Allen Public Library

COUNTERFEIT PRINCE OF OLD TEXAS Slavery and Texas Hear the fascinating saga of swindler and slave smuggler Monroe Edwards from author Lora-Mare Bernard at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 24, at the Allen Public Library. After Edwards died in Sing Sing prison in 1847, penny dreadfuls memorialized him as the most celebrated American forger in history. Bernard unravels the unbelievable story of one of the most notorious criminal adventurers ever to set foot on the soil of the Lone Star State. Monroe Edwards’ contributions to Texas settlement, revolution, and annexation were sadly funded by his activities as a slave smuggler. Discovering new information on the Texas slave trade, Lora-Marie will discuss the slavery and the transfer of cash from its origins in Africa to the Caribbean and then to Texas. Author of The Counterfeit Prince of Old Texas: Swindling Slaver Monroe Edwards and Lower Brazos River Canals, Lora-Marie Bernard writes non-fiction books about Texas people and places.

Allen Community Band Honors Educators Allen Community Band (ACB) will present its Midwinter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2019 at the Allen Public Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Dr. Free. Educators, past and present, from all segments of the educational spectrum will be honored at this concert. You may have seen the bumper sticker that reads “If you can read this, thank a teacher”. This will be an opportunity to do just that! 2018 marks the centennial birth of Leonard Bernstein, one of America’s most renowned composers and conductors. Perhaps his enduring composition for the stage, and later the screen, is West Side Story, which opened at New York's Winter Garden Theater on September 26, 1957. To honor this great American musician, selections from West Side Story will be performed. For more details, visit www.allenlibrary.org. Call 214-509-4911.

Private Jeff Morgan Tucker First African-American casualty from Collin County during WWI The name Jeff Morgan Tucker does not appear in the numerous articles and books written about America’s involvement during World War I. In 2017, Collin County Historical Society volunteer and genealogist Kristin Spalding uncovered information about Private Jeff Morgan Tucker from an old McKinney Courier-Gazette newspaper article and learned that he was the first black soldier to be returned to Collin County from the war. Hear about Private Jeff Tucker and other African American doughboys from Spalding at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 17 at the Allen Public Library. Private Tucker was born and raised in McKinney and was living in Greenville at the time of his enlistment. He served from Oct. 23, 1918, until Dec. 19 of that same year when he died of pneumonia. His mother, Susie Daniels, was notified of his death. When he was brought home to Collin County, Tucker was buried at Ross Cemetery, the county’s segregated graveyard. While completing her research, Kristin was confronted with a daunting fact—this fallen soldier did not have a marker on his grave. A genealogist, Kristin observed, “I thought that was something that needed to happen – he needed to have a grave marker.” Private Tucker had no children, Kristin had to locate his siblings and navigate the family tree. That research was required because an application for a government headstone requires a next of kin. Kristin located Private Tucker’s family and a marker now adorns his grave. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Swing to the lively jazz music of the Shelley Carrol Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 15, at the Allen Public Library. A staple in the Dallas area jazz scene and worldwide, Shelley Carrol performs with the Duke Ellington big band as well as on his own. He has also recorded and or performed with Maureen McGovern, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Sheryl Crow and a host of others. Don't miss this great night of music. Sponsored by the Dr. ET Boon family in memory of Gayle Boon, the concert is free.

Shelley Carrol Quartet Swing to the lively jazz music of the Shelley Carrol Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 15, at the Allen Public Library. A staple in the Dallas area jazz scene and worldwide, Shelley Carrol performs with the Duke Ellington big band as well as on his own. He has also recorded and or performed with Maureen McGovern, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Sheryl Crow and a host of others. Don't miss this great night of music. Once a student of the legendary Texas Tenor greats Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson, Shelley attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a spot in the Grammy Nominated One O’clock Lab Band. During the same period, Shelley was invited to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra by acclaimed trumpeter Barry Lee Hall. Shelley Carrol released his CD I Heard That in 2013. On vocals, Ardina Lockhart has performed with the Grammy Award-winning GOD’s Property, pianist Roger Boykin, New Art 6, Fingerprints and others. She has appeared on Fox 4 Good Day Dallas and WFAA Good Morning Texas, as well as sang the “Star Spangled Banner” for several Dallas Mavericks games. Sponsored by the Dr. ET Boon family in memory of Gayle Boon, the concert is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

