LAKE HIGHLANDS D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 I A D V O C AT E M A G . C O M
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contents LAKE HIGHLANDS ADVOCATE VOL.30 NO.12
PROFILE 12 Michelle Dekkers’ mural marvels DINING 14 Alfonso’s never-frozen foods COVER 20 The Gift Guide FEATURES 10 23 things in 23 18 From artist to The Artist Outreach 24 The philanthropic 10-year-old HISTORY 30 The voice of Lake Highlands
You can spot this ladder below an overpass on Walnut Hill and Greenville, where artist Michelle Dekkers is painting a mural for the SoPac Trail. Read more on page 12. Photography by Yuvie Styles.
dec 23
SPONSORED CONTENT
WHAT ARE YOU MISSING? This neighborhood group offers easy options to make new friends and make a difference through service activities
Father David Houk (left with parish member) says there’s a place for everyone at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
F
eel like you’re missing something in your life? Does part of you long for something, but you’re not quite sure what it is? Many of us just can’t get comfortable with our lives, thanks to COVID and its aftermath, along with the current state of the economy, mortgage rates and the various wars and skirmishes raging around the world. One thing we’ve all learned: True fulfillment can’t be found in Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. Being social online can’t replace rubbing shoulders with neighbors. So here’s some good news: Things are mighty different at our neighborhood’s St. John’s Episcopal Church. Father David Houk, who talked with us recently while making plans for a men’s camping trip, says there’s a place for everyone at St. John’s. “We are anything but boring!” he says. The group is engaged and engaging, and inside the neighborhood building you’ll find a diverse group of believers: men, women, children, families, singles, divorcees, married couples, widows, widowers — everybody is welcome, Father David says. And the neighbors at St. John’s are looking for more neighbors to join in the community, companionship and camaraderie that fill the group’s activities.
“We have guitar-led contemporary services that are more informal to recognize diversity in expressions of worship, as well as traditional services with very high formalities — whichever you prefer,” Father David says. “We have it all in three services on Sunday mornings and in one on Saturday evenings.” “It’s a common refrain, ‘I believe in God, but I don’t need to go to church. I was fine during COVID; my life will be just fine continuing as I did then. Staying home. By myself. Alone.’ But that’s not really true or healthy,” says Father David, who has served as St. John’s rector since 2006. The group’s mission statement is “Nurturing faith, inspiring hope and growing in love as we worship God, make disciples and serve East Dallas and the world,” Father David says. “For our people, worship and service go together. You can’t have one without the other.” WANT TO LEARN MORE? Check out St. John’s Episcopal Church today at stjohnsepiscopal.org, and stop in to meet new friends (no RSVP required) at 848 Harter Road; 214-321-6451.
IN DECEMBER, you can expect services filled with festivities and surprises: Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. Hear a “Celebration of Lessons and Carols” organized by organist and choirmaster Benjamin Kolodziej. This event draws people from throughout Dallas. Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. Join in a Christmas dinner for newly immigrated refugees. St. John’s partners with Gateway of Grace, founded by Mother Samira Izadi Page, an Iranian-born Episcopal priest. “The Bible has much to say about caring for the stranger. Expressing generosity of heart toward refugees comes from the overflowing love of Christ that has filled our lives,” she says. Dec. 24 5 p.m. Stop by for a familyfriendly Christmas Eve service 8 p.m. Join neighbors for a highmass service.
from the Ladies of the Live Local Group
D I ST R I B U T I O N / A D V E RT I S I N G 2 1 4 . 5 6 0 . 4 2 1 2 ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Frank McClendon 214.560.4215 / fmcclendon@advocatemag.com Michele Paulda 214.724.5633 / mpaulda@advocatemag.com Catherine Pate 214.560.4201 / cpate@advocatemag.com Linda Kenney lkenney@advocatemag.com Breyan Mitchell 214-517-6973 / bmitchell@advocatemag.com Classified Manager: Prio Berger 214.292.0493 / pberger@advocatemag.com Marketing Director: Sally Wamre 214.686.3593 / swamre@advocatemag.com Development Director: Alessandra Quintero 786.838.5891 / aquintero@advocatemag.com Digital Marketing & Analytics: Autumn Grisby agrisby@advocatemag.com E D I TO R I A L Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com E D I TO R S : Alyssa High ahigh@advocatemag.com Emma Ruby eruby@advocatemag.com Kelsey Shoemaker kshoemaker@advocatemag.com Lillian Juarez ljuarez@advocatemag.com Editorial Assistant: Simon Pruitt spruitt@advocatemag.com Digital Editor: Christian Welch cwelch@advocatemag.com Senior Art Director: Jynnette Neal jneal@advocatemag.com Art Director/Photographer: Lauren Allen lallen@advocatemag.com Intern: Simaran Sira Contributors: Patti Vinson, Carol Toler, Sam Gillespie Contributing photographers: Kathy Tran, Emil Lippe, Hunter Lacey, Yuvie Styles, Shelby Tauber, Sylvia Elzafon, Lo Kuehmeier, Victoria Gomez, Julia Cartwright Chief Revenue Officer: Rick Wamre 214.560.4212 / rwamre@advocatemag.com
LiveLocalGroupDFW@cbrealty.com Karen Cuskey-Hartman 214.454.4917|Ivonne Zambrano 469.877.9259|Maggie Terilli 214.457.2646 Nancy Wilson 469.441.4300|Geyden Sage 214.563.1608|Clara Sepulveda 469.744.5668
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Advocate (c) 2023 is published monthly in print and daily online by Advocate Media - Dallas Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas and first published in 1991. Contents of this print magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements and sponsorships printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject ay editorial, advertising or sponsorship material in print or online. Opinions set forth in Advocate publications are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Publisher’s viewpoint. More than 180,000 people read Advocate publications in print each month; Advocate online publications receive more than 4 million pageviews monthly. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate print and online publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one print copy per reader. For information about supporting our non-profit mission of providing local news to neighborhood readers, please call 214-560-4212 or email rwamre@advocatemag.com.
