december 2015
Quickly
MB Making Its Mark in the Orthodontics
Community
2 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
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The Practice of Family Law is
Seasonal,
Our Choices Shouldn’t Be By Brett Nelson
I have found over the years that the practice of family law can be seasonal. During the holidays, my new business slows down a bit and I believe this occurs because people are focusing on spending quality time with their family and finding joy in the season. It seems all of life’s problems, or whatever negative aspect of their life they may have been focusing on, fades away.
This time of year naturally allows us to focus on what really matters and to see the important things clearer, and for many folks, that means finding the light in their relationships and putting off the decision to move forward with ending it. People seemingly choose to be happy. I have written at length about the sanctity of marriage, and how important it is to find a healthy balance of give and take. It’s not an easy process, but those who choose to focus on it year-round can and have made out better in the long run. But one thing I’ve found is that – with the exception of twice a year during Thanksgiving and Christmas – we oftentimes struggle to choose that proactive path. Why? Some might say we are a product of our environment. I say we are a product of our own choices. I am not sure of the exact statistics, but the number of times per week a family sits down together for dinner is on the decline. We either get busy with the kids’ practice schedules, our own work keeps us away from home late, or we’re too focused on the negatives to notice what we ourselves could be doing better. Meanwhile we choose to make the most of the holidays, to take that extra time to spend with loved ones. Fences are mended and relationships are strengthened. I suggest we choose to make improving our home life a focus throughout the year. I know in my life when our family gets too busy, we sometimes need to make the conscious choice to say no to others and yes to our family. It is hard but the positive impact on the family dynamics is immeasurable.
I’m not naive. I know there are families out there facing real problems. And I am always here to help. But who knows where we might land by the end of 2016 if we take a step back from the busy things in life and/or focusing on the negative and, instead, choose to be honorable, equitable, and gracious throughout the year. What I’m most passionate about in my role as a family lawyer is helping people find a common ground so that disputes can be resolved without all the collateral consequences that occur when the focus is on what “I am getting.” Or better yet, help them resolve the issues they are facing so they can go back to living their lives – together. Sometimes it’s all a matter of choice. Which path will you choose in 2016?
Lantana resident Brett Nelson is owner of the Nelson Law Group located at 700 Parker Square Road, Suite 145 in Flower Mound. He can be reached at 972-808-7227 or at nelsonlawgrouppc.com
Lantanaresident
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 5
Contents
Featured Stories and News
The Shops of Highland Village - Holiday Book Drive- Benefiting CISNT Now Through December 31st For more information visit www.cisnt.org
Candle Light Christmas Eve Services at Argyle United Methodist Church December 24th For more information visit www.ArgyleUMC.org
Back to School January 5th School Holiday for Martin Luther King January 18th Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com 6 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
32 Pg 32 On the Cover Starting from Left: Jilian, Evan, Dr. Matt, and Ethan Brown.
Photos from Lantana
35 45
Mother Son Night You Submit We Print
38 41 42 44 50 51 54 60
Seasonal Family Law Primrose School of Lantana Rocke Pointe Church Giving is Better than Receiving Children’s Advocacy Center
A
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MAG
2015 R E C
Argyle Church Serves Community
Dale Burrows Lantana Pediatrics Guyer Boys Family Law, Think Twice Type 1 Diabetes Tutoring Center
Every Issue 07
From Your Editor
08
Inside Education
11
Inside Community
19
Upscale Home
27
Real Estate
29
The Sidelines
31
Gardening
49
Dr. Matt
56
Coaching Corner
N
’S TOR EDIPICK
MB Orthodontics Family Touched by Tragedy
A ZI
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05 13 14 21 23
EN
T
DISD Middle & High School Early Release December 17th & 18th
LANT AN
Lantana Community Events
Table of
IPI
Love
How to Spell LantanaLiving.com
Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray Administration Managing Editor
and Leave a Legacy
T
Jana Melton
Sub-Editor
A Message from the Community Editor
he
holidays
are
filled
with
remembering and making memories. In a recent study of a renowned book,
The Purpose Driven Life, we are tasked with filling and fulfilling our lives and relationships through the minimal time we are each given.
For some, this time of year can also be plagued
with loneliness and grief. Our culture often treats sadness like a problem to be solved
Bobbi Byrne
Contributors
Don’t leave when you feel uncomfortable
or when you feel like you’re not doing anything.
It’s in those places, in the shadows of horror,
we rarely allow ourselves to enter … where the is found when we have others who are willing
person on earth needs these people. I beg you,
Production Graphic Designers
beginnings of healing are found. This healing to enter that space alongside us. Every grieving be one of these people.
We all hear and talk about
we’ve done everything we can
making time for our children,
it still happens and no one benefits
sad the perception that portrays
to avoid, ignore or transform grief,
ourselves, our friends, etc. It’s
from the “fix it” response. So when faced
with
tragedy
… after all, isn’t life really about
(or
relationships?
comforting someone who is), you
do we offer instead of “Everything happens for a reason?”
I’ve never had a tremendous
amount
of
peace
with
the
sentiment. I think it gives the
They
are
not
simply a part of our lives along
usually find that you’re no longer surrounded by people … So what
with other mundane tasks. With Kathryn Flores, Community Relations, Marketing and Advertising Manager Argyle Living & Lantana Living Kathryn@murray-media.com (214) 734-5783
terrible stuff too much power, too
much poetry; as if there must be nobility and
purpose within the devastation we may find ourselves sitting in. In our distress, this idea forces us to run down trails, looking for the
specific part of life and “right now” that this suffering all fits into. It serves as an emotional
distraction, one that cheats us out of the full measure of our real-time grief and outrage. We
stutter and stop to try and find the whys of all
of the suffering, instead of just admitting that maybe there is no why to be found and that
our children, we are leaving a
legacy just as love leaves a legacy. What’s the easiest way to spell that love … T-I-M-E! During
the holiday season, enjoy giving and especially the gift we all
have that is exactly the same, TIME! The gift we most often crave isn’t diamonds or that
new hover board or a new living room sofa, it’s
focused attention intentionally so concentrated that you forget about the moment and the time you have spent in it.
As the year ends I find myself reflecting
on the year of relationships around and surrounding me. I have challenged myself to
think for a moment, to live and treat each other
as if it’s the last time I lay eyes on that person.
perhaps this all simply stinks on a grand scale.
Kindness counts and goes such a long way; to
that person. However, sympathy is not a
bucket” of those relationships I treasure; to be
being understood and validated. Healing and
and move forward.
The last thing a person devastated by grief needs
make up for today. Things change. Loved ones
most powerful thing you can do is acknowledge.
show your relationships the love you intend, do
We tell each other to have sympathy for
be intentional about my words and “filling the
quick, cosmetic response to fix someone. It’s
mature enough to recognize a mistake, own it
transformation can occur with true sympathy.
Afterall, there is no promise of tomorrow to
is advice. Their world has been shattered. The
die. Opportunities pass. Children grow up. To
It requires no training, no special skills — just
it now. The best use of this one life is to cherish
the willingness to be present and to stay present,
as long as is necessary. Be there. Only be there.
Advertising
Kathryn Flores kathryn@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com
or an illness to be healed. While
you’re
Eric Williams Mark Miller Steve Gamel
Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill Josh Burkham Caroline Brock
Photography
Scott Young (972) 899-3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com Chris Ziober (817) 980-1653 LifeDigs.com
Letters
Lantana Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email artwork@murray-media.com. All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group. Editorial and Advertising inquiries call (214) 734-5783 or email kathryn@murray-media.com Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100 Ste. 101 Flower Mound, TX 75022 Lantana Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Lantana Living is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2015 Murray Media Group
and love your relationships wholly by dedicating time today!
