JANUARY 2018
Good Decisions in a
Not-So-Good
WORLD Texas’ Answer to
GROUNDHOG DAY
FALCONS Hold Their Own
Family Together Keeping the
Corinth - Hickory Creek - Shady Shores - Lake Dallas
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISVILLE, TX PERMIT NO. 977
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 3
4 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 5
LakeCitiesLiving.com
Publisher & Editor
Progress
Scott & Kelly Murray
Administration
Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne
Is A Good Thing
Staff Writer
Susan Neuhalfen
Contributor Steve Gamel
Advertising
Becka Materne Corbitt becka@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com
Production
Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Caroline Brock Stephanie Hansen Savannah Halfmann
Photography
Your Candid Memories 469.583.2819 yourcandidmemories.com
Letters
Lake Cities Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions
Happy New Year!
a pet brings to our homes and families.
I
t’s exciting to start 2018 with progress having been made right here inside our own community. 35E is now complete
and 2499 is now open, as well. Two main corridors that will approve accessibility to local businesses as well as reduce
traffic congestion. It has been exciting to
businesses. Such a win here at the very
Murray Media Group.
at the start of 2018 too. You will notice my
pet to your family.
name has changed. I’m excited to start
to offer you support in your marketing
couldn’t be better. I’m thrilled to share
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. © 2018 Murray Media Group
make it a very easy process to add a loving
Issue of Lake Cities Living Magazine and
Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100, Ste. 101
Society or your local animal shelter where
personal note my life drastically changed
artwork@murray-media.com
Flower Mound, TX 75022
many pets in need of a good and caring
Take a break and enjoy our January
2018 as a new wife. My husband Scott
www.murray-media.com
already own a pet, remember there are
they will welcome you with open arms and
new opportunities this will bring to their
Change is a good thing and on a
972.899.3637 or email
come from the love of a pet. If you don’t
these main highways and already see the
are enthusiastic with the completion of
All submissions become
Editorial and Advertising Inquiries call
shows how inspiration can sometimes
home. Reach out to your local Humane
start of 2018!
the sole property of
& Lola’s Closet in the January Issue that
hear from many in the community who
and general comments.
Email artwork@murray-media.com.
You will find a wonderful article on Sancho
and I married on January 5th and life
remember as you begin 2018 that I’m here efforts as you prepare your business for this coming year.
this news with our readers.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of
Many I’m sure received a new pet for
one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Christmas and what an amazing addition
- Anatole France
Sincerely, Becka Materne Corbitt
Community Relations and Advertising Consultant Lake Cities Living becka@murray-media.com 214.326.6706 6 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
16
On the Cover is Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP)
FEATURED: Keeping the Family Together
FAMILY
20
Edit This with Steve Gamel
08
Inside Community
21
Graduating Senior Aims for Career
09
Inside Education
10
Falcons Hold Their Own All-District Team
12
Rescue Me
14
Texas’ Answer to Groundhog Day
LIFESTYLE 18
Cooks in the Kitchen at Corinth Elementary School
21 EDITORS PICK: Graduating Senior Aims for Career in Cancer Research
in Cancer Research 24
Gardening with Complete Solutions
25
Denton Downtown Mini Mall Fire
YOURSELF 26
Making Good Decisions in a Not-So-Good World
30
Fitness with Jesse James Fit
THIS MONTH: We celebrate our pets. Look for the paw print JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 7
KNOW
Be in the
Family
INSIDE COMMUNITY
DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE FEB 3 It’s time for the City of Corinth Daddy / Daughter Dance on February 3 at the Global Spheres Center from 7:30pm until 10pm. The dance is themed to Beauty and the Beast and open to girls ages 4-12. Tickets are $25 each and include a full dinner. A photographer will be on site to take pictures. Go to Eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
LCCC LUNCHEON
Come hear the Mayors and City Managers from our four Lake Cities give an update on what is happening in their respective cities on Tuesday, January 16 at Oakmont Country Club from 11:30AM - 1:00 PM. The luncheon will be sponsored by Judge Joe Holland - Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1. Register at http://conta.cc/2CYx30f or go to lakecitieschamber.com for more information.
LDPD GIVING BACK
The LDPD received gift cards for local businesses courtesy of LCUMC and generous donors. Over the next several weeks they will be distributing the gift cards to the community during normal police-citizen encounters. LDPD thanks the donors for providing officers with an opportunity to help individuals and families in need. This is one more way they can connect with the community in a positive manner.
