Park Cities People March 2020

BRADFIELD TRAFFIC: CAN SPRING BREAK CHANGES EASE CONGESTION? 6

MARCH 2020 VOLUME 40 NO. 3

“THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS”

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM

I 

FRENCH CONNECTIONS Before flying to Paris, get travel tips from SMU’s Elizabeth Seitz. PAGE 12

PHOTO: ELIZABETH SEITZ

POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT NO. 3210

SPORTS Special athletes live out their hoop dreams 22

CAMPS Matt’s Bats helps needy play ball 38

FAITH Twins care for Kliptown preschoolers 50

Park CitiesPeople

March 2020 Vol. 40, No. 3 parkcitiespeople.com   @pcpeople  @peoplenewspapers

2 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

HOW THE POSTAL SERVICE CAN RECOVER, REDUCE ONLINE CRIME

T

he U.S. Postal Service is the most loved federal organization with constitutional roots. In recent years, USPS has struggled immensely. The problem is mail volume. Though a few people advocate privatization, I believe that we should continue USPS as a quasi-federal organization.

Business suffered due to new entrants, such as email services. USPS has Every Door Direct Mail, but it lost ground to email marketing services. For every dollar spent on email marketing, the ROI is $40 on average.

There used to be a strong need for postal services regarding legal correspondence.

That is changing slowly with substitute services, such as DocuSign. Court services are moving online. Most companies offer email updates.

Another area is package delivery. Amazon used to be USPS’s biggest shipper, but that has changed, dealing a severe blow to USPS. In the third quarter of 2019, USPS showed a drop in package delivery volume - the first time that USPS had a decline in every delivery area.

Amazon has Amazon Prime Air with its drone patents. Walmart also has entered the drone patent race, and UPS has started drone deliveries. Such services are going to challenge the USPS’s fundamental business model.

With the increased use of technology,

online crime has skyrocketed. From 2014 to 2019, victims lost $10.2 billion. Another issue is ransomware P R AV E E N attacks, such as C H A PA R A L A WannaCry. The USPS could help fight these crimes by modernizing itself with an email service (where only verified users can email each other) and electronic money transfer services.

USPS would issue an email ID giving you the same privacy rights you have with your physical mailbox. Everything done offline would be done online. Nothing would have changed but the medium. The approach would also benefit the environment.

Mail carriers could be retrained in new areas to ensure they don’t lose their jobs.

If the USPS does not take these steps, all USPS jobs will be at risk.

USPS must start an email marketing service and drone delivery service. With its entrance into the electronic and drone delivery space, USPS would get its profitability back and, in the process, reduce online crime.

Praveen Chaparala, of Preston Hollow, works for DFW Realties and volunteers with the nonprofit Metrocrest Services by providing IT support for their Metrocrest Resource Guide website.

Contents Crime ............................ 4 News .............................. 6 Community ................. 12 Sports .......................... 20 Business ....................... 26 Real Estate .................. 34 Schools ........................ 36 Camps ......................... 38 Society ......................... 42 Living Well................... 50 Classifieds .................... 55

EDITORIAL Editor William Taylor Deputy Editor Bethany Erickson Deputy Editor Rachel Snyder Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Production Manager Melanie Thornton

Correction: Ventana By Buckner has 38 assisted living units.

February’s paper reported a lower number of units. People Newspapers regrets the error.

A DV E R T I S I N G

O P E R AT I O N S

Senior Account Executive Kim Hurmis

Distribution Manager Don Hancock

Account Executives Tana Hunter Quita Johnson

Distribution Mike Reinbolt

Client Services and Marketing Coordinator Kelly Duncan

Publisher: Patricia Martin

Interns Dalia Faheid Susie Avila Bria Graves

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

Park Cities People is published monthly

by CITY NEWSPAPERS LP, an affiliate of D Magazine Partners LP, 750 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Submissions to the editor may be sent via e-mail to editor@ peoplenewspapers.com. Correspondence must include writer’s name and contact number. Main phone number, 214-739-2244

4 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Crime S KU L D U G G E RY of the MONTH

LIAR, LIAR, YOU’RE NO FIREFIGHTER

A crook posing as a firefighter took $480 from the Juice Bar in Highland Park Village by presenting an employee with fraudulent invoices around 5:35 p.m. on Jan. 31 and claiming the store manager said the employee could pay him from the register for services to the restaurant’s fire extinguishers.

ACCIDENT PRONE: DALLAS RANKS FIFTH NATIONWIDE Can Vision Zero plan address city’s traffic safety woes?

By Bethany Erickson People Newspapers

C R A S H E S BY C I T Y

A

22,188 – Houston 21,818 – Charlotte 19,660 – Los Angeles 16,635 – Austin 14,685 – Dallas 12,846 – Raleigh 12,476 – Oklahoma City 11,313 – Baton Rouge 10,091 – Nashville 9,876 – Phoenix

new national traffic study by a public safety nonprofit has Dallas ranked fifth in the nation when it comes to traffic wrecks last year — something that is no surprise to people like Genesis Gavino.

The latest study, from Go Safe Labs, found that there were 14,685 crashes last year in Dallas — an increase of 3% year-over-year. The group compiled the data from a review of more than 1.8 million accident reports from 2018 to 2019.

Dallas’ interim deputy resilience officer Gavino is tasked with helping the city take a hard look at its bad traffic planning habits, in hopes that it can reduce accidents, injuries, and deaths.

“It is true; we are fifth when it comes to traffic fatalities,” Gavino said.

Go Safe Labs found that traffic accidents across the country increased by 6.8% last year, with 953,630 accidents.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas had

72 traffic fatalities in 2018 (the last complete number available), 86 in 2016, and 73 in 2017.

But Gavino said there are mitigating factors.

“The numbers are increasing.

However, one needs to take into account the increase in the number of new residents to the area as well as the increased vehicles miles traveled (VMT),” she said.

“This is why we are working on the Connect Dallas plan to look at strategies to decrease the VMT and increase the mode split (the number of people taking public

transportation, walking, biking, etc. versus driving a single-occupancy vehicle).”

The city has a couple of plans designed to address that, including the Connect Dallas plan, which will work to develop a transportation system that considers virtually every way one could use to get around the city — biking, walking, public transit, cars, and more.

The second, Vision Zero, is more granular and looks directly at how planning city streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, transit, and other

CRIME REPORT JAN. 13 – FEB. 8 JAN. 13

between 6 p.m. Jan. 19 and 9:39 a.m. Jan. 20.

Before 12:25 p.m., a thief took a woman’s wallet from her purse while she ate at Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village. Shortly after, she got an alert that someone tried to use her credit card at Target.

A belligerent visitor at Whole Foods in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive made derogatory comments at two shoppers and hit one with fruit at 5:56 p.m.

JAN. 15

JAN. 23

WANT TO READ MORE CRIMES? SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

A man reported at 11:20 a.m. that a burglar got into his unlocked 2015 Lexus, which was parked in the 3100 block of St. Johns Drive, and took three shirts worth $200 from the back seat.

peoplenewspapers.com/ e-newsletters/

JAN. 20

peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/

Source: Go Safe Labs

modes of travel can either help or hinder the goal of reducing traffic accidents.

The idea is that human error is inevitable, but better design can plan for that error, and therefore reduce accidents.

The city announced last year that it would work toward a Vision Zero plan that it hopes to unveil in December 2021, to reduce traffic fatalities and halve severe injuries by 2030.

The Texas Transportation Commission gave a similar statewide goal to TxDOT last May, asking the agency to cut traffic deaths in half by 2035 and end them by 2050.

The Vision Zero strategy has been adopted by 40 U.S. cities, including Austin and San Antonio.

The city hopes that neighborhoods and other community members will weigh in as it begins crafting the plan.

“As we develop our Vision Zero plan, I’d love for neighborhood organizations and all community stakeholders to actively participate to help us develop solutions,” Gavino said.

What happens when you leave your key fob in your vehicle? A man in the 3500 block of Greenbrier Drive can answer that after a thief drove away in his Acura RDX

A burglar got into a Cadillac Escalade parked in the 3200 block of Caruth Boulevard at 2:45 a.m. and took firearms.

JAN. 24

Don’t leave your cars unlocked: A burglar got into a Land Rover parked in the 3900 block of Wentwood Drive between 9:30 Jan. 23 and 6 a.m. and took firearms.

JAN. 26

A robber took a cell phone from

a man’s hand while the man was pumping gas in the 8400 block of Preston Road at 2:33 p.m. and fled the area in a white, four-door sedan.

JAN. 28

Officers responded around 12:36 p.m. to an abandoned Honda Civic in the 4700 block of Abbott Avenue. The car was impounded after it hadn’t moved for two days.

FEB. 1

10 $200 Ebay gift cards. The incident was reported at 6:02 p.m.

FEB. 5

Reported at 9 a.m.: A burglar got into a home in the 3400 block of Marquette Street while the homeowner was asleep and took a TV, a computer monitor, a computer mouse, a passport, and more.

FEB. 6

A thief took a revolver from the 3800 block of Mcfarlin Boulevard around 5:45 p.m.

A thief got into a Jaguar in the 3100 block of St. Johns Drive and took jackets. The incident was reported at 10:43 a.m.

FEB. 4

FEB. 8

A crook sent a fictitious email asking for Ebay gift cards from a woman in the 4800 block of Abbott Avenue. The sender used the name of her boss, so she bought two $200 Amazon gift cards and

A burglar got into an unlocked Lexus RX5 in the 5300 block of Byron Avenue and took a Dell laptop, Galaxy AirPods, a driver’s license and $100 in cash. The incident was reported at 9:51 a.m.

6 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

News

BRADFIELD SCHOOL REOPENING MADE A TRAFFIC MESS

Town responds with parking, right-turn restrictions, one-way zone

By William Taylor People Newspapers

B

radfield Elementary parents, spring break could bring some lasting relief from the traffic turmoil faced while dropping off and picking up your children.

Highland Park town officials plan to use the March 16 to 20 break from classes to paint curbs and install the signs needed to expand no parking zones, prohibit some right turns, and make more of Southern Avenue one-way.

They expect the changes to improve safety for students and ease frustration for motorists when school resumes on March 23.

One of the things you’ve got to do is move the traffic away. We are moving this both north and west.

Lori Chapin “We feel confident this is going to make a huge difference,” said Lori Chapin, director of engineering.

After 13 months of demolition and reconstruction, the school reopened in the fall on its 93-year-old campus at 4300 Southern Avenue. The rebuild modernized the school and re-

(PHOTO: KIMLEY-HORN)

configured the campus, locating its buildings closer to Armstrong Parkway than before.

The reconfiguration also changed vehicle and pedestrian traffic, causing morning and after-

noon congestion at the intersection of Armstrong and Southern, Chapin told council members.

“It’s been such a mess over there,” Mayor Margo Goodwin said.

To address the situation, town staff worked with consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. and secured support from school leaders, including the president of the PTA.

“If they are not on board, nobody’s on board,” Goodwin said.

Because of the competition with pedestrians using the crosswalks, traffic backs up on Southern when west-bound motorists try to turn right on Armstrong and on Armstrong when northbound motorists want to turn right at Mockingbird Lane.

For that reason, the plan is to prohibit right turns at those locations between 7 and 9 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Southern Avenue, heading west, is already one-way adjacent to the school, and town leaders want to extend that west through the 4400 block to Lomo Alto Drive, from 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. school days.

Mayor Pro Tem John McKnight observed, “It looks like we are just pushing the problem down to Southern and Alto Loma.”

Chapin explained that spreading out traffic is the goal.

“One of the things you’ve got to do is move the traffic away,” she said. “We are moving this both north and west.”

Parking within 20-feet of intersections is already prohibited.

The town plans to make that more clear while also adding temporary zones on Armstrong and Southern near the school prohibiting parking between 7 and 9 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m.

“I think the no parking zones might look a little restrictive, but it’s to keep the students safe,” Goodwin said. “I assume the police department will be extra vigilant.”

DIVORCE ...Feeling Alone?

You’re not.

David Hoffmann Knowledge and Compassion on your side • Board Certified Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization • Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers • Rising Star 2014 - 2016 • Super Lawyer 2016 – 2019 • AVVO Rating 10.0

For a consultation 214-871-2100 DALLAS 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 1800 Dallas, Texas 75201

FAMILY LAW

PLANO 6900 N. Dallas Pkway, Suite 800 Plano, Texas 75024

www.QSLWM.com

10 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

STEM To Play Key Role In the Future of Texas

George W. Bush Institute executive director Holly Kuzmich moderates a panel discussion about the future of Texas. (PHOTO: THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER)

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

Texas has plenty of opportunity for growth and innovation in health care, but many challenges, as well, as the state nears its 200th birthday in 2036.

One of the challenges University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center president Peter Pisters identified may come as a surprise to residents in and near the Park Cities — getting children vaccinated for HPV (human papillomavirus).

“The reality today is that 30-50% of cancers could be prevented if we could just deploy what we know works, and in Texas, that means, for example, HPV human papillomavirus vaccination,” Pisters said. “The lowest vaccination rates are in the areas of the state with the highest health literacy — in the Highland Park suburb of Dallas.”

By contrast, the highest vaccination rates are in places like the Rio Grande Valley, he said. “We go into the Rio Grande Valley and approach mothers with a vaccine, and they learn… this vaccine prevents against six different types of cancer. Their reaction is, ‘Bring it on. I want my child vaccinated.’”

