Orange Living Magazine October 2018

OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE Prsrt Standard U.S. Postage

PAID

Montgomery, AL Permit No. 432

Living M A G A Z I N E

ORANGE

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TABLEOFCONTENTS CULTURE

RESTAURANT

Teaching the past to the present at the ‘Depot’ ������������������ 6 Brick Oven Pizza Co ������������������������������������������������������ 16

DAY TRIP

LOCAL

Willkommen! from the swamplands ��������������������������������� 8 The Pea Patch Produce Co-Op ���������������������������������������� 19

FEATURE

HISTORY

Larry David �������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 Christmas In Orange, 60 Years Ago �������������������������������� 20

COMMUNITY

ON THE SCENE

Service League of Orange ����������������������������������������������� 13 See who was seen out and about ������������������������������������� 22

HEALTH Flu Season ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 15

PUBLISHERLETTER

Fall, football, the holidays and Adella

By Bobby Tingle

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883-3571 4 | Orange Living Magazine

It was a bit eerie this Labor Day since I spent the weekend in Harvey.

Adella Claire was the five-day old reason for our visit. Adella’s Gigi and I saturated ourselves with our newest grandchild holding her, changing diapers, a first bath and pretty much watching her nap her life away between feedings.

She was a much more pleasant experience than Labor Day 2017 when Harvey visited us.

It is hard to believe the time has flown by so fast.

Football is here for another season of pee wee to professional football players battling it out on the gridiron.

Van Wade noted schools in New York were closed the first week of September due to high temperatures. It was 95 degrees. “Sounds like our Fall,” he mused with a chuckle.

But soon the temperatures will fall, to at least 69 in the middle of the night.

And then the holidays will be here.

We have much to be thankful for and much to enjoy.

Take advantage of a Friday or Saturday game at your favorite high school or middle school football field.

Start planning those holiday parties and gatherings.

ORANGE NEWSMEDIA, LLC

DESIGNER Tony Hernandez

WRITERS Dawn Burleigh Mike Louviere Van Wade Holly Westbrook

PHOTOGRAPHY Dawn Burleigh Van Wade Randy Strong

AD TRAFFIC AND SALES Candice Trahan Bobby Tingle

PUBLISHER Bobby Tingle

ABOUT Orange Living is published and distributed by Orange Newsmedia, LLC for Orange County residents promoting and encouraging the cultural and social scene in the Greater Orange Area. For information about advertising, to ask a question or make a comment about our magazine, contact Orange Newsmedia, LLC at 409883-3571 or by email at editorial@ orangeleader.com.

Photo courtesy of Tricia Stroud Photography

uch a graceful architectural work stood next to the wooden and metal lines for over 100 years that even when its roof leaked, and the windows shirked, the beauty stayed, never bending to the elements nor man.

Built to serve, the Train Depot stationed right before entering historic downtown Orange has not served its original function since the 1960s, yet, now has many uses, but, not one of them will ever be its first and foremost job of helping people wait on trains.

Education can be a far more powerful job, such as generations to come must learn from their history of their city, its past gives way to the future of this area.

The depot, a Victorian-style building erected in 1902, was a bustling and indispensable part of life in Orange up until passenger train traffic through the region diminished in the middle of the 20th century.

The Orange Train Depot Museum will be focusing on the 20th century, Carrie Woliver president of the Friends of the Orange Depot, and how the railroad helped with the timber business, ship transportation, shipbuilders and during World War II.

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The goal is to provide a singular educational experience for children and adults featuring the industries that propelled the growth of Orange.

“We have a Museum Planning Committee, George Bohn, the chair, is working on the early stages (now for the museums next steps),” Woliver said.

Currently, the Train Depot has two history banners up with narratives and historical facts the public and read through to gain more knowledge on the subject matter.

“Restored to its former glory, the Depot will serve as a museum, educational facility and a Welcome Center for Historic Downtown Orange.”

Woliver said a museum consultant was hired to help with the depot. Terri Fox has experience with the Stark Foundation, Woliver said, and the Orange Train Depot is hoping to put that to good use.

“The Reception Area will exhibit Railroad memorabilia and stories about the role of railroad transportation of passengers from 1910-1979 when passenger traffic ceased. Two video kiosks will tell the stories of two living employees of the railroad in their own words.

“Exhibits will give emphasis to the soldiers who traveled through the Depot during both World Wars when the shipbuilding industry in Orange was very active in the

war effort.”

In the Museum and Conference Area, there will be exhibits concerning the other three major industries that transformed the city’s economy in the last century: timber, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals.

“We expect to have some ship replicas, historical photographs, and colorful exhibits telling the petrochemical story.

