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By HERB BOOTHSpecial correspondent
After you’ve had your fill of turkey and dressing and after you’ve fallen asleep watching the Dallas Cowboys beat up on the Oakland Raiders and after you’ve had your too-much-pie nap, take a drive down to Lynn Creek Park on Thanksgiving night to see Prairie Lights.
The annual light extravaganza at Joe Pool Lake’s Lynn Creek Park opens Thanksgiving night and runs through Dec. 31. This year’s show has more than 4 million lights. More than 113,000 visited last year. This is the fifth year the city has hosted it.
Beverly Grogan, community events coordinator for the city’s parks and recreation department, said the city considers the event a community holiday treat as well as a tourist destination.
“We hope the Staycation concept, which has helped our Lake Parks so much, stays good for the holidays as folks stay closer to home and look for family entertainment,” Grogan said. Staycation was a concept that asked residents to stay closer to home for summer vacations. “To help that, we kept the prices the same as last year. Prairie Lights is very mindful of the tough times some of our guests may be experiencing, and this affordable event contributes to the family's Christmas entertainment without killing the family budget.”
Prices are $15 per carload Monday through Thursday; $20 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Fees are higher for buses and limos. Also, the city asked food vendor to have drinks for $1. Gift shop souvenirs are as low as 25 cents. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Motorists should allow for extra time on weekends.
Grogan said some new features offered this year are a 30-food animated Christmas tree, a brand new walkway for Holiday Magic, a new show in Holiday Magic theater with a half-million lights set to music. There are small extra charges for the walk and show.
Special charity nights are Nov. 30 for Lions Club Night. Bring a pair of glasses and get $5 off per car. Dec. 2 is Rotary Night. Receive a flyer from Parks and Recreation or any Rotarian and receive the $5 discount. Parks makes a donation to Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign. Dec. 3 is Toys for Tots night. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and get a $5 per car discount. Volunteers from Santa Cop, which is affiliated with Toys for Tots, will greet visitors.
Grogan said the city splits the gate with the vendor but the city pays for the electricity. Of course, with 4 million lights, that can spin some electric meters as fast as Clark Griswold’s eye-blinding light set up extraordinaire in Christmas Vacation.
Visit www.prairielights.org or call 972-237-GLOW for more information.
Santa’s Mailbox opens
Santa’s Mailbox for mail that goes directly to the North Pole opens at the water department drive thru lanes at City Hall, Northwest Fourth and Church streets.
Tree lighting ceremony planned
The Grand Prairie school district and city tree lighting ceremony will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in front of City Hall, 317 College St. Call 972-237-8100 for more information.
Market Square continues through Dec. 19
The all new, expanded Market Square, 120 W. Main St., will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays now through Dec. 19, at which time it will close for the winter season.
The farmers market will reopen for the spring and summer on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Market Square is on the northeast corner of Main and Northwest Second streets.
Fresh fruits and vegetable, gift items and Texas-made products are available for purchase.
E-mail Herb Booth at herbviv@sbcglobal.net for tips and items to include in this column.
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The Dalworth Community and the city will sponsor its 20th annual Carter-Oliver Seniors Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Dalworth Recreation Center, 2012 Spikes St.
Chris Ginapp, the Dalworth Recreation Center program supervisor, said the event is a hallmark of the Dalworth community.
“Everybody gets behind it. Everything is donated. A lot of people volunteer, too,” Mr. Ginapp said. “The Carters and Olivers were the families who started it many years ago. It gives Dalworth a chance to show the hospitality and love they have.”
The free dinner includes smoked turkey and all the trimmings.
Call 972-264-7670 for more information. All are welcome.
Sneak-a-Peek Fun Run gives folks a chance to see Prairie Lights
The first-ever Sneak-a-Peek Fun Run will be held at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at Lynn Creek Park by Joe Pool Lake.
Prairie Lights is the annual holiday lighting extravaganza in Grand Prairie.
The 5K event gives walkers and runners a chance to see Prairie Lights before anyone else. Entry fee is $15 through Friday, Nov. 20. Register at www.grandfungp.com/Run/default.htm or call 972-237-8100 or visit the Parks and Recreation Department, 326 W. Main St. After Nov. 20, the entry fee is $20.
