February brings Valentine's Day and many news events that come along with it. There is always a lot going in in Nacogdoches and we'd love for you to share your stories with us. If you have a story you'd like us to run, just call our Site Manager, Martha Huett at 936.544.8100. She would love to hear from you! |
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SFA Bands to Present Concert Posted on: 2008-02-06
by Sylvia Bierschenk
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony in a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Under the direction of Brett A. Richardson, SFA assistant director of bands, the Symphonic Band will open the concert with Dana Wilson's 'Shortcut Home,' a work the composer describes as 'a rousing and elaborate fanfare that features each section of the ensemble.'
Ronnie Pruitt, Hemphill graduate assistant, will guest conduct the band in presenting Percy Grainger's 'Australian Up-Country Tune,' and Richardson will return to the podium to conduct Carolyn Bremer's 'Early Light,' a work largely derived from 'The Star-Spangled Banner' but inspired by the composer's 'feelings of happy anticipation at hearing the anthem played before (base)ball games.'
The Wind Symphony, under the direction of Davd W. Campo, SFA associate director of bands, will open its portion of the program with Samuel Hazo's 'Ride' and Merlin Patterson's band arrangement of the 'Nessun Dorma' aria from Giacomo Puccini's opera, 'Turandot.'
The Wind Symphony will close the concert with William Schuman's 'George Washington Bridge,' a piece the composer said was inspired by his almost daily view of the New York bridge. '(It) has had for me an almost human personality, and this personality is astonishingly varied, assuming different moods depending on the time of day or night, the weather, the traffic and, of course, my own mood as I pass by.'
Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/Finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
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Museum Exhibit to Commemorate Columbia Anniversary Posted on: 2008-02-06
Flowers were left at a makeshift memorial near a downtown Nacogdoches location where debris from the space shuttle Columbia fell Feb. 1, 2003.
By Amy Roquemore
Two large-scale models of the space shuttle will be part of a temporary exhibit of NASA memorabilia opening soon in downtown Nacogdoches to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Columbia tragedy.
The exhibit is being sponsored by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center and the Columbia Memorial Museum. It will be open to the public from Jan. 26 to Feb. 10 in the vacant Wyatt building next door to Nacogdoches City Hall on the downtown square.
In conjunction with the exhibit, organizers also are holding a reunion for those who participated in the long recovery effort and kicking off a new campaign to record the recollections of recovery workers for posterity.
On Feb. 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas upon re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere, and all seven astronauts on board were lost. The expansive debris field covered much of East Texas, including Nacogdoches and surrounding counties.
“There were literally thousands of people who came here to search for debris and help with the recovery effort, and, except for their individual recollections, we have no way to record their experiences for history,” said Dr. Morris Jackson, director of the Columbia Memorial Museum. “We are hoping to sit down with as many of them as possible over the coming weeks and begin to preserve their living histories for future generations.”
Along with the models of the space shuttle, the exhibit will include large panels with printed information and photographs detailing the history of space exploration in the United States. Scrapped space shuttle components also will be available for viewing; however, no debris from the Columbia disaster will be included in the display.
“This is the first time an exhibit of this magnitude and quality has been brought to East Texas, and it really chronicles the whole history of the shuttle program,” said Dr. James Kroll, director of the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center. “The displays are just incredible, so we are hoping a lot of people will take advantage of the opportunity to come and see the exhibit.”
The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free.
Volunteers are needed to serve as docents for the exhibit. If you would like to help, call the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center at (936) 468-6100. Donations for the Columbia Memorial Museum may be mailed to P.O. Box 635007, Nacogdoches, TX, 75963-5007. -
NEDCO: Nacogdoches Power House Posted on: 2007-09-26
By Crystal Wallace
The Nacogdoches Economic Development Company, or NEDCO, has been entrusted by the people of Nacogdoches to create industrial and retail growth in Nacogdoches. NEDCO has been in operation in Nacogdoches since 1997; however, they only began recruiting retailers three years ago. The two main goals of NEDCO are to retain the business and industry already in Nacogdoches, and secondly, to attract new businesses to Nacogdoches.
NEDCO is a not for profit establishment with memberships available. As a member of NEDCO, your business has the added safety net of knowing that NEDCO wants to keep your business alive and well in Nacogdoches. They offer everything from help with finances, to informing you if your business is receiving negative feedback in the community. They can even help you with ways to repair that reputation.
NEDCO has 70 plus members from in and around Nacogdoches and members pay a yearly fee to utilize NEDCO’s benefits. Their membership prices range from $1500-5000 per year. “Cost is based on structured membership outlined in NEDCO’s by lines.” The membership dues, along with a yearly budget from the county, make up NEDCO’s annual budget. They have approximately $320,000 to utilize in a given year, with around two thirds of their budget coming from the members, and one third from the city/county.
The president of NEDCO, Judy McDonald, former mayor of Nacogdoches County, explained that her job at NEDCO is to keep businesses thriving and also to pull in new businesses to Nacogdoches. All of this hard work is accomplished with only three staff members and an intern. In the last year alone, NEDCO has brought in a new strip center featuring Beall’s, Maurice’s, and Fuddruckers. They were also responsible for getting Raising Cane’s and Taco Bueno, which are across the street from the SFA campus. Last year NEDCO also, with the influx of new business, helped to increase sales tax revenue for Nacogdoches by almost 10%; no small feat for a town the size of Nacogdoches. Remember, along with this new money comes new job opportunities.