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 7
Guyer Robotics Club Wins Harpool MS Wins First Place at District at Dallas Competition Academic UIL Guyer High School’s STEAM Team robotics
club came in 11th out of 27 teams at the Dallas BEST Robotics Competition last month. The club also won the Founder’s Award for the most creative robot design. For this competition, students had just six weeks to design and build a robot using limited materials. The theme of this year’s competition was mining, which required the robots to navigate various tunnels in order to retrieve things like “coal” and ‘aluminum ore.” Team member Kayvan Mansoorshahi took home the graduating senior award including a $100 Amazon gift card and a Samsung Gear 2 Neo smartwatch.
The Harpool Middle School UIL Academic
team took home first place this year. The competition, Called A+ Academics at the middle
school level, included 19 events for students in grades two through eight, but Harpool’s district competed in just 13 of them. The events are
designed to complement what students learn
while in class. In this way, kids develop more knowledge in specific areas and expand their learning skills usable across the board.
Denton ISD Sixth-Graders Visit UNT
Led by undergraduate and graduate students from various fields of study, the middle schoolers traipsed around the Denton campus scoping out UNT buildings, activities and campus life. Denton ISD has about 2,200 sixth grade students.
Guyer Students Named to All-State Orchestras Students from Denton ISD’s Guyer High School won spots in the Texas Music Educators Association’s all-state orchestras. Guyer placed five students to the groups, a record for the school. Senior violinist Inki Lee, junior violinist Abhishek Shah and senior bassist Ian Grems placed in the state philharmonic orchestra. This
Each sixth-grader in Denton ISD had the
is Lee’s third year earning a spot in an all-state
that coincided with UNT Founders’ Week.
double bassist Ethan Nguyen and junior cellist
opportunity recently to visit UNT, an event
orchestra, another Guyer record. Also, freshman Alex Koh earned spots in the state string orchestra. Koh is the first Guyer cellist to make an all-state group, while Grems and Nguyen are the first Guyer double bassists to earn
Lantanaresident
all-state recognition.
Record Number of HMS Students Make Regional Band Harpool Middle School had more students make the TMEA All-Region Band this year than ever before. Here’s who made the cut: Honors Band Emily Holder (flute): 8th chair; Dante Borino (flute): 5th chair; Ariana Tashakorri (clarinet): 15th chair; Chris Pink (trumpet): 1st chair; Nathan Reynolds (trumpet): 7th chair; and Luke Goldberg (tuba): 3rd chair. Symphonic Band: Tyler Wilson (trumpet); Drew Allen (French horn); Gavin Smethers (trombone); Ashton Cartwright (percussion); and Carter Price (tuba). Alternates: Jake Goldberg (tuba) and Kennedi
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Davis (flute)
Lantanaresident
Lantanaresident
Lantanaresident
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 9
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& Crewcuts; Blanton Elementary, E.P. Rayzor
Lantana Fresh Water District Boosts Credit Rating
Elementary, Adkins Elementary and Harpool Middle schools; and Team Kincaid.
The Lantana Fresh Water Supply District
in October approved $11.2 million worth of municipal road bonds to be issued. This is a
savings of $325,000 over the term of the loan, which last for 11.5 years.
The LFWSD has been able to increase its
credit rating two levels, from BBB- to A3. This has allowed the board to drop the interest rate on loans like this, down 25 basis points.
New Lantana Preschool Seeks Teachers
Lantana Ladies League Luncheon Planned
Community Leaders Move Forward with Plans or New Fire Station Lantana lawmakers are continuing to work on
the planning of Fire Station 514, which would
Members of the Lantana Ladies League
be located on the west side of I-35 and serve
December 18 at the Denton Country Club.
Manager Kevin Mercer expects the station to be
unwrapped toy to donate to a family in need and
applied for a grant of $201 to fund new Denton
are invited to a special luncheon at noon on
the western portion of the service area. General
The cost is $20, and guests should bring an
completed in October 2018. The fire district has
a $10 wrapped gift for a present exchange. You
County capable radios. It also recently received a
can RSVP to Berdie Archer at 940-395-8636 or barcher@verizon.net.
FEMA grant to fund personnel for Fire Station 514 for its first two years of operation.
Primrose School of Lantana opened its
doors recently. The day care and preschool
is looking for an infant teacher from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and an early preschool
teacher (ages 2-3) from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you’re interested, send your resume to cthompson@primroselantana.com.
NASCAR Winner Reads With Rayzor Students Local racecar driver Chase Buescher took
home his first NASCAR Xfinity Series title recently and stopped by E.P. Rayzor Elementary
School to talk about how important it is to read. Students at E.P. Rayzor are leading in Texas Motor Speedway’s Speed to Read contest.
Lantana Residents Pack Thanksgiving Meals For Needy Helping hands gathered food donations
and put the pieces together to make complete Thanksgiving meals for 400 area families on
November 18 at the Lantana North Pavilion. It
all happened thanks to Mission Moms, a charity based in Lantana. Various local groups helped support the meal making. Those include: Denton
Lighting & Floors; Active Family Chiropractic; Southern
Comfort
Mechanical;
Primrose
School of Lantana; Country Lakes Family Dental; Kwik Kar Auto Care Lantana; Pigtails
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 11
Night @ E.P. Rayzor
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See Page 35 for More Photos!
Teaching Little Hands to Make a Big Difference Primrose’s Caring and Giving Program in Action
E
very parent hopes their child will develop compassion and generosity, but in today’s digital world, teaching children the joy of giving back and helping others can be more of a challenge.
But there is hope.
A study conducted by two Harvard anthropologists, John and Beatrice Whiting, observed the altruistic practices of children in six world cultures. Their findings indicate that children assigned more household responsibilities are more helpful and giving. By helping to instill the value of giving back in young children, we introduce them to the sense of fulfillment that is derived from helping others, ultimately helping them become more well-rounded in the classroom and in life. And research shows that young children who have high prosocial skills – or behaviors meant to benefit another – are also among the most cognitively ready for school. At Primrose School of Lantana, we integrate activities and lessons that encourage responsibility and help develop these prosocial
skills as part of our Balanced Learning® curriculum. For example, during our Caring and Giving program, our students earn money by performing household chores in order to provide food items for families in need. Students combine and learn to count their earnings, create
“Children who learn the value of helping and giving back at a young age are able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship,” a detailed shopping list, and visit the grocery store to purchase the food. This hands-on approach helps them develop math, nutrition and planning skills. The annual event provides Primrose parents with a fun way to encourage household chores, and it helps students understand the
value of generosity. Some students even create Thanksgiving or caring message cards to send along with the donated food. “Children who learn the value of helping and giving back at a young age are able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship,” said Frank and Erin Lundie, franchise owners of Primrose School of Lantana. “By encouraging Primrose students to participate in a meaningful, hands-on way, we are empowering them with the character traits and tools necessary to continue making a difference in their communities and to enjoy doing it.” At Primrose School of Lantana, we are passionate about helping children learn the joy and fulfillment of lending a helping hand to others from a young age so we can prepare them for greater success in school and in life. To learn more about Primrose Schools or how to enroll your child at Primrose School of Lantana, please visit www.PrimroseLantana.com or call 940-455-2550.
Lantanaresident December 2015 | LANTANA living | 13
By Kelly Murray
C
urt Andrews has been helping feed the less fortunate for five years. Beans, rice, vitamins, vegetables, repeat. Into a small bag go six servings of the mix. Each labeled bag is then sealed, boxed and shipped somewhere around the world. Andrews has brought the efforts of Feed the
Hunger to his church, RockPointe in Flower
Mound. Twice a year, families donate money to the organization, which then ships the
meal ingredients to the church where they are broken down, divided up and packed 40 to a box for distribution.
“Our church kind of decided as kind of
one of the tenets of our faith ... to meet the physical needs of others,” Andrews said.
