APRIL 2017
MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS
That Suit Her LOVE LANGUAGE
HAIL DAMAGE?
Be Patient
LIVING A LIFE OF
IMPACT
10-YEARS
STRONG a n d H e r e t o S t a y!
9TH ANNUAL BLANTON FUN RUN Blanton Elementary’s PTA hosted its 9th annual Blanton Fun Run that was held on April 7th, 2017. It consisted of an all-day event that promoted physical activity and encouraged school spirit in children, family members, staff and faculty of Blanton. The children in grades Kindergarten through 5th walked/ran for 20 minutes to raise money via individual donors. Each child, faculty member and all day volunteers received an event t-shirt and each student received a water bottle. A majority of the proceeds raised from this event will be utilized to purchase and create more interactive outside activity areas for our students and community, including playground enhancements.
Photography by Sabrina Graham Photography • 832.341.0988
4 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 5
LantanaLiving.com
Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray
Administration
Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne
"Unconditional"
Contributors
Steve Gamel Susan Neuhalfen
Parenting, like nothing else, exposes us to
Advertising
Kathryn Flores kathryn@murray-media.com Meredith McNair meredith@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com
Production
Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Stephanie Hansen Caroline Brock
Photography
Eric Priddy 817.907.7040 EricPriddy.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 972.899.3637 or email
artwork@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. © 2017 Murray Media Group
the possibility of deep suffering. I remember some of the first parenting advice when we were pregnant with our first son ...“He will break your heart.” Unbeknownst to me, this did not mean, break your heart as
A
in being cute, or wrapping me around his
s a parent to young children, we
little finger (which both boys still manage
want them to become strong and
to do). This was “break your heart” as in you
caring adults that will one day make
are going to love this person so much that
a difference in this world. As we approach
the thought of him hurting will almost drive
the upcoming months of gift-giving and
you insane and your heart will ache over it
memory-making, it’s natural to think back
like nothing you’ve ever felt before. What is
upon those days shared with my own
equally baffling to me is that no one warned
parents. Due to ongoing health difficulties
me about the reverse as well. It’s not that it
with aging parents, I find ‘perspective’
replaces the feeling as a parent’s suffering,
rolling down my cheeks as I reflect upon this
but as a child, watching your parent hurt digs
amazing gift and relationship of parent
deep into the pits of our being and rips out
and child.
the soul, almost your even existence.
Watching over 40 years of love between my
As we have celebrated Mother’s Day and
parents has been an emotional journey. As
parents, they guided me, yet allowed me to
look ahead to Father’s Day, we all have the
good decisions in adulthood. While I often
soul. Be open with your heart and your soul
always enough in my parents’ eyes. Words
and those little feet will grow into feet firmly
love that I see in my parent’s eyes when I
Enjoy your celebrations and forge many
make mistakes just praying that I would make
memories that have shaped our heart and
question if I’m doing enough, I know it’s
to your children. We are leaving a legacy
do no justice to the amazing, unconditional
planted on the ground to do and be great.
drive like crazy to be by their side.
memories this summer!
Sincerly, Kathryn Flores
Community Relations and Advertising Consultant Lantana Living & Argyle Living Kathryn@murray-media.com 214.734.5783 6 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
32
10
On the Cover Starting From Left: Jason, Laurie, Austin and Drew Fraser
FEATURED: 10-Years Strong and Here to Stay FAMILY 08 13 14 18 20 22 23 24
Inside Community / Inside Education Dentistry with Dr. Matt Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts Hope & Basketball Edit This with Steve Gamel Getting Young Children to Go to Bed Guyer Trio Lands On All-Region Team Guyer Basketball Dominates All-District
LIFESTYLE 26 28 34 36 41 42
Living a Life of Impact Mother’s Day Gifts That Suite Her Love Language Keeping Your Property Safe While You’re Away Essential Oils: Is It All Just Snake Oil? Hail Damage? Be Patient Gardening with Complete Solutions
EDITOR’S PICK: Heart Screening Saves 15 Year Old Argyle Resident
44 All Under One Roof
YOURSELF 48 51 52 57 58 61
Riding for Fun and Health Women’s Wellness with Cheryl Smitherman Nutrition with Savory Bistro Fitness with Outlaw Bootcamp Makeover of the Month What is Cinco de Mayo?
