Lake Cities Living Magazine February 2016 by Murray Media Group

February 2016 - PREMIERe ISSUE

Explains Why

Corinth - Hickory Creek - Shady Shores - Lake Dallas

Denton

is cooler than dallas

Garden Oaks

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Cutting Edge Dental Care

Comfortable Care, Homestyle Atmosphere

Patrick R. Ruehle DDS, PA

Would you like your children to never have to experience a shot? Dr. Ruehle can do just that for most treatments. How would you see dentistry differently if you had never experienced a “shot” when you were young? Cutting edge practices, such as Garden Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, and the incredibly talented and highly trained team that Dr. Patrick R. Ruehle has assembled, include digital x-rays and 3D radiographic images to give optimal diagnostic capabilities

with a fraction of the radiation dosage of older x-ray techniques. Dr. Ruehle utilizes CAD CAM designing to deliver custom made crowns in a single visit.

while preserving the surrounding tooth structure without any of the collateral damage that the drills can cause.

Our lasers have extraordinary He can also fabricate custom bridges biostimulation and pain-relieving and implant restorations in a fraction properties to treat jaw joint pain as well of the time of traditional lab-fabricated as reduce postoperative pain and speed restorations, and without all the “goop” healing. Lasers give us, at Garden in your mouth that makes you gag. Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Natural and confident — that is the the ability to treat periodontal disease type of smile we deliver. And, the (gum disease) precisely, predictably most amazing of all, highly advanced and comfortably while also being more dental lasers that have completely conservative than old school methods. changed the way patients are looking Natural, confident, comfortable and at dental treatments. minimally invasive — that is the type Lasers that are used to provide of dental care we deliver. All of this is analgesia (sleepy tooth) in specific, delivered in a beautiful relaxing office individual teeth so that patients don’t that feels more like your home than a need to have the dreaded “shot.” You dental clinic. Come visit Dr. Ruehle can have fillings done and not leave the at Garden Oaks Family & Cosmetic office with the “fat face” or “drooping Dentistry in South Denton to see if this lip”, going right back to work or school should be your new dental home. in comfort and not miss a beat. Highly advanced hydrophotonic lasers use a combination of laser and air/water 3490 Teasley Ln • Denton, TX spray to gently and precisely treat PatRuehleDDS.com cavities with minimal tooth reduction

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FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 3

LDHS’ Kristi Strickland

oted V Principal

of The Year by Sarah Bays

risti Strickland has been the principal since 2010 at Lake Dallas High School, a place that is proud to call her its fearless leader. She puts her students before everything else, making sure they know they come first. That, perhaps, is why she was recently

named principal of the year for the State of Texas. The honor came from the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals.

“Dr. Strickland was selected for her

willingness to take risks to help students and

the ability to anticipate and solve problems, as well as her success in improving

the

school’s

learning environment,” said Archie McAfee, TASSP executive director. TASSP

recognizes

outstanding principals and

assistant principals from

America’s best high schools by U.S. News & World Report. Under her watch, the school has also established four new career tech academies and a collegiate academy

“Simply, she is phenomenal. She is ours. She makes us proud to be Falcons.”

in tandem with North Central Texas College, which

has

enhanced

dual credit offerings. “Above all else Dr. Kristi

Strickland,

every facet of her job,

puts students first,” said Gayle Stinson,

chosen by their regional peers, with the

phenomenal. She is ours. She makes us proud

Texas. Administrators are nominated and

LDISD superintendent. “Simply, she is

final selection made by the principal image

to be Falcons.”

Strickland

attended

Tarleton

State

University earning a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in

4 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

was recognized in 2013 and 2014 as one of

the 20 regional education service centers in

committee of TASSP.

photo courtesy of Lake Dallas Independent School District

With Strickland at the helm, LDHS

American history. In 2000 she graduated

from the University of North Texas with her Ph.D. in American history.

Strickland will be considered for the title of National Association of Secondary School Principals principal of the year in 2016. Before earning this honor, Strickland was named 2015 Region 11 Outstanding High School Principal of the Year.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 5

Contents

Featured Stories and News 02 04 10 12 13 15

High School Cheer/ Mascot Tryout at LDHS Lecture Hall February 22nd at 7-8pm TBD Varsity Baseball Argyle High School Tournament February 25th-27th

Oakmont Women’s Club Annual Tea April 16th at 1pm

Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com 6 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

Dani Rae’s Business Spotlight Lake Cities Chamber Reboots Inside Community Lake Cities Top Schools

On the cover starting from left: Drew, Laurie, Jason and Austin Fraser

Photos from Lake Cities

08 22

You Submit, We Print Mardi Gras

Inside Education Falcons Football Season Events at Oakmont LI

M AG A

ZIN

E’

R’S ITO K ED PIC T

Kylie Jensen

Pg 16

18 19 23 25 26 27 29 30 31

STARR Testing March 29th-31st

LDHS Principal of the Year

Comfort Mechanical 16 Southern

Spring Break March 14th-18th Varsity Girls Softball vs Carter-Riverside at LDHS March 22 at 6pm

Cutting Edge Dental Care

LAKE CITIE S

Lake Cities Community Events

Table of

2016

RE C

Lake Cities 2016 Election School Signees It’s All In Your Head Olive Stephens Women’s Heart Health

Ask the Expert 09

Fitness

Dr. Matt

Real Estate

Life Coaching

The Sidelines

elcome W To Lake Cities Living

A Message from the Publisher & Editor

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

Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

t is our pleasure to welcome you to Lake Cities

LakeCitiesLiving.com

Living

Magazine.

Inside

the

pages you will find a variety of family

and community articles highlighting life in

your neighborhood. Featuring family-friendly, feel-good content with high visual appeal, Lake Cities Living will bring home the stories of the

men, women, children and businesses which you see every day in your life.

