People, Places & Events

VNA grief support begins Jan. 24
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County (VNA) will be conducting a five-session bereavement support program for adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
“Sharing the Journey: Coping with Grief” will be held Thursdays, Jan. 24 through Feb. 21, at the VNA of Kaufman County office, 102 W. Grove Street in Kaufman.
The meeting time is 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The program will help individuals gain an understanding of the grief process, learn healthy coping skills, and broaden awareness of resources and support systems that are available in the community.
There is no cost to attend the program. Additional information can be obtained by calling Clayton McCord, VNA Hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator, at (972) 962-7500 or 1-800-345-0576.
VNA of Kaufman County is a nonprofit home care organization that provides home health and hospice care in Kaufman and the surrounding communities.

Kemp Housing Authority hosts Christmas party
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–The Kemp Housing Authority held its annual Christmas party Friday, Dec. 21.
It was our largest party ever with huge resident participation.
There were many wonderful donations from Kemp businesses and citizens of Kemp.
There was plenty of food, drinks, door prizes and toys for the children.
The Housing Authority would like to thank the following sponsors for their donations, making this the most special Christmas ever for our residents:
The Western Cafe for a cake and potato salad, Monica Corker (Seven Points judge) for a turkey, Dairy Queen for the ice, Angels Care Home Health for a cake and Euland Jones for many door prizes and toys.
Also, Dollar General for putting a box in their store for donations and matching those donations, Kemp citizens for helping with donations of toys at Dollar General and the parents of Mabank Special Panthers who donated door prizes (Sharon Young, Catherine Young, Mary Lou and Robert Gosson).
Also, Anderson-Clayton Funeral Home for providing a limo ride for the residents, Gwen Allen for volunteering her time and making a potato salad, Mary Ann Anthony for volunteering her time and bringing the monthly birthday cake and ham.
Also, Norma Liggins for volunteering her time and rounding up door prizes, Jimmie Lou Webb and Debbie Broumley for their time, and Leodis Buckley for being our photographer.
It was a wonderful time and we thank all from the bottom of our hearts for making this such a special Christmas.

Excite Realty group attends conference
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Judy and B.G. Pierce, broker/owners of Excite Realty.com, their assistant, Leslie Cochrane and three agents – Geri Lucey from the Gun Barrel City office and Dianne Medlyn and Geneva Morales from the Seven Points office – were among more than 30,000 Realtors® attending the Realtors® Conference and Expo Nov. 13-16, in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Pierces attended the Realtor’s® Land Institute (RLI) meetings, RLI Cowboy auction, education seminars and expo.
Pierce is a RLI Texas board director and has the prestigious Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation.
Cochrane attended educational seminars and the RLI Cowboy auction, which raises money for the land education foundation.
Medlyn, the 2008 Henderson County Women’s Council of Realtors® president, attended the national Women’s Council of Realtors® meetings and network events, along with several educational seminars.
She witnessed the installation of Ann DeFries as WCR national president and attended the NAR general session where Lou Holtz spoke on the new demographics: Who will be the next round of buyers?
She also got a glimpse of the new technology the real estate professional will be using in the near future.
Realtors® and other guests came to the NAR annual conference to stay abreast of the latest developments and trends in the real estate industry, and to network with colleagues from across the United States and more than 50 countries around the world.
NAR president Pat V. Combs urged Realtors® to help restore confidence in the real estate market.
“Housing continues to be a good long-term investment. Real estate is alive and well, and there are plenty of opportunities for consumers and Realtors® in the current market,” Combs said.
NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun pointed to an increase in jobs, and projected growth of the gross domestic product at 3.3 percent as evidence of positive economic fundamentals.
Yun contrasted current low interest rates and high employment levels, and explained how present market conditions differed from those in previous market slowdowns.
Yun also told attendees that home prices are holding up extremely well.
“2007 is shaping up to be a good year with home prices at near record highs. Only two other years, 2005-06, were better, which also set records at the time,” Yun said.
Realtors® attended programs on the economy, public policy, equal opportunity and diversity, land use and property rights, the environment, international real estate and housing opportunities.
Realtors® were also briefed on NAR’s advocacy efforts regarding several legislative and regulatory proposals that would further benefit homeowners.
These included eliminating the tax on “phantom” income that affects individuals who have a loan forgiven or are forced to foreclose, modernizing the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage-insurance program and addressing the impact of and solutions regarding rising homeowner and property insurance rates.
Realtors® are known for their commitment to building strong communities, and hundreds of them contributed their time and effort to the greater Las Vegas community while attending the conference.
Conference attendees rolled up their sleeves and lent a hand to Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and the Children’s Service Guild, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit dedicated to helping children touched by the family court system.
A new book, “The National Association of Realtors®: 100 Years in Celebration of the American Dream,” providing an historical account of the real estate industry during the past century and NAR’s involvement in shaping and transforming that industry, was made available for the first time, and a retrospective video premiered during the conference.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
For more information, call (903) 887-7899, or (903) 432-4338 or (903) 677-4077 (Athens). You may e-mail exciteinfo@exciteralty.com or, visit the website at www.exciterealty.com.