By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Longtime Town Council of Addison member Roger Mellow will come in for well-deserved honors when he is recognized at the Seasons of Service event at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday Oct. 29 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Addison.
Whether in the role of organizer, behind the scenes worker, or inspirational leader, community servants help address critical needs and build better communities. Seasons of Service was designed to identify and thank those individuals like Roger, groups and businesses whose efforts have addressed the needs of a special group or have produced a constructive change in the Metrocrest community. Roger became very involved in Senior Adult Services when he was a Council Member in Addison. His term expired in June 2012 after serving seven years.
By publicizing and celebrating these efforts, the event will highlight existing needs, demonstrate the impact of service and encourage more people to become involved. This new event will focus on a few individuals, faith communities and businesses that have had a positive impact on the lives of the senior residents of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch. In addition to Mellow, the 2013 Seasons of Service honorees are: Baylor Hospital, Carrollton, Home Instead Senior Care #407, Christ United Methodist Church, Deanna Masoner, Frito-Lay/Pepsico, GEICO, Riverside Church, Glenna Grimmer and Herb Weidinger.
Hosted by the mayors of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch, funds raised at the event will benefit programs for older adults provided by the former Senior Adult Services, now newly merged with Metrocrest Social Services, a 501©3 non-profit organization. These two organizations have served as the safety net for Metrocrest residents of all ages for more than 35 years and the August 1 merger combines the expertise and rich history of both organizations to better serve the community.
The public is encouraged to participate in honoring these community servants by becoming a sponsor or by purchasing individual tickets. Sponsorships are available at many levels and single tickets are $50 per person.
New officers named for Dallas Jewish Historical Society
The DJHS, an organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Dallas Jewish community has named its 2013-2014 officers and new board members. Newly elected officers are: Jim Schwartz, president; Stuart Rosenfield, first vice-president; May Sebeel, second vice-president; Liz Liener, recording secretary; and Lori Ordiway, parliamentarian. Newly elected board members include: Marc Andres, Michael Cohen, Scott Cytron, David Golman, Joan Gremont, Hylton Jonas, Peggy Millheiser, Terri Schepps and Ellen Ungerman. Returning board members include Pauline Gravier, Harriet Gross, Angela Horowitz, Esther Meyers, Elya Naxon, Sherry Roosth and Sarah Yarrin.
Join Beth Torah for special guest Stephen Fagin this Sunday
Stephen Fagin, associate curator and oral historian of the Sixth Floor Museum, will be the guest speaker at Congregation Beth Torah on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Just a month before the 50th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy assassination, Fagin will discuss how Dallas came to grips with the tragedy that occurred here and how it ultimately resulted in the opening of the Sixth Floor Museum.
The synagogue’s Sisterhood is sponsoring the breakfast program in collaboration with Men’s Club, Adult Education Committee and the Chai Lights seniors group.
Fagin, who joined the museum staff in 2000, is the author of the new book “Assassination and Commemoration: JFK, Dallas and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.”
The breakfast begins at 9 a.m. and the public is invited. The cost is $5. Beth Torah is located at 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson. For more information, call the synagogue at 972-234-1542.
Jerry McDonald joins Highland Springs
Jerry McDonald is now the director of continuing care at Highland Springs, the Erickson Living retirement community located at the intersection of Coit and Frankford Roads in Far North Dallas.
Previously with the Legacy at Preston Hollow, McDonald holds over 18 years of senior living administration experience.
Opened in March, the continuing care neighborhood at Highland Springs features 108 residences, offering assisted living, memory care, post-acute rehabilitation and nursing care services. It incorporates the integrated health care model developed by Erickson Health that includes full-time physicians, electronic medical records and comprehensive employee training.
In his leadership role, McDonald will be responsible for providing clinical services and achieving a high quality resident experience through a holistic, patient-centered care model that reflects the core values of Highland Springs.
A Plano resident, McDonald has a master’s degree in science for long-term care administration from the University of North Texas.
Currently chairman of the advisory board for Dallas-based AIDS Arms, Inc., he also served as the organization’s board chairman from 2006-2008.
Lakehill students excel on SAT
Mazal tov to three Lakehill Preparatory seniors, John Devine (son of Sharon Mansfield and John Devine), Matt Graff (son of Jonathan Graff and Audrey Miklius) and Ethan Harrison-Weil (son of Alan Wright and Jenny Weil) who have been named National Merit semifinalists for the Class of 2014.
More than 1.5 million juniors in nearly 22,000 high schools entered the 2014 National Merit Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT).
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to advance in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, with a combined worth of more than $35 million, that will be offered next spring.
“These students represent some of the most academically talented in the country,” said Headmaster Roger Perry. “We join our teachers and their proud parents in congratulating them for this highly esteemed academic honor.”
While on the subject of Lakehill goings on, the school will hold its 15th annual Trek for Tech on Saturday, Nov. 9.
The one-mile Fun Run and chip-timed 5K race begins and ends at Lakehill’s main campus at 2720 Hillside Drive. The Fun Run begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:30 a.m. Enjoy live music from Lakehill freshman Ruby Sanchez and Lakehill eighth grader Kaia Brown and her band Rosalynd throughout the event.
An awards ceremony will follow the races at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be presented to the overall male and female finishers and the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, and first place male and female for the following age groups: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+.
Packet pick-up is available at the school Nov. 4-8 from 8-10 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. and on race day beginning at 7 a.m.
On-site registration is available Nov. 4-8 from 8-10 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. Race day registration closes at 8 a.m. Late registration is $30. All proceeds are used for technology enhancements for the school. Get more information and register online at http://getmeregistered.com/TrekForTech.