Danny Boykin, senior superintendent of recreation, said he got the idea many years ago when he was visiting a friend in Austin.
“They had a Zilker Park Fun Run and about 4,000 to 5,000 showed up many years ago,” Mr. Boykin said. “Now, they’ve got 20,000 each year. So far, we’ve got over 200 signed up. We’re hoping to have about 1,000.”
He said runners/walkers must arrive and sign in no later than 6:15 p.m. because it gets dark so early. “We won’t allow any cars in after then because everyone will be starting the race at 6:30 p.m.”
Mr. Boykin emphasized the family nature of the event.
“Bring your strollers out. Walk the babies,” Mr. Boykin said. “We’ll also have prizes grouped by ages.”
He said the proceeds go toward a fund the department uses to allow needy children to attend Grand Prairie’s summer camps.
Prairie Lights opens up to motorists officially on Thanksgiving night. Visit www.prairielights.org or call 972-237-GLOW for more information.
Community Thanksgiving Service scheduled
Grand Prairie will have a Community Thanksgiving Service at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at First Christian Church, 202 W. Tarrant Road, in Grand Prairie. Everyone is welcome.
Juan Hernández would like to think that he knew in his bones when he introduced then Guanajuato Gov. Vicente Fox to then Texas Gov. George W. Bush that both men would rise up in their respective countries and become president.
“I’d like to say I knew that back then, but I didn’t,” said Dr. Hernández – an immigration advocate, a U.S.-Mexico relations expert, cabinet officer to then Mexico President Fox and a poet. He also started the Center for U.S.-Mexico Studies at UT Dallas. “It still makes for a great story.”
Dr. Hernández addressed the Grand Prairie Rotary Club Friday at its weekly meeting talking about his relationship with Mr. Fox, his rearing in Fort Worth but most of all, about immigration, the legal kind.
“I’m not going to pull any punches with you here,” said Dr. Hernández, who has spoken on national television networks about immigration. He was born to a Texan mother and Mexican father. “I’m for immigration. I’m for opportunities. I’m for those aggressive Hispanics who have one foot in the U.S. and one foot in Mexico.”
Dr. Hernández told the crowd that he wanted Hispanics in this country who want to work.
He outlined the five steps he would take to solve the problems of illegal immigration. First, Dr. Hernández said, U.S. officials need to ensure that no criminals from Mexico are getting into this country.
He said the second important step would be to ensure Mexicans are not taking any jobs from current U.S. citizens. Dr. Hernández said most of the growth spurts of this country have come when immigration is brisk. He also wants new immigrants to pay taxes and into Social Security for services they receive.
Fourth, Dr. Hernández said immigrants need to speak the English language.
“It’s a pet peeve in this country of many citizens,” Dr. Hernández said. “It really bothers people. They’ve got to learn the language. You should honor the culture of this country.”
Finally, Dr. Hernández said people who are in this country illegally should pay a fine of some sort. “Let’s give them a yellow card, not a green card, but a yellow one” until all these conditions are met.
Whatever happens in the immigration debate, though, Dr. Hernández is convinced something needs to be done. He said 350 million “legal” crossings happen between the United States and Mexico annually.
“We can’t continue to have 12 million people living in the shadows in this country,” said Dr. Hernández of the estimated illegal immigrants the United States now harbors.
Annual talent show scheduled
The Second Annual Gobs of Talent Variety Show will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Uptown Theater, 120 E. Main St.
Reception and silent auction begins at 7 p.m. with the talent and variety show starting at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $11 online at www.uptowntheatergp.com. Call 972-237-UPTN for more information or reservations.
Grand Life Weekend at First Baptist
Grand Life Weekend will be held Nov. 13-15 at Grand Prairie’s First Baptist Church, 122 N.E. Second St. Speakers, entertainment, vendors, food and activities abound. Call 972-262-5146 or visit www.grandlifeexpo.com for more information.
Santa Cop has been bringing toys to Grand Prairie’s neediest boys and girls since 1984. Santa Spot has been doing the same with food for not quite as long.
