BY GREGABBOTTEXAS ATTORNEYGENERAL

In an age when crimi-nals are employing mobileand Internet technology tocommit crime, law enforce-ment officers cannot affordto get behind the techno-logical curve. Authoritiesare getting new tools thatwill help them protect Tex-

ans more effectively andprevent more crime.

During the last Legisla-tive session, I worked withlegislators to improve lawenforcement’s ability tomonitor registered sex of-fenders. Thanks to a newlyenacted law, keeping trackof convicted sex offenderswill be a little easier.

Under Senate Bill 689,

which was authored bySen. Florence Shapiro,Plano and Rep. AaronPeña, Edinburg sex offend-ers must provide their on-line identifiers and mobilephone numbers to thestate’s sex offender data-base. The newly requiredinformation includes pro-files on social networkingWeb sites like MySpace or

Facebook, where many sexoffenders create accountsso they can interact withchildren.

Before SB 689 took ef-fect on Sept. 1, registeredsex offenders were onlystatutorily required to pro-vide traditional informa-tion, such as home ad-dresses, land-line phone BY: JAMES MORNING

Prostate cancer is themost common form of can-cer in men, striking approx-imately 200,000 men eachyear.

African-American menare at the highest risk.

Every year, over 27,000men die of the disease,making it second only tolung cancer as the deadliestcancer in men. Caughtearly, prostate cancer can betreated, usually success-fully. But because manymen experience no symp-

toms, it is often identifiedonly by an abnormal resulton a basic prostate cancerscreening.

For the last 20 years,doctors have had a power-ful weapon in their arsenalfor detecting prostate can-cer. In addition to the DRE(a physical exam allowingthe doctor to feel theprostate), patients can alsohave a simple blood testcalled a PSA, which willdetect a majority of prostate

Volume XVIII, Number XXXVI

Your Paper, Your Opportunity...

Visit Us Online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Dr. KimberlyK. Porter EulaM.Young Stacy HawkinsAdams

People In The News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Community News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Community Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Arts & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Business Service Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Career Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Church Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Church Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 15 & 16 See Page 2

INSIDE... People In The News…

COMM

ENTARY

For more information see pg. 10www.northdallasgazette.com

See COUNCIL, Page 9

SPOTLIGHT

Founded 1991

.com

See CANCER, Page 4

Irving CityCouncil ApprovesA Single-MemberDistrict System

The HealthReform Debate

and Prostate Cancer

Tracking Registered Sex Offenders Use of Technology

Breaking the Color Barrierin the Great American Outdoors

President Obama NotImpressed with West

(NDG Wire) Black andbrown environmentalistsare leading the charge formore people of color to beincluded in the enjoymentand benefits of the GreatAmerican Outdoors. Withmore than 630 million acresof the most desirable and

scenic landscapes in thecountry reserved for theuse, enjoyment and recre-ation of the American peo-ple, and billions of dollarsin careers and contractingopportunities, every ethnic

See OUTDOORS, Page 12

(NNPA) The NationalNewspaper Publisher's As-sociation (NNPA) an-nounced Wednesday it willnot hold its mid-winter con-ference in South Carolinascheduled for January 2010and is joining the NAACPeconomic boycott of thestate that has been in effect

since July 1999 when theSouth Carolina NAACPcalled for it as a protest ofthe flag atop the State Houseand inside the House andSenate chambers. The boy-cott, still in effect, calls ongroups and individuals toavoid traveling to the statefor business or pleasure and

discouraged residents fromvisiting South Carolinabeaches or patronizing rest-aurants and motels. This an-nouncement comes on theheels of South Carolina Re-publican Representative JoeWilson's outburst of "you

See CONFERENCE, Page 12

Black Newspaper Publishers CancelMid-Winter Conference in South Carolina

See TECHNOLOGY Page 12

September 17-23, 2009

NNPAChairmanDanny J. Bakewell Sr.

African-Americans are enjoying outdoor adventures

Manuel Benavidez beats city hall.

Dr. Kimberly K. Porter,the daughter of the lateCharles F. & Mrs. Myrna K.Porter, was born and raised inWichita, Kansas. She waseducated in the Wichita Pub-lic School system. In 1981she graduated from WichitaNorth High School, whereshe was a 4-year honor stu-dent.

Dr. Porter attended, andgraduated from, WichitaState University with a Bach-elors’ of Science Degree inBiology. Following gradua-tion, she attended SouthernIllinois University in Carbon-

dale, Illinois, subsequent tobeing accepted into the Mas-ters’ Program in BiologicalSciences. Two years later,Dr. Porter was accepted intoSouthern Illinois UniversitySchool of Medicine and grad-uated in 1994 with a Doctor-ate of Medicine Degree; ingraduate school she contin-ued her tradition of being anhonor student.

After Medical School,Dr. Porter completed her In-ternship and Residency in In-ternal Medicine at The Uni-versity of Oklahoma HealthScience Center, followed by

a Fellowship in GeriatricMedicine at the same facility.

During her Fellowship,Dr. Porter was accepted intothe Masters of Public HealthProgram at Oklahoma Uni-versity. From there she wenton to complete a PalliativeMedicine/Educational Pro-

gram at Harvard School ofMedicine in Boston, Massa-chusetts, in 2004.

Dr. Porter has worn manyhats. She has worked as anEmergency Room (ER)Physician at the VeteransHospital in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, a SupervisingPhysician for an Urgent CareClinic, as well as an InterimPhysician for Hospice andPalliative Medicine at the VAHospital in Oklahoma City.

She was a Research As-sistant in Forensic Pathol-ogy/Reproductive Endocrin-ology at Southern IllinoisUniversity School of Medi-cine in Carbondale, Illinois;the Contact Physician for

COPE, Inc. and AlcoholDrug Rehabilitation Center inOklahoma City, Oklahoma;also a Research Assistant inDermato-Pathology at Mar-ion Memorial Hospital inMarion, Illinois

Currently, she is the Med-ical Director of the Hospital-ist Program at Great PlainsRegional Medical Center inElk City, Oklahoma.

Dr. Porter is a God-fear-ing woman who is a memberof the Word of Life COGICunder the leadership of Pas-tor Gregory Voss. She has aMasters of Business fromAmerican College of Physi-cian’s Executive Program; adegree from Palliative Medi-

cine/Educational Programfrom Harvard School ofMedicine in Boston, MA.

Her hobbies include read-ing and studying God’sWord.

Dr. Porter will be theKeynote Speaker at the Ap-preciation Banquet honoringSister Shirley Demus Tarpleyon October 10, 2009, for over40 years of her serving God,her community, the City ofCarrollton and the Carroll-ton-Farmers Branch ISD atthe Crowne Plaza DallasNear The Galleria on Mid-way Road in Addison, withfamily, city, county and stateelected official and friends inattendance.

Stacy Hawkins Adams,an award-winning Essencebestselling author. Her con-temporary women’s fictionnovels are filled with socialthemes and spiritual queststhat take readers on journeysinto their own souls.

Adams holds a degree injournalism and served as anewspaper reporter for more

than a decade before turningher full attention to penningbooks, speaking profession-ally and writing freelancearticles.

Her longest stint was atthe Richmond Times-Dis-patch in Virginia, where sheextensively covered socialissues and wrote a faith-based column. Themes fromher journalistic work oftenfind their way into her fic-tion, through characterswho grapple with domesticviolence, infertility, spiritu-ality, low self-esteem andother true-to-life issues.Her novels have been fea-tured reading selections inhigh school and collegeEnglish courses, includingat James Madison Univer-sity.

Adams’s books include:• Speak to My Heart

(2004 Best New Christian

Fiction, SORMAG maga-zine)

• Nothing But the RightThing (A 2005 summerreading selection of Sybil’sBook Club, with the TomJoyner Morning Show)

• Watercolored Pearls(2nd place, 2008 Book ofthe Year, American Chris-tian Fiction Writers)

• The Someday List (Jan-uary 2009, Essence best-seller)

• Worth a ThousandWords (June 2009)

She has alsocontributedto two anthologies, includ-ing the Essence bestsellingThis Far By Faith. Adams’sfreelance articles have ap-peared in Heart & Soul andGospel Today magazines,AARP’s Bulletin, USAToday and on Crosswalk.com. She currently writes asemimonthly parenting col-umn for the RichmondTimes-Dispatch and haspenned an online parenting

column for Smart Begin-nings, an early childhoodinitiative sponsored by Vir-ginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

Adams has served as anoccasional broadcast re-porter and has been a fea-tured guest on national TV.She speaks regularly to cor-porate, collegiate, civic,faith-based and women’sgroups and at writing con-ferences across the nation.

She is a member of theVirginia chapter of the Na-tional Speakers Associationand theAdvancedWriters &SpeakersAssociation. She isthe founding president ofthe Richmond affiliate ofthe American Christian Fic-tion Writers.

She is currently com-pleting her sixth novel,Dreams That Won’t Let Go,which will be released inJanuary 2010. Her firstnonfiction book, an inspira-tional title that will encour-age women in their faith,

will be released in March2010.

Adams lives in a suburbof Richmond, Virginia, with

her husband and two chil-dren. She welcomes visitorsto her website, www.stacy-hawkinsadams.com.

Eula M.Young, the ChiefOperating Officer & Co-owner of Griot’s Roll FilmProduction & Services Inc.,a video marketing company.She was the Publicist for theoff -Broadway play Choices,a production by The NegroEnsemble Company. Ms.Young has her Bachelors inBusiness Administration.

Eula M. Young has overa decade of Public Relationsand Management experi-ence. Ms. Young has devel-

oped a sharp eye as an entre-preneur who quickly builther own successful produc-tion business. She also con-sults with other businessowners to set priorities inmarketing and promotingtheir products, services andevents.

Griot’s Roll to date hasshot a TV plot for urban fish-ing production called UrbanFishing Adventure, a cook-ing/fishing show. Griot’sRoll’s most recent clients has

been Project Enterprise En-trepreneur of the YearAwards Dinner, A trainingvideo for Coler GoldwaterMemorial Hospital, videotaping a video for The NewYork City Housing Author-ity.

