March 2022

CELEBRATING OUR 100TH ISSUE AS YOUR CITY/AREA MAGAZINE! ... PAGE 44 March 2022

Today

your community • your magazine

Georgie Zang

Tanya D. Merlino

Julie Short Laurie Bianco

Donna J. Smiedt

Women in

Business

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EVANS-COWLEY NAMED THE NEW PRESIDENT OF UTA

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he UT System Board of Regents last month named Jennifer Evans-Cowley, Ph.D., provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of North Texas, as the new president of the Univeristy of Texas at Arlington.

The move from Denton will represent a homecoming for EvansCowley, who grew up in Arlington attending summer camps and classes at UTA and who has taught an annual professional development workshop a the university in the past decade.

communities to help UTA achieve its full potential as it serves the people of Texas Jennifer Evans-Cowley through education and discovery.”

She succeeds Dr. Teik C. Lim, who In the research arena, Evanswas UTA’s interim president before Cowley headed a collaborative being named president of the New group to help faculty better Jersey Institute of Technology early engage in UNT’s research mission. last month.

She also was instrumental of the Regents voted unanimously to establishment of a UNT campus in select Evans-Cowley, who has risen Frisco, Texas. through the ranks of academia Before joining UNT, she was at over the past 20 years and has held The Ohio State University, serving as numerous positions at the vice provost for capital planning and academic program, college regional campuses, associate dean for “I AM EAGER TO BEGIN working with faculty, staff, and university levels. academic affairs and administration students, alumni, the UT System, and the broader As provost at UNT, which in the College of Engineering, and Metroplex and statewide communities to help UTA enrolls 42,000 students, department chair and professor in achieve its full potential as it serves the people of she launched a strategic City and Regional Planning.

Texas through education and discovery.” effort in 2017 that increased Evans-Cowley holds a bachelor’s the three- and four-year degree in political science and graduation rates. Like UT Arlington, “I am honored to have the master’s degree in urban planning UNT is one of the nation’s few opportunity to return my hometown and doctorate in urban and Carnegie Tier 1 research universities to play a leadership role in shaping regional science from Texas A&M that is also recognized as a Hispanicthe future at UT Arlington, and University. She earned master’s Serving Institution. Under her I enthusiastically accept this degrees in public administration leadership, UNT has increased opportunity and responsibility,” and interdisciplinary studies from the representation of women and Cowley says. “I am eager to begin UNT. Her research and work in underrepresented groups serving working with faculty, staff, students, urban planning has been published in faculty and academic leadership alumni, the UT System, and the and referenced in numerous positions at UNT. broader Metroplex and statewide publications.

VEGE-MATIC Use these tips from the Arlington Parks & Recreation Department to create raised garden beds this spring • By Danica Dodson

H

ave you ever wanted to construct a raised garden bed at home but don’t know where to start? Maybe your soil is too rocky to grow your desired plants, or you like the idea of not having to lean down to do your gardening. Raised garden beds keep your plants separate and provide a unique look with clean lines of plants. APRD’s Urban Forestry Land Manager, Wendy Pappas, provides these instructions and tips for building your own raised garden bed at home to bring a new look and convenience to your garden!

Map It Out Much like any major gardening project, the first step to building a raised garden bed is to map out your area and decide where to place the bed. You’ll need an even surface cleared of any plants, dirt piles, or debris. Dig out the area and get it as flat as you can by using a shovel and a level.

Once the surface is flat, you can tap on the ground to make the dirt hard and compact.

which are very durable and can last for many years. Be sure the bed’s width does not exceed 4 feet so you’ll be able to reach all areas of the bed from each side.

Wendy constructed her own bed laying out the first layer of blocks and making sure they were level. For the second layer, she put rebar in each block so they would stay together and put a bead of caulk to attach. She staggered the blocks so the seams wouldn’t match up, then filled the inner holes with sand.

Think Through The Process Before your building process is complete, think about how you will fill the bed with soil. One smart option is to leave a gap in one side of the bed large enough for a wheelbarrow to fit through. This will make it much easier to fill the bed without having to dump soil over a finished wall. You’ll also want to think about which types of plants will go in your bed. “I got a dump truck delivery of nice garden soil,” says Wendy. “I wanted to grow vegetables, so I had a special veggie soil mix delivered. I recommend knowing what you want to grow and having soil delivered that has lots of organic matter and other nutrients added.”

Irrigation Make a plan for how you’ll provide water for your raised bed. Soaker hoses and timers are great options, especially if you can’t see yourself going outside everyday to water by hand. “I designed my own little watering system,” explains Wendy. “I found a timer that would water the beds for me. I got a splitter on the timer and attached 4 hoses to that. I then ran solid hoses from my water faucet on the back of the house under the existing flowerbed and along the ground to each of the raised beds. I then got some soaker hoses and ran them around the raised bed after all the soil was in place. Next, I attached it all to the

March 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 3

7,000

6.7

34,878

HOME SWEET! HOME

“I WANTED TO GROW VEGETABLES, so I had a special veggie soil mix delivered. I recommend knowing what you want to grow and having soil delivered that has lots of organic matter and other nutrients added.”

Start Building After creating a flat spot for your bed, you can start building the bed itself. There are many materials available that you can use for building the walls of your bed. Some

HIGHLIGHTS

Photos courtesy of Mansfield Custom Homes

Bowery Farming plans to open a new, smart indoor farm in Arlington in 2023 BOWERY FARMING, the largest vertical farming company in the U.S., serving major e-commerce platforms and more than 800 grocery stores, is building its newest smart indoor farm in Arlington. Joining its network of vertical farms in Kearny, N.J.; Nottingham, Md.; and Bethlehem, Pa., the new Arlington farm will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will create more than 100 year-around green jobs.

Produce from Bowery Farming’s Driven by explosive demand in Texas planned indoor farm in Arlington for safer, traceable, Protected Produce, will be produced using 100% renewable energy. and propelled by the BoweryOS – which integrates software, hardware, sensors, computer vision systems, machine learning models, and robotics to orchestrate and automate the entirety of operations – Bowery’s Arlington commercial farm will serve a population of 16 million people within a 200-mile radius. The farm is expected to open in the first quarter of 2023.

Photo: Bowery Farming Bowery’s smart indoor farms grow local, pesticide-free Protected Produce 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.

In 2021, Bowery doubled revenue and opened Farm X, a state-of-the-art innovation hub for plant science in Kearny, N.J. Bowery’s produce is harvested yearround at peak freshness and is delivered to stores within a few days of harvest – a stark contrast to the 90% of leafy greens grown in the U.S., which are transported over 3,000 miles across the country. Within this new farm, Bowery’s Protected Produce will reach a new region of the U.S., advancing the company’s goal of expanding access to local, traceable, pesticide-free food to people in every major city of the U.S. and around the world.

For more: boweryfarming.com

This house, built by Mansfield Custom Homes, has all the deluxe basics in place (and they’re virtually timeless)

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e hear a lot about houses having good bones, referring to the structural integrity of the home, and no doubt that is extremely important. But have you thought about a home having good bones in the sense that all the basics are in place and timeless, now all you have to do is accessorize? We think this home is a perfect example of this exact scenario and hope that it inspires you when you are building or remodeling to stick with classic, good bones and then showcase your style in the accessories.

This house has a well-blended balance of paint, stain, print, texture, openness, and coziness. We love the stained cabinets, unique built-ins and beams paired with the high-gloss cabinets and trim. The texture of the interior brick and the bold print of the tile are classic design elements. In 10 years, these aspects will still look amazing. Being able to accessorize this home with your particular style of furniture and décor will only bring out these features in an even bolder way. As styles change in décor, it will be easy to change out shapes and colors without having to change the design “bones” of this house.

Are you ready for some (college) baseball?

THE 2022 COLLEGE BASEBALL SEASON is once again kicking off at Globe Life Field on Feb. 18-20, with six teams from four conferences slated to play in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown.

Big 12 Conference members Kansas State University, the University of Oklahoma, and Texas Tech University will face the University of Arizona from the Pacific-12 Conference, Auburn University from the Southeastern Conference, and the University of Michigan from the Big 10 Conference, with each school playing three games.

Tickets to the State Farm College Baseball Showdown are available online at

– Julie Short, Mansfield Custom Homes, 682-552-4384

ON THE COVER 44 46

50 Photo: Bobbie Jo Majors

56

This month, we celebrate Women in Business, such as Donna J. Smiedt, Tanya D. Merlino, Georgie Zang, Julie Short and Laurie Bianco, who posed for this shot on the patio atop the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library.

See Page 26

42 Heeding a call

A UTA researcher is trying to make healthy choices made during the pandemic healthier.

44 We’ve got you covered!

This represents the 100th issue of Arlington Today magazine, so we’ve devoted some space to say thanks to our readers and advertisers.

46 Behind the wheels

Check out the collection of unique classic cars we have spotlighted over the past 100 issues.

DEPARTMENTS

Starting Line 10 Itinerary 12 • This ‘n Data 14 Around Town 22 • Scene 24 Style 52 • Bulletin Board 68 Speaking of Sports 70 • Dining Guide 72 Finish Line 74

NEXT MONTH ...

50 Home SWEET! Home

Since 2013, we’ve taken you inside some of the area’s more appealing dwellings. Here are some highlights.

56 STEAKing its claim

The largest-ever Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House will be constructed in Mansfield and is scheduled to open in early 2023.

62 It’s ba-aaack!

After taking a break because of the pandemic, Mansfield’s Pickle Parade & Palooza will return to the scene on March 18-19.

• By Danica Dodson 8

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

The April issue will feature local eateries and proprietors of such, as well as show you some of the better places in the area to host your next big event.

ShareFest Texas keeps on helping SHAREFEST Texas, an Arlington-based non-profit that helps the underserved in the community via a variety of altruistic partnerships, had an impactful 2021.

Organization spokesperson John Thielman says ShareFest Texas fully furnished 60 women’s shelter family apartments for domestic violence victims. In addition, the organization provided 50-plus bicycles to the homeless and raised more than $40,000 in grants and donations that will be used on future aid efforts.

ShareFest Texas serves victims of domestic violence, the homeless, foster children, at-risk children and senior citizens in need. Its partners include SafeHaven, Misison Arlington/Metroplex, Refugee Services of Texas, the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. For more:

Starting Line your community • your magazine

100! (& COUNTING)

I

t’s true. The rumors you’ve been hearing around town have been confirmed. ARLINGTON TODAY magazine is here.

Sound the trumpets. Strike the gong ...

Better yet, set aside some time today to give us a serious look, from cover to cover. Given that you’ve only made it to page 8 thus far, I’ll hit the fast-forward button and let you in on what you’re about to discover: Arlington now – finally – has its own magazine.

I wrote those words in August of 2013, a few weeks before the great Nolan Ryan helped welcome us to the community. He graciously agreed to be the focus of our first cover that introduced the September/October edition that launched this vessel down the river. Yes, though we were confident that Arlington (and eventually Mansfield, Grand Prairie and all the neighboring burgs) needed a publication they could call their own, we moved forward cautiously in the beginning, two months at a time.

By the March of 2014, we were going monthly, and now, some 100 issues into the endeavor of celebrating this great city and region, I would venture to say that we’re still going strong.

On page 44 you’ll find images of every cover we’ve produced over the past eight-plus years. And, just as I promised when I also wrote in that initial column Yale that we were here “to tell the Youngblood Arlington story as never before,” Editor those covers run the tell-tale gamut. There are just-elected mayors and shiny buildings rising from ground previously devoted to parking cars. There are festivals and holiday revelry and cars and writers and doctors and lawyers like no other. There are coaches and restaurateurs and commercial kings and queens who also happen to be really great people.

There’s even a turkey and a dog.

In the aggregate there is also this: A portrait of a city and region that is the standard bearer for leadership, initiative, cooperation and kindness that won’t quit.

It has been my privilege to be part of the seeming light-speed journey that has taken us from a renowned pitcher of baseballs to equally considerable pitchers of the hometown they love. Along the way, I’ve met some memorable characters marked by even more memorable character. I’ve even introduced many of them to you.

Speaking of you, dear readers and advertisers, I hope you’ve enjoyed this shared venture as much as I have.

But I kind of doubt it.

yale@arlingtontoday.com 10

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Today

EXECUTIVE BOARD Executive Publisher Judy M. Rupay CEO Richard Greene EDITORIAL Editor Yale Youngblood Sports Columnist John Rhadigan Special Columnist Major General Patrick Brady Website & Social Media Manager Bailey Woodard Graphic Artist Francisco Cuevas Contributing Writer Kenneth Perkins Contributing Photographers Dwayne Lee, Heather Lee, Bruce Maxwell SALES / CIRCULATION Business Manager Bridget Dean Sales Managers Laura DiStefano, Andrea Proctor, Debbie Roach, Tricia Schwartz Distribution Manager Hanna Areksoussi PRODUCTION Production Manager Francisco Cuevas ARLINGTON TODAY is published monthly.

