May 2020

May 2020

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Today

HARRIS COOK THEN & NOW This formidable Full-Service Law Firm has long had a heart for their Clients – and their Community Serving Arlington, Mansfield and Grand Prairie

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Hearing is essential to communication!

It is now recommend that people wear cloth or fabric face coverings when entering public spaces, such as grocery stores for example. An unintended consequence of this is that hearing and understanding clearly what is being said will be challenging - particularly for those with a hearing loss.

Face masks can reduce the high frequency sounds that are critical to understanding speech and they also remove the visual cues from lipreading that often help those with hearing difficulties fill in the blanks.

Hearing is essential to communication and while we must practice physical distancing, it is important for all of us to remain socially connected!

Communication is important for our mental health and well being.

At Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids, we can help you hear the best you can in a safe and caring environment.

Give us a call today at (817) 277 7039 to schedule a one-on-one, private appointment and hear the difference better hearing will make in your life!

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Women’s Health Services now provides patient care in two locations in Arlington. We also provide state-of-the-art maternity care in the newly renovated labor and delivery suites at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital (THAM). THAM is ranked among the best hospitals in Dallas-Fort Worth, and was awarded American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet status, an award that recognizes hospitals that provide nursing excellence.

Women’s Health Services has been providing quality health care for women of all ages for the past 32 years. Our OB/GYN group been recognized in the community for its reputable and thoughtful care. In 2017, Women’s Health Services won Suburban Parent Magazines’ award for Best of Family Healthcare in Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as DFW Child Magazine’s Mom-Approved Doctors award for OB/GYN. Women’s Health Services’ doctors provide full OB/GYN services and are skilled in managing all aspects of women’s health care, such as normal and high-risk pregnancy care, gynecologic surgery, incontinence treatment, annual exams, and contraceptive and hormone therapy needs. Visit our new website and make your appointments online at www.womenshealthservices.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Recognizing kindness Texas. If you search #ArlingtonKindness on The #ArlingtonKindness movement helped me escape my fear and paralysis during the first couple Facebook or Instagram, you’ll see links to uplifting videos and stories. of weeks of the COVID-19 shutdown.

I don’t know about you, but during those early days of the COVID-19 shutdown, I felt afraid - very afraid. 9/11 kind of fear. The enemy was here. It seemed that bad news was everywhere. There were so many deaths in China, then Italy, then New York, then North Texas. There was so much uncertainty about testing, supplies, food, etc. - so much desperation.

What could I do to get out of my head and start healing? The answer came in a social media post on the City of Arlington’s Facebook page. It was about two children who printed the message “Love One Another” in big chalk letters on their fence. I remember that I teared up at the sheer sweetness of the message and the simplicity of the delivery.

It gave me great joy to tag that message with #ArlingtonKindness. #ArlingtonKindness is the hashtag the Arlington Kindness Commission uses for sharing acts of kindness across social media. When you start looking for examples of kindness to share, they’re easy to find, especially if you live in Arlington,

For example, Rush Creek Church had a drive-by parade for one of its members celebrating the end of her cancer treatments. Destiny Pointe Christian Center and Mona’s Outreach had a drive-through food drive that served more than 300 families.

A temporary shower facility was placed at the Arlington Life Shelter so that they can serve 40% more clients during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Groups are serving our healthcare workers, our police officers, our firefighters and others on the front lines. Folks are thanking grocery store workers, our restaurants and food delivery drivers in ways we’ve never before seen. It’s amazing!

Be sure to tag acts of kindness with #ArlingtonKindness when you see them, whether you initiate the post or just comment on someone else’s post. Spread the good news. The fear of COVID-19 is a formidable foe, but kindness in The American Dream City is our best weapon against it.

Timi Hazle Arlington Community Relations Commissions a/k/a The Kindness Commission

Become a part of the Arlington Random Acts of Kindess Initiative. Did a stranger lend a helping hand when you were stranded on the side of the road or surprised you by paying for your coffee or dinner? When you see an act of kindness, document it one of the following ways: 1. Use the Ask Arlington App 2. Use the City of Arlington Online Form 3. Tweet or post using #ArlingtonKindness and @cityofarlington 4. Email: crc@arlingtontx.gov The free Ask Arlington app can be downloaded from the Apple or Android app stores.

Once downloaded, open the app. Then tap on the “Submit a Request” button to report an act of kindness today!

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This is Arlington's full service family law firm. arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

7

CONTENTS May 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 5

HIGHLIGHTS

COVID-19 UPDATE News updates and more as principals gear to begin reopening the region ... See page 32

DEPARTMENTS

22

Starting Line 10 This ‘n Data 12 • Around Town 20 Style 41 • Scene 42 • Bulletin Board 52 Keen Cuisine 54 • Speaking of Sports 56 Finish Line 58

22 Harris Cook then & now ...

This formidable full-service law firm has long had a heart for its clients – and for the community.

26 Attorneys you need to know ...

Here are some local legal experts who take care of their clients while ensuring that justice is done.

– Yahoo! ...

– –– –––– 44 – Shhhh!

–– –

Norma Zuniga has been named director of the City’s Library System, culminating a fascinating journey.

44

46 There must be some kind of story here ...

This 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster sank in the lake and consequently became a legend.

50 Mavericks to the end (and then some) ...

ON THE COVER The legal team at Harris Cook, LLP, has a storied history – and is looking toward a bright future serving local clients.

See page 22 8

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

46

The University of Texas at Arlington Retirees’ Club fortifies the bond linking former faculty and staff.

FACT:

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SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY TO SEE FOR YOURSELF THE PRIMROSE DIFFERENCE! Primrose School of NE Green Oaks 817.543.2626 | PrimroseNEGreenOaks.com *

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ARLINGTON Today your community • your magazine

Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools® and Balanced Learning® are registered trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2018 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. See primroseschools.com for ‘fact’ source and curriculum detail.

A 6 part audiovisual podcast Episode 1: Uprooted, the stories of the Texas Rangers with Parker Vandergriff and John Blake Episode 2: Puttin' Down Roots, the story of Early Arlington with Geraldine Mills and O.K. Carter Episode 3: Rooted in Creativity, the stories of live music and art with Letatia Teykl, Paul Fulks, and Persis Ann Forster Episode 4: Roots of Revitalization in Downtown with Tom Cravens, Mary Tom Curnutt, and Tony Rutigliano Episode 5: Rerooting, the origin of innovation and reinvention with Cindy Salter, Scott Parsinen and Michael Jacobson Episode 6: Rootin' for each other, the history of service in Arlington featuring a special guest with a big heart.

LET'S GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS

Downtown Arlington Roots THE STORIES THAT SHAPED ARLINGTON EVERY THURSDAY AT 4PM

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

9

• STARTING LINE

EXECUTIVE BOARD Executive Publisher Judy M. Rupay

THE TIE THAT BINDS

W

hen we started working on this magazine project seven years ago next month, one of the first promises we made to you, the reader, was that we were going to celebrate Arlington and the surrounding area, highlighting the many positives this region has to offer.

Back then, we had plenty to laud, mind you – and that was before the Entertainment District enhancements of Globe Life Field and Texas Live!, before downtown boomed and before our university and health care centers evolved from stellar local enterprises to institutions that set national standards. Given what has transpired in a little over half a decade, the veritable party never ends for us here at Arlington Today.

Still, for most of us, the “icing on the cake,” as Yale it were, always manifested in the interaction with Youngblood our readers, either in person or via phone calls, e-messages and Old School notes. You telling us Editor that you appreciated what we were doing made us appreciate the wonderful blessing of getting to do it.

Last month, though, produced a whole other level of supportive communication.

Shortly on the heels of what will likely forever be known as our “Coronavirus Issue,” we received more positive feedback than during any period of our happy run. Dozens of calls came in, as did dozens more emails and letters. Because we couldn’t go anywhere, we couldn’t chronicle in-person expressions of thanks, but I know many of you would have expressed that had you had the opportunity to do so. Why do I know that? Because you folks are among the more gracious and positive human beings on the planet.

I’ll say it once more: Serving you is a blessing.

I’ll say this, as well: Because of the remarkable bond we share in this community, the past month and a half, while harrowing beyond most of our imaginations, has been marked, not so much by the looming challenge, but by the ways you’ve shown how it can be overcome. Many of you took the figurative lemons and created a batch of lemonade that was served to those on the front lines of the battle and those who might not get to eat without help and those who simply needed a smile or virtual hug – and received both.

Seven years ago, I had a feeling I was going to love this new job that came my way. I was right. So, please, let me be the one to say “thanks.”

CEO Richard Greene EDITORIAL Editor Yale Youngblood Sports Columnist John Rhadigan Website & Social Media Manager Bailey Woodard Contributing Graphic Artists Francisco Cuevas, Susan Darovich Contributing Writers Donna Darovich, Bill Lace, Kenneth Perkins Contributing Photographers Hasson Diggs, Dwayne Lee, Heather Lee, Bruce Maxwell 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 2020 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.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note here something special that Arlington Today recently introduced: our enhanced website, arlingtontoday.com. It has been redesigned to make the bond mentioned above even stronger – by incorporating more interaction and integration of our social media platforms – and I heartily encourage you to check it out ... YY

ARLINGTON TODAY GIVES BACK

yale@arlingtontoday.com

Arlington Today magazine proudly sponsors the Junior League of Arlington, The Salvation Army and Theatre Arlington.

Visit arlingtontoday.com, like us on Facebook 10

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

and follow us on Twitter

and Instagram

• Phone number: (817) 303-3304

Our Main Priority?

Our Family of Residents

Currently we are closed to visitors but we’re happy to answer any questions or provide a virtual tour.

817.472.9556

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

11

• THIS ‘N DATA

WILL JOHNSON, APD CHIEF, TO RETIRE AFTER 26+YEAR CAREER

A

rlington Police Chief Will Johnson, a 23-year veteran with the local police department, last month announced that he will retire, effective in June.

Chief Johnson, who served in law enforcement for nearly 27 years overall, joined Arlington in 1997 and quickly rose through the ranks before being named interim police chief in 2012. City Manager Trey Yelverton appointed Johnson as police chief in 2013, since which he has led the police department for the 48th largest city in the United States. Under Chief Johnson’s leadership, the Arlington Police Department earned a national reputation as a premier law enforcement agency in promoting community policing, procedural justice, and protecting the civil rights of all persons.

Chief Johnson served as the Chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Human and Civil Rights Committee from 2015-2018 and was elected as the Vice President at Large for the IACP in 2018, a Photo: dallasnews.com position he still holds.

Chief Johnson also serves as an executive board member for the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).

“I am honored to have served as police chief for this great department for so many years,” says the retiring chief. “No one can truly be effective without community support, effective political leadership, and a dedicated workforce. I was grateful to experience all three, and by working together, we have made our community better.”

BECAUSE OF GUIDELINES designed to encourage social distancing, local restaurants have struggled to make the same amount of revenue they made before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, First Rate instituted an employee initiative to support the restaurants in our community.

Two employees at the accounting software company First Rate decided to provide each member of their department $15 per day to spend at a locally owned restaurant while employees work from home. Senior management decided to follow their lead by expanding the program to all employees. This initiative created a total of $150 per person going towards mom-and-pop businesses.

“We are proud to see our members supporting one another during this unprecedented time,” says Greater Arlington Chamber President & CEO Michael Jacobson. “First Rate is taking to heart our mission of Together, We Succeed.”

Celebrating Kindness

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

JONES SELECTED TO CHAIR MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM FOUNDATION BOARD

T

he National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation last month announced Charlotte Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer for the Dallas Cowboys, as Chairman of its Board of Directors.

