Richardson Library Back in Business
A temporary Homes for Beloved City Service By Patti Otte While the City of Richardson’s original library undergoes its much anticipated transformation, citizens can once again enjoy the Richardson Library’s approximately 235,000 items in its new, albeit temporary, 29,000 sq. ft. home. The space has been thoughtfully designed to maximize the space and create a welcoming environment for its patrons. The recently opened library is housed in space adjacent to the new City Hall, but it can be tricky to find, almost hiding in plain sight. 2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard is its street address, but visitors can easily access the library via a driveway entrance off Plano Road. As potential guests travel northbound on Plano Road from Campbell, the library can be found on the west side of the street just a few turn-ins north of Calloway’s Nursery. Alternately, the entrance off Plano Road is just south of the light at N Greenville Avenue. At first glance, the building can be mistaken for an office warehouse, but the City has installed informative signs around the complex, indicating entrances for the library, the new City Hall, and the City Hall annex. Many aspects of the library have remained the same. Residents can still check out or drop off physical materials and InterLibrary Loans are once again available. Notarial services and programming for adults, teens and children are back in full swing. Guests will also have the benefit of complimentary WiFi with hotspots for checkout. The library’s business center includes a laptop kiosk for use within the library; both black & white and color printing; a copier; and 3D printing. Tables, chairs and study carrels are scattered throughout the library for adults, teens and children. New computer work stations Children’s Area And while the new facility does not have meeting spaces for the public, it does have both a story time room and a conference room for library programming. Guests will, however, encounter a few changes. Due to its size, the temporary location does not have private study areas and will not be accepting donations. The library does have laptop computers for checkout, but no longer has desktop computers for public use. The library’s impressive 11-bin automated sorter helps streamline the circulation process for staff members. It uses RFID tags to sort and check in items and prints out hold slips if the item has a hold request. Circulation staff members then match up the slip with the item and place it on the hold shelf for the patron. Items are sorted by their collection and location within the building, making it easier and quicker to get them back on the shelf for the next visitor. Most items are available to check out for three weeks. BOOKbabble “to go” bags have an extended check-out time of six weeks. Lending periods for Interlibrary Loans are set by the lending library. States Library Director Jennifer Davidson, “Our goal is for the community to feel proud to have a place that promotes learning, inclusivity, and equal access to knowledge, aiding in personal growth and community well-being.” Mission accomplished, Ms. Davidson. For more information about the library’s many programs, visit http://cor.net/library. Tables and study carrels for public use Library’s 11-bin automated sorter LIBRARY LOCATION & HOURS: 2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard Richardson, TX 75082 Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday – Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday 2:00 pm – 6:00
A New Beginning for J.J Pearce
Recently, J.J. Pearce High School has undergone an “out with the old and in with the new” transformation. Anyone familiar with the school has endured these changes over the last three years. Plans for the renovation of the school date as far back as 2019.
Debasish “Ron” Nag (A Richardson Visionary on a Mission to Change the Face of Healthcare Through Innovation)
Ron Nag’s official title on LinkedIn — Senior Executive & Entrepreneur, specializing in Engineering, Technology, Healthcare and Business Development
Altrusa International of Richardson, Inc.
