2013 March Lake Highlands

The ways w hi Te Rock Lake hea L s, empowe Rs and induces b L iss

Be LocaL IN LAke highLAnds

Memory Care at White Rock Lake

cover On golden pond

Four stories about the ways White rock Lake makes lives better. Photo

Open water athletes with disabilities find freedom in adaptive rowing.

The (goose) Godfather a neighborhood plumber protects and provides for White rock’s waterfowl. 34 The game In his spare time, a Lake highlands man started an after-school chess club.

Charity: the kids are all right after School all Stars launches a North Texas branch with a Lake highlands resident at the helm. 18 Diner

Don’t fughetabout these classic neighborhood Italian joints.

Photo

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Looking back on my life in glasses

I was in fourth grade when fate joined me with prescription glasses.

I was sitting in the last row of the classroom, as far from the blackboard and teacher as possible. This wasn’t necessarily my choice; although I tend to be a backbencher by nature, the fact that my last name begins with “W” generally resulted in a spot in the back of every classroom with my bottom-of-the-alphabet compadres.

(I would imagine, what with all of the political correctness these days, the “Ws” are no longer exclusively relegated to the back of the class. But I digress …)

Something new was in the works that day: A class project was on the pull-down screen in front of the blackboard, and the teacher took turns ensuring we were engaged/awake by randomly calling on us to read portions of the assignment.

Reading wasn’t a problem for me, as you can probably imagine from my line of work, and soon it was my turn. Immediately, I began stumbling over one word after another.

First, I was frustrated. Then I was embarrassed. Then I was silent.

Maybe the teacher saw me squinting. Maybe she had a hunch. But in what presumably was an attempt to help, she methodically moved me up one seat in the row, and then another, and then another, as I continued to stumble over the words.

Now, I have to admit that by the time I was temporarily seated in the front row having displaced four or five chuckling classmates along the way — my reading difficulty was more a function of water in my eyes than my inability to see the

screen.

Regardless, the teacher sent home a note suggesting my parents have my eyesight checked out.

Soon thereafter, I was selecting my first set of prescription glasses from among the five or so “youth” options available at Duling Optical in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Those black horn-rimmed beauties went through a lot with me — touch football games, Little League baseball, my first (and last) junior high dance, lots of good and some less-than-good grades, and the usual other collection of school-age fun.

I’ve worn glasses every day since, with 12 or so months off for contacts my first year in college — I wanted to make a good impression, I suppose, as if wearing glasses was really a life-changing negative.

It turned out the original “hard” contacts, combined with the wind and cold of Chicago mornings, just weren’t for me.

Every five or so years since, I’ve wound up with either a new set of frames, lenses or — pocketbook willing — both.

And that’s a long-winded way of explaining why my column picture looks different today. Maybe you noticed; maybe you didn’t.

The photo needed to be changed anyway. A few months ago, someone recognized me in a restaurant and suggested I didn’t look like myself.

“Your hair looks a lot whiter in person than it is in the magazine,” she told me, simply stating the obvious.

So now I will gaze out at you with whiter hair, a lighter beard and a new set of glasses.

I can see a lot better with these glasses, too, so it should be easier for me to connect with you now that I’ll be able to see more clearly if you’re wearing glasses or not.

TO SEE THE PROGRESSION OF RICK WAMRE’S FRAME FASHION since elementary, visit lakehighlands.advocatemag.com and search: glasses.

Rick Wamre is president of Advocate Media. Let him know how we are doing by writing to 6301 Gaston, Suite 820, Dallas 75214; or email rwamre@advocatemag.com.

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Advocate Media 6301 Gaston Avenue, Suite 820, Dallas, TX 75214

Advocate, © 2013, is published monthly by East Dallas – Lakewood People Inc.

Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Opinions set forth in the Advocate are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s viewpoint. More than 200,000 people read Advocate publications each month. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one copy per reader. Advocate was founded in 1991 by Jeff Siegel, Tom Zielinski and Rick Wamre.

Remodeling & New Construction Talk...

Bella Vista Company cordially invites you and a guest to join us for a catered luncheon seminar:

Wednesday, March 20 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

6318 Gaston Avenue, Suite #202 Dallas, TX 75214

Please set aside this date to spend an enjoyable remodeling your home, and show you what many of your neighbors are doing to improve theirs. Bring planning, structure, and design team.

RSVP by Friday, March 15. Please call Jan Breedlove at 214-823-0033. Seating is limited.

Murder in … Lake Highlands?

In early February, the Advocate’s daily news blog ran a post about a double homicide in “the Lake Highlands area,” at an apartment complex at Abrams and Northwest Highway. The first few commenters didn’t care so much about the murders, it seemed, but they did take issue with that area being called Lake Highlands.

(For our 2011 story about the boundaries of Lake Highlands, visit advocatemag.com and search “official boundaries Lake Highlands Texas.”)

Why does “Lake Highlands” or words “Lake Highlands area” always seem to be used as the neighborhood location of a crime [“Lake Highlands area couple shot and killed by their downstairs neighbor,” lakehighlands. advocatemag.com, Feb. 5]? I bet that the crime scene is located in the DISD and not the RISD. Shouldn’t this qualify the crime scene to be in Lakewood? —Llavots

For more information on Remodeling or Custom Homes, read our blogs at www.bellavistacompany.com.

Lake Highlands, as seen by those who live in the area, is very closely tied to the LHHS/ RISD attendance boundaries. Pull up the RISD attendance map and start using that.

—LH Mom

I guess the compassion for the victims, including the orphaned children will come after it’s decided whether they actually lived in Lake Highlands. Wow! —a neighbor

Why does a high school get to define a neighborhood? Why does your “Lake Highlands” not include Old Lake Highlands, Lake

Lance Tyler and Darin Breedlove, CR, CGR, CAPS, CGP

Highlands Drive, or Lake Highlands Baptist Church? Why is the “Lake Highlands Jake’s Hamburgers” not in Lake Highlands? —stuart

I bet 90 percent of these commenters shop at those Targets, Home Depot, McDonalds and so forth that are right next to this complex, so they should care about scary news out of there. Whether it is in LHHS boundary or not, it affects the LH area (or should).

—LHNeighbor

Cat food left outdoors leads to sick raccoons

Last month we reported that the citycontracted 911 Wildlife had removed more than 100 distemper-infected raccoons from the Lake Highlands area. Food left outside for pets apparently exacerbates the problem. We noted that cat food frequently is left outside near the Skillman-Abrams Super Target, a practice the wildlife expert we interviewed called “very bad.”

This makes complete sense after we had a raccoon enter our home through the chimney while we were eating Sunday dinner in November. We shooed it out, but it would not leave our yard. Came into the backyard and was scratching at the back windows to get back in.

—Ginger Greenberg

I thought that feral cat colony by Target was managed by people who trap, neuter and release the cats that were abandoned by apartment dwellers. Yes, it may not be great to have food out that the raccoons get into, but these people are volunteering their time and money to try to control the population, not encourage it.

—Sar2002

“Lake Highlands overrun with dead and dying raccoons,” lakehighlands.advocatemag.com, Feb. 5]

radio personality corby Davidson, a Lake highlands resident, recently broadcasted a story about coyotes lounging on his lawn and, allegedly, scattering the mutilated corpses of small rodents. and a neighbor of his, Karen clardy, reports that a coyote trailed her on a morning walk. “he was no farther than 50 feet and I couldn’t scare him away,” clardy says. coyotes frequently are spotted hanging around our populated running/biking trails and parks, and if you’ve

heard their howls, you know the racket can disturb a quiet evening with the effectiveness of a siren. Urban wildlife is simultaneously fascinating and frightening. If we are to peacefully cohabitate with the local fauna, we need to get to know them. To that end, master naturalist Bonnie Bradshaw who founded nonprofit DFW Wildlife as well as 911 Wildlife, a company that partners with the city of Dallas to tackle wildlife dilemmas answers our most pressing questions.

How do you expect a coyote to behave, and can they hurt us?

There is a fascinating study going on in Chicago. Today they have tagged and are tracking 360 urban coyotes. The findings in that study reflect what we see around here. Coyotes have adapted to living in residential neighborhoods. Their main food source is rodents. There are more rodents in developed neighborhoods. Therefore, coyotes will live longer, produce more offspring and those offspring will live longer in residential areas. They are not a threat to people. They occasionally will take a cat or small dog, but their danger to pets is greatly exaggerated. Cats make up less than 1 percent of the coyote diet. Cats are far more likely to be killed by a car. They could also become prey to a great horned owl or a bobcat.

Can Türkyilmaz

I went years never seeing a coyote in the neighborhood, but in recent years I have encountered several. Are there more now?

A couple of things go on that you might notice. For one, they react to the seasons. Like us, they don’t want to be out during Texas summers, so you won’t see them much then. In the fall, winter and spring, they could be out any time of day. The coyote is extremely intelligent and has learned that humans in the city are no threat. In a rural area, someone will shoot them if they show themselves. Here, people will just pull out their cameras and shoot photos.

You say they are smart — just how wily are these coyotes?

