Community Bulletin Board and Church activities

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.

BCHS Project Graduation to host fundraising events

The Bridge City High School Project Graduation will hold a link/boudain sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 at the Walgreens in Bridge City.

They will also be hosting a golf tournament on Monday, April 1 at the Sunset Grove Country Club in Orange. The format is an 18-hole team scramble tournament/four man team. The cost will be $400 per team or $125 per person. Individuals will be placed on a team.

Every player will receive a gift bag and a chance to win door prizes. A silent auction will be held. Drinks, snacks and boiled crawfish will be provided. This interested in participating, sponsoring a team or making a donation are asked to contact Kristy Reese at 409-718-0598.

All proceeds will benefit BCHS Project Graduation.

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, 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.

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 by contacting Wayland Payne at 409-886-2548.

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 and devotional time Wednesday, March 27. A light lunch will be served.

The community is invited to attend from noon to 1 p.m. as we fellowship with Rev. Sharon Sabom, Pastor, Mauriceville and 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.

Trinity Baptist Church Easter Events

A Maundy Thursday Service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church of Orange at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. Dr. Bob Webb, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church will conduct the service which will include prayer, Scripture reading and The Last Supper Communion. Dr. Webb wishes to invite the community to attend the Maundy Thursday Service.

Maundy Thursday is a Christian observance around the world. It is the day before Good Friday and commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper with the Apostles and the initiation of Communion observed in many Christian churches. Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in a number of countries.

On March 17, Trinity Baptist Church started the celebration of Easter with the placement of prayer cards on the cross, on March 24 palm branches were placed on the cross and this Easter Sunday members and guest are encouraged to bring flowers to place on the cross.

The church’s activities for Easter are to remind both children and adults of what Easter is all about. Everyone is invited to join Trinity Baptist Church for our Maundy Thursday Service and at 11 a.m. on Sunday for our Easter Service. The church is located at 1408 W. Park Avenue and 14th Street.

Palm Sunday, Easter Services at Good Shepherd Lutheran

The Good Shepard Lutheran Church will follow through the days of Jesus’ journey, known as Holy Week, and invite the community to join us on His journey by worshiping with us on at 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, March 28. At this service Holy Communion and Anointing of Oil for healing is offered to all of God’s children. Good Friday services will be held at 7 p.m. Because Christ shed his blood for our sins on this day, we will be given an opportunity to write our sins on paper and then nail them on a Cross that resembles the one of which He was nailed.

Upon arriving at the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning, the three Marys were greeted by an angel who proclaimed that He is Risen! The congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will celebrate Christ victory over death and acknowledge that He is King of Kings during two services on Easter Sunday, traditional at 9 a.m. and contemporary at 11 a.m. Their annual Easter Brunch will follow the first service at 10 a.m., and our community is welcome to share God’s blessing with us.

The church is located at 945 W. Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, Texas.

Heroines of Jericho to sell turkey legs

The Heroines of Jericho will sell turkey legs from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 at the Masonic Lodge, located at 1017 Mills Street in Orange. The sale included a turkey leg and some bread for $7. Please call Phillis at 409-221-2601 or Margaret at 409-313-5043 for more information.

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.

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..