As parents of four active children and long

term residents of Denton County, we are active

Residents can look forward to receiving Lake Cities Living magazine the third weekend of each month. We want you to feel as though it is your magazine. Readers will find lots of local events and news, plus sections like Community Events, Resident Spotlights, Local Business Spotlights, School News, Community Sports, Lake Cities Exclusive News and more. Lake Cities Living would not be possible without the support of our advertisers. In their

in our own community so we know what it

efforts to support our local community and its

and surroundings, and how important it is to

so please offer them your support as you shop for

your life. Staying in touch with community

that you saw them in Lake Cities Living.

means to be able to get to know your neighbors enjoy the place which you have chosen to live enhances self-esteem, confidence, and creates a sense of ‘family’ that not all neighborhoods are

blessed to experience. Being involved where you live enhances your life in ways you don’t realize

until you find a place like ours where you can really feel ‘at home’.

residents we are able to bring you this publication, products and services in the area. Let them know We welcome your feedback, family/company photos and story ideas so please send them to artwork@murray-media.com.

Please read more about us on Murray-Media.com

Happy Reading, Publisher & Editor

Contributors Steve Gamel Sarah Bays

Advertising

Meredith McNair 817.291.7582 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 Karen Foust 214.850.3417 FoustPhotography.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

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 7

You Submit, We Print Send your photos to artwork@murray-media.com

Amie Peace and Son

Rauschuber Family David, Stephanie and Hannah

Jason and Laurie Fraser

City of Lake Dallas Mardi Gras Parade Photos courtesy of Sarah Carrasco

8 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

Hickory Creek Welcomes

Fitness

Jesse James & J

esse J. Leyva, owner and president of Outlaw Fit Camp in Hickory Creek, Outlaw Bootcamp in Little Elm and Jesse James Fit, the iconic personal training studio in Flower Mound, has been setting new fitness industry standards since 2004. Most recently, Jesse has launched

safe,

indoor,

year-round

bootcamp-

style workouts for busy professionals in

Denton County.

“Each of our bootcamp classes lasts

only 28 minutes, capitalizing on the latest research and a fitness methodology that demonstrates an effective workout does

not need to last an hour or more to deliver health, strength and fitness results to participants,” he says.

And furthermore, indoor bootcamp

classes are never at the whim of notoriously unpredictable Texas weather!

Outlaw Fit Camp in Hickory Creek is a

first-of-its-kind gym in Denton County – a

facility that combines the accountability of personal training with the convenience of a

24-hour gym and effective bootcamp classes. Jesse recently told Lake Cities Living:

“Outlaw Fit Camp is here to help support

the health and vitality of our community

with accountability programs, weigh-ins, and bootcamp classes before work, during the lunch hour, or after work.

We believe success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself: it’s what you do for others! We do not just change the physical appearance or strength of our clients – we transform lives.” In upcoming issues of Lake Cities Living, Jesse Leyva will provide readers with insights into transforming the quality

Our mission is not just to change the

physical

of their life. Topics will include

appearance

effective goal setting

or strength of our

leading to healthy

clients. We strive to

transform

lifestyle

lives by helping our

sustained

clients learn to make

energy, and maintaining

will support and sustain

an optimal weight for

health and vitality for years

years to come.

to come.”

selectively

with

private

investors

who expressed an interest in franchise opportunities with Outlaw Fit Camp.

“Our corporate philosophy has to be

clearly

understood

and

fitness,

increased strength and

informed decisions that

Jesse has been working

changes,

embraced

all investors, managers, and trainers.

sure

stop

and visit the new studio at 1039 hickory creek

blvd.

•

hickory

creek,

Texas

75065 or call them at 940.497.6002. You can also visit their website at OutlawBootcamp.com/fitcamp FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 9

Gulf Coast

flavors S

ometimes, you just have to get your Cajun on! A step into Dani Rae’s rustic décor will transport you to that ‘friends and family throw down’ that only could happen on a hot summer night in the back yard along the shores of the Gulf Coast.

classic recipe from San Francisco. It includes tilapia,

We dare you to take the plunge and head up to

restaurant, which they named after their daughters,

DaniRae’s Gulf Coast Kitchen and get ready to

always had a true love of cooking. He followed a

Denton for a delicious dip in the shore waters at kick back, relax and enjoy great gulfcoast dining!

This family-friendly local restaurant and bar on

the south side of Denton speaks with a distinctly local accent. It’s a drawl that emanates from the seafood dishes on the menu, which run

scallops, shrimp and mussels.

Beavers also sells seafood for Farmer’s Seafood

based in Shreveport.

“That way I get to see what’s coming in fresh and

get the first pick of what’s out there,” he said.

Beavers, and his wife of 34 years, Jan, own the

Dani and Rachael. Gary, a registered architect, has

dream and in 2013 took courses at the Culinary Institute in New York. It was through a business

partner in his construction business that Gary became a partner in what is now Dani Rae’s.

“I helped design the building when

“Gary loves to it opened as Three Fins. I became a to grilled or blackened seafood, cook for people partner after it changed to Frilly’s pastas, fried seafood platters of all and loves to please and two of the original partners left. The next thing I knew I owned the persuasions, and house specials that people with whole thing,” Gary said with a chuckle. include more than a few things that his food.” “I inherited a Cajun-style restaurant. aren’t seafood. Few neighborhood from raw oysters and seafood fondue

restaurants execute as wide an array of

We’ve stayed true to those roots but made the

dishes as excellently and consistently as Dani Rae’s..

recipes more authentic.”

scratch with time proven, authentic recipes, with

family passion. While Gary oversees the operations,

alligator, catfish or delicious chicken fried steak.

daughter, Dani and son-in-law, Nick manage Dani

All of the dishes at Dani Rae’s are prepared from

distinctive flavors. Order the fried shrimp, frog legs, Maybe you’d prefer Louisiana’s spicy cuisine. No problem. Try the Jambalaya or their signature dish Louisiana-style Barbecue Shrimp. In the mood

The restaurant business for the Beavers’ is a

Jan handles the advertising and bookkeeping. Their

Rae’s. Oldest daughter, Rachael, helped develop new recipes.