List of Awards and Cer-tificates:

1. Metropolitan Collegeof New York Honor Roll

2. School VolunteerAward for Service to theNYC Public School

3. Certificate ofAppreci-ate for School Volunteer

4. Certificate ofAchieve-

ment for Service to the Par-ents Association by the Par-ent Advocacy Center

5. The Council of Super-visors and Administrators ofthe City of New York ParentLeadership Award

6. Leadership Award bythe Girl Scout Council ofGreater New York – Troops1133, 1144, 1155 and 1179

7. Certificate of Merit forOutstanding Services to theChildren of CES 53x

8. Certificate of Recogni-tion for active Service andParticipation in the ParentAdvocacy Center

9. ParentsA s s o c i a t i o nOu t s t a n d i n gParents Awardfor Amber Ch-arter School.

10. Work-shop in Busi-ness Opportuni-ties (WIBO)completion ofbusiness management train-ing program.

11. Certificate fromFordham University Gradu-ate School of Education Part-nership Support Organiza-tion for active participation

in ParentsAssociation of 175The Henry H. Garnet SchoolGriot’s Roll Film Pro-

duction & Services Inc.Telephone: (212) 281-2286Website: www.griotsrollpro-duction.com E-mail: eula@griotsrollproduction.com

People in the News

Dr. Kimberly K. Porter

EulaM.Young

Stacy HawkinsAdams

2 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

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Op-Ed

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 3

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Published ByMinority Opportunity News, Inc.

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The North Dallas Gazette, formerly MinorityOpportunity News, was founded July, 1991,

by Jim Bochum and Thurman R. Jones

Counting What CountsBY FRANCES DEVINEY, PH.D.

New Census Bureaudata shows that for the 10thyear in a row Texas has thehighest rate of uninsuredchildren in the country, withone of every six kids unin-sured. Nearly one of everyfour Texas kids lived inpoverty in 2008 (e.g.,$17,600 for a family ofthree).

As troubling as thesenumbers are, this data likelyunder represents the extentof the current problem fortwo important reasons.

First, the latest Censusdata does not cover 2009,and unemployment hasbeen rising sharply in Texasthis year, from 6.4 percentin January to 7.0 percent inJuly (the most recent monthavailable). Economists tellus that poverty rises withrising joblessness and thatincrease is sharper for vul-nerable groups like children.

Second, even once thedata catches up to the reces-sion, child poverty is likelyeven deeper than shown inthese figures. The federalpoverty measure is badlyoutdated and excludes manyfamilies struggling to coverbasic expenses, effectivelydisqualifying them from re-

ceiving available food orhousing assistance.

The Measuring Ameri-can Poverty Act would up-date the poverty measure toinclude more realistic ex-penses (including healthcare and child care) andhelp us to accurately meas-ure the effectiveness of ourpoverty reduction programs,such as Food Stamps (nowknown as the SupplementalNutrition Assistance Pro-gram).

Shouldn't we know howmany people really needhelp and whether our helpdoes any good?

Decision makers needreliable, relevant informa-tion to get the best resultsfrom public programs, butour policymakers and ad-ministrators use antiquatedmeasurements and data tomake decisions and assessperformance. To ensure ourpublic structures reach thepeople who need themmost, we need an accuratemeasure of poverty inAmerica, and we needAmericans to fill out their2010 Census forms in thespring.

That is why we mustplan early for the upcoming2010 Census. Most people

do not realize that the accu-racy of data personally af-fects them. Most major fed-eral funding decisions (andmany state and local ones)rely at least in part on Cen-sus data, including fundingfor early childhood educa-tion, schools, roads, envi-ronmental protection, healthcare, and nutrition. And thenumber of representativeswe have in Congress is di-rectly related to an accuratecount of our fast-growingpopulation.

If you belong to a busi-ness or community serviceorganization, you can part-ner with the 2010 Census tohelp increase participation,which will give your organ-ization better data on cus-tomers or clients in yourarea.

If you are an educator,elected official, part of afaith-based organization, orare simply a proud memberof your community, youwill be crucial in spreadingthe word about the impor-tance of filling out the cen-sus forms next spring, en-suring Texas kids and fami-lies are accurately repre-sented when decisions aremade in Washington.

Most people understand

the need for reliable, rele-vant data. Everyone fromhospitals to businesses tosports teams rely on datacollection and analysis tomeasure and improve theirperformance. None of thesegroups would be satisfiedwith outdated or incompletemeasures of performance.

Improving the quality ofdata - counting what counts- helps ensure our publicprograms work and gives usthe ability to evaluate them,continue to support them ifthey are effective, adjustthem if needed, or eliminatethem if they are ineffective.In short, good data leads tobetter decisions. Withoutthem, decision makers areleft in a vacuum, forced toeither ignore growing prob-lems or make changes basedon assumption and anec-dote.

Only by counting your-self in can you make surethat kids count too.Deviney is director of

Texas KIDS COUNT, a proj-ect funded by the Annie E.Casey Foundation andhoused at the Center forPublic Policy Priorities.Copyright (C) 2009 by

the Texas Lone Star Forum.9/09

NAACP Expresses Disappointmentand Concern with New Senate

Finance Committee Healthcare Bill(NDGWire) OnWednes-

day, he NAACP issued thefollowing statement in re-sponse to Sen. Max Baucus'(D-MT) health care reformbill.

"It is disappointing to seethat Sen. Baucus, chairmanof the Senate Finance Com-mittee, did not include a pub-lic option in his health carereform bill. Real health carereform must include a strongpublic option for individualsand families, without it, mil-lions of American familiesand children will continue tofind quality, affordable healthcare out of reach," statedNAACP President and CEOBenjamin Todd Jealous.

"A public health care op-tion is about choice and com-petition. It is to health carewhat the postal service is to

the mail system, it creates anoption for low cost, basiccoverage and creates honestcompetition for private insur-

ers. While Sen. Baucus wasvaliant in his effort to create acompromise, this effort fallsshort of the true goals of realhealth care reform," statedHilary O. Shelton, NAACPSenior Vice President forAd-vocacy and Director

"Over 46 million Ameri-cans are without health insur-ance, 8 million children arewithout health insurance and880,000 African Americanswould be alive today if wehad enacted health care re-form in the past decade. It istime to put the needs ofAmerica's family's front andcenter and not the needs ofinsurance companies andtheir CEOs," added Jealous.

NAACP President and CEOBenjamin Todd Jealous

Sen. Max Baucus(D-MT)

problems early. In the twodecades that the PSA hasbeen used, prostate cancerdeaths have declined, and thenumber of successfullytreated prostate cancer caseshas risen.

During September,Prostate Cancer AwarenessMonth, the Men’s HealthNetwork is urging men totalk to their doctors aboutprostate cancer, and to con-sider screening at age 50, andat age 40 for African Ameri-cans and men with a familyhistory of prostate cancer.The group also encourageswomen to get involved andurge their husbands to re-quest prostate screening, in-cluding a PSA test, from theirdoctor.

Men’s Heath Network isnot alone in urging prostatecancer screening for men.They are joined by, amongothers, Women AgainstProstate Cancer, the Ameri-can Cancer Society, Ameri-can Urological Association,and countless physicianstreating patients nationwide.

In fact, the American Ur-ological Association has re-cently issued guidelines rec-ommending that men receivea baseline PSA test at age 40.

And, in a recent TownHall meeting, President

Barack Obama endorsed rou-tine checkups so we can,“...be catching diseases likebreast cancer and prostatecancer on the front end. Thatmakes sense, it saves lives; italso saves money.”

If you are on Medicare,prostate cancer screening is apart of your Welcome toMedicare physical, the freecomprehensive physicalexam you receive in yourfirst year of eligibility. Foryounger men, 37 states re-quire that insurance compa-nies offering health insuranceprovide coverage for prostatecancer tests. Insurance com-panies may offer prostatecancer screening in the re-maining states, but are not re-quired to do so.

But in the rush to savemoney, and “reduce...unnec-essary tests and services,” agoal we all agree is neces-sary, Congress may takeaway that benefit. WhilePresident Obama has stated,“...we will require insurancecompanies to cover routinecheckups and preventive care(to catch) diseases like breastcancer and prostate cancer onthe front end,” his message isbeing lost in the halls of Con-gress.

The health care bills cur-rently being debated in Con-

gress contain a number ofhealth insurance options, andit looks like none of those op-tions will cover prostate can-cer tests. Instead, the healthinsurance system establishedby those bills will rely on theopinions of a government-sponsored committee, theU.S. Preventive ServicesTask Force, that does not rec-ommend prostate cancerscreening.

The bottom line? Having

an annual prostate exam, in-cluding a PSA test, just mightsave your life. No matterwhat age you are, that annualPSA test creates a benchmarkagainst which to judge futuretests.

When you receive yourPSA test results, ask the doc-tor what your PSAnumber is,write it down, and compare itagainst future tests. If thenumber goes up in futuretests, talk to your doctor.

September is ProstateCancer Awareness Month.It’s the perfect time to callyour doctor, schedule an ap-pointment, and get yourprostate cancer test done.Then, talk to your doctor anddetermine what screeningand treatment options arebest for you and your family.

If you want to expressyour opinion about health re-form, call your members ofCongress and let them knowwhat you think. Use the

Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, to call both sena-tors and your representative.If you do not know theirnames, give your Zip code tothe operator who answers,and they will connect you.James Morning, a

prostate cancer survivor, is aretired Air Force master ser-geant who was exposed toAgent Orange. He is a statecoordinator for the Men'sHealth Network.

(NDG Wire) Weight Offfor Life and Oasis NaturalHealthcare recently moved toa more visible office at 2310Ridge Road, Suite B, inRockwall. The new locationgives both businesses the op-portunity to provide privateconsultations and communityseminars about nutrition andhealthy living at a convenientlocation.

