Back Talk Lake Highlands

Offensive driving - the blame game

While I was driving around town last week, some guy cut me off in traffic. Happens all the time, but he was particularly aggressive, and I felt seriously endangered. After I slammed on my brakes and restarted my heart, I got mad. Very mad. I didn't notice the make or model of the car. I can't even tell you what color it was. But one thing is etched in my memory - the church logo sticker on the back window.

I realize it's irrational to be angry at the church - the church wasn't driving dangerously. But it started me wondering if we have an additional responsibility to behave ourselves when we have an organization represented on our car windows and bumpers. When I irritate drivers on the road, do they hold it against the Lake Highlands Wildcat Boosters or the Solar Soccer Club? Do they curse the University of Missouri or Texas Tech? Something to think about.

This weekend in lake Highlands: football and scrap metal

Wildcat Football Breakfast Sat., Nov. 15 from 8:30-10 a.m. (come and go): In case you’ve been chillin’ under a rock the last couple weeks, you know the Lake Highlands High School football team is having a pretty great season — way to go District Champs (for the first time in 11 years)! Come out and show your support for the team before the playoffs at this family friendly breakfast in the high school cafeteria. You get to meet players and coaches and eat for just $4 per person. RSVP here. See the Cats' calendar here.

Lake Highlands Elementary Recycling Round-up Sat., Nov. 15 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.:  Bring your plastics, electronics, aluminum cans, used books and toys, ink cartridges and scrap metal for recycling and be part of a city-wide solution to waste and big ugly carbon footprints. Organizers are making it as fun as a recycling party can possibly be — featuring food, demonstrations and pet adoptions to name a few. For more info, contact Cindy Engel.

For more events, or to post your own, check out Advocate HAPPENINGS.

Mellinger spotlighted in DMN for volleyball prowess

LHHS senior Tori Mellinger is featured in today's DMN for her outstanding play in leading the Wildcat volleyball team to the Class 5A Region II semifinals. Mellinger, who plans to attend Texas A&M after graduation, calls herself "clumsy" in the article but recorded 19 "kills" during the team's most recent victory, also is a National Honor Society and student council member.

Lake Highlands schools and security

Amen, Brother Steve. It scares me when I agree with Dallas Morning New columnist  Steve Blow, but he strikes paydirt in this morning's musings. Our public schools don't need more expensive technology in their security systems to keep the community out. They do better (and the kids do better) when we are active inside the building.

An automated call last week from Lake Highlands High School told me excitedly about the new measures in place to "keep our students safe," and I don't doubt that there are weirdos out there - even weirdos living closely among us. But Steve chronicles the experience of one Arlene Colbert, former RISD educator, who snuck a peek at DISD's Bonham Elementary while voting last spring. Here we are, a few months later, and she has transformed the school, creating Bonham Boosters, involving the community, and inspiring weary teachers that someone really does care.

As a frequent volunteer and LHHS hall walker, I have an immense appreciation for what goes on inside that building. I understand the security measures - the locked door, the buzz-in system, the intercom to evaluate you before they deem you acceptable. (I keep expecting them to ask for a blood draw or a DNA sample before they grant me access.) But once inside, I'm euphoric. To see David Wood interacting with his senior English students. To hear principal Walter Kelly call multitudes of students by name after less than three months in charge. To witness assistant principal Joe Copeland work with students referred to the office for discipline, but really aching for a strong, loving male in their lives. Awesome.

Chi Omega Christmas Market

One of my favorite ways to kick off the holiday season is to attend Chi Omega Christmas Market, November 20-22. This charity fundraiser is held annually at the Dallas Convention Center, where more than 150 merchants from all over the country offer everything from handmade jewelry to specialty foods to decorations for the home to gifts for everyone in the family. Referred to by many as "Market in the Meadow on steroids," this is your chance to arrive at the gift exchange with presents they've never seen at the mall. Proceeds will go to several local charities, including Make-A-Wish, Genesis Women's Shelter, Austin Street Center, Equest, and several others. You can take the DART train right to the convention center stop, and there's a cafe inside to replenish your shopping strength. New this year, VIP shopping Thursday night from 6-9 pm, with refreshments and a party atmosphere. Check the website for details about hours of operation & special events, and discount tickets are available at all Tom Thumb stores (or from me if you see me around town).

Office supplies drive for Healing Hands Clinic

Lake Highlands High School Peer Helpers and Student Council are sponsoring an "Office Supplies Drive" benefiting Healing Hands Clinic, a non-profit health care provider serving uninsured and under-insured residents of Lake Highlands. The clinic, which provides both medical and dental care, is supported by neighborhood churches and community donations. Founded by LH parent and band mom Janna Gardner and run with the help of LH pastor Mark Wingfield (also an LHHS band dad), Healing Hands maximizes its impact in the community with volunteer doctor hours and donated dental equipment.

Contributions of office supplies (or cash to purchase them) will be received Monday, November 17 through Friday, December 5 at the front office of the high school or at a table outside the LHHS library.

More LHE 'Recycle Round Up' details

Here's a helpful flyer for this big Saturday, November 15th event which corresponds with the annual America Recycles Day and Texas Recycles Day.   

And here's a few more fun activities the good organizers of LHE pulled together that will also be happening:  Paper shredding, a bounce house, a raffle, music and a 'Green' Storytime for kids at 1:30 pm.

Express Yourself student poetry contest

The Dallas Public Library wants students to enter their 13th Annual Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition from now through January 9, 2009. Here are the contest rules:

- Students must live in the City of Dallas.

- Students can submit their original work in English or Spanish.

- The work cannot be copied from any source, including books, magazines, textbooks, Lyrics, or Internet sources.

- An entry form must be filled out with a single poem on the back of the entry form.

- Both the student and a parent, legal guardian, teacher or librarian must sign the entry form.

- Students can enter as many poems as desired, with only one per entry form.

Sixty finalists will be selected from several age categories. Winners will be honored at a special award ceremony in April at the Central Library and the 60 winning poems will be published in a bound ExpressYourself! Youth Poetry Finalists Anthology. For information and entry forms, visit any Dallas Public Library or their web site.

Breakfast with district champion Wildcats

This Saturday, the District Champion Wildcat football team is hosting a Lake Highlands community breakfast in the LHHS cafeteria. All diehard fans are welcome, but their special push is to include neighborhood kids who have been attending the games and might like to meet The Boys, up close and personal.

The coaches will be shaking hands, the district championship trophy will be on display, and commemorative "DC '08" (district champs 2008) tee shirts will be for sale. (And, to the delight of my adorable three-year-old neighbor Ike, kids can walk through the inflatable Wildcat Head to their heart's content.) The $4 breakfast is served from 8:30 to 10 am, and participants are encouraged to email Byron McCoy to ensure enough food.

Veterans' Day

In honor of Christina Hughes-Babb's dad, I share this photo of members of the Greater Dallas Veterans who served as honor guard at the Wal-Mart preview Saturday. They were happy about their role opening the store, but they were super-stoked about the chance to participate in Tuesday's parade in downtown Dallas.The chaps I spoke to were members of Jewish War Veterans, but many veterans groups will participate, they told me. Events begin at 11 am at City Hall.