Park Cities People January 2022

STEAM: PREPARING CHILDREN FOR IN-DEMAND CAREERS – SECTION B

JANUARY 2022 VOLUME 42 NO. 1

“THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS”

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM

I

PERSONS OF THE YEAR Newspaper honors Lyda Hill, a philanthropist standing tall for science and girls. PAGE 14 Readers vote for Izzy Martin, a brave ESD student with a big heart. PAGE 15

PHOTO: GRANT MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWS

BUSINESS

SCHOOLS

Contents

Planter-loving resident won’t back down

Shannon Wynne: preservationist, restaurateur

Belles pick honor squads, Miss High Kick

News ......................................... 4

Business .................................. 23

Weddings............................ 36-37

Crime ......................................... 8

Real Estate .............................. 24

Obituary.................................... 39

Community .............................. 10

Schools .................................... 26

Classifieds ............................... 39

Person of the Year ................... 14

Society .................................... 32

STEAM ......................... Section B

Sports ...................................... 16

Living........................................ 34

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2 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com PENDING

2555 N. Pearl Street #301 · Represented Buyer Becky Nelson · 214.507.0680 · beckynelson@daveperrymiller.com

University Park United Methodist Church recently celebrated its Christmas tree lighting.

(PHOTO: COURTESY UPUMC)

YOU GOTTA HAVE FAITH (FRIDAYS)

V

PENDING

4410 MCFARLIN BLVD.

4 Bed · 3.1 Bath | 3,640 Sq Ft/Appr Listed $2,760,000 2009 Big Springs Dr.,for Joshua, TX · Represented Buyer Paige & Curt Elliott · 214.478.9544 · elliott@daveperrymiller.com

Discover a Better Winter

acation Bible School. Pride celebrations. New pianos. Carnivals. Worship during a pandemic. Holiday celebrations.

Those are just a few of the things we’ve enjoyed celebrating with our neighbors as part of our weekly Faith Friday series at peoplenewspapers.com.

We started the effort in June, as we started seeing so many adorable photos of VBS weeks from churches in our area. We hope we’ve provided glimpses of what goes on in the many places of worship around the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

At its heart, Park Cities People is about community — and our faith institutions are a big part of it. We love providing these snapshots of time and peeks behind the sanctuary doors that reveal significant stories of University Park and Highland Park.

So, if your place of worship is doing something that you’re proud of, please let us know. We’d love to share your beloved event and compelling photos with the rest of our neighbors.

And, as always, we love to get your tips and photos. Want to tell us about your organization or community effort? Let us know about it by emailing online@peoplenewspapers.com or messaging us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

Also online: We’ll have more in our February issue,

Whether you enjoy watching the snow fall from inside where it’s comfy and warm or you prefer being out and about, at The Forum at Park Lane, you can experience winter at its best. We offer 24-hour nursing care, wellness programs, and Lifestyle360 activities to keep everyone happy and healthy.

Ask about our Independent and Assisted Living Specials!

Call us today to learn more THE FORUM AT PARK LANE 7831 Park Lane • Dallas, TX 75225 214-369-9902 • www.TheForumAtParkLane.com INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING REHABILITATION • RESPITE STAYS AL #000772 ©2021 Five Star Senior Living

but the primary season is in full swing.

There are some interesting local races, including a potential faceoff between incumbent Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and (as of press time) the only Republican candidate for the seat, Dallas ISD school board trustee Edwin Flores.

Find the latest information about the primary ballots for Preston Hollow and the Park Cities in our news section.

The late Edwin L. Cox Sr.’s acclaimed Highland Park estate recently sold to billionaire Andy Beal, and many readers were interested in the details. Most-asked question: What would happen to the Christmas lights at the corner of the property?

Stay tuned.

Last year, we asked our readers to weigh in with their favorite stories of the year, and we’ve continued that this year. We had 10 outstanding nominations, and now you can vote on which of them is your favorite from 2021 — the details are in our community section.

Highland Park will be elevated to the 6A classification for the next two years as part of the UIL’s biennial realignment process. Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson details what that means in our sports section.

PHOTOS WELCOME Send your Faith Friday suggestions to online@peoplenewspapers.com.

EDITORIAL

A DV E R T I S I N G

O P E R AT I O N S

Editor William Taylor

Senior Account Executive Kim Hurmis

Distribution Manager Mike Reinboldt

Account Executives Tana Hunter Quita Johnson Evelyn Wolff

Distribution Consultant Don Hancock

Digital Editor Bethany Erickson Deputy Editor Rachel Snyder Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Art & Production Director Melanie Thornton

Client Relations & Marketing Coordinator Maddie Spera

Interns Amber L. Billops Payton Blalock Emilea McCutchan Omolayo Olaleye Sophia Wilson

Digital & Production Assistant Mia Carrera Park Cities People is printed on recycled paper. Help us show love for the earth by recycling this newspaper and any magazines from the D family to which you subscribe.

Publisher: Patricia Martin

Park Cities People is published monthly

by CITY NEWSPAPERS LP, an affiliate of D Magazine Partners LP, 750 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Submissions to the editor may be sent via e-mail to editor@ peoplenewspapers.com. Correspondence must include writer’s name and contact number. Main phone number, 214-739-2244

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 3

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4 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

News

THE TUSSLE OVER TOPIARIES

Can a statue-loving Beverly Drive resident fight town hall?

Jane Benedum hangs out with her dog outside their Beverly Drive home in Highland Park. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

C

itations from the town of Highland Park thus far have failed to prompt Jane Benedum to remove any statues, sculptures, pots, or planters from her yard in the 4500 block of Beverly Drive.

However, she has added a decoration: a handmade sign asking people to “please help save my yard” and call Highland Park code enforcement.

“You go, girl!” shouted a passerby recently as Benedum stood outside, answering a

reporter’s questions about this tussle over topiaries.

And go is what Benedum plans to do. “All the way to the Supreme Court” if necessary.

“I’ve got time, (and) I’ve got gumption,” she quipped. “It’s still America; it’s still Texas.”

Benedum said she was first notified in September that her yard ran afoul of a new ordinance passed in August. It stipulates that decorations like those displayed in front of her home must occupy 5% or less of the yard area.

She appeared at municipal court on Dec. 7 and requested a jury trial, but no date was set as of our publication.

The daughter of J. Claxton Benedum and great-niece of wildcatter Michael Benedum, Jane, who grew up in East Texas, accumulated the collection of potted topiaries, statues, fountains, and more in various ways. Some she acquired herself; some were passed down from family members.

Minutes published from a July study session discussion of the ordinance, though, note “town staff has recently received several complaints regarding the excessive number of decorative items, such as landscape receptacles, planters, topiaries, and statuaries, located in the front yards of residential properties.”

Highland Park Mayor Margo Goodwin hadn’t returned calls requesting comment before press time.

Some support Benedum’s efforts to keep her yard decor, while others see the ordinance as helpful for maintaining attractive landscaping in the neighborhood. Here are a few examples: • “The town should be able to create an ordinance or regulations that create consistency and protect the value of all landowners,” one respondent to an unscientific poll conducted by People Newspapers wrote.

“Personal taste and preferences are difficult to regulate. The town should have a responsibility to protect and maintain the traditions and values that are best for all members of the town.”

• “Though I don’t live in HP, I drive by or walk by this home on Beverly multiple times a week. I appreciate the whimsy and would hate to see it go. If the immediate neighbors are OK with the display, then I don’t see why it should be anyone else’s business,” another responded. “And if the immediate neighbors are not OK with the display, I believe they should speak with Ms. Benedum directly – I bet a compromise could be reached. The ordinance is clearly targeting this particular yard, and that’s not how legislation is supposed to work. I wish Ms. Benedum good luck on her lawsuit to become ‘grandfathered’ in as a nonconforming use.”

• “I like the ordinance going forward, but she should be grandfathered by existing rules,” another responded.

SMU Moves a Little Earth, Begins Graduate School Construction SMU’s eighth degree-granting school, which began operations in 2020, doesn’t have its fancy new home yet, but December dirt piles signal one is coming.

The school’s dean, James Quick, along with SMU Provost Elizabeth Loboa, President R. Gerald Turner, trustee Frances Anne “Francie” Moody-Dahlberg, board chair Robert Dedman Jr., and Vice President for Academic Affairs Brad Cheves did the dirty work with the ceremonial shovels at the groundbreaking.

The new Frances Anne Moody Hall, expected to open in the summer of 2023, is named for Frances Anne Moody-Dalberg.

The class of 1992 graduate serves as executive director of the Moody Foundation, which contributed the $100 million gift – the largest in SMU history – to create the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

“We’re announcing the next stage in SMU’s development — a significant and unprecedented investment in the university’s graduate and doctoral programs and faculty research programs, which will propel SMU to even greater heights of national prominence,” Turner said at the time of the Moody Foundation gift.

The Moody School brings doctoral and master’s degrees in four schools under one institu-

tional umbrella and already supports more than 75 Ph.D. students across these schools with competitive fellowships.

The investment in the Moody School and Frances Anne Moody Hall supports the SMU’s research mission by attracting outstanding graduate students who are the workforce behind the University’s doctoral and research ecosystem university officials announced.

The expansion of research is a strategic priority that fuels the steady ascent toward achieving the Carnegie R1 status awarded to only the nation’s highest-level research institutions.

– Staff report

FROM LEFT: James Quick, Elizabeth Loboa, R. Gerald Turner, “Francie” Moody-Dahlberg, and Robert Dedman Jr. (PHOTO: COURTESY SMU)

CELEBRATE 2022 WITH A NEW HOME

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 5

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5 BEDROOMS | 4.1 BATHS |4,847 SQ. FT. Offered for $1,049,999

3 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHS | 3,449 SQ. FT. | 215 AC Offered for $3,780,000

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John Barrett 972.375.5787 johnbarrett@dpmre.com

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Skylar Champion 214.695.8701 skylar@dpmre.com

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Harmony Springs Ranch, 535 CR 3992

3507 McFarlin Boulevard 5 BEDROOMS | 5.1 BATHS | 6,499 SQ. FT. Offered for $2,159,000

Listed by

Shelly Hammer 214.207.7937 hammer@dpmre.com

UNDER CONTRACT Listed by

Kim Gromatzky 214.802.5002 gromatzkygroup@dpmre.com

4506 College Park Drive 4 BEDROOMS | 3.1 BATHS | 3,609 SQ. FT. Offered for $825,000

Listed by

Lori Kircher 214.789.4060 lori@dpmre.com

Price and availability subject to change. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

An Ebby Halliday Company

6 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Maria Reis Habito and other religious leaders meet with Pope Francis to discuss the state of our shared earth. Maria Reis Habito with Hsin Tao, founder of the Museum of World Religions. (PHOTOS: COURTESY MUSEUM OF WORLD RELIGIONS)

Dallas Woman Meets with Pope Scholar, Pontiff seek global harmony through climate action Daniel Lalley

Special Contributor Dr. Maria Reis Habito has long worked to help bring about a global consensus of peace, unity, and understanding among some of the most diverse populations on the planet.

The philosophy and religious scholar’s most recent interfaith efforts – addressing climate change – prompted a fall 2021 meeting with Pope Francis.

Born Catholic in Cologne, Germany, and raised in Saarbrücken, Habito has lived an international and ever-evolving life, working and studying throughout some of the most incredible places in Europe, Asia, and right here in the Park Cities.

Habito has been a Dallas resident since moving to be with her husband Ruben Habito, who was offered a professorship at SMU in 1989.

“I never imagined with all my Asian studies, I’d end up in Texas,” she said.

“The SMU and Perkins School of Theology community has provided a place of belonging to us.”

We want to train young people to look at ecology from a spiritual point of view but also from a scientific standpoint as well.

Maria Reis Habito As the international program director for the Museum of World Religions in Taipei, Taiwan, her work spans the globe bringing about a neo-Buddhist concept of encouraging interfaith dialogue to establish understanding and peace.

“The museum really wants people to develop respect, understanding, and love for other religions, and that’s what we’ve been working on for the last 20 years,” Habito said.

The MWR was founded by Buddhist monk and Habito’s long-time associate, Master Hsin Tao. Over the years, its mission, rooted in a desire to create a healthier global home for all, has continued to evolve.

“Now, with the environmental crisis, we’re focusing more on respect and love for the earth,” Habito said. “We want to train young people to look at ecology from a spiritual point of view but also from a scientific standpoint as well.”

In her capacity with the MWR, Habito is charged with finding scholars and spiritual leaders from across the globe to facilitate international forums focused on faith, science, and the state of our earth.

The museum’s interests have matched those of Pope Francis, who is appealing for global harmony through immediate climate action.

During the COP26 summit in November, in which the MWR and a vast network of religious leaders participated, Francis warned. “Time is running out.

This occasion must not be wasted.”

W H AT I S I T ?

Founded November 2001 in Taipei Taiwan, the Museum of World Religions is celebrating its 20th anniversary fostering global religious diplomacy under Venerable Hsin Tao, Buddhist monk and founder. This museum presents multiple exhibits on major world religions while also working to bring about unity in all belief systems.

Visit mwr.org.tw/mwr_en.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 7

8 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Crime Reports Nov. 8 – Dec. 5 to check, and found a box truck had hit her Lexus ES300 that was parked outside around 3 p.m.

4400 block of Normandy Avenue and took a diaper bag that also contained a wallet before 10:34 a.m.

Nov. 12 An intruder got into a home in the 3600 block of Colgate Avenue and took two purses with $300 and more before 8 a.m.

Nov. 29 A pilferer pinched a silver place setting set worth $8,000 from the garage of a home in the 4100 block of Emerson Avenue at 6:26 p.m.

(PHOTO: PEXELS, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)

Nov. 11 Reported at 4:12 p.m.: a porch pirate pilfered a package containing a $463 Cynthia Rowley dress from a home in the 3900 block of Mockingbird Lane.

You’ve gotta be kitten me: A scammer took $2,700 from a woman in the 4300 block of Stanford Avenue for a kitten she never received, according to an incident report filed at 9:20 a.m. Dec. 4.

For More Crimes Visit: peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/ Nov. 8 Reported at 1:29 p.m.: a rude and reckless driver hit the bumper of a Ford Escape parked in an employee parking lot in Highland Park Village and left without providing information.

Nov. 10 A woman working at a home in the 4200 block of Belclaire Avenue, heard a loud noise outside, went out

Nov. 15 A creative crook managed to carry off outdoor furniture from a second-story patio in the 3100 block of Rosedale Avenue before 11:10 a.m.

Nov. 17 A stealer swiped a Stihl cutoff saw from a construction site in the 4500 block of Southern Avenue at 10:30 a.m. and drove off in a Kia SUV. Another Stihl cutoff saw was snatched from a worksite in the 4300 block of Potomac Avenue by a thief who fled in a SUV around 10:33 a.m.

Nov. 20 A pilferer swiped a $30,000 Rolex watch from a home in the 3400 block of Haynie Avenue before 2 p.m.

Nov. 21 What’s in your diaper? An intruder got into a Honda Accord in the

Nov. 27 How easy was it for a thief to drive off in an Audi Q7 parked in front of Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village before 12:30 a.m.? The key fob was left inside.

Dec. 2 Reported at 11:12 a.m.: a smash and grab. A burglar broke a window of a GMC Acadia in the 5500 block of Preston Road and took a bag containing $850 and $1,600 from the console.

Dec. 3 A rogue broke into a GMC Sierra in the 3300 block of Bryn Mawr Drive and took $1,000 worth of outdoor equipment before 7 a.m.

Dec. 4 Reported at 12:47 p.m.: A sneaky shoplifter hid a Trish McEvoy women’s fragrance at the Blue Mercury store in Highland Park Village in his jacket, took another unidentified item, and hid an Aqua di Parma fragrance in a messenger bag before leaving the store without paying.

