Back Talk Lakewood/East Dallas

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.)

Gangster linked to White Rock area home invasion tells all to police

I’ve been loosely following the story about this “highly organized” gang responsible for a series of home invasions around Dallas — perhaps most notable were two that took place at White Rock Area homes. During one of said attacks, masked robbers brutalized an 81-year-old retired lawyer William McGarvey in attempts to learn where he kept his money (they crushed one of his ears with pliers and poured water over his face to simulate drowning).

The mob's mastermind was supposedly William Sedric Autrey, 39, former owner of the North Dallas nightclub Club X, who might have used the club to get info about potential victims. Earnest Lynn Ross, 43, is accused of being Autrey’s brutish co-conspirator, the one who inflicted, allegedly, aforementioned attack. Then they had a slew of both white-collar and street thugs working under them. This Morning News piece does a pretty thorough job of telling the story behind the gang’s formation and how police brought ‘em down — in a nutshell, Autrey got busted and brought down the whole operation in an effort to spare himself a life in the penitentiary.

This is a pretty fascinating case — I figure I'll be more closely following what happens next.

Run Dallas, run!

The Dallas Running Club is an outstanding organization, especially for those who live in the White Rock area … and who are totally masochistic. I say that with no fear of objection because I’ve experienced the pain first hand. I signed up for the club so I could get in on the marathon-training program. When I did so, I questioned my sanity. Signing up for marathon training in the middle of Texas’ August? Brutal. I couldn’t believe it when I showed up for the first meeting in mid-July and the Winfrey Point building was packed wall-to-wall with other crazies just like me. What is wrong with us? I asked myself then … and again around mile seven Saturday morning.

Despite its location in a city that sees a good three months of 100-degree temperatures, Dallas Running Club just hit the 3,000-member mark making it the third largest running club in the U.S., behind New York Road Runners and Atlanta Track Club.

SMU rowing team leaving Bath House for White Rock Boathouse

While chatting with Roger Kallenberg as we walked his dog around the neighborhood (see "Wall of Sticks", July Advocate), I learned that the SMU rowing team will soon be leaving the Bath House Cultural Center’s basement, where they’ve stored equipment and based practices for several years. 

Here’s the scoop: They’re actually moving from the Bath House to the newly-founded White Rock Boathouse as a part of the Boathouse’s “community of recreational rowers” initiative.  The Boathouse is currently home to the Woodrow Wilson High School rowing team and the Bishop Lynch High School rowing team, as well as quite a few people who just like to row.

No worries for Bath House fans, though; the cultural center is already looking into ways to fill the space. They’re considering everything from a complete renovation of the area to just letting another group lease it for a while.  They’re also looking for ideas from the interested public, so if you’ve got a particularly stellar idea, pick up the phone and give them a ring. 

As for the nature of the parting, Marty Van Cleek from the Bath House promises that the center and the team are definitely still friends.  “We’ve had a great time with them here, and we’ll certainly miss them, but this will be a really good thing for them.  The Boathouse is beautiful, and we’re happy for them.”

White Rock Lake neighbors live life to the greenest

Here's something interesting in the DMN: A neighborhood couple opened the doors to its 1.25-acre property on the west shore of White Rock Lake, talking about life on the lake as well as their environmentally friendly lifestyle. John and Margie Haley have bees and chickens on the property, as well as hybrid cars, a solar oven, solar panels, sustainable landscaping and the like. The story also includes a roster of resources about renewable energy and living green.

The Santa Fe Trail: It's time again for that vision thing.

Last night a new organization, Friends of Santa Fe Trail, held a well-attended public meeting at Professional Bank to introduce the organization, provide some update on the trail and to recruit participants for the group's activities. The Friends stated purpose is to supplement and support the trail by developing a detailed vision for future improvements (a master plan) and raising funds to pay for and implement this vision. Currently, only the basic components of the trail are funded; the 12' wide strip of concrete and a bridge over Garland Road. Friends of the the Santa Fe Trail hope to augment these features significantly. Currently, Phase II from Fair Park to Glasgow is well under construction. Phase I from Glasgow to White Rock Lake is scheduled to begin at the end of this year. This could be a good effort because there appears to be a real need for a vision. And in developing this vision, we should first clearly understand what we're getting.

Cyclists' death a grim reminder to White Rock Area riders, runners and drivers

Just weeks ago the Ride of Silence was held at White Rock Lake in remembrance of a local cyclist hit and killed while riding there. Similar rides are held all over the world with the intent of raising awareness about safety. Sadly, a quickly organized Ride of Silence was held at Joe Pool Lake yesterday to remember Mansfield residents Meredith Hatch and Mike Alfaro who were hit and killed by the 24-year-old drunk driver of a Lincoln Navigator over the weekend.

What is the vision for White Rock?

Elisabeth's comment in the previous post gets at the heart of the White Rock discussion, namely differing visions of the lake and it's future.

There are different kinds of parks and the question is what kind do we see for White Rock. To some, a park looks like their back yard, only bigger. The grass is neatly trimmed, there are swings and slides and things for the kids to play on, a paved area or shelter for gatherings, maybe a place to cook out, basketball courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields, swimming pools or tennis courts. This is the way my neighborhood park looks and that's great. It's especially beautiful about dawn, the time I typically use it. This type of maintained, manicured treatment also happens to be the way all trail-related development in this area is handled, at least for a sizeable distance on either side of the trail.

Another kind of park is more rustic. Native plants and grasses are allowed to grow to their natural state. In this kind of environment, wildlife of all kinds are more likely to flourish. To view some of these areas, it is necessary to use small, unpaved paths. It's a natural beauty more typical to rural parks or state parks.

Will there be new lighting at White Rock Lake?

I honestly couldn't tell you after tonight's meeting. As the meeting progressed, the number of light poles being posted in parking lots along West Lawther seemed to decrease.

The city already has payed $300,000 of its 2006 bond funds to purchase 54 of the 20-foot light poles topped with acorn-shaped lamps. The meeting Councilman Sheffie Kadane called was to discuss the project and address neighbors' concerns about the lights. Of course, part of the problem is that no matter how neighbors feel about them, the lights are already in the city's possession, and there's nothing that can be done about that now.

We learned all kinds of things about lumens, watts and footcandles that I won't go into — I assume if you were interested in those kinds of details, you were probably at tonight's meeting — but a few observations stood out to me:

Ride of Silence tonight at White Rock Lake Tee Pee Hill

Tonight at White Rock Lake — the Ride of Silence. The slow-paced bike ride is in memory of Larry Schwartz, a Dallas bicyclist killed while riding at White Rock Lake. Other participating cities around the world will hold similar rides. It will start at 7 p.m. tonight at Tee Pee Hill. The Ride also serves to raise awareness about bicycle safety. Go here to see a PSA about the cause and the ride and to learn more. Visit the For the Love of the Lake site for most recent event details, course map and to volunteer to help out.