December 2019

OUR HISTORIC TREE /// HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS /// Q&A WITH DOUG DAVIS December 2019

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Come see us for the holidays!

There’s a gift for everyone on your list in Pantego, Texas! Have a hard-to-buy for man in your life? Or a woman with discerning tastes? Little ones are also easy to buy for here! Add these destinations to your holiday shopping: Mountain Sports, The Runner, Diamonds & Designs, Anything Goes, Hank & Ellie and Maggie and Me Boutique!

Join the Town of Pantego for its annual fun-filled event, A Thousand Snowflakes! Come enjoy great holiday shopping, in-store promotions, holiday cheer, Christmas decoration contests and more December 12-14!

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Upcoming Events Dec. 12 Ladies Night Out Dec. 12-14 A Thousand Snowflakes

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The Wade Family would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to the Greater Arlington area and appreciation for all the families that have put their trust in our family for the past 16 years.

4140 W. PIONEER PARKWAY • ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76013 • 817-274-9233

www.wadefamilyfuneralhome.com

CONTENTS December 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 12

24

SPECIAL FOCUS: Holiday highlights

26

28

44

See page 38

HIGHLIGHTS DEPARTMENTS Starting Line 10 • This ‘n Data 12 Scene 20, 60, 66 • Around Town 22 Style 50 • Bulletin Board 68 Health/Fitness 70 • Keen Cuisine 72 Hot Spots 74 • Sights/Sounds 76 Speaking of Sports 78 • Itinerary 80 Finish Line 82

24 Celebrate the holidays in Arlington ... The ninth annual Texas Christkindl Market will bring holiday cheer throughout this month.

26 Q&A ... Pantego Mayor Doug Davis shares how his hometown is gearing for the future.

28 A special car among many special cars ... Dennis Brown’s pastime has spawned a lifetime.

32 Focus on finance ... Here are some of the financial professionals and institutions that help you make the most of your money.

44 Home SWEET! Home ... Jay Warren’s home in the Waterwood neighborhood turns Christmas reveling into an art form – and a real treat, to boot.

52 All in ... Arlington author Lisa Simonds’ debut novel is resonating with a wide range of readers.

54 Let’s go downtown ... In the heart of the city, Mansfield’s Main Street features an array of compelling destination venues.

56 Circle the dates ... The winter /spring segment of Arlington on Tap will look at stormy weather, musician egos (and a lot more).

58 Six Flags moves its headquarters here ... The transition is projected to generate more than $80 million in taxable sales / purchases.

ON THE COVER The ninth annual Texas Christkindl Market will run through Dec. 22, with a new feature, an ice skating rink, that will run through Jan. 12.

Read all about it on pages 24-25 8

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

62 Pagean(tree) ... A Caddo Oak in the heart of Arlington, some 200 years old, has been honored as historically significant.

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STARTING LINE

(A) HOLIDAY CHEER Kudos to this area for showing folks how it should be done

I

f you live, work or often play in or around Arlington, you’re a character in a special chapter of local history. Over the six-plus years that we’ve produced this publication, I’ve marveled at the victories our fair burg has achieved, many of which I can see as I walk from my car in the parking lot a few feet away from my workplace to my office.

Said station is in the heart of Globe Life Park. When I started this job, it was the venue that had the distinction as home of your Texas Rangers. Now, another Globe Life entity is about to take up that mantle, and the steady progress of its construction has been amazing to watch.

One day it was a hole in the ground; a few years later, it’s on the brink of becoming one of the more spectacular sports arenas in the country.

Before the initial layer of foundation of that structure began to dry in the Texas sun, another great complex a few feet away had its coming out party. Texas Live! was immediately acknowledged as a crown jewel for the city Yale – and that was before the Live! by Loews hotel began its Youngblood steady climb toward the sun.

Editor When you take in the view from a window on the top floor of that elegant structure, you’ll see what’s going on a few miles away in downtown. Sure, right now you’re ruing your decision not to avoid driving on Abram Street as you make your way through that part of town. But all that road construction represents the means to significantly positive end: a state-of-the art thoroughfare that will grant convenient access to commercial and residential earmarks, the likes of which this city has never seen before.

Many of them are already up and running, the construction be darned. Others are concepts that are about to become restaurants and shops and dwellings. The sum of all the parts – complete, in the works or on the drawing board – will be the downtown city leaders have long imagined, but only now can believe will become reality.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all the unprecedented development – which, frankly, can alter a city’s demeanor, if its residents aren’t careful (see the way our neighbors to the east and west handle 5 o’clock traffic) – we’re making it a priority to laud kindness every day of every week of every month of every year.

It started as something we would do, and we’ve done it enough now that it has become something that we are. There aren’t very many residents of cities or areas anywhere who are collectively, intentionally kind. Ours are, and anyone who has a cause to visit the Arlington area leaves the stay better for the experience.

I write all that to say this: During this holiday season, when you pause to count or recount your blessings, you definitely can include your Arlington experience – whatever it is – among the things that matter. And that matters a lot.

yale@arlingtontoday.com

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

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EXECUTIVE BOARD Executive Publisher Judy M. Rupay CEO Richard Greene EDITORIAL Editor Yale Youngblood Contributing Editors Sara Pintilie, Marla Thomas Sports Columnist John Rhadigan Style Editor Tricia Schwartz Website & Social Media Manager Bailey Woodard Contributing Graphic Artists Francisco Cuevas, Susan Darovich Contributing Writers O.K. Carter, Karen Gavis, Bob Kowalski, Kenneth Perkins, Toni Randle Cook Contributing Photographers Hasson Diggs, Dwayne Lee, Heather Lee, Bruce Maxwell, Toni Randle Cook SALES / CIRCULATION Business Manager Bridget Dean Sales Managers Laura DiStefano, Amy Lively, Andrea Proctor, Debbie Roach, Tricia Schwartz Distribution Manager Hanna Areksoussi PRODUCTION Production Manager Susan Darovich ARLINGTON TODAY is published monthly.

Copyright 2019 Arlington Today, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission of the publisher. The inclusion of advertising is considered a service to readers and is not an endorsement of products.

Basic subscriptions are $33.95 for 12 issues (price includes tax and shipping). To subscribe, e-mail subscriptions@arlingtontoday.com

• Phone number: (817) 303-3304

UTA honors distinguished alumni, friends MICHAEL B. RAY ’76 BS, ’78 MA, ’81 PHD

A

t this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards,

A longtime advocate for UTA, Dr. Ray is chair of

The University of Texas at Arlington

the Advisory Council for the College of Science,

recognized individuals who have represented and advocated for the University through professional and civic achievement and community engagement. The event was held on the UTA campus during Homecoming week.

where he earned degrees in mathematics and mathematical sciences. Now retired from ExxonMobil, he is a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics for his contributions to geophysical computation. In 2008 he and his wife, Wanda, established a scholarship for graduate studies at UTA.

Distinguished Community Service Awards THE HONORABLE KELLY HANCOCK

2019 UTA Distinguished Alumni SHAHRZAD AMIRANI ’89 BA, ’93 PHD A vice president of new products and innovation at Ipsen Biopharma, Dr. Amirani has expertise in a wide range of therapeutic areas. She established an endowed scholarship at UTA and has contributed to over 2,000 microloans for women starting small businesses.

A member of the UTA President’s Advisory Board since 2009,

Elected to the Texas Senate in 2012 for District 9, Hancock previously served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives and 13 years on a local school board. He co-chaired the Joint Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding during the 85th Legislative Interim and serves on numerous Senate committees, including the new Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

THE HONORABLE CHRIS TURNER

she holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in

Turner has served five terms in the Texas House

business administration.

of Representatives representing District 101,

JACOB M. MONTY ’91 BA Houston attorney Jacob M. Monty is a nationally recognized authority on issues facing employers with large Hispanic workforces. He has served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and is currently a member of the UTA President’s Advisory Board.

Monty earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UTA.

WENDY A. OKOLO ’10 BS, ’15 PHD At age 26, Dr. Okolo became the first black woman to earn a PhD in aerospace engineering from UTA, where she previously earned her bachelor’s degree in the same field. She is an aerospace engineering researcher at NASA Ames Research Center. Her honors include the 2019 Women in Aerospace Award and the 2019

a diverse area of Tarrant County that includes major portions of Arlington and Grand Prairie.

He serves as chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, vice chair of the House Committee on Redistricting, and as a member of the House Committee on Insurance. Additionally, he is serving his second term as chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

THE HONORABLE W. JEFF WILLIAMS Arlington mayor since 2015, Williams was selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to serve as chairman of the U.S. Metro Economies committee and participated in the Harvard Bloomberg Leadership program and the Yale School of Management for CEOs and mayors. He is president and CEO of Arlington-based Graham Associates, a civil engineering and surveying firm.

Black Engineer of the Year Award for Most Promising Engineer in U.S. Government.

UTA.EDU

THIS ‘N DATA

It’s been quite an autumn for Arlington’s MAREN MORRIS

F

restaurant 506 at The Sanford House will offer wine dinners on a quarterly basis.

Here’s a sample menu.

restaurant 506 at The Sanford House to offer quarterly wine dinners

T

here’s a new regular event coming to restaurant 506 at The Sanford House in January, and it is sure to please the palates of aficionados of both great food and fine wine.

Quarterly wine dinners will begin on Jan. 22 (at 6 p.m.), featuring from four- to five-course meals, as well as the products of well-known wineries and vineyards. The first event will feature Prisoner wine. “They will be on a Wednesday evening and will take the place of our regular dinner service for that evening,” says Valerie Landry, general manager of The Sanford House. “Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy fabulous wine and food together in the restaurant featuring new and different menus from what we offer at our day-today service.”

Eventually, Landry says, the management team at The Sanford House hopes to make the wine dinners monthly events. Beverages from vineyards and wineries such as Troon and Prisoner will be among the featured fare.

For more: thesanfordhouse.com.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

irst, Arlington’s celebrated singer/songwriter Maren Morris got the word that she and husband Ryan Hurd are expecting their first child – a boy – in late March or early April of 2020. Then, she learned some almostMaren Morris at the 2019 as-exciting news when her name was CMA Awards called as the winner of the Album of the Year award at last month’s 2019 CMA Awards program.

“Got another Aries in the mix,” Morris wrote on Instagram just before she headed to the CMA event. “Uh oh.”

Very shortly later, Morris received another thrill, when her album, “Girl,” was announced as country music’s Photo: Matt Baron/Shutterstock best album of 2019. In all, Morris was nominated for six awards – most among all CMA award candidates this year.

How you can help Shelton’s Spa and Salon spread some cheer

T

he team at Shelton’s Salon and Spa is teaming to create some magical makeovers on one of the most iconic dolls in history – just in time for Christmas.

Barbie, who turned 60 this year, is the catalyst behind a collection of fun and festive redesigned dolls that will be gifted to the patients at Cook Children’s Hospital this month, helping the salon’s “Santa’s helpers” deliver a bit of cheer and Shelton’s guests can vote on their favorite holiday heartwarming smiles.

Barbies, which will be distributed at a local hospital.

The imaginative dolls are on display at Shelton’s Arlington location (2122 W. Park Row Drive), showcasing Holiday fashion makeovers on the iconic doll. Salon guests are invited to vote for their favorite look, and a special award will go to the winning team member.

“We would love to share the joy and invite anyone to our Shelton’s Arlington location on Park Row Drive to view and vote on these magical looks,” says Christopher Dove, advanced creative director of the Arlington location. “It makes for a great moment of sharing with your children or grandchildren, and we welcome anyone to visit and vote.

It’s all about the giving during the Holiday season.”

GET IN QUICKER WITH ONLINE ER CHECK-IN.

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center provides quick and convenient treatment for emergencies. At QuickER.org, you can select a treatment time and wait at home instead of the waiting room. With easy, online check-in, Methodist Mansfield is not only one of the area’s most convenient ERs, it’s also QuickER. Trust. Methodist.

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For life-threatening or severe symptoms, please call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

THIS ‘N DATA

Alley earns entry into business hall of fame A

Photo: City of Arlington

Rover, come over Tails N Trails Dog Park to undergo a major facelift

T

he Tails N Trails Dog Park in southeast Arlington will soon feature an additional fenced-in play area and other improvements for residents and their furry canine companions to enjoy.

Tails N Trails, one of two public dog parks in The American Dream City, offers a range of activities for residents and their dogs to exercise and socialize. The Arlington City Council recently approved funding to build an additional dog paddock at the 5.7-acre park, which is located at 950 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd. near Arlington Animal Services and the Southeast Branch Library.

Other planned improvements include new fencing, grading, stormwater infrastructure improvements, electrical, lighting, plumbing, irrigation, landscaping, benches, pet waste stations, a drinking fountain for the dogs and a sidewalk that will link the new paddock to the Arlington Animal Services Center. Wooded area improvements will provide additional offleash space. The project should be completed by summer 2020.

#atpetofthemonth This is Loki. He’s a sweet little spaniel mix that joined our family on Mother’s Day after we lost our 13-year-old dog. It’s his job to run upstairs and get our girls out of bed in the morning. He makes sure the pesky squirrels are held at bay whenever he is outside. He loves walking to Roberta Tipps Elementary when school gets out so he can get a nice head scratch from all the kids going home for the day.

– Michelle Cosby 14

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

rlington construction and real estate magnate Gerald Alley is among four business leaders who will be honored on Feb. 7, 2020, in Little Rock at the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Alley, president and chief executive officer of Con-Real, LP, is part of the 2020 Hall of Fame Class of celebrated Arkansas natives who have made significant contributions to the banking, construction, Gerald Alley publishing and real estate industries during their professional careers.

The Walton College and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Board recently added Alley and the other three inductees to the list of 86 distinguished members of the Hall of Fame. The other honorees include Olivia Farrell, retired chief executive officer, Arkansas Business Publishing Group; Charles Nabholz, chairman emeritus, Nabholz Corporation; and Reynie Rutledge, chairman and chief executive officer, First Security Bancorp.

Jason LaFrance, Walton College alumnus and principal of Dale Capital Partners, chaired the selection committee of nine business and community leaders who reviewed nominations from throughout the state and chose the inductees. Criteria for selection included: the significance of the impact made as a business leader, the concern demonstrated for improving the community and the display of ethics in all business dealings. In addition, living inductees must be over the age of 60.

