August 2023

More getting down

on their level.

on their level.

Joint care that helps you get more out of life.

Joint care that helps you get more out of life.

You have your reasons for taking care of your joints and at Texas Health, we’re ready to help you every step of the way. That’s why more North Texans choose Texas Health than any other health system for their joint care. With our range of programs – from preventative care and physical therapy to non-surgical options and full joint replacements – you can rest assured you’ll receive quality, compassionate care tailored to your unique needs. From our joint care coordinators to specialists on the medical staff of Texas Health hospitals, our focus is to help you recover quickly and get back to what you love. That's how Texas Health cares more.

Take our hip and knee health assessment or find a joint care specialist at YourJointHealth.com.

Doctors on the medical staffs practice independently

The team at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center has the experience and advanced technology to support you and your baby, during every step of your pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. Providing the women’s healthcare our friends and neighbors depend on. That’s community and why so many women Trust Methodist.

Care focused on you and your baby, including:

Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Level III maternal designated facility

Childbirth classes

Breastfeeding care and support

Education on infant safe sleep

Uninterrupted quiet time for mothers and infants to rest and bond

FROM THE PUBLISHER

your community • your magazine Today STARTING LINE

This month’s issue is another hallmark in our 10-year history of publishing Arlington Today – it’s one of the largest we’ve ever produced.

That’s because this annual All Star Edition has grown to where our readers, such as yourself, have now chosen a record number of businesses in our community ranging across restaurants, retailers, medical care professionals, personal services providers, and more as favorites in delivering first class outcomes in their work.

More than 170 categories are featured in the following pages. You can find a list of the winners and finalists on pages 30-32 but the feature stories on so many of them provide insight into their commitment for excellence.

There’s an opportunity for you to find some you may not be familiar with and perhaps discover services or products to improve your quality of life in our great city.

As sort of a companion to the All Stars, The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce has launched a campaign to promote experiential and consumer-focused local businesses. Details are in the report on page 92.

Additionally, there is an array of stories to bring you current on events and people in our community doing some very special things. Among them are the following samples beyond which there are many more:

The unveiling of Major League Baseball’s 2024 All-Star Game Logo is described along with how the Midsummer Classic coming to Globe Life Field will put Arlington in the national spotlight along with very significant economic benefits to the city and entire North Texas region.

JUDY M. RUPAY PUBLISHER

Two of the oldest elementary schools in Arlington will have brand new buildings when school starts this month. They replace original buildings built in the 1950s to inspire Arlington students to succeed in the 21st century.

Speaking of schools, check out the new assignment former Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos has accepted that will positively impact the cause of public education across the entire state.

Kenneth Perkins covers the achievements of a youngster saying, “all this started from a kid who, after raising $22 from a lemonade stand ....” Take a look at his story and find out what “all this” is.

John Rhadigan provides his predictions on the upcoming Cowboys season –spoiler alert: his conclusions recognize a fan base with extremely high hopes.

Former Mayor Richard Greene wraps up the issue in his monthly Finish Line column. This one is personal. He and his wife Sylvia have reached their 80th birthdays this summer and he describes the circumstances of how they managed to meet after being born on opposite sides of the country all those years ago.

Yes, indeed. Packed with content that will keep you turning the pages – all 104 of them – in this record-setting issue, there’s much to enjoy and inform!

Sincerely,

Judy Rupay

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Executive Publisher

Judy M. Rupay CEO

Richard Greene

EDITORIAL

Sports Columnist

John Rhadigan

Website & Social Media Manager

Bailey Woodard

Graphic Artists

Francisco Cuevas

Betsy Lewis

Contributing Writers

Kenneth Perkins, Amanda Rogers, Richard Greene, Sarah Kramer

Contributing Editor

Betsy Lewis

Contributing Photographers

Dwayne Lee, Heather Lee, Bruce Maxwell, Ryan Brown Intern

Abby Grace Schwartz

SALES / CIRCULATION

Business Manager

Bridget Dean

Sales Managers

Paige Payne, Andrea Proctor, Debbie Roach, Tricia Schwartz

Distribution Manager

Hanna Areksoussi

PRODUCTION

Production Manager

ARLINGTON

Arlington

Helping your family get more

out

of health care.

Thank you for making us your Readers' Choice winner for Favorite Hospital and Emergency Department.

At Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, we're proud to bring you more of the health care you need. Which is why we offer advanced technologies and personalized care plans you and your family can count on. So you can get in, get healthy and get back to what matters most. That’s how we care more.

800 W Randol Mill Road | Arlington, TX 76012

For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/Arlington

Our Services:

• Back & Spine

• Breast Care

• Cancer Care

• Emergency Services

• Heart & Vascular

• Neurosciences & Stroke Care

• Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

• Women & Infants

DON’T MISS

M72 World Tour

August 18 & 20 AT&T Stadium • 6:00pm And broadcast live in select movie theaters nationwide

LIVE MUSIC

Arlington Music Hall

JONAS BROTHERS

Wednesday, August 26th

Globe Life Field • 8:00pm

BOB WILLS TEXAS PLAYBOYS

Saturday, August 19th • 3:00pm

LORRIE MORGAN

Saturday, August 26th • 8:00pm

A DAY PARTY IN BLACK & WHITE

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of PRINCE

Saturday, Sept. 23 • 1-5pm

Cherry Moon Grill & Bar 3610 S. Cooper S.t #120

Tickets and Info: fundraise.givesmart.com/form/ uGxnAg?vid=zha09

World premiere of a brand-new musical in conjunction with musicalwriters.com

August 11 & 12 7:30-8:30pm

Theatre Arlington 305 W. Main St.

Memory Lane

Raise your hand if you attended Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue shows in the Arlington Music Hall. Keep it up if you attended shows by LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Shoji Tabuchi, Blake Shelton, Gary Morris and Boxcar Willie.

Photo: jonasbrothers.com

Education, in conjunction with the Xi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., present:

Levitt Pavilion Arlington is part of a national network of outdoor Levitt music venues and concert sites dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities. Presenting a broad array of music genres and cultural programming, Levitt venues bring together families, friends and neighbors of all ages and backgrounds. Learn more:

26th ANNUAL DFW RESTAURANT WEEK

Thirty of Tarrant County’s finest restaurants are participating in the 2023 DFW Restaurant Week, which officially takes place August 7-13, with optional extension lasting until September 3. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe dinners for $39 or $49, with some offering two-course lunch or brunch menus for $24 or $29.

20 percent of proceeds will be donated to Fort Worth-based nonprofit Lena Pope, which provides prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health of children and families.

For a full list of participants and their event menus, visit LenaPope.org/DFWRestaurantWeek.

Reservations for 2023 DFW Restaurant Week are being accepted now. Arlington restaurants participating in the 2023 DFW Restaurant Week include:

● Cut & Bourbon – 1600 E. Randol Mill Road

● Home Plate Restaurant and Patio at Texas Rangers Golf Club – 701 Brown Blvd.

INVASIVE SPECIES: Hammerhead Flatworms

Where: Becoming widespread in North Texas, emerging after heavy rainfall.

About: Hammerhead Flatworms prey on earthworms and are considered invasive. They secrete a neurotoxin which can irritate your skin and sicken pets for a few days if eaten.

What To Do: Do not cut them. Each piece will regenerate into a new worm. Instead, use gloves, place them in a sealed bag with salt or vinegar and freeze overnight. It is encouraged to report findings to the Texas Invasive Species Institute.

● Piccolo Mondo – 829 East Lamar Blvd.

● Zack’s Bistro – 900 E. Copeland Road

Danny is a covid puppy. We rescued him from someone who knew he was not living his best life. The moment we saw him we knew he had to be part of our family. We believe he is about 2 years old Shihtzu weighing 14lbs. Danny loves playing around the pool just not in the pool. We recently took Danny on vacation with us to Miami Beach. He enjoyed the sand. We love that he is now living his best life and sharing it with us. Follow him on his very own Instagram page @Dannytheshihtzu_ – Rohini M

Upcoming

Texas Rangers Home Series

Aug 14-16 vs Los Angeles Angels

Aug 18-20 vs Milwaukee Brewers Rangers Replica Jersey Giveaway 8/18 Nolan Ryan Baseball Card Bobblehead 8/19

2024 MLB All-Star Game Puts Arlington in National Spotlight – Again

Twobig events on July 20 provided the latest opportunity to remind us that Arlington is a very special place to call home.

It began with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred at Globe Life Field to reveal the official logo of next year’s All-Star Game. His announcement sets into motion a week of celebration next summer that will again put Arlington in the national spotlight.

In attendance on the stage where it all unfolded are pictured here, left to right, were Rangers Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers who pitched that perfect game in 1994 across the street at The Ballpark in Arlington, Rangers star third baseman, Josh Jung, the team’s first ever rookie player to be chosen an All-Star, Commissioner Manfred, Rangers Majority Owner and Managing Partner Ray Davis, and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.

After the news conference, participants then joined the crowd arriving in left field to attend the annual Leaders and Legends Luncheon event sponsored by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Speakers interviewed for the occasion were the commissioner and former Rangers President Tom Schieffer whose legacy includes his leadership in hosting the 1995 All-Star Game.

Manfred praised the Rangers and the city for their support by stepping up in the

COVID-19 pandemic year of 2020 to host the National League playoffs and then the World Series. He said there wasn’t a better venue anywhere than Globe Life Field to manage the challenges of successfully closing out a difficult year for baseball across the country.

He said that outcome was among the reasons that Arlington was selected to host the events of thre 2024 All-Star extravaganza. Included in his complimentary remarks were references to how the Rangers and the City of Arlington were a pleasure to work with in producing an outcome that would achieve the best midseason celebration in all of sports.

Included in the commissioner’s remarks were references to the very significant economic benefit to the community at large. In addition to many thousands of national and international visitors who would come to see the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball would leave behind some “legacy projects” where millions of dollars would be invested.

Schieffer reminded the crowd that what we are seeing now was set in motion in 1991 when Arlington voters showed up in record numbers to form the partnership that would build The Ballpark in Arlington that opened in 1994 and hosted the city’s first All-Star Game the following year.

The origins of everything that today makes up the city’s sports and entertainment economy – the largest in the

by Richard Greene

country between the East and West coasts –was the result of that decision.

Among those facilities are two luxury hotels providing about 1200 rooms, Texas Live!, and the city’s new convention center. That means that almost the entirety of the All-Star Week events can take place in Arlington, further boosting the local economy.

In the 1995 All-Star week, many of the events had to be staged elsewhere such as the Fan Fest in the Dallas Convention Center. Now, however, just as Seattle was able to host this year, Arlington will stage its version of fans enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime indoor/outdoor experience, blending baseball, softball, music, food, the latest in VR technology, shopping, fashion and more.

The conclusion: the 94th Midsummer Classic will be played at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

And there’s one more thing to mark the day’s activities.

Just prior to the All-Star Logo press event and across the street, there was a “topping out” ceremony marking a milestone in the construction of the National Medal of Honor Museum set to open next year.

If it seems like there’s a lot to celebrate about our city, it’s because there really is.

Richard Greene was Arlington’s mayor from 1987-1997 representing the city’s hosting of the 1995 All-Star game.

International Coworking Day

August 9th • 8:30am - 5pm

International Coworking Day is an annual event that brings together professionals from various industries to foster collaboration, networking, and innovation. It is an excellent opportunity to experience the vibrant atmosphere of our coworking community. Reserve your complimentary day and invite your friends and coworkers.

Union Worx Coworking • 500 E. Front St. #160 • 817-864-1818

Arlington by the NUMBERS

26 number of days it took miracle Lake Arlington to fill due to heavy rainfall

$1.78 hourly wage at the General Motors Assembly Plant in 1954

3   SC OOPS

1. Arlington education is served by five independent school districts: Arlington ISD Kennedale ISD Mansfield ISD Fort Worth ISD Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

108,713 number of basketball fans in attendance at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at AT&T Stadium, setting a new Guiness World Record

1924 the year Meadowbrook Park opened as Arlington’s first city park

As of the end of July, the northbound SH 360 exit to Six Flags Drive is permanently closed. Motorists should detour and take the Division Street exit to access Six Flags Drive. A new exit ramp to Six Flags Drive is under construction.

The City of Arlington has partnered with Waze to give drivers the best routes around town. Download Waze for free at www.waze.com/get and see real-time traffic, find optimal routes, avoid road closures and more.

Info from arlingtontx.gov/news

2. Mariano Martinez, of Mariano’s Hacienda restaurant, created the first frozen margarita machine in 1971 utilizing a soft-serve ice cream machine. The original machine is in the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

3. The National Office of American Mensa is here in nearby Hurst. Mensa is the largest and oldest high I.Q. society in the world. The non-profit organization is open to those who score at or above the 98th percentile on the approved standardized, supervised, I.Q. intelligence test.

Holdsworth Center is Perfect Landing Spot for Cavazos – For Now

As word began to emerge last month that the landing spot of retired Arlington ISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos would be The Holdsworth Center, it seemed rather fitting, but only to those who have an inkling of what The Holdsworth Center is.

Based in Austin, the five-year-old center is a nonprofit focusing solely on building capable leaders in public education, from the top down.

And it’s not an operation stitched together by public school funds.

Superintendent of the Year, will be the center’s first-ever executive superintendent-inresidence, coaching superintendents through the center’s Superintendent Leadership Program.

by Kenneth Perkins

KENNETH PERKINS

The Holdsworth Center is a $200 million campus sitting on 44 acres off the shores of Lake Austin. It includes 15 buildings with 173,000 square feet of space. When principals and superintendents arrive there, the general feeling is that they’ve died and gone to heaven. (H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt, a proponent of education, endows Holdsworth, which explains its focus and lavishness).

Not surprising that when a superintendent first saw the place, his response to a Texas Monthly reporter was rhetorically comedic.

“This is for educators?” he wanted to know.

More than 1,000 educators representing 50 Texas districts have been part of the Holdsworth partnership, including Arlington ISD, one of the first districts to join Holdsworth’s leadership program in 2017. Over five years, Cavazos worked with Holdsworth to create a suite of programs for developing leaders.

Cavazos, who in 2016 was named Texas Association of School Boards’

In a Holdsworth press release, Cavazos talked of the center “filling a significant gap in public education,” and how it is providing “leaders with the necessary development and training to serve students exceptionally well.”

The gap Cavazos talks about is enormous, partly because public education has struggled in a state legislature that just recently said no to an across-the-board raise for teachers. Texas has also seen a slew of superintendent retirements, meaning districts are anchored by new superintendents needing guidance and direction.

Cavazos’ mantra that education is “the great equalizer” makes his willingness to head to Austin even more sensible.

One of the Arlington ISD initiatives Cavazos pushed is the Office of School Leadership, which supports the development of teacher leaders, school leaders, and central office leaders, all with the intention of teaching/coaching those below them.

The Superintendent Leadership Program at Holdsworth is 18 months long for leaders in their first five years of superintendency or new to a large district.

As a coach, Cavazos will be in his element.

“The success of young people is highly dependent on the development, training, and support of public school leaders,” Cavazos said. “I am fortunate to join an exceptional organization accelerating this work across the state. For me, it’s a natural next step in how I can contribute to public education.”

Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today for nearly a decade. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.

Photo Credit: holdsworthcenter.org

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Arlington Independence Day Parade

2023

Here are the 2023 Arlington Area All Stars as chosen by our readers!

(W = Winner, F = Finalist)

EATS/DRINKS/MERRIMENT

ASIAN CUISINE

W: Thai Texas

F: Lotus Cafe

BAKERY

W: Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop

F: Sugar Bee Sweets

BBQ

W: David’s Barbecue

F: Hurtado Barbecue

BREWERY

W: Division Brewing

F: Dr. Jeckyll’s Beer Lab

BRUNCH

W: Restaurant 506

F: Hearsay

BURGER

W: Al’s Hamburgers

F: Grease Monkey

COFFEE SHOP

W: Grounds & Gold

F: Nehemiah Coffee

CRAFT BEER

W: Division Brewing

F: On Tap

DELI/SANDWICH SHOP

W: Dino’s Subs

F: Tin Cup

HAPPY HOUR

W: El Gabacho

F: Tipsy Oak

INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT

W: Prince Lebanese

F: Istanbul Grill

ITALIAN CUISINE

W: Piccolo Mondo

F: Moni’s

NIGHTLIFE

W: Texas Live!

F: Hearsay Bar

PIZZA

W: Cane Rosso

F: Mama’s Pizza

ARLINGTON TODAY READERS’ CHOICE

ALL STARS

AUTO REPAIR

W: McAndrew Motors

F: McGaw Automotive

BACKYARD REMODELER

W: Fencing Outdoor Living

F: Aspenwood Homes

PLACE FOR LUNCH

W: Mac’s Bar and Grill

F: Rose Garden Tea Room

RESTAURANT PATIO

W: Tipsy Oak

F: El Gabacho

ROMANTIC DINNER

W: Candlelite Inn

F: Vault

SEAFOOD

W: Flying Fish

F: Fish City Grill

SPORTS BAR

W: No Frills Grill

F: Texas Live!

STEAK HOUSE

W: Mercury Chophouse

F: Meehan’s Chophouse

SUSHI

W: Piranha Killer Sushi

F: Sushi Domo

TACO

W: Cartel Taco Bar

F: Torchy’s Tacos

TEX-MEX

W: El Gabacho

F: Mercado Juarez

WINE BAR

W: Poured

F: Tipsy Oak

HOME LIFE

APPLIANCE STORE

W: Texas Appliance

F: Oliver Dyer’s Appliance

ELECTRICIAN

W: Scott-Dell Electric

F: King’s Electric

ELECTRICITY BROKER

W: Energy Ogre

F: CS Preferred Solutions

FOUNDATION REPAIR

W: Urgent Foundation Repair

F: Advanced Foundation Repair

GARDEN CENTER

W: Green’s Produce

F: Calloway’s

HEATING/AC COMPANY

W: Tropic Air and Heat

F: Hightower

HOME BUILDER

W: Mansfield Custom Homes

F: Boyd Builders

HOME/AUTO INSURANCE

W: Al Clark State Farm

F: Shane Ferrell

INSURANCE AGENT

W: Shane Ferrell

F: Eli Gross

INTERIOR DESIGNER

W: Jan Darnell

F: Lisa Fitzgerald

LANDSCAPER

W: Modern Green, Inc.

