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Clearing The Way

More than a few complaints were made when the city told nearly 9,000 Dallas residents that they would have to move trash pickup from their alleys to their curbs on March 1. However, recent successes in the Peninsula and Highland Meadows neighborhoods have shown that if residents are willing to put in the effort to reinstate their alley service, the city is willing to work with them.

Now even more residents, including many in Lakewood, are collaborating with the city to return to alley service. According to Alex Winslow, president of the Lakewood Neighborhood Association, approximately 2,000 homes in Lakewood had to switch to curbside pickup, and many of them want to resume alley pickup. Winslow says Lakewood’s plan was always to let the Peninsula neighbors work out a formula with the city before tackling the issue themselves.

“What we’re doing is following the lead of Peninsula now that they’ve blazed the trail,” he says.

Mary Nix, director of the city’s sanitation department, says the process to resume alley pickup will be much the same in Lakewood and any other neighborhood as it was in the Peninsula Neighborhood and Highland Meadows: First, neighborhoods will be required to gather together and decide how they want to divide up, which is entirely up to them. In a meeting with Lakewood residents, Nix suggested dividing up by sections of three blocks or fewer, depending on how the trash route runs. Then, instead of the city sending out ballots like it did in the

Peninsula Neighborhood’s case, the residents must get at least 75.1 percent of their section’s homeowners to sign a petition, and submit it to the city. Lakewood residents are currently working on this.

“It seems to organize them better if they want to do it that way,” Nix says.

Once petitions are turned in, they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to make sure a return to alley service would make sense from an efficiency standpoint. If it does, a city representative will come out and inspect the alleys and tell residents what, if anything, can be done to make the alleys workable. Once the city is satisfied that all requirements have been met, alley service will be resumed.

Nix says it’s not possible to predict a timeline for this process because it is dependent on how fast residents are able to get the work done. “I think some of them are extraordinarily motivated, and they’ll get it done really quickly,” she says.

Winslow says the Lakewood Neighborhood Association is helping to organize homeowners, but each individual section of Lakewood will set its own timelines.

—ELIZABETH ELLIOTT

IS YOUR PET ACOVER MODEL?

Find out — send your best pet photo to launch@advocatemag.com to enter the Advocate pet photo contest and for a chance to see your pet on the magazine cover.

Please include your name, phone number and zip code with the subject line: “pet photo contest”.

SANGER STAMPEDE FREE Alex

Sanger Elementary’s spring carnival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. features a bounce house, slide and rock climbing wall, games, music and food. 1k and 5k fun runs begin at 9 a.m. $5 entry for the 1k and $15 for the 5k. To register for the fun run contact Gretchen Thigpen at 214.228.7518 or gretathig@gmail.com. 8410 San Leandro, alexsangerecpta.org.

Wine On The Roof

$55 The East Lake Pet Orphanage knows how to party. Once a year, they take a night off from saving homeless dogs, sick cats and injured birds to throw a party on the roof. The fundraiser includes live music, a silent auction, wine tasting, food and, of course, a pet fashion show. Because there’s nothing more entertaining than dogs wearing clothes. All proceeds go to support East Lake Pet Orphanage, which is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned and unwanted pets. It’s a no-kill shelter, and it’s always brimming with animals. The shelter also works to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering pets, and responsible pet ownership. The party starts at 7 p.m. East Lake Pet Orphanage, 10101 E. Northwest Highway. 214.342.3100, elpo.org.

—RACHEL STONE

Spring Market Free

The Bishop Lynch Brigade’s annual arts-and-crafts from Ferguson bishoplynch.org

ART SHOWENTRY FREE

The Lakewood Library Friends will accept entries for the 46th annual Lakewood Art Show from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists older than 18 can submit up to two entries. A reception for the artists and their guests is Tuesday, May 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, call Ann Gaspari at 214.328.3703. 6121 Worth.

happeningsLAUNCH

SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL $50

This Stonewall Jackson Elementary School fundraiser features rockabilly/punk band the Reverend Horton Heat. There will be a Mexican food buffet from Primo’s and a silent auction. General admission tickets are $50, and tables are available for $1,000. Life in Deep Ellum, 2803 Taylor, shakerattleandrollauction.org.

WHITE ROCK LAKE

FESTIVAL $5 The 11th annual White Rock Lake Festival at Boy Scout Hill features classic car collectors, live music and food. Animal handlers from the Dallas Zoo will be on hand with animals and free passes. It starts at 10 a.m. each day and lasts until 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds go to White Rock Lake Park, whiterocklakefoundation.org.

