2018 December Lakewood

YOUR FRIENDLY REAL ESTATE EXPERTS IN LAKEWOOD AND EAST DALLAS

Most of our clients don’t buy and sell homes very often. It’s relatively unknown territory to them. But it’s our native territory, since 1945. We know the East Dallas landscape. There’s no trail we haven’t been down before.

We are here to help you fully experience one of the biggest, most joyful events of your life. Experience the difference the right agent can make. Visit Ebby.com today.

MESO MAYA PHOTO BY KATHY TRAN | COVER

PHOTO BY DANNY FULGENCIO

Bourgeois, Dallas Opera production designer and Victorian party host, page

ONLINE NOW

SEE NEW STORIES EVERY WEEK ONLINE AT Lakewood.advocatemag.com

Garland-Gaston-Grand fiasco

Neighbors continue to be riled up about what’s going to happen at the Garland-Gaston-Grand intersection. The intersection is one of the most confusing in Dallas with no one knowing whom to yield to. Some neighbors on Gaston have posted red, white and blue signs reading: “Say no on Option #2 for Garland/Gaston.” The issue wasn’t on an election ballot, but there have been public meetings and strong opinions.

La Popular Tamales just popped up in East Dallas

You can now get your fill of La Popular tamales in its new pop-up shop inside La Ranchera. The famed tamale shop wanted to keep up with holiday demand by offering another location for patrons to get their fix. The pop-up will be open through the new year and feature homemade tamales, breakfast tacos and Mexican coffee. The pop-up will be open Thursday through Sunday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and every day during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. So don’t be shy about stopping in on a holiday for your tamales fix whether it’s pumpkin and sweet potato for Thanksgiving or black-eyed pea for New Year’s.

Dining digest

• Snuffer’s and Liberty Burger closed in other DFW neighborhoods but not ours.

• Conde Nast Traveler ranked the Top 20 restaurants in Dallas. Among them: Mot Hai Ba, The Grape, Knife and Jimmy’s Food Store.

• Who doesn’t love a menu designed around bratwurst?

How to get free trees

Trees: Not just pretty objects, future wood for your BBQ (tread carefully, pitmasters), a life preserver in a flood, an inconvenience for Oncor or the club where Kurt Cobain infamously punched a dude.

They literally chill, and improve the quality of, the air around them — quite cool, especially in a city that annually endures 40 or so triple-digit days.

In order to “reduce air pollution, cool neighborhoods and combat climate change,” Branch Out Dallas brings free trees to city dwellers. Each Dallas resident is allowed one 5-gallon oak, elm or redbud.

District 9 Draught Haus has cool owners, Dana Thompson and her husband, Andy, guitarist for ‘90s band the Buck Pets.

Ferguson Road Initiative

The Ferguson Road Initiative celebrated its 20th anniversary Nov. 10. Vikki J. Martin, executive director, said representatives hope to break ground on a new park on Highland Road Dec. 1.

(Photography by Danny Fulgencio)

La Popular (Photography by Elliot Muñoz)

DISTRIBUTION PH/214.560.4203

ADVERTISING PH/214.560.4203

office administrator: Judy Liles

214.560.4203 / jliles@advocatemag.com

senior advertising consultant: Amy Durant

214.560.4205 / adurant@advocatemag.com

senior advertising consultant: Kristy Gaconnier

214.264.5887 / kgaconnier@advocatemag.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Sally Ackerman

214.560.4202 / sackerman@advocatemag.com

Frank McClendon

214.560.4215 / fmcclendon@advocatemag.com

Greg Kinney

214.292.0485 / gkinney@advocatemag.com

Michele Paulda

214.292.2053 / mpaulda@advocatemag.com

Catherine Pate

214.560.4201 / cpate@advocatemag.com

Kendra Benningfield

859.229.4105 / kbenningfield@advocatemag.com

classified manager: Prio Berger

214.292.0493 / pberger@advocatemag.com

marketing director: Sally Wamre

214.635.2120 / swamre@advocatemag.com

EDITORIAL

publisher: Lisa Kresl

214.560.4200 / lkresl@advocatemag.com

editor-at-large: Keri Mitchell

214.292.0487 / kmitchell@advocatemag.com

EDITORS:

Rachel Stone

214.292.0490 / rstone@advocatemag.com

Elissa Chudwin

815.274.4340 / echudwin@advocatemag.com

digital manager: Christian Welch

214-240-8916 / cwelch@advocatemag.com

digital strategy: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com

senior art director: Jynnette Neal

214.560.4206 / jneal@advocatemag.com

designer: Ashley Drake

214.292.0493 / adrake@advocatemag.com

designer: Emily Hulen Thompson, Emily Williams

contributors: Christina Hughes, George Mason, Brent McDougal, Patti Vinson, Carol Toler

photo editor: Danny Fulgencio

214.635.2121 / danny@advocatemag.com

contributing photographers: Kathy Tran

president: Rick Wamre

214.560.4212 / rwamre@advocatemag.com

Advocate, © 2018, 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.

ABOUT THE COVER

Photography by Danny Fulgencio.

Old East Dallas’ Emanuel Lutheran Church was founded by Swedish immigrants and constructed in 1931. The Register of National Historic Places recognized the building as a national historic place in 1995.

FOLLOW US:

Talk to us: editor@advocatemag.com

Newsletter: advocatemag.com/newsletter

7120 Fenton Dr. | SOLD | David Griffin

The leading agents you’ve known and trusted for years have moved to a new real estate brokerage, dedicated to making the home buying and selling process more informed than ever. At Compass we’ve empowered our agents by developing best in class technology, making the process more insight-driven and seamless than ever.

Active Listings

Under Contract

DEC. 8

HOLIDAY MARKET

Make your kitchen cozier with Good Local Markets’ “jam-packed” bazaar of local vendors selling produce, meat, eggs, baked goods and more, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

Where: Lake Pointe Church, 9150 Garland Road

More info: goodlocalmarket.org

5 things to do in East Dallas

THROUGH DEC. 31

Twelve days of Christmas

Tour extravagantly decorated

Victorian-era gazebos representing the 12 days of Christmas during a nice walk through the garden. $10-$20.

Where: The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road

More info: dallasarboretum.org

DEC. 8

Winter with the Bard

Name another event that has photos with Santa Claus, tarot-card readings, fencing demonstrations and previews of “Hamlet.” OK, there’s only one: Shakespeare Dallas’ Winter Faire & Market. The event, from noon-8 p.m., mimics an old-English market with local artisans, Elizabethan entertainment, games and holiday music, plus beer, mulled wine and hot chocolate. $5-$20.

Where: Samuell-Grand Amphitheater, 1500 Tenison Parkway More info: shakespearedallas.org

this December

DEC. 9 Dallas marathon

Get out and cheer on runners during the BMW Dallas Marathon, whose course tours White Rock Lake, Lakewood Boulevard and Swiss Avenue, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Various locations More info: bmwdallasmarathon.com

DEC. 15

Christmas bar crawl

The third-annual “naughty or nice” Greenville Avenue bar crawl tours 12 local bars and is expected to draw 500 participants. Either buy tickets early — it likely will sell out — or avoid the area from noon-6 p.m., depending on your party preference. $15.

Where: The Libertine Bar, 2101 Greenville Ave. More info: eventbrite.com

Introducing The Vista at CC Young.

Opening early 2019, The Vista will feature a new state-of-the-art REHAB AND AQUATICS CENTER offering groundbreaking aquatics-based therapies and wellness programming. Plus, explore the beauty and benefits of our outdoor therapy garden. You’ll always have something to discover at The Vista.

