Nacogdoches - Lufkin - SFA Day was a success!!

Members of the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce and Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce visited the Capitol in Austin to honor state officials, legislators and agencies. Also present were the SFA Student Government, SFA Alumni Association, SFA Board of Regents and SFA President Baker Pattillo.



The group got the opportunity to speak with Texas officials such as state Representative Wayne Christian and state Senator Robert Nichols. One of the hot topics discussed was funding for a new mental health facility in East Texas. The event lasted two days and was a great experience for all who attended.

Fourth Friday is an Educational Motivation

Photo By Adam Blye
From Left to Right: Reggie Hudson, Dr. Rodney Hutto, and Bruce Partain

The Fourth Friday Luncheon was Feb. 23 at the Fredonia Convention Center. Dr. Rodney Hutto, N.I.S.D. superintendent, presented the goals and objectives of the Nacogdoches public school system. Dr Hutto enlightened participants on the importance of providing the highest quality of education for students in the Nacogdoches area. He reminds businesses that it is important to keep students up to date with the latest technology and advancements.

The presented information at every Luncheon is vital for all local businesses, and we urge you to attend and stay on top of what is going on at the Chamber and around town.

Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon cutting for Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at the Chamber office at 2516 North St.

Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari is a wildlife park that is a 300-acre home to a variety of exotic and endangered wildlife animals. From the comfort of your own vehicle and at your own pace, you can observe, feed and photograph the animals.

Bring the whole family! Bring the class from school! Bring a picnic. Make the short drive to Cherokee Trace. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s educational.

Hours of Operation:

CHEROKEE TRACE WILL BE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MARCH - AUGUST!!

February

Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Last car admitted at 3:30

March - May (Open 7 Days!)

Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Last car admitted at 4:30
June - August (Open 7 Days!)

Monday - Wednesday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 8:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 8:00pm

Last car admitted 1 1/2 hours before close.

Cherokee Trace is open all year. Check back for Fall hours of operation.

Vinnie T's Cafe Ribbon Cutting

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Vinnie T's Cafe located at 406 E. Main St., (936) 559-0380.

Vinnie T's Cafe is open for lunch 11:00 - 3:00, Tuesday through Saturday and dinner 6:00 - 9:00, Friday and Saturday. Owners Vinnie and Nell Tortoriello were at the event to warmly welcome Chamber members and guests.

Nacogdoches Medical Center ICU ribbon cutting

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Nacogdoches Medical Center Intensive Care Unit located at 4920 N.E. Stallings Dr., (936) 569-9481.

The ICU is first in a multi-phase capital renovation project for Nacogdoches Medical Center. CEO Gary Stokes, physicians and staff were at the event to warmly welcome Chamber members and guests.

What's up Doc?

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Kimberly Procell, M.D. at her office located at 615 Russell Blvd., (936) 564-1740.

Dr. Procell is a pediatrician and one of the newest physicians to join the Nacogdoches community. She and her staff were at the event to warmly welcome Chamber members and guests.

Ribbon Cutting for Dr. Amy Huggins

Photo by Holli Conley, Chamber Intern

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Amy Huggins, D.O., at her pediatrics office in the Elliott Building at 1018 N. Mound, Ste. 203, (936) 559-8722.

Dr. Huggins is one of our community’s newest doctors. She and her smiling staff welcomed Chamber members and guests to the event.

2007 Vendor Applications are in!!

Vendor applications for the 2007 Texas Blueberry Festival are here!

Every year people from all over come to Nacogdoches to enjoy the taste of freshly picked blueberries, pie-eating and ice cream-eating contests, car and motorcycle shows, live music and more than 100 arts, crafts and food booths.

The Texas Blueberry Festival was founded in 1990 by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the blueberry industry in Nacogdoches County, which is one of the largest producers of blueberries in Texas.

The festival always takes place the second weekend in June, the peak harvest time for blueberries.

This year it will be held on Saturday, June 9.

Join the crowd and help make this year's Texas Blueberry Festival the greatest ever! Vendor applications and other information can be found online at www.texasblueberryfestival.com.

Booths go fast so reserve your space today!

I'm Lovin' It!

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber ribbon cutting for McDonald’s, 1717 North St., (936)569-0792.

Owner and Operator Will May and other corporate representatives, store manager and store supervisor welcomed Chamber members and guests to the newly-built restaurant.

Don't Forget to Pamper Yourself!

The Daily Sentinel attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Julia's Salon on Tuesday Feb. 6, 2007.

Julia's Salon is a full-service beauty salon offering hair cuts and color, weaving, perms, Chi straightening, manicures, pedicures, facials and computer imaging.

It is located at 118 N. Church St. and is open Tuesday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Owner Julia Friel welcomed Chamber members and guests to the event.

Operation Thank You

The East Texas wintry weather could not stop Chamber board members and their recruits from personally delivering 700 of the 2007 Official Guides & Chamber Directories and City & County Maps to Chamber members. Chairman Jim Elder and Chamber President Bruce Partain send a much-deserved “Thanks” to everyone involved in making Operation Thank You a success.
The spirit of competition among teams sparked a record number of packets delivered. Team Purple Sage led by board member Kim Luna Snyder and Team Mavericks, a team of independent volunteers Jim Roberts, Candyce Wagnon and Brianne Gibson, tied for first place. Both teams delivered 84 packets each. Board member Beverly Rice and her Team Square Dance was not far behind with a team total of 74 delivered packets. Prizes from Casa Tomas, Cotton Patch and Laine’s Hallmark Shop were awarded to the winning teams.
“We’d also like to recognize Joe Max Green / Insurance Concepts for sponsoring the catered breakfast by MR. Wills restaurant. And the floral arrangements provided by Avenue Flower Shop & Greenhouse really brightened up the office for an early-morning affair,” Partain said.

Educational enlightment on Fourth Friday

The Fourth Friday Luncheon is Feb. 23 at the Fredonia. Dr. Rodney Hutto, N.I.S.D. superintendent, will present the goals and objectives of the Nacogdoches public school system.

The presented information is vital for all local businesses, and we urge you to attend and stay on top of what is going on at the Chamber and around town. Attendee RSVPs are required. Please call 560-5533, or fax in a form, 560-3920, available at www.nacogdoches.org. Lunch is $15 at the door. Save two dollars by paying at the Chamber by Thursday, Feb. 22.

Doc, Doc, Who's there?

Don't miss the opportunity to show some friendliness to one of our community's newest doctors Amy Huggins, D.O., on Thursday, Feb.8. Visit Dr. Huggins and her staff at her newly-established pediatrics office in the Elliott Building at 1018 N. Mound, Ste. 203.

The reception-5:30 to 7 p.m.-is come-as-you-are, and gives every Chamber member a chance to meet and greet others in business. Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks and register for some great door prizes!

All Chamber members are entered in the $550 cash drawing, but you must be present to win!