Denton volunteers helped plant trees at one of 12 community tree plantings, a part of the NFL environmental program.

GRAPEVINE _ Volunteers will play on the same team with a common goal – a community tree-planting event, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Vineyards Campground, 1501 N. Dooley St.

 The project is a result of teamwork between the Texas Trees Foundation, Moore Tree Care, the Texas Forest Service and the NFL Environmental Program for Super Bowl XLV. The free event is open to the public and will involve community volunteers doing the planting.

 Speaking at the event will be Janette Monear, executive director of the Texas Trees Foundation, and city officials. She will speak on how the planting project will improve the health and livability of Fort Worth, as a part of the Super Grow XLV program.

Texas Trees Foundation (www.texastreesfoundation.org) is partnering with the National Football League Environmental Program, the Texas Forest Service, the Home Depot Foundation, the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee and other sponsors to create Super Grow XLV, an environmentally-friendly project to offset the impact of an event as large as a Super Bowl.

As a part of Super Grow XLV, the Grapevine planting is one of 12  in Super Bowl XLV host communities. Super Grow XLV will end with Touchdown for Trees, a celebration Jan. 24 in Arlington featuring Drew Pearson, Dallas Cowboy great and Super Bowl champion, and Bill Lively, president/CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee. Joining the two at the event will be the 12 cities’ mayors and NFL representatives.

 Super Bowl XLV (www.northtexassuperbowl.com) is set for Feb. 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Super Grow XLV’s Touchdown for Trees will be open to the public. Ticket information will be available at www.texastreesfoundation.org.

 One additional community planting remains. It will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 in Arlington.

DALLAS – Shovels will be moving in Super Bowl style Saturday, and the athletic efforts won’t stop until Super Bowl XLV is almost here.

Volunteers will play on the same team with a common goal – a massive tree-planting event with 219 trees added to two neighborhoods starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Recreation Center, 3710 N. Hampton Road.

 The project is a result of teamwork between the Texas Trees Foundation, the City of Dallas Housing/Community Services, Dallas Park & Recreation Department, Alliance for Community Trees, the Texas Forest Service and other Super Grow XLV partners.

 The planting project will improve the health and livability of Lake West and La Bajada neighborhoods bordered by Hampton Road, Singleton Boulevard and Canada Drive.  The planting is made possible by a $10,000 National NeighborWoods grant from the Alliance for Community Trees, as well as the Super Grow XLV program.

Texas Trees Foundation (www.texastreesfoundation.org) is partnering with the National Football League Environmental Program, the Texas Forest Service, the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee and other sponsors to create Super Grow XLV, an environmentally-friendly project to offset the impact of an event as large as a Super Bowl.  This program is an important opportunity to improve our community, air quality and environment through tree planting and education. The trees will help reduce high summer energy use by providing shade, improving Dallas’ air quality, providing erosion control and more. All tree plantings will be open to the public and will involve community volunteers planting the trees.

The planting is the beginning of Super Grow XLV, which involves the 12 Super Bowl XLV host communities trees before Super Bowl  XLV, set for Feb. 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.  Super Grow XLV will end with a celebration Jan. 24 in Arlington with Super Bowl CEO Bill Lively joining the cities’ mayors and NFL representatives at Touchdown for Trees.

Touchdown for Trees, Super Grow XLV’s Touchdown for Trees, will be open to the public. Ticket information will be available at www.texastreesfoundation.org.

Additional Planting Dates:

• October 23, 2010
  • City of Dallas
• October 30, 2010
  • City of Richardson
  • City of Lewisville
  • November 5, 2010
  • City of Farmers Branch
• November 6, 2010
  • City of Addison
  • City of Denton
• November 13, 2010
  • City of Plano
  • City of Frisco
• November 19, 2010
  • City of Fort Worth
• November 20, 2010
  • City of Grapevine
  • City of Irving
• January 21, 2011
  • City of Arlington
• January 24, 2011
  • Touchdown for Trees – Grand Finale Event

Designer handbags are planned as a special calorie-free “dessert” at The Special Olympics Texas Bag Ladies Luncheon, planned for 11:30 a.m. Friday at Rolling Hills Country Club, 401 Lamar Blvd. East, Arlington.

The event will feature a keynote address by recording artist Melissa Lawson, winner of “Nashville Star” and Arlington resident. Lunch will be followed by a designer handbag raffle as part of the fund-raising effort for Special Olympics.

Tables can be purchased for $600 and individual tickets are available for $50. Additional tickets for the purse drawing can be purchased for $25 each. For more information, please contact the Greater Fort Worth area office of Special Olympics at 817-332-3433.

