37TH ANNUAL HOME FESTIVAL

sailors like rock stars. They stayed on the island about a month.

“We were invited to locals’ homes, and they had an itinerary for us every day,” Dobbs says. “We got to see a lot of stuff that tourists don’t see.”

He met men who can free dive 30 feet to spear a fish. They ate sea urchin — a sushi chef’s prize — pulled straight from the sea, cracked on a rock and squeezed with lemon.

Almost every night, the locals played drums and ukuleles. They drank Chilean wine and feasted on ceviche.

“They would put flowers on you, and they made up a song about our expedition and sang it for us,” Dobbs recalls.

They visited, went fishing, rode horses and slept on the beach. Once, Dobbs slept next to one of the larger-than-life mo’ai, the mysterious ancient statues for which Easter Island is famous.

Dobbs has been an adventure traveler since college, when he traveled to Central America and, with friends, sailed a schooner from Guatemala to Mexico to Cuba.

Dobbs’ experience on the Veracocha was so great that in 2003 he returned to Chile for a reed-boat expedition that was to travel to Easter Island and then all the way to Australia.

On the day they embarked, the Chilean Navy pulled their ship past the breaker, but the rope came loose and washed the ship back to the beach. It was still seaworthy, but it had a tilt.

“That was a sign probably not to go, but we went anyway,” Dobbs says.

Winds pushed them toward southern Patagonia, and on this voyage, they were at sea 78 days. As they approached Easter Island, their boat was sinking, and the navy had to tow them in. They never made it to Tahiti and Australia.

“I think the first trip was just beginners luck,” he says.

Neighbors

Four Oak Cliff neighborhood associations came together to help Dallas Animal Services. The Elmwood and Winnetka Heights neighborhood associations, Kessler Neighbors United and Kings Highway Conservation District donated $200 each to buy four new microchip scanners. The scanners are used to find the owners of lost pets that have microchip IDs.

Education

Mayra Millan, a 2013 graduate of Adamson High School, was interviewed on KERA’s “Speak Out: An American Graduate Special.” Millan, who is a Gates Millenium Scholar at Texas A&M University, talked about the challenges of completing high school and graduating third in her class as the daughter of a single mother. The program is available at kera.com/ graduate.

Business

“John F. Kennedy: A Community Remembers” is an exhibition of art and memorabilia on display in the lobby of the Bank Tower at Oak Cliff, 400 S. Zang, through mid December. The exhibition is free and open to the public, courtesy of the building’s managing partner, Oak Cliff resident Ralph Isenberg.

Good Shepherd epiScopal School

11110 Midway rd, dallas TX 75229 gsesdallas.org / 214.357.1610 Located on the corner of Midway and Northaven, gses provides each student the kind of dynamic, vigorous school experience parents should expect in Dallas. gses is the preeminent Prek-8th grade Dallas school where 98% of our graduates get into their top two high school choices! Inquire and imagine the infinite possibilities! Parent visitations: Pre-k & Kinder, Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.; Middle school, Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 9:15 a.m.; Lower school, Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

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. john’S epiScopal School

848 harter rd., dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

Founded in 1953, st. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, st. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, spanish, german, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service. st. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by IsAs, sAes, and the Texas education Agency