STITCH AND CHAT
Attention seniors in the Lake Cities area… the
Goodtime Gang presents “Knit ‘n Knatter”. Every Friday from 10am until noon is a stitch and chat at the Lake
Dallas City Hall. Bring your needlework and come join
other seniors for a great time. Stitch and Chat is open to all knitting, crocheting, needlepoint and cross-stitching seniors 60+ from Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek, Corinth and Shady Shores.
photography by Scott Young Photography
INSIDE EDUCATION
LAWYER GIVES BACK Local personal injury lawyer Rocky Haire paid Strickland Middle School’s lunch deficit for students who still owed money on their lunch accounts. Haire had originally wished to remain anonymous but came forward in the hope that other business leaders might do the same for other schools. To donate, contact Beverly Martin, Denton ISD Child Nutrition Accountant at (940) 369-0275 or email her at bmartin2@dentonisd.org.
photos courtesy of LDISD
HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS
LDMS 8th grader Allie Buchanan is the district winner of the sixth annual district Holiday Card contest. Other finalists were Briley Boles (LDMS 8th grade), Anna Do (CE 4th grade), Joshua Im (LDE 1st grade) and Ava Teague (LDMS 8th grade). The top entry is featured on the front cover and the four finalists on the back of the district holiday card that is sent to community businesses and government officials.
LDISD
SCHOOL
EVENTS
LDMS One Act Play Performance January 31st at 7pm LDHS Performance Hall Lake Dallas Mardi Gras Festival February 9th at 6pm The LDHS Jazz Band Ensemble 1 will perform Mid Winter Band Concert February 13th at 7pm LDHS Performance Hall
LDHS TAFE WINS LDHS Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) members brought home nine individual and team awards after competing against other Region 11 districts at UNT. The regional victory qualifies the group to move on to state competition in February and then national competition for a chance at winning scholarship prizes. Categories included project visualize, inside our schools, outdoor lessons, job interviews, lesson planning and delivery, exploring non-core careers and teacher-created materials.
GUYER AP SCHOLARS 82 Denton ISD students were named Advanced Placement Scholars, excelling at college level courses and exams. Andrew Winn of Guyer High School was
Corinth Elementary Winter Book Fair February 5th-9th 7:30am-4:00pm Corinth Elementary School Library
named a National AP Scholar, scoring 4 or higher on eight or more exams. Liet Bourbon, Nathan Gates, Lauren McKinney, Arik Palileo, Meredith Wilder, Andrew Winn were named AP Scholars with Distinction, earning an average score of 3.5 or higher on all AP exams.
Corinth Elementary STEAM Carnival February 15th 3rd-5th Grade Students Corinth Elementary Cafeteria JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 9
Family
by Steve Gamel
L
ake Dallas may have been one of the smaller teams in its district, but that didn’t stop the Falcons from being competitive and making it back to the playoffs. For that reason, it was no surprise to see them dominate this year’s District 14-5A All-District team.
Overall, the Falcons had 16 players make
points per game. Zalen Long nabbed co-
Lake Dallas, Jr.; Cameron Constantine,
the list. And leading the charge was
defensive MVP honors and DL Roberson
McKinney North, Jr.
none other than junior quarterback Ryan
earned co-offensive lineman of the year.
Depperschmidt. Depperschmidt was named the district’s co-offensive MVP with McKinney North’s Cameron Constantine. In his first year as the team’s full-time starter, Depperschmidt guided Lake Dallas to a 7-5 record and a playoff win. In 12 games, Depperschmidt passed for 2,392 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 507 yards and 17 scores. He was joined by Ky’lee Smith, who was named the co-utility player of the year after racking up 580 receiving yards and 372 more on the ground for an offense that averaged 345 yards and nearly 30 10 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
Lake Dallas’ 16 selections this year (four superlatives, six first-team, and six secondteam) were five more than last year when it had just one superlative honoree. Below is the complete All-District team for District 14-5A. District 14-5A All-District Team District MVP: Lamar Lucas, McKinney North, Sr.; Kaleb Adams, Prosper, Sr. Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Marshall
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Zach Frazier, McKinney North, Sr. Offensive Utility Player of the Year: DJ Love, Prosper, Sr.; Ky’lee Smith, Lake Dallas, Jr. Special Teams Player of the Year: Cade York, Prosper, Jr. Two-Way Player of the Year: Myles Price, The Colony, So. Coach of the Year: Brandon Smith, Prosper
Funches, Carrollton Newman Smith, So.;
Defensive Newcomer of the Year: Carson
Miley Harrington, The Colony, So.
