Stonewall Jackson Theatre Group Plans May Performance

The Stonewall Jackson Elementary School Junior Players Guild has scheduled a performance of “Shirley Holmes and the FBI” May 18 at Samuel Farms.

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The nine-member troup is affiliated with the Sammons Center for the Arts and Ridgewood Recreation Center. The Guild was founded in 1955 as an outgrowth of Brownie troop dramatics. The Guild is Dallas’ oldest children’s theatre organization and provides a variety of theatrical experiences to children of all races, ethnicity or financial resources, according to Nancy Cunningham.

Students participating include Lauren Alexander, Heather Black, Alexander and Emily Cunningham, Jaci Goodman, Amanda Harris, Bina Palnitkar, Kali Schulz and Emily Stone. The Guild is sponsored by TACA, J.C. Penney, the Dallas Cultural Affairs office, and the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department.

The Guild sponsors free summer “Discover” programs at 10 Dallas recreation centers. The programming is geared for children ages 7 to 14, and is offered for two weeks. Advance registration is necessary. Contact Nancy at 823-9366 for more information.

Casa Linda Neighbors, Local Lions Club Band Together for Park

Since its formation in 1984, Casa Linda Estates Neighborhood Association (affectionately known as CLENA) has worked to build a new playground in Casa Linda Park. The seven-acre park site at Alta Mira and San Saba was donated to the City of Dallas by developer Carl Brown in 1937.

About $2,300 had been raised for the $20,000 project when the Skyline-White Rock Lions Club heard about the effort, says club president Robert Morris. Robert knew Lions throughout Texas had built playgrounds in various cities, but none had been built in Dallas.

“We decided to issue our neighbors in Casa Linda Estates a $10,000 challenge,” Robert says. “If they would raise half the money, we could match it.”

To meet the challenge, Casa Linda residents have been soliciting support from neighborhood professionals and businesses. CLENA plans a door-to-door neighborhood drive from April 27 to May 5.

In anticipation of reaching the goal, CLENA president John Cochran is planning a ParkFest May 5 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., with Northeast Deputy Police Chief John Chappelle invited as a special guest.

“Every $10 received turns to $20,” John says. Donations are tax deductible if made payable to Dallas Park Foundation for Casa Linda Park, c/o CLENA ParkFest, P.O. Box 180817, Dallas 75218.

The Skyline-White Rock Lions club meets Tuesdays, and membership is open to those 18 and older. For more information, call Jerry Wolfe at 321-2613.

Lakewood Library Friends Schedule May 23 Reading

The author of “The Train to Estelline” and “A Place Called Sweet Shrub” will be the featured speaker Thursday, May 23, at the first in a series of Lakewood Library summer programs sponsored by the Lakewood Library Friends.

Jane Roberts Wood will read from her books beginning at 10 a.m. in the library’s auditorium, providing a glimpse of early 20th century life through the eyes of her characters. A light brunch follows the reading.

Jane teaches creative writing and honors English at Brookhaven College and has published numerous short stories, as well as the novels.

Reservations should be sent to Mary Taylor, Lakewood Library Friends, 6730 Avalon, Dallas 75214, or can be made at the library. Admission is $6; checks should be made payable to Lakewood Library Friends.

Juanita Anderson Honored as Outgoing Stonewall Jackson Principal

When she was growing up, Juanita Anderson’s mother advised her “to get all of the education that you can, and be good.”

On May 29, friends and extended family from Stonewall Jackson Elementary School will honor Juanita’s 32-year commitment to her mother’s words.

Juanita Anderson Day will cap a month-long celebration at Jackson honoring Juanita, who is retiring as principal after 14 years.

Juanita is credited with helping “mainstream” Jackson’s hearing-impaired students into regular classrooms in 1978, which led to teaching sign language to all students.

In 1982, Juanita was honored with the Premier Principal Award by the Texas Congress of P.T.A. In 1989, she received the Positive Parents of Dallas Apple of the Month Award for Outstanding DISD Principal, which is awarded to one district principal each year.

“I love children,” she says. “I believe children must feel accepted and feel good about themselves before they can learn.”

“One of the most important lessons to learn is to get along with others and to treat others as equal human beings. I think all of us teach children by our example.”

The Juanita L. Anderson Endowment for the Literary Arts has been established to help purchase library materials. Donations can be sent to Stonewall Jackson P.T.A.; for information, call 841-5160.

Lakewood Chamber Announces Shop Openings

According to Eloise Sherman of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, the following businesses have opened recently:

Café Donuts, 6333 E. Mockingbird Lane at Abrams, is owned by Kyong Bredimus. The café serves donuts, breakfast rolls, beignets, soft drinks and coffee (even chicory coffee). The café is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lakewood Sports Cards, 6326 LaVista, is owned by Charles Clifford. Located near the Lakewood Theatre, the store buys, sells and appraises baseball, football, basketball and hockey sports trading cards. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

The Summer’s Supermarket, 1931 Skillman, is owned by brothers Inqaz and Khairy Aljaser. The grocery store stocks typical supermarket items, as well as beer and wine, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., until 10 p.m. Saturday and until 8 p.m. Sunday.

YWCA Schedules Summer Activities for Students

The Central YWCA is planning activities for children ages 6 to 10 this summer, including classes in swimming, dance, dramatics, cooking, arts, crafts, gymnastics, and other sports. Special field trips and events are planned throughout the summer.

The YWCA also is scheduling a Teen Leadership Summer Camp, designed for children ages 11 to 15, including field trips, leadership development, speakers and recreational activities. Cost is $55 per week, with daily events scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program begins June 3. Call 827-5600 for more information.

Jackson P.T.A. Receives Kennedy Cultural Arts Honor

The Stonewall Jackson P.T.A. received one of three Dallas-area awards given by the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration in recognition of the group’s 1990-1991 Cultural Arts Program. P.T.A. president Patty Smith accepted the award recently during a Dallas Museum of Art reception.

The Cultural Arts Program began with students designing a logo for sweatshirts, t-shirts, the school directory and a scrapbook. The P.T.A. provided prints of famous paintings to introduce students to the artist, including work samples, background information, and technique discussion.

In other arts news at Jackson:

+ The music program, directed by Mary Wilcox, was recognized as exemplary during the Winter Festival program.

+ The P.T.A. and Oryx Energy have underwritten an artist-in-residence project led by local artist Rick Bibby. Rick is working with the students to design a ceramic tile “friendship” mural (the school’s motto) to be installed in the school.