Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:32:00
Chamber Looks At Upcoming Events
A busy year of events was reviewed Thursday at the monthly membership luncheon meeting of the Lake Tawakoni Regional Chamber of Commerce.
President Larry Pare gave an update of actions taken by the chamber’s board of directors including plans for the 2010 Christmas Parade.
Pare said the theme selected was “A Candy Coated Christmas.” The parade will roll on Dec. 11 on a route that will start at D.C. Cannon Elementary School, travel to Main Street, turning by the Quinlan Independent School District Administration Building, back around to A.E. Butler Intermediate School and end at D.C. Cannon Elementary School.
Sharon Goodwin Spann was selected as the grand marshal. Ms. Spann served many years in the Quinlan ISD including principal of Joe Martin Early Childhood Center before she suffered a stroke in 2006.
Pare said upcoming events include the fishing tournament, sanctioned by Bass Pro that will bring at least 150 professional fishermen to the lake Sept. 9-11 and will be televised. He said free commercial booth spaces were available at no cost, and volunteers were needed.
The chamber-sponsored Kids Safety Day is planned for Sept. 18. The annual Columbus Day Golf Tournament will be played Oct. 11 at Tawakoni Golf Club.
The Hope of Glory Church will host a Christmas light drive-through spectacular at West Tawakoni City Park with live music, coffee, cocoa and sweets. Theme for the event is “Putting Christ Back Into Christmas.”
Pare introduced Jeremy Skaggs, manager of Quinlan Brookshire’s. He said Skaggs had been at the Quinlan store for eight months and had moved here from Athens.
Skaggs reviewed community activities sponsored by the store and urged everyone to shop locally and keep local funds in the community.
He said the Brookshire’s-sponsored “Meet the Panthers Night” was a huge success with a packed parking lot at the store for the event.
State Rep. Dan Flynn attended the meeting and spoke briefly about the upcoming legislative session to open in January.
“It’s going to be a difficult session,” Flynn predicted and said the state lawmakers would be faced with budget issues similar to those faced by businesses.
“Texas is in good shape,” Flynn said. He said the fiscal condition of the state was probably one where 49 other states would like to be. He especially noted that all the state’s pension systems were in good condition, ranking at the top in the nation.
He said it would be a belt-tightening year and would see redistricting since Texas was sure to gain three additional representatives, possibly four, after this year’s decennial census recount of the nation’s population. “It’s huge,” he said of the gain and said 1,100 new people were moving to Texas daily. “The scary thing is that many are from California,” Flynn joked.
West Tawakoni Councilwoman Carol Solomon discussed the campaign to return fireworks to the area for Independence Day. She said the goal was to collect $10,000. Councilwoman Carol Welch was appointed at a recent West Tawakoni council meeting to spearhead the event along with volunteer Karen Lockhart.
Lockhart said Rep. Flynn kicked off the fireworks fund with the first donation of $100. She also sounded the need for gallon-size jars. “I need your help as it seems a lot of the restaurants-delis don’t get them anymore, so if you have some or know someone who does, please tell them to call me (903-447-2205) and I will pick them up.” The jars will be placed in area businesses to collect donations for the event.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held for chamber members Just Pies and Creative Computer Services.
President Larry Pare gave an update of actions taken by the chamber’s board of directors including plans for the 2010 Christmas Parade.
Pare said the theme selected was “A Candy Coated Christmas.” The parade will roll on Dec. 11 on a route that will start at D.C. Cannon Elementary School, travel to Main Street, turning by the Quinlan Independent School District Administration Building, back around to A.E. Butler Intermediate School and end at D.C. Cannon Elementary School.
Sharon Goodwin Spann was selected as the grand marshal. Ms. Spann served many years in the Quinlan ISD including principal of Joe Martin Early Childhood Center before she suffered a stroke in 2006.
Pare said upcoming events include the fishing tournament, sanctioned by Bass Pro that will bring at least 150 professional fishermen to the lake Sept. 9-11 and will be televised. He said free commercial booth spaces were available at no cost, and volunteers were needed.
The chamber-sponsored Kids Safety Day is planned for Sept. 18. The annual Columbus Day Golf Tournament will be played Oct. 11 at Tawakoni Golf Club.
The Hope of Glory Church will host a Christmas light drive-through spectacular at West Tawakoni City Park with live music, coffee, cocoa and sweets. Theme for the event is “Putting Christ Back Into Christmas.”
Pare introduced Jeremy Skaggs, manager of Quinlan Brookshire’s. He said Skaggs had been at the Quinlan store for eight months and had moved here from Athens.
Skaggs reviewed community activities sponsored by the store and urged everyone to shop locally and keep local funds in the community.
He said the Brookshire’s-sponsored “Meet the Panthers Night” was a huge success with a packed parking lot at the store for the event.
State Rep. Dan Flynn attended the meeting and spoke briefly about the upcoming legislative session to open in January.
“It’s going to be a difficult session,” Flynn predicted and said the state lawmakers would be faced with budget issues similar to those faced by businesses.
“Texas is in good shape,” Flynn said. He said the fiscal condition of the state was probably one where 49 other states would like to be. He especially noted that all the state’s pension systems were in good condition, ranking at the top in the nation.
He said it would be a belt-tightening year and would see redistricting since Texas was sure to gain three additional representatives, possibly four, after this year’s decennial census recount of the nation’s population. “It’s huge,” he said of the gain and said 1,100 new people were moving to Texas daily. “The scary thing is that many are from California,” Flynn joked.
West Tawakoni Councilwoman Carol Solomon discussed the campaign to return fireworks to the area for Independence Day. She said the goal was to collect $10,000. Councilwoman Carol Welch was appointed at a recent West Tawakoni council meeting to spearhead the event along with volunteer Karen Lockhart.
Lockhart said Rep. Flynn kicked off the fireworks fund with the first donation of $100. She also sounded the need for gallon-size jars. “I need your help as it seems a lot of the restaurants-delis don’t get them anymore, so if you have some or know someone who does, please tell them to call me (903-447-2205) and I will pick them up.” The jars will be placed in area businesses to collect donations for the event.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held for chamber members Just Pies and Creative Computer Services.