Criss, McKinney North, So.
Offensive MVP: Ryan Depperschmidt,
Defensive MVP: Zalen Long, Lake Dallas,
Sr.; Justin Benvie, Prosper, Sr.; Obed
Fullback: Obed Guerrero, Turner, Sr.; Jose
Defensive End: Chi Chi Odo, McKinney
Guerrero, Carrollton R.L. Turner, Sr.
Rangel, The Colony, Sr.
North, Sr.; Kevin Simes, Prosper, Sr.,
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jevin
Receiver: Devin Haskins, Prosper, Jr.,
Jackson, Prosper, Sr.; Peter Kimani, The
Brandon Engel, Lake Dallas, So.; Charles
Colony, Sr.; DL Roberson, Lake Dallas, Jr. Defensive Utility Player of the Year:
Williams, Lake Dallas, Sr.; Kevin Terry, Little Elm, Sr.
Brandon Crossley, Little Elm, Jr.
Tackle: Adrian Franco, The Colony, Sr.;
First Team Offense
Jacob Kimball, Little Elm, Jr.; Cameron
Quarterback: Logan Kohler, Little Elm, Jr. Running Back: Corey Moses, Little Elm, Sr.; Glenn Young, Little Elm, Sr.; Jadan Abdallah, The Colony, Jr.; Jarod Hall, Carrollton Creekview, Sr.
Hayden Brockenbush, Lake Dallas, Jr.;
Machuca, Lake Dallas, Sr. Inside Linebacker: Zach Graham, Lake Dallas, Sr.; Roy Goins, Little Elm, Sr.; Blake Young, McKinney North, Sr. Outside Linebacker: Ross Hendley, Prosper, Sr.; Noah Ellis, Prosper, Sr.; Darryl
Coler, McKinney North, Jr.
Minor, Lake Dallas, Jr.
Guard: John Hughes, Carrollton
Corners: Tavion Carr, Little Elm, Sr.; Keyon
Creekview, Sr.; Zach McMahon, McKinney
Walker, McKinney North, Sr.; Armon
North, Jr.; Carson Shaffer, Prosper, Jr.;
Johnson, Prosper, Sr.
Grayson Winters, Prosper, Sr.; Elias De
Safeties: Cameron Pair, The Colony, Jr.;
Tight End: Brandon Frazier, McKinney
Leon, Little Elm, Jr.
North, So; Aiden Carr, Prosper, Sr.; Ryan
Center: Dalton Wilcox, Little Elm, Sr.
Mora, The Colony, Jr.
Luke McPherson, Creekview, Jr.; Jakob
First Team Defense
H Back: Andre Overton, Carrollton
Defensive Lineman: Keshon Dawson,
Newman Smith, Sr.; Marcus Moore, The
Little Elm, Jr.; Ben Kopenski, Prosper, Sr.;
Colony, So.
Marcus Moore, The Colony, So.
Junior Espinoza, Little Elm, Jr.; Blake Harrington, Prosper, Sr. Kicker: Cristian Gonzales, Carrollton Newman Smith, Sr.; Nick Dill, The Colony, Sr. Punter: Keegan Sueltz, The Colony, Sr. JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 11
Family
RESCUE ME by Susan Neuhalfen
S
ometimes we have to go through a rough patch in life to find our purpose. That’s exactly what
happened to Bartonville resident Lynette Cano. To be fair, though, Lynette always believed that helping animals was her
purpose. However, her story led her in a direction that even she didn’t expect.
Lynette and her husband had adopted two German Shorthair Pointers named
Sancho and Lola from Texas GSP Rescue.
What might have sent other people into a
For the first year she worked alone and the
and a new mission. She began
employee. Now, less than three years
depression, set Lynette on a new course studying holistic nutrition and made an unnerving discovery.
“The more I learned what was toxic for
my body, the more I found the same toxic
second year they grew to include another later, they have five employees and the
business shows no signs of slowing down, though they have had their share of setbacks.
ingredients were used in most dog treats
“My Amazon account got hacked and it
treats sold by reputable companies.”
said Lynette. “When the Houston hurricane
and chews,” said Lynette. “These were
The dogs had been abused and seeing
In 2015 Lynette started Sancho & Lola’s
other dogs. However, she was having
specializing in natural, chemical free
took forever to get it straightened out,”
victims called for help, we had to donate product instead of cash, but everything
their struggles inspired Lynette to help
Closet, a boutique brand of pet treats
struggles of her own.