“I am honored to accept this new mission as we work together to build a place where our bravest heroes finally get the recognition they earned through Charlotte Jones service and sacrifice,” Jones says. “Through the creation of the National Medal of Honor Museum here in Arlington, and a monument in our nation’s capital, we will honor our nation’s gallant warriors by giving Americans from all walks of life a place to see their faces, hear their voices, discover their stories, and learn what it takes to become the heroes of tomorrow. This museum will truly be an inspiration for generation after generation of Americans and empower the future heroes and leaders of this country.”

Jones oversees all business operations, strategies and applications surrounding the Dallas Cowboys brand as it is presented to fans worldwide.

She is currently Chairman of the NFL Foundation and previously served as chair of the Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board.

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

13

• THIS ‘N DATA

Arlington’s Maren Morris made recording history when her song, “The Bones,” reached No. 1 on the Adult Pop Songs chart some 45 weeks after its debut.

3

SCOOPS 1. The 11th Annual Sporting Clay

Photo: stereogum.com

MAREN MORRIS’ ‘THE BONES’ IS NO. 1 IN A HISTORICAL WAY

M

aren Morris is now, officially, sitting atop the music world. The Arlington singer/ songwriter’s resilient number, “The Bones,” last month reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart in record fashion, ascending to the top in its 45th week on the survey. The song wraps the longest journey to No. 1, besting the 36-week climb for The Script’s “Breakeven” in 2009-10.

But that’s just part of an exciting spring for Morris. She and husband Ryan Hurd also had a new baby boy, making first-time grandparents out of Arlington’s own Kellie and Scott Morris.

Regarding “The Bones,” here’s its history of Billboard format-specific airplay rankings: • Adult Alternative: No. 17 peak, Jan. 25, 2020 • Country Airplay: No. 1, two weeks, Feb. 15-22 • Pop Songs: No. 27, April 4-11• Adult Pop Songs: No. 1, April 11• Adult Contemporary: No. 8, April 11. “The Bones” also returned to its No. 9 best on the allgenre Radio Songs chart, where it earned another notable honor: It became the first hit by a solo woman and no accompanying billed artists to have topped Country Airplay and reached the Radio Songs top 10 since Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” in 2009.

RAISE YOUR HAND if you enjoyed the bounty of some pearl diving at Seven Seas back in the 1970s. Keep that hand up if you can name the elephant seal at the marine mammal park whose show was so popular that he received five write-in votes for mayor during an early ‘70s election won by Tom Vandergriff. We’re going to guess you don’t still have your hand up, so we’ll reveal said candidate: Pancho.

14

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Shoot benefiting River Legacy Foundation, originally scheduled for May 8, has been postponed to Oct. 25.

Cost is $800 per team/$200 per person.

Sponsorships start at $1,200. To consider a Corporate Sponsorship of River Legacy’s Clay Shoot, contact Director of Development Becky Nussbaum Gerro at 817-860-6752, ext. 120. For more information about event activities and registration, contact Shannon Porter at 817-860-6752, ext. 119.

2. The United Way of Tarrant County recently announced that some $400,000 has been donated to its Emergency Relief Fund, led by Bank of America, which donated $150,000 and Wells Fargo, which donated $100,000. The funding was specifically routed to address the urgent and long-term needs of the Tarrant County community as a result of COVID-19. Other donations include $60,000 from Folsom Point Charities, $50,000 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and $10,000 from the Gaudin Family Foundation.

3. Work by the Public Works and Transportation Department to improve sections of East Second Street and Kelly Terrace has been completed.

This project, which began in May 2019, consisted of rebuilding the roadways with concrete, installing sidewalks, streetlights and water line renewals on both streets. Additional sanitary sewer line renewals took place on East Second Street.

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

15

• THIS ‘N DATA

AISD SCHOOLS TO PLAY GAMES AT GLOBE LIFE PARK THIS FALL Photo: Arlington ISD

T

he 2020 high school football season for Arlington Independent School District teams will kick off with a tripleheader weekend at Globe Life Park, the former home of the Texas Rangers.

That weekend will highlight a 2020 season in which all six Arlington ISD teams will play at least one home game at the reconfigured park.

“We’re excited to have all our teams playing games at Globe Life Park,” Arlington ISD athletic director Eric White says. “The reconfigured stadium sets up very well for football and will provide all of our teams a unique opportunity for our players, cheer squads, bands, fans and families. We wanted to be able to utilize the stadium and create experiences, and this allows us to do that.”

Not only will the Arlington ISD teams be the first high school

#atpetofthemonth

AISD MUSIC ED HONORED

Say hello to my best four-legged friend, Buddy. He has the look of a great watchdog – that is, until there’s something to watch for. This gentle giant never barks at strangers, but he certainly loves on them when he gets the chance. Unfortunately, he thinks he’s a lap dog.

– Hannah Christine

16

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

teams to play football at the stadium, but they’ll also do so with some marquee matchups. The first game at the stadium will feature Lamar hosting Euless Trinity on Aug. 28 in a rematch of a playoff game won by Lamar last November. Martin will host Lake Travis, which advanced to the Class 6A Division I state semifinals last year, on Aug. 29, and Seguin will close out the tripleheader with an Aug. 30 game against Dallas Carter.

Arlington and Bowie will have games at Globe Life Park the next week with Bowie meeting DeSoto on Sept. 3 and Arlington playing Cedar Hill on Sept. 4. Sam Houston is set to play Keller Central on Sept. 17.

All of the games are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Arlington ISD will no longer play games at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Maverick Stadium. Both Arlington and Martin will play all five of their home games at Globe Life Park.

F

or the 16th time in the past 17 years Arlington ISD has been named as a “Best Community for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation.

“This distinction places Arlington ISD in the top four percent of all districts in the nation in our music education offering,” says fine arts director Dr. Christopher Anderson. “This is the 16th time that Arlington has received this distinction, which is a testament to the long-term commitment that the district and community have placed on the importance of fine arts education of all of our children.”

Arlington ISD was one of 754 school districts recognized.

To earn the designation districts must demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.

a a a Be smart.

Be safe.

Stay well.

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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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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

17

2020COMMUNITY TCU COMMUNITY SCHOLARS SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL 2020 TCU SCHOLARS FROMFROM SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL

Joshua Anderson Sharon Arthur Kymvely Calderon Nichole Fashakin Pamela Guerrero Joshua Anderson Sharon Arthur Kymvely Calderon Nichole Fashakin RigobertoRigoberto Garcia Garcia Pamela Guerrero

“With COVID-19 “With COVID-19 happening right now happening right now andyear senior year ending and senior ending in an unpredictable in an unpredictable way, way, I am grateful I am grateful for this for this scholarship and knowing scholarship and knowing I have something I have something to look to look in the fall,” forwardforward to in thetofall,” Georgina Perez said.

Georgina Perez said.

Kenia Martinez Maria Mendoza Brandon Nguyen Perez Megan HaMegan Ha Kenia Martinez Maria Mendoza AndersonAnderson Nguyen Nguyen Brandon Nguyen Georgina Georgina Perez

• AROUND TOWN

MY HOME IS SHRINKING, OR SO IT SEEMS

H

ubby Joe loves the president. Wife Melissa? Not so much.

After a fourth consecutive “discussion” following one of those daily coronavirus press conferences on TV, the couple, five years married, parents of a set of twins, vowed never to watch again. At least not together.

This isn’t merely a politically unyoked union. It’s love in the age of coronavirus. And it’s why some people, in particular, are really looking forward to the ongoing commercial reopening.

Joe and Melissa were both sent home from their jobs, fortunately with pay, which was terrific since the doors to the elementary school where the twins attend closed shut after Spring Break.

“At first we saw ourselves as the lucky ones,” says Melissa. “We weren’t scrambling for childcare.

Kenneth And we both have jobs Perkins where we can work remotely and still get a paycheck.”

It was fun. Hide and seek in the house. Board games. An impromptu talent show where the youngest by two minutes, a curly haired little tyke named Simon, pulled off a nice little Michael Jackson moonwalk.

Good times, good times.

Eventually, the Coronavirus Shut-Ins sequestered for weeks in their 1,800 square-foot home in Central Arlington sometimes felt as if the walls were closing in.

“It’s funny,” Joe says. “Two years ago when we bought this house we wondered if it was too much room.” Turns out it wasn’t.

That’s what I’m hearing these days from folks who have been cooped up in their homes and apartments. Places big enough to play Hide n’ Seek now seem rather small.

But interesting. In a variety of ways.

I went on Facebook to inquire how things were going at home as we were coping with the new normal of semi-isolation. It’s not just love between spouses, but with kids, parents, even pets.

Image: centurycityrealestate.com

Josephine says her three-year-old Golden Retriever rarely leaves her side when at home, “Which I find so loving.” But that’s usually after being away 10 hours. Now she’s glued to Josephine’s hip 24/7.

“I have to say it’s a little annoying.”

Kendrick still heads off to a construction site, leaving wife Loretta at home, and the dynamic “is interesting,” he says, partly because from the time he walks in the door to the time he hits his pillow, she’s talkinglikethis.

While Loretta speaks with clients via ZOOM and cell phone, “it’s not the same thing,” she says, laughing, “and it gets a little lonely in this house.”

Yet some say there’s something alluring about being in different rooms in the same house and “meeting up” for lunch and “clocking out” at the same time to make dinner or take a walk.

Says Juanita: “With everything going on, I almost hate to say how much I am enjoying spending this time with my husband.”

Yet others find they are snapping at one another for the teeny, tiniest things. When husband, Jacoby walked into the dining room wanting to show wife Serena a You Tube Video “for the 30th time – I swear,” Serena literally put her hand up like a cop halting traffic.

“No more,” was all he got.

Amanda and her husband have a great understanding. He works upstairs, she down.

“So far,” Amanda says, “we haven’t killed each other.”

Best line in Jean Marie’s house came from daughter explaining to sister what mom and dad are bickering about: “Dad’s hungry and mom’s over it.”

Amber didn’t have to worry much about anyone disturbing her teleworking peace set up in the spare bedroom, closing – and locking – the door, figuring that would keep her safe and sane.

Then during a conference call she heard a little knock on her door (it was six-year old Sam) that turned into a bigger knock, which turned into fists pounding the door in rapid-fire fashion and the screaming of “MOMMIE!!!”

“Maybe somebody ought to get that,” one of the ZOOM talking heads blurted out.

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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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

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21

• COVER STORY

HARRIS COOK THEN & NOW This formidable Full-Service Law Firm has long had a heart for their Clients – and their Community HARRIS COOK THEN Relatively early in his career, David L. Cook took advantage of an opportunity to show just how far he and his law firm, Harris Cook, LLP, will go to serve a client. Literally speaking, the span was more than 460 air miles, from DFW International Airport to the border that separates Texas and Mexico.

Figuratively, it meant the world to his client in a divorce/child custody case, who in 2004 joined Cook on a fervent quest to find the former client’s five youngest children, who had been taken illegally by his estranged wife to San Benito, Texas, just 20 miles north of the Texas/Mexico border. Upon the children being abducted, Cook and his client, a local orthopedic surgeon, spent days poring over possible

the more impactful cases I’ve ever been involved with.”

That Cook would show that kind of tenacity comes as little surprise to those who know him. To get in the door at his first job in the legal profession, with the firm of Chris Harris & Associates, P.C., for example, the soon-to-be-law-student phoned the practice’s founder 13 times before Harris told him there was a potential entry-level opening.

“I finally heard back on my first day of law school,” Cook recalls.

“This gruff voice on the phone says, ‘I hear you want to go to work for me.’ I was like, ‘yes, sir.’ I knew it had to be State Senator Chris Harris because he was the only person I wanted to work for. He said, ‘well, why don’t you come talk to me about that?’”

Roughly 45 minutes later, Cook accepted the position to work for Harris – only hours before his first class in law school.

Now the Managing Partner of the Firm, Cook knew he wanted to work with Harris, a successful attorney and member of Texas Legislature who would offer invaluable experience in both of the areas in which Cook wanted to learn and grow. Like his mentor, Cook eventually entered politics, first as the Mayor of Mansfield and now as the 2020 Republican Nominee for the Texas House of Representatives.

