2014 September Lakewood

THESE

Digital Mammograms

You know you should get a mammogram, but do you know when to start? Is it at age 40 or 50? Should you start sooner? Or later? At Texas Health Resources, we’re here to clear up the uncertainty because when you should start getting mammograms depends upon, well, you. We don’t just look at age, we look at factors like family history, physical activity and lifestyle so you know when the right time is for you and how often you should schedule them. And if you are at risk, we offer comprehensive breast care from diagnostics to support. Let us help you take the guesswork out of breast care. Go online to take the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and schedule your digital mammogram today.

Have Fun AT OUR FREE WOMEN’S HEALTH EVENT

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake is hosting a fun and informative evening on Tuesday, September 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. so women can learn more about the latest health treatments. The free event at 9330 Poppy Drive, Suite 207 will include topics such as endometriosis, gallbladder disease, heart disease, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids. Several physicians will serve in a Q&A panel, and there will be refreshments, bra-fitting compliments of WACOAL and Macy’s, and relaxing chair massages. Basic Zumba lessons with an exercise instructor from White Rock YMCA will be offered for the first 25 registrants.

Registration is required. Call 800-887-2525 to reserve your seat today.

Leaps in learning

A tutoring program helps to close the gaps in education for Dallas ISD children.

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Summer scholars

A reading camp helps neighborhood children stay up to speed on academics during the summer months.

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Well read

An East Dallas retiree is passing on her love of reading to her young neighbors.

Critter creativity

Several East Dallas artists have found a niche by painting neighborhood pets. 30 Pet pal

It’s a dog-filled life for White Rock-area resident Erica Upham.

THE COVER: Zephyr and Anabelle photo by Danny Fulgencio

SNAP JUDGMENT

I knew that the woman who owns the three-story, multimillion-dollar closet in Houston was an idiot, especially when it was reported that a thief made off with $1 million in luxury goods from her closet one evening. My opinion was confirmed when I saw her crying on TV after the theft; her lips seemed a little artificially plump to me.

Same with whoever decided to bring a couple of Americans with Ebola to Atlanta to treat them — what kind of American brings people with an incredibly contagious disease into our country, risking the health of the rest of us? The 30-second clip didn’t go into details, but I don’t have time to think about Ebola longer than that anyway.

How about Beyonce’s sister, who started beating on Jay-Z in that elevator video clip? He was just standing there looking at her, so she must have been drunk or on drugs or just messed up. The video was kind of grainy, but I could see enough to decide.

That football player, Ray Rice, who turned up on hotel security cameras dragging his girlfriend (now wife) out of a hotel elevator when she appeared to be unconscious? What a bozo. He looked pretty guilty in that black-and-white video.

And the NFL commissioner who only suspended Rice for two games — when that other player who was smoking marijuana was kicked out for a whole year I mean, what was the commissioner thinking? I could tell all I needed to know from the TV news report teaser — there’s no question Rice should be spending time in prison instead of cooling his heels for a couple of Sundays.

That’s the greatest thing about life these days. Thanks to TV news, internet video clips and 10-second sound bites, it’s really easy to condemn, hate, repudiate and dismiss people I’ve never met and never talked with, all based on a few seconds of video or a single photo (celebrities without makeup!) or someone’s 140-character Twitter post.

It’s so much easier to be judgmental now. I don’t have to get my hands dirty with newsprint or books, and I don’t have to depend on friends telling me how to think. Thanks to the internet, I can think on my own and draw conclusions in just a couple of seconds.

Oscar Pistorius? Guilty! Vladimir Putin? Scary! Congress? Dummies!

There’s no longer any need to

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understand the background of an issue. No need to spend time researching complicated stories. No reason to consider what others with first-hand information about situations might have to say — I can be the judge, jury and executioner without breaking a sweat, leaving my home or even having any real knowledge about what I’m talking about.

And if I’m really lucky, I can take care of all of my thinking before breakfast while watching the morning news on TV.

Thank you, Al Gore, for inventing the internet. You should really run for office someday and straighten out those guys in Washington!

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Within 30 seconds, or 140 characters, we confidently shape our wildly under-informed opinions

The 30-second clip didn’t go into details, but I don’t have time to think about Ebola longer than that anyway.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Ramzi Abdulrahman leads a dedicated team of health care professionals who specialize in delivering extremely precise cancer treatments that allow our youngest patients to continue their journey into adulthood with fewer long-term side effects. UT Southwestern is the No. 1 referral center for Children’s Medical Center, and the only local facility that regularly treats children with advanced radiosurgical tools such as the Gamma Knife and CyberKnife. This is UT Southwestern—where scientific research, advanced technology, and leading-edge treatments come together to bring new hope to cancer patients.

To learn more, contact:

Radiation Oncology at 214-645-8525 | UTSWmedicine.org/radonc

This is where we’re helping young patients put cancer behind them.

DIGITAL DIGEST THE DIALOGUE

they are telling us where they are, it’s not exactly a trap, is it?”

—Advocate publisher Christina Hughes Babb, reporting about the Dallas Police Department’s use of Facebook to post its speed trap locations throughout the city

WANT MORE?

Sign

Kingston, speaking before the City Plan Commission against changes, which were approved, aimed at making it harder for neighborhoods to create CDs

TALK

“I wish there was time for me to hug each and every one of you goodbye, but I hope you all know that you will remain in my heart, thoughts, and prayers forever.”

—Kaye Simmons, Lakewood Elementary’s outgoing principal, in her letter to parents explaining her abrupt departure from the school after just two years

“You will not see another conservation district in Dallas if this is passed. And I say that as respectfully as I can.”

—Belmont Addition neighbor Melissa

“The problem now—we might have to rethink the vernacular. If

“ I’d like to see a list of 10 ways for Dallas Waste Management to get ticketed by the public. ”

—Teresa Ann via Facebook in response to our list, “10 ways to get ticketed for a city code violation”

A lifelong athlete, Patty Heitz found herself sidelined by shoulder problems. She went to her local Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas when pain lingered after rotator cuff surgery at another hospital. Tests revealed a serious staph infection that went all the way into the bone. Surgery to remove the affected bone and tissue plus antibiotic implants and injections cleared the way for a reverse shoulder replacement procedure. She regained full motion in the affected shoulder, but twinges of pain in the other shoulder sent her back to Baylor Dallas for a second rotator cuff surgery. With both shoulders back on track, Patty returned to the course. “Now if I don’t play well,” she jokes, “I can’t blame it on my shoulders.”

Two new shoulders led to a hole-in-one.

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     

 ’  

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         

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Launch

community | events | food

Dan Micciche lives on the east side of White Rock Lake in one of the few houses in Dallas with a view of the water. If you ask to meet him for lunch, he insists on a restaurant east of the lake, evangelizing its assets as on par with the glossier west side. Talk to Micciche (pronounced Mitch-kay) for just a few minutes, and it becomes evident that he is an advocate for the underdog — nowhere more so than in his position on the Dallas ISD board of trustees. In a little more than two years, he’s already made his mark as a voice for the school district’s poorest children, and he’s bound and determined to recruit neighbors to the cause.

You live right on the lake, correct?

If you come to my backyard, you can actually see water and some sailboats, but mostly you see the park. I’m in the Emerald Isle subdivision, and my backyard overlooks the softball fields at Winfrey Point and the site of the former German prison camp. (I was floored when I heard that story for the first time.) I’ve lived in my house for about 20 years, and lived in Lakewood, just adjacent to where Arboretum Village is, for about nine years before that.

Are you a lake ‘user’?

I used to be a runner; now I’m a jogger. My first marathon was the White Rock Marathon in 1984, so I’ve always appreciated being near the lake. I did triathlons, too, and competed against Lance Armstrong in the ’80s — meaning I was in the same race he was in. His name was very near the top; mine was very near the bottom.

So you’re a cyclist, too?

I have a bike and ride around the lake, but now I usually ride to restaurants — to The Lot and the Lake House, which are pretty convenient off the trail. I ride my bike at a picnic pace as opposed to one of those faster riders you hate if you’re a walker or a runner.

Where do you find yourself on the spectrum between keeping the lake as-is and developing it?

We don’t need to be paving any more parkland. We don’t need lakefront parking, and the lake is unique — it’s just a wonderful place to be, and there’s plenty of land not in the park that can be developed.

We hear that Dallas ISD isn’t your only civic passion; you’re an avid library supporter, too?

I go to the city’s Arts, Culture and Libraries committee meetings to see where they’re headed. The last time I went, they were aiming for last place again in terms of the number of hours libraries are open compared to every other city in the Metroplex and all peer cities. And not because they wanted to be in last place. The city council does a lot to aid the school district in areas like pre-K and summer reading programs, but in their primary area of responsibility for education, they don’t get a

Dallas ISD board trustee Dan Micciche: Photo by Kim Leeson

passing grade. If every other city can figure out a way to keep the libraries open more than 40 hours a week, and we can’t do that in Dallas, then we have a problem.

This is a big deal to you.

I’ve been pretty cranky about this issue for a long time. Libraries are places where people go to improve themselves. They’re safe places for kids to learn and dream. They’re places where people who are selfmotivated can use the internet to look for jobs, earn degrees, learn English. You can live a long time in Dallas and not know we’re a high-poverty city. Are we going to recognize that we are a high-poverty city, that we are a high-poverty school district? Are we going to support education, or are we going to be at the bottom of the list? We have to fund those libraries. To open the libraries back up again, you would

have to take the city’s general fund budget, $1.1 billion, and find 1 percent savings to fund the $10 or $11 million necessary to get us back to the funding we had in the early 2000s. We either need to find the savings or be willing to ask the average homeowner to fork over $25 more a year for libraries. Think about it this way: When your internet is out, how do you feel? You may not need the library as much as you once did, but it means that the people at the bottom of the economic scale need it even more.

Why do we overlook poverty in Dallas?

Where we live, you can drive back and forth to work and never see it. I give Mayor Rawlings in particular a lot of credit for recognizing and trying to do things about the high poverty in our city. In fact, 90 per-

cent of our [DISD] kids qualify for free or reduced school meals [the key indicator of schoolchildren’s poverty, based on families’ annual income], and our school district is higher poverty than New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Detroit, Newark — places that you don’t think about being nearly as prosperous as Dallas. I wrote about this in a Dallas Morning News op-ed in November 2012, about six months after I was elected to the board, and an Austin reporter saw that statement. Having formerly been a reporter in Dallas, he could not believe that was true. It just didn’t sound right. So he factchecked me using a ‘truth meter.’ He gave me a ‘mostly true’ rating because we were tied with Newark or Detroit in one category. The thrust of the story was, here you have a reporter from Dallas who is an intelligent guy, but even he was not aware of the level of poverty in our city.

When did you become aware of it?

It really hit me in 2005. That was the first year my law firm, Akin Gump, did our school partnership program with DISD at Fannin Elementary [read more on page 50]. We were just shocked. The school was 99 percent free or reduced lunch; these kids lived in deep poverty. I’ve been subsequently shocked when some PTA moms from Sanger Elementary came and told me kids were going hungry over the weekend, and they’ve started their own backpack program [to send food home]. One of the teachers noticed it, got the counselor involved, and I think they identified 50 kids, including siblings, at Sanger who weren’t eating over the weekend. Or, when I was at Hillcrest High School giving out graduation diplomas (that’s the most fun thing about being on the school board), a counselor was handing them to me to hand to the kids, and as one of them starts to walk up, all of a sudden the counselor just screams. I’m thinking, ‘What’s wrong?’ She whispers to me, ‘He’s homeless.’ It was an exclamation of joy. And then you have to imagine what it took to get him there. You have this intellectual awareness of poverty, but when you hear these stories, it hits you all over again.

Why should we care

about these kids when they aren’t ours?

Every child deserves an excellent education. That’s it. There’s no reason why a child growing up in this country shouldn’t get an excellent education. Also — and this is where altruism and self-interest merge if we want to have a city and neighborhoods that grow and prosper, we have to have an educated workforce. If we want to have property values that are maintained and grow, we have to have an educated workforce. The worst thing we can do is have thousands of kids leave our public schools with no hope of success.

