2018 January Lakewood

THE PEOPLE’S PUBS

LAKEWOOD’S PRINCIPAL PREDICAMENT

WOODROW MARCHES ON

FEATURES

24

34 DIVE INTO THE BAR SCENE East Dallas’ low -key saloons.

42 LAKEWOOD LEADERSHIP Understanding principal turnover.

PHOTO BY DANNY FULGENCIO; OPPOSITE PAGE:

PHOTO BY JOHN SCHERGER

Photo by Danny Fulgencio

“People are in need. We can’t just leave them here.”

Micah Hill, Woodrow teacher and National Guardsman during Hurricane Harvey page 24

OPENING REMARKS

By RICK WAMRE

Gratitude game

Recently, I read an article about reconnecting, about the importance of finding someone who has done something nice for us over the years and deliberately letting that person know how much they mattered in our life.

It seemed like a good idea, and I decided to do it. I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind, but how hard could it be to find someone who has provided a boost to my life or career and just say “thanks?”

But as time slid by, I moved on to other things and forgot all about thanking someone who deserved it.

Then a couple of weeks ago in church, our pastor talked about this exact same thing.

And before I could forget to proceed yet again came the clincher: While moving some stuff around in my office, I ran across a book given to me by one of my high school teachers when I graduated. The book, “J.B.” by Archibald MacLeish, is a “play in verse” loosely based on the Biblical story of Job, a guy who the devil bet he could turn against God by throwing a few obstacles in Job’s life path.

For years, I’ve been toting the book with me from apartments to homes to offices. It was always there, but rarely visible. For years, I wouldn’t even run across it, and then out of the blue, there it would be again — waiting for me to pick it up, flip it open and remember the guy who gave it to me.

Mr. Hassenstab was the adviser for our high school student newspaper, my first experience with journalism. He was also our English teacher, and he gave me my first “F.” I defied him on an assignment that was half the grade for the entire

class, and he followed through with the grade I deserved.

Inside the book rests a worn and now-faded note with a bit of advice I’ve referred to time and again over the years.

“Academically, your education is just beginning. You will get very frustrated during the next four to six years. But do not forget the value of academics and become too relevant. Make sure your ‘thing’ is worth doing.

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“Good luck in the coming years. Feel free to stop in at any time and write to us to let us know how things are going.”

I always meant to follow through and let him know how I was doing; I just didn’t do it. And I’m sure not hearing from me probably didn’t keep him awake at night, either. After all, I was just one of hundreds, maybe thousands, of students who passed through his classes.

But it’s a new year, and there’s no good reason to keep doing things the same way I’ve been doing them.

So the next note I type will be to Mr. Hassenstab, just to say “thanks.”

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

contributors: Angela Hunt, Christina Hughes, George Mason, Brent McDougal

photo editor: Danny Fulgencio

214.635.2121 / danny@advocatemag.com

contributing photographers: Rasy Ran, Kathy Tran

Advocate, © 2017, 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.

The simple act of going back to say ‘thanks’

But as time slid by, I moved on to other things and forgot all about thanking someone who deserved it.

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“Erasing history? You do know all this information can be found in books, right? Instead of looking at it as ‘erasing history’ why don’t you look at it as an opportunity to name the school in honor of someone who DIDN’T fight a war against his own country. Please tell me where else in the world do you find statues of and institutions named after people who lead failed uprisings against their own country?”

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READERS REACT TO:

“How long until we are like New York - PS-# (Public School and they are literally numbered) .... nothing says school spirit like cheering for PS-3!”

“Couldn’t they have just called it Stonewall and left off the Jackson? Until attrition takes most from the neighborhood, I’m guessing it will still be referred to as Stonewall.”

JUDY HOLLAND LEPAR

“I agree. I can’t believe someone would name a school after a traitor. It’s almost as if someone had an agenda naming it that way in 1938.”

ANDREW JENKINS

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HAPPY 2018!

New Year a very Special Time to Give Thanks and Express my Sincere Appreciation to ALL, for your Confidence, Business and Consideration!

I am sincerely GRATEFUL for your TRUST and your continued Business!

THANK YOU AND MANY BLESSINGS!

Lili Ornelas, REALTOR 214-808-0242

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“Despicable move by the truly ignorant.”

LONNIE L. WIGGINS

“As required, Stonewall Jackson chose a new name”

KELLI AMANDA MCARTHY

L A UNC H

JAN. 28

POLAR PLUNGE

Dive into icy water for a good cause at the Hypnotic Donuts Polar Plunge at 3 p.m., hosted by the doughnut shop and the Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles 3018. The fundraiser includes a raffle and heated Tiki bar area, and raises money for the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles 3018, 8500 Arturo Drive, hypnoticdonuts.com, $10

Out & About

JAN. 1 – 27

LOCAL COLOR

Local and regional works have been assembled to express the power of color. A Celebration of Color features paintings, sculpture, prints, electronic media and kinetic art, all by local artists.

Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, 214.670.8749, bathhouse. dallasculture.org, free

JAN. 9

JAZZ BAND

The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts Jazz Band showcases its talents at “JazzStand on Abrams” at 7 p.m. Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams, 214.452.3100, wilshirebc.org, free

JAN. 19-31

PUPPET SHOW

See the famous children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and others by Eric Carle come to life through puppets as this OffBroadway hit makes its debut in Texas.

Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St., dct. org, 214.978.011, $23-$28

JAN. 25

SILENT NIGHT

Bid for a good cause at the ninth annual Winter Silent Auction from 6:30-9 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Lipscomb Elementary PTA. Times Ten Cellars, 6324 Prospect Ave., lipscomblions.com, free

JAN. 27

TOGA PARTY

Grab your bed sheets, college sweatshirts and pledge pins for the Lakewood Animal House Toga Party, benefitting J.L. Long Middle School. Besides the food and bar, there is a live band, an auction and more.

Lakewood Country Club, 6430 Gaston Ave., foldallas.org, $100

JAN. 27

MYSTERY DINNER

Put on your masks and evening wear for a three-course meal at the Arboretum while trying to solve a homicide during the Midnight at the Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, 214.515.6615, dallasarboretum.org, $100-$120

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN STEWART, 2017

JOYFUL NOISE

The renaissance of Woodrow Wilson’s band program

By WILL MADDOX

The Woodrow Wilson HIgh School band, led by Chris Evetts (top left), is now an awardwinning family of musicians (Photos courtesy of John Scherger).

It was a Friday night in 2011 when Woodrow Wilson High School faced Highland Park High School in a playoff football game. When halftime rolled around and the players left the field, anyone watching could see a chasm between the two schools.

As Woodrow’s band took the field, less than 20 musicians lined up in formation. They stumbled around and made some noise, but the band did not do the historic East Dallas high school justice.

Chris Evetts, in his second year as an assistant band director at Highland Park High, winced as he watched the Woodrow band meander about the field, while silently making a promise to himself: “I am going to be working there next year.”

Evetts did not always dream of being a band director. He majored in radio, TV and film at the University of Texas, and worked on the children’s show “Barney” as a handler, escorting the friendly purple dinosaur on tours across the country.

He also landed a job with the Glen Miller Orchestra playing saxophone and clarinet, and traveled the world with the famous group. After getting his master’s degree in Liverpool, England, he returned to the states and realized he didn’t have a job.

His musical background led him to accept the position as band director in his hometown at Clarksville High School in East Texas. He later moved to the Dallas area, where he worked in Frisco, Lake Highlands and Highland Park.

Along the way, he found his calling.

After the fateful playoff football game, he would joke with his colleagues about moving from the gilded hallways of the Park Cities to East Dallas. “I looked at Woodrow and saw some kids that I could help,” he says.

He called about an opening at J.L. Long Middle School in 2012 and learned that the Woodrow band director was leaving that year as well. He lucked into learning about the job before it was even posted. During his interview, he told principal Kyle Richardson, “There is no reason why we can’t be the top perform-

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ing band in the district.”