MAID SERVICE/ HOME ORGANIZER

W: Lazy Days

F: Pristine Cleaning Service

MORTGAGE COMPANY

W: SWBC

F: Premier Nationwide Lending

NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT

W: Viridian

F: A+ House Designs

PATIO FURNITURE

W: The Backyard Store

F: Chair King

PEST CONTROL

W: Results Pest Management

F: Massey Services

PLUMBING COMPANY

W: Jim Williams Plumbing

F: Tom’s Plumbing

POOL BUILDER

W: Alluring Pools and Outdoors

POOL SERVICE

W: D&L Pools

F: Kelly’s Pool Service

PROPERTY MANAGER

W: Zang | Adams

F: Frontline Property Management

REAL ESTATE - COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

W: Peyco

F: Coy Garrett

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

W: Zang | Adams Realty

F: Christenberry Group

REMODELER

W: Aspenwood Homes

F: CWBC Construction

ROOFING COMPANY

W: Kennedy Roofing

F: Joe Hall Roofing

STORE FRONT ANTIQUES

W: C&W Antiques

F: Cooper Street Antique Mall

ART STUDIO

W: CREATE Arlington

F: Upstairs Gallery

BABY/CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE

W: Kid to Kid

F: Little Giggles

BOUTIQUE

W: Gracie Lane

F: (TIE) Twisted Chicks

F: (TIE) Wildfire and Lace

DRY CLEANER

W: Comet Cleaners

F: Bond Dry Cleaners

FARMERS MARKET

W: Green’s Produce

F: Pantego Farmer’s Market

FLOORING STORE

W: Hilton’s Flooring

F: DFW Flooring

FLORIST

W: Urban Country Flower Co.

F: H.E. Cannon

FURNITURE STORE

W: Ivan Smith Furniture

F: Canales Furniture

GIFT SHOP

W: Anything Goes

F: Gracie Lane

JEWELER

W: Diamonds and Designs

F: Cox Jewelers

PLACE TO BUY “SPIRITS”

W: Total Wine & More

F: Spec’s Liquor

RESALE SHOP

W: Nu2U Resale

F: Rerun Consignment Boutique

SPORTING GOODS

W: Academy Sports and Outdoors

F: Dick’s Sporting Goods

MEDICAL CARE AND WELLNESS

ACUPUNCTURE

W: (TIE) Hwa Tow Acupuncture Holistic Medicine

W: Healthy Concepts

ASSISTED LIVING

W: Heartis Assisted Living

F: The Waterford on Cooper

AUDIOLOGIST

W: Kos-Danchak

BARIATRIC SURGEON

W: Dr. Clayton Frenzel

CARDIO SPECIALIST

W: Dr. William Nesbitt

F: Texas Cardiovascular Specialists

CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGEON

W: Dr. Darian Bradford

F: Dr. James Norcross

CHIROPRACTOR

W: Dr. Kenyon Godwin

F: Dr. Lacy Stice

COLORECTAL SURGEON

W: Dr. Chris Dwyer

COSMETIC DENTIST

W: Dr. Ravi Doctor

F: Dr. Susan Hollar

COSMETIC SURGERY

W: Dr. Michael L. Thornton

F: Dr. Mark Bishara

COUNSELING CENTER

W: Carcenia Mental Health

F: Impact Counseling

DERMATOLOGIST

W: Dr. Mary Adams

F: Metroplex Dermatology

DIALYSIS CENTER

W: Fresenius Kidney Care

F: DaVita Kidney Care

EMERGENCY ROOM

W: Methodist Mansfield

F: Texas Health Arlington Memorial

ENDODONTIST

W: Dr. Trey Browne

EAR/NOSE/THROAT

W: Central Park ENT

FAMILY DENTIST

W: Pecan Park Dental

F: Dr. Hank Jacobs, DDS

FAMILY PHYSICIAN

W: Dr. John Pettyway

F: Dr. Keith Wilkerson

FAMILY PRACTICE

W: Family Healthcare Associates

F: Texas Health Family Care

FERTILITY SPECIALIST

W: Omega OBGYN

F: IVFMD

GASTROENTEROLOGIST

W: Dr. Kim Gentry

F: Dr. Charles Owen

HOME HEALTH CARE

W: Visiting Angels

F: A&T Moore Health Care

HORMONAL SPECIALIST

W: Mandy Cotten, APRN, FNP-C

F: Evergreen Medical Clinic

HOSPITAL

W: Texas Health Arlington Memorial

F: Methodist Mansfield

INTERNAL MEDICINE

W: Dr. Thomas Barker

F: Pleasant Ridge Internal Medicine

LASIK

W: Kleiman Evangelista

F: (TIE) Paragon Eye Associates

F: (TIE) Key-Whitman

MEMORY CARE

W: Meadowbrook Memory Care

F: Heartis Memory Care

NEUROSURGEON

W: Dr. Thomas Ellis

F: Dr. Clay Elswick

OB/GYN

W: Dr. Joan Bergstrom

F: Dr. Baron Atkins

ONCOLOGIST

W: Dr. Albert Parra

F: Dr. Al DiStefano

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

W: Dr. Huy Tran

F: Dr. Amy Hong

ORAL SURGEON

W: Dr. Ed Menton

F: Dr. John Shroyer

ORTHODONTIST

W: Dr. Moody Alexander

F: Ortho by Birth & Fletcher

ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL

W: Baylor, Scott & White

F: TMI Sports Medicine

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

W: Dr. Jay Pond

F: Dr. Bruce Prager

PAIN MANAGEMENT

W: Regency Pain and Therapy Institute - Dr. Jason Butler

F: Dr. David Graybill

PEDIATRIC DENTIST

W: Dr. Jennifer Ketchel

F: FunDentist

PHARMACY

W: Randol Mill Pharmacy

F: CVS Pharmacy

PODIATRIST

W: Accent Podiatry - Dr. Dan Bhatka

F: Arlington Foot and Ankle

PSYCHIATRIST

W: Carcenia Mental Health

PSYCHOLOGIST

W: Carcenia Mental Health

F: Dr. Harry Klinefelter

PULMONOLOGIST

W: Dr. Tony Su

F: Dr. David Plump

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

W: Overture Highlands

F: Fox Run Estates

RHEUMATOLOGIST

W: (TIE) Dr. Carlos Kier

W: (TIE) Dr. Kathryn Hester

SLEEP STUDY/DOCTOR

W: Dr. Robert Cash

URGENT CARE

W: Care Now

F: Total Care

UROLOGIST

W: Urology Partners

F: Dr. Maude Carmel

VEIN DOCTOR

W: Atlas Vein Clinic

WELLNESS CENTER

W: Active Family Wellness

PERSONAL SERVICES/LEISURE

ATTORNEY

W: Curnutt & Hafer

F: Carolyn Dove

AUTO DEALER

W: Don Davis

F: Vandergriff

BANK

W: Frost Bank

F: Worthington National Bank

BED & BREAKFAST

W: Sanford House

BILLING COMPANY

W: Ace Card Services

F: TPMC Billing

BOTOX

W: Bex Laser Aesthetix

F: Skinwerx

BUSINESS/LITIGATION ATTORNEY

W: Jim Ross Law

F: Curnutt & Hafer

COMPUTER SERVICES

W: Bourdage Consulting Services

F: Bit-by-Bit

CPA FIRM

W: PSK

F: Kleiber & Associates

CPA/TAX PREP

W: Jack Loteryman

F: Shelton Mead

CREDIT UNION

W: Texas Trust

F: EECU

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

W: Wes Ball

F: Schneider Law Firm

CUSTOMER SERVICE

W: Wade Funeral Home

F: Worthington National Bank

DANCE STUDIO

W: Miss Persis

F: United Performing Arts Center

DAY CARE

W: Primrose School

F: Park Row Christian Academy

DIVORCE ATTORNEY

W: Donna Smeidt

F: Vicky Hafer

ELDER LAW

W: Karen Schroeder

F: Tracy Bush

EXERCISE/FITNESS STUDIO

W: Texas Fitt

F: LA Fitness

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

W: Stephanie Foster

F: Dove Firm

FINANCIAL SERVICES

W: (TIE) Jamil AhmedEdward Jones

W: (TIE) Jack Webb - Edward Jones

F: Kirk Holifield - Edward Jones

FITNESS CENTER

W: YMCA North Arlington

F: Texas Fitt

GOLF COURSE

W: Texas Rangers Golf Course

F: Tierra Verde

GYMNASTICS

W: ASI Gymnastics

F: Aerials Gymnastics

HAIR SALON

W: (TIE) Burt Grant

F: Sugar Shack Salon and Spa

HEALTH FOOD STORE

W: Whole Foods

F: Ann’s Natural Grocer

HOTEL

W: Live! by Loews

KIDS PARTY

W: (TIE) Pump It UP

(TIE) River Legacy Nature Center

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

W: Bex Laser Aesthetix

F: Euro Image Medspa

LOCAL BANK

W: Frost Bank

F: Worthington National Bank

LOCAL PARK

W: River Legacy Park

F: Veterans Park

LUXURY CAR DEALERSHIP

W: (TIE) McAndrew Motors

(TIE) Frank Kent Cadillac

F: Sewell

MASSAGE

W: Texas Instructors Therapeutic

F: Daired’s Salon and Spa

MED SPA

W: Glo & Glam

F: Bex Laser Aesthetix

NAIL SALON

W: Queen’s Nail Salon

F: Palace Nails

OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

W: West Main Arts Festival

F: River Legacy Fall Festival

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

W: Rocky Walton

PERSONAL TRAINER

W: Caine Cambron

PET BOARDING

W: Royal Pet Resort in the Garden

F: Camp Bow Wow

PET CARE/GROOMING

W: The Dog Grooming Shop

F: Bark Town

PET TRAINING

W: Breakthrough Dog Training & Behavior

F: Creature Comforts

PHOTOGRAPHER

W: Southern Flair Photography

F: Daydream Photography

PILATES STUDIO

W: Pilates Effect

PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

W: Levitt Pavillion

F: Arlington Music Hall

PLACE TO VOLUNTEER

W: Mission Arlington

F: River Legacy Nature Center

PLACE TO WORSHIP

W: First Baptist Arlington

F: Gospel City Church

PLASTIC SURGERY

W: (TIE) Accent on You

(TIE) Dr. Emily McLaughlin

PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN

W: Park Row Christian Academy

F: (TIE) River Legacy Nature School

(TIE) Pantego Christian Academy

PRIVATE SCHOOL

W: Park Row Christian Academy

F: Pantego Christian Academy

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY

W: Harris Cook, LLP

F: Curnutt & Hafer

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

W: Michael Cunningham Group

F: Linda Magazzine

REJUVENATION CENTER

W: Bex Laser Aesthetix

SKIN CARE

W: Great Skin

F: Flawless Skin Care

SPA

W: Sanford House

F: Daired’s Salon and Spa

SUMMER CAMP

W: Camp Thurman

F: River Legacy Nature Center

TITLE COMPANY

W: Yellowstone National Title

F: (TIE) Capital Title

(TIE) Old Republic Title

TRAVEL AGENCY

W: Always Ready Travel

F: Paul’s Cruises

TUTORING SERVICE

W: Excel Learning

F: Porter Tutoring

VETERINARIAN

W: Farrell Animal Hospital

F: Crossroads Veterinary Clinic

WEDDING/EVENT PLANNER

W: Chloe Lewis

F: Victoria Coronado

WEIGHTLOSS PROGRAM - LOCAL

W: Optavia - Ann Waterfield

F: Diet Solutions

YOGA/BARRE STUDIO

W: Arlington Yoga Center

F: Pure Barre

"Avenue Q contains adult content, language, situations, and humor."

Mayor Jim Ross

JIM ROSS LAW GROUP

Winner: Business/Litigation Attorney

Mayor Jim Ross grew up in Detroit but got to Arlington as fast as he could. More than 40 years later, he serves as the founder and principal attorney of Jim Ross Law Group, restaurant owner (Mercury Chophouse and Hearsay), and community leader and volunteer. This is the eighth year Jim Ross Law Group is being recognized as an All Star.

Ross’s path to law started in 1979 with a four-year stint in the Marines. He knew then that he wanted to be a police officer, so upon his Honorable Discharge in 1983, he accepted a job with the Arlington Police Department, choosing our city because his aunt lived nearby. “I just fell in love with Arlington and never left,” said Ross.

Fast forward several years, and then 36-year-old Ross decided to go to law school after successful careers with Arlington PD (including the first SWAT team) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force.

“I just spent so much time as an expert witness that I remember watching attorneys thinking, ‘I could do better than that,” said Ross. Twenty-eight months later, Ross graduated from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law) and passed the State of Texas bar exam.

Ross practiced law for 10 years then started Jim Ross Law Group in 2009. The practice, which includes five attorneys (including the newest addition, daughter Taylor Ross), specializes in personal injury and family law and operates with the tenets of loyalty, honesty and respect. At its simplest, the firm is about helping people through difficult times.

“Our law firm operates on the philosophy that all people deserve representation,” said Ross. “It’s the Texan way and a part of the American spirit….At our law firm, we represent people from many situations and walks of life.”

It is clear that Ross loves what he does for the city and his clients. “You treat everyone like they’re family,” said Ross. “Family takes care of family.”

Though Ross does not get to spend as much time in the courtroom with his full-time commitment to the city, his philosophy is in practice every day at Jim Ross Law Group. It’s all about the people - building relationships and taking care of clients. The firm does not take a one-size-fits-all approach to its work; instead, it tailors legal strategies to each client’s unique needs.

Mayor Ross values service to others as well as his community, serving on multiple nonprofit boards of directors. The City of Arlington biography captured it perfectly: “More than a passionate lawyer, businessman, and advocate for all, Jim is a family man with four children and five grandchildren.” Ross brings this family mindset to his work with clients, making Jim Ross Law Group a natural All Star.

Al Clark

Winner: Insurance-Home & Auto

Al Clark is a teacher at heart. This mindset – one that guides his customers, teaches his colleagues, and promotes continuous learning within his 44-year successful insurance agency – is a big reason why Al Clark State Farm Agency is celebrating its seventh consecutive year as an All Star. “It’s nice to receive recognition for the services we provide to the community,” said Al Clark. “Our goal is the same as State Farm: To truly be a Good Neighbor for our community and to Make a Positive Difference.”

It’s nice to receive recognition for the services we provide to the community,” said Al Clark. “Our goal is the same as State Farm, to truly be a good neighbor for our community, ‘To Make a Positive Difference.’”

Clark moved his family to Texas in 1979 to begin his State Farm career following his 15-year career in education. It was always his long-term goal to have his own business. Clark grew up helping his father with their family business in northern Minnesota. His four older siblings were lifelong educators, and Clark first worked with On the Job Training programs and taught business classes.

“After completing my doctoral program at the University of Minnesota, I decided to follow my dream of owning my own business with unlimited potential,” said Clark.

Clark chose Arlington for its growth potential and lifestyle, contacted the national State Farm office in Dallas, and the rest is history.

From Rookie of the Year in 1980 to Arlington Small Business of the Year, Clark has been recognized over 130 times in his career as a President Club Producer and 19 times as a top 10 State Farm agency in the United States. Not only that, but he has been recognized 15 times as the number one producing agency out of 19,500 agencies across the U.S. Even more than the accolades, Clark has built such strong relationships with his customers that he is serving his third

generation. It’s not unusual for him to hear, ‘I’ve been involved with your agency since 1981.’”

Because State Farm is a mutual company, it is truly owned for the benefit of the policy holder. There are no stockholders or owners other than the customers of the company, allowing agencies to serve to the benefit of the customer. Like the State Farm mission to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams, Clark and his team are guided by these values.

“I believe it is important for me to be a positive influence on my family, my employees, and in the community where I live,” said Clark.

Clark invests his time and energy into multiple service organizations including the Rotary Club of Arlington. He is a believer in helping students and funds college scholarships through many of his philanthropic endeavors.

Clark leads a 15-member State Farm team, offering insurance products that include auto, home, property, business, life and health and various financial products.

Photo: Bruce Maxwell

Al Clark has been serving customers – as well as his community – for more than four decades. This year, he is being recognized for that loyalty with his seventh-straight Arlington Area All Star award.

Zang | Adams

Winner: Property Manager, Real Estate Company

Lead – Serve – Connect. The mission statement and focus of Zang | Adams says it all. Through their real estate collaboration, forged in February 2020, Georgie Zang and Jamie Adams have deeply rooted ties to the Arlington community and make their second appearance on the All-Star roster.

It all started with coffee. Business leader and now Mayor Jim Ross, who knew Georgie and Jamie, invited them to talk about expanding into the Arlington market. Jamie shared that he and Georgie both grew up in the Texas panhandle and realized quickly that they shared similar values.

In their first year, Georgie and Jamie saw immediate success, due in large part to their complementary skill sets. “What I didn’t have as far as real estate experience, Jamie did,” said Georgie, who brought her background in real estate investment to the table.

One question they often get asked is, “How did the name of Zang Adams come to be?. It’s a fair question and interesting to note that the naming of the company didn’t happen until the end of their first year, giving them both time to see how best the company would be structured. Georgie tells the story that she was sitting in her office and Jamie came in announcing, “It’s going to be Zang Adams Real Estate,” to which Georgie pushed back and said, “No, it’s Adams Zang.” Then in normal Jamie fashion, he says “It’s ladies first, and it’s Zang Adams - end of discussion!”

“Our partnership is rooted in core values that we both hold dear, which are honesty, integrity, humility, serving others, and putting faith and family first above all else,” said Georgie. “And we also insist that we have a bit of fun in the process.”

