Lifestyle

Ty Rotan reads to Therapy Dog, Baci, and her handler, Lanette Thomas, during a Dog Day of Summer at the Van Zandt County Library in Canton.  Therapy Dogs of Van Zandt County are hosting Dog Days of Summer for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grades on August 12 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

For more than 160 years, the Crane family has been in the leather business.

Tony Crane is an eighth generation leather craftsman. He and his wife, Misty, recently opened a shop – Crane Custom Leather – in Canton’s Old Mill Marketplace Pavilion V Shop 174.

“I’m originally from east Tennessee,” Mr. Crane said. “I learned the business from my grandparents and a great uncle. I’m the only grandkid who went into the business and it will probably die with me unless one of my kids decides to go into it.”

The Cranes first operated a shop in Gatlinburg (Tenn.) National Park.

“We were in Gatlinburg about five years in the national park and then our shop flooded,” Mrs. Crane said. 

The Cranes lost a lot of inventory and supplies. A disagreement between their insurance and their landlord’s insurance was hard on the business. So when a friend working at the Grand Canyon suggested they move out west, they did.

Latexo the Super Hero made balloon animals at Summer Reading. Winners of these balloon animals were Madison York, Danica Rivers, Haylen York, Kinsey Jones, Kelso Ray Brown and Jaclyn Morris.

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

The Wills Point Community Farmers’ Market is currently in the midst of celebrating its third year of existence, setting up shop each Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the historic Depot Museum in downtown.

In previous years, the market had been held on the grounds of Bill “Ike” Allred and at Bruce Cabin, the site of Wills Cabin, during the summer months.

This year’s event, which began on May 15, got off to a slow start due in large part to the rollercoaster weather that wreaked havoc with growers and farmers throughout the first half of 2015. Even with the minor setback early on, items for sale at this year’s market have included homegrown produce and herbs, eggs, as well as jams, jellies, canned and baked goods.

“Because I Love You”

July 17, 1965, Noel Glen Smith Jr. (Stork) and Hattie Joyce Teague were married. The wedding colors were lavender and white.

“Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue”

Something old was a penny dated 1947 for my shoe, something new was my white high heel shoes and something borrowed was my wedding dress, borrowed from Paula Cox.  It was made just like the dress my oldest sister, Charlene, wore except in a larger size and it was a tea length.  I also wore the same veil as both of my older sisters.  My something blue was my garter.

We were married at my home in Andrews and my stepdad, Teague, walked me down the hall.

First Baptist Church will offer GriefShare, a nondenominational program for those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The DVD seminar features grief experts and real-life stories of people, followed by a small group discussion.

The GriefShare classes will start at 3 p.m. Aug. 2. in the parlor of First Baptist Church, 303 S. Athens St.  To register or for questions or information, call 903-567-4157 by July 30.

The pastors and church family of Grace Family Church of Canton are inviting the community to join them as they celebrate Grace Family Church's 13th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 19.

Their special guests will be national southern gospel recording artists, The Bilderbacks, from Fayetteville, Ark.

The church’s founding pastors, Jonathan Ray and Maria Smith, started the church 13 years ago in a storefront building on South Buffalo Street. Grace Family Church is now located at 1953 Mill Creek Rd.

Lunch provided following the service. 

The Van Zandt County Library will host its Freebie Third Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the library, 317 First Monday Ln.

This month’s presenter is Dr. Jennifer Jones. Her program will be on interviewing skills.

According to information from the library, “interviewing doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. The more you know about the interview process, what employers look for in candidates and how to respond to interview questions, the more confident you’ll be. Participate in our one-hour workshop to learn how you can put your best foot forward in an interview and land the job of your dreams.”

The program is sponsored by Educate Van Zandt and the library. 

The Van Zandt County Child Welfare Board recently hosted the Region IV Annual Awards Luncheon in Canton. 

On June 19, close to 100 people attended the luncheon, including members of the Van Zandt County commissioner’s court.  Texas is divided into nine regions and Region IV is comprised of 23 counties.  Every year, each county’s child welfare board submits nominees for those people and foster youth who “stand out” among all others.  Awards were given in the following categories and those winners represent the listed county:

Outstanding Female Youth – Van Zandt County

Outstanding Male Youth – Harrison County

Foster Parents of the Year – Van Zandt County

Outstanding CPS Leader – Cherokee County

Volunteer of the Year – Panola County

Outstanding Community Resource – Van Zandt County.