Lufkin LIVING THE LIFE - Lufkin Printing Company
Transcription
Lufkin LIVING THE LIFE - Lufkin Printing Company
Lufkin Lufkin CULTUR E ◆ E NT ERTAI N M EN T ◆ C U I SINE 2 016 E LIFE H LIVING T L I F E i n LU F K I N a n d A N G E L I NA C O U N T Y Proudly Serving East Texas Wright www.wrightdeal.com 1703 S. First St. • Lufkin, TX 75901 • (936) 637-2500 Black Stainless Y O U R H O M E S AY S A L O T A B O U T Y O U . W E ’ R E H E R E TO L I S T E N . Your home is a reflection of you. Ferguson’s product experts are here to listen to every detail of your vision, and we’ll work alongside you and your designer, builder or remodeler to bring it to life. Our product experts will help you find the perfect products from the finest bath, kitchen and lighting brands in the world. Request an appointment with your own personal Ferguson product expert and let us discover the possibilities for your next project. Visit Ferguson.com/showrooms to get started. LUFKIN 2934 S JOHN REDDITT DR (936) 632–1177 ©2016 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. 0116 92027 FERGUSON.COM/SHOWROOMS 1 contents 2016 events 7 20 12 32 14 FOCUS ON FUN 7 DATES TO REMEMBER 18 downtown YOU CAN GO DOWNTOWN 20 originals Museum of east texas 30 The history center 32 naranjo museum of natural history 34 Ellen trout zoo 36 Texas Forestry museum 38 Angelina – The Little Angel 39 joe lowery 40 the fued 42 40 farmer’s market 44 Libraries46 lake sam rayburn 46 game on angelina college athletics 48 Former Panthers in NFL 50 golf in east texas 52 top grade 46 44 Lufkin - Living the Life is an annual publication designed to promote Lufkin and the surrounding area. The magazine features points of interest, exhibits, things to do, as well as highlights the extraordinary attributes of Lufkin and Angelina County. It is our goal that the magazine be well-circulated to provide exciting facts and information about our unique area and that it is used as a valuable recruitment and promotional tool for Lufkin. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Kevin Smithhart DISTRIBUTION Copies of LUFKIN - Living the Life may be obtained from Lufkin Printing Company, Inc., area hotels, the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Lufkin Visitor & Convention Bureau, and area businesses. Publisher LUFKIN PRINTING company, Inc. Lufkin - Living the Life, is published annually by Lufkin Printing Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright ©2016. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. While we have made every attempt at accuracy, please contact us about corrections for future editions. Information herein has been gathered from sources deemed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed. Publisher is not responsible for printing logos and trademarks instructed for use by advertisers. For more information, contact Lufkin Printing Company, Inc. at 936-634-3337. Contributors SHEILA ADAMS, MELISSA CRAGER, CATHY CABRERA, Jonathan Gerland, Gordon Henley, Jerry Huffman, JEANELLE MCCALL, PAULA METZINGER, MARY ANN NARANJO, GARY STALLARD, JENNIFER STEVENS, LYNN TORRES, TARA WATSON-WATKINS, JACKIE ZIMMERMAN ABOUT THE COVER East Texas is a land of beauty and wonder. Joe Lowery has been dedicated to sharing its wonders through his award-winning photography. PRODUCTION Design Director Jeanelle Mccall How to reach us: Lufkin Printing Company, Inc. P.O. Box 589 Lufkin, Texas 75902 (936) 634-3337 (office) (936) 632-8490 (fax) customerservice@lufkinprinting.com Lufkin ISD 54 78 angelina college 56 to your health Medical hub of east texas 58 Woodland Heights Medical Center 60 CHI St. Luke’s Health 62 good works pinecrest retirement community 65 Lufkin Economic Development Corp67 angelina county airport 68 small business development center69 george h. henderson, jr. expo center71 Wood Blueberry Farm 72 did you know Boykin springs Bouton Lake Ratcliff Lake Davy Crockett Forest Hiking trails neches-davy crockett paddling trail cassels-boykin park 75 75 77 77 78 79 information ADVERTISERS81 CONTACT INFORMATION 83 3 TAG HEUER CARRERA AUTOMATIC DIAMONDS Cara Delevingne challenges rules. Being free-minded is her motto. Like TAG Heuer, she defies conventions and never cracks under pressure. 2016 welcome to in’s central tiful city! With Lufk au be r ou r fo e em th great have so many Living the Life is a is easy to see why we it ; ys wa gh hi or aj to m location and access visit, but visitors. only a great place to t no it e ak m to ts gredien itals are well Lufkin has all the in l facilities and hosp ica ed m ur O e. tir re well as to raise a family as Texans. the needs of all East to ve iti ns se d an ing, coupled with managed ith store front park w s er nt ce ng pi op Texas We have major sh tion in the center of ca lo ur O s. om ro a d quiet te oor adventure, great restaurants an portunities for outd op s ou er m nu es id prov serenity of the Forest Country, also joying the peaceful en to s, er riv d an s lake from fishing in our e ourselves in the Pineywood forests. top notch. We prid is ity un m m co r ou the next step Education in and train them for n re ild ch r ou e at at educ m in Lufkin and excellent schools th our education strea of rt pa l ta vi a is e leg in life. Angelina Col ess. opportunity for succ nt finest provides an excelle imed as one of the cla ac o, Zo t ou Tr e to Ellen 0 wild and Lufkin is also hom o is home to over 80 Zo t ou Tr len El n. e natio small city zoos in th around the world. bustling exotic animals from be shopping at our it r he et wh ... ne yo ng for ever g down Lufkin has somethi t downtown, canoein an br vi r ou h ug ro olling th ion, jobs, Farmers Market, str Healthcare, educat l. ea m od go a ng yi enjo e our City the the Neches River, or and restaurants mak s op sh of t lis g in ow recreation and a gr live. friendliest place to Sincerely, Mayor Bob Brown WE CATER! Air Conditioning • Refrigeration • Ice Machines Restaurant Equipment Repair Business & Sales Meetings Schools Churches Weddings & More “Residential, Commercial And Industrial Service” 639-4917 2590 Ted Trout Drive • Lufkin SERVICE ON ALL MAKES & MODELS Estimates Cheerfully Made Without Obligation (On Replacement & New Equipment) Financing Available Premier Dealer TACLA 005544C South Loop Crossing 4605 S. Medford Dr. Lufkin 936.634.2237 www.AR-Services.com the adVaNCed FINaNCIaL GROUP Lufkin Lufkin Lufkin Living Living Living 2016 2016 2016 Our Our Ourlife, life, life, with with withno no no worries. worries. worries. Dependability. Integrity. •• Invest with Confidence. Stocks • Bonds • Mutual Funds FDIC Insured Certificates of Deposit Government Securities • IRAs & Pension Rollovers Group & Individual Life, Health, & Disability Insurance Medicare Supplement & Long-Term Care Insurance Insured Tax Free Investments • Annuities Retirement & Estate Planning 1101 S. CHESTNUT STREET • LUFKIN, TEXAS 75901-4813 936/634-3378 • 1-888-835-3673 • FAX 936/639-4776 www.theadvancedfinancialgroup.com We We Welive live livethe the theway way waywe we wewant, want, want,doing doing doingthings things thingsthat that that make make makeus us ushappy. happy. happy.It’s It’s It’slife life lifeon on onthe the thesunny sunny sunnyside. side. side. 888-913-6056 888-913-6056 888-913-6056 mrcpinecrest.org mrcpinecrest.org mrcpinecrest.org PPPINE INE INE CCCREST REST REST securities offered through woodlands securities corp. member finra/sipc 1302 1302 1302 Tom Tom Tom Temple Temple Temple Drive Drive Drive • •Lufkin •Lufkin Lufkin 6 AL#000424 AL#000424 AL#000424 Bell Bell Bell Cabrera Cabrera Cabrera Creative Creative Creative Marketing Marketing Marketing Services Services Services • cathy@bellcabrera.com • cathy@bellcabrera.com • cathy@bellcabrera.com angelina arts alliance The Performing Arts are alive and well, and celebrating 15 years in Angelina County! Since its first season in September 2001, Angelina Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization, has brought to East Texas a diverse selection of more than 100 worldclass performing artists in a variety of disciplines: music, dance, and theater. Spanning the realms of jazz, country, classical ballet, world music and dance, choral, circus, and national tours of the most celebrated Broadway musicals, the Arts Alliance’s mission is to enrich the lives of the families in East Texas through the performing arts. Upcoming events in 2016: January 31, Frozen FunDay February 9, Black Violin- LMS February 23, Riverdance 20 Years: The Anniversary Tour March 17, The Annie Moses Band April 5, The Hot Sardines May 18 & 19, Mamma Mia! For tickets call 936-633-5454 or visit angelinaarts.org See You at The Show! Enrich-Entertain-Educate In 1996 a group of visionaries had a dream to bring a world-class performing arts venue to our community. Their goal was for families to see quality entertainment, at an affordable price, and not have to travel to the larger cities. These leaders, along with dedicated sponsors and long-time patrons have paved the way for the incredible arts culture we enjoy in Angelina County today. Angelina Arts Alliance’s home is the state-ofthe-art, 898- seat Temple Theater located on the Angelina College campus. It was built for the college and community to share in a joint partnership that benefits everyone, for both educational and entertainment events. The Performing Arts season begins in the fall and concludes in the spring with a Premier Series of 7-8 shows. The new season is announced in May and season tickets then become available for purchase. Patrons past favorites include: Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, STOMP, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, The Texas Tenors, Russian National Ballet and Glen Campbell. This season’s favorites are sure to include Riverdance 20 Years: The Anniversary Tour and the National Tour of the Broadway favorite Mamma Mia! Angelina Arts Alliance believes the arts are a rich source of learning and emotional development for the young people in our community and is a large part of their mission. Through their Schooltime Series, more than 65,000 students K-12 have experienced a performance at the Temple Theater. The series is connected to school curriculum, and seeks to advance the performing arts as a means of educating, challenging, and inspiring local students. Special events commence this season to celebrate their 15th anniversary —Mobilizing Our Community; an outreach event involving a collaboration with visual artist and actor Kevin Reese, with students and community members creating 15 Mobiles for public display---keep an eye out for them throughout Lufkin—they are both beautiful and inspirational! In January, Frozen FunDay, is FREE to the public and features the FROZEN sing-a-long movie and The Chipper Experience; Where Comedy & Magic Collide! You don’t want to miss this Arts and Entertainment Festival for the whole family. And in February Black Violin brings their genre-busting sounds to Lufkin Middle School for two Schooltime performances, and then a public concert for the family to experience together. It’s violin like you’ve never heard it before! Angelina Arts Alliance is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and supported by local foundations, businesses and individual members of our generous community. Find contact details on page 83. 7 TEXAS STATE FOREST FESTIVAL FUN, FOOD AND FAMILY– Texas State Forest Festival HAS IT ALL! ALDERMAN CAIN & NEILL Robert Alderman Jr. 936.633.4209 balderman@aldermancainlaw.com Robert T. Cain Jr. 936.633.4223 rcain@aldermancainlaw.com Erika L. Neill 936.633.4201 eneill@aldermancainlaw.com (936) 632-2259 122 East Lufkin Avenue Lufkin, Texas acnlaw.com 8 PLLC ATTORNEYS Begun in 1984, the Texas State Forest Festival is an annual event hosted by the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce. Held Wednesday through Sunday of the last full week in September, the Texas State Forest Festival is a five-day festival that attracts crowds of more than 25,000 people! The Texas State Forest Festival hosts competitions, to include: the East Texas Cheerleading Championships, the Southern Hushpuppy Championships, the East Texas Pom-Pom/Dance Team Competition, East Texas Got Talent, the Miss Forest Festival and Little Mr. Timberjack Pageant, and more. Recognizing Lufkin/Angelina County as the Forest Capital of Texas, the Timberworks Lumberjack Show provides festival goers an actionpacked show featuring the world’s top lumberjacks competing in events designed to challenge even the heartiest lumberjack. The Texas State Forest Festival has a Children’s Festival held each year by Angelina Beautiful/Clean designed to provide fun and education for the younger festival-goers. The Children’s Festival is home to the Travelin’ Train, a small train that gives children a ride around the festival grounds for no cost. There are food vendors with different types of foods, and a commercial vendors area where area businesses set up booths to advertise and sell products and services. The giant carnival also gives Texas State Forest Festival visitors a place to enjoy the Festival experience! For more information about the Texas State Forest Festival, contact the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, 1615 South Chestnut, Lufkin, TX 75901, at 936-634-6644 or visit www.texasforestfestival.com. neches river rendezvous The Neches River Rendezvous is a scenic 10-mile canoe trip down the Neches River scheduled on the first Saturday of June each year. This nature tourism event is designed to promote outdoor wilderness adventure in East Texas by framing a day of paddling with the panoramic Neches River and surrounding forests. Whether you’re a bird watcher or just need a relaxing day out of the house, the Neches River Rendezvous is the event for all ages. This adventure through the Texas Forest Country gives participants the opportunity to enjoy the wonder of the outdoors. Participants begin at North Boggy Slough and are shuttled by van to the river. The trip takes about four hours and afterwards, a hamburger lunch is provided. For more information contact the Lufkin/ Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, 1615 South Chestnut, Lufkin, TX 75901, (936) 634-6644 or visit www.LufkinTexas.org. “Particular People Prefer” Slaughter & Son, Inc. Paint, Floor & Wallcovering 907 Pershing Lufkin, Texas 75904 936/632-3212 9 Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit Lufkin’s annual holiday lighting ceremony is larger than life as a full size, fully functioning oil pumping unit decked out to resemble Rudolph the Red Nosed Photo: Jackie Zimmerman Reindeer lights up the night. Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit, an icon of Lufkin’s Christmas spirit, celebrated its 49th lighting anniversary with the 2015 lighting. A gift from GE Oil & Gas, and its employees, Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit is a Lufkin Mark 640, fully functioning oil pumping unit that precedes a 38-foot dump trailer in which Santa and presents are placed. The horse head of the unit reaches 45 feet in the air at its peak. The entire unit is painted red, and new for 2015 electricians changed to LED lights on the unit to not only 10 brighten it but also bring a more modern look. There are more than 700 Christmas lights, including those that make up Rudolph’s red nose. It takes about two and half days for a crew to put Rudolph together, and it takes an electrician about four days to install the holiday lights that outline the unit and make it shine. A 38-foot frameless Ultra Light II Dump Trailer is decorated to resemble Santa’s sleigh. While Lufkin Industries no longer manufactures trailers, this trailer continues to serve as the sleigh for the display. This equipment has become a symbol of the company’s dedication to the community and its holiday spirit. Also new this year, just for the lighting ceremony, was a miniature Rudolph and sleigh. The little Rudolph is about 6 feet tall and 7 feet long. It was the idea and work of the GE employees to set up the small Rudolph, with lights and a 5-foot sleigh, which they built. They wanted the community to have the opportunity to take a photo with the small Rudolph. That unit was moved to the grounds of GE’s Buck Creek rudolph facility following the lighting ceremony to remain through the holidays. When a fully functioning Lufkin Mark 640 unit turned into Rudolph, the unit was displayed in a different location around Lufkin each year, and several employees would gather to switch on the lights. About 20 years ago, the lighting of Rudolph became a celebration in which the community was invited to watch the lights come on and the unit begin pumping. The celebration has become a full 30-minute event during which Santa makes his official debut in Lufkin, Texas. The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and attracts about 3,000 parents and children. GE employees give out red antlers and a local Boy Scout Troop places the U.S. and Texas flags and leads the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Lufkin Community Band plays holiday favorites while cookies and milk are given to children. Then, about 5:30 p.m., the countdown begins to the actual lighting of the unit. Someone special is chosen each year to push the button to light Rudolph. The unit operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through the holiday season. GE Oil & Gas works on the things that matter in the oil and gas industry. In collaboration with our customers, we push the boundaries of technology to bring energy to the world. From extraction to transportation to end use, we address today’s toughest challenges in order to fuel the future. In Lufkin, Texas, GE designs, manufactures and services customengineered, high-performance gearing technology. St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church Rev. Fr. Joe Kannampuzha, Pastor 1611 Feagin Drive • Lufkin, Texas 75904 (936) 632-9100 Emergency Cell (936) 414-9800 • Fax: (936) 632-0627 Weekend Liturgies: Saturday: 5 pm (Eng.) Sunday: 7:30 am (Sp.) 10 am (Eng.) 6 pm (Eng.) Daily Mass: Tues.-Fri. • 12:15 pm Adoration: First Fridays • 9 am-5 pm Confessions: Wednesday: 11 am-12 pm Saturday: 4-4:45 pm Baptisms & Matrimony: By appointment 704 Webber • Lufkin • 936.639.2355 11 ANGELINA BENEFIT RODEO The Lufkin Host Lions Club has hosted the Angelina Benefit Rodeo for more than 50 years, raising more than $1,000,000 for community projects, including the Lufkin State Supported Living Center’s Volunteer Service Council. Held the last full weekend in April at the George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center, this annual Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo is recognized as one of the top five midsize venues by PRCA contestants. According to Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame member, “Mr. Rodeo,” Mike Mathis, “That’s because it has style, speed, color and class.” Events include steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Being one of the ten pro-tour PRCAsanctioned rodeos, Angelina Benefit Rodeo has hosted top names from the rodeo circuit, such as John S. Payne, the notorious One Arm Bandit. Angelina County children get in on the action, as well, in the annual Mutton Bustin’ competition. Each year, the Angelina Benefit Rodeo names a “Rodeo Hero” – a resident of the State Supported Living Center, where many of the proceeds go each year to help support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More than 300 volunteers make this event happen each year. For more information contact the Lufkin Host Lions Club at (936) 634-5438 or visit www. lufkinlions.com 12 PINEYWOODS PURGATORY The name “Purgatory” comes from being caught between the heaven of the East Texas countryside and the “hell” of having one more hill to climb. Through some of the most scenic areas found in Deep East Texas, cyclists traverse the winding hills of the Pineywoods Purgatory, an annual bike ride benefitting the Beth & Horace Stubblefield Learning Center. Since 1991, bike riders from across the nation have traveled to Lufkin to take part in the ride that helps students earn their high school diploma in a non-traditional setting. The ride consists of 24, 50, 72 and 102 mile routes, starting and ending at the George H. Henderson, Jr. Exposition Center. The hills, trees and scenic landscape aren’t the only attractions on the road. The “rest stops,” each with their own theme, provide Lufkin hospitality at its best. Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, neighbor! neighbo neighbor! neighbo Hello, Hello, neighbor! An avid cyclist, Garland “Bubba” Parise, wanted Lufkin to have a ride that rivaled the “big ones” in Texas. The Purgatory began in 1992 following a route Bubba and his friends often rode together. One year Jay Jackson CLU, Agent Please stop by and s 1605 S Chestnut Jay Jackson CLU,Drive Agent later, at the ageJay of 40, Bubba died Please stop by and s Jackson CLU, Agent Lufkin, TX 75901 1605 S Chestnut Drive I’m“Hi!” looking forward to s Please stop by and say, Jay Jackson, Bus: 936-632-4466 Lufkin, TX Agent 75901 1605 Chestnut Drive suddenly of an undiagnosed heart Jay Jackson CLU, AgentJay Jackson, AgentPlease I’m looking Please stop byforward andinsuranc say,to“s JaySJackson, Agent Please stop by say, and say, “Hi!” 1605 S Chestnut Driveby your needs for stop and say, “Hi!” 1605 S Chestnut Drive www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Bus: 936-632-4466 Please stop by and “Hi!” Lufkin, TX 75901 Lufkin, TX 75901 1605 S SChestnut Drive 1605 Chestnut Drive Lufkin, TX 75901 forward to serving your needs for insuranc JayI’m Jackson,looking Agent I’m looking forward to serv arrhythmia. Please stop by and say, “Hi!” www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 financial services. I’m looking forward to serving 1605 S Chestnut Drive Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 Lufkin, TX 75901 75901 Bus: 936-632-4466 Lufkin, TX www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Lufkin, TX looking 75901 I’m forward toto serving www.jayjacksoninsurance.com your needs for insurance a financial services. I’m looking forward serving I’m looking forward to serving your needs for insurance and your needs for insurance and Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 Like a good neighbor The Purgatory’s continued www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Bus: 936-632-4466 www.jayjacksoninsurance.com your needs for insurance and financial services. www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Like a good neighbor financial services. needs for insurance and your needs forfinancial insurance and State Farm is there. www.jayjacksoninsurance.com financial services. services. success is a living memorial to his LikeState a good neighbor, is there. Like aLike good neighbor, CALL Farm ME TODAY. a good neighbor, financial services. financial services. Like a good State Farm there. commitment to create the ultimate Stateneighbor, FarmFarm is there. CALL MEisTODAY. State is there. ® aaFarm good neighbor, Like good neighbor, CALL ME TODAY. CALLis ME TODAY. CALL ME TODAY. State there. cycling experience in the Pineywoods Jay Jackson CLU, Agent Please stop ® ® by and say, “Hi!” 1605 S Chestnut Drive Jay Jackson CLU, Agent Jay Jackson,is Agent Jay Jackson, Agent Jay Jackson, Agent Please stop by say, “Hi!” State Farm there. Please stop Please stop by and by say,and “H Please stop byand and say, “Hi!” isPlease there. Lufkin, TX 1605 75901 1605 Chestnut Drive 1605 Drive S Chestnut Drive 1605 SS Chestnut Chestnut Drive I’m looking forward to serving Jay Jackson, Agent Jay Jackson, Agent CALL ME TODAY. of East Texas. This year’s event will Please by and say, “H stop bystop and say, “Hi!” Lufkin, TX Bus: 936-632-4466 Lufkin, TX75901 75901 I’m looking forward to serving Lufkin, Lufkin, TX 75901 1605 SDrive Chestnut DriveTX 75901 1605Bus: S Chestnut I’m looking forward to serving your needs for insurance and 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Bus:936-632-4466 936-632-4466 I’m looking forward I’mforlooking forward to serv CALL ME TODAY. Bus: Toll Free: your 888-212-3072 Bus: 936-632-4466 TollME Free: 888-212-3072 Lufkin, TX 75901 Lufkin, TX 75901 needs insurance and www.jayjacksoninsurance.com CALL TODAY. be Saturday, October 1. www.jayjacksoninsurance.com needs for insurance financial services. I’m looking to serv I’myour looking forward toand serving www.jayjacksoninsurance.com www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 Bus: 936-632-4466 Toll Free: 888-212-3072 yourforward needs for insu your needs for insurance a financial services. financial services. Like a good neighbor, www.jayjacksoninsurance.com your www.jayjacksoninsurance.com your needs for insurance needs for insurance and a Like good financial services. financial services. StateaaFarm there. Like goodisneighbor, neighbor, State is there.services. financial financial services. CALL Farm ME TODAY. State Farm isathere. For more information contact Like aneighbor, good neighb Like good CALL ME TODAY. Like aneighbor, good neighbor, Like a ME good CALL TODAY. State Farm State Farm is there.is® there ® angelinaexpocenter.com or call StateisFarm is there.® State Farm there. 1001013.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL CALL ME TODAY. CALL ME TODAY. George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo at CALL ME TODAY. CALL ME TODAY. 1001013.1 1001013.1 State Farm, Home Office,Bloomington, Bloomington, State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL Farm, State IL IL 1001013 (936) 637-3976. neighbor! neighbor! Hello, neighbor! Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, neighb neighbor! Hello, neighbor! neighbor! neighbor! neighbor! neighbor! ® ® ® ® ® ® ® 1001013 ® State Farm, Bloomington, IL 13 1001013 State Farm, Bloomington, IL ANGELINA COUNTY AIR FEST Mark your calendar now for the 2nd Annual Angelina County Air Fest – Saturday, October 8, 2016! This airshow will feature aerial performances, displays, souvenirs, food vendors and more. Proceeds from the show benefit the Marine’s Toys for Tots campaign in Angelina and Trinity County. This past year the airshow featured a 1928 Ford AT4 Tri Motor, P51 Mustang, a Waco Biplane, F4U Corsair and a Russian Mig17. Go to www. visitlufkin.com to see what’s scheduled to appear this year and get your tickets today! We’ll Get You Started. What if you could create a bank that’s just right for you and your family? It would be strong, stable and offer all of the financial services you need for where you are in life. With BancorpSouth, you have a bank that’s just right for you. Whatever your financial needs, we’re here to help. Visit Us Today. Let’s Start a Relationship Together. Southern Colony | 2918 Brentwood | (936) 699-1205 West Loop | 500 S John Redditt Dr | (936) 699-5800 14 Yule Love Lufkin christmas festival Lufkin is giving East Texans a huge gift – a new four-day Christmas festival in downtown Lufkin. Mark your calendars for the Yule Love Lufkin Festival, Friday December 16th to Monday, December 19th, 2016. Yule Love Lufkin will feature a Friday night tree-lighting ceremony, outdoor Christmas movies, an ice-skating rink, breakfast with Santa and a human snow globe for family Christmas photos, all at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin. Check out www. visitlufkin.com for more details and come celebrate the holidays! Serving East Texas for Over 40 Years 3603 S. Medford • Lufkin 936.634.8361 15 Lufkin’S Bistro The Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 7th Annual Lufkin’s Bistro, will be held Saturday, October 1st in the heart of downtown Lufkin! Come enjoy an elegant and entertaining tasting event that will feature beer and wine from the nation’s top wineries and breweries, and food from Lufkin’s most accomplished chefs. Last year over 900 patrons from more than three states came to wine, dine and dance under the stars, and this year’s event promises to be just as fabulous. Don’t miss out on the fun – mark your calendars now for October 1, 2016. For more information on these exciting events, visit www.visitlufkin.com or contact the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau at 936.633.0349. Dr. Duncan Comprehensive Ophthalmology 16 ANGELINA COUNTY FAIR The Angelina County Fair has been an annual event for over 60 years and allows Angelina County students to present projects for competition in divisions of livestock, arts and crafts, home economics, ag mechanics, baking and photography. The event culminates with the Annual County Fair Auction where students sell their projects to local businesses and supporters. Held at the George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center in Lufkin, students from various 4-H, FFA, and FCCLA clubs compete in showing everything from heifers to broilers, plus cooking up great food entries, photography, arts and crafts, and much more. Throughout the week-long fair, over 1,100 Angelina County students proudly exhibit projects, in the hope of doing well and winning scholarship money for their hard work. Since its inception, the annual Fair auction has generated over $3 million to Angelina County students! The Youth Fair is officially a division of a new 501(c)(3) foundation called the Angelina County Fair! Additional events, a barbecue cook-off and a carnival, have been added and the event will continue to be expanded into a full-fledged county fair! For more information about the Angelina County Fair, call the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce at 936-634-6644 or visit www.angelinacountyfair.com MAKE THE MOVE. GET THE TECHNOLOGY YOU WANT. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU EXPECT. Malcolm Deason Senior Vice President Lending – Lufkin Open any of our checking accounts and bank with confidence knowing we have been providing the best hometown service combined with the latest banking technology for more than 60 years. Codie Jenkins Senior Vice President Lending – Lufkin Locally Owned Since 1953 18 Locations Throughout East Texas Reach any of our bankers at (936) 829-4721 | fbtet.com 17 dates to remember Mark your calendar Times Change... Values Don’t Checking Accounts Savings Accounts Interest Accounts Lines of Credit Business Banking Internet Banking 936.639.3201 1721 Tulane • Lufkin angelinabank.com est. 2000 Maricela’s Maricela’s DAY SPA FULL SERVICE HAIR SALON 121 N. First Street Lufkin, Texas 75901 NAILS • FACIALS • MASSAGES • SPA PACKAGES GIFT CERTIFICATES • OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY 936-699-2000 • 936-699-2001 www.maricelasdayspa.com 18 January 8 January 9 -10 January 21 February 4 February 5 February 6 February 6 February 11 February 12 February 13 February 18 February 22-27 February 23 February 28 March 4 March 8 March 17 March 19 April 1 April 5 April 7 April 8 April 16 April 20-23 April 28 April 28-29 April 30 May 6 May 11 May 13-14 June 3 June 4 June 4 June 6-Aug. 12 June 11 July 1 August 5 August 6 August 12 September 2 Sept. 21- 25 September 20 September 24 September 24 October 1 October 1 October 8 October 15 October 20 October 20 October 21-22 October 31 November 5 November 7 November 10 November 19 November 28 December 1 December 3 December 3 December 8 December 9 December 11 December 16-19 2016 The Iron Giant presented by Kicks 105- The Pines Theater Pineywoods Youth Rodeo - George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center Melinda Doolittle - The Pines Theater Arbor Day Tree Seedling Give-a-way P.S. I Love You presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater 5th Annual Corks & Forks- Abram’s Pineywoods Jamboree Classic County Show - The Pines Theater World Vision Presents Sandi Patty, Forever Grateful: The Farewell Tour - The Pines Theater Women’s Networking Luncheon - Crown Colony Club Leadership Lufkin Alumni Assn. Dueling Pianos - Pitser Garrison Convention Center Lufkin/Angelina County Day- Austin, TX Angelina County Fair- George H. Henderson, Jr. Exposition Center River Dance 20 Years: The Anniversary Tour - The Angelina Arts Alliance Oscar Night at the Pines Theater Twilight “Fun-Dub” presented by Kicks 105- The Pines Theater Music City Hit-Makers- The Pines Theater The Annie Moses Band- The Angelina Arts Alliance Junior League of Lufkin “Touch a Truck” - Expo Center The Wizard of Oz presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater The Hot Sardines - The Angelina Arts Alliance Jane Monheit - The Pines Theater Women’s Networking Luncheon- Crown Colony Country Club Downtown Hoedown- Downtown Lufkin Angelina Benefit Rodeo - Expo Center Women in Red Luncheon - Convention Center Angelina County Science & Tech Fair - Expo Center Zoo Brew- Ellen Trout Zoo Fireproof presented by Kicks 105- The Pines Theater Expo Party- George H. Henderson, Jr. Exposition Center Texas Big Game Awards Banquet- Pitser Garrison Convention Center Top Gun presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater Neches River Rendezvous - North Boggy Slough Pineywoods Jamboree Classic Country Show - The Pines Theater Art Camp - Museum of East Texas Clay Shoot, American Cancer Society – Pines Gun Club The Matrix presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater The Fifth Element presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater Pineywoods Jamboree Southern Gospel Show - The Pines Theater Women’s Networking Luncheon - Crown Colony Country Club The Godfather presented by Kicks 105 - The Pines Theater Texas State Forest Festival - Expo Center Jaci Velasquez - The Pines Theater Dinner and Dancing Under the Stars - Museum of East Texas Pineywoods Jamboree Legends Tribute - The Pines Theater Pineywoods Purgatory - Expo Center Lufkin’s Bistro - Downtown Lufkin Angelina County AirFest Cattle Baron’s Gala The Hit Men - The Pines Theater The Power of Pink Luncheon- Convention Center Zoo Boo - Ellen Trout Zoo Mainstreet Halloween Trick or Trick - Downtown Lufkin Pineywoods Veterans Celebration and Parade - Downtown Lufkin Angela Primm - The Pines Theater Salute to Healthcare Banquet- Convention Center Rudolph the Pumping Unit Lighting Ceremony Christmas Parade- Downtown Lufkin CASA Tour of Homes 40th Annual Member’s Gala- Museum of East Texas Pineywoods Jamboree A Country Christmas- The Pines Theater Dailey & Vincent- The Pines Theater Women’s Networking Luncheon- Crown Colony Country Club Family Day- Museum of East Texas Yule Love Lufkin Christmas Festival CORKS AND FORKS The fifth annual Corks and Forks is a downtown tasting event that promises to be a night to remember! Lufkin’s finest chefs will showcase their tastiest appetizers and desserts paired with great wine and champagne! Come enjoy a night of elegance and fun while enjoying live music by Bryan Harkness and Band on Saturday, February 6th. Go to visitlufkin.com for more detailed information. Have you been to The Temple? Lufkin’s State-of-the-Art Performing Arts Theater! Temple Theater/Angelina College Campus Celebrating 15 Years of Great Performances Featuring World-Class Performances from around the world Patrons past favorites: Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, STOMP, The Texas Tenors, and Russian National Ballet Upcoming events in 2016: Years For Tickets call 936-633-5454 angelinaarts.org MammaMiaNort TM hAmerica.com Follow us on facebook.com/Ma mmaMiaNorthAm © LITTLESTAR 15 • JANUARY 31 Family FunDay – FREE Frozen Sing-A-Long movie/Magic Show • FEBRUARY 23 Riverdance Anniversary Tour • MARCH 17 Annie Moses Band • MAY 18-19 Mamma Mia National Tour erica 19 THE PINES THEATER In 1925, The Pines Theater opened for business in downtown Lufkin. From first dates to Ellis Chiropractic 1302 S. Medford Dr. ~ Exit Ford Chapel 936.639.1488 ~ www.ellischiropractic.com The Right Choice Can Change Everything 20 first jobs and everything in between, over the years, the theater provided many memories for those who frequented the movie house. Sadly, the historic landmark closed its doors in the 1970’s. During the years the theater was closed, it served as a meeting place for the Covenant of LoveOutreach church. In 1988, The Pines Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Lufkin eventually purchased the theater in 2007. In 2009, the City of Lufkin began renovation on the historic Pines Theater in downtown Lufkin. After almost three years of restoration, the theater was set to open to the public in December 2012 with an inaugural performance by Paul Byrom and Jennifer Holiday in January opening The Pines Presents 2013 series. During its first three seasons, The Pines Presents series hosted a variety of performers from Celtic Nights, Harlem Gospel Choir, and the most highly acclaimed female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, Sandi Patty. The Pines Presents 2016 season is proud to host performers such as Jane Monheit, The Hit Men, Dailey and Vincent, Jaci Velasquez and many more. Tickets for The Pines Presents series range from $30-$35 and can be purchased online at www. thepineslufkin.com or by calling (936) 633-0359. The Pines Theater also shows classic movies several times a month. Check out the movie line up at www.thepineslufkin.com. Tickets for movies are just $5 and concessions are available. The classic and charming Pines Theater can also be rented for events from corporate meetings to weddings and everything in between. More information regarding movies and events happening at the Pines Theater can be found online at www.thepineslufkin.com or by calling (936) 633-0359 or (936) 633-0279. 21 FESTIVALS, LIGHTS AND FLAGS HERITAGE FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN Hoedown Downtown Lufkin comes alive for Main Street Lufkin’s Downtown Hoedown held this year on the third Saturday in April. The day begins with a parade, then folks mingle downtown all day through city streets filled with arts and craft vendors, food, children’s activities and entertainment. Spread out over several city blocks the fun never stops from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A giant slide, classic car show, fashion show, train rides, petting zoo and pony rides add to the fun. There is no admission charge. Monies raised through the Downtown Hoedown are put back into the revitalization programs for downtown Lufkin. We are all different, yet we are all alike! We come from many backgrounds and cultures but we are one community. Join us for the City of Lufkin’s Heritage Festival as we celebrate the many cultures that make Lufkin such a wonderful and diverse place to live, work and play. Held the third Saturday in October at the Lufkin Convention Center, the Heritage Festival is a sensory wonderland with ethnic foods to taste, plus music and colorful costumes from the cultures and countries represented in Angelina County. entertainment in the park Join us every Friday in October at Cotton Square Park to kick off your weekend with a little music and an affordable lunch provided by a local restaurant. Whether your tastes run to country, Southern gospel, jazz, rock and roll classics or just good music, you’ll enjoy the free concerts and start your weekend with a song in your heart! FLAG DAY LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE Everyone loves a parade and the Main Street Lufkin Lighted Christmas Parade is one of the best. The parade winds through the downtown streets of Lufkin with all the sights and sounds of the holiday season. First, second and third place prizes are awarded in commercial and non-commercial divisions. Santa always has a place of honor on the float awarded for “Best Theme Interpretation.” The parade helps bring in the holiday season as Main Street Lufkin says “Merry Christmas” to the community! 