Park Cities People May 2024

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High-flying centennial celebration spotted in University Park. PAGE 8

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DON’T MESS WITH BABY BUNNIES, BIRDS, ETC.

Spring is here, and so is a new generation of baby animals.

But what should you do if you find a seemingly orphaned bird or bunny without a parent nearby?

Generally nothing, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Mom will likely return, and interfering may do more harm than good.

The same holds true for nests of baby bunnies, which are deliberately shallow so that the babies don’t drown if it rains.

“Mom does a much better job than rehabbers do,” wildlife rehabber Darenda Isbell said. “They’re very delicate creatures.”

If you’re concerned the babies could be vulnerable to dogs or other predators, consider covering the nest with a pallet, which can be obtained for free from hardware stores, but be sure to leave room for mom to come and go to feed her young.

Isbell explained that mom rabbits typically visit twice a day at dusk and dawn to spend a few minutes with their offspring. But that’s out of protection, not neglect. Unlike adult rabbits, babies don’t have an odor that attracts predators.

“If mom sticks around, she has that wild smell that will attract snakes, and dogs, and cats, and other things.”

So, when should you interfere and rescue a bunny? If mom is definitely dead, if a cat has had the bunny in its mouth, if the babies have been attacked by ants, or if the den has been

submerged in water for a period of time, then the young rabbits may need some extra help.

Put the babies in a shoebox with a T-shirt or fleece blanket to keep them warm, and do not feed the bunnies. If the animals are too cold, they will not be able to process the food and may choke, or their stomach could flip.

“If you were in an ambulance, that ambulance driver would not stop at Taco Bell on the way to the hospital,” Isbell said.

Isbell said residents who find rabbits or other wildlife, with the exception of birds, in need of assistance can contact her at 972-989-4090 or via email at izzywildlife@ yahoo.com.

This is “baby season,” and Isbell has already received everything from bunnies and possums to squirrels and raccoons. Over the next month, she expects to start seeing foxes and coyotes, followed by fawns and skunks

(brought in by brave rescuers!) in May.

Most birds can be taken to Rogers Wildlife, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 1430 E. Cleveland St., Hutchins, Texas. Rogers Wildlife can be reached at 972-2254000. Its phone is monitored daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the center asks that rescuers call before bringing in birds.

Animal rehabbers are not supported by the state, and rely completely on donations to continue their work, Isbell said. People can help out by donating directly to the rehabber who assists them. Isbell’s organization, Izzy Wildlife Rescue & Rehab, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accepts donations via Paypal at paypal.me/izzywildlife, or Venmo @Izzy-wildlife.

More advice is also available at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Orphaned and Injured Animals webpage, tpwd.texas. gov/huntwild/wild/rehab/orphan.

Some youngsters like these may need assistance, but generally it’s best to leave found animals alone. DARENDA ISBELL

SARAH HODGES

COMMUNITY: Historic Home Tour to Feature Four Classic Homes

Crime Reports March 11-April 7

March 11

A tinkering troublemaker stole tools from a construction site prior to 8:07 a.m. on Daniel Avenue

March 12

A drug store deviant stole items worth between $100 and $750 before 9:43 p.m. from a CVS on Preston Road

March 13

A purse poacher stole a woman’s Prada bag, $20,000 diamond ring, $3,000 gold ring, Versace wallet, $100 cash, credit card, and driver’s license from inside her home in the  4300 block of Fairfax Avenue prior to 1:12 p.m.

A jaded jaywalker was arrested at 9:30 p.m. after failing to yield the right of way to vehicles or accurately identify himself to officers in the  3400 block of Daniel Avenue

March 14

Police apprehended a CVS thief, then arrested him for theft, drug possession, failure to identify himself, and an outstanding warrant at 8:32 p.m. in the  6700 block of Preston Road

March 15

A bag bandit stole a woman’s YSL purse from  Lounge 31 in Highland Park Village prior to 11:35 p.m. Inside were a YSL wallet, Mercedes key fob, debit card, two credit cards, $200 cash, and a driver’s license.

March 16

Officers arrested a 31-year-old man for public intoxication at 6:12 p.m. in  Highland Park Village

March 18

Reported at 10:27 a.m.: A bright yellow overnight bag containing clothes and a green toiletry bag were missing in action after they left their owner’s Lincoln Navigator in the  3600 block of Normandy Avenue without his permission and started moving around the Dallas area, according to an Apple AirTag.

March 19

Officers arrested thieves for stealing property worth between $2,500 and $30,000 at

8:30 p.m. in the 3400 block of Mockingbird Lane. One of the arrestees did not have proof of insurance or a driver’s license.

March 21

A joyrider stole an unlocked Cadillac Escalade before 2:11 p.m. on Lovers Lane

March 22

A sleepless swindler broke the back window of a GMC sports utility vehicle and stole Burberry pajama pants before 8:01 a.m. on Amherst Street

March 23

A careless driver hit a Jeep Wrangler parked in the  5300 block of Armstrong Parkway before 10:25 p.m. The driver didn’t leave a note, but may have driven off without computer components, pieces of black plastic with identifying numbers and symbols, and a magnet with an American flag and the words “Charleston South Carolina.”

March 24

Officers arrested a woman for public intoxication at 3:55 a.m. on Grassmere Lane

March 25

Reported at 12:04 p.m.: A delivery person dropped off some breakfast tacos at a home in the  4200 block of Edmondson Avenue, then left with packages containing three Makezbright bears and a glass dessert bowl.

March 26

Reported at 5:46 p.m. A traitorous thief took advantage of a generous SMU student in Snider Plaza and used the cell phone she leant him to transfer money to an unknown account.

March 28

How easy was it for a thief to steal a Ford F-150 before 8:27 p.m. from  Bryn Mawr Drive? The car was left unlocked with the key fob inside.

March 29

Reported at 8:30 a.m.: A bumbling burglar struck four vehicles parked in the  3500 block of Normandy Avenue, managing to break the windows of three vehicles and damaging windows of the fourth. Nothing was stolen except for a card holder containing

SCHOOLS: HPISD Community Advisory Committee Recommends Bond

an SMU ID card and business cards, which were tossed to the ground.

March 30

A brazen burglar stole money, a purse, a credit card, a checkbook, and a driver’s license before 11:51 a.m. from a Mercedes Benz GLE in the 3500 block of Lovers Lane

March 31

Lawn decor reached a new low before 9:56 p.m. when someone left a toilet at a home on Purdue Street

April 1

Reported at 3:23 p.m.: A speed demon sideswiped a Toyota RAV4 in the 4300 block of Westway Avenue with enough force to knock off its side mirror and shatter it.

April 2

Reported at 11:27 a.m.: A fraudster opened an account using the identifying information of a resident of Hanover Street

April 3

A joyrider didn’t need an invitation to steal a red Cadillac from Amherst Street before 8:21 a.m. — the car was left unlocked with the key fob inside.

April 4

A man was arrested for running a stop sign, driving without a license or insurance, and for multiple warrants at 1:38 p.m. in the 3700 block of St. Johns Drive

April 5

A locked Cadillac Escalade and the Smith & Wesson 0.38 Special in it were stolen from the Whole Foods parking lot in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive before 1:50 p.m. while the car’s owners were grocery shopping.

April 6

A reckless driver hit the lift gate of the Hilltop Holdings parking garage on  Hillcrest Avenue, then drove off without leaving information.

April 7

Officers made a driving while intoxicated arrest at 2:55 p.m. in the  4700 block of Fairfield Avenue

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Proposed Preston Center Development to Bring 180 Multifamily Units to HPISD

By Maria Lawson maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

A proposed redevelopment for the southern side of Preston Center West would bring 180 units of multifamily housing zoned to Highland Park ISD.

The project’s developer, Ramrock Real Estate, aims to create a walkable, mixed-use community with retail, office space, and housing.

“I think we would all like to see (Preston Center) come a little more to its potential than what it is now,” Dallas City Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis said during an April 10 community meeting.

A rezoning request to accommodate these changes is planned to go before the City Plan Commission on May 2.

Robert Dozier with Ramrock shared that the plan calls for 280,000 square feet of residential, 350,000 square feet of office space, and 25,000 square feet of retail. Developers are planning for street-activating restaurants and retail, two floors of parking, an 11-story office

building, and 13 stories of residential.

The existing 125,000-square-foot office building would come down to make way for the new development.

Some neighbors have raised concerns about traffic that would come with the development, which Willis and Dallas director of transportation Gus Khankarli said could be addressed with crosswalks, roadway improvements, traffic signal improvements, sidewalks, pavement markings, and signal replacement.

Douglas Avenue improvements are to come, and Khankarli emphasized that it takes two to three years for cities to get their hands on federal funds.

“We applied for that cash three years ago, and now it’s just materializing,” he said. “This is the reason why at that time when we applied, looking at and making adjustments to the median and the movements on Douglas was a key component to that work.”

The northern half of Preston Center West with Target and Marshalls will remain in its current condition, Dozier said.

Troop 72G Introduces Three More Female Eagle Scouts

Three area girls have earned the Eagle Scout rank, Boy Scouting’s highest. Doing so typically takes several years and requires earning 21 or more badges plus completing a project.

The girls are among the first 87 female Eagle earners in the Circle Ten Council of the BSA. Two of them, Olivia Louise Slaughter and Zoe Elise Lawyer, are founding members of their troop, joining it in the fifth grade.

Troop 72G (Girls)

University Park United Methodist Church

Olivia Louise Slaughter, 14, a freshman at Highland Park High School, is the daughter of Michelle and Michael Slaughter and a fourth-generation Eagle Scout. Her project: organizing a book drive at Interabang Books for the West Dallas Community School. The one-day drive collected 250

books for the donation-dependent campus, which provides a college preparatory education to needy students.

Sophia Bergsli-Chavez , 16, a junior at Lewisville High School, is the daughter of Kristine Bergsli and Sergio Chavez and a second-generation Eagle Scout. Her project: Kits for Kids, an effort that lets her share her love of art with patients at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She and her team of Scouts, friends, and adults assembled 40 art kits.

Zoe Elise Lawyer , 15, a freshman at Highland Park High School, is the daughter of Cissy Detcheva and Robert Lawyer. Her project: leading her team to plant one of the habitats at the Trinity River Audubon Center and then building a wraparound bench for a pecan tree next to one of the trails.

— Compiled by staff

Neighbors attended an April 10 community meeting at Christ the King Catholic Church about the proposed development. MARIA LAWSON

Olivia Louise Slaughter COURTESY TROOP 72G Sophia Bergsli-Chavez Zoe Elise Lawyer

University Park Celebrates Centennial by Lighting Up the Night

University Park marked its milestone 100th anniversary on April 13 with a community celebration and the city’s first-ever drone show in the night sky over Goar Park.

The show, which outlined city landmarks, symbols, and sports, capped a week of special events and promotions.

Earlier in the week, residents heard insights from current and former mayors, learned about the history of University Park’s police and fire departments, and were treated to free admission to the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Meadows Museum at SMU.

On April 12, the city celebrated its official date of incorporation with dedication of the Centennial Tree, a Shumard Red Oak whose leaves will turn scarlet in fall, and time capsule in Goar Park.

The April 13 celebration at the park featured food trucks, performances by students at Highland Park High School and SMU, and recognition of the winners of the city’s centennial art and essay contests.

The week’s festivities may be over, but more recognition of UP’s landmark anniversary is still to come. Residents can be on the lookout for historic markers from Preservation Park Cities, which plans to place markers at locations including Snider Plaza and the YMCA.

– Compiled by Sarah Hodges

Guests could sign their name to a UP flag that will be buried in a time capsule to be opened in 50 years during University Park’s Centennial Celebration on Saturday night.

Emcee Jeff Brady

More than 300 drones lit up the night sky outlining some of UP’s landmarks as guests watched from Goar Park as part of Saturday night’s centennial celebration. The event was 100 years in the making.

David Dahn with Adam Hochschuler and Austin and Cameron Dahn

HP Mayor Pro Tem Craig Penfold reads a proclamation.

Annabel Heim Cristina and Russell Samson with dogs Yumi and Hachi CHRIS MCGATHEY

Comings and Goings

NOW OPEN

Super Duper Cookie Co.

6401 Hillcrest Ave., Suite 102

The new spot serves fresh-baked cookies and cookie cakes and provides wage-earning jobs to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Preston Playhouse

13130 Preston Road

The family-friendly pop-up facility features nine indoor pickleball courts, two indoor padel courts, and a heated indoor swimming pool. There are also arcade games and dedicated lounge and bar spaces.

Jack & Harry’s

6844 Snider Plaza

The New Or leans-inspired restaurant and bar pairs Southern charm with French-infused recipes, coastal favorites, and a wine and cocktail program.

Tommy’s Girl

6111 Greenville Ave.

The first-of-itskind boutique combines hair enhancements, fashion, and couture.

MOVED

NorthPark Center

Multiple Locations

• T-Mobile has a new home on level two near Macy’s.

• LensCrafters’ new location is next door to T-Mobile.

CLOSED

Douglas Bar and Grill

Snider Plaza

The restaurant serving barbecue staples and prime steaks with a mix of southern favorites closed March 30.

Outdoor Voices

NorthPark Center

The Austin-based athleisure brand closed its stores and now operates online only.

Yonkers Pizza Co.

The Plaza at Preston Center

The New York-style pizza restaurant has permanently closed.

— Compiled by Maria Lawson

Super Duper Cookie Co. MARIA LAWSON

Jack & Harry’s KAYLA ENRIGHT

Preston Playhouse JONATHAN ZIZZO

Tommy’s Girl ROSS STEWART

Sports

SCOTS LACK ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IN LACROSSE TITLE PUSH

Defense leads defending champs against out-of-state powerhouses

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

If ever Highland Park could be considered an underdog in lacrosse, last season’s surprise run to the Texas High School Lacrosse League state championship — the program’s first since 2015 — was it.

Flash forward one year, and the state’s most decorated high school program, with eight crowns overall, is in a somewhat daunting position of trying to repeat.

“We know that we will get everybody’s very best.”

Mike Pressler

Such expectations are part of the building process for second-year HP coach Mike Pressler, whose stellar pedigree amassed during a four-decade college career paid immediate dividends for the Scots.

“We coach these kids like a Division I college program,” Pressler

said. “I’m not dialing it down. These kids are dialing it up. So far, that formula has absolutely worked.”

This spring began with new and more ambitious goals for Pressler — not only defending the state title, but making HP nationally relevant in a sport that tends to be dominated by more established East Coast programs.

The Scots scheduled accordingly, with 11 consecutive games against teams from outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including seven against out-of-state opponents.

HP responded with a 9-2 record in that grueling stretch, including a victory over California powerhouse Torrey Pines, which handed the Scots their only loss

in 2023. The Scots also picked up their first-ever win over IMG Academy in Orlando, Florida.

“That was the plan, to test ourselves on a national basis,” Pressler said. “I’ve got to keep bringing them back down to Earth. We’re one negative performance away from being beaten. But when we’re on, we have demonstrated multiple times this

year that we can play with anyone in the country.”

The defense has been particularly impressive, with HP surrendering three goals or fewer in seven of their first 14 games. The Scots allowed just two against Torrey Pines, which scored 13 against them last year.

Pressler credits the goaltending duo of John Allen and Jack Morse, as well as defensive stalwarts Ben Boyer, Donovan Riley, Harrison Wheeler, Keller Holmes, and others.

