ArtsView Children’s Theatre is holding auditions on September 11 and 12, 2010. Auditions are open to ages 8-88 and are by appointment only.
Up to 30 roles are available: Oliver (looks 9 years old) boy soprano, Nancy (25-45) Alto, Fagin (50-70) baritone, Artful Dodger (12-18) tenor, Bill Sykes (the villain; 30-50), and approximately 12 other roles are available for adult men and women of various ages. In addition, several sopranos and tenors, ages 8-16, will be cast as workhouse children and Fagin’s gang.
Auditionees need to prepare 16-24 bars of music to sing and may bring a CD (no vocal tracks), sheet music for the accompanist, or may sing acappella, although it is discouraged. Clothes should be easy to move in with sneakers or dance shoes. Monologues are not required; auditionees read from the script (Semi-Cold Read). Call 903-236-7535 to schedule an appointment. The musical will be presented on November 18, 19, 20, and 21, 2010 with tickets going on sale November 8, 2010. For more information, visit www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com.

The Sanitation Division will remain on the regular trash collection schedule throughout the holiday week. The Compost Facility will be closed Monday, September 6, as well as Tuesday, September 7.
The Longview Public Library and the book drop will be closed Saturday, September 4-Monday, September 6. Regular library hours will resume on Tuesday, September 7.
Paula Martin Jones Recreation Center and the Green Street Recreation Center will be closed Monday, September 6.  The Broughton Recreation Center will be closed Saturday, September 4 and will reopen Tuesday, September 7. Longview Transit, the public bus transportation system, will be closed Monday, September 6, and will resume regular schedule on Tuesday, September 7.
If you have a Water or Sewer Emergency, please call 903-236-3030.
All offices will resume normal business hours Tuesday, September 7.

Holiday Garbage Collection
The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, for Labor Day. No residential garbage will be picked up on this day. The complete holiday week residential garbage collection schedule is listed below.
Labor Day Holiday Week:
Monday, Sept. 6- No Collection
Tuesday, Sept. 7- Routes normally collected Monday
Wednesday, Sept. 8- Routes normally collected Tuesday
Thursday, Sept. 9- Normal collection
Friday, Sept. 10- Normal collection
During the holiday week, priority will be given to household waste.
Crews will collect as much curb trash and yard waste as time allows. Due to garbage being collected on Wednesday, Sept. 8 during the holiday week, subscription curbside recycling customers are asked to leave their recycling out until it is picked up. It may take until the end of the day on Thursday, Sept. 9.
For more information about changes to garbage collection schedules, recycling and other special projects, visit visit www.TylerSolidWaste.com.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport will be open through the holiday. The Airport administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.  Customers should contact their airline or check the Airport website at www.TylerAirport.com for special holiday travel schedules.
American  (800) 433-7300
Continental  (800) 523-3273

Tyler Public Library
Tyler Public Library will be closed on Sunday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 6. The library will operate normal hours on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Tyler Transit Schedule
There will be no fixed-route or paratransit service on Monday, Sept. 6. Service will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Gallery Main Street
Gallery Main Street will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6. The Gallery will resume normal hours on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Tyler Parks and Recreation
The Tyler Parks and Recreation administrative offices, the Senior Citizens Center and the Glass Recreation Center will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.

The 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum will maintain normal operating hours throughout the holiday. The Museum’s operating hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Rose Garden Center will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6. The gardens are open seven days a week and will remain open throughout the holiday.

Fun Forest Pool will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4; Sunday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 6. On Tuesday, Sept. 7 the pool will close for the season.

Tyler Water Utilities (TWU)
The TWU Business Office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.  Anyone wishing to make a payment on this date can place a payment in one of the two available drop boxes. There is one box located in front of the office at 511 W. Locust St. and a drive-up box in the Brookshire’s parking lot on the corner of South Broadway Avenue and Rice Road. The payment will be credited on the next business day. Do not drop cash in these boxes.

Payments can also be made online at www.CityofTyler.org, over the phone by calling (903) 531-1230, or at several local businesses.  For a list of businesses that accept utility payments, please visit the City web site.

For emergencies regarding your water and/or sanitary sewer service, please call (903) 597-6541.

