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Goodwill Superstore, A Good Selection

July 30th, 2012

I have, from time to time, shopped at second hand clothing stores, particularly as a young man. On those occasions, I have sometimes been plagued by the absurd notion that I’ll be headed to an important job interview or annual review, only to have someone whisper in my ear that the suit I’m wearing used to belong to the boss. Improbable as that scenario is, the Good Will Superstore on Tyler’s loop 323 has a lot of men’s business clothes.

I have a friend from the corporate world that has several nearly grown sons. Whenever the need arises for formal wear, they check in at the Goodwill Superstore first. Sometimes they find what they want and sometimes they don’t but they swear by the store. I wrote on this location a couple years ago and my experience was sketchy. (To read the original article, click on the following link: http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/27/the-good-will-superstore/ .) The store was particularly disorganized and the merchandise was evidently coming slowly, because the selection was really poor.

My last couple visits have been quite different though. They’ve been well stocked with quality former and semi-formal business wear at a fraction of the cost of a retail store. I came away with several items for which I paid about fifteen dollars. At the average retail store I would have paid around forty-five or fifty dollars. When I was younger I shopped at Goodwill for off beat, slightly out of place garb to express my individuality. Now when I stop in the second hand store, it’s to save a little money on clothes for work.

My mentality has certainly changed; hopefully my taste in clothes has too. For readers who have kids who are good sports, I suggest stopping there prior to searching their regular favs. I realize the idea may be a hard sell, but they may be surprised.

Update on the Double D in Tyler TX

July 29th, 2011

Double D's in Tyler TX

Double D Ranch in Tyler Texas

Ok, not to kick a dead horse here, but it seems there is yet more news on the on- going fight over the new Double D Ranch trying to open here in Tyler. Judge Christi Kennedy’s of the 114th District Court, has granted a restraining order requested by Toys R Us which bars the establishment from advertising (in the form of signs and banners), or hiring a “Scantily Clad,” wait staff. Does Scantily Clad have a legal definition? How Scanty is too scanty? The ruling said that the location of the new restaurant would do irreparable harm to the toy store.

Look I’m not comfortable being on this side of the argument but I just don’t believe it. Is the D.D. tacky? Yes. It is. Would I go there? No I wouldn’t. Is it legal? Yep, afraid so folks. Bad taste is not against the law. At the end of the day, I don’t know whether or not the Ranch will open for business here in Tyler, and honestly I don’t much care. I think the whole case is much ado about nothing. It’s not a hill I want to die on. I just hate to see citizens fighting these sorts of battles in the courts. To see my original article on the story, click on the following link: http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/9180/tylerites-concerned-about-the-double-d/

Double D's

Double D Ranch and Toy's R Us

Double D Ranch in Tyler TX

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Southern Utilities Again

November 22nd, 2010
Southern Utility Tyler TX

Southern Utilities in Tyler Texas

It’s been about a year and a half since I wrote my original article on Southern Utilities Water Company in Tyler, and still their service has not improved. Their unhelpfulness, and extremely poor customer service has made this company a source of real frustration for Tylerites like myself. Unfortunately, their lack of concern for customers is not limited to the company’s owners. Evidently the employees who work there are tired of the complaints of unhappy patrons and now make a point of maintaining a sarcastic and superior attitude.

So why am I returning to this topic? Because; I’ve had yet another disagreeable encounter with the business just today. When I arrived at the drive through window, (which by the way I did before four in the afternoon because that is when they close), I realized that I’d forgotten my bill. I explained to the girl what had happened and she responded with a blank stare and a “you’ll have to go inside for that.”

Now I realize that this in itself would not be a huge issue but I had my three year old with me, which was why I selected the drive through in the first place. I let slip a rye chuckle and asked “don’t you have a computer there that you can just pull it up on?” She responded with slightly more emphasis and a great deal more sarcasm: “You’ll have to go inside for that.”

So what she successfully communicated to me is that the kids working at Sonic have greater technology, and probably knowledge of that technology than one of the oldest utility companies in the Tyler area. I won’t detail the story of my encounter inside the building, but while I was not disruptive I did make it clear that I didn’t appreciate the company’s complete disinterest in the satisfaction of its clients. “As far as I can see there’s not a single thing this company is willing to do to make its patron’s lives easier.”

There are two ways to pay your bill with Southern Utilities: a check through the mail, or cash or check on location. There is still no website (which seems unheard of in today’s business climate), there’s no phone payment method, and they don’t even accept check or debit cards. The lady behind the desk didn’t care. Big surprise. Is there anyone in the East Texas area who wants to start a new business? I suggest servicing water to those who don’t qualify for city water. I can give you the names of numerous folks in our area who quickly sign on to your service.

Private Schools in Tyler Texas

August 4th, 2010

The Brook Hill School Bullard TX

All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler

Grace Community High School
It’s really hard to believe, but summer is nearly over already and honestly, it’s past time to start thinking about where the kids are going to attend school this fall. While I recognize there are a few solid government schools, I hate to see Tylerites settle for an insufficient public education when there are so many excellent private options that will better educate and prepare their children for college and life beyond. Now I spent the better part of last summer writing about the area schools and various educational opportunities and I have no intention of rewriting those articles. Instead I thought I would briefly recap the list of private schools that call Tyler home. I should say that my list may not be exhaustive. I have included only (what I consider) the better institutions. These are in no particular order other than alphabetical.

