Section B | parkcitiespeople.com |
@pcpeople |
@peoplenewspapers
PHOTOS BY: KAREN CHANEY, MIA CARRERA, CADE HAMMER, AND RACHEL SNYDER
2B August 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com
BELOVED ‘STAR LADY’ HAS A BLAST By William Taylor
william.taylor@peoplenewspapers.com
D
onna Pierce [center] wants to set the record straight. Contrary to a tall tale circulating on July 4, Highland Park ISD’s longtime “Star Lady” hasn’t rocketed into orbit with Space X. But if Elon Musk decided to call, the 88-year-old retired astronomy teacher would certainly listen despite the trip necessitating a closed cockpit instead of the open one the licensed pilot favors. Even without such a star trek, the Highland Park planetarium’s namesake had trouble coming back to earth after the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade. “I’ve always thought of my life as a tapestry and wanted bright colors to be used, but never thought colors so bright from being a grand marshal were available,” Pierce said, recalling, “the out of the world experience of having crowds yelling my name, expressing their love and admiration, even cheers for, ‘Astronomy rules!’” The Rotary Club of Park Cities views its grand marshals as an exclusive club of honorees chosen for service above self. Pierce fit the bill during 41 years with Highland Park ISD and a lifetime of dedication to the Girl Scouts. Last year’s retirement didn’t stop her from joining another Astronomy Club trip to the McDonald Observatory in far West Texas. The Rotary float precedes the grand marshal, but club president Jeff McNaughton noted that people saw Pierce before he even passed by and began yelling her name. “My lawyer daughter from McAllen and her partner were kind of going up and down and getting pictures and hearing stories that I never ever would have heard,” Pierce said. “And when we got to Goar Park, people started coming. They were bringing their families. They were bringing their parents. And remembering. I was almost in tears.” MILLION MEALS • Donations and matching gifts to the North Texas Food Bank from this year’s parade surpassed $35,500. • At three meals per $1, the parade has topped a million meals since NTFB became the beneficiary in 2016.
parkcitiespeople.com | August 2022
walk better
Take the first step to knee pain relief. Scan the QR code to take our knee pain assessment.
Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2022 Baylor Scott & White Health. 20-DA-624158 GD
3B
4B August 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com
Get ready for a sunny backyard cookout! We have the freshest seafood, all the grill’s best friends, al fresco brunch specialties, and refreshing snacks and beverages to keep you cool by the pool. Summer has never tasted so good!
parkcitiespeople.com | August 2022
5B
6B August 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com
Then and now. We know your neighborhood.
THE RHODES GROUP
parkcitiespeople.com | August 2022
7B
8B August 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com