We get a little worked up each December about the White Rock Marathon. Many love the tradition while others resent the day of street closures and cow bells.

Love it or hate it, the $1 million contribution made a few days ago to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is, in my book, indisputable evidence that this thing is worthwhile.

Last year, when the marathon brought in a mere half-mil (I jest), I wrote about my personal connection to the race and hospital. This year, neighborhood kid Garrett Woodbury was a patient champion and his parents ran the marathon in his honor.

Last year’s numbers were exciting, but this is mind blowing.

Phil Baker, DWRM chairman; Marcus Grunewald, DWRM race director; Bob Walker, TSRHC president and CEO

Last week the Dallas White Rock Marathon board of directors presented the $1 million check to the hospital, making the total amount donated by the race to the TSRH since 1997 $2.8 million.

“We are thrilled to fulfill our pledge of donating $1 million to Texas Scottish Rite, a hospital that does so much amazing work empowering young people in this community and beyond,” says Kevin Snyder, chairman of the DWRM board of directors. “As support for our race continues to grow, our goal is to continue supporting Texas Scottish Rite as our primary beneficiary with significant donations each year.”

Race director, Lake Highlands resident Marcus Grunewald credits the runners, sponsors and volunteers.

Phil Baker, DWRM chairman; Chuck Dannis, 2012 Victory Award recipient

“Our participants are truly supportive of this race and our beneficiary, and for that, we thank them,” says Grunewald. “As a runner, having the patients and families come out to support the event provides a huge source of motivation. They are the reason donations of this size are possible.”

“In addition to our runners, the record-breaking success of the 2011 event would not have been possible without the help of our board, sponsors and volunteers.”

Past DWRM chairman Phil Baker presided over the awards ceremony alongside Walker. In addition to awarding the $1 million donation, the marathon board presented the Victory Award for Excellence to East Dallas resident Chuck Dannis. Runner Ed Jackson received the Spirit Award.

Mark Bateman, (TSRHC), Marcus Grunewald, Phil Baker, Jerry Gilmore (TSRHC), Natalie Hudson, (TSRHC patient champion), Bob Walker, (TSRHC president and CEO) and Garret Woodbury

The Victory Award honors a member of the running community for demonstrating the value of physical fitness and having a positive effect on health and fitness through outstanding effort, determination, commitment and courage. Dannis served as DWRM chairman from 2005 through 2008 and is credited with many of the race’s innovations including the High School Relay Challenge. He now serves as chairman emeritus of the race.

If you’d like to get involved — run, sponsor or volunteer — in next year’s marathon, half marathon or relay, look for opportunities this summer. Registration opens June 1 and the race is expected to sell out.

Rain, rain: go away, because the White Rock Local Market is back this weekend and we prefer to do our shopping in the sun.

The WRLM begins its forth season in the parking lot near Green Spot on Buckner near White Rock Lake, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

You can seriously feel good about the food you buy at the White Rock Local Market, especially now that founders, Sarah Perry and Mary Norvell,  have implemented a new growers-only policy by which farmers may only bring what they’ve grown themselves or what they can accurately label from other farmers.

Also, look for new vendors Latte Da Dairy, Three Happy Cows, Citas Salsa, Corked in Texas, Hypnotic Donuts and Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters in the mix.

Saturday, March 10, is the WRLM “everything” market where both food and goods vendors are on hand. The market is held the second and fourth Saturdays of the month during spring and summer. The markets alternate between “everything” and food-only days.

While you’re there, register to enter the 2012 chili cook off, which will be held March 24 and judged by chefs Jeffery Hobbes (Sissy’s, Suze), Graham Dodds (Central 214) and Bryan Luscher (The Grape). We will bring you more details as they are available.

All of our stories about the White Rock Local Market.

Were you a Girl Scout? Yeah, me too, along with millions of women all over the country. Monday, March 12 marks a special day for us as the Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years. In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization’s first 18 members in Savannah Georgia.

The Girl Scout Birthday will be commemorated with special events throughout the month of March and beyond. Six Flags will host all former and current Girl Scouts and their families & friends with a party March 12, including a chance to participate in a flash mob and a performance by singer/songwriter Sara Hickman. An “International Women in Aviation” conference will be offered to girls 10-17 March 10th, and Girl Scouts will receive discounts at the Museum of Nature and Science March 10-12. Studio Movie Grill will welcome Girl Scouts wearing uniforms in for free on March 15, and Dallas Heritage Village will host “Girl Scouting Across the Ages – A Ticket Through Time” March 31. Events with the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Frisco Roughriders are also planned, and numerous “Days of Service” have been scheduled. The Girl Scouts will also host a centennial exhibit at the State Fair of Texas. You can see a complete list of events a view details here.

