Lake Highlands - Lakewood | April 2023

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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 APRIL 15MAY 12, 2023

Adoptable kittens come to East Dallas cafe

Connecting The Loop The Trinity Forest Spine Trail will be the rst new section of The Loop Dallas to open, connecting White Rock Lake to the Great Trinity Forest.

THE LOOP DALLAS

$28M $85M 39 11 7.5 new miles existing miles miles of trail

miles of trails

total budget

TRINITY FOREST SPINE TRAIL

LOCAL VOTER GUIDE 2023 DART launches rst long- range electric bus

total budget*

*FUNDING SHARED WITH OTHER 2017 BONDRELATED PROJECTS

SOURCE: THE LOOP DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT

CECILIA LENZENCOMMUNITY IMPACT The Trinity Forest Spine Trail is set to ocially open for use in May, ahead of a ribbon cutting ceremony in the fall.

New Trinity Forest Spine Trail coming to Lakewood Dallas is set to open a new trail, the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, start- ing this spring. BY CECILIA LENZEN 75 35E

Circuit Trail Conservancy. The north phase is being con- structed and opened in two separate 2-mile phases. Hiatt Haigh said the rst section completing construc- tion cost $8 million, while the other shares $20 million in funding from the 2017 bond program with another upcoming trail. In addition, the project is being funded with private money and funds from the Texas Department of Transportation. Hiatt Haigh said the new trail will provide essential connectivity to residents living alongside it. “The Trinity Forest Spine Trail ... is going to be the rst dedicated con- nection that says, ‘You don’t need a car to get outside of your neighbor- hood, you’re connected to the rest of Dallas with this amenity,’” Hiatt Haigh said. “We haven’t had any- thing like that in our city before.” The new section plays into the CONTINUED ON 15

Sample ballot

The new trail is part of a project called The Loop Dallas that will con- nect many of the city’s trails into a contiguous 50-mile urban trail. Overall, the $85 million project will link 39 miles of the city’s existing trails with 11 miles of four newly built trails, including the Trinity Forest Spine Trail. The new trail is being constructed in two phases: the north phase, which is 4 miles long, and the south phase, which is 3.5 miles long. The north phase, which is partially opening in May, will connect the Santa Fe Trail at White Rock Lake to the Trinity Forest trail system, said Philip Hiatt Haigh, executive director of The Loop Dal- las, the city’s nonprot partner in creating the trail that was formed out of public-private partnership The

TRINITY FOREST

SPINE TRAIL

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“WE THINK IT’S A WORTHWHILE TIME TO WAIT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS LAST 50 YEARS, AND THAT THEY PROVIDE THE CONNECTIVITY AND RELIABILITY THAT THE COMMUNITY DESERVES.” PHILIP HIATT HAIGH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOOP DALLAS

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LAKE HIGHLANDS - LAKEWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023

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THIS ISSUE

ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Tracy Ruckel

FROM TRACY: Election season is in full swing. And with races from Dallas City Council, Dallas ISD and Richardson ISD all affecting residents, there are a lot of candidates to keep track of. However, we have you covered (see Page 12). Also in this edition, you can find out about a local spot serving up a variety of dumplings (see Page 16), in addition to details on Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s new long-range electric bus. (see Page 9). Tracy Ruckel, GENERAL MANAGER

EDITOR Kevin Cummings REPORTER Cecilia Lenzen

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FROM KEVIN: White Rock Lake is a hub for walkers and bikers in Dallas. Now, a new trail is set to open that will connect the lake to the Great Trinity Forest as part of a project to make hike and bike travel more efficient across the city (see Page 15). In this edition, you can also learn about a new park that officials hope will lift up an area of Lake Highlands (see Page 13). Kevin Cummings, EDITOR

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LAKE HIGHLANDS - LAKEWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