Jan says part of Dani Rae’s success is Gary’s

Casual New Orleans Style by Sarah Bays

new dish, he takes it out to customers get input. He has improved the recipes and elevated the dishes to a whole new level of delicious. We’ve had a lot of transplants from Hurricane Katrina say, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven’t had this food since we left home.” Nowadays, Gary has someone else do most of the cooking, and the spicy, savory flavors of the food are still as succulent. “I’ve never met anybody who cared so much about every aspect of his work,” Gary said of his head chef, Julian. “The health department says they have never seen such a clean kitchen. He has grown from our line cook to running the whole kitchen, and recently, we made him a partner in Dani Rae’s” The Beavers’ keep the atmosphere as flavorful as the food with live entertainment on Thursdays. There’s also baked oyster night on Tuesdays, which offers six different savory and delicious varieties. Dani Rae’s has a full-service bar and happy hour drinks every day. During crawfish season, patrons come in and eat pounds and pounds of crawfish, Gary said. After the crawfish season ends, Dani Rae’s creates a different special each week. Cast a little gumbo and coconut shrimp into the mix, along with the fun, laid back neighborhood atmosphere, and you have a nibble of what you can expect to catch at Dani Rae’s. Be sure to visit Dani Rae’s at 2303 S Interstate

for a smorgasbord of seafood? Try the Cioppino

service-oriented mindset.

35 E, Denton, TX 76205. Call for more information at

sellers. Owner Gary Beavers has perfected this

people with his food. When Gary is working on a

www.daniraesdenton.com

Fisherman’s Stew, one of the restaurant’s biggest 10 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

“Gary loves to cook for people and loves to please

940.898.1404 or visit their website at

Dentist Do For You? What Can Your

Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental

www.CountryLakesDental.com

grew up in West Texas, and most anyone from there is aware of the unique mineral content of water. My town was specifically known as “The Town without a Toothache” because the excess of fluoride in the water resulted in a decreased incidence of tooth decay.

Coincidentally for me, my dentist would clean my teeth on Saturdays when his hygienist was on a break. As a result, a cleaning was about the extent of my dental visit, so my childhood perception of dentists is that they simply “cleaned teeth.” The truth is my dentist was more than qualified in this aspect of my oral health. So,

you may ask yourself what dental treatment should you expect from your family dentist, and to what extent is your dentist qualified to provide certain types of treatment? I raise these concerns because on January 21, a Texas Court ruled that dentists who don’t practice one of the nine specialties recognized by the ADA may still advertise as “specialists” in Texas if they meet certain conditions. An example of this is the term “cosmetic dentist.” Even though most dental care in this age focuses on improving overall esthetics, no dental specialty is recognized by that specific title.

Dr. Matt To be clear, a dental specialty recognized

by the ADA is one that typically requires

graduation from a post-graduate residency. Therefore, specialists are capable of treating

advanced dental cases. On the other hand, dental specialties were born from general dental procedures, so your family dentist may provide

some specialty services at the same standard of care, for example implants, root canals or treating children.

It may be advantageous to have your family

dentist treat these situations to avoid higher

fees or over-treatment almost in the same way you would not visit a cardiologist to take your blood pressure.

The best way to determine if you or your

child requires specialized treatment is to visit

your family dentist to determine if a specialist is recommended. Always have the conversation

with your dentist to understand their level of education and comfort with specific procedures.

Maintaining a lasting relationship with your

family dentist is invaluable in caring for you oral health and ensuring many happy smiles.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 11

Lake Cities Chamber

Reboots Program

Ambassador

The Current Board of Directors Includes: Dirk Dahlke President Steve Gamel 1st Vice President Dr. Larry D. Gilbert 2nd Vice President Michelle McLaren Secretary Melaynee Broadstreet Treasurer Art Cline Trenna Ezzell David Gilmore Steve Holzwarth

12 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

by Sarah Bays

ince 1972, the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce has devoted itself to strengthening and recruiting new businesses into the area.

Recently, the Chamber has undergone a

resurrection of sorts, electing new officers and re-igniting its ambassador program.

Ambassadors represent the Chamber by

serving as a welcoming committee for new members, appear at ribbon cuttings, serve as

special events hosts and serve as the face of

the Chamber around the community. The

Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce works

in Corinth, Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores.

There is no charge to be an ambassador for

the Chamber.

“We will also, from time to time, have

flashmob events at different businesses in the

area promoting membership and thanking current members for their membership,” said

Steve Holzwarth, head of the ambassador

program. “An example would be the group meeting at a local restaurant for coffee/lunch/ drinks etc. in show of our support.”

Ambassadors have the opportunities to make excellent networking contacts, business leads and visibility. They also have access to the Chamber’s member list, increased exposure to the Chamber and its initiatives. Ambassadors get discounted prices for certain Chamber events and recognition for their work. Through weekly coffee meetings, monthly luncheons, networking mixers and other events, the Chamber seeks to connect local business owners and give tips and strategies for success.

City Seeks Resident Input On Trees Coming To Corinth Road The City of Corinth is putting out bids

for contractors to replace sod and irrigation

removed during construction on Shady Rest Lane. The orders for those trees will be placed

once the city has made its final acceptance of

the work, and the contractor has returned the right-of-way.

Residents will be contacted before tree

planting starts for their input on where the trees

should be located. Shady Rest Lane was opened to through traffic early in January after traffic calming devices were installed. Crews installed fences and completed hydro-mulching.

Corinth Parkway Reopen After Year 0f Construction After nearly a year of closure, the new

Story Telling Day At Lake Dallas Library Every Wednesday from 11:15 a.m. to noon, the Lake Dallas Library hosts a story telling activity for kids to help them explore the alphabet, music, crafts, science, show-and-tell and more. These activities encourage family time, and all ages are welcome.

Boys and Girls Club Gets Facelift The Lake Dallas location of the Boys and renovated and is accepting new members. Home Depot in Denton, United Healthcare,

and southbound interstate bridges that will

Ecomedia, Carl’s Handyman, Effectual Painting

have demolished the Post Oak Drive bridge.

There is also a new outdoor playscape, basketball

That area will remain closed until a new bridge is completed later this year. Commuters are

being detoured to the new Corinth Parkway interchange and Mayhill Road.

Center, 7801 S I-35E in Corinth. The Chamber

is currently looking for sponsors for the evening. To learn more about sponsorship or to RSVP, visit http://www.lakecitieschamber.com/.

Learn more at www.lakedallas.com.

