon, Angelina College President, Mrs. Lawanda Rector, wife of the late Dr. Malcolm Rector, and Dr. Fred Hayes, Superintendent, welcomed sponsors, Chamber members and guests.

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce held a ground-breaking ceremony for Atkinson Candy’s Warehouse – Cooler Operations.

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Fox Run.

68 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

Fish & Still Equipment is coming to Lufkin! with quality equipment and a best-in-class warranty

3032E Compact Utility Tractor Only

135/MONTH

6-year Powertrain Warranty* • Standard 4WD • Hydro transmission with Twin Touch™ pedals • Category 1 3-pt hitch compatible with dozens of implements

www.FishandStillEquipment.com | Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5pm • Saturday 8am – 12pm Lufkin

(844) 499-6511

Crockett

(888) 257-2011

Henderson

(800) 945-4134

Marshall

(866) 938-8891

Nacogdoches (800) 256-7303

Offer valid on purchases made between 12/1/2015 and 5/2/2016. Prices and model availability may vary by dealer. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. Monthly payment of $135.00 based upon 20% down plus 0.0% for 84 months and $3,200 OFF on a 3032E Compact Utility Tractor. Taxes, setup, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included. Eligibility for the down payment offer is limited to highly qualified customers and scheduled monthly payments will be required. *New 6-year Powertrain Warranty is included at no additional cost with purchase of any new Compact Tractor beginning 1/1/2016. 6 years or 2000 hours of use limitation, whichever comes first. Attachments and implements sold separately. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Valid only at participating US dealers.

BUSINESS : Education

Dr. Keven Ellis forces that cause this frustration.

r. Keven Ellis first became involved with education when he was asked to be part of the Quality Schools Task Force here in Lufkin and soon after, to participate in the Tri-Ethnic Committee for Lufkin ISD. This led Dr. Ellis to run for a position on the LISD Board in 2012. School board members often see the challenges that administrators, teachers, students and parents encounter with a behind-the-scenes lens. Dr. Ellis’s passion for education comes from understanding the importance of education to a community’s health and vitality. As Dr. Ellis became more involved working toward the betterment of the 8,300 students in Lufkin ISD, he also saw the need for working with the more than five million students in Texas. With this “bigger picture” perspective of education in Texas, Dr. Ellis has decided to run for the State Board of Education – District 9 position.

“Currently the curriculum is a mile wide and an inch deep. We need to narrow our curriculum so that our great teachers have time to teach the material to a level of mastery. The State Board of Education has already begun this process and it will allow our students to focus on what is most important to be college and career ready. When the curriculum is overly broad it becomes difficult to assess students on what is truly important. The other side of the testing problem is the amount of time that is spent on testing

"...if we focus on providing a strong education for every single one of our students

This is also true from the perspective of losing many of our jobs in this area to countries overseas. If we don’t ensure that our children have a strong and rigorous education, we will lose these battles in the future. Yet, if we focus on providing a strong education for every single one of our students there is no telling what the future will hold for our area.” In addition, Dr. Ellis feels, for many children in the state of Texas, and in our region in particular, students are not just facing the challenge of competing globally. They also face the challenge of combatting financial barriers to education. “If you look at the more affluent areas of the state, those children are being taken to after school tutoring and have parents that are very engaged in their education. The challenges of educating children of poverty comes from them often not having stable home lives, lack of adequate nutrition, poor school attendance, and often times, moving from school to school. The good news is that we have a community that cares about each and every student. To believe that a low socioeconomic status will equal poor performance is wrong. Every single student can learn and achieve at a high level; it is the job of the education systems to help them accomplish this.”

there is no telling what the future will hold for our area.”

According to Dr. Keven Ellis, there are two main areas in our state’s education system requiring immediate attention: the curriculum and the testing process. Many teachers and students are frustrated with the STAAR system of testing in Texas; Dr. Ellis sees the curriculum and the testing process as conflicting

Dr. Ellis

initiatives. I believe Texas teachers got into this profession for the love of teaching, not for the love of testing.” Dr. Ellis also understands our students do not face the same challenges that students faced one or two generations ago. In this age of social media and technology, students find themselves trying to compete on a global level academically and professionally. “My twins attend Texas A&M and they are competing in class daily with students from all around the world.

