North Texas’ coolest holiday host, DJ Polar Ice of The Light Park, delivered festive cheer, high-energy music, and unforgettable family fun during two beloved holiday traditions: the 2025 Dallas Holiday Parade and Little Elm’s Very Merry Christmas celebration and parade.

A fan favorite across Texas, DJ Polar Ice entertained thousands of spectators across both cities, spreading the joy, sparkle, and music synonymous with The Light Park—Texas’ biggest drive-thru holiday lights spectacular.

A Frosty Favorite at the Dallas Holiday Parade

On Saturday morning, DJ Polar Ice joined the iconic Dallas Holiday Parade, appearing alongside The Light Park float featuring dazzling lights, themed décor, and costumed characters. With an estimated 400,000+ spectators lining the streets and thousands more watching the televised broadcast, Polar Ice kept spirits bright with curated holiday mixes, crowd engagement, and signature dance prompts that delighted families of all ages.

The Light Park float appeared in the second half of the televised broadcast, offering viewers a joyful reminder that holiday fun continues all season long at three DFW locations—Frisco, Arlington, and Little Elm.

“This parade has been the heartbeat of Dallas holiday tradition for decades,” said The Light Park’s Matt Johnson. “Bringing DJ Polar Ice to the streets of downtown provided a perfect way to show the community exactly what The Light Park does best—celebrate togetherness, joy, and the magic of the season.”

Holiday Joy Continues in Little Elm

Later that same day, DJ Polar Ice brought the winter wonderland energy to Little Elm’s Very Merry Christmas Parade, walking the route alongside costumed characters and festive floats. Following the parade, the celebration concluded with the annual Tree Lighting, drawing families to Little Elm’s lakeside district for seasonal activities, photo ops, and holiday performances.

Little Elm officials welcomed more than 6,000 attendees, marking one of the community’s most spirited turnouts. DJ Polar Ice’s interaction with children and families throughout the walk and tree lighting added extra excitement, music, and movement to the beloved hometown celebration.

“Little Elm represents the heart of Texas holiday community spirit,” said Johnson. “Polar Ice is more than a DJ—he’s a character who invites people to dance, laugh, and simply feel the magic of being together.”

The Light Park: The Holiday Experience That Keeps Celebrating

Families who met DJ Polar Ice along the parade routes are invited to continue the fun at The Light Park, open nightly through January 4 at all DFW locations.

Guests enjoy:

• Millions of synchronized holiday lights
• Drive-thru formats perfect for families, pets & visiting relatives
• Soundtrack synced to their car radio
• Specialty treats, including Blitzen Bundles and photo collectibles
• Weeknight value pricing and limited-time holiday offerings

Holiday travelers, visiting grandparents, and families looking to keep the celebration going will find the most accessible and stress-free holiday tradition right from the seat of their own car.

Grant Halliburton Foundation held its 16^th annual Hope Party on Nov. 21 at The Statler in downtown Dallas with more than 530 supporters in attendance. The event raised a record-breaking $620,000+ through sponsorships, underwriting, tickets, live and silent auctions, a wine and spirits pull, and the Sips and Sparkles champagne wall, where attendees played for a chance to win a one-carat diamond donated by Sue Gragg Precious Jewels. Funds raised support the Foundation’s work providing mental health education, resources and support to North Texas youth and their families.

At the Welcome Reception, DJ RomiQ spun lively music to create a party atmosphere. Attendees sipped beverages and visited with friends, all while perusing and bidding on more than 250 silent auction items. The Platinum and Ruby Sponsors and VIPs were invited to the VIP Lounge to enjoy small bites and a private bar, underwritten by Martha and Hon. Douglas Lang.

The ballroom featured Bordeaux red accents and beautiful floral creations by Floral and Décor Underwriter, CONCEPTO. The stage was draped in dramatic red draping thanks to PARTY! Dallasand Todd Fiscus.

The emcees were Emmy-winning local TV personalities Steve Noviello from Fox 4 and Jenny Anchondo from CW33. Event co-chairs were Karla Noone, who volunteered on the 2024 event committee, and Reed Robertson, who co-chaired the 2024 Hope Party.

Robertson thanked Christopher Barkley Foundation for being the presenting sponsor for the third year in a row. “You never know whose life you might be changing by simply standing shoulder to shoulder with them and helping to build a better, more inclusive cornerstone for tomorrow, one veil lifted at a time.”

Noone told about her involvement with youth mental health, especially through Hope Squad, where her two sons are both members. “Grant Halliburton Foundation’s programs equip students not only to recognize the signs of struggle sooner; they teach them to speak up earlier and to support each other without fear.”

