Community
The fourth annual Run the Highlands 5k and 1-mile Family Walk will be Saturday, April 26, 7-9:45 a.m. Funds raised by this Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League event will benefit the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center’s Pond Restoration Project. Registration fees are $15 before April 12, $20 after April 12, $25 the day of race, $10 for children 3-12, and $50 for family packages. Registration will begin mid-March, at lhjwl.org and runontexas.com. Brochures will be available at neighborhood businesses. The race will begin and end near Lake Highlands High School with a community carnival following at the Lake Highlands North Park. For information, call Julie Johnson at 214.415.9701.
Abrams Royal Animal Clinic Inc. is celebrating its 30th year in the neighborhood by giving away anniversary koozies. As part of the event, founder, Jim Murray has arranged to have the koozies given to anyone who comes to the clinic and says “happy anniversary.” For information, visit abramsroyalanimalclinic.com.
Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas is offering a week-long summer singing camp for students entering fourth- through eighth-grade. No audition is necessary to attend the camp. Two sessions are offered, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Thank to a grant from the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, students enrolled in Dallas ISD schools can attend for free; otherwise, the camp costs $125. Registration forms are available at thechildrenschorus.org. For information, call 214.965.0491.
Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake recently received three United Premium Specialty Center designations for 2007-2009. The designations mean the hospital has met rigorous quality criteria based on nationally recognized medical standards and expert advice. Doctors Hospital received designations in cardio vascular surgery, the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax, or chest; electrophysiology, the cardiology specialty that diagnoses and treats heart arrhythmias; and interventional cardiology, the branch of the medical specialty of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter-based treatment of structural heart diseases. For information, call 214.324.6100 or visit doctorshospitaldallas.com.
Texas for the Physically Impaired, an organization founded by Lake Highlands resident Robert Langford, is seeking donations of used computers and computer parts, which will be refurbished and then shipped free of charge to visually impaired people. According to the organization, 2,300 computers have been donated to the visually impaired in the last 5 years, including 450 last year alone. For information, visit handicapability.org or call 214.282.2581.
Casa de Vida, a respite care program for caregivers of early onset Alzheimer’s and any other forms of dementia, is offered weekly on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at NorthPark Presbyterian Church, 9555 N. Central Expressway. It is strictly a social program, with no medications or health care administered. Activities include morning snacks, exercise, bingo, crafts and music. A $10 fee covers the entire morning; application required. Call Ann Anderson at 972.783.8780 or Nick Harper at 214.349.6584 to apply or for further information.
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 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 Exchange Club of Lake Highlands is looking for members who 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 overseas are Matt Booth, Guy Cahill, Austin Edwards, Patrick Freshwater, Sara Goodin, Isaac Haseley, Robert Casey Kelley, Russell Kelley, Jeff Kramb, Charles Miles Malisku, Josh McLean, James Rackler III, Marcos Serna and Jim Turner. For a current list of soldiers overseas in , and one on a submarine, visit lhexchangeclub.org and click on “Lake Highlands Military.”
People
Police Officer Dennis Spears and Firefighter Andre Copling recently were awarded the quarterly police officer and firefighter awards from the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands. Spears has been a member of the Dallas Police Department for almost 23 years, all of it served at the Northeast Substation in our neighborhood. He has received 80 commendations, including the marksmanship award, and has been commended 16 times for successfully catching criminals. Copling serves as a fire rescue officer and paramedic for Station 57. He has served at the station for 10 years and is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School.
The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands recently inducted new members Doug Rabe, Steve Harris, David Hardt, Robert Nelson, Lynn Jensen, Bennett Morgan, James Whitsitt, Hunt Fugate, Tony Cummins, Claudia Villarreal, David Brown and Max Sanders The club donates scholarship money to Lake Highlands High School graduating seniors, offers financial assistance to residents in need, donates funds for area improvements and projects, and annually sponsors a Fourth of July parade and Halloween Carnival at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center. The Exchange Club is openly recruiting and inviting members of the community who wish to join and contribute. For information, visit lhexchangeclub.org.
