Spring book sale April 20-25
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| File photo ©Bob Fitch - 2009 |
The Friends of the Grand Prairie Library will hold its Spring Book Sale April 20-25 at the Main Library, 901 Conover. Find great bargains on hardbacks and paperbacks, as well as magazines, videos and DVDs, puzzles and more. This year’s sale features more than 3,000 new books donated by Barnes & Noble and more than 3,000 prime records and numerous English literature books from an estate.
Sale hours:
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March 29, 2010
Conference highlights social hosting and underage drinking
School and law enforcement officials from across North Texas came to Grand Prairie’s Dubiski Career High School Monday morning to kick off the fifth annual Those Who Host Lose the Most campaign to educate adults on the legal and health consequences of underage drinking and serving alcohol to minors.
Speakers at the conference, hosted by Drug Prevention Resources, Inc., the oldest prevention organization in Texas, included:
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March 28, 2010
Man pleads guilty to child pornography charge
According to court documents, Dallas Police Department received a tip that Watkins had conversations on MySpace about molesting a minor female. Dallas police determined Watkins worked at Children’s Hospital in Dallas and resided in the 500 block of Ferndale Lane in Grand Prairie.
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March 26, 2010
Chamber offers voters’ guide for May 8 elections
The Chamber asked the candidates to provide a brief biography and to address a few issues. Their responses have not been edited by the Chamber for spelling, grammar or content.
Early voting is from April 26 through May 4.
Automotive association to host car show and parade
A parade on Main Street from SE 14th to Market Square featuring classics, hot rods, low riders and customs cars kicks off the day with events at Market Square that include:
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March 25, 2010
City seeks entries to time capsule
The items could be a letter to your children or what you think the future holds, it could be a small token or a photograph pertinent to Grand Prairie.
The time capsule will be opened in 50 years.
Two nights of Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration
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March 24, 2010
Local man charged with transporting girl across state lines with intent to rape
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County Police Department
Continue reading "Local man charged with transporting girl across state lines with intent to rape" »
"The Odd Couple" - female version opens Thursday at the Uptown
The Grand Prairie Arts Council presents The Odd Couple, female version by Neil Simon (rated PG). This is the first theater in round production at the historic Uptown Theater - Studio Theater.The production is this weekend only and seating is limited with only 100 tickets per show.
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Communication firm breaks ground on new facility
Lantek founded in 1999 is the second largest Audio Visual integrator in the DFW area as ranked by Dallas Business Journal 2010.
Attending the ground breaking was Domingo Mayorga – LANtek President, Hamilton Peck – LANtek Vice President, all office and field staff.
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March 23, 2010
Triumph Group to acquire Vought
Police K-9 takes top honors in competition
For the first time, all four Grand Prairie K-9 units participated in the trials that grade K-9 teams on narcotics/bomb searches in vehicles and buildings, tracking, obedience, suspect search, article search, agility, and criminal apprehension.
Grand Prairie's K-9 units placed in 10 different categories:
Continue reading "Police K-9 takes top honors in competition" »
Police K-9 takes top honors in competition
For the first time, all four Grand Prairie K-9 units participated in the trials that grade K-9 teams on narcotics/bomb searches in vehicles and buildings, tracking, obedience, suspect search, article search, agility, and criminal apprehension.
Grand Prairie's K-9 units placed in 10 different categories:
Continue reading "Police K-9 takes top honors in competition" »
Library to show Academy Award winning movie
Bigelow made entertainment history this year when she won a Best Director Oscar for The Hurt Locker. The Hurt Locker also won the best Picture Academy Award, beating out Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, A Serious Man, and Up, and Up in the Air.
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March 22, 2010
Local bands to entertain during Lone Star Park’s 2010 thoroughbred racing season
During May, Lone Star Park will feature their Tribute Band Series during Party at the Park Friday nights. Bands scheduled to perform include:
March 21, 2010
Arts Council announces lineup for concerts in the park series
This year’s popular concert series held each Friday evening in April at the Turner Park Gazebo, features what the Arts Council says is its best concert lineup ever. Three of the bands are sponsored by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts - American Masterpieces.
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March 20, 2010
Chance of snow and freezing temperatures this weekend
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Latest Update: 12:50 p.m.