By Jean Stuart and Patti Otte Nationally-renowned biochemist and cancer researcher Helen Dyer once stated, “Volunteering is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” A group of women in Richardson lives by that motto. They are members of Altrusa International of Richardson, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating in the city since 1967. These dedicated volunteers are shaping the future through acts of service and giving. Founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1917, Altrusa International, Inc. has 392 clubs worldwide in 19 countries, 36 of which are in Texas. The name “Altrusa” was coined from ALT (altruism) and USA (United States), reflecting the patriotism of the WWI era in America. Altrusa International of Richardson, Texas, Inc. was presented with a charter on May 23, 1967. The club is governed by officers and a board of directors. Currently, there are more than seventy regular members plus emeritus members. Altrusa Richardson hosts the “Outstanding Woman of Today… Builders of Tomorrow” awards luncheon, a fundraiser held annually in the fall. The awards luncheon recognizes the tremendous achievements of working women— women of leadership—who exemplify determination and innovation and have made an outstanding contribution in their field and have “Hearts for Humanity.” Monies raised by the event fund the club’s service projects and contributions for the following year. Altrusa founding a choose Kind library in Kenya Altrusa hosts party at Ability House Altrusan delivering coats to Network Last year alone, among many other altruistic acts, Altrusa Richardson accrued 14,045 hours of service (a $478,343 value if hours were paid). In addition, they funded $13,000 in scholarships and $12,000 in grants to community nonprofits, donated 500 emergency food kits and 270 coats to NETWORK, and set up and maintained 20 Choose Kind libraries in RISD. Altrusa Richardson’s target population is children, elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged persons. Jean Stuart, current vice president who will become president in the 2024-2025 term, adds, “We search for need. We have adopted a home that cares for six adults with disabilities; we celebrate their birthdays with gifts and cake and celebrate/decorate for holidays (i.e. Halloween and Christmas). We call Bingo and hold auctions (with paper money and gifts we provide) at local area senior assisted living facilities. We celebrate Kindness Weekend every April, during which we not only spread kindness but also involve the city and other organizations.” Choose Kind Library funded by Altrusa “It is not enough to be good. Altrusans must be good for something” – Mamie L. Bass, Altrusa’s first national president Preparing gifts to give female veterans Stuart goes on to say, “Altrusa is different because, while we donate some money to others, most of what we do is hands-on, meeting those we are serving, while loving what we do. It seems that all our projects are filled with laughter and camaraderie. We say join us for fun, friendship, kindness, service and community.” The organization hopes to grow and will be hosting ‘recruitment’ events in the next few months. They have many upcoming projects and welcome others to help them better serve the community. Furthermore, Altrusa Richardson is now opening the Grant application process for the year and looking for community nonprofits who might apply for those grants. For more information about Altrusa Richardson, visit http://altrusarichardson.com. Altrusa Richardson Encourages Area Nonprofits To Apply For Grants Altrusa International of Richardson announces that applications are now being accepted for grants to qualifying area nonprofits for the 2023-2024 grants cycle. Grants typically range from $1,000-$1,500. Monies provided by Altrusa grants must be used by awardees for specific projects benefitting the community and disbursed no later than May 31, 2024, unless otherwise reported. A fillable application form and submission instructions are available on the Altrusa website at http://altrusarichardson.com/grants Additionally, reminder letters are being sent to 501(c)(3) recipient organizations who received funding last year. The deadline for submitting a grant application is August 31, 2023. Applications will be reviewed by the grants committee. Funding recommendations will then be submitted to the Altrusa International of Richardson Foundation, which will make the awards. Grantees will receive notification by October 31, 2023. If you need more information about the grant submission process, please contact Grants Committee Chair Mary Shiroma at 214-914-3634 or by email at maryshiroma@outlook.com.