0 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

SKULDUGGERY of the MONTH: CATASTROPHE

Park Cities Crime Stats

PROPERTY CRIMES OCT

‘20 OV ‘20 EC ‘20 AN ‘21 EB ‘21 AR ‘21 PR ‘21 AY ‘21 UN ‘21 UL ‘21 UG ‘21 EP ‘21 CT ‘21 J O J J F S A A D M N M

VIOLENT CRIMES

OCT

‘20 OV ‘20 EC ‘20 AN ‘21 EB ‘21 AR ‘21 PR ‘21 AY ‘21 UN ‘21 UL ‘21 UG ‘21 EP ‘21 CT ‘21 J O J J F S A A D M N M UNIVERSITY PARK

HIGHLAND PARK

Property crimes include burglaries, thefts, and vehicle thefts. Violent crimes include assaults and robberies. (SOURCES: HIGHLAND PARK DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UNIVERSITY PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)

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OVER $300 MILLION IN PROPERTIES SOLD IN 2021 #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM IN NORTH TEXAS

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11333 W. RICKS CIRCLE - LISTED FOR $9,995,000

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10 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community TWO TREE LIGHTINGS RETURN (IN PERSON) PLUS A RETIREMENT

T

ree lighting celebrations returned to the Park Cities in their more familiar forms in 2021 and gifted us with welcomed reminders and lessons: Park Cities people love Christmastime.

Celebrating in person is so much more fun than doing so virtually.

Your children are great singers, dancers, and artists (see the coloring book winners below).

Dressing llamas in reindeer antlers, earmuffs, string lights, and candy cane garlands makes for an irresistible Snider Plaza Tree Lighting photobooth.

Though age and disease may have taken away Highland Park’s historic monarch pecan, a community tradition lives on and well around the genetically related Landmark tree it shifted to in 2019.

Putting on holiday festivals takes plenty of work, and eventually, the time comes to pass the baton.

Rotary Club of Park Cities member Jerry Washam helped organize the Snider Plaza lighting celebration for 15 years. His wife, Mary, has contributed decorations, banners, etc.

The 2017 city of University Park Citizen of the Year is affectionately known as “the mayor of Snider Plaza,” partly because as president of Ralph Porter Company, he oversaw leasing for a substantial portion of the shopping center his grandfather began developing in 1927.

With his retirement, 2021 was his last to lead the Rotary’s University Park tree lighting committee.

Tania Noelle Boughton, Washam’s co-chair of seven years, will lead it.

Boughton called the Washam’s wonderful human beings who have lived out that Rotary mission of “service above self.”

“We raise money for the food bank and the Salvation Army,” Boughton said. “It’s really important to them.”

– Compiled by William Taylor

Mary and Jerry Washam and Tania Noelle Boughton.

(PHOTOS: COURTESY ROTARY CLUB OF PARK CITIES; CHRIS MCGATHEY)

Holiday Coloring Book Contest Winners

AGE CATEGORY 2-4 WINNER: Liam Hardin (4 years old)

AGE CATEGORY 5-7 WINNER: Elle Samaha (7 years old)

AGE CATEGORY 8-10 WINNER: Hunter Kay (9 years old)

AGE CATEGORY 11-13 WINNER: Eva Altschuler (13 years old)

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 11

Resolution Revelations Creating my list of New Year’s resolutions nags at me like a petulant child, and with four kids, I am familiar with the feeling.

Traditionally, by the end of each year, I put together a list of all the mountains I intend to climb over the next 365 moons. This year was no different.

Top of the list is the exMICHELE VALDEZ act failed resolution that has been at the top of the list for over two decades.

In 2022, I will finally lose what I refer to as “age weight.” You know, the extra pounds, compliments of Father Time, that can’t be hidden under a smart Cynthia Rowley A-line frock. They are the un-Spanxable ripples that distract from whatever fabulous shoes I am wearing.

Achieving my more svelte self gets me to the second of my timeless resolutions. I will exercise more.

Actually, I exercise plenty, but I promise to take it more seriously. These days, I hop on the exercise bike in our home gym, watch Netflix, and pedal slowly. Imagine the rhythm of a Michael Buble ballad.

If I get thirsty, I have two-cup holders; one holds a water bottle and the other a stemless glass of chardonnay. In 2022, I promise to pedal faster.

Next on my list of porous promises is my do-gooder goal. I plan to be a better wife and mother.

My only question is whether my resolution counts if it is conditional. Aren’t family duties twoway? Sure, I promise to be nicer, kinder, and all that stuff, but only if my family reciprocates, helps more during the holidays, acknowledges my extraordinary talents and lovable nature.

As for the remainder of my resolutions, I have added a few new personal pledges.

By the first snow of 2022, I will be more forthcoming, meaning no Pinocchio nose for me.

I will no longer cut in half the amount I spend on the kids when asked by my inquisitive spouse.

I will try to be more romantic and plan getaways to do what my faithful wants to do – which means I need to buy a fly rod and waders.

And most importantly, I will no longer make resolutions that have had a shelf life of more than 20 years.

Michele Valdez, a slightly compulsive, mildly angry feminist, has been an attorney and community volunteer. She has four demanding adult children, an enthusiastic black lab, and a patient husband.

SELLING PREMIER URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS Meet the experts in Park Cities & Preston Hollow.

FOR LE ASE

3 Winding Lake Drive 3 Bed | 3.1 Bath | 4,964 SqFt Offered for $18,000/mo LISTED BY ANI NOSNIK

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2555 N Pearl #1802 1 Bed | 1.1 Bath | 2,154 SqFt. Offered for $2,950,000 LISTED BY SANDERS AVREA & KYLE CREWS

FOR SALE

2300 Wolf #16BC 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 5,427 SqFt. Offered for $5,100,000

5335 Meaders Lane 6 Bed | 6.2 Bath | 12,612 SqFt Offered for $9,750,000

LISTED BY ANI NOSNIK & SANDERS AVREA

LISTED BY KYLE CREWS & TERRI COX

Not intended as solicitation of properties currently listed with another broker. Information contained herein is believed to be correct but not guaranteed. Offering made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.

12 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com WELCOME TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AT

FROM LEFT: Howard Vincent, Eduardo Carrera Gonzalez, Steven Leath, Karen Waldrop, Collin O’Mara, Trammell S. Crow, Mark Rey, Juana Garcia Palomares, Mario Alberto Canales Najjar, Trinidad Benavides Garcia, Humberto Enoc Cavazos Arozqueta, and Edgar Wenzel-Lopez.

(PHOTO: COURTESY EARTHX)

U.S., Mexican Conservationists Underscore Value of Hunting

WHY WAIT?

Hunters and conservation may sound like an odd coupling, but Teddy Roosevelt knew they made an ideal match, according to fws.gov.

“In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen,” the 26th president of the United States once said. “The excellent people who protest against all hunting, and consider sportsmen as enemies of wildlife, are ignorant of the fact that in reality, the genuine sportsman is by all odds the most important factor in keeping the larger and more valuable wild creatures from total extermination.”

Dallas environmentalist Trammell S. Crow sees the connection, too. In the fall, the founder of the international nonprofit EarthX hosted leading authorities in wildlife conservation from Mexico and the United States.

“This forum was a shining example of how organizations, individuals, and countries can come together for the good of the planet,” Crow said.

Speakers included National Wildlife Federation president and CEO Collin O’Mara, former secretary of the interior David Bernhardt, and Rick Perry, the former Texas governor and U.S. secretary of energy.

The event culminated in signing a proclamation, recognizing the pivotal importance of trans-border cooperation. It also reinforced the historical role hunters and hunting have played in wildlife conservation across North America, underscored the need for certified hunter education courses, and emphasized the contemporary role hunters play as the principal financiers of conservation.

“I am deeply honored to sign a proclamation with a formal commitment from Mexican and American conservationists to secure a better and brighter future for North American wildlife and its habitats,” said Humberto Enoc Cavazos Arozqueta, president of the Safari Club of Mexico.

– Staff report

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 13

SMU Exhibit Explores Life of Icon Carrie Marcus Neiman Many people know of Stanley Marcus and his genius for retailing, but many of the women who helped establish the Neiman Marcus reputation for excellence are much less familiar.

An exhibit at SMU’s DeGolyer Library offers a closer look at those women, including Carrie Marcus Neiman.

The remarkable woman with her brother, Herbert Marcus, Sr., and her husband, Al Neiman, founded the iconic luxury department store Neiman Marcus in 1907.

“An Eye for Elegance: Carrie Marcus Neiman and the Women Who Shaped Neiman Marcus” coincides with a new biography, A Girl Named Carrie, by Jerrie Marcus Smith.

From her girlhood in Louisville, Kentucky, to her move to Dallas, her marriage (and divorce), and her commitment to the success of “The Store,” Carrie Marcus Neiman emerges from the shadows of history.

She was indispensable in shaping the Neiman Marcus “look.” Her innate good taste in fashion and demand for the finest in fabrics and details helped create a nationally known store that rivaled those in New York and abroad.

The exhibit, which draws on family archives and the Stanley Marcus Papers at SMU, also directs attention to other talented women from the earliest days of Neiman Marcus:

buyer Moira Cullen, first fashion promotions Photographs, letters, postcards, telegrams, clippings, magazines, catalogs, sheet music, jewelry, and dresses (on loan from the Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas) bring Carrie Marcus Neiman’s career to life. (PHOTOS: COURTESY SMU) director Kay Kerr, interior designer Eleanor Le Maire, and food director Helen Corbitt.

This exhibition was made possible, in part, by support from Neiman Marcus, the Eugene McDermott Foundation, Friends of SMU Libraries, SMU Women’s Studies, and professor Bonnie Wheeler.

– Staff report

I F YO U G O What: “An Eye for Elegance: Carrie Marcus Neiman and the Women Who Shaped Neiman Marcus” presented

by SMU’s DeGolyer Library When: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays through Jan. 28 Where: The Hillcrest Foundation Exhibit Hall in the Fondren Library building, 6404 Robert S. Hyer Lane Online: smu.edu/libraries/degolyer/ Exhibits

14 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Person of the Year

2021 Newsmakers: History-making Lyda Hill touts philosophy of giving Neighbors Who Made Headlines

‘SCIENCE IS THE ANSWER’

Clay Jenkins Love him or hate him, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been on the forefront of the county’s response to the pandemic — and often at odds with the state’s GOP leaders.

Clay Jenkins Jenkins found himself (FILE PHOTO) butting heads with Gov. Greg Abbott on numerous occasions, from local control of the pandemic response versus statewide quarterbacking from Abbott’s office, to mandating masks and vaccines. Some loved him for it, while others picketed in front of his home.

Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones The Park Cities couple started 2021 making headlines for buying the historic Elbert Williams house along Turtle Creek to preserve it.

Trevor and Jan Preservation Park Rees-Jones (PHOTO: COURTESY Cities had feared the PRESERVATION PARK CITIES) home was a likely candidate for demolition because of its attractive location on a 1.15-acre lot on Turtle Creek. For their efforts, the couple was recognized along with Preservation Park Cities with a Spirit of Preservation Award from Preservation Dallas this year.

SUPPORT HER CAUSES Visit lydahillphilanthropies.org to learn more about Lyda Hill and her philanthropy and read about #IFTHENSHECAN – The Exhibit on Page 7B.

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

O

ne of Lyda Hill’s guiding philosophies in her philanthropic efforts is “science is the answer.”

Giving runs in her family, too.

“Because my mother, beloved philanthropist Margaret Hunt Hill, insisted on taking me with her when she volunteered, I actually recall not being old enough to understand that voluntarism was, in fact, voluntary,” the philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Hockaday School alumnae said.

She wrote those comments when signing the Giving Pledge, a movement where philanthropists leave most of their wealth to charity.

“Because I have a fervent belief that science is the answer to many of life’s ‘impossibilities,’ I made the decision long ago to donate the entirety of my estate to philanthropy and scientific research,” Hill said.

In recent years, Lyda Hill and her organization awarded a $50 million grant to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Moon Shots Program, which aims to combat and eliminate cancer.

Other gifts include a $25 million grant to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to establish the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics; a $20 million grant to Hockaday to fund a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) program

TOP: Lyda Hill with her grandnieces, who also attend Hockaday. BACK ROW: Kathryn Sands and Hill. MIDDLE: Darlington Hunt, Courtenay Sands, and Margo Washburne.

FRONT: Conner Wisenbaker. BOTTOM: Hill and J. Small Investments partnered in hopes of turning Pegasus Park into a science and community hub. (PHOTOS: GRANT MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY) and other initiatives.

Her commitment to supporting advancements in science to improve the lives of Texans and beyond is why People Newspapers selected Hill as the Park Cities Person of the Year.

It’s also why Hill recently received the ​​ Oak Cliff Lions Club’s Bill Melton Humanitarian Award and will receive the History Making Texan Award from the Texas State History Museum Foundation in March.

“Beyond her philanthropy, we are the beneficiaries of Lyda Hill’s extraordinary service as a Life Trustee at Hockaday,” Hockaday Eugene McDermott head of school Karen Warren Coleman said. “She was named a Hockaday Distinguished Alumna in 1986 and is regularly engaged with the life of the school.”

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) founding CEO Tom Luce said Hill also matched the initial gift from the Meadows Foundation to launch the nonprofit, which works to improve the

treatment of mental illness, around 2014.

“I’ve always found Lyda to not only be very, very generous but willing to take what I call calculated risks,” said Luce, who is now the founder and chairman of Texas 2036.

MMHPI was named the recipient of the $10 million Lone Star Prize in June of 2021. The Lone Star Prize, sponsored

by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and managed

by Lever for Change, is a competition launched in 2020 to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. It will enable MMHPI to implement the Lone Star Depression Challenge to enhance the quality of life and mental health care for Texas communities.

Hill’s influence goes far beyond the dollars given, MMHPI CEO Andy Keller said. “When you work for or with a philanthropist like Lyda, it’s not just the infusion of resources; it’s also – she’s basically lending her reputation and track record of backing successful innovations.”

Read more about Lyda Hill at peoplenewspapers.com.

Casie Tomlin/ Dallas Justice Now Letters from those calling themselves Dallas Justice Now asked Park Cities parents to pledge not to send their Dallas Justice Now children to Ivy League (PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON/PEXELS) schools. The request stirred up reactions here and made national and international headlines from the British tabloid the Daily Mail, Newsweek, and Fox News. University Park mom Casie Tomlin, though, became suspicious and the organization’s website was linked to a political consulting firm with Republican clients across the U.S. Philip Bankhead A year after the pandemic prompted cancellation of the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade, Rotarian Phillip Bankhead stepped up in 2021 when the scheduled parade committee chairman Philip Bankhead moved and led efforts to (PHOTO: COURTESY bring floats rolling back ROTARY CLUB OF PARK through Highland Park CITIES) and University in all their red, white, and blue glory. The Rotary Club of Park Cities presented him a lifetime achievement award.

– Staff Reports

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 15

Readers’ Choice Person of the Year You Also Liked ...

Among the 10 nominees for Readers’ Choice Person of the Year, two more individuals stood out, garnering our poll’s second and third-most votes.

Courtney Dios

When students walk into Courtney Dios’ class at the Shelton School, they aren’t just sitting down in front of any teacher – they’re getting time with an alumna who understands exactly how they feel.

The Highland Park native said she struggled in school Courtney Dios before finding her (COURTESY PHOTOS) home at Shelton as a student.

As a teacher, she offers her students a “life hacks” class that teaches sewing, cooking, gardening, and even basic survival skills.

“My goal is to teach them how to work smarter, not harder, and give them the knowledge where if they were put in a situation, they would be more confident,” she said.

Izzy Martin, surrounded here by her parents Christine and David and siblings Luke, Madeleine, and Faith, hasn’t let her cancer diagnosis dim her desire to help others.

(PHOTOS: LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY, TI ADORO STUDIOS)

‘One of the Best People I Have Ever Met’

ESD student battles cancer but focuses on caring for others

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

When you’re a dancer, you’re prepared to get injured sometimes. For 11-yearold Isabelle “Izzy” Martin, a dance injury turned out to be much more severe.

