community
The Child Abuse Prevention Center recently earned its second four-star rating in consecutive years from Charity Navigator. The award was given for the CAP Center’s ability to manage its finances. The center has consistently performed and operated in a financially responsible manner. Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in . The rating can be found at charitynavigator.com. The CAP Center has also launched a new updated website. Information about the CAP Center’s operations, events and volunteer opportunities can be found at excap.org.
Wellstone’s Dallas White Rock Marathon recently presented $150,000 to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children from the proceeds raised from the 2006 race. Wellstone Communities is the first ever title sponsor of the race. As the marathon’s primary beneficiary, Scottish Rite Hospital received the largest check in race history.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands recently donated $20,000 to the Dallas Park and Recreation Department toward improvements at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center park area. Ideas for additions include new hiking trails with lighting, pond enhancements, a donor wall and a new pavilion.
The Savvy Source for Parents recently released its summer camp guide to help parents find camps for their 3-year-olds through 8th graders in the Dallas area. More than 500 camps are listed, specializing in activities like sports, art, theater and science. The guide has information about costs, sessions, ages, etc. Parents can find it at savvysource.com.
A logo design competition with a $200 cash prize recently was announced by Earth Rhythms, a new nonprofit organization representing the volunteers and performers involved in Winter SolstiCelebration, an annual event under the direction of Lake Highlands resident Amy Martin. The group’s mission was expanded to preserving natural places, including the formation of a green cemetery for ecological burials. The logo contest will give the new group a visual focus. Deadline for submissions is June 30, with winners announced by the end of July. For a logo contest packet or more details on the contest, contact Valerie Grimes at 972.974.2094 or valerie62@verizon.net, or visit earthrhythms.org.
The Presby Presenters Toastmasters group meets every Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, 8200 Walnut Hill. The non-profit public speaking club was founded to help members overcome public speaking fears and develop and enhance their leadership skills. Newcomers are welcome. Meeting rooms and lunch plans change weekly; contact Lynda Waters at 214.288.7959 or LyndaWaters@texashealth.org for more information.
Lake Highlands Military Moms is a friendship and support group for mothers with children currently serving in the military. For information, contact Rhonda Russell, lhmama1@yahoo.com,
The Lake Highlands Forum, a neighborhood group that meets the third Thursday of each month, is open to all neighborhood residents. The one-hour meetings feature speakers of interest to Lake Highlands residents. Meetings are held at Luby’s Cafeteria on the Northwest corner of Central Expressway and Meadow Road. A full buffet breakfast is available; cost is $8.61 payable to Luby’s. There are no other charges to participate in the group. Contact Lynn Austin during business hours, 214.361.9996.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands is looking for members that are also members of local school councils in Lake Highlands in order to establish a club liaison with LH attendance zone public schools. For information contact Larry Lauck at llauck@americanlightingassoc.com.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands is compiling a list of names and military addresses of former Lake Highlands students serving in and in order to send supplies, phone cards and letters. Lake Highlands soldiers currently serving in are Michael Bryson, Patrick Freshwater, Isaac Haseley, Ian Hering, James Kelley, Robert Kelley, Spencer Kinder and Marcus Williams. For a current list of soldiers overseas in , and one on a submarine, visit lhexchangeclub.org and click on “Lake Highlands Military.”
business
Doctors Hospital recently gave a donation to The Barbara Franklin Cancer Foundation, Inc. Regina Franklin-Basye founded the foundation in honor of her mother, who died in May 2003 after a brief battle with multiple myeloma (bone cancer). It was founded so that other women who have lost their mothers can commemorate and celebrate their lives.
people
Lake Highlands resident Rick Hibbs recently was hired by WD Partners as regional director of the firm’s Dallas office. Hibbs has nearly 20 years of experience in the architecture industry. Before joining WD Partners, Hibbs was director of consulting at Advantage Environmental Solutions.
Six Lake Highlands teachers were recently honored by RISD Tomorrow, a non-profit foundation whose goal is education excellence for RISD students. Ten RISD teachers were selected as STARS teachers of the year. Carlla Holt of Wallace Elementary, Bryant Lewis of Stults Road Elementary, Alicia Mills of Forestridge Elementary, Keldrick Robinson of Lake Highlands Junior High, Judy Rowland of Aikin Elementary and Doug Valentine of Skyview Elementary were the Lake Highlands honorees.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands recently presented its Teacher of the Year Awards. Denise Janick, Amber LeBlond, Nicole C. Wilson, Bridgette Harris, Linda Ford and Maria Zsohar were the six teachers selected by their peers at their schools. Each teacher received a plaque and a cash award.
C.C. Young Retirement Community residents recently participated in the Art is Ageless exhibit for seniors 65 and older. Winners were: Hazel Cattlett for her watercolor, “Prickly Pear Cactus”; Jim Cook for a pettipoint needlepoint of his mother; Ralph Eilers for his photography entry, “Welcome Home”; Diana Pease for her fabric wall hanging, “She Walks in Beauty”; Kathy Terry for a metal jewelry piece entitled “Safari"; and Paul and Lorraine Landefeld, who received the Creative Spirit Partner Award.
schools
Richland College will receive $250,000 in federal funds for its Upward Bound programs. This program works with college-bound students who might not have been able to reach higher education otherwise. Upward Bound offers a variety of services from academic instruction to mentoring.
