18 minute read
Community
THE ART OF SHOPPING REQUIRES A MINDFUL MANAGER
Anna Kern tackles museum-like job at legendary NorthPark Center
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TOP FROM LEFT: 20 Elements by Joel Shapiro and DRAG (BANKER) by Sterling Ruby. MIDDLE: snakes and apples by Sioban Hapaska, a mural covering a vacation store space, and the
48-foot tall Ad Astra by Mark Di Suvero. BOTTOM: Number 193T, 191T and 194T by Leonardo Drew. (PHOTOS: NORISHKA PACHOT)
By Norishka Pachot
People Newspapers
With its museum-like layout and sophisticated sculptures, murals, and paintings by known artists, NorthPark Center staffs a position many other malls wouldn’t need: a manager of arts programming.
“I do all the work that entails doing the artwork,” said Anna Kern, who’s held that job for nearly three of her four years at NorthPark.
With more than 50 major sculptures and seven to eight art exhibitions a year, Kern must make sure valuable artwork gets handled and put up carefully. Assembling a new piece can take 30 minutes to eight hours to even multiple days.
“Anything that we put up, we have to be very mindful, and we have to make sure it has an appeal to the general public and that they can get something out of it,” she said.
Though now the sole member of NorthPark’s art department, Kern works closely with the marketing team to see that visitors can enjoy the magnificent art, architecture, and landscaping.
Think of NorthPark as a museum where you can also shop.
The mall supports local and recent art as well as such established artists as Andy Warhol, Barry Flanagan, and Joel Shapiro, who are all among those with permanent installations at the center.
“The aesthetic is so crucial to our reputation,” Kern said. “NorthPark is always spotless.”
She cherishes NorthPark’s pop-up programs featuring local and regional artists, often as extensions to murals and usually used at empty stores, instead of leaving a blank spot.
“All our institutions should support local art,” Kern said. “At NorthPark, I want to make sure that we support that. We want people to feel invited and feel welcome. We want to give back to our community.”
the Art Rock program for children. Both switched online due to COVID-19.
“My favorite part at the end of the day is that we’re a shopping center, so we get people from all walks of life,” she said. “They’re exposed to these collections, local artists, and even if it’s just subconsciously in the background, this will impact them in a small way.”
PERSONAL FAVORITES
With so much art on display at NorthPark Center, even a manager of arts programming might have difficulty picking a favorite. But, Anna Kern highlighted these: Ad Astra by Mark di Suvero; snakes and apples by Siobhan Hapaska; DRAG (BANKER) by Sterling Ruby; Number 193T, 191T, and 194T by Leonardo Drew.
April Hope: Fertile Ground
We are set for the most beautiful spring ever in Dallas.
April Fools!
The arctic blast’s effects linger everywhere apparent: yellowed pittosporum bushes, browned out ground cover, dead or drooping fatsia, plus LEN BOURLAND sad trees and hedges.
More glumness – our landscaping reflects the last year and the state of our country. How is it salvageable?
For me, a quick excursion to a familiar Florida beach pre-spring break – my first airplane ride and trip since 2019 – broke my funk. After the BP oil spill and a couple of hurricanes, this beach was thought to be unrecoverable. But, last month, I enjoyed the pristine white sand devoid of all but a handful of people and the diamond dappled clear blue ocean. I felt soothed and happy – long overdue feelings.
In 1982, when selling a home in Mississippi to move back to Texas, the interest rates were over 16%. It was a buyer’s market, and sellers had to get creative to get their homes sold. A great uncle in banking solemnly intoned that interest rates would never be in single digits again. Ahem.
We’ve lost so much in the last year: for children, education and play; income for many; freedom of movement (and, many would say, speech), plus peace. Is this irrevocable?
An antidote for grief, anger, upset for me has always been digging in the dirt and planting. So as I survey my bedraggled yard, I begin cleaning out, pruning, mulching, soil preparation, planting, fertilizing, and watching.
