The name, First Fruits Orchard, is a play on a couple things, said Joe Prin, the orchard’s founder.

It refers to the First United Methodist Church, also known as Cathedral of the Rockies. The church owns the orchard, a formerly vacant lot that also houses a school teaching garden at Fort and 11th streets in Boise.

The name also refers to a biblical admonition, says Prin: “You should give fruits to God from the first of your harvest, not just give when you’re down to leftovers.”

Prin is the building superintendent for Cathedral of the Rockies. He and others working on the orchard project plan to give all the fruits that will eventually grow there — first, middle and last — to the community.

That includes providing for charitable meals at the church, for local food pantries and the odd passerby looking for a snack.

The orchard is in its early stages. There’s not a lot to see on frozen December dirt. But there are visible hints of what’s to come: Volunteers have laid pathways through the future orchard rows with concrete salvaged from the old sidewalks that once ringed the block.

Prin said he and other orchard volunteers will plant in the spring. They’re hoping nurseries throughout the state will donate trees. They want apples, pears, plums, and apricots in the mix, along with a grape arbor and bowers of raspberries.

The orchard will feature a grassy patch where kids can play. Prin invites local organizations to make the block an outdoor classroom.

“We want the best possible use of this space,” he said.

Part of the block is already in use as the Boise High Downtown Teaching Farm. The farm will continue to operate.

“Boise High has done a great job this year of keeping detailed records and generating food to donate. It inspired us,” said Prin.

MAKING PEACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Prin and Steve Spencer, assistant building superintendent, started talking about what they might do with the rest of the block that was not part of the Boise High project. The land had become a refuge for trash and puncture vine.

Spencer’s and Prin’s first idea was to plant an apple tree — a symbol from the Bible, appropriate for a church.

“Then we thought, how about planting 10 trees? How about filling the whole lot with trees?” said Prin.

The North End Neighborhood Association supports the project.

In the past, the church and the association have been at odds. More than a decade ago, the church razed several historic houses on the block. Plans to build a parking lot and apartment complex fell by the wayside, but the fallen houses upset neighbors.

“The loss of the historic structures is still there, but to see the church do something positive is a good thing,” said NENA President Don Plum.

He likes the idea of seeing fruit trees growing, even if it takes 10 or 15 years for them to mature. Providing free produce for the community, as well as educational programs for kids, is in keeping with the church’s mission as he sees it.

GIVING TO RECEIVE

The goal is to have all the First Fruits landscaping done by 2014, said Prin.

He calls himself an amateur gardener who’s “continually evolving” his skills. The First Fruits Orchard has a predecessor, he said. Prin works at the Cathedral of the Rockies, but is a member of the Hillview United Methodist Church on the Boise Bench.

Some years ago, he and his fellow congregants built a “First Fruits” vegetable cart that they set up in the church lobby during Sunday services.

Prin and the others encouraged members to stock the cart with “free offerings” — the produce from their gardens.

“We found that a lot of people who didn’t have finances for fresh fruit and vegetables appreciated it,” said Prin.

The church also taught classes on gardening, pickling and other home arts.

“We brought in thousands of pounds of produce,” said Prin.

The project taught him a lesson: “The more vegetables I give away, the better my garden grows for some reason. There’s a powerful stewardship message in that.”

PEOPLE ON BOARD

The message seems to be working for the First Fruits Orchard. Many volunteers and donors already are eager to make the project a reality, said Prin.

United Water will donate water for the first year. Solid Earth LLC prepared the site and removed existing debris.

3-D Landscape is working on layout and design as well as installing a drip-irrigation system.

Other faith groups are pitching in. Loyal To One Ministries, which provides safe and sober living situations for men getting out of prison and re-entering the work force, helped with walkways, plantings and ground covers.

There’s talk of more amenities. A beekeeper wants to set up bee boxes. A wrought-iron craftsman offered his services. A few people and the neighhborhood association have dropped off checks, said Prin.

It’s uncertain how long the orchard may remain. It’s always possible First Methodist will choose to develop the land one day.

“But for now,” said Prin, “this will be a living, growing thing.”