RAISE YOUR HAND if you ever drove a Pontiac Star Chief produced in 1954, the year the Arlington General Motors Assembly plant opened for business.

Wages then were $1.78 per hour.

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GUARANTEE YOUR SEATS FOR 2020 Globe Life Field, Texas Live!, and Live! by Loews Arlington renderings are approximate and for illustrative purposes only.

THIS ‘N DATA

Ready to roll!

Renegades offer season ticket options, as well as some perks, to fans who want to be part of the XFL team’s inaugural season

T

he Dallas Renegades, who will play home games during their inaugural season at a renovated Globe Life Park in Arlington beginning in February, have announced 2020 season ticket prices. Football fans interested in priority status for Renegades season tickets can place deposits at XFL.com/tickets and secure their seats now – before tickets are made available to the general public.

The Renegades will play all five home games at Globe Life Park. Lower Level season ticket packages for the Renegades start at $20 per game. Renegades season ticket packages range from $100 to $400 per seat for five home games.

“Quality football at an affordable price is what we promise to bring fans in North Texas,” says Grady Raskin, Dallas Renegades’ team president. “Our area is known for its passion for football, and we look forward to welcoming great fans back to Globe Life Park. We’ll boast the exciting environment and style of play that will be showcased across the XFL.” For a limited time, each fan who purchases a Renegades season ticket will receive a VIP Field Pass for one home game. The VIP Field Pass will offer access to the playing field during pregame or postgame activities at one home game.

Dallas Renegades Season Ticket Members will enjoy exclusive benefits, including: • Season ticket price-lock for the first two seasons.

• Early access to the XFL’s Football Advisory Network: an online community that will give football fans opportunities to share their thoughts, ideas and feedback and help the Dallas Renegades create their football and fan experience.

• 25-percent discount on merchandise at XFL.com.

• Exclusive Renegades game day access.

• VIP Renegades experiences throughout the year.

• Priority status for playoff tickets and season ticket renewals.

Fans can visit XFL.com/dallas to learn more about Renegades tickets, see all prices and benefits, and sign up for special information and content.

Teykl named Levitt Pavilion executive director

A

rlington native Letatia Teykl was recently named executive director of Levitt Pavilion Arlington by the organization’s board of directors.

She replaces Patti Diou, who announced her retirement during the 2019 concert season.

Teykl is a Sam Houston High School graduate and a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business Letatia Teykl administration. She has more than 25 years of experience in community engagement, marketing and leadership. Prior to joining the Levitt, Teykl served as director of community affairs with inspirED, the Outreach Division of Higher Education Servicing Corp. in Arlington.

16

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

3 Scoops 1. Arlington’s innovative Via Rideshare service, which has provided more than 267,000 rides to the public, continues to receive positive community feedback and requests for service area expansion. With the City Council’s recent approval of the FY2020 operating budget, the Via service area is expected to expand into southeast Arlington, down to the southern city limits, in January 2020.

2. Viridian in Arlington has released 393 homesites to builders as it moves into its next phase of development. The properties will have a full array of homesites and floor plans similar to the range offered in other Viridian neighborhoods. Most of Viridian’s current builder line-up will be building in the new section. Prices will start from the $300,000s and go up to custom homes priced above $1 million.

3. Methodist Mansfield Medical Center received the highest rating possible by the independent hospital watchdog, The Leapfrog Group. The Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety, compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading patient safety experts and administered by The Leapfrog Group. Hospitals awarded an ‘A’ reached high metrics for protecting patients from harm.

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

An Evening of Remembrance DECEMBER 14, 2019 at Moore Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens 1219 N. Davis Dr. • Arlington

Candlelight Memorial Service 5:00 p.m.

Holiday Luminary Park Tour 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Live Nativity • Petting Zoo • Photographs with Santa Claus!

p

Moore Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens 1219 N. Davis Dr. • Arlington, Tx 76012 817-275-2711

Moore-Bowen Funeral Home 4216 S. Bowen Rd. • Arlington, Tx 76016 817-468-8111

www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov

FACILITIES

SAFETY, SECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

FINE ARTS

TRANSPORTATION

PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS

SCENE Snapshots from the recent open house at Arlington Physical Therapy, from the Mansfield Mission Center Taste of Mansfield event at Aristide and from the recent Timeless Concerts performance at Arlington Museum of Art

Alaina Short and Alexandria Morales

Photos: Southern Flair Photography

Dr. Guillermo Morales, Laurie Bianco and Ana Maria Madrid at the APT open House

Debbie Nystrom and Teresa Wilson

Kristi Karmy, Phyllis Hunter, Janie Ross and Lesley McKenna

Lucy DeLaCruz and Kristi Maschal

Photos courtesy of Daryle Perez

Daryle Perez and Melisa Perez at the Taste of Mansfield event.

Taste of Mansfield 2019, benefiting the Mansfield Mission Center, drew a large crowd to Aristide.

Fare from MaryLou’s coffee and sandwich shop was featured at the Taste of Mansfield event.

For more great SCENE shots, visit arlingtontoday.com Photos: Timeless Concerts

Michael Hepp and Deidre Hepp at the Timeless Concerts performance

20

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Julia Castro and Cayetano Castro at the Timeless Concerts event

Give yourself the gift of Better Hearing for the holidays!

Call today for your complimentary screening and one-week in-home trial.

817.277.7039

817.277.7039 • northtxhearing.com

101 W Randol Mill Rd, Ste 100, Arlington, TX 76011

AROUND TOWN

A LIFE SAVER

Photo: Ruben Espericueta

Pamela Johnson is director of the UTA School of Social Work’s Center for Clinical Social Work.

Untangling the emotional snags of young adulthood • By Kenneth Perkins

M

elanie (a pseudonym) was 16 and cheerful, hard working and dutiful, the first to raise her hand to volunteer, the last to leave when things weren’t quite done. Tall and slender, with piercing green eyes and perpetually frizzy hair, she had what she referred to as a steady boyfriend, much to her mother’s unease.

Giving her teenage, independence-seeking daughter space was mom’s way of giving trust. So she let the boyfriend slide.

Until Melanie began to slide herself.

Homework stopped, grades slipped. She cut her hair. Got a tattoo.

She was distant, withdrawn.

A teacher at Melanie’s high school called home. “You noticing this, too?”

Then Melanie came home one day with cuts on her right arm. Tiny slashes from a switchblade. That was it for mom.

“We knew we needed to get her help.”

Turns out the boyfriend, 19, was emotionally and physically abusive. Melanie experienced the sort of emotional trauma that has driven many teenagers to suicide. She eventually got help in therapy but never returned to her high school.

“She’s doing well,” says her mother.

Schools and mental health have long been distant brethren, watching one another warily and wearily, as though one would rather go on without the other, if that were a possibility.

It isn’t.

Slowly, school districts have begun to shift such thinking with more emphasis on in-house social workers.

Then there’s the University of Texas at Arlington, where Arlington ISD students have another place to turn. It’s a partnership that has been something of a best-kept secret for some time now.

AISD’s alliance with UTA’s School of Social Work provides treatment for students with mental challenges, from stress and hyperactivity to anxiety and depression.

Guidance counselors and social workers refer students to the School of Social Work’s Center for Clinical Social Work (CCSW), where licensed clinical staff and masters-level interns are able to diagnose and counsel students, no matter the age.

AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos has characterized the program as a critical collaboration, adding how “this opportunity for

22

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

counseling is one step to improving the future of our students.”

Opportunity is the key word, says Pamela Johnson, the CCSW director. Because the counseling sessions are free with flexible afterschool appointments, students who otherwise could not afford such counseling are able to get the help they need.

“Children have a hard time being successful in school while dealing with life’s problems,” Johnson says.

CCSW sees them all, from the serious mental health conditions to the developmental challenges of emerging adulthood or higher responsibilities at home, like the pressure of having to work to help pay bills. Others face sensitive trials such as exposure to adverse childhood abuse and neglect.

“Divorced parents or incarceration can have a profound impact on mental health,” Johnson says. “We don’t really think about that.”

CCSW began when a pair of UTA professors wanted to work with struggling Arlington students. At least five interns work the center, with a caseload of about 20 people a week, providing counseling services and interventions.

“We see them for about six to eight sessions,” she says. “But also as long as they need, if we feel like six or eight sessions are not enough.”

If they need longer, they stay longer.

With families being more mobile and often both parents working, it’s a challenging time to grow up.

Melanie’s mother, a single parent with two other children, feels guilt-ridden for “dropping the ball” with her daughter.

She shouldn’t.

“Parents have their own concerns and worries that sometimes they are just trying to feed and clothe their kids,” says Johnson, who adds that looking at “the whole ecological system” means parents and other family members can be counseled, as well. “Many things play into why students have these challenges. That’s why it’s so important to have someone to help navigate the problems of life.”

Columnist Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today since it debuted. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.

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COVER STORY

Fröhe Weihnachten: Celebrate the holidays in Arlington Texas Christkindl Market (presented by Comerica Bank) creates outdoor holiday experience

I

n its ninth year, the Texas Christkindl Market, presented by Comerica Bank, is one of the largest open-air holiday markets in the Southwest. Inspired by a cherished German tradition, this free, family-friendly market features a unique shopping experience for holiday gifts, decorations and unique one-of-akind finds. Guests can shop for traditional handcrafted gifts and collectibles straight from Germany, including exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt merchandise and designs from the iconic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village. Indulging in German treats and eats while enjoying festive music and entertainment throughout the Market is always a crowd pleaser. And guests will be able to visit with St. Nikolaus for that iconic annual photo, and skate on the 5,000-squarefoot ice rink produced by Ice Rink Rinks through Jan. 12, 2020, making this a destination guests will enjoy even after Christmas has passed!

Hours: Open Nov. 29, 2019-Jan. 12, 2020. After-school hours on weekdays: 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays and School Holidays: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sundays: noon-7 p.m.

Tickets: Individual admission for all ages: $16 (includes skate rental). For tickets and information, visit txchristkindlmarket.com.

For questions regarding group discounts or private skate requests, please email txchristkindlmarket@icerinkevents.com.

Warming Haus Enjoy the comforts of warm, covered seating in the Warming Haus as a cozy place to enjoy eating your gingerbread or catching up with an old friend. The Warming Haus is an ideal destination to warm up by enjoying seasonal beverages, including beer, Kinderpunsch and Glühwein in custom-collectible mugs (while supplies last.) After the refreshments, head back to the ice rink for a classic holiday experience with friends and family.

For information on hosting private events and meetings, please email info@txchristkindlmarket.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS NOT TO MISS AT THE TEXAS CHRISTKINDL MARKET Tree Lighting and Opening Ceremonies - Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.

Kicking off the 2019 Market, the community is invited to welcome the beautiful Christkindl Angel at the Opening Ceremonies on Nov. 29. The angelic namesake of the event, the Christkind opens the market, sharing German holiday traditions and stories. Special guests are invited to join the Angel as she lights up the live 30-foot Concolor Fir Christkindl Tree, presented

by Viridian DFW by Johnson Development, opening the Market for a successful 24 days.

Kinder Club Before heading to see St. Nikolaus, children are invited to write a letter (or download a special template) at the Kinder Club online at: https://www.txchristkindlmarket.com/kinder-club/kids-downloads/.

Letters should be dropped at the Warming Haus at the Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington, Texas, and put it in the specially marked mailbox to receive a personal response from St. Nikolaus himself (with a little help from the Texas Rangers Women’s Club.)

Ice Skating in the North Plaza Take to the ice with 5,000 square feet of frozen fun produced by Ice Rink Rinks! Take a spin on our outdoor ice skating rink, which will be open through Jan. 12, 2020, and create magical memories with family and friends.

St. Nikolaus There’s nothing more legendary than a visit with St. Nikolaus at the Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington! Every child is invited to meet St. Nikolaus to share their special requests, and photography packages may be purchased starting at $19.95.

24

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Live Entertainment From local school choirs and dance groups to favorite authentic Texas-German dancing and singing groups, the Texas Christkindl Market brings the holidays alive with entertainment throughout the month. Hear the sweet sounds of young voices singing Christmas tunes, or get in the holiday spirit with special performances from your favorite holiday groups.

Check the website for a daily schedule of special entertainment.

Oh, the Food!

One of the most anticipated features at the Texas Christkindl Market is the German cuisine. With aromas of roasting nuts and freshly made strudel filling the air, guests can wander from hut to hut to enjoy the authentic flavors of a Christkindl market, as well as try something new.

Sip on the traditional German-spiced wine, Glühwein, and snack on sweet treats while strolling through the market.

Holiday Gift Vendors The cornerstone of the Texas Christkindl Market is its vendors.

Offering unique holiday shopping experience, guests can select handmade goods such as holiday décor and ornaments that cannot be found anywhere else. This market is also the only place to purchase exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt merchandise and designs from the iconic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village in the Southwest.

With classic German products like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks and more, a walk through the market will definitely get guests in the holiday spirit. Many vendors will demonstrate how their handicrafts are made, and then offer the ability to buy directly at their huts.

You can get a full list of vendors on the website.

Commemorating visitors’ unique experience at the Texas Christkindl Market, many holiday picture opportunities can be found throughout the Market. Stand with the 16-foot-tall Nutcrackers, admire the 30-foot-tall live Christkindl Tree, or take a photo on the ice to capture the memories of the Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington, Texas.

EVENT DETAILS What: Texas Christkindl Market, presented by Comerica Bank When: Market: Nov. 29-Dec. 22 Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29 Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Ice Rink: Nov. 29, 2019-Jan. 12, 2020 Where: North Plaza at Globe Life Field (next to Texas Live!), 1650 E. Randol Mill Road Cost: Free market admission, ice rink admission: $16 For Info: www.TXChristkindlMarket.com www.facebook.com/TXChristkindl www.twitter.com/TXChristkindl www.instagram.com/TXChristkindl #TXChristkindl

arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

25

CONVERSATION

D

oug Davis has served as mayor of Pantego since 2017.

He began his career with Pantego as a patrol officer then climbed the ladder to become Chief of Police, Director of Public Safety, Assistant City Manager, Executive Director of the Pantego Economic Development Corporation and City Manager.

Here he talks about his love for and thoughts about the future of his hometown.

Arlington Today: You’ve had quite a history with the Town of Pantego. How has that evolution through the various positions you held previously prepared you to be mayor?

