AUGUST 2016
CHANGING
LIVES
Is Just Part of What We Do
Argyle - Canyon Falls - Harvest - Robson Ranch
Grandparents’
RIGHTS to Grandchildren by Charla Bradshaw, KoonsFuller Family Law
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H
istorically, grandparents have played a vital role in the development, nurturing, and care-giving of their grandchildren. Questions tend to arise, however, when a grandchild’s parents separate, divorce, pass away, become incarcerated, or are found to be otherwise unfit. Or, when the parents isolate the grandchildren from the grandparents. When these questions arise what are a grandparent’s rights?
In June of 2000, in Troxel v. Granville, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision on grandparents’ visitation rights. It is the most important case ever decided with regard to grandparents’ visitation rights. Troxell overruled a Washington State law that permitted judges to grant visitation to any interested party so long as the visits were in the best interest of the child, even if the parents objected. The Troxel v. Granville decision was unclear because the majority of the justices agreed that Troxel should be decided a certain way, however, each justice had a different reason for doing so, which resulted in six separate court opinions. The court held that “The Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.” The unclear legal opinions in Troxell made it difficult for state courts to interpret the decision, but the bottom line is that Troxell severely limited grandparents’ rights. With this ruling, the uphill battle for grandparents began. Basically, the Troxell ruling meant that grandparents had to overcome the presumption that parents act in their child’s best interest as they make decisions related to a child’s care, custody and control. Many states amended their statutes regarding grandparents’ rights after Troxell. The Texas statutes on grandparents’ rights have been modified since Troxell. And it seems that during every legislative session in Texas since Troxell, bills have been filed to further modify grandparents’ rights. In fact, there are several bills pending before the Texas legislature this session.
Oftentimes grandparents are found in primary caregiving roles for their grandchild. This may be on a full-time basis when the grandchild’s parents are unable to provide for the child, or in the case of emergency or tragedy. It is in these situations that a grandparent may serve as the grandchild’s primary caregiver. On the other hand, there are times when grandparents are excluded from seeing their grandchild by one or both of the parents. Usually a legal battle begins when grandparents want to maintain primary caregiving or contact with their grandchildren. There are three types of suits grandparents can attempt to pursue. The first two types of suits involve “conservatorship”, one being custody. The third type of suit is for possession and access to a grandchild (visitation). The first battle a grandparent must overcome is to establish that they have a right to bring the suit, called “standing.” Standing can be complex, but some of the things a court may look at with regard to grandparent standing are as follows: The grandchild’s present circumstances would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development The denial of access to the child by the grandparent would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development, and the parents are incompetent, deceased or do not have court-ordered possession and access to their child. If a grandparent has standing, then they may proceed with their suit. The proof required in a grandparent case depends on what type of case the grandparent is pursing. If the grandparent is seeking custody of their grandchild, the burden on the grandparent is different than
if the grandparent is seeking visitation with their grandchild. For example, for grandparent custody of a child, the court may look at whether the appointment of the parents would not be in the best interest of the grandchild because doing so would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development; the best interest of the child; whether family violence has occurred between the parents; and, whether awarding the grandparent custody is in the best interest of the child. For visitation, the court may look at whether a parent’s rights have been terminated; whether the denial of access by the grandparent to the child would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development; and whether a parent is incompetent, incarcerated, deceased, or has actual court-ordered possession and access to their child. Every case involves a unique set of facts and grandparents should consult with a family lawyer to consult about their rights. The laws for grandparents’ rights can be quite complex. It is dangerous to obtain legal advice about grandparents’ rights on the internet, as valuable grandparent rights could be lost. To learn more about the rights of grandparents in custody and visitation disputes, contact Charla H. Bradshaw or any of the attorneys at KooonsFuller, P.C. at 940.442.6677.
www.koonsfuller.com Denton
320 West Eagle Dr., Suite 200 • Denton, TX 76201 (940) 442.6677 • (940) 442.6671 fax Principal Office in Dallas AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 3
WRITING
u o Y k n a h T NOTES by Susan Neuhalfen
W
ith the onset of computers, email and social media, writing thank you notes (especially handwritten ones) has become a somewhat obsolete act. Yet many of us have been touched by thank you notes and have even kept some. It seems that people don’t take the time to write or say a heartfelt thank you anymore. Imagine that for one day thank you notes could magically be delivered to anyone, past or present, famous or not. To whom would you write a note and what would you say? When this question was posed to an informal poll, 97% chose to thank a teacher. Others mentioned relatives and some famous people in history. Here are a few that were mentioned: Dear Teacher, Thank you for seeing me in a way that I didn’t see myself. You have so many in your classroom and yet you are always able to pick out the special attributes that each student has and teach students to capitalize on their strengths while challenging their weaknesses. There were times when I didn’t like you, there were times when I wanted to quit, but you didn’t let me. You pushed me to the edge…and I flew. You knew I could fly the whole time, didn’t you?
Dear Dad, Thank you for leading by example. So many people just use their words to lead, you were a man of few words but your actions spoke volumes. You always did the right thing. You taught me that the right thing is not necessarily the best thing for the situation and it’s definitely never the easiest. Everything to you was right or wrong and you never made a decision without thinking it through logically and morally. My only regret is that I didn’t listen to you sooner.
Dear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Thank you teaching me to stand up for what is right without resorting to what is wrong. You showed me that sometimes conflict is necessary, but that it may be done peacefully and in a mature manner. Most of all, thank you for teaching me that skin color is just melanin and people all deserve the same basic human rights and dreams.
4 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Dear Police
who I am as a person or co-worker just to
appease someone like you. I’m better than that.
Officer, The truth is, you go to work every day and perform a duty
P.S. Congratulations on never growing and
continuing to do the same old dead end job. You’re still the queen of all you survey. Dear Marie Curie,
I would never
Thank you for paving the way for women in
see the worst of so
win the Nobel Prize, you remain the only person
want to do. You
much of our society and then you’re expected not to be affected by what you’ve witnessed. You’re
never off duty, are you? You take the chair at the restaurant that faces the door. While the kids are playing soccer you scan the fields for any sign
of predators. While everyone else is running away from trouble, you’re running toward it. You never stop protecting and serving us. Thank you for keeping us safe.
to have won the Nobel Prize twice in multiple sciences. You continue to save lives even today
through medical research facilities that you
established. Your inspiration changed women’s roles in science worldwide and from you women
learned that a woman’s place is anywhere she wants it to be.
Dear Abraham Lincoln, You led our country at time when division
Dear Work Bully, Thank you for helping me to learn from my biggest career mistake – befriending you.
science. In addition to being the first woman to
I
thought if I could get along with you, you wouldn’t
go after me the way you had every other woman
in the office that you deemed a threat. Because
of our time together I will never compromise
seemed imminent but you were determined to keep us together. You worried little about
popularity and more about doing what was right
for the United States and its people. Thank you
for your leadership. Thank you for your powerful words that still ring true today. Most of all thank you for putting our nation first.
Sun
Here Comes the
F
by Susan Neuhalfen
or nearly a decade, Liberty Christian has built, engineered and raced solar cars as part of an extra-curricular
changes to the engineering of the car. In raising
high school level for years but chose last year
Division which was a very exciting change for
activity at the school. The team has raced at a to race as one of only two high schools in the
world against colleges across the continent
the money to go to Australia last year, the crew
bought a hub motor and lithium ion batteries. This enabled them to race in the Advanced the team.