You’ll find yourself in good hands with our ASSISTED LIVING, MEMORY SUPPORT, SKILLED NURSING, SHORT TERM REHABILITATION, LONG TERM CARE, and ADULT DAY CENTER

Join our Priority Program for exclusive discounts and benefits. Reserve today!

UP FRONT

VICTORIANS

AMONG US

Cookies, candy, crabmeat, candlelight. Meet the mustachioed man who makes Christmas Eve memorable 

Story by LISA KRESL / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

Tommy Bourgeois is anything but bougie.

But at his infamous Victorian Christmas Eve parties, things may get a tad boozy.

Bourgeois works as production designer at the Dallas Opera. He’s also the creator of the “12 Days of Christmas” at the Dallas Arboretum. (He currently is making updates to the exhibit, which he expects will debut in 2020.) He’s also known for his waxed mustache, which he began growing in 2016.

But neighborhood friends know him for his over-the-top Victorian Christmas Eve parties. At his annual soirée, he serves his grandmother’s fruitcake, which won first place at the State Fair of Texas. He also serves tamale balls, which are “like meatballs, but they’re tamales.” In addition, there are artichoke balls, crabmeat croissant sandwiches, fudge, cookies and candies.

“Lots of wine flows on this night,” Bourgeois says. “The whole house is lit with candles.

“Everyone looks good in candlelight.”

He describes his Junius Heights home as “New Orleans-looking.” He says it’s “Victorian, but not severe Victorian.”

His Christmas Eve open house is for everyone in the neighborhood. Bourgeois also provides gifts for neighbors’ children. The festive evening is his favorite holiday tradition.

But he enjoys Christmas Day as well. He prepares dinner for six close friends.

“It’s a candlelit Victorian dinner, and we’ve done this for years. They come early, we start off with cocktails. It’s a three- to four-course dinner and we enjoy the evening. And then the next day, it’s ‘poof’ — gone, and it’s a little bit depressing.”

But then he looks forward to styling La Boheme and Falstaff.

“I could never have a job in the real world. I always wanted to do windows when I was little. When the Arboretum came along, it was my Rhoda moment.”

And of course, he ends the interview with a Christmas Eve invite.

What to wear?

Incredible Todd Sedwick build situated on an elevated corner lot with over 4500 square feet of wonderful living and entertaining space centered around a resort style pool and outside living space, wine grotto, and full wet bar. The light filled space starts with 8’ double iron doors, marble floors, and a sweeping stairway to the second floor family space. The entry also opens to the study and into the Chef’s kitchen and family room all overlooking the pool. The home boasts four bedrooms and four and ½ baths & amenities include but are not limited to: hardwood flooring, three car garage, wired for sound inside and out, wood privacy fence and award winning Lakewood elementary!

“Everyone looks good in candlelight.”

RUBY AND ROLAND

In August 2012, Highland on the Creek neighbor Roland Melton decided he wanted a dog. That very week, on a Tuesday morning, he left for the dog shelter only to find a dog sitting in the neighborhood’s greenspace. She sat on the spot where he had found his previous dog years earlier. In fact, she looked just liked the type of dog he wanted. Melton says she had no collar, and she was hesitant to come home with him at first. “Since I found her on a Tuesday, I decided to name her Ruby,” Melton says. You can see the two walking in the morning on a consistent schedule. “She is extremely calm and loves our walks every morning at White Rock Lake.” Melton says she enjoys playing with other dogs. He calls it Ruby’s social hour. “While on our walks, Ruby also gets to practice her favorite fantasy sport of thinking that she can catch the squirrels she sees — if only I would let her off her leash.”

SERVING

PETS SINCE 1924

THE STORE IN LAKE HIGHLANDS

Holiday Gifts Galore! We are stocked full for everyone on your list.

Featured item: Lake Highlands & Dallas Christmas Candles

Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 10233 E. NW Hwy@Ferndale (next to Rooster’s) 214.553.8850 TheStoreinLH.com

WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER

Shop Walton’s today to create a sizzling home for the holidays! Christmas trees, decorations, grills and gifts for the indoors and out!

8652 Garland Rd. 214.321.2387

YOGA MART

Many gift ideas for your students, teachers and those that do not practice yoga. Gift cards available.

2201 Tucker St. Suite 101, Dallas,TX 75214 YogaMartUSA.com 214.238.2433

NEIGHBORHOOD SHAMAN

PINEAPPLE TANGAROA IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR BODY MODIFICATION

introduced to body modification by his Maori grandfather and Samoan grandmother, who had traditional tattoos. He got his first tattoo at age 13, when he paid a homeless person to pose as his father while the artist put a backward and discolored Thundercat character on his body.

In college, Tangaroa studied anthropology and learned about ancient Meso-American cultures. He says followers used ceremonial piercing, tattoos and branding to bring shamans into a state of ecstasy and allow them contact with the gods.

In many Pacific-Islander communities, he says tattoos are used to identify a person’s place in society and their familial history. Tangaroa’s grandmother received a Ta Moko, the traditional facial tattoo, when she married her Maori husband. The Australian Museum says that the original Ta Mokos were chiseled into the skin with an albatross bone and inked with soot and oil.

Tangaroa’s tattoos are influenced by the Polynesian style but do not communicate his familial history. “I felt like I did not want to completely imitate what was culturally correct,” he says. “I don’t want to steal their culture and participate in cultural appropriation.”

PINEAPPLE TANGAROA’S face stops people on the street. Tattoos frame his eyes and mouth in dark symmetrical ink. Oversized plugs grace his earlobes, and a large gold WuTang logo pierces below his bottom lip.

Tangaroa owns Shaman Modifications, which opened this year in a refurbished 1920s era building at Fitzhugh and Terry in East Dallas. He did much of the work on the piercing studio himself, and he decorated it with art from his private collection, including a David Bowie portrait and works by street artist Shepard Fairey. Tangaroa owns several body modification shops in Dallas and Austin and is a leader in the industry.

Raised by his grandparents in Brooklyn, Tangaroa was

In 2006, he began piercing in Austin, but after returning from vacation, he learned the location was closing. He sold his motorcycle, bed, couch and television, but made the rent. “My apartment was completely empty, and I slept on an air mattress until my dog poked a hole in it. Then it was a sleeping bag,” he says.

He started small and focused on quality over quantity. He chose only the best jewelry and made sure to choose metals that were hypoallergenic. His reputation grew with his business. Today he owns two Austin locations as well as the one in East Dallas.

Tangaroa’s extensive body art helped transform how he inter-

Story by WILL MADDOX / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

“I did not want to completely imitate what was culturally correct.”

acts with the world. He went from a shy youth to an outgoing business owner. His body art also helped him launch a side career in Hollywood. A former client who is a casting director helped him land several roles. He played a bodyguard in “Song to Song,” where he danced with Natalie Portman, and he has been in the USA series “Queen of the South” as well as the movie “Puncture” with Chris Evans.

The name Pineapple comes from a nickname his grandfather gave him when Tangaroa came back from a punk show with a prominent Mohawk hairstyle. It is now his legal name. He has a metal pineapple-shaped implant in his chest, as well as pineapple tattoos. He also has a split tongue and a Wu-Tang logo implanted under the skin in his hand, a feature that propelled him onto Wu-Tang rapper Ghostface Killah’s Instagram feed after a concert.

Tangaroa knows he is an emissary for the world of body modification. He is married with two stepchildren, two sons and a grandchild. He says he expects a few looks when he is out with the family. “I didn’t ask to be an ambassador for the body modification world, but it comes with the territory. I have to go above and beyond and kill them with kindness.”

