Holiday travel really doesn’t have to be stressful.  Breathe deep as you get ready for the holiday season and if you are one of those travelers who only gets to the airport during this time of year, expect to find some changes at DFW International Airport.

In recent months, DFW Airport has welcomed several new retail and dining options, installed state-of-the-art technology designed to extensively improve the DFW travel experience, and renovations continue on Terminals A, B, C, and E, and respective parking garages.

The restaurants and shops that standout include some new choices in terminal D like Stampede 66 Express, a modern Texas cuisine by Chef Stephan Pyles near D27; CRU food and wine bar near D24 alongside luxury retailers like Coach and Longchamp, and near D20 and D25 there is now luxury beauty brand shopping from Aveda, Jo Malone and Mac.

David Magaña, Senior Manager, Media Relations at DFW International Airport said “DFW Airport is constantly working to enhance its customer experience by providing travelers with unique and culturally relevant concessions and retail options.”

 The busiest days

The busiest days for traveling through DFW Airport are generally the Saturday and Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, and the Sunday following Thanksgiving, which is normally the single busiest day for that travel period.  

“Even during the holidays, DFW does not see “crowds” per se, just busier peaks,” Magaña said.  “A weekday travel day in October might see 160-170,000 passengers visit DFW whereas a day during the Thanksgiving travel period might see 190,000, so while it is a 10 to 12 percent jump there are not really “crowds.”

Magaña said it is often the time-of-day versus the actual day that determines when the airport will be busier.

“An airport has rush hours in the morning and late afternoon just like the roads in a city, and thus you have a sense of what times of day are busiest,” Magaña explained. 

Parking at DFW

As for holiday parking, DFW International Airport is hoping to make that easier for holiday travelers too and is offering two different parking promotions during the holidays. The first will be available Thanksgiving week and the second will launch during December. 

And about that much talked about Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) that is in the final phases in Terminal E and Terminal B and is not slated for completion until January 2018. Keep that in mind when traveling to the airport too.

“Our goal is to make the customer experience as smooth and efficient as possible,” said Ken Buchanan, executive vice president of revenue management for DFW Airport. "For the most convenient parking travelers are encouraged to take advantage of our Terminal Parking promotion and we will continue to elevate the overall DFW travel experience with new amenities and updates to make for a delightful trip through DFW.”

Magaña offers these tips to make your holiday travel easier at DFW International Airport this year:

DO: Download the to access tailored information for your journey through DFW, including intuitive wayfinding functionalities, interactive maps, custom flight information, and simple yet powerful search capabilities. The DFW Mobile App (version 3.2.2) now works with Apple Watch and features seven languages, news and weather alerts, enhanced flight search with autocomplete functionality, a geo-enhanced “shops, dine and services” feature, improved parking information, Skylink locators, social media connectors, and overall improved offline use. The DFW Airport Mobile App is available as a free download for Apple iOS and Android mobile devices including smartphones and tablets.

DO: Park closer, faster and smarter by using DFW Parking. With Valet, Terminal, Express and Remote Parking options available, DFW has a choice for every traveler.

DO: Speed through the security process by joining trusted traveler programs such as TSA Pre?® or Global Entry, available from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, respectively. To enroll, visit the TSA or Customs and Border Patrol.

DO NOT: Arrive late to your gate. The Airport recommends arriving two hours prior to your flight departure to ensure ample time to park, check-in, clear security, and arrive at your departure gate.

DO NOT: Bring liquids in carry-on bags that are more than 3 ounces and not packaged in a one-quart bag. Pack lightly, with no more than one bag allowed per person. Remember 3-1-1!

Every year at the corner of Flora and Crockett in Dallas, on the grounds of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe and just across from the Meyerson Symphony Center folks will find a new piece of art on display.  This revolving art is part of the Year on the Plaza art competition by The Catholic Foundation.

The Foundation has been displaying new art at this location for 10 years now and last month local artist Tanya Joiner Slate received the good news that her piece “Trinity River Origami” was chosen to be displayed on the 28-by-9-foot public art wall in The Catholic Foundation Plaza.

The Catholic Foundation hosts the competition each year to select artwork that will draw people into the space to view the art. The art is displayed for one year.

“Tanya Joiner Slate’s captivating mural portrays an inspiring message both to and about the city of Dallas,” said J. Matthew Kramer, President and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “The heart of the Dallas Arts District is a perfect fit for the piece, and we congratulate Tanya for her talent and ability to create meaningful artwork for visitors of The Catholic Foundation Plaza to enjoy.”

Professional artists must be over the age of 18 and live in Texas to qualify. Each artist can submit one original work of art keeping the location of the Plaza in mind.  The artist’s description of the work does not have to be religious, but it must show its relation to the Plaza and Arts District.

This year the Foundation received around 30 submissions and a panel of highly-respected members of the local art community including Father Rudy Garcia, rector of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe; Cindy M. Gummer, owner of The Enchanted Galleries and Katherine Wagner, CEO of the Business Council for the Arts reviewed the submissions and selected the winning piece.