NOW OPEN 1 EyeCandy Waxing and Threading Brow Salon opened in Lake Highlands on March 18. The salon is located at 6780 Abrams Road, Ste. 115, inside the Creekside Shopping Center. EyeCandy offers eyelash, brow, makeup and waxing services. The company uses “premi- um products” to avoid skin irritation during or after its services, accord- ing to its website. EyeCandy has two other Dallas locations. 214-915-8935. www.eyecandybrowsalon.com 2 Fito’s Tacos de Trompo , a Mexican restaurant chain, opened its fifth Dallas location in Lake Highlands on March 17. The new restaurant is located at 6760 Abrams Road, Ste. 201, inside the space that used to house a Fuzzy’s Taco Shop restaurant. Fito’s Tacos de Trompo is known for its authentic Mexican food, made with fresh ingredients and family recipes, according to the company web- site. www.fitostacosdetrompo.com 3 National beauty salon chain Sugared + Bronzed opened in the Hillside Village Shopping Center on March 13. The Lakewood salon is one of the company’s first brick-and-mortar locations in Texas. Located at 6465 E. Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 440, the company offers services, such as Brazilian waxing and airbrush tans, in addition to selling a variety of related products. 972-885-3279. www.sugaredandbronzed.com 4 The Koi Way has opened in its second North Texas location in Lake Highlands at the Lakeridge Village Shopping Center. The Asian food eatery, located at 9660 Audelia Road, Ste. 117, opened at the beginning of March. The Koi Way serves up dishes from across Asia, including sesame chicken, lumpia, satay and sushi rolls. The Dallas storefront, located in the former Hei Hei American-Chinese space, also offers a drink menu with cocktails, beer and wine. The Koi Way has an ad- ditional location in Allen. 214-785-7377. www.eatkoiway.com 5 Greenville Avenue Dental opened Feb. 13 in the northeastern area of Dallas at 6336 Greenville Ave., Ste. A. The dentist studio provides a variety of dental services, including dentures, implant restoration, teeth whitening and

BUCKINGHAM RD.

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Greenville Avenue Dental

KEVIN CUMMINGS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

root canals. Greenville Avenue Dental also offers comprehensive exams and pediatric dentistry. 972-483-9783. https://greenvilleavedental.com 6 Glo Tanning opened its 12th Texas location in East Dallas in the Casa Linda Plaza on March 2, according to owner Jenae Hibbard. Located at 9440 Garland Road, Ste. 186, the spa offers a range of tanning services, including tanning beds and booths, spray tanning, and spa services. Glo Tanning has more than 50 locations across 11 states, including a location in Highland Park. 817-803-2336. 7 Envision Imaging , a medical diagnos- tic imaging center that is part of Texas Health Resources, is slated to open on Greenville Avenue in the second quarter of 2023. Located in the Old Town Shop- ping Center, the new clinic will open at 5500 Greenville Ave., Ste. 1100, Dallas. Kimberly Walton, media relations director for Texas Health Resources, said Envision Imaging will offer MRIs, X-rays and CT scans. 469-648-3701. www.envrad.com 8 Common Desk , a coworking space, will open in Lake Highlands. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the Dallas-based coworking space operator is looking to open in The Hill Shopping Center at 9850 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 220, by the end of August. Common Desk offers shared desks and private office suites for rental. In addition to locations in Austin, Houston and North Carolina, Common Desk operates 12 coworking www.glotanning.com COMING SOON

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FASHION. GIFTS. ACCESSORIES

thestoreinlh.com (214) 553-8850 The Store in Lake Highlands at Lakeridge Center 9850 Walnut Hill Ln #226, Dallas, TX 75238

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Whiskers and Soda Cat Cafe opened March 25 at 10320 Garland Road, Dallas.

CECILIA LENZEN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Whiskers and Soda Cat Cafe , a new cafe for mingling with adoptable cats, is now open in East Dallas. The cafe, which held its grand opening March 25, is located at 10320 Garland Road, inside the same building as Grin Rock Cat Retreat, a new luxury cat boarding facility. Married couple Rob and Caroline Stovall, who live in Lake Highlands, own both businesses. Whiskers and Soda will allow guests to socialize with cats from A Voice for All Paws, a local nonprot organization that rescues cats and kittens for adoption, while enjoying coee, tea and baked goods. “It’s a venue for bringing together cats that are up for adoption [and] foster cats that need forever homes with people that might be interested in adopting a cat, or maybe they just want to go hang out with cats,” Rob Stovall previously told Community Impact . To visit the cafe part of the building, guests will have to book a reserved spaces in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the company’s website. https://thecommondesk.com 9 Golden Chick is scheduled to open during the summer in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. The new restaurant will be located at 11915 Abrams Road. No opening date has been announced, but Golden Chick officials said they expect it to open in June or July. Golden Chick’s menu features fried chicken, grilled chick- en, catfish, sandwiches and more. The chicken restaurant chain has more than 50 locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. www.goldenchick.com RELOCATIONS 10 Apara Autism Centers has officially relocated from its Richardson clinic to the North Medical Arts building, located at 12606 Greenville Ave., Ste. 275, Dallas, to offer more space and parking. The autism care center was previously located at 850 S. Greenville Ave., Ste. 105, Richardson. Apara offers part-time,

time slot and pay an hourly fee. Membership options will be available, and nonmembers will be subject to walk-in availability, Rob Stovall said. He anticipates plenty of walk-in availability at the beginning of the cafe’s operations but said he expects availability to become more limited over time. Rob Stovall said the cafe’s full capacity will allow 40 guests, and an expected average of 15 cats will roam the cafe. However, the number of cats in the cafe will be dependent on how many sociable, friendly cats A Voice for All Paws has available and how quickly they get adopted. 214-233-6176 https://whiskersandsoda.com

We know the neighborhood.