“(Our mission is) Ach-ieving optimal health resultsin a healthy mind,” said long-

time Rockwall residentDiane Porter, the owner ofWeight Off for Life, a regis-tered nurse and an appliedclinical nutritionist. “Ourmission is also to offer resi-dents of the Rockwall andKaufman County areas pre-ventative, natural health careas a complement or alterna-tive to traditional treat-ments.”

Weight Off for Life of-fers seminars every othermonth to the public at no

charge. Also, consultationsand coaching for weightmanagement and optimalhealth are offered at nocharge five days a week, andat other hours, nights andweekends by appointment.

Porter, a certified healthcoach, and her trained asso-ciates conduct the consulta-tions, which were offered byWeight Off for Life onlythree days a week previously.

Oasis Natural Health-care, owned by Porter’s hus-

band, Jim, a natural consult-ant pharmacist and an ap-plied clinical nutritionist,also offers consultations fivedays per week to promotepreventative natural healthcare and nutritional options.Oasis and Jim Porter also as-sist with natural hormonebalance for men and women.

In addition, Oasis Natu-ral Healthcare and JimPorter, who also is a doctorof pharmacy and a certifiednatural health professional,

offer natural options for morethan 200 disease entities. Al-though there is a fee for a fullconsultation, which variesdepending on type, the initialconsultation to determine apatient’s specific needs is of-fered at no charge.

Oasis Natural Healthcareoffers a full range of pharma-ceutical-grade natural prod-ucts for health maintenancethat can be purchased on site.That was unavailable at theprevious location.

Weight Off for Life andOasis Natural Healthcare arelocated at the corner of RidgeRoad and White Hills Drive,on the west side of RidgeRoad, north of Interstate 30.

For more informationabout Weight Off for Lifeand/or Oasis Natural Heal-thcare, call 972-722-8200 oremail Weight Off for Life atnutritionnurse@charter.netand Oasis Natural Healthcareat drjimporter@charter.net.

4 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Health

Weight Off for Life and Oasis Natural Healthcare Move to New Location

CANCER, continued fromPage 1

(Family Features) Mil-lions of dollars are spent eachyear on diet programs, yet upto 95 percent of dieters fail tomaintain weight loss. Thereis often an initial loss ofweight, but then many peoplea hit plateau and stop losing

weight. Another problemwith many diets is that peo-ple just can't maintain a dietlong-term.

When calories are re-stricted, your metabolismdrops. When this happens,you hit a plateau and the

pounds stop coming off. Inorder to break through thatplateau, most diets call for afurther reduction in calories.This lowers the metabolismmore, requiring a lifetime oflow-calorie dieting to main-tain your goal weight.

"The secret is notwillpower or self discipline,"says Nadia Rodman, seniordietician for Curves, "butrather a proper understandingof how we can change ourbehavior, or, more specifi-cally, our habits."

Rodman believes thatwomen can take charge oftheir health and combat theeffects of aging and disease."We're about fitness, health,and moving away from dis-ease," she says. "We'reabout losing weight and

gaining strength. In a com-munity of support and en-couragement, you can reachyour goals."

For more informationabout the free CurvesWeight Management Plan,visit curves.com.

Weighing in On Weight-Loss Finding a Plan That Measures Up

(NDGWire) Septemberis Library Card Sign-upMonth, and the CarrolltonPublic Library wants tomake sure that all childrenin Carrollton have thesmartest card of all – a li-brary card.

Studies show that chil-dren who are read to in thehome, and who use the li-brary, perform better inschool and are more likelyto continue to use the li-brary as a source of lifetimelearning.

“A library card has al-ways been the most impor-tant school supply of all,”says Lynette Jones. “Kidscan come to the library toget homework help andcheck out books, but theycan also play games, checkout music, books and DVDsand use the Internet to helpmake after school life fun.There’s a lot happening ateach of the Carrollton li-braries, and the best part forboth kids and parents is thatit’s all free with a librarycard.”

Getting a library card iseasy. Any adult with a validTexas driver’s license andCarrollton address can re-ceive a card. If a person hasrecently moved to the areaand does not have a driver’slicense with the new ad-dress, then they will need tobring in their license andsome other proof of ad-dress, such as an apartment

lease, utility bill, printedchecks from one’s bank ac-count, or a vehicle insur-

ance card. Students who are17 and younger must have aparent complete the appli-cation and sign the card in

person.Observed since 1987,

Library Card Sign-upMonth is a time when theAmerican Library Associa-tion (ALA) and librariesacross the country remindparents that a library card isthe most important schoolsupply of all.

For more informationon how to sign up for a li-brary card, visit Hebron andJosey Library (4220 N.Josey Lane) or Josey RanchLake Library (1700 KellerSprings Road), call 972-466-4800 or visit the libraryonline at cityofcarroll-ton.com/library.

Community News

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 5

(NDG Wire) Sisters-peak Luncheons, a nation-ally recognized motiva-tional series sponsored byPine-Sol and Ebony maga-zine, is coming to Dallas tohonour local area womenwho have made extraordi-nary changes to the com-munity.

The luncheon will fea-ture famed comedian Diane

Amos, as well as award-winning life coach, popularrelationship specialist andinspirational minister Dr.Grace Cornish Livingstone,who will present on “10Bad Choices That RuinBlack Women’s Lives” anddiscuss how to turn life’sstumbling blocks into suc-cessful stepping stones.

Sisterspeak is a lunch-

eon series celebrating theunique sisterhood ofAfrican-American womenand promoting a spirit ofcommunity.

The program featuresinspirational speakers toencourage individuals tomake a powerful differ-ence.

The event will be heldat the Omni Dallas Hotel at

Park West 1590 LBJ Free-way, Dallas, on Saturday,October 24, 2009, noon – 3p.m.

For more informationand to register for thisFREE event, log on toEBONYJET.com or call(800) 530-9636 startingSeptember 15. Space islimited to the first 350 reg-istrants.

Sisterspeak LuncheonScheduled for October 24

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(NDG Wire) The DFWChapters of the NationalBlack MBA Association(NBMBAA-DFW) and theFlorida A & M UniversityAlumni invite the commu-nity to team up for educationas they host their ScholarshipGolf Tournament on thegreens at the Riverside GolfClub in Grand Prairie, Texas,

on Saturday, October 3. Theyare swinging clubs for dol-lars to help raise funds toprovide scholarships forlocal students to advancetheir education. Corporateprofessionals, families, com-munity groups, entrepre-neurs and civic organizationsare all encouraged to supportthis effort.

“The joint function willbe an opportunity to betterserve the community byreaching a wider audienceand allowing us to poten-tially provide more scholar-ships to deserving students,”said Terrance Hunt, presidentof the DFW chapter of theFlorida A&M UniversityAlumni.

While enjoying a firstclass golf experience, partic-ipants will have the opportu-nity to compete in a 4-personscramble and contests suchas - first place, last place,closest to the pin, longestdrive and the putting con-tests. Additionally, partici-pants will gain valuable in-dustry exposure, network

with other business profes-sionals and share in the pur-

pose and camaraderie of thisevent.

(UTD) The Sickle CellDisease Research Centerhelped visiting scholars honetheir research skills andknowledge over the summeras part of a program to in-crease diversity in the na-tion’s academic ranks.

The Summer InstituteProgram to Increase Diver-sity brought 16 researchers tocampus, where they drew onthe interdisciplinary expertise

of UT Dallas faculty mem-bers.

The institute is sponsoredby the National Heart, Lungand Blood Institute (NHLBI).Mentors include Dr. BettyPace, director of the UT Dal-

las Sickle Cell Disease Re-search Center and a professorof molecular and cell biol-ogy.

UT Dallas is one of threeuniversities awarded a four-year grant from the NHLBIto host the diversity program.Titled “Functional Genomicsof Blood Disorders,” the UTDallas program encouragescollaborations to seek newtreatments and cures for

blood-related illnesses.The two-year expense-

paid program equips under-represented junior facultywith the knowledge to de-velop independent researchby establishing mentoringpartnerships with nationallyestablished researchers. Oneof the program’s goals is tohave participants receive andserve as principal investiga-tors on major grants.

(NDG Wire) The DallasAlumni Chapter of PrairieView A&M University hasannounced its 14th AnnualAthletic Scholarship Gala, tobe held Friday, October 2,2009, at 6:30 p.m. at theWestin City Center Hotel-Downtown Dallas (650North Pearl Street).

The gala will be held thenight before the annualPrairie View vs. GramblingState Fair Football Classicand will feature dinner, achampagne reception, silentauction, door prizes, live en-tertainment and dancing.

The theme of the night isThe Vision: A New Stadium

For PV—Yes We Can! andwill feature Keynote SpeakerMr. Roy Perry, chairman andpresident of the Prairie ViewA&M Foundation.

Tickets for the gala are$75.00 each and a table often (10) is $750.00. Sponsor-ship and advertising opportu-nities are available, as well

as special hotel rates at theWestin City Center-DallasHotel.

Proceeds will benefit thePrairie View A&M Univer-sity Athletic EndowmentScholarship Fund, which todate has been presented withmore than $400,000 from theDallas Alumni Chapter.

For information, contactPublicity Chair DvorahEvans at 214.421.5200 or viae-mail at dae@dbcc.org, orcontact Gala General Chair,Kimberly Runnels at DallasPV Alumni Chapter, P.O.Box 397508, Dallas, Texas75339 or call 972.289.9942.

Education

6 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

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Prairie View A&M Alumni-Dallas ChapterAnnounces 2009 Annual Scholarship Gala

DFW Chapters of the National Black MBA Association FloridaA&M Alumni Present Annual Scholarship GOLF Tournament

Sickle Cell Center Hosts Research Diversity Program

TWC Issues Cease and Desist Orderto Dallas Health Career School

(NDG Wire) The TexasWorkforce Commission(TWC) has issued a finalcease and desist orderagainst a Dallas-area careerschool that has been operat-ing without a certificate ofapproval. Career Academyof Texas Inc. (CATI) inGrapevine was training stu-dents to work as nurse'saides, medication aides andmedical assistants. CATIwas issued the order for fail-ure to obtain a certificate ofapproval or exemption as re-quired by the Texas Educa-tion Code.