9744 Van

Road | $1,200,000

Five bedrooms, Four and one half baths, Two living areas

Meticulously crafted transitional design with modern influences constructed by Hetherdell Homes.Situated on an oversized tree shaded lot, the home is a study in good taste. The light filled chef’s kitchen opens to the great room showcasing a wood burning fireplace flanked by doors to the impressive covered patio and private pool sized backyard. Three bedrooms downstairs including the master with ensuite bath and his and her walk in closets. Two additional bedrooms, each with their own bath are situated on the second level. Numerous exceptional features and details throughout this remarkable home.

Pineapple Tangaroa sells earrings at Shaman Modifications.

Dyke

PARTY IN THE BACK

AFTER DECADES UNDER THE RADAR, GARAGE APARTMENTS ARE MOSTLY OK

DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, neighbors converted garages into apartments for struggling family members. They rented out back houses and porches to supplement their own income.

“Attractive garage apartment, couple. Available 1st. 5831 Prospect,” reads an October 1938 advertisement in the Dallas Morning News. “New 3-room garage apartment, refrigeration, nicely furnished. 1818 Moser,” reads another that November.

Granny flats, technically called “Accessory Dwelling Units,” are part of East Dallas’ history. They were prominent until the mid-1970s, when building and renting ADUs were banned. City officials hoped the limitations would curb second-rate living conditions in South Dallas.

The City of Dallas’ strict ordinance had two exceptions: Residents still could rent units built before 1946, and ADUs could be constructed if they weren’t a money-making venture. The caveats allowed homeowners to care for aging parents and, in theory, prevented commercialization.

Some residents operated them illegally anyway, with minimal consequences from the city.

But an angle on affordability pushed Dallas City Council to change the longtime ordinance and ease up on the restrictions. Ninety-eight percent of new apartments in Dallas were considered high-end in 2017, according to market data from Yardi Matrix, recently published by rentcafe.com.

ADUs won’t solve our city’s affordable housing crisis, but they may create diversity and prevent neighborhoods from

DID YOU KNOW?

Dallas City Council banned garage apartments in the 1970s, although they’ve been operating off the books for decades.

Story by ELISSA CHUDWIN

aging out, says City Councilman Philip Kingston, who serves Old East Dallas and Lower Greenville.

“I think it’s part of the solution … A granny flat in Forest Hills won’t go a long way toward helping the family of four who makes $30,000 and lives in Fair Park. [It does] allow entry-level school teachers, firemen, people working in service trades right now being squeezed to actually have a place to live,” says City Councilman Mark Clayton, who serves Lakewood and Far East Dallas.

Now neighbors can receive approval to construct and rent ADUs two ways:

• Apply to the Board of Adjustment for a special exception.

• Create an Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay, where ADUs will be allowed within a specific community. This involves a neighborhood petition process

This archived map of East Dallas shows our neighborhood’s earlier development. (Photography by Danny Fulgencio).

and an authorized hearing with the City Council or City Plan Commission.

City Councilman Philip Kingston wants to make the process even easier. East Dallasites are enthusiastic about establishing an overlay, he says, but neighborhood associations have been reluctant to start the process. At this rate, he estimates there would be fewer than 20 new units per year.

“We made this essentially an opt-in ordinance to have ADUs,” Kingston says. “What we’re going to determine is doing all these hearings, and doing it neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Opting in is time consuming.”

His solution is an opt-out process. Instead neighbors would file paperwork with the City of Dallas if they did not want ADUs in their neighborhood.

“It’s not accomplishing a damn thing,” he says. “That’s frustrating. I’m trying to create an East Dallas that is sustainable for the future.”

If you’re worried that ADUs could overtake the city as, let’s say, Lime Bikes once cluttered White Rock Lake, rest assured that won’t likely happen. Dallas researched other cities, such as Austin, to see the impact of the ordinance, Kingston says. Austin has a population of about 950,000 people, and 200 additional ADUs have been rented or constructed since 2015.

HOW TO GRANNY FLAT

If you’re so inclined to make a little extra cash, these are the City of Dallas’ main requirements for the property:

• The Accessory Dwelling Units can’t be sold separately, and there must be additional water, sewer and electrical utility service on the lot.

• At least one off-street parking space is required, unless the property is located within 1,200 feet of a DART bus or transit stop.

• The ADU must be between 200 square feet and 700 square feet or 25 percent of the main house’s floor area.

• The ADU should be similar in color and style to the pre-existing home. Be forewarned: If you’re contemplating converting a back house to an Airbnb, Kingston suspects regulations to prevent that from happening could be introduced in the next few months.

Dental Care Is Right Down the Street

Patient Quote of the Month:

It is always a pleasure to be a patient of Dr. Slate. Her skills are the best and her sincere care for her patients is without equal. Her entire sta are first rate from the reception desk to the hygienists and the dental assistants. I actually look forward to going to the dentist because of a feeling of being at home there.”

— John Selig

THE LITTLE GARDEN THAT COULD

The Promise of Peace garden provides food, purpose and community where there once was a food desert

The closing of the Fiesta at the corner of Ferguson and Highland forced Elizabeth Morgan to change a 10-minute stroll from her apartment near Ferguson and Interstate 30 for groceries to an hour-and-ahalf round-trip trek across I-30 to Walmart. Morgan lives in a food desert, a neighborhood where residents don’t have access to transportation to a grocery store that is more than a mile away.

Morgan helps care for her disabled husband, Timothy. He is homebound, has kidney failure and is in a wheelchair after suffering a stroke in 2013. She walks her children to Bayles Elementary each day. On the first day of school, Morgan received calls about her 9-year-old son, Christian. She says he has ADHD and struggles to focus.

The solution for all three of her struggles? A garden at her local elementary school.

After Morgan learned about the Promise of Peace garden that sat on the edge of the school property, her son attended after-school classes at the garden, making mulch, planting fruits and vegetables, and watering. The fruits of his labor

eventually made it home, where his father loved to cook the produce. Christian asked to go to the garden on his birthday. His behavior has improved since he started working there, Morgan says.

Morgan learned about her dietary choices and how to prepare healthier meals with the produce. She also has her own plot. Not only has the garden saved her a few grueling trips to Walmart each month, it transformed her family’s diet. Her husband lost 130 pounds, and his kidney is stable.

Christian and his 11-year-old sister, Alexia, have adapted to the new diet. When they refused to eat junk food at Timothy’s sister’s house, she was alarmed. “My sister-in-law called and was freaking out,’ ” Morgan says.

“I knew from gardening that connecting to nature and seeing its magic gives you a sense of purpose and place.”

“ ‘What is wrong with the kids? I think they are sick. There is something wrong!’ ”

The Promise of Peace Garden is a 10-year-old nonprofit that neighbor and Woodrow graduate Elizabeth Dry started on an empty lot on Grand Avenue. The 45-year educator saw children that “lacked a sense of place and belonging.” She wanted to give the youth a place to feel welcome. For her, gardening was the obvious choice. “I knew from gardening that connecting to nature and seeing its magic gives you a sense of purpose and place,” she says.

Though it began as a way to engage students at Woodrow, she soon realized that many of the children didn’t have enough food at home. “There were children crying themselves to sleep because they were hungry.”

The food grown in the gardens began making its way to hungry families. Dry has several gardens around Dallas, and the Grand location eventually moved to White Rock United Methodist Church before landing at Bayles Elementary, where the garden has its own portable. Teachers take classes to learn about the garden.

