Community Bulletin Board and Church Activities

BCI, BCHS to host annual Open House

Bridge City Intermediate will be holding its annual Open House from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. All classrooms will be open and feature student work on display for families to view. Our Title I teachers will have information available to students on how to help your child in math and reading. We look forward to seeing all of you.

Bridge City High School will hold the Annual Fine Arts Exhibition and Open House on Thursday, April 11.

American Legion to host lunch fundraiser

The American Legion Post 49, located at 108 Green Ave in Orange, will host a plate lunch fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. Cost is $8. The meal will consist of brisket, link, potato salad, beans, bread and dessert. Walk in’s are welcome and delivery is available. Please call 409-886-1241 after noon on Wednesday, march 6 and before 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 for orders and deliveries.

OC Retired Senior Citizens to meet March 11

The Orange County Retired Senior Citizens will have their monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 11 at the Salvation Army building on the corner of Strickland and MLK. Those planning to stay for the noon meal are asked to bring a covered dish. Yearly dues are due for those who have not yet paid. Bring a prize for the Bingo games. Invite a friend to attend. For more information, call 883-6161.

OC Retired Teachers to meet March 11

The Orange County Retired Teachers Association will hold their monthly meeting at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11, at the Fellowship Hall of Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 401 37th St. in Orange. An important topic of discussion will be the current session of the Texas Legislature, with emphasis on bills of interest to retired teachers

The guest speaker will be Chester Moore, a local specialist in all things related to outdoor activities.

A light lunch will be served after the meeting.

Lutcher Stark 1953, 1955 class reunion

The Lutcher Stark High School classes of 1953 and 1955 will host a reunion Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 at the Sunset Grove Country Club, located at 2200 West Sunset Drive in Orange. Any classmates who graduated in the 1950’s are welcome to attend. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP no later than March 15. Please contact Wayland Payne at 409-886-2548.

Hunter Education Safety Class to be held March 14

Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Home Study Class Field part will be taught from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. Participants must complete the online home study computer sections, print the completed tests and bring them to class. Please call Danny Odom to register at 409-883-8118.

This class is not just for hunters, but anyone who handles a firearm can benefit from it.

Master Gardeners monthly meeting

The monthly meeting of the Orange County Master Gardeners will be held Thursday, March 14, at the Salvation Army building on the corner of MLK and Strickland in Orange. A potluck supper will begin at 6 p.m. and the business meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. At the end of the meeting door prizes will be drawn. Any one interested in gardening is welcome to attend. Their meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. Please visit their website http://txmg.org/orange for more information.

Lutcher Theater Service Guild to meet

The Lutcher Theater Service Guild will hold a general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, on the third floor lobby of the theater. The theater is located at 707 main ave. in Orange.

Orangefield Cormier Museum to open March 16

The Orangefield Cormier Museum will be open Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Sons of the American Legion to presents Don Rich

The Son’s of the American Legion will host a Don Rich concert, feature 50’s music, from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 16 at the American Legion Post 179, located at 1403 W. Napolean Street in Sulphur, La.

For more information, please call 337-527-9513.

OC Historical Society taking applications

The Orange County Historical Society will have a booth at Art in the Park from 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. on March 16. New membership applications will be available for anyone wishing to join the society. The Society will be selling pass issues of their monthly publications of Las Sabinas which contains history about Orange. There will be members present to answer any questions about the society or discuss the history of Orange.

VFW Post 2775 to host Desert Storm slide show

VFW Post 2775 will present a slide show commemorating Operation Desert Storm at 6 p.m. on March 21 in the VFW Hall, located at 3503 Hwy 87 North in Orange. The public is invited to attend. For further information, contact John Clark at 883-0264.

AARP income tax assistance available

The AARP Tax Filing Assistance Program will be offered starting at 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday through April 15, 2013 at the Orange Public Library. Trained volunteers will be available from 12:15 to 4 p.m.

Anyone seeking assistance should bring the following:

All W-2 and 1099 Forms, including Social Security Benefits statements;

Records of Capital gains and losses;

Receipts of medical expenses, taxes paid, interest paid, contributions, causality and theft losses, job expenses, sales tax receipts for major purchases and Social Security cards for dependents;

A copy of their 2011 tax return to help the volunteers prepare the 2012 return.

