Billy Bob’s Texas - 04/03/2009 thru 05/30/2009

Billy Bob’s    2520 Rodeo Plaza
817 624-7117

April 3: 38 Special -
April 4: Casey Donahew Band
April 10: The Bellany Bros
April 11: Jake Owen
April 17: Cory Morrow
April 18: Tracy Byrd
April 24: Eric Church
April 25: John Conlee
May 1: Bart Crow Band
May 2: Rodney Atkins
May 8: Brandon Rhyder
May 9: Jason Boland
May 15: James Otto
May 16: Restless Heart
May 22: No Justice
May 23: Jamey Johnson
May 29: Bucky Covington
May 30: Billy Currington
http://www.billybobstexas.com

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Fort Worth Commission for Women Announces Outstanding Women of Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Commission for Women continues its annual tradition of honoring exemplary women in the field of advocacy for women’s issues at a presentation of Outstanding Women of Fort Worth on March 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria on the third floor of City Hall. Honorees will also be presented at a City Council meeting at 7 p.m. that same day.

The Fort Worth City Council created the Fort Worth Commission for Women in 1983 to act in an advisory capacity to the Council and to study women’s issues that are important to the community. The Outstanding Women of Fort Worth recognize women in the community for their efforts, talents and skills addressing issues of importance to women as well as for their advocacy.

The Outstanding Women Awards for 2009 will be presented to:

Outstanding Women in the Workplace
Heidi Cox, General Counsel, Gladney Center for Adoption

Heidi Cox has served the Gladney Center for Adoption as general counsel for nearly 20 years. She has impacted thousands of lives for the better — adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees. The legal process is critical to a successful adoption. Cox’s professionalism has consistently provided all members of the adoption triad with the confidence they need to move forward with their plans. She has helped facilitate more than 2,000 adoptions; not a single one has encountered a successful legal challenge.

Cox’s impact extends nationally. She has influenced pro-adoption and pro-family legislation in Austin and Washington, D.C., and has used her position as a board member of the National Council for Adoption as a platform to advocate for positive change for American families.

Sue Mahoney, Housing & Volunteer Coordinator, Samaritan House

Sue Mahoney’s position at Samaritan House as Housing and Volunteer Coordinator means much more to her than finding housing for individuals and families with HIV and AIDS. Her days and nights are filled with visiting families’ onsite at the Villages of Samaritan House and going into the field where residents live in apartments and homes. The purpose of her visits to clients is to make sure they are healthy, clothed, paying their bills, keeping their medical appointments, attending group meetings and that their kids are going to school.

“I have been with Sue when she received a call from one client who had just left court to regain custody of her daughter. I’ve been with Sue when she received a call from a hospital informing her that one of her clients had died. I was with Sue when a story written by an 11-year-old boy was read as part of a children’s book on AIDS,” said Marcy Paul, chair of the Fort Worth Commission for Women.

The story was about Sue Mahoney. “We (four children and two parents) were living in a one-bedroom house and when we kids got cold we had to lie in front of the stove to get warm. And then one day, an angel appeared at our door. She had a smiling face and wore khaki pants. She moved us to a three-bedroom house in a rich neighborhood (Meadowbrook and 820) and it had a basketball hoop.”

Outstanding Woman Volunteer
Kathryn T. Bryan

Kathryn Bryan has been a mentor and role model in Fort Worth for more than 30 years. She encourages women to use education and service to achieve healthy self-esteem and an image that benefits them professionally and personally. Bryan has worked tirelessly to facilitate change, encourage teamwork to solve problems and remain positive.

She has served as president (and founder) of the American Association of University Women, Tarrant County branch, Women’s Policy Form, Central Area Council of the Fort Worth Chamber, YWCA of Tarrant County and the Texas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has served on the board of Sister Cities International Fort Worth, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Fort Worth Commission for Women, Rotary Club of Fort Worth, Fort Worth Business and Professional Women’s organization, the City of Fort Worth’s Minority & Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee, Leadership Fort Worth, Electrical Advisory Board, Fort Worth Women’s Club and First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth.

