Lifestyle

More than 12 neighborhoods have registered so far to participate in Midlothian’s National Night Out coming up the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 4.

For the second year in a row, downtown Midlothian was packed for the Heritage Day celebration on Saturday. The event included a 9/11 tribute, a free barbecue lunch, a classic car show, games, kids’ entertainment, retail booths, live performances on stage throughout the day, beer and wine, and a concert to end the evening. This year’s Heritage Day was presented by a partnership among the Midlothian Downtown Business Association, the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce and the Midlothian Community Development Corporation.

Gillian Rae Perry, who was raised in Ellis County, has been named the next Vanguard Emerging Composer at Chicago Opera Theater. Each year, COT welcomes one Vanguard Composer, who joins the company for a two-year residency coinciding with two COT production seasons. Perry’s residency, which is supported by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation, begins in September.

This past week, the “post flood” week in my neck of the woods, was an interesting time for me. I learned a few things that might help you in your outdoor adventures and spent some time under an ancient oak my buddy and I discovered during a scouting trip on a track of woods he is in the process of purchasing.

GENEVA — Switzerland’s 1,400 glaciers have lost more than half their total volume since the early 1930s, a new study has found, and researchers say the ice retreat is accelerating at a time of growing concerns about climate change.

I tell the church I’m glad they show up on Sunday mornings because during the week as I prepare my sermon I step on my toes and by Sunday I need a break. In other words, I need to step on someone else’s toes.

Ellis County nonprofit Love Your Neighbor and the WoodmenLife group from Waxahachie recently hosted a peanut butter and jelly party following a collection drive. The peanut butter and jelly collection drive ran July 15 through Aug.

The Ellis County Toys for Tots, hosted by the Ellis County Marine Corps League Detachment 1452, is set for its third annual season. This year’s campaign will be conducted from Oct.

The Texas Education Agency on Monday released its first public school ratings in three years and despite pandemic interruptions, the number of schools that received the highest rating increased. This year, 27.9% of 8,451 schools evaluated received an A rating.