The annual Solar Car Race registration
of Australia.
began July 14 at Texas Motor Speedway with
schools at the annual Solar Car Challenge, but in
with a fine tooth comb.
This year they went back to racing other high
another class.
scrutineering, where judges go over every car
The race itself starts at Northwest High
“This year’s solar car trip is another significant
School in Justin, Texas, with each leg carefully
Dragoo. “We rebuilt our car from an electrical
day for seven days, Liberty Christian had a four
milestone in our program,” said sponsor Brent standpoint and improved the entire system.”
Liberty Christian has raced in the Classic
Division for the past 8 years. This year they
raced in the Advanced Division because of some
race, it is important to keep the car in the sun to charge it, hence the flatbed trailer. However, if it is raining or at night to protect the car, it is best to keep it in the enclosed trailer. A judge travels in the chase vehicle, keeping an iPad with a GPS tracking device built in. Teams have 8 hours to complete the roughly 120 mile day which is good in case of bad weather. The cars are not permitted to drive in rain nor are they permitted to drive in very busy metropolitan areas. Teams are required to take a 30 minute lunch break and there are also media stops along the way. Because the Liberty Christian Car was averaging 30-35 miles per hour, they could
mapped out all the way to Minneapolis. Every car convoy with 12 students and four adults. They had a suburban pulling a flatbed trailer and another pulling an enclosed trailer. Since they are required to trailer a significant part of the
photo courtesy by Heather Lytle complete the leg in only 4-5 hours, leaving time for breaks and driver changes. It isn’t a race in the sense that the first team to get to the finish line wins. Teams will be given credit for how many “solar” miles they drove that day. The team with the most miles in the shortest amount of time wins the overall race. Liberty Christian’s solar car placed fourth overall in the Advanced Division, going 615.9 miles. In the nine years that Dragoo has participated, he said that they have consistently increased the miles traveled as well as the speed. That, in itself, is a huge success. So what did they learn this year? “We learned that we’re very close to catching up with the #1 car,” said Dragoo. “The single biggest thing we need to improve is aerodynamics.” Despite their ups and (not so many) downs, the team, and especially Dr. Dragoo, is very appreciative of the support of the school. “We are extremely blessed that our administration is in full support of our program,” said Dragoo. “Many teams are not so fortunate.” AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 5
Argyle Community Events
Contents Table of
Featured Stories and News
AISD Back to School August 22nd
Liberty Christian Back to School August 22nd
26th Annual PointBank Charity Golf Classic September 13th at Lantana Golf Club
Contact Greg at 940.686.7039
Argyle Chamber’s Taste for Good September 13th Lantana Golf Club
Pg 20 On the Cover Texas Coalition for Animal Protection
03
Grandparents’ Rights
04
Writing Thank You Notes
05
Here Comes the Sun
08
Marine Walks the Walk
10
Argyle Eagles Season Preview
11
Swimmers Ear
12
Inside Community
19
Renovation Rock Stars
20
Changing Lives with TCAP
25
Wildhorse Grill
27
Inside Education
28
Flat Jesus Accompanies Kids
32
Youth & Inexperience
37
W.A.L.L.
Contact argylechamber.org
14th Annual NCTC Miniature Golf Tourney September 20th at Zone Action Park
Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com
Ask the Experts 07
From Your Editor
16
Sidelines
22
Dr. Matt
23
Body & Soul
31
Real Estate
35
Gardening
38
Business Coach
“It’s
BAAAAACCKKK!!!”
August 2016
A Message from The Community Editor “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
P
arents, are you ready for back-to- sweet, funny, active, smart boys who still think school? Most of us will be spending the best thing to do all summer is hang out with this first day of school prepping our their mom and dad. Who can blame me for not children by planning, preparing and then wanting that to end? perhaps pushing our children out the door to As we resettle into routines, remind our start another school year. After our long, hot, children to care about others every day busy summer, I know I should be really excited throughout the year. I believe helping them that we’re getting back to our regular routine. learn to be givers shapes their values and provides But right now, I’m feeling a little sad that they opportunities to develop kindness, a virtue that can’t stay home just a little while longer. Perhaps truly improves lives one person at a time. An this is the feeling because our oldest is starting important part of our internal compass, empathy his final year in elementary school. I guess I’m includes the ways we show caring, kindness and getting a bit sentimental and yet anxious with compassion to people in our lives and I believe knowing that means I, too, am is born in our children… growing up. it’s just a muscle we have to You’d think that after 70+ continue to build in them. days with 7 and 10-year-old Do acts of kindness make us boys who’ve never once had happier children and adults? an unexpressed thought, I’d Of course they do! I have so be ready to enjoy some peace many examples through my and quiet and settle back into non-profit work to support a routine. With two boys, this belief…we feel better their high energy friends and about ourselves when we an ever-present struggle for a practice acts of kindness work-life balance, our house Kathryn Flores, — toward our children, has been nothing but a big Community Relations and students, families, friends and noisy, messy circus all summer Advertising Consultant communities. Being kind Argyle Living & Lantana Living long. And I’m nothing Kathryn@murray-media.com makes you feel good about but the incompetent ring 214.734.5783 yourself and improves your master. Despite all of that, when an email came last week for registration, outlook on life. When the first day of school comes around I completely shocked myself by tearing up. I’m in a couple of days and I see that yellow school just not ready for them get up and to leave me each morning. Trust me when I say that these bus chugging our way, I’ll hug my boys tight. feelings are a completely new sensation to me. I’ll tell them to have fun with their friends Back when they were smaller and even more and to practice kindness to their teachers and high maintenance, I was always desperate for a classmates. I’ll be happy we all had such an break. I lived for the three hours a morning they enjoyable summer together and in my heart I’ll were in preschool and then, once they started know, on this first day of school, that everything grade school for seven hours a day, I reveled in is the way it should be because growing up all the things I got done and a job that would means another notch upward in school as well as motivate and challenge me. But now they’re in life experiences.
ArgyleLivingMagazine.com
Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray Administration Managing Editor Jana Melton
Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne
Contributors
Steve Gamel Susan Neuhalfen
Advertising
Meredith McNair meredith@murray-media.com Kathryn Flores kathryn@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com
Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill Caroline Brock
Photography
Scott Young 972.899.3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com
Letters
Argyle Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email artwork@murray-media.com. All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group. Editorial and Advertising Inquiries call 972.899.3637 or email artwork@murray-media.com Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100, Ste. 101 Flower Mound, TX 75022 Argyle Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Argyle Living is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2016 Murray Media Group
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 7
Marine Area
WALKS THE WALK
How does one find his purpose?
