Richardson Life Magazine Issue 3

If you’re new to Richardson Life Magazine, welcome! In RLM we highlight the people, organizations, events and leaders that make Richardson such a desirable place to live and work. We hope you’ll feel proud of this community each time you read our magazine and discover something new about your hometown.

In this issue, we introduce you to the Teng family, longtime Richardson residents and owners of Jeng Chi in Chinatown. Two generations of Tengs have made their home in Richardson and all have an incredible story. The highlight for me as I interviewed them was hearing “Papa” Teng talk about his beloved mooncakes in his native Mandarin. With the help of a translator, I learned of his passion for these traditional mooncakes and their cultural significance. I’m looking forward to my first mooncake this September.

We’re continuing to spotlight civic leaders, city-wide programs, philanthropies, businesses and more in RLM. And in celebration of school starting again, we're showcasing RISD’s 2022-2023 teachers of the year along with a brand-new student-centric banking venture at Berkner High School. On the arts horizon, RISD’s theatre programs promise so much entertainment and enlightenment for both students and citizens this fall.

You’ll meet Guy Mezger, a legend in the fighting world who is now a devoted family man, mentor and naturopathic doctor focused on men’s health. His mixed martial arts academy is in the new Hidden Gym located off N Central Expressway. I left the interview inspired by him, by his devotion to his wife and kids, and by his incredible life story.

We’ve added a new section to the magazine called “What We’re Loving Lately.” In it, we share websites, books, Instagram content, products…anything we’ve found that we think you might enjoy, too. We have no affiliation with any of the products or websites on the list and receive nothing in return for sharing them with you. We’ve included this section in hopes that you’ll discover something new that enriches your life in some way.

Finally, a gentle reminder…if you love reading Richardson Life and believe in our mission of making strong connections across our city, we hope you’ll support our advertisers as they are the backbone of our success. Our final issue of the year will arrive in mid-November, just in time for the holiday season. We look forward to it!

Publisher

Kyla Obert

Editor

Patti Otte

Ad Sales

Mike Obert

Special Thanks

The Teng family, Chelsea Jacobs, Guy Mezger, Erik Archilla, Julie Bryan, Jill Hotz, Emily Whitman, Heather Biddle, Keri Samples, Jennifer Davidson, Richardson Chief of Police Gary Tittle, Mary Altman, Ernie Huben, Jean Stuart, Nancy McGuire, Jason Philyaw and Reed Granger

For Advertising Questions, please email mobert@hylogroup.com

For Editoral Requests, please email pmotte@hylogroup.com

Managing Partners Mike and Kyla Obert

Patti Otte

THE RICHARDSON SCENE

Richardson’s vibrant community hosts an array of civic, social, educational, sporting, philanthropic and business events throughout the year. If you would like to have a picture included in the Richardson Scene, please send submissions to thescene@hylogroup.com.

Curtis Dorian & Monica Scott

MRMC volunteers at WildFlower!

Richardson East Rotary Club volunteers

Richardson Chamber Bowling Tournament

RPL Tales for Tails

Richardson Chamber Nonprofit Fair

Members of Leadership Richardson Class 38

Network's CEO Abbie Kaufman and Pedro Ortiz

Network Senior Day

Saul Paul concert at RPL

Surprise engagement party at Old 75 CCHOA 4th of July celebration

Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Fair Community jigsaw puzzle celebrating 150th

Amy King and Marta Frey at 150th

To Be Like Me program at Network

Richardson Chamber Bowling Tournament winners

Customer Appreciation Day at Senior Center

The Batts and Coach Mark Malcolm

"Heights of Summer Splash" participants

Breakfast for Fire Station #1 from the Heights Park HOA

ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL OF RICHARDSON, INC.

By Jean Stuart and Patti Otte

Nationally-renowned biochemist and cancer researcher Helen Dyer once stated, “Volunteering is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” A group of women in Richardson lives by that motto. They are members of Altrusa International of Richardson, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating in the city since 1967. These dedicated volunteers are shaping the future through acts of service and giving.

Founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1917, Altrusa International, Inc. has 392 clubs worldwide in 19 countries, 36 of which are in Texas. The name “Altrusa” was coined from ALT (altruism) and USA (United States), reflecting the patriotism of the WWI era in America. Altrusa International of Richardson, Texas, Inc. was presented with a charter on May 23, 1967. The club is governed by officers and a board of directors. Currently, there are more than seventy regular members plus emeritus members.

Altrusa Richardson hosts the “Outstanding Woman of Today... Builders of Tomorrow” awards luncheon, a fundraiser held annually in the fall. The awards luncheon recognizes the tremendous achievements of working women— women of leadership—who exemplify determination and innovation and have made an outstanding contribution in their field and have “Hearts for Humanity.” Monies raised by the event fund the club’s service projects and contributions for the following year.

Altrusa founding a Choose Kind library in Kenya

Altrusans delivering coats to Network

Altrusa hosts party at Ability House

Last year alone, among many other altruistic acts, Altrusa Richardson accrued 14,045 hours of service (a $478,343 value if hours were paid). In addition, they funded $13,000 in scholarships and $12,000 in grants to community nonprofits, donated 500 emergency food kits and 270 coats to NETWORK, and set up and maintained 20 Choose Kind libraries in RISD.

Altrusa Richardson’s target population is children, elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged persons. Jean Stuart, current vice president who will become president in the 2024-2025 term, adds, “We search for need. We

have adopted a home that cares for six adults with disabilities; we celebrate their birthdays with gifts and cake and celebrate/decorate for holidays (i.e. Halloween and Christmas). We call Bingo and hold auctions (with paper money and gifts we provide) at local area senior assisted living facilities. We celebrate Kindness Weekend every April, during which we not only spread kindness but also involve the city and other organizations.”

Stuart goes on to say, “Altrusa is different because, while we donate some money to others, most of what we do is hands-on, meeting those we are serving, while loving

what we do. It seems that all our projects are filled with laughter and camaraderie. We say join us for fun, friendship, kindness, service and community.”

The organization hopes to grow and will be hosting ‘recruitment’ events in the next few months. They have many upcoming projects and welcome others to help them better serve the community. Furthermore, Altrusa Richardson is now opening the Grant application process for the year and looking for community nonprofits who might apply for those grants. For more information about Altrusa Richardson, visit http://altrusarichardson.com.

ALTRUSA RICHARDSON ENCOURAGES AREA NONPROFITS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS

Altrusa International of Richardson announces that applications are now being accepted for grants to qualifying area nonprofits for the 2023-2024 grants cycle. Grants typically range from $1,000-$1,500. Monies provided by Altrusa grants must be used by awardees for specific projects benefitting the community and disbursed no later than May 31, 2024, unless otherwise reported. A fillable application form and submission instructions are available on the Altrusa website at http://altrusarichardson.com/grants Additionally, reminder letters are being sent to 501(c)(3) recipient organizations who received funding last year.

The deadline for submitting a grant application is August 31, 2023. Applications will be reviewed by the grants committee. Funding recommendations will then be submitted to the Altrusa International of Richardson Foundation, which will make the awards. Grantees will receive notification by October 31, 2023.

If you need more information about the grant submission process, please contact Grants Committee Chair Mary Shiroma at 214-914-3634 or by email at maryshiroma@outlook.com.

It is not enough to be good. Altrusans must be good for something.

– Mamie L. Bass, Altrusa’s first national president

Preparing gifts to give female veterans

SPOTLIGHT ON CIVIC LEADERS

Tell us about your early years. Where did you grow up and what was your early family life like? When did you know you wanted to serve as a police officer?

I was born in Texarkana, but my parents moved to the metroplex when I was one and I grew up in Murphy. Mom and Dad both worked for the postal service; Mom retired from the Richardson post office, Dad from the Garland post office. While we didn’t live in Richardson, we did a lot of business here and spent time in the area. I remember that the Promenade Theater was a $1 movie theater back then and a guy could go on a date for just $20, dinner and all.

I had never planned to be a police officer. During my time at Wylie High School, I played football, ran track, and found an interest in architecture. I took four years of mechanical drafting and architecture classes in high school, but I found myself developing an interest in psychology and criminology once I graduated from WHS and took classes at Richland College.

