Community

The Ferguson Road Initiative to restore the White Rock Hills community ended its Weed and Seed program and has launched Community Connection, a campaign that enlists monetary support and involvement from local businesses and individuals. The initiative tackles issues related to crime, safety, urban blight and failing schools. For more information, visit fergusonroad.org.

Neighborhood residents Daniel and Delores Wolfe, attorneys working pro bono, sent a formal petition to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in November to prevent Far West nightclub from renewing its liquor license. The complaint was filed on behalf of 15 neighborhood organizations, including the Lakewood Hills Neighborhood Association, the Hollywood Santa Monica Neighborhood Association and the Ferguson Road Initiative. Neighbors believe the nightclub at Gaston and Garland is responsible for increased crime and disturbance to the community.

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required

The Exchange Club of East Dallas and Comerica Bank collected 2,400 coats for children ages 4 and older through their annual Coats for Kids drive. The drive brought in 400 more coats this year than in 2010, and 12 neighborhood elementary schools received free coats.

Education

Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation has distributed grants to students enrolled in IB Psychology through the Ann Jacobus Folz Fund for International Baccalaureate Financial Assistance. The grant will help cover costs for about 15 needy students. The foundation also has funded three pilot technologies at Woodrow: Questia, an online library; Turnitin.com, a virtual tool to prevent plagiarism; and P.E.T. Vital Knowledge, which assesses learning styles.

DISD announced plans to close 11 schools to save $11.5 million, including James B. Bohnam Elementary School and James W. Fannin Elementary School. Neighbors have begun a petition to save Bohnam, which is rated “exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency and received a Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education. To learn more, visit savebonham.org, and read more coverage about it on the blog

Lipscomb Elementary PTA netted more than $10,000 at its Roaring Twenties auction and fundraiser Nov. 3 at Times Ten Cellars. More than 100 people attended.