Peace W ill Come

Mourning Light Service

December

Christmas Eve Service

December

“Sing Noel” December 3 · 10:30 am Worship of Lessons & Carols by local community college choirs

December 6

Soup Supper 6 pm, Live Nativity 7 pm

December 10 · 10:30 am Worship

Bach Cantata; “Sleepers Awake” by Central Sanctuary Choir

December 10 · 3:30 pm

Bach Cantata; “Sleepers Awake” at Museum of Biblical Arts

7500 Park Lane

December 13 and 20

Soup Supper 6 pm, Vespers 7 pm

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 7 pm

Looking

BIZ BUZZ

New Houses

The Richardson ISD school board approved the sale of its property at 9601 White Rock Trail. The contract price is $5.7 million. The buyer, PSW Real Estate LLC, develops single-family, zero-lot line homes. In April of 2016,RISD bought the property, which included two office buildings, as part of a plan to reduce overcrowding at White Rock Elementary. RISDabandoned plans to build a new school in the face of opposition, voting instead to expand the popular, yet still overcrowded, elementary.

Forty-eight homes are proposed on a 5-acreundeveloped patch of propertynear Rockmount Drive . The land is already zoned single family, but developer Forward Living Homes is seeking city approval to create a Planned Development District, which allows for more flexibility in yard setbacks, building height and landscaping.

New Businesses

Jersey Mike’s opens at the Lake Highlands Town Center Dec. 6. Dalton Stewart will operate the sandwich shop with partner Joey Fluette. You can find it between Ideal Dental and Hollywood Feed

Speaking of Hollywood Feed, it is also a new tenant of the town center. The pet shop sells everything from “gourmet pet food” to collars and toys. Find it at 7150 Skillman, suite 100.

A yet-to-be-named “gentlemen’s club” got its sexually oriented business license last month. Planned for 10995 Petal Lane , the proposal for a BYOB adult cabaret includes hours of 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven nights a week.

Businesses Fighting Crime

The North Lake Highlands Public Improvement District launches Dec. 1, covering a swath of businesses north of LBJ. Like its sister PID to the south, its main purpose is to fight crime by building community. The PID is funded by a 12-cent business tax for every $100 of valuation, resulting in an annual budget of $360,000 for 2018.

DON’T GO CHANGING

A proposal from Councilman Adam McGough to change the name of Plano Road to Lake Highlands Drive met staunch resistance from neighborhood businesses, and was withdrawn from city council consideration.

BAPTIST

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

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

ROYAL LANE BAPTIST CHURCH / 6707 Royal Lane / 214.361.2809

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

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

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

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

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

Bible Churches

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sun: LifeQuest 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / 214.348.9697

Wed: AWANA and Kids Choir 6:00 pm / Student Ministry 6:30 pm

Disciples Of Christ

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

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

Episcopal

ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH / 9845 McCree Road / 214.348.1345

Worship 8 & 10 am / Family Service 10 am / Sunday School 9 am

Nursery Open for All Services. / StJamesDallas.org

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH / stjd.org

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

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

A Welcoming and Affirming Church / Pastor Rich Pounds

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

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

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

Methodist

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RICHARDSON

503 N Central Exwy / fumcr.com / 972.235.8385 / Dr. Clayton Oliphint

8:45, 9:45, 11:00 am sanctuary / access modern worship 11:00am

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

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

Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

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

PRESBYTERIAN

LAKE HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.348.2133

8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

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

214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am

Sunday School 9:35am / All Are Welcome

Though Wilshire Baptist Church isn’t in our neighborhood, a good number of Lake Highlanders attend the church — or did, before Wilshire voted at the end of 2016 to allow LGBT members to marry and be ordained as ministers. The ensuing fallout was a loss of hundreds of members and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Read about what happened and where things stand at Wilshire now at lakewood.advocatemag.com

Is Christmas worth the wait?