“We’re coming together offensively, but week in and week out, our defense and our goaltending has been outstanding,” Pressler said. “That’s been a consistent common denominator with this team.”

As the playoffs approach, the Scots are confident they can refocus and adjust to their new role as favorites for this season’s state tournament on May 11-12 in Magnolia.

“We’ve just got to gather ourselves and understand the mission ahead. We know that we will get everybody’s very best,” Pressler said. “We’ve got some very talented and skilled players. They have bought in. Hopefully that momentum keeps going.”

Family Reunion: HP Baseball Siblings Thrive in Rare Opportunity to Team Up Injuries enabled Carter and Cole Flashnick to play together despite 3-year age difference

By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

Carter and Cole Flashnick have always shared a passion for baseball, worked out together, and supported one another. But being three years apart, they never had a chance to share the field during a game.

That changed in late February, when a rash of injuries to Highland Park infielders opened up a roster spot. In stepped Cole, a talented freshman who was penciled in by coaches as a JV outfielder, making his varsity debut at shortstop.

“No moment is too big for him.” Carter Flashnick

“He’s stepped into a spot where not many guys would be able to do at his age,” said HP head coach Travis Yoder. “He has no fear. He does everything we ask him to do.”

While Cole has become a mainstay in the lineup as by far the youngest player on

the Scots, Carter likewise has excelled in a new role.

He was primarily HP’s designated hitter a year ago but has shifted to first base this spring — which has enabled him to take throws from Cole on ground balls.

“My role has definitely changed,” Carter said. “I’ve just stuck with it. It’s just been building my confidence.”

Carter also has moved from the middle of the batting order to the leadoff spot, where his aggressiveness early in counts

and his tendency to hit line drives has been valuable.

“He’s stepped up and been our run producer all year, no matter where we put him,” Yoder said. “Carter just outworks everybody. He’s got a little fire to him.”

Cole usually batting ninth has increased those RBI opportunities for Carter, who follows him into the batter’s box each time the lineup turns over.

“It’s been really fun,” Cole said. “It can be a little challenging. I had played shortstop when I was younger but the last couple of years, I hadn’t. I adjusted to it.”

Improved health throughout the roster has triggered a turnaround for the Scots, who started slow in nondistrict play but remain in contention for a District 7-6A title. That’s due in large part to a stellar pitching staff that includes seniors Max Stammel, Jordan Stribling, Benton O’Banion, Caden Liner, and Charlie Kinkaid.

Meanwhile, the Flashnick siblings have become closer as they hope to finish their only season together by contributing equally to a deep playoff run in May.

“It’s great that he’s gotten that opportunity and handled everything,” Carter said. “No moment is too big for him.”

Parker Addison (center) is among the leading scorers this season for Highland Park. CHRIS MCGATHEY

FROM LEFT: Highland Park senior Carter Flashnick and his freshman brother, Cole, have provided timely hits in the lineup this season. CHRIS MCGATHEY

Lady Scots Keep Running in Memory of Tracy Wills at Annual Meet

By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Teammates remember Tracy Wills as “tiny but mighty.”

The standout athlete was a serious competitor on the Lady Scots cross country and track teams, but one who had a way of always making her teammates laugh.

“She brought a lightness to all of our time together,” said former team captain Lesley Rhodes, “even when we were really exhausted and wanted to complain.”

“If she was going to do it, she was going to do it right.”

Lugay Wills

Highland Park High School teammates were stunned by Tracy’s sudden death from pneumonia in 1995. They tied green ribbons to their shoes, wrote Tracy’s initials on the interior, and finished their season in her name.

“It just left a huge hole in our hearts and in our team,” Rhodes said. “We had to put one foot in front of the other. We knew that’s what she

would have wanted us to do.”

The Lady Scots have continued to honor their teammate each year with the Tracy Wills Invitational, the team’s only home meet of the season. The meet, which began in 1997, was held this year on March 23 at Germany Park.

Tracy’s mother, Lugay Wills, credited the almost 30-year endurance of the invitational to her daughter’s coaches. They loved Tracy, who was both a devoted

friend focused on helping her teammates, and a committed runner who spent her evenings at the track.

“If she was going to do it, she was going to do it right,” Lugay said.

This year brought the Lady Scots full circle — two of the daughters of Tracy’s teammates ran in the meet, and Tracy’s older brother Jeff brought his own daughter to participate in the fun run for kindergarten through sixth-grade girls.

Hearing stories about his sister, Jeff said, has helped him understand why her memory has been so impactful. Last year, he learned that Tracy put pacing her friends ahead of her own speed until she was encouraged by coaches who knew she could win.

“That’s when she really started winning a lot and really being a leader for the team,” he said. “She had that competitiveness to her, but also those soft skills, that sweet

side, and was just a good friend to everybody.”

Emory Rhodes, who followed in her mom’s footsteps and is one of this season’s team captains, said she learns more about the meet’s significance each year.

Coach Susan Bailey speaks with athletes before competition day, keeping Tracy’s memory alive and making sure there’s a strong feeling of community on the team.

“Even though UIL calls it an individual sport, (Coach Bailey) really works hard to make sure that it’s not an individual sport,” Emory said. “Everyone has the same vision, and everyone’s working hard for a common goal.”

The team met its goal at this year’s invitational, where participating schools included Crandall, Richardson, Garland, Pinkston, and Fort Worth Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

The Lady Scots easily defended their team championship, posting several individual event wins in the process. Highlights included Ellie Preston’s 800and 1,600-meter runs, as well as Madeleine Denton’s performance in the long jump and triple jump. Other gold medalists for HP included Kayla Dickerson (3,200), Catherine Hale (high jump), and Emory Rhodes (pole vault).

Jeff and Charlotte Wills with the Lady Scots track captains. LESLEY RHODES

Home & Business

MAKE IT INTENTIONAL AND FUN

Software discovery leads to pool design career

By Claire Collins Special Contributor

Ten years ago, Brad Holley knew very little about pools.

Today, he’s design director at Pure Design Group, a luxury outdoor living design firm with extensive experience in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities.

In 2023, he took first place in the highly competitive Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge, competing against top designers from across the county.

“You get to design a totally unique outdoor environment for a hypothetical client, with an extreme wish list and unlimited funds,” Holley said. “What could be more fun?”

Fun is at the foundation of Holley’s career.

Inc. The

Real

Research Center

Texas A&M University prepares the monthly Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reports but leaves out municipalities when they don’t hit a 10-sale threshold for single-family homes. University Park last met that threshold in November. Highland Park returned to the report in February. We would prefer more comprehensive and timely data but believe these market snapshots still provide a helpful look at where the industry is heading.

While perfecting his SketchUp skills, he found a job opening for an assistant to a successful pool designer, where 80% of the job required using SketchUp.

“I didn’t know at the time that the designer, Randy Angell, was a master of outdoor design, but I quickly learned,” Holley said. “He really taught me everything I know.”

Angell encouraged Holley to take risks with design and introduced him to the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge in 2017.

Holley didn’t enter a design until 2022, taking fourth place overall at the finals in Las Vegas.

“When I create a new design or model, it feels like I’m just playing with Legos.”

As a teen, his love of cars led to tinkering and repairing with his best friend and, ultimately, a stint at Discount Tires. That job led to an introduction to a construction company, and while working there in renovations, Holley stumbled upon software that would change his life.

Brad Holley

“SketchUp was just this cool, free software I discovered one day while working for the construction firm, and it very quickly became my obsession,” Holley said.

A year later, he won first prize with a design he estimated would cost $4.5 million in real life.

“Every entrant is given the same hypothetical property and wish list, which is exhaustive,” Holley said. “In 2023, it was an ultra-modern home located on an intracoastal waterway in Miami; the space was small, and the wish list was crazy.”

Specs included items like a lazy river and an over-the-top outdoor entertainment feature. Holley was the only competitor to accommodate every item on the punch list, and he achieved this by maximizing space by creating a two-story structure that mimics the look of a

yacht’s hardtop.

Day-to-day design is pared down by comparison, but is no less beautiful. Today, most of Holley’s clients request clean, modern designs. Holley’s primary goal is to create an outdoor space that looks intentional and that feels like an extension of the house itself.

“A lot of it is just play,” Holley said. “When I create a new design or model, it feels like I’m just playing with Legos.”

WHAT’S TRENDY?

In:

• Clean, modern lines

• Acrylic panels to create optical illusions with waterfalls or windows

• Perimeter overflow pools or hidden gutters that make the water level flush with decking

• Strip lighting to create glow

Out:

• Flagstone

• Natural shaped pools

• Saltwater pools

KEEPING COOL

To keep your pool cool in the Texas heat, consider:

• Chilling features – available with new construction and easy to add later

• Moving water stays cooler – waterfall or fountain additions

• Plaster - color can impact temperature marginally.

• Landscaping can create shade.

Source: Brad Holley

Brad Holley won a $10,000 prize for a theoretical backyard design that would cost $4.5 million to achieve for real. But most of his design work goes into actual North Texas backyard projects like these in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. COURTESY PURE DESIGN GROUP

Preservation Park Cities Home Tour

May 10th from 10 am - 1 pm PreservationParkCities.org

Meredith Ferrell

meredith.ferrell@compass.com

214.868.1177

mferrellhomes

The Meredith Ferrell Group is proud to support the Preservation Park Cities and its mission to celebrate and promote the architecture, history, aesthetics, and cultural traditions that make this neighborhood one unlike any other. As a Preservation Park Cities board member and an aficionado of older homes, it only made sense for her to sponsor 3701 Crescent Avenue on this year’s tour. In fact, she found this home for its current owners and immediately new it was the picture-perfect preservation project.

Meredith has been finding homes in the Park Cities for nearly two decades. As a second-generation Dallas realtor she is able to offer 30plus years of experience to her customers through her carefully curated real estate group. In a competitive market, she finds the unfindable and pairs pristine properties with families that respect the past and are committed to gracefully taking them in to the future.

Love your neighborhood. Love your home. It’s as simple as that with the Meredith Ferrell Group.

Douglas Bar and Grill Owner Closes Snider Plaza Restaurant to Put Family First

By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Doug Pickering closed the doors of Snider Plaza’s Douglas Bar and Grill March 30, not because the restaurant was failing, but because its success wasn’t what mattered most.

“It was a tough decision to make, but at the end of the day, I had to choose my family over my business,” Pickering said. “You can always make money back, but you can’t get time back.”

The restaurant, Pickering explained, was taking him away too much from his wife, Amanda, and their three children, ages 4, 2, and 1. He has owed Amanda a vacation since they were married seven years ago and had to cut their honeymoon short so he could get back to work.

The Douglas has been a learning experience in restaurant ownership for Pickering, who’s had to balance everything from staff management to building repairs.

Snider Plaza’s parking crunch has only made the business more challenging. At the start of this year, the Douglas closed for lunch Monday through Thursday because customers couldn’t find parking spots.

local businesses there that are family-owned,” he said. “I hope that they have the ways and means to get through all of that.”

Pickering and his wife Amanda both grew up in the Park Cities. After Pickering graduated from SMU in 2001, he worked in investment banking in California, then for a Dallas-area hedge fund.

“It was a tough decision to make, but at the end of the day, I had to choose my family over my business. You can always make money back, but you can’t get time back.”

Pickering began selling barbecue out of a Deep Ellum sports bar. He worked as a caterer before starting Ferris Wheelers in 2016, where he is still a part owner. He opened Douglas Bar and Grill in May 2022, knowing that with the closure of Peggy Sue, the Park Cities was missing a barbecue restaurant.

Doug Pickering

“Every lunch service, it was like rolling the dice,” Pickering said. “We would have people make lunch reservations that couldn’t find a parking spot, and they would cancel.”

The city’s Hilltop parking garage has helped businesses in the southern part of Snider Plaza, but it’s not been as useful for restaurants north of Milton Avenue,

whose customers may be reluctant to walk far in summer heat. Pickering expects Snider Plaza’s parking woes to get worse before they get better due to the increasing number of restaurants and the city’s planned improvements to the shopping area.

“I feel bad for some of the

Cooking barbecue was Pickering’s hobby, and initially, he told friends they were crazy for suggesting he open a restaurant. Pickering started his catering business in 2012 with a food blog and a single backyard Big Green Egg, where he cooked up one brisket at a time. Business picked up quickly. He added another Green Egg, then one more, before finally buying a custom smoker.

“When you do something that makes people happy, and you can also make a living doing it, it’s a winwin type situation,” Pickering said.

Though Pickering intended for the Douglas to be a core barbecue restaurant, it adapted to become an eatery that did a little of everything. The steaks and sweet and smoky salmon with a honey glaze became top sellers. Pickering’s “never fail recommendation” was the Douglas burger, which included barbecue sauce, homemade pimento cheese, and brisket.

“I’m proud that we served in the neighborhood for two years, and we made a lot more people happy than we did mad, and that’s the goal,” he said.

Doug Pickering holds a platter of his restaurant’s beef tenderloin with house-made horseradish. COURTESY DOUGLAS BAR AND GRILL

Make Your Home Inviting Day or Night With the Right Exterior Lighting

I discussed interior lighting in my last article, but today, I want to address exterior lighting and its essential role in accenting your home and landscape.

Exterior lighting helps you get the most out of your outdoor living spaces.

Just like indoor lighting, outdoor lighting should be layered with different types of coverage. To light the front of your house, use bullet lights with bulbs that have a narrow (12°) spread. Aim them at the corners of your house or on architectural details. Fill in the gaps with soft wash lights. Generally, spotlights should be placed about 1.5 feet from whatever they’re shining on.

For front porches, I recommend hanging a light fixture over the doorway and lights on either side of the door. I like to make sure loggias have hanging lights. You can also put sconces on the columns and add extra lighting with upward and downward lights. Steps will need lights — such as risers or lit treads — so people don’t stumble.

Although LED lights are more expensive upfront, they are a wise investment because they are more energy efficient and can last 25 times longer than standard bulbs. When in doubt, use bulbs with a warm color temperature, such as 3000K.

As far as landscaping goes, there should be at least a little bit of lighting in the flowerbeds. If you have a large yard, you can light it by putting lights on posts at the corners.

A traditional home needs traditional wall sconces or an outdoor

lantern, while modern homes look best when light fixtures have simple silhouettes. If you have a historic house, you may want to have the original exterior light fixtures rewired and refinished instead of replacing them.

Getting that “professionally lit” look for your house can be daunting. Between fixture placement, fixture style, voltage, wattage, color, temperature, and beam spread, there are a lot of factors. These tips will help you get started, but if you’re pressed for time or feeling unsure, you can always bring in a professional.

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.

Real Talk: Phillip Geheb

Preston Hollow attorney

Phillip Geheb spent nearly a decade with Munsch Hardt, becoming a go-to counsel for Matthews Southwest.

He joined the company after representing the Lewisville-based real estate developer on projects such as the Broward County Convention Center Expansion and the Old Dallas High School redevelopment.

As the new senior vice president, he works in downtown Dallas, leading corporate strategy and operations, capital markets, and development projects across all divisions at Matthews Southwest.

communities. Thereafter, I focused my remaining coursework and law degree on real estate and economic development and built my law practice around it. My new position at Matthews will help build my skillset to effectuate positive change in Dallas, particularly in south and southern Dallas.

“We’re excited to have him on board as we continue to pioneer developments that shape skylines and nurture communities in North Texas and across the United States, Canada, and the Middle East,” president Jack Matthews said.

How did you get into real estate development?