Anna Webb: 377-6431

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The Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society will now have a lawn and garden business in Prince Rupert after purchasing the land and greenhouses of the old Azalea Gardens site.

The business will be called Rupert Lawn Garden and Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society president Greg Grayson says not only will it be operated as a gardening store but will also be reformed into a landscaping business.

Grayson says Seal Cove residents will see a lot more construction in the area over the winter and he hopes to have the doors open to the public by spring.

“We’re going to continue the same type of business…growing flowers, having trees… Further more we are going to be looking at food and other types if landscaping business because it has existing landscaping and lawn cutting. What we wanted to do is we are a society and we provide programs and services to the membership and there’s never enough funds. We wanted to basically become self sufficient and start creating profit centres to plow the money back into our people.”

Grayson says the business will be apart of the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Economic Development Corporation and will hopefully be apart of many purchases to help fund the society.

Turfgrass conference set Feb. 6 at Overton

OVERTON — The East Texas Turfgrass Conference is Feb. 6 at the Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

“Our 2014 annual conference targets professional grounds and landscape managers for local school districts, city parks and recreation departments,” said Randy Reeves, Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service agent for Harrison County.

However, Reeves said, plenty of information will be presented that private homeowners will find interesting and useful.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and is $30 per person, payable at the door. Attendees will be eligible for five continuing education units toward the renewal of their Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license.

“Be sure to bring your pesticide license or pesticide number with you to ensure proper CEU credit,” Reeves said. “Your driver’s license number alone will no longer serve.”

The formal program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m., with an all-you-can-eat catfish lunch, which will be included with registration.

Morning program topics include “Turf Weed ID and Pesticide Updates” by Casey Reynolds, AgriLife Extension state turfgrass specialist in College Station; and “Water Issues and Drought Management,” by Dotty Woodson, AgriLife Extension water specialist in Dallas.

The afternoon presentations will be “Pesticide Laws and Regulation Update,” by Mark Matocha, AgriLife Extension specialist for agriculture and environmental safety in College Station; and two demonstrations, “Pesticide Drift Demonstration,” by Shane Colston, business manager and certified crop adviser with Winfield Solutions in Tyler; and a sprayer calibration demonstration.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with industry sponsors and view their exhibits.

For information, contact Reeves at (903) 935-8413 or dr-reeves@tamu.edu .

SFA professor lauded for mentoring

NACOGDOCHES – R. Tyler Spradley, assistant professor of communication studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, has received an endowed professorship established to reward faculty members who are excellent teachers and serve as mentors to their students.

The Jim Towns Mentoring Professorship recognizes professors who instill, foster and promote a mentoring culture at SFA.

Spradley joined the faculty of SFA’s College of Liberal and Applied Arts in 2002. He has taught graduate and undergraduate classes

Spradley holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in communication from SFA. He also earned a master’s degree in lay ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in communication from Texas AM University.

AAON Coil garners state, local awards

AAON Coil Products in Longview, a subsidiary of AAON, a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products, has earned two awards.

The company received the Employer Award of Excellence for the Workforce Solutions East Texas at the Texas Workforce Commission’s annual conference Dec. 4-6 in San Antonio.

The award honors employers who are actively involved with their local workforce board and have made a positive impact on employers, workers and the community.

In addition, the company has been selected as the 2013 Manufacturer of the Year by the Longview Chamber of Commerce. The award will be presented Jan. 14 at the Longview Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

AAON employs more than 300 employees at its Longview facility and is a top 15 employer for the city of Longview. AAON has been an active participant in the WorkKeys initiative for the East Texas workforce board, working with the board’s Longview Center and the Longview Economic Development Corp. to develop redesigned work flow processes.

“The partnerships between our employers and our local workforce boards are so important in continuing to develop a skilled, well-trained workforce in Texas,” said TWC Commissioner Hope Andrade.

AAON received the Manufacturer of the Year Award for its contribution to the local economy through job creation and corporate citizenship.

Trust president joins Longview bank

Paul Mason has joined the staff of Texas Bank and Trust as vice president and portfolio manager in the trust division, according to bank Chairman Rogers Pope.

Mason has more than eight years of experience in the investment management field, and most recently worked in Northern Trust’s Houston office as an associate portfolio manager.