JacksonSells Team 214.827.2400 scott.jackson@compass.com jacksonsells.com

The JacksonSells Team is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by federal, state, and local Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu

EASTON RD.

full-time and in-home therapy options for a variety of services. 844-272-7223. www.aparaautism.com CLOSINGS 11 After 34 years of operations, Tex-Mex restaurant Matt’s Rancho Martinez per- manently closed its Lakewood location April 3. The company announced the closure on Facebook and encouraged its patrons to visit its new location in Allen. The restaurant also has a location in Royse City. The restaurant is known for its “often imitated, never duplicated” Bob Armstrong dip. The Lakewood restaurant was located at 1904 Skillman St., Dallas. 214-823-5517. www.mattstexmex.com 12 After 16 years of business, Urban Taco permanently closed at 5331 E. Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 125, Dallas. on March 2. The company announced the closure on Facebook, saying customers can still order from Urban Taco through ghost kitchen company Oomi Kitchen. https://urban-taco.com

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LAKE HIGHLANDS - LAKEWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023

TODO LIST

April & May events

Featured Artist: Karina Llergo

COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN APRIL 20 CELEBRATE WHITE ROCK LAKE White Rock Lake Conservancy is hosting Celebration White Rock, a fundraising 5K and 10K run and party. The party will feature live music and food and drinks from local restaurants and breweries. Money raised during the event will support the maintenance of White Rock Lake Park. 5 p.m. $20-$60. Winfrey Point, 950 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas. https://whiterockdallas.org/ The annual Dallas Art Fair is returning to downtown for another year. The fair oers collectors, arts professionals and the public the opportunity to engage with a rich selection of modern and contemporary artworks presented by leading national and international galleries. Times vary. $25-$250. Fashion Industry Gallery, 1807 Ross Ave., Dallas. 214-220-1278. www.dallasartfair.com 22 ENJOY COUNTRY MUSIC Simone Nicole, a Fort Worth- based singer and songwriter, will perform at Lakewood Brewing Co. as part of its live music series, Live at Lakewood. Nicole’s music writing is focused around emotions, mental health and hope. 5 p.m. Free. Lakewood Brewing Co., 2302 Executive Drive, Garland. 972-864-2337. www.simonenicole.com/tour 22 PERFORM LIVE Vector Brewing is hosting an open celebration-white-rock 20 THROUGH 23 TAKE IN ART mic event to give patrons free stage time. Guests can perform music, comedy and storytelling. 8 p.m. Free. Vector Brewing, 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, Ste. 405, Dallas. 469-676-0797. www.facebook.com/ vectorbrewingtx/events 23 EAT LOTS OF PIZZA The annual Dallas Pizza Fest is returning to Deep Ellum for its fth year. In addition to both national and local pizza parlors and trucks, the festival will feature live entertainment, a wine and beer garden, a celebrity pizza chef, and a pizza eating contest. Noon. Free with RSVP ticket. 2806 Elm St., Dallas. https://pizzafestdallas.com/home 25 HEAR TEJANO MUSIC Tejano artist Monica Saldivar will perform live at the Bath House Cultural Center as part of Lakefront Live, the center’s free concert series. Saldivar was awarded the Best New Female Artist at the 2020 Tejano Music Awards. 7:30 p.m. Free. Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas. 214-670-8749. https://bathhouse.dallasculture.org 25 SEE A PSYCHEDELIC ROCK BAND Crumb, an American psychedelic rock band, will perform live at Granada Theater. The group is a collaboration of Brooklyn-based musicians Lila Ramani,

SHOP LOCALLY LAKEWOOD VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER

APRIL 23, 30 AND MAY 7

Good Local Markets hosts the Lakewood Village Farmers Market every Sunday at the southeast corner of Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road. Local vendors sell produce, meat and dairy products, artisan foods, and arts and crafts. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 6434 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. www.facebook.com/goodlocalmarkets

May 6 & 7 Cottonwood Park • Richardson, TX

SATURDAY: 10a-7p SUNDAY: 10a-5p FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING CottonwoodArtFestival.com 200 Artists • Live Music • Hands-On Kids Area • Food Court Craft Beer & Wine in Imagery Courtyard