I then attended Sam Houston State for a couple of years. On a break from school, I came home and applied to the Dallas Police Department, hoping to find some type of temporary intern program that I could utilize in my studies at Sam Houston. That was the summer of 1987. The DPD hired me at twenty-one years old, but I always knew that I would go back to school. I spent more than thirty years at the DPD. During that time, I did indeed go back to school and received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Midwestern State University and then a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State.

What do you remember most about being a young man serving on the Dallas police force?

I worked in community policing after being a field training officer, then a detective in domestic violence for a year. After that, I became a child abuse detective. This job gave me the greatest satisfaction of my career, other than being able to impact other officers in a positive way. I was promoted to sergeant of the Southeast patrol on evening shifts and

GARY TITTLE

Chief of Police

Richardson Police Department

then moved to the Public Integrity unit. Our department’s job was to maintain the integrity of the profession. After that, I continued moving up the ranks, eventually serving as Assistant Chief before joining the Richardson PD.

Throughout my years at DPD, my fellow officers and I operated under a team concept even though we worked individually; it was a unified approach to fighting crime and serving. The camaraderie was outstanding and I really liked being able to see that we were making a difference in our community. Not everyone appreciated our efforts, though. One day in my early career, a fellow officer said, “Tittle, you have flowers at the front desk.” The “flower arrangement” was actually a ceramic skull with dead roses in it. Ironically, I considered that gift to be a sign that I was doing something right.

You’ve been Chief of Police at the Richardson Police Department since 2018. To what do you attribute the department’s crime-fighting success?

RPD is allocated 173 sworn officers

and we are running at 159 right now. On the crime-fighting side of things, we rely on partnerships across divisions; we share information and we run on all cylinders serving each other. Plus, our organization is designed to work efficiently. We are an intelligenceled community policing hybrid. We gather intelligence by data—numbers, suspect info, video info and community intelligence. We then push out that intelligence in a usable format to our detectives. We look for trends in time of crimes, day of crimes, type of vehicles, restaurant business parking lots and more and then deploy our resources based on that intelligence. Data helps our force make the best decisions.

Is there a particular moment that stands out in your mind when you truly felt you were making a positive difference as a police officer? If so, please share the story with us.

Child abuse convictions provided such a huge sense of accomplishment. And I always tried to be a positive

influence on the men and women of the organization. It’s important to be passionate but also humble.

Name three adjectives which best describe you.

Steady, determined and passionate

Can you tell us a little bit about your family?

My wife Lori is retired from the Dallas Police Department. She has two nieces, one of whom is about to be thirty-two. We've raised Sarah since she was seven and consider her to be our "daughter." Sarah’s sister Maddie, a sophomore at UTD, is also family to us. We have a standard poodle named Chief and a shih tzu named Weezy. Lori retired in 2017 and is now a proud babysitter of our first grandchild, a one-and-a-half-year-old who keeps her very busy.

Prior to retirement, Lori had served twenty-eight-plus years. We worked in proximity to one another but were just

Chief Tittle represents the very best of the policing profession and Richardson community. Gary cares deeply about the men and women of the Richardson Police Department, he prioritizes and values partnerships with all of our stakeholders, and he has uncompromising personal integrity and adheres to the highest professional ethical standards in everything he does. It is a great honor to serve with him.

– Richardson City Manager Don Magner

Visiting with Senior Living Community staff while making Christmas floral deliveries

Speaking to RPD Volunteers during annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

work acquaintances. Lori worked with a patrol partner named Officer James Fung before becoming a detective who tracked sex offenders and interviewed them at the Dallas Advocacy Center. It was James who played match maker, knowing that Lori and I would hit it off. He was right and we have been married almost twenty-five years.

Did you have a mentor growing up who inspired you? If so, please tell us about him or her.

My parents were both the most influential mentors in my life. Dad modeled a strong work ethic and Mom taught me the importance of having a passion along with compassion.

Off the force, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy most? How do you spend your free time when you aren’t working?

My wife says I am a workaholic and I suppose I am…so I don’t have much time for hobbies. I played soccer for years but now enjoy doing yardwork. On the weekends I piddle around in my flower beds, cut the grass and trim trees. We do love to travel to the US Virgin Islands or Destin, FL, as we are beach people!

What do you hope people will remember about you in years to come?

One…that I cared deeply. For the profession and for the people I served—both men and women in uniform as well as people in

the community. And I hope that I have made a difference in the lives of others, both personally and professionally.

Editor’s Note: We asked Richardson police to share ideas with readers regarding school safety. We appreciate their response:

TOP 10 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

1. Monitor your children's phones. Their phones should be your phones. Know their passcode and conduct random checks.

2. Report any suspicious activity seen on social media either in person to a School Resource Officer(s) or the Richardson Police Department - 972-744-4800.

3. Know who your child’s friends are (and those friends’ parents) and where they live.

4. Monitor your child’s social media usage, specifically SnapChat, Instagram, TikTok and Discord accounts (multiple parental control apps are available for this).

5. Get them involved in extracurricular activities. This can keep them from getting bored and gives them incentive to stay out of trouble.

6. Discuss the dangers of drug use. Tell your child to never take a vape pen, pills or edible products a “friend” is giving them.

7. If you have a high schooler, RISD has an Anonymous Alerts app to report bullying, mental health concerns, drug activity, school threats, etc.

8. With life choices, encourage your students to follow their instincts. If it feels wrong, it probably is.

9. Discourage taking risqué pictures and sending them to others. Those pictures live on forever and will more than likely get shared with many others and cause much embarrassment at some point later.

10. In relationships, no should always mean no, and no amount of convincing from a boyfriend or girlfriend should change that.

Chief Tittle visiting with attendees at RPD's Public Safety Expo

RICHARDSON’S SESQUICENTENNIAL

The City of Richardson hosted an exciting Sesquicentennial celebration and Richardson Life Magazine’s summer intern, Reed Granger, covered it. Reed is a rising sophomore at Syracuse University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the Maxwell School fo Citizenship and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Photography at the Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Reed grew up in Richardson and has deep roots here. Photo credit for this "scrapbook" belongs to Reed, who states, “Richardson’s 150th anniversary celebration reminds me of the experience I had growing up in this city. I think all of us need to encounter the range of individuals I met and organizations I interacted with at the Sesquicentennial. I saw the Richardson Community Band performing songs for all ages, learned about water marbling and cultural harmony from the Dialogue Institute, and watched Mayor Bob Dubey and the CIty Council place items into a time capsule, which will be opened in 2073.

Through these images, I hope that you can see the collective love we share for this place we live. On this day, we celebrated our joy, diversity and long-lasting ability to make this city a home for all of its residents. As a photographer, I aimed to capture this unity. The city of Richardson truly is remarkable."

Photo credit to Reed Granger

RICHARDSON’S MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Editor’s Note: Movers and shakers are people who make things happen, influencers whose energy creates positive change. They’re always busy and often pioneers in their respective fields. In each issue of Richardson Life Magazine , we highlight an individual, couple or group of people who we feel fits this definition. If you would like to nominate a mover and shaker to be celebrated in the pages of the magazine, email pmotte@hylogroup.com .

THE TENG FAMILY

Owners of Jeng Chi Restaurant in Richardson’s Chinatown

By Patti Otte

It’s tough to catch Mei “Mama” and Yuan “Papa” Teng when they aren’t working. At 89, Papa is supposed to be retired from the day-to-day operations of Jeng Chi, the restaurant he and Mama founded in Richardson’s Chinatown back in 1990. But “rest” doesn’t seem to be in either of their vocabularies.

“Stubborn. Dedicated. ‘All in’ and committed, passionate, purposeful. His purpose is to do his very best…a

perfectionist.” This is how Mama Teng describes her husband of sixty years. Papa Teng, in turn, describes Mama as being direct, having an amazing sensibility/palate. According to Papa, Mama is incredibly focused on being sure that her children and her children’s children are taken care of, guiding them to success and caring for them when they fall. Everything she does is for the family, according to Papa.

The Tengs haven’t always been the successful restauranteurs they are today. The back story of Jeng Chi stretches across the Pacific Ocean to Taiwan, where Papa Teng’s family founded a candy factory, the first Jeng Chi. The business was aptly named because Jeng Chi, loosely translated, means ‘House of Joy’ with the word ‘House’ meaning a place of commerce. The candy factory was indeed a business where friends and family

Papa and Mama Teng

gathered to experience happiness and joy. At that time, Mama and Papa Teng’s families were the best of friends and the young couple married in the early 1960’s.

