May 2021

May 2021

your community • your magazine

Today

CURNUTT & HAFER PROUDLY SERVING THEIR CLIENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES

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THE OFFICIAL LAW FIRM PARTNER OF

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FAMILY & INJURY ATTORNEYS Principal Office - Arlington TX

Health Care and Social Work for the Next Generation

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he University of Texas at Arlington is building a new home to teach and train the next generation

of social workers and health care professionals.

UTA leaders broke ground earlier this year on a $76 million facility that will usher in critical advancements in the fields of health care and social work, bringing together the University’s celebrated School of Social Work and the Smart Hospital of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI).

The 150,000-square-foot facility will be a state-of-the-art space to serve current and future students. It also will provide room for social work programs to grow and evolve to meet the critical needs of North Texas’ communities through enhanced collaboration with health care providers and hospitals. The Smart Hospital will expand its use of human patient simulators and hospital equipment to provide learning experiences for students to gain proficiency and confidence in health care procedures and processes. The new building will be a mix of flexible, technology-enriched learning spaces; teaching and

specialties offered in mental health and substance abuse, aging, community and administrative practice, children and families, and health—is consistently ranked among the best in the nation.

UTA graduates the most nurses in Texas and has one of the largest nursing programs in the nation. The nursing program was one of 17 nationwide to be designated a 2020 Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, considered the premier organization for nursing faculty and leaders in nursing education.

The projected completion date for the building is November 2022.

VIRTUAL TOUR

research labs; student engagement, study, and support spaces; and faculty and staff offices.

This addition will be part of a new Health Sciences Quad on the UTA campus, adjacent to the Science & Engineering Innovation & Research building, Life Science building, and Pickard Hall, home to CONHI. For more than 50 years, UTA’s School of Social Work has promoted excellence in research, teaching, and service to create educational opportunities for students and their communities. Its Master of Social Work program—with

LEARN MORE AT UTA.EDU.

UTA.EDU

Contents

ON THE COVER

May 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 5

HIGHLIGHTS 34

For more than two decades the law office of Curnutt & Hafer has been dedicated to serving both its clients and its community.

See page 24

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DEPARTMENTS

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34 Head East

A new Innovation Zone is expanding Wi-Fi service for more city residents

Starting Line 10 This ‘n Data 12 • Around Town 20 Scene 22, 52 • Style 46 Bulletin Board 58 • Keen Cuisine 60 Speaking of Sports 62 • Itinerary 64 Finish Line 66

36 Home SWEET! Home

Here’s how you take Farmhouse style and turn it into what you want in an abode

38 Driven to success

IN THIS ISSUE

UTA is helping pioneer a revolutionary new self-driving shuttle service

40 The launch of the Thunderbird era

Dawn Stacy’s 1955 classic automobile turns heads everywhere she drives it

44 Celebrating moms who celebrate being moms

The joy for the mothers in our lives isn’t confined to just one day

48 Let’s go (back) to the Levitt

After a year of adjusting for the pandemic, the show is about to go on – again

50 Our city rocks!

A new survey shows how much Mansfield residents appreciate their community

54 Takeout Tuesday

Downtown restaurants team to give you a great way to support local businesses

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This month, we head to the courtroom and to various law offices to spotlight local attorneys you need to know.

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1001 N. Waldrop, Suite 505 Arlington, TX 76012

5005 S. Cooper St, Suite 275 Arlington, TX 76017

Phone 817-277-9415 • Fax 817-277-0360 Email info@womenshealthservices.com

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STARTING LINE your community • your magazine

Today

EXECUTIVE BOARD Executive Publisher Judy M. Rupay CEO Richard Greene

That’s how you ‘mayor’

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he first time I spoke with Jeff Williams was during a “meet and greet,” certainly not an occasion that would earn a significant place in his personal annals. Mayors “meet and greet” almost as much as they cut ribbons. It goes with the elected official territory. As cool as it was to tell my family that I had met the most noteworthy politician in all of Arlingtonland, that’s not when I knew Jeff Williams is a good egg.

That revelation occurred during the second time we visited. I reached out my hand to re-introduce myself, but he beat me to the start of the conversation.

“I really enjoy reading your column, Yale,” he said, grasping my palm firmly.

“Your grandson sounds like a winner.” Here’s the deal: Generic mayors are expected to say the Yale first part; generic mayors do just Youngblood enough homework to know that Editor the editor of the city magazine probably writes columns.

But it’s the genuinely decent mayor who actually reads them. I had, indeed, written about my grandson in a column that posted not long before the Mayor and I first met. The “before” part is the dead giveaway. Jeff very likely didn’t have the time – and I can’t think of anyone after first meeting me who would have the inclination – to go back and check out my work. He actually did read about my grandson. He shared as much during our second meeting, and I knew then that voters had made a good choice.

This month, voters get to make a new one. Williams’ tenure as the leader of our city is coming to an end, but it won’t take a historian to determine that his “era” was marked with resounding success.

As part of a project I recently concluded that focused on the prosperity that emerged in Arlington from May 2015 to May 2021, I got to chronicle the highlights.

Here are just a few of them: • The Texas Rangers got a new ballpark, thus averting a move to another burg.

• Texas Live! became a reality, and its anchor, Live! by Loews, was constructed before our very eyes.

• A nationwide search for the home of the vaunted National Medal of Honor Museum concluded shortly after the selection committee visited Arlington.

• Arlington became home to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.

• The city received the official Music Friendly Community designation, which is good news for all the folks who are now coming to an excitingly refurbished Downtown Arlington on a regular basis and might want to catch a concert.

I think you get the gist: Jeff Williams has been GREAT! for Arlington.

I’m PROUD! to say I know him.

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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 2021 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.

ARLINGTON TODAY GIVES BACK

yale@arlingtontoday.com

Arlington Today magazine proudly sponsors the AISD Education Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, the Junior League of Arlington, Levitt Pavilion Arlington, the Mansfield Women’s Club, The Salvation Army and Theatre Arlington.

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Arlington Today Ad 8x4.8125 May 2021.pdf

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THIS ‘N DATA

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SCOOPS

1. The Arlington ISD will offer scholarships to families who don’t otherwise qualify for free 4-year-old pre-K. To be eligible for the scholarship, a child must be at least four years old before Sept. 1.

Eligible families who don’t qualify for free pre-K and who meet the income guidelines will be considered. Scholarship priority will be given to children who reside within the Arlington ISD school attendance zones. For more: aisd.net/prek 2. Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen was named Chamber Superman of the Year at the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual awards program. Other city leaders honored included Chase Wheeler, Andrew Fortune and Cindy Mendez (Public Service Awards for their COVID Response) and Police Chief Daniel Scesney (Man of the Year).

3. City of Arlington Aquatics recently certified more than 35 American Red Cross instructors and guards. Instructors re-certified 14 lifeguards and certified four swim instructors, eight lifeguard instructors, and 11 lifeguards. Most new trainees will be coming to a City of Arlington pool deck soon. For more about working at Arlington Aquatics: surveymonkey.com/r/5WRNGDF

Photo: yahoo.com

MAREN MORRIS WINS A COUPLE OF CATEGORIES AT ACM AWARDS

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rlington’s Maren Morris won “Song of the Year” and “Female Artist of the Year” awards during last month’s ACM awards program in Nashville.

Morris’ hit single, “The Bones,” which she co-wrote with Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, and which was her fourth No. 1 single on Billboard ‘s Country Airplay chart, was at the heart of her big night. While accepting the “Best Song” award, she made a point to acknowledge her collaborators.

“This is really bittersweet because I didn’t write this by myself, and each time I’ve been so lucky to accept an award for this song, my co-writers Laura Veltz and Jimmy Robbins have not gotten a chance to say anything,” she said.

Morris was nominated for six awards at the program, which had a distinct Arlington flavor, as another performer with roots in the city, Mickey Guyton, served as co-host.

FRANCESCA BROWN IS 2021 MISS CINDERELLA

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rancesca Brown raised $70,292.26 to earn the title of 2021 Miss Cinderella at last month’s Cinderella Ball at Esports Stadium Arlington. The ball is the major fundraiser for Arlington projects at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County. In all, the 16 candidates vying to become Miss Cinderella raised $382,548.81.

Other candidates who were honored at the ball included Edie Cravens (first runner-up), Olivia Pokrifcsak (second runner-up), Karoline Pompa (third runner-up) and Emma Woodard (fourth runner-up).

Scholarship and award winners included Cassidy Hoffman (Catherine A. Lautzenheiser Scholarship, $1,500), Edie Cravens (Second Place Scholarship, $1,000), Toska Holsopple (Third Place Scholarship, $750) and Katie Wright (Carol H. Zimmer Award and AOA Volunteer Award).

For more: cinderellacharityball.com

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Fellowship and Five-Star Care

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n May 21, the Optimist Club of Arlington will celebrate 75 years of providing athletic, scholastic and community oriented activities for the children of Arlington. The club’s first youth project was to help the Arlington High School’s Future Farmers Club with their animals. Now it provides sports, oratorical and many other service projects. Happy birthday!

RIVER LEGACY STUDENT ART CONTEST WILL FOCUS ON NATIVE TEXAS ANIMALS AND PLANTS

E RAISE YOUR HAND if you saw or know of someone who took in a “picture show” at Arlington Music Hall when it opened in 1950 as a movie theatre. Of course, today, it’s used as a performance venue for musical concerts and the like, but it began as the city’s premier place to watch the latest films coming out of Hollywood.

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ntries for the River Legacy 2021 Art Contest, “Get Creative with What’s Native,” will be accepted through midnight on June 30 via email at contest@ riverlegacy.org.

