2017 February Oak Cliff

THE

36 percent of men in zip code 75211 didn’t complete ninth grade

$1.6 million, the most expensive 2016 home sale

56 percent of students in the Hogg Elementary zone opt out of DISD

19 murders in 2016

movies we love

ISSUE

All the data and numbers you need to know

David Bowie

OPENING REMARKS

By RICK WAMRE

Real-life love

DISTRIBUTION PH/214.560.4203

ADVERTISING PH/214.560.4203

office administrator: Judy Liles

214.560.4203 / jliles@advocatemag.com

display sales manager: Brian Beavers

214.560.4201 / bbeavers@advocatemag.com

senior advertising consultant: Amy Durant

214.560.4205 / adurant@advocatemag.com

senior advertising consultant: Kristy Gaconnier

214.264.5887 / kgaconnier@advocatemag.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Sally Ackerman

214.560.4202 / sackerman@advocatemag.com

Nora Jones

214.292.0962 / njones@advocatemag.com

Frank McClendon

The whole point of Valentine’s Day is to honor someone we love, or hope to love, or hope can love us unconditionally.

For the most part, we only need to find one such person to live a happy life, yet we all know how hard that can be.

One of the ways we show someone we care this time of year is treating them to more expensive food and drink than we typically can afford.

Getting all dressed up is another way of saying how much the person sitting across the table, or next to us at the bar, means to us.

Buying a dozen roses, even at triple-the-normal-pricing, is just part of the deal. Boxes of candy, painstakingly home-cooked meals, elaborate videos they’re all ways of showing we care to someone we feel the burning need to impress.

I confess to a certain amount of trepidation every February. I’ve written about this before — my history of over-thinking, over-spending, over-trying and just plain not being very good at proving I can be romantic at least one day each year.

In baseball, they call it squeezing the bat too hard. In television, it’s called jumping the shark. In business, it’s trying to pound a square peg in a round hole.

Some of us just aren’t cut out to be romantics in any sense of the word; it boosts my blood pressure sitting here thinking about it. That doesn’t mean we’re bad at romance or destined never to find someone who will love us; it just means that big, dramatic gestures aren’t something we’re good at.

That’s why a recent email I received from a friend gave me something to think about when it comes to romance and love.

Her parents had been married 68 years, and even though Valentine’s Day was months away, they were getting ready for a big moment together.

Her dad was living at a hospice, a variety of ailments leaving him confused most of the time. Her mom was living in a different hospice, a major heart attack leaving her bedridden and threatening her future.

The daughter sensed time was short, and with the blessing of doctors monitoring each parent, she arranged to bring dad to see mom. And when each learned

214.560.4215 / fmcclendon@advocatemag.com

Greg Kinney

214.292.0485 / gkinney@advocatemag.com

Michele Paulda

214.292.2053 / mpaulda@advocatemag.com

classified manager: Prio Berger

214.560.4211 / pberger@advocatemag.com

marketing director: Michelle Meals

214.635.2120 / mmeals@advocatemag.com

digital + social media director: Emily Williams

469.916.7864 / ewilliams@advocatemag.com

EDITORIAL

publisher: Christina Hughes Babb

214.560.4204 / chughes@advocatemag.com

managing editor: Emily Charrier

214.560.4200 / echarrier@advocatemag.com

editor-at-large: Keri Mitchell

214.292.0487 / kmitchell@advocatemag.com

EDITORS:

Rachel Stone

214.292.0490 / rstone@advocatemag.com

Elissa Chudwin

about the planned visit, it wasn’t enough just to show up.

Dad insisted on wearing his best shirt and jacket to impress his wife. And mom refused to let her husband into the room until she had finished applying his favorite shade of lipstick.

The email included a photo of two frail people, both knowing their time together was nearing an end, holding hands and sharing the kind of look that no grand gesture of roses or wine can generate.

My friend’s mom died a few days later, her heart failing for good this time, but not before they had those final few moments together.

No expensive food. No pricey wine. No flashy new clothes.

They just said goodbye to each other simply, and they each knew how much the other one meant it.

Rick Wamre is president of Advocate Media. Let him know how we are doing by emailing rwamre@advocatemag.com.

214.560.4210 / echudwin@advocatemag.com

senior art director: Jynnette Neal

214.560.4206 / jneal@advocatemag.com

art director: Brian Smith

214.292.0493 / bsmith@advocatemag.com

designer: Emily Williams

469.916.7864 / ewilliams@advocatemag.com

contributing editors: Sally Wamre

contributors: Angela Hunt, Lauren Law, George Mason, Kristen Massad, Brent McDougal

photo editor: Danny Fulgencio

214.635.2121 / danny@advocatemag.com

contributing photographers: Rasy Ran, Kathy Tran

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.

It can make those elaborate gifts and pricey dinners seem silly

No expensive food. No pricey wine. No flashy new clothes.

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

MEDICAL CENTER AT DALLAS RANKED NO. 1 HOSPITAL IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH*

*According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-2017 ratings.

For the 24th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas the No. 1 hospital in the Dallas Metro Area. Baylor Dallas is nationally recognized in four specialty areas— diabetes & endocrinology; ear, nose & throat; gastroenterology & gastrointestinal surgery; and neurology & neurosurgery—and high performing in seven specialties—cancer, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

Baylor Dallas is also recognized as high performing in eight common procedures or conditions—aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, colon cancer surgery, COPD, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. For you, these recognitions confirm our commitment to providing quality health care each day. It’s one way we’re Changing Health Care. For Life.®

To find out more about our award-winning care, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit BaylorScottand White.com/Recognition.

READERS REACT TO: ‘Can you help save this historic West Dallas home?’

“How can anyone even think about demolishing this house? So much history.”