Working for Harris and having him as a mentor greatly shaped the attorney Cook is today.

“Chris was tenacious, loyal and committed to the cause,” Cook recalls. “If the Senator was with you, you were in a good spot. If he was against you, well I’m praying for you. The valuable experience that I had, just being around him, was immeasurable, and I knew back then that I was in a better place than all my fellow law students with the environment that I was in – I was able to work in the Texas Senate and in Harris’ Law firm, getting hands-on, knee-deep experience in the law and the legislature.”

David L. Cook and Chris Harris worked together from 1993 until Harris’ passing in 2015.

The lessons Cook learned from working with such a formidable leader in the dual-faceted environment served as a foundation for his own many successes. Early on, he was leads to the children’s whereabouts. A tip from a colleague of the wife particularly adept at problem solving, and working virtually fullat the border, responding to the Amber Alert that was issued, helped time while also taking a full load of law courses taught him how to Cook and his client track the woman to an extended-stay hotel, where be resoundingly resourceful – so much so that by age 24 Cook was authorities safely rescued the children. In the process, the episode managing the day to day operations of Chris Harris & Associates, P.C. reaffirmed Cook and his firm as the most dedicated of public servants, – while still in law school. from both legal and humanitarian standpoints.

When Cook started working at the firm in 1993, it focused primarily “That was very rewarding. To see my client finally get physical in Family Law and Administrative Law. It was a small firm with only custody of his kids, it was a career defining moment,” Cook says. “I two attorneys – and a talented law student who was cutting his teeth have now been practicing for 23 years and that was a one-and-done in the courtroom long before most of his peers. A lot of clients were situation. It will probably never happen again. But it remains one of 22

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

friends and associates of Harris, whose reputation was known far beyond the city’s borders. Others came because of the firm’s standing as a consistent and persistent legal representative.

Regardless of the genesis of the association, all clients got Harris’ team’s best efforts. “Chris was passionate,” Cook says. “And his instincts were almost always right.”

By 1997, Harris’ instincts told him that Cook, who had just been admitted to the Texas Bar, was ready to become an attorney at the firm and offered him an associate attorney position.

“Chris saw something in me. I think maybe it was just the determination I had to be successful and to get the job done,” Cook recalls. “I was definitely able to get things done, but a lot of that was because of the resources that were available to me. The Senator’s The Harris Cook, LLP, team: Lin Morrisett, Larry L. Fowler Jr., Marc A. Stach, David L. Cook Rachel L. Wright, Paul J. Johnson and Patrick Dooley measure of success was often based upon one’s ability to follow through on assigned tasks. Chris’ wife Tammy, has also been available of ownership. At first, it was done out of necessity, then we saw it as to help me when needed.” an opportunity to grow as a successful title company.” Following the Ms. Harris had this to say: “David went to great lengths to work firm losing Harris in 2015, and highly respected Managing Attorney for Chris – from the beginning, we knew he was different, in a good Kimberly Fitzpatrick in 2018, who left to serve as a Tarrant County way. He was eager and determined to learn. Chris and David quickly District Judge, over the last two years, Alamo Title Company has developed a strong mentor-mentee relationship. Moreover, David flourished, and Harris Cook has evolved into a Full-Service Law Firm, became like family to us, working with Chris both locally in the law with the addition of six talented attorneys, including long time veteran office, as well as doing legislative work in Austin. It has been a great Arlington Attorneys Larry L. Fowler, Jr. and Paul J. Johnson, as well as pleasure watching David grow over the years as a person, an attorney, Rachel L. Wright, Patrick L. Dooley, Lin Morrisett and Marc A. Stach. and as a Mayor. I am happy to cheer him on as he continues to grow The two entities now have a combined 40-plus employees.

Harris Cook, LLP and as he makes a run for the Texas House.”

“As a Full-Service Law Firm, Harris Cook is now able to offer a large In any case, thankfully for David, something provoked Chris to number of practice areas,” Cook says, noting that a full-service practice call that day back in 1993, to open the door of opportunity. The door is particularly attractive to business owners because it can handle widened in 2004, when Harris made the decision to form a new practically every legal matter a company might face. “It’s unique, partnership with Cook, and together they established Harris Cook, LLP. because most law firms are limited to certain practice area(s), so it’s not “I knew I had an invaluable opportunity,” Cook says. “When Senator often that you see law firms cross over a spectrum of several practice Harris invited me to be his Partner, he cemented the relationship we areas, as we do at Harris Cook. When we decided to go full-service, we had built – it meant a life-long commitment. Other than changing the were looking to see what the needs letterhead and the names on the would be of our respective clients. We wall, it was time to get back to work tried to make sure that we have good pretty well business as usual.” diversification so that we can offer a At the time, work meant carrying wide variety of quality legal services on as a small, but well-respected, and knowledge.” law practice, as well as Chris Currently, Harris Cook’s primary operating a title company that Practice Areas are Business Law, Real his father Jack had created in the Estate Law, Employment Law, Public late 1970s and that Chris began Utilities, Probate and Guardianship, overseeing in 1991. Responsibilities Estate Planning, Family Law and in the law firm changed for Cook Harris Cook has offices in Arlington, Mansfield and Flower Mound.

Personal Injury. in 2012 when Harris decided it was (817) 275-8765 (817) 473-3332 (972) 956-8323 One thing that hasn’t been altered at www.HarrisCookLaw.com time for David to be Managing the firm, however, is the passion and Partner of Harris Cook. But it focus on which Harris founded the practice. Harris Cook serves clients wasn’t until 2015, when Harris passed away that Cook became through attorneys who not only have excellent communication skills President of Chris Harris & Associates, P.C., which operates a title but who are ethical and compassionate. “We want to hire attorneys fee office of Alamo Title Company. who align with our values,” Cook says. “It’s important that you have attorneys with integrity, honesty and competency, who are ethical and HARRIS COOK NOW community-minded with a servant’s heart.”

By 2017, both enterprises began to head in a different – and eventually Cook concedes that not all attorneys fit that mold. “From a client’s more expansive – direction. “Upon Chris’ passing, I assumed perspective, a lot of times you’re not going to know if you’re going operations of Chris Harris & Associates to keep things in place,” Cook to have a good attorney or a bad attorney until the matter has been says. “It was necessary for the title company to have an attorney as part

decided,” he says. “How an attorney conducts himself, as far as returning phone calls and being responsive to the client’s needs – the actions will tell you what kind of person the attorney is.”

“Harris Cook represents clients ethically and with their best interest in mind,” Cook says. “We are truth seekers. The world is everchanging, from new technology, to economic highs and lows, to global pandemics, but Harris Cook stays prepared and informed in order to represent clients for any of life’s unknowns.”

So, what’s next for Harris Cook, LLP? Cook says the firm’s goal is to be the most successful Full-Service Law Firm in North Texas.

“Our history is in Arlington, and we will always serve this area,” Cook says. “But we also want to represent clients all throughout North Texas. We have a strong foundation in place, and we want to maximize the results we garner for our clients.”

By increasing the depth of experience and talent across our multiple Practice Areas (described in detail below), Harris Cook can provide an

outside General Counsel role to our clients throughout North Texas.

Through strategic planning and careful execution, the attorneys at Harris Cook, LLP are helping their clients address the challenges they face today while mitigating and preventing problems in their future.

“The team of problem solvers we have are known for providing outstanding legal representation to businesses, families, and individuals. We are able to help tackle any legal challenge our client’s may have,” Cook adds.

Personally speaking, Cook says he would like to be remembered as a strong leader, “someone who cares for his employees, his clients and his community.”

Likewise, he strives to ensure Harris Cook will be thought of in the same manner.

“We want to be successful for our clients and successful individuals in our Community,” he says. “That started with Chris, and I want to continue his legacy.”

HARRIS COOK PRACTICE AREAS

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

thank you!

Although we cannot be together now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we thank you for helping to make our corner of West and Main Streets ALIVE with laughter, music and great times for 47 years! Thank you for reaching out to check on us, for sharing your memories with us and, as always, for your generous support.

We WILL be back – to entertain you, to teach you, or to just HUG you!

We look forward to seeing you again, so please stay safe and healthy out there!

Photography by Eric Younkin

817-275-7661 305 W. Main theatrearlington.org

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Donna J. Smiedt T

LOCAL ATTORNEYS YOU NEED TO KNOW

he Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt, PLLC understands the fear that we are all experiencing as a result of the global pandemic. We can help!

We sincerely hope that you and your families are staying safe and that we can at least allay some of your fears by being available to our clients and community. We are open for business by operating virtually. Our experienced lawyers and support staff stand ready to assist you in this time of crisis. We are accepting new clients for divorce and all family law issues.

We are able to service your legal needs fully as a result of the infrastructure I have built over my 33 years of practice. We file pleadings with the Court electronically, conduct meetings, and even some hearings, online, even though the courts are closed for most business.

We have creative solutions to resolve your family law conflicts outside of the stress of the courtroom, via collaborative law and mediation, as myself and my lawyers are specially trained and certified in these forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Additionally, during this time of uncertainty and concern for the elderly and sick in our entire county, we are now offering, at a greatly reduced price, a Will package containing a Simple Will, Medical Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney, and Directive to Physicians. We hope you don’t have to utilize these important legal documents now, but if you, a friend, or a family member do, please let them know that we are committed to expediting turnaround for these clients in need.

We are able to prepare these important documents in a contact-less process, from drafting to execution from the safety and comfort of your home or hospital bed, in an effort to serve our neighbors.

The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt 3216 W. Arkansas Lane • 817-572-9900 arlingtondivorces.com

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

JimRossLaw.com

THE OFFICIAL LAW FIRM PARTNER OF

Call Jim Ross Law Group for your free consultation at (817) 2754100 or text "lawyer" to 313131.

FAMILY & INJURY ATTORNEYS Principal Office - Arlington TX

Daniel Aguilar, John R. Lively, David F. Farris and John R. Lively Jr.

Stephanie A. Foster S

tephanie Foster started her legal firm, The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C., in 1992 and for the nearly three decades since, she has been devoted to the practice of family law.

The practice concentrates in family legal issues, including divorce, modifications, custody, child support, spousal support, visitation, enforcement of custody/support, paternity and stepparent adoption.

Stephanie says her dream of having her own law practice was nurtured as a child by her father, John Foster, who is an attorney.

“When I was a child,” she recalls, “I would beg him to take me to work with him at his law firm every summer.”

Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on family law.

“My professional philosophy is divorce with dignity,” she says, noting that she has taken many special measures to serve her clients in the best manner possible. “I was one of the first attorneys trained in collaborative law in 2008.

Collaborative Law is a way to divorce with dignity with no court and no war.”

She believes the collaborative law 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.

A graduate of Arlington Martin High School, Southern Methodist University and St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio, Stephanie was named a “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Lively & Associates T

he law firm of Lively & Associates, PLLC, is a boutique business and litigation firm located in Fort Worth. The firm’s primary areas of practice include business law, business litigation, civil appellate law, creditor rights, estate planning and probate, oil and gas, real estate and alternative dispute resolution.

The firm’s attorneys – John R. Lively; John R. Lively, Jr.; Daniel Aguilar and David F. Farris – are licensed to practice in all courts in Texas at both the state and federal levels and the United States Supreme Court.

Founded in 2008, Lively & Associates focuses on its clients, keeping them informed and involved throughout the legal process.

“Legal strategies are developed to fit the client’s specific needs, goals and objectives,” says John R. Lively, Jr. “We possess a broad knowledge of business that allows us to identify and seize upon critical issues specific to a wide range of business practices.”

The team of attorneys at Lively & Associates has served the community and surrounding areas for more than five decades. As a small firm that has established deep ties to the community, Lively & Associates is uniquely positioned to provide personalized legal counsel throughout North Texas.