Georgie credits multiple mentors throughout this journey, especially Jamie and Mojy Haddad, with whom they are

working on the Main 7 Urban Villas project in downtown Arlington. With 53 luxury townhomes, Georgie and Jamie have brought some amazing new residents downtown. In addition, they are working with key business leaders on redevelopment projects in Arlington’s entertainment district and downtown. Representing both local brands as well as National clients most notably, Lucchese Boots, has made Zang | Adams a sought-after team being approached by other cities to work with them on development projects that enable similar types of retail businesses to come to their areas.

“We have a great team of agents,” said Jamie, noting that it allows their company to help clients in Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas and beyond, “working with the best brokers in each city.”

Supporting residential clients is also a key component of their successful business, and Zang | Adams takes a clientdriven approach. They can help clients buy or sell homes or businesses as well as help with real estate investments.

“Our motto is we say YES, and then engage the appropriate resources to deliver white glove service to our client,” said Georgie. “To do this, we must have relationships in all aspects of real estate, this is a key ingredient to the success of Zang | Adams.”

Georgie and Jamie do what they say they will do, and they always put themselves in their client’s shoes. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or the seller of a multimillion-dollar complex, you are treated with the same level of service and professionalism.

“Dollar value does not define how important a client is,” said Georgie. “What’s important is that when the transaction is over, that client is taken care of, and they feel good about hiring Zang Adams.”

Georgie Zang Jamie Adams

Ravi Doctor DDS, DABOI, FAAID, DICOI

Winner: Cosmetic Dentist

When Dr. Ravi Doctor was a child in Houston, his father taught biochemistry at the dental school at University of Texas Health Science Center. Some of his earliest memories were of observing dental students, and this curiosity ignited his lifelong passion. Today, his love of dentistry has earned him his fourth appearance as a Readers’ Choice All Star.

“I feel like my patients are my family,” said Dr. Doctor, who has developed a multi-generational client base after 36 years in the Arlington community.

Dr. Doctor opened a dental practice after graduation from dental school in 1987. He loves Arlington and how growthoriented this area has remained. His practice employs seven highly trained professionals; in fact, ongoing learning and teaching are at the heart of Dr. Doctor’s success and that of his team.

Dr. Doctor completed his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University and went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Doctor offers a wide range of dental services, from basic general dentistry to advanced cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, periodontal surgery, Pinhole Gum Surgery, implants, bone grafting, and immediate teeth replacement.

Dr. Doctor has trained with some of the best instructors in the world for these treatment options. He also values team training, so Dr. Doctor often attends conferences with his entire practice. He holds dental licenses for both California and Texas and has achieved a Board Certification in dental

implantology. He is a Diplomate and Board Certified with the American Board of Dental Implantology and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is also a Fellow with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and is certified in Pinhole Gum surgery and Invisalign.

Because “sharing is also learning,” Dr. Doctor has served as an implant and surgical instructor to train dentists for Dental XP Live Implant Surgical Course, California Implant Institute, and other training centers around the world, most recently in Sarajevo.

When it comes to treating patients, Dr. Doctor abides by the golden rule: “When I’m talking with my patients, I often say, ‘This is what I would do if it was treatment needed for myself,’” said Dr. Doctor.

He is also active in giving back to his local community at Mission Arlington and throughout the world in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Sarajevo. His entire team often serves at Mission Arlington.

“Giving back to the community is an incredible feeling of gratification,” said Dr. Doctor.

Dr. Doctor’s practice is temporarily located on Mitchell Street after an electrical fire destroyed his practice in October. Beyond his thriving dental practice and his ongoing professional development, Dr. Doctor has also added design and construction to his skill set. The new building will debut in 2024 with the most advanced technology available in dentistry.

Photo: Bruce Maxwell

Curnutt & Hafer, LLP

Winner: Attorney

Finalist: Business Litigation Attorney, Real Estate Attorney

Curnutt & Hafer, LLP has served Arlington and surrounding areas for almost 25 years. This issue of Arlington Today takes a closer look at partners Kelly Curnutt and Douglas Hafer, part of the All Star lineup.

Founded in 2000, Curnutt & Hafer employs 10 attorneys with almost 200 years of collective experience. Nine additional professionals round out their team. Firm principals Curnutt and Hafer have significant experience handling complex commercial litigation, as well as personal injury and death cases. Both have worked in large, international law firms.

Since its inception, Curnutt & Hafer has enhanced existing relationships and developed referrals by capitalizing on four key attributes: experience and success in trying cases to juries, judges, and arbitrators; the ability to properly evaluate and aggressively prosecute cases; long-term connections and relationships in Texas; and the desire to succeed and win. They are known for their dedication and excellence.

“We developed our core values as a firm,” said Curnutt, “and continue to repeat them, teach them, and live them as a team.” Curnutt explained that the core values of the firm are to: “Seek Bottom Line Results; Serve with Excellence; and, Do the Right Thing.”

“At Curnutt & Hafer, seeking bottom-line results means that we focus on client goals from the outset of our engagement,” Hafer said. “To us, serving with excellence is about how we work and interact with clients, our community and each other. To do the right thing is more than honesty and integrity; it is about going the extra mile in our service.”

Both attorneys have been repeatedly recognized as Texas Monthly Texas Super Lawyers and Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorneys. Their Martindale Hubble AV “Preeminent” peerreview rating (5.0 out of 5) attests to their ethical standards and legal ability.

Arlington was a natural choice for these active, involved Arlington residents. Their home base is in downtown Arlington, and they have a second location in Decatur that opened in 2016.

“Living and working in Arlington is great,” said Hafer. “The cost of living here is better than in surrounding areas, the business community is sophisticated, and we are close to the courthouses in Tarrant County and Dallas County.”

In fact, Curnutt & Hafer was honored in 2022 by Fort Worth Magazine as one of the best places to work. The recognition was spearheaded by employees and is a source of pride for Curnutt and Hafer. They believe in relational leadership and meet with direct reports regularly.

Giving back to the community is a priority for Curnutt & Hafer. This year, they started what the firm calls its “Generosity Purpose,” a program where part of the business revenue is given back to those in need and that allows the firm to have a direct, meaningful and positive impact on youth.

“The firm considers different charitable organizations and as a group we vote on which to support,” said Hafer. “We feel it is important to invest in the community that has blessed us so much.”

Meet the Partners

Kelly Curnutt

With a BS in accounting from UT Arlington and his JD from Southern Methodist University, Kelly Curnutt has been practicing law for 30 years, focusing on business litigation, oil and gas litigation, and personal injury. He has been board certified in personal injury trial law since 1998.

“I became interested in law to do tax accounting,” said Curnutt, “and then realized my passion was litigation to champion justice in courts.”

Curnutt and Hafer were working together at a large international firm and decided in 1999 to start their own firm to “give us freedom to service clients as we saw best to deliver bottom line results, and so that we could see and know our families and homes at nights and on weekends.”

Curnutt and his wife, Justice of the Peace Mary Tom Cravens Curnutt, were raised and live in Arlington. They have three sons. Curnutt gives his time to multiple community organizations, including the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington ISD Education Foundation, Mission Arlington, and Bible Study Fellowship.

Doug Hafer

Doug Hafer earned his JD from Southern Methodist University following his BS in Business from Trinity University. He has been practicing law for 30 years with board certification in personal injury trial since 2004. His areas of focus include litigation, with business litigation, inheritance disputes, and personal injury making up most of the docket.

“I had an interest in the law early on,” said Hafer. “During college, I took philosophy of law, which really piqued my interest.”

“Not long after we started practicing law, Kelly and I would often talk about starting our own firm,” said Hafer. “At that time, we were practicing in a big law firm and had little time for anything other than work. We felt like we could be successful on our own and have a better work/life balance. On January 1, 2000, we took the plunge and went out on our own.”

Hafer is an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church Finance Council, and Catholic Scripture Study where he serves as president.

Tony Hun-Hwon Su MD

Winner: Pulmonologist

What do cycling and Arlington pulmonologist Dr. Tony HunHwon Su have in common? Both help care for your lungs.

Arlington Today welcomes Dr. Su, who is also an avid cyclist, adult fan of LEGO (AFOL), and amateur magician, to the All Star team.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Dr. Su has been practicing pulmonology in Arlington since 1994. Medicine runs in his family: his father is a retired gastrointestinal physician and was once the only boardcertified doctor in their small Oklahoma county. Dr. Su’s aunt and paternal grandmother were also physicians, and his grandmother gave up a dowry to put herself through medical school in China. “I decided early, probably in eighth grade, that I wanted to be a doctor,” said Su.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Dr. Su did his residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University and then specialized in pulmonology at Indiana University Medical Center. Texas, and specifically Arlington, became his home when he married a Texan who also grew up here.

Today, Dr. Su and Dr. Jack Gilbey, Jr. operate North Arlington Pulmonary Associates, PLLC, a practice they formed in February 2022. They provide compassionate, personalized care, treating COPD/emphysema, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, pleural effusion, lung nodule/mass, pneumothorax,

pulmonary fibrosis, and sleep apnea.

Dr. Su operates on a “treat the patient, not just their test results” mindset, and he is known for being a good listener. He has several longtime patients, including one he has known for over 25 years. Loyalty is key for Dr. Su. He has been part of the Arlington medical community for all 29 years of his medical career.

Dr. Su and his wife, Ali Su, a cardiology nurse practitioner, share four children and four grandchildren. When he is not treating patients, also people he thinks of as family, Dr. Su has many hobbies, including cycling (2,000 miles so far) or walking Molly, his rescue dog.

He is proud of being part of the Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital lung nodule program, using navigational bronchoscopy to facilitate early cancer detection and help save lives. He was a champion of adding this technology to the hospital, and over the last two years, he has performed over 100 procedures and helped make early lung cancer diagnoses. He and Dr. Gilbey have privileges at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, Texas Health Heart & Vascular Arlington Hospital, and Kindred Arlington Hospital.

Dr. Su lives and works in Arlington and enjoys volunteering in support of the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb and LUNG FORCE Walk as well as the National MS Society’s MS 150 bike ride.

F Tony Hun-Hwon Su, MD North Arlington Pulmonary Associates, PLLC • 907B Medical Centre Dr • 817-200-6442 • napulmonary.com

Dr. Su (far right) and the staff of North Arlington Pulmonary Associates

Jamil Ahmed CFP®, CIMA®,

CEPA®, CAP® Winner: Financial Services - Edward Jones

Arlington Today welcomes Jamil Ahmed from Edward Jones to the All Stars for the first time. Over the past four years, he has distinguished himself in the Arlington community. Last November, Jamil was recognized in the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce/Arlington Today inaugural 40 Under 40 class.

Jamil’s path to financial advising was not linear, and he brings a number of invaluable life experiences to his work. In 1993, his family immigrated from Bangladesh to Florida, working in a number of family-owned businesses. When an uncle was relocating to Arlington, the family joined him. Postundergrad, Jamil worked for Signet Jewelers, rising quickly among its leadership. What he soon discovered was that his true passion was investing and helping his colleagues understand their benefits, 401(k) plans and the like. A close friend encouraged him to become a financial advisor and turn his love of investing into his career.

“Humanizing investing is my goal,” said Ahmed. “While money cannot buy happiness, it is a source of pride, accomplishment and fuels our aspirations. We have an emotional relationship with money and logic can go out the door in times of stress or life changes. That is where a financial advisor can provide value.”

This role is one Jamil takes seriously. Beyond his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ mark, he has worked tirelessly to expand his knowledge. “I like to continue to improve on my education,” said Ahmed, who has taken the initiative to earn multiple certifications and deepen his understanding of the industry. Paired with his undergraduate degree in psychology, Ahmed has truly prepared to serve his clients.

“I think what’s most important is to meet clients where they are,” said Ahmed, likening this idea to watchmaking. Some people will want to know the inner workings of how a watch is made, while others will enjoy the beauty of the watch or appreciate it as a timepiece.

Jamil values the relationship building. “I just enjoy the stories and the impact that I can make on not only someone’s life today but someone’s legacy tomorrow,” said Ahmed, building a legacy of his own with his wife, Nargis, daughter, Asiya, and son, Yaseen.

Jamil, whose modest beginnings influence his approach to business, wants to give back to the community he serves. He is the president-elect for Arlington Sunrise Rotary and a 2021 alumnus of Leadership Arlington who also devotes his time to the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. One of his greatest joys is helping others create plans allowing them to make contributions to the charities that matter most to them.

Focus areas within Jamil’s work include retirement savings and wealth strategies, charitable giving, intergenerational planning, and socially conscious investing. He and his branch office administrator Krista Raef welcome your call and look forward to serving you.

Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop W: Bakery

For each of the past four years, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has earned All Star status as a favorite bakery. They offer daily flavors such as Southern Custard, Granny’s Apple, Chocolate Cream, Key Lime, Peanut Butter Cream, I-40 (pecans, chocolate chips and a sprinkle of toasted coconut), Coconut Cream, Chewy Chocolate Chip and Nanny’s Pecan (toasted pecans and gooey filling enveloped in our buttery shortbread crust).

Of special note is the Pie It Forward program. They partner with a non-profit organization every month and feature a limited edition flavor with each partnership. A portion of the sales of that limited edition flavor are donated to the chosen non-profit. We wouldn’t have gotten this honor without the support of our community partners.

Be sure to sign up for Buttermilk Sky’s Pie Perks Club through which members are rewarded on their birthdays with a free four-inch pie, among other tasty perks.

If this has you feeling a little hungry, head to the address below.

1707 N. Collins St., Suite 115 • 817-617-2046

buttermilkskypie.com/locations/arlington

Candlelite Inn

W: Romantic Dinner

A consistent Arlington All Star, Candlelight Inn not only has a stellar reputation with local patrons; it has a storied history. The restaurant was founded in 1957 and was resurrected in 2014 in the original location on Division Street. In the re-boot, the booths were redone, along with the dimmed lighting, the red and white checkered tablecloths, candles (now LED), the juke boxes, and the same menu that appeared in the early days.

The restaurant also offers a bar, a banquet room, and a private dining room that can be reserved for special occasions.

The banquet room has dividers so that there can be several private get-togethers at the same time. The banquet room can seat around 50 comfortably, and the private dining room is by reservation only and can hold six nicely. Candlelite Inn also takes online orders.

Oh, yeah ... There’s also plenty of great food like “back in the day.”

1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613

candleliteinnarlington.com

David’s Barbecue W: Barbecue

There’s little question David’s Barbecue has found its way into the hearts of our reader voters, who, for the eighth straight year, have named the popular eatery as their favorite local source for barbecue.

David’s offers a vast array of tasty barbecue items, each sliced or chopped as you place your order.

David’s Barbecue opened in Pantego in 1988 as a fourth-generation, family owned restaurant that has its roots in the North Texas barbecue eatery started by Elias Bryan in 1910. Today, David’s Barbecue is owned by Jimmy Harris and continues to draw critical acclaim.

For instance, this yelp.com review: “I have been going to Bryan-family restaurants for over 50 years now. After the first couple of months at David’s I didn’t need to even say my order – they knew: sliced beef sandwich, open face. I want to be embalmed in their BBQ sauce!”

Now, THAT’S an endorsement!

2224 W. Park Row Dr., Suite H • 817-261-9998 davidsbarbecuetx.com

Dino’s Subs W: Deli/Sandwich Shop

El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill

W: Happy Hour, Tex-Mex

El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill offers exquisite cuisine and outstanding service, qualities obviously appreciated by patrons and readers, who have voted the restaurant to the All Star team for the sixth consecutive year.

Guests can dine inside or outside on the popular patio, they can enjoy take-out service, or have a lunch or dinner meal catered. In each case, they will enjoy a wide array of delicious Tex-Mex options.

The restaurant is also known for its extensive beverage menu, which includes hand-crafted margaritas, over 30 tequilas plus 13 beers

on tap. El Gabacho is also known for its eclectic decor, marked by a collection of John Wayne memorabilia scattered throughout the eatery.

General Manager David Govea says there’s a reason why guests enjoy their visits to El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill: “Our personalized service, fresh food and friendly staff help set us apart as special.”

2408 W. Abram St. • 817-276-8160 facebook.com/elgabachotexmex

Mac’s Bar and Grill

W: Place for Lunch

F

or the eighth straight year, local fans of the sub sandwich have made Dino’s Subs their choice for favorite Deli / Sandwich Shop. Dino’s has been an Arlington institution and the “go to” place for sandwiches since 1980, when the late Larry Dino first opened the restaurant’s doors. His daughter Jade recently stepped into the lead role at the eatery, and has continued to make sandwiches so fresh and delicious that they prompted one customer to offer this Yelp review: “Dino’s is an Arlington staple. Everyone must visit and experience it for yourself.”

A Facebook friend added this: “Dino’s is just like home! I love them and travel in from Tyler just to pick up sandwiches.”

Jade says, “My dad said there’s one key to success in the restaurant business: ‘never, ever, go down on quality.”

That, obviously, is never an issue at Dino’s Subs.

2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140 facebook.com/dinos1980

F or more than three decades, the team at Mac’s Bar & Grill has provided great experiences for Arlington area diners. Once again, that dedication has been honored with the popular restaurant being voted to the Readers’ Choice All Star team.

Food prepared by the culinary team ranges from the familiar to the unexpected. Mac’s proudly offers steaks, fresh fish selections, and a a variety of burgers, sandwiches and salads.

One of the keys to the kind of success Mac’s Bar & Grill has long enjoyed is its partnerships with local purveyors and individuals that enable the eatery to feature specials that are seasonal and often locally sourced.

The bar features classic cocktails, specialty cocktails, over 25 single malt scotches and an exceptional bourbon list. The wine list features bottles primarily from North and South America, and many wines available by the glass.