COURTESY GOOD LOCAL MARKETS

Jesse Brotter, Bri Aronow and Jonathan Gilad, who met while attending Tufts University in Massachusetts. 7 p.m. $27.50. Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., Dallas. www.granadatheater.com 29 DISCUSS MANGA Manga fans can meet at the Audelia Road Branch Library for a book- club style meeting where attendees will discuss a manga series. 2 p.m. Free. Audelia Road Branch Library, 10045 Audelia Road, Dallas. 214-670-1350. https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com/ event/anime-discussion-9 29 GO FOR A RUN The Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League is hosting its annual USA Track & Field-sanctioned Run the Highlands 5K race and 1K family trail walk. Those looking for some family fun and avid runners are invited to participate in the race, with funds raised going to help support the league and expand Flag Poll Hill’s park’s playground area, according to the event’s description. After the race, participants can enjoy a carnival lled with activities and games. 8 a.m. $45 (5K), $35 (trail walk). Lake Highlands High School, 9449 Church Road, Dallas. www.lhjwl.org/race-information 29 THROUGH MAY 27 TAKE THE KIDS TO A PLAY The Dallas Children’s Theater will perform a theater adaptation of E. B. White’s book “Charlotte’s Web.” One of the rst books ever written for children, the story is an emotional tribute to friendship with universal themes depicting courage, compassion and the ever-changing cycle of life. Multiple times. $20-$33. Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St., Dallas. 214-978-0110. www.dct.org/plays

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Find more or submit Lake Highlands and Lakewood events at communityimpact.com/ event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES DART launches new long-range electric bus

COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN

ONGOING PROJECTS

CHISWELL RD.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit is operating its rst long-range electric bus between Lake Highlands and Lakewood. The $780,000 bus began service in March and operates on DART’s Bus Route 20, which runs mostly along Northwest Highway from Bachman Station to the South Garland Transit Center. The route includes a stop at the intersection of Skillman Street at Merriman Parkway, and another at White Rock Station. DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles said the long-range electric bus joins the agency’s eet of seven short-range electric buses that were launched in 2018. The short-range buses have a range of about 30 miles, while the new long-range bus has a range of about 300 miles. Shattles

Lanshire Drive reconstruction This roadway construction project occurring along Lanshire Drive from Chiswell Road to Audelia Road is part of a city project to reconstruct streets in the Lake Highlands area. It includes repaving the existing asphalt street surfaces and adding sidewalks to improve accessibility. Work on the Lanshire Drive project was originally projected to be nished by March but faced delays due to having to move utility poles, Project Manager John Sakwa said. Timeline: September 2022-May 2023 Cost: $689,700 Funding source: 2017 bond program

Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s rst long-range electric bus began service in March.

COURTESY DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT

said, now that the bus has operated for a few weeks, the agency has seen the bus can sometimes surpass its projected 300-mile range. DART’s eet of electric buses is a sign of the agency evolving and nding more ecient and environ- mentally sustainable transit options, Shattles said. When DART rst launched, its buses ran on diesel, because that was the “fuel of choice” at the time, Shattles said. Since then, DART has used liquid natural gas, low-sulfur diesel and compressed natural gas, which it uses now. “This [electric bus] is a great test

vehicle to determine what is the future of fuel for DART,” he said. The new bus uses six lithium-ion battery packs and regenerative braking that captures the energy lost to heat and returns it to the packs, according to a DART news release. DART will be monitoring how the long-range electric bus responds to Texas’ range of temperatures and weather conditions. The new bus’ performance and long-term viability will help determine whether DART will choose to expand its supply of long-range electric buses in the future, Shattles said.

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 30. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LHLNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023

CITY & SCHOOLS

News from Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas ISD & Richardson ISD

Dallas City Council meets April 26 and May 10 at 9 a.m. at 1500 Marilla St., Dallas. www.dallascityhall.com Dallas ISD board of trustees meets April 20 and May 11 at 6 p.m. at 5151 Samuell Blvd., Dallas. www.dallasisd.org Richardson ISD board of trustees meets April 27 and May 4 at 6 p.m. at the RISD Administrative Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. The meetings are streamed live online. www.risd.org MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS DALLAS COUNTY The county has moved away from its color- coded COVID-19 risk level gauge system and transitioning into a “new normal.” The announcement, which comes as the Dallas County Public Health Committee says it has seen declining rates of COVID-19 infections, was made at a Commissioners Court meeting March 7. The “new normal” that takes its place comes with a number of recommendations, including evaluating personal risk, encouraging masking in public spaces, following vaccination recommendations and supporting masking in all health care settings.