But it’s what happened as she fights cancer that earned the Episcopal School of Dallas student more than 900 votes in our Readers’ Choice Person of the Year for 2021.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Izzy injured her leg at dance class — and it turned out to be a broken femur, which didn’t jibe with the low-impact incident.

Tests revealed that she had stage four osteosarcoma — a bone cancer. She’s been battling it ever since. “ Despite having 13 surgeries, including a full femur replacement and a skull surgery, she has not only maintained a positive attitude but has also spent countless hours helping the community,” one nominator said.

“She’s donated hundreds of care packages for Austin Street Center, is an inaugural member of United Way’s ‘Teens United,’ and has raised over $200,000 for Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research.”

But if you ask Izzy, she’ll say that what

she hopes is that her actions will result in better funding for osteosarcoma research and awareness.

“My entire life, I have always believed that knowledge is power,” she said. “So, when we know more about something, we can do more about it. When I first got diagnosed, we learned how little funding goes into pediatric cancer, and specifically osteosarcoma. I want people to know that they can make a difference, no matter their circumstances.”

As she’s navigated her illness, she’s made quite an impression on her friends and teachers, too.

“Izzy’s commitment to engaging with the ESD community has been inspiring to witness,” said Jonathan Chein, ESD’s head of middle school.

Allison Darnell, sixth-grade dean and math teacher, admires both Izzy’s determination and “caring heart.”

“With her strength, determination, can-do-attitude, and humor, nothing limits her. She is so hard-working and determined,” Darnell said.

“Though facing significant physical challenges, she has enthusiastically embraced life and lives it to the fullest,” said ESD chaplain and religion teacher the Rev. Tim Kennedy. “Izzy should be the Person of the Year because of her

Izzy should be the Person of the Year because of her love of life, her insistence on moving forward expeditiously, and her dedication to making the most of the precious time that we have.

The Rev. Tim Kennedy

love of life, her insistence on moving forward expeditiously, and her dedication to making the most of the precious time that we have.”

“There is not a flaw about her,” said classmate Wynne Horton. “She is one of the best people I have ever met.”

“Izzy is so funny and the toughest, smartest person I know,” agreed classmate McCall Moore. “She still gets through school just as well as anyone else and never feels sorry for herself.”

With her looking to start her fourth treatment protocol in 2022, Izzy said she has lots of hopes for the year, including “finding more ways to support things I care about,” such as the Austin Street Center and the Osteosarcoma Institute.

She grinned and added one other thing. “I guess I wouldn’t mind having another dog in the family.”

BE #TEAMIZZY The #TeamIzzy Osteosarcoma Science Fund with the Osteosarcoma Institute raises money to fund a breakthrough clinical trial or research study to advance treatments, survival rates, and ultimately find a cure for osteosarcoma.

Make a gift of any amount to her fund: secure.osinst.org/a/teamizzy Proceeds from the sales of her #TeamIzzy gear – bonfire.com/store/ teamizzy/ – also help her support Austin Street Center.

James T. “Brad” Bradley

Few personalities have been as constant a presence at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic as celebrated sports photographer James T. “Brad” Bradley. The World War II veteran photographed his first Cotton Bowl game in 1948 when SMU football standout Doak Walker was in his heyday and remains the only sports photographer in the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

“Through the years, Brad be- James T. Bradley came college football’s favorite photographer,” Bradley’s biography on the Cotton Bowl’s website reads. “Few can match his years of service to a bowl game. A permanent fixture at the AT&T Cotton Bowl, his streak of consecutive games worked has reached an unprecedented 59 games.”

Bradley’s father-in-law, Jim Laughead, had been hired by SMU as a photographer before that in 1947 and quickly asked Brad to join him.

“The business became known as Laughead Photographers and was located on Hillcrest immediately across the street from SMU,” said Gerry York, SMU Heritage Hall curator. “In later years, after Laughead retired, the business became known as Bradley Photographers.”

Bradley has covered more than 40 colleges and several NFL teams. In the summer of 2018, the College Football Hall of Fame had an exhibit dedicated to him and his photography.

The family business continues from his University Park home, where Brad and his son, Jimmy, still take photos for SMU. Brad was named University Park’s Citizen of the Year in 2019 and serves on the city’s Facilities Naming Committee.

— Staff reports

16 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

NEW COACH MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON LADY SCOTS

McGough looks to return HP to state tournament with new approach

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

B

efore she’s even coached her first soccer game at Highland Park, Aaron McGough already has put her stamp on the program.

McGough has emphasized fitness and accountability during offseason workouts that she anticipates will pay dividends during her first season in charge of the most decorated program in the state.

The girls want to do well and want to work hard to honor the players who came before them.

Aaron McGough “We are focusing on a little bit more structure, holding the girls accountable in a lot more areas than just on the field,” McGough said. “They were anxious at first with it being new. They rose to the occasion and blew the fitness tests out of the water. We’re not cutting corners.”

The foundation is in place.

Kylie Bell is among the returning starters who will be key for Highland Park this season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) HP holds state records with seven state championships and 13 state tournament appearances. The most recent title for the Lady Scots came in 2019.

McGough, who spent the past six years at perennial power Austin Anderson before taking the HP job this summer, just has a little different approach toward continuing that run of success.

Team captains Kylie Bell, Parker Hart, Elise Needleman, and Hattie Patterson have embraced the

change, she said.

“They’ve understood that it’s a different style of coaching than they’ve had in the past,” McGough said. “They have welcomed that and passed it on to their teammates.”

McGough is a Beaumont native and former college standout at the University of Texas. She replaced Jackie Hlavaty, who led HP to the regional finals last spring in her only season as head coach.

Hlavaty was a longtime assistant

GIRLS SCHEDULE

B OYS S C H E D U L E

January 4 at Lake Highlands 7:30 p.m.

6 Plano East 11:40 a.m.

9:50 a.m.

7 Cedar Park 8 Mansfield Lake Ridge 11:40 a.m.

13 The Woodlands^ 4:20 p.m.

14 at Georgetown 6:10 p.m.

15 Hutto^ 2:30 p.m.

18 Richardson Pearce 7:30 p.m.

21 Ursuline 7:30 p.m.

25 at Forney* 7:15 p.m.

28 Greenville* 7:15 p.m.

February 7:15 p.m.

1 at Royse City* 4 North Forney* 7:15 p.m.

8 Crandall* 7:15 p.m.

11 at Mesquite Poteet* 7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

15 West Mesquite* 7:15 p.m.

18 Forney* 22 at Greenville* 7:15 p.m.

25 Royse City* 7:15 p.m.

March 1 at North Forney* 7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

4 at Crandall* 8 Mesquite Poteet* 7:15 p.m.

11 at West Mesquite* 7:15 p.m.

22 Rockwall 6 p.m.

January 4 Newman Smith 7:30 p.m.

6 Conrad 7 p.m.

7 Adamson 5:10 p.m.

8 Carr. R.L. Turner 3:20 p.m.

11 Waco 7 p.m.

13 Cleburne^ 7 p.m.

14 Mount Pleasant^ 1 p.m.

15 Prosper Rock Hill^ 11 a.m.

18 at Sulphur Springs 7:30 p.m.

25 Forney* 7:15 p.m.

28 at Greenville* 7:15 p.m.

February 7:15 p.m.

1 Royse City* 4 at North Forney* 7:15 p.m.

8 at Crandall* 7:15 p.m.

11 Mesquite Poteet* 7:15 p.m.

15 at West Mesquite* 7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

18 at Forney* 22 Greenville* 7:15 p.m.

25 at Royse City* 7:15 p.m.

March 7:15 p.m.

1 North Forney* 7:15 p.m.

4 Crandall* 8 at Mesquite Poteet* 7:15 p.m.

11 West Mesquite* 7:15 p.m. * — District 13-5A game ^ — at Wichita Falls

* — District 13-5A game ^ — at Georgetown

with the program before that.

McGough said the Lady Scots would value possession, emphasize lateral movement of the ball, and rely on playmaking ability to finish scoring chances.

The nondistrict portion of the schedule, which begins on Jan. 4, will be critical to solidifying the lineup and preparing for another deep playoff run that the Lady

Scots hope will take them back to the state tournament in April.

“The program has an outstanding reputation. It’s an honor to be coaching here. There’s a lot of things that already set us up for success,” McGough said. “The girls want to do well and want to work hard to honor the players who came before them. There’s a standard to uphold.”

Skill Set: HP Senior Thrives in the Spotlight

Hardenburg brings leadership and experience as Scots seek more playoff success

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

Luke Hardenburg has always had a versatile array of weapons in his on-court arsenal. As a senior, he’s finally able to use all of them.

As the Scots’ only returning starter this season, Hardenburg has transitioned from a role player into a clutch player on both ends of the floor.

“His contributions are very multifaceted for our team,” said HP head coach David Piehler. “He’s not as hesitant to shoot when he’s open. He’s also a defender and a rebounder. He won’t wow you with great athleticism, but he deceptively fills the stat sheet.”

The 6-foot-6 forward is playing his third season at the varsity level and has been eager to take over the responsibilities of teammates such as Jack Pease, Worthey Wiles, and Mitchell Carew — who led HP to the

Class 5A Region II semifinals a year ago, That means in addition to rebounding and defending in the paint, he’s being asked to shoot from the perimeter and even handle the ball.

“They’re putting the ball in my hands more. Plays are being run my way,” said Hardenburg, who has drawn interest from several college programs with elite academic and athletic reputations. “I want to show people that I can play every position and play it well.”

Hardenburg extended his shooting range during tournaments in the offseason while also emphasizing defensive agility against quicker guards.

He narrowly missed a triple-double in a November victory over Lewisville when he tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Two weeks later, Hardenburg punctuated a win over Jesuit with a steal and emphatic dunk in the final minutes.

As HP looks to defend its District 13-

He’s put in his time, and now he’s ready to be the leader.

David Piehler

Versastile forward Luke Hardenburg is the only returning starter for Highland Park this season.

(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

5A title throughout January and February, Hardenburg has emerged as a steady presence, both with his emotions and his play, on a squad that has balance and depth.

The senior said he has tried to mentor his younger teammates about playing critical

roles — just like he did — while waiting for their time to shine.

“He is the elder statesman on our team in terms of experience,” Piehler said. “He’s matured a lot. He’s put in his time, and now he’s ready to be the leader.”

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 17

18 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Former SMU Rower Details College Struggles in Directorial Debut

Introspective drama examines the physical and psychological toll of athletics

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

It began with a flyer in Lauren Hadaway’s mailbox during her freshman year at SMU: “Join novice rowing. No experience required.”

Hadaway’s subsequent lovehate relationship with the sport triggered four years of mental and physical anguish — much of it self-inflicted — and culminated more than a decade later in The Novice, her semiautobiographical feature filmmaking debut.

“It almost destroyed me, but that resiliency that I built really helped when I moved to L.A.,” said Hadaway, a Red Oak native who arrived on campus in 2007 looking for a new activity that would fulfill her hyper-competitive drive.

“I didn’t even know what rowing was,” she said. “It sounded harder than an intramural, and I always like a challenge.”

She willingly endured a regimen that included waking up at 5 a.m. six days a week, often practicing twice a day, double-majoring in cinema and business, holding an internship or part-time job every semester, and participating in on-campus clubs

and honors programs.

“I was extremely overextended, but it felt normal to me,” Hadaway said. “I thought everyone was going through the same thing I was experiencing, but in hindsight, I don’t think everyone was.”

For the film, Hadaway condensed her experience at SMU into a single year in the life of Alex (Isabelle Fuhrman), a hardcharging freshman. Her decision turns into an all-encompassing quest for perfection, even if it means jeopardizing her social life, academics, and physical and mental health.

“My entire body is probably messed up for life,” Hadaway said.

“You’re doing the same motion, over and over, staring at the back of someone’s ponytail for hours on end.”

After college, she moved to Los Angeles and built a successful career working in the sound department of major films, including Whiplash and The Hateful Eight.

Hadaway wrote the first draft of her screenplay in 2017 while in London serving as a sound editor on Justice League. She called her former teammates to ask what they remember about those years: “Everyone thought [I was] psychotic.”

Isabelle Fuhrman stars in Lauren Hadaway’s The Novice, which is now playing in theaters and on digital platforms.

(PHOTO: COURTESY IFC FILMS)

The deeply personal project attracted the attention of producer Ryan Hawkins, an ex-SMU classmate. Cameras rolled near Toronto in late 2019, with Hadaway editing much of the film in her kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fuhrman (Orphan) went through six weeks of intense training before filming, often waking up before dawn for a cold drive to the marina.

I was extremely overextended, but it felt normal to me.

Lauren Hadaway “I had never done rowing, so I got blisters so quickly. I fell into the same pattern that Alex does, but I got to fall in love with the sport at the same time,” Furhman

said. “I found the exhaustion to be incredibly energizing.”

Hadaway’s film isn’t meant to denigrate rowing or her alma mater but rather to offer a raw and intimate perspective on the college experience, both in and out of the boat.

“I loved rowing, and I tried to capture the beauty of it,” she said.

“On the water, I saw more sunrises in four years than most people see in a lifetime.”

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 19

Hard to Find in Highland Park!

3207 Saint Johns Drive $2,325,000 Downstairs Primary / 3 Car / Full Guest Quarters Susan Baldwin 214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Quintessential Showplace SOLD! 3616 Greenbrier Drive — SOLD Offered for $3,995,000 5 Bed / 4.1 Bath / 5,711 Sq.Ft. Doris Jacobs 214.537.3399 doris.jacobs@alliebeth.com

20 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Comfortable Conversation 3616 Haynie Avenue $3,795,000 5 Bed / 6,163 Sq.Ft. / Pool Susan Bradley 214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

Marc Ching’s

Market Insight Park Cities and Preston Hollow markets are prime for anyone looking to sell. Low interest rates, elevated values from increased demand & low supply are a few factors allowing home owner’s to prosper in this market. Call me for any real estate needs.

Marc Ching 214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 21

A Classic Beauty 5138 Deloache Avenue $12,000,000 6 Bed / 7.2 Bath / 11,185 Sq.Ft. Alex Perry 214.926.0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com

Recently Sold Devonshire Home — PRIVATE SALE Offered at $3,269,000 Clarke Landry 214.316.7416 clarke.landry@alliebeth.com

All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing. This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

22 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sold in Preston Hollow 4219 Park Lane $3,095,000 5 Bed / 5.1 Bath / 5,868 Sq.Ft. Juli Harrison 214.207.1001 juli.harrison@alliebeth.com

6507 Missy Drive — SOLD $540,000 4 Bed / 2.1 Bath / 2,533 Sq.Ft.

4609 Mockingbird Lane — SOLD Private Sale 4 Beds / 3 Bath / 2,870 Sq.Ft.

Tim Schutze | 214.507.6699 tim.schutze@alliebeth.com

Beth Parks | 214.444.4176 beth.parks@alliebeth.com alliebethallman alliebeth.com

All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing. This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 23

Business

BOTANICAL BUSINESS BLOSSOMS WITH STUDIO OPENING

PH entrepreneur-mom counts on teammates at work and home

By Samantha Ponce Special Contributor

C

ourtney G o l d b e r g ’s low-maintenance botanical arrangements business began out of a desire to decorate her Preston Hollow home with greenery.

The renovation budget for the Goldbergs’ ranch-style home didn’t allow much for professional plant décor, so she began creating low-maintenance terrariums and modern botanical designs.

Soon family, friends, and potential customers took notice, and Urban Spikes began as a home business.

We all have to do our part. I don’t think you can do it alone.

Courtney Goldberg “Our home was a big part of the beginning of my business because it gave me this space to evolve the business,” Goldberg said.

She had worked in public relations for Edelman’s Dallas office, managing brand communications and events such as Lollapalooza and South

by Southwest for the likes of the Dickies, Hilton Anatole, Wyndham Resorts, Nissan, and Metro PCS.

FROM LEFT: The Urban Spikes botanical arrangements team members McKenna Humphrey, Courtney Goldberg, Jennifer West, and Yulianna Rodriguez. (PHOTOS: ASH GONGORA)

In 2016, Goldberg, now a mother of three boys younger than 9, decided to leave the corporate world to have a more flexible schedule and focus on her growing family.

