2016 March Lake Highlands

This

is where prostate cancer can be eradicated in just five treatments.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Michael Folkert and other members of our genitourinary cancer team are treating select prostate cancer patients with a technique that delivers a more potent dose of radiation in fewer treatments. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, SABR for short, is a technology that was pioneered at UT Southwestern and is now being adopted worldwide. It’s another example of the specialized care available at UT Southwestern—where scientific research, advanced technology, and leading-edge treatments come together to bring new hope to cancer patients.

To learn more, contact: Radiation Oncology at 214-645-8525 or visit utswmedicine.org/radonc

cover Heart of a champion

These neighborhood residents took up a sport and changed their lives.

Students grapple at RCJ Machado jiu-jitsu: (Photo by Rasy

Refugee realities

Escaping a war-torn country is often just the first of many struggles.

13

Tool time

Donate your gardening equipment to a good cause.

16

Big fat Greek lunch

The staff at Little Greek Fresh Grill treats you like family.

41

Coming soon: Costco Get the latest dirt on business openings in our neighborhood.

47

Trinity trials and tribulations

Angela Hunt: ‘Every time we try to impose some world classiness on the Trinity, we end up mucking it up.’

Ran)

ON THE COVER: Ron McCracken (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

FULL THROTTLE

Give it your all and don’t look back

For a long time now, we’ve been told that the younger generation reads less, leading those of us no longer part of the “younger generation” to long for the good old days when things were done right. (Hint: If you are reading this, I’m probably talking about both of us.)

There is some truth to that, particularly if you are one of those people who believe change is generally not good and that reading something in print is more valuable than reading something another way.

I honestly don’t know my answer to that thought any more. I still love print publications, and luckily for our business model, a lot of you still do, too. But everything you find here in print — our stories and the advertisers who make all of this possible also is available online at our website (advocatemag.com) in the same format as this magazine, as well as in other formats geared for mobile readership, too.

Those of us with the Advocate also spend an inordinate amount of time writing daily neighborhood news updates, most of which never appear in our print magazine: Instead, you have to visit advocatemag. com to find those tidbits every day, or subscribe to our Facebook or Twitter feeds, or sign up for our regular e-newsletters (advocatemag.com/social).

I bring all of this up today because one advantage of the Internet is the ease with which both damning and inspirational material can be found. Just the other day, I was looking at my LinkedIn feed (we’re on LinkedIn, too!), and I came across this quote from fellow Dallasite Mark Cuban: “Work like there is someone working 24

hours a day to take it all away from you.”

Cuban is right: Every day, no matter what we do or where we work, there is someone probably a lot of someones — who see our life and/or job as better than theirs and wouldn’t mind sliding into our shoes.

It’s a slippery time to be alive, because the plethora of information and opinion make it difficult to simply be happy; constantly looking behind us worrying about someone catching up isn’t exactly restful.

Self-styled entrepreneur Peter Voogd seems to see things the same way: “These days, the only security you have is the confidence in yourself and your ability to make things happen.”

He’s right, isn’t he? If we can’t be happy with ourselves, we’re probably not looking at a fun life.

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And then there’s this bit of wisdom from Yogi Bhajan, credited with introducing a certain type of yoga to the U.S.: “If you are willing to look at another person’s behavior toward you as a reflection of the state of their relationship with themselves rather than a statement about your value as a person, then you will, over a period of time, cease to react at all.”

I know a lot of people who are easily cowed into feeling badly about themselves simply because someone else acts negatively toward them. A lot of what happens to us in life doesn’t have anything to do with us; we just happen to be in a spot where someone else’s life is unfolding in a good or bad way.

Young or old, we can’t lose sight of our own path because of it.

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Constantly looking behind us worrying about someone catching up isn’t exactly restful.

WHAT YOU’RE MISSING

RISD negotiating to purchase site for school

Lake Highlands grad serves up ice cream, pride at Howdy Homemade

Does this mean Costco is finally opening a warehouse?

Norma’s Cafe to open new restaurant near NorthPark

New aquatics center coming, ideas welcome

THE DIALOGUE

PARENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT OVERCROWDING IN RISD

“[White Rock Elementary] WRE parent here. I was at the meeting and was very confused by the [Northlake Elementary] NLE dad’s comments. Especially the jab thrown at WRE. Being very involved and very vocal does not make WRE bad. We just advocate for our kids, just as he was trying to do. An elementary school of, 1200 is a disaster waiting to happen. I really hope the board hears our objections to the expansion.” — WREfamily

“There was a lot of unnecessary commentary on social media regarding [Northlake Elementary]. The comments went beyond advocating for [White Rock Elementary] kids and were seen by too many. The [Lake Highlands] community should come together and propose ideas that benefit everyone. We all want what is best for our children.” — WREMom

“After the expansion that opened in 2014 the school was sized for between 800 and 850 students, assuming the two special education rooms remain in place. The district will sometimes state that the school has a capacity of 912 students (940 with the teachers’ lounge as a classroom) and that we are currently under capacity. Sometimes this approach to the discussions can be confusing and mask capacity issues in their discussions due to capacity vs. utilization choices.” — Colin1497

TALK TO US.

Email editor Christina chughes@advocatemag.com

Refugees wrestle with issues we don’t think much about

The Village Apartments is a sojourn for countless Dallas dwellers en route to the house and white picket fence of the archetypal American dream. It was for Jason Clarke and his wife Tess, founders of Seek The Peace, though they are no typical couple. They’ve traveled the world volunteering in embattled areas. They found staggering contrast between life at The Village — with its country club, pools and thriving 20- and 30-somethings and that in Vickery Meadow, on the other side of Northwest Highway.

“Walking literally across the street, realizing there are people here from all

over the world fleeing conflicts, that was the beginning of our experience,” Jason says. There are more than 40 armed conflicts going on in the world right now, he adds. “And we only hear of two or three of them on the news.”

It struck him that, for many people, escaping war was but the beginning of their plight. “That [insight] propelled us to do something.”

Jason and Tess were robbed at gunpoint during one of their first visits to Vickery Meadow. Despite that, in 2008, they moved in.

There already were several organiza-

tions and churches working here — the Vickery Meadow Improvement District, Vickery Meadow Learning Center and the International Rescue Committee, to name a few.

The Clarkes invited their Vickery Meadow neighbors to dinner, and listened to their stories, seeking gaps in existing services.

What was missing, they decided, “is help dealing with the pain and brokenness that the past has caused,” Jason says.

He hopes his master’s degree in international affairs and bachelor’s in law and

Seek the Peace founders Jason and Tess Clarke, with children Roman and Hilton, reconnected with Daniel, a refugee, when they moved into Vickery Meadow. (Photo by Rasy Ran)

society, as well as his continued training in conflict resolution, makes him an effective mediator of problems prevalent in refugee communities.

“The effects of trauma often include secondary violence, where you see destructiveness like alcoholism. Crime can be a byproduct of trauma,” Jason says. “Healing benefits the refugee, the neighborhood they live in, and, ultimately, the world beyond that.”

The idea is to work with individuals or small groups to empower them to become leaders in their communities, Jason explains. For example, Tess leads an “identity/worth-building” program for women and teens.

Theirs is a micro, grassroots effort that requires loads of patience. They strive to foster widespread peace, beginning with one person (“be the change you wish to see in the world ...” as Mahatma Gandhi put it).

Seek the Peace’s office is inside the Ivy Apartments (notorious as the place

where Ebola patient Eric Duncan resided before his 2014 death).

There we meet a smiling, soft-spoken and polite 19-year-old Congolese refugee named Daniel. He dropped out of high school, and due to multiple misdemeanor offenses, he cannot acquire a driver’s license. His life is thorny right now, but nowhere near as desperate as it was months ago, after he fell in with a gang and barrelled down a destructive path too often taken by young male refugees.

The high school graduation rate for refugees is in the low 30 percent range, Jason says, which leads to a loss of opportunity and an increased sense of despair.

There is no quick fix for Daniel or his peers facing similar tribulations.

“People aren’t projects,” says Jason, who refers to Daniel as his “good friend.”

