St. Francis of Assisi to celebrate its 66th Anniversary on October 7

The public is invited to the 66th Anniversary Celebration and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 7, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the church on 204 Dooley and 200 Phillip Streets in Prairie View. The preacher and celebrant is the Rt. Reverend Philip M. Duncan, II, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast in Florida. Dinner will be served following the services. In lieu of the Traditional Blessing of the Animals in honor of the Patron Saint Francis, the church is collecting pet food and towels to be donated to the local animal shelter on October 6. Donations may be brought to the church between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church is the second oldest church in the Prairie View Community, second only to Wyatt Chapel Baptist Church, which was founded in 1894. Incidentally, morning service for October 7 is cancelled and the public is invited to share in this experience and the feast that follows. Reverend Dr. Cynthia Engle is the Rector.

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018, residents of the City of Prairie View will join communities around the country in hosting for the National Night-Out Community Building Celebration, which will bring the neighbors out to share common interests in the welfare of the neighborhood. The FREE Event for ALL and Activities for Children runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Prairie View City Hall 44500 Bus. Hwy. 290 Prairie View, Texas 77446.

National Night Out was first established in 1984 by Matt Peskin of the National Association of Town Watch. The event brings neighbors and communities together with festivals, block parties, cookouts, parades, and various other events as common ways for communities to come together on National Night Out. The Prairie View Police department hosted its Pre-National Night-Out Community Celebration on Thursday, September 21, 2017 and from all account it was a very successful event. Members are encouraged to come out and meet your neighbors. For more information, you may contact Ms. Pamela Tisdell, (936) 857-3521, ptisdell@prairieviewtexas.gov or Veronica Hargest Sharp, (281) 723-5063, veronica.clarice@yahoo.com.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and many organizations will be hosting events to commemorate the cause recognizing survivors and encouraging women to be screened. The National Breast Cancer Foundation will honor those at every step of the breast cancer journey by sharing the story of how you or someone you love has been affected by breast cancer. Click Here to share your stories throughout the month of October on their social media platforms to encourage others facing breast cancer. We extend our profound respect to the many cancer survivors in our community and extend our sincerest sympathy to the families and friends impacted by the loss of their loved ones to the dreaded disease.

The Men of St. Francis of Assisi will hold its Men’s Prayer Breakfast on October 20 at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall of the Church on 204 Dooley Street. The speaker is Dr. Rick Baldwin, associate professor in the Department of Management and Marketing at Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Baldwin’s undergraduate teaching course load includes Principles of Management, Small Business Management, Retail Management and the recently developed Sports, Entertainment and Event Marketing course. Baldwin also teaches a graduate course in entrepreneurship which culminates with the winning team participating at the at the OFC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition, a program that provides entrepreneurial opportunities and experiences to students, and helps them to look at the big picture and apply all of their conceptual & theoretical knowledge. Dr. Baldwin has more than twenty years of professional experience in the telecommunications industry. More recently, he served as a business development consultant helping communities and small businesses. During his tenure at Prairie View A&M University, he has been a faculty member in the College of Business, and served for six years as the Director of the Community and Economic Development Graduate Program in the PVAMU School of Architecture. All men of the community are invited to participate in the fellowship and free breakfast. Please call 936-857-3732 or write: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net to confirm attendance.

The Prairie View Federal Credit Union is gearing up for its Christmas/Holiday Loan Season on October 19- December 24. Members can receive up $2,500 in loans depending on credit rating and payment history. Members can also slash their interests rate up to 50% on refinancing their auto with the credit union. Come join the Prairie View Federal Credit Union, the only financial organization in Prairie View, located at 704 University Drive in Prairie View. Call 936-857-4925 for information.

Your prayers and encouragement are welcomed for Ada Beal, Irene Davis, B. J. Freeman, Pearl Martin, Willie Smith, Mary Ann Stubblefield, Otelia Watson and Sandra Watson.

My special commemoration story on the 5th anniversary of the passing of Dr. Alvin I. Thomas, 3rd president of Prairie View A&M University on September 25, 2013. Dr. Thomas was regarded highly in the academic community and made significant and dynamic changes at the university during his presidency – November 11, 1966 through May 31, 1982. May his legacy and memory live on in the hearts and minds of the many persons he had the pleasure of helping to become successful.

HAPPY SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY TO: Eneisha Boykin (24), A.D. James Jr., (25), Andrea Miller (25), Michael Sams (26), Lisa Stafford (26), Phyllis Earles (27), Patricia A. Jackson (30) and Johnnie M. Smith (30). OCTOBER BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS TO: Leola Springs Williams (1), Keisha N. Tompkins (2), Michael Munnings ( 3), Allen Roberts (3), Victor Stanley (4), C. Lee Turner (4), John R. Williams (5), Andre' Berry (6), Glen Berry (7), Robert Harris (8), Julia Marshall (9), Deleanor Kirkpatrick (9) and Wilma K. Peavy (9).

A VIEW FROM THE HILL: Congratulations to Dr. Michael L. McFrazier on appointment as Interim Dean for the Whitlowe Green College of Education at Prairie View A&M University. McFrazier also serves as Vice President for Administration at the university.

Until next week, in the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson, "enlightened loyalty requires that each citizen take the trouble to learn about, to discuss, to think through, the crucial issues of our time. Keep the news and achievements coming to prairieviewtoday@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, TX 77446.