Doug Davis: Starting out as a patrolman and working my way up as a supervisor, detective, Chief, Director of Public Safety (which included running the Fire Doug Davis Department), Asst. City Manager, City Manager and Executive Director of the Pantego Economic Development Corporation all provided a solid foundation to run for Mayor. If you look at the different positions, each one presented challenges at different levels from just an hourly employee to policy maker. Having experienced the different positions allowed me to better understand the workings of Municipal Government at all levels and identify the needs of the Town, citizens and employees.

AT: You obviously have deep roots in the town. What makes it special to you?

DD: Pantego is a gem within the Metroplex and provides citizens with great services, low taxes and friendly atmosphere.

Q&A Pantego Mayor Doug Davis shares how his hometown is gearing for the future

AT: What are some of the highlights during your tenure as mayor?

DD: I think the Park Row project, our bond package that was approved and the business outreach program that I initiated are what I consider some of the highlights or successes during my tenure.

AT: What are some of the things you’d like to see accomplished in your town in the near future?

DD: Water quality, infrastructure and economic development are 26

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

priorities for the future, much like at other cities. Currently, we have a water quality study in progress, and, once that is reviewed, then a strategic plan needs to be developed. Water, sewer and street infrastructure studies need to be updated and plans need to be developed. The Council presently and in the future should embrace Economic Development by working closely with the Pantego Economic Development Corporation.

Adopting timelines for reviewing and updating studies, identifying priorities and implementing actions within budgetary constraints ensures you are paving the way for the future needs of the Town, citizens and employees.

AT: Successful mayors always seem to have a solid group of city leaders and citizens who share their vision. Can you talk about that dynamic in Pantego?

DD: I believe the Town Council works closely together to provide the citizens with the best services while maintaining financial stability.

This success is due to listening to the older residents and younger generation of citizens who are moving into Town. However, it is our Town employees working with the Council as a team that makes Pantego a great place to live and work.

AT: This is a great time to live in this region in general. Can you talk about where you think the region is headed in the next decade?

DD: I think Arlington’s Economic Development efforts have provided a catalyst for continued growth within the region, and, fortunately, Pantego greatly benefits from their endeavors. Pantego’s population is approximately 2,700 after 10 p.m. but boasts a daily motoring population of over 100,000. Being only a couple miles from AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park and Field, Texas Live! and Six Flags places Pantego in an ideal location for continued growth and prosperity. I believe the area will continue to prosper because of the leadership and vision of area City leaders to ensure business opportunities and quality of life for their citizens.

AT: Your wife Mary frequently cites you as an inspiration for her success as a Pantego business owner. Who are some of your inspirations?

DD: My wife Mary and my boys provided me with the inspiration to succeed in everything I have done.

AT: Last one: When your time of mayor concludes, how would you like to be remembered?

DD: A Mayor who embraced Economic Development and who thought “Outside the Box” to insure economic health and financial stability.

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BEHIND THE WHEELS

Dennis Brown stands with his 1938 Master Deluxe Chevrolet, which, thanks to a 350-cubic-inch engine, can get up and go with the best of them.

Photos: Richard Greene

A special car among many special cars Dennis Brown’s pastime has spawned a lifetime • By Richard Greene

28

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

W

hen GM’s Chevrolet Motor Division rolled out its 1938 models the big auto maker was able to meet and top the competition by offering a car with top speeds in its basic coupes of about 40 miles per hour.

Dennis Brown’s Master Deluxe model that he calls a “cruiser” (not a hot rod, mind you) will go twice that fast, thanks to a 350-cubicinch engine installed in it – something that had not yet been invented in the pre-war era of automobiles.

“I had worked on one like it more than 20 years ago and been looking for another since then,” Dennis says. “About a year ago, a buddy in Dallas found this car for me, I checked it out while it was still in the upholstery shop, and bought it without ever taking it out for a drive.”

It’s all because he likes “tinkering” with cars and trucks – something he’s been doing since he was a kid at Arlington’s Roark Elementary in the mid 1960s.

Even as a 12-year-old he managed to acquire a Suzuki T90 motorcycle that he enjoyed tearing down and discovering all

Whether you look inside, outside or under the hood, you discover an automobile for the ages.

arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

29

its parts and how they came together to make it run. When his father saw it all disassembled and spread out across the garage he responded, “I hope you know how to put this thing back together because I know nothing about these Japanese motorcycles.”

It was a self-taught experience that would serve the junior Brown well in years to come.

By the time he was approaching driving age as a ninth grader at Ferguson Junior High, he and his dad were working on restoring a 1956 Chevy Pickup that would be his for making his daily run to Sam Houston High School.

He was anticipating how cool that would be when one day upon returning home from school, he couldn’t help but notice it wasn’t there. His dad explained that “a guy came by with more money than sense, and I sold it to him.”

That’s when a not-so-cool ’59 Chevy Nomad station wagon became a substitute for the one that got away. It would later be traded for a ’55 Chevy Pickup that became his “original” truck.

By the time he had reached his 20th birthday, Dennis acquired a new, redon-red, 1979 Corvette Stingray and settled the coolness factor once and for all time.

Since then, Dennis describes having pursued his passion of working on, restoring and retrofitting a “bunch” of vehicles. Among them are a couple of fire trucks, long out of service, as well as some tractors and a wide variety of cars.

To say he is passionate about his hobby would be obvious considering his lifetime of finding great satisfaction in its pursuit.

His recollection is that he has found pleasure in the pastime that has included two dozen or more vehicles across the years.

These days he is enjoying this sparkling Chevy from the depression days of the 1930s that represents a turning point in the company’s history.

The decade began with Chevrolet playing keep-up with Ford that had begun to upgrade its designs from the earlier Model A to still affordable coupes and sedans that, along with the Model B, offered buyers choices that were serious competition for the cars from Chevrolet.

Chevy regained production supremacy for the model year ’38 with cars like the one Dennis enjoys, and rarely surrendered it in decades to follow.

Yes, Dennis has a day job that he has practiced as a lifetime career.

He describes it as the “business of dirt moving.”

Residential subdivisions all over the area began when he showed up for his developer clients and began preparing the land that would soon become neighborhoods where countless residents would come to lay residential roots.

There’s always time, however, to enjoy taking the head-turning, bright-red vehicle out for a spin and onto the highways, where he can test that 80-MPH performance of his 80-year-old classic right along with the rest of them.

30

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Here are four images that depict the grandeur and grace of this great automobile.

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arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

31

FOCUS ON FINANCE

PlainsCapital Bank

B

ased in Dallas, PlainsCapital Bank has been serving Texas customers for more than 30 years, growing to become one of the state’s largest banks with more than 60 branches across every major market. At the core of PlainsCapital’s success is its commitment to relationship-based banking – understanding the importance of earning customers’ trust by exceeding their expectations and delivering a level of service that is often hard to find these days.

In July 2018, PlainsCapital opened its newest North Texas location near AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The center features a 3,200-square-foot lobby, 6,000 square feet of commercial lending space, and state-of-the-art technology services, including an interactive Personal Teller Machine located in one of the two drive-thru terminals that allows customers to video conference with a remote PlainsCapital teller.

The Personal Teller Machine provides extended hours – from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays – and offers customers the same services they would find at the Bank’s teller desks, in addition to functioning as a regular ATM for 24/7 cash withdrawals, transfers and deposits.

“We believe in implementing technology in combination with personal service to support the burgeoning North Texas community, particularly the high-growth area around Arlington,” says Brad Hays, PlainsCapital Bank Arlington president.

PlainsCapital offers a full suite of products and services for commercial borrowers, while remaining agile and responsive to each business’ individual needs. From commercial and industrial to real estate and small business, PlainsCapital bankers are dedicated partners who develop an intimate knowledge of their customers’ business needs. Commercial banking solutions include courier service, mobile banking, business debit cards, wire transfers, currency exchange and more.

Treasury management professionals work closely with business customers to monitor and manage the details of cash management, including payroll, automated sweeps, electronic payments and check imaging, while the Private Bank at PlainsCapital focuses on

providing a robust suite of wealth management solutions for highnet-worth individuals, endowments and foundations.

PlainsCapital’s personal banking services allow individuals to access the full scope of the Bank’s financial strength, digital technologies and product development capabilities. From checking and savings accounts, online and mobile banking, cardless cash ATM withdrawals and more, PlainsCapital customers have full access to the leading edge of modern banking.

PlainsCapital is a member of the Hilltop Holdings family of companies. Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH) is a Dallas-based publicly traded financial services holding company whose other subsidiaries include HilltopSecurities, a full-service brokerdealer and National Lloyds Corporation, a niche property and casualty underwriter providing homeowners insurance for low value dwellings. PlainsCapital Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, PrimeLending, is one of the nation’s leading mortgage lenders.

PlainsCapital Bank 804 N. Collins St. • 817-698-4750 • 1748 E. Broad St., Ste. 102, Mansfield • 817-698-4775 • plainscapital.com 32

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

pinnbanktx.com

Subject to credit approval.

Pinnacle Bank

F

or more than a decade, Pinnacle Bank has served Arlington area customers and the community by treating them like family.

Pinnacle Bank’s Park Row location was opened in 2008.

Pinnacle Bank’s Cooper Street location was opened in 2014.The banks are active in several non-profit organizations.

All Pinnacle Banks are full-service banks. Each location has a full staff of tellers, loan officers and personal bankers to serve any needs, including commercial and individual customers.

“We offer all types of loans, including agriculture lending products, deposit accounts, cash management and mortgages, and most locations have an ITM, or Interactive Teller Machine, where users can speak with a live person,” says Chuck Wilson, president of the Cooper Street branch. “We also offer Online and Mobile Banking.”

The Cooper Street branch has 12 employees, and the Park Row location has seven. The bank wants to be an important part of each community it serves. “We consider our customers as our friends, neighbors and links to the community,” Wilson says.

“Though we are a bank with over $10 Billion in assets, we are primarily located in smaller communities in full-service branches and get involved in the communities where we are located.”

Pinnacle Bank first opened our doors in Texas about 30 miles south of Arlington in Keene, TX. The bank was welcomed as a neighbor and important part of the community. During the Great Depression, the economic hardships took their toll on the people of Palmer, Nebraska. So two brothers, George and Tom Dinsdale, along with some friends, decided to pool their resources together and open a bank in their community. They ran the bank much like they ran their ranches, which helped them earn people’s trust. So it did not take long before they were ready to reach out to other towns and states, including Texas.

“Although we’ve grown, we still greet you by name and answer our calls in person,” Wilson says. “We pride ourselves on customer service and getting quick answers. Whenever I call someone about an immediate need (i.e., a personal service) they almost always tell me that’s why they bank here, because they know we care about them or that we make them feel like a welcomed guest and appreciated.”

Pinnacle Bank 1521 N. Cooper St., Suite 100 • 817-807-4000 2401 W. Park Row • 817-277-2225 pinnbanktx.com

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33

Texas Insurance Agency T

or more than two decades, Parker & Richardson, P.C., has been a principal in the Arlington/Mansfield financial arena, helping North Texas area clients meet their accounting needs.

“Parker & Richardson was started in 2004, but its origination dates back to my solo CPA practice that started in 1995,” owner John Parker says. “Over the years, it has evolved into a boutique practice that specializes in catering to the distinct needs of our business owners. As both an entrepreneur and business owner, I can relate to and understand the issues associated with owning and operating a business. This experience, coupled with my tax expertise, allows me to be as tax-efficient as possible when assisting clients.”

The CPA firm provides tax planning and tax preparation, as well as accounting and consulting.

“We have several clients that have us handle all facets of their accounting needs,” Parker notes, adding that a simple philosophy helps set the company apart from the competition: Provide great service and do what is best for the client.

“These principles have been emphasized from day one and continue to be our focus on a daily basis,” he says. “We truly care about our clients and their businesses. They see this and really come to trust and appreciate our services.”

Parker says he and his team establish a special relationship with each prospective client. “I personally call back each prospective client to make sure that we can provide value to them,” he says. “If it seems like we have the potential to help the client, we schedule a free initial consultation to discuss everything in more detail. My goal is to gain an understanding of the client so we can help him/her to succeed and accomplish their goals.”

exas Insurance Agency is independently owned and locally operated to handle virtually any insurance need. The agency focuses on Texas and offers affordable and reliable insurance choices all across the state. Locally, it assists the insurance needs of customers at its Mansfield office, where owner John Parker and his staff are trained and experienced in helping customers find the right combination of tailored, personalized insurance coverage at just the right price to fit their needs.

“Texas Insurance Agency started in 2001 and has grown steadily year after year,” says owner John Parker. “Our staff has been working in the industry for many years. We offer guidance and help you make the right decisions for yourself, your family or your business.”

Texas Insurance John Parker Agency provides auto, homeowners, life and commercial insurance and represents some of the best-known carriers, including: Nationwide, Allstate, Hartford, Progressive, Safeco and Travelers.

Parker welcomes new customers and promises to provide the best customer service possible.

“We take care of our customers like family,” he says. “We’re here for you – whether to provide a rate, assist with a claim, expand your coverage or just answer questions. Texas Insurance Agency takes quality and care seriously. Our professional, personal service helped us achieve the Arlington Today Magazine ‘All Star’ award. We also maintain membership with IIAT and Trusted Choice. Our goal is to provide top-notch service to each of our insurance customers by offering free and accurate quotes, regular rate reviews, and prompt responses to customer inquiries.

Every Texan needs insurance. Consumers are bombarded daily by ads for auto and home insurance coverage. At Texas Insurance Agency, we put customers first. We understand our job is not only to win your business but also to earn your loyalty.”

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34

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Frost Bank

W

ith branches and ATM service centers located throughout the Arlington area, Frost Bank is ideally equipped to meet its customers’ banking needs – so much so that the local financial institution has earned All Star Awards in Arlington Today’s Readers’ Choice poll each of the past four years.

Founded in 1868, Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services products to help customers better manage their money, grow their wealth and protect their assets. And our disciplined relationship approach has stood the test of time.

With a philosophy that emphasizes building long-term relationships and treating everyone with integrity, caring and excellence, Frost Bank has earned numerous awards for customer service to consumers and businesses.

Frost supports its customers with a 24/7 customer care line, and supports its communities with volunteer and philanthropic programs.

When you have an account with Frost Bank, you also have a relationship with them built on honesty, trust and respect.