70 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

Though our state’s education system needs to make some changes, Dr. Keven Ellis believes in the passion and dedication of teachers and administrators in Texas. Basing his confidence in the education of his own children in East Texas, Dr. Ellis is optimistic about the future of education in our great state.

BUSINESS : In

the Know

Local News

& LEGISLATIVE UPDATES TRAVIS CLARDY

TRENT ASHBY

TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE

few weeks ago, a historic partnership was forged between Angelina College and the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Through this collaborative partnership, Angelina College, which serves our region, will be partnering with Texas A&M to provide access for advanced nursing degrees. Both Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Masters of Science in Nursing degrees will be offered. The positive impact of this new program on our entire region cannot be understated. This will improve healthcare outcomes and access for hundreds of thousands of East Texans, and at the same time, provide a unique opportunity for aspiring nurses to train right here in East Texas. Simply put, not forcing individuals to uproot their families and move away to obtain these higher degrees will allow us to retain more of our best and brightest right here in our local communities. Looking forward, I hope we can build on the success of these programs and secure the requisite state approval and funding to begin a residency training program in our local hospitals, so that we are able to bring more primary care doctors and specialists to our region. Addressing the challenges of access to healthcare in rural Texas will continue to be a focus at the state level, but with this recent partnership announcement, it’s nice to see East Texas leading the way.

Over the course of the past several months, my office has received calls from dozens of constituents who have had one central concern: a lack of access to Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices to renew or obtain their driver’s licenses.In some cases, people have had to travel over 100 miles to renew their driver’s license or take the driving test. This concern has come from all six counties in our district, and it is something I take very seriously. Having visited with DPS officials about this issue, some of the biggest challenges they face is finding affordable office space that meets their needs and funding for personnel to both staff the office and administer driving tests. I am committed to working with DPS to try and find solutions to this issue so that they can provide the services needed by local residents in a timely fashion. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. We look forward to the opportunity to hear your concerns and help you navigate state government. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 or you can call my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.

TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE

uring the interim between legislative sessions, the Speaker of the House in the Texas Legislature assigns each House committee issues for research and study to determine if potential legislative solutions are needed. My colleagues and I who serve on the House Higher Education Committee met in February to hear testimony on the subject of community college funding, security, and educating for workforce readiness. These are vitally important issues to students and employers and to our secondary schools and institutions of higher learning throughout East Texas. Making sure our education system is preparing students to meet 21st Century workforce demands is one of my highest priorities. No one path is right for every student. Promoting career and technology education, facilitating collaboration among high schools and colleges, and adding new degree plans at our universities, empowers Texas students to learn the skills needed to find jobs and build stronger families and communities. When the 85th Legislature convenes in 2017, I expect the number one issue to be public education as we deliberate over how to fairly and equitably fund our public schools and ensure the best possible quality of education for all Texans. Crafting an effective solution will require courageous and creative leadership both at home and in Austin. I look forward to working on this and similar issues confronting our state.

2016 Youth Fair Livestock Division

Grand Champion Lamb: Cade Milligan Hudson FFA

Reserve Champion Lamb: Kyler Duren Lufkin FFA

Grand Champion Beef Heifer: Eli Jenkins Blue Ribbon 4-H

Reserve Champion Beef Heifer: Dallas “Trip” Sanders Central 4-H

Grand Champion Steer: Grace Marshall Lufkin FFA

Reserve Champion Steer: Hunter Linton Diboll FFA

Reserve Champion Filly: Bridgett Hillyer Zavalla 4-H

Grand Champion Broilers: Hannah Havard Blue Ribbon 4-H

Reserve Champion Broilers: Charlie Arnold 4-H Horse Club

Grand Champion Gelding: Justin Boulware Zavalla 4-H

Reserve Champion Gelding: Devon Lout Huntington 4-H

Grand Champion Commercial Heifers: Hunter Linton Diboll FFA

Grand Champion Mare: Justin Boulware Zavalla 4-H

Grand Champion Rabbits: Lauren Bowers Blue Ribbon 4-H

Reserve Champion Rabbits: Madelyn Markus Central FFA

Best of Show Breeder Rabbits: Jace Cartwright Huntington 4-H

Grand Champion Goat: Chelsey McDonald Central FFA

Reserve Champion Goat: McKenna Cole Livestock 4-H

Grand Champion Hog: Victor Mills Hudson FFA

Reserve Champion Hog: Morgan Duren Huntington 4-H

73 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

photography by Laurie Cordray

PLACES & FACES :