Outstanding Young Woman Volunteer
Alexandra Brown

Alexandra Brown, a senior at Fort Worth Country Day School, discovered her passion for helping others when she tutored children at Metro Academy of Math and Science. Since then she has been devoted to leaving a positive and lasting impact in her community. Brown believes that performing community service is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. “Volunteering has provided me with a joy unparalleled to any other,” said Brown.

She recently began a fundraiser to help bring books to the undersupplied library at Metro Academy of Math and Science. She has collected more than 2,000 books and nearly $700 in donations. Her volunteer experience includes the Presbyterian Night Shelter, Cowtown Brush Up, and Habitat for Humanity and Link Crew, a national mentoring program designed to keep high school freshmen drug- and alcohol-free.

In addition to her volunteer activities, Brown is an excellent student and athlete. She has qualified all four years in high school for the National Art Honor Society, National French Honor Society and National Honor Society. She’s a player and manager of the junior varsity volleyball team and a letterman on the varsity golf team.

Outstanding Organization in Advocacy for Women
The Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project

Babies should not die.  The Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project was created by Kim Parish Perkins to meet a critical need in our community, infant mortality.  For many years, Fort Worth has struggled to understand and find solutions to infant mortality.  In 2003, Fort Worth had the highest infant mortality rate among all large Texas cities, higher than Tarrant County and national rates.

The Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project is a community-based organization with the mission of reducing the infant mortality rate in North Texas by encouraging better birth outcomes for teenagers and women in the highest risk demographics, African Americans and Hispanics, providing practical support during pregnancy and for one year after the birth of their children.

The SisterFriend and Aintie-Tia programs match a community volunteer with a high-risk pregnant woman to provide her with emotional support.  Women leading other women in one-on-one relationships have proven to be successful.  These programs differ from most outreach and support programs by placing volunteers as individual case managers using the concept of the extended family.  SisterFriends are over 21 years of age and from all walks of life.  They attend childbirth education, breast feeding and parenting classes with their “little sisters” and participate as a birth partner, if appropriate.  Over the last 11 years, the Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project has trained more than 200 SisterFriends.  In addition, full-time Aintie-Tias have supported more than 50 high-risk pregnant women each year.

***

The Fort Worth Commission for Women includes nine citizens appointed by the mayor and City Council and representatives from 10 women’s organizations. Its mission is to increase visibility of women’s issues in Fort Worth through collaboration and education.

Water Department Offers Free Gardening Seminar

The Fort Worth Water Department’s next semi-annual Yard Smart Seminar is Saturday, March 21, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Center’s Lecture Hall. The seminar is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.

Doors open at 8:15 a.m., and the program begins at 8:45 a.m. The event concludes at 12:30 p.m. with a tour of the Water Conservation Garden.

The purpose of the Yard Smart Seminar is to relay environmentally friendly and water-saving gardening information that can lead to healthy, beautiful lawns and gardens.

Dotty Woodson, water resources specialist for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, will discuss Rain Water Harvesting. Growing Herbs & Vegetables is the subject of Tarrant County AgriLife Extension Agent Steve Chaney’s talk.

The third session, Ask the Expert, is a one-hour discussion between the public and a panel of four professionals on gardening and irrigation.

To learn more, call the Water Department at 817-392-4477.

Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics Set March 14 and April 4

Two low-cost pet license and rabies vaccination clinics are set to increase the number of pets with current tags and rabies vaccinations.

The clinics are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. March 14 at Sylvania Park, 3700 E. Belknap St., and April 4 at the Animal Care and Control Center, 4700 Martin St.

The annual city pet license costs $7 per animal, and a rabies vaccination can cost even more. However, to increase the number of animals with current identification and protect residents and pets from rabies, Fort Worth’s Animal Care and Control Division offers both the license and rabies vaccination for only $5.

You also can have your pet micro-chipped for $12. A tiny, rice-sized computer chip with a unique number is injected under the skin on the pet’s shoulder. If the pet is lost, the microchip can be used to find its owner. All lost pets are scanned for microchips when they arrive at the city’s animal shelter.