I was a Teach for America corps member in Philadelphia, teaching middle school math after college. I was deeply impacted by how issues such as the lack of affordable housing, living wage jobs, and general investment in my student’s community affected their ability to achieve in the classroom. During graduate school, I visited a redevelopment project in East Berlin and was inspired about the ability of real estate investments to change

Luxurious Santa Barbara soft contemporary estate on coveted corner lot in Highland Park with lighted pickleball court! Built by award-winning Avida Custom Homes, this property combines elegance, functionality, and entertainment seamlessly.

Gourmet kitchen features a butler’s pantry and custom glass doors opening to an oversized lanai. Outdoor living is elevated with multiple sitting areas, a pool, spa, two-sided fireplace, and fire pit. There are also an electric pet door and turfed run for ultimate convenience.

Dual family rooms, with a bar and temp-

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?

Be patiently impatient – there is a lot only experience will teach you, and you need to be continually open to new challenges to grow.

What is the best thing about working in real estate?

The tangibility of the work. I love seeing projects come out of the ground and realizing you were a small part in creating change.

What is your outlook on the Dallas market?

The city is investing almost $5 billion in public infrastructure, parks, and other public spaces in the next 5-7 years. That is on top of the billions of dollars of announced private projects. This is a great time to be in Dallas.

Can you give us a fun fact about yourself?

I grew up in Detroit, and I am a big Lions and Tigers fan.

– Compiled by William Taylor

controlled wine room, seamlessly integrate to outdoors telescoping sliding doors. The first floor includes a sophisticated office with covered patio, downstairs guest bedroom suite, and steel safe room in three-car garage. The primary suite impresses with a white oak custom coffee bar and bev cooler. Dual lux baths and walk-in closets exceed expectations. There are three additional bedrooms on the second floor, and a flexible space or sixth bedroom offer supreme versatility.

Smart features: Lutron lighting, video security, and Elan AV.

COURTESY PHOTO

MARGARET CHAMBERS

CLOCKWISE: Using a variety of lights creates a balanced exterior for this Dallas home. MICHAEL HUNTER, WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS The lighting helps make the most out of the large covered porch and highlights the beautiful arches. The update of this 1927 home in Kessler Park preserved the original exterior light fixtures by rewiring them. NATHAN SCHRODER, WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS

FOR $4,500,000 Rare opportunity awaits at the Mansion Residence, one of Dallas’ most exclusive high-rises. The residence tells a story of exclusivity, and is truly a unique and coveted home.

Community UP ANIMAL LOVER HELPS ROOSTER STRUT HIS STUFF AT FAMILY RANCH

By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

AUniversity Park animal lover gave a chicken a new place to roost after hearing that it was stuck mid-road on Asbury Street.

Mary Grasso flew into action after seeing on the Park Cities neighborhood Facebook group that a chicken had been left in a dog crate behind someone’s car. When police officers at the scene told Grasso that the chicken’s owners were interested in rehoming it, Grasso left a note in their mailbox letting them know that she was happy to take the bird to her family’s property in the Hill Country and give it a better life.

“It’s like a new lease on life, and hopefully he will have a beautiful, long, happy life out there.”

Mary Grasso

Grasso soon heard from the chicken’s owners, but hesitated after finding out the chicken was actually an adolescent rooster named Carlito.

Grasso decided to withhold judgment until she met the bird.

“He’s a really sweet rooster,” she said.

Carlito had been living with his prior owners in University Park as an indoor pet. He had diapers, pants, and a leash, and had even traveled to the groomer for a bath.

Upon getting Carlito home, Grasso was in for another surprise.

“As crazy as this is, chickens can actually get upper respiratory infections,” she said. “Carlito did have a runny nose and was kind of wheezing.”

Grasso spent the next day at the

farm supply store picking up supplements and antibiotics. She also consulted with a chicken vet specialist. Carlito’s health regimen grew to include a homeopathic vapor three times a day, a separate medication that went in his water, injectable antibiotics, and an oral dewormer.

The rooster’s vet-recommended diet featured high-fat yogurt and fresh fruit in addition to his feed.

“Carlito is definitely living the life right now,” Grasso said while nursing the bird back to health.

Carlito spent most of his days in University Park wandering around Grasso’s temperature-con-

trolled backhouse. Grasso upgraded his dog crate to include nesting pads, a chicken feeder and waterer, and nesting herbs to help keep Carlito healthy and relaxed.

Grasso’s children were thrilled when she brought Carlito home, and the family spent time playing games with him, such as burying food so that he could scratch for it.

“We found a rather large roach that we halfway killed and we gave

CARLITO’S TRIP TO PETBAR ON ASBURY STREET

“(The chicken) was really good, a really good chicken, no problems at all,” said Petbar groomer Lino Vidana, who bathed Carlito. Vidana explained that in his 19 years as a pet groomer he has groomed a rabbit once, but that this was his first fowl customer.

Vidana used shampoo to wash Carlito before towel drying him, and the rooster didn’t object to Petbar’s large dryer. Carlito also didn’t have issues with the dogs at Petbar, who tolerated him well. “In this neighborhood, the dogs are really well educated,” Vidana said. “They were just looking and looking.”

him the roach because chickens love roaches,” Grasso said. “He thought that was pretty amazing. The kids have been snuggling with him, and we take him out and pet him and let him kind of wander and he’s very social.”

Grasso’s efforts paid off Easter weekend when Carlito had recovered sufficiently to relocate to the ranch. Grasso’s mother took over Carlito’s care so that he could continue to thrive.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” said Grasso, who explained that she worried about Carlito since he hadn’t acquired some rooster skills, such as flying. “It’s like a new lease on life, and hopefully he will have a beautiful, long, happy life out there.”

Neighbors Celebrate Retirement of Joking, Joyful, and Kind Postman

By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

When a package of family memorabilia didn’t arrive at Kevin Smith’s house, letter carrier Edward “Eddie” Cosme went to the post office after work, found the package, and delivered it.

When Susan Eldredge’s children were expecting responses to college applications, Eddie asked which schools they were waiting for and rang the doorbell if a letter came.

One day, Eddie stopped on his route to help Mike McCollum carry a big screen TV into his house. Another time, he challenged John Hill to an informal basketball game. Eddie won.

Eddie knew every house on his route, who lived where, who was expecting, and who might need to be checked on or require extra help.

“We always said he could have been head of a corporation, because he has such a great personality and he’s smart,” Harriette Hill said. “But I’m glad that he delivered our mail every day, because he just brightened our lives so much.”

Eddie retired at the end of March after 38 years of taking 31,000 steps a day and delivering mail to more than 400 homes. The summer heat finally got to him, and he wanted to spend more time with his high school sweetheart and wife of 41 years, Rosemarie. Residents gathered on Golf Drive to say goodbye. They shared cake, snacks, and

memories of the postman who has had the same route in University Park since 2002.

Mort Newman, 93, remembered how he could hear Eddie talking loudly on his cellphone as he came down the street, and how Eddie always shouted out, “Love you, Mort.”

“He’s so loveable, obnoxiously so sometimes,” Newman said.

Kristin Johnson shared how Eddie bundled

and hung the mail of one elderly resident from his doorknob so he wouldn’t need to go down the steps to his mailbox.

Kristen Roberts said she still has the mail trucks Eddie gave her preschoolers, Whit and Bethany, who used to sit on the front steps and wait for Eddie to arrive. Whit is now 24, and Bethany is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin.

“He flirted outrageously, indiscriminately with everybody, but in the best, sort of easy, non-intense way,” said Eldredge, one of the party’s co-hosts.

Eddie joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1986 after leaving the Army. After applying to the Postal Service because his brother was a letter carrier, Eddie found that he loved the work. Easier routes became available, but Eddie didn’t want to leave the homes he served.

“I’m glad that he delivered our mail every day, because he just brightened our lives so much.”

Harriette Hill

“You’ve made it harder for me to go,” Eddie told residents. “When I look around, you guys met me 20-some years ago. I was a lot younger, a lot faster, a lot better looking.”

Eddie said he’d be back for block parties, but his customers said not having him deliver mail every day would still leave a hole.

“Eddie knows our business before we know our business,” Gina Culpepper said. “He pays attention. He’s just amazing. We’re going to miss him so much.”

Carlito with the Grasso’s Aussie, Ready. Carlito with his rescuer, Mary Grasso. COURTESY MARY GRASSO

Residents gathered on Golf Drive to celebrate the retirement of letter carrier Eddie Cosme, center, in “The Legend Has Retired” shirt. COURTESY LINC AND SUSAN ELDREDGE

‘Park Cities People’ Applauds

• Teenage brothers Bauer and Braden Berkley, who foiled a potential burglary of their home. After Braden had a verbal altercation with the suspect, Bauer held the suspect at BB gunpoint and called 911. Officers arrived within one minute and apprehended the potential burglar. The Berkleys were recognized at the March 19 Highland Park Town Council meeting with Citizen Commendations.

• The cast, crew, and directors of HPHS’s productions of Into the Woods and Chicago: Teen Edition HPHS drama students who worked on the productions were nominated for five Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards. Into the Woods received nominations for outstanding direction, outstanding ensemble, and outstanding crew & technical execution. Jessica Wu and Tucker Mattison were both nominated for outstanding supporting performer, Wu for her role in Chicago: Teen Edition, and Mattison for his role in Into the Woods. Award winners will be announced in May.

• Kristy and Patrick Sands, who are the honorary chairs of Equest’s 43rd annual Blue Ribbon Gala.

Proceeds from the gala on April 27 will support Equest’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs through equine assisted services. The Sands are longtime lovers of helping people and animals and have both served on area nonprofit boards.

CALLING ALL DILBECKIANS

Our team is a proud sponsor of this year’s Four Sisters Home Tour benefitting the Dilbeck Conservancy Saturday, May 18 from 11am to 4pm. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit dilbeckconservancy.org.

KYLE CREWS 214-538-1310

SANDERS AVREA 214-458-1964 ANI NOSNIK 972-896-5432

TREY BOUNDS 214-883-4600

ROBIN BROCK WEBSTER 214-543-8963

MARY ALICE GARRISON 214-543-7075 MORIAH LOVETT MCRAE 501-563-0234

CARLA JOHNSON 405-229-6976 MOLLY MASSEY 214-263-8216

URBANTEAMDALLAS.COM

URBAN IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE Four Sisters Home Tour

BENEFITTING THE DILBECK CONSERVANCY

SATURDAY, MAY 18TH, 2024 | 11AM - 4PM

DILBECKCONSERVANCY.ORG

Join us for our first public Dilbeck Architecture Conservancy event!

These French farmhouse residences—known as The Four Sisters—are exemplary examples of Dilbeck’s early Dallas houses. Located at the intersection of Shenandoah Street and Douglas Avenue in University Park, these charming homes are symbolic of the lasting beauty and appeal of Dilbeck’s design talents. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to tour all four homes in one afternoon.

• Sophia Price, whose art won the grand prize and first prize in the high school division of University Park’s Centennial Art Contest. Winning artwork in the competition, which was open to students in grades kindergarten through 12, is on display in April at City Hall. Other art submissions are on display at the University Park Public Library.

— Compiled by Sarah Hodges

MARIA LAWSON

COURTESY EQUEST

DON LITTON

SARAH HODGES

Reese Gould: A Special Artist Bike-riding HPHS grad loves animals, cartoons, sports

By Josh Hickman Special Contributor

Reese Gould has become familiar to many in the Park Cities, whether riding his bike and delivering Jersey Mike’s sandwiches, or for the prodigious drawings and paintings he often creates for friends and organizations.

He grew up here and graduated from Highland Park High School where he was part of the special programs and participated in Special Olympics.

Reese’s mother, Becky Gould, describes him as a self-taught artist.

“I saw this real ability to transfer images to paper as if he were tracing, but it was a freehand drawing,” she recalled. “Reese has always had a bit of a tremor, and I noticed when he drew, he didn’t have that.”

“He did a great job on the PR; sent out all the invitations,” Becky explained. “When we were getting ready to show his work, I grabbed a bunch of his sketch pads to scan them all in. There was so much stuff that I had no idea he had drawn, just mounds of work. He doesn’t have much left after the show, but he’s restarting now.”

A police badge painting is proudly displayed at the University Park Police Station, and he created a piece for the HPHS production of Beauty and The Beast

“It was a testament to the community that Reese has built, the community here in the Park Cities, and to our school district.”

Becky Gould

Reese identified “animals, cartoons, and sports” as favorite subjects, noting he also likes abstracts.

A recent art exhibition organized at the family home on Druid Lane drew a surprising crowd.

“It was packed in here,” Reese said, chuckling. “Two hundred people.”

“When he hears of a friend picking a college, he will do the emblem or mascot and drop it to them as a gift,” Becky said. “He does a lot of gift-giving.”

“I know someone who loves the Kansas City Chiefs,” Reese said, pointing to a portrait of Patrick Mahomes as we toured his home art studio. The walls are adorned with colorful abstracts, animal paintings, and portraits of music and sports stars.

“These were something I found going through his pads,” Becky said of a series of sketched faces expressing different emotions. “Those are some of my favorite things he’s done.”

“She’s the one who made the art room,” Reese said, pointing to Becky.

“I had to. We could hardly walk in here,” she responded, laughing. “Artists can often be not the most organized people.”

Reese also won the pumpkin carving contest last October at the Park Cities YMCA.

“I was overwhelmed with the turnout,” Becky said of the exhibition. “It was

a testament to the community that Reese has built, the community here in the Park Cities, and to our school district. Once you go here and have friends, that just continues. The community has been such a safe environment for Reese to ride his bike and engage.”

Near the end of our tour, Reese shared his plans for the future.

“Keep on making art,” he said.

Reese’s art. Pictured are Joe, Caroline, Harris, Cate, Becky, and Reese enjoying family time which he loves. COURTESY BECKY GOULD

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Reese Gould’s art on Instagram: @gouldr60

Schools

CRACKING THE CODE OF MARCH MADNESS

HPHS students get bracketology insights from mathematician Tim Chartier

Amidst the Madness of March, one question remains: Why is it so hard to get a perfect bracket?

Enter professor Tim Chartier from Davidson College. He specializes in mathematics, computer science, and, most notably, sports analytics.

With professional collaborations spanning the NFL, NASCAR, NBA, ESPN, and more, Chartier captivated the HPHS Sports Analytics students in March with his proven insights into March Madness.   Chartier, a “data analytics celebrity,” is one of the true pioneers in Sports Analytics education at the collegiate level and has appeared in USA Today, The New York Times , Bloomberg TV, NPR, and the CBS Evening News . His past students hold many coveted positions throughout the sports industry.

Analytics isn’t just a tool; it’s a game changer that can be used to improve performance across all sports, Chartier said. It is particularly valuable “in game preparation and how and what to practice.”

Chartier also advocates using analytics to better integrate new technology into sports. In a study he conducted with his students on the actual safety provided by football helmets, his team demonstrated that players were more effective at keeping their heads up while tackling during practice than during a game. The crown of the instrumented helmet registered far more

direct impacts in game situations than in practice — an important insight that coaches can use to help reduce brain injuries.

Chartier is often called upon to talk about bracketology each March before the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The dream of filling out the perfect bracket is truly daunting, with odds of 1 in 9.2 quintillion.

To put that into perspective, “If you were to fill out a new bracket every second, it would take over 300 years to complete all the different possible combinations,” Chartier said.

“The goal isn’t to be perfect because, in the end, it’s impossible. The goal is to be better than everyone else.”

He advises aspiring bracketologists to start the moment the bracket drops and work feverishly until the first game tipoff.