WHITE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL $15-$35

The Dallas Running Club hosts the 10- and 5-mile White Rock ‘n’ Roll run/walk at 8 a.m. Sign up at dallasrunningclub.com or on race morning beginning at 7 a.m. at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake. Proceeds benefit White Rock Lake Foundation and Water to Thrive, a charity that gives clean water to people in need. Race registration fee includes a pass to the White Rock Lake Festival and a cool T-shirt.

PETER RABBIT’S FLOWER

Village

$7-$10 The newest Dallas Arboretum exhibit caters to young children and their families. The topiary flower houses of Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle,

LAUNCHhappenings

Mrs. Tittlemouse and Jemima Puddleduck include interactive elements of the storybook tales. Also during the Summer at the Arboretum festivities are Family Fun Mondays, with face painting and a petting zoo from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 65 and older, $7 for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and younger.Onsite parking is $7.Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road. 214.515.6500 or dallasarboretum.org.

CHILDREN’S CENTER CARNIVAL

The Children’s Center’s spring carnival, “Kickin’ it Old School”, is from 3-6 p.m. It will include carnival games, bounce houses, rides, face painting and food. Admission is free, and a $20 wristband buys games, rides and food. 1423 San Saba, 214.823.2119 or thechildrenscenterdallas.org.

GOLF TOURNAMENT $200-

$1,700 The 2010 Tim Brown Golf Tournament benefits Woodrow Wilson High School athletics. It starts at 1 p.m. at Tenison Park Highlands Course, 3501 Samuell. Contact Sam Harrington, 214.558.0582.

Twilight

TUESDAYS $8-$16 The Dallas Arboretum’s Twilight Tuesday concert lineup for May includes Johnny Reno & the Lounge Kings, Tuxedo Junction, Paul Salos, and Jennifer Baldwin & the Vibes. Tickets are $8 for members and $16 otherwise. 214.515.6518 or dallasarboretum.org.

includes Asleep at the Wheel on May 27. Tickets for that show are $16 for members and children and $24 for non-member adults. Other shows, which are $8 for members and $16 otherwise, are Emerald City, Satisfaction and Havana NRG. The shows are from 7:309:30 p.m., and a ticket includes free parking. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road. 214.515.6518 or dallasarboretum.org.

Farmers Market Free

Mockingbird Station is hosting a farmers market every Thursday this summer from 4-7 p.m., and this is the first one, featuring items from local growers, organic farmers and community gardens. 5321 E. Mockingbird, 214.452.7180 or mockingbirdstation.com.

City Arts Festival Free

Cool

THURSDAYS $8-$24 The Dallas Arboretum’s Cool Thursday concert lineup for May

The seventh annual City Arts Festival is at Fair Park this year. Bands will be playing all weekend, plus dancers and other performers will entertain. A children’s area will have entertainment, and arts and crafts, and adults can participate in cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and an art show. Admission to all the museums at Fair Park happeningsLAUNCH is free during the festival. 214.871.3029 or cityartsfestival.com.

CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS $12-$23 Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts presents “Carnival of the Animals” at the Dallas Children’s Theater. Call for dates and times, 214.740.0051, or check dct.org. Baker Theater, Rosewood Center for Family Arts, 5938 Skillman.

BATH HOUSE BUTTERFLY GARDEN DEDICATION FREE

The Dallas County Master Gardener Association and The Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center sponsor this 2 p.m. dedication of the Bath House Butterfly Garden and Whirl, a sculpture by John Christensen. Councilman Sheffie Kadane will make the dedication with a reception following. Neighbors are invited. 521 E. Lawther, dallascountymastergardeners.org.

ARBORETUM PLANT SALE FREE

The 8 a.m.-5 p.m. sale includes more than 23,000 plants starting at $2 each. Amateur gardeners and seasoned horticulturists will be on hand to answer questions. The sale takes place at the back of Rosine Hall adjacent to the main parking lot, so no garden admission or parking will be charged. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road.

FAMILY FITNESS FAIR FREE

The M.T. Reilly Elementary School Family Fun and Fitness Fair includes a “bounce climb slide”, hula hoops, skipping station, performances from the Bryan Adams High School choir, exercise classes, a blood drive, food samples and more. M.T. Reilly Elementary, 9 a.m.noon, 11230 Lippitt, 972.749.7800.

Swiss Avenue Home

TOUR $15-$20 The Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour is chock full of Dallas luminary history. Tickets are $15 in advance at Talulah Belle, 2011 Abrams, or any area Whole Foods store; they are $20 on tour days. The tour includes a free trolleystyle bus and horse-and-carriage to tote ticketholders from home to home. A Mother’s Day