Jim Whorton’s raring to travel the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade route again, this time as grand marshal. PAGE
RIDE, WHITE, AND BLUE
LEMONADE STANDS SERVE MORE THAN SWEET DRINKS
My kids decided that they desperately needed to open a lemonade stand one summer afternoon. We were out of juice and didn’t have a small table, so they grabbed a step stool and set up shop in front of our house selling free tap water in dixie cups.
I had doubts about their startup’s success. As a child, I had tried opening lemonade stands with actual lemonade, and ended up drinking most of my product myself due to a lack of customers.
But in the Park Cities, free water is a best seller. Our University Park neighbors popped out of their homes to see what the kids were offering. A generous and thirsty jogger came by and paid for a dixie cup. (We think he might have misheard when my daughter said the water was “for free,” and thought the water was “for three.”)
The kids’ customers grasped what I had missed — that they were selling something you can’t get by turning on a faucet. Purchases, free or not, supported my fledgling entrepreneurs, built their confidence, and added a little sparkle to an ordinary afternoon.
This summer, lemonade stands are popping up on sidewalks around the Park Cities. And a dollar spent on a cup purchases much more than a sugar-sweetened drink.
On one recent Sunday afternoon, friends and young entrepreneurs Pryor Foster and Huntley Bateman, who are both 8, and An-
nie Laughlin, 7, set up shop on a corner in University Park selling bottled and sparkling water, lemonade in pink and white cups, and a variety of snacks, including goldfish, organic fruit bars, and skinny pop.
All their products cost $1, but potential customers without cash weren’t out of luck at this lemonade stand. For those who didn’t have money, the products were all free.
“It’s something to do and it’s just really fun,” Huntley said of the stand.
The trio said that business was going well, but that they didn’t have plans for their profits. Seeing customers smile was part of their reward.
Later the same afternoon, 11-year-old Nate Cohen covered his own table with a red-checkered cloth and set up a stand selling cookies, snacks, and lemonade with some help from his mom.
In the two hours that he was outside by himself, Nate had to relocate several times to avoid hungry mosquitos. He only sold one cookie, and customers didn’t buy any snacks. But he sold about 60 cups of lemonade for $1 each. Nate’s mom, who was waiting inside, had to give the jug at his stand multiple refills.
Despite the bugs and humidity, he had a good time selling lemonade, Nate said, explaining that “just lighting up people’s faces” made it fun.
Nate’s mom, Angeline Gullotto, said that she loves it when her son opens lemonade stands. The project takes him outside for hours and is something she remembers doing herself all the time growing up.
“It’s so nostalgic,” she said. “A lot of peo
FROM LEFT: Annie Laughlin, Huntley Bateman, and Pryor Foster. 11-year-old Nate Cohen at his lemonade stand on University Boulevard. SARAH HODGES AND ANGELINE GULLOTTO
SARAH HODGES
Crime Reports May 12 - June 7
May 12
A criminal cruiser stole a 2023 BMW X3 on Granada Avenue at about 6:15 a.m.
May 13
Reported at 8:38 a.m.: A porch pirate stole a BOB brand jogging stroller from outside a home in the 4500 block of Fairway Avenue early the morning of May 2.
May 14
A burglar stole a Craftsman tool bag and tools worth about $1,000 from an unlocked Ford van in the 4200 block of Fairfax Avenue at about 1 p.m.
May 15
A destructive deviant stole between $2,500 and $30,000 of construction tools at about 9:23 a.m. on Marquette Street.
May 16
A bag bandit stole a fake Louis Vuitton purse and a wallet from a locked 2020 Chevy Traverse in the Whole Foods parking lot in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive before 3 p.m.
May 19
A sneaky thief entered a garage and unlocked home in the 3400 block of Mockingbird Lane at about 3:34 a.m. and stole a 2019 Porsche Cayenne key fob.
May 20
Reported at 8:19 a.m.: a theft of property from the Turley Law Center on North Central Expressway.
May 21
Reported at 3:20 p.m.: A rented 2025 Audi Q5 had new damage to its front fender when it was returned to Audi Dallas that may have been caused by a reckless roadster in Highland Park Village.
May 22
Reported at 3:11 p.m.: A fraudster cashed two fake checks for $23,549.16 similar to those that a resident of the 4500 block of North Versailles Avenue sent via FedEx
for her daughter’s upcoming wedding.
May 23
Proximity to the valet podium wasn’t enough to protect an Irving woman’s 2020 Toyota from vandalism at Highland Park Village. The RAV4’s owner, who parked it at 6:40 a.m., returned at 3:30 p.m. and found two holes in a side window, one in the corner and one in the center. Valet workers said they hadn’t noticed anyone trying to break into it.
May 24
A tennis game at Fairfax Park served up an unlovely interruption for a University Park woman before 1:50 p.m. when a bystander inquired about a shattered window on a 2021 Ford Bronco parked on Roland Avenue. An opportunistic burglar got away with two Louis Vuitton purses, plus credit cards, prescription glasses, Tory Birch sunglasses, two $50 checks, $300 in cash, and antibiotics, but didn’t have as much success at a Walgreens store in the 3700 block of West Northwest Highway. There, the crook tried to buy more than $700 in gift cards, but the transactions with stolen credit cards were denied.
May 25
Reported at 5:31 p.m.: easy pickings on Lomo Alto Drive. An opportunistic burglar took advantage after a 47-year-old man left a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup unlocked but not empty.
May 26
A criminal cruiser stole a 2020 Ford Edge at about 6 p.m. on Hursey Street.
May 27
Reported at 9:54 a.m.: A purse poacher stole a Juan Antonio wallet from its owner’s purse while she was assisting someone at an estate sale on May 23 in the 3100 block of Cornell Avenue.
May 28
A burglar struck a 2017 GMC Sierra at about 4:44 p.m. on Fondren Drive.
Get ready for a
May 29
The operator of a Mercedes-Benz E300 may have been driven by hunger to take her eyes off the road while eating a snack. She collided with a tree at about 3:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of Westside Drive.
May 30
A footwear fraudster used a stolen credit card to purchase two pairs of shoes at Chanel in Highland Park Village before 3:19 p.m.
May 31
Reported at 10:01 a.m.: A swindler used credit cards from a lululemon crossbody bag stolen on May 23 in the Whole Foods parking lot in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive to make purchases at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s.
June 2
Forgery involving the use or possession of identifying information that allegedly occurred in October was reported at 12:04 p.m. on Caruth Boulevard.
June 3
Reported at 10:10 p.m.: A brazen burglar stole a bag containing a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop from a GMC Yukon in Highland Park Village that may have been left unlocked.
June 4
Reported at 7:50 a.m.: The reckless driver of a white truck struck the side mirror of an Acura MDX while turning south at the intersection of Preston Road and Mockingbird Lane, but didn’t turn around after the collision to leave information.
June 5
Reported at 9:24 a.m.: An Uber delivery driver may have delivered some damage to an Audi A4 in the 4300 block of Potomac Avenue after hitting the parked vehicle.
June 7
A car thief snatched a Toyota RAV4 from a parking space in the 4700 block of Abbott Avenue before 7 p.m.
STRONG MARKET
this Summer!
5
INSPIRED VOICES
Our residents are one of the best reasons to join us at The Tradition. Here is one perspective on why moving to our community was an easy decision:
“Life is just full and happy, and we don’t have any of the concerns you have when you’re in your own home, and having to arrange for this, that, and the other. It just happens.”
I hope that you consider a new way of living 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
Pledges Push Endowment to $67M Historic Lead for Tomorrow Campaign supports future generations of Scots
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Bringing home a championship isn’t a solo effort, and neither is being successful in a classroom. Fortunately for students in Highland Park ISD, they have a winning team to help accomplish both.
“The impact of the community and how they put everything into their students so that they can grow up and be successful leaders in the world is just so unique,” said Armstrong Elementary third grade teacher Caroline Massey, who graduated from HPISD in 2020. “It is really telling based on how many people want to come back and serve their community.”
State funding for schools is complex and unpredictable, but the community’s support for HPISD has been unwavering.
MAKE AN IMPACT
To find out more about the Lead for Tomorrow
with a gift of at least $15,000, which can be pledged over several years.
The minimum pledge is significantly less than the amount required for the creation of similar funds at other institutions. The foundation deliberately kept the base low to encourage community participation before the Lead for Tomorrow Campaign wraps up at the end of 2026, Vanderwoude said.
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Since launching the Lead for Tomorrow Campaign in January 2021, the Highland Park Education Foundation, a nonprofit which provides critical financial support for the district, has grown its Tartan Endowment from about $35 million to $67 million, including pledged gifts.
The campaign is intended to provide funding to meet the district’s needs today and help it financially adapt to future challenges. The Tartan Endowment is composed of permanent legacy funds. The foundation invests fund dollars and uses some of the annual earnings to support HPISD’s needs. But the funds themselves will continue to grow and support the district in perpetuity, explained the foundation’s senior director of advancement Allison Vanderwoude.