What do you think of the home rule effort?

I don’t think that the home rule idea is a good one. I do credit the people who are behind it with good intentions, but I don’t think it’s going to help. The problems in our school district will still be there — we’ll still have the same kids in the same buildings with the same challenges, and we need to address parental education, to help parents understand what they need to do to start

educating their children in the first few years of their lives. We need to improve and expand pre-K education. We need to recruit volunteer tutors and get the community involved in the schools. It’s all about helping kids who grew up in poverty to catch up.

Seems like that might take a while.

It will, but one thing that is not widely known is the district has the largest HIPPY [Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters] program in the nation, and we’re expanding it. We’re about to review a plan by the administration that will greatly expand pre-K, which is state-funded for half days. The new volunteer tutoring program [read more on page 50] will make a difference in helping kids catch up, but will also make a difference in the way communities view those schools and the challenges in those schools. I think ultimately people will be talking about them as ‘our schools’ rather than ‘that DISD school.’ I think it will also really enhance the way people think about our DISD teachers and staff, the challenges they face and their extraordinary commitment to education. That’s certainly what happened with our school partnership between Akin Gump and Fannin. If you’re middle-class and you work Downtown, it’s not unusual to have an unfavorable opinion of DISD.

Did you?

Yeah, a little bit, but once you get in the classrooms and start working with kids, and you realize there are a lot of children who don’t know how to read or write their names — they just kind of show up on DISD’s doorstep without the benefit of all the advantages that a child in a middleclass family has — then you have a much greater sense of respect for the job our teachers do. I always think of my nephew, who is 2 years old, playing word games on his iPad and contrast that with kids like the 5- and 6-year-olds I saw that came to school not knowing their alphabet. We have a lot of kids who started out behind, and we need to catch them up.

—Keri Mitchell This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

READ MORE about Dallas ISD’s instructional tutoring program, championed by Micciche and rolling out at elementary schools district-wide this fall, on page 50. Visit lakewood.advocatemag. com to read a guest column from Micciche.

— Cass Rinehart

What gives?

Small ways that you can make a big difference for nonprofits

Market your business...

and help your community by working with Tidal Wave Marketing. Tidal Wave Marketing is a relatively new marketing agency headquartered in the White Rock area off of Greenville Avenue. Aside from awardwinning creative work, owner Michael Aars founded the agency with the purpose of “doing great work that does great work,” which is the basic principle behind conscious capitalism. Conscious business enterprise is made up of people who believe in corporate responsibility and implement practices that help other people and the environment. Aars takes conscious capitalism very seriously, which is why he started his own marketing firm in 2013. Since it’s beginning, Tidal Wave has donated a percentage of its monthly revenue to Dallas charities. Learn more at tidalwaveagency.com.

Take five … miles, that is. The Dallas Running Club hosts the annual Breakfast Bash run at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake Sept. 6 at 8 a.m. The Dallas Running Club is a nonprofit group that promotes good health. Membership is $30 per annum (discounts are available for families, students and seniors) and includes a free race the first Saturday of most months. DRC races are $10 each for non-members. Register for the race or membership at dallasrunningclub. com. Race day registration also is available at Winfrey Point from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

KNOW OF WAYS

that neighbors can spend time, attend an event, or purchase or donate something to benefit a neighborhood nonprofit? Email your suggestion to launch@advocatemag.com.

Pet artists in residence

Who knew pet portaiture would be so popular?

East Dallas neighbor Suzy Moritz works with oil, acrylic, pen and ink, and watercolor. Moritz has been a pet artist since 2005. The Pekingese pups in this portrait, Princess and Duke, are neighborhood dogs and some of the first Moritz painted. “I’ve done hundreds. I started doing this to make a living, and they’re so in demand. It’s just a miracle.”

SUZYMORITZFINEART.COM

Neighbor Kristen Druckenbrodt started digital artistry in 2012. “This hobby is the result of my effort to capture the inner beauty and spirit of our Australian shepherd, Rebel, and keeshond, Abby. Photos are fine, but they rarely possess a ‘wow’ factor. I wanted to create a work of art that captured the unique qualities that I loved about our dogs.” Druckenbrodt began creating pet portraits for family and friends earlier this year.

KCD-DESIGNS.NET

Neighborhood artist Christine Carey sometimes dabbles in pet portraiture, such as when she painted this picture for her neighbors, Bob and Melanie Richie, of their turkey, Stella. “They were going to feed out their birds and have them for Thanksgiving. Melanie’s bird didn’t survive. Thanksgiving came and went, and Bob’s turkey, Stella, was still around. Bob was telling everyone about how sweet his turkey was. He couldn’t do it.”

FACEBOOK.COM/JACKASSFLATSART

Neighbor Rebecca Collins became a digital artist in 1998 while playing around with a photo of her dog, Atticus. Right away, she realized she could do this for other people. “It’s a wonderful niche market. It really is, and it’s a diehard fan base. Even when the economy was bad, I never saw my sales go down because people continue to want to spend money on their pets. More and more, dogs and cats are a part of the family.” This painting of Prada the pug is one of Collins’ favorite client pieces.

ARTPAW.COM

Dog runner Erica Upham :

Photo by Kim Leeson

Go, dog, go

For several years, White Rock-area resident Erica Upham has spent a large chunk of her time exercising, as one must when aiming to qualify for (or preparing to compete in) the world’s most famous footrace, the Boston Marathon. Training for marathons while working full time and managing life’s daily responsibilities is doable but difficult. Upham, who possesses both an entrepreneurial and animal-loving spirit, figured out a way to do it all — run regularly, spend quality time with her dogs and other fleet-footed training partners, and earn a respectable income.

Until a few months ago, Upham worked at University of Texas at Dallas in the career center, where she gave students advice about their resumes and interviewing skills. “It was cool to see them go off to do things they love to do,” she says. Unfortunately, she was not as enthusiastic about her own career.

A few weeks after her May 31 wedding, she set up a website for Out of the Kennel, hoping to get a few pet-related jobs here and there. Having done plenty of unpaid pet sitting for friends and family, she knew she would enjoy the work.

“I thought it would be a hobby,” she says. But it quickly became difficult to manage everything. She received an offer for another position at UT-Dallas. When she didn’t feel particularly excited about the opportunity, “that was a real clue” that she should think about following her dream, she says. After just a few weeks in business, Upham quit her job to devote all her time to Out of the Kennel. With her wedding paid for and no big financial responsibilities on the horizon, she says, “I thought, it’s now or never … It was a great time to take a risk.”

Among other services, she offers dog running for pets that need a little more exercise than a standard walk (except when it is too hot). Upham has been a runner since she was in the ninth grade. She’s run six marathons — the most recent was fast enough to gain her entry into the 2015 Boston Marathon. She trains with the Dallas Running Club two days a week, and the responsibility of running with her high-energy canine clients motivates her the rest of the time, she says.

“I love dogs. I love the outdoors, running and walking,” she says. She also appreciates her clientele: “Everyone I work with is a huge animal lover.”

Her own canine family — Samson the schnoodle and Winston the Airedale terrier — have it good at the Upham house. “We treat our dogs like children,” she

says. “We even make food and dog treats for them.”

So today Upham is among those lucky people who love their jobs. “Being around dogs and cats is so enjoyable,” she says, “I don’t feel like I’m working.” —Larra Keel FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit outofthekennel.com or call 972.364.7019.

Out & About

September 2014

Sept. 13

Book fair

Drop by LibraryFest for a day of free family fun and entertainment. Aside from bargains on thousands of books, there will be a free drawing for a Kindle Paperwhite eReader, plus snacks available from Whole Foods Market. The Lakewood Branch Library, 6121 Worth Street, lakewoodlibraryfriendsdallas.org, 214.670.1376, free

LOCAL EVENTS

LAKEWOOD.ADVOCATEMAG.COM/EVENTS

SEPT. 7

Film showing

The world premiere of documentary “The Price of Honor” screens at the Lakewood Theater at 6 p.m. The film tells the story of Amina and Sarah Said, two teenage sisters who were murdered by their father Yaser Said in a so-called “honor killing” in Irving in 2008. Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams, thepriceofhonorfilm.com, $12

SEPT. 11- NOV. 23

‘The Cycles of the Fig Tree’

Carlos Cázares, a Mexican visual artist specializing in the disciplines of painting, sculpture and graphics, seeks to expose his heart to the light of the Creator, and constantly seeks a way to impress the life of God on his canvases. Through his experimentation with pigments and mineral deposits, he has found that materials such as gold and silver offer a beautiful refraction of light that enriches his work. His abstract works reflect an appreciation of ancient techniques applied in a contemporary setting.

St. Matthew’s Cathedral Arts center, Justus Sundermann Gallery, 5100 Ross, cathedralartsdallas.org, call 214.887.6552 to schedule a visit, free

SEPT. 14

Classical concert

Young soprano Emily Poulsen and pianist Heeyoung Choi present a recital of Romantic and 20th-century vocal music. The program features Edvard Grieg’s ‘Hjertets Melodier,’ a collection of songs written to poems of Hans Christian Andersen, and John Woods Duke’s setting of ‘Six Poems by Emily Dickinson,’ as well as songs and arias by Henri Duparc, Richard Strauss, Otto Nicolai and Hector Berlioz.

St. Matthew’s Cathedral Arts center, Justus Sundermann Gallery, 5100 Ross, cathedralartsdallas.org, 214.887.6552, free

SEPT. 18

North Texas Giving Day

Start the day with drive-thru juice and donuts at the Bath House Cultural Center from 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. followed by an afternoon musical interlude from noon-6 p.m. If you are unfamiliar with donating online, a volunteer can help you enter your gift on a provided computer. You may also donate online from 6 a.m.midnight on the North Texas Giving Day website.

Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther, northtexasgivingday. org, bathhousecultural.com, 214.670.8749, free

Sept. 20

Children’s ball

Dallas Children’s Theater is convening its royal court of knights and princesses for a Dream Ball, following the season opener for ‘Rapunzel.’

Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, dct.org, 214.978.0110, $50 per person

Sept. 20- Oct. 26 ‘Rapunzel’

Dallas Children’s Theater hosts its hilarious musical take on the classic fairy tale, Princess Rapunzel. Dallas Children’s Theater, see above, $17-28

Photo by James Coreas

SEPT. 20

Autumn at the Arboretum

Every year, the Dallas Arboretum uses more than 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash to form its nationally acclaimed storybook pumpkin village, which is on display through Nov. 27. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland, 214.515.6500, $10-$15, plus $10 for onsite parking or $5 for offsite parking.

THROUGH SEPT. 27

Art exhibit

Visit the Bath House Cultural Center to see “Split Seconds,” an exhibit presented as part of the center’s Curate+Collaborate Exhibition Series. Marilyn Waligore and Emily Loving are the co-curators of this exhibition, and their exhibit aims to “rethink the emphasis on a single moment in time.”

Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther, bathhousecultural.com, 214.670.8749, free

SEPT. 27

Art fundraiser

Join the Creative Arts Center for its fundraiser, the Blue Plate Special, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. The night features jazz, food, drinks and a silent auction highlighted by artist-designed ceramic plates paired with gifts and gift certificates. Attire is artsy cocktail. Event to be held in a home built from 14 shipping containers, 422 Peavy, 214.320.1275, creativeartscenter.com, $125 per person, $100 for CAC members

THROUGH SEPT. 27

Life at the lake

The White Rock Lake Museum in the Bath House Cultural Center presents ‘Refreshing Journey,’ an exhibition of drawings inspired by White Rock Lake from Dallas artist Jenny Hong DeLaughter. The exhibition depicts scenes from life at the lake — images of family gatherings, landscapes, wildlife and other special moments.

Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther, bathhousecultural.com, 214.670.8749, free

VOTING RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER 1-SEPTEMBER 19.