22 Strike up the band and come celebrate with Main Street as we honor our nation’s flag and the freedoms it represents. Flag Day is June 14th and each year Main Street Lufkin sponsors a patriotic celebration of our flag and nation’s heritage. Held in the atrium of Lufkin City Hall, the brief ceremony features music, speakers and closes with the “Pause for the Pledge” at 6 p.m. Light refreshments are served following the program. For more information on these events, visit www.mainstreetlufkin.com or contact the Main Street office at 933-633-0205. Restoration wine bar Lufkin’s hottest little eatery and watering hole boasts an extensive wine list, a reasonably priced menu and friendly faces, making it the perfect choice for lunch with colleagues or a night out on the town. The Restoration Wine Bar is a cozy spot with eclectic furniture, exposed brick and beams, and an ample outdoor patio. The downtown attraction draws in Lufkin natives, as well as out-of-towners checking out the local flair. Manager April Unsell and her team of ten bartenders, waiters and cooks have worked at the restaurant and bar since it opened on New Year’s Eve 2013. The restaurant is open to families with children until 5 p.m. They offer a different lunch special every day, as well as to-go orders. Brunch is served Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon., and they are open on Sundays and Mondays for private parties only, catering included. “We have foods on the menu that no one else has – flatbread pizzas, Mediterranean and Greek foods – to your classics like burgers and BLTs,” Unsell said. “All of it is fresh and homemade. We even have some gluten-free items, which people seem to really like.” But it’s the bar’s wide-ranging, but not overwhelming, wine list that is the real charm. Unsell said they carry 80 varieties of wines including Prisoner, Cakebread, Blackstone and Kendall Jackson. They also serve up sangria, mimosas, and 30 different kinds of beers. “We have a different wine for everybody, from sweets to blends, from $5 a glass to $18 a glass. You can buy a bottle for $20 or a bottle for $150,” Unsell said. Not sure what you like? No problem. “We’ll give you a sample until you find something you like.” Think you know your favorite drink? Just wait. “We encourage you to come in and try something different. If a customer asks for something like a White Zinfandel, I tell them, ‘ I have it, but I want you to try something different. I bet you I can find something else you’d like.’” Live, local music is featured every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m., including an open mic night on Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. “We have some really good talent around here. They set up in the corner; we’ve even had people start dancing right here in the restaurant,” Unsell said. “It’s a lot of fun.” What was once a place deemed only for law offices and antique shops, downtown Lufkin has transformed into the perfect place to browse through (See RESTORATION page 80) MARKET MARKET M Vintage and Modern Inspired 108 North First Street Lufkin, Texas 75901 (936) 635-0120 23 Angelina hotel Once the crown jewel of East Texas, the Angelina Hotel was alive with the sights and sounds of the Roaring 20s. The red-bricked, five-story hotel bore witness to big bands, grand galas and glittering dresses in its massive ballroom on the second floor. Many longtime Lufkin residents recall fond memories of events hosted in the ballroom – from 24 wedding rehearsals, Senior Proms, and meetings with various civic organizations. The first event hosted in the Angelina Hotel ballroom was for a Lumbermen’s convention of about 30 people according to a newspaper article on the day of its opening. “The building of this splendid five-story fire proof hotel, entirely by local capital, is keeping with the natural growth of the city in order to meet the demands of the public. Realizing that no town can Angelina hotel progress without adequate hotel facilities, several of our progressive businessmen set about to secure a suitable site and organize a company for the purpose of erecting a hotel that would meet the demands of the public with the result a complete success.” However, with many of today’s local hotels residing on the south side of the city, the Angelina Hotel fell into disrepair and became a major eyesore. Local entrepreneur, Mark Hicks, has spent the past several years restoring a multitude of buildings in downtown Lufkin, and with the revitalization, new life has sprung up in the city’s historic area. His newest project – to repurpose the hotel and which Hicks likens to a scene out of the 1997 hit movie Titanic. When Hicks purchased the building several years ago, he had every intention of restoring the area and bringing back the flair of the old ballroom for Lufkin’s newest venue. The first floor of the Angelina Hotel is already home to local shops and the Restoration Wine Bar. The second phase of construction, which includes the ballroom and loft apartments on the second and third floors, began at the start of 2016. When completed, the ballroom will connect to Restoration Wine Bar as a special events venue. For All All Your Your Insurance Insurance Needs... Needs... For Serving East Texas for over half a cEnTury! your Independent Insurance agent who serves you first. (936) 632-4496 1204 S. First St. • Lufkin, Texas Ben Bartlett and Jeff Horn www.bbsins.com Insurance Commercial and Personal Insurance DAVIS INSURANCE vis, Agent avis, Agent restore the ballroom to its original 1920s style – has high hopes to meet Lufkin’s 21st-century demands as the capstone to the downtown restoration. “The ballroom in the Angelina Hotel was one of Lufkin’s very first upscale venues,” Hicks said. “All sorts of events have been hosted there through the years – the Lions Club met there, the Rotary Waffle Bake was there. My grandparents even had their rehearsal dinner there. I want to bring the ballroom back to the look and feel of the 20s, just as it was.” With the decline of the Angelina Hotel in its later life, so went the ballroom. A leak in the roof caused major damage to the once festive room, Independent Insurance Agent ® BBS Bartlett, Baggett & Shands 25 26 ANGELINA Maricela’s Day Spa NORTH FIRST Behannon’s Event Venue 205 N. Fourth • 936. 632.6400 FRANK NORTH Abram’s Event Venue 112 S. First St. • 936. 632.6400 Market to Market Behannon’s Event Venue NORTH FOURTH No place finer than downtown Sew Junkies 124 S. First St. • 936.632.6032 Maricela’s Day Spa 121 N. First St. • 936.699.2000 Market to Market 108 N. First St. • 936.635.0120 Restoration Wine Bar 210 S. First St. • 936.632.0210 Rubie & Jane Bridal Boutique 104 S. First St. • 936.637.1084 LUFKIN AVE Rubie & Jane Bridal Boutique Twisted Sisters Abrams Event Venue Sew Junkies The Lodge Event Venue W. SHEPHERD The Lodge Event Venue 104 W. Shepherd • 936. 632.6400 The Pink Leopard Restoration Wine Bar Jeanelle McCall © 2012 The Pink Leopard 202 S. First St. • 936.632.7373 Twisted Sisters 110 S. First St. • 936.632.5538 BURKE 27 cONVENTION center The City of Lufkin prides itself on providing a beautiful facility and meeting place for a variety of gatherings. Over the past year, the Pitser Garrison Convention Center has been a busy place. This beautiful new convention center serves our community as one of the largest meeting places in town. The new updated venue is available for a variety of gatherings from meetings/conventions to weddings. Located in historic downtown, the recently expanded 35,000- totalsquare foot facility has served host to a variety of events. In 2014 and 2015, we were thrilled to welcome everyone from the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association and the Texas Forestry Association to the 28 Texas Big Game Convention and lots in between. All in all, we welcomed over 7,000 visitors to the Pitser Garrison Convention Center for conventions and let them experience our friendly town. Bottom line – nearly $291,000 were spent in Lufkin during those events, over 10,700 room nights and we generated more than $69,000 in sales tax revenue. The Convention Center is proud to be the new home to the Yule Love Lufkin Christmas Festival which will feature ice skating, a human snow globe, breakfast with Santa, gingerbread building contests, vendors and much more. Go to www.visitlufkin.com for more detailed information and dates for the upcoming year! What organizations are you associated with? Do you travel to conferences each year for work or pleasure? We’d love to host your convention or group at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center. Pictures of the new, updated convention center are available at www.visitlufkin.com under Meetings and Conventions. For booking information, contact the Pitser Garrison Convention Center, 601 N. Second Street, Lufkin, TX 75901, (936) 633-0279. Big Thicket Brewery For the first time ever, Angelina County is home to its own craft beer brewery. The Big Thicket Brewery, located in downtown Lufkin, is the brainchild of a Lufkin attorney who loves to cook and a home brewer with a love for science. After being introduced by mutual friends in August 2012, Jeremy Crew and Corey Crawford bonded over their love of Belgian-style craft beers. In just a few months, the two mapped out a business plan, solidified a few recipes, decided on a logo and were on their way to obtain the federal and state permits. “We were basically introduced as here’s another guy who likes beer,” Crew said. “One of us said it would be fun to do a brewery in East Texas. Fast forward a few months to February 2013, everything was official and incorporated.” Over the next year and a half, the city of Lufkin zoned the new business. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permits were finalized. Equipment was purchased. Renovations on the downtown location were completed, and the specialized beers began brewing. Crawford had been making his own beer for years after he and his brother bought a small home brewing kit. “I got hooked and thought, ‘This is my beer replacement,’” Crawford said. “I got more sophisticated and started paying more attention to the science and biology behind it.” Crew compares home brewing to experimenting with the culinary arts. “I like to experiment with flavors and different kinds of food,” Crew said. “I’ve been interested in craft beer since college. Once I got a little older and got into cooking, it just went with the drinks. Some people geek out on wine and know what wines go with which foods. I was always that way with beer.” The open air venue on Shepherd Avenue with large front windows and exposed brick boasts a mellow, lowkey atmosphere and showcases the giant vats used for mass production of the duo’s flagship ales. Brewing, bottling, labeling and shipping is all done from within the small storefront. In the Big Thicket Brewery tasting room, patrons can sample experimental beers, as well as those found in stores. Crawford and Crew also have nonalcoholic cream soda and root beer in their collection. “This isn’t a bar. It’s not a honky-tonk. It’s not a pool hall,” Crawford said. “It has a nice coffeehouse kind of feel to it.” The brewery’s tasting room opened in January 2015 and the response has been overwhelming. Unique flavor combinations such as pumpkin, bacon, coffee from neighboring Standpipe Coffeehouse, and lemongrass with ginger have been incorporated into different ales. In January 2015, Big Thicket Brewery set regularly scheduled hours for beer lovers to come in, hang out and buy a pint, or take a tour. “It has been very rewarding to see East Texas placed on the map for having its very own craft brewery,” said Crew. “Generally, only the larger cities have anything like this, so for Lufkin to have one is a huge deal. People will come from all over to see what we’re doing here.” Big Thicket Brewery produces dozens of ales in its tasting room and distributes three flagship ales - the Pineywood Pale Ale, Lonestar Electric IPA, and the Axe Guard Biere de Guarde - into the market. There will also be various seasonal offerings. You can get more information by following the Big Thicket Brewery on Twitter at @LufkinBeer, Instagram, and at www.BigThicketBrewery. com. 29 EXHIBITS THROUGH MAY 2016 The Museum of East Texas was established in 1976 as a cultural center so that the people, especially the children, of East Texas would have the same visual arts education and cultural enrichment opportunities as those in urban areas. The Museum is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is education through exhibitions of art and history. Originally housed in a historic 1906 church, a modern wing was added in 1991. The Museum has five galleries, a classroom, and the Mrs. E.W. Leach Performing Arts Center. Permanent collections include works by Texas, American, Latin American, and European artists. Additional holdings include a historic photographic collection of prints and negatives, textiles, artifacts, objects d’ art and period furnishings. The Museum offers a variety of public programs throughout the year. Exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and children’s events cover a wide range of interests. Visit www.metlufkin.org for more information. Jeanelle McCall A Little Red Ann Phifer Reyes Peaceful Places Kyley Cantwell Beasts of Peace, Songs of Rain Charles Jones and David Kulhavy Dirty Bugs: What’s That Lurking Out There! Angelina Photographic Association Doors, Windows, Gates 30 MUSEUM M OF EAST TEXAS James Abbott McNeill Whistler Realism in Print Permanent Collection of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Gift of Dr. Richard L. Shorkey La Marchand de Moutarde Charlotte Temple South of the Clouds: Rivers and Mountains Gau Po Terraces RETIREMENT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO SEE AROUND CORNERS. We can help you find answers so when it’s time to turn the corner toward retirement, there aren’t too many surprises. JIM WEST Branch Manager THOMAS E. DUNN Registered Principal SCOTT WEST Registered Sales Assistant TONJA CHILDERS Operations Assistant 1609 S. Chestnut St., Suite 103 Lufkin, Tx 75901 // O 936.637.2222 ©2015 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James ® 31 THE HISTORY CENTER Have you ever climbed Find contact details on page 83. 32 Exhibits change periodically to highlight portions of the Center’s collections and provide more insight into specific topics. The Reading Room is also open to patrons who wish to use the archival collections for historical and genealogical research. The History Center offers something of interest for train lovers, history buffs, genealogists, and the generally curious. Photos: Jonathan Gerland inside a real steam locomotive and pulled the whistle cord? Do you want to find out about your ancestors? Do you love history and East Texas? If so, then come visit The History Center! Located in Diboll, The History Center is a public history and archives center that collects, preserves, and makes available the history of our region for the educational use and benefit of present and future generations. Our research collections include manuscripts, business and local government records, maps, newspapers, oral histories, books, and more than 250,000 photographs. Exciting indoor and outdoor exhibits interpret the rich natural and cultural history of Angelina County and highlight the importance of the local forest products industry. A highlight of our outdoor exhibit is Engine 13, a 68-ton 1920 Baldwin locomotive formerly owned by the Texas Southeastern Railroad and Southern Pine Lumber Company. Visitors can climb in the engine, ring the bell and blow the whistle. The caboose is also open, and guests can walk through and view exhibits on local railroads. Inside, The History Center offers visitors a chance to learn about local history through permanent exhibits that tell the story of the Diboll community and its place in the forest products industry. The History Center is a public history and archives center that collects, preserves, and makes available the history of our region. Alene’s Florist & Home Decor Owner: Susie Carroway 1206 S. Chestnut • Lufkin, TX 75901 936.637.1337 Fax 936.637.0327 Email: alenesflorist@consolidated.net Ted A. Lankford, CPA Glenda J. Hiers, CPA Richard A. Rudel, CPA Yvette Sidnell, CPA Jennifer L. Webster, CPA Kimber Rhodes Jones, CPA Susan Murrell, CPA 4000 South Medford Lufkin, TX 75901-5500 admin@alhcpa.com www.alhcpa.com (936) 632-7771 Proudly serving East Texas for over 50 years 33 Naranjo Museum of Natural History The full scale T-Rex museum replica is nick-named Bubba Rex. The Naranjo Museum of Natural History is the latest addition to Lufkin’s museum and education community. Dr. Neal and Mary Ann Naranjo opened the museum to give exploring minds the opportunity to see history first hand. The museum, built for children of all ages, hosts over 45 exhibits that span billions of years of history. The museum provides a chronological view of history beginning with some of the oldest rocks in the world, estimated to be 4.2 billion years old, and culminating with the NASA exhibit. Providing visual displays and actual fossils, the visitor views the fossil record from the earliest life form, Stromatolites, through the geological 34 record to land animals. As the visitor walks through years of history, they make their way to the Dinosaur Hall. The Dinosaur Hall features actual dinosaur fossil skeletons posed in scientifically correct natural scenes. The dinosaur diorama include a fossil Hadrosaur with skin impression and fossilized tendons, a mother and baby Einiosaur, and a full scale museum replica T-Rex. Models of a Brachiosaur, Stegosaur, and Triceratops are in dioramas. In addition to the extensive dinosaur collection within the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, visitors can view ancient mammals including a cave bear and Woolly Mammoth skeleton. The museum’s exhibits conclude with ancient artifacts from the Stone Age, Ancient Egypt, Greek culture and the Roman Empire. The artifacts displayed give visitors a peek into the daily life of humans thousands of years ago. The Naranjo Museum of Natural History is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is located on Hwy. 59 South (5104 South First St.) next to the Settlement development. The Naranjo family invites you and your friends and family to explore billions of years of history housed with this unique museum. Find contact details on page 83. EXUDE ELEGANCE Our services include In house jewelery and watch repair Pearl stringing Loose diamonds Appraisals Custom work Celebrating 63 Years 1905 Tulane Drive, Suite 102-I • Lufkin, TX 75901 Located in the Fashion District! 936.634.8261 35 Ellen Trout Zoo In the Heart of the Piney Woods in Deep East Texas is one of Lufkin’s finest jewels the Ellen Trout Zoo. Over 120,000 people visit the Ellen Trout Zoo each year. Southern white rhinoceroses, Maasai giraffes, Malayan tigers, bald eagles, crowned cranes, king vultures, Siamese crocodiles, and Komodo dragons are among the 800 exciting, exotic animals that can be seen living in natural habitats throughout the zoo’s grounds. A concept of Lufkin industrialist Walter Trout, the Ellen Trout Zoo opened to the public during the summer of 1967 with its star attraction “Hippy”, a Nile hippopotamus. From this beginning, the zoo has seen a steady growth both with the animal collection and the grounds. In 1983 the Ellen Trout Zoo became the fifth zoo in Texas to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and 36 Aquariums (AZA) and has maintained accreditation ever since. In 1996 a Master Plan was developed for the zoo and the first part on this plan, a giraffe and rhinoceros exhibit opened in July of 1999. The second part of the plan is a new state of the art Hippoquarium, opened in March 2002, offers visitors the opportunity to view hippopotamuses in a natural river setting from above and below the water. And, in 2009 a new Education Center, with modern up to date classrooms and equipment, along with an Administration building opened. Education is an important facet of the zoo’s operation and every year thousands of students from Lufkin and throughout the East Texas area participate in the in-zoo and “Wildlife On Wheels” programs. The Ellen Trout Zoo is an accredited site for teacher instruction on environmental issues. Programming is developed to coincide with science textbook instruction and meets all the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills components mandated by state law. Every summer especially themed Zoo Safari and Jr. Zookeeper programs are offered for kids from elementary through Jr. High grade levels. Utilizing crafts, games and other activities, these programs introduce children to wildlife and wildlife issues as seen through the zoo professionals eyes. Wildlife conservation is also an integral part of the zoo’s operation. Seventeen species housed at the zoo are in internationally managed breeding programs called Species Survival Plans (SSPs). Included on this list, among others, are Malayan tigers, clouded leopards, black and white ruffed lemurs, Bali mynahs, Chinese alligators, Aruba Island rattlesnakes, white rhinoceroses and cotton-top tamarins. These endangered species are bred in zoos ellen trout zoo to help insure their survival and to maintain genetic diversity. The largest zoo colony of endangered cottontop tamarins in the United States is housed at the Ellen Trout Zoo. Here an exhibit group is maintained the jungles of Colombia. The Ellen Trout Zoo is also the site of the first captive breeding of the Louisiana pine snake, one of the rarest species of snake in the US. The Ellen Trout Zoo is participating with a large group to propagate the Louisiana pine snake, now proposed for listing as an Endangered Species, to maintain an assurance population and to produce individuals for release in protected areas in Louisiana. Scientists make use of the animal collection for non-invasive and nonstressful research. Recent projects include the chemical structure and function of the secretions of the cloacal glands of West African dwarf crocodiles, blood chemistry of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, potential uses of mammalian hair extracts as insect repellants, and naturally Supporting Lufkin and Supporting Supporting East Texas Supporting Lufkin Supporting Lufkin and Lufkin and and East Texas Lufkin and since 1990. East East Texas Texas with an adult pair and two sets of offspring while three breeding pairs and their young are maintained in special off-exhibit facilities. It is hoped that one day they may be returned to their native habitat in (See ELLEN TROUT ZOO, page 80) since 1990. East Texas since 1990. since 1990. Vince Treadwell, CFP®, since 1990. AAMS® Vince Treadwell, CFP®, Vince Treadwell, CFP®, Financial Advisor AAMS® Vince Treadwell, CFP®, AAMS® . Financial Advisor Advisor 321 South FirstFirst Financial AAMS® 321 South . Advisor321 South First Lufkin, TX 75901 Lufkin,Financial TX 75901 . 