There are many reasons why it’s important to care for your heart. At Texas Health Heart & Vascular Specialists, our reason is you. With heart care plans customized to you and your needs, we’re ready to help you achieve a heart-healthy future. From proactive prevention and diagnostics to advanced bypass and valve surgery and more, discover our compassionate and comprehensive approach to your heart health. Schedule your in-person or virtual visit today.
James Choi, M.D.
PRESTON HOLLOW ADVOCATE VOL. 23 NO. 9
PROFILE
8 Northaven Trail Bridge’s muralist
DINING
10 JOEY Dallas FEATURES
6 Dogs Matter too
16 Saving giraffes from a Preston Hollow office
20 Making sports accessible
CLICKWORTHY
14 Infrastructure, a neighborhood author & what’s new
Chera Brooker’s murals can be found under the Northaven Trail Bridge.
Read more on page 9. Photography by Kelsey Shoemaker.
a
Use Native Plants to Save Water Water 2X
Less
Program Your Sprinkler System to Water 2X a Week or Less
This weekend you can program your sprinkler system to water only twice a week, even in the summer. (Any more is wasted!) And switch out some of those thirsty landscape plants for beautiful native plants. Have a water-saving weekend! Visit us online to find more water-saving projects.
Editorial Assistant: Simon Pruitt spruitt@advocatemag.com
Senior Art Director: Jynnette Neal jneal@advocatemag.com
Creative Director/Photographer: Lauren Allen lallen@advocatemag.com
Interns: Varsha Jhanak, Abbie Fleeman
Contributors: Patti Vinson, Carol Toler, Sam Gillespie, Kelsey Shoemaker
Contributing photographers: Kathy Tran, Yuvie Styles, Shelby Tauber, Victoria Gomez, Amani Sodiq, Austin Marc Graf, Ellie Overman, Haley Hill, Kelsey Shoemaker, Jenni Cholula, Austin Gibbs
Advocate (c) 2024 is published monthly in print and daily online by Advocate Media - Dallas Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas and first published in 1991. Contents of this print magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements and sponsorships printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject ay editorial, advertising or sponsorship material in print or online. Opinions set forth in Advocate publications are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Publisher’s viewpoint. More than 180,000 people read Advocate publications in print each month; Advocate online publications receive more than 4 million pageviews monthly. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate print and online publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one print copy per reader. For information about supporting our non-profit mission of providing local news to neighborhood readers, please call 214-560-4212 or email aquintero@advocatemag.com.
FOLLOW US:
Art in Botolino Gelato Artigianale in the Preston Royal Shopping Center. Photography by Austin Gibbs.
Talk to us: editor@advocatemag.com
Newsletter: advocatemag.com/newsletter
Edgemere Recognized Among the ‘Best’ by National Media
The honors and recognitions keep rolling in, and we couldn’t be more excited at Edgemere, the premier senior living destination in the serene Preston Hollow neighborhood of North Dallas.
Newsweek named Edgemere the number one continuing care retirement community in Texas for 2024, and ranked the community second overall in the publication’s list of America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
“More than 2,000 communities were evaluated based on input from residents, prospective residents, and family members, as well as employees and associated healthcare professionals,” said Teresa Bates, Executive Director at Edgemere. “These honors are even more meaningful knowing they are based on feedback from those who know us best.”
This latest accolade follows the announcement that the community’s healthcare center, The Plaza at Edgemere, ranked in the top 3 percent of healthcare centers in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report, earning the highest possible ratings for both Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care.
The award-winning healthcare center also received a five-star rating in the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) report.
Lastly, Eldercare Review named Edgemere Premiere Senior Living Company of the Year 2024.
“These national awards are evidence of the commitment of our community and leadership teams to quality, and creating environments where residents can grow and thrive,” added Bates. “We are honored to share these significant accomplishments with our dynamic group of residents and staff.”
BEEN HERE. DONE THAT.