treats and chews for dogs, owned and
Her “little business” was supposed to just
or limited ingredient dog chews that
days a week, allowing her to contribute to
wheat & corn, soybean oil, thickeners like
about. To date they have donated over
BHA and BHT, bone meal (MBM), artificial
well as dogs in crisis with no official rescue
to contribute to inflammation or cancer
Sancho & Lola’s closet is strictly an
After years of burning the candles at both ends with work and exercise, Lynette
found herself sidelined. She was suffering from a debilitating joint and adrenal
condition and unable to work for 4 years, having multiple procedures/surgeries on her knees, neck and wrists while in leg braces.
operated in Lewisville. They offer single
be a side project that she worked a couple
do not contain products such as GMO
local dog rescues that she was passionate
Carrageenan, synthetic preservatives like
$18,000 in cash and product to rescues as
flavorings and colors, all known
helping them.
in dogs.
ecommerce business. Products may be
purchased through Shopify store, Amazon
out of her condo in Castle Hills. After 3
Facebook page.
sell on Amazon and started the business
and Chewy. They also have a website and
months, her inventory had grown so much
So what’s next for Sancho & Lola’s Closet?
an office building they owned in Old Town Lewisville.
“I could bring Sancho and Lola, so I agreed,” laughed Lynette.
“We are continuing to expand the product
line. As of 2018, our portfolio has doubled in size,” said Lynette. “Meanwhile my team (CEOs Sancho and Lola) will keep up their strict testing standards.”
photos courtesy of Sancho & Lola’s Closet
Lynette took an ecommerce course to
that her husband insisted she move into
12 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
worked out. We were just glad to help.”
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 13
Family
TEXAS’
Answer to
Groundhog Day by Susan Neuhalfen
G
roundhog Day is an annual tradition made popular by a Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, newspaper editor who promoted the town’s groundhog as the official mascot named Punxsutawney Phil. As legend goes, if the groundhog sees his shadow he will go back into his den for another six weeks to nap until winter is over. If he does not see his shadow, then spring will arrive early.
Not to be outdone, Texas has two ways
first is the unofficial mascot of Texas, the armadillo. The second is a 13 foot-long alligator named Big Al. Armadillo Day Because the weather in Texas is so
On Gator Day, Gary dangles pieces of chicken in front of Big Al. If Big Al eats the chicken, that means that he is ready to come out of “hibernation” and spring is near. If he refuses (and he has in the past), that means six more weeks of winter.
unpredictable, not to mention so far from Pennsylvania, Texan Terry Boothe and the
Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon started a tradition known as Armadillo Day, which
happens coincidently on Groundhog Day. In Bee Cave, Texas, just west of Austin,
Terry had his property declared the “West Pole” by none other than the Texas State Legislature. There, Bee Cave Bob is the
star. The Armadillo is kept inside a pen in
which he has accurately predicted not only Texas as well for eight straight years.
Here’s how it works: if Bee Cave Bob
emerges from his hole, it will be an early
spring. He determines the political format in Texas by whether he turns right or left upon leaving his cave.
14 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
Follow Big Al’s predictions on the Gator Country Facebook page.
Gator Day Gary Saurage, owner of Gator Country in Beaumont decided that instead of trusting weather predictions to an oversized rodent, he would use the appetite of an oversized alligator instead. Big Al is a 13 foot-long alligator and a resident at Gator Country. Alligators react
photo courtesy of Gator Country
the weather, but the political climate in
Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo has his own Facebook page if you want to keep up with all of the activities that day.
photo courtesy of Ralph Fisher
to the cold by slowing their metabolic activity during the winter. It’s similar to hibernation in that they don’t eat when it gets below 70 degrees and when it gets even colder they will go so far as to dig out the equivalent of a den and go dormant.
of determining the coming of spring. The
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 15
Family Keeping the
Together E
by Susan Neuhalfen
very year, approximately 2.4 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are put down in U.S. shelters. That equates to one animal every 13 seconds that is euthanized. The majority of these animals are the unwanted offspring of owned pets. Had the pets been spayed or neutered, this all would have been avoidable.
“The answer to stopping euthanasia and pet overpopulation starts with prevention,” said Stacey Schumacher, the founder and Executive Director at the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP). “So many of these owners are good people who simply cannot afford to spay and neuter multiple animals.”
Sulphur Springs where there was no spay
Stacey has always had a soft spot for animals. After working at a pet rescue in high school, she realized her dream was to help not just animals but to also help the people who love them. It all started in her hometown of
Based on the success of the program in
and neuter program. Stacey took it upon herself to rent a van every month and
transport animals from her mother’s house to a low cost clinic in the Dallas area.