At the time, Woodrow was the worst. But he was hopeful launching the 201213 school year as the band’s new leader.

He found a program in shambles, with just two-dozen members playing instruments that weren’t suitable for student use.

“The only thing you could do with them is make lamps out of them,” he says of the instruments.

“It was a blow-off class. No one took it seriously,” says Woodrow alum Julia Aves, describing band before Evetts’ arrival. “When Evetts came in, he actually cared and wanted us to do well.”

Evetts knew he needed to do two things: Establish a band booster club and get the students in private lessons. One funded the other, more or less.

As the support began rolling in, things started to change.

“We are not like the big schools with all kinds of money,” says current band parent Carrie Furman. “That impacts

culture of caring,” says senior drum major Manuela Arroyave, who was recently accepted to Harvard University.

Evetts encouraged his students to take ownership of the band, and they did. This year, when he was out with a kidney stone, the students took attendance and ran rehearsal by themselves, leaving the substitute without much to do.

Evetts proved himself an outlet for angsty teens by offering guidance without judgment for students who needed a place to belong and feel welcome. When one musician didn’t show up for a band trip, Evetts directed the bus to the student’s home to pick him up.

“Mr. Evetts turned the band into a family where your academics and personal problems were just as important as the music,” says 2016 graduate and French horn player Adrian Turner.

Over the years, his efforts paid off.

“People at the football games to enjoy our shows more started getting thanks from team after the game,” Turner

After ranking as one of the forming bands in the district arrived, this year’s band advanced Area Marching Contest for in recent memory, scoring any Dallas ISD band and receiving fect scores at the regional

the band so much.”

Evetts spent summer mornings painting the football lines on grass fields for the marching band to practice, paying for the white stripes out of his own pocket.

“He gives away his personal life and time in a way most aren’t,” says current band parent Maria Hasbany.

“He was like the personification of what people think of when they think of a band teacher,” says 2015 alumnus Isaac Morales, a French horn player. “He was so happy to be there.”

Evetts pushed to build leaders from within the band, and he developed team-building retreats over the summer to establish a positive culture.

“Band is truly like a family this year,” says senior drum major Archer Hasbany. “The upperclassman are like parents and role models for the freshman.”

“I have seen my little boy turn into a fine young man under the tutelage of the band program,” says Lauren Larson, whose son, Canyon, is a junior in band.

“We worked really hard to achieve that

The band that started with 20 now stretches from end zone on the football field, ping 114 musicians this year.

Fittingly, Evetts recently as one of the East Dallas Commerce Teachers of the the only educator whose came entirely from students.

Evetts, who welcomed last month, knows he could oped the band without help.

“I want to emphasize how Woodrow community is,” he says. “Anytime we have needed anything, I have been able to ask for it and it appears.”

While the band’s success in competitions is impressive, it’s Evett’s impact on the students that is most noteworthy.

“People knew that he believed in us,” Aves says. “Band made me more confident as a person. I am not afraid to get out there and try something new.”

Help support the Woodrow band by attending its Feb. 18 fundraising concert at the Granada Theater. Go to granadatheater.com for tickets.

“It was a blow-off class. No one took it seriously. When Evetts came in, he actually cared and wanted us to do well.”

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WHAT GIVES?

SMALL WAYS THAT YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

ADOPT A DOG

The nonprofit Angie’s Friends will have adoptable dogs of all sizes available to meet at Half Price Books on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

RUN A RACE

The annual Too Cold To Hold half marathon, 10k and 5k is set for Sunday, Jan. 28, at 8 a.m. in Norbuck Park. The race partners with a slew of charities like Operation Kindness, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the North Texas Food Bank . New this year, the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities will sponsor team 22, with all donations raised to benefit Hurricane Harvey relief. Register at runproject.org.

COACH A CAREER

Spend time with a family experiencing homelessness and help improve their resumes, cover letters, interview techniques and other professional tasks at Interfaith Family Services. The coaching happens from Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m – 12 p.m., 5600 Ross Ave.

KNIT A HAT

Join the Knit Wit’s club, which meets 2-4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Lakewood Library, and help out with the thousands of baby hats they knit each year for Parkland Hospital. They also make items to benefit the library. Load up your needles and head to 6121 Worth.

READ A BOOK

Tutor a neighborhood Dallas ISD elementary student in first second or third grade to strengthen students’ reading comprehension and vocabulary. Volunteers are matched with two students and work with them for 30 minutes each. Students are paired with two adult tutors, receiving at least one hour of tutoring a week. Learn more at dallasisd.org.

PAWS & CLAWS

FOR THE BIRDS

From harrowing escapes to friendships with predators, Abigail is a bird who likes to live on the edge. This Vorens black-capped conure is native to the southern basin of the Amazon, but she is right at home as she rides around on the shoulder of Sunny Platz, only occasionally nipping at her earrings. Abigail is a great friend to her feline housemate Meowy, who is endlessly curious about exploring the bird’s space. Don’t try and sneak up on the Platz home, as Abigail is an effective alarm system, alerting the entire house when anyone approaches. Once, when her cage was being cleaned outside, she escaped, flying up into a tree where she surveyed her options for 45 minutes. The Platz family was worried sick about their pet, but apparently the feathered friend liked her home, because she flew down and landed on the head of a worker who was remodeling, catching him by surprise. “You came back, you must love us,” Sunny Platz told her.

SHOPPING IN LAKEWOOD

While some things change, others stay the same. In 1974, the corner of Abrams and Gaston was home to Harrell’s drug store, Centennial Liquor, a piano store and tax services. Apparently, there were only three colors of car: light, dark and in-between. Today, Abrams has been rerouted around Lakewood Shopping Center,

creating Harrell Park, but the Faulkner building still looms above what used to be a 7-Eleven near Paulus and Gaston. The pull-in parking remains, daring drivers to back into oncoming traffic on the busy strip. Craft beer, sushi, remodelers and dentists line the same strip these days, reflecting the gentrification in East Dallas.

CALL OF DUTY

The Woodrow teacher on the front lines of Hurricane Harvey

By WILL MADDOX

Micah Hill was at a professional development meeting at Woodrow Wilson High School in August when he received a text that would send him into the teeth of the most costly disaster in Texas history.

Though he teaches engineering at Woodrow, Hill also is a second lieutenant in the Texas National Guard, and has been since he graduated from Tuskegee University in 2010. The text sought an officer who could assist with Hurricane Harvey. He had 24 hours to respond. “Wow, this is real,” he thought.

Hill accepted immediately, reassured by his commander that the job would last no more than a weekend. He shipped out on Aug. 23, not knowing he’d spend the next three weeks wading through the devastation Harvey left behind.

While he had never been deployed before, he was prepared. Having recently completed his Basic Officer Leadership Course, he was eligible to assist in natural disasters or conflict zones.

He headed south with his gut a whirlwind of fear, anxiety and excitement.

Hill trained for these moments. He practiced loading up the proper equipment, coordinating rendezvous points with the rest of the forces and various safety techniques. But a natural disaster like Harvey was not in any manual.

Wind speeds hit 130 mph when the hurricane collided with the Texas coast, dumping up to 40 inches of rain in some places. When the skies finally cleared, 89 people were left dead, nearly 185,000 homes were damaged and almost 40,000 people were displaced.

Hill’s unit was assigned to a task force that assisted fire fighters and police officers

Micah Hill came across numerous families in need of rescue during Hurricane Harvey.

rescuing civilians who were trapped by flooding in Houston. First responders poured in from all over the country to aid and train the National Guard, and Hill’s unit received a crash course in water rescues.

As the unit rolled out, what Hill saw didn’t seem real. “It was surreal. A disaster,” he remembers. “There was nothing recognizable from everyday life.”

Hill’s unit’s mission was to rendezvous with other first responders at a fire station in West Houston, but after Hill’s first Humvee flooded, things looked tenuous. They switched to a larger truck, but were still unable to clear the 8 feet of water that covered Loop 610 on their way to the meet up.

