2019 April Lakewood

KEVIN BITTICK 214-335-1793

KevinBittick@Ebby.com

LAKEWOOD AND EAST DALLAS EXPERTS

CAROLYN ALBERS BLACK 214-675-2089

CarolynABlack@Ebby.com

SHELLY BROWN-QUALLS

Brown-Qualls & Schrickel Group 214-934-0077

ShellyBrown@Ebby.com

STEVE CAIRNS 972-740-2517

SteveCairns@Ebby.com

KONNIE CLAYTON

King Clayton Group 214-708-5233

KonnieClayton@Ebby.com

DENNIS COLEMAN 214-498-4136

DennisColeman@Ebby.com

PATTY COLLINS 214-862-5524

PattyCollins@Ebby.com

STEVE DAVIES 214-650-9660

SteveDavies@Ebby.com

PAM DYBVAD

Dybvad Phelps & Sinnott Group 214-354-2823

Pam@Ebby.com

RONDA HARDT

The Hardt Group 214-502-8666

RondaHardt@Ebby.com

SANDY EVERETT 214-354-7705

SandyEverett@Ebby.com

JORGE GOLDSMIT 214-245-5357 Jorge@Ebby.com

DAVID HARDT The Hardt Group 214-924-7577

DavidHardt@Ebby.com

KATHERENE HOUGH 214-532-2118

Katherene@Ebby.com

DEBRAH KING King Clayton Group 214-683-3655

DebKing@Ebby.com

STACEY BECKHAM LAKE Lake-Gamso Team 214-908-2477

StaceyLake@Ebby.com

PHOTO BY DANNY FULGENCIO

begins with

Brandon Hill, MD

Advanced Heart & Vascular Care

9 IMPRESSIVE STORIES ONLY TO BE OUTDONE BY A LIFETIME OF EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES

Introducing The Vista at CC Young.

This brand new, state-of-art community, is opening soon. With beautiful gardens, an indoor heated pool, casual bistro and more, there will always be something for you to discover.

You’ll find yourself in good hands with our Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Short Term Rehabilitation and Adult Day Center. Join our Priority Program for exclusive discounts and benefits!

Who You Work With Matters.

Kelly E.

SEE

Competitors, bug off

J.L. Long sixth-grader Aarav Patel won the grand prize in physical science at the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair for his project examining the effectiveness of insect repellents. In addition to winning the grand prize in the junior division, Patel took home the first-place ribbon in chemistry over about 20 other contestants. Patel will submit his project again at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair at Texas A&M University.

Restaurant roundup

• The Southern-inspired breakfast and lunch cafe, Another Broken Egg, has closed in Casa Linda Plaza after about 10 years in business. A spokeswoman for the chain said the eatery shut its doors Feb. 25 because the owner could not agree on lease terms with the property owner, Edens.

DISTRIBUTION PH/214.560.4203

ADVERTISING PH/214.560.4203

office administrator: Judy Liles

214.560.4203 / jliles@advocatemag.com

SENIOR ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Kristy Gaconnier

214.264.5887 / kgaconnier@advocatemag.com

Sally Ackerman

214.560.4202 / sackerman@advocatemag.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Frank McClendon

214.560.4215 / fmcclendon@advocatemag.com

Greg Kinney

214.292.0485 / gkinney@advocatemag.com

Michele Paulda

214.292.2053 / mpaulda@advocatemag.com

Catherine Pate

214.560.4201 / cpate@advocatemag.com

classified manager: Prio Berger

214.292.0493 / pberger@advocatemag.com

marketing director: Sally Wamre

214.635.2120 / swamre@advocatemag.com

EDITORIAL publisher: Lisa Kresl

214.560.4200 / lkresl@advocatemag.com

editor-at-large: Keri Mitchell

214.292.0487 / kmitchell@advocatemag.com

EDITORS:

Rachel Stone

214.292.0490 / rstone@advocatemag.com

Elissa Chudwin

815.274.4340 / echudwin@advocatemag.com

Jaime Dunaway

214.560.4208 / jdunaway@advocatemag.com

digital strategy: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com

digital manager: Christian Welch

214.240.8916 / cwelch@advocatemag.com

senior art director: Jynnette Neal

214.560.4206 / jneal@advocatemag.com

designer: Ashley Drake

214.292.0493 / adrake@advocatemag.com

designer: Emily Hulen Thompson

contributors: George Mason, Patti Vinson, Scott Shirley, Carol Toler

photo editor: Danny Fulgencio

214.635.2121 / danny@advocatemag.com

contributing photographers: Kathy Tran, Nikola Olic

president: Rick Wamre

214.560.4212 / rwamre@advocatemag.com

A show of support

East Dallas churches are covering “United Methodist” on their street signs with rainbow pride flags to show support for same-sex marriage and gay clergy after the passage of the Traditional Plan at the United Methodist Church’s General Conference in late February.

• The Alamo Club, an upscale neighborhood restaurant and bar serving American classics, is open on Greenville Avenue. The eatery will take over the former Blind Butcher space and serve guests dinner in a cozy dining area and outdoor patio.

Meet municipal candidates

Go online to see the complete list of candidates running for Dallas City Council in districts 9 and 14.

Advocate, © 2019, is published monthly by East Dallas – Lakewood People Inc. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Opinions set forth in the Advocate are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s viewpoint. More than 200,000 people read Advocate publications each month. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one copy per reader. Advocate was founded in 1991 by Jeff Siegel, Tom Zielinski and Rick Wamre.

ABOUT THE COVER

Photography by Danny Fulgencio. A pane of stained glass embedded with broken glass and pottery from the old McCommas and Abrams Estate hangs in the remodeled home. Read more on page 86.

FOLLOW US: Talk

BELLA VISTA

Designed with you in mind.

Meet design partner Rob Little and learn about the Bella Vista process.

The trick is assembling the right team that can take you all the way from design to completion. This is where the design and construction pros at Bella Vista Company excel.

With any home remodeling project, the design phase is crucial. At Bella Vista, this process is led by design partner Rob Little. Throughout his 30+ years in the industry, Rob has designed more than 1,000 homes for happy clients, and brings his vast knowledge and experience to every project.

His extensive training began at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree, and continued in San Francisco apprenticing under award-winning architect William Churchill. Following a move to Texas and more than a decade of living and working in East Dallas, he’s incredibly well-versed in the architectural styles and building requirements of our neighborhood.

“At Bella Vista, we begin every project with a personalized assessment of the way the client lives,” Rob says, “which helps us to determine if they need a few improvements, large-scale renovations or a complete new build.”

Exploring ideas up-front is key. Before doing any design work, Rob studies a client’s lifestyle in order to understand their unique and specific needs. He then o ers multiple fully designed options, working with the client in a collaborative back-and-forth process, until reaching a dream design at an attainable price point, based on the client’s budget.

“I’m here to help design your home, not mine,” Rob says, “which is why our team is dedicated to designing and pricing our clients’ homes until they’re ready to move forward with construction.”

If you live in a Conservation District, Rob’s expertise is an essential resource in gaining the necessary permit approval to start construction.

“The design process starts by getting to know you, and how you live. I’m here to help design your home, not mine.”

— ROB LITTLE

Interested in a remodel or renovation but not sure where to start?

He handles the paperwork, making the process run more smoothly and quickly. His knowledge of the system often saves time, costs and design integrity compared to lessexperienced architects and designers.

When you work with Bella Vista, Rob is involved throughout the entire construction process – at no extra charge – supervising and advising the team to ensure that your vision and collaborative design is achieved in the final build.

“Bella Vista’s design approach is simple,” Rob says. “We design until you’re happy, at a fixed-price. This promise has led to beautiful homes and delighted homeowners in East Dallas for the past 13 years.”

“Rob helped us explore possibilities I couldn’t have imagined. He designed a home my family and I will enjoy for many years.” – MARICELLA M.

A bath, a shower or both? Tailoring a home to fit your needs comes from first learning how you live and your priorities. Then, creating a cohesive plan that achieves those goals.

“Rob created a home that was everything I wanted and, with his expertise, added everything I didn’t even know I needed, but now I couldn’t live without. I can’t recommend him highly enough!” - LUCY M.

Know what you want in your home remodel project but aren’t sure how to get started? Stop by Bella Vista Company’s state-of-the-art, two-story design center showcasing kitchen, bath and outdoor living vignettes, along with ideas for design, implementation and complete project management. Drop by weekdays and Saturdays at 8989 Garland Road near the Dallas Arboretum.

A common remodel request is to move the washer and dryer from the kitchen and make space for a true laundry room. Rob’s expertise is essential to make the most out of space.

APRIL 25-28

INTO THE WOODS

Beware of witches, wolves and giants as you journey into the woods at Woodrow Wilson’s 62nd annual spring musical.

Where: Woodrow Wilson High School, 100 S. Glasgow Drive Cost: $10-$18

More info: wwhschoir. weebly.com

6 things to do in East Dallas this April

APRIL 4

Run for the lake

Help renovation efforts at White Rock Lake Park by running the Celebration White Rock 5K and 10K. Treat yourself afterward with free food and drinks at a neighborhood block party.

Where: Winfrey Point, 950 E. Lawther Drive

Cost: $20-$45

More info: whiterockdallas.org

APRIL 5

Oh snap! Take Insta-worthy photos at Snap151, an interactive pop-up photo studio that features colorful palettes, confetti, streamers, flamingos and more.

Where: 5307 E. Mockingbird Lane

Cost: $12-$20

More info: snap151.com

APRIL 6

A Dilbeck dream

The second Cochran Heights Home Tour will feature three homes from architect Charles Dilbeck and two others to reflect the range of styles in the neighborhood. Proceeds will be used to turn an abandoned alley into a pedestrian walkway connecting to a city park.

Where: Cochran Heights, 5110 Milam St. Cost: $20 More info: cochranheights.com

APRIL 13

Be a nosy neighbor Tour seven historic houses from the early 1900s at the Munger Place Wine Walk and Home Tour benefitting the Lipscomb Elementary Parent-Teacher Association and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater East Dallas.

Where: Munger Place

Historic District

Cost: $25-$65

More info: mungerplace.com

APRIL 26-29

Artscape

This craft show features a variety of photographs, jewelry, paintings, sculptures and woodwork available for purchase.