“It’s a great way to make a long-term impact,” she said. “These funds will outlive you.”
The foundation plans to create a permanent wall in the Clements Center honoring all Lead for Tomorrow donors. Donors can join the campaign and create a legacy fund
With more than a year to go, the number of legacy funds has already almost quadrupled, from 50 at the start of the campaign to about 190 now. The new funds include ones from the Park Cities Dads Club, and each school’s parent teacher association or organization.
“I think it says a lot to our teachers. I think it says a lot to the community to say, ‘Oh my gosh, these people really care about our teachers and staff, and they care about education, and they want to see this district do great things,’” Vanderwoude said.
The Hegi Family, which has had 10 members attend HPISD schools, recently established a legacy fund with the dual aim of helping increase Highland Park’s teacher salaries and enabling the district to continue its legacy of educational excellence, Peter Hegi said.
He described teachers as the community’s unsung heroes and said that their pay is not commensurate to the lifelong impact they have on young learners.
“Just imagine a world where Highland Park can pay teachers top salaries,” he said. “We can attract the best and the brightest. We can keep them accountable. We can inspire the next generation of lifelong learners that will become the next generation of leaders that will change the world.”
Campaign, visit leadfortomorrow.org.
TOP: New kindergartners at Bradfield Elementary hold up their Class of 2037 shirts. BOTTOM: Highland Park High School students with principal Kevin Hunt on their first day. The Lead for Tomorrow Campaign is intended to support the generations of Highland Park scholars who will celebrate their first days of school in years to come.
SNAX MEDIA/COURTESY HIGHLAND PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION
LIFE DOESN’T PAUSE IN THE SUMMER.
Change of season can often bring life changes, and for families in transition, having the right legal advocate makes all the difference. David Hoffmann brings 22 years of seasoned experience, strategic insight, and a steady hand to every family law matter, from divorce and custody to complex support and property division cases. Whether through negotiation or litigation, David is committed to protecting what matters most—your future, your children, and your peace of mind.
Sports
OFF THE BEATEN PATH: MOUNTAIN BIKERS SEE SUCCESS
Five HPHS graduates provided foundation for continued growth
By Todd Jorgenson People newspapers
As cycling gained widespread popularity during the pandemic in 2020, perhaps it’s no coincidence that the Highland Park cycling team was launched a year later.
What’s considerably more surprising, however, is that the club — based in a community with a lack of off-road trails — has since grown to include more than 55 young athletes.
“We definitely want to grow it as much as we can.”
Elizabeth Kerr
Competitive success has quickly followed, as the Scots finished as the runner-up this spring in the Texas league of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.
The rapid rise has been fueled by a group of recent HP graduates who were freshmen when they joined forces to turn a hobby into a collective passion.
“Riding around town on your
bike, doing tricks and silly stuff, it eventually develops into doing cycling as a sport,” said HP’s Nikolas Milanovic. “It was fate that five guys all in the same grade happened to be interested in riding bikes, and had the opportunity to compete in something you would usually do for fun.”
The team competes on gruel -
ing rural mountain-bike courses of uneven terrain featuring climbs and descents, along with natural obstacles such as rocks, tree roots, and jumps. Each race consists of multiple laps, covering several miles total and typically requiring more than an hour to finish.
“It’s not traditional by any
means,” said Milanovic, who won an individual state title in 2024.
“That’s part of the appeal.”
The Scots primarily race a NICA schedule, which runs from February through May and culminated this year in the state championship race in Burnet, about 60 miles northwest of Austin. HP’s Eli Young was the
individual champion, with teammate Andrew Brinkman in third.
HP cyclists agree their high-intensity workouts, held near White Rock Lake among other locations, help push one another.
“I feel like I’m an internally motivated person. That was a big part for me,” said Jack White, one of several riders on the team who have competed in national races. “The sport reflects how much work you’re putting in. You’re doing workouts but you’re having fun at the same time.”
The NICA team is one component of the broader HP cycling club, meaning not all riders have to participate in top-level races. The coed roster also includes cyclists as young as fourth grade.
“You can take it as seriously or as casually as you would like,” said Elizabeth Kerr, who hopes to increase club participation among girls. “When we were in eighth grade, we didn’t know where this was going to go. We definitely want to grow it as much as we can.”
Valentine Has Big Goals for Men’s Pro Soccer in This County Park Cities investor to lead USL franchise Atletico Dallas, slated to start in 2027
By Todd Jorgenson People newspapers
As professional soccer has continued to kick its way into the Dallas sports landscape, Matt Valentine wants to help accelerate its growth.
The Park Cities entrepreneur is a former player and lifelong fan of the sport who has translated that passion into team ownership with Atletico Dallas, a franchise in the United Soccer League set to begin play in 2027.
“There’s clearly an appetite for what we’re doing.”
Matt Valentine
That’s one year after the next World Cup, when Dallas will be an operational hub and Arlington will be a primary venue. Trying to capitalize on that momentum with a local expansion franchise is not coincidental.
“It has been a long process. Just being an avid sports junkie and following soccer, it’s always been a dream to stay involved in the sport somehow,” Valentine
said. “There’s a unique opportunity here. I just jumped in with both feet.”
Valentine was introduced to the possibility of USL team ownership in 2023 while on a college recruiting visit with his son Reid, a former Highland Park standout who now plays for USL League One club Texoma FC.
At first, Valentine hoped to buy the existing Las Vegas Lights franchise and
relocate it to Dallas, but the league objected, so he pivoted to expansion. Most of the investors in the new franchise are from the Park Cities.
“We have the opportunity to create everything from scratch,” Valentine said. “I felt that we could be intentional and thoughtful about how we started this thing.”
The nascent team revealed its branding this spring, with Valentine and longtime
Dallas radio executive Sam Morton as the primary executives.
Venues and logistical details are still being worked out. One plan includes a training ground and team headquarters on 41 acres in Garland that would include additional fields to house a youth program, as well as soccer-themed commercial and residential components to a walkable development.
After FC Dallas of Major League Soccer moved from the Cotton Bowl to Frisco in 2005, Valentine said it left a void. Enter the USL, a second-tier pro league consisting of 24 teams with aggressive growth plans.
“There’s a community of people in Dallas who are very into soccer who would like a team closer to the city,” Valentine said. “The demographics of Dallas continue to evolve and shift. There’s clearly an appetite for what we’re doing.”
Diversity will be a driving force in the organization, Valentine said, with a large bilingual presence in the front office and a stadium experience that embraces traditions from Europe and Latin America.
“We’re going to try and offer something that’s a bit different,” he said. “We’re building a community asset. We’re trying to make the game more accessible to parts of the community that haven’t had access to higher-level soccer.”
Highland Park’s Eli Young was the individual champion in the varsity division at the NICA state championships in May. COURTESY
Matt Valentine is spearheading the group of Park Cities investors for pro soccer franchise Atletico Dallas. COURTESY
5
Scots’ Best Fish Story
Highland Park High Bass Team hooks state title with 99+ pounds in catches
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
There aren’t any classifica tions in competitive high school bass fishing. Only one school in Texas can win the state championship, and the title is a mammoth catch.
“It was one of those magic seasons that you certainly dream of, but don’t necessarily expect.”
Chris Sorrells
ened window of time.
Sorrells and Brown hooked a 6.83-pound lunker in the final hour of the first day of competition, a catch that Sorrells said shaped the tournament for them. Their success on day one and a late-clutch 19.41-pound bag on day two led them to a third place overall finish out of 186 boats.
Team member Myles Vinyard finished fourth overall. Vinyard was the tournament’s top solo angler, and sealed Highland Park’s victory with a catch of over eight pounds in the final minutes of the competition.
Until this year, the Highland Park Bass Team had never placed in the top 10. But thanks to a mix of preparation, hard work, talented anglers, and a little luck, on June 1 at Lake Conroe the team hooked its first-ever Texas High School Bass Association state championship.
“I was not expecting to win,” said bass team president Dylan Sorrells. “I thought it was possible,
but I was a little surprised.”
The Highland Park Bass Team has dominated the competition at this season’s tournaments and came into the state championship with six consecutive school wins.
Sorrells and partner Cullum Brown won the Metroplex Division Angler of the Year award for the fourth consecutive year this spring. At a March competition at Eagle Mountain Lake, the pair finished first out of 126 teams with a bag that weighed a whopping 35.80
pounds, more than the second-place school’s top three teams combined.
But only four Highland Park boats qualified for the state tournament, fewer than the number of qualifiers from some other schools. And other teams with strong programs were closer to Lake Conroe and intimately familiar with it.
The secret to Highland Park’s success, Brown and Sorrells said, was time and practice.
