The Lakewood Botanical Society is back to work at the intersection of Gaston and Richmond replanting flowers in the triangle after a car swerved through then crashed into a light pole at Minyard’s Food Store.
The triangle is one of the gardening club’s ongoing beautification projects. The accident occurred nearly a year after the first flowers were planted in March 1995.
Cars often clip the corners of the triangle, killing a few flowers, says Rosalie Griffin, the society’s co-beautification chair. But the recent accident did more damage than usual, she says.
“It’s been quite a chore to keep it planted, but we get a lot of compliments on it,” Griffin says. “It really does benefit Lakewood.”
Volunteers are needed to help with the flower planting. Call Griffin at 324-9045.
Neighborhood Resident Is Presiding Over Michael Irvin Trial
District Judge Manny Alvarez, a neighborhood resident, is expected to preside over the trial of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and two women on felony cocaine possession charges, which is secluded to begin June 2nd. Alvarez lives in the Hollywood/Santa Monica neighborhood with wife Betty. Their house was a stop on the “Much Ado About Hollywood” home tour last month.
Alvarez, 40, is a former prosecutor and defense attorney appointed to District Court 5 by Gov. George Bush when District Judge Pat McDowell retired.
Alvarez has been a fixture on television and in newspaper reports lately as a result of the high profile case. He can’t comment on case details, but says the experience is a great opportunity for him.
“I’m at times overwhelmed at the amount of publicity,” Alvarez says. “It’s really no different than cases I’ve handled as a prosecuting and defense attorney, except for the names and exposure.”
News & Notes:
NEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FORMING: May 21 at 7 p.m. will be the first meeting of the new Ridgewood Park Neighborhood Association at Dan D. Rogers Elementary, 5314 Abrams. The group, which is being founded by Susan Edgley, will mail out its first newsletter by mid-month to 400 homes. The association’s boundaries are the MKT railroad (the DART rail line) on the south, Lover on the north, Abrams on the west and Fisher on the east. Call Edgley at 326-7170 for information.
LAKEWOOD LIBRARY RECEIVES $8,000 DONATION: Lakewood Library Friends, a group that support our library branch (6121 Worth) with funds and volunteers, was a benefactor in the will of Dorothy Anderson; a former Lakewood branch manager who retired in 1977, Anderson donated $8,000 to the library, according to current branch manager Betty Brown. The money will be used for improvements to the library’s auditorium, such as painting, updating the lighting and installing new carpet, Brown says.
LAKE TRASH BASH: Adopt-A-Shoreline volunteer groups, For the Love of the Lake, and the City’s Park and Recreation Department host a Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce-up from 8:30-10:30 a.m. May 11 to clean-up trash at White Rock Lake. Registration is at 8 a.m. at the Bathhouse Cultural Center off Buckner at Northcliff. Wear old clothes, shoes that can get wet, and gloves. The Saturday spruce-ups are scheduled monthly. For information, call 622-SAVE (7283).
NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE: The Lakewood Wide Garage Sale, sponsored by the Lakewood Homeowners Association, is May 31-June 1 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Homeowners throughout Lakewood will sell their wares at their houses. There also will be a sale in the parking lot at Northridge Presbyterian Church, 6920 Bob-O-Link. Homeowners will donate at least 10 percent of their profits to the association for beautification projects. For information, call Susan Falvo at 720-1883.
HONORING A ROLE MODEL: Neighborhood resident Brenda Reyes, 35, will be one of four women honored May 21 at the Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” Awards Luncheon at noon at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons. Girls Inc. is a United Way affiliate that provides education and services to girl ages 6-18. Luncheon proceeds will fund programs to prevent teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, substance abuse and gang involvement. Reyes, the daughter of Honduras immigrants, will be recognized for overcoming personal obstacles to become a role model for girls. After three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Reyes went into banking and eventually opened her own company, the six-year-old consulting firm Innovative Computer Group Inc. Luncheon tickets cost $50. Call 654-4530 for reservations.
WHOLE FOODS TAKES FIELD TRIP TO LAKE: Whole Foods Market, 2218 Greenville, is taking customers on a field trip to White Rock Lake May 18 from 9 a.m.-noon to learn about wild herbs growing in Dallas. Participants should meet at the store for a brief introduction. The event is free. Call 824-1744 to reserve a space.
LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF PAROLING CRIMINALS: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Parole Division is sending members of its Community Education Program to organizations throughout our City to discuss how the parole process works, what the community can do to prevent recidivism, and how the division supervises offenders. Neighborhood groups interested in scheduling a speaker should call Dawn Dorman at 428-8338.
JAZZ CONCERT AT LAKEWOOD: The Dallas Jazz Orchestra is hosting the New Four Freshmen in concert at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams. One of the original Freshmen, Bob Flanigan, will emcee the evening; the Freshmen include Greg Stegeman, lead; Alan MacIntosh, second tenor; Keven Stout, baritone; and Bob Ferreira, bass. The group sings many of the original quartet’s songs, as well as newer songs. Tickets are $20 and available through Ticketmaster, 373-8000; information is available from the Dallas Jazz Orchestra hotline at 644-8833. Neighborhood residents Karen and Sam Blair are assisting with the event.