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow remains in effect from 6 PM this evening to 7 AM Sunday.
A powerful upper level storm system will move across the region and bring snow to the metroplex tonight. Snowfall accumulations across the metroplex are expected to remain below an inch, but higher amounts are forecast north and east.
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March 19, 2010
Oncor selects Grand Prairie home for side-by-side meter test
Wednesday, Oncor installed a new “smart meter” along side the current electromechanical meter at the Westchester area home of Steve and Carol Ann Adams to conduct a side-by-side comparison of the two meters. The test will last at least four weeks and provide weekly data to Oncor.
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The Tabernacle Experience at Inglewood Baptist Church
Inglewood Baptist Church brings the traveling Tabernacle Experience, a full-scale replica of the Tabernacle of Moses that is described in the Old Testament book of Exodus as the place God’s presence dwelled with his people.
Steve Brown, Inglewood’s Executive Pastor said the experience is a forty-five minute, privately narrated tour through seven interactive stations where visitors get to see life-sized items described in the Bible.
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March 18, 2010
St. Patrick’s Day on-sale party kicks off AirHogs ticket sales
AirHogs fans came out to QuikTrip Park Wednesday to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day On-Sale party that featured one dollar green beer, hamburgers and hotdogs grilled by Field Manager Pete Incaviglia and General Manager David Burke.
The party marked the beginning of individual game ticket sales for the AirHogs’ 2010 season that begins on May 14.
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Soroptimist host Women in History luncheon
Soroptimist International of Grand Prairie, a service club for professional and executive business women, held its fifteenth annual Women In History Awards and Hall of Fame Luncheon Wednesday at the Ruthe Jackson Center.
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March 17, 2010
City to install solar panels with energy grant
The city takes a $218,809 loan from its Capital and Lending Reserve Fund to cover the 20 percent matching fund requirement for the $872,809 State of Texas Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Grant.
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Local business awarded grant from MillerCoors
The MUES program launched in 1999 to stimulate economic growth and development in urban communities, has awarded $1.4 million to emerging minority businesses.
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March 15, 2010
Newest health center holds grand opening
A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s Branding Irons was held Monday at the Family Health Center of Grand Prairie, 2950 West Camp Wisdom Road.
The medical center, headed by Dr. Robert Abbate, DO, treats adult patients, accepts Medicare as well as most insurers and walk-in patients are welcome.
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March 14, 2010
Data examines honor code on Grand Prairie streets
While most states, including Texas, require a driver responsible for an accident with an unattended vehicle to notify the owner, such as leaving a note, some do not. Allstate recommends drivers always leave a note, including an explanation of what happened no matter how visible the damage.
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March 12, 2010
Uptown brings back Sunday movie matinees
"This is a great opportunity for parents to share the movies they loved growing up with their kids and experience them together," said Theater Manager Elspeth McDonald.
Show time is 2:00 p.m. and the movie lineup includes:
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March 11, 2010
Chamber hosts Great Texas Scholars Luncheon
The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Great Texas Scholars Luncheon Wednesday at Lone Star Park. Presented by the Chamber and Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc., Marshall Street Site, the luncheon honored over 300 of Grand Prairie’s finest high school students.
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March 10, 2010
Student named finalist in nationwide art contest
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March 09, 2010
Ballot set for City Council and School Board election
City Council
Mayor
Charles England (Incumbent)
UnopposedDistrict 2
Jim Swafford (Incumbent)
UnopposedDistrict 4
Richard Fregoe (Incumbent)
Jeffrey Sodoma
Continue reading "Ballot set for City Council and School Board election" »
March 08, 2010
Kids Fishing Day at Mike Lewis Park
Kids with rods and reels lined the banks, bridge and piers at the Mike Lewis Park lagoon Saturday for Kids Fishing Day.
The lagoon was recently stocked with approximately 3,000 rainbow trout giving kids plenty of opportunity to catch fish and try for one of the many prizes going to kids of all age groups.
March 07, 2010
Residents voice anger over Oncor’s smart meters
Angry over high electric bills and Oncor’s new smart meter, dozens of Grand Prairie residents came to State Representative Kirk England’s Town Hall meeting Saturday morning at City Hall to voice their complaints with the utility company.
