Chapter

Contents Contents

November 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 11

HIGHLIGHTS

46

52

26

62

26 The right call

Rangers PA announcer Chuck Morgan shares how he came to Arlington

The best 8 seconds in all of sports

The PBR World Finals is coming to AT&T Stadium this month

Everyone digs the new digs

UTA’s E.H. Hereford University Center undergoes a facelift

44 Chapter 2

Trinity Stallins and Samantha Maldonado are overcoming challenges at MIT

46 Rolls Royce cachet

Adlai Pennington got a real bargain when he purchased this classic

52 Home SWEET! Home

This elegant abode was built to last, built to impress and built to be enjoyed

60 A LOT to love, indeed

Mansfeld’s The LOT Downtown introduces new ways to engage the community

62 For this we give thanks

Some local leaders share that for which they are especially grateful

ON THE COVER

The world’s best bull riders will battle it out at the PBR World Finals at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 12-15 for the $1 million bonus and coveted gold buckle. Story, page 28

DEPARTMENTS Starting Line 12 This ‘n Data 14 • Around Town 22 Scene 24, 64 • Style 56 Bulletin Board 66 • Keen Cuisine 68 Speaking of Sports 70 • Itinerary 72 Finish Line 74

IN THIS ISSUE

ARLINGTON Todayyour community • your magazine EDITORS’ CHOICE 2020

Our second annual Editors’ Choice awards reveal our selections in more than fve dozen categories. Story, page 30

Dr. Sheri Puffer Dr. Maya Kuriakose

Dr. Joy Carter Dr. Joan Bergstrom

Dr. Jessica Brown

Dr. Kiran Nangrani

Dr. Dawnette Peppler

Women’s Health Services has been providing outstanding health care for women of all ages for the past 36 years. Originally founded by Dr. Joan Bergstrom, the group has just added their seventh female physician, Maya Kuriakose, MD. She joins Dr. Joan Bergstrom, Dr. Dawnette Peppler, Dr. Kiran Nangrani, Dr. Sheri Puffer, Dr. Joy Carter, and Dr. Jessica Brown. WHS has been recognized in the community for its reputable and thoughtful care. The group offers state-of-the-art female services at two locations in Arlington. They provide all obstetrical and gynecological surgical services at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital which is the premier community hospital in the city. Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital was awarded the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Status in 2017. The physicians of Women’s Health Services have won Arlington Today Women’s Healthcare Star Award for the past 7 years, Suburban Parent Magazines’ award for Best of Family Healthcare in Obstetrics and Gynecology, DFW Child Magazine’s Mom-Approved Doctors award for OB/GYN. Women’s Health Services offers the full array of OB/GYN services and all physicians are skilled in managing every aspect of women’s health care, including normal and high-risk pregnancy care, gynecologic sur ery i of e ia os i a hera eu i ro e ures for a or a ee i i o i e e rea e annual exams, and contraceptive and hormone therapy needs. Visit their website to schedule your appointment online at www.womenshealthservices.com.

ARLINGTON Todayyour community • your magazine EDITORS’ CHOICE 2020 Winner 2014-2020

Readers’ Choice All Star

ARLINGTON Todayyour community • your magazine

Seven-Time Winner!

All Star OB/GYN

North Offce:

1001 N. Waldrop, Suite 505 Arlington, TX 76012

South Offce:

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

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

Waxing bovinically

Let the record show that I have never ridden a bull. Let the record further show that I hope the previous six words appear as a quote from me in my obituary. If they don’t, there’s a pretty good chance you don’t have to keep reading it to fnd out the cause of death.

While I’m still on the record, it should be noted that I’m not anti-bull or even averse to bull riding as a hobby or vocation. In fact, I heartily admire the folks who endeavor to remain seated some eight seconds after the chute opens. You think your life has its ups and downs ...

Their life has something most of the rest of us can only imagine: virtually unparalleled bravery. They also possess something else to which many of the remainder of us can only aspire: an unmatched ability to keep getting up no matter how many times they’ve fallen. As life metaphors go, I can think of few Yale more inspirational than the routine Youngblood of the bull rider. Down, up, down, up, Editor down again, up again ... those people are remarkably driven by a passion that makes them refuse to stay down. Maybe it’s something genetic. Maybe they were just “brought up” well. Whatever the case, you would have to look long and far to fnd persistence personifed any better.