By GEORGE MASON

Carole King might have been talking about the Christmas season we are heading into. In the Christian tradition, Advent is the worship season that leads into Christmas. Advent is a season of waiting, of longing for what is promised.

People once kept better time by a spiritual calendar. Christmas began on Christmas Day. They trimmed their trees on Christmas Eve, drank their eggnog and read the Christmas story. Then children went to bed with anticipation, “while visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads.” Christmas lasts 12 days on the true liturgical calendar, beginning with December 25 and ending on January 5, just before Epiphany (the Magi) on January 6. But who knows that today? Who observes that? Even more, who cares? Nowadays, we have flipped the “Twelve Days of Christmas” — complete with true loves and turtledoves — to the 12 days leading up to Christmas. It’s become a secret elf-like tradition. But why?

Because we can’t wait. We have become accustomed to having things right now. And, of course, marketers and merchandizers have made gift giving-and-receiving the heart of the season. That’s not all bad if we tie our giving and receiving to the spiritual self-giving of God to the world out of love that Christmas represents. Mostly, we don’t.

Remember layaway? (Unless you are Medicare age, you probably don’t.) Before the advent of credit cards that allow you to buy something now and pay it off later, department stores permitted you to select an item, have them set it aside for you, and then you could pay it off in installments for weeks or months until you had enough to get the item and take it home. Layaways built anticipation and added a sense of the value of the thing you were working for.

Our Christmas spirituality often falls victim to our instant gratification, consumer culture. We’ve gone from layaway to credit, and not wholly to our credit. The financial cost of living in a credit culture is great, but the spiritual loss should be counted, too. We have lost the anticipation that a season of prayer played in making our souls ready to receive anew the greatest gift of all from God.

Fasting precedes feasting in the healthy spiritual heart, although both must always be present to experience the full range of relationship to God. Sorrow and joy, penitence and presence, anticipation and celebration: these pairings are the warp and woof of authentic spirituality. And that is true for Jews and Muslims and people of other faiths, too, each their own contexts.

Putting the genie back in the bottle is hardly possible (probably the wrong metaphor there), but putting the child back in the manger is. It takes imagination and intention, a faith that waits and a promise worth waiting for. A more disciplined season of delaying spiritual gratification for the greater good of our souls will spill over into a holier experience of the life of faith.

George Mason is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

AC & HEAT

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

DYSLEXIA THERAPIST/CALT/TEACHER

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

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

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS Mortar Repair. Straighten Brick Mailboxes & Columns. Call Cirilo 214-298-7174

Exterior Cleaning

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

FENCING & DECKS

4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322

Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years

We raise our kids here, too!

Family Owned & Operated 214-330-5500

ClassicAirandHeat.com

TACLB29169E TACLA29042C

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

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

BUY/SELL/TRADE

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models. 2000-2016. Any Condition. Running Or Not. Top $$$ Paid. Free Towing. We’re Nationwide. Call Now 1-888-985-1806

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

RANGERS, STARS & MAVS

Share front-row Texas Rangers, Stars & Mavs seats. Tickets are available in sets of 10 games (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available). Participants randomly draw numbers prior to season to determine a draft order fair to everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

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

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

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

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

ART: Draw/Paint. Adults All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Days: Mon & Wed. Students bring supplies. Nights: 1xt month workshop, supplies furnished. Jane Cross. 214-534-6829

CREATIVE ARTS CENTER

More than 500 adult art classes/workshops from metal to mosaic! www.creativeartscenter.org

CLEANING SERVICES

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

AFFORDABLE CLEANING Insd./Bonded. Move In/Out. Routine Cleaning. Reliable. Dependable. Residential/ Commercial. References. 28+yrs. Delta Cleaning. 972-943-9280.

