Connecting Kaufman

Fall 2023

JUNIPER POINTE

by Wilhoit Properties

at the intersection of comfort & community

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Welcome to

Connecting Kaufman Amy Fowler

Publisher, The Kaufman Herald

It’s fall y’all!

We’re enjoying the cooler temperatures, turning colors in the leaves, pumpkins, and Fresh Market on the square.

Lone Star Casa does incredible work in our community that deserves wider recognition, so I am proud to bring you Mollie Kasper’s article on this important organization.

Serving children in their time of need is something we can all support. If you can’t be a Court Appointed Special Advocate at this time, I hope you can support this group by attending a fundraiser or sharing their story with your friends or on social media.

Of course, having safe homes where our friends and neighbors can live in Kaufman County is important, as well. Juniper Pointe is just such a place and will be welcoming new residents later this fall.

Food Truck Friday is held from 5-8 p.m. every third Friday at the Fresh Market lot on Grove St. Each month is a different lineup of food trucks that include Detour Burgers & Ice Cream, DT’s Off the Hook, Smokin’ Wheelz BBQ & More, Video Vision Shaved Ice, Deep Fried Southern Pies, Misty’s Cakeballs & Sweet Treats, Kona Ice, Famous O’s Catfish & Shrimp, Taco Loco, Double H BBQ, and others to provide delicious meals to enjoy.

Several of the downtown merchants have extended hours for Friday evening shopping. Yard games are set up for all ages to play and occasionally local artists will provide live music as you sip, shop, eat, play, and explore the Square every third Friday night.

And speaking of neighbors - we have a lot of new businesses on Kaufman Square! One of the oldest is The Charter Room, and the story of its founder, Kari Rough, can inspire all of us to try to make our communities a better place to live.

Thanks for reading!

Amy Fowler

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6 10 14 Interested in Advertising in the Next Edition of Connecting Kaufman?

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Call the Kaufman Herald at (972) 932-2171

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is a publication of The Kaufman Herald.

All rights reserved.

Staff Melanie Mazur • Publisher Andrew Burnes • Managing Editor Amy Fowler • Ad Director Annette Wallace • Graphic Artist Wendy Perkins • Office is a publication of Manager The Kaufman Herald.

All rights reserved.

Contributing Writers Staff Gay Fowler Amy Fowler • Publisher & Editor Bailey Daniels Luis Avila • News Reporter Michael Morrill • Sports Reporter Hannah Loghry

Wendy Perkins • Office Manager & Classified Ads

PO Box 460 300 N. Washington Kaufman, TX 75142 (972) 932-2171 Contributing Writers Amy Fowler Luis Avila Mollie Kasper

300 N. Washington AKaufman, division of TX 75142 Hartman Newspapers, LP. (972) 932-2171 A division of Hartman Newspapers, LP

Publication dates for Connecting KaufmanKaufman is published fourare timesin a year.

Connecting January, April, July and October.

The Kaufman Herald

Experience the best of Wilhoit Living at Juniper Pointe Apartments. The apartment community features 2 and 3 bedroom floor plans with fully equipped kitchens, washers & dryers, vinyl plank flooring, patio or balcony and extra storage.

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Lone Star CASA: Advocating W

hen families struggle due to job loss, poverty, addiction, or other factors, children often bear the brunt of the pressure. If the stress interferes with a family’s ability to function in a healthy manner, and the health or safety of a child is in danger, the court may make the decision to place the child in a foster home. In these difficult situations, the child needs someone who advocates solely for them, with no other allegiance or agenda. Lone Star CASA volunteers step in to perform this service for the child in the courts.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) works with children and families who have experienced abuse and neglect.

They serve as guardian ad litem, and their sole responsibility is to represent the best interest of the child. In addition to meeting with the child on a monthly basis, they gather information from many sources, including Child Protective Services (CPS), parents, caregivers, educators, and lawyers. They compile the information and recommend to the court actions that would be in the best interest of the child. The primary goal is reunification with the family, if possible. “Being with their family really is the best for them,” Lauren Rowe, executive director of Lone Star CASA, explains. They may also suggest resources or education to help the family in crisis. If reunification is not possible, CASA volunteers may work with CPS to find family members who are willing to take custody of the child.

In addition to advocacy, Lone Star CASA is piloting a new program for situations where there is an allegation of abuse, and CPS has reason to believe abuse occurred, but it does not meet the threshold of removal. In this program, CPS develops a safety plan to keep the child at home, which might involve periodic drug testing. This program is designed to prevent the trauma of removal. Lone Star CASA can be appointed to provide the resources to educate and empower families and keep the child in the home.

