Three Cheers for a church, a Spurs player, Arts & Life

1 White Rock Center of Hope and Shoreline City Church — We in the Lochwood area are grateful to have the White Rock Center of Hope nearby where we can help those in need. As part of its mission, the center receives many donated tons of quality food every month to be distributed to people who need a helping hand. It takes a lot of organizational skills to get this done property. 

Luckily, the center gets help from the nearby Shoreline City Church. On the big distribution days, Shoreline supplies dozens of hard-working individuals to help with the process of getting the food into the right hands. This diverse group of volunteers is always upbeat and fun to work with. Sometimes they bring their children to help. 

Far too often we think of a church as a building to go to on Sunday morning. I think of Shoreline as an example of following the teachings of Jesus, of giving of yourself to help others. It gives joy and renews your faith to see this eager group on distribution days at the center. 

John Stettler, Dallas/Lochwood 

2 Victor Wembanyama — Full disclosure, I love the Dallas Mavericks, especially Cooper Flagg and the beacon of hope that he represents. In recent weeks though, I have been excited by another Texas powerhouse – the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. 

I believe Wembanyama and the Spurs represent a potential vision of where the Mavs can be in a year or two. The most stunning part of this vision is how Wembanyama, a second-year player, carries himself and the demeanor with which he leads his team. 

His skill on the court is second to none in the “big man” category, but more than that, his personality and interactions with his teammates and coaches inspire joy. Whether they are co-stars or players in purely supporting roles, he seems to love and respect them and they him. Their collective smiles and cheers for one another are contagious.  

For a player who bears so much physical abuse, he is for the most part a quiet and humble leader who simply wants to get better every day.  

3 Dallas Morning News Arts & Life section — For those of us overwhelmed by the acrimony so prominent in your May 24 news stories, your featured critics’ columns in the Arts & Life section were a salve, and a delight. 

Four writers on gems of cultural importance remind us of our shared experiences: architecture, music, graphic arts and ballet.  

Mark Lamster (your Pulitzer winner!) on Houston’s newly opened Ismaili Center, Scott Cantrell on the Dallas Chamber Symphony’s May 19 performance, Benjamin Lima on the place of the late Whaling Wall 82 in the downtown streetscape and a tour de force on the choreographer Andrea Miller’s work from Gallim dance. 

All of these critiques were rendered without overlay of political values, though some of the subjects certainly relate to current discourse. A great reminder of the strength we draw from appreciating cultural variety. Thank you. 

Kathy R. Kelly, West Fort Worth