Thousands of free Thanksgiving meals served across El Paso

EL PASO, Texas – A warm Thanksgiving meal, with plenty of seconds, means a lot to Anthony Sharp and his son A.J.

Sharp has hit some tough times, and is out of work. He said he’s grateful the Salvation Army opened its doors.

"This meal is something that I could not prepare myself without the proper equipment or the proper funding. Without the salvation army, this would just be another day for us," Sharp said. "It’s just — it’s more than words can say."

The Salvation Army provided free Thanksgiving meals to over 500 people on Thursday.

"They’ve helped me to reestablish footing in life with food and clothing and shelter," Sharp said.

Similarly, the City of El Paso helped feed those who are less fortunate. Organizers said they estimated they fed 4,000 people at the Thanksgiving luncheon held at the Convention Center.

"It was my wife’s idea to give something back to the El Paso community on thanksgiving day. Rather than staying at home and cooking turkey with our family, we found a way to feed the homeless and the needy," former mayor John Cook said.

Eric Massingill went to the luncheon with his wife and parents.

"I’m actually grateful that the community here is opening their heart for everybody that — if maybe they don’t have a place to call home or go to their own home and make their own turkey dinner," Massingill said.

Jalisco Cafe, a Mexican restaurant in the Segundo Barrio neighborhood, continues its 14-year tradition of offering free meals for Thanksgiving.

"We give something back to the community because a lot of people here, it’s a poor neighborhood," owner Hector Chavez said. "A lot of people don’t have the means or the ways to cook Thanksgiving dinner. It’s something I just like to give back to the community."

Chavez said in his first year, he only cooked three turkeys. He prepared 35 turkeys for this Thursday.

"I’ve been cooking for the last two days," Chavez said.

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El Paso’s Sparta set to play first hometown show in nearly 5 years

(Photo: Times file)

It’s official: Sparta is back.

The longtime El Paso alternative-rock band announced Monday that it will perform Dec. 16 at Tricky Falls, 209 S. El Paso St. It will be Sparta’s first hometown concert in nearly five years.

The concert is a benefit for the El Paso Community Foundation. Tickets for the concert are free and may be reserved beginning at noon Wednesday at trickyfalls.com.

Donations will be accepted at the event.

"I’m excited to continue working with the El Paso Community Foundation to use live music, which I love dearly, to raise money for our community," Jim Ward, a member of Sparta and a board member of the El Paso Community Foundation, said in a news release. "Our hope is to continue developing a program that balances music and charity to benefit multiple areas of need in the El Paso/Juarez area."

Sparta, led by El Paso musician and business-owner Ward, was formed in 2001 when the critically acclaimed El Paso group At the Drive-In splintered into two camps. Ward, guitarist Paul Hinojos and drummer Tony Hajjar formed Sparta’s original lineup, later adding fellow El Pasoan Matt Miller on bass. Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez formed the group The Mars Volta.

Sparta enjoyed its own critical and fan success, releasing three albums, "Wiretap Scars," "Porcelain" and "Threes," between 2002 and 2006. In 2008, the group went on hiatus, with Ward focusing on his alt-country group Sleepercar and solo work.

On Monday, Sparta released its first new music since 2012. The new single, "Graveyard Luck," is available for purchase on iTunes and on streaming services such as Apple Music.

The band is currently made up of Ward, Miller, guitarist Gabriel Gonzalez, and drummer Cully Symington.

El Paso band Emily Davis and the Murder Police will open the concert.

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com; @Chuy_Vuitton on Twitter.

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Renowned pianist Dzmitry Ulasiuk to perform in El Paso

Renowned pianist Dzmitry Ulasiuk, from Belarus, will give a series of concerts and lectures Tuesday through Thursday in El Paso.

The series includes two free concerts, which are open to the public, Wednesday. Ulasiuk will give a lecture-recital on composer and pianist Aleksandr Scriabin from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fox Fine Arts Center, Room 140, on the University of Texas at El Paso campus; and will perform works by Chopin, Ravel and Scriabin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 5005 Love Road.

Ulasiuk has performed internationally as a soloist and is the winner of several international piano competitions. He is currently the official staff accompanist for the International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival piano competition, held in Fort Collins, Colo.

Ulasiuk is known for his passionate performances, musicality and lyricism, as well as his embodiment of Russian piano techniques.

Ulasiuk also will give master classes and perform for Coronado High students Tuesday, followed by a private recital later that evening. On Thursday, Ulasiuk will give a presentation on teaching techniques for El Paso Music Teachers Association members and give master classes and a minirecital for students at Franklin High.

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com; @Chuy_Vuitton on Twitter.

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