Arts & Culture in Richardson
ENJOY THE SHOW! CELEBRATING RISD’S OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE PROGRAMS What better way to say goodbye to summer and hello to the new school year than by shining a spotlight on Richardson ISD’s topnotch high school theatre programs. You’ll find something for everyone in your family in the variety of shows these outstanding directors and their students plan to perform this year. Pearce Theatre Pearce Theatre has been entertaining audiences for fifty years. In fact, recently actors from the very first show done at Pearce came to the school and found the places they had signed their names under the stage so many years ago. During those early years, Pearce Theatre was run by the legendary director Lynn Zednick Shaw, commonly known to her students as “Zed.” She passed away in 2009, leaving the program in the capable hands of Director Heather Biddle. Biddle, a class of ‘95 Pearce graduate, has always been active in theatre, dance and performing. That the stories they tell touch lives and help people have conversations that they might not otherwise have been brave enough to undertake is what makes Biddle so proud to be involved in theatre. She states, “We give a place to all students at Pearce. I also run our adaptive needs theatre program and we make sure that ‘All Means All’ when it comes to the art and beauty and joy of theatre.” Biddle believes in “adopting” students who aren’t traditional theatre kids and providing them with a whole new world. Danezion Mills is one such student. He was, according to Biddle, a great kid with an uncertain future. She encouraged him to try theatre, which he did. However, challenges in his personal life threatened to derail his future. So Danezion was ‘adopted’ by the extended theatre family and its supporters in the community. He not only ended up attending Texas State and their top tier theatre program, earning a BFA in Theatre, but he is now living and working in Los Angeles as a professional actor. Besides positively impacting individual students, Pearce Theatre is also a pilot program, meaning that it gets firstrun shows from all the major licensing companies in New York, according to Biddle. Their most recent pilot was Mean Girls High School Version, which they took to the International Thespian Festival, otherwise known as “Nationals,” this spring. Still seven months away from the completion of its brand-new theatre, Biddle is having to be flexible and the season is still in flux. Biddle did share that the fall show will not only be a high school premiere, but in fact a regional premiere as they will perform it for the first time in the entire southern region. And in February, Pearce students will be performing in collaboration with the Richardson Theatre Collective for a children’s show, Finding Nemo Kids. Our entire family loved being part of the theatre community at Pearce High School. Theatre provided two of my sons a place where they could challenge themselves, make mistakes, learn new skills, gain confidence, and develop lifelong friendships. The program and the directors made such a positive impact on them that they are both pursuing acting in college. – Tiffany Hoodenpyle, Pearce Theatre mom Biddle is thankful to be able to continue to tell stories and be part of the community’s lives. She states, “Thanks for hanging in there with us as we travel from space to space waiting for our new theatre to open. Thanks to the incredible people at Richardson High School and the Theatre Collective for housing us so many times this past year. And to the Allen Performing Arts Center for opening their doors to us as well. Theatre is such a community and we are so blessed to be part of it.” For more information about the Pearce Theatre program, visit http://pearcetheatre.org Mean Girls Photo Credit: Amy Abney RICHARDSON THEATRE COLLECTIVE AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL Chicago Photo Credit: Cripple Bypass Photography The Theatre Magnet at Richardson High School has existed for decades. About ten years ago, it split into two different magnets—the Theatre Performance Magnet and the Technical Theatre Magnet. In 2019 the program was rebranded into the Theatre Collective at Richardson High School. According to its department chair and director Erik Archilla, its mission is to “foster an inclusive learning community of theatre artists for the purposes of profound student growth and meaningful community engagement.” The Collective operates like a college department in that each year the students learn new skills and can grow in their chosen paths. In the Technical Theatre Magnet, students focus on design, stage craft, or theatre management. In the Theatre Performance Magnet, students learn acting, then branch out into playwriting and directing. During their senior year, students choose a career path of acting, directing, playwriting, theatre education, or theatre administration. Archilla loves working with high school aged students, specifically at RHS. He says, “Our students are incredible. They are so eager to learn more, and it is so exciting to see the lightbulbs go off in their brains when they get a concept. The amount of growth we see from freshmen to senior year is incredible. And watching them take ownership of their work is truly inspiring… It gives me goosebumps every time and I am so stinkin’ proud of each of them.” He is also proud that fourteen Collective students who won superiors at the Texas Thespian Festival and qualified to compete at Thespian Nationals this past summer. All of the Collective’s directors are working professionals in their field and bring real-world experiences to the classroom. They also share their networking connections with their students. Archilla says, “I think one of the things I am most proud of is that we have had many of our students go on to become theatre teachers themselves, some even in RISD. One of our directors, Emily Whitman, graduated from our program.” Whitman enthusiastically states, “Theatre kids are SO. MUCH. FUN. There is never a dull day at
Richardson’s Sesquicentennial
The City of Richardson hosted an exciting Sesquicentennial celebration and Richardson Life Magazine’s summer intern, Reed Granger, covered it. Reed is a rising sophomore at Syracuse University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the Maxwell School fo Citizenship and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Photography at the Newhouse School of Public Communications. Reed grew up in Richardson and has deep roots here. Photo credit for this “scrapbook” belongs to Reed, who states, “Richardson’s 150th anniversary celebration reminds me of the experience I had growing up in this city. I think all of us need to encounter the range of individuals I met and organizations I interacted with at the Sesquicentennial. I saw the Richardson Community Band performing songs for all ages, learned about water marbling and cultural harmony from the Dialogue Institute, and watched Mayor Bob Dubey and the CIty Council place items into a time capsule, which will be opened in 2073. Through these images, I hope that you can see the collective love we share for this place we live. On this day, we celebrated our joy, diversity and long-lasting ability to make this city a home for all of its residents. As a photographer, I aimed to capture this unity. The city of Richardson truly is remarkable.”
