|
Acclaims and a shame for Sept. 8, 2008
Published September 8, 2008
Alvin women take bows in the spotlight.
Alvin’s banner has been carried forth with pride thanks to residents recently capturing a volunteer-of-the-year award in Humble and the Ms. Texas Senior Pageant in Plano.
Marlena Nelson has been recognized for her seemingly nonstop volunteerism before, but she said she was taken aback Aug. 29 when she was named the Volunteer of the Year by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the Texas Gulf Coast at a ceremony in Humble.
That’s also the day Nelson, who’s known for her work with Compassionate Chorale — which involves visiting six care facilities to sing songs for senior citizens twice a month — as well as the Alvin Senior Center and Alvin Area Retired Teachers, marked her 67th birthday.
“I thought it was just for Brazoria County,” Nelson, a retired teacher, said of the ceremony attended by 800 people. “I didn’t know it was for the entire shooting match.”
The group’s press release recognized Nelson’s tireless works for other organizations, as well as applying for grants for gifts to senior citizens.
Meanwhile, Cathy Hollis was recently named Ms. Texas Senior during a pageant in Plano. Named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants, her demeanor and her cake-decorating skills on display in the talent portion helped wow the judges.
She now will attend several events throughout the state over the next year to help promote the pageant and its motto of “changing the image of aging,” a pageant official said.
Originally an insurance manager from Indiana, Hollis moved to Texas in 2006 after meeting her husband-to-be during a 2005 Thanksgiving trip to visit her grandsons in Texas.
In Nelson and now Hollis, seniors have tireless and charismatic advocates, and Alvin has two more jewels in its community crown.
---
East End reunion revives spirit of community
A group of longtime former and present Freeport residents and their special guests and visitors got together Aug. 30 to remember and celebrate the past, and specifically life as it once existed on the city’s East End.
The East End runs from Second Street to Eighth Street with Pine Street as the border. The mostly black and minority community began changing in the 1950s and ’60s as industry expanded nearby, compelling many people to leave.
But the memories never left — memories of a neighborhood that residents described as filled with love and vibrancy, despite economic hardships — and that was enough impetus for people to return for the East End reunion.
“There was just a lot of love,” said former East Ender Ernesta Washington. “You know that saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child?’ In the East End, we raised kids together with a lot of love and that’s where I’m from.”
The reunion was a success as ex-neighbors caught up with each other, swapped stories of times gone by and enjoyed food while children played games in the neighborhood that once consisted of rows of small houses and a church on nearly every corner.
The East End produced many success stories of people who went on to productive careers and happy families. Among them is Freeport Mayor Larry McDonald, who grew up on Sixth Street.
“That’s why a lot of people know who I am,” McDonald said. “Living here made my life different. Now I am trying to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Though the neighborhood now is consigned to history and reminiscence, it is comforting to know it still lives in the hearts of people who began their journeys there.
---
United Way imparts financial wisdom
Those taking advantage of a current United Way program on achieving financial stability already have shown themselves savvy in one important respect — the six weeks of information and advice is provided absolutely free.
Financial planner and course teacher Kurt Zetah said half of all Americans don’t have enough money saved to pay one month’s worth of bills.
“The first rule is to understand where your money is going,” he said. “If you don’t tell your money where to go, it will just go.”
The United Way of Brazoria County will present the free courses quarterly.
The current sessions are 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at the United Way offices at 1212 N. Velasco in Angleton. The first two weeks covered an introduction to banking, credit, checking accounts and keeping track of money.
This week’s class will discuss saving money and consumer rights, with the remaining three courses to include credit scores, making credit work, borrowing money, home ownership and useful tools for financial stability.
Zetah said families should have a minimum of $1,000 in an emergency fund in case their car breaks down or a child becomes ill — the constant key being controlling one’s debt.
According to federal government statistics, the most pervasive debt is high credit card balances, with 58 percent of holdings carrying a balance. Zetah said credit card companies made $43 billion in late, over-the-limit and balance transfer fees in 2004.
“It’s not easy,” Zetah said of taking control of one’s finances.
“If it was, everybody would do it. (But) when you have a plan to eliminate debt, it’s a lot easier.”
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print
|