This year is the church’s biggest “pack” yet,
with 325,000 meals created. Each meal costs 28 cents to produce from soup to nuts, and
RockPointe raised more than $560,000 to buy the food for the 1,500 volunteers to pack.
“It’s a gas, it’s a lot of fun,” Andrews said.
“You’re seeing a lot of parents with their kids
setting an example for the next generation who is going to have to pick up the mantle.”
Feed the Hunger distributes food primarily
to children in areas including Haiti, Southeast
Asia, Kenya and Iraq. This year is the first time that Iraq has been included as refugees fleeing
ISIS have found themselves in the Kurdish areas of the country without food or shelter.
Andrews has also been on mission trips
with Feed the Hunger, taking food to some of 14 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
those areas in need.
“It’s been life changing,” he said. “I was
asked to do it back in 2010. I went to one and I came back and represented what we needed to do.
“I’ve been blessed for five years ... to have
been actively involved in each shift.”
Andrews has also led mission trips to deliver
the food.
“It’s really opened up my heart and opened
up our lives,” he said.
History Behind RockPointe RockPointe Church Events Ron and Allison Holton began to pray and
dream of planting a new church in March
Dec 24 services at: 2:00p
of 2001. At the time, Ron was serving as the
(Childcare available for birth through pre-K)
From the beginning, they were encouraged to
(Childcare available for birth through pre-K)
singles
minister
at
Prestonwood
Church.
pray specifically about the newly developed Lantana area.
March 2002 was when 15 people gathered for
the first informational meeting for “The Church of Lantana.” It wasn’t until September of that year that they held the grand opening for “The
Church at Lantana” with guest Scott O’Grady.
3:30p
5:00p (Family Service)
The annual Mother-Daughter Retreat is January 8-9, 2016 at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas.
Their Flower Mound location had it’s ground breaking on January 1st, 2006.
This was the start of an incredible journey of
seeing the Lord direct, provide for, and clarify the several different locations throughout the years
and even changing the church name, the story continues to unfold today in ways they could not have imagined.
RockPointeChurch.org 4503 Cross Timbers Road Flower Mound, Texas 75028 (469) 322-0313
Lantanaresident
vision of RockPointe Church. After meeting at
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 15
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December 2015 | LANTANA living | 17
Upscale Home
Change the Mood
of Your Home By Paula Kratohvil, Owner Complete Interior Solutions 972-436-9083
(I remember years ago reading an article about the calming influence the color peach had, so much so that it was used in mental facilities across the country. I don’t think I could ever look at peach the same way again). Just to play devil’s advocate … be aware that the
mood you want to create may be different in the various rooms of your home.
In rooms where you want to feel energized and
productive, such as in your kitchen or home office, you
might want to avoid calming colors. Instead consider
Subtle hues will help you relax and de-stress.
selecting bright hues to raise your energy level.
he colors you choose to decorate your home add to its beauty and style, but did you ever think about how they can affect your mood and level of stress? Color is a factor in making your home a stress-free zone that relaxes you and elevates your feeling of calm. Think about it: if you want your children to rest better at night don’t paint their room stimulating colors such as primary green, orange or red. Same with a study space, you want a space that isn’t so calming it will obstruct stimulation, memory and creativity.
colors as stunning blues or great strong teal. Shades
T
To make your rooms a peaceful refuge, think ahead when you select your design colors: Select cool colors, such as blue, violet and blue-green. Use soft, muted shades of almost any color, including powder blue, sage green, pale pink and gentle salmon. Create a calm look with neutral shades, such as cream,
Lantanaresident
ivory and pale gray.
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Use calming colors for a variety of your home décor
elements, including paint, rugs and carpeting, draperies, pillows, upholstery, bed linens and more.
Looking for even more peace and harmony in your
home? Focus on reducing the clutter and chaos. That will go a long way toward helping you feel more relaxed and calm
When painting your home office contemplate such
of red are the number one color used in commercial restaurants because red is the color that stimulates the
palate. In other words, your food tends to taste better! That would be a plus in our home kitchen.
Now more that ever you really need to be forward
thinking about your need for relaxation and a mellow
mood space before you select the colors for the interior of your home.
We all have enough distraction outside of our
homes. When you walk through your door you should be allowed every opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy your home.
To see all the new Sherwin Williams colors and for
help with choosing your perfect color give us a call. We’d love the opportunity to assist you with any of your design challenges.
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 19
GIVING is better than
Receiving Mission Moms Mission: Teach. Serve. Act
Mission Moms is a group of women who want to make our community more loving and charitable. We strive to help those that have met challenging circumstances and give them the kindness that we have been fortunate and blessed enough to experience. Many great things are happening and doors are opening! Mission Moms was created to teach our children the importance of giving, serve within our communities and act on the kindness within their hearts. Each mission is personal, for a specific cause, with a unique focus, helping extraordinary people. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:21. If you would like to get involved or donate, please visit www.MissionMoms.org
Argyle Food Pantry 940-464-7224 414 N. Hwy. 377, Argyle, TX 76226 Pantry hours are: Monday: 9am - 12pm and the last Monday of month: 6pm - 8pm Please contact them directly by phone to donate and/or volunteer.
Cloud 9 Charities Mission: To help families, in particular women and children, who are less able to help themselves.
Cloud 9 Charities primarily raises funds to support the community through unique and exciting events. Please visit www.Cloud9Charities.org/events/ to keep up with exciting events that are popular in the community and a great way to contribute to great causes while having a good time
CCA Hope Dash 5K January 9, 2016 – Highland Village Unity Park – Register by December 20th – Pancake breakfast will be served immediately following the race – If you would like to participate, please visit: CCAHelps.org/cca-hope-dash-5k-registration.
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Night @ E.P. Rayzor
See Page 35 for More Photos!
Lantanaresident Lantanaresident December 2015 | LANTANA living | 21
Lewisville
Safe Place
Rest
Offers
for Weary, Abused Children
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LANT AN
By Jana Melton
R’S O T EDIPICK EN
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2015 R E C
IPI
P
aul Klotz received a note from a therapist he works with. It was from a little girl who had once been warmed by his kind smile. “I drew this picture for you,” the note read. “Thank you for smiling at me. It made my day.” As a volunteer at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County, Klotz gets the chance to help put kids at ease on a regular basis. He showed the note to executive director Dan Leal. “I thought it was very sweet and showed it to Dan. He said I might very well be the only positive male role model in her life at this time. In my small way, I get to be there for the kids,” Klotz said. Klotz helps families find their way when they come into the CAC for treatment. The CAC provides justice and healing to victims of child abuse and their non-offending family members. The center employs a multi-disciplinary team approach on the legal side, with forensic interviewers, CPS, law enforcement and the DA’s office collaborating on cases at the center. As the only nonprofit in the county dedicated to the coordination of severe child abuse cases, the center brings together law enforcement professionals, sexual assault nurse examiners, child protective services investigators and judicial experts to help victims and their families. “The statistics regarding the prevalence of child sexual abuse are staggering,” said Jamie Blanton, former CAC development officer.
“It’s likely that 1 in 4 girls & 1 in 6 boys in our community will experience sexual abuse before turning 18.”