“In 2019 we hope to have the museum in the depot with tours several days a week,” Woliver said. “With the collaboration of the Stark Museum of Art, we will encourage visits by school groups, and volunteer docents will be their guides. Since the contents will be different from any other museum in Orange, it will offer an excellent opportunity for the children to learn about local history.”

Future events for this year include “A Christmas Tea” fundraiser, Dec. 2, tickets will be on sale for this event. See their website for information on last year’s tea.

Also returning will be Santa at the Depot on Dec. 16.

The Friends of the Orange Depot ask if you have artifacts or pictures from these industries to call 409-330-1576 as they are collecting for a permanent and future showcase. The website is http://orangetxdepot.org/ and you can email them at info@orangetxdepot.org

Photo courtesy of Robert Cove – Germanfest

By Holly Westbrook

o recall Louisiana, you think of mouthwatering crawfish, spicy creole, cunning Cajuns and accordionplaying-Germans roaming through this marshy state... Wait! What? Accordion-playing-Germans in the bayou?

German heritage doesn’t normally come to the forefront of conversation with talk of the pelican-loving wetland but celebrated during an annual festival the first weekend of every October in Roberts Cove, LA, rich in this culture. Here Germanfest is all that is talked about.

“Our small community is nestled in the heart of the seven-parish region in south Louisiana known as Acadiana,” Germanfest representatives said. “It is in our small community where we celebrate our rich German heritage during our annual festival held during the first weekend of October.”

The 24th Germanfest, Oct. 6-7, in Aca-

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dia parish, features live entertainment, authentic German food and beers, folklore demonstrations children’s activities and more. Located at 7212 Roberts Cove Road in Rayne, LA, people converge here to celebrate with friends, family, and lovers of the Germanic folklore. For children 13 and younger, it’s free to enter and adult tickets are only $8.

Live entertainment, authentic German food, a large selection of German beer on tap, folklore demonstrations and children’s activities are just some of the fun included during the two-day event.

“Our festival offers a large variety of German foods that are linked not only to the German culture but also the kitchens of many of our residents in the Roberts Cove community,” representatives said. “Compliment any of your food selections with one of our homemade German desserts.

Our desserts are sure to keep you coming back for more! We serve desserts that are made from homemade recipes that have been carried down from generations of

decedents in Roberts Cove.”

Roberts Cove Germanfest Folklore Dancers & Rathkamp Dancers, Germanfest Folk Singers, Several Authentic German Bands will be there for everyone’s entertainment. In addition to this, various Folklore Presentations/Demonstrations will be located under the Folklore Tent, Children’s Activities will be in Kinderland and the Antique Farm and Threshing Equipment Demonstrations from the Blacksmith Association will be on hand.

The German Heritage Museum and Gift Shop featuring souvenirs and hand-crafted items will be open.

Saint Leo IV Church and Chapel will be available for viewing and Strolling Accordion will be heard throughout the Festival Grounds.

“Our festival offers a large variety of German Foods that are linked not only to the German culture but also the kitchens of many of our residents in the Roberts Cove community,” representatives said. “Compliment any of your food selections with

one of our homemade German desserts.

Our desserts are sure to keep you coming back for more! We serve desserts that are made from homemade recipes that have been carried down from generations of decedents in Roberts Cove.”

Here is just a sample of our sweets that are available for purchase at the festival: Apfel Kuchen (German Apple Cobbler); Zucher Platzkens (German Sugar Cookies); Hot Chocolate; Brownies and more.

To be able to sample food and drinks at the festival, you first have to purchase a $1 ticket each available underneath the “big tent” on the grounds. Also, to purchase any alcoholic beverage you must be 21 years of age or older.

The Roberts Cove Germanfest Home Brew Competition is an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) sanctioned homebrewing competition. Our competition is also part of the Bayou State Circuit; therefore, make your beer points for their 2018 competition. The Roberts Cove Germanfest Association is the sponsoring organization.

The event will be held in conjunction with the 24th Annual Germanfest festival. The competition is sanctioned, and as such, will use all rules of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA).

Events start Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. and on Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about Germanfest, call 1-337-334-8354, and they ask that you please remember to leave your pets at home. You can visit their website at https://www.robertscovegermanfest. com/

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Larry David has been an amazing civic leader for Orange for many years and will continue after retiring from the insurance business.

Van Wade/Photographer

David has done amazing things for Orange through the years

By Van Wade here is no question that Larry David loves the Orange area and he plans to stay a very busy man after retiring and closing the doors at Orange Insurance Agency.

Known by many as “The Hamburger Man” at the Lions Club Carnival, David has been involved in the community in many aspects over the years and plans to carry on in helping benefit folks across Orange County.

“I have to say I love Orange, Texas in every way,” said David. “People around here seem to be different than most places you go throughout the country. It’s so tight-knit and there never really has been a lot of bickering. Everyone seems to get along with one another and I’ve been able to meet so many unique people throughout the years.”

