Mardi Gras World Tour

photos and soundstripe by Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com

Artisans work while tourists are guided through the Mardi Gras World fabrication areas and float den in New Orleans on April 13, 2015. The facility prepares and manages more than 500 floats. Artists work all year, and tours are available every day except Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday).


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Enough for now,

Homeschooling Convention

Darren Douglas mans the booth of HipHop-Edu of St. Louis during the 14th Annual Summer Homeschooling Conference at Plano Centre in Plano on Aug. 8, 2009.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Patrons shop during the 14th Annual Summer Homeschooling Conference.


Elijah West, 5, (left) and his sister Sasha West, 3, (right) of North Richland Hills patiently watch their father shop during the 14th Annual Summer Homeschooling Conference at Plano Centre.


Howard Berg of the New American School in McKinney and the only Guinness World Record-holder for speed reading (left) prepares for a presentation and talks with organizer Stephen Lunsford of the North Texas Home Educators' Network (right) during the 14th Annual Summer Homeschooling Conference in Plano.


Susan Kimmons (left) and her son Connor Kimmons, 12, (right) test language software at the booth of My Father's World of Rolla, Mo. during the 14th Annual Summer Homeschooling Conference at Plano Centre in Plano.

Please read, "Plano homeschool conference draws 2,500" by Katherine Leal Unmuth

Selling the farm

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Carol King (left) talks with family as Bob King (right) listens before an auction at the King family farm in Celina on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009.


Carol King (right) tries to cheer up Bob King (left) before an auction at the King family farm in Celina. The King family auctioned all their farm equipment now that Bob King's sight has declined.


Bob King (left) talks with his niece Mary Wade (right) as her grandsons Grant Creach, 2, (center) and Wade Creach, 5, (lower, right) listen before an auction at the King family farm.


Carol King (right) tries to cheer up Bob King (left) before an auction at the family farm in Celina.


Bob King (left) watches as pieces of his farm are auctioned in the rain at the family farm.


Auctioneer Jim Stafford (top) with Bob Mitchell Auctioneers barks out bids during an auction at the King family farm in Celina.


Farm equipment withstands the rain and settles into the mud before an auction at the King family farm.


Plants continue to grow during an auction at the King family farm in Celina.

Please read, "Farming family in Celina forced to let it all go" by Sam Hodges / The Dallas Morning News

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.

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

"Stapler Caper" family

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Bruce Yablonsky (center), Cindy Ray (left), their son Ryan Yablonsky, 10, (right) and Rupert, a 9-month-old puppy, (bottom) play at their home in Plano on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Ray created a new series of illustrated books that allow children to write and re-write stories about the books' subjects.


Bruce Yablonsky (left) and his son Ryan Yablonsky, 10, (right) play with Rupert, a 9-month-old puppy, at their home. The first book, "The Stapler Caper: You Write The Story," was inspired by Ryan. The book's characters are displayed by the fireplace.


Bruce Yablonsky (right) and Cindy Ray (center) play cards while their son Ryan Yablonsky, 10, (left) wins a video game at their home.


Cindy Ray (left) shows her cards to Bruce Yablonsky (right) and their son Ryan Yablonsky, 10, (center) after a game of gin at their home in Plano.

Please read, "Plano mom Cindy Ray gets kids to write 'The Stapler Caper'" by Kathleen Green.

Steve Denson recruits diversity

Steve Denson, director of diversity and lecturer for Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, poses for a portrait at the university in Dallas on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

photos © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com



Steve Denson poses for a portrait. Companies have offered starting salaries to qualified minority MBA graduates in the range of $80,000 to $120,000. Still, American Indians comprise less than one percent of enrollment in MBA programs.



Steve Denson wears a hand-made bolo. Denson is a member of the Chickasaw Nation of American Indians.


Steve Denson, director of diversity and lecturer for Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, poses for a portrait at the university in Dallas. Denson is authorized to aggressively recruit minorities for the university's MBA program.


To learn more about the project, please read the MBA success story of Peter Patnaude.

Reinvented career

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Jim Hill, USA business development manager for Scientific Publishing Service of India, works at his home office in McKinney on Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.


Hill, a former Plano-based publisher, was downsized and has reinvented himself into an international marketing leader for the Indian company. He is capitalizing on the current global economy.


Jim Hill gets frustrated during an Internet phone conversation with a colleague at his home office.


Jim Hill files paperwork at his home office. Hill makes sales calls to publishers around the world to convince them to outsource to his client in India.


Jim Hill laughs during an Internet phone conversation. Hill appreciates the freedom, flexibility and increased income of working from home.


Jim Hill works at his home office in McKinney. He said his income increased 50 percent since he was laid off.


Please read, "Downsizings force baby boomers to reinvent careers" by Bob Moos.

La Poblanita tries to maintain prices

photos © Mark M. Hancock and Al Dia

Mauricio Puente measures flour at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana in Plano on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Bakery owner Danny Graves said the cost of flour has gone from $9.50 per bag to a high of $27 per bag.


Aaron Meza prepares dough at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana. To keep customers, Graves absorbed the cost increases.



Fresh bread awaits customers at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana y Cafe in Dallas.


Different bakery goods await customers at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana y Cafe.



Maria Garduno prepares bakery goods at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana y Cafe.


Mauricio Puente (left) and Aaron Meza (right) prepare cookie dough at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana in Plano.



Maria Garduno prepares coffee for customers at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana y Cafe in Dallas.



Sweet treats await customers at La Poblanita Panaderia Mexicana y Cafe in Dallas.

Gordon Biersch review

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Gordon Biersch brewery-restaurant is open for business in Plano on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. The microbrewery chain also opened a new franchise earlier this month in Taipei, Taiwan.


Gordon Biersch manager Shane Jackson poses for a portrait at the brewery-restaurant.



Gordon Biersch offers a hummus and goat cheese salad with chicken (clockwise from front), a barbecue bacon burger with garlic fries and Steak Frites along with their custom brews at the brewery-restaurant.



Gordon Biersch offers Steak Frites at the brewery-restaurant.



Gordon Biersch brewer David Huls poses for a portrait at the brewery-restaurant in Plano.

Impact Day

photos © Mark M. Hancock and Al Dia

Deloitte volunteer Bob Connolly (center) moves a barricade as Tracy Beach (left) surveys the team's accomplishments during Impact Day at Mi Escuelita Dallas preschool in Dallas on Friday, June 6, 2008.


Deloitte volunteers Purvi Amin, (from left to right) Anja Richter and Scott McCray shovel saw flakes into the wheel barrel of Umar Siddiaqui during Impact Day at the preschool. The project was part of an annual city-wide volunteer event.


Danny Hejl with Dramatic Playgrounds of Mesquite fastens screws to a play set during Impact Day at Mi Escuelita Dallas preschool.


Tracy Beach with Deloitte dumps a load of saw flakes into a play area at the preschool.



Deloitte volunteer Bob Connolly wipes away sweat as he talks with Guy Weissman (right) after they helped construct a new play set at Mi Escuelita Dallas preschool.


Caryn Blackwell with Deloitte (left) spreads saw flakes on a playground as team members construct an awning during Impact Day.


Volunteers from Deloitte take a break after completing the construction of a new play set during Impact Day at Mi Escuelita Dallas preschool in Dallas.

Please read, "Crean espacios para jugar en Mi Escuelita" by Thalia I. Longoria

Translated: "They create spaces to play in Mi Escuelita"