It’s an apt metaphor for our nation. There is not necessarily parity in a garden. Shade plants won’t tolerate the sun and vice versa. It takes trial and error for a garden to grow, some failures, common sense, and a little luck. In stubborn areas of my yard, I’m not immune to filling in with artificial foliage. I need help.
My spirit is willing but lately, not my back — another metaphor for rebuilding our bruised nation.
And so I am starting the process with the digging out and pruning. I’m smiling at the flats of plants and flowers that will go into the ground. I’m humming that wonderful Arlo Guthrie song made famous by Peter, Paul, and Mary. “Inch by inch, row by row, I’m gonna make this garden grow, gonna do it with a rake and a hoe, and a piece of fertile ground.”
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Not intended as solicitation of properties currently listed with another broker. Information contained herein is believed to be correct but not guaranteed. O ering made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.
Friday, May 14, 2021
VIRTUAL Noon – 1:00 p.m.
North Texas Cares Funders Collaborative, Honoree Father Gregory Boyle, Featured guest speaker Jenny Reynolds and Lindsay Stengle, Luncheon co-chairs Dallas CASA Children’s Council, Luncheon host
For tickets or to learn more: dallascasa.org or 469.547.9445
The Moody Family YMCA houses the Ashford Rise School of Dallas’ inclusive early education
program for children ages 6 months to 6 years. (PHOTOS: COURTESY MOODY FAMILY YMCA)
For over 75 option for distance learning support in years, the Moody the area. Family YMCA Throughout the pandemic, the Moody has served the Y continued to offer adaptive preschool Park Cities with programs, drowning prevention, youth a mission to put scholarships for sports, and education and DANIEL J. DRABINSKI Christian val- programs for adults and families. ues into practice During the recent snowstorms, the through programs that build a healthy Moody Family YMCA served the comspirit, mind, and body. munity as a warming center, offering
I became chairman of the board on warm showers, clean water, and charging March 1, 2020. By March 13, we began stations for those in need. shutting down the facility as a result of Despite numerous challenges, over COVID. 132,000 individuals were served at the
All 15 full-time Moody Family employees and over 100 part-time em- We pledge to YMCA during the past twelve months, ployees were tem- continue to provide a while 4,500 chilporarily furloughed. Nick Echtenkamp safe environment for dren participated in youth sports. joined as executive our members, where None of this director to oversee a crisis of which we the community happens with out the tremen had never experi- can come together dous support of enced before. Working in conto celebrate our our community. You supported the junction with the solidarity. YMCA by returnYMCA Board of ing to classes, supDirectors, we were able to re-open the porting our programs, and displaying an facility by June 1. More importantly, we ability to adapt. were able to preserve most of the commu- In 2020, our community raised over nity services we had been providing. $625,000 to support the programs at the
During the pandemic, the YMCA and Moody Family YMCA. Thus far in 2021, its locations became hubs of basic need the community has raised over $575,000. services, including food distribution sites, We thank you from the bottom of our pop-up clinics, and senior services. hearts for your support. We pledge to
The 20 collective Dallas YMCAs continue to provide a safe environment served over 217,000 pounds of produce for our members, where the community and 75,000 individual meals. Also, 11,000 can come together to celebrate our solifamilies were given household essentials, darity. 7,300 childcare visits were utilized, and As a leadership team, we promise to 39,000 diapers were distributed. continue to listen and innovate. We are
At the Moody Family YMCA, child- exploring expanded programs to bring the care was critical for families who worked YMCA out to the community. These inin essential services. clude more community events and inno-
In addition to housing the Rise School vations such as outdoor classes. of Dallas, the Moody Y was one of sev- We wish for every one of our members en locations to offer a Learning Academy to feel safe and comfortable while enjoymodel, hiring a teacher to provide onsite ing the YMCA. instruction to children and youth to com- Thank you for your continued support. plete virtual learning programs in accor- We look forward to growing and adapting dance with our local school district. The with the community as we plan our next program filled weekly and was the only 75 years.
Paul Sandman: Camaraderie helps with recruitment
Paul Sandman became chief of the Highland Park Department of Public Safety Chief in
August 2020. (PHOTO: LT. LANCE KOPPA)
By Rachel Snyder
People Newspapers
Park Department of Public Safety in August of last year.