BUSINESS : Business

Salutes

Ferrara’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc received the 2015 Trane Top Gun Award, one of the highest distinctions for Trane dealers. This honor is presented to Hunton Distribution’s top ten dealers in recognition of achieving the highest level of Trane equipment sales both in retail and residential new construction. Brannon Ferrara, VP and GM of Ferrara’s Heating and Air receives award by Steve Acker, Sales Manager of Hunton Distribution and Charlie Hunton, President and GM of Hunton Distribution.

Keep Lufkin Beautiful and Angelina Beautiful/Clean award Carroway Funeral Home the February Beautification Award. Carroway Funeral Home is recognized for achievement in helping to beautify Lufkin and Angelina County by landscaping, building improvement, architectural design, new construction or other means which enhances the beauty of our part of Texas. Their staff believes in enhancing the look of Lufkin not just by landscaping but by picking up litter on John Redditt.

Leadership Tomorrow Applications are available for 2016-2017. Deadline is April 1, 2016. Call Lufkin Chamber of Commerce.

It was another successful year for the Texas State Forest Festival. The 31st Annual Texas State Forest Festival was recognized in many categories at the Texas Association of Fairs and Events (TAFE) at their annual convention in January. The 31st Annual Texas State Forest Festival took home thirteen awards including the Best Overall Award for the 5th year in a row.

74 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

BUSINESS : Downtown

Happenings

locked with love

f you have not taken a stroll through downtown Lufkin, you are long overdue. There are always great shops to enjoy and people to see. Also, there is a new permanent display you won’t want to miss.

The ‘Locked with Love Tree’ is located in Cotton Square Park. The idea originated from Main Street Manager Barbara Thompson. “A couple of years ago, my husband and I were vacationing in Paris, France. One of the places we toured was the Pont des Arts Bridge that crossed the Seine River. People were attaching locks to the bridge in a symbolic act of affection and taking selfies of the moment. Some further seal the deal by throwing the keys into the Seine River.” She took her idea to the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and the Main Street Advisory Board. Chuck Walker, Public Works and City Engineer Director created the design of the tree. Thompson says, “The purpose of the tree is to give the community a way to express their feeling of love, commitment and remembrance in a fun and public way. It also serves as an avenue to bring people to our growing downtown and to continue the cycle of the rebirth of downtown through community participation. While downtown you can continue to experience the shopping, dining and entertainment. The tree gives the community a public place to express their love by locking their love with a lock. (What fun!) I imagine people stopping by the tree to see all the colors, sizes and shapes of the locks. Of course that is part of the entertainment aspect of the tree. I find myself and others looking at the unique locks and wording when I am in that area. It’s so enjoyable to see people taking pictures and selfies as they hang their lock(s) on the tree. Many have posted their picture(s) on Facebook of them hanging their lock on the tree and/or standing next to the big heart on the wall above the trailer stage.” The Locked with Love Tree is permanent fixture for East Texas to enjoy for years to come. Be sure to buy your locks local, and even better, from a small business!

76 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

in East Texas

with

Brandon Belt IS YOUR FAVORITE Q WHAT THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE HOME IN TEXAS? relax and hang A Ioutlovewithto just Greyson when I’m

home. I don’t get to hang out with family very much during the season, so that’s what I want to do when I don’t have a schedule to follow.

77 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : What

You Might Not Know Q&A with Brandon Belt /// Continued

BESIDES BASEBALL, WHICH SPORT IS YOUR FAVORITE TO WATCH? PLAY?

