2024 May Lake Highlands Advocate

The owners of Steakyard Dallas frame special family and travel moments on the restaurant’s walls. Read more on page 12. Photography by Kelsey Shoemaker.

PATCHWORK

Kerri Green weaves artistry and innovation in Lake Highlands’ quilts

Story by PARKER JOHNSON | Photography by AMANI SODIQ

erri Green is a Lake Highlands resident who has spent much of her life perfecting the art of quilt-making. Her story is a vibrant tapestry of creativity, innovation and passion woven from her early experiences and a deep-seated love for quilting.

Green has redefined the traditional quilt-making process by infusing it with a modern flair, transforming it into a form of art that captivates and inspires.

“I grew up with a grandmother who made over 100 quilts ... They were all traditional,” Green says.

This foundational exposure to quilting, combined with her desire to create something unique, led her to explore the realms beyond traditional quilting.

“I knew that when I was going to have time to quilt later in life, that I wanted my quilts to be more artful ... Most of my quilts are art quilts, which are for the wall,” she says.

Green’s artistic journey is marked by a significant dedication to the craft, especially through the hand-dyeing of fabrics. This meticulous process enables her to achieve a distinctiveness in her work, as she crafts quilts that are not just visually striking, but also rich in texture and depth.

“I’ve developed my own pattern piecing technique, which no one else in my industry does,” Green says, highlighting her unique approach to quilt-making.

Her commitment to hand-dyeing fabrics is a testament to her devotion to the art form.

“I’ve been doing this for 12, 15 years. So I have a lot of notebooks and I can dye any color I want. When I pursue my dyeing, I want colors that are not commercially available so that my work looks different,” she says.

This allows her quilts to stand out, ensuring each piece is one of a kind.

Moreover, Green’s quilts are a statement to her meticulous attention to detail and her unwavering patience. She describes the “quilt sandwich” process, where the top layer, batting, and backing are painstakingly joined, as central to her artwork. This method, requiring hours of dedicated effort, is emblematic of the quilting tradition’s deep-rooted craftsmanship. Yet, Green’s innovative spirit shines through even in this traditional technique, as she uses a longarm machine to bring her designs to life, a nod to the balance she maintains between honoring the past and embracing modern technology.

The heart of Green’s quilting philosophy lies in her dedication to redefining the traditional. While quilts have historically served practical purposes, Green’s quilts are conceived as art pieces, each

with its own story and soul.

“I just try to do good design,” she states, emphasizing that the aesthetic appeal of her quilts, rich in graphic detail and motifs, is a primary concern.

Green’s quilt “Fractured Fractals” won Best in Show at the Quilters Guild of Dallas show in 2017, a milestone that she describes as a “really exciting time.” Her quilt “Prometheus” was featured in the 20th Biennial Quilt National and selected as the cover art for the show’s book. These accomplishments underscore the recognition and acclaim her work has garnered within the quilting community.

Green’s international acclaim, with her quilts featured in prestigious venues like the Technik Museum in Neumunster, Germany, reflects her work’s universal appeal.

“It’s very exciting because, you know, there are a few countries that really honor quilts even though the tradition of quilts really began in America,” Green says.

Green’s commitment to the craft extends beyond her unique design and dyeing techniques. She is a fervent believer in the power of community and education within the quilting world. Regularly attending workshops and classes, even as a seasoned quilter, Green underscores the importance of lifelong learning and the exchange of ideas.

“I’ve learned how to do improvisational, where you just put pieces of fabric up on the wall ... And you just go for it,” she says.

From her mentorship under Nancy Crow in Ohio to her interactions with fellow quilters in Dallas, Green is constantly seeking and providing feedback, a process that enriches her work and fosters a supportive network among quilters.

“It’s just really nice to get critical feedback from your friends,” Green says.

Looking forward, Green remains focused on continuing to evolve her craft, always aiming to “increase, improve my body of work, make it more interesting.”

Her advice to aspiring quilters is grounded in her own experiences: “You just seek it out.” This encouragement to engage with local quilting communities and explore the endless possibilities within the art form speaks to Green’s belief in quilting as a dynamic and evolving craft.