Copyright 2022 Arlington Today, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission of the publisher.

The inclusion of advertising is considered a service to readers and is not an endorsement of products. Basic subscriptions are $33.95 for 12 issues.

To subscribe, e-mail subscriptions@arlingtontoday.com.

Phone us at (817) 303-3304

ARLINGTON TODAY GIVES BACK

Arlington Today magazine proudly sponsors Alliance for Children, Arlington Charities, the Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington Urban Ministires, Back the Blue Bash, the Junior League of Arlington, Levitt Pavilion Arlington, Mansfield Cares, the Miracle League, the Mansfield Pickle Parade, River Legacy Foundation and Theatre Arlington.

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Events, etc.

ELSEWHERE ...

Art

ITINERARY...

MUSIC, TEXAS-STYLE The T3R Texas Regional Radio Report Music Awards will hold its 12th Annual Bri Bagwell, reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, will be a co-host T3R Texas Regional for the T3R Texas Regional Radio Radio Music Awards Music Awards.

Photo: biographyportal.com at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28, in its new location at Texas Live!

The live music awards show will be hosted by country music’s sweetheart and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Bri Bagwell, KOKE-FM’s Eric Raines, and multiple nominee country artist Kylie Frey. Texas/Red Dirt Music royalty such as Jon Wolfe, Kyle Park, Mike Ryan, Josh Ward, The Voice alumni, Sundance Head and Curtis Grimes and radio PDs from all over the country will be in attendance.

At press time, the following award nominees had confirmed that they will attend: Matt Castillo, Kaitlyn Kohler, Stormy Cooper, Yellow Dog Studios, LJT, John Dickson, Mark Powell, Dave West, Carly Evans, Michael White, Jody Lee, Chuck Taylor, Justin McClure, Loye Lovell and Suzi Q. The weekend will kick off with the Sunday Gathering, a large worship service at Texas Live!, followed by the T3R Texas Regional Radio’s Future Faces Show at the PBR Cowboy Bar inside Texas Live! The Future Faces artists of 2022 are Kate Watson, Hunter Thomas, Cynthia Rausch, Caden Gillard, Allora Leonard, Joe King, Taylor Dunn, Brian Winfield, Melissa Brooke and Jon Hope. The live audience will vote on the top performer of the night who will then earn a spot to perform on the T3R Texas Regional Radio Music Awards Show on Monday night at Texas Live!

In memory of the Red Dirt Legend, singer/songwriter Brandon Jenkins, the Songwriter of the Year award changed names in 2019 to the “Brandon Jenkins Memorial Songwriters” Award. Jenkins passed away in 2018. The 2019 award was presented to the first winner of the renamed award by Brandon’s mother, Wilma Jenkins, to Cody Jinks for his song “Must Be The Whiskey.”

The Texas Regional Radio T3R Texas Music Awards are fan and industry voted. More than 60,000 votes have been cast for the 2022 T3R Texas Music Awards. trrma.net 12

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

The University of Texas at Arlington will present the Mel Chin: Inescapable Histories Exhibition March 1-30 at the Gallery at UTA (502 S. Cooper St.). Chin is a worldrenowned conceptual artist who utilizes painting, sculpture, film, drawing, collage, as well as other creative media to address complex social and political issues facing contemporary society. events.uta.edu

Rodeo Teton Ridge and PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will team up to host the ultimate weekend in Western sports by bringing the 2022 PBR Global Cup USA and The American Rodeo to AT&T Stadium on March 5-6. The Global Cup will feature the best of 500 bull riders who have competed in qualifiers leading to the big event in Arlington, while The American Rodeo represents the richest single-day event in all of western sports. pbr.com and americanrodeo.com

Magic & Comedy The Arlington Improv (309 Curtis Mathes Way, #147) will present the Family Magic & Comedy Show at noon on March 12 and 26. improvtx.com/arlington

CIRCLE THE DATE Timeless Concerts will present “Spain to Latin America” at 8 p.m. on April 23 at the Rose Garden Tea Room (4720 S. Cooper St.). Enjoy songs with a Latin flavor, plus an “after party.” timelessconcerts.com

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

13

This ‘n Data

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rlington ISD is getting ready for another groundbreaking to kick off its next major Bond 2019 project. But this one is different.

It’s not for a new building – this one is about technology, specifically, the installation of a new private fiber network for the entire school district.

This project is all about Internet – about students and teachers having access to all the online resources, learning materials and teaching tools that go into a 21stcentury education. It’s about ensuring that the growing demand for Internet is met now and for decades to come. And it’s about speed, stability and dependability – creating Internet infrastructure designed to eliminate outages and guarantee smooth, uninterrupted access.

For Internet now, the Arlington ISD has to lease

means rings of underground fiber – wire made out of pure glass that acts as the highway that Internet data travels on in the form of light – will be installed to encircle the entire school district and connect to every school. This bidirectional ring will allow data to flow both ways and includes significant resiliency. Fiber will enter each school in two locations to ensure reliability even further.

In addition to reliability, capacity will skyrocket and immediately give the district 10 times the bandwidth it currently has. Plus, since the district will have full control over the network, it can implement increases to capacity whenever necessary and can do so by simply adding additional hardware. In other words, increasing capacity won’t require a network redesign, as is often the case with the vendors who currently provide the district’s Internet services. This new infrastructure is a foundation built to support capacity needs well into the future.

Another critical advantage of the private network is speed. No one else will have access to this network.

The only traffic will be from district users. With no other traffic to contend with and complete control over the network, it will be full speed ahead.

AISD PLANS TO CONVERT TO FIBER TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS INTERNET NETWORK WAN connectivity services. That means the district pays Internet providers for their services and equipment. As demand grows, the district has to work with these vendors to add more services and install updated hardware. It’s a model that nearly all school districts have to buy into, but it’s less than ideal. It’s costly, always requires updates and new contracts, and has not proven to be the most resilient option.

But with the new dedicated private Internal network, the district will create its own model that dramatically increases capacity and reliability. The private network will utilize a multi-ring, clover-shaped topology. That

BAKER TO WRAP UP A 10-YEAR CAREER AS UTA’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR also the more heralded Studentthe Mavs have won 22 Baker, who has served as J im Athlete Graduation Achievement conference championships and Director of Athletics at the

Jim Baker

University of Texas at Arlington for the past decade, last month announced his resignation, effective Sept. 1.

During his time with UTA, 14

made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances. This past fall UTA was the recipient of the Sun Belt Conference’s Institutional Graduation Rate Award and

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Award. Possessing an 85-percent student-athlete graduation rate, UTA had the highest four-year class average graduation rate of any current Sun Belt school.

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

15

This ‘n Data

#atpetofthemonth

MANSFIELD’S ORION JEAN NAMED TIME MAGAZINE’S ‘KID OF THE YEAR’ FOR 2021

Meet Charlie Bear!

Charlie was a VIP adoption from the Arlington shelter, and we still consider him VIP! He’s 3 years old and a mix of Great Pyranee and Husky. He loves to go for walks, take naps, sneak food close to the counter, and being told how pretty he is.

– Kathryne Storto

ou don’t have to look far to find Time Magazine’s 2021 “Kid of the Year.” Mansfield’s Orion Jean, 11, was selected by the publication to be on the cover of the prestigious news journal and, in turn, earned the opportunity to be interviewed by a longtime advocate of children, actress Angelina Jolie, for the cover story.

Jean, who was selected from a field of thousands of nominees, told Time that he sees himself as an ambassador for kindness.

“He jumps in wherever he sees a need, whether it’s collecting and donating 100,000 meals to feed insecure families across the country, or getting 500,000 books to kids with none at home,” the publication noted. “At a time when isolation and division are rampant, Jean sees the world as it could be if more people brought their communities together to help their neediest members.”

“Kindness is a choice,” Jean told Jolie, over Zoom, during their interview. “And while we can’t force others to be kind, we can be kind ourselves and hope to inspire other people. So many people have great ideas, but never act on them ... Someone told me that you have to find something that breaks your heart for you to really get out there and make a difference in that area.

And I want others to know that they can start today. If there’s an issue or problem or something that they see that they want to solve, all it takes is really just knowing deep down inside that it’s something you care about, and you can go out and get started.”

Y

RAISE YOUR HAND if you got the lion’s share of your local news from the Arlington Citizen-Journal before it became a regular part of the Fort Worth StarTelegram. Keep that hand up if you ever composed a hand-written “Letter to the Editor” to O.K. Carter.

16

3

SCOOPS 1. Medical City Arlington has launched the new Center for Lung Health, which provides screening, diagnosis and treatment for all types of lung cancers. The Center offers consultations and coordination of care with a team of lung experts, including pulmonologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiologists.

2. A $250,000 gift from the Amon G. Carter Foundation will provide nursing students at The University of Texas at Arlington with hands-on technical training. The gift will support construction of a modernized Smart Hospital in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation featuring the latest in simulation technology.

3. Grand Prairie’s GetFit GP is inviting residents to show healthy habits you started during the pandemic via its Healthy Pandemic Habits Art Contest. You can bring a poster, photo, video, poem, model, snapchat, etc., (incorporating the Get Fit Grand Prairie logo) to City Hall (300 W. Main St.) by March 18. Gift cards will be awarded to the top three entries. For more: ow.ly/Z8M850HIGms

Volunteers, take note ...

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Dine-In & Carry-out

The Best Tex-Mex Between Dallas and Fort Worth!

All Star Tex-Mex

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

17

This ‘n Data

GROUNDBREAKING FOR NMOHM SET FOR MARCH 25

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he National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and the City of Arlington have set Friday, March 25, as the date of the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Museum in Arlington. The groundbreaking will be on the same day America recognizes National Medal of Honor Day. “Since the NMOHMF first announced Arlington as the Museum’s home in late-2019, we have been looking forward to kicking off construction on this historic project. The groundbreaking ceremony will be the culmination of a tremendous amount of amazing work, and the beginning of an exciting new phase. We are one step closer to making a Museum for all Americans to learn from the Medal of Honor a reality,” says Chris Cassidy, NMOHMF President and CEO. “The City of Arlington is proud to be the future home of the National Medal of Honor Museum and thrilled the eyes of the country will be on this great ceremony in March to break ground on such a worthy project,” says Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. “As we pay tribute to America’s greatest heroes on National Medal of Honor Day on March 25, we will officially begin the next chapter in our work to build a place where all Americans can come to be inspired by their stories. America needs this now more than ever.”

Ahead of National Medal of Honor Day this year, students from 6th through 12th grades across the nation were invited to submit a 300-word essay, defining what honor means to them and why our society needs honorable people today and every day. The winning author will be flown to Arlington to read their essay as part of the Museum’s groundbreaking ceremony.

For more: mohmuseum.org

Arlington By the numbers

100

The number of feet in the air you’ll be when you reach the apex of the El Diablo ride at Six Flags Over Texas. ource s

a s com o erte as

18

Ella Tran

Photo rl n ton

MARTIN JUNIOR PIANIST ELLA TRAN WINS COLLIN COUNTY YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION

M

artin High School junior Ella Tran recently took top honors in the Collin County Young Artist Competition in Plano. The young pianist will get the opportunity to perform her winning concerto with the Plano Symphony Orchestra on March 19 at the Eiseman Center in Plano.

“When I found out I won it was unexpected, but I knew I practiced hard for this,” says Tran. “I’ve participated in this event for multiple years, and the competition is full of talented musicians each time. I was filled with so much joy because I’ll finally get the experience of playing a grand piece with a grand orchestra.”

The 16-year-old Tran, who is also the first chair violin at Martin, has been playing the piano since she was five and violin since age 11. While Martin is her home base, she also takes classes at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts. Her teacher, Toni Worley, has seen the effects of her discipline and dedication firsthand.

“Tran is truly a gifted musician and not just on the violin,” says Worley, AP Music Theory teacher. “She can immediately play a prepared piece flawlessly by memory on either the violin or the piano. Always preparing, she has the next audition, rehearsal or contest in sight. You can bet she will be ultimately prepared.”

300

275

The number of luxury guest rooms in Live! by Loews-Arlington. This total includes 23 suites.