For more than 20 years, Edgemere has been a trusted and respected senior living community in Dallas, enriching the lives of its discerning residents through vibrant and engaging opportunities where friendships flourish and memories are made. Nestled on 16 acres in the tranquil Preston Hollow neighborhood, the timeless Tuscan-inspired architecture of Barrel tile clay roofing and Venetian stucco surrounds lush gardens, fountains and ponds, creating intimate gathering areas. The community provides living options across
the continuum from independent living, assisted living, memory care, and both short-term and longterm skilled nursing offerings. The comfort and wellbeing of each resident is at the heart of the design, ensuring they feel at ease in the inspired surroundings.
YOUR HOME FOR EVERY LIFESTYLE AND INTEREST
Offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom floorplans, Edgemere has living space for every lifestyle with amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience, with the elegance expected by our residents. From a modern fitness center with a pool for group aquatic programming, a performing arts center, and an indulgent full-service salon and spa, the community provides everything residents need to thrive. Edgemere’s outdoor space is equally impressive with meticulously cared for gardens, walking paths, and lovely vignettes for visiting with friends and neighbors. The Edgemere campus also offers a greenhouse and herb garden inspired and maintained by dedicated residents.
At Edgemere, the health and well-being of every resident is a priority. Our personalized fitness and wellness programs cater to individual needs, nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just getting started, we offer something for everyone. In addition to cardio and strength training, a pool with group aquatic programming, all complimented by a life enrichment program catering to the mind, body and spirit.
And for those with a refined palate, you’ll find dining at Edgemere is always a memorable experience. We offer a variety of venues to choose from, and only use the freshest ingredients, with our menus rivaling Dallas’ finest restaurants. No matter where you decide to eat – the Portabella Bistro for classic and casual bites or the more upscale Medici restaurant – Edgemere’s culinary team consistently crafts creative experiences that are meant to be savored and always takes into consideration individual dietary requirements. And the community will be adding a third dining venue in Spring 2024 with the opening of the Bottega Café.
AND WE’RE HERE WHEN THE TIME COMES.
At Edgemere, we understand the importance
of preserving your dignity and independence as you age. Residents living in the assisted living neighborhood at nationally ranked The Plaza at Edgemere can expect the highest level of quality and service. Our personalized care programs are thoughtfully crafted to strike a balance between offering the support you need and empowering you to continue enjoying your friendships, pursuing your hobbies, and seizing new opportunities. Our health and wellness programs encompass every aspect of your well-being, promoting a balanced mind, body, and spirit, allowing you to lead a life that’s rich in vitality and joy. Our trained team is there to assist, but never oversteps, helping with routines while ensuring residents can maintain their independence as much as possible.
“First and foremost, we strive for independence and wellness for our residents but when the time comes for additional support, we have staff available 24 hours to ensure our residents get the care they need while continuing to live exciting and engaging lives with purpose,” said Randy Langford, Administrator at The Plaza.
In Edgemere’s memory care neighborhood, we combine state-of-the-art support with highly individualized attention. Recognizing that each resident has specific needs, our dedicated nurses work directly with residents, their families, and physicians to create custom, dignified care plans. Residents have access to nationally recognized programming, such as Music & Memory® and It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L) designed to help them live a meaningful life within their specific abilities.
Life at Edgemere is vibrant, rewarding, and as active or carefree as you desire. Call 469.770.7287 or visit edgemerelife.com for more information, to schedule a tour, or join our executive director/associate executive director for a complimentary lunch or dinner.
You can spot the Dogs Matter van at community events, local retail, public fundraisers, addiction and recovery conferences and treatment centers.
DOGS MATTER
How one neighborhood nonprofit is helping addicts through pet care
Story by ABBIE FLEEMAN | Photography by ELLIE OVERMAN
When Stephen Knight was in sober living 13 years ago, he received a knock at his door. Somebody had relapsed and needed somewhere to put their dog. They asked Knight to take the dog in, and he still has her to this day.
The small black pup’s name is Jade.
Knight began to wonder how often addicts must run into this issue. They want to get better and seek rehabilitation, but they don’t want to give up their furry friend. A friend that won’t give up on them the way other relationships could.
“As addicts, we usually end up alone,” Knight says. “And we damage a lot of relationships and it takes time to rebuild those relationships.”
