PRESERVATION DALLAS
For years, the nonprofit organization called Preservation Dallas has been a force in the virtual world. “We’re showing people that we have cooler, older neighborhoods,” says Catherine Horsey, executive director.
Preservation Dallas’ focus is to “advocate the preservation and revitalization of Dallas’ historic buildings, neighborhoods, and places in order to enhance the vitality of the city,” according to the group’s Web site – a mecca of Dallas information tailored to local people and those outside the Metroplex who are trying to find a place to live.
The site addresses the needs of both the 1,000-member group and non-Dallasites with specific Preservation news, newsletter archives, a calendar of events, and related websites. New members can sign up online.
According to Horsey, most of Preservation Dallas’ members live in Dallas suburbs, and not in the historical neighborhoods. “People tend to think our members live in town,” she says. “(Many of them) really like old houses but for one reason or another, they can’t live in an older neighborhood right now.”
If you think the city of Dallas is big in the physical world, just wait until you see its online presence. A quick experiment involving a search engine and the words “Dallas” and “business” immediately shows the far-reaching affects Big D has in cyberspace – and much of it is emanating from right next door.
Web hosts in our neighborhood invite you to visit a virtual hospital nursery with online babies…or join a paleontologist onsite daily to search for dino remains in Alaska…or how about patronizing some of our local merchants without even leaving your computer?
The following list highlights some useful reference sites, and some of our community’s most helpful, interesting, and entertaining Web wonders.
GENERAL REFERENCE
CITY OF DALLAS
Can’t get through on the busy Dallas City Hall phone lines? Get the answers you need in a hurry at www.ci.dallas.tx.us, Big D’s official city site. This easy-to-navigate site is loaded with departmental contacts, budget numbers, Dallas council agenda, frequently asked questions, and Census 2000 information.
DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT
The Dallas Central Appraisal District’s (DCAD) website is a homebase for the organization that assigns property values. DCAD’s site provides valuable tax and exemption information, and teaches users how to protest an appraisal. The site also answers questions about fair market value, home improvements, and more.
TEXAS SEXUAL OFFENDER DATABASE
www.openrecords.org/records/sexual_offenders/texas/
The Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Service has established an online presence to allow users to search for known sexual offenders. The site lists the zip codes with the highest concentration of sexual offenders, as well as the areas that hold halfway houses. Users can search for offenders by name, city/town, or zip code. The user will also be able to find the offender’s status, including whether or not the offender has been paroled or discharged.
DALLAS NE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
themetro.com/dncc
The Chamber says that their goal is “to help your business succeed by promoting community involvement and economic growth, while giving each Chamber member a place to feel welcome.” Their site has links to a number of their members’ websites via the online membership directory, and also links to other community organizations, community information sources, city government, schools, museums, recreational activities, television and radio stations, and sports teams. In addition, the site lists upcoming Chamber events, the benefits of Chamber membership and Chamber committees.
BOOKS/MUSEUMS
THE SCIENCE PLACE
Visitors get a listing of exhibits as well as show and event pricing. Online purchasing is available for tickets to the IMAX, Planetarium, or the Exhibit Hall. The site also features an experiment of the week for students and parents, as well as a detailed list of IMAX shows, special programs and exhibits.
THE ENCHANTED FOREST
Tons of children’s books have found a cozy home at Dallas’ The Enchanted Forest. The store’s website is a colorful conglomerate of book reviews, award winners and special events. The Enchanted Forest doesn’t have an online order feature, but does allow purchases to be made via phone and email for those who can’t find a spare minute to trek in to the Mockingbird store.
DALLAS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The Dallas Museum of Natural History, located in Fair Park, has been educating adults and children on the state’s natural wonders since 1936. “The website is an extension of our education and exhibit programs,” says Tim Gette, director of marketing and information technology.
The museum’s site features virtual tours of some exhibits, and has proved an ideal medium for collections that don’t lend themselves to public display, such as a rare book collection.
