By J.J. Smith. For the first time ever, professional boxing is coming to The Harbor amphitheater in Rockwall.

Six pro bouts are scheduled on the stage this Saturday evening beginning at 8 pm at the “Rock the Box” event.

According to a news release from event promoter Black Glove Promotions, Texas Super Welterweight Champion Charles “The Future” Hatley (11-0, 9 KOs) – a 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate – will box in the main event.

A Texas middleweight title fight is on the card, featuring West Dallas’ own Larry “Slomoshun” Smith (8-1, 6 KO’s).

Also scheduled to appear are 2004 U.S. Olympic alternate, Mark “Too Sharp” Davis (12-0, 4 KO’s) and Greg “The Technician” Hatley, Jr. in his boxing debut.

Sponsored by Hatley Brothers Roofing and Construction, the fund raising event will benefit the Oak Cliff Boxing Club and Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club.

Ticket prices are $40 for ringside, $20 general admission and $10 for children 6 and under. They can be purchased at the gate or by calling 469-324-7187.

By Richard Abshire, The Dallas Morning News. The developer and majority owner of The Harbor in Rockwall has filed for reorganization in federal bankruptcy court.

Rob Whittle said the goal of the Chapter 11 filing is to restructure the development’s mortgage so he can lower rents for retailers.

Things are going well for tenants, except some retail stores, he said. The Harbor, a premier mixed-use development on the Lake Ray Hubbard shore, averages 25,000 visitors a week, more in the summer.

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By J.J. Smith. The company which developed and owns the lakeside entertainment and shopping district in Rockwall called The Harbor has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code.

According to a City of Rockwall news release issued late Tuesday afternoon, the City has been notified that Mariah Bay Leasing Corporation, owned by Rockwall-area residents Rob and Sarah Whittle, filed for reorganization so the company could address their financing issues and “come out of this in a stronger and better position.”

The news release read that “the city has every confidence that the long term prospects for the Harbor as a successful business development in the City of Rockwall are strong and this area will continue to be an asset to the community.”

No one at the City was available to comment since it was past 5 pm.

“The purpose of this Chapter 11 reorganization is to try to get the debt reorganized so retailers can get the rent concessions we need to give them,” said Whittle. “We need an interest rate reduction from the lender so we can pass it on to our tenants.”

Rents advertised in windows of vacant stores at The Harbor have revealed rates as high as $9,700 per month.

He said although some of the retailers are definitely struggling with the down economy, business at the movie theater, restaurants and hotel are “off the charts.”

“Cinemark is having their best year ever. The restaurants are doing spectacular. The Hilton Hotel just had its second best month ever!”

The highly popular weekly Thursday evening lakeside concerts will continue as usual and begin in May, said Sarah Whittle.

He said he is very optimistic that necessary changes can be worked out with the lender, which nowadays has to deal with “a highly-regulated environment.”

According to the City news release, Mariah Bay Leasing Corporation is located in the Harbor Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that was created by the City of Rockwall to fund the public improvements the City constructed at the Harbor, including roads, utilities, spray fountains, walkways and other public enhancements located along the lake edge.

The City issued debt to pay for the public improvements and that debt is paid for through the property and sales taxes that are collected within the TIF.

Mariah Bay is one of 38 property owners that pay property taxes into the TIF, which incorporates 113 acres.  The total property taxes owed to the city under the TIF equals $529,419.  This number includes taxes collected by Rockwall County and pledged to the city for the TIF.  The total collected in the TIF to date equals $300,050.

The Harbor development has paid a total of $256,061.  The property owners still owe a total of $223,063, only a portion of which is owed by Mariah Bay.

“Property taxes are still owed and payable, even in the event of a bankruptcy,” read the news release.

“These dollars will be collected by the city. Sales taxes continue to be paid by the tenants and the businesses will continue to operate.”

Rija Boutique was the latest store to go out of business at The Harbor at the end of January, but the new Dragonfly Asian Grill and Sushi Bar just opened this week. Owner Lorie Price, who already owns two restaurants in Dallas with her husband, says she expects business will be excellent and is excited to be located at The Harbor.

Editorial Opinion by J.J. Smith. I’ve heard a lot of talk around town between people questioning the Rockwall City Council’s 6-0 decision Oct. 19 to invest nearly $1 million dollars into increasing the number of boat docks at The Harbor from the current nine to 35-40.

Construction is expected to be completed during the summer of 2010.

While I’ll admit that I haven’t taken the time to closely review the budget – which I’m about to do – I have to add my voice to those who think a million dollars for more boat docks is a bad idea right now, particularly during this time of economic hardship for so many families and organizations.

I’m personally disappointed with the Rockwall City Council for approving such a measure.

For example, the Rockwall Boys & Girls Club desperately needs $50,000 immediately to just keep its doors open. If the City Council really wants to invest where it’s needed, how about paying that amount and more to put the non-profit organization on better economic footing? Since opening here a couple of years ago, nearly 200 children daily now attend the Club after school. If the Club closes, where will these children go?