“Myself and Dylan spent close
America America
The Beautiful The Beautiful
to 15 days combined scanning, and fishing, and breaking down that lake,” Brown said. “That’s a huge thanks to my family who’s always supported me. Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to put that time on the water and really help break down Lake Conroe.”
Due to the heat, fishing ended early on both days of the state tournament, which meant Highland Park had to capitalize on making catches during a short -
Sophomores Miller Rosamond and Lee Wagner made key contributions to Highland Park’s success, with two-day catches weighing 17.13 pounds. Also on the water for HP was team member Ryan Segulyev. At the tournament’s end, Highland Park topped the leaderboard of more than 100 of the state’s best bass fishing schools with a twoday combined team total of 99.36 pounds, almost 9 pounds more than its closest competitor.
“It was one of those magic seasons that you certainly dream of, but don’t necessarily expect,” said parent team advisor Chris Sorrells. “We were blessed.”
FROM LEFT: Cullum Brown and Dylan Sorrells, who bagged a two-day total of 42.30 pounds and placed third overall out of 186 teams.
Sophomores Miller Rosamond and Lee Wagner, who made key contributions to Highland Park’s win. COURTESY HP BASS TEAM
NORTHPARK
CHOCOLATES:
DON’T MISS SWISS
Chocolate is an important food group in my household.
After dinner each night, my husband and I eat small bites of dark chocolate for dessert. It’s a very measured, moderate indulgence and, I believe, almost like taking a vitamin thanks to the high antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate.
As I was strolling through a stretch of NorthPark Center I don’t usually frequent, I came upon Läderach, a bougie little chocolate boutique tucked away near Dillard’s.
This beautifully merchandised store was filled on one side with rows of boxed chocolates, pralines, and truffles and on the other, a glass case filled with slabs of chocolate — dark, milk, white, pink, some filled — all kinds of chocolate. I found nirvana.
Läderach is a Swiss brand known internationally for its FrischSchoggi, fresh chocolate slabs that are handcrafted in Switzerland.
Chocolate made in Switzerland is dif-
ferent from chocolate made elsewhere for two primary reasons: one, Swiss chocolate uses more milk and two, the Swiss method uses a manufacturing technique called conching, which mixes the chocolate for longer periods in a temperature-controlled machine to aerate and remove moisture from the product. The result is smoother chocolate with perfectly balanced flavor.
At the NorthPark Center location, there are about 14 different flavors of slabs at any given time, more when seasonal flavors come in. This location’s top three FrischSchoggi flavors are the hazelnut milk chocolate, caramel salt chocolate, and the strawberry curd white chocolate. Hazelnut milk chocolate is also the best seller worldwide.
Läderach offers specialty flavors such as the wildly popular Dubai milk chocolate and seasonal flavors Lemon-Yogurt white chocolate or the raspberry and passionfruit popcorn bark for summer months.
Previous seasonal flavors currently unavailable include apple almond bark in milk and dark chocolate and apricot passionfruit popcorn in white chocolate. The company is always innovating and developing new
flavors. I personally would like to see them create a dark chocolate pecan chili bark for the Dallas customer which, in my opinion, means me. I like caramel too — by the way.
Pre-packaged chocolates, truffles, and snacks such as chocolate covered almonds are available and beautifully boxed and bagged. Slabs of FrischSchoggi are sold by weight, and the price depends on the bark you buy. For example, I bought $6 worth of the hazelnut milk chocolate and the same amount of the raspberry blackberry white and got more of the latter for the money. I inhaled $12 of chocolate in 10 minutes and I’m not sorry about it.
NorthPark Center has three chocolate stores: Kate Weiser, See’s, and Läderach –a high percentage of confectioners for one shopping center. Each of these brands are as singular in audience and style for chocolate as Citroën, Toyota, and Aston Martin are for cars. They are each excellent and exist for the same purpose, but one is a little more artsy, one is more practical, and one is luxury.
With one bite, you can tell Läderach is a premium chocolate made with the highest quality Swiss ingredients. Es ist wunderbar!
‘Fiduciary’ or ‘Discretionary’?
Corporate finance law nerds, an SMU Dedman School of Law professor has a pricy terminology-and accountability-redefining new book for you.
Oxford University Press released Corporate Director and Officer Liability: “Discretionaries” Not Fiduciaries by Marc I. Steinberg on June 13 ($125 at global.oup.com/academic).
“This book is past due as it corrects a legal fiction: Corporate directors and officers are not fiduciaries,” he said. “Rather, they are ‘discretionaries’ whose legal obligations vary depending on the applicable facts and circumstances.”
The Rupert and Lillian Radford Professor of Law employs a horse racing metaphor.
“The just-enacted Delaware and Texas statutes amply illustrate that calling directors and officers fiduciaries is comparable to calling a donkey Secretariat,” Steinberg said.
This is a former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement attorney arguing the law should catch up with reality.
Respected voices have taken note.
“Professor Steinberg goes beneath the surface to look unflinchingly at how the law operates and makes a powerful case that the fiduciary headline doesn’t match the story,” said J. Travis Laster, vice chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery.
Leo E. Strine, former chief justice, Delaware Supreme Court, concluded, “Regardless of whether you agree with [Steinberg’s] prescriptions, anyone concerned about striking the right balance between risk-taking and responsibility in corporate law will benefit from his thought-provoking analysis.”
KERSTEN RETTIG
WILLIAM TAYLOR
Läderach is pleased with sales at the NorthPark Center store. Läderach is known for its slabs of Swiss chocolate called FrischSchoggi COURTESY
Marc I. Steinberg. COURTESY
Three Tips for Beautiful Living With Pets
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 45.5% of Americans own dogs, while 32.1% own cats.
Even well-behaved pets can cause a lot of wear and tear on a home over time. Thankfully, there are ways to protect your furnishings and disguise pet clutter without compromising on style.
Buy heavy-duty fabrics
Any pet owner knows that keeping dogs and cats off furniture can be a losing battle. That’s why it’s important to choose durable fabrics, especially in the rooms your pet spends the most time in. Examples of high-performance fabrics include Sunbrella, Krypton, microsuede, microfiber, canvas, and indoor/outdoor fabrics. Another option is scratchand-stain-resistant leather.
If you own cats, stay away from
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anything with an open weave that they can get their claws in. Performance velvet is a good choice that often deters scratching.
Hide pet items in plain sight
Litter boxes and small dog crates can be discretely hidden inside modified cabinets. Search online for “litter box enclosures” or “dog crate furniture” for ideas. Large dog crates can be hidden under a tabletop with a tablecloth. Some homeowners build floor-level nooks into their kitchen islands for storing pet dishes.
Nowadays, you can find cat trees or scratching posts that are designed to look like art pieces. Wall-mounted cat beds or cat shelves can also give your cat a cozy perch to survey the room, without using up floor space.
Keep collectibles out of reach
There’s no need to leave your shelves bare if you have pets. Just take precautionary measures to make sure no accidents (or in -
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tentional sabotages) happen. For starters, keep any accessories up and out of range of your dogs’ tails. If you have cats, try securing decorative objects with earthquake putty, or choose bottom-heavy pieces. For example, a vase can be filled with aquarium gravel to make it harder to move. Especially delicate or valuable items should always be kept in a glass display case. Some of my favorite published projects have been for clients who owned dogs. Just because you live with pets doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. By choosing your fabrics wisely, and finding clever ways to disguise pet paraphernalia, you can keep your dream home looking beautiful for years to come.
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.
Newly completed in 2024, this light-filled home is master crafted and boldly designed to define a progressive lifestyle with easy access to shopping, airports, medical districts and more. Located in the coveted Preston Hollow Village Gated Community, this 3 bedroom, 3.1 bath home is complete with hardwood floors and spans just under
3,800 Sf. With a seamless flow throughout, this open-concept, Rosewood Custom build perfectly blends modern homes with urban living. The large living and dining space merges beautifully with the fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen, complete with Wolf appliances, quartz countertops, ample storage and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. The downstairs primary suite
Real Talk: Moody Younger
Years before Moody Younger would make a name for himself in Dallas commercial real estate, he gathered up life lessons in a small town less than an hour northeast from Lubbock.
“Growing up on a farm in Floydada, Texas, I got a good feel for dirt and land,” recalled Younger, who now lives in Preston Hollow.
After college, he went to work for Mobil Oil, building service stations and handling the environmental remediation associated with those projects.
“I worked closely with retail developers and quickly realized the income potential in real estate was significantly greater than what I was earning as an engineer,” he said.
some of my most important relationships. As a result, I missed out on fully capitalizing on the market run of the late ’90s.
What’s the best thing about working in real estate?
I love the lifelong relationships you build with people. I also enjoy the entrepreneurial aspects of the business; creativity and energy are rewarded in this field.
To change careers, he enrolled in graduate school at SMU and later joined “Trammell Crow’s industrial group, which turned out to be an absolutely wonderful place to learn the business.”