Pisters was among the panelists at the George W. Bush Presidential Center for a recent discussion on the future of Texas.

Another panelist, Lyda Hill Philanthropies CEO Nicole Small, said her organization is working with MD Anderson and the American Cancer Society.

“If we want our kids to grow up and be healthy and be productive workers, we do need to teach them about prevention,” Small said.

Another theme that emerged from the discussion is the significant role STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education will play in the workforce of the future.

“We need to get kids excited about, enthusiastic, and inspired to pursue careers in STEM,” Small said. “We’ve got to give them visibility into what those careers actually are, so we try to invest across that pipeline from when they’re really young all the way through university.”

She said North Texas has lagged behind Houston and Austin in building a biotechnology sector.

“We’re not doing as good a job building, I

think, a business around medicine here, and so there’s a lot of really exciting opportunity to build a more robust biotech sector,” Small said.

Pisters called for a “massive federal investment in STEM.” “We have a foreign dependency right now for these STEM fields, which is a risk, and it’s also an opportunity,” he said. “We need our kids to really dive in and to be supportive of STEM programs for the future.”

The panel also touched on the future of energy in the state.

Center for Houston’s Future CEO Brett Perlman said he hopes Houston, known for its role in the oil and gas industry, becomes a hub for low-carbon energy also.

“We have the skills, the manpower, the resources, really, to lead in this revolution of creating this next generation of energy,” Perlman said.

Perlman also said Texas is drawing new people from all over the world, and it’s important for Texas’ growth to treat immigrants as a resource and source of strength.

“A lot of those people are coming here for the opportunities to create new drugs, to be part of the medical center we have, and so, really, what we need to do is treat that as a resource, not as a problem,” Perlman said. “If we think about that in a different way, that immigrants are our strength, I think that will be a secret weapon.”

BY THE NUMBERS • 10 million in population growth anticipated in less than 20 years • 8 million new jobs needed by 2036 • 77% of jobs will soon require a college degree or certificate • 28% of Texas eighth-graders complete a postsecondary degree or certificate within six years of high school graduation.

• 6.9% average annual increase in health care expenditures as Texas continues to rank among the bottom half of states in key measures, such as diabetes, cardiovascular deaths, child immunizations, and maternal mortality.

Source: Texas 2036

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 11

Highland Park Town Council Plans to Meet Less Often

9207 Sunnybrook Lane Preston Hollow | Coming Soon

FROM LEFT: During a study session last year, Highland Park Town Council members Jimmy Grisham, John McKnight, and Craig Penfold discuss options for Fairfax Park. (PHOTO: WILLIAM TAYLOR)

By William Taylor People Newspapers

Can Highland Park leaders get as much done while meeting only about half as often?

The Town Council aims to try.

At the urging of Mayor Margo Goodwin, council members have scrapped a schedule that had them meeting in regular session the second and fourth Mondays of the month with study session meetings on the preceding Tuesdays.

That schedule produced about 44 meeting dates a year.

“I count your time as more valuable than that,” Goodwin told her council colleagues.

Instead, the council will meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month, first in regular session to take action on agenda items and then followed those same mornings by a study session to receive reports and discuss future business. Meetings will begin at 8 a.m.

Regular sessions tend to

last mere minutes except when a hot topic draws a crowd and many residents wanting to offer public comments. Study sessions often last an hour or more.

What if the council needs to meet more than 20 times a year?

“You can always call another study session,” council member Eric Gambrell said.

In 2018, the council scheduled a Saturday session to tour Hackberry Creek in anticipation of considering a masterplan for the greenbelt area.

The former schedule included one 4 p.m. meeting a month. With that no longer the case, Boy Scouts could find it harder to attend meetings when seeking to satisfy merit badge requirements.

Scouts could still come during breaks from school, town secretary Gayle Kirby noted.

Goodwin identified another benefit of fewer meeting dates. She said it should make it “easier to recruit new council members.”

3504 Mockingbird Lane Highland Park | $2,900,000

I count your time as more valuable than that.

Mayor Margo Goodwin

May Election Cycle Likely Brings No Contested Park Cities Races

By Rachel Snyder

an attorney. Incumbent Margo Goodwin, 74, is the lone person to file for mayor.

The May election cycle likely won’t produce contested races for Park Cities school and municipal races.

The Feb. 14 deadline to get on the May 2 ballot passed with only one candidate running for each available seat.

Still, University Park will get a new mayor and council member while Highland Park will get two new council members.

The write-in deadline was Feb. 18, a day after the newspaper went to press. Check out peoplenewspapers.com for updates.

University Park Tommy Stewart, 78, the lone person seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Olin Lane Jr., works as a developer and general contractor.

Mark Aldredge, 67, CEO of L.H. Lacy, also would be a new face on the council.

Incumbents who filed include Randy Biddle, 66, an attorney; Liz Farley, 50, a registered nurse; and Gage Prichard, 83, a consultant.

People Newspapers

Highland Park The Town Council will change with John McKnight and Eric Gambrell not returning.

Newcomers Lydia Novakov, 70, a community volunteer, and Marc Myers, 73, who works in real estate, filed for seats along with incumbents David Dowler, 72, a portfolio manager; Jimmy Grisham, 62, a real estate professional; and Craig Penfold, 77,

HPSID Incumbents Stacy Kelly and Tom Sharpe are running again for Places 6 and 7 on the Highland Park ISD board of trustees.

Kelly, 55, was first elected to the board in 2017. She works as an independent healthcare contractor and an adjunct professor for the SMU Cox Business Leadership Center.

Sharpe, 45, was also first elected to the board in 2017. He’s vice president of Compatriot Capital Inc., a real estate investment and operating company.

7 Saint Laurent Place Caruth Homeplace | $1,650,000

THE DALLAS REAL ESTATE EXPERT

214.520.8300

ERINHOME.COM

ERIN@ERINHOME.COM

12 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community PARIS BOUND? ELIZABETH SEITZ HAS A WORKSHOP FOR YOU France for Travelers, taught at SMU, selected for March festival

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

F

rancophile Elizabeth Seitz loves sharing her knowledge and passion for the French culture with Dallas travelers.

Her France for Travelers workshop at SMU allows students to brush up on their French, learn French customs, and get transportation tips before their trips. Next, it will be among the signature events of the French Cultures Festival encompassing Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The festival is a celebration of French culture coordinated by the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston from March 1 to 31. The French language has been celebrated on March 20, which marks the start of the Intergovernmental Organization of French-speaking nations, since 1970.

France seems to be where it’s at when it comes to history, cuisine.

You couldn’t do (everything there is to do) in France in a lifetime.

Elizabeth Seitz

Elizabeth Seitz visits the Place de la Concorde in Paris. She is seen enjoying all things France, including the French countryside. (PHOTOS: ERIC SANDER AND ELIZABETH SEITZ) But Dallas tourists don’t need to go to Houston to prepare for the spring and summer travel season. Seitz’s workshop is available from 7-9 p.m. March 2-4 at SMU, where she’s taught for about 13 years.

Seitz started her firm French Affaires around 2008, but her

interest in the culture began much earlier. She started learning the language as a teenager and student in the Park Cities and first traveled to the country at 18.

“I found the language and the culture are so rich, and there’s so much history,” she said. “I love being an American, but France was

worth a second look.”

Seitz said when she first went to Paris, the pyramids in front of the Louvre museum weren’t built yet, the Musée d’Orsay was a defunct train station, and there were “no McDonalds.”

She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees

in French from Vanderbilt University, which is where she first started teaching the language in 1989. She also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and with Vanderbilt-in-France in Aix-en-Provence in the southern part of France.

She received a French government grant for training of French professors at the Centre of Applied Linguistics in Besançon, France, regarded as the world’s premier institution for teaching French as a foreign language and French linguistics.

After her stint as a French professor, Seitz said she felt compelled to share the knowledge and passion for the culture and l’art de vivre (the art of living) she’d gained during her travels. That led her to start French Affaires to offer language courses, culture lectures, personalized trip design, and insider travel experiences.

“France seems to be where it’s at when it comes to history, cuisine,” Seitz said. “You couldn’t do (everything there is to do) in France in a lifetime.”

She said the castles and gardens of France are a particular must-see.

Seitz said locals might also not know that France is the most-visited country in the world and is about the size of Texas.

She and her husband divide their time between the U.S. and France with their dog, Marcel.

Dallas Sonnier Never Outgrew Love of Film

Recent Stodghill Award winner has big goals for genre movies

By Rachel Snyder

movies including the western Bone Tomahawk, which premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, as well as a series of action movies.

People Newspapers

Dallas Sonnier has fond childhood memories of his father, who was a cinephile and doctor, taking him to see such movies as Predator 2 and Pulp Fiction.

“I was a movie fan from day one,” he said.

“I (soon) started to try to figure out (the business side of cinema).”

The Highland Park native’s lifelong love of movies led him to found Cinestate entertainment studio. He recently received the Stodghill Award from Dallas Film for longterm philanthropic efforts on behalf of the craft.

Sonnier also recalled students in his high school class pinning the locations of where they were going to college on a map and his being the only one on the West Coast.

He started classes at the University of Southern California while still a student at Highland Park High School. He was the first student to graduate with a major in the business of cinema through a joint venture between USC’s film and business schools. The

I was a movie fan from day one.

Dallas Sonnier

Dallas Sonnier on the Bone Tomahawk set and at Dallas Film’s Spotlight Luncheon. (PHOTOS: CINESTATE AND DALLAS FILM) program focuses on the production and representation areas of the entertainment industry and continues today as the Business Of Cinematic Arts program.

Upon graduating from USC, Dallas started work with United Talent Agency.

“I would read all the scripts that came in,” he said. “I met a lot of agents.”

He moved on to represent actors, writers, and directors at The Schiff Company before co-founding Caliber Media with longtime friend Jack Heller. They produced

Dallas returned to his home state in 2015 after more than a decade in Hollywood and founded Cinestate in 2016. Since then, the entertainment company acquired horror film fan publication Fangoria, produced four movies under the Cinestate label, and four under the Fangoria Presents label. Cinestate also has a podcast network and six published novels.

“I built a company here in Dallas to give credit where credit is due,” Sonnier said. Cinestate produces “creatively unfiltered genre movies that don’t pander (or) apologize and don’t create a disingenuous safe space for the audience.”

He said he hopes to grow Cinestate into a full-fledged movie studio that finances, markets, and distributes movies.

March 2020 13

Thinking Big For Texas

Texas is big sky country, and its people are the landscape.

Texans are warm, welcoming, can-do folk.

Nowhere is this more evident than the extremely accomplished DallaLEN BOURLAND site Tom Luce.

He’s not looking at his legacy but trying to ensure future Texans have his same opportunities. His vision: Texas 2036.

What is it?

What it’s not is a political organization, a fundraising organization, or a lobbying group.

Instead, mega leaders from around the state have formed a coalition to make sure that Texas focuses on the problems that lie ahead by its 200th birthday (2036).

Its diverse board, including Ron Kirk and the Hunts, wants people to poke about the website Texas2036.org and get informed and give feedback.

The organization is accumulating data by experts and analysts in six areas to determine where Texas is today and where it’s headed.

Amazingly, in the information age, nobody has done this.

The six policy areas are education and the workforce, natural resources, infrastructure, justice and safety, and drumroll, government performance.

You don’t have to wait for an election or join a PAC to have a voice. Once you join (for free), you can opt in to emails or texts on the data that interests you, and when the time comes to support a legislative initiative in Austin, join in.

So far, there are 13,000 followers on social media.

The catchphrase “strategic data” can make the eyes glaze over. Still, Texas has a certain amount of tax money to be allocated to various problems, so helping to determine where to get the biggest bang for the buck to accommodate the 10 million people expected to be added to the population by 2036 is huge.

Some ideas, such as getting broadband to the least populated areas so those residents can stay educated for the jobs ahead, is just common sense, but it needs to be effective.

Data shows only 30% of school children are reading at grade level.

That’s unacceptable.

Remember that Zager and Evans’ song from the 1960s, “In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive…”

Well, in the year 2036, we don’t want a quick fix.

With data-driven planning, we can prepare our children for a good life. It’s the Texas way.

Reach columnist Len Bourland at lenbourland@gmail.com.

THE LEGEND IS GROWING Meet the experts in luxury real estate & developer services.

FOR SALE

Emerald Hill Farm 1035 N Wood Lane, Longview 6 BR | 7.1 BA | 13,227 SqFt

FOR SALE

6404 Drawbridge Lane 4 BR | 4.1 BA | 5,284 SqFt Listed At $2,149,000

FOR SALE

3505 Turtle Creek Blvd #18C 4 BR | 4.2 BA | 6,638 SqFt Listed At $5,490,000

Listed At $2,750,000

FOR SALE /LE ASE 2555 N Pearl Street #RR4 3 BR | 4.1 BA | 6,079 SqFt

Listed At $6,700,000 For Lease: $45,000/month

FOR SALE

3401 Lee Parkway #901 2 BR | 2 BA | 1,431 SqFt Listed At $599,900

FOR SALE

1999 McKinney Avenue #2006 2 BR | 2 BA | 2,407 SqFt Listed At $1,150,000

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

14 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Lawyer Hopes To Serve As Example For Girls

Brown aims to give back to community, show what’s possible for women

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

Shonn Brown, 46, started her career as an associate in the Locke Lord law firm and worked her way up to partner.

