Posts by Georgia Fisher
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Rawlings Notes Own Ethics Gaffe at DISD Forum
You know that (Mayor) Mike Rawlings-endorsement-thing that happened in the DISD school-board race? The one that candidate Jennifer Levy quickly slammed as being unethical)? Well, Rawlings talked about it — amid some chuckles — this morning during an ethics-and-education forum at SMU.
After discussing whether the availability of top-quality education is an ethical move on a community’s part, Rawlings had this:
This ethics thing in education is important to me, because I’m up on ethics charges in regards to education. For those of you that don’t know, I personally decided to endorse candidates in the board of trustees election, and I’ve got an ethics complaint against me. So suddenly I’m up here talking about ethics, and maybe I’m not the most ethical guy. It’s a tricky little conundrum I’m in.
Today he’ll give his official response to the complaint, which was filed by District 9 candidate Demarcus Offord.
“I just try to do what Spike Lee says,” Rawlings said a moment later, “and that’s do the right thing.”
Don’t forget: Election Day is Saturday.
I’ve visited with all four DISD candidates, and we’ll run their thoughts from the homestretch in Friday’s paper. Claire St. Amant is covering the election for our May 18 issue.
By Georgia Fisher May. 7, 2012 | 11:35 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
See ‘D’Alice in Wonderland’ at SMU
On Saturday, more than 130 students of Park Cities Dance and the Dallas Conservatory will present a new ballet with a clever name: D’Alice in Wonderland.
Choreographed by visiting French director Alexandre Proia, the one-night-only production at SMU’s McFarlin Auditorium includes acting, singing, contemporary dance, tap, and even hip-hop. And it’s the result of a whole semester’s work.
Per a press release (however you want to take it):
These students have squeezed in late night and early morning homework to rehearse long hours. They have missed birthday parties and soccer games — and their siblings’ birthday parties and soccer games, too. They have practically fainted from starvation and tired feet at weekend rehearsals! And in the process, they have learned of the thrill — and the sacrifice — of performing in a professional production.
The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 to $75, with proceeds going to Park Cities Dance scholarships. To reserve seats, call 214-357-8888 or send an email to info@parkcitiesdance.com.
By Georgia Fisher May. 4, 2012 | 10:07 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
(Mayor) Rawlings to Speak at DISD Forum
Free Saturday? All DISD trustee candidates (folks gunning for a seat in district 1, 3, or 9) have signed on for a 10 a.m. forum at the Museum of Biblical Art. Mike Rawlings — known dually as “Mayor Mike Rawlings,” though perhaps not in this case — will give the welcoming remarks.
Yesterday, District 1 candidate Jennifer Levy criticized Rawlings’ public endorsement of Levy’s opponent, Elizabeth Jones — whom he’d praised alongside District 3 candidate Dan Micciche, and incumbent District 9 candidate Bernadette Nutall. Technically, Rawlings made the endorsement as regular guy/private citizen, not as mayor.
Says Levy:
The Mayor, who has prestige and name recognition, is publicly endorsing candidates, in the camouflage of a “regular citizen.” Regular citizens don’t endorse candidates through press releases.
Another District 1 candidate, Michael Greenberg, made an endorsement dis of his own last week, after departing trustee Edwin Flores called Jones “by far the most knowledgeable on school issues,” and “the best choice.”
Says Greenberg:
Edwin and Elizabeth are birds of a feather, so to speak. Both are smart, but have difficulty connecting with the community. It is clear that District 1 voters, parents and teachers are ready for a new, collaborative approach from their representative.
Attorney Roland Love is running against Greenberg, Levy, and Jones. Last week, he told me an endorsement is key.
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 25, 2012 | 11:45 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
DISD Candidates Get New Endorsements
As the Dallas Morning News reports today, Mayor Mike Rawlings has donned his civilian hat to endorse Elizabeth Jones — an educator/businesswoman/former redistricting commissioner who’s one of four trustee candidates in line for the District 1 seat. Rawlings is also giving the thumbs-up to attorney Dan Micciche in District 3, and District 9 incumbent Bernadette Nutall.
District 1 candidate Michael Greenberg has news, too: He’s being endorsed by former board president Ken Zornes and State Rep. Rafael Anchia, who’s also a former trustee. You can read more in this press release from Greenberg, an IT executive and DeGolyer parent.
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 23, 2012 | 1:28 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Love Considers Leaving DISD Race
DISD’s District 1 race might be about to shrink.
If he isn’t endorsed soon, said trustee candidate G. Roland Love, he’ll likely bow out altogether.
“The other three candidates are quite good,” said Love, an attorney whose background includes a long stint as a private-school trustee. “I don’t need to be delusional about this.”
Said three, in line for the seat seven-year trustee Edwin Flores will leave in May, are IT executive Michael Greenberg; businesswoman/educator Elizabeth Jones — who has a sparkling endorsements from Flores himself as well as the Educate Dallas PAC — and nursing director turned stay-at-home mom Jennifer Levy.
