AUGUST 2016
How Dental Health Corinth - Hickory Creek - Shady Shores - Lake Dallas
AFFECTS Your
WHOLE Body Health
BACK THE RED, WHITE & BLUE Bike Run - July 30, 2016
An escorted ride was hosted by American Eagle Harley-Davidson, Redneck Heaven, We 6 C and the Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation. Area residents supported Dallas/Fort Worth area police & firefighters by joining the ride that began at American Eagle Harley-Davidson in Corinth.
photos courtesy of Lisa Meier
4 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 5
Lake Cities Community Events
Contents Table of
Featured Stories and News
LDISD Back to School August 22nd
September 13th at Lantana Golf Club Contact Greg at 940.686.7039
September 17th at Hilton Garden Inn Contact 940.387.5131
14th Annual NCTC Miniature Golf Tourney September 20th at Zone Action Park Contact nctc.edu or 940.498.6220
Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com
Lake Dallas Defense
14
Police Chief Corner
15
Inside Community
16
26th Annual PointBank Charity Golf Classic
3rd Annual Denton County Friends of the Family Taste for the Cause
11
Pg 16 On the Cover starting from the left is Tammy Cates, Megan Seagraves, Susan Cox, Dr. Mackie, Karissa Hartwig, Crystal McCage, Esther Landberg, Libbie Stegal
Photos from Lake Cities
04
Harley RW&B
How Dental Health Affects Your Whole Body
18
Makeover of the Month
20
NCTC Schedule
21
Dancing Makes a Difference
22
Inside Education
25
Season Preview
26
Renovation Rock Stars
27
Children’s Voice
30
Lake Cities Lions Club
Ask the Expert 07 08
Real Estate
09
Gardening
14
Fitness
19
Sidelines
23
Business Coach
28
Legal
From Your Editor
Better Together
A Message from the Community Editor
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” ~ Phil Jackson
W
ell, it’s August and we’ve all hung LDISD. The theme of the gathering was “Better in there through all of these hot, Together”. Community and business leaders, summer days. Now, we look public servants and business owners all attended up and realize that it’s Back to School! Our this 2nd annual event to show their support to families may feel a sense of dread that summer our Lake Cities community to stay involved break is coming to an end, while simultaneously and focused on the success of our community a sense of excitement to start a brand new year! It has been more than a blessing to work within and public education. Mr. Michael Patrick of the Lake Cities community over the past several Milliken & Co., was flown in to speak to the months. The amazing members of the Lake attendees. He imparted many wisdoms and shared motivating stories to Cities Chamber of Commerce have truly been a godsend for help each of us remain focused me. Tina Henderson is the new and contribute our own personal Chamber director and she is such excellence which adds value an asset to our community. Not to our families, schools and only does she do a great job community. Mr. Patrick is the welcoming new members into education sales leader for this the chamber, but she is one of global textile company that hosts those people that answers every companies from around the call. She stays committed to Meredith McNair, world to visit and model their Lake Cities and serves on several Community Relations and Advertising Consultant boards, we are so lucky to have company’s success. He teaches Lake Cities Living her. meredith@murray-media.com leaders how to implement strong 817.291.7582 The Lake Cities Chamber business principles and promote is growing and planning lots personal ownership inside each of exciting business mixers in the upcoming respective community. months. There are many businesses out there I hope you enjoyed the Olympic Games that may want to join or just rekindle their involvement. Please know the chamber doors Rio 2016 as much as I did. It was thrilling and are open and they are excited in welcoming humbling to watch Team USA pour their hearts everyone! Now that the construction has mostly cleared away, there is a new energy among the residents and business owners. It’s a great time to plug into the local chamber and help us grow and strengthen Lake Cities commerce and take it to the next level! Another remarkable asset to our community is the strong leadership that we enjoy within our school districts. Many of us attended the Community Leadership Breakfast on August 10th at the Lake Dallas High School, led by Dr. Gayle Stinson, Superintendent of
and talents into these Olympic games in the hope of standing on the podium beside our American
flag and having our national anthem played in honor of our great nation. Go Team USA!
Since school starts on August 22nd, let’s share
the excitement for the students and families and
LakeCitiesLiving.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 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
Lake Cities 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 Lake Cities Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Lake Cities 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
wish everyone the best as they embark on a fresh start and new beginning!
Let’s remember that we are all “Better
Together” and do our part to be our best each and every day.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 7
Real Estate
Navigating the Costs of
Buying and Selling
Real Estate SoSimple Home offers custom craft plans to turn your “life by design” into a reality. The bespoke of our craft is the focus on “ You”. Lori Lesnansky, Tiffanie La-Rue Bush, Hunter Essex & Traci Gover • Keller Williams SoSimple Home • 972.657.0364 • loril@kw.com
8 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
T
his month we are bringing clarity to those
coaches who clinch the championship. Coaches
First and foremost, we thank you for sharing your
the landscape, understand their players’ strengths
great questions that you have been asking.
questions with us!
