People, Places & Events

Florida Boys concert set in Trinidad for July 21
Special to The Monitor
TRINIDAD–The Trinidad Volunteer Fire Department is proud to announce its annual benefit concert featuring The Florida Boys Gospel Quartet.
The show will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at the Trinidad School Auditorium located in downtown Trinidad.
This particular concert has special meaning to the Southern Gospel Music Industry because it sit he final performance of the Florida Boys after 50 years of worldwide touring.
Founded in 1947 under the name Gospel Melody Quartet, the Florida Boys have evolved into one of the premier Gospel acts in the world with countless number one hits and albums to their credit.
Les Beasley, leader and manager has served as president of the Gospel Music Association, The Southern Gospel Music Association and is currently president of the National Quartet Convention.
He is also the winner of countless Dove Awards (comparable to the CMA awards of Country Music) and is in the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, The Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
The Trinidad VFD is an all volunteer unit which provide excellent emergency services and fire protection to an area bordered by the spillway to the north, Malakoff to the east and Kerens to the west. They assist surrounding communities when the need arises.
Trinidad has just acquired a new tanker truck that the Forestry Services funded most of the tab but still owes $23,000 for the balance.
Tickets for the show are $10 advance and $15 at the door.
Tickets are available at Star Music in Trinidad, Bluebonnet Emporium in Gun Barrel City, Malakoff Pharmacy, Gibson Pharmacy in Athens, The Ark in Corsicana, Food Rite in Kerens, Gibson’s Discount Pharmacy in Seven Points or any Trinidad firefighter.
The public is cordially invited to attend this concert to see The Florida Boys for the last time and support a worthy cause.
For more information, call (903) 432-1827 or (214) 454-8467.

Local YMCA kids attend compost camp
Special to The Monitor
FORNEY–YMCA kids took a field trip to Kaufman County Xeric Garden in Forney Tuesday, June 26.
Both the Terrell and Kaufman YMCA’s learned about water harvesting from Kaufman County Master Gardeners Brad Ackerman and Jeanie Allen Davis.
Davis also talked to the kids about composting. As a certified Master Composter, she has lots of experience with making leaves and grass into a natural and very valuable fertiziler for the soil.
Forney Garden Club president Whitney Rozell took the kids on a plant identification hunt. They found that one of the plants in the garden smells like bologna. Wow, who would have ever known?
Wild Birds Unlimited’s owner Frank Knutzen was on hand to talk to the children about birds and how to take care of them in a backyard setting.
Donita Everett with Environmental Co-op talked to the kids about worm composting and even let them hold a worm.
North Central Texas Forester Matt Grubisich showed how important trees are to our communities.
There were also crafts and fun – “Worms in Dirt” (gummy worms in crumbled up brownies) – treats to eat.

Simple ways to recognize Texas trees
Special to the Monitor
NEBRASKA CITY, NE–The National Arbor Day Foundation has released a resource to help the average person identify Texas trees.
The 72-page guidebook, “What Tree is That?” helps distinguish the different characteristics of many species of trees in Texas, as well as, the Eastern and Central regions of the United States.
The book has dozens of detailed drawings which accurately illustrate specific shapes and textures of different leaves, needles, acorns, seed pods, cones and other identifying features.
“Helping people enjoy and appreciate trees is central to the educational mission of the Arbor Day Foundation,” president of the foundation, John Rosenow said.
To order “What Tree is That,” send your name and address and $3 for each guide to: The National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410 or order on-line at www.arborday.org.