F
by Susan Neuhalfen
photos courtesy of Phase Line Org
or Marine Larry Hinkle, it was a series of who have served and those who currently events followed by tragedy. serve. He is trekking across the country on “It was like Groundhog Day. I was working foot, raising awareness and money for veterans a corporate job, going home, waking up and and first responders. He started on April 3, the doing it all over again,” said Hinkle about his anniversary of the death of his friend 1st Sgt. post-service existence. “I was leading such a Ed Smith during Operation Iraqi Freedom. selfish life.” Beginning at Camp Lejeune, NC, he has traveled A graduate of Liberty Christian, Hinkle across several states, including Texas, to get to his played baseball at NCTC before joining the destination, Camp Pendleton, California. Marines. He endured three deployments, the “I expect to reach Camp Pendleton just in time final one being the initial invasion in Iraq in for the Marine Corps birthday on November 2003. After his service, he knew 10,” said Hinkle. “It’s taking a Despite a few little longer because I’m meeting what it was like to have to adjust injuries and to civilian life after war and having so many people along the way. It’s already lost one good friend in the setbacks, Hinkle been an amazing experience.” Marines during his deployment, he He credits his mentor Richard keeps getting was feeling the effects of a life out up, ready to go Caruso, USMC with inspiring him of balance. another fifteen to do something different with Hinkle always felt like he was his life. He came up with the idea miles meant for more. While he and his for the walk after he lost another fellow Marines were in Kuwait, before they made soldier and good friend to suicide. the push into Iraq, they talked about what “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” they would do if and when they he said. got back to the U.S. One of According to Hinkle, it started out to be all these things included seeing about the walk. He trained, he worked out a the country they loved—the plan and he mapped it all out. Then he found country they were fighting for. out that many states don’t allow citizens to Little did Hinkle know he walk on the interstate system. He soon realized would be doing just that. that walking into the communities is where he “I didn’t expect to do it all needed to be anyway. He has made it a point to on foot,” he laughs as he talks visit nursing homes, police and fire departments, about The Hump. “I average VA hospitals and any events that would connect about 15 miles a day, that way him with the community. He’s also hosting many I can leave plenty of time to “Vet-Togethers” which not only raise money, love on people.” but put all walks of society in one place for a The Hump is Hinkle’s common cause—and a good time. tribute to those Equipped
with his “hump” (backpack) and American flag on his back, Larry has all kinds of people honk and wave as he walks. Both strangers and friends have walked along side him for miles at a time. He has met veterans, families of fallen veterans, police and fire departments, but there are a lot of average citizens that just stop whatever they are doing in their busy lives to give money, encouragement and sometimes just a hug. “I had one woman drop her kids at daycare and drive all the way back just to give me a hug,” he smiled. “That she would go out of her way like that meant a lot.” When asked about his best day yet, Hinkle said he was in the small town of Pelion, South Carolina, when he was approached by a man outside of a convenience store. He had lost his son, a Marine, in the war and just wanted to talk. They went across the street to a restaurant and their server was the sister-in-law of another Marine killed in service. This is a town of less than 600 people and Hinkle had already met two gold star families. He then walked to the memorial and the mother of the first Marine came to meet him. She spent 30 minutes talking about her son and the pride she felt for her country. “Her take on her son’s sacrifice was incredible and so inspiring,” said Hinkle of his visit. “I still can feel how powerful her presence was.” Donations may be made through www.thehump.org to Phase Line Organization or through Hinkle’s GoFundMe account at www.gofundme.com/fdhv53tx. For those who aren’t able to donate, Hinkle says he understands, but there is still something they can do. “It doesn’t cost a thing to go to your local law enforcement and first responders and tell them what their service means to you and your community,” he said. Despite a few injuries and setbacks, Hinkle keeps getting up, ready to go another fifteen miles, excited for what the day holds. He knows there will be lots of stories, lots of hugs and lots of love to go around. “I do this for the ones who have families or injuries and can’t do it themselves,” said Hinkle of his experience. “I’m here to tell them what they mean to me and it always comes back 10-fold.”
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 9
SEASON PREVIEW:
EAGLES an easy pick to WIN STATE
by Steve Gamel
W
hen a team like Argyle has the good fortune to play in a state title game
practically every year, it’s easy for football fanatics to see that team as an easy pick to do it again the following year.
That’s the case for the 2016 season. The Eagles have played in a state title game in four of the last five seasons – including the last three years in a row – and are a heavy favorite to be the top team in Class 4A when championship weekend rolls around in December. They are the definition of a sure thing. Argyle coach Todd Rodgers understands the hype, but says his team still needs to deliver on the field. Argyle opens its season on August 27 against Lovejoy.
“. . .we’ve put ourselves in a position to have a great season.” “We’ve been blessed to achieve what we have over the last five years,” said Rodgers, whose team won a Class 3A title in 2013 but has fallen short in two straight nail-biter finals since then. “But these kids realize that everyone is starting out 0-0, and this team still needs to find its own identity. Hopefully we’re fortunate to make it back to state this year.”
10 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Argyle certainly has the talent to make it to a fourth-straight title game. Quarterback Dane Ledford returns behind a veteran offensive line that Rodgers says is the strength of this year’s squad. Ledford, a Tulane commit, threw for 2,820 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2015. He also rushed for six scores. The thought is that Ledford’s versatility will be on display even more this year behind that veteran line, which includes standouts like Jack Williams, Jaxon Frazier and Caelan
Keenan. It’s been several years since Argyle has had such a stout offensive line.
“You talk about bell cows and I think our
bell cow this year is the quarterback and our offensive line,” Rodgers said. “This was an
inexperienced group last year that will now be
the backbone of this team. That gives Dane the protection he needs to play from the pocket.”
Ledford has weapons around him in wide
receivers Garrett Carter, Chase Estrada and tight end Casey Harper. The run game will
utilize several backs, including Dillon Carter, Don Williams and Jake Pelton.
Overall, Argyle returns 12 starters from
last year, and seven of them are on defense. While Rodgers was hesitant to discuss a few lingering position battles, he did say Pierce
Davies will start at middle linebacker and
Matthew Horton has secured one of the two defensive end spots.
“We’ve cross-trained a lot of players, and
I think they all have a chance to contribute. Bottom line, I believe this team has meshed as well as any team we’ve had, and we’ve put
ourselves in a position to have a great season.”
SWIMMERS EAR A
cute otitis externa (AOE), also known as “swimmer’s ear”, is a common problem encountered in the summer months well into the fall here in Texas. With the heat index rising and kids out of school, the swimming pool is the best place to be for many families to hang out. This summer, as usual, we have seen many kids with complaints of worsening ear pain and a diagnosis of swimmer’s ear. This type of ear infection is most often preventable with a few routine practices during those times kids spend a good amount of time in the water. AOE is inflammation of the outer ear canal characterized by redness, swelling, itching, occasional drainage and pain especially with touching of the outer ear. The vast majority of AOE is caused by bacteria. The most common include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus species. Frequent and recurrent untreated infections can lead to complicated bacterial and fungal infections. Factors that predispose the ear to infection include high temperature, high humidity and water exposure, especially swimming. Exposure of the skin of the ear canal to water, particularly when prolonged, can lead to skin breakdown, making it more vulnerable to minor trauma and infection. Minor trauma could be caused by anything inserted in the ear canal such as cotton-tip swabs and even one’s own finger when scratching itchy ears. Water exposure, soaps, shampoos and chlorine from pool water can irritate the skin of the external ear canal and contribute to the loss of protective wax which serves as a water-repellent coating for the skin of the canal and provides antimicrobial properties.