Daniel spends several hours a day at Jason’s office. He is studying for his high school equivalency test, he says, and, with Jason’s help, trying to straighten out his legal matters and land a job.

Jason has enjoyed past success in the private sector. Tess is an interior designer, and the pair own a remodeling business. They had two children and moved into a house. Although they could take a safer, easier path, they refuse.

When Jason talks publicly about accepting refugees into our country and city (something that, due to today’s political climate, he is frequently asked to do) he contends that we cannot deny people help in the name of perfect safety, “something we can never achieve anyway.”

He takes the same approach in his own life.

“We have to either engage or ignore. Ignoring isn’t right,” he says. “There is real fear, on both our side and theirs. So we must engage in a way that transcends that skepticism and builds trust, by spending a lot of time with people. Then they go back and build peace within their own faith, language and culture.”

Christina Hughes Babb

What’s for dinner?

Longtime Lake Highlands residents Mitzi and Joel Werther adopted George the cat. They couldn’t help falling in love with his feline idiosyncrasies — the permanently curled lip, for example, that earned him the nickname, “Elvis.” And the way he takes his place as a member of the Werther family, says David Werther, the photographer and Mitzi and Joel’s son. “When it is time to eat, George assumes his place in his own chair at the table and waits to be fed,” David says. “When it is bedtime, then he assumes his place on the bed.”

What gives?

Small ways that you can make a big difference for nonprofits

Dig deep … into your garage and pockets for gardening tools and spare dollars to fund them. Parents and students from Skyview Elementary, a neighborhood school to many families living below the national poverty line, are launching a learning garden on campus, 9229 Meadowknoll. Groundbreaking is set for April 16 but they can’t grow without the right gear — gloves, shovels, trowels, rakes and the like. During the month of March, Skyview PTA president Sarah Greenman heads up a tool drive. Students and staff — as well as volunteer gardeners from the community — will utilize the equipment throughout the year. To give, contact Greenman at 805.268.5822. Follow Skyview’s Harmony Garden on social media for updates: facebook.com/skyviewharmonygarden and twitter.com/skyviewgarden

Contribute to crime control …

by joining your neighborhood Volunteers in Patrol group. It starts with taking a VIP class at the Northeast Police Station, 9915 E. Northwest Highway. The next class meets from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 5. Attendees should fill out an application available at dallaspolice.net/ community/volunteerProgram.html and RSVP by March 2 to katherine.robinson@ dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us.

and attend the Northeast Division’s community engagement forum from 7-9 p.m. March 31 at Lake Highlands Baptist Church, 642 Brookhurst. Lake Highlands residents and business owners are encouraged to arrive at 6 p.m. for socializing and refreshments. Then an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigations will speak to attendees about terrorism and national safety. Contacting Mitchell Gaston, 214.671.0160, to learn more about this event.

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.

goods

Out & About

Send events to editor@advocatemag.com

March 2016

GECKO HARDWARE

Roma Boots keep out rain and help others. Local owner gives a pair away for each pair sold. Save $10 on adults, $5 on kids with ad in March. Colors vary.

10233 E. Northwest Hwy @ Ferndale

214.343.1971 GeckoHardware.com

March 24

Celebration!

Help fund the Stone Tables restoration project at White Rock Lake by participating in the third annual Celebration! event. Run a 5k, 10k or just show up for the beer, provided by Lakewood Brewing Company and Oak Highlands Brewery. Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake Trail, whiterockdallas.org, $10-$24

3/16

LW 1/3 V

THE STORE IN LAKE HIGHLANDS

JELLYCAT! The softest toys you ever hugged! Irresistibly cuddly, sophisticatedly silly, a perfect gift for all ages! Great selection of animals and books! Perfect for Easter.

10233 E. NW Hwy @ Ferndale (near Gecko) 214.553.8850 Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 TheStoreinLH.com

CITY VIEW ANTIQUE MALL

Transform, re-purpose or refresh old furniture with color choices from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® A full range of paint products are available. Our 65 dealers offer great, quality, affordability & selection.

6830 Walling Ln. (Skillman/Abrams)

214.752.3071 cityviewantiques.com

THROUGH MARCH 19

Triangles

As the saying goes, two’s company but three’s a crowd. “Triangles” certainly drives that point home. It’s a collection of three humorous one-act plays about trios, written more than 30 years ago by Pocket Sandwich Theatre co-founder Joe Dickinson.

Pocket Sandwich Theatre, 5400 E. Mockingbird, 214.821.1860, pocketsandwich.com, $12-$25

THROUGH APRIL 10

Dallas Blooms

More than 500,000 spring-blossoming bulbs have burst at the Dallas Arboretum, and there are massive topiaries shaped like Texas. Basically, it’s an Instagrammer’s dream.

Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, dallasarboretum.org, 214.515.6500, $10-$15, plus $15 onsite parking

THROUGH APRIL 15

Tax assistance

Tax returns can be tricky. Get help from AARP Tax-Aide and the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make sure to bring your W-2, a photo I.D., last year’s tax return and Social Security cards for all dependents. Hey, it might not be fun, but it’s useful.

Audelia Library, 10045 Audelia Road, dallaslibrary.org, 214.670.1350, free

THROUGH APRIL 30

Silent Witness

See what White Rock Lake looks like through Kathleen Wilke’s eyes. The Dallas-based photographer, known for her underwater snaps, stayed on dry ground to create this series, which documents life at the lake.

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

MARCH 4-APRIL 3

Hansel and Gretel

You know the story. An elderly woman living in a house made of candy captures a brother and sister and attempts to fatten them up. This time its told by puppets and accompanied by the music of Engelbert Humperdinck. Most appropriate for kids 4 and up.

Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.740.0051, dct.org, $22-26

MARCH 9

What a hoot

Hootybee, who looks to be an orange tiger with pink pig ears, is the star of this puppet show, presented by The Brothers Gromm. He has a habit of enlisting the help of audience members, so arrive at 10:30 a.m. ready to participate.

Bookmarks in NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.671.1381, northparkcenter.com, free

MARCH

15

Story time

Miss Jenn helps your little ones foster a love of literature every Tuesday at 11 a.m. This story time is intended for kids 4 years and younger. Thematically appropriate arts and crafts projects follow each reading.

Lincoln Park Barnes and Noble, 7700 W. Northwest Highway., 214.739.1124, barnesandnoble.com, free

MARCH 30

Wild Thing

Doryane Breelove dons a wolf suit and brings “Where the Wild Things Are” to life with interpretive dance. Audience participation is encouraged, so tell your kiddos to practice their terrible roars. Bookmarks in NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.671.1381, northparkcenter.com, free

March 11

Bernice Lewis

She’s studied vocal improvisation with Bobby McFerrin, guitar with Alex DeGrassi and Guy van Duser and songwriting with Rosanne Cash and Cris Williamson. Noel Tardy opens the show at 8 p.m. Uncle Calvin’s Coffee Shop, 9555 N. Central Expressway, 214.363.0044, unclecalvins.org, $15-18

Delicious

Greek salad with grilled chicken. (Photo by Kathy Tran)

LITTLE GREEK FRESH GRILL

Little Greek Fresh Grill on North Central Expressway is a franchise but it feels very mom-and-pop. That’s largely because proprietors Jan and Barry Rosen have staffed the restaurant with family members. Their son Ryan and nephew Greg take turns manning the cash register. Francisco Sierra, who began working for the Rosens years ago when they owned a few smoothie shops, has brought his wife, mother, brother, nephew, sister and a couple of cousins on board, too. “They really care for [Little Greek] as if it were their own,” Jan says of the Sierra family. “[Francisco] and his brother have become partners of ours. We couldn’t do it without them.” Everything on the menu is made fresh onsite. For your main course, try the gyro pita, grilled tilapia, steak skewer platter or Greek salad. Dessert options include baklava, rice pudding, chocolate mousse and cannoli. The restaurant is BYOB and doesn’t charge a corking free, so feel bring to bring your favorite bottle to sip.

Opa! Elizabeth Barbee

Little Greek 9665 N. Central Expressway, suite 140 214.696.1234

littlegreekrestaurant.com

Ambiance : Fast casual

Price Range: $6 - $17 for entrees

Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Did you know: Jan Rosen’s dad was a restaurateur. In the 1950s he opened a downtown Dallas barbecue joint called Mike’s. For better or for worse, she says, Jack Ruby ate there.