After work, she would gather them back into the van and transport them home. After doing this for some time, Stacey founded her own clinic in Sulphur
Springs with the help of a small group of dedicated volunteers.
East Texas, Stacey then founded TCAP, a non-profit organization designed to help the pet overpopulation problem
throughout North Texas. By providing
affordable pet services for those in need, TCAP works to cure the epidemic of pet overpopulation.
TCAP provides low cost spay and neuter,
heartworm testing and prevention, dental cleaning and microchipping services to those who could not otherwise afford
it for their pets. TCAP is not designed to
take the place of a full service veterinarian. 9 4 0 . 5 6 6 . 5 5 5 1 | 7 1 3 S u n s e t S t . • D e n t o n | w w w .Te x a s F o r T h e m . o r g
If TCAP’s veterinary team sees a
TCAP also works with several animal
pet to a full service, local veterinarian
neuter services onsite to help service pets
problem with a pet, they will refer the for further treatment.
Sponsored Content
Photography by Your Candid Memories (yourcandidmemories.com)
“We are filling a void for people who
can’t afford basic care for their pets,” said
Stacey. “We aren’t a full service veterinary clinic. We are just here to keep animals from being euthanized.”
Since its first clinic in Denton opened in November of 2002, TCAP has sterilized more than 370,000 animals. TCAP has
shelters in the area to provide spay and
owned by customers who are unable to transport their pets to a TCAP location. The veterinarians who contract their
services at TCAP are experts at spay and
neuter, quickly and efficiently performing multiple surgeries daily.
This year, TCAP is celebrating 15 years of
operating in Denton and there is a line of
and kids in tow, can be nerve-racking. However, the owners remained calm and everyone seemed to be having a good time. “We’ve been here before and everyone is so nice,” said Debbie, another customer with multiple pets. “If it weren’t for TCAP I wouldn’t be able to afford these two (dogs) and they’re my family.”
people at the door with their pets every
Stacey Schumacher is proof positive
day, just as there has been since the day
that one person really can make a
they first opened the clinic.
difference. As she looks back on 15 years
Hurst, Weatherford, Allen and Fort Worth.
“Animals just seem to keep showing up
of community service through TCAP, she
TCAP goes to great lengths to make sure
have the heart to turn them away,” said
TCAP’s team has saved but also in the
grown to include six clinics in North Texas including locations in Denton, Burleson, While they provide low cost services,
that everyone who walks through their doors, on two legs or four legs, has a great experience.
at our house and my husband and I don’t
can be proud not only the number of lives
Rachel, a Denton resident who stood with
number of lives they’ve touched.
Oliver, one of her five “kids” as she calls them. “I’m very grateful to the people
“I’ve learned that if you have really great
at TCAP or we’d have to take them to
service, whatever your business is, it will
the shelter.”
grow,” said Stacey. “The most important
possible,” said Stacey. “We continually
One noticeable thing about this line was
thing is to build on what we’ve learned
to better the service we provide.”
anything, much less with dogs on leashes
fifteen even better.”
“It is so important to us that our clients receive the best customer service
work with our team to ensure we continue
the lack of stress. Usually waiting in line for
these first fifteen years and make the next
v a c c i n a t i o n h o u r s : M o n -T h u r s 9 a m - 1 2 p m • T h u r s d a y s 6 - 8 p m
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 17
Lifestyle
in the
at Corinth Elementary School
T
Now they are competing against
here are a lot of cooks in the kitchen at Corinth Elementary School.
other 4-H cooking teams, demonstrating teamwork as well as
That’s because the Kid 2 Chef
learning public speaking, as each
Medlicott and Anne Waidelich
front of a panel of judges as part of
program at CE, led by Cindy
member is required to speak in
which started last spring, has
the presentation.
become one of the most popular
Recently four teams from CE
afterschool programs offered at
placed in the top 5 in the Country
Corinth Elementary.
Food Challenge hosted by Denton
“Altogether we have about 80 kids
County 4-H at Krum High School in
Cindy. “We tried to limit it but it kind
to any 4-H individuals or teams in the
participating from 2-5th grade,” said
December. The challenge was open
of exploded on us.”
This cooking class is just one of a
number of 4-H programs available in the Corinth Elementary afterschool
Richey. It is definitely one of the most popular, though.
“I spend most afternoons going
from afterschool class to class,” said Michelle. “These kids are
really focused on learning and working together.”