Highland Park Department of Public What do you see as the biggest challenge Safety (HPDPS) Director Paul Sandman facing the department in 2021, and how knew he wanted to get into law enforce- do you plan to tackle them? ment when he was 20 years old. A broad challenge facing public safe-
“But in the state of Texas, you had to be ty is two-fold: hiring and retention. The 21 if you wanted shortage of qualto be a police officer. So, I did the Expanding my ified applicants has placed an innext best thing. I career to a public creased emphasis joined the United States Marine safety officer sounded on recruitment efforts nationwide. Corps and became like a challenge I When paired with a military police officer,” he said. was interested in. the ongoing issues associated with
Sandman served The cross-trained the pandemic, the five years on the Presidential Secu- public safety model is challenge has been finding qualified rity Detail, Marine difficult but extremely applicants who Helicopter Squadron One (HMX- rewarding. are interested in a public safety ca1), in the U.S. Ma- Paul Sandman reer. In our experirine Corps. ence, the men and
After finishing his enlistment in the women who get into our professions are U.S. Marine Corps and earning his bach- looking for fulfilling careers in a teamelor’s degree in criminal justice admin- work-centered work family. The camaistration and his master’s degree in in- raderie among staff is a selling point for terdisciplinary studies (criminal justice/ our agency and most certainly has helped behavioral analysis) from the Universi- with recruitment. Further, our applicants ty of North Texas, he started as a patrol recognize and have high regard for the officer for the Arlington Police Depart- strong relationships we have with the ment. community. ”As I was beginning my law enforcement career at Arlington, a friend told me What are your goals for the department about Highland Park and that they were going forward? all (cross) trained police officers, firefight- The mission statement of this departers, and paramedics,” Sandman said. “Ex- ment is to “Hire for Character, Train for panding my career to a public safety officer Proficiency and Provide Unmatched Sersounded like a challenge I was interested vice,” and those are my goals each (and) in. The cross-trained public safety model is every day. To begin, you must hire great difficult but extremely rewarding.” people and provide them the best training
After joining the department, he spent to perform difficult tasks. 12 years working his way through the ranks to lieutenant and commanding the What’s a fun fact about you? criminal investigations division. After a I have run two marathons in my life, two-year hiatus working as assistant chief the first and the last, and both of those of the Rowlett Police Department, he re- were accomplished in the same race. I turned to HPDPS as the assistant chief. can’t believe I thought running 26.3 miles He took the helm as chief of the Highland would actually be fun.
TOP, FROM LEFT: Medical City Dallas Rehab services ran a hotel for staff during the February winter storm, and hospital staff donated blood to replenish supplies. (PHOTOS: MEDICAL CITY HEALTHCARE) BOTTOM: Bri Tollie (second from left) and other SMU students volunteered at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. (PHOTO: ALLISON MARTIN) The Highland Park High School boys soccer team collected blankets for nonprofit SoupMobile. (PHOTO: COURTESY HPISD)
Cold Weather, Warm Neighbors
Residents mobilize to help each other during historic Texas blizzard
By Rachel Snyder
People Newspapers
While many Texans were without necessities like power and water during the winter storm in February, North Texans came together to help each other through it.
Information posted in a group chat for SMU human rights students prompted several to volunteer at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which housed 700 people during the storm.
“It was amazing to see that you got people out there that actually really care for helping the community, especially during times like this,” Bri Tollie said.
The SMU political science junior with a minor in human rights spent 10 hours at the convention center one day but said she and other volunteers usually just came to help during meals when the most help was needed.
The students packaged and distributed food and helped out with clothing donations.
“Nonprofits definitely do a lot for the community behind the scenes, and they don’t do it to try and get recognition or praise,” Tollie said. “They do it just out of the kindness of their heart, and all the volunteers that did come, it was just them taking the time out of their day during the time to do the same.”
Elsewhere, Geoffrey Small, an SMU alumnus, and his wife, Nicole, took in one of his daughters and seven of her sorority sisters after their sorority house on the SMU campus lost power.
