Monday was the first day of the 2025-2026 TISD school year. There are new rules for the students this year regarding dress codes, cell phones, and body piercings. It will be a shock to some and a blessing to others.
I have no comment on cell phone usage during school hours. Retaining students’ attention for an hour is hard enough, but I do not know why students need a cell phone at school or before you reach high school.
Last week I was unable to provide my article in a timely fashion, so I will repeat my August through December 2025 Community Calendar with special attention to this last month of this summer.
• On Saturday, Aug. 23, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church is hosting a spaghetti dinner in the fellowship hall at 401 Prospect Drive from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost of the dinner plate is $10. The public is invited to attend, and for more information, please contact Iris Alaniz at (713) 253-6221.
• Aso on Saturday, Aug. 23, the Liberty Christian Center Church is hosting a concert at 402 W. Main St. at 5 p.m. The concert performers are the Southern Plainsmen. There is a free dinner at 5 p.m. and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Donations are appreciated. For more information, please call Dolly Barker at (936) 355-3399.
• Lastly on Saturday, Aug. 23, the SAAFE House Fundraiser for Trinity County is a purse bingo, known as Denim to Diamonds, awarding designer purses among the top 10 prizes for the bingo winners. The event will be held at the Manor House on 2005 Pine Crest Road. The doors open at 5:30, and close at 10 p.m. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 each and tables are available which seat eight for $400. Door prizes, raffle prizes, a meal, 10 games, and drinks are included in the ticket cost. To make reservations, please call Tammy at (936) 284-5547.
• On Tuesday, Aug. 26, is First Methodist Church of Trinity’s monthly Dinner with Friends at the fellowship hall at 301 N. Elm St. from 4-6:30 p.m. For more information, please call Laura at (936) 594-3826. Games, music, and fun with friends is the agenda for the evening. The menu is gumbo this month and all the trimmings, and the public is invited to attend.
• In July, Patsy Mangrum passed away who was a revered Patron of Martin Senior Center for more than 50 years. Patsy was a significant financier and supporter of the Center during all those years. Patsy participated in every event, holiday, and occasion to make the Center a notable facility for food, health, and welfare to support the elder community of Trinity. Her mission was to have a safe environment for her friends and family to be able to come and enjoy their later years together.
Pasty wanted to be able to celebrate her 100th birthday this year on Oct. 1, but God called her home in July. Patsy Mangrum led an interesting life, traveled on many cruises, and recalled many adventures personally and recalled many historical events and tragedies in her 99 years.
On Saturday, Martin Senior Center held a memorial celebration of her life at the Center and many people turned out to honor her and her legacy. They remembered her kindness and generosity in supporting an organization she loved so well. In addition to a free lunch, punch and cake, there were anecdotes and stories of her life, and a depiction of her skating career with Sonji Henie on a cake made by Brookshires Brothers.
Only a few old timers remember the name Sonja Henie, but I am going to tell you some ancient history that I know from stories told and passed down to me by way of in-laws and out-laws.
Sonja Henie (April 8, 1912-Oct. 12, 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic champion (1928, 1932, 1936) in women’s singles, a 10-time World champion (1927–1936) and a six-time European champion (1931–1936). Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies’ figure skater.
According to Google, Henie was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. She was the only daughter of Wilhelm Henie (1872–1937), a prosperous Norwegian furrier, and his wife, Selma Lochmann-Nielsen (1888–1961).
She was Inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame (1976), the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame (1982) and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
For a time, Sonja Henie’s picture adorned the tail of a Boeing 737-300 of the airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. As the Boeing 737-300 was being phased out, her picture was placed on the tail of a Boeing 737-800 of the same airline.
According to The New York Times Web Archive: Three times the Olympic figure-skating champion, Miss Henie won most of the major world skating titles from 1927 to 1936, when she turned professional. A petite, glamorous woman and film star, Sonja Henie died Oct. 12, 1969, in an airplane in route to Oslo from cancer.
My connection to Patsy and Sonja Henie was an orchestra conductor in Chicago who was Sonja Henie’s favorite band leader when she danced on stage on ice in Chicago. He was my children’s uncle, Joe Bellitino, who later moved to the Village in Houston, owned a music store there, and changed his name to Joe Bell (another story).
I don’t know if Patsy and her husband danced or skated on ice in Chicago, but she was certainly a part of the Sonja Henie era and lived a wonderful life before moving to Trinity.
• September events:
Sept. 1, Labor Day Holiday, First Monday in September each year.
Sept. 19, Friday School Holiday for students to attend 76th Trinity Fair
Sept. 19-20, Trinity Community Fair Association 76th Free Fair
Sept. 26-27, Friday and Saturday, Westwood Shores Subdivision 2-Day Garage Sale
• October events:
A new event for Trinity County this year is a 5k Run at Camp Cullen hosted by TPCC in October. Details in next issue.
TISD schedule changes to four days a week with students off every Friday.
Oct. 18, Trinity Lions Club Second Annual Pet Show and Expo, Trinity Community Center.
Oct. 24, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Bingo Barbecue
Oct. 26, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fall Festival
Oct. 31, Treats on the Street, Halloween Festival, Elm Street
Oct. 31, Trinity Veterans “Wall of Honor” Fundraiser at Scheelbillies on FM 356.
• November events:
Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day Holiday
Nov. 27, Thanksgiving Day
• December events
Dec. 6, Saturday, at the Trinity Community Center at 10 a.m. TPPC Christmas Show