My favorite sport to watch is football, particularly the Cowboys. I love fantasy football. If that’s not on, I like watching tennis as well.

movies, but Haylee on the other hand couldn’t care less about going to the movies. I think her idea of a date night would just be to get dinner and take it to the house. Some of our favorite things to do in sf are go to Napa valley, eat at our favorite restaurants and just spend time together in general.

WHO IS A CELEBRITY OR ATHLETE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET?

fault. I get tired of HGTV being on all day, but I do enjoy watching their show. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT TO EAT AT WHEN YOU ARE HOME? WHAT DO YOU ORDER?

is the easiest question of all. I A This love Los Jarritos. I get the chicken

enchiladas covered in queso. I get the charro beans as well. It’s hands down the best Mexican food around.

Q normal day for me would be A Alifting weights at the gym in the WHAT IS YOUR OFFSEASON WORKOUT ROUTINE?

early afternoon. I’ll usually run after that and then hit in the cage later that day. When the high school starts practicing in January, I will go and workout with them sometimes as well. It usually takes me 3.5 to 4 hours to get done.

Q never had any superstitions, A I’ve mainly because I don’t want to

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-GAME WARM UP SUPERSTITIONS?

have to feel like I need to rely on stuff like that in order to play well.

DO YOU WATCH ESPN/SPORTS CENTER LIKE EVERY OTHER SPORTS FANATIC?

kind of date night is dinner do watch a lot of the sports A My A Ichannels, and a movie. I love going to watch ESPN and MLB network

would like to meet Chip and A IJoanna Gaines. This is Haylee’s

WHAT DO YOU AND HAYLEE ENJOY DOING IN SAN FRANCISCO?

WHEN WILL GREYSON START PLAYING BASEBALL? WILL YOU COACH HIM?

I started playing baseball when I was 8. My dad didn’t want me to start any earlier, because he didn’t want me to get burnt out. I think that could be a good age for Greyson to start as well. When it comes down to it, if he really wants to start at a younger age then I will probably let him. I would love a chance to coach him, but that all depends on where I’m at in my own career. Hopefully I won’t miss too much.

Q favorite day of the week is A My Sunday during the season because WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK AND WHY?

we usually have a day game followed by a night game on Monday. This means that I have from Sunday afternoon until Monday afternoon to relax and hang out with my family.

78 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

mainly. I like to keep up with what’s going on in the world of sports. Although during the season I don’t watch it as much, because as players we get a good dose of sports every day for seven or eight months.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON?

think this season I’m most looking A Iforward to the prospect of being

able to win another World Series. There’s just not another feeling like it in sports. I’m also looking forward to being better than I was last year.

Q think I have my dream car right A Inow. A McLaren 675lt. Although WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?

if I have the opportunity down the road, I would love to have a small collection.

IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH 3 PEOPLE, WHO WOULD THEY BE?

Grammer, Tim Allen and A Kelsey Jesus. It’s an eclectic group, but I

feel like it would be really interesting.

photograph by Hardy Meredith

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : On

the Track

demi

PAYNE D

emi Payne is making marks all over the world. Just a few weeks ago on February 20th, she had her personal best indoor jump of 16-0.75 at the Millrose Games in New York. Payne currently ranks No. 2 in the world, behind Jenn Suhr, Olympic Gold Medalist and world record holder from the United States. On February 6, 2016, she became one of only four women to ever clear 16 feet indoors when she went over the barrier in New Mexico. Competing is in her DNA. Payne is the daughter of Dana Macfarlane and Bill Payne. Dana Macfarlane played basketball for two years at Baylor University, while Bill Payne was an All-American pole vaulter at Baylor University and competed on the World Championship team. Demi is majoring in kinesiology at SFA. She is engaged to Thomas Taylor, and together they have a two-year-old daughter, Charlee Taylor.