Love filed his 30-day campaign finance report late, so he relayed the basics yesterday by phone. Didn’t take long.
“I have raised no money,” he told me, “and I have spent no money.”
After a $10,000 contribution from Educate Dallas, Jones’ second-largest campaign gift is $5,000, from Container Store co-founder Garrett Boone. Her total haul is $15,800.
Greenberg has received about $14,800 in donations, including a $5,000 check from Russell and Dorothy Budd, the same Highland Park couple who hosted a 2010 fundraiser for Barack Obama. Levy has raised $1,300 in contributions, maintained more than $7,700 during this reporting period, and loaned her own campaign $10,000.
Stay tuned. Election Day is May 12
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 17, 2012 | 1:22 pm | 1 Comment | Comments RSS -
Preston Center Doubles Up on Construction
I dropped by Preston Center yesterday to check out its current construction woes: blocked and narrowed lanes, rough asphalt, parking issues, general clutter, and apparently a ton of customer complaints.
Turns out we’re looking at two separate city contracts, here — street and sidewalk repairs that’re slated to end in about a month on Westchester Drive, and a “water and wastewater replacement” project affecting Westchester and several surrounding streets, which is scheduled to run through fall.
If you ask Public Works and Transportation supervisor Demetrio Saenz, the whole twofer thing was sort of an annoying surprise.
“We were unaware” the Water Department planned to break ground around the same time, Saenz tells me, “and they won’t stop.” He says his street crew came first, about five weeks ago, followed by the water guys a week later. I’ll see what I can find out.
Meanwhile, what are your thoughts? And has the construction hurt your time at Preston Center? If so, drop me a line at georgia.fisher@peoplenewspapers.com
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 12, 2012 | 7:12 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Flores Backs Jones For DISD’s District 1
Departing DISD District 1 trustee Edwin Flores has just announced his endorsement of candidate Elizabeth Jones.
“I spoke with each and every candidate in the race,” Flores said today in a press release. “Elizabeth is by far the most knowledgeable on school issues, and her 25-year successful career in business, education and involvement in our community makes her the best choice.”
Jones is up against Michael Greenberg (who has, for the record, criticized her absence in school board meetings), Jennifer Levy, and Roland Love.
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 11, 2012 | 4:27 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Rotary Club Has Hillcrest Renovation Under Its Wing
Back in 2008, the Rotary Club of Park Cities opted to sponsor an Interact Club, which is basically a junior-rotary service organization, at Hillcrest High School. It turned out to be a hit.
The kids regularly volunteer at Salvation Army events, have decided (of their own volition) to start paying dues, and number more than 120 these days. Now they’re tackling a project unlike any they’ve taken on before, for a cause that’s been right under their noses all along: Hillcrest’s courtyard. It’s trash-filled, too muddy to use in wet weather, and not even ADA accessible.
They’ll need to raise about $10,000 for a granite filler and various other improvements, says Rotary spokeswoman Linda Tunnell, so students are selling personalized bricks to raise funds and build a walkway while they’re at it (DISD has gotten the ball rolling, too). If you’d like to pitch in, check out the donation page here — or pick up Friday’s paper for more details.
By Georgia Fisher Mar. 29, 2012 | 7:01 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Browse Vendors at Mi Escuelita
Free this Friday?
Mi Escuelita’s Spring Market will be under way at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, with more than 100 local vendors selling all sorts of crafts, clothes, decor, and baked goods.
The school’s website has all the details.
By Georgia Fisher Mar. 28, 2012 | 2:27 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Ready for the Kosher Chili Cook-Off?
Friday’s paper highlights the 19th annual Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-Off atTiferet Israel, and the three friends — Jack Baum, Mark Kleinman, and Dan Prescott — who first got the ball rolling (the pot simmering?) nearly two decades ago. The event draws more than 5,000 people these days, and around 50 teams will compete on March 18.
If — in Prescott’s words — the heartburn-gift “that keeps on giving” isn’t enough to entice you, consider Tiferet Isreal’s top 10 reasons to attend, which just arrived via email.
10. There’s more to eat than just chili; vegetarian chili teams compete, and non-chili options are sold too!
9. The weather is almost always great. Even years when Dallas gets snow one week later.
8. You can cozy up with thousands of Kosher food lovers.
7. You can support excellent charities simply by eating.
6. You can challenge yourself to eat like a real Texan by taking a chili-pepper challenge.
5. You and your family get to take a break from Passover cleaning.
4. There was nothing like this in the old country (“back east”* or Europe)
3. You can check out the brand new Northaven Trail in our backyard.
2. This is the original Kosher Chili Cook-Off – we’ve been copied by other cities, but you don’t have to leave Dallas for this one!
1. Your rabbi would approve. In fact, your rabbi will probably be there!*Actually, Rhode Island has a kosher chili cook-off these days. But reason No. 2 covers that.
By Georgia Fisher Mar. 14, 2012 | 3:38 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS
