Best of county lauded by Chamber

Our pear tree came into bloom this week as did many others. Apparently, spring has sprung before its due date.

This week was busy in our county. The Best of San Jacinto County Awards Banquet was held in Jones Hall in Coldspring. This paper’s editor was there too, so I know you will have a report from Mr. Farkas about it. He gave a speech on the collaboration between the Coldspring Chamber and the San Jacinto News-Times for this event.

This was the first time voting for “The Best” was done online. There were some hiccups to begin with, but things were straightened out and the event showed that in the larger number of categories named this year.

Bullet Grill House catered a great meal and COISD High School Drill Team performed for everyone before the award ceremony. Well-deserving people and businesses won first or second place; please go online to the Coldspring Chamber this week to see all the winners. They won’t be entered till the office opens.

One winner I have to mention is the Community and Children’s Impact Center in Shepherd. Brenda Myers and her team of volunteers won for Best Thrift Shop, which is high praise when you know we have some wonderful resale shops in our area. They won second place for Best Non- Profit and Brenda won second place for Best Volunteer and Activist. Best of all though was when Brenda won Hero of the County. Way to go, Impact Center.

The future Impact Crisis Center is coming along with donations and volunteer help. Their big event fund raiser will be on May18. Casino Night to be held at the VFW Post 1839 in Cleveland will be the venue. Tickets are $50 which buys you $500 casino money. There will be tables for poker, blackjack, roulette and a craps table. The meal will be barbecue with music of course and the VFW bar will be open. More details as we get closer to the date but you do need to have your tickets beforehand. Call Brenda at (936) 499-3632 or James Wall at (832) 235-5737.

On Thursday evenings Brenda and her team hold a Get It Off Your Chest session for youth who are having difficulties in their lives. Some have attempted suicide, some have no family and some have suffered physical and sexual abuse. Given the chance to get it off their chest they can do it with a group of people who are supportive, understanding and helpful as well as offering prayers.

This week Harley and Elizabeth talked about their horrendous experiences. In fact, one will face her molester in court this week for the horrible times he put her through. They were both able to speak of the damage done to their trust in people now, but it was clear this was a healing in the works and I was thankful for them both, that they had found a place to help them with this healing.

•Women’s League of San Jacinto County will hold its annual fundraiser Style Show on April 11. This will be a lunch with entertainment from the fashion show, featuring the latest from Chico’s of Humble. Sponsored by Susan Vaughan, tickets will be $25.

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The Board met this last week to finalize the nominations for the new year which starts after our summer break in September. The names will be announced at the next lunch on March 14.

•I attended the second sitting of Coldspring Library’s Princess Tea party held in Coldspring Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. It was a delightful hour and a half. First the princesses had time to color pictures, make headbands for themselves using artificial flowers or go to the play table. Then they lined up and one by one walked to the stage and were presented. Each was announced with a short description of their favorite color, what they wanted to be when they grew etc.

The dresses were beautiful, moms and dads who accompanied their little girls were helpful and, of course, proud of their daughters. Tea or punch was served in cups with saucers, tiny sandwiches, fruit skewers and a cupcake were perfect for the meal.

Coldspring and Shepherd Library plan to support each other’s events, and this was the case with this one. At the reception desk helping out was Marsha Brown and chair of the event Michelle Torres from Coldspring with Terri McIntyre, Ali Payne and Jennifer Arrington from Shepherd. In the kitchen was Shawna Holman and her son Layton. Dee Duke and Leslye McGrath created the food. Brothers Zachary, Cory and Gabriel Gosey were wonderful helping everyone and gathering up the dishes after.

•Coldspring Chamber and COCISD are collaborating with the spring festival at the school grounds on April 13. If you wish to be a vendor, call the Chamber for more information. If you are having an outdoor event in March and would like to rent an inflatable bounce house, obstacles or waterslides, call Santiago’s Moonwalk Rentals. There is a 15 percent discount on waterslides this month, except for the Easter weekend. Call (832) 608-0147. Go to the Facebook page, they also rent tables and chairs and more.

•Shepherd Library’s fundraiser is a chili cookoff on May 18 at Shepherd Community Center. Starting at 10 a.m., this event will have music and vendors. If you want to be in the contest, call (936) 628-3515. More of this in the future.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.

Yvonne Cones is president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.