While looking for an alternate route on side streets, they quickly realized that the water was going to keep them from their mission. After finding a neighborhood of residents stuck in flooded homes, they made a quick decision to begin rescuing Houstonians. They collected people fleeing the flooding, ferrying them to churches and the convention center.

It was organized chaos.

Hill felt pulled between helping others save their memories and keeping a tight schedule to ensure everyone was

rescued. He knew how difficult it must be to have just minutes to decide what to keep, knowing everything left behind could be destroyed.

“How can they grab what they need in two minutes?” he wondered. “Is that humane?”

When he picked up a family, it didn’t always result in a simple trip to a shelter. They might have family down the street in need of rescue, or ask to be dropped off somewhere else across the city. The stress mounted, but Hill knew he had to keep his composure. “You can’t just be barking at people,” he says.

In a culture that respects authority and chain of command, it was a risk to not follow through with the mission to get to the fire station, but Hill and his unit saw no other option.

“People are in need. We can’t just leave them here,” he says.

Over the next two hours, Hill and his unit rescued 52 residents. Jumping out of his truck, Hill splashed through waist-deep water to pull people from their flooded homes. They were the first responders of any kind to hit the area.

For the next few days, it was a whirlwind of deliverance as helicopters, boats and trucks made a mad dash to get peo-

Hill traveled through West Houston in a bass boat, searching for flooded residents.

PHOTO BY LT. ZACHARY

ple out of their waterlogged residences. It wasn’t all done by the book, but the situation called for a little rule-bending to help people.

“No one can say you are doing this wrong when you are helping a baby get out of the house while the mom has two other children who can’t walk through the water,” he says.

Hill later partnered with a civilian and his bass boat, rescuing children and families in West Houston. The man stayed in town just to help his neighbors who couldn’t evacuate. Hill traveled through the swamped streets with this civilian, rescuing countless other Houstonians, even appearing on CNN’s Twitter feed in a stunning photo of a water rescue.

“Everyone showed some type of heroism,” he says modestly.

After two and a half sleepless days of rescues, Hill and his unit finally were going to get some rest, when he heard sirens and saw ambulances pull up to their hotel. Each ambulance had dozens of people packed in, including a disabled man who couldn’t walk. They needed shelter. Hill strapped his boots and ensured everyone was taken somewhere safe for the night.

In three days, his unit rescued nearly 200 people from the devastation. During his time in southeast Texas, he slept in hotels, vehicles and even spent a night in Gallery Furniture, owned by Bishop Lynch alumnus Jim “Mattress Mac” McIngvale that was open to all victims of the hurricane.

Hill’s transition back to being a father, husband and teacher was an adjustment after what he experienced in Houston. Lesson plans, data meetings and day care pick ups are a far a cry from flooded rescues. Though he showed bravery in the face of disaster and risked his own life to save others, he remains humble and reflective on the way everyone came together.

“None of us are heroes,” Hill says of the National Guard. “The people who stayed and came in to volunteer, not getting paid, and doing it on their own dime, they are amazing.”

“How can they grab what they need in two minutes? Is that humane?”

PHILANTHROPY FOCUS

Our neighborhood loves to give back and support the organizations that make it a special place. A local nonprofit will be featured each month describing how the organization makes an impact in the community.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

This East Dallas nonprofit keeps families together, even in the throes of addiction

By WILL MADDOX

Photos by DANNY FULGENCIO

s the adopted daughter of a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and a stay-at-home mom, Audrey Crouch’s outwardly pleasant childhood masked her own personal demons.

She dabbled with alcohol and marijuana at 12, which gave way to cocaine and ecstasy. By 16, her parents sent her to Missouri for her first round of rehab.

“It was a center for rich kids that were acting out,” Crouch says.

She, and her demons, then headed back to Dallas. Heroin and crack were her drugs of choice in her 20s.

She was a 26-year-old addict with a 1-year-old child when she found her way to Nexus Recovery Center, a substance abuse treatment facility for women and teen girls. Because of Nexus’ unique model, Crouch was able to keep her one-year old son with her as she went through treatment. After five months of treatment, she reestablished herself and her sense of normalcy.

But it wouldn’t last.

Her relapse sparked a three-year slide into addiction that led to stints in jail, homelessness and losing custody of her two children. Realizing she’d hit rock bottom, she called her parents for help.

“Each time in treatment makes a difference,” she says. “It is a stepping stone to being sober for a long time.”

Crouch has been clean for 13 years, time she’s used to transform her present into something that is unrecognizable from her past. She is married now, and has adopted

“I am grateful for my addiction. I wouldn’t be the person I am today and have the openness and compassion I have without having gone through it.”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING State Highway (SH) 78 (Garland Road/East Grand Avenue) at Gaston Avenue Intersection Improvement Dallas County, Texas CSJ: 0009-02-067

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in conjunction with the City of Dallas, will conduct a Public Meeting for the purpose of soliciting public comments on the proposed intersection improvement of State Highway (SH) 78 (Garland Road/East Grand Avenue) at the intersection with Gaston Avenue in the City of Dallas, Texas. The meeting will be held at the Dallas Arboretum –Rosine Hall, located at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218, on Thursday, January 18, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Public Meeting will be an Open House format with no formal presentation.

The proposed project would consist of reconfiguring the SH 78/Gaston Avenue intersection to improve traffic operations and mobility. The improvements would include the addition of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The proposed project would require additional ROW to accommodate the proposed improvements.

Maps showing the proposed project’s location and geometric design will be available for viewing at the public meeting. The public meeting notice and venue map will also be available online at www.keepitmovingdallas.com under Upcoming Public Hearing/Meeting.

All interested persons are invited to attend this Public Meeting and express their views on the proposed project. Written comments from the public regarding this project are requested and will be accepted for a period of 15 calendar days following the meeting. Written comments may be submitted either in person, or by mail to: Travis Owens, P.E., TxDOT, Dallas District Office, 4777 East US Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150, or email travis.owens@txdot.gov. Written comments must be postmarked by February 2, 2018, to be included in the Public Meeting Summary.

Persons interested in attending this meeting who have special communication or accommodation needs are encouraged to contact the TxDOT Dallas District Public Information Office at (214) 320-4480 at least two working days prior to the meeting. Because the Public Meeting will be conducted in English, any requests for language interpreters or other special communication needs should also be made at least two (2) days prior to the Public Meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate these needs.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.

LIST WITH THE LEADER THIS SPRING

children from a mother who was struggling with her own demons of addiction.

Her road to recovery left her wanting to give back. She returned to school for a degree in drug and alcohol counseling. Crouch always dreamed of working with Nexus, where she says the single-gender model best suited her skillset.

“[Clients] are not trying to look cute for guys or looking for new relationships,” she says. “I have found that we get further faster here.”

When an opportunity arose to work for Nexus, she jumped and worked her way up to be the nonprofit’s program director. She specifically addresses trauma to increase coping skills, as many addicts mask past trauma by abusing drugs and alcohol. The curriculum focuses on the 12-step program but allows the women to design their own recovery, too.

Crouch’s experience on both sides of recovery leaves her well informed about how trauma, genetics and nurturing can influence one’s path toward addiction.

The East Dallas facility on La Prada Drive is a converted Bible College where more than 2,000 women and their children receive treatment via inpatient and outpatient services, including counseling and support for single women, mothers, teens and expectant mothers, often for those who can’t afford it. They help patients find long-term sobriety, deal with

trauma and develop coping skills, which has become even more salient during the opioid epidemic.

Unlike most treatment facilities, Nexus allows women to bring their children, with childcare facilities and Dallas ISD classes offered on campus. This allows the women to focus on their recovery without the added stress of being separated from their children.

Crouch doesn’t hide from her past and is proud of what she has done to turn her life around.

“I am grateful for my addiction,” she says. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today and have the openness and compassion I have without having gone through it.”

WAYS TO HELP:

Nexus has a wide range of volunteer opportunities, no matter how much time one has to give. Volunteers can help the Dallas ISD teachers in the teen classroom, assist in the office with administrative tasks, or serve as a mentor for a teenage girl. Contact Beth Hunter at 214.321.0156, ext. 2101, or bhunter@nexusrecovery.org for more information.

