Tuesday night was indeed a cold one with the left-over remnants of the previous day’s shower providing an added chill to the bone and a lot of mud. And while that may have caused many an event planner to rethink their agenda for an outdoor event, the city parents and the Trinity Trust hierarchy charged ahead for the official “switch-on-test-lighting” of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
While some Dallasites watched in warm and cozy confines in high rises with a view of the Calatrava-designed bridge on television sets throughout the area, city leaders (Linda Koop, Dwaine Carraway, Monica Alonzo, Vonciel Hill Jones, Sheffie Kadane, Mary Suhm), Trinity Trust hardworkers (Dr. Gail Thomas, Lynn McBee), community leaders (Craig Holcomb, Randall White, David Macatee, Mary Jalonick, Phil Romano), Margaret Hunt Hill relatives (Lyda Hill, Alinda Hill Wikert and family), friends and the media assembled for the occasion at the southwest corner of the Continental Avenue and Canada Drive.
Despite a 5:45 p.m. start, the muddy Perimeter Road leading up to the corner alongside the Trinity by was filled to capacity at 5:15 p.m. In the light of day, it was jammed, but it was okay. In fact, it showed an eagerly awaited turnout for the light up despite the weather. Unfortu-nately, once the sun set those who had parked their cars heading toward the bridge found themselves having to back up the entire block-long route in total darkness through the gauntlet of parked cars and pedestrians. Ah, the lack of light proved to be another problem at the lighting event itself, but more about that later.
Once people made it up the hill, they discovered on the right a table set up with hot chocolate and cookies that had folks returning for seconds and thirds. Only problem was the lack of trash cans. This crowd was not into littering, so a trash bag next to the table appeared with replacements in the wings.
On the left was the various TV cameras and talent had positioned themselves. After doing mike test, the reporters headed for the safe confines of their nearby trucks to warm up. WFAA’s weather guy Pete Delkus was being a good sports despite a reality check. Seems earlier in the day the noon anchor had advised viewers that Pete would be pulling the switch to turn on the lights. Oops, according to the agenda it was to be members of Margaret Hunt Hill’s family. Guess somebody at WFAA hadn’t gotten that memo. Unlike a little boy sulked about not getting a Red Ryder BB gun rifle for Christmas, Pete stuck out his noble chin and carried on.
Just inches beyond the camera lineup was a white tent (about 20′ by 12′) under which musicians from the Orchestra of New Spain sat waiting for the big moment to take place, a podium and the lever of the day. Unlike the Promontory’s Gold Spike, the Hill Bridge switch wasn’t quite a grand collector’s item from Tiffany’s. No, these are tight times and they demand something more practical. So a worn glossy tomato red board with a City of Dallas logo sticker and a sunflower-yellow pulldown lever was hitched to one of the tent poles. It became the Kardashian of the evening. Everyone wanted their picture taken with it.
Speaking of the tent, it seemed at first glance to have plenty of space, but when you add in more TV cameras, reporters, still photographers, VIP’s and friends and relatives of VIP’s. . . well, let’s just say it was cozy. And then to add to the congestion, a forest of Androids and iPhones sprouted blocking the view of those in the back. Everyone, even the most prominent, want to record this moment in Dallas history, so who could blame them?
As the crowd grew under the tent and the tempera- ture sank to a 46 degrees, those with body fat didn’t feel the chill like the willowy fashion types. But thanks to hunkering together body heat helped as the sun setting in the west and the lights of downtown Dallas making a dazzling backdrop for the bridge that would eventually emerge from darkness. Someone noted that it was getting awfully dark inside the tent, too. Ah, but not to worry. When the time came, surely the TV crews would turn on their mega-watt lights and all would be ultra-bright. As the clock was ticking, the newsies started looking a bit agitated. Seems that the original schedule had been planned perfectly to coincide with the local stations’ 6 o’clock newscast and the clock was ticking. (Editor’s note: The media, especially the electronic media, counts the world by nano-seconds and their arteries start busting if their schedules are thrown off.)
Despite the chill mixed with Dark Hole of Calcutta, things started falling into place. The council members lined up behind the podium; the key speakers huddled close to the podium; and the electronic media guys made last mike checks at the podium. Just as things were to kick off, Big Mayor Mike Rawlings could’t read his notes. Had he gone blind? Had the notes been written in invisible ink? Nope. Where the podium was situated was darker than the Discovery Channel’s blackest Black Hole. And the hoped-for lighting from the media was only serving to blind the speakers adding to the conditions. Someone, who must have been a Boy Scout earlier in life, came prepared and whipped out a penlight that became more important than the switch or hot chocolate.