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By Mollie Kasper

Serving Kaufman and Rockwall Counties Lone Star CASA is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation and operates under both a state and national membership organization. The first office was opened in Rockwall in 1992 and expanded to Kaufman in 2004. By 2015, the organization was able to serve 100% of the children who entered the foster system in Kaufman County. It receives funding from the state and federal governments through the Victims of Crime funding program, from Kaufman & Rockwall Counties, and from individual and corporate donors.

Last year, Lone Star CASA served 203 children, 162 of whom were in Kaufman County. These numbers indicate an increase in new children served of 135% over the previous year, due to both a pandemic-driven backup in the court system and an increase in new children coming into the foster care system.

Executive Director Lauren Rowe has headed up the organization for four years. Rowe has worked for non-profits her entire career and was drawn to CASA through her experience as a case manager at a teen girl group home in Dallas. The girls she worked with spoke of their CASA advocates with deep admiration, which inspired Rowe. She saw, “Such resiliency and hope,” in those clients. “I learned so much from them,” explains Rowe. “It gave me a heart to advocate for people who can’t or don’t know how to advocate for themselves.”

About the Volunteers The staff of nine employees supports 121 active community volunteers. The advocates provide medical, legal, and educational advocacy for the child, and are the only person involved in a case who is not paid. They prepare a statement and testify in court on behalf of the child. The goal is to ensure that the child’s best interests are represented in court and that they have a safe, healthy prospect for the future. Advocates are appointed to one case at a time, which may involve several children in the same family. A case usually lasts 12-18 months.

for Children in Crisis These dedicated individuals undergo 30 hours of training, including education about the court system, trauma-informed care, working with people with mental health problems, diversity and inclusion, drug addiction, the criminal justice system, and the CPS minimum standard of care. Once the training is complete, volunteers are sworn in by an officer of the court.

Interested in Becoming a CASA? With the increase in cases, there is a great need for new volunteers to serve as advocates. Lone Star CASA is actively seeking to attract applicants from diverse backgrounds. Men are especially needed, as most of the current advocates are female.

In addition, it is desirable for volunteers to be a member of the same community as the children they serve, so additional Kaufman County residents are being sought. Lone Star CASA is encouraging friends or partners to get trained together and consider sharing a case.

One of the best aspects of volunteering, Rowe notes, is that “We get to be a part of that reunification and help put that family back together. We get to see that change. It brings so much hope. So many of them work so hard to get to a healthy spot.” Volunteers can choose whether to accept a case or not, and they can specify whether they would like to work with older or younger children.

Volunteers in the CASA program come from all walks of life.

The emotionally difficult but rewarding job requires time and dedication; however, no specific expertise, legal or otherwise, is necessary. The minimum age to apply is 21, and a background check is required. Volunteers should plan to spend 15-20 hours per month on the case and need to provide their own transportation to visit the child.

Other Ways to Help Besides volunteering, those interested in supporting Lone Star CASA can do so by increasing awareness.

Following them on social media (https://www.facebook.com/LoneStarCASA) and sharing their posts, as well as passing out flyers and brochures, can help get the word out. “Abuse happens in your backyard,” Rowe says. “Spread awareness that we’re here.”

Lone Star CASA also hosts three major annual fundraisers.

Bunco & Bubbles, a Bunco and brunch event with bottomless mimosas, will take place on March 23, 2024. An annual car show hosted by the Homebuilder’s Association of Metro East Dallas will be held on May 19, 2024, at the Rockwall County courthouse. Families can attend for free, and all proceeds benefit Lone Star CASA. In addition, a clay shoot is scheduled for next August at the Texas Gun Ranch in Terrell.

Finally, interested parties can support the organization through financial contributions. Lone Star CASA is considering increasing staff to support the additional volunteers needed, and they also need funding for birthday baskets for the children, as well as gifts for family reunifications, graduations, adoptions, and Christmas celebrations. One-time, quarterly, or monthly donors are deeply appreciated.

With the support of the community, Lone Star CASA remains dedicated to helping children and their families have successful futures.

Scan the QR code to learn more about Lone Star CASA and how you can volunteer, or visit LoneStarCASA.org.

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Juniper Pointe

at the intersection of comfort and community

By Luis Avila

February 2022 is when Juniper Pointe Apartments started to develop. Since then, the project has flourished. The apartments, clubhouse, parking lot, and play-scape have been completed.

Zimmerman Properties Construction is putting the finishing touches on the pavilion and dog park.

Kaufman County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. With this in mind, Juniper Pointe aims at adding something different than your regular apartment community. At Juniper Pointe, being involved with residents and having events will be very important. A Resident Service Coordinator will be onsite to organize fun parties and events for the residents.

Events aren’t the only thing to do at Juniper Pointe either! Residents can work out in the fitness center, or go for a stroll with their pets in the dog park. The playground is perfect for residents with children, it features a slide and spring riders. Residents are welcome to use the grills and the picnic tables at both the clubhouse and the pavilion.