Where: Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road

Cost: Free with general admission ticket

More info: dallasarboretum.org

Estate on the Lake Estate on the

UP FRONT

Interview by JAIME DUNAWAY / Photography courtesy of BARBARA BIANCHI

The dusty hallways of the historic Bianchi House on Reiger and North Carroll avenues still occupy Barbara Bianchi’s family memories. New owners are restoring the decaying house, destroyed by fire and water damage. But Bianchi is keeping its history alive. Her trove of historical documents will help ensure neighbors remember the “House of the Future’s” past.

What do you know about the home’s founders?

The original builders were Didaco Bianchi and his brother, Gaetano. They were from Renazzo, Italy, and they came over because of World War I. Jacob Waspi was a good friend. His family came down in the 1870s, and they were members of the 26-member Swiss colony. Waspi and Didaco got together and formed Southwest Architectural Cement Stone Company. They were quite successful. They did the Majestic Theatre in Fort Worth, the Oriental Hotel in Dallas and are reported to have done the fountain and some other buildings at Fair Park.

What is your connection to the house?

We assume Waspi introduced Didaco to his youngest daughter, Ida. They married March 5, 1907. The next step after that is to build a home. The house was completed in 1912, and they had two children, David and Theodore. Theodore was my husband Robert’s father. Didaco and Ida were his paternal grandparents. Robert passed away last year.

What did the interior look like?

The inside was just marvelous. The entryway had high ceilings and beautiful, intricate

“The house seems to have an aura.”

A child performs a headstand while playing outside the Bianchi House.

Interview edited for clarity and brevity.

crown molding. It had a butler’s pantry, which was a lovely feature of the old house. Didaco was heavily involved with the design and did some interior stonework himself. It was done in the prairie style, similar to country homes in his part of Italy. The foundations were 17 feet deep. Didaco wanted to be sure the house would be on an extremely stable foundation. It needed to be sturdy to hold the structure because it was built of stone. The main fireplace was cement. There was a brick oven in the kitchen. The kitchen floor was all tile. They did an excellent job because the house burned, and the new owners tell me there is not a crack in that fireplace.

What memories do you have of the house?

We visited Robert’s grandmother Ida. She was quite eccentric. She had a parrot that sang “The Eyes of Texas are Upon You” when you walked up on the front porch. She also had a spider monkey she would dress in different outfits based on the season.

Why did the family decide to sell the home?

Ida Bianchi was from the generation that didn’t lock their

doors. A young man broke into the house. He demanded money and jewelry. He didn’t speak any English, and she didn’t understand what he was asking. She had everything in a floor safe under a rug, and she was so stubborn she wouldn’t have given him anything anyway. He beat her up, took a lamp cord and tied her to the bed and raped her. She was in her 90s. One of her neighbors found her screaming. They decided it wasn’t safe for her to live there anymore, and it wasn’t feasible for us to move in with her.

What was it like to see the house fall into such disrepair?

It was very traumatic. It almost brought me to tears. I’m glad my husband didn’t see it. As a child, he would spend time in the summer there at his granny’s house. It would have really, really hurt my husband because he had fond memories of the home.

What are you doing now to share the history of the house?

I’m trying to pull together as much research on both families as I can. It gives an understanding of why the house was built the way it was. The house seems to have an aura. When people go in, they seem to like it and want to live there.

Clockwise: A portrait of Didaco Bianchi; Didaco and Ida Bianchi with their two sons; Robert Bianchi, right, and his brother Theodore Jacob Bianchi Jr. with their mother and father, Louise and Theodore Bianchi; Jacob Waspi and family.

“Having

anyone looking to buy or sell in East Dallas.”

Audrey and Jason

“Kelley is knowledgeable with the ability to listen to requests and build on those to achieve success. I can’t say enough good things. Hard-working and accessible throughout the whole process. Kind and realistic. Great connections, Love for community.” -

Shannon and Jacob

Sam Claussen

Neighborhood air-conditioning company’s business built on honesty and integrity

When Lisa and Scott Schorfheide bought their 1952 home, the twobedroom, one-bath gem was a solid find. It just needed some updates.

Topping the renovation list was a re-do of the original HVAC system. Scott says they interviewed several vendors for the job.

After receiving additional quotes, the Schorfheides chose neighborhood provider Dual Temp. Why?

“Other vendors ran diagnostics, but then Kyle with Dual Temp came by. He didn’t give his personal opinion, he showed why what he said was true. Dual Temp could have billed us for all kinds of parts we were told we needed, but in fact did not. Honesty is a large part of why we chose Dual Temp. They’ve done a good job for us,” Scott says.

When it comes to knowing how to evaluate, repair and, if needed, install new heating and air-conditioning systems in neighborhood homes, not many vendors have as much knowledge as Dual Temp.

Dual Temp treats each job individually and works to be cost-effective.

Scott and Lisa were advised to use a two-stage cooling system for high efficiency and personal comfort in the house. High-quality air filtration was used as well to help keep the house clean.

“This enhanced system is quiet; it runs at half power except when the demand is really high to maintain efficiency. Dual Temp considered technical factors to determine correct tonnage size for our home,” Scott says.

An oversized unit leaves too much moisture in the air, increasing potential for mold, bacteria and pollutants; undersized gets overworked. Dual Temp computed that sweet spot.

Dual Temp explained the value of additional return-air vents for proper air flow. The company added duct work to upgrade from the original installation. Scott likes the smart thermostat Dual Temp included; it allows unit access via his smart phone from anywhere.

Scott says Dual Temp even explained how to get maximum benefit from the unit’s warranty by being current with service records and homeowner maintenance.

Dual Temp also understands other trades, Scott says, and can recommend reputable neighborhood vendors it’s already vetted.

“ Dual Temp could have billed us for all kinds of parts we were told we needed, but in fact did not. Honesty is a large part of why we chose Dual Temp. They’ve done a good job for us!”

When ready for a review of your heating and airconditioning system, contact Dual Temp for an evaluation at 214.850.7000

Cody Ackerman and Kyle Pratt visit with client Scott Schorfheide to find the perfect HVAC solution. Photo by Ralph DiFronzo.

Like school kids get colds and coughs, so do dogs

Kennel cough is a general term for Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, a complex of infectious agents commonly found where dogs congregate.

The traditional mild, hacking cough may require no medications. Signs of a serious condition include lethargy, fever, nasal discharge and may require comprehensive care and even hospitalization.

Important vaccines help prevent culprits such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Distemper and Canine Influenza; however, other viral and bacterial agents can produce microscopic contaminants causing infections.

Infected particles float in the air landing on toys, communal bowls, even your clothing, causing this highly contagious infection to spread. Even before the telltale cough starts, your pet could be contagious similar to how the cold virus spreads.

If your dog starts coughing, contact any grooming or daycare facility where your dog has been in the last week so extra precautions can be taken to protect others. While humans can wear masks, at Rutherford Veterinary Hospital we ask owners of coughing dogs to call ahead and remain in their car until a room is available. Most importantly, isolate your dog during infection, which make take up to 4 weeks to resolve.

While cases of kennel cough can never be fully stopped, if your dog suddenly starts coughing, avoid the dog park and call Rutherford Veterinary Hospital at 214-826-4166

HARDLY A HARD-KNOCK LIFE

Little orphan Annie found a home three years ago when owner Allison Biel found her wandering the streets of Lakewood as a puppy. The Lakewood Hills neighbor took her to the vet, who said the lab mix would look like a new dog after a month of TLC. “She hit the jackpot,” Biel says. Today, Annie is living the dream Daddy Warbucks style with her two feline siblings, who like to remind her that they were adopted first. Annie loves rubs on her reddish fur, going for walks on the Santa Fe Trail and serving as the family watchdog when the mail carrier comes to visit.

GOT A PET YOU WANT US TO FEATURE?

Serving neighborhood pets since 1924

Lakewood resident Teri Rowan, DVM

PAWS & CLAWS

ALL THE WORLD IS HER CANVAS

ARTIST ANNIE GRIFFETH’S MCCOMMAS HOME IS HER MUSE

Story by JAIME DUNAWAY / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

LAKEWOOD NEIGHBOR ANNIE GRIFFETH knows anything can be a canvas — including the walls of her house.

In late January, they were painted a dark blue and adorned with paintings of a cheeseburger and French fries. Before that, they displayed a mural of a girl chasing a cat. And before that, they were covered in a hand-painted, Hawaiian-inspired design. Today, it’s likely she has revamped the walls again.

“This house will constantly change,” Annie says. “I can’t help it.”

The home on McCommas Boulevard that Annie shares with her husband, Teal Griffeth, is a mix of modern pop art infused with Asian-inspired design elements that remind her of growing up in Hawaii. There are several nods to the Rainbow State throughout the house, including Japanese temples, palm trees and a multicolored staircase that is one of the home’s most striking features.

“I thought about painting the staircase rainbow, but I didn’t want to ask Teal because I knew he would let me do it. I didn’t know if he wanted that,” Annie says. “Two days later, he said, ‘We should paint the staircase rainbow.’ I was like, ‘Yes! I did marry the right guy.’”

Like their house, the Griffeths’ love story is anything but tra-

ditional. The couple met on a group trip to Las Vegas before Teal, a Green Beret, deployed to Afghanistan.

“I was told not to be all crazy,” Teal says. “When this beautiful girl comes out, I’m like, ‘Hello, nice to meet you,’ shaking her hand and being a nerd. Obviously, she fell in love with me immediately.”

Maybe not immediately, but it was close, Annie says. She spent the beginning of the trip cracking Teal’s cool façade. After that, it wasn’t long before the pair ditched the group and set off on their own adventure. Their chemistry was obvious from the start.

“The first day we met, people were like, ‘Did you just get married? Let’s get shots for them,’” Annie says. “All of a sudden we realized we were getting all these free drinks, and we

Above: Annie Griffeth has revised this painting in her sitting room multiple times to match the new murals and decorations she adds to her home.

“You’ll see things filled with happiness, hope and love because that’s truly what is inside of me.”

Annie and Teal Griffeth on their rainbow staircase.

were like, ‘Yeah! We did just get married.’”

Actually, the marriage happened a year and a half later. Teal proposed on a rooftop in Washington, and two days later, the couple returned to Vegas and stayed at the same hotel where they first met. They got married in a chapel and walked down the aisle holding hands to Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine.”

The couple moved to Lakewood two years ago and quickly immersed themselves in the community by providing art supplies to elementary schools and donating artwork to area nonprofits.

Annie’s work, which includes ink drawings and oil paintings,

is all connected to events in her life. On the eve of her 35th birthday, she painted a girl wearing star-shaped glasses and Minnie Mouse ears to symbolize never growing old.