City Council looks to increase food security with new agriculture plan

Dallas ISD adjusts 202324, 202425 school calendars

Richardson ISD seeks to solve budget decit

to be held Dec. 25, 2023-Jan. 9, 2024, with the nal day of school set for May 24, 2024. The 2023-24 academic calendar includes a week o for Thanksgiving from Nov. 20-24, a weeklong spring break from March 11-15, and two fair days for elementary and sec- ondary schools on Oct. 12 and 13. Under the base 2024-25 academic calendar, the school year will start Aug. 12, 2024, with a set end date of May 23, 2024. Winter break is scheduled to be held Dec. 23, 2024- Jan. 3, 2025. The calendar includes a week o for Thanksgiving from Nov. 25-29, 2024, and a spring break from March 10-14, 2025.

BY JACKSON KING

BY CECILIA LENZEN

RICHARDSON ISD Ocials are assessing options to reduce costs and increase revenue to overcome a $23.7 million budget shortfall heading into scal year 2023-24. The budget decit is a result of reduced enrollment, ination and a lack of new state funding since before the pandemic, Superintendent Tabitha Branum said. Richardson ISD ocials said they have already found $3.5 million in cost-cutting measures by eliminating certain administration positions and via a planned streamlining of the dis- trict’s English as a second language program. According to ocials, options to increase revenue include opening enrollment outside of district bound- aries, advocating for increased state funding, eliminating RISD’s optional local homestead exemption and considering a tax rate increase.

stakeholders. “Historically, the Dallas area has been home to farms and ranches, but despite this rich history, today some of our residents struggle with food security and access to healthy options,” said District 9 Council Member Paula Blackmon. About 36% of Dallas residents, especially those in south and west Dallas, live in places called food des- erts, according to the Dallas Climate Action website, which is adminis- tered by the Oce of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. Food deserts are areas where typically low-income households have limited access to healthy and aordable food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Dallas, the food supply chain is largely dependent upon suppliers outside of the state and the country, according to Dallas Climate Action

DALLAS The city adopted a plan to ensure all communities in the city have access to healthy, local food. Led by Dallas’ Oce of Environ- mental Quality and Sustainability, the Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan provides recommendations, solutions, initial action items and metrics in pursuit of the city’s food system resiliency challenges. The new plan, which was approved during City Council’s March 8 meet- ing, is intended to provide a strategic long-term framework for urban agriculture development for the city to use in its programming and infra- structure planning eorts. The plan’s main goals are to remove regulatory barriers to implementation, support access to farmlands, provide access to urban agricultural education and resources, and facilitate collabo- ration between urban agriculture

BY CECILIA LENZEN

DALLAS ISD Ocials adjusted the base academic calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years during a March 23 board of trustees meeting. According to the newly approved calendars, the base 2023-24 school year will start Aug. 14. Winter break is still scheduled

Dallas’ Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan aims to increase food production in the city.

KEVIN CUMMINGSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

FOOD INSECURITY IN DALLAS

ocials. Out-of-state factors, such as rising temperatures, changing precip- itation patterns and more frequent droughts, could lead to increased food insecurity in Dallas. Certain city residents have histor- ically faced issues with food-related health issues due to food insecurity, according to the plan. Rather than increase the number of grocery stores in the city’s food desert areas, the new plan aims to increase local food production, food access and local commercial food sourcing through increased urban agriculture production.

Dallas’ new Urban Agriculture Plan aims to improve the city’s food system resiliency initiatives.

In late March, the Dallas ISD board of trustees updated its 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic calendars, which were initially approved in December. SCHEDULED SCHOOL YEARS

of Dallas residents live in food deserts

2023-24

Dates to know 2024-25

36%

Aug. 14 First day of school Aug. 12 Nov. 20-24 Thanksgiving break Nov. 25-29 Dec. 25, 2023- Jan. 9, 2024 Winter break Dec. 23, 2024- Jan. 3, 2025 March 11-15 Spring break March 10-14 May 24 Last day of school May 23

planned increase in urban garden acreage producing food by 2030 of Dallas County children are either overweight or obese due to the lack of fresh food options

49%

20%

SOURCE: DALLAS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: THE FOOD TRUST, CITY OF DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT

DALLAS 9500 N Central Expressway (214) 369-2800

PRESTON CENTER 8123 Preston Road (214) 361-6697

MARSH LANE 9972 Marsh Lane (214) 353-2701

2023

LOCAL VOTER GUIDE GUIDE Candidates and information for local elections LOCAL VOTER GUIDE

COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN

Dallas City Council, District 9

DATES TO KNOW

Occupation: Dallas City Council member Relevant experience: PAULA BLACKMON

KENDRA DENISE MADISON

April 24 First day of early voting April 25 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) May 2 Last day of early voting

May 6 Election day May 6 Last day to receive ballot by mail (or May 8 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)

Occupation: Executive assistant Relevant experience: 20 years corporate human resources experience; nonprot experience working with vulnerable populations

Two terms on the Dallas City Council; chief of sta for two Dallas mayors and two DISD superintendents; former leader in Hillside Neighborhood Association

WHERE TO VOTE

Voters in Dallas County may cast a ballot at any polling location during early voting and on election day. Visit www.dallascountyvotes.org to see a full list of where to vote during early voting and on election day.