6077 W. Interstate 20 • 817-572-0541 macsteak.com

No Frills Grill & Sports Bar

W: Sports Bar

Athree-time All Star, No Frills Grill & Sports Bar is exactly what you want your sports bar to be. The popular eatery offers sports action on wall-to-wall TVs that carry the NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, ESPN Game Plan, NHL Center Ice, and MLB Extra Innings to ensure that you won’t miss any of the action.

No Frills Grill is also a great place to bring your team after the game because the dining room was designed with large parties in mind. The staff provides a comfortable atmosphere for families with inexpensive kids’ meals and spacious game rooms featuring pool tables and the latest video games.

Then there is one of the more diverse menus you will find. With American Pub food to Tex-Mex and many seafood entrees, you can always discover something new to eat, from burgers and wings to great chicken sandwiches and light and tasty salads.

4914 Little Road, Arlington • 817-478-1766

2851 Matlock Rd. #422, Mansfield • 817-473-6699

Other locations in Burleson, Fort Worth and Keller

Piccolo Mondo

W: Italian Cuisine

Piccolo Mondo has landed a spot on our annual All Star team for the ninth consecutive year, so it’s safe to say owner Antonio Capaccioli knows Italian cuisine –and how to deliver it in a virtually perfect way.

Capaccioli says the popular restaurant is simply what he would look for in a fine dining experience – if he were to venture to the homeland. That means great food, of course, but also attention to details that make venturing to Piccolo Mondo a true dining experience.

“We’re more traditional in style,” he says. “I traveled a lot when I was younger, and when I found something I liked to eat, I took note. When we opened the restaurant here, we offered the kinds of things I liked to eat myself.”

While that would probably be enough, he and his team also offer alluring ambiance, a popular piano bar and a banquet room that is perfect for big groups.

One really big group, that representing our readers, certainly approves.

829 E. Lamar Blvd. • 817-265-9174

piccolomondo.com

Prince Lebanese Restaurant W: International Restaurant

Prince Lebanese Grill earned its sixth straight readers’ choice All Star honor this year. That noted, the popular eatery has been earning – and maintaining – the business of hungry Texans since 1989, offering delicious authentic Lebanese food and a family atmosphere that customers love.

That’s likely because of the family atmosphere at the heart of the eatery. Patriarch Francis Kobty started the restaurant; his son Aziz is now the manager and handles marketing, and daughter Elizabeth heads day-to-day operations. Completing the team is mother Amira, who makes sure everyone involved with Prince Lebanese Grill is devoted to both the quality of the dining experience and to the customers who get to experience it.

“Our vision at Prince is top-quality food, reasonable prices and a family environment,” Aziz says. “Prince Lebanese Grill’s philosophy is to take care of others. From the customers to the staff we strive to treat everyone like family.”

The Kobty family continues to support charities throughout the city of Arlington. Prince Lebanese has popup restaurants at Globe Life Field during the Texas Rangers home games.

502 W. Randol Mill • 817-469-1811 princelebanesegrill.com

Texas Live!

W: Nightlife F: Sports Bar

Giventhe buzz that preceded the arrival of Texas Live! – and, the millions of its visitors who have labeled it “the go to place for a good time in Arlington” since it opened in 2018, it’s no surprise that our readers/voters made the entertainment hub an All Star for 2023.

What’s not to like? On practically any given moment of any given day, you can eat/drink/be merry at the likes of Lockhart Smokehouse, Miller Tavern, PBR Texas, Pudge’s Pizza, Rangers Republic, Sports & Social Arlington, Troy’s, Revolver Brewhouse and Shift4 Arena. Every week you can take in a live show featuring a favorite artist or band at a number of the aforementioned venues, or you can enjoy the company of friends new and old.

The bottom line: Texas Live! earns the exclamation point at the end of its name. Indeed, our readers think so. 1650 E Randol Mill Rd. • 817-852-6688 texas-live.com

Designs by Lisa F: Interior Designer

For seven consecutive years, Lisa Fitzgerald and her company, Designs by Lisa, have found themselves in the All Star winners’ circle. Designs by Lisa is a full-service home and commercial interior design company serving the DFW area for 15 years.

Lisa partners with custom home builders by staging, decorating model homes and providing new home buyers decorating style options and furnishings in modern, contemporary, and transitional styles.

Lisa’s keen attention to detail provides clients with interior designs to fit their lifestyles and optimize the style and beauty of their homes. From individual room design projects, holiday decorating, to full home design transformations, Lisa focuses on designing for comfort and designing for style!

“I am extremely passionate about helping my clients achieve their design and project goals. I take great pride in helping clients source quality furniture while keeping costs down, and designing to meet their comfort and style levels,” says Lisa. 817-235-7077

FB: facebook.com/Designs-By-Lisa-192547380953856

IG: instagram.com/designsbylisa66

D&L Pools

W: Pool Service

Asix-time Arlington Today Readers’ Choice All Star, D & L Pools is a family owned and operated business that Daren and Lisa Fitzgerald have crafted into one of the more successful pool maintenance companies in the North Texas region.

The popular company, which has won many awards for superior service, specializes in swimming pool service, resurfacing, repairs and supplies.

D & L Pools offers excellent customer service, routine weekly maintenance, real estate inspections, quality products, equipment repairs and replacements – and, as our readers noted with their vote, it is your go-to source for remodels. In addition to maintenance work, D & L Pools offers products such as Pentair, Polaris, Hayward, Pebble Sheen and many more that will help you create the pool of your dreams.

“Our mission is providing our customers with 100percent crystal clear quality and services,” says Daren. 817-917-0729

facebook.com/D-L-Pools-346854265331283/ ?ref=page_internal

e Fitzgeralds

Coy E. Garrett & Associates

F: Real Estate - Commercial Brokerage and Development

CoyE. Garrett arrived in Arlington in 1964 to attend Arlington State College, receiving a BS in Mechanical Engineering and then an MS in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Texas System and becoming a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas.

Though his real estate roots date to 1972, Garrett’s first career was as an aeronautical engineer for several defense companies, LTV, Grumman and General Dynamics, and then as a part-time real estate broker who decided he liked the great outdoors and working with land so much that it eventually led to being involved in projects that would propel Arlington’s growth.

With the $250 million General Motors Arlington Automotive Logistics Center by NorthPoint Development, Garrett drove the four-year deal, rallying principals from the various entities needed to convert an underused property that once housed Six Flags Mall and generating jobs and money for his hometown. As a result, he became the first commercial real estate broker from Arlington to receive the prestigious William C. Jennings Award given by the Texas Association of Realtors and also won the National Association of Realtors award for the state of Texas. This was the first commercial achievement award given to the Arlington Board of Realtors in its 68-year history.

Likewise, it was Garrett & Associates that spearheaded the city’s first Hypermart commercial project and additional residential/commercial areas on South Cooper and developed the Walmart project at Little, Highway 287 and I-20. Garrett also helped conceive and was involved in the initial processes of the Baird Farm property in North Arlington that spurred expansion of the northeast portion of the city from Collins to Highway 360. And he developed the land located at Sublett and Matlock for commercial and residential use. Most recently, an 86-acre industrial park in the 7000 block of South Cooper was assembled and brokered with the valued assistance of close friend and associate, Dan Fernandez.

Through a successful second career that has spanned more than 52 years, All-Star Coy Garrett has helped build the Arlington we know today.

1600 W. Abram St. • 817-265-9999

GEC Insurance CompanyEli Gross W: Insurance Company

Jim Williams Plumbing W: Plumbing

Three-time

All Star GEC Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency that offers their clients choices. Why is this important? Because independent insurance agencies, like GEC Insurance, represent a number of different insurance companies, and can compare coverage and prices to find the best possible value for your individual circumstances.

As independent agents, we are members of the DFW community, and we’re committed to doing business face-to-face and being your advocate in times of need. We are your consultants, working with you as you determine your needs, and we are value-hunters who look after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage, and service.

We offer one-stop shopping for a full range of products, including home, renters, auto, business and

Amulti-time All Star, Jim Williams Plumbing has capably served the Arlington, Grand Prairie, Kennedale and Mansfield areas for the past three and a half decades.

Jim Williams leads a team that is ready to tackle all plumbing challenges, including toilet and other plumbing line repairs, drain stoppages, remodels, water heaters and whatever other challenge you might be facing.

“And,” promises Jim, “we won’t disappoint in the customer service department.”

The family owned and operated business is licensed and insured to ensure that customers will get the best possible plumbing service.

One of those customers had this to say about Jim Williams Plumbing: “Great service and very competent plumbers. These guys won’t try to tell you there are problems you don’t have and will fix the problems you do have with skill and for the right price. Don’t hesitate to hire them!”

PO Box 151221, Arlington, TX 76015 817-371-6413 • jimwilliamsplumbing.com

Mansfield Custom Homes Home Builder

ansfield Custom Homes proudly notes that it “builds dreams from the ground up.” Our readers obviously agree – this is the company’s seventh consecutive appearance on our All Star team. Here’s a nutshell explanation of why the company is so popular:

“Mansfield Custom Homes is truly a custom builder,” says Julie Short, the real estate specialist at the company. “Start with your dream, and the MCH team will make it your address.”

that clients can find helpful online resources at Premier, including a home buying guide and mortgage calculator. Run by top-industry professionals, Premier Nationwide Lending is family oriented, with everyone working toward the common goal of helping people accomplish “the American Dream of homeownership.”

The company has been built on foundations of family values, worth ethic, respect, flexibility and experience.

1717 Chadwick Ct., Hurst • 817-869-5626

ErikGross.com

Short says she and her team led by owner (and her husband) Stoney Short will work with each customer during every step of the process. The design team helps you choose stylish finishes that fit your liking, the real estate team helps find the ideal location, and the construction team does the rest.

As a result, you get to live your dream – or, at least, live in your dream home.

1016 S. 2nd Ave., Mansfield 682-518-1158 • mchtexas.com

Texas Appliance

W: Appliance Store

For the fourth consecutive year, Texas Appliance has earned a spot in the winner’s circle for the Readers’ Choice All Star poll.

With roots back to the 1950s, Texas Appliance is an established, locally owned and operated major appliance retailer serving residences and builders.

The company operates its retail division from three professionally-staffed, well-appointed showrooms (South Arlington, Hurst, Fort Worth) and an outlet store in Pantego. The beautiful showrooms offer a full spectrum of appliances to meet practically every household need.

With more than 40 major quality brands, Texas Appliance has one of the largest displays of built-in and freestanding appliances in Texas. Whether you need a new refrigerator or are looking to upgrade your washer and dryer, Texas Appliance provides a full array of options to help you find what you need.

From the economical to the luxury brands, Texas Appliance offers refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers/dryers, indoor and outdoor cooking appliances, ice makers, wine coolers, mattresses and more, all of which can be delivered straight to your home.

With an experienced staff of contract sales representatives, Texas Appliance will meet with builders or their customers at their offices, job sites, or in the showroom to assist in the selection, installation and demonstration of the appliance package. The business’ large fleet of company-owned trucks delivers and installs daily to 15 counties, including and surrounding the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Texas Appliance is driven by its mission statement: “We will be the best appliance dealer in our markets by exceeding our customers’ expectations in every way. We will treat our customers, vendors and fellow employees with respect, honor, integrity and appreciation. The difference between a ‘good’ company and a ‘great’ company lies in its employees’ determination.”

Arlington Showroom: 1500 I-20 East • 817-299-2900

Arlington Outlet: 3401 W. Pioneer Parkway • 817-299-2800 txappliance.com

Anything Goes

W: Gift Shop

In 2012, Mary Davis’ dream of opening an eclectic gift shop became a reality when Anything Goes opened its doors. Now, more than a decade later, she’s celebrating her eighth straight All Star award.

Mary and her husband Doug are longtime residents of Pantego/Arlington. She grew up in the Woodland West area, graduated from Arlington High School and worked for Arlington OB/GYN Associates for more than 30 years. Doug has worked for the Town of Pantego for more than 30 years as Police Chief, Director of Public Safety and Mayor.

Since opening, Anything Goes has grown from 1,200 square feet to almost 4,000 square feet of retail space.

“I work hard to find our customers new products so they have diversity in the gifts that they’re giving and there’s always something new for them on the shelves,” Mary says. “Anything Goes prides itself in the level of customer service that we provide and making everyone feel at home the minute they walk in the door.”

2501 W. Park Row Dr., Suite A, Pantego 817-542-0862 • anythinggoesgiftshop.com

C&W Antiques

W: Antique Store

Asix-time Readers’ Choice All Star, C&W Antiques offers unique, rare and interesting furniture and accessories not found at most stores stateside.

From their flagship showroom in Grand Prairie, coproprietors

Jim Carpenter and Patrick Walsh create an inviting ambiance with fragrant Market candles, music and vignettes of old-world rooms that stimulate the senses.

“C&W Antiques’ philosophy is to make each customer feel welcome,” Walsh says. “With our passion for antiques, we welcome each customer and provide a friendly atmosphere for their unique shopping experience. We treat each customer like family.”

C&W Antiques specializes in 17th, 18th and 19th century English and French furniture. It also has an exquisite collection of original fine art by Italian, French, Russian, English and U.S. artists, and its Fabergé Collection is the largest in the state of Texas and perhaps the world.

2100 N. Hwy. 360, Suite 705-706, Grand Prairie 817-637-7637 • candwantiques.com

Diamonds & Designs

W: Jeweler

Diamonds & Designs has been serving Arlington customers since 1986. Family-owned and operated with decades of experience in fine jewelry, the staff includes a GIA graduate in diamond grading, combining both knowledge and technical training to serve clients.

With a wide assortment of diamond services including custom designs, platinum and gold options, bridal jewelry, repair and ring sizing, Diamonds & Designs is also well-known for its high-quality materials and superior workmanship. Many of their unique offerings were fabricated in their in-store workshop, where they can do lost wax casting with clean raw materials or they can use client gold, diamonds and gemstones.

Clients can also find pendants, earrings and other gemstones within Diamonds & Designs’ beautiful inventory. In addition, Diamonds & Designs can help with insurance and estate appraisals as well as insurance jewelry replacements.

Call or visit Diamonds & Designs today to bring your jewelry vision to life.

2200 W Park Row, Ste. 100 • 817-801-3273

diamondsanddesignstx.com

H.E. Cannon Florist

F: Florist

H.E. Cannon is a family owned and operated full service florist. Founded in 1893 in East Texas and moved to Arlington in 1921, H.E. Cannon Floral & Greenhouses has served the Arlington area with the finest quality arrangements and plants available. Their friendly, courteous staff is dedicated to making every floral experience a pleasant one.

The florist specializes in a large inventory of fresh flowers, plants, European/dish gardens, high-style floral arrangements, as well as silk or dried floral arrangements. They can also help customers with gourmet and fruit baskets. H.E. Cannon assists customers with weddings, funerals, and every occasion in between.

The shop is open from 8 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday and from 8 am-noon on Saturday and serves Arlington, Dalworthington Gardens, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Pantego, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills and Mansfield. Call them about any other areas in the metroplex.

512 W Division St • 817-261-2731

CannonFloral.com

Hilton’s Flooring W: Flooring Store

An All Star for the eighth year in a row, Hilton’s Flooring is an ideal one-stop showroom for practically any floor-covering need. Since 2013, Hilton’s Flooring has been an accredited business with an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Co-owner Kateri Dodson, says the company is devoted to providing the best and largest selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl tile and stone in a friendly, comfortable and helpful atmosphere.

“We offer the largest selection of floor covering in the Tarrant County area,” she says. “We also have design professionals on premise, complimentary inhome design consultation, free in-home measuring and estimates and installation.”

Hilton’s carries most name brands of flooring along with granite, marble, quartz, quartzite countertops, backsplash and showers, making it the ideal place to shop for practically any home improvement/ enhancement project.

2800 W. Division St. • 817-461-5189 hiltonsflooring.com

Arlington Foot & Ankle

F: Podiatrist

Arlington Foot and Ankle Center, a part of StrideCare, has been the choice of our Readers for the coveted All Star team for the past seven years.

Established in 1986 by Dr. William Valentine, Arlington Foot & Ankle Center has been a leading provider of comprehensive foot and ankle care for over 35 years.

Committed to the use of the latest cutting-edge technologies, the team of physicians use methods such as digital X-rays, CT scanners, and shockwave therapy to produce the most accurate diagnosis and ensure optimal results for each patient.

The practice provides care for everything ranging from common concerns like ingrown nails, bunions, flat feet, neoropathy, plantar fasciitis and gout to injuries, sprains, fractures, diabetes-related issues and ankle replacement.

Arlington Foot & Ankle Center is dedicated to a philosophy of treating patients so they can enjoy active lifestyles free of foot and ankle pain.

400 W. Arbrook Blvd. #201, Arlington 1001 Matlock Rd. #103, Mansfield 817-467-1990 • footanklecenters.com

Accent Podiatry

W: Podiatrist

Arlington readers have selected Dr. Dharmesh “Dan” Bhakta as their All Star in podiatry. This is a credit to his caring, supportive approach.

“My philosophy is very simple,” said Dr. Bhakta. “I treat my patients like family. I don’t take shortcuts, and I am up front about the best solutions.”

Dr. Bhakta joined Accent Podiatry Associates in 2002. He completed his undergraduate work in biochemistry at University of California Riverside. He then earned his podiatric medical degree at the California School of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. Dr. Bhakta continued with post-graduate training and a podiatric surgical residency. He is board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. In addition, he is Wound Care Certified by the Wound Care Education Institute.

Dr. Bhakta works with three additional board-certified, FACFAS physicians at Accent: Dr. Jacob Jasper, Dr. Shae Paschal, and Dr. Parth Bhakta. Accent Podiatry also includes a physical therapy team, Steve Silvey, LPT, CWC and Sherrian Reed, PTA. This month, Accent Podiatry welcomes its fifth doctor, Dr. Abhin Kumar.

