DFW Archives Bazaar: Sunday, October 14, 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. FREE (no admission charge that day)

Join archivists, museum curators, librarians, and history professionals from all across the DFW area at the Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, on Sunday, October 14, 2018,from      1-5 p.m. for the DFW Archives Bazaar. Professionals from institutions such as UNT, SMU, UT-Dallas, Fort Worth and Dallas Public Library, Dallas Holocaust Museum, The Amon Carter Museum, Dallas Municipal Archives, NARA, and the Sixth Floor Museum (just to name a few) are responsible for helping to preserve the history and culture of communities in North Texas. They will be on hand to share their knowledge and help preserve your history. Learn all about the history of North Texas and the people that help preserve it for the next generation!

What you can see/do/learn:

Let the professionals show you the cool items that they have in their collections.

Learn how to preserve and digitize rare materials.

Learn how to conduct oral histories in your community.

Learn how to access historic research materials.

Other events during the Bazaar:

There will be a speaker series, door prizes, and more. All attendees of the DFW Archives Bazaar will receive free access to the rest of the park, and everyone is encouraged to picnic on the grounds (food and beverages will also be available for purchase).

For more information about Dallas Heritage Village, please call the main line at 214-421-5141 or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org

Construction to begin immediately for a dedicated and expanded space for The Storehouse of Collin County as well as improvements to the Children’s and Students’ Ministries and parking

A groundbreaking ceremony and special event held on August 26 launched Phase 2 of St. Andrew United Methodist Church’s $16.5 million ChurchOne capital campaign. The campaign was designed in 2016 to address the growing needs of the church in the first two phases of a 30-year master plan. Construction begins immediately to build a dedicated missions area for The Storehouse of Collin County as well as provide improvements to the Children’s and Students’ Ministries and additional parking. It is estimated that Phase 2 construction will be completed in 13 months. Phase 1 which was completed in April, was the renovation of the sanctuary to accommodate present and future worship at St. Andrew.

“As we stand here today, I think back to 1990 when we had a group gathered in this same spot to break ground on our first building just behind me,” said Senior Pastor Robert Hasley. “Today we are here to remember those who came before and made all of this possible. You are the founding members for the next 30 years as we offer the love of Christ to children, students, and those who need a helping hand.”

The Storehouse of Collin County, a nonprofit which began at St. Andrew and is housed on its campus, has been operating within the students’ wing of St. Andrew since it first opened in 2009. It is the umbrella of services providing short-term assistance and long-term transformation to residents of Collin County in need and includes the Seven Loaves Food Pantry, serving 1,000 families a month; Joseph’s Coat Clothing Closet, providing an average of 4,000 garments each month; and Project Hope, a mentoring program supporting women in crisis. The nonprofit, which has increased the number of families served by 11 percent in the last year, was honored on September 14 with the North Texas Food Bank’s (NTFB) Partner Agency of the Year Excellence in Impact Award – NTFB’S most prestigious partner agency award. NTFB has 216 partner agencies within the 13-county area it serves.

The Storehouse of Collin County is an agency that provides life changing services for their clients by meeting multiple needs for each family served,” said Trisha Cunningham, president & CEO of NTFB. “While all of our Partner Agencies lend a hand to those in need, this agency strives to lend a hand up.” 

“The Storehouse is humbled by this honor as we go forward helping our neighbors in need every day,” said Candace Winslow, executive director, The Storehouse of Collin County. “We are so excited about our new facility, which will not only provide us with a dedicated space in which to serve others but also enable us to continue to grow.”

The new construction of 1,200 square feet will be the Storehouse’s hospitality and sign-in entrance and includes a mezzanine and a welcoming awning. The interior renovation of 3,500 square feet will include a kitchen, a walk-in fridge and walk-in freezer. 

The primary improvements for St. Andrew’s Children’s Ministry include the Children’s entrance, the addition of the indoor play space on the main level and tie-ins for the children’s area at each level. This is 970 square feet of new construction (three stories tall) and 3,150 square feet of renovation. 

The Students’ Ministry, gaining the most new square footage with 9,450, includes a lobby entrance facing Mira Vista Road, breakout spaces for small groups and two new gyms that are designed to also serve as worship facilities. In addition, there will be 4,500 square feet of renovation for a game area and a new students’ department office on the second floor.

Regarding parking, over 100 new spots are being added around the campus, with the most new spots in the southeastern corner, near the intersection of Mira Vista Boulevard and Plano Parkway.

“Without Rev. Robert Hasley, none of us would be standing here today,” added Rev. Arthur Jones, senior associate pastor. “The main thing I have learned from Robert over my years at St. Andrew is that we have to look forward, and I’m thrilled to be looking forward with all of you here today.  It’s an exciting day in the life of St. Andrew.”