BRUCE MUELLER

“It costs money to restore and maintain old properties; especially ones that have been neglected. Meanwhile the city cannot afford to repair potholes, maintain parks and roads, and is faced with the potential of bankruptcy to bail out the police and firefighters pension fund which is run by the subscribers and not the city (not to mention the other lawsuit that the police and firefighters have against the city demanding back pay raises that could cost us another $4 billion).”

PETE COVELL

“It’s property like this that gives character to the community, which is good for everyone’s property value and tourism. SAVE!”

ISABEAU LAURANT FOLLOW US:

L A UNC H

FEB. 26

Mardis Gras

Celebrate Mardis Gras without leaving Oak Cliff at this parade featuring floats, candy and — of course — beads. Traveling from Windomere at Davis to the Bishop Arts District, the family friendly spectacle kicks off at 4 p.m. 300-1400 blocks of West Davis, gooakcliff.com, free

Out & About

FEB. 4

MIXED MEDIA

The 1972 film “Solaris” will be shown after “I Came for the Light and Stayed for the Shadow,” which incorporates live music, dance and projections. Composer Markus Reuter, producer Dutch Rall and the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group collaborated for the show. The Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd., 214.948.1546, thetexastheatre.com, $15-$16

FEB. 11

VARIETY HOUR

Fire eating, burlesque and comedy magic are all included in this multiact variety show.

The Pretty Things PeepShow begins at 8 p.m., but the bar opens at 6 p.m. The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., 214.272.8346, thekessler.org, $20-$30

FEB. 11

LITTLE VALENTINE

Make Valentines and play games at this holiday-themed event, geared toward young children and their families. The hour-long activities begin at 11 a.m.

North Oak Cliff Library, 302 W. 10th St., 214.670.7555, dallaslibrary2.org, free

FEB. 16-26

ONE-ACT

“Down for #TheCount” gives women a chance to be heard through this series of one-act plays. The lineup includes the world premiere of “Hypsteria,” written about the gentrification of a Latino neighborhood. Bishop Arts Theatre Center, 215 S. Tyler, 214.948.0716, bishopartstheatre. org, $18-$25

FEB. 24

MASQUERADE

The OCarnivale Masquerade Ball wouldn’t be complete without live music, a creole food buffet and plenty of dancing. Proceeds benefit Go Oak Cliff. The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., mardisgrasoakcliff. com, $50

FEB. 25

DASH FOR THE BEADS

Race to raise money for neighborhood schools. Participate in a 1-mile walk, 5k or 10k before the annual costume contest and festival with music from Durty Laundry. Kidd Springs Park, 711 W. Canty St., dashforthebeads.org, $20-$45

HOTEL TROUBADOUR

The Texas music legend in our midst

By RACHEL STONE

PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

There is just one super-cute two-bedroom apartment at the Belmont Hotel, and a Texas rock ‘n’ roll legend has been its resident for over a year.

Alejandro Escovedo and his wife, Nancy Rankin, moved from Austin to Oak Cliff in September 2015. They originally came when Nancy was hired as a hair stylist on USA’s “Queen of the South,” and they’ve made our neighborhood their home.

This will come as no surprise to most of us, but they love it here.

The Escovedos are on tour this winter and spring with Alejandro’s new album “Burn Something Beautiful.” Nancy photographed the album cover, and she passed up a job on the HBO show “The Leftovers” to document the tour. They sat down with us before they took off in early January.

What is it that you like so much about Oak Cliff and West Dallas?

We travel so much that we’re hardly ever home. But every time we come home there’s a new place we want to eat at, or we hear of a new record store or something going on. We love Spinster Records. We made friends with them right away. Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters is great. Ten Ramen. We eat there almost every day when we can. There are a lot of places we enjoy: Taqueria Mariachi, El Pueblo on Jefferson

There’s no shortage of good eatingplaces here.

We love having a sense of community, and yet it’s very private. People don’t know who we are here. In Austin, it’s hard to do anything and not have someone approach you while you’re out having lunch with the family. I like having the anonymity of a place where people don’t know who you are and meeting people based on genuine human contact rather than what you’ve done in the past. We like how diverse the city is too. Austin is not as diverse as it once was. It’s so much easier to get around Dallas than it is Austin, too. The traffic in Austin is always bad.

You’re leaving on tour in a couple of days. Which are your favorite cities to play? I’ve probably played almost every place to play there is in America. I love going to New York, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Hudson, N.Y., Portland, San Francisco. Los Angeles, not so much. If I never pay L.A. again I really wouldn’t feel like I’ve lost out on anything. It’s just such a hassle. The vibe is so different. It reminds me of what I really despise about the music industry. Dallas, Denton and even Austin remind me of why I love making music. But L.A. is always a struggle.

Opposite page: Alejandro Escovedo and his wife, Nancy Rankin, chat in the Belmont Hotel lobby. Above: Detail of one of Escovedo’s guitars.

Do your Austin friends come and visit you?

Yes, and they love it here. People don’t expect this hotel; there’s no other place like it. And then they realize how comfortable we are here. And how happy we are and that we’ve got great people around us. I think they’re all very happy for us. Everyone’s become like family here, especially at the Belmont.

Everyone loves the Belmont. This is a real special place. I’ve lived in hotels before. I lived in the Chelsea Hotel for a while … the beauty of living

in hotels, especially those geared toward artists, you meet really interesting people all the time. And it’s a transient relationship. We’ll meet someone here, but then we’ll see them in Chicago. People who travel and know we live here now come and just want to say, “Hi.”

You’re doing occasional Tuesday-night concerts in the hotel lounge. Tell me about that.

The last one I had Will Johnson from Centromatic … he sings and then I ask him about songwriting and what inspires him. It’s kind of like a storytelling thing. It’s a very laidback setting, around 40 or 50 people on Tuesday nights. Any more than that is too many. We have a little P.A., and it sounds great.