Find out more at www.frostbank.com or by calling 817-420-5220.

Frost Bank 101 E. Abram St., #160 • 817-420-5200 1881 Ballpark Way • 817-420-5200 3801 Matlock Road • 817-420-5200 5500 W. Arkansas Lane • 817-420-5200 frostbank.com

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Visit us at frostbank.com or call (800) 51-FROST.

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CELEBRATIONS

The city’s annual HOLIDAY LIGHTS PARADE AND TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY will take place on Dec. 14 in Downtown Arlington.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. at the corner of Main and Center Streets and will travel west on Main Street, south on West Street, east on Abram Street and will end at the corner of Abram and East Street. Handicap parking is available in the lot at South Street and Oak Street.

Before the parade, activities will begin at 2 p.m. at and around the Levitt Pavilion Arlington (100 W. Abram St.) and will include Reindeer Games (2 - 5 p.m.), pictures with Santa (2 - 4 p.m.), movies in the City Council Chambers (2 - 6 p.m.) and music at the Levitt (3 p.m.).

Following the hour-long parade, the City’s official tree-lighting ceremony will take place.

For more: holidaylightsparade.com.

MANSFIELD’S HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS, which will take place from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 6 at City Hall, has a Hallmark-worthy lineup of merry moments, including shopping in a historic downtown, tree lighting with Santa, a hometown parade and much more. The free festival includes live reindeer in a petting zoo; food trucks; games and rides; and handson activities like cookie decorating, ornament making and more. Of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in their house, ready to hear wishes from little ones.

And because Mansfield does the holidays like no other, following the lighting of the official city tree, there will be a fireworks show. Other activities include a snow hill for sledding, street hockey and a bevy of photo ops.

For more: mansfieldtexas.gov/789/Hometown-Holidays.

Holiday highlights Here are some fun and worthwhile ‘happenings’ to help you make the most of the season this year 38

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Arlington Music Hall will present SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS, the magical, musical celebration of the holiday season, on Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15.

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Spectacular Christmas showcases sensational singers, dynamic dancers, charming children, a kick-line of lovely young ladies, colorful costumes, sparkling special effects and tops it off with a visit from Santa.

You don’t want to miss the Texas talent on display in a beautiful holiday show at the historic landmark Arlington Music Hall.

For more: arlingtonmusichall.net.

Join Pantego’s locally owned shops and restaurants for a family-friendly holiday event, A THOUSAND SNOWFLAKES, which will take place from noon-10 p.m. on Dec. 12.

The event will feature special items, sales, door prizes and a holiday decorating contest – plus an appearance by Santa! Visitors to participating locations may enter to win a gift basket valued at over $1,000.

For more: townofpantego.com.

INTERLOCHEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, one of the largest holiday light displays in north Texas, will be on display from Dec. 13 through Christmas.

Beginning Friday, Dec. 13, the Arlington Police Department will set up traffic control posts from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. to help facilitate safe travel through the area.

Motorists must enter the Interlochen neighborhood from Randol Mill Road at Westwood Drive.

Every year, more than 200 homeowners in this northwest Arlington neighborhood near Interstate 30 celebrate the season by adorning their homes and property with festive lights and holiday-themed displays. Admission is free. Travel route and safety information is below: Interlochen Neighborhood Entrance and Exit: • Enter the Interlochen neighborhood from Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road.

• From Westbound I-30, take the Fielder Road exit and go south to Randol Mill Road.

Turn right on Randol Mill Road and follow it to Westwood Drive.

• From Eastbound I-30, take the Eastchase Parkway exit, turn east on Meadowbrook Boulevard to Randol Mill Road, then right on Randol Mill Road to Westwood Drive.

• All other streets to the Interlochen neighborhood are closed. Left turns are prohibited from northbound Bowen at Westwood and northbound Oakwood at Randol Mill. All traffic will be forced to turn southbound on Crowley Road. Tour buses will not be allowed on Porto Bello Court.

Safety Tips: • Traffic must keep right at all times, leaving the left lane open for emergency vehicles and Interlochen homeowners.

• Adults and children must be properly secured by safety belts and child safety seats.

• Visit during the week. Weekends are the highest traffic-volume days.

• Pack a little patience. Traveling through the area could be slow.

• Pedestrian traffic is permitted. Roller skating in the street is prohibited by the Arlington Municipal Code. No solicitation or sales by any vendors or group will be allowed from any public roadway or public rights-of-way.

For more: lakeinterlochentx.com/christmas-lights.

MOORE FUNERAL HOME WILL HOST AN EVENING OF REMEMBRANCE on Dec. 14. A Candlelight Memorial Service will take place at 5 p.m., followed by a Holiday Luminary Park Tour from 6 - 8 p.m.

The tour will feature a live nativity scene, a petting zoo and photographs with Santa Claus. Moore Funeral Home is located at 1219 N. Davis Drive.

For more information, visit dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/arlington-tx/moore-funeral-home/2348.

Arlington Master Chorale will present its annual holiday concert, “THE LIFE OF CHRISTMAS,” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 13. The Thursday concert will be held at First United Methodist Church (313 North Center St.). The Friday concert will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church (1200 W. Green Oaks Blvd.).

During each performance, the chorale will sing holiday favorites, such as “Joy to the World” and “Sing, Sing Noel.”

On Thursday, the concert will feature numbers by The Children’s Chorus from Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. On Friday, the Arlington Children’s Chorus will perform.

For more: arlingtonmasterchorale.com.

The Art Ballet Academy will present “THE NUTCRACKER” on Dec. 14 at the Mansfield ISD Center for Performing Arts (1110 W. Debbie Lane, Mansfield).

Show times are 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Join the Art Ballet Academy on a magical trip to the land of the Sugarplum Fairy, waltzing snowflakes and enchanted toys.

Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, dazzling costumes, giant growing Christmas tree and falling snow make The Nutcracker a can’t-miss production.

For more: abacademy.com/ The_Nutcracker_IXZ2.html.

arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

39

PRAIRIE LIGHTS, the premier holiday light park in Texas located at Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie, will be open Dec. 1, 6-8 and 13-29, featuring more than 5 million lights in a breathtaking celebration of the Christmas season. Upon arriving at the entrance of Prairie Lights, you will be dazzled with lights set along two miles of a drivable path.

Hundreds of new displays in shapes of all kinds line and arch over the roads. Halfway through the drive you get out of your car for a stop at Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, Santa, a new indoor Holiday Show and the Holiday Magic Lighted WalkThrough Forest. Once you get back in your vehicle, the second half of the drive ends with the very animated light tunnel – the perfect finale to a night you will never forget!

Holiday Village Halfway through the drive, get out of your car to play in Holiday Village. Under a giant tent enjoy pictures with Santa, concessions, a gift shop and additional attractions.

Concessions sold include hot cocoa, apple cider, coffee and a variety of seasonal food like funnel cakes, kettle corn and more.

All-New Indoor Holiday Show Inside the Holiday Village Tent performers help spread holiday spirit via an entertaining, family friendly performance.

Holiday Magic Lighted Walk-Thru Forest Get out of your car at Holiday Village and take a stroll through the trees that will be lit up with tens of thousands of lights. With an amazing walk-through tunnel of lights and an animated Christmas tree, this attraction is sure to have everyone saying WOW! Santa will be at Holiday Village every night through Dec. 23 listening to holiday wishes and taking pictures with the kids for an additional fee. On Dec. 24 Santa must return to the North Pole to pick up all the presents and deliver them to homes all around the world.

Gift Shop & Vendors Take care of a few gift items on your holiday shopping list inside Holiday Village.

For more: prairielights.org.

THE CRC ARLINGTON CHRISTMAS EVE 5K will take place at 8 a.m. on Dec. 24 at River Legacy Parks (701 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd.).

Runners can kick off their Christmas Eve in a special way this holiday season, while seeing old friends and making new ones. Runners and race walkers from all over the community are welcome to participate.

For more: runningintheusa.com/details/53278.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Trinity United Methodist Church’s annual SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS CONCERT will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the church (1200 W. Green Oaks Blvd.).

The concert will feature the Trinity Chancel Choir, Children’s Choir, Handbells and the church’s specialty ensembles, accompanied by a full orchestra.

Come celebrate the season with joyous songs both secular and sacred.

The concert is free, and no tickets are required, but church officials recommend arriving early as seating has been known to be extremely limited in years past.

For more: trinityarl.org.

To help you unwind during the holiday season, Arlington Yoga Center (1011 W. Abram St.) will host CANDLELIGHT YOGA + MEDITATION at 6 p.m. on Dec. 8.

This evening of restorative movement and relaxation will feature a gentle yoga practice by candlelight, followed by a guided relaxation to quiet the mind.

What to bring: Water, mat, pillow, blanket, eye pillow, essential oils, any other items of comfort.

For more: arlingtonyogacenter.com.

Congregation Beth Shalom (1212 Thannisch Drive) will observe CHANUKAH with a variety of services from Dec. 22-30. Here are the highlights: Dec. 22: A youth group event Dec. 23: A Torah study at 10:30 a.m.

Dec. 24: A Sisterhood gift-wrapping fundraiser.

Dec. 27: Candle lighting at 5:12 p.m.; a Hanukah Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 28: A Shabbat service at 10 a.m.; Havdalah at 6:26 p.m.

Dec. 30: A Torah study at 10: 30 a.m.

For more: bethshalom.org.

The University of Texas at Arlington’s Department of Art and Art History will present a HOLIDAY GLASS SALE from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the UTA The Studio Art Center (810 S. Davis Drive).

The Glass Program will host faculty, staff, students, and the general public for this one-day event. Thousands of one-of-a-kind functional, decorative, and artistic works will be available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public and will also include live demonstrations. Come stay warm by the furnaces, find some wonderful gifts for friends and family, and get to know the members of this part of the UTA community.

For more, email Justin Ginsberg at ginsberg@uta.edu.

THE MISSION ARLINGTON CHRISTMAS STORE will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Dec. 9-21 (excluding Sundays) and from 10 a.m. - noon on Dec. 23, providing area residents in need with gifts and food.

In 1989, in the office of the Mission’s Director Tillie Burgin, the ministry of the Christmas Store started just like every other ministry: a person had a need. In previous years, the requests for assistance through Mission Arlington increased significantly in January of every year. Families were taking rent and utilities monies and trying to provide “Christmas” for their children. That began a toy collection. Bible Study leaders were able to come to Tillie’s office and pick out toys for their families, and deliver grocery sacks full of toys to their apartment Bible Studies. Families were encouraged to pay their rent, pay their utilities and let Mission Arlington help with the “extras” of toys, trees and turkey.

This simple act of caring for a few families during their time of need led to a remarkable evolution over the years. The Arlington community began to support the concept of helping people through the Christmas Season in a huge way, some by donating money, others by donating gifts and food, still others by volunteering their time at the store. The number of people assisting with gifts and toys increased by hundreds every year. Now, thanks to donations, more than 30,000 children receive Christmas gifts each year at the store, located at 400 W. South St. The children of the area aren’t the only ones served at the Mission. Adults who come through the Christmas Store hear the story of Christ’s birth, shared from the Scriptures and narrated by faithful story-tellers. Then they proceed to the store to choose from thousands of gift and food items for their children.

For more: missionarlington.org.

Mansfield Women’s Club will conduct its annual HOLIDAY HOME TOUR from 1 - 5 p.m. on Dec. 8. The tour features five to six beautifully decorated homes in Mansfield and South Arlington this year and supports the Women’s Club’s main fundraiser of the year.

Proceeds will benefit the health, welfare and education of women and children in our area through the club’s yearly charity grant program. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door of each tour home on Sunday, Dec. 8. Holiday raffle tickets will also be available at each tour home for $10. You might win one of three great prizes that would make a wonderful Christmas present for yourself or a loved one.

All ticket sales are final. The event is open to people who are at least 13 years of age.

Homes are not handicap accessible. The event will be held rain or shine.

For more: themansfieldwomensclub.com/holiday-home-tour-2019. arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie (2970 Epic Place) just got a little more magical! Create the best Christmas memory this season on December 7, 14, and 21 by bringing your little ones to have BREAKFAST WITH SANTA. The event includes a breakfast buffet, a souvenir photo with St. Nick, holiday crafts, and all-you-can swim, splash and slide access for the entire day. Guests can also participate in a Santa Letter Workshop and post their notes at the waterpark’s North Pole Mailbox ... replies guaranteed! Times: 8 a.m. (sharp) Saturdays. Cost: $49 for guests over 48 inches tall; $19 for guests under 48 inches tall. (Season pass holders will only pay $29). The fee includes all-day park admission.

For more: epicwatersgp.com/breakfast-with-santa.

On page 40, we highlighted Prairie Lights. The Hilton Arlington (2401 E. Lamar Blvd.) is hosting its annual HOLIDAY LIGHT TOUR on Dec. 10, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

If you sign up for the tour, you can tour the Prairie Lights with family, friends and colleagues. Bites, cocktails and networking will take place from 4:30 - 6 p.m., then you’ll take the tour of this fabulous venue that features more than 5 million lights in an array of displays.

Plus,you can take in all the fun at the Holiday Village.

The cost for the tour is $20 for adults, which includes admission to the tour and Santa’s Village, light bites and two drink tickets per adult. The cost is $10 for children 15 and under.

The tour is sponsored by TxACOM (Texas Alliance of Convention, Meeting & Event Operations Managers) and The Hotel Association. It is conducted via a luxury coach courtesy of Roadrunner Coaches. This event has limited space and will sell out so please purchase your seat(s) soon.

For more: allevents.in/arlington/annual-holiday-light-tour/200018357787634.

Enjoy pancakes with everyone’s favorite North Pole resident at Trinity United Methodist Church’s third annual BREAKFAST WITH SANTA! Admission includes a photo with Santa taken by a church photographer on a beautifully decorated set.

Special holiday craft tables will be available while kids wait for their turn with the Big Guy. Breakfast with Santa at TUMC (1200 W. Green Oaks Blvd.) is a fantastic family experience for kids of all ages.

For more: 817-274-1345.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

817 Arts Alliance seeks to empower local artisans by providing affordable venues for them to bring their creations to market. At the HAPPY HOLIDAYS POP-UP SHOP, which will he held through Dec. 22 at Arlington Museum of Art, you will find many one- or few-ofa-kind works of art, fine craft and other handmade goodies, including ceramics, jewelry, bath products and more.

