Sign up for the parade!

Entries are coming in for the 33rd Annual Holiday Parade on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Entry forms are available at our office, 225 N. Richmond Road. You can also download the entry and vendor forms from our website at whartontexas.com.

This year’s parade theme is “Storybook Christmas”. Our Parade Marshal is Phil Stephenson, who is the first state representative from Wharton in more than one-half century.

Lots of other stuff happening:

Camille Miller, president and chief executive officer of the Texas Heath Institute, will explain the new health-care law at the Wharton Chamber’s Lunch and Learn Seminar series.

The luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Wharton Civic Center. Tickets are now on sale.

The emphasis of her talk will be the new law’s impact on businesses. Call us at 532-1862 to reserve tickets.

The Chamber’s Christmas Open House will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. Come by and visit!

Susan Shell Winston will have a book signing at Milam Street Coffee Shop from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Saturday, Nov. 16. The coffee shop also will host the next Java Jam from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

“Proof” is at the Plaza Theatre this weekend, and the Farmers Market from 9 to noon today at the WCJC parking lot.

Whartontexas.com can post your events and has a complete listing of events. It also is a great way to avoid conflicts when scheduling an event.

This week’s Business Spotlight: K&D Design.

The new health care law and what you need to know for your businesses

Camille Miller, president and chief executive officer of the Texas Heath Institute, will explain the new health-care law at the next in the Wharton Chamber’s Lunch and Learn Seminar series.

The luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Wharton Civic Center. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 11.

An emphasis of her talk will be the new law’s impact on businesses.

Miller gained extensive experience in policy research and development while she served in Texas for three governors, two lieutenant governors, a state comptroller, and state senator, planning, researching and developing state ies.

She also held executive staff positions at the Texas Department of Community Affairs and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

As chief of staff for the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, she supervised legislative studies on medically fragile children, reorganization of health and human services, and conducted the most recent comprehensive study of Medicaid in Texas.

In February 1995, the Texas Hospital Association selected her to be the director of THA’s Medicaid project, and immediately promoted her to Director of Regulatory Affairs. When the 32-year-old Texas Hospital Education and Research Foundation changed its name and mission, THA again tapped her experience in policy development and her strong leadership skills, asking Camille to be the first president and chief executive officer of the Texas Institute for Health Policy Research.

In 2006, a merger with Texas Health Foundation created the Texas Health Institute, an independent, statewide  non-profit organization.

Luncheon tickets are $15 for Wharton Chamber members and $20 for others. Call 532-1862 to reserve them.

Luncheon sponsors are Exellon Generation, the Wharton Journal-Spectator, Moonwalks ‘N More, and H-E-B.