Accent Podiatry, with offices in Arlington and Mansfield, is dedicated to getting to the root of their patients’ foot and ankle problems. Whether the treatment addresses a common problem, such as an ingrown toenail, a sprain, or diabetes care, or requires an advanced solution, such as ankle replacement, reconstruction, or laser treatments, this full-service practice can care for patients of all ages.

“Having chronic foot and ankle pain can greatly affect the quality of your life, and we understand that,” said Dr. Bhakta. “We also know how hectic things can be, and we are committed to making our practice and care convenient and accessible.”

Accent Podiatry accepts most insurance plans and welcomes new patients.

3050 S Center St, Ste 140 • 817-557-1006 (Arlington)

221 Regency Pkwy, Ste 117 • 817-477-3611 (Mansfield) AccentPodiatry.com

Dr. Moody Alexander

W: Orthodontist

Drs. Alexander Orthodontics is celebrating its ninth time on the All Star roster.

Dr. Moody Alexander runs the practice founded by his father, Dr. Wick Alexander, in 1964. The practice philosophy, to provide world-class orthodontic care with a heart for the person, has held constant over its 59year history. Dr. Moody and his team care for patients of all ages, focusing on creating amazing smiles and impacting lives.

A signature experience at Drs. Alexander Orthodontics is its family feeling. Treatment is truly personalized. “We come to our practice each and every day with the goal of being the best professionals we can be so that the lives we encounter will be better,” said Dr. Moody. “We love people and we work hard to do our absolute best.”

Dr. Moody has built a special environment, serving thousands of patients and multiple generations of families. He also looks outside the practice and serves the Arlington and international community, earning the American Association of Orthodontics Humanitarian of the Year award in 2019. He devotes his time to multiple causes, including Ethiopia Smile.

“I think my parents, from day one, lived by ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” said Dr. Moody. “I do believe that for those who have been blessed, there is a higher standard for them to be a blessing to others.”

In addition to being an orthodontist known for giving back to his hometown and beyond, Dr. Moody is a husband and father. He and his wife Emily are the proud parents of seven children.

Dr. Moody Alexander is an AAO Board Certified Orthodontist and a Certified InBrace Provider. Drs. Alexander Orthodontics offers a complimentary new patient exam and a variety of services to best suit the patient’s needs. Call or visit the website today.

Drs. Alexander Orthodontics 840 W. Mitchell St. • 817-275-3233 drsalexander.com

Legends AND LEADERS

Texas Senator Phil King and Michael Jacobson President & CEO, Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce

Mayor of Dalworthington Gardens Laurie Bianco, Mayor of Arlington Jim Ross, and Cindy Salter

Photo Credit: Kevin Bowens Photography

Tom Grieve and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred

Chuck Morgan and Ambassador Tom Schieffer

Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic and Spine Hospital W: Orthopedic Hospital

Whensports injuries strike, count on THE Sports Medicine Team at Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic and Spine Hospital - Arlington.

Athletes ask more of their bodies than most.

Whether you play for school or a league you’ve joined – or your own personal training – competitive energy may drive you to press on. With season standings and teammates on your mind, sports injuries come with higher stakes. But left untreated, they can cause even further damage.

There’s a better way. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment can help you return to full function quicker than you think, to get you back into action as strong, prepared, and able as possible.

Evaluation by an orthopedist experienced in sports medicine can identify injuries that need proper treatment.

Is your knee just strained, or is there a torn meniscus or hairline fracture? It may take an X-ray, MRI or other imaging study to arrive a diagnosis – but we can then prepare a treatment plan tailored to your specific case. Many conditions require only medication and physical therapy. However, some require surgery. We will present all your options, so you can make the best choice – and get back in the game.

Don’t be tempted to tough it out. Visit bswarlington. com for a full list of physicians, services and to schedule an appointment.

707 Highlander Blvd., Arlington, TX 76015

Phone: (855) 41-ORTHO

Fax: (817) 583-7101

Hours of operation: 24 hours, 7 days a week www.bswarlington.com

Dr. Joan Bergstrom

W: OB/GYN

Women’s Health Services, founded by Dr. Joan Bergstrom, has earned a spot on our Readers’ Choice All Star team for the tenth time.

Dr. Bergstrom started Women’s Health Services in 1986 after completing her residency in Kansas City, Kansas, and moving to Arlington to become the city’s first female Ob-Gyn. Her practice includes Drs. Jessica Brown, Joy Carter, Maya Kuriakose, Kiran Nangrani, Dawnette Peppler, Shari Puffer and Sharyl Brasher-Giles. Their ninth physician, Dr. Haley Spots, starts in September.

“As women physicians, we bring a female perspective to our profession,” said Dr. Bergstrom. “We are all well-trained and by the nature of our job, we work in a demanding environment. We also have children, spouses, families and personal lives that require our attention. The most important aspect of our group is that we all understand the importance of being consistently dependable…so we can give all our patients that ‘personal touch’ they deserve.”

With two locations in Arlington, one adjacent to THR Arlington Memorial Hospital and one on South Cooper, Women’s Health Services has provided women’s healthcare for more than three decades. Patients visit Dr. Bergstrom and her colleagues for any female issues from puberty through menopause. This fall, Dr. Bergstrom and her team will open a third location in Grand Prairie near Ikea.

“My vision for the practice has always been to provide exceptional care for patients,” said Dr. Bergstrom, “to be their confidant, friend and advisor. This vision has remained the primary focus through the years as the practice has grown to become the largest all-female physician group in north Texas.”

WHS offers full obstetrical and gynecological services. The team’s philosophy is to promote a comfortable atmosphere with expert services in all aspects of female health. The practice has an electronic appointment system and an easy access app.

1101 N Waldrop, Ste 505 • 817-591-2715

5005 S Cooper St, Ste 275 • 817-677-1003 womenshealthservices.com

Dr. Jason Butler

W: Pain Management

Eight-time

All Star Dr. Jason Butler is an Interventional Pain and Sports Medicine physician with Regency Pain and Therapy Institute Mansfield. During his career he has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted and respected professionals in the field of pain management.

Dr. Butler believes patients should expect to have a better understanding of their pain and treatment options after their initial visit. He takes a whole body approach to providing patient care. Once patients better understand the root cause of their pain, Dr. Butler works to find the best, most meaningful way to reduce it and

Regency Pain & Therapy Institute Mansfield offers leading-edge pain management techniques and technology. The focus is always on decreasing pain while increasing productivity, minimizing medication use, maximizing physical activity, and improving quality of life.

Regency Pain & Therapy Institute

74 Regency Pkwy., Mansfield • 817-345-6225 painandtherapy.com

Mandy Cotten, APRN, FNP-C

W: Hormonal Specialist

The Institute for Hormonal Balance, founded by Gary Donovitz, MD in 1985 and led today by his daughter, Mandy Cotten, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, provides holistic health care to males and females alike, focused on the premise that hormone optimization is the core of leading a healthy lifestyle.

Each patient is treated as an unique individual and personalized treatment plans are created to ensure that individual needs are met. The Institute provides custom plans that benefit a patient’s quality of life as well as provide long-term protection from disease processes.

Mandy Cotten, APRN and her team strongly believe in the importance of a partnership between provider and patient, supporting patient input in plan development and adjustments.

The Institute also provides services including well woman exams, gynecological problem visits, contraception counseling and initiation, nutraceutical management, SlimShot™ and other dietary guidance plans, IV nutrient therapy, and multiple top-of-the-line aesthetic procedures.

4224 Park Springs Blvd., Ste 100 • 817-467-7474 Donovitz.com

Central Park ENT & Central Park Surgery Center W: Ear/Nose/Throat

Central Park ENT is dedicated to being a premier provider of extensive, all-inclusive pediatric and adult ear, nose, throat, head, neck, audiology, and allergy care.

Founded in 2006 by highly experienced physicians and practitioners, Central Park ENT is making its sixth consecutive appearance on the All-Star team.

What sets them apart? Central Park ENT & Surgery Center is committed to providing its patients with reasonably priced, high-quality medical services and to constantly improving and striving for excellence in the best interest of patient care. The Central Park ENT healthcare providers believe that by assisting others through education and compassion, they can improve and restore quality of life for patients of all ages and their loved ones.

The board-certified physicians work as a team to provide the best quality of service to their patients.

Stuart N. Thomas, MD, Tyler W. Scoresby, MD, Rene M. Peña, MD, Chris T. Lee, MD, Tom A. Cadenhead, MD, and Junior DeFreitas, MD have devoted their careers to helping people with ENT concerns. The staff also includes Jason Williams, PA-C and Sara Darby, NP, and five audiologists, Holly Blocker Arentz, Au.D., Justin Langran, Au.D., Catherine Ross, Au.D., Natalie Emmons, Au.D. and L. Kevin Guess, MS, CCC-A.

Services and medical procedures offered include adenoid and tonsillectomies, allergy testing and treatment, audiological testing and hearing aids, balloon sinuplasty, ear tubes, ear wax removal, head and neck cancer surgery, hearing and balance disorders, minimally invasive nasal surgery, snoring and sleep apnea treatment, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and more.

With five locations, Central Park ENT’s experienced and compassionate team is easily accessible to help patients and their families.

Arlington: 409 Central Park Drive · 817-261-9191

Dallas: 1005 York Drive, DeSoto · 972-780-1496

Denton: 3324 Colorado Blvd, Ste. 103 · 940-891-1788 and 940-898-8569

Fort Worth: 800 Eighth Ave, Ste. 632 · 817-335-6336

Mansfield: 221 Regency Pkwy, Ste. 111 · 817-261-9191 centralparkent.net

FunDentist Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry

F: Pediatric Dentist

Amulti-time All Star, FunDentist Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry has a stellar reputation for offering comprehensive pediatric dental care in a friendly, inviting, and professional environment. When you visit the practice, you’re not just another smile - you’re family.

The team of dentists provides a variety of dental treatments that are comfortable, safe, and effective. The practice is equipped with the latest dental technology to provide complete care for your little one’s smile.

FunDentist Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry has four convenient locations, and each welcomes prospective patients’ families to stop by for a complete tour of the facility.

North Arlington: 801 W. Road to Six Flags St. #101 817-459-1313

South Arlington: 4220 Little Road • 817-478-2300

Central Arlington: 3101 S. Center St. #101 • 817-466-7057 Mansfield: 2300 Matlock Rd. #28 • 817-539-0500 fundentist.com

Family Healthcare Associates

W: Family Physician Practice

Onceagain, Family HealthCare Associates scored big with our readers as a Family Physician Practice.

FHCA is a physician-owned organization that has served the healthcare needs of the Arlington/Mansfield area for over 60 years. Its commitment to delivering quality care has allowed the practice to grow from two physicians in 1958 to some 30 physicians in four Arlington/Mansfield locations today. Healthcare services include onsite diagnostic testing, online registration, text reminders and a patient portal for enhanced communication between you and your physician.

FHCA’s After Hours Care Clinic is the go-to place in the community for treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. The practice has been recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

1300 S. Fielder Road • 817-277-2221

1926 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-472-5522 3601 N. Hwy-157, Mansfield • 817-473-7962 4100 N. Collins, Suite 200 • 817-860-1309 fhcatx.com

Dr. Kenyon Godwin –Active Family Wellness

W: Chiropractor

Dr. Kenyon Godwin, founder of Active Family Wellness Center, has been named an All Star by our readers for ten straight years. Dr. Godwin founded his practice in 2010, and six years later, it was named the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year.

The center became so highly regarded by patients that Dr. Godwin opened a second office in the North Arlington area a little over three years ago.

“We believe people should have the freedom to pursue their purpose without limitations!” Dr. Godwin says.

“AFWC offers an effective lifestyle modification program utilizing Functional Medicine. This program incorporates the best of wellness: Chiropractic, Nutrition, Detox, Comprehensive labs, Supplements, Fitness, Mentorship and Meditation / Prayer. Our catalyzing statement is to make Arlington the healthiest city in the state of Texas.”

South Arlington: 4927 S. Collins St. #105

North Arlington: 4120 N. Collins St. #200

817-557-2770

txwellnessdoc.com

Jennifer P. Ketchel, DDS, MS

W: Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Jennifer Ketchel is an Arlington native. She attended Young Junior High and graduated from Martin High School. She then attended Texas A&M University as a third generation Aggie, graduating with a degree in biology and minored in English and chemistry. She attended dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she earned her DDS. She then completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at Baylor College of Dentistry.

Always having a love for treating children, she returned to school to complete her specialty training in pediatric dentistry. She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, obtaining her certificate in pediatric dentistry and master’s degree. Dr. Ketchel and her family returned to Arlington in 2010.

Dr. Ketchel is a board-certified pediatric dentist and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She lives in Arlington with her husband, son and daughter.

7410 S Cooper St, Ste 100 · 817-465-0044

ArlingtonKidsDentist.com

Key-Whitman Eye Center

F: LASIK

With two offices in Arlington, multi-time All Star Key-Whitman Eye Center has been recognized as a leading eye-care facility for more than 50 years, providing LASIK eye laser surgery for vision correction and general eye care services.

The eye center also offers treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal disease, as well as routine eye care and vision correction.

All of the doctors and friendly staff are committed to providing a high level of customer service and they utilize the latest technology and decades of professional knowledge.

The goal at Key-Whitman is not only to treat existing eye conditions but to also help detect any signs of developing conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma.

North Arlington: 910 N. Davis Drive

South Arlington: 400 W. Arbrook Boulevard 817-458-0151 • 214-225-2577

keywhitman.com

Kos-Danchak

W: Audiologist

An All Star for the eighth straight year, Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids has been providing hearing solutions for North Texas patients for more than three and a half decades.

Owner Melissa Danchak began working at Kos/ Danchak Audiology in 1997 and purchased the practice five years later. With two and a half decades of experience helping those with hearing challenges in the Arlington and surrounding communities, Dr. Danchak has a passion for providing unparalleled care and service for her patients.

Dr. Danchak and her team live by a fairly simple (professional) philosophy: Do our absolute best to serve our patients and fellow employees to the best of our ability; continue to learn and grow, every day, so that we can accomplish that in the best way possible!

“We make a difference in people’s lives,” she says. “We see it on their faces when they hear and understand clearly what a loved one is saying. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

101 W. Randol Mill Road • 817-277-7039

northtxhearing.com

Metroplex Dermatology

F: Dermatologist

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

W: Emergency Room F: Hospital Methodist

Mansfield Medical Center, a 262-bed acute care hospital, is proud to have served the community for more than 16 years while it continues to expand to meet patients’ needs.

Our mission to improve and save lives in our communities grows stronger each day, as does our appreciation for the unwavering support and partnerships from all our friends and neighbors in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

In 16 years, Arlington has seen rapid population growth, and Methodist Mansfield has responded. The once 88-bed hospital has become 262, and services have expanded to include some of the latest medical technology, innovative treatments in more than 80 specialties, and nursing education.

Forbes has named Methodist Health System as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity, we were recognized among the Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review and named a Top 10 Military Employer® by VIQTORY.

Our reputation as an award-winning hospital shows in the honors we’ve earned as a Magnet®-designated hospital, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Level III Maternal Facility for perinatal care, Level III Trauma Center, and Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Heart Attack Center by The Joint Commission. We were the first in the DFW area to receive the AMSN PRISM Award® for the exemplary practice of medical-surgical nursing, leadership, and patient outcomes.

We are also mitigating the critical nursing shortage by opening the first Texas Tech University System satellite campus at the hospital offering a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Our latest hospital expansion is the fifth floor of Tower B, currently under construction. Designed with a focus on patientcentered care, it will include rooms for neurosciences and brainrelated specialties, giving hope to those who have been impacted by brain diseases and injuries. The hospital also provides outstanding orthopedic and sports medicine care with a team of highly skilled physicians and surgeons on staff who create personalized treatment plans that help top athletes get back in the game.

Our Emergency Department has been nationally recognized for our patient experience and was voted All Star Best Emergency Room by Arlington Today. We’ve also received numerous other accolades for being one of the best hospitals to provide people with the healthcare services they need.

“Methodist Mansfield offers personalized healthcare services for every stage of life and every state of health,” says Methodist Mansfield President Juan Fresquez Jr. “Our families, neighbors, colleagues, and friends deserve a hospital that puts safety and patient care first and is committed to improving health and quality of life.”

Now and in the years to come, Methodist Mansfield will continue to serve, give back, and support all the communities we serve to make them among the best places to live.

2700 E. Broad St., Mansfield • 682-242-2000 methodisthealthsystem.org/methodist-mansfieldmedical-center

Dermatology is a cosmetic and general dermatology practice in Arlington led by boardcertified dermatologist David Hensley, MD. The practice’s top priority is to provide the highest standard of skin care available.

Metroplex

They offer dermatological care for patients of all ages and specialize in treating many common skin concerns, including acne, hair loss and wrinkles.

Dedicated to helping patients look and feel their best, Metroplex Dermatology also provides cosmetic dermatology services like Botox®, fillers, microneedling, HydraFacial®, skin tightening, and chemical peels. They offer laser-assisted procedures like hair removal, acne therapy, birthmark removal and skin rejuvenation. For patients struggling with stubborn pockets of fat, the practice offers Kybella® injections for submental fat and CoolSculpting® for body contouring.

Metroplex Dermatology is confident they can deliver the high-quality dermatological care needed to keep skin healthy and beautiful for years to come. Call the office or schedule a consultation online today.

300 W Arbrook Blvd., Suite D • 817-704-4777

MetroDerm.com

Texas Oncology - Arlington Cancer Center North

F: Oncologist

Ourreaders have recognized five Texas Oncology physicians as “All Stars” for their compassionate care and unrivaled expertise within the field.

For the ninth straight year, Dr. Alfred DiStefano, M.D., was voted the area’s Top Oncologist.

Dr. DiStefano founded Arlington Cancer Center four decades ago with a vision to craft a medical facility that would be all-inclusive for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Two years ago, Arlington Cancer Center became part of Texas Oncology and is now Texas Oncology–Arlington Cancer Center North.

Texas Oncology is an independent, physician-led practice delivering leading-edge technology and treatment options and conducting innovative research.