"These operations ex-

ploit vulnerable individualswith false promises of ca-reers at a time when healthcare workers are in suchhigh demand," said TWCChairman Tom Pauken."This will serve as a warningto any other schools consid-ering offering unlicensed,unapproved programs."

Health care professionstop the fastest-growing oc-cupations in Texas, with anestimated growth rate ofmore than 33 percent overthe next eight years.

"Career schools must ob-tain a TWC certificate of ap-proval," said TWC Commis-

sioner Representing LaborRonny Congleton. "We wantto make sure these types ofschools do not take advan-tage of students looking tojoin the workforce in thehealth care industry."

A career school tradi-tionally trains students for acareer in a business, trade,technical or industrial occu-pation, or for avocational orpersonal improvement. Anorder to cease and desist op-erating is issued to a busi-ness only after a hearing anda written decision finds thatthe business is not in com-pliance with the Texas Edu-

cation Code requirements. IfTWC has reason to believethat a school has violated theorder, TWC may refer thematter to the Attorney Gen-eral's Office for enforce-ment.

"The great need forhealth care workers in Texasand around the country hasled to some unscrupulousowners operating uncertifiedschools," said TWC Com-missioner Representing thePublic Andres Alcantar."These schools take advan-tage of students who arepaying large sums ofmoney."

RUTH FERGUSONNDG EDITOR

Many were surprisedthat nearly 1,000 people at-tended the health care re-form rally on a rainy Mon-

day.Perhaps they were spur-

red to participate in light ofthe fact that in Texas a quar-ter of all Texans are unin-sured.

Organizing For Amer-ica's national executive di-rector, Mitch Stewart,speaking at the rally, saidthat what will get this doneis the same thing that wonthe 2008 election - hardwork and sweat and every-one's willingness to talk tofriends and neighbors about

the importance of reform.To keep the momentum,

this Saturday local Democ-rats are planning to canvassacross the Metroplex as apart of a statewide effort toshare information aboutHealthcare reform efforts.

For information, http://my.barackobama.com/.

Arts & Entertainment Community Spotlight

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 7

Healthcare Reform Rally in DallasDraws Larger Than Expected Crowd

Photo courtesy of Julie MalcolmPhoto courtesy of Jim Burke Photo courtesy of Jim Burke

Proud To Be An ActivePartner In The Community

Sponsored By:

8 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Community Calendar Visit www.NorthDallasGazette.com and click on Community Calendar for more events!

OngoingAfrican American Repub-lican Club of Collin Countymeets 3rd Tuesday of everymonth at 7 pm. (Doors openat 6:30 pm.) Collin CountyRepublican Party HQ. 8416Stacy Road, McKinney. CallFredMoses at 972-618-7027or fred@tes.com.

Collin County BlackChamber of Commerce,CCBCC General Meetingsfor Summer Quarter, McK-inney Public Library, 101E. Hunt Street McKinney

Collin County BlackChamber of Commerce:Monthly Lunch & Learn -September 17, $15 formembers, $20 for non-mem-bers, 11:00am until 1:00pmat the El Fenix Restaurant,3450 S. Central Express-way, McKinney. Info: (469)424-0120.

DFW Financially Em-powered Women meetmonthly for lunch or dinnerand a fun, informative sem-inar on various financialtopics. For info: 469-942-0809 or meeetup.com/378.

Marriage Prep Class 1stSaturdays monthly. 423West Wheatland Rd. Suite101, Duncanville. $10 feefor materials. For info callKaren Duval at 972-709-1180.

No Limit Network Busi-ness Networking Lunch 1stThursday at 1 pm in PlanoMust RSVP at www.TheNo-LimitNetwork.com or 972-898-5882.

The National BusinessWomen Enterprise Net-work (NBWEN) LearningOver Lunch Series: 4thSaturdays, 11am-1pm, Re-MarkableAffairs Cafe, 2727LBJ Freeway, Suite 140,Dallas, $20 for members;$35 for non-members, $5 offfor early bird registration.See http://nbwenorg.ning.com.

Thru October 25The George WashingtonCarver: An ExtraordinaryManWithAMighty VisionExhibit at TheAfricanAmer-ican Museum, 3536 GrandAvenue, Historic Fair Park,Dallas, 214-565-9026, $5Adults, $2 Children www.aamdallas.org

September 4 – December 4Adriatic First FridaysArtWalk 6-9 p.m. AdriaticaMerchantsAssociation pre-sents First Fridays at Adri-atica (McKinney). Artwalk, live music, sidewalksales, free food samplings.Admission is FREE. Every1st Friday on VirginiaPkwy. 972-540-2739

September 17-1912th Annual CarrolltonPublic Library Book Saleat Josey Ranch Lake Li-brary. Info: friendscarroll-tonlibrary.org/booksale.htm

September 17Capacity Building withGrants Expo: Meet non-profit groups, educators,successful grant writers,and share strategies. From8am to 5pm Admission$39 Info: Tasa Anderson903-639-4519, www.grantexperts.info

Jethro Pugh UNCFScholarship InvitationalGolf Tournament at Tour18, for sponsorship andgolfer information call(972) 234-1007.

September 18 - 20EDS Credit Union PlanoBalloon Festival at OakPoint Park, 2801 E. SpringCreek Pkwy. Admission:$8 Day Ticket (allows re-admission during the day);$5 SingleAdmission EventTicket, Special $4 DiscountTicket between 9 am & 3pm Saturday & Sunday.Kids under 36" free. Sen-iors 65 & older $1 off anyticket price. Info: Jo Via at(972) 867-7566 or www.planoballoonfest.org

September 18Jazz Friday featuringFaith Band 7:00 - 10:00pm, 13342 Midway RoadSuite 250 at ArtFest Intl,Dallas. Tickets: $10 - $25,email stephanie@stephani-estips.com for paypal linkand e-ticket.

25th Annual PartnershipGolf Tournment at Fire-wheel Golf Park, Garland.Tee off at 9 a.m. ContactJami Manners at jami.man-ners@garlandchamber.comfor more information.

September 19Arnez J & Earthquake atNokia Theatre in GrandPrairie at 8 p.m.

Monthly meeting of theGarland NAACP YouthCouncil, 12noon, Mt. He-bron Baptist Church, 1233State Highway 66.

September 22Garland NAACP Gen-eralMembershipMeetingat 7:30p.m. in theWomen'sActivity Center, 713Austin Street@GlenbrookNote: General membershipmeeting agenda will in-clude an overview of theGISD School Desegrega-tion Court Order.

September 23 - 26Life Enrichment BootCamp Admission Fee:$200 per person. From 6pmto 11pm Info: DavidBishop at 214-736-9991,www.lifeenrichmentboot-camp.com or www.mar-riagebootcamp.com

September 24AARP Driver SafetyClasses 6-10 p.m. Fee is$12 for AARP membersand $14 for non-members.Reservations may be madeby calling 972-744-7800.

UNCF’s Annual DFWCampaign Kick Off Re-ception RSVP by Septem-ber 17th at (972) 234-1007

September 25-26One Diva and Twenty-One Dudes Visual ArtsExtravaganza at TBAALat 650 S. Griffin St. Dallas,info: NoraWilson 214 743-2506

September 25Jamie Foxx at Nokia The-atre in Grand Prairie at 8p.m.

8thAnnual Fiesta-on-the-Square, Hispanic Her-itage Celebration in 6:00-10:00 p.m., Info: DentonHispanic Chamber ofCommerce, djurbina@texstar.us, 940-565-1919.

September 26City of Garland is hostingHealthy Living Expo

September 27Recognizing Dedication:The 2009 Dance CouncilHonors at 3:00 p.m. at Dal-las Black Dance Theatre,2700 Flora Street, Dallas.Tickets are $30 for adults,$25 for DC members, and$20 for students. Silent auc-tion and ticket proceedswill benefit the DanceCouncil Scholarship Fund.Info: www.thedancecoun-cil.org, 214-219-2290, or atthe door. Seating is limited.

September 30Annual Celebration ofEnterprise Business ExpoAwards Luncheon at11:30am-1pm, BusinessExpo 10 am-3:00pm, VIPReception 10:30-11:30 amLuncheon tickets are $45and a table of 10 is $400;after August 14th Lunch-eon tickets are $65 and atable of 10 is $600. Admis-sion to the Business Expo isopen to the public and Free.Info: 972-612-2425 orwww.celebrationofenter-prise.com

Garland Mayor's Even-ing In ~ 5-7 p.m. City Hall,200 North Fifth Street Toreserve a time slot, call972-205-2471 or email

edattamo@ci.garland.tx.us

October 2Envogue is performing atthe SWA State Fair ClassicPre-Game at the CottonBowl

Jazz Series at BishopArtsTheater Center hosted byCamron Smith featuringPhil Perry with KimWaters

Richardsons NETWORKof Community Ministrieshosts annual tournamentbeginning with a shotgunstart at 1 p.m. Four-personteams will play a FloridaScramble at Sherrill ParkPavilion.

Dallas Alumni Chapter ofPrairie ViewA&MUniver-sity are hosting 14th An-nual Athletic ScholarshipGala at 6:30 p.m. at theWestin City Center Hotel-Downtown Dallas (650North Pearl Street).

October 3Southwest Airlines StateFair Classic at CottonBowl, Dallas

October 6Susan G. Komen for theCure Golf Tournament atthe Eldorado Country Clubin McKinney. Tournamentwill begin with a shotgunstartat 9 a.m. Oct. 6. Tour-nament fee is $90, deadlinefor registration is Sept. 28.Entry forms/info 972-473-5961.

October 10Appreciation Luncheonfor Sister Shirley DemusTarpley at Crowne PlazaDallas in Addison

October 13National Night Out thetheme is “Give Neighbor-hood Crime and Drugs aGoing Away Party.”

October 16Jazz Friday featuringFreddie Jones Band 7:00 -

10:00 p.m., 13342 MidwayRoad Suite 250 at ArtFestInternational, Dallas. Tick-ets: $10 -$25, email stephanie@stephaniestips.comfor paypal link and e-ticket.

