Argyle Living Magazine November 15

November 2015

Argyle - Canyon Falls - Harvest - Robson Ranch

Community Rallies to Support Injured Mom Journey to Dream Closer to Goal Strongman Finishes 7th in the World

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

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ure Barre has always been more than just a workout; it’s a lifestyle. We strive to make our studio an inviting and welcoming community where clients feel supported both in their fitness and overall lifestyle goals.

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Argyle resident

Featured Stories and News

Thanksgiving Break November 23rd - 27th

Band Christmas Concert December 15th in the Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Winter Break December 21st January 8th Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com 6 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

10

Coaching Corner

15

Liberty Christian

On the Cover: Adams Furniture

Bob Kneip

24

Get Your Read On

26

Mom Injured on Hwy 337

29

Christmas Festival

33

Community Civic League

34 36

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Kyle’s Place

VI

M AG A

NG

ZIN

E’

R’S TOCK I ED PI T

Pg 18

22

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Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Bishop Lynch High School December 10th at 6:30 p.m.

Pure Barre

18 Adams Furniture

Girls Varsity Soccer vs John Paul II High School Nov 30th at 6 p.m.

All Pro Dads Breakfast December 4th in the Commons Place at 7:30 a.m.

02

EN

Liberty Christian School Events

Contents

ARGY LE

Argyle Community Events

Table of

2015

RE C

IP

I

Lantana Pediatrics

Every Issue 07

From Your Editor

11

Inside Community

12

Inside Education

14

Real Estate

17

The Sidelines

21

Gardening

25

Rejuvenation

30

Upscale Home

Gratitude Black is the new

A

“

A Message from The Community Editor

s we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - John F. Kennedy Gratitude can be defined as “thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive.” To me, it means learning to live my life as if everything were a miracle, being present and aware of how much you’ve been given.

Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that already is present and slow us down and bring us centered.

During this season of giving thanks, I invite you to pause and look beyond the surface for blessings. Hearing the sound of a baby coo, the infectious laughter of a child, a rainbow after a storm, a stranger holding open the door are all easy to appreciate and show grace.

Life throws every single person some sort of crazy storm. It’s easy to complain about the rain when you’re walking through life without an umbrella. You can either walk in the rain angry or dance all the way home laughing.

The biggest gifts in life are the ones we often overlook…the ability to hear my children laugh,

the arms to hold them when they’re sick, the legs to jump in excitement for their successes, the eyes to watch them say their prayers. For these, my heart is grateful beyond words on a page!

However, when it’s not as obvious or we are incapable to see the blessings, we often miss the life lessons entirely. These include the ability to love and be loved, the willingness to forgive, the courage to get back up when life delivers a blow that knocks us off our feet and holding onto hope and faith when faced with the inability to see possibilities beyond imminent circumstances.

These are the blessings that show a deeper connection to the soul and are the foundation of living a life of purpose and finding beauty in the dark. Remember, resentment kills the heart that harbors it, so do your part…forgive, then trust and believe in the rest.

Gratitude is the new black around here! It’s cheap to own and free to give and best of all, will never go out of fashion!

So please join me in showing your appreciation for our servicemen and women in celebration of Veterans Day and also individually through your continued acts of kindness and thoughtfulness to each other.

Kathryn Flores, Community Relations, Marketing and Advertising Manager Argyle Living & Lantana Living Kathryn@murray-media.com 214-734-5783

ArgyleLivingMagazine.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray Administration Managing Editor Jana Melton

Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Contributors Eric Williams Mark Miller Steve Gamel

Advertising

Kathryn Flores kathryn@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com

Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill Josh Burkham Caroline Brock

Photography

Scott Young (972) 899-3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com Chris Ziober (817) 980-1653 LifeDigs.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 (214) 734-5783 or email kathryn@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. © 2015 Murray Media Group

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 7

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Argyle resident November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 9

Coaching Corner

Thanks

giving More Than a

Holiday

By Stacy L. Allen, CACP

Soon many of us will start making our Thanksgiving plans. Whether we travel out of town or stay at home, try new dishes or stick with family recipes, our celebrations likely will include thinking about or telling others about what we are most thankful.

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T

his wonderful tradition that warms our hearts in November may have benefits we also should pay attention to the rest of the year. Practicing gratefulness routinely does amazing things for our minds, bodies and relationships.

Who are your favorite people to be around?

Chances are you enjoy their company because they express some kind of positive energy.

Perhaps they are funny or calm. Maybe they’re understanding or have a knack for seeing the bright side of things. Positive emotions are powerful, and they have many benefits for ourselves and the people around us. Practicing the positive emotion of gratitude is one healthy habit we can all start today and begin receiving the rewards.

Take a couple of minutes right now and focus your thoughts on specific things you appreciate in your life. Start with something small and continue to identify every single thing for which you are truly grateful. Feel the energy shift and your load lighten?

Studies increasingly show that giving thanks can change your life for the better in many ways.

Here are just a few you can learn more about.

Gratitude has been shown to improve quality of sleep, increase self-esteem, strengthen physiological function, increase energy levels,

increase motivation to exercise, develop our personality, increase optimism, decrease materialism, decrease self-centeredness, make us feel good, make memories happier, help us relax, improve marriages, make us friendlier, deepen connection with others, increase management ability, facilitate successful networking, increase goal achievement, increase productivity and improve decision-making. With a list of potential results like these, what would keep you from intentionally practicing thankfulness every day?

Gratitude certainly is not a cure-all, but I do believe it’s safe to say this simple tool often is under-utilized to improve our lives. So, don’t wait for November. Be grateful today. Be grateful in the morning, in the evening and every hour in between. Be grateful now.

Stacy L. Allen, CACP is a certified coaching practitioner who helps people find their value and reach their personal, relationship or goals. Ask Stacy your questions at questions@stacylallen.com or contact her for more info about her services at 972-965-6487.

New History Room Open At Argyle Town Hall

Argyle Amnesty Program Continues Through Nov. 25

Those interested in learning more about the history

Typically offenders state the people they are calling

have red light camera violations or missed court dates or jury duty and must pay a fine by pre-paid debit cards

People with outstanding Argyle warrants for most

and provide card pack numbers or face arrest. Since

July 25 have until Nov. 25 to take advantage of the

for such actions, anyone receiving such a phone call is

of Argyle have a new place to do so with the Oct. 27

traffic and non-traffic citations delinquent on or before

local and county agencies never resort to the telephone

Room at Argyle Town Hall.

Argyle Municipal Court’s amnesty program.

asked to call the Denton County Sherriff ’s office or

dedication of the Yvonne Jenkins Memorial History The exhibit contains items from the Yvonne Jenkins

The program includes discounted fines and

Argyle Collection donated by her daughter, Argyle

dismissals, however, previously adjudicated cases are

be administered by staff from the Denton County

anyone with delinquent warrant to take advantage of

Councilwoman Kay Jenkins Teer. The room will

Office of History and Culture including cataloging, preserving, maintaining, and storing the collection.