22 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
“In 2014, the center conducted 757 interviews of potential victims, and provided more than 10,000 free therapeutic services. As Denton County grows, it’s likely the center’s services will be in even higher demand.” All the children who end up at the CAC must have been referred there by CPS or Denton County law enforcement. But the community can be on alert to point out and report situations that might be suspicious. “Child sexual abuse is the only crime perpetrated against children that does not have any correlating factors,” Blanton said. “Children from all demographic groups, races, religious backgrounds or family dynamics can and do
become victims of abuse. It doesn’t just happen to children and youth from certain populations. Perpetrators don’t discriminate. “The most important element of education is to understand the signs and then be willing to pick up the phone and report. The simple rule is—if you see something or suspect something, say something. You can save a child simply by having the courage to speak up. To report child abuse in Texas, please call 1-800-252-5400. If you believe a child is immediate danger, call 911. The CAC also offers free child abuse prevention education to any individual or community group who requests it. “We believe that education is absolutely critical to abuse prevention. Statistically for every adult we are able to train we are able to keep six children safe and prevent abuse for them,” Blanton said. The most important thing the community can do to help is start by acknowledging that abuse happens everywhere and that every child can be a potential victim. “It’s important that we understand that perpetrators intentionally put themselves into situations where they can have access to children. As a community we can prevent abuse simply by being mindful of the opportunities we might unintentionally be creating that could enable abusers.”
One example of this would be setting rules for the local little league that no coach can be alone one-on-one with a child. “We encourage everyone who is interested to sign up for one of our three classes. We encourage parents to talk to their kids about boundaries and safety. We encourage youth serving organizations to require mandatory background checks and regular child abuse training for all staff and/or volunteers,” Blanton said. Klotz, who has also become a member of the CAC’s board of directors for about a year, said his involvement with the organization began with an awareness of the staggering amount of child abuse. “It all started for me about four years ago when a colleague of mine who volunteered there invited me to take a tour of the center,” he said. “I immediately realized a few things. First, I was completely unaware of the prevalence of child abuse or the need for a place like CACDC, and second, Wow, what an amazing place staffed by amazing people doing wonderful and important work with children in the community. “I applied for a volunteer position, which includes a thorough background check, and then was given the evening reception job on every other Tuesday. I make sure people get where they need to go and try to make it more comfortable for first time clients.
“Tuesday is a high-volume evening for both group and individual counseling for children and their families. The most important time is when a new client comes into a crowded lobby for their first group or individual session and they are not sure who to see, where to go or what to expect. Many clients complete a nine month counseling program so I often get to know faces and see how their demeanor changes over the course of treatment.
“There are many happy families that clearly enjoy their time at the center. It’s not a place that you would naturally expect smiles and laughter but neither are uncommon there.” You can help! Volunteer or Dontate
1.800.252.5400 • www.cacdc.org 1854 Cain Dr. • Lewisville 1208 Bent Oaks Ct. • Denton December 2015 | LANTANA living | 23
24 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 25
Real Estate
Moving with
Clear Goals
Mind In
By Tisha White
O
ne of the reasons I love my career with Keller Williams is the training and the leadership. It is an ever changing business, and constant training and education is a must in the Realtor you select. Leadership has been amazing as well, we have such opportunities to be inspired from the top. One book of inspiration that I have been reading is Gary Keller’s The One Thing. This book is about getting extraordinary results in every situation. It is about narrowing your focus to achieve your goals. This concept can be applied to all areas of your life.
Tisha’s Tips - Thinking about a career in real estate? I love having realistic conversations with people about a career in this industry and what it takes to be successful. Check out www.TishaWhite.com, call or email me to start the conversation.
26 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
When considering if you should move you must first figure out what your goal is and then use a focused approach to reach this goal. Here are some very common reasons why people move: My home is too small. The family is growing and we need more space. My home is too big. The kids have gone and we have too much space. We want new. A new home, better energy efficiencies, less maintenance. Job transfer. We love where we are, but we have to work in another state.
Now that you have a clear goal in mind, use a focused “one thing” approach to achieve your goal. Here are a few tips to help you stay focused: Create a goal board, stay focused on your reason and dreams for the move. Hire a professional Realtor and share your goals and dreams with them and get a realistic assessment of your current properties value. Get your financing in order, work with a local mortgage lender to have an understanding of your price range, so you can meet your goals.
Interest rates are low. Let’s get into a home we want while the interest rates are so affordable.
Review your calendar. Moving takes time and energy, clear things off your calendar that can be done later, you will need to say no to many things, so you can say yes to your goals and dreams.
Lifestyle change. We want to travel more, our family dynamic has changed, we need a change of pace.
Review your goals, when you feel tired, or stressed review your goal board and stay focused on the big picture.
By setting realistic home buying and selling goals, you can reduce stress and have more fun.
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 27
Lantanaresident 28 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
See You On The Sidelines
A FREE Phone App to Help with Those New Year’s Resolutions
A
s we inch closer to the end of the year, I’m sure many of you have begun thinking about those New Year’s resolutions you want to put into place. Some of them we will stick to, but sadly, most of them will lose their luster by January 2. Not trying to be a downer, but it’s inevitable. If one of those goals you’d like to stick to is to make a change in your workout habits, this column is for you. I’m not a personal trainer and sometimes I feel like my body looks more like what would be on a marketing poster for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
Ok, so maybe it’s not that bad. I’m trying, anyway.
One way I try to lead a healthier lifestyle is staying consistent with running. And if you are an avid runner – or perhaps you want to get started – one way to track your progress beyond the typical timer, stopwatch or treadmill is to download the Nike+ Running application for your smartphone. I did three years ago, and it has definitely helped me stay on track. And the best part... it’s FREE. You wouldn’t believe how many analytics are made available after each run. Over the last three years I’ve racked up 776.2 miles over the course of 206 runs. I’ve used it during shorter 5-K runs and longer half marathons, and it definitely keeps me motivated.
By Steve Gamel
This simple to use app tracks every move you make using the GPS and accelerometer in your phone, and keeps tabs on how far you ran, time, average pace and calories. It even includes a map highlighting the route you took. Basically, it took all the guesswork out of the workout. The app — available for IPhone and Android devices — maps your runs, tracks your progress and adds in social media (Facebook and Twitter) to give users just the right amount of motivation to push through their workout. For example, at the end of one of my latest runs, I allowed the application to share my run stats as a post/status update on my Facebook page. Included was the map with highlighted route. Knowing the app pushed results to my Facebook made me want to run a little bit harder since all my friends would see it. In-run audio feedback lets you know the above-mentioned metrics at every mile through your headphones. Other features/options include in-ear cheers from your Facebook friends when you broadcast that you’ve started a run, tagging friends you may be running with and the ability to set up a “power song” to give yourself a boost during a rough patch in your run. I mean, who would slow down if they heard “Eye of the Tiger” at just the right moment? I didn’t. There are so many fitness apps out there today to choose from, and I urge you to explore each and every one of them. From my experience, this particular app is solid. In conjunction with the website (www.nikeplus.com) it can detail strong points in your run as well as times where you may have slowed down. This can help you analyze previous runs to reach your goals faster. If there is any downside, it’s that the app doesn’t work as well as its designers say it does indoors – such as when you are getting in a run on the treadmill at the gym. Either way, there are so many more areas of this app to explore and I can’t wait for my next outdoor run. The app is perfect for anyone wanting to find new ways to improve, and it can be just as usable for those just out for a leisurely run. Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines. December 2015 | LANTANA living | 29
30 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
North Texas:
Freezing One Week
and 70 the Next
Gardening
T
hat’s what we wrote this time last year and it still holds true in December 2015 -- Texas weather at his finest! With the holiday season upon us here’s a Q & A that might spur some ideas on how to spruce up your outdoor living/landscape areas.
subtle changes, everything you do will make it
Q: With this crazy weather what can we really do now to spruce things up for our Christmas and New Year’s parties that won’t freeze, die back or be too boring?
to bring some immediate color, texture and bulk
A: Focus on your hard scape right now. Patios, stone bed boarders, pots, benches, trellis and dry creek beds are all great ways to enhance your entertaining spaces that won’t leave you gambling on the weather. Don’t get me wrong, we install year round as there are many plant options for this time of year that will do great and thrive no matter what Mother Nature might bring our way. But while it’s all cut back there’s not an easier time to build up the foundations of those spaces than now! Try extending the patio to accommodate a larger table, couch with bistro area or building the stone BBQ and bar top he’s been wanting. Whether you decide to go all in with decorative concrete, stonework, patio cover or just make
easier to get out there and enjoy the real estate
you have. Grabbing some native or multi-colored
pots of all different shapes and sizes to throw out in the thin areas of the landscape and filling
them with some winter annuals is a great way back in your beds during the winter months.