Dallas City Council, District 10

SOURCE: DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SIRRANO KEITH BALDEO

BRIAN HASENBAUER

Occupation: VP of marketing Relevant experience:

Occupation: Publisher, businessman, advocate, Christian Heritage ministry Relevant experience: Publisher for over a de- cade covering govern-

SAMPLE BALLOT

*Incumbent

Appointed to Com- munity Development Commission, chaired Economic Development Committee, vice chair citizen participa- tion committee

District 14 Paul E. Ridley* Amanda Schulz Joseph F. Miller DALLAS ISD District 2 Jimmy Tran Kevin Malonson Leon Solimani Sarah Weinberg

DALLAS CITY COUNCIL

RICHARDSON ISD Single Member District 3 Debbie Rentería* Bonnie Abadie At Large Place 6 Eric Eager* Blake Sawyer

ment, investigating contracts, bonds, ordinances, resolutions and corruption

District 9 Paula Blackmon* Kendra Denise Madison District 10 Sirrano Keith Baldeo Brian Hasenbauer Kathy Stewart Chris Carter

KATHY STEWART

CHRIS CARTER

Occupation: Invest- ment management and sales Relevant experience: 23 years on Wall Street; 10 years as an inter- national investment

Occupation: Attorney Relevant experience: Owner of Highlands Cafe; executive direc- tor, Lake Highlands, North Lake Highlands and Uptown public improvement districts; commissioner to art and culture commission

broker; experience in nance, macro- economics, interest rates and currencies

VOTER TURNOUT

Dallas City Council, District 14

Dallas County

Turnout

Registered voters

Occupation: Attorney (inactive) PAUL E. RIDLEY

Occupation: Realtor/at- torney/small-business owner Relevant experience: Lifelong community service volunteer; prior appointee to the Dallas Park and Recreation board AMANDA SCHULZ

Spring 2019

134,820

1,363,892

Fall 2020

917,245

1,398,469

Relevant experience: Professional experience as an architect and ur- ban planner; practiced law for over 30 years; Landmark Commission (four years); City Plan Commission (eight years)

Spring 2021

128,084

1,329,839

Spring 2022

91,957

1,395,231

Fall 2022

625,391

1,420,223

Occupation: Licensed professional engineer Relevant experience: Wealth of real-life experiences based on where he has lived and worked. JOSEPH F. MILLER

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

DEVELOPMENT

AUDELIA RD.

635

New multipurpose center planned as part of Lake Highland revitalization

FOREST LN.

BY CECILIA LENZEN

Revitalization program. Christina Turner-Noteware,

A new development coming to Lake Highlands is expected to bring community resources and help revitalize the neighborhood. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department is in the process of developing the Forest Audelia Park and Multipurpose Center located at the intersection of Forest Lane and Audelia Road. The $7.55 million proj- ect will include a neighborhood park with a playground, basketball court and court for futsal, a cross between football and basketball. The multi- purpose center will house a cultural center, recreation center, library, police station and boxing gym. The project is being nanced by Skillman Corridor Tax Increment Financing District funds, the park and recreation department, 2017 bond funds, and the city’s American Rescue Plan Act Neighborhood

assistant director of the park and recreation department, said the city hopes to “activate” the area and bring new amenities to the community. “It’s a depressed area, and we realize that there are not a lot of amenities in the area currently,” Turner-Noteware said. In 2021, the department partnered with the Better Block Foundation, a local nonprot organization, to bring a pop-up park to the area, featuring sport courts, a lawn space, a community garden and a play area to the project site. The park was launched as part of the organiza- tion’s Project Safe Neighborhoods eort, meant to promote “safety and vibrancy,” according to the Better Block Foundation’s website. Turner-Noteware said the ini- tiative was “very successful” and

A shopping center in Lake Highlands will the be the site of the new Forest Audelia Park and Multipurpose Center. Construction will begin in April. (Cecilia Lenzen/Community Impact)

prompted the parks department to install a permanent basketball court in the same location in 2022. Based on community input after the installation of the permanent court, the department decided to make additional improvements to the area, and bring the additional park space and center to the site, which previously hosted a shopping center that is now largely vacant. The Forest Audelia project, which is located at 9759 Forest Lane, will be completed in three phases. Phase 1 will start in April and include

demolishing part of the existing building that housed the shopping center, Turner-Noteware said. Phase 2 will include the construction of the park and playground area, which she said is expected to take eight months to a year to complete. A groundbreaking for the construction is expected to be held in May. Phase 3 will focus on improvements and renovations to the center, she said. The entire project will take at least two-three years to complete. “We’re just happy to ... help this community,” Turner-Noteware said.

