Holy Trinity's new seminarians

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Second-year pre-theology seminarian Jeff Bame (right) returns to help others move into Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009.


Preston Quintela (top) of Houston gets help from Nic Ramirez (center) and 2nd-year pre-theologian Jeff Bame (right) as he moves into Holy Trinity Seminary.


Nic Ramirez of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese moves into Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving.


Fr. Jim Oberle (left) talks with senior Jeffrey Baynham (center) and 2nd-year pre-theologian Richard Hinkley of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese while they wait for more new seminarians to move into Holy Trinity Seminary.


Second-year pre-theologian Kelsey Matchen (left to right) points out the view during a tour with Roger Herbert, new seminarian Mark Hebert and Brenda Hebert of Fannett, Texas in the Beaumont Diocese during move-in day at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving.


Second-year pre-theologian Jeff Bame (left) finalizes paperwork with Preston Quintela of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese as he moves into Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving.

Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Titus, a 4-year-old harlequin great dane owned by Larry Aparicio of Richardson, investigates the environment at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks in Dallas on Saturday, July 18, 2009.


Dogs play at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks in Dallas. The nation's only private indoor dog park will soon be featured on the CBS Evening News.


Henri, a 10-month-old French Bulldog owned by Clay Likover of Dallas, (bottom) tries to outrun Dakota, a 6-year-old English Labrador retriever owned by James Stapleton of Garland, (top) at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks.


Dogs play in the two runways at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks in Dallas. Larger and more energetic dogs run in the big "Bodyslammer Park" on the left while smaller and gentler dogs visit in "Powderpuff Park" on the right.


Owners watch as their dogs play at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks.


Harley, a year-old Australian Shepherd, jumps for a ball thrown by her owner and Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks employee Emilie Williams at the park.



Romeo, a 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel owned by Liz McElroy of Dallas, (bottom) stands to sniff the foot of another dog at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks.



Trapper, a 10-year-old pomeranian, rests after a romp at Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks in Dallas. Trapper is now owned by Peggy Sinclair of Dallas, but was previously owned by a Manhattan resident killed during the 9/11 attacks.



Please read, "Dogs and owners find shelter from the swelter at nation's first indoor park" by Steve Blow / The Dallas Morning News

Fr. Joseph Van House's ordination

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

See a larger version of this slideshow.

Fr. Joseph Van House is ordained to the priesthood at The Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Dallas in Irving on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009.

Also named in this slideshow are: Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, Fr. Denis Farkasfalvy, Br. Thomas Esposito, Fr. Aloysius Kimecz, John Van House, Pat Van House, Fr. Paul McCormick and Fr. David Dye.

Tuskegee Airman's new gig

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, displays his copy of the Congressional Gold Medal at Reel Thing Catfish Cafe in Allen on Thursday, July 16, 2009. Spann served with the 332nd Fighter Group from 1943 until 1946 and flew a P-51 Mustang fighter on bomber escort missions from Italy during World War II. The African-American unit received the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2007.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (left) talks with retired Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Willie of Allen (right) at Reel Thing Catfish Cafe in Allen.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (left) talks with retired Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Willie (right) at the Allen restaurant.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (left) shakes hands with Carl Isaacks of Allen (right) at Reel Thing Catfish Cafe.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (right) and Reel Thing Catfish Cafe owner Jim Brevard (left) talk about a special visitor celebrating his birthday at the restaurant in Allen.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (right) talks with patrons at the restaurant in Allen.


Former Tuskegee Airman Calvin J. Spann, 84, (center) talks with Purple Heart recipient Ray Cline, also 84, (right) and his daughter Lisa Ebanks (left), both from Garland, at Reel Thing Catfish Cafe in Allen. Cline's family brought him to the restaurant to celebrate his 84th birthday.



Please read, "Tuskegee Airman serves up war stories at Allen cafe" by Karen Robinson-Jacobs / The Dallas Morning News

Note: Although the story calls Spann an "ace," he said he didn't shoot down any planes. The military term "ace" applies to pilots that have downed five enemy aircraft.

Student PJ contest honors Jim Cox

Jim Cox was a TVPJ in Phoenix. He died in a mid-air collision of two news helicopters on July 27th, 2007. Since then, his family has established the James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photographers.

