Lifestyle

Do you need help with computers? Do you want to upgrade your job hunting or work skills? The Pittsburg-Camp County Public Library is hosting computer classes that can help. Experienced technology trainers from the Texas State Library’s Technology Expertise, Access and Learning Project (TEAL) are providing the following two-hour training sessions free of charge at the library.
March 4
4 to 6 p.m.     
Introduction to Microsoft Word: a two hour course designed to familiarize students with the common terminology, screen components and functions of Microsoft Word. Emphasis will be placed on proper document formatting techniques, file naming and file management conventions.
March 5
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.     

Save the date. March 23 is the date set for our fund-raiser for 2013. The two main events will be the bike run and the “Mardi Gras for the Museum” ball held at Princedale Country Club that evening. We are in the process of gathering auction items for the live auction. In addition, we will have sign-up sheets for three events – the Natchitoches meat pie dinner, the annual shrimp boil and a new event this year.

Just when you think that you have seen the best that Irish music has to offer, a fresh new show from Ireland is taking the art form to an entirely new level. Celtic Crossroads, a group of young performers who present Irish music like never before, will bring the Emerald Isle to Northeast Texas for an afternoon.
The Whatley Center for the Performing Arts at Northeast Texas Community College will host their show, The Gathering, on Sunday, at 2:30 p.m. This performance of Celtic Crossroads is sponsored by Charlie and Helen Hampton.
The show itself incorporates seven world-class musicians playing more than 20 instruments on stage. From start to finish they play a fusion of musical genres in the Irish music family, such as eastern European Gypsy, North American bluegrass, world classical and jazz, and the various forms of Celtic music from around Europe and the rest of the world.

The eighth annual Mardi Gras gumbo cook-off will be held at Thunderbird Point Subdivision on Lake Bob Sandlin on Feb. 23.
Beginning with the flag raising at 9:30 a.m., a parade, which will include floats, clowns, fire trucks, numerous decorated golf carts and classic cars is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to participate.
As in the past, there will be more than a dozen gumbo entries which will be judged at 10:30.
Following the judging, a lunch will be served of prize-winning gumbo, rice, Cajun potato salad, red beans, desserts and much more.
There will be live music, and the crowd will have a chance to place bids in a silent auction.
All money received will be donated to the Thunderbird Volunteer Fire Department to help cover yearly expenses with fighting fires. These funds will be used to enhance TVFD’s ability to respond to fires.
For more information, call Sue Blount at 903-856-2747 or 903-856-5513.

By Susan Taft
staft@campcountynow.com

Verna Hawkins, left, accepts donations to the Community Services of Northeast Texas as part of the Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive. The Souper Bowl was sponsored by Brookshire’s by collecting food donations and selling grab-bags (the exact same bags used during the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive). The food collected will be distributed locally. Mary Irvin makes the donation on behalf of the grocery store. The effort ran from Jan. 14 through Feb. 3.

Pittsburg High School’s University Interscholastic League’s academic team opened the year by participating in the Mount Pleasant Tiger Winter Invitational in January.
In the current events team competition, Pittsburg placed first as a team, with Charles Walker taking fourth and Jeremiah Jones fifth individually. Other team members are Wynter Fielder and Daniel Yanez.
Pittsburg’s journalism team got second overall and won a total of eight individual medals. Emma Lee won first in both news writing and editorial writing, and she placed second in features. Ro Burns placed second in headlines and sixth in news writing. Andres Matiz took fourth in editorials and sixth in headlines, and Blanca Alvarez received fifth in headlines.
In speech, Pittsburg won four medals. Blanca placed first and Charles Walker second in informative speaking. Ro placed third and Jocelyne Flores sixth in persuasive speaking.

In the Dancing with the Staff event, held at the Pittsburg High School auditorium, Wendy Bush placed first, Mary Zepeda placed second and Amber Neeley placed third. The event included staff and students from all schools in the district. See more pictures on Page 3.

North Texas Street, has already been stocked with 1,000 winter trout. This means Kids’ Fishing Day can’t be far behind. The annual event is planned for Feb. 23, between 9 a.m. and noon. It is open to anyone 16 and younger. Bait will be provided, but children should bring a rod and reel if they have one. Anyone who wants to attend should pre-register by calling city hall, 903-856-3621.