Points worth noting: Mobile services for the needy, new displays for Fort Worth stadiums

Catholic Charities in motion

Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, a nonprofit organization that has been a pillar of unselfish service for more than 100 years, seems never satisfied with its level of aid to the needy of our community.

It provides numerous programs -- from credit counseling and a dental clinic to transportation and refugee resettlement -- and constantly is looking for better ways to help more people.

The organization Monday "rolled out" a new program: A customized bus that will take services such as English classes and financial planning help to areas outside the city and to individuals in town who might not be able to visit a regular office for assistance.

An office-on-wheels, the $200,000 bus will provide space where agency workers can meet with clients, including members of the city's homeless population. There's also space for children to play table games while their parents are occupied with business such as job applications.

Atmos Energy paid for the bus and provided Catholic Charities with $25,000 to help needy families pay their gas bills, Star-Telegram transportation writer Gordon Dickson reported Tuesday.

The mobile unit, which will make services available to a 28-county area, is painted bright purple and features the Catholic Charities logo and a motto, "Our innovative services are now in motion."

The organization indeed keeps innovating. This fall, it opened a dental clinic named after former Diocese of Fort Worth Bishop Kevin Vann. Not long ago, Catholic Charities also took over transportation services that the American Red Cross had been providing to get needy individuals in Northeast Tarrant County and other areas to medical services, job interviews and elsewhere. That $1.5 million program, called Catholic Charities Fort Worth Wheels, operates a 36-vehicle fleet.

According to Catholic Charities' website, www.ccdofw.org, some 13 percent of Tarrant County residents live in poverty. Corporate donors and nonprofit groups with a keen understanding of their needs and how to address them are vital community assets.

Scoreboards score upgrades

At last, the Fort Worth school district's athletic facilities are taking another step into the 21st century.

The school board voted 9-0 Tuesday to spend up to $1.26 million on new football stadium scoreboards to replace "dysfunctional and outdated" equipment.

Parents and fans who have followed their Fort Worth teams to elaborate, modern suburban stadiums have groused for years about the disparities and asked among themselves why the district wasn't capitalizing on the opportunity to attract revenue through savvy scoreboard advertising. Ever been to a high school game where area businesses sponsor video board highlights at halftime and during timeouts? Forward-thinking districts make the most of that.

Star-Telegram education writer Jessamy Brown reported Wednesday that changes will be made at three stadiums and an indoor facility:

Farrington Field, the 18,500-seat, WPA-era stadium at University Drive and Lancaster Avenue, will get a new scoreboard capable of commercial advertising. Farrington's existing video display and scoreboard will be moved to 5,000-seat Scarborough-Handley Field on Craig Street in east Fort Worth.

Farrington and 12,000-seat Clark Stadium in southeast Fort Worth will have lighted message boards replaced.

Billingsley Field House, the 3,500-seat facility behind Farrington used for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and nonathletic events, will get two new scoreboards.

The costs are being covered by savings achieved on the $593.6 million bond program that voters approved in 2007.

Bond money already paid for upgrades at the stadiums, including synthetic turf fields and upgraded all-weather tracks. Middle schools also got resurfaced tracks that are used by community members as well as students.

It sounds like football in Fort Worth will have a whole new look this fall.

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