Sadly, the Tengs were driven out of Taiwan in the 1970’s because of Communist China’s attempts to invade Taiwan and the government’s awareness of the Teng family’s success. With the help of family friends, they fled to Brazil and created a life there for their young family. Mama and Papa and their four children lived in Brazil until 1985, at which time they moved to America and planted roots in Richardson. They were drawn to the city because Mama’s two sisters lived here and they liked Texas because it was “peaceful, quiet, and a great place to raise kids.”

The move from candy factory owner to restauranteur was a gradual one. To make extra money, Mama started making bao at home and selling it at the Chinese market. It was such a hit

that the idea of a restaurant took shape. The original Jeng Chi Restaurant was located down the breezeway from their current spot. Mama and Papa were the only employees and the 1,000 square feet space included the kitchen, prep area and dining room. The Tengs worked anywhere from 18-20 hours a day to ensure the restaurant’s success. Francisco “Chico” Teng, the second generation and youngest son of Mama and Papa, remembers the intimacy of that tiny location and the slow pace. Patrons who came knew they would

be served excellent food and were not in a rush. The couple’s handmade dumplings and authentic Taiwanese dishes became the talk of the town.

There was a magic in the “mom and pop” dining experience that is difficult to replicate on a large scale. Instead, Francisco and Janelle Teng, the husband-and-wife duo and secondgeneration owners of Jeng Chi, are determined to keep the traditional Taiwanese dishes customers have grown to love and recreating the “art” of Chinese food. They are also introducing new innovations into the restaurant and incorporating more efficient equipment and modern technology.

The Teng family has built roots in the community that have taken a generation to nurture. Francisco and Janelle see themselves as the caretakers of what Mama and Papa Teng created and are excited about the future. And their ties to Richardson are strengthening! Janelle is a member of Richardson’s Women in Leadership and has recently joined Leadership Richardson’s 39th class. She is excited to become more involved in her hometown.

Mama supervising the Jeng Chi open kitchen

Food preparation

Food preparation at Jeng Chi

MAGICAL MOONCAKES

Mooncakes are Papa Teng’s specialty and he lights up with joy when talking about them in his native Mandarin. Back in Taiwan, Papa learned to make mooncakes from his father at the original Jeng Chi. In the 1960’s the family was making close to 160,000 boxes of mooncakes a year.

Mooncakes are traditionally given as gifts during the popular Mid-Autumn Festival held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese

calendar, during a full moon, which is in September or early October. This year, the full moon will be September 29. According to the Tengs, the making and sharing of mooncakes are a cherished tradition of this festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and unity. Thus, the sharing of round mooncakes among family members signifies the completeness and unity of families, according to the Tengs.

According to legend, mooncakes

date back to the late Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD). At the time, court rule was cruel and unjust. A plan to revolt was hatched and the communication vehicle for rebels to disperse secret notes would be the mooncake. A note would be hidden underneath the mooncake skin indicating that the revolution would commence on August 15, the Lunar Calendar’s Full Harvest Moon. Fables aside, exactly when and where mooncakes were first introduced remains a mystery.

Papa Teng starts planning for mooncake season in the spring and begins purchasing supplies in May.

Given that Jeng Chi has more than twenty flavors of mooncakes, there is truly something for everyone. While Mama and Papa Teng prefer the traditional mooncakes which are typically made with date paste, bean paste, lotus paste or green paste, Francisco’s goal is to appeal to a new

generation of potential mooncake fans. He’s modernized mooncakes with flavors such as passionfruit. To create a passionfruit flavor, the family invested in a machine to freeze dry passionfruit juice into powder to put in the mooncake. Other popular Francisco creations are five-nut, pineapple and coffee with walnuts and rum raisin. He even has a chocolate with candied lemon. Delish!

Papa Teng preparing the mooncake pastry

Papa Teng leads the mooncake-making process

Mooncakes ready to be baked with flavors written in Mandarin

The finished product – a perfect mooncake

A mooncake from the 2022 season

Jeng Chi’s beautiful mooncake packaging

“Desiree, the owner and founder of Justin Thyme Homes, was recommended to us by our realtor whom we trusted. Consequently, we had JITH design and finish out a master bedroom and ensuite bath (with all new plumbing, electric, sheetrock, tile and AC). In the rest of our home, Desiree’s crew installed all new windows, flooring and painted the whole home inside and out. In the end, Desiree informed us that we were coming in under budget, so she offered to build a front deck. She was accommodating and professional. We would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a dependable contractor who delivers a great product and is true to her word.”

~ The Spillers family, Heights Park homeowners

ENJOY THE SHOW!

CELEBRATING RISD’S OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE PROGRAMS

What better way to say goodbye to summer and hello to the new school year than by shining a spotlight on Richardson ISD’s topnotch high school theatre programs. You’ll find something for everyone in your family in the variety of shows these outstanding directors and their students plan to perform this year.

PEARCE THEATRE

Pearce Theatre has been entertaining audiences for fifty years. In fact, recently actors from the very first show done at Pearce came to the school and found the places they had signed their names under the stage so many years ago. During those early years, Pearce Theatre was run by the legendary director Lynn Zednick Shaw, commonly known to her students as “Zed.” She passed away in 2009, leaving the program in the capable hands of Director Heather Biddle.

Biddle, a class of ‘95 Pearce graduate, has always been active in theatre, dance and performing. That the stories they tell touch lives and help people have conversations that they might not otherwise have been brave enough to undertake is what makes Biddle so proud to be involved in theatre. She states, “We give a place to all students at Pearce. I also run our adaptive needs theatre program and we make sure that ‘All Means All’ when it comes to the art and beauty and joy of theatre.”

Biddle believes in “adopting” students who aren’t traditional theatre kids and providing them with a whole new world. Danezion Mills is one such student. He was, according to Biddle, a great kid with an uncertain future. She encouraged him to try theatre, which he did. However, challenges in his personal life threatened to derail his future. So Danezion was ‘adopted’ by the extended theatre family and its supporters in the community. He not only ended up attending Texas State and their top tier theatre program, earning a BFA in Theatre, but he is now living and working in Los Angeles as a professional actor.

Besides positively impacting individual students, Pearce Theatre is also a pilot

Our entire family loved being part of the theatre community at Pearce High School. Theatre provided two of my sons a place where they could challenge themselves, make mistakes, learn new skills, gain confidence, and develop lifelong friendships. The program and the directors made such a positive impact on them that they are both pursuing acting in college.

– Tiffany Hoodenpyle, Pearce Theatre mom

program, meaning that it gets firstrun shows from all the major licensing companies in New York, according to Biddle. Their most recent pilot was Mean Girls High School Version, which they took to the International Thespian Festival, otherwise known as “Nationals,” this spring. Still seven months away from the completion of its brand-new theatre, Biddle is having to be flexible and the season is still in flux. Biddle did share that the fall show will not only be a high school premiere, but in fact a regional premiere as they will perform it for the first time in the entire southern region. And in February, Pearce students will be performing in collaboration with the Richardson Theatre Collective for a children’s show, Finding Nemo Kids

Biddle is thankful to be able to continue to tell stories and be part of the community’s lives. She states, “Thanks for hanging in there with us as we travel from

space to space waiting for our new theatre to open. Thanks to the incredible people at Richardson High School and the Theatre Collective for housing us so many times this past year. And to the Allen Performing Arts Center for opening their doors to us as well. Theatre is such a community and we are so blessed to be part of it.”

For more information about the Pearce Theatre program, visit http://pearcetheatre.org

West Side Story

Photo credit: Amy Abney Mean Girls

RICHARDSON THEATRE COLLECTIVE AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL

The Theatre Magnet at Richardson High School has existed for decades. About ten years ago, it split into two different magnets—the Theatre Performance Magnet and the Technical Theatre Magnet. In 2019 the program was rebranded into the Theatre Collective at Richardson High School. According to its department chair and director Erik Archilla, its mission is to “foster an inclusive learning community of theatre artists for the purposes of profound student growth and meaningful community engagement.”

The Collective operates like a college department in that each year the students learn new skills and can grow in their chosen paths. In the Technical Theatre Magnet, students focus on design, stage craft, or theatre management. In the Theatre Performance Magnet, students learn acting, then branch out into playwriting and directing. During their senior year, students choose a career path of acting, directing, playwriting, theatre education, or theatre administration.

