A production company made a donation to the Friends of Tietze Park Foundation because it filmed some Nerf commercials in the park. The group’s president, Lisa Marshall, declined to say how much the park received, but she said it will help pay for planned projects, such as installing pet waste bags at the park entrance, shade structures for the playground and a new flag pole.

Here is one of the spots:

The future of the Tietze Park pool is something to keep on our radars over the next few months.

The park board is considering a new aquatics plan that would add pools on the outskirts of the city but close some existing pools in the inner city. That plan could be unlikely to pass all on its own, however, because it has a $44 million price tag.

Lakewood resident Tonya Meier has been working hard to help struggling Dallas families.

Meier recently chaired the fourth annual Stewpot Alliance Soup’s On Luncheon.

Proceeds from the event benefit the programs and services offered by The Stewpot Alliance in downtown Dallas.  Annually, The Stewpot Alliance raises up to $250,000 for The Stewpot, serving Dallas’ homeless at at-risk people, via the Soup’s On! Luncheon.

The 2012 keynote speaker was best-selling author Jeannette Walls, (of whom I am a fan).

Walls wrote the autobiographical book “The Glass Castle”, an incredible and heartbreaking story about her childhood struggle with poverty, which parallels the plight of many a Stewpot client.

I’m just learning about a nonprofit in our neighborhood, Alley’s House. Evidently, it has been around since 1997, with headquarters on Junius.

Alley’s House helps teen mothers with counseling, tutoring, life skills, mentoring and job training. Part of its mission is to prevent drop outs and help teen mothers succeed in their education.

The nonprofit is holding an online art sale to raise funds. Local artists donated work, and each piece is for sale at $160. All of the proceeds go to helping the Alley’s House mission.

Alley’s House also will hold an art auction at Rising Art Gallery downtown, from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Tickets are $25.

You can also give money to Alley’s House, or buy and donate something that’s on its wish list.

The Dallas White Rock Marathon last week hosted the awards ceremony for the winning relay teams from December’s SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge, which took place at the White Rock Marathon. Winning teams’ prize money was donated to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in the winners’ names.

Sewell dominated the competition, winning for most number of finishing teams and also taking awards in four other categories. In all, they received $13,500 to be donated to the hospital.

BNSF’s Team Velocity won for the day’s fastest corporate relay team. The five members completed the 26.2 miles in 2 hours and 43 minutes (That’s a fast 6:14 minute mile average—not too shabby for a bunch of corporate guys).

“The Corporate Relay Challenge is a great example of how deeply entrenched corporations in Dallas are in promoting health and fitness at the local level,” said Phil Baker, chairman of the Dallas White Rock Marathon board of directors. “By participating, companies are not only involved in one of the largest spectator events in Dallas, but they also support our wonderful beneficiary, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.”

The relay challenge, which is now in its sixth year, consists of five-person relay teams that participate in the full marathon relay at the Dallas White Rock Marathon^.. In 2011, a record number of participating corporations registered more than 175 total teams.

Below, all the corporate team winners: (more…)

Bill Cochran of Lakewood created a Super Bowl commercial for Bridgestone called “Reply All,” and it ranked No. 3 on Time magazine’s list of best TV ads of 2011. Cochran is creative director and writer at The Richards Group and also a longtime cast member with Ad-Libs improvisational comedy troupe. Watch the commercial here.

Tracy Hamblen lives in an apartment building on Live Oak recently purchased by the nonprofit. If not for his little room, he says he would be lost.

Buy something from Soap Hope and help reduce poverty.

Mount Auburn Elementary celebrated its 90th anniversary Jan. 6. The school originally opened on Jan. 2, 1921, with 12 teachers and 375 students.

East Dallas resident Heather Paterson recently was awarded jazz performer of the year for 2011 by the Sammons Center for the Arts.

The Center has sponsored a successful monthly jazz series for more than 20 years; check out the spring 2012 schedule here.

Paterson is a member of the jazz quintet Straight Ahead. You can see them Saturdays at The Free Man Cajun Café at 2626 Commerce.

Paterson is a nurse practitioner by day and chair of the nurse peer review committee at Children’s Medical Center.

Mario Lopez, most recently of “Dancing with the Stars”  and “Extra” fame, visited the Boys & Girls Club of Greater East Dallas last month.

Lopez attended a Boys & Girls Club when he was growing up in San Diego, Calif. During his visit to our neighborhood, Lopez talked to the students about the importance of health and fitness.

A pal who teaches high school journalism in Plano told me her kids think corny songs like “Bust a Move” and other calorie-free pop culture from the ’90s is cool. So A.C. Slater must be cool.