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation along with

pass over the intersection. AGL Constructors

per person and will be held at Global Spheres

“Winter, Groundhog Day and Letter W.”

replaces the previous two-lane bridge that was

February 2015 to make way for northbound

from 6-9 p.m. February 25. The event costs $45

Letter T,” “Martin Luther King Jr.,” and

Girls of North Central Texas has been totally

first opened in the 1960s. It was demolished in

The Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce is

having its annual banquet and awards ceremony

Recent topics have included: “Snow and

Corinth Parkway intersection has reopen underneath I-35E. The at-grade roadway

Lake Cities Chamber Plans Annual Banquet

and others gave the location a whole new look. hoops and ground cover. For more information call 940.239.9309 or email info@BGCNCT.org.

Debra

Walthall, Chief of Police

In 2008 Chief Walthall accepted the position of Chief of Police with the Corinth Police Department. Since her arrival she has worked to enhance open communication and transparency with the citizenry through the Citizens Police Academy, the Volunteers in Policing Program and various other field programs involving the officers and their daily contact with the public. The Department also encourages its citizens to participate in their ride-a-long program to learn more about what officers do for their community. Be sure to read upcoming issues of Lake Cities Living for more stories from your Local Police department.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 13

Real Estate

Location

North Tollway. These typically sell quickly and

3-bath, 3-car garage, with a study, updated, open floor plan, single story, with a pool, on more than an

their home had more than doubled in value.

Location, Location,

“

by Will Woods

ello, we are looking for a new home and not very picky. We would like a 3,500+ square-foot, 4-bedroom, acre, with privacy, in a neighborhood, in Argyle ISD, with trees, and our budget is no more than $425,000.”

A lot of our initial conversations start just like above. If that sounds like you, that is okay. A good agent should be a good listener and be skilled at identifying what is the most important couple of items in your home search. Most likely your Realtor will be able to find you most of what you would like, however understand you will definitely have to compromise. When purchasing a pre-owned home we tell our buyers that if we can find you a home that scores a 7 or 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 then we should write a contract immediately. The

14 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

reason is that it is almost impossible to find a home someone else built that is a perfect 10. An 8 is a home run!!! Even if you build a custom home typically compromises will be made to accommodate budget. One of the main items we encourage our clients to settle on early is location. Some people will not want to buy a home that backs up to a busy road because they are concerned about noise or resale value. However, in Highland Park, near downtown Dallas, there are milliondollar custom homes that back up to the Dallas

are highly desired for their location. Sometimes

what one buyer sees as a negative, other buyers

will see as a positive and actually be willing to pay a premium for it.

Locations also change over time due to progress

or communities growing. A few years after one

buyer moved into a quiet country setting, a 90-lot development was opened near them with third acre lots. The buyers were disappointed that their dream location had changed so much. To

their surprise though, when they decided to sell, As you settle on your location determine

2-3 things about the location that will be most important or as I like to refer to them as “deal-breakers.” This will allow your agent to

find you a location that meets or exceeds your expectations. If you have a list of 10 items that

your location must meet, it is unlikely your agent

will be able to find you a suitable place for your new home.

Please reach out to The Woods Group if

we can ever be of service to you in your real

estate transactions. You can reach us easily at 214.733.9239.

Lake Cities Schools are

magnets

sixth graders, an annual bully prevention, Rachel’s Challenge and “Maroon Outs” to showcase school colors. The school offers band , choir, orchestra, art, cheerleading, football, volleyball, tennis, basketball and track. Crownover also has the National Junior Honor Society, student council and other communityorientated groups.

The top 10 high schools include: #7 Lake Dallas High (Lake Dallas) Lake Dallas High Schools is led by stateawarded principal Kristi Strickland. Students have options to be involved in traditional by Sarah Bays sports but football is where the school really shines. There are also volleyball, golf, cross country, orchestra and student council. There is also basketball, soccer, tennis, track, baseball, access to an outdoor area for students to learn softball, cheer leading, drill, and power science with real world application. lifting Falcons. The top 15 middle A robust technical education program schools include: links education and careers, helping students #15 Crownover Middle (Corinth) Established in 2002, Crownover Middle prepare for what might be around the next bend. As of last school year, School is named for Ronny Crownover, a local “As of last school 88.4 percent of the school’s students were enrolled in one veterinarian and Texas year, 88.4 percent or more CTE course. state representative who of the school’s Students can also participate advocated public education. students were in the law, public safety, Crownover is known for enrolled in one or corrections and security career its friendly environment, more CTE course” cluster career pathway. Some including events like hot classes include principles dog socials for incoming of law, court systems and practices and forensic science.

for home buyers L

ocal schools are making the grade when it comes to drawing in home buyers. Cruvita.com compiled a list of the top elementary, middle and high schools for homebuyers who want to move to Denton County. All of these schools have received Cruvita Gold Medals of Excellence at the national level. The top 30 elementary schools include: #29 Hawk Elementary (Corinth) Hawk Elementary was one of the first campuses located outside the Denton city limits, in Corinth. It is named for Mildred Hawk, a local philanthropist, supporter of education and reading enthusiast. Students at Hawk can participate in events like science nights, summer reading goals and recycling programs to encourage community among the families that make up the school. Hawk Mavericks also have venues to express their talents, such as art club, math club, choir,

For more information on how these schools match up to other Denton County schools, visit http:// blog.cruvita.com/top-10-high-schools-in-dentoncounty-texas.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 15

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by Steve Gamel

here’s something incredibly charming and simple about the way Laurie Fraser talks about the small North Texas city she grew up in, and in many ways never left. That city – we’re sure you have guessed by now – is Lake Dallas, a lakeside community with a population of just more than 7,400 located 10 miles south of Denton on the shores of Lake Lewisville. Laurie and her family moved here when she was a baby, and it’s a place she said is just as much a part of her as breathing. “This is where it started for me. My smalltown roots helped shape me, our family values, and how we run our business,” said Laurie, who after graduating from high school still commuted home between classes at UNT. “It’s a different world here. Everyone knows each other and waves when you drive down the road. We run into someone we know all the time. It’s a tight-nit community.” Laurie’s maiden name is Fisher and she’s the daughter of longtime realtor and Lake Dallas advocate, Clyde Fisher. The Fishers are a family

of entrepreneurs who work hard and have always put their clients’ needs first. Her brother, Chris, runs a local landscaping company called Southern Services while Laurie and husband Jason co-own a popular AC/Heating company, Southern Comfort Mechanical. Their office is located just two exits south of Lake Dallas. “It’s as close as I could get [the office] to Lake Dallas,” Laurie said. Laurie graduated from the old Lake Dallas High School once located on the corner of Hundley and Falcon Drive in 1993, and said there were just 118 students in her graduating class. That was only 23 years ago, but the city and its school district have come a long way in that time. Lake Dallas, which is the oldest of the four Lake Cities communities, was established in 1852 and is known for its welcoming spirit. It attracts visitors from all over for annual events such as its Mardi Gras parade and July 4 celebration. It is served by the award-winning Lake Dallas Independent School District, which

