News
 
Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

 

DeSoto is a Veteran Friendly City and on Saturday, November 7th, DeSoto Mayor Carl Sherman is urging us to pause again for the fourth year in a row, before the official day marked by the nation as Veterans Day, to honor our local veterans for their selfless sacrifice and service to protect our freedoms.

We encourage local businesses to salute all our veterans by providing them with special discounts on meals, services and/or products beginning Saturday, November 7th through Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th.

We hope all veterans and their families will join us on Saturday, November 7th at 9 am at the Jim Baugh Government Center located in DeSoto Town Center at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, as we recognize our real heroes.  We have a special appreciation ceremony planned featuring comments by U. S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas State Senator Royce West and the Dallas VA Medical Center Director, Jeffrey Milligan. We will also unveil a veterans pictorial exhibit displaying approximately 65 veterans from our area.  Decorated WWII Marine, R. V. Burgin, who is our oldest known veteran in the Best Southwest area, will also be on hand at the 9am ceremony to receive the Veterans Appreciation Day and Veterans Day proclamations from Mayor Sherman.  Mr. Burgin's life was featured in the American Television series, The Pacific, which was produced by HBO, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.   

Following the ceremony, activities move out to the plaza at DeSoto Town Center where the Mobile Vet Center will be providing information from more than fourteen Veterans Administration organizations.  They will be available to answer questions on topics facing our veterans including filing for benefits, mental health issues and vocational rehab.  They will also provide help with appointment scheduling.  Representatives from the Veterans Texas Commission, the Dallas County Veterans Services Office, the Veterans Entrepreneur Program and the Texas Land Board Association will also be on hand.  The event will include food, entertainment and fun for the whole family from 10 am to 2 pm. 

 For more information, please call 972-230-9648.

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest
Baya Kakouberi on piano and Gary Levinson on violin will present a program of chamber music at the Corner Theatre on Oct. 25th at 3pm. Tickets are just $10.

The Uptown/Downtown/DeSoto Concert Series concludes at the Corner Theatre on Sunday, October 25th with a special presentation of chamber music at 3pm.

Blue Candlelight  Music Series Artistic Director,  Baya Kakouberi and Dallas Symphony Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster, Gary Levinson present music of the masters of color. Selections include Stravinsky’s take on Baroque music in Suite Italiene, Faure’s love poem in the A major Sonata no. 1 and Beethoven’s dark sonata no.7, known as the Eroica.

The Blue Candlelight Music Series and the DeSoto Arts Commission invite you to join us this Sunday for the final performance in the series at the DeSoto Corner Theatre located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road in DeSoto for great musical experiences. Tickets for all performances are just $10.  To purchase or for more information, go to www.artsdesoto.com or call 972.230.9648.

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

The DeSoto Arts Commission invites you to join us for a special concert at the DeSoto Corner Theatre featuring Demarre McGill and Steven Harlos on Sunday, September 27th at 3pm.  They will present a varied program featuring the virtuosity of the principal flute of the Dallas Symphony and the professor of piano at UNT pulling double duty: Demarre’s much loved flute sonata is the featured work in this recital along with the beloved Poulenc Flute sonata.

The DeSoto Arts Commission is dedicating this program to the memory of Edward Gonzales and his contributions to the Arts.  Greg Emery and the Gonzales family recently donated Edward’s beautiful Young Chang Grand Piano to the DeSoto Arts Commission.  In celebration of their generosity, there will be a complimentary wine and cheese reception for this performance taking place on Sunday, September 27th at 3pm at the DeSoto Corner Theatre located in DeSoto Town Center at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road.  Tickets are just $10 and available at the door (cash only) or online at www.ArtsDesoto.com.  For more information, please call 972.230.9648.

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

            

The Uptown/Downtown/Desoto Concert Series welcomes - W. T. Greer, III  - Sunday, September 20, 2015 at 3pm.

The DeSoto Arts Commission invites you to join us for a special performance by W. T. Greer, III at the DeSoto Corner Theatre.  Vocalist, songwriter, pianist, studio musician, and bandleader W. T. Greer's talent is anchored in the fundamentals of musical entertainment.  His intimate interpretations of contemporary music and his warm personality emphasize the romance of each song in his sophisticated concerts. 

