Park Cities People November 2019

COLE DESCENDANTS REFLECT ON LOSS OF TOWN’S LANDMARK PECAN TREE 8

NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 39 NO. 11

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NOT DONE TEACHING Former Belles director Cathy Wheat still imparts life lessons through dance. Page 16

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Learn about area business leaders 35

Section B

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2 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

SCOUTING HELPED FAMILY CONNECT Editor’s note: As Scouts BSA faces legal and financial challenges stemming from pedophiles in its volunteer ranks (see story on Page 10), those who’ve had good experiences with the organization are touting its ongoing value.

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have been fortunate enough to have Scouting as part of my life for over 40 years. I have seen firsthand CHARLES COCHRAN the positive impact of this program not only in my own life but in the life of my sons and the many Scouts and adults that I have been lucky enough to work with.

Texas is and always has been home for my family, but we lived overseas for almost a decade. In 2009, we repatriated and moved into the Park Cities community. We started looking for activities that would provide us with opportunities to meet other families and help our children socialize in the community.

Scouting was an enormous help for our family in this stressful time. Since joining the BSA, my two sons thrived and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout.

The BSA has also provided me with a variety of leadership opportunities such as serving as a Scoutmaster of my local troop and serving as a board member for the Circle Ten Council.

I can say with absolute certainty that the opportunities afforded through BSA have left the same indelible mark on me as a parent as they did on my sons as Scouts.

One of the best parts of Scouting is the

variety of opportunities provided for our children to experience outdoor adventures. I have lead adventure treks to Philmont, Northern Tier, and Sea Base and seen countless examples of Scouts displaying teamwork, self-reliance, commitment, and courage while taking part in these activities.

Scouts also learn and live the ideals explained in the Scout Oath and Law. These do not only help them be better Scouts, but help them be better professionals, parents, and citizens of our great country.

These ideals have always made the BSA a unique and important organization in American society.

For all of these reasons, I’m excited to share a new organization recently started by passionate Scouting parents like myself. The group, BSA Parents, was created to give supporters of the BSA a platform to tell their own stories. For years I have sought every opportunity to tell the story of my Scouting experience and discuss the ways in which the BSA has positively impacted my family.

With BSA Parents, there now exists a channel to share these stories and connect with a parent network dedicated to the Scouting community.

Parents can get involved with BSA Parents online at BSAParents.com. If you are passionate about what Scouting has done for your family, this is your chance to share that with the BSA community. Take advantage of this opportunity and have your story be told.

Charles Cochran Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council

Contents Crime ............................ 4 News .............................. 8 Community ................. 12 Schools ........................ 16 Business ....................... 22 Real Estate Quarterly ..... 24 People to Know ........... 35

Sports .......................... 48 Obituary ...................... 57

Living Well & Faith .... 52 Classifieds .................... 59 Engagement ................. 56 Society .............. Section B

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

A DV E R T I S I N G

O P E R AT I O N S

Senior Account Executives Kim Hurmis Kate Martin

Distribution Manager Don Hancock

Account Executive Tana Hunter Client Services and Marketing Coordinator Kelly Duncan

Publisher: Patricia Martin

Interns Tanika Turner Liliann Albelbaisi Lauren Daniels Dalia Faheid

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 2019. 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 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

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

SMASH, BANG 64TH

Happy birthday to you!

Bistro 31, we’ll do. Hit and run, leave a present: a damaged Honda for you. The disappointed Dallas woman reported that the anonymous “gift” to her 2018 Accord came between 5 and 10:34 p.m. Sept.

20 at Highland Park Village.

‘CRIMEFICIONADOS’ PODCAST EXAMINES LIFE OF HP GRAD JOHN HINCKLEY JR. WHO SHOT REAGAN

By Mitch Gruen

Locking your car and garage should always be on your “to-do” list; just ask this resident in the 4500 block of Emerson Avenue who failed to do both and had $4,100 in jewels stolen sometime between 2 and 2:45 p.m. from his unlocked car in his open garage.

parkcitiespeople.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

Find the Crimeficionados on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and other places podcasts are available. Travis and Lee are on Twitter at @crimeficionados.

T

he wealthy and well-connected Hinckleys were a picture-perfect Highland Park family.

Jack Hinckley founded a profitable oil and gas prospecting company, and his wife, Jo Ann, was involved at the Highland Park schools their children attended.

John Hinckley Jr., the youngest of the three siblings, played basketball and served twice as his class president. His brother Scott was popular and smart, and his sister Diane was a cheerleader and elected to the homecoming court.

But as his siblings thrived, John Jr. became increasingly withdrawn and depressed, living with his parents between unproductive stints at Texas Tech. After seeing the 1978 film Taxi Driver, Hinckley developed a fascination with the actress Jodie Foster and began sending her love letters, which she never answered. Then, in March 1981, he went to Washington D.C. and shot president Reagan.

Educator and research psychologist Lee Flores was 10 years old at the time and has clear memories of the news coverage. As an adult, she

SEPT. 9

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Special Contributor

SEPT. 11

A large Rottweiler that’s all bark and no bite (so far, fingers crossed) has been the talk of the neighborhood in the 3300 block of Cornell Avenue.

Apparently, two separate residents (on two separate occasions) have feared for their life when approached by the barking dog whose owner was nowhere in sight. Around 4 p.m., a woman who said the dog wasn’t hers but lived at the home where the dog

COURTESY PHOTO

Podcasters Lee Flores and Travis Daughtrey discuss the life of John Hinckley Jr. developed an interest in Hinckley’s life story and mental health, which she was able to explore fully while earning her doctorate in psychology.

In her dissertation, Flores casts doubt on the commonly accepted story that Hinckley shot Reagan solely to impress Jodie Foster. Flores instead asserts that a need to be famous, caused by his narcissistic personality disorder, was Hinckley’s primary motivation.

Flores wanted a way to make Hinckley’s story accessible and entertaining and knew that podcasting would be the perfect medium. But with no previous podcast experience,

she wasn’t sure where to start. Flores found an unlikely partner in Travis Daughtrey, a bartender 20 years her junior and self-proclaimed podcast nerd. Travis works directly below Flores’s office at the Lynnhaven Pub in Virginia Beach, where Flores is a regular.

“Travis is very charismatic,” she said, “and I knew he would be great to work with. So, I asked him if he’d like to do a podcast.”

Shortly after that, they began work on Crimeficionados, starting with a 15-episode series on the entire life of John Hinckley, and haven’t looked back. The podcast has

CRIME REPORTS SEPT. 9 – OCT. 6

was hanging out in the front lawn, was issued a citation by local officers.

SEPT. 14

A 2007 gold Mercedes Benz SL 550 that was stolen (keyfob inside) around 9 a.m. Sept. 13, while a couple went for a walk in the 4800 block of Lakeside Drive, was recovered around 1:40 p.m.

SEPT. 16

Things weren’t so sweet for Sprinkles Ice Cream on the Plaza at Preston Center where someone broke in and tried to steal a safe around 1 a.m.

The burglar made off with $3,500 in cash and caused damage to the front door and the safe.

SEPT. 18

A white iPhone 8 went missing

between and 7:30 p.m. when it fell out of a Dallas woman’s purse as she left her booth at Mi Cocina at Highland Park Village.

grown quickly, and Daughtrey thinks the age difference between him and Flores has helped to keep things interesting.

“It creates a good discussion and good dialogue,” he said.

Hinckley is now 64 and very nearly a free man, though he remains under the auspices of both Saint Elizabeth Hospital, where he received extensive psychiatric care, and the court.

He lives with his mother and brother, and works at an antique mall in Williamsburg, Virginia. He must stay within 75 miles of Williamsburg, but next year he could get a full, unconditional release.

The proposition of a completely free Hinckley has been met with mixed reactions, but Flores and Daughtrey don’t think it’s a problem.

Said Daughtrey, “He’s definitely still a narcissist, but I don’t think that he is really a threat to society.”

utility services in his name in the 3400 block Harvard Ave.

OCT. 1

A verbal altercation turned physical when a person was struck in the face at 5:04 p.m. in the 4300 block Amherst Avenue.

A resident found glass broken but nothing missing out of a black Lexus in what appeared to be an attempted car burglary at 6:42 a.m. in the 4400 block of Amherst Avenue.

SEPT. 25

OCT. 3

SEPT. 20

A woman reported at 2 p.m. that some type of projectile shot through her front window shattering glass in the 4200 block of Armstrong Parkway.

A man’s meal at Café Brazil turned sour when he found out at 11:30 p.m. that someone broke into his vehicle and stole a notebook computer and a Swiss backpack.

SEPT. 26

OCT. 6

Reported at 4:14 p.m.: A man discovered that someone at a property he sold years ago was receiving

A woman reported her 44-yearold husband missing at 9:43 p.m. in the 3500 block of Asbury Avenue.

8 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

News

TAKE ONE FINAL LOOK AT BIG PECAN TREE Descendants of Cole hope traditions continue

By Maria Adolphs

Special Contributor

A

s a young girl, Patricia Essa Purcell Bagnall would walk with her grandmother on Lakeside Drive to fill jugs with artesian water and listen to tales of the “early days.”

Those tales included the story of Joseph Cole, the Civil War veteran who saved the pencil-thin sapling that would grow to become a beloved landmark — The Big Pecan Tree on Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road.

Bagnall, Cole’s great-granddaughter, said the tree has always represented the Christmas season — a sign of the holiday’s approach.

“I remember riding down Preston Road in early December as the lights were being placed on the tree and knowing soon the lights would be glowing and Christmas was coming,” Bagnall said.

She kept the tradition by bringing her children and grandchildren to see the majestic tree.

Jamie and Anita Bagnall, Cole’s great-great-grandchildren first heard about the tree f rom their mother and grandmother Louise Cole Purcell.

“Joseph had just returned f rom the Civil War, and the impact of what he saw during the war inspired him to save the sprouting tree. I am sure people probably thought he was a little eccentric for growing a tree in the middle of his fields,” Jamie said.

Anita sees the tree as a free spirit given

JAMIE BAGNALL

An image taken for a photography darkroom class shows how the Big Pecan looked in 1982.

BETHANY ERICKSON

Street crews worked near the Big Pecan Tree on Armstrong Parkway in early October. a second chance. “I think the times were so different then that life, even of a tree, was important to save.”

I feel lucky that I was here to enjoy the tree and the pleasure it brought to the crowds. It served the community well.

Patricia Essa Purcell Bagnall For her, the tree symbolizes her family and its roots in Dallas history.

“It’s quite an honor to be related to someone connected to such an iconic landmark,” Jamie said.

But as a young man, he rarely shared his connection. “I guess I felt like it would be bragging to tell my friends in high school that I was related to the original landowners

of what is now Highland Park.”

He is proud the tree has brought so much joy to others, especially his children. “It became a family tradition to load up, drive to Highland Park to look at Christmas lights and always end at the pecan tree.”

Anita often brought her special needs students to see the tree and wrote about it in school essays. Likewise, Jamie’s son, Austin Bagnall, recently featured the tree in a school project about family heritage.

“It has given people years of enjoyment and memories, of seeing it at Christmas or picking pecans fallen from its branches,” Anita said.

Although saddened by the tree’s decline and scheduled removal, the Bagnalls said it had a good life.

They hope a nearby tree, believed related to the historic monarch pecan, will take its place of honor and serve generations for years to come, Patricia said.

“I feel lucky that I was here to enjoy the tree and the pleasure it brought to the crowds,” she said. “It served the community well.”

Farewell Old Monarch By the time you read this, Highland Park’s historic monarch pecan, known to many as the Big Pecan Tree, may already be gone.

Crews with Preservation Tree were scheduled to begin removal on Oct. 21, town staff said.

Consulting arborist Micah Pace of Preservation Tree has overseen care of the tree since 2016, but treatments were unable to reverse its continued decline and loss of canopy.

The Town Council in June agreed to his recommendation of removal for the tree and later budgeted $27,000 for that purpose.

Urban Timber Harvest will mill, kilndry, and store the recovered timber so the council can consider commemorative uses of the wood, dependng on the quality and quantity available.

The town’s lighting contractor will decorate the nearby sister tree for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec.5.

– Staff report

10 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Can New Parents Group Bolster Interest in Scouting?

As BSA faces abuse lawsuits, financial uncertainty, some tout benefits Certainly, we’re not ashamed of serving millions of kids a year.

We want to serve more. We want to serve them all.

Don McChesney

By Bill Miller

Special Contributor Forty-five years ago, the Boy Scouts of America served 3 million young men who enrolled to learn leadership, community service, and plenty of “high-adventure” outdoor skills.

By 2019, enrollment had dropped to 2 million, said Don McChesney, a retired executive for the Irving-based group, now called Scouts BSA. No single thing caused the decline, McChesney said, although there are many rivals for free time, including video games and social media.

The organization also faces speculation about its financial future in the wake of lawsuits claiming hundreds suffered sexual abuse over decades at the hands of adult scoutmasters.

With headquarters staffers having much to do on the public relations front, a new volunteer group has formed to talk about Scouting’s benefits and virtues: BSA Parents.

“If we’re sharing fun quality programs, other parents will see that Scouting is the place to be,” said McChesney, who chairs the

COURTESY PHOTO

Scouts do more than camp. They learn leadership and kindness. organization.

Social media and the BSA Parents’ website are conduits for parents’ praises for Scouting, which is now open to girls, McChesney said.

McChesney, who lives in Keller, retired two years ago after more than 40 years in BSA leadership roles around the nation.

He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout in Lexington, Ohio, where he was awarded Scouting’s highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout.

Park Cities and Preston Hollow are home to many such elite Scouts.

Included are Eagles from Troop 68, sponsored by Highland Park United Methodist Church; Troop 518, Park Cities Baptist Church; Troop 70, University Park Elementary School; Troop 125, Grace Bible Church; and Troop 577, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Parents of these young men have unique perspectives, said Leigh Anne LeBlanc of Plano, national communications director for BSA Parents and mother to two Eagle Scouts.

“Sure, they learn about tying

DON McCHESNEY knots, but it’s not just camping and tents,” LeBlanc said. “It’s about leadership skills and management skills, with a lot of patriotism thrown in there.

“They learn kindness, integrity.”

Scouting officials say they’re happy to get help from BSA Parents.

“BSA Parents is an important voice for Scouting,” officials said in a statement to People Newspapers,

“and we love to hear their stories of families growing together through their participation in our programs.”

Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh issued a statement responding to speculation that filing bankruptcy is possible to facilitate settlement negotiations with plaintiffs of abuse lawsuits.

“We have a social and moral responsibility to fairly compensate victims who suffered abuse during their time in Scouting, and we also have an obligation to carry out our mission to serve youth, families, and local communities through our programs,” Surbaugh said.

As for BSA Parents, McChesney said, “We don’t mess around with the legal stuff. We don’t have to.”

“We’re in a market for the competition for children’s time,” he added, “and we want to be at the forefront. Certainly, we’re not ashamed of serving millions of kids a year. We want to serve more.

“We want to serve them all.”

ON THE WEB: BSA Parents bsaparents.com

12 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community

LEARN TO BE A HATRED-COUNTERING UPSTANDER Holocaust museum challenges visitors to stand up

I F YO U G O What: Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Where: 300 N. Houston St. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and many holidays (closed New Year’s Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day) Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors, military, and educators; $12 for students (not recommended for children younger than 12) Online: dhhrm.org AMANDA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

Dallas’ Holocaust museum is no longer a small place in the Jewish Community Center basement. From a grand downtown location, it seeks to change hearts.

By Dalia Faheid

People Newspapers

O

fficials for the new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum want visitors to imagine a future where the world is full of “upstanders,” people who stand up against hatred and bigotry.

“At a time when our country is being attacked from within by domestic terrorists acting on hatred and racist ideology, our mission at the new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is not only timely but critically needed,” museum president and CEO Mary Pat Higgins said.