Payne’s accomplishments and accolades for 2015 alone are too long to list. She is at the peak of her season with more records to achieve. The head coach of track and field, Coach Phillip Olson, shares about the star athlete. “Demi is training and excelling at the highest level of her sport right now. Our coaches use her as an example of a student-athlete who has so much going on in her life with being a mom, an athlete, a top-notch student, and just being an overall good teammate. She trains hard, is extremely motivated to be the best in the world, but is also humble and interested in what is going on around her. One second she is taking a picture at a meet with a fan or another competitor, and in the next moment she is seeking out her teammates asking how they are doing. She really cares about the people in her life and her team. Her coaches and her teammates are so proud of what she has accomplished and what she has to look forward to. She just makes everyone around her better. Period.” Payne has her eyes on the prize of the U.S. Olympics. She will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials in early July. She will have to hit the opening standard and finish in the top three to make the U.S. team.

http://www.sfajacks.com/sports/c-track/mtt/demi_payne_931465.html

2016 Youth Fair Food & Consumer Science Division sponsored by TJMag&Co

Frosted Cakes First Place Junior Allie Sullivan Huntington FFA

Frosted Cakes First Place Senior Tori Guy Lone Star 4-H

Without Frosting Cakes First Place Pre Junior Cullen Merrell Blue Ribbon 4-H

Without Frosting Cakes First Place Senior Erin Laroe Blue Ribbon 4-H

Desserts First Place Pre Junior Preston Jelinek 4-H Horse Club

Desserts First Place Junior Holden Boulware Zavalla 4-H

Desserts First Place Senior Emily Laroe Blue Ribbon 4-H

Cheesecakes First Place Junior Parker Vinson Huntington 4-H

Cheesecakes First Place Senior Railey Oates Central 4-H

Cookies First Place Junior Charles Arnold 4-H Horse Club

Cookies First Place Senior Miranda Alsbrooks Hudson FFA

Bar Cookies First Place Pre Junior Anna Hancock Blue Ribbon 4-H

Bar Cookies First Place Junior Taylor Brazil Blue Ribbon 4-H

Bar Cookies First Place Senior Kendall Jackson 4-H Horse Club

Pies First Place Pre Junior Austin Belschner Blue Ribbon 4-H

Pies First Place Junior Meg Harris 4-H Horse Club

Pies First Place Senior Brent Harvey Hudson FCCLA

Quick Breads First Place Pre Junior Ian Hancock Blue Ribbon 4-H

Quick Breads First Place Junior Addison Dodd Huntington 4-H

Quick Breads First Place Senior Kimberlin Arnold 4-H Horse Club

Yeast Breads First Place Junior Matthew Gorman 4-H Horse Club

Not Pictured: Frosted Cakes First Place Pre Junior: Abby Bryson, Blue Ribbon 4-H /// Without Frosting Cakes First Place Junior: Reed Smith, Hudson FFA /// Cookies First Place Pre Junior: Lila Knapp, 4-H Horse Club /// Yeast Breads First Place Senior: Jackson Vier, 4-H Horse Club

photography by Laurie Cordray

PLACES & FACES :

Eye

written by Emily Courtney

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : Nature's

planning to plan

s wildlife biologists and consultants, writing management plans is our bread and butter. It’s what we do, and we love what we do. Much more goes into constructing a management plan than actually sitting down and writing it, however. It’s a process that begins with defining a vision for your property, with the next step being a site assessment. As I mentioned before, we love writing plans. However, that wasn’t always the case. My first experience with management plans was not pleasant at all, and it has taken a lot of time and experience to understand and appreciate what an irreplaceable tool they are. During my forestry schooling at Mississippi State, my classmates and I were subjected to a ritual known as “summer camp”. For most people, summer camp carries a positive connotation. Images of bunkhouses by a serene lake, hikers on mountain trails, and kids huddled around campfires typically come to mind. For students enrolled in the Forestry major at MSU’s College of Forest Resources, however, no other phrase in the English language can strike as much fear or cause as much anxiety as those two words. As a freshman and sophomore, you hear horror stories about it, but you think to yourself, “Oh they’re full of it, surely