Karen phy by a r g o t o ph

Southern

Comfort

Foust

Mechanical

provides

service to both residential and light commercial The Fishers lived in three houses, all in the

same Royal Oaks neighborhood, while Laurie includes Lake Dallas High School – now located in Corinth – Lake Dallas Middle School, Lake Dallas Elementary, Shady Shores Elementary and Corinth Elementary.

In 2014, the city was ranked 29th by D

Magazine on a list of the best places to live in

the DFW suburbs. The lake city is home to

several nonprofit organizations like the Lake Cities Education Foundation, Lake Cities Spirit of Christmas and the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Central Texas.

And Laurie talks as if she

is Lake Dallas’ biggest fan.

“She’s very nostalgic for

someone in their 40s,” her husband Jason said. “It’s fun to watch her get going.”

When we caught up

with Laurie last month, she took us on a stroll down memory lane – literally. We

all packed into her car and

Sponsored content

exited Lake Dallas Drive

was growing up.

“My dad was the primary realtor while this

neighborhood was being developed,” she said. “We were one of the first to get a pool.”

Then came the coup de grace – her old

high school.

“This is where it all went down,” Laurie said

customers from the Lewisville and Flower

Mound area to Denton and Dallas. They can service any need and offer the latest in

technological

installations, duct

advances, including cleaning, Trane

new

Wi-Fi

Thermostats and REME Air Purification. They

don’t

charge

overtime

and

their

technicians rotate as the on-call technician for overnight issues.

Jason and Laurie have eight employees and

with a laugh as she pointed to what is now a

all of them live close by or right in the heart of

school district.

the best of the best, and everyone involved

facilities and operations building owned by the

Lake Dallas. They believe their employees are

“I can remember the old freshman hallway ...

takes pride in staying visible and active in the

“THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED FOR ME. MY SMALL-TOWN ROOTS HELPED SHAPE ME, OUR FAMILY VALUES, AND HOW WE RUN OUR BUSINESS,” SAID LAURIE.

we called it The Dungeon.

community. Southern Comfort Mechanical

class, you knew everyone’s

Quarterback Club as well as a member of the

With so few people in your

first, middle and last names, how many pets they had, and their parents.” Laurie

added,

“The

building was very compact

back then, and I remember as

the

school

started

growing, they would add

portables for the classrooms.

for a tour of what she called her old stomping

I love the small-town feel. Even with all its

as she passionately pointed out the window at

Laurie’s appreciation for small-town living

grounds. It was hard to keep up with everything

growth, it’s still so small to me.”

the various places in town where she used to

translates into how she and Jason run their

Like the Duck Inn, and an old wooded lot

Jason and Laurie started Southern Comfort

has for years been a sponsor of the Lake Dallas Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce.

The goal is to give of themselves both

personally and professionally while being able to sleep good every night knowing they

bent over backwards for a customer to assure their satisfaction.

“We take pride in the fact that when we see

our clients at the grocery store, we don’t have to

worry about running to go hide in shame,” said Jason, who said growing up in Lewisville was as

close as you could get to Lake Dallas without

actually living there. “We are just 10 minutes away, and our trucks are passing through Lake Dallas constantly trying to serve people. It

hang out with her friends and family.

family business.

that Laurie said used to be a miniature golf park.

Mechanical eight years ago out of their house,

always be her home.

which still stands to this very day, that used to

computer. While he trusts his staff completely,

we care. This city has made me who I am,” she

takes pride in the finer details of his craft, and

for the current owners of the house where I grew

There was also a blue house near Hundley Drive, be a daycare facility, she said. She remembered

everything, right down to the city’s first stop light and the old Food Fair grocery store, which is now the Lake Dallas Police Department.

which had one small office up front with a single Jason is still very much the hands-on owner who

over the years Laurie made it a point to learn every nook and cranny of the business.

makes us proud.”

Laurie agreed, adding that Lake Dallas will “We stay involved in this community because

said. “My goal is to one day replace the AC unit

up. Now that would be so neat. It would make

me happy to have it all come full circle like that.” FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 17

Lake Cities Chamber Offering Scholarships is

Corinth Classical Students Raise Money For Others

The Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce offering

two

$500

scholarships

for

graduating high school seniors who want to continue their education after high school

at a college, university, community college

or vocational school. Find out more here: http://www.lakecitieschamber.com/Portals/0/ LCCC%20Scholarship%20Info.pdf

Lake Dallas High Students Make Area Volleyball Team Two Lake Dallas High School students have

been named to the All Area Volleyball Team. Junior Jennifer Chapman and senior Adrianna Nolly both make the list for 2015. Chapman

was also named District 6-5A Setter of the Year

before making the All-Area First Team. Nolly was named to the All-Area Second Team as a

middle blocker after she received the District 6-5A Utility Player of the Year award.

Story Time At Shady Shores Shady Shores Elementary School holds

pre-school story time for kids ages 3-5. Story

Corinth

Classical

Academy

student

Presley Galitz and a teacher from the school

were recently interviewed for the Kidd

Kraddick Morning Show. The school’s junior

philanthropist club raised $638 for Kidd’s Kids, a program that sends children with cancer

to Disney World. The fall box tops drive at

Corinth Elementary brought in more than $1,400 for the school.

Bettye Myers Yearbooks On Sale Yearbooks for Bettye Myers Elementary

School are on sale for $40. For more information contact the school.

