Beta Sigma Phi

* Donna Dash spoke about Urban Legends at the Oct. 7 meeting of Laureate Alpha Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, held at her home. Dash discussed the truths of various Internet stories -- from potatoes to cheeseburgers, and telephones to politics.

Teresa Chipman presented Dash for the Ritual of Jewels degree.

Mary Smith discussed plans for the council's Preferential Tea. Sandra Wood will coordinate the centerpiece door prizes and Smith reviewed the main dishes for the council's fall social.

Chapter President Marcia Drost conducted the meeting; 15 members attended.

Sherry Kovar discussed toy donations for Scotty's House and gifts for the Christmas Family.

Connie Moss won the door prize of fall towels and a candle.

Jane Cohen discussed storage of past minutes. Wood distributed secret sister gifts. Kathy Pilgrim received the Friendship bowl.

Rosemary Shaunfield discussed the garage sale scheduled for Saturday at 2301Oxford in Bryan. Christi Hendricks reviewed the upcoming program schedule. Chipman and Dash discussed socials. The fall birthday celebration was planned for Oct. 16. Kovar and Shaunfield will audit the Treasurer's books.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, with Shaunfield as hostess.

* Preceptor Beta Phi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Oct. 14 at the home of Joan Logan.

President Kay Hamn said the chapter received a three-star rating from International. Vice president Diana Kratchman said Logan is eligible for the Ritual of Jewels.

Penne Mathews, service chairwoman, read a letter from the Eyes of Texas animal refuge thanking the chapter for donating supplies. She said the next service project will be a monetary donation to Twin City Mission in Bryan to help pay for Thanksgiving dinners.

Ways and means chairwoman Joyce Mead discussed the yard sale to be held from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 8 at the home of Stephanie Hilliard.

Logan presented a skit called "I Love you but I don't have time." All members took part, and appeared to be talking on phones.

The next meeting will be a hot-dog and s'mores game night Oct. 28 at the home of Faye Caldwell. Fall secret sister gifts will be exchanged.

MILITARY

* Navy Seaman Recruit Ryan Schick, son of Kimberly R. Hardin of Oakwood and Steven C. Schick of Fairfield, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Schick is a 2008 graduate of Oakwood Independent School District in Oakwood.

* Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Cayce J. Clark, a 2007 graduate of Normangee High School recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Clark will join 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard's force.

The Woman's Club

As guest speaker at The Woman's Club, Mitch Siegert, owner of Truman Chocolates in Bryan, gave a presentation Oct. 8 on the "Taste of Chocolate."

Siegert demonstrated the process to create his artistically crafted, handmade chocolates, available with 32 different flavors of chocolate ganache for the filling.

Each piece starts as 100 percent Swiss chocolate. The cavities of each mold are polished to give a shine to the chocolate shell. Colored chocolate is sprayed into the mold with an airbrush and refrigerated to harden. The shell is then filled by hand with chocolate cream. Siegert said he knows of only two other people in the world who use this technique and who have taken chocolate-making to this art form.

Siegert attended Bryan public schools, studied at Texas Tech University and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., with a double degree in culinary arts and baking and pastry. He interned with The Food Network while in New York, gained experience at Christopher's World Grille in Bryan and at The Ritz Carlton in Naples, Fla. But it was at a pastry school in Florida that he discovered his passion for creating chocolates.

New members to The Woman's Club received the other members and Leah Davis Rush served as head hostess. She and her committee served tea and refreshments, as well as a variety of Siegert's chocolates, following the program.

Brazos Valley Stitchers

The Brazos Valley Stitchers held an open house Oct. 11 at the Arts Council Building to celebrate the Embroiderers Guild of America's 50th anniversary.

Eleven local members exhibited needlework and demonstrated embroidery techniques such as Stumpwork, crochet, pulled thread, counted cross stitch, corn pad embroidery and Japanese embroidery throughout the day. Also displayed was an exhibit, created by members of the South Central Region of the EGA, depicting 25 embroidery techniques.

A Christmas tree decorated with more than 50 hand-stitched ornaments was revealed. Tickets are being sold for a drawing to win the tree; proceeds will be donated to the Arts Council.

The tree will be on display and tickets available at the Arts Council building until the Dec. 6 drawing.

Volunteer

The city of Navasota is looking for volunteers for several boards and commissions, including the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments. These committees help the City Council make decisions that shape the future of the city.

On Oct. 27, the City Council will appoint people to fill expired terms on these committees.

Residents interested in volunteering to serve on a board or advisory committee should go to City Hall, at 202 E. Washington, and fill out a volunteer application, or go to www.navasotatx.gov, click on the City Council button and go to volunteer service to the Navasota community.

For more information, call Brad Stafford or Susie Homeyer at (936) 825-6408.

Burleson County

* Several Burleson County 4-H members recently exhibited livestock projects at the State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas the first week of October.