David has met a slew of people through being in the insurance business for so many years, but it is what he has done in the civic realm that has enabled him to get a taste of what Orange has been about for so many years.

He was involved as the director of the YMCA. He’s in the Knights of Columbus.

He’s worked with the United Way as the chair and Commercial Division Chairman.

He was a past director for the Red Cross and chairman.

He served as Chamber of Commerce director in the late 1970s and has been an ambassador since 1971. He was the Gumbo Cookoff chairman from 1979-80.

He has taken part in the Orange Community Action Committee. He’s also thrived with the Lions Club and has been a past president and that’s to just name some of his amazing involvement in the communi-

ty.

“I’ve really enjoyed being in different groups and organizations over the years and having a chance to organize events,” said David. “It has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, who have always worked hard to help our area in any way possible. I’m a people person and I love to help folks anyway I can, that’s the way I was brought up. To be able to brighten a person’s day and put smiles on peoples’ faces, that’s what it is all about.”

David has picked up a slew of civic honors along the way.

They include Outstanding Young Man of Orange County by the Jaycees in 1976; Outstanding Committee Chairman of the Chamber; Co-Citizen of the Year in 1982 and Citizen of the Year in 2010. He was the Riparian Cooking Contest winner in 1990 and 1991 and was the Gumbo Cookoff winner several times.

David, a past president of the Heritage House Museum, has stayed “jolly” the past 40 years, playing Santa Claus during the Christmas holidays.

Just because he is retiring, he has no plans to slow down. David will still be doing plenty in the Orange area.

“I don’t want people to get nervous. Yes, I will still be making hamburgers at the Carnival,” laughed David. “That dreaded Harvey disrupted us last year, but we’ll be back in full force this year. It was amazing in 2016. We made over 7,300 burgers and served over 7,600 bags of French fries.”

Working with the Lions Club is special to David’s heart, who has been making the trip with local Lions to Kerrville, Texas Lions Camp since 1990, cutting down trees and working with children there as well.

The Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville is

Orange Living Magazine | 11

dedicated to the perpetual enjoyment of children who have physical disabilities.

Today, the camp serves about 1,500 excited campers per summer and has provided services to more than 70,000 since its inception.

“That’s has been such a wonderful trip throughout the years, working with those kids and seeing those bright, shiny faces,” said David. “That’s what it is all about.”

Another passion for David, a 1963 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, over the years has been his Catholic faith. David has a BBA for technology from Lamar State College and went on to receive a diploma in Pastoral Theology from St. Thomas University.

He has been blessed to be a deacon at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont for the last 12 years.

“It was definitely always a passion for me, to become a deacon,” said David, who has also been a marriage prep coordinator and RCIA Instructor. “It’s something I hold near and dear to my heart.”

Even though he will remain heavily involved with the community in civic ways, David, a veteran of the US Army from 1968-70 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam, is looking forward to spending more time with his family, including wife Cheryl, four kids, three grandkids, six sisters and a brother.

“Cheryl and I, we both like to fish,” said David. “We’ve got a camp in Hackberry (La.) that we love to go to and spend time there.”

There will likely be some nice road trips for the Davids in the future as well.

“My wife is from Montana and that’s a beautiful place and she has sisters in Colorado and Georgia, so I can see us on the road more, maybe getting a travel trailer,” said David. “I’ve got a brother in Chicago, and I’ve never been there, so that would be nice. And we just love, love, love Pensacola, Florida, that’s been a great spot for our family to go over the years. We’re looking forward to traveling a little more.”

One thing for sure, Larry David will still be out and about, trying his best to help Orange thrive.

“I love the community, and I love to stay busy,” said David. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I love the community, and I love to stay busy,” said David. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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Photo courtesy Larry David

Photo by Dawn Burleigh Members, Sustainers and Provisionals of The Service League of Orange enjoy lunch during the annual banquet before finding out the assigned placements for the upcoming year.

Meeting the needs of the community Service League of Orange By Dawn Burleigh hat began as a group of women wanting to give back to the community has turned several events into Orange traditions.

The Service League of Orange began in 1954 with 24 charter members.

In the early years, the women distributed Christmas Baskets to families and toys for children. Now, Orange looks forward to the annual Toy Coffee held each year.

Toy Coffee, held on the first Thursday in December offers a tour of a home opened to the public. The admission is one donated toy.

Toys collected as admission go to the Salvation Army as well and are handed out to Orange County children that may not have received anything if not for this event. Toy Coffee is the sole responsibility of the Service League members and is well worth the time and effort to ensure children of Orange County have something under the

tree on Christmas Day. The organization is also responsible for Gifts, etc. the gift shop located in Baptist Hospital – Orange Campus. The store, known for being a little shop with a big heart, has faced many challenges has not seen the success it had in previous years due to the changes in the structure of the Orange campus.