TREATMENTS
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Topical antibiotic drops should be used for at least a week and continuing use for a few days after symptoms resolve. Most patients have resolution of symptoms by six days after starting treatment. If no improvement is noted in 48-72 hours, or if symptoms persist beyond two weeks, please call or revisit your doctor. Patients with AOE should avoid submerging their head in water for seven to ten days, but competitive swimmers might be able to return to the pool if pain has resolved and they use well-fitting ear plugs.
RESOURCES
by Dr. Rebecca Butler, who is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is proud to be a resident of Lantana and the owner of Lantana Pediatrics. For more information on Dr. Butler or to schedule an appointment, call 940.455.7200.
PREVENTION • Dry ears thoroughly after swimming or bathing. Use a towel to dry the ear, tilt the head to each side in turn to allow water to drain from the down-turned ear, and consider using a blow dryer set on the lowest heat and fan speed held several inches away from the ear. • Alcohol-based ear drops after swimming (or each morning and evening) to reduce moisture content in the ear canal, correct the ear pH and reduce bacterial growth has been recommended. Commercially prepared alcoholbased ear-drying solutions are available, or patients can make their own 1:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. These drops should not be used in the presence of ear tubes, tympanic membrane perforation or acute external ear infection. • Use a bathing cap, ear plugs or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming to keep water out of ears. • Do not try to remove ear wax. It helps protect your ear canal from infection. • Avoid putting objects into the ear canal, including fingers and cottontip swabs.
• For information on Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week, visit www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-prevention-week/index.html. • Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about recreational water illnesses can be found at www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi. • Information from the CDC for patients on swimmer’s ear is available at www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/illnesses/swimmers-ear.html.
WINNER
BEST OF DENTON COUNTY
2016 MURRAY MEDIA GROUP
Committed to Community Excellence.
74 McMakin Road, Ste. 100 • Bartonville, TX 76226 940.455.7200 www.LantanaPediatrics.com Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-6:30pm • Friday: 7:30am - 5pm • Saturdays: 9am - 12pm Call to schedule appointment with Dr.Butler or our NEW Nurse Practitioner, Melanie Bitzer. AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 11
Taste For Good Coming September 13 The Argyle Chamber of Commerce and Northstar Bank are presenting the annual Taste for Good at the Lantana Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, September 13th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The Taste for Good is an opportunity for area restaurants to sample some of their most unique and incredible dishes. There will be 16 food and drink stations where people may wander around and sample, along with a complimentary signature cocktail bar, bourbon tasting and cigars on the patio. There will also be live music and casino games throughout the evening. The cost for this affordable date night is $35 for members and $40 for non- chamber members. Tickets may be purchased online at ArgyleChamber.org.
PointBank Charity Golf Classic on September 13 The 26th Annual Point Bank Charity Golf Classic will take place at Lantana Golf Club on Friday, September 13 with a 12pm registration and 1pm shotgun start. At this time, sponsorship opportunities are available and both team and individual players are welcome. Entry fee includes drink tickets, green fee, cart fee and range balls, goody bag, prizes and awards presentation meal. For more information contact Greg Pelzel at 940.686.7039 or email at gpelzel@pointbank.com. All proceeds benefit PointBank Charities, nonprofit organizations in Denton County.
Bartonville Little Free Library Needs Books The Bartonville Little Free Library is getting lots of use and now is running low on books. Please donate your used books and remember to return the books you do borrow when you are done. 12 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
The books may be dropped off at Bartonville Town Hall 1941 E. Jeter Road, Monday -Friday
26. Robson Ranch reserves the right to limit the
number of vendors representing the same type of
between 8:30am and 4:30 p.m.
business in order to offer more diversity.
Robson Ranch Business Expo
forms contact Althea Parent at 940 .246
The Robson Ranch Denton Homeowners’ Association is sponsoring its 6th Annual Business Expo on Saturday, September 17, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Clubhouse. The expo is open to businesses who want to showcase their products or services to the homeowners in Robson Ranch, a Texas active adult retirement community. The expo will not be including health related businesses or arts and crafters. If you are interested in participating as a business vendor at this event, please complete and submit a registration form by Friday, August
For additional information or registration
.1002 during the hours of 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday Friday.
Dentistry from the Heart is Saturday, September 24 Dental Depot in Highland Village is
giving back to the community by providing
complimentary dentistry to those in need. The 3rd Annual Dentistry from the Heart is
happening on Saturday, September 24 at 8am, first come first served, over 18 only and limit
one procedure per patient. They will be offering basic cleanings, extractions, fillings and limited
exams. Contact Lindsey for more information or to volunteer at dentaldepot@live.com.
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 13
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Come Visit Our New Showroom! 972.539.8258 CompleteSolutionsDFW.com 4401 Long Prairie Road, Suite 400 Flower Mound, TX 75028
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WINNER
BEST OF DENTON COUNTY
2016 MURRAY MEDIA GROUP
Committed to Community Excellence.
Sidelines
by Steve Gamel Pitch Counts in High School Baseball…
IT’S HAPPENING, FOLKS
I
wrote a column a few months ago touching on a potential University Interscholastic League policy change – though still up in the air at the time – that would institute pitchcount limits in some form or fashion for high school baseball pitchers.
Well, it appears that is becoming a reality
very soon.
According to a report in The Dallas
Morning News last month, the National
Federation of State High School Associations – of which the UIL is a member – is requiring each state’s governing organization for high school sports to develop its own pitching restriction policy to
promote arm health by ensuring that
young pitchers are getting proper rest between appearances.
on the strength of a No. 1 ace, and when the
high school kid – even someone as great
trap of leaving him in for one more inning –
this early in his budding career? Luckily
game is on the line, it is easy to fall into the then one more after that.
Next thing you know, they’ve thrown a ton
of pitches. That’s what happened this past
postseason when Dallas Jesuit pitcher and Texas signee Kyle Muller threw 123 pitches in
a game, and then 134 pitches over nine innings
a week later.
The decision to let him throw so many
pitches drew fire on social media, and for good reason. For those of you who don’t know, most coaches I’ve talked to don’t let their pitchers get past 100
pitches. Furthermore, Evan Grant, a
major league baseball writer for the Dallas
as Muller – throwing that many pitches nothing bad happened to Muller, who was later drafted by the Atlanta Braves, but
obviously his outings during that week were excessive.
So I’m all for having pitch count limits.
The only trick I see is how to police it. The
UIL previously discussed a proposed pitch count of 110 pitches for players ages 17-19
and 95 pitches in a game for kids ages 14-16. That’s all fine and dandy, but as one coach told me, how do you track that?
Do the coaches carry around birth
certificates? Is it up to the umpires? Do you come up with a hard and fast limit – like 90
The UIL currently has no pitch count
Morning News, wrote that since the start of
completed until October. What number they
performances (including postseason) in
reactions were mixed, but every one of them
do know is this will be a reality for the 2017
pitches, topped by a 134-pitch performance
So if that’s the case, and the goal is to protect
rule and isn’t expected to have its proposal
the 2014 season, there have been only four
decide on remains a question, but what we
which a MLB pitcher has thrown at least 130
season – and that’s great news.
by Houston’s Mike Fiers in a no-hitter
I say that because while I think the majority
of coaches do a great job using their infinite
last year.
I believe I saw a tweet later that night
baseball wisdom to monitor their pitchers’
saying that if you went back to 2007, the
foolproof. Often, teams can rest their laurels
more pitches was six. So I ask you, why is a
appearances, that method is not 100 percent
16 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
number of MLB pitchers who threw 134 or
pitches for all pitchers, regardless of age?