The two recognizable, charitable non-profits – run by the Grand Prairie Police and Fire departments – kicked off their official campaigns Nov. 1.
Santa Cop delivers toys to needy boys and girls in Grand Prairie. In addition, Santa Spot delivers enough groceries for at least two or three meals to the same home.
Police Officer Mark Calvert has been part of the effort since 1987.
“We always get more requests than we can fill. There’s always a need,” Officer Calvert said. “We get 90 to 95 percent of our requests from the school district. We know they’re deserving if they qualify through the school district.”
He said there always are a few requests from other police officers, firefighters and city officials. Officer Calvert said they always do checks to ensure only the neediest people are receiving help.
“We cap it at around 400 families. That’s how many we can do each holiday season,” Officer Calvert said. “We normally go over by about 30 families. And we always leave room for emergencies. Sometimes we have families who we provide toys and food to who have had fires or floods or some kind of disaster.”
Of course, Officer Calvert said donations and volunteers always are welcome. But the two holiday charities have had all kinds of organizations volunteer. “We’ve had Scouts, athletic teams, the chamber’s Great Texas Scholars, all kinds of groups have volunteered,” Officer Calvert said.
He said donations come in all sorts of packages, too. He said one year many people gave turkey bucks from a local grocery store.
Donors should bring new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable foods to the police department, any fire station or city hall. Call 972-201-4149 to arrange pick-up for larger items. Collections go up to Dec. 17 or later in some years.
Diabetes workshop scheduled
A free educational diabetes workshop in Spanish will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Grand Prairie Library, 901 Conover Drive.
Maria Springer, a licensed diabetes nurse educator, will explain how to manage diabetes, plan better meals, check blood sugar and interpret the results. The library is planning future presentations in English in 2010. Call 1-877-532-4545 for more information on the diabetes workshop. Call 972-237-5700 or visit www.gptx.org/library for information about other library events. The Grand Prairie Unity Coalition Annual Banquet and Student Art/Poetry Contest presented by the Grand Prairie Arts Council will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Ruthe Jackson Center, 3113 S. Carrier Parkway. Call 469-774-5565 for more information or reservations.
Uptown Theater schedules November events
The Metro Praise Orchestra will honor veterans in a jazzy, swinging, spiritual musical tribute at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Tickets are $31. Visit the Uptown Web site for tickets or call 972-237-UPTN (8786).
Get your pets up to date
Grand Prairie is sponsoring a pet vaccination clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Prairie Paws Adoption Center, 2222 W. Warrior Trail.
The event is free for Grand Prairie residents, who must provide drivers license or current water bill. Limit five animals per household. The line will close at 1,000 animals or 3 p.m.
Dogs must be on leash. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers with ID tags. No retractable leashes are allowed. Call 972-237-8575 for more information.
Veterans Day ceremony
The annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial, 925 Conover Drive. Call 972-237-8100 for more information.
When Sandra Lancaster started 25 years ago heading up the Grand Prairie Board of Realtors, the gas stations in town were happy.
That’s because real estate agents drove to the board office on Southwest 14th Street to pick up keys, drop off keys, courier documents, exchange documents and a host of other reasons.
“Now, everything is done on computers or electronically,” said Ms. Lancaster, who will be retiring as the board’s association executive after serving 25 years in that spot. Realtors and real estate agents will be honoring her at a retirement party from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Ruthe Jackson Center on Carrier Parkway. “That’s been the biggest change in 25 years.”
She said computers came to the Grand Prairie board soon after she got there but “back then we had to load every listing. We didn’t have fax machines, either. I think Pat Watson had the first fax machine in the area.”
She said the Multiple Listing Books were like a big Yellow Pages, another item that’s changed drastically since then.
Ms. Lancaster said one other thing has changed in those 25 years she’s run the board – interest rates. “I remember some being as high as 17 to 18 percent, and buyers were happy to get them. That’s changed now, too.”
Ms. Lancaster said when she first started there were about 300 agents. Now, there are about 215, but that’s a sign of the poor economy more than anything else.
“We have a tight-knit bunch in Grand Prairie. Our board is very united,” said Ms. Lancaster, who is a 1968 Grand Prairie High grad but now has moved “to the country” in Waxahachie. “It’s like family here. I’ll miss the members. They’re like my children, friends and family.”