Slates winning piece expresses the artist through mixed media images comprised of acrylic, paper and charcoal. Employing bold color and textured layers, “Trinity River Origami” explores various subject matters interjected with a sense of humor and hope, encouraging the viewer to seek a path of self-evaluation and personal empowerment.

Becoming an artist in the second chapter of her life, Slate said her paintings constitute a rediscovery of who she is and what she has to say.

“A colorful, dreamlike oasis in the heart of the city is what Trinity River Origami will bring to the Plaza and the Arts District,” Slate said adding that her piece was inspired “In celebration of one of the world’s most recognizable skylines and the river on which it sits.  I created this piece to honor Dallas’ resilience and strength in the face of whatever storms may come its way. As the clouds roll off to the East and the setting sun begins to cast a warm, vibrant glow over our beautiful city, the last remaining light of a rainbow arcing over “Big D” gives us hope and reminds us of God’s love and mercy which strengthens us, even if we sometimes feel like fragile boats made of paper attempting to navigate the swollen rivers of life.”

Ben Woitena’s piece entitled “Migration” was selected as an honorable mention in this year’s competition.

The winning pieces from previous years are displayed on plaques on either side of the art wall including a variety of mediums, styles and subject matter. 

The 3,900-square-foot Catholic Foundation Plaza was dedicated in 2006 as a gift from The Catholic Foundation to the Dallas community to commemorate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary.  

For Air Force buffs or folks who just love aviation past and present, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) base’s move to Dallas and its strong preservation attitude regarding the country’s aviation history is definitely worth a visit in the new organizational headquarters.  

In an effort to gain more exposure and position itself to make a larger educational impact, CAF selected Dallas as its new location due to the city’s commitment to tourism, American history and culture, according to Adam Smith, CAF's executive vice-president of strategic development. 

Now, with that move, the next big step for CAF will come the weekend of Oct. 28 with the Wings Over Dallas show, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The show will feature an award-winning re-creation of the surprise attack called TORA! TORA! TORA! using WWII-era aircraft and pyrotechnics to create one big dynamic history lesson.

This will be the first of many such annual events, according to Kim Pardon, CAF B29/B24 Squadron Public Information Officer and Marketing and Media Liaison for the upcoming event.

Pardon said visitors will have an opportunity to see four of the most popular WWII bombers on one ramp. The B-29 Superfortress, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell will all be at the show for tours and rides.

“This is extremely rare to see four in one setting,” Pardon said. “The B-29 and B-24 are each one of only two still flying in the world.” 

Planning for about 10,000 visitors during the three-day event, the show is intended to give a taste of what to expect when the actual CAF interactive museum opens sometime around 2020.

“As part of a wider plan to establish a major new museum/attraction at Dallas Executive Airport (formerly known as Redbird Airport), the CAF has a vision for CAF Wings Over Dallas to become the nation’s preeminent annual World War II themed air show and military reenactment event,” Pardon said. “Flying demonstrations, flight line presentations, battle reenactments, veteran appearances and aircraft tours will provide hands-on opportunities for families and aviation history enthusiasts.”

Friday, Oct. 28, will kick off the event with an education day at the show. Pardon said hundreds of school children are expected to visit the airport that day to participate in aviation related educational activities and watch the flying events.

“CAF Wings Over Dallas will be unique — instead of focusing on a multitude of flying acts, the program is designed to educate and inspire visitors by combining interactive programs that enable the public to experience the sights and sounds of the World War II era,” Pardon explained. “The site will be transformed back to the 1940s with displays on the ground including military vehicles and Home Front exhibits.”

Many World War II veterans and people who contributed to the war effort by working in the Dallas area aircraft factories during the war have been invited to attend the show as well. 

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a nonprofit educational association and is the world’s largest flying museum with more than 12,000 members and a fleet of 165 airplanes distributed to CAF units across the country for their care. The organization has been collecting, restoring and flying World War II aircraft for more than 50 years and nearly all the aircraft are kept in flying condition, enabling people to experience first-hand the sight and sound and stories of vintage military aircraft in flight.

The move to Dallas was part of an overall effort to build an iconic attraction that tells the story of how the American people achieved victory in the air in World War II. 

“Outside of major league sports, air shows are the most attended form of outdoor entertainment in the country, and Dallas is the largest US city that doesn’t have an annual air show,” said Pardon. “So we see a huge market opportunity.” 

WHAT: Wings Over Dallas

WHERE: Dallas Executive Airport, 5303 Challenger Drive, Dallas, Texas

WHEN: October 28 -30, 2016

TICKETS: Save $5 if purchased in advance online at www.wingsoverdallas.org

Adults $15 + handling fee or $20 at the event

Student (12-17) and Active Military with ID $10 + handling fee or $15 at the event

Child (6-11) $5 + handling fee or $10 at the event

Free parking

If you didn’t get enough of Earth Day during the month of April then the Earth Day Texas folks have a sure cure for you that will last all year.  