There is no fee to shop at the Happy Holidays Pop-Up Shop. If you are not attending the exhibit “Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints” at AMA, come to the side door and take the elevator to the basement level. Free parking is available in downtown Arlington.

HHPS is open during museum hours from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more: facebook.com/ 817ArtsAlliance.

Arlington Charities serves local families during the holidays by providing HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS AND TOYS. Last year, 528 families and 1,842 individuals received holiday help.

Arlington Charities’ mission is to lead and engage the community in the fight against hunger and poverty, and it welcomes donations and volunteers to help process the baskets.

For more: arlingtoncharities.org.

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arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

43

LOCAL DWELLINGS

When he started decorating his homes for Christmas, Jay Warren put up a pair of trees. At his current dwelling near Lake Arlington, there are eight fully decorated trees, 25 wreaths and 11 garlands, a collective effort that is awe-inspiring.

S

ome 14 years ago, in a state that has an Arlington, but not this one, Jay Warren decided to ramp up the holiday spirit with the decor in his Virginia home and made the bold move to put up a pair of Christmas trees.

Ride the Magic Time Machine to Holiday Season 2019, and, as you have already discerned by now, Warren has taken the ramping up process to a whole new level – and friends and family members who pay a visit during this time of year are all the better for it.

You likely know Warren, even if you’ve never met him. By day, he is Director of Communication and Legislative Affairs for the City of Arlington. Practically every bit of news you read about the city in newspapers, magazines and online finds its genesis at his desk.

But this story focuses on what you find when he has retired for the evening, and by night – at least by night during the holidays – he is the proud owner of a home in the Waterwood neighborhood on Lake Arlington that sets the standard for Christmas reveling, particularly with regard to those aforementioned trees that set the ball rolling over a decade ago.

“I started going all out with Christmas decorations in my first house in Virginia. I remember the year that I decided to put up two trees,” he recalls.

“At the time, I thought that was over the top. Fast forward three houses and 14 years, and I am up to eight fully decorated trees, 25 wreathes and 11 garlands.” in the Waterwood neighborhood turns There might even be a partridge in a pear tree at the into an art form – and a real treat, to boot end of that description; he just didn’t include it.

He does note other animals of pertinence, as he talks about his house during the holidays. Every year, when he puts up the Christmas decorations, the home becomes a dramatically enhanced abode for his

Home, SWEET! Home Jay Warren’s home Christmas reveling

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

45

Jay Warren considers the tree in the Master bedroom (left) to be his favorite of all the decorative items in his home during the holidays. But make no mistake: There’s something for everyone in practically every area of the house.

three “fur” babies: Russert (a blind, deaf mini dachshund), Jennings (a min pin) and Wallace (a terrier).

Warren can’t vouch for his pets, but he says he fell in love with the potential of their home almost the first time he saw it.

“I was drawn to the design and style of the house,” he says. “Dear friends of mine owned it and did a tremendous job renovating it.

They really created what feels like a spa setting in the backyard, and the house is tailor-made for entertaining. When they decided to sell it, it was a no-brainer for me to buy it. In fact, we discussed it at dinner one night and within a week my house in South Arlington was sold, and I had bought their house.”

Each Christmas since, Warren has tried to make it more holidayesque – but not just for the sake of decorating. “I don’t have a [grand] theme to my Christmas decorations other than trying to make the house feel festive and warm,” he says. “All of the trees and garlands are lit with white lights, which I think makes everything sparkle.”

He says his themes usually match the décor of the room.

“For instance,” he says, “the living room tree uses a mix of ornaments that all match the color of the room (navy blue, light blue, silver and gray). The bedroom trees also match the colors of those rooms and some have a specific theme. The downstairs bedroom is reindeer themed, the dining room tree has a crystal and white color scheme with lot of birds nestled throughout the tree, and upstairs, the den tree has a woodland theme with lots of pine cones, birds and other woodland creatures.”

For Christmas 2019, he introduced a special addition.

“New this year is a political themed tree with ornaments of the 46

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

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In addition to the elaborate, yet tasteful, decorating that goes on inside Jay Warren’s home, the backyard has its fair share of Christmas adornment. That way, whether visitors choose to remain cozy in the living area or venture outdoors to appreciate the natural beauty of the neighborhood, they’ll enjoy the holiday spirit all the while.

White House, presidents, eagles and flags,” he says. “And in the kitchen, a small tree is decorated with cocktail shaker, wine bottle, champagne flute and martini glass ornaments.”

While visitors might waver before declaring a favorite among the various decorated areas of the home, Warren unabashedly has declared his winner.

“Without question, my favorite tree is in the master bedroom,” he says. “It has all of our family ornaments dating back to my mother’s first ornaments in 1930 to the present. My mother started a family tradition years ago of adding an ornament every year for me and my nephew, as well as collecting an ornament on every vacation.

I’ve continued the tradition by looking for unique ornaments on my travels. This year, I decided to count how many ornaments cover this tree … and I lost track at 455. I’m pretty sure there is no one spare limb left on it! This tree is so sentimental to me. Every single ornament brings back a memory of family trips, special occasions or Christmases past.”

As might be expected of a manor so brilliantly adorned during the holidays, “Warren’s place” often serves as the site of social gatherings.

He has hosted small to large Christmas parties throughout the years.

“I had a stretch where I hosted an annual party for 150 of my friends and colleagues,” he says. “I’ve tamed it down a bit recently.

Honestly, small get-togethers during the holidays seem more fun to me. It isn’t as stressful, and you can spend quality time catching up with friends and family.”

This year, in his home for the holidays that has been crafted to highlight tradition and family, Warren will focus on a facet of the former.

“I love our Christmas morning tradition,” he says. “We have pumpkin French toast casserole, bacon and mimosas. The rest of the day is spent in pajamas watching movies. That is a day of complete relaxation.”

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

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LITERATURE

‘All In’ Lisa Simonds’ debut novel is resonating with a wide range of readers • By Toni Randle Cook

I

Simonds says it is a story of hope and redemption in the face of t was a manuscript written 20 years ago. Two decades later, an insurmountable crisis. That is one of the reasons she donated “All In,” the debut novel by Arlington’s Lisa Simonds, has been hundreds of signed copies of her novel to Bookmates4inmates. published and is as relevant today as it was upon its inception – Although the non-profit organization is based in California, it which occurred almost by happenstance. serves only women in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Simonds describes a trip in the 1990s to New York City with The decision was initially made as a beta test. But with limited friends: resources, Bookmates4inmates decided it best to focus on this “We got out the phonebook – as we always did while traveling segment of the population of – to see how many people with our last inmates. names were listed. In that thick Manhattan According to the TDCJ, there are phonebook was a single listing for a person more than 12,000 females in state with the same name as my friend. Two jails and prisons. initials and a surname, as a single woman “Reading, and especially might’ve listed her number back in those reading fiction, increases empathy, days. The address was only a few blocks because people are given a from our Midtown hotel, and we joked chance to see something through about calling to see if she was a long lost somebody else’s point of view,” cousin who might take us to her favorite says Simonds. “I just felt like this shops and restaurants.” is a good thing.”

They never called. But the question still “All In” was distributed to the lingered, “What if?” women on death row at Mountain “What if that serendipitous phone call View Unit in Gatesville, Texas resulted in a friendship that became a and to other women in protective lifeline because this person was about to go custody. Thirty six of them wrote through a crisis?” asks Simonds, “And that and sent book reviews back to was the genesis for the novel.”

Simonds.

The story of young novelist and blackjack “One woman said she had a dealer “Cami Taylor” has resonated with past that was very similar, and it readers across the country. Upon its release, was terrifying to read this book,” “All In” was in Morgan James Publishing’s Simonds says. She adds that the Top Five. review went on to say, “But it gave “It sort of found me,” says Simonds of her me so much hope and helped to writing background. Her father’s side of the Photo: Toni Randle Cook put my past behind me.” family were writers, including an uncle who Lisa Simonds with her debut novel, “All In” Simonds spends her free time wrote for the Burleson Star. Simonds says marketing “All In.” She hopes to generate enough buzz in the she wrote satirical plays in high school. She started journaling in the literary world to host book signings and readings in the near future.

1980s, and that led her to working on short stories and then joining She is also working on a second manuscript and plans to hand it writers groups. “I think it was always there,” she says. over to an editor in the first half of next year.

In reviews, “All In” has been described as “gritty, realistic For more: lksimonds.com.

Christian fiction that emphasizes the power of friendship.”

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

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ARLINGTON MASTER CHORALE arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

53

MAINLY MANSFIELD

Let’s go Downtown In the heart of the city, Mansfield’s Main Street features an array of compelling destination venues • By Bob Kowalski Photos: Bob Kowalski

A

downtown that has been around for more than a century is experiencing a new energy, with Mansfield’s Main Street adding unique shops, restaurants, entertainment and a renewed spirit of community.

Sprinkled among the familiar businesses that you might find in a traditional downtown – real estate, insurance and service offices, barber shops and tire shops – are engaging additions to the growing city’s collection of destination venues. Add the improvements that Mansfield has made to roads, sidewalks and parking, and downtown Mansfield is ready to show off its personality beyond the borders of the southern Tarrant County suburb.

One of the new eye-opening businesses on Main Street is AndiMac Candy Shack, although the year-old store looks as though it would have fit into downtown more than a half-century ago. A wooden floor leads the way to barrels filled with treats from the past and shelves lined with bushel baskets of taffy. Sharing shelf space with throwback candy like Charleston Chews and Slo Pokes are chocolate wands and Bertie Bott jelly beans made famous in the recent Harry Potter books and movies.

“I wanted to go old school, and what’s better for that than an old downtown area?” asks Andrea McMillin, a longtime Mansfield resident who changed careers from accounting to candy store owner and saw promise in the historic district.

She’s not alone with that frame of mind. Across the street from her shop is Dirty Job Brewing, which is entering its third year in business on Main Street, boasting a lineup of flavorful craft beers and a newly opened kitchen producing appetizers, pizza, salads and other treats.

Owners Derek and Lashawn Hubenak and Justin Watson 54

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

saw the same potential in downtown Mansfield. “We could have opened in a lot of places that were already booming,” says Derek Hubenak. “But we know this downtown is going to be booming and we want to have a hand in that.”

Those are only two of the new businesses seeking the same successes, both individually and collectively. Business operators meet regularly to share ideas and plans with each other, resulting in projects that bring people to downtown.

An example of out-of-the-box thinking is a joint venture that placed the Lil’ Blue Goat art shop in the lobby of Dr. Robert Smith’s optometry office. Patients can get a view of the whimsical designs when arriving for a checkup.

Jennifer Evans, the owner of Dazzarkle, a clothing store that has been on Main Street for nearly a decade, relishes the influx of new businesses and the diverse audience they attract. “We see that we have to work together to make this grow,” she says.

Officials at City Hall understand that thinking.

“The historic downtown area offers a unique opportunity to share our past with those who live in our city now and at the same time help shape our city’s future,” says Mayor David Cook, who grew up in Mansfield. “Historic Downtown Mansfield is a great destination for our residents and visitors.

It also is a critical part of our local economy with dozens of businesses calling historic downtown home.”

Store and restaurant owners team up to offer themed activities on the third Thursday evening of each month. They also are active in festivals downtown throughout the year, among them the Music Alley festival and The World’s Only St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade and Palooza.

Hubenak, a longtime Arlington resident who relishes the chance to be part of Mansfield’s growth, underscores the

Downtown Mansfield offers an eclectic blend of old (such as Farr Best Theater and the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center) and new (typified by owner Andrea McMillin’s AndiMac Candy Shack and owner Derek Hubenak’s Dirty Job Brewing).

sentiment downtown. “Everyone down here wants the same thing,” he says. “We want to see this place become a popular spot for families from Mansfield, and from outside the community.”

The LOT, an open-air amphitheater in the heart of downtown, offers events ranging from free movies and concerts to gatherings like the recent Meat, Mugs and Music, a steak-cooking competition. The Farr Best Theater offers another entertainment venue, hosting concerts and shows in an intimate throwback setting.

The city of Mansfield, while growing in all directions – it’s now among the largest cities in Tarrant County – takes noticeable interest in its time-honored asset. Early in 2019, the city completed road improvements on North Main, which included adding a trail that adjoins the downtown area with nearby Town Park and provides access to the city’s linear trail as well as creating an inviting pathway to downtown businesses and activities for residents of the upscale apartments in Bexley on Main.

The trail into downtown added decorative lighting, widened sidewalks and additional parking. It is the second trail dedicated downtown in two years. The Pond Branch Trail, dedicated a year earlier, runs near The Backyard, under Broad Street and stretching north along the creek. Another trail will connect once construction is complete on the city’s dog park on Broad Street near Main Street. The dog park sits next to the historic Man house once owned by one of the city’s founders.

That site is being renovated into a public museum, which will complement the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center, which fittingly sits at the corner of Main and Broad streets. The city also added and expanded existing parking

lots, even leasing a lot from a Broad Street church to use as public parking six days a week.

“The infrastructure improvements in historic downtown are about positioning that area for our continued growth as a community and about connecting it to the rest of the city,” Cook explains.

Nearly as soon as a storefront is vacated, a “coming soon” sign goes up. That happened when Main Street mainstay MaryLou’s coffee and sandwich shop relocated around the corner, to a larger facility on Broad Street, allowing the eatery to expand its seating area and parking while remaining in the historic downtown area.

MaryLou’s occupies the century-old J.H. Harrison house, which boasts a large wraparound porch, perfect for sipping a cup of coffee. Now, Main Street Tacos prepares to open in the previous site at the north end of downtown’s main strip.

Across the street, another sign touts the pending arrival of Flying Squirrel Coffee. Also new is The Backyard, an open area that unites Twisted Root Burger Co., Tacos and Avocados, By The Horns Brewery and Hypnotic Emporium, an ice cream shop. The site is a cross between entertainment and eateries, featuring picnic tables in an open area among the buildings, allowing patrons to sample food and drinks from any or all of the businesses. The restaurants also have indoor seating, and table tennis and other games attract families and make evenings and weekends bustle.

