Park Cities People January 2023

OF THE YEAR

$4.9M Moody Foundation grant will broaden STEAM activities

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Highland Park ISD officials hope a new $4.9 million Moody Foundation grant will help the district become a “thought leader” in math and dyslexia education.

course offerings in the high school’s Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program, and create the Moody Education Solutions Accelerator (MESA).

The move comes as districts are working to recover from pandemic learning loss and a 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress that showed Texas’ performance in math in 2022 was lower than it was in 2019.

Per the assessment, in fourthgrade math, for example, the average score for students in Texas in 2022 (239) was lower than their average score in 2019 (244).

classroom,” said Moody Innovation Institute executive director Dr. Geoffrey Orsak. “To our knowledge, we’re the first school district in the country that has brought in that kind of research-based focus on really vexing and challenging issues in public education.”

Orsak and Jean Streepey are leading the MESA initiative.

“We’ll be looking ahead to try to figure out where do we go with solutions in dyslexia across the entire curriculum,” he said.

Streepey will head up research into math education for grades K-8.

“I was attracted (to the MESA project) because of the K-8 math research and just the chance to build the bridge between what’s happening in our classrooms and what is coming out of our research facilities and helping make that a bridge to help our classroom teachers and ultimately our children,” Streepey said. “HP and the Moody Foundation were so ahead of the curve in knowing that we needed to look at this issue, and then, sure enough, here we are in the middle of state and national concerns over math education.”

The grant, scheduled for implementation over five academic years, including the current one, will broaden STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) activities across the district, expand

“What we’re doing is primarily drawing from the research that exists out at universities together with the folks that work professionally within education and putting those together so that we can translate that research into the

Streepey, who teaches the business design and leadership course in the MAPS department at the high school, is a STEAM instructional coach for grades 5-8 at McCulloch Intermediate and Highland Park Middle School and serves on the state board for educator certification.

The studies will run parallel, but Orsak said MESA would start by looking into dyslexia’s impact beyond reading, including science and math.

The district also plans to move away from having designated staff in charge of infusing STEAM activities into classrooms and toward training all teachers to deliver STEAM lessons.

As for the MAPS program, the district is considering expanding it with two new courses.

Orsak aims “to bring in a wider range of students into MAPS participating in a wider range of educational and professional opportunities.”

Dr. Geoffrey Orsak

Jean Streepey COURTESY HPISD

We’re the first school district in the country that has brought in that kind of research-based focus on really vexing and challenging issues in public education.

Dr. Geoffrey Orsak

1. REAL ESTATE: Mockingbird Station on the Market

CBRE Global Investors has owned the property, with 197,670 square feet of retail space, since 2015, and now, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is looking for a new buyer.

2. COMMUNITY: Highland Park Lights “Landmark” Tree

Photographs show attendees to the traditional event on Armstrong Parkway enjoying

plenty of treats and activities like face painting and, of course, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and Santa’s reindeer. Also find a gallery of images from the Snider Plaza Tree Lighting.

3. SCHOOLS: Hockaday Names New Head of School

Dr. Laura Leathers, the school’s interim head of school since July, will become the next Eugene McDermott Head of School, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Park Cities Crime Reports Nov. 7 – Dec. 4

Nov. 7

A stealer made off with a sundial from a courtyard of a home in the 4700 block of Preston Road before 8:16 p.m.

Nov. 8

Reported at 3:37 p.m.: a jerk picked up a credit card left at Hillcrest Nails in the 8600 block of Hillcrest Avenue and charged $1,094.70 on it at a Walmart.

Nov. 9

A burglar snatched a bicycle from outside Armstrong Elementary in the 5200 block of Byron Avenue before 6 p.m.

Nov. 10

A burglar broke into a GMC Sierra parked in the 5700 block of High School Avenue before 4:45 p.m., damaging the lock and steering column.

Nov. 11

A careless driver rear ended an Audi A5 at the intersection of St. Johns Drive and Armstrong Avenue, then continued eastbound on Armstrong without stopping at 11:25 p.m. Nov. 12

Reported at 12:37 p.m.: A thief took a $60,000 Rolex watch from a home in the 3700 block of Normandy Avenue before noon.

A jerk took an inflatable turkey decoration from a home in the 4600 block of Lorraine Avenue before 4:24 p.m.

Nov. 14

Reported at 8:40 a.m.: a stealer took a stroller from the porch of a home in the 4300 block of Versailles Avenue

Reported at 11:46 a.m.: a burglar took $20,000 worth of jewelry and clothes from a home in the 4500 block of Lorraine Avenue

Nov. 15

How easy was it for a stealer to get into a home in the 3500 block of Purdue Street and take a Tory Burch piece, a pair of AirPods, a J.Crew piece, and more before 9 a.m.? It was left unlocked.

Nov. 17

An opportunistic stealer drove off in a Honda Accord left warming up in the 4600 block of Abbott Avenue before 7:41 a.m.

A burglar broke into a Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the 4200 block of Lomo Alto Drive, leaving the steering column and door handle damaged before 7:30 a.m.

Nov. 18

A ne’er do well took four Modelo beers from a gas station in the 8400 block of Preston Road at 11 a.m.

A drill truck driver hit a tree in the 4300 block of Lorraine Avenue and caused a limb to fall on a Toyota Rav4 parked below at 1:25 p.m.

Nov. 19

Double trouble at the Moody Family YMCA in the 6000 block of Preston Road: A crook took two credit cards from a wallet before 11:30 a.m. Two more credit cards were reported stolen at 6:41 p.m.

A burglar took a Louis Vuitton piece from a BMW in the 8300 block of Preston Road before 10:24 p.m.

Nov. 20

Reported at 1:45 p.m.: a burglar took a firearm from a Lexus parked in the 4300 block of Stanford Avenue

Reported at 1:15 p.m. A locker room thief took credit cards at the YMCA in the 6000 block of Preston Road

Nov. 21

A sneaky shoplifter asked an employee at the Ralph Lauren store in Highland Park Village for an online order and made off with a nearly $2,000 tote bag while the employee went to look before 5:02 p.m.

Nov. 22

Reported at 9:02 a.m.: A scammer used the information of a woman from the 3500 block of Caruth Boulevard

Nov. 23

A burglar found easy pickings: a Chanel shopping bag containing an $8,200 handbag in an unlocked Jaguar parked in Highland Park Village at 12:28 p.m.

Nov. 24

A stealer stole stuff from a Dodge Ram in the 2900 block of Southwestern Boulevard before 1:52 a.m.

Nov. 25

A stealer took a $45,000 Rolex Skydweller watch, a golf bag, and a club set from an apartment in the 4200 block of Lomo Alto Drive before 8 a.m.

Nov. 27

How easy was it for a stealer to take a wallet and backpack containing textbooks, office supplies, a key chain, a MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch, and more from a Toyota 4Runner parked in the 3500 block of Gillon Avenue at 8:33 a.m.? The 4Runner was left unlocked.

Nov. 28

Reported at 1:23 p.m.: A schemer forged a check using the information of a man from the 3800 block of Caruth Boulevard

Nov. 29

Reported at 7:27 p.m.: A stealer found easy pickings of a gym bag containing an Apple laptop and prescription medication left in an unlocked Range Rover parked in the 4000 block of Glenwick Lane

Nov. 30

A thief took a tailgate from a Dodge Ram parked in an alleyway in the 3900 block of Euclid Avenue at 1:51 p.m.

Reported at 6:56 p.m.: a porch pirate pilfered a package from a home in the 3800 block of Miramar Avenue Dec. 1

Reported at 12:54 p.m.: A thief swiped a $10,000 Rolex GMT-Master II watch from a home in the 3400 block of Marquette Street Dec. 3

A crook took an Exxon gas card from a Nissan Sentra parked in the 3700 block of Harvard Avenue before 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4

A ne’er do well nabbed thousands of dollars’ worth of fur coats, a $6,000 silver tea set, a $6,000 pair of bronze lamps, a $12,000 pair of brown, square-shaped lamps, four paintings of sailboats valued at $800 each, and an oil painting from a home in the 3100 block of Mockingbird Lane

CELEBRATE 2023 WITH A NEW HOME

COURTESY THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

ROBERT

COURTESY

Bush: U.S. Must Lead on Ukraine

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Former President George W. Bush contends the U.S. should continue providing military aid to Ukraine and, more generally, “care about the human condition elsewhere.”

Bush discussed the war in Europe and worldwide concerns about autocracy during a program on Nov. 16 at his namesake Presidential Center.

The Struggle for Freedom program featured virtual remarks from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, as well as remarks from activists from Russia, China, North Korea, Zimbabwe, and Venezuela.

“If the United States does not lead, the world will not follow,” Bush said. “If the United States doesn’t keep the lead on Ukraine, it’s less likely that European nations will want to support the Ukrainians. Our leadership is indispensable for collective action against autocracy.”

Ing-Wen’s remarks struck a similar tone.

“Together with like-minded partners, we will also make efforts to support Ukraine’s reconstruction of its schools, hospitals, and infrastructure that have been destroyed by the war.

Our efforts must not stop here. The menacing behavior of authoritarian regimes should be a wake-up call to all democracies. We must work together to strengthen our resilience and safeguard our values,” Tsai said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who Bush has referred to as “the Winston Churchill of our time,” was slated to deliver remarks virtually at the event but backed out of it amid heavy Russian missile strikes.

The discussions came as some U.S. political leaders from both parties raised questions about the extent to which the U.S. should continue to

provide military support to Ukraine.

GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who’s vying to become speaker after the GOP narrowly took back control of the U.S. House, warned shortly before the Nov. 8 midterm elections that Republicans would not write a “blank check” to Ukraine.

In October, a group of progressive congressional Democrats withdrew a letter they’d sent to President Joe Biden that had urged Biden to combine military and economic support with a “proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.”

Bush acknowledged the uncertainty regarding the future aid to Ukraine, comparing the opposition to the support to pushback he received when he was president to commitment to the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003.

“There’s kind of an isolationist tendency at times to say, ‘You know, we’ve got our own problems, let others solve it … why do we want to spend money on total strangers?” he said. “One answer is because that’s who we are. We’re a generous, decent people that care about the human condition elsewhere.”

Bush also spoke about his refusal to meet authoritarian leaders during his time in office.

“I didn’t want to lend our great status as a beacon of freedom to honoring an autocrat,” Bush said. “Some people disagree with that position.”

During his presidency, Bush famously described how he looked Russian president Vladimir Putin in the eye and “was able to get a sense of his soul.”

Acknowledging the incident, Bush quipped to his audience, “He changed.”

In conclusion, Bush said, “I’m a loyal Republican and I’m going to keep my voice out there regardless of what other Republicans say.”

Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura meet with activists from Russia, China, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Venezuela. COURTESY GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

SPONSORED

Edgemere Senior Living and the Eckelbergers: A Perfect Fit

Ask Admiral Jim Eckelberger and his wife, Kathleen, how it’s going, and they’re happy to tell you that all is going really well. Actually, everything has been so wonderful since they moved into Edgemere, their only regret is not moving into the community sooner.

“We didn’t get here early enough,” says Kathleen, a former teacher who left the classroom to do what her husband describes as “the toughest job” – being a Navy wife. After several moves with the Navy, and Jim’s retirement from an illustrious military career in 1991, the Eckelbergers moved to Dallas and lived in their Preston Hollow home for 23 years before moving into Independent Living in the Edgemere Senior Living community.

“That paring down, that downsizing, takes a while, and it’s an adjustment,” Kathleen recalls. “The sooner you start getting after it, I think the better off you are.”

The Eckelbergers’ story begins in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where they met as young children. Because they’ve been together so long – and were only separated for a lengthy period when Jim was serving in Vietnam – one of Kathleen’s prerequisites when they began searching for an Independent Living community was that it would be a place where they could always be together, even if one of them fell ill at any point. Both of them say they found everything they were looking for when they landed at Edgemere, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that offers independent living, plus healthcare services, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. “We did look around,” says Jim. “In terms of these CCRCs, we visited three in Philadelphia, five in Washington D.C., and we visited everything here [in Dallas], and Edgemere is by far the best. There was no competition.”

The Eckelbergers also agree that along with the fabulous services and amenities Edgemere offers on site – fine dining options, housekeeping, an indoor pool, a movie theater, a hair salon and a barber shop, just to name a few – one of the best features of the community is the incredible number of interesting and intriguing residents.

“Everybody’s an achiever here,” Jim says emphatically. “They’ve done wonderous things in their lives, and when you hear all about it, you’re enthralled to be in the company of so many people from different backgrounds who come together and become friends. It’s really great.”

“You get all these people together, and you just never run out of interesting folks to have dinner with,” Kathleen adds with a warm smile.