In his role with Texas Bank and Trust, he will be responsible for managing existing portfolios for trust, retirement plan services and investment management accounts, as well as helping to develop new business for the division.

Mason holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife Katie, along with their two sons, moved to Longview from The Woodlands.

Law firm associated joins trial advocates

J. Ryan Fowler, lead attorney for the law firm of Sloan, Bagley, Hatcher Perry’s Houston office, has been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Membership is by invitation only.

Fowler, a native Texan and a resident of The Woodlands, also was recognized among the Texas Rising Stars in 2012 and 2013. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree, with honors, from the University of Texas in 2004 and a doctor of jurisprudence degree, cum laude, from Baylor University’s School of Law in 2007.

Fowler is a member of American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, College of the State Bar of Texas and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Fowler has also achieved certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law.

The Sloan firm was established in 1980 in Longview and opened an office in Houston in 2010.

Water gardens owner earns certification

Keith Weaver, owner of Keith’s Water Gardens and Landscaping in Longview, has become a certified Aquascape contractor.

Weaver, who has been in the landscaping and mowing business for 23 years, started building water gardens nine years ago. He’s been working toward his certification for eight years, a process that involved building ponds using Aquascape products, attending seminars and other steps.

Two join staff of Tyler accounting firm

Two employees have joined the staff of Henry Peters, a certificated public accounting firm.

Denise Guanco, a certified tax accountant, joined the firm in December as a tax supervisor. She is a graduate of Texas AM University, where she completed her bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and finance in 2000 and her master of business administration degree in 2012.

During her eight years in public accounting, Guanco has worked with CPA firms in Houston and Dallas. She gained the majority of her experience while working with Stiefel, Lyles and Allen as a senior tax accountant.

Guanco left public accounting in 2007 and moved to industry accounting, where she was tax manager for Martin Resource Management for the past six years.

New staff associate Brendon Dane graduated from the University of North Texas in May with his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Brendon worked with the Dallas firm of Montgomery, Coscia, Greilich

Longview bank hires marketing manager

Casey Huntsinger has joined the staff of Texas Bank and Trust Co. as vice president and marketing research manager in the marketing division, according to bank Chairman Rogers Pope.

Huntsinger has worked as branch manager for Regions Bank and JP Morgan Chase Bank. In his role with Texas Bank and Trust, he will manage and analyze customer demographics and perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of such data as customer segmentation, retention, next best product and product/customer profitability. He will be responsible for monitoring the bank’s marketing performance, sales promotion strategies and promotional campaigns.

Originally from Seattle, Wash., Huntsinger holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and marketing from Valley City State University.

U.S. rig count falls by 14 last week to 1,768

HOUSTON — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by 14 this past week to 1,768.

The Houston company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,395 rigs were exploring for oil and 372 for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,774 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana and West Virginia gained two rigs and Pennsylvania gained one.

Colorado lost six rigs, Texas and Wyoming lost three, Alaska dropped by two, and California and North Dakota each fell by one. Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah were unchanged.

— Share your news: Send news of new hires, job changes, promotions, awards, training completed and other news to the Sunday Business Digest by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Submissions may be faxed to (903) 757-3742; emailed to newstip@news- journal.com; or mailed to: Business Section, Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606. For information, call (903) 237-7744.

UNSUNG HEROES

Read more about heroes in your community in our 12 Days of Christmas Series.

SAN BERNARDINO Bobby Vega barely glanced at the spreadsheets and other documentation that are carefully gathered to show that the Urban Conservation Corps he leads transforms the lives of local young people and is worthy of the grants that continue to fund it.

He brushed aside mention of recent praise by city officials of how his corps members have cleaned up parks in the city and local mountains, including a rapid turn-around in response to criticism of the condition of the Feldheym Central Library.

He laughed at the number of meetings he’s asked to attend.

“I don’t have time for that,” he said. “I don’t care about what some agency thinks or about conservation. I care about these people, and I know it’s working because I’m not attending funerals. I’m not getting phone calls from parents saying their kids are being incarcerated.”

