May 21st, 2011
Well, another big summer event is almost upon us. The annual Tyler Cattle Barons Gala will be held at Graham Farm in Bullard Texas, on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Tyler has been putting on the gala for a generation now and it has become a significant event for our area. All summer, similar fund raisers are held around Texas and the country at large. Of course all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society (ACS) to be used for cancer treatment and research. ACS cites that eleven million cancer survivors celebrating another birthday this year. The Society is the largest private fund raiser for cancer research. Their webpage claims that they have raised 3.4 billion dollars to combat all forms of the disease since the organization’s inception in 1946. (And I don’t doubt it by the way).
The theme for Tyler’s Gala this year is “Route 66, Crusin’ for the Cure,” and the evening features the music of Pat Green, Wade Bowen and JB and the Moonshine Band. Local businesses of all sorts have donated a litany of items including special goods and services, travel packages, and tickets to various other events. In addition to the silent auction there will be an elegant dinner, entertainment and dancing, late into the evening. As you can imagine, tickets to the event aren’t cheap. Depending on whether or not you want to attend the pre-party mixer, (which features food, an open bar, and prime seating to the evening’s festivities), or are just interested in the main event, they run from one hundred, twenty five dollars, to three hundred dollars. Since all proceeds go to a great cause the cost is not the central issue for most attendees. For more information on the 2011 Tyler Cattle Baron’s Gala, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at http://www.cattlebaronsgala.net/
Tags: American Cancer Society, Barons, Billion Dollars, Bullard Texas, Cancer Research, Cancer Survivors, Cancer Treatment, Crusin, Dinner Entertainment, Elegant Dinner, Five Dollars, Fund Raiser, Fund Raisers, Litany, Main Event, Pat Green, Prime Seating, Private Fund, Silent Auction, Tyler Texas, Wade Bowen
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April 15th, 2011
Motorcycle patrol officers in Tyler have a dubious reputation when it comes to how zealously they uphold the law. In all honesty I have not exactly helped to smooth things over in the past. As a general rule anytime I get stopped, it’s by a motorcycle officer, and I always get the ticket. But to be fair I recently met with an officer who broke with the stereotype.
I’ve been driving on expired tags (and inspection stickers) since… well last summer. I know I need to update them, but there are so any other places I can put seventy- five dollars besides giving it to the government. At any rate I’ve been very conscientious of my driving and my routes over the last ten months, knowing I would probably take it on the chin should I encounter a blue and white Harley; until recently. A long night with a sick child made it necessary for me to alter my routine the following morning. Rather than taking my normal route to work, I was forced to take one I knew to be fraught with danger. The area through which I was passing was ideal ground for speed traps and school zone violations, but I proceeded watchfully. Not watchfully enough as it turns out, because as I came around a bend, there he was, and he couldn’t miss my stickers. As his lights burst on, I pulled into a nearby parking lot. The officer approached my vehicle and asked (surprisingly amiably) to see my license and registration, which I produced. As I was looking for my insurance card he informed me that my license had expired! I was aghast. This was in fact a genuine surprise to me.
So let’s review, of the, really four items I was expected to produce for the officer, I really only had one, my proof of insurance. I suspect by the way that this is really the main item with which he was concerned. At this point in the meeting I was about ready to shrink and hide under my seat. My little boy sat in the back seat endlessly fascinated by the proceedings. Not only did he get to converse with a police officer, but a police officer on a motorcycle! Funny how our reactions can run in diametrically opposed directions. But maybe it was my son’s interest that moved the officer’s heart to mercy. Rather than giving me a huge ticket (or tickets), for a laundry list of my infractions, me gave me the usual span of time to pay my fees and correct my violations. Obviously I won’t use his name and risk ruining his fearsome reputation, but thanks for not being a stickler and for making getting around this town a bit less of a headache! True, Tylerites are often annoyed by the rigid demeanor of some of its finest. But it’s good to know that at least some of them don’t take themselves too seriously!
Tags: Back Seat, Dubious Reputation, Five Dollars, Fraught With Danger, Genuine Surprise, Harley, Honesty, Inspection Stickers, Insurance, Insurance Card, Motorcycle Officer, Motorcycle Patrol, Parking Lot, Proof Of Insurance, Sat, School Zone, Sick Child, Speed Traps, Stereotype, Tyler Texas
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August 16th, 2010
America is being overrun by a plague, a plague of boredom. But not to fear because Tyler TX Hobby Town USA has the cure and that cure is a hobby for every man woman and child in America. If there is one thing people need it is to relax and hobbies are typically an efficient way to do this. However the countless and varied interests of people are challenging to contain in one store.
Traditional hobbies such as model building and tiny rocket launching and retrieving have gone by the wayside in this new technological era. Hobby Town USA has provided a significant margin of the more traditional hobbies such as remote controlled cars, planes and helicopters. Including a wide catalogue of kid’s toys spanning from educational and traditional to the more obscure. But if one has abandoned the classic hobby choices in search of a newer edgier past time than look no further than Hobby Town USA.
Hobby Town USA puts an emphasis on their selection of fuel powered vehicles. Proudly displayed on the glass counter tops are a large number of remote controlled automobiles, each one with unique specifications and appearance, miniature body kit and rims destined to appeal to a hobby-less shopper.
The attentive staff will help you decide on the right model for you, as well as volunteer information regarding their other options in order to ensure you make an educated decision regarding the style, functions and cost of your new hobby. Hobby Town USA has remote control airplanes ranging from only thirty five dollars to as much as three hundred dollars, with brands that include Parkzone’s 51D Mustang for only 99.99, as well as Great Planes signature Mark Chapman CAP 580.
