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.

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.

Ahoy!  There’s a scurvy bunch of 8 and 9 year olds ahead, singing and dancing and telling tales of the deep blue sea.  With names like Red Beard, Black Beard, Purple Beard and other fearsome sobriquets, these young performers will fill ArtsView Children’s Theatre with music and mayhem, all under the watchful eye of director, Alisha Kimbley.

“This will be a wonderful opportunity for our 8 and 9 year olds to be the stars of a musical!  This is the first time we’ve held an academy just for their specific age group.  In the past, these musical academies have been ages 8-12.  I’m very excited to work with these students.”

Kimbley, who is the White Oak Elementary Music/Fine Arts Teacher, will rehearse the 24 youngsters for a brief two weeks, beginning July 26th.  For three hours a day, she will guide these budding performers in voice, blocking, and dialogue, while her team of student apprentices are busy creating costumes and props for the show.

ArtsView Children’s Theatre, now in its 5th year, identifies its efforts in three forms; productions, academies and workshops.

The theatre produces 3 fully staged productions per season and rounds out the year with two week academies and workshops of varying lengths.  All academies and many of the workshops culminate in a performance or showcase of the students’ work.

“ArtsView is about changing lives through education, outreach and the performing arts.  That’s our mission statement, yes, but it’s the essential purpose of all our efforts.  We have never focused on producing elaborate productions over providing an enriching and encouraging process.  We’re here for the children; to give them a nurturing place to express their creativity, to groom their talents and take their place in the spotlight”, said ArtsView’s Education Director, Pamela Bump.

Pirates! The Musical will have three performances; August 6th at 7:00 pm, and August 7th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  Tickets are $5 each.

Tickets go on sale Monday, August 2.  For Tickets, call 903-237-7535.

For more information about upcoming events at ArtsView Children’s Theatre, see our website at www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com

The Texas City Management Association (TCMA) has proclaimed Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel as Texas Administrator of the Year.  This award honors city management professionals who have distinguished themselves by making significant improvements and contributions in the field of local government over an 18 month period.  He took over as full-fledged city manager January 1, 2009 after a 10-month stint as city manager designate and four years as deputy city manager.  Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass expressed the Rose City’s delight and pride over McDaniel’s achievement.

“We are all extremely proud of Mark,” she said.  “His leadership and professional expertise, particularly in these tough economic times, have greatly benefited the city of Tyler.  It is gratifying to see that he is being recognized in this way.”

Her praise for her colleague went yet further.

“Mark’s efforts as city manager have made a significant impact on the organization, and are demonstrated [as] best practices in the field of local government management,” she said.  “His contributions are vast, however the most notable are focused upon strategic planning and execution, employee relations and development, and fiscal management.”

McDaniel’s contributions and accomplishments include:

1. The adoption of the Tyler 21 plan late in 2007.  This 20-year comprehensive plan outlines a shared vision for Tyler’s future and the goals and actions that will be needed to insure the realization of these goals.  McDaniel was the project lead for the plan’s development, and since being appointed city manager he has spearheaded the implementation efforts.  Major accomplishments include the launching of two Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, completion of more than four miles of major arterial roadways aimed at easing traffic congestion, the adoption of a unified development code, opening a city-owned and -operated art gallery to boost downtown revitalization, and the installation of water and sewer lines in North Tyler in order to encourage private investment.

2.  Launching the development of local plans for the college districts, master plans for each of Tyler’s lakes, and an updated Parks Master Plan.

3.  Accomplishing a AAA general obligation bond rating for the City of Tyler.

4.  Implementing one of the few municipal Lean Sigma initiatives for improving efficiency in city processes.  This is a program which aims to eliminate waste and deviation in city processes in order to free up time and resources from non-value added activities.

5.  Maintaining quality operations citywide despite one of the state’s lowest municipal tax rates.

6.  Launching City University–Tyler’s employee training program.

McDaniel holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Texas.  He finished Harvard’s Senior Executive in Local Government Program.  He is TCMA’s former president, and in 2007 he was proclaimed University of North Texas Master of Public Administration alumnus of the year.

Prior to coming to Tyler as deputy city manager in 2004 McDaniel served as Corpus Christi’s assistant city manager.  He handled administrative and financial services while simultaneously serving as the city’s economic development director.  He was also the city of Woodway’s city manager, assistant city manager for Lake Jackson, and budget director for Denton.

I wonder if any of us can honestly say we have never told a lie. I certainly can’t! Some say that lying is an unavoidable part of human nature, but does this make telling a lie acceptable, excusable and always forgivable? My first lessons about lying and truth-telling came in childhood with the folktale of George Washington and the cherry tree, along with his famous declaration “I cannot tell a lie.”
Then there was the story of Pinocchio with his nose growing with each lie he told.
As a young child, I can still remember carefully examining my nose in the mirror after I spoke an “untruth” or in some cases, when there were truths I didn’t admit.
Much has been written on the subject of lying, and there are many viewpoints on the ethics and impact of lying. Some believe that lying is always wrong. And yet these same folks often add — unless there is a good reason for it. This addendum seems to concede that lying is not always wrong!
There are various types of lies, or so they say, as well as a variety of motives for telling them. But one simple definition for a lie is “a false statement deliberately presented as being true meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.”
Of course, there may be times when lying is useful, practical and even necessary. This could be when someone is under serious threat from an enemy.
I suspect “white lies” are the ones that most of us would own up to. Who hasn’t told a friend we loved her new haircut, when we really thought it looked hideous? Or who hasn’t told their mom that her gift was just what they always wanted, when they didn’t mean it?
In these instances whether a lie was told or the truth was omitted, the purpose was to protect someone’s feelings. But sometimes people tell “fibs” to get out of trouble or get what they want.
There have been times when I wanted to avoid an argument and thought it better to leave out a few details. And there have been many more times when I actually hid my shopping bags from my husband to conceal the truth out of a desire to avoid confrontation or a belabored explanation.
So I wasn’t surprised when I read that another reason people tell lies is to protect themselves or to avoid punishment. Other motivations for lying include trying to look good socially and gain politically. So I guess I shouldn’t be so shocked to hear a politician trying to downplay a lie he told as “misplaced words.”
Other words for a “lie” include telling a whopper, a falsity or falsehood, a fabrication or a misrepresentation. And when someone lies under oath, we call it perjury.