All Saints

All Saints (AS) is a Tyler Texas institution. It’s been serving the community in an ever expanding way since the sixties. AS has an excellent academic record, with most all of its graduates going on to college. The school has a beautiful campus and a complete sports program that includes a full eleven man football team. As the name implies, All Saints is an Episcopal School, with a theology, chapel class and a chaplain consistent with that denomination. The staff and student body however, are made up of a number of denominations. Tuition can be high, but there are programs available to help prospective students with the desire to attend, but who lack the financial means. For more on All Saints see my original article entitled Traditional Education for the College Bound.

Brook Hill

Founded in 1997 Brook Hill (BH) is one of the newer schools on the list. It is a preparatory school that provides its students with a top notch education on a beautiful campus in Bullard Texas. The school offers a full list of athletic and extra-curricular opportunities (including a full football squad). While BH is a non-denominational Christian School, it leans toward a more orthodox tradition. By all accounts, this is a great school, but it does tend to be pricey. I recommend looking into the scholarships and grants available. For more on this school, look for my piece entitled Classical Education and Christian Character, located elsewhere on this site.

Christian Heritage

In the interest of full disclosure, this is one of the area schools with which I have a personal history, and it is thus one of my favorite area schools. Christian Heritage School (CHS) was founded over thirty years ago. It is a Principle Approach school and offers students an education which emphasizes History, Literature, English, Logic and Latin. While these subjects are central, the school of course offers a solid math and science curriculum as well. CHS is a nondenominational school with connections to Youth With A Mission, the international missions organization. The staff and student body is made up of many different area churches. The school’s athletic opportunities are a bit thin. CHS offers basketball, soccer, track, volleyball and a couple other more minor sports. The campus is located on Dixie drive just off 64, west not far from Tyler Pounds Field. In terms of tuition CHS is one of the lower schools in Tyler, generally a great deal considering the education the school provides. To read more about CHS, look for my original article entitled An Institution in East Texas Education.

East Texas Christian Academy

East Texas Christian Academy (ETCA) has also been in Tyler for about thirty years. The School was designed to offer a solid academic slate of classes in a safe Christian environment. The current campus is located on Shiloh Road and they are in the process of building an entirely new one just across the street. The school is denominationally affiliated with the Church of Christ. Staff and teachers are all members of that church, but the student body includes other denominations as well. The sports program is good but not huge, roughly comparable to that of CHS. I was unable to find a clear dollar figure, but based on the people I’ve spoken with, tuition seems moderate, somewhere between Christian Heritage and Brook Hill. (I realize there’s a lot of room there). For more information on ETCA readers can look for my original article Challenging Academics in a Christian Environment.

Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd has been educating the Tyler area for a long time. It is a Classical school with a curriculum that is heavy on teaching Philosophy, Theology, Latin and Logic. In terms of denomination, Good Shepherd is a Reformed Episcopal school, (a spin- off of the Anglican or Episcopal Church) which means they emphasize an orthodox expression of the faith mixed with an element of reformed doctrine. The sports program is small and somewhat year to year, meaning that it’s dependent on the school’s enrollment and demand for athletics from one year to the next. In terms of its academics Good Shepherd is an excellent school, but extracurricular opportunities are somewhat limited by its size. Tuition is on the higher end of moderate. It’s not the most expensive school in town, but there are surely more cost effective options. That being said, for those concerned almost exclusively with academic achievement Good Shepherd is a solid option. To read more of my thoughts on this school, look for the title Good Shepherd Offers a Great Education.

Grace Community School

As I read through the list of Tyler’s schools, I’m amazed at how many of them have been around for as long as they have. Grace Community School (GCS) is another school who’s history in Tyler exceeds thirty years. They offer a solid academic foundation, and a truly, non-denominational Christian formation. The school is obviously associated with the church of the same name, but its staff and students are composed of Christians from across spectrum of denominations. Grace is a solid school and a Tyler institution. I find that teaching in this town is a lot like waiting tables here. Once you’ve worked a couple of schools you find you’re acquainted with other teachers from all the other area schools. While I’ve never taught at Grace I’ve worked with other teachers who’ve taught there, and I can attest to the fact that they have a great staff.  GCS has a full athletic program which includes an eleven man football team. Tuition here is also on the higher end of moderate, but they do offer a variety of financial Oid programs to make the school affordable. To read more, look for the title Opportunity Values and Academics, located elsewhere on this site.

King’s Academy Christian School

Easily the youngest school on the list at six years old, King’s Academy Christian School (KACS) is also the most unique. I should also say that King’s is another school with whom I have a connection. King’s is a University Model School, meaning students attend class three days a week and study at home with a parent or tutor the other two. But unusual schedule aside, the school offers challenging academics, and a rich student life. KACS also has a good slate of Athletic opportunities, including six- man football. King’s is also a non-denominational school. Both its teachers and students are made up of a variety of churches. Tuition to King’s Academy is about the lowest in the Tyler area. But for all the school has to offer, this is tremendous value. To read more about KACS, there are several articles to look for on this site; Something Different in Education, Something Different at King’s Academy, Six- Man Football Returns to Tyler and King’s Academy Christian School in Tyler TX.

Well there’s my short list Tyler’s better schools; (at least in my opinion). Remember, the summer’s wrapping up and it’s never too early to begin considering our children’s enrollment.