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ROCKPORT, Texas (AP)
– Linda Vander Woude spent
one winter in Florida – and
then headed West.
The price of staying in
Florida’s popular Fort Myers
area when her husband’s job
went overseas – forcing an
earlier-than-expected retire-
ment – was too high. The
crowds were too large. And
the couple did not feel wel-
comed by the locals. So they
looked for an alternative
warm destination to flee to
when frigid winter descend-
ed on their hometown, Kent-
wood, Mich.
“We were looking for
something cheaper and
warm, and we found Rock-
port,” on the Texas Gulf
Coast, the 63-year-old Vander
Woude said, settling down
for a night of country music
and dancing at the Drifters
Resort community hall.
For years, it seemed, the
charms of the Texas Gulf
Coast were largely a secret –
much to the chagrin of the
locals, the business owners
and the few outsiders aware
of its magic. Now though,
that is changing as baby
boomers seek cheaper, less-
crowded winter destinations
and flock to small towns that
dot the South Texas coast.
The water is not as blue
as Florida’s. The winters are
slightly less mild. The shop-
ping is not as highfalutin. It’s
not nearly as hip as popular
spring break destination
South Padre Island along the
Texas-Mexico border.
But the price is right, the
economy is weak, and Tex-
ans are winning these folks
over with Southern charm.
By Mary Ann Collins
Worship committee chairwoman,
Leesburg Presbyterian Church
Leesburg Presbyterian
Church, the red brick
church at the corner of
routes 19 and 208, has an-
chored Leesburg village for
over 156 years. Young fami-
lies, “middle-agers,” and oc-
togenarians are all welcome
to blend their talents in this
lively God-centered family of
believers.
Leesburg is a Missional
Church, a community-based
concept. As such they sup-
port both local projects as
well as internationally-based
mission operations. Mission
trips have taken youth and
adults to Hungary, Peru,
Puerto Rico, England, Scot-
land, West Virginia, Virginia,
and Wyoming.
Currently, 30-plus people
are working to complete a
project called “Little Dresses
For Africa,” a project spear-
headed by
Abby Smith,
a
high
school sen-
ior. They’ve
cut, sewn,
and trimmed over 100 dress-
es, sizes 4 to 14, to send to
villages in central Africa.
Leesburg Lighthouse Pro-
ductions presents two dinner
theater productions annually,
open to the public, the pro-
ceeds of which benefit mis-
sionaries. The performances
attract audiences from a
wide area.
Fellowship is a constant at
Leesburg. Sunday church
school classes are available
for learners ages two to 92-
plus, and youth activities
abound. Meeting actively are
Christian Endeavor groups,
Scout troops, Bible studies,
and prayer groups, and soon
a construction project begins
to house a youth activity
area.
Members and friends of
Leesburg church can choose
to participate in summer
camping, a winter retreat,
C.E. Winter Weekend, pot-
lucks and lunches of all
kinds, or even a unique
event called a “shoot-out.” If
music is where you shine or
what soothes your soul, the
diversity found at Leesburg
may attract you.
Contact the church office at
724-748-4670 for more infor-
mation about any of these ac-
tivities. Worship, led by Pastor
Tom Gomola, begins at 11
a.m. so come and meet
friends, new and old, at Lees-
burg Presbyterian Church,
1831 Perry Highway, Volant.
By Eric Karmecy,
Rebecca Moder
and Angela Palumbo
for West Central Workforce
Investment Board
Organized in 1990, the
West Central Workforce In-
vestment Board (WIB) was
assembled to serve the resi-
dents, employers and organi-
zations of Mercer and
Lawrence counties. Working
in tandem with the chief
elected officials, this private
sector led board provides
oversight for programs un-
der the Workforce Invest-
ment Act, serves as a cata-
lyst to provide seamless
services among various
workforce programs, and
provides community leader-
ship around various work-
force issues.
As a community leader,
the West Central WIB serves
as:
ä
Broker:
To bring to-
gether systems to solve com-
mon problems, or broker
new relationships with busi-
nesses and workers
ä
Capacity builder:
To
enhance the region's ability
to meet the workforce needs
of local employers.
ä
Community voice:
Ad-
vocating for the importance
of workforce policy, provid-
ing perspective about the
need for
skilled work-
ers.
ä
Con-
v e n e r :
Bringing to-
gether business, labor, edu-
cation, and economic devel-
opment to focus on
community workforce issues.
ä
Workforce analyst:
De-
veloping, disseminating and
understanding current labor
market and economic infor-
mation and trends.
Through state and federal
funding, the WIB supports
education and training of
Adults, Youth and Dislocated
Workers. The WIB has sup-
ported over $6 million in
training for 2,130 individuals
over the past 7 years alone.
Since 2005, the WIB has a
received over $5.3 million in
competitive grant funds to
support local and regional
businesses in targeted indus-
try clusters.
These Industry Partner-
ships have also supported a
number of educational and
training opportunities, includ-
ing youth and pipeline devel-
opment, general community
awareness of available high
priority occupations offering
family sustaining wages, as
well as incumbent worker
training. Many of these pro-
grams result in increased
competitiveness
pating firms as
ployee develop
vancement opp
their existing w
The WIB a
the PA Ca
Lawrence and
ties. Available
activities includ
ploration, job-s
tance, resume b
assessment, tr
tance, intervie
shops, labor m
tion, veterans
more.
The WIB is
ing partner in
first OH*PEN
Region along w
from Eastern
Mahoning, Tr
Columbiana co
The five cou
common labor
and emerging i
worker dislocati
The West C
presently chair
Durniok, vice
human resourc
Horizon. Ther
business devel
ager for RAR
Group, serves a
To learn mor
www.wcjp.org a
reerlink.state.pa.
E-8
THE HERALD,
Sharon, Pa.,
Sunday, February 19, 2012; HUBBARD PRESS,
Hubbard, Ohio,
Saturday, February 25, 2012 í
Outlook 2012
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The
Outlook
A community
point of view
Board oversee
workforce effo
LEESBURG
Leesburg Presbyterian is
on a mission to missions
The
Outlook
A community
point of view
Contributed
Leesburg Presbyterian Church is at 1831 Perry Highway in the village of Lees-
burg, near Volant.
Texas Gulf Coast gains
retirees in weak economy