Juniper Pointe is centrally located to a lot of retail conveniences as

well. Some of the businesses around Juniper Pointe are Tractor Supply Company, Walmart, AT&T, Furniture-N-Cabinets, and HTeaO. Juniper Pointe residents will also have access to 24-hour emergency maintenance. Whenever a situation arises, residents can call the emergency line, and a maintenance worker will be on their way to assist.

Juniper Pointe is not only accessible for people with disabilities, but also financially accessible. Juniper Pointe offers affordable housing, being a tax credit property. Residents who qualify into low income or certain brackets are eligible for an affordable monthly rent. Juniper Pointe also offers market units as well.

Applicants are already being accepted for Juniper Pointe. Projected move-in date for accepted applicants is around November. For more information visit www.wilhoitliving.com.

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on course for service: the charter room trading company and events

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By Mollie Kasper

f there is one word to describe Kari Rough, it would have to be resilient. This powerhouse of a woman has suffered grave tragedy—yet refuses to let grief define her. In fact, when she tells her story, she is unfalteringly positive. The owner of The Charter Room Trading Company and Events on the Square in Kaufman uses her position as a merchant to support the community in multiple ways.

Heartbreaking Loss In December of 2012, Rough (rhymes with “now”) received the news that all mothers dread. A drunk driver going 110 miles per hour rear-ended her young daughter’s car. Megan, a 2011 Kaufman High School graduate, and a pre-med student at Texas Tech in Lubbock, died as a result of her injuries.

In the ensuing weeks and months, Rough began talking with Megan’s college friends, who explained that drinking and driving was a terrible problem on campus. They wanted to do something to bring awareness to the situation, and their youthful energy was hard to resist. Unexpectedly, Rough found herself organizing a 5K run and fundraiser in Lubbock and setting up the Megan Rough Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The first event was held in May of 2013 and featured a neon night run. They chose the neon theme because, according to Rough, “Megan was very vibrant and happy, an includer.” It also seemed fitting that the run was held in May since that was Megan’s nickname. The event was very well received, with police officers and state troopers donating their time to provide security for the run. It was held annually for several years, with the profits being poured into the scholarship fund.

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The third year of the 5K was also the year the driver who hit Megan was brought to trial, and coincidentally, both events fell in the same week. During the trial, it became evident that the defendant had multiple prior drunk-driving offenses.

When the defendant’s father was asked what had been done to mitigate the problem, he replied that his son had taken online courses. A light bulb went off for Rough. She immediately understood that what was needed was real-time, face-toface counseling, not an online course that could be clicked through with very little effort or accountability. She immediately contacted the administration at Texas Tech and offered to set up a new form of counseling. It would still be online, but a

counselor would telecommute with DUI and DWI offenders to provide therapy in a live, interactive session.

“Our goal was to put the message out of what the solution is,” Rough explained.

“We support Mothers Against Drunk Driving and participate in their WalkLike-MADD event in Dallas every year as a team, but it’s that ‘mad’ undertone, and we didn’t want that. We want them to find the good message. That’s why we decided to find solutions.”

Texas Tech accepted her offer, and the program became so successful that SMU, UT, and LSU all began referring clients to Rough as well. The foundation had added another outreach arm to its mission.

The Beginning of The Charter Room As the work of the foundation grew, Rough, still a full-time employee at Lakes Regional Community Center in Terrell, realized she needed a small office—a desk, a printer, and a space to fold t-shirts. She spoke with a friend who owned real estate, and he handed her the keys to the building that once housed Greenslade’s Pharmacy in Kaufman. She immediately handed them back. “You don’t understand,” she told him.

“I don’t have a building budget.” He insisted she keep the keys and think about it. Rough thought and prayed. She looked at the historic building, with its 18-foot beams which had been floated down the Mississippi River and brought to Kaufman by wagon. She wondered, what if a business in this space could make contributions to the foundation?

Searching for a business idea that could support the foundation, she asked friends in the community what was needed on the square. Her original idea was for a shared office space that could be rented by the hour, day, week, or month. The building would also house a licensed Marital Family Therapist to offer classes. Rough named it The Charter Room because, “You can charter all kinds of things: a bus, a boat, a plane. And you can charter your life and get it back on track.”

The building was in bad shape. “It was raining through the awnings,” Rough recalled. She persevered, and with the help of her family— scraped away layers upon layers of paint, built new furnishings, picked out lumber, and stained every piece of wood themselves. She used blue painter’s tape to lay out the rooms and her son, Kody, helped build partitions out of pallets.