Delicious

URBAN VINES

9219 Garland 214.328.9463 urbanvinesdallas.com

AMBIANCE: RELAXED

PRICE RANGE: $7-$28

HOURS: 11 A.M.- 10 P.M. SUN.-THURS.; 11 A.M.-11:30 P.M. FRI.-SAT.

TIP: SIT NEAR THE FIREPLACE AND SIP A GLASS OF MALBEC WITH A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND ON THE PET-FRIENDLY PATIO

DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN GRAB LEFTOVER WINE CORKS FROM A PILE NEAR THE PATIO’S WATER FOUNTAIN FOR CRAFTS, OR CONTRIBUTE YOUR OWN.

WhenEastwood resident and wine bar owner Jennifer Rodriguez opened Urban Vines with her co-owner and fiancé, Jon Sparks, she set out to create the ideal setting to unwind.

“Every time that I visited a wine bar, I always thought of what I would do differently if I was in charge, so I decided to create one of my own,” Rodriguez says. And despite the fact that Rodriguez was — and still is — busy as a full-time lawyer, Urban Vines opened just over a year ago.

“We needed something like this on this side of the lake,” she says. “We have some great businesses on this side, but we needed some wine.”

Longtime bartender and Little Forest Hills neighbor Paul Kissell serves as the bar’s wine buyer and general manager. He says that the wine list doesn’t include anything that you’d find in the liquor or grocery store. Instead, there’s a nice assortment of Old World and New World wines from a number of regions available by the glass or bottle. Kissell also travels to wineries as much as possible to buy bottles directly from distributors. Just last month he traveled to Sonoma for the task. He says that he takes pride in working at one of the only wine-driven concepts in the neighborhood. “Goodfriend has the beer, and we have the wine.” Urban Vines also has a full kitchen, which is pretty unique for a wine bar. There are the standards such as the meat and cheese board or flatbread pizza, but Rodriguez says customers request the salmon crostini the most. When Rodriguez isn’t busy carrying out plates of food to tables, she says she likes to sit at her bar and reflect.

“Those nights when the place is full, the employees are moving like a well-oiled machine, and people are laughing, it all falls into place,” she says. “It’s a lot of pride. It’s an amazing thing.”

Whitney Thompson

Meat and cheese board with crackers, grapes, cranberryCognac sausage, jellied fig, hard salami and assortment of cheeses: Photo by James Coreas

And the winner is …

Gold Rush Café

As part of Advocate’s yearlong best-of reader’s choice contest, we asked you to choose your favorite breakfast/brunch joint in the neighborhood, and Gold Rush Café (1913 Skillman) came out on top. Maybe it’s because of the inclusive atmosphere, where retirees gripping newspapers can mingle in one booth as hipsters dig in to chicken and waffles one table over. Or, it could be the classic breakfast menu with

a dash of Tex-Mex flair, such as the John Wayne special with eggs, cheese, salsa, tortillas and crispy bacon, served over hash browns. But most likely, Gold Rush Café’s popularity is thanks to owner and Lakewood resident George Sanchez, who says he has served café customers from 5 a.m.-6 p.m., five days a week, for the past 34 years. He makes knowing his customers by name a top priority. “We are family-

owned, and we treat our customers like family,” Sanchez says. “It’s not my business, it’s my life.” —Whitney

Runner-up: John’s Café

Third place: Garden Café

Thompson

Next up in our reader’s choice contest: best burger.

See the nominees and cast your vote at lakewood.advocatemag.com/bestof.

My Family’s Pizza

It’s Back to School and life is busier than ever! Don’t stress, let us handle dinner plans – we’ll even deliver! Thank you Lakewood readers for voting us Best of Pizza.

Gold Rush Cafe: Photo by Danny Fulgencio

PENDING

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SNACKS

For the start of a new school year, I’m sharing recipes for some of my favorite old-school snacks. These are homemade and portable, and they pack perfectly inside the kids’ lunch boxes.

1. Back to the basics: the fudge brownie (recipe below)

Nothing is better than the perfect fudge brownie with a crispy, glossy top. Treat the kids (and yourself) while getting back into the school-year routine.

2. A power packed bite: cherry chocolate chip oatmeal balls

This is a simple, easy, no-bake breakfast or snack — perfect for on-the-go.

3. Roll it up: mango-peach fruit leather Fruit leather is a clean-eating snack that will give the kids that perfect midday sugar boost without all the sugar.

The perfect fudge brownie

GROCERY LIST

8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup granulated sugar

3 eggs

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.

2. Melt butter and chocolate in a large bowl over boiling water and heat until just melted. Whisk eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla extract in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add melted butter and chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Slowly add flour and cocoa powder.

3. Mix until just combined, making sure batter is smooth. Pour batter into 8x8inch pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes (avoid over-baking so the center stays fudgy). Let brownies cool in the pan.

4. Cut into 16 2” squares. Serve or store in airtight container.

ALL OTHER RECIPES can be found at advocatemag. com or inkfoods.com or lakewood.advocatemag.com.

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

For 90 years Dallas has trusted our pets to Rutherford for medical care, grooming and boarding. The practice was started by Dr. Frank E. Rutherford in the 1900s. In 1924 he built and practiced in the same building we occupy today. Our building was declared an historical landmark in 1999 when we restored the waiting area to the original decor. Our look may be historic, but our practice is state of the art with highly trained veterinarians and equipment. We combine modern medicine with the traditions of outstanding customer service to keep your pet a healthy, happy member of the family.

90 Years, Thousands

AnimAlPeoPle

And their people animals

WE CALL THEM PETS — those creatures who cohabitate and bond with humans. They tend to love their person, even one who is crotchety or crazy. Dogs don’t judge—they evidently love doctors and pastors, evil dictators and lunatics the same. Each summer, in anticipation of the September issue, we ask readers to tell us about their pets. Then editors are deluged with emails and letters. The photos are striking and funny. The stories, heartwarming. Your love of your pets is evident and something to which animal people in every cul-

ture and community can relate. While pets are no substitute for human relationships, they do offer a sort of unparalleled, unshakable and near-mystic camaraderie. Writer-naturalist Henry Beston explained it eloquently when he wrote, “They are more finished and complete [than us], gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other Nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.”

ON THESE PAGES

You will find a cross-section of the pets that populate our neighborhood. To see submitted photos and anecdotes not featured here, watch the Advocate’s Pet Pause section, which appears near the front of the magazine most months and features our neighborhood’s most photogenic pets.

Story by Brittany Nunn // Photos by Danny Fulgencio

EMMY aka #pupperfluff

If you think poodles seem hyperactive, you’ve never met Emmy the miniature poodle. She’s super chill, says her human mom, Courtney King. However, being “super chill” doesn’t mean she isn’t high maintenance — because she is. “She’s really smart,” King says. “She can kind of get me to do whatever she wants me to do.” And what Emmy wants is to sunbathe on the porch on Saturday afternoon, hang out with her doggy friends at The Swiss Avenue Dog Park, and sniff around White Rock Local Market for dropped crumbs. She’s also a bit of an attention-seeker on Instagram, where she has her own pen name and hashtag: #pupperfluff. When she’s not haunting dog-friendly locations in East Dallas, she also enjoys road-tripping with King. Oh, and popcorn. She loves popcorn.

CORA little body, big heart

Cora was rescued from Dallas Animal Services by neighbor Cameron Hernholm after the organization posted on its Facebook page that it was “raining Chihuahuas.” She weighs in at a whopping 3 pounds, but she has big heart. She had a really rocky start and was hospitalized for over a month straight, and she almost didn’t make it due to fading puppy syndrome. Since she got over the hump, she has been full of energy 24-7 and is always into something, her mom says. She lives in Lakewood with her three brothers: Milo, a collie rescue; Nutty, a Chihuahua rescue; and Rusty, a Chihuahua mix.

AVEY Emerald-eyed Diva

Despite the fact that Avey is a bit of a recluse, her calico coloring and beautiful emerald green eyes have captured much attention. She has been featured on CNN and White Rock Weekly, both times as the focal point of her owner’s photography skills. But if you get caught up in her fame, we suggest you keep your distance. She’s a diva, her owner Manny Fernandez says. “I’m not sure why, but she’s always had a mean streak in her,” he explains. But Avey generally is pretty loving toward Fernandez, who has learned over the years how to handle her mood swings. Fernandez’s mom got Avey at a garage sale in Wyoming for $5. Fernandez took her with him to Colorado, where Avey enjoyed living in the foothills near Denver, and then they spent three years in California on Redondo Beach. These days they’re enjoying life in East Dallas.

ZEPHYR AND ANABELLE

the odd couple

Dog and cat stereotypes exist because of pets like Zephyr and Anabelle. Zephyr is a fun-loving American bulldog mix who loves to be around people and is convinced she isn’t a day over 6 months, even though she’s actually 11 years old. Anabelle is a selectively social kitty who takes her role as boss of the house very seriously. But when it comes to “fighting like cats and dogs,” their owners Ada and Mo Mahmoud say that’s one area where Zephyr and Anabelle are rewriting the stereotype. After spending upwards of a decade paw-in-paw, Zephyr and Anabelle are the definition of best friends. They could spend hours side by side, either gazing out the window watching the neighborhood wildlife scamper by, or cuddled up in a comfortable corner, with Anabelle completely on top of Zephyr or curled up under Zephyr’s snout.

Excellent care knows no boundaries in our community — thanks to Medical Partners of Lakewood’s premier family medicine physicians. Our physicians specialize in family medicine and work to deliver personalized care that exceeds your expectations.

Wellness is within your reach. The doctor is in.

Dr. Simon Says ...

BOB

the attention seeker

“It’s all about Bob.” That’s the phrase Lakewood neighbors Susan and Jim Stege often use to describe their attentionloving tuxedo cat with an endearing halfmustache. Today, Bob is 18 pounds of pampered kitty love. You’d never know it by looking at him, but he was once a scruffy, scrawny tomcat. Bob began his life running around the streets of Lakewood before being adopted by the Steges’ friend and taken to the ‘burbs, but he didn’t play nice with her other two cats. Susan and Jim Stege adopted him and brought him back to Lakewood, and Bob’s aggression quickly subsided. Not long ago, Susan found two hard lumps in Bob’s leg. When she took him to the veterinarian, the vet discovered two BBs under Bob’s skin, left over from his past life.

Fall Into Alignment

The changing season signals to us that the end of the year is rapidly approaching, and a reminder that some of our goals from the beginning of the year still have not been achieved. Why the procrastination? Usually because the thought of beginning is overwhelming. If improving your smile is an item on your goals list, the thought of traditional braces may be keeping you from moving ahead. Good news… there are many adult-friendly options to address your concerns. If we can help you check that goal off your list, give us a call to schedule a complimentary examination. Dr. Simon will meet with you and discuss the options available to you.

Patricia A.

Simon, DDS

1809 Skillman St., Dallas 75206 214.826.9000 · lakewoodortho.net

At Rehab and Wellness we are committed to providing specialized, goal-directed care to help patients recover from an injury or an illness and get home as quickly and safely as possible.

Dr. Simon is an Invisalign Preferred Provider.

TOP ROW

Detroit is a 2-year-old Brussels Griffon who enjoys being spoiled, says his mom, Laraine Escobar. Visits to the dog park to play with his friends make him smile. He also likes new outings and activities.

Luke is an 8-year-old Yorkie that is loved by everyone that meets him, says his mom, neighbor Christy McCrary. He loves going on long walks and going on adventures. He will do lots of tricks for treats and can even count to three.

Earl is 10 and still loves to walk at White Rock Lake on early weekend mornings or in the cooler evening hours, according to owner Kristin Arthur. This picture was taken at a rest stop in the bluebonnets overlooking the lake on the bike trail, where he often charms walkers, runners and cyclists with his smile.

MIDDLE ROW

Paisley is new to the Lakewood neighborhood and is excited by all of the squirrels in her new backyard, says her mom, Diana Oates. She also enjoys collecting sticks and eating bones her mom and dad bring home from Al Biernat2019’s.

