Literary Lakewood

Book it to little free libraries

Sit down. Take a load off. Grab a book and escape for a while. Neighbors Lennox and Sheila Bower provide the books and even the sequestered nook, complete with shade from the Texas sun. Welcome to their Little Free Library.

If you’re in the Wilshire Heights neighborhood, driving down McCommas, you can’t miss it. The big turquoise umbrella will catch your eye, then you’ll spot the bench next to a tree stump upon which perches a lovely Little Free Library, brimming with books.

For those unfamiliar with LFL, here’s a primer. Back in 2009, a man in Wisconsin built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother who was a teacher and voracious reader. He placed the model on a post in front of his house, filled it with books and invited people to help themselves to a good read. Take a book, leave a book.

The idea grew quickly. More than 60,000 Little Free Libraries in 80 countries dot the planet, and those are merely the ones officially registered with the nonprofit LFL. In our neighborhood, the LFL map shows libraries on many streets: Grandview, La Vista, Whittier, Hillbrook, Southridge, Penrose and more.

Sheila Bower spotted one a few years ago and fell in love with the concept. “It touched a note with me,” says the retired teacher. Both she and husband, Lennox, a retired attorney, are big readers. She favors art books and autobiographies; he is knee-deep in an 1834 edition of a Washington biography.

Armed with an online map of registered LFLs, she and Lennox drove all over town checking out existing libraries. Creative juices flowing, they returned home and got to work. Opting out of the kit from the Little Free Library website, they decided to create their own design, starting with an old curio case they found at a favorite antique shop.

A bit of bright paint, some added finials, lots of trips to the hardware store and many dollars later, the case was at last mounted on an old tree stump to avoid damaging the great live oak tree under which the library sat. And in memory of their much-loved Airedale Terrier, Bebop, they painted his name across the top.

Neighbors and friends gathered for the unveiling in September 2014. But with so much time, energy and money poured into the project, the Bowers had misgivings. Call it “librarian’s remorse.” What if their little library sat unused, the books growing dusty?

But if you build it, they will come. And they did. Neighbor patrons trickled by, many puzzled at first by the structure, then intrigued, then charmed. Soon, the library was in business and continues to attract a steady stream of patrons — with an added benefit. “We’ve met tons of neighbors since its inception,” says Lennox.

It hasn’t, however, been without its challenges. A couple of years ago, a neighbor complained about a LFL at another location in Dallas, claiming the structures were code violations. Ultimately, the City Council allowed LFLs to continue on their merry and bookish way.

Grinchy complaints aside, the main problem is nature. Ants have made themselves at home in the structure, requiring swift eviction by the Bowers. Harsh Dallas weather can take its toll on the paint and wood. Just last year, the Bowers replaced their original structure with a new Tiki-inspired, thatch-roofed beauty, blue with lemon trim. The umbrella replaced the great old tree which, sadly, had to come down. And larly take inventory of their library and restock shelves with children’s books and books for adults. A recent scan of the shelves found “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” next to a Winnie-the-Pooh tale. For the older crowd, how about a book of E.E. Cummings poetry or a comedian’s musings? the little bench, embellished with a mosaic of poetry, seemed a natural addition to the tableau.

Patrons have left more than books on the shelves. They’ve hidden notes that say “Thank you” or “We love your Little Free Library.” If the Bowers happen to be outside when book browsers come by, patrons frequently call out their appreciation.

The Bowers have been surprised how appreciated their library has been. Sitting in their garage are several dozen books donated by patrons who live up to the “Take a book/Leave a book” philosophy. The Bowers regu-

The Bowers are giving, but they’re receiving, too. Parents and children huddled on the bench, bent over reading a book together, is a happy sight for the Bowers. They relish their role in making memories. “We enjoy watching people use it, watching a little child run with a book in his or her hand to read or to put in the library,” says Lennox. Adds Sheila, “It seems to bring out the best in people.”

For more information: littlefreelibrary.org or lfldallas.org.

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, and she has taught college writing.

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BIZ BUZZ

WHAT’S UP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES

FOOD NEWS

In April, Smithy opened on Henderson in Hibiscus’ old location in a former blacksmith shop, according to Dallas Eater. Neighbors can enjoy ahi tuna bowls, crab nachos, shareable poutine and steak inside or on the large patio. Italian and Japanese style cocktails are joined by craft beers to keep the party going until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Smithy is at 2927 Henderson Ave.

Misti Norris left Small Brewpub to open Petra and the Beast in March. The Haskell restaurant is focused on foraging and finding local ingredients, is BYOB, and offers counter service Wednesday through Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, there is a reservation only, single seating tasting menu at 7 p.m. The menus will change weekly depending on the season and availability of wild ingredients. Petra and the Beast is at 601 N. Haskell.