Archilla loves working with high school aged students, specifically at RHS. He says, “Our students are incredible. They are so eager to learn more, and it is so exciting to see the lightbulbs go off in their brains when they get a concept. The amount of growth we see from freshmen to senior year is incredible. And watching them take ownership of their work is truly inspiring… It gives me goosebumps every time and I am so stinkin’ proud of each of them.”

He is also proud that fourteen Collective

students who won superiors at the Texas Thespian Festival and qualified to compete at Thespian Nationals this past summer. All of the Collective’s directors are working professionals in their field and bring real-world experiences to the classroom. They also share their networking connections with their students. Archilla says, “I think one of the things I am most proud of is that we have had many of our students go on to become theatre teachers themselves, some even in RISD. One of our directors, Emily Whitman, graduated from our program.”

Whitman enthusiastically states, “Theatre kids are SO. MUCH. FUN. There

is never a dull day at work, that is for sure. I know I’m making an impact on a student when they seek me out for advice…or a student’s behavior gradually improves to meet my expectations…or a student sarcastically jokes around with me. It’s a bunch of little things that add up to let me know I’m doing something right.”

The Theatre Collective’s 2023-24 season theme is “What a Disaster.” They start with The Play That Goes Wrong in October. Their January musical will be The Spongebob Musical! The UIL Competition Play takes a more serious turn with A Piece of My Heart, a play about the Vietnam War. The Collective welcomes their sophomore magnet students to perform Finding Nemo Kids. and their season wraps up with freshmen magnet students joining them for Metamorphoses

Visit http://rhstheatrecollective.org for more information and show schedules.

Chicago

Into the Woods

Chicago

Photo credit: Cripple Bypass Photography

Photo credit: Nicole Kopec

Photo credit: Cripple Bypass Photography

LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE

The Lake Highlands Drama Club started in 1966, at least that was the first mention of it in the vintage yearbooks Director Julie Bryan scoured to find historical information about the Lake Highlands theatre program. Bryan, an East Dallas native who grew up close to Lake Highlands, is brand-new to LHHS but not to teaching. She previously directed at her alma mater, DISD’s Bryan Adams High School. Today, says Bryan, the purpose of the Lake Highlands Theatre Department (LHTD) is “to empower individuals to tell stories through the powerful medium of self-expression. Through engaging theatrical productions, the department nurtures and celebrates the unique voices of its members.”

Bryan wants students to believe in and trust in their own abilities and become lifelong learners. She reflects, “As participants engage in the creative process, they not only refine their artistic skills but also

build strong connections and a sense of community. Each production is a unique journey, offering opportunities for growth and self-discovery, making theatre a truly life-changing experience for everyone it embraces.”

She also loves her students’ ideas and finds that students often have insight or inspiration that she would have never even considered. When working as an ensemble, Bryan says, “we have the opportunity to build a production together from page to stage. When my students put forth suggestions for scenes or designs changes, those suggestions can make a moment in the play deeper and more meaningful.”

Bryan reminisces fondly about a student who left a lasting impression as many students do. The young man struggled with confidence in his designs and would even throw them away before she had an opportunity to give him direction. In time, she discovered his natural talent for sound design. When they did the production of a steam punk Peter Pan, he planned every moment, every sound effect and gear noise, and even the music for intermission.

Ultimately Bryan appointed him to leadership positions in her department and he became her strongest technician, rising to every occasion and “leading the younger technicians with the same

gusto of a sergeant leading a battalion into battle,” recalls Bryan. She is excited to find her next “surprise” leader.

Lake Highlands has several exciting shows coming up this year, the first of which is CLUE, to be performed the second weekend in October, followed by a Theatre for Young Audiences performance in November. In the spirit of the holidays, the group will put on Ebeneezer Scrooge in December. The Little Mermaid will kick off the spring schedule, followed by a UIL One Act Play public performance in March. The play will be announced later this year.

For more information about the Lake Highlands theatre program, go to http://lhhstheatre.membershiptoolkit.com

Queens

Singin' in the Rain

Mamma Mia

Photo credit: Tanya Bowen

Photo credit: Tanya Bowen

Photo credit: Tanya Bowen

BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE

The Berkner Rams’ theatre program was founded in 1969. Carla Unkenholtz served as director for thirty years before retiring. After having an interim director for a year, Dr. Jill Hotz took over and has led the group ever since. “We put the Ram in dRAMa,” says Hotz. When asked what makes Berkner’s program unique, Hotz reflected that their fine arts department functions like a family in that choir, band, orchestra and theatre work collaboratively and well together.

Hotz’s greatest joy, she says, is “taking kids with zero confidence and getting them to do things that they have only imagined. We give them those opportunities.” Everyone involved in the program has a heart for the students— they want them to learn and stretch themselves in unexpected ways. States Hotz, “Berkner is a melting pot. We have everything from religious to economic to racial diversity. Hairspray was my first

show to direct and that was an incredibly true representation of our school.”

According to Hotz, it’s easy to hook kids into theater and they are willing to sacrifice time and Saturdays to be a part of it. Another aspect of Berkner’s program is that their technical theatre side is strong as well. If a student starts out acting but discovers a preference for lighting or sound or any other technical aspect, change is easy and the student is given a new outlet to showcase that talent. Speaking of discovering talents, Berkner’s tech director, Ed Twiss, was initially a parent volunteer who discovered a love for the technical side of the shows. He is now building a topnotch tech theater program.

Hotz loves the fact that “theater kids are never boring and tend to overexaggerate. No one ever has a headache…it’s always a throbbing migraine. And there’s never a dull moment.” Hotz’s affection for her students is mirrored in her students’ admiration for her.

She shared that many of her students pay her the highest compliment by expressing a desire to be a teacher…specifically, a theater teacher just like her.

In addition to preparing for their fall show, Chemical Imbalance, the theatre will be gearing up for its annual haunted house, which is held at the school the weekend before Halloween. Students participate in the “haunting” and all monies raised at the event are used for costumes, props and anything else Hotz and her team need throughout the year. Their major fine arts production this school year will be Spamalot, performed the first weekend in February, followed by Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, a festival sith songs, turkey legs, a rummage sale and more!

For more information about the Rams’ theatre program, visit @berkner_theatre on Instagram

Suessical the Musical

Addams Family

The Wiz

Photo credit: Timothy Spencer

Photo credit: Timothy Spencer

Photo credit: Timothy Spencer

ARTS & CULTURE IN RICHARDSON

As the temperatures start to cool down in October, why not head outside to enjoy being out-of-doors and experience something new at the same time? Did you know that the City of Richardson has a Public Art Walk? Grab a friend or loved one and discover something new this fall. Map courtesy of the City of Richardson Parks & Recreation Department.

RISD 2022-2023 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

RISD celebrated the close of the 2022-2023 school year by naming Mary Altmann and Ernie Huben as Elementary School Teacher of the Year and Middle School Teacher of the Year, respectively. Mary, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Prestonwood Elementary, grew up in Plano and now lives in Addison with her husband, Sean. She has been teaching for eight years. Ernie is an eighth grade algebra teacher at Liberty Junior High School who lives in Richardson with his wife Janet, an instructional coach at Lake Highlands Elementary, and their two children. Ernie has been teaching for twenty-seven years.

We asked Mary and Ernie to share a bit of wisdom with us in the form of advice or stories. As you send your own children or grandchildren back to school this year, know that they are in good hands with teachers like Mary and Ernie in the classroom.

the seeds, and revel in the results. Staying in Richardson has allowed me to see the fruits of my labor, the success stories of my former students who come back to visit long after they have graduated. I never judge success by financial gains, but rather by those who do what makes them happy. I have talked to teachers, doctors, lawyers, auto mechanics, veterinarians, and more with one thing in common: they all had me as a teacher. I continually have my “George Bailey moments,” thanks to my students.

I am truly blessed to have grown up in Richardson and now make my living in some of the same schools I attended. It is an honor to give back to the community that made me feel safe, valued, loved and excited about learning, all at the same time.

