If you ever wanted to see what our neighborhood public schools are up to, this is your chance. The Northwest Council of PTAs host Open House events this week.

Review curriculum, meet the principals, teachers and other parents. Plus, you can learn about all the extended learning opportunities and extra-curricular activities that make these schools stand out.

The Open House idea started in 2009 with Hillcrest and W.T. White high school parents. The Northwest Council of PTAs hopes to extend it district-wide.

The first event is Tuesday at Nathan Adams. Go here for a full schedule for all the DISD schools in the Preston Hollow area.

Marsh Middle School has come a long way over the past decade or so, and there’s no doubt that the ROTC program has played a major part. We’ve written about the program several times in the Advocate.

Later this month, the PBS show “Ideas in Action With Jim Glassman” will feature Marsh ROTC in an episode about what schools are doing to end the drop-out rate. Since ROTC and Coach David Bates came to Marsh in 1999, the students involved have performed better academically, and they’re staying in school. What’s more – the program receives barely any funding from the district, which pays for Bates’ salary, and that’s it. So, it’s no surprise that Marsh is a shining example of what a school can do with limited money and resources.

Most recently, the ROTC has been raising funds to establish a military museum, which we wrote about in our October 2011 issue. It’s a student-driven project that will help Marsh’s ROTC play a role in educating younger kids in the district while also honoring neighborhood veterans. They’re still collecting memorabilia. Call Bates at 214.549.1826 or stop by the school, which is at 3838 Crown Shore.

Check out this Advocate video to learn more about the museum:

The kids at the Jewish Community Center just got a little closer to nature. On Sunday, the JCC celebrated the completion of the J Naturescape, a new playground that boasts gardens, climbing walls, hills, caves, rock piles and water features.

The idea was born out of the J Camp and Early Childhood directors looking for more ways to get children out from in front of the television and into nature. Julie and Jay Liberman led a committee that came up with the vision and found local donors to help fund the project.

North Haven Gardens continues its free series on proper lawn watering, following the city’s latest restrictions. The “Water Right” workshop is Feb. 18 at the garden center.

Elizabeth Esterchild and Judy Mank volunteer at Midway Hills Christian Church making blankets as part of Project Linus.

DeGolyer, Withers and the Northwest Council of PTAs host a special program for parents at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at W.T. White High School.

Guest speaker Brenda Bird presents “Building Stronger Families with Love & Logic Tools.” Bird travels the country motivating parents and teachers about how to raise more responsible children. She’s a mother and former high school teacher herself.

The program will explore topics like “one sentence intervention,” the “anticipatory consequence,” and “three communication styles.”

It’s all part of “Love & Logic,” a national program that provides resources and techniques that help parents cope with power struggles and have more fun raising their kids.

Children’s Medical Center of Dallas isn’t located in Preston Hollow, but a new organization for young professionals is attracting lots of Ursuline, Jesuit, Hockaday, ESD and other North Dallas private school grads as it fosters young leaders and supports Dallas’ not-for-profit children’s hospital.

Sarah Smith, who graduated from Ursuline, serves as Board Chairman for “The One” Society, founded in 2010 to engage young people starting their careers to include philanthropy in their busy lives. In an age when community service is often required to complete high school and college, recent graduates bring years of experience and multiple finely-tuned skills to the world of fundraising and volunteerism. “The One” Society merges fun social events with hands-on service opportunities.

Board members Bryan Grabowsky (Jesuit), Britt Luecke (ESD), Carey White (Ursuline), Alex Wales (Ursuline) and Emily Rembert (Ursuline) are hoping to welcome a sea of Preston Hollow faces at the 3rd annual Membership Launch Party January 26th. The event will be held at Sfuzzi Uptown, 2533 McKinney Avenue, from 6-8:30pm, and they’re hoping their friends will bring along work buddies or college connections who may be hoping to “click in” to the Dallas scene in a more meaningful way.

“The One” Society has an annual membership contribution fee of $100 (discounted to $75 if you join in January and payable in full or monthly) and has raised more than $73,000 for Children’s with the help of more than 270 young professionals over its first two years. (They’ve added a new couple’s membership this year, $200 for 2 or $150 before Feb. 1). An extensive calendar of free events is open to members, including happy hours, hospital tours, volunteer & patient parties and educational events.

To join, you can show up to Sfuzzi or email Sarah here or Emily here. As the mom of a former patient at Children’s, I can tell you there’ll be lots of families who’ll be glad you did.

Looking for a way to give back this year? Here’s an idea.

A neighborhood resident is working hard to make sure foster kids receive the resources they deserve, but she needs help from the community. In our November 2011 issue, we profiled Michelle Armour, founder of Foster Kids Charity. She and her team put together care packages for foster children throughout the region. And her back story is pretty amazing.

Now, Armour is trying to organize a community service project, Give Love, Give a Home, inviting the public to help supply care package items while engaging in special programs and activities about the needs of foster kids.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 14 at in the community room at Valley View Center in Far North Dallas. To get involved, email Armour at michelle@fosterkidscharity.org.

Could Trader Joe's open in Preston Hollow? That's one of the most-viewed stories on our site.

Another year has passed, so let’s take a look back at some of the Preston Hollow stories that attracted the most readers to our site. And, if you haven’t been following the Advocate blog, here’s what you’ve been missing:

1. W.T. White assistant principal passes away

Terry Durr wasn’t just an assistant principal. He was a mentor who helped countless W.T. White ninth-graders find their way to success.

2. How Spongebob ended up on the Forest Lane mural

This one struck a chord with neighborhood alumni who remember when the W.T. White art club painted the mural in the 1970s. They launched a restoration project, which has been delayed since some Glen Meadows neighbors welcomed the new Spongebob addition. Plus, there’s some confusion over who owns the wall. Updates coming soon.

3. Meso Maya restaurant coming to Preston and Forest

El Fenix owners spawned a new concept in our neighborhood, and it’s pretty darn good.

4. Elevation Burger opens Saturday

Apparently, we love new restaurant additions to Preston Hollow. This burger joint seems to still be going strong.

5. Q&A: ‘Design Star’ Leslie Ezelle

A neighborhood resident and former HGTV  “Design Star” contestant channeled her efforts into a new project last October – breast cancer awareness. Ezelle, a survivor herself, turned heads across the city with her giant metal bra sculpture.

(more…)

Town North YMCA installed 17 solar panels to create an energy-efficient system, reducing consumption by 35 percent. The facility uses the energy to heat water for the locker rooms, indoor swimming pool and laundry.