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Creating connectio

CONTINUED FROM 1

idea behind The Loop Dallas, which is to “connect Dallas to Dallas,” Hiatt Haigh said. By connecting every section of Dallas through a continuous trail, The Loop is intended to revitalize communities and connect residents to amenities like lakes, restau- rants, forests, farms and more around the city. Connecting cyclists Jessica Scott, bicycle and micromobility manager for the city of Dallas, said ocials have used the Dal- las Bike Plan to implement bike lanes throughout the city to make its trails more accessible to cyclists. The plan lays out future bicycle and roadway improve- ments needed in Dallas, with one of the city’s goals to create a seamless o-street and on-street network of bike lanes and trails. “The [existing] trails are great, but a lot of folks are stuck with no other option than to drive to the trails to be able to bike,” Scott said. “We want to extend the opportunity to [residents] through on-street bike lanes so they can access the trails throughout the city.” With the new sections of The Loop Dallas, the city is working to connect its on-street bike lanes to the trail crossings near Dallas Area Rapid Transit sta- tions. For the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, the city plans to implement on-street bike lane access to the trail near Samuell-Grand Park and the Tenison Park Golf Course, although a timeline for completion of those lanes has not been set, Scott said. Ward Rushton, a cyclist who lives in the Lake- wood-Lower Greenville area, said he often uses DART to get to the trails he rides on, and he nds it easy to access most trails from a nearby station. “All of the trailheads that are near DART stations are great because it’s really easy to load up a bunch of bikes with you and your friends, and then go out to a Having these on-street bike lanes connect to The Loop Dallas will not only improve mobility and acces- sibility for cyclists, but they will also make roadways safer for everyone, Scott said. With the increased micromobility accessibility, she said residents can take advantage of Dallas’ trails for both recreation and essential transportation, like getting to jobs. “Once people are on it, and once our on-street sys- tem allows more people to access it through bike, it just will improve access and improve the opportu- nity to get out there,” Scott said. “If you look at the system before the trail, those options were limited.” Kevin Meyer, a cyclist who lives in East Dallas, said he is excited for the new section of the trail, because it will connect right to his neighborhood. After mov- ing to the area in 2020, he said he quickly realized how expansive Dallas’ urban cycling landscape is, and he has been riding throughout the city on both solo and group rides with cycling friends since. Meyer said the new trails being added to The Loop Dallas, including the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, will provide essential connectivity to get him o the streets in between other trails. “It’s shortcutting us and getting us out of trac,” Meyer said. “I don’t really like riding in the road at all.” Rushton said he is interested to see how people trailhead,” Rushton said. Increasing safer mobility

WHITE ROCK LAKE

The Trinity Forest Spine Trail, the rst section of The Loop Dallas set to open, will connect White Rock Lake in the north to the Great Trinity Forest in the south.

The Loop Dallas

The Trinity Forest Spine Trail (north phase)

THE LOOP TIMELINE With a budget of $85 million, ocials said The Loop Dallas will improve access and mobility throughout the city.

35E

THE TRINITY FOREST SPINE TRAIL NORTH

2017

Circuit Trail Conservancy identies The Loop Dallas and enacts a plan to create the trail. Circuit Trail Conservancy formally enters into a public-private partnership with the city of Dallas to complete The Loop Dallas. Construction on the north phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail starts.

2019

175

TRINITY RIVER

2026 SEPT. 2021 MAY 2023 JAN. 2024

35E

GREAT TRINITY FOREST

The city ocially plans to open the north phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail.

Construction on the south phase of the Trinity

For example, the city’s rst trail, White Rock Creek Trail, was built in the 1980s. Now, the trail often oods when it rains, and portions of it get closed o for days at a time, Hiatt Haigh said. The new Trinity Forest Spine Trail is located in the same oodway as White Rock Creek Trail, but it has been designed to be elevated along certain sections to prevent ooding, he said. Other new sections of The Loop Dallas will include the Hi Line Connector, which will expand the Katy Trail through Victory Park and the Design District to the Trinity Strand Trail. The Discovery Gateway, another new trail, will connect the Trinity Strand Trail to the Skyline Trail near Downtown. The entire Loop Trail project is expected to be completed in 2026. “We think it’s a worthwhile time to wait to make sure that these projects last 50 years, and that they provide the connectivity and reliability that the community deserves,” Hiatt Haigh said. Both Meyer and Rushton said they look forward to mountain biking in the area and appreciate that the city has committed to creating o-road trails. While there are several bike lanes on city roads, Rushton added that it was a smart decision to cre- ate The Loop Dallas away from major roadways. “I’ve heard and seen opinions ... about how on-road is really the way to go,” Rushton said. “Especially in Dallas, where people drive very fast, I really disagree. I think the way that Dallas has approached this is right for the needs of Dallas.”