ERNIE HUBEN

In the summer of 1977, my mom moved us to Richardson after my father passed away. I was enrolled in Springridge Elementary in kindergarten and spent all seven years of elementary school there. I then went on to Liberty Junior High and graduated from Berkner High School in 1991. I attended Angelo State University, the longest time I have ever spent away from Richardson. While preparing to take the MCAT, I met a girl who was in the middle of student teaching. Several conversations later, I changed my major and my future. I remember calling my mom and telling her, "I've decided to be poor for the rest of my life!"

After graduating in December, I received a phone call from my childhood principal asking if I'd want a teacher's aide position for the remainder of the year…at Springridge, the same elementary school I had attended. At that moment, Richardson

became my Bedford Falls, the fictional town that is the setting for George Bailey's journey in the movie It's a Wonderful Life. I admired the character of George Bailey—the fact that he poured so much into making Bedford Falls a better place to live, with no regard for himself.

I spent seventeen years of my teaching career at Springridge Elementary. To be able to teach beside many of my former teachers was an absolute thrill. To walk down the halls of the building which I had walked so many years before warmed my heart. Throughout my career, I had been in contact with the principal at Liberty Junior High. I finally decided the time was right to make the move to middle school and I have taught ever since at the same place I attended—Liberty Junior High.

My classroom is the tiny part of Richardson in which I can emulate George Bailey. While George Bailey was concerned with affordable housing, I concern myself with the futures of those I teach. My classroom is my garden and the environment I create is the soil. I'm able to cultivate the soil, plant

Mr. Potter couldn't convince me to go elsewhere despite his millions. While I do need a new fence and a new car, Richardson is the district where I will remain. I heard a little girl once say, "Every time the bell rings, a teacher gets his or her wings." Okay…I may have changed the ending a bit, but I believe this to be true. I can pass on those “wings,” which will raise my students to heights they had never imagined. And there is not a better job in the world than that.

Ernie teaching at Liberty Junior High

Ernie and Mary, RISD Teachers of the Year

MARY ALTMAN

Teachers, administrators, parents, families and the entire RISD community all have one very important thing in common: we each want the best for students. As an educator, I have witnessed hundreds of students experiencing personal and academic growth each year. Parents can help teachers ensure student success with their own actions, which are crucial for a child’s personal and academic growth.

Create a Safe Environment to Try and to Fail

In class your students may hear me use the phrase, “I love you, but I’m not going to help you, yet.” When our students say they don’t know, we must remind them that they just don’t know, yet. They need to give themselves a chance: to use their notes, their resources, their strategies. More often than not, they’re able to take a step in the right direction. If students try but fail, part of our job is help them realize that failure is simply a part of the process. We learn from every error and we take that knowledge and move forward. By creating a safe space where taking risks and failing is encouraged and accepted, we empower students. We show them how capable they are and how to take that first step without fear.

Create Experiences

A lifelong love of learning is not built from textbooks and routine notes, but rather through experiences that make learning engaging and memorable: singing, dancing, movement, art (yes, even in math!), technology, robotics and so much more. Students in my classroom are exposed to new skills such as coding or using apps like Keynote, GarageBand, or iMovie that will be additions to their toolbox for the future. These experiences create a true, deeper understanding of information and an excitement to learn as students use their content knowledge to solve problems and apply their learning. Take any opportunity to have a fun learning experience with your

family. Be open to new ways of exploration. Use your learners’ interests as an avenue to show and teach them new things. When we create experiences, we make learning accessible to all and encourage learning inside and outside of the school day.

Teach Collaboration

In today’s world, students are using technology more than ever. Although it can absolutely serve a purpose and benefit students in their learning, we have to remember to teach students the skills of collaboration and communication, both verbal and written. Not only do they need to practice formulating thoughts and sentences beyond texting or Instagramming, but they also need to practice working with others.

Sometimes we need to take students away from their screens and teach them how to communicate with one another. By putting students in a situation where they must work together and collaborate with others to reach a common goal, we are giving them a skill that will follow them no matter what they choose to pursue in their future.

Encourage a Love of Reading

It’s true: I am a math and science teacher. However, I believe that encouraging a love of reading is arguably the most important item on this list. We often hear students say they don’t enjoy reading, to which we respond that they just haven't found something they enjoy, yet. It is our job as educators, parents, family members, and community partners to support the literacy of every student.

You can read with your students or talk

to them about what they are reading. Let them see you reading or talk to them about something you may be reading. Allow children to choose any books that they are excited about reading. Reach out to your school or local library for recommendations of a new genre or for more books in a genre your student loves. Reading is the foundation for every skill and every avenue students will encounter. By fostering a love of reading, we are supporting their personal and academic growth.

Be Their Biggest Cheerleader

My favorite part of my job is my role as cheerleader. No matter what, my students know that they are loved and cared for every single day. When students feel cared for, they love being at school, they are motivated, and they are comfortable. Despite any grades, scores or extracurricular activities, the most important thing is for students to be happy and to know they are loved. If they stumble or make a mistake, we are there to encourage them. If they need extra help or need to be challenged, we meet them where they are. If they are having a tough day and need a listening ear or a hug, we are there to offer it. Our job as educators and as a community is to be the biggest cheer squad for students. When they know we see how wonderful they are, they believe it too, and that is when real growth happens.

Mary Altman on far right

Students stretching their imaginations

SMART Bank Branch at Berkner High School and STEM Academy

A Brand-New RISD and Credit Union of Texas Partnership

RISD has partnered with the Credit Union of Texas to open a SMART bank branch at Berkner High School and STEM Academy in the fall, as the school district continues to provide real-world experiences and hands-on training for life after graduation.

“The idea of a CUTX branch coming to Berkner began before the pandemic,” said Austin Gunter, assistant principal of L.V. Berkner High School and STEM Academy. “We were all in a bit of shock and excitement when the project was finally greenlit. You should have seen the faces of our students, faculty and community members when we shared the news. It was a sense of awe and amazement.”

The working bank branch will be the third such overall and first in Dallas County. About two dozen students will work in the branch, and upon completion of a one-year program and fulfillment of a mandated 30 hours of community service, each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship from CUTX.

CUTX Chief Marketing Officer Eddie Army said the SMART branch allows students to gain an understanding of servant leadership while motivating them into active learning with inherent lessons in reasoning and technology use. It’s a real-world banking experience that increases financial literacy for all students

and aligns with the RISD Graduate Profile as well as the state’s TEKS guidelines.

Berkner Assistant Principal Gunter said the application process was open to every student at the high school who is in a business pathway. He and the interview panel—Lakevia Wilkes, manager of the SMART branch located in Allen High School and Amy Chadbourne, Vice President of Retail Operations at CUTX— scheduled interviews for every student who applied. “Even though I knew some of the students were not qualified for a few different reasons, I wanted to extend them an opportunity to come in and interview so they could experience a professional interview process and all that entails. We want to expose all students to what they can expect after high school graduation. And interviews are a big part of being an adult and landing a job in a career that interests you.”

Berkner will provide the space that CUTX will build out while providing all the supplies, marketing, and technology needed to run the branch. As the partnership grows, RISD expects to have students from all grade levels and every learning community visit the branch at Berkner.

“There will only be one CUTX staff member at the branch that will be open to the public,” Gunter said, “All other staff members – branch manager, marketers

and tellers – will be Berkner students. What I find truly amazing about this program is that the focus is not simply on running a bank branch. The focus is on improving the financial literacy of students, staff and the community. Students will be creating and delivering lessons on personal financial literacy to their peers, their families, and also will be going to RISD junior highs and elementary schools to present the project.”

The RISD students are going to benefit from this program in numerous ways. They will be learning how to develop and give presentations to various groups, which will give them more confidence with public speaking. They will earn service hours that count toward graduation requirements.

“Richardson ISD is the fifth most diverse district in Texas and Berkner High School is the most diverse school in the district,” he said. “About 57% of Berkner students are economically disadvantaged and considered at-risk. Having a working bank branch on campus gives our students an opportunity to prove themselves in a professional setting, and maybe even land a paid summer internship or a full-time job immediately after graduation. This growing partnership will provide RISD students with yet another avenue toward success after high school."

GUY MEZGER

WORLD CHAMPION FIGHTER TURNED PHILANTHROPIC FAMILY MAN

By Patti Otte

Want to know what makes Guy Mezger most proud?