The contest features four competitive categories: Preschool (3 and 4 year olds), Grade Levels K-3rd, Grade Levels 4th-6th, and Grade Levels 7th-12th. Any child or youth who would like to enter should draw or paint a native Texas animal or plant.

Entries must be 8.5-inches x 11-inches and emailed before the deadline.

Winners will receive prizes that include River Legacy’s “A Frogging We Will Go” package, a bicycle, Apple Airpods and a television.

For more: riverlegacy.org/art

Arlington is the eighth-most-diverse city

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new report by financial website wallethub.com ranks Arlington as the eighthmost-diverse city in the United States. That is up from 11th place in 2020.

Researchers used a variety of factors in their rankings, including socioeconomic diversity, cultural diversity, economic diversity, household diversity and religious diversity. Arlington had its highest numbers in the cultural diversity category.

The report also found communities that embrace diversity have stronger economies. For the full report: wallethub.com/edu/most-diverse-cities/12690

Call today for a free estimate 817.412.9899 arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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UTA CHOOSES GREG YOUNG AS ITS NINTH MEN’S HOOPS COACH

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Welcome to the Club(house)!

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he City of Arlington recently celebrated the opening of the new clubhouse at the Texas Rangers Golf Club, the only MLB-themed golf course in the world.

The clubhouse is named in honor of Chester W. Ditto, namesake of the original municipal golf course that opened on the north Arlington site in 1982 after the City purchased the land from the Ditto family in the late 1960s. After a ribboncutting ceremony, visitors explored all that the clubhouse at the City’s newest golf course has to offer. Amenities include a fully stocked golf shop, a full-service restaurant with wall-to-wall televisions, a spacious patio area and banquet rooms that can host a variety of events and Texas Rangers memorabilia. The clubhouse and the golf course are both open to the general public.

The grand opening event included remarks from Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, District 1 City Councilwoman Helen Moise, and Rangers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rob Matwick.

The Texas Rangers Golf Club, which opened in 2019 after $24 million in course renovations and a collaborative branding partnership between the City and the Rangers, is a destination course that has helped elevate Arlington’s national reputation and helps draw even more events and visitors to the city, Williams said.

The golf club is the closest 18-hole golf course to Arlington’s Entertainment District, offering a chance to play golf in conjunction with a visit to a Rangers or Cowboys game, Texas Live! concert, or the numerous other events at AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park and Globe Life Field, UTA or Downtown Arlington.

“When you bring the City of Arlington and the Rangers together, great things happen,” Williams says.

At the Chester W. Ditto Clubhouse, golfers can find equipment from all the major manufacturers, golf and lifestyle apparel and other Rangers merchandise. The Home Plate restaurant and bar, led by Executive Chef Matthew Trevino, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and features 31 televisions.

Arlington By the numbers 16

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reg Young, who has been a part of the University of Texas at Arlington men’s basketball program for more than a decade, was named UTA’s ninth head coach last month.

Photo: Elias Valverde II A 35-year coaching veteran, Young recently completed his 12th season with UTA in 2020-21, having served as an assistant or associate head coach for the program since the 200910 campaign. He replaces Chris Ogden, who resigned to become an assistant coach at the University of Texas.

“I am so humbled and excited to be named the next head men’s basketball coach at UT Arlington,” Young says. “This is a dream come true, especially at an institution I love and have called home the last dozen years.”

#atpetofthemonth My name is Marley. I was rescued by my furever parents to live with them three years ago and was so very grateful. I was found living under an old car and very afraid to come out. When I finally did, my life and theirs changed forever. I’ve shown them how fun and lovable I am. I play ball, chase squirrels, and give lots of love and kisses.

– Linda Crowder

$2 billion

The speed you’re likely to travel on the Mega Wedgie ride at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

The percentage of Hispanic students enrolled in classes during the fall at UTA

The amount of direct and indirect salaries generated during the city’s first 40 years.

Source: sixflags.com/hurricaneharbortexas

Source: uta.edu

Source: arlingtontx.gov

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

Relax Rewind Renew

Mother s Day Eight Times!

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AROUND TOWN This is what Six Flags Over Texas at 60 looks like (at least from my vantage point on the ground).

OK. I think I’ll just watch you do that >

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Photo: Six Flags Over Texas

age. We grinned at one another, not saying a word, but knowing he first time I rode a roller coaster, around age 10, at a precisely why we were both where we were. modest amusement park just outside Chicago, the tracks Whenever I speak with park officials, they often remind were, at best, five feet off the ground, it didn’t loop or go me how speed and conquering one’s fear are actually positive upside down or have sharp turns or deep dives. It was bumpy effects. Psychologists describe it as “physiological arousal”; and rickety and noisy and short in duration. By the time we indeed, when I ventured over to the park one Saturday, 23-yearexited I was ready for more. old Vincente Diaz described it as a legal means of “experiencing While the technology of amusement park thrill rides at larger a natural high.” behemoths like Six Flags Over Texas graduated to bloodcurdling Angela Scott said it was a mixture of stress and pleasure, like and downright foolish, I was still game, until I got older and skydiving. more petrified and less foolish, which eventually pushed me out Another park goer I spoke with compared thrill rides to of the thrill-seeking demographic. watching a horror movie, though why you’d want the same When I learned recently that Six Flags was turning 60, I visceral sensation in the middle of a ride you can’t escape is thought of taking a ceremonial ride on the Texas SkyScreamer or beyond me. (At least with the horror flick you have the remote). the Titan, which stands more than 225 feet and can reach speeds If you view the history of Six Flags you can see how the rides of 85 miles per hour. The plan was to do it as a sort of a toast, yet have become bigger and faster and scarier.

30 seconds into this notion I came to my senses.

Of course, Six Flags is more than that.

I can barely climb a six-foot ladder It’s a great place for family time and these days without feeling woozy. My friend time and fun time. son no longer snickers when being For its 60th Anniversary, for instance, summoned to blow the leaves off my roof.

Kenneth Perkins Six Flags started the year with the Fire It is what it is, he now says. & Ice Winter Festival, went into its During a visit to the USS Lexington Spring Break Celebration and is now that sits in Corpus Christi Bay, I was cool SIX FLAGS is more than scary building up to a new festival, ¡Viva climbing steep ladders into confined La Fiesta!, which began last month. spaces and dimly lit compartments rides; it’s a great place for armed only with a small flashlight, but family time and friend time and Nothing scary about that.

But now that I have a granddaughter, once we headed out onto this long strip fun time. my much better half insists this is our off the deck, high above the water, well, opportunity to experience places like my knees went loopy.

Six Flags through her.

I’d always experienced motion sickness, but it has become I agree, which is why I’m making reservations as we speak for far more pronounced with age. So, young bloods, it’s not that the Fort Worth Zoo. we don’t want to hit the Titan – we literally can’t, as the brain’s equilibrium (the inner ear) loses its ability to make sense of the Can’t get enough of Six Flags Over Texas (especially now motion it is experiencing. The result; nausea, dizziness, anxiety that it is celebrating its 60th anniversary)? Check out the that you really are going to perish.

Finish Line on page 66, as Richard Greene shares how the It is why park staff are trained to keep an eye on older riders, park helped a number of notable locals meet and/or bond looking for those facial signs of distress. over the years.

The last time I ventured inside the Six Flags park, during the annual AISD day, how content I was watching others go up, down, around. I remember catching the eye of another dad my 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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PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS

Scene

Snapshots of note from places and events in the Arlington/Mansfield/Grand Prairie area

Serving her community For her American Heritage Girls Stars & Stripes project, Sophie White built three odor walls for the Arlington Police Department’s K9 unit.

The 2021 Cinderella Ball

Photo: Terry Ip

The 2021 Cinderella Ball contestants raised $382,548 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County.

A medical breakthrough takes place in Mansfield Dignitaries get their guns up to celebrate the partnership involving the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, the City of Mansfield and Methodist Health System.

Photos: Methodis Mansfield Medical Center

Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans joined a host of dignitaries at the press conference announcing the partnership, through which Mansfield will be home to a satellite campus for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. This is the first Tarrant County Texas Tech satellite campus.

Mission Arlington Easter egg hunt

Photos courtesy of Jerry McCullough

Mission Arlington hosted the “world’s largest” Easter egg hunt this year, as 3,196 children (with their families) received food and eggs as part of the Mission’s service to the community.

Rangers’ home opening series

Photos courtesy of Melody Photos: Prince Lebanese Grill Fowler and Jerry McCullough

Local teacher Aubrie Simmons (left) threw out the first pitch during the home opener, and retired teacher Jerry McCullough got to show off his Baylor pride at the game, which welcomed a near-capacity crowd back to Globe Life Field.

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Biking in Grand Prairie

Photo: City of Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie officials encouraged residents to go biking outdoors last month – and joined them.

CAMPS

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COVER STORY

THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATES

Since 2000, Curnutt & Hafer has been a law firm founded on service to its clients and to its community

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hroughout two-decades-plus of serving local, national and international clients, the law firm of Curnutt & Hafer has been hailed for its professionalism and dedication to excellence. That noted, another assessment – one that routinely precedes them into the courtroom – does an even better job of defining what the practice is all about and why it consistently winds up on “Best of” lists voted by both peers and clients: Curnutt & Hafer offers virtually unparalleled servant leadership.

When Kelly Curnutt and Doug Hafer founded the firm in 2000, they established the practice’s future on a foundation emphasizing personal service inside Doug Hafer and Kelly Curnutt are the founding partners of the law firm Curnutt & Hafer, LLP. and outside the courtroom, valuing their clients and Photos: Bruce Maxwell employees in a very authentic way and focusing on themselves apart is in community involvement that stretches doing the right things. Some 21 years later, the fruits of those roots throughout North Texas and beyond. bloom all over the community.

