2016 September Lake Highlands

The Pet Issue POTENTIAL

28

FOUND HOUND

IN THIS ISSUE

18

WHAT’S SUP

LEARN TO PADDLEBOARD RIGHT HERE IN THE ‘HOOD.

22

TACO DINNERS

FRANK’S FAMILY ADDS A SPECIAL INGREDIENT, LOVE, TO THE MENU.

54

HEADS UP, POKEMON PLAYERS

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MOBILE GAMERS ATTRACTED CRIME.

40 BIG IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS: WHAT NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY DOES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD NONPROFITS.

42 WATER WILDLIFE

‘THE FROG LADY’ AND OTHER LOW-PROFILE MONITORS OF AMBHIBIANS AND OTHER NOCTERNAL CREATURES.

55 FAIR (PARK) FIGHT

COLUMNIST ANGELA HUNT EXPLAINS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY.

Making sure every dog has his day. (Photo of Coco by Danny Fulgencio)

ON THE COVER: Gatsby the foster dog. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

13

FLY FLY FREE BIRD

HOW ONE GROUP IS UPPING ITS EFFORTS TO SAVE AILING OWLS, HAWKS AND OTHER LOCAL BIRDS OF PREY.

“People have gotten offended. They tell me they don’t want to see dead dogs in their [Facebook] feed. But we have gotten more and more rescuers by showing what is really going on.”

IN EVERY ISSUE

Marina Tarashevska, founder of Dallas DogRRR page 28

Erich Neupert rehabs and releases wild birds. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

Navigating the future.

RETIREMENT ADVISORS OF AMERICA

John Bentley | President and CEO

John Bentley oversees a wealth management firm with a very clear focus – helping airline crewmembers and their families plan for the future. When his company recently had the opportunity to broaden its horizons, he needed a banking partner who could see his vision. John turned to LegacyTexas, because a bank willing to go the extra mile is one he can count on for the long haul.

WHAT’S YOUR LEGACY?

WORTH SAVING

KNOWING WHAT TO KEEP MIGHT BE A MOM SUPERPOWER

Those “hoarder” shows on television are something, aren’t they?

The lifestyle is both fascinating and frightening: What people save, and why they save it, sometimes stretches the boundaries of sanity.

I bring this up because I just returned from a trip to my childhood home, a Minnesota farm where my parents lived for 57 years. The time had come to move them to a place that doesn’t require maintenance and snow-shoveling, a place with a single closet as opposed to four huge farm storage buildings. It was time to go through a half-century of “treasures” one final time.

Somewhere along the line, Mom made a conscious but frequently questioned decision: She decided to save everything — gloves and caps we wore at age 10 during our 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily cattle-feeding shifts. Ancient snowmobile suits. Dusty rain boots. All hanging on the same hooks we last hung them on 30 or 40 or 50 years ago.

And the closets in our bedrooms — I kid you not when I tell you that I could model my entire 10th grade wardrobe right now. Mom saved everything, “just in case.”

Mom always talked reverentially about “the grainery,” a farm building ostensibly built to hold oats and wheat between harvest and sale. Every time she mentioned the grainery, my sisters and I cringed: The building had become little more than a dusty, rodent-scented black hole, a place where Mom kept her most precious things in boxes and bags.

Trips to visit us in Texas always involved the interstate transfer of goods from the grainery. My first typewriter from college turned up. My report card from second grade. The first Polaroid camera I received for

Christmas, along with the first tiny black-and-white instant photos that popped out of it.

“Why keep all of this stuff?” we asked Mom over the years.

Even Dad joined in the chorus: “Mother, no one wants any of that stuff.”

So it was on my last trip up the grainery’s wood steps, Mom unable to supervise due to back woes. And on a final search-or-forever-destroy mission, I scrounged through her treasures.

There was my original G.I. Joe, lovingly packed in a re-sealable freezer bag and wearing the brightly colored and definitely not Army-issued pajamas my mom sewed for him. There was an old yellow Tonka truck I played with daily as a kid. There were boxes of green plastic soldiers that many times over helped me protect the United States from foreign incursion.

I laughed out loud at what she had saved. I remembered every one of those things — each took me back to when the only thing on my “to do” list was to have fun.

And it was at that point I realized something that eluded me all of these years: I imagine every trip to the grainery reminded Mom of those long-ago days, too, back when her hair was dark, her skin was smooth and the days ahead seemed endless.

It took me until this last trip to our farm, sadly sifting through 57 years of tangible memories, to realize the singular difference between Mom and the TV hoarders.

She saved that stuff not for herself but for us. It was her way of making sure we remembered where we came from and who we are.

Thanks for not listening to us all of those years, Mom.

Rick Wamre

is president of Advocate Media. Let him know how we are doing by emailing rwamre@advocatemag.com.

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contributing photographers: Rasy Ran, Kathy Tran

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Advocate, © 2016, is published monthly by East Dallas – Lakewood People Inc. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Opinions set forth in the Advocate are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s viewpoint. More than 200,000 people read Advocate publications each month. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one copy per reader. Advocate was founded in 1991 by Jeff Siegel, Tom Zielinski and Rick Wamre.

Wendy Lucas | Peggy Hill | Kay Wheeler

IT WOULD BE HARD TO IMAGINE A BETTER TENANT FOR THAT SPACE — IN TERMS OF HELPING TO REVITALIZE OTHER RETAIL SPACES THAT ARE NEARBY. PLEASE GIVE THEM SOME BUSINESS ONCE THEY OPEN,”

CHINESE NAVY ON ‘IT’S HAPPENING: ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE IS COMING.’

“Oh, so they were ‘just being nice?’ Because who doesn’t feel altruistic in 103-degree weather and start trimming trees just for the heck of it”

KEVIN BITTICK ON ‘ILLEGAL TREE-TRIMMING REPORTED NEAR WHITE ROCK LAKE’

FREE BIRDS

RESCUING WINGED CREATURES OF THE URBAN WILD, AND LETTING THEM FLY

There’s an old story that mother birds will ignore baby birds if they are touched by humans. That’s not true.

The best thing to do with a baby bird is to leave it alone if it doesn’t look injured, or you can put it back in the nest.

“The nest is the best,” so says

Erich Neupert, who grew up around the Mecca of ornithology: Cornell University.

These wise words are but a taste of the smorgasbord of knowledge in his head.

His grandmother, he says, is called the First Lady of Birding at the Ivy Leaguer because of the work

she did with Peter Paul Kellogg and Doc Allen, founders of the institution’s ornithology school.

When Neupert was a child his grandmother still worked at Cornell.

“I spent lots of time there learning and studying,” Neupert says of his upstate New York upbringing.

“She introduced me to

This 2-year-old screech owl is about to be released in our neighborhood after a stint at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. ( Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

Neupert says. “She put something in me about birds, and now here I am running a raptor center.”

The White Rock area resident now brings that education and spirit to North Texas as the executive director of the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. It is the only raptor center in North Texas and works with more than 30 raptor species.

Neupert frees raptors all around our city, but White Rock Lake serves as one of the most popular release locations for rehabilitated birds of prey, he says. The lake is a perfect environment for screech owls, great horned owls, Cooper’s hawks and red shouldered hawks. Which is great news for the surrounding area, he adds.

“Raptors are the best natural pest control.” Especially screech owls, whose favorite foods include large cockroaches, sometimes called waterbugs, a common sight in north Texas.

“Whenever I tell people that, they’re excited to hear we release screech owls in the area,” he says. But cockroaches aren’t the only pests on the menu.

“Raptors are a top predator on

the food web. They eat rats, snakes, mice, rabbits, some squirrels. The smaller ones eat insects. Their job is they kind of help keep some of that in balance.”

And balance is critical. Neupert says the best outcome is to return animals to where they are found, but that doesn’t always work. Blackland Prairie has a computer program that tracks all their releases and notifies them before an area is oversaturated with raptors.

“If we put them all in one area it wouldn’t be good for the area or the birds,” he says.

So far this year the center has seen more than 235 raptors come through and has released 17 screech owls around White Rock Lake. More are coming soon because quite a few of the small owls are still being treated. Birds you might spot at White Rock include two great horned owls, two Cooper’s hawks and two red shouldered hawks, all released by Neupert and Blackland Prairie.

In 2004 Neupert joined Blackland Prairie as a volunteer, along with five others. Two years later he was asked to take over operations.

“I wanted to see how we could grow and expand.”

At the time it wasn’t much more than an outreach effort. Today, they host 200 programs a year, have 14 educational birds to display and this year, they’re open to the public the first Saturday of every month and they’ve added a temporary raptor hospital.

“It’s getting quite busy,” Neupert says of the facility. “Just today we’ve received seven raptors and there’s another one on the way.”

The center also moved to an endangered Blackland Prairie north of Dallas, changing its name to honor the tall grass that used to cover more than 23,500 square miles of Texas from the Red River to San Antonio.

Overall plans for the center include an education facility, interpretive trails through native Blackland Prairie, demonstration gardens with native species and the creation of a raptor rehabilitation center.

The rehabilitation center will be tackled next, Neupert says. It will include a permanent hospital with a surgical center and will be capable of housing up to 900 raptors at once.

Erich Neupert prepares to release a recently rehabilitated screech owl near White Rock Lake, a popular release point. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio) ornithology,”

“It will make us one of the larger [centers] in the country.”

The permanent rehabilitation center is crucial because injured birds arrive for a variety of reasons. However, the most common reason the center receives calls, especially from our neighborhood, is due to baby birds found on the ground.

“Now, most of the time, those birds are fine. They’re just learning to fly and they don’t need our help,” he says. “We call them orphans, even though they aren’t truly orphans.”

The center also sees raptors that have flown into windows or get hit by cars. Some are sick after eating a rat or mouse that has ingested rat poison. Others, Neupert says, are even shot at, which is illegal. Birds also come in with second-degree burns on their feet because of fertilizer that has been left on lawns. Neupert says it happens when the fertilizer isn’t watered correctly.

“That takes about a month, once we get a bird in with those kind of burns, to get them off.”