October 17A Taste Of Plano 12:00 -8:00 pm. Activities includefood samples for purchase,qine tastings, demos, musicand more. visitdowntown-plano.com.

A Gospel Musical Con-cert at 5:00 p.m. hosted byGranny’s Place, Inc. a nonprofit residential home forgirls in and aging out offoster care at the Free WillBaptist Church, 1415Wheatland Road in Dun-canville.

October 22Humanitarian HandsFoundation will host itsfund-raising gala entitled at7 p.m. Life Is. RenaissanceDallas Hotel at 2222 Stem-mons Freeway. Info:www.humanitarianhands-foundation.com or MaryChristopher 972.331.6098.

October 24Collin County HispanicChamber of Commerce10th Anniversary Gala atthe Hilton Garden InnHotel & Conference Cen-ter, 705 Central Express-way South, inAllen at 7 pm$90 for a single ticket, $150for two and $720 for a tablefor eight. Info: www.cchchamber.org or 972-548-2608.

Sisterspeak Luncheon atthe Omni Dallas Hotel atPark West 1590 LBJ Free-way, Dallas, 12 – 3 p.m.Register for this FREEevent: EBONYJET.com or(800) 530-9636.

October 27Jobing.com Career ExpoWill Rogers Coliseum,3401 W. Lancaster, Ft.Worth, 12 noon – 5 pm

BY JACKIE HARDYNDG CONTRIBUTOR

After almost two years,Manuel Benavidez has lightat the end of his tunnel.

In November 2007, Be-navidez sued both the IrvingCity Council and the IrvingIndependent School District(IISD) after two unsuccessfulattempts at getting elected tothe IISD school board. Heclaimed Irving’s at-largeelection process denied rep-resentation of Hispanics.

And on Thursday, Sep-tember 3, 2009, Benavidezwitnessed victory when Irv-ing City Council membersvoted 6-3 to approve the 6-2-1 City Council single-mem-ber district plan. The pro-posed plan makes Places one,three, four, five, six andseven to be elected on a sin-gle-member voting system,with Places two and eightand the mayoral post remain-ing at-large.

“I continued to purse thiscase because I was doing thisnot only for my family, butfor all families of every race.My hope is the future gener-ation will get involved tohelp make this world betterfor everyone,” said Be-navidez.

This vote came after U.S.District Judge Jorge Solisruled in favor of Benavidezon July 15, 2009, and foundthe City of Irving in violationof section two of the VotersRight Act of 1965. Solis or-dered the defendants (City ofIrving and Irving City Coun-cil Members) and the plain-tiff (Manuel Benavidez) to

separately or jointly createand implement a redistrictingand election plan within 90days, or the Federal Court

would devise a plan to ad-dress the disparity of minor-ity representation within Irv-ing City Council.

“After several meetingsof negotiations with the de-fendant, we were able tocompromise and agree to asix single-member district inthe effort to avoid an appeal,”said Michael Veeser, legalcounsel in the Benavidezcase.

Awaiting Solis’ final ap-proval, the City of Irving hasagreed to pay a settlement of$200,000 to cover the plain-tiff’s legal fees, and voted notto pursue an appeal contin-gent upon the proposed 6-2-1 single member district planbeing accepted by the court.

City Council membersTom Spink (Place one) andBeth Van Duyne (Place two)had overwhelming represen-tation of their constituents atthe September 3 meetingwho voiced their opposition

to the proposed agreement.The proposed 6-2-1 single-member district plan wouldrequire Spink and Van Duyne

to run against each other innext May’s elections. Theirterms end in 2010, and Spinkwill no longer hold his cur-rent Place one seat under thenew redistricting plan.

“I feel the decision is aresult of gerrymandering, andwe were not given adequatetime to comprise a plan thatwould be inclusive for allgroups involved. It was to-tally fractured,” said Spink.

“Beth and I have consis-tently voted based on whatour constituents wanted andnot for our own personal in-terest. I do feel there weremembers within the council,including the Mayor, whopossibly wanted to see one ofus replaced in the hopes ofeliminate discontented vo-tes,” added Spink.

According to a 2006American Community Sur-vey (ACS), Hispanics makeup over 40 percent of thepopulation in Irving. To havea City Council with no His-panic or other minority rep-resentation eventually wouldhave forced Irving to facethis issue, the same issueDallas City Council faced in1988 in a lawsuit similar toBenavidez’. That lawsuit ledthe city to implement a 14member single-district sys-tem with an at-large mayoralpost.

“All cities go through thisprocess when they continueto grow. Irving has become avery diverse community, and

this is a natural progressionfor cities like Irving to transi-tion to a single-member dis-trict type system. Sometimesthe process is messy and wehave a strike against us inthat the Federal Court hasruled against us and our sys-tem,” said Mayor HerbertGears at the September 3meeting.

In 2004, the Irving CityCouncil attempted to addressthis issue by forming a Char-ter Review Committee. Thecommittee consisted of ap-pointed citizens selected torecommend changes to thecurrent at-large electoralprocess. The Irving HispanicChamber of Commerce pre-sented its own report to thecommittee, recommending asingle-member voting systemfor Places one through five.This recommendation wasnot passed to the Council bythe committee, and was notplaced on the election ballot.Ultimately, no resolution wasadopted to address the demo-graphic change.

Attorneys for Benavidezwere able to get a favorableruling due in part to the testi-mony of one of their expertwitnesses, David Ely ofCompass Demographics, aconsulting and database man-agement firm specializing inprojects involving Censusand election data. They hopethe evidence presented in thiscase will render a favorableruling in the lawsuit filed bytheir client Benavidez againstIISD, set to go to court in Oc-tober.

“The fact we were able touse innovative Census Bu-reau Estimation data to sup-port the idea that we couldcreate a district that was mi-nority-majority, as opposedto using data from a censuscountdown is what makesthis case extraordinary. Uti-lizing the Census Bureau In-terim Estimation Data, ACSprovided us the ability toprove rapid demographicchange, specifically as it re-lates to Place one (southernsector of Irving),” saidVeeser.

The opposing argumentpresented by the City of Irv-ing testified the illustrativedistricts created by the plain-tiff results in vote dilution byrelying on total populationfor district size, rather thanconsidering citizen- voting-age-population (CVAP). Ar-guments made by the public

opposing a single-membervoting district range fromhow a voting system of thisnature can distort the purposeof government to serve all thepeople and not just one par-ticular group, to lending itselfto opportunities for corrup-tion, which leads to ineffec-tive government.

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 9

Spotlight

Irving City Council ApprovesA Single-Member District System

Beth VanDuyne Tom Spink

Map Illustration of theProposed Re-Drawing forSingle Member Districts(Go to www.cityofirving.org to view map)

How Irving’s At-Large SystemWorked:• Places One through Five, required to reside in theirrespective Districts

• Places Six, Seven, and Eight, can reside anywherein the city

• Mayor, elected at-large and can reside anywhere inthe city

Percentage Breakdown of Hispanics By ProposedSingle-Member Districts:

District Percentage1 41.6%2 20.2%3 15.3%4 19.6%5 11.4%6 7.9%(Source: City of Irving)

Irving City Council

(NDGWire) McKinneyresidents who had plannedto attend NeighborhoodNight at the Movies on Sep-tember 11 will have anotherchance to take part in thepopular free family movienight. The event that wascanceled on Friday, Sep-tember 11 due to weatherhas been rescheduled to Fri-

day, October 2 at Hill TopPark, 1850 Winding BrookDr.

Families are invited toattend any and all to enjoya screening of eitherWall-EorMadagascar 2, both fea-tures from Disney Pixar andDream Works. All movieswill start at dusk, around 7p.m. Families are encour-

aged to bring lawn chairs,blankets and picnics to ac-company the show.

The remaining movienights include Wall-E:Sept. 18 atWhisenant Park,3701 Hudson CrossingandMadagascar 2: September25 at Aviator Park, 1201Monticello Dr. and October2 at Hill Top Park, 1850

Winding Brook Dr.Movies are shown on

the city Parks, Recreationand Open Space Depart-ment's portable and inflat-able movie screen. It's oneadditional way to bring spe-cial amenities to residents.

"Through programs likeNeighborhood Night at theMovies, Jammin in July

and others, thousands ofresidents can enjoy freeprograms right in theirneighborhood. It's espe-cially valuable when fami-lies are really watchingtheir finances," said Parks,Recreation and Open SpaceDirector Lemuel Randolph."We've had parents tell us

they are reminded of goingto drive-in movies in theiryouth. Now they can taketheir kids to have the samekind of experience, in theconvenience of their com-munity park."

Visit www.mckinney-texas.org or call 972-547-7480 for more information.

BY RUTH FERGUSONNDG EDITOR

On Tuesday, PresidentBarack Obama inadver-tently joined the fire stormsurrounding Kanye Westbum-rushing Taylor SwiftSunday night when his offthe record comments wereshared via Twitter.

Kanye West receivedmuch deserved criticismafter interrupting countrystar Taylor Swift during heracceptance speech at theMTV Video Music AwardsSunday.

West walked on stageand took the mic away fromSwift and proceeded to pro-

claim that Beyonce de-served the award for best fe-male video.

West issued two apolo-gies on his blog Mondaybefore appearing on JayLeno's debut of his newshow for a more extensiveapology.

"I'm just ashamed thatmy hurt caused someoneelse's hurt -- and I don't tryto justify it because I wasjust in the wrong. That's pe-riod," he says. "But I needto, after this, take some timeoff and just analyze how I'mgoing to make it through therest of this life, how I'mgoing to improve. Because

I am a celebrity, and that'ssomething I have to dealwith."

After Swift appeared onThe View on Tuesday morn-ing and stated she would bewilling to speak with West,he called Swift and finallyapologized to her person-ally.

Obama's 'jackass' com-ment about KanyeWest wasoff the record, claimed JohnHarwood, CNBC's chiefWashington correspondent.

