How I Learned to Drive

May 27 – June 12, 2011

Thursday at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 2:00 pm

Written by Paula Vogel

A young girl learns the rules of the road and of life by an older man from behind the wheel. An award-winning, funny, surprising and devastating tale of survival as seen through the lens of a troubling relationship between a student and the man who teaches her.
Contains strong language and sexual innuendo.

More info at:  http://www.theatrearlington.org/?p=367

For more info about this year’s race and how to build a boat and enter or how to become a sponsor visit River Legacy Park’s website:    http://www.riverlegacy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128

    River Legacy mascot Forest the Squirrel 

Here’s a clip from last year’s 2010 St Patrick’s Day celebration at J. Gilligan’s, located at 400 West Abram St.

We talked with happy customers, busy waitresses, owner Randy Ford, and the legendary Hill City Band.

Before setting sail at River Legacy Foundation’s 22nd annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, participants can come to a Boat Building School to learn creative ways to build a winning cardboard boat or even one that could take home a trophy!

This year they will have a High School Challenge, so school can win bragging rights to the High School Challenge Trophy. The event isn’t just for students, its also for adults; they will be holding a Corporate Challenge. This will give their company a chance to show off their spirit and teamwork  when they compete in the boat races, volleyball, and tug-of-war tournaments.

Trophies Offered:

• High School Challenge Trophy
• Fastest Finish
• Rah, Rah! (for most-spirited)
• Titanic (most spectacular sinking)

Boat Building School

The boat building school will provide tips from experts on boat construction, supplies, engineering strategies, and  TAKS applications for teachers. Past Regatta winners will  demonstrate  successful boat-building techniques.

Class Date: Saturday, February 12
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Arlington City Hall Council Chamber
                       101 W. Abram St.

Deadline to enter Cardboard Boat Regata: April 18
             (Register before April 4, save $5 off the registration fees.)
Registration Fees: $50 to $80
For more info, contact:
                 River Legacy Foundation; (817) 860-6752
                                        or visit, www.riverlegacy.org

 VIBE  Superbowl Quiz

 answer any or all questions ….

Who do you pick to win?           What will be the score?

What do you think about the Superbowl being in Arlington?      …. like it, or don’t like it?

Did you….would you pay $1200 for a ticket?

Have you ever been to a superbowl?    …. if so what year?    …. and who were the teams that played in it?

Are you going to any kind of Superbowl party or event?    ….at home or out?

Which do you like better – the Superbowl or the World Series?

Leave a comment …..&  read other comments…..

Geraldine  Mills, longtime director of the Arlington Historical Society, was recently recognized by the Tarrant County Historical com-mission for her endeavors. She was the recipient of the William E. Jary Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Documentation of Tarrant County History. The award was presented at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth.

 1616 W. Abram St. (at the Historic Fielder House)   76013

817-460-4001    Geraldine Mills, Director
EMAIL:    fielderh@swbell.net       WEBSITE:   www.historicalarlington.org
Hours: Fielder House: Tues through  Sat,  10:00 am to 2:00 pm (or by appointment)
Knapp Heritage Park: Sat,  10:00 – 2:00
Newsletter Editor—Tom Dodson at jeantom@sbcglobal.net

Arlington Tennis Center

In a city that seems to squint through the glare emitted by sporting giants like the new Cowboys Stadium, or more recently by the Rangers themselves at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, there is a third much humbler, but equally notable sports facility in Arlington that is under-recognized by the limelight; the Arlington Tennis Center.  Confusingly, tennis is the only traditional sport to grow in participation in the double digits from 2000-2009, a whopping 48.8 per cent according to USTA.com. 

I had to find out the reason I had not heard about their multi-award winning facility, 18 total since its inception in 1995.  I made an appointment by dialing the general phone number at Arlington Tennis Center as quickly as possible.  Within 24 hours I found myself walking across a pristine lawn, all the while gazing at the wooden Adirondack armchairs among the tennis courts, before striding through the front doors of the multi-million-dollar Arlington Tennis Center.

I was greeted by assistant director Lisa Willaims and escorted to the current facility director Sheryl Osborn, the recipient of the prestigious United States Professional Tennis Association Facility Manager of the Year in 2008.  The same year ATC was also recognized as the United States Tennis Association Outstanding Facility of the Year

Mrs. Osborn has been employed at ATC since 1996, and the staff are mostly part-time employees.  “Virtually all of our staff at least have bachelor’s degrees, several have masters and most of the remaining team are working on achieving degrees,” said Mrs. Osborn.

Arlington Parks and Recreation, which won the United States Professional Tennis Association Organization of the Year in 2009, maintain the delicious grounds engulfing the 20, lighted courts of the public facility, as well as giving support financially.  ATC also works closely with the University of Texas at Arlington and Arlington Independent School District tennis programs.  

Tournaments from both UTA and AISD are regularly played on the courts at ATC.  “Over 50,00 people a year pass through Arlington Tennis Center.  Whether it’s for tournaments, programs, drills or for the pro shop.”