How did the two of you meet?

We met at the Continental Club. Nancy came with a friend, and I was performing. We just met that night, and it was kind of crazy. In the late ’90s, Nancy lived two houses down from where I lived, but we never knew each other. We also had a best friend in common, but we’d never even heard of each other. So it wasn’t the right time yet.

What are your observations about the Dallas music scene?

If you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d

People don’t expect this hotel; there’s no other place like it. And then they realize how comfortable we are here.

live in Dallas, I would’ve said, “You’re crazy.” Music’s always been up and down here. People from Dallas who make it big musically, except for Erykah Badu, they leave. There’s no elder statesmen who are going to mentor the community and be proud of being from here. With a lack of that kind of example, it’s hard to create a scene. My class of musicians … in the early ’80s to the ’90s and beyond all had Doug Sahm. And there was Jimmie and Stevie [Vaughan] and Townes [Van Zandt] — he’s been gone 10 years, and I still miss him. But they were all open and accessible. Without that I think it’s really hard.

Are there any shows that stick out in your memory?

Well the last show we did at the Kessler. It was a double bill with Ian Moore. I was very nervous about it because it was my first show here after being considered a resident of Dallas. A lot of people came out. Dallas is not an easy audience to play to. When I’m in Austin, I really only

play the Continental Club. That’s like home. I’ve played that stage so many times. Dallas has always been a little more reserved. Like you really have to impress a Dallas audience before they exude. I don’t understand why certain cities are like that. I like playing in New York because it’s the most challenging audience to play to. If you can overcome whatever intimidates you about New York … I always feel very accomplished.

Your fans really love you. I have fans that have been around so long, their kids are fans. I have generations of fans, and I really like that. My brothers said to always be kind to people and always exude love. You never try to force yourself on the audience or other people. They will come if you make good quality music. The way I present myself is the way they presented themselves, and it’s a great example to have.

The Escovedos’ Belmont Hotel apartment came with an eight-track player, so they came with eight-track tapes.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO ROSEMONT

The primary and elementary campuses in Kessler Park are among the most transferred-to schools in Dallas ISD

By KERI MITCHELLL

Photos by DANNY FULGENCIO

Rosemont is by far the most populated and popular school in north Oak Cliff, with a combined 1,066 students at its detached primary and elementary campuses. That’s almost as many students as live in the school’s attendance zone — 1,111, according to estimates based on U.S. Census data.

But more than a third of Rosemont students aren’t zoned to Rosemont. A total of 376 transfer in from other Dallas ISD schools, a population that rivals the total enrollment at nearby Reagan Elementary (387) and surpasses the enrollment at Hogg Elementary (287).

In other words, the transfer students at Rosemont could be an elementary school all on their own.

Its 35 percent transfer rate is not the highest in DISD, but it’s high enough that in fall 2015, the district’s board-appointed Attendance Boundary Advisory Committee (ABAC) was asked to consider a boundary change that would send more of Rosemont’s students to Hogg.

Is your home with a past in need of a new steward? Call Diane Sherman. No one gets homes with a history quite like she does. She has the pulse of this exciting market. She continues to champion the remarkable renaissance of North Oak Cliff. But, more importantly, she is passionate about marketing the homes in our well established neighborhoods and their rich history. If you’re ready to move to another place in time, call 469 . 767 . 1823 or email dsherman@davidgriffin.com

With nearly 400 students transferring into Rosemont Elementary, carpool is a carefully orchestrated production. Get

Rosemont’s campuses, just south of the Stevens Park Golf Course, draw from Kessler Park, Kings Highway, Winnetka Heights and part of Kidd Springs. The

Diane Sherman | Senior Associate | Preservation Dallas Advanced Historic House Specialist

Diane Sherman sells time machines.

committee considered extending Hogg’s boundary north to I-30 and west to Sylvan, which would have put East Kessler and all of Kidd Springs within Hogg’s attendance zone.

“Transfers are a huge concern amongst the community,” state the minutes from the Dec. 9, 2015 ABAC meeting hosted at Rosemont to gather input. “Hogg and Reagan need more students to improve the quality of their schools. Several community members want to see more move out of zone.”

A PERSON’S LEGACY SHOULD LIVE ON.

214-292-0962

Ultimately, however, no boundary change was recommended. When the committee met with then-Oak Cliff Trustee Eric Cowan a few days later, he suggested that “the committee might need to pull back” because “Rosemont would like some time to handle issues on their own,” the minutes state.

This was not long after the Rosemont community experienced a principal change. Anna Brining, who had led the school for 15 years, left after the 2015 spring semester when Dallas ISD didn’t renew her contract. Many of the school’s engaged parents attributed the school’s success and its ability to attract homeowner families to Brining, and fought vocally against her removal.

A majority of the board, including Cowan, voted to retain Brining, but they were overruled by then-superintendent Mike Miles. DISD promoted assistant principal Rachel Moon to the head of the school.

Transfer numbers climbed steadily during Brining’s leadership; the school had 77 when she arrived in 2000 and 255 by fall 2006, the year Rosemont’s Chris V. Semos primary campus opened. That was the same year the school launched its two-way dual-language program. Starting in kindergarten, native-Spanish and native-English speakers are combined in one classroom and learn in both languages.

The program has been the biggest transfer draw, Moon says.

“Parents wanted their child to be bi-literate and bicultural and workforce ready,” she says. “There hasn’t been another program in north Oak Cliff until maybe two or three years ago at Hogg and Reagan.”

Transfer numbers dropped slightly under Moon’s leadership. She denied some requests from families zoned to Hogg, Reagan and Winnetka elementaries wanting to attend Rosemont for its dual language program. They can now participate in this program at their home schools, Moon says.

