Park Cities People January 2026

IMAGINATIVE LESSONS POINT STUDENTS TO FUTURE IN STEAM – SECTION B

JANUARY 2026 VOLUME 46 NO. 1

“THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS”

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM I

2025 PERSON OF THE YEAR

The late Jacque Ryan Wynne, who co-founded Cattle Baron’s Ball, left a legacy of philanthropy and service. PAGE 10 COURTESY KATHERINE FULLAM

NEWS

UP creating premier police training facility

6

HOME & BUSINESS Burger House co-owner left life lessons

16

LIVING

Senior adults make painting a team affair

40

Contents News ............................................... 2

Sports ........................................... 20

Obituaries ...................................... 45

Crime ............................................... 4

Schools ......................................... 28

Classifieds...................................... 46

Community .................................... 10

Living ............................................. 38

STEAM ................................ Section B

Home & Business ........................... 16

Senior Living................................... 40

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NOVEMBER2020 2020VOLUME VOLUME1 NOVEMBER

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EXCUSES EXCUSES

yJones Jonesand and son’s rson’sresilient resilient tlet lethard hardknocks knocks and a pandemic o and a pandemic rom showing from showing . PAGE 20 e. PAGE 20

PRESTONHOLLOWPEOPLE.COM PRESTONHOLLOWPEOPLE.COM I  I 

“THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS” “THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS”

PATRIOT PRIDE: ATHLETES STAY STRONG DESPITE SETBACKS PATRIOT PRIDE: TJTJ ATHLETES STAY STRONG DESPITE SETBACKS

Coach Jones aims to build back tornado-hampered program better stronger Coach Jones aims to build back tornado-hampered program better andand stronger thoughtful of what canwe docan for do ourfor kids tokids to thoughtful ofwe what our

maintain hope,”hope,” Jones said.“We have uphill maintain Jones said.

“Weanhave an uphill battle with of these that’ s what battleallwith all ofsetbacks,but these setbacks, but that’s what makesmakes this jobthis so rewarding.” job so rewarding.”

After After the storm, assistance came pourthe storm, assistance came pour-

ing in.ing Dallas ISD arranged for facilities and and in. Dallas ISD arranged for facilities equipment on short The Dallas Cow- Cowequipment onnotice. short notice.

The Dallas boys opened their Frisco practicepractice facility facility to the to the boys opened their Frisco

Patriots free offree charge.

And the Texas Patriots of charge.

And theRangers Texas Rangers have pitched in by allowing TJ to use have pitched in by allowing TJ baseball to use baseball and softball fields at theiratMercy Street comand softball fields their Mercy Street complex inplex West inDallas.

West Dallas.

Thomas Jefferson High High School athletic coordinator KennyKenny JonesJones stepped in to lead football team team Thomas Jefferson School athletic coordinator stepped in tothe lead the football “We’ve“We’ve continued to stayto calm coach afterafter the program’s coach left this (PHOTOS: CHRISCHRIS MCGATHEY) continued stayand calm and coach the program’s coach leftsummer. this summer.

(PHOTOS: MCGATHEY)

By Todd Jorgenson

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers People Newspapers

losseslosses entering this season. entering this season.

on,” Jones we raise bar,the kidsbar, usually on,”said.“If Jones said.

“If wethe raise kids usually find a find way to try and meet a way to try andthose meetstandards.” those standards.”

“We “We certainly have have resilient staff and players have responded.

TJ hadTJ had certainly resilient staff and And the And the players have responded. coaches and student-athletes. They have conmore than 30 varsity players suited up for the more than 30 varsity players suited up for the coaches and student-athletes. They have continued to open our eyes to how resilient they Wins on the scoreboard are nice, but for season-opening football game against PinkWins on the scoreboard are nice, but for season-opening football game against Pinktinued to open our eyes to how resilient they coaches and athletes at Thomas Jefferson, it’s a are,” said Jones, who has been the athletic co- ston, and despite a 50-2 loss, participation coaches and athletes at Thomas Jefferson, it’s a are,” said Jones, who has been the athletic co- ston, and despite a 50-2 loss, participation victory these days just to keep playing. ordinator at TJ for eight years. “We have concontinues to rise. ordinator at TJ for eight years. “We have con- continues to rise. victory these days just to keep playing.

“We would typically be going and knockAfter all, you could hardly fault anyone at tinued to not make any excuses and move our After all, you could hardly fault anyone at tinued to not make any excuses and move our “We would typically be going and knockTJ for making excuses amid all of the obsta- programs forward.” ing on doors just to get kids to come to pracTJ for making excuses amid all of the obsta- programs forward.” ing on doors just to get kids to come to praccles that have befallen the school the past year.

Jones points to a handful of milestones, tice,” Jones said. “Now we’ve had just as many, cles that have befallen the school the past year.

Jones points to a handful of milestones, tice,” Jones said. “Now we’ve had just as many, A tornado leveled the campus in Octo- such as Lizzet Salazar making the school’s if not more, students showing up.”

A tornado leveled the campus in Octo- such as Lizzet Salazar making the school’s if not more, students showing up.” ber 2019, prompting the relocation of classes first-ever appearance at the girls wrestling state Where coaches at other schools might first-ever appearance at the girls wrestling state Where coaches at other schools might ber 2019, prompting the relocation of classes and athletic programs to an old middle-school tournament last winter. But behind-the-scenes have to manufacture character-building expeand athletic programs to an old middle-school tournament last winter. But behind-the-scenes have to manufacture character-building expebuilding nine miles away. The COVID-19 achievements are just as noteworthy. riences,TJ players live through them every day.

building nine miles away. The COVID-19 achievements are just as noteworthy. riences, TJ players live through them every day. pandemic hindered efforts to regroup teams For example, it’s challenging to keep stu“There are reasons why people could have For example, it’s challenging to keep stu“There are reasons why people could have pandemic hindered efforts to regroup teams dents coming to a school 20 minutes from left, but we’ve had to talk with parents and ask and rebuild morale. and rebuild morale. dents coming to a school 20 minutes from left, but we’ve had to talk with parents and ask The public-health crisis also caused the their neighborhood. Administrators worked them to give us a chance to grow their kids The public-health crisis also caused the their neighborhood. Administrators worked them to give us a chance to grow their kids school’s football coach to leave over the sumout a bus plan to help, but regular practice at- and support their kids. Many of them have out a bus plan to help, but regular practice at- and support their kids. Many of them have school’s football coach to leave over the summer, with boys basketball coach Kenny Jones tendance can be logistically challenging for stayed,” Jones said.“We just try to focus on the mer, with boys basketball coach Kenny Jones tendance can be logistically challenging for stayed,” Jones said. “We just try to focus on the stepping in as a last-minute replacement to athletes. positives. Eventually, we will be back at the TJ positives. Eventually, we will be back at the TJ stepping in as a last-minute replacement to athletes. lead a downtrodden squad with 27 straight we know. It will be built better and stronger.”

“We’ve tried to be really mindful and lead a downtrodden squad with 27 straight “We’ve tried to be really mindful and we know. It will be built better and stronger.”

Here zes and options.

2 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

HELPING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IMAGINE THEIR FUTURES ParkCitiesPeople

I

was both honored and extremely nervous when I was invited to share my career journey with students at McCulloch Intermediate School and Highland Park Middle School on their weekly news broadcast.

Until recently, I didn’t have a very exciting career journey to share. Before I became managing editor of Park Cities People in JanuSARAH HODGES ary 2024, I spent 14 years caring for my children at home. Being the mother of three young children is an extremely challenging job, but it doesn’t make for gripping interview material.

Plus, although I ask lots of questions, the only other time I’ve been interviewed in the past 20 years was for my job at People Newspapers. (Fortunately for me, that went well.)

I sent broadcast journalism advisor James Jenkins the dates of six Tuesdays when I would be available for an interview on Raider Career Review. It did nothing to ease my nerves when he chose the earliest I’d offered, Sept. 23.

In the weeks before my big screen debut, I watched videos of some past Raider Career Review segments.

The interviewees are an impressive, and varied, bunch. They include TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes, FOX 4 anchor Heather Hays, and WFAA meteorologist Pete Delkus, along with doctors, lawyers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and representatives of virtually any profession I could imagine.

SOLD

Publisher Patricia Martin

EDITORIAL Editor William Taylor Print & Digital Production Emma Saldivar Managing Editors Sarah Hodges | Claudia Carson-Habeeb Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Assistant Sports Editor Carlos Mendez

ADVERTISING Senior Account Executives Kim Hurmis | Tana Hunter

Sarah Hodges with Raider Career Review interviewers Ellie Ho and Mateo Cura. JAMES JENKINS

Jenkins told me recently that his students have completed about 80 interviews in the four years since Raider Career Review began.

He welcomes the participation of all those who would like to share their experiences.

Jenkins said he tries to show students that “there are an array of careers out there.

There’s not just four or five, and you can do these, and they are fantastic.”

A week before my morning in the studio, I was sent a list of questions from Ellie and Mateo, the students who would interview me. They included thoughtful queries about how I manage deadlines, the differences between local and national journalism, and my favorite writing tips and tricks.

I tried to convey in my time onscreen that a successful career journey isn’t always a straight line. It doesn’t mean that you’ve failed if you decide to take a detour or turn around completely. It’s OK to decide that

what you’re doing isn’t working, and it’s time to try something new.

I began my career at the Kansas City Star before leaving journalism to join the Peace Corps and go to law school. After graduation, I worked for a law firm before exiting the workforce when my daughter was born.

When I was a teenager, I never imagined that I would one day be managing editor of a community newspaper. I wanted to be either a doctor or a scientist.

But I can’t imagine that I would be happier than I am now in either of those professions.

It was wonderful to have a chance to reflect on my meandering journey. I’m grateful to Mr. Jenkins both for the insight Raider Career Review gives students, and for the opportunity to share my thoughts.

To view my interview, visit People Newspapers on LinkedIn, or watch me on Instagram, @‌h pms_raiders.

Account Executive Quita Johnson Marketing & Client Relations Coordinator Lauren Bannister

OPERATIONS Distribution Manager Mike Reinboldt Intern Grace Conley

Park Cities People: ISSN 2833-7654 (Print) 2833-7662 (Online) is published monthly by CITY NEWSPAPERS LP, an affiliate of D Magazine Partners LP, 750 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Submissions to the editor may be sent via e-mail to editor@peoplenewspapers.com. Correspondence must include writer’s name and contact number. Main phone number, 214-739-2244

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

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4 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

FOOD: New Bakery Warms Up Preston Center

SCHOOLS: Highland Belles Drill Team Announces Honor Squads COURTESY TEESDALE

Crime Reports Nov. 10 - Dec. 6 Nov. 10 Reported at 1:33 a.m.: The driver of a Honda Civic sailed through four stop signs on Abbott Avenue and Hillcrest Avenue, failed to stop for the flashing lights and siren of a police vehicle, and ran yet another stop sign at the intersection of Monticello Avenue and McKinney Avenue before speeding onto U.S. 75.

Galaxy Book Pro laptop, a Microsoft Surface laptop, Apple AirPods, a Fortis Flieger B-42 GMT watch, a MANSCAPED Lawn Mower shaving tool, chargers, a flash drive, toiletries, clothing, a wallet, $150, a passport, and a credit card. The Samsung laptop was recovered. Some other items were found in a stolen vehicle in Oklahoma.

Nov. 11 Reported at 8:35 p.m.: While a customer was dining in Barsotti’s in the 4200 block of Oak Lawn Avenue, a thief picked up take out in the parking lot — they broke into the customer’s Jeep Grand Cherokee and drove off.

Nov. 19 Reported at 12:45 p.m.: A short-sighted thief stole items worth between $750 and $2,500 from Goo Goo Eyes on Lovers Lane.

Nov. 12 An unfaithful interloper stole a gem and diamond engagement ring worth about $50,000 from the center console of an unlocked Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon parked in a driveway in the 3500 block of Lexington Avenue before 7:30 a.m.

Nov. 13 A two-wheeler thief stole a Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 bike before 8 a.m. from a detached garage in the 4400 block of Westway Avenue.

Nov. 14 Reported at 8:57 p.m.: Officers investigated the possible burglary of a 2019 McLaren on Preston Road.

Nov. 15 A thief broke into a 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE 53 in The Plaza at Preston Center at about 1:40 p.m. and stole a firearm.

Nov. 16 Reported at 10:02 a.m.: Sneaky shoppers stole between $100 and $750 worth of items from CVS on Mockingbird Lane.

Nov. 17 A destructive thief stole materials from a construction site on Bryn Mawr Drive before 12:37 p.m.

Nov. 18 A burglar struck a Nissan Rogue that may have been left unlocked in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue before 8:45 p.m., and stole two bags that contained a Samsung

Nov. 20 Reported at 8:37 a.m.: A fraudster tricked a resident of the 4600 block of Bordeaux Avenue into depositing $15,000 into a Bitcoin machine at the corner of Maple Avenue and Wycliffe Avenue in Dallas by claiming that the resident owed a company money.

Nov. 21 Reported at 5:08 p.m.: Theft of property worth between $100 and $750 in the 3600 block of Southwestern Boulevard.

Nov. 22 A poor parker tried to pull into a spot next to a BMW in Highland Park Village at about 2:45 p.m., but hit the BMW and drove off without leaving information.

Nov. 25 A thief with a broken moral compass used the credit card information of a resident of the 3200 block of St Johns Drive at about 12:15 p.m. to purchase eight Siemens Q330 three pole circuit breakers for $553.82.

Nov. 26 Reported at 1:49 p.m.: A fraudster tried to use the information of a resident of the 3100 block of Beverly Drive to apply for a loan at a Harley Davidson store, and to apply for a credit card and buy electronics at Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Nov. 28 Reported at 7:59 a.m.: A criminal cruiser stole a 2015 Chevy Tahoe from the 4100 block of Greenbrier Drive.

Nov. 29 A package plunderer stole deliveries

from a front porch on Amherst Avenue at about 8:11 p.m.

Nov. 30 An aggravated robbery involving a handgun was reported at 7:39 p.m. in The Plaza at Preston Center parking lot.

Dec. 2 Reported at 10:31 a.m.: A greedy grinch stole a makeup bag and Christmas gifts, including men’s shirts and On Cloud tennis shoes, from a 2016 Mercedes-Benz that may have been left unlocked on Nov. 30 in the 4200 block of Mockingbird Lane.

Dec. 3 Reported at 8:42 a.m.: A criminal who may have wanted his beer on draft went on the run with four empty kegs that they stole overnight from outside Bandito’s Tex Mex Cantina in Snider Plaza.

Dec. 4 Reported at 8:19 a.m.: A fraudster filed a false unemployment claim on Nov. 10 on behalf of an (employed) resident of the 4500 block of Beverly Drive.

A fundraising fraudster who claimed he was trying to support a football team may have charged $1,000 to the credit card he snatched from a potential donor in the Whole Foods parking lot in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive before 8 p.m.

Dec. 5 A speedy swiper stole a Craftsman leafblower and battery at about 1:02 p.m. while the equipment’s owner spent a few minutes inside a home in the 3400 block of Harvard Avenue.

Reported at 2:14 p.m.: Spa services are known for stealing customers away from the world around them, but one thief stole from the spa. They took off with between $100 and $750 worth of property from Facelogic Spa on Lovers Lane.

Dec. 6 Reported at 5:27 p.m.: A car crook stole a Mercedes-Benz GLE 63 that may have been left unlocked with the key fob inside in the 4600 block of Beverly Drive.

of the

MONTH:

SHORT GETAWAY

An irresponsible operator drove off after she hit a Mercury Mountaineer while attempting to park in Highland Park Village at about 2 p.m. on Nov. 23. But she didn’t go far.

Officers located her damaged Ford F-150 in the same parking lot, although in a different space outside Bird Bakery.

For more crimes, visit peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/

CRIME STATS Property Crimes UNIVERSITY PARK

42 9

October 2025 31

October 2024

HIGHLAND PARK October 2025 13

October 2024

Violent Crimes UNIVERSITY PARK

4 2

October 2025 7

October 2024

HIGHLAND PARK October 2025 3

October 2024

Property crimes include burglaries, thefts, and vehicle thefts. Violent crimes include assaults and robberies.

Sources: Highland Park Department of Public Safety, University Park Police Department.

Illustration: Melanie Thornton

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6 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

New Facility To Offer Cutting Edge Training for UPPD Officers

THE GIFT

CALL TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE SHOWING OF YOUR NEW HOME TODAY. CURRENT RESIDENT

Often our residents tell me that one of the greatest gifts they ever gave themselves or their family was moving to The Tradition. Here is what one of our residents has to say about the ease of living here: “My family loves it and loves that I am at The Tradition; they always feel secure because of where I am. To me, it’s been a gift because it’s offered me an extension of who I am, and I am able to blossom at The Tradition. It’s easy because everyone here is so kind, caring, and thoughtful—the individuals and the staff—and I like being around people like that.”

THE GIFT to you – that allows you the time and energy to explore, engage and enjoy this vibrant lifestyle.

THE GIFT to your family – who will not worry about your well-being and happiness.

I hope that you will consider giving The Gift® to yourself or to your family and join us at The Tradition. Please make an appointment to tour our beautiful community, meet residents firsthand and learn more. I look forward to welcoming you home!

Founder & CEO The Tradition

SCAN QR CODE TO WATCH WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE TRADITION.

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By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

One of North Texas’ premier police training facilities will soon be right down the street.

The city of University Park is converting the building at 5620 Fondren Drive — which once housed a wrestling gym — into a state-of-the art center for its 42 sworn officers.

When the facility is complete in the spring of 2026, it will include space to securely store evidence, a classroom, an area for defensive-tactics training, and emergency-use bunks and showers. The building will also be the new home of the city’s motorc yc le officers, who currently work out of University Park’s Peek Service Center.

At the heart of the project is a six-lane shooting range, and the officers who practice in it won’t just be standing behind a firing line.

Officers will be able to use anchor points across the range’s floor to position obstacles and create a variety of different shooting environments.

During one training session, they could shoot from barricaded positions. In another, they might manufacture rooms to practice tactics and how to safely enter spaces.

The project will be “huge for the police department,” assistant chief for operations Nelson Walter said.

The new facility, he explained, will centralize storage that the department currently monitors, audits, and inspects in different offsite locations. While University Park officers now need to travel to Midlothian or McKinney to train with firearms, the Fondren facility is about a 10-minute drive from the police department.

The facility won’t only be more convenient. It will also enable the department to manage and design a training environment to suit the needs of its officers, who

will be able to develop expertise in skills, such as martial arts-based defensive tactics, that require consistent practice.

Walter said that the UP police department hopes to open the doors of the facility to its Park Cities partner agencies, including the Highland Park, SMU, and Highland Park ISD police.

“If there’s a big event, then we’re all responding to it together,” he explained.

“Why not have an opportunity to train together?”

The city has allocated $4.5 million toward construction of the new facility, but it is expected to cost less than that.

