Lifestyle

Legacy Ag Credit of Canton held their annual customer appreciation lunch Oct. 13. William Bennet manned the grill for the day. The customers were treated to a lunch featuring hamburgers with all the fixing free of charge. 

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

Wooo...it's the scary time of the year! Per history.com, “straddling the line between fall's plenty and winter's scarcity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.”

During Storytime at the Van Zandt County Library, Miss Rhonda will be reading books about Halloween. At 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, prepare to be spooked!

Mimi Sherwin is the subject of this week's Volunteer Profile. She feels that libraries are a vital part of a growing community and has volunteered five years in an effort to help keep the library progressing.

Ms. Rhonda read stories about fall during Storytime at the Van Zandt County Library.  One book was about a squirrel that did not want to leave his house and was always prepared for any emergency until he discovers that he is a ‘flying’ squirrel and can jump into the unknown and return home.  One of the books told about all the fun things to do in fall like jumping in leaves, apple picking, the county fair, hayrides and carving pumpkins.  The last book was titled ‘Those Darn Squirrels’ which was a story about a man that loves birds and hates squirrels. However, after the birds flew south he was lonely and the squirrels held a meeting and decided to give the old man a present.  Storytime is held at the Van Zandt County Library 317 First Monday Lane, Canton at 10 a.m. every Friday. 

On Sept. 24, the CHS Class of 1966 met at the Van Zandt Country Club to celebrate their 50^th high school reunion. 

During the event, the class recognized its members who served in the military. Many of the class members served in Vietnam.  The class also donated a book called ‘Veterans Voices, Remarkable Stories of Heroism, Sacrifice, and Honor’ by Robert H. Miller and Andrew Wakeford to the Van Zandt County Library in honor of those classmates.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

Cody Brown of Canton recently completed 13 weeks of Marine Corp boot camp to earn the title of United States Marine. 

He is a graduate of Canton High School and Stephen F. Austin University where he was a two- sport athlete. He won four conference championships and many other honors eventually earning the cross country MVP award.

He is following in his father’s footsteps, continuing the rich tradition of the Marines. He will be heading to Camp Pendleton to begin Recon school.

He is the son of Gary and Lanette Brown. 

The Van Zandt County Humane Society participated in the annual "Blessing of the Animals" Oct. 1. 

Carol Whatley, president of the organization, was in attendance.  "We had such a great time, and the weather was gorgeous.  There were quite a few dogs, and a horse named Easter was there for a blessing too.  Father Studenny seems to enjoy the celebration as much as we do.  He blesses the group and then each animal separately.  We took a deaf puppy, Alicia, and the picture shows how she feels.  I think we all wanted to kiss his forehead."

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of all animals; his life is celebrated each year during the first week of October.

"Carolyn Davis, of St. Justin the Martyr Episcopal Church, organizes this event every year, and she does a great job.  Thank you to Carolyn and Father Ron," said Ms. Whatley.

For information about VZCHS, call 903 962 5700, or visit vzchumanesociety.org.

The Therapy Dogs of Van Zandt County participated in a fashion show at Canton Oaks Oct. 4.

The dogs modeled outfits with themes of beach fun, country and western, life at large, superheroes, make believe and bling. Dogs participating in delighting the residents were Baci the Bichon, Boomer the black Lab, Hobo the goldendoodle, Maggie the pit bull, Ladybug the giant schnauzer, Princess the pom and Zoey the Great Pyrenees.

The dogs delighted the residents of Canton Oaks. There was a lot of laughter and fun throughout the whole show,” said Vickie Ragle, VZC Therapy Dogs spokesperson. 

There was lots of monkey business” at the Van Zandt County Library recently. Ms. Rhonda read stories about monkeys.  The first book was ‘Naughty Little Monkeys’ by Jim Aylesworth about 26 little monkeys left at home alone.  These monkeys can’t resist having a little fun.  The next book was titled ‘Cha Cha Chimps’ by Julia Durango which included counting and dancing, where hippos hokey-pokey and meerkats Macarena and 10  little chimps do the cha cha cha.  The last book was based on an old favorite ‘Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed’ by Eileen Christelow which is a play on words from the song ‘Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the bed.’ The craft of the day was a paper bag monkey

The Canton Fire Department will hold a fundraiser by selling pink T-shirts and hats. The shirts are available at the Canton Fire Station, 1390 S. Trades Day Blvd., Canton. “The bright pink shirts help raise awareness of breast cancer and funds are then donated to the community,” Canton Firefighter Tony Bates said. The department will also be selling hats this year. Cost for a hat is $20 and for a T-shirt, $10.  The shirts will be available for pickup Oct. 1-31. “We return 51 percent of the funds raised to the community and the other 49 percent goes into a benevolence fund for the firefighters,” Bates said. 

On Sept. 29, 2016, during the East Texas Council of Governments 93^rd  Semi-Annual Board of Directors meeting at Henderson Civic Center in Henderson, VZC Commissioner Pct. 2 Virgil Melton Jr. was awarded the Chairman's Service Award.

The award is for excellent service on the  Board of Directors Executive Committee and for chairing and serving on sub-committees of the Executive Committee.

Commissioner Melton serves as First Vice Chair on the Executive Committee, representing 14 counties in East Texas of which Van Zandt County is a member. ETCOG is responsible for carrying out the policies and programs as established by the Board of Directors, determining regional plans to be undertaken, authorizing contracts, and the application for grants.