Her botanical design hobby bloomed into a business as she realized there were few options for low maintenance, luxurious plant designs for people with busy lifestyles.

Goldberg created Urban Spikes to offer the happy medium between everyday nurseries and high-end floral shops.

She operated out of her home for the first three years, working pop-up events, holiday markets, and online sales.

Shortly before the pandemic, she moved Urban Spikes out of her living room and garage (much to the delight of her husband, Chad) and opened a new design studio northwest of Galleria Dallas in Farmers Branch.

From there, her team of four creates custom designs for customers’ homes and offices, and as pandemic protocols have loosened, they have welcomed customers into the store.

Urban Spikes recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, and Goldberg’s 14th wedding anniversary arrived in December.

Managing a small business and family of young children requires a solid team at home and work, she said. “We all have to do our part. I don’t think you can do it alone.”

Shannon Wynne: Restaurateur, Preservationist, Conservationist Shannon Wynne has been called many things over the years, most notably “successful restauranteur” and perennial “cool kid.”

Raised in Highland Park, Shannon is known for creating some of Dallas’ most vibrant clubs of the ‘80s and ‘90s – now just memories without landmarks as most of the buildings that housed his KERSTEN RETTIG ventures have been demolished.

Today, he co-owns and operates five successful restaurant concepts: Flying Fish; Flying Saucer Draught Emporium; Meddlesome Moth; Rodeo Goat; and Miriam Cocina Latina. All are visually rich with particular cultures, from Flying Fish’s East Texas fish camp vibe to Rodeo Goat’s rustic Texas barn to Miriam’s radiant, warm, and understated elegance.

Shannon’s a preservationist, a supporter of preserving something, specifically historic buildings and artifacts. He has advocated for maintaining the architecture of the Park

Cities. Largely, and sadly, to no avail.

He would like to talk to folks who come from other states and tear down some of the community’s most important houses.

“I would tell them that the homes were built by significant architects,” Wynne said.

“We had our own style, a prairie style. We didn’t create it; it wasn’t ours, but it was certainly [prevalent] in this region.”

His success is likely due to his authenticity and brilliant insight into people and places.

The blocky styles that are replacing the architectural gems don’t reflect the history of this place, he added. Nor do they honor it.

Wynne also has a heart for East Texas, specifically Caddo Lake, and has built an outdoor amphitheater there to allow locals to host fundraising events for the lake and its surrounding natural elements. One of Texas’ few natural lakes, Caddo, has been infiltrated by dangerous plant life that threatens to

Shannon Wynne says, “Building is Fun.” (PHOTO: JIMMY NGO)

choke out native plant and aquatic life, and, true to form, the preservationist made a short film about it to help raise awareness.

With his restaurants now in six states, preserving the cultures that make his concepts so special has not been easy.

Restaurant success is sometimes just

catching lightning in a bottle, but Wynne’s done it. His success is likely due to his authenticity and brilliant insight into people and places. Shannon and his partners have succeeded in this notoriously fickle business and, thankfully, survived the pandemic.

In a quick round table of favorites, Shannon revealed some of his go-to menu items in Dallas. Carbone’s Lasagna, which he says is the best in town; Las Palmas’ Spinach and Crab Salad; any fish at Montlake Cut, and Miriam’s Ceviche, which includes tiger shrimp and baby octopus and might well be the best bite of food you’ll ever eat.

At 70, Shannon is looking outward and onward. The friend, mentor, employer, husband, dad, and now “Shan Daddy” to three grandchildren born in the last year isn’t retiring. “Building is fun,” he said of his projects, including the restoration of historic homes in the Cedars.

Keep building and preserving, Shannon.

Dallas is better for it.

Follow Kersten Rettig, a Park Cities-based writer with 30-plus years of experience in food and beverage marketing and public relations, on Instagram @KerstenEats.

24 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

HOUSE OF THE MONTH HALL Arts Residences

Dr. Barbara Sturm

(PHOTO: NATHAN SCHRODER)

D.L. Mack’s

(PHOTO: COURTESY VANDELAY HOSPITALITY)

Tootsies (PHOTO: TAMYTHA CAMERON)

Comings and Goings

D.L. Mack’s

6501 Hillcrest Avenue The American-style tavern recently opened in the 2,400-square-foot former home of the Biscuit Bar in University Park with an outdoor garden patio. The menu includes Chicago-style thin-crust pizza, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, and the McCarthy salad with grilled chicken, cheddar, beets, avocado, tomato, and egg tossed with ranch dressing.

Dr. Barbara Sturm

Highland Park Village The sought-after aesthetic doctor recently opened her latest eponymous boutique and spa, offering the skincare line, facials, treatments, and services she’s known for, plus experiential elements such as treatment rooms, a tea bar, and power napping stations. The Park Cities boutique also is her first to feature a hairstyling room where customers can try her new hair and scalp collection.

(PHOTOS: COURTESY BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY)

R

arefied air: Imagine life above dynamic Dallas, in its finest luxury high-rise. HALL Arts Residences boasts pure architecture, unrivaled luxuries, and a unique focus on health and wellness.

With just 48 homes in the sleek 28-story tower, residents have the best of both worlds – peace and privacy within blocks of dining, shopping, and cultural offerings in the Dallas Arts District. Every home at 1747 Leonard Street offers 11-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, sweeping views, and state-of-the-art luxuries, such as

Bulthaup kitchens, Gaggenau appliances, and Dornbracht kitchen and bath fittings.

The building’s top-notch amenities include valet and concierge services, a resort-style pool, fitness studio, wine room for entertaining, wine cellar for private storage, full catering kitchen, private dog park, and private putting green. The building’s many health-friendly features include multilevel air filtration, sounddeadening floor membranes, and interiordesign palettes that optimize light to maximize comfort.

Two leading companies joining forces to serve the Dallas-Fort Worth and N. Central TX area.

TREES AND LAWN

Fish City Grill

Preston-Royal When the seafood eatery damaged by a tornado sweeping through the Preston-Royal area in 2019 returns to its former location in January, diners will find a larger restaurant with more tables as well as a small patio.

REOPENED Tootsies

The Plaza at Preston Center The popular retailer recently reopened

The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology 4305 MacArthur Ave. The counseling and mental health services provider initially founded in 1968 recently celebrated the dedication of a new central office building off Lemmon Avenue with therapeutic spaces for children and families and training facilities for the professional development of clinicians.

COMING Douglas Bar and Grill

Snider Plaza A full-service barbecue eatery by Wall Street executive turned pitmaster (and Park Cities resident) Doug Pickering is expected to open next to CVS in February. The menu will feature what Pickering calls “elevated Texas cuisine,” including barbecue staples like brisket, ribs, and sausage, as well as salad options, burgers, and more. For those who want a drink with dinner, there will also be a selection of wine, bourbon, and tequila.

– Compiled by Rachel Snyder

rth ProvisSnuggle a E Up

n Co. io

Feed your

REOPENING

in its longtime home after damage from Winter Storm Uri forced the store to relocate temporarily for 10 months. David Droese, principal at Droese Raney Architect, who had a hand in the original design of the store 25 years ago, revamped the space. The store consolidated to one floor, added additional dressing room space, and a bar that will feature festive seasonal cocktails year round.

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 25

26 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

ESD TENNIS BUDDIES UP TO TEACH DOWN SYNDROME ATHLETES

School provides courts, volunteers to promote fitness, friendships

By Amber Billops People Newspapers

D

allas’ growing Buddy Up Tennis program had a need. Episcopal School of Dallas had facilities and people who could help.

As a volunteer with one and girls tennis program director for the other, coach Julie Schiller knew Buddy Up was evaluating new clinic locations and that ESD has six beautiful tennis courts that don’t get as much off-season use.

“We were happy to offer the courts up and make them available for the program,” she said.

Buddy Up Tennis for children and adults with Down syndrome combines tennis, fitness, and social activities. The Dallas Chapter, launched in March 2019, has grown to be the largest in the nation.

You can tell the kids are having a blast when we are there, and the personalities really come out.

Julie Schiller “It’s a program that is set up to give the participates something to look forward to, and just an outlet for them to get a chance to be physical and develop their skills,” Schiller said.

Each week, athletes are partnered with volunteer Buddies for a clinic consisting of 30 minutes of fitness conditioning followed by 60 minutes of tennis instruction.

ESD junior Sophia Ukeni works with Anika Engels, and sophomore Dalyan Prieto-Akmansoy works with Wolfgang Morin through Buddy Up Tennis.

Not pictured: Junior Grace Exall and sophomore Easterly Yeaman also volunteer with the program. (PHOTOS: ALAN WEISSMAN) “It is a unique way to have a chance to volunteer and do some good,” the coach said, adding her students have responded enthusiastically to the opportunity. “They get to be out there and see those smiles and make a difference.”

ESD junior Sophia Ukeni and sophomore Dalyan Prieto-Akmansoy were among the ESD students quoted in a story posted on esdallas.org.

“Being surrounded by such hardworking athletes who were determined to learn and develop their skills in the sport was extremely rewarding,” Ukeni said.

Prieto-Akmansoy enjoys the warmups where participants jump hurdles, walk balance beams, and run around cones. “It’s so nice seeing their faces after they finish because they look genuinely happy and feel accomplished.”

Athletes are partnered with their volunteer Buddies to provide support, develop friendships, and reinforce the coaches’ instructions.

Coaches implement the tennis curriculum specifically created for athletes with Down syndrome.

“The effects on the Buddy Up athletes are tremendous,” said Schiller, who’s been involved with the

Possibilities Await You at Parish Episcopal School.

Midway Parent Coffee & Tours (3rd – 12th grade) Wednesday, January 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 19 at 8:30 a.m.

program for two years. “There are ‘bigger picture’ things we are working on with the participants like social interaction and lifestyle development, while also working on physical fitness.”

The Buddy Up Tennis program serves athletes as young as 5 and has one participant approaching 55, according to the Buddy Up For Life website.

“Tennis is medium for us to be out there, but it is a great thing for them to work on, too,” Schiller said.

“I think it’s social, it’s active, and it gives them a chance to do something that might not always be

available to them.

“You can tell the kids are having a blast when we are there, and the personalities really come out,” she said. “Even the parents too: They come up to us afterward, and you can really feel their gratitude and get a sense of what it really means to them.”

BE A BUDDY Visit buddyupforlife.org to learn about volunteer opportunities and upcoming clinics.

Hillcrest Parent Coffee & Tours (PreK 3yrs old – 2nd grade) Tuesdays, January 11 & February 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Parent Coffee with Dave Monaco, Allen Meyer Family Head of School (All grades) Midway campus, Wednesday, February 2 at 9:00 a.m.

Visit us online at parish.org or contact our Admission office at 972.852.8737

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 27

Believing in the Limitless Potential of Girls

LEARN WHY AN ALL-GIRLS SCHOOL INSPIRES CONFIDENCE HOCKADAY.ORG The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin.

Curious Independent

Collaborative Creative Engaged

Learn how we learn at AlcuinSchool.org

28 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Romcom Screenwriter Got Her Filmmaking Start at Parish

Alex Yonks celebrates as her holiday television movie airs on Discovery+

By Josh Hickman

Special Contributor Young filmmaker Alex Yonks, whose new holiday romcom Candy Coated Christmas features Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s Pioneer Woman, got her ambitious start at Parish Episcopal High School.

“There was a lot of encouragement from the teachers, and it helped me develop into the filmmaker that I am today,” the screenwriter said.

She grew up playing competitive soccer then slid into creative entertainment at 14 when she began acting in school plays and local theater.

But an independent film studies class at Parish Episcopal gave Yonks, as she puts it, “the creative space to take chances with zero risk.”

“It created an environment which was more akin to college and then life, which, as kids, was good to know,” she said.

Yonks switched from acting to writing while taking a class at Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film studio in Lewisville.

“Not connecting with any of the scripts I was given, on a whim, I wrote my own scene,” she recalled. “It turned out everyone loved it and really connected with it. And, full circle, I am now a guest speaker at one of their upcoming seminars.”

She then had a couple of shorts accepted into the Dallas International film festival.

“It just went from there,” Yonks said. “I kept writing and never stopped.”

But getting Candy Coated Christmas made was no piece of cake.

“It was a long haul,” Yonks said. “I wrote the whole script during the pandemic from Texas.”

Development started in early 2020. The script did the rounds in early 2021.

“We had no idea if it was going to get made — very much hurry up and wait,” Yonks said.

But when the green light came, filming commenced on location in Utah.

“Shooting a Christmas movie in 100-degree heat was interesting,” Yonks said, chuckling.

As for future productions, the busy writer is developing several projects — a young adult book adaptation, a couple of other holiday-themed projects, and a few television pilots.

“One is set in Texas and is based on my life here,” Yonks said. “That one is very close to my heart.

“There aren’t many shows that depict the mundane, normal type of kid in Texas, middle America — places other than L.A. and New York,” she lamented. “That’s who I was and who I am today. That’s the kind of shows I try to write and to get out there.”

She now splits her time between the Dallas area and Los Angeles.

“The way things are going, you can kind of work from anywhere, at least sometimes,” Yonks observed. “I love Texas. I still consider it my home. It’s part of who I am, and the kind of writer I want to be is rooted in Texas.”

A B O U T ‘ C A N D Y C O AT E D CHRISTMAS’ Before a trip to Hawaii, Los Angelesbased marketing executive Molly Gallant (Molly McCook) visits snowy Peppermint Hollow to check on an old family home. There she meets the owner of Bee’s Bakery (Ree Drummond) and gets invited to stay with the Winters family – Noah (Aaron O’Connell), Kim (Lee Garlington), and Dakota (Landry Townsend). They are renting the house where Molly’s mother grew up.

TOP: Alex Yonks on set in Utah. BOTTOM, FROM LEFT: Molly McCook, Yonks, and Aaron O’Connell. (PHOTOS: COURTESY DISCOVERY+)

Candy Coated Christmas airs on Discovery+.

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Help Your Child Get the Test Score They Deserve Affordable, 1-on-1 Online Tutoring and Test Prep

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 29

Your big moment is one of a kind. Your care should be, too.

That’s why we’re proud to deliver Better as one of only two DFW hospitals, and the only hospital in Dallas County, with the highest-possible rating for Best Hospitals for Maternity from U.S. News & World Report.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your moment.

To learn how we can deliver your moment with award-winning care, scan the QR code.

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. 99-DA-476722-BumcUsn_MCRank21_LH

30 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Congratulations, Belles Honor Squads and ’21-22 Miss High Kick Ava Tiffany Shannon Phillips, director of Highland Park High School’s awardwinning Highland Belles drill team, has announced the 2021-2022 honor squads and the selection of Ava Tiffany as this year’s Miss High Kick.

Belles on the honor squads are recognized for their excellence in dance and high kick.

The Belles perform in front of a panel of outside judges. Based on the judges’ scores, a select few are picked to be on these special squads and perform at various pep rallies and competitions.

– Staff report

Miss High Kick 2021-2022: Ava Tiffany. (PHOTO: ERIK CARLSON PHOTOGRAPHY) FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: All American Honor Squad members Greer Dunston, D e v o n e y D u c l o w, Av a Tiffany, Chloe Walsh, and Neely Womble. MIDDLE: Kate Hamilton, Riley Fainter, Kaycee Nieuwendyk, Shelby Pettit, Lola Jahant, and Sydney Thomas. BACK: Addison Renfrow, Sophie Bishop, Ellie Donahoe, Shelby Sides, and Logan Parette. (PHOTO: COURTESY

DISCOVER DISCOVER LEARN WONDER

HIGHLAND BELLES)

CONNECT LEARN MORE. JOIN US FOR A TOUR. 11611 Inwood Road | Dallas, Texas 75229 www.thelamplighterschool.org

FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: High-kicking Kick Company Belles Kate Hamilton, Green Dunston, Devoney Duclow, Ava Tiffany, Chloe Walsh, Neely Womble, and Sydney Thomas. MIDDLE: Emily Garberding, Riley Fainter, Anna Cooke, Lauren Welp, Faith Harris, and Sydney Chandler. BACK: Addison Renfrow, Sophie Bishop, Ellie Donahoe, Kaycee Nieuwendyk, Evyn Cramer, Logan Parette, and Lyla Gaubert. (PHOTO: COURTESY HIGHLAND BELLES)

exemplary test scores AND LIVES.