Business Spotlights
55 Your Neighborhood Mechanic Shop 60 The Happy Hour Facial Bar
Photos from Lantana 02 Blanton Fun Run 25 Lantana Easter Egg Hunt
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 7
KNOW
Be in the
Family
INSIDE COMMUNITY
EARTH DAY APRIL 22
Lantana will be celebrating Earth Day at the North Amenity Center parking lot from 9am until noon. Residents may recycle electronics, drop off furniture and lawn equipment and much more. Residents will also be able to safely dispose of hazardous household waste items such as paint and old pesticides but will need to pick up a free voucher at Denton County Public Works beforehand.
ART HOUSE FEATURES LOCAL ARTISTS On April 29 from 6pm-9pm, the Art House will be featuring pieces from local artists for Light Up the Night, an evening benefiting cancer research. Canvas
as well as 3D and mixed media pieces will be available for purchase with 40%
of proceeds benefiting cancer research. The Art House is located at 6100 Long Prairie Rd. #800 (between the parking area of Best Buy and Lowe’s). They will photo courtesy of Art House
have wine, beer and light appetizers available.
photo courtesy of Lantana Community Association
HIGHLAND VILLAGE ART FESTIVAL
SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION OPEN
The Highland Village Art Festival is happening on
The Lantana Lightning Swim Team is open for registration. Practices will be held after school until summer and then will switch to mornings. The swim team is only open to Lantana residents with children ages 5-18. Children must be able to swim the length of the pool in order to participate. For more information or
Saturday, May 6 from 10am-6pm at The Shops at
Highland Village. The festival features gallery quality arts and crafts, live music and entertainment and interactive activities for the kids.
Best of all, it’s all free! For more information visit TheShopsAtHighlandVillage.com.
to register, visit www.thelantanalightning.com.
INSIDE EDUCATION ADKINS STUDENT ARTWORK
TO BE HUNG IN TEXAS STATE CAPITOL Lauren Davis, a second grader at Adkins Elementary, has been selected to have her artwork displayed in Austin as part of the Texas Art Education Association’s Youth Art Month Capitol Celebration. Her Scarecrow was selected to hang in the State Capitol building as well as the Bob Bullock Museum. She was also selected by the First Lady Cecilia Abbott as one of the 10 artworks chosen to hang in the Governor’s business office for the year.
photo courtesy of Adkins Elementary
FUTURE WILDCAT BASKETBALL CAMP
The Guyer High School Basketball Program will be holding fundamental and shooting basketball camps this summer.
Fundamental Camp will take place June 19-22 with the 1st-5th
grade boys meeting in the morning and 6-9th grade boys in the
afternoon. The Shooting Camp takes place July 10-13 for all 2-9th grade boys meeting from 9am-noon. Each camp includes a ball and t-shirt. Register at www.guyerbasketballcamp.com.
GUYER
ISD EVENTS Phantom of the Opera Guyer High Prom April 29th
Memorial Day School Closed May 29th
Last Day of School June 1st
Guyer High Graduation at UNT June 2nd
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION Families of kindergarteners new to Lantana will be able to attend Kindergarten
Orientation at Adkins, E.P. Rayzor and Blanton Elementary Schools on Wednesday, April 26 at 8:30am and 6:00pm.
The event will allow families to meet the
principal, teachers and staff. They will offer
campus tours and answer questions about
their programs. Registration for Kindergarten will open in late July.
RAYZOR IN TURN 3 The students at EP Rayzor Elementary remain perfect in the Backstretch Division in Turn 3 of Texas Motor Speedway’s Speeding to Read program, having 100% of their students meeting their goals. Rayzor second-grader Alysson Delloro was the leading Turn 3 individual reader for the Kindergarten-2nd Grade Division with 804 books read. Rayzor Elementary is the two-time defending champion and will find out on Tuesday, May 23 if they will three-peat their title. APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 9
Family
photos on this page courtesy of Liz Thrailkill
SAVES 15 YEAR OLD
ARGYLE RESIDENT
T
by Susan Neuhalfen
Heart Screening
oo often we hear about student athletes suffering from cardiac arrest without a warning. Thirteen-year-old Alex Betzhold was an Argyle seventh grader who was active in football, basketball and band. In January 2012, Alex died in his sleep of an undiagnosed heart condition bringing an entire community to its knees.