Brown practiced at Locke Lord for 14 years, then two different litigation boutiques, before transitioning her practice in the last year to serve as an in-house lawyer for Kimberly-Clark. There, she’s responsible for global litigation and public policy issues facing the multinational personal care corporation.

“I was drawn to the company because (Kimberly-Clark) is focused on making strong progress in advancing women in management roles and has targeted programs to recruit, retain, and advance women in leadership,” she said. “I hope to be an example for other Shonn Brown girls growing up in our community, particularly girls of color, to demonstrate what is possible.”

In addition to her day job, Brown serves as a board chairwoman for the Texas Women’s Foundation.

“It is important for me to give back to the community in ways that were poured into me. Additionally, it is very important for me to be involved with the Texas Women’s Foundation because we are both strategic and intentional about the ways in which we engage with the community and the manner in which we impact girls and women,” she said.

She’s lived in the Preston Hollow area since 2001.

What’s your connection to the Preston Hollow neighborhood?

Our family loves the area because it is close to (our) schools. We love the trees

and the close proximity to all of our close friends. We love the neighborhood restaurants, especially the non-chain restaurants like Princi Italia, TJ’s Seafood Market, and we miss the Family Pizza at Preston Royal.

What do you feel is your biggest success?

I hope that my biggest success is yet to come as I think success is a journey and not a destination. To date, if I can say that I was able to launch three adults (now teens) into this world as mindful, caring individuals who want to make a difference, then I will have done a good job.

Biggest inspirations in your professional or personal life?

In my personal life, my grandmother. She was hard working and had so many obstacles, yet she persevered. In my professional life, I have many: women lawyers who not only lead their organizations but also invest in our community with their time and financially. A few who come to mind: Jerry Clements, Julia Simon, and Harriet Miers.

What’s a fun fact about you?

I wanted to be a lawyer or a dancer when I was growing up. I would practice dance routines at home in my room.

There were two things standing in the way of either of those professions requiring extreme attention to either what I was saying or how I was moving — I was extremely shy. So, when I went to college, I was determined to force myself out of my shell and immersed myself into various leadership positions at SMU. For an extended interview with Brown, visit peoplenewspapers.com.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 15

Highland Park Could Replace Big Pecan with Much Smaller Tree Town leaders consider landscaping options for Armstrong Parkway at Preston

By William Taylor

Other concerns: • The potential for old roots, even with stump and root structure removal, rotting and creating air pockets that could damage a new tree’s roots.

• The proximity of the old tree’s location to the “nose” of the esplanade.

“I wouldn’t have planted it there for cars to run into,” Goodwin said.

The town’s Capital Improvements Plan includes $250,000 for landscaping Armstrong Parkway from Preston Road to Douglas Ave. Some of that could go for plantings in the empty esplanade.

People Newspapers

Mayor Margo Goodwin looked at the empty esplanade where Highland Park’s historic monarch pecan stood and envisioned old fashion azaleas – lots of low plants to replace the missing tall one.

“We are known for our gardens,” she said. “I’d really see a massive bed.”

Other town council members would prefer to see a replacement tree planted at that key entry point to the town along Armstrong Parkway near Preston Road.

“There’s always been a tree there, and we need to put a tree there,” council member Eric Gambrell said.

But, he added, it doesn’t need to be massive like the one that stood there for 150-plus years, once topping 75-feet by 75-feet.

A smaller tree with the potential to reach impressive size could work well, perhaps surrounded by the mayor’s desired azaleas, Gambrell suggested. “It’s going to be beautiful now and will be beautiful 50 years from now.”

The town removed the one known as The Big Pecan in October after years of discussion and unsuccessful attempts to reverse a decline that had shrunk its canopy and made it a danger to those nearby.

“I think the time was well spent on getting the community to understand,”

What should go here?

Take our online poll at peoplenewspapers.com.

The site where the Big Pecan stood has become a lawn for now. (PHOTO: WILLIAM TAYLOR) Goodwin said.

The town also delayed a decision about what to do with the now-vacant space so residents could get accustomed to the tree’s absence and experience the annual Christmas lighting celebration centered on an alternate tree.

A nearby pecan, dubbed the Landmark Tree, was grafted from the famous monarch and planted in 1951. It served for the 2019 lighting celebration, which drew

about 500 people.

Protecting that tree is one of the reasons consultants gave in recommending against transplanting another huge tree where the Big Pecan stood.

Landscape architect John Armstrong and Preservation Tree Services arborists didn’t want to see another “mature tree competing with the Landmark Tree for sunlight,” assistant director of town services Kirk Smith reported to the council.

There’s always been a tree there, and we need to put a tree there.

Eric Gambrell The mayor and council members agreed to ask Armstrong and the arborist what they think of planting a smaller tree.

Council member David Dowler suggested the town might consider a more lovely variety than a pecan.

But Goodwin noted the town’s historical connection to the pecan. Civil war veteran Joseph Cole saved the sapling that grew to become a symbol of the town’s resilience.

“There’s something majestic about a huge pecan tree,” she said. “They are very Texas.”

16 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

‘The Reason Why We’re Here’

Big Thought makes case for importance of imagination

By Bethany Erickson People Newspapers

When the organization you lead is called Big Thought, you’re keenly aware of the implications — people expect big ideas, big goals, and big, well, thoughts.

But big thoughts about what?

“The reason why we’re here is because we believe in creating a world where all youth in marginalized communities are equipped to imagine and create their best lives and worlds, and that requires us to shift systems and, quite frankly, shift power,” Big Thought executive director Byron Sanders said.

In short, through the power of art, social and emotional learning, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) applications, Big Thought aims to give children the tools to succeed.

“Youths need to be elevated as co-designers of that world,” he said. “And that happens if we equip them to be creators — and creators are people who have been able to build their creative muscles, who have been able to build social and emotional well-being based on their own personal health, and also their emotional intelligence.

“So we work on three things — building the creative muscle, building social and emotional well-being, and helping them recognize the power of their own voice.”

The organization utilizes in-

LEFT: Big Thought executive director Byron Sanders interacts with students. RIGHT: students get hands-on experience in STEAM subjects. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

school, out-of-school, and community partnership programs, with the idea that making imagination part of everyday learning can help achieve that.

By making sure students get high-quality learning experiences (often offered at low-cost or free) that promote creativity as well as social and emotional learning, Big Thought starts this three-pronged approach early.

And its Creative Solutions program, which uses performing and visual arts to re-ignite the imaginations of juvenile offenders also helping them develop skills that will assist them in being career and

college ready, has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the state.

We believe in creating a world where all youth in marginalized communities are equipped to imagine and create their best lives and worlds.

Byron Sanders

The latter, Sanders said, is one of the most successful and longest-running programs the organization offers, with an average recidivism rate of 9 percent.

“This last year’s data that we’ve got back shows that that summer’s recidivism rate was only 4 percent,” he said. “Our 10-year average is now 9 percent. The typical good program will get you anywhere between 30 and 40 percent recidivism rate. That’s a good program.”

But the organization isn’t just content to rest on its already successful programs. The organization announced in February that

it is launching Big Thought Institute, a new division aimed at providing professional development, assistance with curriculum design, technical assistance, and other help to various organizations.

Led by senior director Greg Macpherson, the institute will base its consultation services on its own best practices, honed from years of experience to implement programs based on social and emotional learning, experiential learning, and partnerships with the community.

MORE ONLINE Read more of our discussion with Byron Sanders at peoplenewspapers.com.

18 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Noteworthy Neighbors KNITTING ‘ALL THE RAGE’ AGAIN FOR EDGEMERE NEIGHBORS Women’s group gathers weekly to share, laugh, and turn yarn into gifts of love

and stuffing.

With a closetful of yarn donated from nationwide supporters, they intend to pay forward the surplus to the Colorado Women’s Weaver Guild.

Mead said the Knit Wits serve as a support group in many ways, mentioning an Edgemere resident who had long been confined to her apartment but was now able to learn knitting with her neighbors.

It brings you a lot of peace to be able to be knitting on something, knowing it’s gonna be helpful to somebody.

Pat Londeree

Editor’s note: Rex’s Seafood & Market is sponsoring this monthly feature.

By Dalia Faheid

People Newspapers

C

onnie Power paused her knitting one Friday afternoon to hold up her hand and observe, “I don’t have any feeling in these fingers.”

“Braver man than I, you just keep rolling along,” friend Joy Ellis responded with a word of encouragement.

For a decade, the Knit Wits have kept rolling along, encouraging one another and turning yarn into gifts to help others.

Co-founder Pat Londeree describes knitting for a cause as an “addiction.” Before completing one project, the Knit Wits are already plotting for the next.

“It brings you a lot of peace to be able to be knitting on something, knowing it’s gonna be helpful to somebody,” she said.

In 2010, Londeree and Marianne Mead decided to support U.S. troops the best way they knew how. They brought together 20 residents of the Edgemere retirement community to knit helmet liners and scarves for Operation Helmet Liner.

Next, the women knitted sweaters for orphans worldwide.

Prioritizing local projects thereafter, they knitted caps and blankets for premature newborns at Parkland Hospital, chemo caps for cancer patients at Presbyterian Hospital, scarves and hats for the homeless served by

SITTING, FROM LEFT: Connie Power and Jane Cherry. STANDING: Nancy Reiter, Doris Katten, Charlotte Test, Rosemary Feorene, Charlotte Radke, Casey Eckles, Marianne Mead, Jean Crow, Dee Tapler, and Joy Ellis. NOT PICTURED: Pat Londeree, Marianne Aitken, and Ann Shaw. (COURTESY PHOTOS) The Stewpot, baby caps for the infant formula program at Fort Worth Methodist Church, and robes and fidget sleeves for Edgemere neighbors in need.

For Christmas Bazaars benefiting the Genesis Women’s Shelter, the group takes

about two years to build up inventory. In 2019, the Knit Wits surpassed all past sales of their handmade items, totaling $7,264.

Recently, the group crafted teddy bears for young patients at Scottish Rite Hospital, dividing efforts to complete the bodies, faces,

When they’re together, there’s “lots of talking, lots of drop stitches” while enjoying tea and cookies and knitting, sewing, crocheting, needle pointing, tatting, or quilting. Because many suffer from arthritis, they often take breaks.

At a recent meeting, Nancy Reiter was making blue cap pom-poms, Power was knitting a pastel blanket for her new great-grandson, and Ellis was creating a lamb doll, using an inspiration photo.

“It gives people who might otherwise stay in their apartments and be lonely a reason to get out and be sociable,” Londeree said.

Members often work on projects individually, describing the hobby as a relaxing and therapeutic way to unwind.

Londeree grew up knitting around her mother and grandmother. “I must have learned when I was born,” she said. “I can’t ever remember not knowing how to knit.”

Mead began in high school when it was “all the rage.”

“It’s a wonderful bond because we help each other solve problems,” Londeree said.

“We are good listeners for our friends’ problems and aches and pains.”

20 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

BATTERS UP: SCOTS HOPE EXPERIENCE GENERATES OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER

Sterling Sutcliffe (4) and Patrick Turner (19) should be two of the best players this season.

(PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

In the recipe for Highland Park’s recent success, slugging and prolific scoring haven’t been among the primary ingredients.

That could change this season when the Scots have the talent and experience at the plate to be among the best hitting HP squads in recent memory.

“Offensively, I think it’s going to be a good year,” said HP head coach Travis Yoder. “We have a lot of good kids who are

willing to work hard.”

As they aim for their second consecutive District 11-5A title this spring, the Scots return most of their top hitters in the lineup — providing reason for optimism even if their pitching staff needs some time to catch up.

After being swept by Lovejoy in the second round of the Region II playoffs last spring, HP hopes to make a deeper postseason run in 2020.

The outfield of Patrick Turner, Seth

Powell, and Jack Curtis should be strong.

And the infield is anchored by Case Savage at second base and Jackson Hall at third. At shortstop, Sterling Sutcliffe and James Henry will split time. Ditto for Drew Johnson and Adams Holman at first.

Standout catcher Corbin Montayne is sidelined while recovering from a knee injury. He could return later this season as a hitter, but likely won’t catch, opening up an opportunity for Hudson Hefner, Harris Gould, or Josh Bowers to claim a starting spot.

Many of those same names will be among the pitchers vying for innings on the mound during a rugged nondistrict schedule. The Scots will face some of the area’s top teams at tournaments in McKinney and Prosper, as well as during the annual Scotland Yard Classic.

Sutcliffe and lefthander Hayden Clyce could become the primary starters by the time district play opens on March 17 against Carrollton Newman Smith. However, Yoder also expects that Johnson, Curtis, Henry, Holman, and others could be a factor.

The coach knows those arms will be “battle-tested” by early-season matchups with Class 6A powers such as Coppell, Prosper, McKinney Boyd, Georgetown, and more — with the goal of getting HP in peak form come May. “We’ve got a good mix of pitchers who are going to compete for playing time,” Yoder said. “It’s wide open right now.”

Offensively, I think it’s going to be a good year.

Travis Yoder

2020 SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 27 at McKinney Boyd Noon 3 p.m.

27 Coppell** 28 at Prosper 12:30 p.m.

28 Cedar Park Vista Ridge% 3:30 p.m.

29 Frisco Wakeland% 10:30 a.m.

MARCH 5 Fayetteville (Ark.)^ 4 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

5 Byron Nelson^ 6 Denison** 4 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6 at McKinney 7 Sachse** 10 a.m.

11 a.m.