According to the United States Department of Labor, Labor Day was created in New York City in 1882 as a way to recognize the contributions that American workers made to their country.
Observed on the first Monday of September, Labor Day is often celebrated with parades and speeches by people who have made a difference in their communities. Most government offices and city buildings are closed on Labor Day Monday and also on the Sunday before, as that day has become known as Labor Day Sunday, a day to emphasize educational contributions and give our teachers some recognition.
Enjoy your day off from school and work and remember to say thanks to all of the people that work hard to keep this country running. From farmers and teachers to police officers and factory workers, everyone plays an important part in making America a great place to live and work!

Tyler’s Pilot Club will be providing its second annual Tasteful Tablescapes on September 18 at the Historic Womens’ Building at 911 South Broadway.
The brunch will feature wine tasting provided by KE Cellars and lovely tables decorated by local  businesses and organizations.  This is a fund-raiser for very worthy causes.
Money raised will go for research into such fields as traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s Disease, autism, childrens’ bicycle helmets and specialized equipment for children at Wayne Boshears/St. Louis School.  Also profiting will be scholarships for ARC camp.  Donations should be made to the Pilot Club of Tyler Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Tyler’s Pilot Club is a non-profit service organization that has been serving East Texas since 1938 by conducting ongoing fund-raising events for numerous worthy causes.  For further information on the event and the club please call (903) 566-9940 or (903) 259-3965.

A capital building fund has been launched to support the efforts of the recently established Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or SPCA of East Texas.
Tyler attorney Deborah Tittle-Dobbs formed the non-profit SPCA of East Texas this year, to respond to and investigate animal cruelty and neglect as well as house rescued animals for adoption. “A capital building campaign has been launched to construct a modern, first-class, family friendly, Animal Services Center,” said Tittle-Dobbs. “The SPCA hopes to serve local animal control agencies by housing rescued dogs and cats and placing them up for adoption.”
Currently, neither the city of Tyler nor Smith County has a local facility to house stray or neglected dogs for any length of time. City of Tyler residents who lose an animal must drive 30 miles to search for and hopefully reclaim their lost pet.  All lost dogs and strays from the city are transported by animal control to a heavily overcrowded shelter in neighboring Cherokee County.  Euthanized animals must then be transported back to Tyler for disposal by animal control.   On average 60-100 dogs from our community are euthanized each week because of the lack of a community shelter.
The SPCA of East Texas hopes to remedy this situation and is seeking private donations to build a shelter in the Tyler area. “With current community budget constraints, it will take private donors to build this shelter. Whether you can give a few dollars or more, any contribution to help us construct a facility to house unwanted dogs and cats, until they find a new home, is greatly appreciated. Please mail your donation to the SPCA, P.O. Box 2026, Tyler, TX, 75710.  We will promptly send you a letter acknowledging your gift,” said Tittle-Dobbs. “If you want to give in memory of a pet or in honor of one, plans include a memorial courtyard at the new shelter recognizing those donors and their animals. We hope to raise enough money to purchase our building site and begin construction in 2011.”
Other programs will include humane education in schools, spay/neuter awareness and pet overpopulation, “Critter Camp” a children’s day camp and a community event center for animal organizations and public events.
Additionally, the first SPCA cruelty investigator has been hired with Smith County District Attorney drug seizure funds.  Former Tyler police officer, Roy Linn will investigate calls received through the SPCA hotline at 903-596-SPCA.
The SPCA will investigate complaints in cooperation with local law enforcement and facilitate seizures and prosecution when warranted.  Last month, a woman driving on highway 155 was seen dumping her border collie in the middle of the road. Local cable company workers, who witnessed the incident, saw the dog try to chase its owner’s car and be struck by another oncoming car. The SPCA paid for veterinary care and rehabilitation expenses for “Rosie Roadrash” who is healing nicely and now available for adoption.  With a partial license plate provided by the cable workers, Smith County Sheriff detectives are still searching for the driver of the car.
The SPCA has now formed its first board of directors. President is Deborah Tittle-Dobbs. She and her husband David, both former Smith County prosecutors in the district attorney’s office, currently operate their own law firm. Tyler veterinarian Dr. David Post will serve as vice-president and Danika Maher, is secretary. Other board members include Rebecca Berkley, Dr. Andrew Berkson, Smith County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Gary Middleton, Allyson Perkins Decanio and Tyler Assistant Police Chief Steve Sharron.
For more information contact the SPCA of East Texas at 903-596-SPCA or 596-7722 or visit our website at www.spcaeasttx.com