“The Placement Committee will be meeting to find a new volunteer location that could use our services to replace the Gift Shop placement,” former President Rita Ballard said. “We are also looking into new fundraising ideas to make up for the $4,000 - $7,000 the Gift Shop has donated yearly in the past to cover such expenses as the supplies needed for Fine Art, Elderfun and Toy Coffee.”

Once a month, the members visit four nursing homes to play bingo with the residents as part of Elderfun. The group visits

at the same time each month.

“We certainly try not to deviate from that schedule because well, have you ever seen a mad grandma when you change her bingo schedule? Trust me, you don’t want to,” Ballard said. “The residents very much look forward to our visits and we never want to disappoint them.”

Every winner gets a small prize and the look of excitement upon their face a joy to Service League members as well as the residents.

The group visits all First and Fourth graders in Orange County to teach the students an art project, with the help of Stark Museum of Art. “We saw a need that needed to be meet and stepped in once we found that most public schools do not have art at the elementary level,” Ballard said. “Now we are

Orange Living Magazine | 13

Photo by Dawn Burleigh 2017-2018 Members of the Service League of Orange.

not that crafty, where we come up with the lessons all by ourselves.”

Most well known of the projects is Toy Coffee.

“Just this last year we had over $4,000 donated and over 500 toys,” Ballard said. “All donated monies are given to the Salvation Army for the purchase of additional toys and clothing. The toys collected as admission go to the Salvation Army as well and are handed out to Orange County children that may not have received anything if not for this event.”

Toy Coffee is the sole responsibility of the Service League members who also helps bag up the toys with Salvation Army to be handed out.

Service League is also known for the Follies performed every three years. Funds raised from the Follies are then divided over a three-year period and is given out in grants to non-profits in Orange County.

Last December, the organization awarded over $15,000 in grants.

Past recipients of the grants include The Rainbow Room, Stay and Play, Orange Community Players Children’s program, American Cancer Society – Orange trans-

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portation, Friends Helping Friends, The Train Depot, Orange County Livestock Association, Salvation Army, Samaritan Counsel, The Garth House and Stable Spirits.

Each of those organizations helps Orange County citizens with quality of life.

Not as well known, is the Special Health program, currently filled by one Service League member.

When an Orange County school nurse has a student that needs to see a doctor or dentist but due to circumstances such as a short lapse of insurance can’t afford to see one, the Service League steps in.

“We have agreements with area doctors and dentist to provide services at a discounted rate and the Service League will cover up to $500 for this student,” Ballard said. “Names are kept confidential with only the school nurse. Just this past month we were able to help an intermediate student that desperately needed to see a dentist. There was a need and The Service League helped.”

It is the many programs and needs the League fills, which inspired Theresa Glidden to join. Glidden is the past vice president and the current president of the Service League.

“I have been with them for three years,”

Glidden said. “I was at a Toy Coffee and saw the good being done for the kids in Orange County.”

Glidden describes her volunteering as a good kind of work.

“It is work, but it is a good kind of work,” Glidden said. “There is so much need in the community, especially this year.”

With only 14 members, nine of whom suffered damages during Harvey, the organization knew the needs of the community.

It is during the April annual meeting when members find out where they will be placed for the next year.

During the months following Harvey, the organization relied on the aid of Sustainers to help meet the needs of the community.

Provisionals are volunteers who are one a one-year test with the group.

“It is to see if this is really what they want,” Ballard said. “We have never had anyone turn and run.”

Sustainers are members who have ‘retired’ from active duties within the group.

“They are the backbone when times are hard,” Ballard said. “We call and the jump in like they have never left.”

Every Service League member is required to volunteer a minimum of two days a month in their assigned placement. Every Service League member is required to volunteer a total of 75 hours per year.

Every meeting you attend counts towards those hours.

Meetings are held September through May on the first Tuesday of every month.

The meeting times are 9 a.m. for Board Meetings and 10 a.m. for the General Meetings. Meetings are mandatory but are excused for illness, accident, or death in the immediate family.

Toy Coffee held the first Thursday in December, Membership Coffee, usually held in January, and the Annual Luncheon held the first Thursday in May, are mandatory events.

Provisional members are voted in during the January meeting.

To become a Provisional, one can accept an invitation to become a member of the Service League.

“Joining is by invitation only,” Ballard said.

“However, if you know a member, it does not hurt to mention an interest.”

Ballard also added the organization is aware times has changed since the formation of the organization just over 50 years ago.

“In the past, women did not work,” Ballard said. “As times change, we are changing what are considered mandatory events.”

STAY HEALTHY DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON

By Angels Care Home Health inter is almost here, which means for many people, getting a cold or the flu can be a real inconvenience, but for seniors, getting sick – especially with the flu – may result in severe illness.