Rev. Doyle Dietz Allen gave the invocation. Evan Knight then played the saxophone while guests enjoyed their dinner.

After a mission video, Kevin Hall, Grant Halliburton Foundation president, spoke about the collaborations with other groups to reach even more youth with life-saving mental health programs. He also told how the Foundation assembled trauma and grief resources during the devastating Texas Hill Country floods through its Here For Texas mental health provider network.

Amy Halliburton McCloskey, Grant’s sister and Grant Halliburton Foundation co-founder, said, “While we are still heartbroken, we also feel immense gratitude for Grant’s life and for the enduring mission of this Foundation that has helped so many families and saved so many lives. Every call answered, every person educated, and every life saved renews our dedication to this critical mission.”

Auctioneer Jake Addams conducted the live auction featuring sports suites, travel destinations and a concert. The most popular item was the private home in San Miguel, which fetched top dollar and sold to three different people, thanks to the donor. The fundraising concluded with the paddle raise where generous donors contributed to the Foundation.

AURA played while guests danced and socialized. After the event concluded, some stayed for The Encore After Party featuring DJ Lucy Wrubel, presented by Sagefield Capital, where the party continued.

Special thanks to these generous sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor (Presenting): Christopher Barkley Foundation

Ruby: Alexander Family G3 Giving Fund, Khaite, Lockton, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Maria and Jock Stafford

Emerald: Shelley and Jeff Becker, Jennfer and Tom Karol, Sloan and Tyler Milton, Nancy and Mitchell Spector, Tom Ford

Additional sponsors and underwriters: https://www.granthalliburton.org/hopeparty

Learn more about the Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org

(photo credit: Simon Luna Photography) 

Across the nation, universities are expanding their residential housing to accommodate a growing number of first-year students who want to live on campus. Purpose-built student housing has evolved beyond simple dormitories; it now serves as an integral part of the student experience, promoting connection, inclusion, and academic success.

Merriman Anderson Architects (MAA) has helped colleges and universities meet this growing need through innovative on- and off-campus residential projects that blend modern amenities with long-term durability and community-driven design. The firm’s portfolio includes a range of student housing developments for public and private institutions, with recent examples demonstrating how MAA creates environments that reflect each school’s culture while maximizing efficiency and sustainability.

A few examples include: 

• Daniel House at Southern Methodist University (SMU): Completed on a fast-track schedule, the three-story apartment-style building reflects a modern approach while thoughtfully integrating with the campus’s traditional architectural context.

• Northwood University Student Housing: This on-campus residential facility accommodates 300 students and features shared spaces and a community lounge designed to complement the campus’s wooded setting.

• Aspen Heights: Aspen Heights provides distinctive off-campus housing for students across the country, featuring cottage-style residences with two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom floor plans. Merriman Anderson Architects has designed Aspen Heights communities at Texas A&M University in College Station, Iowa State University in Ames, the University of Tampa in Tampa, and Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

• 21 Rio: Situated just off the University of Texas at Austin campus, this high-rise student housing project offers a balance of comfort and convenience, with five structured parking levels and 16 floors of residential living.

MAA focuses on design solutions that enhance the quality of student life and strengthen a university’s recruitment and retention efforts. The firm’s in-house services of architecture, interior design, master planning, and project management enable cohesive, cost-effective results across all phases of development. The firm is helping universities reimagine residential life through thoughtful design that responds to today’s students’ needs, including flexible study areas, social gathering spaces, and sustainability features that align with institutional goals.

As the holidays settle in and another year comes to a close, a lot of homeowners find themselves daydreaming about what they might finally tackle after the decorations come down. A new kitchen. An updated bathroom. Maybe even a whole-home refresh. And almost inevitably, one practical question rises to the top: Can we actually live here while this is happening?

The answer, like most things with remodeling, is that it depends.

Life During a Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is where the day begins and ends. It is where coffee is brewed on sleepy mornings, where backpacks are dropped after school, and where friends seem to gather no matter how large the house. When that space goes offline during a remodel, daily routines feel the change immediately.

For many families, staying home through a kitchen renovation is still very doable with a little planning and flexibility. It usually means getting creative with meals, leaning on convenience foods, and setting up a temporary cooking space elsewhere in the house. A spare bedroom or laundry room can quickly turn into a makeshift kitchen with the basics: a microwave, countertop cooktop, or toaster oven. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps everyone fed and sane until the real kitchen is ready again.

Stocking the freezer ahead of time, using small appliances like air fryers or slow cookers, and keeping expectations realistic all help bridge the gap. It is a season of simple meals and a reminder that the disruption is temporary, even if it doesn’t always feel that way day to day.