RosieLeetta “Lee” Reed portrays Johanna July, a black Seminole who served as a scout and translator, at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, at the Allen Public Library. The program is free. Johanna July was born in Nacimiento de Los Negros, the settlement established in Northern Mexico following the emigration of Indian and black Seminoles from Indian Territory. During the 1870s, the U.S. Army desperately needed translators and scouts who were familiar with the border country. To achieve this, they convinced Black Seminoles to come to Eagle Pass, Texas. After moving here, Johanna July learned to tame horses and herd the family’s goats and cattle. With the death of her father, she worked the stock as well as tamed wild horses for the U.S. Army and area ranchers. She died shortly after World War II ended and is buried in the Brackettville Seminole Cemetery. RosieLeetta “Lee” Reed is president of the Texas Buffalo Association, dedicated to preserving Texas history and the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers. A recipient of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for “Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Communities,” Reed continues to educate people about the history and heritage of Cowboys and Cowgirls of Color. Presenting for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Cowboys of Color Museum, Panhandle Plains Museum and the George Bush Memorial Library, Reed specializes in presentations about Cathay Williams as well as Stage Coach Mary Fields, the first African-American woman to work for the U.S. Postal Service. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for more information.

Vellamo Delight in the haunting melodies and ballads, vocals and virtuosic guitar stylings of Pia Leinonen and Joni Tiala, the Finnish folk duo Vellamo, at 7:30 pm Friday, February 8, at the Allen Public Library. In addition to performing in the Finnish, Celtic and Scandinavian folk traditions, they also compose memorable original songs. In Finnish mythology, Vellamo is the goddess of the sea. Based in Kokkola, on the western coast of Finland, Pia and Joni combine the rich tradition of Finnish folksong with an appealing “retro” sensibility, creating an exotic and magical acoustic experience. Raised in the arctic region of Lapland, Pia is Vellamo’s lead singer. Combining her love and vast knowledge of Finnish folk music with the western singer–songwriter tradition, her exquisite voice evokes creative expression. Originally from the Finnish port of Kokkola, Joni Tiala’s eclectic musical background includes writing and performing for theater, progressive and alternative rock, and Finnish and western folk. In addition to his work in Vellamo, Joni is an accomplished theater and session musician and founding member of the renowned Finnish progressive rock band Moonwagon. In early 2013, Vellamo released their first album, engineered and co-produced by Ken Anderson at his home studio Song Catcher Recording in Vermont. Vellamo released their second album in June 2014. This folk-rock gem contains beautiful arrangements of traditional songs from the Finnish and Scandinavian traditions. You can hear how surf rock guitars and hillbilly country style is blended with the Finnish tradition. Vellamo’s third album “Koskenkylä” featuring all original material was released in October 2015. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, this event is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for more information.

Over the River Bluegrass Warm up a cold winter night with sizzling bluegrass from Over the River band performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 18, at the Allen Public Library. Inspired by their common love of roots and Americana music, veterans of the Dallas music scene assembled to form Over the River. Drawing on influences as varied as Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, The Byrds, Hank Williams, and Tom Petty, Over the River performs a combination of original tunes and choice covers. This band believes that fun times with family and friends improve with “foot tappin' and swing dancin’ music.” Over the River performed live on the KNON 89.3 Mark Mundy show last October. When asked about performing at the acclaimed Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, bandleader Erik Swanson commented, “We thoroughly enjoyed playing brunch at Fearing's surrounded by bottles of wine that cost more than our instruments.” Over the River has also performed at the Dallas Farmers Market, Bath House Cultural Center on White Rock Lake, Opening Bell Coffee, and Allgood Café. Erik also plays for the award-winning western swing band Shoot Low Sheriff, featured several times at the Allen Public Library. The band is comprised of: Floramay Holliday - vocals, guitar Erik Swanson - vocals, guitar Don Thacker - banjo, vocals Kim Herriage - mandolin, dobro, guitar, and vocals Larry Reed – bass Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Watch the enduring holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983) at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday December 18 at the Allen Public Library. Free. Starring Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, and Peter Billingsley, Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's. Parents across America flinched as they listened to their kids beg Santa for a Red Ryder BB gun. Find out if Ralphie’s request is satisfied. Made famous during the Red Ryder film series, this BB gun is still being manufactured. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Allen Community Band Christmas Concert! Take time to relax before the final rush to the big day!! Join the Allen Community Band for an enjoyable concert featuring famous songs of the season at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 16, at the Allen Public Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Dr. Free. If Santa is Up on the Housetop, can he really Rock the House? Find out as the Allen Community Jazz Band kicks off the concert with swing arrangements of holiday music. Directed by Craig Logan, The Allen Community Band takes the stage and begins with Prestissimo. Its rapid, upbeat tempo, is one of 197 Marches and Gallops composed by Karl King and features all sections of the Band. While on the subject of classical music…what is more Christmas than music from The Nutcracker Suite? Call 214-509-4911.