Green’s quilting journey, from the traditional roots instilled by her grandmother to her innovative contributions to contemporary quilting, illustrates a profound dedication to pushing the boundaries of this age-old craft.

Her story is not just about quilts; it’s a narrative of artistic expression, community and the endless pursuit of creativity.

AnOde toLakeHighlands JuniorHigh

STORY BY Simon Pruitt

ake Highlands Junior High was built in 1956. Dwight Eisenhower was President. Color TV had only been invented three years prior.

In the fall of 1960, the school opened its doors. It housed students from the seventh to 12th grade until 1965 when the separate high school was built.

In 1999, the Lake Highlands Freshman Center was built across from the high school, which meant a transition to teaching seventh to eighth grade exclusively at LHJH.

Eleven years later, in 2010, the junior high was awarded a National Blue Ribbon for exceptional performance and diversity.

This fall, that lineage will be coming to an end. The 2020 Richardson ISD bond approved a project to transition LHJH and Forest Meadow Junior High into a middle school model, teaching sixth through eighth grade. In conjunction, the old LHJH building was set to be demolished in favor of building a brand new Lake Highlands Middle School building. The project initially came with about a $70 million dollar price tag, which was raised to $81.1 million after delays due to the pandemic.

Construction is nearing completion, with students set to attend classes as soon as next fall

semester. The school organized two open house nights for the neighborhood to walk the halls one last time and reminisce. Some neighbors felt strongly about the decision.

Greg Schuck, who graduated from LHHS in 1973, took to the LHHS alumni Facebook group to voice his frustrations with history being removed.

“Every other school got ‘refurbished,’ ours gets destroyed and replaced by an office building. It’s really gonna be difficult for me to drive by there,” he said in a recent post.

Schuck isn’t the only person saddened by the news. Blanca Webb has been teaching seventh grade science at LHJH since 2015. It was her first teaching job, in a building she’s grown to call home.

Many neighbors have memories attached to LHJH. For Beverly and Rick Marr, their life wouldn’t be the same without it.

“We were middle school sweethearts,” Beverly says. “We were in the same sixth grade class, and stood next to each other in our class picture.”

“The people in this building have always made me feel like I’m a part of a family,” she says. “LHJH is such a special place and I’ll be sad to see this building go. I’ve never been a teacher anywhere else so it’s bittersweet to say goodbye.”

LHJH Principal Nick Rustin used similar verbiage to describe the move.

“The transition is bittersweet,” Rustin says. “It is an exciting opportunity to grow and to move into a new building, but it is sad to leave behind such a historic landmark. However, the members of this community will continue to keep the traditions alive, and those memories of LHJH will hold strong in the new Lake Highlands Middle School.”

They started dating in ninth grade, and you could say the rest was history, except the junior high was not.

“Rick decided to be a teacher’s pet in upstairs A Hall,” Beverly jokes.

He grew close to his grade algebra teacher named Peggy Marks, eventually bonding with her husband Ronnie who Rick describes as a big brother.

The couple graduated in 1974, and when they got married in ‘76, Ronnie was a groomsman.

Forty-eight years of marriage later, Beverly and Rick still live in Lake Highlands. Their three children; Brian, Brenda and Catherine all attended LHJH and LHHS, plus a grandson currently in seventh grade.

Their eldest son Brian graduated in 1998, and also married his high school sweetheart in his same class.

The Marrs built three generations of Wildcats, with the third young enough to experience the school where his grandparents met and the impending new building where he’ll be the first to forge memories that.

“I will still call it the junior high,” Beverly says.

“Forever.”

Photography courtesy of Lake Highlands Junior High yearbooks from 1970, 1981, 1990, 2001, 2010 and 2020.

Each Steakyard steak is topped with the restaurant’s signature brandy peppercorn sauce and cooked over oak wood.