Mason Dixon was rescued from the streets of Houston and relocated to East Dallas with his human Ali Cook in October 2010. He is a lab/ greyhound/pit mix who loves long walks, the Texas sunshine and squirrels. He never barks, except at squirrels, and his favorite toy is the tennis ball.

Caesar is an 8-year-old Great Dane who recently moved to the neighborhood with his owner, Liz Story. He likes to sleep, eat treats and go for walks.

BOTTOM ROW

Bruno the Wonder Cat, also known as “Mr. Personality,” is a shelter rescue. He’s been a thriving member of Guinn Powell and Todd Smith’s family for about 4 years. Around his neighborhood, his persistence wins invitations to share in an occasional porch-feeding bowl. If he’s not napping, he’s plopped in a lap for much needed “meow” time.

Sandy is the “crazy pup” of neighbor Sabrina Ogle. She’s a rescue terrier mix from the East Lake Pet Orphanage. These days she’s “24 pounds of scruff, energy and heart.”

Sophie Marie, a Maine Coon, and Sadie Mae, a Gray Tabby, live in Casa Linda with their people, Teresa and Rick Venable. The Venables have lived in the area for 37 years, and they adopted Sadie and Sophie from the SPCA in 2002.

MOMIX

September 12–13 • Winspear Opera House

September 19 • Winspear Opera House

September 27 • Winspear Opera House

2014/2015 SEASON

An untapped resource

How a volunteer tutoring program transformed a neighborhood school — and how you can help

Story by Keri Mitchell |

Photos

by Kim Leeson

Dan Micciche walked into Fannin Elementary on a mission from his law firm, Akin Gump. Micciche had glimpsed the elementary on Ross Avenue through the skyscraper windows of his firm’s office Downtown, and he knew its students came from impoverished households. That was about all he knew of Fannin.

With no children of his own, Micciche’s only prior interactions with Dallas ISD had been one-off volunteer events. But the Akin Gump higher-ups wanted to see a partnership develop between its attorneys and a Dallas school, so in 2005, he and his colleagues set out to make it happen.

They had great intentions of helping the students but stumbled in their initial attempts. Some of their first projects involved painting the cafeteria — “twice,” he says — and organizing a Christmas gift drive. This was all well and good, Micciche says, but their efforts were misplaced.

“Just getting them toys wasn’t really going to aid in the mission we had, which was to raise student achievement,” Micciche says. “We kind of learned the hard way.”

They began purchasing educational resources instead — books for the library and jump ropes for physical fitness — and ultimately worked with Fannin’s staff to develop a tutoring and mentoring program in which the Akin Gump attorneys spent regular, one-on-one time with the students.

That’s when Micciche really began to see results. Fannin already had a solid staff that worked hard and, despite the students’ challenging socioeconomic backgrounds, earned state ratings of “acceptable” and “recognized,” he says. When volunteers began working in tandem with the staff, the school soon earned an “exemplary” rating.

“They were extremely poor kids, and parents of kids who live in poverty generally are not educating their kids the same way that middle-class parents are — teaching ABCs, how to count, how to write their names,” Micciche says. “You’re trying to fill that gap that was created by parents in poverty not knowing what to do.”

Fannin closed in 2012 when DISD shut down 11 underutilized campuses in an effort to save money, but the experience was life-changing for Micciche — so much so that the White Rock area resident ran for the DISD board of trustees and was elected in May 2012. One of his first major pushes was a tutoring program that could be implemented at elementary schools district-wide, partnering willing and able volunteers with campuses that know how to maximize their time and skills.

“A good percentage of kids coming to school on the first day don’t know how to write their name,” Micciche says. “They’re years behind. We’ve got to catch them up.”

Earnest Cox, right, tutors Joseph Sanchez, 7.

The little school that could — and did

Candice Ruiz became principal of Kiest Elementary in the Casa View Oaks neighborhood right around the time Micciche was elected. The school’s performance the year before Ruiz’s arrival had been declared “academically unacceptable,” and she readied herself for the challenge ahead.

Kiest is in Micciche’s District 3, and when he met Ruiz, he believed her gumption combined with a volunteer program similar to Fannin’s might be just the thing to turn Kiest around. Micciche suggested the idea to her, promising to recruit volunteers and enlist support from DISD administrators who coordinate the district’s volunteer partnerships.

“I’m looking at him, I’m a rookie principal, and I have ‘academically unacceptable’ status on my head,” Ruiz recalls. But she didn’t play it safe. “I put my heart into something, got buy-in from my staff, and we did it.”

Micciche and Ruiz reached out to neighborhood churches, the Casa View Oaks Neighborhood Watch, parents and anyone else who gave them an audience. They asked people to commit an hour or two each week to spend time reading with children who were lagging behind. The program launched in the middle of the school year, and by fall 2013 had grown to 35 volunteers.

The task wasn’t easy. In the beginning, some of Kiest’s fifth-graders were reading at a second-grade level, Ruiz says, and volunteers would express doubts about making any progress. Ruiz simultaneously made changes in the classrooms, where both teachers and teachers’ assistants spent more dedicated time on reading.

“Reading is the gateway to all other content areas,” says Jolee Healey, executive director of the Bryan Adams High School feeder pattern, to which Kiest feeds. “In upper grades, they are reading to learn.”

Healey also is the decorated former principal of Hexter Elementary and took that school from a place of academic instability to its coveted Blue Ribbon status by the end of her tenure. So she knows a thing or two about how to turn a school around.

If students are not reading at grade level by first grade, they are 80 percent less likely to do so by fourth grade; if they are behind in third grade, they may struggle to graduate, Healey says. College readiness “doesn’t start in high school,” she says.

The students at Kiest were in danger of succumbing to these statistics. At the beginning of the year, less than half of its first-graders were reading at grade level, and a third of them were really struggling behind, Ruiz says. By May, however, the bar graph showed a remarkable shift. When Micciche looked at the numbers, even he was floored: Three-fourths of firstgraders were reading at grade level, and almost all of the rest were well on their way.

“I knew they would be helping a lot of kids,” he says of Kiest. “I didn’t know they would blow the doors out.”

‘Any child can blossom’

At their last tutoring session before the end of school, Jerri Shevlin handed a firstgrade girl a few small books to take home with her.

“You might need to get your dad to help you with these, but you need to read this summer,” Shevlin implored her.

Shevlin had spent 30 minutes, twice a week, almost every week of this past school year reading with the girl. At the beginning of the year, she wasn’t testing well, but as the tutoring sessions continued, “she just blossomed as a reader,” Shevlin says.

“We’re not any kind of miracle workers. If we have them all year and you can consistently reinforce and give them that attention, any child can blossom,” Shevlin says.

Shevlin, a member of the Casa View Oaks Neighborhood Watch, says she and other watch members enlisted as tutoring volunteers because they had heard the school was struggling and wondered if they could help. Betty Rice-Nure, Shevlin’s

morning walking buddy, also signed up, but she was hesitant.

“Every morning as it got closer, I would tell Jerri, ‘I just don’t know if I can do this. I never wanted to be a schoolteacher,’ ” Rice-Nure says. “The day arrived, and Jerri told me, ‘Just come and try it one day. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.’ ”

But “it was wonderful,” she says. “I fell in love with it.”

The consistency is what makes the difference, the tutors say. The first year, RiceNure worked with the same two students from start to finish and saw amazing progress. This past year, just as she felt she had “made a breakthrough” with her two boys, they moved away over the holidays. It was disappointing to Rice-Nure, but she believes her time with them mattered.

“Knowing that you have reached those children on a personal level — you relate to them, they relate to you — you build on that,” she says.

Roughly 94 percent of Kiest’s students come from impoverished families. “I don’t think these children have a lot of books in their homes,” Rice-Nure says. She, Shevlin and others shop at dollar stores and thrift stores to find easy readers for them. The tutors also exchange tips and suggest books

“I knew they would be helping a lot of kids,” he says of Kiest. “I didn’t know they would blow the doors out.”

Jeri Shevlin, right, tutors Aliyah Rodriguez, 6.

to each other, says Julissa Marquez, a Kiest parent and one of the school’s two bilingual tutors. Marquez thought she was signing up to read in the classroom once in a while, as she had done in the past. Tutoring required more of her, but even though she says it was hard at times, she stuck with it.

“One of my students went in there having such a hard time reading, and it was a huge payoff,” Marquez says. By the year’s end, “his teacher told me he was one of the top readers in the class. He just was kind of shy and lacked that confidence. It made me feel really good.”

Success is the fuel that drives these tutors. They love to see “that little light go on,” as Shevlin puts it.

“They’re really connected,” Kiest counselor Keich Willis says of the tutors and students. “The volunteers are kind of like teachers — they can see the growth themselves.”

And the numbers don’t lie. The number of first-graders reading at grade level grew from 44 percent at the beginning of the 201314 school year to 74 percent by the end, with only 3 percent still in the “really struggling” territory, Ruiz says.

“Kiest went from a failing school to passing everything with flying colors,” Rice-Nure says. She gives the credit to Ruiz, whose enthusiasm was “contagious. She made you want to help that school.”

Ruiz’s success was rewarded with a promotion at the end of the 2013-14 school year; this year, she is the principal at Hill Middle School, also in the Bryan Adams feeder pattern. The volunteers are hopeful about her successor and plan to keep tutoring.

“We don’t know that our tutoring had a lot to do with [Kiest’s success], but who knows?” Rice-Nure says. “I’m sure it helps a little.”

No more ‘busy work’ for volunteers

When huge academic gains are made at DISD schools, there is a hardworking staff behind it, Micciche says. He learned that at Fannin.

“You could see how dedicated they were and immediately got out of your mind that the reason some DISD school is not performing well versus Highland Park was a lack of commitment on the part of teachers,” Micciche says. “These teachers are doing a lot more to improve a child’s education and well-being and life than someone teaching in a suburb.”

Whatever time you have to offer, a first-grader can use it

Now that the school year has begun, all 151 elementary schools in DISD need volunteers, and the good news, says Janie Peña, executive director of Volunteer and Partnership Services, is “we have something for everybody.”

“What we want to do is have options for people to come in and use their talents, and it still meets the needs of the child,” Peña says. “We recognize that we need help, we recognize that people are wanting to help, and we are appreciative of that.”

Whether volunteers have an hour a week, three hours a day or a couple hours on occasion, that time can be used in a valuable way at a DISD school, Peña says.

“We want purposeful instruction for the children from our volunteers, and we want our volunteers to feel that they have really touched a life,” she says.

Every volunteer has to go through a clearance process for safety and security reasons, she says, and will receive a brief overview of DISD along with some basic training. Tutoring volunteers, such as the ones at Kiest Elementary, undergo additional training. To sign up, call the district’s Volunteers and Partnership Services office at 972.925.3920 or visit dallasisd.org/partners.

At the same time, he believes strongly in the impact community volunteers can make, especially at the elementary level. Micciche recently drove past Kiest and saw these words on its marquis: “Change a life. Be a tutor.”

“You don’t get that from the yardwork,” he says. Landscaping projects and cafeteria murals along the lines of Akin Gump’s early Fannin efforts are appreciated, no doubt, Micciche says, “but where we need the most help — and where you can have the greatest impact — is helping a child to read at grade level.”

By the time students reach third grade, Ruiz says, “they learn so much of the content by reading that if they’re not reading, they’re missing out.” Micciche says the district is not giving up on kids in upper

grades, but “intervention at the earliest possible age is the most effective.”

This is why Micciche championed a policy that formalizes instructional tutoring programs at elementary schools across the district, which DISD trustees passed last November. A few such programs existed here and there, some piloted by the district and some built from scratch, but Micciche wanted to see programs across the board that would be based on research, proven to work and easy for schools to implement.

“If a qualified person comes to a school to volunteer, we don’t want her being turned away, or asked to do busy work, make copies or work in the cafeteria if she can instead participate in an effective tutoring program,” Micciche said in a February 2013 memo to fellow trustees.