In order to keep the large number
of kids who wanted to participate in
the cooking classes, they divided the
8-week courses by class, starting with
Their challenge was the make a unique dish using a bag of ingredients provided with only 40 minutes to prep, prepare and clean
the second graders in the fall and
up. The ingredients remained a
spring. They start with a lesson in the
That means that all four students on
safety and then move to the cafeteria
the presentation, the duties of each
sometimes the school’s oven.
course of 40 minutes.
ending with the 4-5th graders in the
mystery until the challenge began.
classroom about nutrition or kitchen
the team had to decide on the dish,
where they work with hotplates and
member and clean up, all in the
photos courtesy of Corinth Elementary
program headed up by Michelle
district in Denton County.
“We gave them a box full of ingredients so they could practice each week,” said Anne. “They worked well together in their teams.” Each team was graded on a rubric so all of the kids had to participate. In addition
to preparing and presenting the dish,
The top three teams will advance to
they spoke about the process they went
the District Food Challenge on March
through to make the dish as well as the nutritional value, the safety and cleanliness of the kitchen and a price analysis per serving. “They were all working toward one similar goal and they were all on task the whole time,” said Cindy. “None of them were afraid to present to judges.”
23 at the Fair Park in Dallas. Those
teams are: The Mini Chefs, The CE Spice Girls, The Texas Jr. Cooks, all from Corinth Elementary.
“They were super excited about the competition they were all proud of
their dishes,” said Anne. “They were so
confident at this last competition, I know they will do well in March.”
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 19
Lifestyle | Edit This
W
elcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we will explore the differences
between alot, a lot, and allot. Do you know the difference? Let’s cut to the chase right now and eliminate “alot” from the conversation. It’s not a word, even though the correct spelling (a lot) sounds like it should be one word when you say it. That leaves “a lot” and “allot.” Let’s discuss. A lot (two words) refers to a large amount of something.
• I ate a lot of food over the holidays.
20 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
• My kids received a lot of presents for Christmas. Allot (double L) sounds the same but means to divide or allocate portions of something. • The police didn’t have enough facts to allot blame to either suspect. • Both lawyers were allotted equal time to make their arguments. Thanks for reading! by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 EditThisLLC.com
Lifestyle
Graduating Senior Aims for Career in Cancer Research
L
by Sarah McCurdy
ake Dallas High School Senior, Sarah Dunn, can check off MIT, Rice University, Abilene Christian
University, and Harvard University from
the list of colleges she has been accepted into, so far. The 17-year-old doesn’t know which school she will pick, but she does know she wants to devote herself to cancer research.
“I want to attend a college that will put me on the path to being a part of ending an
evil that has plagued our world for far too long,” Dunn said.
Her college selection will be based,
in part, by acceptance into the honors colleges, science research programs
or pre-med tracks at each school. Rice
are unavoidable, and having a clear list
pre-med program. ACU’s pre-med
overlapping events.”
only accepts six students a year in their Honors College has a high number of
students accepted into medical schools so
As a sophomore, Dunn was accepted into
school she chooses, she wants to end up
an early college entrance program located
admission there is competitive. Whichever
the Texas Academy of Math and Science,
in a cancer research center.
at the University of North Texas. She
“I am anxiously waiting for the return letters,” Dunn said.
Dunn, a 13-year student of LDISD schools, splits her time between
schoolwork, college prep, writing her
books and being with her family. She’s also seen every Friday night on the
football field leading her fellow Color Guard members as their captain. photo courtesy of LDISD
of priorities helps to choose between
“Balance is a crucial part of my life,”
Dunn said. “The best way I have found to
chose not to accept the honor for several reasons, but chief among them was being part of the Color Guard.
“My family has been there every step of the way letting me know they will support me in whatever choice I
make, especially my college search,”
Dunn said. “My sisters are my biggest
supporters alongside my parents, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Mr. James Parker, Lake Dallas Middle
School principal; and former LDHS adviser Mrs. Anne Lehew have had a significant
impact on Dunn’s success, along with her
“I didn’t want to leave them, and being a
LDHS teachers.
part of such an eclectic group gave me
“Being supported in such a way means the
the chance to be something other than a student,” Dunn said. “They gave me the chance to be their captain, and during my time with the Color Guard, I grew as a leader and a person.”
world to me. It reminds me that, no matter what, I have people to turn to if I need them,” Dunn said.