"The custom in televi-sion, as I understand it, isthat when you have an in-terview of this kind, the lit-tle chit-chat when you are

getting ready to sit down todo the real interview is offthe record," Harwood toldPolitico.

"It's one of those thingsthat's like an understanding,as people have understand-ings with sources," he con-tinued. "And if you have arelationship of trust withsomeone, as I feel I do withthe White House and thepresident, specifically, I feltlike I should honor it."

However, the remarksquickly became public afterABC News reporter TerryMoran tweeted the com-ment.

(NDG Wire) For His-panic Heritage Month, THEARTS gallery is showcas-ing Hispanic artists Mon-day, Sept. 21-Friday, Oct. 9.

Hispanic HeritageMonth runs Sept. 15-Oct.15 as a time to reflect upon

the accomplishments andcontributions of the widearray of Hispanic artists,scientists, policy makers,leaders and others.

The gallery’s show –“Hispánica” – will featureceramics, painting, photog-

raphy and sculpture fromlocal Hispanic artists. Theexhibit was curated byLupita Murillo Tinnen,chair and professor of pho-tography, and Luke Sides,gallery director and profes-sor of art.

The artists include:Mirtha Aertker, RosemaryMeza-DesPlas, EnriqueFernandez Cervantes, OmarHernandez, Christina Med-ina, Valerie Ontiveros, JimBob Salazar, ShawnSaumell and Tinnen.

A reception is set for 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29 atCollin College art gallery,which is located at theSpring Creek Campus,2800 E. Spring Creek Park-way, Plano.

THE ARTS gallery

hours are: Monday-Friday,9 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturday,10 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information ,visit the gallery’s website atwww. c c c c d . e d u / THEARTSgallery or call972.881.5873.

Car ReviewArts & Entertainment For more entertainment news visit www.NorthDallasGazette.com

10 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Gallery Honors Hispanic Heritage Month With New Show

(NDG Wire) Arts Dis-trict Chorale (ADC) ispleased to announce thevocal soloists for the firstinstallment of its 2009-2010Season of Mysteries, enti-tled Mysteries of SacredLaughter. In part to wel-come The Dallas Opera to aneighborhood of world-class venues and culturalevents in the Dallas ArtsDistrict, ADC will presentone of the compositionsRossini intriguingly called“the sins of my old age,” thePetite Messe Solennelle

(Little Solemn Mass), filledwith all the exuberance andintensity of his beloved op-eras. With the unique addi-tion of staged charactersfrom the commedia del-l’arte tradition, Rossini’sjoy in the mystery anddrama of the Mass will berevealed in a distinctivepresentation in the DMAAtrium, beneath Dale Chi-huly’s famed Hart Window.

Artistic Director H.Michie Akin has selectedJennifer Chung, soprano,Emily Hoskin, mezzo-so-

prano, Scott Quinn, tenor,and Mark McCrory, bass, asthe four vocal soloists of thePetite Messe Solennelle.

Soprano Jennifer Chungis a popular veteran of nu-merous roles at The DallasOpera since 2003, includingproductions of Don Gio-vanni, La Traviata, Carmen,and Ariadne auf Naxos.

Mezzo-Soprano EmilyHoskin is a graduate of theNew England Conservatoryof Music, and will appearalong with Jennifer Chunglater this year in Handel'sMessiah with the PlanoCivic Chorus.

Tenor Scott Quinn isone of the winners of the2008 Dallas Opera GuildVocal Competition and isthe Young Artist in Resi-dence for the 2008-2009and 2009-2010 seasons ofThe Dallas Opera. BassMark McCrory has also

sung numerous operaticroles across the UnitedStates, including eight pre-vious appearances at TheDallas Opera.

In October 2009, ScottQuinn and Mark McCrorywill appear as Roderigo andMontano in Verdi's Otellofor The Dallas Opera's inau-gural production in the Mar-got and Bill WinspearOpera House at the DallasCenter for the PerformingArts.

The Arts DistrictChorale's performance of

Rossini's Petite MesseSolennellewill take place atthe Dallas Museum of Arton Monday, September 28,2009, at 7:30 p.m.

Advance single ticketsare $20/$15/$5. Seating islimited. For ticket pur-chases, 214.942.5085 or e-mail requests to tickets@artsdistrictchorale.org.Season subscription ticketsare also available online atartsdistrictchorale.org.

For information, pleasecontact the Arts DistrictChorale at 214.942.5085.

Arts District Chorale Announces Soloists for the First Event

President Obama Not Impressed With West

Neighborhood Night at the Movies Rescheduled

(UTD) Labels describ-ing furniture made with “allnatural fiber,” “reclaimedteakwood” and “water hy-acinth fiber” are common inshowrooms and catalogs.Manufacturers and retailersare (UTD) seeking sustain-able alternatives to tradi-tional hardwood productlines.

Crafting furniture usingecologically sound prac-tices – including recycling,sustainable forestry, conser-vation and reclamation –has become more than afleeting fad. There’s abooming market trend inthe U.S. home furnishingsindustry to create productsthat not only add beauty butalso help protect the envi-ronment.

“Businesses in all in-dustries today must be con-cerned about the impact that

products and services arehaving on the planet and fu-ture generations,” saidFrancisco Szekely, a UTDallas School of Manage-ment professor. “More andmore, consumers are ask-ing: ‘Who made this prod-uct?’ and ‘Where did itcome from?’

An expert on environ-mental and corporate sus-tainability, Szekely is thedirector of the School ofManagement’s new Centerfor Responsible Businessand Sustainability (CRBS).

Launched this pastspring by Szekely and thecenter’s associate director,Dr. Usman Ghani, theCRBS strives to help busi-ness leaders adopt businesspractices that are sustain-able as well as competitive.

Helping develop a busi-ness model in the U.S. fur-

niture industry is one ofseveral initial projects thecenter has undertaken in itsquest to position UT Dallasat the forefront of universi-ties working on sustainabil-ity issues.

Overpopulation hasstrained the Earth’s naturalresources, posing a world-wide challenge that de-mands action from govern-ments, corporations, univer-sities, organizations andconsumers, Szekely said.Business can play a centralrole in helping build a sus-tainable society by creatingcorporate culture that ismindful of the environmentacross its business prac-tices.

“If we sacrifice our en-vironment, we limit theability of the next genera-tion to do well,” saidSzekely. He also has served

as director of and professorat the International Acad-emy of the Environment inGeneva, as well as deputyminister of environmentand natural resources inMexico.

“Sustainability is aboutkeeping a balance betweenenvironmental, economicand social objectives. Wehelp companies come upwith a business model thatkeeps these things in bal-ance,” Szekely said. “Busi-ness has to adopt a new ap-proach to value creation. In-stead of the traditional andnarrower approach of fo-cusing mainly on creating‘shareholder value,’ nowcompanies must figure outhow to create ‘stakeholdervalue,’ where managers,employees, customers,communities and societybenefit from its activities,”

he said.Combining the research

and teaching strengths ofUT Dallas with the center’sforward-looking ap-proaches, the CRBS plansto offer “learning plat-forms” and “sustainabilityforums” to discuss the busi-ness and social implicationsof adopting options in re-sponse to sustainabilitychallenges such as globalwarming, new energysources and risk manage-ment.

Some of the areas thecenter will focus on includeinnovation, work processes,leadership methods, organi-zational models, competi-tive strategies, and supplier

and customer relations. Thecenter will also explore thepros and cons of variouspolicy options to curbglobal warming, such ascap and trade, carbon taxes,alternative energy, andproduct and service label-ing. It will also organizemulti-stakeholder forums toaddress how business canbetter respond to globalchallenges.

Since joining the Schoolof Management a year ago,Szekely has been in de-mand as a keynote speakerat events hosted by localcivic and professionalgroups, community col-leges, and industry andbusiness associations.

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to general check-in, allowingEarlyBird customers to beginboarding the plane afterSouthwest's Business Selectand Rapid Rewards A-Listcustomers.

"With EarlyBird Check-in, you no longer need towatch the clock or set youralarm to be one of the firstcustomers to check in for aSouthwest flight. EarlyBird

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Customers can purchaseEarlyBird Check-in througha link in the Travel Tools sec-tion of southwest.com. Theyalso can select EarlyBirdCheck-in from their south-west.com confirmation pageonline and from their confir-mation e-mail. EarlyBird

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For additional informa-tion on EarlyBird Check-in,visit http://www.south-west.com/flight/early-bird-retrieve-reservation.html orthe Company Blog atwww.nutsaboutsouthwest.com.

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com |11

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UT Dallas Launches Top-Level Sustainability Center

group needs a seat at the out-door table.

Now they will find outhow to take full advantageof what belongs to us all.Environmentalists Audreyand Frank Peterman, organ-izers of the First BiannualConference & Expo: Break-ing the Color Barrier in theGreat American Outdoors atthe Atlanta Airport Hilton inAtlanta, September 23-26,have been working for thepast 14 years to draw atten-tion to this hidden segmentof American life.

The conference will fea-ture people of color engagedin sports such as mountainclimbing, skiing, sailing,scuba diving, bird watching ,falconry and other sports.

And it will highlight the ef-forts of black and brownAmericans to protect the en-vironment and the scenictreasures in the nation's pub-lic parks, forests and wildliferefuges.

"The National Park Sys-tem has a budget of around$3 billion," said Audrey Pe-terman, during a televisioninterview on August 16thabout the First Family's visitto Yellowstone NationalPark and the Grand Canyon."Many of the parks are big-ger than entire cities - Yel-lowstone, for example, is 10times the size of New YorkCity. Parks have jobs consis-tent with those in cities -from the mayor (called a Su-perintendent in the parks) to

street cleaners to IT andHuman Resource profes-sionals. It's time to open upthat revenue stream to thefull American population.Right now, the park system'sworkforce is close to 80-per-cent white," Peterman said.

Peterman noted that thechanging demographics ofour country demand partici-pation from all ethnic groupsif the parks and the environ-ment are going to thrive.

"Some African Ameri-cans, Latinos and Asianshave not seen themselves re-flected in outdoor sports andin the environmental move-ment; but that has got tochange," she said.