ABOUT THE COVER The Buddhist Center of Dallas located at 8484 Stults Rd. hosts a Thai market every Saturday.
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6 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR
Light up the Highlands Sunday November 26th 4pm - 6pm
Our renovations are complete— now is the time to call Meadowstone Place home!
Lake Highlands Town Center
Fun things for the family include: Snow Luge, Santa & Reindeer, Performances, Ice Skating, and Ruthie’s Grilled Cheese Food Truck!
Kick off the Holiday season with lighting of the Town Center Christmas Tree!
Come shop with local vendors for your holiday goodies!
Enjoy time with friends, gourmet meals and housekeeping services in our newly renovated community. Discover our many social activities—fit for every interest. Living senior never felt so good.
APARTMENTS STARTING AT $2,999.
Call 214-987-6190 today to schedule your tour.
Breeze through Light Up with an Exclusive Fast Pass!
$5 DONATION = 1 RAFFLE TICKET
55+ AC T I V E A D U LT CO M M U N I T Y 10410 Stone Canyon Road • Dallas, TX 75230 214-987-6190 • MeadowstonePlace.com
Ten (10) lucky individuals will be chosen as winners for the Fast Pass. Winners will have the ability to skip the line for all activities at the event - unlimited!
H oliday gifts, decor, and more!
Raffle tickets may be purchased through our Venmo @LHJWL. Winners will be announced on Instagram Tuesday, Nov 14th.
Christmas trees available.
Bettering Dallas by Organics
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december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com Meadowstone Place Rnd~Ver: r01•vA 7
1017 TURNPIKE STREET, CANTON, MA 02021 • (P) 781.828.9290 • (F) 781
3
23 THINGS IN 2023 Compiled by SIMARAN SIRA
1
JJ’s Cafe was featured on America’s Best Restaurants, a TV show that features restaurants around the country.
White Rock Lake’s Lady of the Lake legend made the list of top five most haunted places in North Texas in a study conducted by Bonusfinder and Ghostquest.
Ten years ago, Elizabeth Pierce, a Lake Highlands resident and serial rape survivor, and her friends created White Rock Que, a fundraiser for the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center.
4
12
The Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League revealed a We-Go-Swing, a nontransfer wheelchair swing and the first of its kind in Dallas Oct. 21.
16
7 8 Texas Instruments continued its expansion abroad.
Vector Brewing won two Crushie awards at the 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
After an OSHA investigation, a church was required to pay $31k to a wrongfully terminated employee.
15
Cookin, a food-delivery platform that allows customers to order food from home cooks and chefs, launched in Dallas.
10 11
14 13
Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church held a five day celebration of local art.
17 19
The Junior League of Dallas and Texas Instruments awarded 38 Dallas ISD educators with $78,684 worth of grants.
8 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
The Walnut Hill & Skillman CVS Pharmacy was tagged to promote Peacoat Remix, a Soundcloud-track by Seth Britton.
City Council approved a zoning change for the “Hotel from Hell.”
At least four North Lake Highlands homeowners protested a $386 fine for “prohibited watering” after citations were taped to their front doors in July.
18
5
Highlands Christian School, which utilizes the Carden curriculum brought to Lake Highlands in 1966 by late founder of the Highlander School Betty Woodring, opened.
2 9 6
TikTok & YouTube personality Ryan Rigged tested unconventional forms of bait (like corn & Jello) at White Rock Lake.
Richardson ISD opened a Credit Union of Texas branch completely operated by students to help provide real-world experiences.
Refugee Services of Texas permanently closed its Dallas office as well as all other offices due to a budget crisis.
Hundreds of volunteers spent Sept. 11 by packing meals for the North Texas Food Bank.
Dallas police officer Geoffrey Pettya from the Northeast Patrol Division, was arrested for a DWI while off duty.
20 Matthew Jenkins, a 2000 graduate of Lake Highlands High School, was part of the team that successfully brought back the OSIRIS-REx, a spacecraft that was launched into space seven years ago by NASA.
21
Lake Highlands’ own Rhett Miller, Old 97’s frontman, made his first-in-a-long-while appearance in town with a couple friends at Oak Cliff’s Texas Theatre.
22
The legend of Elizabeth, a spirit believed to haunt LHHS after tragically passing away in the school’s auditorium in the 1970s, put Lake Highlands High School on the list of The Most Haunted Places in Texas.
23
A mountain bike trail that was developed by The Loop Dallas, Dallas Park and Recreation Department and DORBA opened.