I would say they are smarter than your typical domestic dog. They have learned traffic patterns and patterns of homeowners and house pets. They find the properties with overflowing birdfeeders and fruit trees. Some people don’t know that a significant part of their diet is fruit. They thrive on a wide variety of food they find in the neighborhood.

One evening at White Rock Lake I heard what sounded like a big pack of coyotes howling. It freaked me out. But I’ve never seen them in packs. What is up with that?

The Latin name for coyote is canis iatrans, which means singing dog. The coyote has 12 different vocalizations, some of them torturous to our ears, but to them it is a mating call. Two coyotes can sound like a dozen or more. Coyote mating season starts sometime around mid-February. Valentine’s Day. That sound you heard was probably coyote love.

When a coyote becomes a nuisance or a safety hazard to tiny pets, how do we get make them go away?

Over the past 250 years, man has tried various means — hunting, trapping, killing, moving — to rid urban areas of wolves and coyotes, but for coyotes it has had the opposite effect. The more we do to try to eliminate them or force them into hiding, the more they breed. The best way to eliminate them is to eliminate food. Don’t leave pet food outside. Don’t leave overflowing bird feeders. Eradicate any den sites. Often they will build a den under a shack or a porch. And finally, we can use aversion conditioning. When one is following you, or sitting on your lawn, yell at it. Throw something at it. Teach it to flee from humans. If someone has fed them, they will follow people, hoping to be fed.

OK, some non-coyote wildlife questions: I hear scampering in my attic. What is it?

Robert Bunch

Choose Success, the 1st time!

“I spent the past year working with realtors. The realtor that we chose in Dallas was respected in our part of town. We liked that he supported a wife and kids. He had a business sense about him that he got things done and he assured us that he would work hard for us to sell our home. The sign went up in our yard and then silence. I expected my phone to be ringing off the hook for showings but it did not. When I tried calling our realtor to brainstorm, it quickly became clear that I was a nuisance and we began to ask friends for referrals.

After a very strong recommendation, I called Dani Hanna We met with Dani and she explained to us how she would market our house. We felt very confident in Dani, and I knew from my friend that the actions Dani was promising weren’t just for the sake of getting our listing. Dani had worked hard to sell my friend’s home and she did the same for us.

Dani tirelessly called agents that she knew and never stopped keeping my house top of mind with other agents. When it came time to negotiate and close on our home she handled the entire process with professionalism, organization and fabulous communication. Our deal was difficult the entire way through and Dani never gave up or let up.

I can not say enough about Dani Hanna. We owe Dani for the sale of our home and the peace of mind that she gave us through the entire process.”

- Jill Keuth

Squirrels, if it is scampering. If it sounds like a person running around up there, it is a raccoon. They are large and clumsy.

Last summer, my chimney was chirping and squawking. It went away after a few weeks. What was in there?

Oh! Those were chimney swifts. They are very loud but very tiny. They are one of four birds totally dependent on human structures. Their little feet are incapable of perching, so they do everything in flight. They construct nests from tiny twigs. They will leave for winter. I suggest putting an old blanket in the damper to quiet the noise next year!

What other animals cause alarm?

Most common calls we get are about coyotes, bobcats and possums. Especially possums. People are terrified that they are carrying rabies. But possums don’t carry rabies. In fact they are nice to have around. They are like a little neighborhood sanitation crew. They eat road kill [and other nasty stuff]. They eat roaches and other things we don’t necessarily want to see.

What about armadillos?

A lot of people call and say a possum is digging up their yard. I tell them the possum was framed. The armadillo did it.

Snakes?

The most common snake is a rat snake. It’s 99 percent of what we see in this area. And they can be as big as six feet long, which can be pretty intimidating. But they are not aggressive toward people. Again, keeping the snakes away is a matter of keeping the food sources away. Snakes eat rodents. Rodents eat trash, pet food and birdseed.

—Christina Hughes Babb

Interview has been edited for brevity.

IF YOU HAVE A WILDLIFEISSUE, contact 911 Wildlife through 911wildlife.com or at 214.368.5911.

TO READ ABOUT RACCOONS and the distemper epidemic in Dallas, visit advocatemag.com search: distemper

What gives?

Small ways that you can make a big difference for nonprofits

Support those who help after school

The first North Texas branch of After School All Stars, a nationwide program providing free activity-filled afterschool programs in low-income schools, recently launched at Kipp Truth Academy in Oak Lawn. The regional program director is a Lake Highlands resident, Betsy Orton, a Southern Methodist University grad who has served with the Friends of the Katy Trail, Texas Trees Foundation and American Red Cross, where she was on the frontlines after hurricane Katrina. She says Kipp Truth reached out to ASAS and proved a good inaugural North Texas candidate because 100 percent of the elementary school’s students are eligible for the federal reduced or free lunch program. That means all of Kipp Truth students’ families earn below-average salaries and

likely cannot afford after school care. “We go where we see the greatest need,” Orton says, adding that ASAS will pick more Dallas ISD schools for the program next fall. She says implementing the widely successful afterschool program in Lake Highlands schools also is a future possibility. “We are a North Texas [branch], so we are flexible. We have an eye on Richardson ISD and Tarrant County we would love to pick up 10 new schools next year,” she says. However, at this point the North Texas group is working with just two fulltime staffers, so the support of business sponsors and individual contributions is essential if the effort is to expand to our neighborhood. The children involved in the ASAS program receive opportunities to explore art, drama, gardening and sports, to name a few, as well as academic support and a chance to hear from guest speakers who discuss careers in everything from journalism to firefighting. “Every kid, it seems, wants to be a rapper or a basketball player. We want them to know about the other options,” Orton says. In

Los Angeles, where ASAS originated, 44 schools have implemented the program, which serves youngsters who most need it during their formative years. To contribute or to watch a poignant promotional video featuring real North Texas ASAS kids, visit asasnorthtexas.org.

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.

Jeffrey M. Thurston, M.D

David M. Bookout, M.D.

Julie M. Hagood, M.D.

James K. Richards, M.D. (center row)

Jennifer Muller, M.D.

John D. Bertrand, M.D. (front row)

Jane E. Nokleberg, M.D.

Hampton B. Richards, M.D.

Lake Highlands’ Betsy Orton leads ASAS North Texas.

Out & About

March 2013

March 23

Easter Eggstravaganza

Lake Highlands United Methodist Church welcomes families to its annual Easter Eggstravaganza and Egg Hunt. From 10 a.m.–noon, enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, crafts and cookie decorating.

Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, 9015 Plano, 214.348.6600, free

THROUGH MARCH 2

El Corazon art exhibit

The Bath House Cultural Center is wrapping up its 19th annual El Corazon art exhibition, a show featuring heartinspired art. Artist Jose Vargas started the show because of a shared fascination with the aesthetics and symbolism of hearts. Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther, 214.670.8749, dallasculture.org, free.

MARCH 2

It’s My Park Day

The City of Dallas is asking the community to rally around their local parks to make them cleaner and greener. Register with Dallas Park and Rec Department, 214.670.8483, free

MARCH 16

St. Patrick’s Parade

More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the Dallas St. Patrick’s Parade this year. The parade, hosted by Greenville Avenue Area Business

Association, will begin at 11 a.m. at Greenville and Wellons and end at SMU Boulevard. Arrive early and stay late for the pre/post parade activities. All proceeds go to the GAABA scholarship fund. Participants are encouraged to take the DART.

Greenville and Wellons, dallasstpatricksparade.com, free

MARCH 14–17

Savor Dallas

Foodies, wine snobs and curious culinary consumers are invited to the ninth annual Savor Dallas. The event, featuring cuisine from more than 60 of the Dallas area’s top chefs plus 400 premium wines and imported beers, kicks off at Trinity Groves at the foot of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on March 14. After a few days at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and other venues, the festivities will wrap up at the Dallas Arboretum on March 17.

Savor Dallas, 888.728.6747, savordallas.com, $35-$300

March 8-April 7

Watch as this Brothers Grimm show comes to life with Kathy Burks & Co. at Dallas Children’s Theater. The play was adapted by B. Wolf for children ages 5 and older.

Studio Theater at Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.978.0110, dct.org, $16-$25

‘Rumpelstiltskin’

March 22-April 14

‘A Wrinkle in Time’

For the 50th anniversary of this sci-fi classic, Dallas Children’s Theater will suck you into this extra-terrestrial adventure across space and time. The play was adapted by John Glore for children 8 and older.

Baker Theater at Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.978.0110, dct.org, $16-$25

March 16

Dallas Elks Ladies’ Style Show

The spring style show and luncheon features ensembles from Chico’s designer fashions for women. Wine is served at 11:30 a.m., lunch starts at noon, and the show goes on at 1 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Elks, who provide scholarships for neighborhood students, support for veterans, drug education and community improvement programs and more. Reserve your seat by March 9.