Co-ed college preparatory for ages 3 through grade 12 | 4100 Merrell Road, Dallas, TX 75229 | 214-353-5740 | esdallas.org 5col_Lives_10x4_US_converted.indd 1

I appreciate the importance of exemplary test scores, but my goal is exemplary lives.

I am The Episcopal School of Dallas.

And I am igniting lives of purpose.

-Excerpt, ESD Manifesto.

Read more at esdallas.org/manifesto Experience ESD. esdallas.org/admission

@episcopalschoolofdallas l @esdadmission

12/8/21 1:25 PM

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 31

Cardiovascular care just a heartbeat away.

Your heart is at the center of everything you do, and at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, it’s at the center of everything we do. We offer a broad spectrum of heart care related to general cardiology, interventional and electrophysiology procedures, and surgery. From prevention and diagnosis to treatment, we’re here with comprehensive care to help you stay heart healthy. Trust. Methodist.

To take a free heart risk assessment visit MethodistHealthSystem.org/HeartHRA or call 877-637-4297 for a physician referral.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

32 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Society

Looking Ahead CRYSTAL CHARITY BALL’S GROOVY IN-PERSON RETURN A PALATIAL AFFAIR Go Red for Women Luncheon

As a wife, sister, daughter, and colleague, Doreen Griffith understands firsthand “how caring for yourself is often last on your to-do list.” No wonder cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States.

But as the community volunteer chair of the 2021-2022 Dallas Go Red for Women movement, Griffith wants to see priorities change.

“I know we can take the message of self-care and prevention to even more women than ever this year,” said Griffith, who is the Dallas managing partner of Grant Doreen Griffith Thornton.

(COURTESY PHOTOS) The movement will celebrate local achievements during the 2022 Dallas Go Red for Women Luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 25 at Omni Dallas. Visit heart.org/dallasgored.

Entrance to “Buckingham Palace”

Dallas Business Hall of Fame Anne McPherson, Susan Glassmoyer, Leslie Diers, Cheryl Joyner, Kim Quinn, and Mary Martha Pickens with Beefeaters

Daniel Hunt, Toni Munoz-Hunt, Norma Hunt, Gracie Hunt, Tavia and Clark Hunt

Bryan and Leslie Diers

Arcilia Acosta

Clark Hunt

Tom Luce

Fred Perpall

Ballroom design by Tom Addis

(PHOTOS:TAMYTHA CAMERON)

All Crystal Charity Ball needed was “Peace Love London” to mark its grand return to the Hilton Anatole after the pandemic scuttled the in-person gala in 2020.

More than 1,500 guests in regal gowns and dapper suits arrived at the Anatole’s version of Buckingham Palace to a rendition of God Save the Queen and costumed guards holding the doors to celebrate raising $5.3 million for eight Dallas children’s charities.

Dallas String Quartet performed in a lobby decked out with a St. George’s flag floral arrangement and a bus advertising a Beatles show as guests bid in a silent auction, which raised a record $550,000.

Guests also enjoyed a scotch tasting bar, “Mod Market,” and hor d’oeuvres including fish on a stick and mini shepherd’s pies before the event’s version of Big Ben chimed to welcome them into the ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Inside, Beatles tribute band Live and Let Die rocked while dancers from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts performed in Union Jack dresses and go-go boots.

– By Rachel Snyder

Charles and Pat McEvoy

Tucker and Rich Enthoven

Tiffany and Paul DIvis

Junior Achievement Dallas will honor Arcilia Acosta, Clark Hunt, Tom Luce, and Fred Perpall as the newest laureates in the Dallas Business Hall of Fame.

“Each Laureate has contributed so much to the Dallas community, and they are fabulous business and philanthropic leaders,” said Jan Murfield, CEO/ president of Junior Achievement Dallas.

Acosta, president and CEO of CARCON Industries; Hunt, chairman of Hunt Sports Group; Luce, the founder of Texas 2036; and Perpall, CEO of The Beck Group, will join a list started in 1998.

The 2022 Junior Achievement Dallas Business Hall of Fame® event, scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, returns to an in-person format and will include students talking about how Junior Achievement has impacted their lives.

Visit jadallasbusinesshalloffame.org.

– Compiled by William Taylor

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 33

ERIC AND JE ANNIE NADEL

Turning Gratitude into Giving While you might know Eric Nadel as the legendary voice of the Texas Rangers, you might not know that Eric and Jeannie Nadel center their lives around gratitude and giving back. They partner with Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) to support nonprofits addressing mental health, animals, youth, food insecurity and other causes that matter most to them through the Eric and Jeannie Nadel Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at CFT. They’ve also included their fund in their estate plans to support the causes they care about long beyond their lifetime through CFT’s Live Oak Society. Read their story of generosity at CFTexas.org/Nadel.

CFT is here to help you support the causes that matter most to you.

Call us at 214-750-4229, email giving@cftexas.org or visit CFTexas.org/most to learn more.

Join us to: Grow community giving Advance community equity Expand community impact

34 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Living

CEO’S COVID TO DO LIST: DATA COLLECTION, WORK/LIFE BALANCE

LEFT: Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation CEO Steve Miff and his daughter, Cailin, enjoy a walk near their neighborhood. RIGHT: Miff with his daughter, Cailin, and his wife, Jen. (PHOTOS: COURTESY STEVE MIFF)

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

M

any families balanced work with teaching their children at home when the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools and businesses to shutter in March of 2020.

Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) CEO Steve Miff did it while helping to lead coronavirus data collection efforts for Dallas County.

PCCI, a nonprofit healthcare analytics organization, uses

technology, data science, and medical expertise to study behaviors and other social determinants to provide insight into how healthcare providers can better treat patients.

PCCI has been lauded for the depth and breadth of information shared with the public, in partnership with Dallas County, about COVID-19 hot spots, vaccination rates, and similar topics.

“We’ve learned that actually the power of the data and the granularity of the data that we’ve been blessed to have here is unique,”

said Miff, extending kudos to Dr. Philip Huang and the Dallas County Health and Human Services for making it possible.

“While most (parts of the country) are working at the ZIP code level or the county level for information, we’re doing it on an individual level,” Miff said. “It gave us an opportunity to be so much more targeted on how we ensure that the services are done in an equitable way.”

When not working, like many families, Miff ’s has navigated the challenges of virtual learning and

educating a child at home. He said that “gave us a whole new appreciation for our teachers and what they do day in and day out.”

Working from home posed its own set of challenges.

“I think there’s this misconception that (working) f rom home, you have more time,” Miff said. “I think you end up working more. It’s a lot harder to separate the work f rom home because you’re not physically necessarily moving, so what we try to do is create physical spaces in the house where it’s work versus the

rest of the house.”

When not working or doing school assignments, he and his family try to keep active. He enjoys biking, his Peloton, and family walks around the neighborhood.

“When you have to go to work, inevitably, you have to get up, you have to move, or you have to walk,” he said. “Well, now you can’t have that, so being much more thoughtful and planning for physical activity – that’s been something that I’ve appreciated.”

He described his 9-year-old daughter completing her vaccine regimen in early December as a relief.

“It was special for us, but it was even more special for her,” he said. “She felt so excited, and I would use the word ‘liberated.’”

PANDEMIC MADE PERSONAL This is the third in a series about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families in our community.

Visit peoplenewspapers. com/submit-a-tip/ to share your story.

Don’t Let Your Kitchen Backsplash Be a Missed Opportunity

Even though backsplashes can make great focal points, many people save picking their backsplash tiles for last.

Your kitchen design will look more impressive if you pick your backsplash tile early on and design around it.

MARGARET For those of you CHAMBERS who are designing a new home or planning on remodeling your current kitchen, you should find the following tips helpful.

A backsplash should cover the wall space between the countertop and upper cabinets above your range. Lately, I’ve noticed the newest trend is to have the backsplash continue up beyond the upper cabinets, sometimes even behind and around a vent hood or a window. To figure out how much square footage of tile you’ll need, multiply the width of your wall by the height. Then, increase that number by 10% to make sure you’ll have enough.

Since replacing tile is expensive, you can never be too careful making your choice.

Purchase a lot of different tile samples to take home (it’s cheaper than buying a lot of the wrong tile), then tape them to your wall and leave them up for a while.

Designers have established relationships

with showrooms, giving us more leeway to request a tile and then return it on short notice.

If you have countertops with a unique pattern or color running through them, it’s a good idea to pick a neutral backsplash tile, so you don’t draw attention away from your countertops. Of course, if your countertops are understated, you have more room to be creative and showy in your backsplash tile choice. Recently, my design firm has been using the same material for both the countertop and kitchen backsplash.

Choosing a timeless backsplash is essential if you’re planning on selling your house.

White subway tile is one option, but also consider picket tiles, square, or hexagon tiles.

White subway tile is also perfect for kitchens that have a lot going on visually.

Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution to finding the perfect backsplash, some tile choices will work in your kitchen better than others.

By considering your budget, lifestyle, and the rest of your kitchen’s aesthetic, you can easily narrow down your selections.

Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Find more design advice at chambersinteriors.com/blog.

This mosaic tile backsplash’s gray and terracotta colors match other colors used in this Kessler Park home. (PHOTO: NATHAN SCHRODER) When possible, continue the backsplash behind the vent hood, like in this Dallas kitchen. Subway tile, like the taupe tile used in this bar area, is a classic choice for kitchen and bar backsplashes. (PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUNTER)

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 35

Make It a Fondue Winter Celebration With Swiss Comfort Food

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the relative quiet of January can be a welcome relief.

The chill and early twilight also provide an ideal setting to gather with friends, par ticularly if holiday scheduling conflicts made that CHRISTY ROST impossible.

Following a day of downhill or Nordic skiing, gathering around Swan’s Nest’s 123-year-old hearth for an apres ski fondue party is an especially fun way to be with friends.

While my husband Randy builds a fire in the hearth, I gently stir grated Gruyere and other APRES SKI FONDUE

cheeses in an electric fondue pot with chopped garlic, Dijon mustard, and white wine.

As the cheeses slowly melt, I place a basket of cubed rustic bread and a large platter of bite-size vegetables and sliced fruit on the coffee table within easy reach of our guests. Once the fondue is ready, the real fun begins as everyone uses long, slender forks to dip their bread and veggies into the silky, smooth mixture.

Fondue, which comes from the French word meaning “to melt,” originated in Switzerland in the 18th century as a way of stretching limited foodstuffs during the long winters. Farmers melted whatever cheese was on hand, added a splash of wine, and dipped stale bread into the mixture. From these humble ingredients came a proud Swiss comfort food tradition that was

introduced to Americans in the Swiss pavilion during the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

Today, fondue continues to be a popular, family-style winter

tradition in Switzerland.

Fondue parties are fun for all ages, interactive, super easy – and no snow is required! That’s why they’re ideal for winter gatherings

no matter where you live.

While chocolate fondue and chocolate fountains gained popularity over the last 20 years, I’ve found most adults prefer the traditional savory version, and children love it, too.

Every parent knows kids like anything they can dip, so fondue is a clever way to get them to eat more vegetables.

For large gatherings, or to transform the fondue party into a hearty dinner, add platters of rolled prosciutto, small meatballs, or cubes of summer sausage or cooked chicken breast.

Christy Rost is a cookbook author, chef on PBS stations nationwide, and longtime resident of the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

Her Celebrating Home 4-minute cooking videos are available at youtube.com/ChristyRostCooks and christyrost.com.

(PHOTO: CHRISTY ROST)

Ingredients: ½ pound Gruyere cheese ½ pound Fontina cheese ¼ pound white cheddar or pepper jack cheese 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch 1 ¼ cup Sauvignon Blanc or other dry white wine 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) Blanched broccoli and cauliflower florets Blanched asparagus Apple slices, sprinkled with lemon juice 1 baguette or rustic bread loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes

Directions: Grate the cheeses into a large bowl (Freezing the cheese for 15 minutes before grating makes it easier to grate). Sprinkle the cheese mixture with cornstarch and toss with your hands to coat.

Preheat an electric fondue pot to medium heat, add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute until it is

fragrant. Add the wine and mustard, stir well to mix, and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheese, a little at a time, stirring well until it melts before adding additional cheese. Stir in chile flakes, if desired.

Heat until the cheese is creamy and smooth, stirring often.

To serve, arrange broccoli and

cauliflower florets, asparagus, apple slices, and bread cubes on a platter. For large groups, serve the bread cubes in a basket. Place the fondue pot, small plates, fondue forks, and the vegetable platter in the center of the table.

Yield: 6 servings

36 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com WEDDING

CASEY & JEFFREY BLACKWATTERS

C

asey Rose Blackwatters and Jeffrey Edward Blackwatters renewed their wedding vows on October 30, 2021, at The Laurel.

Casey’s grandmother, Gail Troglio, officiated the ceremony. Their original wedding took place in Breckenridge, Colorado, on August 8, 2020.

The bride is the daughter of Donna and John Watters of Dallas. She is a 2011 graduate of The Hockaday School. In 2015, she received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Middlebury College. In 2020, she completed her Master of Public Health from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior. Casey is now a research associate at the Colorado State University Social Work Research Center.

The groom is the son of Sheri and Jeffrey Black of Tucson, Arizona. He is a 2013 graduate of the RAF Alconbury. In 2017, he received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sustainability Science from Cornell University.

In 2018, he completed his Master of Science in Geography from the National University of Ireland at Galway. Jeffrey is currently a doctoral student and graduate research assistant at Colorado State University’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural

Resources.

The bride walked down the aisle with both of her parents. For her wedding, Casey wore an exquisite gown designed by Reem Acra. The A-line gown featured an intricate bow detailed embroidery, which cascaded into a tulle skirt and train.

The design combined a delicate illusion neckline, corset bodice, and nude lining to show dimension.

The bride paired her gown with her sister’s blush European cathedral veil by Monvieve of Milan.

Assisting the bride were her sisters: matron of honor, Meaghan Watters Pedersen, and matron of honor, Keegan Bagalay. Her bridesmaids included Isabel Black, sister of the groom; Katie Hebeler, friend of the bride; and Lindsey Segler, cousin of the bride. In addition, Rowan Pederson, niece of the bride and groom, and Luke Segler, cousin of the bride, served as flower children.

Attending the groom as best man was Hollis Malkowski, friend of the groom. Groomsmen included Ryan Watters, brother of the bride and friend of the groom, and Jake Watters, brother of the bride.

Serving as ushers were Matthew Cunningham, cousin of the bride; Zach Cunningham, cousin of the bride; Erica Hsu, friend of the bride; Trisha Jain, friend of the bride; Dakota Holmes, friend of

P H O T O : S H A N N O N S K LO S S P H O T O G R A P H Y

the groom; and Cameron Taylor, friend of the groom. Ryan Watters, brother of the bride and friend of the groom, was the ring bearer.

The ceremony included readings selected by the bride and groom: “Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss, read by the mother of the bride, Donna, and “The Art of Marriage” by Wilfred A Peterson, read by the mother of the groom, Sheri.

Bows and Arrows provided the

florals for the wedding and the reception in hues of burgundy and pink–pairing dahlias, garden roses, scabiosa, snowberries, chr ysanthemums, hyacinth, carnations, and snapdragons with an abundance of greenery. A “Rose” motif carried throughout the festivities as a nod to the bride’s middle name.

For the reception at The Laurel, the seating display consisted of laser-cut calligraphed cards placed

in ombre fashion on a wooden and boxwood wall, clad with abundant florals. In addition, laser-cut letters crafted in wood spelled out, “Be Seated With The Blackwatters,” against the boxwood.