Electronic filing will be available. No tax return will be started after 4 p.m.

Orange K of C to host fish fry

St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus Orange Council 1680 will sell delicious fried and baked fish dinners, dine in or take out, from 5 to 7 p.m. on all Fridays in Lent, except Good Friday, in the parish hall.

Meals consist of fish, French fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, ketchup, tea, water and dessert. Cost is $8 for 3 pieces of fried or baked filets; $7 for 2 pieces fried. All are invited to experience Council 1680’s renowned fish taste.

BC Knights of Columbus to offer fish dinners

Bridge City Knights of Columbus will offer fish dinners (fried catfish, cole slaw, hush puppies, fries) through Friday March 22. Serving between 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. $8 per plate. Dine-in or takeout. Large order delivery is available call 735-5725.

OC Relay for Life to hold monthly Team Captain meetings

The Orange County Relay for Life will holding monthly Team Captain meetings at the Lamar State College – Orange Wilson Building, Room 101.

Team captain meetings are scheduled for: Monday, March 25 and Monday, April 22.

All Team Captain meetings are directed at planning for the Orange County Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, which will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., May 3 – 4, 2013 at Bridge City High School. This year’s theme is “A Little Bit of Texas, A Whole Lot of Hope.”

Individuals or teams interested in becoming involved with this event are invited to attend the meeting and register on-line at http://www.OrangeCountyRelay.org

Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale

The Orange County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale will take place at Cormier Park on FM 1442, in Orangefield. The gates will open at 8 a.m. and will close at noon on Saturday, April 6. There will be a large variety of plants for your choosing including perennials, bedding, tropical, vegetable, herbs, some trees, houseplants and Texas Super Star plants. An “Ask the Master Gardener” booth will be set up for your questions. For more information please visit their websitehttp://txmg.org/orange.

PA Public Library to host celebration of Harriet Tubman

The Port Arthur Public Library will host a Celebration of the Life and Times of Harriet Tubman from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. on Monday, March 11 at the library, located at 4615 9th Ave. in Port Arthur.

Admission is free and attendees will have the opportunity to participate along with professional actor/storyteller and author, Melissa Waddy-Thibodeaux from Houston Texas as they retrace the steps and step back in times with Harriet Tubman. The performing artist, Waddy-Thibodeaux, will facilitate this “Acting Workshop” at the Port Arthur Library as we all honor the 100th year of Harriet Tubman’s Life-1913-2013.

Come out and join in, all ages are welcomed to take part. Attendees will participate behind the scenes and on stage, or writing or narrating, etc. We invite everyone to come to see the end production.

For more information, please call 409-988-8838 ext. 2237.

Texas Gulf Coast Writers to meet March 11

Merrilyn Williams will be speaking at the next Texas Gulf Coast Writers meeting held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 11 in the club room of the West End Lodge Apartments at 4215 North Major Drive in Beaumont.

Williams is a life-long learner, an avid reader, an educator, and proud mother of two college students: Julia, a fine arts graduate and budding playwright, and Eric, who will be McNeese’s drum major in the fall.

She graduated from PNG and Lamar University with a BA in English and History and teaching certification for grades 7-12, and is a Master Reading Teacher

Williams began teaching fourth grade reading in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and received her elementary teaching credentials from Pan American University before being recruited to teach in New South Wales, Australia where she spent ten years. While there, she began teaching the writing process, and became associated with the writers groups in Albury/Wodonga and in Sydney.

She has continued attending writing courses, and she dabbles in poetry - particularly poems inspired by the places she has visited. After Williams returned to Texas, she was recognized by one of the teachers of a writing class she attended as “a writer”. She says it was an exceptional moment for her to be recognized before peers.

“I’ve always been a reader and have written, but have only lately begun to actively seek to publish my work.”

