CCL-Henderson County Now

Parrot Head Chili and Bar-B-Q Cook-off

Parrot Head press release

If you love to cook chili or barbecue, or love to taste them, plan on coming out to Tom Finley Park on Saturday, Oct. 19, for the Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head’s Chili and BBQ Cook-Off.

The Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club is holding a Chili and BBQ Cook-off at Tom Finley Park to raise money to help maintain the handicap accessible fishing pier dedicated to our military that was completed this year. This pier was built with money, material and labor donated from the Cedar Creek Lake community for this extremely worthwhile cause.

If you can cook a great chili or barbecue, contact Ed Thompson at 903-887-7971 to register and receive a copy of the rules. Registration per category is $40 for the first entry and $10 for each additional entry which will enter you into the contest and get you a preassigned place at Tom Finley Park. Community groups, churches, social groups, businesses, municipalities and individuals are welcome to participate. Trophies will be awarded for the winners in each of the following categories: Mild Chili, 5 Alarm Chili, Beef BBQ, Pork BBQ, Ribs, Other and an open category with Cedar Creek Brewery Beer as one ingredient. We will also be giving away prizes for the best salsa and barbecue sauce!

Cooking will start early Friday night or Saturday morning – and the gates open to the public at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Come in to listen to music, taste chili and barbecue and visit all of the booths. There will be prizes given away, opportunities to buy items, games to play and a lot of fun. Armbands to taste the entries for chili and barbecue are only $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under!

For additional information contact Ed Thompson at 903-887-7971 or Robert Render at 972-898-9493.

2013 Chili Cookoff flyer

PWC Says Thanks

From the Pinnacle Women’s Club

Pinnacle Women’s Club is pleased to report their annual garage sale brought in more revenue for local non-profit organizations this year than ever before. This success was due to the wonderful support the sale received from the community.

Thank you customers! We are now looking forward to presenting lots of charitable donations to local organizations at our January Philanthropy Luncheon.

“We estimated there were about 500 people waiting at the gate at 7 a.m. on Thursday,” said Jean Alexander, PWC Garage Sale Co-Chair. “We work really hard getting the merchandise ready for the customers, and this type response is very much appreciated” she added.

Rebecca Brisendine, PWC Garage Sale Co-Chair said, “The perfect weather, in addition to the opportunity for bargains, brought out a record number of customers. The PWC members enjoy the sale and we think the customers have a good time too.”

Patty Evans, Co-Chair for the Linens section, is shown stacking the king coverlet sets in the Linens section.

Janet Erwin and Linsey Garwacki, with the Ladies Boutique section, admire an evening jacket which is ready for some lucky customer to discover.

Jean Alexander and Rebecca Brisendine, PWC Garage Sale Co-Chairs, say thank you to all the faithful and new customers who shop the annual garage sale. We couldn’t do it without them!

Victoria Sugrue, one of the decorators in the Home Décor section, admires a gorgeous screen from that department. The PWC Garage Sale had more furniture for sale at bargain prices than ever before.

Paula Wideman and Pam Davis, staffers for the Kids’ Room, are admiring the hobby horses donated for the PWC Garage Sale. The Linens and Kids’ Room were the first sections to sell out this year.

CCL Chamber schedules Business Expo

CCL Chamber press release

The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s new event, the Cedar Creek Lake Fall Business Expo, is slated for Oct. 17, from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Mabank Pavilion. Featuring businesses and organizations that are members, as well as non-members, the Business Expo is an exciting new event for CCLACC.

The event is free to the public and is a fun, family event that features an opportunity to visit with diverse companies, have free health screenings provided by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman, demonstrations by local service providers, give-aways and door prizes. There will be food to purchase from local restaurants.

Attendees will be able to purchase raffle tickets on a beautiful, 8’ x 10’ SPHINX brand wool rug, generously donated by Floors 4 U. The rug has a retail value of $600 and can be viewed at the chamber office, 606 S. Third St., Ste E. This piece would be perfect for sprucing up your home before the holidays.

Representatives from Purtis Creek State Park will be on hand with tourism packets, including
TPWD information for locations for east and north central Texas,Texas State Travel Guides & Maps, and lots of useful information on park activities. Be sure to stop by their booth to talk with the friendly Purtis Creek staff and pick up your packets.

Mabank Pavilion now has solar screens that can be lowered if necessary and the Mabank Fire Department is generously allowing use of the facility for the community event.

Chamber President Jo Ann Hanstrom said, “We’re excited to be able to offer this new, totally business-related event to our members and the rest of the business community, as well as the public. We’re counting on great weather that day, but having the solar screens in place ‘just in case’ is definitely a plus and was a factor in the board’s decision to host another Expo.”

Vendors/Sponsors to date (with more expected) are Edward Jones Investments, Southside Bank, Athens, Daily Review, Henderson County HELP Center, Solar Turbines, Texas Health Resources, Lone Star Maps, Ragsdale Real Estate, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, Lana L. Mock & Associates Insurance, Arabella of Athens, Woodforest National Bank, The Inspiration Foundation, Star Lite Custom Homes, Moorhead Epps Funeral Home, Inc.,Servpro of Kaufman Co/Cedar Creek Lake, Ruth Martin Insurance, Friends of the Animals of Cedar Creek Lake, Prosperity Bank, Red Hat Rentals, Texas Trust Credit Union, Healing Hands Kneeding You, The Flying Grape & Bean Coffee & Gift House, Gun Barrel City Upholstery/GBC Airpark, Griswold Home Care, Simply Solved, LLC, Theresa P. Cryer, CPA, Mabank Floral & Gifts, Purtis Creek State Park, Bella Maison Carpet Cleaning & Restoration, Texas Ability, LLC, Cornerstone Payments.

Sponsor packages that include booth space and many other perks are available. For a complete list of vendor options, please contact the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-887-3152 or email [email protected].

Rainbow Girls help with cleanup

Rainbow Girls press release

The Gun Barrel City Masonic Youth Rainbow Girls assisted with the Annual Cedar Creek Cleanup in Tolosa — between Seven Points and Kemp — on Saturday, Sept. 28. The girls were part of a team that targeted CR 4042 for cleanup. Also serving on this team were the Mabank Boy Scouts. After cleanup duty, the girls enjoyed the Post-Cleanup Party at Finley Park where there was food, music, and prizes. The girls all had such a good time serving the community and the celebration afterwards that they are looking forward to the next such event!
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HSCCL reaches fundraising goal

HSCCL press release

The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (HSCCL) has met its recent fundraising goal of $25,000 through community events and an online fundraising drive as well as peer to peer fundraising efforts, click here to find more information into different fundraising methods. These funds assure the financial stability of the shelter for the remainder of 2013. HSCCL is now tackling its long term financial viability and stability by rolling out a new business plan.

Independent analysis of HSCCL finances indicates that the shelter is frugal and well managed. However, it also reveals a pattern of underfunding. This pattern has existed since the shelter was founded 30 years ago. It is only through continued emergency fundraisers that the shelter has been able to remain open.

Each time, the community has come to the shelter’s rescue. This cycle must stop.

At present, shelter funds are derived from the following: contracted monthly amounts from each of the two counties it serves, Kaufman and Henderson; per-animal agreements with several cities; adoption fees; surrender fees; and donations from the community.
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