If a bird has been injured like that, the center tries to find a new area to release them, keeping them out of harm’s way.

“We do a lot of scouting to find good areas for birds,” he says. “They’re part of a balanced ecosystem. It’s important that they’re out there.”

To learn more or to volunteer, visit bpraptorcenter.org. Or give to Blackland Prairie on North Texas Giving Day — see p. 40.

—STEVE DICKERSON

“Raptors are the best natural pest control.”

&

PET PATROL

RUSTY here escaped a shelter death only narrowly, thanks to the SHAW FAMILY of Lake Highlands. The spike-haired mutt had been in the pound for some three months, and it was nearing the end of the day at his final adoption event — that’s when ANDY, wife JUDY and son SAM spotted him. “He had spent so much of his first year locked up, he came to us with kind of a jailhouse mentality,” Andy Shaw says. “The obedience school instructor called him ‘Wild Child,’ and every evening I took him to a class I feared it would be the night they’d expel us.” It all worked out, though. “His loyalty, affection, guard-dog instinct and love of people was never in question,” Andy says. These days Rusty often is seen sitting shotgun as Andy works his volunteer neighborhood crime watch shifts. On patrol Rusty reportedly remains “vigilant, perched high with his head outside the window the whole time.”

WHAT GIVES?

People and nonprofits making a difference

MUSIC FOR THE MASSES ...

The Dallas Chamber Symphony’s innovative programming, community engagement and mission to “enrich people’s lives by sharing in the discovery, creation, exploration and enjoyment of great music” earned the nonprofit a hefty grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. The NEA announced last month that it recommends an award of $50,000 as part of its “Our Town” initiative to fund performances in urban spaces across the country. Lake Highlands resident Robin Korevaar is the Dallas Chamber Symphony’s development associate, and she has written many of its grant applications, including this one. She says she believes her 25-year residency in Dallas gives her an excellent perspective on our city’s unique needs.

“We successfully programmed a summer music series at the Bridge homeless recovery center, and I am also coordinating the ‘Our Town’ grant in order to help connect people with live music downtown, utilizing rapid transit, and to bring music to underserved people in locations like Parkland Hospital.” This effort — called “Taking it to the Streets” — launches next month (with a Klyde Warren Park simulcast of the film “Sunrise” featuring a score by Joe Kraemer), and it continues through 2018. It will feature some 20 performances including free concerts in downtown spaces and around the city.The NEA received 240 applications for “Our Town” grants and awarded 64 organizations across the country between $25,000 and $100,000. “Projects such as the one led by the Dallas Chamber Symphony help residents engage the arts to spark vitality in their communities,”

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said in the press release announcing the grant. For times and places of “Taking it to the Streets” and other Dallas Chamber Symphony events or to volunteer or get involved, visit dcsymphony.org, or contribute to this organization on North Texas Giving Day (more about NTGD on p. 40).

KNOW OF WAYS that neighbors can benefit a neighborhood nonprofit? Email your suggestion to launch@advocatemag.com.

WHO NEEDS AN OCEAN?

AT PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE NORTH, we’re creating new ways to help you make each day better than the one that came before it. A new Lifestyle Fitness Center and Spa, Café and wellness programs. New villas for independent living. New residences offering health services, too. Martins Landing and Leonard Rose apartments are set to open this year. Don’t wait to reserve. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a future this bright.

Tyler Marshall treads out shortly before the group’s trek across White Rock Lake. (Photo by Rasy Ran)

STAND UP PADDLE BOARDERS CRUISE WHITE ROCK LAKE

Of late at White Rock Lake, you can spot something you might not be accustomed to seeing on a smooth-surfaced body of water: surfers. A group of stand up paddle boarders (SUP) — basically surfers with an oar — have been taking advantage of local waters.

Tyler Marshall, the man behind the paddle boarding events and the proprietor of DFW Surf, is one of the early SUP pioneers in north Texas.

“We’ve been doing this since 2007, so almost 10 years,” Marshall says.

Recently his paddle boarding crew started hosting meet-ups in conjunction with the Dallas Arboretum’s Cool Thursday Concert Series.

Marshall says it’s a chance to learn how to paddle, “but it’s free to the public, so everyone’s welcome.”

Initially Marshall had plans to

hold larger events at the lake and charge admission, but the city never approved the idea.

Despite the prohibition of large and potentially profitable paddleboarding events, the small weekly meet-ups continue. Marshall says they are designed to be newuser friendly.

People just need to show up ready to get into the lake, Marshall says.

“A lot of people ask, ‘Hey, what do I wear?’ All you need is normal outdoor activity or swimsuit apparel,” Marshall says. “But there’s no swimming in White Rock so if you do fall in you have to get right back on the board. Everything else is taken care of. We have all the equipment and instructors and everything.”

All first timers are asked to show up early, at least 30 minutes, to learn the basics before getting on the water. A tour of the lake begins

at 7 p.m. before returning around sunset at 8:30 p.m.

Marshall says getting people out on the water together — first timers or otherwise — is about creating a communal event. That goal is seeing some success in its early days: Each week about half of the attendees are new to SUP.

And SUP events in north Texas in general have been on the rise.

“There’s a huge Texas paddle racing series. There are going to be about 10 races in Texas this year,” Marshall says. “It’s getting a lot bigger. It’s grown from about 50 to 100 or 150 people racing, depending on the race.”

In addition to the meet-ups, Marshall and his crew teach beginner and intermediate classes, SUP yoga and surf classes.

For more information visit Marshall’s website, DFWsurf.com.

—STEVE DICKERSON

Sept. 7

‘FIGHT CLUB’

Catch this cult classic when it returns to the big screen for one night only. The film version of the Chuck Palahniuk book stars Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. Studio Movie Grill, 11170 N. Central Expressway, 214.361.2966, studiomoviegrill.com, $3

Sept 8-24

‘NIGHT MOTHER’

Echo Theater opens its 19th season with this Pulitzer-Prize-winning play. It features guest director Christi Vela and Dallas-based actors Amber Devlin and Jessica Cavanagh.

The Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther, 214.904.0500, dallasculture.org/bathhouseculturecenter, $10-$30

Sept. 8-29

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The Jewish Community Center of Dallas and the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs bring us a month of films at three theaters in our area. The showcase includes documentaries and narrative features, all focused on issues related to Judaism. Take “Fire Birds,” a thriller about a detective trying to solve a murder that leads him into a secret society of Holocaust survivors, which won 10 Ophir Awards. Various locations, 214.739.2737, jccdallas.org, $12 per screening or $100 for a film festival pass

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 16

BUDDY MONDLOCK

You may not know his name, but you have likely heard his music, most notably his song “The Kid” that was recorded by David Wilcox, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Cry, Cry, Cry. Buddy Mondlock has written songs for the likes of Janice Ian and Guy Clark, and brings his own musical showcase for an 8 p.m. performance. Kevin So will open. Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, 9555 N. Central Expressway, 214.363.0044, unclecalvins.org, $15-$18

Sept. 16-Oct. 23

‘SEUSSICAL’

All of Dr. Seuss’ most beloved characters, from Cat in the Hat to Horton the Elephant, share one stage in this beloved musical. Performances run Friday through Sunday, with an ASL performance on Sept. 25 and a sensory friendly show on Oct. 15. Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.740.0051, dct.org, $22-$28

Sept. 17

BATMAN DAY

Celebrate the long-lasting legacy of the Dark Knight during this fun literary event. There will be trivia, coloring and more at 2 p.m. Barnes & Noble Lincoln Park, 7700 W. Northwest Highway, 214.739.1124, barnesandnoble.com, free

Sept. 20

‘MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS’

Head over to the library for a lively performance from the Dallas Children’s Theater at 3:30 p.m. The African tale looks at concepts of beauty, inside and out, and is suitable for those ages 7 and up.

Audelia Library, 10045 Audelia Road, dallaslibrary.org, 214.670.1350, free

Sept. 30

PUMPKIN VILLAGE

It might not feel like it yet, but it’s pumpkin season. Catch the 1-acre Pumpkin Village featuring America’s favorite squash at the Dallas Arboretum.

Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland, 214.515.6500, dallasarboretum.org, free with admission

Delicious

Frank’s Taco Grill menu items can also be ordered in a bowl for those hoping to avoid the carbs. (Photo by Kathy Tran)

FRANK’S TACO GRILL

Francisco “Frank” Salinas was a Lake Highlands dad who saw a need he knew he could fill. He knew all to well what it was like to try to squeeze a healthy, but quick, meal in between work, school and all of those extra-curricular activities.

“The convenience factor is a big thing,” Salinas says. “When you have kids, you get tired of fast food, but then you go to restaurants, and you find you’re paying too much. We’re shooting to be there in the middle — better than fast food but at price points that aren’t going to break you.”

This summer he opened Frank’s Taco Grill, a new eatery on Upper Greenville that is aimed at families who are short on time and not looking to break the bank. With tacos under $5 a piece,

served in a wide variety of styles, they seem to be hitting the mark. A rolled chicken taco, made with freshly prepared shredded chicken that’s deep fried in a tortilla and slathered with avocado cream sauce, will only set you back $1.25. At the top price point on the menu, you’ll find an herb-garlic shrimp taco served with lime cabbage and salsa for $3.99.

“We’re focusing a great deal on working people,” Salinas says.

Salinas has worked in restaurants before, but this is the first one he’s owned. He’s making it a family affair. Stop by and you’re likely to see his wife, Claudia, behind the counter and at least one of his three children working as well.

The restaurant also offers breakfast daily and catering for larger parties. In a rush? You can skip the line by calling in your order. And all items are made to order, so if you want to leave off the cabbage or add cheese, all you have to do is ask.

FRANK’S TACO GRILL

7033 Greenville Ave., suite 101 214.987.1704

frankstacogrill.com

AMBIANCE : Family friendly PRICE RANGE: $1.25-$4 (per taco)

HOURS: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

DID YOU KNOW: Tacos can be ordered four different ways: classic, rolled, wrapped or in a bowl.