The population in 1880, which included eight merchants, a hotel keeper, a saloon operator and two doctors.

ource loe shotels com l e y loe s arl n ton te as

ource med aroom arl n ton or tr a

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

19

Around Town

MADE IN THE U.S. (ACTUALLY, IN ARLINGTON)

Y

ou can’t enter the spaciously tidy conference room at Luraco Technologies in northeast Arlington and not notice The Wall. Framed patents line it like wall paper, up and down, side by side, one after another, like a sort of Wall of Fame. In some ways it’s just that.

Not that you probably know what Luraco is famous for.

Think massage chairs.

We’re not talking those recliner-types on the second floor of Parks Mall where weary shoppers plop down for a quick pick me up.

Luraco, founded and run by brothers Tom and Kevin Le, UT Arlington-educated electrical engineers (Tom has a master’s, Kevin a Ph.D.) has been around for more than 17 years, finding a nice financial footing by nailing U.S. government contracts for the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters and manufacturing specialized seats for the manicure/pedicure industry.

Their first contracts, though, were from nail salons where they came up with an air extractor to rid the salons of those asphyxiating nail polish fumes.

“That product brought Luraco into the commercial sector,” Tom Le says of the Kenneth air extractor. “We realized, Perkins OK, wow, we can do this.”

Around 2011, the Le brothers shifted their attention to massage chairs, and it’s paying off bigtime. Highend, all-encompassing, with scans to figure out what your body actually needs, are the Bentleys of massage chairs.

In other words, “It’s not just jiggling bodies,” says Robyn Readicker, Luraco’s International Sales and Marketing Manager. “There are a lot of massage chairs out there, but ours are designed for pressure points and based on eastern medicine.”

Cisco Systems in San Jose use them for their employees, VA hospitals for their patients, universities for their students.

Yet here’s what sets Luraco apart: their chairs are researched, developed and assembled on American soil.

Surprised? I was. China’s imports dominate the market so

Tom Le, along with his brother Kevin, founded Luraco Technologies, which produces state-of-theindustry massage chairs right here in Arlington.

Photo

enneth Per ns

companies don’t even bother. Tom Le says because China makes its chairs so cheaply they can undercut the competition in price.

“When we make the product here, our costs are higher, and that makes it hard to compete with those import chairs,” he says. “But we make it by being different.”

Luraco is different because Tom and Kevin are.

I call them brilliant survivors.

The Le family arrived in the United States from Vietnam in 1995 armed with $200 and little English. They settled in Arlington because it was the only place in the country where they had a relative.

The family wanted to leave Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Their father was jailed for seven years in harsh prison camp by the North Vietnamese in retaliation for helping the U.S. military during the Vietnam conflict.

“It made life difficult for us but didn’t break us,” Tom Le says.

Luraco Corporation, by the way, is named after Lucy and Sara, Tom and Kevin’s daughters, respectively. (Lu from Lucy, Ra from Sara, and Co from Corporation).

Tom and Kevin knew they wanted to manufacture something in the U.S. “Made in USA means something,” Tom Le says. “It means quality of the product. That’s what we wanted.”

That’s what they have.

Luraco owns 43 patents in the U.S. and Canada. Two of those involve massage chairs, which continue to evolve.

Luraco’s chairs are hailed for their physiological effects on the body and spirit.

When a professor of health at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, plopped more than 500 students and faculty into Luraco’s iRobotics 7 massage chair for 15 minutes, blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels all improved. It even shows to have an impact on one’s physical pain related to stress.

“When I came here I dreamed that one day I had a factory where I can build a product here, with quality,” Tom Le says. “We never thought we’d be involved in manufacturing massage chairs. But here we are.”

Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today since it debuted. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.

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arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Scene

SNAPSHOTS OF ARLINGTON/MANSFIELD/ GRAND PRAIRIE AREA NEWSMAKERS

Mickey Guyton sings the National Anthem at SB56

Photo t l ne com

Country music sensation – and Arlington’s own – Mickey Guyton drew rave reviews for her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dallas Jackals Rugby Dignitaries from the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce joined officials of Dallas Jackals Rugby for a ribbon-cutting event welcoming the new professional team to Choctaw Stadium.

Super Bowl champions

ma e C ty of rl n ton

A pair of Arlington ISD graduates, Bobby Brown III (Lamar) and Justin Hollins (Martin), are members of the recently crowned NFL champion Los Angeles Rams.

Photo

outhern la r Photo ra hy

Chamber President and CEO Michael Jacobson addressed the crowd at the Dallas Jackal welcoming party as Jackals Rugby players practiced in the background.

Bill Lynch retirement party

Photo

outhern la r Photo ra hy

Bill Lynch was honored at a party at Legal Draft Beer Co. after he announced his retirement from the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, where he was the Director of Public Policy.

UTA’s Minerva Cordero honored by the President

Photo: UTA

President Joe Biden recently named UTA Mathematics Professor Minerva Cordero a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

4720 S Cooper St | Arlington, Tx

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

25

Women in Business

Laurie Bianco

Mayor of Dalworthington Gardens

L

aurie Bianco considers herself extremely privileged to serve the citizens as Mayor of Dalworthington Gardens.

It is one of her greatest blessings. She is married to Dr. Sabatino Bianco, and they are parents to Emily, a freshman at Grace Prep and an avid volleyball player at Texas Image. An active member at Fielder Church, Laurie’s faith is a guiding principle in her life, both personally and professionally.

Mayor Bianco is no stranger to leadership. Before firmly planting her roots in the great state of Texas, she taught school in both Genoa, Italy, and North Carolina, where she was named teacher of the year for LJ Bell Elementary School in her home town of Rockingham, N.C. She was also a representative for Rotary International in Osaka, Japan. Furthermore, she was the initial president of the DWG CPSAAA, which allowed her to segue into local government. Mayor Bianco is the Vice Chairman of the Tarrant County Mayor’s Council, serves on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and also serves on the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition.

Dalworthington Gardens has come a long way since its beginnings as a Depression-era homestead association initiated by the Roosevelt administration. DWG, as they are commonly known, is the only Texas homestead association from those days to maintain its identity and independence.

They proudly claim the longest name for a city in the state of Texas – “Dal” from Dallas, “worth” from Fort Worth, and “ington” from our sister city, Arlington.

Dalworthington Gardens is a thriving community with grand ideas. Given the history of the community, the city strives to maintain a suburban feel with large, lush minimum half acre residential lots, while also seeking to promote successful businesses that fit the culture of the community.

They are creating a name for themselves. With businesses such as Green’s Produce, a household name in the greater

Arlington area, and Grounds and Gold, the newly found favorite café, DWG is quickly becoming the new destination for unique businesses, setting themselves apart from surrounding cities.

The DWG Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council have been working diligently over the past few years to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Setting up the city for future success is the primary objective for the governing bodies. The city is looking to gain more commercial businesses that fit the community such as upscale restaurants, a brewpub and/or beer garden, a winery, boutique hotels, and unique flavors of retail.

The city is willing to entertain small pockets of garden homes to address rising housing needs.

DWG is a fantastic place to do business because the building process is simplified as they have a small staff who work cohesively to keep projects moving to get doors open Photo ence as quickly as possible. For every development meeting, every staff member involved in the process is included to make the process more effective and streamlined for the developer. DWG wants your business, and they aren’t afraid to show it.

The citizenry of DWG is filled with a collective body of friends who work together to ensure that the community is the safest, best place to live in the metroplex. The city is fortunate to have an extraordinary staff and the best tricertified Department of Public Safety in the country. If that was in question, just ask Mayor Bianco.

The city cordially invites you to bring your business ideas and consider making DWG your future home.

The City of Dalworthington Gardens

2600 Roosevelt Drive • 817-275-1234 • cityofdwg.net 26

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Georgie Zang

Zang | Adams Real Estate – Compass

G

eorgie Zang and Jamie Adams founded the Compass affiliate, Zang | Adams Real Estate, with the intention of creating a collaborative environment, where the best DFW Real Estate Agents can come together with the single focus of providing clients with exceptional service.

With over 35 years of Real Estate experience, this team has been able help hundreds of families and businesses in the DFW area find the place where they belong.

Zang has been a longtime resident of Arlington. She is married to Todd Zang, and this year they will celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary.

Todd and Georgie have two daughters and a son in law, “and we are so enjoying our adult kids,” she notes.

As one of the region’s premier Real Estate specialists, Zang has seen her career evolve and grow – in ways even she didn’t imagine when she first began linking “buyers” and “sellers.”

“For me, Real Estate started out as a way to create investments that would help pay for our kids college education and then serve as an avenue for retirement income,” she says.

“And in the process, I came to love the profession and truly enjoy working with others to help them achieve their real estate goals. I have a special fondness for development – seeing the possibilities fuels my passion for real estate. In working with MKG Homes out of Mansfield, I have witnessed first-hand the high level of construction that they have delivered even through challenging supply chains and labor shortages.”

Zang says she counts herself fortunate to have great

mentors and projects, such as Mojy Haddad with Main 7, and Mahdi Dezham with The Vandy (which is projected to open in Fall 2022).

“And stay tuned,” she says. “There’s some special stuff going on around the entertainment district that will really start to take shape over the next few months!”

She says her partnership with Jamie Adams has been nothing short of remarkable and fast moving.

“Over the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to build what I believe is arguably the best group of agents in the business,” Zang says. “Each person on our team has a specialty, spanning from interior design, farm and ranch, and with home transactions that consists of everything from mobile homes to Mansions. Our collaborative approach allowed us to achieve $65.6M in sales volume and to close 129 transactions in 2021, a 380% increase over the previous year.”

More than just real estate, Zang has a passion for helping make Photo: Bobbie Jo Majors Arlington the best it can be.

“There are so many special nuggets about our city, many of which we take for granted,” she says. “We have our very own Mother Theresa in Ms. Tillie [Burgin] and Mission Arlington. We have very passionate leaders that are constantly seeing how they can better serve the community. We have citizens that work tirelessly to be advocates for our police and fire, and we have churches that have come together to create a united front to help our citizens in need. This platform of real estate has allowed me to engage with each of these groups, and I could not be more proud to call Arlington, Texas, my home.”

Zang | Adams Real Estate – Compass

1000 Ballpark Way, #300 • 817-228-8550 • zangadams.com • Georgie@ZangAdams.com arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

27

Julie Short

The Julie Short Team/Coldwell Banker

J

ulie Short’s professional, civic and personal résumé might beg the question: How does one person do all that? The answer, in large part, is because that one person is Julie Short. To wit: On the professional front, Short’s primary title is owner of the Julie Short Team/Codwell Banker, which is a full-service real estate team, proficient at working with sellers and buyers. Last summer, the team earned a “Million Dollar Month Certificate of Achievement” that underscored just how well Short and her fellow real estate professionals connect the two entitites.

Short also leads the marketing efforts for Mansfield Custom Homes, owned by her husband Stoney Short.

You’ve likely seen many of MCH’s showcase dwellings in Arlington Today’s monthly Home SWEET! Home feature.

Since 2018, Short has served on the Mansfield City Council and is chairman of the Council Hotel/Motel Tax Subcommittee. She has also worked with the City Council and staff on the annual Veterans Day Parade & Salute and is frequently a part of projects with the Mansfield Volunteer Program. Her civic involvement includes working with Mansfield Cares, The Caring Place, the MISD Education Foundation, the Historic Landmark Commission and The Christmas Project. She is an active member of Living Church in Mansfield.

Then there’s “family Julie,” who with Stoney has raised seven children and 12 grandchildren. She is also a writer and has published a book, “Cleaning Your House in Minutes a Day,” and she is a regular contributor to The Mansfield Record, a community news online publication.

Regardless of the endeavor, Short embraces a “can do” spirit that has contributed to all the successes. With the Julie Short Team, she and her colleagues are focused on

customer service and on being available to assist their clients, doing whatever is necessary to ensure a satisfying home buying/selling experience. In every sense of the word the Julie Short team is just that – a team.

“If we are listing a house, we have a connection to get it ‘Show Ready’ with any repairs and touch-ups that need to be done,” she says. “We have a wonderful photographer and great inspectors we work with. We have excellent lenders we recommend. When the inspection report comes back, we have a company that coordinates any repairs. If clients purchase a home and want to remodel, we have people for that. We really try to take all the guess work out of the process and take care of as much as the clients are willing to allow.”

Short also embraces a simple philosophy. “I believe in balance in everything and living by the golden rule,” she says.

“I really believe if you will treat others how you Photo: Bobbie Jo Majors would like to be treated, you will never lack for business.”

She says her husband Stoney is a huge inspiration: “He has never let his circumstances or his past hold him back.