Gary Tittle (Chief of Police Richardson Police Department)
I was born in Texarkana, but my parents moved to the metroplex when I was one and I grew up in Murphy. Mom and Dad both worked for the postal service; Mom retired from the Richardson post office, Dad from the Garland post office. While we didn’t live in Richardson, we did a lot of business here and spent time in the area.
Richardson Reads One Book
RICHARDSON’S ANNUAL LITERARY EVENT What do these characters all have in common? • A philosophical dog who loves racing in the rain • A Japanese boy and a Chinese girl who fall in love during WWII • Nine people who are trapped in a collapsed building after an earthquake • Four undocumented Mexican American students and two great teachers who enter a robot building contest • A Texas ranger who tries to solve two racial homicides • A clever octopus who brings family members together Hopefully, you’ve guessed it—they are all characters from a Richardson Reads One Book selection—a program that is now in its nineteenth year. Through an engaging author lecture, Richardson Reads One Book aims to: • Stimulate an interest in the pleasure and the importance of reading • Encourage citizens of the richly diverse Richardson community to come together to openly discuss a selected book and the issues it raises. The Richardson Public Library joined with various other organizations in Richardson to hold the first annual Richardson Reads One Book author lecture in September 2004 and it repeats in September every year because it is National Literacy Month This year’s selection, Remarkably Bright Creatures, is a delightful return to the tradition. If you haven’t read the book, here’s a taste from the author’s website: “After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-yearold son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound more than thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.” Shelby Van Pelt grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and loved the aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium from an early age. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and children now, but her debut novel is still set in the Pacific Northwest where Van Pelt grew up. As a literary program that attracts national and international best-selling authors to our city, Richardson Reads One Book is a singular, successful program in our community. Perhaps our 2012 One Book author, Chitra Divakaruni, said it best: “I believe strongly in the power of story in creating community. It is when we learn about the core of the lives of strangers that they become family to us.” Please join us at this year’s Richardson Reads One Book event at First United Methodist Church Richardson on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 pm. Free tickets will be available at Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers and the Richardson Senior Center beginning Tuesday, September 5. Check out our website at http://cor.net/onebook, like us on Facebook @RROBTX, or follow us on Instagram @richardsonreadsonebook. RROB Shadow box event
Chelsea Jacobs (Owner, Yellow House Story Shoppe)
My name is Chelsea Jacobs and I have had the joy of running my little bookshop since 2019. After hosting book weekends in my home, I moved to a booth in Richardson’s Cottonwood Market in 2020 and have since opened a second location in the coffee shop at Central Commons in Highland Park. I can also be found online at http://yellowhousestoryshoppe.com.