Holidays with HarpEssence, from classics to modern Acclaimed harpist Linda Mudd along with special guest artists will present an intimate, warm and joyful celebration of a traditional Christmas music at the 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 14 at the Allen Public Library, 300 n. Allen Dr.. Beautiful runs, soaring glissandos, and delicate fingering surround the audience with the gorgeous sounds of four concert grand harps. HarpEssence is an ensemble that is comprised of four harpists who came together to celebrate their passion for the harp. The group performs all styles of music, often in intricate 4 part harmonies. Performing for special events, weddings, churches, libraries and private events, HarpEssence educates the audience on the history of their selections and the instruments in between pieces. .. Joining Linda are Susan Koskelin, Joan McCord and Grace Johnson. Joey Flowers will enchant the audience with the magic of the flute, a perfect complement to the majesty of the harps. Call 214-509-4911.

Waymon Rose of Allen was Juror Number 10 during the infamous 1964 trial of Texas vs. Rubinstein alias Jack Ruby. He will share his experiences of this infamous trial at 7:30 p.m. Monday, November 19, at the Allen Public Library. Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald two days after President Kennedy was assassinated. In one of the most highly publicized trials of the twentieth century, Ruby was found guilty of murdering Oswald, but the Texas Court of Appeals reversed the decision. Ruby died of lung cancer while awaiting retrial. At his wife's suggestion, Mr. Rose maintained a journal of his experiences in a 25-cent spiral notebook, detailing the living conditions and limited activities of himself and his fellow jurors as well as his insights and observations of Jack Ruby, his attorneys, the prosecutors and the trial. That notebook is now with the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas. In November of 1963, Rose was a traveling salesman. The assassination of President Kennedy would initiate a chain of events that would drag Mr. Rose, unwillingly, into history. “I said, I’m too busy to be on any jury, but I’ll get off it,” Rose recalled about his notice of summons. “I’m not going to serve on any jury.” Because millions of Americans had watched the video of Ruby killing Oswald, finding an impartial jury was a daunting task. The prosecutors learned that Rose had a distinguished war record and were determined that he serve on the jury. In fact, Rose wrote in his diary that near the end of the trial, he still had not made up his mind whether Ruby was mentally capable of standing trial. Mr. Rose says that after 30 minutes of deliberation, with the jury reviewing all details, the verdict became unanimous. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Tea with the Roosevelts President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt guided this nation during two of the most tumultuous periods of American history-the Great Depression and World War II. After President Roosevelt died in 1945, Mrs. Roosevelt continued to support her husband’s efforts in establishing the United Nations. While enjoying tea, you can hear Elliot Roosevelt Jr. and Liz Roosevelt Kelley recount stories of their esteemed grandparents and great-grandparents at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 18 at the Allen Public Library. Mr. Roosevelt will share recollections of FDR and the woman he called “Grandmere.” Having read every column and book penned by Eleanor Roosevelt, Liz Roosevelt Kelly will present stunning photos of Eleanor’s life and offer special insights and observations for the woman President Truman declared the "First Lady of the World." Elliot Roosevelt, the son of Ruth and Elliott Roosevelt, spent time with grandparents Eleanor and Franklin while growing up and celebrated Christmas at the White House during the later years of Roosevelt's presidency. Liz Roosevelt Kelly is the daughter of Elliot and JoAnne Roosevelt. Eleanor Roosevelts' My Day column was at one time syndicated in 90 newspapers, and at that time, the second most popular newspaper column in the nation. She wrote the column six days a week from 1935 until her death in 1962. She also published a book called My Day. Although it is her diary, it simultaneously serves as an irreplaceable historical document. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911.