He has always had big vision. It used to scare me when he would share all the things he wanted to do because I know the bigger you try, the bigger you can fail. But, I realized that was my own fear holding me back. Over the years, his ability to dream big has given me that same ability, and now I can share that with others. Not trying is the biggest failure any of us can have. DO NOT let fear of failure hold you back!”

The Julie Short Team/Coldwell Banker

3910 W. Interstate 20 • 682-552-4384 • julie@mchtexas.com 28

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Donna J. Smiedt

The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt

D

onna J. Smiedt, principal attorney at The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt and a member of our “Dream Team” of Women in Business on this month’s cover, reflects on what both distinctions mean to her: I was truly humbled to be selected as one of the women representing Arlington on the cover of Arlington Today‘s 100th edition. This experience was imminently more rewarding than I could have possibly imagined. Within a few minutes of meeting the ladies that I would stand proudly beside on the rooftop of our beautiful library overlooking downtown Arlington, I became immediately cognizant of a powerful energy that radiated from each of these remarkable women. I realized that I was suddenly a member of an elite group of passionate and driven females who take the business of promoting Arlington seriously, but accomplish same with an unmatched grace, imagination and strength.

Although we varied in age, profession and the path upon which we had traveled to reach this moment, it was immediately evident that we all shared one distinct feature. All of these women emanate an immense pride in their city and a strong desire to take whatever steps necessary to continuously improve the community for all of its citizens. The devotion to this goal, oftentimes accomplished selflessly, bound us together in that moment in a sisterhood of women warriors intent on making Arlington truly the American Dream City.

My journey has been a long one, spanning two continents and countless hours of work as I endeavored to accomplish my goals. I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and immigrated to the United States with my family when I was 14. I graduated from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas at the age of 15, and thereafter attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science in 1982 I obtained my Juris Doctorate from SMU School of Law in 1985 at the age of 22.

I immediately thereafter hung out my shingle and opened

a solo practice in Dallas, serving clients there for a decade.

Then, on a hot Texas summer day, I met the love of my life, an Arlington resident, and I immediately assimilated into this city. I instantly knew that I was home. The city embraced me.

We bought a beautiful home at Lake Arlington a few days before we departed for our honeymoon. Twenty-seven years later we are still enjoying our friendly, cohesive neighborhood five minutes from my law office.

As we celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary we feel so very blessed to work and live in America’s Dream City. Every endeavor that I undertook, be it serving on the board of the Arlington Animal Shelter, as President of the Arlington Bar Association or the Arlington Business and Professional Women’s Association, I was welcomed and appreciated.

As my law firm achieved the intended goal of providing Arlington with the most superlative family law services tempered with empathy for the sad and difficult reality my clients were experiencing, my bond with Photo: Bobbie Jo Majors the city was further cemented.

As a result of the exceptional leadership of our city council and mayors, Arlington has experienced meteoric growth and prosperity. In turn, our citizens have been rewarded, with myself being no exception. We thrive in an environment that engenders success.

As a result, I and my fellow Women Warriors enjoy giving back to the city that we love. And, Arlington loves us in return.

For we Women Warriors are the heart of Arlington.

I and the ladies spotlighted on the cover of this magazine all share pride in representing the heart of Arlington. It has been inspiring to watch the metamorphosis of Arlington from a small town to a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. I attribute the success of this city to the dedicated public servants who have labored ceaselessly to attain this goal. But what is truly amazing about Arlington, notwithstanding the amazing stature that the city has now accomplished, is that it has never forgotten that it started as a small town between Dallas and Fort Worth.

The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt

3216 W. Arkansas Lane • 817-539-6571 • arlingtondivorces.com arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

29

Tanya D. Merlino

Green Group Advisors, P.C.

T

anya D. Merlino, an owner in Green Group Advisors, P.C. (formerly Charles W. Green, Inc.), has more than 20 years of experience in public accounting and consulting for small, medium and large business. She’s one of the region’s premier Certified Public Accountants, and here’s a big reason why: “I love what I do and the wonderful people that I work with – my clients, my team members and my community,” Merlino says, noting that it’s high time that kind of three-fold passion became a trademark for her profession.

She says many business professionals talk to their CPA once a year at tax time or just don’t like to call them at all. “We have worked hard to develop relationships based on trust and that has helped us develop personal relationships with our clients, as well,” she says. “We tailor our services to our client’s need. Our clients need us to understand their businesses and to advise them on tax, accounting, information systems and banking matters. Our mission is to be business and tax advisors … and we are honored to have that role.”

Two years ago, she had a referral call her and start off the first conversation with, “Calling your CPA is kinda like going to the dentist … a necessary but often painful experience.”

“That really had an impact on me,” Merlino says. “My response: ‘Then you have been calling the wrong CPA.’ That is not the image that I want of our profession. That individual later became a good friend and an excellent client that we work with on a daily basis. We as business advisors need to do a better job of communicating, a better job of building relationships, and a better job of learning about our client’s industry.”

Merlino says her team members are the backbone of Green Group Advisors – and the future of the profession. “We have a brilliant group of individuals with a wide range of capabilities to advise our clients in every aspect of business,” she says. “I am determined to pour into their personal and professional growth. We genuinely enjoy our time in the office every day,

and we are passionate about working together to make sure our client’s needs are met. We work hard and we play hard … and we have fun with it!”

Her motto is “Love what you do!,” which is reflected every day in the client service that the team provides.

Merlino’s passion spans well beyond the office into her community via a fervent commitment to Alliance For Children, where she serves as Board President and is an avid fundraiser and advocate. “As a business owner in this community, I believe that our future workforce is only as strong as this community allows our children to be,” she says. “With the opportunity to heal from abuse, or hopefully never having to experience it at all, our children have the opportunity to grow up to live healthy, productive lives, pursue higher education, and in turn, pour back into this community.”

Three decades ago, Alliance For Children served its first Tarrant County child abuse victim from the Arlington Photo: Bobbie Jo Majors center located on Abram Street. Fast forward to 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when 557 children visited Alliance For Children due to an investigation of child abuse; 441 of those children’s families were served through AFC’s emergency needs program. In that same year, 1,956 Arlington-area children partook in counseling services, ensuring abuse did not define the course of their little lives.

“I am proud of the daily work done at Alliance For Children,” Merlino says. “The efforts by this organization and their dedication to providing free services are tangible and easily witnessed firsthand. Our community is stronger and safer thanks to Alliance For Children.”

While she enjoys serving clients and her community, Merlino’s strongest bond is with her “biggest supporters,” her husband, Dave, and sons, Ben, Luke and AJ. The family members are avid hikers who have conquered 27 of Texas’ 80 state parks. “We are working to hike 22 more parks in 2022,” she says.

They’ll do it, no doubt, with great passion.

Green Group Advisors, P.C.

801 Orthopedic Way • 817-856-2015 • ggapc.cpa 30

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Valerie Landry

The Sanford House Inn & Spa

W

hile a 25th anniversary of any business is bound to be a festive occasion, reaching the quarter-century mark at The Sanford House Inn & Spa promises to be even more. That’s because General Manager Valerie Landry and her stellar team at the venerable inn plan to celebrate by performing 25 acts of kindness in the community throughout the year.

“This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community,” Landry says, “because without this community, we wouldn’t be here.”

Together, she and the team have come up with an impressive list of events and non-profits to support. Plans so far include: • Providing snacks for blood donors at a blood drive organized by The Rotary Club of Arlington; • Gathering books and board games for an upcoming Arlington Public Library Foundation donation drive; • Organizing a “Cones for Cops” event in summer to provide Kona Ice treats for police officers; • Creating hygiene packs for Arlington Life Shelter residents; • Providing coloring books and dental care packs for local kindergarten students at nearby AISD campuses.

And there’s more to come. Landry says to stay tuned to social media and the inn’s website throughout the year for more updates and photos as the events happen. The Sanford House accounts can be found here: Instagram: @thesanfordhouse Facebook: @thesanfordhouseinn Web: thesanfordhouse.com/25-years Landry has been involved with the storied local institution almost as long as she has been around. In fact, she began working there when her grandparents built The Sanford House two and a half decades ago. After college, she moved back to Arlington and began working as the Spa Director and Marketing Director for the company. “Soon after that,” she says, “we remodeled the property to accommodate our restaurant and bar, and I shifted into my current role as General Manager.”

In that role, she will oversee the inn’s grand celebration, which will impact her community, as well as giving visitors to The Sanford House a heightened sense of hospitality, regardless of what portion of the property they visit.

The Sanford House Inn & Spa and Restaurant506 provide a beautiful escape for all who enter. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy fabulous food, luxurious accommodations, and pampering with world-class spa and salon services. The Downtown Arlington location is ideally centered for visitors wanting to settle into the heart of the Metroplex and experience all Arlington has to offer, as well as for locals seeking a change of scenery for a relaxing staycation or a special outing.

“Our mission is to provide tremendous, sincere hospitality to every guest,” says Landry.

Even if you don’t stay in the inn, you can enjoy both the spa and Restaurant506. The former offers full body, facial, and nail services for special occasions or “just because.” Restaurant506 has won Diner’s Choice awards from Open Table each of the past four years and was also honored by Open Table for offering one of the top 100 brunches in the nation.

Spa hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday-Saturday. The restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday-Friday and open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Wednesday-Saturday. Brunch service is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Sanford House also has the capability to host magnificent outdoor events on the Grand Courtyard or smaller intimate social affairs indoors.

Landry says she is devoted to making sure that people who visit The Sanford House – any facet of it – come away not only pleased with their “Sanford House experience” but so enamored that they make a point to return.

“Our passion for customer service is what sets us apart as special,” she says.

The Sanford House Inn & Spa

506 N. Center St. • 817-861-2129 • thesanfordhouse.com arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Dr. Melissa Danchak

Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids

A

n Arlington Today Readers’ Choice All Star for the past six years and an Editor’s Choice winner for the second consecutive year, Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids has been virtually unmatched in achieving its honorable mission of “helping people hear better” – for more than three and a half decades.

We italicize the latter part of that sentence, because it underscores just how consistently important Dr. Melissa Danchak and the team at Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids have been to their patients and to the community since its inception in 1984.

“There are not many audiology practices in the North Texas area that can say they’ve been helping people hear better for over 35 years,” says Dr. Danchak, owner of the practice. “We believe that the hearing health care experience is about making folks feel confident in their decision to address their hearing health care needs first and foremost. We believe our patients feel confident in the services we provide – they know we are walking with them on their journey to better hearing!”

Dr. Danchak began working at Kos/Danchak Audiology in 1997 and purchased the practice a few years later.

With decades of experience helping those with hearing challenges in the Arlington and surrounding communities, Dr. Danchak’s passion for providing unparalleled care and service for her patients is on full display with the hundreds of online reviews they have been sharing for years.

While her formal education gave her the book knowledge needed to become an audiologist, Dr. Danchak certainly believes that learning is a lifelong process.

“Like any small business, we experience change,

adversity, success, and a whole host of other ‘stuff’ on a regular basis,” she says. “We try to learn, every day. We evaluate how we help people, and we try to make the hearing health care experience better for the people that we meet with each day. Our goal is for each person to have a better experience with us every time they visit.

The fact that we have thousands of patients that have been trusting us with their hearing needs for 10 and 15 years tells us that we are doing a good job of providing a positive experience for our 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. We see it when a spouse or child experiences the feeling of being able to communicate again without raising their voice or repeating themselves. Patients and their families share with us that their investment in better hearing, and us, has changed their lives. It’s not always easy for people to admit that they have hearing loss or that they need hearing aids. We know we make a difference in people’s lives because so many of the new patients we meet each day are referrals from current patients that we have been helping for years! It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids

101 W. Randol Mill Road, Suite 100 • 800-277-7039 • northtxhearing.com 32

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Vicki Hafer & Cindy Salter Curnutt & Hafer, LLP

W

hen Vicki Hafer and Cindy Salter, attorneys at Curnutt & Hafer, LLP, arrive at their downtown Arlington office each Monday morning, they start their week together with a cup of hot tea, a quick chat, and a short but heartfelt prayer. Practicing law can be challenging and stressful, so maintaining balance and keeping perspective is key. They love what they do – serving their clients and their community.

Vicki was named a 2021 Top Attorney in Family Law and has also received this distinction for many prior years. Practicing with compassionate advocacy, she and her team handle divorce and custody disputes, as well as grandparent access cases, enforcement matters, protective orders, and adoptions. For over a decade, Vicki has been an integral part of the Curnutt & Hafer Vicki Hafer team. She earned her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1994.