The cocktail hour was hosted on the lawn, where guests enjoyed games such as giant Jenga and corn hole, with boards designed with the couple’s rose monogram. The “Bride’s Lavender Love Potion” specialty cocktail included dry ice, adding a smoking effect to the All Hallow’s Eve weekend.

The couple danced their first dance to “Stand by Me,” then the band Downtown Fever had guests packing the dance floor all night. Slo Mo Video captured guests against a floral-filled boxwood backdrop.

For dessert, The Laurel spread a table with an array of confections on plateaus and trays themed to the wedding and decorated with delicate florals. The couple’s priority was to have a donut wall with icing in the wedding hues to celebrate their favorite dessert. When It Clicks captured the wedding and the reception on video, Shannon Skloss Photography preserved the images. Caroline Events planned and coordinated the memorable occasion even securing a 1957 Ford Skyliner as the perfect get-away car for Casey and Jeffrey.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Cancun, Mexico, in July of 2021 and now reside in Fort Collins, Colorado.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 37 WEDDING

KELLY MCKENZIE – VICTOR SAWYER

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M

ary “Kelly” McKenzie wed Victor A. Sawyer on the 16th of October 2021 at Somerley House, Hampshire, England.

The couple exchanged their vows under a 500-year-old oak tree on the grounds of the estate. A cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and fireworks in the parkland followed. The estate dates back to the mid-1600s, and Somerley has featured prominently in The Crown on Netflix.

Kelly is the daughter of Mike and Barbara McKenzie of University Park, Texas. Vic is the son of Mrs. Jean Sawyer of Reading, England.

For her wedding gown, the bride chose a tulle gown from Pronovias Atelier Collection featuring a sweetheart bodice and multi-layer skirt and train. The fingertip length veil was accented by a bespoke Hermione Harbutt headpiece of flowers crafted of freshwater pearls.

Francesca Price attended the bride as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Megan McKenzie, Jillian Keenan, Claire McCarthy, Callie Anders, Michelle Toliver, and Maddy Daggett. Members of the house party were

Vanessa Lee and Nell Mead. Annabelle McKenzie served as flower girl.

Attending the groom as his best man was Colin Sawyer. Groomsmen included Scott McKenzie, Michael Dewberry, and Harry Miller. Sean Keegan and Ronnie Wise served as ushers. The ring bearer was Jack McKenzie.

The bride is a 2007 graduate of Highland Park High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, a Masters of Business Administration degree from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and a Master of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Reading (UK).

Kelly is a private mental health consultant specializing in LGBTQ+ issues. In January, she will begin work on her Master of Science degree in Counseling at SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Vic recently retired from a career with British Telecom to move to Dallas with Kelly.

After a wedding trip to Paris and Croatia, Vic and Kelly now reside in Dallas.

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38 January 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

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The team, whose nine members include Ryan Streiff, Jason Bates, Karen Fry, Charles Gregory, Lance Hancock, Courtney Jubinsky, Jamie Kohlmann, Laura Michelle and Dave Perry-Miller, specializes in luxury homes in Preston Hollow, North Dallas, Park Cities, Lakewood, Lake Highlands and anywhere else their clients need them to be.

3625 Beverly was successfully Sold by The Perry-Miller Streiff Group in 2021.

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(PHOTO: CLARK CRENSHAW) Dallas, TX— Landscape lighting not only adds beauty and dimension to your home at night, but can also serve as a crime deterrent. In a past issue of Park Cities People, Highland Park Department of Public Safety Community Relations Officer Lance Koppa was quoted as saying, “adequate outdoor lighting could also prevent property crimes.”

The true value of security lighting lies in its ability to deter trespassing in the first place. A home that is properly illumi-

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BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

a beautiful den overlooking the spectacular

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ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

cellar and more primed for enjoyment with

Beautiful Beverly Drive

loved ones.

At 3644 Beverly Drive, the main house dates back a century and has hosted presidents, dignitaries and heads of state.

and an outdoor commercial pizza oven.

With 12 bedrooms, you can welcome

Back inside, the magazine-worthy

visitors any time of year.

nated gives the impression the residence is occupied and

kitchen boasts gleaming marble floors,

trespassers are hesitant to venture onto a property where

vaulted and beamed ceilings, a large

Recently sold, the home at 3721 Beverly

someone could be home. They would much rather choose

stainless-steel island and a bevy of chef-

Drive was renovated to accentuate huge,

a target that seems empty.

level appliances, including two Sub-Zero

arched doorways and open spaces. The Highland Park’s Beverly Drive has a

home has 8,573 square feet of interiors

stately reputation. Historic manors line the

to enjoy, including a two-story pool house

4009 Gillon Avenue is represented by

prestigious street near the Dallas Country

ideal for gatherings.

Ann Henry for $7,950,000. Briggs Freeman

Club, and people love seeing the elaborate

surroundings. If there is a noise or disturbance, you are

The sophisticated 4009 Gillon Avenue is

Sotheby’s International Realty, founded in

lights displays during the holidays.

better able to see what is happening outside your windows.

a rare jewel in the heart of Highland Park.

the Park Cities in 1960, represents luxury

The estates hold enthralling histories,

Federalist-style manor hearkening to the

If you have security cameras installed outside your home,

This exceptionally elegant home sits on a

homes, high-rises, ranches, land and

grand architecture and unique legacies. Allie

homes of New England also found a buyer

visibility of whatever is in the camera’s view also improves

.437-acre lot near Lakeside Drive, Highland

commercial properties. Its briggsfreeman.

Beth Allman & Associates has represented

this year. The circa-1921 residence at

substantially, especially after dark.

Park Village and the Dallas Country Club.

com website is a cutting-edge portal

many of the homes along this thoroughfare.

3645 Beverly Drive even boasts a unique

refrigerators-freezers, two dishwashers

Landscape lighting is also a great solution for security purposes because it provides lighting throughout the property. By lighting the outdoor areas and the perimeter of a home, it gives homeowners more visual control over their

4009 Gillon Avenue, represented

by Ann Henry for $7,950,000.

able spots to install customized security lighting.” One of Lentz’s long-time customers recently upgraded her lighting system to include special remote controls on some of her outdoor lights, thus enabling her to turn lights on and off if she heard something suspicious in her backyard. Addition-

vary

performance stage for fun events.

schools, virtual tours, architecture guides

Korn, 3521 Beverly Drive has warm living

primary suites, spacious formal rooms and

and more.

spaces, a game room with a bar, a wine

expert, visit alliebeth.com.

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

charming updates with modern amenities

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Southwestern Blvd. The grand foyer

for a seamless transition to remote living.

Park Cities Homes Primed For Every Occasion

impresses with a curving staircase.

alone for whatever circumstance in their lives, and one of It gives them great piece of mind when we identify vulner-

estates

lush views from every window, it offers two

says, “We have many customers who are faced with living

DeCarla Anderson Group Offers Tree Farm Getaway With Pool, Springs

Listed

properties,

Drive’s

Built in 1920 and designed by Anton

Amid its clean lines, high ceilings and

featuring

Beverly

architecturally but are always grand. A

neighborhoods,

Richard Lentz, President of Lentz Landscape Lighting

their first calls is to Lentz to install more outdoor illumination.

and two convection ovens.

by

DeCarla

Anderson

for

$3,780,000, Harmony Springs Ranch features a large workshop, storage shop, a pool and spa, multiple water wells, two

To connect with a luxury real estate

From the gourmet kitchen to the dramatic wet bar, there’s a lavish space for large-scale entertaining or cozy gatherings.

1000-gallon propane tanks, and a backup

If walkability is front of mind for you,

systems featuring timers/remote controls that our clients

generator that can power the entire home.

make sure to tour 3305 Rankin St. Living

can customize when out of town or out of the house at

There is also a 1,000 square-foot guest

just steps from SMU and Snider Plaza,

night. “

house under construction on the property

you can quickly get to football games

to accommodate additional guests.

or enjoy lunch out with friends. Built in

ally, Lentz noted, “We also design and install interior lighting

In summary, professionally- installed lighting is an integral part of any effective home security system. Lighting,

Harmony Springs Ranch has all of the

especially outdoors, discourages would –be intruders from

recreation, relaxation, and entertainment

targeting your home by increasing the risk of being caught.

options you need to leave city life behind.

2013, the University Park home spans 5,138 square feet.

Many Park Cities listings held by Allie

New builds also dot the Park Cities,

For more information about exterior/interior and security

Looking for a getaway just outside of

To schedule a showing, contact

Beth Allman & Associates agents are

and Highland Park has a stunning home

lighting, contact Lentz Landscape Lighting @ 972-241-0622

Dallas with income-generating potential?

Anderson at 214-695-9043 or decarla@

ready for all your memorable occasions.

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or www.lentzlighting.com.

Harmony Springs Ranch, a 3,449 square

dpmre.com.

A circa-1920 home at 3521 Beverly

Ave. Scheduled for completion in spring

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

5335 Meaders Lane 6 Bedrooms | 6.2 Baths | 12,612 SqFt Offered For $9,750,000 Designed by architect Elby Martin, a Tuscan- inspired stone-clad estate home with Italian barrel tile roof, manicured 1.1-acre site with mature trees and landscape by Harold Leidner. Gourmet kitchen topped by a barrel brick ceiling is open to one of several family rooms. Custom Knotty Alderwood cabinetry with White Castle hardware provides storage. Two full-size SubZeros refrigerators, two Asko dishwashers, two gas Wolf ovens and warming drawer. Outdoor Kitchen equipped with a Wolfe outdoor grille and Subzero undercounter refrigerators, and electric screens. Resort like pool, cabana, turfed back yard, private guest house. Home is equipped with Geothermal HVAC and natural gas generator.

For more information please contact Kyle Crews (214) 538-1310.

foot resort-style property near the East

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.

Drive designed by Anton Korn is poised

2022, it features Marvin windows and

Texas town of Winnsboro, is located on

com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday

for elegant, modern living. In 2008, it

Visual Comfort lighting that make it

215-acres of lush forest certified by the

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was renovated and expanded to create

worth the wait.

American Tree Farm System. Named after

with four locations that specialize in

a

the natural springs that originate from the

Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas,

floorplan.

property, Harmony Springs Ranch offers

Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler

three bedrooms and two baths, and

Park and Farm & Ranch properties.

updated traditional is available at 3817

search. Visit alliebeth.com.

EBBY HALLIDAY

knowledgeable, respected agents and a

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

team of professionals dedicated to making

Cooking Up Memories In A Modern Kitchen

pleasant evenings spent with family, friends and good food.

A gorgeous modern at 4135 Valley Ridge Road has a bold kitchen, dining area and living area all in a one open space, so guests can catch up while enjoying appetizers around the island as they watch the kids play outdoors through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Family friendly and fashionable, this residence has four-bedrooms.

A 2018-built custom home in Midway Hollow has an open kitchen with all the latest trends. From its waterfall island to its gold accents and designer finishes, everything about 9941 Coppedge Lane is stylish and fresh.

Luxury leader Allie Beth Allman & Associates sells more homes priced at $2 million and above in Dallas County than any other brokerage and leads in the sale of homes in the Park Cities. Connect with a luxury real estate expert: alliebeth.com.

Ebby Halliday Realtors Serves Oklahoma

buying or selling a home or property one convenient experience. While our skilled agents help them navigate the market, our affiliated core-services companies handle

sophisticated, In

University

9,714-square-foot Park,

another

mortgage, insurance and title needs with the utmost care. We are thrilled to offer those looking to buy or sell in Oklahoma the same great service we have long been known for in North Texas.”

Adds Kelly, “2021 has been a memorable Ebby Halliday Realtors, the largest

year for the Ebby Halliday Companies.

residential real estate services company

It’s been a year of significant growth as

in Texas, also serves the residential real

we opened new North Texas offices and

estate needs of Oklahoma and those

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searching for a home in the state.

serve the needs of our valued clients.”

“We are so excited to share that the

For more information about Ebby

Ebby Halliday Companies are open for

Halliday’s residential real estate services in

business in Oklahoma,” says President &

Oklahoma and to search for your Oklahoma

CEO Chris Kelly. “Our clients benefit from

home, visit ebby.com/oklahoma.

Don’t forget to connect with an agent, who can tell you about the private

Gone are the days of the design mindset when kitchens were tucked away and used only for prepping food. Today, they’re an extension of your living areas, and homebuyers want beautiful open spaces and expansive islands perfect for effortless gatherings.

At these homes, represented by Allie Beth Allman & Associates, the kitchens have the potential to bring you many

offerings that you won’t find in an online

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2022 39

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT

O B I T UA RY

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Find A Home For Gathering in Preston Hollow

JULIE ANN HUDSON O’CONNELL

These homes in Preston Hollow provide what you need to bring everyone together. Luxury leader Allie Beth Allman & Associates can help you find a home that fits the need for all your family entertaining this year.

Consider these exceptional homes in Preston Hollow.

Remember that your Allman expert can also show you homes that are only on a private listing available to the brokerage.

A three- and possibly four-bedroom home at 10852 Crooked Creek Court sits on a cul-de-sac between Strait Lane and Inwood Road. With a classic design and modern amenities, the home has superb areas for entertaining but also features quiet, smaller spaces.

Prefer mid-century modern design? A four-bedroom home at 4209 Meadowdale Lane was totally renovated in 2008-09. The result is a residence that keeps that MCM vibe while offering all the amenities for today’s lifestyle.

A large, one-level home with four bedrooms, including two master suites, recently sold at 5843 Preston Haven Drive. In 2019, this home underwent a $100,000 remodel that created a highly functional home – and an open kitchen that’s the perfect setting for entertaining.

The Allman firm sells more homes in Dallas County priced at $2 million and above than any other brokerage.

4 / 1 4 / 1 9 3 5 –1 1 / 9 / 2 0 2 1

J

ulie Ann Hudson O’Connell (“Honey” to her grandchildren) died on November 9, 2021, after a brief illness. Born on April 14, 1935, Julie Ann was the first child and only daughter of James S. Hudson and Julie Harlan Hudson. She attended Bradfield Elementary, graduated from Highland Park High School in 1952, and also attended Stephens College. Julie Ann married Ray O’Connell on September 28, 1956, after accepting his proposal on their first date. They raised five

representative. She was recognized as a Pillar of the HPISD Community and received the Distinguished Alumni Association Award from HPISD for her years of service. Most of her volunteer roles were neither high-profile nor glamorous, however. She served thousands of lunches in HPISD school cafeterias, was Room Mother numerous times, led Bluebird/ Camp Fire troops and children’s Bible studies, faithfully served lunches to senior adults in HPPC’s Friday Fellowship Ministry, and worked the Press Tent at the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament for 50 years, to name a few examples of her behindthe-scenes volunteer roles. Julie Ann had the gift of hospitality, constantly welcoming old friends and new acquaintances into her home. She co-founded the Greeter Ministry at HPPC to ensure that everyone received a warm, genuine welcome each week. She was readily recognizable in her many festive hats and headbands that she coordinated for every holiday.

Julie Ann was a wonderful mother to her own children and many “adopted” children, including the hundreds of students to

daughters and were married for almost 49 years until his death in 2005.

A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, she is predeceased by her beloved brother, James S. Hudson, Jr. Julie Ann loved Jesus, her country, her friends, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, the Highland Park Scots, the Broadmoor, the State Fair of Texas (which she attended every single year of her life), 4th of July, and fishing at Ferndale Club Lake, but her greatest joy and passion were her children: Kitty Henry, Julie Wallis (Mike), Meg Fraschilla (Fran), Sallie Weibel (Mark) and Mollie Walker (Chris); her grandchildren: Kate Henry, Hallie Henry Valley (Michael), Julie Ann Wallis, James and Matt Fraschilla, Caroline and Hudson Weibel, Patrick and Anna Walker; and her great-granddaughter, Harper Ray Valley.

A tireless volunteer in her community and church, she served as Armstrong School PTA President, HPPC Deacon, HPISD Alumni Association Board member, and University Park Citizens Council

whom she ministered through the HPPC College Ministry for over 30 years. She was a Sunday morning greeter to young children and their families for decades, providing a hug, a warm smile, and friendly directions, and she loved her job rocking babies in the church nursery.