Tickets are just $10 and available at the door (cash only) or online at www.artsdesoto.com.  The DeSoto Corner Theatre is located at 211. E. Pleasant Run Road in DeSoto Town Center.  For more information, please call 972.230.9648.

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

Stop by the Holy Spirit Catholic Church booth at duncanSWITCH tomorrow (August 15th) on Main Street in Duncanville to enjoy AGUAS FESCAS (cool Mexican fruit drinks) provided by ACTS volunteers and pick up some information about their upcoming Fall Festival.  You can also browse the Rummage Sale items at Holy Spirit Catholic Church located at 1111 W. Danieldale Road on August 14th and 15th between 8 am and 4pm.   

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

DESOTO PARKS AND RECREATION RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

[DeSoto, TX], October 22, 2014 — DeSoto Parks and Recreation received the National Excellence in Innovative Programming Award from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  NRPA presented the award on October 15th to M. Renee Johnson, Managing Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of DeSoto and Recreation Manager, Chris Glover during the Best of the Best Ceremony at the 2014 NRPA Congress in Charlotte, NC. 

Each year, NRPA National Awards are presented to individuals and agencies across the U.S. to honor their efforts—both professional and personal—in the field of parks and recreation. There are 10 award categories in the NRPA’s National Awards program. Recipients are selected from a pool of applicants by NRPA’s National Awards and Scholarship Committee, and are chosen for excellence in a variety of topics, including professional and voluntary service, programming, leadership, research and public outreach. 

The Excellence in Innovative Programming Award recognizes and honors an agency that demonstrates leadership through advanced, groundbreaking ideas in programming. The award highlights the efforts and impact an agency has made in promoting or increasing the awareness of the benefits of parks and recreation in their community.

The DeSoto Parks and Recreation Department was recognized for three innovative programs they created for the suburban community.  The cutting edge programs promoted sustainable healthy lifestyle habits for minority women and teen leadership development. 

  • In 2013, DPARD hosted Fro-Fest, a hair and health expo, designed to educate women on the correlation of natural hair and wellness and celebrate the heritage of African American Culture.  The event, hosted by actress      Kim Coles, kicked off with a 5K run and featured a vendor fair offering natural hair products and services and educational seminars. 
  • DeSoto’s Summertime on Belt Line program was initiated to provide activities that would engage middle and high schoolers during the summer months.  The program incorporates fitness, the arts, leadership and job      readiness training with fun and camaraderie.  Summertime on Belt Line, which has been operating successfully for the last four years, fills up quickly each summer with students anxious to participate in the   program.
  • DeSoto Parks and Recreation is also known for their active Youth Advisory Council.  This group hosts the Hip Hop Summit annually.  This event incorporates all aspects of Hip Hop culture, exposing teenagers to professional business opportunities while enhancing leadership skills through planning a Hip Hop entertainment event.

“The DeSoto Parks and Recreation staff works diligently all year long to provide exceptional fitness, recreation, health and wellness experiences for our residents,” said DeSoto Mayor, Carl O. Sherman, Jr.  “I’m very pleased to see them getting the recognition for their efforts that they so richly deserve.”

“NRPA is pleased to honor our nation’s park and recreation heroes—agencies and individuals who work tirelessly and with passion to improve the lives of their citizens and make their communities great,” said Barbara Tulipane, President and CEO of NRPA.

A full list of NRPA National Award winners is available at http://www.nrpa.org/nationalawards/. 

 The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 40,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

The vision of a vertical flight facility in DeSoto is a reality thanks to a funding partnership between the City of DeSoto, DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, the Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division and fixed base operator, Sky Helicopters.  They have partnered to construct the DeSoto Heliport.  The official ribbon cutting and grand opening is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2014 from 5 to 9pm.  The DeSoto Heliport is located at 150 E. Danieldale Road, DeSoto, Texas. 