Knight researched to see if anyone in the Dallas area was providing a solution to this problem and found almost no options. That was when he decided to start his own nonprofit: Dogs Matter — a temporary foster care system for dogs. People looking for an addiction treatment program can fill out the Temporary Surrender Application on the Dogs Matter website to match their dog with a foster until they have recovered.
A unique feature of Dogs Matter is their aftercare program. After the owner and dog have been reunited, Dogs Matter supports the owner through their recovery process for up to 12 months. They check in with clients and offer a recovery coach, pet deposits if needed and they will rehome the pet if its owner relapses. Knight is also a substance abuse counselor who assists clients in crisis. Seventy percent of the dogs get returned to their owners, while the other 30% are given new permanent homes. Either way, no dog at Dogs Matter has ever gone to a shelter.
One of Knight’s favorite rescue stories happened just this year.
“Last night [July 28] we were able to reunite one of our clients with their two dogs. Last November, she was living in a tent in the wintertime and was really sick. She wanted to go to rehab, but had
nowhere to put her dogs,” Knight says, “She found us and we immediately went and got her. She immediately went to the hospital and actually almost died. They said she would have been dead within 48 hours if we hadn’t gotten her and the dog. She went from the hospital to rehab, and then from rehab to sober living. Last night, we’re able to reunite her with her dogs. She will get to start the school year with her son, her new apartment and her two dogs.”
Dogs Matter partnered with Dallas Pets Alive!, a pet rescue focused on adoption, around three years ago. The two organizations work together so that Dogs Matter can focus on getting the pet owners healthy and finding safe places for their dogs, while Dallas Pets Alive! helps them save money on administrative work.
Around two years ago, Dogs Matter was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show . This boosted the nonprofit from being a small program to a much larger one with more dogs and owners to care for. On the show, Dogs Matter was given $10,000 and a van to transport animals from place to place. The show shined a light on Dog Matter’s mission and more struggling pet owners came to the nonprofit with their animals.
While they take regular donations on their website, the nonprofit’s biggest fundraising event is the annual North Texas Giving Day. In 2023, the event raised $63.9 million.
As the program grows, volunteers, fosters and donations from the community are essential to keeping Dogs Matter afloat. With this help, the nonprofit has serviced around 1,500 dogs throughout the last nine years.
“We take care of your best friend while you take care of yourself,” Knight says.
Dogs Matter is still in need of more people willing to foster pets. Volunteers can apply to foster on their website and will be matched with an animal that will be a good fit. The length of the foster-care commitment can vary based on the client. The nonprofit will be part of North Texas Giving Day on September 19.
Each of the eight columns features a different native plant paired with its natural pollinator.
PAINTING BY NUMBERS
Muralist paints native species
Story and photography by KELSEY SHOEMAKER
IT’S A WEDNESDAY AND MURALIST CHERA BROOKER IS DAYS AWAY FROM FINISHING A PROJECT MONTHS IN THE MAKING.
Throughout the morning, bicyclists, walkers and drivers who roll down their windows have all given Brooker a wave, her mural a long look and a nimiety of compliments. She’s gotten handfuls of other appreciative words since she first dabbed the paint four weeks ago. Now, Brooker predicts it will be done this Saturday.
“Everyone is like, ‘We have needed art in the area.’ All they say is thank you [for this],” Brooker says. “Which is nice for me because I love what I do and what I love about mural painting is that it has the ability to reach more people than just a canvas.”
The new mural spans across eight columns underneath the new Northaven Trail Bridge, arching over US 75 near Royal Lane. Since its inception in June 2021, its purpose has been to connect the White Rock Creek Trail, Cottonwood Creek Trail and SoPac Trail. The bridge’s construction finished in September, and it opened to the public in December.
Previously projected to be a two week project, the mural took four weeks to paint due to the unexpected summer showers.
“Bringing more color to the area was my goal,” Brooker says.
Early discussions emphasized a mural celebrating the bridge’s connection to trails and serving as a welcome mat to introduce the flora and fauna found along the trails. Friends of Northaven Trail, the project’s organizers, saw Brooker’s work at Walton’s across from the Dallas Arboretum and gave her a call.