SINCE 1996
214-341-1448 OBrienGroupInc.com
Advocate is now a 501(c)3 not-for-profit public media organization. Donations are gifts to the Advocate and tax deductible.
december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 9
Merry Medallion and Happy New
Shopping Center! America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses Applebee’s BackMenders Chiropractic with Care Bliss Nail Salon Christian Science Reading Room
Pet Supplies Plus RDA Pro-Mart Beauty Supply
DEC. 8-DEC. 19
Salata Satya Yoga
How to enter: To be eligible for the giveaway, simply start a new monthly donation to Advocate Media/Plano Magazine
Scrubs & Beyond Smallcakes
CVS
Smiley Dental
Ingram’s Donuts
Subway
Kohl’s
Summit Salon Studios
Mattress Firm
Supercuts
Medallion Barbers
Target
Milan Laser
The Skin and Body Co.
Party City
Unrefined Bakery
Planet Fitness
7-11
Just Keeps Getting Better. Northwest Highway Between Skillman & Abrams
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lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023 Holiday 2023_Medallion_Advocate_ Ad.indd 1
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p ro f i l e
NEW
COAT OF
PA I N T Mural artist Michelle Dekkers brings color to this lonesome old town
Story by SIMON PRUITT Photography by YUVIE STYLES
Y
ou can find Michelle Dekkers perched on the top rung of a ladder below an overpass on Walnut Hill and Greenville. She’ ll be equipped with every color of paint and an arsenal of tools. She is tasked with painting a mural for the SoPac Trail, which connects to the Katy Trail extension, Northaven Trail, Cottonwood Trail and White Rock Creek Trail. Dekkers initially took painting lessons from age 4 until 12. “There was one assignment of recreating a Pissarro painting of a landscape that incorporated one too many shades of green,” she says. “ That caused me to quit painting. I didn’t lay my hand on art supplies again until the very end of my
12 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
senior year of high school.” Jaded, Dekkers slowly grew accustomed to the art form again. “It started with creating paintings as gifts for my parents and turned into a summer full of painting before I left for school,” she says. As an adult, she took a job as an auditor. “I decided to jump ship from the corporate world in 2016,” she says. “I knew that I could always run back to my safe career if things didn’t work out.” Mural work became her beat, painting indoor and outdoor walls all over Dallas.
“It’s always intimidating to create something that will be on display for an indeterminable amount of time,” she says. “It’s something that has to fit with the fabric of the community that surrounds it. With every project, I want to ensure that people who walk, ride or drive by on their local commutes feel seen and included.” Dekkers embraces her opportunity, seeing it as a special privilege to make lasting changes to her city. “It is the greatest honor to get to see my work out in the wild,” Dekkers says. “Although some murals are in private businesses, the public art is like a permanent gallery that I can share with my friends and family.”
Given the m edium , D ek ker s has to m anage the br u t a l heat and the o ccasional shock ing cold. “ E a c h c r e a t i o n c o m e s w i t h i t s o w n c h a l l e n g e s ,” s h e says. “ Visiting my co m ple ted m urals is an e xper ie n ce o f lo o k ing at a tapes tr y o f obs tacles.” But with the SoPac trail, she gets to experience real-time appreciatio n o f her wo rk as pedes tr ians pass. “ T h e re h av e b e e n s o m a ny p e o p l e … t h a t s t o p p e d t o tell m e how thank ful the y are and how m uch the y l o v e what I am doing,” she says. “It fills m e with a sense o f confidence and fuels the motivation I need to reach this finish line.” december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 13
fresh, never frozen How to become a neighborhood staple Story by SIMARAN SIRA | Photography by KATHY TRAN
14 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
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december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 15
G R O W I N G U P, P E T E R C O L O M B O ’ S FA M I L Y H E L D A D E E P A P P R E C I A T I O N FO R F R ES H A N D W H O L ESO M E MEALS. HIS CHILDHOOD HOME WAS A P L AC E W H E R E T H E N O T I O N O F C O N V E N I E N C E O R S H O RTC U TS I N FO O D P R E PA R AT I O N WAS P R ACT I CA L LY U N H E A R D O F. His mother “had to shop every day and buy everything fresh” to cook for him, his six siblings and his father, according to Colombo. In that household, the philosophy was clear: there were no shortcuts when it came to food. This upbringing left a lasting mark on Colombo, influencing him when he opened Alfonso’s Italian Restaurant. “My father never ate anything frozen in his life; that’s the tradition,” Colombo says. “I think what’s carried out in Alfonso’s is that we still prepare everything fresh. Nothing is frozen. And there’s nothing prepackaged, so it’s all done from scratch.” Back in 1981, Colombo landed a job at the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas. After a year working there, he couldn’t help but notice the scarcity of Italian dining options in the area. At age 26, he began working on a new venture — Alfonso’s Italian Restaurant. The traditional home-cooked meals his family ate were sweeter, but after coming to Dallas, he realized Texans’ tastes differed. “Everything is sweet and has a lot of sugar,” Colombo says. “And when I came to Dallas, I realized they wanted everything spicy.” Alfonso’s prides itself on every dish seeing the oven for the first time when it’s ordered, which Colombo says separates them from other restaurants. “There’s no microwaving anything and I think that’s
Alfonso’s offers five veal dishes: veal scaloppini florentine, veal Parmesan, veal scaloppini al limone, veal scaloppini marsala and veal scaloppini francese. Each offering is served with a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce and a choice of house salad lakehighlands.advocatemag.com or minestrone soup. DECEMBER 2023
16
what makes us a little bit different,” Colombo says. “It takes a little longer, but I think the quality is a lot better than something sitting at a table all day long.” After nine years in Casa Linda Plaza, the restaurant moved to Lake Highlands Village. Since the opening of the restaurant, the menu has broadened with the help of Alfonso’s longtime chef. “It initially started as a pizza place. They started with the traditional hand-tossed and thin crust styles, adding Detroit-style pizza to the menu during the pandemic. Later, they expanded the menu to include Italian favorites like chicken Parmesan and lasagna. Even though Colombo has “pulled away” from dayto-day operations, he still manages operations behind the scenes. The restaurant recently celebrated its 41st anniversary in October. Colombo credits his staff for the hard work. “I got good people that have been with me for a very long time. Which is kind of unheard of today,” Colombo says. “And that’s one of the secrets of being able to have a business run pretty well.”