Owners of impounded animals with current identification are quickly notified when a pet is lost. Although all pets in Fort Worth are required to be licensed, less than 2 percent of impounded animals have identification. Animal Care and Control officials believe the lack of identification is the number one reason for high euthanasia rates in animal shelters.

A city-issued pet license and rabies vaccination are required each year for all dogs, cats and ferrets living inside the city limits of Fort Worth. City licenses may be obtained with proof of a current rabies vaccination at the Animal Care and Control Center, 4900 Martin St., or a local veterinarian.

Currently, dogs, cats and ferrets must have their first rabies vaccination by the age of four months, the second rabies vaccination one year later and then every three years after the initial series.

The rabies vaccination also is required for all pets to protect the population from the threat of the deadly rabies virus present in wild animal populations. For more information, call 817-392-3737.

Fort Worth Observes Fair Housing Awareness Month

Fair Housing Is Your Right
The City of Fort Worth is committed to fair housing opportunities for all people. That’s why it has designated April as Fair Housing Awareness Month in recognition of the 41st anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

The signs of discrimination may be subtle, such as a mortgage loan officer, real estate agent or leasing agent not offering encouragement or assistance in the application process. Be an informed buyer or renter and know your rights.

Federal, State, Local Protection
Federal and state fair housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status. As an added protection, the City of Fort Worth prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Familial status is included to protect people with children under 18, including family members who are pregnant.

People with disabilities are entitled to certain modifications or accommodations when looking for housing.

Discrimination by housing providers, real estate agents, brokers, appraisers, builders and rental agents is wide-ranging and can include failing to discuss certain loan or insurance products and neglecting to suggest ways in which homebuyers can improve their chances of getting a loan or purchasing insurance coverage.

Other practices are not as subtle. For instance, an insurance company may refuse to insure properties in low-income neighborhoods or fail to offer the best protection in those neighborhoods. In other cases, mortgage companies or rental agents may violate fair housing laws by preferring clients of a certain ethnicity.

It is illegal for mortgage companies and insurance providers to refuse to provide information about a mortgage or insurance, to impose different terms or conditions on a loan or insurance, or to discriminate when awarding a loan or insuring a property.

If you believe you are the victim of housing discrimination, you can file a complaint with the city’s Community Relations Department at no charge.

To learn more, call 817-392-7525.

Outdoor Warning System Activated for Any Emergency

The City of Fort Worth’s outdoor warning system may be activated for any kind of emergency — not just severe weather. Though some residents think of the outdoor system as tornado sirens — or even air-raid sirens — that’s not the case.

While Fort Worth’s outdoor warning system of 135 strategically placed sirens is most frequently used to alert residents of severe weather, the sirens also could be activated for other emergencies, including acts of terrorism and chemical and national emergencies.

Keep in mind that the sirens are an outdoor warning system and aren’t meant to be heard indoors.

The system is tested at 1 p.m. every Wednesday, unless severe weather conditions are eminent. If you hear the outdoor warning system at any other time, seek shelter and tune to a local radio or television station to seek information.

Stay Alert, Informed
Being prepared is more than throwing an umbrella in the trunk. It means staying alert and informed. Residents need to be aware of all the potential hazards in their areas.

One reliable source of information is a weather radio. The National Weather Service, through the Emergency Alert System, uses these radios to disseminate emergency information to the public. The two primary radio Emergency Alert Stations (EAS) for Fort Worth are WBAP 820 AM and KRLD 1080 AM.

The National Weather Service tracks weather and broadcasts information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Weather alert radios provide immediate notification of severe weather and other emergencies. Most models can be programmed using Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) to receive information specific to a certain county. The code for Tarrant County is 048439.

Weather radios are available at many electronics and some department stores; prices start at $20 and go up depending on the model and its features.

When the city’s outdoor warning system is activated — for any emergency or disaster— you can help keep emergency communication lines open and Fort Worth police officers and firefighters focused on saving lives and property by not calling 9-1-1 to ask about the outdoor warning system sounding. Simply tune to a radio or television station for official information.

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