The University of Texas at Tyler will offer two Texas Project Lead the Way Summer Training Institutes for secondary school teachers this summer. Hosted by UT Tyler’s Ingenuity Center and East Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Center, the training sessions are June 21 – July 3, July 19 – July 31.
“This core training is an integral part of a three-phase professional development program that is offered during the summer on university campuses around the country,” said Julie Moore, Ingenuity Center director and PLTW state leader. “The institute provides a collaborative setting where teachers are immersed in content-specific, project-based instruction that integrates science, mathematics, engineering, and technology knowledge and skills.”
Project Lead the Way is a national program that seeks to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from the education system by forming partnerships among public schools, higher education institutions and the private sector.
For more information, visit www.ingenuitycenter.com or www.pltw.org.

The Brookshire Grocery Company made a donation of $300,000 to Smith County today, for the reclamation of five fire damaged properties in the heart of downtown. The Smith County Commissioners held a special meeting to accept the donation for the properties, located on the east side of the square, which were damaged in a fire that occurred in February of 2009.
“We are excited to share this day with Brookshire’s,” County Judge Joel Baker said. “We are so fortunate to receive such a contribution which will allow us to change this site from a tragedy to triumph.”
The donation will be used to stabilize the historic building facades and create a public plaza behind them. The plaza may eventually lead to the entrance of a future courts facility as the commissioners court has previously discussed. Brookshire’s Board Chairman Brad Brookshire commented on behalf of Brookshire’s Grocery Company that he was pleased to be able to make possible the construction of a public courtyard downtown.
“This site has a tremendous historical significance to our family and our company. This is the location of our first Brookshire’s food store that opened in 1928,” Brookshire said.
“We are very proud to be able to do our part to create something that all the public can access and enjoy.”
Judge Baker also thanked local architect Ron Mabry for donating his time to design the plaza space.
“With Ron’s help, we have a vision for the future of this site,” he said.

City offices will be observing the following holiday schedule on Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day.
Holiday Garbage Collection
The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department will be closed Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day. No residential garbage will be picked up on this day. The complete holiday week residential garbage collection schedule is listed below.
Memorial Day Holiday Week:
Monday, May 31: No Collection
Tuesday, June 1: Routes normally collected Monday
Wednesday, June 2: Routes normally collected Tuesday
Thursday, June 3: Normal collection
Friday, June 4: 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, June 2 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, June 3.
For more information about changes to garbage collection schedules, recycling and other special projects, 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, May 31. Customers should contact their airline or check the airport website at www.TylerAirport.com for special holiday travel schedules.
American 1-800-433-7300
Continental 1-800-523-3273

Tyler Public Library
The Tyler Public Library will be closed on Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31. The Library will resume normal operating hours on Tuesday, June 1.

Tyler ISD recently announced the 2010 Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet held Tuesday evening at the Harvey Convention Center. The District honored Campus Teachers of the Year before naming the two District Teachers of the Year.
Dixie Elementary School reading intervention teacher Laurie Wells was named the 2010 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She has taught in Tyler ISD for five years and has a total of 15 years of teaching experience.
Dogan Middle School sixth grade social studies teacher Toby Wahl was named the 2010 Secondary Teacher of the Year. He is an educator that has been with Tyler ISD for four years.
Twenty-eight teachers were named Campus Teachers of the Year. Criteria for selection of both the campus Teachers of the Year and the District Teachers of the Year included, among other items: playing an active and useful role in their community, commitment to the teaching profession through continuous improvement, and lessons that creatively engage and inspire students to achieve high academic standards.

All former students and graduates of Texas A&M University-Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) in the Smith County region are invited to an after-hours event on Thursday, June 3rd, at the Tyler Rose Garden, Rose Room, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. located at 420 Rosepark Drive, Tyler.
“We have hundreds of Tyler and Smith County residents who have a degree from A&M-Commerce,” said Larry Goddard, a director on the A&M-Commerce alumni board. “Additionally, we have a permanent endowment that provides students from Smith County schools a merit scholarship at A&M-Commerce. We are gathering June 3rd to meet the students who have been selected by the University for our scholarships.”
Also, Byron and Tim Meads from Meads Wealth Management of Merrill Lynch will provide a brief overview on methods of charitable gifting. The Meads Group is sponsoring the event.
Dr. Dan Jones, the 11th President of Texas A&M University-Commerce, will be giving an update on the University along with Randy VanDeven, Vice President-Advancement, Derryle Peace, Director of Alumni Relations; and Jane Martyn, Alumni Events Coordinator.
The host committee includes: Martha and Arnold Oates, Barbara Bass, Rhona and Tim Meads, Nita and Byron Meads, Judy and Charles Hill, Melea and Don Edwards, Freeman Sterling, Wynell Goddard, Cheryl and Ken Threlkeld, Laci Wright, Linda Lewis, Maxine Darst Flatt, Michael Young, Mike Cavender, Mike Wilcox, Tanya Redic, and Ted Conover.
All alumni, friends and their guests are invited to attend. The host committee includes. For more information contact Alumni Relations, Texas A&M University-Commerce 903-886-5765.