The money comes from the SMU Land Sale Reserve, which was established in 2009 when the city sold $15.8 million in property to SMU for the George W. Bush Presidential Center and other campus improvements.

University Park police officers visited modern gun ranges in other cities while developing plans for the project. When work began in July, CGC General Contractors took down all but three exterior walls, the building’s roof, and its foundation.

The newly reconstructed space will include features specific to its use, such as steel beams to support a 17,000-pound rooftop air return unit, an expanded HVAC mechanical room with specialized equipment, impact resistant drywall, and stainless steel security mesh behind the drywall around the vault and evidence room, site superintendent Dan Ferguson told mayor Tommy Stewart and city council members during an Oct. 24 tour.

Ferguson called his work on the facility a “passion project.”

“My father-in-law was a sheriff for many years, and he would always come home complaining about the local gun training facilities,” Ferguson remembered. “I wish he were alive to see this.

This would make him proud.”

“My father-in-law was a sheriff for many years … I wish he were alive to see this. This would make him proud.”

Dan Ferguson

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8 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Mental Health Struggles Rise for Students Drowning in Expectations At high schools across the nation, the pressure to succeed is so constant that getting through the day can feel like an L A N E P O P E achievement in itself.

There is a never-ending to-do list: activities, homework, testing.

And then there are the expectations! Do we even have time to be kids anymore?

Schools are putting way too much pressure on students these days, which is taking a toll on their mental health.

Adolescents in the U.S. are struggling with high levels of anxiety and depression.

Recent surveys continue to document that approximately one-third of middle and high school students report significant symptoms of sadness, hopelessness, or persistent poor mental health. These feelings can have a considerable impact on a student’s feelings of happiness and school performance, as well as lead to dangers associated with substance abuse and eating and sleep disorders.

Excelling in high school should not come at the cost of our well-being. Most nights, I don’t get anywhere near the amount of rest a teenager needs. I come home from field hockey practice and still have hours of homework ahead. Between long hours of studying, piles of homework, and sometimes even late-night sporting events, it’s hard to get the eight hours of sleep that experts recommend. Just last week, my friend told me she was up till 4 a.m. working on homework and then woke up to her alarm at 6:45 a.m.

WHY DID SHE CHOOSE THIS TOPIC? Lane explained that while students should be expected to achieve, their grades should never become more important than their overall well-being. She said that pressure on students in Highland Park ISD is taking a toll on their mental health, and she hopes that parents and teachers realize that letter grades don’t measure students’ personal worth.

FREEPIK.COM

to study a little more. This required work ethic has been normalized — and this is unacceptable. Sleep deprivation leads to stress, exhaustion, and worsening mental health, yet it is daily life for many students.

The expectation is for each student to strive to be the best in everything they do, whether it’s achieving top grades or being the absolute best in their sport. The pressure to outperform everyone else creates an environment where students feel on edge in their own school. This competitive culture might look like genuine “hard work” to anyone outside the school, but in reality, it is overwhelming, and we students don’t have a choice. This constant expectation is leaving students feeling burned out.

It is my experience that the adults in

our lives believe the rigor will prepare us for success in the real world and college. To graduate is expected, but the greater expectation is for students to attend “top” colleges. While preparation for the future is important, the intense pressure placed on students often does more harm than good.

However, when educators and parents focus on helping students develop coping strategies, they enable young people to manage stress more effectively and foster long-term emotional well-being.

For a start, it would help if our community had a clearer shared understanding of the level of stress experienced by students.

This new insight could be the basis for continued honest dialog between groups of students and adults. Discussion around

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what it means to be excellent has the potential to reshape school culture into one that encourages a healthy balance between performance and wellness. A school’s culture is a powerful force that can reduce the sense of stress and anxiety in students.

The pressure to achieve has gone too far.

Schools must listen to us as young adults and make real changes. Our mental health as 15-to 18-year-old teens matters just as much if not more than our grades. We need to build a safe and less pressured environment where students can grow without the never-ending stress they report feeling today. A school system should measure success not only by grades and awards but also by the mental and emotional health of its students. Real success begins when students feel supported and understood.

Lane Pope is a junior at Highland Park High School and a field hockey player. Her piece is one in a series from students in the Moody Advanced Professional Studies modern media course. Visit peoplenewspapers.com to read ‘School Is Hard Enough; Try It Hungry’ by junior Noah Santoyo, which appeared in Park Cities People’s December issue.

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10 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Jacque Ryan Wynne. Wynne with her grandnieces, Emma Reid and Kate Fullam. Wynne as a fairy godmother at her goddaughter’s fifth birthday party. COURTESY CATTLE BARON’S BALL, KATHERINE FULLAM, AND JACQUE JOY SAXTON

2025 PERSON OF THE YEAR: JACQUE RYAN WYNNE

Cattle Baron’s queen was fearless, principled, determined

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

T

he Park Cities branch of the American Cancer Society raised $1,000 at its 1973 dance marathon fundraiser. For Jacque Wynne, that wasn’t nearly enough.

“I said, ‘Dallas is a big city. I can’t believe you raised only $1,000,’” she remembered in a 2010 D Magazine article.

“They said, ‘Well, why don’t you think of something?’”

Wynne’s husband, Toddie Lee Wynne Jr., wasn’t excited about the idea of another blacktie ball. So Wynne and friend Patti Hunt decided to replace their gowns and dinner jackets with cowboy boots and Stetson hats.

They moved the Cancer Society’s 1974 fundraiser to the Wynne family ranch and personally invited 500 members of the Dallas elite. That first year, they raised more than $50,000. The next year, everyone wanted to come.

Today, the Cattle Baron’s Ball is the most coveted ticket of the year for Dallasites who love a good time, fantastic food, and world-class music.

It’s also the American Cancer Society’s largest single-night fundraiser. Since its inception, the boot scootin’ party has raised more than $105 million for cancer research.

It’s hard to overstate the legacy Wynne built with a combination of, courage, kindness, brains, charisma, and sheer grit.

The queen of the Cattle Baron’s Ball

died the day after her 78th birthday on Oct. 18. She has earned the respect of People Newspapers, and we have named her our Person of the Year for 2025.

“Jacque judged herself by her standards. And her standards were incredibly ethical and incredibly moral,” family friend Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk said.

“They weren’t based on what would make her popular, but they were based on what she wanted to see in the mirror.”

Wynne, a native of Corpus Christi, graduated early from high school at 16 before attending SMU, where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

She possessed impressive intellectual and athletic gifts. Wynne was an expert skier who tackled black-diamond slopes, the youngest runner-up in barrel racing for Appaloosa horses, an ice-skater, and a fierce hunter. Her adventurous spirit took her around the world and once, she told friends, even led to her being chased by an elephant.

Wynne loved going to parties and entertaining. Heads turned when she walked into a room.

“She was strong. She was beautiful.

She would be the heroine in a story,” lifelong friend Gray Hawn said. “Everybody was drawn to her.”

Even children understood how special Wynne was, her goddaughter and namesake Jacque Joy Saxton remembered.

“She would walk in the room, and the

room would change,” Saxton said. “She just had this powerful presence. She was gorgeous with her long hair, but it was also her energy, her persona. She was loud.

She would command the room. She was not afraid to be bold, and to be honest.”

Wynne was also principled. Her popularity came second to her beliefs.

Thompson-Frenk remembered that her parents were ostracized after they adopted her from Mexico in 1977 as an infant.

When they had a party in Highland Park to introduce their brown-skinned baby to friends, half the guests left in protest.

Jacque and Toddie Lee Wynne Jr. had a problem with that. They threw their own party, stood arm-in-arm with Thompson-Frenk’s parents, and said how happy they were for the family.

“She was never afraid,” Thompson-Frenk said. “Absolutely fearless is what I would say about Jacque.”

Though Wynne is best known for her blockbuster fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, she left her mark on numerous other philanthropic causes, and especially on the people she treated with kindness.

Cattle Baron’s Ball committee member Kate Boatright hadn’t ever met Wynne when she joined Cattle Baron’s. But its legendary co-founder made a point of finding her, welcoming her with a hug, and telling her how excited she was to meet another alumna of her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. “She just had this wonderful way of

making you feel like you had known her forever and that you were important,” Boatright said. “She had wonderful emotional intelligence.”

Wynne was proud of her family’s legacy at SMU, where she was a season ticket holder in football and basketball, as well as a devoted volunteer, fundraiser, and friend-raiser.

“She had a grace about her that was very happy, and appreciative, optimistic, and passionate about SMU and what it meant to her in her life,” said Bob Sharp, the university’s senior director of major gifts for athletics. “She was just a vivacious personality, and always had a good, positive word for people.”

Wynne adored her grandnieces, Emma Reid and Kate Fullam, who would run to her and jump in her lap.

She was known for her laughter, her smiles, and a joy that was not diminished later in her life when she struggled with her health and became a real estate agent due to financial concerns.

“Life was just great for her,” Sharp said, “not that circumstances were always great, but she made it be great for her.”

In her final days, Wynne held hands in the hospital with her niece, Katherine Fullam. She still danced to music with her feet at the end of the bed when she heard a favorite song.

“She was just happy,” Fullam said.

“And she was a good person, who wanted to help other people.”

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

‘Park Cities People’ Applauds

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• Highland Park High School sophomore Kate Bodwell, who won t h i s year’s Highland Park ISD Financial Audit Art Cover Competition. Students from across the district were encouraged to illustrate what HPISD means to them during the annual contest. Bodwell’s design, titled “Camera Roll,” will be featured on the district’s published financial audit.

• Dick Wood Jr., who transitioned to retirement this fall after 59 years of dedicated service as University Park’s assistant city attorney and city prosecutor. Wood devoted every Wednesday to representing the city, attending meetings in the evenings and during his lunch hour. City manager Robbie Corder stated that he had served with “a tremendous sense of professionalism and a sense of humor that’s been outstanding.”

• Rev. Paul Rasmussen, who will step down as senior minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church effective Feb. 1 and assume the role of pastor emeritus.

Rasmussen is navigating a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a journey he has spoken about openly with the congregation. SMU, where Rasmussen earned his Master of Divinity, recently recognized his extraordinary achievements, outstanding character, and good citizenship with a Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor the university can bestow upon its graduates.

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• The members of Girl Scout Troop 3719, who donated 294 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank. The first-grade Daisies at Hyer Elementary provided 245 meals for needy North Texans this holiday season. More families turn to the food bank for help during the holidays than at any other time of year.

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11

12 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Park Cities’ Tree Lightings Brighten the Holidays

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Park Cities residents gathered to make new memories at this year’s tree lightings, as well as to honor those no longer with us.

University Park kicked off the season with a celebration in Snider Plaza on Nov. 30 filled with festive cheer.

The city’s tree lighting featured a snow slide, ice skating, photos with Santa, tasty treats, and entertainment from young ballet dancers, musicians, and singers.

Missing from the festivities was the large centerpiece tree that has stood over Snider Plaza’s fountain in the past. Instead, the city placed four 12-foot-tall blue spruce trees from Michigan at each corner of the fountain.

The switch was necessary due to the size of the new fountain, along with the need to maintain clear sidewalks, ADA ramps, and parking access. The city will evaluate the change in the coming months, explained community

information officer Paige Ruedy.

Santa Claus came to the Town of Highland Park during its annual tree lighting on Dec. 4, and plenty of holiday magic arrived with him.

This year’s celebration at the Landmark Pecan Tree in the 4200 block of Armstrong Parkway included tasty treats, hot chocolate, activities, a mini railroad, and real reindeer.

Santa, who arrived at the celebration in a fire truck, brought some North Pole weather with him.

Thanks to a mix of winter magic and machinery, it started snowing after he counted down to the tree lighting.

A crowd gathered for a heartfelt tree lighting on Dec. 2 at Elena’s Children’s Park, which celebrates all children, and honors the memory of Park Cities children who have been lost.

“We hope that all the visitors who visit this park understand that our children don’t perish,” Kirk Dooley, who helped make the park a reality, told listeners, “but they live on in eternity.”

Photos by Grant Gaither and Sarah Hodges

Letter to the Editor

Wheelchairs unwelcome?

I enjoyed reading the writeup on The Plaza at Preston Center (November 2025 issues, Page 13). It is indeed a community gem that I have enjoyed for decades, and I remember picking out my copy of Ballet Shoes, which would become my favorite book, at Taylor’s in the '90s.

It has been a disappointment, then, as an adult, to learn how tone deaf the management is to the accessibility issues that continue to plague the center.

I have raised red flags repeatedly about how dangerous it is for wheelchairs and strollers to use the Plaza — curb cuts don’t

line up or don’t exist at all (in particular, the corner next to Muchacho), and there is no safe way to walk through the parking lots.

Initially, the response was “we’ll get back to you,” and then, later, follow up emails were ignored entirely.

If ADA guidelines are being followed at all, it’s certainly half-hearted with no actual concern for the people who need them. It’s a shame that a place that should foster a sense of community is forcing families and people with mobility challenges out into the street.

Julia Schwarz University Park

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

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14 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

SELLING THE MOST IN

The Park Cities & Preston Hollow

SOLD — Represented Buyer

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3201 Beverly Drive $4,999,900

4001 Glenwick Lane $7,495,000

5020 Park Lane $11,650,000

Susie Thompson | 214-354-8866 susie.thompson@alliebeth.com

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Alex Perry | 214-926-0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com

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2812 McFarlin Boulevard $2,999,000

4657 Edmondson Avenue Private Sale

5538 Tanbark Road $2,475,000

Jackie Converse | 214-673-7852 jackie.converse@alliebeth.com

Brittany Mathews | 214-641-1019 brittany.mathews@alliebeth.com

Catherine Cole | 214-641-5760 catherine.cole@alliebeth.com

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4321 Stanford Avenue $3,250,000

3561 Colgate Avenue $5,995,000

7700 Eastern Avenue #206 $835,000

Chad Barrett | 214-714-7034 chad.barrett@alliebeth.com

Elizabeth Conroy | 214-478-9801 elizabeth.conroy@alliebeth.com

Ashli Belfour | 214-794-2024 ashli.belfour@alliebeth.com

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3207 Dartmouth Avenue $3,495,000

2900 Amherst Avenue $3,299,000

7239 Casa Loma Avenue $875,000

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Shirley Cohn | 214-729-5708 shirley.cohn@alliebeth.com

Lucinda Buford | 214-728-4289 lucinda.buford@alliebeth.com

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

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3728 Maplewood Avenue $7,500,000

3841 Greenbrier Drive $3,995,000

4220 Edmondson Avenue $6,950,000

Chad Barrett | 214-714-7034 chad.barrett@alliebeth.com

Catherine Osborne | 214-733-9727 catherine.osborne@alliebeth.com

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

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15

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3917 Centenary Avenue $8,499,000

6814 Glendora Avenue $4,999,000

5222 Park Lane $15,995,000

Elizabeth Wisdom | 214-244-0181 elizabeth.wisdom@alliebeth.com

Lori Sparks | 214-680-6432 lori.sparks@alliebeth.com

Eric Narosov | 214-529-1282 eric.narosov@alliebeth.com

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3420 Bryn Mawr Drive $4,795,000

7040 Hill Forest Drive $3,900,000

3816 Hanover Street $4,150,000

Lauren Laughry | 214-354-2323 lauren.laughry@alliebeth.com

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Lucinda Buford | 214-728-4289 lucinda.buford@alliebeth.com

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4012 Colgate Avenue $3,999,000

5519 Druid Lane Private Sale

4659 S Versailles Avenue Private Sale

Bill Willis | 214-232-1815 bill.willis@alliebeth.com

Catherine Osborne | 214-733-9727 catherine.osborne@alliebeth.com

Shirley Cohn | 214-729-5708 shirley.cohn@alliebeth.com

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

16 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Home & Business

Burger House’s iconic signage and yellow and blue striped exterior reflects its 1950s beginning. Angelo Chantilis and Steve Canellos. Zoe and Angelo Chantilis at Burger House. KERSTEN RETTIG/COURTESY

LATE BURGER HOUSE CO-OWNER LEFT ‘THE MOST’ MEMORIES Burger House has never won a James Beard award.

I’m pretty sure it’s never K E R ST E N R ET T I G going to garner so much as a passing glance from Michelin, and, with so much competition in the burger space, it’s often overlooked by “Best Burger” editors at various local publications.

But, after the death of its co-owner Angelo Chantilis and the outpouring of love for Burger House and what it’s meant to many residents, it seems it’s not about being “the best,” it’s about being “the most.”

As the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the Park Cit-

ies, it has the most history of selling the most unpretentious menu items prepared by some of the most beloved restaurant owners and staff.

Residents have gushed about “spending most pre-game Friday nights” at Burger House and “most days that she drove carpool, my mom took us for afterschool shakes.”

It’s more than a burger joint, really, it’s a repository for memories, a place where generations of families were hosted by the generations of families who own it. It’s part of the cultural fabric of our community that, at times, seems a little frayed thanks to busy bulldozers and fading memories.

Prometheus “Jack” Koustabardis opened Burger House at 6913 Hillcrest Ave. in 1951 and kept the menu simple: burgers,

fries, shakes, and malts. Today, the menu is broader, with salads, hot dogs, chicken tenders, sandwiches, onion rings, and even catfish.

The crispy French fries, sprinkled with Burger House’s proprietary seasoning salt, have a cultlike following.

A n g e l o Chantilis and his childhood friend and business partner, Steve Canellos, bought Burger House from Jack in 1982, many folks still refer to the restaurant as “Jack’s Burger House.” Despite that, the stories that have poured out of locals after Chantilis’

Comings and Goings

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beautifully designed game tables from Dallas resident and entrepreneur Lisa Rocchio.

Galleria Dallas Holiday Openings There is magic around every corner in SantaLand on level one near Banana Republic. Guests are invited to take a railroad adventure to the North Pole, meander through a snowy forest, and visit with Santa in his chalet until his big day on Dec. 25.

North Pole visitors can keep the holiday magic going through Jan. 4 at SNOWDAY, which offers unparalleled photo opportunities, creative characters, and festive performances.

death were mostly focused on him.

“When I was in middle school, I’d swing by Burger House for a double double, fries, and a Coke,” Grant Kornman told me. “More than once, I came up short on cash. Angelo would just smile and tell me to bring it to him the next day — which I always did. His trust taught me an early lesson about integrity and relationships that’s stuck with me ever since.”

Kornman went on to say, “It’s amazing how the same team has worked there for decades. Everyone

“His trust taught me an early lesson about integrity and relationships that’s stuck with me ever since.”

Grant Kornman

remembers Angelo, Walter, and all the guys behind the counter. I honestly can’t think of another restaurant or retail business that’s kept such a loyal, loving team for so long.

That alone says so much about Angelo and the business he built.”

Angelo’s granddaughter, Madeleine Herskind, told me her grandfather “lived and breathed Burger House. It was part of him. He was always repping, whether it was wearing a T-shirt or carrying the (seasoning) salt with him.”