According to the latest hate crime report by the FBI, hate crimes across the U.S. rose 17% from 2016 to 2017, with the majority of victims targeted due to their race, religion,

and sexual orientation. Hate crimes in Texas have seen a similar rise, with DPS reporting a 6.7% increase between 2016 and 2017.

To counter those attitudes, museum designers used a combination of exhibits and architecture to tell the stories of genocide survivors.

Architects used copper because the outer layer corrodes to protect the inner layer, symbolizing how survivors have chosen to remain resilient and hopeful despite the injustices they’ve suffered.

Dallas Holocaust survivor Max Glauben compares the opening of the new museum to a 40-yearseed finally taking root.

A project that started as a small museum in the Max Glauben

basement of the Jewish Community Center has become a landmark featuring a hologram of Glauben. His image responds to visitors in the Dimensions of Testimony Theater and shares stories of his Holocaust experiences.

“There isn’t a person in this world that cannot come into this museum, their children, their grandchildren, their great, great-grandchildren, God knows for how long,” he said, “and ask a question.”

Glauben survived the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi invasion of Poland. He survived becoming an orphan by age 13 and imprisonment at five different concentration camps. At 91, Glauben is one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors in Dallas.

Glauben likens hatred to dough. “You

take a little piece, and you put it in the refrigerator, and overnight, it becomes a big bunch of dough,” he said.

Ending this growing hatred, Glauben said, is as simple as “choosing the goodness in you.”

Individuals possess whatever it takes to be a good human being, an upstander, he said.

In a world where people are persecuted because of their religion, education can lead to positive change, Glauben said.

The ultimate goal, museum officials say, is to teach 100,000 student visitors annually how to be upstanders.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who was present at the recent museum opening along with Gov. Greg Abbott, embraced that goal.

“My dream for Dallas is that we will be a city of upstanders,” Johnson said.

Rwandan Genocide Survivor Finds a Place to Tell Her Story

By Dalia Faheid

perpetrators were surrounding the orphanage ready to murder,” she said. “And I remember thinking, I am going to die, my brothers and sisters, we are all going to die.”

People Newspapers Focusing on human rights violations throughout history, the new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum tells the stories of genocide victims around the world.

“I saw myself because the museum represents every survivor of hate crimes,” Rwandan genocide survivor Lydia Nimbeshaho said.

Her favorite part of the museum is the Memorial and Reflection room because she never had the chance to mourn her loved ones properly.

Her memories of the genocide came back as she visited the Rwandan genocide exhibit.

“It’s intense, but it’s also a beautiful feeling to see where we came from and where we are,”

AMANDA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

Lydia Nimbeshaho says she wants to stop the cycle of hate. she said.

Only 25 years ago, an estimated 800,000 Tutsi people were brutally murdered in three months.

Speaking at the museum opening, Nimbeshaho told of her

parents’ murder when she was only 6. Forced to live in an orphanage, she and her 10-year-old sister had to care for their younger siblings.

“I remember being in the orphanage and hearing that the

It’s intense, but it’s also a beautiful feeling to see where we came from and where we are.

Lydia Nimbeshaho Nimbeshaho sobbed as she described the dehumanization and betrayal at the hands of the Tutsis’ neighbors, friends, and even family members.

Despite the tragedies she’s overcome, Nimbeshaho has learned not to carry the burden of hatred on her back.

When her children ask who the killers were, she assigns blame only to prejudice, careful not to continue a cycle of hate. She doesn’t want her kids to “grow up thinking every Hutu is a killer.”

Ending the cycle begins with educating the young, she said.

The perpetrators “inherited the hatred of their parents, which means if they had the right environment to grow up in, they would have turned into something different,” she said.

Nimbeshaho said that what she went through gave her the strength to become an upstander. She dreams of counseling other genocide survivors to confront their mental health traumas.

November 2019 13

Make Gratitude Contagious November is a happy month designated for gratitude, and never more than now has our nation needed that.

November is the new October.

We can be grateful that, with any luck, we will finally be able to turn off the air conditioning.

Our trees will turn auLEN BOURLAND tumnal in Texas while the Northeastern fall foliage is long gone.

Despite the Christmas decorations, with good humor, we can try to stay focused on that uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving.

We’ve taken the old Puritan holiday of giving thanks for providential good fortune, the bounty of a good harvest, and morphed it into a holiday. We are no longer a nation of farmers, yet we are a bountiful land.

Give thanks. It’s why so many want to come here.

Our history of the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and having a feast with the friendly natives may be part fact, part myth, but who doesn’t remember dressing up in some grade school re-enactment including songs such as “Come ye thankful people come?”

George Washington proclaimed Nov. 26, 1789, a day of national thanksgiving for the formation of our new government and freedom.

In November of 1863, Abraham Lincoln also proclaimed a national Thanksgiving. Yet the date was not legislated as a national holiday until Franklin D. Roosevelt made it the next to last Thursday in November (allegedly for business reasons). A day to feast and give thanks.

Norman Rockwell rendered what a Thanksgiving table should resemble: a big turkey with lots of sides and the relatives to partake.

It’s one of my favorite holidays because it’s about a shared meal.

Gone are the days when a team of women spent the day in the kitchen orchestrating this production, while the kids watched the Macy’s parade on TV. The lines at Honeybaked Ham and the big box stores, as well as groceries and restaurants, are a testament to assembling rather than cooking the feast consumed during halftime of a favorite televised football team.

During dessert, some still draw names for a family member for those who are looking ahead at Christmas shopping.

Other blessings? It’s no longer necessary to fight the lines at the mall sales the day after Thanksgiving, thanks to online shopping.

The national elections are an entire year away, so avoid politics.

Just be happy the weather’s nice enough for the kids to go outside to play. Be grateful. It’s contagious.

Reach columnist Len Bourland at lenbourland@gmail.com

14 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Letters to The Editor Editor’s note: We planned the Lady Scots Got Game section in October with intentions of following it up with a second section after the first of the year. That section is still in the planning and approval process.

What About Lacrosse?

I noticed the nice insert you did about all the girls playing HP sports. I want to congratulate you for the idea of supporting the young women that play athletics at the high school level. However, like any great idea, it is all about execution.

Unfortunately, you left out the fastest growing girls’ sport - lacrosse. Because of this, I have taken many phone calls from concerned Highland Park parents asking why you excluded their daughters’ team.

Many of the comments were around why would you excluded a sport that has done well in numbers, growth and/or success on the field. I am not trying to diminish other sports in your article whom may not have done as well, but I do want to highlight lacrosse’s success. I am sure that this oversight is due to focusing on the sports you either write about or think are important; however, HP girls lacrosse is growing and here to stay. I encourage you to become more involved with their success and report on it.

A few data points: 1. HP Girls Lacrosse has been ranked as one of the top girl’s lacrosse team’s in the state the past couple of years.

2. HP Girls Lacrosse will be picked as one of the top teams to win state again this year.

3. We have four senior girls who will be signing college letters of intent this year (I am wondering how many other HP girls’ programs can say the same).

4. In addition to these four, we have had

prior players commit to play lacrosse at Stanford, Yale, Northwestern, Butler, and American University.

5. The program (second – 12th grade) continues to grow and has over 100 girls playing fall ball - spring ball typically has more as it is our season.

I am happy to discuss this further and relay to your customers/lacrosse parents what you are going to do to rectify the mistake made.

Matt Taylor President – HP Girls Lacrosse

Where’s Softball?

I loved that you did an insert on Female Athletes of HPHS! You even showed softball players Lilli and Katie Reenan (Lilli, sophomore, starting pitcher 2020 and Katie, Captain, graduated May 2019.) but inside the issue there was NO mention of softball. At all.

The Bombers (fall HS league softball) played last night and beat the Garland team 5-0. All the parents there were disappointed and perplexed as to what happened in the special section.

It is an exciting team with six returning seniors - Grace Brown, Dawson Dabboussi, Ciara Fortenberry, Olivia Melley, Monroe Glass and Ava Sims - with the best finish they had ever had last season. The Spring season starts Feb. 2, 2020.

Please contact Head Coach Michael Pullen and get all the details and put it in

an upcoming issue with apologies to this hardworking team you left out.

Elizabeth Egan Miller University Park

The Beauty of Rowing

First, I want to compliment you on the October 2019 section highlighting women’s athletics at Highland Park High School.

Tradition and excellence, hallmarks of Highland Park athletics, have been earned by the men’s and women’s teams alike, and the section put the focus directly on women’s sports, including the Sparkling Scots.

A quote from your “Symbols of Female Empowerment” article stands out: “I didn’t participate much in sports. I was a chubby kid and lacked the confidence that I could run fast enough or was coordinated enough, but at the time, I was OK with that.” In this quote, I heard echoes of my eldest daughter’s middle school struggles with sports and her desire to find a group in which to belong. Rachel, as an eighth-grader, was already 5’ 9” tall, piquing the interest of basketball and volleyball coaches alike. But, like with many kids who grow fast, agility and coordination lagged behind height and strength. Nevertheless, she persisted, but even the aggressive strategies of field and court sports were counter to her nature. In basketball, she would rebound but not shoot; in volleyball, she would block but

not hit.

One day, I saw a flyer for Dallas United Crew (DUC), the nonprofit for which HP Crew rows. I recalled my husband, who went to school on the East Coast and had friends on his college’s crew team, once commenting, “I bet Rachel would be good at crew.”

To say Rachel took to rowing like a duck to water is an understatement. In her own words: “I love the movement; I love going one, solid, motion; I loved how graceful it was; but, I loved that with grace you can hit the power and go really fast!”

Rachel and her HP Crew teammates went on to win US Rowing’s Central Region Championships three of the past four years and were silver medalists the only year they did not win gold.

Part of the beauty of the sport is that there is no bench. Everyone competes at their level of experience, size, and proficiency. From the start, they race and build muscle and technique, with the goal of earning a seat in a faster boat to race faster competition.

Natural ability will take you only so far; to be the best, you have to do the work in union with teammates you trust and can depend on. There are no superstars in rowing. Eight oarsmen and their coxswain cross the finish line as one, and in this, are two of rowing’s greatest lessons: humility and camaraderie.

HP Crew is one of four club sports recognized by the HP Athletics Department (The others are field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse). I hope the next time Park Cities People features the Lady Scots, you will think of HP Crew. They have a lot to add to the story.

Katrina Craycroft University Park

16 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

WHEAT STILL TEACHING GIRLS TO DANCE FOR LIFE Former drill team director helps another generation of Belles

By Tina-Tien Nguyen Special Contributor

C

CHRIS MCGATHEY

COURTESY HIGHLAND PARK DANCE COMPANY

ABOVE: Cathy Wheat leads classes three days a week at Highland Park Dance Company. BELOW: Two generations of students pose with their teacher, Cathy Wheat.

FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Ellie Walters, Margaret Hopper, Helena Briggs, Shelby Pettit, Emma Wheeler, Cate Margolin, Gwyn Moore, and Heather Greenfield. BACK ROW: Katie Walters, Michelle Hopper, Laura Briggs, Sheridan Pettit, Cathy Wheat, Elizabeth Wheeler, Melissa Margolin, Lisa Moore, and Alyson Greenfield.

athy Wheat, founder and former director of the Highland Belles drill team at Highland Park High School, may never stop dancing.

For more than 35 years, she has dedicated her life to helping girls excel in their passion dancing and drill team.

That work continues three evenings a week at Highland Park Dance Company, where many of her students are daughters of her former Belles.

“I always ask the girls, ‘Are you doing this because your mother was a Belle?’

And they all say, ‘No,’” she said. “They are doing it because of what they see on the field. They love the Belles, and they love how they dance how they perform.”

When Wheat was a drill team dancer with the Kilgore Rangerettes (first drill team in the United States), she was always taught to be “fair, firm, and consistent.”

She has carried on that rule in her everyday teachings of dance.

“The driving passion did not come from me. It came from the girls,” Wheat said. The secret to success is that you have to push them beyond what they are sometimes. I take their desire, and I push them the best that they can be.”

Wheat aims for her lessons to go beyond dance and drill team, for them to build core values such as “discipline, dedication, learning to be on time, taking

constructive criticism, and self-sacrifice.”

“It gives them an avenue to be stronger, more independent, and overall a more self-sufficient woman,” she said. “There’s going be failures in life, and you better be able to be self-reliant and strong enough to pick yourself up and move on.”

Dance lessons last forever, Wheat explained.

“It is perfect for raising a family, having a business, and serving a committee,” she said. “Dancing will fade away, but life lessons never will.”

Highland Park Dance Company owner Casey Sinclair, a former Belle, likes seeing her previous teacher work with a new generation of dancers.

“Her ability to reach these young girls is still unmatched all of these years later,” Sinclair said. “She has a gift for seeing into the hearts of young people, believing the best of them, and helping them to believe in themselves.”

Wheat is proud of Sinclair.

“When I leave the studio, Casey will be there to continue the legacy, and there will be other great teachers there,” Wheat said. “I love working with the girls, and I can’t put a timeline on that, but when that time is there, I will know.”

It is perfect for raising a family, having a business, and serving a committee.

Dancing will fade away, but life lessons never will.

Cathy Wheat

BUSINESS BASICS WHAT: Highland Park Dance Company WHERE: 8300 Douglas Ave. WEBSITE: hpdance.com

18 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

A Tale of Two Hemispheres: Straddling The Equator

By Donna Pierce

the Galapagos tortoises was a treat.

Seeing Sally Lightfoot crab and watching huge iguanas sunning on the sands when the sea lions leave enough room is an adventure of Darwinian proportions. I’d heard about the blue-footed boobies but not the Nazca ones.

Frigate birds, pelican, doves, swallowtail and lava gulls, Darwin finches, herons – depending on the island visited – the list could go on and on.

Special Contributor Have you ever been where the sun rises at 6:30 a.m. and sets at 6:30 p.m. every single day? Where in July, it never leaves the low 80s?

My Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) summer trip to Ecuador included a tour of Quito, the largest capital in South America, and standing on the equator.

I loved getting my passport stamped at zero degrees latitude where I’m in the middle of the world. One foot into the Northern Hemisphere, the water in the sink runs counterclockwise, and one step into the Southern Hemisphere, it runs clockwise.

Days later we flew to Coca and took a three-hour motor canoe trip on the Napo River to our Yarna Lodge in the Amazon jungle. There, netting is not for mosquitoes – it’s for bats.

In the Amazon, a great integrated system of rivers and jungles, only about 10% of sunlight penetrates the jungle canopy and reaches the forest floor.

My favorite part: listening to the chirps and trills of animals and light rain on a thatched roof each night.

We climbed a 243-foot observation tower to view birds and monkeys; visited Yusani National Park where natural erosion-caused formations attract parrots, parakeets, and macaws; and had lunch with a family living in the Amazon watershed.

We loved the fresh fish roasted in large leaves. Grub worms on skewers (Amazon bacon) proved crisp, a little salty, and delicious enough to have several. Popcorn went into our yummy soup (you always put popcorn in your soup in Ecuador).

Next came a trip to the Galapagos

I loved getting my passport stamped at zero degrees latitude where I’m in the middle of the world.

COURTESY DONNA PIERCE

Donna straddles the equator, approaches one of the famed Galapagos tortoises, and rides a dinghy to her next adventure.

Islands, where we climbed aboard our boat with a crew of seven to spend a week exploring the archipelago. Our cruising itinerary, strictly enforced by the Galapagos National Park, minimized our impact to the ecosystems of the islands.

Visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station on Isla Santa Cruz and hiking the grounds to see

I was glad I was wearing not only my patch for seasickness but also bracelets on both arms because in July the Humboldt Current delivers choppy water around the islands.

Some days were dry landings and the others wet, but having crew helping load and unload and the dinghy having steps with railing on the bow made it possible for me.

I was impressed with the white sand beaches – the sparking clear aquamarine water and black and red volcanic rock landscapes. With sunsets at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m., we could view constellations in both the Northern AND Southern Hemispheres and be in bed early enough to experience another adventure in the morning.