Sellers and buyers alike, you have many areas of
consistently review their game plans, adjust, read and their numbers.
The same is true to winning at real estate, and
the sales contract that are negotiable: sales price,
that difference truly comes down to who you
contributions, option period for consideration,
selling or buying on your own, you should first
title policy, title company, home warranty, sellers closing date, sellers leaseback or new survey cost.
These are just a glimpse of commonly
negotiated items.
So how do you prepare as a seller to net the most
amount of money possible? As a buyer, how do you
win in a highly competitive market such as what we are seeing in the DFW area? It’s much like great
choose to represent you. If you are considering
consider the cost of saving money or the cost of
potentially leaving thousands of dollars on the table
that an expert can net you. So, how do you choose who should handle one of your biggest financial
investments? First, find a local professional that is
dedicated to “You” and “has a passion” for what he or she does.
July 2016 Corinth Market Overview Home Status All Homes
Priced 100k-200k
Priced 200k-300k
Priced 300k-400k
Priced 400k +
Available Homes
60
4
32
20
16
Under Contract
29
15
26
8
2
Sold
28
5
18
3
2
Sold Average Days on Market
23
6
17
91
17
Sold Average Price to List Price
100.79%
102.51%
101.26%
96.37%
98.96% **data through 7/28/2016**
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 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 9
10 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
Lake Dallas Turning to
I
t’s way too early to start making predictions on how this season will pan out for the Lake Dallas volleyball team. But if the Lady Falcons want to make a playoff push, they’ll have to buy into a culture shift. Head coach Heather Van Noy said her team
will have to be more defensive-minded in 2016 after losing the bulk of its offense to graduation. Gone are standouts like Adrianna Nolly, Sophie Jackson and Megan Turner, and while a steady core group returns, things will be different. “It’s not a rebuilding year at all,” Van Noy said. “We simply have to be more defensive-minded. That is quite a challenge and something we will continue to work on.”
by Steve Gamel Van Noy added, “It’s like I told the girls,
But the return of her sister, Lizzy, from a
‘The more flexible you are at playing different
season-ending knee injury should also pay huge
We need girls who can be a Jane of all trades.”
is a libero and will help anchor the back row.
positions, the more chances you will have to play.’ Van Noy realizes she is asking a lot, but she
knows the girls she has back do not want to have a repeat of last year’s finish, when Lake Dallas (33-12) failed to find momentum in a rough first-round loss to Denton. Lake Dallas was state-ranked at the time and boasted a senior-heavy roster.
Leading this year’s charge are
sisters Jennifer and Lizzy Chapman.
Jennifer Chapman is like a second
coach at setter and is coming off a year
in which she racked up 793 assists to go with
dividends in Van Noy’s defensive scheme. Lizzy
Mallory Klingele will also make the shift to middle blocker.
All is not lost on offense, though. Van Noy
is excited about several players who could play
impact roles, including outside hitter Kambrie Gossett. “We’ve
shifted
some
things
around a bit to make it all work, but
this is a good group of girls and I
think we have a good shot at having a
successful season,” Van Noy said.
165 kills and a lofty .400 hitting percentage. She also had 63 aces and 27 blocks.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 11
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Now Merged Into One
Come Visit Our New Showroom! 972.539.8258 CompleteSolutionsDFW.com 4401 Long Prairie Road, Suite 400 Flower Mound, TX 75028
We appreciate you supporting small business by shopping local.
WINNER
BEST OF DENTON COUNTY
2016 MURRAY MEDIA GROUP
Committed to Community Excellence.
Fitness
ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE
R
emember the last time you took a
vacation? It wasn’t saying that you
wanted a vacation that got you there.
Taking action is what got you on the road. You
booked travel, packed your bags and began your
journey. It’s the same with fitness. To begin your
health journey, you simply need to get on the road. There is never a perfect time, so pack your
SAME END
know it, you have not only pushed yourself to the next level, you’ve propelled yourself to a level of fitness you probably didn’t think possible. Your road to fitness is a journey. There will be ups and downs, celebrations and disappointments. The key is to not be afraid to jump in and do it, stay positive and encouraged, and push yourself to the next level. Remember, with every workout,
you’ll get stronger. With every step on the treadmill, you’ll go farther. As you travel along your journey, you will find that all roads lead to the same end—a healthier you. This journey is yours, so own it. by Jesse J. Leyva, Jesse James Fit & Outlaw Bootcamp 940.497.6002
workout bag with some words of knowledge, and jump in.