Focus on three key targets: projected Final Four teams, likely major upsets, and potential Cinderella teams. This is when predictive analytics becomes extremely important in building out your bracket. The buzz in recent years has been the 12 seed versus five seed potential upsets. Why the 12 over five seed?

“Twelve seeds often display flashes of capability to beat higher-ranked teams but lack consistency, and they are likely not in a good conference,” Chartier explained. “Five seeds, often from stronger conferences, may have had some bad losses during conference play despite their ability to compete with top teams.”

Ultimately, Chartier emphasized the necessity of selecting teams that consistently beat other good teams: “You have to be beating good teams in the regular season to be successful in March.”

Austin Chatterton and Landry Saylor are HPHS seniors and students in the MAPS Sports Analytics course.

Freshman To Compete in International Science, Engineering Fair

HP’s Ellie Chong develops early detection method for post-surgery infections

By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

A Highland Park High School freshman has found a way to detect the most prevalent and costly type of hospital-acquired infection before symptoms start.

And her method only costs about 40 cents.

Ellie Chong won first place in the Biomedical and Health Science category at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair for her project, along with the $1,000 Wayne Squires Award. She was also selected to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.

gel will turn blue before those symptoms occur.

Chong’s project works because infected sites become less acidic before symptoms develop. Her gel uses a dye that changes color as the solutions’ acidity varies. Chong’s other ingredients include gelatin, a major ingredient in Jell-O.

“This is just an easy and fast readout, and it can be used by anyone, which is really great.”

Ellie Chong

Chong said she saw applications for her project in hospitals in Dallas, as well as in more isolated areas where doctors might perform surgery while on medical mission trips. Patients in rural areas without ready access to medical care could use the gel to monitor their wounds at home.

Chong developed a gel that can be attached to surgical sites under a dressing. If a site is going to show symptoms of infection, the

“This is just an easy and fast readout, and it can be used by anyone, which is really great,” she said. “Because it only requires

a simple, visual inspection, it doesn’t require prior knowledge or training.”

Chong said she experimented with other gel ingredients before settling on gelatin. She tried the top-selling supplement collagen, which didn’t change color, and the vegetarian gelatin substitute agar-agar, which broke apart because of its grainy texture.

She also had to test different concentrations of her materials. Too little gelatin caused her gel to become runny, while too much caused the gel to become brittle and break.

Chong credited her science teachers at Highland Park High School for their help in answering her questions and supporting her project and said she was also grateful to her parents for their support.

“I’d love for other students who are interested in science to be able to do this because I think it’s a great opportunity to meet other students that are interested in STEM,” she said, “and also just to pursue something that you’re interested in.”

Sports Analytics students watch professor Tim Chartier share March Madness insights. POLLY MCKEITHEN

AUSTIN CHATTERTON

LANDRY SAYLOR

Highland Park High School freshman Ellie Chong stands with her project, which took first prize in the Biomedical and Health Science category at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair. COURTESY CHONG FAMILY

Alan Friedman

Marc Myers

Lydia Novakov

Don Snell

Leland B. White

Library, HPISD Promote Eclipse Learning

Editor’s note: If you occasionally focus your lenses on Park Cities happenings and would like to share, please email your high-resolution images with your name and an explanation of your pictures to editor@peoplenewspapers.com.

“It looks like a smiley moon,” 6-year-old Louise Killgore said while viewing April 8’s solar eclipse. “It’s very, very happy.”

Eclipse viewers around University and Highland Park were happy as well when the weather defied forecasts and clouds held off long enough to allow for ample eclipse viewing.

help of high schoolers. During totality, fourth graders ran around field. At the eclipse’s end, students celebrated by snacking on Moon Pies and Sun Chips.

Richard and Deanna Car rell viewed the eclipse with their labradoodle, Piper, in Smith Park.

“The clouds were a little iffy for a little while, but it seemed to work out,” Dean na said. “It was really interesting how it got totally dark.”

– Compiled by Sarah Hodges

Louise’s mother Kenzie Killgore, and her sisters Maggie, 3, and Adelaide, 2, were among the spectators in Fairfax Park. Total Eclipse in the Park, organized by the Highland Park Library in partnership with the Department of Public Safety and Parks Department, featured an eclipse themed story walk, a spin wheel, and crafts, including bracelets with UV sensitive beads.

Jacquelyn Austin brought her mother Nancy, who came in from Denver, and her children Jackson, 9, Charlie, 7, and Lucy, 4.

“I see it! I see it!” Charlie yelled. “It kind of looks like it’s green, and it kind of looks like a crescent moon.”

At Hyer Elementary, students viewed the eclipse from the school’s playground and grassy field.

“Holy guacamole!” kindergarteners yelled while watching the eclipse through glasses and paper plate shields they had made with the

CLOCKWISE: CC Whitcomb, 6, watches the eclipse in Fairfax Park while she enjoys a lollipop. Lucy Austin, 4, watches the eclipse in Fairfax Park. Russell and Cristina Samson watch the eclipse at Fairfax Park with their Shiba Inus. Sisters Louise, 6, Maggie, 3, and Adelaide (in back), 2, Killgore watch the eclipse at Fairfax Park during Total Eclipse in the Park. Kindergartners watch the eclipse through paper-plate shields and solar eclipse glasses on the Hyer Elementary playground. SARAH HODGES

Camps

MAGIKID MAKES ROBOTICS TRAINING FUN

By Sarah Hodges

sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com

Do you want to travel into the past and make a dinosaur dance, model a future cityscape, or imagine how to blast off into space with a rocket?

Have you ever considered how to make the world safer from dangers posed by volcanoes, earthquakes, and fires?

Explore those questions and others during STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camps at Magikid Highland Park on Sherry Lane this summer.

Weeklong STEM camps for kindergartners through sixth graders begin on May 27 and will allow students to sample Magikid’s activities. The center’s offerings include building robots, programming, experimenting with 3D design, and creating imaginative videos in front of Magikid’s green screen.

Owner Jacqui Moore said STEM Camp students are divided into groups based on age, with at most six students in each group.

Younger students construct robots with Lego-like Ollo blocks. The creations of kindergartners and first graders could include teeth-brushing robots, walking dogs, or dancing dinosaurs. Second and third graders construct more complex robots, such as a pirate robot capable of moving in different ways.

Older students can choose from the tools, parts, electronics, and sensors in Magikid’s “Home Depot” of robotics for their builds, Moore said.

In basic classes, teachers might show students how to assemble creations such as robotic arms, while more advanced students could tackle the designs themselves.

Students will work in teams, critique each other’s projects, and discuss how to improve their ideas the next time.

“There’s no perfect way of building a robot. You can always improve,” Moore said.

Magikid isn’t just for younger kids. Students entering fourth through ninth grade can spend summer evenings training to join Magikid’s VEX IQ competition team in the 2024-25 school year.

Magikid Highland Park will participate for the first time in next year’s competition, which attracts thousands of teams from around the world, Moore said.

The lab’s coach has a long history of teaching robotics and has taken teams to the world championships five times.

“We’re super-excited to have her to lead a competition team,” Moore said.

Magikid Highland Park is new to the Park Cities and Magikid’s second location in Texas. The lab opened on Sherry Lane in August 2023, and was inspired by Moore’s children, both students at

Student Savors UT Southwestern’s Summer of Science

My left hand brushed over expensive, shiny lab equipment, while my right clutched a flask of a toxic liquid with an unpronounceable name.

Turning to my friend to confirm heating the glass wouldn’t make it explode, I had a realization: I was performing experiments that few high schoolers get the chance to do before college.

As part of its STARS (Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern) program, UT Southwestern Medical Center offers summer camps to encourage youth interest in science careers and give students a head start on next year’s coursework.

Students are encouraged to apply based on the courses they will be taking in the next school year.

STARS also offers a middle school camp to prepare campers for high school biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy/physiology, and biotechnology programs.

After each of my three summers of STARS camps, I’ve seen a noticeable difference between

MAGIKID CAMPS

SUMMER STEM CAMPS

What: Sessions have such weekly themes as “Forces of Nature” or “Mission to the Moon.”

Who: Students entering kindergarten through sixth grade

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 27 through Aug. 9 (Extended care available until 4:30 p.m. can be purchased on a daily or weekly basis.)

ROBOTICS COMPETITION PREP

What: Three levels of camps prepare participants to compete on Magikid’s VEX IQ competition team in the 2024-25 school year.

Who: Students entering fourth through ninth grade

When: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. from June 3 through Aug. 9

Visit magikidlab.com/HighlandPark/new/ to learn more.

University Park Elementary.

They were “guinea pigs” for early classes and now come to Magikid regularly. Moore’s older child is more focused on programming and 3D design, while her younger one is more interested in building, motors, and sensors.

Moore said she’s particularly proud that children with no robotics experience have been excited to come back and learn more and that Magikid has helped girls become excited about STEM.

Although some children may come at the behest of a parent or sibling, “they end up staying, and we treasure those moments,” Moore said, “and we want to continue to help them keep their interest and passion in STEM.”

my classmates and myself during science class.

The STARS programs made concepts far easier to comprehend during the school year, and I’ve found myself able to dive into topics and develop a personal interest in the material.

Campers have the rare opportunity to work in UT Southwestern classrooms and labs, where they spend half their mornings conducting experiments related to the material covered that day.

“I think students love that they

have the opportunity to do so many hands-on activities,” Kristie Connor, the program coordinator, said. “We hear from a lot of students who say that they don’t do many labs at their schools, and they enjoy doing experiments here because they learn a lot.”

Teachers from North Texas school districts teach the coursework.

“The camp is like a professional development experience for the teachers,” Connor said. “They get to learn some new labs and teaching techniques and get to practice

with the campers before the new year begins.”

After lunch, students participate in activities that encourage STEM-oriented careers.

Those include helping professors and award-winning scientists in their labs, attending lectures from UT Southwestern researchers and doctors, and touring hospital departments.

When I attended the Chemistry Camp last summer, we prepared wells of solution for a lab researching schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease.

AT A GLANCE

The STARS Summer Science Camps began in 2008 with a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Education Pre-College Division. They provide high school science teachers with experience in laboratory exercises and give students a head-start on classes they will take in the year ahead.

Source: utsouthwestern.edu

I clearly remember my fellow campers leaning forward on the edge of their seats, captivated by every word the scientists said. Many of my friends have now expressed interest in working in a similar lab.

“A lot of students enjoy being in the labs or going on tours,” senior education coordinator Pearlie Crawford said. “They get to see the real-world applications of some of the things they learned in the camp, which is really beneficial.”   I can’t wait to spend my fourth summer in air-conditioned labs and lecture halls filled with knowledge.

Aadhya Yanamadala, a sophomore at The Hockaday School, plans to intern with People Newspapers this summer.

Guest columnist Aadhya Yanamadala gathers with other STARS campers and their teachers during Chemistry Camp in 2023. COURTESY AADHYA YANAMADALA

AADHYA

YANAMADALA

(LEFT) Magikid students decorate their programming robots as turkeys and complete a robot turkey trot during the robotics lab’s Thanksgiving camp. (RIGHT) A student finishes his 3D modeling. COURTESY OF MAGIKID HIGHLAND PARK

Attention parents! Help your middle- and high-school-age student to be college ready. SMU College Prep workshops, designed for rising 7-12 graders, cover a range of subjects from STEM to humanities. Led by expert instructors in a supportive, hands-on environment, these programs help students develop critical skills and explore new topics. Prepare your child for academic success in fulfilling summer experiences on the SMU campus. Explore our programs and ignite their curiosity at SMU College Prep: smu.edu/collegeprep.

CAMP CHAMPIONS

Camp Champions has created a tradition of excellence since 1967. This beautiful camp on Lake LBJ offers the fantastic activities and best-trained counselors that you expect from a top overnight summer camp. However, it is our developmental focus on building strong kids that most differentiates Camp Champions from other top camps in Texas. Camp Champions specializes in two and three-week sessions where we create a loving community and encourage every camper to discover the best versions of themselves. Camp Champions also operates tech-free, which creates an important break from phones and screens. Learn more at www.campchampions.com.

C.O.R.E. Skills Camp Promotes Summertime Learning

By Daniel Lalley  Special Contributor

With more than 46,000 special education students in Dallas County, the demand for innovative and impactful life skills programs has increased as educational systems have evolved.

By providing critical instruction and opportunities for enrichment to propel students toward paths of success, these programs have improved the lives of intellectually diverse individuals by a substantial margin.

One Dallas-based nonprofit, in particular, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between ability and accomplishment.

Ability Connection is on a mission to enrich the lives of those with disabilities, one person at a time. The agency provides a range of special education services, including occupational therapy, employment services, and public education, to more than 900 children and adults.

This summer, Ability Connection will expand its offerings again by conducting summer programming through its C.O.R.E. Skills Camp (communication, organization, responsibility, and empathy). These single-day camp sessions serve as “the ultimate summer tuneup” for kids between the ages of 10 and 17 who may benefit from added assistance in communication, socialization, and general life skills.

“It is imperative that teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to sharpen their skills over the summer,” Ability Connection CEO Jim Hanophy said. “With C.O.R.E.,

students are exposed to experiences that promote independent living and an array of critical skills, including time management, meal prep, and the importance of creating a routine to encourage responsibility.”

This year, the camp is partnering with a sensory-based skill-building organization, It’s a Sensory World!, to introduce an all-new Sensory Bus experience. Individuals of all skill levels will engage with sensory-based programs to maximize the impact of C.O.R.E. Skills Camp.

“By meeting the sensory needs of our students, The Sensory Bus helps to regulate emotions and reset behavior so that the kids have more focus and longer attention spans for the life skills lessons that follow,” said Meghan Payes, Ability Connection director of learning. “It’s incredibly helpful because we’re seeing them grasp the material so much more than they would be if they just came straight to the

table to work with me.”

With more resources, Payes is optimistic about this summer, the program, and what it will mean for local students.

“Especially for kids who are used to being at school August through May, the summer can be really tough because it gets them out of their routines,” Payes said. “So, this program has been really effective by working with those kids and providing extra resources and support for daycare workers and counselors. It’s always needed a little more in this community during the summer.”

In addition to its weekly Friday class within the summer camp curricula at It’s a Sensory World!, C.O.R.E. will offer Learning Labs in two Dallas County locations on July 22 at The Potter’s House and July 29 at Ability Connection. For Dallas kids with learning differences, it sounds like a successful summer is shaping up.

A student climbs on a rock wall outside of The Sensory Bus. COURTESY ABILITY CONNECTION

HIGH HAMPTON MELDS MOUNTAIN MAGIC,

SOUTHERN CHARM

Multi-gen N.C. getaway gives sophisticated summer camp vibes

By Diana Oates Special Contributor

As a North Carolinian born and raised, I can say that you are born into one of two tribes: It’s the beach people versus the mountain people.

I was born into the beach people posse, and it wasn’t until I moved to Dallas that I started to hear about the beautiful benefits of vacationing in western North Carolina.

A yearning to get eyes on my son’s summer camp ultimately inspired a trip to the land of laid-back luxury that is High Hampton Resort.

The recently polished property, brought back to life by the Beall family (Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain), is just

outside the quaint town of Cashiers on a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Checking in immediately sparked something within me that can only be described as North Carolina nostalgia. I, feeling like a 10-year-old kid again, was suddenly back in this bucolic Blue Ridge retreat with my own family, who were all deciding what activity to embark on first.

The interiors are elevated but authentic, and it truly seemed like we were checking into our own private place.