Circle Grill

Breakfast served all day! Light & fluffy Omelets, Pancakes the size of your plate, stick-to-your-ribs Biscuits & Gravy and much, much more!

Homestyle meals w/ family & friends

Breakfast & Lunch 7 days a week

Dinner Thur-Sat ITALIAN BURGERS

Alfonso’s Italian Restaurant

• Celebrating 33 Years of Service!

• Newly Remodeled Dining Room

• Rustic Italian Cuisine

• 16-Seat Full Bar / New Wine List!

• Mondays: 50% off glasses of house wine & $3-off pizza 12” or larger

“Like” us on facebook

Alfonso’s

One90 Smoked Meats

Offering bbq combo plates, sandwiches, tacos, sides, desserts & a wide variety of locally smoked meats, including Brisket, Bison, Turkey, Chicken, Pork, Salmon, Duck, Lamb & Tenderloins. Hours: Mon. Closed , Tues.-Sat. 11am-8pm Sun. 11am-5pm

CRUNCHING UP GAME DAY

Whether you are keeping cozy watching your favorite team or burning calories on the field, it is always best to choose high-energy snacks that will keep you on your toes. Popcorn is not only easy to make, it’s one of the most popular snacks for kids and adults alike. It can be pepped up with natural ingredients full of protein and a touch of sweet. Sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut and honey are just a few ingredients that will give you a game day boost.

Granola popcorn

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups popcorn

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Measure 8 cups of popped popcorn in a large bowl and add almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries and shredded coconut.

In a small bowl, whisk together honey, brown sugar and coconut oil and then stir it into popcorn mixture.

Fully coat popcorn mixture and spread onto the lined baking sheet.

Bake popcorn for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to keep coating it in the honey.

Remove popcorn from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle granola popcorn with chocolate chips and gently toss to combine.

Serve popcorn for your favorite game day snack or store in an airtight container.

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

BodiesinMotion

Physical activity is critical for health, but for these Lake Highlands residents, it is an obsession that runs deep. They feel most alive with the pounding of footsteps, the beads of sweat and the competitive drive that comes with athletic prowess. If you don’t think that sports have the power to change lives, read on — their stories will make you a believer.

••

Photos: Danny Fulgencio & Rasy Ran ••

When sport changes a person’s world

“If I didn’t have running, I would either be dead or in jail — probably both.”

Ron McCracken

Best foot forward

Ron McCracken has run more than 6,000 consecutive days. To him, it is therapy, and also kind of an addiction.

You might’ve seen him at White Rock Lake, jogging along the trail in a once-white shirt with the words “Boston Strong” handwritten in pen on the front, holding a tattered American flag in his right hand.

People often salute the flag as he passes by, he says. His favorite encounters are when Marines give him a traditional “Ooh-Rah!”

He plans to run his 16th consecutive Boston Marathon next month, even though he still carries emotional scars from the 2013 bombing.

McCracken became enamored with running when he was almost 10 in the summer of 1972. He watched American distance runner Frank Shorter take the gold medal in the Olympics.

“I was just riveted,” McCracken says. “I still remember when he entered the stadium

just thinking, ‘This is the coolest thing ever.’ He inspired a lot of people.”

The next day McCracken asked his mom to measure a mile around the neighborhood, and he started running. A year later his mom bought him a stopwatch, and he pushed himself to run faster.

He dreamed of becoming a world-class miler, but he soon realized he’d never run a 4-minute mile.

“No matter how bad I wanted to, my body wasn’t designed that way,” he explains. “I realized early on that the longer I ran, the better it was for me.”

As a teen, McCracken struggled with depression, which he still battles today.

“I’ve always been a very emotional person. Every single day I was angry as hell,” he says, “but running kept me out of trouble. If I didn’t have running, I would either be dead or in jail — probably both.”

Luckily, his coaches recognized his need

for an outlet. Even though he wasn’t always the easiest student to coach, they stuck by him, he says.

Injuries kept him from taking it past college. In 1992 he tried his first marathon, and it hurt so bad he didn’t run another until 1998.

In 2000 he ran the Boston Marathon and has done so every year since, but it has been bittersweet — in 2005, his best friend died the day after the race.

“The first call I got when I got back was that one. It was very sudden and unexpected. He was 40.”

Then in 2009, McCracken’s mother passed away, also unexpectedly, while he was in the air on the flight home.

“I called her from the running store before I left for the airport,” he says. “She was at work and I asked her how she was doing had a little conversation. So you can imagine, at 7 a.m. I get a phone call that mom’s

“I left it at home one day and a couple different people I don’t even know asked me, ‘Where’s your flag at? We love seeing you run with the flag.’ I love that people get it. It’s a symbol of defiance that ‘You won’t stop us.’ ”

dead. That can’t be right. I just talked to her.”

The experiences gave him “a borderline phobia” about the Boston Marathon, he says.

But he kept running it anyway, partly for himself and partly for his mom, who was his biggest fan and supporter and who adored the event, he explains. McCracken remembers vividly the day in 2013 that the race ended abruptly when two brothers set off a homemade bomb at the finish line, killing three people and injuring 264 others — how hundreds of emergency vehicles packed the street for miles and the National Guard wouldn’t answer his questions. He remembers reaching out and touching an ambulance as it drove by.

“In the hours after it, even though I didn’t understand the full gravity of it, I remember wandering around Boston and I just thought, ‘This can’t be good for us. This can’t be good for our souls.’ ”

A couple of days later, while running near White Rock Lake, an ambulance passed. When the siren clicked on, McCracken was propelled into the throes of a panic attack, a classic sign of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

That’s when he started running with the American flag.

“I knew I needed something,” he explains. “When I’d run by veterans they’d salute the flag, and that really touched me. I left it at home one day and a couple different people I don’t even know asked me, ‘Where’s your flag at? We love seeing you run with the flag.’ I love that people get it. It’s a symbol of defiance that ‘You won’t stop us.’ ”

Like thousands of others, he went back to Boston the next year to reclaim the finish line.

“Leading up to it, people would always ask me, ‘Are you scared about going back?’ and I would say, ‘It doesn’t matter. We have to.’ ”

—Brittany Nunn

Eve Wiley’s pregnancy went from easy to scary when a sonogram showed the umbilical cord wrapped four times around her baby’s neck, posing a serious threat. “Our world turned upside down,” says Eve. The doctor checked her into a high-risk pregnancy unit at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for 24/7 monitoring and immediate access to the delivery room. “Just in case,” adds Eve. She credits the nurses with being her “calm in the storm.” Then, 17 days into her hospital stay, the storm clouds cleared as her baby managed to unwrap himself. Eve spent the rest of her pregnancy back home, returning to Baylor for the birth of what she calls her “miracle baby.”

For a physician referral or for more information about women’s services, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit us online at BaylorHealth.com/DallasWomen

3500 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246

My high-risk pregnancy had a happy ending, thanks to Baylor.

’’

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

Fighting chance

Perched behind his desk at Lake Highlands’ RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu studio, wirerimmed glasses on his nose, piles of paperwork at his fingertips and a rescued Chihuahua mix named Rocky at his feet — Marcio Santos has come a long way since his days as a rebellious teenager picking fights on the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Racism and segregation beleaguered his Brazilian barrio in those days, he says, his accent distinct despite more than a decade in the United States. But it wasn’t entirely bad after all, a skirmish with a black classmate opened the door to capoeira, a martial

art that would become a lifelong passion, and the culture surrounding it.

Though Santos since age 4 had practiced jiu-jitsu, a “gentle sport” rooted in tenets like self-discipline and humility, he was a feisty teenager with a short fuse.

After one street fight, he chased his opponent to a house in a nearby neighborhood. There, he met his rival’s relative, who happened to be an instructor at the local capoeira studio.

“He talked me out of fighting, and into trying out his class,” Santos recalls.

Santos instantly loved capoeira a

centuries-old sport that combines music and acrobatics with self-defense. He bolted home to tell his father about his newfound interest. But his dad balked.