This month, that quality will be on display in spades at AT&T Stadium. The best of the best bull riders will congregate in our fair burg to determine the last man sitting. The PBR World Finals is the Super Bowl of bull riding, but instead of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of the competition, this month’s winner will wear the coveted gold buckle. Oh, and he will walk away $1 million richer than he was when he arrived in town. That probably should be noted.

The event is chronicled in our cover story this month on page 28. After you read it you will not only know more about the World Final and the sport; you’ll meet the principals vying to become known as king of the arena. Given where the PBR World Final is being held this year, that’s some arena.

Speaking of kings of arenas, this month we’re also spotlighting local versions of the best of the best – kings and queens (and even some institutions) – as deemed by our editorial team. This is the second year of our Editors’ Choice Awards, and I urge you to turn to page 30 to see who we’ve selected.

You likely have already taken a liking to most of them – that’s one of the reasons we chose them. And I fully expect that you might take exception to a selection or two dozen, but that’s OK. The truth is: Our region is full of greatness, and it is nigh impossible to give everyone his or her due whenever we reveal our selections.

This, however, is not nigh impossible: We fully plan to have a third annual Editors’ Choice Awards edition this time next year, if just to spur and continue the conversation. Spoiler alert: It’s highly unlikely I will win the bull riding category. yale@arlingtontoday.com

Today

EXECUTIVE BOARD Executive Publisher Judy M. Rupay CEO Richard Greene

EDITORIAL Editor Yale Youngblood Sports Columnist John Rhadigan Special Columnist Major General Patrick Brady Website & Social Media Manager Bailey Woodard Contributing Graphic Artists Francisco Cuevas, Susan Darovich Contributing Writers Kenneth Perkins Contributing Photographers Dwayne Lee, Heather Lee, Bruce Maxwell

SALES / CIRCULATION Business Manager Bridget Dean Sales Managers Laura DiStefano, Amy Lively, Andrea Proctor, Debbie Roach, Tricia Schwartz Distribution Manager Hanna Areksoussi

PRODUCTION Production Manager Susan Darovich

ARLINGTON TODAY is published monthly. Copyright 2020 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

Arlington Today magazine proudly sponsors the Junior League of Arlington, The Salvation Army and Theatre Arlington.

Dignitaries cut the ribbon to offcally mark completion of the Abram Street Rebuild through Downtown.

Photo: City of Arlington

ABRAM STREET REBUILD HAS BEEN COMPLETED!

City, community, and businesses leaders last month celebrated the transformative Abram Street Rebuild through Downtown – a fnal milestone that also marks the completion of the largest street rebuild in Arlington’s history.

Downtown is the fourth and fnal section of the voter-approved $50 million Abram Street Rebuild, which started at the Grand Prairie city limits east of SH 360 in July 2014 and has progressed west to Cooper Street over the past six years. In all, nearly seven miles of one of Arlington’s major thoroughfares and the gateway to the heart of the city were rebuilt as part of the City Council’s priority to Enhance Regional Mobility.

Since March 2018, the Department of Public Works and Transportation has been working to transform the section of Abram between Cooper and Collins streets. The $26 million project brought much-needed roadway and utilities improvements, additional on-street parking, enhanced landscaping and pedestrian amenities such as benches and LED lighting designed to create a more vibrant, welcoming atmosphere for Downtown shoppers, diners, and visitors.

“Abram Street is one of the major gateways into The American Dream City … but it’s much more than that. It also provides access to the nearby world-class Entertainment District, Downtown’s state-designated Cultural District and of course, The University of Texas at Arlington,” Mayor Jeff Williams says. “And this project was a team effort all the way. Arlington is always stronger when we work together … and this project is a terrifc example of what we can accomplish as a community when we dream big and buy into the same vision.”

ART FANS, TAKE NOTE: Show Me the Monet Gallery of Fine Art has recently expanded its space inside

Gracie Lane (4720 S. Cooper St.), added new artists and expanded its line of gift items. Plus it continues to offer painting workshops hosted by local artists. For more: 817-313-6327. PUBLIC GETS FIRST LOOK AT NMOHM

Rafael Viñoly Architects last month shared a frst look at renderings of its National Medal of Honor Museum, which is set to open in Arlington in 2024. The museum will honor the over 3,500 Americans who have been conferred the country’s most prestigious military decoration.

YOU CAN SUPPORT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THIS FALL

Because the COVID pandemic forced the Arlington Historical Society to cancel its annual fundraiser, the organization is seeking donations for a virtual online silent auction, “Thanks for the Memories,” scheduled for Nov. 12-14.