In addition to providing information about the museum programs, the site is a public display of real-time expeditions. According to Gette, scientists in the field have been equipped with laptops and digital cameras, and are posting notes and photographs online daily. This summer Dr. Tony Fiorillo, Collections and Research Curator of Paleontology, will be visiting Alaska in search of dinosaur remains, and will post his findings daily on the site.
During the traditional school year, www.dallasdino.com peaks with visitors, and Gette says the users come from all over, not just Dallas.
Since its inception in April 1998, the site has grown by leaps. In its first weeks, the site received 128 hits, but now, Gette says, the site has between 8,000 and 10,000 hits each month.
The site will continue to expand its virtual exhibits, as funds become available.
REALTORS
KAREN MEYERS, RE/MAX ASSOCIATES
M-STREETS
MISSY VANDERBILT, RE/MAX ASSOCIATES
RE/MAX ASSOCIATES OF DALLAS
ABIO & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE
ELEANOR URBAN
www.byrom.kucharski@coldwellbanker.com
EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS
ELLEN TERRY REALTORS
SCOTT CARLSON REAL ESTATE
HENRY S. MILLER
CAMPBELLMONGER.COM
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE
DAVID GRIFFIN & COMPANY REALTORS
SCHOOLS
DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
For parents, teachers, and students interested in what the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) is planning for the next five years, they need only visit www.dallas.isd.tenet.edu to learn about Vision 2003, a plan for DISD success. This meaty website is filled with DISD facts and figures, including district information and calendars, employment opportunities, and school information.
GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL
The Good Shepherd Episcopal site is filled with information about school admission, events and faculty. One page is devoted to details about extended-day programs, specifically Capers, a curriculum-enriched program that “serves the needs of working parents, as well as those parents who desire a full-day experience for their child.” The website also details the school’s academic programs, such as the sequential outdoor education program, and the Classroom of the Earth, a series of hikes and a nine-day camping excursion.
SCOFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
At www.scofield.org information about the Scofield Memorial Church immediately pops up, but under the “ministries” button is information about the Scofield Christian School, a primary school home to approximately 400 children. The school’s pages offer information on facilities, facility, admissions, and after school care. Pages can be downloaded, included a booklet of school information.
BISHOP LYNCH HIGH SCHOOL
Approximately 1,033 students in ninth through 12th grade attend Bishop Lynch, a school that embraces Christian values and is sponsored by the Diocese of Dallas. The school’s website outlines the academic curriculum tuition and fees, campus ministry, admissions, athletics and fine arts.
RICHLAND COLLEGE
Richland College is one of several campuses within the Dallas Community College District. The school’s site explains student programs, class schedule, calendar of events, campus information, continuing education, academic divisions, and registration. The site also features links to news sources, weather, local media, and more.
LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
The website for Lutheran High School (LHS) outlines academic expectations for each student, which includes reading a book each month, learning approximately 200 vocabulary words, and writing research essays. The site details the school’s admissions procedure, calendar of events, and LHS news.
RICHARDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Richardson Independent School District (RISD) caters to more than 34,000 students, which are divided among four high schools, nine junior high schools, one freshman center, one alternative learning center, and 40 elementary schools. The district’s site at www.richardson.k12.tx.us/ is packed with information about the student programs, schools, instructional resources, and publications. And for those new to the Richardson area, check out the Newcomer’s Center.
The site provides visitors with information about contacting specific RISD teachers, administrators, and district leaders, and also has a page devoted to testing, such as the 1999 TAAS scores and Advanced Placement test dates.
For visitors interested in budget figures, statistics about teachers, and general information about RISD students, the site shares these facts in detail.
HILLCREST ACADEMY
This site is a comprehensive outline of the private school’s admission standards, curriculum, history, and mission. Visitors can take a campus tour, and the steps for the application process are conveniently explained for each grade level. There’s also an online application.