us he didn’t get light-headed, dizzy or have chest pains. He was shocked.” From there, things moved very quickly. Dr. Mottl had Camden in for a 3D
echocardiogram. It was found that he had an Isolated Cleft Mitral Valve which is a serious heart defect. They would need to do surgery immediately. Camden was 15. “We asked the doctor if Camden would ever play football or baseball again,” said Liz. “The doctor said he couldn’t commit.” “I heard about Alex’s situation and
processed it as a parent as such a tragedy but I didn’t process it as a risk my child could face,” said Argyle resident Liz
Thrailkill. “My kids never had anything outside of a cold.”
Liz’s son Camden, an incoming freshman,
was practicing with the Guyer High School football team when head football coach
John Walsh brought in Living for Zachary to perform heart screenings for the
players. It was an optional test and out of 200 players, about half participated and went through the screening.
“I thought to myself this is a no-brainer, ” said Liz. “I mean, why wouldn’t we do this?”
She’s very glad now that they did.
Camden played in the first preseason scrimmage and had already left for
football practice one morning when Liz got a call from cardiologist Dr. Steven
Mottl at the Denton Heart Group. Dr. Mottl
Camden came home from the hospital three days later and was back at school only three weeks later.
By December, Camden was working out, and by the end of January he was ready
for baseball tryouts and made the team. Despite missing so much school, his GPA was a 4.8 and he got his learner’s permit, following through with all the milestones that kids his age should be doing. The best news, however, is that his heart murmur was completely fixable. Had they not detected it, he would have had heart failure in a couple of years. “Parents need to know that a situation like this is fixable,” said Liz. “The main tool they use to check your heart is a stethoscope and a family history. There are more advanced screening options available but it’s not state required so they don’t go any further.”
Living for Zachary will be providing these screenings for free at the 5th Annual Shoot for the Stars Community Event and Basketball Tournament on Saturday, May 13 at Argyle High School. Appointments are required and space is limited. To schedule, call 469-815-3565 option 4. For those unable to attend, there are screenings available at Baylor Heart Hospital in Denton for only $55. Shoot for the Stars is a huge family fun event in Argyle held every year in honor of Alex Betzhold. The all-day celebration includes 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, the Unicef one-mile color run, lots of games and booths for the kids and dinner at Fuzzy’s with a silent auction and live music from George Dunham and The Bird Dogs along with many other local musicians. Vendors will be on hand all day with food, snacks and goodies for the whole family. Shoot for the Stars is a great opportunity not only to celebrate the life of Alex Betzhold, but to remember how important heart screenings are. “The ones we’ve lost have left a legacy and an opportunity for all
our children,” said Liz. “There are kids out there with undetected heart problems and a simple screening and 30 minutes could save them.”
said Camden had a valve that’s wasn’t working well and until they could do
further testing, he had to be benched. Camden had had his UIL physical just weeks before and it showed nothing.
Not only was he not symptomatic, he had played just about every sport at Harpool Middle School breaking four school
records in athletics including some in
football and weight lifting. So how could this happen?
“When we told Camden, he thought it
was a joke at first,” said Liz. “He kept telling
photos on this page courtesy of Mary Betzhold
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 11
12 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Dentistry : Family
SAME DAY R
Teeth with Dental Implants
ecently, I witnessed a well-known fast
food chain announce in a commercial
that it will begin cooking its hamburgers
with fresh beef in an effort to liberate itself from the frozen processed patty. Such a culinary breakthrough would appear to be a progressive step forward, until one of my good by Dr. Matt who is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental www.CountryLakesDental.com
friends replied, “What? Now I have to wait for them to cook my burger?” This response was fully worthy of a culture of instant gratification. However, the “same-day” mentality is not just limited to online shipping or flower deliveries. Even dentistry will find itself toting same day smile reconstruction, but as goes all things, getting same day treatment is on a case-by-case basis. Specifically, when dealing with
restore your smile the same day, but the
process is a bit of a misnomer. To elaborate a bit more, it is best to understand what dental implants are and how they can be utilized. A
dental implant is a titanium post that replicates the root of a tooth and is placed in the bony process that supports the teeth called the
alveolus. Implants are able to then be restored either with a single crown or, using multiple
dental implants.
implants, can support bridges or dentures.