Volunteers weed, water and help maintain the green space. The garden’s neat plots sit between mulched pathways, with okra, herbs, melons and more. The garden’s main fundraiser is Okrapalooza, where top Dallas chefs compete in an okra cook-off every September. It began when the original garden on Grand had an abundance of okra, and Dry needed a way to pay the rent for the property.

She has introduced the word “Okraly” to those close to the garden, a word that she thinks captures the spirit of the gardens. “I see a need for us to reconnect, where we seek to understand by sharing and caring.”

Learn more about the Promise of Peace Gardens at promiseofpeace.us.

MEXICAN TREATS + CRAFT COCKTAILS

WHEN CHEF NICO SANCHEZ helped develop Meso Maya, he knew it was a risk. But he also knew “Mexican food” in Dallas was nothing more than a cheap, fatty dish that you grabbed from a fluorescent-lit dive with minimal service. Sanchez knew Mexican food could be so much more.

Sanchez wanted to create a place where authentic Mexican food was served fresh, paired with craft cocktails, and with service and ambience to rival any restaurant in town.

“We wanted to do Mexican food without offending anybody by saying they weren’t authentic,” Sanchez says.

Things you’ll never see at Meso Maya: yellow cheese, nachos, sopapillas, chile con queso,

Meso Maya

Address: 4123 Abrams Road Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. mesomaya.com

TRY THIS: The avocado margarita is the perfect balance of sweetness, tangy and creamy. It’s made with pineapple, avocado, lime and tequila.

chile con carne, canned-tomato salsa, crispy tacos and flour tortillas.

At the beginning, it was tough for the chef to convince people that what they were eating was real Mexican food. To this day, customers request flour tortillas. Sanchez says the taste of a handmade corn tortilla is remarkably different than store-bought. It’s a two-day process to cook, grind and form the tortillas. Even the most skeptical customers don’t miss flour once they get a taste.

The proof is in the reservations; guests need to secure a table for dinner two weeks in advance. Sanchez is proud to have expanded the city’s view of what Mexican food can be.

If you want to eat at Meso Maya, make reservations two weeks in advance.

CHEF NICO SANCHEZ IS THE LEADER OF THE MEXICAN FOOD REVOLUTION

Story by CHRISTIAN WELCH Photography by KATHY TRAN

Now Open in Casa Linda Plaza. Family Friendly, Fast Casual. Samantha J wrote on Yelp...5 stars... ”Amazing food! Best Mediterranean meat I’ve been able to find in Dallas! Good portions and extremely tasteful sauces. Service is wonderful, staff is super friendly. We will definitely be returning!” We are on GrubHub, Uber Eats, & Doordash or text MAYAS to 33733 to order on-line and pick up.

Looking for a unique spot to host your next party? Capitol Pub is the perfect choice. No matter what the celebration may be, Capitol Pub is the perfect space to suit your needs. Be sure to check out our sister pub, The Dubliner - Dallas’ longest running Irish Pub!

MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT CAPITOL PUB

mayasmediterranean.com

9540 GARLAND RD. DALLAS, TX 75218 972.707.0646

capitolpubdallas.com 2401 N. HENDERSON AVENUE 214.887.9330

Come Enjoy 1/2 Price 20oz Margaritas Every Wednesday! Plus, check out our other Margarita Specials Mon.-Thurs.

ENCHILADA’S

enchiladasrestaurants.com

FOR CATERING CALL THE FIESTA LINE 214.691.1390

The kitchen is the heartbeat of any home. It is where we show love to our family and friends through thoughtfully prepared food. It is where we are nourished and taken care of so we can stay healthy, strong, and productive members of our community.

RESTAURANT, MARKET, CATERING

jackskitchen.com

6041 ORAM, DALLAS, TX. 75206 972.685.6753

Locallysourced Lakewood

CAPTURE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S SENSE OF PLACE WITH THIS GIFT GUIDE

GOODNIGHT, LAKEWOOD BUDHAGIRL

Talulah & HESS has gifts for all ages, with the tagline "beautiful giving, modern living."

A local favorite is the book “Goodnight Lakewood.” If you are searching for the trendy BuDhaGirl Bracelets, look no further. 5810 Live Oak St.

Story and styling by KAREN ELIZABETH WATTS

Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

BECAUSE WE LIKE BIKES

At Richardson Bike Mart, you can buy or rent bikes, get the latest accessories and try out those little tight padded shorts and bicycles made for two. Sta ers are the experts on nearby trails and can assist cyclists at all levels. Even though Lance Armstrongtypes shop there, you won’t be intimidated. Standouts: the bell that looks like a doughnut and helmets in all colors, including pink. 9040 Garland Road.

VERY VENEZIANA

Jimmy's Food Store, operated by the DiCarlo family for 42 years, offers a great selection of fine Italian food and wine. The pictured Veneziana, available at Christmas and Easter only, is a leavened cake, enhanced with liquor, lemon zest and spices. Wait patiently for the cake's arrival each winter, dreaming of the sugary glaze and Italian nuts.

4901 Bryan St.

FIGMENTS OF OUR IMAGINATION

Redenta's mascot and cat, Fig, will let you shop with her if you are willing to pet. I carried Fig around the store and chose pots by local artisans, Secret Scent Society Candles and succulent arrangements, created in the store. According to employee Bucky, the store has been in the current location since 1996. The focus is organic gardening products, modern landscape design, plants, flowers and gifts. 2001 Skillman St.

GOOD STUFF FROM GOODWILL

Wander into the local Goodwill store and you might find a case of plastic take-out boxes, a professional mu n pan, a rolling pin, a copper cookie cutter and a large cutting board. Cost? Less than $20. The bad news: You will not find exactly what I found, because all merchandise is donated. The good news: You might find items that you had no idea you needed at about 10 percent of their original cost, some still in boxes. Lots of holiday decor, ribbon and wreaths.

1606 Greenville Ave.

DON’T COOK THE COOKIES

Lady Walton's Dark Chocolate and Peppermint cookies are made here in Dallas. The Texas company is family owned and operated, doing business since 1988. While many flavors are available throughout the year, the pictured cookies are a holiday staple, available at Whole Foods in Lakewood.

2118 Abrams Road.

FLEECED FOR FUN

If you love to knit, a yarn and knitting accessory boutique called Fleece, is your scene. Founder April Cordell will teach beginners what she knows for four twohour classes at $60. There are two levels of classes: basic and beyond basic. If you need specific assistance, April o ers Knit Doctors, where for $20, you get two hours of her time. The shop is filled with a cohesive community that knits together. A small beverage station o ers knitters a drink while they work. Knitted items also are for sale.

6464 E. Northwest Highway.

MAKER

For those Food Network fans who want to play professional baker, Ace Mart Restaurant Supply, a family owned and operated Texas company, might be your new favorite store. Open to the public and curated for the trade, the store o ers professional restaurant equipment at wholesale prices. You might see your favorite chef shopping. Double win!

4004 Ross Ave.

STETSONS AND OIL

At Turquoise & Lavender, there’s plenty to covet: jewelry, Stetson hats, clothing, home accessories, antiques and more. The olive oils called to me. The depth of the Meyer lemon oil made a fish dish enticing beyond words.

1907 Abrams Road.

Skillman Abrams: An entertainment destination?

HOW CREEKSIDE IS CHANGING THE INTERSECTION’S LACKLUSTER REPUTATION

Neighbors were ecstatic when they learned Alamo Drafthouse would anchor the former SkillmanAbrams shopping center.