The future of Burger House is as bright as its past. Madeleine assures me that the current generation of operators, Angelo’s and Steve’s sons, will honor traditions while attracting new customers whose photos will adorn the restaurant’s walls alongside those from years ago.

its pioneering use of titanium and ceramics to level one near Nordstrom.

Mendocino Farms is taking guests on culinary Hancock Whitney Bank adventures with its varied Preston Center menu of sandwiches, salThe financial center’s team proads, and soups made from vides a broad spectrum of services to Mendocino Farms fresh, high-quality ingreNORTHPARK assist consumer, small business, com- COURTESY CENTER dients on level one between mercial, and wealth banking clients at Macy’s and Dillard’s.

8303 Douglas Ave. French family-owned beauty company Netflix House Sisley Paris, which has won more than Galleria Dallas 500 awards across multiple beauty cateFans can step inside their favorite shows gories, is winning over customers on level and movies with games, themed bites, and one near Nordstrom. story-driven immersive experiences inspired by hits COMING such as Squid Games and HOKA Stranger Things at the NorthPark Center experiential entertainOne of the fastest-growing performent venue’s second lomance footwear and apparel brands in cation in the world. history will leave its mark on NorthIWC Schaffhausen COURTESY NORTHPARK NorthPark Center Park Center when it opens on level one CENTER Various Stores between Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Iconic Swiss luxury watch -Compiled by Sarah Hodges brand IWC Schaffhausen has brought

BOO! has been redecorated just in time for a holiday haunt. Through Jan. 4, guests at The BooMont Hotel on level three are in for a frightfully fun holiday experience.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

Home.

2025 was a year filled with growth, meaningful milestones, and incredible clients who made it all possible. We expanded our team, strengthened our service, and helped more clients this year than ever before.

We’re ready to help you navigate the Dallas real estate market with confidence and care this next year.

We love what we do and we can’t wait to help you love where you live in 2026!

Meredith, Brenda, Mackenzie, Catherine, Lindsey, & Chandler

CHEERS TO CHEERS TO OUR BEST OUR BEST YEAR! YEAR!

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Love your neighborhood. Love your home.

214.868.1177 | @meredithferrellgroup | meredith.ferrell@compass.com Meredith Ferrell Group is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by federal, state and local Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

17

18 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

FROM LEFT: The high-sheen of a timeless chest combines with a light fixture and custom mirror to give this foyer a high-gloss look. The sofa in this formal living room faces the entrance while a second seating area faces the fireplace. A guest bedroom is decorated with just enough accessories to give it personality. KRIS ELLIS, MICHAEL HUNTER, AND NATHAN SCHRODER WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS

Consider These Solutions to Common Decorating Mistakes Wo r k ing as an interior designer, I’ve encountered many MARGARET C H A M B E R S misconceptions about home decorating, which can lead homeowners to make mistakes.

Thankfully, these problems often have quick and inexpensive solutions.

One of the most common decorating mistakes is pushing furniture up against the walls.

People do this to make more space in the center of the room, but it makes things feel more cramped. The solution is to bring

your furniture closer together to create intimate seating areas.

Whenever possible, avoid having the back of your sofa face the entrance to the room. Entering a room where the main seating area is facing away can feel unwelcoming. If turning the sofa around isn’t an option, place an attractive sofa table behind it and add books or other accessories.

A large room needs a large rug.

A small rug that “floats” in the center of the floor never works.

For small rooms, I like to use a rug that leaves 12 to 18 inches of floor space between the rug and the wall. Want to get the most out of the rug you already have? Hide the edges of it under

furniture legs. This tricks the eye into thinking the rug stretches farther.

Another common mistake is displaying every accessory you own. Reducing clutter on counters or walls gives the eye places to rest. If you have lots of photos to display, create a gallery wall for them instead of cramming them all onto mantles and shelves.

It’s also a mistake to ignore

your foyer. The foyer is an opportunity to make a great first impression for visitors, so don’t leave it bare.

Be careful of design fads.

Don’t chase any trends that will be expensive to redo or replace later, because you may get tired of a certain look. Instead, pick trendy accessories that will be easy to replace if they look dated in a few years. Or better yet, pur-

“When your home is thoughtfully planned, it becomes a welcoming sanctuary for family and friends alike.”

sue classic looks that have already stood the test of time.

If something doesn’t feel right with a room you’ve decorated, I hope you can now identify and solve the issue.

When your home is thoughtfully planned, it becomes a welcoming sanctuary for family and friends alike.

Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) member, leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Visit chambersinteriors.com/blog for more design advice.

FeminologyMD Brings Concierge Care for Women to University Park

After years in a traditional setting, Dr. Priya Patel launches a different kind of practice.

By Lisa Petty

Special Contributor “We all want to feel better,” says Dr. Priya Patel.

This simple statement is at the core of her complex mission at FeminologyMD, a concierge medical center for women.

Nearing the two-year mark, Patel’s innovative practice in University Park draws upon her certifications from both the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, as well as years of previous experience in a traditional medical setting.

It was this traditional experience that sparked Dr. Patel’s desire to think outside the box for her patients.

“I just felt that, in our current system, some patients were rushed.

They’re scheduled for a 15-or 20-minute appointment, which is what insurance will cover, and you’re trying to help, but it’s much more complicated than time will allow,” she said. “No one’s trying to do a bad

job. It’s just that everyone’s working within the system.”

Her solution? Change the system.

At FeminologyMD, Patel can focus on her patients’ overall health and wellness through a concierge business model. Services include gynecology, menopause care, and hormone optimization, as well as medical weight loss, nutrition, and aesthetics.

With fee-for-service billing, the center does not contract with insurance companies, though claims may be filed by patients with their insurance carriers where applicable.

This type of hyper-personalized, self-pay medical office isn’t right for everyone.

Determining whether it’s right for a patient starts with a chat. New patients begin with a sit-down conversation with Patel. Without a ticking time clock, these talks can last for up to an hour, and women are invited to share their health history, challenges, and concerns.

Thereafter, the FeminologyMD team will order individualized tests and devise a comprehensive, cus-

tomized treatment plan to present to each patient.

Of course, right now, New Year’s resolutions are top of mind for so many — another area where a customized approach can benefit patients.

“I think resolutions are great, but don’t just make arbitrary goals,” she said. “You will do a lot better if you actually get an objective assessment of where you are, so that you can optimize your wellness journey.

When you’re motivated, if you do the right things, you’re going to get a much better outcome.”

The bottom line? FeminologyMD is not about a quick fix for a symptom or a fad diet. At this medical center, a different business model allows the care team to get to know each woman as her own unique, whole individual.

“Functional medicine is about asking ‘why,’ not just handing out a prescription,” Patel said. “My favorite thing to hear is: ‘I didn’t even realize how bad I felt until I started feeling better.’”

AT A G L A N C E FeminologyMD 8215 Westchester Drive, Suite 111 (469)242-6292 feminologymd.com/

Dr. Priya Patel specializes in OB/GYN, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine. VANESSA GAVALYA

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

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3501 University Boulevard $8,995,000

Eric Narosov | 214-529-1282 eric.narosov@alliebeth.com

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Alex Perry | 214-926-0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com

SOLD — Represented Buyer

19

SOLD

SOLD

5315 Palomar Lane $4,795,000

3836 Villanova Street $4,395,000

5416 Glenwick Lane $1,850,000

Ani Nosnik | 972-896-5432 ani.nosnik@alliebeth.com

Richard Graziano | 214-564-2602 richard.graziano@alliebeth.com

Lucinda Buford | 214-728-4289 lucinda.buford@alliebeth.com

SOLD

SOLD — Represented Buyer

SOLD — Represented Buyer

5929 Woodland Drive $7,995,000

5216 Palomar Lane Private Sale

4560 Lorraine Avenue $3,399,000

Susan Baldwin | 214-763-1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

Elizabeth Wisdom | 214-244-0181 elizabeth.wisdom@alliebeth.com

Catherine Osborne | 214-733-9727 catherine.osborne@alliebeth.com

SOLD — Represented Buyer

SOLD

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6327 Velasco Avenue $1,325,000

7261 Ashington Drive $999,000

4365 Potomac Avenue $3,500,000

Beth R. Gilbert | 214-444-4176 beth.gilbert@alliebeth.com

Sada Millican | 214-264-3513 sada.millican@alliebeth.com

Jean Bateman | 214-912-9288 jean.bateman@alliebeth.com

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20 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

SCOTS READY TO TURN THE PAGE, BUILD OFF LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS

After tumultuous ending, HP’s new start includes optimism and elite talent

In his third varsity season, senior guard Canon Wyatt leads Highland Park in scoring.

CHRIS MCGATHEY

HP Guard’s Perimeter Prowess Has Given Defenses Nightmares Senior defender Davis Hooks is one of several returnees for Highland Park this season. CHRIS MCGATHEY

By Todd Jorgenson fter an offseason of trying to emphasize the positives, Highland Park is preparing for a new soccer campaign focused on the future.

A year ago, the Scots topped Liberty Hill in the Class 5A Division II state championship game before being forced to forfeit the title hours later due to using an ineligible player.

With that unfortunate circumstance now in the past, HP is look-

ing to build on the foundation established by a historic season that included just one regulation defeat.

“We’re looking to take our experiences and continue to build the program,” said HP head coach Scott Turner. “We’ve really focused on creating our own identity. We want to build on our positive culture and build on the momentum from the last two years.”

The Scots have bought into a possession-oriented style defined by ball control, passing, and controlling the tempo of the game.

H P B OYS S C H E D U L E

HP GIRLS SCHEDULE

January 8 at Allen 6:30 p.m.

9 Frisco Independence** 11 a.m.

10 Sachse** 11 a.m.

15 Houston Dekaney^ 1:45 p.m.

16 Faith Family Academy^ 1:45 p.m.

17 North Forney^ 11:40 a.m.

23 Carr. Creekview* 7:15 p.m.

27 at Frisco Lone Star* 7:30 p.m.

30 Carrollton Turner* 7:30 p.m.

January 8 Round Rock** 2:30 p.m.

9 Boerne** 12:40 p.m.

10 Cypress Bridgeland** 9 a.m.

15 Arlington Martin^ 4:45 p.m.

16 Ursuline^ 9:45 a.m.

17 Mansfield Lake Ridge^4:45 p.m.

23 at Carr. Creekview* 5:30 p.m.

27 Frisco Lone Star* 5:45 p.m.

30 at Carrollton Turner* 5:30 p.m.

February 3 at Frisco Wakeland* 6 The Colony* 10 at Newman Smith* 13 Frisco Reedy* 20 at Carr. Creekview* 24 Frisco Lone Star* 27 at Carrollton Turner*

7:30 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

February 3 Frisco Wakeland* 6 at The Colony* 10 Newman Smith* 13 at Frisco Reedy* 20 Carr. Creekview* 24 at Frisco Lone Star* 27 Carrollton Turner*

5:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

March 3 Frisco Wakeland* 6 at The Colony* 10 Newman Smith* 13 at Frisco Reedy*

7:30 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

March 3 at Frisco Wakeland* 6 The Colony* 10 at Newman Smith* 13 Frisco Reedy*

5:45 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

People Newspapers

A

* — District 12-5A game ** — at Allen ^ — at DeSoto

* — District 12-5A game ** — at Georgetown ^ — at Duncanville

“The possession is our way of moving the defense by moving the ball. Then we can get behind the defense and get a higher-percentage chance,” Turner said. “It’s also a way to help us to defend by building up and getting closer to their goal.”

Last season, HP outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 57-6 during the regular season.

This year, the Scots hope more of their high-danger opportunities wind up with the ball in the back of the net.

“The next piece for us is to play faster and increase our speed of play and doing that clinically so we can convert more of our scoring chances,” Turner said. “Our players have been working very hard.”

Although leading scorer Jack O’Grady and starting goalkeeper Justin Ratner both graduated, the Scots return plenty of experienced talent, including Jake Rhine, Trey Shamburger, Davis Hooks, Brian Gurtowski, Aleksander Holmsen, and Carter Reese. The new starting goalkeeper is Preston Telfer.

HP will play a challenging schedule by design, starting with tournaments in Allen and DeSoto before a strong District 12-5A slate that includes perennial power Frisco Wakeland.

“We have to pay attention to the process so we’re always building off what we learned in the last game,” Turner said. “We’re going to do the best we can to maximize our potential. We feel good about our players and our team moving forward.”

Wyatt is a go-to scorer and playmaker for the Scots during his senior season

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

A year ago, Highland Park guard Canon Wyatt was known primarily for his pinpoint perimeter accuracy on the basketball court.

These days, he’s still capable of draining the deep ball, but the senior’s game is about much more. Wyatt has emerged not only as the top scorer this season for the Scots, but has embraced his leadership role, too.

“I knew I was going to have to step up this season,” Wyatt said.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot more and be a more complete offensive player. I’ve been trusting the work I put in, and it’s allowed me to play well.”

Wyatt’s scoring has provided stability for a young HP roster that had two starters from a year ago transfer during the offseason.

Then the Scots lost Anderson Hoctor to an injury early this year.

That leaves Wyatt and forward Will Saunders as the only players with significant varsity experience as HP prepares for District 12-5A play, with the hope of contending for a league title.

Wyatt played rotational minutes for the Scots two years ago but had a breakthrough as a junior. He recalls starting an early-season game on the road

against perennial powerhouse Allen and hitting his first shot to calm the nerves.

“That game really helped my confidence and allowed me to have a great season,” said Wyatt, who is verbally committed to play in college next season at Cal Poly. “They had a great environment. I came in and hit my first three. My confidence went up in that moment.”

He was more of a spot-up shooter and secondary ball-handler then, but given the roster turnover this season, Wyatt has become more of a critical playmaker. It helps that his 6-foot frame has gotten stronger, too.

“He’s got deep range, but he can do other things besides scoring. He’s playing much better defense and passing the ball. He’s a more well-rounded player,” said HP head coach David Piehler.

“His size doesn’t limit him. He’s not afraid to drive into the paint and draw contact.”

Despite seeing increased defensive attention during his senior campaign, the guy in uniform No. 1 is often the No. 1 option when HP needs a big shot.

“He’s not a surprise anymore.

Teams are guarding him much tighter.” Piehler said. “When he shoots it, I’m surprised if it doesn’t go in.”

“He’s a more well-rounded player.”

David Piehler

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

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22 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Lady Scots Hope First State Volleyball Title Won’t be the Last

With talent returning and foundation in place, could this be start of a dynasty?

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

Highland Park has come close before.

But making history takes a special combination of talent, strategy, resilience, and performance.

The Lady Scots demonstrated all of those qualities during an unblemished postseason run that culminated with a sweep of A&M Consolidated (25-18, 25-22, 25-17) in the Class 5A Division I championship match on Nov. 22 in Garland.

HP’s first state title in program history capped a remarkable season, ending with the Lady Scots (43-8) not dropping a set through the entire playoffs.

“This is the most selfless team we’ve had.”

Brooklyn Bailey The Lady Scots finished the season with 21 consecutive victories, including a perfect mark in District 12-5A Div. I play, and they seemed to strengthen their resolve every week.

HP controlled every facet of the match against the undersized Tigers, showcas-

Highland Park’s first volleyball state title was cause for celebration among players, coaches, and fans. CHRIS MCGATHEY

ing depth, power, and precision in attacks at the net.

Sophomore hitter Sarah Floyd, a lefthander, finished with a match-high 14 kills to earn MVP honors. Allie Hudgins had 11 kills and nine digs. Taylor Toomay and Brooklyn Bailey added nine kills apiece. Gigi Whann accumulated 18 digs and three aces, while setter Anna Lee

contributed 38 assists.

The Lady Scots previously reached the Class 4A title match in both 2003 (a three-set loss to Stephenville) and in 2008 (a four-set loss to Hereford). Three years ago, they were 42-3. But this team reached the elusive peak of a mountain HP has been climbing for decades.

“This is the most selfless team we’ve

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had. No one is playing for themselves,” Bailey said. “We’ve all bought into the program and our core values. We all trust each other.”

Floyd and Hudgins each missed significant portions of the season while recovering from injuries. HP did not have its complete lineup on the floor until early October.

“They came in toward the end of district, and we got going and started hitting our stride,” said HP head coach Michael Dearman, who earned a national coach of the year honor from MaxPreps.

“The depth of our team has made a huge difference, and that includes in practice. I want to commend those girls who played a huge role for us during the season.”

Considering the stakes, and the accompanying expectations, Hudgins said the Lady Scots were able to remain focused and didn’t become rattled by the spotlight.

“All season, we’ve done a really great job of taking every game as the most important game, so I feel like there was no added pressure,” she said. “Obviously, it was for the state championship, but we really had each other’s backs. We didn’t get caught up in the external things before the game. We were really calm the whole time.”

HP will return much of its lineup next season from a roster with just five seniors — including key contributors Bailey, Whann, and Lydia Fisher, a 6-foot-5 hitter from Atlanta.

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23

Perfection on Park Lane 4259 Park Lane $8,995,000 6 Bed | 6.4 Bath | 9,115 Sq.Ft.

Eric Narosov | 214.529.1282 | eric.narosov@alliebeth.com

Highland Park Traditional SOLD! 4408 Arcady Avenue $5,695,000 - SOLD - Represented Buyer 6 Bed | 8.1 Bath | 9,946 Sq.Ft.

Doris Jacobs & Teffy Jacobs | 214.537.3399 | dorisjacobsgroup@alliebeth.com

24 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Recently Sold 5216 Palomar Lane Sold Off Market Elizabeth Wisdom

214.244.0181 elizabeth.wisdom@alliebeth.com

Recently Sold 3915 Southwestern Boulevard $5,600,000 Susan Baldwin

214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

25

Just Sold 3713 Greenbrier Drive $5,679,000 Marc Ching

214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com

Recently Sold 2900 Amherst Avenue $3,299,000 - SOLD - Represented Buyer Susie Thompson

214.354.8866 susie.thompson@alliebeth.com

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

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

26 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Recently Sold 2812 McFarlin Boulevard $2,999,000 Jackie Converse

214.673.7852 jackie.converse@alliebeth.com

Charming in University Park 3216 Lovers Lane $1,625,000 - SOLD 4 Bed I 3.1 Bath I 2,841 Sq. Ft.

Lucinda Buford | 214.728.4289 | lucinda.buford@alliebeth.com

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

27

Beautiful SOLD in University Park 2900 Amherst Avenue $3,299,000 - SOLD 4 Bed I 3.1 Bath I 4,720 Sq. Ft.

Shirley Cohn | 214.729.5708 | shirley.cohn@alliebeth.com

Granbury Lake Living 648 S Rough Creek Court, Granbury $925,000 3 Bed I 2 Bath I 2,701 Sq. Ft

Susan Bradley | 214.674.5518 | susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

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

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

28 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

Cashel Wurzbach as Olaf imagines what it’ll be like when summer comes. Grant Latham as Sven and Murray Jordan as Kristoff. Isabel Ghillione as Anna. Lexi Glassman as Elsa. SARAH HODGES

MIS STUDENTS WARM HEARTS WITH ‘FROZEN JR.’