LUNCHBOX SEASON IS BACK

Summers are made up of late nights, no routine and a lot of tiresome fun, and it is not always easy getting back into the school routine. For me, the early mornings are the hardest part. Getting everyone up, dressed, fed a nutritious breakfast, lunches packed and out the door on time can be a challenge.

dining SPOTLIGHT

Another Broken Egg Cafe

It’s our passion to create exceptional dishes for breakfast, brunch and lunch that are “craveably” delicious with an artisanal flair.

504 Bar & Grill

Check out our website for Daily Specials and Special Events

• Open for Lunch • 16 Big Screen TV’s

• Happy Hour 11am-7pm

• Private Room Available

• Voted Top 5 Brunch Spot by Dallas Morning News

• Plenty of Free Parking • Kid-Friendly

Haute Sweets Patisserie

Treat yourself & the ones you love with the finest desserts, French Macarons, cookies, cakes & more. Award-winning chefs bring premium restaurant quality treats right to our neighborhood. Paleo & Gluten-free available.

Mon-Fri: 9:00am-7:00pm Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm

Nature’s Plate

Plant-based meals, snacks, and treats to go!

• Order online for weekly pick-up

• Sign up for a meal plan – lots of options to fit busy schedules

• Stop by our store and choose from what we have – we cook fresh meals every day!

y y

Enchilada’s

Voted by Advocate Readers as Best Date Night in Lake Highlands Dog Days of Summer call for a chilly beverage

Enjoy the Big E margarita along with Tex Mex favorites

As important as breakfast is for ourselves and our kids, so is the lunch we pack to fuel the rest of their day. The lunch box routine does not have to be intimidating or stressful when you have an organized refrigerator of simple and healthy options. In my family, we love a classic sandwich, but I always like to change it up so lunches don’t look the same every day. Here’s some easy-tomake crowd pleasers to get your school year started on the right note with plenty of big flavor.

IN THE LUNCHBOX:

Turkey and cheese skewers

Sweet potato chips

Grapes

Edamame

PBJ Roll Ups

Apple slices

Carrots and ranch

Pretzel sticks

Salami and crackers

Mozzarella balls

Cucumbers and tomatoes

Dried fruit mix

Pasta salad

Sugar snap peas

Strawberries with yogurt dip

Popcorn

CONSIDERING DIVORCE? 5 THINGS TO KNOW

Divorce is never easy, but if you have your ducks in a row, you’re setting yourself up for a smoother transition. Family law attorney Greg Beane of Vern-plating divorce.

TIP # 1: GET ORGANIZEDments, including bank statements, credit card statements, IRAs, 401(k) and pensions. Most importantly, gather all statements from accounts you had prior to marriage, so you can preserve any separate property claim.

TIP # 2: MAKE LISTS

In Texas, a court will likely order you to create an inventory of your assets and liabilities. The sooner you accurately provide those lists, the sooner your case can be resolved.

TIP # 3: MAKE A BUDGET

Not only is a divorce emotionally draining, it can drain your bank account if you’re not careful. Be prepared for added expenses and maintaining separate households. Make a budget so that you know what income you need to make ends meet.

TIP # 4: NEEDS VS. WANTS

Splitting up your stuff, down to the debts and assets, can be a big headache — especially if your divorce is contentious. Meet with a biggest needs, before tackling your wants.

TIP # 5: SET GOALS

your attorney, and reviewed throughout the process. Making goals (and, more importantly, sticking to them) should make for a more

Gregory Beane

Kristen Massad writes a monthly column about sweets and baked goods. The professional pastry chef graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City and owned Tart Bakery on Lovers Lane for eight years. She blogs about food and lifestyles at inkfoods.com.

RESCUE ME

THE PATRON SAINTS OF LOST-CAUSE CANINES

RESCUE ME

A STRAY DOG WANDERING THE STREETS OF LAKE HIGHLANDS TENDS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.

Reuniting lost dogs and owners is a familiar process around here, expedited by microchips and social media. Our frequent favorable experiences with doggie drifters make it easy to forget nightmarish scenarios playing out across town, where sections of southern Dallas are riddled with sick, dying and grossly at-risk animals whose chances at happiness hover around zero.

But once you know about what’s going on, “it keeps you up at night,” says White Rock area resident Marina Tarashevska, for whom Dallas’ oft overlooked canine perdition is all consuming.

A year ago, this petite, raven-haired Ukrainian native gave up her part-time marketing job to concentrate on her militant, in-the-trenches animal activism.

“It isn’t something I can do a little,” she says. “Once you know, once you start, you can only focus 100 percent.”

Her public Facebook page contains graphic evidence of a horrific problem, one image after another of mangy, frightened, mutilated animals or, worse, their carcasses, bones and skulls.

“People have gotten offended. They tell me they don’t want to see dead dogs in their feed. But we have gotten more and more rescuers by showing what is really going on,” says Tarashevska, who adds that even when she lived in Detroit, a city whose stray dog problem was reported by Atlantic magazine and other national media, she did not see circumstances as distressing as those in Dallas. (That is in part because winters in Detroit kill much of the stray population, she notes.)

She understands images of dogs injured by cars or puppies left to die in tightly knotted bags are tough to see. It is easier on the psyche, not to mention the social life, to forget southern Dallas, where she suspects the loose dog and

Marina Tarashevska and her foster Chihuahua, the flower-laden Faith Hill.

and dog-dumping crisis is an extension of deeper societal problems. Southern Dallas is contending with some 8,700 loose dogs, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group study for Dallas Animal Services. The problem goes mostly unseen by residents north of I-30 (where there is not a significant number of loose dogs).

Once she understood the degree of suffering — which required no studies, just a visit to the impacted area — she dedicated her life to saving abandoned animals.

As she utilized social media to garner attention, thousands offered support — and there are countless ways one can help, she assures.

Tarashevska’s level of commitment means long, hot or freezing days salvaging dogs from perilous places. It involves exposure to nervously gnashing teeth, contagious skin conditions, angry pet owners and, sometimes, biting criticism. Vacations, dinners out, clean carpets, general sanity and regular sleep all are part of a past life.

“But there are a lot of us,” she says. “There are so many people helping, and that is what keeps you optimistic.”

Hundreds of Dallas residents joined Tarashevska in her crusade to save animals citywide, and many others do similar work independently or through one of hundreds of animal-rescue organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

If the following stories of sacrifice and salvation — not to mention the irresistible images of healed, happy pups prepping for their forever homes — move you, see the “Ways to Help” boxes on pages 35 and 38.

By the time of publication, we hope, many of our featured fosters will have been adopted, but never will there be a shortage of amazing animals waiting for a new best friend.

RESCUE ME

MARINA TARASHEVSKA IS A LOCALLY FAMOUS, SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL, CANINE CRUSADER.

Behind a front door affixed “Beware of Dog” sign, she holds back an anxious Chihuahua in a pink-flower choker, Faith Hill. Bella, a small beige and white mutt, hides behind her rescuer’s legs, barking in quick bursts. Miriam, a stocky older hound with a starched paw-patterned bandana knotted around her neck, keeps her distance, hesitant to inject herself into the entryway chaos. Tarashevska holds up a bowl containing bite-sized treats.

“You give it to them,” she says. The idea is that they will warm up to us strangers when we feed them, and it works. There are more — two black Labrador mixes lounge side by side in a sunroom.

Tarashevska’s home is packed with rescue dogs like Miriam.

“That’s Coco and Chanel, and we think they are related. They are inseparable,” she explains.

Tarashevska mothers as many fosters at a time as humanly possible, often taking in litters of parentless puppies in addition to the others. She participates in the Feral Friends trap, neuter, release program, too, so a cat colony resides in her yard.

Tarashevska spends days in the woods along southeast Dallas’ Dowdy Ferry Road, a known dumping ground for unwanted, sick, lame or dead dogs.

She encounters several carcasses — sometimes only pieces — for every live dog. She embraces each saved life. But the work can mess up a person’s mind.

run her down with a car.

Growing up in a destitute Ukrainian neighborhood, Tarashevska watched her grandmother drown whole litters of kittens.

“I hated her for it; I hated it at the time, but now I know she was showing mercy, doing what had to be done,” she says, because there were no resources to keep them alive. The experience lit a fire inside her.

After moving to Dallas she started her rescuing and activism independently because, she says, “I wanted to be able to speak my mind,” and she did not want to be beholden to an organization.

She is known to rage on social media about the incompetency of Dallas Animal Services (our city’s shelter once accidentally killed three dogs that she was scheduled to pick up, a case well-documented by Dallas media), and she has left dead dogs at the shelter’s front doors as a statement of protest against ignoring Southern Dallas’ dog dumping problem. (For the record, she also has acknowledged when they get it right.)

However when the offers of aid and donations grew to the thousands, she decided to form the nonprofit Dallas DogRRR (Rescue, Rehab, Reform).

Group members and supporters take in fosters, raise money for food and medical expenses and, following Tarashevska’s lead, fight like hell for neglected animals.

They have adopted Tarashevska’s ferocity and her no-dog-left-behind attitude.

“I wish there was a switch I could turn off in my head to stop the flashbacks of the awful horrifying things I saw,” she says following a particularly grueling day. “How am I supposed to be normal and happy and interested in anything? I know I won't be able to put any food in my mouth today, I won't be able to sleep, my stupid brain won't stop running through ‘what ifs’ and ‘whys.’ ”

Each live animal rescue is different.

“Some of the dogs we find are so desperate to be loved that they jump into one of our cars and do not look back. Others are hesitant to trust and are gradually won over by our regular feeding.”

Some days she approaches neglectful owners who have dogs tied up in yards with no food or water and offers to relieve them of responsibility.

At times people have surrendered their animals to her; other times they curse her. One woman tried to

When an abused pup recently needed a midnight rescue and a $3,000 surgery, one Facebook follower suggested letting the dog “go” and using funds raised “to help 10 other dogs.”

The commenter was met with swift, harsh criticism from the group.