Dallas Elks Lodge No. 71, 8550 Lullwater, 972.414.1396, $18

March 23

Casino party and auction

The Lake Highlands Exchange Club casino party, dinner and auction, which gets rolling at 6:30 p.m., is one of the organization’s biggest yearly fundraisers. Proceeds support scholarships for Lake Highlands High School students and neighborhood improvement projects. Park Lane Ranch, 8787 Park Lane, 214.549.0783, $45

ALFONSO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

718 N. Buckner alfonsosItalianrestaurant.com

214.327.7777

AMBIANCE: DRESSY CASUAL

PRICE RANGE: $5 - $21.75

HOURS:

MON-THURS: 11 A.M. TO 9 P.M.; FRI & SAT.: 11A.M. TO 10P.M.;SUN 11:30 TO 9 P.M.

DID YOU KNOW?

ALFONSO’SALSO SERVES SEAFOOD DISHES, SUCHASFRESH BROILED SALMON ANDFRESH BAKED HALIBUT.

Ifyou walk into the kitchen of Alfonso’s Italian Restaurant, you’ll see flipping, stirring, grilling, broiling and baking. But there’s one thing you won’t see — zapping. “Even to this day, you won’t find a microwave in our kitchen,” says founder and owner Peter Colombo. He says his father, the restaurant’s namesake, was a food fanatic who wouldn’t have approved of microwaves in restaurants. Each meal is made to order, and if you order the chicken parmesan at Alfonso’s, you’ll get the same meal you would have gotten 30 years ago when the restaurant was established in Casa Linda Plaza before moving to its current location at 718 N. Buckner. Through the ups and downs of the economy, many restaurants have been forced to “cut corners” with their food, but not at Alfonso’s. “We never change the product, even with the rising costs. I use the same cheese I used 30 years ago,” Colombo says. “Consistency. That’s the key.” —BrittanyNunn

Chicken parmesan at Alfonso’s Photos by MarkDavis

1 Primo Bros Pizza and Pasta

During the great ice storm of 2010, the owner was out delivering food. That’s the type of place this is. The deep-dish pan pizzas and calzones are tops.

9310 Forest 214.341.4414

primobrotherspizza.com

2 Tony’s

The giant artichoke and prosciutto salad, tortellini Bolognese and chicken parmesan dishes are yum-mee and ridiculously affordable. The staff will treat you like family. Is that a good thing? You decide.

10233 East Northwest Highway 214.503.0388

3 Picasso’s

The Skillman location is a gathering place for Lake Highlands families. The reasons: comfortable and family-friendly environment, competent and amicable servers and quality, piping-hot pizzas.

7215 Skillman

214.553.8100

picassospizza.com

Go 4 It Sports Grill

Now Serving Boiled Crawfish and Oysters On The Half Shell!

Lunch Specials Mon.-Fri. 11am - 3pm; Grill Open til 2am – 7 Days a Week; Catering Available Daily Drink Specials. Happy Hr. 3-7pm. M-F

Hwy, Suite 434

JJ’s Cafe

We serve our full breakfast & lunch menu 7 days a week from 7am-2pm. We have Special Fish Nights every Friday, from 4:30pm-9pm. Enjoy our menu of seafood that includes crawfish & much more!

jjscafe.net

214.221.4659

SPORTS GRILL

Momo Italian Kitchen

Momo Italian Kitchen is a family owned and operated restaurant since 1986. We feature traditional Italian food made from scratch. We are an BYOB establishment. Check us out at www.momoitaliankitchen.com

8989 Forest Lane Suite 130, Dallas 75243 972.234.6800

www.momoitaliankitchen.com

Enchilada’s is a fun and comfortable place, enjoy brunch on the weekends, live music on Saturday nights and tasty Tex Mex food for all. Home of the Big E Margarita.

CAFE

Highlands Cafe

Great food in your neighborhood – fresh sandwiches, salads, homemade soups; famous hamburger; delicious dinner entrees; kid’s meals; beer and wine. Serving lunch and dinner from 11am - 9 pm Monday thru Saturday.

9661 Audelia Road, Suite 105 214.349.CAFE (2233) highlandscafe.com

Move over, bubba

McPherson Cellars Tre Colore 2010

($12)

I received a phone call last month: “I’m writing a book and need to know if people still call Texas wine Chateau Bubba?”

“Hardly,” I was happy to say.

The quality of Texas wine has never been better, and more wine drinkers than ever know this. A Texas wine Twitter event in January was such a success that TxWine was the Twitter’s most popular hashtag that evening — not an easy feat on a social media network where the Kardashians are the top attraction. And how about a Texas wine stunning the food types at a barbecue cookoff in the Pacific Northwest earlier this year, besting wines from California, Washington, and France?

But that’s far from the only good news. The 2012 grape crop was the second outstanding harvest in three years, perhaps the first time that has happened in Texas wine history. Yes, the state still doesn’t produce enough grapes, and the Legislature still regards Texas wine as something akin to the bearded lady in a carnival sideshow, but the industry has overcome those handicaps with style. Today, Texas wine not only tastes good, but tastes like it’s supposed to taste.

All of which means it’s time to try the state’s wine. The following are available from their respective wineries if you can’t find them at your local retailer:

($26). Yes, it’s pricey, but worth the expense. Kiepersol, somehow, can turn out top wines from its vineyards in East Texas — not an easy thing to do.

($12). Skeptics always complain that Texas wine is too expensive. That’s where this red blend comes in, which is often for sale in grocery stores for as little as $10.

with your wine

Roasted peppers

This is one of those things that is expensive to buy and seemingly too difficult to make at home — the province of big name chefs. In fact, it’s amazingly easy, and the peppers can be used in pasta, sandwiches or pizza. Serve with the Texas wine of your choice.

GROCERY LIST

4 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut in 1/2 lengthwise

2 Tbsp olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

2. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil on a baking sheet and place the peppers, cut side up, on the oil. Turn the peppers over, season them with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Place the warm peppers in a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes, and then peel the skin off.

Takes 50 minutes

Ask the wine guy

How many wineries does Texas have?

Almost 250 — about f our times as many as 10 years a g o.

—Jeff Siegel

ASK THE WINE GUY taste@advocatemag.com

($12). A simple red blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. My pal Dave McIntyre, the wine columnist at the Washington Post, drinks this at home and pays for it.

—Jeff Siegel

JEFF SIEGEL WRITES ABOUTWINE AND neighborhood dining news every

Friday on

What a wonderful WHITE ROCK LAKE world

PaRt One Like any other athlete

neighborhood residents with physical limitations find freedom on the water

On a ludicrOusly blus-

thanksgiving day in 2010, a tree toppled in front of a home near White Rock Lake.

Elizabeth Daane and her sons were returning to their house after feeding the neighbors’ cats when they heard the crack.

“Run,” Daane demanded as she instinctively pushed her children toward safety.

When it struck, the tree punctured Daane’s lung, fractured a vertebrae and left the young mother’s lower body without feeling or functionality.

Daane survived her injuries, endured physical therapy, began adjusting to her new limitations and resumed life as a busy professional, wife and mother, but she missed the aerobic activity that she previously had found in running and cycling at White Rock Trail, a hub of outdoor recreation less than a mile from her home.

Over the past several years, Mary Condon researched ways in which to combine her experience as a physical therapist and her love of rowing. The result was the collaboration with the White Rock Boathouse, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, and the emergence of an adaptive rowing program last May. Mary explains that “adaptive” means adjusting the sport to meet the needs of people with physical limitations. Adaptive rowers might include folks with spinal cord injuries, paraplegia, someone who has lost a limb or someone who is sight or hearing impaired.

“We had (in the spring adaptive rowing class) a man with brittle bone disease — or Osteogenesis imperfecta — who never let it stop him from becoming an athlete,” Condon says. “He is a paralympian whose ice hockey team won the gold. There are a couple of people with amputations,

some spinal cord injuries. Some of them have had disabilities since birth and others sustained their injuries as an adult — one was in a car accident. Another was hit by a bus.” On the first day of class last spring, during which enrollees would learn rowing fundamentals on machines called ergs, Condon had eight students.

Elizabeth Daane was one of them.

“I signed up because it was there, right near my house, and I wanted to exercise.” When you don’t have use of your legs, she explains, finding an effective form of cardiovascular training is tough. Though Daane herself had never rowed, she says her sister is a rower and her brother-in-law was a crew coach at Princeton. “When they came to visit me, my brother-in-law was very impressed with the (White Rock Boathouse). He said ‘do you realize that one of the biggest boathouses I’ve ever seen is half a mile from your house?’ And he has visited a lot of boathouses.”

No matter what your bodily restrictions, being in a boat on the water makes you feel free, those involved with the program attest.

“In the boat,” Condon says, “they look just like any other athlete out here at the lake. One day, one of the women, with tears in her eyes, told me that it is just so nice to see everyone out of their (wheel) chairs.”

For Daane, being on the water is freeing and fitness boosting, but, also importantly, it helps give her sons, ages 11 and 8, a positive perspective on circumstances.

“One of the main reasons I took this up, other than to stay in shape, is because I want them to see me as normal, not impaired.”