I’ve talked to several more coaches, and the
said the ruling comes with the best intentions. the players, I say let’s just wait patiently and accept whatever that pitch count rule looks like.
It can’t be that bad, can it? Especially when
your pitcher’s career and health are at stake.
Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 17
le gy nt Ar side Re
RENOVATION
WINNER
BEST OF DENTON COUNTY
2016 MURRAY MEDIA GROUP
Committed to Community Excellence.
ROCK STARS
M
More importantly, you get the benefit that comes from working with seasoned industry professionals. These
people
have
designed
and
installed thousands of flooring and lighting products and there is no substitute for that kind of expertise. Visit the website at www.CWFloors.com and start shopping for your new flooring and lighting today. You’ll find an incredible array of both flooring and lighting products available right at your fingertips. Better yet, come visit the CW Floors & Lighting showroom. Get up close and personal with the products and samples that would look best in your home. And if you’re having a tough time deciding between products, just ask your CW Floors & Lighting representative for
take
home
samples…they’re
free,
you know. CW Floors & Lighting is located at 520 North Loop 288 in Denton so it’s convenient, but don’t let the Denton address fool you— this showroom rivals anything you’ve seen at
Customer Testimonial April 1, 2016 by Kristy (TX, United States) “Awesome company to deal with. Mr Britt is a great guy and was super helpful. Shelly was also very helpful (since I had no clue about flooring). The crew that was sent out was great. They showed up when they said they would and worked hard. They took care when it came to moving stuff around and did a great job cleaning up afterwards. Thanks CW Flooring!!” May 5, 2016 by Kim M (TX, United States) “Billie was my sales person and was absolutely amazing. Gave me options for our floor...came out and measured...and the next week we have new carpet that we couldn’t be happier with. The crew that came to put the carpet in was fast, polite and very clean. They helped move furniture before and after they installed the carpet. This is our second experience with CW Floors, we had wood floors put in about two years ago in the living, dining and hall way. May 20, 2016 by Dawn F (TX, United States) “I was very happy with my entire experience. I would definitely recommend CW Floors.”
those haughty, overpriced downtown stores. Plus, a specialist will be ready to serve you immediately… And you won’t have to page him from aisle 56 in plumbing. But don’t take our word for it. Check out what other customers, just like you, say about CW Floors & Lighting.
940.484.5483 • cwfloors.com • 520 North Loop 288 • Denton, TX 76209
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ajor home renovations are typically made about once a decade. That’s why it’s important to do it right the first time. Expenses such as an interior decorator are outside the budget for many, but when making such a costly, long-term decision, is it wise to trust someone at the big box stores who has little to no knowledge of flooring and lighting all in the name of supposedly saving a buck? At CW Floors & Lighting, customers pay the same or less than what they would at the big box stores. In return they find a level of expertise one might expect from a personal designer. With six locations across Texas and Louisiana, CW Floors & Lighting is one of the industry’s top 100 retailers and as a regional chain, not only do they have stronger buying power, they also carry the nation’s top brands and a huge variety of products. Most importantly, they KNOW floors and lighting. It’s all they do…all day…every day. From concept to completion, the professionals at CW Floors & Lighting are always focused on finding the right flooring or lighting for your lifestyle and your budget. Their installers are fully insured and they guarantee their work, so there’s no re-work or worry involved. Simply put, when you buy from CW Floors & lighting you get top name brands, great prices and professional installation every time.
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 19
CHANGING
Lives Is Just Part of What We Do
E
ach year, 6-8 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters throughout the United States. Due to low adoption rates, most of these animals never find a forever home. Animal shelters are forced to cope with animal overpopulation through euthanasia. That’s where Texas Coalition for Animal Protection steps in to make a difference.
20 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
photos courtesy of Texas Coalition for Animal Protection Sponsored Content
“The answer to stopping euthanasia and overpopulation starts with prevention” says TCAP Executive Director, Stacey Schumacher. The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) has been a leader in animal welfare since its formation in 2002. TCAP provides compassionate solutions to pet overpopulation and euthanasia. As a Denton-based non-profit, TCAP provides the lowest prices for preventative animal care throughout North Texas. In 2007, the Humane Society of the United States named TCAP as the “Most innovative approach to animal welfare in the nation.” TCAP’s skilled and caring veterinary team has sterilized more than 287,000 North Texas animals and has vaccinated more than 411,000 animals against the deadly rabies virus. TCAP’s ultimate goal is to substantially reduce animal overpopulation and euthanasia throughout North Texas, while promoting animal welfare. Spaying and neutering pets is the most effective way to reduce animal overpopulation and many problems that result from overpopulation such as malnutrition, abandonment, high euthanasia rates, and neglect.
TCAP currently operates standalone clinics
in Denton, Fort Worth, Hurst, Burleson, Allen
and Weatherford. TCAP is never far from your
home with one of their travel “MASH”-style clinics. “We understand that people have jobs and cannot always make the drive to one of
our main clinics, so we make ourselves available
throughout DFW at local animal shelters and community centers,” says Schumacher.
In addition to providing an invaluable service
to pet owners, the Texas Coalition for Animal
Protection strives to provide its support to animal shelters and rescue organizations. “We truly value these institutions for their contribution to their communities. We want to be there to help
make their rescued animals more adoptable and improve the number of animals they can help as a result” says Schumacher. TCAP’s Executive Director goes on to state that the combination of
reducing animal overpopulation and increasing
adoption rates can actually lower the cost of city-funded programs and in-turn lower the cost to North Texas taxpayers.
If you have a pet that you would like to get sterilized, scheduling an appointment is easy. You can call TCAP at 940.566.5551 or visit their website at www. texasforthem.org and click “Request Appointment”. Prices for sterilization begin as low as $35.00. Annual vaccinations for a dog or cat can be purchased for $25 on a walk-in basis from 9am – noon at all three main TCAP locations and 10am – noon at all travel locations. North Texans can learn more by visiting TCAP’s website at www.texasforthem.org. AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 21
Dr. Matt
A
Does Your Child Require a
Dental Specialist?
s a father of eight, many like to assume that handling children is a walk in the park, and for the most part, it’s true.
However, we recently spent a weekend family
getaway to SeaWorld’s waterpark, and as my wife and I attempted to herd fish, we quickly realized that this situation called for professional help.
Sometimes, the same can be true for your child
when special situations require the attention of a dental professional. With that in mind, let’s
discuss why your family dentist may recommend your child visit a pediatric dentist.