LAKEWOOD HOMEOWNERS MEET MAY 14: Lakewood Chamber of Commerce President Helen Swint speaks to the Lakewood Homeowners Association May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Country Club, Gaston and Abrams. Swint serves on the Urban Rehabilitation Standards Board, the Haskell Avenue Executive Committee, and the Multifamily Task Force. For information about the homeowners association, call Susan Falvo at 720-1883.
CITY MANAGER LUNCHES WITH CHAMBER: Dallas City Manager John Ware will speak about “The State of the City” at the East Dallas Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon May 28 at noon at the Doubletree Campbell Centre, 8250 N. Central at Caruth Haven. Tickets are $15. The reservation deadline is noon May 24. Call 321-6446.
GOLF CLASSIC BENEFITS CHAMBER: Registration for the 13th annual East Dallas Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic ends June 1. The tournament will be June 24 at the Oakridge Country Club, 2800 Diamond Oaks Drive in Garland. A Grand Am from Evans Pontica-GMC Truck is among the prizes. Call 321-6446 for information.
BANKER MICHAUX NASH IS BACK IN BUSINESS: Longtime neighborhood banker Michaux Nash Jr., 62, is preparing to open a new bank. This will be the second bank Nash has opened, the first being EastPark National Bank in May 1986, which Nash and other shareholders sold to Fidelity Bank in February 1995. Last November, Nash left his position as vice chairman at Fidelity. Nash has been in banking since 1956. He has not yet announced the new bank’s location.
DEEP ELLUM DIRECTOR RESIGNS: DeeAnna Mercer resigned last month as executive director of the Deep Ellum Association to take a position at Larry North Total Fitness Center, located at Mockingbird and Greenville. The association hopes to hire a new director this month, says President Barry Annino. Call 748-4332 for association information.
OUTREACH GROUP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Reconciliation Outreach, a multifaceted Christian ministry that serves neighborhood adults and children, needs sponsors for its summer kids camp June 3-July 25. The camp enrolls 20 low-income children, and each enrollment costs approximately $20 per week for seven weeks. The camp also needs van drivers for field trips.
The outreach center also needs help this summer with the expansion and renovation of its day-care facility. Volunteers will paint and help with construction.
The outreach center was founded by Dorothy Moore and is financed by several churches, individual donors and grants. The center’s main mission is its thrift store at 4309 Bryan, which provides clothes, furniture, toys and other items to needy families. The center also runs The Refuge Women’s Shelter. Call 821-9192 for information.
RAFFLE RAISES $6,000 FOR EQUEST: Equest – a non-profit group at 2902 Swiss that uses horse riding to rehabilitate children and adults with physical, mental, emotional and learning disabilities – recently received a donation of $6,000 from Sergeant’s Western World. Sergeant’s raffled a Silver Mesa custom show saddle to raise the money. For information about Equest, call 827-7100.
AUCTION TO BENEFIT LOCAL BOY SCOUT TROOPS: A May 11 spaghetti dinner and silent auction will benefit three neighborhood Boy Scout troops; 636, 36 and 535. The event is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. at White Rock Lake United Methodist Church, 1450 Oldgate. Tickets cost $5. Children age 5 and under are free. Boy Scouts are selling tickets around our community, or you can pay at the door. For information call parent volunteer Karen Smith at 327-5765.
MAKING THE GRADE: Several neighborhood residents attending East Texas State University in Commerce made the President’s Honor Roll and Deans’ List for the 1995 fall semester. On the honor roll are Shanna D. Moore, Stephen P. Brigman and Beverly D. Ridley. On the Deans’ List are Kimberly A. Cahill, Jennifer A. Faust, John D. Hoff, Jonathan Myers, Matt W. Poteet and Katherine E. Robertson.
COUNT DOWN TO GRADUATION: Lakewood resident Jason Matthew Carver graduates this month from the University of Texas at Dallas with an accounting degree. Carver is a member of UTD’s accounting honorary society and a graduate of Jesuit high school. He has worked full-time while in school and is currently employed at AMRESCO Downtown.
Neighborhood Volunteer To Carry Olympic Torch
Neighborhood volunteer Melinda Coward is participating in the Olympics – not as a competitor, but as a torch bearer.
Cowart is one of 22 area residents and 5,500 people nationwide who will be carrying the Olympic flame in the Olympic Torch Relay, which travels through 42 states and concludes in Atlanta July 19. The relay travels through Dallas May 20 with a noon celebration in the West End.
Torch bearers were selected for their community service. Cowart founded and runs Blue Dragon Explorer Post for refugee teens. The post performs service projects, such as installing smoke alarms in low-income apartments. More than two dozen Blue Dragon members have been sworn in as American citizens in ceremonies arranged by Cowart.