Vega, deputy director of the San Bernardino-based Urban Conservation Corps, said he’s learned from a 44-year lifetime in the city — growing up on its Westside and getting to know generations of people with serious issues — to do what needs to be done, rather than what’s supposed to be done.

“This is a place for second chances, third chances,” he said. “If we said it was gang intervention, no one would want anything to do with us, so we say we’re the conservation corps. And that means they get to be outside — in a place that’s theirs — and they learn a skill that can take them someplace.”

Vegas is a member of the city Parks and Recreation Commission and before that the Police Commission,

Since Vega started the Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire five years ago, hundreds of people have come through, including about 60 currently involved, he said.

Young people from 18 to 24, some on probation, attend a charter school at the corps’ headquarters on Orange Show Road two days a week, graduating with a high school degree. The other three days of the work week, they trim hedges, mow — whatever landscaping and related work is needed.

Earlier this month, the San Bernardino County Housing Authority contracted with the group to provide landscaping services for the public housing at Waterman Gardens, on the condition that participants are themselves residents of the complex.

“It’s good work,” said Cahlin Florence, 22. “If somebody trashes this place now — I don’t think I’d let them. That’s more work for me.”

That’s part of the philosophy behind the Urban Conservation Corps, Vega said.

“They own it, they get that responsibility, and they’re not going to let anything happen to it,” he said.

Key to the program’s success, Vega said, is that he understands the problems people in his program face. He knows their families, and their families know him.

“I’ve built that reputation,” he said. “And I know — look, in their world, looking somebody in the eye — normal eye contact — that will get you killed, mad-dogging. You need to know that. And you need to know why they’re doing it and how to have them stay like that when they need to, but also adopt the right behavior for the right circumstances.”

Many of the logistical details of the Urban Conservation Corps are handled by program director Sandra Bonilla, who compiled the spread sheet showing where program participants wound up — the military, fire departments, in some cases more modest successes like a warehouse job.

She said she joined up with Vega with a background in government and a graduate school education she thought told her everything she needed to do.

“But I kept trying things that didn’t work,” she said. “And so many times, I’d go to Bobby, and he’d say, ‘Here’s the problem. You can’t do that with these kids. Adapt it like this.’ And then it’d work.

“Bobby knows what they’re coming from. And he knows what they need.”

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Opal Series twin villas in Lakoya at Lely Resort.

Stock Development is nearing completion on four new models from the Opal Series in Phase II of Lakoya at Lely Resort.

“Lakoya has been a big hit with homebuyers and build out of the 149 homes in Phase I is underway,” said Tim Clark, vice president of sales at Lely Resort. “The Opal Series homes are spacious twin villa homes that have livability of their single-family counterparts.”

The Opal Series is a collection of four, single-story twin villa designs. The Arvanita model is being furnished by Soco Interiors, while the Napoli will feature an interior design by Beasley Henley Interiors. The Capri and Sienna will both showcase the work of Marc Michaels Interiors.

The Arvanita is a three-bedroom, two-bath home with 1,916 square feet of living area and 2,577 total square feet, including a screened and covered lanai with a pool and an attached two-car garage. Among the highlights of the Arvanita model are formal living and dining rooms. The former leads to the lanai through eight-foot tall sliding glass doors. The kitchen includes a dinette.

The Napoli, available as either a two-bedroom plus study, two-bath plan or a three-bedroom, two-bath plan, has 1,882 square feet of living space and a total of 2,546 square feet. This home includes a breakfast area, a tray ceiling in the living room and a large picture window in the study.

The Capri, a three-bedroom, two bath home, features 2,107 square feet of air-conditioned living space and 2,921 total square feet, including the two-car garage, lanai and covered entry. Both the living room and the master suite open directly to the lanai via sliding glass doors.

The Sienna is a two-bedroom with study, two-bath home with 2,195 square feet under air and a total of 2,978 square feet. The home has a formal dining room, a large dinette off the island-style kitchen and twin walk-in closets in the master suite.

Opal Series homes feature a two-car garage. Outside is a covered lanai with a pool and spa.

Phase II of Lakoya will offer 216 homesites and seven series of floor plans. More than a dozen furnished models are planned for the new year — all with the luxurious standard features packages from Stock, the 2013 Collier Building Industry Association Builder of the Year and member of this year’s nationwide Builder 100 list.