Most family dentists are happy to treat your
child, but there are some circumstances that
require the aid of a pediatric dentist. If your child is at high risk of tooth decay or requires
a significant amount of treatment, a pediatric
dentist can complete the treatment with fewer visits, either under sedation or in a hospital
setting depending on the severity of the case. When extensive dental treatment is necessary for very young children or children who lack
22 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
adequate behavior control during dental treatment, a pediatric referral by your family dentist may be warranted. If you ever are in doubt, your family dentist can help you determine if your child needs special attention. Most dental treatment and routine cleanings can be managed by your family dentist, and unlike some specialized treatments, a parent may remain with the child during the appointment. In addition, these visits also may help avoid any additional professional fees required by a specialist. In either case, the true bottom line is ensuring your child is getting the proper dental care. Enjoy the rest of your summer and don’t forget to get your child’s dental appointment in for the school year. Happy smiling! Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental www.CountryLakesDental.com
Striving 2 Share
Body and Soul
We All Can Relate to Summer Beach
H
FEET PROBLEMS
ow I love the summer, the beach and my flip flops. Walking in the sand and slipping on our sandals is relaxing and easy, however, it also can cause some aggravating foot pain. Several conditions can cause pain on the inside of one’s foot. It is important to visit a medical professional capable of diagnosing this pain if your pain persists. However, here are a few tips to prevent a nagging condition and help your feet avoid end-of-summer blues. Walking on your toes for prolonged periods through the sand or for days at a time can cause overuse of a muscle called the flexor hallicus longus. This muscle originates in the outside of your lower leg and travels around to the inside of your foot where the muscle becomes your FHL tendon and acts to bend the big toe. Any activity that causes excessive pushing or bending of this toe can irritate the tendon and cause discomfort
on the inside of your arch. Walking through thick sand, walking in flip flops, or high heel shoes can irritate this tendon. Dancers who are on their toes for hours on end also suffer from this condition. Pain on the inside of your foot that is disturbing while you sleep and/or tenderness while touching the cord-like soft tissue that is superficial when you extend the toe backwards can be signs of this condition. S2S Functional Performance Whether you are concerned about the chance of an injury or have already obtained one, our highly qualified staff is here to help. About Wellness: Our certified performance enhancement specialists will design a unique plan for athletes and weekend warriors alike to help them become top performers! About Rehabilitation: Physical therapy performed by a skilled, knowledgeable therapist will get you safely back to your sport or life activity!
TIPS: Stretch your calf muscles and ankle by standing against a wall and lunging forward. The stretch is felt along the back of the leg and into the bottom of the foot. Pull your toes back in an attempt to stretch the area. This called a windlass maneuver. Perform a cross friction massage to the arch of your foot. Rub an object like a tennis ball across the foot sideways. Or use the heel pad of your opposite foot to knead the arch and its soft tissue. Try altering your gait periodically and walk on your heels to stretch the soft tissue. For video tips of these exercises visit our You Tube page, Facebook, or Instagram.
“Train to Live Healthy, Energetic, and Injury Free.” – Meredith S. Tittle PT, DPT, OCS Call us or visit our website for more details!
940.241.1215 www.s2sperform.com
.com/s2sperform @s2sperform @s2sperform AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 23
24 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Wildhorse Grill at Robson Ranch
Now Open to All Wildhorse Grill at Robson Ranch
Going out to dinner sounds nice. Then you think about the wait, the pagers, the parking, the ice cold air conditioning and the noise. Kind of kills the mood, doesn’t it? Why not go in the other direction to a great restaurant, nestled in the Denton countryside, where you can enjoy a truly, relaxing meal while overlooking a beautiful golf course? The Wildhorse Grill and the Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch is the best kept secret in Denton County. Long thought to be reserved for residents of Robson Ranch only, these incredible venues are open to the public. At the Wildhorse Grill they have just finished the renovations unveiling a restaurant that can only be described as “Texas Elegant”. Its rustic surroundings and serene environment make it perfect for a date or a fun night out with family or friends. Patrons may dine in the lounge, the main restaurant or the courtyard terrace on a menu that spans from cedar planked salmon or filet mignon to chicken wings. It is truly fine dining with a casual ambiance that is both comfortable and exquisite. Whatever happened to Sunday brunch? It’s right here. Sunday breakfast with Chef happens every Sunday from 9 am until 1pm. Every Wednesday is Pizza, Spaghetti & Meatballs Night (perfect for the kids), while every Thursday includes live music in the bar and a dinner buffet. There is always something happening at the grill with dinner specials to fit your schedule and your budget. It’s also a great location for events, big and small. The new renovations included an event lawn with a gazebo, perfect for a wedding or rehearsal dinner. Host an intimate dinner or a business dinner for any size group. Wildhorse Grill will also cater to various social gatherings, though it would be a shame to miss that view of the golf course.
Sponsored Content
Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch Speaking of the golf course, Wildhorse Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels. Rated one of the top premium courses in North Texas by Avid Golfer Magazine, Wildhorse Golf Club was designed by Texas golf architect Gary Stephenson. With its wide fairways and spectacular greens, golfers describe it as a “challenging but fair” course for the novice or pro. Wildhorse Golf Club is made up of two 9-hole courses: the Mustang 9 and the Wildhorse 9 which come together near the Pro Shop. The layout is deceitfully simple but an enjoyable challenge, depending on the weather and the wind. The course stays in fabulous shape with hazards that are punishing but not too severe and fresh white sand in all the bunkers. The recently renovated Pro Shop is first-class, stocked with great equipment and top quality merchandise for the casual golfer or the more serious duffer. The shop is staffed by eight
self-proclaimed “golf junkies” including Club Pro David Thatcher and Assistant Pro Tom
GRILL SPECIALS Breakfast Buffet Sun 9am-1pm
Power Hour
Tues | Wed | Fri | Sat 4-5pm $ 50 1. Beer $ 2.50 House Wine
Wine & Cheese Night 3rd Tuesday of the Month 4-5pm
Italian Night
Wed 5-8pm Pizza and/or Spaghetti w/Meatballs
Wright. The entire staff lives, breathes, eats and
LIVE Music Thursdays
golf-related questions or needs that come up.
Cocktail Class
sleeps golf and is ready to assist with whatever Many tournaments open to the public are held
here, and the course is available to private and
corporate groups for special events. Between the
11 Buffet 5-7pm
$
2nd Tuesday of Every Month 4-5pm
spectacular course and the incredible restaurant, holding a tournament at Wildhorse Golf Club is a
tremendous experience which only gets
better when it ends at the Wildhorse Grill with an amazing meal and cold beer, or whatever suits your party.
Get away from the traffic, the concrete and the
crowds and come for an enjoyable experience at
HOURS OF OPERATION Lunch Mon-Sat 11am-3pm • Sun 11am-2pm
the Wildhorse Golf Course and the Wildhorse
Dinner Tues & Wed 5-8pm | Fri & Sat 5-9pm
just off 35W but it feels miles away, on a beautiful
Sunday Breakfast w/Chef
Grill at Robson Ranch. It’s conveniently located north Texas ranch.
from 9am - 1pm
9440 Ed Robson Blvd • Denton, TX 76207 | Grill: 940.246.1080 • Golf: 940.246.1000
26 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Argyle’s Caleb Murdock Wins Gold in Pole Vaulting Argyle Middle Schooler Caleb Murdock came
in first place in pole vaulting to win the gold in the 14 and under (14U) category at the State Games of
Texas in McAllen, Texas, for Texas Amateur Athletic
Foundation (TAAF) track and field meet on July
28th. From there he traveled to Humble, Texas, where he once again placed 1st in pole vaulting in the 13 and under (13U) category at the AAU 50th Anniversary National Junior Olympics. The incoming 8th grader
won the UIL gold
medal earlier this year
at the 2016 Track and
photo courtesy of LaRhonda Murdock
Field District Meet at Bull Memorial Stadium in
Bridgeport. He took first place in Pole Vault and set a new personal record clearing 10’6.