TAKE THE RISK – Muhammad Ali once said, “He who is not courageous enough to take risk will accomplish nothing in life.” The good thing is, you are courageous, and more than you think. Getting into shape, staying in shape, is not easy. But it is so worth the risk. By that I mean, don’t be afraid to jump in. Even if you have never exercised before, you can do this. STAY ENCOURAGED – So many people start workouts and after a week they quit. Don’t get discouraged. It’s okay if you get winded after five burpees or if you can’t lift 20-pound dumbbells like you did when you were younger. This is your health journey, and the road that you’re taking is the one that’s right for you, right now. So get up, start again and keep moving forward. PUSH FORWARD – There will always be naysayers, but don’t let their negativity detract from your accomplishments and goals. Stay focused and keep pushing forward on your journey. That also means to keep pushing yourself. Make small goals along the way, and as you reach those goals, make more. Before you 14 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
School Bus Passing Rules Lake Dallas ISD & Denton ISD are returning to school on Monday, August 22nd. School zones will be active so please remember to slow down and watch for children. Also, remember to always stop for school buses which are loading or unloading. Let’s work together as a community to keep the youth of our community safe. Texas Transportation Code 545.066Passing a School Bus: (A) An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student: (1) shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and (2) may not proceed until: (a) the school bus resumes motion; (b) the operator is signaled by the
bus driver to proceed; or (c) the visual signal is no longer actuated. (B) An operator on a highway having separate roadways is not required to stop: (1) for a school bus that is on a different roadway; or (2) if on a controlled-access highway, for a school bus that is stopped: (a) in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway; and (b) where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.
PointBank Charity Golf Classic on September 13 The 26th Annual PointBank 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, non-profit organizations in Denton County.
Mathnasium Partners with National PTA on STEM Initiative Mathnasium Learning Centers has partnered with National PTA in its nationwide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and family engagement initiative. The STEM initiative enables families to participate in over 100,000 hands-on STEM activities offered across the country. The free activities will take place in schools and homes nationwide. “The Mathnasium Method has helped transform the way children understand and appreciate math. Through its personalized programs, Mathnasium seeks to make math fun and to make math make sense for every child,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “We are thrilled to have Mathnasium join our STEM initiative and collaborate to engage families and inspire children’s love of math.” The goal of STEM is to inspire the next
generation of STEM professionals. The effort will include a focus on urban areas and among girls and underrepresented youth.
DATCU to Open 11th Branch Location in Corinth DATCU Credit Union will open its newest
Denton County branch location in the spring of 2017 in Corinth, TX. The new branch will be located at 3005 FM 2181 near the intersection of Swisher Road and Parkridge Drive.
It
will be full-service location with a 24-hour drive-thru ATM.
DATCU Credit Union is a member owned,
not-for profit financial institution. Membership
is open to anyone living or working in Denton, Cooke, Wise, Montague, or Clay Counties. All
are invited to take advantage of the products and
services the credit union offers. These include
checking, savings, credit cards, loan products, investment products, and insurance.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 15
LorettoFamilyDentistry.com • 940.498.2290 3504 Corinth Parkway, Suite 120 • Corinth, TX 76208
How Dental Health
A
ffects YOUR
hole
W
Body Health
16 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
by Susan Neuhalfen
W
e learned in elementary school about how all of the bones are connected, but have you ever thought about how your teeth are connected to the rest of your body? Dr. Kristina Mackie, owner of Loretto Family Dentistry in Corinth, has been studying all about this since she was a student at Med High, a health professional magnet high school in Mercedes, TX. Born the second of eight children, Kristina Mackie knew at a young age that she wanted to be a dentist. Growing up in McAllen, she was always fascinated with science and learned a lot through her father, an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), and her uncle, who is also a dentist. She even worked for her uncle as a dental assistant while waiting for her license
Sponsored Content
photography by Scott Young Photography
just to learn one more aspect of the practice. She’s always had a fascination with how one part of the body affects other parts of the body. “I’ve worked with some really good dentists throughout my career and she is one of them; truly caring about the patient as a whole person,” said Tammy Cates, the office manager at Loretto Dentistry. “She’s not just looking at the teeth; she’s looking at how everything acts together with the entire body.” Dental Assistant Esther Landberg recalls how Dr. Mackie helped one patient suffering from a severely dry mouth, a condition which can run in concert with a certain autoimmune disorder. She encouraged the patient to seek testing from her physician. Sure enough, though it had not been diagnosed prior, she was right on the money. “That’s just Dr. Mackie,” said Esther. “She’s patient enough to research everything and do what’s right for the patient.” Dr. Mackie loves to learn. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas San Antonio with a B.S. in Biology and then obtained her D.D.S. from UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. Though she keeps very busy with her husband Thomas, a West Point graduate, and two girls, Allyson age 8 and Audrey age 5, she spends much of her spare time reading and researching different aspects of dentistry and the corollary between comprehensive physical and dental health. “I can tell a lot from a dental examination,” said Dr. Mackie. “If I can look for clues in the mouth paired with the patient’s medical history that can lead to a treatment solution to prevent a heart attack or stroke, that brings me great joy and satisfaction.” One of Dr. Mackie’s favorite childhood memories is of creating a science fair project centered on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines which was important to her father’s practice. Her father helped her come up with the idea for the project. CPAP machines are the devices that those suffering from OSA wear while sleeping. Today, this knowledge helps her in her own practice. Some patients don’t adapt to the CPAP machines which are vital to treating their condition. They need an alternative. For these patients, Dr. Mackie will design a mandibular advancement device (MAD) specific to the patient to reduce or eliminate snoring and open the airway. It’s similar to the concept behind the “head tilt, chin lift” method in administering CPR to open the airway.