The Charter Room opened on February 6, 2017. “Oh my gosh, it was so slow!” Rough exclaimed. “Everyone that came in wanted to shop, but we were not a shop!” They got a few bookings for the rooms, including hosting a judges’ luncheon and long-term rentals for two of the small offices. At the urging of other downtown merchants, she decided to put in a small retail area in the front of the building. She realized that retail could support the mission of the foundation, which was continuing to expand. “It’s an understated way of reaching people. Every receipt can have a message.” Rough also partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide training to individuals needing job skills. In addition, having products for sale also provided a bit of camouflage for clients receiving counseling services. Since there are many reasons to come to The Charter Room, no one has to know why any particular individual walks through its doors.

More Tragedy Just as the business was getting on its feet, tragedy struck again. Rough’s son was killed in a one-vehicle rollover on his way home from work in January 2018. The grief of losing another child was unimaginable. “Your life just changes. No kids, no grandkids. I couldn’t even put two thoughts together,” Rough said. In addition to this loss, her father suffered the first of three debilitating strokes in 2019. He lost his vision, and Rough became his caretaker, frequently traveling for days at a time to see to his medical needs as well as help run his ranch in west Texas.

Not one to succumb to despair, Rough pressed on. She credits her friend and coworker Vanessa Hurst, for keeping the doors of The Charter Room open while she dealt with her deeply personal and trying family issues. Through the crushing pain, she continued to work and find ways to help others.

Expanding the Business While supporting the goals of the foundation will always be at the core of what The Charter Room does, Rough has also developed a passion for preserving and revitalizing the Kaufman downtown area, as well as incubating new local businesses. She is expanding the retail offerings, focusing on products from up-and-coming local artists and authors, including paintings and metal art by Tony Collins and ceramics created by his wife, Holly. There is a selection of highly detailed Western art pencil drawings by artist Beth Ray. A Caddo Mills couple supplies candles made from recycled wine bottles under the brand Party of Eight and handmade aprons are produced by Two Medium Sized Ladies in Crandall. Barbi Mathis is kicking off a boutique and is, “a huge part of the engine behind every event.” An entire section is devoted to the “Bro-tique,” the brainchild of Zach McCalley and twins Jason and Justin Gensler, whom Rough is mentoring. Their cleverly named “Tooletries” line includes body scrubbers and shower accessories presented in decidedly masculine yellow and black packaging. For Rough, each product represents a person and a story.

“We’re shopping for neighbors,” Rough commented. When they moved into Greenslade’s there were 23 vacant buildings around them.

Now, there is only one. Her goal is to help bring new life to the square, and she has assembled a downtown merchant’s group to further that aim. She also joined the Texas Downtown Association to gain ideas and inspiration; and hopes to tap into the potential of a historic district.

As The Charter Room has undergone transition, so has the foundation.

Although it started to promote drunk driving awareness and prevention, and that will always be a primary goal, they are now searching for other ways to support the community, such as help with relocating, and supplying high school graduates the equipment and apparel needed to go to work.

There are many who would have crumbled under the weight of the tragedies that Kari Rough has endured, but Rough not only withstood the storm—she has allowed it to transform her into something better than she was before. Her warm laugh and ready smile are a testament to her faith. No matter what direction the foundation and The Charter Room take, with Rough at the helm, the journey is sure to be rewarding.

111 W. Mulberry St. | Kaufman, TX 75142 (972) 932-7111 TheCharterRoom.com FA L L 2 0 2 3  CO N N E C T I N G K AU FMA N

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Dutch Baby Pancakes

HIGHLIGHT A YUMMY AUTUMN BREAKFAST

RECIPE ADAPTED FROM ALTON BROWN

Baby is an impressively puffy baked pancake that is a fun way to celebrate a birthday breakfast ADutch or to enjoy on a Saturday morning. Follow the recipe and instructions closely - preheating the

baking pan is essential.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 3 tablespoons sugar • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 2 eggs at room temperature • 1/2 cup whole milk at room temperature • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • Powdered sugar, lemon wedges and strawberries, for serving.

INSTRUCTIONS

into the batter and helps ensure the Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put baby rises in the pan.

1 tablespoon of butter in a cast iron Carefully remove the hot skillet from skillet or a pie pan, and heat in the oven the oven and immediately pour the for 10 minutes. Melt the remaining 2 batter into the center. Bake for 20 tablespoons of butter for the batter. minutes, and do not open the oven Mix the flour, sugar and salt in a while baking. The Dutch baby will puff blender, food processor or mixer. Add up in the center and the edges will be the eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 dark and crispy. tablespoons melted butter, and blend the batter until smooth and frothy, for 30 to 45 seconds. A bowl and whisk also will work well, just make sure there are no lumps in the batter.

Let the batter sit for 10 minutes, then mix quickly again. This gives time for the flour to be incorporated thoroughly

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Admire your beautiful creation! When you cut into it, it will start to fall. Serve warm with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and lemon wedges for squeezing.

It’s also delicious with fresh fruit.

Enjoy!

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