Lakoya is a meticulously planned 242-acre enclave with sculptured landscaping, classical gardens, choreographed fountains and elegant paved walking paths. It is surrounded by subtropical woodlands and The Classics 18-hole golf course, which features gentle undulations and tree-lined fairways. An elaborate series of lakes has been crafted throughout the neighborhood, giving the homes an array of water, golf course and nature preserve views.

Lely Resort offers three golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Lee Trevino and Gary Player, as well as two golf clubhouses.

Stock is nearing completion of a two-year expansion plan that will dramatically increase the size of The Players Club Spa. It has already completed 13 new tennis courts in the new Tennis Complex. The Players Club Spa provides an extraordinary value for nongolfers with an abundance of activities coordinated by a full-time staff, including whirlpools and a 3,500-square-foot fitness center.

“Stock’s expansion plan greatly increases the size of the entire Players Club Spa and ensure its amenity offerings are the most comprehensive to be found,” said Melissa Speach, director of lifestyle. “We are adding nearly 13,000 square feet under air to the existing structure. The second resort pool is nearing completion.”

The new pool is in addition to a 7,500-square-foot resort-style swimming pool plus a 2,500-square-foot exercise and lap pool with cabanas. There is a new full kitchen at the Tiki Bar, which has seven 50-inch flat screen TVs and there is also a tennis facility. Bark Park is open for the exclusive use of members who are dog owners.

Those interested in Lakoya should visit the Lely Resort website to register for our VIP list to be the first to know at www.lely-resort.com.

The central sales center for Lely Resort is at 8020 Grand Lely Drive, with entrances on U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard. From Interstate 75, take Exit 101 (Collier Boulevard) south five miles to Grand Lely Drive. The sales center is ahead one-half mile on the left.

On the Web at http://www.lely-resort.com.

NEW LISTINGS

DATED EVENTS

Garden Workdays: 9 a.m. to noon. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. Adults. 772-464-4672; www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org.

Getting Started on Your Lagoon-Friendly Landscape: IRC Master Gardeners. Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 19. IRC Administration Bldg. B, Room B-501, 1800 27th St., Vero Beach. Age 18+. Register: 772-226-3094; ircmg1@gmail.com.

Lagoon-Friendly Fertilizing: IRC Master Gardeners. Noon-1 p.m. March 19. IRC Administration Bldg. B, Room B-501, 1800 27th St., Vero Beach. Age 18+. Register: 772-226-3094; ircmg1@gmail.com.

Florida Native Landscaping: Course lectures will be delivered live with laboratories. 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Begins Jan. 8 until mid-April. University of Florida Fort Pierce campus, The Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 S. Rock Road, Fort Pierce. $600. Register: 772-468-3922; irrec.ifas.ufl.edu.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Unusual plant containers. 9 a.m. Jan. 23. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Academy Awards fashion show and luncheon. Noon Feb. 6. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Rose Gardening in Florida. 9 a.m. Feb. 27. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Fun with succulents. 9 a.m. March 27. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

Home Garden Show: Fine art and Orchid show and sale. Orchid show noon to 5 p.m. March 21. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22, 23. Martin County Fairgrounds, Stuart. 772-287-1088, ext. 111.

Garden Club of Stuart Annual Spring Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. April 7. Willoughby Golf Club, 3001 S.E. Doubleton Drive, Stuart. $30. Ticket: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Basic principles of flower arranging. 9 a.m. April 24. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

REGULAR MEETINGS

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker Stan Doerr, president and CEO of ECHO, discusses four plants that can assist in reducing world hunger. 11 a.m. Jan. 13. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker master gardener Laurie Hart, “Orchids are Easier to Grow Than You Think.” 11 a.m. Feb. 10. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker Martin Matei, “The Big Five of Tanzania.” 11 a.m. March 10. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: 11 a.m. meeting, 12:45 p.m. program. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave., Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

IRC Master Gardeners Plant Clinic: Have a plant question? The master gardeners can help. 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. IRC UFL/IFAS Extension Office, 1028 20th Place, Vero Beach. All ages. 772-770-5030; indian.ifas.ufl.edu.