The organization also will manage exhibits and

not eligible for the discounts. Court officials encourage the discount rate program since those who don’t risk being arrested and incurring additional fees.

For more information contact the Argyle Municipal

make sure artifacts not on display are safely stored. It

Court at 940-464-7255.

be considered for other historical exhibits.

Beware of Phone Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement

marks the county’s first satellite location, one that will

County, Town Offices Closed For Thanksgiving Holiday

Several law enforcement agencies in Denton

Denton County and Town of Argyle offices

will

be

closed

Nov. 26-27

Thanksgiving holiday.

to

celebrate

the

Official business for both entities will resume

on Nov. 30.

County are reporting an increase in the number of people pretending to be officers in attempts to receive money from alleged victims.

Such phone scams include one person stating he

is a Denton County Sheriff ’s deputy. Others say they represent town or city police departments.

their local police agency.

Argyle United Methodist Sets Holiday Breakfast Dec. 5 Argyle United Methodist Church will be the site

for Breakfast in Bethlehem in the Children and Youth Building from 8-11 a.m. Dec. 5.

The event will include a stable with costumes, a

manger for photos, crafts, games, scavenger hunt, story time, and nativity petting zoo.

Entry fee will be $5 per person with children 2 and

under free. For more information, visit the church website at argyleumc.orb/bnb.

Denton County At-Risk Youth To Benefit from Nov. 21 Run The fourth-annual TUF Turkey 5K and 1-Mile Fun

Run will be held Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. at Transform U Fitness in Lewisville.

The event will be held to raise funds for Kyle’s Place,

a permanent shelter for homeless and abandoned teens in Denton County.

The cost for the fun run is $20 with the 5K at

$30. Walk-up or pre-registration entries are available.

For more information, call 214-577-9641 or visit tufbodies.com.

Run on Thanksgiving to Benefit Tarrant Area Food Banks Texas Motor Speedway will host the seventhannual Thanksgiving Grub Run at 8 a.m.

Thanksgiving Day. Proceeds from the 5K run will benefit the Tarrant Area Food Banks. Entry will be accepted for $10 plus five cans of food. All ages are welcome and participants can walk, jog, run, push a stroller and/or dress like a turkey.

For more information, visit willrunforgrub.com

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 11

Students were led by a knowledgeable tour guide

AHS, Liberty Upperclass Members Learn Politics in New Council

who connected the tours to their history lessons in school. The group hopes to visit Boston and New York City next year.

Seven juniors and seniors each from Argyle High School and Liberty Christian School have been selected by their principals to form the first Argyle Youth Advisory Council.

The students provided a preview of what they want to accomplish before the Argyle Town Council at its Oct. 27 meeting. By teaching the teens about local politics, the aim is for as many of them as possible to become future community leaders while also giving current town officials their thoughts and ideas.

Representing Liberty Christian are Dalton Wood, Grant Griffith, Madison Crow, Payton Elsey, Connor Price, Hannah Dickson, and Ben Khoshbin. AHS students are Kayla Haynes, Logan Witzer, Bryce Pilawski, Reeves Moseley, Brooke Daniel, Natalia Sorensen, and Maddison Darnell.

“Trick or Treat for UNICEF” campaign.

The older students taught their younger peers about

the organization and how elementary school students can help needy children in other countries.

Lymphoma cancer he’s battled for the past year, he knows he’s not along in the fight thanks to his fellow classmates.

Through an on-campus fundraiser called “No Shave Hunter and his family to help defray medical bills. to

help

can

visit

his

“Fight Like Hunter” Go Fund Me Account at

Led by Middle School Vice-Principal Norm Parker, the nearly 40 people visited such sites as the Vietnam Memorial, Smithsonian museums, Capitol Hill, the White House, and Mall memorials in Washington plus toured nearby Mount Vernon, the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and the Gettysburg Civil War monuments.

12 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

Theatre and choral students from Liberty Christian

October for its Performing Arts Broadway Workshop.

Disney’s entertainment professionals helped the

30-member contingent further develop performing concepts, and fine‐tuning their acting, singing, and dancing techniques with onstage experience.

Students learned and performed the opening scene

a $3,500 scholarship in the Junior division while

them through acting and improvisational games.

were named in the top 10. In the Senior Division,

members sang six prepared and choreographed songs.

classmates Miles Martin and Betty Smith also

junior Kelsey Hovanetz took first place and a $3,500

scholarship while junior Z Kante earned second place Other Liberty students in the Senior division top 10

were Olivia Govednik, Will Kuehne, Caleb McCarley, Madison Nelson, Cole Porter, Isabella Van Trease, and Courtlyn Wellborn.

Their pieces were selected from the more than

Students named in the top 10 also recited their original

Pennsylvania in early October.

Liberty Theatre, Choral Entourage Learn Entertainment the Disney Way

from “Beauty and the Beast” and participated in a class

Group from Liberty Christian Learns U.S. History in Person

landmarks during a trip to Washington, D.C., and

It was the fourth year the district was able to raise

$5,000. Campaign sponsors were The Jeff Day Family, Ardent Hospice, and Frenchy’s Lawn and Tree Service.

Worth Stockyards on Oct. 24.

de.gofund.me/ov4ikk.

experienced some of the nation’s most historic

t-shirts in October.

fundamentals while reinforcing theatrical and musical

1,500 poems entered this year. The top 10 finalists

Middle school students, faculty and parents

Foundation through the sale of 600 “THINK PINK”

Students from both the Liberty Christian middle

school and high school earned top honors in the

and a $2,500 scholarship.

November,” boys are helping raise money to donate to

family helped donate $5,000 to National Breast Cancer

Middle and Upper School visited Walt Disney World in

Fifth-grader Amelia Wallis won first place and

While Argyle High School student-athlete Hunter

Members of the Argyle independent School District

Liberty Christian Competitors Shines in Statewide Poetry Contest

Festival statewide poetry writing contest at the Fort

Oney fights the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoblastic

wanting

The Argyle High School UNICEF Club spent a

day at Hilltop Elementary School launching its annual

Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing

Argyle High School Students Helping Classmate with Cancer

Anyone

High School Students Educate Youngsters About Helping Others

Pink T-Shirt Sale Raises $5,000 to Help Fight Cancer

were selected by Texas Christian University professors. poetry from memory.

Upcoming Events to Keep Argyle School Community Busy The first half of the month of December will be a

busy time for those affiliated with Argyle schools.

It starts Dec. 7 with the Angel Tree Dinner from

6:30-9 p.m. in the auditorium foyer. High school and intermediate school parents plus middle and elementary school staff and parents are invited to attend.