Donna Pierce, an 85-year-old astronomy teacher at Highland Park High School and devoted Girl Scout, has made more than a dozen trips with Overseas Adventure Travel. Visit oattravel.com.

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019  19

20 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Want a Keepsake of Your Old Elementary? Teens Anticipate Next Alumnus turns salvaged wood into commemorative pens Junior Symphony Ball

By Maddie Spera

Special Contributor Inspired by a friend’s Facebook posts, Andrew Hamilton learned how to turn pens on a lathe several years ago.

“I thought it looked really fun, so I just called him out of the blue one day and asked him to teach me,” Hamilton said.

Since then the 1994 graduate of Highland Park High School has used his new hobby to create keepsakes for those wanting to preserve memories of the old campus buildings in the Park Cities.

Hamilton makes pens from the wood salvaged from the torn down elementary schools of University Park, Bradfield, and Hyer, as well as the stage of Armstrong.

“I thought it was a fun way to let someone hold a piece of their history in their hands,” Hamilton said. “It’s something tangible that you can use every day that’s a piece of the school.”

He sells the pens to alumni and others who may be interested and donates 25 percent of each sale to the Highland Park Alumni Association.

“The coolest thing has been meeting so many people,” Hamilton said. “I made some pens for a woman, and when I took them by her house, she answered the door, and she said, ‘Hey, I babysat you when you were a kid, and we

ended up talking for half an hour.

Then last year, a sister of a buddy I went to high school with bought some pens for her brothers for Christmas. Later I got a message from one of them saying the pens were the coolest thing. So it’s been really neat to reconnect and also meet some new people.”

A friend who bought a Bradfield pen contacted him and said her childhood house was being sold. She asked if Hamilton could make pens from the wood of the house, and he was able to oblige.

He also turns pens from the

wood of historic baseball stadiums, such as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, but the Highland Park ISD elementary school pens have proven surprisingly important to him.

“It’s kind of funny,” Hamilton said. “When they were tearing down University Park and Bradfield, people were getting a little emotional about it, and I was thinking, ‘It’s just a building.’ But I’ll be honest, when I walked into Hyer to get the materials out of there, I kind of started to understand, because it was my childhood, and it was where I went to school, you know?”

BUSINESS BASICS Andrew Hamilton’s Highland Park ISD pens sell for $40 each. Email or call at: hamyjuniorchili@gmail.com 214-716-9005.

ABOVE: More than 300 teens attended a Junior Symphony Ball kickoff event at The Morton Meyerson Center. LEFT: Dallas Symphony Orchestra Young Strings perform at the Junior Symphony Ball kickoff event.

You don’t have to be old to love the symphony.

More than 300 10th through 12th-grade students f rom 27 high schools turned out in late September at the Morton Meyerson Center for a kickoff event held by the Junior Symphony Ball co-chairs.

About 1,500 teens will attend the actual ball at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 2020, at Gilley’s South Side Ballroom. Visit jsbdallas.com

or email juniorsymphonyball@ gmail.com to learn more.

JSB, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s longest-running fundraiser, is “student run-parent-guided” and supports outreach programs such as Young Strings and Young Musicians.

Most of the balls’ co-chairs are f rom the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

-Staff Report

22 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Business

PARENTING PROBLEMS? THE RABBOTT COMPANY HOPS TO THE RESCUE Couple produces ‘happy’ products to help negotiate for healthier behaviors

By Maddie Spera

Special Contributor

W

hen their oldest child was an uncooperative 3-year-old, Woody and Meredith Rabbott found inspiration for a company to create wellness-inspired products to help parents raise healthy, happy children.

“He was in his pajamas all summer, and we would have the hardest time getting him dressed in the morning,” Meredith Rabbott said. “So we were like, ‘Ok, let’s get creative.

What can we do to get him dressed?’”

Woody had an idea and spent an hour on sketches of an elephant getting dressed.

“And I didn’t even know he could draw, but it was really good, so he drew a couple other little characters, and soon we decided to make our own behavior and wellness board,” Meredith said.

with various activity tiles to support healthy habits, such as following directions, cleaning up, and being active. Children earn rewards with stars for completing tasks or participating in good behaviors.

The happyboard is expected to be available for purchase in mid-December.

The Rabbotts also recently published an accompanying book, Ollie Goes to the Museum. They wrote it together, and Woody illustrated it.

Woody and Meredith have noticed a difference in their home when it comes to establishing healthy habits, and have seen their children respond well to their products.

“We know if they do these things, they’re going to feel better about themselves and feel happier,” Woody Rabbott said. “We, as parents, don’t want to give up on our kids eating vegetables. We don’t want to have to sacrifice basic standards, but the less time we have to spend negotiating on it and going back and forth, the happier we’re going to be and the happier the kids are going to be.”

Woody and Meredith have other products in the works, such as more blocks for their happyboard and other ideas for children’s books.

“This is just something started by two parents who really love their kids,” Woody Rabbott said. “This is by parents, for parents. We

We don’t want to have to sacrifice basic standards, but the less time we have to spend negotiating on it and going back and forth, the happier we’re going to be and the happier the kids are going to be.

Woody Rabbott The Highland Park couple co-founded The Rabbott Company and developed the “happyboard.” The behavioral chart comes

COURTESY PHOTOS

have no violence, no cheap laughs, none of that stuff you often see in children’s cartoons or products. This is all the love and hope and passion of a husband and a wife who started this for their own children going out into the world. We’re trying to connect with kids in a way we feel is right, and we’re excited to see what happens next.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Woody, Meredith, Teddy, and Charlie Rabbott.

“Ollie Goes to the Museum” is available now online and in a few stores. The happyboard! serves as a daily wellness board, is available for pre-order, and should arrive later this year.

BUSINESS BASICS The Rabbott Company rabbottkids.com

24 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Real Estate Quarterly WHAT COULD $14.5 MILLION BUY?

A historic Hal Thomson-designed mansion with modern updates

The 11,459-square-foot mansion on Armstrong Parkway has 17 rooms including five bedrooms and 7.5 baths.

By Tanika Turner People Newspapers

T

orie Steele took on the complex remodel of 4224 Armstrong Pkwy., designed by the late Hal Thomson, and with the help of Larson and Pedigo Architects, gave her historic mansion modern amenities and sophistication.

Now for sale, the single-family home, built in 1928, boasts five bedrooms and 7.5 baths.

The 11,459-square-foot mansion sits on 0.51 acres, and with 17 rooms, family members should have no problem finding somewhere to be alone or places to entertain.

Through the years, only a handful of families have occupied the home, including

Virginia McAlester. The Harvard graduate authored A Field Guide to American Houses, using text, drawings, and photos to break down American House Styles in a way that even novices can understand.

Dan Rhodes with The Rhodes Group of Compass is tasked with selling this masterpiece, listed for $14.528 million.

“The house was done well,” he said. “The quality and craftsmanship are second to none.”

The house includes luxuries such as heated floors, generators, plaster walls, and molding and has an elevator that goes to all four levels.

To satisfy your inner environmentalist, Steele added energy-saving features such as double-paned windows foam insulation, solar panels, a tankless water heater, and ceiling fans.

The original architect, Thomas, created some of Dallas’s grandest homes in the most prestigious areas and was considered

Steele took the skeleton of the original structure and made it shine by seamlessly blending both new and old.

Dan Rhodes

PHOTOS COURTESY COSTA CHRIST

a master of different designs such as Tudor, Georgian, and Neoclassical.

His best-known works include a Georgian Revival-style home at 5439 Swiss Ave., and the Aldredge House at 5500 Swiss Ave. He also designed the Cotton Exchange Building and collaborated on the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park.

“Steele took the skeleton of the original structure and made it shine by seamlessly blending both new and old,” Rhodes said.

The tile and stone surfaces come from Italy, Portugal, and Mexico, and the hardware and fixtures come from England, France, and Italy, Rhodes said. “The designer paid close attention to detail when creating this beautiful home.”

26 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Laszlo Talks Grand Kitchens, Spa-Like Baths Transylvania transplant enjoys remodeling Dallas homes

By William Taylor People Newspapers

As a small town boy in the Transylvania region of Romania, Botond Laszlo learned to Botond Laszlo avoid waste and instead repair and repurpose.

Those values stuck with him as he immigrated to the United States and embarked on a career in construction.

His approach won Marvelous Home Makeovers, a Dallas company he founded in 2004, Environmental Protection Agency certification, as well as several green remodeling awards from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Recent projects included a spalike bathroom in Highland Park and a massive kitchen with two dishwashers, two refrigerators, and a 13-foot-long island in University Park.

What kind of homeowner needs a kitchen this grand?

Everyone knows the kitchen

ABOVE: Relocating the kitchen and removing a wall in this Westminster Avenue home allowed for a show-stopping space ideal for family time and entertaining. Custom paneling hides storage beneath the stairs. RIGHT: Overhauling the master bathroom in this Rosedale Street home meant reconfiguring the layout and installing a dream shower with a variety of showerheads, steam options, and speakers in the ceiling. is the heart of the home, and this project was no different. The previous kitchen was disjointed and isolated and didn’t allow the open feel that the client wanted for family time and entertaining. It’s not so much about what kind of homeowner needs a grand kitchen, it’s more about understanding the client and listening to their needs to build a kitchen around their lifestyle. This kitchen is absolutely

grand but also fits the space in the house in its entirety.

What’s your favorite feature to include in a kitchen?

Built-in coffee makers and prep-station style sinks. Why coffee makers? Well, because I love coffee and I love to entertain, so being able to marry the two in a single design is exciting. And I like prep-station style sinks because

COURTESY MARVELOUS HOME MAKEOVERS

I’m all about function, and I want to make sure everything we build satisfies even the most experienced chef ’s needs.

clients can choose other options like digitally-controlled steam showers, air massage, and heated tubs or heated floors.

What are your must-haves for a bathroom remodel?

Bathrooms to me need to be highly functional, yet clean and easy to maintain. You start your day and end your day in your bathroom. Designing space for functionality is always critical, and can be created through ample counter space and proper lighting. A large, comfortable shower with multiple shower heads is just a starting point. Beyond that,

Where should homeowners splurge? Where should they save?

One area to splurge on is cabinets and appliances, because if you cheap out, you will pay for it later. Don’t try to cut costs on the plumbing fixtures either, because those are being used every single day and need to last for a long time. One way to save costs is to use a man-made stone rather than a natural stone.

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 27

Six Homes Get Landmark Designations

4421 Lorraine Ave.

3724 Amherst Ave.

By Bethany Erickson People Newspapers

A bumper crop of six Park Cities homes received landmark designations by the Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society.

About a dozen historic home aficionados joined in on the on Oct. 5 festivities, stopping at each home to hear PCHPS board member (and University Park Mayor Pro Tem) Taylor Armstrong explain why each home was chosen and point out various items of interest. Homeowners were on hand to answer questions at many homes as well.

“As you know, we live in a very special community, the Park Cities, and there are few that compare,” Armstrong told the crowd as they gathered at the first home of the morning. “One of the things that

3551 University Blvd.

3547 University Blvd.

3600 Lovers Lane

3516 University Blvd.

sets us apart are the homes we live in.

“We are blessed with an abundance of architecturally and historically significant houses and our Society strives to preserve them for future generations to enjoy and appreciate,” he added.

Homes added to the growing list of landmarked structures include: 4421 Lorraine, owned by Adeline and Francois Turner; 3724 Amherst, owned by Betty Taylor Cox; 3600 Lovers Lane, owned

by Lauris and Jay Massa; 3551 and 3547 University Boulevard, owned by Sally and Christopher Pfeiffer; and 3516 University Boulevard, owned by Mike and Marla Boone.

The morning ended with a casual reception at the Boone home, hosted by PCHPS president Marla Boone.

Interested in landmarking your historic home? Visit pchps.org.

28 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 3216 Princeton Avenue

L

ove Napa Valley? How about Napa Valley in the heart of Highland Park? Designed by award-winning architectural firm WernerField, this home mixes the best of the wine country’s casual style with Dallas sophistication to create something warm and inviting.

The custom home showcases a love of design and attention to detail, while still creating a happy hangout for the family.

Wide-open spaces on the main floor easily

PHOTOS COURTESY DAVE PERRY MILLER REAL ESTATE

flow from the living and dining rooms to the kitchen, den and home office, all with a stunning view of the pool, spa, and gardens.

Each of the upstairs bedrooms and the guest apartment have similar vistas. The magazine-worthy home features materials collected by the owner and architects from storied places - wood beams from an abandoned Colorado gold mine, clay roof tiles from Kansas elementary schools, and a hand-chiseled front door discovered in Baja.

34 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Housing Prices Dip in September MARKET NUMBERS: PARK CITIE S Month

Closed Median sales price

Price per Sold to Active Days on Months’ sq. foot list price listings market supply

Sept. 2018

50

$1,100,000

$390

95%

363

100

5.7

Dec. 2018

58

$1,125,000

$396

95%

258

74

4.3

March 2019

62

$1,357,620

$392

96%

418

60

7.2

June 2019

97

$1,492,500

$387

95%

435

71

7.4

Sept. 2019

58

$1,007,500

$360

93%

394

89

6.9

Ranch-Selling Specialist Spent Boyhood Days on Family Land

MARKET NUMBERS: PRE STON HOLLOW Month

Closed Median sales price

Price per Sold to Active Days on Months’ sq. foot list price listings market supply

Sept. 2018

60

$995,000

$270

96%

349

70

5.8

Dec. 2018

56

$1,140,000

$341

94%

277

91

5

March 2019

63

$821,250

$297

96%

393

56

7.2

June 2019

70

$997,000

$273

96%

446

65

8.2

Sept. 2019

55

$932,500

$278

95%

435

80

8.1

Source: North Texas Real Estate Information Systems Inc.

COURTESY WATKINS RANCH GROUP

Asher Watkins

The 25 Ranch in Battle Mountain, Nevada, stretches across four counties.

By Lauren Daniels People Newspapers

Have you ever wanted an expansive slice of the Old West?

Asher Watkins, who has specialized for more than a decade in the sale of swaths of rural land and commercial property, is listing one of the largest and oldest ranches in Nevada for $36.5 million.

The 25 Ranch in Battle Mountain, with more than 600,000 grazing acres available, stretches across four counties and boasts a rich history and wild west flavor.

The cattle ranch is “steeped in history and gunfights,” said Jennifer Coley, an agent with Watkins Ranch Group/Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International.

It is so easy to visualize the history that might have occurred on the land, she added.

Along with scenic views and brilliant sunsets, come certificated water rights, quality roads, perimeter fencing, working pens and corrals, and other amenities needed for operating a cattle ranch.

Located in the Great Basin of northeastern Nevada, the ranch with numerous springs, rivers, and creeks is home to various birds and other animals.

It’s the type of place that harkens to Watkins’ upbringing and appeals to his love of the outdoors and of hunting and fishing.

Watkins grew up in Dallas, graduated from Highland Park High School and Baylor University, and lives in the Park Cities, where his daughter attends school as a fourth-grader.

A member of Ducks Unlimited, the Dallas Safari Club, and the American Association of Professional Landmen, he spends free time encouraging youth to spend time outdoors.

His family has a long history of working land.

Growing up, he spent much of his time on his family’s hunting and cattle ranch, experiences that shaped his enthusiasm for the outdoors and getting to know the ranches he list.

“I walk the land; I drive it,” he said.

FRONT ROW: DON HANCOCK, MELANIE THORNTON, PAT MARTIN, WILLIAM TAYLOR BACK ROW: KATE MARTIN, KELLY DROBAC, BETHANY ERICKSON, IMANI LYTLE, KIM HURMIS, AND TANA HUNTER

P

utting out a newspaper requires teamwork.

Every writer needs an editor. The production team designs the pages. The advertising sales staff brings in revenue. And someone must make sure the printed products get into the mail and onto newsstands.