Fort Pierce Orchid Society: 10 a.m. Garden Club of Fort Pierce, 911 Parkway Drive, Fort Pierce.

Gardening Advice: Bring your questions, a sample of the problem. 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-337-5632; library.stlucieco.gov.

Snowbirds Garden Club: Snowbirds Garden Club informal meetings. 1-3 p.m. Sebastian North County Library, CR 512, Sebastian. Adults. 772-581-9056; ecirish@comcast.net.

Treasure Coast African violet Society: Learn how to grow beautiful African violets. 10 a.m. Garden Center of Fort Pierce, 911 Parkway, Fort Pierce. $10 annual membership. 772-489-0504; emshelton315@aol.com.

Snowbirds Garden Club: Focused on gardening challenges for snowbirds and year-round residents. 1-3 p.m. 2nd Wed. North County Library, C.R. 512, Sebastian. Adults. ecirish@comcast.net.

MONDAY

Rio Lindo Garden Club: Monthly meeting, workshop, horticulture and ecology, have lunch. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parks Edge Recreation Center, 3201 S.W. Landale Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Age 18+. $30/year. 772-873-9446; iconley4055@comcast.net.

TUESDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 9 a.m. to noon. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

Gardening Advice: Provided by master gardeners. 1 to 3 p.m. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-4621-660; library.stlucieco.gov.

WEDNESDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 1 to 4 p.m. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

North IRC Master Gardener Clinic: Volunteers answer your plant questions. 10 a.m. to noon. North IRC Library, 1001 C.R. 512, Sebastian. 772-770-5030; indian.ifas.ufl.edu.

THURSDAY

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Monthly meetings on horticulture, floral arranging, ecology, plus outings. 9 a.m. to noon. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

Treasure Coast Hibiscus Society: 10:30 a.m. third Thursday. PSL Botanical Garden, 2410 Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Ages 14+. 772-337-2126; paddylaurie@bellsouth.net.

FRIDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 1 to 4 p.m. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

SATURDAY

Gardening Advice: Provided by master gardeners. 9 to 11 a.m. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-4621-660; library.stlucieco.gov.

GARDENS

Garden Walk: Old garden roses. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Country Care Roses, 14070 109th St., Fellsmere, RSVP: 772-559-5036; www.countrycareroses.com.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens: 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. November-April. $2-$6. 772-242-2293; hboi.fau.edu.

Historic Bok Sanctuary: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, $3-$10. 863-734-1221; www.boksanctuary.org.

McKee Botanical Garden: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 350 U.S. 1, Vero Beach, $4-$7 May 1-Oct. 30; $5-$9 Oct. 31-April 30. 772-794-0601; www.mckeegarden.org.

Oxbow Eco-Center: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 5400 N.E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie, 772-785-5833; www.co.st-lucie.fl.us/erd/oxbow.

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie, $5. 772-337-1959; www.pslbotanicalgardens.org.

Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open one weekend/month. 1905 S.W. Ranch Trail, Stuart. 772-283-5565; www.trbg.us.

Turfgrass conference set Feb. 6 at Overton

OVERTON — The East Texas Turfgrass Conference is Feb. 6 at the Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

“Our 2014 annual conference targets professional grounds and landscape managers for local school districts, city parks and recreation departments,” said Randy Reeves, Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service agent for Harrison County.

However, Reeves said, plenty of information will be presented that private homeowners will find interesting and useful.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and is $30 per person, payable at the door. Attendees will be eligible for five continuing education units toward the renewal of their Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license.

“Be sure to bring your pesticide license or pesticide number with you to ensure proper CEU credit,” Reeves said. “Your driver’s license number alone will no longer serve.”

The formal program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m., with an all-you-can-eat catfish lunch, which will be included with registration.

Morning program topics include “Turf Weed ID and Pesticide Updates” by Casey Reynolds, AgriLife Extension state turfgrass specialist in College Station; and “Water Issues and Drought Management,” by Dotty Woodson, AgriLife Extension water specialist in Dallas.