What happens when a Texas de Brazil veteran and Delucca Gaucho’s former owners open a steakhouse

Story by JEHADU ABSHIRO

Photography by KELSEY SHOEMAKER

Walk into Uptown’s Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse and order the 10-ounce filet mignon ($62) and fries ($14). Your total with tax and a 20% tip will leave you with a $98 tab.

Walk into Dakota’s Steakhouse and order the 8-ounce center-cut filet mignon ($57, the least expensive cut) and fries ($11 or $13 for the truffle fries). Your total with tax and a 20% tip will leave you with a $87 tab.

Walk into Northwest Highway’s Steakyard and order the 9-ounce tenderloin — the bistro cut to be exact — served with a brandy peppercorn sauce ($28). It comes with fries already, so your tab with tax and a 20% tip is $36.

In a city full of steaks, that’s a deal. And it’s the point of the Steakyard. Its focus is on steak frites, similar to the kind served at the French bistros owners Evandro Caregnato and Vanderleia Mallman frequent in Paris.

“We went to a fancy place. And then the next day we went to this bistro that cost like a fraction of the price and said, ‘Wow, we love this place. We love this place much

more than the fancy one,’’’ Caregnato says. “So that’s what we want people to think when they come in here.”

The couple, originally from southern Brazil, came to the meteroplex after the founders of Texas de Brazil recruited Caregnato to help launch an authentic churrascaria in the late ’90s. After

spending nearly two decades as their culinary director, his wife Mallman and him opened Delucca Gaucho, serving churrascaria-style pizza in Southlake before expanding to four more locations.

Meanwhile, they had already started working on building a restaurant on the property tucked behind REI and

Starbucks. They weren’t sure if it was going to be another Delucca Gaucho or a different concept.

Then, out of left field, they got an offer they couldn’t refuse and sold Delucca Gaucho in 2022.

With a clean slate, they started fully devoting their time to the Steakyard. It

Steakyard’s open kitchen is the heart of the restaurant.

Zato Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar offers you traditional Thai cuisine and fantastic sushi prepared by our expert chef with over 10 years of experience. Come experience our great traditional Thai dishes and sushi. We welcome you to enjoy our delicious cuisine and make unforgettable memories.

was the perfect fit for their Northwest Highway property.

They sourced an assortment of secondhand tabletops, sanding them down in their Keller home. That’s why the tables are all different shapes and sizes. There are a few Restoration Hardware pieces scattered throughout the restaurant. A deep green, something between emerald and forest, coats the walls and juxtaposes the deep burgundy booths and the light wood.

“We want people to know that this is elegance, but approachable,” Caregnato says.

There’s not an extensive steak selection. There are three cuts — the bistro, the picanha

and the ribeye — cooked over an open flame. The rest of the menu is simple. Six appetizers, including a rainbow ceviche, four alternative entrees, seven sides and four desserts.

“Whenever you have 100 different things on the menu, you need to have somebody in the back (who knows) how to make 100 different menu items,” Caregnato says. “So it’s better, we don’t have a lot of variety, but they know how to do it very well.”

The meat is aged 30 days before being served and the bistro is the best-selling item on the menu.

The cocktails are spins on classics. A lemon drop, but make it raspberry topped with

a ball of fog. An old fashioned but use maple syrup instead for sugar cubes.

“We try to keep it simple. We do the popular drinks that people understand,” Mallman says.

The bartender and one of their managers came from Delucca. Their daughter Sophia, a business student at Southern Methodist University, works front of the house with Mallman. Their Cornell-bound son Lucas works in the kitchen alongside Caregnato.

“I feel like that’s my favorite part. To see them being us,” Mallman says.

Steakyard 6726 Shadybrook Ln., steakyard.com

Some of Steakyard’s must-haves include its seared salmon paired with roasted asparagus, a classic Cesar salad and lobster risotto.

Best in the nation for commitment to patient care, community health, and innovation.

Methodist Health System is proud to be named the first Health System of the Year by Press Ganey, a healthcare leader working with 41,000 facilities nationwide to enhance the experience of patient care.

We’re dedicated to transforming healthcare with compassionate, quality, wellcoordinated care.

