More about Deep Irving Market Day on April 5

The Irving Chamber sent out this release about Deep Irving Market Day on April 5:

Longtime south Irving resident Lorraine Taylor is working with a small group of volunteers to help bring Downtown Irving Heritage Crossing District’s redevelopment plan to life.

The grassroots group is organizing Deep Irving Market Day event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5.

The business-focused event will be a two-block demonstration of the redevelopment plans for the area’s Main Street and Irving Boulevard area. Temporary paint and duct tape will widen the sidewalks to allow Main Street merchants to set up outdoor cafés and displays, as well as mark off proposed bicycle lanes and parallel parking spaces, as shown by the Gateway Planning Group’s plan for the area. There will also be artists and pop-up businesses in the area.

Taylor recently presented the event to the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber‘s Heritage Crossing Business Alliance, a group of south Irving business leaders and residents.

“Sometimes people don’t have a good visualization of things that aren’t there,” Taylor said. “I think a lot of people need a visualization of the redevelopment plans in order to see it and start thinking that this will actually work.”

Taylor, who serves on the Irving Planning and Zoning Commission, lives in an downtown home built by Otis Brown, the city’s co-founder and first mayor.

“I really love this neighborhood. I’m not a business owner, but I see the Main Street area being the key to the area’s success,” Taylor said.

The idea for Deep Irving Market Day came from the Better Block project used by Oak Cliff residents to set up temporary businesses, events and artists in the area’s vacant buildings. The Better Block helped Oak Cliff’s vacancy rates plummet, Taylor said.

While downtown Irving doesn’t have a large vacancy rate, the area does have a lot of vacant land.

“We want Deep Irving Market Day to mimic what a normal business day would look like, if the empty lots had buildings on them,” Taylor said.

Taylor hopes the event will generate a buzz about the area and would like to host another Deep Irving Market Day this fall. Deep Irving Market Day is not sponsored by the city of Irving.

Some words from departing Irving Chamber president Chris Wallace

From the Irving Chamber website:

Chris Wallace, the longtime leader of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, plans to leave his post to accept the position of president of the Texas Association of Business, which oversees chamber activities for the Lone Star state.

Wallace, 44, plans to serve as president and CEO of Irving’s chamber through the end of his contract, which ends on May 1. The Chamber has begun to create a search committee — made up of board members, past chairmen and partnership organizations — to find a new president and CEO. The group plans to name an interim president and CEO in the next few weeks, with plans to permanently fill the position by mid-August.

Wallace led the Irving Chamber for the past decade. Under his leadership, the group became the first national Five-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce in Texas and was awarded the inaugural Texas Outstanding Chamber of the Year award. Wallace will begin his new position as president of the Texas Association of Business on May 15. He will report to Bill Hammond, who will remain CEO of the statewide organization.

The Dallas Business Journal chats with Wallace about the reasons for his move and his plans.

–Why did you decided to leave the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber? I’ve been there just about 10 years. My contract comes up May 1 and I had a great opportunity to work with our state. I worked closely with the Texas Association of Business in my capacity here, and I admire Bill and his team there. I look forward to being part of their team.

–Do you have any grand positions to replace Hammond as CEO of the Texas Association of Business upon his retirement? Bill Hammond will continue on as CEO. He’s a former legislator from Dallas and has been there awhile. Who knows what the future will hold. I’m happy to be part of his team.

–Will you show any favoritism to Irving, or North Texas, in your new statewide position? I’ve loved serving the Irving community, but now I’ll be able to help Irving grow on another level. I will obviously represent business interests throughout the state, but I get the issues of small businesses and large corporations on the front lines.

Morning Roundup: March 19, 2014

–Chamber Connections: Member Orientation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at Irving Chamber offices, 5201 N. O’Connor Blvd.

–The Irving City Council will hold a work session at 1 p.m. today at City Hall. Among the items on the agenda are employee survey results, a communications department update and a review of the Central Library building re-use.

–The Tree Board will meet at 4 p.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

–The Housing and Human Services Board will meet at 6 p.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

North Lake College seeks to regain title

Joy Bolomope, left, and Heather Hoskins are winners in the #bringbackpinman Facebook contest.

As the spring semester kicks into full gear, North Lake College is looking to reclaim its national title in the Waste Minimization division of RecycleMania, a friendly recycling competition that started in 2001 between the Ohio University and Miami University. From 2008 to 2011, the RecycleMania trophy, fondly named “PinMan,” was a permanent fixture on campus. As this year’s competition gets underway, the college has one goal in mind: to bring back PinMan.

Over an 8-week period from Feb. 2 to March 29, participating schools compete in various categories measuring the success of their recycling and waste reduction efforts. A total of 461 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada are participating this year, including Valencia College, North Lake College’s rival and the 2013 winner of the beloved PinMan.

The NLC marketing department has created a multi-media campaign around the PinMan, including an animated YouTube video series highlighting his journeys.

In addition to The Pin Man video series, the NLC marketing campaign to “Bring Back PinMan” extends to social media contests, print posters, pep rallies and other campus events all aimed at keeping students in the “green” mindset. All tips for sustainable living are paired with the hashtag #bringbackpinman.