Marie Tippit demonstrated courage and fortitude during one of the saddest periods in American history. Shortly after 1:00 p.m., November 22, 1963, on a quiet residential street in Oak Cliff, Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit observed 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald walking down the sidewalk. People could often be seen walking to work or to a store during a time when car ownership was not ubiquitous, but certain behaviors merited this experienced officer’s attention. He stopped to investigate and was shot four times. A passerby, Domingo Benavides, notified police using Officer Tippit's own police radio of the tragic circumstances. In a matter of moments, Marie became a widow with three small children. While the nation watched the funeral of its beloved President John Kennedy, another funeral occurred one hour later for the fallen officer J.D. Tippit at the Beckley Hills Baptist Church in Oak Cliff. Marie Tippit will recall those tumultuous days at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 15, at the Allen Public Library. The Allen Police Department’s officers will escort Marie to the library’s stage, and Chief Brian Harvey will help introduce this widow of a fallen officer. During this tragic weekend, a most endearing exchange of messages occurred between Jackie Kennedy and Marie; the two widows expressed condolences to each other with the kindest sentiments. Also, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the new President, Lyndon Johnson, called Marie to express their sympathies. When asked about how she wants the public the remember her fallen husband, she replied, “He was a good Christian man who took his family to church and worked other jobs to support us. No amount of time can take away my pain I feel for the man I loved. And for anyone who thinks I'm over it, well, they never knew J.D. Tippit. And I coming to your library to honor his memory.” Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Celebrate the centennial of the armistice that ended World War One at 3 p.m., Sunday, November 11, at the Allen Public Library. Awarded the Purple Heart, U.S. Army Veteran Harvey Webb is the featured speaker. Sgt. Webb served in Company A, 382nd Infantry, 86 Division and participated in the famed battles of Leyte and Okinawa. The Allen Community Band will perform music made popular during, and after, World War I, as well as contemporary selections celebrating our Armed Forces. Arranged by Darren Jenkins, Echoes From the Battlefield commemorates World War I with four songs that were popular and widely performed during that historic era. Opening with Over There, followed by It's a Long Way from Tipperary, Keep the Home Fires Burning and closing with Pack Up Your Troubles in an Old Kit Bag. The band will pay tribute to the early works of George M. Cohan and Irving Berlin. James Barnes’ arrangement, Star Spangled Salute, is based on several Cohan songs from that time. Included are Yankee Doodle Boy, Give My Regards to Broadway and You’re a Grand Old Flag. Members of the audience are invited to stand as the musical theme of their respective branch of service is played and the flag is presented on stage. This free concert is sponsored by the Allen Public Library, VFW 2195, Allen Community Band, and Bernardo de Galvez DAR chapter. Call 2q14-509-4911 for additional information.

Psycho (1960) During filming and production, Alfred Hitchcock insisted that the plot for his masterpiece Psycho (1960) be kept under a cloak of secrecy. Find out why at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 31 at the Allen Public Library. Free. This mystery thriller is full of surprises and shocks, which are heightened because it was filmed in black and white. Alfred Hitchcock was captivated with the study of psychology, an emerging field during the previous decades of his career and various Freudian principles were loosely applied to the story line. Paramount studios rejected Hitchcock's proposal for this film. In response, Hitchcock financed the film and waived his director’s fee for a 60% stake in the sales. A wise choice, the film grossed over $50,000,000, a huge amount for 1960. Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles, a Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel. Call 214-509-4911.

A long-time popular recreation destination in East Dallas, White Rock Lake has a rich heritage. Learn the story of this historical body of water that lies west of Buckner Boulevard, between Garland Road and Mockingbird Lane, with Sally Rodriguez at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 25 at the Allen Public Library. Responding to a water shortage, Dallas city leaders approved the damming of White Rock Creek to create a new water source in 1909. The project was completed in 1911. Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration constructed stunning amenities that still adorn the landscape. Sailing, rowing, hunting, and fishing activities were soon enormously popular at the site. World War II brought increased military uses to this locale, including a prisoner of war camp for German officers. In 1943, the government used the barracks at Winfrey Point to house German prisoners of war who had served in Rommel's Afrika Corps. White Rock Lake is the source for one Dallas’ most famous folk stories—the Lady of the Lake. Several versions of the story are told around campfires. Any variant of the tale involves a woman in a soaked white dress spotted somewhere along the edge of the lake. After pleading for and getting a ride home, always in the back seat, she vanishes before reaching the destination. A puddle of water on the seat is the only visible evidence that she had been in the car. The Bath House Cultural Center, Audubon Bird Watching Center, hiking and picnic areas are among the many attractions that draw over a million visitors a year. Author of “Images of America: White Rock Lake” and “Images of America: White Rock Lake Revisited,” Sally Rodriguez worked for the City of Dallas Parks Department for over 32 years, served as district manager, and promoted the historic legacy of the Dallas Park system. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Want a new job? Access the hiring manager and be appointed to a new position. Competition and the impersonal hiring process make the effort a daunting task. Listen to Jack Bick, author of Mission Critical, Own Your Dream Career at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 25 at the Allen Public Library’s 2nd Floor Program Room. Even though all companies are presently hiring, Jack will demonstrate a successful strategy to overcome hiring obstacles. Jack declares, “If you offer yourself as ‘Mission Critical’ to the corporate needs, the company will find a place for you.” A former publisher of Inside Collin County Business and the Dallas Business Journal, Jack is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and is a Certified Career Coach. Jack served as a combat photographer/reporter during the Viet Nam War and he currently serves as a coordinator of the Career Alliance at St. Jude Parish. Call 214-509-4905 for additional information. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr.