One of the fastest most cost-efficient ways to
beef up your beds is to grab some rock, take a walk in the woods and pick some up or go buy
it (boulders, river rock, stack flagstone, etc.) and arrange in random piles, formal layers or just
in and around your annual color displays. Rock
will serve as a consistent for the bed year round, not requiring any maintenance. It’s just another element of texture/ dimension.
We hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
PJ Kratohvil
Complete Exterior Solutions 214-735-1364
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 31
FEATURED ARTICLE Local Sponsored Content
MB
Orthodontics
Quickly
Making Its Mark in the
Community
I
By Steve Gamel
t’s a normal Thursday night in December and Matt and Jilian Brown are sitting by smiling and laughing as their two young boys, Ethan and Evan, do their best to wrap Christmas gifts for local kids in need.
Like any energetic and curious child surrounded by a heap of toys, the sweet little duo was in hog heaven and definitely had brief moments where they lost focus. OK, so those moments were a little longer than we want to let on. But like their parents, they were “all in” on getting into the holiday spirit. “We are getting plugged in as much as we can,” Matt said of the holiday toy drive led by Lantana-based Mission Moms, a nonprofit group formed in 2012 with the goal of providing support to underprivileged children throughout the year. “We are new in this community, but we are working to put down roots.” Matt added, “This is the community where we want to raise our boys.” And like previously mentioned, the Browns have gone all in. Matt – we should really be referring to him as Dr. Brown – owns MB Orthodontics PLLC in Highland Village. He and Jilian have been sweethearts since they met in the sixth grade and, after getting married in 2006, moved from their home in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Dallas so Matt could go to dental school at Baylor College of Dentistry, graduating in 2010. Dr. Brown was selected to stay at Baylor College of Dentistry for his orthodontic residency, finishing in 2013. 32 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
An opportunity did arise for Matt to head back to his hometown and work in an orthodontic practice. However, upon learning that Dr. Paul Lively would be selling his practice in Highland Village, the couple and their two small boys moved back to North Texas. Dr. Lively was and still is a highly respected orthodontist who managed to grow his practice during a time when Highland Village wasn’t very big. He has been in the area since 1988, but was ready to retire and Matt purchased the practice in January. It’s been almost a year and Dr. Brown is continuing to do everything he can to build an innovative and trustworthy orthodontic practice. His aim is to have an office this community can not only rely on to provide a perfect smile – but also partner with and get to know on a personal level. Their minds are on building a successful practice and their hearts are on helping the community.
“My oldest son and I will wrap presents at the school as well as take toys we collect from our patients at the office and wrap them,” said Matt, who has been offering free MB t-shirts to anyone who brings in an unwrapped toy for Mission Moms. “My wife has been able to plug right in. She co-teaches Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Lewisville, she teaches voice lessons and she is part of several other organizations. Our office is working to build partnerships in the community, sponsoring the school fundraisers, golf tournaments, baseball camps, et cetera. We are all serving as much as we can.” There is also a time to work, and Dr. Brown has been doing all he can to build his business. When we caught up with the Brown family for their photo shoot, Dr. Brown was regrettably a bit late to the party. He had spent the entire day working with patients and was more than willing to squeeze in a few more before going home for the evening.
Such is the daily routine for Dr. Brown – providing exceptional care in an individualized setting.
Left Picture: Depicts the Brown Family enjoying their time wrapping gifts for the local toy drive. Starting from the left is Dr. Matt, Ethan, Evan, and Jilian Brown. Bottom Picture: Starting from the left is Jilian, Evan, Dr. Matt, and Ethan Brown.
Such is the daily routine for Dr. Brown –
providing exceptional care in an individualized
setting. He admits standing out in a growing area like Highland Village – where there are several
quality practices to choose from – takes a lot of hard work when you are still seen as the new guy on the block.
When Dr. Brown first came in, it was just
him and one other staff member, Seana Mota. He joked that when they were each working with patients, they’d look at each other when the phone rang to see who was going to pick
it up. Seana had already been working in the office for 10 years and continues to provide
quality care and customer service to patients. The office welcomed another staff member, Andrea Gump, in October and is looking to add more in the coming year.
Dr. Brown added that today’s orthodontic
practices are almost exclusively digital and feature top of the line equipment such as 3D imaging to help drastically speed up and improve upon patient care.
Getting his office up to speed was important
to Dr. Brown.
“We did a complete remodel, and the biggest change was the influx of technology,” Dr. Brown said. “This was a paper chart/film-based practice when I got here, but we’ve brought in an entirely new computer system, a 3D X-ray machine and a practice management system. We are almost completely paperless now.” Dr. Brown also painted the walls, changed the signage to a more modern look, built a website and added fresh and inviting decor. He also made room in his office for Jilian, who comes in a few nights a week to teach voice lessons for students. “She’ll come in with the kids as I’m finishing up with my last few patients, we will trade off and I’ll take the kids out to the park or to eat something,” Dr. Brown said. “It’s a nice set up for her, too. We’ve almost got it all looking and running the way we want it to.” While the business continues to grow and he gets his name out there more, Dr. Brown isn’t the type to sit around and twiddle his thumbs on
slow days. In fact, he’s working at three separate orthodontic offices as an associate to perfect his craft. He’s currently working at Clay Pickering’s office in Denton as well as six days a month at Orthodontics Specialists of Dallas. During an additional seven days each month, he helps run another doctor’s practice in Canton as that doctor continues to go through cancer treatment. “I look forward to the day when I can be here in this office more often so I don’t have to make crazy commutes. I would love to get home earlier to see Jil and the boys,” Dr. Brown said. “But for right now, this is what I will do to make this work. I love what I do, and it’s getting better every day.” He added, “We do one thing in this practice, orthodontics, and strive to do it really well.” That includes being an active part of this community. “My family could not be more proud to be members of this world-class community,” Dr. Brown said. “I am excited to continue to build relationships with local schools, sports teams, and families in the hope that our practice can offer locals the orthodontic services that they need for healthy, straight, and beautiful smiles.” December 2015 | LANTANA living | 33
SHOPS OF HIGHLAND VILLAGE
34 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
Night @ E.P. Rayzor esy of Photos court
ge
Annette Rog
More photos are placed throughout the magazine! December 2015 | LANTANA living | 35
36 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 37
A
rgyle United Methodist Church put its ministry to good use last month when it served Thanksgiving
meals to the more than 180 clients, staff and
volunteers for Heath Services of North Texas, even going so far as to send vans to pick
people up who could not drive to the church. Pastor Chris Schoolcraft said his church
has been providing Thanksgiving dinner
for 10 years in an effort to serve the most vulnerable people in the community. They served meals to 180-220 people this year.
“It really has been a special event,” said
Schoolcraft, who joined the church in 2013. “I heard there were two clients from Denton who walked all the way to the church
when they learned they wouldn’t have a ride. I’m just telling you what I heard. They wanted to be here that bad, and we wanted them here, too.”
Schoolcraft credited his staff, volunteers
and
general
membership
for
making
this year’s event a success. Families and individuals signed up in droves ahead of time
to prepare plenty of food. On the night of the event, others helped decorate, entertain, clean
tables, serve and simply greet people at the front door.
If there were people who couldn’t drive
themselves to the event, Argyle UMC volunteers picked them up.