Most of Brooker’s mural portfolio features nature. Since starting about four years ago, she estimates she’s done 60 murals across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and even towards the edges of her hometown in West Texas.
The project’s $65,000 goal was slow to meet, but in January, a significant donation from Lyda Hill Philanthropies gave it a
boost. Although the budget was met, the donation goal was raised to account for trail lights, markers and more trees.
Shortly after receiving the donation, Brooker drafted three versions of the mural before one was chosen. Unlike her previous work, this project required her to paint across eight columns, varying in size from 4-17 feet, on the bridge’s western half.
“It’s funny, they’re deceiving,” Brooker says about the murals. “They’re skinny pillars, but it’s so much coverage.”
Brooker collaborated with Friends of Northaven Trail to include native plants and creatures, each plant paired with its appropriate pollinator.
“I’m just so thankful they like this and this is my ideal subject matter,” Brooker says. “I would paint flowers and birds and butterflies all my life if I could. I’m just grateful [Friends of Northaven] found me and believed in me.”
Trailgoers can see the paintings of bumblebees, monarch butterflies, echinaceas and wildflowers being restored along the trail by Northaven Trail Crew.
“This is probably the most detailed mural I’ve ever done and the first mural that I’ve had to be so factually correct on,” Brooker says.
To prepare, Brooker enlisted the group’s collaboration and books as a guide to be factually correct on native species before starting. The mural uses high-grade latex paint from Sherwin Williams — walking distance across the bridge when Brooker meets short supply — and a coat of anti-graffiti.
Brooker’s father, Greg, a military veteran and dabbler in the arts, assists her by setting up scaffolding and running errands. Brooker comes from a line of family artists, with her grandfather and father both encouraging her artistic pursuit.
“It’s honestly a dream,” Brooker says. “We have pictures of all three of us working and then it’s like three generations.”
The JOEY Dallas bar is placed directly in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by high tables designed to encourage happy hour mingling.
How Dallas foodies keep JOEY Dallas on its toes
Story by AYSIA LANE
Photography by KELSEY SHOEMAKER
Ahappy hour fanatic, a family of four and a college student walk into JOEY Dallas…
Maybe you haven’t heard that one before, but the JOEY Restaurants’ team sure has. Being the new kid on the culinary block in the south entrance of the NorthPark Center, “premium casual” JOEY Dallas has welcomed in a diverse cast of characters as patrons.
“Dallas is an amazing city that I call the heavyweight champ of restaurant cities,” Regional Manager Jesse Cera says. “So to be here and learn from the market has been fantastic.”
Sierra Hicks, the brand awareness manager, says most of the time, during soft openings and practice runs, guests will simply say that everything they tried was “great” with no further explanation or commentary.
Not in Dallas.
“We got so much feedback from the guests,” Hicks says. “It feels like people in Dallas really identify as foodies and it was awesome to get that involvement from the community.”
The “globally-inspired” menu has Texas options such as the hand-pressed burger ($20) and the JOEY classic steak ($40), while branching out into more unexpected dishes like the Japanese gyoza ($14) and Baja cauliflower tacos ($19).
These choices, according to the executive director of culinary Matthew Stowe, are symbolic of the diversity of the city.
“When you have a diverse area that you’re in, it’s natural that food is going to be that way as well,” Stowe says. “Because you’re representing different cultures in the area.”
No matter what cultures are individually represented, most Texans can understand the value of Southern hospitality. Ironically, the brand has effortlessly captured the essence of southern hospitality despite its northern roots in Canada.
“[Hospitality is] what we pride ourselves
JOEY Dallas has eight different steak options, three of which feature seafood combinations.
on, it’s not just food, it’s not just drink, it’s service,” Stowe says. “The entire hospitality experience from the moment you get in — it’s all about details.”
The energy in the space sits somewhere between moody and lively, with dim lights and a blend of matte blacks, grays and neutral woody browns. The calm colors are interrupted by large, gold-trimmed rectangular art pieces that sport lime green, neon pink and a whole gang of bright colors in contrast. In the corner, what feels like a bright silver city shines under the dim lights. It’s the kitchen. The placement of the kitchen is a strategic response to a world demanding more intimacy from its dining experience.
