Lake Highlands Advocate

12/31/2025

The facade of Mark Kogut's Vanguard Way home is made up of three different materials: steel, stucco and brick. At just over 7,000 square feet, the interior is drenched with natural light and pops with Kogut’s collection of colorful contemporary art. Kogut designed the home to be a gallery.⁠
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Past a 14-foot sculptural chandelier in the entryway, the home opens into an expansive public area. A large island kitchen sits in the middle. Above it sits a partial floating ceiling, which Kogut added to offset the open coldness of strict contemporary design and introduce an element of intimacy within the space. A large, ceiling-to-floor fireplace may anchor the room, but the focus is decidedly found while facing outside from the kitchen. ⁠
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“I said I wanted to build a house around [the wall of windows], and I want us to design this house as a place where we can put art. This was what it was. So obviously we built everything around this, and we have all these spaces where art can go.”⁠
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https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2025/12/03/how-an-urban-reserve-got-built-after-losing-its-architect/
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📷️: ⁠

Even in dentistry, when you’re working with a child that has an issue, it always felt good to finish the project,” Mark Kogut says sitting in his book-filled study. Kogut worked in pediatrics for 42 years. He’s also somewhat of an enthusiast for

12/30/2025

“Dallas College is offering innovative pathways for women and families to achieve economic security, stability and success with a full slate of wrap-around support services that make these pathways both affordable and achievable,” said Karen Hughes White, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO. “It is only fitting that Dallas College has received Texas Women’s Foundation’s largest-ever educational grant.”

Texas Women's Foundation officials present $500,000 to grateful folks at the Dallas College Foundation. The Texas Women’s Foundation announced a major investment in education and workforce development last month with their $500,000 gift to the Dallas College Foundation. The grant will support prog...

12/29/2025

Tired of looking at the tree already?

12/26/2025

Earlier this year, "USA TODAY’s" 10 Best 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards confirmed something neighbors likely already know — Unrefined Bakery, founded by Anne Hoyt and her daughter Taylor Nicholson, has top-notch gluten-free treats. ⁠
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Named Wholesome Foods Bakery in its early days, the shop opened in Lake Highlands in 2010. As a child, Nicholson recalled that her mother had always been a champion of healthy foods. When she and her mother discovered they couldn’t have gluten anymore because of celiac disease — an ailment in which consumption negatively affects a person’s small intestine — recipes had to change. Unrefined Bakery was born out of this necessity. ⁠
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“In 2010, the marketplace was so different than it is today,” Nicholson says. “I mean, people hadn’t even heard of gluten in 2010." The journey was at first a struggle to find successful recipes, especially since gluten helps bind ingredients during baking. “I had loved to bake, and when I realized I could no longer have gluten, I sort of went into mourning,” Hoyt said in a previous "Lake Highlands Advocate" article. “You kind of have to forget what you know about traditional baking.”⁠
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https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2025/12/05/unrefined-bakery-gluten-free/
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📷️: Justin Schwartz⁠

12/23/2025

“I can’t say that they don’t have some other projects, but there is one tree that, for probably the last month, they’ve gone decently hard almost daily to maybe every other day working on it,” Dallas Park and Recreation biologist Chris Morris says. “It’s still not to the size of what a nest should be, but in the last week or so, it’s starting to kind of flush out and look pretty nice.”

Nick and Nora, the bald eagles of White Rock Lake, have had a busy couple of months. Photo by Mark Fletcher. The pair successfully fledged a pair of eaglets over the spring and summer. In October, however, the eagles’ run of good

12/23/2025

A blue spruce goes on top of the stairs. A travel tree sporting ornaments from family travels. A pink one for a guest bedroom. A purple one for the office. And that’s not even including smaller decorative trees. Christmas is Cindy Terrell's favorite holiday, and she isn’t shy about showing it. Santa statuettes, reindeer prints and mini villages adorn almost every corner of the home. Although, glass decorations have been phased out also to accommodate the grandsons. ⁠
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The two most notable trees for the former Merriman Park Elementary librarian, perhaps, symbolize the fractured collegiate alliances of her family. While Terrell attended Baylor and her husband graduated in Lubbock, her two sons went to Texas and Oklahoma — a sore spot for the family each October. She began decorating a UT-themed tree in her older son’s bedroom after he left for college, so it was only right to erect a Sooner tree when her youngest headed to Norman. ⁠
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Last year, she replaced the contentious pair of plastic green trees with a pink one. Her sons? Not fans, apparently. “The boys really missed that and even though they don’t live here, they have their own families. So I’m bringing back the Texas and the OU trees this year.”⁠

https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2025/12/01/cindy-terrell/
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📷️: Tanner Garza⁠

12/22/2025

Only 9 days left of our end-of-year campaign! If you haven’t had the chance to give yet — or if you’re inspired to strengthen local journalism even further — your support will continue to make a meaningful impact.

And remember, if you donate $85 or more, you’ll receive our limited-edition hand-painted holiday ornament in a velvet box with a display stand, as our heartfelt thank-you. 🎁
https://mtyc.co/w3bjhg

12/22/2025

Lake Highlands basketball dismantled Jesuit 64-41 in its district opener at home Friday.

Lake Highlands basketball dismantled Jesuit 64-41 in its district opener at home Friday. Lake Highlands basketball coach Joe Duffield speaks to the team during a timeout. Photography by Brandon Gonzalez. The Rangers and the Wildcats

12/20/2025

Last minute shopping? Find something for every type of somebody in your life in our gift guide, highlighting local businesses. ⁠
⁠bugsboutique⁠
Again Friends Sprouts Frog $16⁠
⁠shop⁠
Monthly plant subscription (1 plant a month)⁠
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Starter sprout - $24⁠
House plant collection - $42⁠
Exotic collection -$64⁠
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Thai Food and Travel with Chef Nikky $42⁠

https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2025/12/03/the-2025-lake-highlands-gift-guide/
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Lake Highlands Gift Guide It’s that time of year again when we compile a few of our favorite things from our neighborhood stores. Find something for every type of somebody in your life. Compiled by Austin Wood, Katharine Bales & Elizabeth Truelove For the Fam

12/19/2025

Only 12 days left of our end-of-year campaign! If you haven’t had the chance to give yet — or if you’re inspired to strengthen local journalism even further — your support will continue to make a meaningful impact.

And remember, if you donate $85 or more, you’ll receive our limited-edition hand-painted holiday ornament in a velvet box with a display stand, as our heartfelt thank-you. 🎁
https://mtyc.co/w3bjhg

12/19/2025

Elementary, middle and high school students leave class two hours early today. Bus routes and schedules have been adjusted to account for early release.

12/19/2025

Five alumni will receive awards from the Lake Highlands High School Alumni Association this spring.

LHHS The Lake Highlands High School Alumni Association will host their third annual awards presentation dinner at Royal Oaks Country Club on Sunday, April 19. The organization was founded in 2014 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school and connect classmates, uphold