The annual neighborhood 4th of July parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, beginning at 8:30 a.m., says Pam Osborne, director of the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center, 9940 White Rock Trail.

The traditional parade, which is sponsored by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands, includes a variety of participants, Osborne says.

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“It’s a real, old-fashioned family parade. Traditionally, we’ve had everything from small infants in decorated carriages to grandparents in matching, decorated electric wheelchairs,” Osborne says. Floats also are welcome, she says.

Last year, about 1,000 neighborhood residents attended or participated in the parade, which is followed by popcorn, refreshments and games for kids, Osborne says. This year, free swimming at the Rec Center and skydivers also are planned. A number of RE/MAX Realtors, will provide games.

The parade assembly point is Garden Oaks Road adjacent to North Highlands Bible Church, near Lake Highlands High School. The event is free, and prizes will be distributed to winning parade entries.

Call 670-7793 for information.

Exchange Club Honors Four Students of the Month

Meridith Blessing, Preston Evans, Julie Halstead and Andy Lee recently were honored by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands as youths of the month, according to publicity director Bob Eckert.

The students were selected by school faculty and received a framed portrait, a certificate and a $100 savings bond as part of the honor.

Blessing has been a member of the Girls’ Service League and student councils for the past three years. She also participated in the STARS (students talking about the risk of smoking) program for fifth-grade classes.

Evans is a member of the varsity cross country and track teams, serving as captain of the cross country team his senior year. He also has participated on the Academic Decathlon team, winning first place in State speech competition. He plans to attend Rice University this fall.

Halstead has been active with the choir, student council, drill team and theater club. She also is a member of the Red Line high kick group, winning several awards for both team and individual performances.

Lee was a tight end for the football team, and was selected to attend Boys State in Austin last summer. He also was a member of the power lifting and Academic Decathlon teams, and he was a staff writer of the PUB, a senior satirical magazine.

The Exchange Club is a neighborhood civic association focusing on community service. The group is open to the public and meets most Fridays at Galveston Island Restaurant, Skillman and Royal, at 7 a.m.

Call Eckert at 340-0030 for information.

Shakespeare Festival Volunteers Needed for June, July Shows

The Shakespeare Guild needs individual volunteers and businesses, clubs or organizations to assist with summer productions of Shakespeare plays, according to Carol Winkelmann.

About 25 volunteers are needed for each of the 30 performance nights to assist with gate/admission, parking, seating, security and souvenir sales.

Productions include “The Merry Wives of Windsor” June 15-20 & 22-27; and “King Richard III” July 6-11, 13-18 & 20-25. The shows are staged at Samuell-Grand Park on Garland Road.

Call 828-4188 for information.

Swiss Avenue District, Preservation League Combine for Cookbook

In anticipation of the Swiss Avenue Historic District’s upcoming Dec. 3-5 Holiday Home Tour, the district and the Historic Preservation League are teaming up to produce a cookbook, according to Suzanne Palmlund, chairman of the event.

The “Holiday Traditions” cookbook will feature color photos, recipes compiled by district residents, and entertaining ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s events. It is expected to sell for $14.95.

For information and to order a cookbook, call 220-9627.

YWCA Opens Thrift Shop

The Metropolitan YWCA, 4621 Ross, recently opened “Y’s Buys,” a thrift shop featuring clothing and accessories for women, men and children.

The shop is staffed primarily by volunteers, with proceeds benefiting the YWCA’s Career and Job Development Programs, which help men and women entering or re-entering the work force.

“Many of these men and women have no professional wardrobe and cannot afford to buy a business suit or outfit,” says Sharon King, senior executive officer for the YWCA Women’s Resource Center.

“Now, we send these new job seekers, who have completed a portion of the program, downstairs to the thrift shop with a clothes voucher and Sandra (Morat, shop manager) or a volunteer helps them pick out an appropriate outfit for interviewing.”

To volunteer or donate clothing, call 827-0881. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

LH Student David Bunch Attends Leaders Conference

Neighborhood resident David Bunch recently attended the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Bunch was one of 350 high school students through the country selected to attend the conference.

As part of the program, the group attended Congressional functions, met journalists at a National Press Club breakfast, attended the swearing-in of Attorney General Janet Reno and met Texas senators Phil Gramm and Bob Krueger and U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson.

Bunch is vice president of the Junior Class and will be treasurer of the Senior Class next year. He has attended both State and national student council camps and workshops.

News & Notes

REAL ESTATE NEWS: RE/MAX Associates of Dallas’ Lake Highlands office recently was ranked number 25 in the United States as part of a survey by the magazine “National Relocation & Real Estate,” according to Barbara Reeves, broker/owner of the office, which is located 9090 Skillman. The survey identified the “Top 25 Average Number of Transactions Per Sales Agent,” indicating that the office’s 35 agents averaged 23 transactions each in 1992.

LH REUNION: The Lake Highlands High School Class of 1968 is planning its 25th reunion events July 30-Aug. 1, according to Teresa Goforth. Events include a mixer July 30, a party at Rowdy’s Roadhouse July 31 and a family picnic Aug. 1. Call 341-8774 for information.

CLEMENTS HONORED: Clements, Realtors is among several City businesses named Employers of the Year by the City’s Senior Affairs Commission. The awards are presented to employers selected by Senior Employment Effort Dallas “for having made significant efforts to provide and promote equal employment opportunities for older workers.” Mayor Steve Bartlett presented the award at a ceremony last month. Clements was honored for creating the first Senior Services Division in a local real estate company.

KEYING ON TALENT: Eight students of neighborhood piano instructor Carolyn Palmer have registered as candidates for membership in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, playing in the National Piano Playing Auditions held locally. The local entrants included Dillon Hutchens, Bethany Human, Matthew Lipman, J.P. Nelson, Candace Roberts, Jessica Ryan, Alexandra Schorn and Melinda Urbina.

STROLLING FOR DOLLARS: The Summer Stroll for Epilepsy, sponsored by the Dallas Epilepsy Association, is scheduled from 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland. Individuals, companies, clubs and businesses are encouraged to form teams for the five-mile walk to raise funds for the association. For information, call 634-8421.

WATERCOLOR EXHIBIT: The Western Federation of Watercolor Societies hosts its annual juried exhibit at D-Art, 2917 Swiss, through June 29. Exhibit hours are weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from noon-4 p.m. Neighborhood resident Joseph Melancon has been selected to receive first prize and $1,200 for his work. For information call 363-6311, ext. 274.

NEW OFFICERS: The Dallas Federation of Women’s Club and the General Federation (National) recently selected officers for the upcoming year, according to Sadie Lee Byrn. New officers include Dorothy Kloczak, president; Amelia Ward, first vice president; Ruth Oats, second vice president; Jan Abbott, third vice president; Marjorie Sullivan, recording secretary; and Frieda Wilhelm, corresponding secretary.

GROUP HONORED: The Reading Angels from the Lake Highlands United Methodist Church recently received the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award for Education. The group was honored for its dedication to youth, including tutoring, reading and volunteering projects.