“Schools are becoming very competitive, and rightfully so and as it should be,” Moon says. “Parents have a choice, and it’s exciting to see the district move in that direction where we’re really looking ahead to the workforce and the skills needed for our students to succeed.”

District policy allows principals to approve or deny transfer requests, which is easier and less politically divisive than changing boundaries every time a population shift occurs. More than 20 percent of DISD students don’t attend their home school, and most if not all DISD schools have some transfers in and some transfers out, says Audrey Pinkerton, Oak Cliff’s representative on the DISD board.

“Parents have a choice when it comes to educating their child, and DISD wants that choice to be one of our schools,” Pinkerton says. “Transfers and other choice offerings allow flexibility for parents.”

And if parents want their children to attend a particular school and that school has space, as Rosemont does, a good argument can be made that families who choose a school will be more invested in it.

Moon worked for several years in DISD’s parent services department at the central office, and across the district, she saw “not too many parents involved.”

“I see what a difference parents can make,” she says. “Myself and Ms. Brining have something in common in that we both love parents and nurture and value

Rosemont has two campuses, one for pre-K through second-graders (pictured) and one for third- through eighth-graders.

what we have because we know that at schools, you don’t always get a lot of parent involvement.”

That’s one of the big draws of Rosemont, she says, describing it as a school that is also rich in tradition and veteran teachers.

Parents with the know-how and resources to advocate can make a huge difference, studies show, not just for their own children but for all children at a school. This is one of the biggest arguments for socioeconomically diverse schools. Even though Rosemont is roughly 75 percent low-income, it is one of the most affluent schools in north Oak Cliff.

Still, district estimates show that 296 students zoned to Rosemont attend private school or are home schooled. An-

other 226 zoned to Hogg, nearly half of the students who live in the school attendance zone, are private or home school students.

Hogg is nearly 95 percent low-income and Reagan, on the edge of the Bishop Arts District, is 90 percent. (See more statistics about Oak Cliff schools on page 23.) Studies show that poor students at predominantly low-income campuses don’t perform as well academically as students at more diverse campuses, like Rosemont.

“Hogg and Reagan need more students to improve the quality of their schools,” community members said at a meeting last winter. Perhaps the catalyst will be their new two-way dual-language programs.

“I think, as all parents, they want the best for their kids,” Moon says of families who transfer into Rosemont. “Fortunately, this school figured it out that parents make the difference.”

But Rosemont doesn’t have to be unique in this, she says.

“If all parents get involved with their neighborhood school,” Moon says, “every school can be like Rosemont.”

“Schools are becoming very competitive, and rightfully so and as it should be. Parents have a choice.”

DELICIOUS

Finally, a cheese monger

Neighborhood entrepreneurs fill a culinary gap

By RACHEL STONE

DID YOU KNOW: Cheese and Chutney recently obtained a to-go beer and wine permit and offers a selection of local craft beers and a few of their favorite wines.

Oak Cliff’s culinary scene broadens all the time, but one thing that’s been missing for a long time: Cheese.

It’s no longer necessary to cross the river for a decadent French brie or a wedge of good parm. Cheese and Chutney is your fledgling neighborhood cheese monger.

It’s the dream of Jeff and Chitra Foster of Winnetka Heights.

They returned to Texas from California a few years ago and originally had the idea to raise sheep and make cheese. But when they discovered a lack of high-end cheese shops in Dallas, that idea evolved into a retail venture.

Chitra kept her job as a fulltime project manager. And Jeff, who recently obtained an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, runs the cheese shop fulltime.

They modeled their shop after their favorite Claremont, Calif. cheese purveyor, the Cheese Cave.

The Fosters love cheese, and they want everyone to have it. They welcome people who know cheese and those who aren’t sure what to expect — they’ll let you taste anything.

“We don’t know everything about cheese,” Chitra says. “We don’t pretend to know everything. This is a no-judgment zone.”

Ambiance: Culinary boutique

Hours: 1-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday 1318 W. Davis St.

469.917.7318

cheeseandchutneytexas.com

Celebrating 27 years serving the community. Southern-style comfort food and New York style deli favorites ready for you every day.

Celebrating 27 years serving the community. Southern-style comfort food and New York style deli favorites ready for you every day. Open 7 days.

Opposite page: A charcuterie plate with olives. Above: A cheese plate with a selection of chutneys.

CRIME

The Advocate typically aims to highlight our neighborhood’s personality by way of narratives, news and profiles, and that will continue — around here, the well of fascinating finds is bottomless. But on the next few pages, numbers, percentages and statistics tell the story of who we are, where we live, what struggles we face.

By Advocate editors

CULTURE

WE BROKE our neighborhood down to its most simplistic terms: How many we are, by sex and race, our collective education level, our household income and other data drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau (2010 being the most recent year available) and the American Community Study of 2015. To find these numbers, we pulled from three of the zip codes the Oak Cliff Advocate covers: 75224, 75208, 75211.

137,351

44,977 are foreign-born

29.4

36.4% of men and 30.8% of women have below a 9th-grade education level in the 75211

27.2% live below the federal poverty limit

RACIAL MIX IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS CITY OF DALLAS Hispanic/Latino Hispanic/Latino

REAL ESTATE

OAK CLIFF REAL ESTATE prices hit an all-time high in 2016. After taking a dip in 2008 following the housing-market crash, prices climbed quickly to new heights. North Oak Cliff is no longer a place to find an inexpensive-yet-glamorous house that your Dallas-y friends won’t visit. It’s not the alternative to Lakewood or University Park. It’s become the chic first choice for the young and rich. Here is a look at home prices in the Oak Cliff zip codes 75208 and 75224. Real estate agent Jenni Stolarski of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International pulled these statistics for us from the Multiple Listing Service.