Curnutt served as the interim President and CEO of the Certainly, the firm’s success resounds in legal halls, where Arlington Chamber of Commerce as that organization sought to Curnutt & Hafer attorneys routinely exit victorious in cases re-brand itself late last decade. He has also served as president involving business litigation, family law, inheritance disputes, of Arlington Rotary Club, of Young Men for Arlington and of insurance coverage and bad faith, oil and gas, and injury and death, Phi Delta Theta Arlington Alumni Club, and he has been on the to name a few specialty areas. board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas. He The practice founders, who were friends and former classmates is a member of Fielder Church, teaches Bible study through Bible at SMU’s Dedman School of Law, have been recognized multiple Study Fellowship, has held leadership roles in Young Life and is years in Texas Monthly’s “Texas Super Lawyers” list and Fort Worth involved in Men Serving God. Magazine’s “Top Attorneys” list. The firm is designated AV-rated Hafer is an active member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church,

by Martindale Hubble, the highest ethical and legal ability ranking where he has taught bible study for 21 years. He is President of available, and it has been recognized as a “Go-To” firm by Devon Catholic Scripture Study Inc, a bible study program taught in Energy in Corporate Counsel Magazine’s listing from in-house law hundreds of locations in the U.S. and abroad. He is the the Current departments at the Top 500 Companies. In addition to handling Board Chairman at Shady Valley Country Club. Along with a variety of different types of commercial disputes and business Curnutt, he has been instrumental in guiding the firm’s support of litigation, both practice founders are Board Certified in Personal the community via a variety of avenues, including the Arlington Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

ISD Education Foundation, the Salvation Army, the Greater But where Curnutt, Hafer and their stellar team especially set

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ideals in all manners of legal representation, starting with business Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington Bar Association, trial law – “Our bread and butter,” Hafer says. He, Curnutt and the Levitt Pavilion Arlington, Young Life Arlington, the Arlington other lawyers with the practice thrive on trial law and advocating Rotary Club, and Mission Arlington. in court to judges and juries.

Indeed, from Day One of the firm (Jan. 1, 2000 – Y2K, when the The team is also quite adept at resolving inheritance disputes. world didn’t crash, after all), Curnutt and Hafer have dedicated In 2017, Curnutt won the first case in several years to be tried their lives to doing something special in the community where by a jury in the Tarrant County Probate Courts. “We beat a well Curnutt was raised. After starting their careers working for “Big known probate litigation firm in Fort Worth, and that put us on Law,” they collectively decided they could do more on their own the map in this area,” he says.

– for themselves, and for the people they represent in legal matters The firm also welcomes cases involving and with whom they associate in their oil and gas law. A big part of its heritage daily lives. was grown representing Devon Energy and “We were two cocky, young trial other parties in the Barnett Shale gas play. lawyers looking to make a name for In fact, big-name clients are common ourselves by putting our clients’ results for the practice. Hafer and Curnutt ahead of the old big firm goal of billing represented Walmart for several years, hours,” Hafer says. “We also wanted to which enabled them both to become work in the community where we lived Board Certified in Personal Injury and where our kids went to school, Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal rather than just seeing our homes Specialization. during the night between commuting to Still, their yearning to represent downtown Dallas and long hours at the neighbors is a thread that runs throughout office there.” the firm. Hafer says, “a rewarding thing Although they started with national about our practice is that we get to help and international clients enamored people or families that have been harmed with their professionalism and success or hurt through an injury or death.” during their big firm tenures, they Vicki Hafer, Doug’s wife, is the backbone planned from the beginning to market of the firm’s family law practice. “She and contribute locally. is well liked by clients for her caring “What we did not begin to see, compassion, and likewise known by her however, were the many ways God peers for her determined representation,” would so richly bless us by merging Curnutt & Hafer recently added attorney Curnutt says. our entire lives and businesses into David Petter to the firm. He joins attorneys In the past couple of years, the firm the fabric of the community,” Curnutt Cash Barker, Vicki Hafer, Steve Kotara, has added new lawyers with diverse says. “While we are still blessed and Pat Wadlington, Jr. to make Curnutt legal backgrounds who have expanded with international and Fortune 500 & Hafer one of the more experienced and practice areas to include wills and estate clients, a large part of our business comprehensive legal practices in Arlington, planning, probate and inheritance and clientele come from the greater Texas. The attorneys are supported by Joe disputes, real estate and construction Arlington area. We believe that is a Weimorts and staff members Julia Gurney, transactions. result of serving both our clients and Gina Farris, Christian Jones, Deanne Recently, the firm relocated its our community. Both are important, Schmidt and Yvette Harper.

Collectively, Curnutt & Hafer develops headquarters to a new office in downtown and neither exists alone.” effective legal strategies and solutions for Arlington, across from Mission Arlington.

As might be expected after consistent startups and companies of all sizes.

The move was a fitting one – the firm success, the legal team at the firm CURNUTT & HAFER has long been invested in serving at the has grown steadily over the past two 301 W. Abram St. Mission’s Christmas Store where Curnutt decades (and is noted in the box to the 817-548-1000 spends a week each December telling the right). Every person associated with the curnutthafer.com Christmas Story. He and his wife, Judge practice is dedicated to the firm’s creed: Mary Tom Curnutt, now serve in the • SEEK bottom line results.

Mission’s apartment church ministry.

• SERVE with excellence.

The partners also appreciate the office’s proximity to the Levitt • DO the right thing.

Pavilion, for which they have been benefactors for years. “We’re “The creed was developed by our entire firm as a team effort,” excited that community concerts are starting back up,” Hafer says.

Curnutt says. “We challenge ourselves to be held accountable to “We hear them in our office and feel the sense of community.” these principles.”

It’s a good feeling, indeed. But it’s more than that for Curnutt & And, because of the experience accrued in the formative stages Hafer. It’s a way of life. of all their respective careers, attorneys and staff embrace those

About the team

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ATTORNEYS YOU NEED TO KNOW 26

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JIM ROSS LAW GROUP, P.C.

Jim Ross

Nader Arbabi

Robert Blankenship

Linda Castillo

Cheyenne A. Haddad

Amy Lorenz

K.C. Odom

Lori Shannon

Terry Turzinski

Lance Welch

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he Jim Ross Law Group, P.C. prides itself on excellent service to its clients and to its community. We are a family-owned law firm that treats its clients with three major hallmarks: loyalty, honesty, and respect. If you are looking for a law firm that will be on your side through difficult times in your life, you’ve come to the right place.

This firm was established by attorney Jim Ross, a former Marine, Texas police officer, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) task force officer. Jim supervised local offices for some of the country’s most prestigious law firms before opening his own practice in Arlington. Having developed a strong tradition of service to his community and country as a Marine and police officer, he brought that tradition to his law practice.

Our firm focuses on five major practice areas: family law,

personal injury, business litigation, and wills and probate. Our lawyers have decades of experience in these areas and have seen just about everything there is to see in a courtroom. You will get straight answers and a clear plan of action after meeting with our attorneys.

We believe that a successful business should give back to the community that helped make it successful. Our firm donates time and money to several charitable causes in the Arlington/Dallas area. You may have seen our logo on the back of a 5k race t-shirt or on a flyer for a fundraiser.

You are welcome to call us anytime to set up a free consultation.

We can meet with you in person or help you over the phone. We can even meet with you on a Saturday if you’re busy during the week. We have offices in Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Jim Ross Law Group, P.C. Arlington: 2221 E. Lamar Blvd., #800 • Fort Worth: 4100 International Plaza, #150 • Dallas: 12801 N. Central Expy, #370 Tarrant: 817-275-4100 • Dallas: 214-453-2420 • JimRossLaw.com arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

27

HARRIS COOK, LLP H

arris Cook, LLP, is a FullService Law Firm serving North Texas with offices in Arlington, Mansfield, and Flower Mound. David L. Cook is the Managing Partner of the firm and Patrick L. Dooley is the Managing Attorney of Harris Cook’s Mansfield office. Cook and Dooley have become two of the most sought-after Family and Business attorneys in Tarrant County.

David Cook is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law. Of the 100,000 attorneys licensed in Texas, fewer than eight percent are Board Certified, with less than one percent of those being Board Certified in Family Law. David Cook is one of those David L. Cook and Patrick L. Dooley few Family Law attorneys to achieve Board Certification.

Within that discipline, he specializes in cases that involve Collaborative Divorce, Complex Division of Assets or Contested Child Custody matters, and often finds himself representing business owners.

“We represent a lot of small businesses and unfortunately, sometimes our business clients become divorce clients. In reverse, some of our divorce clients turn into business clients of ours. I try to keep a good balance between the knowledge and time that I spend in preparing myself to represent individuals in a divorce matter and in a business context. Often, our clients do have businesses that have to be appraised and divided and/or buyouts take place. The two practice areas really go hand in hand so it’s particularly important that you have an attorney that is competent in both regards.” David L. Cook.

Attorney Patrick Dooley has a compelling drive for justice and serving his clients. As a Family Law Attorney, Patrick often represents clients in matters of Divorce and Child Custody. Within his Business practice, Patrick represents small to mid-sized companies from various industries in matters of Business Formation, Business Transactions, and Business Litigation.

When asked why he practices family and business law, Patrick Dooley responded “I think my life experiences going all the way back to my childhood played a significant role. Having my parents not only divorce each other but also divorce my stepparents taught me invaluable lessons which I use to help my family law clients. I also enjoy helping business owners produce plans to grow their business and to protect what they have grown. Put simply, I enjoy the friendships created with clients and the process of helping clients.”