The afternoon presentations will be “Pesticide Laws and Regulation Update,” by Mark Matocha, AgriLife Extension specialist for agriculture and environmental safety in College Station; and two demonstrations, “Pesticide Drift Demonstration,” by Shane Colston, business manager and certified crop adviser with Winfield Solutions in Tyler; and a sprayer calibration demonstration.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with industry sponsors and view their exhibits.

For information, contact Reeves at (903) 935-8413 or dr-reeves@tamu.edu .

SFA professor lauded for mentoring

NACOGDOCHES – R. Tyler Spradley, assistant professor of communication studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, has received an endowed professorship established to reward faculty members who are excellent teachers and serve as mentors to their students.

The Jim Towns Mentoring Professorship recognizes professors who instill, foster and promote a mentoring culture at SFA.

Spradley joined the faculty of SFA’s College of Liberal and Applied Arts in 2002. He has taught graduate and undergraduate classes

Spradley holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in communication from SFA. He also earned a master’s degree in lay ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in communication from Texas AM University.

AAON Coil garners state, local awards

AAON Coil Products in Longview, a subsidiary of AAON, a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products, has earned two awards.

The company received the Employer Award of Excellence for the Workforce Solutions East Texas at the Texas Workforce Commission’s annual conference Dec. 4-6 in San Antonio.

The award honors employers who are actively involved with their local workforce board and have made a positive impact on employers, workers and the community.

In addition, the company has been selected as the 2013 Manufacturer of the Year by the Longview Chamber of Commerce. The award will be presented Jan. 14 at the Longview Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

AAON employs more than 300 employees at its Longview facility and is a top 15 employer for the city of Longview. AAON has been an active participant in the WorkKeys initiative for the East Texas workforce board, working with the board’s Longview Center and the Longview Economic Development Corp. to develop redesigned work flow processes.

“The partnerships between our employers and our local workforce boards are so important in continuing to develop a skilled, well-trained workforce in Texas,” said TWC Commissioner Hope Andrade.

AAON received the Manufacturer of the Year Award for its contribution to the local economy through job creation and corporate citizenship.

Trust president joins Longview bank

Paul Mason has joined the staff of Texas Bank and Trust as vice president and portfolio manager in the trust division, according to bank Chairman Rogers Pope.

Mason has more than eight years of experience in the investment management field, and most recently worked in Northern Trust’s Houston office as an associate portfolio manager.

In his role with Texas Bank and Trust, he will be responsible for managing existing portfolios for trust, retirement plan services and investment management accounts, as well as helping to develop new business for the division.

Mason holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife Katie, along with their two sons, moved to Longview from The Woodlands.

Law firm associated joins trial advocates

J. Ryan Fowler, lead attorney for the law firm of Sloan, Bagley, Hatcher Perry’s Houston office, has been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Membership is by invitation only.

Fowler, a native Texan and a resident of The Woodlands, also was recognized among the Texas Rising Stars in 2012 and 2013. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree, with honors, from the University of Texas in 2004 and a doctor of jurisprudence degree, cum laude, from Baylor University’s School of Law in 2007.

Fowler is a member of American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, College of the State Bar of Texas and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Fowler has also achieved certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law.

The Sloan firm was established in 1980 in Longview and opened an office in Houston in 2010.

Water gardens owner earns certification

Keith Weaver, owner of Keith’s Water Gardens and Landscaping in Longview, has become a certified Aquascape contractor.

Weaver, who has been in the landscaping and mowing business for 23 years, started building water gardens nine years ago. He’s been working toward his certification for eight years, a process that involved building ponds using Aquascape products, attending seminars and other steps.

Two join staff of Tyler accounting firm

Two employees have joined the staff of Henry Peters, a certificated public accounting firm.

Denise Guanco, a certified tax accountant, joined the firm in December as a tax supervisor. She is a graduate of Texas AM University, where she completed her bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and finance in 2000 and her master of business administration degree in 2012.

During her eight years in public accounting, Guanco has worked with CPA firms in Houston and Dallas. She gained the majority of her experience while working with Stiefel, Lyles and Allen as a senior tax accountant.

Guanco left public accounting in 2007 and moved to industry accounting, where she was tax manager for Martin Resource Management for the past six years.