Honoring a legacy of serving our friends and neighbors for nearly a century. And, looking toward a future where we continue to advance the healthcare experience for all. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.

Congratulations to the entire Methodist Health System team.

Find a doctor at MethodistHealthSystem.org

*Press Ganey’s HX24 Health System of the Year award recognizes healthcare systems dedicated to improving the human experience of healthcare. Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical sta are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or any of its a liated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

The mic

Through performances at Sundown at Granada, one Lake Highlands native is using her story to guide others toward good

NOBODY SHOULD’VE GOTTEN HURT It was supposed to be a clean deal.

Janna Wilson was in her early 20s, selling drugs for a living in what she calls “her first job.” One night, she drove with her friend to purchase 10 pounds of marijuana from a supplier. When he left the car to make the deal, Wilson heard gunshots.

“He (came) running back with his shirt ripped and told me he got jacked for the money,” she says.

The two took off.

Days later, members of a gang associated with the drug deal gone bad showed up at Wilson’s door demanding $10,000 of stolen cash. She had no idea what they were talking about.

“They came in with a gun and tied me up. I had a roommate at the time and they tied them up too,” Wilson says. “They pistol-whipped me thinking that I would just confess that I took the money they thought I took.”

Confused and beaten, Wilson offered to try and pay them back in debt just to get out of the situation.

“I was like, ‘If y’all just give me a minute I’ll give you all the money. Let me make the money back and you will get your 10 grand; I’m good for it,’” she says.

Hoping to sort through the confusion, Wilson called the friend who had ridden with her days prior and asked him to come to her apartment. When he arrived with another associate in tow, they were pistol-whipped, too.

The scene was becoming desperate. Wilson knew nothing about a stolen $10k, and trusted that her roommate and friend didn’t know anything either.

Story by SIMON PRUITT | Photography by JULIA CARTWRIGHT

“They already checked my entire house; it’s trashed. It’s not in my house. So I gave them an idea,” she says. “Why not go check his house?”

The friend had recently asked Wilson to cosign on an apartment, before saying her assistance would be unnecessary a few days later. When he gave the assailants his former apartment’s address, “it clicked,” and Wilson knew he was lying.

“We’re all getting lined up; they were about to kill us execution style on the bed,” she says. “His friend said, ‘Just tell them what happened.’ They went to his other address and re -

couped seven grand of the money.”

Even with some of the money found, the gang members set off back to Wilson’s apartment. They were intercepted by the police, who had been notified by neighbors of the suspicious activity taking place.

The police had potentially saved her life, but their arrival also meant the downfall of Wilson’s operation. Everyone in her immediate circle got arrested on drug crimes. Somehow, she was able to slip through the cracks as each offense was pinned on someone else.

“I’m the only person out of every

single person I know that didn’t get busted,” she says.

That was Janna Wilson over 20 years ago. In 2024, she lives a reformed, modest life as a McAfee salesperson.

She’s the little sister to three older brothers, and spent her formative years attending Lake Highlands High School. Each night, she returned home to a single mom and a revolving door of new men in the house. Wilson recalls being threatened and molested by some of them, leading to some of the dangerous decisions she made when she got older.

Janna Wilson hosts and curates the lineup each week.

“Trauma is the gateway drug,” she says. “People don’t just go and start trying things because they were loved at home.”

Now 49, she wants to use her story to ensure others don’t follow the same path.

“I want my life to be a testimony as to why and how not to do. Make good choices. Don’t isolate,” she says.

Finding an avenue to share her story took some time.

In 2021, Wilson signed up for a stand-up comedy open mic at Chocolate Secrets, a chocolate and wine bar in Oak Lawn. She realized how quickly a community could be formed around it, and transitioned from performer to full-time host and curator of the shows.

She named her shows “The Love Mic,” dubbing it a “mental health open mic.”

“I call it The Love Mic because we’re born of love until life happens. My goal is to bring love back into the community and not isolate,” she says. “One of the main things that is highly suggested in therapy is to find a support group. Be bold, get on a stage, feel supported and have somewhere to go on a weekly basis.”