“Obviously, the worst thing we can do is to have a volunteer program where the volunteers don’t really help but simply get in the way of our teachers and principals while they are trying to do their jobs.”

He was speaking from his own experience at Fannin. That experience led him to believe that community members truly do want to help Dallas schools and, conversely, schools truly do want help. But the district lacked a method to match the two in a way that effectively impacts student achievement — until now.

This fall, every elementary school in DISD is seeking volunteers to be reading tutors for children. For too long, the community has been an “untapped resource,” Micciche says, but now he hopes it will be “a lever we can use to help raise student achievement.”

And anyone who can read can “change the world for a child,” he says.

“I think people are hesitant if they don’t have experience, but most of us, if we care, we can stay ahead of a first-grader,” Shevlin says. “Everyone tutoring has had questions am I doing any good? Am I making a difference? I personally don’t think we can do any harm. If they can’t read, they’re not going to do well very long, and eventually they’re not going to make it.”

But if you have an hour or two to give each week, she says, “the benefit to the children is immeasurable.”

Additional reporting by Kim Leeson

Smarter campers

For 20 years, a church-sponsored day camp has helped fill the gaps

Story

by Brittany Nunn | Photos by Desiree Espada

“Who wants to do the spinning song?” Sherry Young asks a classroom full of children.

A dozen hands shoot up, followed by a chorus of, “Me, me!”

Young hits the play button on the CD player and together they’re off — singing, clapping and dancing.

Young is the music teacher at Bishop’s Camp, a summer day camp hosted by St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in East Dallas. From mid-June to early August, Bishop’s Camp offers five key subjects — music, art, math, P.E. and reading — to neighborhood elementary and middle school students dur-

ing the week, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Founded in 1994, the camp is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.

“It targets the low-income families that live in the area,” says Bishop’s Camp director Lourdes Mendez. “We serve about 130 kids, more or less, every year.”

While students in Young’s classroom sing and dance, more students gather in rooms throughout St. Matthew’s campus, immersed in other tasks.

In a sunny room upstairs, dozens of students huddle around a table, their eyes scanning slips of paper, eager to be the first one to 50 in Math Bingo. Next door, another

Kids choose books in the library at Bishop’s Camp.

group of kids clumps loosely around folding tables, getting lost in the pages of paperback books.

Downstairs, kids run and shout in a wild game of dodgeball next door to a group of still more students, who are absorbed in creating colorful, DIY piñatas out of milk cartons.

The students are happy to reveal their favorite part of the camp.

“I really like reading because it’s our time to unwind,” sixth-grader Osiel Chavez says.

For others, it’s dodgeball, water day or field trips to the zoo. Even the more daunting subjects, such as math, science or reading, managed to make it to the top of some kids’ lists.

The main goal of Bishop’s Camp is to help students stay up to speed academically over summer break.

“Over the summer kids lose, on average, two months of reading skills,” says Steve Sale, a board member for Bishop’s Camp. “This program not only helps save that loss, but also helps to progress the children, possibly even beyond those two months. Particularly in this community, that loss is a significant loss, and DISD is really driving to ensure that we maintain equivalency. This program is a tremendous contribution.”

The Rev. Diana Luck led Bishop’s Camp for several years after it began 20 years ago. She recalls how Bishop James Stanton, who retired last May, created the program.

“He

his

he

saw a little girl walking through the parking lot, and he thought, ‘There’s got to be something better for children to do during the summertime,’ ” Luck explains. “So he approached the cathedral about starting a reading program.”

It began as a reading program with a handful of kids. At the time, it relied on churches and organizations to donate books and provide peanut butter sandwiches.

“Over time more and more kids started coming, and we began to add more things

Top/ A group of students read during reading hour.

Above/The Rev. Stephen Setzer

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for them to do,” she says. “But reading is still the heart of the program. Some of the children will read 30 or 40 books over the course of the summer, which is a wonderful thing.”

Eventually St. Matthew’s hired a director for the program and began raising funds so they could continue to host the camp at no cost to the students. In 2001 Bishop’s Camp began hosting an annual golf tournament, which still supports the program. As more subjects were added, they began to hire teachers.

Litzy Chaves, who attends Bishop’s Camp during the summer with two of her siblings, says she is relieved the program gives her younger brother, Mark, something constructive to do during the summer.

“If Mark wasn’t here, he would just be watching TV,” she says.

Most of the students come from neighborhood DISD schools or programs, says The Rev. Stephen Setzer. Schools include Uplift Peak Preparatory, John. F. Kennedy Learning Center, Exodus Ministries, A. W. Spence Talented and Gifted Academy, Cesar Chavez Learning Center, North Dallas High and Uplift Luna Preparatory.

The program serves kids from ages 6 to 14, and high school students can become counselors.

Giovanni Martinez has been attending the camp since he was 10, so it was important to him to serve as a counselor when he became a freshman this year “because I looked up to the counselors,” he says. “So I wanted to be like them.”

Bishop’s Camp serves its students lunch every day through a partnership with DISD’s Summer Meals for Kids program, which aims to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer when they no longer have access to school breakfasts and lunches. Setzer says many of the kids also are in the Texas SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program).

THE BISHOP’S CAMP GOLF TOURNAMENT is Sept. 29 at Thorntree Country Club in DeSoto. The event includes a box lunch, raffle tickets and a round of golf, followed by a dinner and prize ceremony. Neighbors can play for $150 per golfer. Sponsorships, which range from $200-$3,000, also are available.

LEARN MORE at bishopscamp.org.

Book buzz

Neighbor launches children’s reading club

Story & Photo by Brittany Nunn

Neighbor Ann Fink got her degree in English, which she used to teach GED and later to land a job with the federal government.

“All the while I wanted to be teaching reading, because reading is so close to my heart,” she says.

Now she’s fulfilling every English teacher’s dream by encouraging students to read, through a book club she hosts in her living room once a week.

When Fink retired, she moved into The Enclave at Ash Creek off Lakeland and Ash Grove, and she was pleased to find there are lots of children who love to read living in her neighborhood.

“I’d see them and I’d say hi, and I’d ask them, ‘What are you reading? Tell me what you’re reading,’ ” Fink recalls.

After a while, the kids began bringing their books to her house. Fink would put lawn chairs out on the driveway, and the kids would gather around and read together.

One day, she gave them each a bookmark that pictured three little birds. One of the little girls noticed that all the children had the same bookmark and said they could have a book club, to which Fink replied: “You’re right, we could.”

Fink sent an email out to the Enclave community, inviting children to participate in Three Birds Reading Club. In July, about a dozen students between ages five and 10 began meeting at Fink’s home for an hour every Monday evening. Soon they plan to split up into two groups — one for ages 5 to 8, another for ages 9 to 12.

Even when they’re not in reading club, some of the neighborhood kids still enjoy

Chloe Kubalak reads “Stuart Little.”

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ringing Fink’s doorbell to ask if they can read with her.

Fink isn’t sure whether or not the group will continue once school starts again. It depends on what the neighborhood kids want.

“If they want to continue, then we will,” she says.

Although Fink’s living room has only enough room to serve the children in the Enclave at Ash Creek, she hopes other readers in the East Dallas area will follow her lead and create similar reading groups for youngsters. She also says she’d be happy to mentor anyone who needs help getting started.

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CITY VET/ CITY PET

Complete Pet Care 7324 Gaston Ave., Suite 126 214.239.2348 cityvet.com

Dr. Meladee Farr welcomes you to the new Lakewood location. City Vet is a practice that strives to balance complete, competent, convenient and compassionate service with affordability. We also provide food, boarding, and grooming.

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THE CORNER MARKET

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Our apple pie made in house, baked daily, with a creamy café latte. Our coffees have selected as some the best in town. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Flowers and Gifts. One stop.

Ann Fink hosts a book club in her home every Monday.

JUDGMENT DAY

An inside look at how the coveted State Fair ribbons are won

COMMENT. Visit lakewood.advocatemag.com to tell us what you think.

For three weeks every fall, Dallas becomes a small town. All the neighbors gather to gawk at the prize heifer, to ride the Ferris wheel, to eat corn dogs, to gamble hard-earned dollars at carnival games.

In short, the State Fair of Texas returns, Americana at its finest.

Strolling the fair grounds, it harkens to a simpler, pre-iPhone time. But nowhere is this Mayberry-esque quality more evident than the Creative Arts Building. Step inside, and you’ll see colorful handmade quilts, paintings and photographs lining the walls. Dolls from every era stare back at you through display cases. Meticulous needlework dazzles. Jars of perfect pickles line shelves. Depending on the day, pies or cakes or crazy Spam concoctions cover tables.

And the ribbons. Oh, those ribbons. The quintessential Blue Ribbon proudly graces this painting, that doll, that chocolate cake.

How are those much-desired ribbons awarded? Who decides someone’s handiwork or collectible deserves a blue or red? You might be surprised to learn that some of the Creative Arts judges are your neighbors.

Full disclosure: My husband, Jonathan, and I were asked several years ago to lend our taste buds to the chili competition at the fair. Being the State Fair nerds that we are, we jumped at the chance and have happily served as judges every year since.

Lakewood neighbor Sally CopassJackson can tell you about judging. A serious doll collector for 20 years — she just returned from a state convention with a bundle of ribbons Copass-Jackson began entering her dolls in the State Fair competition. After a few years, she applied and was accepted as a judge.

Copass-Jackson expertly eyes 200 or so modern and antique dolls every year at the fair, and she first looks at the composition of each doll’s head, which “determines what category the doll should compete in,” she

says. “Is it made of vinyl? Bisque? Wood? The body can be made of something else or the same. It doesn’t matter.”

She looks for the doll that best represents its category: “Does it stand out? Is it in mint condition? Does the whole presentation of the doll pop? Grab you? Make a statement?”

And as a former State Fair competitor herself, Copass-Jackson is sensitive to the process. “I approach it as I wanted to be judged,” she says. “I wanted the judges to take their time and not just make snap decisions.” She says she is ever mindful of the “time, energy and thought” that goes into competitors’ selections.

East Dallas resident Helen Duran brings the same serious approach to judging cakes and cookies. A former store director at Central Market, Duran was recruited to judge about 10 years ago. She can tell you all about the science of taste: “It happens all over the mouth: tongue, cheeks, upper throat and the soft palate each white bump on your

tongue has 20-30 taste buds ...”

But it’s cake! Cookies! Just of matter of choosing the yummiest, right? Nope. “Cakes are judged on taste, moisture, texture,” Duran says. Judges review the recipe, checking for suspicious ingredients. For example, an egg yolk has no business in a true white cake. They then eyeball the texture of the cut cake before taking a bite to assess taste and moisture.

The hardest part of judging? “Keeping a poker face,” she says. “All the bakers are watching you taste their cake. Every now and then you just want to spit it out, but you can’t.”

The occasional clunker is to be expected. But for those of us with a sweet tooth, it looks like a dream job. Yes, Duran agrees, it is fun. She hastens to add, though, that it can be “really exhausting for your palate.” The palate cleansers judges partake of (pickles and cheddar cheese) “only work for so long.” Almost every year after tasting

Blue Ribbon winners: Photo by Danny Fulgencio

dozens of sugary treats, Duran heads straight for the Tornado Tater booth: “The salt is really appealing after all that sugar.”

Speaking of savory, Todd Liberty from the Hillside neighborhood knows a thing or two about judging chili: This year his 15th time. The chili cook-off that occurs at the State Fair is sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and is a qualifying event for the granddaddy of all chili cook-offs, the Terlingua International Chili Championship. Chili judges know this can be a pivotal event for the cooks.

Liberty knows the drill: Judge each chili on its own merits and evaluate it for aroma, color, consistency, taste and aftertaste. He says last year’s chili was the best ever overall, but he has had tasting challenges. He recalls one chili in particular, which was an odd green color. He later found out that the chili had fish in it. Generally, though, the chili is impressive: “Last year I had to keep reminding myself to just take a taste,” he says. “I was ready to find a bowl and just have a meal.”