Nexus’ unique model allows women to bring their children to live at the facility, a former Bible College.

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Photo by Kathy Tran

DELICIOUS

Baking his own success

By WILL MADDOX

Photos by KATHY TRAN

Benny’s is about more than just schmear. Salmon is a favorite topping for bagel lovers.

DELICIOUS

Ruben Gomez often came home after 2 a.m., clothes torn from scratches all over his body after long nights as a bouncer at Far West, the infamous nightclub that used to keep what is now the Arboretum Village busy until the wee hours. He wasn’t worried about his own safety; he could handle himself, but the long hours and violence were taking a toll.

His uncle, a shift leader at Benny’s Bagels Lakewood, said he could get Gomez a job in 2011. Even though he had never even tried a bagel, he took it.

Gomez was familiar with the area. He grew up on Oram, just down the street from Benny’s, and attended Robert E. Lee, J.L. Long and Woodrow Wilson. When he was a teenager, he dropped out of high school to help his mother pay the bills.

When he started at Benny’s, Gomez washed dishes but was a quick learner. He watched his uncle place bulk orders, make sandwiches and lead the staff. He saw his future at the bagel shop.

Eventually, Gomez became shift leader himself, and the owner realized that he didn’t need to check in very often. From accounting and payroll to running the register and dealing with customers, Gomez had mastered every aspect of the business. He told his co-workers that

one day he’d own the business, and this fall he received his opportunity.

In the six years Gomez worked at Benny’s, sales more than doubled, making ownership even more enticing. The former owner saw Gomez’s potential and offered him a deal to owner-finance the purchase of the bagel shop.

When he had enough money saved, the owner drew up a contract. “I am living the American dream,” Gomez says.

These days, he lives in the neighborhood with his three children and wakes up at 3:30 every morning to start baking bagels. As a former employee, he seeks to be a supportive owner.

“The first thing I did was I took care of my workers,” he says, noting that he couldn’t have any success without happy employees. “I gave everyone a raise, and anytime they need a loan, or something for their kids, I help them.”

Gomez’s new goal is to own all of the Benny’s in Dallas one day.

Benny’s is about more than just bagels, even though it sells hundreds of “everything” bagels, the top seller, each day. They have sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, and include unique toppings such as salmon, roast beef and vegetarian options.

Ambience: Neighborhood Diner

Price Range: $3-$7

Hours: 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

1901 Skillman

214.887.8385

Gomez wants to maintain the successful formula he has worked to create in the cozy space over the last six years, priding himself on customer service.

“We will see them pull up, know their car, by the time they walk in the door we are almost done with their order,” he says. “All of our regulars, they don’t even have to order.”

Ruben Gomez’s vision led him from a high school dropout to a small business owner in the neighborhood.

DID YOU KNOW: The name Benny’s comes from the original owner’s bulldog.

BENNY’S BAGELS LAKEWOOD

BENNY’S BAGELS LAKEWOOD

LAID-BACK LIBATION

BARS WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME, ERYONE KNOWS YOUR BARS WHERE EV

STORY BY WILL MADDOX

PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

AND YOUR DRINK

When you crack th e d oor an d wa l k in fo r h ap py hou r, eve ryone sees yo u b efo re you r eyes adjust to th e darkness, and chances are, you a re recog nized

and chances are, you are recognized. You may hear a jukebox, a hearty chuckle among friends or perhaps some live music, but as your vision returns, the darkness becomes familiar. You have arrived in one of Dallas’ many neighborhood dive bars. These treasures have become even more valuable in a Dallas that often values the newest and shiniest, and provide a respite from the posturing and anonymity that plague many watering holes around town. Take the plunge and learn more about East Dallas dives.

THE GOAT

EVEN DURING the holidays, The Goat is hopping on a Tuesday night. For this neighborhood bar with live music every night, it’s no surprise. Tuesday is Delta Blues night, when acoustic musicians entertain guests with down-home songs of loss and love.

One couple saunters onto the compact dance floor between the tables and stage, eyes locked on each other, without a care for the guests. The two touch foreheads, hips swiveling and feet tapping to belie their dancing ability without showing off too much.

Loud conversations along the bar and a pool game are the backdrop to a man decked out in Dallas Stars regalia, including green Mardi Gras beads, a green top hat, bedazzled cane and sunglasses.

“You may see something you will remember,” says manager Adam Testa, tellingly.

That is the epitome of The Goat, where everyone is confident they will see someone they know. It is more surprising to not recognize anyone.

“There is never a dull moment,” says Testa, who has worked there for over a decade.

Despite the acronym, The Goat did not get its name from being the greatest of all time (though they would argue that they are). The bar derived the name from a former owner who owned a 1960s Pontiac GTO (nicknamed goat) and wanted to hang the front end of the classic car on the building’s façade. The city said she couldn’t do it, but the name stuck. It has been The Goat ever since.

Neighborhood regulars dot the bar during the

day, but nightfall brings out the music-seeking crowd. Two nights of karaoke, two blues jams, a Delta Blues night and Friday and Saturday’s featured artists keep the evenings musical, where everyone fits in no matter how poorly they belt out Bruno Mars.

“This is a place where everyone drops pretensions, where people of all stripes become best friends for three to four hours,” says Testa.

The Goat is one of the few bars that can be found open at 7 a.m. While that might seem like a poor financial decision for the bar and a poor life decision for anyone else, it services the night shift workers, whose happy hour begins when the rest of the world is waking up.

Owner Bill Weiss took over the bar in 2004, but says he is “kind of foggy” on the exact history

No matter the night or time, you will find neighbors, regulars and music lovers alike at The Goat.

DID YOU KNOW: The Goat doesn’t offer food, but you can bring in pizza and sandwiches from Cigarz next door (or anywhere else) to eat with the drinks and live music.

of who owned the bar when. He does know that back when Rhonda Nail, who now owns Dallasite (another East Dallas dive), was the owner, her husband died in the bar. “Right over there,” says Weiss, pointing to the end of the bar.

History is a big part of The Goat, from its clientele to its tables, where family photos have been preserved under layers of lacquer.

When a regular walks in, Weiss flings a coaster at her, both laughing as it spins away wildly. “We are blessed with a loyal clientele,” he says. “We haven’t managed to piss them off too much.”

The Goat

7248 Gaston Ave.

Open 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-2 a.m. Sunday

A DEEPER DIVE

SINGLE WIDE

2110 GREENVILLE AVE.

This Lower Greenville watering hole isn’t big on space, but a drive by on a weekend shows its popularity. It is the little brother of Deep Ellum’s Double Wide, and draws the crowds with Hump Day bingo, eclectic DJs and the Yoohoo Yee-haw.

MILO

BUTTERFINGERS

5645 SMU BLVD.

Generations of SMU students and neighbors continue to enjoy the no-nonsense food and libations at this tavern. Though it has changed locations since its founding nearly 50 years ago, it has remained a place to find cold beer and a friendly welcome.

DALLASITE

4622 BRYAN ST.

For darts, shuffleboard and pool, folks head to this Old East Dallas spot. The Dallas skyline on the sign above the patio welcomes neighbors to an adventure in fairly priced drinks, burgers and karaoke.

LAKEWOOD’S 1ST

AND 10

6465 MOCKINGBIRD

LANE, #316

Regulars can take a load off, watch a match or two and chow down on sizable burgers at this neighborhood bar. There’s also a competitive trivia night at this East Dallas hangout with rare ample parking.

DID YOU KNOW:

Country music legend Charley Pride, who released 36 No. 1 singles in his career, was a semi-regular at the bar for a spell.

SHIPS LOUNGE

DOWN THE STREET from paleo and fancy toast eateries on Greenville Avenue, crock pots are humming along with something closer to comfort food at Ships Lounge on Wednesday nights.