“He said that capoeira was for black people, for the poor, that he would not pay for classes or even allow me to go to them,” he says.

So Santos attended in secret.

“I went back and told the instructor about my father and that I couldn’t pay, and he let me take his classes for free.”

His older brother eventually found out and told on him, but by then he was hooked; no one could stop him.

While he and his brother were still teenagers, Santos’ father died.

Jiu-jitsu and capoeira practice provided comfort during those years, as he grieved.

While some other kids in his neighborhood turned to drugs or gangs, Santos spent all of his extra time training, eventually earning a third-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the rank of professor in capoeira.

Martial arts are more than an exercise or a way to fight or defend oneself, Santos says.

“They are all of those things, but they also are something like a religion and a community. In the choice between healthy living and bad stuff, it is the positive choice. The moment you step on the mat you forget about the stresses of life. Problems at home all go away.”

On a Monday night the school is a church where surgeons, sheriffs, lawyers, teachers and school principals, children and others of varying ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds gather, mingle, grapple, hug, bowing in reverence as they step on the mat. Stephen and Amy Yearout enrolled each of their three children at about age 5. Stephen wants his boys to know how to defend themselves without punching. “I can’t always be there and I want them safe and confident,” he says. And jiu-jitsu doesn’t involve the types of violent kicks and jabs that might get one suspended or fined. He adds that when it comes to children and women, jiu-jitsu is the preferred martial art, because it renders size less relevant. “Whether you are a woman or a smaller person, these are

“The moment you step on the mat you forget about the stresses of life. Problems at home all go away.”

skills that allow you to fight for your life, even if you are taken to the ground by a person my size (he’s a big guy), if you ever needed to,” Stephen says.

Jeff Lankford, in raising four children now ages 12-21, has dealt with more coaches than he can count, he says, but Santos is the best teacher he has ever met.

Students refer to their classmates time and again as “family.”

Santos’ jiu-jitsu instructor and mentor, Carlos Machado, is a member of the world’s most renowned jiu-jitsu family — the Machados are credited with introducing the practice to the United States. Carlos Machado opened a string of Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools and Santos owns the Lake Highlands franchise.

Today Santos and Machado are not only business partners but also best friends who regularly lunch together and engage in long, animated conversations in Portuguese about coaching and the industry.

When asked why he came to America, Machado answers with a word, “Destiny.”

Santos is more pragmatic when explaining why he followed the Machados here. He wanted to make a living doing what he loves — teaching martial arts — and the economics back home just didn’t work.

Brazil was saturated with martial arts schools, Santos says, but the professors worked more for the love of the sport than money. Santos cites his beloved capoeira teacher, who taught him gratis, as an example.

Machado, revered in the jiu-jitsu world, has nothing but admiration for Santos.

“He is an outstanding individual — patient and caring and has a sense of humor. He provides such a friendly environment, I do not think it is uncommon for people at his school to become good friends,” Machado says of his mentee. Though Santos has been training more than 30 years and teaching more than 10, he says he prefers the title Mister to Master. Master implies that he has learned everything, he says, and he isn’t close. “I have something new to learn every single day,” he says.

—Christina Hughes Babb

Racing genes

There’s a meme making the rounds that goes, “How can you tell if someone’s run a marathon? Don’t worry, they will tell you.”

Lindsey Taylor has tackled several, but when she says so, she sounds more apologetic than braggadocios.

“I’ve only run 10,” she says.

As a teenager, she watched with some curiosity her father Paul Williams’ mounting marathoning mania.

“He wasn’t always a runner, but once he started, it was like, marathon after marathon. It was an obsession.”

Compared to her dad’s 77 marathon finishes — not to mention her husband Scott’s 85 and brother-in-law Frank’s 186 and counting — her 10 marathons feel like just a salty drop on a sodden sweatband.

As a college student, Lindsey finally showed some interest in the sport, telling her dad she wanted to run a half marathon.

“When he saw that I was serious, which he did not believe at first, he was so excited.”

Now when she finishes a race, it is typical for her father to run the final mile alongside her. (Though she is barely double-digits in marathons, she’s run more half-marathon and other distances than she can count.)

That Lindsey met and married Scott Taylor, who shared the same obsession as her father (Scott has run two ultramarathons in addition to his 85 full marathons), is an amusing coincidence, though not entirely happenstance. Dallas has a pretty robust running community, and when Lindsey was training for one of her early marathons with the Dallas Running Club, she and Scott became running partners. After one run at White Rock Lake, he asked her out. They went on a few dates, but things fizzled.

Then, one night before the Dallas Marathon, Lindsey’s dad invited her along to a pasta dinner at “Scotty T’s,” which was actually Scott’s house. There, Lindsey and Scott reconnected and fell in love.

The marathon madness runs strong throughout both sides of the family. Scott’s dad, Vance Taylor, not to be outdone, began

running a few years ago and has knocked out nearly 30 marathons since. Frank Livaudais, who is married to Scott’s sister, will have 200 marathons checked off within the decade if all goes as planned; he is arguably to blame for infecting this family with the running bug.

In all seriousness, Lindsey says, this is a

form of family bonding, if unusual, for which she is eternally grateful. “It is what our family does, and I love that. We also partly do it for those we love who can’t,” Lindsey says. “For example, Dad always runs with a photo of my aunt on his bib. She is fighting stage-four colon cancer and cannot physically do this kind of thing her-

self. One of the races we all did together was Carla’s Journey 5k, [which benefits those struggling with cancer].” Paul also serves as a mentor and unofficial coach not only to Lindsey but also to many newbie runners.

“He’s always getting texts from them, asking for advice. To countless young runners he is Coach Paul.”

Scott Taylor’s best marathon time is 3 hours 16 minutes. But since marrying and becoming a dad, he says, his times have not improved. “So worth it,” he adds quickly.

Little Caroline, the baby born to Scott and Lindsey in 2014, hardly stands a chance at stillness.

“Now I am looking for marathons that allow jogging strollers,” Scott says. “There have been some family arguments about who will push Caroline through her first marathon, but it has to be her dad, right?”

—Christina Hughes Babb

“Dad always runs with a photo of my aunt on his bib. She is fighting stage-four colon cancer.”

Pedal power

The first time Heather McRae went to a Meat Fight event, which is an annual barbecue in Dallas that raises funds for the National MS Society, she was skeptical.

“The first year on the way to the event I remember telling my husband,

‘It’s really weird going to an event that’s about a disease I have,’” she says, “but when I got there it wasn’t like that at all. It was so uplifting and empowering. They want to help us find a cure, but not because they think we’re sad people. It’s about drinking and barbe-

cue. It’s about MS, but you don’t feel like it.”

Though McRae has been dealing with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) daily for more than 20 years, she had never before connected with others who share her struggle.

Meat Fight founder Alice Laussade, a Lake Highlands resident, created the event to help her own brother, Mike Laussade, who also has MS. The siblings convinced McRae to join their Meat Bike team.

Meat Bike, which is an offshoot of Meat Fight, provides people with MS with a brand new road bike from Richardson Bike Mart and a full cycling kit — Spandex, helmet, shoes and more. The purpose is to get active because cardio can lessen the symptoms of MS. In return, the participants agree to cross the start line at any bike MS event.

She signed on and began training at White Rock Lake with other Meat Bike team members, and for the first time she met other people with MS.

“Getting this bike was really some of the best medicine anyone has ever prescribed to me.”

that, and it actually gave me energy and I’m stronger from it too.”

In 2015 McRae rode in her first long-distance ride, and she made it 77 miles — something she never dreamed possible.

She plans to race again and hopes to ride longer distances each year. She’s made Meat Fight and Meat Bike her passions. As the team adds new riders, older riders become mentors, she says. She’s become more comfortable with exercise and with discussing MS.

At first she was nervous about falling. MS affects balance, fatigue, nerve pain and sparks muscular symptoms like cramping, stiffness and difficulty with coordination. “But I didn’t and I was able to ride more and more. It was exciting that I could even accomplish

“It’s a part of my life, and it’s healthier to have it out there and talk with other people who have MS,” she says. “So as you’re riding and things come up, like if you can’t feel your feet one day, it’s easier to talk about it with people who also have MS. It makes me realize, ‘OK I don’t have to hide from this and keep it in the background.’” —Brittany

Nunn

“It’s a part of my life, and it’s healthier to have it out there and talk with other people who have MS.”

