People, Places & Events

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Marilyn May, director of the Environmental Co-op in Kaufman County, shows Rotary members plastic bottles that are recycled into fibers to make fluffy polyester fleece throws and cozy pullovers.

Water from streams and creeks flowing into Cedar Creek Lake often carries chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorous.
“Most of the ground has enough nitrogen in it. We are killing the land, and that is going into the lake,” May explained.
But the problem is not all a product of those living near the lake, she said.
“The watershed for Cedar Creek Lake starts way up in Rockwall County and northern Kaufman County,” May said.
Homeowners who heavily fertilize and farmers/ranchers who pour on nitrogen-laden fertilizers contribute to the lake’s problems, she explained.
Recycling is catching on, but has a way to go, May said.
The eco-station in Kemp takes in plastic, paper, glass and cans, but is only for Kaufman County residents.
Plastic from No. 1 and No. 2 bottles is used to make fleece wear and throws, while more rugged plastics are used to make car parts, she explained.
Also located at the Kemp eco-station (located just west of Kemp on U.S. Highway 175) is a household hazardous waste disposal.
While not hazardous, another item not usually accepted by trash haulers because of the mess is latex paint.
“Just put down a plastic sheet, pour out the leftover paint, let it dry, then roll it up and put it in the trash,” May said.
New-age technology has produced a list of things considered a big problem.
When fluorescent bulbs burn out, the bulbs must be put into a sack and taken to a hazardous waste facility for safe disposal. All florescent bulbs contain lead, which is a contaminant.
“If one is accidentally dropped and broken, get something wet and carefully wipe it up and place it in a container to be carried to the hazardous waste disposal,” May said.
Other electronics should be taken to a recycling facility that accepts them, she said.
“Usually there is a charge for TVs and monitors, but everything else is free,” she said.
In other business, Rotarians were reminded:
• the Rotary golf tournament is set Friday, April 24, at the Pinnacle Club.
• the Friday, March 13, luncheon will be at 1 p.m., instead of noon, to allow guests from Japan time to get to the lake area from D/FW Airport.
 

Car Show and Krawfish Boil set
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–For the third year in a row, the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar Creek Kiwanis Club will partner in a joint fund-raiser/family community event, the Cedar Creek Lake Car Show and Kiwanis Krawfish Boil Saturday, May 2.
Once again, the best of two events will be combined to bring residents of the area and out-of-town visitors a full day of beautiful show cars and trucks, great food, music and fun for the entire family, all at the Mabank Pavilion, just off Business Highway 175, behind the Andrew Gibbs Rodeo Arena.
This year, a new category has been created for motorcycle entries.
The 2008 event featured more than 100 cars from around the region, and by all reports, this year’s event is going to be even bigger and more popular, both with show car owners and with the public.
Entry forms can be obtained through the chamber of commerce office or from one of the committee volunteers.
There will be door prizes, goodie bags and T-shirts for the first 100 entries, plus a professional DJ playing cruisin’ tunes.
Registration for the show opens at 8 a.m., with judging starting at 11 a.m. and the awards presentation at 2 p.m.
Registration fee is $20 if pre-registered (first 60 entries guaranteed to be under the roof of the 28,000-square-foot Mabank Pavilion) and $25 the day of the show.
The Cedar Creek Kiwanis Club will be serving crawfish (or “mud bugs” if you prefer) with all the trimmings.
For those folks who don’t care for crawfish, the Chamber of Commerce Grill Team will be serving hot dogs, hamburgers and sausage on a stick.
Along with the grill items, other concession food and drinks will be available, and souvenir T-shirts and other items will be on sale throughout the day.
Crawfish will be served from about 10:30 a.m. until all are gone.
For more information on entries and sponsorship opportunities, call the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at (903) 887-3152, or e-mail the chamber at info@cedarcreeklakechamber.com .
Or, visit the chamber’s websites, www.cedarcreeklakechamber.com  and www.cedarcreeklakecarshow.net .
 

Spring tuneups for family dog set
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY– Is the new Christmas puppy having trouble figuring out the appropriate place to relieve itself?
Is it barking too much? Bedeviling the cat or other family dogs? Or, is it taking the family for a walk instead of the other way around?
Or, maybe it is the adult dog that is making a nuisance of itself, forgetting all its initial good manners? No matter the age of the dog, or the problem, Common Sense Dog Training has the solutions.
New classes are scheduled to begin Saturday, March 28 at the Friends of the Animals location at State Highways 334 and 198 just south and east of Huddle House restaurant in Gun Barrel City.
Class for puppies more than eight weeks and dogs at any age, will begin at 9 a.m. with puppy play for 30 minutes and regular instruction beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the first class.
Class cost is $95 for five sessions, with a portion of class fees donated to Friends of the Animals in support of their continuing mission to provide professional, low-cost spay and neuter service for area family pets.
Included in the training is basic obedience, age appropriate for the individual dog or puppy as well as help in solving behavior issues such as jumping, nipping, pulling on leash, learning to come when called.
Handouts are included to aid the owners when working with the pets at home.
All training is conducted in a gentle, positive, motivational format, with success and reliability enhanced through trust and mutual respect.
All dogs must have proof of current vaccinations upon registration and must attend class with a secure leash and buckle or martingale type collar. Use of choke collars is discouraged.
The classes are open to all family members in order to develop consistent behavior within the home environment.
Expert instruction is provided by local resident, Joan Guertin, a veteran all-breed trainer since 1958.
Evening classes are also scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 24.
Call for information re: times and location.
For additional info, call Guertin at (903) 887-3803 or (903) 340-7087.