Coy Cass showed a market lamb and a market goat; Laramie Cass showed a market goat; Rachel Bentke placed 12th with a home-raised market goat; Raynie Bentke showed a home-raised market goat; Hayden and Hannah Kovar each exhibited a market goat; Landon Eldridge placed 11th with a crossbred barrow; Samantha Branderhorst placed 11th with a market goat; Arend Branderhorst exhibited a market goat; Tanner Stefka placed seventh with a market goat; Casey Kauder made the sale with her sixth-place exotic steer.

Representing Somerville FFA, Raeann Bentke made the sale with a third-place home-raised market goat. Representing Caldwell FFA, Kevin Doonan showed the Breed Champion Shorthorn Prospect Steer as well as a 12th-place exotic steer and Megan Homeyer showed an exotic steer. Representing Snook Junior FFA, Braxton Faust exhibited his Duroc barrow.

* Joyce Cavanaugh, associate professor and family economics specialist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, will be in Caldwell at 7 p.m. Thursday to discuss "Preparing for the Unexpected." This free public-education meeting will be at the Burleson County Fair EXPO Building. The program, sponsored by the Burleson County extension service, is designed to help participants understand what, how and when to prepare.

For more information or to arrange accommodations in order to participate, call 567-2308.

Bryan award

Bryan Sustainability Programs Coordinator Mary Strauss has been awarded the National Conservation Award from the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for her dedication to the preservation of natural resources within Bryan.

Strauss was nominated by the William Scott Chapter of Bryan and will receive a medal and certificate during this week's club meeting. During the event, Strauss will talk about the importance of conservation in Bryan.

Student recognition

* Chelsea Meagan McMurrey, 2007 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School, made the spring 2008 Dean's List at St. Edward's University in Austin. McMurrey was also invited to join the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi, chapter at St. Edward's.

* Jose Gonzalez and Jonathan Fritsch, both of Bryan, have earned a place on the President's Honor Roll for the 2008 summer semester at Texas State Technical College in Waco.

Gonzalez, a welding technology major, and Fritsch, a computer networking and systems administration major, both received a 4.0 grade-point average for the semester.

Sean Brimhall of College Station and Richard Davidson of Bryan earned a place on the summer Dean's Honor Roll at TSTC.

Brimhall, a computer maintenance technology major, and Davidson, a computerized controls and robotics major, were among those recognized with a scholastic achievement of a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA.

A&M Garden Club

Master Gardener Donna Seelig spoke at the A&M Garden Club's Oct. 10 meeting about "Texas Superstars," showing slides of newly selected plants, growing tips and selection points.

The door prize was a Grandma's Yellow Rose plant, won by Ruth Bertrand. Tracy Boyles of Perfect Garden Tool System showed gardening tools now available at Producer's Coop, with prizes won by Renee Frisbie, Elisa Plauche and Millie Parrack.

Suzanne Milstead discussed Forsythia Sage and Mexican Sunflower. Idalia Aguilar demonstrated "Creative Line Mass" floral design. Suzanne Milstead discussed trips this week to an herb program and a southern bulb program. Aguilar also reported on the national meeting in Rhode Island.

Penne Mathews discussed youth contests, with 72 entries in poetry, posters and essays. Mary Ann Taylor reported on the paver saying chosen for Pot et Fleur donation to the Holistic Garden at the TAMU Horticulture Building. Aguilar reported on Polly Hatcher Memorials and Scholarship.

Carolyn Guillotte reported on planning for the Civic/Native community project. Kris Walker received donations for "Seeds for Life" to send to developing countries. The Nominating Committee of Heather White, Eugenia Williams and Geneva Eubanks was appointed. The State Garden Club meeting will be in San Angelo.

Jane Cohen presided over the meeting. Angelika Hoepfl gave the Treasurer's report. Kay Hamn shared minutes. Hostesses were Bertrand, Hamn and Viola DeLa Garza. Marge Watkins shared refreshments and floral arrangements.

The A&M Garden Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Exit Teen Center on Rock Prairie Road in College Station. The program will be "Proven Propagation, the Easiest Way Possible," by Kathy Hyatt, Houston master gardener, and Rose Rustler.

United Daughters of the Confederacy

Austin's Albert Sidney Johnston Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy recently honored Navasota native Marjorie Richards, a Real Daughter of the War Between the States, during a luncheon at the division conference in Fort Worth. Richards was presented with a Southern Heritage Medallion by President Doris Emshoff and 1st vice president Anna Kellett of the L.S. Ross Chapter 100 in Bryan. Richards was the daughter of Isaac Benton Clark, Co. C, 19th Texas Inf. 24th Texas, CSA.

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Posted by: Sarah On: 10/21/2008

Comment Title: Beta Sigma Phi
Penne Mathews, Don't do it! Put that money somewhere useful. The twin city mission is not only increasing thier residents rent to $65/wk, but they have them working for them, they sell thier donated clothing. These residents get nothing of that. The twin city mission is not in need of money. They are getting plenty from the pockets of the homeless. Please put your money somewhere else and dont support those who can't help with thier hearts.

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