Hope for a weary world Celebration of the Green
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december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 17
COLORING THE COMMUNITY
THE ARTIST OUTREACH’S FOUNDER JOSEPH VINCELLI GOES IN DEPTH ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND HIS FOUNDATION Interview by SIMARAN SIRA Photography by KELSEY SHOEMAKER
J
oseph Vincelli started his career with a saxophone in hand. When he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in the ‘80s, he recorded 10 jazz CDs, two Christmas CDs and two classic jazz CDs over the following 30 years. Now, he’s been performing professionally for 43 years, and he never imagined his career would take him to create a nonprofit dedicated to music education. While performing, Vincelli authored the K-12 curriculum for the Ranney School in New Jersey. After taking a break to go on a world tour, he wrote a book about the “why” behind being a musician. The book later became the concept behind his nonprofit, The Artist Outreach. Today, The Artist Outreach serves about 50 schools in Dallas and Tarrant counties. WHAT WAS YOUR MUSICAL CAREER LIKE BEFORE STARTING THE ARTIST OUTREACH? I starte d p l ay i n g sa xop hone, like many kids do in elementary school. I took it seriously in high school. I had a passion for creativity. Not just performing but creating. I started in New York City and then worked in Hollywood for about eight years. I moved to Texas after that to start my recording artist career. I was what they call a studio musician — you come in and get paid to play on somebody else’s CD. Then I started my own recording artist career. I had several CDs when
18 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
CDs were popular. I toured the country many times and a couple of times around the world, under my own name, so that was very cool. WHAT INSPIRED THE ARTIST OUTREACH? In the midst of the early part of my career, I was writing a book about how important music is in our culture historically, philosophically and psychologically. It was a study book; it wasn’t meant to like fly off the shelves. It was meant for people who were taking music to learn more about why they do it, not how to do it. I wrote the book several decades ago, and I started The Artist Outreach 12 years ago. The real catalyst was The Art of Tone book. That has become my main reason as to why I wanted to do it. I know that there are other ways that music can help outside of entertainment. — How can we help educate people about what
it is they need to learn whether it’s academics or culinary nutrition? TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CURRICULUM. I created the original curriculum, which is tying art forms — not just music, not just art, but all art forms — to be paired with academia. Whether it’s language, math or science, we tie them together. The primary program we have is for little kids learning academics, literacy of language and math. We use different types of original music that we create as a team. Then, not only just give it to the teachers in the classroom, but we come in the classrooms and perform it for them. So the teachers have an opportunity to see how it’s done and to see how to engage kids differently. They become much stronger with their math and language skills.
My teaching staff are artists. They go through pretty rigorous training to learn why they’re doing it, what they’re doing and then how to do it. Most teachers are going to say “Well, I’m a teacher, why can’t I just do it?” and they could, but they’d have to understand the concepts. Sometimes they don’t want to learn another curriculum, whereas the academic teachers are trying to do whatever they can to help their students learn math and language because there’s such a need. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED? The primary one is called the STREAMliners Arts-Integrated Academic Education, and it’s on our website. STREAMliners is basically STEM. The “R” stands for reading and the “A” stands for arts. We have several grades that we teach, from Pre-K all the way up to grade eight. The primary area that we focus on is Pre-K through early childhood reading readiness. Now why is this important? If students are not proficient in language or math by grade three, a lot of times we lose them. They never graduate high school because they just can’t keep up. Every year that goes by, it gets worse. Students do excel very well with this type of program because it’s engaging and it’s fun. HOW DID YOU SET UP THE PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS? I chose to go a much more difficult route by going to the principals and going to the superintendent of the district. It’s much harder to go in the front door than it is to go through a back door. You know, if you tell a parent, “Hey, I got this cool program,” and then they tell other parents, yeah, you’ve got that community, but they’re not the decision-makers inside the classroom. They’re not the decision-makers in regards to funding. I work with superintendents, principals and teachers. I always tell people there are three things to make a nonprofit work well. One is funding, obviously, you have to have money, right? Doesn’t matter where it comes from, you gotta have money. The second one is interest and then the third one is scheduling. Sometimes we fund it, sometimes the school funds it and sometimes we get them to partner on the funding. WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES OF THE ARTIST OUTREACH? The first one is the big C, creativity. Everything that we do has to be around creativity. We take it very, very seriously. You have to remember that I played music, yes, but to be a professional recording artist, meaning I’m playing my own original music, which was jazz. Not a big area for marketing. It was instrumental music and the saxophone. The fact that I could focus all of my energy into that, I knew that it was all about creativity. That’s why we want artists on our team, because they’re already creative. Now it’s a matter of getting them to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing in the classroom. We’re trying to teach them a different way to look at the world.