Argyle Church
T
Serves Community On
hanksgiving By Steve Gamel
Providing a home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving is simply what they do. 38 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
Lantanaresident
“We traveled all over the area to help bring people here that couldn’t normally attend,” Schoolcraft said. “It was a lot of fun just greeting people at the door and making sure they felt welcome.” Health Services of North Texas has spent the last 17 years providing a wide array of medical and physical services to the community. Some of its services include outpatient clinics, medical case management, mental health services and housing assistance. Schoolcraft said many members of his church have been volunteers for HSNT for years, which provided an instant connection between the two entities. Since joining the church, Schoolcraft and his staff have strived to help Argyle United Methodist become more than just a place to worship. Some of their ideas have included Worship Without Walls, a continuing project where, instead of a holding a regular services, members go into the community to visit nursing homes, beautify neighborhoods or bring food to malnourished children. It can include various other goodwill projects and simple, yet effective, random acts of kindness. “There’s just something about this church. We just love to serve and we believe in hospitality,” Schoolcraft said. “This event gives us a chance to do that, because for some, this was their only Thanksgiving meal.”
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 39
40 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
Harpool Coach Holds Vigil for Family Touched by Tragedy by Jana Melton
O
n October 30, 2015 the lives of a large Lantana family changed forever. Wendy Rollins and her sons Chaz and Tre were driving from Oklahoma when a car wreck took two of their lives.
Wendy, 43, mother of seven, and her eldest child Chaz, 25, were both killed in the one-vehicle wreck after the driver lost control of the car and it crashed into a culvert along I-35. Back at home, the five remaining children and Tre, who survived the wreck uninjured, are going about life and dealing with the losses. Their father, Ron Rollins, is caring for them. Coach Kenny Howell is the athletics coordinator at Harpool Middle School, where some of the Rollins children have attended. “They’re just very, very kind, hard workers,” he said. “Very respectful, will do whatever you ask of them.”
Howell has coached three of the 7 children, one of them while at McMath Middle School, and Jailin and Ashton at Harpool. Ashton was on his football team this year. “He’s an outstanding young man,” Howell said. He didn’t know Wendy, but Howell said she was a very supportive mother. “She was a lot like her boys, a very kind hearted lady. She was at all the games. Her kids loved her unconditionally, as she did them.” Shortly after the accident, Howell held a prayer vigil at the athletic field in honor of Wendy and Chaz. “I already had it in my mind that I wanted to do something to rally around and pull them together and do something for the family, he said adding that he sent out a text blast to parents about the event and about 200 people showed up for a time of silence and prayer. “It was a pretty awesome thing to see happen. A lot of tears being shed but it was good healthy tears,” Howell said. The Rollins boys that Howell sees seem to be doing well outwardly. “Even just when they came back you can’t obviously tell the pain going on inside [but] they look like they’re doing amazing,” he said. “It's awesome to see that they are doing so good. I think being around their classmates and staying active in sports has helped them out.
“I already had it in my mind that I wanted to do something to rally around and pull them together and do something for the family,”
Both Jailin and Ashton wanted to play in their last football game in honor of their mother. “They both had the best games of their lives,” Howell said. Jailin had 95 yards and two touchdowns. Ashton played a solid defensive game. “We just try to let them know ... ‘I know there's nothing I can say that will take away the pain but we want to help you ... whatever you need, we want to be there for you.’” A GoFundMe page has been set up in remembrance of Wendy and Chaz Rollins. Find out more here: www.gofundme.com/9y7vmqcs December 2015 | LANTANA living | 41
HOW AMERICAN IS THE
C
H
FAMILY
ANGING
?
The majority of families are no longer husband and wife with 2.5 kids. Families are comprised of grandparents raising their grandchildren, single moms, families with step-children and step-parents, and girlfriends and boyfriends living together. Why the changes? The overall attitude toward relationships and commitment has shifted. Census data shows that 26 percent of all households are made up of a single person. More and more babies are born when the parents are not married and divorce rates continue to climb so that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce court.
As a Grandparent do I have a legal right to my grandchildren? Grandparents in Texas do not automatically have a right of access to their grandchildren. However, the Texas Family Code includes statutes allowing grandparents the right to seek access or custody of a grandchild, with the Court. Grandparents are permitted to file a petition with the Court if their son or daughter is not actively involved in their child’s life. There are several situations in which the Court would allow a petition by a Grandparent. Examples are where the child’s parent does not have custody of the child and are not actively involved in their
life, the child’s parent is deceased; the child’s parent is in jail for a period of time; or the child’s parent was declared incompetent by a judge. More and more Grandparents are now raising their grandchildren. In some situations, grandparents can file for custody of a grandchild. Grandparents may be granted custody by the Court if the grandchild has been living with them for at least six months. Grandparents may also file a petition for custody if the grandparents believe that the child’s parent is physically or emotionally harming the child.
7.0 Million
The number of Grandparents whose grandchildren are younger than age 18 living with them.
2.7 Million
The number of Grandparents responsible for the basic needs of one or more grandchildren that are under the age of 18 living with them.
5.4 Million
The number of children that are under the age of 18 living in a Grandparent household.
42 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
Lantanaresident
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey results indicate the latest statistics concerning Grandparents as care givers.
The Law Office of Dale A. Burrows, P.C. is ready to help you with access to your grandchildren. The information provided herein is given for general information only. The information presented should not be construed as formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 43
FEVER
And Your Child
Cold and flu season is here and can be a confusing time for assessing the need for a visit to the doctor. To muddle things even more, some people suffer severe seasonal allergies this time of year that mimic the viral illnesses going around. It can be very frustrating to decide what medications to give and if it is necessary to call or make an appointment with the doctor.
What is a fever?
Fever is usually a sign that the body is fighting an infection. Fevers are generally harmless and, in fact, usually a good sign that your child’s immune system is working properly. Normal body temperature varies with age, general health, activity level, and time of day. Infants tend to have higher temperatures than older children and adults. Everyone’s temperature is highest between late afternoon and early evening, and lowest between midnight and early morning. Normal temperature is 97.5-99.5. Most pediatricians consider fever a temperature of 100.4 of higher. Dr. Rebecca Butler is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is proud to be a resident of Lantana and the owner of Lantana Pediatrics. For more information on Dr. Butler or to schedule an appointment, call 940-455-7200.
When to call the doctor? The younger the child the more urgent a fever is. If your baby is less than 3 months old and has fever 100.4 or higher, call immediately. If your child is 3-12 months and has had fever for more than 24 hours call your doctor. If your child is between 1-2 years of age with fever for more than 2 days go ahead and make the call, and if your child is 2 years or older with fever for 3 or more days please call the doctor. Always call more immediately if you spot specific signs and symptoms that suggest a serious illness such as urinary symptoms, severe ear pain, repeated vomiting, headache, stiff neck, visual changes, lethargy, trouble breathing and/ or signs of dehydration. The most important thing to do when your child has fever is to make sure they drink plenty of fluids and monitor for signs and symptoms of serious illness requiring immediate treatment.
Lantanaresident
CALL the doctor immediately if your child has a fever AND: • Looks very ill, is unusually drowsy, or extremely fussy • Has been in a very hot place such as an over heated car • Has symptoms such as stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, severe ear pain, unexplained rash, or persistent vomiting and diarrhea • Has had a seizure • Is younger than 3 months (12 weeks) and has temperature of 100.4 or greater • Fever rises over 104 repeatedly for a child of any age
Treating fever: If your child is older than 6 months and has a fever, they probably don’t need to be treated for the fever unless they are uncomfortable. If they are drinking, eating, sleeping normally, and are able to play, you should wait to see if the fever resolves on it’s own. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are safe and effective medicines for improving discomfort and fever.
Ibuprofen should NOT be used for children less than 6 months of age. DO NOT use Aspirin to treat your child’s fever If your child is vomiting and cannot take oral medicine, acetaminophen comes as a rectal suppository that may be used as needed.