So as you stroll around the State Fair of Texas, corn dog and fried butter in hand, remember to check out Creative Arts. Your neighbors had a hand in some serious decision-making.

Patti Vinson is a guest writer who has lived in East Dallas for 14 years. She’s written for the Advocate and Real Simple magazine, and has taught college writing. She is a frequent flier at Lakewood branch library and enjoys haunting neighborhood estate sales with husband Jonathan and children, Claire (12) and Will (9). The family often can be found hanging out at White Rock Lake Dog Park with Dexter, a probable JackWeenie.

GET IN CONTACT

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B B Bop Seoul Kitchen 5323 GREENVILLE 214.812.9342

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BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to livelocal@advocatemag.com

Houndstooth opens

For more than a year and a half, we’ve been hearing about Austinbased coffee shop Houndstooth opening a location in the neighborhood. First, Houndstooth announced it was opening at Skillman and Oram, but then some “unexpected issues” came up, which forced owner Sean Henry to find a new place for his java joint. After that, we heard rumors of it opening at various other places around East Dallas (including a mention or two about Greenville), before Houndstooth finally announced that it was taking over the space on Henderson that The Pearl Cup once occupied. Soon after the announcement in December, we chatted with Henry about his plans for the location and he told us the space would have a “modern feel.” Six months later, all the anticipation has come to a close. Houndstooth has finally opened in August.

New restaurant

In June, when we wrote about the three restaurants that Madison Partners is building next to Trader Joe’s on Lower Greenville, Jon Hetzel with Madison Partners revealed two of the restaurants — B B Bop Seoul Kitchen and Yucatan Taco Stand — but the third restaurant wasn’t official yet. Now we know the third restaurant will be Rapscallion, a new bistro concept brought to Lower Greenville from the folks behind Boulevardier. Boulevardier is a “French-inspired, neighborhood-friendly, chef-driven bistro” in the Bishop Arts District, accord-

More business bits

ing to its Facebook page, and it aims to stay true to its roots with this new concept, although this one will center around a “modern Southern” menu.

Housing development

Dirt began turning in August on The Grove at Lovers Lane, the newest highdensity housing development from PSW Real Estate. The Austin-based home builder is known for sustainable, urban infill projects, integrating new construction into wellestablished neighborhoods. At 6536 E. Lovers, just west of White Rock Lake, the Grove includes 19 single-family detached homes, ranging from 1,700-2,200 square feet. They’ll have three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms, with prices starting in the mid-$300,000s. Like all of PSW’s homes, these will be complete with energyefficient features such as solar systems and spray-foam installation.

1 100% Chiropractic hosted a soft opening in August at Gaston-Garland-Grand across the street from the construction on the Arboretum Village. 2 Elements Massage opened in Mockingbird Commons (the shopping center at Mockingbird and Abrams) in mid-August. 3 A new retailer called PIRCH, which is involved in appliance, plumbing, and outdoor industries, opened in August in NorthPark Center. 4 Denver-based company CorePower Yoga added Dallas to its roster of studio locations by opening a studio in Mockingbird Station. The location is at 5319 E. Mockingbird, right next door to The People’s Last Stand. 5 Dallas-based pet care provider City Vet completed its White Rock location in the corner of Lakeview Shopping Center facing Gaston and opened in early July.

Houdstooth on Henderson

high integrity, honesty, and passion when partnering with Marissa.”

CLAIRE’S CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL

8202 Boedeker Dr., / (214) 368-4047 / clairesdayschool.com At CCDS, we encourage a child’s sense of exploration and discovery in a loving, nurturing, and safe environment. We offer a parent’s day out program with a play-based curriculum fostering socialization, motor skill development, and an introduction to academics for children aged 4mo

3yrs. Our preschool for children aged 3-5 further develops these skills, along with a more focused approach to pre-math and prereading. At CCDS, we have developed our own science, math, and reading enrichment classes to ensure kindergarten preparedness for every child. We make learning fun!

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep. org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

SPANISH HOUSE

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Spanish House is a Spanish immersion school with two Lakewood locations for children ages 3 months - Kindergarten. We offer half-day and full-day programs, with extended care available from 7:30am - 6:00pm. We also offer after-school and Saturday classes for PK and elementary-aged students, both onand off-site. Additionally, we have an adult Spanish program for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com St. Christopher’s Montessori School has been serving families in the DFW area for over a quarter of a century. We are affiliated with the American Montessori Society and our teachers are certified Montessori instructors. Additionally our staff has obtained other complimentary educational degrees and certifications, including having a registered nurse on staff. Our bright and attractive environment, and highly qualified staff, ensures your child will grow and develop in an educationally sound, AMS certified loving program. Now Enrolling.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

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

THE WINSTON SCHOOL

5707 Royal Lane Dallas, Tx 75229 / 214691-6950 / www.winston-school.org If your bright child struggles with things like Attention and Concentration, Executive Functioning and Dyslexia, The Winston School may be able to help. The Winston School has a robust academic program which prepares a student for college while at the same time developing the whole child. We understand bright children who learn differently and recognize their unique gifts and talents. Celebrating and validating these assets with our students enables them to discover who they are, and empowers them to be consistently successful. The Winston School brings hope for today and a road map for tomorrow. Open House: September 21st from 2-4 pm.

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

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

WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL

100 S. Glasgow Dallas 75214 / 972-502-4400 / woodrowwildcats.org

Washington Post’s 2014 list of Most Challenging High Schools in America. A proven college preparation program and a true high school experience. Woodrow graduates attend, year after year, our state’s and country’s finest colleges, often with meaningful scholarships. With academic programs equaling the best private and magnet schools, Woodrow’s diverse student body also enjoys a traditional high school offering arts, music, dance, theater, math and science clubs, debate and writing competitions and a broad, inclusive and successful sports program, with cheerleaders and drill team. “It’s all at Woodrow and it works.”

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

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

69%

of our 200,000+ readers with average income of $146,750 want more info about private schools.

ANGLICAN

ALL SAINTS DALLAS / 2733 Oak Lawn / 972.755.3505

Radical Inclusivity, Profound Transformation. Come and See!

9:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Services. www.allsaintschurchdallas.org

BAPTIST

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Worship — 8:30 am Classic & 11:00 am Contemporary

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

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

All services & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45. Trad. & Blended (Sanctuary),

Contemporary (Great Hall), Amigos de Dios (Gym) / 214.860.1500

PRESTONWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH / “A Church to Call Home”

Sundays: Bible Fellowship (all ages) 9:15 am /Service Time 11:00 am

12123 Hillcrest Road / 972.820.5000 / prestonwood.org

RIDGECREST BAPTIST / 5470 Ellsworth / 214.826.2744

Sun. Life Groups 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am / Wed. Nights 6:00 pm

Pastor Greg Byrd / www.rcbcdallas.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

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

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

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

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

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

EPISCOPAL

ST. MATTHEW’S CATHEDRAL / 5100 Ross Ave.

Sunday Traditional: 8:00 & 10:30 am / Adult Education 9:30 am

Servicio en español 12:30 pm / 214.823.8134 / episcopalcathedral.org

LUTHERAN

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

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

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane

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

METHODIST

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

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

Worship: 8:30 am & 10:50 am Traditional / 10:50 am Contemporary

MUNGER PLACE CHURCH / Expect Great Things.

Worship Sundays, 9:30 and 11:00 am / 5200 Bryan Street 214.823.9929 / www.mungerplacechurch.org

RIDGEWOOD PARK UMC / 6445 E. Lovers Lane / 214.369.9259

Sunday Worship: 9:30 am Traditional and 11:35 am Contemporary

Sunday School: 10:30 am / Rev. Ann Willet / ridgewoodparkchurch.org

WHITE ROCK UNITED METHODIST / www.wrumc.org

1450 Oldgate Lane / 214.324.3661

Sunday Worship 10:50 am / Rev. George Fisk

PRESBYTERIAN

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

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

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

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / Skillman & Monticello

Rev. Rob Leischner. / www.standrewsdallas.org

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

UNITY

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path For Spiritual Living

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

Sunday services: 9:00 am & 11:00 am

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

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

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

PUBLIC THEOLOGY

A quarter of a century is time long enough to take stock of some things.

I celebrated 25 years as pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in East Dallas last month. It was a movable feast with activities at church and around town, with church friends and friends of the church. Lingering emotions: joy, gratitude and hope.

For most of these years (about 22 of them), I have written this column as a gift to the community. Thank you for receiving it so well and allowing me to speak to you, for you and with you. My thanks to the Advocate staff for their generous support as well.

A few reflections, then, on this monthly salvo

The column that lines up under the banner “worship” is an effort at public theology. How does faith intersect with civic life, with culture and commerce, with world affairs and family affairs, with education and entertainment, to name a few?

Public theology is God-talk aimed at the common good. It recognizes that we live in a religiously plural society, not one dominated by a single religion that is more or less tolerant of others. And yet a public theologian must speak out of his or her own tradition if there is any hope of connecting with others. I have tried with this column to challenge and chide, encourage and exhort neighbors of all stripes to draw upon the better angels of their nature and the highest ideals of their own faith traditions by doing the same from mine. I hope that has come through.

We live in a time without easy answers, albeit with no shortage of people willing to offer easy answers. Religion is one of the worst offenders in this regard. We tend toward grandiloquent rhetoric that inspires the faithful without adding reason to the debate. Faith does not depend upon rea-

son for its spiritual vitality, but it becomes a force for good in the world when it employs reason for the benefit also of those who do not share that same faith. Humility is a hallmark of genuine piety. It makes room for correction, gives space for other points of view, and celebrates truth wherever it is found. Any exercise in public theology should situate faith in the company

of reason and humility.

Religious leaders are often schooled more at criticism than praise; we are sometimes more at home with confrontation than collaboration. I have learned that preaching that way inspires fear more than love and division more than community. Faith sees what’s right in the world and in each other as much as what’s wrong. It points out paths of peace and contentment. It notices the noble. It acknowledges virtue wherever it may be found. Faith is no respecter of persons on any basis, save for the content of their character, as Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently put it.

Finally, public theology assumes that faith is personal but never private. We live in the world together, and we take our faith with us wherever we go. How we carry our faith with us into the world makes all the difference. Jesus summarized the law and the prophets by saying: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

That about covers it.

‘God-talk aimed at the common good’

We live in a time without easy answers, albeit with no shortage of people willing to offer easy answers. Religion is one of the worst offenders in this regard.

George Mason is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is a regular feature underwritten by Advocate Publishing and by the neighborhood business people and churches listed on these pages. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

People

Woodrow Wilson High School graduate Grace Choi is a sophomore at the University of Michigan, where she plays on the women’s golf team. Choi was recently named as one of two recipients of Meijer’s title sponsor exemptions, which allowed her to compete among the field of professionals at the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft in early August at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The tournament featured the No. 1 female golfer in the world, Stacy Lewis, along with rookie superstar Lydia Ko, recent U.S. Women’s Open Champion Michelle Wie, and renowned players such as Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson. “I’m so thankful for the wonderful opportunity Meijer has given me with their generous exemption into their event,” Choi said before the tournament. “It has been a dream of mine since I was little to play on the LPGA and compete with the best players in the world. I’m really looking forward to learning from the best and proudly representing the University of Michigan.” After setting a U-M freshman scoring record with a team-best average of 75.64 strokes per round last season, Choi was asked to represent U-M by head coach Jan Dowling. Choi won the Texas Girls Golf Championship in 2013

Stonewall Gardens sent out a school-wide email in July to announce the retirement of the garden’s founder and longtime instructor Mark Painter Stonewall Gardens is the handson science program at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, which Painter first started in 1996. Eventually the garden grew into a 20,000 square foot outdoor learning laboratory, where each Stonewall Jackson student has an opportunity to tend crops, observe the ecosystem and conduct scientific experiments. Everything the children learn in the garden and its corresponding class is based on science curriculum.