But they are readily equipped to supply today’s hobby haver with professional quality tools and paints for finely detailed work, ensuring your craftsmanship does not suffer needlessly at the mercy of the inferior tools offered by less quality Hobby supply stores. Hobby Town USA is likely to have the things you would not find at Hobby Lobby at a slightly higher price but worth every penny for a superior quality of implement and hobby.
Tags: 51d Mustang, Attentive Staff, Body Kit, Counter Tops, Five Dollars, Great Planes, Hobby Hobby, Hobby Lobby, Hobby Shop Texas, Hobby Supply Stores, Hobby Town Tyler Texas, Hobby Town Usa, Man Woman And Child, Mark Chapman, Model Building, Professional Quality Tools, Remote Control Airplanes, Remote Controlled Cars, Signature Mark, Traditional Hobbies, Tyler TX, Tyler TX Hobby Town, Wayside, Woman And Child
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July 19th, 2010
A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article on NY- TX Zip Line Adventures, east of Athens. Well I just discovered that there is yet another such business in our area. Wired Zip- Line Challenge Course is located in Canton Texas, and is billed as the tallest and longest zip- line course in the state. Of the two courses that I’ve investigated, Wired seems the most developed. Their elaborately and sturdily built steel towers are something to see in and of themselves! And a couple of the towers are linked by heavy wooden suspension bridges. The total length of all the courses combined is around 3500 feet in length. Their wires courses and structures exceed the international standards established by the Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). (I’ve never heard of it either, but evidently this is the organization that certifies these sorts of adventure courses).
Of course safety is the highest concern to Wired’s well trained staff. They take visitors through a short list of dos and don’ts, and give a short lesson on how to safely enjoy the experience. And there are guides present at every stage of the tour. At fifty five dollars a person Wired is slightly more affordable than NY- TX. Presumably there is some kind of group rate, but even for individuals they appear to offer a larger experience than their competitors. As of this summer Wired has increased its hours and are now open from Thursday through Sunday. It is recommended that visitors make reservations, particularly for groups, but walk ins are welcome.
Admittedly I have yet to visit Wired, but based on the pics available on their site, the place looks really cool! The activity sounds surprisingly accessible. People of all ages have tried zip- lining from the age of ten and up. According to the site, the staff will assess the visitor’s physical condition at the time of the visit, but short of obesity or some other glaring physical issue, most people should safely qualify to participate. Wired Zip- Line Challenge has been reviewed by the likes of Tylerites.com and Examiner.com and was recently chosen as an Editor’s Choice by Canopy Tours. As with NY- TX Zip- Line Adventures, I recommend visiting their website at http://www.ziptheusa.com/. To make reservations by phone, call Wired’s office at (903)567-2681. Lastly, check out my previous article also located on this site. Just look for the title: Tyler Area Zip- Lines.
Tags: Adventure Courses, Athens, Canton Texas, Canton Tx, Challenge Course Technology, Feet, Five Dollars, Group Rate, Ins, Obesity, Sorts, Steel Towers, Suspension Bridges, Tx Zip, Zip Line
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July 19th, 2010
This past weekend the Tyler area and the nation celebrated the country’s two hundred, thirty fourth birthday. In the wake of tough financial times the celebrations seemed to me a bit more muted than normal. News reports claimed that fewer Americans spent the usual dollars on fireworks and cook- outs than in previous years, while more people went out to watch big professional fireworks displays. I remember as a kid spending a lot of money on fireworks and even experimented with creating my out, (something I don’t recommend to young people today). But not this year. Instead my young son and I did what many families did this year; we took in some professional and inexpensive events that didn’t require us to go out of our way.
Every year a number of local organizations put on an air show featuring contemporary and vintage military aircraft. These events seem to be held at different locations around East Texas, and admission is always very pricey. However as aircraft arrive the previous day, (the third) The Historical Aviation Memorial Museum (HAMM) holds what they call a “static air show.” Participating aircraft are put on display on the tarmac at the old Pounds Field terminal in Tyler, (now the location for the museum) prior to the main show. For five dollars, visitors can get up close and personal (in most cases) with some really unique and fascinating aircraft. This year’s cast included a C130, a couple of F16s, a couple of A10s, a B25, and others, in addition to the aircraft on permanent display. My little guy was fascinated by the exhibits (as was I by the way), and enjoyed the opportunity to climb in and around the C130 Hercules in particular. This is a really neat event that is inexpensive and helps to raise a little money for a great area institution.
The rest of our weekend was rather subdued I introduced the boy to the joy of sparklers and few other rudimentary fireworks (a gift from friends) and that night we walked up the street to watch much larger display put on by our community. I don’t think this admittedly mundane story is much different than the one most folks are telling this year. Hopefully, the decline in festivities is merely symptomatic of the fact that collectively, we’re not in a partying mood and doesn’t indicate that we are forgetting the reason for the season (if I can borrow a badly misapplied cliché). But it’s often the small events that we remember. And hopefully, in years to come, my son will be able to reflect on the year “we saw the airplanes and the lights,” with fond nostalgia.
For more on the Historical Aviation Memorial Museum, see their website at www.tylerhamm.org. Also see the following articles on this site: Cultural Institutions and Events in Tyler TX, and World History is Down the Street.
Tags: Admission, B25, C130 Hercules, Celebrations, Cook Outs, East Texas, Exhibits, Field Terminal, Financial Times, Five Dollars, Historical Aviation, Military Aircraft, Museum Hamm, Previous Years, Professional Fireworks Displays, Sparklers, Static Air, Tarmac, Tyler Area, Tyler TX
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