Call Michelle at 972-262-7747 or e-mail michelle@gprealtors.com to RSVP to Ms. Lancaster’s retirement party.
Halloween fun scheduled all over the city
Several sites around the city are having Halloween festivities Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31.
A free Trunk or Treat is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Bowles Life Center, 2750 Graham. Call 972-237-7529 for more information. Owners of decorated calls in the parking lot will hand out candy from car trunks while kids inside enjoy a haunted house and games.
A free Halloween Carnival will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Charley Taylor Recreation Center, 701 E. Grand Prairie Road. Call 972-264-6890 for more information.
The free Great Pumpkin Festival will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Dalworth Recreation Center, 2012 Spikes. Call 972-264-7670 for more information.
Visit http://www.gptx.org/index.aspx?page=152 for other Halloween events or call 972-237-8100.
Santa Cop & Santa Spot start Nov. 1
Santa Cop & Santa Spot will begin collecting new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food for Grand Prairie families in need at fire stations, the police station, city hall and libraries around the city.
The Grand Prairie Police and Fire departments sponsor the programs.
Grand Prairie’s hot spot during the 1950s was Main Street.
But the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike (now Tom Landry Highway or Interstate-30) came along and cities that thrived along Main Street or old Highway 80 suffered.
Now, city officials are trying to breathe some of that 1950s life into Grand Prairie again. Saturday, Oct. 24, part of that nostalgia will reappear in Market Square, Grand Prairie’s new farmers market.
A street party will kick off the grand opening of Market Square, 120 W. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. The party had been scheduled for Sept. 26 but construction was delayed.
Market Square, at the northeast corner of Main and Northwest Second streets, is not only a farmers’ market but at event venue. Farmers’ market will be open 8 a.m. to sellout Thursdays and Saturdays next season.
Admission to the street party is free with a canned good, which will be donated to North Texas Food Bank. Anyone who donates a grocery sack filled with canned goods will receive a free farmers’ market bag. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, entertainment will include arts, crafts, bounce houses, balloon artists, face painting, magicians, stilt walker, juggler, a salsa recipe contest, chef demonstrations and concerts.
Market Square is part of the city’s efforts to revitalize, renovate and improve downtown that started with the remodeling the building that now houses the municipal court. The effort continued with Uptown Theatre opening last year.
Amy Sprinkles, the city’s communications and marketing director, said the train tracks that run parallel to Main and Jefferson streets were deemed a quiet zone earlier this year. She said the city closed two crossings and put medians at other crossings so the train doesn’t have to “blow its horn from one end of the city to the other. It’s a big benefit to downtown merchants.”
Ms. Sprinkles said city leadership made the conscious decision to stay in downtown even though the nearby police department and seniors center are moving to new buildings at the Warrior Trail and State Highway 161 intersection.
“We were faced with the decision do you want to stay where you are or consolidate and move somewhere else,” Ms. Sprinkles said. “We decided not to abandon downtown and now we can create a center here in downtown and one there, too.”
She said the city’s economic development department is working with consultants to get an assessment of all the buildings in downtown.
“We’ll find out current conditions and what needs to be done to return some of this Mid-Century Modern architecture to its glory of the 1950s,” Ms. Sprinkles said.
National Day of Writing in GPISD
A National Day of Writing will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Grand Prairie school district. The National Council of Teachers of English is sponsoring the event. Everyone across the district will stop at 9 a.m. and write an affirmation for anyone they choose – a teacher, former teacher, parent, coach or anyone who has had a positive influence in your life. Remember an affirmation is meant to be shared!
Foundation tees up for children
The Grand Prairie ISD Education Foundation will be hosting its 6th annual Golf “Fore” Children Tournament Friday, October 23, at Prairie Lakes Golf Club in Grand Prairie.
A golf team (four players) can play for $500 and individual players for $125. Entry fee includes green fees, range balls, shared golf cart, full hot breakfast, drink tickets and a catered barbecue lunch. Additional guest lunches can be added at $20 per lunch. Call Diana Mora at 972-237-5487 for more information.