In a previous era, often children with challenges were needlessly hidden in cellars, closets or attics, depriving them of an education and social life, or even an opportunity for forming friendships. This year’s ALLen Reads selection, The War That Saved My Life, is an engaging story about Ava, a girl born with a clubfoot who was hidden from public view and abused. When she and her younger brother are evacuated from London during World War II, Ava develops persistence and perseverance, which prove to be invaluable in her newly adopted home. At 6:00 p.m. at the Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Dr., Kimberly Brubaker Bradley will discuss her book that garnered a Newberry Honor Medal and a Kirkus Best Books of the Year designation and was on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Call 214-509-4911

The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team Who Helped Win World War II. During World War II a number of professional athletes—many in the prime of their careers— enlisted in the military. Anne Keene, author of The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team Who Helped Win World War II, will share of one exciting saga involving baseball icons at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. October 11 at the Allen Public Library. Come early to enjoy old fashion baseball music. In 1943, the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals were in the World Series, but another of the nation's most capable baseball teams practiced on a college field in North Carolina. Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, and Johnny Sain were among the dedicated fighter-pilot cadets who donned Cloudbuster Nine baseball jerseys at an elite Navy training school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With the help of rare images and insights from World War II baseball veterans such as Dr. Bobby Brown and Eddie Robinson, the story of this remarkable team is brought to life for the first time in this recently published book. Anne Keene began her career as a writer working in radio news/television documentary research. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Books, the Dallas Morning News and a host of national sports publications. The Cloudbuster Nine currently ranks among Amazon’s top 25 baseball/sports books for teens and adult readers. Anne serves as an advisor to Texas Our Texas, a Texas PBS documentary and education network, and is a board member supporting the Friends of Libraries and Archives of Texas. She is currently interviewing Major League Baseball’s surviving WWII veterans – a rare fraternity of fewer than 45 men who paused their professional baseball careers to serve their country. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Join us on Sunday, October 7th, as the Allen Philharmonic presents the Fall Concert for Young Audiences program at the Allen Public Library with music designed to reinforce the themes of the 2018 ALLen Reads book selections. Arrive at 2:00 p.m. and learn about the instrument families of the orchestra with our petting zoo. Then enjoy the concert at 3:00 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium with music from Spider-Man, Moana, and Coco who, like the characters in the ALLen Reads books, put others’ needs before their own. Free event! Call 214-509-4911 for additional information. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr.

· Feeling overwhelmed but don't know where to turn? · Worried about your children's future? · Coping with special needs in your family? Local experts will discuss coping strategies for families involved in caring for loved ones who have special needs at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Allen Public Library Civic Auditorium. Topics will include effective alternatives for disciplining children, financial planning, and helping children transition into adulthood. A ‘Resource Fair’ where families will find additional information from a variety of local businesses offering special services for these kids. In addition, the Children’s section of the Library will have “play stations” that introduce library resources to our families. Our speaker panel: Aimee Benfield, certified life quality coach, licensed marriage & family therapist-associate of Serenity Family Therapy, will discuss how special needs impact family functioning and how to overcome the stress. Monica Piper, board certified behavioral analyst and owner of Stepping Stones ABA Therapy, will talk about handling difficult behavior. A representative from 29 Acres will discuss this proposed housing community for adults who have special needs. 29 Acres is working toward a goal of creating a safe and dynamic supported living community where adults with autism (ASD) and other neuro-diversities can live, enabling them to build relationships, feel value, success and happiness in their lives. Dawn D. Hallman, JD, a nationally recognized estate and tax planning attorney, will present an overview of the essential estate planning tools for individuals with special needs. You will learn about Special Needs Trusts (first and third party settled), an estate planning tool designed for the care of loved ones with special needs, while preserving eligibility for public benefits. Exhibitors include: Hallman Law Cutting Edge Therapy Hugs Café APT G: A Place to Go nonPareil Institute Upside Therapy My Possibilities Angel League 29 Acres Please join us for this free community event - all supervised kids are welcome!" For more information, call 469-667-1185, or email bonniebjay@gmail.com.