Every physician is dedicated to Texas Oncology’s mission, which is to help Texans fight cancer. Texas Oncology delivers high-quality, compassionate care to help cancer patients achieve “More breakthroughs. More victories.®” in their fight against cancer.    TexasOncology.com

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital

W: Hospital

F: Emergency Room

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital is being recognized for the tenth year in a row. This All Star has a rich history in North Texas.

“We want to thank the readers for trusting Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital for the past 60-plus years and look forward to continuing our compassionate and comprehensive care” said Blake Kretz, FACHE, president, Texas Health Arlington Memorial.

As a Level III Trauma Facility, Cycle II Chest Pain Center, and Primary Stroke Center, the medical center offers Arlington and neighboring communities life-saving care close to home. With advanced medical treatments and an experienced staff, the hospital mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. Kretz credits the combination of high tech and high touch for excellence in patient care, which also includes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, and recently added early lung cancer detection technology.

The hospital is a 369-bed, acute-care facility offering a wide range of health care services including back and spine, behavioral health, breast care, cancer care, diabetes care, digestive health services, emergency care, ENT, heart and vascular care, infectious disease, kidney health, neurosciences and stroke care, orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation services, urology, women and infants care, and wound care.

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and the physicians on its medical staff are committed to your well-being and the health and wellness of your family. Hundreds of physicians and more than 1,700 employees actively care for patients and families

In addition to offering state-of-the industry health care, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital has implemented a number of valuable services for family and friends of patients including three cafes and a coffee bar, the Texas Health Pharmacy kiosk, a gift shop and a multi-faith chapel.

800 W Randol Mill Road • 817-960-6100 texashealth.org/arlington

Bex Laser Aesthetix

W: Botox, Laser Hair Removal, Rejuvenation Center

F: Med Spa

Afour-time member of Arlington Today’s Readers’ Choice

All Star team, Bex Laser Aesthetix, which was opened in April of 2016 by Rebecca Baker, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, offers an array of services and products that help patients look and feel their best.

Rebecca got her BS in nursing in 1998 and has more than 20 years as an RN in many different fields. She graduated in 2019 from the UTA Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner program.

At Bex Laser Aesthetix, Rebecca specializes in resurfacing, injectables, laser hair removal, body contouring, total body wellness, and professional at-home skin care. New procedures recently added include Silhouette Instalift soft threads and weight loss management. Each patient receives a full consultation with the nurse practitioner before coming up with a full aesthetic plan based on the patient’s concerns and budget.

Bex has a very warm and inviting environment with friendly staff focused on comfort. It is a small office with much privacy. You can tell that Rebecca is passionate about what she does and about giving the very best treatments to each and every patient.

103 S. Mesquite St., Unit B • 682-227-6110 bexmedaesthetics.com

The Dove Firm, PLLC

F: Attorney, Family Law Attorney

AtThe Dove Firm, attorneys Carolyn Dove and Jeff Lerner assist clients with important life and business decisions, helping them determine their goals and charting the best course of action to accomplish them. Because each legal matter is different, they provide personalized attention to each client in estate planning, probate, tax, and business areas.

The Dove Firm was founded in 2012 to assist businesses and individuals.

Located in north Arlington, The Dove Firm, PLLC is able to serve clients throughout the DFW area. The entire team is honored to provide a plan to people facing the only two certainties in life: death and taxes.

“We are grateful to the Arlington and DFW community for the opportunity to assist those who need our help,” said Carolyn Dove, “and we look forward to assisting more families and businesses in the future.”

524 E Lamar Blvd, Suite 230 • 817-462-0006 TheDoveFirm.com

Michael Cunningham, Cunningham Group W: Real Estate Professional

There aren’t many people you meet quite like Michael Cunningham, an annual All Star. His approachable personality – coupled with his attentive ear and straightforward communication style – make him as much of a friend as he is a real estate professional.

Michael prides himself on his attention to detail and deep knowledge of the market, while his ability to remain calm and collected under pressure set him apart from other agents. His clients attest to his sharp negotiation skills, taking the stress off their shoulders and making the home buying and selling process enjoyable. Placing customer service at the forefront of each interaction, he’s known for his thoughtfulness and setting realistic expectations, ensuring a win at the end of every transaction.

Quick to credit the talented Cunningham Group team – realtors Susan Daniels and Julie Pompa, as well as assistant Traci Bellomy – Michael is well respected among other agents and maintains great working relationships with his peers in the industry.

“I wouldn’t be anything without our incredible team,” said Michael. “They’re a huge part in making our group so successful, and they are the ultimate professionals.”

From his work on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Arlington Museum of Art board to his leadership at the Inspiring Hope Luncheon, Michael is a firm believer in giving back, developing deep roots in Arlington.

Legacy is important to Michael, whose family ties to Ebby Halliday run deep. He had three relatives precede his career with Ebby, and he always knew he wanted to be a real estate professional. After 25 years with Ebby Halliday, Michael knows both his customers and the market. This energetic connector and relationship builder will ensure that your requirements are not just met but exceeded.

1900 Ballpark Way, Suite 100 • 817-654-8445 ebby.com/bio/michaelcunningham

W: Auto Dealer

For the tenth year running, Don Davis Auto Group is an All Star. What are the drivers of this company’s success? Without question, it is a balance of customer service and convenience.

Don Davis Auto Group has served this community for more than four decades, representing Nissan, Ram, Wagoneer, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ford. The dealership has long been recognized for its commitment to excellent customer service. To meet the needs of local would-be car buyers, Don Davis Auto Group also holds an annual Garage Sale, a dealership staple for more than three decades.

In addition to selling new cars, Don Davis Auto Group offers a wide selection of pre-owned vehicles at each location. They like to say, “If you can’t find your used car here, somebody’s still using it.”

Beyond car sales, Don Davis Auto Group operates a collision center “we hope you never need”, one of the largest body shops in the southwest.

Don Davis Auto Group takes care of the community outside the showrooms. It is a longtime supporter of WFAA’s Santa’s Helper Toy Drive, and the main location on 1901 North Collins is one of WFAA’s biggest drive through drop-off events each year.

To give you one final idea why Don Davis Auto Group is a readers’ choice, consider the glowing reviews from satisfied customers.

“I have been a customer with Don Davis for 20 years, and in that time, I have been very happy with the quality of your service at all levels of your team. Keep it up for my next visit.”

“From start to finish, the experience was amazing. I received a great offer for my trade-in, and the new cars were priced great. Test drove a car and fell in love with it. The process was quick and easy. I drove off with a brand new Nissan that afternoon. This was car #2. Will definitely be back for car #3.”

1901 N. Collins (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Wagoneer, Ram) • 817-377-6801

644 N. Hwy. 360 (Ford) • 817-424-2942

1320 E. I-20 (Nissan) • 877-379-3670

dondavisautogroup.com

Stephanie Foster

W: Attorney - Divorce

Stephanie Foster has been named a Readers’ Choice

All Star for the sixth consecutive year, thanks to grateful clients who appreciate her compassion and persistence while dealing with one of the more important legal decisions a person can make: divorce.

Foster is a strong litigator who effectively articulates and argues for her clients’ interests in contested divorce cases. But her main priority is finding solutions that are beneficial to the family as a whole. “One option is traditional courtroom litigation. Another option is collaborative divorce,” Foster says. “Although I am prepared to be the warrior in your courtroom battle as I have been in thousands of Tarrant County divorce cases over the past 30 years, my preference is to be the peacemaker in your interest-based negotiations through the dignified, private, child-protecting process known as collaborative divorce, which involves no court.”

Foster believes the collaborative process is a powerful way to generate creative solutions in family law disputes while minimizing financial and emotional damage to families facing divorce.

4214 Little Road • 817-277-2805

StephanieFosterLawyer.com

Frost Bank W: Bank

Ineach of the past eight Readers’ Choice polls, Frost has earned our readers’ collective nod as an Arlington Area All Star. That’s not surprising. After all, this is a bank with a rich tradition of exceeding customer expectations, per bank officials:

Founded in 1868, Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services across Texas. With a philosophy that emphasizes building long-term relationships and treating everyone with integrity, caring and excellence, we have earned numerous awards for customer service to consumers and businesses.

While other banks have been closing branches, Frost has been expanding. We have opened many new locations and we have built the largest ATM network in Texas. We work every day to be a force for good in people’s everyday lives. We have a lot going on at Frost, but we haven’t lost sight of what has made us successful. When you have an account with us, you also have a relationship with us built on honesty, trust and respect. Find out more at frostbank.com or by calling (817) 420-5220.

101 E. Abram St., Ste 160 • 3801 Matlock Road 1881 Ballpark Way 5500 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington 1000 N. Walnut Creek Dr., Mansfield

Great Skin Spa & Facial Club

W: Skin Care

Great Skin Spa & Facial Club has earned its 10th All Star title.

The spa was created and founded in 2011 by owner Brenda Cureton-Hunt after she gained extensive knowledge owning the first U.S. franchise location of Canadian-based FACES cosmetics, which she brought to the US in 2006. Cureton-Hunt combined her experience along with her communications career and training as a licensed esthetician to develop a family-friendly and exceptional day spa whose goal is to help people look and feel their best, always exceeding customer expectations.

Cureton-Hunt not only shares her experience in creating and maintaining beautiful skin via state-of-the industry technology and award-winning products, she also advocates for spa services as part of a personal care routine.

Great Skin Facial Club customers receive a wide range of treatment options and guidance on products for use at home.

The spa, well known for its facials, chemical peels, and skin tightening, offers three levels of facials with enhancements for each that strengthen results.

“I developed the concept of Great Skin based on the goals and results of thousands of clients wanting to have more beautiful skin and look and feel better while managing the signs of aging through treatments, knowledge and skin care,” Cureton-Hunt said.

The core business of Great Skin is its facials, but it’s even more than that. Great Skin offers skin care products for all skin types and conditions and body treatments for women, men and teens.

The menu of services is extensive, including waxing, teeth whitening, micro-needling, non-surgical body slimming and contouring, cellulite and fat melting treatments, foot detoxing, and post-surgical lymphatic drainage massage.

They carry a line of natural supplements for weight loss, detox and digestion and Colombian Fajas shapewear as well as gifts and tokens to purchase to create the spa feeling at home.

“In spite of the challenges in our world right now, we will always serve our customers with excellence and care,” Cureton-Hunt said.

3851 SW Green Oaks Blvd • 817-478-2114 greatskin4you.com

Harris Cook, LLP

W: Attorney - Real Estate

An eight-time All Star, Harris Cook, LLP, has built a reputation for professionalism and effectiveness in a wide range of legal matters. The practice features a highly-skilled team composed of David L. Cook, Patrick L. Dooley, Paul J. Johnson, Larry L. Fowler, Jr., Lin Morrisett, Marc A. Stach, Arin K. Schall, and Wesly C. Maness.

Harris Cook is an AV Rated Firm, which represents the Gold Standard in attorney ratings. By increasing the depth of experience and talent across multiple practice areas, Harris Cook can continue to provide dedicated, high-level legal services to its existing clients while creating opportunities for future growth in the areas of Business, Real Estate, Employment, Public Utilities, Family Law, Probate & Guardianship and Estate Planning.

Harris Cook is able to offer an outstanding, Full-Service firm experience to its roster of clients, including the many businesses throughout North Texas for which Harris Cook currently serves in an outside General Counsel role.

Arlington: 1309-A W. Abram St. • 817-275-8765 Mansfield: 309 E. Broad St. • 817-473-3332 harriscooklaw.com

Levitt Pavilion

W: Place for Live Music

Prettymuch every year the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Arlington finds a spot on our All Star team. And, why not?

˜˜It provides more than 50 free concerts a year with a broad-based concert calendar of original music by professional musical artists from world music to jazz and country to Indie artists.

The Levitt Pavilion’s concerts provide our community with an accessible, safe gathering place for free music and performing arts open to everyone –all ages, ethnicities, neighborhoods and income levels, especially those who could not afford to enjoy and benefit from live music and the performing arts in any other way.

To further enhance our entertainment pleasure, the Levitt recently added a new hospitality center and permanent restrooms, which should make the concerts – and other events the center will attract in the future –even more enticing.

100 W. Abram St. • 817-543-4308 levittpavilionarlington.org

Linda Magazzine

F: Real Estate Professional

Perennial

All Star Linda Magazzine has now been in the real estate industry for four decades-plus, the most recent half of which have been associated with Ebby Halliday. She has been Ebby Halliday’s Top Individual or Group Producer for the Arlington office since 2002. She also ranked in the top five nationwide from 1989 to 2003.

“My professional philosophy is this: To give real service, you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity,” she says.

Magazzine says she is especially proud to conduct business in her home town. “I live in Arlington, I work in Arlington and I believe in my city and community,” she says. “Giving back is very important to me.”

She says she found her love for homes while working as a field editor for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for the Texas Region, where she realized she could make a good living doing what she really enjoyed. Our voters obviously think she made a wise career decision to go into real estate.

1204 W. Abram St. • 817-654-8589 ebby.com/bio/lindamagazzine

Park Row Christian Academy

W: Preschool/Kindergarten F: Day Care

ParkRow Christian Academy is returning for the second year to our All Star team. The school has operated at the same location on Park Row Drive in Arlington since 1968.

PRCA has evolved from a Thursday school for preschoolers into a five-day-a-week preschool and elementary school. Hundreds of teachers have taught thousands of students from Arlington and surrounding cities.

Children at PRCA are challenged to learn and grow each day, guided by dedicated and loving teachers. Each age group has developmentally appropriate lessons specifically designed to help students grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

Students at the academy are motivated not only to learn their basics such as math, ELA, science, social studies and fine arts, but to develop a larger biblical world-view that will provide an excellent educational foundation.

915 West Park Row Drive • 817-277-1021

parkrowchristian.net

PSK, LLP W: CPA Firm PSK

LLP, an accounting, tax, audit, and business consulting firm, turns 60 next year. It is celebrating its sixth appearance as an All Star.

Founded in 1964, PSK has a team of 44 professionals serving clients in Texas and 20 states. Their comprehensive services cross multiple industries including family-owned, construction, health care, manufacturing, nonprofit, and transportation businesses as well as churches and investor groups.

When serving clients, PSK prides itself on its motto of “what else?”, understanding that building relationships is a key to its success as one of the largest firms in Arlington. Their core values, which also include commitment to excellence, honesty and integrity, and respect and accountability say it all.

PSK is dedicated to providing value to its clients through the success and development of their people. The firm has multiple longtime employees and invests in personal and professional growth. They encourage work/life balance and maintain a family like, small firm feeling where teamwork and open communication are the norm. They even offer an internship program to accounting majors, many of whom hail from UT Arlington and who often join the firm as alumni later.

“If your team isn’t growing, you can’t provide the best services for your clients,” said Donna Ryan, PSK marketing director.

PSK helps its team give back to area nonprofit organizations, offering the Community Partnership Initiative and quarterly service opportunities. Many of its partners and associates count service as a key driver of their work/life balance,

The vision of PSK aligns with its goal to be the leading accounting firm in the region. They attract and retain the best people and clients in the area and look forward to working with you again and again.

53001 Medlin Dr, Suite 100 817-664-3000 • pskcpa.com

David L. Cook

Primrose School W: Day Care

An All Star for the seventh straight year, Primrose School of N.E. Green Oaks is part of a national system of accredited private preschools that provides a premier early education and child care experience for children and their families.

Franchise owners Lynne Groff, LMSW, and her mother Isobel Morton Primrose partner with parents to help build the right foundation for future learning and in life.

The school implements a balanced learning approach to preschool education that teams purposeful play and nurturing guidance from teachers. This time-tested approach instills a love of learning and discovery that helps your child develop and excel for years.

The school’s focus is on what will best serve the needs of children and families with an eye on innovation and advocacy for quality early education for all children.

1900 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-543-2626 primroseNEGreenOaks.com

River Legacy Nature Center

W: Kids Party, Local Park

F: Place to Volunteer, Summer Camp

There’s a strong, notable, bond between Arlington area residents and River Legacy Parks – this is the tenth time the natural city treasure has been named an All Star. Of course, who could argue against something that offers the beauty of the wilderness with open spaces for your favorite pastime – pretty much whatever that favorite pastime might be?

From botany to bicycling or rollerblading to strolls through the woods, this 1,300-acre public park has something for everyone. The park’s ecological diversity of bottomland forest, wetlands and prairie provides abundant habitat for countless wildlife and native plants. And then there are amenities, such as trails, picnic areas, river overlooks, canoe launches and more.

703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd.

817-860-6752 • riverlegacy.org

Karen Schroeder

W: Attorney - Elder Law

Six-time

All Star Karen Schroeder is a fourthgeneration Texan and a hometown girl who grew up in Arlington, graduated from Arlington High School in 1985 and continues to reside in Tarrant County with her family.

She opened her solo practice in Mansfield in 2009 after almost 15 years serving as in-house counsel for multiple corporations, and as an Assistant District Attorney. Her law firm specializes in wills and trusts (including gun trusts), elder law and guardianships, asset and wealth protection and probate. Licensed as a Texas attorney since 1994, Schroeder has built a reputation as a problem-solver who serves clients’ needs with legal professionalism and a commitment to individualized attention.

“I believe in long-term partnerships and in building relationships in the community I still live in and love,” she says. “I strive to gain my clients’ trust, one case at a time. My passion is educating clients and the public on estate planning options with a goal of equipping them with the legal tools necessary to avoid costly and timeconsuming probate.”

550 N. Walnut Creek, #110, Mansfield 817-842-0220 • KarenSchroederLaw.com

Texas Rangers Golf Club

W: Golf Course

Thisfour-time All Star is unique. Arlington Golf and the Texas Rangers partnered to build the world’s only Major League Baseball-branded golf course — the Texas Rangers Golf Club — which opened in February 2019.