Sarah Cooper, who handles adoption applications for DogRRR, says the thought makes her want to cry. “That is not how we do things,” she says. “Every life deserves a shot. There are no lost causes.”

Cooper says that’s what makes Dallas DogRRR different from many other dog rescues. “They can pull the pure breeds or healthy puppies,” she explains, but DogRRR pulls dogs off the streets, from abusive homes and the ones in shelters that face certain death. “We pick up whatever. Marina doesn’t care. It all started with her, and it grew so big in a couple years and now we can save so many dogs it is mind blowing.”

Dallas DogRRR, founded by Tarashevska, rescues street dogs.

BRUTALIZED BY A SPEEDING CAR AND LEFT TO DIE IN THE DARK, SPIRIT IS NOW A SHINING LIGHT

The first public photos of Spirit came early last spring with a “graphic content” warning — blood matted the lanky Labrador’s blonde fur, one outstretched paw, mangled; his face and ear, sliced and shredded; his deep-set, dark eyes, downturned.

A car struck the dog, leaving him to die alone in a roadside ditch. But a passerby sent word that reached the now-established DogRRR group, whose members swooped in to save the ani-

mal, long shot though he was.

Then on an August afternoon, the reason Tarashevska and her crew do this comes at you as clear as the Texas sky — the reason bounds toward the front gate of a townhome on three legs, nuzzling its golden nose into your belly and hugging you, placing one large paw on your shoulder and licking your face.

“He is excited to see you,” says Cooper, who has been fostering Spirit

since he left his first major surgery last spring.

A GoFundMe page raised some $16,000 to treat Spirit’s massive injuries, which required three surgeries including an eventual amputation of one leg. His body also was riddled with heartworms. Now that the treatment is almost complete, Spirit is technically almost ready for adoption.

But it is clear that Cooper and Spirit are hopelessly attached. “I

Above: Last year, Spirit was hit by a car and left to die in a ditch.

Right: A brutal collision left Glory with scars on his fa ce and ears.

don’t have a husband. This dog is like the husband,” says Cooper, a German native who still speaks with an accent. She’s talking about their sleeping arrangements — the young woman, who is studying to become a nurse, shares a queen-sized bed with Spirit, his good arm draped across her no doubt, as well as her own dog, Chambers, a gentle medium-sized sweetheart of unknown breed. There is a third, Glory, another foster and hit-and-run victim. The Joker-style scar on the right side of Glory’s face and his maimed foot only add to his certain cool-guy factor, “though Spirit still kicks his ass in a race,” Cooper says laughing.

Spirit might end up a “foster fail,” a lighthearted term used to describe a foster parent that winds up permanently keeping the dog.

The goal is to find good permanent homes for all foster dogs, but it is still bittersweet when they are adopted, Cooper admits. She never wants to say goodbye to Glory or Spirit, as she did not want to let go of the others she’s adopted out, but that is part of the hardcore sacrifices made by volunteers of her ilk.

“Yes, I cry like a baby when they leave.”

#TryAlpha

alphausa.org

You’re Invited!

Date: Wednesday evenings, Sept. 7 – Nov. 30, 2016 Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Come join us this fall at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church for great food, a chance to meet great people, and share great conversation about the meaning of life. The Alpha course explores the basics of the Christian faith through a series of talks and discussions.

Location Lake Highlands UMC / 9015 Plano Rd / Dallas

Contact Info

Kerry Goad at km_goad@yahoo.com

Read more & Register lhumc.com

RESCUE ME

HEATHER AND HER THREE BLACK BEAUTIES

Black dog syndrome, the theory that black dogs and black cats tend to be the last ones adopted from shelters, seems real to experienced rescuers.

“I’ve seen it,” says core Dallas DogRRR volunteer Heather Harris. That also means they are more likely to be euthanized when they wind up in kill shelters. Standing inside Harris’ White Rock area home, surrounded by three black foster dogs, it seems impossible.

All under a year old, and potty trained (save a wee bit of excitable urination here and there), these three ebony creatures are the embodiment of hope, love and all things good in this cruel world. Melodramatic? Maybe, but you are guaranteed to feel some of that when you lift the littlest one, Shirley, and she hugs you tightly, like a sleepy baby might.

Ace Ventura, whose shiny fur was nonexistent upon his rescue due to a bout with sarcoptic mange, now sits poised proudly, awaiting his glamor shot. Gentle and playful, his one vice might be nibbling the edges of those skinny notebooks used by reporters.

Leonard, who looks like Ace but with a white face, was rescued from a kill shelter in Mesquite. His calm demeanor sends him to a corner when the other two begin to roughhouse, yet outside, chasing a ball, he’s a swift, sure beast.

In another room of the house, Harris’ three permanent dogs wait semi-patiently for their turn to play.

Like DogRRR’s other core members,

Harris has dedicated the better part of her life to saving animals.

“I lived in a condo before this. I have a real estate agent friend who helped me find a house. She said, ‘You must have a house if you are going to keep having all these dogs.’ ” When she moved into her house, she acquired more fosters and the

agent/friend said, “I did not mean so you could get more!”

Donations to DogRRR help fosters like Harris maintain — “They pay for food, medical, accessories like pee pads, crates. People make donations and think my $5 or $10 doesn’t help, well, it actually does,” she says.

Clockwise: Shirley. Ace Ventura. Leonard.

DALLAS DOGRRR (RESCUE. REHAB. REFORM.)

ABOUT: Volunteers support abandoned dogs by collecting supplies, paying vet bills, locating foster families, facilitating adoptions and advocating for a more hopeful future. They often work the trenches of poverty stricken areas of Dallas rescuing forgotten dogs. No paid staff means all donations go to the dogs.

HOW TO HELP: Adopting a dog or cat, rather than purchasing a pet from a breeder or pet store, is one way to curb the problem. To make a major impact, consider becoming a foster. Many foster volunteers have as many as four or five animals in addition to their own pets. The demand for foster parents is high, Dallas DogRRR founder Marina Tarashevska says. DogRRR supplies food and pays all medical expenses. Fosters provide a temporary home. You can also help by donating money, food or supplies, or volunteering your time to drive pets to and from medical appointments.

CONTACT: Dallasdogrrr.org and follow the group on Facebook to learn about its most pressing needs.

Erstwhile Richardson ISD teacher Janeye Pritchard was on summer break when the irresistible request from a neighborhood animal advocate popped up on her Facebook timeline.

“They needed help bottle feeding a puppy,” she says. “This little hand-sized baby needed to be fed every two hours, like clockwork. It was so cool.”

After watching that first pup grow to a hundred healthy pounds of dog, there was no turning back.

“I went to an adoption event, met people and knew this was something I’d like to do more.”

Soon she sheltered a whole litter of abandoned puppies. Her roommate Ashley Bradford fell in love with and adopted one, she notes, a bull terrier — “like the Target dog, you know?”

Both women now are hooked on helping animals — serving on the DogRRR board, fostering and striving to find happy homes for as many animals as possible though volunteering often is a far cry from Pritchard’s precious first experience. Reality is that volunteers operate in a sea of disappointments and treading-water, getting-nowhere feelings.

“It can be a neverending, thankless, often seemingly hopeless job,” she says of rescuing. “[Volunteers] write grant [applications], beg for donations, deliver supplies, schedule and drive dogs to medical appointments, arrange adoption events and rush out in the middle of the

night when a dog is injured ...”

She recalls one live puppy found among its dead siblings inside a bag tossed off a Southern Dallas overpass. She religiously watches “euthanasia lists” supplied by shelters in Dallas, Garland and surrounding cities, sometimes knowing there is no more she can do.

“It just never seems to be enough,” she says, expressing gratitude for all of Dallas’ animal rescue groups and volunteers.

Her most recent foster, Gatsby, so named for his black and white coat that resembles a tuxedo, was wandering the streets of Southern Dallas with an open leg wound, suffering demodectic mange and severe malnourishment. In Pritchard’s care, Gatsby recovered and proved to be a cuddly, loving friend to fellow fosters in the home. And he’s a paragon of why the toil is worthwhile, she says.

“What an amazing feeling, to swoop a dog up out of the jaws of death, nurse it back to health ... and then watch that dog find a loving forever home.”

Gatsby was found wandering the streets.

ARE YOU MY MOMMY?

MORE RESCUES SEEKING FOREVER HOMES

BY STEVE DICKERSON | PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

SHASTA NEEDS SOME STABILITY

When you picture a dog, odds are you imagine Shasta. Looking at the 45-pound, yellow lab who loves to run and play, you don’t see the puppy found in a ditch just off of Interstate 30 on a cold, rainy October day.

Lilia Hollis, Shasta’s foster caregiver through White Rock Dog Rescue, says an older lady drove by and thought she saw something moving in the ditch. Ignoring the ‘80s horror movie setting she found herself in, the woman pulled over and found a 3-month-old puppy.

“She was just sitting there,” Hollis says, recalling the story as it was told to her. “I don’t know how she ended up there, but she was reasonably well fed. She was just a little wet and dirty.”

A picturesque family promptly adopted the picturesque dog. The mother, father and two not-too-young children fell in love immediately. But when the mother of the family suffered what Hollis describes as a “catastrophic health crisis,” they no longer had time for a puppy, and Shasta was returned to WRDR. Now she lives with Hollis again while they wait to find

the right family.

“She’s a beautiful dog,” Hollis says. “I don’t think she fully realizes her size, but she’s so playful and loves people.”

KNOCKED DOWN, BUT SHE GETS UP AGAIN

Lolita looks like a bit of a pushover. After all, the Chihuahua mix maxes out at about 15 pounds on a good day. But she’s tougher than you might think.

When rescuers with WRDR located Lolita, she had a terrible limp.

“The foot was turned and she couldn’t put any weight on it,” Hollis says. The veterinarians said Lolita had been hit by a car and it had broken her front leg in three places. “They wanted to amputate,” Hollis says, but she wanted a second opinion. “I wanted to try to see if they would set the bone at another vet.”