Lake Dallas Highsteppers Bring Home Wins The Lake Dallas Highsteppers’ competition

season has begun. The team brought home

18 Trophies from American Drill Team Competition at Rockwall Heath High School on February 6. They were the only team honored

time is at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays. Parents

with Outstanding Sportsmanship Team.

hands-on activities to learn new skills and

7 judges awards (one for each dance)

community room. No RSVP is required.

Outstanding Presentation

Choreography Awards for both Officers

& Team

Officers: 96 average from 9 judges & 3 dances Team: 95 average on 4 dances

The Highsteppers will compete at Timber

Creek High School on February 20 & Duncanville High on February 27.

Lake Dallas High Singers Headed To State On

January

members 24

UIL

30,

and

Ensemble

participated

Solo

Falcon the

Band

Region

Contest,

which was held at Liberty High School in Frisco.

“Our band students participated in 117

events and had the best results that we’ve had to

date.” Denise Kennedy, LDHS Band Director, said. “We could not be more proud of these fine young musicians!”

Solo & Ensemble by the numbers . . . Falcon Band participants: 95 Falcon Band entries: 117 Solo events entered: 108 Solo events performed: 107 Ensemble events entered and performed: 9 Superior rated Class 1 solos (college level solos): 61 Superior rated Class 2 solos: 8

and preschoolers will hear stories and have

Other highlights include:

Superior rated Class 1 ensembles: 6 (totaling 26 participants)

concepts. Story time is held at the school in the

7th place team overall

Entries certified to (qualified for) the State UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest: 37 Solos and 6 Ensembles.

18 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

Falcons

Football Season

t’s been a few months since Lake Dallas football coach Michael Young watched his team take its last snap, but the memories of that historic season continue to play out in his head.

Like the unbeaten run through district play, playing the first half of the season with a backup quarterback, and the postseason play that almost was – a long pass that was intercepted to end a triple overtime thriller against Frisco Lone Star. The Falcons were on the wrong end of that one, but there are no regrets. “It was such a great experience for the kids and there are so many things to look back on, like playing at AT&T Stadium for the first time and beating Everman in the playoffs,” Young said. “Even

Was One For The Ages by Steve Gamel

our game in Midland was fun, despite the most miserable weather possible. That’s what it’s all about.” Lake Dallas made its deepest playoff run ever – the loss to Lone Star saw them come up one game short of a trip to the state championship – in a season that could have easily been derailed from the start. Dagan Haehn tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during the team’s spring game last May. Haehn was one of the team’s more dynamic players – and their starting quarterback. He ended up missing the first half of the regular season. In stepped junior backup Spencer Frederickson, and with help from an experienced offense and stingy defense, helped the team gain steam as it carried that momentum into the playoffs.

Once the Falcons were in the playoffs, they knocked off Fort Worth Brewer, Burleson and El Paso Eastlake with relative ease before rallying to beat Everman in the third round, 41-38. The Falcons were down 28-0 to Lone Star before forcing overtime ... then another overtime, and yet another. They lost that game, 55-49. Despite missing the first half of the year, Haehn finished his senior season having thrown for 2,318 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing more than 60 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 904 yards and six scores. Do-it-all wide receiver Keegan Brewer finished with 1,627 receiving yards, 508 more on the ground, and 30 total touchdowns. Young said the senior leadership from 2015 will carry over to next season with younger players like Frederickson. The young signal caller is the projected starter for next season. As a backup, he threw for 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for another score while completing 67 percent of his passes. “Playing five playoff games meant five extra weeks of practice time, which is going to help our younger guys even more heading into next season,” Young said. “Those older guys really worked well with the younger guys. We have holes to fill, but these are good players. We will be competitive, that’s for sure.”

“...That’s what it’s all about,” Young stated

*Steve Gamel is a sports writer for the Denton Record-

Chronicle. He contributes monthly to Lake Cities Living.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 19

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ay t rah B Stree of Sa Main y • s e s t a r ou Dall tos c Lake • Pho 6 1 / 2/9

Events Wine Thursday, February 25th | 7:00 P.M. | $25++ per person Club Join us for a night of decadent hors d’oeuvres, paired with select specialty wines! Please RSVP to Amanda.Haywood@clubcorp.com! *O.N.E. Benefits do not apply • 48 hour cancellation policy applies Ladies Night Out: Painting With A Twist

Wednesday, March 2nd | 7:00 P.M. | $45++ per lady Join us for a night full of painting, wine and FUN! Please RSVP to Amanda.Haywood@clubcorp.com! *O.N.E. Benefits do not apply • 48 hour cancellation policy applies

Easter Saturday, March 26th | 12:00 - 4:00 P.M. “Egg”stravaganza Bring your family and friends and celebrate Easter Oakmont Style! Bounce house, face painter, petting zoo, egg hunt and more! Easter Sunday, March 27th | Seating times available at 10:00 am, Brunch 11:00 am and 12:00 pm $30.95++ per adult | $17.95++ per child (ages 4-12) Please RSVP to Amanda.Haywood@clubcorp.com! *O.N.E. Benefits do not apply • 48 hour cancellation policy applies

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FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 23

Life Coaching

What Kind of

Business are You

Running?

by Art Locke

f you’re in business for yourself, whether you employ people or run a home-based business solo, it’s important to answer the question, “What kind of business are you?”

offer for it and move on to the next business

This isn’t a question about the industry

you’re in, or your legal entity. It’s about your fundamental purpose in running the business

“life-style”

business,

meaning its principal purpose is to fund your

lifestyle,

from

paying bills to helping you

afford

investments in the business are minimized, costs are kept low, debt is avoided and the

business will be structured to easily dissolve it when the owner no longer needs or wants to

run it. Contrast that with an entrepreneurial business where the goal is to maximize the

valuation of the business in hope of a sale.

own personal involvement in the day-to-day

solid growth in sales and profits, mastery of

glass high-rise – whose life far outlives your

structure, processes, standards, a history of

running of the business.

Why does this matter?

Because what

with your business, should be aligned with

depending on which of the three businesses you

think

you’re

running, it will alter what you invest in

and how you manage it.