Fifty-five volunteers joined the staff of The Storehouse of Collin County on August 8 to distribute  backpacks to over 500 children who were registered participants in the  Seven Loaves Food Pantry, a program of The Storehouse of Collin County. Throughout the summer, The Storehouse received donations from the community to provide each child with a backpack, a basic set of school supplies, and a gift card to Old Navy for school uniforms. The afternoon included fun activities for the children including snow cones and a craft station.  Families also received tomatoes and fresh fruit. An additional 160 backpacks were provided the following the day to families coming to the Seven Loaves Food Pantry.

The Storehouse Executive Director Candace Winslow and COO/General Manager for the Seven Loaves Food Pantry Terry Breedlove greeted volunteers, which included many from Young Men’s Service League and National Charity League.

“Today is so much more than backpack distribution,” said Winslow. “The backpacks and the supplies and even the snow cones are simply the items we use to show our neighbors in Collin County that we care about them.  As volunteers you have the wonderful opportunity today to connect with a child to make them feel valued and loved.”

“Education provides opportunities for growth and overcoming life’s hardships,” added Terry Breedlove. “Every child in our community deserves the chance to be equipped with the tools to succeed in school.”

The children were all smiles as they had the opportunity to choose the color and style of backpack they wanted. As they exited with their new backpacks, they also received personal, handwritten notes of encouragement for the new school year prepared by a youth group in memory of a classmate who had passed away in an accident.

For more information about the Storehouse of Collin County or to make a donation, visit www.thestorehousecc.org or call 468-385-1815. Donations may also be mailed to The Storehouse of Collin County, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd., Plano, Texas  75093.

“We are so grateful for all of those who contributed to this important effort,” added Winslow. “For those struggling to put food on the table, school supplies are far outside family budgets. Contributions help us to lift this expensive burden for so many families. Last year, one family shared that not only is this is one less thing they had to worry about when preparing for the school year, but it also showed her children the importance of being prepared and having what they needed when they started school.”

The Storehouse of Collin County, a nonprofit organization housed within St. Andrew United Methodist Church, is the umbrella of services providing short-term assistance and long-term transformation to residents of Collin County in need: the Seven Loaves Food Pantry, serving 1,000 families a month; Joseph’s Coat Clothing Closet, providing an average of 4,000 garments each month; and Project Hope, a mentoring program supporting women in crisis. The program first began in 2009 under the name of Seven Loaves which provided only food pantry staples and grew over the years to meet a variety of needs. An estimated 130,000 people in Collin County live below the poverty level, more than half of which are children. Visit www.thestorehousecc.org.

More than 100 Collin County residents participated in the 4^th Annual Camp Fresh N’ Fit, a free day of fun, fitness, and helpful health and wellness information organized by The Storehouse of Collin County and sponsored by the Texas Legends. Families came together to learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to meet the event’s featured speaker, 1986 NBA Slam Dunk champion Spud Webb. Webb, who kicked off the day’s activities, is known for winning a Slam Dunk Contest despite being one of the shortest players in NBA history at 5’ 7”. He is currently the president of Basketball Operations for the Texas Legends, the G-League team for the Dallas Mavericks in Frisco.

“The Storehouse believes that healthy living is the balance of the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives,” said Candace Winslow, executive director, The Storehouse of Collin County.  “Camp Fresh N’ Fit allows us to explore personal wellness for both kids and adults by offering sessions that are not only educational, but also entertaining.”

As families registered and entered Festival Hall for the opening “Spotlight with Spud,” music by DJ Smoove of 97.9 The Beat and hundreds of colorful helium balloons set the scene for an exciting and inspirational day.

“My goal in being a part of this fun day is to give kids hope,” said Spud Webb.  “Kids need to see professional athletes up close and see they are touchable and approachable.  They need to know that they can make it, too, and that it’s important to have discipline, always work hard, be respectful of others, and never give up your dreams.  I know that I’m not going to reach all of them, but every now and then I run into people at the airport or restaurants who come up to me and say, ‘You spoke to my school or my camp, and I’ve always remembered what you said.’  These are kids that have graduated college and contributing positively to society. To hear that I might have made a difference feels better than any slam dunk.”

“Spud is a personal friend, and we are so glad he is gracious enough to share his story of perseverance and resilience with families,” said Deborah Hill, director of the Storehouse’s Project Hope Program. “While the parents today were all familiar with Spud, it didn’t take long for the kids to  get to know him and have a new hero to look up to.”

Families lined up for pictures with Webb, who spent his time signing basketball cards for families as they were arriving. He shared his inspirational story in a Q&A led by Hill, who related his personal words of wisdom to everyday life. If it weren’t for important mentors and encouragers in his life, Webb shared that he might not have tried to play in the NBA. Others told him he should be a Harlem Globetrotter because of his height, but he persevered, practiced whenever and wherever he could, used his quickness and jumping ability to outplay the other, bigger kids, and ended up playing for the NBA for 12 years.