“The strengths of the firm lie in the skill and experience provided to our clients by our team of dedicated attorneys,” Lively says. “Rarely found in a firm of this size, the attorneys and support staff possess the technological capabilities and resources of a large law firm while retaining the personal attention of a small firm. With over 80 years of combined experience in the courtroom, we have a vast knowledge of the judicial process as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

The Law Offices of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C.

The Law Firm of Lively & Associates

4214 Little Road, Suite 1000 • 817-277-2805 StephanieFosterLawyer.com

301 Commerce St., Suite 2900, Fort Worth • 817-338-1030 LivelyLLP.com

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

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Marilyn D. Garner A

trusted attorney for more than three and a half decades, Marilyn D. Garner established her local practice in January 1998 after working at large law firms and a federal agency.

The firm’s practice areas are geared toward asset protection and include Estate Planning and Probate, as well as personal and small business Bankruptcy.

“I started my career in Texas as an associate in a firm that included corporate bankruptcy,” Garner says. “I saw firsthand how the lives of many people and operations of business were affected by economic downturns, business failures, death, illness or divorce. I learned how to use the law as a lifeline to protect property and orderly restructure debt for struggling families and businesses in a way that allowed them to return to financial health.”

She continued the same work when she started her firm. “The same concern for guiding families through difficult financial decisions naturally led to the need for protecting their assets in the event of incapacity or death,” she says. “We witness first-hand the feeling of peace our clients experience when they take the time to plan in advance to safeguard their property and promote family harmony with Estate Plans.”

The firm has two attorneys (Garner and Nichole Harden), as well as four support professionals.

The fifth of seven children reared in a single-parent home, Garner says she learned to make her voice heard, “or risk getting lost in the shuffle!”

From that humble beginning to today, she says, she has encountered people who were disenfranchised, uneducated or otherwise unable to advocate for themselves. “I am a giver by nature, and I wanted a career that allowed me to use my skills and talents to support others, to make their lives better.”

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Karen Schroeder A

fourth-generation Texan, Karen Schroeder is a hometown girl who grew up in Arlington, graduated from Arlington High School in 1985 and continues to reside in Tarrant County with her family.

Karen’s grandparents, Roy and Ruby Schroeder, moved to Arlington in 1968 after Roy retired from the U.S. Air Force. Her parents, Ken and Alice Schroeder, have been Arlington residents since 1972. Family is the cornerstone of her life, and she is the proud mother of two children, Alex (“my Aggie”) and Jessica (“Roll Tide”); two adult step-daughters, Chrissy and Ashley (“both Mean Green”); three grandchildren; and devoted wife to Brian Evans, whom she describes as “my greatest source of strength and encouragement.”

Karen’s passion is educating clients and the public on estate planning options with a goal of equipping them with the legal tools necessary to avoid costly and time-consuming probate.

She opened her solo practice in Mansfield in 2009 after almost 15 years serving as in-house counsel for multiple corporations, and as an Assistant District Attorney.

Her law firm specializes in wills and trusts (including gun trusts), elder law and guardianships, asset and wealth protection, and probate.

Licensed as a Texas attorney since 1994, Karen has built a reputation as a problem-solver who serves clients’ needs with legal professionalism and a commitment to individualized attention. She believes in long-term partnerships and building relationships in the community she still lives in and loves.

Karen has enjoyed being a member of: St. Barnabas United Methodist Church, the Tarrant County Aggie Mom’s Club and the Bama Parents of North Texas group.

Come in and see why Karen is gaining your trust, one case at a time. She brings together homegrown charm and extensive legal experience.

The Law Office of Marilyn D. Garner

Karen Schroeder, Attorney at Law

2001 E. Lamar Blvd.,Suite 200 • 817-505-1499 marilyndgarner.com

550 N. Walnut Creek, #110, Mansfield • 817-842-0220 KarenSchroederLaw.com

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

• EDUCATION

ADOPT A SENIOR A

n Arlington group founded by Debra Torres has initiated an “Adopt a Senior” project to give local, soon-to-be high school graduates a positive experience after their school careers were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The group is about helping Arlington ISD 2020 Seniors find someone in the community to celebrate them regardless of what school they go to in the district,” Torres says. “These students have lost some of the most unforgettable moments that would occur as a senior. We simply wanted to find a way to let them know that all their hard work is not going unnoticed and that we can come together as a community and help them feel loved.”

Torres, who has a senior daughter, Sariah, got the idea for the project from a similar one in Grand Prairie. In the beginning, the two of them managed posts on the Facebook page, https://www. facebook.com/groups/173295420439069/?ref=bookmarks, staying up all hours of the night making sure that every student was getting adopted. The group grew so rapidly that Torres asked the assistance of two others, Dee Richardson and Stephanie Cook.

“They have been an amazing help,” Torres says. “They are constantly going through hundreds of posts daily and helping to answer questions, making sure no student gets left unadopted.”

The project works like this: A post is made by someone close to the 2020 Senior with information about them, such as where they go to school, where they plan to go after graduation and their accomplishments. An “adopter” then searches and finds who they would like to adopt.” Adopters are not limited to the amount of unadopted students they would like to adopt and can be parents of seniors, as well. Adopters reach out to the family of the chosen senior to find out location drop-offs, student favorites and anything else they may need to know. They then choose what and how often to send things, such as letters of encouragement, snacks, gifts – whatever they feel is in their hearts to give the student.

“The response from the community as been so great,” Torres says.

“Everyone is willing to participate and open their heart to these students in their time of need. The amount of love these students are getting is amazing to see. Photos of the student and gifts are shared, and just seeing the smiles on their faces is so heart warming.”

The project will end on May 31. If you would like to adopt a senior, email Torres at debratorres83@gmail.com.

A tribute to your 2020 graduate!

In June, Arlington Today will be spotlighting the graduating Class of 2020 with a special section.

Recognize your favorite grad(s) with a congratulatory tribute ad!

Contact us today to be included in our June 2020 keepsake issue!

Congratulations!

Jake Hawkins

CLASS of 2020 LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL

2 0 2 0

Grats to our favoprite Grads of the Class of 2020

Congratulations!

T O N I A S TA R K CLASS of 2020

ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

P E T E PA R K E R

S A M H OU S T ON H IG H S C H OOL CLASS OF 2020

BEN SEELEY

M A N S F IEL D H I GH S C H OOL CLASS OF 2020

(Three sizes available. Sample sizes shown above are not actual size.)

ARLINGTON Today your community • your magazine

info@arlingtontoday.com

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

31

• CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

AS THE REGION BEGINS THE REOPENING PROCESS, HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Texas businesses begin reopening

O

n April 27, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott detailed plans to reopen the state for business amid the coronavirus pandemic, starting this month. Abbott announced the reopening of commercial enterprises such as retail stores, restaurants and movie theaters in a limited capacity.

The move by the governor puts Texas – the country’s secondlargest economy behind California – among the forerunner states to reopen economies that have been severely hampered by the outbreak of COVID-19.

“We’re not just going to pen up and hope for the best,” Abbott said during the late April news conference in Austin, during which he outlined the state’s commercial plan moving forward. “We’re going to open in a way that will also contain the virus and keep us safe. A more strategic approach is required so that we don’t open only to close down again.”

Along with retail stores, restaurants and movie theaters, Abbott said museums and libraries can also reopen at a 25-percent capacity. Sole proprietors of businesses can also open, and doctors and dentists can resume normal operations as well.

Abbott added that hospitals will still have to keep 50 percent of their capacity for patients suffering from COVID-19.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Churches and places of worship are also allowed to remain open and expand their capacity provided they adhere to safe social distancing measures.

Barber shops, hair salons and bars will still remain closed.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said wearing masks will be encouraged, but will not be required.

The governor’s plan, which he said has the backing of both state and federal health officials, is part of a larger strategy in Texas to gradually reopen businesses. Abbott noted that by May 18, if there are no new spikes of contagion in Texas, he will move on to phase two of the plan, which will allow almost all businesses to operate at 50 percent capacity.

“We will open in a way that employs safe standards,” he said, noting that places such as China and Singapore have seen a second wave of infections after reopening too early. “There is a reason why all businesses in Texas can’t reopen all at once.

“We will be measured and cautious. Only with your help and with all of these measures in place can we begin to open businesses with careful adherence to health protocols. By coming together, we can prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we can get Texas back to work.”

Messages from Mayors Williams, Cook and Jensen:

I

just want to say thank you for helping us stop the spread of the coronavirus. You have been so good at the stay-home, work safe and the social distancing.

Now over the past few weeks, a lot of things changed. But one thing has stayed constant, and that is the kindness and the generosity of the Arlington citizens.

Every day, we see a new glimpse of the many displays of kindness that are taking place all across the American Dream City.

And we want to keep that up. If you spot a good deed or an act of kindness, post it on social media at #ArlingtonKINDNESS, or email it to us at news@arlingtontx.gov. By staying apart we stuck together. Continue to stay “Arlington Strong” and continue to spread these acts of kindness all across the community. Thank you so much for what you’re doing.

– Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams

For up-to-date information from Arlington officials regarding coronavirus, visit arlingtontx.gov/ coronavirus

M

Y

y Faith has never been stronger, and it has helped anchor me while leading our City through this COVID-19 Pandemic. Tonya and I have been moved by the support and unity throughout our Country and right here in our City. Our Community has joined together to support our Healthcare Heroes, First Responders, and all of those who are providing us with Essential Services – grocery stores, restaurants and other local businesses that are helping those in need.

We are in a unique time in history, and I have witnessed the very best in most people as they respond to the COVID-19 Crisis. Americans are truly coming together to lend a hand any way they can, and it is powerful and encouraging. I agree with President Trump, who has encouraged and tweeted #AmericaWorksTogether!

our city leadership has been working closely with Dallas and Tarrant County during this crisis as we team up to slow the spread of this novel coronavirus, Covid-19. We’ve set up a hotline for general Covid-19 and business recovery questions at 972237-4599, and the website gptx.org/ COVID-19 is full of vital information and includes links to the county, state and CDC. Now, I know we’ve got disagreements on “Did we act too fast? Did we act too slow? Are we being too tough? Are we being too loose?”

I think we can all agree on this: We’re ready for this to be over. We’ve got to all be in this together.

Folks, I just want to tell you your elected officials take this very seriously.

We’re weighing the will of the people with the safety of the people and trying to do what’s best.

– Mansfield Mayor David L. Cook

– Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen

For up-to-date information from Mansfield officials regarding coronavirus, visit mansfieldtexas.gov/ coronavirus.

For up-to-date information, visit gptx. org/city-government/city-departments/ environmental-services/coronaviruscovid-19#ad-image-0

How the Chamber helps local businesses stay informed

T

he Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce is looking out for local businesses in a comprehensive manner by offering regular news updates and invaluable resources on a page on its website that is devoted to COVID-19’s impact locally. You can find the information at arlingtontx.com/ covid-19.

While the page is pertinent to business owners and operators because of the up-to-the-minute commercial news and resources, it also is valuable to the public at large, as it shows how local businesses are adapting to the reopening process.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

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Educators offer help to parents

A

rlington ISD, in an effort to assist parents of students working on assignments at home now that schools have been closed, has created a multilingual At-Home Learning Hub filled with recommended resources for all grade levels.

The district is also preparing additional resources that will be added to the site throughout the school closure. For more: aisd.net/ students/at-home-learning.

Meanwhile, Primrose School of N.E. Green Oaks is open and continues to safely serve children from the community whose parents serve as essential workers.

“Our goal is to continue providing an exceptional educational child care experience to help children develop active minds, healthy bodies and happy hearts,” says owner Lynne Groff, LMSW. “We also want to support all parents, whether they are currently a Primrose Parent or not, who are faced with temporarily providing care for your children at home.”

