for RamblerNewspapers.com March 28, 2015 50¢ South Irving Library opens to eager crowds By Jess Paniszczyn features,” said Casey Tate, Irving’s and darker tint to reflect more and feature. will darken. It is a very energy-effi- Families of every description cel- Capital Improvement Programs more of the sun’s rays. When you “I believe this is one of the first li- cient way to keep the heat gain from ebrated the grand opening of the Director. “The heating and cool- are inside you’re not getting much braries in the U.S. to have this glass. growing in the building,” he said. long-anticipated South Irving Li- ing is through geothermal system. light through the window to heat up It is self actuating, so it controls it- As people walk through the build- brary on March 21. There are 180 wells drilled 300 feet the interior of the library, but it pro- self. As the clouds roll in, the glass ing, they find several features they Located at 601 Schulze, the li- deep on the property underneath vides enough light so that it’s nice to will lighten. When the sun peeks out enjoy. brary offers stunning views of Mil- the parking lots. Over 20 miles of see out the windows. It is a real nice from around the clouds, the glass See LIBRARY, Page 8 lennium Fountain, Centennial Park piping circulates the water into the and Veterans Memorial Park. The ground, and the heat exchange of new $9.7 million facility provides the soil provides both heating and an early childhood center, enclosed cooling for the HVAC ventilation teen area, genealogy area, business in the building. It saves anywhere center, computer lab, quiet reading from 25 to 40 percent each year on rooms and meeting spaces. Built to our heating and cooling costs for the be energy efficient, the city antici- building. pates the building receiving a Silver “The glass on the southeast and LEED Certification. west sides is an auto-tinting, re- “The new South Library has flective glass. The brighter the sun some really nice energy efficiency strikes the glass it develops a darker Beer lovers celebrate Bluebonnet Brew-Off by Madelyn Knecht Dobson said. “It’s not just a home Beer connoisseurs from around brew competition, but it’s a beer the nation converged on the Irving festival as well. We sample all the Convention Center for the annual wonderful craft beers that we can Bluebonnet Brew-Off. The event round up around the state of Texas featured an amateur beer brewing and around the country.” judging and pub-crawls. One of the participants and offi- Playing in the South Irving Library’s Discovery Zone early childhood center, Veronica Gonzalez, Gloria Alaguna Participants could taste home- See BEER, Page 2 and Guillermo Garcia explore a unique table with objects inset in the top. /Photo by John Starkey made brews and craft beers as well as smoke cigars during the March 20-21 event. Winners of the brew- ing competition took home coveted Church dedicates flagpole to Lindsey Lear Bluebonnet Steins. A hand painted stein is awarded to the first place By Madelyn Knecht car crash at the age of 20. Lear. “It was standing room only— When asked what this dedication winner of each Bluebonnet Brew- The congregation of Hope Fellow- Lindsey graduated in 2007 from people were even standing outside.” to Lindsey meant to him, her fa- Off category. ship Church marked the church’s Irving High School and had been at- Attending the March 21 dedica- ther’s eyes filled with tears. Coordinating the event this year relocation with a new flagpole and tending the University of North Tex- tion ceremony were many friends “Everything,” Lear said. “She was Richard Dobson, who has been plaque dedicated to Lindsey Lear, a as at the time of her death in 2010. and family of Lindsey Lear, includ- never met a stranger. She could apart of the Brew-Off for 20 years young woman from the Irving com- “Her funeral was the biggest thing ing Pastor Dennis King, and several walk into a room of a hundred peo- and has actively served on the plan- munity who died five years ago in a I’d ever seen,” said her mother, Lori members of AMBUCS, who donated ple and thirty minutes later, every- ning committee for the past 15 years. the plaque in Lindsey’s honor. one would know her.” “The Bluebonnet Brew-Off hap- “It’s my prayer that every time Lindsey’s mother and father were pens to be the biggest amateur we pass by this location and see this grateful for the flag dedication. brew-off in the United States,” Dob- flagpole that we not only remember “It [the dedication] means that son said. “This is our 29th year, so it’s the lives that were lost serving this she’s still not forgotten after five been around this