Local Roundup - page 53

Luigi’s Italian Grill has completed its move to the former Mazzio’s Pizza location at 3108 Edgar Brown Drive and is now open for business. Luigi’s was formerly located at 3105 Edgar Brown Drive but was forced to close due to damage from Hurricane Laura.

Business hours are as follows:
Tuesday through Sunday – 11 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Closed Monday

Food can also be ordered to-go and picked up in the drive-thru by calling 409-886-3000.

For more info, visit their Facebook page.

Texas Speaks is a survey giving communities throughout the state an open forum opportunity to express the strengths and needs of their communities. The survey, led by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is being conducted for the first time online and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

“This is an opportunity to empower and listen to the people of Texas,” said Scott Cummings, AgriLife Extension program leader for Organizational Development.

The survey aims to engage as many citizens as possible while gaining accurate information to help support Texas communities at both state and local levels.

“Extension is a grassroots organization, and in Texas, we have held that grassroots practice since inception,” Cummings said. “We serve and have a presence in every county in the state of Texas. To help identify both the issues and successes in each county, it is important to listen to the people in those counties.”

The anonymous survey will be looking to understand and solve issues facing Texas communities, identifying relevant issues fundamental to the program development of AgriLife Extension, and it will include an open feedback section for areas not listed within the survey.

Data from the Texas Speaks survey will be compiled at local levels and given to stakeholders. Statewide data will be made available to state agencies and decision-makers.

“We are very fortunate to have the network to be able to do this. It will benefit us, but also be a service to the state,” he said. “The more data we have, the more representative it will be.”

This survey, in the past, has been conducted in person and within each county. This year’s online survey allows for growth in engagement due to the increased accessibility of the survey itself.

“Ten minutes of your time is short, and it will be incredibly meaningful for the entire state,” said Cummings. “I encourage as many people as possible to participate on behalf of your community.”

The survey can be accessed here.

The Orange Convention & Visitors Bureau has bad news and good news for their Friday Night Reels attendees.

Friday Night Reels featuring the movie Dirty Dancing to be held Friday, February 5 was canceled due to inclement weather.

The event is being rescheduled for Friday, February 26 at the City of Orange Boat Ramp.

Keep Orange County Beautiful (KOCB) received an HEB Green Belt Grant through Keep Texas Beautiful. Solvay Specialty Polymers of Orange generously matched the grant, specifically to provide over 350 trees to help restore Orange County’s tree canopy, many of which were destroyed during Hurricane Laura in August 2020.

The HEB Grant includes an educational component stipulating that students must benefit. Trees will be distributed to Orange County’s five school districts. Studies have proven that trees planted outside of classroom windows produce higher test scores for students. Master Gardeners of Orange will assist in the distribution of the trees to schools and provide “Benefit of Trees” information to students and teachers.

The City of Orange’s Northway Park sustained a significant amount of tree damage. KOCB highlighted Northway Park last year during quarantine by reminding people that spending time outdoors has a replenishing effect on emotional health and well being by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and stress.

Northway Park’s 18 acres of canopy trees are a beneficial and vital resource in these challenging times. Grants will help replace over 100 canopy trees in Northway Park.

Other locations receiving trees are West Orange Parks and three churches.

Montezuma Cypress, Live Oaks, and a variety of other Oaks are chosen for being fast-growing, wind-resistant, and sequester air pollution. “We all can find inspiration in nature’s resilience,” says Kyle O’Halloran, Orange’s Site Manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers.

For more information about KOCB, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.

Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest retail bookseller, annually donates books to various local charities across the country that provide services to children.

This year, Barnes & Nobles, Beaumont, Texas, chose CASA of the Sabine Neches Region to receive 1500 books for children of all ages.

CASA of the Sabine Neches Region recruits and trains volunteers as Court Appointed Special Advocates to support children and families involved in the child welfare system.

“These books are such a tremendous blessing. Especially in a time when the children we serve are more isolated and in need of healthy and positive activities that help decrease feelings of isolation and stress,” said Codie Vasquez, executive director of CASA of the Sabine Neches Region. “As we continue to navigate these difficult times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping our children’s minds occupied and emotional well-being attended to can be challenging. These books provide at-home activities that help make the experience less stressful for the children and their caregivers, as well as create experiences that cultivate joy and resilience.”

The donation was made possible through the generous support of Barnes & Noble customers, who purchased books for donation at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide between November 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Community partners distributed the books to hospitals, schools, literacy organizations, and social service organizations.

For more information on Barnes & Noble’s Holiday Book Drive, or how to work with your local store on hosting a fundraising Bookfair, visit your local store or check the Barnes & Noble Store Locator at www.barnesandnoble.com.

For more information on CASA of the Sabine Neches Region, or how to volunteer, visit www.casasnr.org or call (409) 886-2272