12 Keller 12 Round Rock 4 p.m.

11 a.m.

13 Georgetown 13 Flower Mound 6:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

14 Denton Guyer 17 Newman Smith* 7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

20 at Conrad* 24 Bryan Adams* 7:30 p.m.

27 at Carr. Creekview* 7:30 p.m.

28 at Prosper 11 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

31 Carr. R.L. Turner* APRIL 7:30 p.m.

3 Thomas Jefferson* 4 at Flower Mound Marcus 11 a.m.

7 at Woodrow Wilson* 7:30 p.m.

9 at Newman Smith* 7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

14 Conrad* 17 at Bryan Adams* 4:30 p.m.

21 Carr. Creekview* 7:30 p.m.

24 at Carr. R.L. Turner* 7:30 p.m.

28 at Thomas Jefferson* 4 p.m.

MAY 7:30 p.m.

1 Woodrow Wilson* 11 a.m.

2 at McKinney Boyd * — District 11-5A game ** — at McKinney ^ — at Allen % — at Prosper

Kick Start: New Energy Brings Renewed Hope for Scots Coach Richie guides senior-laden squad

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

S

alvador Richie admits he inherited a good situation when he took over the Highland Park boys soccer program.

Although the Scots had struggled in backto-back seasons, they entered this year with plenty of talent and experience on the roster.

However, those players also credit Richie’s impact with helping to fuel optimism about a return to postseason play.

“Everybody is buying in,” said HP senior Jack Hamilton. “It’s fun, attacking soccer, and everybody is getting a chance to score. It’s more exciting.”

HP turned some heads in January when it was unbeaten at both the season-opening HP Scot Classic tournament and the Governor’s Cup in Georgetown.

In the latter event, which annually attracts top teams from across the state, the Scots hadn’t gone 3-0 in about a decade.

“It was reassuring for the boys, but also for

me,” said Richie, who was a longtime assistant at Southlake Carroll before relocating to HP. “After the first two tournaments, we had already made significant strides.”

A year ago, the Scots scored 23 goals in 22 games and were shut out eight times. This season, they managed 25 goals in the first 13 games, with no shutouts against them.

“There’s a new sense of accountability for everyone,” said senior midfielder Ben Hayden.

“It feels like there’s a new reputation to uphold.”

Hayden said the senior-laden team has more chemistry and structure than in past seasons, and the leadership has been more assertive.

That comes with the encouragement of Richie, who wants to give his players a sense of ownership in the program. For example, he allowed the seniors to help design their uniforms before the season.

“They’re a very mature group,” Richie said.

“With so much experience, they had a voice.”

There’s a sense of pride, too, for a squad that

Boys soccer coach Salvador Richie came to Highland Park this season after serving as an assistant coach at Southlake Carroll for more than a decade. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) won only three district games last season while their female counterparts earned a Class 5A state title.

“It’s a mission to prove everybody wrong,” Hayden said. “There’s a chip on everyone’s shoulder.”

The Scots are looking for their first play-

off berth since 2017 when the current seniors were freshmen. But they also want to establish a foundation for sustained success in the future.

“We have an opportunity to set a precedent for people who come after us, for years and years to come,” said senior forward Jorge Rodriguez. “The goal is to begin making a legacy.”

22 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Crowds Cheer as Special Athletes Live Out Their Hoop Dreams

Members of the Pep Squad P H O T O S : C H R I S M C G AT H E Y

Emily Morrow

Ellen Campbell

Miles Gill

Costumed comic book heroes greeted the basketball teams entering the main gym at Highland Park High School, but it was the players and volunteers who were super.

The second annual Highland Park ISD Special Olympics Basketball Tournament drew hundreds of players from around the area.

More than 300 volunteers come together to make the tournament happen, HPISD Special Olympics coordinator Tyson Peterson said.

He anticipated more than 500 people would cheer on the teams from the stands.

The district’s Special Olympics program serves students ages 8-22 that have intellectual disabilities and/ or “functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills.”

Other sports offered include bowling, track and field, tennis, soccer, and aquatics.

– Staff report

24 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Highland Park Fans, Get Ready to Travel

New district means long north, east football road trips

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

Highland Park’s football team has a lot of travel in its immediate future.

For the next two seasons, the Scots will play in a new district that includes both Longview — almost 150 miles to the east — and Sherman, which is more than 60 miles to the north.

Other teams in the new District 7-5A (Div. I) include McKinney North, Tyler John Tyler, West Mesquite, and Wylie East. The seven-team league was unveiled in February when the UIL completed its biennial realignment process.

That means HP will not be paired with any of the seven rivals from the most recent realignment cycle. Instead, the Scots are included in a geographically scattered league that also should be competitive from a football standpoint.

Longview won the Class 5A Region II state title in 2018. McKinney North won 10 games last season. Tyler and Sherman are perennial playoff teams. Such opponents will elevate the overall quality of the schedule for the Scots, who were in a topheavy district during each of the past two years.

Potential playoff travel (and competition) could be even more grueling. The first round of the playoffs would match HP’s district against a very solid 8-5A,

2020 HP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (GAME TIMES TBA) Aug. 28 El Paso Eastwood Sept. 4 at Mesquite Horn Sept. 11 Plano Prestonwood Sept. 18 at Rockwall Oct. 2 Sherman* Oct. 9 at Longview* Oct. 16 McKinney North* Oct. 23 at Tyler* Oct. 30 West Mesquite* Nov. 6 at Wylie East* * — District 7-5A Div. I game

The Scots football team will face several other perennial playoff teams the next two seasons.

(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

which consists of teams f rom College Station, Conroe, Lufkin, Magnolia, New Caney, and Waller.

Elsewhere in Region II, Denton Ryan and Frisco Lone Star — who met in the state semifinals last season — have been grouped in 5-5A. The region also includes Lancaster, Lufkin, College Station, and Magnolia.

Meanwhile, Highland Park will head east for district games in basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball during the

next two seasons.

The Scots are included in the new District 13-5A along with Crandall, Forney, Greenville, Mesquite Poteet, North Forney, Royse City, and West Mesquite.

At first glance, it appears to be a favorable draw for the Scots in basketball and volleyball. The two spring sports should be significantly more difficult with the inclusion of the two Forney schools.

Alignments for soccer and other sports will be unveiled this spring.

DISTRICT 7-5A, DIVISION I 2020-21 (football only) Highland Park Longview McKinney North Sherman Tyler John Tyler West Mesquite Wylie East DISTRICT 13-5A 2020-22 (other team sports) Highland Park Crandall Forney Greenville Mesquite Poteet North Forney Royse City West Mesquite

26 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Business

A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD FOR NORTH DALLAS Developer begins to move dirt on old Valley View site

MORE ONLINE Read more of what Scott Beck says about the Midtown project at peoplenewspapers.com.

Beck Ventures and Life Time Inc. have partnered to create Life Time Midtown, part of the 173-acre development at the old Valley View Mall.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

By Bethany Erickson People Newspapers

O

nce it was a popular mall and hangout, then it became a ghost town as newer, shinier malls took its place – but as all vestiges of the 46-year-old Valley View Mall are scraped from the 173-acre site it sat on for so many years, a neighborhood will emerge.

Scott Beck, whose Beck Ventures is one of three developers collaborating to create a neighborhood out of whole cloth, said the location is ripe for a cohesive, walkable community.

“I think one of the biggest things to keep in mind is this area

of Dallas is at the center of the population density in Dallas – a third of the population lives within three and a half miles of Preston and 635,” he said. “So we want to make sure what we build is really a neighborhood.”

“And obviously in order to have a neighborhood, there have to be people living in it,” he added. “And right now, it’s substantially commercial - you have Valley View on one side, which doesn’t exist anymore, and the Galleria on the other, and some residential, but it’s substantially more commercial and retail.”

It’s estimated that more than 350,000 cars pass by the Midtown

area via LBJ Freeway and Preston Road.

Beck Ventures has partnered with Life Time Inc. to create Life Time Living – high-end, leased residences with an aim at providing occupants with the tools needed for a healthy lifestyle. Life Time Midtown will include 390 oneand-two-bedroom apartments, with an additional 190,000-squarefoot Life Time Athletic Club and 50,000-square-foot Life Time Work – a coworking space. “(What) we’re starting with from a residential perspective is various price points of housing, all the way up to high rise housing,” Beck explained. “The Life Time Village, one

of our first projects, we’ll be creating a 20-story ultra-luxury high rise, which will be connected to this $250 million Life Time Village.”

tree-canopied Preston Road area.

Beck Ventures has also partnered with Toll Brothers, who will build 266 apartments as part of its holdings at the site. There will also be a hotel with 200 rooms and 40 condos and a new office building that will also be home to a new – and more luxurious – AMC Theater.

“And then as you get towards Montfort, there’s a new park that’s basically situated between our property, a main boulevard, and the Galleria,” Beck said. “And that new park is the Midtown Park, which will be four times the size of Klyde Warren.”

In addition to the apartments Toll Brothers is building with Beck Ventures, the company is also building apartments with Dallas developer KDC and New-York based Seritage Growth Properties, who also has an ownership stake in the Valley View site. Their mixed-use project called Park Heritage will total 300 luxury residential rental units with retail, entertainment, and dining, as well as 3 acres of open space.

(T)his area of Dallas is at the center of the population density in Dallas – a third of the population lives within three and a half miles of Preston and 635.

Scott Beck Beck said that the highlights include a three-acre beach pool amenity deck, and views of the

Bluffview New Construction 4403 Bluffview Boulevard Offered for $2,995,000 5 Bed / 5.3 Bath / 6,207 Sq.Ft. Marc Ching 214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com

Impeccably Appointed 11020 Tibbs Street Offered for $2,445,000 5 Bed / 5.2 Bath / 6,416 Sq.Ft. Clarke Landry 214.316.7416 clarke.landry@alliebeth.com

alliebethallman alliebeth.com

Luxury on Abbott 4201 Abbott Avenue Offered for $1,099,000 3 Bed / 3 Bath / 3,040 Sq.Ft. Alex Perry 214.926.0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com

Live in Style 4236 Hanover Street — SOLD Offered for $2,495,000 4 Bed / 4.2 Bath / 5,519 Sq.Ft. Susan Baldwin 214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Perfect in Every Way 3701 Lexington Avenue Offered for $9,950,000 3 Bed / 4.3 Bath / 8,156 Sq.Ft. Doris Jacobs 214.537.3399 doris.jacobs@alliebeth.com

Love Where You Live 3449 Milton Avenue #7 Offered for $974,900 4 Bed / 3 Bath / 2,609 Sq.Ft. Susan Bradley 214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

alliebethallman

alliebeth.com

All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing.

This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

A Special Estate 6800 Hunters Glen Road Offered for $14,950,000 4 Bed / 6.2 Bath / 1.15 Acres Mark Storer 214.505.5400 mark.storer@alliebeth.com

6119 Glendora Avenue | Offered for $1,675,000 5 Bed / 5.2 Bath / 6,254 Sq.Ft.

4040 Cochran Chapel Road | Offered for $3,250,000 4 Bed / 5.2 Bath / 5,564 Sq.Ft.

Tim Schutze | 214.507.6699 tim.schutze@alliebeth.com

Brittany Mathews | 214.641.1019 brittany.mathews@alliebeth.com

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

BOLD NEWS for BOLD MOVES! Market Report I have lots of upcoming listings for 2020 in both Park Cities and Preston Hollow! The buzz in these desirable locations is that there is a shortage of supply and many buyers are looking for homes. Staging is very important to present each home in its best light. Prices are stable and the market is healthy, with a robust start to the year, and many contracts and sales. So, it’s a great time to sell and also a great time to buy!

2019 TOP INDIVIDUAL PRODUCER

Coming Soon for 2020

3114 Cornell Avenue, Highland Park

5431 Edlen Drive, Preston Hollow

Selling Park Cities and Preston Hollow 5538 Falls Road 3312 Hanover Street 4617 Ellensburg Drive 9211 Esplanade Drive 6206 Desco Drive 6215 Stefani Drive 6623 Pemberton Drive 3460 Stanford Avenue 6130 Bandera Avenue 7010 Stone Meadow Drive

8514 Chadbourne Road 4440 Potomac Avenue 3421 Granada Avenue 5500 Amherst Avenue 4005 Normandy Avenue 6206 Deloache Avenue 4211 Lakeside Drive 5800 Golf Drive 4236 Hanover Street 6431 Desco Drive

3533 Villanova Street 4500 Roland Avenue #401 2829 Stanford Avenue 7031 Lupton Drive 7700 Eastern Avenue #302 5038 Brookview Drive 3316 Lovers Lane 6623 Pemberton Drive 6539 Lakehurst Avenue

Susan Baldwin 214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

baldwingroupdallas.com

32 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Comings and Goings

Get Schooled About the Lumen’s Upcoming Rebrand

HEIM BARBECUE (COURTESY PHOTOS)

The Graduate Dallas hotel to debut this fall with Mustang touches

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

STELLA NOVA

COMING Heim Barbecue

3130 W. Mockingbird Lane The acclaimed “farm-to-smoker” restaurant from Fort Worth will open its first Dallas location in June.

Husband and wife duo Travis and Emma Heim started serving up their bacon burnt ends along with brisket, pulled pork, turkey, ribs, and sausage from a food truck in 2015.

NOW OPEN AYA Medical Spa

6825 Snider Plaza The spa, which opened its first Dallas location in the fall of 2019,

has a team of estheticians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants and offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments, skincare products, and services.

