By TOMIE PARKS
Staff writer
If there’s a blank spot on your New Year’s resolution list, consider filling it with the pledge to become a volunteer.
One group that could use the extra help is Taylor’s Meals on Wheels. The program provides food and company to the area’s home-bound senior citizens.
“We need help for the whole year,” said coordinator Verna Guajardo, explaining that the efforts of the Meals on Wheels crew are non-stop. “The seniors need their lunches everyday, and the area we cover is broad.”
The group services the Taylor, Thrall and Bartlett areas.
“That makes five different routes,” Guajardo said.
Making stops Monday through Friday, the local Meals on Wheels team managed to deliver a total of 17,925 lunches in 2010.
Naomi Pasemann, of Taylor, has volunteered with the group for five years, and she said the work is rewarding.
“It’s a grand experience, so I’d encourage anyone to be a part of it,” Pasemann said. “It’s a way to see a people be helped, and it’s right here in Taylor.”
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Taylor band makes good impression at regional contest
By TOMIE PARKS
Staff writer
December has turned out to be a good month for Taylor High School’s Duck Band.
Their run of recent success started Dec. 11 when they auditioned for the state’s All Region Band.
“That’s where the top students from the different bands in Texas come together to compete,” said Jacques Brown, THS band director. “It’s a contest run by the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and this year it took place at Smithville High School.
Of the 19 Taylor band students who auditioned, 13 earned spots on the All Region Band.
The winners include Ashley Bengston, Kyle Bohac, Taylor Bryant, Nathan Dunn, Lorellye Graham, Amy Janecka, Travis Kovar, Diane Lepe, Elric Martinez, Andrea Navarro, Stephen Svatek, Julie Polasek and Josh Villarreal.
As All Region Band members, those 13 students will have the chance to spend a weekend at Texas State University in Waco.
“They’ll be rehearsing for a big concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 22,” Brown said.
But the success story doesn’t end there.
Staff writer
December has turned out to be a good month for Taylor High School’s Duck Band.
Their run of recent success started Dec. 11 when they auditioned for the state’s All Region Band.
“That’s where the top students from the different bands in Texas come together to compete,” said Jacques Brown, THS band director. “It’s a contest run by the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and this year it took place at Smithville High School.
Of the 19 Taylor band students who auditioned, 13 earned spots on the All Region Band.
The winners include Ashley Bengston, Kyle Bohac, Taylor Bryant, Nathan Dunn, Lorellye Graham, Amy Janecka, Travis Kovar, Diane Lepe, Elric Martinez, Andrea Navarro, Stephen Svatek, Julie Polasek and Josh Villarreal.
As All Region Band members, those 13 students will have the chance to spend a weekend at Texas State University in Waco.
“They’ll be rehearsing for a big concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 22,” Brown said.
But the success story doesn’t end there.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Youngsters ring charity bells
By TOMIE PARKS
Staff writer
“Thank you and Merry Christmas!”
Those are four simple words, but they have a world of meaning to Stephanie Richardson, a 13-year-old student from Taylor Middle School.
“It’s a good thing to see people donate,” Stephanie said as she rang a Salvation Army holiday bell. “It’s nice to watch them put money in for kids.”
She knows exactly what kind of good that money can provide.
“There was one year when we, my two brothers and sister, didn’t have nothing,” Stephanie said. “But the Salvation Army made sure we had stuff for Christmas. And it was wonderful.”
That’s why she volunteered to brave the cold wind and man a Salvation Army post last Thursday night outside of the Walmart in Taylor.
Staff writer
“Thank you and Merry Christmas!”
Those are four simple words, but they have a world of meaning to Stephanie Richardson, a 13-year-old student from Taylor Middle School.
“It’s a good thing to see people donate,” Stephanie said as she rang a Salvation Army holiday bell. “It’s nice to watch them put money in for kids.”
She knows exactly what kind of good that money can provide.
“There was one year when we, my two brothers and sister, didn’t have nothing,” Stephanie said. “But the Salvation Army made sure we had stuff for Christmas. And it was wonderful.”
