City of Prairie View is 42 Years

The weekend – April 30 – all roads lead to the City of Prairie View the 42nd Birthday Celebration. The event focused on the Family and several area churches came out and shared in the family activities. There were several vendor booths, hayrides, games, music and lots of food; and a parade to mark the event. Prairie View was incorporated in April 1969 and is a city on the frontier of change. In 2010 Bloomberg Business named the City as one of the best of three cities to raise kids in Texas. Gatesville and Waco lead the way. For information, contact event chair Elaine Jackson, 936-857-5550 or mejacksontx@prodigy.net.

On May 7, members of Hope AME and St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church will host a Prayer Breakfast, featuring the Reverend Bobbie Knowles, Rector for Hope Episcopal in Houston. The event starts at 9 a.m. and the tickets are $20. For information call 936-857-3272. The community members are invited to attend the Christian Education/Bible Study at St. Francis every Friday from 7-9 p.m. Reverend Knowles was installed as the new rector for Hope on April 28 by Texas’ Bishop C. Andrew Doyle. The St. Francis Community Bell Chorus provided music for the occasion.

For the health of it, the ladies of the Prairie View Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. presents: “All about Lupus and More” on May 18 at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Prairie View Alumni Headquarters on university drive. Speakers for the event are Joyce Thornton for president of the Prairie View Alumnae Chapter and Rebecca Kramer, Representative from the Lupus Association. Refreshments will be served and Door prizes for the participants.

On April 24, Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Among the area churches marking the event were the members of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Prairie View. St. Francis observed the holy week leading up to the resurrection with services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter and Easter Resurrection Sunday. The Reverend Dr. Frank Hawkins was the celebrant.

Kudos to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Gamma Omega Chapter for host its annual Easter Book Reading and Egg Hunt on April 22 at the Coleman-Kemp-Smith Waller County Community Center in Prairie View. More than fifty kids attended and had a great time.

Congratulations to Lekeisha Clark the 2011-12 Miss Prairie View A&M University. The pageant held on April 20 drew 10 contestants with varied and diverse talents. Kudos also to Camille Smith (Left)who was named 1st runner-up and Triston Vanardo (Right) as 2nd runner-up. Incidentally, Camile was my client in the pageant.

Congratulations also to the 22 newest members of the Collegiate 100 at PVAMU sponsored by the 100 Black Men of America, Metro Houston Chapter. The induction, held on April 18 was witnessed by more than 150 family, friends and staff of PVAMU. Mr. Ronald Green, Controller for the City of Houston was the guest speaker. Mr. Darnell Joseph, Chairman Emeritus for the 100 Black Men Houston installed the officers for the year. The Collegiate 100 is a mentoring group with the aim of assisting the 100 Black Men with its mentoring and Four for the Future programs. Mr. Travis Reed of Beaumont, Texas is the president with Dr. Clement Glenn Professor of Education and Frederick V. Roberts assistant director for Career Outreach and Service as the sponsors.

Please remember the following persons in your prayers: Vera Armstrong, Mary Boozer, Ernestine Carreathers, Hulen and Irene Davis, George E. Higgs, Mary Kemp, David and Lorraine Kirkpatrick, Irene Reid, Willie Smith and Douglas Woolfolk, who all stand in the need of prayer. May God’s blessings bring them health and strength!

The Prairie View community is mourning the loss of another pillar in the passing of Mr. Ulysses Bell on April 22. Mr. Bell was laid to rest in the Prairie View Memorial Cemetary on April 28. Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter performed the Omega Service on April 27.

Dr. Danny R. Kelley, dean PVAMU Brailesford College of Arts and Sciences shared his life experiences with the more than 50 men in attendance at the Men’s Prayer Breakfast on April 16, hosted by the men of St. Francis of Assisi in Prairie View. Kelley encouraged the audience to take advantage of the doors that are opened to them. The next breakfast is set for May 21. Members of the community are also invited to the Christian Education and Bible Study on Fridays at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

The View from the Hill: The PVAMU Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team is winding down another successful year of events. Activities left on its calendar are the Business of Engineering Success Forum on April 27 and the 6th Annual Entertainment and Music Business and the Gospel Showcase on May 4. For information, contact Devin Evans, SIFE’s president at (936) 261-3579.

Happy April birthday greetings to: Cube Charleston (21), Becky Fredholm (21), Martha Jackson (21), Nellie Charleston (22), Anita Jones (26), Vicki Seldon (26), SirMichael Jones (26), Theodis Shine (26), Herbert Thomas (26), Florine Muse (27), Brenda Howard (28), Shianne Patrick (30) and Malcolm Copeland (30). May birthday congratulations to Lou Lee Wood (5), Ellery Chase Stevens (7), Ella Anderson (8), Mary Hawkins (9), and Mary Ann Stubblefield (9).

Until next week, "accentuate the positives and see the good in everyone and everything. Extend a helping hand where possible." 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.