“You’ll see things filled with happiness, hope and love because that’s truly what is inside of me,” she says.

While Annie continues to make art that has sold across the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan, Teal works in commercial real estate for Lincoln Harris.

“There are some guys at the office that I can tell try to stay there as long as possible,” Teals says. “I’m like, ‘I want to go home.’ I love my house. It’s never boring.”

Above: A studio in Annie Griffeth’s home is where she creates artwork seen throughout her house.

We Get Lakewood.

In Lakewood, you need a proven professional to help you find just what you’re looking for. And as Dallas’ experts on our city’s close-in neighborhoods, no one gets Lakewood quite like we do. Buying? Selling? Call The Professionals at 214.526.5626 or visit davidgriffin.com.

We’re at home anywhere in the world.

David Griffin & Company Realtors is a member of both Mayfair International Realty and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, so whether you’re looking to move across the street or across the globe, we can help. Learn more at davidgriffin.com or call 214.526.5626.

HOME TOUR DE FORCE

CHECK OUT THESE INSPIRING HOUSES ON THE WHITE ROCK HOME TOUR

Story by JAIME DUNAWAY

Photography courtesy of the WHITE ROCK HOME TOUR

Tis the season for home tours, when design aficionados and nosy neighbors can sightsee their way through modern abodes and traditional homes. At the White Rock Home Tour, established in 2005 as a fundraiser for Hexter Elementary, attendees can walk through six mid-century and contemporary houses. Tour these homes to satisfy your home design cravings without your daily dose of HGTV.

The home at 2408 Loving Ave. includes a painting from an artist whom owner Sarita Rao coincidentally met at a wedding.

THE ARTISTIC ABODE

The 2-year-old house in the 2400 block of Loving Avenue is just four walls and a roof. What makes it home is the artwork that owner Sarita Rao displays from her travels. A painting from Vietnam is mounted in the kitchen. An old ox cart from Thailand sits in the backyard.

“I believe in having art in the house and stuff you can relate to,” she says.

Rao has filled the two-story, 4,200-squarefoot house with art from Chicago, New York and all the places she’s lived. She’s quickly accumulating works from her new home in Dallas.

In the front yard, neighbors can borrow a book from a lending library made as a mini replica of the house. In the back, she’s hung a metal sign that says, “All hat and no cattle.”

Two glass fire pits filled with stone are also located in a sitting area in the backyard, landscaped with flowerbeds and artificial turf.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and large, open spaces in the four-bedroom residence make inhabitants feel like they’re in a courtyard. When the trees are in bloom, the foliage reduces visibility through the glass walls in an upstairs sitting room that Rao calls “the treehouse room.”

Despite its location several miles from downtown, Rao says the house feels like a loft. The master bedroom, which includes a bed handmade by a Dallas artist, is located on the first floor. A hallway from the bedroom opens into a large living room and a kitchen with a fridge in the middle of the room.

Rao’s one complaint: There’s no wine cellar. As a result, more than 2,000 bottles of wine are stowed throughout the house in various closets and wine racks.

“It’s been a good house,” she says. “I love the diversity of the architecture here. It doesn’t feel like everyone is living in the same house.”

We’re at home anywhere in the world.

David Griffin & Company Realtors is a member of both Mayfair International Realty and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, so whether you’re looking to move across the street or across the globe, we can help. Learn more at davidgriffin.com or call 214.526.5626.

5606 Morningside Ave $439,900

6122 Bryan Pkwy. $879,000

5511 Mercedes Ave. Coming Soon

Robert Kucharski 214.356.5802

UP FRONT

THE GREEN HOUSE LEED-ING THE WAY

Scott and Melissa Powell wanted to bring the outdoors in when they built their home in the 8000 block of Forest Trail five years ago. But the Powells don’t just enjoy nature in their home. They protect it. The building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified and boasts green features that reduce the family’s environmental footprint. Solar panels installed on the roof, low-flow plumbing and motion-censored lights also reduce utility costs for the family of six.

The two-story, 5,800-square-foot home channels mid-century inspiration with bright, warm colors and sliding wooden doors reclaimed from old fences on the property. A floating staircase is the architectural exclamation point in the large entryway.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom can be opened on a timer to reveal the sunrise. And during the afternoons, the Powells can look through the glass wall at their children playing in an expansive backyard that includes a playhouse, swimming pool, zip line, sandbox and in-ground trampoline.

There’s plenty to marvel at within the house, but with four kids, it’s also designed practically.

“On moving day, the kids disappeared upstairs, and we were downstairs unboxing,” Scott says. “We went to go check on them, and our two boys’ names were scratched into the wall with the edge of an airplane wing. As nice as you want your house to be, if you have kids, it’s only a matter of time before stuff happens.”

The house has two dishwashers, two sinks, a walk-in pantry and an oversized shower with a freestanding tub in the back. The house is also free of carpet after Scott caught his 3-year-old son peeing in the bedroom at their previous house.

The home’s spaciousness and durability also make it great for entertaining guests in the community.

“We want our house to be the culminating place in the neighborhood,” Scott says.

White Rock Home Tour

When: April 27-28, noon to 5 p.m.

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 during the tour

More info: whiterockhometour.com

The kitchen at 8034 Forest Trail has two sinks, two dishwashers and a walk-in pantry.

SPRING ZING

NEIGHBORHOOD-INSPIRED COCKTAILS FOR BOUGIE BOOZIES

Jones Long of Lounge Here has been a bartender for seven and a half years. Although she’s only been working in East Dallas since August 2018, her fresh take on the neighborhood led her to create cocktails inspired by the people and places of East Dallas. Long concocted two drinks. One from the bar’s upcoming spring menu is a tribute to Lounge Here owner Julie Doyle. The other, made especially for the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate, encapsulates the difference Long sees between Lakewood and her home turf of Oak Cliff.

Story by CHRISTIAN WELCH | Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

The “Tripping Daisy” cocktail was named after the Dallas psychedelic pop rock band.

THE “TRIPPING DAISY”

.75 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice

.5 oz Falernum

.5 oz Domaine de Canton

1.5 oz Arette tequila

Wasabi to taste

Garnish with a dehydrated pineapple wheel, a pineapple leaf and a buzz button (AKA a Szechuan button).

This cocktail was originally inspired by Lounge Here owner Julie Doyle and her time with the band Tripping Daisy. Although the musical influence is reminiscent of Lakewood, it is a perfect picture of White Rock Lake. The margarita looks pretty and floral. Imagine a well-designed exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in a glass. The wasabi packs surprising heat, like when an aggressive biker cuts you off.

THE “BARELY EVEN FRIENDS”

.5 oz Routin blanc vermouth

.5 oz Malört

.75 oz St. Germain

1.5 oz Botanist gin

Garnish with balsamic-soaked Castelvetrano olives stuffed with pickled lemon rind.

Although the name and the drink may not be too sweet, it captures the stereotype of the Lakewood lawyer or politician — refined and elegant with a fabulous-looking life, but whose face reveals the stress of high-profile jobs and everyday struggles. The martini is sweet and refined at first sip and then finishes with a lingering bitterness. While not everyone in Lakewood fits this picture, Long sees a few neighbors of this type come through the bar.

— Zachary Burleson

ere's No Question Who's Leading Lakewood...

...Our People.

AACCORDING TO GIA:

The spring market arrived early ellers are ready to list and buyers are purchasing. f you are priced to sell, you can e pect full price, and in some cases multiple offers. long with location, price is a huge consideration. Overpricing guarantees lower offers, holding costs and e tra days on the market.

AACCORDING TO KATE:

Most buyers want the same thing—an open floor plan, great master suite and a light and bright finish-out. Those who really want to be in Lakewood tend to also come for the charm that the neighborhood is known for.

WHAT SETS TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS APART FROM THE REST?

A

ACCORDING TO LIZ:

Top agents are knowledgeable about the areas they serve. They’re e uipped with sales data and understand the nuances of each neighborhood, particularly in markets like Lakewood. Developing a solid understanding of the client’s goals and priorities is also critical. Overall, being able to provide that kind of lu ury service and delivering results is a winning combination.

LIZ CHALFANT . .

liz.chalfant alliebeth.com

WHAT MAKES LAKEWOOD A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE?

AQACCORDING TO ANNAMARI : Lakewood is definitely one of the popular kids of Dallas neighborhoods. amilies come for the e emplary schools. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to hite Rock Lake its -mile loop it can’t be beat ore than anything, people make Lakewood special. o matter the block, neighbors are always wonderful and welcoming.

ANNAMARI LANNON . .

annamari alliebeth.com

NIKKI KIENAST . .

nikki.kienast alliebeth.com

6238 Vickery Boulevard • Offered for $1,099,000 SOLD Represented Buyer

HOW DO YOU SUCCESSFULLY SELL HOMES IN EAST DALLAS?

ACCORDING TO SUSAN : am selling a lifestyle. East Dallas is like a small town in a big city. t has an ustin-like flair with its own vibe and something for everybody. The ever-evolving neighborhoods are fantastic because you have great architecture, both old and new. t’s a lot of fun to live there and a lot of fun to sell there.

SUSAN

HOW DO BUYER EXPECTATIONS DIFFER FROM THE PAST?

ACCORDING TO MARSUE :

Today’s buyers are more knowledgeable and sophisticated. They not only have the help of agents but also the nternet. They bring more critical thinking to the conversation. ellers must be aware of this and make their listings competitive. They should straighten their cabinets, clean closets, etc. and address even the minor blemishes to make their home more memorable.

MARSUE WILLIAMS . .

marsue.williams alliebeth.com

WHY SHOULD YOUR AGENT HAVE TRUE EAST DALLAS MARKET KNOWLEDGE?

AACCORDING TO RICHARD:

Realtors who know East Dallas have insight into homes that are about to become available. They network with other agents to find off-market properties others aren’t aware off. Truly knowledgeable agents also utilize their connections to build momentum for the homes they are marketing. Oftentimes deals are finalized before a property is officially listed.

THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE

3 DAYS OF FAMILY FUN, FOOD, ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITS, AND EXPERIENCES.

• SCAVENGER HUNTS

• STUDENT FIELD TRIPS

• HACKATHON

• TREE WORLD

• STORYTIME GARDEN

• LIVE MUSIC

• FOOD TRUCKS

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 – Join EarthxFilm and the Trinity River Audubon for a picnic and guided hike. Bring your lunch or food for purchase available. LEARN MORE & REGISTER AT EARTHXFILM.ORG

APRIL 26 - 28

• FAIR PARK, DALLAS, TX

EARTH X .ORG

THE BESTS’ KEPT SECRETS

They aren’t just East Dallas and Lakewood’s finest real estate agents — they are connoisseurs who know their areas like no one else. Here, top agents at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty share facts, FYIs and insider information — from hot neighborhoods to even hotter spots.