Too find out more about TGCW please log on to http://www.texasgulfcoastwriters.blogspot.com/

Eagles offer activities, pool tournament and hall rental

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2523, located at 803 N. 28th St. in Orange, will host their monthly barbecue on Thursday, Feb. 28. The menu is brisket, link, potato salad, baked beans, bread, cookie with all the trimmings for $8. The orders may be called in before 5 p.m. Wednesday or picked up at the Eagles Lodge on Thursday. To place an order or for more information contact Sharon Bodin at 735-8662 or cell 719-7793

They are also offering several classes, activities and fundraisers.

Free scrapbook classes are held at 4 p.m. each Tuesday. The community is invited.

Free genealogy classes are offered at 4 p.m. each Wednesday.

Food will be available.

The Eagles will have tables ready to play 31 on Saturdays from 4 p.m. until closing. Enjoy drink specials and meet our members.

The Eagles have new hours of operation. They will now be open on Monday’s at 4 p.m. The hours for the rest of the week remain the same.

Patrons will now enjoy free pool, free popcorn and drink specials Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during special hours.

For more information on any of the activities or rent the hall contact Sharon Bodin at 409-735-8662 or 409-719-7793.

Weight management classes offered

It’s not too late to join the weight management and diabetes prevention classes offered Wednesdays at Baptist Orange Hospital. The 16 week course that began Jan. 9 will continue through May 8. Afterwards there is a commitment to monthly support group classes for a year.

The cost is $5 per person per class. Scholarships are available.

Classes will educate adults to make healthier choices one day at a time. Look and feel better and learn nutrition for the prevention of diseases.

Call AgriLIFE extension office at 409-882-7010 to pre-register. Classes meet in the fifth floor classroom at the hospital.

Local AAUW to host book drive

The Orange Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is beginning their annual book drive to collect “gently used” books for their scholarship fund. All books, fiction, non-fiction, hardbound or paper back are acceptable. Books may be delivered to the Mann Insurance Agency located at 1505 Park Avenue at 15th Street during regular business hours. If unable to deliver the books, you may call 886-5739 or 886-2194 to arrange for pickup.

KOCB sells Litter Button banners

Keep Orange County Beautiful hopes to sell 50 banners to local businesses for $25 each promoting their “Litter Button” on their Website: http://www.kocb.org. Their hope is that each banner will generate 10 hits of the “Litter Button,” which would mean 500 litterers in the State of Texas would be notified by the Texas Department of Transportation of their illegal activity.

If you see someone littering, take down the time, date and place of the littering and the license plate of the vehicle. Report the activity by going to http://www.kocb.org and hit the litter button. Fill in the information which is then sent to TxDOT.

The offending litterer will be sent a letter reminding them it is illegal to litter in the State of Texas. They will also receive a litter bag for their car and a Don’t Mess With Texas sticker.

To purchase a banner, contact a member of KOCB or visit their Website.

Boy Scouts to host annual flag fundraiser

The Boy Scouts of Troop 62 is now accepting subscriptions for commemorative flag displays in and around North Orange (near Hwy. 87 and Meeks Drive) between IH-10 and South Teal Road. The 3’ by 5’ flags will be displayed on the five flag days of the year (Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Patriots Day [9/11] and Veterans Day). The flags will be displayed no later than 9 a.m. on the commemorative day, picked up before dusk and stored until the next flag day.

An initial $75 tax deductible donation ($50 for renewals) is required. Money orders and checks must be received 14 days prior to posting day in order to ensure timely service. All proceeds go to support Scout activities and programs throughout the year.

For subscriptions, contact Bubba Plexico, Troop 62 Scoutmaster, at 214-770-0568; or Chris Wright, Troop 62 Fundraising Chair, at 409-882-9972.

Orange Community Band to meet every Thursday

The Orange Community Band rehearses every Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, located at 4103 Meeks Drive in Orange. They are in need of players for the following sections; flute, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, and percussion, but ALL are welcome! The band performs Christmas, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veteran’s Day concerts. At least one traditional band concert is performed annually. Please visit us on Facebook at Orange Community Band.

Faith UMC women to host Lenton Lunch Speaker series

The United Methodist Women of Faith United Methodist Church will host a Lenton Lunch speaker series and devotional time each Wednesday during Lent. A light lunch will be served.