That’s the type of activity that the downtown merchants, and the patrons that are happy to have a downtown to enjoy, are aiming for. Evans, of Dazzarkle, explains the attraction simply: “We have a hometown feel down here that you’re not going to get anywhere else.” arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

55

EDIFICATION, ARLINGTON-STYLE

Martin Lisius

Patti Diou

Mayor Jeff Williams

T

he second half of Arlington on Tap, the downtown happyhour-with-a-talk series, returns in January, kicking off a hotmix of topics for the next five months.

“One month we’ll be talking about chasing tornadoes across the Texas plains just for the thrill of it,” notes Maggie Campbell, president of Downtown Arlington Management, host of Arlington on Tap. “Then we’ll be given a look at the world of booking and hosting musical entertainers. The mayor will be telling Tap attendees about his take on Arlington into the 2020s, we’ll get an insider’s look at what the office of justice of the peace is all about, and we’ll wrap the season with an expert look at the evolving world of Arlington restaurants and dining.”

Arlington on Tap is also sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society and Arlington Today Magazine. Here’s the 2020 schedule:

Justice of the Peace Mary Tom Curnutt

Bud Kennedy

in nationally and regionally famed musical performing acts to the Levitt. Stars-to-be, stars-that-used-to-be. Are some of them eccentric, maybe even weird? “Oh, heck yes,” Diou says. Do some of them have peculiar requirements? “All the time,” Diou says. And yet the show goes on. For the first time, Diou tells almost all in what promises to be an enlightening talk.

6 p.m., Urban Alchemy, (403. E. Main St.) ARLINGTON IN THE 2020s (March 2): Mayor Jeff Williams’ appearance will feature a short version of his annual state of the city address, during which he will put a wrap on the past few years and talk about what’s pending (events, economic development, etc.) that could unfold in near future.

6 p.m., J. Gilligan’s Bar and Grill (400 E. Abram St.)

COURT IS IN SESSION (April 14): Because we live in Texas, we’re accustomed to the whole idea of the institution of justice of peace – a stronger tradition in this state than in most others.

Arlington Justice of the Peace Mary Tom Curnutt mixes a bit of J.P. history tradition with her own experiences in what has turned out to be the busiest J.P. court in Tarrant County, dealing with everything from small claims suits and highway patrol tickets to Winter / Spring segment of Arlington on Tap will look school truancy. And more.

6 p.m., Division Brewing (506 E. Main St.) at stormy weather, musician egos (and a lot more)

STORMY WEATHER (Jan 14): Tornado chasers Martin Lisius and Kim George (Arlington-based Tempest Tours) not only chase storms, they

Circle the dates

bring along weather aficionados for a look-see, in the process creating some of the most fabulous tornado videos and photos ever taken.

In fact, Lisius is also a film producer, including the award-winning documentary “The Chasers of Tornado Alley.”

6 p.m., Legal Draft (500 E. Front St.) “ANYTHING, JUST GET ON STAGE” (Feb. 11): Through season after season at the Levitt Pavilion, Director Patti Diou somehow managed to bring 56

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

THE BUDSTER KNOWS (May 12): Star-Telegram Columnist Bud Kennedy may have the most varied newspaper columnist role in the country. He’s the official restaurant dining guru, plus his other column dances with a mix of politics, economics, eccentric people and all-around strange events. And, he’s on the S-T Editorial Board, which means he sits in and chimes in on all those editorials the paper cranks out, making him a key influential media type. In short, he knows things, some of which he’ll share at this season-ending Arlington on Tap. 6 p.m., Maverick’s Bar and Grill (601 E. Main St.)

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Happy Holidays from Downtown Arlington!

Celebrate the holiday season with our cultural district partners ARLINGTON MUSEUM OF ART

MASTER CHORALE

11/30-12/22 – Happy Holidays Pop Up Market with 817Arts Alliance

12/12-13 – Christmas Performance

ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL 12/6 – Winona & the Big Noise Rockin’ Roots Christmas 12/7,8,14,15 – AMH Spectacular Christmas Show 12/11 – Will Hearn’s Grand Ole Christmas Show 12/20 – Chris Milyo Big Band: Swingin’ Christmas ft. a special performance by Kings Return 12/21 – Blue Christmas starring Al Josin

SYMPHONY ARLINGTON 12/19 – Christmas Concert

THEATRE ARLINGTON 11/22-12/15 – Hooray for the Holidays TV Musical Special

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON 12/14 – UTA Glassblowing Christmas Glass Sale

Join us in Downtown for the Holiday Lights Parade and festivities December 14th.

Visit downtownarlington.org for more information about events and programs arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

57

BUSINESS BEAT

Six Flags moves headquarters to Globe Life Park

The transition is projected to generate more than $80 million in taxable sales / purchases

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lobe Life Park in Arlington will soon be home to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation’s new global corporate headquarters, as the City continues to deliver on its promise to re-purpose the iconic venue to have a new, long life in Arlington.

The Arlington City Council recently approved economic development incentives for Six Flags, which plans to renovate nearly 41,000 square feet of office space at the ballpark’s Centerfield Office Building. That space is currently occupied by the Texas Rangers, who will be moving their corporate headquarters to nearby Globe Life Field prior to the new ballpark’s March 2020 opening.

Under the agreement, the Six Flags global corporate headquarters is expected to house at least 120 full-time employees, who are currently located in Illinois, New York and elsewhere in Texas. The company’s new headquarters is projected to generate more than $80 million in taxable sales and purchases and the retention or creation of 176 direct and indirect jobs with a $331 million estimated payroll during the terms of the agreement, according to an economic impact analysis conducted by Impact Data Source.

Six Flags, which began in Arlington nearly 60 years ago and now employs more than 50,000 people at its 26 parks worldwide, plans to lease office space at Globe Life Park for 15 years, with the option of two five-year lease extensions.

In conjunction with Six Flags’ investment and long-term lease, the Texas Rangers are also expected to extend their lease of the City-owned Globe Life Park by 11 years.

This agreement with Six Flags marks a clear step forward in the City’s ongoing preservation and adaptation of the 25-year-old Globe Life Park, which will become home to XFL’s Renegades and the North Texas Soccer Club starting next year. Additionally, the extension of the Rangers existing ballpark lease will allow the City to avoid significant operating and maintenance costs, which are projected at $2 million annually or $22 million over the team’s lease extension.

Under the approved Chapter 380 Program agreement, Arlington would reimburse Six Flags up to $6 million for office renovations. This funding would come from $5.2 million in revenue owed to Arlington by the Texas Rangers, as well as remaining funds from the City’s Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget.

Additionally, the Council approved a $3 million incentive grant that would be paid out in $200,000 increments annually over the company’s 15-year lease.

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59

PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS

SCENE Snapshots from Arlington on Tap at Hooligan’s Pub and from the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation’s fifth annual Awards Gala Photos: Yale Youngblood

Guest speaker Amy Schultz and Devin True at Arlington on Tap at Hooligan’s Pub

Suzanne Sweek, O.K. Carter and John Sweek

Judy Matlock, Nancilo McClellan and Sherri Lucas

Thasunda Brown Duckett speaks at the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation gala.

Karen Williams and Judge Mary Tom Curnutt at the gala

Donna Darovich and Julie Hunt at Arlington on Tap

Joseph Venezia and Christopher Craig

Shelli McGovern and Latarcha June

For more great SCENE shots, visit arlingtontoday.com Photos courtesy of David L. Cook

The gala drew a large crowd.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Photos: Dominique J Carter, an Ada Lee Photography Associate

Honorees at the gala gather for a group photo.

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Deciding to divorce is one of the most important decisions a person can face so it makes sense to know your options. One option is traditional courtroom litigation. Another option is collaborative divorce.

Although attorney Stephanie A. Foster is prepared to be the warrior in your courtroom battle as she has been in thousands of Tarrant County divorce cases over the past 28 years, her preference is to be the peacemaker in your interest-based negotiations through the dignified, private, childprotecting process known as collaborative divorce which involves no court.

Stephanie A. Foster is confident that the collaborative process is a powerful way to generate creative solutions in family law disputes while minimizing financial and emotional damage to the couple and their children all the while promoting post-divorce psychological and financial health of the restructured family.

As a family law mediator and one of the first Tarrant County attorneys trained in collaborative law, attorney Stephanie A. Foster will help you navigate through your divorce options and zealously represent you through the process of your choice.

Contact attorney Stephanie A. Foster today to discuss your options.

One option is traditional courtroom litigation. Another option is collaborative divorce.

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Litigator; Collaborator; Mediator arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

61

NATURAL WONDERS

Photos: J.G. Domke

This multi-trunked tree isn’t just a beautiful sight; it has a prominent place in city history.

T

Quercus stellate.) It is 170 inches in circumference and has multiple wo hundred or so years ago a tiny acorn found its way trunks. Its path to fame began in 2016 when Fort Worth arborist Wes into the sandy soil on a hillock near the western edge Culwell was preparing to give a presentation on historic trees to of the Eastern Cross Timbers in what would eventually Friends of the Southwest Nature Preserve (SWNP) and was given a be Arlington. As it grew into a post oak the tree would overlook tour of the area. a vast prairie teeming with buffalo and a meandering waterway He spotted the post oak, in the midst of overgrown brush but also now called Village Creek that had been home to the people who surrounded by East Texas plants, including the Glen Rose Yucca lived in this part of Texas – according to archaeological digs – for nearby, which is found only in seven Texas counties. Its trunk size and more than 9,000 years. huge branches told him it was an old tree. He suggested the friends The tree would bear witness to the upheaval caused by a group contact the coalition. raging 1841 gun battle downstream between Texas Militia led by The research to nominate the tree was a three-year research effort of General Edward Tarrant and the tribes along the creek. This, the the SWNP volunteers led by Jim Frisinger.

Battle of Village Creek, would be the last major conflict in North The process for selecting an historical tree is painstaking, says Texas between encroaching settlers and Native Americans. In Mary Ann Graves, time, too, as the Post Oak grew president of Texas ever larger, it would see new Historic Tree Coalition: communities emerge, Arlington “The coalition pulls and Kennedale included. together anthropologists, This leafy witness to history is arborists, historians and now also a celebrity in the city’s A Caddo Oak in the heart of Arlington, communities where the 58-acre Southwest Nature Preserve some 200 years old, has been honored as trees are, so it takes time to just south of I-20 on Bowman pull a story together.”

Springs Road. historically significant • By Donna Darovich “We’re grateful to the It was recently designated an people at the Southwest Historic Tree by the Texas Historic Nature Preserve for bringing this tree to our attention,” Graves says.

Tree Coalition, a tree advocacy group, and is the first tree in Tarrant “They’re the heroes of this story.”

County chosen by the coalition. It will be listed in the Registry of The Caddo Oak was officially designated as an historic tree during Texas Historical Trees. the preserve’s sixth anniversary in October.

Its pedigree name is now The Caddo Oak (its scientific name is

Pagean(tree)

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

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63

LEGAL EAGLES

Walton team earns $12.5 million settlement

T

he Law Firm of Roger “Rocky” Walton, P.C., recently earned a client and his family the largest settlement in the practice’s history: $12.5 million.

“On the eighth day of trial, that offer was made

by Mercer Transportation and was accepted by our deserving clients,” Rocky Walton, founder of the firm, says. “Our 24-year-old client has catastrophic injuries and will need 24/7 care for the rest of his life. He is blind and mostly paralyzed after colliding on his motorcycle with an 18 wheeler.”

Walton says his firm’s experts proved that the truck came into the intersection about one second late, but the Rocky Walton settlement wasn’t reached easily, as Walton and his team had to acknowledge that their client was speeding.

“It was a case of shared responsibility,” Walton says. “If the jury had determined that our client was over 50-percent responsible, our clients would have received nothing. When we talked to the jury panel after the trial, we could see there was a substantial chance they would have put most of the fault on our client. Under the

64

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

circumstances, we are glad our clients accepted, but would have supported them if they had wanted to get a jury verdict.”

The trial was in Rockwall County, a venue that Walton says is traditionally noted as being very conservative and defense-oriented.

“For two and a half years our entire team worked very hard on this case,” he says. “We also hired an accident reconstructionist, a vocational expert/life care planner, an economist, a traffic light sequencing expert, a video forensics expert, an MD life care planner and a neurologist. We did everything we could and did our very best to try to make a successful recovery for our deserving client. We also associated with other attorneys on the litigation and trial team.”

Walton says he is proud of the results his team achieved for the young client. “He touched all of our hearts,” he says. “He will forever be a part of the Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers family.”

Walton says his firm welcomes prospective clients who want to see how their cases may be treated by a jury.

Here’s the deal: PEOPLE LOVE TO READ MAGAZINES

The number of magazine readers in the United States in 2018 was 224.6 million. That’s actually MORE than read magazines seven years ago.

Source: statista.com More Americans read print magazines than use the Internet!

Bet you didn’t see that one coming, but according to wainscotmedia.com, 91 percent of American adults have read a magazine in the past six months, compared to 85 percent of American adults who surf the net.

The Simmons Multi-Media Engagement Study revealed that magazines are the No. 1 medium of engagement – across all dimensions measured. The study showed magazines score higher than TV or the Internet in ad receptivity and all of the other engagement dimensions, including “trustworthy” and “inspirational.”

Magazines engage readers!

Here’s something else from wainscotmedia.com: We think of magazine readers and picture bored people flipping through pages in waiting rooms, but the reality is that the average reader spends more than 53 minutes on each issue – and more than eight hours each month reading magazines.

Print is memorable!

Print creates an emotional connection.

Print builds relationships.

Physical material is more “real” to the brain, involves more emotional processing, is better connected to memory, with greater internalization of ads – all important brand associations.

Source: Forbes

PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS

SCENE Snapshots from the Wimbledon Garden Club Sip and Shop event at C&W Antiques and from the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Women’s Alliance Inspired Women’s luncheon Photos courtesy of Jim Carpenter

Shelia Gibson and Beth Hellier at the Sip and Shop event

Karen Allen Anderson and Adele Zappasodi

Photos: Southern Flair Photography

Sandra Barber at the Sip and Shop event held at C&W Antiques

Belinda Gist and Mark Gist at the Inspired Women’s luncheon

Michael Jacobson, keynote speaker Thasunda Brown Duckett and Mayor Jeff Williams at the Inspired Women luncheon

Karina Tobar and Dr. Ignacia Nunez at the Inspired Women’s luncheon

The scholarship winners who were announced at the Women’s Alliance event

For more great SCENE shots, visit arlingtontoday.com Amy Cearnal, Dr. Jacquelyn Minor, Laura Heymann and Joni Wilson

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Heidi Allison and Michael Jacobson

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arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

67

BULLETIN BOARD

Hon. Kimberly Fitzpatrick

Hon. Chris Wolfe

Hon. Sharen Wilson

Hon. Mike Wallach

Hon. Beth Van Duyne

Pre-Law Day links legal experts with students T

he University of Texas at Arlington Pre-Law Center hosted Pre-Law Day last month, during which several dozen local speakers and admissions directors from six regional law schools gave aspiring attorneys and judges an up-close and personal look into the legal profession.