The branding partnership, along with $24 million in renovations of what was formerly Chester W. Ditto Golf Course, affords the opportunity for the city to offer a destination golf course for both Arlington residents and visitors alike.

The club’s 23-acre practice area includes a doubleended range, a practice hole and two short-game areas – one with four greens and the other with one.

The fairways are broad and playable, and the greens are large and golfer friendly. The overall scale of the course is “Texas Big,” and the 111,000 square feet of sand bunkers frame each hole nicely.

701 Brown Blvd. • 817-275-5941

arlingtongolf.com/texas-rangers-golf-club

The Sanford House

W: Spa, Bed and Breakfast

TheSanford House Inn & Spa continues to be a multi-category All Star. This lovely property north of Downtown Arlington includes fully-appointed suites, gourmet meals, and spa services.

Whether it’s staying in one of 12 luxury accommodations, receiving a spa treatment, or eating a six-course meal in their international dining series, guests at 506 North Center Street are sure to have a memorable visit.

The Sanford House celebrated 25 years last year and offered 25 Acts of Kindness to the Arlington community. Opened in 1997 by General Manager Valerie Landry’s grandparents and owned by her mother, local physician Dr. Joan Bergstrom, the property has been a longtime jewel in Arlington. First, it was a true “mom and pop” bed and breakfast, and gradually transitioned to the boutique property it is today. Landry grew up around the business, which included working there part-time when she was home from college.

The house is host to many local events, from community meetings to weddings, and Landry is at the helm to ensure their success. She has been extensively involved in community leadership and outreach, a past president of Rotary Club of Arlington and an active contributor to Women’s Alliance in the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

To Landry, success in this industry “is when a guest says it feels like a home away from home.” Landry had a recent guest who later sent The Sanford House a note and some Texas-shaped pasta, because “she finds herself smiling every time she thinks about their trip.”

Whether it’s an open house at the spa, a business meeting in the garden, or a delicious meal at Restaurant506, The Sanford House Inn & Spa is ready to welcome you.

“Our guests can choose to go wherever they want, and they choose us,” said Landry.

506 N Center St • 817-861-2129

TheSanfordHouse.com

family law for 37 years.

Donna J Smiedt is collaboratively trained to provide clients with a private form of dispute resolution to avoid litigation

Donna J. Smeidt

W: Attorney - Family Law

Six-time All Star Donna J. Smiedt, founder of The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt, has earned a stellar reputation for her dedication to serving her clients during challenging times.

Smiedt is a Board Certified Family Law AttorneyTexas Board of Legal Specialization who has received extensive training – and earned many honors for her work – in this area.

Her legal team also features attorney Desaray R. Muma, who, with Smiedt, provides counsel in all types of family law cases, including divorce, child custody disputes, adoptions, Child Protective Services litigation, child support issues, collaborative divorce, premarital agreements, spousal support, visitation rights, and grandparents’ rights.

“From pre-nuptial agreements to appellate work, we cover the complete practice of family law,” Smiedt says. “The firm can handle the simplest uncontested divorce to the most contentious custody litigation, as well as non-litigation forms of dispute resolution, such as mediation and collaborative law.”

3216 W. Arkansas Lane • 817-572-9900 arlingtondivorces.com

Southern Flair Photography

W: Photographer

Overfour and a half decades-plus, Southern Flair Photography has delighted more than 4,000 brides and grooms with contemporary and classic photography from their weddings. In the meantime, the studio has taken countless portraits of families, children, high school seniors, executive portrait head shots and much more.

So it isn’t surprising that company owner Dwayne Lee and his daughter Heather have been honored with an All Star award for the sixth consecutive year.

Dwayne has earned Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman Degrees from the Professional Photographers of America, and Heather has earned the Photographic Craftsman Degree.

“I wake up every morning excited that I get to do what I absolutely love to do: photography,” Dwayne says. “And owning my own studio has opened up other interests, including gardening and travel. I am blessed beyond belief.”

2550 Legacy Point Dr. • 817-277-0477 sflair.com

SWBC Mortgage Corporation

W: Mortgage Company

Aregularon our annual All Star roster, the stellar team at the Arlington branch of SWBC Mortgage prides itself on providing a rewarding home-buying experience. Whether building, purchasing, or refinancing, they can help borrowers find the right loan program for their unique needs.

Mary Dietz, Branch Manager (NMLS # 219164), brings more than four decades of mortgage experience to SWBC Mortgage. She is joined by Loan Officers Paul Beaney (NMLS #217433) and Aaron Spaight (NMLS #1391936) and Support Staff Lacreta Beaney and Andrew Dietz.

The entire SWBC Mortgage team is dedicated to simplifying the home financing process by exploring their clients’ options and helping them find a home loan they’ll feel great about. SWBC Mortgage has been providing superior mortgage banking services since 1988 and is recognized as one of the top 100 lenders in America.

1281 W. Green Oaks Blvd., #119 817-795-0031 • swbcmortgage.com/Arlington

SWBC Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #9741. Loans subject to credit and property approval, restrictions and conditions may apply. Corporate office: 9311 San Pedro Ave., Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78216. Equal housing lender

Roger “Rocky” Walton

W: Attorney - Personal Injury

AnAll Star for the fifth time, “Rocky” Walton, founder of the Law Firm of Roger “Rocky” Walton, has been serving the Arlington community since 1975.

During his time in Arlington, Rocky has represented thousands of satisfied clients in various areas of law. He has always worked hard for his clients and kept them constantly informed. Rocky and his employees enthusiastically embrace helping people and treat their clients the way they would want to be treated. They are completely honest with their clients.

Rocky has an advanced law degree (LLM) in Taxation and Securities, so early on he did a lot of corporate and commercial law, along with personal injury law. In 1987, the law firm took the bold step of handling nothing but personal injury and wrongful death claims.

In 1994, after a lot of hard work, Rocky was able to become certified as to special competence in the area of Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Fewer than 3% of Texas lawyers are board certified specialists in that area of law. Rocky has been re-certified every five years.

2310 W. Interstate 20, Suite 200

817-429-4299 • rockywaltoninjurylawyers.com

Texas Trust Credit Union W: Credit Union

For the eighth consecutive year, Texas Trust Credit Union is an All Star.

“Because we make decisions with the interests of the greater community at heart and due to our commitment to service ‘so great our members will brag about it,’ Texas Trust has grown into a network of neighborhood branches with assets worth over two billion dollars,” said CEO Jim Minge. “Despite our phenomenal growth, we maintain the spirit of a member-owned, personal finance cooperative with the same small-town, friendly service we’ve offered our members since opening our doors.”

Texas Trust, founded in 1936 when Chance Vought Aircraft Corporation moved to the DFW Metroplex from Connecticut, opened its first Arlington branch in 1990 and now serves 136,000 members in 22 branches. In 2012, Texas Trust Credit Union moved their headquarters to Arlington, on I-20 between Little Road and Green Oaks.

Texas Trust exists for one single purpose: To build brighter financial futures. The company is a not-forprofit credit union that focuses on giving back to its members and the community at large.

The Texas Trust team stands ready to help, through an array of outstanding products and services. The credit union is also focused on fulfilling the needs of its Arlington communities, and it shows through Texas Trust’s sponsorships and donations to Arlington’s nonprofit organizations and support of Arlington ISD. Additionally, in 2022, Texas Trust through its Texas Trust Gives Foundation donated and pledged $800,000 back to the community in support of the Foundation’s mission of helping schools, teachers, students and families. Employees spent more than 1,200 volunteer hours serving in our community.

Texas Trust loves Arlington and looks forward to continuing to serve our members and community.

700 W Bardin Rd. • 2427 W. Pioneer Parkway

4351 Little Rd. • 2501 E. Pioneer Parkway

1060 NE Green Oaks Blvd.

TexasTrustCU.org

Dwayne Lee

Bit by Bit

F: Computer Services

Bit by Bit, an All Star Computer Services company, is celebrating 36 years of providing services to and support for North Texas companies looking to take their IT enterprises to the next level.

Over the past four years, Bit by Bit has won more than a dozen awards for the service it provides customers, which ranges from managed services, business continuity and cloud services to cyber security, dark web monitoring, application development, enterprise fax solutions and more.

The Bit by Bit staff includes a diverse team of seasoned technicians with specialized knowledge and expertise in a wide variety of areas. The company provides its technicians with continuing education opportunities on a regular basis so they can stay up-todate with the latest technology.

The average response time for our engineer to begin fixing your problem is 30 minutes.

721 N. Fielder Rd, Suite B • 877-860-5831 bitxbit.com

Joe Hall Roofing & Contracting

F:

Roofing Company

Thisis worth noting: Joe Hall Roofing has been named an All Star the past seven years. So is this: The Hall name has been associated with quality roofing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than three decades.

Joe Hall, the family and business patriarch, started Joe Hall Roofing in 1989. He eventually sold the company in the mid-1990s to his son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Tina, who have continued a tradition of honesty and integrity – and of crafting quality roofs throughout the area. Now the company welcomes a third generation, Jackson, into the business, symbolizing the continuity that sets the company apart. It has been there for the community in the past and is solid for the future.

“Our name and the quality of our work are backed by five generations of Hall family members, all of whom have been builders and contractors,” Brett says. “Our longevity in this industry and continuous growth is the product of our commitment to our customers and our passion for the business.”

The company offers all manner of commercial and residential roofing options, as well as general contracting and construction consulting, with top-tier endorsements from product manufacturers.

1925 W. Pioneer Pkwy. • 817-274-6777

joehallroofing.com

CS Preferred Saving Solutions

F: Electricity Broker

aking its second appearance on our Readers’ Choice All Star team, CS Preferred Saving Solutions helps you save money on your electric bill. Owner Carla Sue Worley says that there is no charge for the company to review your services, and often there is no out-of-pocket expense from you throughout

“We have numerous suppliers and vendors that compete for our business and are happy to is one of two entrepreneurial ventures keeping Worley busy. She rotating closets that use a 360° turning mechanism and are custom-built to address whatever organizational need you might have. These spinning spaces work great in a closet, but the way you use them is bound only by your imagination. The company also offers custom-built

To find any of these products/services, meet Carla Sue in her showroom in Lincoln Square – she’ll save you on your power bill and help you organize, to boot.

780 E. Road To Six Flags St., Suite 262 833-728-3763 • cspreferred.com • spinningspaces.com

Live! by Loews - Arlington W: Hotel

Randol Mill Pharmacy W: Pharmacy

Withits sixth straight win in our annual All Star poll, Randol Mill Pharmacy continues to be a favorite.

Randol Mill Pharmacy has been an Arlington staple since 1965. Their talented staff strives to provide the friendliest, most professional and efficient pharmacy service in town. Five words embrace the Randol Mill Pharmacy team’s philosophy, highlighted in the company’s “5-C’s”: Care, Convenience, Costeffectiveness, Confidentiality and Communication.

Bringing

an upscale hospitality experience to Arlington’s Entertainment District, Live! by LoewsArlington is a stylish resort destination that offers unparalleled, easy access to the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, the Esports Stadium Arlington & Expo Center, and more. With 35,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space we are ideal for meetings and conventions, but also perfect for anyone looking for the true meaning of Texan hospitality.

Each of 300 luxury guest rooms, including 23 suites, has floor-to- ceiling windows offering views of Texas Live! and the nearby stadiums. Spacious layouts, natural wood surfaces and comfortable lounges and beds create a warm, soothing residential feel, and there’s all the latest technology you need for a smooth and seamless stay.

Should you be hungry or thirsty, Live! by LoewsArlington offers five luxurious in-hotel venues, including Cut & Bourbon, where you can enjoy steaks, salads, roast chicken and other favorites, and pair your picks with delicious whiskeys, wine, beer or cocktails.

1600 E. Randol Mill Road • 800-235-6397 loewshotels.com/live-by-loews-arlington-texas

Randol Mill Pharmacy is one of the area’s premier resources for prescriptions, compounded medications, over the counter (OTC) medications, and medical equipment. COVID vaccines, flu shots, shingles shots, and pneumonia shots are also given by their pharmacists. In addition, Randol Mill pharmacy can also compound your prescription (where you are not bound by commercial medications, but can have medications in the strengths and dosages that fit your particular needs).

This pharmacy accepts most insurance plans, provides complementary local delivery for your convenience – and now Randol Mill Pharmacy is a package pickup Hub for Amazon.

At Randol Mill Pharmacy you will find over 6,000 square feet of shopping space stocked with a full range of medical equipment, including a huge selection of canes, 4-wheel walkers, wheelchairs, bath safety equipment, hospital beds, compression hosiery and lift chairs.

The pharmacy has been serving Arlington for over 50 years, and also carries unique upscale gifts, greeting cards, seasonal gifts and candies. As always, it offers complementary gift bags with any gift purchase.

Randol Mill Pharmacy can be your problem solver ... tell the staff member your needs and they will work with you to meet or exceed your expectations – every time you pay a visit, call them on the phone or check in online.

Randol Mill Pharmacy ... It’s More Than a Pharmacy. 1014 N. Fielder Road • 817-274-1883

randolmillpharmacy.com

Carla Sue Worley

BRETT & TINA HALL

The Ulster Project

by Amanda Rogers

ForArlington teen Sam Shar, the animosity between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland seems hard to understand. For eight Northern Irish teens, the animosity between races in the United States seems bizarre.

The teen-agers mixed and mingled for three weeks this summer in Arlington as part of the Ulster Project, finding their similarities and talking about their differences.

When the Ulster Project began in 1975, the Catholic and Protestant teens from Northern Ireland came to the United States to play, pray and meet people from different religions.

“The original idea was to bring Catholic and Protestant teen-agers to the United States for them to have a safe place to interact with each other,” explained Michelle Hennessy, president of Ulster Project Arlington. “In Northern Ireland, they would never have a chance. They did see a difference. It worked for the kids that came.”

Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, has been divided between the Catholic Nationalists who want a united Ireland and the Protestant Loyalists who want to remain part of the United Kingdom since the country was formed in 1921. From the 1960s through the 1990s, violent demonstrations and terrorism claimed thousands of lives in Northern Ireland.

“It’s not even really about the religion, it’s about politics,” Hennessy said.

But things are changing, the teens say.

“I would never not be friends with someone because they were Protestant,”

said Aoife, a 15-year-old Catholic from Belfast. “It’s more of a political stance.”

Aaron, 21, a Protestant from Belfast who was serving as a counselor for the Northern Irish teens, said religion is complicated in Northern Ireland.

“Church is seen as so divisive back home,” he said. “It’s become easier for young people to not be practicing.”

And things are still difficult, even through the Ulster Project teens don’t show it.

“What we bring here are a group of really good kids,” he said. “A different group of kids from Belfast might not have the same answer. This group of kids when they go back will change things.”

In 2023, the divisions between the teens are similar and split like those of most 15-year-olds – between male and female –instead of by religion. But they all agreed that they had gotten a lot out of the Ulster Project, including the five Arlington teens who participated.

“Now it’s about leadership and realizing we’re all the same, giving back to the community and self growth,” Hennessy said.

And the teens get plenty of chances to do that, serving at Mission Arlington, the Arlington Life Shelter, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Prairie Paws and Clayton Youth Enrichment. They also attended Catholic and Protestant religious services.

They also had four discovery times, where they shared their opinions on leadership, mental health, prejudice and reconciliation, and performed improv to get comfortable speaking.

And they had fun, kayaking, marching in the Arlington Independence Day Parade, and going to San Antonio to see the Riverwalk, Fiesta Texas and floating the Comal River.

“I thought it would be a waste of my summer,” said Lewis, 15, a Protestant from Belfast, who admitted his family forced him to come, but he was glad he did. “It made me less shy and able to talk to people. I made new friends.”

The Northern Irish teens admitted they were surprised by a lot of things in Texas, starting with the weather.

“As soon as we walked off the airplane, it was like a hairdryer to your face,” Aoife said.

And they were all shocked by the race problems and school shootings in the United States.

“Having gangs in school is crazy, you’re not allowed to have gangs (in Belfast schools),” said Maeve, a 15-year-old Protestant from Belfast.

But Northern Ireland also marks the 12th of July, when Protestants celebrate a 17th Century victory over the Catholics, and sometimes the celebrations turn violent.

The Belfast teens couldn’t fathom that Sam Shar, a 14-year-old from Arlington, has to go through multiple shooting drills every year at his school.

“It’s crazy,” Maeve said. “They go to school and they could die.”

For more information about Arlington’s Ulster Project, go to upatx.com.

Reflecting and Recognizing Heroes at Arlington Field of Honor Sept. 9th-17th

When most people recall the annual Arlington Field of Honor (FOH), which takes place this year from Sept. 9 to 17 at Veterans Park, they speak adoringly about the 911 flags whooshing in the wind. It’s a sight, they say, to see so many American flags popping out of the ground and filling up so much park space.

“It’s moving,” said 2023 Co-Chair Arlington Field of Honor David Curtis. “It shows the pride that we have in our community; its people wanting to recognize their heroes, and this makes you feel very proud to see the number of people that come out and show their respect, read the tags, and share their stories with the other people who are out there.”

The annual event, which began in 2019 to commemorate the victims of the 9/11 attacks, is a significant fundraiser for the Arlington Veterans Park Foundation. Great Southwest Rotary established the Arlington Veterans Park Foundation to facilitate the development of a memorial to honor those who served in the United States armed forces. The monument is a go-to place for

reflection and to honor those who made the supreme sacrifice.

You can purchase flags at the FOH tent to honor or memorialize active-duty, military, veterans, fallen service men and women, first responders, and even teachers. Purchased flags can be picked up or shipped to the purchaser after the event.

Those who can’t make it to Veteran’s Park can buy flags at arlingtonfoh.org.

Curtis, who co-chairs FOH with Paul Fulks, said proceeds help fund the memorials at Veterans Park, two of which are still under construction.

“The other purpose of this is to allow our community to come out and show appreciation for their heroes,” Curtis said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a vet, a first responder, a parent, a teacher. . . anyone can be honored out there.”