Hollis found the right vet. Lolita’s surgery was a success, but she needed to

WHITE ROCK DOG RESCUE

ABOUT: White Rock Dog Rescue is dedicated to saving homeless dogs found in East Dallas and around White Rock Lake. Volunteers are needed to provide foster care for dogs until a permanent home can be found.

HOW TO HELP: If you don’t think you have the space or time to foster a dog, you can still help White Rock Dog Rescue. The nonprofit is in need of supplies to help them take care of animals while they wait to find a new home. They will always take food for dogs and puppies, plastic and folding crates, and all sizes of dog beds, treats and harnesses.

CONTACT: 214.507.4016

whiterockdog.org

stay in for a month, and there was a pin left in her leg for two months after that.

And now? “The dog is perfect. She runs, she plays. She’s great,” Hollis says.

Lolita isn’t as timid as a lot of Chihuahuas, Hollis says, which makes her great companion.

SPENCER IS CONTENT TO CHILL

Spencer is an old soul. Sure, the 55 pound black lab and shepherd mix likes to run and play. He is a dog after all. But at the end of the day, he wants to find a good spot on the couch with his people.

“He will get laid back,” says Basil Timmons, Spencer’s WRDR foster. “I think part of that is the lab in him. For a family dog he’s great.”

Ideally, that family might already have a dog, Timmons says, especially one that is about his size. “He loves to play and he loves to play with other dogs.”

But once the day is done, Spencer is a bit of a couch potato. “You get him to where you’ve burned out his energy and he gets a little bit of sleep in him. He’ll put his paws on your lap and then you can scratch him behind his ears. It’s great.”

CASSIDY IS LOOKING FOR LOVE

If you’re a pitbull-terrier mix with a lot of energy, sometimes the world’s perception of you is different than the reality. That’s the world in which Cassidy lives. The 50-pound white dog has energy to burn, which can scare some people. But Cassidy is a lover, not a fighter, according to Timmons.

A few years ago WRDR set up a dog-kissing booth at an adoption event. Cassidy was there, and people that ended up on her side of the booth got their money’s worth, Timmons says. “She was just there as a small pup, and she would just kiss everybody.”

Cassidy is a dog that is going to have to find the right fit with a family before she is adopted, Timmons says. Because of her high energy, she probably wouldn’t work well in a family with young children. “She’s a runner, so she’ll need somebody who does activities like running” to work out some of that extra vigor.

NTGD has raised $118,600,000 in seven years

A DAY FOR GIVING

38% of donations in our neighborhood went to groups concerned with women’s reproductive issues

110 donations made every minute

$164.02 Average donation size from Lake Highlands

31% of donations were to Planned Parenthood

$300

Amount of extra donations earned by Healing Hands Ministries of Lake Highlands with a “Change for Change Challenge”

WOMEN-FOCUSED NONPROFITS RAKE IN DONATIONS

Women’s health and reproductive issues drove neighborhood donations during the last North Texas Giving Day. The annual one-day event, which benefits thousands of local and Dallas County nonprofits and is powered by Communities Foundation of Texas, has become an increasingly impactful way for nonprofits to raise money.

This year, the 18 hours from 6 a.m.-midnight Sept. 22 are dedicated to donating. Donations of $25 or more during this period are amplified by more than $2 million in bonus funds and grants, according to the event’s organizers.

Since its inception seven years ago, the effort has pumped more than $119 million into North Texas charities; last year, about 118,000 individuals donated to 2,020 participating organizations.

We broke down the 2015 donation numbers to learn which Lake Highlands-area foundations (in the 75243, 75231 and 75238 zip codes) benefitted most from last year’s Giving Day.

Two neighborhood nonprofits focused on women were top 10 earners among donors last year.

At No. 1, Planned VParenthood, which provides women’s healthcare such as pelvic exams, PAP tests, HPV vaccines, urinary tract infection treatments and abortion services for women, as well as STD screening and treatment and birth control for women and men, brought in $158,668 from 888 individual contributors. The fourth biggest earner was Thrive Women’s Clinic, bringing in $81,900 from 185 donors. Thrive provides pregnancy tests, sonograms and counseling, but it does not provide abortion services; rather, Thrive is a faith-based crisis pregnancy center that promotes abortion alternatives.

Other organizations that brought in top dollars last year include the Dallas Arboretum, which took the No. 2 spot with $148,900; St. John’s Episcopal School at $126,817; and Catholic Charities of Dallas, bringing in $70,000.

Two lesser-known groups — High Adventure Treks for Dads and Daughters (HATS), whose goal is to teach girls advanced outdoor camping and survival skills; and Medisend, an educational biomedical institute — each brought in more than $25,000.

East Lake Pet Orphanage earned bonus funds for having the largest increase in donors in 2015.

Healing Hands Medical/Dental Clinic, Stronghold Ministry (which

At No. 1, Planned Parenthood ... brought in $158,668 from 888 individual contributors.

supports those with late-stage cancer) and Dallas Children’s Theater also raised significant funds.

Make donations online at northtexasgivingday.org or at a donation station at NorthPark Center Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festivities that day include performances by Ballet Folklorico, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Dallas Children’s Theater, The Texas Boys Choir, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts Dance Academy, Junior Players, Lone Star Wind Orchestra and Shakespeare Dallas, along with animals from Dallas Zoo and SPCA.

TOP 10

Giving Day 2015

NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY details, rules and events at northtexasgivingday.org.

LAKE PROTECTORS

FOR THESE NEIGHBORS, ENSURING WHITE ROCK LAKE REMAINS HEALTHY IS A PRIORITY

Heading out to White Rock Lake, what do you load up? Your kayak? Fishing pole? Fido or Fifi? Don’t forget the CD of frog calls or the chemistry set, essentials for some neighborhood volunteers who are dedicated to protecting and monitoring the water’s quality.

Ask Barbara Turner (a.k.a. “Head Frog Lady”) about those amphibians. Each last Friday at dusk from March through October, Turner welcomes any and all who wish to join her as she gathers data at Sunset Bay, data that will be submitted to Texas Parks and Wildlife. They in turn track the information for environmental changes.

Turner explains, “Frogs are the first indicators of water purity. They live in it, breathe in it, lay eggs in it, their whole life cycle is in the water.”

Though it’s officially called “Amphibian Watch,” it’s a bit of a misnomer: more accurately, it’s an amphibian “listen.” To get the croaking rolling, Turner cranks up her CD of frog talk at the water’s edge. The state-supplied CD boasts calls from frogs/toads all over Texas, so Turner has narrowed her playlist to locals, such as the frequently heard Cricket Frog, Green Treefrog and Bullfrog. Sometimes Gulf Coast Toad shows up at the party, too.

Turner records the species that are present, identifying them by their calls. She then notes how many of each species she hears, and her trained ear detects frog/toad conversations. No trash talk here, just exchanges of pleasantries. She says the males are the most talkative; females rarely chime in. Generally, more and more amphibians join the chorus as darkness falls, and many a watch ends in a frog call cacophony.

They can be sensitive creatures, not at all fond of changes in their environment. Turner recalls a watch one month

when a nearby spillway was undergoing repairs. The calls were “greatly diminished.” But Turner found the amphibians back in their usual hangout when the work was completed.

Folks who join Turner for Amphibian Watch often see other critters: coyotes, mink, ducks, geese, owls, bats. It’s fun, but Turner is keenly aware of her environmental mission. “Is the water pure?” she asks. “Is it sustainable for frogs and toads who live there?”

Neighbor Richard Grayson is another environmental steward of White Rock Lake, but instead of playing frog calls, he totes a chemistry set that would make Louis Pasteur swoon. Grayson is part of the Texas Stream Team, a

statewide volunteer water-monitoring program. Around 75 volunteers actively monitor sites in Dallas, Collin and Denton counties, of which 16 are at or near White Rock Lake.

This under-the-radar army of volunteers is known as Aquatic Alliance for Texas Stream Team and is allied with quite a number in the community, including schools, scouts, Dallas Storm Water Management, Master Naturalists, Trinity River Audubon Center and For the Love of the Lake. Much of the team’s equipment is stored at FTLOTL headquarters.

“Citizen Scientists” undergo training to gain a full understanding of the importance and science of water

Sunset Bay at White Rock Lake. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

quality. Team Leader Grayson has been a certified trainer since 2011 and frequently accompanies student monitors to assigned sites. They learn hands-on how to put to good use to the intriguing set of test tubes, thermometers, probes and chemicals they carry.

You might spot a monitor at White Rock Dog Park. To ensure your dog has safe, healthy water in which to frolic, the monitor will follow a routine. He or she will make notes on field observations, such as weather conditions, water color and clarity, air and water temperature, and algae cover. Using meters, pH and conductivity are measured. Dissolved oxygen, one of

the most important indicators of water quality for fish and other aquatic life, is calculated by first “fixing” a water sample with manganese sulfate, alka -

Folks who join Turner for Amphibian Watch often see other critters: coyotes, mink, ducks, geese, owls, bats.

line potassium and sulfuric acid. And that’s only the first step. It’s a tall order, all this chemistry, but volunteers are well-trained and dedicated.

THE market

URBAN THRIFT

Thrift store

9850 Walnut Hill Ln. 214.341.1151

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DALLAS PAWS

Mobile Veterinary Services

Dr. Stacie Smith 214.821.PAWS (7297)

drstacie@dallaspaws.com www.dallaspaws.com

At a few sites, advanced methods are used to collect data on bacteria such as E. coli, nitrates and phosphates. Collected data is sent to TST headquarters at Texas State University in San Marcos/Meadows Center for Water and Environment. The information gathered supports research, informs conservation policy, and can even serve as an early warning system for water health.

White Rock Lake, the largest urban lake in the country, is a treasure these neighbors are dedicated to protecting.

Find out more at ntmn.org/amphibian watch

ROB WATKINS

Residential Mortgage Lender

BancorpSouth Mortgage Cell 214.926.5836

rob.watkins@bxs.com

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HIGHLANDER SCHOOL

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com Founded in 1966, Highlander offers an enriched curriculum in a positive, Christian-based environment. By limiting class size, teachers are able to build a strong educational foundation to ensure confidence in academics, athletics, and the creative and performing arts. Highlander offers a “classic” education which cannot be equaled. Monthly tours offered; call for a reservation.