To that end, Primrose School has announced access to a new at-home play and learning platform based on the school’s Balanced Learning® curriculum. Hosted by Og, who enjoys reading and sharing story time with his Primrose friends, the platform is designed to help support you at home to continue a learning platform for your child.

“Many of the activities correspond to our weekly curriculum, while others provide helpful resources to encourage and inspire your child in their pursuit of knowledge and developing a lifetime love of learning,” says Groff.

For more: learning.primroseschools.com.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

A message from Downtown Arlington Management Corp.:

T

he word for us to consider moving forward is RESILIENCE. For the first time since the COVID-19 crisis began, experts are now cautiously sharing some good news. The influential coronavirus model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which previously predicted a bleak outcome for Texas, improved dramatically last month. The number of projected deaths statewide fell dramatically, as did the likelihood of running out of ICU beds and ventilators.

Only through our resilience, however, will this more optimistic projection be realized. Stay flexible. Stay informed. Stay physically apart, yet stay strong together. To help our Downtown businesses and cultural partners stay the course, we’re regularly updating our COVID-19 webpage and social media feeds with the latest resources available at the federal, state and local level. Visit downtownarlington.org/covid-19 for more information.

DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST Countless stories of ingenuity, creativity, and hometown pride make up the history of Downtown Arlington. What better time than now to both celebrate the resilience of Downtown and strengthen our community bonds through the sharing of those stories?

DAMC is proud to announce a new podcast series that celebrates the history of Downtown Arlington. More than just a history lesson, the podcast will engage Arlington leaders, experts and innovators in thought-provoking conversations about our district’s fascinating history and bright future.

My job as podcast host is to go beyond the headlines and get into the kind of storytelling that’s passed from one generation to the next. We encourage both our followers to join us as well as young Arlington residents who are currently learning at home. New, one-hour episodes of the podcast will air live each Thursday at 4 p.m. We started on April 23 with a visit with Parker Vandergriff about how the Texas Rangers came to Arlington, the stories behind all three ballparks of the Texas Rangers, and took a look behind the scenes of the new stadium.

Future episodes will take a deep dive into the history of early Arlington; the history of live music and art in Downtown; the history of Downtown Arlington’s revitalization; the origins of innovation and reinvention in Downtown; and Downtown’s longstanding tradition of community service.

DOWNTOWN DELIVERS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE By now, you’ve probably experienced first-hand the value of #DowntownDelivers, the DAMC platform that connects customers to Downtown restaurants and bars offering to-go ordering, curbside pick-up, drive-through and/or delivery services. Our team was surprised and humbled last month by our professional association, the International Downtown Association, which highlighted Downtown Delivers to its members as an example of a COVID-19 response best practice. Visit downtownarlington.org/visit/downtown-delivers for more information.

KINDNESS CAN What can lift us up as a community? Kindness can. Dan Cavanagh and the UT Arlington Department of Music have been inspiring us with their act of kindness. Last month, Dan, who chairs both the UTA Music Dept. and the DAMC Cultural Arts Committee, hosted a free, live virtual concert from his home. During the concert, those who were able had the opportunity to give to the UTA Emergency Assistance Fund. The Fund supports UTA students who are experiencing a financial crisis due to circumstances like COVID-19. DAMC jumped on the chance to offer a 1:1 match of all gifts received during the concert up to $750. We’re so proud to say that over $3,100 was raised last month. If you see acts of kindness taking place in Downtown, please share the good news! Tag photos on social media with #ArlingtonKindness and @cityofarlington.

SOUL-FULL As we cope with day-to-day realities of COVID-19, we must remember to take time to replenish our hearts, minds and souls. While the members of our faith-based community celebrated Passover and Easter in unconventional ways this Spring, each offered you an invitation to messages of hope and restoration. Please visit downtownarlington.org/visit/shop-and-play/ worship for a list of places to worship in Downtown Arlington.

– Maggie Campbell, President and CEO

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center provides this important guide ...

Arlington offers free drive-thru testing

T

he City of Arlington offers free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing for Tarrant County residents who meet testing eligibility criteria.

Tests will be by appointment only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and are intended for residents ages 18 and up who are exhibiting symptoms of the respiratory disease. Prospective testees must preregister with the City by phone (817-459-6029) or online at arlingtontx.gov/coronavirus for a specific time slot to receive the nasal swab test, , which will be conducted by a local, private lab.

The testing location will be provided once the appointment time slot has been confirmed.

Residents with appointments must show a valid photo ID with proof of residency at the test site. Those who show up without a confirmed appointment will be turned away.

Photo: Texas Health

TEXAS HEALTH ARLINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL offers answers to questions you might have about coronavirus (COVID-19). You can call the Texas Health Coronavirus Hotline at 682-2367601 to speak with a nurse 24x7. For more: texashealth.org/Health-and-Wellness/Coronavirus.

Medical City Healthcare routes more than $1 million to COVID-19 relief efforts

I

n response to COVID-19, Medical City Arlington Chief Executive Officer Keith Zimmerman reports that Medical City Healthcare’s parent company, HCA Healthcare, has allocated more than $1 million in charitable funds through the HCA Healthcare Foundation and a tax-exempt trust to aid COVID-19 relief efforts and address community needs across the country.

“I’m proud to share that, at the request of Medical City Healthcare, $100,000 of these funds will directly benefit our local community through support of the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank,” Zimmerman says. “With a rising number of North Texans struggling to make ends meet while trying to stay healthy, the food banks are experiencing a tremendous increase in demand for nutritious meals across the 26 counties they serve, often from those who’ve never needed help before. We know that good nutrition is essential to good health, and are so pleased that we could help facilitate these gifts.”

To learn of ways to help, visit medicalcityhealthcare.com/ covid-19/how-can-you-help.dot. arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

35

Hometown heroes ...

F

or more than a month, residents of the Arlington / Mansfield / Grand Prairie area have been sheltering at home, as the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped our normal, often quite dramatically. Many of those folks not only found ways to persevere, but to thrive. Here are some of the stories ...

••• A giveaway last month at Ben Thanh Plaza in East Arlington provided cloth face masks, hand sanitizer and food for more than 400 people. The act of kindness came together after David Dang, the owner of the shopping center at 1818 E. Pioneer Parkway, saw a need to help his neighbors, particularly senior citizens who are vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the coronavirus everybody is affected by this, but the people most affected are the elderly. They don’t want to get out because they are the most high risk,” says Dang, adding that finding masks to buy can be difficult and not everyone can make their own. “People feel left behind a little bit, so I came up with an idea. I talked to friends and I said, ‘Let’s do something to help the elderly.’”

Dang, a leader in Arlington’s Asian American community, gathered about $2,500 from community members and donated $6,000 of his own money to fund the event. Volunteers also helped sew masks and distribute items to those who attended.

For more: btplaza.com.

••• Two former Richard Greene Scholars have started separate initiatives responding to needs arising from the coronavirus.

Travis Patterson, a 2004 Martin High graduate who is now a local lawyer, co-founded a non-profit organization, Mental Health for Heroes, that offers free mental health services, including crisis counseling, for members of the medical community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mental Health for Heroes, by and through its partners at the Readiness Group, has established a network of trained therapists to provide crisis intervention responses seven days per week. All therapists are trained in trauma response, the intervention process, and the medical culture.

“Both as a law firm and generally as a community, we owe a great debt to our healthcare workers,” says Patterson, Managing Partner of Patterson Law Group and the grandson of former Arlington Mayor Harold Patterson. “What they are doing right now in response to this pandemic is the most heroic thing I’ve ever seen. They are doing whatever it takes to save the lives of complete strangers, even though it means often putting themselves and their own loved ones at risk. The mental toll all of it must have on them is staggering, but they somehow continue to put one foot in front of the other. If they need 36

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

someone to work through this fight with (which is completely to be expected), it’s our mission to support them. It’s the least we can do for these heroes.”

For more: MentalHealthForHeroes.org.

Meanwhile, Ramzi Taim, a 2016 Seguin High graduate now enrolled at the University of Texas at Dallas pursuing a health care degree, is a principal with another new altruistic non-profit, Cooked-19.

This organization is committed to providing the front-line doctors, nurses, first responders and hospital sanitation workers who are risking their lives and working long hours to combat COVID-19 with freshly-made, individually-packed meals made by local restaurants.

For more: cooked19.org.

••• As the shelter-at-home process stretched throughout April, Arlington Charities was hard at work feeding families as the need for food assistance escalated.

The nonprofit organization typically feeds about 70 families a day. That number has more than doubled since coronavirus began spreading through the country, forcing businesses to close.

Arlington Charities offered drivethrough services with appointment windows opening each morning.

Workers and volunteers placed food in each car’s trunk, to minimize interaction. The nonprofit also worked with Arlington ISD, giving families priority access to available time slots. To donate to Arlington Charities, visit interland3.donorperfect.net/ weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E254039&id=7.

••• Mark and Becky Phillips made hundreds of masks for others to use during this time of social distancing. “I’ve been a machine quilter since 2014, but he just asked me a couple of weeks ago to teach him how to sew,” Becky says. “I had an extra machine he could use, so he’s been helping. We’ve donated over 300 masks to anyone and everyone that has needed one.”

The couple accepts donations. “My machines are going to need to be serviced when this is all said and done,” Becky says.

“We’ve enjoyed doing this, and it’s tickled me that he wanted to learn to sew. He’s very good at it, too!”

You can email Becky at BeckyWalkerPhillips@gmail.com.

••• In addition to working and “homeschooling” her four kiddos, Shellie Eldredge learned how to bake bread and porch-dropped more than 30 loaves of bread to customers, neighbors, teachers and friends in the area. “I took a small break from bread and made 108 masks for those in the community and donated the

money to Mary Nelle Cravens, who is raising money for the Boys and Girls Club Cinderella Ball,” says Eldredge. “It’s been amazing to see people coming together in our community even during a trying time! They inspire me to do better and be better every day.”

You can email Eldredge at shellieldredge@gmail.com.

••• Although Arlington Urban Ministries’ NU2U resale shop (2220 W. Park Row Drive) has been closed during the pandemic, the organization’s management team challenged friends and family to finish purging closets and drawers, and AUM volunteers began picking up donations to help NU2U host a huge sale once the all-clear is issued. For more: arlingtonurbanministries.org.

••• To continue serving their loyal customers, the team at Prince Lebanese Grill (502 W. Randol Mill Road) offered the “Ultimate Quarantine Survival Kit,” which included take-out food, a jug of tea, a roll of toilet paper and a copy of Arlington Today magazine.

“It was a major priority for us to think outside the box and stay open for our customers and staff,” says Aziz Kobty, the eatery’s general manager. “Everyone that works here is family to us and needs this job for their families. We are also right down the street from the hospital and a lot of medical offices. A lot of doctors, nurses and hospital staff are regular customers of ours. We want to be able to keep serving these people meals while they are on the front lines serving our community. We also have a lot of police officers and first responders that eat here, so it was important for us to keep churning out food.”

Kobty says the staff “really just wanted to help people out in this unpredictable time. The grill’s building is an old Sonic drive-in, so our Prince Girls went from being waitresses to now being car hops. In the next few months we plan on staying open to serve fresh, hot meals to our community and adapting to the environment in whatever ways necessary.”

••• The “outside the box” thinking wasn’t confined to restaurants. Urban Alchemy Coffee + Wine Bar (403 E. Main St.) helped patrons get beverages they wanted via its “Door to Pour!” service.

Door to Pour delivered your choice from Urban Alchemy’s one-pound bags of coffees that are locally roasted, as well as bottles of unique varietals from Urban Alchemy’s curated wine collection.

Words of thanks and inspiration from three business principals ...

A

s business owners, we stepped into leadership roles, whether we intended to or not. We lead family, community and customers. As such, we need to be the voice of empathy, concern and caution for those we lead, as well as a voice of optimism for the future. And leaders will shape what the new normal looks like for us all.

