Neighborhood gathers at Taste of Hackberry - PAGE 8 the Irving Rambler www.irvingrambler.com “The Newspaper Irving Reads” May 5, 2005 THIS Police Officers honored Keep Irving Beautiful WEEK awards Rockin’Rockin’ FFiftiesifties festivalfestival enlivensenlivens dodowntowntownwn By Brynne Sissom couldn’t have done it without the Irving’s Preservation and volunteers from the Bible study. It Redevelopment Board presented was sheer cooperation,” Guidry the Rockin’ Fifties festival in the said. Heritage District last Saturday. Grand Prairie resident and What began as classic car event to Pigeonhole Bible study member bring foot traffic to downtown Jason Farley, who owns a businesses, has grown into a major motorcycle paint shop, had bike event. According to event records, customers win awards. 20 motorcycles and 98 vintage cars “We did real well. It was Tommy Taylor stands beside his were registered for judging. awesome as far as shows go. I can’t vintage Ford Interceptor which was originally used as a Texas Highway Event Coordinator “K” Downs wait till next year. It’s great because Patrol car. explained the growth of the festival. the whole family could be there. “We now have over thirty They had stuff for the kids to do as classes in which the classic cars are well. At most bike shows, you can’t judged. Three motorcycle groups take the kids,” Farley said. Event goers stop to look at classic cars on display on Main St. have joined us this year, and over Irving resident Kirby Quirk 34 vendors set up booths for the who has participated in this show day. The event offers food, for four years entered a 1949 dark activities for children, and musical blue Ford. performances. All the funding “This is one of the best offsets the costs of set up, and the organized car shows I have A proud winner shows off his festival is free to the public,” Ms. attended. I go to four to six shows trophies. Photo coutesty of Erik Berthelsen. Downs said. a year, and this one is very well the People’s Choice Award. Motorcycle Rally coordinator planned and organized. It’s nice that In the Classic Car Bryan Guidry described how he got the other activities are here too, competitions, Chuck and Ann involved. because you get a better crowd,” Shepler of Plano won the Grand “Today’s rally started as an Quirk said. Champion Award and Best of Show idea at an informal men’s Bible study Ann Kent, also an Irving in the Muscle Car class for their group that meets at the Pigeonhole resident, entered her 1926 Packard 1934 Ford 3 window Coupe. every week. I ran into K Downs, 303 Sedan in the contest. Eddie Hill took Best of Show and mentioned that bikers could “We are enjoying the Rockin’ in the classic truck category. Gary make the festival bigger. She had Fifties. We have participated about Scheff took Best of Show in the been looking for a biker connection, six years. It’s a great venue to show classic cars category for his 1970 and here we are. We are four your car and to visit with people. It Motorcycles from four different clubs are parked in a row along Irving Chevy Impala. Boulevard. groups: Christian Motorcycle brings back the community feeling Association, Bikers for Christ, and builds a community spirit,” Photo coutesty of Erik Berthelsen. Fellowship Riders, and Prayer Kent said. Heritage Senior Center Warriors. At last count, we had 75 Three Irving residents won members and their families were bikes show up. The city promoted awards in the motorcycle invited to show their dogs during Pooch Fest brings out four it all, and we brought people. We competitions. Nathan McNairn won Pooch Fest on April 30. The event asked some praise and worship first place in customs class; Mike featured a doggie parade and bands to participate, and they didn’t Stone won second place in legged friends and their humans contests including tail wagging, charge us a dime to perform. We customs class; Mark Anglin took best legs, best costume, best smile, look-a-like, Heinz 57 and most talented. Dance school presents recital Ann Gillespie, a recreation specialist with the Parks and Recreation Department, organized this year’s event. “Pooch Fest is a community event geared to be fun not serious,” Ms. Gillespie said. “People could come out and show off their pets. I think we had close to 40 entries, and it seems that every entry came with at least two people, so we had a really good turnout.” “Pooch Fest will be an annual event, we will do it again next spring and hopefully the weather While making a fashion statement, Alma and her human, will cooperate. Community Carolyn Fleet won first place in the Pooch Fest look-a-like