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

T

here was magic both on and off the stage during the December production of Frozen Jr. at McCulloch Intermediate School.

Fifth and sixth graders poured their talent and creativity into transporting audiences to the enchanted land of Arendelle, where they joined Anna and Elsa on their journey to break an icy spell and bring back summer.

The 75 members of the cast and crew began preparing for the production in early September. Their performances from Dec. 4 to 6 featured special effects, elaborate costumes, handmade props, showstopping vocals, and dances that were both fun and funny.

Olaf the snowman and loyal reindeer Sven were each brought to life through large puppets that could open and close

their eyes and mouths.

Ice monster Marshmallow stomped his way across the stage thanks to an inflatable costume, and snow machines brought unseasonable winter storms to the school’s auditorium.

The Disney show was the school’s biggest ever in terms of ticket sales, said middle school theater director Genevieve S. Croft, who co-directed Frozen Jr. with Shannon Howerton.

And, like the characters whose stories they told, cast and crew members found as much magic in the friendships they made as audiences saw in their final product.

“I think it’s really cool because you get to meet new people, especially since it’s our first year here,” said fifth-grader Charlotte Cohen, who played a townsperson and ballroom dancer.

“I like how everyone’s so nice,” remarked Tessa Singleton, a fifth-grade member of the ensemble. “You can have a very magical experience, because everyone is so amazing.”

POSSIBILITIES await you at Parish.

Applications Due January 9, 2026 To learn more, please visit: parish.org/admission

Creating community and a place for students to shine is a goal of the theater program and reason why the fall production is limited almost exclusively to fifth and sixth graders. The spring production is open to all MIS/ HPMS students in fifth through eighth grade.

“They may not continue on with theater, but they’re learning valuable skills that will carry them from this age to high school to adulthood — communication, self-confidence, opportunities about themselves that they might not know existed before,” Croft explained. “We want them to feel good about themselves and be proud of their work.”

The show isn’t going to be perfect, she said before one dress rehearsal, but perfection isn’t her aim.

“You all have something amazing that you have brought to the stage,” she told students.

“Whether it’s your creativity offstage, or your singing voice, or your facial expressions, ev-

erybody has something to contribute.”

Highland Park ISD fourth graders have been invited to preview the middle school’s show for years. For the first time this fall, fifth graders also took an afterschool “field trip” to watch their classmates perform.

“We are trying to get as many students as possible to commit to a fine art that they will feel passionate about, and where they will find their place and belong,” Croft said, adding that students may not have had much opportunity to experience musical theater.

It was seeing the middle school’s production of Annie Jr. as a fourth grader that inspired Ricardo Hernandez, who played the Bishop in Frozen Jr., to try theater for the first time. He was eager to share his love of theater with younger audience members.

“I really do hope they feel that they want to do theater,” he said. “And I really do hope they love the show.”

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

CFT Board of Trustees leaders Connie Blass O’Neill and Matrice Ellis-Kirk with President/CEO Wayne White and Chief Relationships Officer Calvert Collins-Bratton

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29

30 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Armstrong’s Glass Slipper Gala Enchants Guests With Magical Auction

-Compiled by Sarah Hodges

CLARK CABUS PHOTOGRAPHY

Armstrong Elementary’s Glass Slipper Gala was one for the storybooks, raising crucial funds to create more happily ever afters for students, staff, and the community.

The unforgettable evening on Nov. 14 at the Dallas Country Club began with enchanted garden cocktails, followed by a seated candlelit dinner, live auction, and dancing until midnight. Guests waved their wands to win magical auction items such as an Evermore Disney Dream Escape, a San Miguel Storybook Getaway, New York City in Royal Fashion, and a Royal Sleepover at Castle Armstrong.

Armstrong’s Royal Court wandered through whimsical hedge mazes before dancing the night away in the glow of Cinderella’s Castle. The evening’s spellbinding surprises included wickedly good specialty cocktails, a live sonnet writer, and photo opportunities in front of a horse drawn carriage that drove one lucky paddle raise winner home.

The fairy godmothers who chaired Armstrong’s 2025 auction were Kelly Hohertz, Michelle Joyner, Sarah Preston, and Courtney Radloff. Headlining sponsors and partners who brought the magic to life included Balekian Hayes Family Law, The ten Broeke Foundation, Todd Events, and BEYOND. This fairy tale didn’t end when the clock struck midnight — critical funds raised during the live and silent auction will directly support teacher and staff salaries and help Armstrong eagles’ dreams take flight all year long.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

Middle Schoolers get to ‘Try it Out’ before picking a sport

Early exposure to sport builds confidence, teamwork and resilience that lasts a lifetime. While younger students might engage in volunteer fellowship teams, Parish’s Middle Schoolers take part in daily athletics, for consistent physical activity and team engagement. Learning the basics in trial classes for each season’s sports helps students determine their interests for that season. The School also schedules MS athletics to reduce conflicts with other opportunities so students don’t have to choose between passions this early in their journey. These meaningful elements promote growth, development and sportsmanship, preparing students for possibilities, on and off the field.

HPHS Teachers Create Best in Class Hype Video

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

By Sarah Hodges

GET HYPED!

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Are you tired of reading about the hype video and ready to view it? Visit hphs.tv and search for “teacher hype video.”

Highland Park’s sports teams scored some wins this season, but when it comes to hype videos, they’ve all been outplayed.

Highland Park High School’s teachers unveiled their own hype video at the school’s pep rally on Oct. 31. It has action, energy, and drama, and is packed with campus celebrities.

The video was received by students with screams and cheers.

What has teachers so excited? Their district’s top rating from the Texas Education Agency. Highland Park ISD earned a 96 out of 100 from the agency in 2025, outperforming every 5A/6A school district in the state for the first time since the A-F system was implemented in 2018.

“We’re state champions,” said MAPS and STEAM teacher Bridget Myers, part of the team that created the video. “We are school state champions.”

“Don’t underestimate what some teachers with limited resources can figure out.”

Meredith Townsend The video showcases some of the creativity and resourcefulness that propelled the district to the top of its class.

Science department chair Meredith Townsend first had the idea to make a teacher hype video during a pep rally.

She was watching a hype video for Highland Park’s volleyball team when the English teacher next to her remarked, “How cool would it be if teachers did this?”

31

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Biology teachers Kelsey Canavan, Valerie Finstad, Meredith Townsend, Jennifer GiannouMoore, Kaitlyn Parson, and Anne McDowflex their muscles. Counselor Charlie Trahan shows his wild side. Head football coach Randy Allen and girls athletic coordinator and coach Susan Bailey with their trademarks: a fedora and Whataburger cup. BRANDON JACKSON

“Oh, we can,” Townsend responded.

She turned to A/V production and media teacher Brandon Jackson for technical expertise, then joined forces with Myers and Emily Barnes, an English teacher and cheerleading director, to make her idea a reality.

With direction from Jackson, high school senior Ryan Moore filmed the video in two days in a science classroom and the school’s basement recording studio.

Draper Media, which produces hype videos

for many HP athletic teams, lent the teachers its lights. Jackson bought some spray fog. The Highland Belles drill team, Highlander Band, and cheerleaders contributed spirit items, and most of the approximately 70 teachers, administrators, staff, and crossing guards who participated brought their own props.

Travis Snowden, who coaches basketball and teaches at the middle school, showed up to film with his motorcycle helmet, gloves, and jacket.

Townsend donned the bear costume she wears once a year to celebrate Alaska’s Fat Bear Week.

Counselor Charlie Trahan put on a borrowed kilt and took out the sword he keeps in his office.

And Geoffrey Orsak, executive director of the Moody Innovation Institute, managed to get a bike down the stairs and rode it through the video while wearing a top hat.

Jackson added one special effect — footage of dirt being blown. The video’s other effects are of the low-tech variety.

To create the illusion that a pile of books was being lifted from above, campus instructional technologist Amy Brown pushed them up from below. And footage of Brown smashing a printer with a baseball bat is real. There are still pieces of the dinosaur-age machine, which no longer worked, in the recording studio.

Jackson expected the editing process to take weeks but was able to squeeze it into a single weekend. He chose to include music from ’90s horror flick The Faculty, in which teachers are controlled by evil aliens.

When the video premiered to students, Townsend thought, “please don’t boo us.” The crowd’s response to their top-secret project was exactly the opposite.

“The reaction was fantastic,” Barnes said. “I had chills. All the kids were screaming and laughing.”

Even the video’s creators were impressed by what they managed to achieve.

“Don’t underestimate what some teachers with limited resources can figure out,” Townsend said. “That’s the cool part about this job. We’re always able to make do with what we have.”

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32 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Taking the WrAP

Highland Park becomes Texas’ only public district to use writing assessment

By Sarah Hodges

have room for improvement on the WrAP. Districtwide, average scores ranged from a high of 4.4 for 11th graders on word choice to a low of 3.3 for fourth graders on support.

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Highland Park ISD has introduced a new tool to help students sharpen their writing skills — the WrAP, short for Writing Assessment Program, by ERB. HPISD fourth, seventh, and 11th graders became the only public school students in Texas to take the test when they put pencil to paper this fall. The WrAP is already used by area private schools, such as The Episcopal School of Dallas and Providence Christian School of Texas.

Members of HPISD’s board of trustees said they were eager to see how the district’s students matched up against their private school peers. Students at private schools don’t have to complete all the exams required of public school students, such as the state-mandated STAAR test.

“Families are choosing between going to Highland Park or going to private schools,” board member Blythe Koch said during a May meeting. “I think it’s really exciting that we will be able to get a better sense of how we are comparing on this to some of those private schools.”

Students had two class periods to finish the test. On the first day, they read and analyzed informational passages and prepared a rough draft on a topic. Past years’ topics have included the meaning of friendship, the pros and cons of organic farming, and sleep’s role in society.

On the second day, students edited and

“I think it’s really exciting that we will be able to get a better sense of how we are comparing on this to some of those private schools.”

Blythe Koch Highland Park High School SARAH HODGES

turned in their final draft.

Unlike the STAAR exam, which is generally taken online, the WrAP was handwritten by all students except for those with special accommodations, such as 504 plans.

Parents received their students’ scores and a copy of their essays the week of Dec. 1.

Students were given grades that ranged from a low of 1 to a high of 6 in six different areas: overall development, organization, support, sentence structure, word choice, and mechanics. They also received a total score.

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A score of 4 is closely aligned to mastery on the STAAR exam, deputy superintendent Shorr Heathcote explained at the board’s Nov. 18 meeting.

She said that the WrAP assessment gives the district’s high performing students more room for improvement than the STAAR. Seventy-four percent of HPISD fourth graders and 63% of seventh graders attained mastery on this year’s English language arts STAAR exam.

It’s not possible to receive a higher score on that test. But HPISD students do

“We do look to set some goals that are higher than a 4,” Heathcote told the board.

“But it gives us a range to continue to grow, whereas STAAR doesn’t really show much opportunity for growth for our students.”

HPISD’s mean total raw scores were slightly lower than those from independent schools around the country in fourth and seventh grade, and slightly higher in 11th grade.

“I’m excited,” board president Maryjane Bonfield said of the new metric during the November meeting. “I know we’ve done good work, and we’ve got more good work to keep doing.”

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

Concussions Are Concerning, But Fear Needn’t Bench Athletes

33

‘When the Game Hits Back’ talk explores science behind brain injuries

By Sarah Hodges

still so much we don’t know.”

As for treating concussions, even though it’s not necessary to cocoon an athlete, brain injuries are serious and should be treated and evaluated. In the first few days after the injury, sufferers should dial back overstimulating activities before progressively returning to their routine.

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Concussions should be taken seriously.

But concerns about brain injuries don’t need to sideline athletes from the sports they love, experts told a standing-room-only crowd on Nov. 18 at Highland Park High School.

UT Southwestern Medical Center professors Dr. Jennifer Coughlin, who is director of molecular imaging in the psychiatry program, and Dr. C. Munro Cullum, who is vice chair and chief of the division of psychology in the department of psychiatry, unraveled mysteries of concussions during their presentation in the MAPS Makerspace.

They assuaged some concerns about the brain injuries’ long-term impact and corrected outdated advice about how to treat them.

You don’t have to lose consciousness, or even hit your head, to have a concussion. A body blow that rocks your brain back and forth could be enough. But the force that produces a concussion in one individual won’t necessarily cause a brain injury in another, explained Cullum, who spent about two decades treating Cowboys players as the team’s neuropsychologist.

The most dangerous concussions are those that occur in quick succession, but there’s no magic number that means an athlete should quit their sport. No two brains are alike, and neither are two concussions.

“It’s really highly variable, and that’s one of the things we’re actually studying,” he said.

“We’re very interested in why some people

Purpose

FROM LEFT: Dr. Jennifer Coughlin and Dr. C. Munro Cullum speak with MAPS students and community members.

SARAH HODGES

continue to have symptoms weeks later. Most people recover within about a week.”

Concussions are often diagnosed based on symptoms — conventional medical imaging typically doesn’t detect them, explained Coughlin.

She and other researchers at UT Southwestern are using positron emission tomography — the PET scans that help doctors diagnose cancer — to capture images of cells that turn on when there’s a brain injury and work to heal it.

“The technology’s there now,” said Coughlin, a former field hockey player who quit the sport after suffering concussions.

“Scientists are working hard to figure out

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whose brain is healing for what reasons.”

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), damage found post-mortem in the brain tissue of people with a history of multiple head traumas, seems to be a rare condition, Cullum said, and behavioral problems correlated with CTE may not have been caused by it.

An oft-cited 2017 study that found CTE in 99% of brains obtained from former NFL players involved just 111 subjects. Those brains had been solicited from family members and did not represent a random sample, he said.

“That was kind of overblown, and got people really worried about this entity,” Cullum remarked. “If you look at the current scientific literature on CTE, there’s

“We’re very interested in why some people continue to have symptoms weeks later.

Most people recover within about a week.”

Dr. C. Munro Cullum The researchers advised parents to educate themselves on their children’s sports and the teams they train with, as well as to consider which options are good fits for their child.

But fear of concussions doesn’t need to bench an athlete who enjoys their sport.

“People who love their game should play their game,” Coughlin said. “But with the caveat that they’re getting data and input from all of their loved ones and the people around them, and they’ve got educated trainers right there working with educated coaches, and the community’s coming together to make this sport as safe as we can make it.”

34 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

35

3319 Cornell Avenue $

5,850,000

Highland Park 6,870 square feet 4 beds / 4.2 baths

Clarke Landry 214-316-7416

clandry@briggsfreeman.com

SOLD

4000 Euclid Avenue Listed for $32,500,000 Highland Park 1 acre 18,989 square feet 6 beds / 7.6 baths

Jason Garcia 214-532-4824

jgarcia@briggsfreeman.com © 2025 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings. The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, appliances and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only. Prices and features are subject to change.

36 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

SOLD

4421 Lorraine Avenue Listed for $4,390,000 Highland Park 4,706 square feet 5 beds / 4.1 baths

Tessa Mosteller 214-505-1248

tmosteller@briggsfreeman.com

7 Queensview Court $

1,250,000

Glen Lakes Gated community 3,897 square feet 4 beds / 3.1 baths

Pam Brannon 214-912-1756

pbrannon@briggsfreeman.com

Jeannie Nethery 214-803-3787

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

4415 W. Lawther Drive

37

SOLD

Off-market sale White Rock Lake East Dallas 3.7 acres 3,199 square feet 3 beds / 3 baths

Shelle Carrig 469-443-8765

scarrig@briggsfreeman.com

SOLD*

6605 Northwood Road Listed for $3,485,000 *Represented buyer Preston Hollow 5,832 square feet 5 beds / 5.1 baths

Holly Krug

214-498-7678

hkrug@briggsfreeman.com © 2025 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings. The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, appliances and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only. Prices and features are subject to change.

38 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

Living

SURGEON FIXES SMILES, TRANSFORMS LIVES IN BANGLADESH

By Sarah Hodges

S P R E A D T H E J OY

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

I

n a little over an hour, oral and maxillofacial surgeon John Wallace and the team from Smile Bangladesh can forever change a life.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit has spent two decades repairing cleft lips and palates in Bangladesh, a country of about 175 million people where it’s estimated that fewer than 30 surgeons have formal training in cleft surgery.

Many Bengalis are unaware that the birth defects can be fixed, and those who are often cannot afford or access care. A failure to correct a cleft can be disastrous — leading to poor nutrition, difficulty speaking, and social isolation.

Smile Bangladesh has been filling the gap in care since January 2006. Wallace — the Park Cities surgeon who founded Dallas Oral Surgery Associates — is the nonprofit’s treasurer and has been involved since its early years.

The procedures, Wallace said, each cost about $300. That’s a bargain for the transformational surgery.

“I have a magic wand, and give me a little time, and we’re going to wave it. I’ll change your whole life from here forward,” he said.

“I’m in awe of the education that I’ve received. I’m in awe of the skills that have been given to me.”

Wallace flies to Bangladesh annually as part of an approximately 20-person team of medical professionals from around the United States. Some of the group’s patients travel for days by bus or train to receive medical attention.

About 70 people lined up to be screened

by Smile Bangladesh on its most recent trip to Khulna in southwestern Bangladesh. The doctors and nurses spent four 12-hour days doing surgeries.

In the United States, newborns with clefts are quickly identified and treated. But

To learn more and support Smile Bangladesh, visit smilebangladesh.org.

In past years, he’s teamed up with Sevy’s chef/owner Jim “Sevy” Severson for a September charity wine dinner. Severson has prepared the menu, and Wallace has brought wines from his personal cellar.

Guests have been invited to taste the wines “blind” and vote on their favorite drink after each of the meal’s five courses.

Then, Wallace has revealed whether their choices were a $30 bottle from the store, or a $300 bottle that’s been aged for 20 years.

Smile Bangladesh relies on donated equipment and reuses many supplies that would be considered disposable in the United States.

“You’re kind of a last resort. You’re their only shot, in most cases.”

John Wallace

John Wallace with colleagues from Smile Bangladesh and patients on his recent trip to Khulna. COURTESY JOHN WALLACE

that’s not the case in Bangladesh. Although the youngest patients are infants, Wallace once repaired a cleft on a 78-year-old.

“You’re kind of a last resort,” he said.

“You’re their only shot, in most cases.”

One of Wallace’s most memorable patients was a poised teenager whose speech

was almost incomprehensible due to her defect. The morning after her surgery, even she couldn’t believe how wonderful she sounded.

“I sound like I have a voice,” she told Wallace through an interpreter.

Wallace has continued his support of Smile Bangladesh at home in Dallas.

On his most recent trip to Bangladesh, Wallace brought donated anesthesia equipment, along with his five children’s baby blankets. His son Matthew Daniel’s blanket, adorned with the alphabet and animals, was placed over each of Wallace’s patients during their surgeries.

The procedures, Wallace said, open up a world of possibilities for patients, giving them a chance to have families of their own.

“All the things you take for granted don’t happen if they can’t get this fixed,” he said.