The empty Daddy Jack’s space will soon have a new tenant serving up brisket on Lower Greenville. Dallas CultureMap reports that Louie King BBQ will serve up Wagyu brisket and pulled pork with seafood and exotic meats worked into the rotation.

CultureMap reports that Maya’s Modern Mediterranean will open soon in Casa Linda Plaza. Taking over the space left by the Alligator Cafe on the northeast corner of Buckner and Garland, Maya’s will serve fast casual Mediterranean that is healthy and family friendly. The restaurant will lean more toward Middle Eastern dishes like falafel and kebabs than Greek, and it will also include three flavors of dessert hummus.

Balcony Club Rocks On

After the death of the Balcony Club’s owner last December, neighbors began to wonder if the longtime jazz and blues venue would keep entertaining the neighborhood from its perch above the Lakewood Theater and Mi Cocina. Fortunately, just days before his death, former owner Teddy Davey signed a 10- year lease for the space, which is now run by his wife, Lorena. This summer, Balcony Club will turn 30, and if all goes to plan it will keep turning out live music on its intimate stage until it turns 40.

NEWS & NOTES

WHAT’S NOTABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Reilly Lifesavers

Fast-acting staffers at Martha Turner Reilly Elementary in East Dallas helped resuscitate a substitute teacher who fell to the floor unconscious earlier this month. Office manager Irene Aguilar was making a copy when the teacher fell. She called school nurse Beata Fik and counselor Amparo Guzman, and they used the AED and began CPR. The teacher eventually gained a pulse, and the three women supported him until the ambulance arrived. The substitute teacher is recovering.

High School Rankings

U.S. News and World Report released its annual high school rankings, giving local schools an idea about where they stand relative to their peers. In East Dallas, Woodrow Wilson High School clocked in at 161st in Texas and received a silver medal, awarded to the schools that ranked between 501 and 2,211 nationally. Bryan Adams was not ranked. They were both beat by Uplift Peak Preparatory in Old East Dallas, which was ranked the 39th best school in Texas and received a gold medal for its 208th ranking nationally.

Big Tex Scholarships

The State Fair of Texas Scholarship program began in 1992 as a way to recognize and reward local graduates on their way to college. This year, the fair awarded 105 Pete Schenkel scholarships totaling $1.4 million to schools near the State Fair, including several Woodrow Wilson High School seniors. Woodrow’s recipients are Victoria Arenas, Liyat Assefa, Adam Becker, Audrey Blumenstock, Charlotte Devine, Aaron Furman, Annabelle Furrh, Angelica Islas, Michael Kavas, Paul

Kraus, Henry Lloyd, Zachary Longhway, Chloe Mabry, Madeline McCulloch, Elizabeth Mcpherson, Daniel Ramos, Emily Rosas, Ethan Rose, Marino Sanchez, Julia Van Witzenburg, William Warncke, Travis West, Carly Williams and Alexa Zotos.

Garland Road Attack

A woman was attacked one evening in May as she walked home to her apartment on Grand from the QT gas station in the 7600 block of Garland Road near the Gaston-Garland-Grand intersection. A man with a bandana over his face stopped his car near the pedestrian bridge over Garland, got out, and pushed the victim down. He punched her and cut her with a knife, tearing holes in her shirt as well as her bra as he attempted to pull her pants down. She was only able to escape by macing the assailant in the eyes. The police report describes the attacker as a black male, 25 to 33 years old, 5’9” and 150 pounds.

School Board Runoff

Justin Henry and Bernadette Nutall will match up in a runoff election for the Dallas ISD District 9 trustee seat on June 16 after Henry missed winning the election outright by 69 votes. No candidate earned the requisite 50 percent to avoid a runoff. Henry, a Hollywood Santa Monica resident, earned 47 percent of the 2,313 votes, and the incumbent Nutall tallied 32 percent. Powerful education political action committees Dallas Kids First and Educate Dallas endorsed both Henry and third place finisher Ed Turner, whose 463 votes would have won the election for Henry. Henry decided to run for the position when the Dallas ISD board voted against a 13-cent tax hike earlier this school year that would have provided additional funding for the district. Nutall, who has been on the board since 2009, is part of the group of trustees who voted against that tax hike, though she did support smaller funding increases. Henry is in support of the tax increase, and victory for him would give the pro tax hike faction the six votes they need to pass such a measure. District 9 includes parts of East Dallas, South Dallas, Deep Ellum, Pleasant Grove and Downtown.

By GEORGE MASON