PORT ARTHUR — Cooking school is back!

I can’t wait to see readers at the Taste of Home Cooking School that The News will present Tuesday, March 16, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. The News offered these years ago and they were packed. Let’s pack the house again. Tickets are $8 in advance from The News and $10 at the door. Goody bags are involved.



Vote Hanna’s Reef

Jerry Diaz reports Hanna’s Reef has a new CD, “Home on the Gulf Coast,” and is also calling fans to vote for them, as they’re nominated for a Texas Music Award.

Jerry Diaz & Hanna's Reef has been chosen as a finalist in the "Live Band" category at the 2010 Texas Music Awards. The 8th annual Texas Music Awards will be May 15 in Marshall. The "Live Band" category is decided by fan vote exclusively, and anyone can vote through the TMA's website (www.texasmusicawards.org)

For more information, visit, www.jerrydiaz.com.

Look for a feature story in The News about Hannah’s Reef soon.



Scrapbookers welcome

The News saw a lot of traffic on Tuesday, when folks came in with vintage photographs to scan for our upcoming published “scrapbook.” We saw photos ranging from shoppers on Procter Street and floods to Hussars and historical buildings.

Roger Cowles is planning another day for readers to bring in their photos on Thursday, March 11. Participants, please bring a written sentence that explains what’s going on in the photo. We weren’t there, we don’t know!



Save your calories for the Cuisine Walk

The Nederland Heritage Festival’s “Famous Cuisine Walk” will feature lions boiling crawfish and saints with shrimp and pistolettes. The gang signed up for the 2010 festival includes:

• Port Neches Rainbow No. 159 — Funnel Cakes

• Mid-County Performing Arts — Sausage on a stick, burritos

• Port Arthur Little Theatre, Scottish eggs, soft pretzels

• Shriners — Barbecue chipped beef and links

• Cheer FX Booster Club — Chicken & Beef Fajitas

• Hillcrest Baptist Church — Monte Cristo Sandwiches

• ABWA Aquarius Chapter — Chicken gumbo, super nachos

“Let’s Try it Again in 2010” is the Nederland Heritage Festival’s theme. The festival is set for March 9-14 along Boston Avenue in Nederland. For more festival information, call Wanda Hollier at 724-2269.



Shopping benefits Mission

Mae Terro gives women a reason to shop. The Attic Crossing, 3301 Medical Triangle Drive, is offering a 20 percent savings off new “ladies fashion hand bags” through Thursday, March 11. Proceeds will benefit United Board of Mission Services.



Geaux for the Gold!

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas fundraiser will send someone home with $10,000 in gold at a party set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18. Call 832-3432 for details on the Cajun-style dinner.



“Brigadoon”

Paula Bothe will direct “Brigadoon” for Beaumont Community Players. Audition swill be March 8-9 at the Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts, 4155 Laurel Ave. in Beaumont.

ddoiron@panews.com