From that point on the itty bitty flashlight assisted,
- Rawlings, who thanked everyone involved in the multi-million dollar project
- City Council member Vonciel Jones Hill, who read a poem about bridge building and, no, she didn’t write it, but she knew how to deliver it
- Bridge launch event chair Lynn McBee, who announced all the festivities for the March 2-4 celebration including Lyle Lovett‘s being the headline entertainer (“a tall Texan for a tall bridge”) for a fundraiser on Friday, March 2, and fireworks, street fair, favorite local musicians and bands play on multiple stages, sidewalk artists, dancers, street food vendors and Calatrava-inspired costumed performers on Saturday, March 3. They’re expecting 30,000 to attend this freebie! Sunday there will be a blessing and the bridge will be open for skaters, walkers, strollers and bicyclists for the final day of car-less life on the bridge. Big Mike held the penlight for Lynn.
- David Macatee, who announced plans for the Trinity Levee Run that will be held Saturday, March 3, over the bridge. It was unique because it will be the only time that a run will be allowed to take place on the bridge, so get your bridge-running shoes out.
- Bridge-orama chair Randall White, who enthusiastically listed all the events that were scheduled for the West Dallas festival to be held on that March weekend
In the meantime, the clock was ticking and the TV talents were trying their best to fill in their time slots and cajole producers back at the stations. Finally at 6:19, it was time for Lyda and Alinda to join with Big Mike and Vonciel to pull the switch. They did, the band played and all eyes turned to where they recalled the bridge had been during the daylight. Nothing happened. One little boy matter-of-factly reported that the switch wasn’t connected to anything and that’s why the lights didn’t come on. Yes and no. Yes, the switch was just a prop with no ominous power, but the lighting of the bridge was always promised to be a gradual occurrence. It wouldn’t just flick on like Christmas tree lighting; it would warm up like a growing ember. That wasn’t exactly what the media helicopters hovering overhead, the talent or the producers wanted to see as the tick, tick, tick kept nearing the end of the half-hour newscast.
But it was perfect for those who had been under the tent as they scurried to the Continental Avenue bridge for a better look as the lights got brighter and brighter. The westward drive-home traffic along Continental that was already slow-mo really slowed down trying to avoid hitting pedestrians crossing the street for a better look. As for those driving east on Continental it was just as challenging with not only the foot traffic, but the cars that had stopped in the right lane to take pictures of the family in front of the glowing arch.
But once the Hill was in full brilliance, the TV crews, the VIP’s and guests all bustled to their vehicles and headed back east over the Continental to the other side of the Trinity. Let’s hope the March festivities will allow them to stay a little longer and get to know more about the other side of the Trinity.
Rachael Dedman says
What a shame that Margaret Hill’s beloved grandson, Al Hill, III and his wife, Erin, were not present to celebrate the lighting of Margaret’ namesake bridge. Unfortunately, Al and Erin are both preparing to defend themselves against seven criminal indictments for alleged home mortgage fraud brought by Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins. The indictments came less than two weeks before Al and Erin were to testify in a fee dispute civil trial against their former attorneys Lisa Blue, Charla Aldous, and Steve Malouf. Attorneys will advise their clients that they should not take the stand in a civil suit when there are criminal charges pending thus rendering defendants unable to defend themselves in a civil legal suit. Did you know that Lisa Blue made a $100,000 donation to the Dedman School of Law at SMU which named a scholarship in honor of DA Craig Watkins? It causes one to wonder……
Lisa Smith says
OMG! Truly a shame! Al III was Margaret’s pride and joy! It is unfortunate what jealousy and envy will bring others to! The truth needs to be revealed about the entire situation. The family circle resented Erin from day one and tried to slight and hurt her at every turn? All but Margaret. She loved Erin. That is where the envy and jealousy came into play. The others were jealous of Margaret’s love for Al III and Erin Hill. After Margaret passed, they went for blood against him and his family. So sad! They have spread so many falsehoods against his precious family.
As for the attorneys and the indictment, it sounds like fraud and corruption. WHY hasn’t there been an investigation against DA Craig Watkins, Lisa Blue, and the other attorneys? $100,000 is a minuscule amount for Blue to give SMU in DA Craig Watkins honor when she stands to gain millions from a favorable ruling from him! Maybe the prosecutors from the John Edwards trial should be looking more deeply into Blue’s direct involvement in that case too.
Those who don’t know here are some facts to mull over…
Friday, April 1 – Erin and Al Hill filed an appeal in the Fifth Circuit Court on the Federal RICO Agreed final order by Judge Reed Oconnor
Monday morning, April 4th – Erin and Al Hill received a call that the Dallas District Attorney, Craig Watkins, had issused 7 criminal indictments against them for ALLEGED home mortgage fraud.
Tuesday, April 5th – Tim Rogers blogs about the alleged felony counts of mortgage fraud against Erin and Al Hill, III.
Wed., April 20 – The Fee Dispute trial begins on the Federal civil RICO case between Hill III and their former attorneys Lisa Blue, Charla Aldous and Steve Malouf where they ( the attorneys) claim they are owed $71.5 million dollars for 5 months of work. The Hill III’s attorneys advise them NOT to take the stand to testify against Blue, Aldous, and Malouf because of the pending criminal indictments.
Take from it what you will, but it sounds more than a little fishy to me!