Money raised from the auction will support the society’s mission to ensure the preservation of Arlington’s rich history and help the organization to make improvements on The Fielder House and to the cabins at Knapp Heritage Park.

Items on Executive Director Geraldine Mills’ “Wish List” include: • Restoring the east side balcony of The Fielder House • Refnishing the ceiling and installing shelving in The Fielder House Toy Room • Installing uplighting in trees in front of The Fielder House • Resurfacing The Fielder House parking lot • Painting The Lampe House exterior • Updating original log cabins at Knapp Heritage Park, including chinking, log repair and roofng • Adding benches and exterior lighting at Knapp Heritage Park

For more information about the Arlington Historical Society, visit historicalarlington.org. To donate something for the auction, email felderh@swbell.net.

CELEBRATING KINDNESS

Steinborn honored for helping resident while making a routine stop to pick up a feral cat

It started out as an ordinary day on Sept. 16, 2020, as Animal Services employee Crystal Steinborn was picking up a feral cat trap in her job as code compliance offcer and coordinator of the trap-neuter-return program. That is, until she heard someone screaming.

Steinborn reacted quickly and calmly as she went toward the screams to help. A resident had fallen and was bleeding from the head. Steinborn promptly called 911, and applied pressure until paramedics arrived. Once the situation was under control,

she left. The 911 dispatcher called the shelter manager to compliment how calmly and professionally Steinborn helped the resident. The resident was taken to the hospital, and Steinborn reported that when

Photo: City of Arlington she followed up later in the day,

thankfully the resident was released and able to return home.

Last month, Steinborn received a Certifcate of Appreciation by Mayor Jeff Williams for her extraordinary acts of kindness.

RAISE YOUR HAND if you voted in the historic city election of 1990, during which Elzie Odom became the frst African-American person elected as Mayor of Arlington and Dan Serna became the frst Latino elected to the Arlington City Council.

INTERLOCHEN LIGHTS WILL BE SHINING AGAIN

At press time we got word that the 2020 Interlochen Christmas Lights event has been given the OK by the city to go on this year.

The Arlington Police Department will offcially control traffc at the popular holiday attraction for eight nights, from Dec. 18 - Dec. 25. The free twomile car tour is an Arlington tradition. For more: lakeinterlochentx.com/christmas-lights.

CITY COMMITS TO ACHIEVE GBAC STAR ACCREDITATION

The City of Arlington last month announced its commitment to achieve Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Arlington is the frst city in the United States to implement the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention at its public facilities under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program will verify that the City of Arlington implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. In all, the City is seeking accreditation for 23 public facilities, including all recreation centers, golf course clubhouses and libraries, City Hall, and the Municipal Court.

The City is also seeking accreditation for Esports Stadium Arlington & Expo Center, which is home to the largest dedicated esports facility in North America and can host up to 2,500 spectators for live competitions.

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the City of Arlington will demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures.

OPTIMIST CLUB FOOTBALL MOVED TO THE SPRING

Due to COVID delays of 2020 fall football, the Optimist Club of Arlington has rescheduled its football and cheer season to the spring of 2021. Sign ups will begin in early December. Practices are scheduled to begin in February, and the season will go through May. For more: facebook.com/OptimistArlingtonTX.

This is my little one. He is 2 years old. This is my little one. He is 2 years old. He is the friendliest, most loving, caring, He is the friendliest, most loving, caring, fufy, tail-waggin’ dog you ever met. fufy, tail-waggin’ dog you ever met.

– Diane Norwood – Diane Norwood

3SCOOPS

1. The Arlington City Council recently approved $325,000 for fscal year 2021,the frst year of a three-year phased process that will provide all Arlington Firefghters with a second set of frefghting gear.

2. Applications for the 2021 Cinderella Ball will be available, beginning on Nov. 1. The Ball, the oldest continuing social event and charitable beneft in Arlington, features girls from local high schools who solicit donations for Arlington projects of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County. For more: contactus@cinderellacharityball.com.

3. Road construction is almost complete at the new Mansfeld International Business Park, located near Klein Tools. This and other projects are detailed in the Fall 2020 Road Report. For more: mansfeldtexas.gov/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=378.

