Colleyville fire safety program

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Tyler Johnson, 2, of Keller inspects his own reflection on quint fire truck's bell during a children's fire safety program at Borders Books in Colleyville on Saturday, June 14, 2008.


Colleyville firefighter Dustin Wynn (center) reads a fire safety book during a children's program at Borders Books.


Spencer Hickman, 2, of Hurst gets excited as Colleyville firefighters teach a fire safety program at Borders Books.




Guests collect promotional items before Colleyville Fire Department safety program.


Lt. Eddie Moran of the Colleyville Fire Department helps children enter a quint fire truck during a fire safety program in Colleyville.


Colleyville firefighter Dustin Wynn (right) explains parts of an ambulance to children during a safety program.


Lt. Roy Fergason of the Colleyville Fire Department (right) talks with Erik Hogg, 3, of Hurst (left) during a fire safety program.

The Pilots

Steve Rask (left) and Will Yonley (right) of The Pilots, a Houston-based Christian band, perform in concert during the annual 9/11 Music Festival at Ford Pavilion on Saturday, September 10, 2005. The day-long festival featured 45 Christian bands.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Playing cool

Sarah Embry (No. 12) of the Texas Aces from Pearland mists herself with a fan to keep cool during the American Fastpitch Association national softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, July 30, 2005.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A mother's memories

Jan Manshack holds Brat, her 4-year-old cat, while she talks about her son Shane Goldman at her house in Orange on Friday, August 19, 2005. Shane Goldman, a Marine, died in the Iraq War on April 5, 2004.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Jan Manshack shows photos of her son Shane Goldman at her house in Orange. His body was returned home on his 20th birthday.

9 Station Drive

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Eric Currie with the band 9 Station Drive of Beaumont plays guitar during the Nederland Heritage Festival in Nederland on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

Hardin County hanging tree

While the old Hardin County Courthouse in Kountze was razed in a fire of suspicious origin on Aug. 8, 1886, the "hanging tree" behind the location remains on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Now, only tire swing hangs from the old tree's branches.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

RHS graduation 2008

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Arcery Portillo (center) shares a hug with teacher Shannon Range (right) before the Richardson High School graduation ceremony at the Special Events Center in Garland on Saturday, June 7, 2008.


Dorissa Martinez (left) holds roses as she looks for her niece Shelby Martinez during the Richardson High School graduation ceremony.


RHS valedictorian Lisa Rochelle Greenblatt waits with other Richardson High School graduates for the commencement ceremony to begin.



Carlos Augusto Martinez, Jr. celebrates with other graduates during the Richardson High School graduation ceremony.


RHS graduate Sulema Salmeron (right) gives a hug to her best friend Lilian Obando (left) after the Richardson High School graduation ceremony at the Special Events Center in Garland on Saturday, June 7, 2008.

Autos in the Park show

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Chrome shines on an antique Cadillac during the 3rd Annual Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas on Sunday, June 8, 2008. Exhibit fees were donated to the Cooper Institute and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.


Ken Godden of Tyler (left) has a laugh with Bob Bishop of Van Alstyne (right) next to Godden's 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Estate Car during the car show.


Jeff Ruff dusts his 2005 Ford Mustang during the car show.


Visitors examine fine examples of European engineering during the Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center.


Sun reflects on the hood ornament of Bill Kimball's 1941 Cadillac Convertible.


Evelyn Godden (left to right), Bob Bishop and Ken Godden have an original tailgate party under the trees next to Godden's 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Estate Car.


Bill Norris' 1934 Ford rests quietly under a tree during the car show.


Kathryn Cantwell of Flower Mound (right) talks about a new Mercedes SLK 300 with Jed Siddle, parts manager of Park Place Motorcars of Dallas, (left) during the car show.


Joe Fernandez of Garland (right) takes a break with Mars, his 3-year-old Doberman pincher, (left) during the 3rd Annual Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.

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"

Stone Hearst Apartments

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The Stone Hearst Apartments feature a child-friendly play area in an enclosed area of the complex in Beaumont on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. It is currently 100 percent leased and 98 percent occupied.


The Stone Hearst Apartments feature ample head-in parking and enclosed balconies in Beaumont. The $8 million complex provides affordable housing to working families and was constructed with federal tax credits supplied by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Magnolia Gardens revitalization

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The 50-year-old Magnolia Gardens complex is set for a $20 million revitalization grant in Beaumont on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will demolish existing structures and replace them with 75 public housing and 75 market-rate units.


Magnolia Gardens residents Christine Walton (left) and Eva Westbrooks (right) celebrate after $20 million revitalization grant announcement. The new units should create mixed-income communities and include town houses and garden homes.



The 50-year-old Magnolia Gardens complex is set for a $20 million revitalization grant. HUD will demolish existing structures and replace them with mixed-income communitie units.

Since these are older images, the project went ahead as planned and construction was still ongoing when I left Beaumont.

Veggie kabob

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

A veggie kabob cooks on the grill during a family Fourth of July party in Plano on Friday, July 4, 2008.

Star-spangled shaved ice

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Robert Hill holds his daughter Julia Hill, 2, and a well-earned shaved ice after the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade on Lucas in Beaumont on Monday, July 4, 2005. Everyone received participation awards and special prizes were awarded by category for decorations.

video by Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com
Please see the video slideshow.

Happy Independence Day

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kim Burbank (left) prepares her daughter Annalise, 19 months, before the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade along North Street to Lucas in Beaumont on Monday, July 4, 2005. Everyone received participation awards and special prizes were awarded by category for decorations.


video by Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com
Please see the video slideshow.

Turducken?

A male Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata, watches a sunset near a private lake in Plano on Monday, June 30, 2008.

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com


I don't eat birds, but this one is supposedly leaner and more flavorful than other ducks.

Angry gator

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

Big Al, the largest captive alligator in Texas, defends his territory at Gator Country in Fannett, Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2008.

The Swan Story

Once upon a time there was a beautiful swan.


photos © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

She had a lovely home on a private lake in a big city.


But her partner had recently vanished.



She was sad.


Her neighbors cared for her, but kept their distance.


She wasn't like them.


Every day, she'd look for her partner.



She looked through the high bushes.


And she looked on the beach.


But all she found were traces of the love she lost.



Each night as the sun set, her tears filled the lake.