nothing called summer camp can really be that bad.” That’s how they get you. You’re lulled into a false sense of security by the benign name, and before you know it, you’re in the middle of a blackberry thicket, trying to wrap a D-tape around the four millionth loblolly pine you’ve touched that week, with poison ivy welts burning on both hands and sweat pouring into your eyes. Then, once you finally finish taking all your plots and reach the relief of Thompson Hall, you realize that relief was only an illusion. After a solid eight hours of tromping around some of the gnarliest woods in North Mississippi, with that deep south humidity sucking the life right out of you, you are then expected to sit in a computer lab into the wee hours of the morning to enter your data and complete a management plan. At the time, this seemed completely absurd and unreasonable, if not downright barbaric and torturous. So, with very little effort whatsoever, I grew to loathe writing management plans. They were the bane of my existence for those several weeks of the summer of ’07, and I made no attempt to hide that fact when writing them. I shudder to think of some of the plans I turned in that summer. Of course looking back on the experience now, I can recognize the effectiveness of the teaching methods used and appreciate the miraculous way I actually happened to learn something

82 | E d u c a t i o n 2 0 1 6

through such agonizing conditions. Our beloved professor, the late Dr. Robert Parker, dedicated so much of his career to creating the experience known as summer camp, and thus molded generations of forestry students into competent professionals. He no doubt knew how much we all hated it while we were enduring it, and he loved that we hated it. But he knew we would learn what he wanted to get through to us. And so we did, we learned how to write a management plan. Seven years down the road and a fair bit of experience later, the hate has worn off considerably. It turns out that writing plans isn’t so bad when you’re not doing it at 1am after cruising timber all day. Nowadays, our plans resemble nothing of the hurried, cut-and-dried reports of our summer camp days. We get to take our time with it, really explore a property, and figure out ways to tap into it’s hidden potential. Dare I say it? It’s even fun. The process of exploring what’s out there, finding clues the critters leave behind, and envisioning how to make life a little easier on them is an incredibly satisfying experience. As humans, we were entrusted with the task of stewardship over the earth and every living thing that inhabits it. That’s a pretty heavy responsibility, and I don’t believe it was meant to be taken

as a passive request. We were instructed to “have dominion over” (which in my mind is loosely translated to “actively manage”) creation. If you’re a landowner or manager, this really hits home. The best way to actively manage is to be organized and intentional. To me, this means having a management plan. A plan can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, and can take a wide variety of forms. It should be tailored specifically to your property based on your goals. It may be a habitat restoration plan, a timber harvesting schedule, or a landscaping design. It could even be a business plan for a cattle ranching operation. Whatever your main focus is, we can take those goals and incor porate them into a comprehensive management strategy that encompasses the entire ecosystem of your property.Management plans typically include sections that describe property history, detail the site assessment, discuss improvements that can be made, and outline a monitoring and maintenance schedule for some period of time into the future. A written plan will serve as a guide and provide a handle for all of those ideas and visions floating around in your head. Regardless of which type of plan it is or what it looks like, it is a vitally important step in the management process, and every property should have one. Just think about it this way, you wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, or take a road trip without consulting a map or GPS. We feel that a written plan for managing property is just as important.

83 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m

brought to you by XILE Fitness

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : Fitness

What’s Not to Love about Burpees?

f you are looking for one exercise that will work the most muscle groups and tremendously improve conditioning, you wouldn’t find any one better than the burpee. The burpee is a simple exercise that can be done most anywhere with no equipment, but will pack a punch when it comes to providing a killer workout. Burpees develop total body strength, give you a great ab workout, and hugely improve your stamina. The benefits of burpees easily translate into all other sports or activities. They can be an entire workout on their own or easily added to any workout routine to increase the intensity. Burpees are fairly easy to execute, but good mechanics must be priority to avoid injury. Improperly performing one burpee may not cause much damage, but multiple poorly executed reps over time could. 1 Start from standing with hips completely open 2 Bring your hands to the floor slightly

in front of your feet, be sure to keep your heels down to avoid putting your knee in a bad position 3,4 Jump your feet back into a proper push up position with elbows tucked in close to your body and drop your hips and chest to the floor simultaneously. Keep your core engaged to not let your back drop into an unsafe position. 5 Immediately reverse the movement, push up and use your hips to throw your feet back to your hands. Make sure to plant your whole foot NOT landing on your toes with knees forward 6 Open your hips and jump

Give these fun burpee workouts a try for an intense workout at home or anywhere… DEATH BY BURPEE-

Start with a running clock and perform 1 burpee on min 1, 2 burpees on min 2, 3 on min 3 and so on. Continue on this pattern until you are no longer able to complete the required amount of burpees in the minute. TABATA BURPEE-

It’s really as simple as learning to safely and effectively drop to the floor using your body weight and jump back to standing! A coach can provide several different modifications when needed to accommodate for inadequate mobility and/or beginners to ensure safe and proper movement.

