Everything Nac

    The StephenF.AustinStateUniversity health science program is partnering with the Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition for a service-learning project called “ALL Jacks Walk/Bike to School Day.”

    This project is designed to encourage SFA students, faculty and staff to walk or ride their bicycles to school on Wednesday, Oct. 5, to promote physical activity in the community.

    Dr. DawnElla Rust, SFA professor and health science program coordinator, is using the project to engage students in her environmental health class and identify the components of healthy communities. The project is based on figures that show mortality rates due to chronic diseases in Nacogdoches are significantly higher than the state average.

    Health science students at SFA will have the opportunity to conduct research about the walkability and bikeability of the university community as a part of their class with Rust. The research will coincide with International Walk to School Day, which is an event started by the Partnership for a Walkable America.

    “I have always loved service learning because it is about connecting concepts and principles with real-life experiences,” Rust said.

    Students and faculty and staff members who register and participate in the walk/bike day will have their names included in a drawing for door prizes such as water bottles and wrist ID sports bracelets. Registration is available on the Healthy Nacogdoches website at www.healthynacogoches.org.

    For more information, contact Rust at (936) 468-1495.

    Relay For Life of Nacogdoches County will hold a tailgate-themed kick off party to officially begin its annual campaign to raise funds for cancer research from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Nacogdoches Recreation Center.

    This year’s Relay For Life is sports themed, encouraging participants to “Team up against cancer!” The kick off party will provide information on how to create a Relay For Life team, how to honor loved ones by purchasing luminarias and how the American Cancer Society is working to fight cancer.

    “Our committee is so excited to kick off Relay For Life for the 2011-12 season and we’re looking forward to bringing more teams onboard,” said Derek Head, co-chair of the event.

    “We have plenty of fun things planned for the whole family, including a bigger and better chili cook-off, live entertainment and more ways to show support for those fighting cancer.”

    This year’s Relay For Life event is slated for Friday, March 30, 2012, through Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Nacogdoches Expo Center. Anyone interested in creating or joining a team may call (936) 468-4611 or e-mail nacrelay@yahoo.com. For more information or to register online, visit www.relayforlife.org/nacogdochescotx.

    Experts on various aspects of grief and the grieving process are partnering with the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre to present a series of talks, “Survived By … ,” in conjunction with the five performances of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole” on Tuesday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 8, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

The Rev. Dr. Brent Peery, director of chaplaincy services at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, will be the keynote speaker during a five-day Survived By . . . symposium offered in conjunction with the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatres performances of David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole on Tuesday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 8, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

    The Pulitzer Prize-winning play focuses on a young couple who, eight months after the accidental death of their four-year-old son, are struggling to move forward with their lives.

    “The straightforward manner with which Lindsay-Abaire treats the subject matter enables the audience to relate to the five characters and their separate reactions to the loss,” explained Shattuck. “The symposium offers an opportunity for the audiences to learn more about family grief.”

    Each performance of the play begins at 7:30 p.m. and lasts about an hour and a half.

    The audience is invited to remain in the auditorium for post-performance talks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

    Wilma Cordova, SFA assistant professor of social work, will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Her topic is “To Grieve or Not to Grieve: Cultural Implications in the Grief Process.”

    Patricia Foster, SFA instructor of psychology, will present “What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger–Towards a Philosophy of Regaining Control” on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

    Dr. James Buckingham, board-certified psychiatrist who has a private practice in Nacogdcohes, will deliver “Companions on the Journey” on Friday, Oct. 7.

    The Thursday, Oct. 6, audience is invited to arrive by 6:30 p.m. in order to hear “Children and Grief,” presented by Demetress Harrell, senior executive director of Hospice in the Pines, Inc.

    A further exploration of the grief experience will be offered on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 8. The Rev. Dr. Brent Peery, director of chaplaincy services at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, will give a 2 p.m. keynote address, “Of God, Angels and Parallel Universes: The Spiritual Needs of Grieving Parents.”

    Peery will be followed by a panel discussion at 3:15 p.m. Brent Uzell, spiritual leader of Unity Christian Church of Nacgodoches, will moderate for panel members Buckingham; Peery; the Rev. Wes Bynum, bereavement coordinator of Hospice of East Texas; and Diedre Cantrell, Longview senior and dramaturg for the production.

    Bynum will present the final talk, “The Grief Process,” at 4:45 p.m.

    All talks will be held in W.M. Turner Auditorium, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Dr.

    “Rabbit Hole” is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Theatre. It is sponsored in part by Tipton Ford-Lincoln.

    Admission to “Rabbit Hole” is $12 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. For tickets or more information, please go to www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Admission to all “Survived By … ” events is free.