Wilson incorporates a wide cast of regulars, ranging from stand-up comedians, music artists, magicians and even a puppeteer in the weekly rotation. After two years at Chocolate Secrets, she took The Love Mic to Sundown At Granada.

“I have one Hispanic guy that calls me tía, I have somebody else that calls me auntie. Somebody wished me Happy Mother’s Day on Mother’s Day. It’s beautiful,” Wilson says.

The Love Mic recently celebrated its 10th show at Sundown, with Wilson only planning to grow from here. Tickets are $8, available weekly via Eventbrite.

“If I can just affect one person, I’m doing my part,” Wilson says. “It’s my purpose.”

Andy and Dylan Irwin went on the ultimate adventure.

IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION

How two father-son duos went on the journey of a lifetime

“If you’ve got a globe and you put your fingers on opposite sides, you’d have Dallas on one finger and Nepal on the other,” says Andy Irwin. “You’re about as far away from Dallas as you can get and still be on planet Earth.”

He’s right, but it doesn’t take him a globe to know. Irwin saw that distance for himself, hiking to the Everest Base Camp with his son Dylan and father-son combo Bob and Aidan Burke.

Dylan and Aidan met in Boy Scouts. They were both the eldest sons to engineer fathers, but the families’ shared interest in backpacking became most relevant.

“We got the idea a couple years ago,” says Aidan Burke. “Logistically, it probably took a year to plan.”

Aidan bonded with his father through outdoor activities and nature trips growing up. Now a senior at the University of Texas, they decided a climb on Everest was the perfect way to usher him into his post-graduation life.

The Burkes set their sights on Everest Base Camp, a historic rest station established in 1924 that’s almost nine kilometers below the summit. When they invited the Irwins to join them, it was a no-brainer.

“It’s kind of the Super Bowl of backpacking,” says Andy. “There was just no way I wasn’t gonna go.”

Everest was no longer an if, but a when. The two

families settled on winter break, flying from DFW airport to Nepal on Dec. 17, 2023.

“The boys were out of school and between semesters,” Bob recalls. “As far as work is concerned, there’s a lot of vacation. It’s surprisingly convenient from a work perspective.”

The four men traveled to Tenzing-Hillary airport in Lukla, Nepal, which serves as the trailhead for the hike to Everest Base Camp. Tenzing Hillary airport is named after mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal who made history as the first to scale Mount Everest in 1953.

Seventy years later, four men from Dallas faced a 125 kilometer round-trip hike from Tenzing-Hillary to base camp. The families prepared a tight schedule for where they would be staying along the way, mapping out the exact distance needed per day to meet their goal. At each stop, they were able to stay in pre-booked hostel-style rooms with a mattress and no heating.

For food, they were prepared local fare by the Sherpa tribes.

Sherpa is a broad term that classifies various ethnic tribes that live in mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet. The most common food prepared by Sherpa is dal bhat, a traditional Nepalese dish made of steamed rice, lentils and spices.

As elevation began to increase up the mountain,

Story by SIMON PRUITT | Photography courtesy of ANDY IRWIN & BOB BURKE

their oxygen levels decreased dangerously. Standard oxygen saturation deemed healthy for humans should be around 95-100%. When the four approached Everest Base Camp, they were measuring in the high 70s.

IT’S KIND OF THE SUPER BOWL OF BACKPACKING. THERE WAS JUST NO WAY I WASN’T GONNA GO.”

To combat it, the four worked a new dish into their diet.

“We had to eat this particular kind of food called garlic soup and it’s about as appealing as it sounds,” Andy says. “It really stimulates your cardiovascular system and that helps with oxygen uptake and makes your muscles feel good. But it sure is garlicky.”

Each day, they woke around 6 a.m. and hiked until about 3 to 4 p.m. before eating and resting for the following day. They spent 12 days on the trail under this schedule, battling the weather, elevation and exhaustion.

After eight long days of hiking uphill, they reached Everest Base Camp.

“It was cool until you realize you have to hike back,” jokes Dylan.