The Eckelbergers themselves fit right into the mix of engaging and impressive people at Edgemere, which is located in the heart of Dallas between the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. Jim, who is in his mid-eighties, is still working. His days are packed as the chairman of

two companies, and he mentors three dozen CEOs. He attributes the mental challenges of his busy daily routine with keeping his mind sharp. He’s also Edgemere’s current resident council president. Kathleen is active in the Edgemere community through participation in various activities, like the literacy and dining committees.

If anyone asks Jim or Kathleen about whether moving into Edgemere is a smart move, both of them adamantly answer, “yes!”

“Come on and experience it, have dinner with Jim and me, and we’ll introduce you to our friends. Come over on a night when there’s music playing, and people are dancing. Or if the evening hour isn’t the best for you, come have lunch with us. We’ll be here,” Kathleen says.

To learn more about Edgemere or schedule a tour, contact us below or call 214-833-9982.

Admiral Jim (left) and Kathleen (right) Eckleberger enjoy one of the many libraries available to residents of Edgemere for ongoing learning and entertainment.

Community 2022 PERSON OF THE YEAR: THEAR SUZUKI

Distinguished SMU Alumnae a champion for inclusion, innovation

SUPPORT HER CAUSES

Texas Women’s Foundation txwf.org

Brent Renaud Foundation brentrenaudjf.org

50/50 Women on Boards 5050wob.com

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Thear Suzuki, a 2022 SMU Distinguished Alumnae, has been “creating spaces for inclusion and innovation” since her time at the university in the 1990s.

Suzuki’s family survived the Cambodian genocide and lived in refugee camps in Thailand for two years before a Catholic charity in Dallas sponsored their move to the city in 1981.

“This was a country I knew nothing about,” she said. “I didn’t know anybody, (and) I also didn’t speak the language, so it was definitely a scary time, but what I realized later was that myself and my family received a lot of support from kind strangers as well as nonprofit organizations.”

That realization has created in Suzuki an ethic of service, earning our admiration and making her Park Cities People’s choice for the

newspaper’s 2022 Person of the Year.

“I realized how much I benefited from the kindness of the community, and I want to be able to give back and pay it forward any way that I can because I know that none of us make it alone,” Suzuki said.

Her third-grade teacher when she arrived in the U.S., John Gallagher, happened to be an SMU alumnus and served as an early mentor.

Gallagher helped teach her English and wrote a letter to the university’s president nominating Suzuki for a scholarship at SMU.

“SMU gave me the opportunity to learn how to be a leader,” Suzuki said.

While at SMU in the ‘90s, she was involved with various organizations, including the East Asian Students Association, the Student Council, and the Inter-Community Experience program.

Arlene Manthey served as student activities director at the time.

Suzuki “knew part of her vision and goals

was, ‘I’m going to make a difference because some people have helped me get here,’ and she’s just continued to do that,” Manthey said.

Suzuki continues supporting SMU as a parent and donor on the Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board and the Tate Lecture Series Board.

Through the Inter-Community Experience program, she met fellow student Brent Renaud, who went on to become an award-winning filmmaker.

After Renaud was killed working in Ukraine earlier this year, Suzuki helped with the Brent Renaud Foundation, which aims to provide scholarships for aspiring journalists. She serves on its board.

Suzuki has worked at Ernst & Young (EY) in Dallas since 2012.

Recently, Marc Andersen, a D.C.-based senior partner at EY, and his network of lawyers, military veterans, intelligence professionals, and nonprofits helped smuggle prominent women’s rights lawyer Latifa Sharifi out of Afghanistan after the country fell to the Taliban.

Sharifi remains in contact with EY, the Texas Bar Association, and others in hopes of finding work and continuing to help women in her native Afghanistan.

Suzuki’s been part of the effort to help her resettle in Texas.

“We need more women leaders like Thear,” Sharifi’s brother-in-law Sharif Gias said. “She always makes you feel like she’s there for you.”

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Few in the Park Cities can match the popularity of Scots head football coach Randy Allen, who, in his 23rd season at Highland Park, surged past 426 wins into second place all-time among Texas high school coaches.

He finished the season with 435 victories and another district championship after the Scots moved up to class 6A.

So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that readers overwhelmingly voted for Allen as the 2022 Readers’ Choice Person of the Year.

Allen attended the Super Bowl, where he watched his former quarterback Matthew Stafford, leader

of an undefeated, state-champion Scots team, guide the Los Angeles Rams to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in February 2022.

On the September night Allen got his milestone 427th win, the coach also participated in a halftime jersey retirement ceremony for Stafford at Highlander Stadium.

“What strikes me the most about Coach Allen’s career is his level of commitment to imparting values, character, discipline, and teamwork to our Scots,” Highland Park ISD superintendent Tom Trigg said. “His approach to developing character above wins and losses truly models HP’s traditions of excellence, and his influence in our community will leave a legacy for decades to come.”

I want to be able to give back and pay it forward any way that I can because I know that none of us make it alone.

Thear Suzuki

LEFT: Thear Suzuki and her family attended SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award presentation and dinner Oct. 20. ABOVE: Suzuki with prominent Afghan women’s rights lawyer Latifa Sharifi, whom she helped get resettled to Texas this year after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, and her children. HILLSMAN S. JACKSON FOR SMU AND COURTESY THEAR SUZUKI

Head coach Randy Allen notched his milestone 427th win on Sept. 9 when the Scots defeated Lake Highlands High School. CHRIS MCGATHEY

Neighbors Who Made Headlines

Highland Park’s first female mayor may no longer be on the town council, but she had a busy year. She co-chaired the Junior League of Dallas’ Centennial celebration and served as an honorary chair of Preservation Park Cities’ largest fundraiser, the Distinguished Speaker luncheon.

Highland Park ISD’s beloved “Star Lady,” former longtime astronomy teacher and former girls’ golf coach, may be retired, but she’s hardly slowing down. She was the star of the 2022 Park Cities Fourth of July Parade as its grand marshal.

The financial adviser and longtime Moody Family YMCA board member received MassMutual Foundation’s 2022 Platinum Community Service Award for his volunteer work with the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. The honor comes with a $25,000 grant to the Y, making it the foundation’s highest of three yearly awards.

One can’t deny the billionaire Dallas Cowboys owner made headlines this year. Shortly before Thanksgiving, The Washington Post published a 1957 photo that showed Jones standing among a crowd of white teenagers who blocked the path of six Black students attempting to desegregate an Arkansas high school. Jones has said he was there to watch, not participate, but the photo’s publication has sparked debate about issues of race and power in America and the NFL.

Margo Goodwin

Donna Pierce

Daniel Drabinski

Jerry Jones

Leonardo da Vinci, Forrest Gump, Dick Clark, and The Late Pierce Allman

There’s never been another person like Pierce Allman.

The longtime Park Cities community leader, preservationist, philanthropist, historian, and entrepreneur has best been known as the wind beneath Allie Beth Allman’s wings.

He died on Nov. 25 at the age of 88.

The Rev. Paul Rasmussen offered a stirring and lovely eulogy during the memorial service on Dec. 6 at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

The pastor compared his friend to Leonardo da Vinci (for his intellect), Forrest Gump (for his incredible life experiences), and Dick Clark (for his not aging). The SMU Band played an emotional rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Allman made his first impact as a Boy Scout. Five percent of Scouts reach the highest rank of Eagle, and not only did he achieve that rank, he was the youngest person in America to do so. It takes 21 merit badges to become

an Eagle. This young man went from impressive to legendary when he continued to earn 104 of the 105 merit badges offered. In the world of Scouting, Allman was the talk of the nation.

He was a paper boy for The Dallas Morning News and earned a DMN scholarship to attend SMU, where he was head cheerleader, class treasurer, and recipient of the “M” Award.

I could list Allman’s civic, business and preservation accomplishments, but I don’t have the space, and you don’t have the rest of the day.

Highland Park High School? Distinguished Alumni Award.

SMU? Distinguished Alumni Award.

HP Methodist? On the same saintly level as George W. Bush and Brad Bradley.

Always a fashion plate, he originally sported a flat-top hairstyle on which you could land a small aircraft. He had the original “FM radio” voice – smooth, confident, and disarming.

When I told him about my idea to create Park Cities People, his eyes and entrepreneurial spirit lit up. He was encouraging and

saw that this idea would be the ideal marketing tool for Park Cities real estate agents.

In the mid-1980s, I teamed up with Allman, Jennie Reeves, and

Lindalyn Adams to save the oldest home in Highland Park from demolition. I brought in graphic designer John March. and we created “Save the House.” The campaign

succeeded, and the Park Cities Heritage House now resides at Old City Park.

The final funds raised came from a black-tie gala. Since I was allergic to black-tie events, I wished my three co-chairs the best, and I slipped away. They went on to knock it out of the park.

The annual event, La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, has now raised more than $10 million for Park Cities beneficiaries, including HPISD.

Much has been made of Allman speaking with Lee Harvey Oswald as the assassin was leaving the Texas Schoolbook Depository after President Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963. But that fateful day was not as important as six weeks prior when Allman married Allie Beth McMurtry, the pride of Graham, Texas. The two made a legendary team as husband and wife, parents, and business partners.

I recommend taking a tour of the Sixth Floor Museum, where you can hear the voice of Pierce Allman walking you through the displays. His voice, like his legacy, will live on forever.

Kirk Dooley, who co-founded “Park Cities People” in 1981, has long served as a leader and voice for his Highland Park and University Park neighbors.

New Year | New Home New Team

W elcome

Jordan Gibson White

to Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

With over 15 years of experience serving the Park Cities, Preston Hollow and surrounding North Dallas neighborhoods, together we bring ENERGY and EXPERTISE for winning results EVERY time!

If you’re considering a move in the new year, we’re ready to welcome you home.

Shelly Bailey

214.673.4323 shellybailey@dpmre.com shellybailey.dpmre.com

Jordan Gibson White

214.542.0847 jordanwhite@dpmre.com daveperrymiller.com

Pierce Allman (behind the driver) takes a ride during the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade. COURTESY KIRK DOOLEY

His voice, like his legacy, will live on forever.

KIRK DOOLEY

JIM ‘SEVY’ SEVERSON GIVES THANKS FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND EVERY DAY

Every day, when Jim Severson gets in his car for the first time, he looks to the sky through his sunroof and thanks God for giving him another day.

The 65-yearold chef/owner of Sevy’s is grateful for his wife, Amy; son Erik; daughter-in-law Jessica; grandchildren, Bennett and Jenna; and his friends, staff, and guests.

Jim, or Sevy, as he’s known, was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer 16 years ago and given three-to-five years to live.

The diagnosis came as he celebrated the 10th anniversary of his eponymous Preston Center restaurant. He was raising teenagers and playing golf frequently and exceptionally well.

“I’ll fight this as hard as I can,” he said when he heard the news. “It’s gotta catch me.”

Fortunately, it hasn’t.

Sevy’s opened in 1997 and immediately became the social and business hub for Preston Center bankers and brokers who’ve made countless deals over corn chowder, Buzzy’s seafood tacos, and Sevy’s smoked beef tenderloin. The restaurant was an immediate success, and investors earned their money back in a mere 19 months.

Today, Sevy’s revenue is back to pre-pandemic levels, and investors have earned four times their investment. That, dear readers, is notable for a oneunit chef-driven restaurant in Dallas.

On most days, you’ll find Sevy in the restaurant along with his son, Erik, the general manager, and his culinary team.

Sevy introduced me to the cooks prepping for the day, chopping, trimming, and moving gracefully but with intention in the linear kitchen. Jim’s sparkling eyes met every one of theirs; the mutual respect and admiration clear. Eight have worked there since day one, the rest averaging a 15-year tenure. That explains the high quality and consistency of the food over two-

MoMo’s

and-a-half decades.

When he’s not at the restaurant, he’s at his beloved Port O’Connor home fishing for redfish.

He hadn’t planned to become such an avid fisherman, but he couldn’t play golf anymore after his diagnosis.

“Richard was the first one to take me to Port O’Connor,” he said of his “Guardian Angel” Chef Richard Chamberlain. The diagnosis shook Sevy, and Richard invited him to go fishing. On the road trip down, Richard and Sevy had a deep spiritual conversation which led Sevy to accept and embrace his Christian faith in a way he hadn’t before.

“We pulled off the road and just cried for a while,” Chamberlain said.

Sevy is methodical. He started

working on the plan for his restaurant two years before it opened, meticulously laying out his vision. A four-page manifesto completed Oct. 1, 1996, still clings to a bulletin board in his tiny office outlining the desired décor, food, demographics, and vibe. Aside from a few cosmetic updates here and there and a putting green on the patio, the restaurant represents his original vision.

Today Sevy’s, like Sevy himself, is warm, comforting, and unfailingly amiable – a classic neighborhood restaurant in the heart of Dallas.

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.

Financial Adviser Sees 2023 as Transition Year

By William Taylor william.taylor@peoplenewspapers.com

Need a financial New Year’s resolution for 2023?