The pumping of the heart, the flowing of the blood, the strengthening of the core, shoulders, triceps and biceps all make the rowers feel resilient,

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alive and healthy, but camaraderie among the participants provides a psychological sort of healing that is arguably equally important, says Toni Collins, a mother of 11-year-old twins who sustained a debilitating spinal cord injury in an accident eight years ago. She says she had re-learned how to exercise — she rides a hand cycle and has worked with trainers at the local gym but that being with a group of people, all of whom share a common bond, was especially motivating and comforting.

“There are just things you can’t share with others who don’t have similar disabilities,” she says. “If I joke with an able-bodied person about falling out of my chair, for example, they won’t laugh!”

While she still engages in other sports, Collins says “it is easier to go to a workout when you are not the only one in a chair.”

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Learning at their own pace, adaptive rowing students are free to “piddle around on the water or bust out an intense workout,” as Collins puts it. It is an activity from which participants derive physiological and psychological benefits that increase their quality of life, the women agree. They repeatedly use the word “free” to describe how it makes them feel. They also insist that without the dedication of unpaid volunteers Condon, and assistants Lisa Henry and Michael Lutz, the opportunity would not exist.

Collins chuckles as she describes how “easy” the adaptive rowing team has it. “A big part of rowing is getting the boats, carrying them to shore, putting them back up when you’re done. The volunteers take care of all the hard stuff for us,” she says. “When we are done we are off in our cars as they are putting back all the equipment.”

The women hope to spread the word about the program, which so far, has only been publicized via word of mouth.

“What a joy it is,” Collins says, “I mean, what a gift Mary has given us.”

“It is easier to go to a workout when you are not the only one in a chair.” —Toni Collins

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Full circle

Completing the full circumference of white rock Lake trail, on foot, is a rite of passage

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West of White Rock Lake, any Saturday morning at about 5:30 and Dave Dozier will flag you down. He assumes you are there to join him for a run. On a dewy winter morning he dons a black tracksuit with reflective stripes and he invites early morning guests, runners and walkers, jovial folks he calls friends, into his home of 50 years — cozy quarters whose décor includes display cases full of medals from

White Rock, St. George and Boston marathons, to name a few, hundreds, dating back as far as the 1970s, and collages containing magazine clippings and racing bibs.

An inconspicuous manila folder contains what we came to see: certificates for completing, on foot, a full 9.2-mile loop of White Rock Lake.

In his early running days, Dozier says, running all the way around White Rock Lake was something only the most serious runners did.

Erin Silav, MD

“Once you ran the loop,” he says, “you were somebody.”

In the 1970s a gang of diehard runners including White Rock Marathon founder Tal Morrison challenged Dave to run all the way around, rather than the couplemile out-and-back jaunts they had seen him performing at the lake. When he eventually took them up on it, the guys gave him a certificate of completion. It is a tradition Dozier continued, mostly under the radar, long after Morrison and the other old timers stopped running. Recently a local fit-

Can Türkyilmaz

Find Your Spring Color At

ness magazine publicized the practice and Dozier got an unprecedented amount of takers. But he doesn’t give these certificates away to just anyone. “You really have to do it. I have to see you. I will run with you,” he says. “And you can’t have done it before.” The certificates are reserved for those running the loop and the distance for the first time ever.

And while the certificate is a neat token of achievement, it really isn’t about the paper. It’s about the camaraderie as runners gather at the starting point. Those who meet at Dozier’s place vary in pace — taking anywhere from 70 minutes to three hours to circle the pond. The wee moments before the jog are for catching up and laughing while Dozier tells everyone to shut up because his wife is asleep.

Voices fill the erstwhile silent neighborhood with stories of marathons past. Dozier’s friend Julie Stauble recalls a time Dozier stumbled at the finish line, knocking out his front teeth. Dozier teases the group’s fastest runner, a psychiatrist named Joe Gaspari who is preoccupied with qualifying for the Boston Marathon. “He’s always looking at that watch. Doesn’t he know we are here to have fun?”

It’s about the other lake goers. When Dozier ran the first of his 9,000-some lake loops, he says, there were about eight guys regularly running the lake. On a Saturday morning these days, there are hundreds, maybe a thousand. “I stop and talk a lot. I know everyone out there,” Dozier says.

It’s about the commitment and motivation one feels after hitting that 9.2-mile milestone, says Stauble, who ran a marathon after meeting Dozier and joining his informal running group. She says it changed her life.

“A lot of lives have changed out here,” Dozier says. “And we’ve had people that didn’t fit in in the world, fit in with us.”

It’s about the sense of completion. The circle represents wholeness, unity and infinite possibility, right? But Dozier scoffs at all that philosophical stuff. “It’s just fun. I love this. Running is my way of life.”

IF YOU ARE INTERESTEDIN MEETINGDOZIER for a run around the lake and, if you make it, a certificate, email editor@advocatemag.com.

DICK PHELPS PERRY FLOWERS III

ELIZABETH & DOUG SELZER THE SELZER GROUP DEBRAH KING PAM DYBVAD

RONDA & DAVID HARDT THE HARDT GROUP JAN STELL

Part three

You’ve got a friend enter the (mostly) freewheeling world of a White rock goose

The signs and ads sTarTedappearing around the neighborhood and on digital message boards in mid-April last year.

“Urgent: Wilbur Goose, leader of a big goose gaggle at White Rock Lake, is missing.”

The pleas for Wilbur’s safe return initially were met with amusement and a spattering of jokes — “The goose is on my kitchen table” or “Have you checked inside the coyotes?”

But if it wasn’t a prank, and it wasn’t, the obvious question is, there are dozens upon dozens of geese at White Rock Lake, so how do you know that one, in particular, is missing?

White Rock Lake frequenter Annette Abbott chuckles at the query.

“If you ever met Wilbur,” she says, “you would understand.”

Wilbur wasn’t just any wild waterfowl. He was a lover — had a girl-

friend goose, Priscilla, who stuck by him until her 2010 death. They were “the reigning royalty of the goose gaggle,” Abbott says.

Wilbilla, as it were.

He was a prankster. He loved to play and was known to “goose” (pinch one on the backside) from time to time.

He was brave — known to stare down dogs.

He was a friend. He’d eat crackers right out of your hand, but he especially loved whole grain honey bread. If you approached the lake by car, Wilbur might waddle up and peck on your window, Abbott says. Priscilla might try to get in the passenger seat.

Abbott met Wilbur eight years back, when the grand goose and his mate were living at The Point on West Lawther (he later joined the east side gaggle). Abbott says she was going through an emotional rough patch and she bonded with Wilbur as one might with a pet.

Danny Fulgencio

“You knowhowyourdogsometimes gives you that look like, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong, but I’m here for you and it will be OK’? Well, that’s how Wilbur was. He would attach to those who needed a friend. That’s kind of how Charles met him too.”

Charles Fussell, a plumber, is Abbott’s neighbor and friend who also is one of the White Rock geese’s greatest allies. Even after long unforgiving workdays, he reports via pickup truck to Sunset Bay, on the east side of White Rock — most evenings for the past eight-plus years — to feed the fowl, primarily corn (often 200 pounds in a day) and wheat bread, he says. The birds know the plumber. Even if they are far out on the water when he arrives, they scuttle up to shore at the familiar sound of his engine.

Fussell resembles the Pied Piper as he walks to the shoreline with ducks and geese tugging at his jeans, Abbott says.

Whenever possible, this plumber purchases geese from dealers, for about $40 a pop, purely in order to save them from poor living conditions and premature deaths. He rescued the first couple of geese from a dealer in Sunnyvale about eight years ago and one of those is still living at White Rock. They do well with the relocation, he says.

“They immediately take to the lake and become a part of the community,” he says. “It’s such a good life for them, plus, the people at the lake enjoy them. (The geese) almost have the sensibilities of a dog in the

way that they gravitate toward and relate with people.”

A goose can live as long as 35 years, Fussell says. He suspects Wilbur was 15 or maybe 20. The geese — a mix of Canada, African, Chinese Toulose, Pilgrim and Emden

are savvy when it comes to survival. Even without human help, they could live on naturally occurring vegetation, Fussell says. And they protect themselves from coyotes and other predators, possibly, by appointing lookouts. “At night,” Abbott says, “there are noticeably four sentries surrounding the sleeping gaggle in the waters near the Bath House. They may appear to be asleep, but they sit up and make noise when some seeming danger approaches.”

No goose has quite taken the place of Wilbur since his disappearance — which Fussell attributes either to a coyote or bobcat-type hunter or a human goose-napper

but Abbott says those with distinct personalities get nicknames. “There’s Laurel and Hardy, for example, a regular slapstick comedy act,” she notes.

Fussell admits it is difficult to know he can’t entirely protect these loveable animals, with whom he feels such kinship, but he knows that their lives at the lake, while not 100-percent danger free, are joyful.

“They love freedom so much, it’s worth the risk. If any of them could talk, I am certain they would say they would rather be out here than safe in a cage somewhere.”