“You do change their life.”

Reflecting as a Community — 2025 in the Park Cities This year, our streets wore green ribbons — gentle reminders of the heartache that MARTHA touched JACKSON our community when six young girls from our neighborhood were lost at Camp Mystic and when others succumbed to the quiet despair of suicide.

We didn’t just lose names; we lost pieces of ourselves, and the absence still echoes in our halls, our yards, our conversations.

And yet, amid that sorrow, we soared. Our community celebrated

real victories — the Scots lacrosse programs, both boys and girls, captured state championships. Our athletes, musicians, and students — on fields, in gymnasiums, and in school halls — shone brightly, giving us proud moments to clutch until next season.

Then came the moment our hearts collectively skipped: the first-ever state championship for our girls volleyball team. Highland Park High School Girls Volleyball swept through the playoffs and claimed the 5A Division I title — undefeated and unmatched.

The pain and trials of 2025 felt a little lighter, because our girls gave

us hope wrapped in spikes, blocks, and victory shouts.

Our football team powered through a season of guts and grit — carving out impressive wins, racking up yardage, and rallying fans under Friday-night lights. Though the ultimate championship eluded them, their grit reinforced the spirit of our community: determined, hopeful, and always pushing forward.

Even for those that don’t always make the headlines — band performances, theater productions, art shows, volunteer projects — our young people rose. They carried community spirit in their backpacks, lit up local events, and re-

minded us that greatness isn’t only measured in trophies.

We also faced moments that tested us — the bittersweet win by our soccer program later forfeited due to an eligibility oversight, a hard lesson that integrity and accountability are part of the legacy we build.

Those green ribbons that fluttered on mailboxes, trees, and lampposts weren’t just decoration — they were a declaration: We are together. We honor the ones we lost, and we celebrate the ones among us who lifted us higher. In grief we still belonged, and in joy we still rallied.

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I’m filled with gratitude — for this place we call home; for neighbors who show up; for students who lead; for families who embrace both the tears and the cheers.

The lesson I carry forward?

Strength isn’t the absence of hardship — it’s the presence of community. It’s about being real, showing up, reaching out, and holding the line for each other.

Here’s to the new year ahead — to resilience, to hope, to being present. To the Park Cities and beyond: may we move forward with open hearts, green ribbons still waving, and a community that refuses to let anyone walk alone.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

Local Teen Made, Then Saved, His Feature Filmmaking Debut

39

Former HPMS student’s low-budget comedy ‘Blood in the Snow’ now streaming

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

After earning their high school diplomas, Joseph Jeavons and his teenage creative team graduated from short films to features.

That bold leap came with some harsh lessons about the movie business but eventually yielded a happy ending.

The low-budget comedy Blood in the Snow, the feature directorial debut for the former Highland Park Middle School student, recently debuted on streaming platforms.

“The title sounds really edgy and really dark, but it’s like a teen comedy.”

Joseph Jeavons Jeavons, 20, was born to missionaries in Costa Rica before relocating to the Park Cities for much of his childhood. He later moved to Lakewood and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2023.

FROM LEFT: Sam Teague, Beckett Nichols, and Kai Turner star in Blood in the Snow. COURTESY

He started making short films with collaborators Sam Teague, who co-wrote and stars in Blood in the Snow, and Owen Swift, a co-writer and composer. By the way, there is blood in the film, but no snow.

“The title sounds really edgy and really dark, but it’s like a teen comedy,” Jeavons said. “The phrase was just something we came up

with as a line of dialogue.”

The trio held outdoor neighborhood screenings once a year, where attendance was solid and feedback was positive. “ We started filming short films on our iPhones, and it was pretty bad quality, but people would enjoy the stories or the acting,” Jeavons said. “We got

a lot of praise for making stuff that’s a little bit offbeat and funny, but also heartfelt and sweet.”

Their shorts also gained some acclaim on the festival circuit, such as the Houston Comedy Film Festival and the Student World Impact Film Festival.

When they hatched the feature idea, Jeavons was all-in, us-

ing money he earned from a summer lifeguard job to buy a camera and other equipment. He shaved his head as part of a crowdfunding campaign, with investors further incentivized by a distribution deal to stream the film on Amazon sometime this year.

The three filmmakers went away to college but reunited to shoot the bulk of the project in Dallas in the summer of 2024.

They got positive vibes after screening a rough cut. However, the arrangement with the distributor partnered with Amazon fell through, and it looked like the film might never find an audience.

“We promised all these people that the final cut would be available on Prime Video, because that’s what we were told was going to happen,” Jeavons said. “That was devastating. All these people had given us money. What do we tell them? We couldn’t let this not happen.”

Jeavons pivoted and began researching other avenues, eventually, teaching himself about advertising rates and copyrights and re-pitching the project to Tubi, where it’s now available.

Now a sophomore at the University of Texas, Jeavons said his passion lies more in writing than directing, and he’s hoping to publish his debut novel soon.

SMU Study Explores How Imagining Regret Can Drive Action

By Grace Conley

People Newspapers A new study suggests that imagining how you might feel after skipping a flu shot might be key to actually getting one.

Primary author and SMU psychology professor Austin Baldwin and collaborators Catherine Rochefort and Alexander J. Rothman found that when college students wrote about why they might regret not getting the influenza vaccination, they were significantly more likely to follow through later.

At the heart of Baldwin’s research is a concept called anticipated regret — mentally jumping to the future to imagine skipping a behavior and how you might feel about the possible consequences.

Previous research has shown that people who anticipate regret are more likely to vaccinate, but Baldwin was concerned with how to turn that knowledge into action.

“It’s the way of thinking about a future outcome and the extent to which you regret a decision on what that outcome is,” said Baldwin. “In this case, the anticipated regret is the prompt to think about if you don’t get a flu shot and then you later got sick with the flu — to what extent would you regret that?”

Their findings, published recently in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, also demonstrate how a brief reflection can make vaccination feel more like an autonomous choice rather than an obligation.

SMU researcher Austin Baldwin studies the psychology underlying health behaviors. COURTESY SMU AND FREEPIK.COM

It’s known as autonomous motivation, or doing something because it matters to you, not because someone else told you to.

“We know across all kinds of behaviors that all else being equal, people are more likely to engage in behaviors and do things that they find to be more personally important and meaningful,” Baldwin said. “And (they are) more likely to sustain those behaviors over time.”

The SMU team recruited 263 college students and divided them into three groups.

One group answered open-ended responses about why they might regret skipping a flu shot. Another simply answered clickable survey questions, while the con-

trol group received no prompts.

Students who generated their own responses showed a 39% increase in autonomous motivation compared to the control group, as well as a higher vaccination rate months later. The study showed that simply asking participants to rate how much regret they anticipated wasn’t enough.

According to Baldwin, it’s the act of writing that engages people more deeply.

“It is this kind of brief but sort of counter-factual thinking … imagining ‘what if I get sick and could have prevented it,’ — that seems to activate people’s sense of personal choice and control over their health,” he explained.

The study was conducted in fall 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccination rates were lower overall that year, which Baldwin attributes to nationwide lockdowns and reduced social interaction.

Still, the results illustrated a clear picture of how self-reflection can influence behavior even amid uncertainty.

Baldwin suggests a similar approach could be applied to public health efforts.

A quick open-ended response to a health questionnaire could encourage the same kind of reflection used in the study.

“It acknowledges autonomy in that decision-making,” he said.

For Baldwin, the lesson goes beyond public health. Imagining regret can help people follow through not just with a flu shot, but with any good intention — from unfinished projects to shelved dreams.

“People don’t always follow through on what they intend to do,” he said. “This could be a really helpful and simple way of helping.”

40 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com SENIOR LIVING

Painting By Numbers

Prompted by their art teacher, five friends create award-winning watercolor

By Josh Hickman

Special Contributor Painting need not be a solitary affair.

Five friends — senior artists ranging in age from 74 to 83 — won a Third Place Award in C.C. Young Senior Living’s 25th annual Spirit is Ageless Art & Writing Contest with their collaborative still-life watercolor, Class Act. Their teacher Gaylord O’Con, of University Park, got them started with a preliminary sketch for the vibrant piece.

Then Jacque Wacker, Rosari Birmingham, Pat Moore, Cate Cloft, and Nancy Roberts took over.

“Each took turns, 15, 20 minutes at a time, working on the painting,” O’Con said. “We all did a piece of it; then we all signed it. It was a lot of fun to do it together.”

Though some are relative newcomers to art, their work possesses a unique perspective and depth, reflecting a lifetime of experiences and wisdom.

The journey toward artistic collaboration began in 2013 when the friends took notice of O’Con’s work.

“It all started when he had a show here, and a few of us asked if he could teach us,” Wacker recalled.

“We’ve done a lot of paintings since then,” added O’Con, a 30year painting veteran and former

president of the Southwestern Watercolor Society. “We have a whole library of paintings. I also teach a class quarterly for the residents.”

The Spirit is Ageless Art & Writing Contest is available for C.C. Young residents and non-residents 55 years or older. Two pieces per artist can be submitted to its 13 categories.

Wacker took up painting after she retired.

“So, it’s probably been 20 years,” she said. “I also get a lot of the artists for the art shows here.”

The story is similar for Birmingham, who taught school for 25 years.

“After I retired, I wanted to start painting,” she said. “I started with oil then switched over to watercolor. I’ve always loved art and used art in my teaching.”

Cloft reflected on 2017 and her artistic flowering.

“I became the massage therapist at C.C. Young and ran into another art teacher,” she said. “Here, I’m desperately trying to learn watercolor, because it’s really fun.”

Roberts began painting at the relatively youthful age of 40.

“So I’ve been doing it 45 years,” she said. “Acrylic is my first love, then I got into mosaics. I do watercolor; Gaylord’s been real patient with me.”

Moore found artistic inspiration while traveling.

“In 2018, I went to Santa Fe, to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, and I fell in love with it,” Pat said.

TOP FROM LEFT: Pat Moore, Jackie Wacker, and Rosari Birmingham. BOTTOM: Cate Cloft and Pat Moore. COURTESY GAYLORD O’CON, ROSARI BIRMINGHAM, PAT MOORE

“I mentioned it to Jacque because I knew she painted. She is kind of the reason I got started painting.

Then, Gaylord came along and has really fulfilled my dreams to learn how to paint.”

O’Con’s two-hour Tuesday classes with the group usually happen at C.C. Young, though sometimes they meet at his house on Purdue Street.

“We’re just going to keep paint-

ing, That’s the plan,” O’Con said, drawing a chuckle from Wacker.

“We pray that we can keep going,” she added.

And why not? Creativity knows no boundaries of age.

Gale Sliger Still Getting It Done Her Way

Nearing 90, legendary hostess, designer offers advice, tells stories, tackles projects

By Josh Hickman

Special Contributor Among her other endeavors and life trajectories, Gale Sliger is often remembered for her prominent 1980s-90s role as the hostess with the mostest.

She served as the lavish party and wedding planner for the likes of the Hunts, the Perots, the Horchows, the Brinkers, and many residents of the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

Though Gale Sliger Productions closed its doors in 2003, Sliger, now nearing 90, is still on the move, full of stories, and getting things done her way.

“I actually played in the first state meet in girls basketball in the state of Texas,” she said, recalling her Duncanville Pantherettes days and humble beginnings.

After working secretarial jobs out of high school, Sliger took a job with the Dallas Ad Club.

“I said, ‘I’ll help you till you find somebody,’” she said, chuckling. “It took them 13 years to find somebody.”

After years of more decorating, hosting, and design work, a 1982 breast can-

Gale Sliger’s recent work includes a Duncanville Sister City Project with Monasterolo di Savigliano and updates to a Lion’s Club. JOSH HICKMAN AND HEMMI PHOTOGRAPHY

cer diagnosis slowed her down but certainly didn’t stop her.

“My doctor put me on a plane to MD Anderson, and I did 13 months of aggressive chemotherapy,” she said.

A job loss near the end of cancer recovery led her into consulting, more hands-on event organizing, and starting Gale Sliger Productions in 1984.

“Twenty-seven years I was the designer for Petro Stopping Centers,” she said, recalling her truck stop design work. “But

that’s a whole other story.”

A call from client Edith O’Donnell asking for help with a debutante ball for her daughter sent Sliger off in a new and successful direction.

“We did the debutante ball,” she said. “It was all over after that. Gerald Ford, Ford Stadium, SMU. I did both of Ray Hunt’s daughters’ weddings, all four of the Perot daughters’ weddings, Ross Jr.’s welcome home from around-the-world in the helicopter, the opening of the airport.”

That’s what could happen with her word-of-mouth client generation.

“They all talk to each other,” Sliger said.

“If they don’t, their secretaries do. I never hired advertising.”

Her husband, Jerry, who passed away in 2022, had been a longtime mechanical engineer for Ingersoll Rand, Conley Lott Nichols, and MPS Equipment, but he ended up designing and fabricating for social and charity events alongside his wife.

“I don’t care,” she laughed when asked her if I could mention her upcoming 90th birthday. “I’d rather be vertical. I’d rather be seen than viewed.”

Sliger noted her involvement in the Duncanville Sister City Project with Monasterolo di Savigliano as proof she’s not resting on her laurels.

“I just had 65 people in my backyard, because the Italians were here,” she said.

“Raised a lot of money for the program. I’m also redoing the Lion’s Club right now.”

As we popped by the Lion’s Club to check on the progress of the upgrades, I asked her if she had any wisdom to share on her longevity and positive outlook.

“You’ve got to get outside yourself and see a need and do your best to fill it,” she said. “Stay busy. I cook a lot. I have two stoves in my kitchen. As long as I’m here, I’m always going to be busy.”

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

41

SENIOR LIVING

Don’t Get Slaughtered: The Devastating Reality of Pig Butchering Scams

If you receive an unexpected message from a stranger offering investment J U L I E advice, deK R AWC Z Y K lete it immediately.

If you respond, you could be the next target of a “pig butchering” scam — one of the most psychologically manipulative and financially devastating frauds plaguing Americans today.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $5.8 billion in losses from cryptocurrency investment scams in 2024 alone, with victims over 60 suffering the most significant financial impact.

THE SENIOR SOURCE

The “fattening” Pig butchering scams earn the name from the agricultural practice of fattening livestock before slaughter. In this investment scam, criminals are willing to spend weeks, even months, building trust with victims, “fattening” them with fake profits and emotional connections before extracting every dollar possible. Unlike quick-hit frauds, these scammers play the long game, cultivating relationships that make their victims believe they’ve found financial opportunity, romance, or both.

Cryptocurrency fraud The goal is always the same: convince victims to deposit their money into fake cryptocurrency investment platforms. Think of it like skimming devices at gas stations — the interface looks legitimate, but behind the scenes, criminals control everything.

Victims see impressive “returns” on dashboards that appear to be credible, but these numbers are fabricated. Every dollar deposited goes straight into the scammers’ pockets, never entering any legitimate investment vehicle.

The trap closes Eventually, the victim tries to make a withdrawal. Suddenly, the platform requires “taxes,” “fees,” or “account upgrades” before releasing funds. Each payment leads to another excuse and another fee.

Withdrawals become impossible, and by this point, victims have often liquidated retirement accounts, borrowed from family, or sold assets to continue investing.

An unexpected message These scams typically begin with unsolicited contact through social media, a text message from an unknown sender, or through a dating app. While romance can be part of the deception, not every pig butchering scam involves a romantic angle.

Some scammers pose as old friends, successful entrepreneurs, or knowledgeable investors who just want to share their “secret” to wealth. They gradually move the conversation to an encrypted platform like WhatsApp or Telegram, making it more difficult to track their activities.

“Pig butchering scams earn the name from the agricultural practice of fattening livestock before slaughter.”

Victims on both sides Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of these crimes is that pig butchering operations are often linked to organized crime and overseas human trafficking networks. Many scammers are themselves trafficking victims, forced to execute these schemes in compounds abroad. This adds another layer of tragedy to an already devastating crime.

Julie M. Krawczyk, the director of the Elder Financial Safety Center at The Senior Source, serves on the state’s Family and Protective Services Council and as vice-president of the Texas Partners of Adult Protective Services state board. If you have questions about f inancial scams or need expert, professional, and unbiased f inancial guidance, contact the center at efsc@theseniorsource.org or 214-823-5700.

Learn more at theseniorsource.org.

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42 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com SENIOR LIVING

Earl Young’s Next Chapter

Olympic gold medalist authors memoir to support lifesaving mission

By Lisa Petty

READ THE BOOK

Special Contributor

‘Gold and Grace’

By Earl Young $19.99 earlyoungsteam.org

The 1960 Summer Olympics marked many historic moments. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rome, it was the first Olympiad to be broadcast via network television in the United States.

Families across the country cheered as American athletes brought home 71 medals, including a 19-year-old sprinter from Texas who would become the youngest gold medalist on the record-setting U.S. track and field team.

“Four in 10 people die while their match is out there, unaware that someone needs their help.”

Earl Young But luckily for us, Earl Young was just getting started.

“This is the best part of my life,” said Young of his current era. “I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

Following up Olympic gold and the cover of Sports Illustrated with a global finance career, the Park Cities resident served as an officer and advisor for Fortune 500 companies and investment banking firms.

Then, at 71, a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid

Earl Young, was just 19 in 1960, when the Texan became the youngest gold medalist on the record-setting U.S. track and field team. COURTESY

Leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, nearly stopped the runner in his tracks.

Doctors gave Young just three months to live, unless a matching blood stem cell donor was found. With that, the athlete trained his deeply ingrained determination on an entirely new goal.

“I knew nothing about what I was going into,” Young recalled. “But, in Offenburg, Germany, two weeks before my diagnosis, a woman named Christine Waag had registered to be a donor. There were 22 million donors on file at that time, and Christine was the only match out of those 22 million that would fit my need.”

Young’s life was saved with treatment

including a stem cell match and transfusion – just as the startling realization that only 60% of blood cancer patients ever find a matching donor informed his next chapter.

“Four in 10 people die while their match is out there, unaware that someone needs their help,” he said. “How many times do you get a chance to save a life?”

That question is at the heart of the mission of Earl Young’s Team, founded

by Young in 2015 to raise awareness surrounding blood cancer and the importance of donor registration.

Through at-home swab kits, donor drives, and fundraisers, the nonprofit organization has been able to register more

than 39,000 new potential donors for the nearly 20,000 patients in need across the country each year.

“It’s a known science. It works,” Young emphasized. “And for 70 different blood cancers, it’s the only thing that will save a life.”

Fast forward to 2025, and there was still another chapter to come - several chapters, actually.

Gold and Grace: The Higher Purpose of an Olympic Champion in which Young chronicles his remarkable life, debuted in the fall.

Proceeds benefit his efforts to fight blood cancers, and the memoir also includes inspiring stories of other blood stem cell donors and recipients.

In the words of this world class athlete, successful businessman, cancer survivor, and activist, “Helping a team win an Olympic gold medal is impressive, but assisting a team in saving lives is even more rewarding.”