For the last few years, Julie Ann lived with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease but retained her sweet spirit and friendly persona, even when names no longer came as easily. A memorial service celebrated Julie Ann’s life at 10 am on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

The family is particularly grateful for the gracious hospitality of HPUMC, which allowed them to celebrate their mom at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Julie Ann’s name be made to Highland Park Education Foundation, https:// www.hpef.org/memorial-gifting; Salesmanship Club of Dallas, https://scdallas.org; Highland Park Presbyterian Church, https://www.hppres.org; or the charity of your choice.

C L ASSI F I EDS To place your ad in People Newspapers, please call us at 214-523-5239, fax to 214-594-5779, or e-mail to classified@peoplenewspapers.com. All ads will run in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People and online. Pre-payment is required on all ads. Deadline for our next edition is Monday, Jan 3. People Newspapers reserves the right to edit or reject ads. We assume no liability for errors or omissions in advertisements and no responsibility beyond the cost of the ad. We are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion.

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© 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved.The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice.

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DALLAS IN TOP 20 OF STEM JOB GROWTH

Space Camp Schools ready students for related career fields Alumnae Discovers Her Out of This

By Bethany Erickson World Passion bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

D

allas found its way to the top 20 of an index designed to track STEM job growth — and experts say that will be very good for the local economy.

Our research has also indicated that STEM jobs tend to be more resistant to economic shocks.

Karl Pischke RCLCO, a real estate consulting firm, produced its yearly look at job growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields across the country, finding Dallas perched at No. 11.

In education, sometimes art is added in to make it STEAM, because of the creativity involved in design elements.

“The average STEM job in the United States has a wage of nearly $90,000, and that’s compared to an average wage of $40,000 for other industries,” said RCLCO vice president Karl Pischke. “Our research has also indicated that STEM jobs tend to be more resistant to economic shocks.”

Between 2005 and 2015, STEM employment grew by nearly 25% — more than five times the growth of non-STEM jobs.

Pischke pointed to U.S. Department of Labor statistics that project at least a million new STEM jobs in the

2020s — an 11% growth compared to 8% for non-STEM jobs.

And while part of the stability is its variability — there are a lot of occupations and career paths that fall under the STEM umbrella — RCLCO’s analysis found that about half of all such jobs are computer-related, with the fastest-growing in the past five years coming in the computer user support, industrial engineering, information security, and civil engineering fields.

“Over the coming decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the strongest growth to concentrate in computers and mathematics, architecture and engineering, and life, physical & social science,” the firm’s report said. “However, it is important to note that these projections have also been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with life, physical, and social science jobs seeing a more significant bump in projected future job growth. This category includes jobs like medical scientists and epidemiologists, two professions that have received wellearned attention in light of their impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Area schools are preparing students for STEM-ready career paths, including Dallas ISD. The district expanded its array of STEM learning opportunities to include their youngest scholars (a new biomedical elementary collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical School) and its oldest students, thanks to collegiate academies, specialized magnet schools, and its latest effort — career institutes that create opportunities for students to earn certifications for a variety of jobs.

The three locations offer training in STEM-related fields like aviation flight mechatronics, cybersecurity, electrical and solar technology, and health science occupations like patient care

STEM VIRTUAL EXPO

What: Dallas ISD boasts the largest STEM EXPO in Texas where students explore, design, and create real-world science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities.

When: Jan. 22, 2022

Registration: Visit dallasisd.org/ stemday Details: The event draws more than 130 hands-on exhibits and serves as the culmination event for these District Championships – Science & Engineering Fair, VEX, and First Robotics Competitions, Mathematics Video Game Challenge, Mathematics Bridge Building Competition, Health and Wellness Awareness, and the Tech Fest Digital Media Fair Competition. technician and pharmaceutical technician certifications.

In 2020, Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa told reporters that the increased focus on growth fields would benefit the city.

“I keep telling Mayor Johnson, to grow southern Dallas — when these kids get out, make a good living, and they can buy a house in Pleasant Grove, South Dallas, Oak Cliff, now they have disposable income, and they’re going to demand a Starbucks, they’re going to demand a grocery store,” he said. “That’s how you build southern Dallas, and we’re going to get there.”

Dallas ISD positioned itself to contribute to the STEM/STEAM job market through a variety of programs, including an array of Career Institutes that aim to graduate work-ready scholars. (PHOTO: COURTESY DALLAS ISD)

I was only in sixth grade when I discovered my fascination with space.

I began to look at photos of planets, stars, and galaxies with a new perspective of wonder and admiration. Space exploration fascinated me, and how impossibly small the world is in the infinite plane of the cosmos utterly astonished me.

I knew that I was passionate about S Y D N E Y S L AY space, but what did that mean for me?

At the time, when I thought of an engineer, what immediately came to mind was a brainy man building machines in a factory.

An aerospace engineer sounded equally intimidating. So, as I prepared for my first year at Space Camp after my seventh-grade year, I was terrified not only that I would be one of the only girls there but that everyone would know way more about space than I did.

Upon arrival at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, I pleasantly realized that the camp consisted of almost an equal number of boys and girls, which settled my initial nerves a bit.

After spending a week with my fellow “Atlas” teammates, I discovered that all of us were at that camp not because we already knew a lot about space and space exploration, but to learn about our shared passion, encouraging and challenging each other along the way.

Space camp further increased my passion and educated me on the specific options available in a STEM field that I’m passionate about. This STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education has allowed me to pursue my passions in a way that seventh-grade me did not even realize existed.

Space Camp has allowed me to hear from astronauts about their journeys into the program and given me added confidence and teamwork to work with my school’s robotics teams.

Our education system must cultivate youth who are genuinely excited, interested, and passionate about the advancement of STEM by providing ample opportunities for STEM education because true devotion to the advancement of our life on Earth yields breakthroughs in our universe as we know it.

Space camp offered me an insight into furthering my passion in the future by providing me the opportunity to grow my love for STEM. I encourage young students interested in STEM to take the chance on the opportunities that arise because you never know what interest may develop into your true passion.

Sydney Slay, now a junior at the Hockaday School, began appearing in the paper in 2017 when she and her Hockadaisies teammates earned a trip to California by taking third place in the North Texas First Lego League tournament sponsored by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This is her debut as a writer for the paper.

peoplenewspapers.com | January 2022 B3

B4 January 2022 | STEAM

New Biomedical Elementary Principal Just What the Doctor Ordered

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com When looking for a principal for a new elementary school with a biomedical focus, you probably won’t get one more qualified than a family doctor who switched gears to become a public school educator.

Not long after Dallas ISD announced that it was collaborating with UT Southwestern Medical Center to create a pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade biomedical school in the city’s medical district, it named Robert Gonzalez as the principal.

The school will open in August 2022 as one of the first of its kind in the nation.

Before moving to Texas, Gonzalez was a family doctor in Colombia. After leaving due to increasing danger in his home country, he also pivoted to teaching through Dallas ISD’s alternative certification program.

From there, he made his way up the ranks, eventually becoming principal at Stevens Park Elementary. When the biomedical school opportunity came, he was immediately — and enthusiastically — interested.

“I hope you can hear it in my voice,” he said about how excited he is for a new job tailored to his specific skill set. “When this came to life, and I applied, I thought back to my 3-year-old child. I want him to be exposed to what I’m planning for

I believe this is the most important part — I have to teach them that mistakes help us learn. It’s a culture of failure to get to a discovery.

Mistakes are celebrations for us.

Robert Gonzalez

Robert Gonzalez was a family doctor in Colombia, and after a career change to teaching, will now helm Dallas ISD’s new biomedical elementary school collaboration with UT Southwestern. (PHOTOS: COURTESY DALLAS ISD; UNSPLASH) everybody else. My time and effort are out there because I love all the things that I am doing.”

His new school will initially work with children ages 3 and 4 through the first grade,

eventually expanding to eighth grade.

The curriculum will surround students with STEAM opportunities by introducing them to real-world experiences in biomedical science through their daily

lessons and innovative field trips.

But how do you approach a biomedical focus with children so young?

“The first thing we’re going to do is we’re going to teach them how to set goals,” Gonzalez said. “What is our goal?

How do we set a goal? How do we pursue the goal?

“Then we’ll start asking questions.

Scientists, they ask questions all the time,” he said, adding that questionasking is something that is solidly in a preschooler’s wheelhouse. “I have a 3-year-old in my house, and they’re always asking questions. I’m training parents so they can listen to those questions and ask something else for them to find out the answer. Don’t just give the answer, but make sure they explore what the kid is thinking.”

After goal setting and question asking, Gonzalez said there is a third valuable mindset that he hopes to impart to his young scholars.

“I believe this is the most important part — I have to teach them that mistakes help us learn,” he said. “It’s a culture of failure to get to a discovery. Mistakes are celebrations for us.”

H O W T O A P P LY The application window for Dallas ISD Choice, Transformation, and Magnet schools runs through Jan. 31, 2022. Visit dallasisd.org/ choosedallasisd to apply.

Lessons From The Heart

Former student helps Hyer third graders learn about cardiac conditions, health

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Molly Nolan uses her life experiences to educate thirdgrade talented and gifted (TAG) students at her alma mater, Hyer Elementary, about heart health.

It’s great that they want to learn about abnormalities so they can learn about the heart.

Molly Nolan Nolan has tetralogy of Fallot, a condition caused by four heart defects present at birth that affect the heart’s structure and cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out to the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

She speaks to students in Hyer’s third grade TAG Explorations class about her condition, other heart abnormalities, and doctors’ procedures to treat them.

Her visits to Hyer started

about 12 years ago when a friend who had a child in the class asked if she wanted to speak to the students as part of their lessons about heart health. Those lessons include dissecting a pig heart.

Nolan has spoken at Hyer each year since, except for 2020, because of the pandemic.

“It’s great that they want to learn about abnormalities so they can learn about the heart,” Nolan said.

As part of her presentation, Nolan discusses how a normal heart compares to that of someone with tetralogy of Fallot and shows videos that demonstrate how procedures like valve replacement and devices like pacemakers and defibrillators work.

“When you have Tetralogy of Fallot, your heart looks really different from the normal heart,” student Emma Elverum said.

“The pictures were really cool and explained the differences.”

Nolan’s doctor has provided such learning tools as several pacemakers to bring and teach the students about how they work to regulate heart rate and rhythm.

“It was cool how she passed

TOP, BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Alice Hodges, Anna Kate Schulte, Molly Nolan, Grant Kosel, Lane Crow, Nathan Marx, and Emma Elverum. FRONT ROW: Lala Fabris, Tori Castellanos, Caleb Yoon, Timmy Chong, and Abby Chong. RIGHT: Grant Kisol dissected a pig’s heart as part of lessons about heart health. (PHOTOS: COURTESY HPISD)

around the pacemakers, and we got to touch them,” student Timmy Chong added.

Nolan, though, most enjoys seeing what the students learn.

“The most special part of the whole thing is seeing what they take away from it,” she said of the students. “I like to broaden their learning and broaden their knowledge.”

She said one of the things she asks the students is, “how would you treat your friend if they couldn’t walk a mile with you?”

“I think kids are more aware of differences,” Nolan added.

“They’re so smart. I ask a lot of questions of them.”

Teacher Carrie Boydston said, “The students and I love when Molly comes to our classroom.

“She provides an authentic learning experience for the students by putting the human touch on our study of the heart,” Boydston said. “Her energy and sense of humor are unmatched, and I’m so thankful for her willingness to share her story with us.”

peoplenewspapers.com | January 2022 B5

B6 January 2022 | STEAM

TEXAS NEEDS A LONE STAR SPACE PLAN TO KEEP ITS ADVANTAGE Just outside Van Horn, four private crewmembers – including actor William Shatner – lifted off in a rocket built by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space flight company.

That October 2021 trip came a month after SpaceX launched the first orbital flight with an all-civilian crew.

It is the dawn of a new M A R G A R E T space race – this time between SPELLINGS states over the fast-growing private-sector industry.

Texas should be well-positioned, but even though “Houston” is a NASA callsign, home to the Johnson Space Center, and synonymous with space travel, it’s far from certain that Texas will lead the pack.

From Colorado to Alabama to Florida, others are aggressively pursuing what Morgan Stanley estimates could be a $1 trillion industry by 2040.

To compete, Texas must organize for success.

Fortunately, we have a head start, even beyond SpaceX’s and Blue Origin’s highprofile launches from Texas.

Such aerospace companies as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have a significant presence in North Texas.

Houston’s investments to turn Ellington Field into a spaceport attracted emerging leaders, Axiom Space and Intuitive Machines.

The University of Texas campuses in El Paso and Austin joined the Space Force University Partnership Program to prepare students for the industry’s future highwage jobs.

The benefits are real.

The SpaceX expansion in Brownsville has created good-paying jobs and community investment. Many of the company’s roughly 1,500 employees live there.

To create such dividends across the state, Texas needs to act decisively.

A Lone Star space plan should start with three key steps: First, Texas must align and coordinate state and

local governments, identifying ways to streamline regulation and processes.

Second, the state needs to look hard at how it can attract industry leaders. That doesn’t mean reckless corporate giveaways; it means being realistic about assessing the support other states offer and ensuring that Texas is keeping pace — at least to the point that our unique strengths, resources, and attributes provide a competitive advantage.

Finally, and most importantly, attracting and growing the space industry requires a solid education-to-workforce pipeline.

In the end, the states that lead in the space-age economy won’t be the ones with the most eye-popping incentive packages — they’ll be the ones that compete most strongly on the fundamentals of talent, resources, and can-do government capabilities.

If Texas charts the right course in this space race, the benefits will go far beyond the space industry. Indeed, an advanced and wellplanned workforce strategy will propel every part of our economy and fortify Texas’ strength and leadership for another century.

This one small step could create a Texassized leap forward.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, of Highland Park, is president and CEO of Texas 2036.

Retired Col. Tim Kopra, vice president for robotics and space operations at MDA; Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez; and Maynard Holt, CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., contributed to this op-ed, which has also run in the ‘Houston Chronicle.’

Captain Kirk may be from Iowa, according to Star Trek lore, but when it came time for the actor who made the character famous to go to space, he launched from Texas. FROM LEFT: Audrey Powers, William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, and Sarah Knights. (PHOTOS: COURTESY BLUE ORIGIN)

peoplenewspapers.com | January 2022 B7

From Girl Scout to Bat Woman Kristen Lear credits role models

By Sophia Wilson People Newspapers

Over 2 million people viewed bright orange, life-like statues spread across the courtyard and corridors at NorthPark Center before the exhibit moved on in late fall.

And some saw themselves.

“It’s very surreal to see the statues in real life and be able to look yourself in the face,” bat conservationist Kristen Lear said.

Lear, one of the 125 American Association for The Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN® Ambassadors chosen to encourage girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers, described posing for her statue.

“We literally stood in this big kind of tent, and there were cameras from every angle,” she said. “They take pictures from all those angles, put them together in a 3D file, then print it on a 3D printer.”

The Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit showcases innovative women outfitted in gear typical of their jobs, ranging from a gaming company CEO to a fashion designer. Missed it at NorthPark? Check it out virtually at ifthenexhibit.org.

Lear, now of Fort Collins, Colorado, is excited to serve as a role model to young girls.

“I realized how important having those role models visible to you is,” she said.

Her journey into wildlife conservation was influenced by powerful female figures who contributed to Lear’s passion for saving bats and studying science. Those included her mom, who served as her Girl Scouts troop leader.

In the sixth grade, Lear built bat houses for her Girl Scout Silver award project and learned about the dangers many species face.

She went on to study bats at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in zoology.

Afterward, on a full scholarship, she moved to South Australia for a year to study the Southern Bent Wing Bat, a critically endangered species.

In San Saba, Texas, Lear worked as a field research assistant in pecan orchards, observing bats, figuring out what they eat, and identifying whether they reduced the population of moth pests that destroyed the crops.