A Full-Service Law Firm, the attorneys at Harris Cook can help you navigate through any of life’s challenges. The firm’s primary practice areas include Family Law, Business Law, Real Estate Law, Employment Law, Probate and Guardianship, Estate Planning, Personal Injury, and Public Utilities.

When you work with Harris Cook, LLP, your lawyer will take an active role in every aspect of your case, communicating with you directly and guiding you through each decision you need to make. Contact the attorneys of Harris Cook, LLP at 817-473-3332.

Harris Cook, LLP Arlington: 1309A W. Abram St. • Mansfield: 309 E. Broad St. • Flower Mound: 2901 Corporate Drive 817-473-3332 • HarrisCookLaw.com 28

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

ROGER “ROCKY” WALTON

W

hile COVID-19 wreaked havoc on businesses throughout the country, the Law Firm of Roger “Rocky” Walton never stopped working hard throughout the pandemic. The practice’s founder made sure of that.

“Our advanced technology systems allowed us to easily work hard for our clients independently at home during the health crisis,” Walton says. “Even during a health crisis, we were able to negotiate multi-million dollars worth of settlements throughout 2020.”

When Gov. Greg Abbott allowed businesses to re-open in May 2020, Walton and his team eagerly returned to the office building and followed significant safety and sanitary guidelines, such as providing personal protective equipment to employees and clients, practicing social distancing and following a strict sanitation schedule. The new measures enhance how the firm is able to comprehensively interact with clients and with legal cohorts.

“Our office is 100% paperless, so we can access our database and files 24/7 via Internet,” Walton says. “Our phones are answered 24/7, including holidays. Our clients are able to contact us 24/7 by telephone, text message and e-mail. We offer Zoom meetings, telephone conferences and in-person meetings to make all potential clients and clients feel comfortable. We also work around our clients’ schedule and are available after business hours as needed.”

Essentially, the pandemic never slowed down what Walton does best: successfully representing clients. “We’ve conducted multiple successful mediations and court hearings via Zoom meetings,” Walton says. “Our office uses cyber-secure ‘Cloud-Based’ databases for immediate file sharing with insurance adjusters, mediators and opposing counsel to ensure safe transfers of our clients personal information. We offer our clients the ability to electronically sign legal documents and have multiple notaries including an online/electronic notary. We provide our clients with easy disbursement processes, such as electronic deposits and/or disbursement delivery with overnight Fedex / UPS services.”

The Law Firm of Roger “Rocky” Walton, P.C. 2310 W. Interstate 20, Suite 200 • 817-429-4299 • rockywaltoninjurylawyers.com

Roger “Rocky” Walton, P.C. Board Certified Specialist Since 1994, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization Fewer than 3% of Texas lawyers have this certification.

Wrongful Death and Serious Injury 2310 W. Interstate 20, Suite 200 • Arlington, Tx 76017 • 817-429-4299

INFO: katic@rockywalton.com • www.rockywaltoninjurylawyers.com arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

29

DONNA J. SMIEDT

D

onna Smiedt graduated from SMU Law School at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest women to graduate at a time when less than a quarter of practicing lawyers were women. Ms. Smiedt opened her family law practice as a Solo Practitioner immediately after graduation. Since that time she has devoted her practice entirely to the area of Family Law, becoming Board Certified by the Texas Board of Specialization.

Ms. Smiedt has practiced exclusively in this area for over 30 years, assisting families suffering divorce and the break up of their families, always seeking to make this process as least devastating as possible. Among the many accolades in her career: Twice selected by her peers as a Superlawyer (an honor reserved for 5% of practicing lawyers in Texas) ... Voted by clients as an Avvo “Top Rated Lawyer” for many years, including 2020 and 2021 most recently ... Voted by peers as a Top Attorney in Fort Worth every year for over a decade. She also was named the favorite family lawyer by Arlington Today readers the past three years.

As an outspoken advocate for the best interest of the children going through high-conflict family law custody battles, Ms. Smiedt and her Non-Equity Partner, Desaray R. Muma, are both specially trained as Collaborative Lawyers, a form of family law litigation structured toward assisting parties in negotiating their own family agreements in private meetings removed from the courthouse application of judicial rulings and or jury decisions that can be arbitrary and unreliable. However, if all alternate dispute resolution methods fail, Ms. Smiedt has built her reputation as a specialist in the area of high-conflict custody litigation, especially with the explosion of Parental Alienation cases filed against the other parent peppered with false abuse claims in order to obtain an “upper hand “ in custody or divorce proceedings. Not easy cases for the novice litigator, these intense and damaging allegations must be met with the rare but requisite expertise and experience Ms. Smiedt has in this burgeoning area of the law. This specialization coupled with her equally extensive knowledge of separate tracing and characterization cases, as well as representing wealthy clients with large complex estates or closely held family businesses, make her the first choice for many clients needing this level of superlative representation in the field of family law.

The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt, PLLC 3216 W. Arkansas Lane • 817-539-6618 • arlingtondivorces.com

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

KAREN SCHROEDER

Your Hometown Attorney

A

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

Karen’s passion is educating clients and the public on estate planning options with a goal of equipping them with the legal tools necessary to avoid costly and timeconsuming probate. She opened her solo practice in Mansfield in 2009 after almost 15 years serving as in-house counsel for multiple corporations, and as an Assistant District Attorney.

Her law firm specializes in wills and trusts (including gun trusts), elder law and guardianships, asset and wealth protection, and probate.

Licensed as a Texas attorney since 1994, Karen has built a reputation as a problem-solver who serves clients’ needs with legal professionalism and a commitment to individualized attention. She believes in long-term partnerships and building relationships in the community she still lives in and loves.

Karen Schroeder, Attorney at Law 550 N. Walnut Creek, #110, Mansfield • 817-842-0220 KarenSchroederLaw.com

Winner 2018 & 2019 Readers’ Choice

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

31

STEPHANIE FOSTER

S

tephanie Foster started her legal firm, The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C., in 1992 and for the nearly three decades since, she has been devoted to the practice of family law.

The practice concentrates in family legal issues, including divorce, modifications, custody, child support, spousal support, visitation, enforcement of custody/support, paternity and stepparent adoption.

Stephanie says her dream of having her own law practice was nurtured as a child by her father, John Foster, who is an attorney.

“When I was a child,” she recalls, “I would beg him to take me to work with him at his law firm every summer.”

Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on family law.

“My professional philosophy is divorce with dignity,” she says, noting that she has taken many special measures to serve her clients in the best manner possible.

“I was one of the first attorneys trained in collaborative law in 2008. Collaborative Law is a way to divorce with dignity with no court and no war.”

She believes the collaborative law process is a powerful way to generate creative solutions in family law disputes while minimizing financial and emotional damage to the couple and their children, all the while promoting post-divorce psychological and financial health of the restructured family.

A graduate of Arlington Martin High School, Southern Methodist University and St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio, Stephanie was named a “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C. 4214 Little Road, Suite 1000 • 817-277-2805 • StephanieFosterLawyer.com

The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C. Deciding to divorce is one of the most important decisions a person can face so it makes sense to know your options. One option is traditional courtroom litigation. Another option is collaborative divorce.

Although attorney Stephanie A. Foster is prepared to be the warrior in your courtroom battle as she has been in thousands of Tarrant County divorce cases over the past 28 years, her preference is to be the peacemaker in your interest-based negotiations through the dignified, private, child-protecting process known as collaborative divorce which involves no court.

Stephanie A. Foster is confident that the collaborative process is a powerful way to generate creative solutions in family law disputes while minimizing financial and emotional damage to the couple and their children all the while promoting post-divorce psychological and financial health of the restructured family.

As a family law mediator and one of the first Tarrant County attorneys trained in collaborative law, attorney Stephanie A. Foster will help you navigate through your divorce options and zealously represent you through the process of your choice.

Contact attorney Stephanie A. Foster today to discuss your options.

One option is traditional courtroom litigation.

Another option is collaborative divorce.

Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C. 4214 Little Road, Arlington, TX 76016 817-277-2805 • StephanieFosterLawyer.com

Litigator; Collaborator; Mediator 32

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

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•

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

HEAD EAST!

New Innovation Zone is expanding Wi-Fi service and technology access to serve more city residents

R

Thanks to a grant secured by State Representative Chris Turner, the East Library and Recreation Center was able to create an Innovation Zone to serve local patrons better.

esidents’ access to Wi-Fi and technology has been expanded thanks to the Innovation Zone at the recently opened East Library and Recreation Center in east Arlington.

At The East, residents can access public computers for free with a library card and can print, copy, fax, and scan for a small fee.

Adults can check out Chromebooks from the laptop dispenser for use in the building during their visit. iPads, with Osmo education software and complementing activities, are available for the children in both the children’s areas of the Library and the Recreation Center. Or, they can make a reservation to use a hightech public room or study room to meet and gather.

An additional amenity in this new facility are the outdoor pods with a full complement of power and connectivity to enjoy working or meeting outside. Other technology-based activities include resources such as Kindles with a collection of e-books, Leap Frog tablets, 3D Pens, 3D printer, and Sphero robots. A unique feature in this new facility is the Lu Vue Giant Interactive Playground, which encourages youth to be active and enhances learning through lights, sounds and video.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

Photos: City of Arlington

In addition to all the resources already mentioned, younger patrons can also participate in bilingual story times and dynamic programming that includes exploring STEAM concepts. Youth are also able to explore technology through Discovery Stations and access homework resources as well as educational games through designated children’s computers. There are also a complement of adult computer classes and adult education opportunities.