“I examine the opening of the mouth, back of the throat, wear of the teeth, and listen for labored breathing while the patient is back in the chair among other things that will help clue me into a potential problem,” said Dr. Mackie. Paired with a thorough medical history, if OSA is suspected, a sleep study will be encouraged to facilitate in “My job is to diagnosing the impart wisdom and information presence of the condition. so they are aware of the pitfalls as “No one well as the benefits of treatment can oversee and the alternatives. I don’t choose BEST OF DENTON COUNTY the fabrication 2016 for them...I guide them.” and placement of a MAD device One last note about her staff is except a dentist, so I that they have all worked at other work with the patient’s practices but chose to come to work medical doctor and a board with Dr. Mackie. certified sleep physician to ensure “I’m proud to say that I work here with her,” we cover all our bases.” said Esther. “She’s amazing.” Dr. Mackie’s staff likes to brag about her It’s important to Dr. Mackie that from the first comprehensive knowledge and how she does impression of the front office, all the way to the a lot of reading to educate herself in order to back, the patients are treated with kindness and better serve her dental patients. After working respect. How the patient is treated is the most in other offices as an associate, she decided to important aspect of the business, as exhibited by branch out on her own so that she could give life Dr. Mackie and her cherry-picked staff. to her vision. “We’re patients, too,” said Cates. “We’ve found “Dr. Mackie takes a conservative approach to that people who are actually afraid to go to the dental care,” said Cates. dentist read our reviews and come to Dr. Mackie. Dr. Mackie and her staff are not about high Once they come, they don’t leave.” pressure treatment. It’s important the patient Cates also noted that once one family member has a firm foundation in the problem and the comes to the office, they all do. They’ve screened possible solutions prior to rendering care. toddlers up to grandparents. According to “We look at the whole mechanics of the mouth Mackie, they want to treat the entire family when a patient presents with a singular problem. and embrace what it truly means to be a family We educate them and present treatment options, practice. all without taking away their autonomy,” said “We attempt to see everyone; from performing Dr. Mackie of her practice. “My job is to impart a simple screening on a baby getting his or her wisdom and information so they are aware of first tooth to a parent or grandparent needing the pitfalls as well as the benefits of treatment denture services and everything in between,” and the alternatives. I don’t choose for them… said Dr. Mackie. “One thing is always certain; I guide them.” no two people are alike and it keeps the dental Another reason she started her own practice practice dynamics fluid and interesting.” was to hand pick her staff to ensure confluence with her own philosophies and standards; and she picked the best of the best. “We all have our roles and do them well,” said Cates of her staff. “I can honestly say our strengths and weaknesses balance each other perfectly.” WINNER
MURRAY MEDIA GROUP
Committed to Community Excellence.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 17
Before
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arrie Smith is one of those positive people who absolutely glows with happiness. She is a mom and a wife as well as a paraeducator with Denton ISD, but despite her busy schedule she never misses an opportunity to spread joy around her. It was nice to finally do something for her. Check out this makeover - she looks HOT!
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18 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
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by Steve Gamel
NO KIDS FOR TWO WEEKS! Wait, what do we do now?
I
t was a Saturday afternoon and I found myself lying on the bed gazing out the window at the trees swaying in the front
yard. Yes, even with all this ridiculous heat, at least there was a breeze. Anyway, my wife was
a few feet away hanging up some new clothes when she asked me a simple question.
“What do you want to do with the rest of
the weekend?”
In that specific moment, I froze. I looked at
her and even she was completely vexed. Our
two boys – they are nine and four years old, respectively – were in Houston with grandma and grandpa for two weeks. We still had work to
think about during the week, but theoretically, we could do whatever we want – a movie, drinks on the town with friends followed by pancakes at IHOP at 2 a.m. But neither of us thought of any of those ideas. Faced with total freedom, our minds went blank. When you are a parent, you forget what it’s like to not be on kid duty. From the moment you wake up every day – if you are lucky to get a decent night’s sleep with young ones in the house – there is something going on. That could be anything from cleaning up wet bed sheets to getting the kiddos showered and dressed, or mopping a wet floor from the gallon of milk they spilled trying to get breakfast for themselves. I know, what are they doing getting breakfast for themselves? I honestly don’t know. Please don’t judge! Truth be told, aside from vacation, I don’t remember being away from either of our children for two weeks. And that’s the problem
Steve Gamel is a sports writer for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He contributes monthly to Lake Cities Living.