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

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

AMIRA MAID 972-840-8880

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

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

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

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

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

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

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

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

COMPUTER HELP! Viruses, Data Recovery, Upgrades, WiFi Problems, Onsite Tech. 214-533-6216 • WebersComputers.com

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $60/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

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

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

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

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

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

Electrical Services

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

50 Yrs. Electrical Exp. Insd. 214-328-1333

BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333

TECL 31347 Brightening Homes and Businesses

EXPERIENCED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN Insd. Steve. TECL#27297 214-718-9648

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

TEXAS ELECTRICAL • 214-289-0639 Prompt, Honest, Quality Service. TECL 24668

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

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

Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC. EST.96 Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks Ambassadorfenceco.com 214-621-3217

FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com 214-766-6422

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM

Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers. 214-435-9574

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

LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975

Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com

All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers

Northlake Fence and Deck

Locally owned and operated by the Mccaffrey family since1980 214-349-9132 www.northlakefence.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

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

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

HASTINGS STAINED CONCRETE

CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARDS 2007-2016 Making

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

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

FOUNDATION REPAIR

TECL20502 arrowelectric.net

Phones Answered 24/7

EMPLOYMENT

AVON AGENTS WANTED StartAvon.com. Reference Code; CHASKIN

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

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

WANT TO MAKE MONEY? Richardson Mercantile is looking for dealers who want to join one of the best antique malls in DFW. Need details? Go to richardsonmercantile@gmail.com

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE SERVICES

IDEAL GARAGE DOORS • 972-757-5016 Install & Repair. 10% off to military/1st responders.

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

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

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160

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

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

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

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

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

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

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

HONEST, SKILLED

General Repairs/

WANTED: ODD

Allen’s Handyman

Your Home Repair Specialists

Safety

HOUSE PAINTING

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

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

TONY’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality Work

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

TOP COAT 30 yrs. exp. Reliable, Quality Repair/Remodel Phil @ 214-770-2863

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

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

855-349-6757

HOME SECURITY

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

HOUSE PAINTING

1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work. Inside and Out. Free Ests. Local Refs. Ron 972-816-5634

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL

Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

WE REFINISH! www.allsurfacerefinishing.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS

Professionals, Experts, Artists. Trim, Remove, Cabling, Bracing/Bolting. Cavity-Fill Stump Grind. Emergencies, Hazards. Insd. Free Est. 972-803-6313. arborwizard.com

That nip in the air means winter has made its arrival. Here are some easy ways to keep in good spirits during the dark months:

1. Get grounded — Reduce the rushing. Draw your energy inward.

2. Feed your soul — See what foods are in season. This season is all about hearty, nutritious and warm foods.

3. Find your rhythm — Sticking to meal and bedtimes help create balance and will ground you.

4. Don’t lose your glow — Dry skin is all too common, so break out the moisturizer.

5. Treat yourself — Self massage will soothe the lingering stress. Start with the soles of your feet and work up to your head. Now you’re ready to embody the season.

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS LLC

Complete Kitchen And Bath Remodels. Tile, Granite, Marble, Travertine, Slate. Insured. 214-563-5035 www.blake-construction.com

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

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

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS Granite, Quartz, Marble For Kitchen/Bath-Free Est. stoneage.brandee@gmail.com 940-465-6980

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

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

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

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

CALL A TREE EXPERT - 469-939-3344

Prune. Stump grind. Plant. Burris Tree Service

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

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

DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914

Lawn Service & Landscape Installation

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

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

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Insd.

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

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

RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779

RedSunLandscapes.com

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

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

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

PET SERVICES

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

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

PLUMBING

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

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521 # M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues.

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

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

NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913

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

THE PLUMBING MANN LLC

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

POOLS

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

LEAFCHASERS POOL SERVICE Parts/Service. Chemicals/Repairs. Jonathan.

PROFESSIONAL

ACCOUNTING/TAXES

Chris King, CPA 214-824-5313

BOOKKEEPING NEEDS?

Finances? No Job Too Small Bookkeeping Services. Cindy

PARADIGMFAMILYHEALTH.COM

Family Medicine. Healthcare you 214-810-3553

NEED A NEW WEBSITE?

Mobile. SEO Friendly. Maintainable.