It’s not being a six-time world champion combat athlete. It’s not being considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time, having won both the UFC and King of Pancrase titles for Mixed Martial Arts. It’s not that he’s been in multiple movies and had a role on Chuck Norris’s Walker, Texas Ranger Mezger has multiple millionaires on his contact list and has trained US military Special Forces and world champion athletes. He fought in Japan for ten years and was practically a household name there. The man is literally a living legend. But these accolades don’t make him most proud.

Those victories were won not because Mezger enjoyed fighting or aspired from a young age to be a world champion in five separate sports. What made him such an effective fighter was his ability to use so many different skills at once. But he never enjoyed the idea of fighting. In fact, most of the men he fought were also good friends. The back story to Mezger’s fighting career is not a happy one. He grew up in Richardson with a physically abusive father who spoke with fists more than words. His mom and three brothers lived under that same cloud. So Mezger started wrestling at four years old, partly out of self-defense.

When he was eight, everything changed. He saw Rocky Balboa on the big screen and decided that he would be a boxing champion one day like his new hero. However, after a few bloody noses, he switched to wrestling. From that point on, his athletic star rose. He joined a Select wrestling team for 12-year-olds when he was ten and began winning. Athletics gave him a boost in his self-esteem and helped

him compartmentalize the pain from his tumultuous home life.

According to Mezger, he was a smart youngster, but he got off track at an early age. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty, he was shot, stabbed, in gang fights and in

a self-destructive spiral. He went to college at Texas Tech but left after his freshman year. Says Mezger, “There weren’t a lot of options for a guy like me.” Fortunately, thanks to an incredible mentor at Sunbelt Karate named Billye Jackson and others in

Michelle and Guy Mezger

the fighting world who supported him, Mezger began to turn his life around. As he reflects on his time with Jackson, who became his coach from then on, he states, “Superman was not a tall white guy from Metropolis. Instead, he was a short black man from Mexia.”

Interviewing a guy like Mezger was a little scary. Sitting across the table from someone who could literally kill you if he wanted to was uncomfortable at first. But then he began to talk…and the softer side of the man emerged. What makes him most proud? His wife Michelle and his three children— Alex, Logan and Rachel—are his true treasures. He describes Michelle as “modest, kind, smart and genuinely excited for other people’s success.” Alex, their oldest, lives in Atlanta and Logan, a wrestler and recent Jesuit graduate, heads to college this fall. Rachel is still in high school at Ursuline. Know what keeps a man like Guy Mezger up at night? It’s sending Logan off to college. For someone who has so much control of his life, having Logan far from home worries him.

In addition to being an incredibly loving family man, Mezger is also a naturopathic doctor who specializes in men’s health. He now spends 50%

of his time teaching mixed martial arts and 50% practicing medicine. He is the lead instructor and CEO of Mezger Martial Arts, located within the Hidden Gym in Richardson. One of the best mixed martial arts instructors in the world, Mezger sees the sport as a vehicle for making people all-around better human beings. And he mentors them into an understanding that true strength does not live in one’s muscles; instead, it’s founded on reaching out with kindness and compassion but being able to back the gentleness up with strength.

Mezger’s heroes are real-life men of bravery like Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. Mezger himself is a personal hero to the children at Jonathan’s Place, an organization dedicated to providing neglected children, teens and young adults with safe spaces and loving homes. According to Mezger’s wife Michelle, “Guy and his staff have worked with Jonathan’s Place for over 10 years. The gym members, and even extended family and friends, come together in a big way every year to gift the boys and girls literally truckloads of toys at Christmastime.”

So the young “Rocky” becomes “Santa Claus” in an unlikely but lovely twist of time and fate. At just 58 years of age, Mezger’s fighting career is years behind him. He’s in a different “ring” now…a ring filled with love, laughter, cherished relationships and hard-won wisdom. He’s philosophical about the impact his father had on him and forgave him years ago. Like so many real-life heroes, Mezger took the hardest upbringing and turned it into a beautiful life.

For more information about Guy Mezger or Mezger Mixed Martial Arts, visit http://guymezger.com.

The Mezger family

Mezger being trained by Billye Jackson for his first UFC fight

A kid at heart, according to Michelle

Chelsea Jacobs

Owner, Yellow House Story Shoppe

What is your name and how long have you been in business? Where are you located?

My name is Chelsea Jacobs and I have had the joy of running my little bookshop since 2019. After hosting book weekends in my home, I moved to a booth in Richardson’s Cottonwood Market in 2020 and have since opened a second location in the coffee shop at Central Commons in Highland Park. I can also be found online at http://yellowhousestoryshoppe.com.

Tell us about the Yellow House Story Shoppe.

My bookshop is focused on sharing wonderful children’s books with the community! I have a passion for helping families build their home libraries with children’s books that have stood the test of

time and I delight in offering beautiful and imaginative stories to kids of all ages. My selection is curated and carefully selected— and every book has been rescued and rehabilitated to give it a second life in a new family’s home. Although the books at Yellow House are gently used, they have much more life to give.

What inspired you to open your business and what is the inspiration for the name?

My business began from a conversation I had with a mother of tiny toddlers in the spring of 2019. Overwhelmed by the big box bookstores, she asked for advice on what books to begin purchasing for her children. I gathered a few treasures for her and some other friends and invited them into my home to shop from my dining room

The Jacobs family

table. It was so successful that I decided to gather more gently-used books on our family road trip to the northeast that summer…and Yellow House Story Shoppe was born! My husband and children cheered me on and were my sounding board for every detail, including the name of my soon-to-be-bookshop.

As I considered what I would call my shop, I knew that I wanted it to represent what books have meant to our family. A book that has always been dear to us is Mother Carey’s Chickens, by Kate Douglas Wiggin. In this story, a family lovingly turns a house into a home and call it The Yellow House. It has always held a special place in my heart, as the mother stewards what little she has and makes a haven of rest and beauty for her family. As I shared these initial thoughts with my daughters, my oldest suddenly exclaimed, “It’s perfect, Mom! Because it’s also OUR yellow house!” In that moment, the name became doubly meaningful: our girls had a yellow wooden playhouse in our backyard for years that was also their haven of imagination. Every book we read filled their minds with imagination and this yellow house was where they played

out and pretended to be the characters from those very books. It was the perfect place to grow up and imagine these stories into life, which was the very thing I was hoping to create in my newly born bookshop: Yellow House Story Shoppe.

Who is your typical customer?

My primary customers are moms and dads who are raising kids in their homes. As a homeschooling mom for almost fifteen years, I have many customers who also educate at home. However, my customers come from a wide range of backgrounds and life stages. My favorite thing to do is meet customers who have found a copy of a book they cherished when they were little, or who are shopping for a baby gift or birthday present for a friend’s child. I have grandmothers who shop with me, teachers who stock their classrooms with literature they find on my shelves—even a dentist who stocked his waiting room with quality children’s books from my shop.

What is your background? Have you always been an entrepreneur? My education background is in child and adolescent therapy and child

The Yellow House Story Shoppe

Chelsea's original store in her home

Curated selections at the shop

development. However, my real experience comes from being an avid reader my whole life, as well as a book-collector and homeschooling teaching and mother. As mom to four children, I have spent years reading and discovering wonderful stories with them, as we learned at home together. So, I would say my love of books, my convictions around what they can do for a family who reads, and my deep knowledge of what makes a story beautiful and imaginative and child-appropriate is the true impetus for starting a business, rather than a desire to be an entrepreneur.

What skills do you find most necessary in running a new small business?

In today’s world, I know many of the skills we may need most are technological in nature—a good marketing plan, and solid strategies for development. I have certainly found the need for strong social media, well-planned engagement through design and advertising, and being connected in the community. But honestly, I believe that having a love for your customer and a passion for the product you sell is key. The business skills are necessary, of course, but they are not sufficient if you desire to be a business owner who can have a sustained impact and really make a difference in the lives of people.

What is your connection to Richardson?