neighborhood for country but also remember the life years,” Ms. Lear said. “It will give a long time.” of Lindsey Lear,” Pastor King said. me something to drive by and think The event started as a friendly ri- Lindsey’s parents Patrick and Lori of her and remember her.” valry between Dallas home brewers Lear raised both the United States Hope Fellowship Church recent- and Fort Worth home brewers. and Christian flag. Those assembled ly moved to 1646 W Irving Blvd. in “We intend to grow this event,” recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Irving. sang the Star Spangled Banner. In memory of Lindsey, the United States and Christian flags are raised for the first time on a flag pole dedicated by the Hope Fellowship Church to the memory of a beautiful, young lady. /Photo by Madelyn Knecht Column Awards shake boring to its foundations By Windy Lopez during the event at Patty Granville Texas earthquakes are nothing Performing Arts Center in Garland compared to the 16th annual Col- on March 22. umn Awards, Forbidden Columns. The lavish event honored the The musical numbers brought best directors, actors/actresses, down the house as some of the most stage hands, costume designers talented people working in theater and others. With everyone attend- today collaborated to bring the best ing dressed in ball gowns and three of the best together for one night. piece suits, the atmosphere was Casts whose performances were nothing short of stellar. It began selected from around the Metroplex with flashing lights, flamboyant pi- for competition in the best musical zazz, and a number to “Sit Down, category offered audiences a sam- You’re Rocking the Boat.” Imme- ple of the excitement of their work See COLUMN AWARDS, Page 3 Page 2 March 28, 2015 www.RamblerNewspapers.com COMMUNITY CALENDAR “Keys to Success” College, located at 3030 N. Dallas Ave. in New in 2015, this egg hunt is located at the Dances with Dvorák Time-of-Day Water Restrictions March 28, 8 a.m. to noon Lancaster. Admission and breakfast are Irving Soccer Complex 3585 World Cup March 29, 3:30 p.m. April 1 – Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. free. Participants can pre-register at http:// Way Irving, TX 75038 and includes bounce A free program – the Las Llaves del Exito The New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, As part of the city’s Water Conservation Plan, llavesleadershipsymposium.eventbrite. houses, face painting, photo opportunities (or Keys to Success) Leadership and Career Sergio Espinosa, conductor, continues its Irving residents are reminded that time-of- com and complete a Llaves Passport for a with the Easter Bunny, music, food and more. Symposium – presented by the Dallas Coun- Sundays at the Symphony series at the day water restrictions will go into effect April chance to win a $500 DCCCD scholarship Free admission. Free parking. ty Community College District and the Dallas Irving Arts Center, with Dances with Dvorák! 1 to ensure conservation of Irving’s water and other prizes. Independent School District, is designed Assistant conductor and first trumpet player supply. Watering will be prohibited from For more information in English, call (214) specifically for college freshmen, 11th- and Pet Pawlooza Thomas Connely will lead the orchestra in through Oct. 31. Time-of-day restrictions are 378-1738; in Spanish, call (214) 378-1713; 12th-graders, and parents so that they can two of Dvorak’s famous “Slavonic Danc- activated every year regardless of drought and online, visit dcccd.edu/KeysToSuccess. March 28, 10 am - 2 pm explore higher education together and learn Pet Pawlooza at the Irving Animal Care es,”--numbers one and three--followed by conditions as part of the city’s Water Con- about careers, goals and skills that will help Campus will have food, live musical enter- the composer’s “Serenade for Winds in D servation Plan. them plan for the future. Citywide Egg Hunt - North tainment, pet games, pet adoptions, and so Minor,” offered by NPOI’s woodwinds, horns, The program will be held at Cedar Valley March 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. much more. The Irving Animal Care Campus a cello and a bass. Meals on Wheels Training is celebrating its 5th anniversary. As a special This March 29 concert is associated with the April 2, 10:30 a.m. to noon promotion, all pet adoptions are only $5. orchestra’s “First Tickets” program, designed to recognize IISD middle school students, VNA Meals on Wheels is hosting a training session at the VNA Haggerty Center located Eggs and Jam the city’s newest orchestra players. This year, students from Lamar and de Zavala at 1440 W.