Sunday, September 30, 2007

Bayles Fest will bring together neighbors with health, finance, food and fun on October 13

By Pegasus News wire

Updated 05:57 a.m., October 12, 2007

WHITE ROCK HILLS — The Ferguson Road Initiative, Bayles Elementary School and Lone Star Credit Union, will host their 8th Annual Health, Safety, Housing and Financial Wellness Fair, Bayles Fest 2007, Saturday, October 13, 2007. The event will take place from 10am to 2pm under a giant tent on the campus of Bayles Elementary School, 2444 Telegraph, at the intersection of Telegraph and Claremont Streets, 1/4 mile Southeast of the intersection of Highland and Ferguson Road. Children, their families and seniors are all invited to attend this FREE event generously sponsored by Lone Star Credit Union, Cowboy Toyota, McDonalds, Summerville At Lakeland Hills Retirement and Assisted Living Center and the Dallas Independent School District.

Various health, safety, housing and financial organizations and agencies will be on hand to provide important information about these issues as well as to provide free screenings for eyes, dental, diabetes, blood pressure, breast cancer and more. In addition, there will be tons of free, midway-style games, a bounce house, music, entertainment and delicious food and drinks for sale. To get more detailed information about Bayles Fest 2007 or to volunteer to help with the event, visit the official Bayles Fest Website.

Proceeds generated from Sponsorships of this event will go towards supporting and enhancing, vital, ongoing programs at Bayles Elementary School such as after school and enrichment programs, family field trips, creative arts programs and special events.

2007 brings with it a big step forward for Bayles Fest, which has been re-designed to reflect the new growth in the East Dallas Community of White Rock Hills. Here’s just some of what’s new for Bayles Fest 2007:

BAYLES FEST BIG TOP

One important first is that this year Bayles Fest will take place under a giant 60 ft. by 120 ft tent, on the large field adjacent to the school. This will make it easy to take advantage of all the services, amenities and entertainment being provided and add to the excitement and feel of a “Big Top” event.

WELCOMING SENIORS

For the first time, Bayles Fest will include agencies who provide information and services specifically tailored towards seniors. White Rock Hills has a large and vibrant, senior population, many of who grew up in the East Dallas area. This year, Bayles Fest wants all of our seniors to know we welcome their participation in this fun and informative event, and invites them to stop by and learn about the goods and services available especially for them.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Another first was the expansion of the festival this year to include issues related to finances, credit counseling, saving money and money management. We believe this aspect of the festival really sets Bayles Fest apart from many of the other Health and Safety Fairs conducted throughout Dallas. Achieving financial security is becoming increasingly more difficult, often impossible for low-income families and seniors. If the habit of saving money isn’t instigated at a young age, the odds become increasingly staked against you. Kids have a hard time visualizing the value of a dollar, but they can sure count how many piggy banks full of it they have! Our lead sponsor, Lone Star Credit Union, has devised an exhibit for the event that will help children visualize the value of saving money by showing them what happens to one piggy bank’s worth of money, when you deposit it into a savings account today. After one year, you will have this many piggy banks, after three years, this many, and after twenty years, when you are old enough to spend it, you will have this many piggy banks full of money. And to get the ball rolling, they will be giving away piggy banks full of non-negotiable $25 bills. Recipients may use these bills to open a free savings account with Lone Star Credit Union, who will match their deposit up to $25. Which means, if you open a new Savings account and deposit $25 in it, it will be DOUBLED and you will automatically have $50 in your account (Quantities are limited and some minor restrictions do apply).

BAYLES ELEMENTARY IS ONE OF DALLAS’ OLDEST SCHOOLS

About the year 1856 in the eastern part of Dallas County, W.C. Hunnicutt founded what was probably the first school in the settlement of Dallas. The first students that attended this school were from the Ferguson, Hunnicutt, and Rupard families. Tuition paid by the students provided the $6.07 salary for the teacher. The Motley children were provided a trail when their father plowed a furrow through the woods for the children to follow. The school continued at the location in the eastern part of Dallas County until the year 1870, when a team of mules was hitched to the building and pulled it to what is now the west side of Lotti Road, near the old Bayles home. The name was changed to Bayles at this time.

Source: Ferguson Road Initiative

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• Ferguson Road Initiative