Back Talk Lake Highlands

LHHS volleyball playoffs tonight

The entire community is invited to attend the high school girls' volleyball regional quarterfinals tonight, Monday, at the Garland Special Events Center at 7 pm. The Lake Highlands Lady Wildcats will take on Sachse in their quest to win state.

More lights no good for White Rock Lake

The latest National Geographic features a piece about light pollution and its toll on wildlife, pertinent to the situation we have here with the proposed White Rock Lake lighting project (more here, and here). The aforementioned article backs up the idea that by making do without all the artificial lighting, we will not only preserve energy, but also protect animals whose biological rhythms can get screwed up when you pollute the night with that “luminous orange glow”.

"Wildlife species have evolved on this planet with biological rhythms—changing that has profound effects," said Travis Longcore, a biogeographer with the Urban Wildlands Group in Los Angeles, who with colleague Catherine Rich, co-organized a conference last year on "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting."

Since the nights have started falling earlier, I’ve gone out running around the lake in the pitch dark. I can understand the idea behind installing lights — you have to smartly navigate the roadways and paths at night to avoid collision with fellow pedestrians, cyclists and cars. But that’s doable if we just use common sense (I know, it’s a lot to ask for some of us).

The atmosphere at the lake in the dark with just the moon’s glow spilling onto the glassy water — well, it’s just irreplaceable especially here in the city. It was the other night out there in the dark —even as I was forced into a muddy roadside pit by a non-observant motorist —that I decided how I felt at lights around the lake. And that was before reading the National Geographic story. I know the lights advocates have good intentions, but we are already doing so much out there to make it more user friendly. Let's let nighttime be nighttime.

Clawset sale just in time for playoffs

This Saturday, November 8 from 9am to noon, Wildcat Ram Stadium will be the site of the Wildcat Club's annual Clawset Sale (pronouned "closet," this is the store for Lake Highlands spirit gear, with proceeds benefitting LH athletic programs). All items, except stadium chairs, will be 10% off, with additional bargains on the closeout table. Come to find ideas for Christmas gifts, Secret Pal surprises, and gear to wear to all the playoff games ahead.

Speaking of playoffs, the volleyball team won easily over Garland last night, the football team is expected to play its first playoff on Friday November 14, and cross country regionals are coming up this weekend. Go CATS!

LHHS Cross Country team wins district

When he was younger, Austin Roth was a standout soccer player. "He was the fastest forward in the Classic League," remembers Will Toler, former teammate and member of the LHHS varsity soccer team. But when he had to choose, Austin opted to focus on running and has never looked back.

After recently winning the Lake Highlands Invitational cross country meet at Norbuck and clinching first place in district, the LH team is ready to go to regionals on November 8. Austin, first in district individually, Tristan Fick, sixth, and Meron Fessahaie, fourth, will travel to Arlington's Vandergriff Park to compete for a chance to go to state. "My dad and I run together often," Austin told me, "so we've had a chance to communicate about what I need to do to have a successful meet. He is my biggest supporter." Break a leg boys, from all of us! 

Three people hit by car near Flag Pole Hill

Three pedestrians were struck by a car following the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon Sunday morning. It happened at about 11:30 a.m. The race was over and the victims were waiting to cross the road, probably returning to their cars parked at Flag Pole Hill. I left the race grounds around 10 a.m., went out for coffee, and returned home via Northwest Highway. We passed the accident scene probably only moments after it happened — there were several police cars and several ambulances, and my husband and I guessed that something pretty terrible must have happened. Initial reports say a driver lost control of her car and that she, along with the those she hit, were hospitalized. I'll update if I get more info in the morning.

LHHS senior Jake Vines sidelined

Wildcat stellar athlete Jake Vines may be out, but he's not down. The Lake Highlands senior tore his ACL playing football last year and had to give up the sport his dad, Vic, played as a pro. But he devoted himself doubly to his true love, basketball. Extra workouts, extra coaching, extra studying of the game - in hopes of being selected to play in college. This year, when he tore it again, it was heartbreaking. "God has a plan for me," he told me, grasping the crutches he needs to get around at school. "I'm disappointed, but I haven't given up my dream of college basketball."

Jake was featured in a photo article in Thursday's Dallas Morning News, where he talked about his role helping on the sidelines with the LH football team, currently at the top of District 9-5A. "The support of his friends has helped him get better," said Jake's mom, Lisa. "Jake believes in his heart that God has a plan for his life, and it might be something greater than high school sports."

Volleyball girls host Plano West for Halloween

 Now that Lake Highlands is in a new district, the football team is winning again. Fun. But the stellar volleyball team is hurting. Oh, they're winning alright, but with virtually no challenge. They're so good, it's like they're playing a junior varsity. (Check out this killer photo of junior Caroline Henton from Wednesday's Dallas Morning News).

This Friday, for a Halloween treat, come see the varsity Cats play undefeated powerhouse Plano West for a friendly scrimmage. It's "black out night," so wear black to dress the part. With the match beginning at 5:30 pm, you won't even miss Jason Dann's kickoff for the home football game against Carrollton Creekview at 7:30.

Online auction benefits RISD students

The RISD Excellence in Education Foundation is hosting an online auction, with proceeds set to benefit students and programs all over the district. ("Wild for Cats" is the Lake Highlands version of the foundation, with all money raised in LH staying in LH.) My favorite items in the auction bid book: (1)an "LH Football Package" - featuring tickets to this Friday night's Halloween game against Carrollton Creekview, including sideline passes and dinner in the pressbox, (2) a hot air balloon ride, (3) tickets to the Richardson Symphony Orchestra's "An Olde English Christmas," and (4) a tropical escape to Cancun.

DRC Half Marathon registration hits capacity

The Dallas Running Club has closed registration for the DRC Half Marathon this Sunday, Nov. 2. That means 4,000 runners will be stampeding through your neighborhood early Sunday. (Good thing you'll get that extra Daylight Savings Time hour of sleep.) Did I say 4,000? Make that 5,000. I forgot to add the 5K race that caps at 1,000 runners, which by the way, you can still sign up for at Run On!, Mockingbird.

If you're registered to run The Half or the 5K, you can start picking up packets tomorrow at Run On!, and organizers say get 'em as soon as you can or they are liable to run out of the goodies that get dropped in said packets ("we could not have anticipated such a large amount to register so vendors only provided enough samples and flyers for 4,000 packets", according to a DRC newsletter).

I'm sure all the folks at the DRC are pretty happy about the race's impending turnout, but the success might cause stress for some neighbors — especially churchgoes or anyone with a Sunday-morning commute. Yes, if you live anywhere near the race route, be prepared for crowds, noise and traffic issues — I can imagine this would be terribly annoying for those who aren't into this sort-a thing. But, be a good sport! Grab your morning coffee, wander over to the lake, and cheer on all those crazy runners (and be glad you aren't out there busting your hump on a perfectly sleepy Sunday morn). I'll be the one wearing an Advocate cap.

The Lake Highlands golf clubs have a new home

The students of DISD's Woodrow Wilson High School are the beneficiaries of the 15 to 18 sets of clubs offered up by a Lake Highlands neighbor on this blog the other day. The clubs are sorely needed for the schools student golf program.