More than 1,150 Baylor Health Care System and affiliated employees who work in Coppell, Irving and Grand Prairie recently contributed $184,606 to help Irving’s only nonprofit hospital and two other Irving healthcare agencies. 

With 79 percent of employees giving to the 2013 Employee Giving Campaign, Baylor Medical Center at Irving for the fourth consecutive year had the highest participation rate among the 13 hospitals in the Baylor Health Care System, which spans the North Texas area. The employees not only represented Baylor Irving, but also ARAMARK, Baylor Rehabilitation Institute, HealthTexas Provider Network, CBRE and Baylor Our Children’s House staffs.

“We could not be more proud,” said John Drake, president of the Irving Healthcare Foundation. “This success was made possible by a great committee of employee volunteers who proudly asked their colleagues to give. I also have to credit the leadership of the hospital, including the facility’s board of directors, who all gave generously first before asking any staff members on the floors and in departments to give. They truly led by example and did it very generously.” 

Source: Irving Healthcare Foundation

June 1, 1 p.m.

Boating Safety Classes

Boating enthusiasts visiting Scott’s Landing at Lake Grapevine will have the opportunity to take several classes from Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel, including a course on proper lifejacket fitting and how to take over as captain of a vessel in the case of an emergency. 

June 1, 7- 10 p.m. 

Artists’ Reception 

Enjoy refreshments, meet the artists and view work by artist members from the western states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon. Main Gallery, Irving Arts Center. Free.

June 2, 3-5 p.m.

Irving Heritage House Tour

The June tour will feature a display of the bridal gowns of yesteryear. Gowns dating from the 1880s to a mid-century informal gown from the 1950s will be displayed. The 1903 gown, coat, and shoes ensemble of Agnes Sueppel Schulze, wife of Irving co-founder J. O. Schulze will be included. For more information, call 972-252-3838.

June 1, 8 p.m.

The Last Night of Ballyhoo 

ICT MainStage presents the final performance of Alfred Uhry’s award winning comedy set in the upper class German-Jewish community of Atlanta where the Freitag family is looking forward to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. Comedy, romance and personal revelations follow. Dupree Theater, Irving Arts Center. $16-$23. For tickets, call 972-252-2787.

June 3-6, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Self Defense Class

The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. It is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is not a Martial Arts program. Our classes are taught by a nationally certified R.A.D. Instructor and students are provided with a workbook/reference manual. A $20 donation to the Police Athletic League is requested. For more information, call 972-721-2544. 

June 4. 6-8 p.m.

Backyard Composting Short Class

Learn how to compost using the hot and cold methods at the Max G. Greiner Environmental Center. Students will learn what materials to use in building a compost pile, how to troubleshoot composting problems and discuss the benefits of composting. To register or for more information, visit cityofirving.org/begreen.

June 5, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

One-Miler & Health and Wellness Fair

Participants will also be able to experience healthy food demonstrations by Texas Agrilife Extension and CPR & Fire Safety classes by the Coppell Fire Department. For more information, please call 972-462-5136.

June 6-9

Friends of the Irving Public Library Book Sale

Come down to 3000 Rock Island Road for the annual extravaganza that kicks off with a “member’s only” preview night from 5 to 8 p.m. June 6. The sale is open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8 and from 1 to 5 p.m. June 9. Proceeds support library programs like the Summer Reading Club and Big Read. For more information, call (972) 721-2606.

June 7, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Parent Training: Autism

Brent Woodall Foundation for Exceptional Children presents its conference at Holy Covenant Methodist Church in Carrollton. Designed for parents of children with Autism and developmental disabilities, it provides parents and guardians with tools they can use immediately in their homes and communities. $60 pre-registration, $75 at the door.

June 6, 7 p.m.

Budget Hearings

Residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the budget at 7 p.m. June 6 and 20 at City Hall. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for Sep. 19. To HYPERLINK "http://www.cityofirving.org/budgetinput/index.asp" \t "_blank" \o "http://www.cityofirving.org/budgetinput/index.asp"provide input online, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.cityofirving.org/" \t "_blank" \o "http://www.cityofirving.org/"cityofirving.org and locate the public input forum under the “Public Input” tab. For more information, call the City Secretary’s Office at (972) 721-2493.

June 7, 8 a.m.

