Prairie View Today Updates

This weekend all roads lead to Dallas for the opening of the Texas State Fair and Football matchup of the Prairie View A&M University Panthers and the Grambling State University Tigers on October 5 in the state fair classic game at 4:30 p.m. The PVAMU Marching Storm will make its showdown in the annual battle of the band contest. Kudos to the team, coaches and students in their quest for matchup-bragging rights in 2013.

The members of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church will kick off the commemoration of its 61st Anniversary on Sunday, October 6 with a special service at 11:00 a.m. at the church on 204 Dooley Street. The Rt. Reverend Dena Harrison, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Texas will celebrate the Eucharist and conduct the confirmation of Allen Roberts as a full communicant of the church.

The celebration continues on October 12 with the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ on from 11:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m. in honor of the patron saint Francis of Assisi, who love and cared for the animals. The public is invited to bring their animals for the special blessing, sale of refreshments and games for the children. A veterinarian will be present to provide advice and inoculations. Reverend Cynthia Engle and Reverend Bob Merrill of St. Bartholomew’s Hempstead will conduct the blessing service. Dr. Wendell Baker and Dr. Halcyon Watkins, local area veterinarians, will be on hand to provide shots and checkups. Persons interested in participating should contact: 936-857-3272 or email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.

Members of the community are invited to special evening service on Sunday, October 13 at 3:00 p.m. with a performance from the Community Bell Choir, directed by Dr. Vicki Seldon. Dinner will be served. The community is also invited to share in the word at the Bible Study on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall and to worship at St. Francis on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. followed by fellowship in the parish hall. The members of First United Methodist Prairie View will host its “100 Men in Black” program on October 12 at 5:00 p.m. at the church on Owens Road. The event, themed: “What a Fellowship,” commemorates the 42rd anniversary of the church founding. Pastor Lloyd W. Scott, senior pastor of Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church, Port Arthur is the speaker. Donations may be sent to First United Methodist, P. O. Box 2465, Prairie View, TX 77446.

Final touches are being made for the activities at the City of Prairie View’s “Taste of Prairie View™: Homecoming Edition” on October 17-19, 2013. Some planned events include a Carnival and Kids Corner, the Prairie View Trail Riders Camp Out, the Pan African Caribbean Food Festival and a Citizens and Business Night out reception. Space is still available for vendors and others interested in selling their wares and participating and in the Book and Author fair. For information, contact: tasteofprairieview@gmail.com or write the Taste of Prairie View, c/o The City Secretary, Prairie View City Hall, P. O. Box 817, Prairie View, TX 77446

Your prayers and encouragement are welcomed for the health and well-being of Esel Bell, Ernestine Carreathers, Irene Davis, Cheryl Edmond, B. J. Freeman, David Kirkpatrick, James Poindexter, Willie Smith, Mary Ann Stubblefield, March Tramble, Ella Weaver, Robert Williams, and Douglas Woolfolk and to the Darlene Clark and Family!

Congratulations to the candidates in the 2013 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant on October 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium at Prairie View A&M University. The candidates are: Chasity Burnside, Ivy Walls, Amber Gary, Imani Coney, Mikeala Dulan, Nadia Greer, Brianna Clark, Elizabeth Ekpo, Denise Henderson and Shatoya McMillan. The pageant personnel include: Producers Conner Benskin, Demario Lowe, Kyle Maronie and Frederick V Roberts; Directors Kenneth Epting, Jeremy Craft and Richard Amagula. The pageant is sponsored by the Eta Gamma and Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. For ticket information, write: missblackandgold@gmail.com

HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAY TO: Michael Munnings (3), Allen Roberts (3), Victor Stanley (4), C. Lee Turner (4), John R. Williams (5), Andre’ Berry (6), Glen Berry (7), Robert E. Harris (8), Julia Marshall (9), Deleanor Kirkpatrick (9), Wilma K. Peavy (9), Ezra Sidney (10), Zelia Wiley (11), Keisha Smith (13), Irene Davis (14), Zetta Gibson (14), Theola Woods (14), Reatha Cole (15), Joyce Thornton (15) and Neta Foster (15).

Congratulations to the students at Prairie View A&M University on the recent approval of the Willie A. Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Center as the official polling location in Precinct 3 for all elections. The action was approved by the Waller County Commissioners Court. Early voting will still be held at the Coleman-Kemp-Smith Community Center on FM 1098. Thanks to Priscilla Barbour, President of the Student Government Association led the charge for the change.

The Collegiate 100 and 100 Collegiate Women of America are eagerly working their plans for the 2014 Black Tie Scholarship and Power 100 Awards Gala, set for November 16 at Prairie View A&M University. This year’s awardees include persons from the academic, athletics and political arenas. The Collegiate 100 chapters are sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Metro Houston, Inc. For information, check out the web: www.collegiate100prairieviewamuniversity.blogspot.com

The View from the Hill: The Prairie View A&M University family is mourning the passing of Dr. Alvin I. Thomas, President-Emeritus on September 25, 2013. Thomas was appointed president of the college on November 22, 1966 and left the position on May 31, 1982. He was appointed Executive Vice President for Development in 1982 and later served as Director of Facilities at the Prairie View College of Nursing in Houston. Dr. Thomas was influential in expanding and improving the quality of education at the university with various innovative programs. The funeral service for Dr. Thomas is on October 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church, 3006 Rosedale in Houston, Texas. Condolences may be sent to the Dr. Alvin I. Thomas Family, 2646 South Loop West, Suite 275, Houston, TX 77054.

Until next week, Samuel Anderson, "Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual, he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." Keep the news and achievements coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com, P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, TX 77446.