The foundation provides five scholarships aspiring PJ students including $2,000 tuition assistance for college students and five high-end cameras for high-school students.

The foundation is accepting applications from now until the Oct. 15, 2009 deadline. There are still and video categories with strict limits. You can view the application and enter the competition at www.jamesalancoxfoundation.org.

Please only submit legitimate PJ work. Please prepare your submissions early because several criteria must be met to qualify.

Images of minors require model releases. Otherwise, the competition is open and reasonable. It's a legitimate PJ contest (not a rights grab) to honor a dedicated TVPJ.

Enough for now,

School of Rock guitar smash

Frisco Mayor Maher Maso (left) breaks a guitar on stage during the opening of the School of Rock in historic downtown Frisco on Friday, July 17, 2009. Instead of a ribbon cutting, the school featured the mayor smashing a guitar to celebrate it's opening.
photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Please read, "School of Rock opens in historic downtown Frisco" by Valerie Wigglesworth / The Dallas Morning News

Help a fellow PJ

Melissa Lyttle sent the following note to the NPPA list. If you can spare a few bucks, please do so. If you can donate the profit from a freelance gig, even better. I did, so consider it a challenge.

"Photojournalist Stephen Coddington and his wife Marian are in their 30s, living in Riverview (Tampa Bay area) and are the parents of two children, ages four and seven. The Coddingtons are a young couple, deeply in love and raising a family together.

On April 1, 2008 Marian suffered a brain aneurysm. After 6 months in hospitals and care centers, she was transferred to one of the best facilities in the nation, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. From there, she had to go to an acute care hospital for several surgeries.

Stephen stayed by her side in Chicago, working with her caregivers to help her return to a normal life. The health insurance company dug in its heels, refused to return Marian to the Rehabilitation Institute and stopped all payments to the acute care hospital. Ultimately, Steve brought Marian home, and assumed the role of single parent and sole caregiver, therapist and advocate for his wife.

Marian's mind is active and she understands fully what is going on around her, but her body has essentially locked her in. She can't walk or care for herself, and she is working hard at learning to speak again.

Steve has used up his family leave time and has neither the helpers nor the money to provide the care she would need for him to return to work. Although the newspaper has continued to extend his leave, he's been fearful that at some time, the paper would have to cut him loose.

savestevesfamily.blogspot.com

If you can give, something, anything... it'll help. There's a donate button (Paypal link) on the Web site.

Also there's a benefit concert for the Coddington's at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa on Sunday, August 23 (starts at 4 p.m.). If you're in the area, it's $10 to get in, and it's a day of great music for a good cause.
So come..."

Best,
Melissa Lyttle

Plano Independence Day Parade

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

See a larger version of this slideshow.

Participants and fans attend an Independence Day Parade on Independence Parkway in Plano on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The parade was sponsored by the Plano Early Lions Club.

Named in this slideshow are: Mike Lambert, Gene Fruth, J.D. Lawless, Shenna Lawless, Dale Lockhart, Debbie Beachum, Dan Reed, Bill Neisel, Morris McCann, Tye Phelps, Devin McDaniel, Karen Robertson, Donna Rowe, Kristen Tsu, Reilly Geary, Genevieve Paugh, Joy Sharp, Ellie Scowden, Emberlea Rhea and Michelle Rhea.

The assignment desk wanted us to include the capture time in the cutline for each image so the newspaper could make a region-wide timeline. Because it shows the quality of light at various intervals, I've included the time in each caption of this slideshow.

VAP Weekend

Maria Samudio (left) consults with Sr. Rose Marie Greer (center) during the Vocation Awareness Program Weekend at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

© Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Rising tennis star

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Shane Vinsant, 15, of Keller hits a ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas on Saturday, June 27, 2009. He is the current national No. 2 tennis player at the 16-and-under level.


Shane Vinsant, 15, connects with the ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club. He also competes above his age group.



Shane Vinsant, 15, hits a backhand during practices on a clay court at Brookhaven Country Club. The home-schooled student plans an August move to the national training center in Boca Raton, Fla.


Shane Vinsant, 15, eyes the ball during practice at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas. Vinsant plans to become a pro and wants to eventually become No. 1 player in the world.

Please read, "Centre Court, here they come" by Kate Hairopoulos / The Dallas Morning News