There are certain dental implant procedures
support any restoration long-term, it must fully
that are represented with the possibility to
However, in order for an implant to fully
integrate with the bone in a process called
osseointegration. This process can take four
to six months depending on the amount and quality of the bone available.
A dental implant is a titanium post that replicates the root of a tooth and is placed in the bony process that supports the teeth called the alveolus. Instances in which implants are restored at the same time they are surgically placed
usually involve temporary restorations that are maintained until the implants are fully
integrated. Heavy loading of implants prior
to their integration can result in a failure of the implant and further potential complications. However, thanks to recent advances in 3D
digital radiology and 3D digital scanning, it can often be determined prior to the placement
of the implants whether the bone quality will support immediate loading of the implant.
It is best to discuss with your dentist or surgeon the best treatment options when considering
dental implants. Of course, good oral hygiene is still essential prior to and after implant
placement, so make sure to visit your dentist regularly. Happy smiling!
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 13
Family
Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts by Susan Neuhalfen
E
veryone knows that handmade Mother’s Day gifts are the best. These are ones that Mom keeps long after her day. With the big day approaching (Sunday, May 14th) you have a little time left to put the kids to work plan something fun. Here are a few suggestions to make this Mother’s Day memorable.
Mother’s Day Wreath Make a wreath to surprise Mom on the front door complete with her favorite colors and pictures of kids. A Happy Mother’s Day banner would look great although just making a wreath to keep up for Spring and Summer would be a wonderful idea as well.
Handmade Frame
Food Put together a simple breakfast or dinner where the kids do most of the cooking. If the kids are too young for that, make pancakes and let them decorate with chocolate chips or fruit. Or just make a cake and let them decorate it with icing, M&Ms, gummy bears or whatever candy they choose. Don’t be picky about how it looks, just let them enjoy themselves. 14 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Use popsicle sticks or a leftover cereal box to make the frame and color with markers and glue buttons or fabric to make it pretty and unique. You can also take an old frame and repurpose it. Make sure you choose a picture or color a picture so that it is unique. Most importantly, put the date on the back to always remember when you made it.
Box of Memories Put together a decorated gift box containing memories either from a trip or of her favorite things. Examples like seashells, a recipe, a picture, a memory of something funny that happened written on an index card are all wonderful keepsakes to put in this one of a kind box for her to keep.
All Over Shower Scrub (courtesy of DanetteMay.com)
Organic Coffee (1/2 cup dry or used from coffee filter)
Organic Coconut Oil (1/2 cup)
Raw Honey (1/2 cup)
OR
Lavender Body Scrub
1/2 cup sea salt or Epsom salt
1 cup organic extra-virgin coconut oil
10-15 drops lavender essential oil (or another essential oil if you’d like)
Decorate a jar or container maybe with a label “Mommy’s Shower Scrub” or something that won’t come off with water or heat easily. Mix the ingredients in container and put lid on. Directions: scrub once a day all over body to remove dead skin and toxins. Use organic products so Mom isn’t spreading MORE toxins all over her.
Coupon Book Make a coupon book with coupons for post-dinner dish duty, breakfast in bed, unlimited hugs, foot rubs and more. They come pre-printed but it’s not the same without a kid’s touch. Make them from scratch or print them on the computer and then let the kids decorate. APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 15
16 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 17
Family
HOPE & Basketball by Susan Neuhalfen
very summer he sets out with a team of great folks to teach kids in underprivileged areas about
the word of God through basketball. For many years, Hoops for Hope has conducted camps all over the world
bringing their message of hope through
basketball and Eddy has been right there
with them, giving up his summer vacation to travel thousands of miles, sleep on a gym or church floor and do just what
residents live below the poverty line. They will be partnering with the Kona Baptist Church. Eddy has seven people going
with him and they still need to fund four people on his team.