At People Newspapers, employees are our

most valued assets. We rely on their brainpower, talent, tenacity, sense of fairness, and sense of humor to bring you stories and neighborhood-centric information you likely won’t get anywhere else.

We are delighted to be the Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People team working for you,

our readers.

This month we invited other businesses that serve the Park Cities and Preston Hollow to share a little bit about their businesses and their teams in this special advertising supplement.

We hope you enjoy learning more about these People to Know.

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

People To Know

36 November 2019 | People To Know

FAMILY LAW Jim Mueller, Managing Partner VERNER BRUMLEY MUELLER PARKER PC

F

or more than a decade, Jim Mueller has been the name to know in Dallas for all matters of family law. Genuine compassion and understanding, combined with a tenacious, unrelenting pursuit to protect your best interests—this is what you get when Jim Mueller is leading the charge to protect what matters most to you. Of course, some divorces are destined to become legal battles. Mueller does whatever possible to reduce conflict and maintain a desired outcome, but when a courtroom fight is inevitable, he’s the family lawyer you want on your side. “Whatever the case,

my focus is always on the client,” Mueller, the managing partner of Verner Brumley Mueller Parker, says. “I love the courtroom but will help my clients resolve their case in the manner that is best for them.”

Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mueller’s reputation for honesty and integrity serves clients well in skillfully negotiating with opposing counsel to resolve cases. He specializes in all aspects of family law, particularly complex divorce, high-asset property division, and custody battles. He has successfully litigated

complex property cases and child custody matters before juries and judges throughout Texas. His extensive courtroom experience helps him lead clients through the litigation process while managing their expectations.

Mueller approaches all his divorce cases with the goal of helping clients divide their assets without unnecessarily dividing the family, especially where the interests of children are concerned. Even as the field of family law grows increasingly complex, he is well-versed in the wide range of issues involved and can simplify the facts. “Most of the time,

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 37

a divorce is between two really good people who just happen to be at their worst right now,” Mueller says. “They just want it to be over, understandably. They start out intending to be civil, but when a family is blown apart by divorce, emotions are at their highest and tempers flare. I tell my clients to stay focused on what’s most important. Most often, that is the well-being of the children now and in the future. Settle issues, like money and assets, as amicably as possible so you can place all your focus going forward working together to protect the children. It’s possible to avoid common divorce pitfalls when you remain focused on your priorities.”

Mueller received his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rhodes College and his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University

Dedman School of Law. He has been inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

He is AV-Preeminent, by Martindale-Hubbell, in both legal ability and ethical standards. Mueller has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward White and as one of the Top 100 2019 Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters. The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys recognized Mueller as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in Texas Under 40, and he was named among the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40. He was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas by The National Advocates and 10 Best Under 40 by The American Institute of Family. He has repeatedly been named among the Best Lawyers in Dallas

by his peers in D Magazine.

Verner Brumley, one of the largest family law firms in Texas, enjoys a reputation for excellence through preparation and innovation. The firm values its clients’ priorities and works with them to achieve the goals that will help transition them to a new normal. Mueller and his team provide effective, results-oriented representation in contested and uncontested divorce, divorce mediation, and arbitration. The aim is to resolve all issues as efficiently and effectively as possible, allowing clients to preserve the emotional and financial well-being of their families throughout the process.

4311 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 450 | Dallas, Texas 75219 214.526.5234 | vernerbrumley.com

38 November 2019 | People To Know

REAL ESTATE The Rhodes Group at Compass

Dan Rhodes, Nina Sachse, Thomas Rhodes, Burton Rhodes, and Neil Broussard

W

ith roots that run deep in and around the Park Cities, The Rhodes Group has been a staple in the ever-evolving Dallas real estate landscape for more than 40 years. The agents in The Rhodes Group grew up here.

They live here. Their kids go to school with yours. And chances are, you know someone they’ve helped to buy or sell a home.

Their ties to the Park Cities extend beyond just family and friends. For The Rhodes Group, relationships have been

a lifelong pursuit. When the Rhodes boys weren’t catching crawdads in Turtle Creek, they were learning the art of selling and negotiating by watching their father (and group founder), Tom Rhodes, build himself into a top-producing agent from the ground up. What began for Tom as a door-to-door sales job in 1976, evolved into a legacy that inspired and led The Rhodes Group to become one of the most well-known groups in the real estate industry today.

Now with over 4,100 transactions closed, $2.5 billion sold, and an average of one property closed every 2.5 days, the numbers speak for themselves.

Selling a property at the highest level starts with experience, knowledge, and carefully honed skills. And in the Park Cities, it takes years of understanding to know what makes each area unique. (What’s the difference between the 4500 and 4400 blocks of Lorraine, for example? They know.) Their

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 39

vast network allows them to directly market their listings as no other group can. For example, a third of the homes they’ve sold never even hit the market—which proves that, more than anything, it pays to have a team that’s in the know. Add to that the Rhodes’ reputation for providing a low-drama, no-pressure experience, and you understand why clients in the Park Cities feel working with them is worth repeating.

As a founding partner of the Dallas Compass office, they

are now part of a national platform focused on high-end real estate backed by cutting-edge technology, strategic marketing, and strong agent-to-agent collaboration—a real game changer in the industry. This change has been hugely beneficial for The Rhodes Group, because they know that in this competitive market, you need more than an agent—you need a top-selling, trusted team of experts.

From the time Tom Rhodes first walked the blocks of

these neighborhoods to The Rhodes Group’s current record of top producer sales, one thing has never changed—the company slogan “We know your neighborhood” rings even more true every day.

5960 Berkshire Lane, 7th Floor Dallas, Texas 75225 214.520.4422 | therhodesgroup.com

40 November 2019 | People To Know

Robert Epstein Partner

FAMILY LAW

KENT BARKER

Francesca Blackard Partner

Kelly McClure CEO and Managing Partner

McClure Law Group

Kelly McClure, Robert Epstein, & Francesca Blackard

M

cClure Law Group is an exceptional family law firm dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to their clients. Partners Kelly McClure, Robert Epstein, and Francesca Blackard have stellar reputations in the Dallas legal community as they are continuously recognized by their peers as the Best Lawyers in Dallas in D Magazine. They work meticulously to achieve the best possible results for their clients’ divorces, modifications, pre- and post-marital agreements, custody disputes, surrogacy issues, grandparents’ rights cases, and other family law matters.

The firm’s team of attorneys is ready and eager to confidently resolve any family law issues and efficiently protect complicated estates. They genuinely care about their clients and their families, and they expertly and carefully guide them through what is unarguably one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

McClure, the firm’s founder and CEO, is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and brings with her 25 plus years of experience as a family law attorney. Executives, professional athletes, celebrities, and stay-at-home parents alike find McClure’s experience, talent, and compassion invaluable. She began her career in tax law, adding to her long list of qualifications assisting her to help couples smoothly resolve the issues that often plague complicated divorces. A dynamic powerhouse, McClure is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom where her bulldog approach and compelling demeanor are unmatched.

Clients continually praise Epstein’s strategic, insightful, and above-and-beyond approach to family law cases. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he is discreet and empathetic, two of many attributes his clients appreciate. His negotiating

and oral advocacy skills, charisma, intelligence, and attention to detail serve his clients extraordinarily well both in and outside the courtroom.

Blackard prides herself in knowing every client’s case details inside and out, ensuring they get appropriate attention tailored to their specific needs. Her dedication to her craft shines in the courtroom as she makes sure to prepare for any wildcard that might be thrown her way. Clients continuously compliment her for being quick-witted and exceptionally prepared.

8115 Preston Road, Suite 270 Dallas, Texas 75225 | 214.692.8200 Collin County: by appointment only. mcclure-lawgroup.com

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 41

AUCTIONS J. Garrett Auctioneers

Antiques, Fine Art, and Estate Auctions Top Row: Julie Garrett VanDolen, Vicki Clements Garrett, Jeff Garrett Bottom Row: Melissa Garrett, Matthew VanDolen, Justin Garrett

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eff & Vicki (Clements) Garrett know antiques and fine art. They have been in the antiques and auction business since 1974 and have facilitated hundreds of gallery and estate auctions. They managed Clements Auction Gallery in Forney, Texas for 20 years, establishing themselves as experts in the antiques and auction fields.

Today, J. Garrett Auctioneers is a third-generation family business with 80 years of combined experience in antiques, art, and decorative accessories. The tradition of integrity and reputation for unsurpassed service remain the company’s hallmarks.

J. Garrett specializes in estate auctions, working with private individuals, trust and estate attorneys, and family executors to offer a comprehensive approach to all aspects concerning estate liquidation. J. Garrett may also purchase an entire estate outright if in the best interest of the selling party. Using the latest internet technology, they reach a worldwide audience of qualified buyers and achieve maximum sales results for clients.

J. Garrett is happy to offer free, no-obligation assessments, whether you’re looking to downsize, liquidate the contents of a home, or simply refreshing your decor. For information

call 214-943-7801 or email julie@jgarrettauctioneers.com.

9203 Diplomacy Row Dallas, Texas 75247 214.943.7801 jgarrettauctioneers.com Instagram: jgarrettauctioneers Facebook: J. Garrett Auctioneers Jeff Garrett, Auctioneer, Texas St. Lic. #6794 / Justin Garrett, Auctioneer, Texas St. Lic. #16236

FAMILY LAW

KENT BARKER

42 November 2019 | People To Know

Liz Porter KOONSFULLER, P.C.

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iz Porter has always had a passion for the law and for people, a natural combination that led her to nearly two decades of practicing family law in Dallas. As shareholder at KoonsFuller P.C., the largest family law firm in the Southwest and the fourth largest in the country, her focus on family law has allowed her to combine her legal expertise, insight into family dynamics, and compassion for people to create successful outcomes for clients both in and outside the courtroom. “I care a great deal about people and children,” Porter says. “My goal is to help clients find creative and result-oriented solutions that protect not only their family but their fortunes.”

Porter, an East Texas native and Texas A&M University alum, has lived in the Park Cities for over 25 years. She has three children who have all attended schools in the HPISD.

Porter has always been very involved in their schools and in the community in which she lives. She has long been a go-to resource for family law matters for many people residing in the Park Cities and in Preston Hollow. Porter is highly respected for her reputation and expertise in managing complex property cases as well as high-conflict custody issues in jury and non-jury cases. This includes cases involving the valuation of a business, closely held business interests, characterization of property, pre- and post-marital property agreements, relocation, grandparent rights, child support and enforcement, and modifications of prior orders. With extensive courtroom experience, Porter expertly and discreetly handles cases of every level of complexity, from high-profile individuals with extensive assets to those with modest means. “Family law cases are as unique and diverse as the people who are involved in

them,” she says. “I strive to help each client successfully navigate the emotional and financial challenges they inevitably face and achieve results that are long-lasting and tailored to meet their individual goals.”

Porter has been board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2008 and has practiced exclusively family law for over 18 years. She has been recognized by D Magazine as Best Lawyer in 2019 and has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer featured in Texas Monthly for many years.

1717 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1500 Dallas, Texas 75202 214.871.2727 koonsfuller.com

DRY CLEANING

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 43

Avon Cleaners

CALLIE GODO, STACY GODO, AND KAROLY GODO

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ince 1968, Avon Cleaners has been a beloved, family-run dry cleaning and laundry service—the go-to fine garment specialist for the Park Cities and beyond. Pat and Karoly Godo purchased Avon in 1968, and their son, Stacy, joined them in the family business in 1982. His wife Michelle teamed up with them a few years later. Someday soon, Stacy and Michelle’s two children will be the third generation of the Godo family to operate Avon Cleaners. Karoly, who immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary, brought his fine European craftsmanship to Avon, which has been the foundation the company’s quality and service for more than 50 years. Today, the Godo family combines that traditional craftsmanship with the latest dry-cleaning technology, such as SYSTEMK4, an environmentally friendly and safe cleaning process. It’s Avon’s eco-friendly systems that set it apart

from other dry-cleaning services. From wedding gowns to intimates, Avon cleaners is your full-service garment care center.

Avon Cleaners also donates three percent of your monthly dry-cleaning fees to the Park Cities’ PTA of your choice.

“We raised our kids right here in the Park Cities, and we love being able to give back to our community,” Stacy says. “I love the services we provide. They can really make your day! Our customers tell us slipping into fresh, Avon-pressed sheets is like living at a fabulous resort. And like a resort, your laundry is done for you, sheets and bedding cleaned and pressed, and table linens perfect and ready for that next party. Or, we’re here just to make your life a little more stress-free. We enjoy providing the extra services that bring an ‘ahh’ to your life.”

Avon’s trained professionals are knowledgeable about your exclusive specialty fabrics and delicate materials. They

evaluate each article of clothing to determine the best care and pre-treatment. In addition to dry cleaning and laundry services, Avon is a specialist in wedding gown cleaning, preservation, leather repair and cleaning, and textile restoration.

“From the shirt on your back to the rug under your feet, we ensure each piece is cared for properly,” Stacy says. “I love the history of Avon and how my mom and dad built this family business. Like them, we continue to pursue innovation by bringing you the latest in dry cleaning technology. We are honored to provide friendly service and a passion for this Industry to our customers and our community.”

4347 Lovers Lane | Dallas, Texas 75225 6301 Hillcrest Avenue | Dallas, Texas 75205 214.521.4803 | avondrycleaners.com

44 November 2019 | People To Know

Nyda Faith, M.A., G.R.I. COLDWELL BANKER

REAL ESTATE

STUDIO 3 PHOTOGRAPHY

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f you’re talking real estate, then Nyda Faith is the REALTOR® to talk to. A Top Producer, she sells residential real estate, manages her own rental properties, and assists real estate investors in finding properties. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in psychology, and experience working for Fortune 500 companies have given her the precise combination of expertise to seamlessly manage it all. But this is only part of the reason for her success. “When I left the corporate world, I decided to do what I love best— help people,” Faith says. “Helping people and real estate are my two passions, so it was a natural progression for me to enter into every facet of this industry.”

In a single day, it’s not uncommon for Faith to FaceTime a relocating client while she shows them a house via video, walk homes with other clients, go to the zoning department to get critical information for an investor on a multi-family million-dollar lot or, or counsel a client about 1031 exchanges for their investment property. “I can do all of this because I’ve personally done it for myself,” she says.

“I truly love my job and sharing knowledge about real estate. I understand what

buyers and investors want. I don’t just talk about it; I do it.”

Clients appreciate Faith’s dedication to them and her expertise. She is proud to be affiliated with Coldwell Banker, a 113-year-old company that is No. 1 in volume and brand recognition globally. “I am always looking ahead to mitigate any obstacle that may come up,” she says. “I am thorough, detail oriented, pride myself on transparency and doing the right thing.”

Faith, a multi-million-dollar producer, is proud to be affiliated with Coldwell Banker which in 2018 sold more $1MMplus homes than any other real estate brand. “I always want to ensure my passion for helping people is evident in my work,” she says. “It is my sheer delight to match clients with homes that fulfill their lifestyle or sell one that allows them to embark on the next chapter of their lives,” she says.

5950 Sherry Lane, Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75225 214.521.0044 469.416.7889 (cell) homesbynyda.com

Ben Clemmett, Cheif Veterinarian READIVET

VETERINARY CARE

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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r. Ben Clemmett always knew he would be a veterinarian in the same way other people know they have black hair or blue eyes — it just seemed to be part of his DNA. But what he couldn’t anticipate as a young boy growing up in Birmingham, Alabama was how he would one day be part of a team fundamentally changing the way veterinarians deliver care.

“Unparalleled service and quality of care are must-haves for me,” Dr. Ben says. “But in a traditional veterinary practice, I recognized my ability to deliver such an exceptional experience was often hampered by the stress and inconvenience of bringing pets to the office.”

When a friend from vet school called to share the news about a young company launching in Dallas that promised to take the pain out of pet care, he was intrigued.