Every year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from flu-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seniors account for nine out of 10 flu-related deaths and 60 percent of flurelated hospitalizations.

Angels Care Home Health, a leading provider of home health care services for se-

niors, recommends a few easy prevention strategies to stay healthy during the season.

• Scrub hands clean with warm soap and water. This is one of the simplest - yet most effective - actions to ward off germs.

• Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth, which is where germs enter the body.

• Another simple tip: stay away from anyone who is sick especially in the first few days of their illness when they are most contagious.

• Disinfect common areas such as ta-

bletops and counters.

One of the surest ways to help guard against the flu is to get the flu vaccine every year. The flu vaccine is already available, so seniors should plan to take action now since the cold and flu season is upon us.

In the event a cold or flu strikes, know what the symptoms are and how best to take action. Cold symptoms start typically with a sore throat, runny nose and congestion.

By the third or fourth day, a typical cold sufferer will have a cough. Symptoms of a cold are usually felt above the neck. Flu symptoms come on quickly, and are usually more severe than a cold. Symptoms of the flu include a fever, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, cough and congestion.

To treat a cold or flu, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.

People who are 65 and older and who have an underlying medical condition should consult their health care provider as a precautionary measure if symptoms cause concern. Angels Care Home Health recommends seniors seek medical attention if they experience sinus pressure or pain, a persistent or worsening sore throat, a deep cough that produces yellow or green phlegm, and ear pain.

Practicing the preventative measures listed above, in addition to making positive lifestyle choices all year long, can go a long way in preventing sickness, or at least minimizing the impact on the body if infection occurs. Eat healthy foods including those that nourish the immune system, such as salmon, yogurt, and dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits. Get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, and reduce stress.

Angels Care Home Health specializes in serving the health care needs of the senior population in Liberty, Beaumont and the surrounding areas. The health care provider offers skilled nursing care and restorative therapy services in the home that emphasizes disease management and education for a healthier and more independent patient.

If you or a loved one are 65 and older, and have a disease or condition that makes it difficult to leave home, you may be eligible to receive health care services in your home. Please call Angels Care in Liberty for more information at 936-336-2224 or visit angelscarehealth.com for more information.

Orange Living Magazine | 15

By Holly Westbrook t’s a matter of taste at every Brick Oven Pizza Company and as such, they put this in their slogan and on every menu. The pizzas are always freshly prepared and made to order.

“We provide you the very best quality pizza with individual attention given to each order,” is written on their menu. “It will be worth the wait!”

There are 14 locations in-all across Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas with five in the Lone Star state alone, the Brick Oven considers themselves “a family restaurant.” “(This location) is just over a year old,” General Manager Dustin Hubbard said.

“Our main product is pizza, but we’re not just your regular, average pizza place.

Here you can sit down and enjoy the fresh gas feed brick oven cooked specialty pizzas with high traffic times taking up to 30 minutes from oven to table.”

The first Brick Oven Pizza Co. opened its doors on July 8, 2004, in Paragould, Arkansas. It was their vision to provide a family friendly dine-in environment with a great product.

“We strive to offer the best product on the market, and we do this by consistently testing our product and listening to our guests and making changes when needed,” according to the pizza company’s story. “Our goal is to satisfy each person that walks through our doors with 100% quality

16 | Orange Living Magazine

satisfaction, both in service and product.”

The pizza is made in view of the customers, which can be treated with flying, spinning pizza dough. The dough is made fresh daily and vegetables are fresh, and the sauce is delectable.

“We make our dough daily and cook our signature thin crust pizzas, the old-fashion way, in a Stone Hearth Oven,” according to the menu’s notes.

“(We’re a) small hometown restaurant, not a giant corporate chain, with an open atmosphere,” Hubbard said. “Always playing sports on the TV’s, Brick Oven, is a great place to bring the kids (and family) and hang out.”

Out of the five locations in Texas, there is the Bridge City and Lumberton pizzerias and one in Kema, were the General manager last served. The others are more than 100 miles away.

“We do serve beer here, but we’re not a bar, we are a family restaurant,” Hubbard said.

The most popular times and most crowded according to Google statistics, on Friday and Saturday are between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. with Wednesday’s being 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are looking to have the place to yourself the best time is to come around 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. any day of the week.

“Brick Oven partners with the community to build strong relationships and provide support whenever the opportunity presents itself. ...We believe that our success lies with you, our guest and we appreciate

Dustin Hubbard, general manager of Brick Oven in Bridge City, slides and takes pizzas and slices of bread out of the metal pans to place them right on the bricks to cook. Holly Westbrook/Photographer

you.”

Located at 1125 Texas Ave, Bridge City, you can contact the pizzeria at 409-7383121 or order your next meal online at www.brickovenpizzacompany.com

“Our goal is to satisfy each person that walks through our doors with 100% quality satisfaction, both in service and product.”