Hiking back downhill shouldn’t have been as difficult, but an accident complicated things.

“I was just stepping down from a big rock and just didn’t step right,” Dylan says. “I hyperextended my knee pretty bad, so the rest of the days down were pretty brutal.”

Dylan fought through the pain, and the four men returned home to Lake Highlands safely on Jan. 4.

Hiking the distance is an accomplishment in and of itself, but it held a certain significance to each member of the party.

Andy and Bob are 59 and 57, respectively. Pushing their bodies to such a

high degree of physicality was an achievement. Dylan and Aidan got to go full circle, capping off their college years on Mt. Everest after growing up together as scouts.

Andy described the time spent with his son on the trip as “invaluable.” The four men say they couldn’t have gotten through the hike without each other, and wouldn’t have wanted to experience Everest solo.

“Physically and mentally it was a pretty big challenge,” Dylan says. “But also (I was) getting to have one last hurrah with my dad.”

After a childhood full of backpacking trips, Everest was the “coolest,” Aidan says.

“It was kind of like a sendoff,” Bob says. “Instead of a graduation present, one last big trek.”

The Irwins and the Burkes were on the Everest trail for 12 days.

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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

DAVIS LAWN CARE, LLC

580-222-4909 or davislawncare214@yahoo.com

Serving Lake Highlands & Lakewood.

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

NEW LEAF TREE, LLC

Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528

PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.

RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com

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

WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER

Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214.321.2387

DALLAS KDR SERVICES

• Lawn service

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

MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983

Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes

NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC.

Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident 30+ Yrs.exp. 214-827-0090

REMODELING

KEYS AND GRIM

30 years of experience in residential remodeling. “They are the best…and so nice.” ~ Mom keysandgrim.com 214-952-4490

O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For Over 24 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448

RENOVATE DALLAS

renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427

SERVICES FOR YOU

DENTAL INSURANCE- Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258

DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

"Keeping Children & Pets in Mind"

Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems

Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic 214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com abetterearth.com

PLUMBING

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

PLUMBING ISSUES ?

We’re the Experts!

30 Years of Excellent Service

• Water Heaters

• Water Leaks

• Sewer Backups

• All Plumbing Repairs 24/7 On-Call

ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!

POOLS

972-379-4000 staggsplumbing.co

Master P lumber License M-17697

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration.

Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075

ROOFING & GUTTERS

BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years • Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards • Free Estimates www.bertroofing.com 214.321.9341

LICENSED INSURED LOCAL

DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373

FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353

GET DISH SATELLITE TV +INTERNET

Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516

HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141

PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE:

Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special!

Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450

WHERE DID YOUR MONEY GO? Bookkeeping Services for small businesses & Personal. Financial organizing. Quicken & other programs. Sharon 214-679-9688

REAL ESTATE

Roofing iding utters Joe Clifford www.exteriorscc.net 469·291·7039

1-833-606-6777

REPLACE your roof with the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available.

Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install. (military, health &1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD?

Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes

Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839

FOR RENT Little Forest Hills 2/1 Single Family Home w/fence. $1,600mo. $1,600 deposit. Cheryl. 214-235-1399

GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites

Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886

REMODELING

OFFICE SUBLEASE In Bishop Arts. Cool, Quiet. 1,179 Sq ft. 4 rooms + kit / bath, parking. $2,950 + NNNs. 713.302-7722.

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

FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com

(214) 503-7663 www.scottexteriors.com

SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services

WATER DAMAGE

cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value!

Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809

TUTOR/LESSONS

WANTED: OBOE TEACHER needed for 14 year old student. Call 214–235-7429

214-794-6382

By EMMA RUBY

11 Dallas Public Library branches need replacement or expansion, study finds

A20-year facility plan and five-year strategic plan for the Dallas Public Library system found 11 library branches in need of “moderate to significant” expansion or replacement, according to a presentation given to the city council last month.

The city-wide library assessment and plan was the first conducted since pre-COVID said Jill Eyres, an associate principal for Group 4 Architecture, the firm who led the planning project. The plan was developed over the course of a year, taking into account community meetings and digital and analog surveys. 2,800 digital survey responses were submitted, while 530 analog responses were submitted.

