Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: The News

Media Credit: Corrine Asbell Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy's limited mobility didn't keep him from entertaining the crowd. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Kimberly Ansley Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship delivers an unforgettable experience. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Amadeo Lopez David Warsop with British band Beat Union speaks to the crowd. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Corrine Asbell Story of the Year lead singer Dan Marsala gets up close with the fans. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Kimberly Ansley Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin takes time out before his set. [Click to enlarge]

A groundbreaking ceremony for the newest addition to Eastfield was held Sept. 24, signaling the start of construction for the Center for Child and Family Studies.

The new building is a part of the $450 million bond program approved in 2004. The 21,000 sq. ft. facility, with a projected cost of $7 million and a completion date of September 2009, will more than double the amount of classroom space available in the center's present location in the 'N' Building, and will be located at the east end of the North perimeter road, on the point, just west of the intersection of the perimeter road and the Oates Drive entrance road.

It will include an outdoor play area, space for students to observe children as part of their studies, and a childcare lab for children from three months to 12 years of age.

President Carol Brown recognized many sitting in the audience before introducing DCCCD representatives, trustee Martha Sanchez Metzger and Chancellor Wright Lassiter.

Metzger spoke on how much Eastfield and it's childcare facilities and program meant to her and how pleased she was to represent the district at the ceremony.

"This program in particular is very dear to us," she said, going on to explain that her son, who was born a day too late to enter kindergarten had been enrolled in the Child Care Center when he was younger .

"It was the best thing that could have happened to my family and our minds." she said.

Her son went on to graduate with honors from the University of Texas at Dallas and receive his MBA and she credited Eastfield's program with helping him succeed.

Lassiter took the podium and joked about how the DCCCD had become adept at the groundbreaking ceremonies due to the amount of new construction the district was undertaking.

At the ceremony Lassiter said there was a new constant to add to the old "death and taxes" saying.

"Now there's a third constant, its death, taxes and change," he said. "We're seeing evidence of that each and every day on so many fronts, national, international, regionally and even here at Eastfield College. The good thing about the changes here at Eastfield is they are always for the good."

corrine.asbell@gmail.com

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