PORTRAITS PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE HISTORIC FILTER BUILDING ON WHITE ROCK LAKE

RESTAURANT The Dairy-Ette at 9785 Ferguson Road. In my early dating days, it was the best! You would park in their front lot and order the best root beer or root beer float in all of Dallas, served to you in a frosted mug. They also were known for the great onion rings and burgers in a red basket. Today, it is run by the fourth generation. SECRET SPOT The best place for taking in the view of White Rock Lake and downtown is the park at Mockingbird Lane and Van Dyke Road. HOT NEIGHBORHOOD Where I have lived most of my life: Casa Linda Forest. The homes are well-built, mostly from the mid-1960s. The values continue to go up. It has a very active neighborhood association and very friendly neighbors.

VICKI WHITE

214-534-1305

vwhite@briggsfreeman.com

BRITT: RESTAURANT Resident Taqueria in Lake Highlands. The tacos are so creative and delicious. My favorites are the braised pork shoulder and the caramelized cauliflower. And, oh, those garlic-y beans. Heavenly!

KYLE: HOT NEIGHBORHOODS Hollywood Heights/Santa Monica: It’s more affordable than Lakewood. Also, the Mount Auburn area that borders it is seeing some life. It could be a good ‘more-risk-more-reward’ buy, if you stay close to Hollywood Heights. CATHERINE: SECRET SPOT During a long morning run, when I come up over TP Hill at the exact second the sun is starting to peek over the horizon, it’s a beautiful view of the lake and the city.

BRITT RHODES

817-917-3062

brhodes@briggsfreeman.com

KYLE BAUGH

214-980-3933

kbaugh@briggsfreeman.com

CATHERINE BLEVENS

832-545-1156

cblevens@briggsfreeman.com

RESTAURANT Terilli’s is so fun. Have a plate of the yummy Italchos — they’re like nachos, but Italian. SHOP The Little Things is my go-to place for gifts, kids’ clothing and toys. It is locally owned. FAVORITE TIME The 4th of July parade on Lakewood Boulevard and Lakeshore Drive. It reminds me of how magical Lakewood and its community really are. HOT NEIGHBORHOOD Munger Place, with historical little jewel-box homes everywhere, whether they are Tudors, Craftsmans or bungalows. This area is so diverse, both in its architecture and its residents. INSIDER FYI The Lakewood Early Childhood PTA raised more than $250,000 in 2018 for Lakewood Elementary School, J.J. Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School.

SKYLAR CHAMPION

214-695-8701

schampion@briggsfreeman.com

RESTAURANT Nestled behind the legendary Jimmy’s Food Store — the only place to get Provel cheese in Dallas — at Bryan Street and North Fitzhugh Avenue sits Urbano Cafe. Wonderfully intimate, it’s the perfect spot for a lively meal with friends and our first choice for an East Dallas night out with out-of-towners. Order the scallops with lemon risotto or the lamb osso buco, with sides of gorgonzola mac-and-cheese or brussels sprouts with pancetta. I recommend this place all the time, based on its witty servers, fresh seasonal food and, of course, the fact that it’s BYOB.

SUSAN MATUSEWICZ

214-392-8813

smatusewicz@briggsfreeman.com

RESTAURANT Alfonso’s Italian Restaurant, tucked away in a little shopping center. The lasagna is yummy and it’s a great place to take the grandchildren. SHOP Talulah & Hess, a great gifts and accessories store, with local ownership. NEIGHBORHOOD

The Cloisters! Where else in Dallas can you find rolling terrain with gorgeous sunrise and sunset views of White Rock Lake? Nature is everywhere. FAVORITE SPACE

The Filter Building — great architectural interest and beautiful views of White Rock Lake. INSIDER FYI Lakewood Country Club was founded in 1912 and was the original site of the golf tournament that has become today’s AT&T Byron Nelson tournament.

JANIS WELLS

214-384-9213

jwells@briggsfreeman.com

LARRY: RESTAURANT Keller’s Drive-In on Northwest Highway. They have carhops who bring great hamburgers, beer, onion rings and fried ham sandwiches with a huge whole thick slice of onion. INSIDER

FYI The Chalet supper club, popular in the 1950s, was located where Kozy Kitchen is now, at 6400 Gaston Avenue.

BECKY: RESTAURANT White Rock

Alehouse & Brewery. Order the Kale & Ale Salad, with grilled chicken, goat cheese, oranges, cranberries, almonds and honey.

HOT NEIGHBORHOOD Forest Hills. I have lived there for 23 years and I am amazed, every day, at how the neighborhood is growing and changing. It offers big lots, a great neighborhood association and architectural diversity.

LARRY ALLEN

214-794-7486

lallen@briggsfreeman.com

BECKY OLIVER

214-354-3098

boliver@briggsfreeman.com

DESIGN LIVING BEAUTIFULLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

DESIGN WITH PURPOSE

MEET THE ARTISTS BEHIND DWELL WITH DIGNITY’S POP-UP SHOP

Story by JAIME DUNAWAY | Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

Ten years ago, Lakewood neighbor Lisa Robison started refurbishing furniture in her garage to give to families escaping homelessness and poverty. With help from her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and dozens more volunteers, her nonprofit Dwell with Dignity is now celebrating a decade of work designing home interiors where families can thrive.

“When you have a home environment that supports a healthy lifestyle, you don’t want to lose that,” Robison says. “People stay put, and it’s a launching ground for them to project their lives in a positive direction.”

From refurbished furniture to local art and cooking utensils, Dwell with Dignity has supplied more than 130 families with everything they need in their new homes. Interiors are stocked with donated goods, and the overstock is sold at the nonprofit’s annual Thrift Studio fundraiser.

The 30-day pop-up shop will feature showrooms created by local designers and stocked with original work from area artists. All items will be available to purchase at significant discounts from wholesale, with all proceeds going to Dwell with Dignity.

Get a sneak peek of the furniture and artwork for sale from these participating East Dallas artists.

From left: Dwell with Dignity founder Lisa Robison, artist Christi Meril and principal architect Eddie Maestri.

CHRISTI MERIL: COLOR-INFUSED WOOD

Christi Meril is a self-taught mixed-media artist who works on wood, canvas and paper.

The M Streets neighbor says she strives to create art with purpose through colorful and whimsical pieces. “My goal is for (my art) to inject joy and positive vibes in whatever space it ends up,” she says. “We need more of that these days.” For the Thrift Studio, she will donate color-infused wooden pieces that will appear to float when mounted on a wall.

Meril is also working on pieces that incorporate words and phrasing. One of her favorites is a canvas with the words “Love is Louder” painted in colorful letters on a white background. She painted the piece after talking to a woman who saw the phrase on a slip of paper at the site of the Boston bombing. Her vision came full circle when a Boston designer purchased the canvas.

EDDIE MAESTRI: VINTAGE ITALIAN LOUNGE

Founded in 2008 by principal architect and owner Eddie Maestri, Maestri Studio specializes in new construction, remodels, historic restorations and interior design. The firm is known for its modern designs with hints of fashion and mid-century inspirations. The Lakewood Hills resident has completed projects in almost every neighborhood, including Lakewood, Forest Hills and Hollywood Heights. “I grew up in New Orleans, and I was drawn to this area because it has an older neighborhood feel, and it seems like a small town,” he says. “It’s eclectic.”

Maestri’s vignette for the Thrift Studio will be a vintage Italian hotel lounge with several cocktail chairs in jewel tones, a curved sofa, colored glass, bold graphics and punches of brass and metals.

Thrift Studio

Snag donated furniture, housewares, accessories and high-end designer finds at the 2019 Thrift Studio.

When: April 5-May 4

Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: 1250 Slocum St. Suite 550

Cost: Free

More info: thriftstudio.com

“My goal is for (my art) to inject joy and positive vibes in whatever space it ends up. We need more of that these days.”

TOP 2018 Re ltors

The Advocate’s annual special section recognizing the neighborhood’s Top Realtors

TOP 20

SCOTT JACKSON

Compass Real Estate

NANCY JOHNSON

Compass Real Estate

DAVID BUSH

David Bush Realtors

KATE WALTERS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BRANDON TRAVELSTEAD

Dallas City Center Realtors

LEE LAMONT

Coldwell Banker Residential

KYLE BRINKLEY

Brinkley Property Group

JOHN ANGELL

Dallas City Center Realtors

BARBARA ARREDONDO

Clay Stapp+Co.