Representative England arranged the public meeting after his office received many phone calls from constituents with complaints of the new meters and high electric bills.
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March 06, 2010
Soroptimist Girl of the Month selections for February
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| Soroptimist International of Grand Prairie honored its Girl of the Month at Saturday's ceremony. (L-R) Elizabeth Paynes, Debbie Bailey, Alexandra Swartzwelder, Kenya Neal, Alyssa Mora, Yesenia Rios, Sadie Cuevas, Gabriela Alcazar, Jessie Basco, and Angelia Giessner. ©Bob Fitch - 2010 |
In a ceremony held Saturday, the Soroptimist Club recognized ten high school and middle school girls in the Grand Prairie ISD for their outstanding character, community service and leadership.
Each month, the Soroptimist Club honors the winners with a certificate and at the end of the year, one girl from each high school is chosen Girl of the Year and awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Continue reading "Soroptimist Girl of the Month selections for February" »
Gospel concert benefits LifeLine Shelter for Families
Friday night, Calvary Baptist Church hosted the 5th annual LifeLine Gospel Concert to benefit LifeLine Shelter for Families, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides emergency and temporary shelter, counseling and referral service for families in crisis who have children enrolled in the Grand Prairie Independent School District.
LifeLine Shelter President Lila Thorn said that since its founding in 2003, the organization has assisted 471 families, with 1253 children, and 502 adults. This year, she added, LifeLine shelter has helped 26 families.
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Lone Star Music series at Lone Star Park kicks off opening weekend
The stage for each concert will be situated outdoors, just outside the racing surface, in front of the sun-shaded Courtyard of Champions. The lawn area is first-come, first- served, and there is limited patio table seating in the Courtyard. Blankets and folding chairs are permitted outdoors.
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Annual city calendar photo contest now open for entries
Photo must feature Grand Prairie:
Entertainment attractions, parks, events
City services, facilities, programs, employees at work
Pretty places in Grand Prairie
GPISD students, facilities, activities (only one month in calendar may feature the schools)
Continue reading "Annual city calendar photo contest now open for entries" »
March 05, 2010
Sallye Moore Elementary gets new Outdoor Learning Center
Students, parents, teachers, and community volunteers got to take advantage of the warm spring like weather Thursday to work in the soil as they built flower beds, sowed seeds and planted trees and shrubs for the new Outdoor Learning Center at Sallye Moore Elementary School.
The new learning garden was made possible through a grant from REAL School Gardens, a Fort Worth based organization that brings gardens to elementary schools in North Texas.
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March 04, 2010
Police get warrant in Castanon-Banuelos murder
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| Luis Manuel Gonzalez |
Grand Prairie police have obtained a warrant for Luis Manuel Gonzalez, 33, in connection with the January 23 murder of Gerardo Castanon-Banuelos at Jennifer McFalls Park.
According to police, Gonzalez drives a gray, 2001, Ford Mustang, 2 door with Texas license number, 210NMR. He is described as:
Hispanic male
5’11”
160 pounds
Police believe Gonzales is in the Dallas area, but may have fled to Mexico.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Gonzalez is encouraged to contact the Grand Prairie Police Department’s “Tip Line” at 972-237-8877 or call Grand Prairie Crime Stoppers at 972-988-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.
Continue reading "Police get warrant in Castanon-Banuelos murder" »
Lone Star Park features fun-filled promotions for 2010 spring Thoroughbred Meet
The following are Lone Star Park’s 2010 special promotional days:
Continue reading "Lone Star Park features fun-filled promotions for 2010 spring Thoroughbred Meet" »
March 03, 2010
Survey rates city’s wealth
The study, based on data from the 2008 U. S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of cities with a population of above 75,000, put Grand Prairie at 320 out of 420 cities in the survey.
Gregg Kidd – City of Grand Prairie Employee of the Month
Gregg Kidd an Environmental Services Technician was recognized at Tuesday night’s City Council Meeting as the City of Grand Prairie’s Employee of the Month for March.
Environmental Services Director Jim Cummings said due to the success of the city’s household hazardous waste disposal program, the city was able to secure a grant to obtain additional equipment, including a trailer, to help the department process the hazardous waste.