Debra Brennan Tagg has one for you: “Stay nimble and resilient.”

The president of BFS Advisory Group in Preston Center bills herself as a “female-focused financial planner,” meaning she aims to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to make the informed and effective money management decisions required to live the lives they seek.

However, her financial industry leadership extends beyond any one gender.

The nationally recognized speaker chairs the Advisor Group National Advisor Board, which provides strategic guidance to 11,000-plus advisers nationwide.

Yet, Tagg conceded plenty of unknowns linger as a year of fluctuating fuel prices, runaway inflation, ongoing supply chain troubles, and international turmoil draws to a close.

“In my career, I have never seen so much hinge on monthly inflation readings,” she said. “The belief, of course, is that if inflation comes down, the Fed can stop raising rates. This will ease some of the pressure caused by rising rates on the economy and financial markets.”

But that optimism comes with an uncertain timeline.

“The problem is that the American consumer continues to buy at these higher prices, and no one knows when that will subside,” she said. “We believe the first half of 2023 will still be volatile in the financial markets as the economy searches for a direction.”

Tagg views 2023 as a transition year with an ongoing “paradigm shift in the financial markets that many don’t fully understand yet.”

“The near-zero interest rate environment that we have been in since the financial crisis is over,” she explained. “We are moving into an environment with more normalized interest rates, with expectations that we will see a range closer to 3-4%.”

Open for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day. Private Holiday Parties and Catering Available.

Take a bold Take a bold step step forward. forward.

KERSTEN RETTIG

Jim “Sevy” Severson, the methodical chef/owner of Sevy’s, started working on the plan for his restaurant two years before it opened in 1997. KERSTEN RETTIG

Debra Brennan Tagg COURTESY

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 1442 Private Road 1214 Stephenville

Care to own a piece of history less than two hours from downtown Dallas? The 150-year-old landmark Fences Ranch, on 271 acres just outside of Stephenville, was officially declared a landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 1987. The original homestead and the natural setting along the Bosque River to the west provided abundant inspiration for the main ranch house — a limestone Cumberland-style cabin incorporated into the reimagined, concept-driven design by McKinney York Architects. Walls of windows overlook sprawling panoramic views, mighty oak trees, and the occasional visiting wildlife. Find an additional 2,416-squarefoot home a quarter mile from the main complex. Other structures on the property include a pergola over the lap pool, pool house, bunk house, a single-room masonry dugout, two stone barns, and a rock base for an elevated cistern.

Comings and Goings

Now Open Alchemy 43

SMU Professor Eyes EU Laws, Elon Musk, and Misinformation

By Sabrina Gomez People Newspapers

Online misinformation affects everyone. Lawmakers and academics such as SMU’s Jared Schroeder have been pondering the problem since well before Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter on Oct. 28, 2022, renewed alarms.

“We can list all the problems that people have with the internet, but we must remember two constants,” Schroeder wrote in a Slate article. “First, the internet is the most powerful communication technology ever created. Second, there’s no going back. Online communication is here to stay.”

Whether Twitter is here for the long haul remains to be seen as users worry over all the constant changes and drama, blue checkmark charges, and conspiracy theorists returning to the site.

Advertisers, as reported by Reuters, are abandoning the platform over increasingly prevalent “not safe for work” content.

However, Schroeder, an associate professor of journalism who specializes in social media, fake news, and online communities, predicted Musk’s purchase might not be 2022’s most impactful change for online speech.

People Newspapers was unable to secure an interview with the SMU scholar before deadline, but he wrote plenty about our virtual spaces in 2022.

The Hill in late April published “A new EU law will influence US free speech more than Elon Musk” by Schroeder after Musk announced plans to buy Twitter for $44 billion.

The researcher returned to that topic for Slate in a piece published on Oct. 27, one day before Musk closed the Twitter purchase.

“The law, among other requirements, places substantial content moderation expectations on large social media firms — many based in the U.S. — which include limiting false information, hate speech, and extremism,” Schroeder said.

6465 E. Mockingbird Lane

The aesthetics brand specializing in minimally invasive “micro treatments” like Botox, fillers, and other skincare treatments opened its first Dallas location in November.

Dallas Yoga Center

4140 Lemmon Ave.

The studio offering yoga and mindfulness classes with sound healing, breath work, energy healing, sound healing, reiki, and yoga nidra opened in a new space at the intersection of Lemmon Avenue and Douglas Avenue above Gloria’s in November.

Haystack Burgers

Preston Forest Shopping

Center

The locally owned burger spot opened its fifth Dallas-Fort Worth location in a

BE WEB WARY

1. Pause and don’t let your emotions take over.

2. Glance through the comments on who’s replied. Has someone fact-checked this information?

3. Do a quick search and investigate the claim in question. Look for credible sources.

4. When in doubt, always ask for a source or evidence that supports the claim.

5. If you find credible evidence that a post isn’t true, alert others in a reply. If the post is dangerous or harmful, report it. If you still aren’t sure that the post is true, don’t share it.

Source:TheNewsLiteracyProject

While the First Amendment blocks the U.S. government from censoring online speech, the threat of European fines could motivate Meta, Twitter, and others to closely moderate content, he said.

What should Twitter users do in the meantime? The News Literacy Project encourages users to educate each other on how misinformation spreads and commit to making online spaces safer.

2,755-square-foot space in the Preston-Forest shopping center. Standout burgers include the haystack with applewood smoked bacon, onions, cheddar cheese, housemade barbecue sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickles; the Escabeche with jalapeño escabeche, pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chipotle mayo, and onions; and the chicken fried burger with jalapeño-bacon cream gravy. The restaurant also offers 12 draught handles with rotating local DFW beers.

Heyday

3010 N. Henderson Ave.

The facial and skincare shop offering personalized facial services, products, and more opened its first Texas location in December.

Mendocino Farms

Preston

known for seasonal sandwiches, salads, and soups, recently opened its fifth Dallas-area location in Preston Hollow.

Teressa Foglia

Highland Park Village

The celebrity hat maker’s first Dallas pop-up storefront location is open next to Loro Piana until Jan. 5.

Temporarily Closing

Carbone’s Fine Food and Wine

The Shops of Highland Park

Julian Barsotti’s Italian eatery, which was until recently in a high-profile trademark dispute with New York-based Major Food Group’s new Dallas outpost Carbone will temporarily close in January to renovate and rebrand with a different name.

Oaks Shopping Center

The fast-casual restaurant,

– Compiled by Rachel Snyder

COURTESY EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS

Mendocino Farms COURTESY MENDOCINO FARMS

Heyday CATMAX PHOTOGRAPHY

Jared Schroeder, an associate professor who specializes in First Amendment theory, is an officer in the Law & Policy Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. COURTESY SMU

Susan is the rare true pro. She tirelessly worked with us until we found the right house. She is extremely knowledgeable about lesser known pockets of Dallas. She was wonderful through the bid and closing process using her valuable resources to make the process efficient and painless. We highly recommend Susan!

Susan Bradley 214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

Sports PARK CITIES TEEN SHARPENS FENCING SKILLS ON WORLD STAGE

Choi ranked among top 20 nationally in age group in growing niche sport

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

While millions watched swimmers, gymnasts, and runners at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 9-year-old Silas Choi became fixated on fencing.

Even if he wasn’t sure of the complex rules or the specific tactics, the Park Cities youngster became inspired by the breakthrough for the South Korean team, given his family heritage.

More than six years later, Choi began competing on the international stage and harboring Olympic ambitions in the niche sport.

In November, the young swordsman represented Team USA on the Junior World Cup circuit in the cadet saber class in Bulgaria and Germany. He earned a team bronze medal.

“It’s fun to travel to all of these places,” Choi said. “If you go to lots of national and international tournaments, you get experience and get more motivated in general.”

Choi participates in saber fencing, which differs from the other two disciplines — epee and foil — because the weapon generally prompts a faster pace and more attacking style.

“There’s so many different rules and so

many different styles,” he said. “I like that it’s the fastest of the three weapons. I feel it’s also the most exciting.”

He competes for Globus Fencing Academy in Addison under the tutelage of Lee Hyo-kun, a former Olympian and Olympic coach for South Korea.

After earning a silver medal at the USA Fencing Summer Nationals in July in Minneapolis, Choi became one of the country’s top 20 cadet saber fencers, enabling him to qualify for World Cup events. He typically trains for about 15

hours per week and travels for competitions at least once a month.

“We’re really proud of Silas for keeping up fencing with his schoolwork and playing the cello,” said his mother, Claudia. “He just picked it up really quickly and has run with it.”

Choi is a sophomore at Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving, which had fencing incorporated into its physical education curriculum as recently as the 1960s, tracing back to the Hungarian monks who founded the school.

In January, he will travel to World Cup events in France and Romania. He hopes to compete at the collegiate level, with an eye toward Olympic qualification.

While the sport has traditionally been more popular domestically on both coasts, Texas has recently seen a surge at the youth level, which Choi embraces.

“It’s very fast-paced, and there’s lots of spontaneous reactions involved,” Choi said. “It’s a lot more complicated than it seems. You don’t really know what you’re watching until you try it.”

Man of the Mat: HP Senior Overcomes Injuries to Pin Foes

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

gave

Ray a foundation that has translated to wrestling

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

David Ray has conquered almost every rival he’s faced in the high school wrestling ranks. Injuries, however, have been a more difficult opponent.

The Highland Park senior hopes a healthy season will lead to a second consecutive appearance at the UIL state tournament in February after he earned a bronze medal a year ago.

Of course, that was in Class 5A at the 160-pound weight class. Now he’s wrestling at 175 pounds, and the Scots are in Class 6A, making the task more difficult for the two-year team captain.

“When the kid’s healthy, he’s really good,” said longtime HP head coach Tim Marzuola. “He’s got a lot of athletic ability and a lot of explosive power.”

Ray spent almost a decade specializing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, even competing in youth national tournaments, before transitioning his

grappling skills to the wrestling mat in high school.

“I decided to do the next closest sport, which was wrestling,” Ray said. “There was a lot of carryover. It’s different, but I just had to adapt.”

Last season, Ray sported a 51-5 record and posted the best finish by an HP wrestler at the state tournament alongside training partner and fellow bronze medalist Jarek Delgado — also a jiu-jitsu aficionado.

“There’s a real strong connection between our style of wrestling and jiu-jitsu,” said Marzuola, recalling former HP wrestler and later mixed-martial arts fighting champion Matt Hobar. “It develops a real patience in kids. They stay calm, and that really translates well.”

Ray spent his freshman season at Plano West, where he was primed for postseason success before

suffering a freak injury just before the district tournament. After transferring to HP as a sophomore, Ray broke his ankle during the first week of the pandemic-shortened spring season.

Ray tweaked his knee at state last winter and was later hobbled by a hip fracture during the most recent offseason. But he has since regained his strength, leading to an unbeaten start to his senior year.

He credits a more cerebral approach to practices and matches and an ability to remain level-headed on the mat. Ray knows he will need those qualities to earn a final shot at state gold.

“Just having to adapt to the pressure and control my emotions took a lot of practice,” Ray said. “I used to wrestle angrily and aggressively. Now I’m a lot more controlled and using my brain.”

In January, Cistercian sophomore Silas Choi will travel to World Cup saber events in France and Romania. COURTESY CLAUDIA CHOI

It’s a lot more complicated than it seems.

Silas Choi

Highland Park senior David Ray was an elite jiu-jitsu athlete before he began wrestling in high school.

It’s different, but I just had to adapt.

David Ray

New Challenge Awaits HP Soccer Teams in 6A

Lady Scots aim for state tournament return after near-miss last season

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

The sting of just missing a trip to the Class 5A girls soccer state tournament last year has been replaced by a fresh set of expectations for Highland Park.

The Lady Scots have plenty of talent returning and a legacy of postseason success to help ease the transition to Class 6A, which means a schedule upgrade, especially in the playoffs.

“We’re seeing really tough competition,” said HP head coach Aaron McGough. “Our girls just need to understand that every game matters. I think it will be good for us.”

Naturally, the offseason has been smoother for the Lady Scots heading into McGough’s second season at the helm. HP was 24-1-2 in her first year, with the only blemish coming against Frisco Wakeland in the 5A Region II final.

“It’s nice to have the pre-existing relationships this time with the players. They already know what to do and how to do it,” McGough said. “We can push a little more since the girls know us and trust us. Those building blocks are there.”

The roster includes 17 varsity returnees, led by versatile midfield

duo Hattie Patterson (a Mississippi signee) and Ella Weathersby (an Arizona signee). Top goalkeeper Claire Binns is back, as is Ellie Jones, last year’s District 135A newcomer of the year who led the Lady Scots in assists. Threeyear starter Emerson Andrews, who verbally committed to Kentucky, anchors the defense.