KESSLER SCHOOL

Pre K – 6th Grade / 1215 Turner Ave, Dallas TX 75208 / 214-942-2220 / www. thekesserschool.com The Kessler School offers an innovative academic environment that gives students a solid foundation, confidence, and a love of learning. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas; The Kessler School’s mission is to “educate the whole child,” and provides an individualized approach to teaching – meeting the student where their needs are. Students are educated socially through community time, physically through daily PE, academically through a wellrounded curriculum, and spiritually through a fostering of awareness and individual growth.

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep.org

Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL

11611 Inwood Road Dallas TX 75229/ 214-369-9201/ thelamplighterschool.org

Lamplighter delivers serious education wrapped in the wonder of childhood. The Pre-K through fourth grade years are fleeting, but filled with pure potential. What we, as parents and educators, ignite in these primary years establishes the trajectory of a child’s future. Lamplighter helps set children on a path toward rewarding lives as forever learners. The independent, co-educational school promotes academic excellence through innovative curriculum that merges fine arts with language arts, math, environmental science, social studies, physical education, and Spanish

ISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

SPANISH HOUSE

Four East Dallas Locations / 214.826.4410/ DallasSpanishHouse.com Spanish Immersion Program in East Dallas! Nursery, Preschool, Elementary and Adult Programs available. Our new K-5 Dual-Language Elementary School will be open for the 2016-2017 school year at 7159 E. Grand Avenue. Please visit our website (DallasSpanishHouse. com) or call 214.826.4410 for a tour.

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool. com 6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Characterbuilding and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and stateof-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 58 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

City of Dallas Water Utilities, City of Dallas Park & Recreation, and the Dallas County Master Gardeners are teaming up to demonstrate the beauty of WaterWise landscaping and EarthKind™ gardening with the 22nd annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour.

This year’s tour is highlighting residential landscapes in east Dallas, as well as several school demonstration gardens in southern Dallas.

The first 500 visitors at the tour headquarters will receive a free hose-end spray nozzle. For more information and to download a map for the self-guided tour and a schedule of landscaping-related talks, visit SaveDallasWater.com or call the Water Conservation Hotline at 214-670-3155

Tour Headquarters

Ridgewood/Belcher Recreation Center

6818 Fisher Road, Dallas, TX 75214

REAL ESTATE REPORT

area home values

BUSINESS BUZZ

WHAT’S UP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES

SHOPPING CENTER OVERHAULS

Lake Highlands will soon be home to the newest Alamo Drafthouse after plans were solidified for the movie theater to open shop at the old Tom Thumb that’s been vacant for three years at Skillman and Abrams. No word on when the theater might open, there’s still plenty of city paperwork and renovations that need to happen first. But it’s expected to be the first in a wave of new developments at the shopping center. “We’re talking to a million different tenants from Rudy’s to El Fenix to a pizza concept to an Asian fusion concept. We have more interest than we have space,” says Mark Hajdu of property broker Triumph, which oversees the center.

Kiss that Condoms To Go sign goodbye, the shopping center The Hill at Walnut Hill Lane and North Central Expressway is getting a major makeover. Soon, the Austin-based sustainable building supply store TreeHouse will open there, bringing its signature parklike design that is inspiring a revamp across the center. The 25,000-squarefoot site will include between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet of dedicated green space. Additional green space is being added at the center to give it a new look.

are com piled by Ebby Halliday Realtors, and are de rived from Dallas Mul ti ple List ing Service (MLS). Numbers are believed to be re li able, but are not guar an teed. The Ad vo cate and Ebby Halliday Realtors are not re spon si ble for the ac cu ra cy of the in for ma tion.

NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Shady’s is all about the neighborhood, with its backyard style seating and laid back atmosphere. It opened recently at Audelia and Walnut Hill, and hopes to quickly make itself apart of the Lake Highlands scene. “A big part of what we do is, we’re community driven,” says general manager Cole Lapwing. “We do a lot of spirit nights and fundraisers –anything local. A lot of our staff have local connections, and we’re trying to keep that at-home feel and be that place where everyone can hang out and say, hey, I know that person and go sit down. It’s a neighborhood spot kind of place.”

BAD FOR BUSINESS

Just weeks after five Dallas officers were killed in an ambush on police on July 7, Genghis Grill faced a public relation nightmare when, according to an employee told a group of cops they were not welcome in the Greenville Avenue establishment, supposedly because they would make the other patrons uncomfortable. The restaurant immediately apologized on social media, adding “We have investigated this incident and acted swiftly and removed the employee in question from Genghis Grill.”

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

We know our Dallas Arboretum is a gem of the city, but now the world knows it, too. Architectural Digest named it one of the 15 most breathtaking botanical gardens in the entire world. It was listed with luminaries like Gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa, and Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden in Brazil.

FINDING REFUGE IN OLYMPIC VILLAGE

TEAM REFUGEES REMINDS US OF THE NEED FOR SAFE HAVENS EVERYWHERE

For all the gold medal performances, for all the world records that fell in Rio, one of the best stories was the Refugee Olympic Team. Ten athletes who no longer have a country to call home

WORSHIP

ANGLICAN

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship service at 5:00 pm

Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

BAPTIST

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Sunday School 9:15am & Worship 10:30am

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

BIBLE CHURCHES

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sun: LifeQuest 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / 214.348.9697

Wed: AWANA and Kids Choir 6:00 pm / Student Ministry 7:00 pm

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel 10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

LUTHERAN

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

METHODIST

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

PRESBYTERIAN

LAKE HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.348.2133

8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr.

214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Welcomes you to Worship

8:30 & 11:00 am / Church School 9:35 am / Childcare provided.

UNITY

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972.233.7106 / UnityDallas.org

Sundays: 9:00 am Early Service, 11:00 am Celebration Service

were invited to participate in the games under the Olympic flag.

Five members of the refugee team were from South Sudan, two each from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria, and one from Ethiopia. They competed in athletics, swimming and judo. They lived in the Olympic Village along with all the other competitors.

The invitation meant to raise global consciousness about the plight of the refugee, humanize refugees in the eyes of the world, and sow seeds of peace. Let’s pray all those things result.

As one journalist noted, however, while the world is moved by Team Refugees, it is unmoved by refugees.

Refugees flee their countries because they are making a choice between life and death. They leave home because their homeland has left them homeless. They often are heroic in braving every obstacle to safety.

Yet often they are met with suspicion, if not contempt. While many countries have accepted and welcomed some refugees, and often more than they can easily integrate into their communities, fear of terrorists infiltrating refugee ranks and worries about clashes of religion and culture tend to dominate our responses to the desperate pleas for sanctuary.

The ancient Olympics were self-consciously religious. Athletes competed in the name of various Greek gods and the winners were crowned with wreaths from the garden of Zeus. Winners achieved near divine status in the eyes of

George Mason

is

the “hoi poloi.” The modern Olympic movement has evolved into a kind of civil religion. There’s an Olympic flag, an anthem and the ritual of lighting the torch. Athletes are accorded celebrity worship and granted enduring admiration.

But what of our actual religious communities?

Most refugees today are Muslims fleeing violence from fellow Muslims. While some Muslim countries like Jordan have done a remarkable job of aiding refugees, too many others have put sectarian differences ahead of humanitarian likeness.

Jews and Christians both know something about exile consciousness. Abraham and Sarah left their homeland and Jews forever thereafter have confessed, “My ancestors were wandering Arameans …” The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness beyond the Jordan after the exodus from Egypt, the modern diaspora from the Promised Land and the flight from pogroms and the Holocaust have hardened a pilgrim identity into the Jewish experience that even the rebirth of Israel as a state has not fully overcome. While Christians in the West most often think of themselves as settled, we too have at the core of our history a sense of being “resident aliens” in the world.

When robust religious communities fail to advocate for refugees, we forget our own history and mute our witness. The well-intended yet unsustainable support of a few refugees by the quasireligious Olympic movement still leaves multitudes awaiting our actionable compassion. But a gesture can serve as a reminder.

pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

PEOPLE

After suffering a heart attack at age 84, Betty Jo Woodring, who founded the Highlander School in Lake Highlands 50 years ago, died Aug. 13. In the 1960s, after she studied education and earned a Master’s degree, Woodring’s unique teaching style helped many children with learning differences to read. She carried that method to the school she founded in 1966. At that time Highlander offered one kindergarten and one junior kindergarten for a total enrollment of 29 students. They added a grade each year until 1973 when the desired size of the school was reached. Today Highlander sits on six acres of land in Lake Highlands. Combining early childhood and elemen-

tary school through sixth grade, total enrollment is approximately 100 students. Woodring was an active member at Wilshire Baptist Church in East Dallas and was known for her Charlie’s Angels Sunday School department.

EDUCATION

Umesh Bhandari , a native of Nepal who lives in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood and graduated from Emmett J. Conrad High School, will attend University of Texas at Arlington this fall, where he says he will work to achieve his dream of becoming a psychiatrist, thanks in part to a $6,000 scholarship from Dallas-based Carter Financial Management. While just a couple miles from Richardson ISD’s Lake Highlands High School, Conrad is a Dallas ISD campus that’s home to many of our city’s lower-income, immigrant and refugee families. “This scholarship opens a door that I didn’t think would be possible for me and my family,” Bhandari says. He

served as a student leader and mentor, volunteering at Texas Health Resources and was active with the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Texas Leadership Forum and Teen Leadership Council, among other things, all while excelling academically, say CFM representatives who chose him for the award. “Every member of our scholarship committee, myself included, express admiration for this young man’s intensity, be it academics, helping support his family, serving the community or going to college,” company president Bill E. Carter says. We’re proud to extend our support to Umesh and his family.”