Jolly Holly-days at The Store!
2023
CITY VIEW ANTIQUE MALL One of Dallas’ oldest antique malls
Mon. – Sat. 10:00 – 5:00 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, Ste. 226 (at Audelia Rd.) 214-553-8850 · thestoreinlh.com
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SAVE THE DATE! DEC. 5
Open House Party Tuesday Dec.5th 6-9 p.m. Sweets & Treats, festive atmosphere & great sale prices!
6830 Walling Ln. (off Skillman/Abrams) 214.752.3071 cityviewantiques.com
We worked with Bart during one of the hottest housing markets in recent history. Bart stuck with us through several offer cycles, and each new house he found was better than the last. His background in architecture and construction is a huge plus. He always has a flashlight in the car and is ready to crawl down below a house. You won’t be disappointed with his skills and work ethic. Thanks Bart for everything! -Maggie M.
BART THRASHER
Realtor® bartthrasher@dpmre.com 469.583.4819
7050 Greenville Ave. enchiladasrestaurants.com Like us on Facebook For Catering Call The Fiesta Line 214.691.1390
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 19
THE GIFT GUIDE A GUIDE TO GIVING THE GOOD STUFF
P l a nt S t yl e Plant Style keeps a wide array of indoor plants permanently in stock, like this snake plant, known for being easy to care for indoors. $21
B r uml ey Ga rde n s This neighborhood garden center specializes in drought-tolerant Texas plants, grown in the garden by Brumley staff. $100
Compiled by KELSEY SHOEMAKER
Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, or simply embracing the spirit of giving, Lake Highlands boasts a wealth of locally-owned businesses ready to cater to that special someone in your life. From chic fashion for the trendsetter to engaging games and essentials for hobby enthusiasts and distinctive decor treasures for those with an eye for home design, Lake Highlands offers the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
Th e S to re The Store is probably Lake Highlands’ number one fan and their holiday decor can bring merriment to any room. $19.99
20 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
GLOWING HEALTHY SKIN
A rt on Main
Tayl o r Pa l a di no
Cherry Blossoms in Bloom (at Madison
Embrace the spirit of Texas with the
Square Garden, NYC) by Jim Bilgere is
bluebonnet tea towel perfect for the
just one of an assortment of available
kitchen. $18
art pieces across different styles at Art on Main. $150
The Collective
Advo ca te M e di a
This cozy throw blanket is perfect
The limited-edition ornaments were
for chilly evenings or as a stylish
made with the ancient tradition of
accent to enhance the color scheme
reverse painting. It features orginal
of any room. $80
art by local artists. $125
We have the perfect gift! When you purchase a Signature ($140) or Teen Facial ($90) gift certificate you will receive a COMPLIMENTARY goodie box! Our facial is designed to jump start cell turnover and deliver glowing healthy skin! The Only Facial 469.482.9110 info@theonlyfacial.com 718 N. Buckner Blvd. Ste. 304 Dallas, Texas 75218
Wh ite Rock Soap G a lle r y
Day1 Fa ns
White Rock Soap Gallery offers
Day1Fans make it possible for little
Build Your Own Swag Boxes, with a
ones to get into the fanfare early
choice of sugar/salt, votive candle,
on with an assortment of gear for
vegan soap, lip balm and salve stick
various college football teams. $21
SPONSORED CONTENT
customized to order. $18
december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 21
Pop Popco rn
Da l l a s Vi nta ge Toys
We A re Th e M i ssf i ts
The shop has a wide selection of
The store carries thousands of vin-
The children’s store carries
holiday flavors such as candy cane,
tage toys from the ‘60s to today, like
products aimed to “nurture the
sugar cookie, eggnog and more.
this 1989 Playmates TMNT Turtle
spirit, feed the brain and encourage
$21.95 for a medium bag
Party Wagon listed at $249.99.
self expression,” like this instant camera aiemd to inspire curiousity. $99.99
Ba r k i n ’ C re e k
Savvy C hic Paws
B u bbl e a nd S pi ke
The red and black checkered dog
Every furry companion deserves a
Locally handmade dog treats that
classic set of tennis balls. $12
will make any pet addicted and want
bandana is truly meant for the holidays. $20
to try more Barkin’ Creek flavors. $10
22 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BUY SOMEONE A GIFT FROM ULTIMATE IMAGE
Mak ing Fr ie nds Wit h Fe e lings Help your family talk gently and lovingly about challenging feelings with Making Friends With Feelings, a book written by our very own neighbors. $18.99
Dive into a World of MedSpa Magic - Explore Our Full Range Services from laser hair removal, a variety of facial services like the HydraFacial to SkinPen microneedling and so much more. We have something for everyone! ultimateimageskincare.com 972.800.2127 SPONSORED CONTENT
Tis The Season
FOR GIVING
Donate $100 or more to support Advocate’s continued reporting relevant neighborhood news and RECEIVE a beautiful hand-painted ornament.