I live and work and shop and have deep community in Richardson and it’s by far the best-kept secret “small town” in the metroplex. We have been in the area since 2017 and we absolutely love this deeply rooted community and hope to be here for years to come. Beyond raising a family here, having a church family here, and having extended family here, I feel blessed to have the privilege of having a small business here as well. In so many ways, the customers I serve and get to know have become like family, too. Richardson is a special place, where people really do invest in one another, support small business in unique ways, and share the common goal of raising families in ways that look much more like the world we grew up in—where you know your neighbors, your grocery clerk, your coffee barista, and your local bookshop owner. Although I have had other small businesses through the years, they have simply been out of an overflow of creativity, not necessarily out of a desire to run a business. I am deeply grateful to have an entrepreneurial-minded husband who makes all my dreams and visions come true in a wise and sustainable way, and who invests his time, experience and knowledge into making this business

successful! This effort is not one I make on my own, and I am indebted to my family, who supports and works alongside me in every part of this shop.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

I’m a life-long learner, who never tires of discovering new things and feels passionate about inspiring others to do the same. I am also a cultivator of the good, true, and beautiful—whether it be in stories, in my home, or in the world, I care deeply about bringing beauty and goodness into every crevice of life. And, lastly, I would say that I am detail-oriented, with a knack for bringing order to chaos.

Anything else you’d love for your neighbors to know about the book shop or you?

For those who might not have visited Yellow House yet, I encourage you to stop by or reach out! I’d love to get to meet you or help you find the perfect book for the child in your life. More than anything, I hope my shop inspires people everywhere to slow down and enjoy a life-giving story, no matter your age. Visit us to find beautiful stories, selected with care and deep love for the families you are raising, the neighbors you are celebrating, or the children you are caring for in your lives and communities.

The Jacobs family

The Jacob children's own yellow playhouse

THE POWER OF PET RESCUE AND OWNERSHIP

By Nancy McGuire

Multiple studies have shown that pet owners reap many physical and mental benefits from their animal friends. Pets offer not only companionship, but also provide a calming presence, help reduce stress and anxiety, and encourage their owners to be physically active. In the case of rescued animals, an extra special bond seems to develop between the two and ‘who rescued whom’ is a phrase heard often among animal rescue groups. Three Richardson-based organizations are rescuing one stray, lost, injured or abused animal at a time. The work they do is demanding and can often take its toll emotionally, but all three rescues are passionate about saving homeless animals.

DALLAS STREET DOG ADVOCATES

Although it has ‘Dallas” in its name, Dallas Street Dog Advocates (DSDA) is a Richardson-based rescue. After driving through an area of South Dallas and noticing all the strays, DSDA Vice President Relle Austin came across one dog in particular that tugged at her heart. She coaxed the sickly-looking pup into her car and tried to find a willing rescue, but none would take it. At that moment, Austin realized her calling: to advocate for those dogs who no one, including the typical rescue group, would take. Longtime rescue and foster Elise Bissell and local animal-lover David Maldonado joined Relle in founding DSDA with the mission of rescuing stray and forgotten dogs off the streets of Dallas.

2023 Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week recognition

DSDA’s staff and facilities are kept minimal so that all funds raised can be used to rescue, vaccinate and spay/ neuter more dogs and cats. They have no kennel space, instead relying solely on fosters willing to act as the bridge between rescue and forever homes. In addition to countless rescues, DSDA also does outreach work in the South Dallas area where so many dogs are dumped. According to Austin, the people in the area who can’t afford the food and vet care necessary to keep their pets in their homes are instrumental in helping DSDA volunteers catch the strays by establishing feeding schedules and routines. They also tell volunteers about the dog’s history. They sponsor spay/ neuter and vaccination clinics as well as pet food drives to support those in need.

Although the work is never-ending and can be emotionally draining, Bissell states, “What we have learned from our experience in rescuing dogs off the street is that many of them are highly adoptable. They yearn to love and be loved and deserve to be healthy, happy and have a home of their own.” Austin is driven by the challenge of taking in the most sad and broken animals and providing them the care and love they need to be adoptable pets. “I’m in the rescue business for selfish reasons.” she explains. “The satisfaction and enjoyment from what I do on a daily basis is extremely gratifying.”

TAKE ME HOME PET RESCUE

Also based in Richardson is Take Me Home Pet Rescue (TMHPR), which takes

an entirely different approach to animal rescue. Working with a network of other area rescue groups, TMHPR is in constant contact with a myriad of municipal animal shelters in DFW and East Texas to pull dogs and cats believed to be adoptable. Rescue groups such as TMHPR have access to necessary resources such as volunteers, foster homes and media attention that municipal shelters often do not have, thereby making the adoption process easier.

TMHPR’s overall goal is to be sure the pets they take in are healthy, sterilized and a good match for their potential adopters. They carefully screen adopters and conduct home visits to be sure the personality and energy level of both pet and potential family are a good fit. Over the last several years, TMHPR has managed to save more than 300 dogs and cats each year.

In 2020, TMHPR moved to a new adoption facility at 580 Arapaho Road, which provides more space to host adoption events, has isolation areas for new intakes to make sure no illnesses are spread, and has cat rooms to better house newly tagged felines. While this new facility provides many benefits, TMHPR still relies heavily on fosters to serve as gateways until permanent homes are found for their rescues. Fosters and volunteers are integral to their success in reducing shelter overcrowding and gives the organization the ability to take in more adoptable animals. According to Trish Clark, TMHPR Board Member, volunteer and adopter, “Fosters and volunteers are like gold to us.” She goes on say that “for every foster we bring in, that is just one more animal we can save.”

DSDA Co-Founder Elise Bissell

One dog, one home, one community, one world. We are all in this together.

– Relle Austin, VP, Dallas Street Dog Advocates

RICHARDSON ANIMAL SERVICES

Considered by many to be one of the most well-run municipal shelters in the state, Richardson Animal Services (RAS) takes a different approach in providing animal services but has the same mission: to provide a safe and healthy environment for lost and stray animals. RAS falls under the jurisdiction of Bill Alsup, Health Director for the City of Richardson, but Noura Jammal, the facility’s manager, is responsible for the facility’s day-to-day operations. Noura started working at the RAS sixteen years ago as an animal control officer with no experience and has been caring for the city’s strays ever since.

States Alsup, “Noura is a tremendous asset to the City of Richardson, its residents and its pets. Her professionalism and drive for customer service are only exceeded by her passion for animals and their welfare. She has developed many programs that benefit the animals in the shelter’s care and make the Animal Shelter an essential part of the community.”

The shelter is open seven days a week (Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and weekends 12:00 – 5:00 pm), a rarity among shelters who are usually open

weekdays only. RAS animal control officers answer calls about strays, make welfare checks, conduct rabies quarantine checks, pick up deceased animals, and complete so many other tasks. Shelter employees take care of Richardson’s human and animal populations, ensuring that the strays are cared for and the humans are educated through a variety of outreach programs: HOA meetings, RISD and DISD educational programs, city-sponsored functions and more.

Jammal and her team count on the support of their wonderful volunteers and several nonprofits within the community. RAS provides extra pet food and informational packets to Network. They conduct outreach to RISD during Career Day, volunteer initiatives and through an ongoing internship program. Employees and students take tours and participate in service days for cleaning, learning and more. RAS also participates in the Mayor’s internship Program, providing young adults handson learning about shelter operations and pet care. Additionally, UTD, State Farm, Geico, Starbucks, and other local businesses support the shelter through service days, which include shelter tours and information gathering.

States Jammal, “We are here to help! We’re not the last resort! We work with citizens to help them figure out a way to

be with their pets. And if I don’t have the answer, I’ll try to find the answer.” She would like to remind anyone considering getting a pet to understand that pet ownership is a long-term commitment that includes life changes and issues such as cost, interference with work, schedules and life. A way to make sure that pet ownership is a responsibility suited to an individual is to come and volunteer at the RAS.

While each of these organizations operates a little differently, all work hard to provide a safe and healthy environment for pets and their owners. If you have the desire to adopt, foster, volunteer or donate, reach out to these groups serving the Richardson community saving one animal at a time.

DSDA pup

RAS manager Noura Jammal with Remmy

RICHARDSON READS ONE BOOK

RICHARDSON’S ANNUAL LITERARY EVENT

What do these characters all have in common?

• A philosophical dog who loves racing in the rain

• A Japanese boy and a Chinese girl who fall in love during WWII

• Nine people who are trapped in a collapsed building after an earthquake

• Four undocumented MexicanAmerican students and two great teachers who enter a robotbuilding contest

• A Texas ranger who tries to solve two racial homicides

• A clever octopus who brings family members together

Hopefully you’ve guessed it—they are all characters from a Richardson Reads One Book selection—a program that is now in its nineteenth year.