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PART FOUR

All the lake’s a stage

March 2 FREE ADMISSION

Art Scavenger Hunt 10 am – 2 pm

Children’s Art Activity

10 am – 12 noon

Art in Action Sculpture Demo

10 am – 12:30 pm

Family Tours

Hourly from 10:15 am – 12:15 pm

Yoga in the Garden 11:30 am

Presented by YogaSport

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Creative Writing with The Writer’s Garret 12 pm

Storytime with Dallas Public Library 12:30 pm

NasherKids Live! 1 pm

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NasherKids Meal at Nasher Cafe

11 am – 2 pm

NasherSculptureCenter.org

Here, all the cranes, turtles, geese, ducks and pelicans are the players

CHANCES ARE YOU ASSUMED IT WAS JUST REMNANTS OF

the White Rock bathhouse beach circa 1953, when Dallasites swam the waters with impunity. It is, sort of.

The poles in the water behind the Bath House Cultural Center are purposefully arranged, atop a swath of concrete that remains on the lake’s bed, to showcase water-wildlife performances. At one time the arrangement included floating disks, and it glowed in the night sky, powered by solar panels, spotlighting the feathery actors.

In 2001 artists Frances Bagley and Tom Orr — sponsored by Dallas Water Utilities Department and the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs — created the White Rock Lake Water Theater, “an environmental work that combines nature with education and art.”

Signage on the beach — faded etchings on concrete columns — educates observers about water-wildlife behavior and what to expect during a given season. The show would constantly change with the weather, light, seasons and wildlife patterns, note the artists, a married couple that lives near the lake.

Daily observations of the lake inspired the project, Bagley says.

“A bird landed on one of the poles and I said to Tom that it looked like its own sculpture. He said, ‘what if we put 100 poles in the water?’ And that’s almost what we did. There were about 80. They used to light up, but some of it has gone into disrepair,” she says. The couple worked

tirelessly researching wildlife and laboring in the water to bring their vision to fruition.

On shore, they installed stone columns and seats for humans. The concrete steps near the shoreline and the scopes on the Bath House patio were also part of the project. Support from the city allowed the artists to perform regular maintenance on the installation for five years. “We would get in the water in our wetsuits and check the lights and clean the poles,” she says. The disks had a hard time staying put and the poles are impossible to keep clean, she adds.

Bagley says she fears the piece might not last much longer. “I don’t know if they are going to remove it or have it improved. If they want to improve it, we know a lot now that we didn’t know then and have a lot of new technology. We would be happy to help,” Bagley says.

Though the poles are grungy, the floating disks have disappeared and the lights have gone out, the birds’ show goes on. On any given evening, most of the poles are occupied — the players continue to pause, dive, frolic and sing, oblivious to the ravages of time on their stage.

Chess mates

Children at L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary are learning life lessons through the new chess club

Story by Lauri Valerio

Last spring, Jerry Isaacs walked from his Lake Highlands home to L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary and asked if he could start a chess club. For some, chess may seem a bit too oldfashioned or complicated for kids, but Isaacs believes it is exactly what some kids need.

A group of about 20 students now meet in the library for an hour after school every Tuesday and Thursday in a battle of brains.

“Kids perceive chess as something smart people do,” Isaacs says. “Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler played chess. It’s both sides of the spectrum. All types of people play chess.”

Students at Hotchkiss, a Dallas ISD school in the Lake Highlands area, might benefit from the club for many reasons, Isaacs explains. Many of the 1,030 students come from nearby apartments filled mostly

with single-parent families, so the club provides adult role models through Isaacs, a retired engineer, and Kerri Russell, staff overseer and fourth-grade teacher. The club creates a sense of community and belonging for students, including the school’s large immigrant population.

“We have needs in this school,” Isaacs says. “Lots of kids need mentors and role models.”

Isaacs found his role on a whim. While he was living in McKinney, he responded to an ad looking for chess club volunteers. He ended up leading three clubs at different schools over the course of five years.

Before he retired, Isaacs designed mailsorting equipment for the postal service. The intricate machines that sort a billion pieces

Lake Highlands’ Jerry Isaacs and Kerri Russell started a chess club for students, many from single-parent and immigrant homes. Photos by Danny Fulgencio

of mail a day required Isaacs’ best problemsolving approaches as he sought to make the machines cheaper and more efficient.

“Every decision you make has an influence on your life,” Isaacs says. “The ability to look at situations and analyze them and try to come up with the best consequences you can is the essence of chess and, really, the essence of life in many ways. In looking for a job or a companion, everything is an analysis of problems.”

Isaacs says he can’t remember a time when he couldn’t play chess. He does remember one moment from his youth that had a tremendous impact on the rest of his life.

One morning in high school homeroom class, a friend heard Isaacs sing and encouraged him to join the choir, something Isaacs had never considered. He tried out and was accepted, then later joined the glee club at Cornell University, where he went to college. Isaacs had never traveled outside of the United States before college, but the glee

MARCH 2 - APRIL 7

club toured places as far as Moscow, Wales, England, China and Singapore. Today, he sings in the Dallas chorus Resounding Harmony.

“Anytime you have any kind of interaction with someone else, there’s a potential that the interaction will be life-lasting,” Isaacs says.

Hotchkiss principal Cecelia Criner has seen chess impact students’ lives similarly. Her friend’s daughter struggled academically but discovered a talent when she joined the chess club and won first place in a tournament.

“It was the one thing she could do,” Criner says.

She began focusing on her grades so she wouldn’t get kicked out of the club, and eventually graduated from high school.

Along with problem solving, chess teaches motivation, concentration and confidence, even in interacting with adults.

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“A lot of kids at this school have a lot of talent, but they don’t get the opportunity [to develop it].”

Nationally acclaimed spectacular show featuring over 500,000 Spring blooming bulbs.

“[My son] knows he can beat me,” says Russell, whose child is an elementary-aged chess player at Dealey Montessori. “A lot of kids at this school have a lot of talent, but they don’t get the opportunity [to develop it]. We have good kids here. We have smart kids. We just want them to have opportunities they don’t get.”

While playing chess can be connected to academic performance, Russell and Isaacs purposefully did not choose Hotchkiss students solely because of their good grades. But the number of kids who wanted to join the club last semester exceeded the 20-student limit.

“If we had a facility to accommodate them, we could easily have 100 kids — in an ideal, impossible world,” Isaacs says. “It’s not unrea-

ERIC CANTU

sonable to say 10 percent of the school would love to be in the chess club.”

While Isaacs is hoping for more volunteers, even ones who don’t know how to play chess, limited funding is also an issue. To attend tournaments, the school would need to coordinate transportation. The club would also need money for tournament entry fees and Tshirts. It would be worth it to see the students compete, he and Russell say.

“Tournaments hook kids, even if they do badly,” Russell says.

“We’ll wade right into that tournament,” Isaacs says. “They might get whomped, but that’s OK.”

One rule that “whomps” students is that if they touch a chess piece, they have to move it. Students can’t change their mind after they’ve committed to a move, and it helps to think a few moves ahead.

“You can’t just move your piece without thinking about it. There’s going to be a consequence,” Russell says. “That’s something we work on in school with your behavior — you stop and think about it.”

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Contact Hotchkiss Elementary at 972.749.7000 and fill out a volunteer form online at dallasisd.org/hotchkiss.

Dena T. Robinson

D.D.S., F.A.G.D. Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry

“They might get whomped, but that’s OK.”

BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to LIVELOCAL@ADVOCATEMAG.COM

Design star

Dona Rosene recently was awarded Best of Houzz 2013 by houzz.com, a popular interactive remodeling and design website that boasts about 11 million monthly users. This is the second year in a row that houzz.com has honored Dona Rosene Interiors, which Rosene operates out of her Lake Highlands home. She says the site is invaluable to her work and that she recommends anyone interested in home improvement or decorating check out the Houzz site.

More convenience

Following the November razing of a longstanding do-it-yourself carwash, a new Kroger convenience store and fueling station is up and running. The new station is located at the southeast corner of Northwest Highway and Lake Highlands Drive (Plano Road to the north), cattycorner from the Northwest Highway Kroger store.

Market watch

Fans of the White Rock Local Market will be happy to know a second location, with different hours of operation, will open nearby this spring. The original, a twice-a-month pop-up market in front of The Green Spot on North Buckner, is wildly popular with Lake Highlands’ and East Dallas’ healthy and environmentally conscious shoppers, so it’s no surprise that co-founder and Old Lake Highlands resident Sarah Perry set her sights on more. The second market will open first and third Saturdays of the month at Lakeside Baptist Church on Garland Road beginning March 9. The Buckner market is second and fourth Saturdays.

Area improvement

A volunteer committee working on improvements to the Skillman-LBJ area met with neighborhood residents at a January meeting. Key committee member Tip Housewright gave a presentation on the current state of the intersection and the committee’s goals: safety, beautification and economic viability. The biggest proposed change will be

More business bits

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Dona Rosene Interiors 214.769.1059

DONAROSENEINTERIORS.COM

Kroger 10677E.NORTHWESTHIGHWAY 214.553.0607

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an attempt to improve the traffic flow for the surface streets, especially Skillman and Audelia, and reduce confusion for drivers. Once that is accomplished, the committee hopes the area can become a place where people will want to go, rather than a place they want to avoid, he said. Once the input from this meeting has been compiled, Advocate writer Ellen Raff reports, the committee plans a follow-up public meeting, tentatively scheduled for April. A recommendation may reach the City Plan Commission in late 2013 or early 2014.