Stephen Covey,

in his landmark book The of

Seven

Highly

Habits

Effective

People, identified a key habit: “Begin with

you’d sell it in a heart-beat if you got a good

business you’re in is a terrific example of

24 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

they generate for the owner. In this scenario

able to demonstrate sufficient business

tuition, vacations, etc. The second kind is

an “entrepreneurial” business, meaning that

Lifestyle businesses exist to maximize the cash

company logo emblazoned across a sleek,

“Their answer dictates their leadership focus and priorities and determines what their time and money is invested in...”

college

running each of these types of businesses?

command a fair price, the owner has to be

your long-term objective. It matters because,

The first kind is a

What are the practical implications of

last, there is the “legacy” business – think

There are three kinds of businesses, and

these three categories.

money today.

To survive a buyer’s due diligence and to

you do this year, this quarter or this month,

every for profit business fits into one of

you know how to wisely invest your time and

And

opportunity without looking back.

and what you and your family hope to get out of it.

understanding your “end in mind” so that

the End in Mind.”

Understanding what

customer account management, compliance to legal, regulatory and HR mandates and the existence of a skilled, well-motivated team.

A “legacy” business is concerned with

all of the same structural issues as an

“entrepreneurial” business, but is also highly committed to succession planning. Who is on the bench and being groomed to take over

the reins when the founder is ready to retire? That’s a key decision that has enormous

ramifications for the company, employees and customers.

This is why one of the first questions I ask

my clients is, “What business are you in?” Their answer dictates their leadership focus and priorities and determines what their time and money is invested in, and why.

What business are you in?

Press Release

High School, she currently performs with the Chamber Choir and is a second alto. Last year Kylie went through the audition process for the Texas All-State Choir and made the All– State Women’s Choir. She was then invited to audition for the Carnegie Hall Honors Performance Series. She sent in an audition recording and was accepted. Kylie will be the only student representing ylie Jensen of Corinth is packing her Guyer High School at Carnegie Hall. During bags and looking forward the performance the women’s to an opportunity of a lifetime, choir, which Kylie is part of, “Music is singing under the spotlights of will perform six choral pieces. so important Carnegie Hall. The songs represent a diverse everyone can “I am so excited,” she said. selection of music, from the be impacted “Every musician has on their by it and feel Classical and Baroque, to Irish bucket list to sing at Carnegie something.” Ballads, Egyptian Folk songs Hall and I get to do it!” and contemporary pieces. Kylie’s journey to the spotlight of New York After the lights go down in Carnegie Hall City began when she followed her love of on the performance series, Kylie’s future is singing by joining choir in fourth grade. From shining bright. an early age she sang with family members “Music is so important everyone can be in the church choir of The Church of Jesus impacted by it and feel something,” she Christ of Latter-day Saints. said. “Even if you don’t perform it, you can Kylie is a native Texan and has lived most understand it and be moved by the music. of her life in Corinth. A senior at Guyer Everyone speaks the language of music.”

Corinth Teen Headed to

the Spotlight K

M AG A

ZIN

E’

LAKE CITIE S

R’S O IT K ED PIC 2016

RE C

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 25

Lake Cities

Election I

by Sarah Bays

t’s a busy election year, with primaries coming up around the corner and municipal elections in May. Do you know who you’re voting for?

Place 4: Paul Kenney was born in Mount Vernon, OH and grew up in Las Cruces, NM. He and his wife Bry have two children and have lived in Hickory Creek for 7 years. Special election for Place 1 (one year remaining)

Denton County Sheriff Will Travis (incumbent) (R) Tracy Murphree (R)

There will be two elections on the same day. Open Seats: Mayor: Mike McCaleb is a school bus driver for the Lake Dallas Independent School District. He is from Athens, TX. Place 2: David Houdek is from Minneapolis, MN. He was appointed to the council in October to take over the remaining term of Mike McCaleb, who was appointed mayor. He works at Ussery Printing Company.

Denton County Chair Kelly Sayre (R) Lisa Hendrickson (R) Phyllis J. Wolper (incumbent) (D) Find out who is running and when you can cast your ballot.

Corinth

Early Voting: April 25-30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2-3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open Seats: Place 1: Sam Burke was first elected in Oct. 2015. Place 3: Lowell Johnson* Elected to Place 3 in May 2015. Served on council from 1998-2004. Place 4: Mayor Pro Tem Joe Harrison* was first elected in May 2006. *Have filed candidate application

Hickory Creek

Early Voting: April 25 - May 5 There will be two elections on the same day. Open Seats: Mayor: Lynn Clark was first elected to the council in May 2007. She is a founding member of the Hickory Creek EDC and is the current president. Place 2: Richard DuPree has stated that his goals are to build respect, trust and compassion within the town.

Lake Dallas

Here are the basics Primary Election Day: March 1 Election Day: May 7 Early Voting: Feb. 16-19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 20, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb 21, 1-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Place 4: April Estrada was first elected to the council in 2012. She works at Fannie Mae. Special election for Place 1 (two years remaining)

Shady Shores

Open Seats: Place 1: Matthey Haines is originally from Iowa City, Iowa. He is a general manager for the Tangent Group, LLC. Place 4: Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Aughinbaugh is an IT manager at Texas Instruments. She has advocated for development that appeals to residents. Place 5: Charles Grimes hails from Shady Shores. He and his wife Mindy live on an 11-acre farm and sell farm goods and survival cards. You can find out more at www.votedenton.com or your local municipal hall.

Mayor Shady Shores

Passes Away

1946 - 2016

ake Cities Living would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Town of Shady Shores and the Spencer family on the loss of Mayor Cindy Spencer.

Spencer, who was mayor since 2013, passed away the evening of Feb. 10 after battling with cancer. She served as a town councilwoman from 2010 to 2013. Before her work on the town council, Spencer volunteered with community events and Keep Shady Shores Beautiful. With a heart for children, Spencer volunteered at local schools and the county jail helping inmates learn

to read and pass their GED. She also tutored children in math and taught for a semester at NCTC. Spencer leaves behind a husband, Tom, who is a long-time resident of Shady Shores. “Cindy will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her,” the town offered in a statement. photo courtesy of The Town of Shady Shores

26 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY 2016 lake dallas

by Steve Gamel

nother National Signing Day is in the books, and once again, Lake Dallas had a stellar showing. The Falcons recognized five athletes during the

annual college recruitment ceremony on February 3, which is the first day a

high school senior can sign a

binding national letter of intent

for college football. While the day is marked in the media as a football-heavy signing

day, athletes in other sports take part.