The 1,400-acre estate has 15 miles of hiking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, and a croquet lawn. The Tom Fazio 18-hole golf course is a fan favorite among fathers, and the pool and kids’ club are hot spots for youngsters. There were daily fitness classes,

book signings, and even fishing.

However, it was the dining program that set this place apart from other local lodging options.

We ate all our meals at the same table and got to know the staff as if they were an extension of our family. We bonded with Bailey, our sweet server, who handled waiting on a 2, 4, and 7-year-old with grace and grit. Clayton, the gregarious dining room manager, even took my son in the back to see how his delicious dinner was made.

I was impressed, but not necessarily surprised, to see fabulous farm-to-table options on the menu for adults — think farm-fresh egg omelets with goat cheese and a garden salad for breakfast and Simpson Farm’s flat iron steak with parsnip puree and grilled

squash for supper — but it was the thoughtful and downright delicious kids’ menu that won me over. During a short stay, my kids tried fish and chips, Springer Mountain chicken with vegetable medley, and Charleston rice, and house-made tagliatelle.

Don’t have adventurous eaters? Don’t worry; the tea-brined chicken tenders were to die for.

High Hampton Inn has inns, cottages, cabins, and houses to suit all party sizes. It is an ideal place to unwind before or after taking your kiddos to camp in the North Carolina mountains, which more and more Texans are choosing to do to escape the severe summer heat.

While it is true that you’ll need to rent a car from Asheville, Greenville, or Atlanta to visit this relaxing retreat, the drive to your destination is indeed part of the experience.

Chic daybeds offer views of the lake and mountains just off the property’s main building. The property features endless programming for all ages, including a kids’ club, golf course, swimming pool, and tennis and pickleball courts. MOLLY HARRIS

LEFT

RIGHT: Alexandra Lambring, Austin Holmes, Amy T. Ford, Ryan Nordhaus*, Rob McAngus*+, George Parker*, Jim Mueller*+†^, Charlie Hodges*+, Abby Foster*+, Shane Landers, Kim Meaders, Ravi Mohan, Maddison Clark and Jason Naumann

Introducing The Sweetest Social Enterprise in Town: It’s Super Duper

Sitting around the dinner table listening to anecdotes from Ellie’s day at work, the Crosland family would laugh and cry at her joyful and sometimes heart-rending experiences as the program assistant for a nonprofit that helps adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD).

Ellie has always had a heart and a talent for connecting with people with IDD and once mused that someday she’d like to open a bakery that employs them.

Her father, Ben Crosland, considered the idea and, three years later, opened Super Duper Cookie Co., a social enterprise that employs adults with IDD to operate the gourmet cookie shop located in University Park, directly across from SMU.

Establishing Super Duper, a nonprofit commercial entity, required much thought and finding the right partners to make it work. Ben’s experience as a businessman and as executive director of the Sapphire Foundation plus Ellie’s experience working in the IDD community were perfectly suited for the endeavor.

The result is a feel-good, taste-good business where adults with IDD gain employment skills they can use forever.

Ben’s enthusiasm for the disco-themed social enterprise is palpable.

Ellie Crosland’s role at Super Duper is “inclusion liaison,” meaning she works directly with the BGs to help them throughout the day to complete their job responsibilities. They are coached, mentored, reviewed, paid, and promoted just as any employee at any company. In addition to BGs, there are a handful of neurotypical staff members who staff the shop in the evenings and serve as managers on duty throughout the day.

The cookies are, in fact, super-duper. Recipes were created by local award-winning pastry chefs and include classics and creative riffs on standard flavors. The Cina-Doodle is snickerdoodle with extra cinnamon, Chocolate Thunder is a chocolate chocolate chip wonder, and Butterscotch is a sugar cookie base with caramelly chips throughout. There is one vegan, gluten-free cookie: chocolate chip. For now, there is only one storefront, but there’s a Super Duper Cookie Truck that can come to events, schools, office buildings, and sporting events. Ben hopes to expand this concept and help normalize having IDD employees, rather than that being the exception. It feels right to support a company with the motto “Be Kind, Be Inclusive, Be Super Duper,” so let’s do it.

“We believe that everyone can be superduper at their level of ability if they just have the opportunity,” he said. “Our IDD staff, whom we refer to as Boogie Guides, have dreams, interests, and take pride in their work. They also contribute to every aspect of our business, from working the register to baking, decorating the cookies, and even janitorial services.”

people, his father told me.

Christian, a Boogie Guide (BG) in his mid-20s and loves working and helping

“Working at Super Duper with the support of Ellie and the rest of the staff provides a range of new experiences for him,” the dad added. “Every customer and interaction is different. This is an opportunity for Christian to learn about and navigate the real world.”

Kersten Rettig, a freelance writer with leadership experience in the food and travel industries, lives in the Park Cities, where she is known as “the restaurant sherpa” for her recommendations. Follow her on Instagram @KerstenEats.

The Croslands, inspired by Ellie’s former job, turned a delicious idea into a cookie shop that employs adults with adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. FROM LEFT: Sandy, Ellie, and Ben Crosland. COURTESY SUPER DUPER COOKIE CO.

Mad for Plaid Raises $1.7 Million

Highland Park Education Foundation supporters gathered Feb. 28 to celebrate the $1.7 million raised during its annual Mad for Plaid campaign.

The event, hosted at the home of Joanna and David Iliff on Beverly Drive, brought guests together to mingle over drinks and appetizers.

“The Mad for Plaid campaign epitomizes the incredible community support we have for Highland Park schools,” Superintendent Mike Rockwood said. “This initiative is not only appreciated, but it is vital to ensure our teachers and staff are more competitively compensated.”

This year’s Mad for Plaid co-chairs were Kamela and Kenneth Aboussie, Claire and Andy Baker, Mary Katharine and Martin Gill, and Chris Palmer and Terry Steger.

— Compiled by Maria Lawson

If someone you care for is facing memory issues, you want to do all you can to help them live a rich and fulfilling life. Innovations in Memory Care can help.

During this informative session, Alzheimer’s expert Tracy Toomer will offer insights into the complex challenges of memory care. As owner of CarePatrol Franchise Systems and an active Alzheimer’s education volunteer, Tracy will bring attendees expert advice on a variety of memory care topics.

During this event, you are welcome to ask questions and meet others who are facing the same decisions for their family.

Paul and Ellen Lee with Jaemie and John Steinmetz

Joanna Iliff and Karla Trusler

David Iliff and John Diehl

Lefroy Brooks hardware, double sinks and a separate built-in vanity. This residence has three prime parking spaces, just across from the elevator lobby, plus a spacious storage unit. Schedule your tour and experience luxury redefined.

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, May 6, 2024. 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.

Spring Travels Lead To Inspired Gatherings

In the early spring, I attended The Inspired Home Show in Chicago, where houseware brands from across the world assembled to introduce their newest products to media and retail buyers. Many of these products will find their way onto store shelves this summer.

For indoor seated dinners, backyard gatherings, cocktail parties, picnics, and pizza parties, I saw everything I could want to “up” my game when hosting memorable occasions. Color was everywhere, but restful hues replaced last year’s vibrant shades.

Stainless steel cookware and utensils demonstrated that shiny surfaces are still popular, but matte finishes on everything from bakeware to herb grinders illustrated the trend toward softer finishes. White was everywhere, from glossy white

fondue sets and mini-charcuterie board handles dipped in white ceramic to matte white cookware.

Manufacturers were also focused on ease of use without sacrificing style. I fell in love with a compact Italian espresso machine by Espressione that grinds coffee beans and produces a rich cup of espresso in seconds at the touch of a button. Cocktail parties remain a strong beverage category in the U.S., while consumers who prefer wine will always gravitate toward attractive stemware that runs the gamut from informal to glamorous. I discovered a brand called Joy Jolt that stylishly answers the call no matter what consumers are sipping.

One of the highlights of this year’s show was the “Meet & Greet” Microplane hosted for me in its booth. I’m a huge fan of its graters and kitchen tools, whether cooking, baking, or garnishing, and I loved chatting with the attendees who joined us for my presentation.

My next stop was Bismarck to deliver the keynote during the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association annual conference. I’m passionate about

FARM FRESH SALAD BOARD WITH HONEY VINAIGRETTE

Ingredients:

Large wood cutting board

Assorted farm fresh salad greens, rinsed and dried

1 bunch arugula, rinsed and dried

1 bunch kale, rinsed and dried

Assorted farm fresh vegetables, rinsed and sliced

Assorted farm fresh herbs, rinsed and chopped

Assorted berries and seasonal fruit, rinsed and sliced

Local cheeses, crumbled or cut into cubes

Local cured meats, thinly sliced or cubed

Directions:

Arrange salad greens on the board in an attractive pattern, leaving leaves whole or partially torn.

Select greens featuring a variety of flavors, textures, and colors. Arrange arugula and kale in groups and cluster vegetables, berries, fruit, cheese, and meats artistically, placing some in small bowls nestled among the greens.

For side salads or salad apps, provide small plates, stemmed glassware, or small decorative cups. For main dish salads, provide large, chilled plates. Allow guests to make their own custom salads. Garnish with Honey Vinaigrette.

buying and cooking with local ingredients, so I took the opportunity to share the fun and benefits of farmers markets with North Dakota audiences during two television guest segments. For North Dakota TODAY viewers, I prepared coffee-rubbed North Dakota bison, thinly sliced and served over a bed of local greens and sauteed peppers. The following day, I showed KX TV Studio 701 viewers how to create a farm-fresh salad board with honey vinaigrette. A take on a charcuterie board, the ingredients are grouped in a mouthwatering display for guests to customize salad apps, side salads, or main dish salads. It’s an easy, clever addition to yearround gatherings, especially while our Dallas-area farmers markets are loaded with beautiful, fresh produce.

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, Apple TV+, Roku, Samsung TV, and YouTube. Please visit christyrost.com for details and recipes

HONEY VINAIGRETTE

1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon local honey

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper until well blended. Pour into a serving bowl or pitcher and serve immediately.

CHRISTY ROST

CHRISTY ROST

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Discover an extraordinary estate new to market in Dallas

THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP Updated W. Highland Park Cottage

EBBY HALLIDAY Broken Bow is More Than OK

Privacy and Design Excellence Await in UP

Allie Beth Allman & Associates sell more homes priced at $5 million and higher than any other brokerage in Dallas.

Among America’s most luxurious homes, Dallas’ impressive estates brim with architectural beauty and lavish amenities, attracting affluent buyers from all over the country.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents, known for their discretion and vast network, are trusted by motivated sellers and buyers to get Dallas estate deals done.

If proximity to the private school corridor matters to you, look no further than 5112 Palomar Lane.

The verdant, 1.25-acre estate is minutes from St. Mark’s, Ursuline Academy, The Hockaday School, and more. As well as its prime location in the Lobello Estates, the 12,731-square-foot stunner stands out for its endless opportunities for entertaining.

Once through the property gates, guests are welcomed by villa-like archways and columns before stepping through the grand front door.

Breezing past the stately study and the foyer’s sweeping staircase, you can settle into the double-height great room, lined by soaring windows. It’s easy to picture having long chats by the grand fireplace here or bringing loved ones outside for lunch al fresco on the covered patio.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents sell more homes priced at $5 million and higher across DFW, according to Multiple Listing Service statistics. Call to connect with an expert agent.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

These Park Cities homes offers something for everyone

Highland Park and University Park have some of the most sought-after homes in Texas. To help you find the perfect home in the Park Cities, visit with the experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

A Tuscan-style, four-bedroom home at 4108 Bryn Mawr Drive in University Park is ideal for entertaining friends.

The home has a large family room and wellequipped kitchen for preparing dinner parties. Outside, it features a pool and spa, plus a fireplace and built-in grill.

Well-known builder J. Gregory Homes has completed a four-bedroom, single-family attached home at 4435 Emerson Ave. in the heart of University Park.

The primary suite has a bath with a double shower and lots of closet space. The laundry room is on the second level, while a guest suite and full bath are on the third floor.

The four-bedroom estate 3108 Southwestern Blvd. in University Park has a downstairs primary suite with a vaulted ceiling.

On a large lot, the transitional-style estate was designed by architect David Stocker and built by Manning Snelling. It has a floor plan where the kitchen opens to the living room and the breakfast room. A guest or in-law suite is above the garage.

4620 Livingston is currently being offered for

West Highland Park cottage reimagined by revered architect Wilson Fuqua yields an open, light-filled floor plan with spacious bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. 4620 Livingston features two bedrooms, two full and one-half baths and a beautiful pool.

Designer finishes worthy of fine boutique hotel and a true backyard oasis with plunge pool, spa, limestone hardscape and charming gazebo will transport one to a favorite vacation retreat.

The living room is anchored by a vintage marble fireplace and provides seamless entertaining with the adjacent formal dining room. With Wolf and Subzero appliances, designer tile, ample storage and oversized island, the kitchen will satisfy the most serious home cooks.

Primary bedroom features vaulted ceiling, marble bath and a very generous walk-in closet. En suite secondary bedroom currently functions as a TV room with custom built-ins. Designer lighting, wainscoting and wallpaper touches throughout.

Smart home features include Sonos speaker system and Lutron lighting. The backyard is a true oasis and features pool/spa with marble coping, limestone hardscape and charming cabana. 2-car detached garage accessed by automatic gate.

Contact Jamie Kohlmann (214.669.6520) or Ryan Streiff (469.371.3008) for more information or to set up a private showing. Visit DPMFineHomes.com to learn more.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Preston Hollow happenings: Explore new offerings

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.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Three gorgeous homes available this spring from top luxury brokerage

Built in 2022, this modern traditional residence at 2616 Rosedale Avenue (2616rosedale.daveperrymiller. com) boasts refined finishes and practical features. The newly listed 6-bedroom, 5-bath home is offered by Heather Hicks for $3,195,000.

Inside, you’ll find a 5,145-square-foot layout conducive to both relaxation and entertainment. The dining room, with its subtle wainscoting, sets the scene for intimate gatherings, while the cozy study is ideal for quiet workdays.

The kitchen is a highlight, equipped with highend Wolf and Subzero appliances, and connects to the breakfast nook and family room. Sliding glass doors overlook the turf backyard, a peaceful retreat awaiting your leisurely pursuits.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, including a comfortable primary suite, with a game room and conveniently located utility room.

Set on a corner lot in HPISD, opposite a park with walking trail, this home offers great location, design excellence and privacy.

For questions or to schedule a showing, contact Hicks at 214-763-5585 or heatherhicks@dpmre.com.

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

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Outstanding sales define the Park Cities real estate market right now

For the rundown on what is coming to market in Preston Hollow, connect with an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent.

Preston Hollow’s tree-lined lanes, large lots and proximity to prestigious private schools afford residents an effortlessly luxurious Dallas lifestyle.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents always have new offerings to show and are committed to helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals here.

Fashion-forward 5603 Palomar Lane has come to market and it’s making a splash. The 4,835-squarefoot home is all about indoor-outdoor living.

Walls of glass lead out to the sleek, resort-like backyard featuring a pool and spa, multiple seating destinations and an outdoor kitchen. High ceilings, skylights, and huge windows bathe the interiors in natural light.

Nearby, the one-acre property at 9630 Inwood Road is a vision of lush exuberance centered by a 7,144-square-foot contemporary.

The four-bedroom home was built in 1985 but has been meticulously remodeled twice since then. As you wander the light-filled open spaces, finishes curated by designer Rick Rozas delight around every corner.

