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Turtle Creek Association Ain’t Just Your Same Old Homeowners’ Association–Thank Heaven!

At most homeowners’ associations and organizations, it’s a big deal to present and vote on the new officers. Ah, but the Turtle Creek Association is a totally different operation. Just imagine Board Chairman Ann Swisher with Ed Beanland (treasurer), Dick Geiger (secretary), Anne Crews, Robert Dotson, Jane Dunne, Scott Kimple, Kate Kosut, John Lesselyong, Allan McBee, Paul Rich, Dr. Ann Stuart, Janet Watts, and Will Terry making up your board. A little like having Mario Andretti warming up your Ferrari in the turnaround at the Mansion.

Oh, and speaking of which, The Mansion is where the Turtle Creek Association held its annual association meeting last night. Most folks hold it in the neighborhood church, school, or clubhouse. The standard is already set. Gear up.

As the jam packed room listened to Ann Switzer discuss the accomplishments and plans for the association, such stellars as Caroline Rose Hunt (that cutie pie) hosted the event, Nelda Pickens (pictured)pretty in pink extolled the virtues of the Creekies, Garrett Boone in bow tie revealed plans for his new digs in the Turtle Creek community (oh, my!!! DallasDirt will have more info), Bev and Terry Heil admitted to loving life in the clouds along Turtle Creek, and Ango Wynne  joined the crowded room.

Meanwhile Mayor Tom  Leppert got a “get-out-of-jail card.” It seems that he was pretty far down on the agenda, but got moved up to second place. Was it due to his good looks, his needing to be at another five-star event, or a pressing issue about the Dallas world? Heck, no! The poor guy was fighting major allergy challenges. We feel your pain, Tom Terrific. Did you get a good whiff of bad stuff at the Mary Kay Nature Explore Classroom groundbreaking at The Family Place earlier in the day? Ah-choo! Bless you and pass the Puffs and hand sanitizers!

Anyhow, Tom did his pat-on-the-back duties despite his heady condition and quickly exited accompanied by political princess Carol Reed. Did you know that she’s agreed to participate in this year’s White Rock Marathon as part of a relay team? To quote Ms. Carol, “I know what you are thinking and you are absolutely right, but the proceeds from our efforts will go to Friends of Fair Park.  As you may know, Fair Park is not only a National Historic Landmark but also my favorite place in Dallas.”  Carol’s relay team Fair Park includes City Manager Mary Suhm, Friends of Fair Park Executive Director Craig Holcomb and The Reeds (Laura, Angela and Carol). They should do well, since they also run the city.

Ah, but then the TCA big surprise came out!  No, silly, not a gift box. Rather, Dr. Jeff Gusky (pictured). Besides being an ER doc in East Texas, he’s a photographer who loves Turtle Creek–not just any photog, but a poetic, photographic artist. Seems Jeff has created a whole series of photos on Turtle Creek. Yup, our little creek that runs through the toniest parts of Dallas and the Park Cities is picture perfect. Besides his photographic talents (pictured) and using some of his incredible buddies in the Dallas photographic community like Marty Perlman, Jeff has created an upcoming exhibition with a book in the offing with proceeds going to the revitalizing and maintaining the magic of Turtle Creek.

Copyright 2007-2009 Jeff Gusky

ADMISSION: I grew up along Turtle Creek before it was high-end. It was a magical place where wildlife thrived and children observed in wonderment at the natural beauty of a creek in an urban setting. We learned to skip rocks, bury  dead robins, and tell the good snakes from the bad. Loved the turtles except when they chomped on the webbed feet of the ducks.

Turtle Creek is no huge, drop-dead project like the Trinity Trust, but it is a gem that Dallas has and the Turtle Creek Association is working to maintain.