The Petermans haveworked with a wide range ofoutdoor recreation propo-nents of color and notablesin government and businesswho want to see more diver-sity in the environmentalmovement. Many of themwill be available at the con-ference to inspire youngpeople, provide little-knowninformation about the publiclands system, and offer ad-vice about career and busi-ness opportunities, con-tracts, education and recre-ation.

The conference will in-troduce people of color ac-tively engaged in fields nottypically associated withtheir race. For example, Her-mes Castro is a 30-year-oldLatino outdoor enthusiastwho lost his legs when adrunk driver hit his bicyclein 2006.

Yet Hermes has contin-ued to be an avid sportsmanin San Diego and just re-turned from an expedition toAntarctica, where he be-came the first wheelchairvisitor ever.

And there's Jerry Brans-ford, a 62-year-old guide atKentucky's Mammoth Cave,whose great-great-grand-father began exploring andguiding in those same cavesas a 15-year-old slave. Sa-vannah Williams, a 25-year-old marine scientist inNashville, was the first per-son in her African-Americanfamily to learn how to swimwhen she joined a teenaquatic club and became acertified scuba diver.

The conference coin-cides with National PublicLands Day on September26, with participants havingan opportunity to work onimproving a house in the

historic Martin Luther Kingdistrict. It also is timed to therelease of Ken Burns' docu-mentary, The NationalParks: America's Best Idea,which will air on PBS sta-tions on September 27, andhighlights the roles ofAfrican Americans, Latinos,Asians and Native Ameri-cans in the creation and ex-pansion of the park system.The Petermans have collab-orated with Burns. His co-

producer, Dayton Duncan,credits Audrey Petermanwith introducing him to oneof the subjects profiled inthe documentary, The JonesFamily of Biscayne NationalPark.

The Petermans' newbook, Legacy on the Land: ABlack Couple Discovers ourNational Inheritance andTells Why Every AmericanShould Care, will be re-leased at the conference.

12 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

TECHNOLOGY, continued from Page 1numbers and places of em-ployment. The absence of e-mail addresses, mobilephone numbers or Internetidentifiers meant the Officeof the Attorney General(OAG) and other law en-forcement agencies oftenhad to rely on low-techmethods to track down con-victed sex offenders whoaccessed the Internet in vio-lation of their parole.

Paroled criminals in thestate attempt to use theanonymity of the Internet to

disguise their identities,arrange meetings with chil-dren or maintain social net-working profiles. Recently,the OAG’s Fugitive Unit ar-rested Gary Dee Gause, ofFort Worth, after he main-tained a MySpace accountin violation of his parole.He was paroled after serv-ing 25 years in prison forsexually assaulting twowomen in 1982 – one inHarris County and the otherin Tarrant County.

The Fugitive Unit also

arrested Michael JermainHarris, of Houston, formaintaining a MySpace ac-count and Facebook ac-count in violation of his pa-role. After Harris 2004 con-viction for attempted sexualassault a 14-year-old girl, hewas paroled and prohibitedfrom using the Internet.

Fugitive Unit investiga-tors also arrested a third sus-pect, Brian William Yoas, ofAustin, for violating his pa-role by logging onto the In-ternet and maintaining a

MySpace account. In 2005,Yoas was convicted inWilliamson County of pos-sessing and intending to dis-tribute child pornography.

To date, our office hasarrested more than 30 sexoffenders who violated theirparole by logging onto My-Space, which recently re-vealed that 90,000 of itsmembers were registeredsex offenders.

At least 5,000 sex of-fenders have also been dis-covered on Facebook’s

membership lists. The new law’s mobile

phone requirement isequally important – not justbecause it helps track downparole violators, but also be-cause many predators usemobile phones to prey onchildren. Unfortunately,mobile phones are beingused to send text messagesto potential victims, trans-mit explicit photos and ac-cess the Internet, wherechildren can fall victim toother types of exploitation.

When criminals are ex-ploiting technology as fastas it is developed, authori-ties cannot be bound to low-tech law enforcement tech-niques. SB 689 gives thelong arm of law enforce-ment the maximum possiblereach in order to hold regis-tered sex offenders account-able.

As history has shown,cooperative, creative lawenforcement can and wewill overcome even themost cutting edge criminals.

Community Newspaper seekingPart Time Writer to coverCommunity Events.

Must be familiar with AP style.Bilingual English/Spanish a Plus

Please call 972-606-3890and leave a message,

or send resume to:AssignmentEditor@

NorthDallasGazette.com

OUTDOORS, continued from Page 1

CONFERENCE, continued from Page 1lie!" that broke decorum dur-ing President BarackObama's address to the JointHouses of Congress onhealth care reform Wednes-day (September 9, 2009)evening.

"As African-Americannewspaper publishers westand in solidarity with theNAACP and fully support theeconomic boycott of SouthCarolina," stated NNPAChairman Danny J. Bakewell

Sr. "Rep. Wilson's remarkswere racist, disrespectful, anda disingenuous violation--notonly of President Obama--but to the institution of thepresidency and only solidi-fied our position and the im-

portance in not spendingBlack dollars where Blackpeople are not respected.The continued public andblatant disrespect of Presi-dent Barack Obama by mem-bers of Congress will not be

rewarded with our dollars norwill a state that continues touphold America's shamefulpast by flying the Confeder-ate flag."

The NNPA is currentlyconsidering North Carolina

in lieu of its decision to boy-cott South Carolina. Thegroup joins a host of other or-ganizations and businessesthat refuse to hold conven-tions or meetings in SouthCarolina.

TTrryyiinngg ttoo GGeett YYoouurr FFoooott iinn TThhee DDoooorr??

RECENTJOURNALISMGRADUATE?

More African-Americans are participating in outdoorsports and the environmental movement.

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 13

CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS

Suppliers of Goods, Servicesand Construction

Review Competitive Opportunities atwww.bidsync.com

www.garlandpurchasing.com

City ofPlano, Texas

CAREER EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

www.plano.govAA/EOE/ADA

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Contact 972-606-7498 for Career Opportunity Advertising

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Tel: (972) 289-0723 Fax (972) 216-5637www.tiseopaving.com

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We Accept Subcontracting BidsFor All Public Works Projects

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McCarthyrequest bids for theGeorge A. PurefoyMunicipal CenterParking Facility

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Dallas CountyDallas County is currently recruiting

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Qualifications vary for each position. To apply visitwww.dallascounty.org and complete the online application.Starting salary is based on education and experience. EOE

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AVE NU STUDIOSeptember 27, 6 pm

Join us for a Gospel MusicConcert to benefit localchildren’s charities at 1655N. Central Expressway inRichardson. Call 469-463-3817 for information.Kenny Love, DirectorP. O. Box 116250

Carrollton, TX 75011972-330-4083

DAYSTARDELIVERANCEMINISTRIESSeptember 2009

8:30 am – 11:30 amVisit Helen’s House everyMonday and Friday to re-ceive, to give, to comfortand most of all to fellow-ship. Give-a-way of food,love and household itemsis given freely to all thosewho could use a littletouch.

Apostle MinnieHawthorne-EwingSenior Pastor

635 W. Campbell RoadSuite 210

Richardson, TX 75080972-480-0200

FELLOWSHIP BAPTISTCHURCH OF ALLENOn Going,9 am-4 pmMonday – Friday

Prayer Lines for those inneed are 972-649-0566and 972-649-0567.September 19, 7 pm

You’re invited as our The-ater & Arts Ministry pres-ents the story of “Ruth” @Story Elementary school in

Allen. Witness the specialcare which God’s plan forredemption is revealedthrough love and family.September 26, 10 am

Join us for our Founder’sDay activities with familyfun, food and games at200 Belmont Drive inAllen. Call the church fordetails.September 27, 20098:15 and 10:45 am

You’re invited to HarvestSunday as we worship andpraise God; and bringsomeone with you.Rev. W. L. Stafford, Sr.M.Div., Senior Pastor305 N. Alder Drive inAllen for SundayMorning WorshipChurch Address is200 Belmont DriveAllen, TX 75013972-359-9956

FIRST BAPTISTCHURCH OF

HAMILTON PARKSeptember 20, 6 pm

Come and enjoy the An-gelic Choir Concert.

Dr. Gregory Foster,Senior Pastor

Rev. Anthony FosterPastor

300 Phillips StreetRichardson, TX 75081

972-235-4235

HOUSE OF PRAYERWORSHIP CENTERSeptember 18, 7:30 pmLiving Water Revival fromJohn 4:10-24.Sept. 20, 10 am & 7 pm

Prophetess Paula Greeneof Delaware will briing theWord of God.

Rev. Randall Cain, Senior Pastor2540 Avenue KSuite 300

Plano, TX 75074

NORTH DALLASCOMMUNITY

BAPTIST CHURCH INCARROLLTON

September 24-25, 2009We are hosting a GospelMusic Workshop featuringClinician/Minister RonaldMaterre, Associate Pastorof Worship at New FaithChurch in Houston, Texas.He is also Music Directorof Texas Mass ChoirGospel Music Workshopof America (GMWA) andFacilitator of New MusicSeminar for GMWA.September 26, 5 pm

There will be a FREE mu-sical worshiping God.Call 972-484-1185 to pre-register, details or direc-tions.

Rev. Billy Robinson,Senior Pastor

1718 Trinity Valley Drive

Carrollton, TX 75006972-484-1185

NORTH DALLASCOMMUNITY

BIBLE FELLOWSHIP INRICHARDSON

September 19, 6 pmOur concert will be @ theSpecial Events Center-Garland, 4999 NaamanForest Blvd, Garland, TX75040September 20, 9:30am

The conclusion is ourFounders’ Day WorshipService with Pastor GaryFrost from Youngstown,OH, also @ the SpecialEvents Center-Garland.

