What: Free Smoking Cessation Support Group. When: Will meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays beginning in June at 3pm. Where: Polk County Sub Courthouse-Onalaska. Contact Shelia Peabody at Lake Area Therapy/936-327-8825 for more information.
What: Better Breathers Club When: 1st Thursday of each month at 3:30pm Where: 1st floor conference room at Memorial Medical Center Why: Free support group for anyone with lung disease. Contact Shelia Peabody at Lake Area Therapy for more information-936-327-8825.
Fit City Livingston Challenge. It's free!!!!! Make some healthy lifestyle changes and encourage others in our community to do the same. Go to: fitcitychallenge.org Click on: register as an user Submit your information Click on: *join a team* Livingston's team code is: radish315 You can start logging your exercise and health statistics immediately and see what your teammates are doing.
Deal of the Week!...2011 Chevy HHR LT: On-Star, all speed traction control, airbags, center floor console, anti-theft system, cold air, power locks, power windows, cruise control, remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel, stereo / CD player, deep tinted windows, rear windshield wiper and defroster, rear seat child security, power outlets, Stabiltrak control system, touring suspension, tire pressure monitoring system, computer programmable features and more!
This cool little ride only has 34,668 miles, is a fuel miser and has nice tires to boot! Bounds Autoplex! Livingston, Texas! Come on in! Kick the tires! Take this fun car for a test spin! Affordably priced at just $15,850, you can have it sitting in your driveway tonight! Call in or drive in and ask about our Deal of the Week!
Welcome to a New Sponsor: PolkCountyToday.com welcomes a new sponsor, Joice Portable Buildings offers quality portable buildings of every kind; treated wood buildings, painted buildings, metal buildings, best value metal buildings and discounted repos in stock! Additionally, Joice Portable Buildings sells Superior Carports and Garages. No credit check, and free delivery up to 50 miles! Stop in and talk to Jason, or call, ask about their pricing! Joice Portable Buildings is not ashamed of their rock bottom prices. Call em! 936-967-8696 or 512-917-4241
Local Girl Scouts to Host CRUISING FOR FUN!
Cruising 4 Fun will be held June 2, 2012. This is a community wide event dedicated to improving Matthew's Street Park in Livingston, Texas. This is a community service project hosted by Girl Scout Group 5765 of Livingston. CLICK HERE!!!
The British Are Coming to Livingston...
As the number of soccer players in the USA nears 20 million, the number one soccer company in the United States & Canada, Challenger Sports, has been invited to hold one of their highly regarded “British Soccer Camps” right here in the growing soccer community of Livingston.
Livingston Youth Soccer Association - has teamed up with Challenger Sports to host the week long “British Soccer Camp” during the week of 6/25/2012 to 6/29/2012, at Livingston Youth Soccer Fields, Pedigo Park, Livingston.The camp will run Monday through Friday and each child will be coached by a member of Challenger’s team of 1,100 British soccer coaches flown to the USA exclusively to work on these programs. Challenger Sports will hold over 3,500 Soccer camps this summer and will coach over 130,000 players between the ages of 3 and 19.
Challenger’s new 1,000 touches coaching syllabus provides an innovative daily regimen of foot-skills, moves, juggling, tactical practices & daily tournament play. Challenger also weaves lessons on Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Leadership and Sportsmanship into the camper’s daily routine.
The British Soccer Camp program also provides a unique cultural experience for the players, highlighted in the Camp World Cup. The coaches use this daily tournament to teach the players about life, customs and traditions of other countries. The campers are asked to make up soccer chants, wear the team colors of their country, bring flags and learn as much as they can about the country they represent.
Livingston Youth Soccer Association is offering “British Soccer Camp” sessions for the following ages: Ages 3-4 First Kicks 10:30-11:30am $77 Ages 5-6 Mini Soccer 8:30-10:00am $89 Ages 7-16 Half Day 5:30-8:30pm $118
Teams are also welcome to attend and receive a week of focused instruction to prepare them for the fall season – Team Camp Rates are available from your Camp Coordinator.