When she’s not at the firm or in court, Vicki is actively involved in the community. She was recently recognized with the Girls’ Inc of Tarrant County’s Bold Woman Award. Among other projects, she serves on the Levitt Pavilion – Arlington Board of Directors as their Committee Chair for Board Governance and Development. She is a member of Women Inspiring Philanthropy and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Arlington, where she has held numerous leadership positions. Vicki is a member of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Women’s Alliance.

Cindy is one of the newest additions to the Curnutt & Hafer legal team, joining them as Senior Counsel/Business

Development. She divides her time between personal injury litigation and business development. She began her career as a litigator in Pennsylvania and in her home state of New Jersey, trying personal injury and wrongful death cases.

When she relocated to Texas, she practiced in Dallas and then embarked on other professional endeavors, including most recently as an entrepreneur launching Arlington’s Salter Bros.

Coffee Roasters. When she sold that business, she knew it was time to return to her roots of practicing law – but also desired to maintain her business development and marketing skills honed as an entrepreneur.

Cindy earned her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law - Camden in 1988.

Like Vicki, Cindy believes in the power of volunteerism.

She serves on the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation and River Legacy Foundation Cindy Salter boards of directors and is a member of the Leadership Arlington Class of 2020. She is actively engaged in the Arlington Chamber, including the Women’s Alliance Advisory Board and Inspired Women Luncheon Committee, the Membership Experience Council, and the Veterans Affairs Council Allies.

Curnutt & Hafer is a “Go to” Litigation firm in the Fortune 500 List of Attorneys, offering know-how, experience, and results. Practice areas include business formation and litigation, personal injury and death, family law, wills and probate, and oil and gas. Curnutt & Hafer takes on complex and serious cases by following three core values: Seek Bottom Line Results; Serve with Excellence; Do the Right Thing.

To learn more, visit www.CurnuttHafer.com

Curnutt & Hafer, LLP

301 W. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76010 • 817-548-1000 • CurnuttHafer.com VHafer@CurnuttHafer.com • CSalter@CurnuttHafer.com arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

33

Brenda Cureton-Hunt Great Skin Spa & Facial Club

B

renda Cureton-Hunt, owner of Great Skin Spa & Facial Club, began her career in the skin care and beauty business more than 16 years ago as the first U.S. franchisee of Canadian-based Faces cosmetics.

Taking that experience, she founded Great Skin Spa & Facial Club in Arlington, and the company has continued to grow and gain notoriety as an exceptional day spa and skin care provider.

A major key to that success is that Cureton-Hunt and her team listen to learn what their women clients want and need – and they create solutions for each individual skin situation.

For example ...

At Great Skin she not only shares her experience in creating and maintaining beautiful skin via state-of-theindustry technology Brenda Cureton-Hunt, and products; she also owner of eight-time Arlington Today Readers’ has championed the Choice All Star Great Skin Spa & Facial Club, came practice of receiving to the Metroplex from professional spa services Wisconsin when she was recruited to work for the as part of personal care, Dallas Morning News. The as opposed to a special Arlington resident has been a Texan for the past occasional visit or gift 26 years. due to affordability.

Great Skin Facial Club members receive a wide range of treatment options at the spa, as well as guidance and products they can use at home to maintain fresh, youthful-looking skin between visits.

“I developed the concept of Great Skin based on the goals of the thousands of clients wanting to have more beautiful skin and manage the signs of aging skin through treatments, knowledge and skin care,” CuretonHunt says.

As a result, Great Skin offers a full line of awardwinning skin care products for anti-aging, acne, hyperpigmentation and general skin care, as well as skin and body care.

As adept as Great Skin is at caring for women, the spa is also ideal for men wanting to look younger and take care of their skin and for teens wanting to treat and control acne and learn how to take care of their skin.

To that end, Great Skin routinely offers evolving services that include microneedling, non-needle lip plumping and enhancement, non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifting and contouring, cellulite and fat melting treatments, along with body contouring, foot detoxing and an extensive line of skin and body care.

Cureton-Hunt also offers “Hemp Healing Cream” for skin and body care to pay homage to her mother, Mattie, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s. GS is also known for its instant slimming treatments, and it now offers @ accept care, which is a credit card for health & beauty.

The comprehensive approach Great Skin takes to caring for clients was evidenced early into the pandemic, when the spa became a model business for how to implement safety measures. It still follows operating principals of disease control to keep clients and staff safe and healthy.

“Also,” Cureton-Hunt notes, “we specialize in treating every skin type, tone and texture with excellent results from knowledge, education and experience. It’s about partnership at Great Skin. Our slogan is ‘Relax, Rewind, Renew!’”

Customers rave about the calming and happy atmosphere, services, results and knowledge of staff – as one review noted, Great Skin Spa & Facial Club is “A gem in Arlington!”

Great Skin Spa & Facial Club

3851 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-478-2114 • greatskin4you.com 34

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Reba Blevens Media Matrix

A

s the owner of Media Matrix, Reba Blevens specializes in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, including Media Buying and Planning, Marketing Strategies and Production Services, including print, radio and television. In other words, if you have a product/service/brand you think the public needs to know about, Blevens not only will help you spread the word – she will get people excited to hear it.

“I love the creative process,” she says. “No two days are alike.”

As much as she enjoys her job, it’s just one facet of what makes Reba, Reba. In fact, she’s generally as busy outside the office serving in her community as she is at work.

“I love my life,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed a great deal of success.

I believe when our lives are blessed, it is our responsibility to bless the lives of others. You get what you give.”

To that end, Blevens supports Alliance for Children, serving as co-chair for “The Great Conversation Dinner” in Fort Worth in 2015 with Elizabeth Smart as the keynote and in 2016 with Charles Haley as the keynote. The money raised for those events support the ongoing efforts to fight child abuse and increase awareness in Tarrant County.

She credits friend, mentor and civic activist Jerry McCullough for her participation in Mission Arlington Basketball & Baseball Camps supporting underprivileged children with an opportunity to learn basic skills in sports and the Salvation Army Family Life Center Advisory Council supporting the families living in the FLC with basic necessities, financial support, fund raising events.

She has become a regular Salvation Army Red Kettle “Bell Ringer,” something that was “far from my comfort zone when I agreed to help.” After the first year, she personally witnessed families with so little willing to share what they had with those less fortunate. “My heart was grateful for the

gifts I saw in giving from those with so little to give,” she says.

“This experience truly captures the spirit of our community. I actually look forward to it today!”

She is also active with the Arlington ISD Education Foundation, serving as President this year. “This foundation serves the public school students of Arlington through fulfilling extraordinary needs and initiatives,” she says. “This is a particularly challenging year with online learning and the specific needs created by this challenge. We’ve also had to be extremely creative in fundraising initiatives with a comedy show and virtual bingo. We’re hopeful this event will allow us to generate the much needed funds to assist the teachers and students in Arlington.”

Blevens says much of her professional and civic success is rooted in a number of inspirations, starting with the noted automobile magnates, the Moritz family.

“I have worked for them since 1996,” she notes. “I was fortunate to be involved in some of their philanthropic endeavors.

I saw the difference they made in our community. I respect and admire them.”

She also credits the aforementioned McCullough, who was her ninth grade history teacher at Ferguson Junior High 50 years ago. “It was his first year to teach, and he wanted every single student to be successful,” she recalls. “I am inspired by his tireless efforts (along with his wife, Becky) to make Arlington a better place. They have touched me and challenged me to go beyond my ‘comfort zone’ to help the less fortunate in our community.”

She’s also very partial to the family of former Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. “Jeff and his wife Karen have been personal friends for years,” she says. “I am amazed at the work and dedication this family has given to our city.”

Ultimately, she says, she has become a benefactor because she was able to be a beneficiary: “These people have all shown me the impact we can have and the difference we can make in the lives of the people around us.”

Media Matrix

6210 Ken Ave. • 817-925-7141 arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Rebecca Baker

Bex Laser Aesthetix

A

two-time member of Arlington Today’s Readers’ Choice All Star team, Bex Laser Aesthetix offers an array of services and products that help patients look and feel their best.

Rebecca Baker, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is the owner and founder of Bex Laser Aesthetix, which opened in April of 2016.

She specializes in resurfacing, injectables, laser hair removal, body contouring and total body wellness.

The practice also carries professional skin care products designed to keep your skin young and vibrant.

Rebecca got her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1998 and has more than 20 years as an RN in different fields, including operating room, critical care, cardiac care, chronic pain management, and, for the last five years, medical aesthetics.

She graduated in 2019 from the UTA masters in family nurse practitioner program and added family practice to her list of offerings at the end of that year.

At Bex Laser Aesthetix, 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.

Rebecca is very thorough in her education of patients, explaining how and why she does what she does. The patient leaves knowing much more about how to make the best of his or her skin and body health in and outside of the office.

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

Wanna Banthupong Simply Burgers and R’Haan Thai Cuisine

I

f you’ve visited Simply Burgers in the past (almost) 30 years or stopped by for dinner at Arlington’s newest Thai restaurant, R’Haan Thai Cuisine, you’ve probably met the owner Wanna Banthupong.

Wanna, along with her husband Surat, have always wanted to provide Arlington and surrounding communities with phenomenal food and service in a casual environment and at reasonable price points. A visit to one of their locations on any day will find them behind the counter ready to greet and serve!

After emigrating to the U.S. from Bangkok, Thailand, where she taught English in a local college, she worked in the kitchen of a local restaurant before eventually finding a job as a secretary at Rediffusion (a multinational corporation involved in manufacturing flight simulators which has since been renamed).

Inspired by her father, a businessman in Thailand who was himself an immigrant from mainland China, Wanna decided to take a leap of faith and in 1993 opened her own burger restaurant, Simply Burgers.

What started as a single mom-and-pop location eventually grew to multiple locations in the Arlington, Mansfield, and Fort Worth area. In early 2021, with the lease on the Arlington location nearing its end, a new idea was starting to take root. A complete overhaul of the restaurant interior was soon underway and by August, The doors to R’Haan Thai Cuisine were open.

Although you will find Wanna in the restaurants six days a week, her biggest passion is spending time with her family, especially her three grandsons! Stop by Simply Burgers or R’Haan Thai Cuisine soon and meet Wanna!

Simply Burgers

Locations in Arlington, Mansfield & Fort Worth facebook.com/pages/Simply-Burgers-More/108108215898302

R’Haan Thai Cuisine

Bex Laser Aesthetix

103 S. Mesquite St., Suite B • 682-227-6110 • bexme.net 36

2500 N. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-795-9188 facebook.com/rhaanthaicuisine

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

WILDFIRE AND LACE Modern Boutique

103 S. Mesquite Street, Suite A Arlington Tx 76010

PHONE: 682.323.5400 | Info@wildfirelace.com @wildfirelaceboutique

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Pepper Crary

Show Me the Monet Gallery of Fine Art

P

epper Crary is the owner of Show Me the Monet Gallery of Fine Art, located at Gracie Lane in south Arlington. Per Crary, it’s “a place for local artists to show/sell their work, to host workshops and to hang out together and share our ideas with one another.”

Of course, for Crary, it is even more than that.

“The Gallery is affectionately called my ‘Toy Box,’” she says.

“It’s a Gallery filled with everything I love, most importantly the people that come through the Gallery. It brightens my day when my customers share their decorating ideas and seek ideas for their homes.”

The Gallery carries many high-end boutique gift items, for many occasions. And one of its better draws is the fact that it is a place for local artists to engage with other local artists.

“Because they are local, we offer workshops taught by our artists,” Crary says. “Our customers enjoy taking art classes and making new friends. I love my artists; these are creative Giants that work hard at their craft to create the beautiful surroundings that you enjoy everyday.”

Crary says that being born with a love of art has caused her not to get enough of it.

“My career in sales took me all over the country and all over the world,” she says. “I never met a city whose museums I haven’t stepped foot in. Creativity is my strength in all that I do: cooking, painting, decorating, or just designing a space. When my love of art couldn’t afford my taste in art, I set out to start painting my own work, which led me to join a local art association.”

She quickly discovered that her community has great artists who are diligent at their craft. “They needed a place to hang art,” she says. “One day Teresa Burda of Gracie Lane asked me to join them at Gracie Lane and help with art workshops, in exchange for doing workshops we could hang art. The rest is history. The Gallery and I have been blessed to be serving our wonderful customers for over two years.”

Show Me the Monet Gallery of Fine Art 4720 S. Cooper St. • 817-313-6327 • pepcrary@att.net 38

The Uncluttered Life® Professional Organizing

T

he Uncluttered Life®, founded in 2019, is a professional in-home, as well as online subscription-based organizing company. Founded in Orange County, Calif., The Uncluttered Life® has recently made its new home in the DFW area.