Tre e Love D isc G o lf Tree Love offers dozens of disc choices for a variety of designs and purposes ranging from $11.99 - $25.
Donate at advocatemag.com Ornaments avaiable for $125 retail at shop.advocatemag.com Advocate is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit public media organization. Donations are gifts to the Advocate and tax deductible. Local pick up only.
december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 23
24 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
Lemonade stands to marathon races 10-YEAR-OLD VIVI SORROW GIVES BACK TO SCOTTISH RITE
Story by ALYSSA HIGH Photography by VICTORIA GOMEZ december 2023 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com 25
Vivi’s lemonade stand, Sips for Hips, raised $500, which combined with family donations was enough to purchase two chairs for Scottish Rite for Children’s hip dysplasia patients.
POPCORN AND GUMBALLS. That is the smell that 10-yearold Vivi Sorrow remembers from her t i m e at S co tt is h Rite for C h i ld ren. Viv i w a s b o r n w i t h h i p dy s p l a s i a , a condition that required extensive h o s p i ta l t ime u n t i l a ge 2. He r m o m , C i n c o , re m e m b e r s t h e first few years of her daughter’s life as a time of learning, fear and growing h o p e as t re at me n t w ent on. Developmental dysplasia of the hip occurs in about 1 in every 100 i n f a n t s , a cco rd i n g t o S co tt i s h R i t e . Hip dysplasia refers to the abnormal relationship between the ball and socket of the hip joint or an abnormal s h a p e o f t h e s o cke t or th e ball. During treatment, Vivi went through braces, traction and surge r y o n h e r h i p f o l l o wed by fu ll and p a r t i a l b o dy c a s t s . Her las t su rger y and cast finished right before her second bir thday. Now, Vivi returns to t h e h o s p i t a l e v e r y s ix to 1 2 month s
m o n t h s f o r ch e cku p s w i t h m a n y o f the same doctors and nurses that s t a r t e d w o rk i n g o n h e r c a s e a l m o s t 10 y ears ago . Viv i i s a h i g h- s p i r i t e d g i rl . Aft e r years of hospital visits she can do all o f t h e t h i n g s a h e a l t hy 1 0 -y e a r- o l d can do with no restrictions. She loves to climb trees, compete with her swim team and chase around her Siam ese cat, Katy Purr y. And that, Vivi says, is what makes th e h os pi tal a “m iracle work sho p.” One thing about Scottish Rite that stuck out to Cinco was that if families couldn’ t pay for their child’s care, the hospital covered it. But the care itself wasn’ t the only cost. With Vivi’s casts, for e xample, she couldn’ t fit in regular seats. Cinco had to order specialty chairs shipped in from another state. Vivi had to be seated for mos t of the d ay, and the chair s were essential. “ T he chair is where she would sit, e at , p l ay, d o a c t iv i t i e s ,” C i n co s ay s .
26 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
“ We don’ t know what we would have do ne without these chair s.” T h e S o r r o w s d o n a t e d V i v i ’s o l d ones when she no longer needed them, but a chair that a toddler spends e ver y waking moment in doesn’ t last fo re ver. After a fe w uses fro m o t h er patients, the donated chairs were no longer usable. And new ones came with a he fty pr ice tag. Vivi and Cinco wanted to give back and make sure other families had access to new chairs, so the duo teamed u p a n d g o t t o w o r k . Vi v i s t a r t e d a lemonade s tand on their L ake Highlands s tree t that she called Si p s fo r Hips and the Sorrows met with a lo cal m anufac turer, Mecca D e si gns, to brainstorm features to add to ne w chair s. Vivi has held several lemonade stands over the last few years, raising around $500. T he designs include se veral musthaves, according to Vivi.
October MLS home sale statistics*, plus annual totals
REAL ESTATE REPORT SOLD OCT ‘23 1 3 4 16 4 3 7 0 5 7 2 1 4 1 4 62 4.13
Year-To-Date Sales ‘23 23 68 40 176 54 25 64 12 42 91 23 14 68 19 51 770 51.33
a r e a h o m e va l u e s
Year-To-Date Sales ‘22 28 62 66 192 63 22 82 18 58 127 14 14 107 35 47 935 62.33
Avg Days on Market YTD 27 29 34 40 28 13 33 23 47 30 21 11 31 20 20 407 271.33
Avg. Sales Price YTD ‘23 $437,204.00 $350,216.00 $391,215.00 $240,734.00 $451,649.00 $729,380.00 $744,629.00 $680,958.00 $591,508.00 $274,436.00 $883,217.00 $847,887.00 $755,910.00 $624,468.00 $643,298.00 $8,646,709.00 $576,447.26
7 an
Park
12
9
11
Walnut Hill
13
Northwest
Yo u c a n s p o t V i v i a t t h e m a r a t h o n , h e l d t h e w e e k e n d o f D e c . 8 -1 0 . T h e 10K, 5K, 5K team, 5K walk and 100 yard dash are on Saturday, and the full, half and ultra marathons are on Sunday.