“Details are everything,” Stowe says. “When we open at 11 o’ clock and when we close late at night, the restaurant goes through different iterations throughout the day. We have to evolve with it.”
Now, let’s try this again.
A happy hour fanatic, a family of four and a college student walk into JOEY Dallas…
JOEY Dallas, 8687 N Central Expy, 469.945.5639
The Tuna & Avacado Crunch Roll ($21) has marinated ahi tuna, avocado, pickled ginger, with tempua flakes and spicy emulsion.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Final pavement restoration is going on now through September on Lovers Lane from Elsby to Menier after a new wastewater pipeline and utility work were completed.
City Council approved a street construction contract on Webb Chapel Road from Silverton to Northaven that will run through the rest of 2024.
A project aimed to improve connectivity to trails, reconstruction of water and wastewater infrastructure is in the design phase for the area on Park Lane from Greenville to Hemlock, Hemlock to Abrams and along Fair Oaks Avenue.
NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
[+] Preston Hollow Village is now home to Chefika, an upscale Turkish restaurant located in the former Tricky Fish location created by the mind behind Istanbul Grill and Pera Kebab. The restaurant also features a cake shop with in-house pastry chefs.
[+] The former site of Walnut Hill Elementary has opened this school year as The Dallas ISD Walnut Hill Career Institute, which will allow area high school students to pursue career certificates that their home campus does not offer.
[+] Councilmembers Willis, Mendelsohn and Schultz celebrated the opening of the American Job Center in the Dallas International District, which aims to partner with local, state and regional organizations to connect international residents with job opportunities.
FOR YOUR READING LIST
Story by ALYSSA HIGH
Preston Hollow neighbor Cotty Hillman is joining a long list of Preston Hollow authors and illustrators when she releases a new board book this month titled Under His Wings. The book features detailed illustrations of a bird’s interaction with wildlife in an adaptation of Psalms 91. The book launched at Logos Bookstore of Dallas located at 6713 Snider Plaza on August 17 at 10:30 a.m. and will be available at local retailers.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?
Writing and illustrating a children’s book has been a bucket list item for me since college. During that time, I was struck by the beauty of illustrations in children’s books, and the fact that we typically don’t treat them as art. As a small step to change that, I hung children’s book illustrations on my walls. Now, 10 years later, I have a 1-year-old son, and the chance to regularly enjoy children’s books again. In reading to my son, one of my favorite books was Found: Psalm 23 , by Sally-Lloyd Jones. With this, reading the same story day after day didn’t feel repetitive — it felt like the ancient practice of meditating on Psalms. That inspired me to write a book based on a Psalm. I picked Psalm 91 due to the rich imagery. In the process of writing and illustrating the book, I realized I was writing the truths I needed to be reminded of as a mother learning to care for a newborn. For example, “When you feel alone at night, know he’s watching your long flight” came from thinking about some long, silent stretches of caring for a newborn in the middle of the night.
YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT AND A DEGREE IN PHYSICS. HOW DID THESE EXPERIENCES BENEFIT OR COMPARE TO THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS BOOK?
As someone involved with medical care, I have in the front of my mind the hard things that children and adults can run into. This meant I had to really wrestle with the part of the Psalm that says “With long life I will satisfy him,” knowing that there is no guarantee of a positive outcome. That led me to focus the imagery and words of the book on the idea of God’s presence with us, no matter what we go through – “I will be with him in trouble” Psalms 91:15.
The book-writing and publishing process has been quite a daunting adventure, and I’ve been tempted to stop at many points along the way. I think the challenge of studying physics, and perhaps even more so my cross-country running in high school, helped me develop the grit to keep pushing through the tough moments.
DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND IN ART OR ILLUSTRATIONS?
This is the most surprising part, for me. I have no background in art or illustration, and was in fact not very good at all with it growing up. After college, I started to draw some, but struggled with painting until November of last year when something flipped. Since that point, I’ve been enjoying watercoloring so much, not only with this book, but also with gifts for family and friends.