“Our family was growing,” say The Uncluttered Life® cofounders, “and we wanted the newer generation to grow up surrounded by love and family.” Three generations now live within a fiveminute walking distance of one another.

The Uncluttered Life® cofounders, Cathy and Danica, are a mother-daughter organizing duo who were on the de-clutter bandwagon long before “Spark Joy” was a household phrase. Cathy is one of only 50 people worldwide to hold a Master Level Certification in Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method® of organization.

When Danica is asked how long she has been organizing, she jokingly replies, “My entire life! When your mom is one of the most organized people on the planet, your training begins at birth.”

All joking aside, Danica, a young mother, understands the chaos of having young children. “I am very sensitive to clutter, especially now that I am a mom,” she says.

“Motherhood has really honed my organizing skills! I’m all about a quick cleanup and easy maintenance, which good organization makes possible.”

What makes The Uncluttered Life® so unique is that between the two co-founders, Cathy and Danica understand organizing needs at all different stages of life.

“Your needs change continuously,” Cathy says. “You have to make your home reflect the stage of life you’re in or your home will never be functional.”

At the core of their philosophy, they believe that your home should reflect who you are now, rather than who you used to be, or hope to be someday. People are so much happier when their space functions well, and that’s what they strive to provide for their clients.

“It may sound silly, but good organization and a functional system really do change people’s lives,” they say. You can book a free 30-minute, online consultation to evaluate your organization needs for clutter-free living at theunclutteredlife.com.

The Uncluttered Life®

theunclutteredlife.com • Instagram: @the_uncluttered_life

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

LaVonne N. Singleton

469.350.8678

Thursday March 17th

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Jaime Jordan

Carla Sue Worley

W

W

RJ Construction

Spinning Spaces

hile Jaime Jordan’s Arlington business affiliation is defined as Vice President of RJ Construction’s DFW operation, that title merely scratches the surface on the commercial enterprises with which she is associated. At Acclaim Physician Group, John Peter Smith Hospital, she is a women’s nurse practitioner.

Meanwhile, she also is the owner of RJ Construction’s Kansas City branch.

“My wife is a superwoman,” says Robert Jordan, for whom RJ Construction is named.

In addition to holding three jobs, Jaime joins Robert to head a vibrant family that includes sons Kaleb and Walker and dogs Clifford, T-bone and Ruby, and she makes sure to give back – and take leadership roles – in her beloved hometown.

“Family ... community ... leadership. These three tenets are most important to me,” she says.

Jaime was raised in Arlington, graduated from the Arlington High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University. She then earned her Master of Science of Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner from Texas Woman’s University. She has pursued her passion for helping women in the Tarrant County community for 24 years in both private practice and public hospitals.

It has been important to Jaime to follow in the leadership footsteps of her parents, Murray and Linda Taylor. “My dad inspired me to do better, be better and to believe I was capable of anything,” Jaime says. “My mama is a superwoman [Apparently, it runs in the family]. She showed me it is possible to raise a family, get an education and maintain a career, simultaneously.”

In 2010, Jaime joined forces with Robert and ventured into a, mostly, male-dominated industry: roofing. She quickly learned that her well-honed leadership skills transcended professions and became part of the National Women in Roofing organization.

“Passion for helping others doesn’t change, regardless of what profession I choose,” she says. “We are helpers. RJ gives back to the community in which I was raised. It is very important to me, my family and our employees. I live here.

My employees live here. My family has three generations that have been raised here. I take pride in helping my people.”

hen you first meet Carla Sue, you notice her enthusiasm, quick-wit, and bling! Her personality is as sparkly as her shoes, but pales in comparison to her entrepreneurial genius.

You may know Carla Sue from her other business, CS Preferred Solutions (helping residential & commercial customers lower their electricity bills).

The vision for her new business started because she had acquired a large collection of shoes, clothes, and accessories over the years and was running out of space.

There had to be a better way to organize and still be able to access everything easily, so her search began and Spinning Spaces emerged …

Do you need to organize 400 pairs of shoes? She’s got you! A unit that holds shirts, pants and shoes? She’s on it! A spinning pantry for your kitchen? She can cook up a design for you! How about a spinning space saver for the laundry room or kid’s bedroom? Easy! What about a craft unit, a hunting/fishing unit, a sporting goods unit, a garage unit, or a beautiful wine rack? YES, she can make it happen!

Spinning Spaces offers rotating closets that use a 360° turning mechanism and are custom built for whatever you need! Not only do these spinning spaces work great IN a closet, you can use them to create a custom storage space anywhere!

Carla Sue is passionate about helping others and gives the same commitment to Spinning Spaces and her Electricity business as she does to her community and family.

Finding the time to run multiple businesses can be challenging, but she finds great joy in helping and blessing her customers. “I have an INCREDIBLE team! We do math and electricity in the mornings for CS Preferred, and then we get to utilize our creative side for Spinning Spaces the rest of the time.”

Just head to their showroom in Lincoln Square and meet Carla Sue- she’ll make you feel like you’re part of her family, and she’ll customize the experience to help your CLOSET dreams come true!

Spinning Spaces, Closet & Storage Solutions

RJ Construction

2640 Corzine Dr. • 817-412-9899 • rj-construction.com 40

780 E, Road To Six Flags St. #262 in Lincoln Square spinningspaces.com

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Linda Magazzine 817-980-8733

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UTA Today

T

he global COVID-19 pandemic street economy. We resulted in at least one positive want to help support change: a marked increase in future sustainable walking and cycling in many development in a cities around the world, according to the sprawled metropolitan United Nations. area – context that That’s true here at home, too, as a could serve as a model 2020 North Central Texas Council of for other car-centric Governments study reported a 70% cities.” increase in walking and bicycling on Jeong said U.N. and Dallas-Fort Worth trails.

North Central Texas The University of Texas at Arlington’s Council of Hyesun Jeong is working on a plan to Governments statistics map future “green” infrastructure in offer insight and an the Dallas-Fort Worth area to support opportunity to tailor Hyesun Jeong is working on this growth in walking and cycling. plans that can promote a plan to map future “green” Funded by the American Institute of walking and biking infrastructure in the Dallas-Fort Architects’ Upjohn Research Initiative, across the region.

Worth area to support recent the project is titled “The Future of Green “We will also take growth in walking and cycling.

Infrastructure: Measuring and Designing criteria like density, the Built Environment for Pedestrian and building features, land Bicycle Activities in Dallas-Fort Worth.” use, street connectivity Jeong, assistant professor of architecture in and access to transit to study the College of Architecture, Planning and Public how they are associated with Affairs (CAPPA), specializes in bridging walking and biking architecture and social science and in developing activities,” she says. sustainable, pedestrian-oriented options that Collaborators include engage a variety of disciplinary approaches to Meghna Tare, UTA chief promote the economic and cultural growth of sustainability officer; cities.

Matthew Ables, a planner “We will use this project to help lessen with the Arup Group; Brian climate change through changes in Hammersley of Hammersley infrastructure,” she says. “We’ll analyze existing Architecture; and Lawrence A UTA researcher is walking and cycling activities in the trails of Agu, a planner with the city trying to turn healthy Dallas-Fort Worth and initiate design strategies of Dallas. choices made during the for green infrastructure that improve mobility CAPPA interim dean Maria and stormwater management by reusing vacant Martinez-Cosio says Jeong’s pandemic even healthier lots and empty strip malls.” work could serve the DFW •By Herb Booth Green infrastructure aims to solve urban and region well. climatic challenges within an existing ecological “This award from one of system. This could mean establishing or using the most prestigious existing creeks, soils and ponds instead of stormwater and architectural organizations in the U.S. will help Dr. Jeong sewer runoff systems, so-called grey infrastructure. and her collaborators continue to make an impact in helping “We hope to help people understand the importance of to create healthy, sustainable and livable communities that green infrastructure,” Jeong says. “About 35% of land in improve DFW residents’ quality of life,” Martinez-Cosio says.

Dallas is covered by impervious surfaces like parking lots “What the project envisions is a healthier, more walkable, and highways. This makes streets unwalkable and too hot in better ecological region. North Texas and other metropolitan the summer and has impacts on both public health and the areas could certainly use that.”

HEEDING A CALL

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ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Making History

We’ve got you COVERED! This month, thanks to a host of loyal readers and the best advertisers in all the land, Arlington Today magazine marks 100 issues of celebrating this great community

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arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Behind the Wheels

SPOTLIGHTING CLASSICS FROM THE FIRST 100 ISSUES

T

Adlai Pennington 1949 Packard

Bill & Jean Jewell 1930 Franklin Airman Club Sedan

Wayne Wilshire 1954 Chevrolet Pickup

Bob Woods 1966 Ford GT40

Mike Ames 1934 Cadillac

Mel and Jane McDonald 1911 Cadillac Touring

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ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

he original idea to celebrate our 100th anniversary of featuring amazing cars on these pages was to choose that one special vehicle from previous issues that stood out among all the rest. It turned out that there was just no way to elevate any one of them to a position of “best ever” or some other form of exalted standing among all the rest.

Obviously, every one of them deserved to be chosen, otherwise they would not have appeared on these pages to tell their stories because all of them had their own reasons to believe they were set aside for recognition.

Instead, we’ve chosen the ones you see this month as representative of all the rest. Still, any selection of some among them all is a daunting assignment. Any of the previous featured vehicles could just as well have been picked, so we did this sort of randomly with the goal of achieving a cross section of models, ranging from the earliest to the latest spanning the first seven decades of the past century.

Since we’ve written complete stories and included photos of every car from all angles inside and out, we used just the feature photo of each here as a reminder of how extraordinary the world of collecting classic cars has become.

I hope you will enjoy the look back as much as we at Arlington Today have done in putting this together for our anniversary issue.

Charles Eller 1948 Lincoln Continental

Joy Ames 1934 Packard Twelve Phaeton

Dennis Brown 1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe

Robert Massengale 1916 Pierce Arrow

John Lee 1932 Alfa Romero Touring Roadster

Gary Daley 1977 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28

Jim Maibach 1965 Corvette Sting Ray Sandy Rose 1909 Sears Motor Buggy

Pat Conner 1934 Ford

Rick and Aaron Logsdon 1910 Buick Model 16 arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

47

WE’VE ALSO FEATURED THE PROVERBIAL ‘MORE’

Sandy Rose 1914 Buick B24

Michael Brown Michael’s Corvette Collections

Bugatti of the Lake – Remains of 1925 Bugatti Brescia Roadster

Mike Ames 1933 V16 Cadillac

Jeff and Karina Cassell 1939 Ford Deluxe Woody Concours Collage – 2017 Concours d’Elegance of Texas

Shawn Coady 1902 Indian Motorcycle Robert Massengale 1927 Ford Model T Touring

Brian Greene and Carl Meredith 1955 Buick Special

Lee & Rhonda Jackson 1928 Cadillac Phaeton

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ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

Great food. Great atmosphere. Great Service.

Come in and try these Thai favorites: Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mow), Salmon Curry, Garlic Prawns, and of course, Pad Thai.

Dine-In and Take-Out orders

Large parties, celebrations, and other events are always welcome.

Lunch is served from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner is served from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. BYOB! 2500 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-795-9188 facebook.com/rhaanthaicuisine arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

49

Local Dwellings

Featured May 2019

HOME SWEET! HOME

Celebrating some great looks in some great houses featured over the past 100 issues

EXTERIORS

O

ver the past 100 issues, we’ve been privileged to visit magnificent homes located throughout the Arlington/Mansfield/Grand Prairie region.

Some were huge, others not so much, but the common thread that has run through the Home SWEET!

Home series is the inspiration that drove the builders and dwellers to craft abodes of distinction.

From the view from above to every nook and cranny within, these houses possess unique combinations of comfort and style, and it was always our hope that our readers not only might appreciate what they’re seeing

but might also be able to adapt in their own dwellings some of the design ideas and ideals depicted.

This month, we look back at more than a dozen of just such concepts, which have been featured regularly since we began publishing the magazine in 2013. These are, indeed, some “sweet!” homes.

Featured Nov.-Dec. 2013

Featured January 2015

Featured April 2018

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LIVING AREAS

Featured July 2017

Featured June 2019

Featured November 2021

DINING AREAS

Featured October 2014

Featured May 2017

Featured January 2022

KITCHENS

Featured May 2014

Featured March 2015

Featured November 2015

BEDROOMS

Featured October 2015

Featured January 2016

Featured October 2017

BATHROOMS

Featured May 2016

Featured September 2018

Featured January 2020

arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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And, now, a word from our sponsors Some of our loyal readers and advertisers help us celebrate this milestone issue “ARLINGTON TODAY is a beacon of information for our city and the surrounding areas. The Sanford House and Women’s Health Services have been proud supporters of this publication almost from its inception. The results we have seen in our overall increase in profile and name recognition have increased exponentially since we started advertising here. The magazine not only provides unique and thoughtful advertising opportunities, it also has an abundance of current information about our community.