The East Texas Youth Chorus is now recruiting singers for its fall season.
The choir rehearses in the Choral Room of the Fine Arts Building on the Kilgore campus on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“Students are offered the opportunity to perform quality choral literature of different styles and to develop vocal and choral skills that prepare for college-level performance,” said Jim Taylor, ETYC and KC choral director. “Singers may join into the first few weeks in September.”
The ETYC will perform in concert with the Camerata Singers, KC’s women’s ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview.
Also, two concerts are scheduled in the spring on Feb. 24 and April 28.
The ETYC was created five years ago for home-schooled high school-age youth in the East Texas area, and is operated under the guidance of KC’s Continuing Education Department.
“Members must pass a simple audition to determine that they can carry a tune,” Taylor said. “No music reading skills are necessary, and sight-singing skills are taught in rehearsals.”
A tuition fee of $40 per semester is required at the beginning of the semester which includes cost of sheet music.
“It is also possible for juniors and seniors in high school to enroll in the choir and receive dual credit at KC with costs appropriate to dual enrollment,” Taylor said.  “Singers interested in joining may line up an audition ahead of time, or may simply come to a rehearsal and audition afterward.”
For more information, contact Taylor at (903) 983-8122 or e-mail: jtaylor@kilgore.edu.

Smith County Purchasing Director Kelli Davis has been nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the Texas Public Purchasing Association in 2011.
The nomination comes from current Board Member and Past TxPPA President Jack Beacham; Purchasing Director for Tarrant County.
“Mrs. Davis is absolutely the quality of purchasing professional to take TxPPA to its next level of success,” Beacham said in a letter nominating Mrs. Davis. “She will make an outstanding contribution to this association and will be one of the future leaders in Texas Public Procurement.”
Mrs. Davis has been the Purchasing Director for Smith County for  5 years and recently won the bid for Smith County to host the Fall 2010 TxPPA State Conference.
“From my perspective, they could not select a candidate with better credentials,” County Judge Joel Baker said. “She will be a strong voice for Smith County and all of east Texas to that organization.”
The 2010 TxPPA Fall State convention could bring 300 or more Purchasing Directors from across the state into the County.
Smith County was chosen to host the state convention for its central location and its innovative purchasing methods.

Original works of art will be up for bid as Gallery Main Street holds a silent auction in honor of the gallery’s first anniversary.
Through Sept. 9, the public is invited to come to the gallery at 110 W. Erwin to view and bid on the art. Winners will be notified on Friday, Sept. 10. The auction items will also be available to view via an online catalog at www.downtowntylerarts.com.
Many art forms will be available, including pottery, photography and paintings. All proceeds of the auction will go to support the City of Tyler Main Street Department and its arts programming.
“This auction is a wonderful opportunity to view and appreciate the work of our East Texas artists while supporting the mission of Gallery Main Street,” said City of Tyler Main Street Director Beverly Abell.
Those who want more information should go to www.downtowntylerarts.com or call Gallery Main Street at (903) 593-6905.

The Tyler ISD Foundation is wasting no time in preparations for its 20th anniversary this academic year, with an additional five community leaders recently trained as Directors.  They join an additional 25 experienced board directors. The foundation was founded in January 1991.
“We are pleased of course that our new directors are willing to serve our more than 600 donors and support our school district’s leaders, teachers, staff and students,” said Larry Goddard, who conducted the orientation last week.
“Hearing our newly elected board directors’ personal stories about the importance of education was inspiring to us,” added Tom Slack, President of the Foundation. “Look for spectacular results from our award-winning Foundation soon.  We hope the community of Tyler is aware that we have proven ourselves to be the best education foundation in Texas in a brief period of time and won national awards never received by any education foundation.  That’s a reflection of our close collaboration.”
The board will be in executive session Tuesday for a five year strategic planning session and begin with their first board meeting September 17th at Bell Elementary.