After meeting with the ReadiVet team, he was all in to serve as ReadiVet’s first veterinarian in Dallas. Clemmett, his fiancee’ Rebekah, their three dogs (Scout, Cricket, and Poppy), and three cats (Piper, Theo, and Dega) moved to Midway Hollow soon after.

“I love interacting with pets in their own home — on their own couch or bed,” he says. “It’s so much less stressful for everyone.

We’ve really reverse engineered the entire process of pet care to be centered around the pet and pet parent while maintaining

high-quality, affordable care.”

ReadiVet provides at-home, on-demand veterinary care services and maintains a centralized hospital for pets that need radiology or other interventional services. From routine preventive care to emergencies and euthanasia, Dr. Clemmett and the care team at ReadiVet serve the Park Cities, Oak Lawn, Uptown, downtown Dallas, the Design District, and Victory Park, with plans to expand their service area.

Dr. Clemmett was born in Sheffield, England but moved to the United States when he was 2 years old. He attended Auburn University for both undergraduate and veterinary school and worked in traditional clinics across Alabama before joining ReadiVet. Outside of work, Dr. Clemmett and his fianceé love hanging out with their fur family in Midway Hollow. “It’s quiet, but near all the fun things we love to do in Dallas, and it’s gratifying to live in a community where people truly consider their pets part of the family and the community.”

Dr. Clemmett is often asked what his No. 1 piece of advice is for pet parents. “The most important thing you can do is stay on top of immunizations and well care to protect your pet from preventable disease,” he says. “Other than that, love them. Spend time with them. They will give you so much in return.”

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 45

Ashley McDowell TURNER MCDOWELL ROWAN, PLLC

FAMILY LAW

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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shley McDowell has practiced law for more than two decades, devoting the last 15 years to family law. McDowell’s practice includes divorce, custody, modifications, child support, complex property division, and premarital agreements. In all of her cases, she balances a non-adversarial approach with the need to zealously advocate for her clients — whether it’s at the negotiation table or in the courtroom. She understands the toll a divorce takes on families and offers a compassionate approach with her clients. “I use my ability to see the big picture to help my clients reach an agreement that benefits the entire family,” McDowell says.

McDowell’s substantial, relative experience and special competence place her in the top 10% of Texas attorneys to become Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In 2018, she was named a member of the American

Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national academy of Fellows that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law. She has been named among Texas Monthly’s Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, Top 100 DFW Super Lawyers, and the Best Lawyers in Dallas in D Magazine. A native of Dallas, McDowell graduated from Texas Christian University and later attended St. Mary’s University School of Law. She now lives in the Park Cities with her husband, Darren, also a lawyer, and their two children.

8080 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1300 Dallas, Texas 75206 214.780.0646 ashley@tmrfamilylaw.com turnermcdowellrowan.com

Christina Rancilio MONSTER TREE SERVICE

TREE SERVICE

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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ust like people, trees can get sick and overly stressed—and it shows. When they do, most homeowners aren’t sure how to properly care for the big, beautiful trees that shade their yards other than to cut them down. Christina Rancilio hopes this is the last resort, which is what interested her in opening a Dallas-area branch of Monster Tree Service, the leading tree service company in the U.S. staffed with certified arborists.

Rancilio is committed to two things: keeping trees healthy and making sure customers are satisfied. “It’s hard to know if trees have problems until it’s too late, but they can get sick due to various diseases, stress, or pests,” Rancilio says. “Our job is to assess the health of trees and care for them. If a tree can’t be salvaged, we can properly and safely remove it, then consult on replacement.”

In addition to maintaining tree health, Monster Tree Service also works with home-

owners and builders on plans for tree planting and placement during construction. Tree removal, pruning and trimming, lot and land clearing, cabling/bracing, deadwooding, and emergency tree removal after storms are all part of Monster Tree Service’s extensive list of offerings. Plant and tree care services include fertilization, pest and disease control, deep root feeding, and trunk injections. Clients appreciate the expertise of Monster Tree’s certified arborists, free estimates, full insurance coverage, focus on maintaining property value, and environmental-friendly services. “We are a full-service knowledgeable resource staffed with people whose passion is to care for trees correctly,” Rancilio says.

469.415.1674 whymonster.com/dallas-metroplex

46 November 2019 | People To Know

Kathleen LaValle President and CEO - Dallas CASA

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CHILD ADVOCACY

illboards recruiting volunteers for Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) carry the message: Abused Children Can’t Wait. The statement echoes the message Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral powerfully delivered: “We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot.

Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot say ‘tomorrow.’ His name is today.”

“For today’s child victim who feels lost and forgotten, it really doesn’t matter what strides we may hope to make in the distant future,” says Dallas CASA president and CEO Kathleen LaValle. “It’s what we do right now that matters.” What Dallas CASA is doing right now is making a difference for 95% of Dallas County children currently in protective care. Last year, more than 1,400 volunteer advocates provided the detailed information judges need to make sound decisions impacting more than 3,330 child victims. But more volunteers are needed each year.

CASA volunteers form a caring connection with each child served, showing up in

many significant ways during a frightening time of change and uncertainty. Seeing beyond each child’s difficult circumstances, CASA volunteers recognize the promise and potential within each child and encourage a child not to be defined or limited by the past. Importantly, CASA volunteers provide judges with detailed information and fact-based recommendations so that a child receives the educational, medical and therapeutic services he or she needs. When returning home is not a safe option, the volunteer helps identify a safe, loving home where a child can grow up and thrive.

Next year Dallas CASA will mark 40 years of serving vulnerable children who have been removed from unsafe homes.

“A passion for children is the one characteristic our volunteers have in common,” LaValle says. Evenly spread across age brackets, with a high percentage fulltime employed, volunteers do not need a background in social work or family law. To learn more about this extraordinary volunteer experience, visit dallascasa.org.

2757 Swiss Avenue Dallas, Texas 75204 214.827.8961 dallascasa.org

Mary Poss

EBBY HALLIDAY, REALTORS®

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REAL ESTATE

eaving The University of Texas at Austin with degrees in finance and management, Mary Poss returned to her hometown of Dallas to begin a career in commercial banking. Little did she know that a combination of events would one day lead her to a satisfying career in residential real estate with Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®. After years with two major banks, Poss left the corporate world to work with numerous charitable and civic organizations. It was through one of these groups that she first crossed paths with Ebby Halliday and her husband, Maurice Acers. After a meeting one day, Maurice said, “Mary, you should join my wife’s company.” At that same time, a group of friends recruited her to run for a vacant Dallas city council seat. The opportunity appealed to Poss, so she ran and won in 1995. Eight years later and term limited, she had served as mayor pro-tem for five years and acting mayor for six months.

Special projects immediately presented themselves, and Poss undertook the largest one she could find — raising $6 million to connect five sections of hike-and-bike trails from downtown Dallas to Plano. She assembled grant funds, corporate contributions, and local, state, and federal allocations to meet the goal in less than 18 months.

Halliday and Poss had remained friends, and one day Halliday called Poss and said, “Honey, it’s time you joined the team.”

Some invitations are hard to refuse, and this was one of them. From Rookie of the Year to a D Magazine Best Real Estate Agent every year since, she has made her home in residential real estate sales.

Poss provides unique services far beyond closing. “I believe that I am responsible to my clients to help them continue to enjoy their homes,” she says. If you are buying a home, Poss brings her experience in local government as the former acting mayor and mayor pro-tem of the City of Dallas to the table. And as the former chair of the Council of Governments, Poss is extremely knowledgeable of neighborhoods across North Texas. This familiarity enables her to quickly pinpoint the ideal location for your next home. If you are selling your home, she utilizes her extensive network of friends and associates, plus online and print advertising, to produce the maximum exposure and results for your listing.

6405 Mercedes Avenue Dallas, Texas 75214 214.738.0777 maryposs.ebby.com

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 47

Perry-Miller Streiff Group

Jason Bates, Jamie Kohlmann, Laura Michelle, Charles Gregory, Karen Fry, Courtney Jubinksy, Ryan Streiff. Not Pictured: Dave Perry-Miller

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legacy in luxury real estate, Dave Perry-Miller has long been the name to know in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities. Led by top-producer Ryan Streiff, the Perry-Miller Streiff Group is composed of of 11 powerhouse agents and staff members who serve buyers and sellers at the flagship Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate office in Preston Center. They are the firm’s top-producing group and their success as one of the top 11 real estate groups in Texas can be attributed to an unbeatable combination of market knowledge, unique marketing insight, and collaboration. Their group motto implies as much: Consistently Delivering What Others Promise. The team works hard to create their unparalleled track record, where every transaction bears the hallmarks of true professionalism, commitment, and a deft touch.

Dave Perry-Miller, Ryan Streiff, Jason Bates, Karen Fry, Charles Gregory, Courtney Jubinsky, Jamie Kohlmann, Laura Michelle, Betsie Sears, Carolyn Vandagriff, and Holly Aldredge put their collective experience and market expertise to work for discerning clients each day. They have represented billions of dollars in property

REAL ESTATE

for thousands of clients. Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate sells more million-dollar residences than any other firm in North Texas, and the Perry-Miller Streiff Group plays a significant role in this accomplishment.

“I refer to our team as the Navy Seals of Dallas real estate,” Streiff says. “There is strength in our numbers. When you enlist our team’s services to help you buy or sell your home, not only do you tap into the wealth of experience that our combined two centuries in real estate brings, but you reap the exponential benefits of 11 individual networks coming together as one to get the results you need.”

Simply put, the Perry-Miller Streiff Group quietly delivers what todays buyers and sellers desire: Results. Stellar associates, a sincere focus on clientele, and collaborative leadership combine to deliver a first-class experience, achieving real estate outcomes that are unprecedented.

5950 Berkshire Lane, #150 Dallas, Texas 75225 972.380.7723 DPMFineHomes.com

StazOn Roofing PAUL GRAHAM

ROOFING

MATTHEW SHELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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aul Graham, president of StazOn Roofing, founded the company 40 years ago after working as a roofer, when he was a teen. Graham combined his drive for working hard and his interest in the roofing industry and formed StazOn. “The roofing industry has become even more interesting over the decades, as we have expanded not only the diversity of the materials we use, but the range of applications is phenomenal,” Graham says.

Today, StazOn serves Dallas-Fort Worth and other Texas markets and is considered an industry expert in numerous facets of roofing installation, sheet metal and construction. StazOn’s areas of expertise are showcased in the residential, multi-family, and commercial markets. StazOn offers professional craftsmanship in multiple aspects of roofing including composition, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), metal roofing, wall panels, architectural sheet metal and accessories from its own metal fabrication center.

“We are highly skilled in architectural sheet

metal component and design,” Graham says.

“We are also proficient in roofs with a high level of difficulty or that are crafted using specialized materials. With our vast combined experience, we have seen a little of everything, so we are accustomed to adjusting to the requirements of each specific job.”

A reputable warranty program and longevity in the industry are some of the reasons StazOn retains many repeat customers and referrals.

“We are known for quality and craftsmanship and taking pride in what we do,” Graham says.

“I believe this weighs heavily when people are making a choice for their roof. They want a company they can count on, that has taken care of them in the past.” StazOn continues to follow its mission of experience, quality, and reliability with every project.

2860 Lombardy Lane Dallas, Texas 75220 214.357.0300 stazonroof.com

48 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

FORD TOUGH JUNIOR PLAYS KEY ROLE IN SECONDARY

Scots cornerback trades family golf legacy for gridiron glory

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

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hy putt a golf ball into a hole when you can dunk a football in a trash can?

As a starting cornerback for Highland Park, Ford Frazar would prefer to do the latter — a sideline ritual symbolizing each takeaway by the defending Class 5A Division state champions.

There is some pressure on me to stop those big plays. If we have a busted coverage, that’s six points.

Ford Frazar The classic metal receptacle has been a fixture on HP’s sideline for the past couple of seasons as a motivational mechanism for its opportunistic defense. As a junior, Frazar hasn’t gotten to take temporary ownership of the can — he’ll have to wait a year for that — but he’s still eligible to slam the customized blue-and-gold ball after forcing a turnover.

Frazar has emerged as a key component of a relatively young secondary this season for the Scots.

He matches up against elite receivers such

The Scots’ Ford Frazar faces the opponents’ top receivers each week.

CHRIS MCGATHEY

as Rockwall’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba (committed to Ohio State) and Frisco Lone Star’s Marvin Mims (committed to Stanford).

“It’s been a pretty big transition, stepping up to starting on the varsity level,” Frazar said. “There is some pressure on me to stop those big plays. If we have a busted coverage, that’s six points.”

Frazar, who also is a lacrosse standout at HP, often is asked why he doesn’t play golf.

That’s because his father, Harrison Frazar, is a former tournament champion on the PGA

Tour. Harrison Frazar also was a two-time state golf champion at HP during the late 1980s, and later was teammates with Justin Leonard at the University of Texas.

Ford enjoys playing and watching golf, but he’s never felt the same passion he does for football, lacrosse, and even baseball.

“Golf runs in my family, but I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “I play during my free time, but I don’t want to make a living doing it.”

Ford’s parents have been supportive. His

Chemistry Fuels Optimism for Inexperienced Scots

Highland Park will rely on up-tempo style, strong guard play

By Todd Jorgenson

others, plus the Allen Holiday Invitational tournament. The District 11-5A slate starts on Jan. 3.

People Newspapers

Roster turnover is a fact of life every basketball season for Highland Park. So is the midseason addition of football players into the mix.

So it’s up to a few returnees and a handful of newcomers to keep the Scots on track early in the season and set the foundation for eventual success in district and postseason play.

“We’re trying to get the new guys ready to contribute to the team, so when we get to our first game, we’ll be ready,” said junior forward Worthey Wiles.

“We still have a ways to go, but I feel like we’re really coming together.”

Last year, Wiles was one of those fresh faces on the varsity level. Now he’s a leader and a source of experience. So is Jack Pease, who will become the starting point guard for HP this season.

“We’re becoming way more cohesive and not just relying on one of two guys,” Pease said.

Key returning players include Worthey Wiles.

We’re trying to get the new guys ready to contribute to the team, so when we get to our first game, we’ll be ready.

Worthey Wiles

“We’re really good friends with each other. Off-the-court stuff translates to the game.”

Indeed, chemistry and balance are two strengths of a team that looks to make another deep postseason run. A year ago, the Scots advanced to the Class 5A Region II semifinals before falling to Sulphur Springs.

HP lost four of its top five guards to graduation from that squad. So depth and experience

Piehler said that while the Scots will have to replace much of their scoring from last season, their up-tempo style and reliance on strong guard play shouldn’t change, especially when it comes to perimeter shooting.

“It will be by committee.

We’ll have lineups where all five guys at times can shoot it,” he said. “We’re probably more balanced offensively.”

CHRIS MCGATHEY

will be at a premium until the expected additions of Prince Dorbah, Drew Scott, and Paxton Anderson after football season.

“It’s always a pleasure to see who steps up,” said HP head coach David Piehler. “They’ll gain experience. When district starts, we’ll be ready.”

Piehler will prepare his team with a handful of challenging nondistrict games against Hebron, St. Mark’s, Rockwall, and

father has even helped out with coaching youth lacrosse teams for Ford and his younger brother, Slayden.

He became a cornerback at the suggestion of his middle-school coaches and has learned to embrace the position while learning from his older teammates who were on the field during last year’s state championship run — and who have given plenty of wear and tear to the turnover can.

“I’d rather use it in a game than in practice,” he said.

SCHEDULE November 19 Dallas Thunder 7:30 p.m.

21-23 Scot Classic tourn. TBA 26 Hebron 7:30 p.m.

December 3 McKinney 7:30 p.m.

6 St. Mark’s 6 p.m. at Grand Prairie 7:30 p.m.

10 12-14 Burkburnett tourn. TBA 16 Rockwall 7:30 p.m.

20 HSAA 7 p.m.

26-28 Allen tournament TBA January 3 at Bryan Adams* 3 p.m.