“We play as a team, and everybody is involved,” McGough said. “Everybody contributes.”

Boys look to continue momentum

On the boys side, Highland

Park followed up a district crown last year with three playoff victories before falling to Frisco Lone Star in the 5A Region II semifinals — the program’s deepest postseason run in a decade.

The Scots have earned consecutive district championships for the first time since 1986-87 and will look to continue that success against a tougher nine-team alignment in District 7-6A.

Last year’s 19-3-3 campaign garnered all-region honors for HP head coach Salvador Richie, who has a handful of key returnees to navigate a more challenging

BOYS SCHEDULE

January

3 at Plano West 7:30 p.m.

5 Carr. Newman Smith 7 p.m.

6 Midlothian 7 p.m.

7 Carr. R.L. Turner 3:30 p.m.

10 at Irving* 7 p.m.

12 Tyler^ 3 p.m.

13 FW Trimble Tech^ 3 p.m.

14 at Wichita Falls 1 p.m.

17 at Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m.

20 Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m.

24 Richardson* 7:15 p.m.

27 Jesuit* 7:15 p.m.

31 at Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m.

February

3 at Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m.

7 at Jesuit* 7:15 p.m.

10 Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m.

17 at Richardson* 7:15 p.m.

21 at Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m.

24 Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m.

28 Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m.

March

7 at Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m.

10 Irving* 7:15 p.m.

17 Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m.

*—District7-6Agame

^ — at Wichita Falls

schedule in 2023.

Jack O’Grady was the district’s top newcomer a year ago. He’s joined in the midfield by Rhett Rapuzzi, Gray Godfrey, and Brant Williams. Jake Whitehurst returns

GIRLS SCHEDULE

January

5 Cedar Park 11:30 a.m.

6 Midland Legacy 1 p.m.

7 Mansfield Lake Ridge 2 p.m.

12 Pearland^ 4:20 p.m.

13 Austin Vandegrift^ 6:10 p.m.

14 Klein Oak^ 10:50 a.m.

17 McKinney Boyd 7:30 p.m.

20 at Hockaday 6:30 p.m.

24 at Richardson* 7:15 p.m.

27 at Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m.

31 Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m.

February

3 Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m.

7 Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m.

10 at Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m.

14 Irving* 7:15 p.m.

17 Richardson* 7:15 p.m.

21 Lake Highlands* 7:15 p.m.

24 at Irving MacArthur* 7:15 p.m.

28 at Irving Nimitz* 7:15 p.m.

March

3 at Richardson Pearce* 7:15 p.m.

7 Richardson Berkner* 7:15 p.m.

10 at Irving* 7:15 p.m.

21 at Rockwall 7 p.m.

*—District7-6Agame ^—atGeorgetown

after scoring 13 goals last season.

Also back for the Scots are goalkeepers Kyle Barron and Jack Madsen, along with defenders Reid Valentine, Hafeey Shah, Zayan Shah, and Ryan Beck.

Arizona signee Ella Weathersby is one of the top returning scorers for Highland Park. CHRIS MCGATHEY

SCHOLARSHIP NAMESAKE MARY DILLARD STILL AN INSPIRATION

Students, family reminisce with beloved teacher as she turns 90

By Chloe Ching People Newspapers

Though she hasn’t taught in Highland Park ISD since 2000, Mary Katherine Harris Dillard remains an avid fan of her former students.

Dillard worked in the district for 36 years –teaching eighth grade from 1964 to 1970, then at the high school level from 1970 to 2000.

“My years there gave me more joy than I could have ever hoped to experience,” she said.

As Dillard turned 90 in November, she and others reminisced with Park Cities People about years spent sparking a love for literature and language within her students.

“I initially gravitated toward a career in education as a student, admiring the outstanding teachers at Texas High School in Texarkana,” she said. “My calling was confirmed while at Baylor University through the influence of extraordinary English professors there.”

She earned awards and accolades during her career and served in many leadership and advisory roles.

Dillard worked as a faculty consultant for AP College Board, grading the AP Literature and Language exams of students throughout the country.

She authored a study guide for The Great Gatsby, published by the Research & Education Association that is still used today by

students striving for a deeper understanding of the novel.

However, despite those accomplishments, Dillard views her students’ success as her primary legacy.

“My students’ own achievements in life, literary or otherwise, provide the greatest personal satisfaction that I could ever know,” Dillard said.

Mudbound by former student Hillary Jordan, won the Bellwether Prize for Fiction and was later adapted as a film.

“Dillard’s love for her students was mutual,” added Sarah Hepola, a former student who authored the New York Times

bestselling memoir Blackout.”

Hepola recalled entering junior English with a disengaged and lazy demeanor.

“Our classroom conversations about Macbeth and Lord of the Flies snapped me to attention,” Hepola said. “Here was a teacher who was smart, deep, and funny. Writers need an audience, and I am so lucky she was mine.”

Former student Adam Beshara created a scholarship in 2007 in Dillard’s honor, awarded annually to Highland Park students with a particular interest in English. That same year, Dillard won the Distinguished Service Award.

To celebrate Dillard’s birthday, family and

friends traveled and gathered on Nov. 17 at the Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

“The mother of two, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of 11 has spent her 90th year doing what she does best — caring for those around her,” daughter Laurie Reasons said. “While our mom is deservedly so highly respected for her professional achievements, her family will be most grateful for her spiritual teaching and guiding us toward faith.”

Dillard still advises aspiring authors: “Dream those big dreams that compel you to persevere [but] accept that there will be failures and rejections.”

Friends and family, including 11 great-grandchildren, celebrated as Mary Dillard turned 90. They dubbed the retired Highland Park ISD high school teacher “Mary, Queen of Scots.” ASHLEY CONNOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Our classroom conversations about Macbethand Lordof theFliessnapped me to attention. Here was a teacher who was smart, deep, and funny.

Sarah Hepola

Veteran transitions

As an amphibious assault vehicle operator in far-flung locations ranging from Jordan to Haiti to Somalia, Victor Acosta ensured that fellow Marines made safe transitions from ship to shore.

With the help of SMU’s Catalyst military transition program, he also sees how his military experience gives him unique skills to offer in the classroom and business.

Acosta completed an eight-week military-to-civilian transition program offered by SMU’s Continuing Education and Professional Development (CAPE) and will transition to the Cox School of Business online MBA program in January.

“Catalyst opened so many doors and opportunities for me,” he said. “It made me realize we are underselling ourselves as part of

the military — veterans bring marketable skills to the table.”

“The key thing missing from most military transition programs is how to leverage the skills gained in the military in the classroom or on the job,” said Robert Hurst, a U.S. Army veteran who directs veterans affairs for CAPE. “Providing opportunities for veterans and their spouses is our way of saying thank you.”

Another veteran opportunity

Applications will remain open through midnight Jan. 18, 2023, for the George W. Bush Institute’s 2023 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program aimed at active-duty service members, veterans, and civilians called to serve veterans and their families.

Program tuition, accommodation, meals,

and travel are fully funded during the fivemonth program. Visit bushcenter.org/standto to apply.

Trump vs. history

Donald Trump’s not the first former president to run again after losing a bid to hold the White House, so could history provide a clue to how the norm-defying Republican and his party might fare in 2024?

SMU historian Jeffrey Engel suggests it could.

In a Time Magazine op-ed, the co-author of Impeachment: An American History and When The World Seemed New: George H.W. Bush And The End Of The Cold War, draws lessons from early 20th century president Theodore Roosevelt.

Engel predicts history would likely repeat

itself if Trump, like Roosevelt, refuses to step aside for the good of his political party.

Democrat Woodrow Wilson was the beneficiary of the Republican Party’s Roosevelt-fueled division over its nominee in 1912, Engel said, and a Trump candidacy could produce the same unhappy results for the GOP this time around.

“So, if Trump wins (the nomination) in August, Republicans will lose in November,” Engel predicted. “In the more likely event that he loses the nomination, he will run as a spoiler - or at least tell his supporters to stay away from a clearly fraudulent election. With little room to spare in a country so evenly split between red and blue, a Democrat, indeed any Democrat, will win.”

11611 Inwood Road | Dallas, Texas 75229 www.thelamplighterschool.org

– Compiled by William Taylor

Jeffrey Engel is the founding director of the Center for Presidential History at SMU. COURTESY SMU

Victor Acosta credits his older sister, a veteran of both the U.S. Army and Navy, with inspiring his decision to enlist in the Marines. COURTESY SMU

The Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program features a unique curriculum designed to teach bold and principled leaders the essential skills to be impactful in the military-connected space.

COURTESY GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

A PASSION for the ARTS

Where PASSION Meets PURPOSE

Whatever your passions are, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) is here to help you give with purpose to the causes that matter most to you.

Cece Smith and Ford Lacy have a passion for the performing arts. As an alternative to a private foundation, the Lacys worked with CFT to create a customized process that enabled nonprofits to apply for special grants for new productions from their donor-advised fund. Their fund at CFT also allows them to support their love of the arts long beyond their lifetime.

Working with CFT is like having your own charitable giving concierge. If you give $5,000 or more to charity annually, contact us for a complimentary conversation to learn about the effectiveness, efficiency, ease, and tax advantages of creating a charitable fund at CFT.

Learn about the benefits of a charitable fund and watch our latest overview videos at CFTexas.org/GivePurpose giving@cftexas.org | 214-750-4226 | CFTexas.org/Purpose

CFT fund holders CECE SMITH and FORD LACY at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, where they recently helped fund a new production.

Student Achievements: Three to

1. Giddy up, giddy up HP109

Salute those Texas tuxedoes and dress and boot pairings. The HP Centennial Dance keeps going and going and making a difference.

Created in 2013 by rising seniors, the student-led affair has raised more than $1.5 million to benefit Highland Park ISD teachers and staff over the years.

HP109 drew record attendance in early November and exceeded its goal with $300,000 raised.

Student chairs Shelby Sides, Colin Hale, Vivian Downie, Max Sloan, Charlya Williams, and Judge Ellis credited corporate and family sponsors, the host committee, and those who attended with making it a successful year.

2. Super smart Scots

Watch out for that Highland Park High School Academic Decathlon team. The Scots overwhelmed opponents at the Rockwall Invitational Meet, placing first out of 35 teams on Oct. 29.

In the Honors Division, sophomore Anna Qian won second place while senior Elizabeth Chen and junior Alex Stucka tied for third.

In the Scholastic Division, senior Jeneta Nwosu was first, senior Justine Choi second, junior Vaughan Mullikan fourth, and senior Catherine Lu fifth.

In the Varsity division, senior Sean Ashton took fifth place. Other members contributing to the success: Olivia Xiao, Max

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Nguyen, GB Stalnaker, Zayan Shah, Ceci Coale, Brandon Nguyen, Oliver Muenker, and Mia O’Neil.

The team also won its first home contest of the season, finishing first out of eight teams at the 11th annual Warren Hutcheson Invitational Meet on Nov. 11 and was ranked second in the state with plans to compete in December in Tucson, Arizona.

3. Recognize these scholars

The College Board selected 22 Highland Park High School students as 2023 National Merit Scholar Recognition Award recipients.

The program recognizes students with at least a 3.5 GPA, a score in the top 10% on the PSAT/ NMSQT, and who identify as African American, Hispanic, or Indigenous.

National African American Recognition Program Scholars: Obinnam Nwosu and Savannah Stewart.

National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars: Francesca Carrillo, Cecilia Coale, Emilia Cura, Martin Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Inman, Nia Perez, Katherine Peticolas, Eli Raphael, Briana Rees, Maya Rosalez, Christopher Taubenfeld, Miller Vargas, and Andrew (Dashell) Whitaker.

National Indigenous Recognition Program Scholars: Margaret Hopper, Charlotte McCoy, Hannah McCoy, Ava Mitchell, Addison Renfrow, Donovan Riley, and Sophia Wright.

– Compiled by Carley Hutchison

Recently, Ann & Nate Levine Academy 6th graders, in collaboration with the Texas Jewish Historical Society (TJHS) participated in a service trip to Bonham, TX. Sally Drayer of TJHS served as guide for the trip, which included a visit to the Jewish section of a cemetery, Willow Wild. Students began the intense work of cleaning gravestones, then left stones at each Jewish site as a symbol that someone had been there to visit.

Students spoke a Psalm in Hebrew and English before entering the cemetery and then cleansed their hands upon leaving.

Levine 6th graders also packed snack boxes for kids experiencing food insecurity with the North Texas Food Bank in Bonham. They then traveled to Foster Village NTX: The Isaiah Closet, which provides resources to foster kids and the families who care for them, to do yard work in preparation for a future playground.

COURTESY HPISD

RHYTHM AND HARMONY CAN BRING YOUR INTERIORS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

The words “rhythm” and “harmony” likely bring music to mind, but these are also terms that interior designers use to describe our work.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to design a cohesive and interesting room, you’ll want to study these design principles.