AdvocateWebDesign.com 214.292.2053

REAL ESTATE

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

REMODELING

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

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

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

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

ADVOCATE PUBLISHING does not pre-screen, recommend or investigate the advertisements and/or Advertisers published

REMODELING

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

RENOVATE

SERVICES

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

SERVICES FOR YOU

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

LIFELOCK Identity Theft Protection. Do Not Wait. Start Guarding Your Identity Today. 3 Layers Of Protection. Detect, Alert, Restore. Receive 10% Off. 1-855-399-2089

SKYLIGHTS

Bob

ROOFING

BERT

Comment

Visit lakehighlands advocatemag.com and search Angela Hunt to tell us what you think.

A grateful 2017

Is the city finally making headway on some of its biggest issues?

It’s the end of the year, and I’m torn. Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us and I am conflicted as to how to evaluate this past year in our fair city. Is it better to look at 2017 through the mindful lens of Thanksgiving gratitude? Or should we take a cue from Santa and drop some coal into a few Dallas stockings? Do we count Dallas’ many blessings? Or list who’s been naughty and nice?

A naughty and nice list sure would be fun, but this has been such a good year for Dallas, why don’t we start with the good stuff?

The first goodest stuff, the bestest stuff: The death of the Trinity Toll Road. Almost 20 years after voters narrowly approved a vision of lakes and parks in our floodway, and a full decade after voters narrowly defeated the toll road referendum, the Dallas City Council finally voted to kill the Trinity Toll Road once and for all. The road had delayed our park for a generation. With the toll road gone, we can finally move forward in building an accessible, natural and flood-hardy Trinity Park.

Next up on our gratitude list is Dallas’ City Manager TC Broadnax. Broadnax has been shaking things up at 1500 Marilla since he came to Dallas in February, bringing in a slate of top professionals from across the country to run Dallas City Hall. He’s completely overhauled several city departments, including housing, economic development, and transportation. His new police chief has initiated a top-to-bottom review of the police force. With his focus on process, transparency and community engagement, Broadnax has brought much-needed change to our city government.

Dallas also can be grateful that our city is moving in a new direction when it comes to transportation and mobility. It started with last year’s CityMAP, an incredible project led by the Texas Department of Transportation that evaluated improvements to downtown Dallas highways. CityMAP wasn’t just trying to figure out how to move more cars faster. It evaluated how different

Our City

By ANGELA HUNT

highway scenarios impacted inner-city neighborhood redevelopment, community preservation, economic growth and walkability. It’s a remarkable first step in re-engineering central Dallas highways for future generations.

In other positive transportation news, the Dallas City Council shook up the Dallas Area Rapid Transit board, selecting a group of Dallas representatives who are pushing DART to focus on smart, pragmatic transit priorities, like overhauling our inefficient bus system. And the recently approved $1.05 billion City of Dallas bond package includes $20 million to construct the Loop Trail, which will connect more than 50 miles of offstreet trails in central Dallas. That’s going to be a game-changer.

Some of our city’s most challenging financial and legal issues also were put to bed this year. Thanks to some great leadership on our city council, the police/ fire pension crisis has been averted, and it also looks like we’ll finally see some resolution to the police pay referendum lawsuit that has loomed over the city for years. Some closure and finality on these issues is important to our city’s financial health as well as to the morale of our first responders.

Lastly, our city can be grateful for the great strides the Dallas ISD has made over the last year. For the second year in a row, DISD added three new national Blue Ribbon schools, leading the state both times. Over the last four years, district has reduced the number of schools rated “improvement required” from 43 to 13. The school district also made great gains in the state math assessment, and under DISD’s Teacher Evaluation System, the district has been able to retain good teachers while losing those less qualified.

There’s so much good stuff to be grateful for in our city over the last year that I’ve run out of space. What a wonderful problem to have.

I guess we’ll have to wait until January for that naughty list. In the meantime, may your holidays be merry and bright.

Angela Hunt is a former Dallas city councilwoman. 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 ahunt@advocatemag.com.