Carrollton Creekview* 7:30 p.m.

7 10 at Carr. R.L. Turner* 7:30 p.m.

14 at Thomas Jefferson* 8 p.m.

17 Woodrow Wilson* 7:30 p.m.

21 Carr. Newman Smith* 7:30 p.m.

24 at Conrad* 8 p.m.

28 Bryan Adams* 7:30 p.m.

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

February 4 Carr. R.L. Turner* 7:30 p.m.

7 Thomas Jefferson* 7:30 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson* 8 p.m.

11 14 at Newman Smith* 7:30 p.m.

Conrad* 7:30 p.m.

18 * — District 11-5A games

50 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Making Moves: HPISD Athletics Upgrades Progressing Quickly

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

For years, Highland Park High School athletes and coaches have thrived despite limited space and aging facilities. But with various construction projects nearing completion, several sports will gain the behind-the-scenes infrastructure to match their championship pedigree.

The dust is gradually clearing on athletic improvements that comprise a significant share of Highland Park ISD’s $361.4 million bond initiative passed by voters in November 2015.

Once it’s completed, it will give our kids a lot more space.

It’s exciting to see it come together.

Johnny Ringo “It’s a tremendous upgrade for athletics,” said HPISD athletic director Johnny Ringo. “I think our new facilities will rival those of

CHRIS MCGATHEY

Construction continues this fall on the new HPISD multipurpose building on Grassmere Lane, across from Highlander Stadium. The two-story structure is scheduled for completion in April. anybody in the state.”

A new Seay Tennis Center, with three indoor courts, opened earlier this year across from the existing outdoor courts on Glenwick Drive. That cleared the way for a multipurpose building under construction at the site of the previous tennis facility, across from

Highlander Stadium on Grassmere Lane.

The two-story structure will house a new natatorium with an eight-lane, 25-yard pool and separate HPISD and public locker rooms, plus expanded spectator seating. It also will include new athletic offices, a baseball locker

room, a planned new Hall of Honor, and multi-use meeting spaces.

The pool installation is expected to get underway in November, with the building set to open in April 2020.

After the new facility opens, the existing high school natatorium will be demolished. That area

eventually will accommodate extra classroom space as part of ongoing work on the east side of the campus.

More imminent is the completion of an addition to the northwest corner of the high school that will feature new offices, locker rooms, and workout spaces for soccer, golf, cross country, and gymnastics. The gymnastics programs also will have an expansive facility for practices and competitions in the basement.

“It’s been a great program for 50 years,” Ringo said. “Now, they’ve got a venue that can be used for competitions yearround.”

The district will begin renovations to Highlander Stadium after football season. Plans call for expanded locker rooms, meeting rooms, and training facilities.

Restrooms on the home side will be renovated, and the Scot Shop will move its storefront to a more accessible spot along Grassmere. However, the work won’t impact the ability to host soccer and lacrosse games in the spring.

“We ask for everybody’s patience,” Ringo said. “Once it’s completed, it will give our kids a lot more space. It’s exciting to see it come together.”

52 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Living Well and Faith SMU CHAMPIONS AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS Things To Do Campus initiative promotes cross-cultural collaboration

was part of President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, and contributed to the Washington Post, National Public Radio, and CNN.

To be successful in multicultural work, you have to be comfortable with deep disagreement.

Eboo Patel

COURTESY HILLSMAN JACKSON, SMU

Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, speaks to students and faculty at SMU.

By Tanika Turner People Newspapers

T

he faces of religious fanaticism are young; the faces of interfaith cooperation are old. That’s what Eboo Patel realized in college.

Today, he is an advocate for such cooperation, but he recalls criticizing what he heard during interfaith discussions until someone had the gumption to challenge him.

Patel decided to change, to stop criticizing, to build something better. He adopted the mindset that change occurs internally before it can happen in the world.

To foster this idea in its student population, SMU has developed a cultural intelligence initiative called CIQ@SMU to promote frank discussions of religion, politics and race. CIQ@SMU recently hosted a series of lectures by people that organizers felt embodied those ideals. Patel was one of

the speakers.

Maria Dixon Hall, as SMU’s senior advisor to the provost for cultural intelligence, is responsible for the development and implementation of the program.

For about a year, SMU officials have traveled the country to find some of the best ideas so the campus can become one of the national leaders in cultural intelligence and its use.

“In order to be a world-changer, you have to be able to talk to the world,” Hall said.

Cultural intelligence is about giving people the skills, the behavior, and the knowledge to be able to communicate with anyone, anywhere, she explained.

“We are looking to build more authentic, more genuine, and more productive relationships between our faculty, staff, and students,” Hall said.

Patel encompassed the qualities she required. He received his doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University,

Patel works with colleges and universities through an organization he created, Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC).

Religion should be a bridge to cooperation rather than division, he said.

Because enlightenment happened for him in school, he concluded that there was no better place to foster the interfaith initiative than college campuses. The title of his lecture: The Bridge of Faith and Religion: The Necessity of Viewpoint Diversity in American Higher Education.

“Diversity is not unicorns and rainbows like we teach in elementary,” he said.

Patel prefers to view interfaith work as a potluck supper – a celebration of pluralism. If every dish were the same, it would be boring.

“To be successful in multicultural work, you have to be comfortable with deep disagreement,” he said.

Patel referenced social reformer Jane Addams as an example. Addams founded Hull House in 1889 to serve the poor in Chicago’s industrial west side. Hull House became a center for philanthropy, political action, and social science research.

“Jane Addams not only criticized what was wrong,” he said. “She saw changes were needed and she built it.”

Bouchercon 2019: Denim, Diamonds, and Death When: Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 Where: Hyatt Regency Dallas Cost: $175 Gather with the mystery and crime fiction community for four days of panels, parties, and pure mystery fun. Meet readers, writers, publishers, agents, and booksellers who tailor to your favorite genre. Purchase books and attend signing sessions by authors in attendance. For tickets and more information, visit bouchercon2019.com Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind When: Through March 2020 Where: Perot Museum Cost: $20 adults; $13 child The Perot Museum partnered with Witwatersrand and the National Geographic Society to bring this rare exhibit of ancient hominin fossils. Guests can get up close with distant, ancient relatives and explore our shared human history through interactive exhibits. This exhibition requires a surcharge for members and non-members. Tickets, parking maps, and other details available at perotmuseum.org.

Authors LIVE! Presents: S.C. Gwynne When: Nov. 7 Where: Highland Park United Methodist Church Cost: Free The Friends of the Highland Park Library and The Friends of the SMU Libraries welcome author S.C. Gwynne, author of Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War. The author addresses the dramatic ending of the Civil War. Autographed books will be available for purchase before and after the program. The event starts at 7 p.m. For more information and reservations, visit hpumc.org.

54 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

Hockaday Grad Nikky Phinyawatana Feeds Souls With Asian Mint If you’re f riends with Nikky, you know how she loves to take selfies with you. The thing about Nikky’s selfies, though, is that KERSTEN RET TIG they are more about yourselfie than herselfie. She commemorates her deep gratitude for family, friends, and Mint Fanatics, the name she gives fans of her Asian Mint restaurant, by snapping photos and posting them online. This feeds her soul.

Nikky Phinyawatana (pronounced Pin-ya-wat-tah-nah) was born in Dallas but soon moved to Bangkok, Thailand, where she was raised by her American mother and Thai father. When she was 16, her parents sent her to boarding school at Hockaday, where she perfect- most significant changes to the recipes ed her English through ESL (English as is the increase in heat. What used to be Second Language) and graduated in 1996. medium is now mild, and guests are reOpening a restaurant was not in her plan. questing additional heat in their dishes.

There’s no back story about her learning to Global warming, indeed. make Pad Thai in her grandma’s kitchen Nikky uses her Asian Mint platform or attending an expensive culinary school. to inspire and expand people’s hearts and After college and a brief stint doing cor- minds and introduce them to Thai culporate marketing in Boston, she returned ture. Her Nikky Feeding Souls YouTube to Dallas. Her parents had returned, and channel provides a video travelogue of her she helped them with their food delivery food-centric travels to Thailand, a tutorial, perhaps, for her business and waited tables in a Thai upcoming journey S O N G PA I R I N G restaurant. she’s taking with “Deeper Shade of Soul” Fast forward to a group on Nov. 6.

by Urban Dance Squad October 2019. NikThe group will exky has long-since perience authenpaid off the maxed-out credit cards she tic Thai culture, eat in local dives and inused to start Asian Mint. She can hire ternationally acclaimed restaurants, and contractors, electricians, and plumbers to learn how to prepare Bangkok-style Thai build her restaurants rather than doing food in private cooking classes. Nikky will the work herself. Asian Mint just cele- post Instagram stories throughout the trip brated its 15th anniversary by opening a through her NikkyFeedingSouls IG hanfourth restaurant. The Richardson loca- dle. She will host two trips to Thailand in tion brings the number of employees to 2020 so, if you’re interested, sign up for 80, all of whom share Nikky’s passion for her emails on www.nikkyfeedingsouls.com.

With everything she has going on, Nikinspiring others through food. Her menu has evolved slightly over the years. The ky remains centered and focused on her original recipes created by Asian Mint’s family, which includes Knox, 11, and Skye, first chef, a woman who was like a moth- 6. She takes time to give back to severer figure to Nikky and her husband, Tan, al educational and philanthropic organihave modernized over time. One of the zations, including the Texas Restaurant

COURTESY PHOTOS

TOP: Asian Mint dishes curry and pad thai. BOTTOM: Nikky Phinyawatana in Thailand.

Association Education Foundation and Les Dames d’Escoffier (pronounced LayDom-Des-CO-fee-YAY ). Both organizations provide scholarships and mentors to those seeing education and support in the

culinary and hospitality industry.

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

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 55

Time Draws Near for Home, Family, and Thanksgiving In just a matter of weeks, my kitchen will be in full-on cooking and baking mode. The savory aromas of beef CHRISTY ROST roasts, golden-brown HOME + KITCHEN turkey, cornbread dressing, and crowd-pleasing casseroles will mingle with the sweet, spicy fragrance of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger as my ovens yield pumpkin pies, spice breads, and cinnamon rolls slathered with frosting.

But first, I need to get my home ready for guests who will be celebrating with us.

For fresh inspiration, I attended a NEXT furniture industry conference a few weeks ago, where manufacturers, retailers, designers, and decorators from around the country shared ideas and learned from furniture consultants.

The question I asked everyone was, beyond sleeper sofas to accommodate extra guests, what are the trends in home furnishings for the holidays?

One of the hottest is velvet. This low-maintenance fabric looks chic and fresh on a sofa, but for budget-friendly, last-minute design tweaks, they suggested adding small touches of velvet with an ottoman, cube seating, a headboard, or accent pillows. Statement lighting is also trending, from the tiniest fixtures to large-scale chandeliers, and multifunctional pieces that provide hidden storage continue to be popular.

Today’s kitchens are often designed to accommodate seating or are positioned adjacent to an open-concept family room to ensure the kitchen remains the center of family activity.

Comfortable, upholstered chairs in these areas facilitate conversation, so no one misses the action in the kitchen.

Nothing makes family and guests check in on the cook more than tantalizing aromas wafting from the oven, especially on Thanksgiving Day. My recipe for Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole with Hazelnut Crumble is the perfect example. This easy to assemble side dish layers sweet potatoes with just-harvested apples and a hint of curry, then is topped with a sweet and spicy hazelnut, granola, and brown sugar crumble. It’s sure to become a holiday favorite.

For additional recipes and entertaining tips Cookbook author and public television chef Christy Rost, visit christyrost.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ChristyRost

Ingredients: ½ cup hazelnuts 3 large sweet potatoes, about 3 pounds, rinsed, peeled and sliced into ¼” thickness 2 large, firm apples, rinsed, peeled, cored and thinly sliced 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch 1 ¼ cups vegetable broth ¾ teaspoon curry powder ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon white pepper ¼ cup heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spread the hazelnuts

on a cookie sheet. Toast 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the tray several times to ensure even cooking.

Remove them from the oven, cool, rub them between your fingers to remove most of the skin, and set them aside to cool completely.

Arrange two layers of sweet potatoes in a large baking dish, overlapping the slices. Add a layer of sliced apple and top with the remaining sweet potatoes.

In a small saucepan, whisk a little of the vegetable broth into the cornstarch, stir until it is smooth, then whisk in the remaining broth.

Add curry powder, salt, and white

Are You Having Problems Standing Up From A Chair Or Feeling Dizzy, Achy, Or Unsteady Once You Stand Up? – Here’s A Few SIMPLE Tips From A Specialist Who Sees This Every Day! By: Leading Balance Expert, Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist Are you finding it more and more difficult to just stand up out of a chair because of strength, feeling dizzy once you stand up, or can’t get going because your joints feel achy? Are you looking for something simple to solve this problem?

Here’s A Few Simple Tips…

1: Stand Up & Down From A Chair As Many Times As You Can In A Row EVERY DAY. This is where if you don’t use it you lose it. Even better, stand up fast and sit down slow. Standing up fast will add power into your legs. Sitting down slowly will help prevent you from just plopping into chairs and really improve leg strength.

2: Have A Healthcare Provider Check Your Blood Pressure Comparing Sitting & Standing. Abnormal changes in blood pressure can cause dizziness and increase fall risk. This is a simple and important test your healthcare provider can do.

3: Move Your Ankles, Knees, & Hips Before Standing Up. This is a tip everybody seems to love, because achiness in the joints after sitting is such a common problem. To prevent this, moving the joints before standing and walking increases our joints’ natural lubrication.

This is a way to feel less achiness when we stand up and walk.

If you have any questions, I am happy to discuss these tips further. You can contact me directly at 214-712-8242 Or… If you are interested in MORE TIPS to improve independence by preventing falls, my compelling new tips report will help.

This special report on actionoriented ways to increase independence and reduce falls is 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… there’s a limit of just 25 free copies… 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/Fall Screen

Author Dr. Jeffrey Guild, Physical Therapist is owner of Optimove Physical Therapy & Wellness.

(214) 712 – 8242 www.OptimoveDFW.com J.Guild@OptimoveDFW.com

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Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole with Hazelnut Crumble pepper, stir well, and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium and cook 5 minutes, stirring often, until it has thickened. Add heavy cream, stir, and cook 5 minutes more. Pour the sauce over the sweet potatoes and top with hazelnut crumble.

HAZELNUT CRUMBLE Ingredients: ¾ cup granola ½ cup brown sugar, packed ½ cup reserved toasted hazelnuts, chopped 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

CHRISTY ROST

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

In a medium bowl, stir together granola, brown sugar, hazelnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Add melted butter and toss well to moisten.

Spoon the crumble evenly over the sweet potatoes, cover tightly with foil, and bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a sharp knife.

Uncover and bake 10 minutes more to crisp the top.

Yield: 10 servings

56 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com ENGAGEMENT

MCDOWELL-MARTINSON

C O U R T E SY P H O T O

E

llen and Rex McDowell are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Virginia Steele McDowell, to Mark Wayne Martinson, Jr., son of Mrs. Mark Wayne Martinson and the late Dr. Mark Wayne Martinson of Danville, Pennsylvania.

The bride is a 2005 graduate of The Hockaday School. She graduated in 2009 f rom Texas Christian University receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in communications studies. Virginia served as the president of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority while at TCU. Most recently she has been living in Aix en Provence, France working for artist Jill Steenhuis.

The groom is a 2001 graduate of the University of Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in economics. He is the founder and managing partner of Dallas-based Orox Capital Management.

The couple will be married in October at Church of the Incarnation with Bishop Anthony Burton officiating. A reception will follow at Incarnation’s new Welcome Center. Following their honeymoon, the newlyweds plan to reside in Dallas.

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 57 O B I T UA RY

DOROTHY HERBERT GRUBER

05/19/1925 – 9/14 /2019

D

orothy Barbara Herbert “Dot” Gruber passed away peacefully on Sept.