“They were trying to figure out what to do and talking about how much snow there was, ice conditions, whether or not she could come home or get home...with some of her friends,” Small said. “The question of coming home grew as they had no access to food.”
He said they decided to come to the Smalls’ home in Southlake after finding out they would also lose water at the so- work... went on walks in the neighborhood rority house. in the snow.”
Small said one of his daughter’s friends Highland Park ISD shared that the had an all-wheel-drive vehicle, and his el- Highland Park High School boys soccer dest daughter’s boyfriend offered to pick up team collected blankets for SoupMobile, half the girls and bring them to their home. which serves those in need in Dallas.
“So that started Hundreds of the adventure,” he said. “Then we actu- It was amazing to see Medical City Healthcare colleagues spent ally ended up pick- that you got people nights inside the hosing up another one of the girls later in out there that actually pitals or nearby hotels during the week the week because really care for helping of the storm, Medical she was in the Virginia Snider dorm the community, City Healthcare said in a press release. that had a pipe especially during Non-clinical colburst.” All told, 11 peotimes like this. leagues shuttled co-workers, changed ple were staying in Bri Tollie linens, and delivered the house at one food to patients and point during the storm. staff, among many duties.
“The girls really made the most of just Staff also donated blood at an in-hospibeing here and all together,” Nicole said. tal blood drive to help replenish communi“They had lots of laughs and did home- ty blood supplies.
16 April 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com ‘He Deserves Justice’ Family seeks answers after Chris Murzin’s shooting death on LBJ Freeway
By Rachel Snyder
People Newspapers
The Murzin family is seeking answers about the shooting death of their beloved husband and father in a potential road rage incident.
“Nobody deserves to die that way, and certainly Chris didn’t, and so (we) just really need to find who did this because he deserves justice,” Chris’s wife, Christina Murzin, said.
To that end, she has set up a GoFundMe to add to a reward for information about the incident and raise community awareness, potentially via a billboard and fliers.
Dallas Police responded to a shooting call at 1:04 p.m. Feb. 11 on the westbound LBJ Freeway before the South Polk Street exit ramp and found Murzin, 53, in his vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Witnesses told police that a small silver SUV might have been involved.
Chris, a medical salesman, Christina, and their children – Caroline, Dutch, and Jack – moved to University Park in 2006. Chris quickly became known as a champion for people with special needs, including Jack.
“He was always trying to advocate just for inclusion for everybody,” Christina said. “That was just FROM LEFT: Chris, Dutch, Jack, Caroline, and Christina Murzin posed on a porch this summer. (PHOTO: ERIN SCHREYER)
important to him and to us, but it was never just for us. It was always for everybody else. He really liked helping other people. That’s why he chose medical sales as a career because every day he was able to positively impact people’s lives and make things better for others.”
Chris, a former board member of United Cerebral Palsy of Houston, helped identify accessibility issues in University Park. His family’s efforts led to the city’s first barrier-free playground, located in Coffee Park.
U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, who represented the district now served by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, recognized Murzin for his advocacy and selection as University Park’s 2008 Citizen of the Year.
“He was a humble man dedicated to improving the lives of the disabled in Dallas, Texas,” Sessions said. “As a father of a special needs son myself, I sincerely appreciate all of his efforts as a vocal advocate and reliable resource for identifying areas of potential change for the special needs community.
“I will honor his legacy by continuing to serve the special needs community with the same resolve and commitment as Chris so faithfully did,” the congressman said.
To Christina, though, he’ll be best remembered as a loving husband and father who was their son Jack’s “right hand man.”
“He had a very fun-loving spirit and a great zest for life,” she said. “Just through Jack being the manager for the varsity boys basketball team for three years, Chris was always with Jack on the sidelines for a lot of the time.”
HOW TO REPORT INFORMATION
Contact Dallas Police Department homicide detective Tonya McDaniel at 214-671-4236 or by email tonya.mcdaniel@ dallascityhall.com and refer to case #025379-2021.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment for this and other felony offenses. Call 214373-TIPS (8477), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
OUR AMAZING CAREGIVERS
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