IN 75208 AND 75224

$1.63M Most expensive home

MOST-EXPENSIVE HOMES IN OAK CLIFF

In 2008, the most expensive house in Oak Cliff cost $813,000 None of the five most expensive homes in 75208 for 2016 cost less than $1 million

The most expensive home sold in zip code 75224, which includes North Wynnewood, cost $298,000 in 2008. This past year, that area passed the $500,000 mark.

CRIME

WE LOOKED at local crime to see which are most prevalent in our neighborhood and how it has shifted from 2015 to 2016. We reached out to the Dallas Police Department for violent and non-violent crime data in Oak Cliff, as defined by the department’s Crime Analysis Unit. The 2016 numbers encompass all crimes from Jan. 1-Nov. 30.

VIOLENT CRIMES

NON-VIOLENT CRIMES

There

Unsolved homicides in Oak Cliff as of November 2016

VICTIM: Tamaika White

DATE OF DEATH: Dec. 5, 2016

LOCATION: Kiest Boulevard

VICTIMS: Yulio Camacho and Hector Vela

DATE OF DEATH: Sept. 30, 2016

LOCATION: 715 N. Lancaster Ave.

VICTIMS: Joseph Hernandez and Daniel Hernandez

DATE OF DEATH: Sept. 13, 2016

LOCATION: 5200 Monmouth Lane

VICTIM: Michael Cannon

DATE OF DEATH: July 19, 2016

LOCATION: Intersection of S. Beckley Avenue and E. Hobson Avenue.

VICTIM: Kieth Brown

DATE OF DEATH: July 14, 2016

LOCATION: 3443 W. Kiest Blvd.

VICTIM: Joseph Paul

DATE OF DEATH: May 19, 2016

LOCATION: 1900 Elmwood Blvd.

VICTIM: Ashley Wilson

DATE OF DEATH: Jan. 23, 2016

LOCATION: Sunset Avenue

In each of these unsolved homicides, the victim died from gunshot wounds. AVERAGE PER DAY 2

was an average of 16.8 car thefts per week in 2016.

SCHOOLS

HOW AND WHY we choose the schools our children attend is difficult to quantify, but the results of our choices are evident when Dallas ISD compiles its demographic snapshots. These numbers come from the district’s reports to the Texas Education Agency and from its Campus Demographic Data Book.

Homeowners in Oak Cliff have a reputation for choosing Rosemont Elementary, magnet schools or opting out of DISD entirely. Here’s the breakdown of students in a given elementary school zone who attend private or home school vs. their neighborhood school

45.2% of students zoned to Hogg Elementary in Kidd Springs opt for private or home school, the only instance in our neighborhood where this number outweighs the students who opt to attend their neighborhood school.

Grenier Middle School and Greiner Arts Academy share a campus, but the 622-student magnet is more diverse ethnically than the 1,621-student traditional school.

1,112 students are zoned to Stevens Park Elementary, though only 643 students, or 57.8%, opt to attend the school.

Studies show that a school’s socioeconomic diversity can be a strong indicator in how its students perform academically. How do Oak Cliff schools stack up?

62% of Hogg Elementary’s campus is used by its 287 students, making it the emptiest of all of Oak Cliff campuses.

95% of Winnetka Elementary in South Winnetka Heights is in use, thanks in part to the 268 students who transfer into the school and comprise nearly 1/3 of its enrollment.

Creating a Community of Diverse Learners

CULTURE

WHAT WE LOVE ON YELP

Enrolling

• Reading/Writing Workshop Units of Study Curriculum

• Interactive, Hands-on Math Curriculum

• Spanish, PE & Recess Daily

OAK CLIFFERS love their local restaurants, so we wanted to see which are highly rated on the “snitch app,” Yelp. There are quite a few restaurants in our neighborhood with an impressive 4.5 stars. But there are only two with more than 20 reviews on Yelp and five stars.

POTPOURRI OF SILK

317 N. Zang

28 reviews, 5 stars

Cris Barreiro started Potpourri of Silk as a cake business in 1996. Now her sons, chef Andres and manager Estevan, run it as a tearoom, offering sandwiches, soups, cookies and more Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WHISKERS FISH & BURGERS

1702 Singleton Blvd.

Scam

• Tax Preparation

•

• IRS Notice Resolution

• 28 years in the White Rock Lake Neighborhood

Jack F. Lewis Jr., CPA

jlewis@jlewiscpa.com

6301 Gaston Avenue, Suite 800 214-821-0829

JOB THAT WON’T

MAKE YOU

64 reviews, 5 stars Crispy catfish and fried shrimp come perfectly seasoned and heaped into styrofoam clamshells at this WestDallas hole-in-the-wall.

The Texas Theatre is the only place in our neighborhood to catch a flick. And the lineup stays full with new and repertory films. These are the most-popular films shown at the Texas Theatre in 2016, based on ticket sales.

NEW MOVIES

1 I “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

2 I “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week”

3 I “Star Wars: The Force Awakens

4 I “One More Time with Feeling”

5 I “The Hateful Eight”

REPERTORY MOVIES:

1 I “Labyrinth”

2 I “Dazed and Confused”

3 I “Purple Rain”

4 I “The Man Who Fell to Earth”

5 I “Blade Runner”

WHAT WE’RE READING

THE WILD DETECTIVES is a boutique bookshop and coffeehouse in the Bishop Arts District. In no particular order, here are the top nine book titles sold there in 2016:

1 Cities I’ve Never Lived In by Sara Majka

2 So Sad Today by Melissa Broder

3 A Little Life by Hanya Yahagihara

4 Black Out by Sarah Hepola

Hepola’s memoir of drunkenness came out in mid-2015, but her reading at Wild Detectives in June 2016 put it back on the charts. Hepola is a journalist and essayist with ties to Dallas, and “Black Out” received favorable reviews from publications including the New York Times and The Atlantic.