Rhythm

You can lead a viewer’s eye throughout the room by repeating a pattern or color among your furnishings and accessories. This kind of visual flow is called rhythm. The use of rhythm can be subtle: For example, a particular shade of yellow in a painting could be echoed in the pillows on the sofa.

You can also create interest through progression, in which you line up your accessories from large to small, small to large, or even from light to dark in tone. A series of similar but differently-sized vases in an entryway is a charming example of progression.

Harmony

Another way to achieve balance in your interiors is through harmony, in which all the elements of your

space relate to each other in a pleasing way. A room has harmony when almost everything in it is part of the same color family: in other words, a monochromatic color scheme.

While a room with contrasting colors and rhythm is exciting, a room with harmony is especially restful. Monochromatic color schemes are great for rooms you want to relax in, such as the bed-

room. A symmetrically designed room will also feel more harmonious than an asymmetrical room.

You don’t have to make everything in your room all of one color to achieve harmony. Generally, 60% of the room should represent your dominant color, 30% should be your secondary color, and the last 10% should be for accents. Distributing similar textures through-

out your room will also help: from coarse textures like brick and timber paneling to smooth textures like polished concrete and glass.

Now that you’ve read about a few examples of rhythm and harmony, hopefully, you can approach your interiors with a fresh eye and see where you can make improvements. Keep in mind that you need the right amount of contrast

to avoid ending up with a boring design.

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. Visit chambersinteriors.com/blog for more design advice.

Dr. Steve Curtis Pens Memoir About Encounters With ‘Christmas Angel’

By Carley Hutchison People Newspapers

What does an angel look like?

Dr. Steve Curtis describes his as a homeless man with café au lait skin, electric black hair, and pleasant blue eyes.

Three encounters through the decades with men matching that description inspired the Highland Park resident’s latest book, a memoir of short stories titled Christmas Angel

“If you took all the people in the world and blended them in an enormous blender, what you would end up with would be a person who looked like my Christmas Angel,” Curtis said.

The first meeting with the angel came when Curtis was making a life-changing choice, the second when Curtis was “veering off course,” and the third when Curtis was feeling frightened and

homeless or was homeless at the time.”

Curtis credited the encounters with putting him back on the right path and providing him with many life lessons.

The memoir covers five decades from Curtis’ senior year of high school through just after the orthopedic surgeon retired from the W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic and as an associate clinical professorship at the UT Southwestern Medical School.

Curtis has followed a winding career path.

After double majoring in science and liberal arts at SMU and graduating from UT Southwestern, he went into the U.S. Air Force medical service, then got his orthopedic surgery training in Houston.

“I had no idea that’s what I wanted to do until I started it,” he said.

He consulted with Nike on designs for spine-friendly athletic shoes, worked at the Carrell Clinic for 40 years, and published

Once in a Blue Moon – a fantasy set in Crested Butte, Colorado

Paradise Divide – an action-adventure also set in Crested Butte

Restoration of Wood, – a romantic comedy set in Austin

A Football Story – based on experiences as a team doctor during the SMU Football scandal of the 1980s

Davids Valley – about an Oklahoma family

Fortnight – a time travel adventure about the Civil War rstevecurtis.com

CLOCKWISE: Architectural detail gives the foyer of the SMU Theta sorority house built-in rhythm. The elegant staircase curves as it rises, inviting the eye to follow. Gold and yellow accessories create another kind of visual rhythm in the sitting area below. Framed de Gournay wallpaper panels fill the stairwell’s high-ceiling space and create a rhythm that follows along with the rising staircase. A series of framed, dried flowers add rhythm to the wall over this beautiful Regency bench in this Southern chic Preston Hollow abode. MICHAEL HUNTER WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS

MARGARET CHAMBERS

ALSO BY R.S. CURTIS

A Christmas Angel by Dr. Steve Curtis includes many old family photos. COURTESY DR. STEVE CURTIS

Junior League of Dallas Celebrates ‘Timeless Treasures’ During Auction

The Junior League of Dallas uncovered “Timeless Treasures” at the annual auction on Nov. 5 at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This year’s theme emphasized the value of JLD’s many community partners, donors, and members.

The evening included a silent auction, dancing, gaming, and a diamond pull courtesy of Cook Diamonds, plus musical performances by an ensemble from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and The Special Edition Band.

Patrons also enjoyed a bonus after-hours adventure to “Stay & Play” in the Museum from 10 p.m. until midnight.

Some popular auction items included a trip for four to Costa Rica, staycations at The Joule - Dallas and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, and front-row Mavericks tickets.

The auction, co-chaired by Carrie Hill and Jennifer Welden, benefited the league’s Community Service Fund, which supports community grants and programs in alignment with the league’s mission.

– Compiled by Sabrina Gomez

Laurel Leigh Looney and Rhett Michael Butler were united in marriage on July 9, 2022, at Park Cities Baptist Church. The Reverend Travis Cook officiated the ceremony. A reception of dinner and dancing followed at the Historical Hall of State.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Lee Looney of University Park. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.W. “Pete” Hill of Highland Park and the late Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Looney of Fort Worth.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Thomas Butler of Keller. He is the grandson of Mrs. Edna Ruth Cole of Keller, the late Mr. Dean Cole, and the late Mr. and Mrs.Thomas Butler of Kansas City.

Presented in marriage by her parents, the bride was escorted down the aisle on the arm of her father. The bride chose a timeless ivory silk satin gown with a sweetheart neckline. The cathedrallength train was adorned with silk buttons to the end of the train and was accompanied by a shimmering

scalloped lace cathedral veil.

Attending the bride in blush pink gowns were Caroline Livingston Stevenson as matron of honor and Hannah Jainne Kennedy as maid of honor. Her bridesmaids included Carson Shelton Adkins, Grace Anne Brewer, Elizabeth Anne Brown, Christina Dee Butler, Lauren Elizabeth Gaines, Amy Elizabeth Jodry, Caroline Grace Hill, Elizabeth Anne Hill, Mary Kelly Kennedy, and Amanda Michelle Ritzman.

The house party included Julia Claiborne Colley, Kylie Nicole Kertz, Kendall Ellen Looney, Caroline Riley Robertson, and Madison Clare Speier.

Serving the groom as best man was John Audrey Moss. His groomsmen included Clinton Craig Ator, Joel Curtis Brown, Drew Benton Butler, Jack Davies Davis, Sebastian Edward Gatewood, Sean Lawson Griffin, Layne Christian Looney, Scott Richard Orsak, Ryan Stephen Powell, Compton Michael Stocki, and Ryan Winslow.

The ushers were Richard Bradley

Dickson, James Edward Kennedy III, and Eli Xavier Williams.

The flower girl was Claire Ann Monger. The ring bearers were Cole Thomas Brungardt, Nolan Paul Brungardt, Lucas Benton Butler, and Nicholas Michael Monger.

The bride is a graduate of Highland Park High School. In 2014, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Auburn University, where she was President of Tri Delta sorority. Laurel is a Registered Nurse currently serving in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Medical City Dallas Children’s Hospital.

The groom is a graduate of Keller High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from the University of North Texas. Rhett is utilizing his engineering education and experience to support Trammell Crow Residential’s real estate development initiatives.

Following their wedding trip to the Dominican Republic, the newlyweds have made Dallas their home.

WEDDING

LAUREL LEIGH LOONEY–RHETT MICHAEL BUTLER

Brooke Bailey and Elizabeth Dacus

TAMYTHA CAMERON

Emily Somerville-Cabrera, Vanessa Fuquay, and Jennifer Welden

Marisa Partin and Carrie Hill

Heather and Kevin Bonfield

Kiki and Ann Gao

Once Holidays Pass, Make Time for Simple Gatherings Like a Brunch

Between shopping, gift wrapping, party planning, cooking, and entertaining, a quiet get-together with friends may not have fit into holiday festivities.

January’s relative peace offers an ideal time to plan simple gatherings, and the simplest of all is a weekend brunch.

Eggs or egg casseroles, bacon or ham, artisan rolls or homemade muffins, and a bowl of seasonal fruit allow for advance preparation so I can spend time with guests instead of in the kitchen.

When I want to elevate the experience, I welcome our guests with a chilled glass of sparkling cava or prosecco. Both are affordable but add an air of festivity to an otherwise simple occasion.

Chilling champagne flutes for thirty minutes in the fridge, or better yet, the freezer, creates a frosty coating on each glass that’s especially pretty when sparkling wine is poured and served.

Pampering guests is always my goal, no matter how casual the gathering.

When it comes to brunch, a coffee station in the kitchen or on a buffet offers a multitude of options to transform an ordinary cup of coffee into a decadent experience.

Assemble mugs or cups, saucers, and spoons on a tray. Add bowls of cinnamon sticks, cocoa, nutmeg, and whipped heavy cream so guests can customize their coffee.

I’ve found guests love this added touch.

During family brunch celebrations, I have always gravitated toward the station where chefs serve freshly made pancakes hot off the griddle.

Pancakes are an easy addition to the menu when planning an at-home weekend

brunch. Best of all, pancakes can be prepared before guests arrive, arranged on a platter, covered with foil, and kept warm in a warm oven.

My recipe for light and fluffy sour cream pancakes is topped with bananas foster syrup, inspired by an unforgettable anniversary dinner at Brennan’s in Houston years ago.

Bananas Foster, traditionally served over vanilla ice cream, delights palates when bananas are lightly sauteed in a syrup of brown sugar, rum, and banana liqueur. It’s no wonder this sublime dessert has endured since 1951.

My brunch-time twist on this classic recipe ensures your weekend brunch will be equally memorable.

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

PANCAKES

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

3 eggs

1 cup milk

Directions: Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Lightly grease a griddle or large nonstick skillet with vegetable oil and heat over medium heat.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, then whisk in milk, sour cream, and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until the ingredients are incorporated.

Ladle the batter onto the griddle, adjusting heat if needed, to form 4 ½-inch round pancakes. When bubbles form on top, and the underside is

golden brown, flip the pancakes and cook until the underside is browned.

Transfer them to a large platter, cover with foil, and place in the oven to stay warm. Continue with the remaining batter and serve with Bananas Foster Syrup.

Yield: 16 4 1/2 -inch pancakes

BANANAS FOSTER SYRUP

Ingredients:

3 firm ripe bananas, peeled ½ cup unsalted butter 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons rum or ½

teaspoon rum extract

Directions:

Slice bananas into ½-inch thick slices and set them aside. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, rum, and vanilla, and stir until the mixture is smooth. Raise the heat to medium, bring it to a boil, and cook until it foams, stirring frequently.

Cook 5 minutes more, then reduce the heat to simmer and stir in bananas.

Transfer to a chafing dish and keep warm.

Yield: 5 to 6 cups syrup

Her Celebrating Home 4-minute cooking vid

CHRISTY ROST

Sour Cream Pancakes with Bananas Foster Syrup. CHRISTY ROST

SOUR CREAM PANCAKES WITH BANANAS FOSTER SYRUP

Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and preservationist Pierce Morriss Allman died on November 25, 2022, at 88.

Pierce was born on January 5, 1934, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Robert Moss Allman and Margaret Deavours Allman. His father’s corporate job took the family to various parts of the country, but the family eventually settled in the Park Cities. As a youth, Pierce’s work and dedication with the Boys Scouts of America catapulted him to the country’s top scouting spot, earning 104 of the 105 merit badges available at the time and becoming the youngest Eagle Scout in the country. As a teenager, he started a paper route for The Dallas Morning News, a job he maintained throughout college.

Pierce graduated from Highland Park High School in 1950, and in 2012, he

was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. Pierce supported the Highland Park Independent School District by chairing the Leadership Council, serving on the District’s Strategic Planning Committee, and co-chairing the Save Our School and Community Committee to keep the school district independent. In 1989, Pierce received the Blanket Award from Highland Park High School. He co-founded and served as president of La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, an event benefiting the Park Cities and the Highland Park Independent School District. Pierce also served as chairman of the Celebration of Highland Park’s Centennial Anniversary in 2014.

While at SMU, where he majored in Radio and Television Broadcast, he was head cheerleader and class treasurer and starred in numerous plays and musicals. He was a Rotunda Favorite and recipient of the university’s “M” award.

After graduation in 1954, Pierce joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in the Strategic Air Command in Austin from 19551957. Then, he returned to Dallas and was hired as program director of WFAA radio, where he ran the Cotton Bowl activities for the Southwest Conference. At WFAA, he met Allie Beth McMurtry, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University. They were married on October 5, 1963, in her hometown of Graham, Texas.

Numerous news outlets reported his eyewitness account on November 22, 1963, of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dealey Plaza. Per news reports, Pierce had rushed into the Texas School Book Depository to call WFAA and asked a man exiting the building where a payphone was. The man

MARY FRANCES MCCLURE BURLESON

teachers were the greatest gifts she had ever received.

