St. Francis Men Rediscovers Jazz with the Maestro - Dr. Lucius R. Wyatt

"Rediscovering Jazz" is the focus for the Men's Breakfast set for Saturday, July 17, 2010 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 204 Dooley Street in Prairie View. The event features a Jazz quartet with Lucius Wyatt(trumpet), Larry Jones (piano), Caleb Dada (bass)and Justin McLean (drums). The free breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Those interested in attending should call 936-857-3272 or stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net to confirm attendance.

The countdown is on for the 36th National Convention of Prairie View A&M University National Alumni Association set for July 21-24 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alumni from everywhere are expected to attend the four-day event, featuring workshops, seminars, dance and awards ceremonies. For information, contact the National Headquarters at 936-857-5817.

Applications are still being accepted for the 2010 Vacation Bible Camp July 19-23 and the Hand Bell Camp July 26-30, all beginning 7:30 am -5:30 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. The camps are open to students in grades Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. For information, call 936-857-3534, 832-885-7980, 936-857-3302 or 936-857-3272. The camps are free and lunch will be provided by the Episcopal Church Women.

C. Lee Turner, the consummate director of the Charles Gilpin Players and former professor of theater arts at Prairie View A&M University is being immortalized in the Encore’s production of The Turner Classic, a presentation of scenes from five plays directed by Turner over the years. This theatrical celebration of the Turner legacy directed by Harold Haynes, E. L. Morgan, Clifton Alexander and Norma Thomas, runs July 16-18 at the Encore Theater, 8616 Cullen Blvd., Houston. For ticket information and reservation call Ezekiel 832-541-9335 or write to ezekielm@yahoo.com.

Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience, the national traveling exhibition, hosted by the American Library Association runs July 14 - Aug. 27 at Lone Star College-CyFair on 9191 Barker Cypress Road. For information, go to www.LoneStar.edu/library/prideandpassion or call 281.290.5276.

Congratulations to ReShonda Tate Billingsley on the release of her 20th title, Holy Rollers! The book is about three friends who changed from chasing pro athletes in search of love to chasing preachers! For more information on how to get the book, go to http://reshondatatebillingsley.com or http://rtbillingsley.blogspot.com/. ReShonda’s “Let the Church Say Amen!” is in movie production and will be in theaters in 2011.

The countdown is on for the 4th Annual Red and White Ball of the Prairie View Volunteer Fire Fighters Inc. set for August 28, 2010. For information and sponsorship, call Elaine Jackson at 936-857-5550 or email: mejacksontx@prodigy.net.

Your prayers and encouragement are welcomed for the health of Martha Bailey, Esel and Willie J. Bell Sr., Ernestine Carreathers, Nellie Charleston, Dewayne Charleston, Larry Coleman, Redessa Coleman, Hulen and Irene Davis, B. J. Freeman, Mary Kemp, James Poindexter, Irene Reid, Otelia A. Watson and Douglas Woolfolk. May God’s peace be with you all!

A VIEW FROM THE HILL: The Career Services staff is busily preparing its 40th Anniversary Career Fair Celebration in September. Some of the planned events include a Golf Tournament, Director’s Luncheon and Banquet, and career readiness seminars. For information, call 936-261-3570 or visit www.pvamu.edu/careers.

Congratulations to Lawrence W. Fryer Jr., on his appointment as Chief Operations Officer of the Austin Independent School District, effective August 1. Fryer is a 1978 graduate of Prairie View A&M University. He is the current COO for the Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland and a retired Lt. Col. in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Happy July Birthday to: Milton Whiting (10), Richard D. Hayes (11), Dr. R. N. S. Rao (11), Joann Thibodeaux, (11), Imoni Williams (11), Vivian Smith [Fiscal Office] (13), Dora Jackson (15), Kebur Fantahun (15), Carolyn Giles (20), Carven K. Kromah (20), Bernice Cummings (22), Paris Kincade (25), Gerald Ladig (25), Carol Campbell (26), Rose M. Jackson (26), Renee Calloway (27), ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS to Donnie and Demetria Howard (16), and Alvin and Redessa Coleman (23).

On a cultural note, I am sure you knew that on July 13, 1965 - Appeals Court Judge Thurgood Marshall is nominated as the U.S. solicitor general, the first black to hold this office; 7/14/1972 - Former New York State Sen. Basil A. Paterson is elected vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the first black American to hold a national political party leadership position; 7/15/70 - James McGhee is sworn in as the first African American mayor of Dayton, Ohio; 7/16/77 - Janelle Penny Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago is the first black to become Miss Universe; 7/17/1862 - Congress approves the rights of blacks to bear arms to fight in the Civil War and enlist in the Union Army with the Confiscation and Militia Act; 7/18/18 - Nelson Mandela, first black president of South Africa is born in Umtata, Transkei-SA; 7/19/41 President Roosevelt established a Fair Employment Practices Committee to monitor discrimination against Negroes in defense industries.

Until next week, be mindful that honesty and frankness make you vulnerable, and that the biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds, but be honest and frank, and think big anyway. Keep the news, achievements and recognitions coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com, fax 936-857-5352, phone 936-857-3272 or P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, Texas 77446.