After Tom Thumb vacated the intersection’s northeast corner in 2013, nearby businesses like 7-Eleven, Sigel’s Liquor, Big Lots and Liquid Zoo followed suit. The development sat vacant for three years.

Many East Dallas and Lake Highlands neighbors felt ignored. They complained about the number of service businesses and lack of recreation options, says Jerry Allen, former city councilman for Lake Highlands.

“A lot of neighbors felt, ‘We’re not quite District 10, but we’re not quite Lakewood,’ " says City Councilman Mark Clayton, whose district borders the intersection. “But they matter just as much. Things were happening around them and not to them.”

Creekside, a newly developed retail center, may be the catalyst that changes the face of the intersection.

Story by ELISSA CHUDWIN | Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

Question:

My mom has been diagnosed with dementia and our family is planning for her care. Why should we consider moving her to a memory care community?

Answer:

A: There are many reasons. Living in a community offers socialization as well as physical care. Being around other people, taking a class, exercising –these are activities that have significant physical, social, spiritual and emotional benefits for the person living with dementia.

To learn more about memory care at Fowler, call 214.827.0813 or go to www.fowlercommunities.org

Too few restaurants, too many loan agencies

Skillman and Abrams is a geographic anomaly. Touching Merriman Park, University Manor and Vickery Meadow, three Dallas City Council districts converge at the intersection. Clayton, Preston Hollow Councilwoman Jennifer Gates and Lake Highlands City Councilman Adam McGough share ownership of the area.

While Clayton has prioritized

redeveloping the former Steakley Chevrolet dealership at Abrams and Northwest Highway, McGough is spearheading development initiatives at Skillman and Abrams. He considers the area to be one of Lake Highlands’ gateways.

“When you start looking strategically at the entire run of Skillman, I-635 all the way to Abrams … that becomes the backbone of our entire district,” he says.

At the intersection’s northwest corner, Super Target attracts neighbors from both East Dallas

and Lake Highlands. Habitat for Humanity Resale and Harbor Freight Tools populate the southeast corner, along with a laundromat and other service businesses.

Vibrant loan agency signs dot corners of the intersection. When Allen was Lake Highlands’ city councilman, he vehemently fought against payday lenders. He led the city council to pass an ordinance limiting the number and location of future lending agencies, which he says take advantage of low-income customers.

“It makes you think your neighborhood’s going downhill,” he told the Advocate in 2011.

Tyler Isbell — the vice president at SRS Real Estate Partners and chair of McGough’s City Council District 10 economic development committee — agrees.

“My wife and I aren’t going to spend date night at a cash store or payday loan,” he says.

Even without the loan agencies, neighbors’ consensus was the intersection needed several upgrades, Allen says. That perception hasn’t changed much since he left office in 2015.

“The center where Habitat for Humanity is — one of the irritations is the parking lot,” Allen says. “It’s not well taken care of. That speaks volumes about the landowner. If they

“My wife and I aren’t going to spend date night at a cash store or payday loan.”

can’t take care of the parking lot, they can’t take care of the building.”

The only center exempt from grumbling is Creekside, a 111,254-square-foot development at the northeast corner of SkillmanAbrams that has spurred the intersection’s makeover.

When Creekside came to town

The vacated Skillman Abrams shopping center was deemed an eyesore until Retail Plazas Inc. bought the property in 2016. The Dallasbased developer says its niche is making ramshackle shopping centers profitable. RPI’s properties include Lakeside Village at Walnut Hill and

of the building.” It’s not like home. It is home. Dallas’ Premier Retirement Living Call today to learn more about the newest additions to our all-inclusive lifestyle! 8501 Lullwater Drive, Dallas, Texas 75238 214-343-6400 landonatlakehighlands.com

Landon at Lake Highlands is the definition of exceptional senior living. Here, we provide a distinctive lifestyle filled with friendships, life enrichment activities and attention to every detail. See yourself here.

Pies, Fuzzy’s Tacos and Burgerim slowly are moving into the center. RPI is actively pursuing craft coffee, breakfast, barbecue and Asian eateries, but nothing is finalized, McCord says.

Creekside may have persuaded surrounding developers to up their game, as well. The Habitat for Humanity shopping center recently was purchased, according to Isbell and McCord.

“I feel like that area is going to naturally develop in a way to reach its highest potential, regardless of anything we do now,” Clayton says. “When you have a tenant like a Alamo Drafthouse, the highest and best, the market will naturally fall into that space.”

Despite Allen’s disdain for loan agencies during his city council tenure, Allen cautions that a total overhaul may be detrimental to some residents who need service businesses. For instance, some neighbors rely on loan agencies because banks won’t serve them, he says. He doesn’t want to discount the diversity in Lake Highlands and East Dallas, which is reflected in its retailers.

Creekside II: (Maybe) coming to you soon

Constructing a shopping center in a floodplain is complicated and expensive. But that’s Retail Plazas Inc.’s next endeavor — if the developer behind Creekside can woo the City of Dallas.

RPI plans to construct a retail center on the 6.6-acre property at 6800 Abrams Road northeast of Park Lane. The development’s aesthetic and tenants would be similar to the adjacent Creekside shopping center at Abrams and Skillman. Called “Creekside on the Trail,” the center would consist of three two-tenant buildings with restaurants and perhaps a bicycle store.

“I’m seeking the type of tenant that would like Deep Ellum — urban and cool,” says Trey Hodge, vice president of acquisitions and development.

RPI has a handful of major hurdles to clear before Creekside on the Trail could come to fruition. The 6.6-acre property is zoned for single-family homes. The developer first must convince the City Plan Commission to recommend rezoning the vacant land to community retail.

If RPI wins the commission’s favor, the next step is creating engineering plans that mitigate potential flooding and requesting Dallas City Council’s approval.

One challenge is the economic viability of the center, says Cory McCord, RPI’s director of leasing. They’ll need to find tenants willing to pay rent that’ll support the cost of construction and maintenance. Because of the property’s small size, plans will be both tedious and costly. Hodge himself is skeptical of how realistic the concept is.

“We had to agree to certain standards, but if we can pull it off, it could be a one-of-a-kind destination,” Hodge says.

Are you an entreprenuer or freelancer looking for workspace to call home? Tired of hanging out at coffeeshops or working out of your home? The Mix Coworking and Creative Space might be exactly what you need!

We are more than an office we are a community! Join other like-minded professionals at The Mix! Request a Tour

or call 214-702-3490

FLIGHT OF THE PELICANS

FACTS AND FANCIFUL PHOTOS ABOUT WHITE ROCK’S SEASONAL VISITORS

They flock to White Rock, white wisps of poetry gliding up and floating down the current, a calming and peaceful signal of a new season. Chris Jackson is a hobbyist and creator of the website DFW Urban Wildlife. He’s been observing, photographing and writing articles about our neighborhood’s wildlife, including pelicans, for the last 15 years. “White Rock Lake is one of my favorite places for pursuing this hobby,” he says. 

Interview by LISA KRESL / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PELICANS’ MIGRATING PATTERN?

American white pelicans spend the summer in the interior of North America — Colorado, Wyoming, Canada — nesting in large colonies. They winter along the Gulf Coast and into Mexico. In the spring, they migrate north to their breeding grounds. In the fall, they head back south. That is when most people in DFW notice them. Starting in September and October, it is common to observe large flocks moving through the area. They fly in loose “V” formations. Occasionally they break formation and begin to circle around each other in big, undulating organic groups. After a while they will form up again and continue on their way.

WHY DOES THIS AREA APPEAL TO THEM?

There are many large and relatively shallow ponds, lakes and reservoirs

that are well suited to the way American white pelicans hunt for fish.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR DO THEY USUALLY SPEND HERE?