– Carrie Wilkerson, Author, Speaker, Business Consultant

S

o my approach to a crisis like COVID 19 is to take each day in stride and do everything possible to get things ship-

shape at my businesses – The Sanford House and Women’s Health Services. Down time meant that it was time to clean, organize, restructure, and plan. We have been at it for a month now, and are just about ready for ACTION! You will see my key teams at The Sanford House who have been painting, cleaning, organizing, and upgrading The Sanford House rooms, spa, grounds, kitchen and restaurant. We know that this crisis will end soon, and we want to provide the cleanest, safest, and most beautiful place for our guests to come back and enjoy our lovely ambiance, delicious food, and sparkling accommodations.

Our entire facility has been upgraded and enhanced BY OUR SUPER TEAM OF MANAGERS! ... We look forward to getting our wonderful guests to come back and ENJOY!!!!!

The WHS team of Doctors has been in training for COVID patients in the hospital to ensure safe and clean environment for bringing new babies into the world. We love our patients and want the very best outcomes at the best hospital in our city, Arlington Memorial Hospital.

At the office we are fully prepared with the cleanest exam rooms and healthy staff to take care of patients for any of their obstetrical and gynecological needs. We are optimistic that the crisis will end, and we are ready!

Thanks to all of Arlington, Arlington Memorial Hospital, Tarrant County leaders, Mayor Jeff Williams, and Governor Abbott for keeping our city and state safe! From Women’s Health Services: Dr. Joan Bergstrom, Dr. Dawnette Peppler, Dr. Sheri Puffer, Dr. Kiran Nangrani, Dr. Joy Carter, and Dr. Jessica Brown, and our special colleague, Dr. Ralph Wiegman, and from the Owner and Managers of The Sanford House and spa and restaurant 506 team: Executive Chef David, Bar Manager Anthony, Assistant Manager Darla, Banquet and Facilities Manager Van, Housekeeping Director Jessica, Spa Director Jason, General Manager, Valerie, and Owner Joan Bergstrom

N

oted attorney Matthew A. Hodel said, “My thesis is that the truly successful lawyer finds a good heart more useful than sharp fangs.”

I believe this quote applies to ALL successful people in life!

– Karen Schroeder, Mansfield-based attorney

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

37

• HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

TO MOM, WITH LOVE

Our favorite nature photographer, Bob Brennan, helps us extend warm wishes to a special group: all the mothers

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

• HEALTH/FITNESS

W

ith quarantine coming to an end – but without gyms to feed your fitness fix – many of you are eager to resume an exercise routine. Lucky you! Here are five amazing parks with great trails for anyone hoping to stay active. Remember to do your part and stay six feet apart!

Julia Burgen Park – 1 mile This smaller park is perfect for anyone wanting to start small by walking a mile and work their way up. A nice little park that is a perfect escape for those near the college campus.

Richard Greene & Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Parks – 2.92 miles This park ensemble has wide open areas for walking and bountiful wildlife such as ducks and turtles. If you are missing museums, these parks feature fascinating sculptures throughout.

READY, SET, MOVE! Eager to enjoy the great outdoors again? Here are five city parks with trails that will test and/or delight you every step of the way

Village Creek Historical Area/Village Creek Trail – 5.6 miles Beautiful nature is tucked away in Village Creek with plenty of interesting birds and bugs. If you go for a night stroll, be ready to spot rabbits and armadillos.

River Legacy – 7 miles This is a great park to visit for an escape to nature. There are gorgeous wildflowers blooming throughout the park, along with all kinds of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, armadillos and more. Take a quiet walk on the trails to see if they’ll come out to greet you.

Fish Creek Linear Park – 3.78 miles This secret gem is the type of park you want to keep to yourself because it is so peaceful and rarely crowded. The trails here are wide enough for both walkers and cyclists, so you can easily be mindful of staying six feet apart.

Need help finding a park near you? Visit arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/ departments/parks_recreation/parks_trails/park_finder arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

39

• MAINLY MANSFIELD

Mansfield’s “This Is Us” project will help current residents become part of the city’s long and rich history.

‘THIS IS US’

Mansfield residents’ recollections will become a part of the city’s annals • By Bob Kowalski

T

o get the history of any community, it’s best to have reliable sources. In Mansfield, that means the residents themselves. “This Is Us” is an appropriate title for the history project being undertaken in 2020 to mark the 130th anniversary of Mansfield’s incorporation. The Mansfield Historic Landmark Commission, the Mansfield Public Library and the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center have combined for the effort that will compile the reflections of residents and former residents.

“Our history is more than just the buildings, places and events that happened in Mansfield,” says Yolanda Botello, Mansfield’s Director of Library Services. “The life experiences of the people who live here are just as important.”

Organizers want to know about the experiences of those connected to Mansfield, such as memories of growing up there, going to school, working there or living in the city. The recollections will be shared through the city’s website, social media and educational videos, and some might be displayed at the historical museum, located on historic Main Street in Mansfield’s downtown, at the library on Wisteria Street, City Hall on Broad Street, or other civic buildings.

“First-hand accounts and personal stories are invaluable resources when documenting the history of a community,” says Jessica Baber, manager of the Mansfield Historical Museum. “While things like where people like to shop or what they do with their free time on the weekends may seem unimportant today, 100 years from now, that information will go a long way to telling the story of 40

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

what life was like for people in Mansfield during this time.”

In a way, participants today will be contributing to history down the road. Baber says that contributions will be added to the museum and city archives, and will be available to researchers, currently and in the future.

Several ways are available for the public to share stories. The city has set up a page on its website with details: mansfieldhistory.org/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=119. Respondents can email their stories, can submit them online, or print out a form and mail to or drop off at the city’s Planning Department at City Hall, the Mansfield Public Library or the Mansfield Historical Museum.

Mansfield’s fast growth offers promise of a wide variety of input and illustrates the need for documentation. From 2000 to 2010, the city’s population more than doubled, from about 28,000 to more than 56,000. Estimates put the current population above 70,000.

“Mansfield is a rapidly growing and changing community.

Collecting stories of our current citizens will play an important role in documenting this formative era in the story of the history of Mansfield,” Baber says.

Botello sees the project as a way to link the past, present and future.

“This Is Us allows us to learn more about our past from different perspectives, and it leaves a record of those memories that might otherwise be lost,” she says. “But it’s not just the past that’s important. We want stories of life in Mansfield today. Someday in the future, these stories will take their place as part of Mansfield’s history.”

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SCENE Snapshots from various local scenes depicting how folks in the Arlington / Mansfield/ Grand Prairie area have been spending their time during the coronavirus pandemic (Photos courtesy of the people/groups featured)

Arlington Charities volunteers set up drive-thru tents to distribute food to parents of students in the Arlington Independent School District.

Cary Moon and Mark Caffey take a break (six feet apart) after helping distribute take-out orders at Cafe Republic in Fort Worth.

Arlington AISD board member Aaron Reich got a takeout lunch from Jimmy Harris at David’s Barbecue.

A night time view of the Levitt Pavilion after a group of local veterans initiated the “Spirit Lives” project by planting flags on the grounds to salute Arlington’s Covid -19 efforts

Our nominee for best grandparent in the area is Pat Cox. At Easter time, the great-grands drove by to see her, so she gave them the Easter Bunny.

Here’s a photo from Raiford Proctor’s quarantine 13th birthday party.

Mansfield Mayor David Cook picks up dinner at Steven’s Garden & Grill.

Robert and Stephenie Stokes welcomed twins Andee Grace (9.1 pounds) and Baylee Sue (9.2 pounds) last month at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. The twins were delivered by Paul Daum, MD.

Photos courtesy of David L. Cook

Joy Sparks Bates shows a home loan closing, Covid-19 style, with Ian Pearce and Julie Murphy.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Jim Maibach and Greg McCarthy after a round of golf at Texas Rangers course and exercising a social distancing while they sold some beer to drive-up customers at Legal Draft Beer Co.

Elizabeth Kobty displays a paper commemorating Prince Lebanese Grill’s Quarantine Survival Kit.

This message, created on a fence by the Richardson children at their home in South Arlington, helps neighbors understand what’s really important during these unique times.

David and Kim Grogan have spent their stay-at-home times sharing an array of dance videos that have kept their Facebook friends in stitches.

Arlington Music Hall helps promote Downtown Arlington Management Corp.’s “Downtown Delivers” initiative.

Generosity in Motion: Lines of cars, from multiple directions, carry people donating food, clothing, household items and furniture to Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex.

Live By Loews - Arlington, TX shows the city’s essential workers some love by lighting rooms in the shape of a heart.

Chef David Pacheco sterilizes the kitchen at restaurant506 at the Sanford House.

REALTOR Ardys Adams might not be working in her office, but she’s still working.

For more great SCENE shots, visit arlingtontoday.com

Women’s Health Services doctors finish training for COVID emergency at Arlington Memorial Hospital.

Mansfield Mission Center and Harvesting In Mansfield - H.I.M Center staffers delivered a truckload of food to families in need.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

43

• LOCAL LEADERS

– – – – – – – Shhhhhh!

YAHOO! – – ––

Norma Zuniga is the new director of the Arlington Library System.

Photo: Southern Flair Photography

Norma Zuniga has been named director of the City’s Library System • By Bill Lace

N

orma Zuniga fell in love with libraries in the fourth grade, newly arrived in Hartford, Conn., from her childhood upbringing in Peru. Her English was limited, so her teacher, Mrs. Clifford, suggested she get a library card.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can take these books? Really?,’” says the recently appointed director of the Arlington Library System.

“It was such a new concept for me because I didn’t grow up with the notion of public libraries. So, I would take these books and devour them, and I’ve loved libraries ever since.”

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Zuniga is by no means new either to the system or to the position. She began as a children’s librarian 18 years ago and spent the last year as interim director.“ Being the interim director allowed me to sort of get my feet wet and figure out how things work at this level, which is very different,” she says.

Before, she was asked for an opinion. Now, it’s a decision, and she must carefully weigh each proposal on how it will impact the entire system. “I want to make sure we’re headed in the right direction together,” she says, “and this

communication is facilitated because we’ve known each other so long.”

“She’s smart, reliable, dedicated and determined,” says former Library colleague Andi Davis, now administrative assistant to Mayor Jeff Williams. “She has a heart for serving people through library services.”

Indeed, it’s thinking about the people served by the Library, especially those on the margins, that sometimes keeps Zuniga up at night. “Our most vulnerable populations,” she says, “our senior adults who can’t come, maybe, because of transportation, mobility or health issues. And especially in the downtown area, those who are lacking shelter – making sure we know what’s out there so that we can connect them to resources available to them.”

The best part of her job, she says, is when she can escape from her City Hall office and go across the plaza to the new Downtown Library to see and visit with those very people – even if, for now, that activity has been put on hold because of social distancing restrictions attached to the coronavirus crisis.

“It’s seeing those patrons, regardless of age, and how they marvel at everything we have that empowers them as individuals,” she says. “That’s why I love my job – to see the faces of the adult learners who figure out that, with a library card, they have access to so many resources, classes and opportunities that will hopefully enhance their lifestyles, maybe their livelihoods, and to see that it is all for them.”

Zuniga’s other major concern is the people who serve those patrons – her library staff.

“It’s making sure that they have the training they need,” she says, “that they have their toolbelt as fully equipped to do the things we’re asking them to do.”

Included among those tools, she hopes, is the staff’s ability to understand and communicate the value of public libraries, not only to patrons, but also to other city departments and decision makers.

“It’s all about telling our story,” she says, “to let them know how we’ve been connectors, the providers of information and resources.”