He co-founded Younger Partners, a full-service commercial real estate firm, with Kathy Permenter in 2012 and added affiliates Younger Partners Investments in 2020 and Apricus Realty Capital in 2021.
Now that you’ve been a real estate professional for a while, if you could go back in time and give yourself any advice, what would it be?
Real estate demands many different skills, but relationships trump all others. Early in my career, I left Dallas for four years to work in Nashville. While I learned a lot there, I always knew I wanted to live in Dallas. I moved back in ’97 for good, but those four years away delayed the development of
is spacious and bright, featuring an en-suite bathroom and large walkin closet with an additional storage closet. Upstairs you will find a lovely flex space with two additional bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and closet. Come discover luxury living in the heart of Preston Hollow Village. Model Home for Preston Hollow Village open Tuesday - Sunday 2pm - 4pm.
What is your outlook on the Dallas market?
The North Texas real estate market is healthy, strong, and resilient; capable of withstanding disruptions that challenge many other U.S. markets. I’m very bullish on all aspects of real estate in the region. While the usual factors such as business climate, cost of living and population growth are almost clichés at this point, they’re still true. But more than anything, it’s the people that impress me the most. I don’t know of another market in the country that’s more welcoming to newcomers and open to new business ideas than North Texas.
Fun fact about you?
We own 78 acres on Lake Ray Roberts where our main crop is hay. I enjoy spending weekends up there working like I did growing up. Whether I am clearing brush, cutting firewood, mowing, or fixing fences, it is all cathartic for me. I can see the results of my efforts, and it reminds me of growing up on the High Southern Plains of the Texas Panhandle.
— Compiled by William Taylor
MARGARET CHAMBERS
Consider washable or indoor/outdoor options or anti-stain pretreatments to make rugs easier to clean when accidents happen. For cats, also avoid loop pile rugs — they are susceptible to claws — and consider cut pile ones instead. MICHAEL HUNTER WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS
Moody Younger. COURTESY
Comings and Goings
NOW OPEN
Beading Dreams
4131 N. Central Expressway, Lucid Private Offices
Building, Suite 369
The jewelry-making store that is stocked with a selection of curated beading supplies and offers custom designs, classes, and repairs has moved from its Lovers Lane location to North Central Expressway.
Belen de la Cruz
5601 W. Lovers Lane
Bonchon SMU
3036 Mockingbird Lane
The family-friendly establishment welcomes diners with unique signature Korean fried chicken and Asian fusion dishes.
Chick-fil-A
6423 Hillcrest Ave.
Much to the relief of Park Cities parents, the family favorite has reopened its upgraded location across from SMU.
Galleria Dallas
Various Stores
The shop featuring empanadas made with top-quality ingredients, custom cakes, Argentine pastries, and charcuterie boards also offers cooking classes.
POP MART, a market-leading character-based entertainment company and global champion of designer toy culture, opened on level 3 in March.
Sharetea, which offers drinks made from high quality tea leaves and selected ingredients shipped directly from Taiwan, has opened on rink level.
Highland Park Village
Various Stores
New York based women’s clothing brand TWP opened a pop-up location in May. The store is TWP’s only standalone retail space in Texas and its fourth in the nation.
Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille has opened its first Texas boutique and the largest Richard Mille in the country, where it offers timepieces for those with a true appreciation of fine watchmaking.
NorthPark Center
Various Stores
Away, the brand defining travel for a new generation, has opened
on level 1 between Nordstrom and Macy’s.
Eiseman Jewels, Dallas’ premier family-owned jeweler for 62 years, opened its redesigned and expanded NorthPark salon on level 1 near Neiman Marcus in April.
Iconic western lifestyle brand Lucchese, which is known for its artisan-crafted cowboy boots, opened in May on level 1 between Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
Ten50 BBQ
5519 W. Lovers Lane
The Richardson favorite that takes the low and slow barbecue tradition seriously is offering quality cuts prepared in the central Texas style at its new location.
Tailored Restaurant
The Westin Galleria Dallas
The new dining destination inspired by the style and sophistication of Galleria Dallas seeks to deliver an experience rooted in quality, attention to detail, and intentional design.
Ralph Lauren
4525 Cole Avenue Suite 190
The fashion and lifestyle brand has moved its Highland Park Village store to the Knox Henderson district.
COMING
La DoubleJ
Highland Park Village
The Milan-based brand that features eye-catching prints and
vibrant colors will open its first standalone Texas location at Highland Park Village in the fall.
Portland Leather Goods
Galleria Dallas
The brand known for its ridiculously good leather bags, wallets, and accessories, is slated to open on level 2 next to ALDO later this summer.
CLOSED
Meddlesome
Moth
1621 Oak Lawn Ave.
The New American gastropub offering craft brew tastings, beer, and bites has closed its Design District location.
UnaVida
3699 McKinney Ave. #307
The modern Mexican restaurant serving good-for-you food and a healthy amount of tequila has closed its McKinney Avenue location.
Wendy’s
3790 Forest Lane
The burger chain that opened its first location in 1969 is still serving up chili, Frosties, and chicken nuggets, just not in the 3700 block of Forest Lane.
— Compiled by Sarah Hodges
BBQ-Tray MONIKA NORMAND PHOTOGRAPHY
La DoubleJ. COURTESY LA DOUBLEJ FW25 COLLECTION
Lucchese. COURTESY LUCCHESE
Schools
CONGRATULATIONS, HP HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2025
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
With hugs, claps, and cheers, Highland Park High School’s class of 2025 crossed the stage and received diplomas on May 23 at the Moody Coliseum.
During the commencement ceremony, student leaders reflected on the legacy of the Class of 2025, and shared advice on facing new challenges in the years ahead.
Class vice president Marshall Haggar told students that their choices and values have the power to shape the future.
“‘Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good,’” he said, quoting former president of Illinois Wesleyan University Minor Myers Jr. “When we focus not only on achieving success, but also on making a positive impact, we begin to realize that our true purpose is found in the good we do for others.”
Salutatorian Lakshmi Vemula, who graduated with a GPA of 4.75 and will attend
Brown University, reminded students that both high school and life are unpredictable.
“It’s OK not to know exactly where you’re going. What matters is that we keep moving forward, stay open to change, and allow ourselves to dream, whether those dreams are wild and epic like mine, or quiet, real and right in front of you,” Vemula told her classmates.
“Thank you all for making this high school roller coaster absolutely unforgettable.”
Valedictorian Anna Qian was also this year’s Homecoming Queen. During her speech, she recalled moving to Highland Park from China in sixth grade. “I didn’t understand the culture,” she said, “and I had no idea where I belonged.”
seemingly random decisions that led her to form deep connections with teachers and other students.
“Your future may be shaped by the big decisions you make, but it will be defined by the little ones, like where you choose to sit,” Qian said. “Whether it’s your first day of college, your first job orientation, or a conference room full of strangers, sit somewhere new, talk to someone unexpected, take a seat that feels a little scary.”
“Your future may be shaped by the big decisions you make, but it will be defined by the little ones, like where you choose to sit.” Anna Qian
But that quickly changed thanks to
Qian, who graduated with a GPA of 4.839 and will attend Yale University, was ranked first in a class of 565 students that included 15 National Merit Finalists, 39 National Merit Commended Students, six National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars, one National African American Recogni -
tion Program Scholar, three National Indigenous Recognition Program Scholars, and two National First Generation Program Scholars.
The Class of 2025 excelled on the playing field, with 123 students receiving academic all-state honors, and 21 graduates planning to compete at the collegiate level. This year’s graduates also tallied 71,100 total service hours, with 22 graduates each donating more than 500 hours, class secretary David DeVega said.
While the senior class has many accomplishments to be proud of, facts and figures are only part of its story, HPHS principal Kevin Hunt said. He praised the students’ empathy, kindness, and perseverance.
“Like the incredible leaders you are, you have modeled to me and all the younger students at Highland Park High what it means to be a Scot, and what it means to demonstrate integrity and high moral character every day,” said Hunt, who is completing his first year as HP’s principal. Later, he added, “Class of 2025, I will never forget the valuable lessons I have learned from you this year.”
SARAH HODGES AND COURTESY HPISD
Blanket Award Recipients Serve HPISD and Their Community
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
This year’s Blanket Award recipients spent their time at Highland Park High School working to bring out the best in themselves, their school, and their community.
Graduates Caroline Scott and Reece Tiffany were recognized for their outstanding leadership and community service in a surprise announcement on May 22 at the conclusion of Highland Park’s Honors Assembly.
Together, they dedicated about 1,250 hours to serving the community and were involved in almost every activity available at Highland Park High School.
And despite the time they spent sharpening sports skills, developing as leaders, and giving back to the community, they were both outstanding students. Tiffany graduated Cum Laude, and Scott earned Summa Cum Laude status.