5 The Midnight Assassin by Skip Hollandsworth

Unbelievably, this is the Texas Monthly writer’s first book. Hollandsworth, who lives in Dallas, released “The Midnight Assassin” in April 2016. It’s about a series of unsolved murders that took place in Austin in 1884 and 1885. The New York Times compared it to Eric Larson’s “Devil in the White City” and calls it “true crime of high quality.”

6 Heroes of the Frontier by Dave Eggers

7 The Girls by Emma Cline

8 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

9 A Zero Sum Game by Eduardo Rabasa

Dallas-based Deep Vellum published the English translation (by Christina MacSweeney) of this Mexican novel that “examines humanity’s dark side in a fatalistic satire of consumer society and the cult of the individual.”

By BRENT MCDOUGAL

WORSHIP BAPTIST

CLIFF TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH / 125 Sunset Ave. / 214.942.8601

Serving Oak Cliff since 1898 / CliffTemple.org / English and Spanish

9 am Contemporary Worship / 10 am Sunday School / 11 am Traditional

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

METHODIST

GRACE UMC / Diverse, Inclusive, Missional

Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am / Worship, 10:50 am

4105 Junius St. / 214.824.2533 / graceumcdallas.org

TYLER STREET CHURCH / Traditional Worship - 9:30 am / tsumc.org

Tyler Street En Vivo - 9:30 am / tylerstreetenvivo.org / 214.946.8106

Tyler Street Live - 11:30 am / tylerstreetlive.org / 927 W. 10th Street

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

KESSLER COMMUNITY CHURCH / 2100 Leander Dr. at Hampton Rd.

“Your Hometown Church Near the Heart of the City.”

10:30 am Contemporary Service / kesslercommunitychurch.com

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF OAK CLIFF / oakcliffuu.org

Sun. Worship 10am / Wed. Meditation 7pm / 3839 W. Kiest Blvd.

Inclusive – Justice Seeking – Spirited – Eclectic – Liberal – Fun!

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

PROMISE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST / www.promiseucc.org

Worship: 10:30 am Sundays / 214-623-8400 / 2527 W. Colorado Blvd.

An Open and Affirming Church where everyone is welcome!

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We found her covered in mud and roaming bitter-cold streets as the sun went down on one of the last days of the year. She’s a terrier-Chihuahua mix, and we instantly loved her. A few years beforehand, after a long illness, our beagle Rosie had to be put to sleep, and, candidly, we couldn’t bring ourselves to adopt another dog. But here she was, shivering in the freezing cold. We took her in for the night and cleaned her up. She was sweet, and we knew that her people must not be far away.

The SPCA confirmed that she had a chip, so the owners were contacted. When they finally called a few days later, they told us the dog’s name was Churry. Turns out, Churry had lived many places, while never finding home. The original owner had given her away to a relative. Churry was soon given to another relative, who promptly passed her on to a friend, then to another friend. And now that friend didn’t want the dog, leaving her to roam the streets.

Then they asked, “Would you want to take her?”

It was an easy decision.

We all need a home. Adoptive families sometimes call them forever homes, the place of stability and safety. Home conjures up images of rest and familiarity. For some, memories of home are not pleasant. Still, we long for home. We yearn to return to, or create, a place where we are accepted for who we are to where we can return, or perhaps never leave.

“Where we love is home — home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts,” Oliver Wendell Holmes has said.

The Hebrew people longed for centuries for the Promised Land, a place of

rest, milk and honey. But for Christians, Jesus redefined home. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“Abide in me, and I will abide in you,” Jesus taught, meaning “make your home in me, and I’ll make my home in you.”

To be at home with Jesus is to be accepted, loved and never alone.

In what has been called the greatest short story ever told, Jesus talked about a son who approaches his father to say that he wants to leave home and receive his inheritance. The father’s heart is broken,

but he agrees. The son travels far away and squanders his money, eventually becoming destitute, eating scraps and wondering what his life had become.

In a moment of deep hunger and longing, he “came to his senses” and decided to return to his father’s house. He rehearsed a great apology, but as he walked the road toward home, his father was watching for him, filled with compassion. The father ran to his son, kissed him, forgave him, and threw a grand party. (See Luke 15 to read the whole story.)

Such is the love of our Heavenly Father and the place of belonging and rest he longs to share.

He always leaves the light on.

Brent McDougal is pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church. The Worship section is a regular feature underwritten by Advocate Publishing and by the neighborhood business people and churches listed on these pages. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

Where the heart is

With God’s love, going home is always a safe option

To be at home with Jesus is to be accepted, loved and never alone.

BISHOP DUNNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Contact: Charleen Doan at 214.339.6561 ext. 4020 or admission@bdcs.org

A co-educational, college preparatory school serving students in grades 6-12. We provide a strong faith and valuebased education with high academic standards, encouraging all students to achieve their full potential. Our curriculum emphasizes individualized attention, and is constantly at the forefront of technology integration through the use of laptops, ebooks, and our Online Education Program. Additionally, we provide a full range of extracurricular activities ranging from athletics, to the arts, to clubs and service organizations.

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep.org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL

4019 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas 75224/ 214.331.5139 / www.saintspride.com

At St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our fundamental task is the education of the whole child -- combining learning with faith, Catholic doctrines and moral teachings. We introduce all PK3-8th Grade students to the integrated ways of STEM. This approach to education is designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum. Over the past 10 years, 95% of St. Elizabeth 8th graders were accepted to their first choice high school. Join us for an informational school tour and see for yourself how easy it is to become a Saint! Call 214.331.5139 for information.

TRUE CRIME

Police are searching for the man who killed Tamika White after an encounter at Oak Cliff’s City Inn & Suites.