Humpday is free chili dog night at Ships, which tells you everything you need to know about the local dive. Guests may grab a beer at the bar and head over to the slow cookers, which keep hot dogs, chili and melted cheese warm and ready for the hungry, at no charge.

With deals like that, no one asks questions about how a bar with a nautical theme hundreds of miles from the ocean has lasted for decades.

One Wednesday, as the night wore on, a man entered and began making several chili dogs all at once. They weren’t for him, though. He was heading out to distribute the hot dogs to his homeless friends, he said.

Pam Shaddox has tended bar at Ships for the last 17 years, and she says the bar is like going back in time. “Look at the jukebox, it’s all oldies,” she adds.

Ships’ shotgun design has been in place since the 1950s, with the bar taking up more than half the width of the tight space, though there is a pool table and more seating at the back, as well as a newer lofted library area full of old Encyclopedia Britannica volumes.

The padded blue front door has an anchor pattern riveted into the upholstery, which may be a metaphor for the bar and the people there. In stormy seas, neighbors can count on Ships Lounge.

Ships almost didn’t make it when the shopping center at Ross and Greenville was redeveloped in 2015 and 2016. When a longtime Mexican

For a quiet conversation away from the jukebox that only plays the classics, head upstairs to the lofted library.

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restaurant, a used tire place and a paint store became hip restaurants, an upscale barbershop and a boutique gym, Ships closed for almost a year.

“People were calling and texting me, asking, ‘What is going on with Ships?’ ” Shaddox says. New owners Nasser Nayeb and Matt Pikar, who also own Nora on Greenville, made sure the bar survived, changing the space slightly without running off the regulars. The bar reopened in 2016.

A mural of the ocean adorns the wall opposite of the bar, which keeps its beer selection simple yet plentiful. The vinyl pad that lines the edge of the bar has its outer layer peeled away, and a now defunct space heater hangs above an inverted occupancy sign that originally said “49,” but now reads something closer to “6h.”

The campy décor and homey feel bring many to the bar, but for Shaddox, the regulars are what keep her coming to work every day.

“The people make it interesting and joyful to be here,” she says. “I enjoy the compadre-ship of the people I’ve been with all these years.”

She adds, “No matter what time you come in, you can forget your problems at the door. There will be a cheerful bartender behind the bar, and you can tell a difference between when you walk in and when you walk out.”

Ships Lounge

1613 Greenville Ave.

10–12 a.m. Monday-Friday, 10–1 a.m. Saturday, noon–12 midnight Sunday

LAKEWOOD LANDING

A PORTRAIT OF LUCILLE MATTHEWS, who worked at the bar for more than 30 years, watches over this watering hole. She used to work for Jack Ruby and her roommate once dated Lee Harvey Oswald, but she is remembered for being the heart and soul of the Landing for decades, her personality standing just a bit taller than her hair.

Owner Bill Rossell bought Lucille a car, complete with a giant bow, for her 30th anniversary of employment at the Landing, which started off as a Goff’s hamburgers around 50 years ago.

“She was shaking and kissing me,” Rossell says.

Lakewood Landing can feel like a series of spheres, each with their own geological formations and character. The sections of the local bar reveal unique social climates, depending on where one wants to sit.

The barstools are somewhat protected by an interior gable separating it from the dining area, where several tables and booths sit, well worn by generations of neighbors enjoying the awardwinning burgers. Small groups huddle around the Bud Light lamps that dimly light the booths.

Around the corner, the bar gives way to a pool table. Billiard players weave their way around patrons who are blowing away beasts at the throwback hunting arcade game Big Buck Safari. Quiet conversations circle the room from the couches hiding along the room’s edges.

Outside, the patio is always packed. There aren’t any pergolas, big screens or space heaters, but neighbors crowd the wooden deck to smoke cigarettes and share laughs.

Lakewood Landing certainly is our neighbor-

DID YOU KNOW: Owner Bill Rossell concocted a secret batter recipe from roasted jalapeños and cornmeal for savory corndogs; they are served only after midnight.

Postcards from patrons on trips around the world decorate the back of the bar, while more active guests head to the billiard room.

hood’s most heralded dive bar, claiming awards for its food and ambience which proudly adorns the walls. The bar made Esquire’s list of best bars in the country in 2011, and Thrillist recently named the neighborhood haunt the best dive bar in Texas. It comes by its awards honestly, with great burgers and a vibe that can’t be manufactured.

Jerry Cole, who has done the vending for the bar for decades, comes in nearly every day to banter with Laura Harrell, the bartender who works the day shift when she isn’t playing guitar in her band Party State. When asked if he was into sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, Cole responds, “At my age, the sex is gone, so it’s just drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.”

Harrell says the bar offers an escape for musicians and artists, and it was her hangout before she started working there. She says musicians enjoy being able to relax. “It is like actually having time off,” she says.

Rossell doesn’t drink anymore, after recovering from a liver transplant two years ago. He will celebrate 20 years of ownership on March 4 with a roast pig, fish fry and a crawfish boil at the Landing. “It’s all for Lakewood,” he says.

Rossell and longtime General Manager Roger Nelson want the Landing to feel like home for guests. “Every night is like having cocktail party at our house,” Nelson says. “It is a home away from home for everyone.”

Lakewood Landing

5818 Live Oak

Monday–Saturday, 3 p.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 3 p.m.—midnight.

PRINCIPAL MATTERS

Why can’t Lakewood Elementary hang on to a leader?

By WILL MADDOX Photo by RASY RAN

On July 13, smack dab in the middle of summer break, a collective “ding” drug Lakewood Elementary parents from their respective reveries. A text sent out at 7:06 p.m. alerted them that something about their school had gone terribly awry.

“Dear Lakewood,” read the group text. “It is with a heavy heart that I need to inform you that I have decided to leave LES. Thank you for everything! Jason Myatt.”

And just like that, Lakewood Elementary was dumped by its principal. Again. The text marked the fifth break-up in four years.

That same evening, Lakewood parents spotted Myatt at Mi Cocina, his heart so heavy only a Mambo Taxi could heal it, some speculated. Or perhaps the liquid courage led to the text, they conjectured.

Myatt and his family live in the neighborhood. They moved from Lakewood Hills to Lakewood Proper, closer to the

campus, during his stint at the school. In June 2016, right after he took the helm, he told the Advocate he hoped to retire from the elementary school.

What could be so terrible as to drive a principal who has real estate skin in the game, whose not-yet-school-age children are zoned to Lakewood Elementary, to exit after only a year?

It’s not you — it’s Dallas ISD, Myatt told parents in the inner circle following his departure. Still, after so many consecutive break-ups with unsatisfying explanations, Lakewood parents had to wonder:

Is it us?

This is a question that more and more communities may be asking, as Dallas ISD continues to see more middle- and upper-class families in East Dallas send their children to district schools. In our neighborhood, that means involved, educated parents with high expectations making demands of a principal mired in a massive district bureaucracy.

In an environment where charter and private schools provide stiff competition, the struggles of Lakewood Elementary are a microcosm of a growing conflict in Dallas ISD.

Of Lakewood Elementary’s last five principals over the last five and half school years, none lasted more than two school years. The chasm between the demographics of the school and that of the district is part of the problem, community members say.

Lakewood Elementary is a wealthy anomaly in a district where an overwhelming majority of students are poor. The Texas Education Agency classifies 88 percent of Dallas ISD students as “economically disadvantaged.” The reverse ratio exists at Lakewood Elementary, where only 7 percent of students are considered to have low socioeconomic status.

The dichotomy between the average Lakewood student and family and that of the district presents a challenge, says Lakewood father Chris Prestridge.

“It takes a special person to come off the streets and handle the pressure of the district and the high expectations of the parents who are involved,” he says. “It is all very demanding to get their hands around all those responsibilities, though if properly harnessed, you have some nice things at your disposal.”

Lakewood Elementary has all of the

factors that the school district says it wants: a neighborhood school with overwhelming community support, great test scores, experienced teachers. So why can’t it hold on to a principal?