“It’s hard to get a scholarship

these days,” Lake Dallas football coach

Michael Young said. “So much has changed in

the last 10 years in that there’s only so many to

go around and there’s so much competition. To get an opportunity like this, regardless of what it is, is a huge accomplishment for these kids.”

Of the five athletes recognized that day, four

were instrumental in guiding the Falcon football

team to the Class 5A state semifinal in 2015. Ben Williamson and Cody Pierce each signed with Midwestern State while the dynamic

offensive duo of quarterback Dagan Haehn and

wide receiver Keegan Brewer were recognized as preferred walk-ons at the University of Kansas.

Haehn and Brewer graduated early in

December and are already enrolled in college. “It all comes down to where your heart tells you to go,” Young said

of Haehn and Brewer. “Both those guys are confident they

can earn a way onto that team.

And it’s also where they really wanted to go to school.”

Another signee that day was

cross country standout Myles

Gladen. Gladen has decided to

extend his running career at Oklahoma

Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

While signing day was good to the Falcons, Young said this year’s installment was just a small taste of what should be a sizable recruiting class for the Falcons by the end of the year. Young hinted there could be a few more football signings in the weeks and months to come. It’s also important to note that six baseball players also signed college letters of intent, per an LDISD news release on January 15. Those key baseball standouts were Ben McConnell (Fort Scott Community College), Cody Duffey (Williams Baptist College), Christian Boulware (Panola College), Grant Landry (Howard College), Ty Behringer (Southwestern Assemblies of God) and Colton Lindsey (Northlake College). Below is the complete list from the February 3 National Signing Day: Football: Dagan Haehn, Kansas (preferred walk-on) Keegan Brewer, Kansas (preferred walk-on) Ben Williamson, Midwestern State Cody Pierce, Midwestern State Cross Country: Myles Gladen, Oklahoma Wesleyan University *Steve Gamel is a sports writer for the Denton RecordChronicle. He contributes monthly to Lake Cities Living.

FEBRUARY 2016 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 27

Sidelines

Lake Dallas Athletics has a BRIGHT FUTURE A

s I raced down from the press box at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to the field for interviews, the first person I wanted to see was Lake Dallas football coach Michael Young. And trust me, he wasn’t hard to find. Most coaches aren’t. Shortly after the clock

hits zero, they are the ones surrounded by a

throng of reporters asking every question imaginable – and that scene is only magnified during the playoffs. Young, who clearly wasn’t used to

the situation he suddenly

found himself in, looked to be handling it just fine as I

walked up. The Falcons had just beat Everman in the

fourth round of the Class

5A playoffs. It was already Lake Dallas’ deepest playoff run ever.

It’s not like coach Young

and I hang out on the

So yes, I was happy for him that day, and

not only one of the biggest high school

made sure to tell him face-to-face before he

sports stories of 2015, but it represents an

strolled off to the locker room.

athletic program that continues to produce

I tell you this story because it’s another

exceptionally-talented athletes.

example of why I love what I do, and why I

If you need proof of that, look no further

think it’s so great that Murray Media Group

than the fact that Lake Dallas football was

has asked me to contribute to the pages of

represented in this year’s Super Bowl. I had

Lake Cities Living.

a chance earlier this month to catch up with

They know I’m a sucker for great stories,

former Falcon Daryl Williams as he prepared

and I’d like to think I tell them better than

to suit up for the Carolina Panthers as they

most writers.

faced the Denver Broncos on the grandest

Most of you may recognize my name from

stage of them all. It was a fun article to write,

the pages of the Denton

and the one thing that stuck out to me was

Record-Chronicle,

where

how down to earth Williams was. Even with

I am a full-time sports

all the millions he is now making in the NFL,

writer and have the luxury

he was the same humble and caring kid who

of covering several athletic

grew up on the streets of Lake Dallas.

“. . . an athletic program that continues to produce exceptionallytalented athletes . . . look no further than the fact that Lake Dallas football was represented in this year’s Super Bowl.”

weekends. I’ve never met

by Steve Gamel

programs – including Lake

As we move forward into 2016, there will

Dallas. I’ve been doing

be more stories to share from the Lake Cities

this for 19 years, own my

community. I remarked to someone recently

own writing and editing

that Lake Cities deserves its own magazine

business called Edit This,

– not just for sports, but for the wonderful

and I actually serve this

residents, business owners and community

community

leaders that make this a great place to live

board

member for the Lake Cities

and work.

his family, never been invited to go to lunch

Chamber of Commerce. Until January, I was

I’m humbled to contribute in any way I can.

with him, and I certainly don’t know the

that organization’s president.

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

names of any of his pets – does he even have

Obviously, I wear a lot of hats. But my

pets? But I’ve known him long enough that

passion is, and always has been, sports. And

*Steve Gamel is a sports writer for the Denton

with the guy.

this is a great area to cover. The football

Record-Chronicle. He contributes monthly to

team’s run to the state semifinals was

Lake Cities Living.

I feel like I have a solid working relationship

28 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | FEBRUARY 2016

Your in

It’s All

Head Learning to Change Perspective

By Brieanna Casey, Head Instructor The Tutoring Center, Bartonville

hether you’re working with students who feel below or above average in the classroom, the most pervasive threat to their future success is the idea that their intelligence and ability, in school and otherwise, is fixed, measurable and innate. The fact is, as proven time and again by Ivy League research teams, intelligence is always in flux and never loses its ability to grow with a healthy helping of encouragement and motivation.

Fixed Versus Growth Mindset Thanks to the work of educational psychologists decades ago, many of us have heard of the theory of nature vs. nurture — that certain character traits and behaviors are either innate, inherited by means of our biology, versus learned by means of our physical and social environment. Unfortunately, taken to its logical conclusion, some have used it to support a premise that students’ ability to learn is limited by their genetics, upbringing, socioeconomic status, etc. This mindset sometimes leads those who work with children to bestow less of that all important support and encouragement, which teaches them “learned helplessness,” or the idea that they are dependent on those more able.