Perform 8 sets of 20 seconds max burpees and 10 seconds rest for a super intense workout in under four minutes. EVERY MINUTE ON THE MINUTE (EMOM)-

Start day one by performing three burpees every minute on the minute for ten minutes. Each day you do this work out, add one burpee. For example, the next time you would perform four burpees every minute on the minute for ten minutes. Build up by one rep each time until you reach ten burpees every minute for ten minutes. 100 BURPEES FOR TIME-

Just that! Set a clock and time yourself performing 100 burpees. Retest after several weeks of training to improve your score.

XILE Fitness • 7001 E State Hwy 103 • (936) 465-0186 • Follow us on

written by Luke Tarbutton

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : Tactical

knowledge is power T he only thing that saves men from repeating the past is learning about it. We study history, philosophy, and sociology so we don’t make the same mistakes our ancestors did. George Santayana reminds us, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” These words are not to be heard and let go. Our history as a people is not written by some story teller being made up in an office somewhere. It is written by our own actions and ignorance. We can look through history and see the same mistakes being made over and over again. It is only when we educate our selves that we rise above our collective history. This is a universal truth that passes through all barriers. There is nothing that doesn’t tie together in this field. This also ties to the field of shooting and arms. When will we realize that we are doomed to repeat our mistakes if we don’t look at our past and educate our selves on truth, not blind hate. Learn not only about proper firearm handling, but also learn the correct name and mechanics of the firearms you talk about and use. When you speak out of ignorance you not only make yourself look like a fool, but all those with the same cause. All of you gun enthusiast out there, you hunters, shooters, sportsmen, and competition shooters, you all are the front line of defense against ignorance in this country. There are always classes out there to help you get the knowledge

you need. The NRA offers a Basic Pistol Course which will teach you all of the basic knowledge you need to know about a pistol. There are also basic rifle and shotgun courses out there for you to bump up your knowledge. Then keep it going with some advanced courses that deal more with proper firearm handling and proper shooting tactics. Another thing that is extremely important to learn are the laws of the state and country in which you live. Here in the great state of Texas we have recently gone through some changes in our gun laws and the carry laws. I have heard some disturbing things coming from gun enthusiasts about the laws in this state. The lack of education that is out there is frightening. The amount of pain that this ignorance can cause is through the roof. Open carry is now legal in the state of Texas, and there are other laws that have changed and are changing. The State of Texas makes it extremely easy to find the law and changes that are made to it. Simply look up http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/ Search.aspx and search for what you need to know. Education is what saves our inalienable human rights. Knowledge is the only thing that saves our rights that we have in this world. Never stand bye and let someone take what is rightfully yours. Stand up for yourself with truth and knowledge. As a shooter, Instructor, hunter, and a father, I want the net generation of shooters to have the same rights we have.

SPORTS & OUTDOORS : Trophy

Trey Tolar with javelin harvested on 12/20/15 in Kinney County. Pictured with Billy Tolar.

Olivia Williams. First Deer.

Trey Tolar with 8 pt buck harvested with rifle on 11/8/15 in Tyler County.

Madison Tolar with her first ever deer. Taken on 11/7/15 with rifle in Tyler County. (L-R) Huxley, Jackson, & Madison.

Bobby Tolar with 11pt buck harvested with rifle on 12/23/15 in Kinney County. (L-R) Bobby, Jackson, Madison, and Huxley.

Room

Bobby Tolar with 10 pt buck harvested with bow on 10/12/15 in Kinney County.

Jackson May, 8. 8 pt buck. Bone Hill Hunting Club.

Send a photo of your trophy hunt & information to photos@tjmag.com. Submissions are free of charge. 87 | TJ M a g & C o • t j m a g . c o m