Emma Succar Still Volunteering at 90

Faithful helper makes Ronald McDonald House of Dallas feel like home

By Lisa Petty

AT A G L A N C E

Special Contributor Spending the day with Emma Succar at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD) feels like coming home.

As she took us on a guided tour through rooms lovingly decorated for sharing meals, enjoying cozy movie nights, or reading aloud before bed, her enthusiastic pace belied the fact that she is 90 years young.

And, after more than 25 years of helping to support families of children receiving medical care in nearby hospitals, Miss Emma, as she is known, is more than just a familiar face. She is part of the family.

“It means a lot to me to be here,” said the longtime volunteer, who first came to Texas in 1959 from her native Denmark.

After marrying and raising her daughter in a Tudor cottage in Highland Park, she later lost her husband and sought a home away from home. She found it at RMHD. “I no longer have any family here in Dallas, and I feel this is my family,” Succor said. “The staff and the people here are just wonderful.

I love them.”

Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Mission: to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.

Jill Cumnock, CEO Jane Finan, Volunteer Services Manager 4707 Bengal St. Dallas, TX 75235 (214) 631-7354 rhmdallas.org

Emma Succar has volunteered for Ronald McDonald House of Dallas for more than a quarter of a century. COURTESY RMHD

Midway through the tour, we met up in the kitchen with food services coordinator Phil Barry and a team from Southwest Airlines.

The comforting scents of warm spices and sautéed vegetables filled the air as volunteers prepared a lunchtime buffet of Spanish-inspired picadillo and all the fixings.

Emma took her usual post, which is akin to a “kitchen concierge,” zipping through cabinets and coolers to gather ingredients and tools for the volunteer chefs.

She explained that cooking for the

house is a bigger task these days, compared to her first years on the job.

“When we were in the old house, everybody did everything,” she said, referring to the original location, which opened in 1981.

Many locals may remember the first RMHD, located behind the former St. Paul Hospital. Open for 28 years, it grew from an initial size of 10 rooms to 30 rooms for visiting families.

After moving to the current Medical District location in 2009,

and another expansion thereafter, the house now holds 86 family rooms and is the eighth largest in the world.

“So, when we moved up here and then we added the new wing, though I don’t cook, somehow I got to help a lot with the meals,” she recalled, laughing at the memory.

These days, at peak capacity, the kitchen may serve up to 100 parents and children, hailing from all parts of the country. Volunteers try to feature foods both comforting and traditional - and of course,

at this time of year, special holiday meals are also on the menu.

As we wrapped up our tour, Emma delighted in sharing many additional loving details –a butterfly garden, a homemade art installation, the stained-glass window in the chapel – before taking a moment to pause before a mural of life-size photographs.

She pointed to smiling children and parents, calling them by name as she remembered their time together over the years.

And, though she’s still tucked up in her Tudor on Armstrong Avenue, Miss Emma is a big part of why this house feels like a home to all those special kids, too.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026

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44 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com

CHRISTY ROST

Try This Moroccan Dish For Winter Nights

One of the many benefits of travel stems from newfound culinar y traditions and flavors.

During the past two CHRISTY ROST years, my husband and I have been fortunate to travel extensively for both business and pleasure. In

the process, we’ve savored memorable meals and tastings in Alaska, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and the Bordeaux and Provencal regions of France.

As we begin a new year and look forward to future travel adventures, I’m excited to share one of my new favorite recipes — lemon chicken tagine. This savory, one-pan meal was inspired by an amazing visit to Casablanca while on a cruise.

The shore excursion’s description mentioned lunch would be

included, but it provided no hint of the unforgettable experience awaiting us — a multi-course lunch in an opulent, sun-filled restaurant perched on a cliff with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

A small cooking station had been set up near our tables, where the chef proceeded to demonstrate the preparation of chicken tagine.

He cooked chopped onions and garlic in a clay tagine until they were soft and fragrant, moved

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them to the side, then placed a chicken thigh skin-side-down to brown the skin before turning it over. The onion and garlic were spooned on top of the meat, lemon zest, turmeric, and a pinch of saffron were sprinkled over the onions, and a small amount of water was added for braising.

The dish was covered, and savory aromas soon filled the room. Small red potatoes were added to the tagine, and when they were tender, the dish was ready. Each guest was served their own covered, clay tagine of fragrant, fall-off-the-bone chicken tagine.

As we later boarded the bus to resume our tour, I quickly scribbled recipe notes for this delicious meal. I can truthfully say it’s become one of our favorite chicken dishes, and because it’s ready in an hour, it’s a go-to recipe.

On a cold winter night this savory, braised dish provides comforting warmth, and you can watch me make it on my Christy Rost Cooks YouTube cooking channel, Episode 404. Happy New Year!

Christy Rost is a cookbook author, host of Celebrating Home cooking videos, and longtime Park Cities and Preston Hollow resident. Her ‘At Home with Christy Rost’ cooking series for Eat This TV Network airs on AmazonFire, AppleTV+, Roku, Samsung TV, and YouTube. Please visit christyrost.com for details and recipes.

Lemon Chicken Tagine Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups sweet onion, peeled and coarsely chopped 4 to 6 skin-on chicken thighs 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced A generous ½ teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon fresh gingerroot, peeled and chopped, or ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper Zest of 1 small lemon ½ of a small lemon Saffron threads Small potatoes Fresh parsley

Directions: Preheat a large, deep skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Sauté onions until they are soft, add garlic and chopped ginger, and cook 1 minute more. Move onion mixture to the sides of the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it skin side down in the pan. Cook 5 to 10 minutes to brown the skin, then turn the chicken over.

Distribute the onion mixture over the top of the thighs. Sprinkle each with lemon zest, turmeric, and a pinch of saffron threads.

Pour ¾ cup water around the chicken thighs, cover, and cook 20 minutes. Add small potatoes, cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes more until the potatoes are knife tender and the chicken reaches 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer.

Add a little extra water to the pan if needed during the cooking process.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2026 O B I T UA RY

ANGELO S. CHANTILIS

October 7, 1930 – November 7, 2025

A

ngelo S. Chantilis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and proud Greek restaurateur, passed away at the age of 95, surrounded by his devoted family and held in prayer by his Greek Orthodox faith. A passionate businessman and family man to his core, Angelo lived life with a spirit too big to be contained.

Born on October 7, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Samuel A. and Rose P. Chantilis, Angelo was raised in a Greek family rooted in the restaurant business. From his earliest years, he could be found working in his parents’ establishments — learning the rhythms of hospitality, the pride of serving a good meal, and the value of hard work.

As a young boy, Angelo moved

with his mother and younger brother, Peter S. Chantilis, to Little Rock, Arkansas. There he met his lifelong best friend, Steve Canellos. Their friendship and adventures spanned decades, from college days at the University of Central Arkansas to spirited road trips to California — trips that would inspire their future restaurant endeavors. During this time, Angelo’s love for music also blossomed. He reveled in nights spent singing and dancing, later transitioning to humming old love songs as the years softened him.

Angelo proudly served his country when he was drafted into the Korean War from, serving as a firefighter. He spoke often about that experience and the pride he carried in serving his fellow soldiers.

Upon returning home, Angelo reunited with his family in Dallas, Texas, where his brother Peter was attending SMU Law School. It was here, before opening his first restaurant, that Angelo worked as a proud salesman for Allied Van Lines. His hustle, ambition, and natural business instincts quickly shone, refining the drive that would later define his entrepreneurial ventures and success in hospitality.

Soon after, Angelo and Steve opened Googie’s, a lively diner-style concept inspired by their

O B I T UA RY

SALLY FORD JONES

S

ally Ford Kelley was triumphantly welcomed to Heaven on Monday, November 17, 2025. She lived out her 77 years giving fully to her family and friends.

Sally, Mom, Sassy- whatever you knew her by- will be terribly missed by so many. Her memorial service was held at Highland Park United Methodist Church on Friday, November 21st and was a wonderful celebration of her life. In true Sassy fashion, she requested a surprise letter be read at her funeral. Her joy, positivity, humor and love are on full display as you will see below: Dear God, Family and Friends, This is a thank you letter to all of you for being a part in my life, a life blessed far, far beyond what I deserved. Born in the United States of America to a loving family (except for a few skeletons and black sheep) was a great beginning.

How lucky was I to walk through most of my life with Terry. Some of you may wonder, “How did she catch him?” All I can say is, “It was a God thing.”

We met and married within four months and thank goodness I was a good judge of character. Of course we told our children not to follow our example, but it worked out pretty well for us. Our kids took their time and found three wonderful spouses, Amy, Ben and Doug, to share their life’s journey.

Speaking of our children, Scott, Allison and Sarah, they have brought us years of laughter, a few tears, lots of pride, some worry and pure joy from their ten children. Thank you God for Bo, Catcher, Molly, Griffin, Palmer, Peter, Berkeley, Anna, Loftin and Carlyle.

Please always remember how much I loved you!

California adventures and the famous all-night Googie’s diners they frequented. It was an exciting beginning — a creative testing ground and joyful introduction to life in the restaurant business.

In 1982, Angelo and Steve purchased the beloved Burger House from Jack Koustoubardis. Together, the Chantilis and Canellos families grew Burger House to multiple locations — each one a testament to Angelo’s belief in quality, community, and treating customers like family. Today, his legacy continues as the next generation proudly carries the torch.

Alongside building his business, Angelo returned to his Greek roots in Dallas, where faith and church were central. He served as President of the Greek Orthodox Church, was a member of the Order of AHEPA, and was known as a fabulous Greek dancer — leading dances with so much joy and true Hellenic pride.

On June 18, 1960, Angelo married Zoe Carras at the Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas. Together they settled in University Park, spending over 50 years on Southwestern Boulevard, raising their three children: Connie, Rosanne, and Angelo Jr. Family was everything to Angelo — so much so that they lived behind his brother Peter’s family, allowing all the

I wanted to mention that I may have passed down some undesirable traits. I apologize to any of you with double chins, vericose veins, tone deafness, unibrows, big heads and pronating feet. However, if you love to laugh, smile and play practical jokes; love nature, rocks and minerals, gardening, hiking, love chocolate, blueberry muffins and avocados, you need to blame part of that on me, too.

And to my dear friends and family. Thank you for showing me how to be a better, more thoughtful person. You were there during my health challenges-bringing food, sending cards, running errands, calling to check on me and most importantly praying for us. There was nothing more humbling and comforting than knowing we were in your prayers.

Just look around this beautiful church and think about all of the people who have come closer to Christ here. Think about all of the outreach that has been done through our church over the years. What an honor it has been to worship here and how fortunate we have been to be inspired by the messages from Mark Craig and Paul Rasmussen.

If you are here today you have touched my life in some way as I hope I have yours.

Love always, Sally aka Mom aka Sassy Our family wants to express our sincere gratitude for every call, text, gift, hug, note and above all continued prayers. In lieu of flowers, Sassy would want you to send joy and love to others this holiday season through either Highland Park United Methodist Church or the Reading Buddies Program at the Momentus Institute.

She was a faithful and active member at HPUMC for over 40 years. It meant the world to her and means so much to the communities and causes it supports.

Gifts may be made online at https://www.hpumc.org/ impact/outreach-ministries.

Memorial gifts may also be made to Momentous Institute, a nonprofit supported by Salesmanship Club of Dallas, in honor of the Reading Buddy Program for which Sassy was an active volunteer for 24 years. You may give online at momentousinstitute.org/donate or by sending your check made out to Momentous Institute to 106 E. Tenth St., Dallas, TX 75203.

Chantilis cousins to grow up just a back door apart.

Angelo lived life with soul — passionate, proud, and unstoppable. He was an avid runner for many years, embracing movement and routine long before it was fashionable. He loved the open road and cherished long drives through the Southwest — a love perfectly matched by his affection for cars, especially his Cadillacs.

He delighted in them throughout his life, gifting himself a new set of wheels for all the way up to his 90th birthday. Angelo also enjoyed keeping up with the Dallas Cowboys; he was one of the original season ticket holders, a love he passed down to his son Angelo Jr. He and Zoe spent decades both on Southwestern Boulevard, and exploring the Southwest — from strolling the Santa Fe Plaza to skiing the mountains of Colorado, and wandering up to Wyoming. Dressed in turquoise, silver, denim, boots, and often a Burger House t-shirt, he was unmistakably in his element.

Their children and grandchildren frequently joined them on the road, creating cherished family traditions and memories along the way.

To know Angelo was to know hospitality. He loved to cook, entertain, try new restaurants, and passionately critique every meal. Though

O B I T UA RY

CATHERINE LEE PIERCE

L

ee met and married the love of her life, Pete Pierce, both at a young age and after he had just joined Delta Airlines as a Pilot. While raising their three children, she worked as a model for Kim Dawson Agency for several years before deciding to go back to college to get her degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design. She worked with Pete, in his second business, as a high-end builder in the Park Cities. Lee designed the landscapes for the houses he built, and they shortly became a very successful team.

As time went on, Lee found her additional talent for painting and sculpting and was able to grow her business into a highly sought after commodity. She loved to paint, and her paintings showed an inner talent that surpassed many. Lee and Pete owned several vacation homes in Carmel, CA where Pete played Golf and another in Durango, CO. Where Pete became an avid fly fisherman. In all the homes they shared,

45

particular about his food, he never met a steak at Al Biernat’s that didn’t satisfy him. He upheld high standards for himself and for others, instilling in his family loyalty, ambition, and a fierce work ethic. He was a protector, a problem-solver, and an advisor who never missed an opportunity to remind you to “be careful,” “surround yourself with the right people,” “not everyone is as smart as you,” and always, above all, “take care of your mother.” His entrepreneurial spirit lives vibrantly though his children and grandchildren, each carrying his zest for business, family, and life.

Angelo is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Zoe Carras Chantilis; his children Connie Chantilis; Rosanne Chantilis Beck and her children Madeleine Herskind Elder and husband Colin Elder, Gunnar Herskind, and Grace Herskind; and Angelo Chantilis Jr. and wife Teresa Alexandris Chantilis, and their sons Angelo Chantilis III and John Peter Chantilis; his cousin Athena Shipp; his nephew Samuel Chantilis and wife Cheryl, and their children Austin, Ashley, and Caroline; and his niece Stephanie Chantilis Bray and husband Bennie, and their children Chad and Alexis. He also leaves behind extended family, loyal friends, devoted employees, and generations of Burger House customers who felt like family.

Lee was able show off her decorating skills and paint more paintings to occupy the walls. Not to mention the beautiful gardens she created, no matter where they resided.

People that knew her constantly sang her praises as to how beautiful, smart and talented she was.

Also, she had a unique sense of humor that would keep us laughing endlessly.

It has been almost four years since we lost our Dad to COVID. Mom has missed him every moment since. Since the decline in her health, it has caused her to slowly become non-verbal, which made life for her unbearable.

On Friday, December 21, 2025, during the quiet of the morning, God had mercy on her soul and reunited her with Pete once again.

Soar high with the angels, sweet mother of ours. We will miss you, always.

John, Annie and Stuart Lee Pierce is survived by: Her children, John Pierce, Annie Peek and Stuart Pierce. John’s wife, Kendall Pierce, daughter, Kate Pierce and soon to be son in-law Michael Denson; Annie’s husband, Steve Peek, son, Winton Welsh Iii, daughter in-law Megan Welsh, grandchildren, Gwen Welsh and Beau Welsh; Stuart’s three sons, Sam Pierce, daughter in-law Chloe Pierce, Stephen Pierce and Simon Pierce, Lee’s Nephew, Stephen Bartholow, his wife Lydia Bartholow, daughter Katie Bartholow and Nick Bartholow. Lee’s Sister, Jane Woods.

Services were held on December 1st at Restland Funeral Home located at 13005 Greenville Avenue.

46 January 2026 | parkcitiespeople.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT BRIGGS FREEMAN

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4404 Lorraine Avenue

3515 Crescent Avenue

3515 Crescent Avenue in Highland Park, represented by Pogir of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty; $21,000,000 On a rare corner lot in Old Highland Park, this custom Mediterranean manse is walking distance to the ever-popular Katy Trail, Knox Street hot spots and multiple parks and greenbelts. Every element of this home reflects impeccable taste and superior craftsmanship, from its graceful facade to its hand-crafted interiors. A grand foyer provides a dramatic welcome, with a statement chandelier, curved staircase and detailed ironwork. The formal living and dining rooms are striking yet warm, with the nearby study featuring handsome wood-paneling and built-ins.

At the home’s center, the expansive great room flows seamlessly into the gourmet kitchen and adjacent wet bar and temperature-controlled wine room. Other highlights are a fully equipped home theater, a sizable game room and a secondary living area upstairs. There are seven bedrooms and nine-and-a-half baths in total — including the sanctuarylike primary suite, which features a sitting area and spalevel bathroom with dual vanities and a giant soaking tub.

Outside is equally impressive, with a double-decker terrace overlooking a pool and spa, multiple seating areas, outdoor kitchen, firepit and manicured grounds.

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9769 Audubon Place

4404 Lorraine Avenue in Highland Park, represented by Danielle Brasher of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty; $8,595,000 A stunning Transitional by luxury builder Colby Craig Custom Homes, 4404 Lorraine Avenue features a stately stone exterior with cast-stone accents, a slate roof, ironframe doors, copper gutters and Bevolo gas lanterns.

Boasting a sought-after location in Highland Park’s iconic French Streets, this new-build home is within walking distance to Bradfield Elementary School, Flippen Park, Highland Park Village and the Dallas Country Club.

Inside, you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows, designer fixtures and pale hardwood flooring throughout. The kitchen features Taj Mahal quartzite countertops, custom rift-oak cabinetry, a dual-column wine refrigerator and Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. The home comprises four bedrooms, five full baths and three half-baths, including a spacious primary suite featuring bidets, a free-standing tub and custom closet system. Hand-carved fireplaces, an elevator, office, game room, wet bar and automated lighting are other noteworthy offerings. Outside are a pool, spa and large covered patio with fireplace, as well as guest quarters above the garage.

Gallery Penthouse at HALL Arts Residences

9769 Audubon Place in Preston Hollow, represented by Ann Shaw of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty; $22,000,000

1747 Leonard Street #2601 in the Dallas Arts District, represented by Kyle Richards and Cindi Caudle of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty; $17,500,000

Welcome to Dallas’ most enchanting estate, where nature, architecture and sophistication converge. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Preston Hollow, 9769 Audubon Place is a rare, European-inspired masterpiece set on more than three pristine acres. Designed by Robbie Fusch and built by Randy Hughes, this exceptional home blends architectural grandeur with a soul-soothing connection to nature. Inside, soaring ceilings, graciously scaled rooms and warm finishes create a home that is as welcoming as it is distinguished.

A separate, 2,500-square-foot entertaining pavilion with a catering kitchen makes large gatherings effortless, while peaceful garden paths and a vine-draped walkway along the creek invite quiet moments immersed in nature. From the meandering stone pathways and shaded lawns to the serene creek, koi ponds and mature canopy trees, the grounds feel like a private park, an idyllic backdrop for everyday living or unforgettable entertaining.