If ample square footage is most important to you, a 9,655-square-foot masterpiece at 4206 Woodfin Drive is a must-see. Set on .73 acres, new construction created by Lux Custom Homes exudes timeless grandeur with design details like checkered flooring.

Outside, summer can be a blast thanks to the 2,800-square-foot patio perfect for large-scale entertaining.

Find your perfect Dallas-area residence with the help of an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents.

Discover the beauty of three ravishing residences new to the market from Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

In Preston Hollow’s esteemed Lobello Estates, a 1.1-acre beauty at 5315 Ursula Lane exudes grandeur with an 8,319-square-foot home dressed in dreamy, French-inspired Mediterranean style.

Just imagine huge parties around the family room’s carved fireplace, sommelier-led tastings at the wet bar with vintages from your temperaturecontrolled wine cellar, or relaxed movie nights in the media room.

For those thinking ahead to the 2024 back-toschool season, an offering near Dallas’ renowned private school corridor could be ideal, 4923 Crooked Lane.

The five-bedroom home is a sanctuary of livable, contemporary beauty. Find huge glass doors and windows that soak the open floor plan in diffuse sunshine from dawn until dusk.

An exquisite French-style haven for sale at 4444 Arcady Ave. sits near Highland Park Village and green areas like Versailles and Turtle Creek parks, it positions you for a lively social life or tranquil time in nature.

The elegant, wood-paneled family room is perfect for cozy, evening chats with friends while the covered porch and garden awaits for delightful weekend brunches.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents excel at marketing estate properties. Call to connect with an expert agent: https://www.alliebeth.com/roster/Agents

Springtime weather

to

If you’re wondering how the Park Cities real estate market is faring this year, prepare for good news. The prestigious area is brimming with exceptional offerings and has spectacular sales to showcase. Best of all, as sellers often feel more emboldened to list in warmer months, this Dallas area is expected to keep getting hotter.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents are experts in the Park Cities, helping buyers and sellers reach their goals quickly and successfully.

For those who want ultra-fashionable spaces, Highland Park’s 4437 Livingston Ave. is a prime find.

Located one block from Highland Park Village and Bradfield Elementary, the four-bedroom home is decked-out in glamorous decor including Phillip Jeffries wall coverings and custom Shade Store drapery.

If you love the inviting yet grand look of a Tuscan villa, you’ll be enamored by 4436 N. Versailles Ave. Inside, vast spaces and thoughtful details mirror the gracious surroundings. Buyers can swoon over the unique flooring, which combines hardwoods and parefeuille handmade tiles salvaged from 19thcentury French chateaus.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents specialize in the sale of homes in Highland Park, University Park and the Park Cities area. Call to connect with an expert agent: https://www.alliebeth.com/roster/Agents

Park

means the homebuying marketing is heating in the Park Cities, according

Presenting Sponsor:

PROUD TO PRESENT OUR 20 UNDER 40

Meeting our 20 Under 40 is one of my favorite parts of the year.

This year’s honorees represent many disciplines, including education, law, athletics, marketing, leadership, nonprofits, and more — and it’s inspiring to see how each of them also manages to carve out time to volunteer with local nonprofits.

Each honoree has demonstrated the change they’re able to make in the community at such a young age. As a fellow young professional, it’s encouraging.

In addition to our 20 Under 40, we also honor a Youth on the Rise. This year’s is a Highland Park High School senior who was born with a congenital heart defect and has done significant work and fundraising for the American Heart Association.

The 20 honorees, plus Youth on the Rise, were selected by a committee of three People Newspapers staffers and two Rotary Club of Park Cities members. This year brought a strong group of candidates and tough decisions.

We hope you also enjoy learning about our neighbors and come away inspired.

We’ll be honoring the 20 Under 40 at an awards ceremony on April 25. See our social media channels or website to purchase your ticket.

Know of a young professional who we should consider for the section next year? Our pre-nomination form for 2025 is already available on our website.

Maria Lawson, Deputy Editor maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Remington Reece

Ebby Halliday Companies

Remington Reece works as creative director for the Ebby Halliday Companies.

He started his real estate career as a design coordinator with the Dave Perry-Miller Real

18

Peyton Bono

Highland Park High School

As an American Heart Association

Teen of Impact, Peyton Bono broke the program’s fundraising record by securing $55,000 for the nonprofit in nine weeks.

She hosted a YMCA community walk, art show, and other events to bring people together and raise money: “I couldn’t have done it without this amazing Park Cities community, who at every event showed up ready to support the cause and hear my journey and story with a heart condition.”

The Highland Park High School senior was born with a congenital heart defect called tricuspid atresia and had two open heart surgeries in infancy.

“Physical activity has always been extremely limited, and growing up disabled isolated me from many of my peers,” Bono said. “It was lonely, being the only disabled child I knew, so I wanted to get involved in survivor spaces and get to know people in the field of cardiology — survivors and doctors alike.”

Estate brand before eventually taking over the brand’s full marketing efforts. Now, he oversees creative execution for all Ebby Halliday Companies and their affiliated services.

“Our brokerage brands are dominant players in the real estate markets for both neighborhoods as well as being North Texas’ top real estate firm, and there are incredible opportunities for community involvement that have come as a result,” Reece said. “We’re proud to be deeply connected to schools, events, and organizations throughout the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.”

Through his role as creative director, Reece fosters community partnerships and describes the company as having its “proverbial finger on the pulse of the community.”

He’s been involved in initiatives including the Ronald McDonald House, Angel Tree/Salvation Army, Communities Partners of Dallas’ Holiday Toy Drives, Coats for Kids, Dallas Suicide & Crisis Center, North Oak Cliff Greenspace, and Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation.

“I dedicate a considerable portion of our marketing budget to these kinds of sponsorships,” Reece said. “While it’s an

Bono says the American Heart Association’s reach and influence cannot be overstated as it funds hospitals, encourages research, and promotes healthy living.

Beyond the American Heart Association, Bono is involved with her school’s library, where she managed restoration efforts after a rainstorm destroyed most books in the classics section. She also volunteered with Salman Bhojani’s Texas House campaign in Arlington during her sophomore year and recently graduated from the National Charity League.

Bono will graduate from high school in the spring and then attend the University of Texas, where she will double major in health and history. After undergrad, she plans to attend law school.

“While I predict I’ll be working in health law — making sure more people get the healthcare they need, protecting and funding hospitals, and being a patient advocate all sounds fascinating and fulfilling to me — I’m only 18, and my life could go anywhere,” Bono said.

Who’s your biggest inspiration? My parents, for paving the way for me

excellent way to get agents in front of potential clientele (from a business standpoint), I mostly do it because I genuinely believe it’s fundamentally important to put money behind the community as much as we’re able to.”

He’s especially proud of developing the creative, messaging, and execution for a campaign supporting the North Texas Food Bank, which Ebby Halliday Companies kicked into gear during the pandemic.

“Since then, we’ve raised several hundred thousand dollars for NTFB, and I’m extremely proud to be the center of that,” he said.

and being my greatest supporters, and my little brother, who is just like me in all the ways that count, and whose determination and work ethic inspire me every day.

What advice do you have for other youth wanting to make a difference?

The worst you can hear is “no.” If you want to do something, call people who do it and ask them for advice and opportunities. Taking that first step will always be the hardest part, and when you do it, you’ll find it’s not that hard at all.

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

One summer, I ordered from our local Thai restaurant so much that when the employees saw my car pull in, they’d input the order without me even stepping inside (pad kee mow with extra beef).

Is there anything else we should know about you?

Beyond any accolade, the more important parts about me (are) that I love chai lattes (and) reality TV, and I’m currently addicted to Candy Crush.

What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?

Bandito’s in Snider Plaza. It’s a Park Cities institution.

Where do you see yourself and/or your career in 10 years?

I have the entrepreneurial spirit at heart, which is probably why real estate has been such a strong fit. But, longterm, I would love to have my own creative agency that services clients beyond their real estate experience.

“We’re proud to be deeply connected to schools, events, and organizations throughout the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.”

Remington Reece

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

I have dual citizenship — United States and United Kingdom.

What (or who) motivated you to get involved in the community?

Altruism is a philosophy that was instilled in me at a very young age from both my parents as well as my education at St. John’s School in Houston. Service first — and service above all. There was never a proverbial “Aha!” moment for me; it’s intrinsic.

DANIEL MOTTA PHOTOGRAPHY

39

Aubrey P. Boswell

Aubrey Boswell credits his mentors for equipping him with skills to work with high-net-worth clients and their estate plans.

“Before opening my own practice, I spent more than a decade learning about this specialty from some of the best attorneys in Dallas and working with clients with estates at all levels of wealth and complexity,” he said.

Now, he leads Boswell PLLC and is one of few Texas attorneys with law and CPA licenses.

“I was drawn to the practice of estate planning and probate when (I) realized the importance these areas hold in everyone’s lives,” Boswell said. “I value helping clients leave a meaningful legacy and helping to protect that legacy after a loved one passes away.”

Boswell PLLC, located at Greenville Avenue and Lovers Lane, is focused on estate planning, probate, and trust matters.

“At heart, I am a problem solver devoted to finding solutions for my clients,” Boswell said. “My practice, however, is not limited to preparing legal documents; I also spend my time zealously advocating for clients inside and outside of the courtroom.”

Boswell became interested in this work during an accounting internship his senior year at SMU. He was interning for an accounting firm’s audit group, where he investigated and audited financial statements: “The process of investigating and digging deeper is very much what lawyers do, and this is what inspired me to pursue a legal career.”

In addition to his legal work, Boswell serves on the board of ChandlerSpeaks, a nonprofit devoted to serving children with speech disabilities. His past volunteer experience includes work on the boards of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and the Dallas Estate Planning Council.

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

My biggest inspiration is my parents. They have (an) incredible work ethic and have taught me character traits that affect everything I do. While I don’t come from a family of lawyers, my parents instilled in me the positive attributes of learning and developing skills that help me in all aspects of being a lawyer.

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

I would tell them to live out their dreams and to not take “no” for an answer. In life, I’ve been told “no” a lot, but it hasn’t deterred me from pursuing my passions. In fact, it made me more determined.

Maura Sheffler started at The Arts Community Alliance 10 years ago as its community relations manager.

Now, she serves as the organization’s executive director, a role she was promoted to in 2023.

“I have studied music since age 6, but when I was living in NYC in 2007, I realized arts management might be a more suitable calling for me,” Sheffler said.

Sheffler says the pandemic impacted her approach to community involvement as TACA raised and distributed more than $500,000 in six months and curated workshops for the arts community.

“We also now know that the pandemic had a profound impact on how people consume and participate in the arts,” Sheffler said. “Attendance patterns and preferences have since changed, and our traditional

revenue models are strained.”

The arts community needs a future that accounts for these changes, she said.

“This set of challenges has made me more committed and motivated than ever to making our arts community a thriving, sustainable one,” Sheffler said.

Sheffler also volunteers as a grant reviewer for the Houston Arts Alliance, is an inaugural member of the Meadows 2050 Council, and is a board member of the Dallas Arts District.

Her advice for other young professionals: “The world is changing rapidly, so it’s important to try new things, learn new skills, and meet people who are different from you.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Whether I’m still leading TACA or in another role, I want to make a real difference for the arts in Dallas — that means ensuring artists and arts organizations have access to the support they need to thrive. I truly believe the arts are an important contributor to making our region stronger for the economy, for tourism, and, of course, for those who call this area home.

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

•Don’t limit yourself to one path. What you’re meant to do may be different than what you envision right now.

• Believe in your instincts and do what you think is right.

•Explore and be curious — always!

If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be called, and who would play you?

It would be called Controlled Chaos, and I would love for Tina Fey to play me because she is a level of funny that I aspire to.

Boswell PLLC

SMU

Maura Sheffler TACA SMU

JUDY BABINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY

32

Michael Coleman II

McKesson

of Texas at Arlington and Louisiana State University

Michael Coleman II debuted his nonprofit, Crowned Scholars, at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in 2019.

The organization works to holistically develop Black middle school boys by teaching STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) academic readiness, building healthy habits, and fostering mentorship.

development programs.

“I have been in the talent acquisition/ campus recruiting space for the past five years and consider it a blessing to be in a corporate position that allows me to provide career opportunities to emerging talent,” he said.

He previously worked in the education sector as a full-time substitute teacher, graduate coordinator, and scholarship program manager: “Developing students has always been a passion of mine, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the growth of our youth.”

Coleman also volunteers with the Richardson-Plano Alumni Chapter for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on the social media team and with the All Stars Project’s Afterschool Development Group.

What (or who) motivated you to get involved in the community?

The mentors that I had growing up inspired me to be the community leader and mentor that I have become today. From having basketball coaches who pushed me to become a vocal leader to community members who saw something in me that I could not see myself, I was blessed to have amazing people remind me how much good I can do in my community.

“Developing students has always been a passion of mine, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the growth of our youth.”

Michael Coleman II

“We will always be grateful to Benjamin Franklin Middle School for trusting and allowing us to not only develop their students but to grow and enhance our organization’s programming through experience,” Coleman said.

Since its start, Crowned Scholars has expanded to have representation at 10 Dallas-area schools.

Coleman works for McKesson as the senior talent programs strategist, managing the enterprise’s early talent initiatives, such as summer internships and

Connie Babikian

The Pillow Bar

SMU and UCLA

In 2021, Connie Babikian purchased The Pillow Bar, a custom bedding and linen company based in the Design District.

working with SMU and on the Texas Women’s Foundation board.

“The Texas Women’s Foundation is dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women and girls in our state,” Babikian said. “Their work has never been more important, and I’m inspired by them every day.”

She urges other young professionals to treat everyone they meet respectfully and not compromise on values, describing Dallas as “a small town masked as a big city.”

“I’m a big believer in knowing your ‘why,’” Babikian said. “We all want to be part of something meaningful, and a shared purpose is the strongest motivator.”

In 10 years, she hopes to be leading The Pillow Bar into another decade of growth and “bringing great sleep to a new generation of buyers.”

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

We have a French bulldog named Tater that runs our household.

What’s on your bucket list?

Traveling to at least three different countries that have beautiful scenery, clear waters, and rich culture that I can immerse myself in. My most immediate desired trip is to Bali.

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

God, my family, and my mentees are my daily reminders that I am still here for a purpose. They remind me of my power, my influence, and my why. Living the life of a corporate employee and a nonprofit leader simultaneously is not always easy, but the people around me constantly pour love and light into my space.

Elizabeth Carlock Phillips is the executive director of the Phillips Foundation, a private family foundation that leverages its assets to maximize social, environmental, and financial value.

She says the most important part of her role is building relationships across fields and issue areas to support increased collaboration and understanding.

“Phillips Foundation does not take a programmatic approach to our work because we believe that innovation, and the solutions to many of society’s most pressing problems, require multidisciplinary strategies among various sectors and types of organizations,” she said.

Growing up in Highland Park, Phillips says she’s benefited from working with many local nonprofits over several decades.

For example, New Friends New Life, a North Texas anti-trafficking organization, started at the church she and her family used to attend.

“That was very formative in my life and educated me on an issue I may not have

“Becoming a mother during the height of COVID forced me to reevaluate every aspect of my life and accelerated my career shift from the corporate world to entrepreneurship,” she said. “I’d always dreamed of running my own business and, after several months at home with a new baby, realized there’s truly no time like the present to make a change.”