businesses that are pet-oriented contest. were able to give prizes and Man’s Best Friend and Shady Society and the Delta Society. promote their companies here in Grove Feed Store. Some of the Hopefully we will build on that Students of Alpana Jacob perform on stage during the Arathi School of Irving. We had wonderful volunteer organizations and get even more,” Ms. Dance’s 25th Anniversary Recital presented in the Irving Arts Center on sponsors this year: Pets Mart, participated: DFW Humane Gillespie said. May 1. Page 2 May 5, 2005 www.irvingrambler.com The Irving Rambler Police Officers honored during awards banquet “I think we had an excellent ceremony Certificate of Merit Bar: where we had opportunity for the community Paul Cerami to come in and participate in celebration with Matt Drumm our officers and to recognize them for the Rick Henderson work that they do year in and year out,” Chief Glenn Jones Boyd said. “I felt everything was very fitting Stephen Lee for the type of duties that they perform. The Jonathan Plunkett officers who received awards are a sample of the kind of work that I have the pleasure of Life Saving Bar: seeing every day. While they have done Manuel Lozano outstanding jobs and clearly deserve the recognition, what was nice about this is that Meritorious Conduct Bar: it gave the community and opportunity to Mark Allen (reserves) recognize the entire department.” Stephen Buesing Officer Jonathan Plunkett, a 14-year Richard Chewning police veteran, received the Officer of the Dana Courtney Year award. Kenneth Fay “I would like to contribute this award, Kirk Lecroy Officer of the Year, mainly in part to my co- workers and my supervisor because without Police Commendation Bar: them this would not have been possible,” Lowell Cannaday (retired) Officer Plunkett said. “With their support and David Carmical my supervisor’s continuous support of me Billy Davis (retired) Police Chief Larry Boyd participates in the Irving Police Department’s awards ceremony. and my efforts to fight crime in the city of Henry Hillin (retired) Irving. It is a goal of mine to help the citizens Jeremy Hummert The Irving Police Department presented don’t know how you serve. They don’t know of Irving with crimes that have been William Jobe (retired) th its 10 annual Police Awards Banquet at the you strap on that belt and put on that badge. committed and get the bad guys in jail. Being Chris Martinez Four Seasons Resort on April 28. They don’t know that you are out there at all an officer is a job that I cherish. It is a great Dan McIntosh (retired) Local television personality, Jody Dean, hours of the day or night taking care of boys department. I don’t think there is a better Walt Mentzer (retired) served as the master of ceremonies for the like mine. There is nothing that we as citizens police department in the Metroplex than the Jason Orr banquet, which honored outstanding Irving could ever do to earn or deserve people like city of Irving because of the professionalism Michael Rios Police Officers. our police….” we have in Irving.” Danny Ripley “There is so much work and so much “No matter what happens on Election The Irving Police Department presented Chris Watkins blood, sweat and so many tears in this room Day, no matter what happens on Election Day the following awards during the banquet. Scott Weidmann that have gone into serving other people,” ten years from now, the city of Irving is Mr. Dean said during the banquet. “It is not special. It is special because of the people Officer of the Year: Jonathan Plunkett Irving Community Television Network done with an eye for getting your name in who give up so much of themselves and so Supervisor of the Year: Byron Keyes (ICTN) taped the banquet; it is scheduled to the newspaper or being on the six and ten much of their time to serve,” Mr. Dean said. Civilian Employee of the Year: Kim Yarbrough air on channel 15 on May 8 at 5:00 p.m., May o’clock news, or getting any kind of acclaim Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd Rookie of the Year: Travis Hammond 11 at 7:30 p.m. and May 23 at 9:00 p.m. at all. Sometimes your own neighbors don’t participated in the program and congratulated know what it is that you do for a living. They his recognized officers. BuddyBuddy PPoppoppyy BikBikee Rally,Rally, PPokokerer RunRun raisesraises monemoneyy forfor veteransveterans VFW Post 2494 and the Ladies Auxiliary I don’t think is bad,” Hobbs said. “We hope needy families, and do all of our charity works set up at different locations at local hosted its first annual Buddy Poppy Bike to make this an annual event.