Perched high above the vibrant Dallas Arts District, the Gallery Penthouse at HALL Arts Residences is more than a home: It is the backdrop for a life well-lived. With its harmonious balance between strong architecture and quiet, inviting spaces, the fullfloor penthouse on level 26 has been meticulously designed by nationally renowned Abeyta Tibbs Architecture. Within its 7,688 square feet, the residence offers four bedrooms, four full baths, two half baths, thoughtful luxuries and effortless elegance.

For those who value both privacy and grandeur, the Gallery Penthouse offers spaces for both. The library, just off the foyer, is a haven for quiet contemplation, in a setting that speaks to your refined taste. The formal living room, meanwhile, stands as the heart of the residence, offering expansive panoramic views of the Dallas skyline, a grand fireplace and a unique bronze floor pinstripe. The kitchen is its own masterpiece, with the finest in German design. Gaggenau appliances and sleek Bulthaup cabinetry ensure that every culinary endeavor is executed to the highest standards. In the primary bedroom suite, complete with a private terrace, wake up each morning to sprawling views of the city stretching out beneath you like a work of art.

MARKET PL ACE To place your ad in People Newspapers, please call us at 214-523-5239, fax to 214-594-5779, or email to classified@peoplenewspapers.com. All ads will run in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People and online.

Pre-payment is required on all ads. Deadline for our next edition is Monday, March 3, 2025. People Newspapers reserves the right to edit or reject ads. We assume no liability for errors or omissions in advertisements and no responsibility beyond the cost of the ad. We are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion.

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47

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

3505 Turtle Creek Boulevard Residence 8B 2 Bed | 3.1 Bath | 3.439 SF Listed for $2,395,000 Listed by Robin Webster & Catherine Wilson Step off the elevator directly into this stunning 8thfloor residence at The Vendome, elevated above the

treetops of Turtle Creek. Hardwood floors lead through a gorgeous entry into the open dining and living area, complete with a fireplace and a spacious balcony showcasing downtown skyline and park views. The breakfast lounge flows seamlessly into the chef’s kitchen, featuring a large island, Sub-Zero refrigeratorfreezer, and a commercial-grade gas cooktop—ideal for entertaining or everyday luxury. The serene primary suite offers its own balcony, two elegant full baths, and a generous walk-in closet, while the second bedroom is privately situated for comfort. A stylish powder bath serves the main living areas, and a full laundry room sits conveniently near the kitchen. The Vendome provides exceptional amenities, including 24-hour valet, concierge, security, a fitness center, an outdoor heated lap pool and spa, a library, and three fully furnished guest suites—defining luxury living in one of Dallas’s most sought-after high-rises. Includes 3 reserved garage parking spaces (253, 254 and 323) plus a highly desired storage unit (S115.)

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

For the perfect home for parties and gatherings, count on Allie Beth Allman & Associates to guide you.

With crackling fireplaces and dining rooms that can seat the extended family, these homes represented

by Allie Beth Allman & Associates offer the perfect party setting.

The Dallas market has beautiful options for consummate hosts to consider, with many of its most spectacular offerings held by the expert agents of Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

In University Park, an avid foodie’s dream awaits at 3548 McFarlin Blvd., a transitional, five-bedroom beauty.

Welcome guests at your sleek, glass double-front doors and bring them into the heart of the home: the large, open space that holds the striking gourmet kitchen and light-filled living room. You can put a delicious buffet of favorite dishes around the oversized kitchen island, get the fireplace going on winter evenings, or swing open all the glass doors so friends can flow out to the chic covered patio.

If you want a forever home where you can gather joyfully in Preston Hollow, 6027 Mimosa Lane is a great find. Just imagine baking in the modern kitchen on cozy days as your kids play in the connected family room or hosting frequent game-day watch parties on the expansive covered patio with a built-in outdoor kitchen.

The pool and spa are ready to distract if games get tense. For more formal occasions or holiday brunches, the beautiful dining room and shimmering living room are perfect for bringing everyone together.

Whatever’s on your wish list, the agents of Allie Beth Allman & Associates are here to help. Explore four brilliant offerings on the market and just waiting for you to find them.

The six-bedroom contemporary at 4259 Park Lane in Preston Hollow is ready for a family to come and cherish it.

Just imagine having parties in the great room as a private chef cooks in the sumptuous kitchen and caterers make custom cocktails at the wet bar.

In University Park, a 6,000-square-foot beauty at 3548 McFarlin Blvd. has a contemporary, airy interiors for suave modern living. Vast spaces with high ceilings invite you to relax and unwind all winter while the large, covered porch is ideal for easy-breezy summer gatherings.

There’s an enchanting abode for sale in Highland Park, 4316 Beverly Drive, which dates to 1928 and charms instantly with its Tudor-style façade. Arched doorways, delicate wallpapers, and majestic fireplaces welcome you inside while a beautiful pool and patio await out back.

Another marvelous place to make memories is Preston Hollow’s 6027 Mimosa Lane. From the custom Ornare kitchen, a chef’s delight, to the backyard oasis with a pool and hot tub where you can soak under the stars, the residence is full of luxuries.

Homes built for gathering

EBBY HALLIDAY

Collaborating for the Future

Discover your dream home

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Sprawling yards and streets dotted by mature trees await in a Preston Hollow home offered by an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent.

Park Cities real estate experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates are offering new prices on beautiful homes.

Live Amid the Green Park Cities luxury with Lanes of Preston Hollow great new prices

Numerous studies have been done over the years that show the benefits of living amid nature and, specifically, around green spaces. Such environments encourage families to get outside and connect with their communities, bolstering the mental and physical wellbeing of both adults and children.

There are endless reasons to make your home in a friendly, nature-rich Dallas neighborhood.

Preston’s Hollow’s tree-lined lanes are especially loved and here are homes for sale with Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

You can look forward to fresh air and time outdoors at 4207 Valley Ridge Road, where mature oaks, a heated pool and spa, and an oversized putting green await. Imagine relaxed fall afternoons practicing golf outside with the kids or lively summer pool.

At the sprawling, gated estate at 9520 Hathaway St., you can live large. As well as promising over 1.4 acres of grounds—including lush trees, romantic fountains, and a huge pool—the masterfully renovated manor offers an impressive 16,000 square feet of living space.

An oasis at 6942 Desco Place sits in the heart of Preston Hollow’s Windsor Park neighborhood.

It’s filled with organic materials and delightful areas for gathering. Across the tree-filled property, there’s even a detached guest house and pool to relish.

If you’ve been hoping to move into the Park Cities, these offerings represented by Allie Beth Allman & Associates have eye-catching new price tags you don’t want to miss.

On a prime corner lot in University Park, a 5,200-square-foot stone beauty is waiting for you at 3400 Hanover St. Whether you’re an avid host or just a foodie, you’re sure to get tons of use out of the unique outdoor kitchen and bar overlooking the pool.

The next three opportunities sit in Highland Park, starting with 3101 Cornell Ave. Just imagine hanging out with loved ones in front of the bright living room’s fireplace, baking with the kids in the newly renovated kitchen, or soaking away any stress from the day in the primary suite’s jetted bathtub.

For architecture lovers, nothing beats the museum-like modern decked out with fine, Italian design elements at 4208 Beverly Drive.

The 6,500-square-foot home is centered around a U-shaped courtyard to create a total indooroutdoor paradise.

Christine McKenny can show you a sleek twobedroom condo poised for stylish, lock-andleave living. Located at 4502 Abbott Avenue #212 and providing private gate access to Katy Trail, this clean-lined home is a serene oasis in the midst of a lively setting.

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

Flexible Floorplan, Contemporary Masterpiece Prime Location THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

by Josh Nimmo

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Breathtaking estates on Hunters Glen 2300 N Carroll is currently being offered for $1,600,000.

Privacy, elegance and luxury living await behind the gates of 6601 Hunters Glen Road, beautifully updated in Volk Estates.

Leaders from across the Ebby Halliday Companies gathered recently for the 2025 Sales Leader Retreat, held at the Interstate Inn in Stephenville. This year’s setting was both meaningful and inspiring — Stephenville is home to one of our own Ebby Halliday offices, and the thoughtfully restored Interstate Inn perfectly captured the blend of tradition and modern creativity that defines our brand.

Throughout the retreat, Ebby Halliday leadership, sales leaders, and staff came together to collaborate, share insights, and look ahead to the future. While we continue to honor the incredible legacy of Ebby Halliday — a legacy that has shaped North and East Texas real estate for more than 80 years — our focus remains firmly on innovation, growth, and leading with purpose.

A highlight of the retreat was the opportunity to learn from industry icon Mike Staver, who challenged our teams to think boldly about leadership, service, and strategy in 2025 and beyond. His engaging sessions inspired fresh perspectives and renewed energy for the year ahead.

If you’re a real estate professional seeking a brokerage that invests in its people, empowers leadership, and builds community, we’d love to connect. Learn more about joining Ebby Halliday at JoinEHC.com.

Volk Estates is filled with unique, architecturally significant properties, so it’s an area where only the most experienced agents operate. The experts of Allie Beth Allman & Associates are frequently trusted to sell the exquisite residences here, and they represent two extraordinary offerings on the same sought-after street: Hunters Glen.

Set behind gates on 1.8 manicured acres, an astounding 13,000-square-foot manor awaits at 6601 Hunters Glen Road. Built in 1927 but impeccably remodeled recently by Sebastian Construction Group, the home seamlessly melds traditional grandeur and contemporary panache. Whether you’re throwing a dazzling brunch with your whole family as fireplaces crackle or having a crowd over for fun-filled summer days, this estate is a dream for large-scale hosting.

Looking for an ultra-luxurious estate that’s brand-new?

You’re in luck with 6901 Hunters Glen Road. Vast open spaces that exude minimalist, Cali-cool style beckon for sophisticated soirées or tranquil days at home with lush scenery always in view. Foodies especially will swoon over the magazine-worthy kitchen, marble-clad wet bar, and gorgeous butler’s pantry for lively entertaining, while wellness enthusiasts are sure to love the pristine primary suite and the backyard’s infinity-edge pool and spa.

A masterpiece of contemporary architecture by Josh Nimmo, AIA built by Alan Kagan with Dwellings, this two-level residence seamlessly blends artistry, privacy, and livability. Tucked behind a discreet gated entry, the property opens to a newly turfed front yard punctuated by a striking deep-blue sculpture, setting the tone for the home’s sculptural minimalism.

The open-concept floor plan showcases concrete floors, pocket doors, and museum-finish walls, freshly painted to complement the home’s sophisticated simplicity. Expansive glass doors connect the living and kitchen areas to an intimate outdoor retreat featuring a private plunge pool, gas grill, and fireplace, creating effortless indoor-outdoor living.

The chef’s kitchen is equipped with Miele appliances, a Liebherr refrigerator, surrounded by custom cabinetry and minimalist detailing. The first-floor primary suite offers direct access to the pool area and features a spainspired bath with a dual sinks, and a custom walk-in closet with integrated washer and dryer.

The property also includes a 665 sq. ft. attached accessory dwelling, originally designed as a motherin-law suite, complete with a large bath, walk-in closet, utility room with washer and dryer, and a high-fenced patio. Currently operating as a short-term rental, this flexible space offers ideal multigenerational or income potential.

Contact Valerie Dillon (214.755.3036) for more information or visit www.DPMFineHomes.com.

Discover a stunning, newly built single-family attached home in a prime Park CIties location — just minutes from the Dallas North Tollway and great shopping/dining. Designed for modern living, this 4-bedroom home at 4200 University Boulevard (4200university.daveperrymiller.com) is offered by Trina Rothwell for $1,950,000.

On the first level, enjoy an open living area anchored by a cozy gas fireplace and an open study. The kitchen features a breakfast bar, oversized island, stainless steel appliances and a spacious walk-in pantry. You’ll also find a convenient powder bath and a covered patio for relaxing outdoors.

Upstairs, the primary suite impresses with two walk-in closets and a luxe bath with dual vanities, soaking tub and walk-in shower. Three secondary bedrooms offer ensuite baths and walk-in closets. This home also includes a versatile bonus/flex room that can serve as a true fourth bedroom.

To schedule a showing, contact Trina at 214284-7338 | trinarothwell@dpmre.com.

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday Companies, specializing in Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park, plus lake homes and Farm & Ranch properties in the North Texas region.

YourTeam_PeopleNews_Jan2026.pdf 1 11/11/2025 4:04:48 PM

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IMAGINATION OVERLOAD

Schools harness creativity with robotics, gardening, and woodworking.

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ER docs to dog detectives – opportunities abound

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SMU gets $5M to help transform Texas teaching

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Flight Museum touts careers in technology

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B2 STEAM 2026 | peoplenewspapers.com

STEAM LESSONS REACH BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

W

hen I was touring potential colleges many moons ago, one of my deciding factors had nothing to do with labs or libraries — it was whether any English classes were held outside.

SomeCLAUDIA t h i n g CARSON-HABEEB a b o u t learning in the open air, under trees rather than fluorescent lights, always felt right to me.

Years later, when my sons were in high school, my husband and I invited our friend Mariel Hemingway to speak to their English class. After she finished her presentation in the school’s theater, she asked everyone to head outdoors, slip off their shoes, and feel the earth beneath their feet.

“Let’s do a little grounding,” she said. The students were thrilled to continue the Q&A in the sunshine. Mariel, who says her creativity peaks when she’s in the mountains, recounted how her grandfather spent many of his days outdoors in Cuba, where he was either on the ocean fishing or playing baseball with Cuban children who often called him “Papa.”

Mariel Hemingway. THE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS

There’s something freeing and transformative about outdoor learning that connects body, mind, and environment.

That spirit is alive and well in today’s STEM — and increasingly, STEAM — programs.

As I gathered curriculum updates from area schools for this month’s STEAM issue, I was struck by the initiatives students can explore beyond four walls.

At Greenhill, students are not

only cultivating a butterfly garden but also restoring native prairie grasses, understanding firsthand how ecosystems thrive. At Hockaday, students harvest honey from their on-campus beehive, blending biology, environmental science, and a sweet lesson in sustainability.

These projects are more than science experiments — they are lessons in stewardship, curiosity, and community. Students learn how innovation and nature coexist, how observation fuels creativity, and how small acts like planting native species or

“Let’s do a little grounding.”

Mariel Hemingway

tending bees can have ripple effects on the planet.

Interdisciplinary education has come a long way from the days of textbook equations and sterile labs. Today, it invites students to engage all their senses, to explore, to question, and to connect. And in this era of hybrid classrooms and digital learning, students are also getting to know each other across various platforms — sharing discoveries whether reading in the mountains, on a beach, or simply stretched out in the campus wildflower fields. Such moments are vital as they invite creativity and connection, lest we fall into what Richard Louv once described as “nature deficit disorder.”

As Greenhill science teacher Gretchen Pollum put it, in spending time outdoors, “we not only learn about land and nature itself, but time in the gardens helps cultivate deeper understandings about ourselves and our connectivity to both the land and each other.”

STEAM education has made big strides, and in doing so, has brought students closer to the world, and to one another. And perhaps best of all, it reminds them — just as Mariel did — to take a moment, step outside, and stay grounded.

your creativity

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2026

SECURE YOUR CHILD’S SPOT TODAY! Choosing the right school for your child is important, and Dallas ISD has rigorous academics and more than 100 specialty programs to help you find the right fit for your child. Don’t let your child miss out on hands-on learning experiences and the chance to build their legacy.

Be part of something bigger! Apply NOW. Montessori • Early Learning • And more!

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B4 STEAM 2026 | peoplenewspapers.com

Armstrong Students Showcase Creativity in Invention Convention

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

No one likes to spend a day at the beach with sand in their shorts. Spreading cold butter on toast can be a recipe for a crumby mess. And a Labubu should never be mistaken for a dog toy.

Fortunately, Armstrong Elementary students have solved these problems. They’re among the many dilemmas students tackled during October’s Invention Convention.

The Sand Ripper Swimsuit avoids an itchy day at the beach with a pull cord that scrunches up the suit’s fabric. Even cold butter is easy to spread when you put it in a glue stick. And both pets and pesky siblings are fooled by a locked Labubu safe disguised as a Squishmallow.

The Invention Convention is an annual tradition at Armstrong Elementary. For the first time this year, all third graders were required to create a project, a change that enabled teachers to guide students and build on their creativity, explained the event’s co-chairs Lindsay Barnes and Jenna Fry. Students in other grades were also invited to invent whatever they wanted. Some young innovators created tools to improve their daily lives, while others took on issues of global significance, such as how to deliver clean water through a solar purifier.

Not everything worked the first time, and that was part of the process.

“Part of inventing is having it not work,” Barnes said. “I think that it’s important for everyone, especially when they’re young, to have the opportunity to think and try new things — and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t — and to have the freedom to create, and to also solve real problems.”

Fourth-grader Ellie Barnes used jar lids, popsicle sticks, and stretchy tube toys to add valuable inches to

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Eisa Khan and Casen James with their invention, a Lego Lift that can move items. Avery Lesikar with the Safe Skin Sanitizer she created with partner Callie Sargent. Davis Newberry and Rhett Rozzell with their Homework Guard. Ellie Chalmers holds her Toothpaste Buddy. SARAH HODGES

her height with expandable shoes.

“We have these really high shelves in the pantry so I can’t reach them,” she explained. “But then if I put on my expandable shoes, I can reach the snack I want.”

Ellie tested the shoes, and they worked. She wrote in the results section of her presentation that her invention should be on store shelves.

Third-graders Davis Newberry and Rhett Rozzell used their coding skills to solve the age-

old problem of how to persuade reluctant students to do their homework. Their Homework Guard “watches” kids to make sure they stay in their seats during study time. If they get up, the device beeps to notify parents.

The Guard will work for other kids, the inventors said, but may not be successful in their homes.

“We know how to disable it,” Newberry explained.

Third-graders Avery Lesikar

and Callie Sargent combined witch hazel, aloe vera, distilled water, and essential oils to create an alcohol and chemical free skin sanitizer. Lesikar said the pair plan to try to sell their creation.

Every participant left the Invention Convention with a star headband and their own bright idea journal. Parent judges also gave three awards to each class of third graders for Bright Idea, Proficient Planning, and Creativity.

But the convention, which was sponsored by Medical City Children’s Hospital, was about learning and trying new things.

Participating was itself a win.

“They’re addressing problems that they have in their life,” Barnes said. “Some of it is bigger stuff, like how do you make sure that we don’t get plastic into the ocean for animals, and some of it’s how do I make my day-to-day life easier, better, safer, and cleaner.”

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2026

HIGHLAND PARK S T E A M ELEMENTARY All our elementary schools are equipped with unique spaces where our youngest students participate in dynamic STEAM activities throughout the year.

INTERMEDIATE & MIDDLE Our 5th-8th grade students have a wide range of opportunities to pursue STEAM topics including Engineering, Coding, Robotics, and Digital Media.