Tree trauma

Oncor’s director of customer operations, Charles Elk, faced a group of angry neighborhood residents in February after the electricity company cut down trees in and around Arbor Park in Lake Highlands. The trees, at least 30, according to Advocate writer Carol Toler, were removed or trimmed to ensure there would be no disruption in service due to ice, wind or other bad weather. “The purpose, at all costs, is to preserve these lines,” Elk told the crowd. “The lines cost thousands of dollars.” The group wondered aloud whether Oncor had the right to remove trees along the park/easement boundary line, but Dallas Park Board member Robin Norcross, map in hand, confirmed that the felled trees did lie within Oncor’s transmission right-of-way.

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THE HIGHLANDER SCHOOL

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ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

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LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

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BAPTIST

ForeST Me Adow / 9150 Church Rd. / Welcoming the mosaic of cultures living in our neighborhoods / www.fmbcdallas.org

Worship 10:50 / Bible Study 9:30 / Tim Ahlen, Pastor / 214.341.9555

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

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

BIBL e CHU r CH eS

GrACe BIBLe CHUrCH / www. gracebiblechurch.org

Sunday Worship: Traditional 9:00 am; Contemporary 10:30 am

Adult Bible Classes both hours /11306 Inwood Rd./214.368.0779

NorTH HIGHLANdS BIBLe CHUrCH / www.nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sunday: LifeQuest (all ages) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Student Ministry: Wednesday & Sunday 7:00 pm / 214.348.9697

dISCIPL eS oF C Hr IST

CeNTrAL CHrISTIAN CHUrCH / 4711 Westside Drive / 214.526.7291

Sunday Worship 11:00 am ./ Sunday School 9:45am

Wed. Bible Study 5:00 pm./ www.cccdt.org / ALL are welcome

eAST dALLAS CHrISTIAN CHUrCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

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

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

HIGHLANdS CHrISTIAN CHUrCH (Lake Highlands) 9949 McCree Rd. 214-348-2805 / www.highlandschristianchurch.com

Sundays: School 9:45 am / Worship 11:00 am / Rev. Paul Carpenter

L UTHerAN

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 Ln.

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

Me THodIST

L AKe 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

wHITe roCK UNITed MeTHodIST / www.wrumc.org

1450 Oldgate Lane / 214.324.3661

Sunday Worship 10:50 am / Rev. George Fisk

NoN- de NoMINATIoNAL

L AKe HIGHLANdS CHUrCH / 9919 McCree / 214.348.0460

Sundays: Classes 9:30, Coffee 10:25, Assembly 10:45

Home groups meet on weeknights. / lakehighlandschurch.org

PreSB yT erIAN

KING’S PArISH A SSoCIATe reForMed PreSByTerIAN CHUrCH

kingsparish.com / Rev. David Winburne / Worship at 10:00 am

Meets at Ridgewood Park Rec Center / 469.600.3303

L AKe 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

NorTHPArK PreSByTerIAN CHUrCH / 214.363.5457

9555 N. Central Expwy. / www.northparkpres.org

Pastor: Rev. Brent Barry / 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday Services

UNIT y

UNIT y 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

Better together

The “spiritual but not religious” group is growing. These “believers” do not participate in formal religious communities. They are faith freelancers: carrying God and moral values in their hearts, but not worshipping with others on Sundays, serving or teaching or praying with others, or giving their money to the mission of a religious institution that they belong to.

The trend away from religious practice in America is disturbing (especially to a pastor, for obvious reasons). Every new report brings worse news than the last about the disappearance of people from the pew.

Reasons for disaffection are diverse, yet not all defensible.

Some have left church because they have been wounded or offended by judgmental believers or unbending leaders. Upholding moral standards can morph into scorn for those who fall and fail. Instead of mercy being the air we breathe in the church, it is reluctantly doled out to contrite sinners. Since we are all sinners, some sinners therefore are in charge of reminding other sinners of their sin and then dispensing grace grudgingly. A lack of humanity and humility in spiritual leaders is demoralizing. Some dropouts have grown weary of the unhealthy encounter.

Others can no longer reconcile their faith with their intellect. The faith that made sense of the world to them as children makes less sense to them as adults. They accept the theory of evolution as fact. They believe the equality of women to men and gays to straight are self-evident. They can’t mesh a loving God with one who condemns most people to hell because they haven’t professed Jesus as their Savior. Appeals to reject science, qualify equality or insist on eternal damnation in the name of faith leaves them cold if not hot, and some take their leave from church because of it.

Increasing numbers are not closing the door on church; they are just not darkening the doors of churches. I see more drifting

away than running away. It happens when kids get involved in sports activities on Sundays or after kids are gone from the home. The habit is broken, even if the faith isn’t.

But if faith isn’t practiced within a community, is it not broken? The church may be broken, but what about those who leave it behind? Attitudes of pride and superiority can creep in there, too. Neither scorn nor apathy is a virtue, even if directed toward church.

Most churches work to pass on the meaning of a good life that pleases God. Practiced religion — more than unanchored spirituality — points to that life, reinforces those truths, and bears witness to God by concerted acts of justice and kindness.

The Rev. Lillian Daniel has written a new book titled “When Spiritual But Not Religious Is Not Enough.” Says she: “Throughout time and history people grow closer to God by going deeply into a religious tradition. There is value in landing somewhere and going deep, … allowing yourself to be shaped by a tradition that is bigger than you are. I think the danger of creating your own spirituality is that you simply create a God in our own image. That works when your life is going well, but when things fall apart that is not really much of a foundation.”

Relationships are hard work, even — maybe especially — a relationship with God. Working on it with others is time-tested wisdom. We get better together. Together, we get better.

In this journey of faith, we really do need each other

I see more people drifting away from church than running away. The habit is broken, even if the faith isn’t. But if faith isn’t practiced within a community, is it not broken?

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

Lake Highlands residents Laurie and Robert Kidder of MyCare Personal Assistance recently won the RJ Roper Award presented by the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Dallas Chapter. Robert opened MyCare in 2003 when his mother, Roberta Kidder, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. MyCare Personal Assistance has cared for more than 2,000 dementia patients since 2003, and this is their fifth RJ Roper Award. The Kidders also are dedicated volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association. They teach “The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s” and “The Basics of Alzheimer’s” to area churches, memory care facilities and community centers.

Lake Highlands High School 2007 graduate Meredith Alloway recently launched an online interview show called “All the Way with Alloway.” For her first round of conversations, she traveled to the Sundance Film Festival to chat with writers and directors about what makes a great film great.

Meredith Wachel and Lauren Farish, both Lake Highlands High School graduates, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to participate in a national competition as part of the Baylor accounting team in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) national xTREME games in taxation. The team won $1,000 for being the top team at Baylor and $10,000 for being one of the top five teams nationally.

schools

Several Lake Highlands High School seniors committed to colleges on National Signing Day last month. Bonnie Vernon will play volleyball at University of Texas, Dallas; Kent Perkins , considered the area’s top recruit, will play football at University of Texas, Austin; Nick Thurman will play football at University of Houston; Reginald Marshall will play football at Southeastern Oklahoma State; and Jesse Johnson will play football at Tyler Junior College.

The Lake Highlands Highlandettes brought home several awards from the February Texas State Championship Dance Contest. Officers won Outstanding Choreography and Super Sweepstakes awards for their novelty, jazz and contemporary dances. They also received the Officer Line Winner’s Circle award and the team was named Best in Class in the largeteam division and received the Outstanding Dance Technique Team Award. They also brought home Super Sweepstakes, Outstanding Choreography and High Point Awards for their contemporary, jazz and pop routines. Team member Anna Starr earned fourth runner up in the solo awards, and the elite dance team was named second runner up.

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.

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am March 31 c c

Collecting for a cure ...

Families and students — Emily Sisk, Laura Beth Rote, Kaden Henley, Parker Mosley, Hazen White, Allison Keller, Landry Addison, Jordan Carll, Mrs. Patterson, Dani Josselyn, Landon Wallace and Taylor Mackey from the Highlander School collected $4,711.28 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They did it for class member Laura Beth Rote, who is undergoing treatments for leukemia.

Submit

BBULLETIN BOARD

EvEnts

TABLE TALK

Not your typical women’s bible study Times Ten Cellars

March 25 - May 6 6:45-8:15pm Register Online: www.TheMarcellaProject.com

ClassEs/tutoring/ lEssons

ART: Draw or Paint. All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Jane Cross, 214-534-6829. Linda, 214-808-4919.