Brandel Chamblee Charity Golf Tournament

Thousands of kids in our community need help, and this unique tournament at the Four Seasons combines four major charities in Irving that work tirelessly to make sure kids have a bright and healthy future in Irving. The Irving YMCA, Irving Schools Foundation, Irving Healthcare Foundation and Irving Las Colinas Rotary Club have teamed up to battle four major areas of focus for our youth: childhood obesity, school readiness/college funding, at-risk teens and innovative school programs.

June 1 – July 7

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 

The 38th annual juried exhibition of water media works from the WFWS is hosted in Irving by the Southwestern Watercolor Society. Founded in 1975, WFWS is made up of 11 water media societies with a combined membership of over 4800 artists from the western states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon. Main Gallery, Irving Arts Center. Free. 

June 1-July 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m

Fritz Park Petting Farm 

The farm offers an ideal setting for people of all ages to learn about farming and farm animals. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (972) 721-2640.

June 1 – September 29

Selections from the Tegge Circus Archives Collection 

Included works explore the fascinating life of the American circus through lithographs, photographs, banners, memorabilia and historical artifacts. Irving Arts Center. Free.

Air Conditioner Repair Programs 

The City of Irving Housing and Human Services Department has programs that may be able to help you prepare for another 100 degree Texas summer. Test your air conditioner today to make sure that it is working properly.

Summer Splash Camp Registration Available Until Full: Recreation centers continue registration for the Summer Splash Camp on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows. Five two-week sessions will be offered beginning June 10; camp hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Campers will participate in gym games, field trips, and arts and crafts. Morning and afternoon snacks as well as lunch will be provided. Registrants must present a valid Irving Parks and Recreation ID card, and at least one session’s payment to register. Contact neighborhood recreation center staff for more information. Cost for each session is $190 per child.

New Jobs Come to Irving: Humana Inc. selected Irving for its new RightSource mail-order pharmacy call center and support operation, bringing more than 620 new jobs over the next three years. RightSource will be located at 2001 W. John Carpenter Freeway. All three floors of the vacant 115,000 square-foot building will be renovated to accommodate its office, call center and communications functions. The company is expected to invest approximately $7.5 million in leasehold improvements and $6 million in business personal property as a part of the 10-year lease. 

Hundreds of families gathered to participate in Macarthur Family Night and Concert at the Macarthur Medical Plaza on Friday. 

Dr. Jeff Livingston with the Macarthur OB/GYN and the Irving ISD Teenage Pregnant and Parenting Students Program (TAPPS) worked together to host the event. Macarthur Family Night served as a fundraiser to benefit the TAPPS program and to raise teen pregnancy awareness. 

Dr. Livingston is an active educator in the pregnant teen community and has developed a partnership with the TAPPS program, which encourages students with children to complete their high school education.

Families were able to enjoy a variety of attractions including face painting, balloon animals, a children’s dance party, snow cones, a family scavenger hunt, great food, and a bounce house. The Irving Fire Department also made an appearance and offered tours of their fire truck and ambulance to groups of kids and their parents.

The main attraction at this year’s event was a performance by the world famous band, The Polyphonic Spree. 

While many Americans across the United States celebrated their three-day weekend hosting cookouts and family events, dozens of patriotic Irving citizens and veterans attended the Irving Memorial Day Service at the public library on Sunday to honor those who lost their lives while protecting our country. 

The emotional service was presented by the Irving Veterans Memorial Park Committee and began with a combined color guard of Irving, Nimitz, and MacArthur High School JROTC cadets’ presenting the American flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Silver Tones, under the direction of Woody Schober along with the assembly, proudly sang the Star Spangled Banner in harmony, many singing with passion and admiration. 

As part of the celebration, Don McClelland, SSG 389^th Bomb Group US Army Air Forces, also delivered a heart-felt moment of reflection. Then Ken Boozer, Irving Veterans Memorial Park Committee member, read the names of veterans listed on the Commemorative Wall of Honor. “The Irving Veterans Memorial was designed to honor the Irving-ites who have given their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that this country provides us,” Marine Corps Veteran and Memorial Park Committee member, Ken Boozer, said. “I am honored as a member of the Veterans Memorial Committee to be able to take part in it, and to help put on this service so that we can instill a sense of honor in our children, and help them to understand the sacrifices that have been made. This park is here so that people can come and see the sacrifices that have been made so that they can enjoy the freedoms that they have.”