The event was created to identify and address student needs and provide information from which students can benefit, says Amber White, Pre-Law Center director.

Program topics included: Pre-Law Programs, Law School Admissions 101, An Attorney Diversity Panel, How Did I Get Here: Pathways to Success, Women in Law, Financing College Education and Financing Legal Education Honorable Kimberly Fitzpatrick, District Judge for the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County and one of the featured speakers, says part of the program was focused on how UTA and Arlington ISD students can learn to run for judgeships one day and how they can overcome obstacles in their lives to achieve success.

Pre-Law Day featured talks by a wide range of legal experts, including Honorable Sharen Wilson, Tarrant County District Attorney; Honorable Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County Sheriff; Rosa Berdeja, Law Office of Rosa Maria Berdeja; Sven Stricker, Associate, Kelly Hart & Hallman; and Teri J. Schultz, MS, JD, Director of Innovation and Commercialization.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Also part of the program were Amber Booker, In-House Counsel, Progressive Casualty Insurance; Sharita Blacknall, Principal Attorney, The Blacknall Firm; Caroline Harrison, Managing Partner, Dowell Pham Harrison LLP; Honorable Chris Wolfe, District Judge of 213th Court in Tarrant County; Honorable Susan McCoy, Civil District Judge of the 153rd District Court in Tarrant County; Honorable Kimberly Fitzpatrick, District Judge for the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County; and Kellie Brady, City Attorney for City of North Richland Hills.

Rounding out the legal experts who addressed attendees were Honorable Dana Womack, Judge 2nd Court of Appeals State of Texas; Honorable Mike Wallach, District Judge of 348th District Court; Honorable Brooke Allen, Judge, Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2; Honorable Beth Van Duyne, Candidate for Texas’ 24th Congressional District, Irving Mayor (2011-2017); Honorable Laura Hill, Mayor of Southlake; Honorable Cynthia Terry, Associate Judge, 323rd District Court in Tarrant County; Anjelica Sander, Recent Law Graduate; Gregory Garcia, Pre-Law Student; Janet Colaneri, Principal Attorney, The Colaneri Firm; Autumn Lockett, OU Law Admissions; Valerie James, UNT Dallas Law Admissions; Katherine Sims, Baylor Law Admissions; Shawn Adams, Texas Tech Law Admissions; Heather Stovall, SMU Law Admissions; and Kimberly Siwarski, Access Lex.

restaurant506 at The Sanford House will host a Sip n’ Swirl at 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, with wines from the Boisset Collection and guest Carla Nichols from Pioneer Wines.

Kindness benches for AISD elementary schools

Men Who Give a Damn – Arlington is composed of local men who work in concert on projects that improve their community.

A

rlington Sam Houston High School graduate Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, is organizing a fundraising campaign to purchase kindness benches that will be installed at all 53 Arlington ISD elementary schools.

The Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation, which is named for Duckett’s parents, will fundraise to provide more than $130,000 Thasunda Brown Duckett for kindness benches at every Arlington ISD elementary school.

Duckett made the announcement last month during her keynote speech at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Inspired Women Luncheon. The campaign will run through the foundation.

“Our success in the Arlington ISD depends on an engaged community, and what Thasunda and her foundation are doing with this fundraiser speaks to that,” Arlington ISD superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos says. “We are a district that promotes kindness and our elementary students will have reminders of that every time they’re on the playground. Thasunda has helped make that possible, and we’re grateful.”

Foundation Executive Director Gara Hill says that, as of late November, the Foundation had pledged 10 benches, Richard and Thasunda Duckett had pledged five benches, Greater Arlington Chamber had pledged 10 benches, City of Arlington Kindness Initiative had pledged 10 benches, and various other organizations and individuals had collectively pledged another seven benches. “So,” Hill says, “42 of 53 are roughly already pledged.”

For more information, or to make a pledge, visit extraordinaryis.org/events/kindness.

Men who give a damn – arlington hopes to raise $20,000 to buy bikes for mission arlington

M

en Who Give A Damn – Arlington has adopted a winter project aimed at raising $20,000 to purchase bicycles for Mission Arlington. Current organization members – and any other men who would like to be part of the project – will meet 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Legal Draft (500 E. Division St.) to help raise money for the project. Attendees are urged to bring a $100 check payable to Mission Arlington – with “BIKES” in the memo line.

“Our community needs men to step up for our winter event,” says organization spokesperson Spencer Cearnal. “We are excited to announce that Bikes for Mission Arlington will be our 2019 Winter event beneficiary. Invite anyone and everyone to join us as we would love to make a $20,000 (200 Men) impact to finish 2019 in typical Arlington fashion by knocking it out of the park!”

Cearnal says the minimum goal is for 100 Men coming together for one hour to give at least $10,000 to this charity event. “Again,” he says, “we would love to see at least $20,000 given to our local community, so please bring friends with you.”

For more, email spencer@frontrec.com.

arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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HEALTH / FITNESS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Here are some smart ways to keep yourself eating / staying healthy during the next few weeks

T

he parties can pile on the stress about eating this time of year, but eatingwell.com has noted some ways you can escape the holiday season unscathed. For example ...

1. Find New Ways to Move – If your exercise routine feels laborious or tedious already, chances are you won’t get excited about doing it when you’re tired, overworked and overbooked. Instead of sticking to the same 30-minute jog or routine gym session, branch out and find new ways to move that sound fun to you.

Try a new workout class or online video. Recruit a friend or family member to join you.

Organize a family activity like ice skating, a hike or even a scavenger hunt.

Find an indoor climbing or swimming facility that has holiday-friendly hours. Or, if your head just isn’t in it for a traditional workout, keep your body moving by cleaning out closets, digging out the holiday decorations or volunteering for physical prep tasks like hanging up holiday lights. Moving big Photo: heart.org boxes, bags and piles can help you work up a sweat, too.

2. Make Protein the Star – Holiday party spreads may offer a plethora of dips, chips and vegetable or fruit platters, but one way to actually fill up and feel satisfied when faced with all those endless little bites is to make protein one of your plate’s primary features.

Higher-protein diets increase satiety (compared to lower-protein diets), meaning you’re more satisfied and less likely to overeat.

Opt for plant-, fish- or animal-based proteins, egg-based dishes, sliced meats or cheeses, bean salads or bean-based dips, yogurts and nut mixes. Then add the sides of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains or finger foods.

3. Go Meatless for One Meal a Day – Ample research shows that plantbased diets promote health. Go meatless for one meal a day to add some variety to your plates and enjoy foods that can help lower blood cholesterol levels, promote blood sugar control and reduce 70

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

the risk of cardiovascular disease. This may mean having a black bean burger instead of a beef patty, topping salads with chickpeas instead of grilled chicken or steak, or having a vegetable stir-fry over brown rice with roasted tofu instead of shrimp for dinner. If your friend or family holiday parties tend to go heavy on the meatbased entrees, try balancing your day with a plant-based lunch or breakfast.

4. Stock Up on Sleep – While it’s not effective to bank sleep hours during the week in preparation for late nights out on the weekend, it is helpful to make a habit out of prioritizing sleep as often as possible. Adequate sleep is associated with better stressmanagement abilities and a healthy balance of hunger and satiety hormones (ghrelin and leptin, respectively).

Inadequate sleep, which is defined as less than the recommended seven to nine hours per night, may lead to changes in appetite and mood.

On the flip side, chronic high stress levels may impact quality of sleep. It can be a vicious cycle. Try to avoid this by getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night as often as possible.

Develop a sleep routine to help reduce stress levels before bedtime and improve sleep quality. Yes, that might mean putting the phone down.

5. Practice “Less is More” – Instead of trying to taste all eight dessert varieties, the six dips on the snack table, and a sample of all four versions of the holiday stuffing, pick one from each category to enjoy. Adopt the “less is more” philosophy as you fill up your plate at a holiday buffet or as you develop the menu for your own party.

Take a look at what’s being offered, and pick one or two favorites to sample. Having too many choices is overwhelmingand your quest to try one of everything may lead you to eat more than what’s satisfying. Save that decision-making energy for something more productive, like the willpower to put the phone away as you try to get more sleep.

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AMERICAN Candlelite Inn candleliteinnarlington.com 1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613 Dino’s Subs 2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140 frieddaze frieddaze.com 5005 S. Cooper St., Suite 159 • 817-472-6666 The Grease Monkey Burger Shop & Social Club greasemonkeyburgers.com 200 N. Mesquite St. • 817-665-5454 J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill jgilligans.com 400 E. Abram St. • 817-274-8561 72

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

Mac’s Bar & Grill macsteak.com 6077 W. I-20 • 817-572-0541

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MEXICAN/TEX-MEX Cartel Taco Bar carteltacobar.com 506 E. Division St.. Suite 150 • 817-200-6364 El Arroyo elarroyoarlington.com 5024 S. Cooper St. • 817-468-2557 El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill facebook.com/elgabachotexmex

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73

HOT SPOTS

MEET ME THERE Social House at Champions Park Arlington definitely lives up to its name • By Sara Pintilie

I

n the corner of the bustling Champions Park sits a welcoming haven for people to mingle, drink and get some food. That can be said of many venues in Champions Park, a much needed entertainment hub for North Arlington, but one casual eatery stood out.

Social House at Champions Park Arlington, a bar/restaurant, provides a great option for an after-game venue to cool your heels or just a fun place to grab dinner, brunch or a cold drink in North Arlington.

My friend and I went here to have dinner, but I can see this bar/restaurant being a great place to meet with someone for beer and a fun non-fussy evening out.

It reminds me of pubs I frequented in England, but with a modern facelift. The establishment was sleek but welcoming, and I was surprised to see how well lit it was. Many bars usually dim the lights and give the space an “atmosphere,” but sometimes you don’t want to sit in a darkened corner.

Social House brims with a liveliness that makes you want to belly up to the bar and say “howdy” to the person on the stool next to you.

When I went, my friend and I decided on hanging out in one of the cushy booths – big enough for a group of friends, but a bit big for two people – and try the food.

But not without cocktails. And Social House did not disappoint.

The Black-eyed Rye, a whiskey drink with ginger beer and blackberry syrup, was a personal favorite, but I also enjoyed the strawberry mojito as an after-dinner treat.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

The menu boasts of a wide variety of cocktails, some in flights, but if you are more in a beer mood, the establishment has a healthy amount on tap to choose from.

We started our meal with an appetizer of Buffalo Fried Calamari, a fascinating and tasty combination of two wellknown starters. The thick cut calamari is breaded in parmesan and tossed in a traditional buffalo sauce and topped with fried jalapenos.

I’m not the biggest fan of buffalo sauce, but I enjoyed these. It was adventurous but not pretentious.

The entrees menu is intriguing with options like braised short rib pasta and dry-aged chicken fried steak, but feeling nostalgic to my pub days, I went for a burger – the smoky BBQ burger.

I was entirely happy with my choice.

Everything my friend and I had was great, but I found myself just enjoying lingering and chatting with my friend.

We didn’t feel rushed or see our waiter hovering about, and it was nice to enjoy our evening at our leisure. It was a pleasant and relaxed evening that I would like to replicate shortly.

Though Social House at Champions Park Arlington has food worth revisiting, the atmosphere is where this Champions Park establishment shines.

Sara Pintilie is a distinguished writer, editor and photographer who calls Arlington home. In her column, she offers a millennial’s take on things local.

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NIGHTLIFE & MORE

SIGHTS / SOUNDS Live, from Arlington/Mansfield/Grand Prairie ...

THEATER: Hooray for Holidays: Theatre Arlington’s Musical TV Special When: Dec. 1 - 15 Where: Theatre Arlington (305 W. Main St.) Show times: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. on Sunday Notes: Join Theatre Arlington as its cast and crew imagine what it would be like to have their own show with singing, dancing and special guest stars during every performance.

For more: theatrearlington.org

MUSIC: Concerts at Arlington Music Hall When: Dec. 5 - 31 Where: Arlington Music Hall (224 N. Center St.) Show times: See below Notes: This month’s concert schedule will feature the following performers/events: The Guess Who (8 p.m. on Dec. 5), Wynonna & The Big Noise Rockin’ Roots Christmas (8 p.m. on Dec. 6), Will Hearn’s “Grand Ol’ Christmas Show (7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11), Chris Milyo Big Band - Swingin’ Christmas, featuring a performance by King’s Return (8 p.m. on Dec. 20), Blue Christmas starring Al Joslin (2 p.m. on Dec. 21) and Whey Jennings & Cagney Frizzell (7:30 p.m. on Dec. 28).

For more: arlingtonmusichall.net

MUSIC: Concerts at Texas Live!

When: Dec. 5 - 31 Where: Texas Live!

Show times: See below Notes: This month’s schedule includes the following performers/events: Benton Lawson (5:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Troy’s), Bradley Banning (9 p.m. on Dec. 6, 6 p.m. on Dec. 9, 6 p.m. on Dec. 16, 6 p.m. on Dec. 23, 9 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Troy’s), M80s (10 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Live! Arena), PL Garner and 76

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

the Reburns (9 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Troy’s), Matt Nestor (noon on Dec. 8 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 at Troy’s), Keith Mitchell (6 p.m. on Dec. 10, 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Troy’s), Clayton Gardner (9 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Troy’s), Cheap Trixter (10 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Live! Arena), 57 Sauce (9 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 21 at Troy’s), The Drop (11 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Live! Arena), NMG Underground (1:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 29 at Troy’s), Chadwick Cook of Jerico (6 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Troy’s), Brad Thompson (7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Troy’s), The Dick Beldings (9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Live! Arena) and Legacy 4 (9 p.m. on Dec. 28 at Troy’s).