Surveillance video footage shows White meeting a man at the motel around 3 a.m. They walked from the courtyard to the parking lot before getting into a grey, early model Toyota Matrix with a sunroof.

A few minutes later, White exited the car and drove away with another person. The suspect followed them to the 1300 block of South Marsalis, according to the Dallas Police Department. He shot into the car, killing White.

Crime Stoppers, 214.373.8477, will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.

CRIME NUMBERS

300

block of Colorado, where a driver in a tan pickup hit a pedestrian

12:50

a.m. on Dec. 31, the woman was crossing the street, and the driver fled

61-year-old

Dennye Mills was killed; no one has been arrested

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

NEW OLD SCHOOL

Chef Jeffrey Kollinger , center, threw a VIP party in January for Tillman’s Roadhouse, the Bishop Arts restaurant he took over last year with his brother/business partner, Ross Kollinger, and executive chef Michael Morabito. The Kollingers, who also own Spice of Life Catering, re-imagined the 25-year-old Tillman’s with a new bar and a menu of chic Texas comfort food.

CLASSES/TUTORING/ LESSONS

COLOR ME EMPOWERED Art Classes & Workshops for Pre K-12. colormeempowered.org. 214-729-2499

CREATIVE ARTS CENTER More than 500 adult art classes/ workshops from metal to mosaic! www.creativeartscenter.org

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

TEXAS BAR CARD? Part-time lawyer wanted. Evidence review. Court appearances. Draft pleadings. Call Attorney Q. Lynn Johnson. 214-552-1349

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

FINANCIAL CONSULTANT Five Rings Financial has part-time opportunities! JR@FiveRingsFinancial.com 214-702-0033 x502

SERVICES FOR YOU

FLAWLESS DETAIL Mobile Car Cleaning. 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra). Established 2009. Exp/Insd. flawlessdallas.com 214-280-5920 214.339.9273

how that perso are loved with a custom flow

Show that special person how much they are loved with a custom flower arrangement.

GloriasFlowersDallas.com

LEGAL SERVICES

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LEGAL ISSUES? The Law Office Of Lauren C Medel, PLLC. LaurenMedel.com. 972-773-9306

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

RANGERS, STARS & MAVS

community is online too! LocalWorks.advocatemag.com

Share front-row Texas Rangers, Stars & Mavs seats. Tickets are available in sets of 10 games (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available). Participants randomly draw numbers prior to season to determine a draft order fair to everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

PHOTO BY JACKLYNN LOMELI

AC & HEAT

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANNA’S ELECTRIC Your Oak Cliff Electrician Since 1978. tecl25513. 214-943-4890

Family Owned & Operated

Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years

We raise our kids here, too!

972-274-2157

www.CrestAirAndHeat.com

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

JD’S TREE SERVICE Mantels, Headboards, Kitchen Islands, Dining tables. Made from Local Trees. www.jdtreeservice.com 214-946-7138

CLEANING SERVICES

A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE

4th Clean Absolutely Free for new Weekly and Bi-weekly clients. Mention this ad for $25 off first one-time, move in/out or post construction clean. WindsorMaidServices.com 214-381-MAID (6243)

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

TWO SISTERS & A MOP

Move in/Out. Reliable/Dependable 20 Yrs Exp. 214-283-9732

twosistersamopmaidservice.com

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

CONCRETE/ MASONRY/PAVING

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

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

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Stamping and Staining Driveways/Patio/Walkways

Pattern/Color available

Free Estimates 972-672-5359 (36 yrs.)

CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001

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

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

TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658

EXTERIOR CLEANING

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

FLOORING & CARPETING

Willeford

2017 is the year to declutter and simplify

Minimalism is all the rage in 2017, so get on trend and simplify your life by removing the clutter with these tips:

1. Clothes — Haven’t worn it in 12 months? Give it away.

2. Kitchen - Only keep a gadget if you use it at least five times a year.

3. Toiletries — Get rid of the ones that you don’t use or like.

4. Under the bed — If it’s under there you’re probably not using it.

5. Storage closet/garage — Think of all the contents. The items you remember keep, but toss the ones you forgot you had.

Get ready to enjoy the simple life.

HANDYMAN SERVICES

HOME REPAIR HANDYMAN Small/Big Jobs + Construction. 30 Yrs. Exp. 214-875-1127

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

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

Your Home Repair Specialists Drywall

HOME INSPECTION

LocalWorks.advocatemag.com

FENCING & DECKS

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

4 QUALITY FENCING Call Mike 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood, New or Repair. FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com . 214-766-6422

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

NORTHLAKE FENCE Locally owned and family operated. Celebrating 36 years of service. 214-349-9132 northlakefence.com

COWBOY

GARAGE SERVICES

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned.214-826-8096

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

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

PRO WINDOW CLEANING prompt, dependable. Matt 214-766-2183

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

HOUSE PAINTING

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

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

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

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

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

WE

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214.692.1991

FENCE & IRON CO. cowboyfenceandiron.com

HANDY MANNY PAINTING/HOME REPAIR Int./Ext. Manny 214-334-2160

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd.

12 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925

BURRIS TREE SERVICE | 469-939-3344

Expert tree service. | Prune. Stump grind. Plant.

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061

IRISH RAIN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TXL#2738

Repair, Stonework & Drains 214-827-7446

LSI LAWN SPRINKLERS “Making Water Work”

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

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Insd.

CC’s Accepted. 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

YOUR TREES could look like a WORK OF ART, I Guarantee It.

FEBRUARY SPECIAL $200 OFF 4 man crew/4 hours

Call Mark Wittlich 214-332-3444

JD’s Tree Service

RESPONSIBLE TREE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Locally harvested wood!