ALSO SEE:
EASTLAKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
GLEN OAKS DAY SCHOOL
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
MEADOWVIEW SCHOOL
WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL
DALLAS ACADEMY
SMU CONTINUING EDUCATION
GIFTS/SHOPPING
LITTLE TASTE OF TEXAS
When neighborhood-headquartered store Little Taste of Texas faced the daunting task of hiring and retaining quality employees at its NorthPark Mall location, employee Louis Socha says the store owner decided to move from the bricks and mortar world into cyberspace. Little Taste of Texas carries most of the same products as before except for some magnets and knickknacks, but the decision to go online has made a significant impact for both consumer and owner, specially since all products can now be ordered without the need of a sales assistant.
“The Web has helped to keep costs down,” says Socha, who cited a $2 savings for customers on popular items such as t-shirts and a Texas-shaped cutting board.
Visitors to www.littletasteofTexas.com come from places as far away as Alaska. “A lot of times (visitors are) Texans who live out of state,” Socha says.
But every once in a while, someone just wants a piece of Lone Star lore. “A man in California ordered a stuffed armadillo,” Socha says. “He had no connections to Texas at all.”
The website also has a page devoted to Texas facts, and for anyone who wants to know what the state fruit and insect are, they need only log on.
HEALTH/INSURANCE/BANKING
DOCTORS HOSPITAL
www.tenethealth.com/doctorsdallas
The Doctor’s Hospital has a staff of more than 450 physicians in areas from cardiology and gastroenterology to neurology to otolaryngology. The site allows users to search for a physician simply by filling in certain criteria, such as doctor gender, specialty, language, and insurance company.
BAYLOR HOSPITAL
The Baylor Health Care System’s website gives users detailed information about exercise, nutrition, health-related topics, and health sources, but “Baylor Babies,” a virtual nursery, is the most interesting online department. Within the first two to four days of birth, each baby’s photo is posed online representing the facility where the infant was born. The website lets new parents and family and friends search for photos by hospital location.
TEXANS CREDIT UNION
If you’d rather do your banking from home, Texans Credit Union online makes it easy for you. The credit union’s website gives you access to your account through the Net, and gives new users a complete and thorough explanation of how Internet Virtual Banking works. The site also helps users plan for retirement, buy stocks and mutual funds, and answers questions on a FAQ page.
WASHINGTON MUTUAL
Washington Mutual’s website offers information on accounts, loans, services, and career opportunities, and users can also sign up for an online banking account. In addition, the site lets users search for specific ATMs, financial centers, and mortgage lending centers.
DWIGHT L. BATES, DPM, FOOT DOCTOR
Neighborhood podiatrist Dr. Bates has an office in the neighborhood, but information on various foot ailments can be reached by anyone who logs on. At www.dlbates.com, users can see diagrams, and also get information about heel pain, spurs, ingrown nails and neuroma.
ALSO:
GREG GREENBERG DDS ORTHODONTICS
LAKEWOOD ORTHODONTICS
BUCKNER ELDER CARE SERVICES
VICKERY TOWERS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
LAKEWOOD PEDIATRIC THERAPY
ABRAMS BANK
OTHER BUSINESS
A-ABC CHEM DRY
The home page for A-abc Chem Dry, an independently owned and operated carpet and upholstery cleaning company, sports an eye-catching graphic and an easy-to-follow interface. Information about the cleaning process and a detailed listing of products and services answers prospective customer’s questions.
RANDALL HALL CUSTOM REMODELING
For more than 20 years, Randall Hall Custom Remodeling has been serving neighborhood clients looking to remodel a home or business. According to the company’s website, Randall Hall’s specialities are design and build projects, remodeling, custom homes, and commercial construction. The site shows before and after home remodeling photographs, and lists completed projects.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAKE
Marci Winter, coordinator For the Love of the Lake (FTLOL), a grass-roots volunteer group dedicated to the preservation of White Rock Lake, says the agency’s website grew out of community demand. “People kept telling us it was time,” she says. “We send out a newsletter, but there are people who are Web-based, and they just prefer their information in that format.”