National crime statistics show the majority of juvenile crime is committed after school, when many parents are working. The Boys & Girls Club helps prevent crime by offering children a safe place after school to hang out with friends, do their homework, learn about a variety of things, plus develop their talents and interests – with the help of volunteer mentors.

The Club even holds pizza parties and stays open late Fridays until 10 pm, so parents can go out on a date once in a while. That’s good for marriages and might just help prevent some divorces.

Another organization which needs funding is the Women In Need women’s shelter office in Rockwall. An average of five women a day – local domestic violence victims – seek counseling and assistance from WIN’s office in the Helping Hands medical facility. But WIN, based in Greenville, is paying about $50,000 per year to staff and operate it – including paying $500 per month for rent there.

No Rockwall funds are currently used to operate the office, from what I understand from WIN’s Executive Director Roger Robertson. And WIN generates most of its income by operating three resale shops in Greenville.

So Rockwall only has an office for domestic violence victims, thanks to the people who purchase items from Hunt Co. resale shops. That’s crazy! Rockwall can definitely afford to pay for an office to help abuse victims.

And then there’s always Helping Hands, the city’s and county’s designated agency for helping those in need. The food pantry is bare right now. How about taking at least a few thousand dollars to pay for some more food for city residents who are out of work or ill?

Yes, The Harbor probably does need more boat docks, so more boaters can party there during Summer concerts, and so more boaters can eat at restaurants there.

And I probably need to better understand what the City can and can’t do with tax dollars.

But I just think there are many better places to invest Rockwall’s tax dollars right now.

Scott Hoffner, a graduate of the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., joined the restaurant about three weeks ago, after having spent the last 10 years working at restaurants and resorts around the country.

Click here to read this PegasusNews.com story.

One of the largest crowds ever in Rockwall, estimated at nearly 10,000 people, jammed into The Harbor entertainment district last night to celebrate the end of school, beginning of Summer and listen to the popular Blaze of Glory “Bon Jovi Experience” band.

Teens, adults and children were everywhere - laughing, picnicking and dancing at the free concert, sponsored every Thursday by the City of Rockwall’s Parks and Recreation department and several Harbor restaurants through September 24.

Thousands of cars filled The Harbor’s normally ample parking lots, while dozens of drivers could be seen driving around trying desperately to find somewhere to park even an hour after the concert’s 7:30 pm start.

Dozens of boats were anchored together off shore, filled with hundreds of fun-loving people eating, drinking and diving into Lake Ray Hubbard in their bikinis and swim trunks.

Security guards were roaming the area but no trouble was seen, despite numerous people drinking their own alcoholic beverages.

Playing such well-known tunes as “It’s My Life,” “Living On A Prayer” and “Blaze of Glory,” the band rocked on for 90 minutes with no breaks from The Harbor’s outdoor amphitheatre, obviously enjoying the large and friendly crowd.

“All of our concerts have been getting like this,” said Kathy Florey, Rockwall Parks and Recreation Department assistant. 

“It’s getting to be that people are coming from out of town and bringing their friends. The audiences are growing immensely. The word’s out and people are coming from everywhere!”

Next Thursday’s concert will feature the Voodoo Blue band, a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute band, from 7:30 to 9 pm.

Concert-goers must bring their own everything – chairs, blankets, food, drinks and suntan lotion – but it is free!  Food and drinks can also be purchased from the numerous Harbor restaurants. Overnight stays can be reserved at Hilton Bella Harbor Hotel, or five other local motels. 

Better plan on arriving early!

The first annual “Fit Forever” 5K Fun Run, Dog Jog and Kids 5K will be held May 9 in Rockwall benefitting the new Rockwall chapter of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, beginning and ending in the parking lot of title sponsor Eclipse Fitness Club near The Harbor.

Eclipse Fitness is located just north of The Harbor, on the first floor of the large office building overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard.

Approximately 250 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to help raise funds for operating expenses for the new Rockwall FCA chapter, according to FCA representatives.

Registration on site begins at 6 am, and the race begins at 8 am.

Registration is also available online at the fca-dallas website. The entrance fee is $20.

For more info, call Eclipse Fitness Club at 972-772-8314.

Every weekend across Dallas-Ft. Worth, thousands of men, women and children of all ages flock outdoors to run, jog and walk at marathons, 5Ks and fun runs at locations frequently near a lake.

Now, because there is no running club associated with Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall’s Eclipse Fitness Club is starting the first and only running club on the fast-growing east side of Dallas.

The Club is located right on the shoreline of Lake Ray Hubbard, just north of The Harbor.

Formerly the Larry North Fitness Club, Eclipse Fitness is owned and operated by general manager Frizz Poe and nationally-certified director of training Scott Moerschell.