Liberty Christian Students Serve and Minister in Uganda for 10th Year in a Row This year marks a decade of service for the
students at Liberty Christian who have traveled every year to Uganda in partnership with the Buyamba God Cares and the Dongo Family.
A team of 26 served alongside students at
the school by sanding and painting the walls at God Cares High School. In addition, students
attended Kabalagala Pentecostal Church and
taught a lesson on the 12 plagues from the Bible in the book of Exodus in Sunday school. Liberty students played games and taught classes at the
primary school, while conversations were held at the high school level regarding cultural and geographical boundaries.
At the end of the trip, student missionaries
had the rare opportunity to take a safari in the African savanna and bush. The overnight trip to the
Nile
included
both a boat tour and a land tour, where
students saw lions, crocodiles,
giraffes,
elephants, warthogs, and photo courtesy of Liberty Christian School
many
other
types of indigenous African wildlife.
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 27
A FLAT Jesus ACCOMPANIES
Argyle Methodist Kids on Their Adventures by Susan Neuhalfen
DANCE LESSONS
photo courtesy of AMUC
BED TIME
TAKING A CAB
s a parting gift to the children who attended VBS at Argyle United Methodist Church, each received a “Flat Jesus” to take home to complete their summer adventures. Flat Jesus is a cut-out paper picture that may be colored and decorated by the kids and then taken with them as they continue their summer activities. The idea for Flat Jesus was based on the the book series, Flat Stanley. In the books, the main character, Flat Stanley, was flattened by a fallen bulletin board. He and his family soon found his size to come in handy as he could help people and easily fit into tight spaces. In 1995, a teacher started the Flat Stanley Project where kids decorated their own Flat Stanley and mailed him to other locations. This lead to classroom-wide communications across the globe, as Flat Stanley was pictured in many locations and passed along to students with a story as to what happened while he was there. The hope for AUMC was for the children to keep Jesus with them wherever they went. They encouraged the kids to take pictures with Flat Jesus whether it be on their family vacation or in their own backyard. “We’re always looking for a way for the kids to stay connected over the summer,” said Liz Diebold, Director of Children’s Ministries. “This way Jesus stays with them wherever they go.” Parents are encouraged to put their family adventures on the AUMC Facebook page. A “Welcome Home” for Flat Jesus will be held at the “Back in the Saddle” program on August 21, as well as the Blessing of the Backpacks. In addition to bringing Flat Jesus, parishioners are encouraged to wear western wear to the service. POKEMON
SHARING A COKE HIKING
28 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
GOING TO THE MOVIES TO SEE DORY
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 29
30 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Why DID I PAY FOR
Title INSURANCE? by Zach Sams, Sales Manager Fidelity National Title 214.529.3840 call or text
P
eople ask me what I do for a living and I tell them I’m in the title business. Inevitably they respond with: “Oh yeah, we pay you all that money for something we never use.” That’s really not the case.
But really, why do you pay for Title Insurance? Most insurance (auto, homeowners, life, etc.) that you pay for insures against something that MAY happen in the FUTURE. Title insurance insures your ownership of your property against something that MAY have happened in the PAST. Fidelity National Title Insurance Company (http://www.fntic.com/) explains TITLE like this: “Titles” came about as a means of legally proving who owns the property. Through the centuries, however, a parcel of property may change hands dozens of times. At any point along the chain of ownership, problems may arise that cast a “cloud” over a title, putting a claim of ownership in doubt. Such as: • Long-lost relatives or past owners could show up, sometimes from long ago, with a claim to the property that supersedes yours. • Sometimes people fraudulently sell houses that don’t belong to them. For example, the
Real Estate husband of a divorcing couple could forge the signature of his wife, and abscond with the proceeds of the sale. How do you protect yourself from mistakes, fraud and other complications? Through title insurance. It protects your claim to your property from potential problems caused by irregularities that may have occurred in the past. Dollar for dollar, it’s one of the most cost-efficient forms of insurance for homeowners. It’s relatively low, one-time premium covers you against legal problems that could cost tens of thousands of dollars-and even the loss of your home. For most Americans, your home is your largest purchase and biggest investment. Insuring your ownership of your property makes good sense; and just like it is a good thing to never have to use your auto insurance, it is good to not have to use your title insurance as well.
“Titles” came about as a means of legally proving who owns the property.
*The statements made in this brief article and any web page within the Fidelity National Title website are not intended, and shall not be construed to expressly or impliedly issue or deliver any form of written guaranty, affirmation, indemnification, or certification of any fact, insurance coverage or conclusion of law.”
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 31
SEASON PREVIEW
Liberty Christian starting over with
YOUTH & INEXPERIENCE
T
here’s a gleam in the eye of Liberty Christian football coach Barton Hundley when he talks about the outlook for this season, and it may catch most people by surprise. That’s because most coaches may be a bit more
cautiously optimistic heading into a year where
by Steve Gamel
be told, many of the guys that make up this
year’s team saw at least some varsity playing time last season. But with the season opener against Melissa just days away, they’ll have to be ready to take on a bigger role.
The offense will be led by Jon Copeland.
their roster features more youth and inexperience
Copeland started at wide receiver last year and
right, two – returning starters back from last year
under center. Unlike last year’s starter, Nick
“There is no doubt in my mind this is a playoff
and speedy legs to break out of the pocket when
team can contend for a district title. This team
He also has experience at the position. Two
than veteran leadership. Hundley has two – that’s
is every bit the quarterback Hundley wants
– but he appears more confident than ever.
Starkel, Copeland has both an accurate arm
team,” Hundley said with a confident smile. “This
plays go bad.
can contend for a state championship. These guys
years ago, Copeland played the final 5 1/2
every week.”
with a broken arm. The then-freshman tossed
have the attitude that they are going to get better
This year’s Warriors may be young, but it’s not
like they don’t have any varsity experience. Truth
32 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
games – including playoffs – with Starkel out six touchdowns and threw for nearly 900 yards
in that stretch. He spent this season leading the
Warriors to the TAPPS state 7-on-7 tournament, garnering a ton of attention along the way.
“Either you can play football, or you can’t,”
Hundley said. “Jon knows how to play the game.” Copeland’s favorite target this year may be
wide receiver Cole Croce, who played well in a
limited role on varsity last year. He’ll be flanked by several newcomers, including Elijah Edwards and Grant Sawyer.
Defensively, the Warriors have defensive
lineman Brooks Talkington for what should be a breakout season for him, but that defensive
unit will have its hands full with a schedule that
includes plenty of high-flying offenses in Celina,
Gilmer and defending TAPPS state champion, Plano Prestonwood Christian.
Most of the guys projected to start on offense
this year will also play a heavy role on defense.
“We will know real fast how good we are,”
Hundley said. “We had a lot of guys who got
the chance to play last year, they just didn’t start. So I think they will be ready to show what they
can do. We’ve had them the whole time, and
that’s why I’m so excited. Because they’ve done everything they can to step up and be ready to play this year.”
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 33
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Gardening
What’s Going On In My Yard?
W
hen it comes to turf maintenance and getting straight answers for what actions you should and shouldn’t be taking on your lawn right now, our friends over at GRASSPERSON are a great source of knowledge. They’ve sent over a couple things to keep in mind while we go through the ups and downs of a typical Texas summer.
