The annual Lakewood Early Childhood PTA home tour and craft fair has been scheduled the weekend of Nov. 5.
Five Lakewood homes comprise the tour, which benefits Lakewood Elementary. Last year, the tour earned $35,000 for the school, allowing the purchase of a computer system and playground equipment.
PTA member Donna Gainey predicts a turnout of about 3,500 people this year.
Participants can tour homes from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 6. PTA members will be at every home to guide visitors.
Participating homes are 6758 Lakewood, 7038 Lakewood, 6934 Tokalon, 7030 Tokalon and 7206 Tokalon.
Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 the day of the event. They can be purchased at Minyard’s, Lakewood Elementary, or at tour homes during the event. Call 320-4888 for information.
Swiss Avenue Trick or Treating is a Halloween Tradition
Each October, Becky Mathis buys about $400 worth of candy from a local wholesale store for the many trick-or-treaters who flock to Swiss Avenue on Halloween night.
Mathis says she serves as a sort of middle-person: she buys a carload of candy and then sells it to her neighbors. And they need it. Mathis estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 parents and children turn out to trick or treat on Swiss Avenue between dusk and 10 p.m.
“You can’t imagine how packed it is – absolutely bumper-to-bumper,” she says.
Residents such as Mathis see Halloween as a chance to give something to low-income children in the neighborhood.
“You see a lot of kids who haven’t been as lucky as our kids have been,” she says. “That’s part of the benefit of living in the inner city – you and your kids get to see a wide slice of life. Everyone in the neighborhood really loves it.”
The trick-or-treating on Swiss Avenue has been an unofficial tradition since the 1970s. Residents stock up on candy early and are known to dress-up and decorate their yards for Halloween night.
“All of us usually have corn and hay in the front lawn,” Mathis says. “Some people play spooky music. One man [used to] dress up and lie in a coffin. The kids loved it.”
“About 90 percent of our residents participate each year,” says Jean Naczi, the president of the Swiss Avenue Historic District Association. “That’s more than 80 households. And we have literally thousands of kids and parents that come through the neighborhood.”
News & Notes
THE DIRECTOR: Neighborhood resident Judith Porter was appointed the Texas Regional Director for the Society of St. Andrew. The non-profit, Christian organization salvages excess food to feed the hungry. Call 922-9206 for information.
SPAGHETTI DINNER: Boy Scout Troop 64’s 28th annual Spaghetti Dinner is scheduled Oct. 17 from 6-8 p.m. at Northridge Presbyterian Church, 6920 Bob-O-Link. Scouts will be selling tickets in the neighborhood, or you can call 821-4304 for information.
FIRE STATION RENOVATION: An open house of the old fire station at Lakewood United Methodist Church is scheduled Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. The church, located at Abrams and Palo Pinto, has completed Phase 1 of the station’s renovation. The building will house some of the church’s outreach activities. For information, call 823-9623.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED: The Visiting Nurse Association is expanding its Eldercare program into our area. Volunteers are needed to donate three to four hours a week to help elderly neighborhood residents. Call 689-0668 for information.
WINNING ARTISTS: Neighborhood residents Katie Weber and Michael Warner won second and first place respectively in the 6- to 8-year-old category of the Dallas Department of Recreation’s Summer Sights! art contest. The students received tickets and passes to local attractions and museums for their victory.
SCHOOLWORK FOR GROWN-UPS: The East Dallas Chamber is looking for volunteers to donate 45 minutes weekly to work with children at Gaston Middle School. Volunteer times are flexible. Call 321-6446.
DOWN-STAIRS & UP-TEMPO: Stephen Kirkham and Bill Mallonee will perform at the Downstairs Café Oct. 20. The Café is smoke- and alcohol-free and is located in the basement of Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams. For information, call 824-4531.
NEW HOSPITAL, FREE CLINIC: Doctors Hospital of Dallas has finished its $40 million expansion project that began last year. The expansion includes a new West Tower medical office building and an inpatient pharmacy. The hospital also opened a free Saturday Morning Injury Evaluation Clinic for children under 18. Call 324-6000 for information.
SHEPHERD CENTER BENEFIT: The Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center holds its second annual Bingo/Silent Auction Fund-raiser Oct. 13 at 6:45 p.m. at Lakewood Country Club. A buffet will be available at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Auction items have been donated by local merchants. Call 823-2583.
CRAFT CLASSES: The Craft Program at Old City Park offers a wide variety of classes, ranging from basket making to cooking to spinning. Most materials are provided. Old City Park is located at 1717 Gano. For information, call 421-7116.
NEW REALTOR: Neighborhood resident Stephen Edward Gore recently joined Henry S. Miller Realtors and is specializing in neighborhood real estate.
CLINIC MOVES: Free immunizations for children are available the first and third Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Ross Avenue Baptist Church, 5201 Ross. The clinic, previously known as the Haskell Avenue Child Immunization Clinic, was renamed after the late Margaret Koons, a neighborhood volunteer, and relocated recently to the Ross Avenue church. Call 824-3671 for information.
GRAFFITI CLEAN-UP: Americorps and the Dallas Police Department are looking for volunteers to help with the Graffiti Abatement Program. Call 670-4420 for information.
Calendar:
Oct. 1 – A picnic, dance and drum circle is scheduled from 5 p.m. to sunset at the stone amphitheater near the Bath House Culture Center. For information: 813-8484.
Oct. 2 – Organist John Balka performs at 8 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center at 2301 Flora downtown. For information: 670-3600.
Oct. 3 – White Rock Newcomers’ Club meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, LBJ and Jupiter. For reservations: 826-9474 or 495-2397.
Oct. 8 – A full moon celebration and open drum jam is scheduled from 8 p.m.-midnight near the Big Thicket on the east side of White Rock Lake. For information: 813-8484.
Through Oct. 8 – Dallas Children’s Theater presents “Winnie the Pooh” at the El Centro College Theater, Main and Market. Call 978-0110.
Oct. 14 – The PIECES dance troupe performs at the Texas State Fair at Fair Park at 3 p.m. in the Showplace Theater. Call 601-9832.
Through Oct. 14 – Undermain Theater at 3200 Main presents “Sarajevo.” Call 747-5515.
Oct. 10 – The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce meets at the Lakewood Country Club, 6430 Gaston. State Rep. Harriett Ehrhardt is speaking. For reservations: 827-8921.
Oct. 12-19 – The Kitchen Dog Theater performs “Oedipus Texas” at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary Theater, 3120 McKinney. Call 520-ARTS.
Through Nov. 17 – The Dallas Visual Art Center, 2917 Swiss, hosts “Texas Collects: Selections from the Barrett Collection.” Call 821-2522.
Through Jan. 1 – The Science Place at Fair Park hosts “Star Trek: Federation Science,” an exhibit about the popular TV series. Call 428-5555.