According to its new owners, Eclipse is an elite club which caters primarily to upscale, professionals who want the personal touch with lots of amenities for reasonable, all-inclusive prices and no long-term contracts.

Only the best, most popular equipment is used, kept always in top working order, they said.

Since recently purchasing the modern, spacious facility, with huge rear windows overlooking scenic Lake Ray Hubbard, the new owners have been looking forward to warmer weather when they could add more outdoor programs and become more involved in the Rockwall community.

Beginning in May, they will start a Rockwall Running Club, coordinated by Melissa Corporon, a personal trainer and group fitness professional who’s worked at Eclipse for the past six years.

Corporon said she already started coordinating the 50-member running club elsewhere in Rockwall last year, but has now decided to reorganize it as an Eclipse Fitness Club program instead.

Its purpose is to unite runners of every level of ability, promote good health, friendship and camaraderie, plus support charitable causes. She said the club will host a social run weekly, plus schedule a fun run and charitable event to enter each month.

Running club members need not belong to Eclipse Fitness Club, but will receive a discount if they are. Member fees will cost as little as $20 per year.

To help promote its new running club, Eclipse Fitness will be the title sponsor of the first annual “Fit Forever” 5K Fun Run, Dog Jog and Kids K May 9^th, which benefits the new Rockwall County chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

FCA is the largest Christian sports organization in America, which promotes Christianity to students and coaches through athletic activities.

According to Poe and Moershell, they chose to be title sponsors of the event because the timing was perfect for introducing Eclipse’s Rockwall running club to FCA members, as well as to the general public, and because it’s a generally good cause.

The public is invited to participate and join with the 250 expected athletes, coaches, teachers, parents, business owners and family members who are involved with FCA, according to FCA area representative Jeff Jacobs.

The event will start and end in the Eclipse Fitness Center parking lot, which is located just north of The Harbor, in the large office building which looks like the other Harbor buildings.

The entrance fee is $20 and participants can register online at www.fcadallas.org or on event day, beginning as early as 6 a.m. The fun run begins at 8 am.

 “Holding this event in our parking lot allows us to kick off promotion for our running club, plus promote several more new outdoor programs including our weekly moonlight yoga by the lake, outdoor volleyball, kayaking on the lake, plus our fantastic lakeside boot camps on the grass led by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders fitness instructor Jay Johnson,” said Poe and Moerschell.

Johnson is a former U.S. Army boot camp sergeant, who is one of the nation’s foremost leaders in fitness and motivation. He’s been featured in Muscle and Fitness magazine and a variety of TV programs. 

Jay Johnson’s Boot Camp Fitness is a results-driven conditioning program that runs three times a week (or more) for four weeks, at 60-minute durations per session, according to Moerschell.

“He conducts the program outdoors on the grass, right next to the lake, utilizing a military-style format, coupled with the most progressive, innovative, and creative exercises in fitness.”

Boot Camp Fitness workouts include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular, speed and endurance, partner resistance, strength training with log drills, dumbbells, barbells, tractor tires, and fire hose.

“We expand your fitness horizons with fitness games, sandbag relays, SUV push, scavenger hunts, stretcher races, group challenges, wheelbarrow races and kickboxing,” said Johnson.

“We also include medicine ball drills, plyometrics, box drills, fartlets, obstacle course, guerilla drills, grass drills, plus 20 versions of the military standard push-up and sit up.”

Boot Camp Fitness provides the intensity of a personal training session with the motivation from a group environment, at a fraction of the cost.

By co-sponsoring the race, Eclipse Fitness is also able to become more involved in the community, a goal the new owners have had for some time. Moerschell has spoken to community groups across Texas for years, been a regular on talk radio programs, and wants to speak more across Rockwall County. Topics include good health, nutrition, weight loss and fitness.  

For more information about the running club, new membership or speakers for your organization, call Eclipse Fitness Club, 972-772-8314, or visit online at: www.eclipserockwall.com.

The first event of the 2009 City of Rockwall “Concerts By The Lake” series will take place April 16 at The Harbor amphitheater, after the Rockwall City Council voted recently to double the number of free concerts to provide more free entertainment for Rockwall County families affected by the nation’s recent economic downturn.

The Mars Hill Band will return to Rockwall to kick off the now Spring and Summer concert series, beginning at 7:30 pm, at The Harbor, 2047 Summer Lee Dr.

For a complete schedule of concerts, visit the City of Rockwall’s Parks and Recreation Department’s website and click on the concert schedule.

Concerts will continue through Sept. 24.

The concerts are sponsored by the City of Rockwall, as well as three restaurants all located at The Harbor - Dodie’s Seafood, Gloria’s Salvadoran/Tex-Mex and Ruby Tuesday’s American Dining.

Concert-goers are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on, plus  their own food and beverages, as long as they throw away their trash afterward.