Every month they spotlight current events, new venues and upcoming happenings that are significant in Arlington. The AT staff is clearly supportive of businesses with their diligence to know the people behind the businesses and brands. They offer regular articles within the framework of the magazine which enhance the expenses that companies pay for advertising costs.

Yale Youngblood, Editor Extraordinaire, writes regular articles that are pertinent to the monthly theme and adds special interest from his unique perspective. I would give a shout out to Debbie Roach, the Sales Manager (and lucky us, our representative), who is always on top of upcoming issues and always offers options to enhance our businesses.

The magazine has regular, interesting contributions from our former Mayor, Richard Greene. Executive Publisher and former City Council representative, Judy Rupay, makes a special effort to not only visit our establishment, but regularly bring new guests and visitors. Judy has devoted her boundless energy to building and supporting Arlington throughout her time in our city and continues to do so with AT. I would say that the team that produces and delivers Arlington Today reflects the passion that they have, not only for our city, but for all the people who make up the businesses that are part of our community.

These personal “touches” are only a few of the extras that make Arlington Today one of the best promoters of our wonderful city. Here’s to reaching a milestone of publishing their 100th issue of Arlington Today! I’m looking forward to being part of the next 100 as well!”

Joan Bergstrom, MD Owner of The Sanford House Inn and Spa Founder of Women’s Health Services “SINCE WE received the first copy of Arlington Today we have bee so pleased with each issue! If we call for coverage, we get it. Arlington Today has been there for any and all our publicity needs.”

So proud of our hometown magazine, Arlington Today!!!”

Geraldine Mills, Director, Arlington Historical Society “CONGRATULATIONS, Arlington Today, on the 100th edition!

This sentiment comes with great appreciation for this positive, professional publication which consistently features local faces, local businesses and local places. What a gift the magazine is to its readers and to the local charities it sponsors. Thank you for sharing upcoming events and ways readers can support worthy causes.

Congratulations and many thanks to Judy Rupay, Richard Greene, Yale Youngblood and the entire Arlington Today team! Your commitment to Arlington resonates through the pages of the magazine.

If you love Arlington, you can’t help but love Arlington Today magazine!”

Brandee Kelley, Owner, Brandee Kelley Group “AS A PAST ARLINGTON RESIDENT and now working in Arlington at Arlington Charities, the foodbank for those in desperate need of food, I am happy to see that there is a publication that tells the Arlington story again. It has been many years that Arlington has had its own 52

publication.100 editions! Time goes by so fast, especially writing about a city that has grown nationally so fast.

I love reading about the different areas, some new and the old ones that have grown and have remained the same as when I lived here. The stories about the individuals I have known and all the new blood that are making this city great are wonderful. The publisher Judy Rupay and her staff have done a wonderful job including every aspect of the city. A pleasure to read.

As someone who works with a nonprofit, I must say that Arlington Today Magazine has been and is a huge supporter of our cause. They have been very generous in writing about what we do, supporting our events and giving me insight into what we need to do to get our information out to the public.

They are not just a “magazine”, they are supporters. I thank them for that.

Congratulations on “100” and to many more to come.

Penny Rowell Development Director, Arlington Charities “I RELY ON ARLINGTON TODAY to deliver results for my clients.

I place ads in this publication because I’m confident that it targets our community effectively and efficiently.”

Reba Blevens, Owner, Media Matrix “ARLINGTON TODAY has been the heartbeat of the Arlington and Mansfield community since its inception 100 issues ago. Judy Rupay and her dedicated team are fully invested in the success of Arlington, and Arlington Today has been her way to give back to the community and help it grow at the same time. I love how she gets to know her advertisers and works hand-in-hand with Ad Agencies like mine. I’m always happy to recommend Arlington Today to my clients because they’ll always get more than just an ad, they’ll get someone who considers them a partner both in their success and the success of Arlington.”

Alice Cantu, Owner, BlueRock Marketing “CONGRATULATIONS on the 100th issue! We always look forward to reading the magazine every month! The staff has been extremely friendly and helpful and always getting our ads pulled together quickly.”

Teresa Burda, Owner, Gracie Lane “THE ARLINGTON TODAY MAGAZINE has been a staple of our community for many years, and I am proud to have been a supporter throughout my career. Personally, and professionally, I have developed a strong relationship with the folks at the magazine. I admire their continued commitment toward fostering a community of dedicated, charitable, and hardworking individuals and I applaud the magazine for supporting and highlighting local businesses in the Arlington/Mansfield area.

I take solace in knowing that when I partner with Arlington Today, I am partnering with like-minded individuals who take as much pride in our community as I do. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Arlington Today Magazine. Thank you for all you have done for Arlington/ Mansfield and cheers to your continued success!

State Rep. David L. Cook “IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE that Arlington Today isn’t 15 or 20 years old, as it seems like such a main stay for our community for the last 8 and a half years. What I like about the magazine is that it is very comprehensive in delivering interesting stories about the business community and our social community, covering them equally. A very balanced update monthly about

ARLINGTON TODAY • March 2022 • arlingtontoday.com

the Greater Arlington area, including Mansfield, Kennedale, DWG, and Pantego happenings. I really enjoy the stories about the businesses, the people, and the events that are happening, or are about to happen.

The seasoned staff of writers and Editors and history you have at the helm of the publication, starting with Judy Rupay, Richard Greene, and Yale Youngblood bring so much great history to the coverage that I look forward to reading the magazine every month.

“As an occasional advertiser I see the benefits of placing stories and advertisements in the publication to let the community know that I am proud to be a citizen and a businessman in our great city of Arlington. In that vein, I have been lucky enough to have been appointed by my friends and fellow Chamber members to be the 2022 Chairman of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. With that responsibility, I’m getting out to every meeting and event that promotes our Businesses and our Community, as a whole, to be a great place to live, work and play.

With a great publication our community gets to read about all the good things in life we are blessed with around Arlington Today!” (Yes, that’s a play on words.)

Jim Maibach, Owner, Peyco Southwest Real Estate “ARLINGTON TODAY has shared so many of the great neighborhood, civic and business stories and the events that are happening in our community. I am appreciative of the magazine’s time and attention over the years to help spread the word and keep residents informed about what’s happening in our city.

Having a magazine that carries the city’s name in the masthead is also very meaningful. To me, it shows that Arlington is growing up. It’s no longer a smaller, growing city — but it’s a mature city with publications that are dedicated to covering what is going on in our city.

I’ve lived in Arlington since 1985 and I’m keenly interested in Arlington-specific stories about the people, places, and businesses and things you can find here. It’s great to be able to read about our small businesses and about our citizens’ American dream stories.

These are stories that need to be told. Arlington Today fills that void and really helps people identify with their city and build pride in what is going on here.”

Trey Yelverton, Arlington City Manager

817-277-3131

“MY ARLINGTON TODAY ... In this modern world I am thankful for Arlington Today creating a magazine I can hold in my hands and learn about my community. Confession, I always turn to the Scene section first to see if I know anyone in the photos! Community means so much more than where you live. To me community is people with which you have something in common. In this day and time when so many point out our differences, I believe this publication is helping us see our community and what we have in common, in all the best ways possible.

Serving on the Mansfield City Council gives me a front row seat to what is going on in and around our area. I am so proud of so many things that are happening in our area to promote our citizens and working together. Our neighboring communities inspire us and challenge us to do better and achieve more. That is what good friends do, help you rise up to the next level.

I am also so excited to see the growth in our North Texas region. As a Realtor, I have had the opportunity to help so many families that are coming to our Metroplex for a better life and more opportunities. As we continue to grow and welcome our new friends with open arms, I look forward to learning and exploring better ways to serve my clients. I love this area and I know that comes across effortlessly as I live, work and play in this community.”

Julie Short, The Julie Short Team/Coldwell Banker arlingtontoday.com • March 2022 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Mainly Mansfield

STEAKING ITS CLAIM The largest-ever Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House will be constructed in Mansfield and is scheduled to open in early 2023

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he largest Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House ever built will soon be built in Mansfield.

The popular restaurant corporation is set Mansfield’s Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House will be part of a Texas-based, family to open an 8,000 square-foot location in owned enterprise that will bring its trademark steaks, chicken, seafood, burgers, Mansfield at 1101 N. Holland Road, near Vernon cold beer, famous margaritas and friendly smiles to its new home.

Newsom Stadium.

The new Hoffbrau will have a 6,000 square-foot restaurant & Grill House with his family. “We are family-owned and building, 2,000 square feet of air-conditioned patio space and a operated restaurants founded in 1978 that serve quality steaks, parking lot with more than 100 spaces. The family-owned and chicken, seafood and burgers, cold beer, famous margaritas and operated Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House currently has locations friendly smiles. We look forward to sharing our tried-and-true, in Benbrook, Haltom City, Granbury and Amarillo. made-from-scratch recipes, along with Certified Angus Beef“Our family is excited to offer our Hoffbrau Steak & Grill brand steaks. Our family is excited for our expanded indoor/ House restaurant to the welcoming community of Mansfield,” outdoor patio-bar and dining, and to welcome guests from says Aron Fogiel, who owns and operates Hoffbrau Steak Mansfield and its surrounding areas.”

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St. Patrick’s Day

IT’S BA-AAACK!

Mansfield’s Pickle Parade & Palooza will return to the scene on March 18-19

A

highlighting a musical slate that races, a cornhole tournament, fun fter a pandemic-induced touches practically every genre and runs, food and retail vendors, and hiatus, Mansfield’s taste. an appearance by the legendary popular Pickle Parade & This unique, Mansfield-riffic party Pickle Queens. This year, the event Palooza will return on started with a parade in 2012. The will also have the Dallas Cowboys March 18-19. The 11th celebration of stars of the show, the Pickle Queens, cheerleaders, who will pose for the world’s only St. Paddy’s pickle ride the final floats in the parade, but pictures and lend vocal support to parade is part of a host of free family they’re first to the party, friendly fare that will and first in parade-goers’ place Mansfield front and hearts. They shine in their center for St. Patrick’s Day bright red wigs, green celebrations in Texas.

J. GILLIGAN’S BAR & GRILL (400 E. Abram thrift-store prom gowns Set for March 19, the St.) will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day and their blingy tiaras. The parade is a holiday ritual Celebration on March 17, starting with Queens and their Pickle like no other. Bands, floats, outdoor activities at 4 p.m.

The event will Posse spend the year community leaders, and feature live music by Morning People, Don planning this event, and folks intent on sharing they seem to do it better St. Paddy’s Day revelry Pendley and Live Chaos. Plus, there’s the every year – or, in this case, will march, roll, race and trademark J. Gilligan’s St. Patrick’s Day cuisine, every second year. amble through the streets including green beer and Irish nachos. Visit Entry to the festivities of Historic Downtown the Jameson Bar and enjoy giveaways and and parking is free. Shuttles Mansfield, as thousands of entertainment by a bagpipe player. There’s a are available. residents and visitors to the $5 cover charge. jgilligans.com At press time, schedule city cheer them on. specifics were still being But that’s just the main formulated, so those interested many of the proceedings. event. in attending are encouraged to And then there’s music, lots of In addition, the festival will frequently visit the parade and music. Texas Country artist Cody feature a pet parade, a baby parade, palooza website, pickleparade.org.

Wayne will perform on Friday night, the Pickle playground, beer keg

More St. Patrick’s Day revelry

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Thanks Thanks our our sponsors sponsors

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Bulletin Board

Arlington Charities’ Help & Hope Event will take place on April 21 at the Bob Duncan Event Center challenging and awesome all at the same time,” Collier CIRCLE THE DATE: Arlington Charities’ Help & Hope says. “Delivering food and support to a client-base that event is slated for 6 p.m. on April 21 at the Bob Duncan doubled in size was challenging and we did it! The Event Center on Center Street in Vandergriff Park. Ticket support provided by our volunteers, staff, neighborhoods, sales and money raised ensures that Arlington Charities’ faith-based organizations and businesses throughout mission to continue to provide supplemental groceries to Arlington came together; [they] counted their blessings Arlington residents in need are met. and stepped up and helped those less fortunate …

There will be a VIP Happy Hour, followed by a sitAwesome! Well done Arlington!” down cooking demonstration and tasting from popular Partnerships are at the heart of Arlington Charities’ restaurant owners Brandon Hurtado of Hurtado’s many altruistic endeavors. AC BBQ, Aziz and Elizabeth partnered with Tarrant County Kobty of Prince Lebanese What Arlington Charities did in 2021 College Southeast Campus to Restaurant, and Gold • 40,121 individual visits to the Drive Through support a satellite pantry to help Ribbons Confections’ Food Pantry alleviate hunger on campus.