The opening ceremony, slated for the first day, will include a brief ceremony discussing the event’s meaning and a drone show that evening,

“We’ll have some guest speakers like the

Arlington police chief, the assistant fire chief, Tarrant County sheriff, and Mayor Jim Ross will also be out there to talk about what it all means to them and presenting their own stories,” Curtis said.

One of the most impactful parts of the event is the time veterans share with not just one another but those wanting more information.

“I remember one lady, her husband retired from the Navy and were talking about his career,” said Curtis. “Together, they just want to come and sit and talk under the tent for an hour or two. What we’ve learned is that this is a safe space for them. There are times when people have these feelings bottled up and don’t know who they can talk to, whether it’s about PTSD or any other trauma. Here, they feel safe and can share their stories.”

Curtis said anyone needing more information on the event can go to arlingtonfoh.com or the organization’s Facebook page.

Flags dotting the landscape at Veteran’s Park during Arlington Field of Honor event.

Arlington-South

5001 S. Cooper Street, Suite 111

Arlington, TX 76017 (817) 557-2253

Arlington-North

Arlington, TX 76011 (817) 583-6522 839 E Lamar BLVD

Mansfield

3141 E Broad Street Suite 115

Mansfield, TX 76063 (682) 204-0235

08/31/2023

NothingBundtCakes.com

Because Carson Cared, Arlington Is a Better Place

by Kenneth Perkins

The first time I met Carson Bold, he was an eight-year-old with puffy cheeks, warm eyes, and an old soul. I remember asking him about his lemonade stand in front of his Arlington home, and his answer was all over the place, words bursting out like water from a busted dam. He wanted to make money, wanted to give that money away, wanted to make sure kids at the shelter had plenty of toys as he did, wanted to make people happy, wanted to serve.

His mother, LaShaunn Bold, a veteran social worker, stood a few feet away with a mixture of awe and pride, which is what mothers do, but the hardened journalist in me figured this story would be cute and fun and printable but certainly a one-and-done.

Boy, was I wrong.

Fifteen years later, we’re standing in the middle of Harvesting Hope Community Garden, tucked away behind First Christian Church, in the 900 block of Collins Street, and the group that would morph into the service organization Carson Cares is planting two trees to anchor the garden.

KENNETH PERKINS

Carson, now 23 and a lot taller, stood by watching, his legacy literally going into the ground, with the prospect of outliving him. That would be fine with Carson because it’s precisely how he always thought it should be.

Carson Cares did a ton of service projects over the 15 years. Still, its impactful legacy will be this kind of Pyramid Scheme of Volunteering, where a few kids caught the giving bug only to pass it along to others, who passed it along to more, who ... you get the idea.

Volunteering is, in some ways, a lost art, perhaps something that is simply making

up the DNA of some, learned by others, and utterly absent in way too many. For folks who shun that sort of thing – it’s just not in them, like me and shopping – but Carson estimated at least 2,000 teenagers came through his service group at one time or another, and many of them were doing it for the first time.

“I’ve been with Carson since I was seven,” said Sam Whipple, who would serve on the Carson Cares board. “It was surprising for me to feel so good helping people. Sometimes I feel like it’s a little bit of selfishness but good selfishness. I am happy that I am making other people happy. To see all this just kind of stop ... that’s tough to think about.”

Yes, this is it for Carson Cares. In November, the organization will have its final project in fitting fashion: boxing toys and other goodies for needy children.

“We’re leaving something behind that will be long-lasting,” said LaShaunn Boyd. “This is actually our 16th year. This year we will continue at Bailey, helping them with the Season of Giving, and that will be it.”

Carson attended Bailey Junior High, and each year the gym turns into a Santa’s

Workshop with students filling boxes with toys and other needs, like toothbrushes and toothpaste. It’s a sight to see. They work with Samaritan’s Purse, the non-profit that partners with local churches.

The boxes are then shipped to children in need around the world.

And to think this all started from a kid who, after raising $22 from a lemonade stand, wanted to give it away to SafeHaven.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Carson, an SMU grad working as a data analyst. “I always had lofty goals for anything we did. But I could never have imagined having so many people get involved and want to serve others.”

Most of the time, Carson and his crew were either putting together a service project, doing one, or thinking about what to do next.

“Now,” Carson said, “you look back at everything, and you think, wow, we really did do a lot.”

Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today for nearly a decade. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.

Bella Stansbury, Carson Bold, Sam Whipple, and Molly Ruby during tree planting.

alk

October 14th, 2023

Webb Community Park 1100 Mansfield Webb Rd, Arlington, TX 76002

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is full of flowers — each carried by someone committed to raising funds and awareness to help end this disease. It’s time to add your flower to the fight. Funds raised go towards local support for those living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.

Scan QR code or visit act.alz.org/arlington for more information about this year’s event and to register/donate.

For Questions and/or Sponsorship opportunities please contact, Walk Manager, Kelsey Hayes by email or phone.

Email: khayes@alz.org

Phone: (830) 237-2390

The AL-mobile

He made a living grilling burgers, but the classic Ford was his passion • by Richard

Al Mathews became famous for serving Arlington’s best hamburgers for nearly six decades. From the time he set up his North Arlington grill in 1957, local residents from everyday life to all the city’s mayors to Texas Rangers ball players to former Gov. George W. Bush had discovered his talent for preparing what most thought was the perfect burger.

But Al had another passion that he pursued with enthusiasm and shared with the community when celebrating the Fourth of July and Christmastime parades.

It goes all the way back to when he met Thelma – who would become his bride. He owned a 1939 Ford 4-door convertible at the time, and memories would link the two of them to their means of transportation. He and Thelma were married in 1949, and the car would later be traded for something newer.

Al brought his future son-in-law into the restaurant, where his daughter Melody was

already working. Not only did Gary Lawrence and Melody get married, Gary grew close to Al and learned of his longing to reacquire the car he called his favorite.

While it wouldn’t be the one Al and Thelma first had, they found another like it in 1993 in Maine, and soon Al would again, after 40 years, be behind the wheel of the classic vehicle he dearly loved. It’s easy to see why he was so fond of the car. Ford modernized their previous version for 1939 with the Deluxe model, like Al’s, using a low, pointed grille with heavier vertical slats, sealed beam headlamps mounted further apart, and chrome strips on the sides.

The Flathead V8 engine delivering 85 horsepower was also revised with downdraft carburetors, and hydraulic brakes were introduced as a major advancement across the Ford line.

When the top is lowered, the center post can be removed, and you can see why the vintage is so popular for hot rodding conver-

Greene

sion. But Al was interested only in having it like it was supposed to be – sans any modifications.

He even preferred leaving the top up. Gary says that’s because Al got his head blistered while driving his first one in convertible fashion on his and Thelma’s honeymoon, and that was the end of unprotected exposure to the sun. In addition to his familiar appearance in the city’s parades, Al decided to enter the grueling endurance competition of The Great Race.

Along the multi-state course and among other vintage and collector cars, Al won two ACE Awards – one of the more sought after achievement awards by the Great Racers. The medals are proudly displayed on the wall of memorabilia at the restaurant. The Great Race is about exactitude in driving, never going faster than 55 miles per hour, across the Mojave Desert and on a point-to-point rally in the precise number of seconds allotted, neither early nor late.

Melody and Gary Lawrence pose beside the 1939 Ford convertible that once belonged to her father, Al Mathews.

“Your car has to be in A-1 shape,” Al told a reporter covering his entry into the race. “You’re trying to time your driving to the second. If you go a minute over or under, you’re already out of the race. In general, these old cars aren’t made to do this kind of race and you have to work on them all the time to keep them top notch.”

Al’s companion in the front seat was his navigator upon whom he relied for maintaining speeds to meet time demands. Thelma followed, in a truck loaded with spare parts, sometimes via an alternate route to each night’s destination ready for work on the car that may be needed before bedtime.

The trip took 14 days. Al, Thelma and their trusted navigator did it five times.

Before Al’s passing in 2014, he sold the restaurant to Gary and Melody, who now deliver the burgers, including Al’s famous double cheeseburger, along with an expanded menu of other food choices starting with breakfast.

They also take care of the Ford – just as Al and Thelma did in carrying on the traditions of their dual passion for hot burgers and one of the coolest cars in town.

This restored 1939 Ford convertible has plenty of “bells and whistles” – not to mention attention to detail in the interior and exterior that sets it apart as a classic.

Always a crowd pleaser, Al’s Ford features horns (obviously not an original option) that were programmed to play “The Eyes of Texas” as Al drove through parade routes.

Though he treasured his convertible, Al usually drove the classic Ford with the top up to avoid sunburn on his head.

What will this Cowboys season bring?

by John Rhadigan

The month of August is a month of extremes. Extreme heat is possible and expected in these parts. Extreme longing too. We long for cooler weather. NFL fans long for the game to finally return. Enough of the draft, free agency and mini-camps. We want big men fighting it out on a grassy field to defend the honor of our team, our state, our city.

August provides the first real opportunity to see this again. It has been six months since the Super Bowl. Now it is time to start dreaming about this year’s big game. For you younger readers of Arlington Today, there was a time when the Cowboys going to the Super Bowl was more than a dream. It was an expectation. It was a reality. It was a joy! It was so much fun to follow your favorite team through the ups and downs of a long season only to see them in the ultimate game again. Only to see them win it.

These days it actually starts in late July at training camp. But most of us don’t see the team in action until that first preseason game. This year that will be August 12 right here in Arlington at AT&T Stadium. Under the latest collective bargaining agreement, there are only three preseason games. This year two of them will be at AT&T.

The team will be similar to the one that made the playoffs in each of the last two years. Yet there will be some noticeable differences. First and foremost Zeke is gone. On March 15 the Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott. Tony Pollard showed last season that he is ready, willing and able to be a featured back and he now has a franchise tag to prove it. Zeke will be missed though. His production has fallen so the Cowboys made the right decision but he was a joy to watch play and beloved by his teammates.

Last season it was more difficult for the Cowboys to run the ball because the passing game was not as strong. There was a dearth at wide receiver. That has been addressed. In March they acquired Brandin Cooks from Houston. This former Biletnikoff Award winner and first round draft pick will give the receiving corps depth and a deep threat.

The Cowboys also made a trade to bolster the secondary. Stephon Gilmore has a Super Bowl ring that he won with the Patriots. He has an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award that he won just three seasons ago. He has 29 career interceptions and 127 pass deflections. He also has five trips to the Pro Bowl under his belt the most recent was just two years ago in 2021.

Another weakness on that side of the ball was stopping the run. The Cowboys addressed that this off season too. They signed Jonathon Hankins to a one year deal. More importantly they drafted the run

stopper of the future with first round pick Mazi Smith. This freakishly athletic mountain of a man was among College football’s best run stoppers for the last two years at Michigan. The Cowboys believe that he is such a good athlete that he will also be able to rush the passer from his interior line position.

Another success of this off season was the fact that the Cowboys were able to keep Dan Quinn. The former head coach who took the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl, continues to decline opportunities offered to become a head coach again. He clearly loves it in Texas and his guys clearly love him. He is a hands-on, vocal coach that provides the kind of leadership to the defense that is normally reserved for the head coach.

Finally, the head coach will be more involved with the offense this year. Mike McCarthy will call the offensive plays. He will be the first head coach to do so since Jason Garrett in 2016. McCarthy will install a version of the West Coast offense that he used with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018. You may remember one of those teams. His 2010 team won the Super Bowl right here in Arlington.

When you add it all up you get another extreme. That is a fan base with extremely high hopes for the Cowboys.

columnist John Rhadigan is an anchor for the Bally Sports Southwest television network.

Sports

JOHN RHADIGAN

It’s Football Time!

Dallas Cowboys Preseason Home Games

Aug 12 vs Jacksonville Jaguars 4pm

Aug 26 vs Las Vegas Raiders 7pm

August Home Games

UTA College Park Center

Aug 8 vs Las Vegas Aces 7pm

Aug 12 vs Connecticut Sun 7pm

Aug 24 vs Minnesota Lynx 7pm

Pub Guys Trivia

Every Wednesday • 6-9pm

Sour Sundays

Every Sunday • Noon-10pm

$2 off all sour beers

Kid and pet friendly at Division Brewing

506 E. Main St.

Art + Wine Painting Party

Enjoy step-by-step painting instructions with a professional art instructor. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have your very own canvas painting to take home with you.

August 12 • 6-8pm

Arlington Museum of Art

August Book Club

August 9 – Southwest Morning Reading Group

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Southwest Branch Library

August 10 – Night Out Book Club

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Good Grounds for Books

Woodland West Library No August date posted

Southwest Spine Crackers No August date posted

August 25 – Wine Down Book Club

What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry

Mansfield Cares Mansfield Cares Mansfield Cares presents presents presents

AMERICAN

Candlelite Inn • 1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613 • candleliteinnarlington.com

Dino's Subs • 2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140

The Grease Monkey • 200 N. Mesquite St. • 817-665-5454 • greasemonkeyburgers.com

Tipsy Oak • 301 E. Front St. • 817-962-0304 • thetipsyoak.com

The Tin Cup • 1025 W. Abram St. • 817-303-5518 • tincupdeli.com

Ricky’s Hot Chicken • 3810 S Cooper St Ste. 138 • 682-276-6600

Spicy Bites • 1220 S Cooper St. • 817-642-5005

Zack’s Bistro • 900 E. Copeland Rd. • 682-323-8789

Candlelite Inn

ITALIAN/PIZZA

Café Sicilia • 7221 Matlock Rd. #3409 •817-419-2800 • Cafesicillia.com

Moni's Pasta & Pizza • 1730 W. Randol Mill Rd. • 817-860-6664

Italy Pasta Pizza & Subs • 2221 Browning Dr. • 817-276-3200

Old School Pizza Tavern • 603 W Abram St. • 682-310-6266 • oldschoolpizzatavern.com

Vietalia Kitchen • 1220 S Cooper St. • 817-460-1945 • vietaliakitchentx.com

Piccolo Mondo • 1829 E. Lamar Blvd Arlington. • 817-265-9174

BARBECUE

Italy Pasta Pizza & Subs

David's Barbecue • 2224 W. Park Row Drive, Suite H • 817-261-9998

Hurtado Barbecue • 205 Front St. • 682-323-5141 • hurtadobbq.com

Bodacious Bar-B-Q • 1206 E. Division St. • 817-860-4248 • bodaciousbarbq.com

Spring Creek Barbeque • 3608 S. Cooper St. • 817- 465-0553 • springcreekbarbeque.com

Spring Creek BBQ

INTERNATIONAL

Gangnam Rice • 4638 S Cooper St #190. • 682-320-8720

Sunny Thai • 4306 Matlock Rd #108. • 817-617-2216

Tic-Taco • 715 W Park Row Dr. • 817-617-2980

Cane Rosso • 200 N East St, Arlington. • 817-533-3120

Gyros To Go • 710 E Sublett Rd #101 • 817-419-2878

Prince Lebanese • 502 W. Randol Mill Rd Arlington, Texas • 817-469-1811

Happenstance or Destiny?

by Richard Greene

ship my dad was assigned to would be delayed in its completion before entering the war in the South Pacific.

joined one of the pilot training programs.

Summer is a familiar experience for me and my wife, Sylvia, as we have birthdays just a month apart. But these this year are milestone birthdays as we turn 80. This August also makes us just a year short of our 60th wedding anniversary.

Looking back at the year of our births during WWII in 1943, circumstances then set into motion how our lives came together even though it all began with us being 2,650 miles apart –completely across the entirety of the United States.

All kinds of things in the lives of our parents would develop over the ensuing 16 years that brought us together as high school juniors in Monroe, Louisiana. In all the decisions that they would make in pursuing, first our fathers’ places in the military and later, their careers, any one of them made differently would have resulted in us never meeting.

And none of our children would have ever been born. None of our careers nor our roles of community service that would mark a central part of the 60 years of our story together would have ever happened.

In my case, the first thing that would set my life into motion occurred when the Navy

He was one of the nearly 300,000 sailors stationed at the Farragut Naval Training Station near Sandpoint, Idaho. The monthslong delay in the ship’s construction meant his wife could join him there and that resulted in their trying to have a baby. They made that decision even though, like all the other American men in uniform across the world, his life would be at risk once he sailed away.

So, I entered the world there in the base hospital on August 17, 1943.

Upon his return at war’s end, he resumed work with his previous employer – an assignment that would send us, first, to Memphis, Tennessee then to Jackson, Mississippi, next to Shreveport, Louisiana and finally to Monroe where we moved in the summer before my high school junior year.

Any of the steps along the way, had they taken us in a different direction, would mean I would have never met Sylvia.

In her case, there are similar experiences. Her father as an agriculture teacher was a member of the draft board in the South Carolina jurisdiction where he lived with Sylvia’s mom. Determined to somehow get into the war as well but having fairly bad eyesight, he memorized the eye chart, drafted himself into the Army Air Corps and

As all those steps were being taken, Sylvia was born in Charleston on July 15, 1943, across those 2,650 miles from where I arrived in the world a month later.

Although the war ended in 1945 before her dad completed his training, upon being discharged, he went to work with Delta Airlines in various roles. He and his young family would be moved to Montgomery, Alabama, then Atlanta, Georgia and finally to Monroe where Delta was first launched as a crop-dusting business years before.

Again, all along the way, any choice or decision they made could have resulted in either Sylvia never being born or her family living somewhere other than where I discovered her in home room at Monroe’s Neville High School in 1959.

All the above could be dismissed as happenstance and not really anything remarkable. However, Sylvia and I were reared in Christian homes. As such, we came to a knowledge that our lives are not the result of some sort of coincidence. We believe divine providence shaped it all for us and, despite being undeserving of such blessings, we give thanks on this occasion of our 80th birthdays.

If you made it this far in our story, thanks for caring. I’m sure your own is just as engaging.

Thismonth’s column is my personal reflection of life’s journey. Please forgive the privilege to share, but I expect anyone can relate.

Richard Greene is a former Arlington mayor.