Sidelines
– the one time we are kid-less and home alone, we don’t know what to do. You could call friends, which is what we did, but they all have kids. I Googled things to do when your kids are out of the house, and all that came back were helpful tips to help your teenager move out, and articles on when is a good time to kick your teenagers out of the house. Sure, I took my wife on a few dates. We rented movies, went shopping, et cetera. But it’s amazing how much time there is in a day when you don’t have kids around. In the end, maybe I shouldn’t be complaining. The kids have a chance to get away from mom and dad and do something fun with their grandparents. Yes, we are bored, but that’s just an opportunity to miss our children that much more. After all, they are what we live for. And even if it gets a little hectic, apparently we wouldn’t want it any other way. Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 19
SCHEDULE
WELCOME BACK BASH CAMPUS DATES August 22, 2016 Graham Campus August 23, 2016 Gainesville Campus August 24, 2016 Bowie Campus August 25, 2016 Flower Mound Campus August 26, 2016 Corinth Campus
FIRST DAY OF FALL SEMESTER
WELCOME BACK BASH!
August 22, 2016
August 22-26, 2016
All Campuses.
Welcome Back! Free food, games, giveaways and music! 11am - 1pm
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY September 5, 2016 All Campuses.
20 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
DANCING to make a
Difference
in our community by Susan Neuhalfen
Sponsored Content
It’s a Cinderella story. As a little girl, all Elya Coleman wanted to do was dance. She saw her dreams realized in 1992 when, as a six year old, she first walked into A Time to Dance and met her teacher, Miss Pam. Not only did Pam McCurley shape her into the talented dancer she became, she helped her grow to be a responsible, dedicated young woman. “Miss Pam always mentored me and I knew I could always go to her,” said Elya of her teacher. “That was huge for me and it made me love dance even more.” After high school, Elya trained with several dance companies and performed all over the country, all the while, teaching and choreographing for studios, workshops and even after-school programs. She knew all along, though, that she wanted to come back home. “It was always on my heart to come back to A Time to Dance,” she said of the studio and teacher she loved so much. “She impacted my life so much as a child.” Elya came back to A Time to Dance and started teaching. She eventually worked in the office and became Pam’s right hand person. Elya and her husband Clint, who also grew up in a dance family, had always wanted to own a studio. The next step was fate. Elya and her husband purchased A Time to Dance in 2015, carrying on the tradition that Miss Pam started. She, too, teaches much more than dance. “The most important thing to us is to help the kids grow in character while still teaching great dance,” she said. “We choose to use these gifts in our community to impact the world around us.” To Elya, as it was to Miss Pam, dance is much more than a class. It is important that all of the teachers build relationships with the students. Elya said she doesn’t ever want to hire a teacher that is just there to teach, he or she should be there to make an impact. A Time To Dance has a wide range of teachers, all specializing in many forms of dance, and all from different backgrounds. They even have some teachers that are college professors and work in the dance programs at TWU and UNT. Classes range
from tap and ballet to hip/hop, modern, jazz and musical theater. They are a part of an affiliation of dance studios across the nation called “More Than Just Great Dancing”, which is committed to teaching important life skills such as respect, confidence and giving back to the community. Elya describes A Time to Dance as a Christian dance studio. They mentor, pray and talk to their students to help them build character. They teach them to make an impact through dance to help make the world a better place. Not only do they talk the talk, they dance the talk, so to speak. Within A Time to Dance, there are several dance companies. Students audition and, in addition to regular classes, they practice during extra hours with their company. These companies then take their craft to the communities performing at nursing homes, schools and community events such as the Community Christmas Concert at the First Baptist Church in Corinth, benefitting the Lake Cities Spirit of Christmas. The students are taught to take their dance into the community and always look for opportunities to give back. They also have Bible studies and other character building activities for the students. Now in its 27th season, A Time To Dance is still growing, however, the vision and foundation that was built by Miss Pam remains. Miss Pam is still there as well. She is the director of the children’s program at the studio. The little ones, according to Elya, are her passion. She is apparently happiest with her “babies”. The best part of this story, however, was saved for last. When Elya wanted to take lessons her family wasn’t able to afford them. Miss Pam agreed to allow Elya’s family to clean the studio in exchange for lessons. Who could have foreseen that she was shaping that little six year old girl, to carry on the traditions of paying it forward in the community? What an amazing turn of events that some might call fate. To Elya Coleman, it was simply the perfect opportunity to marry her purpose and passion right here at home.