Primo’s MX Kitchen and Lounge

3309 McKinney Avenue The eatery, which offers TexMex and Mexican options, opened in February. The menu draws inspiration from a wide area ranging from the Texas border to Southern Mexico.

Stella Nova

6604 Snider Plaza The coffee shop chain recrently opened its first Texas location. It

offers coffee, teas, and apple ciders, as well as a selection of bakery and lunch items.

Orangetheory Fitness Studio

6065 Forest Lane 5549 W. Lovers Lane The fitness studio, which has 34 Dallas-Fort Worth-area locations, opened two new Dallas locations in February.

JamBox Fitness Lounge

921 N. Riverfront Boulevard The fitness lounge, which recently opened its third location, features disco lighting and surround-sound for music to keep members motivated during workouts.

News of the Lumen’s upcoming rebranding as the Graduate Dallas hotel amused at least a few of People Newspapers’ social media followers.

“The Graduate... Where old women go to prey on young men.

Great name,” joked one Facebook poster in an allusion to the 1967 movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

Nevertheless, the company behind the new name promises the new design will have the longstanding hotel at 6101 Hillcrest Avenue exuding sophistication with appropriate nods to the SMU Mustangs.

Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners acquired the Lumen Hotel in 2019. Their Graduate Hotels collection consists of 22 hotels in the U.S. in university-anchored cities.

The four-story building, originally built in 1963, features a mid-century design but will

undergo a renovation that will touch all guestrooms, common areas, meeting and event spaces, as well as the lobby.

The hotel will continue to operate independently as the Lumen while undergoing renovations. The new design is expected to feature natural textures in the lobby and common spaces, antique accents, and nods to notable SMU alumni and Dallas luminaries.

Work should begin around May and continue through the summer with the debut of the Graduate Dallas coming likely in the fall.

The hotel will offer 95 guestrooms, a communal lobby, the Poindexter Coffee shop, a new restaurant and bar, a rooftop lounge, and an upgraded pool courtyard.

Senior vice president of acquisitions for AJ Capital Partners Tim Ryan said, “This storied property is uniquely positioned to serve the SMU campus community, Park Cities, and greater Dallas for generations to come.”

34 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Real Estate Real Talk: Rogers Healy

By Bethany Erickson People Newspapers

Rogers Healy owns his eponymous real estate brokerage. When he’s not selling houses around Dallas, he’s the newest host of Selling Mega Mansions on the AWE cable network featuring luxury properties all over the country.

is the people. I heard a quote when I was a child that forever changed the way I operated from that moment on — “A stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet.” I still get chills saying that. I love people. Period.

All of them. I love the ability to help bring joy to someone. I love being able to share my faith in Jesus with our clients. I love talking about music. I love seeing their kids grow up. And sometimes, I love even talking about real estate.

How long have you been in real estate, and what led you to this career?

I’ve been in real estate for my entire life.

That’s almost 40 years, which is just flat out in- Rogers Healy What is your outlook sane to see in writing. on the Dallas market?

I’ve had my Texas real estate license The Dallas real estate marfor almost 20 years… I decided ket is the economic unicorn. We to pursue real estate as my career, have what every other city wants. while I was an undergrad student We have the influx of buyers. We at SMU. I’ve always been a fan of have the demand. Builders literconnecting people and for creating ally can’t keep up with the pace of conveniences, so it really was love at our growth. Dallas has gone from first transaction. the “why would we visit Dallas this weekend” city to “let’s all move to If you could go back in time and Dallas this weekend.” We have give just-starting-out you any ad- gone from forgotten to unforgettavice, what would it be? ble, which is phenomenal for all of Slow down. There’s a reason ad- us in the real estate business. With vice like “stop and smell the roses” are that said, we still need buyers, selltold over and over… it’s because it’s ers, investors, and renters to be realtrue. My obsession from day one was istic… One of our biggest obstacles to be the best in real estate, wheth- is when a prospective client wants er that meant the No. 1 Realtor or to outprice the market. have the No. 1 real estate company.

Let me tell you this — the joy isn’t Can you give us a fun fact about in the end result, it’s in the journey. I yourself? went almost a decade straight withI’ve got the greatest girlfriend out a vacation. I thought I was going on planet Earth… and she’s even an HP girl. I met the incomparable to miss out. I was wrong.

Abby Gans at good ‘ole Mi Cocina, What is the best thing about being and have smiled bigger and bigger a real estate agent? every day since. I also can freestyle The best thing about real estate rap like my life depended on it.

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 3520 Villanova Street

B

uilt in 2019, this modernly designed and Hamptons-inspired home in University Park opens to a vibrant grand entrance, large windows, light oak wood floors, and high ceilings.

The open concept living is perfect for entertaining ambiance. A sleek and clean-lined kitchen features a large eat-in island, Subzero and Wolf appliances,

(PHOTOS: ALLIE BETH ALLMAN)

ample storage, a butler’s pantry, and an oversized mudroom. Additional highlights on the first floor include a study and workout room. Double stairwells lead to all five bedrooms, including the master suite. Enjoy entertaining with exceptional indoor-outdoor flow featuring a covered porch and a backyard that has space for a pool.

THE

#1 TEAM AT A L L IE B E T H ALLM A N & A S S O CI AT ES

Alex Perry 214.926.0158

Elizabeth Wisdom 214.244.0181

Chad Barrett 214.714.7034

36 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

CHANGES COMING TO HIGHLANDER STADIUM Soccer fans must enter, watch from visitors’ side for now

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

H

ighlander Stadium is getting upgrades.

Specifically, the Scot Shop, the area under the main concourse of the stadium at 4233 Grassmere Lane, where Scots sports fans buy spirit wear, is moving closer to Grassmere, so it’s accessible from the street.

The locker rooms, training rooms, and restrooms are also getting updates.

The Highland Park ISD board of trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price of $5.739 million from Lee Lewis Construction for the Highlander Stadium project in January. The project is part of the $361.4 million bond package voters approved in 2015.

“The last renovations of Highlander Stadium took place in 2000, but it was not a complete renovation,” HPISD spokeswoman Emily Conklin said. “Funds were used from a bond election during that time to update the floors.”

The new space for the Scot Shop should be ready for customers by summer.

While the renovations are ongoing, all soccer fans at home games should enter the stadium via the visitor’s entrance at the

BY THE NUMBERS • $5,739,093 guaranteed maximum price for renovations The Scot Shop is undergoing changes as part of stadium improvements. (COURTESY PHOTOS) southeast gate on Westchester Drive and sit on the visitor’s side. Game tickets will be available from the southeast ticket booth, and concession stands and restrooms will be open only on the visitor’s side.

The southwest gate on Douglas Avenue is also unavailable.

Virtual Reality Innovators Challenge HPHS Students

Virtual reality innovators John Carmack and Palmer Luckey spoke at the keynote event at the Frontiers of Flight Museum ahead of Highland Park High School’s Science and Technology Festival. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

Virtual reality technology innovators John Carmack and Palmer Luckey recently challenged Highland Park High School students to create and expand on what’s possible with technology.

“My worldview is that technology is supported by engineering, is supported by science, is supported by math… but I put technology at the root of things,” Carmack said.

“I think we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can do (with

technology).”

Carmack co-founded game developer id Software in 1991 and served as chief technology officer of Facebook’s VR subsidiary Oculus. Luckey, a founder of Oculus, also founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology company.

The two served as the guest speakers Feb. 1 for an inaugural keynote event held in advance of the school’s annual Science and Technology Festival. The festival, held during science classes Feb. 7, featured more than 50 speakers from careers including science, engineering, medicine,

Parking is available in the high school’s garage. Visiting teams can also park behind the stadium on Douglas Avenue and enter through the southwest gate.

The football and baseball locker areas, as well as the athletic director, coach, and trainer offices have moved to temporary facilities.

research, and technology.

Speaking at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, Carmack advised students to “See science all around you in the world.

“Think scientifically, he said.

“Learn things deeply. Don’t just study to pass a test, learn things so you could teach a class or write an article about things… and finally, build things; contribute to our shared technological heritage.”

Luckey encouraged students to find people who can provide constructive criticism, not to base their self-worth on their grades, and discover what they’re passionate about outside the classroom.

“What you really need to do is find people who can take you down a few pegs. That might be friends, that might be mentors, it might be teachers, it might be random Internet commenters, but you need to find the people who are always going to be smarter than you, and that are willing to tell you that you’re dumb and that you’re wrong,” he said. “You have to find people who are a more critical audience than your lovely, lovely families. You should never assume that good grades and execution of your assigned work is going to ensure a positive outcome either in terms of your personal fulfillment or your financial fulfillment.”

• 36,862 square feet building area of Highlander Stadium • 5,659 home side seats • 2,600 visitor side seats • 1980 – year built • 2015 – video scoreboard added

Cookie Peddlers Put Purposes to Proceeds The Girl Scouts of Highland Park Troop 8271 love having their own cookie business, and they have big goals.

In addition to peddling their boxes of Samoas, Do-Si-Dos, Thin Mints, and other favorites, the troop of girls from Armstrong Elementary and University Park Elementary collects donations to buy cookies for members of the military and first responders.

Also, one-third of the troop’s cookie proceeds go to the Rebecca

Buchanan Brimmage Foundation, which raises money for the Makea-Wish Foundation to have Rebecca Buchanan Brimmage name on one granted wish for a terminally ill child per year. Learn more at rallywithrebecca.org and wish. org.

Troop 8271 has also collected cans for North Texas Food Bank and made jewelry for the Holiday Bazaar to raise money for Pajamas for Seniors. Visit girlscouts.org.

– Staff report

FROM LEFT: Cat Brimmage, Harper Lawrence, Kelli French, Lily Johnson, Chelsea Sun, Kennedy Delpho, Logan Mowdy, Giulia Patel, and Grace Owen (COURTESY PHOTO)

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020  37

LUCK, BE A SCOTS SENIOR TONIGHT!

Brynnley Beckman, Torie Ewer, Ryan Bozman, Mary Frances McElroy, and Kiley Eckert

Chandler Morris and Paxton Alexander PHOTOS: FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Wesley Winters, Beau Pedigo, and Robert Peacock

Elizabeth Lewis, Olin Rolseth, and Olivia Luk

BACK ROW: Jack Cunningham, Beck Kibler, Braden Roever, and Jack Tanner FRONT ROW: Justin Crump and Harris Hurley

Texas tuxedos, Park Cities teens, and roulette tables at the Lakewood Country Club? It must be the 2020 Highland Park High School Senior Boys Casino Party. With Elizabeth Gambrell and Melanie Miller and their sons Luke and Blake serving as event co-chairs, 162 boys hosted the Jan. 11 party for the entire senior class. The night included casino games, a DJ, dancing, prizes, and other fun.

38 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Camps

SOME YOUTHS GO TO CAMP; THIS ONE CREATED ONE From Eagle project to three-day program, Matt’s Bats keeps growing

France, a former Philadelphia Eagle.

“They, of course, had large bodies, enormous physical presences,” Matt said, “but the kids just gravitated toward them.”

By Bill Miller

Special Contributor

A

t age 14, Matt McCall became an Eagle Scout, a rare accomplishment typically achieved by young men three-tofour years older.

He also became founder and CEO of a youth baseball camp for underprivileged youths.

“Matt’s Bats” began as a service project in his quest for the Eagle badge. But excitement from the first camp in 2016 stuck with Matt, now 17, and a senior at Highland Park High School.

Planning is underway for a fourth camp this summer, sharing skills for baseball but also life, including hard work, self-esteem, and goal setting. It’s open to boys and girls, ages 8 to 13.

“The camp has just been taking me along with it,” Matt said. “It has been a crazy ride, but I’m glad I’ve been around for it.”

The first camp was on a single day for 20 youths. Last year it had grown to three days with about 50 campers at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in West Dallas.

An original partner of the camp was Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, a faith-based non-profit, founded in the 1940s to provide medical care, food, and education for families in need.

Matt volunteered there with his parents, Alden and Judy, and consulted staffers about a possible Eagle project. They suggested a camp to teach soccer or basketball skills, but Matt knew little about those sports.

The camp has just been taking me along with it.

It has been a crazy ride, but I’m glad I’ve been around for it.

Matt McCall

Matt McCall enjoys introducing children to baseball and hopes to continue running his camp here and perhaps elsewhere. (COURTESY PHOTOS) He did, however, love baseball.

“I thought introducing baseball in the West Dallas community would be a wonderful thing,” Matt said.

It hasn’t been without character-building adversity. Torrential rains and a marketing glitch

prevented the second camp from getting underway in 2017, but Matt overcame discouragement, and the next two camps drew even more youths.

Matt also recruited an all-star roster of former and current professional athletes to help coach,

including John Knox, a second baseman for the Detroit Tigers in the 1970s.

Other coaches were Jordan Smallwood, currently a wide receiver for the new XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats, and his buddy, Anthony Mahoungou of Paris,

Campers also gravitate to Matt, said Wes Keyes, executive director at Brother Bill’s.

“West Dallas is a unique place,” Keyes explained. “When Brother Bill started this ministry, it was still kind of the Wild West. I mean Bonnie and Clyde, for crying out loud, got their start over here. Crime has eased up, but poverty still exists everywhere we look.

“But Matt, interacting with these kids, he doesn’t bat an eye. He gets down to their level. Kids jump on his back, and he rides them around.”