Special Olympics Texas is a privately funded, non-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and competition for more than 32,240 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the state. More information is available by visiting www.specialolympicstexas.org.

Bryan A. Howard and Laura M. Spain

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan L. Spain of Arlington are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Laura M. Spain, to Bryan A. Howard, son of Mr. Andy H. Howard and Mrs. Catherine A. Walger. 

The bride-elect earned a bachelor of business administration and a master of business administration from Texas Christian University and is a partner in Hygeia Paragon Holdings, Inc. The groom-to-be received a bachelor of environmental design from Texas A & M University and is a project manager for C.B. Richard Ellis. 

The couple plans to marry Jan. 30 at Meadowbrook United Methodist Church in Fort Worth and will honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise.

Victor Rivers, actor and activist

Actor Victor Rivers has been named the featured speaker for the 3rd Annual Seasons of Hope Luncheon and Style show, planned for Oct. 28 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Rivers, who appeared as Jack Reese on NBC’S series ”Life,” will bring his program “I am Not a Woman” for the fundraiser benefiting the Community Enrichment Center’s Open Arms program. His film credits include “Blood In/Blood Out,” “The Mask of Zorro” and “The Distinguished Gentleman. On TV, Rivers has guest-starred on a variety of shows inluding “CSI Miami,” “24,” “Star Trek and “Miami Vice.”

Today acting is only part of what captures Rivers’ attention. He uses his own story of surviving a home where abuse took place to raise awareness about what is more than a woman’s issue. The actor-turned-activist considers domestic violence society’s greatest, yet most curable, social disease. Rivers now has penned his memoir, “A Private Family Matter,” (Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster).

At the luncheon, Karen Borta will serve as mistress of ceremonies. Attendees will be treated to a three-course lunch and a style show with clothing from Belk Department Store.

 Sponsorships are available and include complimentary tickets to the fundraiser and a VIP tour of the new stadium.

Tables of 10 guests are $650 for the luncheon or $750 for the luncheon plus a tour of the stadium. Individual tickets are $65 for the luncheon or $75 for the luncheon plus a tour of the stadium.

Event proceeds will benefit the CEC’s Open Arms Program, a two-year program dedicated to victims of domestic abuse. Call the CEC at 817-281-1164 for more information.

SafeHaven’s Young Professionals Group will be launched with its first-ever event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at BlackFinn American Saloon in Arlington.

According to Sarah McClellan-Brandt, a Safehaven staff member, attendees will have the opportunity to meet other area young professionals and learn how to join the group while enjoying BlackFinn’s appetizers and drink specials for a $5 donation. The donation will benefit SafeHaven’s emergency shelter and counseling programs for victims of domestic violence.

Reservations are requested but not required. To RSVP, contact McLellan-Brandt at 817-535-6462, ext. 119. For more information about SafeHaven of Tarrant County, check www.safehaventc.org.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County has set June 18th as the date for a party kicking off its new networking group for young professional supporters.

The event, planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will be held at Blackfinn American Saloon, 4001 Bagpiper Way, in Arlington.

Young professionals under the age of 40 are targeted for membership. At the June event, attendees will get the chance to network and also learn about SafeHaven and the services the agency provides to survivors of domestic violence.

Information will be provided concerning group membership.Attendees will also find out about how to join the SafeHaven Young Professionals group. Contact Sarah McClellan-Brandt at 817-535-6462, ext. 119 or smbrandt@safehavent.org to RSVP or for more information.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a nonprofit organization, exists to end family violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. SafeHaven’s two emergency shelters, one in Arlington and one in Fort Worth, together accommodate 174 women and children, making SHTC one of the largest shelters in Texas.

For immediate assistance regarding domestic violence, please contact the 24 hour toll free crisis hotline at 1-877-701- SAFE (7233).

Wow, i can’t believe this is finally up and running.  Now as you are reading and visiting this wonderful new site, please always keep in mind that we are constantly learning and updating for your benefit.  Also, and most important, please always keep in mind that that both Joy and I are not exactly techno brains….face it, we tend to get lost just after the login process on our side of the site!  (Love you Joy!)  So if you find a few errors or areas that need attention…PLEASE LET US KNOW!   This site is all about YOU and you wonderful organizations.  Please send us your press releases and photos.  And, best of all, send us LOTS of your photos.  We don’t want to just run one of two…we want to put them ALL up!!  If there are too many to send us by e-mail…then contact us and we can make arrangements to get them some other way…but we WANT to get them!  Remember, this site is for you and all about you. 

GET THOSE CAMERAS A FLASHING!!!!!