HAVE AN ITEM TO BE FEATURED?

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com. Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

yOu CAN bE ThE DIFFERENCE IN ThE lIFE OF AN AbuSED ChIlD!

Please join us for a

RECEPTION AND INFORMATION SESSION

Hosted by White rock and lakewood volunteers for Dallas Casa

Tuesday, September 9 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Program begins at 6:20 p.m.)

Dallas Casa 2757 swiss ave, Dallas 75204

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who protect the best interests of abused and neglected children living in foster care. CASA volunteers are trained to advocate for these children in the courts, schools and community and help them have safe, permanent homes where they are happy and healthy with loving families.

Please RSVP by September 5 to rsvp@dallascasa.org

Questions? Call 469.547.9454

Busy bodies

For almost a year, Jessica Burnham , who’s an MFA candidate in applied design research within the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas, has been working with the business owners along Lowest Greenville, helping them coordinate a business association called the Lowest Greenville Collective. In August, Burnham hosted a website launch party. Left to right: Molly Mandell of GAPCo, Jessica Burnham, and Lindsay Dyer of Blind Butcher.

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO. Email a jpeg to editor@advocatemag.com.

EVENTS

STAMP COLLECTING!!

Remember the fun of stamp collecting? Dallas Philatelic Society meets the 2nd and 4th Weds at 7:30 pm at Edgemere Retirement Center. 8523 Thackery St Call Joe Baker 972-390-2648

CLASSES/TUTORING/ LESSONS

ALL AGES: LEARN PIANO WITH WADE COTTINGHAM LakewoodPianoLab.com Since 1998. 214-564-6456

ART: Draw/Paint. Adults All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Yearly fee. 18-59 yrs-$15, 60+$10 Mon-1-3: Wed 10:15-1:15, Jane Cross, 214-534-6829.

ARTISTIC GATHERINGS

Casa Linda Plaza. Art Classes & Drop In Pottery Painting For All Ages. 214-821-8383. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm

GUITAR OR PIANO Fun/Easy. Your Home. 11 Yrs Exp. Reasonable rates. UNT Grad. Larry 469-358-8784

LEARN NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

Beginners intermediates; Rice, TCU, DTS ex; John Cunyus 214-662-5494 www.JohnCunyus.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION Especially For Young People Aged 5-12. Guitar, Piano, Percussion. ChildPlayMusicSchool.com. 214-733-1866

CLASSES/TUTORING/ LESSONS

Learn to draw this summer with Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain ®

Classes now offered in Dallas

Visit our website for location and registration info

www.PerceptionDrawing.com

Brenda Catlett Certified Instructor (972)989-0546

CHILDCARE

LOVING, CHRIST-CENTERED CARE SINCE 1982 Lake Highlands Christian Child Enrichment Center Ages 2 mo.-12 yrs. 9919 McCree. 214-348-1123.

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE CAREERS Begin Here. Get Trained As FAA Certified Aviation Technician. Financial Aid For Qualified Students. Housing & Job Placement Assistance. AIM 866-453-6204

PET SITTERS, DOG WALKERS Email Recruiting@pcpsi.com

SERVICES FOR YOU

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

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

DISH TV RETAILER Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 months) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available) Save. Ask about Same Day Installation 1-800-615-4064

GRAPHIC DESIGN BY SOZA DESIGN Logos, Brochures, Posters & More. wsoza@yahoo.com 214-287-6499

OCT. DEADLINE SEPT.10 214.560.4203

Book review

Investigative reporter and 1965 Woodrow Wilson High School grad Lawrence Wright spoke at a journalism conference in July, presented by Mayborn School of Journalism. Wright won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for his book “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11,” and recently released “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief,” which is also a national bestseller.

Hide and seek

Lake goers at White Rock in June happened upon a large tortoise as he slowly but determinedly made his way toward the shore. Dallas Animal Services picked him up and posted his photo on social media. Within hours, Kimberly Jones, who is new to the area, let concerned commenters know that she owns the roving reptile, who is named for a ’90s TV show character, Zack Morris, and that they had been reunited.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

A WILL? THERE IS A WAY Estate/Probate matters. Free Consultation. 214-802-6768 MaryGlennAttorney.com

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

BOOKKEEPING NEEDS? Need Help Organizing Finances?

No Job Too Small or Big. Call C.A.S. Bookkeeping Services. Cindy 214-821-6903

FARMERS INSURANCE CALL JOSH JORDAN 214-364-8280. Auto, Home, Life Renters.

PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL TRAINING To Suit Your Specific Training Needs.Terry 214-206-7823. terryrjacobs@outlook.com

REED & RIORDAN PLLC Dallas Family Law Attorneys 10000 N Central Expy Dallas. 214-570-9555 reedriordan.com

TRAVEL

CRUISEONE DALLAS Doug Thompson bigDcruises.com

Plan your cruise vacation today! 214-254-4980

JOURNEY WITH JANE for a unique travel experience. Travel dreams become reality. 469-662-5212. journeywithjane.com

PET SERVICES

DEE’S DOGGIE DEN Daycare, Boarding, Grooming, Training. 6444 E. Mockingbird Ln. 214-823-1441 DeesDoggieDen.com

HOMEGROWN HOUNDS DOG DELI / BAKERY Healthy homemade dog food / treats. 100% goes to rescue. hghdogs.com

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

SKILLMAN ANIMAL CLINIC Is Your Friendly, Personal, Affordable Vet. 9661 Audelia Rd. #340. 214-341-6400

In-Home Professional Care

Customized to maintain your pet’s routine In-Home Pet Visits & Daily Walks

“Best of Dallas” D Magazine

Serving the Dallas area since 1994 Bonded & Insured www.societypetsitter.com 214-821-3900

BUY/SELL/TRADE

GROUND FLOOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Unique Opportunity for Residual Income. A Legacy Company Which Affords You and Your Family Guaranteed Income. 401-741-7596 healthandwealthct@gmail.com

Estate

>>



BUY/SELL/TRADE

OLD GUITARS WANTED Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Martin. 1920s-1980s. Top dollar paid. Toll Free 1-866-433-8277

TEXAS RANGERS AND DALLAS STARS

front row seats. Share prime, front-row Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars tickets (available in sets of 10 games). Prices start at $105 per ticket (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available) Seats are behind the plate and next to the dugouts for the Rangers: seats are on the glass and on the Platinum Level for the Stars. Other great seats available starting at $60 per ticket. Entire season available except for opening game; participants randomly draw numbers prior to the season to determine a draft order fair for everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

TOP CASH FOR CARS Any Car, Truck. Running or Not. Call for Instant Offer. 1-800-454-6951

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

CLUTTERBLASTERS.COM-ESTATE SALES

Moving/DownSizing Sales, Storage Units.

Organize/De-Clutter Donna 972-679-3100

ESTATE LIQUIDATORS DALLAS Prof service since 1981 Call Ruth. 972-818-3000. 214-566-3861 estateliquidatorsdallas@yahoo.com

ESTATE SALES & LIQUIDATION SERVICES

Moving, Retirement, Downsizing. One Piece or a Houseful. David Turner. 214-908-7688. dave2estates@aol.com

TACL-B01349OE www.SherrellAir.com

APPLIANCE

APPLIANCE REPAIR SPECIALIST

Low Rates, Excellent Service, Senior Discount. MC-Visa. 214-321-4228

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

972-523-3996

CARPENTRY & REMODELING

HANDY DAN “The Handyman” To Do’s Done Right! www.handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

KITCHEN AND BATHROOM SPECIALISTS

JCI Remodeling: From Simple Updates to Full Remodeling Services. Competitive Pricing! 972-948-5361

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

RENOVATE DALLAS

renovatedallas.org 214-403-7247

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872 Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We do it. Tommy. insured. http://dallas. tkremodelingcontractors.com

BRIAN GREAM

RENOVATIONS LLC

•

CLEANING SERVICES

Serving your Neighborhood Since 1993 Repairing: Refrigerators •Washer/Dryers

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

BLINDS, SHADES & DRAPERIES

SMARTLOOKS WINDOW & WALL DECOR

Window Treatments & Repair. 972-699-1151

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

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

www.squarenailwoodworking.com

THE CABINET CONCIERGE

The Art of Storage. Call 214-821-5900

Email jin@thecabinetconcierge.com

CARPENTRY & REMODELING

ATLANTIS DESIGN-BUILD, LLC

Complete Remodeling. 40 Yrs Exp. Additions. 1 & 2 Story. Kitchens, Baths.

Small Jobs To Entire House.

Renovation & Design. Full Time Supervision.

Licensed/Insured. Free Estimates. 281-761-4648

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home

Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

CUSTOM CARPENTRY BY RON 214-674-1604

Trim Specialist - Mouldings, Cabinets, Hardware. Misc. Projects & Repairs. No Job Too Small

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

PayPal ®

WWW.BGRONTHEWEB.COM

BRIANGREAM@YAHOO.COM

TK Remodeling

Your neighborhood remodeler

•Repair •Remodeling •Restoration

•Complete full service

Name it— We do it

http://dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

Tommy 972-533-2872 INSURED

Unique Home Construction

- Design, Build, Remodel

- Kitchens & Baths

- New Construction or Additions Many references available

- Licensed, Insured, Member of BBB www.uniquehomebuild.com 214.533.0716

CLEANING SERVICES

AMAZON CLEANING

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

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

IINGRID CLEANING SERVICES Reliable, Affordable. Habla Español 214-395-9629

MAID 4 YOU Bonded/Insured. Park Cities/M Streets Refs. Call Us First. Joyce.214-232-9629

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

WANTED: Houses to Clean, Windows to Wash. Free Estimates. Low Prices! Expert and Proficient! No Crews. Call Sunny 214-724-2555. Thank you.

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

YOU HAVE IT MAID SERVICES 972-859-0287 bonded/insured. Youhaveitmaidservices.com

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

ALL COMPUTER PROBLEMS SOLVED

MAC/PC Great Rates! Keith 214-295-6367

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR

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

IT SOLUTIONS/SUPPORT For Home & Small Business. Parental Controls Speciality. 8 Yrs Exp. Husband & Wife,Licensed Minister called to His Work. Texas Tech Guru. 214-850-2669

CONCRETE/ MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

Don 214-704-1722

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

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS Mortar Repair. Call George 214-498-2128

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Stamping and Staining Driveways/Patio/Walkways

Pattern/Color available Free Estimates

972-672-5359 (32 yrs.)

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

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

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

Swimming Pool Remodels Patios Stone work • Stamp Concrete 972-727-2727

Deckoart.com

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

4 U ELECTRICAL SERVICE, LLC

We will be there 4 U. 972-877-4183

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

Family Owned/Operated. Insd. 214-328-1333

EXPERIENCED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN

Insd. Steve. TECL#27297 214-718-9648

GOVER ELECTRIC Back Up Generators. New and Remodel Work. Commercial & Residential. All Service Work. 469-230-7438. TECL2293

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

TEXAS ELECTRICAL • 214-289-0639

Honest, Quality. TECL 24668 CCs accepted.

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

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

EXTERIOR CLEANING

G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul.

Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925

FENCING & DECKS

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

4 QUALITY FENCING Call Mike 214-507-9322

Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC.

Automatic Gates, Iron & Cedar Fencing, Decks. Since 1996. MC/V 214-621-3217

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM Decks,Doors, Carpentry, Remodeling 214-435-9574

KIRKWOOD FENCE & DECK

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

LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975

Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com

All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers 214.692.1991

EST. 1991 #1

COWBOY FENCE & IRON CO.

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

FIREPLACE SERVICES

CHIMNEY SWEEP Dampers/Brick & Stone

Repair. DFW Metro. Don 214-704-1722

FLOORING & CARPETING

ALL WALKS OF FLOORS 214-616-7641

Carpet, Wood, Tile Sales/Service Free Estimates

CLIFTON CARPETS 214-526-7405 www.cliftoncarpets.com

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

Installation, Repair, Refinish, Wax, Hand Scrape. Residential, Commercial. Sports Floors. 25 Yrs.

