May 31st, 2011
I often write about events happening at area private schools, particularly when those schools are trying to raise funds. One school that I’ve not written a whole lot about, due largely to the fact that I really have no close ties to it; is East Texas Christian Academy (ETCA). Given however that I am a proponent of Private Christian Education, I thought I would give them a plug. As readers may or may not be aware, ETCA is experiencing quite a bit of growth. They just completed a new facility, and are now working on raising funds to grow their athletic department. Private schools in general, are likely to continue to grow in the face of cut backs in the public schools, especially in Tyler where the education market has been somewhat flooded in recent years. And with private athletics offering more opportunities every year, parents and families are likely to take an even greater interest in non-government schools.
On Monday, June 20th, ETCA will be holding the Jim Pattillo Memorial Golf Tournament, to raise money for its own athletic department. It will be held at Holly Tree Country Club and begins at 8:30 am. Fees include essentially green fees, cart and lunch. They run one hundred twenty five dollars for a single participant, and five hundred per team. The deadline to participate is June 10th. To register for the Jim Pattillo Memorial, call Aubrey Ballard at (903) 561-8642. For more information on the event and or the school, visit their web site at http://www.etca.org . Readers can also read my previous articles on ETCA, by clicking on the following links;http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/1049/challenging-academics-in-a-christian-environment/ and http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/3295/private-schools-in-tyler-texas/ .
Tags: Aubrey, Ballard, Christian Academy, Christian Environment, Close Ties, Cut Backs, East Texas, Education Market, Etca, Five Dollars, Government Schools, Holly Tree, Memorial Golf Tournament, Patillo, Pattillo, Private Christian Education, Private Schools, Proponent, Tyler Texas, Whole Lot
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December 12th, 2010
I have always enjoyed the sport of people watching, whether in Jackson square or Trafalgar. Well now that preparations for Christmas are well under way I’ve discovered another hobby closely akin it. I call it house watching. Now before you draw comparisons between my new pastime and stocking, allow me to explain. A few nights ago I took my son and my nephew out for what turned out to be quite a long walk to look at Christmas lights. Like going to an off Broadway play, we strolled the nicer neighborhoods between Holly Tree and the mall, barely on the west side of sixty- nine.
Not all of the homes were decorated of course, but a number had some really nice displays that quite captivated the boys. I was slightly surprised to find some really beautiful homes in the area that actually, in my opinion, rivaled those in even more upscale neighborhoods like Holly Tree and the Cascades. While I admit it is a little shameless, I found myself catching glimpses in the windows of Trees, decorations and even the homes themselves. I suppose it’s natural to wonder and speculate about the folks who live there. I felt a bit like a Hugo or Dickens character, wandering through the wealthier districts of town at night, in the cold December air wondering about other men’s families and how they celebrate the holidays. It was enough to send me reaching for a copy of A Christmas Carol upon my arrival home.
At any rate Tyler is a fine city in which to spend the Christmas holidays. It’s cold, but tolerably so. A wool coat and a scarf, (if you’re into that sort of thing), is usually sufficient and you can still experience the traditional Christmas nostalgia as you take the kids “house watching” though the decorated neighborhoods with cups of coffee or hot chocolate.
So what’s my point? Simply this: Enjoying the Christmas Season in Tyler doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money in these tough financial times. Maybe it just means taking a cool walk down a brightly lit street and finding that you’re pretty thankful for the blessings that are already in your life. Merry Christmas Tyler! Enjoy the Holidays, and don’t forget to take in the lights!
Tags: Broadway Play, Christmas Carol, Christmas Holidays, Christmas Lights, Christmas Season, Cold December, Cool Walk, Financial Times, Glimpses, Holly Tree, Hot Chocolate, Nephew, Pastime, Scarf, Town At Night, Traditional Christmas, Trafalgar, Tyler Texas, Upscale Neighborhoods, Wool Coat
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September 9th, 2010
Marcus Luttrell
The Book Lone Survivor was a number one New York Times bestseller in the non-fiction section. It tells the story of Seal Team Ten’s battle with a Taliban warlord and his army of around two hundred fighters. For days the four man seal team bled the enemy of men and resources before being killed themselves, all but one that is. After watching each of his comrades literally fight to the death, author Marcus Luttrell evaded and killed the enemy over incredibly hostile terrain all the while nursing wounds that threatened to kill him as well. The book is an excellent read. It gives the reader a much better understanding of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as the rules of engagement our soldiers have been saddled with the last few years. On top of it all, the story proves the maxim that the truth is stranger, (or at least more amazing), than fiction.
Why the little book report? Because the book’s author Mr. Luttrell will be visiting Tyler tomorrow night, September, the tenth, for a dinner and book signing sponsored by Barnes and Noble. The former petty officer, himself a proud East Texan, has started the Lone Survivor Foundation to help returning wounded veterans. Tomorrow night’s event will be held at Holly Tree Country Club, and runs about one hundred dollars a ticket. While the price is high proceeds go to benefit the troops. So if you’ve got the money to drop, you can’t ask for better cause.
