Community

Preservation Dallas selected The Kessler Theater as a 2011 Preservation Achievement Award winner for rehabilitation/adaptive use of a commercial, institutional or mixed-use property. Edwin Cabaniss bought the old theater, renovated it and opened it last year as a live music venue, gallery space, dance and music studio, bar, and restaurant. Richard Davis of Oak Cliff was the architect on the project. The home at 203 N. Willomet also won for rehabilitation or adaptive use of a residential historic property. Owners are Raymond L. Switzer and Michael K. Justus.

The Texas Real Estate Commission’s Associate Leadership Council renovated and expanded a 2,000-square-foot space for Promise House to use as a multipurpose room for its clients. The update is estimated at $100,000. The young real estate agents put in some 2,000 volunteer hours planning, moving, painting, carpeting, doing construction, cleaning up the site and landscaping. Promise House is an Oak Cliff-based charity that helps homeless and at-risk youth.

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Dr. Jonathan Palan, artistic director of the Turtle Creek Chorale and Kessler Park area resident, was named Minister of Music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church. He conducted his first service May 22. He previously served as conductor of the Michigan State University Collegiate Choir and assistant director of the MSU Men’s Glee Club. As music director at San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California, Palant’s competitive vocal ensembles rated among the best high school choirs in Southern California and appeared in major motion pictures such as SKG/Dreamworks’ “Almost Famous”.