State Representative Chris Turner helped secure a $750,000 Texas Library and Archives Commission grant for the library’s Innovation Zone. This grant allowed Arlington to expand Internet availability, create a tech-centered community indoor and outdoor space, and increase the technological capabilities within the building. The Innovation Zone is a positive step forward to increasing access to unique technology experiences and bridging the digital divide in East Arlington.

The 46,249-square-foot facility, located at 1817 New York Ave., is the City’s first joint library and recreation center. Arlington voters approved $26 million for the facility, which replaced the former Hugh Smith Recreation Center and the former East Branch Library, in the 2014 Bond Election.

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LOCAL DWELLINGS

HOME SWEET! HOME Here’s how you take Farmhouse style and turn it into everything you want in an abode

T

he hot trend of the Farmhouse style is still moving full steam ahead, but which one is more your style? French, Rustic, or maybe Modern suits your style. Coastal, Colonial or my personal favorite Industrial Farmhouse may be more your speed. A look at this charming new-build gives us a glimpse into a mix of rustic and modern elements.

A few fun things the owners added were the built-in dog bowls at the end of the kitchen island and the hidden pantry next to the refrigerator. It appears to be a normal cabinet, but when you open those doors you will find a spacious walk-in pantry that wraps around behind the refrigerator and other cabinetry.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

The master bathtub area gives you that rustic feel with the cedar surround, and there is still plenty of ship-lap throughout to make all Fixer Upper fans feel warm and fuzzy. Side-note: We love the office where the ship-lap wall is painted black for a striking effect.

The expansive, undivided-light windows throughout (no screens, that’s so 2000s) make for an uninterrupted view of the surrounding countryside. The fun tile flooring in the secondary bath and laundry lend to the more modern style, along with the cool design of the stair railing.

From what we see and hear, the Farmhouse style still has a long shelf life, and that is a good thing!

– Julie Short, Mansfield Custom Homes, 682-208-1576

Farmhouse style homes are as hot as ever, and they become even more alluring when they feature unique and clever additions. This new-build has a number of practical amenities that team with tradition to make it a special dwelling.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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UTA TODAY

DRIVEN TO SUCCESS

University helps pioneer revolutionary new shuttle service • By Herb Booth

O

fficials from The University of Texas at Arlington and the city of Arlington were among the first to ride in a unique, on-demand, self-driving shuttle service known as RAPID, which will provide free rides to UTA students for the next year.

The city is operating RAPID (Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration) in partnership with the University, Via Rideshare and May Mobility, a leader in autonomous technology and fleet services, through a grant provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

UT Arlington Interim President Teik C. Lim congratulates all the partners involved with the revolutionary project. “I am certainly very proud of UTA’s role in this program, which combines autonomous vehicles with mobility-on-demand technology to provide an urban public transit alternative,” Lim says. “UT Arlington’s participation in the development and launch of this pilot program with the city of Arlington is especially gratifying

University of Texas at Arlington Interim President Teik C. Lim (left) recently took a ride in a self-driven shuttle that will be part of the transportation future at the university.

because our students are the focus of all that we do, and RAPID benefits students significantly by providing free rides in the downtown area.”

He says that with about 10,000 students normally residing on or near campus, RAPID will be a key supplement to the University’s existing transportation solutions: “Combining RAPID with our campus shuttle system, an on-demand safe-ride program, and off38

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

campus Via rides will make our University transportation capabilities more effective, efficient and accessible – and, of course, safer for our students.”

A fleet of five self-driving vehicles, including one that is wheelchair-accessible, is available to book from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday for destinations within the RAPID service area, which includes the Downtown Library, City Hall, UT Arlington and numerous restaurants, offices and businesses in the downtown area. While the vehicles are self-driving, a trained fleet attendant will be in the driver’s seat at all times to ensure safe operations and to provide customer service for riders.

The RAPID service area runs from by Division Street to the north, Mary Street to the east, Mitchell Street to the south and Davis Drive to the west. Riders traveling to and from destinations in this service area can book and pay for rides through the Via app or by calling Via’s customer service line at 817-784-7382.

Via’s standard fares apply for the general public. UTA students can ride for free.

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams says the city has developed a reputation around the country as one of the most innovative cities for “exploring technology-based mobility solutions and the testing of autonomous vehicles.”

“We’re excited to take the next step in this process with our partners May Mobility, Via and UT Arlington, as we explore the latest self-driving vehicle technology on our roads in the Downtown area,” Williams says.

Via’s technology will manage booking, routing, passenger and vehicle assignment and identification, customer experience, and fleet management in coordination with May Photo: UTA Mobility’s expertise in autonomous vehicle technology.

May Mobility is providing the fleet of five autonomous vehicles, which comprises four hybrid electric Lexus RX 450h vehicles that can carry up to three passengers and one Polaris GEM fully electric vehicle that can carry one wheelchair passenger.

Via and RAPID riders are required to wear face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, per FTA orders. A number of health safety features are present in the RAPID vehicles, including a partition between the attendant and passenger areas.

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•

BEHIND THE WHEELS

THE LAUNCH OF THE

THUNDERBIRD ERA • By Richard Greene

Bob Sherwood’s ‘55 Chevy Bel Air convertible was, is, and always will be a classic Dawn Stacy stands with her 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which she Photos: Richard Greene

and her husband Howard purchased some 10 years ago. They repainted it and replaced the seats, but, otherwise, this head turner looks as it did when it came off the assembly line.

Photos: Richard Greene

B

ill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” becomes the first rock and roll single to reach Number One on the charts, Disneyland opens in California, “Gunsmoke” debuts on CBS, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the Yankees to win the World Series, Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to surrender her seat on a bus, and the Ford Motor Company launches the Thunderbird.

It was 1955 and Ford’s plans to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette, introduced two years earlier, was an instant hit, outselling the Vette with 3,500 orders placed in the first 10 days of sales. Ford planned a total of 10,000 of the sporty twoseaters but wound up selling 16,155 of them before the year ended.

Estimates are that less than half of them remain today, fewer still in original condition, and Dawn Stacy has one of them.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

While asking her to describe her experience with the classic T-Bird during our interview in the Kennedale High School parking lot, an excited passerby pulled up with her youngster, delightedly looked it over, asked a bunch of questions, and had her picture taken with it.

“That happens all the time,” Dawn explains. “People are always taking notice when we have it out and about. The very first car show we took it to, it won first place even before we had done any work to it.

“We acquired it about 10 years ago, and my husband called it a “10-footer” – the paint had crazed, but you didn’t see that until you got up close. It drove great so we decided not to do anything for a while, and then all we did a few years later was have it repainted, and we redid the seats.

“Friends have asked us about adding air conditioning,

It is easy to see why this classic automobile was such a popular model when it was introduced more than six decades ago. The Ford Thunderbird was created to become a rival to Chevrolet’s popular Corvette, and, almost instantly, it surpassed the previous forerunner in sales. Dawn Stacy’s model still attracts big crowds wherever she takes it.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

41

problems. Dawn and Howard described how the original key switching the electronics from six to 12 volts – stuff like that. I once got stuck in the ignition, and they couldn’t get the car said ‘no’ because I wanted it in as close to original condition as stopped from running. A whole new key assembly had to be it should be.” acquired, making it one of the few parts to be replaced.

I wanted to know about her preference for a Thunderbird.

The Thunderbird came Her instant response: “My dad. with fender skirts and Ford’s He loved old cars, especially the 292 Y-block V8 engine paired Thunderbird, but he never got with Ford-O-Matic automatic to own one, but I acquired my transmission. As a departure interest in cars from him. from Corvette’s designation “He had three girls. I was as a sports car, the T-Bird was the tomboy, I was the one who designed to be a luxury tourer played ball and the one who capable of speeds of 100 to 115 liked cars. When Howard and I mph. were dating, we would see them, Spanning 11 generations, and I said I wanted one someday. and appearing in a variety of Sure enough, we’ve got it now. configurations, Thunderbird “We looked at a couple of production ended in 2005. others before we found this one However, a few months ago Ford in such good shape. My deal filed for the name “Thunderbird” was I wanted to drive it instead with the United States Patent and of just sitting around, and this Trademark Office, signaling a one drove great. I’m a huge fan modern comeback for the iconic of convertibles, and the canvas model. top of ours is hardly ever up.

The top photo shows this classic 1955 Thunnderbird as it looked “pre-paint job.”

The bottom photo is a drawing done by Howard Stacy, Dawn’s husband, which Whatever the future may hold, “It also came with a illustrates how the “after” look would evolve.

Dawn has one of the first, and removable fiberglass hard top as Thunderbird enthusiasts everywhere mark its 1955 beginning standard equipment, but it’s heavy and hard to see around, as the time in automotive history when a classic was born – so it stays off.” and it’s still living well 65 years later.

A first occurred when I asked about any mechanical 42

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

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MOTHER’S DAY

Susan Youngblood

Victoria Farrar-Myers

CELEBRATING MOMS WHO CELEBRATE BEING MOMS

Geraldine Mills

The calendar devotes a day to general revelry, but the joy for the mothers in our lives never ends (as we can clearly see)

Tamera Greene

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com

Karen Williams

Chelsea Spiva

Lauren Carter

Photo: Crystal Martin

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LEVITT PAVILION

LET’S GO (BACK) TO THE LEVITT

The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts has a full slate of shows on tap this month and throughout the spring/summer/ fall. To check out the May concert lineup, just look to the ensuing page. The fun starts with Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights on May 7.

After a year of adjusting for the pandemic, the show is about to go on – again

W

hen the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2021 season with a May 7 concert by Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, more than a few longtime patrons will be excited to return to one of their favorite music venues. One relative newcomer to the scene, Levitt Pavilion Executive Director Letatia Teykl, will “see” their elation and “raise” them some unbridled joy.