For more: texas-live.com

DANCING: “Santa Cause” Dance Party with DJ Gurrl When: Dec. 14 Where: Project 215 (215 E. Front St.) Show time: 9 p.m.

Notes: Join DJ Gurrl for a dance party you won’t forget. Bring holiday donations (such as unopened toys, gloves, hats and mittens) for $5 off the cover.

For more: downtownarlington.org/event/ santa-cause-dance-party-with-dj-gurrl-atproject-215/

MUSIC: Symphony Arlington, featuring Nicholas Newton, bass-baritone When: Dec. 19 Where: Arlington Music Hall (224 N. Center St.) Show time: 7:30 p.m.

Notes: This concert will feature Locatelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” Torke’s “December” and Capps’ “The Christmas Revels,” as well as Symphony Arlington’s annual holiday singalong, plus lots of holiday favorites.

For more: symphonyarlington.org/december

CATCH JAY LENO AT THE THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE ay Leno, the legendary comic and former host of “The Tonight Show,” will bring his “every man” charm and comedy to The Theatre at Grand Prairie (1001 Performance Place) during a show at 8 p.m. on Dec. 7.

For more: theatregp.com.

J

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT LONE STAR NYE LIVE! one Star NYE Live!, the largest New Year’s Eve event in Texas, will be held at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Texas Live!

Guests of Lone Star NYE Live! will experience VIP seating options, live music and DJ, specialty food and drink packages, NYE party favors, cash cannon blasts, a champagne toast with a midnight countdown with the specially designed 12-foot ball and other surprises for a memory-making experience as big as the Lone Star State.

New this year, guests are encouraged to dress “Solid Gold” and experience “The Ocho,” a premiere Las Vegas-style party inside Troy’s that would make even Elvis proud. Limited Live! by Loews Hotel packages were available at press time to bring in 2020 for one special price all in one place.

For more: nye-live.com/texas.

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77

SPEAKING OF SPORTS The new Globe Life Field will definitely have Rangers fans cheering in the future.

DEAR SANTA: The Rangers have already received a great Christmas gift. Here’s to more • By John Rhadigan

I

have known that Santa is a sports fan since I was five years old.

All I wanted for Christmas that year was a football uniform.

Johnny Unitas was my favorite player, so a blue No. 19 jersey and a pair of short pants would have done the trick. But, Santa went all out. I got the blue jersey, No. 19, I got pants that had pockets inside for the knee and thigh pads, and I got ... wait for it ... shoulder pads!

Are you kidding me? None of the other kindergarten kids had shoulder pads, but I did. It was then that I knew Santa loves sports.

Because he does, don’t be afraid to populate your list with sportsrelated requests. Fear not, he does not have a favorite team. I have seen him at games in every city wearing the colors of every team.

In fact, I was at the game in Philadelphia where Eagles fans booed him. OK, so maybe he does not like the Eagles, but every other team in every other sport is fair game. You got a wish? Put it on the list.

My list starts with the Texas Rangers. I would like Santa to bring them Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg and Yasmani Grandal. When I was a kid I would have put all four on my list. As a parent, having read many lists with Rolex watches, Teslas and thoroughbreds on them, I know that Santa can’t deliver all the goods. In fact, from the Rolex, Tesla, thoroughbred list, he has delivered none of the goods to my kids. And yet they have always had a great Christmas. So even if none of those free agents land in Texas, the Rangers can have a great Christmas and off season.

The reality is that the new ballpark may be the greatest gift Rangers fans have gotten since Globe Life Park opened 26 seasons ago. In the short term, Globe Life Field will make your experience at the game so much more enjoyable. I know this will be true because I lived it during the final game at Globe Life Park. My pre-game duties on that remarkably hot late September day were fairly normal: a live hit from the field, some interviews and memories of this great ballpark. Wearing a new suit for the big broadcast was not a great idea. I was so hot that I stayed in the home dugout, which has air conditioning, until I got a 30-second cue, and then I moved to the field to stand in front of the camera. This may have been the hottest I have been since the All Star game here in 1995.

For post game my assignment was to Emcee the transfer of home plate from Globe Life Park to Globe Life Field. I had been there when they transferred the plate from Arlington Stadium 26 years ago, so I loved this assignment. The air conditioning was not working at the new park, but the roof on the west side of the stadium was in place. Since the sun sets in the West, the

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roof blocked it. The shade took the temps down about 20 degrees.

I wasn’t even sweating during the post game broadcast, and I realized the roof is already working. Add air conditioning, and this place will be ridiculously comfortable, even for day games.

The long-term benefits will be almost as dramatic. It may not happen immediately, but eventually the free agents will be like so many geese we see this time of year. They will flock to Arlington. The truth is, the only thing not to like about the previous ballpark was the heat. There was no relief from it. In a recent interview with Michael Young he recounted the time he was at an All Star Game, approached soon-to-be free agent, Roy Halladay and said, “Hey Roy?” To which Doc replied, “Don’t even start with me, I am not going to play there; it is too hot!”

I wish Michael would have said, “Oh man I was just going to invite you to dinner!” Instead, Young walked away, tail between his legs, knowing that it would be forever difficult to attract free agents.

Especially pitchers.

A decade and a half later there is a new option. An airconditioned option. This could, seriously, open the flood gates. I mean North Texas is a great place to live! The ballpark is brand new and air conditioned, and the owners are not afraid to spend money.

Arlington will be an attractive destination!

Until free agents figure that out, the Rangers will continue to develop players in a farm system that was once the envy of Major League Baseball. It was depleted during many a playoff run early in this decade when it appeared Texas was only one player away.

The same people who built that farm system are rebuilding it now. The vast majority of draft picks have been spent on young pitching. So maybe, just maybe, the next Gerrit Cole or Steven Stasburg is in the organization. If not, no big deal, the Rangers now have the kind of ballpark that can attract top-level free agents.

If the Rangers sign that big free agent or, better yet, develop him, then we can all hold our heads high, stick our chests out, put on our shoulder pads and sing, “There’s No Place Like Home for the ...

World Series!”

Sports columnist John Rhadigan is an anchor for the Fox Sports Southwest television network.

Honor Your Favorite Arlington ISD Teacher with a Nomination for the

AWARE Foundation Award of Excellence The AWARE Foundation encourages innovation and excellence in AISD classroom instruction.

For each of the past 30 years, the AWARE Foundation has recognized outstanding AISD teachers at our annual spring banquet. Winners and runners-up receive unrestricted cash awards.

To date, AWARE has honored AISD teachers with cash awards exceeding $575,000.

Nomination packets due by December 11, 2019.

The Awards banquet will be held May 2020.

Visit www.awarefoundation.com for additional information and like us on Facebook.

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ROARING INTo 2020 Walnut Creek Country club • 7:00-Midnight Live & Silent auctions heavy horsd’ouvres • live band • ca sh bar • va let Go to MANSFIELDCARES.ORG for more information & to purchase tickets.

Mansfield Cares arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

79

EVENTS, ETC.

ITINERARY Your official guide to fun (and the like) Six Flags Over Texas: Holiday In The Park When: Dec. 1 - Dec. 29 Where: Six Flags Over Texas Time: Check website for each day’s schedule In a nutshell: It’s the most magical time of the year filled with enchanting experiences that will help create those special family fun outings again and again. The breathtaking winter wonderland features a variety of delightful and interactive activities to help capture the holiday spirit.

For more: sixflags.com/overtexas/ special-events/holiday-in-the-park

Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints When: Dec. 6 - Jan. 3 Where: Arlington Museum of Art Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday-Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday In a nutshell: This engaging exhibition features more than 30 woodblock prints and engravings by (or after) the German Renaissance master printmaker Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). The artist was an extraordinary innovator who revolutionized the medium of printmaking in the late 15th century. Trained as a goldsmith, the painter, etcher and draftsman was praised for the remarkable compositional complexity and high level of naturalism in his works.

For more: arlingtonmusem.org

Portraits: Photography

by Dennis Hevia When: Dec. 6 - Jan. 3 Where: Arlington Museum of Art Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday-Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday In a nutshell: The masters of the Dutch Golden Age (which spanned basically the 80

ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

17th century) saw the emergence of artists like Vermeer and Rembrandt. In this exhibit, Hevia shares his photographic take on some of those great works, including Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring” and Rembrandt’s self portraits.

For more: arlingtonmusem.org

Big 12 Championship Game When: Dec. 7 Where: AT&T Stadium Time: 11 a.m.

In a nutshell: The top two teams in the Big 12 will play for the conference championship, which will have ramifications on the national collegiate football playoff picture and the New Year’s Day Bowl scene.

For more: attstadium.com

DIVISION BREWING TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY ivision Brewing (506 E. Main) will throw a party to mark its fourth anniversary, beginning at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 – and the community is invited to join in the celebration.

Highlights will include the tapping of the brewery’s first foeder ale, special barrel aged ales, 21 beers on tap and live music. For more: facebook.com/ events/2455402564548251/?active_ tab=about.

D

Dallas Cowboys football When: Dec. 15, 29 Where: AT&T Stadium Time: See website for game times In a nutshell: The Cowboys will continue their quest for a National Football League championship by hosting a pair of games this month. They’ll play the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 15 and the Washington Redskins on Dec. 29.

For more: dallascowboys.com

Cotton Bowl Classic When: Dec. 28 Where: AT&T Stadium Time: Noon In a nutshell: Two of the nation’s top football teams will duke it out in this legendary bowl game. The pairing will be announced shortly after the conference championship games earlier this month.

For more: attstadium.com

HOOP IT UP FOR THE UTA BASKETBALL SQUADS he University of Texas at Arlington’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have a busy December schedule.

The men will play North Texas on Dec. 2, UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 7, Houston on Dec. 11, Georgia State on Dec. 19 and Georgia Southern on Dec. 21. The women will play Wright State on Dec. 4, Northwestern on Dec. 16, Marist College on Dec. 19, SMU on Dec. 22 and Texas Southern on Dec. 30. For game times and info: utamavs.com.

T

Mansfield Women’s Club

Presents

Sun., Dec. 8, 2019 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Tour five beautifully decorated homes in Mansfield and South Arlington Tour and raffle tickets sold at each home on tour or at www.themansfieldwomensclub.com

ULTIMATE SPA DAY $1,000 value donated

by Daired’s Salon & Spa

COLORADO VACATION HOME Seven nights, 4 BR/3.5 BATH S i Sho Fish Hi e • al e

Tom Thumb Hwy 287 & Walnut Creek, Mansfield Tom Thumb $30 in advance • $35 at the door Park Row & Bowen Rd., Arlington

Tour tickets available Nov. 1-Dec. 7

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Albertsons Hwy 287 & Sublett Rd, Arlington Pinnacle Bank 220 E US 287, Midlothian

Poured 1601 E Debbie Ln #1105, Mansfield Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio 1219 E. Debbie Ln #113, Mansfield

A Special Thank You to our Major Sponsors:

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center • Dura-Tech Processes, Inc. • Frost Bank • State Farm Insurance/Jane Koch-Oellermann All proceeds benefit women and children in need in the Mansfield area. • facebook.com/Mansfield.Womens.Club.Mansfield.TX Mansfield Women’s Club is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization

Help Us Make Their Holiday Bright Please donate.

Arlington Charities is in need of holiday food, gift cards, financial donations and of course, toys for the children.

Please help us make this holiday special for the families, seniors and children we serve.

For more information contact us: info@arlingtoncharities.org or 817-275-1511 • www.arlingtoncharities.org arlingtontoday.com • December 2019 • ARLINGTON TODAY

81

FINISH LINE

HOLIDAY JOY Here are some personal reflections on this very special season • By Richard Greene

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ike every kid growing up, I found the annual holidays and birthdays to be times to celebrate. For me, however, Christmas was the one most anticipated.

It meant all the excitement of the season that included getting ready with the annual Christmas tree decorating traditions, then presents showing up and wondering which ones would be mine when new ones appeared on Christmas morning.

As the oldest of the three children in the house, I was known for snooping around to discover hidden packages because it was really hard for me to wait for a day that seemed to take forever to arrive.

One year, my mother issued the warning that if I persisted in that behavior, I would be denied even a single gift. So, I ceased the forbidden activity. That was the year I really wanted a basket for my bicycle so I could carry stuff on my daily rides around the neighborhood.

Then a disaster occurred a couple of weeks before the 25th when I answered a knock on the front door. There stood a Sears uniformed delivery guy who thrust that very basket into my hands and said something like, “here’s your order” and walked back to his truck.

The panic I sensed was indescribable. I walked into the kitchen where Mom was and with a look of desperation on my face, “this is not my fault,” I plead. A loving mother said she understood and blamed the mishap on Sears saying they should have delivered the basket in a box.

In the experience that had me focused on the anticipation of receiving presents there was always an effort to get me to understand the meaning of the season that wasn’t tied up in colorful wrapping paper adorned with ribbon and pretty bows.

No, it was the time of the year for celebrating the miraculous birth of God’s gift to all humanity in the person of Jesus who came to give us life everlasting.

Some years later when I had become a paper boy, I developed a practice of placing the Christmas morning newspaper on the

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ARLINGTON TODAY • December 2019 • arlingtontoday.com

doorstep of my customers so they could immediately see the page one, colorful “Merry Christmas” greeting emboldened above the newspaper’s title.

As I matured, got married, and the blessings of children of our own with whom we could share that most special time of the year came, we developed many Christmas family traditions.

In my wife’s family, there had always been the practice of her father reading from his Bible the account of Mary and Joseph’s arrival in Bethlehem where their son would be born in a stable due to the lack of space in any conventional lodging.

So, those same ceremonial moments became the centerpiece of our Christmas Eve, usually following our return from our own church’s candlelight service where we gather with fellow believers to remind us of why Christmas holds such a special place in our world.

That family tradition now has been passed to the fourth generation in our family as our granddaughter does the scripture reading of those verses so familiar that we all can repeat them from our memory on the night before the big day.

I can’t help but appreciate that just about everyone in America and even around the world, regardless of their religious experience or none at all, enjoys the delights of the Christmas season in one way or another as they have throughout history.

For Christians that wouldn’t be the case were it not for the celebration of the birth on that fateful night among the livestock in that humble shelter more than 2,000 years ago.

So, Merry Christmas to one and all, and may you and your families have a very joyous holiday!

Richard Greene served as Arlington’s mayor from 1987-1997 and currently teaches in UT Arlington’s graduate program in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.

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