One week later will be the annual Eagles Helping

Eaglets event when high school students visit with elementary school pupils at 3:30 p.m. in the Argyle High School Lecture Hall.

titled “Acting 101” where a Disney performer guided The choir also performed at Disney Springs where

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 13

Real Estate

I God, Family, Career, Grateful for

....................and Where We Live...

I am one of those people, when I drive by land covered with scrub brush and Mesquite trees, who thinks it is beautiful. I enjoy small towns and old town squares. I love small hometown restaurants. I like driving across Texas and taking the back roads instead of the main roads. Only in Texas will you drive through a town with a population of 800 and see that they have three churches. I don’t mind driving 4-5 hours to go see family or to go hunting, it is just what I am used to and what we do.

Living in a large state changes your perspective regarding road trips and what is a “long” way.

Whenever we have left the state we always cheer when we cross the state line on our way back home and immediately feel different when we cross that line. Mostly though I love exactly where we live today, Argyle, Texas, population 3,561 (2013).

I look forward to Friday night football games at Argyle High School. We purchased reserved seating which always makes me smile because this is a high school football game, however for some reason I just want to know we always have a ticket and that we are sitting in a good spot. We enjoy cheering on the team and visiting with our friends. We enjoy seeing a city come together at one event. We love seeing all the kids running around and playing with each other in a safe environment.

I am sincerely touched when our local sporting and other events are started with a prayer, many times led by a student. At a high school football game, incomes, jobs, and differences are put aside as we come together as a community and root on our team.

I enjoy living in a place where we can still stop on a back road in our trucks and have a conversation.

If someone pulls up they usually don’t honk, they wait just a minute as we say our goodbyes and then everyone has a friendly wave. I like it that we still open doors for people, wave at people as we drive by, and say ‘hello, how are you doing?’ as we pass in a restaurant or store.

I appreciate that when I meet a local person he or she typically will ask me ‘where do you go to church?’ before they ask ‘where do you live?’ I never take that for granted because in many parts of the DFW area that is reversed due to completely different priorities.

I love the rolling hills, large trees, beautiful horse farms, and gentleman ranches that are all over Argyle. I like our diverse neighborhoods, types of homes, and unique communities. I love that there are huge ranches and also small neighborhoods. I think our small downtown area is fantastic with the unique cottage style homes and large hills. I like that our

14 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

By Will Woods

am a natural-born Texan. I actually am a sixthgeneration Texan. Our family has lived in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for quite some time. My children are now our seventh generation born in Texas. I am grateful for having been raised in Texas around some of the friendliest and most faithful people in the United States.

town is built around a railroad. I enjoy that from our

change. Friday night football games will still happen.

Denton County, our county, has an approximate

we will meet to worship together. There still will be

downtown we actually have a fantastic view.

2015 population of 789,000 people. It is predicted to

grow to 943,000 by 2020. That is less than five years.

That will be some incredible growth. There is no way

to avoid this growth as the entire Dallas-Fort Worth

Metroplex continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most desired areas to live in the United States.

We have a strong economy, low unemployment,

fantastic infrastructure, relatively low taxes, and great quality of life. I recently read that there are 350 people a day moving into the DFW area.

As you can see above I love where I live. Right or

wrong, people are going to continue to be drawn to Argyle as the DFW area continues the fast growth.

Our city will go through some changes. We most

likely will get a bit more crowded. They will be 10-15

cars at a red light instead of 3-4 today. There will be construction and changes. However, our quality of life and the people who live here do not have to

Sunday mornings will still come every Sunday and

more trucks than cars and we always will have fields with barns, horses, and livestock in them.

I would encourage everyone at this time of year

to focus on the great qualities of where we live and

enjoy today. As I write this article I feel grateful for this community, our friends, and my family. As I close I would encourage everyone to vote, be educated

regarding who is making the decisions in our city, and make sure we do our part to keep Argyle great.

Please enjoy your Thanksgiving and Christmas

and our fantastic local events that celebrate this time of year! I hope that God blesses you and your family during this great time of year.

Please reach out The Woods Group if we can ever be

of service to you in your real estate transactions. You can easily reach us at 214-733-9239.

Liberty Christian School News!

Stories courtesy of Liberty Christian School

Annual Chili Cook Off Great Success!

L

iberty Christian’s 12th Annual Chili Cook-off on Oct. 9 raised more than $4,000 for Defenders of Freedom, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting deployed troops around the world with care packages, aiding wounded troops in their transition to civilian life, and empowering all veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn with life and career mentoring, job search assistance, and general transitioning to the civilian sector.

Liberty families came ready to sample and enjoy chili, cornbread, and desserts prior to a home football game from more than 15 school, parent, and student-sponsored booths, from the Key Club to athletic teams to the Grandparents Association.

“This is definitely a favorite event of the year for our families,” said Michelle Simms, Director of Marketing and Communications. “It is a time to enjoy fellowship and food for a very good cause.”

The winners of this year’s Chili Cook-off include the following booths: Best Chili & Best Specialty Meat – ChiliDawgs (LCS Clay Shoot Team); Best Cornbread – Grandparents Association; Best Dessert – District 6 Doughnuts; Best Beverage – MIX’n IT UP; Best Booth – Sweet Niblets (Girls Hoops); Best Theme – Tie between Dance Team and Tennis; Most Tips for Defenders of Freedom – Tennis.

The cook-off is sponsored each year by Pops in Prayer, a group of Liberty fathers and grandfathers who meet each week during the school year for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer.

L

Students Become Entomologists

iberty Christian first grade students became entomologists and enjoyed the fall weather by learning outside in Super Science class on Oct. 8.

Students made their very own piece of scientific equipment called an insect aspirator. Entomologists (scientists who study insects) use them to collect and study small insects.

The aspirator is made from aquarium tubing, an unused medicine bottle, and cotton gauze. Students suck on the small tube, creating a vacuum, which sucks insects through the long tube and into the medicine bottle for viewing.

The gauze creates a filter that prevents any dirt or insects from going up through the mouthpiece.

Using the aspirator, students collected insects in Liberty’s outdoor learning center without having to touch them and without damaging any of the insects’ fragile body parts.

In this investigation, students noticed where most of the insects congregated, which were in moist, sheltered areas where food sources were available.

Students observed that, even though every type of insect was very unique, each contained three body parts, two antennae, and six legs. They also connected this learning with a biblical application found in Proverbs 6:6: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider its ways, and be wise.”

Super Science teacher Amanda McGlothlin added, “At the conclusion of the lesson, students were given their aspirators to take home and keep. They were encouraged to continue learning and hunting at home!”

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 15

Argyle resident 16 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

See You On The Sidelines

Everyone gets a juice box, or Do They?

By Steve Gamel

“This isn’t little league.

Not everyone goes home with a juice box.”