In 1958, one small turn of events would set her on the path for the rest of her life. While attending SMU, Jobs Unlimited, a temporary employment company, sent her to Ebby Halliday REALTORS® as a part-time secretary and receptionist. At that time, the company had just 35 agents in three offices. Inspired by what she saw — sales associates enjoying and thriving in their careers — Mary Frances was eager to join the company permanently.

was later identified as Kennedy’s assassin, and Pierce phoned in the first live news report from the School Book Depository.

Pierce was instrumental in founding the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and serves as the voice of the museum’s audio tour.

In 1964, Pierce became Director of Alumni Affairs at SMU, establishing the university’s first alumni directory, steering the fundraising efforts and building of the R.L. Thornton Alumni Building, writing lyrics to a new Mustang fight song, and serving as “the voice of the Mustang Band.”

Over the years, Pierce established what would become the Allman Lecture Series, featuring Nobel Laureates from physics to literature. A member of the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Executive Board since 1994, Pierce provided a lead gift in 2010 to launch the Dean’s Research Council. In addition, he served on the Dedman College Campaign Steering Committee’s SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign, was Chairman of the Dedman College Executive Board, and Chairman for the Committee on Educational Events. In 2018, Pierce was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU.

After working at WFAA and SMU, Pierce established a public relations division for Tracy Locke, where he won a Clio Award and numerous honors for his work.

In 1972, he established his own public relations company, Allman & Company, representing local, state, and national clients, including the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Dallas Bar Association. In 1985, Pierce and Allie Beth founded Allie Beth Allman

Real Estate, now known as Allie Beth Allman and Associates, where he served as its Director of Marketing since its inception.

He co-founded and served on the board of the S.M. Wright Foundation of Dallas, a nonprofit that works to provide support to underprivileged children and less fortunate families through hunger relief, economic empowerment, and assistance in education and health, and social services.

Pierce’s other civic, city, educational, and business accolades include serving as past chair of the Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy; co-founder and past president of both the Park Cities Historical Society and Friends of the Highland Park Library; serving on the board of the Old Red Museum; committee chair of the SMU Alumni Association; member of the Administrative Board at Highland Park United Methodist Church; advisory board member of the Baylor Medical System Foundation and Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas; and serving with Allie Beth as chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Celebration of Reading.

He was recognized as a Jubilee History Maker by the Dallas Historical Society and was a recipient of the Preservation Award from the Preservation Park Cities. In 2017, Pierce was awarded Dallas Father of the Year, and in 2018, he and Allie Beth were honored with the Flora Award from the Texas Discovery Gardens.

In honor of Pierce, donations may be made to the S.M. Wright Foundation, Highland Park United Methodist Church, or the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas.

For nearly three decades, Mary Frances was at the helm of the Ebby Halliday Companies as President and CEO, expanding the firm to 1,700 agents in 35 offices across three brands, becoming the largest independent residential real estate brokerage in Texas and the 10th-largest in the nation. She preached and personified her popular mantra, “Get up, suit up, show up,” over her 60+ years with the company.

or and the highest honor a REALTOR® can receive.

Mary Frances Burleson, longtime president and CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies, died on November 27, 2022, of natural causes. She was 87.

Mary Frances McClure was born to Pauline and Charles McClure on April 16, 1935. As a child, she moved with her parents to Highland Park, later graduating from Highland Park High School and Southern Methodist University. Mary Frances frequently remarked that her parents’ sacrifices to send her to great schools and expose her to exceptional

Mary Frances’ talent was quickly recognized, and Ebby herself offered to make her position at the company permanent after just two weeks - at $2.50 per hour. She quickly rose through the ranks. Mary Frances opened the fourth office for Ebby Halliday Realtors in Richardson and served as Regional Manager of four additional offices. In 1979, she became Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager. In 1989, she was named President, and in 2000, Chief Executive Officer.

Mary Frances and Ebby worked side by side for 57 years, during which time they became close personal friends. Once asked for her best business advice, Mary Frances’ answer was quick: “Find a good mentor, but don’t forget to return the favor.”

Mary Frances embraced Ebby Halliday’s service mindset – service to the client, service to the industry, and service to the community. Throughout her career, she was heavily involved at the local, state, and national levels within the real estate industry. Through her commitment to such groups as the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the International Women’s Forum, the Baptist Foundation of Texas, Buckner International, the boards of directors of SMU’s Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series, and the Highland Park Education Foundation, and many more, she helped make North Texas a better place.

Mary Frances’ leadership and involvement resulted in innumerable awards and accolades. One of her most-prized awards came in 2013 when she was honored with the National Association of REALTORS®’ Distinguished Service Award, the organization’s highest hon -

Mary Frances married the love of her life, Rufus C. Burleson, in 1955. The two were soulmates, married for over 50 years until his sudden death in 2009. Mary Frances and Rufus started exhibiting show dogs – Boxers – in 1964. To date, Marburl Boxers (the name of the kennel the Burlesons owned and managed – a combination of “Mary” and “Burleson”) have completed championships for more than 85 dogs and won countless other awards both nationally and internationally, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Mary Frances and Rufus from the American Boxer Club, and in 2018, the coveted ABC Hall of Fame award.

Mary Frances was also a woman of remarkable faith. A longtime member of Park Cities Baptist Church, she especially enjoyed the fellowship she experienced and the friends she made over the years in her congregation and Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Frances wished for donations to be made to Park Cities Baptist Church, American Boxer Club Charitable Foundation, Attn: Gary Ryan, P.O. Box 4194, Gettysburg, PA, 17325-4194 (or email treasurer@ abcfoundation.org), or a charity of your choice that would provide or support the education of a child.

Common Unknown REASONS Why People Experience Dizziness. It’s Not Because Of

Age... There’s Always A REASON! – Now What To Do About It?

By Leading Balance Expert, Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist

Are you worried about losing independence because of dizziness or vertigo? Are you becoming increasingly frustrated with dizziness, unsteadiness, and a sensation of spinning interfering with your life? Here are some common unknown reasons why people can feel dizzy and a SOLUTION to get rid of the problem.

1. Vertigo (An Inner Ear Balance Problem): This is the classic spinning sensation when you roll over in bed, but it’s not always that simple… The symptoms can be a vague dizziness, unsteadiness, fogginess. This problem is more common with age and often goes unrecognized, but is simple for a specialist to identify and get rid of.

2. Moving Less Over Time: You might notice this if you become dizzy from walking and turning your head (Or maybe you don’t move your head much anymore to avoid the dizziness). Remember when you could ride a roller coaster when you were 10 years old but not when you were 40? To sum it up simply, if you don’t use it, you lose it. The inner ear bal ance system takes a lot of use to stay working properly.

3. Time Spent In The Hospital: keep working well, our balance system needs us to be upright, move our heads a lot, and inter

act in a complex world (Crossing busy streets, bending down and picking up grandchildren, turning our heads quickly to notice something interesting). Hospital stays do not offer much of these, so it is not uncommon for people to suffer from dizziness and balance problems for months and even years afterwards.

Want more information & solutions? My new special report about vertigo provides Actionable Tips that will help you keep or regain your independence. And the best thing is it’s 100% FREE, and you’re under no-obligation to buy anything when you call.

IMPORTANT: For obvious reasons, my offer to send you this report FREE must come with a restriction on the number I can mail out… so it’s critical that you call TODAY and request

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Great Dallas Neighborhoods Say Hello to New Buyers

THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

Another Successful Year for the #1 Team in Dallas

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Discover the ‘Tri-Perfecta’ of 3 Must-See Homes

EBBY HALLIDAY

Home Search App is Simple, Fast and Free

With the help of Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents, many great neighborhoods have seen significant sales recently and are greeting newcomers with open arms.

Take a closer look at a few of these exciting sales, which are the result of quality properties and the proven expertise of the agents at this top brokerage. Its agents lead in the sale of homes priced at $2 million and above across DFW.

A Tuscan-inspired estate, 5335 Meaders Lane showcases warm materials and exquisite design for an enchanting Preston Hollow residence. It’s an entertainer’s dream, with vast living spaces, indoor and outdoor kitchens, a pool, cabana and private guesthouse.

In University Park, 2801 Daniel Ave. is light, bright and full of character, with charming woodwork, elegant fireplaces and high ceilings. As it offers open living spaces perfect for gathering while being close to favorite restaurants and SMU, it’s easy to see why buyers jumped at the opportunity to call this fivebedroom beauty home.

A masterfully remodeled home in Greenway Parks just sold at 5336 Montrose Drive. The stately property dates to the 1920s and has been thoughtfully updated. Merging the past with the present, the home now has fresh interiors the new owners can enjoy for years.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Buying or Selling in the

Park Cities? Trust the Real Estate Leader

The Perry-Miller Streiff Group of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate will close 2022 with over $190,000,000 in Real Estate sales. Despite the challenging market, the #1 ranked team in Dallas has continued to push forward with their client’s best interests at heart.

While the past few years have changed many things about the real estate industry, the Perry-Miller Streiff Group continues to adapt to ensure their sellers are still receiving the best possible exposure for their listings. In 2022, 38% of the Perry-Miller Streiff Group’s transaction volume were traded off-market, which is one of the many reasons having an agent in the know is the true secret to either selling or grabbing these exclusive homes for yourself.

Off-market listings have an air of exclusivity for both the seller and buyer – sellers are drawn to the private, streamlined process, while buyers enjoy elite access to off-market inventory. Networking is key for these listings to succeed and The Perry-Miller Streiff Group leverages their agent relationships whether they are selling a property or looking for their buyer.

The Perry-Miller Streiff Group delivers what others promise: Results. Highly-experienced associates, a sincere focus on clientele, and collaborative leadership combine to deliver a first-class experience and record setting results. Visit DPMFineHomes.com to learn more or see our current listings.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Peek Into Stunning Preston Hollow, Park Cities Estates

They say good things come in threes. That’s certainly the case with three homes listed by Allie Beth Allman & Associates. Together, these properties present the “triperfecta” of beautiful homes available.

All priced above $6 million, each of these estate homes will appeal to the discerning buyer. If you need the right expertise to guide you in this strong luxury market, whether you’re buying or selling, the boutique firm is always a smart pick.

Completed just this year at 9646 Douglas Ave. in Preston Hollow, the open-plan contemporary is a design lover’s dream. The pool sits in the middle of the home for a five-star hotel aesthetic, while further outdoor spaces include a rooftop deck.

Also in Preston Hollow, 10573 Inwood Road was designed by famed architect Bud Oglesby, built in 1985 and impeccably upgraded for 21st-century living. The home sits on nearly two acres backing onto a creek, creating serenity for anyone lucky enough to live here.

A brick beauty at 4201 Arcady Ave. in Highland Park might be the perfect fit. Enchanting grounds and a courtyard welcome all with effortless elegance. Inside, you will appreciate decadent spaces like the marble foyer and two-story library.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN Peek Into Beautiful Estates

The Ebby Halliday Realtors app means your new home could be just a tap away. Whether you’re shopping by price, location or aesthetics, the Ebby Halliday Realtors app makes it easier than ever to browse homes for sale.

Ebby’s app provide access to real-time property information and smart messaging tools. It makes it easy to connect with your agent from any mobile device, as well as create saved searches and add favorites at your convenience. And, a built-in chat function makes collaboration fast, easy and fun.

In addition to the ability to connect anytime, anywhere, the Ebby Halliday Realtors app offers easyto-use home-search options, including a Draw Tool that allows you to draw custom boundaries using your finger on a map view to filter available homes within a specific area; a Commute Time feature, in which you can view properties within proximity to your work, daycare or other regularly traveled places; and a Home Scan feature that uses augmented-reality technology to overlay property details through your device’s camera.

The Ebby Halliday Realtors app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Download the app today for free and experience modern home searching with ease.

throughout DFW and connect with an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent to learn more about homes accessible only via the brokerage’s list of exclusive, private sales.

A Dallas landmark, 23 Ash Bluff Lane was designed by noted architect Anton Korn. The grand, seven-bedroom estate is superbly renovated with a classic floor plan that provides plenty of natural light. Patios and courtyards are integrated throughout to create a retreat-like ambiance.

To move into an exquisite Old Preston Hollow estate, look no further than 5138 Deloache Ave. The home offers imaginative and elegant spaces crafted from the minds of top designers around the country. Private and prestigious, the 1.45-acre property sits behind gates and welcomes you with a stately, Georgian-style façade.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates sells more in the Park Cities area than any other brokerage, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Aa French-inspired traditional home sits on a corner at lot 3201 Greenbrier Drive in University Park. You’ll find soaring, 10-foot ceilings, sophisticated formal rooms, and an oversized, paneled great room with a wet bar and refrigerated wine closet.