The new facility includes a 23,225 sq. ft. terminal and public hangar and a 10,000 sq. ft. private hangar with plenty of public ramp area.  It also features a helicopter self-serve fuel farm for both Jet A and 100LL customers.

Construction and operation of a public heliport in DeSoto’s Eagle Industrial Park will enhance the capability for additional economic development.   Service providers that operate from this new vertical flight facility include public safety, emergency medical services, corporate businesses transport, commuters, emergency preparedness, broadcast news media, utility/pipeline patrol, flight training, sales and service of vertical flight aircraft and personal use.

The heliport will not only benefit the City of DeSoto as an economic and transportation entity but, also contribute to the growth of the aviation industry in the North Central Texas region.  The aviation industry, according to a 2005 Texas Department of Transportation impact study, creates over 28,000 jobs, a $1.1 billion payroll and has a total economic impact of over $4.2 billion.

“The vision for a vertical flight facility in DeSoto is obviously long range and there are no guarantees, but we have positioned ourselves for the future as aviation expands to meet the needs of our entire regional transportation system which can never completely meet the demands as our population continues to grow,” according to former DeSoto Mayor and past chair of the North Texas Councils of Government Board of Directors, Bobby Waddle.  “When the population in the North Central Texas Region expands from its current 6+ million to 9+ million in the next thirty years, aviation will play a major role in relieving some of the impact of our future mobility and air quality issues,” said Waddle.

Gravatar

We have a very special event planned to usher in the Uptown or classical portion of the Uptown/Downtown/DeSoto Concert series.  The DeSoto Arts Commission is pleased to welcome one of the world’s great opera singers, internationally recognized, operatic baritone, Donnie Ray Albert to the Corner Theatre.  In addition to orchestral engagements in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Toronto and New York, Mr. Albert can be heard on RCA’s PORGY AND BESS winner of a Grammy in 1977 for Best Opera Recording and the Grand Prix du Disc and THE RISE AND FALL Of THE CITY OF MAHOGONNY that received two Grammy’s in 2008 for Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Album.  He is most well-known nationally for his portrayal of Porgy in PORGY AND BESS.  Mr. Albert has a wonderful program of music planned for his DeSoto performance on March 23rd that will begin with selections from African American poets and composers followed by a medley of Spirituals that both inspire and entertain.

Join us at the DeSoto Corner Theatre, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road for this special performance.  Tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for students.  Check out the artsdesoto.com website for schedules and to purchase advance tickets or call 972.230.9648 for more information.

 Donnie Ray Albert

Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

The British will invade DeSoto on March 3rd as the DeSoto Arts Commission and DeSoto ISD welcome the Beatles Tribute Band – Liverpool Legends for a special performance at 7:00 pm at the Fred Nichols Auditorium at DeSoto High School.  They will put on a “Really Big Shew” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles first performance in America on the Ed Sullivan Show. 

DeSoto High School is excited to be participating with the Liverpool Legends  and Louise Harrison (sister of George Harrison) who started “Help Keep Music Alive,” a program that pairs high schools across the country with the musical foursome that changed music and the world forever…

The Liverpool Legends will perform the first half of their show on March 3rd and members of the DeSoto High School Choral Department and Band will participate in the second half.  The concert will cover early Beatles music all the way through Sergeant Pepper and Abbey Road. 

      As music programs are seeing major cuts in funding and many schools’ programs have been either cut or drastically reduced, “Help Keep Music Alive” raises  funds to support the arts in schools and may even inspire a student to go into music or the arts as a career.

       

The Liverpool Legends perform songs spanning the entire career of The Beatles and on through the solo years.  With precise attention to every musical detail, along with costume changes, vintage instruments and special effects, Liverpool Legends will make you feel like you are watching the real thing!  Together, these four lads will bring you "The Complete Beatles Experience". 

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door with a portion of the proceeds benefiting DeSoto High School Fine Arts Programs.  To purchase tickets, go to www.artsdesoto.com or call 972.230.9648.  The Fred Nichols Auditorium is located on the campus of DeSoto High School, 600 Eagle Drive, DeSoto, TX 75115.