JOE ATKINS

Joe Atkins Realty

JORDAN AUGUST

Pinnacle Realty Advisors

KYLE BAUGH

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

ROBERT BLACKMAN

Solvent Realty Group

JACQUI BLOOMQUIST

Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors

SUSAN BRADLEY

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

RICK BROOKS

Dallas City Center Realtors

PATTY BROOKS

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

NEIL BROUSSARD

Compass Real Estate

MYSTI STEWART

Compass Real Estate

KELLEY THERIOT M C MAHON

Compass Real Estate

NADINE KELSALL-MEYER

Meyer Group Real Estate

PAUL CARPER

Dallas City Center Realtors

NANCY F. WILSON

Coldwell Banker Residential

JEFFREY MITCHELL

Modern Living Real Estate

BRADY MOORE

Compass Real Estate

JANET K. BROWN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

LANDON BURKE

Compass Real Estate

JENNY CAPRITTA

RE/MAX DFW Associates

SCOTT CARLSON

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

LIZ CHALFANT

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

SAM CLAUSSEN

Compass Real Estate

DAVID COLLIER

David Griffin & Company

APRIL KEETON COPE

Coldwell Banker Residential

TROY CORMAN

T2 Real Estate

JUSTIN CROFT

Berkshire Hathaway

DARREN DATTALO

Keller Williams Urban Dallas

MEREDITH BREWER

PSW Homes

LAUREN VALEK FARRIS

Compass Real Estate

JOHN C. WEBER

Compass Real Estate

JACOB MOSS

Modtown Realty

ANNE LASKO

Giordano Wegman Walsh and Associates

Christie’s International Real Estate

RICK ROBLES

Keller Williams - Park Cities

CARMEN DIPENTI

Compass Real Estate

BECKY FREY

Compass Real Estate

WAYNE GARCIA

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

CYNDIE GAWAIN

Extraordinary Real Estate

RICHARD GRAZIANO

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

FORREST GREGG

Compass Real Estate

HEATHER GUILD

Compass Real Estate

TERRI GUM

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

LEIGH HAHN

Leigh Hahn Real Estate

DARLENE HARRISON

Coldwell Banker Residential

NATALIE HATCHETT

Compass Real Estate

PAM HENDERSON

Redfin Corporation

KATHY HEWITT

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

CHRIS HICKMAN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

EVE HOLDER

Keller Williams Realty

ERIC HOLMES

Compass Real Estate

AARON JISTEL

Listing Spark

JOE KACYNSKI

David Bush Realtors

JUSTIN KNAUSS

Redfin

ROBERT KUCHARSKI

David Griffin & Company

ANNAMARI LANNON

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

COLIN LARDNER

Lardner Group

MARMIE LEECH

Compass Real Estate

BRITT LOPEZ

Dallas City Center Realtors

PETER LOUDIS

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

MARK MANLEY

Keller Williams Urban Dallas

GIA MARSHELLO

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

ELIZABETH MAST

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

MARYJANE MATHEW

JP & Associates

CATRIONA MCCARTHY

All Homes Texas

CHRIS M C COLPIN

Cambria Real Estate Services

JACK MCLEMORE

Listings Results

BRANDON MEEK

The Associates Realty

ELIZABETH MELLO

Meyer Group Real Estate

CRAIG MERRIMAN

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

AMY MESSER

Compass Real Estate

DANNA MORGULOFF-HAYDEN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

PHILLIP MURRELL

Compass Real Estate

DOUGLAS NEWBY

Douglas Newby & Associates

MARIBETH PETERS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

LYNDA PIEPGRAS

The Associates Realty

TOMMY PISTANA

Compass Real Estate

HARRISON POLSKY

Compass Real Estate

JOHN PRELL Creekview Realty

ALEX RAFF

Fields Residential

MARY RINNE

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

JONATHAN ROSEN

Compass Real Estate

AMY SACK

Compass Real Estate

HANNE SAGALOWSKY

Coldwell Banker Residential

HENDA SALMERON

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

PAUL SANDERS

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

SAM SAWYER

Compass Real Estate

MIKE SCHMITT

White Rock Lake Real Estate, LLC

STEPHAN SCHRENKEISEN

David Bush Realtors

KEVIN TALLY

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

JOHN THOMPSON

John Thompson Real Estate

MELANIE TILL

Meyer Group Real Estate

AMY TIMMERMAN

Local Resident Realty

KELLI TODD

Keller Williams Urban Dallas

KIMBERLY VIZURRAGA

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

HAYLEY WAGSTAFF

Compass Real Estate

JANIS WELLS

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

TOM WHITE

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

VICKI WHITE

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

MELISSA WHITE SMULYAN

Compass Real Estate

GAIL WILLIAMS

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

MARSUE WILLIAMS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

PHILIP WOODWARD

Lakewood Collaboritive Group

e Top Realtor list was compiled from data retrieved from the North Texas Real Estate Information System (NTREIS) reported volume for 2018 residential sales in Area 12 as of Jan. 04, 2019. Find out more about the list at Lakewood.advocatemag.com/TopRealtors.

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Robyn Guajardo, Joe Kacynski, Kathy Borusheski, James Coltharp, David Bush, Stephan Schrenkeisen, Kevin Sayre, Miriam Barrera, Anthony Trejo, Yazemin Barrera MIDDLE

CASA LINDA’S CANCUN

MEET THE NEIGHBORS WHO BROUGHT HOME THE TROPICS

Story by WILL MADDOX | Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

t’s a warm day, and the sun is shining as temperatures rise. But under the shade of a tiki hut, all is cool.

Walk past the palm trees and into the pool to a swim-up bar, where a submerged bench awaits. The table has its own thatched umbrella for shade.

This scene would be right at home on the sandy beaches of Cancun, but it is a bit out of place in Casa Linda. That’s exactly why neighbors Jim and Kelly Hughes like it.

Jim grew up in the landlocked, barren winter wasteland of Minnesota, and the wintry mixes there made him a quick lover of the tropics. The couple visits Cancun twice a year and considered moving there, but they didn’t want to be far from their children.

Instead, they brought Cancun to Casa Linda.

When they bought the house in 1998, the backyard was overgrown and split with a fence. They soon cleared the land and began building their own personal paradise. Over the years, they put in a pool, planted palm trees,

Come shop for Easter and visit us at our new location. 9850 Walnut Hill Lane #226 ( at Audelia Road) 214-553-8850 www.thestoreinlh.com

banana trees, flowers, cacti and other tropical flora.

“A lot of people think palm trees can’t survive. It was trial and error, and we lost a few,” Jim says.

As beautiful as it is, the Hughes were pleased to find that it is a low-maintenance way to landscape. The yard includes Mexican fan palms and Texas palms, which are a bit hardier for Dallas winters. Palmetto palms, date palms and sago palms add to the 18 tropical trees in the backyard. There are also canna plants with bright red flowers and 20 agave cacti dotted around the edge of the pool.

Lakewood Tudor

6431 Velasco Ave. | $899,000 Classic Lakewood Tudor that boasts 30’s architectural charm including awesome period millwork, stained glass windows, Rookwood fireplace tile, pristine hardwoods throughout, expanded and updated by owner-builder to just under 3000sqft of functional living space. With 4 bedrooms, 3 baths & 2 living areas, this home lives like a much larger home. True Chef’s Kitchen features 6 burner gas cooktop, pro-vent, double ovens, marble counters, abundant cabinetry, and breakfast bar. Spacious master with luxurious marble bath, double vanities, soaking tub, walk-in shower, & huge WIC. Other amenities include newer 2CG with unique storage lift for additional storage in attic space, wood privacy fence, power driveway gate, & award-winning Lakewood Elem!

@ Abrams Tom Thumb Shopping Center Ste. #275

The tanning ledge, hot tub, decorative parrot and expansive deck make the Hughes’ tropical paradise the perfect place to entertain. Their Polish contractor and neighbor, Bugoslav Butchikowski, helped build the tiki huts.

The Hughes have been married for 35 years and raised two children in their Casa Linda home. Both were police officers, and Jim now works as a consultant with the North Texas Crime Commission. Kelly is enjoying her recent retirement, and they spend plenty of time sitting, swimming and entertaining in their Casa Linda Cancun.

“I am a frustrated beach person,” Kelly says. “We recreated it the best we could.”

MCCOMMAS MANSION

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S MOST HISTORIC HOMES

Story by JAIME DUNAWAY / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

TWELVE PONIES WERE ALL IT COST THE MCCOMMAS FAMILY in 1846 to purchase 640 acres of land that would one day house a more than 12,000-square-foot home in East Dallas.

It’s safe to assume Stuart and Shirley Crow paid just a bit more than that when they purchased what’s left of the McCommas and Abrams Estate in the 6300 block of Mercedes Avenue.

The Crows have updated the five-bedroom, four-bath historic house with modern features, such as a walk-in fridge stocked with groceries, a sledgehammer and a cell phone. “Just in case your kid gets stuck in there,” Stuart says. But the home started from much humbler beginnings.

Research compiled by publisher Alex Troup found that patriarch Amon McCommas built a two-story, wood-frame house on the highest point on the property, bounded by Mockingbird

Lane to the north, Llano Avenue to the south, Greenville Avenue to the west and Abrams Road to the east. The family survived its first winter on the homestead by living off a buffalo Amon and his sons shot in the plains south of Dallas.

The McCommases lived on the property until 1870, when Amon died and the land was parceled to family members and sold. His oldest son, John McCommas, remained in the original house on 40 acres until his death in 1910.

Opposite: An original fireplace from the 1920s home. Above: A sitting room in the McCommas Estate.

After he died, the Greek Pantaze brothers demolished the structure and rebuilt a French-style home with large windows overlooking a flower garden. Yet some believe the lovely façade disguised more sinister activities within. A year later, the residence mysteriously burned — possibly by the sheriff or vigilante groups who thought the house was operating as a bordello.

It wasn’t until Harold Abrams purchased the property in 1920 with the dream of creating a residential area to compete with Highland Park that the house known today began to take shape. Abrams remodeled a few additional homes on Mercedes and Jacotte Circle before being diagnosed with cancer. He later took his own life in 1938.

Before his death, Abrams rebuilt the residence using walls that remained standing after the fire. A carriage house and a stable master’s house were also

Above: Stained glass in the former stable master’s house is more traditional than the piece created from broken glass and pottery shards the Crows found in an incinerator.

built during that time and remain on the property — along with a garage, pool and tennis court that the Crows added. Today, the old McCommas and Abrams Estate sits on nearly 4 acres connected by pathways lined with overhanging crepe myrtle tress. The Crows have made significant renovations — adding more rooms, modern plumbing and heating and cooling

systems — while salvaging as much of the original house as possible, Shirley says.

“Talk about biting off something you can’t chew,” she says. “That’s us. The work never stops.”

The wood floor in the main room is original, and many old fireplaces still exist throughout the house. The Crows also

Above: Artwork from Shirley Crow’s daughter, Ginny Crow, is displayed in a sitting room.

Zero-Carbon Model

using systems to ensure the house uses less

than it generates. Dallas Academy students will also participate in a school wide Energy Conservation Challenge to conserve energy at home.

commissioned a piece of stained glass from shards of broken glass and pottery they found in an incinerator.

In the yard, the pair saved one of several greenhouses that dotted the land when it was owned by an avid gardener. The only item that remains from the McCommas house is a wooden hitching post with an owl carved on the top.

Yet many hidden treasures may exist throughout the property, which once spanned a mile wide. During their heyday, Bonnie and Clyde are rumored to have buried a sack of money on a small street off the “Old Road to Greenville,” which later became Abrams Road.

“When you’re digging in your garden,” Shirley says, “you should dig a little deeper.”

Above: A chandelier hangs in an entryway the Crows added. It was not part of the original building. Left: A water fountain in what is now a guest house.

When it comes to your financial life, there’s

When it comes to your financial life, there’s no place like home

Let

When we understand your priorities, we can make them ours. Whether you’re looking to buy a house, a vacation home or an investment property, or you’re ready to renovate or remodel, your home is an important asset that should be part of your overall financial strategy. Speak with your Merrill Lynch financial advisor today about access to financing options to help you pursue the home — and lifestyle — you’ve always imagined.