White Rock Elementary’s former assistant principal Becky Stevens is the new head principal at Lake Highlands Elementary. She has worked at Skyview and Yale elementary schools in Richardson ISD and at RISD Academy. Former LHE principal Kim Sullivan was promoted to RISD Elementary Executive Director of Instruction, Operations and Leadership.

DO SHOOT

Midnight Basketball, held over the summer at Lake Highlands YMCA, represented an ongoing effort to bring together, and build relationships between, police and young men from lowincome, crime-prone areas in northeast Dallas. Students from Forest Meadow Junior High and Lake Highlands High School participated. Pictured are volunteers including officers from Dallas’ Police Athletic League, who organized the pilot basketball program. Read the full story and see more photos on advocatemag.com.

CLASSES/TUTORING/ LESSONS

ART: Draw/Paint. Adults All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Days: Mon & Wed. Students bring supplies. Nights: 1xt month workshop, supplies furnished. Jane Cross. 214-534-6829,

CREATIVE ARTS CENTER More than 500 adult art classes/ workshops from metal to mosaic! www.creativeartscenter.org

FARMERS BRANCH AQUATICS CENTER Visit our new natatorium. Begin swim, fitness classes & open swim. fbh2o.com

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA Certification. No HS Diploma or GED. We Can Help. Approved For Military Benefits. Financial Aid If Qualified. Job Placement Assistance. Aviation Institute Of Maintenance. 866-453-6204

PET SITTERS, DOG WALKERS reply to http://www.pcpsi.com/join

SERVICES FOR YOU

AT ODDS WITH YOUR COMPUTER? Easily Learn Essential Skills. Services include Digital Photo Help. Sharon 214-679-9688

COMPUTER HELP! Viruses, Data Recovery, Upgrades, WiFi Problems, Onsite Tech. 214-533-6216 WebersComputers.com

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let A Seasoned Pro Be The Interface Between You & That Pesky Windows Computer. Hardware & Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $60/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 214-660-3733 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

MCCLELLAND GUN SHOP Clean, Repair, Restore. New/Used Guns. 214-321-0231 McClellandGun.com

MY OFFICE Offers Mailing, Copying, Shipping, Office & School Supplies. 9660 Audelia Rd. myofficelh.com 214-221-0011

NEIGHBORHOOD ENERGY EXPERT Helps you earn rewards for free energy, travel points & more. Call Elaine today for a free electric bill review. 214-500-3667 Make the Switch & Save!

LEGAL SERVICES

A FREE CONSULTATION Wills/Probate/Guardianships. MaryGlennAttorney.com 214-802-6768

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ACCOUNTING, TAXES Small Businesses & Individuals. Chris King, CPA 214-824-5313 www.chriskingcpa.com

BOOKKEEPING NEEDS? Need Help Organizing Finances? No Job Too Small or Big. Call C.A.S. Bookkeeping Services. Cindy 214-577-7450

LICENSED PHYCHOLOGIST Academic, behavioral, ADHD, emotional testing. Children, adolescents, adults. Therapy. Dr. Katherine Pang 214-531-7624 lighthousepsychtesting.com

PET SERVICES Society Pet Sitter,Inc.

BUY/SELL/TRADE

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models. 2000-2016. Any Condition. Running Or Not. Top $$$ Paid. Free Towing. We’re Nationwide. Call Now. 1-888-985-1806

DONATE YOUR CAR FOR BREAST CANCER Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, support programs. Fast free pickup. 24 Hour response. Tax deduction. 855-403-0213

NEED A NEW WEBSITE?

LEGAL ISSUES? The Law Office Of Lauren C Medel, PLLC. LaurenMedel.com. 972-773-9306 Mobile. SEO Friendly. Maintainable.

AdvocateWebDesign.com 214.292.2053

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

OAKCLIFF-LMT.COM Between Kessler & Stevens Park. Swedish & deep tissue massage. LMT Renee, 214-704-8193.

PET SERVICES

DOGGIE DEN DALLAS Daycare, Boarding, Grooming, Training. 6444 E. Mockingbird Ln. 214-823-1441 DoggieDenDallas.com

POOP SCOOP PROFESSIONALS Trust The Experts. 214-826-5009. germaine_free@yahoo.com

RANGERS, STARS & MAVS

Share front-row Texas Rangers, Stars & Mavs seats. Tickets are available in sets of 10 games (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available). Participants randomly draw numbers prior to season to determine a draft order fair to everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

CLUTTERBLASTERS.COM

Estate Sales, Moving & DownSizing Sales. Since 2001. Ph/Txt Donna 972-679-3100

ORGANIZEANDREJUVENATE.COM

Declutter/Files/Feng Shui. 972-816-8004

OVERWHELMED? CALL All Points: “A Solutions Company” AllPointsEstateServices.com • 214-802-2781

WANT TO MAKE MONEY? Richardson Mercantile is looking for dealers who want to join one of the best antique malls in DFW. Need details? Go to richardsonmercantile@gmail.com OCT. DEADLINE SEPT. 7 • TO ADVERTISE CALL 214.560.4203

(Photo by Rasy Ran)

Family Owned & Operated

Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years

We

972-274-2157

www.CrestAirAndHeat.com

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

CLEANING SERVICES

TWO SISTERS & A MOP Move in/Out. Reliable/Dependable 20 Yrs Exp. 214-283-9732 twosistersamopmaidservice.com

WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN Great Prices $$. Family owned business. 15 years exp. Reliable. Excellent Refs. Call Sunny @ 214-724-2555

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR

Virus Removal, Data Recovery. Home/Biz Network Install. All Upgrades & Repairs. PC Instruction. No Trip Fee. 214-348-2566

CONCRETE/MASONRY/ PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

Tuck Pointing / Crack Repair. Mortar Color Matching. Windows,Doors, Cracks Etc. Don 214-704-1722

EXTERIOR CLEANING

G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925

FENCING & DECKS

#1 COWBOY FENCE & IRON CO. Est. ‘91. 214-692-1991 www.cowboyfenceandiron.com

4 QUALITY FENCING Call Mike 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC. EST. 96 Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, ambassadorfenceco.com 214-621-3217

FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com charliehookerswoodwork.com 214-766-6422

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM

Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers. 214-435-9574

KIRKWOOD FENCE & DECK New & Repair. Free Estimates. Nathan Kirkwood. 214-341-0699

LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975

Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com

All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers

FOUNDATION REPAIR

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE SERVICES

GARAGE DOORS & OPENERS

972-521-6567. install, Repair, Service, Sales.

ROCKET GARAGE DOOR SERVICE - 24/7. Repairs/Installs. 214-533-8670. Coupon On Web. www.RocketDoorService.com

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned.214-826-8096

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

EAST DALLAS WINDOW CLEANING Power Wash. Free Est. Dependable. Derek. 214-360-0120

Serving your Neighborhood Since 1993

Repairing: Refrigerators •Washer/Dryers

• Ice Makers •Stoves • Cooktops • Ovens 214✯823✯2629

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

Cabinet Refacing, Custom Built-ins and Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Full Kitchen and Bath Remodels. For information, contact Jim @ 214-324-7398

Licensed Contractor proudly serving Lakewood/ East Dallas since 1995 squarenailwoodworking.com Visa/MC accptd.

CLEANING SERVICES

A MAID FOR YOU Bonded/Insured.Park Cities/ M Streets Refs. Call Us First. Joyce 214-232-9629

AFFORDABLE CLEANING Insd./Bonded. Move In/Out. Routine Cleaning. Reliable. Dependable. Residential/ Commercial. References. 28+yrs. Delta Cleaning. 972-943-9280.

AFFORDABLE, PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

$100 off 1st clean for new weekly/bi-weekly clients. Staff trained by Nationally Certified Cleaning Tech. Chemical-free, Green, or Traditional Cleaning. WindsorMaidServices.com 214-381-MAID (6243)

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

Relax ...We’ll Clean Your House, It Will Be Your Favorite Day! Bonded & Insurance. Free Estimates. 214-929-8413. www. altogetherclean.net

AMAZON CLEANING

Top To Bottom Clean. Fabiana.469-951-2948

CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133

CLEAN FREAKS Since 2005. Free Estimates. DallasCleanFreaks.com Call Today! 214-821-8888

MESS MASTERS Earth friendly housecleaning. 469-235-7272. www.messmasters.com Since ‘91

BRICK, BLOCK, Stone, Concrete, Stucco. Gonzalez Masonry. 214-395-1319

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS

Mortar Repair. Straighten Brick Mailboxes & Columns. Call Cirilo 214-298-7174

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Stamping and Staining Driveways/Patio/Walkways

Pattern/Color available

Free Estimates 972-672-5359 (36 yrs.)

CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001

EDMONDSPAVING.COM Asphalt & Concrete Driveway-Sidewalk-Patio-Repair 214-957-3216

FLAGSTONE PATIOS, Retaining Walls, BBQ’s, Veneer, Flower Bed Edging, All Stone work. Chris 214-770-5001

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

50 Yrs. Electrical Exp. Insd. 214-328-1333

BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333 TECL 31347 Lighting and Electrical Services

EXPERIENCED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN Insd. Steve. TECL#27297 214-718-9648

LAKEWOOD ELECTRICAL Local. Insured. Lic. #227509 Call Rylan 214-434-8735

TEXAS ELECTRICAL • 214-289-0639

Prompt, Honest, Quality. TECL 24668

TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658

WHITE ROCK ELECTRIC All Electrical Services. Lic/Insd. E795. 214-850-4891

EST. 1991 #1

COWBOY FENCE & IRON CO.

214.692.1991

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

Installation, Repair, Refinish, Wax, Hand Scrape. Residential, Commercial. Sports Floors. 30 Yrs.

HASTINGS STAINED CONCRETE

New/Remodel. Stain/Wax Int/Ext. Nick. 214-341-5993. www.hastingsfloors.com

LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160

ROCK GLASS CO Replace, repair: windows, mirrors, showers, screens. 214-837-7829

HANDYMAN SERVICES

A R&G HANDYMAN Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Fencing, Roofing, Light Hauling. Ron or Gary 214-622-7488, 469-878-8044

ALL STAR HOME CARE Carpentry, Glass, Tile, Paint, Doors, Sheetrock Repair, and more. 25 yrs. exp. References. Derry 214-505-4830

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

G & P HANDYMAN Plumbing, AC, Electrical, Painting, Roofing, Fix Appliances. 214-576-6824

Restoration Flooring 469.774.3147

Hardwood Installation · Hand Scraping Sand & Finish · Dustless restorationflooring.net

HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

25+ Years Experience

Willeford

hardwood floors

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606

HONEST, SKILLED SERVICE With a Smile. General Repairs/ Maintenance. 214-215-2582

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS

Allen’s Handyman & Home Repair 214-288-4232

Your Home Repair Specialists

HOUSE PAINTING

1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work. Inside and Out. Free Ests. Local Refs. Ron 972-816-5634

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL

Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

BENJAMIN’S PAINTING SERVICE Professional Work At Reasonable Prices. 214-725-6768

MANNY’S HOME PAINTING & REMODEL Int./Ext. Sheetrock. Manny 214-334-2160

OAK CLIFF PAINT MASTERS Interior & Exterior - Free quote at no obligation 214-650-3981

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TOP COAT 30 yrs. exp. Reliable, Quality Repair/Remodel Phil @ 214-770-2863

VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext. Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 469-774-7111

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/ GROUT

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS LLC

Complete Kitchen And Bath Remodels. Tile, Granite, Marble, Travertine, Slate. Insured. 214-563-5035 www.blake-construction.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

MELROSE TILE James Sr., Installer, Repairs. 40 Yrs. Exp. MelroseTile.com 214-384-6746

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS Granite, Marble, Tile, Kitchen/Bath Remodels. 972-276-9943.stoneage.dennis@verizon.net

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

TOM HOLT TILE 30 Yrs Experience In Tile, Backsplashes & Floors. Refs. Avail. 214-770-3444

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS

Professionals, Experts, Artists. Trim, Remove, Cabling, Bracing/Bolting. Cavity-Fill Stump Grind. Emergencies, Hazards. Insd. Free Est. 972-803-6313. arborwizard.com

A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 12 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

YOUR TREES could look like a WORK OF ART, I Guarantee It.

Just Trees

Call Mark Wittlich 214-332-3444

Tip: Signs you might have a potential roofing problem:

1. Stains on ceiling or walls.

2. Seeing water in your attic after a heavy rain.

3. Seeing missing, cracked or curling shingles.

4. Mold or ‘bald spots’ on your roof.

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

MOVING

AM MOVING COMPANY Specialty Moving & Delivery.469-278-2304 ammovingcompany.com

PEST CONTROL

Kirk Scott Scott Exteriors 214.503.7663 scottexteriors.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

A&B LANDSCAPING Degreed Horticulturist. Landscape & Stone Work. 214-534-3816

AYALA’S LANDSCAPING SERVICE Call the Land Expert Today! Insured. 214-773-4781

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

Trim, Remove, Stump Grind. Free Est. Insured. 214-823-6463

DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914

Lawn Service & Landscape Installation

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061

LIGHT IT UP DALLAS

Your lighting specialists. 972-591-8383

Parties, Weddings, Patios, Landscape.

LocalWorks.advocatemag.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

Dallas Groundskeeper

A BETTER EARTH PEST CONTROL Keeping the environment, kids, pets in mind. Organic products avail. 972-564-2495

MCDANIEL PEST CONTROL

Prices Start at $85 + Tax

For General Treatment.

Average Home-Interior/Exterior & Attached Garage. Quotes For Other Services. 214-328-2847. Lakewood Resident

PLUMBING

A2Z PLUMBING 214-727-4040

All Plumbing Repairs. Slab Leak Specialists. Licensed & Insured. ML# M36843.

• locally owned & operated organic landscape company

• Comprehensive services designed to meet your needs

DALLASGROUNDSKEEPER.COM

"We treat your lawn as if it were our own." 214.504.6788 ”WE

AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521 # M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues. plumberiffic69@gmail.com

Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days *Joe Faz 469-346-1814 - Se Habla Español*

ARRIAGA PLUMBING: General Plumbing Since the 80’s. Insured. Lic# M- 20754 214-321-0589, 214-738-7116, CC’s accepted.

HAYES PLUMBING INC. Repairs. Insured, 214-343-1427 License M13238

M&S PLUMBING Quality Work & Prompt Service. Jerry. 214-235-2172. lic.#M-11523

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

WE REFINISH! www.allsurfacerefinishing.com

LSI LAWN SPRINKLERS “Making Water Work” Irrigation system Service & Repair. Specializing In Older Copper Systems. LI #13715. 214-283-4673

TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190

Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning

U R LAWN CARE Maintenance. Landscaping. Your Personal Yard Service by Uwe Reisch uwereisch@yahoo.com 214-886-9202

NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913 Lic. M-40581 Res/Com. Repairs & Leak Location

THE PLUMBING MANN LLC

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PLUMBING

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Chandler Design Group

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LEAFCHASERS POOL SERVICE Parts/Service. Chemicals/Repairs. Jonathan. 214-729-3311

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TRUE CRIME: PROWLING FOR POKEMON PLAYERS

Police issued a warning to Pokémon GO players on the hunt near White Rock Lake. They are investigating a series of four robberies in the area that involve victims playing the game in the middle of the night. In each incident, the victim was robbed of a cellphone by three men, two of them armed with guns.

“[The victims] have their head down and they’re not paying attention,” says Lt. Chris Harmon of the Dallas robbery unit.

The first incident occurred July 22 when a man sitting in his car was robbed at gunpoint around 1 a.m. while looking for Pokémon in the 600 block of E. Lawther, according to Harmon. Less than 30 minutes later, the exact same crime was reported in the 2900 block of White Rock Road when four victims were robbed of their cellphones while playing the game, again by three suspects carrying two guns.

On July 26, two more victims were robbed in the 4800 block of West Lawther Drive around 1 a.m. The final crime took place on Aug. 2, around 2:30 a.m. when the three suspects targeted a male and female victim in the 4700 block of W. Lawther.

The suspects are described as black males in their late teens or early 20s, who were wearing dark pants and white T-shirts. In one of the offenses, a black female drove the suspects away in a white fourdoor sedan.

victims] have their head down and they’re

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

THE FAIR PARK DEBATE COMES DOWN TO ONE THING: CONTRACTS Comment. Visit lakehighlands.advocatemag.com and search Angela Hunt to tell us what you think.

I’m going to share something personal with you, but it’s got to stay between us.

I like details. No, I mean, I really like details. Like, unnaturally so. Like, if I could marry details, I would. Give me a few dense legal contracts, a ream of spreadsheets and a box of historical news clippings, and I’m in heaven.

But we need to keep this unhealthy predilection of mine on the down-low because I’m fairly certain that if I’m found out, there are some in this city who will label me as anti-Dallas. (Or perhaps even a “hater.”)

There’s a troubling (and I would argue, dangerous) civic fidelity test that has grown in popularity among the powers-that-be in our city. It posits that one’s love for Dallas is directly proportional to the degree to which one will disregard facts and blithely and blindly support a particular civic effort. The more extravagant and expensive and complex the project, the more devout are those who enthusiastically advocate for it without question.

According to this perspective, if you truly and dearly love our city, you should be perfectly comfortable signing off on nothing more than a concept — an idea. You shouldn’t need details or contracts or case studies, all of which reveal a lack of faith in our city leaders — and that’s just rude.

In the recent past, we’ve seen this litmus test utilized by sitting mayors and others in relation to a multitude of large-scale, publicly-funded projects: Ask too many questions about the projected mobility impact of the Trinity Toll Road and you’ll be labeled as trying to kill the entire Trinity River Project. Wonder aloud about taxpayer protections in the convention center hotel contract and you’ll be chastised for not wanting downtown to flourish. Ask for examples of horse parks and golf courses that have transformed blighted urban areas and you’ll be vilified for hating southern Dallas.

This antagonism between concept and contract is evident in the current debate about the future of Fair Park. The mayor has been pushing for a private nonprofit foundation, led by former Hunt Oil executive Walt Humann, to take over management of Fair Park. Conceptually, that may or may not be a good idea.

But the question isn’t whether we want to save Fair Park, whether we care about Fair Park, or whether privatization is a good idea. All of that’s prelude, an appetizer. The meat of this debate is the contract itself. The real question — the only question — is whether the written contract between the City of Dallas and Humann’s Fair Park Foundation is a good one.

Luckily, five members of the Dallas Park Board like details. In early August, Park Board members Becky Rader, Jesse Moreno, Paul Sims (my husband), Marlon Rollins and Barbara Barbee foiled heavy-handed attempts to limit debate on this 30year, $800 million contract. They didn’t have the time or support to

completely fix the agreement, but thanks to their hard work, the Fair Park contract coming to City Council in late August is much improved. And it’s the contract that counts.

You shouldn’t need details or contracts or case studies, all of which reveal a lack of faith in our city leaders — and that’s just rude.

All these lofty ideas, whether about Fair Park, the Trinity River or the Convention Center Hotel, are meaningless hot air until they are boiled down to very concrete terms in a written contract. And once these ideas are given solid legal form, once they are parsed into black and white letters and inscribed on a page, and once the council has voted to approve a very particular combination of words, those words bind the City of Dallas. They create legal obligations and financial responsibilities guaranteed by Dallas taxpayers, often for decades and usually for hundreds of millions of dollars.

I can’t help but think that if these massive civic projects were privately funded, if certain cheerleading, wheeler-dealer types who pull the strings at City Hall had to ante up their own money instead of putting taxpayers on the hook, that there would be a lot more questions asked before anyone signed on the dotted line.

I suspect we would discover that they secretly love details, too.

ANGELA HUNT is a former Dallas city councilwoman. She writes a monthly opinion column about neighborhood issues. Her opinions are not necessarily those of the Advocate or its management. Send comments and ideas to her ahunt@advocatemag.com.

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