The facility plan found that the Dallas Public Library system has kept up with the area’s population growth since the last facility initiative, and the 29 libraries in the DPL system are “well distributed.”

But the plan recommended keeping up with projected population growth in the region by expanding or replacing 11 existing, smaller branches across the city, instead of opening additional branches.

“Each one of those comes with a pretty substantial operating cost. It’s more staff. The strategy that should be more efficient to staff is expand the little libraries that you have,” Eyres said.

Nine library branches were classified as needing renovation or reimagining, including the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library which was one of two libraries found to be “in less than good condition” in a recent city facilities assessment.

“I was surprised to see how many libraries need replacement. I know we have, in the bond, two replacements,” council member Gay Donnell Willis said. “I see you have several more in this plan that need that, so I think that’s important for residents to know.

That we’re sort of chipping away at this.” Willis and council member Paula Blackmon said they support exploring mixed-use developments in future library builds, including multi-story buildings that function as housing on upper levels and a library on lower levels.

Assistant Director of Dallas Public Library Heather Lowe also said the facility plan will address the strain the library system puts on city-wide IT. The library system has over 900 public computers, plus additional technology for staff or special uses, Lowe said.

“We put a lot of pressure on the IT department and we are looking for ways to make the customer experience better and to be more efficient and nimble moving forward,” she said.

In a five-year strategic plan, Lowe outlined eight goals for the library system. Top priorities were creating opportunities for learning and discovery, providing customer-responsive technology, cultivating a vibrant materials collection and reducing barriers to access.

“That is across the board, whether it is a cultural barrier, a physical barrier or any other kind of barrier, we want to make sure people can access the Dallas Public Library,” Lowe said.

Council member Adam Bazaldua said he is concerned about limited hours at library facilities. The 20-year facilities plan focused on “big, audacious goals,” while an “entire population” is unable to access the libraries due to operating hours, he said.

“I don’t really agree necessarily with investing tons of dollars in increasing the size of our libraries when all of our libraries still close at 5 p.m.,” Bazaldua said. “Any municipality that touches the city of Dallas’ borders, every single municipality offers their public libraries later than we do. And we are Dallas. I think that’s a big issue.”

DECA LOVES PRADA

Isabel Willis competes in top career development Apparel and Accessories Marketing competition

The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is an international nonprofit designed to prepare young entrepreneurs through educational business competitions.

DECA hosts the annual International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California, inviting over 22,000 top students across all DECA chapters to learn and compete in a series of educational challenges.

Lake Highlands High School senior Isabel Willis has been selected by DECA to compete in the Apparels and Accessories Marketing category.

In the Apparel and Accessories Marketing competition, participants take a 100-question test and take part in a “roleplay” where they are given a scenario with 10 minutes to plan out the presentation for the selected topic. Competitors are scored on presentation and accuracy.

“Through the Apparel and Accessories Marketing category, I have gained real-world experience that will prepare me for the things I plan on studying in college and the career I want to go into: fashion marketing,” Willis says. “I plan on making a big impact on the

fashion business world and I 100% believe that DECA’s role plays and tests have prepared me for this by sharpening my abilities to think quickly and critically.”

While Willis gets a lot out of DECA personally, it’s definitely a group effort.

“Our chapter has been involved with monthly meetings to connect about preparation for competition, fundraising efforts, collaboration with other school chapters and community service at Feed My Starving Children,” Willis says.

The DECA chapter at LHHS is sponsored by teachers Ramona Harper and JulieAnn Bever. Willis is in Harper’s room every day preparing for DECA by studying performance indicators, marketing vocabulary and practicing roleplays.

“I truly believe this continuous daily practice, support, and dedication is what has allowed me to advance so far,” she says. “I am so excited to be competing in California in April as it gives me a chance to meet and connect with people at DECA’s highest-level competition.”

Student Feature by PHOEBE SMITH Photography by RAMONA HARPER

Story first appeared in LHHS student publication, The Fang.