Earth Day Texas, a nonprofit organization focused on environmental education and awareness, recently launched a signature event series, Earth Day Texas Expeditions (EDTx EXP).  The first event will take place on October 15, 2016 and will allow participants a chance to get to know a local and ecologically significant destination in the state of Texas.

The trips, depending on destination will be either half or full days.

Jerry Hess, CEO of Earth Day Texas said “With the momentum and excitement built by this year's highly attended Earth Day Texas Exposition, the time was right to launch Expeditions. We approached some of our long-term partners and they were enthusiastic about it. We felt that by launching Expeditions, we could facilitate turn-key field trips for the citizens of North Texas and emphasize our mission of environmental education.”

The events will be intimate and immersive experiences according to Hess and will be led by conservation experts who will cover the wildlife, historic background and environmental significance of each destination.

“This program reinforces our mission by focusing on the educational value of exploring and learning about our natural surroundings,” Hess said.

Locations as diverse as Fossil Rim, the Great Seed Bomb, the Trinity River Audubon Center, Groundwork Dallas or this month’s John Bunker Sands Wetland Center are all on the calendar for expedition.   

October’s expedition at John Bunker Sands Wetland Center located on the Rosewood Seagoville Ranch property is just 25 miles outside of Dallas.  It is a 2,000-acre East Fork Wetland Project that also provides education and research opportunities regarding water conservation, wetland systems and wildlife management.

“With all of our trips, we strive to educate the community, which is why all of them will be guided by experts in the field,” said Hess. “We would like to give our explorers a behind-the-scenes look at the unique natural habitats of North Texas. Each one will be different in that we will be physically exploring venues like Texas Lakes, forests, hiking trails and more.”

At this point it is uncertain if the expeditions will be every month or every quarter, but the cost is $35 for the trip in October and that includes lunch.  Registration is open to anyone 18 years and older.

 “We continue to develop new ways to encourage people to think about conservation and environmental quality year-round,” Hess concluded.  “Each trip will be different.  We are reaching out to several potential “hidden gems” around North Texas and coordinating their involvement with Expeditions.”

 To reserve a spot for the October 15, 2016 trip email expeditions@earthdaytx.org.  

For 16 years the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has strived to assure that this type of cancer is not forgotten.  To that end, the annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer will take place this Sunday at the City of Grand Prairie’s Lone Star Park.

Sarah Harris, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter Manager of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition said the Annual Run Walk is the NOCC's signature event.  It is hosted annually by more than 25 NOCC chapters in communities nationwide.

“These events increase awareness, honor those affected by ovarian cancer, and raise crucial funds to support the NOCC's national and local programs and services,” Harris said. “Through these events, the community is empowered, survivors are honored and those lost to the disease are remembered. This spirit continues with the ongoing participation of both groups and teams, even after a loved one is lost.”

Starting in 1998 as the "Walk for a Whisper" 5k Walk/Run, the event has expanded significantly over the years. Harris said the impact made nationwide through the event is staggering with 113,961 people participating over the past 16 years.

Normally the event draws from 1500 to 2000 folks participating each year.

Each year a number of teams participate in a group effort too. The groups are formed in memory of someone the team members know who have passed away or who is still fighting ovarian cancer.  Teams like the Knockouts, participating in memory of their wife/mother/sister/friend, Cindy Bartkoski who started the team in 2007 after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and who died in 2010. The 2016 race will be the tenth year that the Knockouts have participated in the race.

There is also the LaRue Crew for Sue Team, the Bam! What? Team, the CA 125s Team and Irene’s Dream Team, which began in 2009 with the team walking with their mom until she passed away before the 2012 Run/Walk.

“The DFW Chapter usually raises around $200,000 each year,” Harris said adding that this year they hope to reach $250,000. 

“The NOCC's goal is to educate communities and increase awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer,” Harris explained. “The NOCC also provides information to assist newly-diagnosed patients, hope to survivors and support to caregivers.”

The NOCC is also committed to the advancement of ovarian cancer research.

Each year more than 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and over 14,000 women die from the disease, Harris said.

Because these signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer have been described as vague or silent, only approximately 19 percent of ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the early stages. Symptoms typically occur in advanced stages when tumor growth creates pressure on the bladder and rectum, and fluid begins to form.

“Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in later stages, when the prognosis is poor,” Harris said. “However, if diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. That is why it is imperative that the early signs and symptoms of the disease are recognized, not only by women, but by their families and the healthcare community.”

There is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer. The Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer and Harris said until there is a screening test, the key to early diagnosis is awareness and being knowing the subtle symptoms like bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, feeling the need to urinate urgently or often, fatigue, upset stomach or heartburn, back pain, pain during sex and constipation or menstrual changes. If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks it is recommended that the person see a doctor.

Harris encourages folks to come out on Sunday where there will be a booth set up offering ovarian cancer information.

When: Sunday, September 25, 2016

Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. and the event kicks off at 8:00 a.m.

Where: at Lone Star Park, 1000 Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie

For more information visit runwalk.ovarian.org/dallasfortworth