To see more of the book and its story, you can find Hillman on Instagram @whimsofwatercolor. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
SAVE THE GIRAFFES
Photography by Adnan Yakub.
A Preston Hollow nonprofit focuses on giraffe rescue
Story by VARSHA JHANAK
GIRAFFES
Ranging from 16-18 feet, giraffes are one of the most recognizable animals on the planet. However, a great deal of people are unaware of the numerous problems these magnificent animals endure in their natural environments.
The nonprofit organization Save Giraffes Now (SGN), based in Preston Hollow, works to aid these beautiful creatures.
CEO and founder Susan Myers brought her success from multiple careers — from what might feel like several lifetimes — to the nonprofit.
Myers started out her professional career working in business after getting a degree in French from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business. She worked for J.P. Morgan for over a decade, traveling the globe and meeting her now-husband. After becoming a true Texan obsessed with football, Myers went on to become one of a few female football coaches; she won a state championship with Bishop Lynch and wrote a book on coaching linebackers.
This still wasn’t the end for Myers.
Myers worked closely with giraffes as she served on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Zoological Society and the Zoo’s Wildlife Committee.
“[When starting SGN,] I wanted to do something more entrepreneurial and handson and active,” Myers says. “One thing nice about working at the zoo a bit was you get to know different species. So I got to spend more time with giraffes, a kind of up close and personal. I had been in Africa and just
seen them from a distance. I’ve kind of really fallen in love with them. They’re the nice guys of the animal world. They’re also very forgotten in conservation. But there’s only 117,000 giraffes left. So, that’s why I started SGN about five and a half years ago.”
Giraffes suffer genetic challenges because many of them live in isolated pockets where they are unable to mix gene pools. Furthermore, the species is threatened by poaching for commercial bushmeat, which can be marketed and used to fund terrorist groups.
“The first thing [in conservation] was elephants, rhinos and lions,” Myers says. “Giraffes keep getting left [when] trying to spread the word. When you go to Africa, and you see giraffes you think they’re okay, but they’re in so many small pockets.”
SGN focuses on three main areas in giraffe conservation: anti-poaching, coexistence and rewilding.
Anti-poaching operations include funding armed rangers and community scouts to search for and remove snares. In addition, SGN sponsors repairs and new boats to reduce poaching caused by people crossing rivers at night. SGN also utilizes animals to safeguard other creatures — many scouts use camels for transportation and have trained dogs to detect poachers.
“[Poachers] cut up the [giraffe] meat and put it in water barrels, which look like they’re carrying water, which everyone in Africa [carries],” Myers says. “But they have the giraffe meat in the boat hidden in the bottom, that’s how they get through checkpoints.
They take it to the markets and sell it as bushmeat, which is illegal — you cannot sell giraffe meat in Kenya. They make money and it helps fund terrorists.”
Coexistence projects are meant to make life simpler for giraffes by involving other species and humans. Many countries construct power lines that are too low and could harm giraffes. SGN funds the raising of these powerlines in order to protect the giraffes. Furthermore, several invasive species prevent water availability, thus SGN removes them from the area. Many giraffe mortalities have occured when they cross a major highway connecting Nairobi to the port of Mombasa. SGN is working to install signage or speed barriers in these areas to prevent accidental giraffe fatalities.
“If there’s ever a way to hire people to do the work instead of machines and local people, instead of outsiders, we try to do that,” Myers says. “Most of the clearing of the invasive species we’re able to do by hand, but sometimes we have to bring in a bulldozer. There’s a highway right through a wildlife area that does have a lot of giraffes and sometimes the giraffes try to cross the highway, which has now become like a fullbore six lane highway. We have some giraffe mortalities, as well as a lot of zebras and other mortalities.”
Rescue and rewilding efforts include moving giraffes between habitats to improve gene pools or even out sex ratios. In 2020, SGN announced an ambitious proposal to reintroduce the Rothschild’s giraffes, one of
Some of the work that Saving Giraffes Now supports can be seen in the Disney/National Geographic documentary Saving Giraffes: The Long Journey Home. Photography by Jeff DeKock.
the most endangered species of giraffes, to the Eastern Rift Valley, where they were extinct 70 years ago. After months of planning and training, all nine stranded giraffes were successfully relocated to the Ruko Community Conservancy in early 2021.