Navigating a Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms present a similar challenge. If your home has more than one, living through a renovation is generally manageable. It may mean slightly shifting routines, sharing the remaining bathroom more generously, or getting up a few minutes earlier to beat the morning rush.

When there’s only one bathroom in the house, though, the experience can quickly become stressful. Tile cutting, hammering, and dust are part of the process, and without another usable space, it can be more comfortable to make alternate arrangements for a short time until the work is complete.

When the Whole House Is Under Construction

Whole-home remodels are a different story altogether. With multiple rooms under construction at once, floors pulled up, walls opened, and major systems being updated, a home can start to feel more like a job site than a living space. Temporary power or water interruptions and the constant presence of crews make daily life tough to manage safely or comfortably.

In these cases, choosing to live elsewhere during construction often offers the most peace of mind. It gives the renovation team room to work efficiently and allows homeowners to avoid the noise, dust, and disruptions that come with such a large project.

In the end, living through a remodel is less about what is possible and more about what feels livable for your family and your routines. Every project is different, and every household has its own tolerance for temporary chaos. The key is knowing what to expect, planning ahead, and remembering that the mess leads to the moment everyone looks forward to most: stepping into a finished space that finally feels like home again.

The University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) marked a major milestone Dec. 2, celebrating the ribbon cutting of its highly anticipated $100 million STEM facility – a transformational academic center designed to strengthen North Texas’ healthcare and science workforce pipeline.

The 120,220-square-foot building, completed just two years after its September 2023 groundbreaking, will welcome students when the Spring 2026 semester begins Jan. 12. It stands as the most consequential addition to the UNT Dallas campus in university history.

University leaders were joined by elected officials, healthcare partners and community stakeholders, along with UNT Dallas students, for the dedication of the four-story complex. Speakers included UNT Dallas President Dr. Warren von Eschenbach; Dr. Michael Williams, Chancellor of the University of North Texas System; State Senator Royce West; and Isabelle Chung, a senior biology major who will graduate next month.

“Today we celebrate opportunity – for our students, for employers across North Texas and for the communities we serve,” said UNT Dallas President Dr. Warren von Eschenbach. “This state-of-the-art STEM facility allows UNT Dallas to help meet urgent healthcare and workforce needs at a time when the demand for nurses and other practitioners continues to dramatically outpace supply.”

Texas continues to experience one of the largest nursing shortages in the country. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state faces a deficit of more than 48,000 registered nurses in 2025, growing to 50,000 by 2027 and 57,000 by 2032. The unmet demand for RNs will remain a persistent 15-16% gap each year, with hospitals shouldering the greatest need. Additional statewide data shows 64% of Texas hospitals have reduced services due to staffing shortages.

The new STEM facility directly responds to these challenges by expanding UNT Dallas’ capacity to train future healthcare professionals through accelerated pathways to medical and health careers, including nursing, dental, pharmacy, optometry and other fields. These programs are offered in collaboration with UNT Health Fort Worth’s Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The STEM program will be part of UNT Dallas’ School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The cutting-edge building features 18 classrooms; 12 laboratories, including nine teaching labs and three research labs; a dedicated Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) office; multiple collaborative spaces, faculty offices and a large event venue. The structure also features extensive natural light, energy-efficient design and outdoor study areas that reflect UNT Dallas’ Tree Campus USA designation. Programs housed in the building at launch include biology, chemistry, mathematics and neuroscience.

High-impact instruction will prepare students for careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and optometry, and a robust STEM Pre-Health Professions Program will guarantee medical-school admission opportunities for eligible students.

Smaller class sizes and direct access to faculty will help students develop personalized academic roadmaps, supported by one-on-one mentorship for pre-health majors – many of whom are first-generation college students seeking clear pathways into stable, in-demand and well-paying careers.

The building was designed by Stantec and HarrisonKornberg Architects, with Vaughn Construction serving as general contractor. Funding for the STEM facility was awarded by the Texas Legislature during the 2021 legislative session.

As the only public, four-year university located in the city of Dallas, UNT Dallas continues to expand access and upward mobility for its more than 3,500 students. The new STEM facility strengthens the university’s role in preparing career-ready professionals for high-demand healthcare and STEM fields, while supporting regional employers and advancing economic development in southern Dallas.

UNT Dallas is located in southern Dallas at 7300 University Hills Blvd., Dallas 75241. For more information, go to untdallas.edu.

About UNT Dallas
The newest member of the UNT System, the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) is the city's only public four-year university. Located in southern Dallas and serving more than 3,500 students, UNT Dallas offers students a world-class, innovative education focused on career readiness and socioeconomic mobility. UNT Dallas is passionately committed to developing, nurturing and empowering the next generation of servant leaders in North Texas. For more information about the University of North Texas at Dallas, visit untdallas.edu.