Continue reading "Gregg Kidd – City of Grand Prairie Employee of the Month" »
Local man sentenced to nearly 19 years in prison for child pornography convictions
March 02, 2010
Chamber to honor high school seniors
To qualify as a Great Texas Scholar, each student must:
AirHogs to hold St. Patrick’s Day on-sale party
Featuring an array of festivities including Irish music, customary green beer, and Field Manager Pete Incaviglia (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) and General Manager Dave Burke grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, the AirHogs will even offer some of their best deals of the year:
Continue reading "AirHogs to hold St. Patrick’s Day on-sale party" »
School district first in the nation to launch Digital Teaching Platform
Continue reading "School district first in the nation to launch Digital Teaching Platform" »
Texas DPS orders two helicopters from American Eurocopter
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| Photo courtesy American Eurocopter |
American Eurocopter, the Grand Prairie based helicopter manufacturer, announced Monday that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has ordered two AS350 B3helicopters to add to its fleet of fourteen helicopters.
“The Texas DPS is a valued customer and an important asset for the protection and service of citizens throughout our state,” said Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter President and CEO. “As their missions change and operational requirements evolve, the AS350 B3 will provide them with the power and the flexibility to meet their needs and the needs of the state.”
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March 01, 2010
Arts Council to present “The Odd Couple” - female version
Unger and Madison are at it again. Florence Ungar and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon's hilarious contemporary comic classic - the female version of The Odd Couple. Instead of the poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuits. The hilarious Constanzuela brothers have replaced the Pigeon sisters.
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QuikTrip to host baseball tryouts
The Texas Pro Tryout is a talent showcase that offers an opportunity to evaluate a player’s talent level while participating in drills as well as games.
Several managers and former MLB players will be on hand for this tryout to offer advice and instruction to help the players develop their game. Contracts may be offered during the tryout to deserving players.
Deeply Rooted History
As Americans, our history is firmly rooted in our hearts. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a small piece of that history could flourish in our gardens as well, serving as a living reminder of the events that shaped our collective past?
Now, the brilliant autumn colors of the Red Maples that shade Mount Vernon, the vibrant pink cherry blossoms that attract more than a million visitors to Washington, D.C. each spring, or the solidity of the American Elm that survived the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City can be right at home in your yard with a historic tree from American Forests’ Historic Tree Program.
American Forests is the nation’s oldest non-profit conservation group. “We were established in 1875 to work against the abuse and misuse of the nation’s forests,” explains Executive Director Deborah Gangloff, noting the rampant logging and lack of professional forest fire fighters at that time. “Today, we strive to protect our forest ecosystems while educating the public about the services we get from trees. Historic trees are one way to do that. As early as the turn of the century, we began to identify trees that were of historical significance, and we’ve since become the organization of record of trees with a history.”
In the early 1980s, the group began propagating saplings from seeds or cuttings of the historic trees as a fun way to increase awareness. “It’s wonderful to think that you can plant a tree in your backyard that is a direct descendent of one George Washington planted in Mt. Vernon in 1785. Collectors used to collect calling cards of famous people, because they knew that the famous person had actually touched the card. A tree offers the same sensation, because you know that the famous person planted it and enjoyed its beauty for years,” she says. The program expanded about five years ago, when it went online at www.historictrees.org/store.html. Descendents of 50 historic trees – all of which have been meticulously researched and authenticated – are now available for purchase.
Top sellers include descendents of the famous Tidal Basin Cherry Trees that were a gift from Japan in 1912 and now grace the Lincoln Monument and Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. A children’s favorite is the Johnny Appleseed tree, which is a Rambo Apple that’s a descendent of the last living tree planted by John Chapman in Nova, Ohio, around 1840. There are descendents of the Survivor tree – an American Elm that miraculously survived the blast of the Oklahoma City Bombing. Other trees are linked to presidents, inventors, significant battles and even some propagated from Sycamore tree seeds that were flown to the moon and back by Apollo XIV in 1971.