The home at 3737 Normandy Ave. in Highland Park features both formal living and dining rooms and generous living spaces filled with natural light. Enjoy cooking and gathering in the gourmet kitchen, with its large island.

A home on a coveted block in University Park is ready for its new owners. Located in the Fairway between two parks, 3837 Greenbrier Drive features five bedrooms, and the main bedroom includes a coffee bar and fridge area.

Also situated in the Fairway of University Park is a traditional Tudor showplace at 3944 Stanford Ave., boasting high ceilings, gorgeous hardwood floors, a paneled library and an oversized family room with a fireplace.

Located just minutes from Bradfield Elementary and Highland Park Village, 4532 Southern Ave. is a stunning, Tudor-style home with exquisite architectural details and a flowing floor plan.

Estate homes are still selling in Dallas, even as interest rates are rising.

The luxury real estate expert at Allie Beth Allman & Associates recently sold the Highland Park estate at 3601 Lexington Ave. in just 10 days. The 11,500-square-foot home sets the stage for indoor/ outdoor living and exudes Santa Barbara charm.

An accomplished group to look to for real estate guidance in any market conditions, Allie Beth Allman & Associates leads in the sale of homes priced at $5 million and higher across DFW. Here are some of the homes they currently represent.

A beautiful Old Highland Park home at 3600 Armstrong Ave. has been meticulously renovated and is outfitted with chic designer finishes. This home showcases gathering spaces such as the parlor with its full bar.

Nearby on another lovely Highland Park block, a house set for completion in summer 2023 is available in time for you to make customizations. The residence promises 7,649 square feet with five bedrooms at 3521 Princeton Ave.

A Tudor masterpiece created by noted architect Rick Robinson awaits at 4201 Arcady Ave. Situated on a large, corner lot in Highland Park, this home welcomes guests via an expansive marble foyer and sweeping staircase.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

9851 Kingsway Ave. offered for $3,250,000

Situated on a preferred site in a new gated community in Preston Hollow – and adjacent to shops and retail including Trader Joe’s – this stunning new, fullycustomized 4414 sf, modern residence offers a rare

BEACON HILL AT CEDAR CREEK LAKE

50% of Lots Sold on Beacon Hill’s Interior Lake

opportunity for the new owner to choose final cosmetic finishes for this recently completed move-in ready home! The spacious living/dining room features 11 ft ceilings, wide-plank walnut stained hardwood flooring and floor to ceiling windows, all prewired for power shades. A wood burning/gas fireplace is centered between two windows. The adjoining dining area boasts a custom wine room, equipped with state-of -the art temperature and lighting controls waiting for the new owner’s final specifications. The large, light-filled kitchen is equipped with a 48” Wolfe gas cooktop – with double wall-ovens in the adjacent prep kitchen. Two Asko dishwashers, a Sub-Zero undercounter refrigerator and a Kitchen Aid ice maker make this home an ideal venue for entertaining.

Lots at the very popular Lake Ava Rosetta are selling fast. The 9-acre stocked fishing and swimming lake is now 50% sold with 8 of the 16 lots under contract, under construction or having a full-time resident. 5 of the remaining lots offer the opportunity for private fishing docks. Residents are already enjoying the newly added beach area with new outdoor grills, fire pits and more. To find your perfect place of tranquility offering fishing, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, barbecuing and other outdoor fun, visit us online at www.liveatbeaconhill.com to schedule a tour or call 903-498-LAKE (5253).

Take a look at some homes available in the Park Cities from Allie Beth Allman & Associates, the real estate leaders in Highland Park and University Park.

Year after year, the agents of Allie Beth Allman & Associates have led the market in homes sold at $5 million and above – and 2022 is no different. Whether you are selling or buying, you can rely on the luxury leader to deliver the deal.

Peek into beautiful estate properties available

English Eclectic in Volk Estates

has been masterfully preserved and expanded by noted architects Wilson Fuqua and Wilson McClure. The iconic residence features hand-poured terrazzo floors, fireplaces with antique mantels, custom ironwork, a private office and an elevator.

Spanning 11,955 square feet, the home comprises six en suite bedrooms and four half baths. The second-floor primary suite includes a sitting area, two baths, two closets and a balcony, while an apartment over the three-car garage is ideal for guests.

Outdoors? An elegant paradise — it could be the scene of a Slim Aarons photo shoot! — with verandas, majestic trees, two fountains and an outdoor fireplace. And at a generous .88 acres, the property offers both privacy and comfort.

7037 Turtle Creek Boulevard is represented by Jeanne Shelton and Doug Shelton for $12,900,000. Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, founded in the Park Cities in 1960, represents luxury homes, high-rises, ranches, land and commercial properties. Its briggsfreeman. com website is a cutting-edge portal featuring properties, neighborhoods, schools, virtual tours, architecture guides and more.

Luxury and Privacy Await in Gated Enclave

Every one of its 6,427 square feet is filled with designer finishes. Expansive windows, vaulted ceilings and great art walls, create an airy and open feel.

levels. A downstairs office boasts a two-story ceiling and fireplace, while an upstairs game room with balcony and adjacent media room accommodate your in-house entertainment.

Nestled behind a stone wall in an exclusive, eight-home gated community in Preston Hollow, is this 2017 Santa Barbara-style estate. Ryan Streiff and Jason Bates with the Perry-Miller Streiff Group have listed the four-bedroom, 4.2-bath home with 3-car garage at 11821 Doolin Court (11821doolin. daveperrymiller.com) for $3,250,000.

The eat-in chef’s kitchen features a quartzite waterfall island, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and adjacent 100-bottle chilled wine display. An expansive outdoor terrace with fireplace and heaters overlooks the heated resort-style pool, putting green and fully turfed yard.

The progressive floor plan has a primary suite and guest suite on both

To schedule a showing, contact Streiff at 469-371-3008 | ryan@ dpmre.com or Bates at 214-673-4268 | jbates@dpmre.com.

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday Companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, with four locations that specialize in Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park and Farm & Ranch properties.

BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

© 2023 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty offi ce 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.

Less clicks. More fun.

(Or, how the #1 luxury brokerage in North Texas just changed the game — again.)

• More intuitive in all formats — phone, tablet, laptop, desktop — with cleaner design and easier navigation

• A more editorial approach to properties, with a magazine-like photo layout, the story of the property and quick facts about the neighborhood — all on one beautiful page

• Bold new pages about our expert agents, including their back stories, their listings, what they’ve sold and what their clients are saying

• More immersive new pages for real estate’s best blog, our unique guide to architecture, all of our special sales divisions and so much more

The all-new briggsfreeman.com. Your home is here.

WHY

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

The Technology Association of North Texas has named Highland Park High School AP and organic chemistry teacher Wenzen Chuang a “Tech Titan of the Future.”

The trade association’s award recognizes a high school teacher for developing and implementing an innovative teaching technique or program that inspires student interest in math and/or science.

“Wenzen Chuang is truly a master teacher,” HPHS principal Jeremy Gilbert said. “He has the unique talent of challenging his students with high-level content while also offering a customized and high level of support.”

Chaung, who has taught in Highland Park ISD for nearly 23 years, coaches the University Interscholastic League (UIL) science team and serves as the UIL academics coordinator for the high school.

“His teaching ability is characterized by his desire to create an interactive, supportive, and rigorous learning environment that challenges students to think above the curriculum itself,” wrote former student Cameron Laurie in a nomination form.

Laurie, now a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, credited Chuang with “inspiring students like myself to pursue a career in medicine or other related STEM fields using the strong experiences and knowledge acquired through his instruction.”

“It was absolutely very gratifying to know that I made a difference and an impact on students and their career path,” Chuang said.

“The reason we study science

and math and difficult subjects like that is it really challenges students to work on their problem-solving abilities, their ability to process information, and I think it’s really critical, and it doesn’t really matter what field they go into when they get out of high school,” he said.

Chuang challenges his students with activities such as creating Dippin’ Dots-style ice cream (a process that requires liquid nitrogen) and a Shark Tank- style soap-making contest to see which students can make the best product.

Gilbert typically judges the soap-making contest.

“The soap project is a tangible example of what is possible when students are provided with a balance of content and space for creativity,” Gilbert said. “The student-led presentations for this project were filled with a high level of science know-how paired with the personalities and flair of the student designers.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chuang had to find ways to teach the material and keep students engaged without the all-important on-campus lab.

He found a website with recorded videos of people doing labs.

“It’s not just watching the video,” Chuang explained. “They

have different instruments that they showed the video on, and they record data as they’re going through the process. We could actually, as best we could, keep up our lab curriculum by using this website and looking at the videos

of the labs they had conducted, record the measurements and record the data from the video, and then they would actually go through and do the calculations and analyze the data they collected to see what the results were.”

ABOVE: Highland Park High School teacher Wenzen Chuang is president-elect of the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association. RIGHT: His students show off their soap-making contest entries. RACHEL SNYDER AND HIGHLAND PARK ISD

The reason we study science and math and difficult subjects like that is it really challenges students to work on their problemsolving abilities (and) their ability to process information.

Wenzen Chuang

Girl Scouts Welcome STEM Superstar

Jennifer Makins leaves Parish Episcopal to lead program at Camp Whispering Cedars

By Daniel Lalley Special Contributor

As the commercial sector becomes ever more evolved, careers centered around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will see an increase in demand.

Since 1990, STEM occupations have grown 79%, accounting for 8.6 million jobs in the U.S. workforce. By 2025, another 3.5 million STEM jobs will need to be filled.

Unfortunately, there is a gender gap within these fields, as women only represent 34% of the STEM workforce.

The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is taking this hurdle head-on.

Having just hired one of the most distinguished teachers in the field of STEM education, the organization is looking to inspire confidence and promote critical thinking for future women in the workforce.

Jennifer Makins, a pioneer ing educator with a proven track record of strategically launch ing and growing large-scale initiatives, is the new ex ecutive director of the STEM Center of Ex cellence at Camp Whispering Cedars.

“I’m so excited to get in here and start helping this program continue to do amazing things,” she said.

Makins served the Parish Episcopal School in Dallas for 13 years, built multiple STEM programs, and won awards from NASA, Frontiers of Flight Mu seum, and many others.

She recently spoke during The Smith sonian’s Women’s Future Month and

is one of 125 female innovators named American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/ THEN Ambassadors as part of a Lyda Hill Philanthropies effort to inspire girls and advance women in STEM careers.

Of course, Makins sees her most significant accomplishments in the students she’s inspired.

“The more resilience we can instill in kids, the more resilience we can instill across the future corporate landscape,” she said. “With the IF/THEN Ambassador program, which the Girls Scouts are now affiliated with, the whole premise is if a girl can see a woman in STEM that looks

like them, they will have the confidence to pursue that field.”

With STEM careers accounting for an ever-growing component of the U.S. workforce, she noted that women must receive equal exposure to these disciplines at an early age.

“Much of the deficit in STEM careers for women comes from limited access to early educational opportunities,” Makins said. “With the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, we have the opportunity to show girls how STEM disciplines combined with creativity hold the key to solving many of the challenges that face us.”

Her new mission is to pick up where the STEM Center left off. This facility underwent a significant renovation in 2017, only to be shut down a couple of years later during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Franklin Middle School Art Class Uses Tablets

Junior League of Dallas grant helped

By Maria Lawson maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Efrain Rivera is taking his sixth-grade art class at Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy down a new route by integrating technology with art.

He’s doing this with the help of a $2,200 grant from the Junior League of Dallas, which funded the purchase of 30 drawing pads to teach students how to create art in digital mediums.

In the first few months of using the drawing pads, students have learned digital drawing, gif making, and short animation creation.

“Most of them can be done in traditional art, but I wanted to introduce them to technology because it shows them a lot of tools they’ll use in high school and skills they can apply … if they start a career in design or art,” Rivera said.

Rivera said he’d seen increased classroom engagement since introducing the

tablets. Most of his students previously only had experience with two-dimensional mediums, so he’s been proud to show them something unique and watch them shine through their work.

“I think it helps all students, but especially those students who are not so artistic because … digitally you can draw a perfect circle, perfect square, perfect shapes so much faster, and you definitely don’t need to be artistic at all,” Rivera said. “I just show them steps to do, and everyone has enjoyed it.”

The sixth-grade art lessons also build upon students’ pre-existing knowledge of technology and applications. Rivera also hopes what they learn in art will translate into other subjects.

“Unfortunately, the STEM Center had to shut down because of the pandemic,” Makins said. “And we know the mental health impacts that the pandemic has had on students, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to provide hands-on, engaging education and foster the skills of collaboration. That’s what excites me. This place is full of opportunities.”

GET INVOLVED

To volunteer with the

of Northeast Texas, visit gsnetx.com or call 972-349-2400.

Rivera fund digital lessons

“Right now, we’re learning about creating short animations, and for example, if they wanted to apply that to science, they could create an animation for a science [project], like metamorphosis or something like that,” Rivera said.