Dr. Leslie W. Smith,Senior Pastor

1010-1020 S. Sherman St.Richardson, TX 75081

972-437-3493

PILGRIM RESTBAPTIST CHURCHSeptember 19, 4 pm

& 20, 5 pmWe present The Tribe ofJudah, a celebration con-cert with Micah Stampleyat the Fellowship DallasWorship Center, 9330 N.

Central Expressway, Dal-las, TX 75231, and aDance Gala featuringDance Ministries fromaround the Metroplex atthe church. Call 214-724-1789 or 214-893-1841 fordetails.Dr. Curtis W. Wallace,

Senior Pastor1819 N. Washington Ave.

Dallas, TX 75204214-823-7308.

WORD OF LIFECHURCH OF

GOD IN CHRISTThis Friday Night

September 18, 7:45 pmCome to our anointed Fri-day Night Live Service tobe encouraged and hear theWord of God.

September 27 – October 2,6:55 pm Nightly

Bring family, friends andneighbors to share a mira-cle in a Holy Spirit Re-vival with Pastor andEvangelist, Elder GregVoss; Scripture Acts 2:17.

October 10, 009Help us to celebrate over40 years of serving God,community and schools bySister Tarpley @ TheCrowne Plaza Dallas NearThe Galleria on MidwayRoad in Addison, TX.Call for tickets or details.

Elder Gregory Voss,Senior Pastor

2765 Trinity Mills RoadSuite 305

Carrollton, TX 75006214-514-9147

14 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Church Happenings

(NDG Wire) On Satur-day during the DNC's FallMeeting in Austin, Texas,the DNC's Hispanic Caucusheld elections for new lead-ership. Elections are heldevery four years at the DNCMeeting. ChairwomanMartínez, who currentlyserves as a state senatorfrom Illinois, was elected toa four-year term by the fullDNC Hispanic Caucus. An-drés Ramírez, a recently ap-pointed at-large DNC mem-ber from Nevada, waselected as the DNC Caucus'new vice chair.

"As a lifelong fighterfor the interests of Latinosin Illinois and elsewhere, Iam thrilled to lead the DNCHispanic Caucus. Latinoscompose an expandingpresence in the Democratic

Party because this is theparty that fights for policiesand ideals that Latinos ofall origins can relate to, in-

cluding family values, in-clusion, access to educa-tion, smart sensible foreignpolicy, health insurance re-form, and commitment tocomprehensive immigra-

tion reform. The DNC His-panic Caucus chairmanshipis an opportunity to fightfor President Obama'sagenda for change whileusing my voice to fight forwhat matters to Hispanics,"said Martinez.

"This is a crucial timefor Latinos in the Demo-cratic Party and I am hon-ored to have a leadershiprole within the DNC. Lati-nos throughout the nationstepped forward for changelast November, and our par-ticipation is already payingoff. Whether it's PresidentObama's appointment ofmore Latinos to high officethan any other president orhis fight for health insur-ance reform, this marks thebeginning of a historic pres-idency. As the President's

road to change meets ob-struction from the otherside, Latinos have a signif-

icant role to play. I look for-ward to fighting for changefrom my position in the

DNC Hispanic Caucusalong with ChairwomanMartinez," said Ramirez.

(NDG Wire) On Sun-day, September 27, 2009and October 18, 2009, re-spectively, AVE NuStudio(www.avenustudio.com), aGospel event producer, willhost two special Gospelmusic concerts, of which aportion of the ticket salesproceeds will be donated tolocal youth organizations(the Out Of The Box youthprogram and the Children’sMedical Center Dallas).

The concerts will be

held at the Holiday Inn Se-lect (Sept. 27th at 1655 N.Central Expressway inRichardson, starting at 6:00p.m.) and the Plaza ArtsCenter (Oct. 18th at 1115Fourth Avenue on thesquare in Old DowntownCarrollton, starting at 5:00p.m.).

The Out Of The Boxprogram is GenerationalTransfer Church’s regular4th Sunday youth programthat directs youth on living

positive lifestyles while ele-vating their self-esteemthrough presenting musical,arts, and literary talents ofyouth artists to the generalpublic.

Additionally, the Chil-dren’s Medical Center Dal-las is one of the largest notfor profit pediatric health-care providers in the UnitedStates, and is the only aca-demic healthcare facility inNorth Texas dedicated ex-clusively to the comprehen-

sive care of children frombirth to age 18.

Through these musicalconcerts, AVE NuStudiopresents engaging record-ing artists to the audience.Kenny Love, Director ofMarketing for AVE NuStu-dio says, “An evening ofgreat musical entertainmentis always wonderful and as-sured. But, as our themesalso strongly focus on com-munity self-sufficiency, wefeel these concerts will

serve as even greater cata-lysts in generating muchneeded public awarenessand specific attention to ouryouth in social, health, andother vital areas of theirlives while enriching us all.As such, we graciously re-quest everyone come out onthese special evenings tosupport these worthwhilecharitable causes.”

Tickets for the Sept.27th Out Of The Box youthconcert may be purchased

by calling (469)463-3817while tickets for the Oct.18th concert may be pur-chased in Old DowntownCarrollton (Main and Belt-line, off Interstate 35) at thefollowing retailers; Ten OfArts, Blooms On TheSquare, Wanza’s Gifts &Collectibles, Ladybugs &Angels, and Agave Azul.For more concert details,visit the AVE NuStudiowebsite at www.avenustu-dio.com.

September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com | 15

8:00am & 10:30am

Gospel Music Concerts to Benefit Local Children's Charities

Avenue F Church of Christ1026 Avenue F • Plano, TX 75074

972-423-8833www.avefchurchofchrist.org

Ramon Hodridge, Minister

Early Sunday Morning .................8:00 amSunday Bible Class .......................9:45 amSunday Morning Worship ..........10:45 amEvening Worship .........................3:00 pmWednesday Bible Class.................7:00 pm

Radio Program @ 7:30 am onKHVN 970 AM Sunday Mornings

(NDG Wire) Earlier thisyear, the Garland CityCouncil approved the cre-ation of a quarterly awardrecognizing Garland resi-dents or property ownerswho have made an extraor-dinary commitment to im-proving the quality of life intheir neighborhoods. TheMayor's Good NeighborAward has kicked off its ap-plication period and willtake applications throughSeptember 30, 2009.

The Mayor's GoodNeighbor Award acknowl-edges the accomplishments

of community partners andhighlights the importance ofall neighborhood stakehold-ers working together to con-tinue making Garland theCity of Choice.

The award will begranted based on: projectinnovation, potential forreplication, mitigation ofunsightly conditions, col-laboration or partnership,volunteer contributions, andincreased property value.

An application packetcan be downloaded on theCity of Garland website atwww.ci.garland.tx.us, or

may be picked up in theMayor's Office, or the CitySecretary's Office located at200 N. Fifth St. For ques-tions or inquiries emailedattomo@ci.garland.tx.usor call 972-205-2471.

Selections will be madeby the Mayor after the nom-ination time period has beencompleted and all nomina-tions have been received.

The first winner will beannounced and recognizedat the October 20 CityCouncil meeting as well asthe Neighborhood Summiton October 24.

Garland Mayor's Good Neighbor Award

DNC Announces Newly Elected Hispanic Caucus Leadership

Andrés Ramirez

(NDG Wire) To decreaseozone-forming emissionsfrom a high-polluting vehicleas soon as possible, NorthTexans who see smoke pour-ing from a vehicle tailpipeare encouraged to report it bydialing #SMOKE on a cellphone or visit www.smok-ingvehicle.net.

To protect our air, NorthTexas vehicles by law mustannually pass an emissionstest, but a lot can happen the364 days between State in-spections. Alerting vehicleowners to potential emis-sions-related problems, soon-er rather than later, helps im-prove the region’s air quality.

Additionally, Texas law pro-hibits visible motor vehicleexhaust for 10 consecutiveseconds.

To assist vehicle ownersand improve air quality, theRegional Smoking VehicleProgram allows residents toreport high-emitting smokingvehicles by calling #SMOKEfrom a cell phone—it is a freecall with most wirelessproviders. Callers are askedto report the Texas licenseplate number and where andwhen they saw the vehicle.Drivers can also report vehi-cles by dialing 817-704-2522or entering information on-line at www.smokingvehi-

cle.net. Since the programlaunched in March 2007,about 15,350 vehicles havebeen reported.

Owners of reported vehi-cles receive a letter explain-ing the importance and bene-fits of regular vehicle main-tenance. The letter also pro-vides information about localsolutions like the AirCheck-Texas Drive a Clean MachineProgram which offers finan-cial assistance for eligible ve-hicle owners to pay for emis-sions-related repairs. A fol-low-up survey is sent afterthe initial notice. More than1,500 surveys have been re-turned, and 431 respondents

have repaired the reportedvehicle. About 100 otherssaid the reported vehicle wasno longer in operation.

The program is imple-mented through a partnershipbetween the North CentralTexas Council of Govern-ments and the Texas Com-mission on EnvironmentalQuality.

Aside from reportingsmoking vehicles, there are14 other clean air choices en-couraged through Air NorthTexas, a regional publicawareness campaign andpartnership to educate resi-dents and motivate them tocommit to clean air choices.

Other things to do: carpool,avoid idling and maintain ve-hicles.

Keeping tires properly in-flated and rotated regularly,replacing air filters annuallyand changing oil and oil fil-ters according to the owner’smanual all help a vehicle runmore efficiently, which re-

duces pollution. More cleanair choices are online atwww.airnorthtexas.org.

Reducing ozone-formingpollution and improving airquality are important to pro-tecting the health and welfareof North Texans today andsustaining the quality of lifefor tomorrow.

16 | September 17-23, 2009 | North Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com

Church Directory

Senior Pastor, Timothy Jones& First Lady, LaTonya Jones

Meeting at Fellowship Bible Church of Allen200 W. Belmont | Allen, TX 75013

214.263.8590 | www.RockBridgeBC.comSUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10:00 A.M.

ROCKBRIDGEBIBLE CHURCH

“Bridging the gap between Godand man through Jesus Christ”

7:30 AM • 9:30 AM • 11:30 AM

Improve Our Air in Less Than Sixty Seconds