The kids are out selling. I bought cookie dough for the drill team from Amy Yates, a Panther umbrella for the band from Polly Goodier for Dylan, pork butt roast for the baseball team from Patrick Haney, cookie dough for Hudson school from Hanna Westerman and items for Brookhollow Elementary School from Morgan Parker. Be aware that they are out with their items. Then Tyler Jumper was selling magazines, and I just contributed money to George Herde's Scouts and school.

Laverne Ferguson will have her Christmas items after Thanksgiving and will be open until after Christmas.

I picked up my smoked pork butt roasts from Randall Taylor at Taylor Brothers Paint and Floor Covering that were benefiting the Lufkin Panther baseball team. They are still cooking the roasts, and if you want one call Randall at 634-4134 and place your order. They are $20 each and last year they were so good.

The Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin is hosting an annual fundraising banquet, Denim & Diamonds on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Location is the Pitser Garrison Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling (936) 632-9292.

This year the special guest speaker will be Ryan Dobson, son of Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson.

Len and Phil Medford are building on Saddle Creek. Their contractor is Joe McCleskey. Mary Jane and Jim West went with Len and Phil to Roundtop/Warrington/Marberger and met Amanda and Jamie Galati from Fort Worth. Len was looking for things for their new home.

Maricela's Forgotten Treasures Antique Mall's Annual Open House will be Thursday, Nov. 12 from 3 to 8 p.m. at 122 East Burke Ave.

Our granddaughter Hannah Herde was elected Homecoming Queen at her New Canaan High School in Connecticut.

They had a homecoming pep rally where the queen was announced then a bonfire that night, and her dad Michael Herde and sister Isabelle were on the program. Michael juggled torches and Isabelle, who is a freshman, twirled fire poi, which is a ball, suspended from a flexible material held in the hand and swung in a circular patterns, originating from New Zealand. The New Canaan Rams won their homecoming game and have been the state champion for three years in a row. Hannah was crowned at half time in the rain.

There was a dance on Saturday night to top off their celebrations. Nancy, George and Sarah Herde were at all functions and were joined for the game by Shari, Tyler and Marcy Jumper from Fairfax, Va.

The Pines Theater marquee and front are lighted back to their glory days.

The evening started with Write around Texas introducing Emily Stafford, daughter of Linda and Todd Stafford, who sang several songs in the grassy courtyard near the theater on First Street where the meal was catered by Manhattan.

Some in the crowd were Polly and Charles Young, Billie and Sam Slaydon, Patress and Ron Schaeffer, Glenda and Buddy Hawkins, Mike Maberry, Linda and Robert Poland, Jr., Patricia Jones, Joyce Renfrow, Charda and Louis Bronaugh, Deborah Ruckman, Janie and Pat McCann, Ina Jane Thames, Darlene and Eric Atkinson, Sarah Atkinson, Beverly and Charles Kent, Lawana and Jerry Ray, Martha and Ray Carswell, Jo Ann and Richard Rainwater, Denise Davis, Guyla Bryan, Joan and Dennis Rankin, Len and Phil Medford, Todd Stracener, Ellen and Bennie Hollis, Carol and Jerry Moore, Dorothy and Lacy Chimney, Dr. Guessippina Bonner, Rita and Pierre Cromarti, Gail Littles and her guest, Robert Shankle, Victor Travis, Barbara and R A. Brookshire, Marianna and Rufus Duncan, Erin Thiebert, Michelle Green, Wes Welch, Dixie Welch, Sarah Stafford, Melba and Gene Toigo, Carolyn and Stanley New, Genie and Bob Flournoy, Katherine and Sid Roberts, Jean and Devereaux Chapman, Eva and Clyde Dickens, Wayne Haglund, Barbara and Leonard Peterson, Ellen and Ryan Sorrell, Carolyn and Tom Gage, John Anderson, Robbie and Don Wier, Sandra and John Ralph Pouland, Cyndi and Steve Kulback, Lillian Armstrong, Riley Armstrong, Aruna and Ravinder Bachireddy and Jeannie and Caleb McCusker.

On my tour through the Pines, Linda Huggins Martin was the "popcorn lady" with Paula Metzinger. Barbara Thompson was all smiles as were Paul and Sue Parker, Mary Jo and Jack Gorden and Keith Wright.

I hope that you will take time to go to the Web site cityoflufkin.com and give your comments on what you feel would be the need for the Pines Theater today. I loved the part of the program when Robert Poland Jr. and Mike Maberry told their fond memories of the kiddie shows and movies.