As Matt contemplates where to attend college, and what he’ll study, he’s also trying to figure out how to keep the camp going in West Dallas, and possibly start a similar program in his future college town.

Memories will sustain his vision.

“I just remember all those smiling faces, seeing so many kids happy, playing my sport,” Matt said.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 39

Hockaday Student Charts Her Course to the Stars

Multicultural Space Camp experiences bolster engineering, science, people skills

Sydney Slay has met astronauts such as Donald Thomas, who flew four space shuttle missions. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

By Jordan Kiefer

Special Contributor Want to go to space? Try starting in Huntsville, Alabama.

Space Camp, a six-day, interactive educational program/camp for people of all ages at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, seeks to get visitors excited about space exploration.

“It promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while training them with missions based on teamwork, decision-making, and leadership and hands-on activities,” said Patricia Ammons, director of communications for the center.

Space Camp creates a place for kids from all around the world to share their passion for STEM and space with others and allows them to have a community of people who share their interest.

Sydney Slay

Hockaday School freshman Sydney Slay is a repeat camper.

“If you are interested in space and STEM, or if you just want to have an amazing six days with rockets, artifacts, simulators, and people who are truly passionate about space, I highly recommend Space Camp because it is changing my life,” the 14-year-old said.

Sydney said she has always had an intense interest in STEM and became focused on space in seventh-grade.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization and three years of completion in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics competition encouraged her interest in design and engineering, she said.

Sydney first attended Space Camp two years ago when she was 13 and built on that experience when she returned in the summer of 2019.

“My second Space Camp trip allowed me to experience new aspects of the camp that I was not able to the previous year,” she explained. “I was able to listen to new seminars and speak to different astronaut speakers.

It also allowed me to think of future plans of how I could become involved with STEM and space.”

During this past summer’s camp, she earned the Right Stuff Award, named for Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book The Right Stuff, and given to an outstanding trainee who goes above and beyond in leadership, teamwork,

and technology.

Slay comes from a STEM-focused family. Her maternal grandfather worked for AMF (American Machine and Foundry) as an engineer, and her father’s mechanical skills show in his hobby of restoring classic cars.

Sydney’s mother, Alicia, recognizes the impact Space Camp has had on her daughter.

“What I truly appreciate about the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, is the international and cross-culture collaboration environment that each of the students has the opportunity to experience while learning about space,” Alica Slay said.

Sydney also values the cross-cultural experience.

“At Space Camp, I am astonished by the diversity and different cultures that are represented at the camp,” she said. “Space Camp creates a place for kids from all around the world to share their passion for STEM and space with others and allows them to have a community of people who share their interest.”

F U N FAC T Begun in 1982, Space Camp now has almost 1 million graduates, many of whom have gone on to become engineers, scientists, technicians, educators, and astronauts. Visit spacecamp.com.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT CAMP OLYMPIA

One of the most amazing camps in Texas Camp Olympia is an ACA-accredited, overnight, private Texas summer camp for girls and boys ages 6-16, offering one, two, and three-week sessions and over 45 activities. Get a preview of the Camp Olympia experience at the Open House Carnival on Saturday, March 28 from 10am-4pm. The open house is a perfect opportunity to learn about camp life, tour the campgrounds, meet Camp Olympia staff, and enjoy fun camp activities with the whole family!

40 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Five Myths About Choosing the Right Summer Camp Considering an overnight camp for your child for summer 2020? I’ve compiled a list of myths and accompanying facts to help guide you.

HELENE ABRAMS

Myth: “If I send my daughter to camp with a friend, it will make her more comfortable.”

Fact: A friend can sometimes act as a barrier to your child making new friends. All too often, one of the campers has a difficult time.

The other child then feels responsible for the friend, which can be extremely burdensome. Also, your child may choose his activities based upon his friends’ interests, rather than his own.

Myth: “A one-week session is the best way to ease into an overnight camp experience.”

Fact: Sometimes, it is the parent who sets a child up for an overnight camping failure by offering, “I will pick you up if you are unhappy,” or “let’s just try this camp for one week to see how it goes.” Kids need a chance to feel homesick and get through it with the help of counselors and individual coping mechanisms to feel successful about a camp experience.

One week barely gives a child a chance to find their way around

Helene Abrams recomends letting children help research summer camp options. (COURTESY PHOTO) a camp, much less feel the tinge of missing Mom and Dad (or the family dog).

Myth: “Only I know what is best for my child.”

Fact: While the saying “Mother knows best” is true in many circumstances, input from your child may be the best approach when choosing a camp. Ask your child: Do you want to build on your existing strengths and interests this summer or try something new? Be open to the unexpected.

Myth: “A specialty camp – rather than a traditional camp – is the best place for my child.”

Fact: Specialty sports camps focus on teaching technical skills, not necessarily life skills. Parents should not make the mistake of thinking a specialty camp will provide the framework to care for a homesick child or to ease the child into feeling a part of a community.

Myth: “My son plays sports all year long, so I want to give him a break from the routine.”

Fact: While it is a nice break for some kids to fish and hike at camp, others just want to play ball. I advise parents to look for an option that can provide the sports that the child wants, plus some new challenges that the parents might want for their child. A child who can’t make the select baseball or soccer team at home may shine in a camp environment.

When the time comes for choosing a camp, there are a thousand questions to ask. It is essential to ask the right questions and get the facts so that you can get the right fit for your child. The investment will provide you and your child with lifetime rewards. Happy camping!

Helene Abrams, of the free advisory service Tips on Trips and Camps, helps parents find enriching summer overnight experiences for their children.

Reach her at 214-484-8141 or Helene@TipsonTripsandCamps.com.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 41

A Parent’s Guide to a Smart, Tech-Savvy Summer Looking for fun and exciting ways to keep children engaged indoors?

Long weekends, winter and spring breaks, and summer vacation can leave time for parents and their children to explore new worlds (virtually) together.

Screen time gets a bad rap, but when used responsibly, the computer, phone, or tablet can become a useful tool to keep children learning.

Kelli Duhaney, director of STEM and technology integration at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, offered suggestions for using tech as a source for creativity and learning for children while teaching the importance of online safety.

• Take a virtual field trip: Did you know many of the world’s famous museums and popular sites offer virtual experiences? Take a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History or Scholastic’s Virtual Field Trip to Ellis Island. No matter what your child’s interests, there’s likely a fun virtual field trip that will spark their imagination.

• Help your child become a filmmaker: Need some help getting those photos from the family vacation downloaded? There’s an

RIGHT: Kelli Duhaney, director of STEM and technology integration at Trinity Christian Academy, suggest families use breaks from school to learn together. (COURTESY PHOTOS) app for that. Download one of several movie-making apps available and have your child create movies.

You could have them add in family photos and video clips from trips and other activities.

• Help your sous-chef in the kitchen: You can use technology to help your budding chef sharpen their skills in the kitchen.

Have them create a grocery list and then help you cook, some-

times this is a little messier than helpful, but it’s still fun. These activities can also allow you to teach your children how to navigate throughout the web appropriately as they use search engines to

find information. Here’s another fun activity: Come up with a family food challenge, similar to what you see on the Food Network’s Chopped Junior.

• Start a blog: Does your child love to write? If you don’t have the time to share everything your family is doing with your friends and the extended family, give your children a creative outlet, such as a blog, to share. Writing and publishing online provides the opportunity to discuss what it means to be a good digital citizen as well as internet and safety on social media. Mashable.com has excellent tips on helping set up a blog and includes advice on digital citizenship.

• Learn something new: Try websites such as khanacademy.org that offer hundreds of video-based and educational lessons about topics ranging from science and math to geography and history.

• Teach yourself and your child to code: The website code.org offers a variety of computer science lessons for all ages to learn how to program computers, build apps, and create digital art. Who knows, maybe it could spark your interest or set the stage for your child to become a coder.

— Staff Report

42 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Society

DALLAS STARS CASINO NIGHT RAISES RECORD $420K

Carmen and Parish Autry, Lauren Henning, and Amy and Scott McGinnis Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn deals blackjack

Dallas Stars Foundation president Marty Turco

Tamra Granberry, Gilbert Daniel, Jennifer Daniel, and Doug Welsch

Mandy Mack, Kale Alberts, and Kajer Boettcher

Dallas Stars Tyler Seguin with Peyton Mabry

Lakeiha Strain and Terry Song

Ann Marie and Hayden Harrison

P H O T O S : R H I L E E A N D D AV I D A LV E Y

Cassidy Clark and Sydney Bedford with Stars mascot Victor E. Green

Grace Copeland and Alex Wells

Laura Wilson and Brianna Boulanger

MacGregor Perkins, Chelsey Lerma with Aiona and Matt Bowman

Nearly a thousand Dallas Stars fans turned out Jan. 30 for the 21st annual Park Place Dealerships - Dallas Stars Casino Night at the Comerica Center in Frisco. The event raised more than $420,000 for the Dallas Stars Foundation, breaking last year’s fundraising record for the most money raised in a single night. The Dallas Stars Foundation focuses its efforts on providing support to the children in the community through youth hockey programs, youth engagement, health, and education.

44 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

AGENCY FUNDS RESEARCH, PROVIDES HOPE, SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER’S

Patrick Mancenido, Misty Keown, Jolie Humphrey, and Luis Ellis

Janet Broyles and Cassie Crosby

Sharon and Maurice Ballew

Ike Ndukwe, Xavier Alexander, and Aten Williams

Richard Harner and Jack Broyles

Stephanie Zorn, Hillary Cox, and Anna Harris

Stacey and Charlie Angel

AWARE president Jolie Humphrey and AWARE Membership chair and BvB Dallas liaison, Misty Keown, welcomed a crowd of members from each organization in the fall to Bleu Ciel’s Party and Wine Room for a red carpet reception. (PHOTOS: DANA DRIENSKY)

By Mitch Gruen

Special Contributor

W

hen Kim McDavid began to have trouble remembering which day of the week it was, her husband, David McDavid Jr., chalked it up to stress.

“We were going to move to Colorado, we opened a business there, sent both kids off to college, and just got done treating my throat cancer,” he said. “We were moving at 100 miles an hour.”

In fall 2015, David and Kim stopped for a bite at an airport restaurant. Kim went to use the bathroom and did not come back.

David sensed that something was wrong and went to look for her, finding her outside of the restroom, disoriented. When she saw David, she started bawling. They knew something was not right.

Two neurologists gave them the same diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer’s.

What followed was a lot of confusion, a lot of research, and a lot of crying. Not long after Kim’s diagnosis, a friend of David’s shared some wisdom: “Just remember, you’re in it for the long haul.”

As the initial shock of the diagnosis faded, David prepared himself for the long haul of becoming his wife’s primary caregiver.

For most caregivers in these early stages, it is difficult to figure out what exactly you’re supposed to be doing to care for your parent, spouse, or other loved one. For David, and countless other caregivers in Dallas, the support and community provided by AWARE has made a tremendous difference.

AWARE has been dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s in Dallas since 1989, providing a gateway to education and resources for caregivers and patients and funding for North Texas nonprofits that research cures and prevention.

Kathleen Powell knew that Alzheimer’s ran in her family but was still completely stunned when her mother was formally diagnosed. Kathleen and her family needed help but weren’t sure where to turn.

AWARE connected them with seminars, support groups, and doctors. The assistance provided by AWARE was a huge boost for Kathleen as she worked to step into the caregiver role and develop an effective care program for her mom.

AWARE’s 2019–2020 Grant Recipients include the Baylor Healthcare System and a UT Southwestern program developing a new diagnostic test that will provide earlier and more accurate diagnoses. Casa de Vida, another recipient, uses music, art, and games to engage individuals with Alzheimer’s, providing their caregivers with precious free time.

Stomping Ground Comedy has implemented a free program, Improv for Caregivers, which uses improvisational comedy to teach caregivers effective strategies for communicating with their loved ones. Much of the value in these programs comes simply from helping families affected by Alzheimer’s know that they’re not alone.

I F YO U G O WHAT: The AWARE Affair fundraiser includes a cocktail reception with a silent auction, seated dinner & program, rousing live auction, and dancing.

WHEN: April 3 WHERE: TBA ONLINE: awaredallas.org

ABOUT THE DISEASE · Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the third leading cause among seniors. · An estimated 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. · More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

46 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

GREAT ADVENTURE HUNT BENEFITING CHILDCAREGROUP

1st place winners: Anne Bothwell, John Matthews, Charles Glover, Ben Mackey, Kat Matthews, and Melanie Ferguson

Gladys Kolenovsky, Edward Oglesby, Peggy Allison, Mark Plunkett, Lynn McBee, and Lyda Hill

Kate and Alex Knight, Emily and Nick Barker, and Jessica and Bryan Farrington

Sri Vemulapalli and Nitya Nadella with Veera and Sunyamukhi Venigalla

Steve and Cindy Davis with Janice Howry and Karen Owen

Tori Mannes welcomes guests

Greg Lyons, Zack Tobolowsky, Geoff Dunham, Charlie Neil, Ted Gwara, and Jared Sandler

Drew and Kristen Brantley, Sarah and Clayton Kennington, and Elizabeth and Patrick Malone PHOTOS: SERGIO MENDEZ

Macey Davis, Rafael Anchia, Tori Mannes, Matt Coscia, and Melissa Miesse

The 54 teams of 325 western wear-outfitted fierce competitors raced around Gilley’s at the 10th annual Great Adventure Hunt benefiting early education leader, ChildCareGroup. In keeping with the education theme of the event beneficiary, competitors relied on their wits, brain power, and teamwork to become the first to correctly solve eight “Wild West”-themed scavenger hunt puzzles. Event co-chairs and sisters Macey Davis and Meredith Wallace said, “The Great Adventure Hunt is one of the most unique fundraising events in town. We were honored to co-chair it this year and to help sustain this amazing 118-year-old organization.”

