Everything Nac

Faculty and staff from several Stephen F. Austin State University programs worked together to create the Nacogdoches Parkinson’s Support Group, which will meet once a month at Christ Episcopal Church, located at 1430 Mound St.

The first meeting is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 13, with the group set to meet on the second Thursday of the month moving forward. Those suffering from Parkinson’s disease as well as their loved ones are invited to the meetings.

“There’s a need for a Parkinson’s disease support group in this area because the closest ones are in Tyler and Longview,” said Deena Petersen, clinic director for SFA’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders who was instrumental in the group’s creation. “Those with the disease will benefit from the support of others dealing with the same issues. We want spouses and loved ones to come and be a part of this because they also are affected.”

The support group is the result of collaboration by faculty and staff from two programs in the James I. Perkins College of Education’s Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership — speech-language pathology and professional counseling — and the School of Social Work in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts.

Petersen said organizers would like to attract at least two dozen people to the meetings. According to research, there’s a demand for such gatherings. East Texas has a high rate for Parkinson’s disease, with Tyler neurologist Dr. George Plotkin calling the area the “Parkinson’s Belt.”

Citing research, Petersen said the disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s. Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with it.

Petersen said the formation of the group was an outgrowth of the services offered through the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders.

“We currently have a speech program for a group of clients with Parkinson’s disease,” she said. “They would like to build relationships with others with the disease.”

Stephen F. Austin State University voice students Sara Rosado and Cole Jones rehearse a scene from Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” the School of Music’s 2023 Opera Theater production. Rosado, a graduate student from Katy, is in the role of Carmen; and Jones, a graduate student from Livingston is in the role of Don José. Principal roles are multi-cast for performances in order to give more students an opportunity to perform in an opera. “Carmen” performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 30 through April 1, in Cole Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students and youth. For tickets, visit sfasu.edu/finearts or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. For more information about the opera or School of Music, call (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s horticulture program and the Horticulture Club will host Plants and Pancakes from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 1, at the Plantery, located at 1924 Wilson Dr.

Plants available for purchase include a variety of edibles, annuals, houseplants and succulents. Pancakes will be free, but a donation is encouraged.

The Plantery, a garden program within the Department of Agriculture, gives students the ability to grow plants in an on-campus microfarm, as well as in greenhouses and teaching gardens around the Agriculture Building.

“The students are so excited to share the incredible plants they’ve been cultivating,” said Dr. Jared Barnes, associate professor of horticulture and steward of the Plantery. “We want people to visit the microfarm and buy plants since all proceeds support student learning.”

In the event of rain, Plants and Pancakes will be held inside the Plantery greenhouse.

The Horticulture Club is an active organization with students from across campus. They meet Tuesday nights in the Agriculture Building.

For more event information, contact Barnes at barnesj@sfasu.edu. To learn more about the Plantery, visit horticultureisawesome.com/the-plantery or follow @sfahorticulture on Instagram.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. April 13 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Dawn Stover, a study leader at the East Texas Plant Materials Center within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will present “Finding the Ephemeral: Chasing Elusive Botanical Treasures of East Texas.”

Stover joined the conservation service in November 2021. She is currently working on germplasm adaptation trails, conservation plant releases and seeding rate studies to benefit landowners and land managers in East Texas and western Louisiana.

Prior to her current position, Stover spent more than two decades as a research associate at SFA, where she developed an extensive program to collect, propagate, display and distribute plants native to East Texas. She has extensive greenhouse and nursery experience with a focus on growing plants that are beneficial to pollinators.

Stover earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from West Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in agriculture from SFA. She lives in East Texas with her husband and son and enjoys serving her community through organizations, including Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful and the Nacogdoches Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.