When we understand your priorities, we can make them ours. Whether you’re looking to buy a house, a vacation home or an investment property, or you’re ready to renovate or remodel, your home is an important asset that should be part of your overall financial strategy. Speak with your Merrill Lynch financial advisor today about access to financing options to help you pursue the home — and lifestyle — you’ve always imagined.

John Shirey’s team

John Shirey CFP®

John Shirey’s team

Wealth Management Advisor

John Shirey CFP®

214.750.2088

Wealth Management Advisor

214.750.2088

Merrill Lynch

5910 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY

Merrill Lynch

DALLAS TX 75206

5910 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY DALLAS TX 75206

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

Investment products: Are Not FDIC InsuredAre Not Bank GuaranteedMay Lose Value

The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

Investment products: Are Not FDIC InsuredAre Not Bank GuaranteedMay Lose Value

The Bull Symbol and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM in the U.S. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | ARV9S4FS Vault-BA1J9 | MLWM-157-AD | 471101PM-0119 | 01/2019

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED

APRIL 26, 2019 WINE WALK CANDLELIGHT TOUR 6:007:30PM

APRIL 2728, 2 019 12 NOON TO 5PM

PRESENTED BY EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS and TEXAS PREMIER TITLE

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

Casino Night at the Filter Building on White Rock Lake 7:00 - 11:00 PM

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Wine Walk Candlelight Tour, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL 27 & 28

Home Tour, 12 Noon to 5 PM

HOME TOUR TICKETS $15

Available starting 4/3 at Curiosities

$20 Online at HSMNA.Org

$20 on Home Tour weekend at the Tour Homes

PROCEEDS

&

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 12 - 3 PM at Lindsley Park

Children’s

Passersbys walking on Fort Worth Avenue stop

a question.

Linder, 84, and tiny as a bird, tells them, yes, this is where Clyde Barrow is buried.

She’s friendly and talkative. Rhea Leen was born Bonnie Ray Parker after her aunt, the notorious outlaw from Cement City whose story has touched millions of people the world over.

The aging heir to a notorious legacy, Linder made it her mission to move her aunt Bonnie Parker from Crown Hill Cemetery to Western Heights Cemetery in West Dallas to lie beside her love, Clyde Barrow.

The final stanza of Parker’s poem, “The Trail’s End,” reads: Some day they’ll go down together they’ll bury them side by side.

To few it’ll be grief, to the law a relief

but it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.

By the spring of 1934, Parker and Barrow knew they were going to die at the hands of law enforcement.

THE BONES OF BONNIE

Bonnie and Clyde are buried miles apart, and relatives want to change that 

Parker, who was married to Roy Thornton at 15 and never divorced, reportedly begged to be buried next to Barrow.

But her mother, Emma Parker, was heartbroken, and she refused. He had her in life; he wouldn’t have her in death, she insisted.

No one ever mentioned it to the Parkers again for decades.

HE CAN’T HAVE HER IN DEATH

Following the bloody ambush near Arcadia, Louisiana, and a dramatic funeral in downtown Dallas, Bonnie Parker was buried in West Dallas’ Fish Trap Cemetery, 2 miles from the Barrow plot.

“It’s much nicer than Western Heights,” Linder says.

But she was moved again in 1945 to Crown Hill because of frequent

Buddy Barrow and Rhea Leen Linder exit his Ford F-150 and make toward the worn path to the Barrow gravesite in Western Heights Cemetery.

them with

Above: Rhea Leen Linder looks out a truck window at a home that was the site of a shootout where Clyde Barrow reportedly killed deputy sheriff Malcolm Davis.

Story by RACHEL STONE / Photography by DANNY FULGENCIO

vandalism. Crown Hill was close to the home of Billie Jean Parker, Bonnie’s sister, who raised Linder after her parents, both alcoholics, lost custody. Young Bonnie Ray Parker spent three years in a Houston orphanage and was 7 before Billie Jean, known as Jean, found her. Jean changed her niece’s name to Rhea Leen when she was in fourth grade to avoid ridicule.

The family never talked much about her aunt, and Linder says her first husband’s parents, who were from West Dallas, never knew about her connection to Bonnie Parker.

Linder had three husbands, who are all dead now. “I didn’t do it,” she quips. Laying down your life for a man doesn’t run in the family, she says.

“I can’t imagine being so dedicated to another person,” Linder says. “She chose to go with him, knowing what the end would be.”

Her friends, Charles Heard and Sherry Childress of Lakewood, got involved with the Barrows in the 1990s. Heard bought Clyde’s death shirt, the one he was wearing when lawmen riddled their Ford sedan with bullets, from Clyde’s youngest sibling, Marie. He later sold it to a casino, but they all became friends. Heard used to help Marie and Blanche Barrow, Buck’s wife, with auctioning memorabilia and booking gigs to sign autographs at conventions.

He was afraid the topic of moving the

graves was taboo with the Parkers, but his wife, Childress, had no such reservations.

The day they met, Childress asked Linder why Bonnie and Clyde weren’t buried together. At first, Linder dismissed the idea.

Now she’s convinced moving the grave is the right thing to do. Bonnie and Clyde were criminals. But they’re also American folk heroes. Rhea Leen and Buddy have heard from their ancestors’ “fans” all over the world. Most think they ought to be buried together, they say.

If they’re going to do it, it’s got to be soon. Linder had two children, but her son died in an accident in his 20s. Her adult daughter has no children. They are the last of the Parkers.

THE TRAIL’S END

The last time Bonnie Parker saw her mother was in early May 1934, a few weeks before her death. Buddy Barrow, who is the nephew of Clyde Barrow and son of L.C. Barrow, says the Barrow and Parker families met on a hill near the railroad tracks on Vilbig Road. That way, they could see anyone coming.

By then, Bonnie couldn’t walk. She’d sustained third-degree burns almost a year prior. Battery acid spewed all over her right leg after a car crash, and Buddy Barrow says the acid also caught fire. The burns were treated with baking soda, and she took medicine stolen from pharmacies, but she never saw a doctor.

The Barrows and Parkers drank whiskey and talked until 2 a.m.

“I can’t imagine being so dedicated to another person.”

Rhea Leen Linder and Buddy Barrow.

WESTERN HEIGHTS

Buddy Barrow says his family intended for Bonnie Parker to be buried in the Barrow plot. There is a space between Clyde and his mother, Cumie. Buddy even dug up a crepe myrtle tree near their headstones to make sure there’s space. Buddy Barrow says his grandfather used to keep a mower in the back corner of the cemetery and would walk from his filling station on what is now Singleton Boulevard to cut the grass. A DeSoto church that no longer exists legally owns Western Heights Cemetery, and some of its members still mow it. It has a historic marker, but the old cemetery could use some care.

While half-million dollar townhomes and luxury apartment complexes sprout up nearby, Western Heights cemetery needs fencing, walkways and lighting.

OBSTACLES

Getting Crown Hill Cemetery to move its most famous resident might not be simple. The cemetery at first balked at the idea, and Linder even hired an attorney to figure out the legal obstacles. When WFAA reporter Jason Whitely asked the cemetery about it last year, they said the move would require a court order.

Even if Linder gains permission to move the grave, there is the matter of cost.

She and Barrow don’t have a plan to pay for exhumation, a new coffin, new headstones or a new burial. But they have ideas.

Could there be a benefactor with West Dallas investments who would pay for the move? With a new funeral for Bonnie, the whole thing could be made into a festival of sorts.

Would a production company or TV network be interested in making a documentary about moving the grave and, therefore, pay for the costs of the move?

Might a crowd-funding campaign have legs?

Meanwhile, Buddy Barrow and Rhea Leen Linder remain the family history keepers. And they’re longtime friends, often traveling together for TV appearances and as guests at festivals and conventions.

“My grandmother was so sweet, and she only lived 10 years after Bonnie died,” Linder says. “I always had resentment because of what they put their families through.”

WHAT MAKES A HOME MEANINGFUL?

ONE ARCHITECT MAKES THE CASE FOR RESTRAINT

In a time of teardowns, gentrification and home tours, neighbors debate what makes a house a home. Is it the square footage, location, elaborate finishes or state-of-the-art technology? Less tangible elements give a home its heart and soul, says Clifford Welch, architect at Welch/Hall. Architecture can be a thoughtful balance of restraint, he says. Welch and his wife, Donna, bought 1019 Waterford Drive in 1996. Designed by Glenn Allen Galaway for John Houseman and Esther Webb in 1953, the house has been honored by Dallas American Institute of Architects and Preservation Dallas. Here’s how the Welch family turned a mid-century modern into a home well-lived after buying it from the Houseman daughter.

Interview by LISA KRESL | Photography courtesy of CLIFFORD WELCH

Architect Clifford Welch has a treehouse and a fire pit in his backyard.

venue for numerous parties, showers, fundraisers and countless fire-pit nights. It’s no different from any other family home, other than perhaps the openness and seamless connection from the inside to the outside. The home’s backyard backs up to Bachman Creek and Old Lake Highlands Park.

How did the house come to appear in commercials?

I believe the clean lines provide a nice modern backdrop, while still having a warm material palette — red Ferris brick, cork and wood. We have extensive natural light, so it works well for photo shoots. Our favorite commercial was for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The premise was that children growing up in a modern suburban house were sheltered and had never seen a pony. The parents had a pony in the backyard for a birthday party as a surprise. The commercial shows all the children getting up from eating birthday cake, running out to the backyard, seeing a pony standing in the middle of the yard, then screaming and running back inside. Dylan was the youngest extra in the commercial. The most memorable part was when the cows got loose and wandered toward Buckner Boulevard. The film crew had to stop traffic and herd them back to our house.

What’s it like when your son leaves?

It’s taken us a while to get used to the house being quiet while Dylan is at school. Now we’ve come to appreciate the weekends full of activity, balanced with the quiet respite of being empty nesters.

Interview edited for clarity and brevity.

Top: The sitting room contains a wooden T-Rex that was a present to Clifford Welch’s son, Dylan. Bottom: Vince Vaughn is pictured on an accent wall that has also featured Jim Carey from “The Grinch,” Will Ferrell from “Elf” and Olaf from “Frozen.”

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

By PATTI VINSON

Countdown challenge

Join neighbors to document the nature around us

Mark your calendars for April 26-29. Dallas is one of more than 130 cities across the globe, including Hong Kong, Rome, London, Sao Paulo and the Antarctic region, to participate in the “City Nature Challenge.”