Nacogdoches is a prime place for businesses to open franchises because of its location; U.S. Hwy 59, which runs through the heart of Nacogdoches, stretches across the United States from Mexico to Canada. Nacogdoches also is the home of Stephen F. Austin State University, which provides good sales for businesses for the majority of the year. Nacogdoches is a close knit community with a small town feel that offers the vitality of a college town. With the help of NEDCO, Nacogdoches will continue to thrive with new businesses and bring more variety and employment opportunities to the Nacogdoches area.
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E.L. Luna: Nacogdoches Icon Posted on: 2007-09-28
By Crystal Wallace
E.L. Luna, who is 92 years old, was born and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. His family is from Spain and can be traced to 1659, in fact, the statue that you see on the square in downtown Nacogdoches is of one of his ancestors. Mr. Luna is a self-made man who has accomplished much in his long life.
Mr. Luna was married and he and his wife had four children. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Luna opened a successful Mexican Restaurant in 1965. His wife taught the chefs how to prepare the dishes, all while raising four children. Mr. Luna not only helped out with the restaurant, but he was also an employ of the Southland Paper Mill in Lufkin. Of course today it is under new ownership and is no longer Southland. While employed at Southland Mr. Luna was elected president of the Union, and because of the success of their restaurant Mr. Luna was able to retire in 1977. Their restaurant was part of Nacogdoches until 1985, twenty years after their opening. Today, what was once their Mexican restaurant, now serves catfish. It is located on 59 South, across from the Classic Car Lot. According to Mr. Luna they dish out some pretty good food.
Today, Mr. Luna is still very active; he likes to dance, sing at church, and he even still mows his own lawn. Mr. Luna is an avid Catholic and Democrat who took care of his family and still managed to find time the to run a successful business, not an easy feat. However, the highlight of Mr. Luna's life now are his grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and one of his cousins, Aaron Luna. Aaron plays baseball at Rice University and broke their homerun record. As you can imagine, Mr. Luna is extremely proud. When asked the secret of his long and happy life, Mr. Luna looked around his home at all the pictures of his family and his paintings of Jesus and just smiled.
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Space Out at the SFA Planetarium Posted on: 2007-09-10
These extraordinary photographs of our universe were taken by the Hubble Telescope, according to Edward Micheals, the Planetarium Director at Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Micheals explained that they are a part of the Hubble Vision Show exhibited at the Planetarium. 'These photographs also demonstrate what our sun will look like in six billion years,' Micheals explained. The photographs are of planetary nebulae including a white dwarf. Micheals has been with the Planetarium before its opening in 1983.The SFA Planetarium is a theatre where the public can come to learn about Astronomy and is currently showing 'The Black Holes' on Fridays at 7:00pm. The cost of this feature is two dollars for the public, and shows are also available for private groups for $1.50 for each person. Micheals also explained that the SFA Planetarium differs from the SFA Observatory where astro-photography and other applications take place for research, even though they both operate under the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
The SFA Observatory runs the second largest Observatory in Texas and the Central Time Zone. Located eleven miles north of the historic East Texas city of Nacogdoches, the SFA Observatory proudly carries on and enhances the tradition of the campus -based facility. The Student Observatory at the site currently provides 600 introductory astronomy students per year the opportunity to view and learn the wonders of the sky. The Research Observatory is used by students and faculty to broaden our understanding of the universe. It is one of the only facilities of its size in the world which permits regular use by advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
The astronomers on staff are the observatory director Dr. Norman L. Markworth and Dr. Dan Bruton. For more information on scheduled Planetarium shows please call 936.468.3009 or the Department at 936.468.3001.
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Relflective Address Signs can Save Your Life Posted on: 2007-09-10
Purchasing a $15 sign is a small price to pay when you and your family are at risk. For more information to purchase a sign, contact Chief Ron Turner of the South Nacogdoches County Volunteer Fire Department at (936) 569-2081.
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Nacogdoche's Farmer's Market Posted on: 2007-09-10
The Farmer's Market will be open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings with locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally crafted items, and flowers and plants.For more information, please call the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or by clicking here.
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Nacogdoches gets WIFI Posted on: 2007-09-10
Have you noticed that some local businesses in Nacogdoches are now offering WiFi Internet access? The term WiFi refers to technology that allows access to the Internet without having to plug in your laptop computer. Instead, wireless access is broadcasted through the air and a signal is picked up within the broadcast range. Areas with a WiFi connection are known as hotspots. As technology grows and mobile Internet access continues to go down in cost and easier to install, many more businesses are finding that it pays to offer WiFi to their customers. You can read more and find hotspots near you by clicking here.
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Stephen F. Austin's New Baseball Stadium in the Works Posted on: 2007-09-10
Construction will soon begin on a state-of-the-art athletic complex to serve the needs of the baseball and softball programs of SFA. In February, the university received a $1 million grant from East Texas entrepreneur Lonnie 'Bo' Pilgrim, the CEO of food producer Pilgrim's Pride. The park, which will contain a baseball stadium, a softball stadium, a field house, and training facilities, will be named Bo Pilgrim Park in his honor. It will be located on a 24.5-acre plot of land at the intersection of University Drive and East Starr Avenue.