Stephanie Elizalde, who oversees all Dallas ISD campuses as the district’s chief of school leadership, admires the “energy and involvement that you have in that community. Everyone wants to own the school’s success.” A school with such strong parental involvement can be a blessing.

“When schools sit in a community that will do anything and everything, the sky is the limit,” says longtime Lakewood parent Amy Cuccia.

Conversely, this kind of community comes with unique challenges. Former Lakewood PTA president Stacy Stabenow describes past principals who could not handle the expectations of the community. Some told every group what they wanted to hear; others butted heads with parents constantly. Stabenow admits that she herself is guilty of being a “hyper-involved parent.”

The question may be whether the district can attract candidates that have the skillset to do the job well.

“One of the district’s goals is to attract the middle class back to its schools,” says Paula Blackmon, a neighborhood resident and the former director of intergovernmental affairs and community relations at Dallas ISD. But, Blackmon says, “the district is not equipped to deliver a quality product. There is no ‘farm league’ of leadership waiting in the wings.”

“We demand a lot,” Stabenow says. “Sometimes we can overdo it.”

Prestridge, who helps run the Friends of Lakewood group for dads, was in touch with Principal Jason Myatt from the start of his tenure in 2016. Myatt seemed to be a good fit, coming from a school in Plano with substantial parental involvement. Yet, “he told me that he had never experienced anything like what he walked into at Lakewood,” Prestridge says. “It took its toll.”

During the single school year Myatt was principal, he reigned in the paren-

tal freedoms that parents had come to expect, says Lakewood parent Brandi Lewis. He put an end to parents congregating on the playground during recess and worked to control who was on school property, including how often parents could eat lunch with their children. He asked parents to not walk their students all the way to their classrooms. Lewis says she liked Myatt, but these changes didn’t sit well with some parents.

In the end, Prestridge feels like Myatt gained the trust of the staff and the parents, but that conflicts with DISD red tape spelled the end of his time at the school.

The data supports Myatt’s positive impact on the staff, as significant improvements are evident in Lakewood Elementary’s most recent staff survey. Dallas ISD issues this survey near the beginning and end of the school year to all of its teachers, giving them a chance to evaluate their school and district’s administration. In the categories of “beliefs and priorities,” “feedback and support,” and “culture and environment,” Lakewood teachers began the 2016 school year ranking their campus well below the district average but finished the year giving it above average marks.

“[Myatt] told me that the bigger issue was navigating DISD in regards to regulations and red tape and getting things done,” Prestridge says. Myatt, who now works as an assistant principal in Richardson ISD, did not respond to interview requests.

Cuccia, who led a committee that advised Myatt, saw these frustrations firsthand as DISD proclamations came down from on high. “Blanket statements about lesson planning across the entire feeder pattern doesn’t serve the needs of individual schools and classrooms,” she says.

Even if a principal manages to satisfy both the district and the parents, this can mean alienating the staff, says a former Lakewood Elementary teacher who wishes to remain anonymous.

“The faculty wants the principal to have the teachers’ back rather than the

“It takes a special person to come off the streets and handle the pressure of the district and the high expectations of the parents who are involved.”

parents’,” the teacher says. She describes a situation where a parent brought an issue to a former principal, who made a decision without consulting the teacher.

Several Lakewood teachers have worked at the school for decades, and new principals can find it difficult to gain the trust of this entrenched staff, she says. Lakewood Elementary teachers have been on the job for an average of 15-plus years, while the district average is less than 10, according to DISD.

Experienced teachers can be a great boon for a campus, but it’s not a given; Lewis says that while she loves some teachers, others are too set in their ways to deal with positive changes.

The juggling act between the community, the teachers and the district makes all principal jobs challenging, but Cuccia thinks the district doesn’t tell candidates what at an anomaly Lakewood is. She says the district’s mindset that the school will always perform well because of parental support has hurt advancement of the school.

Elizalde admits that the district has not done a good job in matching the needs of Lakewood with the skillsets of leaders, while acknowledging the difficulty of finding a leader both adept at and comfortable with nuance.

“There is no, ‘this is right, this is wrong,’ ” she says. “You have to have judgment in leadership, knowing when do you negotiate, when do you compromise and when you hold fast.”

The opinions of East Dallas parent leaders and former teachers coalesced around a few names who seem to fit the mold of the right principal for a school in a massive urban district but with a community of support that might look more like what one might find in the suburbs: Kyle Richardson, who was principal at Woodrow for five years; Michelle Thompson, who was at Lakewood Elementary for seven years; and Bert Hart, the current principal at Lee Elementary.

Prestridge says the Lakewood community had unanimous support for Hart when he was the school’s assistant and interim principal before taking the Lee position. A seasoned DISD veteran, Hart also spent several years at Stonewall Jackson Elementary. He knew the district and the community well, but the district went in a different direction.

Stabenow remembers both Thompson and Richardson as strong leaders who weren’t afraid to make a decision but also let parent groups have their say. Cuccia emphasizes the need for an elementary principal to be steeped in elementary curriculum and child development with the ability to articulate it and model it for staff. A principal should be polished, she believes, but should also be a listener who can both earn and give respect, and who hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to be a kid.

Despite the recent turnover, community leaders are optimistic about the future of their neighborhood school,

“We absolutely need someone who is a true listener. It can’t even be a skill that you’ve acquired; it has to be who you actually are.”

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especially now that Katie Wilke has been named principal.

Wilke, who was Lakewood’s assistant principal under Myatt and became interim after his departure, is continuing Myatt’s policies regarding parents on property. In an email reminder to parents at the beginning of the year, Wilke reminded parents to “refrain from bringing family pets on campus” and to use the “hug zone” in the foyer to say goodbye before students walk themselves to class. Lakewood parents don’t seem

to be holding this against her, however. Elizalde, too, is bullish on Wilke making the grade at Lakewood.

“We absolutely need someone who is a true listener,” she says of Lakewood and campuses like it with highly engaged parents. “It can’t even be a skill that you’ve acquired; it has to be who you actually are. For me, personally, that is something I’ve had to work on. I would not be a good fit at Lakewood. On a high-stress day, I would revert back to my natural style.”

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But with Wilke, Elizalde says, “It is her natural style to be a listener. She’s truly working to understand, to be a collaborative problem solver.”

Collaboration is “very, very taxing on time, but in the end you end up with far more support. It’s easier to say, ‘I’m not going to tell you the why, but here’s what we’re going to do.’ ”

That was Dallas ISD’s default stance for decades, but now, “we’re in a much more competitive environment,” she says. Parents and teachers know the difference between collaboration and buy-in, she adds, and see through efforts to make people feel they have input even when a decision has already been made. Hiring leaders who work with the community rather than hand down edicts is “what we now know serves our students or our campus community or our staff, best,” Elizalde says.

Taking time to make sure this was Wilke’s modus operandus is the reason she remained an interim and wasn’t immediately promoted to the principal position after Myatt left in July.

“I couldn’t make another mistake,” Elizalde says. But now, she says, “I’m feeling more confident in the selection of our principal than I have in years.”

Additional reporting by Keri Mitchell

Michelle Thompson

2005 – 2012

46% - 13% low socio – economic students

Kaye Simmons

2012 – 2014

16% - 13% low socio – economic students

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2014 – 2016

10% - 10% low socio – economic students

Jason Myatt

2016 – 2017

10% low socio – economic students

Katie Wilke

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7% low socio – economic students

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Center Yourself est. 1966 by Octavio Medellin

SUNSTONE FIT

Yoga, Pilates, Barre, Cardio

Whether you’re new to fitness or just new to Sunstone, go online and schedule your 30 min. required Orientation prior to your first class. sunstoneFIT.com/join

1920 Skillman Live Oak Dallas, TX 75206 214.764.2119 x 113 sunstoneFit.com/slo

DAN “THE COMPUTER GUY”

Don’t panic! Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky windows computer. Hardware & software installation, troubleshooting, training, $60/hour — one hour minimum.