“They can apply those skills they learned to display different things [at] different levels.”

Each semester, Rivera has a new set of students come through his class, and he plans to continue teaching them art in multiple mediums.

“This class set of tablets will impact so many students,” Rivera said. “I want to do half traditional art and half digital art; that way, they experience both.”

AT A GLANCE

Girl Scouts

At the STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars, Girl Scouts from kindergarten through 12th grade can take advantage of activities including physics, digital media, engineering, astronomy, and topography. Orange statues of Jennifer Makins (RIGHT) and other IF/THEN Ambassadors were 3D printed and put on display to help girls envision themselves going into technical careers. GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHEAST TEXAS

Efrain

Efrain Rivera is teaching sixth graders how to blend technology with art and other subjects. EFRAIN RIVERA

The Junior League of Dallas presented 51 Dallas ISD teachers with a total of $111,000 through its annual Grants for Innovative Teaching program.

I wanted to introduce them to technology because it shows them a lot of tools they’ll use in high school. Efrain Rivera

Time to show your heart some love

February is Heart Month. And heart disease is the leading cause of death in our community and across the country. So, let’s do something about it, together. Every week during Heart Month we’ll be sharing heart healthy tips, from early warning signs to recipes and exercise ideas. Caring for the heart health of our friends and neighbors. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.

Sign up for Heart Month emails with tips, recipes, exercise ideas, info on events, and more at: Methodist.com/HeartMonth

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STEAM

IT’S IN OUR DNA

Highland Park ISD is leading the way in STEAM education.

HPISD’s Moody Innovation Institute helps ensure that STEAM education is integrated into student learning, no matter where it is happening. This means all HP students have opportunities to go beyond textbooks and lectures and learn by participating in hands-on activities that are focused on the often complex real-world problems that tomorrow’s leaders will face.

IN ELEMENTARY...

STEAM education in HPISD begins when students first step on campus. Starting in elementary school, students learn how to solve fascinating hands-on problems that make direct connections to our amazing world.

This approach to early learning contributes to the district’s ability to deliver academic excellence by ensuring students begin to attain the skills they need to lead in their community and make an impact in the world around them even while in elementary school.

INTERMEDIATE AND MIDDLE…

Engagement in STEAM activities continue to expand in intermediate and middle school as students transition from concrete to more abstract and creative thinking processes. Students actively participate in identifying real problems and discovering real solutions throughout their curricula.

From robotics and engineering clubs to presentations by HPHS students on complex subjects like sports injuries and brain science research, and competitive science fair research activities, students work to identify problems that need real solutions. Projects like the annual Water Walk help students learn about the difficulty some countries have in accessing clean water.

STEAM-infused lessons like the anatomy of the heart include expanded activities designed to help students make connections between theory and practice. Students conduct blood type research and in-class dissections led by visiting medical professionals before hosting community blood drives. During the past three years this project, in partnership with Carter Bloodcare, has impacted more than 1,100 lives.

THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION…

Highland Park High School’s rigorous academic courses are complemented by engaging STEAM education. Through in-depth profession-based courses in engineering and design, business and entrepreneurship, brain science and health and environmental architecture, the Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program provides HP juniors and seniors with one-of-a-kind hands-on business and professional experiences as they prepare for the world of higher education.

Learning alongside numerous industry experts, students are able to discover their direction as they prepare for post-secondary success. This makes the HPISD STEAM experience truly extraordinary.

MOODY INNOVATION INSTITUTE

STEAM in HPISD was initiated through a generous $5.8 million grant from the Moody Foundation to the Highland Park Education Foundation in August 2016. A recent second grant of $4.99 million will fund the first-ever research institute embedded in a public school setting, making HPISD a significant thought leader in STEAM education across the state and nation.

MAPS is housed in an award-winning 10,000 square foot modern facility within Highland Park High School.

Two Bit Circus Hosts Educational Carnivals

Annual events foster learning through games

By Maria Lawson maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Two Bit Circus, which recently opened its second location in The Shops at Park Lane, does more than just house its “micro-amusement park.”

Its foundation puts on annual STEAM carnivals across the country, with a three-day event serving Dallas-Fort Worth each spring.

Two Bit Circus co-founders Brent Bushnell and Eric Gradman launched the STEAM carnivals in California as a Kickstarter in 2013.

After seeing success on the west coast, Rory Peacock, deputy executive director for the Region 11 Service Center in Fort Worth, approached the pair about bringing it to Dallas-Fort Worth.

“After Two Bit was a real company and we were doing tons of projects for big brands, we decided, let’s do something for ourselves,” Bushnell said. “We had done hundreds of events for other companies. We said, ‘Let’s do our own event,’ and the STEAM carnival was born.”

The Dallas-Fort Worth carnival, held annually at the Region 11 Service Center since 2016, brings an average of 3,500 people daily. The events feature Two Bit Circus games, outside companies such as Lockheed Martin coming in to teach youth about STEAM, and projects submitted by students who want to present and share their creations.

One activity Bushnell noted, a “Dunk Tank Flambé,” expands on the concept of a traditional dunk tank by launching the dunking “victim,” who wears a fire suit, into flames.

“We realized that the best games are the simplest games,” Gradman said. “One really powerful way to get kids inspired about what they can create is to pull back the curtain, open up the cabinets, let people look inside, and reveal the fact that under the most beautiful, complicated game is a simple set of components that anyone can work with.”

The carnival’s creators hope they can foster learning through each event.

“The STEAM carnival is a way of tricking people into using

their creativity,” Gradman said. “As you’re playing a game that was created by your buddy at a STEAM carnival, you’re looking around going, ‘Wow, I know how all these games work now,’ because you’ve been through the thought process of creating one yourself.”

The carnival is open to anyone who purchases a ticket for $3, but the foundation sometimes gives free ones to area school districts to bring underserved students.

The 2023 Dallas-Fort Worth STEAM carnival will run from Feb. 27 through March 1.

“We had a first grader whose mom emailed me the week after the carnival and said, ‘My daughter has already started researching what her project will be for next year’s STEAM carnival,’” Peacock said.

AT A GLANCE

For more information about the Dallas-Fort Worth STEAM carnival, visit ESC11.net/ Page/8386. To learn more about the Two Bit Foundation across the country, see TwoBitCircus.org.

Broadway Dallas Puts the Art in Dallas ISD STEAM Initiatives

By Maria Lawson maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Broadway Dallas “teaching artists” took to Dallas ISD high school theater classrooms in the fall to bring STEAM curriculum to students.

The curriculum, themed after the musical Ain’t too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations, helped students learn video technology by creating music videos.

“We worked closely together to align this goal of using the partnership as a way to infuse STEM principles into theater classrooms and also to build advocacy for what theater looks like in Dallas ISD,” said Allison Bret, director of education and community partnerships at Broadway Dallas.

In conjunction with the in-class lessons, about 4,000 Dallas ISD students attended a private showing Sept. 13 of Ain’t too Proud at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Dallas ISD teachers told C.C. Harbour, Broadway Dallas’ education program manager, that students especially appreciated the musical’s relevance to social issues now and during the civil rights era.

“There was an immediate connection with, ‘I can see myself in these characters. I can see my self in these situations or I

can see my family members having to endure some of these circumstances,’” Harbour said.

One of Broadway Dallas’ strategic plan’s pillars is to use theater for education. The organization’s CEO Ken Novice said he likes to refer to it as putting the “A” above STEM because theater can touch each of the elements: science, technology, engineering, and math.

“Presenting wonderful evenings in the theater for our audience is a core part of that, but (so) is this work in education,” Novice said.

The fall 2022 curriculum was the partnership’s second rendition, which started in fall 2021 with Hamilton-related marketing and design lessons.

The partnership was sponsored by the T.D. Jakes Foundation, which is committed to building bridges to opportunity for underserved populations.

“When you are engaged in activities in the classroom, that’s just one aspect,” said Dr. Jennifer Stimpson, chief program officer at the foundation. T.D. Jakes also wants to provide “out-of-classroom activities such as partnerships with Broadway Dallas and having students see STEAM in a variety of different nontraditional ways.”

The Dallas-Fort Worth STEAM carnival has been taking place annually since 2016, with a virtual event in 2021 and virtual and in-person offerings in 2022. TWO BIT CIRCUS FOUNDATION

In addition to in-class activities, Dallas ISD theater students attended a private showing of Ain’ttooProudwith their peers at the Music Hall at Fair Park. MARIA LAWSON

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Relative’s Diagnosis Prompts Teen to Study Crohn’s Disease A university science journal publishes Alcuin junior’s research paper

By Karen Chaney Special Contributor

Medical school must wait but not Crohn’s disease research by Alcuin School junior Rohan Jagarlamudi.

The University of California, Irvine x Gifted and Talented Institute’s UCIxGATI Science Journal published the teen’s paper in its September issue.

Rohan became interested in Crohn’s disease because one of his relatives, a young adult, has it.

“I was inspired to help my relative and dig deeper into possible remedies for this,” Rohan said. “When I was writing the paper, it expanded into (a connection to) cancer and Type 2 diabetes.”

Rohan explained that his relative struggles with weight loss due to digestive system issues caused by Crohn’s disease.

“With my research, I wanted to get my own understanding of what is going on in this field, what research has been done already, and where I can make my own improvements or additions,” he said.

A year ago, Rohan enrolled in an online immunology course created by Rice University and learned more about cells, diseases, and viruses.

“It gave me my background on this subject,” he said.

Then this summer, he enrolled in an online course offered by UCIxGATI to teach students how to write research papers.

“I took all sorts of articles that already

existed and made my own connections with my own hypothesis,” he said.

His 15-page paper, the final assignment for the course, explored the potential benefits of short-chain fatty acids such as the butyrate produced when “good” gut bacteria help the digestive system break down

fiber in

The conclusion: “The most relevant metabolite discussed was butyrate due to its participation in several cell pathways and its various functions in the human immune system.”

Rohan didn’t expect his paper would get

published until he got an email from UCI expressing interest in reviewing it for the journal.

He is grateful to his parents, Choudary Jagarlamudi and Yeshodra Sagar.

“My dad gave me a lot of support through this. He was able to provide me the opportunity to write the paper and become smarter,” the teen said. “My mom is a doctor. She was one of my influences in my interest in medicine — to follow in her footsteps.”

Rohan Jagarlamudi

Rohan added that his relative with Crohn’s disease “read the paper and was impressed and proud of what I am doing. He was proud that he was the inspiration for me writing the paper.”

Although Rohan hasn’t decided on a college, his plans include pursuing a career in medicine and doing more research on Crohn’s disease.

“This paper was a review, and there wasn’t any lab work,” he said. “I can research actual data from normal and diseased patients and try to find hard evidence that I can use to back up my review. I’ve been reaching out to get that started.”

the large intestine.

I was inspired to help my relative and dig deeper into possible remedies for this.

Rohan Jagarlamudi (second from left) poses with his father, Choudary Jagarlamudi; brother, Milan Jagarlamudi; grandmother, Ratna Kumari; and mother, Yeshodra Sagar. JAGARLAMUDI FAMILY

Boone Goes to the STEAM Fair of Texas Students teamed up for challenges testing engineering, mathematics skills

By Rachel Snyder rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Boone Elementary students took a day trip to the “STEAM Fair of Texas” without leaving the campus.

For the first station, a Red River Showdown football game-themed field goal challenge, students had to design a makeshift paper football and flick it across a printed “field” with end zones and field lines.

“The kids had to figure out how do we make a shape that’s aerodynamic,” said Highland Park ISD elementary STEAM instructional

coach Ashley Jones. “They were just practicing a whole bunch of measurement (too). They had to (the keep the football) in the area of the field, not outside the perimeter.”

“The kids just had fun putting what they’re learning into practice,” Jones continued.

Another Oct. 7 activity included a foodie arch challenge which tasked students with making an arch using crackers and frosting. They learned about how arches help distribute weight and prevent bridges from collapsing.

“Rather than just doing a simple challenge of build something, they now, every time they (go over a bridge,) know why it’s

there,” Jones said.

For the third station, a bungee challenge, students pushed dolls tied to rubber bands from various heights to see how close they could get them to the ground without touching it.

At the last station, students used multiplication, addition, and subtraction skills to solve problems that occurred during the Red River rivalry game.

Finally, the children made makeshift stands next to the fields from the football field activity.

“Everybody was helping each other,” Jones said. “That was probably the coolest part of the whole lesson was all these kids not caring what team they were on. They just cared about having fun and completing the tasks the best they could.”

You are invited

Ursuline Academy creates experiences unlike any other.

Boone Elementary School pupils took measurements and made markings while figuring out which “football” shapes were the most aerodynamic and why. ASHLEY JONES/HIGHLAND PARK ISD

The kids had to figure out how do we make a shape that’s aerodynamic.

Ashley Jones