936-634-6116 936-634-6116 321 South First Lufkin, TX 75901 www.edwardjones.com Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-6116 www.edwardjones.com 936-634-6116 www.edwardjones.com . The Z&OO Railroad is operated by the Lufkin Host Lions Club. The authentic C.P. Huntington 1863 Locomotive and the real 1863 style coaches are a valuable attraction to the Ellen Trout Park and Zoo. The train has over 75,000 riders annually allowing the Lions Club to donate over $30,000 each year to local charities. www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Member SIPC Member SIPC Member SIPC 37 TEXAS FORESTRY MUSEUM As the only forestry museum in the state, the Texas Forestry Museum teaches the entire family the past, present and future of East Texas’ most abundant resource – trees. History comes alive as visitors tour a 1908 logging railroad steam locomotive and pretend to live in a sawmill town cabin and dress in period clothing. In 1957, the Texas Forestry Association began collecting relics to establish a forestry museum in East Texas. In 1971, the Lufkin Kiwanis Club made the first contribution to the museum in a joint effort with the Texas Forestry Association. Today, thousands of visitors from other states and countries learn the history of the people, places, and forest resources that established the economic foundation of Lufkin. With more than 14 million acres of the East Texas Pineywoods surrounding the city, the history of sawmills and logging railroads leave a lasting impression on the local culture and economy. The museum houses rare logging carts and wagons, from the days when loggers used oxen and mules to pull logs from the forest. The most photographed exhibit is the 100-foot fire tower, built in 1936 for forest fire detection. New exhibits include a look at the “Life of a Sawmill Doctor;” the Story of Smokey 38 Bear; and newly restored railroad crew cars. Several exhibits feature hands-on activities for children, and visitors can experience the East Texas trees and plants while walking the Urban Wildscape Trail. For more information, visit www. treetexas.com. angelina – the Little Angel Virginia has Pocahontas, Idaho boasts Sacajewea and Texas claims Angelina. Angelina’s name comes up first in 1690. Spain’s Franciscan Fathers had founded Mission San Francisco de los Tejas on the Neches River. It was there that they encountered the Hasinai Indian girl. The Fathers had come to spread Christianity and to keep an eye on the French. In Angelina, they found a strong ally for carrying the Catholic faith to the Indians. She was bright, beautiful and friendly. The missionaries found her eager to learn Spanish and willing to help them. The young maiden charmed the soldiers and priests. They gave her the name Angelina – or little angel. The village where Angelina lived became Angelina’s village and the stream that ran near it became Angelina’s river. Guide, mediator and interpreter. Angelina’s name appears in both the journals of the Spanish missionaries who discovered her and in the journals of French explorers who used her as a guide. Since her tribe, part of the Caddo nation, kept no written records, what we know of the Little Angel comes only through the Europeans. A European marquis wrote of her in his journal in 1721. After the first efforts to create missions waned, Marquis de Aquayo guided a Spanish army into East Texas to help reestablish them. When he got to Angelina’s mission near the Neches River, she greeted him along with nine Indian chiefs. The Marquis wrote that she was well respected and seemed to be in charge of the tribal functions, which was most unusual for an Indian As a part of Angelina County’s observance of the nation’s bicentennial, Claude Smithhart, of Lufkin Printing Company, commissioned Ancel Nunn to paint Nunn’s conception of the Indian girl Spanish padres nicknamed “the Little Angel”. woman. She spoke both Spanish and the language of Tejas. The marquis insists she was instrumental in revitalizing the missions. It is said that a few years earlier she had translated for an expedition that founded the Alamo in San Antonio. Legend also has it that she nursed Anglos who fell victim to disease or cruel treatment and even sent her two children to guide a French explorer to Louisiana. Angelina vanished from the historic record after 1721. This strong voice in the wilderness went silent – how? No one knows. Today, the only county in Texas named for a woman is ANGELINA county. A river bears her name. A county bears her name. A national forest bears her name. 39 Joe Lowery Since the mid-1980s, Joe Lowery has traveled the backroads and common places of Texas in search of compelling natural images. The wonder of God’s beauty, which he says is so obviously found in nature, keeps this photographer motivated in his quest for new images every year. Over the past four decades, Lowery’s work has been displayed, collected, and published by private 40 and corporate collectors, state fairs, museum galleries, chambers of commerce, hospitals, national and international publications, magazines, posters, and calendars, some of which include Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Barnes & Noble, Texas Highways Calendars, Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic, Landscapes Magazine and Texas Highways Magazine. Lowery was named by Texas Highways as one of their top photographers of the last 25 years. He has been recognized by Lady Bird Johnson for his work in wildflower imagery which Johnson joe lowery used as an inspiration for other states’ wildflower programs. In addition, his Texas images have been selected to uplift troops in Bosnia, and they appear on over a dozen note cards distributed throughout the state by Paradise Promotions of Austin, Texas. As a portrait photographer, he has worked with First Lady Laura Bush and Tara Watson-Watkins, Miss Texas 2000. His portraits of families, children and brides grace many homes both locally and regionally. Joe is a self-taught photographic artist with a background in pencil art, oil and water-color painting. He has a BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University and an MBA from Texas A&M University. To view Joe’s photography, visit joelowery.com. Skelton|Slusher B a r n h i l l | Wa t k i n s | We l l s PLLC Attorneys at Law Judi C. Wells jwells@skeltonslusher.com 302 North University Drive Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 936-559-7960 fax 936-559-7977 www.skeltonslusher.com 41 the fEUd Many know of the infamous quarrel between the Hatfields and the McCoys, but a feud between two pioneer families much closer to home paints Angelina County’s history in blood red. Considered the most famous feud in Angelina County, the Scroggins and Bordens were thought to be fighting over the legal sale of liquor and possibly a “woman scandal” at the turn of the 20th century. History recalls that on March 19, 1900, Ben Borden went to a store owned by the father-in-law of Robert Scroggins to pick up some money and to purchase a collar button. From there he went across town to another store owned by Scroggins. Despite ongoing arguments, Borden often visited Scroggins’ store in Homer. But on this day, when he asked to see some pocket knives and saddle girths, Borden reportedly pulled a gun from his coat and shot Robert Scroggins in cold blood. After emptying the gun into Scroggins’ body, Borden pulled another gun, shot three more times, and then used a pocket knife from the store to cut his own coat. Upon hearing gunshots from their nearby home, Robert’s wife ran into 42 Made around 1900 at Homer, this photo shows Mr. and Mrs. John N. Thompson, their daughter Sarah Thompson Scroggins and her five children. The girl standing between her grandparents is Mrs. R.B. Squyres, Sr. Mr. Thompson ran the store in the background and was also a postmaster. The youngster on the tricycle is Webb Scroggins. The photo was probably taken soon after Robert Scroggins was murdered. the store to see Ben Borden standing over her husband’s dead body. “My God, Ben, what have you done?” she asked. “I just killed your husband,” Borden calmly replied and walked out of town. Ben and his brother Joe rode to Lufkin to get a lawyer and surrender to the sheriff. In court, it was later revealed Borden’s friend, a man named Fortenberry, had borrowed Robert Scroggins’ only gun that day claiming he needed it to protect himself while carrying money to Lufkin. Testimony also revealed people had heard Borden practicing with his gun days before the murder. However, county prosecutors only had circumstantial evidence against Borden, who claimed self-defense and pointed to the knife lying beside Scroggins’ body. The only witnesses to the crime were Scroggins’ two sons, ages 2 and 4. A not-guilty verdict was handed down, and Borden went free. But Fred Scroggins vowed revenge for his brother’s death, even telling the county sheriff of his plans for vengeance. Several weeks passed in relative peace until a hired hitman named Bowman Murphy showed up in Homer. Many said he was offered a fee to avenge Scroggins’ murder. On July 5, 1900 – more than four months after the death of Robert Scroggins – his brother Fred opened fire on Joe Borden, killing him while the fEUd he played dominoes with brother Ben in front of a saloon. The story is told that Fred walked up to the saloon and both he and Joe reached for their guns. Joe’s gun became entangled in his pocket, and Ben walked away uninjured. Later, while riding to Lufkin, Fred ran into the original instigator, Ben Borden, near Biloxi Creek and again opened fire. During the shootout, the fingers on Borden’s right hand were shot off, and he tried to run. Fred shot again and hit Ben on the collar button he purchased the day Robert Scroggins’ was shot to death. Thinking he had killed Ben Borden, Scroggins went to Lufkin and surrendered to the sheriff. The sheriff later discovered Borden was still alive and arrested him, too. Both Scroggins and Borden went to trial and were sentenced to two years in prison. Both appealed their sentences and were subsequently acquitted. When Fred Scroggins returned to home, he was hailed as a hero for killing Joe Borden, a much disliked member of the Homer community. One story says he was greeted by a brass band and a homecoming celebration. Fred later went on to become a lawman in Beaumont. C M Z Chandler Mathis Zivley Attorneys at Law Since 1971 Commercial Litigation | Consumer Law Defective Drug & Medical Devices | Personal Injury Offices in Lufkin & Houston 800-657-2230 • www.cmzlaw.net 43 farmer’s market The Angelina County Farmer’s Market is open most days of the week, though times and days tend to vary with the seasons. The market is located at 2107 S. Medford Drive on the east Loop. For more information, call 936-634-6655. As you ease into the Angelina County Farmer’s Market you travel back into another era where fresh produce and a friendly smile were the ways of everyday commerce. The sounds of heavy truck traffic from the nearby Loop 287 fade into the background, overtaken by 44 whispering pines, chirping birds and the sounds of buying and selling that surround the outdoor market. Inspired by the late East Texas philanthropist and entrepreneur Arthur Temple, the Angelina County Farmer’s Market was designed to regularly bring local produce and business to the community. Mike and Leslie Kennerly, who manage the market as well as sell their own produce there, said Temple had seen a similar open air market in New England and wanted to bring the experience home to East Texas. Specializing in locally grown produce, the market has something for everyone’s taste buds from pumpkins and gourds in the fall to purple hull peas and homegrown tomatoes in the summer. The covered marketplace is beautifully landscaped by the Angelina County Master Gardeners. On the property also sits a large gazebo perfect for weddings, receptions and birthday parties. Customer Driven. Community Focused. Our future is all about yours, because we understand that when you succeed, we all succeed. Explore Banking with us. CNBTexas.com Lufkin - Downtown 415 S. 1st Street (936) 639-2141 Lufkin - West 805 S. John Redditt Dr. (936) 632-6621 Member FDIC General ConstruCtion | DesiGn/BuilD | ConstruCtion ManaGeMent Building the future. Restoring the past. 3195 North Highway 69, Lufkin, Texas, 75904 Ph: 936.637.2666 | Fax: 936.637.7980 | timberlineconstructors.com 45 Lake Sam Rayburn With show stopping amenities and breathtaking views, Lufkin and Sam Rayburn Reservoir are at the top of every anglers list. Lufkin has played host to reputable fishing tournaments such as the Oakley Big Bass Tour, Texas Association of Bass Clubs annual tournament and most recently, the Wal-Mart FLW Fishing Tournament. Come check out the impressive Dr. Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion at Cassels-Boykin and take advantage of their 9 launch ramps, beautiful new 100 foot pavilion that seats 400 and breathtaking views. Covering 114,500 acres at normal capacity, Sam Rayburn is the most popular recreation area in the Texas Forest Country! Brilliant sunsets, towering sand dunes and fresh, clear waters as far as the eye can see. Come and see why Lufkin and Lake Sam Rayburn should be at the top of your list! Libraries Kurth Memorial Library T.L.L. Temple Library McMullen Memorial Library From e-Books to Literacy Kits, Lufkin’s Kurth Memorial Library is on the cutting edge of information. The library serves 32,000 patrons from its beautiful facility built and given to the community by an anonymous donor in 2001. With nearly 80,000 items in its collection today, Kurth Memorial Library has an extensive collection of books, audio-visual materials, periodicals and more. The widely used Ora McMullen Room houses an outstanding collection of genealogical resources, and the Library’s computers provide on-line access for many who would otherwise not have opportunities to explore the Internet. Diboll’s library came into being as “The Library” in the early 1900s under the direction of Latane Temple and Arthur Temple, Jr. Temple Industries set up a small frame building just off the village square that served the growing community’s desire to have its own library. The original collection of 1,200 books has grown to more than 32,000 volumes. With the generosity of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, proceeds from Diboll Day and a host of “friends,” the Library underwent a multi-million dollar expansion in 2007. The McMullen Memorial Library in Huntington was built in 1953 when Huntington High School students wanted to commemorate the local men who had died in World War II. C.S. McMullen supplied the land and building construction, and after a variety of fundraisers, the library became a reality. Today, the McMullen Library shares a unique partnership with Huntington Independent School District. This year, the library received one of the few remaining grants in existence specifically for books. The library contains 27,000 volumes, including children and young adult books, as well as Internet access. Contact information: Kurth Memorial Library, 706 S. Raguet, Lufkin, TX 75904, (936) 630-0560, www.cityoflufkin.com 46 Contact information: T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library, 800 N. Temple Dr., Diboll, TX 75941, (936) 829-5497, www.tlltemplememoriallibrary.org Contact information: McMullen Memorial Library, 906 N. Main, Huntington, TX 75949, (936) 876-4516 Super Agents COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS TITLE INSURANCE Trent Ashby, President 1618 DRIVE || LUFKIN, LUFKIN, TX 75901 3502 SS CHESTNUT MEDFORD DRIVE 936-634-7755 • morganins.com (936) 634-1600 | www.communitytitle-tx.com Kubota Kubota Too Great Experience Experience has has aa local local address. address. Too Great toGreat Wait! The Evergreen Group at Morgan Stanley The Evergreen Group at Morgan Stanley Phillip Friesen Phillip Friesen Executive Director Charles Crowson Charles First ViceCrowson PresidentPOWER SALE Gregory Bowman, CFP® Gregory Bowman, CFP® Branch Manager John P. Friesen Jr., CFP®, CFA John P. Friesen Financial AdvisorJr., CFP®, CFA Executive Director Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Branch FinancialManager Advisor Financial Advisor Josh Zeleskey Josh Zeleskey First ViceAdvisor President Financial Financial Advisor Financial Advisor E Q U I P M E NT Financial Advisor Financial Advisor toGreat Wait! Kubota POWER SALE Too Great toGreat Wait! E Q U I P M E NT LLC 936.634.7000 146 Winston 8 Ranch Rd. 5030 Champions Drive | Lufkin, TX 75901 5030 Champions Drive | Lufkin, TX 75901 Lufkin 936-631-3900 936-631-3900 hammertractor.