Forest Spine Trail is expected to begin.

The Loop Dallas is expected to be completed.

SOURCE: THE LOOP DALLASCOMMUNITY IMPACT

outside of the cycling community use the new trail extension. With the Santa Fe Trail, he said he sees many people who are not avid cyclists using it for transportation needs, including seeing children tak- ing it to get home after school and elderly people using it to bring home groceries. On the new trail, Rushton said he expects to see similar uses. Building for needs As of late March, the north phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail was mostly constructed, but the city is waiting on nal improvements to ocially open it, Hiatt Haigh said. It is expected to open for use in May, he said, but its ribbon-cutting event has been postponed until the fall. “I’m a little hesitant with the fact that this is a new amenity in a community that has never had stu like this,” Hiatt Haigh said of the delayed grand opening. “I think a few months of having it open ... to work out any kinks is going to be important.” The new section was originally projected to open in January, but was delayed due to design updates, Hiatt Haigh said. The updates are meant to increase accessibility and resiliency compared to other older trails in Dallas.

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023

DINING FEATURE Hello Dumpling

BY CECILIA LENZEN

Restaurant oers comforting taste of northern Chinese cuisine to Lake Highlands community J une Chow never wanted or planned to own a restaurant. But when the reality of having “I try to not only feed people, but introduce them to something that should not be as foreign as it is,” Chow said of her dumplings. “Food has no borders.”

TRADITIONAL TASTE Hello Dumpling is best known for Chinese dishes, including: 1 Beef rice dumplings 2 Braised beef soup noodles 3 Pickled smashed cucumbers

to put two children through college approached, she fell back on what she knew: running a restaurant. Now, Chow owns Hello Dumpling, a Chinese restaurant specializing in dumplings, noodles and boba tea. She opened the rst location of her restaurant in East Dallas in 2017, and in 2022, she added another location in Lake Highlands at 8041 Walnut Hill Lane, Ste. E815. Chow said she helped run her moth- er’s restaurant while in high school and saw early on how dicult it can be to own a small business. When Chow’s father died, her mother Binche Chow bought an American restaurant to provide for Chow and her siblings, who were in college. Eventually, China, began adding tradi- tional Chinese dishes to her American menu. Chow’s menu at Hello Dumpling was inuenced by her mother’s dishes and cultural heritage. She said she modeled the restaurant after the traditional dumpling houses found in Beijing. Foregoing rice and stir fries, she chose to spotlight dumplings and noodles to share with people in the community who may not be familiar with the cuisine. Binche, who is from northern

At Hello Dumpling, the dumplings and noodles are made from scratch daily. Chow said she also strives to use the freshest ingredients. Nothing sits around in her kitchen for more than 72 hours. Although she has been recognized locally as having some of the best dumplings in Dallas, Chow said she does not tout her own menu as better than anyone else’s. Her philosophy is, “I make a good dumpling for me,” and if other people love them, too, she appreciates their support. With her restaurants, Chow wants to create spaces where people can feel welcome. Dumplings are a “community food” meant to be shared, she said, and she wants her customers to enjoy a small taste of the food that billions of people in China eat every day. “I really feel like there are people who stumble in here after nine hours of work in this area, and they come in needing a reboot,” Chow said of her Lake Highlands location. “For me to be able to provide that and sort of give them a little hug from the inside, that’s ... the success of my mission.”

Hello Dumpling serves a variety of dumplings made with beef, pork, chicken, sh, shrimp or veggies. (Photos by Cecilia Lenzen/Community Impact)

Pickled smashed cucumbers, served cold, are a popular side item on the Hello Dumpling menu.

“I TRY TO NOT ONLY FEED PEOPLE, BUT INTRODUCE THEM TO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE AS FOREIGN AS IT IS.” JUNE CHOW, OWNER

The braised beef soup noodles combine slow-braised beef shank with handmade noodles in a rich, spicy bone broth.

Hello Dumpling owner June Chow opened a location in Lake Highlands in February 2022.

Hello Dumpling 8041 Walnut Hill Lane, Ste. E815, Dallas 214-812-9011 https://hello-dumpling.com

GREENVILLE AVE.

Hours: Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mon.

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