You see, Teykl assumed her position at the Levitt in November of 2019, some six months before COVID-19, in essence, canceled the show at the popular concert hall. Thanks to some resourcefulness and a lot of remarkable coordination among Levitt administrators, city leaders and artists eager just to make some music during the pandemic, a virtual season became possible.

Ultimately, once social distancing measures were put in place, live music returned on occasion in the fall. But the piecemeal 2020 season never enjoyed the buzz that had marked its predecessors, making 2021 all the more exhilarating.

“We learned that you can adapt as you go,” Teykl says, recalling her maiden voyage as executive director. “Everybody had to be

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resourceful last year, but nobody gave up trying to make the most of a rather challenging situation.”

In fact, what occurred last year will make this year even better – in tangible ways that might not have become possible without some inherent rethinking.

Teykl says the pause gave her and the Levitt Board more time to assess where the venue stands in the grand scheme and to tap its resources in unprecedented ways. Four committees were formed – Outreach, Board Governance, Sponsorship and Partnership, and Finance – to help the venue better attract crowds and organizations eager to support the arts and further expand its reach across the musical spectrum. Teykl says the city’s distinction as one of Texas’ “Music Friendly Communities” now opens doors that were previously shut. The bottom line: The Levitt will attract betterknown musical talent moving forward.

It also will feature some tribute bands, such as Infinite Journey and Desperado (an Eagles tribute group), as well as spotlight “up and comers” to open shows. This month, those shows open. Just look to the schedule to the right, and start making your Levitt Itinerary.

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MAINLY MANSFIELD

OUR CITY

ROCKS! Survey shows how much Mansfield residents appreciate their community Photo: flicker.com

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majority of Mansfield residents have a positive perception of their city and are more highly satisfied with city services than residents in most other cities in Texas and nationwide. Those are the results of a citywide community satisfaction survey recently presented to the City Council.

More than 3,000 surveys were mailed to a random sampling of Mansfield residents in November. The goal was to receive 400 completed surveys for the data to be statistically valid. Mansfield residents completed 632 surveys.

In addition to giving kudos, residents surveyed said there were several top priorities where improvements could be made. Most of those priorities were regarding city streets and traffic. Traffic flow and congestion management, maintenance of city streets and timing of traffic signals on city streets were three of the top five priorities named by residents surveyed. Other priorities were visibility of police in neighborhoods and disaster preparedness education.

“Community outreach is among the strategic initiatives identified by the council,” says City Manager Joe Smolinski. “The council’s goal is to address resident concerns and plan for the city’s future. With those concerns articulated by residents through the survey, City staff will now begin developing the strategies to address those concerns and present those plans to the City Council in the months ahead.”

When asked how satisfied they were with Mansfield as a place to live, 90 percent of respondents said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the city. When asked about Mansfield as a place to raise children, 89 percent were very satisfied or satisfied.

• Overall quality of life in Mansfield – 86 percent were very satisfied or satisfied.

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• Overall image of Mansfield – 85 percent were very satisfied or satisfied.

Regarding residents’ satisfaction with City services, 92 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of police, fire and EMS. When asked about the overall quality of parks and recreation programs and facilities, 88 percent were very satisfied or satisfied.

• Overall quality of City water & sewer utilities – 78 percent very satisfied or satisfied • Overall quality of public library services – 77 percent very satisfied or satisfied • Overall effectiveness of City communication with the public – 62 percent very satisfied or satisfied.

Mansfield ranked higher in resident’s satisfaction with major categories of city services, compared to several Texas cities with populations ranging from 40,000 to 125,000.

• Overall quality of police, fire and EMS – Mansfield respondents 92 percent, compared to 88 percent from the Texas cities list.

• Overall quality of parks/recreation programs and facilities – Mansfield respondents 88 percent, compared to 78 percent from the Texas cities list. Among the cities compared were Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Pflugerville, Round Rock and Sugar Land.

• Overall quality of library services – Mansfield respondents 77 percent, compared to 49 percent from the Texas cities list.

• Overall quality of customer service received from City employees – Mansfield respondents 80 percent, compared to 69 percent from the Texas cities list.

For more: mansfieldtexas.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=480

LET'S SHOW

WHO YOU

ARE!

BRANDING/ LIFESTYLE/ HEADSHOTS

WE WILL HELP YOU PLAN, STYLE, DESIGN, & CREATE PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL BRANDING VISUALS TO ATTRACT YOUR DREAM CLIENT!

arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS

Scene

Snapshots of note from places and events in the Arlington/Mansfield/Grand Prairie area

Arlington Life Shelter honored

Photo: City of Arlington

Mayor Jeff Williams presented Arlington Life Shelter a proclamation of praise for its service during the pandemic.

This Councilman got vaccinated

Photo courtesy of Raul Gonzalez

City Councilman Raul Gonzalez gives a big thumb’s up after receiving his second COVID-19 vaccination shot.

2020-2021 Texas Rangers/Richard Greene Scholars meet with the Mayor

Photo courtesy of Sylvia Greene

Mayor Jeff Williams poses with scholars Louis Alexander, Christin Williams, Kennedi Arceneaux, Siam Tungnung, Ethan Syed and Servando Olvera.

Park here!

Photos: City of Arlington

The Arlington Parks & Recreation Department last month hosted a grand reopening celebration to introduce the community to the new amenities at Bob Cooke Park in East Arlington (2025 Craig Hanking Drive). The park features the Otis Brown Court for basketball players and the city’s first futsal court.

2021 Mayor’s Community Prayer event

Photos courtesy of Aaron Reich

Mayor Jeff Williams, as shown on the big screen, addressed the crowd at Texas Live! during his annual Community Prayer event last month.

An important honor for Geraldine Mills Thank you, Mr. McCullough

Photo: The Salvation Army

Jerry McCullough was honored by Lt. Kostya Maslenikov for his service to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Drive.

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Movin’ Mavs honored

Photos: Prince Lebanese Grill

Photo: City of Arlington

Mayor Jeff Williams recently honored the UTA Movin’ Mavs for winning the national wheelchair basketball title.

Photo: Arlington Historical Society

During a City Council meeting last month, the grounds of the Fielder House Museum were named in honor of Geraldine Mills, director of the Arlington Historical Society.

Photo: City of Arlington The museum is home to the society’s many historical collections, and Mills has been involved with the society since 1996.

Look who reads Arlington Today!

ArlingtonToday.com #WeKnowArlington

arlingtontoday.com arlingtontoday.com •• April May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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GOIN’ DOWNTOWN

4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge

TAKE OUT

TUESDAY

Downtown restaurants team to give you a great way to support local businesses

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s long as Texas’ beautiful spring weather continues to woo us outdoors, we’d sure like to spend a little less time inside preparing meals. Here’s an idea: let Downtown Arlington restaurants do the cooking for you.

In celebration of the unique flavors found in the heart of the city, Downtown Arlington is inviting residents and visitors to support local restaurants (and skip a night in your kitchen) by ordering take out every Tuesday through June 1.

In Downtown, there’s a smörgåsbord of dining options and flavors that are sure to entice any palate: gourmet pizzas a-plenty and burgers that you’ll write home about ... delicious Japanese ramen and Korean bowls ... gourmet charcuterie platters, award-winning barbecue, the original Irish Nachos, and Food Network-worthy desserts.

Take Out Tuesday is also a great excuse (not that you need one) to discover the district’s growing number of coffee shops or to take home your new favorite local craft beer. Downtown restaurants, cafes and pubs are regularly recognized by national and local media, including Trip Advisor, The Food Network, Dallas Morning News, Arlington Today, and Ft. Worth Weekly.

Take Out Tuesday Pop-Up Community Picnics Take Out Tuesday is just part of the late spring/summer fun in store for visitors to Downtown Arlington. You also can make plans to take your take-out to a monthly pop-up community picnic. The picnics will pop-up in green space gems in Downtown. While you nosh, enjoy free live music from 6:30-8 p.m. You can BYOTO (Bring Your Own Take Out) and blanket or folding chairs to these events, and no RSVP is needed.

Last month’s Pop-Up Community Picnic took place at Gene Allen Park next to the Arlington Museum of Art and featured music by Mossy Tuesday.

The next event, set for May 4, was still in the planning stages at press time, so you’ll need to visit the Downtown Arlington website, downtownarlington.org, regularly to see keep up to date as details emerge. The third picnic, scheduled for June 1, will take place at the mini park adjacent to BBBA on Center Street, featuring music by Artemis Funk.

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Babe’s Chicken Dinner House

Cartel Taco Bar

J.R. Bentley’s

J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill

Legal Draft Beer Co.

Urban Alchemy

Restaurant506 at The Sanford House

Old School Pizza Tavern

Kintaro Ramen

Hurtado Barbecue Co.

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THE ARTS

ART, FOR YOUR SAKE

A

re you a fine arts aficionado looking for ways to support local artists or soak up the art scene in Arlington? You’re in luck. Here’s a list of three art events in The American Dream City this month.

West Main Arts Festival When: May 8, noon - 8 p.m.

Where: Create Arlington (306 W. Main St.) Details: The 2021 West Main Arts Festival is a day-long event filled with art and music. The festival will include art from 50 vendors, live painting and sculpting and 20 bands on three stages.

For more: downtownarlington.org/do/west-main-st-festival UTA Annual Glass Art Sale When: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. May 13- May 15, or until art sells out.

Where: 810 S. Davis Drive Details: More than 2,000 pieces, ranging from $5 paperweights to collector artworks, will be available at the UTA Department of Art + Art History’s Annual Glass Art Sale, located at 810. S. Davis Dr.