That’s why she volunteered to brave the cold wind and man a Salvation Army post last Thursday night outside of the Walmart in Taylor.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Soldiers come home, families overjoyed
By TOMIE PARKS
Staff writer
It was a camouflaged Christmas Saturday. Literally.
Dozens of Army bags and holiday decorations decked the halls at the Texas Army National Guard armory in Taylor as a crowd of about 100 awaited the homecoming of the Guard’s Alpha Troop.
“The luggage made it to Taylor before the troop did,” said Lila Beard, of Austin, the troop’s family readiness group leader. “They’re all coming home from Iraq.”
The 63 Army duffels didn’t have to wait long for their owners, though.
Staff writer
It was a camouflaged Christmas Saturday. Literally.
Dozens of Army bags and holiday decorations decked the halls at the Texas Army National Guard armory in Taylor as a crowd of about 100 awaited the homecoming of the Guard’s Alpha Troop.
“The luggage made it to Taylor before the troop did,” said Lila Beard, of Austin, the troop’s family readiness group leader. “They’re all coming home from Iraq.”
The 63 Army duffels didn’t have to wait long for their owners, though.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Hunter’s greatest trophies call him Grandpa
By TOMIE PARKS
Contributing Writer to the July 2010 issue of Texas Wildlife
To Alvin Dusek, the thrill of the hunt is second only to the thrill of being Grandpa.
“And when you put them together, you’ve got one heck of a day,” he said.
The 76-year-old TWA member lives in Temple, but he spends most “good weather days” at the 16-acre spread of land he owns in Belton. He calls it The Ponderosa. “It’s a nice place for dove hunting in the fall, and down the road in Holland is a good spot for fishing,” he said.
But he’s rarely got the place to himself. With seven grandchildren, he’s got plenty of overnight guests. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Dusek said.
Contributing Writer to the July 2010 issue of Texas Wildlife
To Alvin Dusek, the thrill of the hunt is second only to the thrill of being Grandpa.
“And when you put them together, you’ve got one heck of a day,” he said.
The 76-year-old TWA member lives in Temple, but he spends most “good weather days” at the 16-acre spread of land he owns in Belton. He calls it The Ponderosa. “It’s a nice place for dove hunting in the fall, and down the road in Holland is a good spot for fishing,” he said.
But he’s rarely got the place to himself. With seven grandchildren, he’s got plenty of overnight guests. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Dusek said.
Friday, March 26, 2010
New byline
All of my future articles will be published under the byline of Tomie Parks.
I married Brandon "Rusty" Parks of Austin on March 14. It was a fabulous ceremony, and we are happy to be newlyweds. See some pictures at http://juneblossomphotography.
I will change the blog title after my new byline makes its debut.
I married Brandon "Rusty" Parks of Austin on March 14. It was a fabulous ceremony, and we are happy to be newlyweds. See some pictures at http://juneblossomphotography.
I will change the blog title after my new byline makes its debut.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Updated résumé
Tomie V. Parks
tomie.parks@gmail.com
Triple Q Questions, June 2010-present, contract content provider
• Submit, edit and rewrite quiz bowl material for U.S. school districts
Taylor Daily Press, Dec. 2011-Jan. 2011, assistant lifestyles editor
• Generated quality news and feature stories.
Temple Daily Telegram, July 2006-February 2010, assistant lifestyles editor
• Generated quality news and feature stories.
• Stories consistently published throughout Texas via the Associated Press (See Appendix A).
• Managed content and design of daily lifestyle pages and weekend feature sections.
• Maintained online content for lifestyle section.
• End-stage copy editor for daily and weekend feature sections.
Galveston County Daily News, March 2005-May 06, editorial assistant
• Responsible for content and design of weekly Applause tab. Duties included writing feature stories, editing copy and maintaining community calendars
El Campo Leader-News, July 2004-January 05, reporter
• Generated news and feature stories for twice-weekly newspaper. Beats were crime, education, agriculture and religion.
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