14, 2019. She was born on May 19, 1925 in Hempstead, NY. where she lived with her family until she was married. In 1947 she met the love of her life, Robert P. “Bob” Gruber, a dashing USAF First Lieutenant, at a USO event. Dorothy’s father was the USO Director in Hempstead where Dorothy was a frequent volunteer. She and Bob were married on March 19, 1949 just before he shipped out to Germany to assist in the Berlin Air Lift. After several re-locations including Korea, Bob was stationed in Texas where he and Dorothy decided to make their home. In 1959 they moved to University Park (Dallas, TX). Bob passed away Oct. 31, 1984, and Dorothy remained in their family home.

For many years, Dorothy was an active volunteer for the Republican Party and with the League of Women Voters of Dallas including serving as President for a time. Dorothy also

enjoyed volunteering with the Alter Society of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where she was a long-time member. In addition to raising her four children and her volunteer work, she worked 12+ years with the University Lecture Series of SMU retiring in 1991.

She loved to travel, especially taking cruises and enjoying various Elderhostel trips.

Dorothy was pre-deceased by her parents, William and Rose Kreischer Herbert; her brother, Ramon “Ray” Herbert, sisters-in-law Jeanne Seibold Herbert and Annette Gruber and her grandson, Samuel Thomas. She leaves behind three sons, Robert P. Gruber and wife Kathy Ogle of Dallas TX, Richard Gruber and wife Laura of Atlanta GA, Carl Gruber and wife Missy of Cocoa Beach FL; and one daughter, Patti Thomas and husband Alan of Waco TX. She also leaves six grandchildren, Rachel (Michael Corliss) Gruber, Jennie Lee Gruber, Cecelia Gruber, Chelsea (Ben) Butler, Chloé Thomas, and Sophie Gruber.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Avalon Memory Care, St. Rita’s Catholic Church, and Faith Presbyterian Hospice for the loving care they provided for Dorothy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Faith Presbyterian Hospice, 12477 Merit Drive, Dallas, TX 75251 in memory of Dorothy.

A memorial and visitation was held at 5 pm, Saturday, Sept. 21st at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243 with burial in the DFW National Cemetery.

58 November 2019 | parkcitiespeople.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

The Modern Midcentury

5953 Walnut Hill Lane, represented by Susie Swanson for $1,479,000 This sprawling Midcentury home in Preston Hollow has been thoroughly updated for today. Sited behind gates and sized at 4,436 square feet, the house offers almost limitless luxuries. Its many special features include a welcoming porte cochere and a large open living area with a vaulted ceiling and two elegant marble-surrounded fireplaces.

The open kitchen is anchored by a striking marble-topped island with a large stainless-steel sink.

The chef-grade appliances include a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Wolf range with double ovens and an Asko dishwasher. A large walk-in pantry offers additional marble counter space, generous storage and a wine refrigerator.

The home’s four bedrooms include an expansive master suite, complete with vaulted ceiling, large sitting area and dual bathrooms — one with a walkin shower and an oversized walk-in closet, while the other boasts dual sinks and a dressing table, a freestanding tub and a walk-in closet.

The property itself, a generous half-acre-plus, offers an eight-foot-high perimeter privacy fence, two electric gates accessing the circle drive and a three-car garage.

5953 Walnut Hill Lane is represented by Susie Swanson for $1,479,000.

To see all the homes, ranches and land offered by Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty — in North Texas and around the world — go to briggsfreeman.com.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

Strength in Numbers

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Finding Great Opportunities in Today’s Market

EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS

GRAND VIE SHOWCASES LUXURY LISTINGS AND MORE

Visit DPMFineHomes.com for more information.

This luxury two-bedroom home located at the luxury mid-rise The Mondara, a development in Highland Park, was successfully placed under contract for less than the current days on market average. The trend and key to moving properties is correctly pricing to the market.

Many buyers are also looking for move-in ready homes. This light filled transitional one-level property boasts not only the finest finishes, but the Seller’s upgrades helped make this home market ready.

Laura Michelle & Ryan Streiff of The Perry-Miller Streiff Group at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, are seeing that this trend is becoming more important than ever. “ There is strength in not only choosing the right price for your home, but also in who you want representing your home,” says Streiff. “When you enlist The Perry-Miller Streiff Group you tap into the wealth of experience from this elite 8-agent team to stay ahead of market trends and reap the exponential benefits of each individual’s network.

Simply put, The Perry-Miller Streiff Group quietly delivers what today’s buyers and sellers desire: Results. Stellar associates, a sincere focus on clientele, and collaborative leadership combine to deliver a firstclass experience, achieving real estate outcomes that are unparalleled.

The North Texas housing market remained strong through the summer and presents tremendous opportunities for buyers and sellers. August saw a 5% increase in sales over the same month last year, the second month in a row that beat out last year, according to data from the NTREIS. In advice to her firm’s clients, Ms. Allman summed up today’s housing market in three words – Pricing, Patience and Possibilities.

“Pricing means you have to know what sold in the last year and realize new appraisals are necessary,” she stated. “Buyers cannot expect bargain basement prices in Dallas.”

Whether you are buying or selling, patience is required. There a 4% increase in inventory over the same time last year, but is less than the demand. The Metroplex is still the fastest-growing region in the U.S., adding almost 132,000 residents last year.

In the current market, Ms. Allman wrote: “Buyers are not in a rush and sellers are steadfast on their asking price. You cannot expect your home to sell as fast as it did two years ago. Our agents are always in it for the long haul.”

“Have no fear,” Ms. Allman added. “One of our respected professionals is the right agent to get the job done with you.”

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Bruner/Parker Group lists New Orleans-style home in University Park

University Park Homes Sell Best with This Leading Brokerage

Allman Sells the Most Estates

Visit grandviemagazine.com to view the fall/winter 2019 edition of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living magazine.

The fall/winter 2019 edition of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living magazine, the luxury-home publication of Ebby Halliday Realtors, recently mailed to homes across North Texas.

The 28th edition of Grand Vie features some of D-FW’s premier luxury properties for sale and inspiring editorial content, including “The Art of Table Setting,” featuring ideas to elevate your tablescapes and entertain in style; “Weekend Getaways: Waco,” offering tips for a visit to the Central Texas city with small-town charm and vibrant local businesses; “Houses of Art,” highlighting some of the top cultural events of the season; and special sections for lake, farm, ranch and recreation properties. Also, in the fall/winter edition: “All About That Paper: Not Your Grandmother’s Style,” features wallpapering advice from local designers Shay Geyer and Tiffany McKinzie.

In addition to the exposure received from Grand Vie, Ebby Halliday luxury listings benefit from national and international exposure provided by luxury marketing partner Luxury Portfolio International and its website, luxuryportfolio.com, one of the most-visited luxury home sites in the world.

To view the digital version of Grand Vie, visit grandviemagazine.com. To learn more about Ebby Halliday Realtors, its Associates and all of the homes available for purchase in North Texas, visit ebby.com.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Home Sells in 11 Days Once Strategically Staged

Allie Beth Allman & Associates continued through the summer to maintain its top ranking for sales of North Texas estates valued at more than $4 million.

“We are proud that estate homeowners trust us to find the right buyer,” said Keith Conlon, Allman general manager. “And buyers looking for that extraordinary home know that we have the knowledge, contacts and experience to find it Here are two exceptional estates to consider.

The new, seven-bedroom Mediterranean-style estate at 4926 Deloache Ave. in Old Preston Hollow was designed by architect Patrick Ford and built by Bella Custom Homes. With more than 14,000 square feet of living area, this estate has a media room with stadium seating, a wood-paneled library, a lounge with a built-in bar, a family room with ceiling timbers and a basement wine cellar.

If you have dreamed of living on White Rock Lake, a six-bedroom mansion on 1.6 acres is available. The more than 13,000-square-foot mansion at 4636 Chapel Hill Rd. was built with the highest quality construction standards. It has an open floor plan, radiant heated floors and beautiful views from every room. It features indoor-outdoor living with multiple patios, covered loggias, an outdoor kitchen and an infinity-edge pool overlooking the lake.

To find your dream estate, visit alliebeth.com/estates.

‘Refined elegance’ best describes this gorgeous traditional residence inspired by A. Hayes Town, designed

by Paul Turney and built by Rusty Goff in 2001. With four bedrooms and 4½ baths in 4,184 square feet (tax), the 2001 home at 4309 Amherst Ave. (4309amherst.daveperrymiller.com) is listed by Bo Parker and Cindy Bruner and priced at $1,749,000.

In the stunning entry, a free-floating spiral staircase and hand-painted black-and-white patterned floors set an inviting tone. The wide hallways, expansive rooms and 10½-foot ceilings are conducive to great entertaining. Many building materials were authentically sourced from New Orleans such as the antique red brick, the antique heart and sinker pine flooring, and Bevolo gas lanterns.

Other highlights include four fireplaces, French doors opening to deep, covered porches in front and a New Orleans-style courtyard in back, plus an unfinished 548-square-foot quarters over garage, plumbed for a full bath.

To schedule a private showing, contact Parker at 214-924-6445 / bo@daveperrymiller.com or Bruner at 214-675-0834 / cindybruner@daveperrymiller.com.

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

University Park is a sophisticated neighborhood in Dallas praised for its community feel and fantastic education system, so naturally, many families put down roots there. Though the market is strong, selling homes in the area still requires the work of an expert, such as Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

The contemporary residence at 7315 Colgate Avenue has an eco-friendly edge. Built in 2008, the stunning house stands out for being an Energy Star Certified construction. A thoughtful mix of materials like wood, stone, and marble create sleek yet warm interiors. Plus, the charming backyard has a covered porch and cooking area where you can enjoy meals with a divine fountain and lush landscaping always in view.

Custom built in 2000, the stately residence at 3605 Haynie Avenue was recently renovated to have a more open floor plan and state-of-the-art amenities. While the home is now primed for modern living, you will still delight in traditional design elements such as arched doorways, herringbone wood floors, and ornate fireplaces. Enjoy hosting guests on the covered patio or at the wet bar with a wine refrigerator.

University Park homeowners feel at ease putting their listings in Allie Beth Allman & Associates’ hands. Visit alliebeth.com to find your dream home.

Making changes to get your home ready for buyers can seem daunting. Some sellers even find it unnecessary, but an impressive sale by Julie Haymann and Lauren Savariego proves that it can make a difference. The expert team gained a listing sitting on the market for three months, and with some strategic changes, it sold in 11 days.

After viewing a presentation by Allie Beth Allman & Associates about staging to sell, the agents hit the ground running. The first step was removing as much of the dated light fixtures, fans and hardware as they could. Small details like this are inexpensive to change and have major pay off. A stylish new light fixture can change a room.

The next step was simplifying spaces. It’s important to remove distracting artwork and patterns so buyers can visualize themselves living there instead of fixating on the seller’s customizations. The agents infused the house with a neutral color palette to help the rooms shine.

With these changes, the home was transformed. In fact, a couple that toured the house before the staging purchased it. They were amazed how it looked, proving that you can’t leave it to the buyer to imagine the potential. In today’s market, you must show it.

parkcitiespeople.com | November 2019 59

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

3030 McKinney Avenue #701 2 Bedrooms + Study off Master | 2 Bathrooms | 1,971 SqFt

For Sale: $659,000 | For Lease: $6,200/month

Fully renovated custom contemporary highrise home in prestigious La Tour in Uptown! 2 bedroom plus study off master. Open kitchen adjoining spacious living and dining area with downtown views makes this an ideal home for entertaining. Lightfilled master bath features dual vanities. Wood floors and custom lighting throughout! 24 hr Concierge and Valet. 2 assigned parking spaces plus climate-controlled storage. Fitness center with sauna adjoins lap pool and Jacuzzi!

For more information please contact Robin Brock (214) 543-8963 | robin.brock@alliebeth.com.

CLASSIFIEDS 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., Oct. 28. 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

BURIAL PROPERTIES

HOME SERVICES

BURIAL PROPERTIES

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

HOME SERVICES

HOME MANAGEMENT Hello neighbors. I am a semi-retired Texas CPA exiting the corporate arena, who would be delighted to manage the home of a busy working couple or help a small business with its accounting needs.

HEALTH

Weight Loss, Energy, Focus,

Depression, Impotency and Fatigue etc.

Leslie Duong, 214-887-8325

My wife Jill & I are both long-time Dallas residents.

LESLIEDUONG.COM BS Biology, Health Nutritionist, Licensed Herbalist

Feel free to give me a call for references & more details!

FIREWOOD DELIVERY SPLIT SEASONED OAK 972-333-8444

Steve Long 972-849-4025

HOME SERVICES

#1 Home Cleaning Service for a Reason! www.DallasMaids.com (469) 487-6669

Dina Taylor

Professional Organizer

R E A L E S TAT E - F O R S A L E

941-921-5066

One-of-a-kind 312.31 Acre Estate Property with 27 Acre Lake, 2 Creeks, Rolling Terrain and amazing Trees located just North of us in Dallas’ prestigious “Golden Corridor.”

Perfect for the sophisticated-informed Proprietor who values, above all else: PRIVACY, SECURITY and NATURAL BEAUTY. Website: www.DallasGoldenCorridorProperty.com

EASILY ORGANIZED

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THE ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY BASH The Birthday Party Project founder, Paige Chenault, celebrated the mission of spreading JOY with the Ultimate Birthday Bash at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in L.A. on Sept. 7.

Re-live the party and view the gallery online at parkcitiespeople.com/ category/society/

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SAVE THE DATE: YOUR FALL SOCIETY CALENDAR

UNLIKELY HEROES TO THE RESCUE

PARTNERS CARD BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER BRIAN GOVE PHOTOGRAPHY

2B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

SOCIETY

21

Awards for Excellence, benefitting the Dallas Historical Society, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Fairmont Dallas

DEC. 7

The Crystal Charity Ball, benefiting children’s charities in Dallas county, 7 p.m., Hilton Anatole.

11 An Evening With the Best of Broadway, 2018

Nov. 1

An Evening With the Best of Broadway, benefiting Dallas Summer Musicals, 8 p.m. Music Hall at Fair Park.

NOV. 2

Black Tie Dinner, the largest fundraising dinner in the nation for the LGBTQ community benefits up to 20 local nonprofit organizations, 7 - 10 p.m., Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

St. Jude Evening Under the Stars Party and Golf Classic, benefiting the St. Jude Research Hospital, 5:30 p.m., Omni Dallas Hotel (Golf Classic, noon Nov. 4, Stonebriar Country Club).

Grow the Grove, benefiting Cristo Rey Dallas, 7 p.m., Sixty Five Hundred.

Zoo To Do, benefitting the Dallas Zoo, 6 p.m. (9 p.m. for after party), Dallas Zoo

4

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s Fashion Notes Luncheon and Style Show, benefiting the Dallas Symphony Association, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Ritz-Carlton

6

ReuNight, a Family Place event, 6 p.m., Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Night at the Museum, 7 p.m., Perot Museum.

Folds of Honor Gala, 6-9 p.m., Hyatt Regency.

13

Home for the Holidays, benefiting SPCA of Texas, noon - 8 p.m., NorthPark Center.

14

Champion of Children Award Dinner, benefits Dallas CASA, 6 p.m., Omni Dallas Hotel.

16

The Trains at NorthPark opens, benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, NorthPark Center.

17

Uncork-A-Cure Gala, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association- North Texas, 6 - 11:30 p.m., Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas.

19

Dallas Women’s Foundation Luncheon, time 11:30 a.m., Hilton Anatole.

2019 Doing the Most Good Luncheon, benefitting the Salvation Army DFW, noon, Hilton Anatole.

Feb. 7

UNICEF Dallas Gala 2020, benefiting UNICEF, 6:30 p.m., Ritz-Carlton Ballroom.

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The TACA Silver Cup Award, 2019

Christmas in the Park, sponsored by the SM Wright Foundation, 8:30 a.m., Fair Park.

