Community
The Dallas Office of Emergency Management recently graduated its first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class. CERT teams are comprised of neighborhood groups who have been trained in basic fire prevention and suppression, first aid and rescue. This first team has 20 members from several White Rock Lake neighborhoods. For information: citizencorps.gov/cert/.
The Junior Players will hold high school auditions for “Much Ado About Nothing” Saturday, May 5, 1-4:30 p.m. Auditions are open to any students who have completed the ninth grade but not yet started college. Prepare a memorized 16-line Shakespearean monologue, and bring a photo and theater résumé. Auditions will be held at the Sammons Center for the Arts, 3630 Harry Hines. Call 214.526.4076 to schedule an appointment.
Dallas Little League, the local affiliate of international Little League Baseball Inc., is seeking sponsors to help financially support its annual operating expenses including safe playing equipment, uniforms, umpires, utilities, trophies, publications and insurance for each player. Additionally, many league fields are in need of major renovations. The league, which offers baseball team opportunities to children ages 5 to 16, relies entirely on donor support. To make a tax-deductible contribution, contact Emily Whitzel, 214.328.8215 or ebpepper@sbcglobal.net.
The Presby Presenters Toastmasters group meets every Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, 8200 Walnut Hill. The non-profit public speaking club was founded to help members overcome public speaking fears and develop and enhance their leadership skills. Newcomers are welcome. Meeting rooms and lunch plans change weekly; contact Lynda Waters at 214.288.7959 or LyndaWaters@texashealth.org for information.
City Pet Rescue, an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats from area kill shelters, needs foster homes for puppies, dogs, kittens and cats. To give a pet a second chance, call 214.515.9934, e-mail info@citypetrescue.com, or visit citypetrescue.com.
Boys & Girls Club Dallas is looking for alumni to join the BGCDallas Chapter. Alumni meet monthly to brainstorm new and creative ways to contribute to their clubs. For information call Carolyn Jordan at 214.821.2950.
Business
Kitchen 1924 is contributing to Lakewood Elementary School by donating 10 percent of its sales on the third Thursday of the month, to the school’s PTA. Kitchen 1924 is located at 1924 Abrams in the Lakewood Shopping Center.
People
Six DISD principals have been named as finalists for the 2007-08 Dallas ISD Principal of the Year. Among them are Larry Allen, principal at Alex Sanger Elementary, and Yolanda Gonzalez, principal at William Lipscomb Elementary. Allen has been a principal for 22 years and has been at Sanger since 1995. Gonzalez was principal at Robert E. Lee Elementary and J.L. Long Middle School prior to her association with Lipscomb since 2002. Nominees were selected based upon leadership skills, management effectiveness, community relations and parent involvement skills. The principal of the year will be announced at a luncheon for all principals on Tuesday, May 29, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
Hollywood/Santa Monica resident Lisa Dreishmire recently was elected a shareholder in Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., a national management-side labor and employment law firm. Additionally, she recently was elected president of the Dallas chapter of the ACLU of Texas.
The Dallas Elks Lodge has announced its new slate of officers for 2007-08. President is Russell Scott; vice presidents, Leland Ersch, Henry Williams and Richard Truscott; secretary, Eugene Barton; and treasurer, Paul Ditto. The Dallas Elks Lodge, located in Lake Highlands, is the oldest lodge in Texas and the only Elks Lodge within the city of Dallas. The Dallas lodge supports young people, law enforcement, veterans, the homeless and the disabled. To learn more about the lodge, contact Richard Reed, 972.231.6689 or dickreed@swbell.net.
Schools
Bishop Lynch High School’s mock trial team recently placed fifth in state competition. Held at the George Allen Civil Court House in downtown Dallas, the team competed against 29 teams at the state level, in the culmination of a contest that initially included 363 teams statewide. Team members are Laura Olivier, Julia Olivier, Erin Sweeney, Frank Cusimano, Maia Holmes, Cali Hall, Michael Stettner, Joe Lock, Kate Wells and Ryan Edwards. Sweeney received honorable mention for best attorney. Moderator for the school’s team is history teacher David Post.
Woodrow Wilson High School PTA recently announced its executive board for the 2007-08 school year. President is Emily Martin; vice president, Bobbi Willhite; recording secretary, Vicki Wright; corresponding secretary, Mindy Cunningham; treasurer, Cynthia CreMeens; historian, Donna Cunningham; parliamentarian, Nancy Coffey; council delegates, Floann Chapman and Andrea Huffman.
Bishop Lynch Mu Alpha Theta members placed third in the three-round national Mu Alpha Theta Log 1 Mathematics contest. Mu Alpha Theta is the national high school and two-year college mathematics honor society. Bishop Lynch competed as part of Region II, which consists of schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico. Bishop Lynch team members are Barrington Hwang, Frank Cusimano, Matt Taraba, Thomas Catanach, Jamie Newby, Cat Howard, Angela Sedillo, Adrienne Sosing and Ricardo Leon.
The Bishop Lynch Academic Team recently won the Texas Association of Private and Parochial School 6A state championship. It was the third consecutive championship and fourth overall for the high school. Bishop Lynch can also claim four individual state champions: Courtney Roberts in ready writing; Thomas Catabach in science; Matt Taraba in math; and Brian Gumz in literary criticism.
Volunteers
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the Senior Source is looking for volunteers age 55+ to volunteer with more than 230 non-profit agencies in Dallas and Collin counties. RSVP matches your skills, needs and desires with a volunteer job. Volunteers are generally needed for three hours, one to two days a week. 214.823.5700 or rsvpd@TheSeniorSource.org.
Young Life needs volunteers to help provide food, daycare and arts and crafts for its monthly meetings. The group also seeks mentors for pregnant or parenting teen moms in the community. For information call Kristin Klungvedt, 214.773.4348.
The Child Abuse Prevention Center needs volunteers to work with children of divorcing parents one Saturday morning a month during its Families First seminars. The CAP Center also has openings for volunteers in the Parent Aide Program. Volunteers work in the home with parents and families at risk for child abuse and neglect. Training is provided. 2902 Swiss. Contact Ashly, 214.370.9810.
Women’s Chorus of Dallas has many volunteer opportunities, including ushering at concerts, helping with mailings, answering the phone and helping with office work and committee participation. 214.520.7828 or twcd.org.
East Dallas Community Garden needs volunteers to help plant, tend and harvest crops and take produce to area food banks. Individual garden plots are also available. 972.231.3565 or gardendallas.org.
Globe Aware, a nonprofit organization promoting cultural awareness and sustainability by conducting humanitarian assistance programs in Latin America and Asia, is in need of volunteers who can translate Spanish and conduct Internet research to prepare various projects that will be implemented abroad. 214.823.0083 or info@globeaware.org.
Meals on Wheels, a program run by The Visiting Nurse Association, seeks volunteer drivers in our neighborhood. Drivers make weekday deliveries a few mornings a week or month, picking up meals at the Lakeview Christian Church, 9100 Diceman. 214.689.0639.
Heart House Dallas, a free after-school program for low-income children, has a variety of volunteer opportunities for groups and individuals. Work as an after-school mentor, homework tutor, coach, office helper or in other available capacities. For information contact Jayna Wallach at 214.750.7637 or jwallach@hearthouse.org, or visit hearthouse.org.