Dog costume contest set
Central Bark Dog Park, 2222 W. Warrior Trail, is sponsoring a dog costume contest at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Entry fee is $2 per dog, $5 for two dogs and $6 for dog and person. E-mail kstacy@texastrustcu.org for more information.
Parks officials might have to change the name of Prairie Lakes Golf Course soon.
The venerable golf course dates back to 1963 and recently had a makeover. But this latest facelift will add more than 2,400 trees, 2,407 to be exact.
“We’ve joked we might have to change the name,” said Tim Shinogle, Grand Prairie’s senior superintendent of park planning. “Truly, we tried to move the trees far enough away to where they won’t impact golfers.”
Parks and Recreation Director Rick Herold said the tree plantings – which will run up until the first of the new year – will not make the course harder.
Mr. Shinogle said the trees are payback from the Texas Department of Transportation for the Lakeridge Parkway extension from Interstate 20 to Polo Road.
“About 28.3 acres of woodland mitigation was required,” Mr. Shinogle said. “They impacted the Fish Creek basin. If a perpetual woodland is disturbed, you have to replace it.”
He said a separate irrigation system for the trees at the course is part of the deal. Mr. Shinogle said the irrigation system is vital because the city must maintain about 80 percent during the next two years. He said there are eight to 10 varieties being planted. They include oaks, ash, cedar and redbuds.
“It cuts down on the course’s mowing and upkeep,” Mr. Shinogle said. “Plus, the trees are a nice addition.”
Except maybe to golfers who have severe hooks or slices.
Taste of Grand Prairie winners announced
Winners of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce and the city’s Taste of Grand Prairie and Community Spotlight were announced.
Marquez Bakery took home the best decorated category. Barbara’s Cake & Cookie Boutique won best decorated restaurant booth.
Sno-To-Go was the kids’ choice at the event. Traders Village won crowd favorite. Hoffbrau Steaks earned best food vendor.
Louise Hudspeth won the grand prize of Chick-fil-A for a year.
The best awards were voted on by many of the 1,500 people in attendance.
Market Square street party rescheduled
A street party will kick off the grand opening of downtown Grand Prairie’s new Market Square, 120 W. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. The party had been scheduled for Sept. 26.
Market Square is at the northeast corner of Main and Northwest Second streets and is a farmers’ market and event venue. Farmers’ market will be open 8 a.m. to sellout Thursdays and Saturdays next season.
Admission to the street party is free with a canned good, which will be donated to North Texas Food Bank. Anyone who donates a grocery sack filled with canned goods will receive a free farmers’ market bag. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, entertainment will include arts, crafts, bounce houses, balloon artists, face painting, magicians, stilt walker, juggler, a salsa recipe contest, chef demonstrations and concerts. Global Volunteer Day garage sale raises money for charity
Prudential Financial’s Global Volunteer Day raised $1,656. About 15 Prudential employees sold items donated by local businesses and families to benefit LifeLine Shelter for Families Inc., which helps homeless children and families in the Grand Prairie school district.
Prudential Financial marked its annual Global Volunteer Day Oct. 3. Each year, Prudential gives employees a platform to work together with clients, family and friends to give back to the communities where they live, work and play. More than 32,000 volunteers participated.
Open auditions for Miracle on 34th Street
Open auditions for Miracle on 34th Street will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Auditions will be held at the Grand Prairie Arts Council’s Studio at 116A E. Main St., next door to the Uptown Theater.
A large community cast is needed, especially boys and men. Actors and singers are welcome, must be at least six years old. Speaking roles and Chorus parts are available for all ages. Please attend one audition date, no appointment is needed, there will be a cold reading from the script, and be prepared to sing.
Eight performances will be Dec. 10-13 and 17-20 at the Uptown Theater, 120 E. Main St. Call GPAC at 972-642-2787 or e-mail gpac@artsgp.com. Visit the Web site at www.artsgp.com.
The city announced plans to host Fall Indie Fest 2010 recently to highlight Texas music and film work.
Categories and entry information will be announced online at www.fallindiefest.com on Oct. 10, 2009. Every month when the day and month numbers align expect more information about Fall Indie Fest. For example, more announcements will come on Nov. 11, 2009; Dec. 12, 2009; and Jan. 1, 2010; and so on.