Each camper will receive a FREE Soccer Camp T-Shirt, a FREE Soccer Ball, a FREE Giant Soccer Poster and a personalized Skills Performance Evaluation. In addition, any child who signs up online at least 45 days prior to camp will receive a genuine British Soccer Replica Jersey (value $39) – www.challengersports.com
Space is limited – parents are encouraged to sign up on line in advance to avoid disappointment. Sign up TODAY at www.challengersports.com or, for more information please contact;
Nick Rundell, Senior Regional Director, Challenger Sports at: 469-713-2737, or Email: nrundell@challengersports.com Lorretta Sanchez at: 936 646 6527 / 936 714 9638, or Email: rettabcf@yahoo.com
Challenger Sports has been conducting soccer camps in the US for 20+ years and in addition to coaching youth players throughout the country, Challenger will also run hundreds of free parent/coach soccer clinics throughout the country in partnership with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Challenger Sports also offer: TetraBrazil Soccer Camps, Overseas Soccer Tours, Soccer Tournaments, Full-Time Professional Soccer Trainers & Soccer apparel.
Memorial Medical Center, Livingston, Community Events
May 10 - Diabetes Support Group, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Memorial Medical Center - Livingston Community Conference Center. $2 fee to attend. Light lunch and drink provided. Please make reservations by the Tuesday prior to class. To RSVP or if you have any questions, please call (936) 329-8253.
May 15 - Women's Power Lunch, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Memorial Medical Center-Livingston Cafeteria. Lunch provided. Please RSVP to Melissa Crager at 936-329-8290 or mcrager@memorialhealth.org.
Capital Farm Credit Partners with CCA Texas STAR Tournament, LIVINGSTON, April 25, 2012 - Capital Farm Credit recently partnered with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Texas STAR Tournament as a Co-Sponsor. The State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo (STAR) is the annual membership recruitment drive for CCA Texas. The tournament spans the entire Texas Gulf Coast and offers CCA Texas members the chance to win over $1 million in prizes and scholarships. Through unmatched volunteer involvement, CCA Texas is the largest marine conservation group of its kind. Capital Farm Credit shares CCA’s dedication to the conservation of our coastal natural resources and its collaboration with policy makers to ensure Texans’ enjoyment of the outdoors. The STAR Tournament runs from May 26 through September 3, 2012. Capital Farm Credit is the state’s largest rural lender and has 95 years of experience providing financing to Texas agricultural and recreational land owners and outdoor enthusiasts. Headquartered in Bryan, it has more than 70 offices located throughout Texas. For more information about Capital Farm Credit or the CCA Texas STAR Tournament, visit www.CapitalFarmCredit.com.
Congratulations to the East Texas Stealth13U Select Baseball Team on their 1st place win at last weekend's Select BLD Spring Swing Qualifier tournament in League City at Big League Dreams! There were 18 teams in this tournment. This is also Stealth's Third 1st place win! We are so proud of these awesome boys and coaches!
Back Row: Coaches Bo King, Zach Patterson, Kevin Smith - Head Coach, Not Pictured: Howard Smith and Greg Hendrix Middle Row: Aaron Stanley, Brodie Smith, Brannon Miller, Andrew King, Hunter Bland, and Derrick Findley Front Row: Justin Smith, Corbin Patterson, Grant Hendrix, Caleb Ferris and Brady Lowe
The LHS Emerald Belles went to competition this weekend in San Antonio and we wanted to see if you could share their great accomplishments with Polk County? The girls did 2 routines this year, Novelty and a Pom Pon. With the Novelty dance they received a 2nd place trophy with a rating of superior! With the Pom Pon routine they received 1st place with a rating of superior. They also won a trophy for Precision. We are all so proud of all of these girls that have continued to work very hard to get these prestigious awards!! Way to go Livingston High School Emerald Belle Drill Team!!!
Red Cross Urges People to Volunteer If you like helping people, the Red Cross is the place for you.
SPRING, April 5, 2012 - This National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, the Greater Houston Area Chapter is celebrating its dedicated volunteers and partners. These volunteers power the American Red Cross, making it possible for the organization to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.
The Red Cross is also encouraging people who have been thinking about volunteering to take the plunge. People wanting to make a difference should contact the Greater Houston Area Chapter to learn about getting involved. Right now the Red Cross especially needs people who can serve on a Disaster Action Team (DAT), be trained in Damage Assessment, and Shelter Operations.