5
J
14 15
Jupiter
s ak
rO
i Fa
Church
LB
Plano Rd
10
5-
8
env
ille
6
Royal
4
63
Ferndale
1
West Fork Ja son Branch ck
3
Audelia
*Statistics are com piled by Ebby Halliday Realtors, and are de rived from Dallas Mul ti ple List ing Service (MLS). Numbers are believed to be re li able, but are not guar an teed. The Ad vo cate and Ebby Halliday Realtors are not re spon si ble for the ac cu ra cy of the in for ma tion.
2
Whitehurst
Gre
STEVE CAIRNS STEVECAIRNS@EBBY.COM 972-740-2517
75 - Central Expressway
Forest
“ T h e y h a v e c u p h o l d e r s ,” s h e s ays , w h ich a re p e r f e c t for d ri nks o r “ l o t s o f g o l d f i s h .” T h e y a l s o have handles and a tray with a cha lk b o a rd. Vivi didn’ t s top giving back t he re . T h i s y e a r, V i v i w a s s e l e c t e d a s o n e o f S c o tt i s h R i t e ’s Ju n i o r R a ce D i re c t o r s . T h e di rec tors ac t as ambassadors for the hospital at fundraising races like the BMW Ma rat h o n Fe s t iva l . At e a ch ra c e , Vivi and her fellow Junior Race Direc tor, King, talk about what the y love about Scottish Rite, take turns b lo wi n g t h e a i r h o r n to s tar t th e ra ce , ch e e r o n t h e r u n ners at th e finish line and put medals around fi n i s h e r ’s n e ck s .
Avg. Sales Price YTD ‘22 $421,578.00 $386,756.00 $342,473.00 $298,400.00 $418,439.00 $733,832.00 $691,432.00 $738,486.00 $595,243.00 $219,459.00 $748,223.00 $907,500.00 $627,633.00 $609,410.00 $550,103.00 $8,288,967.00 $552,597.80
Walnut
Sponsored by:
Skillm
SOLD OCT ‘22 6 8 4 14 3 6 9 0 6 6 1 0 7 6 5 81 5.40
Abrams
SUB AREA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 TOTAL AVG
Hw y
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W HERE C AN I FIND L OC AL ...?
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FLOORING & CARPETING
ALEXANDER HOME REPAIR. AC/HEAT Repair & Install. LIC#28052 469-226-9642
ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954
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CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001
HASTINGS FLOORS Epoxy Garage Foors Many colors to choose (flakes optional) Call Nick for bid 214-341-5993 hastingsfloors.com
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BUY SELL TRADE !!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar Paid. 1-866 -433-8277 SALE: FULL SIZE BED. $400. Bed frame, headboard, box spring, mattress, Good Condition. 469-363-2480
CABINETRY & FURNITURE SERNAS & BASS DESIGN-BUILD We design, build & Install cabinets & tops! (214) 354-3074 • aldo@sernasbass.com SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 214-324-7398 jhholbert2@att.net
CLEANING SERVICES 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 GOLDEN CLEANING, Home Basic Clean,Move in/out. 214-500-6998 WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN, Organize, De-clutter, or Pack. Sunny 214-724-2555 WINDOW CLEANING Power washing No Job To Small. 30 Yrs exp. 214-360-0120 WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134
COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $100/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net. NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER, Smartphone or Smart Home? My Tech Guy Harvey. 214-770-2598. harveymccall@gmail.com.
CONCRETE, RETAINING WALLS 25 yrs exp. T&M Construction, Inc. 214-328-6401 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 JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
HOUSE PAINTING
TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658 WHITE ROCK ELECTRIC All Electrical Services. Lic/Insd.TECL-34002 214-850-4891
EMPLOYMENT BENJAMINS PAINTING Hiring:18-26Yr.olds, Top Pay- Will Train. In Advocate since 2007. 214-725-6768
EXTERIOR CLEANING G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925
FENCING & DECKS 4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood. YourWoodmaster.com AMBASSADOR FENCE CO. Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers, Arbors. AmbassadorFenceCo.com 214-621-3217 FENCING, ARBORS, DECKS oldgatefence.com 214-766-6422 LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975 Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers
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GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160 PRO WINDOW CLEANING prompt, dependable. Matt 214-766-2183 ROCK GLASS CO Replace, Repair. Single, Double Panes. Showers, Mirrors. 214-837-7829
HANDYMAN SERVICES BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730 DANHANDY.NET Repairs Done Right For A Fair Price. References 214-991-5692
28 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
Over 25 years of experience Free Estimates
214-702-2188 morganexteriorsdfw.com BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work @reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768 HECTOR PEREZ PAINTING Commercial/residential. Intrior/ Exterior. Fair Rates. 214-489-0635 RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513 TEXAS BEST PAINTING LLC Resd,Interiors 30Yrs. 214-527-4168 TOP COAT 30 Yrs. Exp. Reliable. Quality Repair/Remodel. Phil @ 214-770-2863 VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext. Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 469-774-7111
KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645 MELROSE TILE James Sr., Installer, Repairs. 40 Yrs. Exp. MelroseTile.com 214-384-6746 TK REMODELING 972-533-2872 Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
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 HANDYMAN WANTS your Painting,Repairs, To Do Lists. Bob. 214-288-4232. Free Est. 25+yrs exp. HOME REPAIR Doors, Trim, Glass. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 35 yrs exp. 214-875-1127 HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606 ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical. 469-658-9163
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Interior & Exterior Painting
AceHandymanServices.com ❚ 972.308.6035 ©2020 Ace Handyman Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Locally owned and independently operated Franchise. Licensed & insured.