Maurice Ahern. There will • 3,038 grocery deliveries were made During the pandemic, when the be an auction, as well. For • 1,382 lunches were distributed to the on-campus pantry was closed, information on sponsorships unhoused a Monthly Mobile Market was and tickets email penny@ • 5,442 individuals received holiday help established at the campus to arlingtoncharites.org.

• 3,848 received case management services • 38,625 individuals received assistance at provide another avenue of The non-profit Arlington Monthly Mobile Markets assistance for students.

Charities, named the 2021 • 13,514 total volunteer hours AC is also a partner of the Outstanding Nonprofit of the • $61,656 in utility assistance provided Texas Health and Human Year by the Greater Arlington • 1,762,492 pounds of food distributed Services Commission’s Chamber of Commerce, Community Partner Program, helps to stabilize families, which identifies agency staff as Your Texas Benefits individuals, and the un-housed by assisting them in Navigators to assist clients in completing benefits covering their most basic needs through food, clothing, paperwork at AC’s location. Partnering with Tarrant Area hygiene items, utility assistance, holiday programs, Food Bank, AC provides Community Mobile Markets three nutrition and financial literacy classes, and other support times per month – at St. Andrews UMC, Tarrant County services. Incorporated in 1979, AC is the largest provider College SE, and at its facility (811 Secretary Drive). of supplemental food assistance in Arlington.

Moving into 2022 AC continues to make strides.

In addition to serving those in need each day, AC seeks Collier says COVID-prompted programs are being out underserved areas of the community to help combat refined to meet the changing needs of our community. hunger. To meet the unique needs of seniors and the Case management services have been tripled, and the mobility impaired, AC piloted a grocery delivery program grocery delivery program has expanded to include more in 2020 that has grew to more than 3,000 deliveries in participants and increased interaction to help combat 2021, ensuring that these seniors receive the nutritious senior isolation. On the horizon is a new online grocery foods they need without having to choose between ordering program where clients will be able to register, prescriptions or food. choose their food items, and set a pickup time/date.

Though the pandemic has represented a unique AC is also expanding its outreach and case challenge the past two years, Gayle Collier, Board management services, as well as reformatting nutrition President of Arlington Charities, says the organization and financial literacy education to meet its post-Covid has been buoyed by the community’s consistent and environment. unwavering support to meet needs. “To sum up the For more: arlingtoncharities.org. pandemic for Arlington Charities, I’d say it’s been

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Speaking of Sports

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED AT WORK TODAY ...

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hen I started my career as a sportscaster in 1982 I was hoping to make it a few years before I had to go and find a “real job.” Here we are 40 years later, and I still pinch myself. The fact that I have made it four decades in a sometimes ruthless and unforgiving business is nothing short of a blessing.

Perhaps even more amazing, in 40 years I have only worked for three broadcast entities: WJRT-TV in Flint Michigan, KXASTV here in Fort Worth and Fox Sports SW, which became Bally Sports SW. The places this career has taken me and the stories I could tell are varied and fun. But my assignment from the great Yale Youngblood this month was, “some of the funny things that have happened.” So here goes, one from each entity (Will they be funny? You be the judge).

The year was 1988, and I had been toiling in Flint, Michigan for four years. I loved working in my home town. Still, after four years as the weekend sports anchor I was ready to move on. One day during the Saturday 6:00 news we welcomed a new female anchor named Lisa Tutman. It was her very first weekend show, and she was very nervous. She was also very good; I knew she had a bright future. This was back when the sports guys got so much time that we had a commercial in the middle.

John So in the first half of my Rhadigan sportscast I heard Lisa struggling to suppress a cough. When the commercial hit I told her, “Lisa, don’t worry about coughing during my show. We are human beings, if you cough or sneeze I will acknowledge it, say ‘God Bless You’ and move on.”

When the show resumed Lisa began to cough again and imagine my surprise when she vomited on the set between her and me. When I finished I said, “Lisa, I said it was OK to cough! I did not say anything about vomiting!”

She was, of course, embarrassed and determined she said, “I am going to finish this show.” I said, “Lisa, all that’s left is the kicker, I will read that and say good night don’t worry, I got this.” But she was steadfast about finishing; I said, “OK, then wipe off your chin cuz there is a little ... you know what there.”

I have so many funny stories from my 11 years at NBC5,

Photo: cbssports

but my favorite may be the time then-Rangers President George W. Bush gave me a tour of the new stadium that would eventually become The Ballpark in Arlington. He took me everywhere with the cameras rolling as we explored all of the nooks and crannies of this wonderful new palace. Our last stop was Greene’s Hill out in straightaway center field. At the time there was no grass on the hill; it was all mud. I asked if I could do an on-camera close for the show while standing on the hill. The Rangers PR staff was so good they even provided hip waders so that I could walk into the mud, look at the camera, say something witty and charming and close the show.

It all went so well ... until I tried to walk back up the hill, and my foot slipped out of the boot. As I reached to replace my foot in the boot, I missed, and my sock and dress pants were covered in mud. Soon the future President of the United States came to my aid and tried to free me from being stuck in the mud. My one true regret is that I cannot find the video of that incident in the NBC 5 archives. I know it is there somewhere.

Fast forward to 2007. I am at Fox Sports SW and covering the NBA finals between the Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers and bump into a guy that I once interned with in Detroit.

I remembered his name was Dan, but I did not know how his career had gone since we last saw each other in 1982. I proudly start to tell him about all the things I have been doing: Spurs, Mavs, Rangers, Stars, Big 12.

He looks me straight in the eye and says, “When you beat me out for the part-time job at Channel 2 in Detroit, I realized that I was not cut out for TV.” He went on to say, “I realized that it was for big-personality guys like you. So I started a company called Rock Financial, then Quicken bought us, then we turned around and bought Quicken, then I bought the Cavaliers, and now I sign LeBron James’ paycheck.”

I wish you could have seen my face as he said all of this. I turned ghostly white and almost passed out. Dan the Intern was Dan Gilbert, the new owner of the Cavaliers. You might think that is a sad story more than funny, but here comes the funny: When I told my wife that whole story she deadpanned, “Darn, it looks like I married the wrong intern.”

So, there you go, one story from each entity. There are so many more where these came from. If you ever see me out and about just ask me – I love telling these stories.

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

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Dan Gilbert and I once interned together at a television station in Michigan. When you read the column below, you’ll discover just why Gilbert’s picture has been placed here.

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Dining Guide

KEEN CUISINE ...

Restaurant506

UPSCALE Chamas do Brazil • 4606 S. Cooper St. • 817-618-2986 • chamasdobrazil2.tru-m.com Cut & Bourbon • 1600 E. Randol Mill • 682-277-4950 • loewshotels.com/live-by-loews-arlington-texas Mercury Chophouse • 2221 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 910 • 817-381-1157 • mercurychophouse.com Piccolo Mondo • 829 Lamar Blvd. E. • 817-265-9174 • piccolomondo.com Restaurant506 at The Sanford House • 506 N. Center St. • 817-801-5541 • restaurant506.com

AMERICAN Candlelite Inn • 1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613 • candleliteinnarlington.com Dino’s Subs • 2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140 frieddaze • 5005 S. Cooper St., Suite 159 • 817-472-6666 • frieddaze.com

Candlelite Inn

No Frills Grill • 4914 Little Road • 817-478-1766 • 1500 Eastchase Pkwy., Suite 1200 • 817-274-5433 2851 Matlock Road, Suite 422, Mansfield • 817-473-6699 • nofrillsgrill.com The Grease Monkey • 200 N. Mesquite St. • 817-665-5454 • greasemonkeyburgers.com J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill • 400 E. Abram St. • 817-274-8561 • jgilligans.com

MEXICAN / TEX-MEX Cartel Taco Bar • 506 E. Division St., Suite 150 • 817-200-6364 • carteltacobar.com El Arroyo • 5024 S. Cooper St. • 817-468-2557 • elarroyoarlington.com El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill • 2408 W. Abram St. • 817-276-8160 • facebook.com/elgabachotexmex Fuzzy’s Taco Shop • 510 E. Abram St. • 817-265-8226 • 4201 W. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-516-8226 1601 E. Debbie Lane, Mansfield • 817-453-1682 • fuzzystacoshop.com La Isla Restaurant • 2201 E. Pioneer Pkwy. • 817-459-1498 • laislarestauranttx.com

El Gabacho

ITALIAN / PIZZA Café Sicilia • 7221 Matlock Road • 817-419-2800 • cafesicilia.com

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

INTERNATIONAL Prince Lebanese Grill • 502 W. Randol Mill • 817-469-1811 • princelebanesegrill.com R'Haan Thai Cuisine • 2500 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-795-9188 • facebook.com/rhaanthaicuisine

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4th Annual

Featuring Arlington’s Next Generation of Chefs BRANDON HURTADO Hurtado BBQ

April 21, 2022 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM SCOTT MURRAY Emcee

AZIZ KOBTY ELIZABETH KOBTY Prince Lebanese Grill

MAURICE AHERN Gold Ribbon Confections Grounds and Gold

For Tickets And More Information, Visit: www.arlingtoncharities.org

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Finish Line

NOLAN RYAN AND HIS IMPACT ON ARLINGTON

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f only by happenstance, we’ll mark the occasion of the 100th issue of this magazine with that of Nolan Ryan’s 75th birthday. The connection reveals itself when you look at our first cover in 2013 and see the Hall of Fame legend standing in front of The Ballpark in Arlington – a place he said was “a gem of all the ballparks.”

Everybody knows that Nolan is a celebrated player who holds a total of 51 Major League Baseball records.

The connection with his milestone birthday seems like a good time to recall a few lesser-known things about his role in Arlington’s history.

He arrived here as a Texas Ranger in 1989 at the age of 42. He was under only a one-year contract because most 40+ year old baseball players are in the twilight of their careers. Team owners thought that it would be great for him to spend what might be his final year in baseball wearing his already famous No. 34 on a Rangers jersey.

As it turned out, he would take the mound in Arlington for five Richard consecutive seasons, Greene setting records that will never be broken and bringing national attention to our town that it had not known before.

Just a year after he became a Ranger, we approached him about helping us meet the challenge of informing Arlington residents about the importance of building a new ballpark that would ensure the permanence of our status as a major league city.

The first thing we asked him to do was to throw out the ceremonial first pitch launching the campaign to win the approval of voters who were going to be asked to support the development of the partnership between the city and the ballclub.

Our plan was to announce the beginning of it all at a big luncheon event at the Arlington Convention Center and then move to the adjoining land area where the new

Getting ready for the first pitch of the new ballpark campaign in 1990. Behind my outstretched arm are Rangers team owners Tom Schieffer and George W. Bush.

ballpark would be built for the first-pitch event.

Serving as mayor at the time, I would be the catcher.

Nolan not only eagerly accepted the invitation but suggested that he throw not one but three pitches to see just how capable I was of handing his fabled fast ball. He cautioned that missing any one of the pitches would not be good.

Would anyone refuse such a suggestion? Well, neither did I. So, proceeding with catcher’s mitt, chest protector, face guard and helmet I set up at “home plate” and waited for the heat.

I still don’t know for sure how, but I managed to catch all three – including the last one that he deliberately threw in the dirt to “see if I could handle it.” I have all three of the balls in my collection. Nolan signed them and one with a note, “Mayor, you did a nice job catching.”

In January 1991, Arlington voters overwhelmingly approved the plan for the new ballpark, and on the first day of the following May, Nolan pitched his historymaking seventh no hitter. The game took place on Arlington Appreciation Day. Among all the celebratory national media coverage, Nolan said this: “I think this no-hitter is the most rewarding because it was in front of these hometown fans who have supported me since I have been here. This one was for them.”

After the Rangers first World Series in 2010 when Nolan was the team’s president, he and former allstar catcher Jim Sundberg presented me with a commemorative American League Championship ring.

Nolan said, “this is for you, mayor, in appreciation for all that Arlington has done for me and our ballclub.”

My wife and I were present at Cooperstown when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and no one could miss his reflected glory shining vividly on Arlington where his reputation grew from baseball hero to one of the game’s all-time legends.

Richard Greene was Arlington’s mayor from 1987-1997 and currently teaches in UT-Arlington’s graduate program of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.

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