It’s been five years in the remaking, but the Museum of Biblical Art–the collection formerly known as the Biblical Arts Center–will host a ribbon cutting this Friday for its new building. The original building was destroyed in a 2005 fire that damaged and destroyed nearly all of its artwork. Miracle at Pentecost, Torger Thompson’s 124-foot long mural for which the nonprofit that runs the museum is named, was the first thing to catch fire and was completely destroyed.

Co-director and curator Scott Peck said the museum, the only of its kind in the country, had to start from scratch. The exterior walls, which were the one thing the fire left undamaged, were reused, but the interior was gutted.  Out of the 2,500 pieces of art that were in the museum, Peck estimates that 2 percent have been restored.

That said, Peck is optimistic about the fresh start. The most obvious change is the golden ziggurat atop the building, which is based on the biblical pyramids of Ur in modern-day Iraq. A room dedicated to the restoration of art damaged in the fire has glass windows so visitors can watch conservators at work. And the museum had added several new galleries devoted to African American and Hispanic religious art, Jewish art, religious architecture, and biblical archaeology which, with a recent surge in interest, is ”going gangbusters,” Peck said.  Before the fire, the Miracle at Pentecost painting was the focal point of the museum, Peck said. Now, it has several.

Despite the changes, Peck said the museum’s mission is the same it’s always been–to show biblically themed art, regardless of denominational, religious, or cultural origen.

Following Friday’s 11 a.m. ribbon cutting, the museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is, as always, free.

And speaking of new beginnings, the museum hosts weddings in its banquet hall. It’s already been booked for every Saturday through the end of 2010.

Zale Foundation president Lenny Krasnow, Hoblitzelle Foundation president Paul Harris, Dallas Public Library director Laurie Evans, District 6 Councilman Steve Salazar, and District 103 State Representative Rafael Anchia by Bachman Lake Library’s new sign.

The Bachman Lake Branch Library is one of the nicer Dallas Public Library branches I’ve been to. Opened in September of 2008, it still has that new-library feel, huge windows, lots of plugs for laptops, and an awesome selection of DVDs. But, a year-and-a-half after its debut, it still seemed that something was missing.

No longer. Last night, following the monthly meeting of the Municipal Library Board, the keystone was finally put in place: a new digital sign along Webb Chapel Road. I couldn’t make it, but District 13 Municipal Library Board member Tim McMullin-Sullivan was kind enough to send along some pictures of the unveiling. Councilman Steve Salazar, State Representative Rafael Anchia, Hoblitzelle Foundation president and CEO Paul Harris joined Dallas Public Library director Laurie Evans and the MLB for the dedication.

The Jesuit soccer team rallied to beat rival Flower Mound Marcus, 2-1, in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal on Tuesday night at Lewisville’s Goldsmith Stadium.

Mark Daus scored the game-winning goal on a header with a little more than four minutes left in the game.

With the win, Jesuit (21-0-0) advanced to the regional semifinals to take on El Paso Coronado at 5 p.m. Friday at Midland’s Grande Communications Stadium. Coronado blanked Arlington Martin, 3-0, on Tuesday.

The winner of Friday’s game will take on the Southlake Carroll-El Paso Bel Air winner in Saturday’s Region I final, which is scheduled for 3 p.m.

It’s not quite a new phenomenon–colleague Joanna England wrote about several incidents in the Park Cities in November–but the trend has migrated west to the Devonshire and Briarwood areas. Thieves, it seems, have taken to taking the side mirrors from high-end SUVs–late model Chevrolet/GMCs Cadillac Escalades. Four vehicles were hit the night of Jan. 20 in a six-block radius in Devonshire. Then a lull. But over the weekend, things seemed to pick back up again with two Tahoes, one in Devonshire, one in Briarwood. To be clear, these aren’t your grandmother’s side mirrors (unless of course your grandmother drives a 2009 Chevy Tahoe). Many are fully electric, heated, with blinkers on the side. And they can cost up to $800 to replace, according to police reports. Seems like a lucrative business: With all these mirrors being stolen, there ought to be a growing market for replacements.

Congratulations to Providence Christian School students Brandes Woodall, of Highland Park, and Henry Webb, of Preston Hollow, who read 14,287 minutes and 12,413 minutes, respectively, making them the top readers at the school’s 20th annual Reading Rally fundraiser. Providence students completed a month of reading 1,239,197 minutes for the event, which raised more than $85,000 for the school’s scholarship fund. Way to go!

Congratulations to Providence Christian School students Brandes Woodall, of Highland Park, and Henry Webb, of Preston Hollow, who read 14,287 minutes and 12,413 minutes, respectively, making them the top readers at the school’s 20th annual Reading Rally fundraiser. Providence students completed a month of reading 1,239,197 minutes for the event, which raised more than $85,000 for the school’s scholarship fund. Way to go!

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Preston Hollow resident Roger Staubach will take time out of his duties as North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee chair to throw out the first pitch prior to the Texas Rangers’ opening day game against Toronto one week from today.

Some other Cowboys legends who have thrown out the first pitch for opening day include: Tom Landry, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith.

Congratulations to Providence Christian School students Henry Webb, of Preston Hollow, and Brandes Woodall, of Highland Park, for reading 1.2 million minutes during the school’s 20th annual Reading Rally fundraiser, which raised more than $85,000 for its scholarship fund. The students were among the top 10 readers in their respective grade levels. Way to go!

Jesuit junior Jordan Spieth finished fifth with a 282 (67-72-72-71) at the 62nd Azalea Invitational on Sunday in Charleston, S.C.

Spieth, who has committed to the University of Texas, shot even par or better in all four rounds. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo also played in the tournament, and I heard on The Ticket last week that Spieth was actually staying with Romo, who did not finish in the top 63.

I’m thinking maybe Tony might need some golf tips from Jordan.