Former members are invited to visit the website and join the Alumnae Association, which will offer educational, service and mentoring opportunities. There’s no charge to register (though they’d be happy to receive your donation in support of programming for current Girl Scouts). You can also “like” them on Facebook and learn about their newest projects and badges, such as the Digital Movie Maker badge, the Web Designer badge and the Novelist badge.

The list of famous and high-achieving Girl Scouts is too long to list here, but every female Secretary of State was a member and 68% of U.S. Congresswomen were, too. Somewhere in Lakewood or East Dallas, perhaps selling cookies door-to-door right now, another such girl is dreaming big dreams. The Girl Scouts organization builds courage, character and confidence and is the largest pipeline for female leaders in the world. I’m proudly wearing my 100-year pin today.

Will Ferrell has been all over town today. We heard him on KTCK and saw him on WFAA, promoting his new movie, “Casa de mi Padre.” Just now, we received this picture from Julie Garcia at the Granada.

Ferrell even made it out to our neighborhood. That’s him at Sundown at the Granada with owner Mike Schoder and event and sales director Julia Garton.

I know this reference is a little outdated, but as long as Ricky Bobby is in Dallas, what I really want to know is, does he know about Mr. Ricky Bobby?

The Dr Pepper Snapple Group infamously killed Dublin Dr. Pepper in January, but Dublin Bottling Works is still churning out the sugar bubbles.

Velvet Taco on North Henderson has invited Dublin Bottling Works to showcase its sodas from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, March 8. The bottler will be offering tastes of its Tart-n-Sweet Lemonade, Dublin Cherry Limeade, Dublin Grape, Dublin Orange Creme and Triple XXX Root Beer. All are made with cane sugar.

Velvet Taco is asking customers to vote on which they like best, and the restaurant will order that flavor for its soda fountain.

Each year, United Commercial Realty (UCR) asks Dallas students to create art out of the retail images around them. It’s the annual Retail as Art photography contest, which awards scholarships to the top three entries. It aims to “capture the essence of Dallas retail while rewarding talented students.”

The contest is open to all Dallas ISD and local private school students. The deadline for entries is April 2, and the winners will be announced April 18 at Three Three Three First Avenue. Find entry forms here.

Last year’s top winner was Barrett Cole from Hillcrest High School in Preston Hollow for the wheel cover shot pictured at left.

Click for larger photo. Submitted by Society Bakery.

Society Bakery, home of the most sinful cupcakes and whoopee pies, now has a full-bakery food truck, designed by San Antonio-based Cruising Kitchens.

Society owners tell us this is Texas’ first mobile bakery food truck, complete with onsite oven.

Society Bakery has two standstill stores, one at 3426 Greenville and the other inside Medical City hospital, 7777 Forest.

Keep up with them on Twitter or Facebook for news about the whens and wheres of the shiny new truck of goodness.

So much for wondering about the quality of California wine. Or thinking that wine prices were going to increase this year.

Which says pretty much everything that needs to be said about the Maxwell Creek ($10, purchased, available at World Market), which is apparently a second label from St. Supery, a long-established and classy Napa producer. Wineries do second labels to sell cheaper versions of their better known wines without having to discount the latter. Second labels are usually made by the same winemaker at the same facility, though the grapes may not be of the same quality.

In this, second labels are usually a value, and the Maxwell Creek is a ridiculous value. It’s top-notch Napa wine; think of it as a much simpler version of something like St. Supery or Grgich sauvignon blanc, but with the same attention to detail and reflection of terroir. Look for California grassiness and some minerality on the finish, with a bit of citrus zest. This is a crisp and refreshing wine, yet surprisingly subtle. And, though it’s a little thin in the middle, it’s not thin enough to make a difference at this price — or at $15 or $18, for that matter.

Chill this and drink it on its own, or with almost any grilled seafood or chicken dish. Highly recommended — which is saying something, because the main reason I bought it, honestly, was that I didn’t think it could be any good and so could write something curmudgeonly about it.

The founder and president of Quesa-D-Ya’s Paul Oltman says a new location could open soon in the White Rock area.

Today Oltman confirmed, “We do have a Lake Highlands (area) franchise in the works … we are working to get (the franchisee) through funding and will be finalizing a location as soon as the lending is complete. His funding should be completed in the next month, and a location chosen soon after.”

Oltman says they are looking at both “Buckner-Garland Road and Northwest Highway-Easton intersections as viable areas to place the store.”

Quesa-D-Ya’s currently has stores on Greenville Ave and in Coppell.

Here’s an Advocate review of the place.

Stonewall Jackson Elementary School is jumping on the food truck trend, inviting the community to “roll up and chow down” for a fundraiser Saturday, March 31.

The school has invited 10 gourmet food trucks, a DJ and blues/folk musician Light Horse Harry.

Tickets are $5, and proceeds benefit the Stonewall learning gardens.