Students
Cynthia Adrea Dees and Chase Inman recently were presented with the Character Counts Award by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands. Both were selected by the staff of Lake Highlands High School for their exceptional character traits. Dees is a member of the Association for the Improvement of Minority Students, yearbook staff, VOICES, Student Advisory Council, and Advancement Via Individual Determination. Upon graduation, Dees would like to attend college and study communications. She is the daughter of Adam and Cupria Dees. Inman is in the National Honor Society, Latin Club, Student Council, Student Advisory Council, Varsity Football Team and Young Republicans. He hopes to play college football while getting his degree in secondary education and coaching. Inman is the son of Barney and Susan Inman.
Caroline Horres and Degian Gherbermical recently were presented with the December Youth of the Month Award by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands. Horres is a senior honor student and a member of the National Honor Society, Girls’ Service League and Wildcat Wranglers country western dance team. She plans to attend the College of Charleston, NYU or Baylor for pre-med. Horres is the daughter of Debbie and Stratton Horres. Gherbermical is a senior honor student and member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Excel Club, and cross-country and track teams. He plans to become an anesthesiologist or surgeon specializing in reconstructive or brain surgery. Gherbermical is the son of Abraham Gherbermical and Almaz Teckle.
Molly York and Wes Romanowski recently were presented with the January Youth of the Month Award by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands. York is a senior honor student and a member of the National Honor Society, Girls’ Service League, Mu Alpha Theta, TATU, International Thespian Society, Young Life, Lake Cinematique, Peer Mediators, choir and theater, and is captain of the Wildcat Wranglers country western dance team. She plans to attend Baylor or Texas A&M University where she would like to pursue a career in entertainment and youth ministry. York is the daughter of John and Beverly York. Romanowski is a senior honor student and member of Mu Alpha Theta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, Young Life and Young Republicans, and plays on the football and basketball teams. Excel Club, and cross-country and track teams. He plans to attend Texas A&M where he will study business. Romanowski is the son of Toni Romanowski.
Glass Doctor of North Texas and Herb’s Paint & Body Shops are teaming up to fund classroom materials for a third grade literacy center at Northlake Elementary School in Richardson ISD through a project called DonorsChoose.org. Lake Highlands residents Larry Patterson of Glass Doctor and Alan Walne of Herb’s Paint & Body are behind the program.
Schools
Lake Highlands Junior High has been named Richardson ISD’s fourth National AVID Demonstration Site, the highest honor an AVID campus can earn. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, began in California as a campus-based philosophy to close the gap for students who traditionally face barriers to academic achievement. It provides academic and life-skill support for students in grades 5-12, focusing on college eligibility and success. Richardson West Junior High, Lake Highlands Freshman Center and Lake Highlands High School also are National AVID Demonstration Sites, but Lake Highlands Junior High is the only campus in Texas to receive a three-year AVID validation, placing it among the top three AVID campuses in the United States.
Richardson ISD has set up an anonymous message line called “Report It” that helps students alert administrators to any information that makes them feel unsafe. The “Report It” line can be reached at 469.593.0411.
300 free minutes of on-demand tutoring is being offered to all RISD students, grades 7-12. The tutoring, which focuses on math, science, social studies, and English, will be offered between 1 p.m. and midnight, seven days a week. Instructions on setting up a Tutor.com account in order to access the free service should arrive in the mail of each student’s home.
Volunteers
Meals on Wheels, a program run by The Visiting Nurses Association, seeks volunteer drivers in our neighborhood. Drivers make weekday deliveries a few mornings a week or month, picking up meals at White Rock Methodist Church, 1450 Oldgate Lane. 214.689.0639.
Assistance League of Dallas has structured and established volunteer programs already in place at Children’s Hospital, Children’s Advocacy Center and Operation School Bell, its newest program. The league was chartered in 1969 and is a member of National Assistance League. New members are welcome. For information call 972.437.1239 or visit assistanceleagueofdallas.org.
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.
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 Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10677 E. Northwest Highway, Suite 240, 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.
