As she cleaned teeth and checked for cavities, Dr. Elba Garcia became known among mothers of her primarily young patients as not only their dentist, but also a sounding board for community issues.

“This street over here is awful. The library, the lake … What happened to the police department?” … more

You see them on TV and listen to them on the radio. Their faces and voices are recognized, respected, criticized and even adored, but out of the studio, these neighborhood stars are not so different from us — they exercise, stuff their faces, idolize heroes, love their kiddos, and dream … more

For 25 years, they have called her The Chicken Lady. That’s because neighborhood resident BETTY BRAMBLE has become known among the homeless community as the woman who serves them chicken — usually bucketfuls of the fried variety, plus whatever else she can find.

How did this begin?
I tell you … more

This month, make a purchase …
…  of an Easter Seals donation card at any neighborhood CVS, featured on the gift card racks next to retail and restaurant gift cards, and offered in denominations of $5 to $25. Each purchase benefits the Easter Seals’ efforts to advance the independence of … more

Welcome to the seventh annual Advocate rosé column, where our motto is: If it’s summer and you have $10, you can buy a pretty good rosé – and sometimes even get change back.

Chatting with a friend led to the burglary of an expensive power tool.

Rick Walters was doing some woodwork in his detached garage, when a friend stopped by to talk. A contractor who does home renovations exclusively in Oak Cliff, Walters walked into his Kessler Park home for about 10 … more

How would a daytime curfew for school-age students affect crime issues in our neighborhood?

As my wife and I approach our twenty-third summer together, there are many times when our thoughts are eerily in-sync.

On car trips, in particular, we tend to be able to read each others’ thoughts with uncanny accuracy. For example, I know when she will want to stop for lunch … more