The community is invited to attend from noon to 1 pm as we fellowship with these guest speakers:

March 6 - Rev. Randy Branch, Pastor, Wesley UMC, Orange

March 13 - Dr. Caroline McCall, Pastor, Salem UMC, Orange

March 20 - Rev. Demetrius Moffett, Pastor, First Church of God, Orange

March 27- Rev. Sharon Sabom, Pastor, Mauriceville & Deweyville UMC

Faith UMC is located at 8608 MLK Jr. Dr. in Orange. The pastor is Tony Hoefner

For more information, call the church office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sixth Street Community Church to host Deliverance Revival

The Sixth Street Community Church of God in Christ will host their second annual Deliverance Revial, themed “These Dry Bones Can Live.” The revival will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7 at the church, located at 1619 6th Street in Orange.

The guest speaker will be Marenda Malveaux of Lake Charles, La.

The group facilitator is Missonary LaSanda Anosike and the pastor is Elder Anthony D. Thomas Sr.

St. Mary’s to host St. Joseph Altar

The 15 annual St. Joseph Altar for St. Mary’s in Orange will be held on Sunday, March 17 in St. Mary’s Parish Hall.

The Blessing of the Altar will take place after the 10 a.m. Mass. The public will be fed at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend and St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church, as well as join in the festivities of the day.

St. Paul UMC selling bricks for Prayer Garden

St. Paul United Methodist Church is continuing plans for its Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Prayer Garden by paving the garden with a brick walkway. The church is selling bricks that will be engraved with a personal note of the buyer’s choice. These bricks would provide a special way honor family and friends with a history at St. Paul’s. Each brick costs $30. Order forms are located in the St. Paul UMC reception area or can be found onstpaulfamily.org. For more information, call the St. Paul office at 409-735-5546.

McDonald Memorial Bapt. to host Easter egg hunt, community picnic

McDonald Memorial Baptist Church will host an Easter egg hunt and free community picnic at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30 at the church, located at 2015 Sims in Orange. The community is invited to attend and bring their lawn chairs. For more information, please contact the church at 409-883-3974.

Starlight COGIC to host WIND Retreat

Registration is underway for WIND Retreat 2013, sponsored by the Women’s Dept.

of Starlight Church of God in Christ.

The Retreat is scheduled for April 12-14 at the Omni Houston West Hotel.

The theme is Joy! Psalms 16:11.

Special Guest include Pastor Elaine Benson of Houston; Evangelist Phyllis Thomas of Sacramento, Calif.

and Psalmist Linda Broussard from Starlight.

Registration includes two nights stay in a luxury hotel, two full meals, conference bag and material.

Registration fees: are Single $325 pp; Double $220 pp; Triple $185 pp; Quad $170 pp; and Teen Girls $99 (based on two adults in room).

A deposit of $75 is due by Friday, March 15 and the balance is due no later than Monday, April 1, 2013.

For more information call 409-886-4366.

Evangelist Josie Lindsey is Director of Women Ministries at Starlight.

First UMC to host MOPS

The local Mothers of Preschoolers group (affectionately known as MOPS) invites you to join them one Tuesday a month 9:30 a.m. to noon September through May in the First United Methodist Church Praise Center located on the corner of 5th and Pine.

MOPS is designed to nurture EVERY mother with children from infancy to kindergarten through guest speakers, mentor moments, creative activities, breakfast, discussion time, play groups and more.

Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire---to be great moms! You don’t have to be a Methodist, just a mom. Free childcare is provided during meetings. For more information and dates, please contact FUMC Orange at 409-886-7466 or find more information on the web at http://www.mops.org or http://www.fumcorange.org.

St. Paul UMC to sell cookbooks

St. Paul United Methodist Church is selling homegrown, local cookbooks. All of the recipes come from members. The cookbook has tried and true recipes. The cost is $20 and all proceeds go to our mission funds. Please call the church 735-5546 or come by from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and pick up a copy.

St. Francis offers Lenten fish dinners

St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Council 13825 will sell fish dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. on the following Lenten Fridays: Feb. 22, March 1, 8, 15 and 22, in the San Damiano Center (behind the Church) located at 4300 Meeks Drive.

Dinner includes two pieces of fish, french fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, drink and dessert for $8. Dine in or take out.