Tennis can be played by practically anyone of any age across the globe, it is a family sport.  “Tennis teaches you how to focus, plan, concentrate.  Skills you can take with you for the rest of your life,” said Mrs. Osborn.  ATC has taken this heavy task of teaching aspiring Roger Federers or Maria Sharapovas and applied one of the newest teaching methods available for children.  “One of the things we have really tried to focus on in the last three years is a method for teaching [10 and under] children tennis called Quickstart,” said Mrs. Osborn.

Quickstart is a very recent development in the tennis-teaching industry that ATC jumped on very quickly; in 2008 they were the first tennis center in the area to incorporate the program. The method is very simple for Quickstart in that it is a program patterned after the development processes of children in other sports.  Basically, it is taking the rackets, balls and courts and making them smaller for children so that their tennis equipment grows along with them and their involvement in the sport.  This method seems obvious because of its popularity in virtually every other traditional sport, but it was only recently that tennis adapted low compression balls, smaller rackets as well as “Quickstart courts,” which are approximately half the size of a normal court, for the sole purpose of speeding up the learning process for children involved in tennis. At ATC the USPTA certified professionals are charged with teaching tennis to children. 

There have been two milestones at the Arlington Tennis Center this year that testify to the national prominence of the facility as well as its reputation in the USTA.  In June the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament for men and women was held at ATC, of which it was the only tennis center in Texas selected to host such an event.  This was also one of Mrs. Osborn’s proudest moments during her tenure at ATC, “It was the confidence USTA had in our facility to host the event, as well as in my abilities as a tournament director.”

In July [2010] ATC also hosted the five-day competition “Zone Team Championship” for boys and girls 14 and under, in which they were chosen to host the event from facilities across the nation.

The ATC  also has a partnership with the Arlington Bowling Congress and host banquets together for the participants in their events.  

Arlington Tennis Center      500 W. Mayfield Rd, 76014

Monday-Thursday; 8 am to 9:30 pm                 Saturday; 8 am to 5 pm                   Sunday; 12 pm to 8 pm

817-459-6163 to reserve a court or register for programs.

Website:   http://www.arlingtontx.gov/park/tennis/index.html

Here are some photos from some of the people having fun from Epworth United Methodist, Pantego Park, George Hawkes Central Library, New World United Methodist, Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic, St Matthew’s Catholic, The Church on Rush Creek, and St. John the Apostle United Methodist.

And…. more photos sent to us by LONE STAR COMICS on Cooper St who held several parties this Halloween for kids & adults.

Thanks to everyone for inviting us and for participating.   Were you at any of these parties?

Do you see anyone you know? 

Leave a comment and tell us about your Halloween!

November 5 – 7, 2010

Arlington Convention Center
1200 Ballpark Way, 76011

 The Convention Center charges $5.00 for parking.

Every year, thousands of North Texans flock to Holiday Magic, which features a Kick Off Party, the highly anticipated Ladies Style Show and the Gift Market, which features more than 100 exclusive vendors.

Ladies Fashion Show: “Stiletto State of Mind”
Friday, November 5th
Private Shopping  9 am – 11 am,     Fashion Show 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Holiday Happy Hour – 5 pm – 7 pm

Children’s Party: “Breakfast with Santa”
Saturday, November 6th  10 am – 12 noon

Holiday Gift Market
Friday, November 5th, 12 noon – 7 pm
Saturday, November 6th, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, November 7th, 11 am – 5 pm

The Texas Rangers are coming home after winning 2 of their 3 games against the Yankees in NY. The Rangers lead the series 3-2 and one more win will send them to the World Series for the 1st time in team history. 

Now it’s  Friday at 7:00 at the Ballpark in Arlington for Game 6,  and if necessary,  Saturday at 7:00 for Game 7.  Both games will be televised on TBS .

The Cowboys on the other hand are off to one of their worst starts ever, losing to the Vikings which leaves them at 1-4 for the season, at the bottom of their division.  Monday Night  the Cowboys will face the 4-1 division-leading  NY Giants here at the huge stadium in Arlington.

Can the Rangers win one more?       

Can the Cowboys pull it together?        Predictions?        Leave a comment about it.

   The Texas Rangers made history Tuesday night by winning 5-1 in their 3rd game over the Tampa Bay Rays and thus moving on to the next round of the playoffs for the 1st time. 

There are lots of stories here – Cliff Lee, great base-running, Kinsler, visiting team wins every game, Nolan Ryan’s vision, etc                 Stories and film clips at www.texasrangers.com

But not much time to celebrate - it’s on to face the NY Yankees on Friday, Oct 15th at 7:00 pm at the Ballpark in Arlington .- televised on TBS.

Are you proud of the Rangers?       Were you surprised?        Can they beat the Yankees?     

 Predictions?        Leave a comment about it.

GAME FIVE  in TAMPA BAY  - TUESDAY, OCT 12,  7:00 pm, televised on TBS   

Will you be watching?       Will the Rangers do it?        Leave  a comment