There are still several months until she
walks the stage at graduation, but Dunn
achieve equilibrium and maintain balance
Dunn’s bond with her family, including
can see the future before her.
is a combination of advanced planning
her three sisters, Julia, Sophia and
and time management. At the end of the
Jenna, helps her stay focused on what
“I see a path leading into a bright world,
day, however, there will be conflicts that
is important.
and I can’t wait to help start building it,” Dunn said.
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 21
Lifestyle | Gardening
W
e hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a great start to an outstanding 2018!
Our first quarter schedules have come out and it’s going to be a busy one.
Projects can be exciting and the rewards
enjoyed for years to come. Just remember, as we always say: “Good labor ain’t cheap
over, leaving mulched leaves sitting on
example - 70 one day and high of 32 the
leaves returned back to the turf are
annual color types you’ll probably need
the lawn. Studies prove that finely ground actually beneficial for both soil and grass. Leaving these finely ground leaves in the
soil increases microbial activity and better water filtration. Studies also show that
when the leaves were returned to the soil,
the grass greened up quicker in the spring
and cheap labor ain’t good”. By hiring
and had fewer dandelions. You just want
protect your investments and give yourself
pieces of the leaf in your lawn that will
money are going towards quality.
fall, mow more frequently to ensure they
legitimate, local contractors, you can
to make sure that you’re not leaving large
piece of mind, ensuring that your time and
smother the grass. Grind it up and, as they
Here are some recent calls that
might just answer something you’re wondering about:
Q: So with the weather being so back-
and-forth, our trees haven’t cooperated and we still have quite a few leaves
blowing around but don’t want to pay for someone to come back out and bag.
A: There’s a couple options here but the easiest would be to mow them back in
to the lawn. Use your lawn service or set
your mower to mulch and run everything 24 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
break down as needed.
Q: With the recent freezing temps do we need to shut down or drain the sprinkler system?
A: Yes and No. It is Texas, and we never know what we are going to get, but I
wouldn’t be too worried about draining
the irrigation system. If installed properly,
next. Depending on rain amounts and
to water at times throughout the winter
if you want to enjoy some color. On your sprinkler system, flip the controller to off
when freezing and back on when we are going to see a couple of warmer days in a row. That way everything can get what
it needs. Obviously, if we experience rain (depending on how much we get), that
may supplement the need for water for a few days.
We are off to a GREAT start here in 2018 and SO EXCITED about what’s to come! As you’re sifting through your various
projects lists remember you’ve got some of the best contractors in the Denton
County right here, so shop local for your
next project. Wishing you the best of luck in 2018!
your lines should be able to withstand some freezing temperatures without
issue. Just ensure that your cover/wrap any exposed valves and or shut-offs
during freezing temps. Take last week for
by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 25
Making
Yourself
GOOD DECISIONS in a
Not-So-Good World by Susan Neuhalfen
W
hat started as a book has now, as predicted, become a movement.
Inspired Right: Your American
Opportunity is about right vs. wrong. It’s about the actions and decisions that are being taken in our world
today by our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers and our children. It’s
a movement to bring back the basic principles and personal skills that have fallen out of our society.
“95% of our youth today are lacking personal skills,” said Brian Searcy, CEO of Main Street Pilot and Co-
Author of Inspired Right. “Increasing numbers of people simply don’t
know how to make good decisions
anymore. Fortunately, our company offers help through new programs and materials for every learning audience.”
“Parents should be teaching these
Our society feeds this epidemic,
responsibility to schools and other
media feeds on this, politics thrive on
skills but often they outsource that
entities,” said Brian. “Some parents
grew up without it themselves so they don’t know how to teach personal skills.”
they are unable to find qualified candidates with basic problem
solving skills. They listen to respond. They won’t take responsibility and everything is someone
else’s fault. “It’s an epidemic in our current
society,” said Mark Stratton, Director of Programming.
it and the current culture perpetuates it. Our society resolves conflict
through anger and bullying instead of simply listening to find common
Employers tell Searcy every day that
for their actions
where opinion becomes fact. The
ground with the objective of better outcomes.
Our schools teach the hard skills:
math, science, reading, writing, SATs, Staar Tests, TASC tests, etc.
95%
According to Harvard
and Stanford studies, only 15% of a
person’s success
is based on hard of our youth skills. 85% of today are lacking success depends on personal skills, personal skills. such as problem
“Somewhere along
the way, parents stopped
How did this happen? The basic
teaching their children life skills and
over generations. With two parents
The problem spans across four
that were usually taught in the home,
a decline along the way of how to
structure of the family has changed
I’m not just talking about millennials.
working, many of the personal skills
generations. There seemed to be
are simply not.
teach, learn and use these skills.”
solving and personal
responsibility, but how
do they learn personal skills
development if they are not being taught effectively?
