Local Roundup - page 54

Luigi’s Italian Restaurant is moving to the former Mazzio’s Pizza location at 3108 Edgar Brown Drive. Luigi’s was formerly located at 3105 Edgar Brown Drive but was forced to close due to damage from Hurricane Laura.

The Orange Economic Development Corporation announced on Tuesday an EDC incentive of $139,000 for the move and renovation. EDC Director Jay Trahan said Luigi’s should be open for business at its new location in late January or early February.

For more info, visit their Facebook page.

The staff at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center invite local residents to explore the beauty of the gardens, enjoy wildlife and the outdoors, and experience the wonderful seasonal changes in Southeast Texas late in the year.

The center is open Tuesdays – Fridays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is free of charge.

Shangri La has implemented a range of practices to ensure the safety and well-being of their visitors and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak including optional timed ticketing to maintain adequate social distancing.   Due to COVID-19, they have reduced their garden capacity. For your safety and enjoyment, they recommend that you reserve a free timed ticket for the specific day and time you plan to visit. Limited walk-up entry is contingent upon availability.

To reserve timed tickets, click here.

Other safety precautions they have implemented include:

• new signage and a one-way route through the gardens
• mandatory mask use during entry and all indoor spaces (mask use is optional throughout the gardens)
• limited maximum occupancy in select indoor locations
• additional hand sanitizing station
•  increased cleaning schedule in public areas
• some areas remain closed (including our Café) for the safety of the public

Santa is coming to the Orange Train Depot, 1210 Green Avenue in Orange on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 4-6 PM. Visitors will see Santa and his masked elves and Orange Community Players singing Christmas Carols. Candy will be given and as well as special prizes if visitors wear a Santa hat! Children can also bring those letters to Santa that will be sent directly to the North Pole.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Orange Depot, Friends of the Orange Depot is a non-profit group dedicated to restoring the century-old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in Orange, Texas.

If you were affected by Hurricane Laura and still in need of assistance, Orange County Disaster Rebuild will be doing a disaster assistance intake this Friday, November 20, 2020, at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center located at 502 6th Street in Orange from 9 am to 2 pm.

IMPORTANT: You will need to bring copies of the following mandatory documents listed below:
1) Photo ID
2) Proof of Income ( W-2, Paycheck stub, Social Security Information)
3) Property Tax Receipt for 2019
4) Current Utility Bill
5) 3 Previous Months of Bank Statements

The City of Orange is excited to share Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center has announced its reopening for Wednesday, November 18, 2020. The center is located at 2111 W Park Ave. in Orange. The operating hours will be Tuesday-Friday, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is free.

Mandatory mask use will be required indoors, and optional throughout the gardens. Hand sanitizer stations will be available

Since returning to the gardens after the closure from Hurricane Laura, the Horticulture staff of Shangri La has been hard at work cleaning up and clearing away fallen branches and debris from the storm. With help from Frey’s Landscaping and Davis Tree Company, the gardens look almost back to normal, though not without some new gaps.

The loss of several trees has changed the skyline and brought sun to plants that were accustomed to shade. The staff sees this loss of trees as opportunities to improve the gardens and are excited to see plants continuing to bloom and providing cheerful color to the landscape, almost as if thumbing their noses at the storm.