The site went live approximately one-and-a-half years ago, and Winter says the main users are people interested in finding out what events and projects are happening at White Rock Lake, such as the monthly Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce-Up or the White Rock Marathon. But she says visitors come to the site for environmental research or to see photos of the popular Dallas attraction.
FTLOL also uses cyberspace to praise the contributions of church groups, schools, and individuals.
In the future, Winter says the group plans to add more photos from local events. Additional possible plans include a bulletin board and posting the minutes from volunteer meetings.
ALSO SEE THESE BUSINESSES:
DECORATING DEN INTERIORS
MARTHA F. MCAFEE, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
POWER PROPERTIES
POST WINSTED APARTMENT HOMES
WONDERFUL LIVING
CLUBS
TENISON GOLF COURSE
www.golfersweb.com/golfdfw/tension.htm
Neighborhood golfers know all about Tenison Golf Course, but for those new to the area, the important information is accessed easily online. Users get specific golf course stats, such as green fees, grass type, and tee times.
ART AND ENTERTAINMENT
ADVOCATE AND HOME & HERITAGE MAGAZINES
Advocate Publishing’s comprehensive website provides much detail and information about Advocate and Home & Heritage magazines, which collectively reach more than 200,000 Highland Park, University Park, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow, White Rock and East Dallas residents. Readers and advertisers interested in demographics, advertising rates, circulation numbers, and general magazine facts need only log on to www.advocatemag.com. The site also features links to advertisers, an interactive neighborhood calendar listing upcoming events that allows website visitors to add events to the calendar on-line, and additional information about neighborhood news and events. The website also touts several hot new neighborhood-oriented websites each week.
PASTEL PAINTINGS BY NIKI GULLEY
Award-winning neighborhood artist Niki Gulley says the impetus for her website (www.nikigulley.com) was to give art collectors and patrons a chance to see her work without having to make a trip to a gallery. The site, which features original art and home portraits, has also helped solidify her credibility. “People take you a little more seriously as a business,” Gulley says. In addition, the online presence has helped bridge the communications gap between artist and buyer. “Some people get intimidated about meeting an artist in person – this makes things a little easier.”
The website highlights Gulley’s accomplishments, features new art each month, is linked to art galleries, and allows art connoisseurs the chance to correspond with her via email. “People come to a show just from hearing about you through email. (The site has) definitely more than paid for itself.”
ALSO SEE:
PLAZA OF THE AMERICA’S ICE GARDEN
CARTOONIST BRAD MCMILLAN
CHARITABLE SERVICES
MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
For children experiencing the pain and grief of divorce or loss. My Guardian Angel hopes to provide guidance and support. The website explains the volunteer organization’s mission, and also gives users information on making a monetary contribution to the cause.
SPECIALITIES
IRENE COREY DESIGN ASSOCIATES
In the specialized niche of soft sculpture character costumes, the designers at Irene Corey Design Associates (ICDA) needed a way to generate inquiries and to curb the laborious and expensive costs associated with mailing extensive portfolios to clients such as Paramount Pictures and Hewlett Packard. In early 1998, the company created its online presence, a sleek, colorful website that showcases some of its creative critters. According to Suzanne Lockridge, design associate, the site has helped generate business by linking the neighborhood company to corporations and creative agencies around the country. “Our business is such a small niche in the large world of costuming but we can be found with the right combination of words on the Internet,” she says.
The Internet has helped ICDA to reach corporations who are looking for a promotional character or a film studio looking for a character for a commercial or a children’s show. Lockridge is quick to point out that ICDA doesn’t create costumes for Halloween or parties – each elaborate costume costs between $4,000 and $7,000, and takes six weeks from design to delivery.
ICDA plans to beef up the website by adding pages to showcase new critters.