They will be here from October through March.

WHAT TIME OF DAY IS THE BEST TIME TO WATCH THEM?

They are active and observable all day long.

W HERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO WATCH THEM?

Sunset Bay on White Rock Lake is one of the best places in the Metroplex to see them. They stay close to shore and are relatively tolerant of observation there.

DO THEY COME BACK TO THE SAME PLACE EVERY YEAR?

It’s not uncommon for birds to be habitual in their behaviors, but I’m not sure how dedicated American white pelicans are to their wintering grounds. I would not be surprised to learn that the same birds come back to the same places year after year.

A Big Thank You

Bronze Sponsors

Brinson Autogroup

CareNow

CDM Smith

Jay Leftwich, D.D.S.

Jill & Mark Meyer

Texas Ale Project

The Little Things

The Hargrave Group

Lakewood Friends

Blackwell, Blackburn, and Singer, LLP

Edge Capital Markets

Light Up the Spectrum

Mint Dentistry

One Wing Foundation

Perkins Coie

Anonymous

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s

International Realty

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, The Margot

Perot Center

Raffle Presenter

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

Candlelight Tour Presenter Republic Title®

The Steindorf Family

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Vanderbrook Family Dentistry

Wilshire Early Childhood Learning Center

In-Kind Donors

Carolyn Joe Daniel

Chick-fil-A White Rock

City Vet

City Hospital

Corner Market

EnFleur Dallas

Faulkner’s Fine Dry Cleaning and Laundry

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company

Goody Goody Liquor, Inc.

Hilton Anatole

Jenifer Baker Photography

Lakewood Succulents

McShan Florist

Northridge Presbyterian Church

Rogers O’Brien

Rooted Dallas Succulents

Roses and More

Spec’s Wine, Spirits, and Finer Foods

Taco Joint

Terilli’s

Texas Health Resources

Studio

Nancy Johnson Group

Redo Remodeling + Construction

Sewell Automotive Companies

Skylar Champion

Veritex Community Bank

/Presbyterian Dallas

The T Shop

Theriot Mortgage Group

Talulah & HESS

Unleavened Fresh Kitchen

Urban Spikes

Walton’s Garden Center White Rock Life

Thank you also to the gracious homeowners, home captains, donors, and the hundreds of volunteers who made this event possible

L akewood Early Childhood PTA would like to thank these wonderful companies and individuals for making the 42nd Annual Lakewood Home Festival a huge success.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

By PATTI VINSON

Lights, action, holidays!

Welcome to Lizzyland: vintage meets glitter

Where do you find an Abominable Snowman, vintage elves, taxdermied rat scenes and about 100,000 lights? An d glitter — lots of glitter? “Electric Lizzyland,” neighbor Liz Simmons’ holiday yard art.

If you’ve ever found yourself cruising down Newell Avenue in the Hollywood Heights neighborhood in December, you couldn’t miss Simmons’ high-wattage

handiwork. It’s Vegas, baby, with a holiday twist.And Simmons will once again set the street aglow this year.

The madness took hold in 1997 when Simmons lived on Prospect Avenue in a fourplex. On a whim, she purchased 8,000 outdoor Christmas lights. “I thought I could just throw them up and have a party,” she says.“People really liked it.”

T he happy experience cemented her

sparkly fate.She remembers arriving home from work every night and firing up the glue gun to hot glue thousands of lights to the fourplex. When it was all in place and switched on, the neighbors threw a party but found that they had to take it outside. The electrical system was taxed. “ You couldn’t turn on a light in my place. We couldn’t turn on the blender to make drinks,” she says.

Simmons eventually moved to New-

Liz Simmons is framed by the glittery decorations she makes for “Electric Lizzyland.” (Photography by Danny Fulgencio).

JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE! SCHEDULE

EXPERIENCE DA

Tuesday, January 29th, 2018

Tour times available between 9:00am – 11:00am Come tour and observe learning in action RSVP required mail@dallas-academy.com

• Classical education

•

•

•

• Small student-toteacher ratio

• Half-day & full-day

■ Reading/Writing Workshop Model

■ STEM Lab, Art, Music & Library Time

■ Spanish, PE and Recess Daily

■ Low Student-to-Teacher Ratio

■ After School Care & Enrichment Programs

■ Convenient to Downtown Dallas

SOMETIMES, THE JOB FINDS YOU.

ell Avenue and continued the tradition.Electric Lizzyland is a dazzling display of thousands of lights and dozens of illuminated plastic figurines which were wildly popular in the 1960s. A sparkly 8-foot sleigh, which Simmons created, sits upon the lawn, filled with stuffed animals and giant wrapped presents. Simmons and friends made the Abominable Snowman with papier-maché floral wire and white fur.

frequently haunts estate sales and the Lakewood shop Curiosities for creepy/ cool Santas. She also has anonymous help.“Sometimes I’ll come home to find a bag of weird little holiday things on my porch.”

She now covers her giant front-yard tree with 30,000 lights, using a rented boom lift.She also strings up large molds of Santa and his reindeer between her front tree and house.

Simmons has been hard at work “giltterizing” plywood sheets, which will cover the front and sides of her house. It fooled City Code Compliance, who stopped by one day and informed Simmons she absolutely could not paint her house with glitter. The matter soon was resolved and all is well with the City.

Simmons’ handiwork is everywhere. Look for the “weird candy canes,” which she made herself. Among her favorites: the taxidermied rodents.A selftaught taxidermist, she learned the art from an instructional DVD.

It’s not just locals who’ve noticed and appreciated her work. In 2007, she placed in the top 20 in a nationwide Home Depot contest and a few yearslater she appeared on ABC-TV’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

Simmons keeps an eye out year-round for holiday decorations and deals. She found a set of elves, dating from 1964, at a thrift store on Garland Road, and she

When you check out Simmons’ bright, glowing roof, know that she scurried up multiple times, sketching out a design, then painstakingly hot-gluing the lights one by one.

All this effort has garnered fans, particularly neighbors. A ccording to Rosalyn Duke, “Her house needs to be on everyone’s Christmas list of mustdos.” Kalee Blythe and daughter Ellie are fans, too. “Liz’s tradition of holiday decorating truly brings the whole neighborhood together.”

“Sometimes I’ll come home to find a bag of weird little holiday things on my porch.”

(Photography by Danny Fulgencio).

PATTI VINSON is a guest writer who has lived in East Dallas for more than 15 years. She’s written for the Advocate and Real Simple magazine.

ECHO BOUTIQUE

Upscale resale & unique gifts

Exciting New Fall Arrivals Daily! Upscale resale - unique giftsdesigner consignment - hand picked vintage work by local artist and artisans.

9020 Garland Road (Between The Arboretum & Casa Linda) Dallas, TX 75218 214.370.4444

DALLAS WOMAN’S FORUM AT THE ALEXANDER MANSION

2018 Holiday European Tea Room

December 5-9 & December 12-16

Tickets $55 per guest that includes champagne

DUTCH ART GALLERY

Fine Art & Custom Framing

JURIED ART SHOW Through Dec 22

What is it about a particular place that draws you in, that fascinates you? Come travel the world with us as these artists give you their interpretation of our “Around the World” theme.

First 25 patrons receive an original miniature artwork by a show artist.

“The Piano” by Jacob Secrest

10233 E. Northwest Hwy. Suite 420 Dallas, TX 75238 214.348.7350 dutchartgallery.net

DAN “THE COMPUTER GUY”

Computer Repair

972.639.6413 stykidan@sbcglobal.net

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.