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/theevergreengroup OF LUFKIN 2012 LLC 936.634.7000 146 Winston 8 Ranch Rd. Lufkin hammertractor.com POWER SALE www.morganstanleyfa.com/theevergreengroup E Q U I P M E NT © 2014 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. © 2014 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC1075858 12/14 CRC1075858 12/14 LLC 936.634.7000 146 Winston 8 Ranch Rd. Lufkin hammertractor.com 47 Angelina College – Where Champions Are Crowned This year, the NJCAA’s Region XIV conference announced it would hold its annual basketball tournament at Angelina College’s Shands Gymnasium. The tourney will feature 20 women’s and men’s junior college teams battling for a conference championship. The winners will advance to the national tournaments in Hutchinson, Kansas (men) and Lubbock (women) where the Division I national champion will be crowned. Locally, the tournament means thousands of people will be visiting Lufkin, with some of them staying for several days. This won’t be the first time Angelina College has hosted such a tournament. AC has in the past few years also been the site of the conference softball and baseball championships. There has been talk of establishing the college as a permanent site for every tournament, and there are good reasons supporting 48 the idea – reasons mentioned by those who have spent time here for the same occasions. First, there are the facilities themselves. Shands Gymnasium and Roadrunner Complex are the perfect venues for any sports fan, allowing fans the closest access possible without actually strapping on the sneakers or the cleats. As the saying goes, “There are no bad seats.” When those final celebrations occur – the dogpiles and the net-cuttings – fans are right in the thick of it all. In fact, AC teams aren’t the only ones calling these facilities “home”. Area high schools often hold both regularseason and playoff games at Shands Gym and Roadrunner Complex, giving their young players the feel of a bigtime experience. In March, the UIL State High School Basketball Tournament has its share of early-round games inside Shands Gymnasium. In May and June, baseball and softball teams compete for Roadrunner Complex as their chosen fields of battle. Next, there are the local amenities. Visitors laud the convenience of staying in Lufkin, from the hotels to the shopping and dining experiences. Everything one would need for either a short or extended stay is within minutes of the respective court or field. All those visitors mean increased revenue for local vendors. Finally – and perhaps one of the main reasons – is the hospitality extended to our visitors by our own community. Out-of-town fans have remarked on how much fun they had not just with watching their respective teams, but with the other parts of our city as well. They visit the zoo, play golf at one of our nearby courses or spend some time at the lake, all the while meeting some of our city’s finest. Basically, the combination of the beautiful facilities at Angelina College and the experience our town has to offer make holding a championship tournament in Lufkin a great idea. Everyone comes out a winner. angelina college Experience • Quality • Innovation 1301 N. Medford • Lufkin• 936.639.6432 Energy EnergyStar Star Certified Certified Builder Builder *Optional available *Optional or or notnot available on some models on some models Exclusive7-Year 7-Year Exclusive Home HomeWarranty G uard oakcreeklufkin.com Experience Experience erience Quality Quality Innovation Innovation oakcreekhomes.com oakcreekhomes.com Energy Star Certified Builder *Optional or not available on some models Energy Star Certified Builder *Optional or not available on some models All homes meet or exceed all H.U.D. Federal Construction and Safety Standards. Specifications and pricing are subject to change without notice. Tires and axles may have been recycled after close inspection for safety and appearance. Add 4 feet (approx.) to length dimension for hitch. All measurements are nominal. © 2005 Oak Creek Homes. All homes meet or exceed all H.U.D. Federal Construction and Safety Standards. Specifications and pricing are subject to change without notice. Tires and axles may have been recycled after close inspection for safety and appearance. Add 4 feet (approx.) to length dimension for hitch. All measurements are nominal. © 2005 Oak Creek Homes. Exclusive 7-Year Home Warranty Quality Experience Quality Home W *Optional or not available on some models Innovation Innovation Exclusiv Energy Star Certified Builder oakcreekh oakcreekhomes.com All homes meet or exceed all H.U.D. Federal Specifications and pricing are subject to chang been recycled after close inspection for safety length dimension for hitch. All measurements Energy Star Certified Builder *Optional or not available on some models Exclusive 7-Year Home Warranty 49 Exclusiv Home W Home-Grown Talent Most of them decided he would be a specific player – one of his heroes he watched as the NFL played on Sunday television. Very few have the opportunity to realize such a dream, but in the case of four former Lufkin Panthers, professional football is a reality. Dez Bryant, Jorvorskie Lane, Don Muhlbach and Carrington Byndom finished the 2015 season on NFL rosters: Bryant with the Dallas Cowboys, Lane with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Muhlbach with the Detroit Lions and Byndom with the Carolina Panthers. Having four players from the same high school playing in the NFL is one of the reasons Lufkin’s football program was ranked among the top 10 in the country, with a long list of alumni who at one point drew a paycheck for playing on Sundays. 50 Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys – Dez took his knack for making big plays – no Panther fan will ever forget his “Alley Oop” catches in the end zones at Abe Martin Stadium – on to Oklahoma State, where he set an OSU record for receiving yards in a game by a freshman with 150 yards. Selected in the draft’s first round by the Cowboys, Dez charted three straight 1,000-yard plus seasons from 20112014, leading the league in touchdown receptions in 2014 while helping the Cowboys reach the Divisional round of the playoffs. His stats dropped in 2015 because of injury, but there’s no doubt he’ll once again be the team’s chief playmaker come the 2016 season. The Cowboys made sure he’d be around for at least another five years by signing him to a new contract just before the ’15 season began. A Google search of “Dez Bryant Highlights” yields enough footage to keep a fan thrilled for hours. And by the way, Dez caught it. Jorvorskie Lane, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Few embody the word “perseverance” in the way Jorvorskie Lane has. After battering his way through high school as one of the most powerful runners in Pack fans’ memory – he bulled his way to a five-touchdown performance in a playoff game against The Woodlands in 2004 – Lane continued his power-running style to Texas A&M, where as a sophomore he broke an 80-year old record with 19 touchdowns in a single season. He also holds the school record for career TDs with 49. However, his number went uncalled on NFL’s Draft Day. Lane pushed ahead anyway, playing in both the Indoor Football and Arena Football leagues before landing a spot with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. When the Dolphins let him go, Lane spent a year and a half working his way back, eventually signing with Tampa Bay. In 2015, Lane played fullback for the resurgent Bucs, spending most of his time at fullback blocking for and protecting franchise QB Jameis Winston. It’s no wonder that this past year, Lufkin Mayor Bob Brown decreed a “Jorvorskie Lane Day”, giving the former Panther the key to the city at Lane’s annual youth camp. Photo by Tampe Bay Buccaneers Nearly every kid who tossed a football around or tackled his siblings or neighbors in a backyard game held the dream of playing professional football. Photo by USATSI Former Lufkin Football Players Take Panther Pride to the NFL Don Muhlbach, Detroit Lions – His professional life is such that he sees most of the action upside down. The long-time longsnapper showed his value when the Lions re-signed him in 2015, marking the former Panther’s 12th season with the team. Following his Panther career, Muhlbach headed to College Station and became an Aggie, where his work on special teams earned him notice from the big leagues. Former Lion general manager Matt Millen once called Muhlbach “The Nolan Ryan of Deep Snappers” for his ability to get the ball back to the holder in milliseconds. Lions kickers have been among the league’s top-rated for years – due in no small part to Muhlbach’s speed and accuracy. Following the 2012 season, Muhlbach was named to the Pro Bowl. Carrington Byndom, Carolina Panthers/Arizona Cardinals – Play a game of word association with a Panthers fan, and mentioning “Carrington Byndom” will probably evoke the response, “Speed.” One of the fastest players ever to don Panther purple – he once stole home in the bottom of the seventh inning to win a Pack baseball game – Byndom haunted high school offenses with his ability to cover nearly the entire field. At the University of Texas, Byndom started 39 games, intercepting five passes and returning two for scores. Carolina signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and Byndom played in the NFC Wild Card game against Arizona and the NFC Divisional Championship against Seattle. When the Panthers released him in September, Byndom quickly signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Photo by acheltron.com Photo by detroitlions.com Home-Grown Talent 90.9 Christian Music for Your Family Dr. Fred D. Griffin, D.D.S. A Voice For Christ 91.9 Dentistry for Children Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. New Patients: 6 years and under Insurance, Traditional Medicaid Welcome Referrals by Appointment 419 W. Frank • Lufkin (936) 634-1786 • (936) 634-1793 51 golf in east texas These courses, combined with the easygoing climate of East Texas, make the Pineywoods a true golfer’s paradise. Crown Colony Country Club – One of the true gems found in the Lone Star State, frequently finding itself ranked in the top five. With its undulating fairways, scenic views and gorgeous scenery – some species of waterfowl include swans – Crown Colony would be a place worth visiting even if you forget your clubs. For that reason, the course remains one of the primary destinations for several tournaments each year, including the prestigious Temple Cup. But don’t let the breathtaking beauty of this course fool you for one moment. It is by far one of the most challenging courses in the state. In fact, the Dallas Morning News once referred to Crown Colony as “The 18 Toughest Holes of Golf in Texas.” Tight fairways insist that golfers park their drivers on several holes; hitting the ball straight is a must, whether using fairway woods or long irons. 52 And hazards? Oh boy. Neck-high bunkers, ponds and lakes surrounding the entire area, and greens that almost require a degree to read. Not for the faint of heart, Crown Colony will push any golfer to his or her skill limits. Neches Pines Golf Course in Diboll – A short, ten-minute drive from Lufkin will land you in yet another gorgeous chunk of links – so much so that local wildlife insists on sharing the course as well. On any given day, golfers may be treated to the sight of deer, fox and red-tail hawks frequenting the fairways. Neches Pines wasn’t always an 18-hole course; the nine holes currently serving as the back nine were once all that the course offered. With the addition of nine more holes – those are now the front nine – golfers actually feel as if they’re playing two separate courses. The front is a little more wide open, and thus more forgiving. The back nine, on the other hand, is a little tighter and slightly more challenging. More bunkers, and on the Par-5 16th, an ancient oak tree leans over the fairway, ready to slap down your best-intentioned drive. Lufkin GOLF Club – Originally established in 1925 as a fishing club, Lufkin Golf Club is one of the oldest courses in the state. For that reason, many of the trees around the course are virtual historical landmarks. As with the others, LGC boasts the type of scenery that will make one want to tie a camera to the ol’ golf bag. One unique feature: The yardage markers along the fairway are birdhouses painted blue (200 yds.), white (150 yds.) and red (100 yds.). Don’t be surprised to encounter a little feathered company along the way while checking the yardage on your next shot. Grumbles Roofing Co. Residential Roofing Specialists Free Estimates (936) 632-0102 Abeldt’s Gaslight Pharmacy grumblesroofing.com “Hometown People taking care of Hometown needs” Over 39 Years Experience 730 John Brown Road • Lufkin Albert Grumbles 200 Gaslight Blvd (936)639-2346 abeldtspharmacy.com Hours M - F 8 am to 6:30 pm sat 9 am to 1 pm Trusted since 1956 ABSTRACT CO. Professional Land Title Services Hall Henderson Jeff Chance President Legal Counsel 517 South First Street • Lufkin, Texas 75901 • 936.632.6661 www.sgtitle.com 53 LUFKIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Education Foundation Mission statement: Lufkin ISD Education Foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students of the Lufkin Independent School District. The Lufkin ISD Education Foundation became a reality in 2013 when a group of hardworking volunteers along with guidance from the Lufkin ISD Superintendent, Dr. LaTonya Goffney, saw the importance of adding value in the classroom by way of innovative grants for LISD teachers. The vision set forth by the first Lufkin ISD Education Foundation President, Becca Chance, was all about providing opportunities for educational excellence along with innovative teaching. This year’s motto was: Enrich, Engage and Empower. Enrich our students, Engage our community and Empower our teachers. The board hit the ground running by undergoing their first annual fundraising campaign and by sponsoring the first academic awards banquet, Panthers of Prestige. During the banquet, the top 20 LISD graduates and the teachers, whom they chose to recognize as influencing them the most, were highlighted. The foundation kicked off the 2014 academic year by participating in the LISD Convocation and introducing the first teacher participation drive. The teachers and staff gave back collectively $31,000 of their own pay as a demonstration of support for the Education Foundation. This drive was confirmation of the mission of the Foundation to raise 54 the bar on education and promote innovative teaching. In December of 2014, the Foundation awarded 6 innovative teaching grants to 11 teachers on 5 different campuses totaling almost $14,000. In December of 2015, the foundation awarded 11 innovative teaching grants to 50 teachers on 9 campuses for a total of $36,423. The grants have ranged from climbing walls to microscopy. The best part was surprising the teachers with huge checks, LISD drumline and cheerleaders along with the foundation board during the first ever prize patrol. There are several ways to give to the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation: annual campaign, a matching gift, or gifts in honor or in memory of a favorite teacher, friend or family member. The foundation was created to invest in the students within Lufkin Independent School District and to witness growth in knowledge, character and excellence. Visit our website www. lufkineducaitonfoundation.org 55 angelina college – Oh the People You Will Meet Here’s hoping you’re never involved in an accident requiring emergency and/or medical services. But if you are…you’ll be meeting new people who, through their chosen careers, have dedicated their lives to making yours better. And a whole lot of those people started their professions through their courses at Angelina College. Now nearing the 50year mark, AC now offers degrees and certifications in more than 60 different fields of study, meaning the odds of your encountering an AC alumnus in everyday life are pretty good. For example, let’s pray you never find yourself involved in an automobile accident. Hopefully…but if you do… Some of the first responders, of course, will be your local police officers – likely some who graduated the Police Academy offered at AC. The 720hour course has been responsible for churning out some of the area’s finest sworn to protect and serve; in addition to the Basic Peace Officer course, the Academy also offers the County Jailer and Basic Telecommunications (Dispatcher Training) courses. You’ll need a good dispatcher on-hand to help those officers find you in your time of need. Hopefully, your accident won’t be serious enough to require the services of the local fire department…but if it is, there’s a chance the firefighter attending to your needs will also have graduated AC’s Fire Academy. Like the Police Academy, the Fire Academy courses run through the Community Services Division. The Academy’s 56 course consists of 608 contact hours (Firefighter I and Firefighter II) of classroom and hands-on field training. We sure hope you’re not hurt in this hypothetical accident…but if you are, you’ll quickly have at your side an Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) crew. Again, they’re very likely AC graduates of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program, which “include curricula that meet and/or exceed the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) standards for certification in emergency medical services. The College offers a cooperative program with the Lufkin and Nacogdoches hospitals, Nacogdoches County EMS, the City of Lufkin Fire Department/EMS, and AmeriCare EMS Livingston, designed to provide understanding, proficiency and skill in Emergency Medical Services.” Your EMT caretakers will ensure you get to the hospital safely. There, you’re likely to need tests run to make sure you’re okay. Maybe an X-ray, with yet another AC graduate (this one from AC’s Radiologic Technology program) offering his or her services using the latest digital imaging technology. Or maybe you’ll need some sort of ultrasound, performed by a former student of AC’s Sonography program. (They can also check on your baby’s progress if you happen to be pregnant. Just in case.) Hopefully, you won’t need any type of surgery…but if you do, you’re probably going to meet one of AC’s former Surgical Technology students. AC’s program says that a “surgical technologist is an allied health professional who works as part of the surgical team to ensure that the operative procedure is conducted under optimal conditions. The surgery technology program is a 12 month certificate program that combines classroom, laboratory instruction, and clinical experiences in approved hospital surgical suites and/or outpatient surgical centers.” ANGELINA COLLEGE Maybe you’ll be well enough to leave immediately…but if you’re not, you’re going to need personal care from a nurse – very likely one of AC’s Nursing Program graduate. You’ll be in great hands: Angelina College’s Nursing program is consistently listed among the best in the state, including both colleges and universities. The rigorous training and testing ensures only the best are allowed at your bed side; AC’s program typically hits the 100 percent mark on state testing. Perhaps you’ll recuperate quickly without much aftercare…but if not, you’ll need the medication to speed up the healing process. It’s a safe bet the person working up your prescriptions will have graduated AC’s Pharmacy Technology program, which “offers a cooperative pharmacy technology program with the area hospitals, retail and mail order, and long-term care pharmacies. The certificate program is designed to provide understanding, proficiency, and skill in pharmacy technology.” Now that you’re okay, and in the hands of some highly professional people who are dedicated to ensuring you walk out of the hospital in good shape, you can run home and check the newspaper to see if your mishap made the news. (Hey, if you’re going to get hurt, you might as well get famous while you’re at it.) If your story made the news, there’s a good chance the reporter who covered it attended AC’s Journalism/ Mass Communications program. Those cool designs you’ll see on the pages? Very likely created by one of AC’s Graphic Arts majors. You see? You’re probably encountering former Roadrunners throughout every part of your daily life. Hopefully, you won’t have to get involved in an accident to meet them. 57 MEDICAL HUB OF EAST TEXAS Twenty-five new physicians began practicing in Lufkin during 2015, bringing the number of physicians in our community to more than 200. The physicians represent several different specialties, including neonatology, cardiology, orthopedic medicine, emergency medicine, urology, radiology, podiatry and family medicine. Physicians have access to some of the most advanced medical technology in Lufkin’s three nationally recognized medical facilities – CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin – with 283 beds; and CHI St. Luke’s Health Specialty Hospital – the area’s only long-term acute care hospital, and Woodland Heights Medical Center – with 149 beds. There also are several facilities and organizations providing the full range of healthcare needs to all segments of East Texas. The Angelina County and Cities Health District, the county’s public health facility, also operates as the designated Community Pharmacy program for the county. Since its inception in 1967, the Health District has grown and expanded as the need for public health care has grown. In 2015, the Health District provided public health programs for more than 50,000 patients/persons. Services of the health district include primary care, WIC, immunizations, environmental health and public health preparedness and 58 women’s services. In early 2016, the Health District opened a new division — Community Connections. The