MOODY ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Where can high school students have authentic learning experiences from outstanding teachers and industry experts?

Right here in the MAPS Program at HPHS. Our classes include Business Design and Leadership, Environmental Architecture, Brain Science and Health, Engineering Design, Modern Media, and Sports Analytics.

ENTER TO LEARN. GO FORTH TO SERVE. For more information on about Highland Park STEAM, please visit our website.

www.hpisd.org/steam HP STEAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MOODY FOUNDATION AND MOODY INNOVATION INSTITUTE.

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B6 STEAM 2026 | peoplenewspapers.com

SCOTS DISCOVER STEM CAREERS DURING SCITECH FESTIVAL

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Think of a circus. There’s more action than one spectator could possibly take in. But the talented members of this company are leaders in medicine, engineering, genetic therapy, and other STEM fields.

Highland Park High School students experienced a day filled with hands-on learning and got an insider’s view of STEM careers during their school’s annual Science and Technology Festival on Nov. 17.

About 50 presenters spoke with students during this year’s festival. Students could choose to attend a session that sparked their

interest during their regularly scheduled science and technology classes.

The event was chaired by Abby Ruth and Molly Soper. Presenting sponsors were La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, the Highland Park Education Foundation, and the Highland Park High School parent teacher association.

It’s hard to choose just one presentation when options include talks on the history of robotic surgery, careers in video game development, and a day in the life of a hand surgeon. People Newspapers went back to school for the day and joined students for several classes of STEM-inspired learning.

ER docs in training Need stitches? Students at Highland Park High School have the skills to sew you up.

Emergency medical physician Heather Owen gave a packed class of students a lesson in how to use simple interrupted sutures to help superficial injuries heal. The high schoolers practiced on “skin” — actually, small squares of silicon.

Owen directed students in how to take “bites” by putting their needles through the pretend skin.

Once students mastered the basics, she told them how to get style points by leaving equal spaces between the sutures, keeping consistent spacing on both sides of a wound, making sure their knots lay flat and were all on the same side, and not pulling so tight that they caused the skin to pucker.

“If you were to go home and you had three sutures really close to each other, and one up here and one up here, you’d be like, ‘Oh my. That doesn’t look very good,’” she told students.

This is Owen’s second year teaching the hands-on skill.

Last year, she had as much fun as the high schoolers did.

“Exposure to the different aspects of medicine is really my greatest goal, to help them know what emergency medicine is,” Owen said. “But they can do anything that they want to. And something like this, that seems so challenging at first, they literally master in 30 minutes.”

Dog detectives Not all technology is shiny. It can be furry, with a wet nose and a waggy tail.

Students met some superpowered service dogs during a presentation from Dogs in Vests and Novacek’s 84 Labradoodles.

Amy Novacek told students that she has blood sugar issues and Addison’s Disease, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes her body to produce an insufficient amount of cortisol.

She has a device designed to alert her when her blood sugar levels are low, but it can’t monitor her cortisol.

Her dogs can, though. They’ve been trained to use their sense of smell to tell when Novacek’s cortisol and blood sugar levels are

out of range and even fetch her medicine.

“Is there anything your dogs do, or do they just love you like crazy?” Novacek asked students. “That’s why most of us have dogs. The really cool thing about our dogs, though, is they help people do life.”

Dogs in Vests owner Miriam Richard explained how she’s trained dogs in scent detection, a skill that has been key to protecting her son, who is unable to eat any starches. Even the amount found in a crouton crumb could be enough to send him to the hospital. One summer, the family had to take that trip 11 times.

Richard said that thanks to the keen senses of his expert helpers, her son has been in the hospital just once in the last nine years.

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2026

Animal advocates One of the yellow-billed stork chicks in the nest looked healthy, but the younger of the two was lethargic.

Could he have an infection, Dallas zookeepers wondered, or had the tiny bird been struggling against a piece of straw over his head?

He had actually tried, and failed, to swallow a giant fish. After zookeepers removed it and gave him some fluids, he made a full recovery.

Ann Knutson, Dallas’ Zoological manager of birds, decoded this and other mysteries of animal behavior for students during her presentation, “Wild Works: The Science and Care Behind Every Animal.”

Zookeeping has evolved in the 20 years she’s been in the profession, Knutson told students. It has become about much more than making sure animals have food and water.

“Modern zookeeping is really a sci-

ence driven, welfare focused profession that blends animal care, behavior, conservation, communication, and collaboration to support thriving animals and sustainable populations,” she explained.

Zookeepers rely on notes, data, and record keeping to find patterns in animal behavior, then problem-solve to determine how they can improve the welfare and enrich the lives of animals.

Outside of the zoo, Knutson has helped birds thrive in the wild, including the critically endangered mangrove finch — the rarest bird in the Galapagos.

“I love my job,” Knutson told students. “I think you can make a direct impact on conservation … by inspiring people to make a change in their life, even if it’s just caring about animals.”

Small, but still supersized They’re in each of the electronics that consumers rely on to make their lives easier, from smartphones and cars to the robotics in Amazon Prime distribution centers.

But even though semiconductors are crucial to the functioning of modern devices, they’re tiny, and invisible to those who use them.

Highland Park High School students got an inside look at the world of semiconductors, and a peek into one of the top companies that makes them, thanks to HP alum Sam Delagi, equipment branch manager of Texas Instruments’ (TI’s) Sherman facility.

Delagi told students that they may be familiar with the name TI thanks to its best-in-class calculators. But the company’s famous classroom tools account for less than 1% of its revenue.

Art and AI

Students didn’t just listen to new media artist Taylor Cleveland talk.

They experienced his story as it unfolded around them in Highland Park High School’s Digitarium at Pierce Planetarium during an artistic, immersive short film he made specifically for the SciTech Festival.

Cleveland spoke directly to students during part of Reels to Real, then introduced case studies of the work he’s done at the cross section of marketing, art, and technology.

Cleveland’s projects for viral marketing company TriplePlay Studios include the creepy use of actors to promote the movie Smile, and the mysterious campaign to advertise Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion.

Students had a chance to ask Cleveland questions after the presentation. But for Cleveland, the answers were often secondary to the act of questioning. He encouraged students to think critically, and to separate themselves from the trends they see in social media.

“Who are you outside of all of those things

that are external to you, that are coming in from your device or your media, that ultimately are products of other people, and probably, more times than not, products of brands that are paying to get to you?” he asked students.

AI, he said, isn’t a fad. It’s going to change

“TI is so big, but you won’t see it anywhere. It’s in everything around us,” he said. “It’s in TVs. It’s in projectors, and it’s just creating a better, more connected world.”

Delagi took students inside TI’s plant in Richardson, where the company manufactures more than 100 million analog chips each day. Students examined one silicon wafer of chips that Delagi brought with him to the classroom.

TI is continuing to grow, Delagi said. He’s part of a startup team building a new plant in Sherman to meet anticipated demand. The plant is a $30 billion investment for TI, and the largest economic development project in Texas history.

“We are expanding our capacity very drastically,” Delagi said, “and are very proud to be doing it in Texas.”

the way that we think, see the world, and view ourselves.

“It’s something that you should use. You should know how it works,” he said. “But it’s also something that you should question and push back on as well.”

Photos By: Sarah Hodges and Meg Boyd/Highland Park Education Foundation

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Grants, Large and Small, Advance STEM Learning in North Texas Leaders in education and industry agree on this much: To better prepare students for the careers of the future, a solid foundation in science and engineering is vital in the United States.

And with Texas educating more than 5.5 million public school students — more than 11% of the nation’s total — there’s a real chance to vastly improve STEM education nationwide.

To that end in North Texas, grants of various sizes will help teachers improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics lessons.

SMU leads One of the bigger awards — a $5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation — is fueling an SMU initiative to enhance how science and engineering are taught in Texas elementary and middle schools, the university announced in a press release.

“By investing in teachers’ professional growth and leadership, we aim to both improve instruction and increase teacher retention, which is a critical need in Texas,” said the project’s lead, Jeanna Wieselmann, an assistant professor of STEM Education at SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

The 5-year grant will be used to recruit a select group of outstanding teachers into a Texas STEM Teacher Corps, provide them with professional learning and leadership opportunities, and connect them with other teachers across the state and country.

“Through this project, about 100 teachers will directly participate, and we estimate more than 12,000 students will benefit

feeling unprepared to teach engineering, according to a 2018 study.

In Texas, the challenge is compounded by high teacher attrition. In the past year, the Texas Education Agency reported that more than 12% of teachers left the profession, compared to roughly 8% nationwide.

SMU is looking to turn that around by building strong teacher support.

TOP, FROM LEFT: SMU’s Janille Smith-Colin, Jeanna Wieselmann, and Anthony Petrosino are spearheading an initiative to improve science and engineering education in Texas. BOTTOM: Texas Instruments digital experience analytics manager Sarah Hantak, teacher Ward Coats, and JLD president Dr. Lindsay Davis at the Junior League of Dallas Headquarters. COURTESY RESEARCH EDUCATION AND GEORGE FIALA

from improved instruction during the 5-year project,” said Wieselmann. “That number will grow each year as these teachers continue in their careers and share what they’ve learned with colleagues.”

Co-researchers Anthony Petrosino, professor in the Simmons School, and Janille Smith-Colin, an associate professor at

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, will assist Wieselmann.

Three colleagues at Tarleton State University will also be helping with the educational programs, along with SMU graduate students.

Less than 10% of U.S. elementary and middle school teachers have ever taken a college course in engineering, and most reported

TI and JLD Leaders in industry and the nonprofit sector are also supporting teachers.

For example, the Junior League of Dallas ( JLD) through its Grants for Innovative Teaching program has awarded $2.27 million to Dallas ISD educators through the years — including $77,400 in the fall of 2025.

Donors including Texas Instruments (Presenting Sponsor) and The Agnes Cluthe Oliver Foundation made possible the awards of $2,500 each for 33 Dallas ISD educators, JLD announced in a press release.

The recipients included Ward Coates, whose Thomas Jefferson High School students are researching key protein complexes critical for pancreas formation. This interdisciplinary project combines biology, computer science, and engineering.

“No other classroom factor influences student academic achievement more significantly than teachers,” said Andy Smith, TI director of giving and volunteering. “They not only act as mentors and advocates for their students but also equip them with skills for future achievements.”

– Compiled by William Taylor

Cultivating Curious Minds for a Complex World

At Wesley Prep, STEAM learning empowers students to discover how the world works, imagine what it could become, and recognize their ability to contribute meaningfully to it. By nurturing curiosity, creativity, and character, we prepare learners not only for the future, but to shape the future.

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Students Soar During Frontiers of Flight Museum Career Days

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During the eighth anniversary version of the STEM Career Days program, students listened to lectures, made gliders, and checked out exhibits. COURTESY FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM

By Lisa Petty

Special Contributor Flying is a universal fascination. We conjure soaring, floating, and gliding in our earliest childhood dreams, and even the most world-weary grown-up will marvel as silver wings cut through misty clouds outside the window of a rising jet.

This sense of wonder comes to life — and captures new generations — at Dallas’s Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Since 1988, the Smithsonian Affiliate has amassed more than 35,000 pieces of aviation and space exploration history.

Each year, the 100,000-square-foot campus at Love Field Airport hosts some 160,000 visitors from across Texas and around the world.

On any given day, you’ll find children and families marveling at an F-18 Blue Angel or sliding a hand across the battered exterior of a real-life Apollo mission capsule. And, for a few weeks each fall, there is even more to learn and explore.

November 2025 marked the eighth anniversary of the STEM Career Days program, which brings a month of enhanced educational opportunities for North Texas students focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math.

Rosalie Wade, the museum’s director of education, has seen the program through from the start.

“We originally launched with a one-day event, and it was just a field trip,” she said, describing a day that included exhibitor tables and a STEM activity prepped for the students.

“Ultimately, we realized that if we opened it up throughout November and created a whole month of STEM career days, it would allow us to host more speakers from different career paths and serve more students, too,” Wade said.

More students, indeed. In fact, the most recent STEM Career Days hosted approximately 2,000 sixth through 12th grade students, more than four times the number served in year one.

Each day of the month brought an array of interactive challenges, tours, and career talks, thanks in large part to Amazon Prime Air, a first-time sponsor in 2025.

“They want to educate people about aerospace, how drones work, and how it will affect the community,” said Wade of the new partnership timed in advance of the debut of Amazon drone delivery in North Texas.

Additional presenters included representatives from H-E-B, Dallas College, and European aerospace giant, Airbus, each focused on a different part of the ever-expanding world of STEM careers.

For example, on a sunny morning before Thanksgiving, students were challenged to create their own gliders as a beginning lesson in aeronautics.

Later that day, a speaker in the museum’s auditorium took students on a deep dive — or, flight, that is — into the subject of helicopters.

No matter the specifics, it all served to spark the spirit of exploration through education.

“As the students create these things and they get to experiment, it’s fun to see the lights in their eyes,” Wade said. “That’s my favorite part.”

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HANDS DIRTY, MINDS GROWING IN AREA STEAM PROGRAMS

From harvesting honey to drafting woodworking plans, the STEAM curriculum at Preston Hollow schools is buzzing with innovation. Blending hands-on learning with core academics, dynamic programs have grown into ways for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to intersect in unexpected ways. Students aren’t just reading about ecosystems — they’re tending school beehives. They aren’t only studying geometry — they’re applying it to design and building real, tangible items.

Teachers are demonstrating how this expanded approach encourages curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving, giving students a chance to see how classroom concepts come alive in the world around them.

In this special STEAM edition, we take a closer look at the projects shaping young minds, the educators guiding them, and the community partnerships helping these programs thrive. Together, they’re redefining what learning can look like — and proving that creativity and innovation grow best when students are allowed to build, explore, and get their hands a little sticky.

Ursuline Academy‘s all-girls team breaks barriers in robotics At Ursuline Academy of Dallas, students are taking charge of technology in the robotics lab and the physics classroom.

From an all-girls robotics team competing in a male-dominated field, to a hybrid AP Physics C course designed to keep top STEM students challenged, young women are redefining what innovation looks like in education.

After the official “game reveal” in the fall, Team Robovinia began designing, building, and coding their robot. The model featured an advanced drive train, a specialized intake system, and an evolving webcam-based navigation system that used AprilTags for autonomous movement.

On Nov. 22, in the FIRST Tech Challenge, Robovinia debuted a fully student-built robot designed to launch and retrieve game pieces.

Out of 34 teams in their league, only two others were all-girl teams — a powerful reminder that the future of engineering isn’t limited by gender.

Ursuline students also collaborated with Jesuit Dallas for coding mentorship and lab support, diving into Java programming and other technical skills that pushed forward their engineering knowledge.

With their sights set on the 2026 regionals and nationals, the 10 core members met after school and on weekends to perfect their mission.

Ursuline’s commitment to empower young women in STEM was also sparked when the school’s AP Physics C teacher left last summer. Rather than canceling the class, Ursuline launched a one-year, hybrid version of the course, led by Barbara Watson, one of the region’s most respected AP Physics instructors.

Students completed asynchronous lessons during the school day, gathered each

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Tuesday evening for in-person instruction, and came together once a month for immersive lab sessions while building projects that included homopolar motors to make abstract physics concepts come alive.

Parish Episcopal drives innovation across STEM and the arts

Parish Episcopal School expanded its hands-on, interdisciplinary learning to connect STEM with the arts and real-world problem-solving.

This fall, students engaged directly with design, sustainability, and innovation across all grade levels.

Parish’s STEM, Arts, and Center for College & Life Planning departments partnered with the Communications team to host students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Members of the SCAD team showcased their award-winning electric vehicle concept car and discussed their design process with

Lower, Middle, and Upper School students.

Parish’s NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) team joined the event for a friendly test run between its Rover and the SCAD car, exchanging insights on engineering and creativity.

At the Hillcrest campus, the first phase of the Nauslar Family Garden renovation was completed this fall, featuring 16 raised VegoGarden beds with in-bed worm composters, a new garden shed, and an outdoor wash station. The expanded space supports outdoor, cross-curricular learning opportunities where younger students will enjoy their first vegetable harvest later this season.

The trimester concluded with the November Parish STEM Showcase, where families celebrated student work from the fall. Highlights included a CO₂ dragster race sponsored by the sySTEMs booster club, along with exhibits such as 3D-printed designs, Makey Makey projects, circuits, and new Rover prototypes.

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The Lamplighter School’s woodworking program crafts real skills

At Lamplighter, woodworking is more than a class — it’s a hallmark of hands-on learning and creative exploration.

Reflecting the school’s mission to nurture curiosity through engaging, collaborative experiences, Lamplighter’s woodworking program invites students to imagine, design, and build with both traditional and modern tools.

Beginning in pre-K, children are introduced to the basics of design and construction using storybooks, 3D-printed manipulatives, and simple tools. As students progress through the Lower School, their skills and confidence grow alongside the complexity of their projects.

By third and fourth grade, young makers are drafting plans, keeping design journals, and mastering tools ranging from hand saws and kid-safe chomp saws to laser cutters and 3D printers.

Through every stage, students experience

the joy of turning ideas into tangible creations — learning persistence, precision, and the power of imagination along the way.

Greenhill School’s environmental impact reaches far and wide

Greenhill’s comprehensive environmental science education initiative focuses on the best practices for environmental stewardship, incorporating the local Blackland Prairie ecosystem and vegetable gardening with hands-on learning.

The program aims to serve as a model for other schools nationwide and worldwide, providing professional development training in ecosystem restoration.

Greenhill received a $100,000 matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation to establish an environmental science education program, including the construction of a greenhouse, Blackland Prairie ecosystem installation, and outdoor learning spaces for pre-K-12th grade.

The school is raising $100,000 to receive matching funds from the foundation.

360-degree learning guides Hockaday’s exploration

Hockaday’s First Grade Field Studies, an interdisciplinary class that combines art, science, writing, and math, enables students to spend most of their class period outside, observing nature and recording their findings in journals.

The class reimagines what it means to engage young learners through hands-on, interdisciplinary exploration.

“I want this class to stimulate the whole learner,” said instructor Emily Dutcher. “I believe in 360-degree learning — learning that synthesizes everything else our girls are doing in their other classrooms. Nature provides an engaging, hands-on backdrop for them to begin making meaningful connections between their learning and the real world.”

The class explores projects such as turning food waste into natural dyes for weaving

projects, partnering with the Upper School’s AP Science to map the Blackland Prairie area on campus, and harvesting honey from Hockaday’s campus beehive.

While students make a catalog of native prairie trees on campus, using math concepts to organize and compare them, they learn about botanist and photographer Anna Atkins and her cyanotype process to document their findings.

Working with Dr. Sarah Kucker and researchers from SMU’s Kids in Development Lab from SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dutcher is seeking to better understand how the non-traditional approach to learning supports Lower School outcomes, including wonder, collaboration, resilience, and agency.

“I believe that giving students access to this type of learning will make them better thinkers and learners overall,” she said.

– Compiled by Claudia Carson-Habeeb

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