Mr. Luttrell’s visit precedes the Country for our Country concert where he will also be appearing, by a day. That event will be held on September eleventh, and features a whole list of country western artists, in addition to Mr. Luttrell. Again, all proceeds go the support wounded soldiers. For more information on the Barnes and Noble book signing event, click on the following link http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3060745. To learn more about the Country for our Country concert follow the link listed below: http://countryforourcountry.org/.
Tags: Barnes and Noble, Book Report, Book Signing, Click On The Following Link, Fiction Section, Holly Tree, Hostile Terrain, Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, Marcus Luttrell Book, New York Times, New York Times Bestseller, One Hundred Dollars, Petty Officer, Rules Of Engagement, Seal Team Ten, The Book Lone Survivor, Truth Is Stranger, tyler texas events, Tyler Texas Marcus Lutrell, Tyler TX Events, Warlord, Western Artists, Wounded Soldiers, York Times Bestseller
Posted in Socio-Political Commentary | 1 Comment »
August 24th, 2010
Halloween in Tyler Texas is funny simply because it has changed a lot in the last 20 years. I remember it was much more of the traditional American family holiday but it is now a bit of a nuisance for many neighborhoods and is enough fun for many to just go to your local church.
We usually pop in to our church o a church nearby and play some “Fall Festival” games and grab some candy and go. This is the tradition for many in Tyler Texas which is far different than when I used to walk my neighborhood gong “trick or treat”.
Now when you walk around a neighborhood hardly anybody has candy out or opens their door. It is a bit sad when I think about the happy memories walking around doing the traditional trick or treat thing in my neighborhood.
A few years ago we went with my brother n law on an idea to go try trick r treatin in Holly Tree. This was really funny because we ended up in a big traffic jam as everyone else had this same idea.
I also noticed there were large large mobs of people walking on the streets in Holly Tree and almost all the houses had their lights off and doors securely locked. No one was answering their doors to give out candy and a majority of the people on the street did not have any kids with them.
Holly Tree was covered in obnoxious teenegers either in an emo wolf pack or wearing the catholic school girl outfits and sexy tight shirt and short skirt sex costumes usually reserved for the bedroom.
So now when you go trick or treating in your neighborhood you might just see a bunch of teenagers wearing bedroom costumes walking around like everything is normal.
Last year I remember seeing these girls walking around in these costumes during broad daylight and I nearly sprayed milk out of my nostrils from the hilarity of it all.
So if you are going to do Trick or treating try a trailer park instead of Holly Tree and stop by a local church. You will have much better luck.
Tags: Better Luck, Broad Daylight, Catholic School Girl, Family Holiday, Happy Memories, Hilarity, Holly Tree, Local Church, Mobs, Nostrils, Nuisance, School Girl Outfits, Sex Costumes, Short Skirt, Teenegers, Tight Shirt, Traffic Jam, Trailer Park, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Halloween, Tyler TX Halloween Costumes, Wolf Pack
Posted in Fun | No Comments »
Marcus Luttrell Comes to Tyler
September 9th, 2010Marcus Luttrell
The Book Lone Survivor was a number one New York Times bestseller in the non-fiction section. It tells the story of Seal Team Ten’s battle with a Taliban warlord and his army of around two hundred fighters. For days the four man seal team bled the enemy of men and resources before being killed themselves, all but one that is. After watching each of his comrades literally fight to the death, author Marcus Luttrell evaded and killed the enemy over incredibly hostile terrain all the while nursing wounds that threatened to kill him as well. The book is an excellent read. It gives the reader a much better understanding of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as the rules of engagement our soldiers have been saddled with the last few years. On top of it all, the story proves the maxim that the truth is stranger, (or at least more amazing), than fiction.
Why the little book report? Because the book’s author Mr. Luttrell will be visiting Tyler tomorrow night, September, the tenth, for a dinner and book signing sponsored by Barnes and Noble. The former petty officer, himself a proud East Texan, has started the Lone Survivor Foundation to help returning wounded veterans. Tomorrow night’s event will be held at Holly Tree Country Club, and runs about one hundred dollars a ticket. While the price is high proceeds go to benefit the troops. So if you’ve got the money to drop, you can’t ask for better cause.
Mr. Luttrell’s visit precedes the Country for our Country concert where he will also be appearing, by a day. That event will be held on September eleventh, and features a whole list of country western artists, in addition to Mr. Luttrell. Again, all proceeds go the support wounded soldiers. For more information on the Barnes and Noble book signing event, click on the following link http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3060745. To learn more about the Country for our Country concert follow the link listed below: http://countryforourcountry.org/.
Tags: Barnes and Noble, Book Report, Book Signing, Click On The Following Link, Fiction Section, Holly Tree, Hostile Terrain, Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, Marcus Luttrell Book, New York Times, New York Times Bestseller, One Hundred Dollars, Petty Officer, Rules Of Engagement, Seal Team Ten, The Book Lone Survivor, Truth Is Stranger, tyler texas events, Tyler Texas Marcus Lutrell, Tyler TX Events, Warlord, Western Artists, Wounded Soldiers, York Times Bestseller
Posted in Socio-Political Commentary | 1 Comment »