Orchestra of New Spain and the Convivencia Experience the Orchestra of New Spain and the music of the three cultures co-habiting in Medieval Spain - Christian, Arabic and Sephardic at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 at the Allen Public Library. From the 711 occupation of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors until the end of the 14th century, Christian, Muslim and Jewish populations of Spain lived and worked together in relative peace. This cohabitation (in Spanish, Convivencia) was marked by rich intercultural influences that were evident throughout peninsula. This concert will feature soloists and period instruments from the Orchestra singing the famous Cantigas (songs) de Santa Maria, SMU's celebrated percussionist Jamal Mohamed and Friends on their lively jazz-like works from the Muslim tradition, and modern interpretations of haunting Sephardic music by Michelle Alany. The Orchestra of New Spain is a period-instrument baroque orchestra and chorus specializing in, but not limited to, the music of Spain and its sphere of New Worlds influence. Created in 1989 for as the Hispanic offering for the opening of the Meyerson Symphony Center and to celebrate the Hispanic orientation of the Guadalupe Cathedral in the life of the aborning Dallas Arts District, the orchestra is a significant purveyor of Spanish baroque musical masterworks and has produced two CDs. In 2012, the Orchestra of New Spain toured in the Festival of Early Music in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and the Cervantino Festival, Mexico under the aegis of the Spanish Ministry of Culture; and in El Paso's Spanish Theater Festival and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the concert is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

By the early 20th Century American parents were gripped by a horrifying fear that their children might contract the contagious polio virus. Although the disease had a cruel preference for children, adults were affected as well. President Franklin Roosevelt was struck with polio at age 39. Reports of outbreaks frequently lead to swimming pools and movie theaters closing, and in some cases, entire communities being quarantined. Houston and Harris Counties, Texas, had the second-highest rate of infection in the nation. Thus, sighs of relief could be heard across the nation when Jonas Salk introduced the first polio vaccine in 1955. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, Dr. Heather Wooten will discuss her award-winning book The Polio Years in Texas: Battling a Terrifying Unknown at the Allen Public Library. This book received the T. R. Fehrenbach Book Award by the Texas Historical Commission and the East Texas Historical Association’s Ottis Lock Endowment Award, Best Book category. For this book, Dr. Wooten conducted extensive archival research as well as interviews with Texas polio survivors and their families. This resulted in a detailed analysis and accounts of not only the polio epidemics that swept through Texas, but also of the individual stories of those ravaged by the dreaded disease. In response to the rapidly growing number of polio cases in Texas, Dallas orthopedic surgeon and Rotarian, William Beall Carrell and the Scottish Rite Masons founded the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in 1921. It became the first hospital in Texas devoted entirely to rehabilitation of the disabled. Polio patients comprised 80 per cent of the caseload during polio years. Dr. Wooten earned a Ph.D. in Medical Humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She is the author of numerous publications concerning United States, Texas and medical history. Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, this program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Black gospel music has proved to be one of America’s most phenomenal musical genres. Robert Darden will discuss the Black Gospel Restoration Project, followed by a performance from the New Jerusalem Baptist Choir, at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 23, at the Allen Public Library. Through the use of stunning audio recordings, Mr. Darden will highlight various facets of Black Gospel music. Mr. Darden is the founder of the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University, the world’s largest initiative to identify, acquire, digitize, categorize and eventually make accessible fast-vanishing vinyl of gospel music from gospel’s Golden Age (1945-1970). The Black Gospel Music Restoration project provides the gospel music for the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History & Culture. In addition, he is the author of two dozen books, including Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume I: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement (Penn State University Press, 2014) and People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music (Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2004). Darden’s articles and essays have appeared in publications including The New York Times and Oxford American. He has been featured in hundreds of radio and television programs, such Fresh Air with Terri Gross (NPR), 1A with Joshua Johnson, All Things Considered (NPR), CSPAN and BBC World Service. The New Jerusalem Baptist Choir is located in McKinney, TX and has performed at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. They offer a musical treat you will not want to miss! Sponsored by the Allen Public Library, the program is free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.