Zuniga’s decision to apply for the director position wasn’t as easy as it might seem. “I wanted to make sure I wanted the job for the right reasons – not only in my mind, but also in my heart,” she says. “It means the world to me, so to be given this opportunity, I was so humbled, so honored and I really intend to do my very best.”

Mrs. Clifford would be proud.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t take these books? Really?’ It was such a new concept because I didn’t grow up with the notion of public libraries. So I would take these books and devour them.”

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45

• BEHIND THE WHEELS

THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF STORY HERE

Photos: Brian Greene

This 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster, on display at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif., was once a lauded automobile, but it wound up at the bottom of a lake for 75 years before being retrieved in 2009.

This roadster sank in the lake and consequently became a legend • By Richard Greene

I

f the story wasn’t so great, the remains of this 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster might as well have stayed at the bottom of the lake where it had been for 75 years.

The car today is on display at the Peter Mullin at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Mullin Automotive Calif., where my son Brian discovered it museum in Oxnard, Calif. while filming an episode of the “Road to Provenance” television series.

Since, like most everyone else, I’ve been out of public circulation and unable to bring readers the usual classic car feature in this space, I got his permission to share this car’s story in this month’s issue.

Peter Mullin established the museum as a tribute to French automotive styling and the decorative arts that influenced the genre. It is considered to house the world’s finest collection of French automobiles from the pre-war Art Deco period.

Featuring more than 100 vehicles, art and artifacts, the museum collection is centered around true masterpieces of French curve 46

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

coachwork and ingenious craftsmanship as envisioned by manufactures such as Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot-Lago and Voisin.

Several of the automobiles in the collection have won prestigious awards at concours events around the world, while many have won historic races such as Grand Prix de Pau and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

So, why, you may ask, does his collection include only the preserved remains of what was, in its day, a vehicle that was worth keeping?

Well … like I began, it’s all about the story. Here’s how the museum tells it to the fascination of visitors who often conclude their visit talking about this car more than any of the other amazing vehicles on display: The Roadster once belonged to famed Grand Prix driver Rene Dreyfus. The legend was told and retold how, in 1934 in Paris,

Though this car was discovered by divers at the bottom of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland in 1967, it wasn’t retrieved for another 42 years. Some parts – the ones buried in the sand – fared better than others.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

47

Famed Grand Prix driver Rene Dreyfus (inset) owned this car, but legend has it that he lost it to Swiss playboy Adalbert Bode in a card game.

Dreyfus was playing poker with Swiss playboy Adalbert Bode.

They both had consumed enough alcohol to be drunk, and Dreyfus lost but didn’t have enough cash to cover his marker, so he gave the Bugatti to Bode to settle his bet.

Bode headed home via Italy but didn’t have the cash to pay the import duties when he got to the Swiss border. Traditionally, if such a registration tax could not be paid for a vehicle entering the country, it would be confiscated and held for a period of time until the owner could come up with the cash needed to retrieve it.

While the car would have today been highly collectible, in the mid 1930’s a 10-year-old Bugatti was just another old car, and Bode never returned for it.

Swiss law at the time provided for the car to be destroyed if duties went unpaid. But, local customs officials decided to hide the car, suspended by a heavy chain, in nearby Lake Maggiore on the border and retrieve it later for themselves.

Unfortunately for the conspirators, their chain was badly rusted, a link broke, and the car dropped 173 feet to the lake floor – far from reach by any diving technology of the time.

It wasn’t until a scuba diver who dove to the lake’s bottom in 1967 that the legend about the car was verified. The car was half buried, lying on its left side in silt. That side of the car was somewhat preserved even to the extent that the tires were still inflated.

The right side suffered extensive corrosion and decay particularly affecting components made of iron or steel while the wood, aluminum and brass were in much better condition.

The local diving club, after using the car as a diving attraction for many years, decided to salvage the Bugatti and auction it off to fund a charity addressing the issues of juvenile violence.

The car was raised in 2009 with thousands looking on.

The auction house predicted it would sell for $130,000. Determined not to be outbid, Mullin won the contest paying $289,050 and it was on the way to his museum where it was preserved and now displayed as The Bugatti of the Lake.

Every collectible classic has a story. This one’s value may be the greatest of them all.

48

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

History – not its general condition – helped make this classic car a collector’s item. Peter Mullin paid $289,050 for it at an auction, and now it is one of the more-talked-about items when visitors go to Mullin’s museum.

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49

•UTA TODAY (AND YESTERDAY)

Dr. Shirley Theriot is president of the UTA Retirees’ Club

MAVERICKS TO THE END (AND THEN SOME)

Photo: UTA

UTA Retirees’ Club fortifies the bond linking former faculty and staff • By Donna Darovich

A

s surely as The University of Texas at Arlington’s more than 180,000 alumni have a bond with the university, so do the thousands of faculty and staff who have taught and served them – some more than a halfcentury.

Once they retire, the ties and friendships they’ve also made with each other continue, so in 1985 the University saw the need to strengthen those bonds by providing social, recreational, and informational activities for retirees.

UTA president Wendell Nedderman got the ball rolling.

Elwood Preiss, Nedderman’s longtime executive assistant, says, “Dr. Nedderman sensed that there was an interest in retirees maintaining a relationship with the University, and asked me to gather a group of retirees from various facets of the institution to discuss the creation of a continuing organization. This led to the development of the Retirees’ Club.”

Its purpose was simple, Preiss says: “It was to provide retirees with the means to sustain their relationship with the University, renew old friendships and make new ones.”

Programs range from talks by University administrators about new developments at UTA to musical performances.

Some of the more popular programs address financial fraud against elders, travel opportunities and health issues.

The club also includes several special interest groups for members. Current ones are gardening, genealogy, healthy lifestyle, Tai Chi, travel, walking fitness and a knitting club.

The club also recognizes retirees who have made significant and valuable contributions to the university and the Arlington 50

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

community with the “Elwood Preiss Distinguished Retiree Service Award.” A “Retiree Roll of Honor” recognizes members who have excelled in club leadership positions.

Current officers are president Dr. Shirley Theriot, vice presidents for membership Susan Sterling and Sarah Stephens, vice president for programs Sonja Godeken treasurer Cindy Allen, secretary Dr. Josie O’Quinn and photographer Beth McHenry.

“Under the current leadership of Dr. Theriot the club is undergoing an expansion of activities and membership,” Preiss says.

The UTA Human Resources Dept. supports the club in many ways, including booking meeting rooms, providing a page on its website and offering speakers with information and updates about retiree benefits.

The UTA president’s office provides a continental brunch at regular meetings, which are held the second Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon, usually at Maverick Stadium in a first floor meeting room.

Membership is open to anyone who retired from UTA and their spouses.

More information is on the club’s page at uta.edu/hr/ retireesclub within the UTA Human Resources website or from Theriot at theriot@uta.edu. Prospective members may also write to the Office of Human Resources, Box 19176, Arlington, Tx., 76019 or call 817 272-5554. The club will soon have a private Facebook page for members only.

Meetings have been suspended during the current pandemic.

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51

• BULLETIN BOARD

several Non-profit events have been rescheduled because of coronavirus

A

s has been the case with the local business community, non-profit events have been affected by social distancing guidelines imposed because of COVID-19. Here is an update on some of the date switches and cancellations that have taken place because of the pandemic.

• The Sporting Clay Tournament benefiting Alliance for Children has been scheduled for Sept. 17 at Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch. For more: allianceforchildren. ejoinme.org/2020ClayShoot • The American Heart Association’s Heart Ball will be held on June 20 at the Pier 1 Imports Building in Fort Worth For more: fortworthheartball.heart.org.

• Arlington Charities’ Help & Hope Celebrity Chef Showcase, originally scheduled for April 2, has been canceled.

• The Arlington-Mansfield Area YMCA’s annual meeting luncheon will be held on Sept. 24 at Sheraton Arlington Hotel. For more: amaymca.org/2020annualmeeting.

• The Arlington Police Foundation’s 7th annual Back the Blue Bash will be rescheduled to a date to be determined in the summer. Check arlingtonpolicefoundation.org to see what the new date will be.

• Arlington Urban Ministries’ Boots, Chaps & Cowboy Hats event has been rescheduled for Aug. 29 at 1010 Collins Event Center. For more: ArlingtonUrbanMinistries.org.

• The AWARE Foundation awards banquet, scheduled for May 4, has been canceled.

• Levitt Pavilion Arlington has moved the start date for its summer concert season to June 19 and will feature the bluesy music of Michael Lee in the first concert. Summer concerts will continue through July 19.

• The Inspiring Hope Luncheon benefiting The Salvation Army Youth Education Town has been canceled.

• The Trinity Sports Foundation’s 5th annual charity golf tournament at Shady Valley Country Club has been moved to Sept. 14. For more: trinitysportsfoundation.org.

At press time, May events at The LOT Downtown in Mansfield were still on schedule. However, please check thelotdowntown.com for updates. Also, at press time, the River Legacy Living Science Center is closed until further notice. For more: riverlegacy.org.

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Arlington’s Jennifer stone answers a new call to ‘action’

A

rlington native Jennifer Stone, who starred on the television program “Wizards of Waverly Place” alongside Selena Gomez from 2007-2012, has a new accomplishment to add to her resume: She’s now a registered nurse. The Disney alum last month documented the feat on Photo: Getty images Instagram, revealing she went from a volunteer, to a student nurse and is now finally a RN resident. The 27-year-old is ready to help those falling ill amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: Southern Flair Photography

Veterans honor Arlington

M

embers of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Veterans Business Council, in conjunction with the Arlington Veterans Park Foundation, last month installed 45 USA flags at the Levitt Pavilion. Titled “The Spirit Lives,” the display is a way for veterans to show support for all of the efforts being done by the City of Arlington during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five Arlington veterans were instrumental in this installation: Paul Fulks (Navy), Clete McAllister (Marines), Rich Stoglin (Marines), Jack Webb (Army) and Jonathan Gallaway (Navy).

THANKS, SARGE ...

Epic Waters creates fun ‘Waddle You Do to Stay Sane’ contest

Last month, North Patrol Sergeant Gary Carter – Badge #1532 – headed into retirement with a farewell radio call.

Carter helped protect local citizens for more than 25 years as a member of the Arlington Police Department.

Photo: Arlington Police Dept.

G

rand Prairie’s Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark is hosting the “Waddle You Do to Stay Sane” contest to engage families who have been safe at home.

This contest, which concludes on May 11, gives families the opportunity to make videos showing how they stayed busy, had fun and expressed pent-up demand to return to Texas’ largest indoor waterpark, where kids of all ages have fun, slide, splash and float in summer-like weather every day.

Contestants’ videos demonstrating their creativity and original ideas must incorporate a rubber duckie as a nod to Waddles, the Epic Waters mascot. Winning contestants will be announced later this month and will receive a four-pack of summer passes to Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark. For more: epicwatersgp.com/waddleyou-do-to-stay-sane.

Lisius earns award at swiss film festival

C

lass of 1986 University of Texas at Arlington Department of Communication alumnus Martin Lisius was awarded “Best Cinematography” honors at the recent International Innovation Film Festival in Bern, Switzerland. The award was presented for his short film “Prairie Wind,” which he shot and produced on 16K video, a new media format he developed at his production company in Arlington. The film features storms he captured over a three-month period in America’s “Tornado Alley” region of the Great Plains.

“Storms offer us a glimpse of what our world once was, and inspires us to protect and preserve what remains,” Lisius says. “I wanted to create a medium as large as the sky. 16K offers the tremendous resolution depth needed to pull that off.”

Lisius shot the production utilizing a 16K camera system and workflow he created. During post-production, 12,000 stills were stitched together to create one 15,985 x 5792-pixel image using a Mac Pro workstation. Each shot required five days to prepare, with the computer running around the clock.

The International Innovation Film Festival is a creative program dedicated to highlighting innovations that redefine how stories are told. Combining expert presentations about leading-edge technologies, the festival presents thoughtprovoking films from around the world.