MOVING

AM MOVING COMPANY Specialty Moving & Delivery.469-278-2304 ammovingcompany.com

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

PLUMBING

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

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521

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

Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days

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

M&S PLUMBING Quality Work & Prompt Service. Jerry. 214-235-2172. lic.#M-11523

NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913

Lic. M-40581 Res/Com. Repairs & Leak Location

THE PLUMBING MANN LLC

Firewood/Cooking Wood Full service trimming & planting of native trees. 214.946.7138

POOLS

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

REMODELING

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

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

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

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

RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

Bob McDonald Company, Inc. BUILDERS/REMODELERS

30+ Yrs. in Business • Major Additions

Complete Renovations • Kitchens/Baths

214-341-1155

bobmcdonaldco.net

ROOFING & GUTTERS

All Plumbing! Since 1978. Family Owned. RMP/Master-14240 Insured.

214-FAST-FIX/ 214-327-8349

MARCH DEADLINE FEB. 8

Area Manager/ Loan Officer

BancorpSouth Mortgage Cell: 972.352.7648 victor.hall@bxs.com victorlhall.com

NMLS #453089 “As

ADVOCATE PUBLISHING does not pre-screen, recommend or investigate the advertisements and/or Advertisers published in our magazines. As a result, Advocate Publishing is not responsible for your dealings with any Advertiser. Please ask each Advertiser that you contact to show you the necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform the work you are requesting. Advocate Publishing takes comments and/or complaints about Advertisers seriously, and we do not publish advertisements that we know are inaccurate, misleading and/or do not live up to the standards set by our publications. If you have a legitimate complaint or positive comment about an Advertiser, please contact us at 214560-4203. Advocate Publishing recommends that you ask for and check references from each Advertiser that you contact, and we recommend that you obtain a written statement of work to be completed, and the price to be charged, prior to approving any work or providing an Advertiser with any deposit for work to be completed.

Welcome to the ‘murderdrome’

Oak Cliff’s short-lived motorcycle racing arena

Professional baseball is a big part of Oak Cliff’s history. And we recently uncovered that the first pro hockey games in Dallas were played here as well.

Oak Cliff was home to early 20th century bicycle racing as well as the renowned Big D Cycles motorcycle shop and racing team.

For a very short while, there also were death-defying motordrome races in Oak Cliff.

A motordrome was built at Lake Cliff Park in 1912. This was back when Lake Cliff was an amusement park — it also had a “shoot the chutes” water ride, a café, a theater and a roller rink.

Motordromes, which gained wide popularity in 1910, were board tracks — oval racing tracks composed of wooden planks and extending a fracton of a mile. The one in Oak Cliff was a quarter of a mile. The tracks were banked so that when racers got up to high speeds, they could

go near-horizontal along the walls. These were spectacularly dangerous races that drew crowds numbering in the thousands. According to newspaper accounts from the time, the Lake Cliff motordrome was built to seat 6,000, about the same capacity as the Will Rogers Coliseum.

Unfortunately, the motordrome at Lake Cliff was built at about the worst time possible for the sport.

James S. Arthur of St. Louis built the motordrome with several partners for $2,000 in advance of the State Fair of Texas. Arthur arrived in Dallas near the end of September 1912.

A few weeks earlier, motorcycle boardtrack racing suffered a tragedy that would put an end to the sport’s popularity and begin its rapid decline.

A rising star of the track was a racer from Waco named Eddie Hasha, called “The Texas Cyclone.” Hasha began his career in November 1911, racing on an

8-valve Indian motorcycle. He set a record for the mile, averaging 95 miles per hour. And he beat all of the sport’s established stars for a first-place finish at the Los Angeles motordrome, the arena at the heart of board-track racing.

On Sept. 8, 1912, Hasha raced against world-record holder Ray Seymour at the Newark Motordrome in New Jersey.

A horrendous crash suffered during that race would shock the world with its gory and tragic aftermath.

This account of it is paraphrased from motorcycle racing historian David L. Morrill:

Hasha came around a turn upwards of 90 miles per hour and hit the rail. His bike rode the rail for some 100 feet, killing a boy who had been leaning over to watch the race.

Hasha’s body flew into the stands, killing him instantly. The crash killed four other spectators, three of them children.

The motorcycle then dropped back

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TEXAS/DALLAS HISTORY AND ARCHIVES DIVISION, DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY

“The Texas Cyclone,” Eddie Hasha, whose dramatic death contributed to the demise of motorcycle track racing.

into the arena and killed another racer.

Pandemonium ensued. Many spectators were seriously injured in a stampede to flee the arena.

In all, seven were dead, including five spectators. Paramedics were called from all over the city.

The disaster made the front page of the New York Times, and the 2-monthold Newark motordrome never reopened.

Two weeks later, as New York newspapers were dubbing short-track motorcycle racing arenas “murderdromes,” the guy from St. Louis started building one here.

We know the Lake Cliff motordrome opened that fall and held races at late as November 1912, when neighbors complained that they’d held races on a Sunday, violating blue laws.

There is no clear record of whatever happened to the Oak Cliff motordrome, but it’s not hard to imagine. The outdoor tracks weren’t built to last anyway, and after about three years of use, they became difficult to maintain.

Some of them became auto- or bike-racing tracks. The last two — in Coney Island and the Bronx — disappeared before 1950. —RACHEL

STONE

A panorama from Oct. 13, 1912 shows part of the quarter-mile motordrome at Lake Cliff Park. Note the steeply banked walls and rows of spectators.

For digestive health, trust Methodist.

If you’re struggling with acid reflux, upset stomach, constipation, or other digestive problems, let us guide you with a coordinated path to health at the Methodist Digestive Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Methodist Dallas was the first hospital in the nation awarded certification by the Joint Commission for pancreatic surgery and the first in Texas to be certified in pancreatic cancer.