FLOORING

& CARPETING

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

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

LONGHORN FLOORS LLC 972-768-4372. www.longhornflooring.com

N-HANCE WOOD RENEWAL. No Dust. No Mess. No Odor. nhance.com. 214-321-3012. WILLEFORD HARDWOOD FLOORS 214-824-1166 • WillefordHardwoodFloors.com

Restoration Flooring

HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

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

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

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS

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

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors

HOUSE PAINTING

INTERIOR DESIGN

WALLPAPER AND MORE

Serving Lakewood For Over 15 Years. Upholstery, Custom Draperies & Shutters. References Available Upon Request. 214-718-7281

25+ Years Experience

469.774.3147

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

FOUNDATION REPAIR

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE DOORS

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

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

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

A FATHER, SON & GRANDSON TEAM Expert Window Cleaning. Haven 214-327-0560

DOVETAIL CUSTOM SHUTTERS Louis Wiggins 214-342-0889 dovetailshutters.com

LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR custom mirrors • shower enclosures store fronts • casements 214-349-8160

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

A R&G HANDYMAN Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Fencing, Roofing, Light Hauling. Ron or Gary 214-861-7569, 469-878-8044

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

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

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

HOME INSPECTION

KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT

BATHTUB, COUNTERTOP & TILE Resurfacing: Walls, Tub Surrounds, Showers. Glaze or Faux Stone finishes. Affordable Alternative to Replacement! 972-323-8375. PermaGlazeNorthDallas.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

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

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS

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

HOUSE PAINTING

1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work.

Inside and Out. Free Ests. Local Refs. Ron 972-816-5634 or 972-475-3928

#1 GET MORE PAY LES

Painting. 85% Referrals. Free Est. 214-348-5070

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL

Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

A1 TOP COAT Professional. Reliable. References. TopCoatOfTexas.com 214-770-2863

ABRAHAM PAINT SERVICE A Women Owned Business 25 Yrs. Int/Ext. Wall Reprs. Discounts On Whole Interiors and Exteriors 214-682-1541

ALL TYPES Painting & Repairs. A+ BBB rating. Any size jobs welcome. Call Kenny 214-321-7000

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

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

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

ROMEO’S PAINTING Int/Ext. Drywall, Damage Repair. Prep House To Sell. 214-789-0803

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

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

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

www.allsurfacerefinishing.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

A BETTER TREE COMPANY • JUST TREES Complete tree services. Tree & Landscape Lighting! Mark 214-332-3444

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

A&B LANDSCAPING Full Landscape & Lawn Care Services. Degreed Horticulturist. 214-534-3816

ALL YARD SERVICES Fertilization, Trim, Edge, Color. Com./ Res. 30 Yrs. Exp. Call Brooks. 972-279-3564, 214-923-5439

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

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

COLE’S LAWN CARE • 214-327-3923

Quality Service with a Personal Touch.

DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914

Lawn Service & Landscape Installation

FOREVERLAWNTEXAS.COM George Berre. Quality Synthetic Grass, Free Est. 214-263-0828

GREENSKEEPER Winter Clean Up & Color. Sodding, Fertilization. Lawn Maintenance & Landscape. Res/Com. 214-546-8846

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

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

IRRIGATION SYSTEM REPAIR Call Carl. 972-948-4335.Texas Irrigation Lic # 8708

ORTIZ LAWNCARE Complete Yard Care. Service by Felipe. Free Est. 214-215-3599

RONS LAWN Organic Solutions. Not Environmental Pollution. Landscape & Maintenance 972-222-LAWN (5296)

SPRINKLER REPAIR SPECIALIST $25Off. 972-226-1925 www.rainmakertx.com LI#7732

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

THE POND MAN Water Gardens

Designed & Installed. Drained & Cleaned. Weekly Service. Jim Tillman 214-769-0324

TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190

Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning

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

WATER-WISE URBAN LANDSCAPES www.TexasXeriscapes.com 469-586-9054

WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists. Trim, Rmv,

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

PLUMBING

A2Z PLUMBING 214-727-4040

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

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

Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days

*Joe Faz 214-794-7566 - Se Habla Español*

ARRIAGA PLUMBING:

Faucet, Sewer, Sink Repairs. Water Leaks. Water Heaters, Gas Testing. Remodels, Shower Pans, Stoppages. Insured. Lic 20754. Since the 80’s 214-321-0589, 214-738-7116,CC’s Accptd

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

JUSTIN’S PLUMBING SERVICE

For All Your Plumbing Needs. ml#M24406 972-523-1336. www.justinsplumbing.com

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

NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913

Lic. M-40581 Res/Com. Repairs & Leak Location

REPAIRS, Fixtures, General Plumbing, Senior Discounts. Campbell Plumbing. 214-321-5943

SPECK PLUMBING

Over 30 Yrs Exp. Licensed/Insured. 214-732-4769, 214-562-2360

UPTOWN PLUMBING. Serving Dallas 40 + Yrs. 214-747-1103. M-13800 uptownplumbing.com

POOLS

ADAIR POOL & SPA SERVICE

1 month free service for new customers. Call for details. 469-358-0665.

LEAFCHASERS POOLS

Parts and Service. Chemicals and Repairs. Jonathan. 214-729-3311

LOCK’S POOL SERVICE - 469-235-2072

40 years experience. Pool Electrical TICL #550

ROOFING & GUTTERS

A&B GUTTER 972-530-5699

Clean Out, Repair/Replace. Leaf Guard. Free Estimates. Lifetime Warranty

ACE ROOFING Residential/Commercial

& Repair. Call Tom. 972-268-4047

MEDRANO ROOFING Resd/Comm. Quality Service & Craftsmanship. Free Est. 469-867-2129

ROOFING

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.

ED & LH

A SHOCKING SCENE.

It must have been a startling and bloody scene that night at Baylor Medical Center. Two men had pulled up to the hospital and quickly summoned paramedics to their vehicle. Sixteen-year-old Eric Romero was inside the car with a gunshot wound to his head. His two friends then fled, leaving Romero in the care of Baylor doctors. Romero, remembered by family and friends as a good kid, died only a few hours later — just one day before turning 17.

Police are asking for any information relating to the case. None of the friends who dropped him off at Baylor called 911,

The Victim: Eric Romero

The Crime: Murder

Date: Tuesday, July 15

Time: 10:30 p.m.

and police are not even certain where the crime took place.

“The circumstances surrounding that [murder] we don’t understand right now, so that’s why we’re asking for the public’s help,” Dallas Police Homicide Unit Sgt. Joe Garza said in a news conference after Romero’s death.

Dallas Police tell the Advocate there are no new details in the case yet, but they continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 214.373.TIPS or the Dallas Police Department at 214.671.3661.

Location: Somewhere near Woodrow Wilson High School

32 15 $300,000

The

SOURCE: Dallas Police Department

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COSMETIC AND GENERAL DENTISTRY

DENA T. ROBINSON, DDS www.drdenarobinson.com

Dr. Robinson is a Preferred Invisalign provider in the White Rock Lake/Casa Linda area. Give us a call to see if you are a great candidate for Invisalign.

FAGD - Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry 8940 Garland Rd., Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75218 214.321.6441

OPTOMETRIST

DR. CLINT MEYER www.dallaseyeworks.com

Did you know that studies indicate you blink 50% less often when staring at a computer. Staring at a computer for hours, or walking and biking around the lake with lots of allergens in the air can lead to Dry Eye! It can be very uncomfortable and the tearing is distracting and annoying. Let Dr. Meyer help you develop a plan to treat your dry eye, so you can enjoy your normal work, sport, and leisurly activities. Call Dallas Eyeworks today to schedule an appointment. Dallas Eyeworks 9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120, Dallas, TX 75218 214.660.9830

FEATURE YOUR OFFICE IN HEALTH & WELLNESS REPORT

Reach our 200,000+ readers with average income of $146,750

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Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and author of “Raising the Stakes”, obtainable at raisingthestakesbook.com. If you have been a recent crime victim, email crime@advocatemag.com.

The age of Jorge Ramirez, an East Dallas man accused of shooting his boyfriend.

The number of times Ramirez allegedly shot his boyfriend with a pellet gun.

amount Dallas County set as bail.

LESSONS FROM THE ’BURBS

What our neighbors to the north can teach us about good urban design

In East Dallas, the term “suburban” often evokes a landscape littered with big-box stores and McMansions, a lifestyle defined by homogeneity and inauthenticity. We use the word as a pejorative to distinguish and elevate our far superior way of life here in the center of the city — a life that is urbane and diverse and real, steeped in history and quirkiness.

I’m not particularly proud of my prejudice in this regard, and I’m quite sure it says more about me than about Allen or McKinney. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. The fact is, we can learn a great deal from our friends to the north, particularly when

seriously, how far north does Preston go?). Something was missing, and it wasn’t hipsters. It was signage. There were no towering pole signs for McDonald’s and CVS littering the roadway. Instead, low-to-the-ground monument signs advertised the stores abutting the street. The difference in the character of the street was profound: with much of the visual clutter eliminated, the tree-lined street became more attractive, more inviting and more human-scale.

I am sure that if Dallas attempted similar sign regulations, the tiny violins would come out. Certain developers would protest that they could not possibly build to such stringent standards and still eke out a profit. They’d argue that retailers would refuse to lease from them if they couldn’t put up signs that touched the sky. Yet somehow, these same developers gladly accept suburban restrictions. Their suburban properties are occupied and, by all indications, doing quite well.

city’s tax base.

I heard this tale of woe frequently while I was on the city council. When requesting a zoning change, certain developers would lament: “But Angela, the deal just doesn’t pencil with all these improvements that are being demanded. It just can’t be done.” At that point, I’d show them to the door. Suddenly, they’d get out their erasers, and miraculously, the deal would “pencil” —improvements and all.

Developers are smart, tough negotiators, but their dire warnings are nearly always empty threats, as proven by their compliance with suburban regulations. In reality, it’s just easier to plop down a standard big-box store with a sea of parking than to spend time designing a unique project that takes into account its urban context.

it comes to protecting our residents’ quality of life.

Not long ago, I found myself driving along Preston Road in Frisco, close to the Oklahoma border (I kid, I kid! But

But when developers pull their skyis-falling act here, Dallas too often caves. The proposed Sam’s Club in East Village near City Place is an example of a failure of courage. A big-box store on the edge of Uptown clashes with the city’s stated goal of making central Dallas more dense and walkable. Yet city staff supported the project and claimed it was in line with the city’s urban design standards. Not quite.

I suspect city staff’s response was built upon desperation: Dallas has to accept any deal a developer throws our way, because otherwise the city might lose out. The developer likely warned staff that without the big-box anchor, there could be no project at all, no multimillion-dollar addition to the

Staff is correct on one point, though: If developers are forced to comply with thoughtful building, zoning and design standards that improve the quality of life in our city, we are going to lose out on some projects. But the projects we’d lose out on would do little to enhance our city. So why should we care?

The most livable cities around the world demand top-quality development projects that align with the city’s vision and values, and improve the built environment for residents. People — and businesses — flock to places like Vancouver and Portland not despite their stringent design regulations, but because of them. Those cities, like our suburban neighbors, have figured out the power of the word “no.” They have called the developers’ bluff and told them if they don’t like the rules, they can take their toys and build elsewhere. Dallas should have the courage to do the same.

Developers are smart, tough negotiators, but their dire warnings are nearly always empty threats, as proven by their compliance with suburban regulations.

Angela Hunt is a neighborhood resident and former Dallas City Councilwoman in East Dallas. She writes a monthly opinion column about neighborhood issues. Her opinions are not necessarily those of the Advocate or its management. Send comments and ideas to her at 6301 Gaston, Suite 820, Dallas 75214; FAX to 214.823.8866; or email ahunt@advocatemag.com.

8378 SANTA CLARA $615,000 Harry Morgan 214.769.3303