“Coaches, teachers, and sponsors of the two Blanket Award winners characterized them as a class leader, model of integrity, selfless, disciplined and dedicated, humble, respectful, hardworking, compassionate, and the perfect representative of what it means to be a Scot,” president of the Class of 2025 Jack Morse said during the assembly.
In interviews with Park Cities People, the Blanket Award recipients called their service to the school and community a reward in and of itself.
“I’ve had the best time in high school,” Caroline Scott said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Scott served for two years as a member of the student council, including as junior
class treasurer and a member of the executive student council.
She ran varsity cross country and track for multiple years and played varsity soccer as a senior. During her sophomore year in track, she ran on a team that set a new school record in the distance medley relay.
Scott served for two years on Highland Park’s community service council, and as a sophomore was selected as one of two Highland Park student ambassadors to attend a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.
Her favorite service activities have included working as a counselor at Camp Barnabas and with Highland Park’s Amigos Club.
As president of the club while a junior and senior, Scott started a tutoring program for
underserved, Spanish-speaking youth. She established a meaningful connection with a 9-year-old girl learning English with her help.
“I’m inspired by the work ethics and greatness around me and have had so many important mentors and leaders in my life that I strive to be like,” said Scott, who will major in neuroscience on the premed track at the University of Texas at Austin. “And I hope to be that same mentor to those who come after me and look up to me.”
Reece Tiffany said that his community service journey started thanks to his older sister, who dragged him to volunteer with her at The Table, a ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church at the Austin Street Center.
“Something changed when I went there,”
THE TOP TEN
The Class of 2025’s top 10 graduates received a standing ovation from their peers during the annual Honors Assembly. This year’s top 10 graduates
he said. “I eventually found joy in helping others, and started to go back on my own, and with some of my friends.”
One of Tiffany’s favorite activities was starting the ‘If Not Me, Then Who HP Club,’ which supports the Travis Manion Foundation, a nonprofit that works to empower veterans and their families. Tiffany has also contributed his efforts to the ‘HP Service Team,’ a group he and friends organized to assist with service events.
Football fans may have seen Tiffany in Highlander Stadium this fall. He played football throughout high school, became a member of the varsity team as a junior, and was starting kicker this year.
Off the field, Tiffany was one of six officers in the National Honor Society, and a member of student council for three years. As a senior, he participated in HP’s ambassador program, which aims to help new students feel welcome at their school.
“I knew I was making an impact and helping someone in need. That’s what kept me going,” said Tiffany, who will study business with a focus in finance at the University of Georgia. “I also tried to surround myself with people who would push me to be my best.”
were: Jake Elverum, David Guo, James Holmes, Andrew Li, Yiyoung Liu, Shiv Mehta, Anna Qian, Lakshmi Vemula , Emma L. Wang, and Emma Z. Wang.
FROM LEFT: Blanket Award honorees Caroline Scott and Reece Tiffany SARAH HODGES
LEFT TO RIGHT: Alexandra Billmyre, Austin Holmes, Amy Ford, Ryan Nordhaus*, Rob McAngus*+†, George Parker*, Jim Mueller*•+†, Charlie Hodges*•+†, Abby M. Foster*+, Shane Landers, Kim Meaders, Ravi Mohan, and Maddison Clark
Community
JIM WHORTON GETS A NEW RIDE
Park Cities honors high wheeler as parade grand marshal
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
High-wheeler Jim Whorton may have put away his bike, but that won’t stop him from riding in this year’s Park Cities Fourth of July Parade.
The former Marine with a love of patriotism, freedom, and his country has been named 2025 parade grand marshal, an honor he never expected to receive.
“I didn’t think I was ever going to reach that point,” he said at a Rotary Club of Park Cities luncheon honoring him, adding that the joy of past parades has “just touched my heart.”
For almost five decades, Whorton has ridden through the streets of the Park Cities on the cherry-red, high-wheel bike he bought from a store in Longview in 1975. From close to 5 feet up, he’s looked down at the children and flags lining the parade route.
“We’re holding the flags up. We’re pro-America.” Jim Whorton
“It’s the greatest day of the year in the Park Cities, our parade. It’s really hard to beat,” former grand marshal Kirk Dooley said while introducing Whorton. “And Jim Whorton has been a part of every parade I’ve ever seen.”
and saw that all the bearings in his front wheel were dropping out. Later, his mother wrote a story called “Jimmy Lost His Bearings.”
One of Whorton’s favorite parade memories was riding close to the United States Marine Band. He appreciates the parade’s patriotism; other things going on in the country, he said, matter less during the parade.
“It seems like all that’s in the background,” Whorton explained. “We’re holding the flags up. We’re pro-America.”
While Park Cities residents know Whorton as their high wheeler, his adventures also include decades of service with the Scouting America, where he was an assistant scout master with Scout Troop 70, helped run high adventure camps, and served as a scuba coach in six national jamborees.
Whorton has assisted on dig sites across Texas as a member of the Dallas Archaeological Society, traveled to 70 countries, and worked for the State Fair of Texas for the past 25 years, where he’s answered questions including whether Big Tex wears underwear.
This will be Whorton’s 50th parade in a streak that was only interrupted twice, once by a severe storm, and once by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It looked like it was mine when I first saw it,” he said. “Because I fell in love with it.”
He’s come off the bike three times, Whorton told the Rotary
Whorton learned to love parades growing up more than 300 miles west of Dallas in Tahoka, Texas. He came across his antique penny farthing in a bike shop while he was working for the Ford Motor Company.
Club, including once when kids threw water balloons that locked up his axle. The parade didn’t stop that year, and neither did Whorton.
“About four or five people picked the body up, put it back on top, (and said) ‘You’ve got to finish
the parade, son,’” he laughed.
One year, Whorton had another close call in the toughest part of the parade, the slope on Beverly Drive that he calls “the Beverly hill.” When he got to the top of the hill, he looked down at his bike
The theme of the 2025 Park Cities Fourth of July Parade is ‘America the Beautiful,’ and spectators can expect plenty of red, white, and blue-hued patriotism and pride from this year’s floats.
The parade will start rolling at 9 a.m. on July 4 at Highland Park Town Hall, and will follow its usual route to Centennial Park, where the morning’s festivities will wrap up with a celebration for the entire family.
For the first time this year, Trek Bicycle Dallas Park Cities will team up with YMCA staff and the Rotary Club of Park Cities to make the bike decorating contest even better for patriotic pedalers. Trek will offer free safety checks for participating bicyclists, who should plan on arriving at the Moody Family YMCA at about 8:30 a.m.
“Jim Whorton’s devotion to the Park Cities and the larger Dallas community has advanced the lives of many,” Highland Park Mayor Will C. Beecherl read in a proclamation from the town of Highland Park and city of University Park during the luncheon. “Therefore, we are proud to honor Jim Whorton for his profound and lasting contributions to our community.”
Donations to the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade benefit the North Texas Food Bank. Since 2016, the parade has raised sufficient funds to provide 2.1 million meals for needy North Texans.
This year, the demand for food assistance has increased, but the North Texas Food Bank is in jeopardy of being able to meet the needs of the 12 counties it serves because of funding cuts, the nonprofit’s president and CEO Trisha Cunningham told the Rotary Club at a June 6 meeting.
Every $1 donation to the North Texas Food Bank provides at least three nourishing meals. Visit parkcitiesrotary.org to learn more about the parade or support the North Texas Food Bank.
—Compiled by Sarah Hodges
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Highland Park Mayor Will C. Beecherl reads a proclamation honoring Jim Whorton as parade grand marshal. Jim Whorton laughs during his conversation with former grand marshal Kirk Dooley. Jim Whorton rides his red high-wheel bike in a past parade. COURTESY JIM WHORTON AND SARAH HODGES
Raising Teens in Summer: A Delicate Dance
Raising teens in the summer is like trying to choreograph a dance when half your dancers are still asleep and the other half are off with friends you’ve never met.
It’s a rhythm that changes daily — and just when you think you’ve figured out the beat, they switch the music.
Gone are the days of lemonade stands in the front yard and movie nights where they’d sit through the whole thing.
Now it’s late-night outings, inconsistent curfews, and group texts that somehow determine your family calendar. It’s quiet mornings followed by chaotic afternoons, and a fridge that never seems to stay full for more than 10 minutes.
“Even if they pretend they don’t need you, deep down, they do.”
But somewhere in the middle of the mood swings and snack runs, something kind of beautiful happens. If you pay close enough attention, you’ll catch glimpses of the kids you used to tuck in — wrapped in bigger bodies, bigger emotions, and (if you’re lucky) a sense of humor that occasionally reminds you they’re still yours.
I’ve learned not to take those moments for granted. A spontaneous car ride conversation, a shared laugh over a TikTok, a rare request to watch a show together These are the new family dinners — short and sweet, but still meaningful if you show up for them.