The project gained international attention from news outlets such as CNN, BBC and People Magazine . When a photographer who had connections with Disney got a hold of the story, National Geographic filmed Saving Giraffes: The Long Journey Home which details the journey of moving the giraffes to the Ruko facility.
“I feel a big bond with the species, maybe because Americans love an underdog: I’m an underdog in giraffe conservation, and my species is an underdog in conservation,” Myers says. “I have met the most wonderful people, whether it’s the local folks up at Ruko, who are like family, or the people I’m so blessed to work with. We’re a very small group, we’re only about six employees, three here and three in Africa. But I just can’t imagine my life without those people. I feel like this is what all my other careers were leading to. I have a real sense of mission and a calmness and peace that I know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
To support SGN’s mission of saving giraffes, donations can be made on their website. In addition, you can purchase giraffe artwork, water bottles or spread the word about SGN.
EQUITABLE EQUIPMENT
St. Mark’s senior Dylan Taylor runs a organization set on making sports accessible
Story by
ANDREW NORSEWORTHY
Photography by VICTORIA GOMEZ
Wake up, go to school, handle homework and hit the soccer fields for practice. If you are a member of St. Mark’s School of Texas’ varsity soccer team, this schedule, every weekday with an extra practice on Saturday mornings, is part of your normal routine. One member, however, has made it his purpose to help neighbors unable to get proper sporting equipment.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Taylor, born and raised in Dallas, is a junior at St. Mark’s School of Texas, a member of the school’s varsity soccer team and a US Soccer Federation-certified referee. After 11 years in the game, soccer takes up a large part of Taylor’s life.
In spring 2023, during his sophomore year, Taylor founded Positively Enriching Lives of Tomorrow’s Athletes (PELOTA) to provide sporting supplies for neighbors and their children who aren’t able to purchase equipment themselves. Pelota also refers to a sports ball in Spanish.
Taylor started out with paid camps to raise money for the first free camps and supply donations. He found the first campers by going door-to-door and eventually made enough money to run camps for free.
He then returned to his old middle school and ran drives, where items like soccer equipment, clothes and school
supplies were collected and brought to Casa View Elementary School in East Dallas. The Casa View neighborhood has an average median income of $53,174, which is significantly lower than the median for Dallas as a whole.
“One of the things we do is we ask them if they have any specific needs. If not, we’ll donate what we have,” Taylor says. “But if they have specific needs, we use either the money we’ve raised in the camps to purchase those things, or we’ll try and contact the right person.”
Taylor also ran a month-long donation drive at St. John’s Episcopal School. Taylor remembers taking note of how the surrounding community had come together to support the charity’s cause, filling up his entire garage with donated supplies.
The charity accepts sporting equipment for every sport, including golf, and works with other organizations such as First Tee and the Dallas Stars Foundation.
PELOTA has also engaged in partnerships with St. Vincent de Paul of North Texas, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, the West Dallas Community Center, and Chosen Children Village Foundation (CCV) in the Philippines.
Despite the distance, the charity’s partnership with CCV is particularly special to him. Taylor recalled spending a great deal of time visiting the Philippines, where his father Michael was raised.
“One of the big things that I saw there was the extreme poverty of a third-world country, and I’ve been doing volunteer work here throughout my whole life, but I really wanted to find a meaningful way that I could give back from where I live,” Taylor says.
Despite receiving support from his family, Taylor remembers the difficulties he experienced while starting the charity.
“I’ve had to wear all these different hats, like founding this organization. I’m a one-man organization, pretty much. This has been my passion project,” Taylor says. “I’ve had to go door to door countless days passing out hundreds and hundreds of flyers to families to try and advertise my camps.”
Taylor says that in the past he had hired members of the varsity soccer team to help manage soccer PE camp, which has 20-30 children at any given time. He hopes to expand operations to host between 15 and 20 such camps this summer and five more this fall.
