Passing Parade

By Joyce Hugman

July 4th was good on Lake Gladewater. The overcast, sometimes rainy, conditions kept it cool. It was beautiful to watch the fireworks over Lake Gladewater. The Hugman boat was decorated for the parade by Joseph and Betsy Pistone and their children, Sam, Elizabeth and Dominic, and I am told it won first prize.

James Walker, our longest serving pharmacist, has retired. He took good care of his customers , delivered when necessary, and wasn’t afraid to call the police if he thought someone was trying to get a drug illegally. He will be missed by customers and friends. However he sold his business to pharmacists, Eddie Goode and Dewayne Barnhill of Longview and they will carry on the personal service for which the store is famous. Happy retirement Mr. Walker. I hear he has some minor health issues and wife, Bobbie, will help him take care of those.

Todd and Neta Clifton are proud of their daughter, Jessica, who recently returned from tornado torn Haiti with a group of medical providers from Mother Frances Hospital. Jessica is a 4th year Medical Student at Texas Tech University. She said the tragic conditions in Haiti are unbelievable.

Recycling was handled by the Chamber of Commerce, headed by President Ruby Henry. She was ably assisted by Marcia Valdeterro, Jimy Davis, Todd Clifton, Paula Gentry, Paul Reynolds and community service workers. Over 200 households or businesses brought their recyclables to the site in front of City Hall. The next collection day is August l4th, so start saving your papers and aluminum. Paul Reynolds is, also, interested in any computer components that you want to discard; he puts them to good use.

Mildred Bowden Jones had some welcome visitors. Her nephew James and Brenda Brinkley from Mesquite visited and they had a lovely lunch. Long time friends Guy and Margret Harrison came with their grandson as a driver and visited Mildred.

Visiting Ruth Lawrence recently were her son Michael and wife Michelle and grandson Christopher, all of Shreveport. Michelle helped Ruth get her telephone problems worked out; it takes a tech-savvy mind to get all these electronic gadgets working.

Paula Gentry, who supervises the community services workers, asks that you please slow down when you see them working on the side of the road. They are usually young people who are not adverse to risky behavior themselves..

The Main Street Board of Directors want to meet you...

...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.

What's Happening

“Bill & Star” head to Lee Public Library

Today's Summer Reading program at Lee Public Library begins at 10:30 a.m. The featured performers are Bill McFarlin, from Flint, and his agility dog Star. During the Summer of 2008, Bill and Star joined the cast of 12 hopeful canine and owner teams that competed in the CBS reality series "Greatest American Dog". Everyone is invited to come join us under the shade trees in the rear parking lot for this exciting program.

According to McFarlin, he and Star like to give seminars to bring smiles to faces with Star’s many tricks. He describes himself as someone who wants to have fun, work hard and enjoy life and claims to have a lot of energy and is very competitive, although he is usually able to go with the flow.

Star (her full name is Flying Orange Star), has been trained in field trials, obedience and agility. The 7-year-old purebred Brittiany has had some training in tracking, as well. Star performs with McFarlin at churches, civil groups, local summer reading programs at libraries, retirement homes and local fairs. McFarlin’s wife, Sherrie, is a diabetic and Star has the ability to sense and alert her when her blood sugar goes low. Star will cling to and sit beside Sherrie until the sugar level has become a normal count.

Next week's program will be held at the library on Friday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m. The program will be presented by "Conductor John" of the Texas State Railroad. Conductor John will read several Little Engine That Could books, talk about trains & railroading and show the kids a running "O" gauge train set and he will also pass out coloring sheets, stickers and brochures to the kids. The railroad program goes hand in hand with the Texas State Library's Summer Reading Program theme - "Catch the Reading Express!"

The library is located at 312 W. Pacific Ave.

Upshur County library plans double storytime

GILMER – Two books will be read to small children at the Upshur County Library’s two weekly “Storytime” sessions Thursday.

“Turtle’s Penguin Day” by Valeri Gorbachev, and “Five Little Monkeys” by Eileen Christelow will be read at the 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. sessions. A craft will follow each Storytime, said Debbie White of the Library’s Children’s Services division.

The library is located at 702 W. Tyler (Texas Hwy. 154 west). The events are free of charge, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, call the library at (903) 843-5001.

Quilt Guild meets Thursday in Longview

Country Patches Quilt Guild will hold a combined Pot Luck Supper with a Trash to Treasure sale at 6 p.m. Thursday in the St. Mary Parrish Hall, 2108 Ridgewood, Longview.

For more information call 903-757-2645.

Gregg Republicans meet Thursday

Republican Club of Gregg County will meet at 6:30 pm. Thursday at Johnny Cace's in Longview.