74 McMakin Road Suite 100 Bartonville, TX 76226 www.LanatanaPediatrics.com 44 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
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48 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
u o r Y T e y eth a M BE
From Dr. Matt
Merry & White I
t’s the holiday season. It’s time to relish in the Yuletide spirit as we stuff our stockings and pad the floor beneath our trees with long awaited gifts and a bit of cheer. But as we carve the roast beast and invite visions of sugar plums to dance in our heads, let’s not forget to take notice of what is truly prancing into our mouths. As we indulge in Christmas chocolates, cranberry sauce, and the ever-festive red wine, our teeth can only hope that Santa floss is real. However, it may not be too late to get off the naughty list and truly enjoy a “white” Christmas with a few tips on teeth whitening. There are several ways to whiten your teeth, but let’s first understand how the process works. Bleaching your teeth will lighten the color of your tooth enamel by removing both surface and deeper stains. The active ingredient typically used is carbamide peroxide (not to be mistaken with hydrogen peroxide) which binds to the particles and removes them from your teeth. This will not
damage enamel, but can dehydrate teeth and expose pores or “tubules” in your teeth causing temporary sensitivity until the pores remineralize over time. Over-the-counter teeth whitening systems can be an economical way to whiten teeth, but typically take longer as they have a lower percentage of the active ingredient. Dental offices can provide a higher concentration of bleaching gel along with custom trays to take home for more efficient teeth whitening. Even higher concentrations of gel can be utilized in an in-office dental treatment under professional supervision. While in-office treatments are effective, this treatment coupled with take-home gel for touch ups provides the best results. Of course, a proper diet and regular brushing aid in preventing tooth staining. However, try to avoid whitening toothpastes that have harsh abrasives that can damage enamel.
After you have taken time to walk in a whitening wonderland, don’t forget to make the most of this season by cherishing those close to you. May you and your family be blessed this season, and happy smiling!
Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental
www.CountryLakesDental.com
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 49
Guyer Boys are Young, but
Ready to Make Statement
By Steve Gamel
G
uyer boys basketball coach Grant Long said in a recent poll, his team was picked to finish either fifth or sixth in District 5-6A – far from being in the playoff picture. Long laughed at the notion, but understood why. The Wildcats only returned two starters from last year’s senior-heavy team.
Time will tell how good Guyer will be,
but they’re already turning heads.
“District play is always a battle, but now
some of the coaches out there are starting to believe it’s going to come down to us and Keller,” Long said. “Our goal is
to take the next step. These kids want
to be great.” What
many
aren’t
taking
into
consideration is that Guyer has established itself as a contender in the playoff picture
for several years, regardless of turnover or injury. The team is 67-29 over the last
three seasons and has won district titles
in two of the past three seasons. They were 25-11 last year and advanced to the
second round of playoffs before falling to Cedar Hill.
While young, this year’s team started
off red hot and has proven it is far from a slouch. Leading the charge are senior
returning starters Zach Garza and Jake
Roberts. Garza, a team captain, averaged
12.6 points, 3.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds as a junior guard. Roberts was a relative
newcomer last year, too, but at 6-foot-5inches, is off to a solid start.
50 | LANTANA LIVING | December 2015
“Those two are definitely going to be big
leaders for us this year,” Long said.
The rest of the lineup is incredibly
promising, including Luke Helgesen, Preston Rush and Le’Tre Darthard. Then there is the freshman duo
of De’Vion Harmon and Jalen
Wilson. Long said Harmon, who
proved to be a rising star this season
for the Wildcats’ football team, can play anywhere on the court.
As for district play, Long said he is excited
about another season in 5-6A, which features longtime rival Ryan, Trophy Club Nelson, Justin
Northwest and the four Keller schools (Fossil Ridge, Keller, Timber Creek and Central).
“The exciting part is that all
of these guys are only going to continue to get better,” Long
said. “We were senior heavy last
year so you sort of knew what
you were going to get. With these
guys, even though they are young,
they want to put the work in. They want to be great.
That likely spells another strong season
for the Wildcats.
Representing Yourself in a Family Law Case:
Think Twice! A
fter years of practicing family law, I have rarely seen a family law case where people representing themselves did not end up in future lawsuits. The problem is that those future lawsuits can be costly and cost more than if the person had hired an attorney to begin with. When a family law case is filed, the law requires that the opposing party be served with the lawsuit. This can be accomplished in several ways. Once a person is served with the lawsuit, they have a limited number of days to “answer” the case or the other person can obtain a final order without that person’s knowledge. This is called a default judgment. A default judgment can also occur if a person files an answer to the suit, but then fails to show up at the final trial. Either of these circumstances can be devastating, causing the person who does not agree with the order to live with the order or file a lawsuit to ask the court to set aside the order. Lawsuits to set aside final orders can be expensive and such suits are extremely technical and require certain evidence to succeed. Lack of attorney representation does not justify or result in special help from the courts. A person representing themselves is referred to as a “pro se” party and they must follow the same laws and technical rules as attorneys. In family law cases, there are no rule exceptions for persons who represent themselves. When people represent themselves and they are not educated to know the law or the ropes of the court system, such usually results in a final order that they dislike. Divorce cases are a common area where we see final orders that people dislike. A final order in a divorce case is called a “decree of divorce” and should contain a division of the spouse’s community property. Texas is a community property state and all property that is considered community property is divided by the court. Once a decree of divorce is agreed upon or the court makes an order with both spouses participating, the property division is
final. One of the problematic areas is the division of private, federal or state retirement, or employee benefits such as pensions, 401k’s, stock options etc. The valuation and division of these benefits is extremely complex. There are other important documents that accompany finalizing a divorce besides the decree itself. We call these closing documents, and without these documents the spouse receiving property may have a hard time actually obtaining the property. For example, if real estate is being awarded to a spouse, then deeds will need to be signed so the land is actually transferred. If retirement is being transferred, there are documents that must be provided to the retirement plan in order to actually transfer the retirement to the non-employee spouse. If such documents are not signed at the time of the divorce and the other spouse will not sign the documents after the divorce, then the spouse receiving the property may have to return to court to obtain the other party’s signature on the required documents. Most pro se litigants are not aware of the closing documents required to actually accomplish transferring property and/or retirement. Many family law orders contain provisions regarding children. These orders consist of certain rights to the children, child support, medical support, and possession of the children. Most orders with regard to a child can be modified up until the child is 18, graduates from high school or is emancipated, depending on the type of family law case. However, to modify an order, certain conditions must be met. The rights to children must be set out in clear detail or disagreements may ensue. This is true whether the case is a divorce case, grandparent case, aunt and uncle case etc. The most important and fought over right is the right to decide a child’s “primary residence” also known as custody. All orders containing the right to decide a child’s primary residence should state within what area the child’s residence must be established. If not, the person deciding the primary residence may establish the
child’s residence anywhere they choose which could
be devastating for the child’s family. In addition, the possession schedule with regard to the children should be specific or problems will arise.
Likewise, child support is often addressed
in orders regarding children. It can be quite disappointing for the person receiving child support to find out the order is not enforceable. A child
support order that is not correctly written to provide for enforcement by “contempt”, which means the
paying parent can go to jail for nonpayment, is not
much of an order. The law is very clear that an order must be specific in certain respects for the order to
be enforceable by contempt. If a parent wants to collect child support through the paying parent’s employer, the court must sign a wage withholding order, which must also be presented to the court.