Through an engaging author lecture, Richardson Reads One Book aims to:

• Stimulate an interest in the pleasure and the importance of reading

• Encourage citizens of the richly diverse Richardson community to come together to openly discuss a selected book and the issues it raises

The Richardson Public Library joined with various other organizations in Richardson to hold the first annual Richardson Reads One Book author lecture in September 2004 and it repeats in September every year because it is National Literacy Month This year’s selection, Remarkably Bright Creatures , is a delightful return to the tradition.

If you haven’t read the book, here’s a taste from the author’s website:

“After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at

the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-yearold son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound more than thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.”

Shelby Van Pelt grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and loved the aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium from an early age. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and

Richardson Reads One Book Reveal party

children now, but her debut novel is still set in the Pacific Northwest where Van Pelt grew up.

As a literary program that attracts national and international best-selling authors to our city, Richardson Reads One Book is a singular, successful program in our community. Perhaps our 2012 One Book author, Chitra Divakaruni, said it best: “I believe strongly in the power of story in creating community. It is when we learn about the core of the lives of strangers that they become family to us.”

Please join us at this year’s Richardson Reads One Book event at First United Methodist Church Richardson on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 pm. Free tickets will be available at Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers and the Richardson Senior Center beginning Tuesday, September 5. Check out our website at http://cor.net/onebook, like us on Facebook @RROBTX, or follow us on Instagram @richardsonreadsonebook.

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Richardson’s city-wide calendar is filled with opportunities to learn, have fun and give back in the place where you live. If you know of a future event you would like to see posted in “Out & About,” please email calendar information to pmotte@hylogroup.com.

September-November 2023

The Threads that Connect Us

September 10

Sunday 2:00 – 4:00 pm

September 15

Friday 1:00 pm (Registration at 11:30 am)

September 16

Saturday 6:00 – 10:00 pm

September 19

Tuesday 6:00 pm

UTD’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Harry W. Bass School of Arts, Humanities and Technology welcome you to an afternoon filled with insightful discussion, thought-provoking ideas, and unforgettable stories. Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, and Dr. Nils Roemer, dean of the Bass School at UTD, will moderate the event. You’ll hear best-selling authors Alyson Richman and Shaunna J. Edwards discuss their endearing friendship, what they learned about each other and themselves while collaborating on their novel The Thread Collectors, and the message of hope infused in their work.

The program is open to UT Dallas students and employees as well as our community friends, neighbors and partners. The event is free with advance registration. For more information or to register, visit http://UTD.Link/Threads.

Location: Edith O’Donnell Arts & Technology Lecture Hall, UTD, 800 W. Campbell, Richardson

Network’s 26th Annual Golf Outing

Network’s annual golf outing raises funds to serve neighbors in need. Cost is $125 per player or $500 for foursome. For more information, visit http://thenetwork.org/golf-outing/.

Location: Sherrill Park Golf Course, 2001 E Lookout Drive, Garland

Light Up Lockwood 2023

The City of Richardson, in partnership with the CORE District, invites you to Light Up Lockwood 2023. It's a family-friendly, free event featuring a variety of food and drinks, shopping, live entertainment and a light show as the sun goes down! Come celebrate with your favorite Lockwood restaurants and retailers, including Communion Coffee and Coworking, Lockwood Distilling Co., Greenville Avenue Pizza Co., Monkey King Noodle Co., Saint Anita, Lizzie Bees Flower Shoppe and Happy Hippie Brewing Co. Parking and admission are free. For more information, visit http://richardsoncoredistrict.com.

Location: The CORE District, 510 Lockwood Drive, Richardson

Tea the Moon and Back

Join Jeng Chi and The Cultured Cup for a first-ever mooncake and tea pairing. Learn a brief history of the Autumn Moon Festival and its place in Asian cultures while tasting artisan mooncakes with perfectly paired teas from across the globe. Very special viewing of the “mooncake knocking” in the open kitchen for this event. Tickets available via http://JengChiRestaurant.com or http://OpenTable.com.

Location: Jeng Chi Restaurant, 400 N. Greenville Ave. #11, Richardson

September 20

Wednesday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

September 26

Tuesday 7:30 - 9:00 pm

September 27

Wednesday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

September 27

Wednesday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

September 30

Saturday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Richardson Chamber of Commerce State of Higher Education Luncheon

Hear from UT Dallas, Dallas College and Collin College at this upcoming luncheon. Conversations will cover updates on higher education institutions, impacts of previous legislative sessions, and how your business and organization can support our educational institutions. Register online at richardsonchamber.com/keynote-events/

Location: Collin College Plano Campus, 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano

Richardson Reads One Book Author Lecture & Book Signing with Shelby Van Pelt

The 2023 Richardson Reads One Book program welcomes Shelby Van Pelt, author of the New York Times bestseller Remarkably Bright Creatures, to our community to discuss her debut novel. Free tickets will be available at Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers and the Richardson Senior Center beginning Tuesday, September 5 at 9:00 am. Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis until all tickets are gone.

Location: First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson

Richardson Senior Center Wellness and Safety Fair

The Senior Center is hosting a Wellness and Safety Fair for Richardson citizens who are 50+. At this event, there will be 60+ vendors, free fitness class demonstrations, and informational talks. Flu shots will also be available. No registration is required.

Location: Richardson Senior Center, 820 W. Arapaho Road, Richardson

Richardson Reads One Book Author Luncheon, Interview and Book Signing with Shelby Van Pelt

Enjoy a catered lunch as Richardson’s own Laurie Garvie interviews Shelby Van Pelt, author of the 2023 Richardson Reads One Book selection Remarkably Bright Creatures. Following the interview, Ms. Van Pelt will answer questions from luncheon attendees and be available to sign books. Tickets are $30 and include lunch and parking. They are now available at http://Bit.ly/RROBLunch23. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, September 13.

Location: University of Texas at Dallas Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson

Asian American Culture Festival

Dallas Chinese Community Center (DCCC) will host our annual Asian American Culture Festival in Richardson’s Chinatown. The Ikebana & Chinese painting exhibition will open the same day at 10:00 am inside DCCC. With all types of vendors, delicious food, cultural activities and performances, this free event always draws a big crowd of both culture and food lovers.

Location: Richardson’s Chinatown, 400 N Greenville Ave # 12, Richardson

October 7-8

Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

October 21

Saturday 7:00 pm

October 21-22

Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

October 27

Friday 11:30 am

November 2

Thursday 3:00 – 6:00 pm

Cottonwood Art Festival

The Cottonwood Art Festival returns to Richardson for its juried semi-annual art show. The festival includes live entertainment on the Courtyard and Acoustic Stage, a craft beer garden, food trucks, ArtStop stations with activities for kids of all ages, and more than 200 artist booths with artwork from around the world. For more information, visit http://cottonwoodartfestival.com.

Location: Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson

Network’s Food Pantry Fork-Off

This event features delicious samplings from local restaurants, dancing, live and silent auctions, apron contest, games and more—all to benefit Network’s programs for our neighbors in need. Honorary Co-Chairs are Glenn and Monica Scott. Cost is $100 per ticket. Tickets and Sponsorships available at https://thenetwork.org/fork-off/.

Location: Network, 1500 International Parkway, Ste 300, Richardson

Huffhines Harvest Fest & Pawtoberfest

Produced by the City of Richardson and held on the third weekend each October, this two-day festival, formerly known as the Huffhines Art Trails, celebrates local makers, food vendors, live music and family fun along the trails of Huffhines Park. Pawtoberfest will be held on Saturday.

Location: Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Road, Richardson

Altrusa's Outstanding Women of Today - Hearts for Service 2023 Luncheon & Awards Presentation

Altrusa International of Richardson invites you to their annual fundraising luncheon. This year's luncheon is to recognize women who have reached out to others in the community to make their lives better. Women who exemplify determination and leadership are to be commended for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of others. Tickets ($50/person) can be purchased online at http://altrusarichardson.com.

Location: Doubletree Hotel, 1981 N Central Expressway, Richardson

Richardson Chamber Annual Wellness Summit

This free public event is presented by Methodist Richardson Medical Center and hosted by West Coast University. Discover products and services from Chamber members and local businesses that promote good health, fitness, mobility and more. More information can be found at https://business.richardsonchamber.com/events.

Location: West Coast University, 2323 N. Central Expressway, Richardson