Government - page 43

The Vidor Public Library will host the Summer Reading program for 2021 at Vidor High School Auditorium. The theme this year is “Tales and Tails”.

Children must read 20 books to be eligible for a chance to win one of the grand prizes. Age limit is 1 year to 16 years of age. You do not have to read to attend the programs. There is no cost for the children to participate in the program. Children do not have to log minutes or book authors. This is for fun!

Guidelines:
1. You may sign up once you have read and logged 20 library books at home.
2. Books must be from the Vidor Public Library.
3. All Books must be checked out and taken out of the library to count. You may not sit in the back and read.
4. Titles must be completed and turned in by 3:45 p.m. on Friday, July 2, 2021. Lists turned in after that will not count.
5. Once you read 20 books every 10 books read up to 100 will count for another chance to win a Grand Prize.

If you are not a member of the Vidor Public Library and want to be one, please read the following. You must have…
1. Valid Texas Driver License or Texas ID.
2. Proof of your home address.
3. There is only 1 card issued to each household.
4. We do not issue cards to children under the age of 18 yrs.
5. If you are outside the city limits, there is a $10.00 yearly fee.

All programs will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m. NO DROP OFFS! Parent/ Guardian must accompany child(ren) at all times. The program will be at Vidor High School Auditorium.

The dates set for Summer Reading Programs are as follows:
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Guest: Dru Woods
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Guest: Mark Shelton
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Guest: Vidor Rotary
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Guest: StoryBook Theatre

Reading begins Tuesday, June 1, 2021!

Any questions can be answered by calling the Vidor Public Library at 769-7148 or come by 440 E. Bolivar in Vidor.

Note: The event has been canceled due to pending inclement weather and will be rescheduled for July 10.

The Pinehurst Volunteer Fire Department is hosting an open house on Saturday, June 5 from 10 AM – 4 PM at 2497 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. behind the Pinehurst City Hall and Police Station.

This is a great opportunity to meet your first responders! Families can check out the trucks and the station. Enjoy hot dogs and chips (while supplies last), and ask us about their weekly rides around the Pinehurst community.

More details can be found on their Facebook page.

The Orange County Office of Emergency Management and Orange County Disaster Rebuild is encouraging all residents in Orange County to self-report any damages to their homes from the severe weather that has occurred over the last few days.

If you sustained damage to your home as a result of the severe weather, please utilize this link, damage.tdem.texas.gov to submit a damage survey. Within the survey, disaster survivors will have the opportunity to request assistance from volunteer organizations at their property. This information will also help us request more resources and volunteers into the area to help.

Residents will be able to upload pictures and report damages to the property.

This voluntary self-reporting should not substitute residents reporting damages to their insurance agencies, nor does it guarantee disaster relief assistance.

The City of Orange Hotel/Motel Tax Committee has released applications for non-profit entities within the City of Orange to apply for a portion of the City’s Hotel/Motel Tax funds. Any 501 (C) organization in the City of Orange that attracts visitors to the City of Orange, Texas can submit applications to the committee. Under Section 351.101 (b) of the Texas Tax Code, revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax may be used ONLY to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.

Through the Hotel Occupancy Tax Grant Program, qualified events are able to apply for funds from the City of Orange. The mission of the Hotel Occupancy Tax Grant Program is to provide funds to directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry by applying to one of the following seven statutorily provided categories:
1. Funding, improvement, or maintenance of a convention center or visitor information center.
2. Paying the administrative costs for facilitating convention registration.
3. Advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourist and convention delegates to the City or its vicinity.
4. Expenditures that promote arts.
5. Funding historical restoration or preservation programs.
6. Funding costs in certain counties to hold sporting events that substantially increase hotel activities.
7. Signage directing tourists to sights and attractions that are visited frequently by hotel guests in the municipality.

The application and guidelines are available on the City of Orange website.  Applications will be accepted May 10, 2021, through July 9, 2021, at 5 P.M. Applied funds must be for activities occurring October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022.

Applications may be submitted via email to ldallas@orangetexasgov.us or delivered by mail or in-person to City Hall, 812 N. 16th Street, Orange, Texas 77630, Attention: Leigh Anne Dallas.

For additional information, please contact Leigh Anne Dallas at 409.221.3325 or by email at ldallas@orangetexasgov.us.

The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) is conducting a study of community needs and resources across Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange counties. The goal is to identify crucial service needs in areas such as employment, education, housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and more.

Your participation in this survey is critical so they can accurately assess and ultimately address the basic needs of residents in the tri-county area.

If you are part of an organization, please complete the survey here.

If you are a Public Official or Board member, please complete the survey here.

If you are a resident of Orange, Jefferson, or Hardin Counties and want to comment on social services, please complete the survey here.

Please feel free to contact Bonnie Brooks with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Community Services at (409)924-3381, ext. 6278 with any questions,