WE CAUGHT UP WITH A FEW ATHLETES who have graced Advocate’s pages in the past (it wasn’t easy, and we are out of breath).

While he was training for the 2011 Dallas Marathon, Cumby took a terrible tumble from a towering tree, an accident exacerbated by the fact that he was electrocuted on the way down. We won an award for our coverage of the story back in 2013. That he lived, his doctor said, was a one in a hundred chance. Even as he lay in his hospital bed, delirious and inand-out of consciousness, his family said he mumbled about the marathon. Running was a sort of therapy he needed, even though it hurt when he was just a few months removed from the accident, still broken and cut-up in places, 30 pounds underweight. At the end of 2013 he experienced another letdown when the Dallas Marathon was canceled. Frustrated yet determined, he ran a different marathon. He’s run three since. He also took up coaching and motivational speaking. And this past December he finally had his opportunity to race the Dallas Marathon. “First time to hit the starting line on-time, in good shape, prepared for the race mentally and physically, and running solely for my own time goal or 3:50,” he tells us (he missed the goal by just a few minutes). His website is brandoncumby.com. He says he’s “hoping to continue to run, motivate, and inspire as long as people care to listen.”

After a freak staph infection in 2012 nearly killed him and immobilized him for months, he fought his way back to standing with a walker, to unassisted walking, then running. Though everyone called him crazy, he was determined to follow through with his dream to run the Chicago Marathon that very same year.

Brandon Cumby

Paris Sunio

It took him nearly five and a half hours to do it (that’s about two hours slower than his preillness goal), but he finished with a smile on his face and his infant daughter in his arms. What’s more, a few months ago, Sunio completed his first full Ironman triathlon — that is, a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run — in Panama City Beach, Fl. “The finishing shoot at a full Ironman is like no other. It was an epic race and an epic day,” he says. Of course his family, little Elise and his wife Grace, was there to cheer him on. He created daddypdawg. wordpress.com to detail his experience.

Dawn Grunnagle

She is on the road to the Olympics. We wrote about her last year, after she qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon (which take place as this magazine is being printed). Since, the former Merriman Park Elementary teacher has been racing and coaching the kids of SpeedKIDZ and SpeedKIDZ Elite. Her professional runner-coach website, dawngrunnagle. com, is live, so fans can follow her training and racing leading up to the big day.

Nicole Kalogeropoulos

We wrote about Nicole last year as she prepared to tackle the Western States 100-mile endurance run. The White Rock area lawyer had clocked the fastest-ever American time in a 100-mile trail run in early 2015. No huge surprise that last December she was named Ultra Trail Runner of the Year by the USA Track and Field’s Mountain Ultra Trail Council.

A killing in a bad neighborhood

College student, Eagle Scout David Pimentel paid the ultimate price, just for standing on a Pleasant Grove street corner one night

Story by Christina Hughes Babb | Photos by Danny Fulgencio

Gail Pimentel says she knows her son David had forgiven his murderer before his body hit the ground.

“That’s what I would tell them if I could talk to them,” she says of the killers. “And I would tell them that I am not that big a person. I am not as forgiving as him. You took the only thing

that was truly good in my life. That is what I would say.”

She also wants to tell people things she probably shouldn’t need to say — that David’s life mattered and that he didn’t deserve to die.

“People want to know why he was there, in that part of

Gail Pimentel, above, keeps things that remind her of her son, David, around her Lake Highlands home. Above right is a living-room shrine dedicated to David, including his portrait and a figurine of his beloved dog, Reeses. Below is the urn that contains David’s ashes, which she keeps on her nightstand alongside more photos and keepsakes. (Photos by Danny Fulgencio)

town. They think he was on drugs and got himself killed,” she says. “The truth is he was visiting a friend, a friend who’d been his classmate at Bishop Lynch. They’d been to the gym and played basketball and had just finished dinner with his [friend’s] family. No, he was not on drugs. He was good. The best person I’ve ever known.”

For David, hanging out with friends and their families was typical. People loved being around him and he enjoyed many close relationships, recalls his former teacher Pat Thompson, who also oversaw David’s Boy Scout troop.

“He and that group of boys from scouts were always together,” she says. “David always had a smile on his face. He was selfless — would help anybody.” Thompson also sponsored David as he worked to become an Eagle Scout. Completing the compulsory Eagle Scout service project is no small feat, she says. David was the rare strong, smart and focused type of teenager who could pull it off.

His death at age 22 was something no one could have anticipated, she says.

“We were neighbors, too. The night he died, Gail showed up on my doorstep, holding their little dog. I was dumbfounded.”

Life cut short

David Pimentel grew up in a house across the street from Wallace Elementary School, where he and his buddies often shot hoops. He started school in East Dallas at St. Bernard’s before transferring to St. Patrick Catholic School in Lake Highlands, where he joined Boy Scout Troop 719. He excelled on the soccer team at Bishop Lynch High

“I feel like the police don’t give a, you know what.”

The Lake by Arienne Lepretre

School, where he graduated in 2010. He was fast, a natural athlete. He was quiet and a good listener, his friends say, quick-witted, always ready with a joke or quip, but never at the expense of another’s feelings.

“David was a true friend who never spoke anything but kind words and loved to laugh,” his friend, Nick Bedenkop, told

an overflowing crowd at David’s funeral.

issue

Before his death, David was earning a double major in finance and accounting at University of Texas at Dallas, while working fulltime as a supervisor at Kohl’s department store.

In her grief support group, Gail learned about the stigma attached to murder, she says. It’s like this: People

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go [to that part of Pleasant Grove] due to the danger, but he loved the De La Pax family, and they treated him as their own.”

It happened at 9:30 p.m. July 28, 2014 outside the family home of Charber De La Pax. David and Charber were standing at the corner of Utica Drive and Tillman Street, just 100-feet from the De La Pax’s front door, when a car slowed as it passed.

Detective Tim Stewart, the 30-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department who is investigating the case, says he wishes the boys had taken notice of that car and gone inside.

Do I believe she knows something? Yes.

“You see a car roll slowly by in that neighborhood, you have to pay attention. They didn’t.”

Moments later, the car returned, two men emerged, at least one of them brandishing a gun.

“It was dark, so all our witness saw was two black men, one tall, the other kind of short,” Stewart says.

They demanded wallets and phones. David handed his property over promptly. Charber had nothing to give. In a second, the armed robbers and the victims were fleeing their separate ways, but Charber began hollering at his father to help, to call 9-1-1, Stewart recounts.

Stewart guesses the thieves didn’t like that, and one opened fire, probably not intending to kill.

“If they had meant to shoot them, they would have. This was a fluke shot. It hit the street and fragmented. The bullet hit Pimentel in the back, and the jacket hit the other kid in the leg.”

The suspects ran and hopped in the vehicle, a white, four-door sedan, according to Charber De La Pax’s testimony.

Early on, Stewart says he followed a few leads. Detectives located what they believed to be the getaway car; it was involved in a crime at NorthPark Cen-

ter earlier on the same day David was killed. Detectives brought the owner, a woman, in for questioning, but she refused to talk.

“Do I believe she knows something? Yes,” Stewart says. But there is this code of silence in high-crime neighborhoods.

“Sometimes someone who gets jammed up will tell something they know [in exchange for leniency], but seldom does anyone just snitch. That is still looked down upon in these neighborhoods.” At that point, Stewart says, the case hit a dead end.

There was no evidence that the woman was in the vehicle and at the crime scene. Aside from a fractured bullet and a casing, police have no forensics to lead them to a suspect.

“The case is open, not considered a cold case yet, because I have not given up on it,” Stewart says. But he is frank about the prospect of finding a killer a year and a half after the crime — not good.

High- versus low-profile murder

A friend of Gail Pimentel contacted the Advocate shortly after police arrested the suspected killer of 18-year-old Lake Highlands resident Zoe Hastings last October.