She says she’s never looked back. Some of her brand’s offerings include pillows, bedding, bath towels and mats, and loungewear, including the “Dream Team Favorite” Daydreamer Down Robe.

What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?

My husband and I have a standing Thursday night reservation at Neighborhood Services on Lovers Lane. It’s hard to beat their cheeseburger and dirty martini!

“I’m a big believer in knowing your ‘why.’ We all want to be part of something meaningful, and a shared purpose is the strongest motivator.”

Connie Babikian

Her career began as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs’ private lending underwriting team. After getting her MBA from UCLA, she moved back to Dallas and worked for Hunt Consolidated in various roles in the company’s oil and real estate divisions.

Her volunteer experience includes

otherwise encountered,” Phillips said, describing the Park Cities as a philanthropic community that has provided her with role models. “My interest in nonprofit governance, social innovation, and impact investing only continued to grow into adulthood and has become my career.”

Her volunteer work includes serving on the board of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, Mission Investors Exchange, SMU’s Maguire Center for Ethics, Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, and The Dallas Foundation, where she chairs the investment committee.

Some of her past involvement has included founding Echelon, the young professionals auxiliary for The Salvation Army, and serving as a previous board member and governance chair of the Texas Women’s Foundation. She was also a governor-appointed trustee of UNC Greensboro for eight years.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My first job was working at Swoozie’s

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

Don’t be afraid of a challenge. You are stronger than you think, and every failure brings a lesson to learn. It will all be OK. Also, please drink more water and take your vitamins!

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

My parents. In every facet of their professional and personal lives, they are dedicated to bettering our community and lifting others up.

What’s on your bucket list?

Teaching my three kids to sail in my husband’s hometown in Maine.

when it first opened in Preston Center. I think I was about 15. I would organize and stock shelves, gift wrap, and work the register. It taught me how to treat people. You remember how the rude customers made you feel and appreciate the kind ones.

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

My late brother, Trey Carlock, is my biggest inspiration in the work I lead currently. He was a Kanakuk abuse survivor who was silenced to his grave in a retraumatizing legal process that involved a restrictive NDA. ... I’m working at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure survivor voices have a seat at the table in important reform efforts.

Where do you see yourself and/or your career in 10 years?

I received my certification in crime victim advocacy last year and am considering law school as a next step. I also plan to follow in my 11-year-old son’s footsteps and publish a book or two (Check out The Magic Island Chronicles by William G. Phillips!).

University

MARIA LAWSON

Greg Oertel

Greg Oertel’s drive for community involvement started in college when he played the French horn at a local school for blind students.

“The faces of audience members would light up, and some attendees even cried,” he said. “These recitals were some of my earliest moments getting to witness the direct impact I could make on the lives of others.”

Now, he works at Communities Foundation of Texas as senior community philanthropy officer, leading philanthropic advising services to help fundholders with grantmaking strategy, identifying fundraising opportunities in North Texas, and evaluating grantmaking efforts’ effectiveness.

young professionals program in 2020.

Before joining the CFT team, Oertel worked at The Arts Community Alliance, managing the organization’s $1.3 million+ portfolio of six grantmaking programs and developing programs for the North Texas arts and cultural sector.

He worked as a freelance French horn musician in Los Angeles before pursuing his master’s at SMU in Dallas.

“I’m a planner by nature, but I struggle with this one (the future),” he said. “I do see myself continuing to work in the ‘social good’ sector, hopefully challenging the status quo in big ways. Guess we’ll just have to wait and find out!”

What’s on your bucket list?

1. Open my own cocktail bar (probably a pipe dream)

2. Learn Italian by traveling to Italy often (no Duolingo)

3. Get a makeover on RuPaul’s Drag Race (and yes, I can walk in heels)

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My first job was being a library assistant at the Music Library at University of Southern California while I was a student there for undergrad. I was a music major, so this was a dream job. I learned all the tips and tricks to search books, USC’s collection of thousands of CDs, sheet music, and more. I also never had to pay late fees!

“I do see myself continuing to work in the ‘social good’ sector, hopefully challenging the status quo in big ways.”

Greg Oertel

Oertel also volunteers with Equity Texas as the Dallas steering committee co-chair and with Social Venture Partners Dallas. He’s been a partner since completing its Dana Juett Residency

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

RuPaul Charles is a big inspiration of mine. He’s had a trailblazing career in the face of adversity and has been a beacon of LGBTQ+ representation and visibility in mainstream media. One of RuPaul’s quotes lives on my bio at work: “The most important thing you can do on this planet is become the realization of your own imagination.”

Service. Above. Self.

Hannah Harpole

Varsity Brands SMU

Hannah Harpole volunteers as a children’s advocate through Dallas CASA.

In this role, she helps children in Child Protective Services care access services and makes recommendations to help judges decide what is best for each child.

“I wanted to get involved in the community in a way where I could truly have a meaningful, positive influence on others,” Harpole said. “There’s no more impactful way I can contribute my time than to make a positive impact on a child’s life so that they don’t slip through the cracks of the CPS system.”

to help CASA in providing an advocate to every child in CPS care,” she said.

Harpole started her career at Bain & Company in management consulting, where she spent most of her time leading transformations for retail clients. After six years there, she stepped out of the consulting world and joined Varsity Brands, where she serves as the director of strategy and transformation and is “heavily involved in developing our growth strategy and leading strategic partnerships.”

Her “lightbulb moment” came during a summer internship in college when she watched her supervisors repeat the same things daily.

“It helped me realize that I didn’t want a career that delivered monotony; I craved variety and the opportunity to constantly learn new skills and be challenged,” Harpole said. “I ended up starting my career in consulting, and it delivered just that.”

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

Be where your feet are. Enjoy the present moment because you’ll never get to be there again, and life can change in an instant.

“I craved variety and the opportunity to constantly learn new skills and be challenged. I ended up starting my career in consulting, and it delivered just that.” Hannah Harpole

Harpole also serves on the Dallas CASA Young Professionals Council, and she cochaired the 2024 rendition of its signature black-tie fundraiser, CASAblanca.

“We are primarily focused on raising awareness about opportunities to get involved with Dallas CASA and fundraising

What’s a fun fact someone wouldn’t know about you?

I recently hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim. It’s (about) 23 miles and almost 5,000 feet of elevation gain. While it was a doozy, it was amazing to meet so many fellow hikers along the way and enjoy a stunning sunrise and sunset over the cliffs.

What advice do you have for other young professionals?

You are going to spend a significant amount of your time at work. Spend your time on something that “lights a fire in your belly” and spend it working with good people. If you can solve for those two things, odds are you’ll be doing something that makes you happy.

Communities Foundation of Texas SMU and University of Southern California

Courtney Moeslein

AEG Vision Baylor University

Courtney Moeslein’s interest in digital marketing started when she discovered her knack for it and learned she could make it her full-time career.

She now works as senior marketing manager at AEG Vision, a company that empowers eye care professionals by leveraging medical practices, innovation, and collaboration.

Her first job out of college was as an assistant project manager for an experiential marketing company. She traveled the country and worked with clients such as Target, KABOOM!, and Tractor Supply.

to find the right places to volunteer,” she said. “In addition to giving back, community involvement is a great way to meet like-minded individuals in a new city.”

She’s an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Dallas Alumnae Chapter and Baylor University Women’s Council of Dallas. She’s also in her second year on the Dallas CASA Young Professionals Council board and her provisional membership year with the Junior League of Dallas.

How do you motivate yourself and others?

I am a big goal-setter. I like looking at the bigger picture and breaking goals into achievable milestones. I do this for my team’s goals, in addition to personal goals. It helps to acknowledge progress and have a clear sense of achievement throughout the process.

What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?

My favorite local restaurant is Honor Bar. I love the Shrimp Louie salad (and the french fries, of course). My favorite local coffee shop is LDU Coffee. When I first moved to Dallas and lived walking distance to one of their locations, I took my dog to get an iced coffee every Friday.

“In addition to giving back, community involvement is a great way to meet likeminded individuals in a new city.”

Courtney Moeslein

“It was a great experience, and I learned a lot about managing large-scale events, budgets, and teams, but I realized it was not something I wanted to do forever,” Moeslein said. “I helped with some of the digital marketing efforts at this agency and realized I truly enjoyed digital marketing. I continued to learn as much as possible and eventually made the leap.”

When Moeslein moved to Dallas in early 2022 to join AEG, she prioritized participating in philanthropy.

“It is essential to give back, and I wanted

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

As a creative outlet, I run The Southern Spoonful, a food blog that uses simplistic all-natural ingredients to help the everyday home cook elevate their every day with my mom, Stacey. We enjoy testing and capturing new recipes for our blog and social media and love to entertain. The Southern Spoonful has been my passion project and is a fun way to test out new digital marketing tools.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job was at Nike when I was in high school. ... I learned a lot about excellent customer service and time management as I balanced my part-time role with school, sports, and extracurricular activities.

Alan H. Rose

Communities Foundation of Texas SMU and University of Texas at Dallas

Alan Rose has worked for the Texas Rangers, WFAA, and now Communities Foundation of Texas.

At CFT, he’s the senior manager of marketing and communications.

“My favorite part about my role at CFT is North Texas Giving Day and the impact donors make in our community supporting over 3,200 nonprofits,” Rose said.

He’s always had a knack for creating content and helping others. Growing up, he would make videos starring his friends, family, and sometimes himself.

was 3 years old and recently graduated from Leadership University Park.

His passion for volunteering stems from a desire to be part of positive change. He serves as the Highland Park Alumni Association’s board of directors vice president and as former chair of the Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee. He’s also involved with Broadway Dallas, where he has served as chair of the advisory board for the last four years and in other capacities.

What (or who) motivated you to get involved in the community?

My grandparents motivated me to become involved in the community through their actions. They always put others before themselves and enjoyed learning, growing, and helping throughout the community. I treasure the time I spent with them, creating memories.

Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now?

My vision for the future, both personally and professionally, is deeply rooted in the impact I can make on others’ lives. Over the next decade, I aspire to enrich and improve as many lives as possible.

“I believe in the power of mentoring, offering insights from my own experiences while emphasizing the importance of individuality.”

Alan H. Rose

However, his “lightbulb moment” was a devastating one during his freshman year at SMU when his roommate died unexpectedly.

“Living with him for a year really taught me to come out of my shell, be myself, create my own opportunities, and seize happiness,” Rose said. “After that, I really turned my passions into action through school involvement, leadership opportunities, and my volunteering efforts.”

Rose, a third-generation Highland Park Scot, has lived in the Park Cities since he

Are you a young leader looking to make an impact in your community?

Through CFT’s Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy program, young professionals with a heart and mind for community learn to set their personal giving strategies and gain a deeper understanding of how to support what matters most to them.

Applications for the 2024 cohort open on June 1.

Learn more about applying to join our growing network of changemakers at: CFTexas.org/ELP

What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?

While I have many local favorites, my absolute top spot is JD’s Chippery. They’ve more or less known me by name since sixth grade. I absolutely love taking my 3.5-year-old son, Paxton, with me. He asks to go many days after school and enjoys ordering for our entire family.

How do you motivate yourself and others?

I find motivation in authenticity — being genuinely myself. My approach to inspiring others centers around sharing who I truly am, both in my personal and professional life. I believe in the power of mentoring, offering insights from my own experiences while emphasizing the importance of individuality.

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Gracie Letter

Gracie Letter’s career in counseling has come full circle.

She started directly out of undergrad at Dallas CBT, a group psychotherapy practice, where she worked as an exposure coach and research assistant.

She then went on to train at Children’s Medical Center in several clinical settings, where she worked with adolescent patients suffering from acute symptoms, including those struggling with suicidality and self-harm, behavior and emotional dysregulation, and trauma.

grow alongside this practice.”

An SMU lacrosse alumna, Letter spends her free time coaching Highland Park fifth- and sixth-grade girls lacrosse. She recently joined the Moody Family YMCA and hopes to continue finding ways to contribute there.

Her volunteer experience includes working with Back on My Feet, an organization that partners with the Salvation Army to help homeless people commit to weekly runs or walks and provides them with opportunities to further their education or find careers.

She has a favorite quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

“You are on your own journey,” Letter said. “Make decisions with your head and heart because you want to, not because you feel like you should. The beauty of growth is learning what you value in your own life and how to embrace those values in all aspects.”

How do you motivate yourself and others?

Fill your life with the right people, and you will feel motivated each and every day. My family and friends are my strongest motivators. They push me out of my comfort zone, are honest with me, and see me for my fullest potential. I hope I provide the same motivation to those around me.

“The beauty of growth is learning what you value in your own life and how to embrace those values in all aspects.”

Gracie Letter

Now, she’s back at Dallas CBT, where she returned after graduating with her master’s. As a licensed professional counselor-associate and full-time clinician, she works with adolescents, teens, and young adults by using evidence-based treatments to provide care to patients facing OCD, depression, and anxiety.

“I work alongside a team of specialized clinicians who strive every day to provide quality, collaborative, and interactive care to members of our community,” Letter said. “I am very grateful to continue to

Jack Betts

The Make Your Own Legacy Academy Amherst College

Jack Betts advises, “If there isn’t a path, make one.”

The Amherst College football

alumnus founded The Make Your Own Legacy Academy in 2022, a first-of-itskind name, image, and likeness education program to help smaller-market athletes utilize their NIL potential.

these heights without help from his school or professional representation.

Since then, he’s been a consultant to more than 60 athletes nationwide, assisting them in developing professional relationships and skills that will benefit them once their time as student-athletes concludes.

Volunteer-wise, Betts co-founded “Kicks Land” while a student at the Episcopal School of Dallas. This initiative is a section of S.M. Wright’s Christmas in the Park Celebration, where he organized fundraisers to purchase and distribute approximately 2,000 pairs of Nike shoes annually.

He also has volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas as a tutor and mentor to primarily Spanish-speaking students.

“I tutored these students in English, reading, and mathematics, and (that) is where my passion for education stems from,” he said.

Betts will start working toward his master’s degree in sports management at SMU this fall.

What is your favorite local restaurant or shop?

What’s on your bucket list?

I have always wanted to experience the Northern Lights.

In fact, I have a tracker I keep on my phone every year that indicates the best time and place to see them.

What advice do you have for other young professionals?

You are doing enough. Take time to adjust, be present, and be OK with not knowing all (or any) of the answers at times. Do not expect yourself to be as knowledgeable as those around you who are more seasoned. Instead, take every opportunity to learn, observe, and humbly make mistakes.

“CFT’s

He was inspired after discovering that few Division III athletes were making a name for themselves in the NIL space. He took the initiative to become the person he wanted to see when he Googled “Division III NIL success stories.”

“I tutored these students in English, reading, and mathematics, and (that) is where my passion for education stems from.”

My favorite local restaurant is undoubtedly Bubba’s. Every time I would come home from Amherst, my first meal always had to be Bubba’s. Their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and famous rolls are a staple of my diet.

Jack Betts

“Being that I was one of the first D3 athletes to make a name for themselves in this space by inking partnerships with brands like Whoop, Body Armor, Allbirds, Invesco QQQ, and Insomnia Cookies, I realized that I was operating within a unique niche of individuals,” Betts said. “I earned the moniker of ‘The King of D3 NIL’ as I began developing skills in marketing, social media, content creation, and more.”

As his brand grew, similar small-market athletes asked him how he could reach

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

I am actually adopted. I was originally born in Seattle and moved to Dallas right after I was born. I am of Cherokee descent, and my Indigenous heritage is something that I hold in extremely high regard.