Most family law cases require a “prove-up”
where the court must hear certain evidence in
order to sign the family law order. I have rarely
seen a prove-up done correctly by a person without attorney representation. Further, if the prove-up is not done correctly, the judge cannot sign the family
law order. The goal for a “do it yourself ” family law
case is to save money and stay out of court, however, doing it yourself may cost you more money in the
long run and you could end up in court. I think Mark Twain said it best: “Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making
bad decisions.” To learn more , contact Charla H. Bradshaw or any of the attorneys at KooonsFuller, P.C. at 940-442-6677.
www.koonsfuller.com Southlake
181 Grand Avenue Suite 225 Southlake, TX 76092 (817) 481.2710 (817) 481.2637 fax
Denton
320 West Eagle Dr. Suite 200 Denton, TX 76201 (940) 442.6677 (940) 442.6671 fax
Principal Office in Dallas
December 2015 | LANTANA living | 51
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Night @ E.P. Rayzor
See Page 35 for More Photos!
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A Sweet Approach:
Harpool Middle Backs Type 1 Diabetics By Kelly Murray
F
or the past few years, Counselor Annette Price has lead a Type 1 Diabetic (T1D) support group at Harpool Middle School. The support group has allowed the students to meet, share thoughts, feelings, ideas and even experiences that have allowed the students to learn from each other. Harpool recognized World Diabetes Day on November 13 and throughout the week, Principal Jeff Smith read information about Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes to educate the student body and staff about the differences. Harpool students also heard from NFL free agent and Dallas resident Jake Byrne, who has battled T1D since he was age 14. Byrne told the students how he dreamed of playing professional football, but then at age 14 he found out he also had T1D. That didn’t stop him though. Byrne went on to play for the New Orleans Saints, the Houston Texas, the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers.
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Lexi Quilty, an eighth grader at Harpool was at the JDRF Dallas Mentor Training program, where she met Byrne. Mentors share their experiences with newly diagnosed children and offer support.
“This roller coaster ride of life’s of ups and downs, twists and turns is just that … a ride.” It’s been 2.5 years since Lexi was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 11. Lexi’s pediatrician noticed a substantial loss of weight and ordered a blood test. Results surfaced an elevated blood glucose level of 355. Her diagnosis was caught early. People with T1D often struggle to determine how much insulin to inject. However, there is no way to know how much insulin to inject with complete accuracy.
“It’s a guessing game, and every single day is different,” said Tamara Quilty, Lexi’s mother. “Many factors influence how much insulin people need to achieve the right balance of glucose and insulin.” To help gauge her levels, Lexi wears an Omni Pod pump and a monitor called a Dex Com. The CGM monitors her blood glucose levels every 5 minutes. The monitor provides warning signals to help catch high and low blood sugar and monitor trends as well as what direction the blood sugar is heading. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and there is no cure. It is often confused with the flu, strep throat or a cold that won’t go away. Those misdiagnoses can prove fatal. “Lexi, along with the other T1Ds we’ve met on this journey, are amazingly strong and courageous,” Quilty said. “We have learned more from our daughter these past two years
T1D
and couldn’t be more proud of how well she has handled all she’s had to face, as she’s done so with a smile, positive attitude, along with a fierce and tenacious bravery that inspires us every day. “Though the stress and difficulty of dealing with T1D sometimes feels overwhelming, the grace and courage with which Lexi has adapted and thrived is nothing short of inspiring.”
Lantanaresident
( Type 1 Diabetic ) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin - a hormone essential to turning food into energy. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and changes life as they know it forever. Type 1 Diabetes is unrelated to diet and lifestyle. Type 1 Diabetics count carbs, not sugar. Based on the number of carbs they are going to consume, T1Ds give themselves insulin to cover the food they are going to eat.
People with T1D often struggle to determine how much insulin to inject. However, there is no way to know how much insulin to inject with complete accuracy. Parents of a T1D survive on 4-6 hours of sleep. “Having a T1D child feels like having a newborn again,” Quilty said. “Nightly checks to monitor blood glucose levels, making corrections when high or giving milk, juice or glucose, to bring her up from a low, preventing the dead in bed syndrome, where blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels. “This roller coaster ride of life’s of ups and downs, twists and turns is just that … a ride. We’re hanging on when we are filled with fear, and letting go when we are brave. The unknown is filled with promise and hope. Hope for a cure, hope to educate and mentor and a promise that we won’t let diabetes define our daughter.” Quilty said the Lantana community is lucky to have the support of the Harpool staff, who help educate and rally around T1D students who battle a silent disease. Lantana also has a support group of T1D moms and moms that are T1Ds. They meet a few times a year.
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Coaching Corner
Reading
Between the
Teenage T
he transition from childhood into adulthood can be overwhelming at times for the entire family. The inquisitive little child that used to follow you around asking all sorts of questions about life seems to have discovered Google and the questions have run dry. Instead of asking if you need help cooking dinner, they just want to know if they can skip the family dinner because it is cramping their own schedule. If any of this seems familiar‌ take a deep breath. Instead of getting caught up in the emotions of teenage exploration for independence and feeling left behind, become a part of it. Start by giving more and more freedom in order for them to mature. I hear story after
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Lines
story of how teenagers graduate from high school and head straight to college only to have too much freedom too fast. They are not familiar
I hear story after story of how teenagers
graduate from high school and head
straight to college only to have
too much freedom too fast. with the maturity it takes to handle so much freedom and they fail or get caught in the wrong situation too often. By slowly allowing your child to experience independence they will be more
adept to handle the stress and freedom that goes along with college and life after high school. However let the teen know that with freedom comes responsibility and that they will be held accountable for their actions. This does not mean you should hang the freedom over their head but rather use the freedom as a building opportunity to grow closer to your child. Jessica Burrows, MA, LPC, CFLE specializes in teens and young adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, and self-injury. She is the owner of NextGen Counseling, PLLC. For more information regarding the services she may provide for you or your loved one please call 940-228-2171 or visit www.nextgencounseling.org.
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Read On! Get Your
Building an Effective Reading Program
By Brieanna Casey, Head Instructor, The Tutoring Center
S
ifting through the information available on how to develop home-reading programs for your children can be overwhelming to say the least. But if you can implement these few tips, it can greatly enhance your child’s reading decoding, and comprehension skills and make reading more enjoyable for everyone!
Reading Every Day It’s always good for a child to be read to whether at bedtime or during homework time. To really develop those reading skills, a child should make reading a part of the everyday routine. Children in grades kindergarten through fifth would benefit from at least 30 minutes of sustained reading aloud with an adult. Children in sixth grade and above should be reading at least an hour every day – either aloud, or to themselves – but an adult should be around to answer questions. It’s important to use a time requirement rather than a page requirement, as it may deter speed reading.
Checking for Understanding Now, while reading alone does have its advantages, improving comprehension skills requires following up every reading session
with discussion afterwards. An adult always should ask probing questions to make sure the student has read and understood the material. Another way to check for understanding is to have the student keep a reading log each day that summarizes the passage, and answers a specific question you provide. These don’t have to be rote; make them fun, and change them up. For instance, “How do you feel about what happened to Susie today?” “Do you think Johnny will change his mind, why or why not?” “What do you think will happen next” “What would you do in Bobby’s situation?” These are all good open-ended questions that stimulate their memory, and heighten engagement.
Finding a “Good Fit” Book Reading Level Many reading classes today will assess your student’s reading level, and ask that you provide your child with appropriate reading materials at home at this level. However, this often is easier said than done. The first thing that will help is having an equivalency chart to compare one reading scale to the next. Barnes and Noble also has a tool to search children’s books by their reading level. It’s also perfectly acceptable to Google
“reading lists for sixth graders” to find what other schools and programs recommend as age appropriate texts. One easy rule of thumb you can remember is that there should be 3-5 unfamiliar words each page. Once you have this reference tool, you can choose from more books your child may like – which is another animal entirely. This website provides good tips about how to choose a book that will be on-level, but also engaging for your child to read. Visit our blog at bartonvilletx.tutoringcenter. com/blog to follow the links above, and feel free to join in on the discussion on Facebook at facebook.com/TheTutoringCenterBV?fref=nf.
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