4607 Ross Ave. For reservations go online at dallaswomansforum.org or call 214.823.4533

Capture the joy of the holidays with an afternoon tea at The Dallas Woman’s Forum. Also, explore the magnificent boutique upstairs.

CREATIVE OASIS GIFT CERTIFICATES

Give the gift of creative joy this season!

Jill Allison Bryan CreativeOasisCoaching.com creativeoasiscoach@me.com

E-mail CreativeOasisCoach@me.com to order your gift certificate for a one-day Creative Oasis Retreat or 3-month coaching package.

Order by December 23rd to receive a personalized, printable gift certificate.

ADVOCATE ORNAMENT

Home decor

Own the Advocate Foundation’s limitededition, numbered, and hand-painted ornament; perfect gift for the new home owner or long time resident.

email: foundation@ advocatemag.com or call 214.560.4206

By GEORGE MASON

Hope emanating from Bethlehem

Both politics and religion have failed the little town

WORSHIP

BAPTIST

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

Bible Study 9:15 / Worship Services 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

I happened to be in Bethlehem on Election Day last month, co-leading a group tour with my colleague and friend, Rabbi Nancy Kasten of Temple Emanu-El. While people who identify in the United States as red, blue or purple were fretting over the outcome of our midterm voting, I was grateful for the freedoms we enjoy across the political spectrum. The right to determine one’s future is still not universal in the world.

The little town we sing about at this time of year, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, is getting more cramped and desperate by the day, due to worsening conditions under which its native Palestinians are living. Bethlehem is a West Bank city in the Palestinian Territory adjacent to Israel and just on the other side of the wall separating it from Jerusalem. Palestinian Arabs — both Muslims and Christians (now a dwindling 2 percent of the population) — feel themselves increasingly hemmed in on all sides.

Politics have not solved the conflict between Jews and Arabs over the Holy Land. Religion has made it worse, not better.

But along the way on our trip, we kept finding ordinary people doing small but extraordinary things that defy the pervasive pessimism. While public schools in Israel are mostly segregated as Jew or Arab, some private schools deliberately diversify their enrollment and teach in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

A classical music conservatory based in Nazareth called Polyphony brings students of all backgrounds together around music. The Jerusalem Youth Choir rehearses weekly and performs all over the country, with high school kids who brave scorn from their families and peers to cross the cultural divide and sing with their neighbors. A kibbutz in the southernmost part of Israel has a program in environmental science with one-third Israeli Jews, one-third Palestinian Arabs and one-third international students who live and learn together. And back in

Bethlehem, a Lutheran Palestinian pastor has created a college for arts and culture with 500 Palestinian students that seeks to train the next generation of leaders to find solutions through creative means that transcend politics and religion.

Christmas is coming this month for Christians. We celebrate a Savior who did not come to dominate the world as a political ruler or even to create a new and better religion to supersede all others. He came to be a light in the darkness, to dwell among us as one of us, to love unconditionally and to cross every boundary to bring peace on earth good will to all.

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

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 (ELCA) / 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 & See

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30 & 11:00 am 5200 Bryan Street / mungerplace.org

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

PRESBYTERIAN

Peace on earth and good will to all was the message of the angels to the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. It wasn’t a message to one group only; it was a message to all. It still is.

“O little town of Bethlehem ... the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

Hopes and fears both, but hope will always outlast fear.

GEORGE MASON is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, president of Faith Commons and host of the “Good God” podcast. 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.

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am Church that feels like church and welcomes like family.

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 / / 3204 Skillman St. 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 Metaphysical Bible Study 9:30 am

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

“Olittle town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie …”

“In Bethlehem, a Lutheran Palestinian pastor has created a college for arts and culture with 500 Palestinian students that seeks to train the next generation of leaders to find solutions through creative means that transcend politics and religion.”

DENTAL Insurance

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

AC & HEAT

Air Conditioning

Foam Encapsulation • Insulation Smart Home Solutions Service & Sales

Family Owned & Operated

integrity • innovative • impactful

214- 330 - 5500 iiirth.com

TACLB29169E

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

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

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

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

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

ART THE FUN WAY W/JANE CROSS

Art Cub: Mon’s. 12:30-2:30pm, Free For LHNRC

Members 13-Up. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr.

Drawing, Painting: Weds. 10:15-1:15 pm.

$15 Class/$60 month. 214-534-6829

INQUIRING MINDS 360 Programming Tutor. 6th Grade-High School. Home School Tech Courses Offered. Crystal Davis. text 214-253-8115

WRITING/EDITING HELP FOR APPLICANTS

Applying to HS, college, grad school? Struggling with your essays? I can improve your submission. Reasonable rates. Steve Long 972-849-4205

CLEANING SERVICES

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

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

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

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

TWO SISTERS & A MOP MAID SERVICE Reliable Quality Work.Best Rates. 23 Yrs. Exp. 214-283-9732

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

WINDOW WASHING & HOUSE CLEANING Call Sunny @ 214-724-2555

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

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, 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

R&M Concrete

Concrete • Driveways Retaining Walls Brick & Stone Work Stamped Concrete 214-202-8958

Bonded & InsuredReferences & Free Estimates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 214-251-5428

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

EC0NOMY GLASS & MIRROR Mirror, Shower, Windows Repair. 24 Hr. Emergency. 214-875-1127

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

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

FLOORING & CARPETING

CALL EMPIRE TODAY To Schedule A Free In -Home Estimate On Carpeting & Flooring. 1-800-508-2824

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

HASTINGS STAINED 214-341-3993

Hardwoods- Install/Refinish/Stain. Stained & Sealed Concrete. hastingsfloors.com

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

TO ADVERTISE CALL 214.560.4203

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

ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES

Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical.469-658-9163

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS

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

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors

Senior Safety Carpentry

Small & Odd Jobs And More! 972-308-6035

HandymanMatters.com/dallas

Bonded & Insured. Locally owned & operated.

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

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, 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

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

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

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

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

WHERE

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

”WE

On

Looking for local services and don’t have an Advocate magazine handy?

CHECK

OUT OUR UPDATED DIGITAL CLASSIFIED ADS

Online ads have long been a part of our classifieds, but we at Advocate magazine are always looking for ways to improve. What’s new? Our digital ads now include photos and logos of companies. Plus, they are searchable on Google.

Support your neighborhood by contacting these local companies, who are ready to help you with home and professional services, tutoring, lessons and more.

Pull up our lakewood.advocatemag.com, then click on the Marketplace tab. Search the category that you want, then start contacting local services. Thanks for supporting our classified section.

classifieds.advocatemag.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

NEW LEAF TREE CARE

Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528

PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.