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

I’d tell myself that the journey is not going to be linear. You’re going to experience adversity with injuries in your football career and roadblocks to your education, such as COVID, but the best thing about it all is that the sun rises tomorrow.

Emerging Leaders program has been amazing to be part of. It’s not your typical young professional group. You get to learn alongside and connect with a uniquely diverse group that you wouldn’t otherwise interact with on a regular basis. Participants are passionate about making intentional impact in our community. The experience of funding nonprofits through the program is extremely rewarding, and you also gain the skills and tools to create change on your own.”

–Kerryn Sarwansingh, consultant, Accenture Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy alumni member

For more information, visit CFTexas.org/ELP

Dallas CBT SMU

39

Sharon Lee Clark

Designer Sharon Lee Clark has a joke about her move to Dallas three years ago: She had to put her real estate agent as her emergency contact on school forms.

“I had to dive right in to make friends and create a community for our family,” she said, describing University Park as a place that quickly made her family feel at home.

She first got involved in the Hyer Preschool Association, where she met fellow moms, and Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Her volunteer experience also extends to co-chairing Partners Card for The Family Place, chairing the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Fashion Notes Luncheon, collaborating with Ese Azenabor to host a fashion show for the Children’s Cancer Fund, and serving as a Cattle Baron’s Ball new member.

Lee Clark has also participated in the

Family Forum at the Dallas Museum of Art each year and served on the advisory board for Kappa Kappa Gamma at SMU.

The artist started her home decor company, Krane Home, 12 years ago. It has been named the number one Asian-American-owned home decor brand by Architectural Digest

“My art has been exhibited widely with multiple collaborations with worldwide fashion brands, and Krane Home wallpaper and home decor have been featured in every major design magazine,” Lee Clark said.

She previously worked as a designer at Michael S. Smith while the office was doing the interiors of the Obama White House.

“During my time there, I realized there was zero art of textiles inspired by the Korean art of my heritage,” Lee Clark said. “As the third in a lineage of Korean artists after my mother and grandfather, it was my mission to share Korean art with the world.”

That’s when it dawned on her that she could bring Korean art and wallpaper to American homes by starting Krane Home.

If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be called, and who would play you?

This Korean American Life: The Life and Legacy of Artist Sharon Lee Clark. And that’s easy, my actor sister Greta Lee would definitely play me because we’re Irish twins, and she knows me better than anyone else on Earth.

Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

My mother Jane Lee hands down. She is the best artist I know. She is an accredited Korean folk art painter with exhibits in Korea as well as the Korean Cultural Center, and she is a talented pianist trained at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

39

Michael Thompson

Workforce Dallas Langston University

Michael Thompson’s first job was as a camp counselor in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, through the mayor’s summer program for teens.

“I had the best of both worlds,” Thompson said. “I was able to impact youth but also work with the mayor and learn directly from him. He is still a mentor to this day for me.”

Now, Thompson is the executive director of Workforce Dallas, a hands-on approach to workforce development.

“Reduced crime, improved health, greater educational achievement, and stronger communities — all byproducts of reducing poverty — can be achieved with a laser focus on upskilling and upgrading low-wage workers to higher-paying job opportunities and providing hands-on support to help them succeed at those new jobs,” Thompson said.

He has served in various workforce

development leadership roles for 15 years.

As executive director, Thompson focuses on relationships, representing the organization, and developing partnership opportunities.

He realized he could change lives at a high level in college when he started a nonprofit with his university called Inspire All to All Inspire. The nonprofit granted 300 students scholarships that led to employment in the city.

“I saw many of my classmates that were not going home for holidays, and they said they didn’t because they didn’t have the money, and they had no one to go home to because their parents were incarcerated,” Thompson said. “I went to my college president to see what we can do. She told me to go speak to the mayor about this issue.”

From a young age, he says God’s purpose for him was influencing lives.

“Whether it was sports, church, school, or anything, I was always trying to help people around me,” he said.

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

My sons’ names are Michael and Jordan. I really love basketball.

Tell us about your volunteer experience.

It’s the most important thing in life. Being able to volunteer with impactful organizations like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and many more gave me the foundation to see firsthand the impact we can have on so many.

What would you tell an 18-year-old you?

Consistency is key. If every single day you give your all to impact at least one person in some way, you will accomplish all of your goals.

39

Brian Oates

Brian Oates is a Jackson Walker “lifer,” meaning he joined the firm upon law school graduation and has been there since.

He focuses his practice on three areas of litigation: trademark, oil and gas, and real estate disputes.

“Unlike a lot of big firm litigators, I have had the opportunity to be in the courtroom frequently,” Oates said. “I have tried numerous jury trials to a verdict as the ‘first-chair’ lawyer.”

His trademark work typically takes him to federal courts in big cities, while oil and gas cases often take place in small towns throughout Texas.

“That diversity in subject matter, settings, and people keeps me on my toes and ensures that no two cases are alike,” Oates said.

As a dad of three children under 8, most of his volunteer work includes coaching his kids’ sports teams through the Moody Family YMCA, Upward Athletics, and Dallas Hardball. He’s also active in the Bradfield Dad’s Club, which includes a softball league against dads from the other HPISD elementary schools.

He also has taken up pro bono work and says these experiences “help remind me how fortunate all of us in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow are and how easy it is to take for granted things in our life.”

“Just recently, I was able to represent an individual who had been sued and could not afford representation, successfully obtaining the lawsuit’s dismissal,” Oates said. “I also tried a several-days-long arbitration for an elderly couple who found themselves in a consumer dispute with a large business.”

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My first real job was as a professional baseball player in the Seattle Mariners organization. I was a pitcher. I credit baseball with teaching me so much, including teamwork, work ethic, how to compete, and the importance of setting goals. But truly, the thing professional baseball taught me was humility.

What was your “lightbulb moment” that led you to your career?

I took a political science class as a sophomore in college, where the professor made us all stand up and argue various positions in front of the class on a variety of topics. He was essentially making us prepare for and deliver an opening/closing argument. I loved it. I thought, “I could do this for a living.”

Frances Cannon Mitchell

The Compass School of Texas SMU and eCornell University

Frances Cannon Mitchell started her career as a financial analyst at ExxonMobil before joining her husband in Istanbul, Turkey, where she worked in accounting and back-office support for a start-up oil field service company.

After moving to London and then back to Dallas, she transitioned into human resources, supporting 13 operating companies domestically and internationally.

Now, she serves as a founding board member of The Compass School of Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, independent school located on West Northwest Highway.

“As a mom, we will do anything for our kids, and as it turns out, that means even being a part of starting a school that

we believe will inspire future leaders, resilient and kind people, and analytical thinkers,” Mitchell said.

She’s part of the school alongside Francis Harrison (also a 20 Under 40 honoree) and Caroline Harrison Loehr.

“I joined (my) longtime friends … to help build a scholastic program in the heart of Dallas focused on an engaging and wholesome academic education,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell also volunteers with Park Cities Presbyterian Church on the production team of the podcast Deep Light, the Cox Alumni Board at SMU, and the Highland Park Alumni Association Board.

Her involvement also includes Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is co-chairing its Oct. 15 Kappa Tablescapes event with her two best friends: “This is an event that annually raises over $200,000 for amazing local nonprofit organizations doing incredible work across the community.”

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

In my next life, I want to be a neuroscientist. The brain is so fascinating!

What was your “lightbulb moment” that led you to your career?

I resigned from my corporate role and went through an executive management course called Stagen, where I learned a lot of powerful tools, including defining my personal values and writing my life’s purpose statement through a lot of work and coaching. My purpose statement is, “I exist to shine a light on the road to love, empowerment, and resilience.”

Krane Home UCLA and Cal Poly

MARIA LAWSON

Jackson Walker Trinity University and Texas Tech University

DIANA OATES

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Joseph Kim

Joseph Kim was one of the first North Korean minor refugees to come to the U.S. under the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act, which became law during President George W. Bush’s tenure.

Kim calls Bush, whom he’s known for a decade, his biggest inspiration.

“Given that I work at the George W. Bush Institute, you may think this is a political answer, but it is not,” Kim said. “President Bush helped me realize that humility and confidence are not separate entities but two sides of the same coin.”

“He is my personal hero and role model because I want to become a genuine and compassionate person like he is, and he has an excellent sense of humor,” Kim added.

Kim became a homeless orphan at the age of 12. His father died of starvation, and Kim was separated from his mother and sister.

Now, he works as program manager of global policy at the Bush Institute, which he describes as “an excellent platform to pursue my passion for helping the North Korean people.”

“At the Bush Institute, we work to advance policies that integrate human rights with national security, provide scholarships to North Korean refugees to study in America, and develop a new generation of human rights advocates,” he said.

Through his job, he speaks at various forums and events to raise human rights and security concerns.

Studying history was a big part of why he chose his career.

“Judging history or bad actors or characters in history is easy, but the purpose of learning history should not be about judging those bad actors,” Kim said. “Instead, ask yourself how you would choose your course of action differently and prepare yourself to form a better version of yourself.”

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My first job in the United States was cleaning tables at a local restaurant. That night, I made $20 and some change. I wanted to keep the $20 bill for life, so I saved it in a safe space. Unfortunately, it’s so safe that I can’t remember where I hid it. I learned that if you want to hide something, remember where you put it.

Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now?

I hope by then, North Korea will be freed from dictatorship, and (I’ll) be able to return to my hometown. I want to become a high school teacher and care for orphans in free North Korea.

Allison Atwood

Moody Family YMCA

Truman State University

Allison Atwood has spent the last nine years working for the Moody Family YMCA.

She teaches exercise classes at the Y and in the community and is championing the Y’s new Special Olympics program.

“This is our first year, and we have had too much fun getting to know the athletes and families,” Atwood said. “Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for (the) adult special needs population.”

The program so far has offered bowling, pickleball, and basketball.

Another job highlight is teaching classes for memory care groups.

“These memory care day programs allow for caregivers to have a day of rest knowing their loved one is being taken care of,” she said. “The participants are offered a day of fun in a safe environment.”

Atwood says she comes away from working with special needs and memory care populations “knowing I have the best job and have made someone’s day a little better.”

She expects to keep working at the Y for many years and see the Special Olympics program become well-established.

Atwood has also used her sports background to coach at Lone Star, a local volleyball club, for the last 10 years.

“This has allowed me to stay involved in a sport that means so much to me,” she said. “I have played since I was 11 and was able to play in college, and now (I) get to help young girls find that same passion.”

The mom of three also leads her oldest daughter’s Girl Scout Daisy troop.

“Seeing those young ladies get excited about helping people and each other is a rewarding experience,” Atwood said.

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

I have a twin brother!

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

I worked as a landscaper for a family friend. I learned the value of hard work and punctuality. Also, I worked with my brother, so I learned that it is OK to have fun at work. I still cherish those memories I have with him.

What advice do you have for other young professionals?

If you can, do what makes you happy and find fun in what you do. Find an employer that allows you to be who you are and brings out the best versions of you.

TACA proudly celebrates your leadership, impact, and dedication to the Dallas arts community.

Congratulations on your recognition as one of the 20 Under Forty honorees for 2024. www.taca-arts.org

George W. Bush Institute Bard College

MARIA LAWSON

36

AJ Aguirre

Aguirre Medical

St. Mary’s University

Coming from a family of doctors, AJ Aguirre had a front-row seat to identify the industry-wide need for more efficient ways to approach payroll and billing.

That led him to start Aguirre Medical in 2019, with the hope of helping medical offices reduce expenses by outsourcing reception, referral, and accounting services.

“Five years later, my staff has quintupled, and it’s running like a well-oiled machine,” he said. “This was the culmination of everything I had learned, the people I’ve met, and a passion that grew.”

Aguirre started his career in finance at a local real estate services firm but had the idea for Aguirre Medical while talking over dinner with his mom about her growing pediatric practice.

“She asked if I would consider helping her,” Aguirre said. “I knew next to nothing about healthcare and didn’t know how to help.”

Francis Harrison

The Compass School of Texas College of Charleston

When Francis Harrison saw a need for more schools in Dallas, she cofounded The Compass School of Texas.

“I have followed a long line of family members who choose to give back and have made a difference,” she said.

The school is in its first academic year and aims to create well-rounded students through math, reading, farm-to-table, yoga, music, chess, and other subjects.

She says her grandmothers and mother motivated her to get involved in the community.

Her maternal grandmother, Caroline Rose Hunt, took pride in supporting important initiatives in Dallas; her paternal grandmother, Ann Harrison, always volunteered at her church and local government. Growing up, Harrison watched her mother help grow the Dallas Children’s Theater and advocate for accessible art.

He asked her, “What’s one aspect of the office that is giving you the most grief?”

“The front office,” she replied.

Soon, he started his management services organization with two receptionists in a downtown office.

He works with SMU’s Life After Ball program and the Texas A&M Mays Business School, which allow him to mentor and employ college students.

Outside of work, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a cause dear to Aguirre, as he was diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma in September 2021. He completed six rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation and celebrated two years of being in remission in February.

“In fact, the research (the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) funded developed the R-CHOP drug that saved my life,” Aguirre said.

He also volunteers with the Friends of Katy Trail, The Real Estate Council, Vogel Alcove, and Knox Park Community, which he founded.

“I really enjoy being around people and helping wherever I can,” Aguirre said. “I was motivated to get involved in the community to get to know and help my neighbors.”

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

I’ve been practicing water treading for about six months so that I can eventually join the Pegasus Water Polo Club.

What advice do you have for other young professionals?

Read the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. It will tell you everything you need to know. It explains that you can be passionate but not too attached — that things won’t be fair, but don’t let it change your attitude.

“As I have watched Dallas experience tremendous growth over these last few years, I realized that there was a lot that we needed to focus on to be able to accommodate for such growth,” Harrison said. “We have seen numerous industries relocate to North Texas, which has been incredible, but it also made me look at our current infrastructure and, most importantly, education.”

Her first job was working for nonprofit Operation Smile, translating for medical teams and archiving medical histories.

Following her nonprofit work, she founded Conscious Cultures LLC, which allowed her to secure Office of Foreign Assets Control licensing to take U.S. citizens on licensed educational and cultural trips to Cuba. She’s also a director at the Rosewood Corporation.

Harrison’s philosophy: “If it doesn’t exist, then build it.”

How do you motivate yourself and others?

I try to lead and motivate by example, show humility, and be a problem solver. If the trash needs to be taken out or the fridge needs to be stocked, then I don’t hesitate to do it myself. I think that there is a strong balance between being a leader and a team player to motivating others.

What advice do you have for other young professionals?

In a world that is now dictated by instant gratification and constant transitions, I think loyalty, honesty, and long-term commitment go a long way.

What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?

After having spent so many years in Cuba, I am passionate about good coffee and playing dominoes.

As frequent users of the Katy Trail, we understand the significance of the Trail to Dallas. The Katy Trail is a beautiful, safe, and welcoming greenspace for all. It is a city-wide gathering place that provides mental and physical wellness benefits, a sense of belonging to our community, and alternative transportation. As one of our city’s greatest assets, the Trail is also a must-see destination for visitors to Dallas.

For over 25 years, Friends of the Katy Trail has managed and continuously enhanced this treasured greenbelt park. The Friends raises the approximate $1.5 million in funds needed each year to operate the Trail.

Please join us in supporting the important work of Friends of the Katy Trail by making a gift to the Spring Support Campaign.

ank you for your generosity!

Brittany and Baxter Underwood Spring Support Campaign Honorary Chairs

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