1992 to 2016 Pictured top left is Elya Coleman at age six with trainer Pam McCurley (owner of A Time to Dance back in 1992). Pictured top right is Elya Coleman on the left (now the owner of A Time to Dance) with her former trainer Pam McCurley, on the right, in 2016.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 21
LDISD Serves Better Together Breakfast for Community Lake
Dallas
ISD
hosted
its
2nd
Annual
Community Leadership Breakfast on Wednesday, August 10 at Lake Dallas High School. Along with CoServ, DATCU and the City of Corinth, LDISD brought together the mayors, city managers, police and fire department representatives, local community leaders and many business owners to promote ideas of drawing the community together and strengthening public education. LDISD Superintendent Dr. Gayle Stinson lead the “Better Together”-themed breakfast and introduced guest speaker Mike Patrick, Education Sales Leader of Milliken & Co.
Dr. Stinson was so impressed when she heard
Mr. Patrick speak last year, she invited him to speak
at Lake Cities to share wisdom and insight with our community and school leaders.
Mr. Patrick revamped the culture at Milliken back
in 1979. He stressed teamwork which transformed the
attitude of employees to one of pride and ownership.
The same principle holds true inside our communities. He also stressed that public education is the backbone to our nation. We need strong public education so that our future workforce is strong.
NCTC Miniature Golf Tournament Benefits Scholarships for Students For those masters (and amateurs) of the short game,
the NCTC Denton County Foundation Board will be hosting its 14th Annual Miniature Golf Tournament
on Tuesday, September 20 at Zone Action Park in Lewisville. Glen McKenzie – DATCU President Vicki Sargent – CoServ Community Relations Director Dr. Gayle Stinson – Lake Dallas ISD Superintendent of Schools Mike Patrick – Milliken & Company, Education Sales Leader Bill Heidemann – City of Corinth, Mayor
22 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
This is the perfect opportunity for companies to
It’s just $80 for a team of four which includes not only a fun-filled afternoon of putt-putt golf, but dinner as well—courtesy of Dickie’s Barbecue. Students play for just $10 and children under 10 for $5. There will be silent auction and raffle, full of great goodies. There are also an array of sponsorships available. Remember, it’s all to provide scholarships for people looking to better their lives while enjoying a great afternoon and evening of putt-putt fun!
LDISD Bell Schedule Changes The bell schedule for LDISD elementary schools and Lake Dallas High School students will change this fall because of a new state law measuring the school day in minutes instead of days. To
comply
with
this
new
law,
LDISD
must extend the high school and elementary school day. The district will use the following bell schedules:
take the afternoon for team building and all for a good
2016 – 2017 Bell Schedule
attending the Corinth and Flower Mound campuses
• Middle school: 8:30 a.m.–3:50 p.m.
cause. This event provides scholarships for students
• Elementary schools: 7:50 a.m.–3:10 p.m.
of NCTC.
• High school: 8:20 a.m.–3:40 p.m.
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
Business Coach
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.
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
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 23
24 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
SEASON PREVIEW: Falcons Not That Bad Off? L by Steve Gamel
ake Dallas is coming off a banner year and questions continue to linger with the loss of several key players from that team. But head coach Michael Young said 2016 could pan out to be just as great a season for the Falcons.
Young is aware most fans are fixated on the high losses to graduation. But what they forget, Young said, is that Lake Dallas has seven returning starters – including a quarterback – and was picked by Dave Campbell’s magazine to win the new District 14-5A. “It will be tough, but we feel pretty good about this team,” Young said. “We’re thinking we will be a lot better than what some people out there think.” Quarterback Spencer Frederickson passed for 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns last season as Haehn’s backup, but he started the first five games of the year with Haehn out with a knee injury. It’s because of that extra playing time that
Young feels his new signal caller is way ahead
a heavier load in the run game going forward.
“It’s hard to play quarterback without some
passing game with Brenden Contreras (514
of the curve.
big games under your belt. We don’t have that problem with Spencer; last season will help him
“It will be TOUGH,
but we feel
PRETTY GOOD about this team”
Frederickson also has ample weapons in the receiving yards), Christian Covington and Chris Slater (303 receiving yards).
Defensively, the Falcons still have linemen
such
as
Jacob
Biggerstaff
cornerback Kobe Boyce.
and
standout
The team will compete in District 14-5A,
which features McKinney North, Prosper, Carrollton Creekview, Carrollton Newman Smith, Carrollton R.L. Turner, Little Elm and The Colony. But only four of those teams
(Creekview, Smith, Prosper, The Colony) made
the playoffs last year. All of them lost in the
tremendously,” Young said earlier this spring. “He
first round.
coverages and we feel pretty good about him.”
in a district comprised mostly of Fort Worth
returns after rushing for nearly 500 yards and
Young expects to be just as dominant against this
has looked good. He understands how to read From there, running back Brian Griffin
seven touchdowns. He will be asked to shoulder
In contrast, the Falcons were the top team
schools and didn’t lose a game in league play. new slate.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 25
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.