So, if your teen seems allergic to plans, avoids eye contact until 11 a.m., and rolls their eyes more than they speak — take heart. You’re not alone, and you’re probably doing better than you think.
Summer with teens might look more like Uber rides and latenight fridge raids than beach trips and bonding, but it still counts. These moments matter — even if they pretend they don’t need you, deep down, they do.
Martha Jackson, host of The Bubble Lounge Podcast, has lived in University Park for 20 years. She’s passionate about connecting with fellow moms, supporting local businesses, and finding humor in the chaos.
MARTHA JACKSON
Living
FREE MEDICAL CLINIC GROWS WITH GOD’S LOVE
Dr. Barbara Baxter serves Agape patients for four-plus decades
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Park Cities doctor Barbara Baxter opened the Agape Clinic in the basement of an east Dallas church in 1983.
Her goal was to offer free healthcare to those in need. Patients wouldn’t have to verify their income or show that they lived in a certain zip code to receive medical help. The clinic’s services would be available to anyone and everyone who walked through its doors.
“Agape is God’s love, and that’s why the clinic is named Agape,” Baxter said. “It’s all about God’s love.”
The clinic has long since outgrown its original, one-room space at Grace United Methodist Church. In 2024, it provided more than $10.2 million in health and dental care support, and upwards of 7,600 individual patients walked through its doors.
Today, Agape is open seven days a week and offers comprehensive services including pediatrics, behavioral health, women’s wellness, and a full dental clinic.
But despite its growth, Agape’s mission remains laser focused on providing compassionate care to the most vulnerable. The clinic does not accept federal funds or insurance, and is financed solely through donations, partnerships, and community support.
“It’s really like my first child,”
said Baxter. “I love this place, and I protect it with everything that I have.”
Growing up, Baxter was interested in medical missions, but she had concerns about moving abroad and balancing travel with having a family. She was inspired by visiting a free clinic while a medical student to found Agape at the church when
“Agape is God’s love, and that’s why the clinic is named Agape.” Barbara Baxter
she heard of the opportunity. Initially, Agape was only open Saturday mornings, and limited its offerings to urgent care and vaccinations. Its only labs were Strep tests and urine dipsticks. No imaging was available, and diagnoses were made by history and examination alone.
As the need for services grew, the clinic added shower curtains
to its waiting area to create more exam rooms. That solution didn’t include any sound protection, but still provided privacy since it was so noisy in the waiting room that no one could hear what doctors were saying to their patients.
Agape has now moved across the street to a 10,000 square foot building that includes 14 medical examination rooms and seven fully equipped dental suites. The clinic has donated medications on-site, and performs some lab tests itself. Other tests are provided through a partnership with Labcorp.
Agape also helps train more
GET INVOLVED
The nonprofit Agape Clinic does not accept federal funds or insurance and has a need for donations and physician volunteers. Visit theagapeclinic.org to find out how to help.
than 500 future healthcare professionals each year.
On one Wednesday morning, patient Rodolfo Taracena brought flowers and donuts to the clinic and family nurse practitioner Rebecca Hernandez out of gratitude for his care.
He hasn’t always had good experiences with doctors, Taracena explained, and feels blessed by the services he receives at Agape.
“We are living in a selfish world,” he told Baxter. “It’s amazing when somebody gives a hand to somebody else … What you are doing is building bridges for suffering people.”
In March, Baxter received a more public accolade: the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s Practice Champion of the Year Award.
Now 70, Baxter continues to balance her role as medical director at Agape with teaching, medical research, and her own allergy and immunology practice.
“It’s Dr. Baxter’s spirit that keeps Agape going,” her assistant Mary Ann Scott said. “It’s the love, the care. What she’s always wanted, people catch it. It’s contagious.”
Now Showing: Discontentment With The Fate of Film Watching
“I think this is the end of a beautiful friendship” paraphrased from Casablanca.
I’m mourning the demise of the movie theater and the communal experience of movie watching. Recently, I paid 17 bucks for a nearly private screening of a big movie, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
The likable and talented Tom Cruise, his head 30 feet tall on the screen, thanked me and a few devotees in the audience for being there — not even enough people to warm up the freezing theater.
During the many, many previews, I calculated movie theater expenses: two popcorn and nachos server guys, a ticket tearer, electricity bill, building rental, film licens-
ing fees and clean-up crew. (Leaving trash and spilling popcorn on the floor is an essential part of the movie going experience along with huge buckets of popcorn and fountain drinks three times bladder capacity.) This particular movie cost $400 million to make, roughly the gross national product of South Africa. That’s a lot of Junior Mints sales to cover expenses. It’s simple math. Movie theaters are going the way of the dodo bird.
A perfect storm — to use an overused phrase — of streaming, the pandemic and a glut of superhero movies has killed movie going. Superhero GCI movies offer unintelligibly complex plots about ancient lands, dark forces, and secret rings all culminating in bearded, old men pontificating about the meaning of life. The 3-hour extravaganzas conclude with wisdom from
screenwriters attempting to end on a profound note then playing the music they liked in college as the credits roll.
A handful of musty theaters with threadbare seats continue to fight the action movie trend with thought-provoking, independent movies. On the other hand, why would we want to watch a dysfunctional family drama or coming-of-age teen flick when we can watch explosions and car wrecks?
Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Apple TV have paralyzing amounts of “content.” After finally gambling on a movie choice, we can settle in and watch at home, only to be interrupted by phone calls, kids demanding help with homework, trips to the refrigerator, or changing movies.
Where are the moments of communal
laughter (Was I supposed to laugh there? I must’ve missed it,) emotion and catharsis? What a terrific, collective relief the seven of us felt when Tom Cruise (spoiler alert but not really) climbed into the cockpit after hanging onto a biplane wing for hours despite barrel rolls and steep dives. Not for one minute did I live under the illusion that the “final” in the title was final ... not for Tom dangling from the wing or the Mission Impossible franchise.
I expect to see a sequel, possibly titled Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning and We Really Mean It This Time.
Dr. Don Dafoe, a transplant surgeon who lives in Highland Park, didn’t say whether his brother, Willem, a four-time Oscar nominee and sometimes Spider-Man villain, shares his views on superhero movies.
FROM LEFT: Family nurse practitioner Rebecca Hernandez, patient Rodolfo Taracena, and Barbara Baxter. SARAH HODGES
DON DAFOE
of successful transplants. YEARS
Here’s to 40 years of changing lives through successful organ transplants at Baylor Scott & White Health. Thanks to generous donors, doctors and medical teams, lives have been saved, and outcomes have been improved for over 10,000 patients.
Explore our transplant capabilities
‘Strong Like a Mother’ Campaign Nurtures Moms in Recovery Nexus Program takes compassionate approach to keeping families together
By Claudia Carson-Habeeb claudia.carson-habeeb@peoplenewspapers.com
Sitting in church on the anniversary of the death of her father, whom she’d lost to alcoholism at age 63, Maggie Kipp realized she wanted a different path for herself and her daughters.
But for the Highland Park mom of two, seeking treatment for an alcohol addiction didn’t just involve revealing her struggle — she also faced the stigma of her disease and the daunting prospect of losing her relationship with her girls.
“I felt love and tolerance and saw people with a common problem helping each other through honesty, joy, and humor.” Maggie Kipp
Kipp started drinking alcohol at a young age. “I saw alcohol as a way to avoid feelings I didn’t want to feel, trying to mask what was modeled to me. It was a pattern that continued through high school, college, marriage, and starting a career. On the outside I looked like I had it all together.”
Kipp found the courage to face her ad-
diction and started attending a 12-step program in the area. “I felt love and tolerance and saw people with a common problem helping each other through honesty, joy, and humor. Programs like the ones offered at the Nexus Family Recovery Center change the narrative for women, offering a sanctuary where mothers and their children can heal together,” she said.
The Center provides women’s treatment services as well as therapeutic care for their accompanying children to restore health for the entire family, and the Nexus Pregnant and Parenting Women with Children (PPWC) program is one of the only of its kind in the state that accepts women in the late stages of pregnancy and allows children
to accompany their mothers into treatment. At the heart of Nexus’ innovative approach is the belief that recovery doesn’t have to come at the cost of motherhood. Instead, it recognizes that nurturing the bond between mother and child can be a powerful catalyst for lasting change, said Nexus CEO Heather Ormand.
“As a mother in recovery myself, I am especially grateful to our community for supporting this initiative … reminding us all that families can heal and stigmas can be broken,” said Ormand.
While the program addresses trauma, mental health, and addiction simultaneously, it recognizes the complex layers each woman carries. Through peer support, ex -
pert care, and the unconditional love of their children, the women find strength they never knew they had.
Kipp’s two daughters, who lost their father, Grant Kipp, in 2023, know they have a parent who may not be perfect but is present.
