People, Places & Events

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Lake Area
Billboard
East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District meets at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the ECCFSD office on Hammer Road just off Welch Lane in Gun Barrel City.
Eustace City Council meets at 7 p.m. in the Eustace City Hall the first Thursday of each month. For more information, please call 425-4702. The public is invited to attend.
Eustace Independent School District meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Eustace High School Library. For more information, please call 425-7131. The public is invited to attend.
Gun Barrel City Council meets in Brawner Hall at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-1087. The public is invited to attend.
Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation meets at 1831 W. Main, GBC, at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-1899.
Henderson County Commissioner’s Court meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Henderson County Courthouse in Athens. The public is invited to attend.
Henderson County Emergency Services District #4 meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at 525 S. Tool Dr. in Tool.
Henderson County Historical Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the HC Historical Museum.
Kaufman County Commissioner’s Court meets the first, second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9:45 a.m. in the Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp City Council meets at Kemp City Hall at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 498-3191. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp Independent School District meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Board Room in the Administration Building. For more information, please call 498-1314. The public is invited to attend.
Log Cabin City Council meets the third Thursday of the month in city hall. For more information, please call 489-2195. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Mabank City Hall the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-3241. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank Independent School District meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call 887-9310. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs City Council meets at city hall at 7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 451-9229. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs Water Supply Corp. meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Payne Springs Community Center, located at 9690 Hwy. 198.
Seven Points City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Seven Points city hall the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3176. The public is invited to attend.
Tool City Council meets at 6 p.m. in the OranWhite Civic Center the third Thursday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3522. The public is invited to attend.
West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District is held at 5 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3704. The public is invited.

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Mike Graff, owner of Mike’s Painting in Seven Points, stands ready to head out to his next paint job. He said he does all types of interior and exterior painting and needed repairs.

“I worked for other paint contractors, barely able to pay my bills,” Graff recalled.
“One Friday, on the way home from Dallas, I realized my home and truck were paid for, and that maybe I could find enough work in the Cedar Creek area to pay the rest of my bills,” he added.
He has operated his own business in the lake area for seven years after leaving Dallas.
“The only way I can explain the way things have gone is God has truly blessed me by giving me all the work I can do,” he said.
“I’m very pleased with the growth of my business,” he added. “My customer base continues to grow, as my repeat business is excellent.”
That repeat business is due in a large part to his strong work ethic. He said being on time for a job is the first thing he insists on, and a job must be done well.
“I’m not satisfied until you are, and I don’t get paid until you are satisfied,” Graff said.
“God has given to me, and in doing so, I hope I have also earned a reputation as a good painter, honest and hard working,” he said. “That has always been my goal.”
His services include, but are not limited to, painting the exterior and/or interior of homes or commercial property, hanging sheetrock and performing tape and bedding.
“I can do most phases of home finishing, such as adding or replacing trim, replacing rotting wood and making general repairs,” Graff said.
Graff added he can also assist an owner, or suggest ways to preserve and care for a home at an economical cost.
Maintaining and preserving a home helps protect a homeowner’s most costly investment, he said.
Graff graduated from David W. Carter High School in Dallas, and began his painting career helping his dad, Charles Graff.
While still a student, he worked off and on for Fulton Painting at $2.25 an hour.
“I saved my money and bought a motorcycle to ride to work on,” he said.
Later, he worked for James House Painters for 35 years. He and his wife Nancy, live in Seven Points.
Graff is still somewhat of a loner, though. He still likes to ride his motorcycle and go four-wheeling, but most of all, he likes to camp.
“When the work is slow – that time seems to be getting to be less and less – I like to camp in Davey Crockett National Forest in East Texas, and sometimes I like to go prospecting in Ehrenburg, Ariz.,” he said.
While Graff used to do mostly primitive camping, today he stays in comparative luxury, enjoying the conveniences of his camper, which also prompts another side to his business.
“I do commercial as well as residential, and I don’t mind traveling,” he said. “I can set up my camper on or near the job property, until the work is completed.”
For information or to set up an appointment, call his cell phone at (903) 340-1206 or (903) 432-3359, or e-mail mikgraff@aol.com.

VNA brings ‘Light Up a Life’ to Kaufman County
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The holiday season is a time for remembering loved ones and the Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County is exhibiting its third annual “Light Up a Life” tree to honor or remember family members and friends.
The “Light Up a Life” tree is on display through December 30 during business hours at the Jackson Street BBQ by Eddie Dean on 101 North Jackson St. in Kaufman.
A paper dove, bearing the name of an honoree, can be placed on the tree for a $20 donation to the Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County.
Funds raised from “Light Up a Life” help the Visiting Nurse Association of Kaufman County provide hospice services to terminally-ill patients and their families who lack resources for needed care.
Donations to “Light Up a Life” can be made by contacting Beverly Harris at (972) 962-7500 or harrisb@vnatexas.org. 

Davis’ in Chesapeake Parade of Lights
Special to The Monitor
FORT WORTH?Toni and Charlie Davis of Kemp recently participated in the Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights in Fort Worth, along with other members of the Southwest Central Friesian Horse Association.
This is the 28th year of the parade, which is held on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year.

Courtesy Photo
Kemp residents Charlie Davis and his wife, Toni, ride in the Fort Worth Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights the day after Thanksgiving.
As a light parade, it marched through Sundance Square after dark.
Judges were placed along the parade route in order to judge participants? entries. Categories included equestrian, vehicles, walkers, and floats. Ribbons were awarded to the first, second, and third places in each category.
South Central Friesians won third place in the equestrian category ? quite an accomplishment, considering it was their first time to participate.
The parade has grown from an audience of around 25,000 to more than 200,000, today.
The parade is an opportunity for residents and visitors to see the downtown area and celebrate the season.
The Davis? and other members of their Friesian club all wore black cloaks wrapped in lights and had lights and bells along the horses legs and manes.
Charlie Davis rode as a knight of the 16th century, while Toni, his wife, wore a gown fit for a queen of the era.
The Friesian club and the Friesian Horse Association are dedicated to promoting and educating the public about the majestic and magnificent beauty of the Royal horse.
Originally from Holland the Friesian is known for its high knee action, velvet black coat and long flowing mane and tail.
The horse of kings, queens and knights, Friesians were used to ride into battle during the 16th century. Today, the club rides in authentic renaissance costumes.
The Davis? are proud members of the community and participate in many activities in the area including local holiday and and western day parades and as members of the East Texas Riders Horse Club. The Davis? own a ranch off Farm-to-Market 85 west of Seven Points, where they raise Gypsy, Friesian, and Tennessee walkers.

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on. My name is Domino, and I got my name not only because I’m black and white like a domino tile, but also because my outgoing, cheerful personality causes my doggie roommates to smile. This also causes our human friends to smile, which even causes the kitties in the cat room to smile. I am an 8-month-old male Pointer/Terrier mix. I love children, other dogs, and even get along great with kitties. I’ve had all my shots and am ready to be adopted. If you’d like to experience the domino effect, I am sure to put a forever smile on your face when you take me to my forever home. I currently live with a foster family, so if you would like to meet me, call my friends at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake at (903) 432-3422 to make an appointment. You can also email them at dogshsccl@yahoo.com.
	We have many animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
For further information visit our website at petfinder.com