JIM 972-992-4660 Tubs, Tiles or Sinks WE •• Cultured Marble REFINISH! • Kitchen Countertops
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W HERE C AN I FIND L OC AL ...?
Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES #1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists serving Dallas 15 years.Trim, Removals. Tree Health Care services. Insured. Arborwizard.com. Free Est. (972) 803-6313. A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 18 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925 Lawns, Gardens & Trees HOLMAN IRRIGATION Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061 MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435 MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060
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MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983 Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes
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Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic
PLUMBING
TK REMODELING 972-533-2872 Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943
MP ARCHITECTURAL Design & Construction. mattandpaul.com 214-226-1186
PLUMBING ISSUES? We’re the Experts!
ROOFING & GUTTERS
Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems
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DALLAS KDR SERVICES • Lawn service • Landscape Installation 214-349-0914
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PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.
FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com
KEYS AND GRIM 30 years of experience in residential remodeling. NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC. “They are the best…and so nice.” ~ Mom Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. keysandgrim.com 214-952-4490 Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For 30+ Yrs.exp. 214-827-0090 Over 24 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448 RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247
214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com
NEW LEAF TREE, LLC Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528
SERVICES FOR YOU
PEST CONTROL MCDANIEL PEST CONTROL Prices Start at $85 + Tax For General Treatment. Average Home-Interior/Exterior & Attached Garage. Quotes For Other Services. 214-328-2847. Lakewood Resident
POOLS CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996
BERT ROOFING INC.
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LOCAL
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On Staff: • 4 - Certified Arborists • 1 - Tex- Tech Degreed Ag • 1 - Tex A&M Degreed Forester • 3 - Certified Applicators www.holcombtreeservice.com
214-327-9311
FULLY INSURED Commercial/Residential
C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450
Roofing • Windows • Siding • Gutters
Joe Clifford www.exteriorscc.net 469·291·7039
WHERE DID YOUR MONEY GO? Bookkeeping Services for small businesses & Personal. Financial organizing. Quicken & other programs. Sharon 214-679-9688
REAL ESTATE ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD? Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839 GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886 OFFICE SUBLEASE In Bishop Arts. Cool, Quiet. 1,179 Sq ft. 4 rooms + kit / bath, parking. $2,950 + NNNs. 713.302-7722.
LICENSED and INSURED
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THE VOICE OF LAKE HIGHLANDS Bob Johnston’s voice is one you’ve likely heard before Story by SIMARAN SIRA Photography by KATHY TRAN
E
very Friday night, lights shine on the field, and one voice is heard on the speakers. Bob Johnston, the man behind the microphone, has been captivating fans and players with his distinct voice for decades. John sto n started wa tc hi n g h i s fa t he r a n nounce football games at 5 years old. He continued the tradition at his own son’s football games after noticing that junior varsity games didn’t have announcers in 1986. “ ( T h e c oa c h ) sa i d , ‘J u st go u p t h e re a n d start doing it,’ so that’s what started me off,” Johnston says. H e t h e n m ove d o n to a n n o u n c i n g fo r t h e Johnston is a Navy veteran, retired banker and real estate lender. He is varsity games in 1994. heavily involved in the community as a member of the Dallas County “I probably spend about two to four hours Appraisal Review Board, Lake Highlands United Methodist Church and per game in preparation,” Johnston says. Lake Highlands Exchange Club. A neutral tone is necessary, a piece of advice his father shared. “ I t i s a s i m p o r t a n t t o re c o g n i ze t h a t t h e also grow in ability to play the game,” Johnston says. visiting parents and fans should feel treated equally Players need to hear their names. Parents also eaas much as do our home fans and parents,” Johnston gerly wait for their childrens’ names to be announced. says. “There might be three guys on the tackle and I tried J o h n sto n ca n a l so b e h ea rd a t ba se ba l l ga m es, to get all three of the names called,” Johnston says. cross-country and track meets. To J o h n sto n , b e i n g re co g n i ze d a s “ T h e Vo i ce of Despite rumors of retirement, Johnston has been Lake Highlands” makes him feel very proud. announcing games for almost 36 years and says he’s “I’m in the press box, nobody sees me. I will be in not stopping anytime soon. the grocery store talking to somebody and they ask, “While I’m enjoying it, I’ll keep doing it,” Johnston ‘Are you the announcer for the Lake Highlands Wild says. “ I ke e p say i n g i t ’s t i m e to l e t so m e yo u n ge r cats?’ And so I say ‘yes, of course,’” Johnston says. p e r s o n t a ke ove r a n d d o i t , b u t I ’ m s t i l l h a v i n g a So m e ca l l h i m a l e ge n d . Eve n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d good time.” dogs recognize him every Friday night. Johnston enjoys getting to watch the players pro“I’ve got people here in the neighborhood, who live gress every year. fairly close to the stadium,” Johnston says.“They say “ I t ’s a m a z i n g h ow b e twe e n t h e i r f re s h m a n a n d they let their dogs out on Friday night because the sophomore years, they grow significantly. But they dogs enjoy hearing my voice.”
30 lakehighlands.advocatemag.com DECEMBER 2023
Merry Chrismas
May this holiday season bring joy and happiness to you and your loved ones.
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