The event will start Oct. 8, 2010, and will finish with a reception and announcement of winners on Oct. 10, 2010, at the city’s historic Uptown Theater.
Chris Cato, who does marketing for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the goal is to highlight Texas film and music acts.
“Many times, with events like AFI Dallas and South by Southwest, the bigger names or the names with more marketing money behind them get featured. There are a lot of artists with international or Hollywood connections that are in those events,” Mr. Cato said. “We want to feature local talent that often gets crowded out at those events.”
The event will include screenings of full-length and short films created by Texas filmmakers and concerts by Texas artists from all genres.
Contact Elspeth McDonald, managing director of the Uptown Theater, at 972-237-8409 or elmcdonald@GPTX.org for more information.
Market Square street party set for Oct. 24
The street party celebrating the Grand Opening of Market Square will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Entertainment, fresh produce, kids’ activities, street vendors and a salsa recipe contest will be featured.
Market Square is a one-half acre park with a building that features bays for up to six vehicles to sell produce and other goods.
Construction began in March 2009 and is nearly complete. Call 972-237-8036 or visit this site for more information. Complete an online registration form and return to Doug Beich at dbeich@gptx.org by Oct. 19 to enter the salsa recipe contest.
National Night Out is Oct. 13
The city of Grand Prairie and its neighborhoods will celebrate the 26th annual National Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 13.
National Night Out, first established in 1984, is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
Visit the city Web site to find out the location of your neighborhood National Night Out rallying location.
Rock Island Road detour
Rock Island Road, a county road, will be closed two weeks, Oct. 6-20. Texas Department of Transportation contractors will construct the interior concrete pavement lanes for Rock Island Road under State Highway 161. The exterior westbound lanes (north one-third) and eastbound lanes (south one-third) of the new pavement section have already been constructed. Traffic will be detoured along Rock Island Road from Hardrock Road, west of the construction area, to Gilbert Road, east of the construction area, via routing to West Shady Grove Road which is located south of Rock Island Road.
The Grand Prairie High School Alumni Association honored the district-winning 1969 GPHS football team during Homecoming Friday, Sept. 25, at the Gopher Bowl.
Also honored were many football team players from the 1950s at GPHS who were named to one of the 11 1957 National All-America High School football teams.
The association also handed out its annual awards. Tony Brigmon, class of 1966, was named Outstanding Alumnus. Mr. Brigmon opened Fun Meetings in 1983. He has 26 years experience of creating, promoting and delivering more than 1,700 keynote, after-dinner and seminar presentations. He was student body president, Mr. Geep High and co-captain of the basketball team during his time at GPHS.
GPHS Principal Joseph Showell was named Outstanding Educator. Mr. Showell has served as principal two years and has raised TAKS scores at the high school. He has served in administration at Colleyville High School, dean of instruction and principal in the Dallas ISD and principal at Permenter Middle School in Cedar Hill.
Earl Reed Burleson, class of 1958, received the Status Gopher Award.
Mr. Burleson appeared on the Eddie Fisher Show, a national variety show in the 1950s, with other members of the All-American High School Football Team. While at GPHS, Mr. Burleson received all-district and all-state honors in football.
Ron Jensen, president of the association, gave a President’s Award to Vernon Jackson, husband of Mayor Pro Tem Ruthe Jackson. Mr. Jackson served on the school board from 1955-70 and is the only surviving board member from the time the Gopher Bowl was built.
Kim Thorne also received a President’s Award for his charitable contributions to the association. Mr. Thorne dedicated the award to Lon York, a charter alumni association member, who donated the printing, published the newsletter and kept up the group’s database for many years. Mr. York died in the 1990s.
Loosen up the vocal cords
Talent Show auditions will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Grand Prairie Arts Council Studio, 116A E. Main St., next door to the Uptown Theater.
GobFest, the Grand Prairie talent show, will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Uptown Theater. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded.
Singers, musicians, dancers, magicians, jugglers, comedians and acrobats all are welcome. Solo acts up to groups of 10 can participate.