She believed telling David’s story might help police find his killer. “Very little press coverage has been given to the Pimentel case,” she says.

David’s murder was reported only in the Dallas Morning News, sharing a single column with another southern Dallas shooting.

The story of Zoe Hastings, who was abducted and murdered in the White Rock area, dominated headlines, TV broadcasts and social media feeds for two solid weeks as five detectives and an entire city searched for her killer and raised tens of thousands of dollars to support her family, which includes four siblings.

Grieving mother Gail Pimentel does not begrudge them. She feels only sorrow and empathy for parents who have suffered the loss of a child.

But she is very angry, she says — at

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the scum who killed her son, at the police who haven’t tracked him down, at a city that fails to fix South Dallas’ crime problem, at gossipy parents who implied David provoked his own death and the fact that his murder received so little attention.

Stewart says publicity doesn’t help as much as you might think.

“Yes, you get a ton of tips coming in, which is, by the way, why you have to bring in extra detectives, because you have to follow up on every tip, but it is not usually a tip that solves a case. Hardly ever, in my experience,” says Stewart.

In the Zoe Hastings case, he explains, detectives had solid DNA evidence to work from. That is how they caught the Hastings suspect, he says.

“I’m not saying it can’t help. We want public help, we follow up on all leads, in few cases it does lead to an arrest,” he says. And there is reward money available for information leading to an arrest in the Pimentel case, he adds.

Finding closure in a cold case

A murder of a young woman in our neighborhood captured more public attention than that of a young man in South Dallas. But the pain felt by a parent who loses a child is limitless, no matter the circumstances.

Gail Pimentel’s Lake Highlands home is crowded. She calls her hoarding tendencies “my pathos.” But there is an order to the wood-carved statues of saints and angels, stacks of books (one called “God is in the tough stuff” is stacked near a vintage Nancy Drew mystery), children’s toys and sprawling colorfully painted canvasses. She has cut a careful path through the middle of everything, to her bedroom, where an urn containing David’s ashes rests on a bedside table, surrounded by pictures of the handsome, smiling, glowing child.

If David’s case goes unsolved, Gail is left to live alone, without her only child and with no one at whom to direct her rage. She and David’s father divorced when David was little, and, she says,

they do not speak much. She knows she needs to keep living, keep fighting, but how?

She has her faithful dog, Reeses, who is always at her side, inching closer to her anytime she seems upset.

“David loved this dog; this dog loved David,” she says.

She bounces from anger to wistful memories as she talks, sometimes through tears, about her son — how they would watch the skyline over White

Rock Lake on the way to school, and discuss the weather; how every year before his birthday they would talk about the worst and best moments of the past year; how he wanted to earn a master’s degree and teach sports to his own kids someday.

She goes as often as she can — maybe once a month — to the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas sessions at Wilshire Baptist Church. She has a few good, supportive friends. She is an artist, and finds some catharsis in creation.

On a piece of paper, she has written down a Shelly Winters quote. She hands it over and says she likes to jot down quotes that describe how she feels.

“Life, even with its misery, is still life,” it reads. “You must relish and fight through its pain and conquer it, grow, and then joy will come again.”

HAVE INFORMATION? Anyone with information related to the David Pimentel murder should call 214.373.TIPS or the Dallas Police Department Homicide Unit at 214.671.3661.

“Yes, you get a ton of tips coming in, which is, by the way, why you have to bring in extra detectives, because you have to follow up on every tip, but it is not usually a tip that solves a case.”

Education

Blackland Praire Conservatory & Atelier, a nonprofit, private mixed-age kindergarten, opens next fall on McCree near Audelia. Dr. Tiffany Lipsett is the Lake Highlands mom behind the institution. She has worked more than 10 years as an educational consultant creating what she calls “art-based and science programs” for a variety of schools.

Shelly Biggerstaff of Richardson is Blackland Praire’s co-founder. The ladies would like to see the school expand all the way up to the 12th grade, but that’s a very long-term goal. Right now, they’re gauging interest in a mixed-age first- through third-grade class for 7-to-9 year olds.

On UIL realignment day, Lake Highlands High School moved from 10-6A to 9-6A, sticking with Richardson schools but pairing with Coppell and former foes W.T. White, Skyline and Jesuit. Highland Park moved down to 5A. LHHS remains in Region 2. The new match ups affect high school athletics, but also other UIL competitions, including band and speech contests.

Speaking of the Wildcats, 13 student football players recently earned Academic All-State honors for the 2015-16 school year. William Armer, Peyton Brown, T.J. Churchill, Blake Cronin, Tripp Enlow, Brendyn Gettens, Hunter Ghoreshi, Sam Haster, Natiyan Khan, Alan Selzer, Sam Sprayberry, Brandon VonSternberg and Travis West were recognized by the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas High School Coaches Association for their ability to juggle sports and academics.

People

Austin Roth made a name for himself in the late 2000s as a runner at Lake Highlands High School and University of Texas at Austin. After some time off, he recently raced his first-ever marathon in Houston and finished in 2:21, just a few minutes off Olympic Trials qualifying standards.

Lake Highlands resident John Threadgill has been appointed to the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) board of directors. Before retiring in 2013, he worked for DCAD as manager of the commercial division for 23 years. Threadgill is active in the Lake Highlands Exchange Club. He and his wife, Kay, a former English teacher at Lake Highlands High School, have three daughters.

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.

DALLAS ACADEMY

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A meaningful connection with each student is established to overcome barriers to success. Dallas Academy offers students an effective program and strategies to meet the special educational needs of bright students with learning differences, while including the activities of a larger, more traditional school. Classes are small, with a student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 where students are encouraged, praised, and guided toward achieving their goals. Diagnostic testing is available to students throughout the community.

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

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in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

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WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

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

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

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

A CASE FOR INTEGRATION

How faith can — and should — inform our school choice

ANGLICAN

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship service at 5:00 pm

Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

BAPTIST

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Sunday School 9:15am & Worship 10:30am

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

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

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

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 7:00 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

LUTHERAN

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

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

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

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

METHODIST

GRACE UMC / Diverse, Inclusive, Missional

Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am / Worship, 10:50 am 4105 Junius St. / 214.824.2533 / graceumcdallas.org

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

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

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

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 / Welcomes you to Worship

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

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

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

Sundays: 9:00 am Early Service, 11:00 am Celebration Service

SIGN UP MISSING SOMETHING?

“oakcliff” to 313131

The theologian Karl Barth interpreted the biblical command to love one’s neighbor as oneself in a curious way. He said it means to act as if we ourselves are our neighbor.

Since reporter Keri Mitchell is spotlighting Dallas public schools this month in several editions of the Advocate, allow me to offer some thoughts I hope will make for a better future for our community, regardless of what attendance boundaries one lives in.

First, public schools are not just a means of education for underprivileged and economically disadvantaged students; they are for everyone. And yet, urban school census statistics say otherwise. Dallas schools are severely segregated for two reasons: school zones have traditionally been drawn by neighborhood boundaries, and neighborhood subdivisions are clearly marked by wealth divisions; and those with greater resources often choose to send their children to private rather than public schools.

Since the 1954 Supreme Court decision on Brown vs. Board of Education, legal challenges to segregated schools have focused primarily on race. But race is an elusive and deeply-charged way of addressing the problems. It is true that Anglo citizens make up about half the population of Dallas but less than 5 percent of DISD enrollment. This means that the vast majority of white Dallas students attend private schools. DISD is 70 percent Hispanic and 23 percent African American. But data make clear that socioeconomic diversity in schools — that is, a fair mix of rich and poor — is an even better and less polarizing way of addressing the matter of improving student academic outcomes.

Second, many urban school districts are coming to understand this and are creating experiments in public school choice. These non-geographical innovations avoid the privatizing-voucher approach that undermines public education in the name of choice. They benefit students poor and rich alike — in educational outcomes, and also in improved social and cultural intelligence.

Wealthy parents do not want to send their kids to public schools merely to participate in a social experiment at the expense of educational achievement. But the truth is — and this is where the narrative has to change in our neighborhoods and churches — it’s not an either/or; it’s a both/and.