2830 Laughlin Drive Dallas, TX 75228 214.320.1275

www.creativeartscenter.org

Cultivating creativity for over 50 years, the Creative Arts Center of Dallas (CAC) offers more than 500 art classes and workshops each year in everything from metal to mosaic!

LAKE HIGHLANDS ACUPUNCTURE

Now offering evening and weekend appointments!

Lake Highlands Acupuncture welcomes our newest acupuncturist

Tracy Lynn Tucker L.Ac., MAOM. Tracy treats chronic pain, gynecological issues, allergies, anxiety and depression, insomnia, chemo side effects, and much more!

10252 E. Northwest Highway 214.267.8636 lakehighlandsacupuncture.com

Call me for a free consultation about Wills & Probate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, and Business or Commercial matters. There are many ways to avoid or resolve a dispute without costly litigation. I can also help with Adoptions, Child Custody, Child Support or other Family or Probate matters.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

By PATTI VINSON

Righteous music

Minstrel and minister sings of social justice

Walk with me down by the lakeside Just as the sun disappears We’ll skip a few stones on the smooth side One for each thrown-away fear.

The lake which inspired these words? Yeah, White Rock Lake, of course. The songwriter would be our neighborhood’s very own Bob Dylan-inspired figure, Eric Folkerth.

Actually, Folkerth, a resident of Junius Heights, would likely prefer to be compared to his “songwriting saints” such as Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor, Harry Chapin and Carole King. In addition to his work as pastor of Northaven United Methodist Church, Folkerth is a folk singer/songwriter (Yes, Folkerth is his real name. No, he doesn’t mind answering that question for the umpteenth time).

He also has no hesitation telling you that music is one of the things that has saved his life.

An intro to guitar class in middle school started it all. Folkerth has played guitar since. The songwriting, too, poured out of him, though he admits those early, teenage attempts lacked finesse. “They were terrible,” he laughs, remembering songs that brimmed with adolescent angst.

As he matured, so too did his work, and he first performed some of his songs in Austin while a student there in the early 1980s. A few years later, he returned to Dallas and continued to pursue his music. “My first musical haunt was Poor David’s Pub on Lowest Greenville. I would play open mics there.”

He also could be found on stage at The Balcony Club in Lakewood, Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, and various venues in Deep Ellum.

Folkerth says some are surprised, given his profession as a minister, that his music isn’t gospel. But he saves religion for the pulpit, regarding Christian music as more about making statements or declarations. What moves Folkerth’s soul, musically speaking, is telling stories, in the tradition of folkies like Paul Simon. He has written songs not only about social justice issues, but about his family, friends and everyday life.

His songwriting skills apparently much improved from his teenage attempts, Folkerth’s song “I Will Sing” earned an honorable mention in the Billboard Song Contest and in the Great American Song Contest. It was also featured in a United Nations project called “New Songs for Peace.” On a personal level, Folkerth describes “I Will Sing” as his “personal anthem.”

In 2005, Folkerth’s song “Prairie Chapel Road” became the “unofficial song of Camp Casey,” an encampment of anti-war protesters near then-president George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas. The song would eventually be the soundtrack to a short film and appear in a story on BBC Radio.

Over the years, he shared the stage at Kerrville Folk Festival, mecca for folk music lovers; and elsewhere with folkie luminaries Joan Baez, Tom Prasada-Rao, James McMurtry, David Wilcox, Terry Hendrix, Bill Nash, the list goes on and on. He also was a founding member of Connections, a cover band of Methodist ministers and layfolks whose shows raise money for charity. He was a semi-finalist at South Florida Folk Festival, Fifth Street Festival and Richardson’s Wildflower Festival.

A few years ago, though, Folkerth hit a

wall. Life was out of balance. He’d been working long hours building his church: literally, a new building; figuratively, growing the membership. He put on a good bit of weight and put down the guitar. Folkerth says, “It was a dark time in my life.” He turned to a therapist, who brainstormed with him about digging out of the hole.

“He said science has shown several things that lift our minds and spirits from depression. Medication, yes. But also healthy food, deep relationships, exercise, prayer and meditation.”

It was when Folkerth mentioned his music that the therapist became “extremely animated, and excitedly told me how research has shown how musicians get special hormones and brain chemicals from playing and singing.”

“You must play your music,” the therapist told him. In a very real way, he said, music heals us.

Folkerth went home, picked up his guitar and fell in love with it all over again. He was soon eating better and bought a bike. And, of course, White Rock Lake beckoned. Folkerth now rides round and round the lake, usually 20 to 30 miles, several times each week.

“My best time to write — songs, sermons, blogs — is when I’m riding, he says.

The divisive political world has inspired his work this year, such as his recently penned “Your Full Height,” inspired by the Women’s March, the airport protests and other acts of social justice.

“This is not a ‘protest song,’ so much as a song to inspire and give hope to the protestors,” he explains on his website. “Now is the time for everyone to stand up to their full height.”

Folkerth finds great meaning and purpose in his work as a minister and in his activism. But his music brings him a particular peace, and he spends as much time as he can in his home studio. He’s hard at work on a new CD for release in 2018 and looks forward to more live performances around town. “Music and writing songs will always be part of my life,” he reflects, then adds, “It’s healing for me. It can be healing for other people. It’s a great joy.”

Patti Vinson is a guest writer who has lived in East Dallas for over 15 years. She’s written for the Advocate and Real Simple magazine, and has taught college writing.

Eric Folkerth (Photo by Kathy Tran}

CHORUS OF “I WILL SING”

I will sing for the suffering I will sing for the beauty I will sing for creation I will not sing for duty I will sing for the future I will sing for the memory I will sing for the struggle I will sing for the glory of it all.

By GEORGE MASON

Make goodness great again

A new year is a chance to look for the good in the world

January was named after the Latin word for door (ianua), which leads us to think of it as a time of transition from old to new. Many associate it with the god Janus, who faced both ways — to the past and the future. So, January bids us onward, armed with wisdom and courage both.

I am ready for January, for a new year and a fresh start. But if we must cross the new-year threshold with Janus eyes looking backward and forward at the same time, could our backward eyes just squint and our forward eyes open wider?

It feels like last year Pandora took the lid off the box and all the evils that lurked beneath the surface or in the shadows have been on full display. Politics are mean and petty. Religions fight one another and within each against others. Simmering racial tension boils over. Sexual harassment of women by powerful men is revealed for all its shamefulness.

We could go on. And we do. The freefall is aided by the 24/7 “breaking news” cycle (the phrase itself is redundant, and now virtually meaningless). Social media functions as little more than ignorant gossip.

What should people of faith and good will do amid all this? Here’s a suggestion for 2018: Look for the good and make goodness great again.

My wife and I were talking about this at a piano bar in Santa Fe, when the pianist started taking requests. Kim knew what she wanted to hear: Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”

It’s perspective worth practicing. The song is three stanzas with a bridge, all noticing the simple wonders of the world and the love of neighbors. Each stanza ends with the repeated phrase, “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

With so many of us starting diets at this time of year, we realize that the say-

ing is true: “You are what you eat.” That’s also true of what we feed our spirits. You are what you digest.

If you focus only on what’s wrong with the world, before long you will be drawn into the black hole of cynicism that refuses to emit any light. What’s more, the heaviness of the world gone wrong will weigh you down, too. But if you look for and meditate upon the persistent and always present goodness of life, the light will shine and it will lighten your spirit as it does.

WORSHIP

BAPTIST

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

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

ROYAL LANE BAPTIST CHURCH / 6707 Royal Lane / 214.361.2809

Christian Education 9:45 a.m. / Worship Service 10:55 a.m.

Pastor - Rev. Dr. Michael L. Gregg / www.royallane.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

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

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

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

EPISCOPAL

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH / stjd.org

Worship: Sat 5:30 pm, Sun 8 & 10:30 am / Christian Ed Sunday Morning & Weekdays, see calendar on website / 214.321.6451 / 848 Harter Rd.