The goal is to see which city can document the most urban wildlife. Results will be announced May 6.

“City Nature Challenge” is incredibly simple and important. First, sign up at iNaturalist.org or download the free iNaturalist app on your phone. The site is a cool tool, which connects you to experts who can identify photos of the flora and fauna you happen upon.

Step outside, camera in hand, and look at our neighborhood with fresh eyes. Go in your backyard or head to a park. Think Tietze, Harry Moss, Lakewood or Norbuck.

The name of the event says it all: City: There is nature all around us, even in urban areas.

Nature: Find and document plants and wildlife.

Challenge: Participate in a friendly competition with the other cities to make the most observations, find the most species and engage the most participants.

Last year, Dallas was second to San Francisco in observations.

“Everyone can participate,” says DFW Urban Wildlife biologist Sam Kieschnick, who heads the local event. “We want to know what the organisms are in the parks around town. These green spots act as little refuges for urban wildlife.”

Keep in mind that “wildlife” can be any plant, animal, fungi, slime mold or other evidence of life, such as fur, shells, carcasses or scat. Adorable shots of your dog Dexter or your cat Fluffy don’t count. Neither do lovely photographs of your fancy tulips.

“We want to document the wild

organisms, so instead of your pets or landscaped plants, observe some of the wild bugs or weeds,” he says.

Let’s say you decide to head over to White Rock Lake. “Look for interesting little plants and take some photos,” Kieschnick says. “Try to get a photo or two of a butterfly or beetle. Flip over a log and observe some roly-polies. These

are really important to document.”

Look up and you may see crows, blue jays and hawks, maybe even a pelican. Meander down to the water’s edge and spy a loon, ducks, frogs or a turtle sunning on a log.

Teachers, take note: The City Nature Challenge website contains an “Education Toolkit” for those who

Various bugs can be easily spotted at many Dallas parks. (Photography by Danny Fulgencio.)

want to take the kids outside the classroom and into nature.

Feel more comfortable with experts guiding you? Check out the Bioblitz happening at Gateway Park on April 27.

“It’s a great way to get kids involved and out in nature, as well as provide key data on the species that exist in our parks,” says Little Forest Hills neighbor Jim Folger, Bioblitz leader for North Texas Master Naturalists.

For more information: citynaturechallenge. org and sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov.

PATTI VINSON is a guest writer who has lived in East Dallas for more than 15 years. She’s written for the Advocate and Real Simple magazine.

For tickets or sponsorship, call 214.818.0342 or go to www.fowlercommunities.org

“Instead of your pets or landscaped plants, observe some of the wild bugs or weeds.”

By GEORGE MASON

Keep your enemies close

Can our faith transform enemies into mere opponents?

Finding the common good may begin by rediscovering the difference between opponents and enemies. We’ve become deeply tribal. We fight for our views as if we are in a winnertakes-all war.

Opponents are contestants seeking to prevail in a healthy debate about what is good for others or one’s group. Enemies have only their own interest at heart. They see the world as a zero-sum game where every win is offset by a loss, rather than imagining an expanding field with shared prosperity.

Enemies cannot be trusted. Violence is always on the table. They would have you dead rather than give in.

Jesus repeated Moses’ command to love your neighbor as yourself. Presumably, loving your neighbors requires that you don’t kill them. But more radically, Jesus adds that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We should note that there is no command in this to accept a permanent status for your enemy to be your enemy.

Abraham Lincoln was famous for many things, but his generosity toward those who treated him shamefully was legend. Doris Kearns Goodwin titled her book on Lincoln’s principled approach to compiling a diverse administration, “Team of Rivals.” He practiced what Jesus preached.

Lincoln’s friend Leonard Swett said of him: “If a man had maligned him, or been guilty of personal ill-treatment and abuse, and was the fittest man for the place, he would put him in his Cabinet just as soon as he would his friend.”

Whether toward the Confederacy or critics, Lincoln determined not to place anyone in the category of enemy. The British writer, Edward Dicey, was introduced to the president as “one of (Lincoln’s) enemies.” Lincoln’s reply was spiritual more than political: “I did not know I had any enemies.”

In the coming weeks, Christians will culminate the spiritual season of Lent at

the foot of the cross of Jesus. Many sermons will frame his death as a sacrificial payment of some sort, a transaction between a sin-indebted humanity and a holy, wholly-offended God that had to be paid to clean the slate. But we should consider it the story of a loving God who refused to treat the ungodly as enemy, dying for us rather than requiring our death.

WORSHIP

BAPTIST

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

Bible Study 9:15 / Worship Services 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

ROYAL LANE BAPTIST CHURCH / 6707 Royal Lane / 214.361.2809

Christian Education 9:45 a.m. / Worship Service 10:55 a.m.

Pastor - Rev. Dr. Michael L. Gregg / www.royallane.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

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

A Welcoming and Affirming Church / Pastor Rich Pounds

Sunday School 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / CentralLutheran.org

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA) / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

METHODIST

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 & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

LAKEWOOD UMC / 2443 Abrams Rd. / 214.823.9623

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am / mylakewoodchurch.org

Messy Church for Children and Families Sunday 5:00 pm

MUNGER PLACE CHURCH/ Come & See

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30 & 11:00 am 5200 Bryan Street / mungerplace.org

The Jewish Passover coincides with the Christian Good Friday. A profound rabbinic midrash on the exodus from Egypt imagines a scene in heaven when the waters of the Red Sea covered the pursuing Egyptian army, killing horses and riders alike. “The Egyptians were drowning in the sea. At the same time, the angels wanted to sing before God, and the Lord said to them: ‘My creations are drowning, and you are singing before me?’”

Our prayers will not quickly turn enemies into friends, but we can begin by seeing enemies as opponents who are equally God’s children. We may learn that what’s good for them is good for us. And that’s a good start.

GEORGE MASON is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, president of Faith Commons and host of the “Good God” podcast. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

THE CHURCH AT JUNIUS HEIGHTS / 5429 Reiger Ave. Services Sundays at 10:30 am / Pastor Sam Dennis 214-377-0396 / thechurchatjuniusheights.org

PRESBYTERIAN

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am Church that feels like church and welcomes like family.

PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 9800 Preston Road

8:15 am Chapel, 9:30 & 11:00 am Sanctuary, 5:00 pm Founder’s Hall Senior Pastor Matthew E. Ruffner / www.phpc.org / 214.368.6348

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / 3204 Skillman St. Rev. Rob Leischner / www.standrewsdallas.org

214.821.9989 / Sunday School 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am

UNITY

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

3425 Greenville Ave. / 214.826.5683 / www.dallasunity.org

Sunday Service 11:00 am and Metaphysical Bible Study 9:30 am

“Abraham Lincoln was famous for many things, but his generosity toward those who treated him shamefully was legend. He practiced what Jesus preached.”

PALM SUNDAY Sunday, April 14 10:00 am Palm Procession through the neighborhood 10:30 am Worship & Communion

MAUNDY THURSDAY

The Last Supper Thursday, April 18 7:00 pm Worship & Communion

GOOD FRIDAY Tenebrae Service based on the 7 Last Words of Christ Friday, April 19 7:30

EASTER

The Seven Last Words of Jesus

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

AC & HEAT

Air Conditioning

Foam Encapsulation • Insulation

Smart Home Solutions Service & Sales

Family Owned & Operated

integrity • innovative • impactful

214- 330 - 5500 iiirth.com

TACLB29169E

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

BUY/SELL/TRADE

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models. 2000-2016. Any Condition. Running Or Not.

Top $$$ Paid. Free Towing. We’re Nationwide. Call Now 1-888-985-1806

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

CABINETMAKER Design/Build Custom Furniture. Repair, Refinish. 40 yrs. exp. Jim 214-457-3830

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

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

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

ART THE FUN WAY W/JANE CROSS

Art Cub: Mon’s. 12:30-2:30pm, Free For LHNRC

Members 13-Up. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Drawing, Painting: Weds. 10:15-1:15 pm. $15 Class/$60 month. 214-534-6829

WRITING/EDITING HELP FOR APPLICANTS

Applying to HS, college, grad school? Struggling with your essays? I can improve your submission. Reasonable rates. Steve Long 972-849-4205

CLEANING SERVICES

A MAID FOR YOU Bonded/Insured.Park Cities/ M Streets Refs. Call Us First. Joyce 214-232-9629

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

CLEANING SERVICES

TWO SISTERS & A MOP MAID SERVICE

Reliable Quality Work.Best Rates. 23 Yrs. Exp. 214-283-9732

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

ALL COMPUTER PROBLEMS SOLVED MAC/PC Great Rates. Keith. 214-295-6367

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

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR

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

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $60/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR Tuck Pointing / Crack Repair. Mortar Color Matching. 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, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001

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

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

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

BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333

TECL 31347 Brightening Homes and Businesses

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

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

TEXAS ELECTRICAL • 214-289-0639 Prompt, Honest, Quality Service. TECL 24668

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

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certified. Approved for military benefits. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

EXTERIOR CLEANING

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

FENCING & DECKS

4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE CO. Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers, Arbors. AmbassadorFence.Co. 214-621-3217

FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com . 214-766-6422

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers. 214-435-9574

LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975

Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers

FLOORING & CARPETING

CALL EMPIRE TODAY To Schedule A Free In -Home Estimate On Carpeting & Flooring. 1-800-508-2824

DALLAS HARDWOODS 214-724-0936

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

FENN CONSTRUCTION Manufactored hardwoods. Stone and Tile. Back-splash Specials. 214-343-4645

HASTINGS STAINED 214-341-3993

Hardwoods- Install/Refinish/Stain. Stained & Sealed Concrete. hastingsfloors.com

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

GARAGE SERVICES

IDEAL GARAGE DOORS • 972-757-5016

Install & Repair. 10% off to military/1st responders.

ROCKET GARAGE DOOR SERVICE - 24/7. Repairs/Installs. 214-533-8670. Coupon On Web. www.RocketDoor.com

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned. 214-251-5428

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

EC0NOMY GLASS & MIRROR Mirror, Shower, Windows Repair. 24 Hr. Emergency. 214-875-1127

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: windows, mirrors, showers, screens. 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

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

HOME REPAIR HANDYMAN Small/Big Jobs + Construction. 30 Yrs. Exp. Steve. 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

WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS

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

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors

Senior Safety

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

Bonded & Insured. Locally owned & operated.