Robert showed us how he put his arm around his date in a subtle move. Ellen Hollis remembered that move. Jerry Ray said that he learned what a garter belt was at the Pines before Lawana.

The theater was closed in 1978 and today is 84 years old. Many memories were made in that place, and I hope that more can share them.

Mine is that I could go to the movie for 25 cents. The movie cost 9 cents, and I could get popcorn and coke and have a penny left for gum.

I will try and get a figure from the auction that was held at the First Street Arts Center. I bid on some items in the auction. Lisa Steed is the director of the center that hosted Lufkin's first culinary arts exhibition "Savor the Center" with auction items from talented artists.

The Lufkin Landscape Task Force Presents A Taste of "Down Under" on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center. This is the 6th Annual Fall Festival and Auction benefiting the Louis Bronaugh Park Amphitheater. Tickets are $55 each. Karla Anderson and Carolyn Tinkle are the event coordinators.

President of the Landscape Taskforce is Genie Flournoy. Others on the board are Keith Hester, Betty Lawrence, Clydene Miles, Debra Green, Devereaux Chapman, Tom Croley, Sally Denman, Mark Dunn, Dawn Dupuis, Rachel Emrick, Mike Hampson, Gay Parker, Richard Rainwater, Mike Riley, Merrick Roche, Deborah Ruckman, Jeanetta Stewart and Joann Tatum.

Cathy Wallace told me that her husband Carl Wallace is in the mural that Lance Hunter painted in 2000 on the back of the LISD Administration building on the Angelina Street side. Carl is in the white shirt on the right beside the A&NR Railroad engine. Ronnie Sims is the engineer.

Carl's birthday was Oct. 20, and Cathy cooked dinner for him and had a cake. Carl is a retired conductor.

Martha and Keith Sutton were in Shawnee, Okla., visiting with Verne and Bonnie Larson and attended the St. John Lutheran Church Oktoberfest. The Lawsons moved from Lufkin about four years ago.

Charlene Cortines' grandson Corey Cortines received his diploma from Texas State Technical College with his degree in Industrial Systems and Engineering Technology in August. He graduated from Groesbeck High School in 2007.

While attending TSTC, he was a recipient of the Nuc-Regulatory Committee Scholarship. During the summers, Corey interned with W+T offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Before graduating, he received a job offer from Chevron USA and now resides and works in Craig, Colo. He is the son of David and Kim Cortines.

Another holiday market is Mistletoe Market to be held Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Lufkin Healthcare Networking Association. Box lunches will be on sale from Stevens Catering starting at 11 a.m.

For questions contact Jessica Knight at (936) 240-4208 or Vallie Cross at (936) 332-2160. Admission is free.

I had been asked about the lot that is fenced next to Longhorn Bus Sales near the high school. I found out from Jack Connell, general manager in Houston, that they have a contract with Thermal King to repair 18-wheeler refrigeration units along with school bus sales and repair, and they are the International truck dealer. The lot will be used to park the trucks.

Billye Marie York has doctor's orders to walk for her back. She goes to Walmart several times a week and pushes the buggy to keep her balance when she walks. She told me that she always buys something when she is walking. This is a good idea for those that need help with their balance.

Fall is finally here for Joanne Roquemore and the Wishing Well. They will open Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Jill Zenor has been helping Joanne get things organized in the Wishing Well. They had trouble with the roof at the warehouse on Herndon Street and this has delayed the opening of the store. Their hours will be Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. She has antiques, the elves aka Merry Fairies by Mark Roberts and other gift items.

Here is a follow up on the First Street Art Center from Erin Moore Thiebert who is the president. Jo Ann Rainwater is the secretary.

Board members are: Aruna Bachireddy, Jeremy Crew, Michelle Green, Mark Hicks, Jacqui Johnston, Linda Poland, Ryan Sorrell, Carolyn Tinkle, Connie Welch, Bobbie Whitehead and Don Wier.

"We were thrilled to have the support of the community on Saturday night, both with attendance at our fundraiser dinner and participation in our silent auction. We were especially grateful to our underwriter, East Texas Hematology and Oncology Clinic, PA, as well as to Write Around Texas for proving the live music for the evening," Thiebert said.

"Last but not least, Lisa Steed, our director, outdid herself in making sure the evening ran smoothly from start to finish, she is a gem! Funds that we made will go to help with relocation expenses, as we have lost our lease in the Perry Brothers building and will be moving soon."

I was thrilled with my silent auction items. Watch for me in my Becker necklace, and I might have an A&M party with my basket of goodies. Lynn Benner did the note cards that I got.