“I wasn’t someone they could rely on. Sobriety has changed that. Today, they trust me to care for them, not just physically, but emotionally,” said Kipp.
For families caught in the shadows of addiction, the “Strong Like a Mother” campaign is a reminder that healing is possible, and that no mom should have to walk the path alone, said Melissa Stallings, executive director of Nexus Family Recovery Center. “I know this because Nexus is where I began my own recovery journey in January 2011, along with my six-month-old son.”
Kipp reflects on her journey to help others through theirs. “I have overwhelming gratitude to be able to leave the secrecy and shame behind and live a life of honesty,” she said. “And through service, which is a key part of recovery, I’ve found the women and children at Nexus bring me such joy through their hope and resilience.”
Breaking the generational curse of alcoholism in her family is the greatest gift she could give her teen daughters who, she joked, continue to provide her with a healthy dose of humility.
“I am a safe place for them. They see the choices I make every day to live the life we live,” said Kipp.
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Maggie Kipp with her daughters. PROJECT MOCKINGBIRD
Nina Rosoff died peacefully on June 8, 2025, surrounded by her beloved and loving family.
Born June 26, 1943 in Dallas to Raymond and Pauline (Nusbaum) Rosoff, Nina graduated from Highland Park High School and then Scripps College, where she earned her BA, completing her undergraduate studies in just three years. A talented writer, she also went on to obtain a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.
After joining the faculty at MIT, she founded her own company and consulted globally to start-ups, as well as Fortune 500 clients and non-profits, including the United Hospital Fund and the Child Welfare League of America. Her professional legacy includes integrating women into the workforce and leadership of companies like Procter & Gambel.
Nina was a five-foot-tall force of na -
ture. Her compassionate heart and brilliant wit drew in those around her, everywhere she went. Her curiosity and silliness made her a truly amazing and deeply adored grandmother. As a mother, she loved fiercely, yet wisely tempered her voice so that her wishes never overshadowed what was right. She had a quiet courage and unflappable resilience through life’s greatest challenges.
Dallas was always her home. She left twice, only to return each time. She studied at Temple Emanu-El, delighted in breakfast at Kuby’s and would walk for miles around the track at Germany Park. She would then make her way to Vermont for fall foliage and collect seashells on the beach in Hawaii.
She was an author, pilot, black belt, marathoner and life-long Girl Scout of Troop 502, but she would always say, unequivocally, that her greatest accomplishment and joy was being a mother and a grandmother.
She was exceptionally proud of her daughter Kira Rosoff Heller and son-inlaw David Heller. She treasured, beyond words, her grandsons Noah Robert Heller and Jacob Andrew Heller. She is also survived by her twin brother, Eric (Susan) Rosoff as well as niece, Amy Rosoff Sampson, and nephews David Rosoff and Christopher Rosoff.
Nina was preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Peter Rosoff.
Her family will celebrate her life with a private service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her honor to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, 6001 Summerside Drive, Dallas, Texas 75252 or online at gsnetx.org.
Lasting Souvenir: A Refreshing Take on Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1
½ tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, peeled, coarsely chopped
Coarse kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 ear fresh corn, shucked, rinsed
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled, sliced
1 large, ripe tomato, rinsed, sliced
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
1 bunch green leaf lettuce, rinsed, spun dry
1 small bunch fresh baby spinach, stemmed, rinsed, spun dry
Parmigiano Reggiano, for garnish
Directions:
Pound chicken to ½-inch thickness. In a large dish, stir together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and
cover, and chill 1 hour.
Bring corn to a boil in enough water to cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove corn and set aside.
Preheat grill. Pat chicken dry, discard marinade, and transfer chicken and corn to the grill. Cook chicken 5 minutes, turn it over, and cook 5 minutes more. Repeat, cooking 4 minutes on each side or until a thermometer registers 165 degrees. Rotate corn until blistered, then cool.
Arrange greens on two large plates. Slice chicken and divide between plates. Arrange tomato and egg next to the greens, slice corn from cob, and nestle it by the chicken. Add blue cheese, drizzle salads with Lemon Vinaigrette, season with ground pepper, and garnish with grated cheese.
Yield: 2 large salads
Lemon Vinaigrette
Stir together ½ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and salt and pepper, to taste.
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What comes to mind when you see chicken salad listed on a menu? A scoop of chopped chicken, celery, and onion bound together with mayonnaise and arranged on lettuce leaves, or perhaps a bowl of crisp romaine lettuce dressed in vinaigrette, topped with cubes of poached chicken, croutons, and grated parmesan cheese.
On a recent trip to Portugal, I discovered menus often featured chicken salad, especially in sidewalk cafes. These eateries varied from a few tables squeezed onto an already-narrow sidewalk to expansive dining under huge umbrellas on wide plazas commonly situated in the center of boulevards where waiters delivered plates to tables whenever there was a pause in the steady stream of traffic.
From Lisbon to Fatima, Pinhao, and Porto, I ordered chicken salad during lunch to satisfy my appetite and curiosity about the Portuguese version, not to mention as an antidote to the weight I acquired during a 12-day transatlantic cruise that preceded our arrival in Portugal.
In each case, I was served a composed salad arranged in a mouthwatering display. The chicken breast was pounded to varying degrees of thickness, grilled and sliced, and was moist and tender.
Salad greens commonly featured romaine or green leaf lettuce so fresh and
crisp it barely needed vinaigrette. The tomatoes were always deep red with straightfrom-the-garden flavor.
Sliced hard-cooked eggs and crumbled blue cheese appeared in every salad and in one restaurant, the chef added tender kernels of corn for color and texture.
The salads I enjoyed in Portugal were cool and refreshing, so it should come as no surprise I’m dreaming of them now that our North Texas summer heat is here to stay.
I’ve combined my favorite aspects of each in this month’s recipe for Portuguese chicken salad — crisp green leaf lettuce, tender baby spinach, ruby red tomato, corn, sliced egg, blue cheese, and grilled chicken breast.
I’ve tweaked my version here and there by marinating the chicken in a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped garlic to capture the flavors of a lemon vinaigrette I tasted in Portugal.
Capitalizing on the flavor and color imparted by grilling vegetables, I simmered an ear of corn for 10 minutes, then finished it on the grill while the chicken cooked. Chicken breasts were smaller in Portugal than what I find in our local markets, so I sliced my chicken in half after grilling because it was enough for two portions.
You’ll also find lemon vinaigrette in my version in a nod to an inspired Portuguese chef who knew it would make his chicken salad absolutely sing!
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. Visit christyrost.com.
Below Market Value 10 CONTIGUOUS BURIAL SPACES WITH MONUMENT FOUNDATION IN PRESTIGIOUS GARDEN OF PEACE. CALL/TEXT 214-232-3624
Portuguese Chicken Salad
CHRISTY ROST
3 bedroom | 3.1 bath | 3,800 SF
Newly completed in 2024, this light-filled home is master crafted and boldly designed to define a
DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE Modernist Elegance in the Heart of Park Cities
Crafted in 1982 by Cy Barcus with famed architect
Bud Oglesby, this 4-bedroom, 4-bath home at 4116 Shenandoah Street (4116shenandoah.daveperrymiller. com) was meticulously updated to blend architectural legacy with contemporary comfort. Listing agent Debbie Sherrington is offering the property for $3,500,000.
Light-drenched interiors and a gallery-like flow make it ideal for showcasing art. A serene first-floor family room overlooks the sparkling pool and spa. The sleek SieMatic kitchen boasts granite countertops, a Dacor oven, Bosch dishwasher, and floating granite buffet. Presidio woven shades preserve light and privacy throughout. Upstairs, the primary suite includes a bonus studio and heated floors; one bath features terrazzo tile. The third-floor retreat adds a quiet escape.
Major 2024 updates include new AC, plumbing and standing seam metal roof. A reimagined garage with custom floors and cabinetry enhances daily ease. Designer art lighting, custom detailing, and a 2021 pool renovation complete this exceptional 3,081-square-foot offering.
To schedule a showing, contact Debbie at 214-7626957 | debbiesherrington@dpmre.com.
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday Companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, specializing in Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park, and Farm & Ranch properties.
EBBY HALLIDAY
Broken Bow is More Than OK
Calling all wanderlust seekers, adventure enthusiasts, and weekend escape artists, get ready to discover the charming town of Broken Bow, Okla. With its year-round attractions and proximity to North Texas, Broken Bow is the perfect destination for those quick and thrilling getaways.
Broken Bow is a dreamland for nature lovers and outdoor thrill-seekers. Get your hiking boots ready and hit the trails at Beavers Bend State Park. The views? Exceptional. Fishing? You’ll have a blast catching your dinner in crystal-clear lakes. If that’s not enough, kayak down the Mountain Fork or Glover Rivers. Zip through the treetops at Hochatown State Park and channel your inner cowboy while horseback riding through lush forests.