HOUSE PAINTING

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

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

BENJAMIN’S PAINTING SERVICE Professional Work At Reasonable Prices. 214-725-6768

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

HOUSE PAINTING

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT

Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TONY’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality Work

Since 1984. Int./Ext. 214-755-2700

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

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. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

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

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS

Granite, Quartz, Marble For Kitchen/Bath-Free Est. jennifer@gmail.com 214-412-6979

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

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

•

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

NEW LEAF TREE CARE

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.

LEGAL SERVICES

A WILL? THERE IS A WAY! Estate/Probate matters.maryglennattorney.com 214-802-6768

PEST CONTROL

A BETTER EARTH PEST CONTROL Keeping the environment, kids, pets in mind. Organic products avail. 972-564-2495

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

Looking for local services and don’t have an Advocate magazine handy?

CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED DIGITAL CLASSIFIED ADS

Online ads have long been a part of our classifieds, but we at Advocate magazine are always looking for ways to improve. What’s new? Our digital ads now include photos and logos of companies. Plus, they are searchable on Google.

Support your neighborhood by contacting these local companies, who are ready to help you with home and professional services, tutoring, lessons and more.

PLUMBING

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521 # M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues.

HAYES PLUMBING INC. Repairs. Insured, 214-343-1427 License M13238

POOLS

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

LEAFCHASERS POOL SERVICE Parts/Service. Chemicals/Repairs. Jonathan. 214-729-3311

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ACCOUNTING/TAXES Small Business/Individual Chris King, CPA 214-824-5313 chriskingcpa.com

C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES

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

REAL ESTATE

SELL YOUR HOUSE FAST Cash Buyer. 214-796-6170

REMODELING

A2H GENERAL CONTRACTING,LLC

Remodeling, Painting, Drywall/Texture, Plumbing, Electrical,Siding, Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels, Tilling, Flooring, Fencing. 469-658-9163. Free Estimates.

A2HGeneralContractingLLC@gmail.com

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

PEST CONTROL

Complete Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths, Additions. Hardie Siding & Replacement Windows. Build On Your Own Lot. Insured. www.blake-construction.com 214-563-5035

Cultured Marble

•

#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

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

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

DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914

Lawn Service & Landscape Installation

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

”WE CARE ABOUT YOUR TREES”

On Staff:

• 4 - Certified Arborists

NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT, INC Squirrels, Rats, Racoon, etc. removal. Best Rates. Since 1994. Same Day Service Available. Rated 5.0 Star on Google. 214-827-0090 natureking.com

PET SERVICES

PET CARE IN YOUR HOME Joyful Walks, Affection Training. Refs. Sunny 214-724-2555

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

INTEX CONSTRUCTION Specializing in int/ext. Remodel. 30 Yrs Exp. Steve Graves 214-875-1127

MP ARCHITECTURAL Design & Construction. mattandpaul.com 214-226-1186

• 1 - Tex- Tech Degreed Ag • 1 - Tex A&M Degreed Forester • 3 - Certified Applicators 214-327-9311

THE PET DIVAS Pet Sitting, Daily Dog Walks, In Home/Overnight Stays.Basic Obedience Training. thepetdivas.com 817-793-2885. Insured

www.holcombtreeservice.com

FULLY INSURED Commercial/Residential

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

PLUMBING

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

MAY DEADLINE APRIL 3 • TO ADVERTISE CALL

Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com

214.560.4203

ROOFING & GUTTERS

BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years

FREE ESTIMATES

SERVICES FOR YOU

A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. 1-855-741-7459

SERVICES FOR YOU

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA Approved Hands On Aviation training. Financial Aid For Qualified Students. Career Placement Assistance. Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 888-686-1704

DISH NETWORK $69.99 For 190 Channels. $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation. Smart HD DVR Included. Free Voice Remote. Some Restrictions Apply. 1-855-837-9146

DONATE YOUR CAR TO VETERANS Help And Support Our Veterans. Fast-Free Pick Up. 100% Tax Deductible. 1800-245-0398

EARTHLINK HIGHSPEED INTERNET As Low As $14.95/month.(first 3 months) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology Stream Videos, Music & More. 1-855-520-7938

MY OFFICE Offers Mailboxes, Copying, Shipping, Office & School Supplies. 9660 Audelia Rd. myofficelh.com 214-221-0011

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY TV, Internet & Voice For $29.99 Each. 60 MB Per Second Speed. No Contract or Commitment. More Channels, Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. 1-877-338-2315

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

SERVICES FOR YOU

START SAVING BIG ON MEDICATIONS Up To 90% Savings from 90daymeds. Over 3500 Medications Available. Prescriptions Req’d. Pharmacy Checker Approved. Call For Free Quote 844-776-7620

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER With an American Standard walk-In bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet & a Lifetime Warranty on the tub & installation. 1-855-534-6198

SKYLIGHTS

Replacement, Repair & New Installation

Glass •Acrylic Solatubes & Sun Tunnels

Installing Since 1995 972-263-6033

www.skylightsolutions.com

By MITA HAVLICK

What it’s like to be a politician

When a neighbor runs for office

While listening to a candidate stump at an event, I thought: “It takes courage to step up.”

We have no shortage of people seeking elected office — and not just for the presidential race. Locally, we have nine candidates running for mayor with every Dallas City Council and Dallas ISD school board race contested.

We’ve even seen people launch their campaigns for the 2020 state House races.

As a chronic voter and one who firmly believes in a representative democracy, this is all great news.

I believe that no election should go uncontested. Only when there is a true race, conversations are had, incumbents are kept accountable and newcomers are tested. As voters, we have opportunities to attend meet-and-greets, fundraisers, candidate forums and events that enable us to shape those conversations.

But I keep coming back to the “stepping up” bit. I know from my own experience in 2016 as a Dallas ISD school board candidate (and losing in the runoff) that stepping up and into the political fray is not easy.

When newcomers ask me what it’s like to be a candidate, I tell them to be prepared. Be prepared for the onslaught — from an abundance of support from those who love you, to the criticism from those who don’t, and everything in between.

People can be at the top of their career, dedicate every day to philanthropy, be a lifelong public servant and be a respected member of the community. But once they put their name on the ballot, all bets are off. It’s time to put on armor. In my case, I recall being known as an entrenched community member who worked to improve campus leadership and actively advocated for schools throughout

the district, all while volunteering at my children’s schools.

That was before I filed to run. After, I was labeled “just a PTA mom.” Two things to note about that: 1) Anyone who has ever been “just a PTA mom” knows that it’s more than hosting evening meetings and raising money. 2) The characterization discounted any of the contributions I had made.

I give the same advice to prospective candidates that a friend gave me when I ran for the school board: Put on your jacket made of thick skin and talk to your kids. Tell them that when they hear untruths about you, it’s not personal. It’s politics. I also tell them to remind their spouse of the same. No one gets more defensive than your life partner.

confess to not always being this compassionate toward political candidates, but you appreciate things more after you’ve experienced them.

I have sincere empathy for those who’ve lost a loved one since the death of my brother. I am more compassionate to crying babies on airplanes now that I’m a parent. And I finally get people’s obsession with their pets after adopting Monty, the most amazingly wonderful, sweet, fun, friendly, smart, cute, best dog in the world.

It’s the same with politics. I didn’t comprehend what it’s like to be in the public sphere and have darts thrown from directions least expected.

Granted, volunteers and voters become vested in their candidates and grow passionate. But we must remind ourselves that these are human beings who are stepping onto the political stage. They have families in addition to experiences and ambitions.

I give much more grace to political candidates now than I did three years ago. My suspicion of, “What’s in it for you?” has been replaced by, “What’s in it for us?” I attempt to go into conversations with a presumption of good intent from each candidate. I thank them for stepping up because they are why we’re having these conversations.

What is it about human nature? Why do we tend to look at political candidates with suspicion? The whole, “What’s in it for them?” angle versus, “I wonder what motivated them to run for us?”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not naïve. I know there are candidates and elected officials whose primary motivation is not pure, as proven by the recent federal bribery charges against former Dallas City Council member Carolyn Davis.

My list is not short of those with whom I’ve had political disputes. But disagreeing about policy and positions is vastly different than name calling or taping letters filled with mistruths onto neighbors’ front doors. Yes, this was an actual scenario in a recent East Dallas election. I

There are a number of reasons why people choose to run for political office. They believe they can make a difference, or they’ve been adversely affected by a policy or law and want to champion for their cause. Or they are in it because of their ego.

Regardless of intent, it takes fortitude to run for office, and it’s a sacrifice. Campaigns are full-time jobs that don’t pay. Your life is not your own when you’re on the campaign trail.

While it’s our job as voters to discern intent, sincerity, experience and qualifications, I hope we step up with less cynicism and more appreciation.

MITA HAVLICK is a neighborhood activist. Find her commentary regularly in the back pages of our print edition and online at lakewood. advocatemag.com.

“Not until I was a candidate did I fully comprehend or appreciate what it’s like to be out there in the public sphere and have darts thrown from directions least expected.”

BUILDING AND REMODELING

The O’Brien Group has been building and remodeling in East Dallas for 22 years and offers full construction services for all aspects of your home. From new custom kitchen and bathroom upgrades to whole house renovation or adding new spaces onto the home. Shannon O’Brien is the owner and operator. As a carpenter he pays close attention to all details of all phases of the process for high end results. We work closely with interior designers, architects and engineers to make your dreams become reality.

OBrienGroupInc.com

214-341-1448

Matt and Paul, LLC (MP)

combine architectural design and high quality construction to serve clients in Lakewood and Lake Highlands. Available addresses include:

6306 Vickery Boulevard Stonewall Jackson Elementary NEW CONSTRUCTION

9342 Dartcrest Drive White Rock Elementary REMODEL I ADDITION

6537 Sondra Drive Lakewood Elementary NEW CONSTRUCTION

Learn more at www.mattandpaul.com

(214) 226-1186

Properties of Distinction. Agents for Life.

For over 10 years, Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate has set East Dallas sales records, representing billions of dollars in property for thousands of satisfied clients. Our reputation as the area’s dominant luxury real estate firm is founded on the combined strength of our dynamic team, dedicated to collaboratively cultivating an intimate understanding of Dallas’ premier neighborhoods, with emphasis on quality, character and design.

№ 1 Brand in Lakewood & East Dallas

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Claims based on 2018 MLS sold volume, Lake Highlands, Lakewood and East Dallas, Area 12 and 18. A Division of Ebby Halliday Real Estate, Inc.