New staff associate Brendon Dane graduated from the University of North Texas in May with his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Brendon worked with the Dallas firm of Montgomery, Coscia, Greilich

Longview bank hires marketing manager

Casey Huntsinger has joined the staff of Texas Bank and Trust Co. as vice president and marketing research manager in the marketing division, according to bank Chairman Rogers Pope.

Huntsinger has worked as branch manager for Regions Bank and JP Morgan Chase Bank. In his role with Texas Bank and Trust, he will manage and analyze customer demographics and perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of such data as customer segmentation, retention, next best product and product/customer profitability. He will be responsible for monitoring the bank’s marketing performance, sales promotion strategies and promotional campaigns.

Originally from Seattle, Wash., Huntsinger holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and marketing from Valley City State University.

U.S. rig count falls by 14 last week to 1,768

HOUSTON — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by 14 this past week to 1,768.

The Houston company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,395 rigs were exploring for oil and 372 for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,774 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana and West Virginia gained two rigs and Pennsylvania gained one.

Colorado lost six rigs, Texas and Wyoming lost three, Alaska dropped by two, and California and North Dakota each fell by one. Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah were unchanged.

— Share your news: Send news of new hires, job changes, promotions, awards, training completed and other news to the Sunday Business Digest by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Submissions may be faxed to (903) 757-3742; emailed to newstip@news- journal.com; or mailed to: Business Section, Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606. For information, call (903) 237-7744.

David V. Pearson, 84, of Warrensburg, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Missouri State Veterans Home.

David V. Pearson

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg with Father Joseph Miller officiating. Pallbearers will be Robert Hake, Matthew, Eric, Mark, and Dane Pearson.

Entombment will follow at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with full military honors provided by Whiteman Air Force Base Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Sweeney-Phillips Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, with prayer service at 6 p.m.

He was born in Coronado, Calif., the son of Victor E. and Dorothy (Stephenson) Pearson.

He was united in marriage to Maxine M. Warila on Aug. 17, 1952, in Butte, Mont.

David graduated from San Louis Obispo High School, San Luis Obispo, Calif., in 1947.  He attended the Montana School of Mines and Mineral Technology, and participated in the Air Force ROTC.  Upon graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor’s Degree in geological engineering, he entered active duty in the Air Force.  David had a long career in the Air Force and traveled with his growing family from Montana, all over the country and to Japan.

While on active duty, he acquired a Master’s Degree in geological engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City.  David went on to serve 26 years in the Air Force, retiring in 1979 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

David was very interested in gardening and landscaping. Every home lived in was beautifully landscaped. He had a great artistic sense and explored many mediums from painting to woodworking to photography. His home in Warrensburg particularly showed his love of gardening. After retiring from the Air Force, he decided to put his interest and skills into growing things and bought an old farm. Blueberry Hill Farm in Montserrat, Mo., blossomed under his care. The farm’s focus was grapes and “u-pick” berries. Folks traveled from far away to pick his blueberries, grapes, blackberries and other fruit and berries.

Somehow he found the time to also continue his education and he obtained a Specialist Degree in safety and a Master’s Degree in agriculture from Central Missouri State University. Mr. Pearson was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish of Warrensburg, the Master Gardeners of Johnson County, as well as more than 2,000 hours as a volunteer at Powell Gardens.

David is survived by his wife Maxine; six children, Karen Knight of Tacoma, Wash.; Kristine Pixler and husband, Gary, of Platte City, Mo.; Mark Pearson of Woodbridge, Va.; Kathie Hake of Raytown, Mo.; Eric Pearson and wife, Cindy, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Dave Pearson of Plano, Texas; one brother, John Pearson and wife, Beverly, of Camarillo, Calif.; one sister, Carol Rovai and husband, Tom, of Redding, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Aubrey, Robert H., David, Robert P., Adam, Angela, Matthew, James, William, Jennifer, Alexandria and Zachariah; and one great-grandson, Jordan.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Sacred Heart Parish or the Missouri State Veterans Home in Warrensburg and both can be left at the funeral home.

Posted by UCMnews
on December 20, 2013. Filed under Obituaries.
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