T

hat sarcastic line was said to me recently by one of my reporter buddies. At the time, I didn’t think much of it because,

well, he’s sarcastic and sometimes it’s better

just to take him with a grain of salt. But I was reminded of that line when another conversation came up last month about co-district champs in football.

The question was, should two football teams

be considered co-champs if they finish with identical records?

I know it doesn’t matter much right now

since we are in the middle of the playoffs, but

apparently, this was a hot topic during the

regular season as more and more teams came down to the regular season finale trying to settle a district championship.

You only get one pass through the district schedule in football, so one school of thought is if an unbeaten team heads into the regular season finale and loses to a one-loss team to create a tie atop the standings, the team that won should be crowned champ.

The thought is hey, I beat you head to head.

The fact our records are the same doesn’t matter very much.

The other, more inclusive argument, says no, both teams will share the title because of similar records.

I’ve always worked under the assumption that there are co-champs. So maybe that makes me an “everyone gets a juice box” kinda guy? But most

of that is due to how other sports are handled.

For example, in softball, soccer or basketball, a team will play everyone in its district twice. If they happen to split the regular season series and each finish tied atop the standings, then both teams would be co-champs since the head-tohead rule doesn’t apply.

Football is a different animal. Unless you meet again in playoffs somehow, you only play each district opponent once. Plus, there is a ton of bravado there because football is king in Texas.

I get that.

But therein lies the rub. I don’t know how true this is, but I’ve heard that every district views the co-champ thing a bit different than perhaps its neighboring district down the street. And because each district has its own bylaws, in theory each can call a tie like that anything it wants.

Regardless of what the choice is, I say it should be the same across the board. You are either co-champs or not – in every district. Figure it out, because all it’s doing right now – if there truly are stark differences in the laws between districts – is setting a standard of inconsistent application of rules.

What do you think? Are they co-champs, or is the winner the real juice box king?

Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 17

FEATURED ARTICLE Local Sponsored Content

Photography by Scott Young Photography

A Step Ahead of The Competition

I

f you were to ask Jim Smith, or any of his longtime employees, to talk about the rich history of Adams Furniture in Justin, you may just get more than what you bargained for. There is plenty to learn about this small-town jewel, which has been serving customers in North Texas for more than 85 years.

As the store’s proud owner, Smith certainly knows the place -- inside and out. But he often jokes that he tries not to paint the store out to be too old or outdated.

“When people hear ‘older’ or ‘this is your grandfather’s furniture store’, you don’t want them to think we have cobwebs hanging off the furniture or that what we sell is outdated,” Smith chuckled. “We’ve kept up with the times, both in the knowledge we’ve accumulated and the styles of product we sell. We have to be.”

18 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

By Steve Gamel

Options & Knowledgeable Staff Keep It

In part, that’s because Adams is surrounded by what many people refer to as big box competitors, which are large retail or chain stores. They are everywhere, and they have the ability to lure customers in with their much larger floor space and cheaper merchandise.

But therein lies the fundamental difference.

Walking into a bigger chain and being surrounded by so much merchandise can be overwhelming to some. Adams Furniture is a simple, yet inviting, 10,000 square-foot store located on the southwest corner of farm-tomarket roads 407 and 156 in Justin. Although Adams offers a wide-array of Amish and other American-made furniture, it specializes in many custom-made options that bigger chain stores simply can’t do.

Some of the brands Adams supports include Broyhill, Howard Miller, Serta, Riverside, Mayo, Borkholder, Yutsey and Best Home Furnishings, among others. Most of those can be found right on the showroom floor; the facility is crammed with living room groups, bedroom sets and dining rooms. Also included are many recliners, lamps, desks, bookcases, and just about anything else you might need for your home.

Smith said selling American-made products is crucial because it employs Americans and allows Adams Furniture to put money back into the U.S. economy. Not to mention, American

room, or even the wood floor. They’ll walk into a bigger store and the service rep will likely say, ‘Well, here’s what’s on our floor.’ It’s a what you see is what you get type thing. That’s not the case here.”

“We can do a lot more special ordering for customers than what you might find somewhere else, and we don’t do service contracts. So if it’s not right, we take care of it right here,” Smith said. “I think people like that, and we like to think we do it better than any other store in North Texas.”

Most, if not all, the furniture pieces at Adams can have 30 or more color options. So if a client walks in and finds the perfect dining room table, but wants it in rustic cherry, dark oak or perhaps needs a different base or legs, the friendly staff at Adams can make that happen.

Smith added, “We will even let people borrow fabric and wood samples to make sure it looks right at home. These are people that by the time they come to us, they’ve already spent hours at another store. Maybe they have no clue what they want, so we take the time to discuss options, styles, help coordinate pillows and even different wood finishes.”

That’s where knowledge is key.

There is little to no turnover at Adams.

Salesman Darrell Field has been there for over 25 years. Eddie and Jon Romine have worked

person,” Smith said. “They feel at home here.

That’s valuable.”

Customers have been talking about Adams

for years, and it has gained a following that continues to grow, with most of their clientele

coming from Robson Ranch, Argyle, Lantana, Double Oak and, of course, Justin. Smith expects

this to continue as many new families move into the area.

While the store has evolved substantially from

its early days as a general store, customers see

Adams Furniture as one of the last vestiges of a

mom-and-pop business -- and its employees are

prideful of maintaining that service-first attitude.

Smith embodies the family atmosphere, too.

He came to work at Adams Furniture in 1969

when he was a freshman in high school, and he’s

been there every day since. When he got there, the store was already a staple in the community.

The original owner, Bert Adams, opened it

in 1929 as Adams Cash Store. For years, Mr. Adams carried a wide-array of items such as

furniture, small electrical appliances, dry goods, nuts, bolts and eventually electronics, washers, dryers, microwaves, gift items, guns and ammo and fishing supplies. Customers could order

from a catalog, making Adams Cash Store a one-stop shop.

Over time the hardware, electronics, appliances

and other non-furniture items were replaced with furniture.

“. . .We know what works best, and people like to deal with the local person,” (940) 648-3145 417 N FM 156 • Justin, TX 76247 www.ShopAdamsFurniture.com furniture is manufactured under strict guidelines that insure no harmful chemicals are being introduced into homes, Smith said.

And like previously mentioned, it allows the customer to have options.

“We have created a niche for people who don’t want that cookie-cutter look. They want their own look,” Smith said. “The options we provide here at Adams are almost endless. People will come in and they’re looking for a table that will work with everything else in that particular

there for more than 18 and 10 years, respectively.

What that’s done is create an environment where customers know they can work with the same associate years after their first purchase.

In many ways, it’s like you are dealing with family instead of sales people.

There can be some great salespeople at big box stores, but the turnover rate is much higher.