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c a d c S b T s p p t T d k “ r b g L c

By Dawn Burleigh

ating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers. Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, according to choosemyplate.gov.

Sometimes, the cost of fresh produce can be staggering.

The Pea Patch Produce Co-Op understands the tough choices and helps by providing a basket filled with fresh fruit and produce for $25. It has recently expanded to include a basket of fruit for $15.

Then there are the smaller baskets of produce and fruit for $5, called Ministry Baskets.

“When we started, money was tight,” Laura Johnson said. “It was a choice between buying a basket or seeds. I am not good at growing vegetables, so I prayed.”

Laura, at the time, was part of a produce co-op which is no longer operating.

In March 2016, she and her husband, Daniel, began The Pea Patch Produce Co-Op based in Vidor.

Weekly, they would order produce and fruit based on the ‘wish list’ of the members in the co-op and the availability of the requests. To keep costs down while supplying the most produce, only in season selections are considered.

Each week, a post is made requesting everyone’s hopes for the weekend basket.

All baskets are paid for prior to the order being made to the distributor.

Saturday mornings, the couple takes over the gym at First Methodist Church on Main Street in Vidor to sort and distribute the produce into baskets, while members anxiously wait the moment of the post “Baskets are ready!”

The mini baskets known as Ministry Baskets began to help feed others.

“I have been involved with Food Ministry for 20 years,” Laura said. “It was important with the donations for it to go back to feeding the community.”

The funds raised from those baskets are used for ministry.

“It is what God laid on our hearts,” Laura said.

In 2016, the organization raised $3,300 in goods and donations.

As with so many businesses, Hurricane Harvey brought the co-op to a screeching halt for several months. The couple lost their home and the church suffered damages as well.

Finally in July, a Facebook post was made stating the Pea Patch was back. Initially, Laura and Daniel began with baskets every two weeks until more members heard of the grand reopening.

Fresh produce and fruit are available weekly once again and now also in Beaumont.

“We are looking to expand in Lumberton, Bridge City and Orange,” Laura said.

To learn more about The Pea Patch Produce Co-Op visit its Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/y72rhgoe

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By Mike Louviere The 1950s were a simpler time.

TV was black and white, channels were limited, usually only three, there was no cable TV, computers were the size of small houses, and telephones were hard wired into the house.

Christmas sixty years ago was very different from what we experience in the 21st Century.

Artificial trees were rare, the few that were around were shiny aluminum; some were lit with a spotlight that had rotating colored lenses.

It was not out of the ordinary for a family to go to the “woods” and cut their own tree.

Many houses had the smell of a freshly cut pine tree for weeks. If a family going to the woods came across a suitable cedar tree, they thought they had found a treasure. As time went by the fresh green tree would begin to change color and by the time, often New Year’s Day, that the tree was taken down the needles would often be a shiny brown.

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Lights for the tree were about the size of an adult’s thumb. LED lights were not on the inventor’s list yet. On most of the strings of lights, if one burned out, each light on the string would have to be checked because one light burning out killed the whole string. If two or three strings were plugged together, the problem was compounded.

It could often take as long as an hour to check the string of lights, find the burnedout bulb and replace it.

One of the popular things to put on a tree were the little strings of shiny soft aluminum called “icicles”. The soft strings were often placed carefully on the tree at first, making a nice pattern, then as those applying the icicles got tired or bored, they were often tossed on by the handful, landing in clumps. Those falling on the floor were not easy to pick up or sweep up.

Often on the Fourth of July the odd icicle could be found on a rug or in a corner.

Lots of trees were decorated with chains made from strips of colored construction paper glued together in rings to make the

paper chains. Usual colors were red, blue and green. Another decoration was often popped corn put on a string with a big needle to make another “rope” decoration. By the time the tree was taken down, the formerly crunchy popcorn had a rubber like texture.

Children often spent the weeks before Christmas lying on the floor pouring over the toy pages of the Sears Roebuck catalog. Dolls were popular with the girls and cowboy things for the boys. Mothers would look at “house stuff” and daddies found a new tool they could not live without. A nice neat catalog in October was usually a mess of frayed pages by December 26.

The closer to Christmas, the more frantic the competition over the use of the single catalog became.

Most towns has no shopping malls, it was a matter of “going to town”, fighting for parking places and putting nickels in parking meters. Picking gifts from the catalog gave those having to do the “town shopping” an idea of what to buy and simpli-

fied the shopping that had to be done. The catalog was often called “The Wish Book.”