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Image courtesy of the city of Arlington

Participants must wear a face mask, follow COVID-19 guidelines and register in advance in order to attend.

For more: rb.gy/wvrhgl “30 Americans” Exhibition at the Arlington Museum of Art When: Summer 2021 Where: Arlington Museum of Art (201 W. Main St.) Details: This art exhibition focuses on issues of race, sexuality, gender and historical identity and includes artwork from 30 African American artists of the past 30 years.

For more: arlingtonmuseum.org

CHANGE VING I R FD RS O A E Y

TITLE SPONSORS

DON'T MISS OUT! BE A DRIVER OF CHANGE. Help drive change by joining friends and community members at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County's annual golf tournament, Par for the Kids! Don’t miss the 30th year of giving back to the Club through a fun round of golf on Monday, June 21, 2021. The day is guaranteed to be full of excitement featuring contests, raffle prizes, a helicopter ball drop, and a delicious lunch and dinner provided by Spring Creek BBQ and Saltgrass Steak House. The Club is the best hope for at-risk youth in Tarrant County and our community’s future depends upon partners like YOU who continue investing in kids who need us most.

JOIN OUR SPONSORS

AgWorkers | Anton Cabinetry | Charles Schwab | Don Illingworth & Associates | FASTSIGNS KPMG | Dr. John & Julie Landry | PRA Group | Regal Metals | Tricon Commercial Building Group, Ltd. Big Sky Minerals | TXU Energy | Queenan Law Firm Larry & Karen Anfin | First Rate | Southside Bank

Media and Advertising Sponsor

SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS AVAILABLE: SCAN THE CODE OR VISIT PARFORTHEKIDS.COM For additional event information please contact Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County: (817) 720-9361 | ext 209 or nantonitis@bgcgtc.org.

•

NEWS & NOTES

Bulletin Board Arlington Council of PTAs to sponsor ‘Bless-A-Campus’ event from May 3-7

T

he Arlington Council of PTAs will sponsor the Fourth Annual “Bless-A-Campus” program May 3-7. Bless-A-Campus brings the community and schools closer together through campus-based appreciation events that coincide with National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Many AISD campuses do not have a formal or active Parent Engagement Group to coordinate these events. Through “Bless-A-Campus,” the Arlington Council of PTAs provides a snack, beverage and small token of appreciation for each teacher and staff member at these campuses.

The program is underwritten entirely by businesses, community leaders, and individuals – 100% of donations will return to local schools through Teacher Appreciation Week recognition events, with each event being coordinated by Arlington Council of PTA volunteers.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, donations can be made at the following levels: • $250.00 Golden Apple Sponsor – You or your business will be included in Arlington Council of PTAs Social media for Campaign for “Bless-A-Campus,” and your logo will go on all Campus-based Appreciation Event signage • $100.00 Silver Apple Sponsor – Your logo will go all Campus-based Appreciation Event signage • $25.00 Red Apple Sponsor – Your name will go on all Campus-based Appreciation Event signage In addition to seeking financial donations to the “Bless-A-Campus” project, the Arlington Council of PTAs is also in need of 5,000 writing pens to distribute as a part of all Teacher/ Staff Appreciation events. These pens may include your business logo. The Arlington Council of PTAs requests a minimum of 500 pens donated per company. Corporate coupons are also welcome.

If you would like to invest your company in this effort to bond the community with local schools, sponsorships are payable to: Arlington Council of PTAs or via PayPal at: paypal.me/ArlingtonCouncilPTAs. For additional information on how you can partner with “Bless-A-Campus,” contact Valorie Kruger at valogator@gmail.com.

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Samuel tabbed to lead UTA’s office of diversity/ equity/inclusion

D

r. Bryan Samuel will join the University of Texas at Arlington this month to lead and build the new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which will act as an administrative, intellectual, and community-oriented hub.

Dr. Samuel was selected after a comprehensive national search that included an opportunity for him to engage and share his vision for pursuing inclusivity and excellence at UTA. “I am truly honored to join UT Arlington as the inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” Dr. Samuel says. “I am especially excited to collaborate with students, faculty and staff in advancing our inclusive excellence aspirations.”

For nearly two decades, Samuel has served as a leader at universities across the country advancing diversity, equity and inclusion for students, faculty and staff. Most recently, he served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Kansas State University.

Maverick Open golf tournament is set for May 6

T

he 2021 Maverick Open golf tournament will be held May 6 at Texas Rangers Golf Club (701 Brown Blvd).

Sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic and Spine Hospital - Arlington, the event supports University of Texas at Arlington athletics.

Check-in and lunch begins at noon.

A shotgun start begins at 1:30 p.m., and after the tournament an awards presentation will take place at 6 p.m.

You can register as a team, individual player or sponsor at tinyurl.com/2t365ywf.

For more, contact Alex Ware by emailing alex.ware@uta.edu or calling 817-272-9613.

Medical City Arlington earns accreditation for superior heart care

M

edical City Arlington has earned the Cycle 6 Chest Pain Center Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Resuscitation Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology, making it the only hospital in Tarrant County to attain this accreditation for heart and vascular treatment.

Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center Primary PCI with Resuscitation Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI services available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Park Place introduces Clicklane, a seamless online process to simplify the car-buying experience

P

ark Place Dealerships has rolled out Clicklane, a seamless online experience that has simplified the car buying and selling process, saving the consumer significant time to complete the transaction.

“We want to meet clients where they are most comfortable and Clicklane gives the buyer or seller complete control,” says Tony Carimi, Managing Director of Park Place Dealerships. “Some clients enjoy in-person car shopping while others want to make the transaction as straightforward as possible. Through Clicklane, our clients can skip the visit to the dealership and complete the entire purchase online.

Clicklane is a unique platform that allows the consumer to buy or sell their automobile in approximately 15 minutes. While the online car-buying experience has been available for some time, Clicklane modifies the process to easy steps that include: • Find Your Dream Car – New, Pre-Owned or Certified (three minutes) • Easy Trade – Enter VIN to get value of your car and real-time payoff amount (three minutes) • Pick Your Payments – Select a payment structure that works for you (three minutes) • Get the Best Rate – Choose the rate you want from more than 30 lenders (three minutes) • Digitally Sign Paperwork– Sign all documents via DocuSign® (three minutes) and wait for the car to be delivered to your home or business within a few days.

“Park Place is best known for its great customer service and Clicklane extends this experience right to the front door of our most loyal clients, as well as attracts new clients,” Carimi says. “Online shopping will continue to grow and we expect the automotive category will represent a shift in this trend from first-time buyers to high-income earners.”

Clicklane has a seven-day, 1,000-mile money back guarantee on all online purchases. The consumer can return the vehicle to the dealership at their expense in the same condition as it was upon delivery with no questions asked. For more: parkplace.com

arlingtontoday.com arlingtontoday.com arlingtontoday.com•••March April May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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DINING GUIDE

Keen Cuisine UPSCALE

The Keg

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 The Keg • 4001 Arlington Highlands Blvd. • 817-465-3700 • kegsteakhouse.com 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

Dino’s Subs

frieddaze • 5005 S. Cooper St., Suite 159 • 817-472-6666 • frieddaze.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

frieddaze

La Isla Restaurant • 2201 E. Pioneer Pkwy. • 817-459-1498 • laislarestauranttx.com

ITALIAN / PIZZA

Café Sicilia • 7221 Matlock Road • 817-419-2800 • cafesicilia.com Gino’s East • 1350 E. Copeland Road • 817-200-6834 • ginoseast.com/arlington

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 60

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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Charity Golf

Tournament To Support The Arlington/Mansfield Area Salvation Army and North Texas Youth Education Town (YET)

May 24, 2021

Shady Valley Country Club 1:00 Shotgun Start

The mission of the Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

The Family Life Center is a residential program devoted to helping families avoid homelessness and regain self-sufficiency. The facility is located in the heart of Arlington and houses families in need.

The YET provides programs to support children, youth and adults, primarily from low-income families. YET resources enhance physical, social, educational, psychological and spiritual well-being.

THERE IS STILL TIME TO JOIN OUR CURRENT SPONSORS & SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT EVENT! GOLD

SILVER

Dr. Clayton & Anne Dye Bill & Sharon Bowie

Special Thanks To

For more information: Lt. Konstantin Maslenikov (410) 422-7117 Or register by using this QR code or by typing this link igfn.us/form/boj_oA

•

SPEAKING OF SPORTS

I was chatting with Mick Jagger ...

G

Another one of my favorites happened on July 28, 2017. That rowing up, one of my favorite shows was ABC’s Wide morning I had the opportunity to interview Pudge Rodriquez World of Sports. The opening to that show was so dramatic: two days before he was inducted into the National Baseball “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety Hall of Fame. We were in Cooperstown, and after the 30-minute of sports. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat! The human interview he asked if I could go play golf with him. I declined drama of athletic competition. This is ABC’s Wide World of because I had work to do. Pudge was working with us at the time Sports.” and went to the bosses and asked them to cut me loose for the day It was that human drama part that always resonated with so that I could play golf. me. Watching regular people that looked just like you and me Once they did, Pudge told his Hall of Fame liaison to go and accomplish great things was fascinating. get me some rental clubs and some golf balls and to put it all on Years later I found myself in a position to interview many of his cart. The young man asked, “and who are you playing with?” those humans after those great events, and it became the best part Pudge answered, “Tim Raines and John Smoltz.” of my job. Here then are some of my favorite interviews.