The Power of Pet Rescue and Ownerships
By Nancy McGuire Multiple studies have shown that pet owners reap many physical and mental benefits from their animal friends. Pets offer not only companionship, but also provide a calming presence, help reduce stress and anxiety, and encourage their owners to be physically active. In the case of rescued animals, an extra special bond seems to develop between the two and ‘who rescued whom’ is a phrase heard often among animal rescue groups. Three Richardson-based organizations are rescuing one stray, lost, injured or abused animal at a time. The work they do is demanding and can often take its toll emotionally, but all three rescues are passionate about saving homeless animals. Dallas Street Dog Advocates Although it has ‘Dallas” in its name, Dallas Street Dog Advocates (DSDA) is a Richardson-based rescue. After driving through an area of South Dallas and noticing all the strays, DSDA Vice President Relle Austin came across one dog in particular that tugged at her heart. She coaxed the sickly-looking pup into her car and tried to find a willing rescue, but none would take it. At that moment, Austin realized her calling: to advocate for those dogs who no one, including the typical rescue group, would take. Longtime rescue and foster Elise Bissell and local animal-lover David Maldonado joined Relle in founding DSDA with the mission of rescuing stray and forgotten dogs off the streets of Dallas. DSDA’s staff and facilities are kept minimal so that all funds raised can be used to rescue, vaccinate and spay/ neuter more dogs and cats. They have no kennel space, instead relying solely on fosters willing to act as the bridge between rescue and forever homes. In addition to countless rescues, DSDA also does outreach work in the South Dallas area where so many dogs are dumped. According to Austin, the people in the area who can’t afford the food and vet care necessary to keep their pets in their homes are instrumental in helping DSDA volunteers catch the strays by establishing feeding schedules and routines. They also tell volunteers about the dog’s history. They sponsor spay/ neuter and vaccination clinics as well as pet food drives to support those in need. Although the work is never-ending and can be emotionally draining, Bissell states, “What we have learned from our experience in rescuing dogs off the street is that many of them are highly adoptable. They yearn to love and be loved and deserve to be healthy, happy and have a home of their own.” Austin is driven by the challenge of taking in the most sad and broken animals and providing them the care and love they need to be adoptable pets. “I’m in the rescue business for selfish reasons.” she explains. “The satisfaction and enjoyment from what I do on a daily basis is extremely gratifying.” DSDA Co-Founder Elise Bissell Take Me Home Pet Rescue “One dog, one home, one community, one world. We are all in this together” – Relle Austin, VP, Dallas Street Dog Advocates Also based in Richardson is Take Me Home Pet Rescue (TMHPR), which takes an entirely different approach to animal rescue. Working with a network of other area rescue groups, TMHPR is in constant contact with a myriad of municipal animal shelters in DFW and East Texas to pull dogs and cats believed to be adoptable. Rescue groups such as TMHPR have access to necessary resources such as volunteers, foster homes and media attention that municipal shelters often do not have, thereby making the adoption process easier. TMHPR’s overall goal is to be sure the pets they take in are healthy, sterilized and a good match for their potential adopters. They carefully screen adopters and conduct home visits to be sure the personality and energy level of both pet and potential family are a good fit. Over the last several years, TMHPR has managed to save more than 300 dogs and cats each year. In 2020, TMHPR moved to a new adoption facility at 580 Arapaho Road, which provides more space to host adoption events, has isolation areas for new intakes to make sure no illnesses are spread, and has cat rooms to better house newly tagged felines. While this new facility provides many benefits, TMHPR still relies heavily on fosters to serve as gateways until permanent homes are found for their rescues. Fosters and volunteers are integral to their success in reducing shelter overcrowding and gives the organization the ability to take in more adoptable animals. According to Trish Clark, TMHPR Board Member, volunteer and adopter, “Fosters and volunteers are like gold to us.” She goes on say that “for every foster we bring in, that is just one more animal we can save.” Richardson Animal Services Considered by many to be one of the most well-run municipal shelters in the state, Richardson Animal Services (RAS) takes a different approach in providing animal services but has the same mission: to provide a safe and healthy environment for lost and stray animals. RAS falls under the jurisdiction of Bill Alsup, Health Director for the City of Richardson, but Noura Jammal, the facility’s manager, is responsible for the facility’s day-to-day operations. Noura started working at the RAS sixteen years ago as an animal control officer with no experience and has been caring for the city’s strays ever since. States Alsup, “Noura is a tremendous asset to the City of Richardson, its residents and its pets. Her professionalism and drive for customer service are only exceeded by her passion for animals and their welfare. She has developed many programs that benefit the animals in the shelter’s care and make the Animal Shelter an essential part of the community.” The shelter is open seven days a week (Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and weekends 12:00 – 5:00 pm), a rarity among shelters who are usually open weekdays only. RAS animal control officers answer calls about strays, make welfare checks, conduct rabies quarantine checks, pick up deceased animals, and complete so