Volunteers are central to the work of the Red Cross in Montgomery County and in communities across the country, as on average, the Red Cross has 15 volunteers for every one employee. These volunteers are people in action—whether providing comfort to a family whose home has been washed away in a flood or getting an emergency message to a member of the military whose father is critically ill.
American Red Cross volunteers...
Teach first aid, CPR, swimming and other lifesaving skills. Respond to disasters and reconnect families separated by disasters or conflict. Support blood drives across the country. Help veterans, members of the military and their families in the U.S. and overseas.
Red Cross volunteers are united by their service and the feeling that in changing others’ lives, their lives are also changed. To volunteer, contact the Greater Houston Area Chapter at www.houstonredcross.org and click on the volunteer tab to complete an online application and background check. If you have any questions please email Jessica.Debalski@redcross.org or call 832-293-9662.
Become a CASA Volunteer!
Everyday CASA of the Pines volunteers see the terrible devastation that abuse takes on children. Every 8 minutes a child in Texas is confirmed as a victim of abuse and neglect according to figures from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Every 38 hours a child in Texas dies from abuse and neglect. That is unconscionable. These are children in our community who deserve to grow up in safe, permanent homes where their basic needs – food, clothing, shelter and education – are met. Where they can live in a home where they are not subjected to or exposed to physical and emotional abuse.
We need more CASA volunteers who can help break the cycle of abuse.
Children who have CASA volunteers typically spend less time in foster care and get the services they need, including medical and mental health services, educational services and when appropriate, family services to help reunite families. When children spend less time in foster care: that is good for both the children, as well as the taxpayers. Every month less that a child remains in care saves taxpayers $1,835 in just foster care payments. When you multiply that amount over the more than 46,000 children who are projected to be in the state’s care this year, the sum is a substantial total of savings. In Texas, the CPS budget alone is $1.2 billion. That does not include all the additional costs, such as Medicaid for health care, mental health services, etc.
When families get the services they need – parent education, counseling for drug and alcohol abuse, assistance with housing and job searches – that benefits the children, families and taxpayers. Foster care should be a last resort for children and CASA volunteers work to ensure that children move through the foster care system and into safe, permanent homes as smoothly as possible. We want to ensure that children do not experience additional trauma through frequent moves, overmedication and lack of the necessary services they need in order to become healthy, contributing adults.
For example, *Rebecca was placed in foster care after allegations of physical abuse. The very first time, *Dolores, the CASA advocate met her, they both connected through the love they share for horses. After Rebecca was placed in a foster/adopt home, she began to act out with consistent tantrums. The behavior was reaching a point that both CASA and CPS were concerned that this family unit was beginning to crumble. Dolores began working on a solution. She remembered the knowledge she had about equine therapy and recommended to the foster mom, a program offered that she knew could help Rebecca. Through the next few weeks, Rebecca’s energy was re-directed and her negative behaviors subsided. Through this therapy program and the knowledge Dolores brought to the case, Rebecca’s behavior has greatly improved. CASA is now looking forward to a spring adoption, with Rebecca officially becoming part of her forever family!
Please consider contacting our office to learn more about being a CASA. An additional way to support CASA is to participate in the CASA Superhero 5K. Welcoming all runners and walkers, from beginner to elite, the Superhero Run is an opportunity for participants to become superheroes in the eyes of children who need CASA volunteers to speak for them. This 10K, 5K and 1 Mile event raises awareness and funds to ensure that someday, every abused or neglected child in the East Texas area will have a Superhero CASA volunteer.
This one-of-a-kind event being held at Kiwanis Park in Lufkin, TX will feature costume contests, a children's area, food and drinks, awards ceremonies and a family-friendly atmosphere. Most importantly, the event will feature CASA volunteers sharing why they serve as advocates in court for abused and neglected children. You're invited to dress up as your favorite superhero and walk, jog or run toward a better future for Angelina, Polk, and Houston County children. Help us give every abused child a true superhero...a CASA volunteer.
For more information about the Superhero 5K race or CASA volunteer opportunities, call our office at 936-634-6725.
*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