program links an individual in Angelina County to social service and health care programs immediately by streamlining the process to “put people on programs,” and being a catalyst that will move individuals to medical homes, said Sharon Shaw, administrator of the Health District. Connections to other basic needs such as food, housing, etc., are facilitated while the individual is at the health district, ensuring good instructions and direction as to where to find help for that particular need. For those facing end of life decisions, Angelina County is home to several dedicated and skilled hospice programs, including the county’s only non-profit entity, Hospice in the Pines, which also operates a fivebed inpatient unit and outpatient treatment at CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin. Other hospice programs are Heart to Heart Hospice and Affinity Hospice. These entities provide medical assistance, personal assistance, emotional and spiritual support and bereavement services for family members. The Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic, named for Charles Wilson, who was a well-respected and long-serving U.S. Congressman from East Texas, provides primary care, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, social work, nutrition, and mental health services to veterans in the area. Joe W. Elliott House provides a place for out-of-town patients and family members to stay while receiving medical treatment in Lufkin. The center, jointly operated by CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial and Hospice in the Pines, offers guests inexpensive lodging and kitchen and laundry facilities. Along with several skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Angelina County, there are facilities that provide nursing facilities as well as homes for independent living, including PineCrest Retirement Community and Oak Forest Independent Living Center. The Salvation Army Adult Day Center provides a caring place for older adults during the day. The 8,000-square-foot facility cares for adults 55 and older who need assistance but not full-time care. Medical supervision includes a full time LVN with an RN consultant. Activities at the center include indoor and outdoor programs, visiting groups, dominoes, bingo, exercise, movies and much more. Lufkin’s medical community continues to grow. As the hub for medical care in East Texas, our medical community continues to attract dedicated and skilled health care professionals. Angelina County families can be assured the best care and the most advanced technology is right here. Confidence. This is how you know where to find quality healthcare in this community. Nothing means more to us than your good health. In fact, helping our neighbors live healthier lives is our incentive for constantly working to enhance the quality of care we provide. So when you see the certifications and accreditations we’ve earned, you can take pride in knowing you are our motivation for providing nationally recognized care right here in East Texas. American College of Radiology Accreditation The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® • Ultrasound • Breast Ultrasound • Computed Tomography (CT) • Nuclear Medicine • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) • Chest Pain • Heart Failure • Joint Replacement – Hip • Joint Replacement – Knee WoodlandHeights.net Woodland Heights is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff. 59 87329_WHMC_Certifi_7_5x10c.indd 1 10/8/15 11:39 AM WOODLAND HEIGHTS MEDICAL CENTER For 97 years now, Woodland Heights Medical Center has been providing quality health care to East Texans. As the first hospital in Lufkin, Woodland Heights has been at the forefront of healthcare in East Texas, continually providing the best in compassionate care and quality. These high standards are a product of working closely with physicians, staff and the community to provide the best possible patient care. The quality service Woodland Heights provides extends to many of the service lines the facility offers. The hospital holds The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its treatment of Chest Pain and Heart Failure in addition to Total Joint Replacement – Hips & Knees. By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care, these awards recognize Woodland Heights’ dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-ofthe-art standards. The high standard the facility sets for itself rings true for all service lines. The diagnostic staff is committed to 60 thorough and safe treatment and the facility continues to make investments in the technology offered. Woodland Heights is accredited by the American College of Radiology in all five major modalities – ultrasound, breast ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnosing a disease is where the healing begins. In April 2015, the facility celebrated the opening of The Orthopedic Center at Woodland Heights, a unit that focuses specifically on orthopedic patients and getting them back to life. As the hospital strives to be the preferred Joint Care provider in deep East Texas, the philosophy of care is to provide excellence in patient care by collaboration on continuum of care, patient education and continuous performance improvement. Additionally, the facility began a $9.8 million construction project in October 2015 that will expand both the Surgical Services areas and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Please see our related article for more information on this great new development. Woodland Heights also takes pride in the education and affinity programs offered through Senior Circle, a local organization that provides a wide variety of opportunities for those 50 and better who are looking to stay active and healthy in the prime of their lives. Senior Circle delivers a broad range of “stay healthy, stay engaged” activities ranging from monthly luncheons, exercise classes, sewing groups, day trips, extended trips, Bingo, art projects, and more. With a medical staff of more than 200 physicians, Woodland Heights offers a comprehensive list of medical and surgical specialties and treatment modalities and a commitment to quality patient care. To find out more about our services, education and affinity programs, visit WoodlandHeights.net. When it’s time to choose healthcare for you and your loved ones, choose well. Choose Woodland Heights Medical Center. WOODLAND HEIGHTS MEDICAL CENTER Investing in the Future of Angelina County Last October (2015), Woodland Heights Medical Center began a $9.8 million construction project to expand capacity for key service lines and enhance the patient experience – an upgrade and addition in the surgery area and an increase in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) footprint. “Woodland Heights continues to grow and invest in the East Texas area to serve the medical needs of our patients and community,” states Kyle Swift, CEO of Woodland Heights. “We appreciate the continued support of our physicians, staff and Board of Trustees and their commitment to being the healthcare provider of choice.” In the surgery area, the improvements will include enlarging the outpatient area and the addition of one new surgical suite. Aesthetic upgrades will be made throughout the clinical care areas and in the waiting areas used by family members. These changes will improve efficiency in the surgery department and allow for continued growth, as this area has seen a steady increase in the last several years. “Improving efficiency is ultimately what is best for the patient,” states Merritt Pember, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Woodland Heights. “The patients we serve are our main priority and it is exciting to see these changes to accommodate them.” The NICU will see the addition of 9 beds that will take the unit from six beds to 15, with the footprint extending out from the unit that was opened in 2013. Since the opening, the physicians and staff in the NICU have cared for more than 200 babies, which is a financial and emotional relief for all of those families. “The addition of the NICU beds will be so beneficial to our tiny patients and their families. The stress on a family when their sick newborn has to be transported out of town is immeasurable,” states Linda Chase, M.D., Neonatologist. “Providing care for these fragile newborns, keeping them close to home, and having space for the parents to stay and be involved in the baby’s care is a huge asset to the community. I am honored to be part of the commitment that Woodland Heights has made to provide this service for Lufkin and the surrounding areas.” “Thanks to the excellent service and quality of care provided by our staff and physicians, we have the need to accommodate growth, both now and in the future,” added Swift. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2016. 61 CHI St. LUKE’s health MEMORIAL CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial understands its obligation to patient, guest and physician safety to be the organization’s highest responsibility. It is a sincere desire to provide patients and their families with the highest level of care in a caring and compassionate environment. The name on the building may have changed, but never the commitment to excellence has not. Memorial employees recognize that creating a culture of safety depends on identifying key areas of enhancement and carrying out specific evidence-based protocols. That’s why in 2016, Memorial was named the Women’s Choice Award® Best for Patient Safety. When facing treatment or surgery in a hospital, an important concern is if the hospital maintains a solid record of protecting its patients from unintended problems. As the award recipient, Memorial was honored for its exceptional performance in limiting a wide range of hospital associated infections, complications from surgery and 62 medical treatment. Additionally, Memorial voluntarily participates each year in Catholic Health Initiatives’ Clinical Risk Management Incentive Plan (CRMIP), a national program focused on enhancing its quality and safety initiatives. Through the program, the hospital focused on and excelled in • reduction of patient falls • enhanced assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers • identification and response to aggressive patients • early assessment and identification of sepsis • safe patient handling and movement As the area’s first Joint Commission Certified Stroke Care Center in East Texas, and recently re-designated as a Primary Level II Stroke facility in trauma service, Memorial recognizes the crucial need to provide top-level stroke care. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in America and choosing the best hospital can greatly increase health outcomes. Memorial was named one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by the Women’s Choice Award®, due to low mortality rates and outstanding patient recommendation ratings. Through a collaborative, systemwide effort, the Stroke Center at CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, and recovery of every East Texan suffering from stroke. Memorial has also received the Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care and Orthopedic Care. Additionally, as the market leader in cardiovascular services, Memorial maintains the highest level of chest pain certification in our area. The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care awarded Memorial Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, or PCI. The achievement recognizes Memorial as an outstanding facility when dealing with patients who present with heart attack symptoms. Because outstanding, awardwinning care unfortunately can come CHI St. LUKE’s health MEMORIAL at a cost, Memorial is working to help local residents without insurance or with high-deductible health plans save money and get more of the specific medical care they need. Through the MDsave marketplace, patients have access to a wide variety of medical procedures at up-front all-inclusive prices up to 60 percent off the average rate, simplified billing and educational resources. MDsave’s website allows patients to geographically search by procedure, provider, specialty, or ailment, and compare pricing. The process is upfront and easy. Just choose the best option, add to the cart, and check out online. A 271-bed acute care facility, CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin offers a wide array of services, including the area’s first dedicated heart and stroke care center; The Temple Cancer Center; and the area’s most advanced imaging centers, The Temple Imaging Center and The Kurth Imaging Center. CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Specialty Hospital is a 26-bed facility which is separately licensed as a long-term acute care hospital dedicated to critically ill and/or medically complex patients with long-term care needs. As part of one of the largest health care organizations in the nation affiliated with St. Luke’s Health in Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Texas Children’s Hospital, CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial is committed to creating healthier communities in East Texas. CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial provides award-winning, compassionate care to the deep East Texas area. Recently, the hospital earned the prestigious American College of Cardiology’s NCDR ACTION Registry–Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award for outstanding cardiovascular care. 63 Quality has it’s Rewards. * Advanced Stroke Care Platinum Award for the treatment of Heart Attack *HealthStream Community Assessment Survey MEMORIAL LUFKIN | 936.634.8111 64 CHI_LufkinLiving_2016.indd 1 12/4/15 11:54 AM pinecrest Conveniently located near shopping malls, restaurants and houses of worship, you’ll find PineCrest nestled amidst the tall pines that inspired its name. You’ll also find a vibrant community that provides a safe, worryfree life for Lufkin seniors. Located on 55 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds surrounded by nature, PineCrest Retirement Community, at 1302 Tom Temple Dr. in Lufkin, has been serving the needs of seniors in the area since 1992. PineCrest continues to re-define the concept of retirement community. It offers an active lifestyle for those desiring independent, yet carefree living. The community offers two- and threebedroom independent patio homes and one- and two-bedroom independent apartment homes with a wide range of amenities and activities. At PineCrest, it’s your life, your way, with no worries. PineCrest continues to evolve and improve. Over its 20-year history, the community has changed with the changing times and the needs and wants of its residents and the surrounding senior population. In 2015, the community completed its renovation of the Woodlands Healthcare Center on the campus. In addition, PineCrest Home Healthcare was expanded citywide to provide assistance to even more seniors living within the Lufkin city limits who wish to remain in their own home. PineCrest also expanded its outpatient rehabilitation services with the opening of a PineCrest Transitional Rehab in 2015, in a brand new wing within The Woodlands Healthcare Center. The center offers a wide range of rehabilitation services for people recovering from surgical procedures, stroke, heart attack and other medical conditions. Rehabilitation services provided by PineCrest are covered by Medicare and most private insurances. The community also includes beautiful assisted living apartment homes for those who require a helping hand from time to time. In its Terrace Assisted Living Center on the campus, PineCrest offers one-bedroom and studio apartments. The campus provides 24-hour security and round-the-clock staff support. PineCrest embodies the concept of a “life plan community” where one can live in the secure knowledge that, if they ever require more care, a “safety net” will be there for them. With Modified Life Care, residents have the security of knowing a plan is in place for the future while they enjoy a lovely setting and many opportunities to engage in life the way they want to live it. At PineCrest the term “senior living” has been replaced by “healthy living community,” a signal to all that PineCrest places an emphasis on providing services that address the social, physical and spiritual well being of it residents. “We have listened to seniors, learned their needs, and have taken to heart what they say they look for in terms of amenities and hospitality-oriented services,” said Amy Thomas, Executive Director of PineCrest. “Over the past several years, we have expended considerable effort to re-design our services to meet what matters most to our residents and potential residents.” Methodist Retirement Communities, Inc. operates PineCrest, which is the only life plan community in the Lufkin area. Services include independent living, assisted living, certified memory care in an assisted living setting, certified memory care in a skilled nursing care setting, 24-hour skilled care, home health care services, and rehabilitation services—all on one campus. “The community offers an inspired lifestyle that is maintenance-free and amenity-filled, and we are honored that many in the community have chosen us (See PINECREST page 80) 65 a i r l d l i & H s Son’s e m a J Landscaping Ferris Commercial Mowers • Red Max Power Equipment • Jonsered Power Equipment 936-635-1743 • 936-671-3215 Locally owned and operated since 1900 Member FDIC www.austinbank.com Terry Fauble Location President 66 Francis Spruiell Regional President 1022 S. John Redditt • Lufkin 936-899-7059 LUFKIN BUSINESS PARK The City of Lufkin Economic Development Corporation, also referred to as the Lufkin EDC, concentrates on maintaining the current job market, expanding local businesses, and bringing in new jobs to sustain and improve the local economy. In 2004, The Lufkin EDC was created to operate with funds from locally collected sales tax. A total of one-eighth of one percent of Lufkin’s sales tax funds are diverted into an economic development fund, which is used as a tool to make Lufkin more competitive in attracting new businesses and creating jobs. The Lufkin EDC staff and board members are motivated to helping current and prospective business partners succeed in Lufkin. Lufkin EDC offers local incentives to encourage growth, sustainability and to diversify our local community. To ensure these goals are met, the Lufkin EDC has implemented policies and incentive programs such as: expansion and retention assistance, financing assistance, local and state development programs, tax abatements for new and expanding industry, relocation services, 380 agreements, and job training assistance. Lufkin Economic Development personnel are also available to assist in site selection, trade area information and demographics. The Lufkin EDC is presently taking and reviewing new applications for incentives and tax abatements. We are confident that 2016 will bring more jobs to our community and financial assistance to local and new businesses. If you would like more information regarding tax abatements or incentive programs please contact the Economic Development office at 936-633-0221. Lufkin, Texas has many reasons to be the Economic Heart of Deep East Texas. Lufkin has a daily population of 80,000 to 100,000 due in part to our regional retail and medical hub. The City offers rail service, freight carriers, air service, higher education, and is located equally between Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Beaumont, and Shreveport. Along with available labor force and a strategic location, Lufkin has an abundance of water. The City has both ground water as well as surface water. Lufkin has the ability to produce over 70 million gallons per day while using only 10 million gallons per day on average. These are just a few of the reasons that Lufkin is the place to develop and expand! The City of Lufkin employs an Economic Development Director and an assistant. Recently the Assistant City Manager, Steve Floyd was named as interim Director of the Economic Development Corporation. Steve has been with the City of Lufkin for 10 years and has over 28 years of experience in municipal government. Robin Alderman was recently hired as the Economic Development assistant and is looking forward to serving the citizens of Lufkin. Robin is a native Lufkinite with deep ties to Lufkin and a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. The Lufkin Economic Development team stands ready to assist you as you expand your current business or look to start a new endeavor. Lufkin has seen growth over the past year in the medical and retail sectors. That growth is expected to continue throughout 2016 and the Economic Development board members and personnel are excited for Lufkin’s bright future. 