Here are the newly elected directors:

Brenda Thomas, CIC, ACSR
Brenda Thomas is the Senior Vice President and stockholder of Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, an independent insurance agency is Tyler, Texas.  She has been employed with the agency since 1981 and has served a Account Administrator, Commercial Lines Manager, Quality Control Manager, Education Coordinator, Legal Liability Representative, and Account Executive.  Her time with the agency is now spent serving her customers as licensed Risk Manager and Insurance Agent.
Brenda Thomas is a life-long resident of Tyler, Texas.  Her education includes the public schools of Tyler ISD and Tyler Junior College.  She has continued her education by attaining multiple certifications in the insurance industry.
Brenda is married to Bro. Lou Thomas, pastor of Lanes Chapel United Methodist Church.  They have been blessed to be part of this congregation since June of 1989.  Bro. Lou and Brenda are both active teachers of God’s WORD and offer hope thru Jesus Christ to discouraged and broken people.  Children are a passion for both Bro. Lou and Brenda.  Brenda has served as Youth Pastor and Sunday School Teacher of all ages.  Bro. Lou was bi-vocational for the majority of his life and served as an Educator, Public School Administrator, and Local Pastor.  Their family includes two grown children and four grandchildren
Bonnie Ryan Rayford
Born and raised in Tyler, Bonnie attended Tyler Public Schools for 12 years.  She graduated John Tyler High School in 1971.  Bonnie continued her education in Tyler with an Associate’s Degree in Business from Tyler Junior College and a Bachelors of Science degree in education from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Mrs. Rayford taught pre-k for 17 years (Caldwell Playschool, Gary, Tyler ISD and Saint Gregory Catholic School).  She has been married to Rick Rayford for 37 years and they have two daughters:  Dr. Laura Rayford Culp and Amanda Rayford Morris.
Laura attend Hubbard and graduated Robert E Lee  in 1992; Amanda attended Rice, Hubbard and graduated Robert E Lee in 1996.  The Rayfords have seven grandchildren.  She is active with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; serves on the Discovery Science board and Champions for Children board.
Joey Seeber
Joey Seeber is an attorney based in Dallas and Tyler; as well as a businessman in Tyler.  As former Mayor, Mr. Seeber has been highly involved in the bond issue elections and served as the chair of the Vote Yes Committees for the past two successful bond issues.  He and his wife Kristen (a former Foundation Board Director) have been true advocates of Tyler ISD and their sons, Joseph and Witt, are currently active student leaders in their schools.  Mr. Seeber is a graduate of Baylor University and Baylor University of Law. He served as student body president of Baylor as an undergraduate.  The Seebers are involved in many civic and charitable organizations.
Lori Sirman
With a Business Administration degree from Iowa State University, Lori Sirman is a Certified Public Accountant.
Her husband Gary, grew up in Tyler and graduated from Robert E Lee. His dad was a coach at Lee and his mother was a teacher’s aide at Bonner. Gary’s roots were here in Tyler so in 1985, the couple relocated to make Tyler their home. We have one son who attends the University of Oklahoma.
Lori has been in banking since 1986 and currently works for Texas Bank and Trust as a Senior Vice President in Commercial Lending. She has been involved in United Way, Leadership Tyler, the Salvation Army Angel Tree, the Path School Supply Train, Junior Achievement (teaching classes in Tyler ISD) and others. She is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church where she served on the Finance Committee, Personnel Committee and a fourth grade Sunday School teacher. Lori continues to volunteer in the Children’s Ministry.
Justin Holt
Justin grew up in Van, Texas, and was educated at Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas of Tyler with a major in finance/economics.   Justin is married to Kristina from Lindale (she’s a teacher at Griffin Elementary) and they have two children, Caelyn (age 6) and Jackson (age 3).  Mr. Holt is involved in Big Ranch Roundup for Azleway, Leadership Tyler, and on the board of directors of Rotary Club of Tyler.  Justin has helped with Junior Achievement (Tyler ISD).
Justin is currently enrolled in the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.