WATERING You should be watering at least 3-4 days a week. The goal is watering deep, not frequently. Always water between 4-6 a.m. to avoid fungus issues. Run times for pop-up spray heads should range between 14-18 minutes; rotor style heads 20-25 minutes; and drip style lines range from 35-45 minutes. It is a great idea to have a professional walk thru the entire system to ensure proper coverage as well as efficiency of the system. Most of the time our customers don’t notice there’s
a problem until plants start dying or the grass turns brown, so having a licensed technician examine your system is highly recommended.
MOWING HEIGHT All grass should be cut higher in the summer
to help with water retention. We recommend to
keep your Bermuda between 3-3.5” and the St. Augustine a little higher.
FERTILIZER You should be applying food to your grass to
ensure it’s a success with all the heat stress we
have had so far this summer. Just as important, be prepared after September 1 to apply your pre-emergents. Most homeowners make the
WEEDS One of most common, hardest weeds to deal with is nutsedge. Nutsedge is a weed that is caused by heavy rainfall which we have experienced this year. To treat it, call a professional that has weed specific treatments to help get rid of this problem. General weed chemicals will not touch it, and other than thinning out some of your broad leaf weeds, could be a waste of money. Getting on a chemical program and being consistent with it is worth its weight in gold. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but within a few months of being on a professional program, you should be very pleased with results.
mistake of not applying these treatments until
the window has passed. You should not apply
when the cool weather is here, but instead, apply weeks prior to the seasonal change to help fend off what’s coming.
by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com
AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 35
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Accentuate Women Need to
THE POSITIVE
by Susan Neuhalfen
“ Your job is to make your strengths more effective
and your weaknesses irrelevant.” – Peter Drucker
So often women are focused on their
weaknesses.
With the constant barrage of
multi-tasking with kids, husbands, jobs, relatives, homes, etc., it is hard not to focus on what didn’t get done.
What if she, instead, focused on her strengths? That was the theme of WALL, Women
of Argyle Leaving a Legacy.
WALL was
an all-day conference for women and men featuring
former
Denton County Clerk,
Cindy Mitchell. After serving four consecutive terms, Mitchell is now the CEO of Strategic Solutions HQ where she helps leaders and teams develop and grow. Certified in the Clifton StrengthFinders tool powered by the Gallup Organization, Mitchell had each attendee take the 45-minute StrengthFinders test prior to the conference. Armed with this information, attendees learned where their strengths lie and where their talent should be focused. “Did you know that people who focus on their strengths are more than three times Photo by Helen Chouinard as likely to report
having an excellent quality of life?” asked Mitchell. “Productivity increases 7.8% in people operating in their strengths.” Mitchell went on to talk about the test and how after four decades and 14 million people have taken the test, no two people have ever gotten the same matches. That’s how specific it is to each individual. It’s used for business strategy. Once a person determines her talents and strengths, she needs to work within those strengths in order to be productive and happy. There is also a down side to these strengths. There are “basements and balconies” as Mitchell calls them. For example, someone who is an achiever is tireless, has a strong work ethic, leads by example and is a go-getter, however, that same person may also have a tendency to be overcommitted, burn the candle at both ends, can’t say no and is too concentrated on work. As a business strategy, by placing people in jobs that highlight their strengths, Mitchell has found that it is the equivalent of having extra members on the workforce. So often, there are a certain number of people in an office who are not engaged, but in using this strategy, those same people--working within their strengths— become more productive, lightening the load for everyone. That makes it easier for the leaders to spend time encouraging their employees instead of acting as a “helicopter boss”. “Great leaders don’t light a fire under individuals,” said Mitchell. “They create a spark within them.” Just before lunch, Annette Doody of Savory Bistro talked about the importance of how we fuel our bodies in order to be our best. “My passion is getting people off processed foods,” said Doody. “Don’t worry about calories, worry more about eating real food.” Doody discussed how outsourcing our food since the 1950’s has been the downfall of America’s eating habits. Following lunch, talent consultant Shannon Graham discussed BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) and what keeps people from reaching those goals. She drew a picture of a road to reaching a goal. On the road were boulders which acted as obstacles. With audience participation, she worked through the obstacles to help attendees see how easy it is to reach even the most far-fetched goal. The conference ended with a panel of successful women local to the area answering questions moderated by Argyle United Methodist Church Rev. Sarah Roberts. AUGUST 2016 | ARGYLE LIVING | 37
Business Coach
SEVEN KEYS
to Increasing your
PRODUCTIVITY
HAVE CLEAR, WRITTEN PLANS OF ACTION
HAVE CLEAR, WRITTEN GOALS The starting point for high productivity is clear goals for yourself, your company and your employees. For goals to be effective, they should be SMART: specific, measurable, alignedwith your values, realistic and believable, and time-bound. At a minimum, define annual goals to guide your work.
W
hile “attitude is everything”, execution (aka “getting stuff done”) is what makes the cash register ring. Highly productive people also tend to be successful people, achieving more with better results in less time than others. If you want to accomplish more in your life and reap the rewards, put these 7 tactics into play:
The second tactic to high productivity is to have clear, written action plans that break your goals down into specific activities that must be accomplished. List them out. The very act of listing your action items will increase your productivity by 25%. Every minute you spend planning will save you roughly 10 minutes in execution.
BE RABIDLY SINGLE-MINDED Once you’ve determined what to do and in what priority, discipline yourself to start on your high priority tasks and stick with them until they’re done. Avoid “task-switching” (e.g., multi-tasking). Every time you stop a task and start another, you waste precious time remembering where you were, what you were thinking, what you’ve done so far, and so on. You can reduce the amount of time you spend on a major task by up to 80% if you can avoid the task-switching that is so rampant in today’s society.
WORK HARDER AT WHAT YOU DO When you’re working, work! Minimize distractions (electronic or any other kind), chit-chat, and socializing. Work head down and discipline yourself to stay focused and “on task” for set periods of time. Start with 30 minutes and when you can do that, increase it to 45 minutes, and so on. Reward yourself with short breaks for your diligence and recharge your brain for the next intensive working session. Use these tactics. Make it fun by competing against yourself to see how much you can get done. Think back to a time when you were incredibly productive, getting a lot of the right things done in a short period of time. Remember how good that felt, and how good you felt about yourself ? You were in a state of “flow,” and, if you work hard to discipline your work habits, you can achieve “flow” on a routine basis and become legendary for your productivity.
38 | ARGYLE LIVING | AUGUST 2016
SET CLEAR PRIORITIES Of all the things you have to accomplish, which ones carry the biggest consequences—positive or negative—of doing them or not doing them? Prioritize your action items accordingly and begin with the tasks that carry the highest consequences first.
BUNCH YOUR TASKS Do related activities at the same time. Write all your letters, complete all your expense reports, prepare all your proposals at the same time and you’ll achieve high productivity because each subsequent task will take less time. You can cut the time it takes to do an individual task by up to 80% by practicing this method.
WORK SMARTER It’s not just the number of hours you work that matters, it’s the value of the tasks you complete. The more time you spend on high value tasks, the more you’ll accomplish from every hour you work. by Art Locke, Focal Point Coaching ArtLockeCoaching.com
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