JAN.

18

Jade Ball, benefitting the Crow Collection, time TBD, Crow Museum of Art.

25

Big Climb Dallas, benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 7 a.m., Bank of America Plaza.

31

National Council of Jewish Women Dallas 107th Birthday Luncheon, 11 a.m.

- 1:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Dallas

FEB.

5

Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, time TBD, The Meyerson Symphony Center.

8

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball, supporting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Outreach Programs, time and location TBD.

March 10

The TACA Silver Cup Award Luncheon, noon, Fairmont Dallas.

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RECESS!, benefitting Dallas Afterschool, 7 p.m. The Empire Room.

APRIL 3

Aware Affair Gala, benefiting Aware, time and location TBD.

16

Mad Hatter’s Tea, time TBD, The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

17

Children’s Cancer Fund Annual Gala, supporting research and treatment programs at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern, 6 p.m., Hilton Anatole.

18

Art Ball, benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art, 6:30 p.m., The Dallas Museum of Art.

April 4

Nasher Prize Award Gala, 7 - 11 p.m.

Nasher Sculpture Center.

20

Texas Woman’s University Dallas Leadership Luncheon, presenting the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, supporting graduate student scholarships, 11 a.m., Belo Mansion & Pavilion

Legacy Award Dinner, honoring the National Football League Foundation, 6 - 10 p.m., Belo Mansion

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24

On the Move Luncheon, benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 11 a.m.

- 1 p.m. Ritz-Carlton Dallas.

Symphony of Chefs, benefiting KidLinks, 6 p.m., Sixty-Five Hundred.

MARCH

National Philanthropy Day Luncheon – “The Stars of Texas,” noon – 1:30 p.m. (registration begins at 11:30 a.m.), Hyatt Regency Dallas

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Wilkinson Center Can Do! Luncheon, benefiting the Wilkinson Center, 11 a.m. 1 p.m., Dallas Country Club.

CC Young Wrap It Up Luncheon, benefitting the CC Young Benevolence Fund, 10 a.m., Brook Hollow Golf Club.

Art for Advocacy, benefits the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, 6 p.m., General Datatech.

Women with Promise, Cocktails, Couture and Cookies with Santa, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Neiman Marcus, 1618 Main St., Dallas.

UNICEF Dallas Gala, 2019

Art in Bloom, benefiting the DMA’S exhibition and education programs and the DMA’s League’s Floral Endowment Fund, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., The DMA.

Nasher Prize Award Gala, 2018

View more galleries online at prestonhollowspeople.com/category/society/

Society | People Newspapers | Fall 2019 3B

FOCUSED ON MODERN SLAVERY

Unlikely Heroes rescues children around the world

By Jordan Kiefer

Special Contributor

A

s a social worker at Oakland Children’s Hospital Emergency Room, Erica Greve saw no place for child victims of sex slavery to heal and stay safe from their traffickers.

She wanted to do something, and, so in 2011, founded the nonprofit Unlikely Heroes.

In the eight years since, the agency, now headquartered in Grapevine, has rescued more than 400 children and educated more than 80,000 people about human trafficking, according to unlikelyheroes.com.

More than 45.8 million people are enslaved worldwide, and Texas ranks No. 2 in the nation for reported human trafficking cases, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. “The average age of an American girl who becomes commercially exploited is only 13 years old, and it is estimated to be even younger for children who are trafficked internationally.”

Some children are sold for sex 30 to 40 times a night by a complex network of traffickers. It is a long, arduous process to free them

from this horrible life, said Esther Min, Unlikely Heroes director of programs.

The nonprofit works internationally, operating restoration homes and aftercare programs where children receive medical care, trauma therapy, individualized education plans, life skills, and lots of love, Greve said.

“The children in our restoration homes range from as young as 5 years to 18 years old.,” Min said.

The true unlikely heroes are these kids who, after enduring the most traumatic pain possible, are able to heal and look ahead at the rest of their lives with hope.

Erica Greve

The agency serves more than 100 children in seven homes in the Philippines, Thailand, and Mexico.

Elevate Academy, the agency’s new nationwide domestic survivor program for victims older than

18, combines community, healing, mentorship, and empowerment.

“The true unlikely heroes are these kids who, after enduring the most traumatic pain possible, are able to heal and look ahead at the rest of their lives with hope,” Greve said. “They often want to help as many trapped kids find freedom like they once desperately needed. Seeing them pursue big dreams and help others makes all the long days absolutely worth it.”

Volunteer opportunities include service projects and efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking. Email info@unlikelyheroes.com or visit unlikelyheroes.com.

The children served graduate high school, enter the workforce, and have families of their own.

“Through our work at Unlikely Heroes, children who were once exploited, are now seeing value in their lives and developing the self-confidence to realize their individual, personal potential,” executive director Kelley Sherpy said.

I F YO U G O WHAT: Recognizing Heroes Awards Dinner & Gala WHEN: 5 p.m. Oct. 26 WHERE: Ritz-Carlton Dallas COST: Starting at $225 TICKETS: unlikelyheroes.com

COURTESY UNLIKELYHEROES

Powell, Wilhelm Among Philanthropy Day Honorees Donna Wilhelm has contributed more than $10 million to support arts, culture, and education.

Michal Powell is known as a passionate fundraiser for faith-based, medical, and humanitarian causes.

The Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals will celebrate these two women and four other honorees in November during the annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon.

“National Philanthropy Day is a day to remember and recognize the impact philanthropy – charitable giving, volunteering, and engagement – has made in our world,” said luncheon chair Janet Sherlip.

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth nominated Wilhelm, of Preston Hollow, as this year’s Outstanding Philanthropist.

“Donna Wilhelm’s generosity, coupled with her understanding of an organization’s needs and her ability to guide and motivate all of an organization’s stakeholders, is what makes her truly unique,” said Jim Falk, of the World Affairs Council.

Her memoir, A Life of My Own, is

Donna Wilhelm

Michal Powell

scheduled for release in November.

The Salvation Army North Texas Area Command nominated Powell, of University Park, as this year’s Outstanding Volunteer.

“Michal Powell believes in compassionate Christian values, women’s empowerment, children’s health and well-being, and research-based medical advancement,” said Major Jonathan Rich, The Salvation Army North Texas Area commander.

As a Salvation Army advisory board member since 2013, she helped develop a 10-year vision plan and new initiatives serving more than 100,000 people annually.

Other honorees: Outstanding Foundation – Harry S. Moss Trust. The trust which supports the prevention and cure of heart disease in Texas, particularly in Dallas, has contributed more than $41 million to UT Southwestern.

Outstanding Corporation – Texas Capital Bank. Since the inception of its charitable giving program, the bank has supported more than 100 nonprofits

throughout Texas.

Outstanding Fundraising Executive – Cindy Scott. She has 30-plus years of fundraising experience, including her service since 2002 as senior development officer for the Parkland Foundation.

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy – Ashlyn Duy. The former patient of Children’s Health has raised $31,170 in four Red Balloon Children Helping Children Tennis Tournaments, benefiting pediatric cancer research and programs.

— Staff report

“ T H E S TA R S O F T E X A S ” WHAT: 34th annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 WHERE: Hyatt Regency Dallas TICKETS: Starting at $95. Visit afpdallas.org or contact Madeleine Crouch at 972-233-9107, ext. 204, afpchapteroffice@afpdallas.org

4B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

FRIENDS OF KLYDE WARREN PARK

Kara Shannon and Katelyn Hall

Dr. Alexandre Carvalho and Maria Elisa Carvalho with Cyntia and Lisun Kung

Lynn McBee, Grant and Katie Moise, and Betsy Dixon

Todd and Shelly Groves Guest sitting on a replica of the famous “Friends” couch

Dee Brown, Shenee Rayford, Andrea Wehler, and Janice Wilson

Kim Demetriou, Alma Nachawati, and Mary Debus Emily Durante and Stephan Akin with Kerry and Cindy North Klyde Warren Park

Rebecca and Barron Fletcher Valerie and Geoff Boyd with Leigh and Storm Sands SPROUSE & NEUHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY

Hannah Davis, Laura A. Harris, and Shannon Murray

Katie Moise, Kit Sawers, and Grant Moise

Carrie and Kyle Ford

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Friends, Superfly and Warner Bros. Television made multiple copies of the famous orange couch of Central Perk - and stationed one at Klyde Warren Park from Sept. 15 -30. The scene was completed with a coffeehouse backdrop and a coffee table.

This event benefited the park’s annual fundraiser, Park & Palate, which is on Oct. 26.

6B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

MIRON CROSBY AND PRABAL GURUNG DEBUTS

Lynsey and Seth Eaton

Tina Craig, Lizzie Means Duplantis, Sarah Means, and Nasiba Hartland-Mackie

Molly Miller and Sally Miller Walker

Barbara and Laura Bush

Natalie Knowlton

COURTESY PHOTOS

Vito Cammisano, Logal Waller, Jessica Nowitzki, and Rajan Patel

Designer Prabal Gurung teamed up with Dallas-based authentic cowboy boot brand Miron Crosby to create an exclusive set of styles that were unveiled during the Prabal Gurung Spring 2020 New York Fashion Week show. The show also marked Gurung’s 10th anniversary.

Following the debut, Miron Crosby founders Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means welcomed the designer to Dallas for a VIP launch of the collection on Sept. 19 at Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Society | People Newspapers | Fall 2019  7B

EMMITT SMITH GRAN FONDO

ESGF cyclists

Paige Barton, Rowdy, Sandra Phillips Rogers, and Devona Peterson

Lauren Hall

Debbie Breazeale, Pat Smith, Eric Marcotte, and Emmitt Smith

Mark Hsu

Bryan Jones

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price

PHOTOS BY AXXESS

Fan selfies with Emmitt Smith

Over 1600 cyclists took part in the fourth annual Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo charity cycling ride, sponsored

by Toyota, on Sept. 14 leaving from the iconic Southfork Ranch in Parker.

The Gran Fondo courses were designed to accommodate the most avid of cyclists to the casual weekend rider.

Pat and Emmitt Smith also presented former U.S.A. National Champion Eric Marcotte a check for $10,000 for completing the 94-mile timed course in the fastest time of 3:57:21.44.

8B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

VOICES FOR A CAUSE

Christina Jafar, Stephanie Seay, Bela Cooley, Hillery Stack, and Megan Sterquell

Mark Hiduke and Heather Ardeel

Event chairs Megan Sterquell, Elise Nichols, and Bela Cooley

Cory Bray Moran and Katherine Gillis Nicole Paquette, Kyle Laney, Lauren Quam, and Daren Dunkel

Jessica Hess and Anthony Richardson

Brooke Donelson, Paige Calentino, and Alexa Faraimo PHOTOS BY JAMES COREAS

The Vinyl Countdown

The Dallas CASA Young Professionals’ fourth annual Voices for a Cause benefit concert brought more than 350 young people together for a good cause on Sept. 26. All proceeds from the event, held at The Rustic, go toward the abused and neglected children served

by Dallas CASA. The evening featured a 1980s theme, with a DeLorean time machine and giant Rubik’s cubes on hand. Opening act The Vinyl Countdown: A Tribute to Arena Rock played before The Rich Girls, a Hall & Oates tribute band, came to stage.

Society | People Newspapers | Fall 2019 9B

PARTNER’S CARD

PARTNERS CARD BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Co-chairs enjoy the shopping but love supporting the Family Place cause Michell was introduced to The Family Place and Partners Card while working with Highland Park Village.

Sachse has been a community seller for Partners Card and has bought one every year since moving to Dallas in 2000.

Seay is involved with the auxiliary group that volunteers and advocates on behalf of The Family Place and has cochaired the Texas Trailblazers Luncheon.

“The Family Place helps victims of family violence become survivors,” Nina Sachse said.

Seay admires how Family Place’s domestic violence shelter “provides a place for victims to bring their pets so that they are not left behind.” Many victims will stay in their abusive situations due to being the only thing between the abuser and the pet, Seay said.

Michell put it this way: “The Family Place provides victims of family violence with hope.”

Seay enjoyed “getting to know my cochairs Nina and Rachel better as well as learning about all of the new stores involved this year.”

Purhase tickets online through Nov. 3 or in person at many of the participating companies. Visit partnerscard.org for details and vendor list.

The fundraiser grows every year, with more retailers and E-commerce options.

There are also Partners Perks – additional discounts offered by a few companies.

The Family Place provides victims of family violence with hope.

Rachel Michell

GEORGE FIALA

FROM LEFT: Partners Card co-chairs Rachel Michell, Stephanie Seay, and Nina Sachse.

By Liliann Albelbaisi People Newspapers

S

ince 1978, the Family Place has been providing shelter, counseling, and skills for the victims of domestic violence.

Every year the Partners Card fundraiser helps raise money for the Family Place by selling $70 cards that give buyers discounts to many retailers and restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

This year’s co-chairs Rachel Michell, Nina Sachse, and Stephanie Seay are leading the event scheduled for Oct. 25 through Nov. 3.

They love what the Family Place does for domestic violence victims and said they are honored to chair the event.

Sachse said she “truly [feels] like Partners Card brings the whole community together.”

They each have history with the agency and the fundraiser.

With so much to look forward to with the Partners Card this year, the co-chairs are excited to get cards again themselves.

They all look forward to Christmas shopping for their f riends and family, “then this girl is off to market to treat herself,” Michell said.

ABOUT FAMILY PLACE The Family Place works to empower victims of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling, and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence. Services and programs include an emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, trained adult and children’s counselors, transitional housing, incest recovery, youth education, job and financial training, childcare and education, legal assistance, and community advocacy. Visit familyplace.org.

BY THE NUMBERS

$19 million raised by Partners Card its first 26 years

750-plus retail and restaurant locations participate in North Texas. Visit partnerscard. org for the full list.

$70 donation to the Family Place to get a card

27th year of Partners Club fundraising

20 percent discount at participating retailers

10 percent discount at participating restaurants

10 days of shopping and dining from Oct. 25-Nov. 3

One night of safety for a victim of family violence is paid for with each Partners Card sold

PARTNERS CARD TIMELINE

1993 The Family Place launched Partners Card with 175 participating stores. Sally Hoglund and Sally Johnson founded the inaugural event which raised $90,000.

1998 Partners Card revenue exceeded half a million dollars with more than 10,000 cards sold.

2000 Partners Card grew to more than 500 participating stores.

2007 Partners Card celebrated 15 years of success, raising $905,000 to help battered women, children and men.

2010 For the first time, Partners Card raised more than $1 million. The Family Place opens its school facility for K-2nd grade students at our Safe Campus.

2017 Partners Card celebrated 25 years of shopping with purpose. Partners Card Mobile App and E-Commerce are successfully launched to propel Partners Card into the future of technology.

Partners Card raised over $1 million and provided more than 14,000 nights of shelter for victims.

10B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

10B Fall 2019 | People Newspapers | Society

GLITZY SELLERS SOIREE

Dr. Anita and Sandy Sule

Christopher Leal and Colleen Thombs

Paula Davis and Nancy Gopez

Kris Sorokwasz, Kristen Gibbons, and Andrea Devaldenebro

Society | People Newspapers | Fall 2019 11B

Danielle Digeralamo, Lexie Aderhold, and Dallas Swedlund

1978 Courtney Underwood and Melissa Sherrill

Grace Dewar, Heather Baker, and Meredith Hays

Denise and Denis Simon

Kristin Schulz, Loryn Weddle, and Kristin Casner

Dimitri Tsevoukas and Brett Dougall

Mandy Austin, Eric White, and Emily Maduro

PHOTOS BY GEORGE FIALA

Dallas-based family violence agency, The Family Place, is gearing up for another exciting year of Partners Card with the annual southern Seller Soirée. This year’s event took place at the new Alexandre Birman store at NorthPark Center on Sept. 10. The evening kicked off the card selling season and recognized the 2019 card sellers and sponsors that make it possible to continue the premier fundraiser each year.