‘The Villages of Cedar Creek’ coming
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Huffman Builders, LP announced it has reached an agreement with WHSC Gen-Par L.L.C. to develop the 2.41 acre tract of land located at the corner of Manning Drive and State Highway 198 in Gun Barrel City.
This development will be known as “The Villages of Cedar Creek” and will feature three custom built medical office buildings for sale and/or lease to medical professionals serving the population near Cedar Creek Lake.
The first building currently under construction by Huffman will house the expanding medical office facility for Dallas Eye Care Associates.
Dallas Eye Care Associates has been providing ophthalmologic medical services to the people living in the vicinity of Cedar Creek Lake area for the past eight years.
This expansion will encompass the latest “state of the art” equipment for the diagnosis and testing of diseases of the eye.
In addition, Dallas Eye Care Associates’ new building will house the newest technology in eye wear, including an on-site laboratory and numerous optical dispensing stations designed for the comfort of their patients.
“We are proud to serve the Cedar Creek residents and hope our significant investment in our new building will demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality of care for these patients that need eye care in the area,” managing partner of the six physician medical practice T. Stacy Wood, MD said.
The new building is scheduled to open in March.
It will contain five fully equipped diagnostic evaluation lanes, a dedicated contact lens dispensing suite, an extensive testing facility and an expanded retail optical shop.
The building will provide ample off-street parking with dedicated handicap parking.
For additional information concerning “The Villages of Cedar Creek,” please contact Huffman Builders at (214) 646-9832, or visit their website at www.huffmanbuilders.com.

Foster parents not allowed to smoke beginning Jan. 1
Special to The Monitor
COLLEGE STATION–Foster parents in Texas have just been given another reason to make quitting smoking their number one New Year’s resolution this year.
“As of Jan. 1, foster parents in Texas will no longer be allowed to smoke in their homes or vehicles,” Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development Courtney Schoessow said.
“They need to take it outside,” she added.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ publication, “Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies,” states that as of New Year’s Day, “caregivers and other adults may only smoke tobacco products outside” and “no one may smoke tobacco products in a motor vehicle while transporting children in care.”
For more information visit the agency’s Web site at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ .
Smoking doesn’t affect only the smoker, Schoessow said. Children living in homes with smokers can develop some serious medical conditions.
According to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency, babies and children who live with adult smokers are “at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections and are more likely to have symptoms of respiratory irritation like coughing, wheezing and excess phlegm.”
“The EPA estimates, with children under 18 months of age, secondhand smoke causes between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections, resulting in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalization each year,” Schoessow said.
“Children who live with smokers are also more likely to have ear infections than children who don’t,” she added.
The EPA estimates as many as one million children with asthma have more – and more severe – episodes each year if they live with adults who smoke.
“Opening windows isn’t enough.Ventilation systems in homes cannot filter and circulate air well enough to eliminate secondhand smoke,” Schoessow said.
“Poisons from smoke linger in the air up to seven days. People may be exposed even it they are not present while a person is smoking,” she added.
But deciding to stop isn’t all it takes.
“Quitting can be extremely difficult,” she said.
Smokers often need some help with this resolution. That’s why Extension developed its “Put It Outside for Healthier Kids” program. This program will help adults stop smoking – or at least teach them the importance of keeping their smoke away from children.
For more information on the local availability of this program, contact any county Extension office.

Gospel concert set
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–Ernie Dawson and Heirline will be in concert at 6 p.m., Saturday Jan. 6, at the Lifeway Concerts Gospel Music Hall located at 6513 State Highway 19 South in Athens.
Also appearing will be The Lifeway Trio.
Doors will open at 5 p.m.
Tickets are available at First State Bank, Art Glo Day Spa in Athens, and the Scroll Christian Book Store in Tyler.
Malakoff Pharmacy in Malakoff, and The Victorian Lady Tea Room in Mabank.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Information and purchase of tickets by phone may be made at (903) 675-5217 or (903) 477-8084.
Ernie Dawson and Heirline’s first top twenty song was “Mama’s Prayer.”
Other top of the charts songs he has written are “That’s God,” “He’s Alive,” “Oceans of Grace,” and his latest single, “My Home.”