Lisius is a producer, director and founder of Arlington-based Prairie Pictures and StormStock, the world’s largest storm footage library. He is also founder and president of Tempest Tours Storm Chasing Expeditions, also in Arlington.

arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

53

• DINING GUIDE

’S YUM WORD THE

KEEN CUISINE Local eateries you definitely need to check out UPSCALE Chamas do Brazil • 4606 S. Cooper St. • 817-618-2986 • chamasdobrazil2.tru-m.com

Piccolo Mondo

Cut & Bourbon • 1600 E. Randol Mill • 682-277-4950 • loewshotels.com/live-by-loews-arlington-texas The Keg Steakhouse & Bar • 4001 Arlington Highlands Blvd. • 817-465-3700 • kegsteakhouse.com Mercury Chophouse • 2221 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 910 • 817-381-1157 • mercurychophouse.com Piccolo Mondo • 829 Lamar Blvd. E. • 817-265-9174 • piccolomondo.com restaurant506 at The Sanford House • 506 N. Center St. • 817-801-5541 • restaurant506.com

AMERICAN Candlelite Inn • 1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613 • candleliteinnarlington.com Dino’s Subs • 2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140

Dino’s Subs

frieddaze • 5005 S. Cooper St., Suite 159 • 817-472-6666 • frieddaze.com The Grease Monkey • 200 N. Mesquite St. • 817-665-5454 • greasemonkeyburgers.com J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill • 400 E. Abram St. • 817-274-8561 • jgilligans.com Mac’s Bar & Grill • 6077 W. I-20 • 817-572-0541 • macsteak.com

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

frieddaze

El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill • 2408 W. Abram St. • 817-276-8160 • facebook.com/elgabachotexmex Fuzzy’s Taco Shop • 510 E. Abram St. • 817-265-8226 • 4201 W. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-516-8226 1601 E. Debbie Lane, Mansfield • 817-453-1682 • fuzzystacoshop.com

ITALIAN / PIZZA Café Sicilia • 7221 Matlock Road • 817-419-2800 • cafesicilia.com Gino’s East • 1350 E. Copeland Road • 817-200-6834 • ginoseast.com/arlington

BARBECUE David’s Barbecue • 2224 W. Park Row Drive, Suite H • 817- 261-9998

Cafe Sicilia

INTERNATIONAL Prince Lebanese Grill • 502 W. Randol Mill • 817-469-1811• princelebanesegrill.com

54

ARLINGTON TODAY • April May 2020 2020••arlingtontoday.com arlingtontoday.com

THE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE IN NEED RIGHT NOW! We are grateful to be able to provide our community with educational resource kits and emergency food bags, but we are in great need of canned and dry foods and monetary donations.

Home Educational Resource Kits: Curriculum includes Discovery & Development, Art and the NFL Play 60 Fitness Activities. Reserve a weekly kit at 817-860-1836.

Emergency Food Bags: Every Friday 1000s of pounds of food are given to families in need. Please deliver canned or dry foods to the Salvation Army YET at 712 W. Abram.

MONETARY DONATIONS CAN HELP PROVIDE BOTH RESOURCE KITS AND MUCH NEEDED FOOD ITEMS. PLEASE GIVE at http://bit.ly/2TYl90G

Doing the Most Good

Youth Education Town North TExas

• SPEAKING OF SPORTS

10 YEARS AGO, DESTINY KISSED THE RANGERS

P

rior to the 2010 season baseball pundits weren’t calling the Texas Rangers a team of destiny. The organization was mired in bankruptcy. That meant that Jon Daniels’ hands were tied during the off season.

They had a talent laden line-up, but with a minuscule free agent budget, destiny seemed to belong to some other team.

JD was able to sign Rich Harden to a one-year deal with an option, leaving Michael Young to say, “He has the best stuff in the league. Not some of the best, the best I’ve seen!”

So, there was optimism in the clubhouse supported by the late off-season signing of former Rangers killer Vladimir Guerrero.

Of this move Ian Kinsler John said, “To be able to get Vlad, Rhadigan it just got us excited. We realize that this is our year.

It is all up to us now.”

They hit the field April 5th with Scott Feldman as the first homegrown pitcher to start Opening Day since Kenny Rogers in 1995.

Despite a win on Opening day, the team was just two games over .500 heading into June, yet somehow destiny was lurking.

June saw Micheal Young become the franchise all-time hit leader, passing Pudge Rodriquez. It saw Josh Hamilton win the AL Player of the Month award. It included an 11-game win streak, the second longest in franchise history. When all was said and done, it was the best month the Rangers had ever had: 21-6 for the month, 47-30 over all and tied with the Yankees for the best record in baseball.

In July the wins and losses did not matter, because on July 9th everything changed. That was the day the Rangers traded four prospects for Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. That was the day the players knew that management was all in. That was the day that Destiny began pounding on the clubhouse door.

The highlight of the dog days of the season came on Aug. 4th in Seattle. Legend has it that Michael Young launched that grand

slam into the Seattle night at the exact moment that the sale of the team was completed back in Texas.

A group led by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg won the auction, and everyone in the organization felt like they were on Destiny’s doorstep!

They clinched the division on Sept. 25th in Oakland. Even in a small visitors clubhouse the celebration was sweet. The Rangers advanced to the post season for the first time in over a decade with a 90-72 record.

The playoffs got off to a weird and wonderful start in Tampa.

Cliff Lee stifled the Rays in a 5-1 victory in game one. C.J. Wilson was even better in game 2 – he shut Tampa out, and the Rangers were headed home with a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

It went all the way to five games, but game five was one of the most impressive and aggressive games in the history of the franchise. It had been 40 years since a runner had scored from second on an infield grounder. The Rangers did that twice in this game. ALCS here we come, Bring on the Yankees!

The Rangers were 1-9 all-time against the Bronx Bombers in the post season. NY came from behind to win game one. The loss felt familiar and devastating to everyone except the players, who believed they were destined for greater things.

Colby Lewis became the first Rangers pitcher to win a home playoff game with a victory in game two. The Rangers won two games at the venerable Yankee stadium. And on Oct. 22nd, a crisp clear Friday night, Lewis took the ball again.

Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first and the stage was set. The best night in the history of Globe Life Park was on!

When Neftali Feliz struck out former Ranger Alex Rodriquez to end the game it was ironic, it was euphoric, it was destiny!

The Rangers were headed to the World Series for the first time in Franchise History.

There weren’t many highlights in the series against the Giants, but there were more wins to come.

Josh Hamilton won the batting title and MVP of the American League, Neftali Feliz was rookie of the year, Ron Washington was the American league’s best manager and Jon Daniels its best executive.

If it is necessary to win in all to be called a team of destiny then I guess the 2010 Rangers weren’t, but they felt like Destiny’s Darlings. They were part of a great team that would be even greater the next year.

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

56

ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

Interested in joining the Junior League of Arlington?

Come be a part of the Summer 2020 Membership Class!

The Junior League of Arlington is a dynamic and diverse group of women who are dedicated to benefiting our community through inventive and purposeful voluntarism.

Northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland, UK, at

The Junior League of Arlington has: 375 members from 16 cities Completed 750,000 volunteer hours Donated $3 million to area non-profits

Congratulations! the rope bridge crossing onto Carrick-a-Rede Island Dayton & Connie Sorem are our 2020 Spring Break Selfie Winners!

ARLINGTON Today your community • your magazine

info@arlingtontoday.com

For more information, email admissions@jlarlington.org

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arlingtontoday.com • May 2020 • ARLINGTON TODAY

57

• FINISH LINE

RENEWED REFLECTION ON THE 1918 FLU PANDEMIC Photo: vintagenewsdaily.com

I

t was almost four and a half years ago that I shared in this space my personal connection with the 1918 Flu Pandemic that altered the course of history.

With what we all have been going through with the onset of the Coronavirus, it caused me to reflect again on what my grandparents and their family members who lived in a South Alabama farm community of about 500 persons at the time were experiencing.

The outcome for them in the midst of something so profoundly worse than we are facing today provides perspective and hope that we will come out of this. If our fellow citizens more than a century ago with far less medical and economic resources than we have today ultimately recovered, so can we.

Here’s how the Journal of American Medical Association described the 1918 experience: “The year 1918 has gone: a year momentous as the Richard termination of the most Greene cruel war in the annals of the human race; a year which marked the end, at least for a time, of man’s destruction of man; unfortunately, a year in which developed a most fatal infectious disease causing the death of hundreds of thousands of human beings. Medical science for four and one-half years devoted itself to putting men on the firing line and keeping them there. Now it must turn with its whole might to combating the greatest enemy of all-infectious disease,” (12/28/1918).

An estimated 675,000 Americans died from the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 – 10 times as many that would lose their lives in World War I that ended that same year.

My grandmother, the oldest among her siblings, gave birth to my father that year – the sixth of her seven children.

Two of her sisters were in school in a small Southern Alabama town about 35 miles from where she, my great grandmother and the rest of the family lived pursuing the lives of cotton farmers.

It was from there that the urgent letter of December 6th was

dispatched via “Special Delivery” that added 10 cents to the usual cost of postage that year.

Even then it took five days for the correspondence to make the 35-mile trip.

The one-page letter to my grandmother from her sisters revealed the urgency for the help they needed growing from the fear of becoming infected with the flu that had sickened others in their school.

They pleaded for their sister to intervene with their mother to “send a car” to pick them up and bring them home.

The letter explained that the headmaster of the school “ … will not let us go on the train,” (no one could ride a train anywhere without a doctor’s certification that they were not sick).

“We could stay here but it would cost 70 cents plus medicine if we were to get the flu, so you can see why it would be wise for us to go.”

“She had better write a note and send by whoever comes for us … we want to come home.”

A post script was added on the back: “We have just heard we would have to pay a nurse $35.00 per week if we get sick so please send for us.”

The particular strain of the disease was devastating for 15 to 35-year-olds, resulting in a death rate 20 times higher in 1918 than in previous years. Physicians of the time were helpless against the powerful agent that led to some dying within hours of developing the flu.

No wonder my great-aunts, teenagers at the time, wanted to come home. Where they felt they would be safe in frightening times.

As awful as it all was, recovery then produced what became the “Roaring Twenties” and provides reasons for optimism for us today.

The nation’s total wealth more than doubled between 1920 and 1929 as economic growth swept many Americans into an affluent society.

We should expect history to repeat itself as we safely and securely move into better days just ahead.

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

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ARLINGTON TODAY • May 2020 • arlingtontoday.com

UTA TRACKS TOWARD ACHIEVING TEXAS TIER ONE STATUS

B

y hitting critical benchmarks, the University of Texas at Arlington is

achieving all of the required criteria to receive Texas Tier One designation and funding from the state’s National Research University Fund (NRUF) and would become just the fourth university in the state to do so.

“The achievement of Texas Tier One metrics is a reflection

UTA had to reach a series of milestones, including surpassing

of the rigorous work and dedication of our students, faculty,

$45 million in restricted research expenditures. The University

and staff,” Provost Teik Lim says. “Being a Carnegie R-1 and

must maintain these benchmarks for the remainder of fiscal

Texas Tier One institution cements UTA in the upper echelon

year 2020 to receive shares from NRUF. Meeting or exceeding

of higher education and research institutions with its highly

these goals remains a top strategic priority for the University.

talented faculty and robust academic programs.”

“Receiving allocations from NRUF as a Texas Tier One

The 81st Texas Legislature created the Texas Tier One

university will not only empower the continued expansion of

designation through the establishment of NRUF, which provides

the first-class research enterprise at UTA, but also will allow us

a dedicated, independent, equitable source of funding to

to provide meaningful solutions to the industries, government,

enable emerging research universities in Texas to achieve

and partners that choose to invest in UTA,” says James Grover,

national prominence as major research universities.

interim vice president for research.

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