67 Angelina County Airport Your Document Management Company for All East Texas •Digital Color Systems •B/W & Color Printers •Sales •Rentals •Leasing Available •Service •Supplies Locally Owned AIRPORT FACTS • The airport brings in more than $1.2 million in fuel sales annually. • The airport cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and sells some of the most delicious hamburgers around. • The airport covers 385 acres and has 2 runways, one more than a mile long. • There are approximately 75 aircraft based at the Lufkin airport, including 3 jets. • Over the last 10 years, the Angelina County based chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association flew more than 2,000 kids, between the ages of 8-17, as part of the Young Eagles program. • The airport averages 50 aircraft operations daily – or 18,500 operations a year – including 500 transient military aircraft operations. Many of the military aircraft plan their fuel stops in Lufkin just to eat lunch at the cafe! 2108 N. John Redditt Drive • Lufkin, Texas 936.633.6550 innovativeofficesystems.com 68 Find contact details on page 83. Small business development center Start Smart. Grow Smart. Free Business Assistance. Real-World Advice. Whether you’re just starting your business, experiencing your first growing pains, or ready to move your business to the next level – visit the Angelina College Small Business Development Center before you do anything else. Learn the right way to develop an actionable business plan, find financing, attract customers, increase sales, and improve productivity and profitability. Take advantage of our handson, no-cost consulting assistance, or attend a practical, affordable business workshop either online or at our convenient Lufkin location. Topics include marketing, business plan development, social media, budgeting, taxes, software applications, government contracting, state and local certifications and more. Our live workshops are taught by instructors from the real world of business who share current information and teach practical techniques that you can use right away to start or run your business. Our interactive online workshops are available 24/7 and accessible from your computer at home, the office or on the road. All are designed to help you broaden your business knowledge, whether you are new to business or an experienced entrepreneur. One of Texas’ Top Micropolitan Communities A great climate for business You’ll love Lufkin. Lufkin and Angelina County is situated in the best possible location in Texas for many businesses and has a climate made for growth. • 2 hours from the Port of Houston with rail connection • Low combined property rate Angelina College Small Business Development Center has dozens of affordable workshops you can attend to learn the basics or to polish up your management skills. Angelina College Small Business Development Center Community Services Building 3500 South First Street, Suite 103 Lufkin, TX 75902 (936) 633-5400 www.angelina.sbdcnetwork.net • Triple Freeport • 54 MGD surplus water both Raw treated or untreated • Located on the I-69 Route under development from Mexico to Canada • Industrial land available P.O. Box 130 • Lufkin, TX 75902-0130 936-633-0251 • ecodev@cityoflufkin.com www.lufkinedc.com 69 •Drains/Sinks/Faucets •Tubs/Showers/Toilets •Jet Machine/Sewer Lines •Water Heaters/Softeners •Garbage Disposal •Video Inspection •Preventive Maintenance •Medical Gas •Backflow Prevention •Gas Lines •Slab Leaks Put a stop to that late-night drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip. 24 Hour Emergency Service LOGGINS PLUMBING SERVICE 101 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 109 • Lufkin (936) 639-3073 Great Careers Start Here Angelina College 936.633.5212 or visit www.angelina.edu for enrollment and registration information 70 Expo center Lufkin Economic Development Corporation what it does for the community You’ll love Lufkin. The Lufkin Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) provides Lufkin/ Angelina County with the tools and funds to attract new companies as well as provide assistance to existing businesses. Three new businesses call Lufkin home: • Holmes Smokehouse - $2.5 million investment and 200 employees Built in 1983, the George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center complex was constructed and funded from private contributions totaling $1.6 million. It is located on a 36 acre tract with 25 acres in use currently. When constructed, it was the largest pre-engineered clear span building in the United States and has been copied by many cities since its completion. Since its construction, the Expo Center has continued to expand and improve, adding additional parking for a total room of 3,500 vehicles, twelve industrial size over�head fans in the main arena, and a 62,500 sq. ft. open air pavilion with a 100’x150’ arena. The Expo Center is East Texas’ premiere multipurpose event venue. Located off Loop 287 in the heart of the Pineywoods, it is conveniently located between Houston, Dallas and Shreveport, and hosts event sponsors from all around the state. Whether you’re looking for a championship rodeo, monster trucks, great music or a big top circus, the Expo Center is the venue that can host it. The Expo Center is home to the Texas State Forest Festival, the Angelina County Benefit Rodeo, and dozens of annual events that both entertain the Lufkin/Angelina County Community and stimulate the local area businesses. For more information about the George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center, call 936-637-3976 or visit www.angelinaexpo.com. • GE Oil & Gas- $62 million investment • Pinecrest Energy - $70 million investment, 20 jobs LEDC provides: • Business relocation services • Business expansion and retention assistance • Local and state development programs • Financing assistance • Tax abatements for new and existing industry • Job training assistance • Site selection assistance • Trade area information and demographics P.O. Box 130 • Lufkin, TX 75902-0130 936-633-0251 • ecodev@cityoflufkin.com www.lufkinedc.com 71 Wood Blueberry Farm Between Lufkin and Diboll near Highway 59 South, eight acres of blueberries stretch out waiting for harvest time. During the months of May and June, those plants are teeming with fresh blueberries ready for the picking. Craig and Julie Wood spend their summers harvesting, packaging and selling their produce to local Brookshire Brothers stores. The Wood Blueberry Farm is also open for anyone wanting to fill their gallon-sized buckets with the sweet fruit. In 2005, the couple traveled to Sonoma and came home ready to plant their own vineyard. Angelina County Extension Service agent Cary Sims had other ideas for their land – blueberries. “He told us we needed to grow blueberries, and I’m picturing us sitting on the side of the road selling 72 berries out of our truck,” Craig Wood said. “We had the land and a lake for irrigation, but I didn’t know anything about blueberries. This idea really came out of the blue, but I thought maybe we could do this.” Julie and Craig Wood are set to produce 25,000 pounds of blueIn their first berries this year. year, the couple planted an acre of Brookshire Brothers. Each year, a large blueberry plants and yielded enough machine harvests about half of the to make “a couple of cobblers,” Craig plants while 20 laborers pick the rest. said. The next year, they planted one “We had no idea what we were more acre, then two more. By their doing at first. If there was a mistake fourth year, they knew they needed to to make, we made it. If there was a begin selling their harvest due to the wrong turn to take, I took it,” Craig overwhelming amount of crops said. “We befriended other farmers, they produced. asked a lot of questions and learned a “We now have around 6,000 lot. We did a lot of reading and a lot plants and are set to produce 25,000 of research.” pounds of blueberries this year,” Craig As a local veterinarian, Craig said. “Eventually it came to a point said he never had an agricultural where we were all in.” The Woods background, other than a “basic partnered with Brookshire Brothers garden we had as a kid.” Julie is the two years ago and became the sole Hudson Independent School District supplier for the annual Nacogdoches Director of Child Nutrition. Blueberry Festival. “She’s the perfect ‘go-to’ when it Now the Wood Blueberry Farm is comes to food safety,” Craig said. “This home to a packaging shed where the was a perfect fit for us.” berries are sized, dried, packaged and There are 23 blueberry farms in labeled for sale as East Texas Best to Texas and all are in the eastern part Wood Blueberry Farm of the state. The blueberry harvest season runs about 60 days during May and June. During that time, the couple rises at dawn and works until dark six days a week making sure the blueberries are picked at the peak of ripeness and ready to sell. Because hours of operation vary during the season, the Wood’s have set up a Facebook page for anyone interested in handpicking their own berries or learning more about the farm. For additional information, contact woodblueberry@yahoo.com. “What started out as a little hobby now consumes all of our time. We’ve created a monster. It’s exhausting, but it’s also exciting and a stress reliever,” Craig said. “Every year, we’re glad when it’s over, and every season we can’t wait for it to begin.” berry recipe... e k a c e s e e h C y r r e Blueb Cupcakes 2 eggs here in Lufkin You’ll love Lufkin. blue Julie’s favorite gar cookie Slice & bake su se 8 oz cream chee 1 cup sugar So much for your family, right dough m ½ cup sour crea ½ tsp vanilla 3 TBLS flour ies 1 cup blueberr bottom l sizes to fit the al sm in s ie ok sugar co Slice and bake d still very soft, ightly brown an sl st ju til un e Bak d place a of a muffin pan. n while warm an pa m fro e ov . Rem ss cookie about 8 minutes muffin cup. Pre ed lin r pe pa ch ttom of ea e bowl cookie in the bo & sugar in larg se ee ch m ea cr eat together ur down firmly. B ded. Beat in so g just until blen in at be , gs eg dd blueberries. until smooth. A in flour. Fold in at be d, ee sp w . On lo -40 minutes cream & vanilla degrees for 35 0 35 at e ak B to cups. Spoon batter in refrigerate. rack and then on l oo C t. se until cakes are secakes. Makes 12 chee Lufkin and Angelina County combines the best in home town atmosphere with the amenities families need to thrive. Schools: Six independent school districts located throughout Angelina County. Each has its own unique personality and provides great educational opportunities. Health Care: Two world class hospitals and hundreds of physicians representing a large variety of specialities. New physicians open practices here every year. Ellen Trout Zoo: Rated one of the best small town zoos in the country. Museums: The Museum of East Texas, Texas Forestry Museum and The Naranjo Museum of Natural History provide very unique and highly interactive activities and programs. Outdoors: 4 national forest surround Lufkin/Angelina County: Angelina, Davy Crocket, Sabine and Sam Houston National Forests. And, don’t forget the great bass fishing at Lake Sam Rayburn. P.O. Box 130 • Lufkin, TX 75902-0130 936-633-0251 • ecodev@cityoflufkin.com www.lufkinedc.com 73 Photo: Jonathan Gerland angelina national forest 74 angelina national forest – Boykin Springs The area includes a lake for swimming and fishing, a bathhouse, camping sites, picnic tables, a pavilion, a hiking trail and beautiful pine forests. Boykin Springs Recreation Area is known for the springs that meander through the campground and for the picturesque longleaf pine stands that surround the adjacent forested area, and provides habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it features a 9-acre spring-fed lake and offers camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, fishing or just getting in touch with nature. There are 21 campsites which can accommodate RVs up to 24 feet long, and 3 sites for tent camping only. Drinking water is available throughout the campground, but there are no sites with water hookups. The bathhouse has flush toilets and hot showers. The historic Boykin Springs picnic shelter accommodates up to 74 people. Reservations are required by contacting the National Recreation Reservation Service at 877-444-6777 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week or at www.recreation.gov. Boykin Springs Details Camping - $6/site/night (up to 2 vehicles) Day Use - $3/vehicle/day Shelter Rental - $25/day (reserve at www.recreation.gov) Directions From Zavalla, travel east on Highway 63 for 10½ miles; turn right on Forest Service Road 313 for 2½ miles to the campground. For more information Angelina National Forest 111 Walnut Ridge Road Zavalla, TX 75980 936-897-1068 www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas angelina national forest – Bouton lake campground Bouton Lake Campground One of the best kept secrets in the Angelina National Forest is Bouton Lake Campground. Completed in 1963, this area offers primitive camping, fishing, and hiking amidst bottomland hardwoods and cypress trees. Whether in an RV or tent camping, visitors have seven primitive sites. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. There is a vault toilet that serves the area. This is a “pack it in, pack it out” site, and there are no electrical hookups or drinking water. Bouton Lake is an oxbow lake formed by the Neches River. The western half of the lake is private property so keep this in mind and avoid trespassing onto private land. For more information Angelina National Forest 111 Walnut Ridge Road, Zavalla, Texas 75980 936-897-1068 www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas Cypress-lined Bouton Lake reflects an interesting cloud formation. 75 Photo by joelowery.com DAVy crockett national forest 76 Named for the legendary pioneer, Davy Crockett National Forest contains more than 160,600 acres of woodland streams, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat in Houston and Trinity counties within the Neches River and Trinity River basins. Davy crockett national forest – Ratcliff Lake A short 20-minute drive from Lufkin lies Ratcliff Lake, the centerpiece of the forest. The 45-acre lake was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was once a log pond and source of water for the Central Coal and Coke Company Sawmill that logged the area from 1902 to 1920. The recreation area offers visitors camping, picnicking, a swimming beach and bathhouse, concession stand, an amphitheater, an interpretive forest trail, showers, boating and fishing in a beautiful forest setting often featured in travel magazines. The picnic shelters, amphitheater, and 14 camping sites with electricity and water may be reserved from the National Reservation System by calling 877-444-6777. All other campsites are first-come, first-served. Fall brings vivid colors to the Davy Crockett National Forest. Davy Crockett national forest – Hiking Trails Four C Hiking Trail Piney Creek Horse Trail The Four C Hiking Trail is a 20-mile trail that begins at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area and ends at the Neches Bluff Overlook. It was named one of the top 10 trails in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. Named for the Central Coal and Coke Company, the Four C Trail follows abandoned tramways. Except for a onemile segment through privately owned land, the Four C Trail stays on national forest land. The trail is marked with white rectangular tree tags. A portion of the trail crosses the Big Slough Wilderness Area. This area is free of any development and offers the visitor solitude and primitive experiences. Walnut Creek Campsite is located on a small ridge near Walnut Creek about midway on the trail, and the Pond Campsite is near mile 13 of the trail on the edge of a small pond. Spring and fall are the best seasons to experience the trail, but the trail can be hiked year-round. Extra care must be taken during hunting season (October through January) due to hunters in the area. Bright orange or other highly visible clothing must be worn. Camping is not allowed along the Four C Trail during hunting season. The Piney Creek Horse Trail meanders approximately 54 miles through the Davy Crockett National Forest. A $10 per day fee covers camping at either of the two horse camps and use of the trail system. A self-service pay station is available at the site. An annual permit can be purchased for $50 per vehicle at the Ranger’s office. The trail is primitive and follows Forest Service roads, tram roads, pipeline rights-of-way, game trails, and highways. It is mostly on national forest land, but there are crossings on private property and public roads. Trailhead parking areas are at main access points on Forest Service Road 566 and Forest Service Road 514D, and all road crossings are well signed. Triangular markers indicate the route. Use caution in wet weather since parts of the trail flood. The best seasons for using the trail are fall and spring, but insects can still be a problem, so insect repellent is recommended. Firewood is usually available on the trail (use dead and down wood only), and always be careful with fires. Find contact details on page 83. 77 Photo: Adrian T. Van Dellen Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail The Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail is one of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s newest paddling trails. This watery corridor not only showcases the natural beauty and wildlife of Texas Forest Country, but also transports paddlers back in time 150 years or more to glimpse a world early frontiersmen saw. The beginning point is a somewhat primitive dirt slope alongside the CR 1155 bridge known locally as Anderson Crossing. The 9.2 mile trail meanders through some of the wildest and leastdiscovered country remaining in the state. In many places the river and its surroundings look much as they did when Davy Crockett spurred his horse across on his way to the Alamo and immortality. The historic Neches with its slow-moving current, beautiful forests of shrubs, flowers, and trees, 78 healthy populations of birds and wildlife, make the Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail a great place for a family outing. Youngsters can learn and absorb much about nature on this 3-5 hour leisurely paddle. Private property rights should be respected by not trespassing and littering. Most of the land along the river is organized into hunting clubs, and trespassing laws are strictly enforced. The state-designated trail ends at an easily-accessible boat ramp at the Texas State Highway 7 bridge. For those looking for a longer river trip, the Texas Conservation Alliance recently cleared a canoe path through the limbs and fallen trees another 18.2 miles (8-10 hrs.) downriver to Texas Highway 94. This section of the river – even wilder and more primitive than the Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail – is well worth the effort. Trail Put-in From Lufkin: take State Highway 103 West until it merges with Texas State Highway 7 just before the Neches River. Approximately 4.6 miles west of the Neches River on SH 7, turn right on Forest Service Road 511. Follow Forest Service Road 511 until it intersects County Road 1155. Turn right on CR 1155 and go straight until you come to the river. Boat launch ramp is alongside river bridge. Cassels Boykin Park Lufkin’s Only Full Service Club Family Environment Salon & Spa Strength Training: • Free Weights • Pin Selected • Free Motion Dozens of Cardio Machines Certified Staff & Trainers Indoor & Outdoor Jog/Walk Tracks Heated Jr. Olympic Pool & Kids Splash Park Exercise Classes: • Aqua • Zumba • Ripped • Yoga • Insanity • Boot Camp • Biggest Loser Seniors Programs: The Dr. Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion is a 100-foot diameter multiuse structure that can seat 400. It features natural wood, river rocks and stone floors with an adjacent amphitheater area. The rest room/concession building has a dressing area suitable for weddings and other special occasions. Cassels-Boykin Park is located on the 114,500 acre Lake Sam Rayburn. This area is known as one of the best locations in Texas for Largemouth Bass due to its flooded timber, lily pads, channels, and drop offs. The Park provides an excellent year-round access to the northern part of Lake Sam Rayburn, which is noted for excellent fishing. Boating, skiing, and other water related activities also are quite popular. Although the pavilion was designed to facilitate bass tournaments, it is also a great venue for weddings and special events. To reserve the pavilion and other park amenities or for more information, please contact Jason Kartye, park director, (936) 630-3231. • Prime Timers • Silver Sneakers • Aqua 4 Tennis Cts. 2 Raquetball Cts. 2 Pickleball Cts. ½ Ct. Basketball Hot Tub & Saunas Ladies Only Area Staffed & Equipped Child Care Area 936-639-LIVE LiveWellClub.com LiveWellClubblog.com 79 PINECREST (Continued from page 65) above all others,” said Thomas. Other amenities include a restaurant and bistro dining; a fitness center with regularly scheduled exercise classes; a game room with pool table; and an on-site Brookshire Brothers Grocery Store, library and multi-purpose room. PineCrest is a gated community with secure parking and optional covered parking. The community also offers nondenominational worship services and Bible study groups, along with a wide range of regularly scheduled activities. Quality staffing, as well as quality services, programs and care, are always top priorities at PineCrest and all MRC communities, which are routinely recognized with nursing and program awards from LeadingAge Texas, the state association for not-for-profit retirement communities. These ratings and awards reflect a quality management, administration and long-term staff that are committed to maintaining the best of care and services for seniors. They are a clear indication of what can be achieved when staff, residents, volunteers and families work together to offer the full continuum of services, care and housing in a dignified Christian setting. For more information on the many lifestyle options available at PineCrest Healthy Living Community, contact Joy Rich for assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing and rehabilitation. To learn more about the newest independent living options, contact Rita Taylor. The telephone number is 936-634-1054, or visit PineCrest at www.mrcpinecrest.org. RESTORATION (Continued from page 23) trendy boutiques, sip coffee at Standpipe or gather for drinks after work. Restoration Wine Bar is the cornerstone of the Angelina Hotel reconstruction project by local entrepreneur Mark Hicks. “We were looking at different attractions to bring people into downtown, and I had seen something similar to the wine bar in other downtown areas,” Hicks said. “We thought this would be a neat idea, and it’s definitely proven to be a good addition to our downtown.” In 2016, Hicks plans to restore the second and third floors of the historic hotel to include a special events ballroom connected to the restaurant and several loft apartments. Unsell stresses Restoration Wine Bar is a place where everyone is welcome, but be prepared – you’ll probably see someone you know. “We try not to be too fancy here. You can come in and order a bottle of wine and a nice cheese platter or a beer and a burger,” she said. “One of the things I loved most about this place is how relaxed it is. People have compared us to the Lufkin version of Cheers – where everybody knows your name. I’ve never seen so many times where people will buy each other’s meals because they know each other here. It’s just a great place to be.” For more information, go to restorationwinebar.com. ellen trout zoo (Continued from page 36) occurring antibiotics in crocodilian blood. Results of these projects are published in scientific journals. Other projects conducted by zoo staff encompass behavioral enrichment activities, exhibit design and development, and behavioral and environmental analyses as they pertain to captive animal reproduction. In addition to the animal exhibits, the zoo also has an impressive botanical collection. Native forest trees, shrubs and other plants are prominent throughout the grounds. Dispersed among the forest plants are many tropical and sub-tropical species. Over 20 species of palms, 5 species of bamboos, 3 species of bananas as well as philodendrons and elephant ears give the visitor a feeling of really being in the jungle. 80 The Ellen Trout Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Lufkin and is located on north Loop 287 (Ellen Trout Drive) at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Open every day, the hours of operation are from 9am to 5pm in the winter and from 9am until 6pm in the summer. Visit the zoos website at www.ellentroutzoo.com, Facebook page Ellen Trout Zoo [Official] or you may write Ellen Trout Zoo, 402 Zoo Circle, Lufkin, TX 75904 or call 936-633-0399 for further information. Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the zoo, its activities and development. Inquiries about FOETZ membership or other information may be directed to Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo at the zoo address and phone number. For more information contact the Ellen Trout Zoo, N. Loop 287 (Ellen Trout Drive), 936-633-0399 or visit www.ellentroutzoo.com advertisers 2016 Abeldt’s Gaslight Pharmacy 200 Gaslight Blvd. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-639-2346 www.abeldtspharmacy.com Page 53 AR Services 2590 Ted Trout Drive Lufkin, TX 75904 936-639-4917 www.ar-services.com Page 6 Carroway Funeral Home 2704 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-2255 www.carrowayfuneralhome.com Page 33 Dixon Furniture 301 E. Laurel Ave. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-2118 www.dixonfurniturelufkin.com Page 2 Alderman Cain & Neill PLLC 122 E. Lufkin Ave. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-633-4209, 936-633-4223, 936-633-4201 www.acnlaw.com Page 8 Audiological Services 601 Ellis Ave. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-2252 www.audiologicalservices.net Page 12 Cavanaugh Jewelers 1905 Tulane, Suite 102-I Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-8261 www.jewels@consolidated.net Page 35 East Texas Eye Associates 1306 W. Frank Ave. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-8381 www.easttexaseye.com Page 16 Alene’s Floral & Gifts 1206 S. Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 936-637-1337 www.alenesflorist.com Page 33 Austin Bank 1022 S. John Redditt Lufkin, TX 75904 936-899-7059 www.austinbank.com Page 66 CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial 1201 W. Frank St. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-8111 www.memorialhealth.us Page 64 Edward Jones Vince Treadwell 321 S. First Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-6116 www.edwardjones.com Page 37 Alexander Electric Inc. 1602 E. Denman Ave. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-637-3762 www.alexanderelectric.com Page 61 B&D Security Services 703 S. Timberland Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-7443 wwwbanddsecurityservices.com Page 43 Chandler Mathis & Zivley, PC 207 East Frank Avenue Lufkin, TX 75901 (936) 632-7778 www.cmzlaw.net Page 43 Alexander Lankford & Hiers 4000 S. Medford Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-7771 www.alhcpa.com Page 33 BancorpSouth Lufkin locations: 2918 Brentwood Drive 936-699-1205 500 S. John Redditt Dr. 936-699-5800 www.bancorpsouth.com Page 14 Chick-fil-A 4605 S. Medford Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-2237 www.chick-fil-a.com/southloopcrossing Page 6 American Real Estate 1313 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-7000 www.americanrealestatelufkin.com Page 35 Bartlett Baggett & Shands 1204 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-4496 www.bbsins.com Page 25 Angelina Arts Alliance 3500 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-633-5454/936-633-5234 www.angelinaarts.org Page 19 Beard Fine Jewelers 2002 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-637-2848 www.beardfinejewelers.com Page 4 Citizens National Bank 415 S. 1st Street 936-639-2141 805 S. John Redditt Dr. 936-632-6621 Lufkin, TX 75901 www.cnbtexas.com Page 45 Angelina College 3500 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-633-5212 www.angelina.edu Page 70 Brookshire Brothers 1201 Ellen Trout Drive Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-8155 www.brookshirebrothers.com Page 57 Angelina Savings Bank 1721 Tulane Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-3201 www.angelinabank.com Page 18 Café Del Rio 1901 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-4471 www.cafedelrio.net Page - back cover Commercial Bank of Texas Lufkin locations: 600 S. First St. 936-633-5800 1901 Tulane Dr. 936-633-5872 1873 W. Frank 936-633-5881 www.cbtx.com Page 31 Community Title Company 3502 S. Medford Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-1600 www.communitytitle-tx.com Page 47 Ellis Chiropractic 1302 S. Medford Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-1488 www.ellischiropractic.com Page 20 Ferguson 2934 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-1177 www.ferguson.com Page 1 First Bank & Trust East Texas Lufkin locations: 2510 W. Frank Ave. 936-634-6669 541 S. Timberland Dr. 936-634-2222 111 Champions Dr. 936-632-9433 321 N. Brentwood Dr. 936-632-4735 Diboll location: 104 N. Temple Dr. 936-829-4721 www.fbtet.com Page 17 GENCO Federal Credit Union 1402 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-637-7710 www.gencofcu.org Page 41 Griffin, Fred D., DDS 419 W. Frank Lufkin, Texas 75904 936-634-1786 Page 51 81 advertisers 2016 Morgan Stanley 5030 Champions Lufkin, TX 75901 936-631-3900 www.morganstanleyfa.com/ friesencrowsonbowman Page 47 Grumbles Roofing Co. 730 John Brown Road Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-0102 www.grumblesroofing.com Page 53 Lufkin Coca-Cola Bottling Co. 704 Webber St. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-639-2355 www.lufkincocacola.com Page 11 Hammer Equipment Co. 146 Winston 8 Road Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-7000 www.hammer-equipment.com Page 47 Lufkin Convention & Visitors Bureau 1615 S. Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 936-633-0349/800-409-5659 www.visitlufkin.com Page 21 Hicks Operating Company 124 N. Cotton Square Lufkin, TX 75901 936-225-5517 Page 26 Lufkin Economic Development Corporation 2915 Atkinson Drive Lufkin, TX 75901 936-633-0251 www.lufkinedc.com Pages 69, 71, 73 PineCrest Retirement Community 1302 Tom Temple Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 888-913-6056 www.mrcpinecrest.org Page 6 Lufkin Independent School District 101 Cotton Square Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-6696 www.lufkinisd.org Page 55 Ralph & Kacoo’s 3107 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-8000 www.ralphandkacoos.com Page – back cover Lufkin Jewelry on the Square 121 E. Frank Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-6369 www.lufkinjewelry.com Page 63 Raymond James 1607 S. Chestnut, Suite M Lufkin, Texas 75901 936-637-2222 www.raymondjames.com Page 31 Innovative Office Systems 2108 N. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-633-6550 www.innovativeofficesystems.com Page 68 Main Event Venues 205 E. Frank Ave., Suite A Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-6400 www.maineventlufkin.com Page 26 Ray’s Drive In Café 420 N. Timberland Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-3262 www.facebook.com/pages/Rays-Drive-In Page 15 KSWP/KAVX 151 Holmes Road Lufkin, TX 75904 936-639-6400 www.kswp.org Page 51 Maricela’s Day Spa 121 North First Street Lufkin, TX 75901 936-699-2000 www.maricelasdayspa.com Page 18 Restoration Wine Bar 210 S. First Street Hotel Angelina Retail Plaza Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-0210 www.restorationwinebar.com Page 26 LiveWell Athletic Club 1616 Tulane Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-5483 www.livewellclub.com Page 79 Market to Market 108 N. First Lufkin, TX 75901 936-635-0120 www.facebook.com/Market-to-Market Page 23 Loggins Plumbing 101 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 109 Lufkin, TX 75904 936-639-3073 Page 70 Morgan Insurance Agency, LTD 3708 S. Medford Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-7755 www.morganins.com Page 47 Hilliard & Son’s Landscaping 2714 Spence Lufkin, TX 75901 936-699-3215 www.hilliardlandscaping.com Page 66 Huntington State Bank Lufkin Locations: 2120 South First 403 South Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-5566 www.huntingtonstatebank.com Page 24 82 Oak Creek Homes 1301 N. Medford Lufkin, TX 75901 936-639-6432 www.oakcreeklufkin.com Page 49 S&W Expert Collision Repair 3603 S. Medford Drive Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-8361 www.swcollision.com Page 15 Security & Guaranty 517 S. First Street Lufkin, Texas 75901 936-632-6661 www.sgtitle.com Page 53 Slaughter & Son, Inc. 907 Pershing Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-3212 Page 9 St. Andrew Catholic Church 1611 Feagin Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-632-9100 www.standrewlufkin.org Page 11 State Farm Insurance - Jay Jackson 1605 S. Chestnut Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-632-4466 www.jayjacksoninsurance.com Page 13 Texas State Bank Lufkin location: 3001 S. John Redditt Dr. 936-639-6470 Huntington location: 304 Hwy. 69 S. 936-422-3315 www.texasstatebank.net Page – inside back cover The Advanced Financial Group 1101 S. Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-3378 www.theadvancedfinancialgroup.com Page 6 The Center For Sight 2 Medical Center Blvd. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-8434 www.thecenterforsight.com Page 49 Timberline Constructors 3195 North Highway 69 Lufkin, TX 75904 936-637-2666 www.timberlineconstructors.com Page 45 Woodland Heights Medical Center 505 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 936-634-8311 www.woodlandheights.net Page 59 Wright Buick GMC 1703 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75901 936-637-2500 www.wrightdeal.com Page - inside front cover MI LL contact information 2016 TO TYLER W 287 LOOP 287 FIR SEC ON D ST INA AN GEL 19 FRANK 17 15 20 LUFKIN DEN 12 PERSHING MAN D AN RL BE FEA GIN ET GU RA TIM FM 325 CHESTNUT GASLIGHT BLVD LUFKIN FIRST OLD UNION 103 N SO ATKIN FRANK 14 HWY 21 ABNEY LOOP 287 TO GROVETON ET HWY 94 TIM B H TT FFE MO ER L KURT RAGU 11 10 US N FM 58 LOOP 287 9 FIRST 69 S 13 TO BEAUMONT 8 7 819 4 TO DIBOLL Naranjo Museum of Natural History PAGE 34; MAP 4 1504 S. First St. Lufkin, TX 75901 Hours Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission: $7.50 Adults $5.00 Children (4-18) Free for children 3 and under (936) 639-DINO (3466) www.naranjomuseum.org Neches Pines Golf Course PAGE 52; MAP 2 664 Lumberjack Dr. Diboll, TX 75941 (936) 829-5086 PineCrest Retirement Community PAGE 65, 80; MAP 11 1302 Tom Temple Drive Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 634-1054 , (936) 634-1056 www.mrcpinecrest.org Pitser Garrison Convention Center PAGES 28; MAP 19 601 North Second Street Lufkin, TX 75901 (936) 633-0279 CHAMPIONS 6 2 TO 3 HOUSTON 1 CROWN COLONY FM US 59 S Angelina County Airport PAGE 68, MAP 3 800 Airport Blvd. Lufkin Convention & Visitor Bureau Diboll, TX 75941 PAGES 14-16, 19; MAP 10 (936) 634-7511 www.angelinacounty.net/airport/airinfo.html 1615 South Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 Angelina National Forest (936) 633-0349 PAGES 74, 75; MAP 13 www.visitlufkin.com 111 Walnut Ridge Lufkin Economic Development Zavalla, TX 75980 Corporation/City of Lufkin (936) 897-1068 PAGES 67; MAP 18 www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas 300 East Shepherd CHI St. Luke’s Health Lufkin, TX 75901 PAGES 60, 61; MAP 15 (936) 633-0251 1201 W. Frank Ave. ecodev@cityoflufkin.org Lufkin, TX 75901 www.lufkinedc.com (936) 634-8111 Lufkin Golf Club www.memorialhealth.us PAGE 52; MAP 24 Crown Colony Golf Course 1624 Sayers PAGE 52; MAP 5 Lufkin, TX 75901 900 Crown Colony Drive (936) 639-3664 Lufkin, TX 75901 Lufkin Host Lions Club (936) 637-8820 PAGES 12, 37 www.crown-colony.com P.O. Box 161 Davy Crockett National Forest Lufkin, TX 75902-0161 PAGES 76-78; MAP 25 (936) 634-5438 National Forests & Grasslands www.lufkinlions.com in Texas Lufkin Independent School District 2221 North Raguet St. PAGES 54-55; MAP 17 Lufkin, Texas 75904 101 Cotton Square (936) 639.8562 Lufkin, TX 75901 http://www.fs.usda.gov/texas (936) 634-6696 www.lufkinisd.org Downtown – City of Lufkin PAGES 20-29; MAP 17 Museum of East Texas 300 East Shepherd PAGE 30, 31; MAP 20 Lufkin, TX 75901 503 North Second Street (936) 634-8881 Lufkin, TX 75901 www.cityoflufkin.com Gallery Hours Mainstreet Lufkin Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PAGE 21 Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (936) 633-0205 Free admission (936) 639-4434 www.metlufkin.org Ellen Trout Zoo PAGES 36-37, 80; MAP 23 402 Zoo Circle Lufkin, TX 75904 Hours Open everyday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: $7.00 Adults (12-59) $6.00 Seniors (60 and older) $3.50 Children (4-11) Free for children under 4 (936) 633-0399 www.ellentroutzoo.com 22 25 24 AN D George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center PAGE 71; MAP 22 1200 Ellen Trout Dr. Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 637-3976 Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce PAGES 8-9, 17; MAP 10 1615 South Chestnut Lufkin, TX 75901 (936) 634-6644 www.lufkintexas.org 23 LOOP SAYERS 03 9N 25 Y1 US 5 HW TO NACOGDOCHES FM 2251 TO CROCKETT 9N Angelina College PAGES 46, 54; MAP 8 3500 South First Street Lufkin, TX 75901 (936) 633-5219 www.angelina.edu GE Oil & Gas PAGES 10-11; MAP 12 601 S. Raguet Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 634-2211 www.geoilandgas.com EEK 6 US Angelina Arts Alliance PAGE 7; MAP 6 Temple Theater Angelina College campus 3500 South First St. Lufkin, TX 75904 Box Office Hours Weekdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. (936) 633-5234 www.angelinaarts.org CR 5 Small Business Development Center PAGE 69; MAP 7 3500 South First Street Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 633-5400 www.angelina.sbdcnetwork.net Texas Forestry Museum PAGE 38; MAP 21 1905 Atkinson Dr. Lufkin, TX 75901 Hours Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free admission (936) 632-9535 www.treetexas.com The History Center PAGE 32; MAP 1 102 N. Temple Diboll, TX 75941 Hours Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free admission (936) 829-3543 www.TheHistoryCenterOnline.com Woodland Heights Medical Center PAGES 58-59; MAP 14 505 South John Redditt Drive Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 634-8311 www.woodlandheights.net 83 Creators and Producers of Fine Printing Since 1939 1030 N. First • Lufkin, Texas • 936.634.3337 84 Any time Any place Any where Mob ile M o ney ge yo any tim ur money , e, any place, a texas ny whe stateb r an e Mana k.net/ mobil texasstatebank.net e 85 Homemade Tortillas Lively Atmosphere Come Party on the Patio 1901 S. First • Lufkin • 936.639.4471 2830 Interstate 10E • Beaumont • 409.347.0250 1530 N. Peachtree Road • Mesquite • 972.329.5560 401 Central Expressway South • Allen • 214.383.6768 1175 Battleship Parkway • Spanish Fort, AL • 251.625.2722 Serving Crawfish, Gumbo, Alligator, Crab, Shrimp, Oysters and many other Cajun delicacies since 1969 Enjoy our New Orleans Garden Patio! (936) 634-8000 Lufkin, TX • 3107 S. First St. Bossier, LA • 1700 Minden Rd. Baton Rouge, LA • 6110 Bluebonnet Blvd. Waterfront/Mobile 1595 Battleship Parkway • Spanish Fort, AL www.ralphandkacoos.com 86