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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.
Children’s
Voice
Voice of North Texas can help covering out-ofpocket expenses that insurance does not cover. Some children with hearing loss are benefitted by hearing aids that may cost as much as $5,000 per ear. Sign language is an option though it limits to whom the child may communicate. Then there are other things that children need such as speech therapy or other classes to help them acclimate to school and society. Children’s Voice of North Texas is a non-profit organization that depends on contributions made by individuals and companies. Additionally, it is one of the charities benefitted by the Oakmont by Susan Neuhalfen Charity Classic golf tournament which will To the average individual some of this, such as a be held on Friday, September 2. On Saturday, special pre-school, may seem like an unnecessary September 3, there is another event that also expense, but because the brain develops in the benefits Children’s Voice of North Texas. It first two years after birth, those who are hearing is a Wine Pairing Event, also at the Oakmont Country Club. Patrons will impaired are immediately at enjoy action food stations a disadvantage. The longer it “. . .because the brain paired with select specialty takes to get the child help, develops in the first wines, live music, and the farther behind he or she more. Everyone is welcome falls. For example if it takes a two years after to attend. year to get a hearing aid, that birth, those who are Sanford’s hope is to give puts those hearing impaired every child the opportunity hearing impaired children at least one he or she deserves by helping year behind. are immediately at their families to afford the “Without help, the a disadvantage.” equipment, training and children could end up several other necessities to live a years and consequently, several grades behind,” said Sanford. “Studies fulfilling, productive life. “Once they have the tools, these kids progress have shown that the sooner the child receives quickly,” said Sanford. “We just want to give intervention such as cochlear implants, them that chance.” hearing aids and other hearingassistive devices, the sooner he or she may progress quickly.” Cochlear implants are electronic medical devices implanted in the ear that provide sound signals to the brain. Unlike hearing aids that simply make sound louder, these provide direct electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve. They are for those who are profoundly deaf, doing the work of the damaged parts of the cochlea. Every family who applies for cochlear implants through insurance is turned down at least once, according to Sanford. The cost is roughly $70,000 per ear (surgery and equipment) without insurance, and if one is lucky enough to have insurance that will pay for this, it will usually not pay 100%. That is when Children’s
of North Texas
H
earing loss is the most common birth defect in the United States. Over 3 million children under the age of 3 suffer from it. Yet, when it comes to getting anything covered under health care insurance, it’s an iffy situation. Children’s Voice of North Texas was started by Frankie Sanford and his wife, Tiffany. They help families with hearing-impaired children afford their medical needs. “These aren’t just things that they want for their kids, these are needs,” said Sanford. “It’s imperative that we give these children every chance to succeed.” Sanford’s daughter Erin is deaf so the Sanfords have had to learn many things through their own experience but, as Frankie points out, every child is different, every insurance carrier is different and every situation is different. The idea for the charity came after one of Erin’s pre-school classmates had to drop out of a local hearing school because the family could no longer afford the tuition. The school is designed for children ages 2-5 to prepare them for kindergarten. The family had some unexpected bad fortune and the funds just weren’t there. That’s when the Sanfords and others stepped in to help. “We aren’t talking about a private school that costs thousands of dollars, it was a very affordable school,” said Frankie of the school in Coppell. “So we asked our ENT if there was an organization that provided financial assistance and he told us there wasn’t.” In 2013 Frankie and Tiffany started Children’s Voice of North Texas to help families of hearingimpaired children. They are currently helping eight families in the area meet their needs for everything from school tuition to speech therapy to equipment.
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 27
Legal
FORE
CLOSURE
Is a Bad Word IT MEANS SOMEONE PROBABLY CRASHED & BURNED FINANCIALLY How can it possibly be a good thing for the home owner?
W
ell, there’s a period of time in the foreclosure process that can change everything. When you’re
90 days late or so, the bank often puts you on a
list. The list is for people considered delinquent
on their mortgage. At this point, you can ask them to provide you with two numbers: the amount required to reinstate your loan, and the amount required to payoff your loan in full. If you’re at that point, it’s good to go ahead and ask for those
two numbers. They are happy to give it to you. Now,
you
have
a
thousand buyers out there
looking for a home they can’t get approved for
by the bank. It’s not they don’t have the money, it’s they are recently divorced, they haven’t been self-employed—there’s a myriad of reasons.