“So the goal there really is to just get as many campers involved as possible and spread awareness about this,” Taylor says. “Eventually I’d like to, with the help of St. Mark’s, possibly expand to other sports, so we can run camps for all different types of sports, and also get more people involved so we can reach more charities during free camps and generate more supplies.”
With college looming on the horizon for Taylor, he has begun plans to keep PELOTA running in partnership with St. Mark’s.
“One of the things I’ve been in talks with them about is establishing a board of directors so I can establish sort of a long-lasting organization that St. Mark’s and students there can continue to build and grow, so it stays as an established organization within DFW,” Taylor says.
LET’S TALK PINE!
Just in time for Fall, a large assortment of English White Pine has arrived! Several tables, large display cabinets, Welsh dressers, linen presses, chests of drawers and trunks are among the new pieces. Come see - they won’t last long!
NEAL 972-639-6413 stykidan@sbcglobal.net COMPUTER TROUBLESHOOTING HARDWARE & SOFTWARE INSTALLATION, REPAIR & TRAINING NO PROBLEM TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE
EDUCATION GUIDE
WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?
AC & HEAT
ALEXANDER HOME REPAIR. AC/HEAT Repair & Install. LIC#28052 469-226-9642
AIR SHIELD LLC AC/Heat Repairs, Installs Airshieldpros.com. 214-394-1788
REPAIR
JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898
BUY SELL TRADE
I BUY USED CARS
Sam. Dallas. 469-609-0978.
!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar Paid. 1-866 -433-8277
SALE: FULL SIZE BED. $400. Bed frame, headboard, box spring, mattress, Good Condition. 469-363-2480
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
WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN, Organize, De-clutter, or Pack. Sunny 214-724-2555
WINDOW CLEANING Power washing No Job To Small. 30 Yrs exp. 214-360-0120
WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134
COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS
CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $100/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net
NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER, Smartphone or Smart Home? My Tech Guy Harvey. 214-770-2598. harveymccall@gmail.com.
CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING
ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS
Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954
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
FLAGSTONE PATIOS, Retaining Walls, BBQ’s, Veneer, Flower Bed Edging, All Stone work. Chris 214-770-5001JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530
#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists serving Dallas 15 years.Trim, Removals. Tree Health Care services. Insured. Arborwizard.com. Free Est. (972) 803-6313.
A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 18 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925 Lawns, Gardens & Trees
MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435
MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060
NEW LEAF TREE, LLC
Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528
PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.
RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com
TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John
WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER
Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214.321.2387
DALLAS KDR SERVICES
PEST CONTROL
MCDANIEL PEST CONTROL
Prices Start at $85 + Tax For General Treatment.
Average Home-Interior/Exterior & Attached Garage. Quotes For Other Services. 214-328-2847. Lakewood Resident
MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983
Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes
NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC. Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident 30+ Yrs.exp. 214-827-0090
S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427
TK REMODELING 972-533-2872
Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
DENTAL INSURANCE- Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258
DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398
AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943
PLUMBING ISSUES ?
30 Years of Excellent Service
• Water Heaters • Water Leaks
• Sewer Backups • All Plumbing Repairs 24/7 On-Call
972-379-4000 staggsplumbing.co ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!
POOLS
CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450 WHERE DID YOUR MONEY GO? Bookkeeping Services for small businesses & Personal. Financial organizing. Quicken & other programs. Sharon 214-679-9688
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075
ROOFING & GUTTERS
BERT ROOFING INC.
Family owned and operated for over 40 years • Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards • Free Estimates www.bertroofing.com
AGING ROOF? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing Available.1-888-878-9091.
ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373
FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892
GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353
GET DISH SATELLITE TV +INTERNET Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516
HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141
PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777
REPLACE your roof with the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install. (military, health &1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
REAL ESTATE
ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD?
Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725
THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services
WATER DAMAGE
FOR RENT Little Forest Hills 2/1 Single Family Home w/fence. $1,600mo. $1,600 deposit. Cheryl. 214-235-1399
GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com
BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation,production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809
TUTOR/LESSONS
WANTED: OBOE TEACHER needed for 14 year old student. Call 214–235-7429
