PALESTINE, Texas (July 19, 2017) – The costs of attending college are high. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a year can cost up to $11,806 in tuition alone at a public university.
To help local students and parents start mapping the best route to that degree, the Palestine Public Library is offering a College Planning program at 6 p.m. on July 25 at the library.
Misti Gonzales, a financial aid advisor with Trinity Valley Community College, and career counselors will be there to talk about applying for colleges, the financial aid process and to answer questions on how not only to get into college, but paying for it as well.
“This is a great opportunity for kids going into high school or kids starting to think about college to attend,” Youth Services Librarian Jaime King said. “Parents can learn about student loans, and what services are available.”
During the program, students and parents will learn the opportunities for funding that exist, like grants, scholarships and student loans. Also available will be information on how to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The class is open to any student, regardless of school affiliation. “We would encourage homeschool parents and students who may not have a traditional school setting to attend,” King said.
For more information on the College Planning program, or any of the youth or adult services of the Palestine Public Library, contact the library at 903-729-4121, or on the web at youseemore.com/palestine.
PALESTINE, Texas (July 7, 2017) – The City of Palestine will continue its summer mosquito spraying on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.
Between the hours of 9 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, sprayers will be dispatched to Area 5.
Area 5 encompasses the streets of Park Avenue north to Kenny Street on the east side of the city. It encompasses neighborhoods east of St. Hwy. 155 and Brushy Creek Road.
A full map of the spraying areas can be found on the City of Palestine’s website at cityofpalestinetx.com.
The City of Palestine contracts its mosquito spraying to Vector Disease Control International. Residents can make mosquito complaints to the City of Palestine Community Services Department, Environmental Services Division, at 903-731-8435.
PALESTINE, Texas (July 6, 2017) – The City of Palestine’s effort to update its zoning code moves into its second stage with a series of zoning workshops set from July 13 to July 20.
“Our update to the zoning code is going along well,” Development Services Director Jeffrey Lyons said. “We encourage everyone to participate in the next step of the process.”
The public is invited to take part in the workshops, each with a different focus of future development.
The first workshop will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 at the Westwood High School Fine Arts Building, 1820 Panther Blvd. The focus of the workshop will be neighborhood design guidelines.
During one exercise, the public and invited neighborhood participants will be given a set of cards showing various design elements. Then the participants will place stickers on the location of various uses, architecture, landscaping and design standards.
The second workshop will be on Tuesday, July 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Eilenberger’s Bakery, 512 N. John St. and the focus will be on development in the downtown and historic districts.
During the downtown/historic districts workshop, the public, along with invited downtown residents and business and property owners will take part in three interactive activities.
The final workshop will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the City Council Conference Room, 504 N. Queen St.. The workshop wiil focus on commercial properties along major roads and highways, like South Loop 256.
Property owners, brokers, developers and real estate agents will be invited to take part with the public. The workshop, facilitated by Lyons and Shai Roos of Stantec, will have interactive activities that are designed to give participants a way to give their opinions on future development.
The data gathered at the workshops, along with data previously obtained during earlier presentations and surveys, will then be collected by Stantec, a civil engineering and planning firm hired to be consultants for the zoning code update. Also part of the code update will be members of the Zoning Steering Committee, a group comprised of members of various boards and committees, and members of the public nominated by City Council members.
According to Lyons, the current zoning ordinance is 25 years old and is past due for a revision.
Schedule Of Events
Thursday, July 13
Neighborhoods Workshop
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Westwood High School Fine Arts Building
1820 Panther Boulevard
Tuesday, July 18
Downtown/Historic District Workshop
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Eilenberger’s Bakery
512 N. John St.
Thursday, July 20
Commercial Properties Workshop
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
City Council Meeting Room
504 N. Queen St.