ARTISTIC GATHERINGS

Art Classes For All Ages. Casa Linda Plaza. 214-821-8383. www.artisticgatherings.com

DRUM & PIANO LESSONS Your location. UNT Grads, Betty & Bill. View BucherMusicSchool.com or call 469-831-7012

GUITAR OR PIANO Fun/Easy. Your Home. 9 to Adult. Prof Musician. UNT Grad. Larry 469-358-8784

JEWELRY Making Parties at Art Gallery. BYOB & creativity. All else included! jewelrymakingparty.com or 1-855-254-6625

LOCAL TEACHER WHO TUTORS Algebra 2, Pre Cal, Calculus. Your Home/Mine. Melissa-MS. 817-988-0202

MATH TUTORING Elementary through High School Sari Bahl, MS Ed 25+ years exp. 214-357-8680

VOICE TEACHER with 38 years experience. MM, NATS www.PatriciaIvey.com 214-769-8560

... and cards for a cause

Lake Highlands residents Arman and Jennifer DeLaughter pictured with Elizabeth and Jason Farr, co-chaired the 2nd Annual Color Up for Children’s Cancer event, a Vegas-style party to support pediatric cancer research.

to advertise call 214.560.4203

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. Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA Approved. Training. Financial Aid, if qualified. Housing available. Job placement assistance.

AIM 866-453-6204

CREATE INCOME From The Internet. One On One Coaching & Group Support. www.MonthlyResidual.net

Sign up for to get excluSive weekly lake highlandS newS at advocatemag.com/newsletter

BusinEss opportunitiEs

I’M LOOKING FOR A PART-TIME ASSISTANT Must be a Go Getter. Computer Wiz. Call BJ Ellis 214-226-9875

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

profEssional sErviCEs

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

ESTATE/PROBATE MATTERS Because every family needs a will. Mary Glenn, J.D. maryglennattorney.com • 214-802-6768

HOLLOWAY BENEFIT CONCEPTS Benefit strategy For Area Businesses. www.hollowaybenefitconcepts.com 214-329-0097

Music men

Lake Highlands High School choir members — Blake Leuder, Nick Jones, Patrick Mahurin, Shane Bono and Chris Troung — directed by LHHS Choir Directors Michael O’Hern and Terry Berrier, earned coveted spots in the Texas 2013 All-State Choir.

Splitsville

Lake Highlands High School

Wranglers Allison Combs and Austin Caudle, along with the rest of the squad, performed in D.C. at the Texas Boots & Tie gala, which preceded the presidential inauguration.The photo is by Demond Younger.

TO ADVERTISE CALL 214.560.4203

PET SERVICES

POOP SCOOP PROFESSIONALS Trust The Experts. 214-826-5009

BULLETIN BOARD

BUY/SELL/TRADE

Dallas’ First Doggie Daycare Featuring “Open Play” Boarding

6444 E. Mockingbird at Abrams

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

MAVS/DALLAS STARS TICKETS Neighborhood group needs partners for great Dallas Mavs/Dallas Stars seats — tickets are priced at our cost; 2 seats for each game. Mavs seats are in Platinum Level Section 204, front row; Stars seats are Section 123, Row B (second row from the glass).

E-mail rwamre@advocatemag.com or call 214-560-4212. We have great Rangers seats available, too!

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

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

CLUTTERBLASTERS-ESTATE/MOVING SALES

De-Clutter/Organize www.ClutterBlasters.com

Donna@ClutterBlasters.com 972-679-3100

ESTATE SALES & LIQUIDATION SERVICES

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

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972-216-1961

www.SherrellAir.com

TACL-B01349OE

appliaNCe repair

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

Serving your Neighborhood Since 1993

Repairing: Refrigerators •Washer/Dryers

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

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

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

Complete Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths, Additions. Hardie Siding & Replacement Windows. Radiant Barrier, Insulation. Bonded & 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

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

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

O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Professional Home Remodel. Shannon O’Brien. 214-341-1448 www.obriengroupinc.com

PREVIEW CONSTRUCTION INC.

James Hardie Cement Siding. Energy Star Windows. Kitchens-Baths-Additions & More. 214-348-3836. See Photo Gallery at: www.previewconstruction.com

RENOVATE DALLAS

renovatedallas.net 214-403-7247

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

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

•

CleaNiNg ServiCeS

A

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

CLEANING BY LT

Full Service House Cleaning, Personal Errands, Parties, Rentals. Linda 214-566-7743

LAST MINUTE House Cleaning. When no one else will clean I will. Bonded. Leslee 214-438-7790

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

THE MAIDS Angie’s List Award! Deep cleaning specialists, Eco-friendly supplies. 972-278-6000

WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN

20 yrs. exp., Reliable, Great Prices, Excellent Refs., Free Estimates. No Crews. Sunny 214-724-2555

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

•

•

DAVIS CREATIVE SERVICES

daviscreativeservice.com

Commercial Construction Remodel Cleans make-readys windows carpet

$25.00 Off – 1st Full Detail Clean Complimentary quotes! lecleandallas.com

214.750.4888 20 years in business!

Computers & eleCtroniCs

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR

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

COMPUTER PROBLEMS SOLVED Great Rates! Keith 214-295-6367

IQUEUE MEDIA COMPANY 214-478-8644 TV Installation, Computer Repair, Security.

ConCrete/ masonry/paving

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

Don 214-704-1722

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

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing.

Driveways/Patio/Walks

Pattern/Color available 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

eleCtriCal serviCes

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

’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11 CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARDS

Making

972-926-7007

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exterior

Cleaning

BLOUNTS HAULING/TRASH SERVICE blountsjunkremovaldfw.com 214-275-5727

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.

FenCing & DeCks

FounDation repair

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

Northlake Fence and Deck

Locally owned and operated by the Mccaffrey family since1980

214-349-9132

www.northlakefence.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

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

STAINED & SCORED CONCRETE FLOORS New/Remodel. Res/Com. Int/Ext. Refin. 15 Yrs. TheConcreteStudio.com 214-321-1575

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

garage Doors

GARAGE DOOR & SPRING REPAIR

972-672-0848 TexasGaragePros.com

20% off with “Advocate Magazine”

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

CLEARWINDOWSANDDOORS.COM

Replacement Windows & Doors Free Estimate 214-274-5864

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

PELLA WINDOWS & DOORS

Specializing in Replacement Windows & Doors. Dan Cupp 972-742-6011 cuppdw@pella.com

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

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

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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

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

MASTER ELECTRICIAN Lic #TECL 55703. Resd/Comcl. Bonded. Contr Lic# TECL23423. Trinity Electrical Services. David 214-802-0436

MORIN ELECTRIC New/Remodel.Com/Res. Panel Changes/Full Services. All Phases. All Service Work. 469-230-7438. TECL2293

A FATHER, SON & GRANDSON TEAM Fences, Gates, Decks. Haven 214-327-0560

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC.

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

CREATIVE METAL SOLUTIONS LLC

Automatic Gates, Fence, Stairs, Stair/Balcony Railings, Wine Cellar Gates. 214-325-4985

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

Decks, Arbors, Fences, Patio Covers

Trex Decking & Fencing.

#1

EST. 1991

FENCE & IRON CO.

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

WORLEY TILE & FLOORING Custom Marble Install. 214-779-3842

Restoration Flooring

THERASA’S SPECIALTIES Creates Unique Custom Window Treatments: Drapes, Valances, Cornice Boards, Roman Shades & More 972-271-6484 To Schedule Free In Home Estimate.

Energy-Efficient Windows

25+ Years Experience

469.774.3147

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

Taking pride in our work

since 1975

WHITE ROCK FLOORS Hardwoods New/Refurbished Ceramic Tile

wrfloors@sbcglobal.net

Old fashioned work ethic.

Quality Workmanship, Quality Materials, Reasonable Prices, since 1987. 214.319.8400 fosterexteriors.com

1350 N. Buckner Suite 216

HOURS: M-F 8:30a-5p

214-293-7039

• frameless and framed shower doors & enclosures

• many glass & hardware options

premium quality custom shower doors & enclosures 214-530-5483

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Handyman ServiceS

#1 AT BIG JOBS. NO JOB TOO SMALL. 40+ years exp. Ron Payne 214-755-9147

A HELPING HAND Repairs, Redo’s & Remodeling.No Job Too Small.Chris 214-693-0678

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

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

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

HARGRAVE CONSTRUCTION Kitchen, Bath, Doors, Tile & Handyman Services. 214-215-9266

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

TW SERVICES Home Repairs and Yard Care. Contact 214-531-1897

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS

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

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors

Senior Safety Carpentry

HouSe Painting

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

Complete Painting Interior/Exterior, Stain Etc. Custom Finishes, Custom Texture, Custom Trim www.blake-construction.com

Fully Bonded & Insured. 214-563-5035

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

VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext. Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 972-613-2585

WHITE ROCK PAINT & REMODEL References. Mark Reindel 214-321-5280

Painting · Remodeling

NAT-90143-1

KitcHen/BatH/ tile/grout

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lawnS, gardenS & treeS

25% OFF TREE WORK Trim. Dead Tree Removal. Roberts Tree Svc. Insd. 10 yrs exp. 214-808-8925

A BETTER TREE COMPANY • JUST TREES

Complete tree services. Tree & Landscape Lighting! Fence & Deck, install/repair. Mark 214-332-3444

ADVANCED TREE SERVICE

Quality Tree Trimming & Removal. 214-455-2095

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

lawnS, gardenS & treeS

RONS LAWN Organic Solutions. Not Environmental Pollution. Landscape & Maintenance 972-222-LAWN (5296) SPRINKLERS, LANDSCAPING, Stone Work, Drainage. Installed and Repaired. Call Kevin at 214-535-3352,Lic#7840. www.bigdirrigation.com

TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 27 yrs exp. Ll 6295. Backflow Testing Cell-469-853-2326. John

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Painting

1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work.