28 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
the atomic bomb of credit. Yes, you are still on the note until the buyer pays it off or gets it
refinanced, but that’s insignificant compared to
having a foreclosure on your credit. You avoided disaster, they got the home they wanted. In this scenario, they have to pay to have the loan
reinstated, which means the amount you are
The outcome is that you are saved from foreclosure, which is the atomic bomb of credit.
employed for 2 years at the same place, they are To contact Haire Law Firm for your free case evaluation, call 972.394.3000 or visit www.hrj-law.com
that you are saved from foreclosure, which is
I can legally have the deed for the
behind.
The
sooner
we know that amount, the
cheaper
it
is,
because the closer you
get to the auction date, the more fees, interest
and attorney fees get attached.
Everybody
wins in a situation that looked so dark.
The other number we can use is the payoff
amount. If the buyer can get credit or has enough cash, they can buy your home outright and the transaction is final at closing.
If you think you’re circling the drain and
home transferred into their name, and make
need to figure out how to get out from under
without involving the bank. The outcome is
nowhere near as bad as it feels if you let us help.
arrangements for them to assume your loan,
a pending foreclosure, please give us a call. It’s
AUGUST 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 29
Lake Cities Lions Club Brings Great Outdoors to Kingswood The
by Susan Neuhalfen courts and a hopscotch area. After it was pressure washed, he had the area re-striped by
photo courtesy of Doyt Sheets
Texas Stripes in Lake Dallas while the masking tape was done by Lion Michelle Mclaren. The
homeowners, as well as the kids, are thrilled with the results.
According to McCarty, the whole park has
gone through a lot of changes. The community
pool, which had been closed for several years, was finally updated with new filtering systems and the whole pool was cleaned and refilled. The
Clubhouse was repainted and refurnished and
t’s truly inspiring when members of the community come together to create something for the greater good which causes a chain reaction of events that improve the community as a whole. That’s exactly what happened when the Lake Cities Lions Club approached the Kingswood Mobile Home Park to design and refurbish their playground area. “When they came to us and asked us if they could redo the outdoor area we said ‘Are you kidding?’” laughed Margaret McCarty of the Kingswood Homeowners Association. “We immediately made a game plan and they got it done.” Located on Shady Shores, Kingswood Mobile Home Park has approximately 200 homes and dates back to the 1970s. After a series of unfortunate events that brought the property to the brink of foreclosure, the Kingswood Homeowners Association was re-formed and came together to pay off debts and improve their neighborhood. It’s been a long and arduous process spearheaded by McCarty and others, but they are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Though not yet scheduled, the improvements to the outdoor area were on their radar. The Lions Club stepping in when they did was simply great timing. “They have been so appreciative and accommodating,” said Lions Club member Julie Mathews, who helped initiate the project 30 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | AUGUST 2016
along with Kathy King, Doyt Sheets and Steven Brunson. “They made it really easy for us.” The Lions Club found that the neighborhood had lots of kids and the playground needed immediate updating. There was a basketball court, a picnic area with no tables and what used to be a shuffleboard court. Once they got the green light from the HOA, Lake Dallas native and Lions Club Vice President Steven Brunson got to work designing the new layout. There were already concrete pads where the picnic tables used to be, so Chapy’s Pressure Washing of Lake Dallas came in and cleaned off the concrete pads until they looked practically new. Ace Hardware worked with the Lions Club to give them a good price on commercial grade outdoor tables. The tables had to be special ordered and took weeks to deliver. Once they got them, another Lake Dallas business, Remodeling by George, installed the tables so that they would be permanent fixtures in the ground. The picnic tables alone are a beautiful addition to the playground area. “I’m already seeing people taking advantage of the picnic area,” said McCarty. “A lot of people are eating lunch and dinner out there.” Brunson then repurposed the shuffleboard court and turned the area into 2 four-square
is now being rented out with proceeds going
toward even more improvements. Many in the
neighborhood have volunteered their services. They have cut down the brush and replaced the light over the park area. The storage area had to
be cleaned out and a lot of maintenance had to be addressed, but McCarty said it’s slowly but surely getting done.
The improvements are having a ripple effect
on the neighborhood. Everyone is stepping up.
“The homeowners are really starting to take
pride in their homes and it shows,” said McCarty. “We’re really grateful for all of the help, especially from the Lake Cities Lions Club.”
When asked about what was next for
Kingswood, McCarty said they are currently
working toward putting together community
events for the fall/winter once their pool closes. They are continuing to make maintenance
improvements all over the property. They are collecting books for a library they are establishing
in the clubhouse. They are also looking for someone to haul away a pile of dirt that was
left after they made improvements to the drainage system. If interested, email Margaret at mccar56@juno.com.
One thing is for sure, the Lions Club would
be only too happy to work with the members
of the Kingswood HOA again, and especially Margaret McCarty.
“Margaret is such a spark—she is that
go-getter that you need,” said Mathews. “If it can be done, Margaret will figure it out.”
PLUS PointBank will make a $25 donation to your choice of participating school organizations when you open a new personal checking account at PointBank!