Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! To all the fellows out there be sure to tell your mother how much you love her and give her a big hug. If you cannot be with your mother today, remember her with a prayer or call her and tell her how special she is and that you love and miss her. To me, Mothers make the world go round and a better place because of their never ending love, compassion and wisdom.

The 11h Annual Corsicana AirSho hosted by the Coyote Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force was held yesterday at the Corsicana Municipal Airport. We are thankful the weather cooperated and provided us with good weather again for another of our community events. Congratulations to the Coyote Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force and their many volunteers who put many hours into planning and coordinating the air show.

Commencements at Navarro College began this past Friday evening and yesterday and this year they held commencement in Midlothian due to the number of students in Ellis County attending their campuses in Waxahachie and Midlothian. To those graduating, remember and enjoy your day. Congratulations and best wishes in your future endeavors!

The Collins Scholarship Awards given to Corsicana High School graduating seniors were announced last week by the Collins Scholarship Committee and CISD. This year there were 34 recipients and I congratulate each and every one of you for your high standards of achievement and commitment to further your education. Well done!

I saw where Kerens has a junior, Alex Layfield, heading off to the Class 2A state tennis championship starting tomorrow in Austin. This is not Alex’s first trip to the state championship and we wish you well and hope this is your year and that you will bring back the championship trophy.

This past Thursday the North Texas Small Business Association held their 2009 Award Winners luncheon in Arlington. Robin Lasher, Executive Director for the Small Business Development Center at Navarro College had submitted a small business from our county for the Home-Based Business Champion category. Jacklyn King, Co-owner of P.O.P. Acres Ranch & Farm in Purdon was submitted and won. P.O.P. Acres is dedicated to bring local foods to the consumer. They have a 123-acre ranch and all products are naturally grown and made in the Lone Star State. The cattle receive no grains, hormones or antibiotics and are processed and packed in USDA-inspected facilities. The Texas Department of Agriculture has certified P.O.P. Acres as a Certified Organic Operation. If you are starting or have a small business and would like to find out more information on how to start or grow your business, Robin at SBDC at Navarro College is excellent at what she does and has a vast amount of experience and information available to help you in your business plans. You can contact Robin at (903) 875-7667.

Members of the STAR Board, Dr. Keith Moore, AVID site team members and Jim Barnette presented a $1,000 check to each AVID student, Vanessa Williams and Tocola Kelly, at Corsicana High School last Monday at 3:00 PM. The STAR contribution will be used for their trip to Europe for being selected by the People to People Ambassador program.

What’s Coming Up?

May 12 -- “Nacho Average Luau”

AVID is celebrating with a “Nacho Average Luau” at the Corsicana High School Commons from 7 to 8:20 p.m. All AVID students and families, AVID Site team members and families, all STAR board members/Role Models and families, CARE board members and families and all sponsors of students attending summer programs are invited.

May 11 – Chamber Tourism Committee meets at Chamber at noon.

May 13th – STAR Role Model Training Session conducted by Tracey Denbow will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber. Dinner will be provided for the training class.

May 13 – Chamber Executive Committee meets at Chamber at 3 p.m.

May 13 – Chamber Utility Infrastructure Committee meets at Chamber at 11 a.m.

May 14 – Chamber Long Range Planning Committee meets at Chamber at 8 a.m.

May 14 – Chamber Membership Committee meets at Chamber at 4 p.m.

May 15 – Chamber Community Outreach Committee meets at Chamber at 11 a.m.

May 15 – Navarro County Relay for Life starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m. Saturday at Community Park by the YMCA. For more information please contact Jamie Kitchens at (903) 875-9729 or jamekitch@yahooo.com. This event raises money to fight the cause of cancer.

May 18 – STAR/CISD & AVID meet at Chamber at 4 p.m.

May 19 – Corsicana Development Commission meets at Chamber at 3 p.m.

May 20 – Chamber Area Foundation Board meets at Chamber at noon

May 27 – Chamber Ambassador Committee meets at Chamber at noon

May 27 – STAR Role Model Luncheon for all the Role Models at the Lone Star Room at Navarro College beginning at 11:30. The objective of these luncheons is to provide additional information to the Role models about subjects that can be used to help the AVID student they are working with and to bridge the “generation gap” as they begin to develop their communications and relationships with one another.

June 1 - STAR (Success Through Active Role Modeling) Information Session. If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact the Chamber or log onto STAR’s website at WWW.STARNC.ORG or plan to attend the next Information Session scheduled for Monday, June 1st from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Chamber. Please call to RSVP if you would like to learn more about STAR and AVID.

June 20 – 1st Annual Navarro County B-B-Q Cook-Off. The committee is planning and organizing a Navarro County Wide BBQ Cook Off at Bunert Park on June 20. Mark this date!

On behalf of the Chamber Board of Directors, I would like to extend our thanks to all the Chamber members and volunteers who are instrumental in the success of the Chamber.

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Paul Hooper is executive director of the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce. He may be reached by e-mail at phooper@corsicana.org. Want to “Soundoff” on this column? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com