Those doing the cooking would read the old family recipes and make a list of what was needed from the grocery store. Cans of cranberry sauce, pumpkin, and mince meat would be stockpiled in the cupboards, or anyplace available in the kitchens. Deep freezes were not all that common, turkeys were often bought fresh. If frozen turkeys were available, the amount of defrosting needed was carefully calculated so that the thawing and cooking could be done as simply as possible for the cook.

Ideally, the sugar and flour needed for the Christmas baking had been found on sale and bought early. Pie crusts were mixed by hand and used as soon as possible after being made. The thought of frozen food at Christmas was unimaginable to the moms in aprons with hand mixers and rolling pins. Pans of cornbread would be baked days early to use in the dressing to go with the Christmas turkey.

Stockings were usually the red mesh net type, hardly seen now. Christmas was the time that the kids and often the adults received fruits and nuts that were not always available any other time of the year.

The stockings were stuffed with oranges, apples, hazel nuts, brazil nuts, almonds, pecans, and peppermint candy canes.

One of the favorite candy treats was the ribbon candy. It was a wide candy ribbon white, green, or red that was rolled out flat and then pushed together to make a “scrunched up” ribbon. When that appeared in the stores, it meant that Christmas was near. It said “Christmas is here” like nothing else at the time.

Christmas was the time when the nuts were in large quantities in the stores. The nutcrackers and picks would come out of storage and the kids would lay on the floor with a bowl of assorted nuts in front of the black and white three channel TV and watch Milton Berle, I Love Lucy, Mr. Peepers, and on Sunday nights, the Ed Sullivan Show while they took turns cracking

and eating the nutty treats. The apples and oranges were usually made to last a while.

The candy canes usually were the first to go.

Christmas morning was the time that the presents were opened. Those from Santa Claus were attacked with gusto and the colored papers ripped off and piled up on the floor. The fifties were the times that boys and girls, also, watched Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Rin Tin Tin, and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. Presents from Santa reflected those favorite movie and TV stars of both boys and girls. In those years girls, almost as often as boys, were seen wearing the genuine imitation Davy Crockett coonskin cap, complete with tail.

Other presents might be new clothes for the kids and something for the kitchen for mothers, anything from a necktie to a fishing rod and reel for daddies. There were “electric” appliances, but very few “electronic” items.

At the end of Christmas Day, at midnight, the National Anthem played on the TV, the Indian Chief “test pattern” came on and Christmas was over for another year.

Orange Living Magazine | 21

On the Scene:

O

BASSMASTER 6.8.18

A

Johnny Dallas, Lacey Lemoine

Bob Sims, Dale Henderson

Sadie Stone, Nellie Miller

Kaiden Skiles, Kacey Harrell

Warren Brister, Kameryn Henderson

Garrison Byerly, Patrick Rainey

22 | Orange Living Magazine

On the Scene: ART IN THE PARK 6.9.18

Keona Jones, Henry Lowe and Henry O’Neal

London Stroud

Linda Pittillo

Orange Living Magazine | 23

On the Scene:

O

KIDS FISH AND RELEASE 6.9.18

Kambri and Kade Overton

V

Fynlee and Rusty Trahan

Sawyer, Rylee, Jolene Lofton and Camden Morris

Gracelyn and Ben Terry

24 | Orange Living Magazine

Kirsten, Kolton, Eric and Easton Soliz

On the Scene: VIDOR CHAMBER 6.12.18

Michele Janecka and Robby Valvano

Jane Hill, Dawn Cothran and Angela Jordan

Christy and John Nickum

Mike and Sarah Prejean

Hal LaPray, Charlotte Ragan and Keith Wallace

Orange Living Magazine | 25

On the Scene:

MEET THE LSCO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 7.17.18

Eric Owens and Dr. Matt McClure

Tad McKee and Dr. J Michael Shanan

Butch Campbell and Judge Courtney Arkeen

Karen McKinney and Mary McCoy

Tricia and Larry Spears

Commissioner Johhny Trahan, State Rep Dade Phelan and Comissioner John Gothia

26 | Orange Living Magazine

On the Scene:

CITYWIDE FAMILY FUN DAY 7.21.18

Krew De Onyx Russell Bottley and Orange African American Museum President Henry Lowe

Ron Wells, Anna Marie Patterson and Donna Wells of Wells of Agape

Sister Circle’s Renee Bias, Tramena Horn and Terry Salter

Paula Henson and Demetrius Hunter

Orange County AgriLife Wendy Garrison and James Scales

Make It Happen’s Thomas Warren, Michelle Cole and Jason Platt

Orange Living Magazine | 27

On the Scene:

BACK TO SCHOOL OC 8.4.18

Eddie Toohey and Chris Burch

Clinton Vital and Victoria Reneau

Becky McAnelley and Whitney Richard

Belinda Thibodeaux and Jeff Bell

Orange Living Magazine | 29

On the Scene: OC CCA BANQUET 8.9.18

Caleb Powell and John Garrie

Bobby Payne and Stephanie Landry

Nicole Oliver, Eddie Oliver, Tammy Miller, Susan Irvin and Jeff Reeves

Claude and Lorrie Taylor, Bette Honeycutt and Carroll G. Holt

Mike and Anna Hughes

Manuel Deleon and Allen Beauchamp

30 | Orange Living Magazine

On the Scene:

SHAHAN RETIREMENT 8.14.18

Karen McKinney, Donna Schion, Bridget Shahan, Beverly Parker and Carol Womack

Patty Collins, Sherrie Willoughby, Cindy Wyles and Elias Jureidini

Allyson Campbell, Linda Craft and Butch Campbell

Orange Living Magazine | 31

On the Scene:

INDUSTRIAL EXCHANGE 8.16.18

Lee Ann Fuselier, Robert Nichols and Dennis Isaacs

Josh Smith, Barry Bryant and Ronnie Smith

Cyndi Caswell, Cheree Gregg and Christine Warner

Zach Johnson and Jennifer Coast

Lanie Brown, Joy Jacobs and Paul Dickerson

Ron McAnelley, Amie Smith and Lance Fitts

32 | Orange Living Magazine

On the Scene:

MARDI GRAS SUMMER DANCE 8.18.18

Amie Smith and Joy Jacobs

Andre Robertson, Freddie Champine, Brock McGrew, Russell Botley

Amanda and Karl Eason

Faron and Pam Wilson

Dustin and Erin James

Dale Gunn and Stump Weatherford

Orange Living Magazine | 33

On the Scene:

PINEHURST SENIOR CITIZEN LABOR DAY PICNIC 9.3.18

Dale Gunn and Stump Weatherford

Pam Scales Honeycutt and Constable Pct. 2 David Cagle

Gail Duhon and Judy Choat

Taryn Vidalier, Mike Williams, Lauren Williams, Dustin Wolfe and Chester Moore

Mary Glazier and Mary Cassidy

Gordon and Peggy Anthony

34 | Orange Living Magazine

By Johnny Trahan

t’s really hard to say just what it is, that I love about Orange the most. I mean you could site the weather, our access to the waterways, or even just being in the middle of it all. The fact that we have large industrial base to help support it all is definitely a plus. Then we have Shangri la, The Stark Museum, Lutcher Theater and numerous events to provide us recreational possibilities. All of these are great, but really makes Orange great is the people.

We like to have fun, and we like to make sure our friends and visitors are having fun too. Kind of the Friendship State meets Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler. We are Texans but with a Cajun flare. We are also a very resilient group, who pull together, and ourselves and each other up by our collective bootstraps. When our neighbors need help, there we are to help.

Outside of our severe storms we really do have some great weather, months of warm weather with an opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors at our doorsteps. These outdoors include some of the best fishing in the nation. I mean how many places can host a Bass Tournament and a Redfish tournament from the same boat ramp? These rivers, bayous, swamps and Sabine Lake give us some great outdoor activities. These are not limited to fishing. Boating, bird watching, skiing and just cooling off out on a sandbar are just a few examples. In fact the Blue Elbow Swamp is one of the most unique eco-systems in the country with a few local businesses offering tours to see some of the wildlife and plant species

Johnny and Becky Trahan unique to this area.

One of our great local venues, the Shangri La Botanical gardens also does a great job of presenting our unique nature system. There is also the Stark Museum of Art which has the worlds largest collections of John Audubon’s art, along with a large collection of Western Art. The Lutcher Theater also has an impressive schedule of plays, concerts and shows year in and year out. Orange has hosted several fishing tournaments over the past few years and most have offered a free concert or two as well as midway style fair.

The Orange Chamber and the Orange Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also schedules several events over the year to provide family fun. The Orange Lion’s Carnival is returning after a year off due to Harvey. This event provides two weeks of entertainment for kids of all ages and raises money for the needy in the community for the rest of the year.

We also have some really large companies to provide employment right here in Orange. Several companies on Chemical Row, as well as Entergy and International Paper. These along with several local companies give us a place to make a living and the opportunity to live

here. Our local High Schools and Lamar State College Orange provide an education and a place to learn the skills to provide a workforce to these companies.

All of these are great, but what I really love is, the people. No mistake all of these things have shaped who we are as a people. I can’t tell you how many people have commented to me how friendly and welcoming the people of Orange are to them. During the disasters we have all heard stories about how someone local has reached out to help their neighbor who was struggling to recover. We are a resilient bunch who are tough, but we care about our neighbors and we have a shred history. We also like to have fun with a joy of life matched by few. Yes, it’s the people I love, and I’m proud to be a part of this community.

“I can’t tell you how many people have commented to me how friendly and welcoming the people of Orange are to them.”

Orange Living Magazine | 35