Following the session with Webb, Fitness Instructor Hope Wilson got the crowd moving with a high energy warm-up session to music provided by DJ Smoove. Later in the day, the kids enjoyed basketball drills with Texas Legends training staff and mascot. There were also health and wellness workshops for adults – yoga, meal prep, stress and anxiety management, chiropractic health; and many raffle prizes. Special guests included Dr. Kevin Atchley and Dr. Bobbie Wallin from Castle Hills Chiropractic; Dr. Dominique Hunt from Frisco Dental Place; Hope Wilson, fitness instructor; Kellye Abernathy, yoga instructor; Laura Wynne, meal prep guru; and nutrition advocate Dylan Whitaker. Yogurt smoothies were provided by Lala US, and all enjoyed a complimentary lunch.

 Whitaker presented a visual and informative breakout session on nutrition for kids.

“A lot of times kids do not have a say in where the family gets food,” said Whitaker.  “I want them to know that fast food is not a good choice, but I want to give them the knowledge they need to make the best choices wherever they go.”

Whitaker’s presentation featured a table with various food items, including a fast food cheeseburger he bought four days prior – still wrapped and in the bag – next to a fresh peach and a peach that was a few days old.  He also displayed some packaged powdered donuts and other items.

“I want the kids to look at this burger,” added Whitaker. “I bought it four days ago, and it looks and smells the same.  That’s not natural.  But when I show them this peach compared to the one that is older, they can see it is natural and decomposing. I want them to understand when they put something in their bodies that is natural, it will have long-term positive effects on their health. It is my hope this is a visual they will remember.”

“Today was an amazing day filled with positive role models in our community, inspiring us to develop a healthy lifestyle,” added Hill. “We thank Spud Webb, the Texas Legends, and each one of our presenters and volunteers for such an impactful and fun day for families.”

“This is my fourth year to attend Camp Fresh N’ Fit along with my daughter Skylee, who is now 8,” said Johana Cooper. “This event is educational and fun and makes you want to develop healthy habits.  I learn something new each time I come.  It’s also great for the kids especially in today’s world. Our kids have stress we would have never imagined when we were young. These kids listen and bring home new ideas and ways to manage stress in their own lives. It’s a great fun-filled day for all of us.”

An international success story from South London, UK, the Libera Boys Choir will sing during two church services and

perform a special concert at St. Andrew as a part of their 2018 USA tour

St. Andrew United Methodist Church, located at 5801 W. Plano Parkway, welcomes the London-based Libera Boys Choir on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29. The choir, a group of 31 boys ages 9 to 16, will perform during the 5:30 p.m. Saturday worship service as well as during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship service.  On Sunday from 6-8 p.m. the choir will perform a concert at St. Andrew, the second and final Texas stop on their 2018 USA Tour. Tickets for the Sunday evening concert are $15-$20 and are available at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/uslibera.

From Moscow to Manila, Westminster to Washington, Tokyo to Toronto, and Shanghai to Singapore, the Libera Boys Choir has delighted audiences across the globe with their mystical chords and harmonies, creating celestial sounds for a unique concert experience. Their music, both ancient and modern, reaches across generations to a wide audience. The group's name comes from its signature song, "Libera", which is based on the Libera Me portion of the Requiem Mass. Libera, pronouncedLee-beh-ra is the Latin singular imperative of "liberare", meaning "to free.”

 In both the United States and Canada, Libera is known through their concert tours and television appearances including nationwide PBS specials, NBC’s “Today” show, and “The Tonight Show.” The choir had its U.S. debut at the Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to honoree Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. This was followed by Libera’s participation in the Papal Mass at the climax of Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the USA. Libera is known to British audiences through TV appearances and a broad range of venues – from Westminster Cathedral to the South Bank in London, to the Edinburgh Festival and many UK cathedrals. The boys are regularly heard on Classic FM, and last Christmas the choir scored the top classical song download on iTunes.

“It has been eight years since we were last in the Dallas area, but we remember well the fantastic reception and warm welcome we received,” said Robert Prizeman, director. “Several of the boys will be on their very first international tour so it will be a great new experience for many of them. We hope it will be a memorable event, too, for our audience, and we are grateful for the invitation from St. Andrew UMC to perform.”

The choir has traveled across North America several times, appearing in venues as diverse as the Crystal Cathedral in California, St. Louis Basilica, St. Paul and Minneapolis cathedrals, the Moody church in Chicago, the Riverside Church in NYC and other venues, both secular and sacred, from Texas to Toronto. In addition to performances, Libera regularly makes recordings for their own album releases and other projects. A new album is planned for release in the U.S. this year. To hear a preview of the choir, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uw0wiB-H-8, which has received over 40 million hits.

“St. Andrew is very excited to welcome Libera to the area,” said Taylor Davis, director of music and worship arts, St. Andrew UMC. “We encourage the community to take advantage of this exciting opportunity.”