BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to livelocal@advocatemag.com

New at NorthPark

Chipotle recently opened in NorthPark Center. This is the third Chipotle location near Lake Highlands. The others are located at Central and Forest, and Greenville and Southwestern. The fast-food chain makes its hefty burritos with naturally raised meat and no trans-fats in their cooking oil, and with healthier offerings such as brown rice instead of white. NorthPark Center media rep Victoria Snee says Chipotle will be located in space #2396, which previously housed Tin Star Taco Bar.

Preparing for Christmas

No, don’t worry. Not yet. However, Lake Highlands Women’s League chairs Lisa Johnson and Michelle Dishman are ahead of the game, announcing in June the homeowners and homes for the 2014 Holiday in the Highlands home tour. Those houses include: Kandy and James Smith, 9425 Estate, 75238; Stephanie and Ben Jeffery, 9332 Forestridge, 75238; Diane and Chuck Cheatham, One Vanguard Way, 75243; and Tiffani and Steven Mackenzie, 9276 Cliffmere Drive, 75238. Diane Cheatham is the local builder responsible for Lake Highlands’ contemporary and self-sustainable subdivision Urban Reserve; this is the second home she has purchased and occupied in that neighborhood. A somewhat new feature this year is the Twilight Tour, which was born last year out of necessity after the daytime home tour was canceled due to icy weather (they dubbed the nighttime alternative Twilight Tour last year). The home tour is LHWL’s biggest fundraiser. The league in recent years donates an average $150,000 per year to its college scholarship program for Lake Highlands High School students. Anyone wishing to make a donation or sponsor the event should contact Johnson or Dishman via lhwl.org and keep up with the league’s progress on the Lake Highlands Women’s League Facebook page.

Results of the last Women’s League Home Tour

Continuing the topic of the LHWL, a significant portion of the funds raised in 2013 were delivered near the end of the 2013-2014 aca- demic year to 33 graduating Lake Highlands High School seniors. In describing some of the recipients of the awards, worth about $90,000, Advocate contributor Carol Toler reported, “Many had earned distinction in the classroom despite being the first in their family to graduate high school and begin college. Most work 12 or more hours per week at jobs or internships and/ or contribute significant time to community service. Several arrived in Lake Highlands speaking little or no English — some from war-torn or poverty-ridden countries. A few brought their babies.” LHWL president Susan Solomon says this is what her organization works for year round. “When you hear the stories of these students and all the things they have overcome, it makes the months of preparation worth it. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed time and money for these students. We feel so fortunate to be a part of their success story.”

More scholarships

The Women’s League is not alone in distributing funds to promising Lake Highlands High School seniors. The Lake Highlands Exchange Club also awards scholarships to the tune of about $140,000 a year. Over the years, the ECLH has given about $1.7 million, says Richardson ISD trustee and exchange club member Adam Meierhofer. Learn more about the Exchange Club at lhexchangeclub.org

Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce

The LH Chamber, founded last year by Lake Highlands businessman Ted Hill, meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Crossroads Diner at 8121 Walnut Hill near Central Expressway The nonprofit recently launched its “Lake Highlands is open for every week on business” campaign to encourage the support and growth of local businesses, Hill says. “We are here for our local businesses to help create a stronger business market. Shop local. Live local. Grow local. Together, let’s create business and bring jobs to Lake Highlands.” To learn more, to RSVP for a breakfast or to join, visit lhchamber.com or call 214.282.3000

Lake Highlands Mathnasium: Stats don’t tell the whole story

The Mathnasium owner weighs in on national issue. Findings from a new study, conducted by University of Texas Austin professor Keith Robinson and another professor at Duke University, suggest that parent involvement in a student’s education does not necessarily correlate to improvement in the student’s academic performance. Amy Caron Halstead, the owner of Mathnasium, a tutoring center in Lake Highlands, weighed in on the research findings, telling Fox 4 News that when parents step in for homework help, at least “that child knows their parent cares.” Mathnasium, a learning center serving preschool through high school students, is located at 8510 Abrams near Royal. Learn more at mathnasium.com/ lakehighlands or call 214.341.4646

—Christina Hughes Babb