Reverend Fletcher Wllliams is the Men's Breakfast Speaker at St. Francis of Assisi

The Men of St. Francis of Assisi will host its Men’s Prayer Breakfast on August 16 at 8:30 a.m. at the church on 204 Dooley Street in Prairie View. Reverend Fletcher Williams is the speaker. Reverend Williams is one of the first farm families to settle in Prairie View. He is also a minister of the Gospel, pasturing two churches in Caldwell and Washington on the Brazos; a local farmer and community leader. The free breakfast is open to all the men of the community. Please confirm attendance at 936-857-3272 or stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.

The Prairie View Family is mourning the passing of Mrs. Nellie Charleston on August 10, 2014. Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Charleston are set for August 16, beginning with a viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Johnson Phillip All Faith Chapel at Prairie View A&M University. The funeral service starts at 11:00 a.m. Condolences and expressions may be sent to the Nellie Charleston Family, P. O. Box 507, Prairie View, TX 77446.

The members of the First United Methodist Church in Prairie View invite the public to its 2nd Annual Brims and Crowns Extravaganza on August 16 at the Waller Baptist Church, 2520 Cherry Street. The event will feature performances from the Voice of Distinction, a Jazz Quartet, Praise Dancers and a motivational message from Ms. Phyllis Spates of Hempstead. Donation for the event is $20, which will support programs at the church. For information, call 936-857-3584.

The ‘Red Hot Summer’s Night in August’ and the 8th Annual Red & White Fireman’s Ball is set for August 23, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Willie A. Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Ballroom at Prairie View A&M University. Waller County area farmers, ranchers, cowboys and cowgirls will be honored at the ball. Special awards will be presented to fire station personnel as well. The committee invites members of the community to sponsor items for its silent auction and purchase tickets and ads for the public event. Proceeds will support equipment and operations of the Fire Department. For information, contact: Belinda Lewis at lewisbelinda@hotmail.com.

The 3D Mathematics Academy of Prairie View is now receiving applications for membership for the 2014-2015 school year. Full academy membership runs Monday through Friday after school until 5:30 p.m. with van pick up in Waller ISD only. Space is limited to 10-12 for students in grades 3 to 12 in science and mathematics. 3D ExTRA students receive homework and Test Review, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm in 45 minute to 1 hour overlapping sessions. The first semester runs September 8-December 16. Call 936-857-3534 for more information and appointments from August 11 to August 15, 1 pm to 6 pm.

Congratulations to DeWayne Charleston on the release of his book “Then Me: The United States vs. Waller County” on Amazon.com. The book recounts Charleston’s life growing up in Waller County, his trials, tribulations and triumphs, and his becoming an advocate for the people in the community. It also chronicles his struggles between religion and politics, and his own battles with racism, which could be anyone’s story. Charleston hopes the book will be a supplemental reading for the social and political sciences at the high school and college levels. Charleston will make a free donation of the books to students in leadership at the Prairie View A&M University on August 25, 2014.

Your prayers and encouragement are welcomed for Ernestine Carreathers, Keith Bowdre, The Nellie Charleston Family, Irene Davis, B. J. Freeman, Mae Helen James, David Kirkpatrick, Irene Reid, Willie Smith, Mary Ann Stubblefield, Theola Woods and Douglas Woolfolk. May God’s peace be with you!

HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAY TO: Lauretta Burke (10), Blessing Ezeoka (10), Gwendolyn Jeffery (10), Vanessa Jackson (11), George Brown (12), Georgia Stewart (12),Arthrayia Love Tompkins (12), Stephon Nathaniel Martin, Jr. (13), Danny Kelly (14). LaKethia Harrison (15), Janelle Siaffa (16), Marion Williams (16), Charlie Brown (17), Christopher Ryan Starks (17), Shadia Fuller Washington (17). Lucius R. Wyatt (18), JoAnn Blake (19),Timothy McWashington (19), Frank T. Hawkins (20), James Tompkins (20), Amy Boykin (23), Marguerite Robinson (23), Cecil Boykin (24), Iris Sawyer (25), Jessie M. Tompkins (26), Desire'e Boykin (26), Cheryl Manuel (27), Elaine Francis-Shafer (27) and Cheryl Williams Manual (27). HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO: Cecil & Amy Boykin (18), Don & Beatrice Sowell (18),Ural and Crystal Thompson (22), Waymon and Bernice Webster (24), Edward and Pearl Martin (24) and David and Lorraine Kirkpatrick (26).

The Prairie View Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly meeting on August 28 at 6 p.m. at George E. Higgs Prairie View National Alumni Headquarters on University Drive. City and county officials are invited to update the members on their activities for the month. All business and prospective owners are invited to attend. Come on out and help to improve the business development in the city.

THE VIEW FROM THE HILL: Today, August 14 marks the 138th year of Prairie View A&M University’s creation. It was on August 14, 1876, when the fifteenth Texas Legislature created the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas at Bryan and the Alta Vista College for Colored Youth on the Kirby Plantation in Waller County. After several name changes, including Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College, the legislature endorsed Prairie View A&M University with legislative action on August 15, 1973. The “A&M” is the official symbol for the system and the university.

On August 18-19, the Prairie View A&M University will host its fall faculty and staff retreat in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium in the Willie A. Tempton, Sr. student center. President George C. Wright and other administrators will lay out the goals and objectives for 2014-15, introduce new faculty and staff and recognize others for their services and achievement for the 2013-14 year. The program will conclude with an “All White Affair” reception in the center’s on August 20 from 3:00 pm. to 5:00 p.m.

Friends, colleagues and other well-wishers are gearing up to pay homage to Dr. E. Joahnne Thomas Smith with “A Summer’s Evening Celebration,” commemorating her 18 years of dedicated service as Senior Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs at Prairie View A&M University. The gala event is set for September 5 with a reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by the banquet at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton of Americas Houston, 1600 Lamar Street, Houston. The semi-formal event will mark an era of teaching, research and service of Dr. Thomas-Smith to higher education in Texas. For ticket information, contact the office of academic affairs at 936-261-2170.

Kudos to Dr. George C. Wright on his eleventh anniversary as president of Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Wright was officially named the seventh president on August 15, 2003. Kudos also to Dr. Michael McFrazier on the first anniversary in his Vice President for Administration and to Dr. Terence Hicks in his position as dean of the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education at PVAMU.

Prairie View A&M University is bidding goodbye to Dr. Marion Billingsley who served as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs from 2009. Billingsley will leave the position on August 31 to become Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at North Carolina Central University. The student affairs staff plans to host a reception for Billingsley within the week.

Until next week, in the words of Malcolm X, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Keep the news, achievements and recognitions coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com or Prairie View Today, P.O. Box 2906, Prairie View, TX 77446.