“We’ve all accumulated a certain amount of knowledge over the years. We know what works best, and people like to deal with the local

Despite the changes taking place, Adams

Furniture never lost sight of the businesses’ roots.

“A lot has changed over the years, but in many

ways we’ve stayed exactly the same,” Smith said. “Our goal is to continue to offer quality

American-made products. We may not be able to cover the entire spectrum, but we can at least

give people the best options possible. And we’ll spend all the time necessary with the customers to make that happen.”

Come in today and see why generations

of families continue to choose Adams Furniture as their go-to place to find unique and quality furniture for their homes. Visiting Adams

is truly an experience of genuine, warm and personal service.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 19

20 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

Get Ready

Now

for the Upcoming

Winter Months

Gardening

Fire pits Not only will a fire pit encourage conversation, but it creates intimacy and an ambiance for your area. It certainly is used for warmth but it also is aesthetically beautiful from a light standpoint. Having a fire pit on or off your patio space will offer another destination for people to gather and feel comfortable.

Fireplaces Fireplaces are the cornerstone of any gathering or dinner party creating a very social vibe. There are so many options when it comes to structure types, stone selections definitely one for all scenarios. Whether you’re a real wood burner or more of the turn the key and be done type, the outdoor fireplace won’t disappoint.

By PJ Kratohvil Complete Exterior Solutions 214-735-1364

W

Cooler temperatures, consistent rains and pansies everywhere....

I’d say November is here North Texas!

e’ve definitely been feeling that fall push of patio building, landscaping and prepping the exteriors for the unpredictable winter months. Now is a great time to get your last-minute annuals planted, beds prepped and patios winterized with that fire pit or fireplace you’ve been wanting.

Maintenance Tip If you’ve got an older stamp, colored or stained patio surface that you can visibly see wear on it might be a good idea to have it cleaned and sealed. Leaving worn patios open and venerable to the winter months many times will end in more costly repairs come spring. When the sealer wears off leaving the surface of your patio exposed many times rain, frost and/or ice will get into cracks, stamp textures and joints causing separations/cracks and the deterioration of the patio.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 21

W

By Steve Gamel

hen local strongman Bob Kneip wrapped up competing against some of the best athletes the world had to offer at the Scottish Highland Games Masters World Championships in September, he grimaced when it began to sink in that he had finished seventh in his age group.

It was hardly the finish this 50-year-old Argyle resident expected, or wanted. Then came a voice of reason.

“I was pretty disappointed, but my wife Patti reminded me, ‘You placed seventh in the world.

Doesn’t that mean anything?’ ” Kneip said with a laugh. “I guess it does. It really wasn’t a bad outing at all.”

The event – a strongman competition that differs from other World’s Strongest Man events in that it is mixed with bagpipes, Celtic rock,

22 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

kilts and plenty of Scottish flair – was held in Chesterfield, Mo., and featured more than 150 athletes from around the world competing in various tests of strength. Some of those events included the caber toss, stone put, Scottish hammer throw, weight throw and sheaf toss.

Kneip placed second in the caber event after hitting two perfect scores and a near miss on a third toss. But the entire field of 16 competitors in his age group were neck and neck and he sat tied between either fourth or fifth overall throughout the first eight events before slipping back to seventh.

Only five points separated the fifth- and eighth-place finishers.

“I was a foot shorter than the rest of the guys, and height is a huge bonus since you are trying to throw for height in these events,” Kneip said.

“In all honesty, my very best would have only got me to fourth or fifth place. You are talking about the Top 16 in the world in my division. The Top 3 were untouchable. In these types of games, the equipment is constantly changing, and no stone is shaped the same or sits in your hands the same.”

Regardless, Kneip has groomed himself into one of the best, and he’s no stranger to these events.

Since 2012, Kneip has competed in approximately 20 Highland Games regional events and had never placed below third going into the Missouri event. He won the Masters Class (50 and up) at the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games on May 8-9 in Arlington, then won the Masters over 40 age group at the Texas Team Championship in Plano.

Kneip boasts a 575-pound deadlift, 350-pound

bench press and 300-pound over-head press and

was ranked 35th out of 632 athletes in Masters

over 40 and eighth in Masters over 50 heading into September.

Last month, he won all eight events to place

first in the Masters 50 and up category, and

was first overall in Masters, at the Texas Celtic Athletic Association Celtober Highland Games

in Denton. That performance increased his

lead in the Scottish Games League Regional

Competition to eight points with two events left.

All this a year after having reconstructive

bicep tendon surgery.

What makes Kneip’s story even more

interesting is that he can juggle intense training

while running two businesses and raising

seven children with his wife, Patti. Kneip owns

Canine Country Inn and Functional Strength Equipment of Texas – both located in Argyle on the same property.

Functional Strength Equipment of Texas is a

custom shop where Kneip hand makes every item purchased, including various strength training

sleds, bars, racks, wheelbarrows, strongman logs and yokes. While he has yet to overly advertise the business, FSET has become wildly popular.

“I never imagined still being this athletic at my

age, but here I am,” Kneip said in an interview with Argyle Living in September. “Doing

something you love and being good at it is the key to life. It’s fun getting back into something

as fun as this, and I want to get the sport out in

the open. There’s no money on the line. It’s just a passion we all have.”

Calling all Argyle High

School

Students

Argyle Top Golf Tournament

Dec. 21, 2015 11:00am – 2:00pm Top Golf, 3760 Blair Oaks Drive, The Colony Tickets available for $45 Come swing the club, have some lunch and compete with your friends!

Benefitting Project Graduation 2019 Contact Jane Krzysiak at jane@krzhome.com for sponsorship opportunities or for tickets.

October 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 23

Read On! Get Your

Building an Effective Reading Program

By Brieanna Casey, Head Instructor, The Tutoring Center

S

ifting through the information available on how to develop home-reading programs for your children can be overwhelming to say the least. But if you can implement these few tips, it can greatly enhance your child’s reading decoding, and comprehension skills and make reading more enjoyable for everyone!

Reading Every Day It’s always good for a child to be read to whether at bedtime or during homework time.

To really develop those reading skills, a child should make reading a part of the everyday routine. Children in grades kindergarten through fifth would benefit from at least 30 minutes of sustained reading aloud with an adult. Children in sixth grade and above should be reading at least an hour every day – either aloud, or to themselves – but an adult should be around to answer questions. It’s important to use a time requirement rather than a page requirement, as it may deter speed reading.

Checking for Understanding Now, while reading alone does have its advantages, improving comprehension skills requires following up every reading session

24 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

with discussion afterwards. An adult always should ask probing questions to make sure the student has read and understood the material.

Another way to check for understanding is to have the student keep a reading log each day that summarizes the passage, and answers a specific question you provide. These don’t have to be rote; make them fun, and change them up. For instance, “How do you feel about what happened to Susie today?” “Do you think Johnny will change his mind, why or why not?”