Participants must be at least 5 years old. Performers from both inside and outside of Grand Prairie are invited to be part of the event.
Please attend one audition date only. No appointment is needed. A piano and CD player will be available.
Audition applications are available online: artsgp.com / audition page, or call 972-642-ARTS.
Godspell comes to Uptown
Godspell is playing at 8 p.m. Oct. 1-3 and 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Uptown Theater, 120 E. Main St. Order tickets at www.UptownTheaterGP.com or call 972-237-UPTN.
Trash off scheduled
Grand Prairie’s Trash Off is from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the city landfill, 1102 MacArthur Blvd. Proof of residence is required with a current water bill or driver’s license. There is a $1 disposal fee per tier and computer. Call 972-237-4555 for more information.
The city also is sponsoring a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Day from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 3 at the landfill as well. Participants must register at http://www.gptx.org/wq/hhw. Call 972-237-8055 for more information.
Don’t be surprised if you see Teresa King riding her bike across the graduation stage as she receives her certification in healthcare from MedVance Institute in Grand Prairie.
“I rode my bike to school, rain or shine, hot or cold. Before I had the bike, I walked,” said Ms. King of the three miles she trekked each way from her Grand Prairie home to the school. “I was determined to get that education.”
MedVance Institute is in the old Southwest Airlines reservation center on Palace Parkway. The school offers a variety of healthcare training programs.
Ms. King – along with about 150 other MedVance graduates, including more than 50 in Grand Prairie – will walk across the stage at Arlington’s Bob Duncan Community Center.
“I got my medical assistant certification last year. Then I got my phlebotomy certification. Next month, I’ll get my EKG training,” Ms. King said. “I just can’t say enough good things about the people there. They really care.”
Ms. King already has a job in a surgeon’s office. She’s not biking to work anymore, though. She has a car now as well as a bank account and cell phone.
Ms. King’s 16-year-old son died from a freak accident four years ago. Ms. King went into a deep depression but she kept seeing the MedVance commercials. She lived in Houston but moved to Grand Prairie and started attending.
“I hadn’t been to school in 28 years,” said the 45-year-old Ms. King, who is graduating with a 3.8 GPA. “If I can do it, other people can do it. You can change your life if you put the effort into it.”
City’s 2009 holiday ornament flies high for centennial
The city’s annual, custom-designed holiday ornament, which embraces the city’s 100th year of incorporation this year, is now available. This year, it’s modeled on the F4U Corsair, which was built at the local Chance Vought Aviation plant in the 1940s and ‘50s. Revenues benefit local charities.
Ornaments cost $15 each and may be purchased from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at City Hall Marketing Department, 317 College St., or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Tourist Center, 2170 N. Belt Line Road.
Previous years also are for sale. Call 972-237-8086 for more information.
Quarter horses, take your mark
Lone Star Park’s 2009 Quarter Horse Fall Meeting of Champions will be held from Sept. 25 to Nov. 28.
After the opening weekend, racing will be held every Thursday through Saturday, except Thursday, Nov. 26 when there will be no live racing. First post time for all dates will be 6:35 p.m. Visit www.LoneStarPark.com for more information.
Commissioner schedules Town Hall meeting
Dallas County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield will hold a Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Grand Prairie Council Chambers, 317 College St. Issues will include the county’s budget, the new prescription discount card, Parkland Hospital and other Dallas County concerns.
Market Square street party set
Grand Prairie is taking the wraps off its new Market Square, which is at the northeast corner of Main and NW 2nd streets, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, for a street party. The farmers’ market will be open Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to sellout starting Oct. 1.
Call Amy Sprinkles at 972-237-8140; Elspeth McDonald at 972-237-8409 or Rita Heep at 972-237-8036 for more information.
Taste of Grand Prairie and Community Spotlight
The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce and city of Grand Prairie will host the annual Taste of Grand Prairie and Community Spotlight from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at QuikTrip Park,1600 Lone Star Parkway.
Contact the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce at 972-264-1558 or sara@grandprairiechamber.org or visit the chamber’s Web site at www.grandprairiechamber.org for sponsorship opportunities or tickets. E-mail Herb Booth at herbviv@sbcglobal.net for tips and items to include in this column.
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