She finished her doctorate at the University of Georgia in 2020.

Wherever she goes, she promotes bat conservation.

“I love to do education outreach,” said Lear, who also participates in virtual engagements through Zoom to connect to those in countries all over the world.

The National Geographic Explorer Classroom and Skype Scientists offered students sessions with her.

Lear also enjoys spreading awareness through her style of clothing. She feels it is an easy prompt to “get people talking” in an engaging and fun way.

Lear wears unique items such as a shirt printed with a detailed photo she took of a bat and large necklaces that display the animal. Check out her fashions at redbubble.com/people/ batsforlife/shop.

“Having the beginning opportunity when I was just 12 and having that spark (for bat conservation projects) was what propelled me on into this career,” she said. “And so, I want to do that for younger girls and be that younger spark for them.”

Kristen Lear reassumes the pose she used Sophia Wilson is a senior at Highland when cameras captured images of her for a Park High School who likes to write and 3D-printed statue. (PHOTO: SOPHIA WILSON) dance.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science has a knack for making learning fun. A new exhibit features models of famous skyscrapers made from Legos. (PHOTO: COURTESY PEROT MUSEUM)

Perot Exhibit Shows Legos Aren’t Just For Playing Opening a new box of Legos is obviously fun, but every time you build something new, you’re also using science, engineering, and math.

Yeah, those bricks are not just for play.

You need math to know how many bricks you need and what sizes for each JOHN ERICKSON thing you build. You need engineering know-how so your project doesn’t fall apart. You need science to know how to plan for speed or gravity even.

So, when the Perot Museum of Nature and Science debuted Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks, the natural combination of a science museum and a toy became clear.

The exhibit features 20 iconic skyscrapers from all over the world. It took more than 2,000 hours and half a million bricks. They were built by Ryan McNaught, who has a cool job — he’s a LEGO certified professional builder.

There are only 21 in the world.

“In our commitment to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum strives to bring in engaging exhibitions that spark those ‘ah-ha’ moments,” said Linda Silver, the Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the museum. “Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks is a hands-on experience for all ages and a fun way to cultivate that crucial interest in STEM.” I had a chance to go to the exhibit and was amazed at the buildings. It can take me a day (and the help of my dad) to get one LEGO project done, so the fact that

they built more than 20 huge skyscrapers is impressive.

I did the math — it took the equivalent of more than two-and-a-half months to build everything.

I liked the CN Tower the best, but there are so many great projects in the room, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

And, after you’re done admiring the skyscrapers, you can sit down at any of the four stations stocked with tons of LEGO bricks so you can build your creation. In total, the Perot said there are more than 200,000 bricks in the stations for visitors to play with. If they are proud enough of their creation, they can add it to display tables around the exhibit.

“Highland Capital Philanthropies believes children learn best when they are having fun, which is why we are proud to support the Perot Museum’s effort to ignite STEM learning in our youth through this new exhibition, which showcases iconic skyscrapers from around the world – all constructed with LEGO® bricks,” said Highland Capital Philanthropies’ (who helped bring the exhibit to Dallas) Lucy Bannon. “We’re especially excited about the hands-on experiences offered as part of the exhibition, which give guests the opportunity to construct their own buildings and in turn gain a deeper understanding of the ingenuity of these engineering feats.”

Overall, it was a fun exhibit, and you should go see it for yourself.

John Erickson, the son of deputy editor Bethany Erickson, is a fifth-grader at Chapel Hill Preparatory in Dallas.

B8 January 2022 | STEAM

BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: David Monroe, Adan Sais, Tyler Shaw, Wyatt Curtis, Sage Warner, Noah Liu, Andrew West, Thomas West, and Eddie Franco. FRONT: Kaden Handoko, Andrew Beumer, Lauren Couturier, Caden Jobe, Andrew Wetzel, Jackson Rhodes, and Brady Grantham. (PHOTO: COURTESY OF TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY)

If You Build It, They Will Learn

TCA middle school building construction offers on-site engineering lessons

By William Taylor

william.taylor@peoplenewspapaers.com

Trinity Christian Academy expects to open its new middle school building in August 2022, but students aren’t having to wait anywhere near that long to receive instruction in the space.

The construction site has become a learning lab of sorts for seventh-and eighth-grade high-tech robotics classes and upper school students taking honors engineering design.

Representatives of contractor Balfour Beatty have used site tours to introduce students to construction science and management.

Balfour’s “student mentoring program allows students to acquire a general understanding of the construction process through each phase of construction,” senior project manager David Monroe said.

The initial session in the fall explored site prep, designs of the fortified library that will serve as a storm shelter, and foundation construction.

“This program is for students interested in pursuing a career in architecture, construction, and engineering industries where they can receive interaction with industry experts and exposure to a variety of career paths,” Monroe said.

I think one of the biggest takeaways for the students is how important the research and planning steps are in the design process.

Felicia Townley Camille Barton, a TCA mom, engineer, and CEO of Purdy-McGuire Inc., has lent her expertise, too.

During a class visit, she walked students through mechanical, electrical, and plumbing designs for the building.

Honors engineering teacher Lisa

Wong’s upper school students have learned about design, manufacturing, and supply chain.

“Taking this tour allowed the students to see first-hand construction in action,” Wong said. “They saw how many different types of engineers – such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, architectural, etc. –are needed for production of this magnitude.”

Constructing a building may not be the same as building a robot, but design lessons f rom the tours weren’t lost on middle school students, technology/robotics teacher Felicia Townley said.

“Being able to hear and see the design process unfold from the months of detailed research and planning, the communication and collaboration involved, to seeing the ideas and sketches being built have given the students a better understanding of what we are doing in my class when we are working through the design process,” Townley said. “I think one of the biggest takeaways for the students is how important the research and planning steps are in the design process.”

COMING SOON What: A three-story, 44,600-squarefoot new Middle School building.

When: Opening in August 2022 Where: Next to Tom Landry Stadium on the Trinity Christian Academy campus Features: Seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms for history/English, math, Bible, Latin, and science; A technology and robotics lab as well as a learning lab and literacy center for grades five through eight; A library, common area, and collaborative workspaces for students; An office suite including conference rooms and lounge for faculty and staff.

You are invited to virtually dissect the human body, build a prototype with a 3D printer, take immersive classes in the arts and the sciences, and learn from teachers dedicated to your success.

You are invited to discover your future.

Explore Ursuline by visiting www.ursulinedallas.org/admissions.

Won’t you join us?

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Ursuline Academy creates experiences unlike any other.

All-Girl, Catholic, College Prep, Grades 9-12 4900 Walnut Hill Lane | Dallas, Texas 75229 469-232-1800 | www.ursulinedallas.org Ursuline Academy admits qualified students without regard to race, color, or national or ethnic origin.

A P P L I C AT I O N D E A D L I N E J A N U A R Y 7

peoplenewspapers.com | January 2022 B9

CSI: Ursuline Academy

Students become detectives in Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak’s forensics class Emilea McCutchan People Newspapers

Ursuline Academy is turning students into detectives.

The yearlong forensics class, reserved for seniors, combines physics, chemistry, and biology in a simulated work experience where students learn skills and techniques used in modern forensic labs.

“I really enjoy being able to provide the students an experience in science where they can see what they’re learning in school is applied in the real world,” forensics teacher Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak said.

Students apply to work for the Ursuline Academy Criminal Investigation Division and investigate, analyze evidence, and review cases during a training academy that runs through Thanksgiving.

After passing a certification exam, students receive a special investigator badge, get assigned a partner, and work assigned cases.

“Each detective pair gets a unique case

that includes a police report, witness statements, and [an] evidence packet [with] actual physical evidence,” Lindsay-Hudak said. “[Students] will interview all of the people involved in the case, and they will develop the narrative for how the crime occurred.”

Students submit their analysis as a court summary, or testimony, for when they take the stand as an expert witness in a mock trial case, which takes the place of their final assessment.

Sometimes, Lindsay-Hudak said, students solve crimes among Ursuline faculty members.

“A faculty staff case [is] where we have little, minor crimes faculty pretend to have committed, and [students] will figure out which faculty member [is] guilty,” she said.

“They interview them [and] they collect fingerprints. Then, they have to match it, and whoever they think is guilty, they get to deliver an arrest warrant to.”

Students also participate in labs, take notes, complete homework, and attend

“conferences and workshops” such as a recent one Lindsay-Hudak led on interviewing techniques.

I really enjoy being able to provide the students an experience in science where they can see what they’re learning in school is applied in the real world.

Kirsten LindsayHudak “It’s a technology-enhanced, active learning environment,” she said. “Everything we do is basically digital. [Students

are] using their phones to photograph evidence, we have digital microscopes, and we can use different programs to analyze things.”

Piper Rutherford hopes to become a prosecutor.

“I just wanted to learn more about the inner workings of investigating and analyzing evidence and a crime scene,” she said.

“Also, just growing up, I’ve always loved watching shows like 20/20, Dateline NBC, and even some of the cliches like Dexter.”

Rutherford said her favorite parts included a blood module, where students did blood typing, and examining fibers such as hair under a microscope to determine from which species it came.

Rutherford recommends the class for those who enjoy freedom and an element of accountability. “I think that if you’re someone who wants a hands-on experience that includes everything you’ve learned in science [throughout] high school, such as physics, biology, and chemistry, it’s all applied in forensics.”

Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak teaches Ursuline Academy seniors to apply science to investigating cases in her forensics class. FROM LEFT: Charity Foreman, Anastacia Chu, Emma Luo, Jana Elawar, Theresa Tran, and Shelby Lovejoy with teacher Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak. RIGHT: Sydney Hatton. (PHOTOS: COURTESY URSULINE ACADEMY)

SHELTON PRIDE STEM + Full STEAM Ahead Fostering exploration, innovation, creation, collaboration Something for everyone:

ENGAGE ENRICH EMPOWER

• Robotics Team, Grade 6-8

• Engineering classes/club

• Coding, Grade 1 and above

• Problem-solving experiences

• Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality • Gaming and 3D animation • Robust summer and after-school offerings • Maker space, 3D design, modeling • Expansive fine arts offerings and printing • HTML and web design

• 12 science labs, 4 STEAM rooms

• High school film program

• Genius Bar-style IT center

Shelton School and Evaluation Center 17301 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75252 SHELTON.ORG

SINCE 1976

B10 January 2022 | STEAM

Full STEAM Ahead For Robotics

HPISD middle, intermediate school students learn engineering, coding skills

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

The rollout of robotics programming for McCulloch Intermediate and Highland Park Middle schools began full STEAM ahead this fall, and district officials say they plan to continue to expand opportunities for students.

Highland Park High School already had a robotics program in place when HPISD officials announced in the spring of 2021 plans to offer younger grade levels comprehensive robotics with classroom and extracurricular activities in engineering and coding.

A ​​$10,000 gift from the Park Cities Talented and Gifted (PCTAG) parent organization helped support the efforts to launch the program in the fall.

Most re cent l y, H PMS launched a robotics club for seventh and eighth-graders, and Jean Streepey, STEAM instructional coach for MIS and HPMS said the district plans to offer a robotics club for fifth and sixth graders soon.

As part of the club, students learn about coding, robot building, and design.

“The after-school program

does really well,” HPMS principal Dr. Chris Miller said. “What’s really neat is seeing our high school kids come over here – our seventh and eighth graders really do look up to them – and being able to see their excitement that we’re doing this at such an early age.”

They come in as 10-year-olds, and they leave us ready for high school, and I think these are the years where we create dreams.

Jean Streepey Eighth-grader Luke Bodwell said he’s excited to learn more about the coding aspect of robotics.

“After we come back from Thanksgiving break, we’ll really dive more into the coding aspect of these robots because we spent the past couple of weeks working on building them,” Bodwell said.

Highland Park ISD is expanding opportunities to learn about coding, robot building, and design. FROM LEFT: Graham Gilbert, Clay Ewing, Benton Arthur, Brown Kennedy, and Derek Ward. (PHOTO: COURTESY HPISD) Miller said he hopes the program shows MIS and HPMS students the options available for them in high school and beyond.

“It’s really a 5-12 program is what it’s turned into, and that’s what’s really exciting. It gets the kids connected to what could be

robotics 1 and 2 in high school,” he said.

Eighth-grader Dev Shah said his sister is part of the high school robotics team.

“I know my sister does robotics in high school, so I wanted a middle school one,” Shah said. “I think we plan on doing

some competitions between us, and maybe if we get ... advanced enough and we get enough people, then we could possibly do it with other schools.”

Streepey said the expansion of robotics programming in the district is part of efforts to bring “STEAM for all students.”

“We want everyone to have this experience, so if they like it, they have a path f or ward, ” she said. “I think the other thing that makes us different is that we have fifth through eighth graders all in one building. That’s a huge difference for us. They come in as 10-year-olds, and they leave us ready for high school, and I think these are the years where we create dreams.”

RAIDER ROBOTICS Visit sites.google.com/ hpisd.org/raider-robotics/ home to learn more about the Raider Robotics Club.

A commitment to excellence.

STEM + Innovation Center coming soon to Greenhill School.

Learn more at greenhill.org/growingstronger.

peoplenewspapers.com | January 2022 B11

Artificial Intelligence Not Just For Computer Mavericks

Mark Cuban Foundation ‘Bootcamps’ introduce teens to basics, possibilities

By Amber Billops People Newspapers

Mark Cuban’s foundation is introducing underserved teens across North Texas and elsewhere to basic artificial intelligence concepts and skills.

“Tech is a bigger industry every day, and the younger you start, the quicker you start learning,” said instructor Ignacio Procel. “To get an entry-level job, it’s highly competitive, so any bit of experience you get early helps out.”

Procel is six months into his software development career with Headstorm, one of the 16 companies selected to host the free Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamps in 2021.

Cuban, the Preston Hollow resident and Dallas Mavericks owner who first made his fortune in the tech industry, explains the significance of AI on the website markcubanai.org.

“I saw the impact of PCs. Then I saw the impact of local area networks. Then I saw the impact of wide area networks. Then I saw the impact of the internet. Then I saw the impact of mobile. Then I saw the impact of wireless. Now I’m seeing the impact of artificial

Headsorm employee and mentor Faisal Alnahhas helps Hillcrest student Everrett Early during an artificial intelligence camp. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) intelligence. And it dwarfs any of those things,” Cuban said.

His foundation provides curriculum materials, trains volunteers, recruits students in grades nine to 12, and coordinates the boot camps.

It also works with host companies to provide food (from restaurants like Chick-Fil-A, Velvet Taco, etc.), transportation, and access to laptops and hotspots at no cost to campers.

Headstorm in Addison held

sessions over four consecutive Saturdays in October and November of 2021.

Students didn’t need prior experience with computer science or programming to attend. During the camp, they gained hands-on experience building AI apps and learned how AI transforms society and powers many of the apps used daily.

Devin Wright, a senior at DeSoto High School, who hopes to study software development at

SMU or another university, described the boot camps as an amazing experience.

“It has been an eye-opener because all of the things we are learning about AI, I had no idea of,” he said. “This is really going to help me get closer to my goal, which is being a game developer.”

Tani Nelson, a freshman at David W. Carter High School who hopes to attend an HBCU (historically black colleges and

universities), sees applications for possible careers paths such as law or real estate.

“I feel like AI has a lot to do with working cases when it comes to criminal justice or helping me land deals when it comes to real estate,” Nelson said. “It will help make my job easier.”

Instructors at Headstorm were pleased to see students getting exposed to technology that could shape their career choices.

“It’s not often in high school you get an opportunity to learn from industry professionals,” instructor Dan Peng said. “These kids are just starting to get into college, so they are all thinking about what major they are going to choose.”

T H E F O U N D AT I O N Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI Bootcamp initiative has hosted free camps for students in Dallas, El Paso, Chicago, Omaha, Detroit, and Green Bay. The Mark Cuban Foundation’s goal is to have 1,000 students graduate from the camps each year by 2023.

Visit markcubanai.org.

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