“What do you think will happen next” “What would you do in Bobby’s situation?” These are all good open-ended questions that stimulate their memory, and heighten engagement.

Finding a “Good Fit” Book Reading Level Many reading classes today will assess your student’s reading level, and ask that you provide your child with appropriate reading materials at home at this level.

However, this often is easier said than done. The first thing that will help is having an equivalency chart to compare one reading scale to the next. Barnes and Noble also has a tool to search children’s books by their reading level. It’s also perfectly acceptable to Google

“reading lists for sixth graders” to find what other schools and programs recommend as age appropriate texts. One easy rule of thumb you can remember is that there should be 3-5 unfamiliar words each page.

Once you have this reference tool, you can choose from more books your child may like – which is another animal entirely. This website provides good tips about how to choose a book that will be on-level, but also engaging for your child to read.

Visit our blog at bartonvilletx.tutoringcenter. com/blog to follow the links above, and feel free to join in on the discussion on Facebook at facebook.com/TheTutoringCenterBV?fref=nf.

Celebrate Christgiving

The Right Way This Holiday Season “

I

just love it when we turn back the clocks an hour, and it becomes dark at 4:30 in the afternoon," said no one, EVER! Immediately following Halloween, the next two months just become a blur with all of the immediate commercialization and pressure for Christmas. Thanksgiving has become more of a pre-Christmas appetizer, rather than a holiday specifically designed to 'give thanks.'

Each year, as Thanksgiving approaches, I promise myself to remain calm and not succumb to the pressure which weighs each other down.

Not only must we have the most decorations in our yard and around our house, our cars, and even on our pets, but we also must be the first to have displayed this over-abundance of festive decor every place we go.

By Rebecca Romanucci,

RN Advanced Aesthetic Registered Nurse Injector Owner/Manager RSR Medical Skin Rejuvenation, L.L.C.

Personally, I start the season with good intentions, to keep Christ's grace and glory displayed in everything I do. At about Thanksgiving, I begin to really feel the pressure to make lists of people I would like to give a gift.

Shortly after that moment, being human, I begin to slowly fall into the abyss of insecurities – "Do I need more decorations? Did I forget anyone?

Do I have enough for everyone?”

For now, I am confident my family and I will stay well-grounded and secure. But, Thanksgiving is only a few days away and I already feel the tornado trying to suck us into the chaos and confusion.

Anxiety/stress are destructive to your skin. As the Christgiving season is upon us, hold on tight, be the person in curlers describing the tornado, and not the person inside of it.

Rejuvenation

During the upcoming stressful, cold winter days, don’t forget to take care of your skin. Keep your skin radiant and protected: cleanse and hydrate it two times each day. Exfoliate and apply sunscreen daily. Drink plenty of water. Take short warm, not hot, showers. Eat a healthy diet. And try to get plenty of sleep.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 25

Community Rallies to Support

Mom Injured

in Highway 377 Accident

By Eric Williams

ton family Photos courtesy of the Kea

M

ari

Keaton

learned

just

how

neighborly and hospitable Argyle families can be after they rushed

to her aid following a two-vehicle accident in mid-September that left her bruised from

Fortunately both children were strapped

in the back seat. Presley suffered from some

shoulder and back pain, but nothing serious.

Bentley was unscathed.

It was much more painful for Mari in the front

head to toe.

seat near the point of initial impact of the crash.

the head-on collision and rollover on Highway

so much that each stroke of the windshield wiper

can’t forget is the helpless feeling as the Ford

had seen ahead a ways that a car was drifting into

Mari still can’t remember all the details of

She said rain had been falling fast as she drove,

377 north of Roanoke on Sept. 19. But what she

provided only a split second of clear vision. She

Expedition she had been driving went upside

down then upright over and over maybe six or seven times before coming to rest right side up in

the bar ditch. Friends who witnessed the accident

thought each rollover happened quickly. Wedged

between the airbag that popped out of the steering wheel and her seat, Keaton felt like everything was happening in slow motion.

“When people look at pictures of my SUV,

nobody can believe that anybody survived the crash,” said Mari.

Keaton was taking her daughter Presley, 7, to

volleyball practice in Roanoke with a caravan of other parents being led by her friend, Tracy Nichols. Also with Keaton in the second vehicle was her daughter, 1½-year-old Bentley.

26 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

her lane. On the next swipe, she saw that the driver hadn’t corrected, so she braked and swerved. The

other driver did too, but both vehicles hydroplaned before colliding.

After the crash and rollover,

Mari blacked out for a minute.

She could hear voices outside

the Expedition, but in the rain

she couldn’t see clearly. Her vehicle was so damaged the

passenger door would not open.

Friends helped the girls from the

Mari was trapped in the vehicle until emergency

medical personnel arrived to take the door off her

SUV and cut the seat belt that would not unlatch.

She was transported by ambulance to Denton

Regional Medical Center where imaging devices

revealed that Mari suffered no broken bones, just bruised flesh everywhere on her body. She suffered from back and neck pain.

By early November, the back and neck pain had

lessened and the bruising had healed.

Still, after she was released from the hospital

a few hours after the crash, the physical and psychological

“Some people I don’t even know brought meals,” Mari said.

healing

was

just

beginning.

tremendous

uneasiness

Because of the accident, Mari feels

behind the wheel when the rain is falling. On a recent

afternoon, a rainstorm made her so uncomfortable driving

to retrieve her daughter from a Halloween party that she pulled

car and let them stay on the scene in dry vehicles

off to the side of the road and called her husband

her husband Jacob, who had been on the way to

Mari is in a group called Country Lakes

before Nichols took the girls home. Friends called

to pick up Presley.

Weatherford with their son Kingston, 6, for a

Moms whose response has been tremendous.

football game.

Her daughter attends Hilltop Elementary School

Argyle resident

where teachers and the principal were quick to organize aid for the family.

Mothers who had witnessed the accident put information on Facebook. The result was plenty of help for Jacob as Mari healed. Friendly families provided the hurting family with breakfast, supper, rides to school and rides to practices.

Asked if there are some good cooks in her circle of friends, Mari said “Oh gosh, yes.”

Mari, who moved to Argyle from California about four years ago, was overwhelmed by the caring response of the community. She said it’s great to live in a small town where people look out for one another.

“Some people I don’t even know brought meals,” Mari said.

Mari also received help from her mother, Pam Marques, and older daughters Alexys, 21, and Tatyana, 20.

Among those who helped the Keaton family bringing food or driving children to practices and church were Pam Marques, Kelly Little, Michael Ball, Crispin Buchanan, Kristin Nabors Vest, Cheryl Haver and Shaunna Serano.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 27

UNT Awarded $50,000!

TD Ameritrade awards UNT $50,000. To celebrate the award, TD sent Argyle resident Marcia Staff (UNT FIREL Department Chair), and Scrappy to New York to close the NYSE!