Interested in exploring Broken Bow’s creative and cultural side? Visit local art galleries filled with masterpieces or immerse yourself in the town’s history at the Museum of the Red River. And mark your calendars for the Kiamichi Owa-Chito Festival of the Forest, where you’ll experience a fusion of music, food, and art. With demand for luxury vacation rentals soaring, now is an ideal time to consider purchasing a second home and/or investment property. To get started, visit ebby. com today.
progressive lifestyle with easy access to shopping, airports, medical districts and more. Located in the coveted Preston Hollow Village Gated Community, this 3 bedroom, 3.1 bath home is complete with hardwood floors and spans just under 3,800 Sf. With a seamless flow throughout, this open-concept, Rosewood Custom build perfectly blends modern homes with urban living. The large living and dining space merges beautifully with the fully equipped, stateof-the-art kitchen, complete with Wolf appliances, quartz countertops, ample storage and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. The downstairs primary suite is spacious and bright, featuring an en-suite bathroom and large walk-in closet with an additional storage closet. Upstairs you will find a lovely flex space with two additional bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and closet. Come discover luxury living in the heart of Preston Hollow Village. Model Home for Preston Hollow Village open Tuesday - Sunday 2pm - 4pm.
THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP Creekside Estate in Guard-Gated Glen Abbey
33 Glen Abbey is currently being offered for $4,500,000.
Nestled in the exclusive, guard-gated Glen Abbey community, this exceptional creekside estate offers over half an acre of serene privacy and breathtaking views. With its timeless design and luxurious finishes, 33 Glen Abbey combines elegance and comfort in an exceptional floor plan.
A wide foyer provides grand entry to the formal dining and living areas. The gourmet kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring Sub-zero, Wolf, and Miele appliances. The oversized island and keeping room with a cozy fireplace offer the perfect setting for casual dining and gatherings.
The expansive master suite is a private retreat, offering a sitting area with a fireplace, views of the lush backyard, and a spa-like bath with his-and-her bathrooms, dual closets, heated floors, and a shared coffee bar.
Upstairs, the game room is designed for both relaxation and entertainment, with a wet bar, beverage fridge, and a projector for movie or game nights.
The backyard features a sparkling pool, hot tub, fire pit, and two fire features, all set against the tranquil backdrop of the creek. Spacious covered patios and an outdoor kitchen provide plenty of room for relaxation and al fresco dining.
Contact Jamie Kohlmann (214.669.6520) for more information or to set up a private showing.
Two extraordinary offerings for ultra-luxurious living
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents have a track record in marketing and selling ultra-luxury homes in the finest DFW neighborhoods and beyond.
There’s the luxury market and then there’s the ultra-luxury market, which is defined as properties asking $10 million and above.
For buyers looking at this elite price point in the DFW area, working with the leading agents of Allie Beth Allman & Associates is a wise move. The accomplished brokerage represents estates of the highest caliber and can show you lavish properties across many neighborhoods. Here are two sumptuous offerings in Preston Hollow.
At 10056 Gaywood Road, a custom-built stone masterpiece by Ellen Grasso & Sons wows with its design, amenities, and sheer size. The 11,746-square-foot home is a vision of sophistication and high-end craftsmanship. Though modern grandeur abounds, the home is also wonderfully livable. Imagine mingling across the vast interiors during parties or family dinner parties as caterers prepare delicious bites in the chef’s kitchen and hidden butler’s prep kitchen. Driving through 5020 Park Lane’s gates, you’re greeted by tall trees, trimmed hedges and a chic, glassy facade. CID award-winning builder S&R Development crafted the 10,352-square-foot home, where contemporary, bright style blends with the charming sensibilities of southern France. Stepping inside, walls of glass drench the open living spaces in sunshine while wood beams and jewelrylike light fixtures add warmth and personality.
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
Pristine homes currently available in Preston Hollow
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent represent iconic estates and family homes for sale in Preston Hollow.
Preston Hollow is one of the most soughtafter neighborhoods in Dallas, so there’s never a shortage of buyers interested in living there.
If you’re hoping to secure a posh address there, work with Allie Beth Allman & Associates, whose know the area inside and out. Check out these four offerings they currently represent and reach out to an agent to see more, especially homes being offered only through private sale.
Modern architecture aficionados should run to 11345 W. Ricks Circle, a masterpiece designed by internationally recognized Hocker Design. This rectangular beauty was constructed with 60 tons of steel and more than 40 slabs of Calacatta marble, as well as plenty of glass.
If a timeless European aesthetic appeals to you, see an exquisite property at 4222 Brookview Drive. Foodies will be in heaven here thanks to the fully redone chef’s kitchen, but so will wellness enthusiasts. The 6,837-square-foot home holds a brick courtyard, a sparkling pool, an impeccable primary suite, and more.
At 6511 Mimosa Lane, you gain a five-bedroom stunner with a newly transformed outdoor oasis. The seller took great care putting in a gorgeous pool and spa, a large stone pool house with a fireplace, and a grill master’s dream summer kitchen.
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
Dallas homes that promise a luxury lifestyle
Allie Beth Allman & Associates specialize in marketing and selling homes at the luxury and ultra-luxury level.
If you’re looking for an elite address, now is the time to secure a stellar home. The luxury real estate market has incredible gems to offer, many of which are listed with the seasoned agents of Allie Beth Allman & Associates.
Working with the boutique brokerage, you’re sure to see all the most magazine-worthy properties available. Here are three exceptional offerings they currently represent.
A 7,300-square-foot masterpiece at 3220 Colgate Ave. in University Park is a vision of striking materials and finishes. Whether you’re cooking in the exquisite chef’s kitchen, serving drinks for guests at the glamorous wet bar, or relaxing on your brand-new covered patio with retractable screens, every moment here is destined to be sublime.
On a coveted 1.3-acre corner lot in Preston Hollow, a Bud Oglesby-designed treasure awaits for architecture aficionados. The most extraordinary aspect of 4524 Park Lane is its horseshoe-shaped floor plan, which flows around a stunning central courtyard wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows.
Designed by renowned architect Richard Drummond Davis and built by Douglas Lueckemeyer, the 6,176-square-foot home at 4001 Glenwick Lane has enduring curb appeal that will continuously inspire awe. Just imagine loved ones arriving here for grand parties and seeing the symmetrical façade, stately doubleheight columns.
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
Luxurious lake and ranch properties where you can create a legacy
lake and ranch properties for sale in Texas.
If you’ve been looking for a legacy property to cherish, take your search to the next level by working with Allie Beth Allman & Associates.
Right now, you can buy a move-in-ready, multigenerational masterpiece at 260 Cypress Marina Drive on Lake Cypress Springs. Set privately behind gates, the one-acre retreat offers more than 6,400 square feet of living space across a stunning main house, pool house, two-story guest carriage house, and polished guest suite atop the garage.
Another exceptional lakefront opportunity awaits at 13220 Dodds Landing, offered fully furnished. Perched on Cedar Creek Lake in the Long Cove community, the five-bedroom abode was built by Tatum Brown Custom Homes and designed by SHM Architects with effortless entertaining in mind.
If a lavish ranch is your wish, look no further than 2777 I-30 W in Sulphur Springs. The extraordinary property spans 681 acres and promises a fully furnished, French-style villa exuding opulence. There’s also a charming country French guest house where guests can feel pampered.
Known as Happy Trails Ranch, 2828 E. State Highway 154 in Quitman, is a 50-acre property sure to make you smile. With three stocked ponds, towering oak and pine trees, and a 2019built insulated barn, the possibilities for ranch adventures here are endless.
ALLIE
BETH ALLMAN
University Park homes await new buyers
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents specialize in the marketing and sale of homes in University Park and throughout the Park Cities area.
Trust Allie Beth Allman & Associates, whose agents excel in the sale of Park Cities homes, to find you a great University Park home.
Here are three that are available right now.
On a premier lot along one of the most coveted University Park blocks is a five-bedroom mansion at 3713 Greenbrier Drive. The contemporary-style interiors were redesigned by Philip Vanderford of Studio Thomas James. Its open kitchen flows seamlessly to the covered patio and pool in the landscaped backyard.
The home at 3205 Caruth Blvd. sits one of University Park’s most sought-after streets. The transitional, five-bedroom, Mediterranean-style home was built by Robert Elliott for the current owners in 2017. It has a downstairs primary suite with French doors that open to a courtyard that evokes the charm of the Italian countryside.
Close to schools, parks and the community pool is a five-bedroom mansion at 3428 Stanford Ave. The home has a recently updated kitchen with an oversized marble waterfall island and a wine closet. A separate staircase leads to a game room and a private office. French doors open to an outdoor living room with a grill and phantom screens that overlook a pool and spa.
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents are representing premier
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN
9895 Kingsway Ave Available
Listed By: Ani Nosnik & Sanders Avrea