Whether your passion is a Weeping Willow grown from a cutting of the tree at Graceland or the Southern Magnolia pictured on the old twenty-dollar bill, the program allows you to bring history home. “Trees definitely hold the key to our past as well as our future,” Gangloff notes. “Proceeds from these sales are returned to serve our conservation mission, while we make the purchasers members of the organization and teach them how their tree contributed not just to history, but to our overall environment.”
Here are some tips to ensure that your trees thrive:
Pick the right tree. Verify that you have the proper amount of light, correct soil type and hardiness zone.Plan for growth. Know how tall and wide the tree will get and make certain it won’t conflict with wires or gutters above ground and utility or septic lines below ground.
Give it room. Turn up an area three to five times the size of the root ball to give delicate roots room to get established.
Nourish and protect. Water newly planted trees once a week for the first few months. Protect trees with a 4” layer of mulch that doesn’t touch the bark of the tree.
Finally, keep lawnmower blades and weedwacker strings away to avoid damaging delicate tissue beneath the bark.
Profiles of Texas women in history
Texas is home to a long line of strong, independent women who blazed trails in every area – from ranching and education to the arts and aviation. Names such as Lady Bird Johnson, Ann Richards, and Barbara Jordan are widely recognized across the country for their tremendous accomplishments. This March marks the 30th anniversary of National Women’s History Month, which celebrates the many historic achievements of women. While the list of iconic Texas women is long and diverse, this month is a fitting opportunity to recognize a handful of these women who have created opportunities for women across Texas for generations to come.
Spring beauty in bloom in Tyler, Texas
As the chill of winter begins to fade, Texans in search of the first signs of spring should head to Tyler, Texas, for the annual Tyler Azalea Trail. Each year, from mid-March to early April, thousands of visitors flock to Tyler to take in the vivid colors and bright blooms of Tyler’s famous azalea bushes, adorning an 8-mile trail in the historic brick street district.
Azaleas made their debut in Tyler in 1929, when nurseryman Maurice Shamburger tested the plant in his garden. Pleased with its success, he had large quantities of azaleas shipped from Georgia. After consulting with Sara Butler of the Tyler Courier Times Telegraph, the two decided azaleas could serve as a beautification tool for the city and began promoting the colorful plant. Butler planted several at her home on Charnwood Street, and the plant quickly became a must-have garden item at homes on other Tyler streets, including Lyndsey Lane, the original route of the Tyler Azalea Trail.
Tyler residents began buying azaleas by the thousands, and by 1960, the blooming bushes were attracting so much attention, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce established a marked trail, which featured 60 homes on a five-mile route.
By making it official, the Chamber began a successful tradition that would bring thousands of visitors to Tyler and significant tourism dollars to the local economy. Today, the Tyler Azalea Trail attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year, and has been expanded to include an additional trail, the Dobbs Trail, to accommodate other homes with beautiful azalea gardens.
Each year, the homeowners dedicate countless hours to perfecting their gardens and making them inviting to visitors young and old. Last year, Southern Living Magazine profiled three families whose gardens are central to the Tyler Azalea Trail: the Pyrons, Edmondses, and Davises. For these families, gardening is not only an enjoyable hobby but a way to make visitors feel welcome in Tyler. Gus Davis told Southern Living, “It is gratifying to see people enjoying the garden. Tyler has been good to us, and this is our way of giving back.” Guy and Joan Pyron have a sign in their yard that reads, “You are welcome to walk through our backyard.” These families are accustomed to having visitors not only during the annual trail, but year-round, too. The Edmondses once invited a full busload of Japanese tourists, who were visiting off-season, into their home. Don Edmonds told Southern Living, “Part of the group was a choir, and they gathered together and sang to us a cappella. It was beautiful.”
In addition to the homeowners, the Tyler Azalea Trail also depends on the assistance of young students from the area. Female high school students from Smith County compete to earn a spot as an “Azalea Belle” – the trail’s official greeters stationed at each home. The 9th and 10th graders submit written applications describing what Tyler means to them and participate in interviews with members of the Azalea Trail Committee. If selected, the girls are then fitted for long antebellum-style dresses that they wear when greeting tourists on the trail.
This year, visitors can usher in the spring by touring the 51st Tyler Azalea Trail from March 19 through April 4. For more information, visit the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau’s official trail web site, www.tylerazaleatrail.com, or call 1-800-235-5712.
