Back Talk Lake Highlands

Wanted: chicken cookers for the Kick’n Chick’n Drumstick Cook-Off

Just based on some recent research for a story, I know we have several talented chefs living in the neighborhood. If you’re one of them, and if you take a special interest in the art of preparing a chicken drumstick for optimum eating enjoyment, this is for you:

Chefs will compete on Labor Day, Sept. 1, for $1000 in cash prizes. The winner will be he/she who delivers the best grilled-chicken drumstick and/or the best fried-chicken drumstick.

The Kick’n Chick’n Drumstick Cook-Off is a fundraiser for the Deaf Action Center’s Teen Leadership Summits for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Girls and Boys. The registration fee is $50 per team and you must register no later than August 20. Download registration form on their web site. Chefs set up at 9 a.m. and the judging begins at 1 p.m.

Oh! And here's the best part for us non-professional wing lovers — the public is invited to sample the entries starting at 11 a.m. The tasting fee is a mere $5 donation. The contest will take place at Plano Legacy YMCA, 5101 Tennyson Pkwy, in Plano. Call the Deaf Action Center at (214) 521-0407 V/TTY for details on the event or email kicknchickn@deafactioncentertexas.org."

More on Lake Highlands principals

After posting about the Lake Highlands principal shifts, we received information from neighbor Rahel Schulze, who had received an e-mail from Richardson ISD administration a few months ago regarding new principal assignments. The information she received is below. "Lots of shuffling around," she says, "but I was told this was typical."

Angela Hunt and Jenny the Elephant: Talk about your odd couple stirring things up!

All right, let me start this off by saying that it has been years since I've been to the Dallas Zoo, it has been awhile since I've talked with Angela Hunt, I don't have any personal interest in Jenny the elephant or her future home, and I haven't had time to read every single post, story and comment that has been devoted to this issue. But after directing you to these links to what the DMN reported today concerning relocating the 32-year-old Jenny from the Dallas Zoo, what DMN columnist Steve Blow had to say about Hunt's meddling with Zoo decisions, and what the Dallas Observer's blog and readers had to say, I would like to say this: Wow. Leave it to a lonely, aging, soon-to-be-shipped-off elephant to spark more passionate concern among Dallas citizens than the typical city fiasco.

I encourage you to read the stories and formulate your own opinions, and I encourage you to do the reading even if you don't give a flip about elephants. Because the commentary says a lot about Hunt, about Blow, about a few of the other city council reps, and about what at least a segment of the population thinks about how the city is being run.

White Rock Marathon still needs a title sponsor

The Dallas Business Journal reported today that NexBank signed on as presenting sponsor for the White Rock Marathon. Back Talk reported this a month ago, by the way. When we did, I spoke with race chairman Chuck Dannis who reminded me they are still actively seeking a title sponsor. Securing a title sponsor makes a big difference when it comes to presenting that post-event check to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, he says.

Last year's sponsor was Wellstone Communities, backed out of sponsoring this year's event (which we also wrote about here.)

DART ridership up: Is there enough room for all of us?

The DMN ran a story last week about the rise in DART ridership, and it made me wonder: Are the rail cars growing too full for rush hour ridership?

In previous discussions that have focused on transit-oriented development (like the Town Center) and how additional mass transit participants would be a good thing, I've heard from DART riders that rush hour is already standing room only. One of those conversations was with Advocate columnist Liz Luthans, and that was before $3-a-gallon gas prices, let alone $4.

Speaking of, we've noticed that more and more people waiting at bus stops these days are the business suit and briefcase sort. In the heat of the summer, that's impressive.

Family Fridays at Tom Thumb

On Friday July 4th, Tom Thumb offered up their eight piece fried chicken meal for $5, one day only. They're at it again this Friday, offering their foot long All-American Subs for $5, one day only. Since their sale flyer is promoting 'Family Fridays', I wonder if the grocer will be offering up a family type meal every Friday for the duration of the summer? Oh, BTW, the stores compete to see who can sell the most. I talked with my favorite deli lady today and she said that our Skillman/Audelia store came in second place for the fried chicken sale.

My Mommy's Pockets: An update

You may remember the story on L Streets neighbor Erin Moyer's venture, My Mommy's Pockets, featured in the February Lake Highlands Advocate. Since that time, Moyer has launched a new line — My Dirty Birdie.

The concept is pretty cute: Bibs, onesies and T-shirts designed to look like the mess you know your child is going to make. For example, a colorin' tee pre-covered in Crayola markings, or a purple onesie for feeding your infant grapes, blueberries or plums.

So far, no Dallas retailers are selling her product lines, but you can shop for her stuff at these North Texas stores, or purchase them online.

Meet Walter Kelly the new LHHS principal

Mark your calendar for a casual meet and greet with the new Lake Highlands High School principal (before he gets completely bogged down in back-to-school brouhaha): Tuesday, Aug. 12 in the LHHS library.

8 a.m - 10 a.m. (for coffee) or 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (for the after-work set)

According to Executive Assistant Karen Clardy who sent us the notice, "Mr. Kelly is eager to meet parents, PTA volunteers, students and the community."

I realize it's not until next month, but we'll remind you as the day approaches.

Lake Highlands principals: More turnover than usual?

Neighbor Mary Vann recently brought to my attention that not only did Bob Iden retire and the Lake Highlands Freshman Center get a new principal this year, but a handful of other LH schools are in principal transition, too.

A glance at the Richardson ISD principals page shows that Jeremy Gilbert of Wallace Elementary (who went to Highland Park's Hyer Elementary) has been replaced by Debbie Evans, former assistant principal at Carolyn Bukhair Elementary; Lorine Burrell left Lake Highlands Junior High after 25 years to go to the Christa McAuliffe Learning Center, and assistant principal Veronica Escalante moved up to take the helm; and Becky Reidling is no longer at White Rock Elementary, instead it's Nancy Kinzie, former principal of Richardson Heights Elementary.

That's just a glance. There may be more.

Proof there were cows in Chick fil-A July 11th

Chick fil-A's Marco Barragan, Evening Store Leader; Barb Gatti, Marketing Director; and Ben Carter, Day Store Leader flank Leslie Connor, Andrea Cochran and Whitney Cochran working creatively for their free meal.