The bonus for America would be enormous if our public schools were more socioeconomically diverse. We would be pulling some up without dragging others down, the dragging down part always being the lingering fear. But we would also create relationships and mutual under-

standing from a young age across class and cultural divides that would begin to restitch the fraying national fabric.

Third, there are legitimate reasons for parents who can afford it to send their children to private schools. They may do so because they want explicit religious instruction that reinforces teaching at home and in church/synagogue/mosque. Children may have learning challenges and need more personalized attention than they will get in some public schools. But this doesn’t account for all the reasons the vast majority of Dallas’ wealthier families send their kids to private schools. Many think of it primarily in terms of gaining or maintaining a generational socioeconomic edge. Sadly, the consequence to that is perpetual hope for a few and despair for many.

I wonder what we would decide about where our children go to school if we made the first criterion what we would do if we ourselves were our neighbor?

Public schools are not just a means of education for underprivileged and economically disadvantaged students; they are for everyone. And yet, urban school census statistics say otherwise.

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.

BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to livelocal@advocatemag.com

Costco is coming

Costco has been looking to enter the Dallas market for some time but has been holding out for the best deal. The company recently asked the City of Dallas for zoning to turn a roughly 13-acre piece of land between Coit and Central Expressway just north of Churchill Way, into a Costco Warehouse with fuel stations. The buildings on the property currently, just east of the Medical City Hospital complex, are unoccupied. The land was most recently used as a transit station park and ride, according to the zoning request. Costco’s hearing before the City Plan Commission took place recently.

NorthPark news

This spring, NorthPark Center welcomes four new stores, all of which are the first of their kind in Dallas. Canali, which sells made-to-measure Italian suits for men, and diptyque, a French brand known for its feminine fragrances, open on level one this month. Sam Edelman and Longchamp Paris will set up shop in April, so better hold off on buying sandals and tote bags until then.

Something to chew on

Shady’s Burger Joint will open in the old T.Hee’s spot on Audelia some time this month, if all goes according to plan. Amey Gatewood, a waitress and bartender at the Richardson location, says the Lake Highlands version of Shady’s will be decked out in Wildcat posters. Expect to find local brews on tap. Murphys Restaurante & Lounge, offering Nigerian food and drinks, is moving to a large venue on Whitehurst, just off I-635 at Skillman. Murphys has oper-

ated the last few years as a hole-in-the-wall on Forest near Greenville. Opening date of its new location is unknown as of press time. Pretty soon, you’ll no longer have to stray too far from the neighborhood to enjoy home cooking from Norma’s Café. The restaurant will open a new location late this season on Park Lane.

Town Center updates

The Dallas Plan Commission has approved Cypress Real Estate Advisors’ most recent design plans. If the city council does the same, the retail portion of Lake Highlands Town Center, which has been in the works since 2007, will include five buildings and an almost 60,000-square-foot shopping center. Sketches show a 30,000-square-foot main building and four smaller buildings each ranging from 5,000 to almost 10,000 square feet. These dramatic design changes were made, presumably, to attract Sprouts grocery store to the center. The grocer has long been rumored to be an anchor tenant of the slow moving development, and even appeared on some early design renderings, although no official announcement has been made.

Costco wholesale shopping club. (Photo by Kim’s Cravings)

The site of the future town center. (Photo by Rasy Ran)

Library donation

On Jan. 14, Girl Scout Daisy Troop 6696 and Girl Scout Brownie Troop 1287 hauled six boxes of books to Audelia Library. The books, many of which came from the girls’ own collections, were donated to Donald T. Shields Elementary in Red Oak, Texas. Tornadoes caused significant damage to the school in late December, destroying its book collection. The Dallas Library System put out the call for children’s books, receiving thousands from across the city.

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

MAKERS CONNECT Craft Classes & Workshops. Led by & for Local Makers. Check Schedule: makersconnect.org/classes

EMPLOYMENT

AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta and Others. Start Here With Hands On Training For FAA Certification. Financial Aid If Qualified. Aviation Institute Of Maintenance. 866-453-6204

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

SERVICES FOR YOU

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

SERVICES FOR YOU

CARGO BICYCLES Custom Built, Hand Crafted. For You/ Business In Oak Cliff. 214-205-4205. oakcliffcargobicycles.com

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let A Seasoned Pro Be The Interface Between You & That Pesky Windows Computer. Hardware

PET SERVICES

AFFORDABLE HOME PET CARE Pet Sitting, Dog Walks. pawsitivestrolls.com 214-504-5115

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

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

In-Home Professional Care

Customized to maintain your pet’s routine

In-Home Pet Visits & Daily Walks

“Best of Dallas” D Magazine

Serving the Dallas area since 1994

Bonded & Insured

www.societypetsitter.com 214-821-3900

BUY/SELL/TRADE

DONATE YOUR CAR FOR BREAST CANCER Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, support programs. Fast free pickup. 24 Hour response. Tax deduction. 855-403-0213

Feeding the needy

A group of volunteers from Lake Highlands United Methodist Church prepared food packages for more than 15,000 people in need recently. The meals were then shipped to hungry children and families in 65 countries.

BUY/SELL/TRADE

FREE RANGE PORK & LAMB from local resident’s farm. Hormone & antibiotic free.Heritage Red Wattle pigs. Stock up now. laralandfarms.com 214-384-6136

OLD GUITARS WANTED Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Martin. 1930s-1980s. Top dollar paid. Toll Free 1-866-433-8277

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

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

CLUTTERBLASTERS.COM ESTATE SALES Moving & DownSizing Sales, Storage Units. Organize/De-Clutter Donna 972-679-3100

ORGANIZEANDREJUVENATE.COM

Declutter/Files/Feng Shui. 972-816-8004

AC & HEAT

CLEANING SERVICES

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

CALL GRIME STOPPERS NOW! 214-724-2555

Wanted: Houses to Clean. Windows to Wash. Super Service. Killer Refs. GrimeStoppersHere.com

Family Owned & Operated

972-274-2157

www.CrestAirAndHeat.com

TACLB29169E

972-216-1961

TACL-B01349OE www.SherrellAir.com

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

214✯823✯2629

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

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

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.

AFFORDABLE, PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

$100 off 1st clean for new weekly/bi-weekly clients. Staff trained by Nationally Certified Cleaning Tech. Chemical-free, Green, or Traditional Cleaning. WindsorMaidServices.com 214-381-MAID (6243)

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

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

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

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

TWO SISTERS & A MOP

Move in/Out. Reliable/Dependable 20 Yrs Exp. 214-242-9885

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

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

CONCRETE/ MASONRY/PAVING

ALL CONCRETE RESTORATION & Decorative Designs. Staining 214-916-8368

BRICK & STONE REPAIR Tuck Pointing / Crack Repair. Mortar Color Matching. Windows And Door Cracks Etc. Call Don 214-704-1722

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

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

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Stamping and Staining Driveways/Patio/Walkways

Pattern/Color available

Free Estimates 972-672-5359 (32 yrs.)

CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable.

Chris 214-770-5001

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

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

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

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

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

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

EXTERIOR CLEANING

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

FENCING & DECKS

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

4 QUALITY FENCING Call Mike 214-507-9322

Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC.

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

FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com charliehookerswoodwork.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

FLOORING & CARPETING

HASTINGS STAINED CONCRETE

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

THE TEXAN FLOORING SERVICES

Wood, Laminate. Remodel Showers, Bathrooms. thetexanflooringservices.com 214-680-0901

Restoration Flooring

Swimming Pool Remodels • Patios Stone work Stamp Concrete

972-727-2727

Deckoart.com

EST. 1991 #1

COWBOY

All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers 214.692.1991

FENCE & IRON CO.