28 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

Second Argyle

Christmas Festival Expected to be Even Better

By Mark Miller

M

ore space, more time, more activities and more ways to showcase the community all will be on display at the

second-annual Argyle Christmas Festival and Tree Lighting. The event, coordinated by Keep Argyle

Beautiful and with title sponsorship by Point Bank, is scheduled from 3-6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Argyle Town Hall.

For just the cost of a canned good to benefit the

Argyle Food Bank or an unwrapped toy for Cook’s

Children’s Hospital, community residents, friends and others will be able to enjoy a festive celebration of the holiday season capped off by the lighting of the town tree at 6 p.m. with the switch flipped by the elementary school student who wins the poster contest.

Last year’s inaugural event exceeded everyone’s expectations with an estimated 500 people attending. That prompted organizers to add one hour to the time frame and secure a much larger heated tent.

“We’re trying to get as many community groups involved as possible. That’s what we’re after is more community involvement,” said Deborah Cottle, Keep Argyle Beautiful’s chair. “We’re not charging anybody anything including the vendors because we’re doing this as a service because of sponsors like our presenting sponsor Point Bank who are taking care of a lot of the costs.”

Among the other new features will be a hay ride which will help alleviate parking challenges. Parking will be available at the Real Estate Station and in the empty lot behind the post office. Also new will be a photo booth including props and costumes.

There will be a children’s area that will include face painting, a coloring station, scavenger bingo, ornament decorations, Elf on the Shelf, children’s crafts and a balloon artist.

The food section will feature items from Cachette Bistro Bakery (cookies and breads), Fuzzy’s Tacos

(nachos), Tom Sanderson (hot dogs), Miss Piggy (funnel cakes, crawfish pie, gumbo), Giovanni’s (pizza) and the Argyle Lions Club (beverages).

Music will be provided by scheduled singers including Mark Thrash, Malia May, Lauren Hunt, and Garrett Haynes. Master of ceremonies Dennis Hinton will again present a special reading. And of course, Santa Claus will arrive on a firetruck and be available for photos.

Also returning will be the Festival of Trees where businesses decorate trees and wreaths to be donated for a raffle and silent auction with proceeds going to Argyle-based Ranch Hand Rescue. About 15 craft vendors will sell their wares while the boy scouts are expected to again help with recycling.

Other sponsors include Real Estate Station, Argyle Lions Club, Argyle Crime Control and Prevention District, Argyle Fine Arts Preschool, The Hinton Family, North Star Bank, Metroplex Concrete, Langston Paint and Handyman, and the Brubeck Family.

“It’s not about us, we just want a community event because we don’t have many that don’t center around the schools,” Cottle said. “We want the schools involved but it’s not a school function.

“We’re really reaching out to people and as I see it growing more people will reach out to us.”

For more information on the event, visit the festival page at keepargylebeautiful.com.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 29

Upscale Home

Black

A Touch of

is a Design Necessity

I

magine if you will the perfect-size room of your dreams, whatever space you’ve wanted, let’s say a sophisticated entertainment area. It’s painted a nice soft beige and the carpet is high-end soft beige. The furnishings are to die for, unique, just what you would want, so comfortable, the beige on beige.

Now, imagine if you will, a group of striking

black vases placed on the niche. On the wall across from vases there is a beautiful fire glowing

in a freestanding fireplace finished out in a beautiful onyx wood.

The room begins to take on sophistication

without becoming over-burdened with too much of anything. The point is there are times that a little bit of color can go a long way.

Black is one of those colors. There’s something

about adding just one element of black to a room that anchors the room and enhances the other

colors. You and your guests may not even notice

the touch of black, but it does make a difference.

Black is a powerful color, so a little goes a long way in adding drama, sophistication, seriousness or masculinity. And one of the best things about black is that it never goes out of style, even as other colors rise and fall in popularity, so your black accents probably will outlast all your other design elements!

Black goes well with so many colors, especially cream or any off-white – or even pure, snowy white. It also looks beautiful with bold jewel tones and soft pastels. Today, some people are even decorating with black as the primary color in their design scheme, but be cautious about using too much black – it can be overpowering.

Ideas for a touch of black include: Frames for paintings, photographs or mirrors Granite or marble countertops in the kitchen or bath Lamps or lampshades Upholstery fabric – in moderation Flooring A valance, top treatment or drapery rod Leather-covered or inset in headboards The inside surfaces of built-in shelving systems Wrought iron for stair railings or bed frame

Black is not the only color to anchor a room.

There are several statement colors. Some of us like multiple color in a room. I just wanted to help you see that it isn’t always necessary to achieve a beautiful and complete designed home.

Anchor your home décor by adding a splash of black in every room. It’s a tried-and-true design adage that every room needs just a smidgeon of black.

By Paula Kratohvil, Owner Complete Interior Solutions 972-436-9083

30 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

Greetings from Robson

Singles Mix ‘n Mingle at the Wildhorse Grill was the best time for meeting new neighbors and friends.

Ranch

The Living Well Committee held their monthly walk around Robson on a beautiful Saturday in August. Over 20 residents, including new residents to the Ranch, joined in the fun of walking and getting to know each other as they enjoyed the great weather and scenery. These walks are held once a month on Saturday mornings.Â

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 31

Argyle resident 32 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

T

he Argyle Community Civics League is an Argyle-based charitable organization that provides back-to-school and Christmas gifts for children inside the Argyle Independent School District.

Kris Wildeveld, a school nurse who helps coordinate many of the organization’s activities, said it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as being tax-exempt by virtue of its charitable programs.

Helps

Low Income

Families

By Eric Williams

Though much of its activities center on the schools, Wildeveld said donors and volunteers from all areas of the community are welcome. This year the organization did back-to-school shopping for 86 children, including students in Hilltop Elementary, and Argyle Intermediate, Middle and High Schools. The organization provided students a couple pair of pants, shirts, shoes, socks and school supplies.

“The families were very grateful, “said Wildeveld.

The organization gets plenty of help from community churches including Argyle United Methodist Church, Cross Timbers Community Church and First Baptist Church of Argyle.

The organization’s current project is setting up an Angel Tree so patrons can obtain information about children and provide appropriate Christmas gifts. All children identified for the program are documented to meet federal need guidelines, said Wildeveld. Family member simply have to fill out forms and submit proper documentation.

Those wanting to help with the Angel Tree program can buy gifts for selected children with tags available at First Baptist Church of Argyle, Cross Timbers Community Church and Argyle United Methodist Church.

“We plan on having the tags at the churches before Thanksgiving,” Wildeveld said. “We ask that the tags be returned with the gift no later than Dec. 13 to one of the churches. Argyle High School Student Council will be hosting an Angel Tree dinner at the high school in the cafeteria on Dec. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. where there will be tags as well.”