48 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

CASABLANCA CELEBRATES 2020

John Curran, Kelsey Higginbotham, Rob and Linda Swartz, Robby and Kiania Calderin, Michael and Cristina Swartz, and Nicki and Paul Stafford

Phillip Alcorn and Christina Boonkue

Lauren Slade and Kayleigh Garcia

Melissa and Nick Bednarz

Monica and John Kirchmer with Ottis Lewis

Carlie and Dan Jordan Jonathan and Christine Bassham

Kelsey Higginbotham, Linda Swartz, Stephanie Rios, and Kathleen M. LaValle

Kendall Filiger and Ranny Randolph PHOTOS: JAMES COREAS, ROSANNE LEWIS, AND ANDY WILLIAMS

Henry Pfirrmann, Nick Hinckley, Nick Edwards, Mark Svoboda, and Jim Tate

Elise Nichols, Bela Cooley, and Megan Sterquell

Jennie and Chris Wideil

Melissa and Nick Bednarz

More than 400 of Dallas’ most fabulous young people gathered at The Hall on Dragon Feb. 1 for Dallas CASA’s fifth annual casino party, CASAblanca. The black tie event hosted by Dallas CASA’s Young Professionals group, was chaired

by Bela Cooley, Elise Nichols, and Megan Sterquell and presented by The Hiduke Foundation. The evening featured casino games, live music by The Special Edition Band, and a room full of guests committed to fighting child abuse. Men wore tuxedos, while the women sparkled in sequins. The young crowd gathered around blackjack and craps tables, enjoying spending their pseudo money to earn chances at prizes.

SOLD / 3800 STRATFORD AVENUE / HIGHLAND PARK

RECENT SOLDS

For those who have big plans.

7 Grovenor Court 8610 Turtle Creek Blvd #209 36 Stonecourt Drive 3610 Edgewater Street 7803 Bryn Mawr Drive 5720 Archer Court* 6422 Riverview Lane* 4315 Holland Avenue #8* 3908 Marquette Street 3412-B Potomac Avenue 2704 Purdue Avenue 3607 Asbury Street 2924 Stanford Avenue* 2900 Stanford Avenue* 4677 Livingston Avenue 3800 Stratford Avenue *Represented buyer

SESSIONS GROUP

Judy Sessions 214-354-5556 jsessions@briggsfreeman.com

50 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

Living Well and Faith TWINS COME OF AGE BY HELPING SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN Greenhill School siblings mobilize donors with Karing 4 Kliptown

LEFT: The Yurich family and others celebrate at Future Angels Day Care in Kliptown, South Africa. TO RIGHT: Jack and Emma Yurich with preschoolers Nkosana Kalipa and Precious Scott. BOTTOM: Crowds surround the van during soccer ball distribution, and Jonathan Yurich helps pump soccer balls. (PHOTOS: KARING 4 KLIPTOWN)

By Dalia Faheid

Special Contributor

J

ack and Emma Yurich set out to raise $10,000 for Kliptown, an impoverished suburb of Soweto in South Africa.

A year of halva bake sales, GoFundMe donations, and a tennis tournament later, the twins had raised almost triple that amount.

It all started with the pursuit of a long-term philanthropic project for the Greenhill School eighth-graders’ B’nai Mitzvah, a Jewish coming of age celebration. When their mother Joanne, originally from South Africa, returned from a trip to Kliptown in 2016, they found their cause.

Touched by the township’s poor living conditions, where 70% of the 44,000 population is unemployed,

the twins established Karing 4 Kliptown in 2017.

“It ties into our roots,” said Emma, now 14.

After raising awareness of their cause via GoFundMe, Jack planned a tennis tournament that raised $1,000, and the twins sold their mom’s homemade halva sweets weekly. With another $16,700 donations in lieu of B’nai Mitzvah gifts, they vastly surpassed their goal.

“You need the support of your community and your friends and family to be able to reach your goals,” Joanne said. “And you rely on them to make it all come together.”

They partnered with a Kliptown preschool where $27,392 would supply students with three pairs of shoes, a necessity for the many barefooted children roaming the streets, along with two sets of clothing, a

tricycle, toys, costumes, playground turf, and teachers’ scarves and shoes.

Recognizing that expanding opportunities for Kliptown children to play their favorite sport would lift spirits, the sports-loving family planned to distribute soccer balls.

Purchasing the clothing and shoes in the correct sizes and transporting 175 soccer balls proved challenging, the twins said.

In July 2019, the family of seven was welcomed to Kliptown by preschoolers who held signs and sang in Zulu. Driving through Kliptown, the Yuriches tirelessly pumped and distributed soccer balls to meet the growing demand.

Kliptown’s children must often do without access to adequate nutrition, education, health services, or safety measures, the twins said. One of the Kliptown preschoolers drowned in a

nearby river before their arrival.

Despite the hardships, the infectiously happy children appreciated most when the family held them, grabbed their hands, or played with them, the twins said.

You need the support of your community and your friends and family to be able to reach your goals.

Joanne Yurich “It just kind’ve made me think about how grateful I am to have everything I have.” Jack said.

The twins are sponsoring schooling for five students and hope to continue doing so in the future.

A younger set of Yurich twins, Mathew and Jonathan, plan on supporting Kliptown when their B’nai Mitzvah time comes.

Joanne explained that her boys were inspired by seeing “the smiles on these kids’ faces when they handed them soccer balls and realizing that they’re so overwhelmed with thanks for one soccer ball, yet they (the twins) have a room full of toys that they sometimes don’t even play with.”

She suggested other parents can instill a love of giving in their children by finding activities the family can consistently be engaged in together.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 51

Fort Worth, Texas, It’s Like a Whole Other Destination City

LEFT: The Sinclair Hotel king guestroom. RIGHT: Firestone & Roberston (F&R) uses scraps from Justin Boots to insert into the center of the TX Whiskey caps. (PHOTOS: THE SINCLAIR AND F&R) “Texas. It’s Like a Whole Other Country.”

Remember that campaign from a few years back? It’s a catchy slogan and all, but it’s true.

Texas IS like a whole other country compared to the other 49 states, and within KERSTEN RET TIG the confines of our friendly, anthropomorphic cowboy-shape of a state, there’s still diversity.

Take Dallas versus Fort Worth: a mere 30 minutes apart, there’s a difference – the twang, clothing style, community, the pace. It’s also my hometown, and I’ve long wanted to give readers ideas on how to spend 24 hours there. In honor of Texas Independence Day, I shall do just that.

First Stop: I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Texas agriculture than by spending time at Robertson & Firestone Distillery in Fort Worth, where TX Whiskey and TX Bourbon are made using locally grown corn.

Cowboy boots and hats aren’t cliché here, nor are they required.

Just come and enjoy.

Kersten Rettig Whiskey Ranch is located where the old Glen Garden Country Club opened in 1912 and where legendary golfers Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson practiced, played, and won

championships. Now, the 112-acre spread is home to production and barrel-aging facilities, a boutique, tasting tavern, event spaces, food trucks, and a magnificent view of Downtown Fort Worth. The founders of R&F Distillery created a thoughtful, entertaining, and engaging place to promote their spirits. Everyone over the age of 21 should hightail it over there. Tours are informative and photogenic and include tastings if you’re so inclined.

Dinner Time: Fort Worth has more than a fistful of great restaurants, though most visitors just focus on one: Joe T’s, which is fine, but you’re selling Cowtown cuisine short. One of my favorite restaurants in the world is Ellerbe Fine Foods. Chef/co-owner Molly McCook creates approachable Americana dishes using fresh-from-the source, be it farm, field, or ocean, ingredients. The wine program includes bottles from nearly every major wine-producing region with reasonable prices and a wine shop so you can buy more bottles of the wine you loved at dinner. Located in the burgeoning Near South Side area, which was a positively terrifying place when I was growing up but is now super hip, Ellerbe is perfect for a date or group.

Night Cap, then Night-Night:

The Sinclair Hotel – newest (and much needed) luxury accommodations in Fort Worth opened in late fall and held its grand opening in January. The 90-year-old Art Deco building has been beautifully updated while maintaining a keen eye for detail in décor and design. The hotel’s owners lovingly chose craftsmen to restore or replicate details such as period elevator doors, ceiling and floor tiles, and paneling. The hotel is also sophisticatedly sustainable, powered by Digital Electricity and brimming with high-tech infrastructure and gadgets. Guest rooms are spacious and warm with state-of-the-art fixtures. Another outstanding feature is the roof-top bar, the highest one in Fort Worth. On a clear day (or night), you can see miles and miles.

Cowboy boots and hats aren’t cliché here, nor are they required. Just come and enjoy.

Follow Kersten Rettig, a Park Cities-based writer with more than 30 years’ experience in food and beverage marketing and PR, on Instagram @ KickshawPapers.

S O N G PA I R I N G : “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” – George Strait

52 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

First Unitarian Church of Dallas Getting New Fellowship Hall

The First Unitarian Church of Dallas is preparing for some major renovations.

By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

The First Unitarian Church of Dallas is clear to do some significant renovations.

The University Park City Council voted recently to allow the church to revise plans and build a new fellowship hall, choir/music center, a library, and make additional improvements to its campus at 4015 Normandy Avenue.

“What they’ve proposed to do… with the detailed site plan change is to increase the amount of floor area available for the church and the pre-school daycare, and they’re going to increase the size of their existing fellowship hall — almost double — from about 7,000 square feet to just over 15,000 square feet,” University Park Community Development Director

(PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

Patrick Baugh said. “The entire campus will get a refresh along with the new, two-story fellowship hall and office building.”

The church’s senior minister, the Rev. Daniel Kanter, said the church has owned the property since 1944.

“The buildings that we’re looking at have not been renovated for over 25 years,” Kanter said.

“We have members who remember the original building. We also have brand new members who have just joined us. The church is… a vibrant part of University Park.”

Emily Henry, a member of the church who is helping with the building plans, said the fellowship hall is aging and needs improvement.

“We’re excited about replacing this fellowship hall and making it a lot more efficient space than we have today,” Henry said.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 53

For March 17, Don’t Just Go Green, Go Irish to the Bone With Wings St. Patrick’s Day is the one day of the year when everyone can be a little Irish.

I’ve enthusiastically held that sentiment from the time our children were CHRISTY ROST little. It gave me HOME + KITCHEN an excuse to turn an otherwise ordinary March day into an occasion for our family to celebrate.

The boys went off to school wearing green shirts, knowing that when they returned home, our dinner table would be decorated with green placemats and shamrock paper napkins. Green and white crepe paper streamers would be draped across the ceiling, and freshly-baked shamrock cookies or a cake garnished with buttercream and swirls of green frosting would be waiting for them.

While thousands gathered in bars and pubs to sip green beer, we gathered around our family table for a hearty meal that more often than not included green mashed potatoes – a carryover of a St. Patrick’s Day joke my older sister played on our parents when I was about 8 years old.

To be perfectly honest, I enjoyed our little family celebrations as much as my husband and sons. I’m a party girl at heart, so executing the decorations and planning a fun meal for our family has always been right up my alley. As far as

Guinness Buffalo Wings

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil ¾ cup sweet onion, peeled and diced 4 large cloves garlic 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed 1 tablespoon molasses 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 11-ounce bottles Guinness stout ¼ cup prepared barbecue sauce salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 family-size package chicken wings (about 15)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and cover two large cookie sheets with foil. Trim off tips of wings and discard. Cut through each wing at the joint, and transfer sections to the cookie sheets. Bake 30 minutes, reduce heat to 375 degrees, turn wings

CHRISTY ROST

over, and cook 15 minutes more.

While the wings are cooking, sauté onion in olive oil until it’s soft, stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in honey, brown sugar, molasses, vinegar and Guinness. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to maintain a slow boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by half. Strain the mixture over a clean saucepan and discard any solids.

Add prepared barbecue sauce, stir, and continue cooking until the sauce becomes very thick.

Brush some of the sauce over the wings and bake 5 minutes. Turn them over, baste, and bake 5 minutes more. Remove wings from the oven, transfer them to a platter, and serve hot or at room temperature. Pour the remaining sauce into a small bowl for dipping.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

I’m concerned, it’s all about creating special memories for guests, especially when those guests are my family.

Our sons are now grown, so this year we’re planning a small-but-festive, cocktail-time celebration with friends.

Green and white streamers may still be involved, but my buffet menu will be centered around small bites – a selection of Irish cheeses, a charcuterie board, marinated olives, dried fruits, an assortment of crusty breads, and the most amazing Guinness buffalo wings.

The delicious secret to these irresistible wings results from reducing a mixture of Guinness stout, honey, prepared barbecue sauce, and a few other flavorful ingredients on the stove until they form a syrup.

The wings are partially cooked in the oven, brushed with the syrup, and then cooked until the syrup becomes a dark glaze. They can even be prepared one day ahead and reheated briefly in the oven – an excellent option on a busy day. I may only be Irish in my heart, but that’s reason enough for me to hang streamers, display a shamrock on our door, and invite friends to this month’s St. Patrick’s Day party.