Well, Smoltz was already in the Hall of Fame and is a well On May 1, 1991, after a day of covering the Byron Nelson Golf known scratch golfer. Tim was going to be inducted into the Hall tournament, my wife and I were backing out of the driveway to with Pudge. By the time we got to the first tee Smoltz had gotten go get a bite to eat. As we backed out I heard the late great Mark impatient and gone out with another group. But there we were, Holtz say, “through six innings Nolan Ryan has not allowed a two Hall of Fame inductees and me. hit.” I pulled forward, put the car in park I am thinking, “one of these things is and told my wife, “Sorry, honey, you are not like the others.” I am wondering if on your own for dinner, I’ve got to go to I am going to be able to draw the club Arlington Stadium.”

John Rhadigan back. Fans lined the tee box on several I got there and went to the press box holes to get a glimpse of all the Hall of and watched as Nolan struck out 16 Famers playing. I have never played Toronto Blue Jays, including future Hall of MY JOB has given me the with a gallery; I was nervous I would hit Famer Roberto Alomar Junior to end the someone. I didn’t, and every time Pudge game. With an NBC5 camera man we ran opportunity to interview some and Rock went to sign autographs, I onto the field to capture the moment and pretty special people over the pinched myself to make sure this wasn’t heard the roar of 33,000 Rangers fans on years. a dream.

Arlington Appreciation Night.

The subject of this last interview has After the celebration subsided, we never been a candidate for Wide World of Sports. But it happened went to the clubhouse and interviewed Nolan as he rode an at Super Bowl XL. (That is 40 for those who don’t recall their exercise bike in the middle of the clubhouse. They did not have Roman numerals.) The game featured the Seattle Seahawks a dedicated room for cardio equipment in those days, and Nolan against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the 11th time I had covered was multi-tasking. Riding the bike to break up lactic acid in his the Super Bowl, and in the previous 10 trips I had never covered legs, drinking a beer and doing an interview. Among the things the press conference featuring the halftime entertainment. But he told us that night, “It was the most rewarding no-hitter of them this one was different. all because it came in front of my fans on Arlington Appreciation I entered a huge banquet room at the media hotel in Detroit. It Night. My career is complete now. I got one for the fans in was full, possibly as many as 600 media members all anxious to Arlington.” have a chance to ask a question of these entertainers who were It was his seventh no hitter! He was 44 years old! That is human introduced like this: A voice came over the speakers saying, drama like we had never seen before or since.

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

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Join Us! Among my career highlights was getting to play golf with baseball Hall of Famers Tim Raines and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.

“Ladies and Gentlemen the greatest rock and roll band in the world, The Rolling Stones!”

There were strict rules for asking questions of Mick and the boys: State your name and your affiliation into the microphone and no follow ups. We knew that not many would get the opportunity to even ask a question. I told my camera man to be ready because I was going to ask one. He scoffed.

When the time came I raised my hand like a desperate fifth grader who knew the answer to a hard question and wanted to share his knowledge with the class. Low and behold, they handed me the mic. On the previous question Mick had difficulty finding the questioner in the sea of fans – I mean, media. So rather than starting with my name I started with my location in the room and then my affiliation, to wit: “Hello Mick, I am in the back of the room right in the middle, I am from Fox Sports Southwest.” When his eyes found me I said, “I’m John Rhadigan.”

To my utter amazement he said, “Oh, hi, John.”

My life complete, I proceeded: “Do you have a favorite American Football team?”

Mick crossed his legs, grabbed the microphone with purpose, pulled it to his mouth and said, “No!” I panicked. Are you kidding me? I finally got the chance to interview Mick Jagger and I got a one-word answer? So the rule about follow ups be damned, I grabbed the microphone again and I asked a follow up question. Which in my head sounded like this, “da, duh, um,whoosh, ugh.”

But I have seen and heard the tape. What I actually said was, “Have you ever had a favorite American football team? Do you like American football?”

He had an answer to that one, “Oh yes,” he says. Back in the ‘70s there was this team called the Pittsburgh Steelers and they had a player called Lynn Swan and he made a levitating leap and caught the football.”

Suddenly it hit me, I identified myself, he said hello. I asked a question, he said no. I asked a follow up and he gave an answer.

That is a conversation! I have had a conversation with Mick Jagger!

Back when I was kid watching Wide World Of Sports, I realized I would like to be a sportscaster. But I never could have dreamed I would like it this much.

The Junior League of Arlington has: 375 members from 16 cities Completed 750,000 volunteer hours Donated $3 million to area non-profits

Now Accepting Applications!

For more information, email recruitment@jlarlington.org

arlingtontoday.com • May 2021 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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EVENTS, ETC.

Itinerary

Texas Rangers baseball

ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL will present a “Michael Hix Motown Get Down” concert at 2 p.m. on May 15.

Arlington’s Hix makes his return

This month, your Texas Rangers will play home series against the Boston Red Sox (May 1-2), the Seattle Mariners (May 7-9), the New York Yankees (May 17-20), and the Houston Astros (May 21-23). mlb.com/rangers Photo: cnn.com

to the venue with a performance that will feature all of your favorite Motown hits, and then some. This is a show that is fun for the entire family and that will have a mixture of incredible music, comedy, dancing, and … with Michael ... there’s always a lot of surprises in store.

Arlington Music Hall currently has concerts at 50% occupancy, and social distancing seats are available. Masks are mandatory. The staff is also using sanitizing chemical in the venue prior to all shows. arlingtonmusichall.net

Cinco de Mayo at Texas Live!

Troy’s at Texas Live! will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration, beginning at 6 p.m. on May 5. Highlights include a free Salsa/Bachata class with the Dallas Dance Studio, half off Tequila Sheela cocktails from 6-8 p.m. and music by DJS Tru-Sound Coalition. texas-live.com Photo: texas-live.com

CIRCLE THE DATE: The new Arlington Art Dealers Association will host its first Gallery Day Event on June 5, when special exhibitions and classes will be offered at the member galleries: The Upstairs Gallery, College Town Renaissance Center, Contempo Art Glass Gallery and Create Arlington.

The Arlington Art Dealers Association started with a few art professionals on Abram Street wanting to do more to bring attention to the arts in Arlington. The June Gallery Day is the first of three events planned by the organization. facebook.com/Arlington-Art-DealersAssociation-107226304803674

Symphony Arlington Symphony Arlington will present a concert featuring pianist Simone Sala at 7:35 p.m. on May 6 at Arlington Music Hall. The performance will feature works

by Beethoven and Schumann, among others. symphonyarlington.org Photo: arlington.org

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n o t g n i l r A e t a g Tail

! d r o w e h t is

•

FINISH LINE

Six Flags Over Texas ... 60 years later

Six Flags Over Texas has held special memories for many Arlington residents – myself included.

Photo: pinterest.com

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“After the first day of rehearsal,” Sandra reminiscences, “I went verything we see today in Arlington’s remarkable home and told my family, ‘I met my husband today.’” entertainment district may never have come to be except for a The first time my wife and I discovered Arlington was on real estate developer looking for a solution to a problem. our wedding trip in 1964. Our honeymoon destination was Six Angus Wynne, Jr.’s vision upon the completion of the DFW Flags. Two years later, we moved here and made the city our Turnpike in 1957 was that of imagining Dallas and Fort Worth permanent home. growing together and meeting at the halfway point in a growing One day in the early 1990s during a city council work session Arlington. we got to talking about our early experiences at Six Flags Over His plan was to build an expansive industrial park in that path, Texas and discovered that three of my council colleagues were and he began doing just that when the project, seemingly ahead of working at the park in those early days of my family’s visits to its time, faltered. the park.

Instead of giving up his dream, he came up with the idea of It is entirely likely that Bill Snider, Marti VanRavenswaay, and creating a small Disneyesque family entertainment center he Kelly Jones and I crossed paths at the park when Sylvia and I were hoped would produce some badly needed cash flow. taking our little son Brian, who would, one day as a teenager, run Maybe, the story is told, he would operate the attractions for a the sound for the Crazy Horse Saloon. few years then recover the land for more I imagined them opening the door offices and warehouses as the industrial to the Astro Lift, or helping us onto park he had begun enjoyed greater La Salle’s River Ride, or discovering success. the Spee-Lunkers or serving us at the Instead, from its humble beginnings Richard Greene Colonel’s Café or helping us find a seat in 1961, he had launched an entirely in the Southern Palace. new industry, and this year we get to The fold-out map to guide us through celebrate the 60th anniversary of Six TODAY, TOURISM is the park we had in our hands at the time Flags Over Texas – a company that now Arlington’s largest economy. was designed by Dick Malec. operates 16 parks across the country and We can thank Six Flags Over None of us would have imagined that around the world. one day we all would be serving on the There are a great many accounts of Texas for that. city council together. young people meeting their future Today, tourism is Arlington’s largest economy. First launched spouses while both were working at the park in its earliest

by Wynne’s effort to shore up his fledgling industrial park with years. Here’s just a couple: the little entertainment complex, it has soared to unexpected Steve Martindale, the recently retired chief executive of the Six heights.

Flags corporation, described his and his wife’s own story: “We Six Flags’ success made it possible for former mayor Tom did, indeed meet in 1977 while working in the rides department.

Vandergriff to point out to the barons of Major League Baseball When I first asked her to go out with me, she declined. I persisted, how Arlington had the ability to attract crowds from all over and she finally agreed, and we dated for six years straight before North Texas and beyond. we married in 1983. We were very young when we started out; I know it’s a cliché, but this really fits: The rest is history.

Paula was 17, and I was 19.”

There are countless stories like these still being made and New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown met Michael millions of people to share them. All of us would join together when they were college students during rehearsals in the and say, Happy Anniversary, Six Flags. We love you!

Southern Palace show in the park.

Richard Greene served as 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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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2021 • arlingtontoday.com