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

ALL WALKS OF FLOORS 214-616-7641

Carpet, Wood, Tile Sales/Service Free Estimates

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

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

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

25+ Years Experience

469.774.3147

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

Willeford

hardwood floors

Superior Quality: Installation • Refinishing Repair • Cleaning & Waxing Old World Hand Scrape 214-824-1166

FOUNDATION REPAIR

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE SERVICES

DFW GARAGE PRO Garage Organize/Reorganize. Painting, Shelving, Cabinets, Storage, Disposal. 303-883-9321

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

EAST DALLAS WINDOW CLEANING Power Wash. Free Est. Dependable. Derek. 214-360-0120

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

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

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

G & P HANDYMAN Plumbing, AC, Electrical, Painting, Roofing, Fix Appliances. 214-576-6824

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

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

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

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS Allen’s Handyman & Home Repair 214-288-4232

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors Senior Safety Carpentry

& Odd Jobs And More! 972-308-6035 HandymanMatters.com/dallas

HOME INSPECTION

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. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

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

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

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

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

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

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

Tips for maintaining a healthy foundation

1. Concrete slabs with hairline cracks can be cleaned and filled with epoxy glue.

2. Maintain a consistent moisture level. A good way to do this is install rock beds 18”-24” away from foundation. LocalWorks.advocatemag.com

HOUSE PAINTING

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

#1 GET MORE PAY LES

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

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL

Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

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

BENJAMIN’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality

Work At Reasonable Prices. 214-725-6768

MANNY’S HOME PAINTING & REMODEL

Int./Ext. Sheetrock. Manny 214-334-2160

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT

Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

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

LocalWorks.advocatemag.com

KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

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

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

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

DALLAS GROUNDSKEEPER Comprehensive services designed to meet your needs. 214-504-6788 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

LIGHT IT UP DALLAS

Your lighting specialists. 972-591-8383 Parties, Weddings, Patios, Landscape.

LSI LAWN SPRINKLERS “Making Water Work”

Irrigation system Service & Repair. Specializing In Older Copper Systems. LI #13715. 214-283-4673

WE REFINISH!

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

www.allsurfacerefinishing.com

PEST CONTROL

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

TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190

Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning

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

PLUMBING

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521

# M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues. plumberiffic69@gmail.com

Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days

*Joe Faz 469-346-1814 - Se Habla Español*

ARRIAGA PLUMBING: General Plumbing

Since the 80’s. Insured. Lic# M- 20754 214-321-0589, 214-738-7116, CC’s accepted.

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

SPECK PLUMBING

Over 30 Yrs Exp. Licensed/Insured. 214-732-4769, 214-562-2360 214-328-7371

MetroFlowPlumbing.com

Lic.# M16620

POOLS

ADAIR POOL & SPA SERVICE

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

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. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

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

RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

Bob McDonald Company, Inc. BUILDERS/REMODELERS

30+ Yrs. in Business • Major Additions Complete Renovations • Kitchens/Baths

214-341-1155 bobmcdonaldco.net

ROOFING & GUTTERS

A&B GUTTER 972-530-5699 Clean Out, Repair/Replace. Leaf Guard. Free Estimates. Lifetime Warranty

BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years

completed

Jeff Godsey Roofing

TRUE Crime

APRIL DEADLINE MARCH 9

ADVOCATE PUBLISHING does not pre-screen, recommend or investigate the advertisements and/or Advertisers published in our magazines. As a result, Advocate Publishing is not responsible for your dealings with any Advertiser. Please ask each Advertiser that you contact to show you the necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform the work you are requesting. Advocate Publishing takes comments and/or complaints about Advertisers seriously, and we do not publish advertisements that we know are inaccurate, misleading and/or do not live up to the standards set by our publications. If you have a legitimate complaint or positive comment about an Advertiser, please contact us at 214-560-4203. Advocate Publishing recommends that you ask for and check references from each Advertiser that you contact, and we recommend that you obtain a written statement of work to be completed, and the price to be charged, prior to approving any work or providing an Advertiser with any deposit for work to be completed.

NORTHPARK AMBUSH

Shortly after putting her toddler’s stroller in the trunk of her vehicle, Brittany Arterberry, 28, says she was pepper sprayed and beaten in a NorthPark Center parking garage. The offense occurred around 5 p.m. on Jan. 27. According to police reports, the suspects — two black men and one black woman in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties — attempted to steal her purse. When Arterberry resisted, they tried forcing her into their gray Buick LeSabre, a late 90s model. Thankfully, Arterberry’s husband, James, was standing by and managed to pull her out of the car. Another witness approached the suspects with a pocketknife, at which point they piled into the Buick and fled the scene. No arrests have been made as of press time. If you have information about this offense, call the Crimes Against Persons Division of the Dallas Police Department at 214.671.3584. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 214.373.8477 instead. —Elizabeth Barbee

CRIME NUMBERS |

6500block of Abrams Road. Location at which a man exposed himself to a woman and her three children on Jan. 12. He proceeded to perform a lewd act on himself and follow the victims in his car to two other locations.

28

Age of Luis Esteban Garcia-Palomo, who was arrested for the crime after the woman picked him out of a photo line-up. He faces a third degree felony — indecency with child exposure.

$100,000 amount of Garcia-Palomo’s bond which has not been paid as of press time.

SOURCE Dallas Police Department

A PARK TO NOWHERE

Will anyone ever find a palatable solution for Trinity?

Like a nervous public speaker uncertain of what to do with her hands, the City of Dallas doesn’t quite know what to do with the parkland between our Trinity levees. Since voters approved the original Trinity River Project bond proposition nearly two decades ago, the city has been fidgeting and fiddling, regularly revising its plans for the Trinity Park, never seemingly comfortable with the result.

In 1998, supporters of the proposed Trinity River Project regaled voters with fantastic watercolors promising a transformed flood-

and technical realities. We witnessed a bizarre new vision for the park last year that included a juggling French mime (is there any other kind?), zip lines and rings of fire (among other odd extravagances).

Now, at Mayor Mike Rawlings request, the park is undergoing yet another update. The problem is, every time we try to impose some worldclassiness on the Trinity, we end up mucking it up.

proposes to revisit the design of the Trinity Park.

Instead of redesigning the park for the umpteenth time, why not refocus our energies on something more tangible, like creating park access?

way with grand lakes and jaunty sail boats. In 2003, this fantasy was further defined when then-Mayor Laura Miller brought in nationally renowned designers to create the Balanced Vision Plan, which included an elaborate park scheme.

That plan was revised a few years later when we learned that the enormous lakes had to be significantly downsized to accommodate financial

Last month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which has the final word on what transpires between our levees — chastised the City of Dallas for navigation problems on the river due to the so-called Dallas Standing Wave. The Standing Wave is a whitewater kayaking course the City of Dallas built five years ago at a cost of $4 million. It’s been plagued with problems from the get-go (but to be fair, who could have guessed that cramming a bunch of rocks and concrete into the Trinity River was a bad idea?)

The Standing Wave was supposed to be a “quick win” for the Trinity River Project, but it has proven to be neither quick nor winning, and we ended up with an impassable and arguably unsafe water feature. The corps is now demanding a fix, and taxpayers are on the hook for another $4 million to get us out of this mess.

Throw in the clear-cutting debacle at the Trinity golf course, the animalcruelty scandal at the Trinity Horse Park, the improper draining of a Trinity pond and, well, it’s not unreasonable to get nervous when the city

That’s the singular problem with the park, after all — that it’s nearly impossible to get into, absent boat or bike. So why not make access the number one priority? Not the toll road, not a park redesign, not extravagant park features. Just something plain and simple, like accessibility? If we design too far beyond that, I fear we risk damaging our most significant natural asset.

We must come to terms with the fact that the parkland lying in our Trinity River Floodway will never be a manicured, Versailles-like garden, a bustling river-walk or a thrilling amusement park. Our Trinity Park doesn’t need to be. It shouldn’t be. I suspect the City of Dallas continuously seeks new plans for the Trinity Park because it just can’t wrap its head around the fact that our park is just fine the way it is: a vast swath of green space in the heart of our city, home to myriad wildlife, a beautiful respite from the bustle of urban living — all of which resulted from the unlikely but serendipitous combination of a river relocation and real estate rush in the 1930s.

I fear that the City of Dallas sees a natural beauty like the Trinity Park and immediately begins planning where to nip and tuck, augment and adjust. Here we would do well to stop plotting an extreme makeover and simply appreciate what we’ve got.

But to be fair, who could have guessed that cramming a bunch of rocks and concrete into the Trinity River was a bad idea?

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

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