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Business 25 Yrs. Int/Ext. Wall Reprs. Discounts

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Hand-nailed Roofing In Dallas Since 1984 Lifetime Transferable Labor Warranty

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BERT

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 214-5604203. 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.

MAKING SENSE OF

Financial Advisor

www.edwardjones.com DON’T PANIC. CALL ME,

THE TINY DOG PREVENTED A BIG CRIME.

It was a cold morning, in the mid-30s, and the sun was not expected to rise for another couple hours. Delene Ephraim and her husband Erich were asleep in their White Rock Valley home when a distinct noise — the repeated yapping of their tiny Dachshund — broke the night’s silence. Delene says her husband got out of bed to investigate the commotion in the backyard.

“He came out and started turning on all the lights,” she says. “The dog just wouldn’t stop barking.”

The Victim : Erich and Delene Ephraim

The Crime: Criminal mischief

Date: Saturday, Feb. 12

Time: 5 a .m.

Location: 9500 block of Mossridge

Amazingly, someone had actually scooped up the puzzled pooch and put it in its doggy crate. A closer investigation also revealed someone had tampered with a window screen in an apparent attempt to enter the home. The tiny pooch had saved the day — a canine hero.

3 Kelly Harris Agency 214.821.9687 Advocate Magazines Now available on iPad, iPhone and Android. DAN NEAL

Unfortunately, the Ephraim’s good fortune did not extend to their neighbor.

“The neighbor behind us hadn’t been at home and they got cleaned out,” Ephraim says.

Burglaries with residents in the home are a scary proposition for sure, but luckily “man’s best friend” lived up to the adage in this case.

Dallas Police Sgt. Keitric Jones of the Northeast Patrol Division says dogs are good pets due to the fact that they can scare away burglars. He says this type of attempted burglary is rare.

“No matter if the dog is big or small the bark usually scares the burglars away,” he says. “Break-ins are not really common during the night time hours. They are usually in the day because that is when most people work. If burglaries happen at night, it is normally because the suspect knows that no one is home.”

Because of this he says to make sure your home is adequately lit during hours of darkness, especially in the rear of the residence, and make sure windows and doors are secure at all times even when at home. If you are present during an attempted break-in, Jones says call the police, stay in a safe place until officers arrive and do not confront the burglar.

days after Stoney Rawlinson allegedly killed his girlfriend with a machete, he told police he was ready to turn himself in

Skillman — the address, of a neighborhood Tom Thumb parking lot, where police confronted Rawlinson, a little after midnight on a Saturday in February

6500 12 SOURCE: COMPUTER TROUBLESHOOTING $60/HR. MINIMUM ONE HOUR

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.

A year later, mom of negligenthomicide victim still seeks justice

Mid-Century Modern and New Modern Homes

Architect Meet-and-Greets

Speaker Reception at Design Within Reach the Friday evening prior to tour

Buy tickets in advance and receive $5 off whiterockhometour.org

Benefitting Blue Ribbon Hexter Elementary

More than a year after 17-year-old Riley Rawlins, a student at Lake Highlands High School, was struck and killed near the Royal-Audelia intersection in Lake Highlands, 19-year-old Soraya Villaneuva, the unlicensed uninsured driver who hit him, is awaiting sentencing. Monica Rawlins, who was at her daughter’s eighth birthday celebration when she received the news that her oldest son had been fatally injured, says justice is slow and confusing, and she fears her son’s killer might not even spend time in jail. Though Villaneuva admitted to driving more than twice the posted speed limit and attempting to “beat the yellow light” as well as driving without a license and without insurance, she was not arrested at the scene. Her case eventually went before a grand jury, which returned a recommendation for criminally negligent homicide and assault with a deadly weapon. Villanueva was prosecuted only for the negligent homicide charge, to which she pleaded guilty. Rawlins says the court-appointed prosecutor offered a plea deal, but that the specifics of the offer were unclear. At press time, prosecutor Monique Ward and the investigating officer at the accident scene had not responded to requests for comment, and Rawlins was still waiting for an explanation regarding the plea offer.

—Christina Hughes Babb

READ THE

at advocatemag.com; search Riley Rawlins.

A truly ‘neighborhood’ school

Three moms are recruiting homeowners to Northlake Elementary Comment. Visit lakehighlands.advocatemag.com and search Northlake to tell us what you think.

“How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood Renaissance” is both a book title and a phenomenon (spanning media from Oprah to Youtube). It’s the story of how a group of parents and a school principal transformed Nettelhorst Elementary in Chicago from a struggling, neglected school to a thriving neighborhood asset.

Here in Lake Highlands, a dedicated group of parents is blazing a similar trail. “Let’s Back Northlake” is an initiative rolled out by three moms who aim to increase neighborhood participation at their local elementary school.

While many Lake Highlands parents are thrilled with high-achieving Richardson ISD, not all elementary schools are equally popular with homeowners. Some favorites are Merriman Park, Moss Haven and White Rock.

So what’s happening at Northlake, Skyview, Stults Road and Aiken? Why do so many homeowners in those areas choose transfers (sometimes allowed by the district) or private school?

If you’ve been here a while, you understand the dynamics, but if you’re new in town, here’s the scoop: We have some apartments in Lake Highlands. We are ethnically and culturally diverse. The apartment families move more often than homeowner families. In between state requirements for testing and moments of mandatory silence, this large population creates a challenge for our schools. Our teachers are heroes who consistently achieve excellent results.

When Amy Timmerman and her husband moved into Northlake’s attendance area, she figured when it came time for school, she would follow the crowd and request a transfer or choose a private

school. But as her preschool daughter grew, Timmerman grew curious about Northlake and decided to visit.

She was impressed.

Principal Glenda Howell has been on the job since 2005. Back then, the state rated Northlake “acceptable.” Howell implemented academic improvements, and Northlake has been either “recognized” or “exemplary” for the past six years. Its test results are competitive with some of RISD’s best schools.

Timmerman, a Realtor, decided to recruit support for Northlake from other homeowners. She teamed up with local moms Andrea Hauglie and Erin Harrison. Harrison is a LH native who attended Northlake with her three siblings.

“My parents had me transfer from White Rock to Northlake, so I could walk to school,” Harrison says.

All three moms have preschoolers who will attend kindergarten at Northlake in 2014, but they aren’t waiting until then to get involved. They began by joining Northlake’s PTA and getting to know its president, Jackie Williams, who spends many hours at the school volunteering. I visited the school hoping to meet Williams and find out her perspective. Although I didn’t see her that day, I did see many other parents visiting at lunchtime, which dispelled the myth in my own mind that current parents aren’t involved.

Let’s Back Northlake also attended an RISD board meeting last fall.

“It took a lot for us as parents, trying to represent a school when we didn’t have kids there yet,” Timmerman says. “We wanted [the district] to be aware of what we’re doing, and we were asking for their support.”

They found their goals are in line with RISD’s philosophy of the “neighborhood model” for public schools, which strives to make schools accessible and beneficial to all residents in the attendance boundaries.

The group also started a “Paw Prints” club for preschoolers, “like Wallace Wannabes,” Timmerman says, referring to

a similar Wallace Elementary program. “We want families to feel like they are part of the community, to get familiar with the teachers, the art room and the library.”

In February, Let’s Back Northlake launched a fundraising campaign, “specifically for awesome projects like ‘Science Goes to Camp’ and Sky Ranch,” Timmerman says. Their goal is to find neighborhood business sponsors.

I asked Timmerman if she was aware of the book “How to Walk to School.” She had never heard of it, but was intrigued by the parallels.

Can we achieve the same success here in Lake Highlands?

Northlake is situated at Ravensway and Church Road — an idyllic neighborhood setting, adjacent to green space and bustling Audelia Library. The school building and grounds are in excellent condition. Academically, Northlake already achieves high standards. So this is not an effort to turn a school around as much as it is a campaign to persuade homeowners to send their children to an already successful school.

No doubt, however, the school will improve if the entire neighborhood rallies behind it. In Chicago, even Nettelhorst families without children noticed positive changes in the community once the whole neighborhood embraced the school. In Lake Highlands, we recently saw similar success at Wallace Elementary, so we know it’s possible.

“The school is behind my backyard, so I care about what happens there even though my kids aren’t there yet,” Hauglie says. “This isn’t just a good thing to do; it’s the right thing for us to do as a neighborhood.”

Timmerman says success isn’t just convincing homeowners to attend the school, but for neighbors to make a positive contribution starting right now.

“We know this is not a one-year plan,” she says. “This is a five-, 10-, 20year plan.” Visit

Ellen Raff, a neighborhood resident, 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