Porter Honored by Altrusa Club
Neighborhood resident Judy Porter recently received the first “Heart of Altrusa” award presented in the Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas club’s 11-year history.
The award is presented to a club member who “has built up her fellow Altrusan through a kind word, a friendly deed or a heartfelt laugh…and brings us together in a spirit of cooperation,” according to club president Martha Hardwick Rentzel.
Altrusa is a combination of the words “altruism” and “USA”; the club was formed as a community service organization for women in 1917 and was modeled after the Rotary Club.
This year, the 50-member Downtown club focused its efforts on East Dallas neighborhoods, adopting Fannin Elementary School and raising funds to help build classroom walls at the school.
Porter arranged for the confirmation class at St. Bernard’s of Clairvaux Catholic Church, where she is director of religious education, to work service hours at Fannin. The group constructed 15 walls during a single workday.
Porter and her husband, Ted, have four children, including twin two-year-old boys,
For membership information, call Barbara Kennedy at 368-1800.
Fiesta: Sears Store is Coming Down
Fiesta is committed to building a grocery store on the site of the old Sears store on Ross Avenue, a spokesman for the supermarket chain says – regardless of attempts to save it.
“The Sears store is coming down,” says Paul White of Houston-based Fiesta. “There’s no question that is going to happen.”
The City’s Landmark Commission has said it is considering whether to ask for landmark status for the building. Landmark status could delay construction on the site for up to 90 days.
Fiesta announced in April that it would try to renovate the Sears building, and to use the renovated structure for a grocery store. The Art Moderne building is of some architectural significance because it was designed by noted Texas architect George Dahl.
But the company decided in May that it would not be feasible to turn the department store into a grocery store, citing safety and structural concerns.
“The bottom line is that there are simply no other options for keeping that building,” says White.
Library Hosts Annual Children’s Art Show
The Lakewood Library Friends and the Lakewood Branch Library are sponsoring their annual children’s art show in August.
Children up to age 12 are invited to submit a two-dimensional work of art Aug. 14 from 10 a.m.-noon and Aug. 16 from 3-6 p.m. Only one artwork per child will be accepted; all art received must be in ready-to-hang condition.
The art will be hung in the children’s section of the library, and a gallery opening is scheduled Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. Suzi Grissom and Lynn Armstrong are chairing the event. Call 670-1376 for information.
Lakewood Preschool PTA Announces New Officers
The Lakewood Preschool PTA recently announced new officers for 1993-’94, says outgoing president Cheri Flynn.
Among the new officers are Deb Crabb, president; MaryBeth Shapiro, vice president; Cheryl Metzger, treasurer; Cynthia Dunson, assistant treasurer; Nancy Geinger, secretary; Cheri Flynn, parliamentarian; Gay Ludwick and Trish Parrish, council delegates; Carol Fraser and Lauren Watkins, publicity; Chris Gresback and Suzy Cawthon, home tour; and Erica Hendricks and Louise Watkins, craft fair.
Also, Jill Zanetti and Holly Scott, café; Barbara Rader and Karla McKinley, social; Kathy Daume and Sherri Munn, membership; Deborah Thevenet and Cindy Manchester, sunshine; Amy Fullerton, Joan Wright, Phyllis Bevel and Monique Hector, child care; Diane Saunders, Kitty Ring and Violet Detherage, program/SOS; Corrine Donica, Julie Fryauf and Dinah Shadid, publications; Michele Secker, telephone; and Jenny Saxon, round-up.
Library Reading Club Continues Registration
Nearly 5,000 children have signed up for the Summer Reading Club at branches of the Dallas Public Library throughout the City, says library spokesman Gail Bialas.
This year’s theme is “Lions and Tigers and Books…Oh My!”. Registrants receive a free book bag from the Friends of the Dallas Public Library Inc. and become eligible for prizes including Dallas Children’s Theater tickets and gift certificates from Half Price Books, Bialas says.
Creative dramatics workshops, puppet and magic shows and sing-along musical concerts are planned throughout the summer.
Registration is free at any branch library. Call 670-1671 for information.
Cunningham Honored by Farmers Insurance
Neighborhood resident Bill Cunningham has been honored by Farmers Insurance Group of Companies for “outstanding overall performance” by becoming a member of the prestigious Presidents Council, according to Farmers’ marketing vice president Dale V. Hawk.
Approximately 85 out of more than 16,000 Farmers representatives received the honor, Hawk says.
Cunningham received an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii as part of the honor to meet with senior Farmers management, Hawk says.
Senior Center Opens in Chamber Building
Baylor University Medical Center recently opened its first senior health center in the former Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce building near Casa Linda Shopping Plaza.
The chamber recently moved to new quarters at Caruth Plaza, Park Lane and Central Expressway, and is leasing its former office space to Baylor.
The senior health center targets older adults’ health care needs, according to Shirley Shofner, R.N., who led the center’s development team.
The center is open weekdays and offers on-call evening and weekend emergency care, Shofner says.
Additional centers are planned at Preston Center and in Pleasant Grove, Shofner says.
News & Notes
EXERCISE CLASS: Exall Park Recreation Center, 1355 Adair, offers low impact aerobics, stretch and tone classes most weekdays. Call Alison Bonham (522-2558) or Kaye Grayson (670-7812) for information.