Christy Rost is the author of three cookbooks, television chef on PBS stations nationwide, and longtime resident of the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. For additional recipes and entertaining tips, please visit her website at christyrost.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ChristyRost.

Common Unknown REASONS Why People Experience Dizziness.

You Know, That Dizziness That Just Takes The Enjoyment Out Of Life – 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 balance system takes a lot of use to stay working properly.

3. Time Spent In The Hospital: In order to keep working well, our balance system needs us to be upright, move our heads a lot, and interact 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 your free report now. What To Do Next?

Call: (214) 712-8242 (Leave a Message 24/7) & Choose: • Option 1: Have your FREE Report mailed or emailed to you • Option 2: Free Report + FREE Balance/Dizziness Testing Author Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist is owner of Optimove Physical Therapy & Wellness.

You can contact him at (214) 712-8242 or email at J.Guild@OptimoveDFW.com

- Advertisement -

54 March 2020 | parkcitiespeople.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

Lovers Lane Heights home Where tradition meets today delivers modern luxury, functionality

4225 Beverly Drive, represented by Joan Eleazer

Traditional architecture is a broad term for a style that incorporates modern-day elements of many classic styles, especially the structure of doors, windows and roofing elements. Traditional homes take into account the styles and materials that were popular in an area and, as newer construction, tie the present to the past.

4225 Beverly Drive is a textbook example of Traditional architecture — now with an incredible rebuild and expansion of the original 1928 home, by builder Nickey Oates and Debra Stewart Interior Design. On an oversized and beautifully landscaped lot, the home offers formal living and dining rooms, a study, a great room and a large gourmet kitchen with island and breakfast bar.

The master bedroom suite is on the first level and overlooks the pool. Upstairs, there are four en-suite bedrooms and a media room. The home’s many pluses include two laundry rooms, a dog room, a wine cellar and an elevator.

Two outdoor living areas offer covered patios, fountains and cooking and seating areas.

4225 Beverly Drive is represented by Joan Eleazer for $9,340,000.

To explore the exceptional homes, high-rises, ranches and land represented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty — across North Texas and around the world — visit the new briggsfreeman.com.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Allman Agents Can Find Super Bowl Party Your Dream Home Ready Homes

It’s a good time to sell a home in Texas these days. Hous-

Jeremy Whiteker and R.A. Millennium Properties present this sophisticated, new construction residence at 7527 Morton St. (7527morton.dpmre.com) near Inwood Village.

The four-bedroom, five-bath smart home with two-car garage covers 4,037 square feet (per building plan), and is priced at $1,350,000.

Exceptional native landscaping softens the crisp, clean lines. Inside, luxurious qualities such as white oak hardwood flooring, Venetian plaster, Kelly Wearstler lighting, a state-ofthe-art kitchen, Spanish and Italian cabinetry and more, all combine to create a memorable first impression.

The flow is intuitive, and spaces are open yet defined.

Beautiful outdoor views are standard from every room through Quaker windows.

There is a secluded first-floor master bedroom with patio access, and upstairs, a landing living room/game room with reading nook and three en suite bedrooms.

Overall, the home incorporates a bevy of energy efficient and smart home features, including tankless hot water heaters, radiant barrier, Vantage smart lighting system and prewired audio/visual and security system.

To schedule a showing, contact Whiteker at 214-729-1293 or jeremy@jeremywhiteker.com.

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

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

ing sales set new records last fall as steady job growth and low interest rates encourage buyers. Here are some invaluable insights from the Allman experts about your neighborhood.

In the premier Park Cities neighborhoods, where the Allman firm again last year was the leading real estate brokerage firm, there were 133 homes sold in Highland Park with a total value over $300 million. In neighboring University Park, 281 homes sold for a total value of almost $500 million. The average priced home sold was $1,729,632, trending up in recent years.

In sought-after Preston Hollow, which has some of the most expensive estates in Dallas, 690 properties were sold at a total value of $824 million, which is up over last year.

Preston Hollow Estates continued to produce eye-popping sales. Five estates sold for a total value of more than $31 million. The previous year, 31 properties sold for a total value of more than $150 million. The average sales price in 2018 was $16 million compared to $11 million last year.

Contact an Allman expert to help you sell your home or find your dream home in the fast-paced North Texas housing market. Visit www.alliebeth.com.

EBBY HALLIDAY, REALTORS

Ebby Halliday Companies Celebrate 75 Years of Service

Super Bowl Sunday brought a win to the Kansas City Chiefs in a battle of the NFL Titans. If you’re into momentous celebrations with lots of friends and food, this is your day.

Whether you’re a devoted fan, anticipating the halftime extravaganza, or a media-savvy ad critic ready to review the cutting-edge commercials, there is plenty cheer about.

If you’re ready to host the game next year, here are a few homes that are party read.

An open floor plan’s warm flow of guests moves through the spacious kitchen, to an escape outside by the pool, as each team’s fans can mingle, or congregate separately to cheer at 4236 Hanover Street in University Park.

Imagine family and friends, adorned in bright team colors, blending from stylish living areas inside to the lush backyard of this contemporary home in prestigious Melshire Estates, located at 5623 Brookstown Drive.

Football fans can spread out in inspirational living spaces, or huddle in an incomparably airy, open concept kitchen in this breathtaking Lake Forest home at 11828 Brookhill Lane.

Visit alliebeth.com to contact an experienced agent to find you a home for celebrating all important events.

THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

Soft Contemporary on Oversized Lot

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

Iconic Estate on Beverly

Allie Beth Allman Names Keith Conlon President of Sales Offered for $825,000, 5203 Livingston features 3 bedrooms and 3 baths.

The Ebby Halliday Companies’ 75th anniversary party featured Emerald City Band.

Offered for the first time in over 25 years, 3712 Beverly is being offered for $6,390,000.

After consecutive $2 billion sales years and record suc-

Iconic Beverly Drive estate, on the prestigious 3700 block, offered for the first time in over 25 years. Offered for $6,390,000, this fabulous interior lot is surrounded by homes built by John Sebastian. A truly exceptional lot rivaling the most choice locations in Dallas with just over 0.7 acres of land replete with specimen trees and serenely private grounds.

The ingress and egress to the property is wonderfully enhanced by the unique positioning as one of only three lots on this north side of the block with access from either Beverly Drive or the wide rear lane, thus maximizing the buildable area.

A platinum location centrally located to Lakeside Park, Dallas Country Club, HP Village and the coveted Armstrong Elementary of nationally known Highland Park ISD. A rare one of a kind opportunity!

Contact Ryan Streiff (ryan@daveperrymiller. com) for more information or visit DPMFineHomes.com.

cess in premier neighborhoods, real estate legend Allie Beth Allman has promoted Keith Conlon to President of Sales.

The decision to expand her leadership team was necessitated by unprecedented growth. In two years, the luxury firm expanded to more than 400 agents and opened new offices in Southlake and Lakewood. Conlon has shown a knack for helping agents believe in themselves and achieve their full potential.

“Obviously I’m excited and honored that Allie Beth and Home Services of America think highly enough of me to promote me and give me this opportunity,” Conlon said. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to further my career here and to have been given the chance to keep growing in a new role.”

Conlon has been with the firm 11 years, starting as multi-million dollar producing agent. His first leadership role was Sales Manager. After two years in that position, he was promoted to General Manager where he continued to strengthen what is widely recognized as the strongest luxury brand in Dallas.

According to him, the Allman culture is not something that can be taught or bought. It’s a mindset of putting family first and giving back to the community.

Recently, the Ebby Halliday Companies held a companywide 75th anniversary celebration. The approximately 1,800 attendees enjoyed a fun-filled evening featuring Emerald City Band.

The legacy of Ebby Halliday, who founded Ebby Halliday Realtors in 1945, is carried out daily in North Texas through 2,000-plus agents and staff across three real estate brands and affiliated mortgage, insurance and title companies. It is now amplified by the Ebby Halliday Companies’ affiliation with HomeServices of America, the country’s No. 1 residential real estate company.

“2020 will be a memorable year for our company as we look back with pride and move forward in anticipation,” President & CEO Chris Kelly says. “While we celebrate 75 years of success, we can’t wait to see what the next 75 years will bring.”

“Ebby Halliday Companies clients benefit from knowledgeable, respected agents and a team of professionals dedicated to making buying or selling a home one convenient experience,” Kelly says. “While our skilled agents help you navigate the market, our family of affiliated core-services companies handle your mortgage, insurance and title needs with the utmost care.”

For more information, visit the award-winning ebby. com.

5203 Livingston is a sophisticated soft contemporary on an oversized lot in Mockingbird Park.

An enchanting brick walled courtyard entrance features two landscaped alcove areas just right for a fountain or sculpture. Offered for $825,000, the main living area enjoys a wall of windows and French doors leading to an outside covered entertaining terrace and pool. High ceilings and a gas fireplace flanked by built-in shelving complete this space.

An island kitchen opens with electric cooktop double ovens, wine refrigerator and glass tile backsplash opens to a spacious breakfast area with windows and door to back patio. The adjacent hallway leads to one of the three bedrooms, a utility room and back entrance to the two car attached garage.

The master suite offers views of the yard and pool through plantation shuttered windows. A jetted tub, walk-in shower, dual sink vanity, granite surfaces and a custom walk-in California Closet complement the master bath. An additional bedroom offers an ensuite bath and walk-in closet.

The second story den with wet bar overlooks the downstairs living room. A generously sized second floor sitting balcony overlooking the pool, lushly landscaped grounds and grassy yard is accessible from the den.

Contact Karen Fry (kfry@daveperrymiller.com) or Ryan Streiff (ryan@daveperrymiller.com) for more information or visit DPMFineHomes.com.

parkcitiespeople.com | March 2020 55

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

Properly Packaged, and Buyer-Ready? photos submitted to MLS. Skillful, well-directed photography makes a difference, creating strong visual advantages. The average buyer decides if they like a home in just 90-seconds.

According to NAR, every $100 invested in staging yields $400 in potential returns. Staged homes net 17% more profit on average.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates Realtors create buzz that makes buyers stop, look… and buy.

First impressions matter, as does drive up appeal. Stand across the street with your agent and envision what the buyer will see before anything else.

Psychologists promote uncluttered lives. Clutter creates anxiousness, while white, clean spaces stimulate imaginations, and visions of potential.

Make necessary repairs now, particularly when it comes to bathroom and kitchen improvements, which have been known to swings deals.

Visit alliebeth.com to find an agent to make your home Buyer Ready.

Timeless Greek Revival Estate Home located in the Heart of East TX, Emerald Hill Farm is known for its manicured 48 acres with Private Lakes, Serene Hill-top Views & Abundant Trees & Peach Orchard. Lovingly & Expertly Designed by Highly Respected, Community Stalwarts, Peggy & Howard Coghlan, EHF is Reminiscent of Plantation Homes of the Past, with All the Modern Features, Finishes & Conveniences. Offering over 14,000 sq ft on 3 Floors, Serviced by an Elevator. Two First Floor Master Suites, Grand Entry with Stunning Crystal Chandelier, DR with Venetian Chandelier, Fireplace, Adjacent Silver Closet & Butler’s Pantry, Great Room Emerald Hill Farm | 1035 N Wood Lane, Longview

with 28 x 18 inlaid Savonnerie Rug, Expansive Loggia with Views

6 Bedrooms | 7.1 Bathrooms | 13,227 SqFt

of back lake, deer feeders & grounds. For more information please

Listed At $2,750,000

contact Kyle Crews (214) 538-1310 | kyle.crews@alliebeth.com.

You’re ready to sell your home in the upcoming spring market. But are you buyer-ready?

Experienced Allie Beth Allman & Associates Realtors take an analytical approach to packaging homes through the eyes of the buyer. They are seasoned pros who know exactly how to secure a buyer.

The vast majority of buyers’ first look at a home is online through

C L ASSI FI EDS To place your ad in People Newspapers, please call us at 214-523-5239, fax to 214-594-5779, or e-mail to classified@peoplenewspapers.com. All ads will run in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People and online on both websites. Pre-payment is required on all ads. Deadline for our next edition is Monday, March 2. People Newspapers reserves the right to edit or reject ads. We assume no liability for errors or omissions in advertisements and no responsibility beyond the cost of the ad. We are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

H E A LT H

HOME SERVICES

Dina Taylor

FIREWOOD DELIVERY SPLIT SEASONED OAK 972-333-7444 #1 Home Cleaning Service for a Reason! www.DallasMaids.com (469) 487-6669

BURIAL PROPERTIES

Professional Organizer

EASILY ORGANIZED

941-921-5066 www.easilyorganized.com

Premier Family Estate burial property at Sparkman/Hillcrest with Internment Rights for up to Twelve individuals.

Property is private, hedged and landscaped, and carries forward a Forever Perpetual Maintenance agreement.

For further detail please contact owner by telephone 214.585.2609 or via email: fmafg@mac.com HEALTH

Weight Loss, Energy, Focus,

Depression, Impotency and Fatigue etc.

Leslie Duong, 214-887-8325 LESLIEDUONG.COM BS Biology, Health Nutritionist, Licensed Herbalist HOME SERVICES

HOME SERVICES

R E A L E S TAT E

Storage Building for Rent 8’ x 15’ storage building for rent in the 4300 block of Lovers Lane, $200/mo.

Call 214.540.7209 for more information.

BE SEEN. BE HEARD.

BE HERE.

Classifieds: 214.523.5239