People, Places & Events

Volunteers needed for reading program
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–Kemp Primary School is in need of volunteers. Our HOSTS Program began Monday, Sept. 24, for this school year.
HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) is initiated in second grade at Kemp Primary.
This highly successful program is a structured mentoring program that involves community volunteers to give 30 minutes to help a child with their reading skills.
This program has had phenomenal success rates around the state and nation, keeping students in school by improving their performance in class.
It is a proven fact, improved reading skills help students in the classroom.
Volunteers can select a time convenient for them.
They will meet with the same student each time they come into the school. Students and mentors develop long lasting relationships which are very important to students.
Businesses across the country participate in the program by giving employees work release time or extended lunches for mentoring students.
HOSTS is beneficial in a number of ways
.• helping students succeed in school so they have a chance at succeeding in life
• helping volunteers understand the schools, and
• giving volunteers a good feeling of being of service to their community.
We want to encourage you to sign up as mentors to help students succeed.
Say “yes” today.
For more information or to volunteer, please call (903) 498-1404, Gail Collett or Roberta Howson., Kemp Primary School.

Ennis Fall Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 20
Special to The Monitor
ENNIS–Autumn Days in the Ennis Fall Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, hosted by the Ennis Historic Downtown Merchants Association. Admission is free.
Free children’s activities include: pumpkin decorating at the ‘Lil Artists Pumpkin Patch, HEB cupcake walk, fall photo booth, petting zoo, balloons, free face painting and balloon artist handing out balloons.
Additional activities for a fee include duck pond, pony rides, giant tiger slide, sandy art and more:
• arts and craft vendors offer original and handcrafted items,
• Scarecrow Lane will host Ennis businesses and organizations,
• food booths; quilt display,
• Railroad Museum, children 12 and under-free, adults are $2.
Live entertainment and demonstrations are sponsored by Ennis Arts Commission.
• 10:30 a.m. Ennis Black Belt Academy martial arts demonstration
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ennis Czech Boys
• 1 p.m. Aggie Wranglers- Texas A&M dance troupe
• 2-4 p.m. Pontiax performs
• 4:30 p.m. Ennis Junior High School Choir and Ennis High School Show Choir.
Ennis Fire and Police departments will host a chili cook-off. Pay $3 for a sample of chili and vote. Proceeds go to Helping Hands, additional ballots are available for $1. Also, bring canned goods to benefit Helping Hands.
The Ennis Historic Downtown Merchants Association (sponsored by J.E. Keever Mortuary) is holding a quilting contest.
Evening entertainment includes Ennis Public Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors” at 8 p.m. with admission $14, students and seniors $12. For tickets, call (972) 878-PLAY or www.ennispublictheatre.com. 
The location is in Ennis’ Historic Downtown District, N.W. Main, West Knox, McKinney Street.
Directions from Dallas, 30 miles South of Downtown on I-45, exit No. 251 B, right on East Ennis Avenue to downtown.
From I-35 E, take State Highway 287 East to Ennis, take the Business 287 Ennis exit; follow into downtown area.
Proud sponsors of this event include:
• Platinum Sponsors: Ennis Journal/ Waxahachie Newspapers, Inc., Ennis Arts Commission
• Gold Sponsors: Allen Samuels Autoplex, Ennis State Bank, JTEKT Automotive of Texas, LP., Citizens National Bank of Texas, Ennis Regional Medical Center
• Silver Sponsors: Prosperity Bank, Bryce and Sandy Anderson, J.E. Keever Mortuary, Sunbelt Brick, and Bronze Sponsors: Century 21 Judge Fite, HEB and All-Star Bowl.

VNA to offer coping with grief seminar
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County (VNA) will be conducting a seminar from 3-4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. on coping during the holidays, while grieving the loss of a loved one.
“Healing Through the Holidays” will offer education and support for individuals who are adjusting to the death of a family member or friend.
Topics will include “Remembering Your Loved One During the Holiday Season,” “Suggestions and Strategies for Coping with a Loss” and “What to Change and What to Keep the Same.”
Handouts on grief support and other resources will be available.
“Healing Through the Holidays” will be held at the VNA of Kaufman County office at 102 W. Grove Street in Kaufman. There is no cost to attend the seminar.
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 health and hospice organization that provides care in Kaufman and the surrounding communities.