Arlington By the numbers

104,793 The number of people who attended the George Strait concert at AT&T Stadium in 2014

18,510 The approximate number of military veterans who call Arlington their home

82.4 The percentage of Arlington households with a broadband Internet subscription

Arlington ISD Specialized Programs Arlington ISD Specialized Programs

Meet Ryan Smith, the Rabbit King

Ryan Smith not only is an award-winning rabbit breeder, he created his own virtual show for fellow breeders that attracted 1,300 entries.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced us into hiding, school activities darted for cover as well. No sports, no band, no Key Club. job with that,” Tanner Smith says. “But we have 40 to 50 kids who have rabbits and she can’t answer all those questions.” At the pandemic’s outset, Ryan noticed a few rabbit shows

And no rabbit showings. popping up online. So he decided to do the same, but with

That news nearly wrecked Ryan Smith, age 16. “some favor.”

Not the sports. Or the band. Or Key Club. He made digital awards for winners, ofered up pictures of

The rabbits. the rabbits, and with an entry fee paid out a winner jackpot.

Quarantine for Ryan was watching his furry little friends The frst show lured 700 exhibitors. Soon his Online Rabbit peer out from their cages, all gussied up with nowhere to go. Show Extravaganza was averaging 1,300 entries a pop and, to

Or, better yet, to show. make it legit, included a pair of recognized judges from the

Ryan is a breeder, a sort of Dr. Frankenstein of rabbitry. American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), the national Breeding is not rocket science, but there’s an exact science to club for domestic rabbit breeders. it. Ryan knows what judges desire for the rabbit shows and “What he pulled of was absolutely amazing,” Tanner Smith obliges. That means a little mixing of this and matching of that. says. “He’s been able to create opportunities for not just other

He’s awfully good at it. FFA and 4H members but opportunities for anyone who has

His rabbits have won Best in Breed 13 times and Best in a rabbit to show. This is quite the accomplishment from a Show twice in major rabbit contests junior to be organizing and running a in and outside Texas – one as a grand nationally recognized rabbit show.” champion, no less. Oddly, Ryan didn’t possess a rabbit

In fact, Ryan is so knowledgeable passion early on. He was sold after his about purebreds he has become the Kenneth Perkins frst Freshman AG class. go-to student in Arlington ISD for All “I just thought showing rabbits Things Rabbit. would be easier than showing, like,

During a visit to the district’s goats,” Ryan confesses. Agriculture Science Center recently, WHEN AG students ask Showing rabbits is all about making I watch as the Arlington High School Advisor Tanner Smith judges get excited over a purebred junior rolls his fnger over a rabbit’s ears, saying how judges for that something about rabbits, ftting its 100-point Standard of Perfection, a grading system based particular breed prefer ears to be short he speed-dials Ryan. on strict guidelines centered around and open, not folded, and how the features such as fur quality, color head should not have a fat brow. descriptions, markings and weight.

“You want it to round over the brow,” he tells me. “The “Can you get to that 100?” Ryan says. “That’s the goal.” body must have a short shoulder, not a long one. Same with the While there is not much rabbit breeding at the collegiate midsection. You look at his markings for color in how the eye ranks, post-grad Ryan plans to enter contests as an Open circles go all the way around. You want it to be nice and full, Exhibitor and eventually become an ARBA judge. not thin, or no eye color at all. The idea is to breed to get what He’s of to a good start. He can already give you the lowdown the judges are looking for.” on 40 to 45 unique breeds, right of the top of his head.

If fellow students ask Arlington High School Ag Science Not bad, considering the ARBA lists only 50 of them. Teacher and FFA Advisor Tanner Smith something specifc about rabbits, he speed-dials Ryan. “There’s an advisor over rabbits and she does a really good

Scene

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

Unite Unite Arlington Arlington

Mayor Jeff Williams was one of some 750 volunteers who took on community projects during Unite Arlington.

Photos: City of Arlington

Volunteers during Unite Arlington tackled dozens of projects to help out their neighbors, including doing electrical work, sowing seeds to enhance yards and painting homes.

Pentatonix Pentatonix

Image: mlb.com Arlington’s own Pentatonix (Mitch Grassi, Matt Sallee, Scott Hoying, Kevin Olusola and Kirstin Maldonado) performed the Star Spangled Banner virtually prior to Game One of the World Series at Globe Life Field. A special birthday A special birthday celebration celebration

Photo: City of Grand Prairie Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen turns 70 in December, and Grand Prairie residents are invited to celebrate by serving the community. The city has created 70 ways you can do just that in the #MayorJensen70for70 program, which runs this month throught Dec. 27. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/y6adlczo.

Dana McCoy, Tony McCoy and violinist LeeAnne Chenoweth

Pianist Erik Barnes, Cheryl Forrester and David Durham

Timeless Timeless Concerts Concerts

Photos: Timeless Concerts Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Photo: City of Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams joined students from Green Oaks School to mark Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month.