This has been quite a summer for the passing of wonderful, talented people.
It should remind all of us that there is more to life than what kind of title you have, how much money you take home or who is living "better" than you. You should live YOUR OWN life...and to the fullest and without threat or harm to others.

Remember what is important, who put you here and respect that. I wish I had learned that lesson sooner than now...Wish I had learned this time last year. But it's never too late. So what are you waiting for? (more)

I’m back in town and ready to dive into your summer activities.
And while I was away, White Rock Lake got that lighting plan approved after all. Read the full story from Dallas Morning News reporter Nancy Visser on page 14. There has been so much debate about this — some folks don’t want them and some are thrilled, but mostly because this master plan isn’t going to be executed overnight, I would like to know your thoughts on the likelihood of it even coming to fruition. Leave your thoughts here on my blog by posting your opinions in the comment section below it. Let your voice be heard and we will print your thoughts in next week’s edition of neighborsgo.

We hit triple-digit heat Tuesday. This means summer is here already and in full force. It also means it’s time for your favorite Fourth of July events … namely the Little Forest Hills annual parade. This year’s theme is “60-plus Years of American Pop Culture.” I’ve already noticed the signs in a few yards along Lakeland Drive. Should be a rockin’ good time. Will you be there? If you are, you know what to do. Snap a photo, post on neighborsgo.com and look for it in print next week. Get all the details on page 6.

Summer also marks the end of school but not before we honor our talented and determined valedictorians and salutatorians. We asked them all kinds of fun questions like “If your high school mascot fought your college mascot, who would win?” Get your scrap-booking scissors ready and turn to pages 8-9. I would like to thank Gigi Ekstrom, Kristin Mannari, Susan Matusewicz and Emily Martin for tracking these very busy students down and getting the responses to us. 

How was your Father’s Day? I didn’t get to see my dad on Father’s Day because I was swamped with photo gigs. I did however enjoy the love and joy of family at the ArtLoveMagic Father’s Day Show on June 20. Look for photos from that event on page 12. If you aren’t familiar with ArtLoveMagic, it’s a local art initiative that focuses on artists and performers connecting with their audience and the community. The organization is in the process of becoming a 501(c)3 and works to make a postive impact. Learn more about them at artlovemagic.com. 

It’s week two with me at the helm and we already have our first flub out of the way.

 

I have to apologize to the parents of James Newby V and Matthew Taraba and as well as the Bishop Lynch High School Class of 2009 grads themselves. A production error resulted in a switch of the two profiles on Page 10 of the May 29 edition of neighborsgo.

 

My deepest apologies, and for scrap-booking efforts, we have rerun their photos and a short bio of them here on this page. Read them in their entirety at neighborsgo.com/stories/36697.

Even though I live in your community, I have to say I’ve felt even more welcomed since being dubbed your editor — even through the hiccups. Everyone has been very warm. Shout out to Brenda Copes, Gigi Ekstrom, Judy McMillen, Phil Mendershausen and Monica L. zum Felde to name a few. Ironically, zum Felde and I crossed paths when I edited the Mesquiteneighborsgo section when I took a photo of her that ran on the cover If I haven’t said small world yet, I am saying it now.

 

And getting acquainted with folks has brought up a few questions about how to get your stories in print. We only run content posted on neighborsgo.com unless there is a very special circumstance. I understand that things can happen, and I’m also open to coming to your work place or home to talk you through using the site if you need the assistance.

Now that all of the “official” stuff is out of the way, time for my favorite wildlife story of the week. Did you hear the one about the ducks? I really like Nancy Visser’s East Dallas Blog, which you can find at eastdallasblog.dallasnews.com.One of her entries this week is about a cop who stopped traffic in order to assist some feathered residents.

Visser writes, “It was a scene straight out of

Make Way

for Ducklings, that 1940s children’s book. But it happened in modern-day East Dallas. A Forest Hills resident reported seeing a Dallas police officer stop traffic on

San Rafael Drive

to escort a mother duck and her babies across the street…” You can read the rest at tinyurl.com/copsavesducks. Sorry for the cliffhanger.

 

Well just as soon as I’m here, I’m gone again. As you are reading this I will be out of town until June 14 but I will be more than ready to get back out there and represent your community the best I can. Have a wonderful weekend.

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