LUTHERAN

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

A Welcoming and Affirming Church / Pastor Rich Pounds

Sunday School 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / CentralLutheran.org

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane

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

METHODIST

GRACE UMC / Diverse, Inclusive, Missional

Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am / Worship, 10:50 am 4105 Junius St. / 214.824.2533 / graceumcdallas.org

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

MUNGER PLACE CHURCH Come and See mungerplace.org

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

How do you feel when you hear these lines from the song? “I see skies of blue and clouds of white /The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night / And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”

Working against injustice requires more than naming it as such; it calls for a vision of a just world that gives us hope. That world is already present among us, if not yet completely so. Let’s cross the threshold of this new year with an eye on that wonderful world, which is both gift and promise.

George Mason is 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.

Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

PRESBYTERIAN

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday School 9:35am / All Are Welcome

PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 9800 Preston Road

8:15 am Chapel, 9:30 & 11:00 am Sanctuary, 5:00 pm Founder’s Hall

Senior Pastor Matthew E. Ruffner / www.phpc.org / 214.368.6348

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / Skillman & Monticello

Rev. Rob Leischner / www.standrewsdallas.org

214.821.9989 / Sunday School 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am

UNITY

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

3425 Greenville Ave. / 214.826.5683 / www.dallasunity.org

Sunday Service 11:00 am and Book Study 9:30 am

With so many of us starting diets at this time of year, we realize that the saying is true: “You are what you eat.” That’s also true of what we feed our spirits. You are what you digest.

AC & HEAT

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

VOICE TEACHER with 40+ years experience. M.M. LSU • www.PatriciaIvey.com trilletta@msn.com • 214-769-8560

CLEANING SERVICES

Family Owned & Operated

Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years

We raise our kids here, too!

214-330-5500

ClassicAirandHeat.com

TACLB29169E TACLA29042C

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

Five Rings Financial has part-time opportunities! JR@FiveRingsFinancial.com 214-702-0033 x502

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. 855-831-2976

GOT AN OLDER CAR, RV, BOAT? Do The Humane Thing. Donate It To The Humane Society. 1-855-558-3509

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

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

CABINETMAKER Design/Build Custom Furniture. Repair, Refinish. 40 yrs. exp. Jim 214-457-3830

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 214-324-7398 www.squarenailwoodworking.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

DYSLEXIA THERAPIST/CALT/TEACHER

Individual or Group Tutoring for Reading. Grades K-12. References. Lindsay 214-566-4622

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.

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

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

AMIRA MAID 972-840-8880

Since ‘98. Insured. amiramaid.com Dependable Service. References

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

FATHER, SON, GRANDSON Window Cleaning. Free Est. Derek. 682-716-9892

WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN: WINDOWS

to Wash: Wkly & Bi Monthly. Great Prices $$. Honest & Reliable. Family owned 15 years. Excellent references. Call Sunny @ 972-487-6599

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

ALL COMPUTER PROBLEMS SOLVED MAC/PC Great Rates. Keith. 214-295-6367

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

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR

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

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 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

Tuck Pointing / Crack Repair. Mortar Color Matching. Don 214-704-1722

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/MASONRY/PAVING

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 Brightening Homes and Businesses

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 Service. 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

CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARDS 2007-2016 Making Homes Safer One Call

EXTERIOR CLEANING

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

FENCING & DECKS

4 QUALITY FENCING • 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 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

Northlake Fence and Deck

Locally owned and operated by the Mccaffrey family since1980 214-349-9132

www.northlakefence.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

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

FENN CONSTRUCTION Manufactored hardwoods. Stone and Tile. Back-splash Specials. 214-343-4645

HASTINGS STAINED CONCRETE

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

WILLEFORD HARDWOOD FLOORS 214-824-1166 • WillefordHardwoodFloors.com

972-926-7007 arrowelectric.net Phones

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certified. Approved for military benefits. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

AVON AGENTS WANTED StartAvon.com. Reference Code; CHASKIN

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

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

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

FOUNDATION REPAIR

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE SERVICES

IDEAL GARAGE DOORS • 972-757-5016

Install & Repair. 10% off to military/1st responders.

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

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

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR

frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160

PRO WINDOW CLEANING prompt, dependable. Matt 214-766-2183

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

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

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/

Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HOME REPAIR HANDYMAN Small/Big Jobs + Construction. 30 Yrs. Exp. Steve. 214-875-1127

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

ONE CALL WEEKEND

Handyman Services

Handyman, Contractor,

WANTED: ODD

Allen’s Handyman

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors

Senior Safety Carpentry Small & Odd Jobs And More! 972-308-6035 HandymanMatters.com/dallas

HOME SECURITY

SAFES For Guns, Home or Business. We Offer a Large Selection Plus Consultation & In-Home Delivery. Visit Our Showroom. 972-272-9788 thesafecompany.com

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

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT

Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TONY’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality Work

Since 1984. Int./Ext. 214-755-2700

HOUSE PAINTING

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

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

CALL A TREE EXPERT - 469-939-3344

Prune. Stump grind. Plant. Burris Tree Service

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

Are you thinking about New Year’s resolutions? Did you know about half of the resolutions that are made are not kept? Here are some tips to successfully achieve your goal.

• Pick the right resolution — It should be clear, specific & achievable.

• Create a plan — Figure out what steps to take; it won’t just magically happen.

• Make it personal — If it rewards you, you’ll be more likely to keep it.

• Leap those hurdles — There will be stumbling blocks. If you miss a goal, just regroup and get back on track.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

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, Quartz, Marble For Kitchen/Bath-Free Est. stoneage.brandee@gmail.com 940-465-6980

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

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

WE REFINISH!

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

www.allsurfacerefinishing.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

DALLAS GROUNDSKEEPER Organic Lawn Maintenance designed to meet your needs. 214-471-5723 dallasgroundskeeper.com

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

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Insd.

CC’s Accepted. 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation.

RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com

TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John

TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190

Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning

WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER

Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214-321-2387

PEST

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

PET SERVICES

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

PLUMBING

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

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521

# M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues.

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

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

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

THE PLUMBING MANN LLC All Plumbing! Since 1978. Family Owned. RMP/Master-14240 Insured. 214-FAST-FIX/ 214-327-8349

We Solve Your Plumbing Problems

HUNTER PLUMBING

214-324-2733

POOLS

CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ACCOUNTING/TAXES Small Business/Individual Chris King, CPA 214-824-5313 chriskingcpa.com

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

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE & INT. DESIGN SERVICES contact John Cramer, Realtor w/ FireHouse Real Estate Services 214-212-6865

REMODELING

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC Complete Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths, Additions. Hardie Siding & Replacement Windows. Build On Your Own Lot. Insured. www.blake-construction.com 214-563-5035

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

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

O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For Over 17 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448

RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

ROOFING & GUTTERS BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years

• Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards • Free Estimates

www.bertroofing.com

214.321.9341

SERVICES FOR YOU

A PLACE FOR MOM The Nation’s Largest Senior Living Referral Service. Contact Our Trusted Local Experts Today. Our Service is Free/No Obligation. 1-844-722-7993

DISH NETWORK. 190+ Channels. Free Install. Free Hopper HD-DVR $49.99/month.(24 months) Add High Speed Internet. $14.95 (where avail.) Call Today & save 25%. 1-855-837-9146

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Bob McDonald Company, Inc. BUILDERS/REMODELERS

30+ Yrs. in Business • Major Additions Complete Renovations • Kitchens/Baths

214-341-1155 bobmcdonaldco.net

• Turnkey Renovations

• Kitchens

• Baths

• Floors

• Windows FREE ESTIMATES greenlovehomes.com 214.864.2444

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

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY TV, Internet & Voice For $29.99 Each. 60 MB Per Second Speed. No Contract or Commitment. More Channels, Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. 1-855-652-9304

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It’s fact – backed up by extensive market data and analysis. We pride ourselves on data transparency, and that means that apples should only be compared to apples. When you’re ready to make a move, contact your favorite Dave Perry-Miller Associate and work with the best in East Dallas – by a mile.