Schools participating in the RecycleMania tournament are required to report measurements on a weekly basis. Weekly standings are posted on the RecycleMania website. The 2014 competition results will be announced April 11.

To find out more about North Lake’s sustainable efforts and RecycleMania standings visit northlakecollege.edu/green.

North Lake College to hold career panels and financial fair

North Lake College will host two career-focused events for students and the community: career panels and a financial empowerment fair. Held in the Student Life Center of Central Campus, 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd., both events will help attendees gain real-world information about college majors, career options and financial planning. A $250 scholarship drawing will be held hourly.

In room H-226, the “Major Career Affair” will include two panels of eleven career professionals. The speakers from 10 a.m. to noon include Latoya Silmon, Reporter, KDFW Fox 4 News; Patrick Marcello, Senior Manager, IT Advisory – Risk Transformation, Ernst & Young; Theresa Watson, Human Resources Consultant II, AAA Texas; Bridgette Hogue, Corporate Banking Training & Recruiting Specialist, Comerica Bank; Paul Wilford, Police Personnel Officer, Carrollton Police Department; and Tom Setser, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service.

In room H-220, the speakers from 1 to 3 p.m. include Wanda Colon, Supervisor, Dallas County Juvenile Department; Leigh Poston, Academic Advisor II, North Lake College; Vicki Marwood, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations; William Buckelew, Technical Support Manager, Financial Industry Computer Systems; and Robert Wendland, General Counsel, Dallas County Community College District.

NLC TRiO Student Services will be hosting a financial planning fair from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the adjoining room, H-200. Workshops, learning games and hands-on activities will teach attendees important life skills such as creating a budget, planning finances and building savings. Visit northlakecollege.edu.

Morning Roundup: March 18, 2014

–The Irving Chamber will hold a Dale Carnegie program on “How Smart Leaders Create Engaged Employees” from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. today at chamber offices, 5201 N. O’Connor Blvd. The cost is $50. Visit irvingchamber.com.

–A joint meeting with the Planning and Development Committee and a Audit and Finance Committee will be at 10:30 a.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

–A Town Hall meeting about plans for the Texas Stadium site will be at 6:30 p.m. today at Mustang Park Rec Center, 2223 Kinwest Parkway.

–DART will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd., on proposed bus service changes related to the Orange Line’s future extension to DFW International Airport. Proposed modifications include on Bus Route 500 (Re-direct from its current destinations at DFW Terminal A and CentrePort/DFW Station to the Freeport area, and the new Cypress Waters area of Dallas); and Bus Route 509 (Add Saturday service).

–The Irving Youth Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. today at Lively Pointe Teen Center, 909 O’Connor Road.

How about this?

Here are the winners of the Irving Tennis Classic

Lukas Rosol wins the Singles Competition of the Irving Tennis Classic (Tessa Kolodny)

Despite blustery weather and cold temperatures, a few die-hard tennis fans came out to the Four Seasons Sunday to watch the final day of competition in the Irving Tennis Classic. Many tickets were sold, organizers said, but lots of fans stayed home. Bad weather also struck on Saturday, with rain shortening play, but the tournament had great weather from Monday through Friday.

In his third try in the tournament, No. 3 seed Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic finally won the 2014 Singles Championship. He received a check for $125,000 and a watch from BMW, a tournament sponsor. Runner-up was American Scott Johnson.

In the doubles competition, American Scott Lipsky and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico won for the second time in the tournament. They beat John-Patrick Smith of Australia and Michael Venus of New Zealand.

Lipsky and Gonzalez won the first doubles title in Irving in 2012, at the event formerly known as the Dallas Tennis Classic.

Rosol said it was a fantastic week for him. He now to Miami, where he is the main draw of this week’s Sony Open.

Santiago Gonzalez, left, and Scott Lipsky won the 2014 Doubles Competition at the Irving Tennis Classic (Tessa Kolodny)

University of Dallas celebrates International Day

University of Dallas

The University of Dallas Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business will host an International Day celebration on Wednesday. Events will be outside on the mall, weather permitting.

Festivities will start with an International Parade of Flags at 11:50 a.m., sponsored by the International Student Association.

Hula dancers will perform at 12:15 p.m. followed by Aztec dancers at 1 p.m. and a Chinese Lion Dance at 2 p.m.

An “Evening of High Tea” will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Gorman Faculty Lounge.

The university is at 1845 E. Northgate Drive in Irving. Visit udallas.edu.

Morning Roundup: March 17, 2014

–Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Irving, or to at least all those who are Irish!

–The Public Safety Committee will meet at 10 a.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

–The Arts Board will meet at 5:15 p.m. today at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd.

–The Board of Health will meet at 6 p.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

–The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd.

–Aloft Las Colinas, 122 E. Carpenter Freeway, presents the band To Kill a King at 7 p.m. today. Free. Call 972-717-6100.

–The Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd., will hold pre-school story time at 7:30 p.m. today. Free.