Lake Highlands Elementary is saying goodbye to assistant principal, Ana Garcia. They will welcome Brianna Foxx as the new assistant principal for the 2007-2008 school year. Foxx is in her seventh year with RISD and most recently served at Dover Elementary.
Lake Highlands High School Interact Club raised more than $1,300 for the wheelchair foundation. To raise awareness, student volunteers rode in wheelchairs through the hallways of the school. More than 100 students signed a banner to support the Interact Club’s efforts.
Lake Highlands Montessori Children’s House and School recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $1 million renovation that should be complete by the end of the year. The renovation will include the addition of another classroom to the existing three. Fundraising began in March and has already reached $100,000. Montessori Children’s House and School at 7335 Abrams was founded in 1970, and currently educates 76 children ages 3 to 6.
White Rock Elementary School students recently presented $11,000 to the principal of Socorro School in Juarez, Mexico. They raised funds to assist the school through their “Read For Need” program, in which students find sponsors to pay them for each book they read during the school year. The program began in 2005, and since then White Rock Elementary has raised a total of $36,000 to help provide electricity, a playground, bathrooms, uniforms, books and computers to the Socorro School.
students
Wlead Abubaker and Winnie Widjaja recently received the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (ACE) Awards from the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands. Both Lake Highlands High School graduates came to this country to increase their educational opportunities — Abubaker from Ethiopia and Widjaja from Singapore — and received the ACE award for their accomplishments in academic excellence.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands recently presented scholarships at their 27th annual scholarship award breakfast. Scholarships totaled $114,000 and were given to 42 Lake Highlands High School graduates. The Exchange Club Academic and Board of Director Scholarships were awarded to Moses Arinyakono, Sarah Barnett, Kevin Boos, Nicole Boutin, Alexis Collett, Rachel Courtney, Rachel Horres, Simcha McIntosh, Jenna Popp, Brett Taylor and Cole Wrightson. The Potts Family Working Students and Data Jo Potts Memorial scholarships were awarded to David Austin, Mariana Baeza, Trey Elmore, Sanada Fields, Stephanie Gaona, Brandon Gordan, Amanda Holick, Peter Patino, Julia Russler, Brian Wall and Kevin Watford. The Luck Foundation and David Tice awarded scholarships to Erica Brown, Helen Eshete, Epiphanie Eyocko, Luwam Ghidei, Luke Grieder, Amanda Holick, Emmanuel Miller, Lainey Moore, Sarah Morris, Yvonne Mwaniki, Jarrett Thompson and Forest Turner Jr. A scholarship in memory of Herb Walne and in honor of Frances Walne was presented to Grace Adams. The Jason Oglesby Memorial Scholarship was presented to Dominique Murphy. The Robbie Daniel Memorial Scholarship was presented to Preston Osborn. The Neal Smith Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Erica Brown. The Melinda Ann Lee Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Megan Ayiety-Adjin and Allison Kincaid. Special endowed scholarships were presented to Emmanuel Miller, Sarah Morris, Sofia Raisanen, Jarrett Thompson and Forest Turner Jr.
Moss Haven Elementary School student Emily White recently won the Dallas County Spelling Bee with the word “aerobicize” after advancing from the RISD bee. Emily also made it to the fifth round of the Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee, dropping out just before the final two-person spelldown.
Lake Highlands resident Jim Caldwell was selected by The Texas Brigades Wildlife Leadership Camps to participate in its program this summer. Caldwell was chosen based on academic records, interest in wildlife and natural resources and leadership abilities. In its 15th year, the Brigades’ mission is to empower high school students with necessary wildlife knowledge and skills.
Rachel Horres and Cole Wrightson were recently named as the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands’ Youths of the Year. Horres is the daughter of Stratton and Debbie Horres, and Wrightson is the son of Jack and Denelle Wrightson. Both Lake Highlands High School graduates received a plaque and a cash award.
volunteers
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the Senior Source is looking for volunteers age 55+ to volunteer with more than 230 non-profit agencies in Dallas and Collin counties. RSVP matches your skills, needs and desires with a volunteer job. Volunteers are generally needed for three hours, one to two days a week. 214.823.5700 or rsvpd@TheSeniorSource.org.
Mentoring Volunteers are needed to devote up to three hours a week to a Lake Highlands student through the Lake Highlands Exchange Club. lhexchangeclub.org.
Samaritan Care Hospice, a Medicare-certified hospice program, needs volunteers to provide one-on-one companionship to terminally ill patients. If you have one or two hours per week to give as a hospice volunteer, call 972.690.6632 to register for an upcoming class.
Meals on Wheels, a program run by The Visiting Nurse Association seeks volunteer drivers in our neighborhood. Drivers make weekday deliveries a few mornings a week or month, picking up meals at the Lakeview Christian Church, 9100 Diceman. 214.689.0639.
Charities Home Center is in need of volunteers to help operate the resale store and also seeks gently used donations for families in the community. Donations can be picked up. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Lake Ridge Shopping Center at Kingsley and Audelia, 214.342.8231.
Heart House Dallas, a free after-school program for low-income children, has a variety of volunteer opportunities for groups and individuals. Work as a mentor, homework tutor, coach, and office helper or in other available capacities. For information contact Jayna Wallach at 214.750.7637 or jwallach@hearthouse.org, or visit hearthouse.org.