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

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

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

LEGAL SERVICES

A WILL? THERE IS A WAY! Estate/Probate matters.maryglennattorney.com 214-802-6768

MOVING

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

PEST CONTROL

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

NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT, INC

Advanced in All Types of Pest Control Solutions

Since 1994. Same Day Service Available. Rated 5.0 Star on Google. 214-827-0090 natureking.com

PET SERVICES

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

THE PET DIVAS Pet Sitting, Daily Dog Walks, In Home/Overnight Stays.Basic Obedience Training. thepetdivas.com 817-793-2885. Insured

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

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

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

C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES

Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450

REAL ESTATE

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE Plano/Miller Rd. 1,800 sf. Remodled Jerry. 469-233-1806

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

GREEN LOVE HOMES Turnkey

Renovations,Kitchens, Baths, Floors, Windows. Free Estimates. greenlovehomes.com

214-864-2444

INTEX CONSTRUCTION Specializing in int/ext. Remodel. 30 Yrs Exp. Steve Graves 214-875-1127

MP ARCHITECTURAL Design & Construction. mattandpaul.com 214-226-1186

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

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

Residential • Commercial (214) 503-7663 www.scottexteriors.com

SERVICES FOR YOU

25 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED NOW Earn $1000 per week. Paid CDL Training Stevens Transport Covers All Costs. 1-877-209-1309 drive4stevens.com

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

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA Approved Hands On Aviation training. Financial Aid For Qualified Students. Career Placement Assistance. Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 888-686-1704

Bob

DIRECTV CHOICE All-Included Package. Over 185 Channels. Only $45/month (for 24 months) Get NFL Sunday Ticket Free. Call Now. 1-855-781-1565

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels. $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation. Smart HD DVR Included. Free Voice Remote. Some Restrictions Apply. 1-855-837-9146

SERVICES FOR YOU

DONATE YOUR CAR TO VETERANS Help And Support Our Veterans. Fast-Free Pick Up. 100% Tax Deductible. 1800-245-0398

EARTHLINK HIGHSPEED INTERNET As Low As $14.95/month.(first 3 months) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology Stream Videos, Music & More. 1-855-520-7938

LUNG CANCER And Age 60+ You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. 866-428-1639. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket.

OLD GUITARS & AMPS WANTED Gibson, Fender, Martin All Brands. Top Dollar Paid. 1-866-433-8277.

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. 1-877-338-2315

START SAVING BIG ON MEDICATIONS Up To 90% Savings from 90daymeds. Over 3500 Medications Available. Prescriptions Req’d. Pharmacy Checker Approved. Call For Free Quote 844-776-7620

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER With an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a Free Toilet & a Lifetime Warranty on the Tub / Installation. 1-855-534-6198

ADVOCATE PUBLISHING does not pre-screen, recommend or investigate the advertisements and/or Advertisers published in our magazines. As a result, Advocate Publishing is not responsible for your dealings with any Advertiser. Please ask each Advertiser that you contact to show you the necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform the work you are requesting. Advocate Publishing takes comments and/or complaints about Advertisers seriously, and we do not publish advertisements that we know are inaccurate, misleading and/ or do not live up to the standards set by our publications. If you have a legitimate complaint or positive comment about an Advertiser, please contact us at 214-560-4203. Advocate Publishing recommends that you ask for and check references from each Advertiser that you contact, and we recommend that you obtain a written statement of work to be completed, and the price to be charged, prior to approving any work or providing an Advertiser with any deposit for work to be completed.

OUR CITY

By MITA HAVLICK

They’re all our babies

Children at schools throughout East Dallas deserve more from us

My tour of Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School began in the roomy entrance hall. The campus belies the South Dallas neighborhood where it resides — a beautiful shiny building with spotless floors and amazing student-painted murals, sitting in the midst of homes that have seen better days.

The first period bell had rung and students were in their classrooms, so it was relatively quiet as Principal Sharron Jackson dove into the school’s history.

Barely 30 seconds after she started, a boy pounded on the front doors asking to be let in. Principal Jackson opened the door.

“School started 20 minutes ago. Where you been?” her stern voice demanded.

Respectfully and without hesitating, he replied, “My mom didn’t come home last night, so I had to walk.”

Let that sink in: “My mom didn’t come home last night.”

I’ve been late to carpool pick-up on multiple occasions. Twice I’ve forgotten to pick up a friend’s child I was in charge of, and once I forgot to retrieve my daughter after an evening playdate. Only when I saw the mother’s phone number on my caller ID at 11 p.m., did I remember. (And by remember, I mean I didn’t.)

Not surprisingly, I have a reputation of not remembering. But I’ve never forgotten to come home.

Jackson, in her army fatigues and combat boots (being a middle school principal in a tough neighborhood, she dresses to mean business), softened just a bit.

“OK, go to the office, get your tardy pass and go to class.”

As the boy walked away, she turned to me.

“That’s pretty much the story of a lot of my babies,” she said.

I want to believe that mothers come home, but know not all do. I want to believe that all parents read to their

kids, but know most don’t. I want to believe that children eat when they’re hungry, but know many can’t.

Coming from Lakewood or Mockingbird Elementary schools, where 93 percent and 81 percent of our students, respectively, don’t face the challenges of poverty, it’s difficult to comprehend that the opposite is true across Dallas ISD — nearly 90 percent of our kids are considered “low socioeconomic status,” according to federal poverty standards. When you look at the high schools into which our East Dallas students feed (Woodrow, Bryan Adams and Conrad), 73 percent of our students are low income, a high

don’t speak English fluently and therefore feel (incorrectly) that they can’t read to their kids or participate in their learning. A vast number of parents work multiple jobs so volunteering at school is not a realistic possibility.

That’s pretty much the story of a lot of our babies.

And lest we think otherwise, they are our babies — just like the way we “adopt” our kids’ best friends and how we keep an eye out for the children in our neighborhood.

I want to hold and love them. I want to feed them and read to them and give them every advantage I had growing up and that my children enjoy today, living in a home where all needs and most wants are met.

number for sure, but well below the district average. But go across North Central Expressway to visit North Dallas High School, where East Dallas’ Cesar Chavez and Zaragoza elementary students wind up, and you’ll find the highest homeless student population in the district with 92 percent of students categorized as low income.

For many throughout our district, the only meals our kids eat are the free breakfasts and lunches the district provides. (“Peace Pantry” programs at Woodrow, J.L. Long, and our elementary schools are a gift and a necessity.) Many students have love and joy in their homes but not a computer to do homework. They may have parents who

So, what if we could give all of our students some of those advantages? If we are among the privileged who have comforts, why not, in addition to volunteering on our own children’s campuses, help at a school where our kids don’t attend? Why not sign up to be a Reading Partners tutor at Mount Auburn Elementary or Mata Montessori? Or a Book Buddies tutor at Lipscomb, Geneva Heights, Casa View or Sanger elementary? Or work alongside a principal to start an afterschool chess, robotics or dads club? Why not be a community member on a site-based decision-making committee or dig in with an Out Teach (formerly REAL School) garden?

Why not?

Dallas ISD has umpteen opportunities to lend your time across the district. Complete a volunteer application at dallasisd.voly.org, where you can also sift through options to find something that supports our babies and feeds your soul.

I want to believe that mothers come home, but know not all do. I want to believe that all parents read to their kids, but know most don’t. I want to believe that children eat when they’re hungry, but know many can’t.

MITA HAVLICK is a neighborhood activist. Find her commentary regularly in the back pages of our print edition and online at lakewood. advocatemag.com.

For over 10 years, Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate has set East Dallas sales records, representing billions of dollars in property for thousands of satisfied clients. Our reputation as the area’s dominant luxury real estate firm is founded on the combined strength of our dynamic team, dedicated to collaboratively cultivating an intimate understanding of Dallas’ premier neighborhoods, with emphasis on quality, character and design.

№ 1 Brand in Lakewood & East Dallas

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Claims based on 2017 MLS sold volume, Lake Highlands, Lakewood and East Dallas, Area 12 and 18.

Estate, Inc.

Residential real estate is an ever-changing industry, especially in Dallas. Inventory levels, interest rates, school districts, urban redevelopment, suburban sprawl, the economy – keeping up with it all is a full-time job. Because your home is one of your most significant investments, staying connected to an experienced, service-minded expert – your personal expert – is not only smart, it’s essential.

Work with the brand that has sold the most homes in East Dallas this year.