The ACCL organization, which was founded in 1998, has seven active volunteers and tries to be creative with fund raising. A recent success was providing concessions last May during the Shoot for the Stars event that honored the memory of Alex Betzhold.

Wildeveld said that because people driving through Argyle see a lot of new houses, horse ranches and other visible signs of affluence, they might not realize there are pockets of low income.

Through the schools the organization is able to come in contact with families needing help. The organization’s treasurer is Lorraine Arnold.

Persons interested in helping or joining the Argyle Community Civics Club should contact Wildeveld via email at kwildeveld@argyleisd.com.

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 33

Closer to Making

‘Kyle’s Palace’ Reality

By Steve Gamel

LE LIVING GY AR G A ZIN MA

EDIT PICOKR’S

Journey to Dream, a non-profit organization focused on helping teens avoid destructive behaviors and build healthy lives, reached another major milestone last month when officials put a contract down on a building that will reshape how they help at-risk youth going forward.

E ’S

20

15

RE C

IPIENT

T

he new center, called Kyle’s Place, will be located in Lewisville and is expected to open in June 2016. It will

be the first homeless shelter for teenagers in

Denton County.

“This is a huge blessing,” said Journey to Dream

co-founder Kim Hinkle, who added Kyle’s Place is named after a beloved student who committed suicide in 2012. “The teenage years are such a difficult age, and most people don’t want to tackle or embrace some of the

issues these kids face. But the way we see it, this is our last

shot at helping them through

difficult times and become good citizens.”

Kyle’s Place has been a

goal for Journey to Dream officials like Hinkle since the organization’s

inception

in

through various community outreach programs, including student support groups and school prevention assemblies.

The latest initiative simply expands that reach.

Per the Journey to Dream’s website, there are

more than 400 unaccompanied homeless youth

in Denton County who need help. Most sleep in hotels, cars, parks, a friend’s sofa or abandoned 34 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

adults

and

other

agencies. It will enlist help from house parents, a mom and dad, with specific training and

certification to manage the home for youth ages 15-18 who are homeless or facing homelessness.

Some of the services offered by Kyle’s Place will include a safe place to sleep, three meals a day plus snacks, clothes, counseling, support groups and case management services. There also will be academic support, medical and dental care, career planning and life skills training.

Simply put, Kyle’s Place will be a safe place for area youth to overcome adversity.

“The sky is the limit with this opportunity,” Hinkle said. “We’ve been blessed to have Denton County commissioners on our advisory committee, and the goal is to have one of these in every area that needs it.”

Hinkle said she and a close friend came up with the idea for Journey to Dream more than a decade ago when their own families – specifically their children – witnessed firsthand the devastation drug addiction can have on even the closest of families.

“We wondered what was out there for kids, and out of that, Journey to Dream was born,” Hinkle

“We realized we needed to do more.

There were more kids in crisis. We just want to help them in any way we can.”

2004. JTD has served more than 85,000 students

buildings, the site states.

Kyle’s Place will work with schools, law

enforcement, concerned

said. “We were both in the corporate world for a long time, but this became our passion.

We wanted to help kids affected by drugs and addiction. We knew there wasn’t anything out there for teenagers.”

In 2009, Journey to Dream was asked by the Lewisville Independent School District to replicate its small but popular program – which Hinkle was running at Hebron High School – in all LISD high schools. The concept exploded from there.

With the help of countless volunteers and support from community leaders, Journey to Dream teaches students to use their experiences to help others and live with purpose.

Now it’s time to take the next logical step.

“When we lost Kyle, it was devastating,” Hinkle said. “We realized we needed to do more.

There were more kids in crisis. We just want to help them in any way we can.”

November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 35

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

BURNS

Cold weather is finally upon us and we are all ready for warm beverages, crackling wood burning fires in the fireplace, and hot baths and electric blankets. The soup on the stove and delicious cookies are baking in the oven. All of these things are what make us love fall and the holiday season, but with all of these wonderful things comes an increase in accidental burns.

Burns in childhood most commonly occur from touching curling irons, hot water, hot drinks, hot grease, and hot cooking surfaces.

Promptly caring for a burn is very important.

Immediately put the burned part of the body in cold water, or pour cold tap water over it for 10 minutes.

If you are outside, the nearest garden hose should be used. This will lessen the depth of the burn and relieve pain. If the burned area is large, cover it loosely with a clean sheet or plastic wrap. The covering will keep the burn clean and reduce the pain. All second and third degree burns will require evaluation by a physician.

Please enjoy the holidays and the time with your family and be cautious of your little ones’ curiosity with all of the hustle and bustle of the season.

Dr. Rebecca Butler 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.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Burns in childhood most commonly occur from touching curling irons, hot water, hot drinks, hot grease, and hot cooking surfaces. As you may know there are degrees of burns.

First Degree (reddened skin without blisters) Second Degree (with blisters). Neither of these will typically leave a scar. Second-degree burns take up to 3 weeks to heal.

Third Degree burn is deep, may leave areas of charred skin, and often requires a skin graft to properly heal.

What to do 1. For pain, put cold wet cloths on the burned area and take acetaminophen every 4 hours or ibuprofen every 6 hours for at least 24 hours.

2. Wash the area gently with liquid soap twice a day. If blisters are present, don’t open them – the outer skin protects the burn from infection.

When the blisters break, gently clean the site daily, apply an antibiotic ointment (such as Bacitracin or Polysporin) and cover the burn site with a Band-Aid or sterile gauze dressing.

3. After the blisters have broken, the dead skin needs to be timed away with fine scissors. This prevents infection from forming within the hidden pockets of the dead skin. The physician may ask to see the child every 2 or 3 days to perform this task of debridement.

Call your doctor if • A blister is larger than 2 inches across • The burn is on the face, hands, feet, or genitals • It was an electrical burn • It starts to look infected • You have any questions or concerns Signs of wound infection include yellow fluid drainage, redness of surrounding skin, red streaks radiating from the wound, increasing pain, or significant fever.

74 McMakin Road Suite 100 Bartonville, TX 76226 www.LanatanaPediatrics.com

36 | ARGYLE LIVING | November 2015

Liberty Christian

School Argyle, TX Liberty Christian Cheerleaders Win State for Second Straight Year (Pictured: Liberty Christian cheerleaders at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) State Competition in Waco)

Liberty Christian Congratulates New National Honor Society Members (Pictured: New National Honor Society members honored at Fall Induction)

Liberty Christian’s MIX Club Takes International Students to the State Fair of Texas (Pictured: Cassandra Huang, Joey Dai, and Christine Liu with the fair’s farm animals)

Contact: Vivian Nichols at vivian.nichols@libertychristian.com 940-294-2105 November 2015 | ARGYLE LIVING | 37

Argyle resident