“We are now the ‘How’,” says Mark. The folks at Main Street Pilot have developed a number of simple
and effective programs to help provide the “How,” giving anyone the ability to
accelerate the development of personal skills in new and impactful ways.
Options for teaching and learning these critical skills are available as Decision Navigation™ classes and
courses on line, with program content and materials
available for direct use by
employers to complement professional development and ethics requirements. There are also exciting
programs for K-12 and higher education teaching and learning audiences.
Main Street Pilot’s approach to teaching and learning is by delivering content to
audiences over an appropriate period of time. These skills cannot be developed effectively without repetition and
practical use, so the content is delivered
progressively, a little at a time, to promote
and better understand decision making
Main Street Pilot is already working with
on a personal level. Programs can span 15
corporations, small businesses, colleges,
weeks for educators and up to 48 weeks for employers. Included along the way are many opportunities to put this knowledge to use with increasing confidence.
public schools and churches to help their clients develop individual, positive, self-respecting personal skills that are desperately needed in our society today.
“Only 15% of a person’s
success is based on hard skills. 85% of success
depends on personal skills.” Main Street Pilot has also developed technology-based and micro-learning content to appeal to the learning behavior of younger learners and corporate executives alike.
Obviously, with their varied client base, each program is tailored for different conditions depending on the clients’ circumstances, but with the same basic principles.
“Everyone is experiencing these problems, whether in business or closer to home,” said Mark. “The good news is there is now a beacon of positive possibilities out there
“What our audiences are experiencing is a very personal approach to building confidence in making better decisions, whether learning on their own or in larger
for those who want to change
groups,” said Mark.
offered visit mainstreetpilot.com.
this epidemic.” For more information on the programs
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 27
28 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
JANUARY 2018 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 29
Yourself | Fitness
Lasting Changes
for You, Not the New Year
R
esearch has found that approximately 50% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions,
but only 8% stick to them. Why do
most people fail at their New Year’s
resolutions? There are many reasons, including setting unrealistic goals,
of making the change, but procrastinating
Thousands of clients at one of our 4
begin change
their WHY to be healthier outweighed
and still not motivated enough to
Preparation - Ready to take action,
usually within the month and often have developed a plan of action
believing that a positive change will
Action - Specific lifestyle modifications
a resolution will motivate them to make a
and a person intends to continue moving
make their life better, and believing that
desired change. However, lots of people
have changes they want to make, but they are not necessarily ready to make.
At Jesse James Fit, Outlaw Bootcamp &
Outlaw Fit-Camp, we talk about knowing your WHY. If your WHY is not strong
enough to motivate you to take action
on your desired behavior change, it will not happen. Psychologist Dr. James Prochaska developed a model with
stages of change for making behavior changes. This model is one way to
evaluate how ready or unready a person
is to making a change and the likelihood of being successful. The stages and
a person’s readiness in each stage is described as follows:
Pre-contemplation - Not motivated and not ready for help
Contemplation - Getting ready to make a change, usually within 6 months. The
person is educated on the pros and cons 30 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | JANUARY 2018
have been made over the past 6 months forward with the behavior change
Maintenance - This new lifestyle behavior is being sustained for at least 6 months with intention to maintain this behavior and avoid relapse
It all comes down to your WHY. Why do you want to be healthier? If your goal
is to begin an exercise program and you
like the idea of it, but you do not value the benefits of it enough to make the change, you are in the contemplation stage.
However, when you are tired of your poor health limiting your enjoyment of life and
locations began their training because the poor quality of life they were
living. Some clients looked for a place to train (preparation), and then began
their training (took action) because they
want to look better or have more energy. But many clients have found that the
benefits of their training extended far
beyond their initial WHY. When clients
experience greater outer strength, they
find greater inner strength as well. Both
of these changes are so powerful that they adopt their workout program as a lifestyle (maintenance).
Therefore, as you approach your health and fitness goals, know WHY you want to make the change before you begin
and write it down. When you have a solid WHY, you will set yourself up to make healthy changes that will last far beyond 2018!
you REALLY want to make a change, you
Say good-bye to the cliché unsuccessful
preparation stage begins and you start
changes that contribute to a New You
have just bought into your WHY and the making changes.
New Year’s resolution and hello to for life!
by Jesse J. Leyva, Owner of Jesse James Fit, Outlaw Bootcamp & Outlaw Fitcamp JesseJamesFit.com • OutlawBootcamp.com