So far, they have raised money by
selling Chick-Fil-A during lunch at Guyer High School, selling chocolate, placing
donation jars at basketball tournaments
and hosting nights at various restaurants
he loves.
where a percentage of the proceeds go
“A lot of people think this is a vacation
GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/
because we travel to remote places across the world,” said Eddy. “The truth is, we
run one camp in the morning, one in the the afternoon and go back to sleep on a church floor and get up at 7 to do it all over again.”
Last year Eddy and his
to Hoops for Hope. The have set up a HoopsForHopeDentonTrips
Last year they only took one student from Guyer High School while this year there
are four going. Eddy said he hopes
to one day take an entire team of Guyer kids and not just boys but girls as well.
crew went to Alaska and were welcomed with
“It’s such a a life
native to the area. This
said Eddy who traveled
changing experience,”
open arms by those
year they are going to
the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kona is a beautiful area of
the island known for its resorts,
however, many (if not the majority) of the 18 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
to Ghana his first year.
“Sure we teach basketball
skills, but we also teach
these kids that everyone has a
purpose in life.”
photos courtesy of Hoops for Hope
E
Guyer coach Michael Eddy is at it again.
Hoops for Hope works with kids ages 8-18. They are taught basketball skills through positive interaction during the first part of the day. The coaches also teach them to inspire their teammates. The second part of the day closes with life skill training sessions. Each day holds a different theme: Day 1: What is your purpose in this life? Day 2: How will you develop a plan to reach this purpose? Day 3: What is your place in the world and your relationship with God? Day 4: What is your power and how can you use it to make a difference in the world? The positive experience is life-changing for the kids who participate in Hoops for Hope. The organization, which is based out of Waco, has teams going all over
the world as well as some that stay right here in Texas. It seems the message is well received, no matter what the location. Eddy’s focus right now, however, is to get his team covered for their trip this summer. “There are plenty of ways that people can donate and we really appreciate the help,” said Eddy. “I believe strongly in this program and, if nothing else, we can definitely use prayer.”
Ways to help Hoops for Hope: •
Donate online at www.hoops forhopeinternational.org
•
Donate basketballs for the kids who participate
•
Donate awards - funding for medals for the kids who participate
•
Donate rental for two 12-15 passenger vans for transport
•
Donate food for our crew
•
Donate to GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/ HoopsForHopeDentonTrips
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 19
Family : Edit This
DON’T BE LAZY Use Proper GRAMMAR When Talking To Your Kids
W
hile picking our son, Jackson, up from school, my wife walked into the classroom just in time to overhear a teacher reading him the riot act.
The teacher was trying to convince
Jackson to stop bringing his Hot Wheels cars to school – because, you know,
smuggling five or six toy cars into school each day is such a horrible thing for a 5-year-old boy to do. But how she
phrased her request was the grammatical equivalent to running nails down a chalkboard.
Use of proper grammar often goes out the window. We all do it. I’ve been just as guilty. My wife is constantly getting on my case about needing to use full sentences instead of Neanderthal-like grunts when the kids aren’t following directions. And that’s my point. While adults can get the gist of what we’re trying to say (even if
“Don’t bring your [toy] cars to school no
they are secretly laughing at us for being
more,” she said.
grammar fools), children don’t.
Gasp! The dreaded double negative!
Jackson is only 5. The situation with the
Now thankfully, my wife was quick to pull
teacher bothers us because children
bring your cars to school anymore.
them as they develop, and since he’s in
Jackson aside to say, “Please don’t
naturally learn from people closest to
Do you understand?”
pre-kindergarten classes, we expect those
This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but listening to that story got me thinking about how easy it is to be lazy
with the way we communicate with our
children. We are so lax (or informal) with
everything we say to each other, whether
teachers to be more mindful of what they say – and how they say it. Bad grammar ruins a good message. If we continue to be lazy with our grammar around kids, it will dramatically alter their
it be face-to-face conversations or through
ability to communicate clearly, avoid
everyone to know what we mean.
with others later on in life.
text messages and emails, that we expect
20 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
ambiguity and prevent misunderstandings
Here are a few ways you can avoid grammar laziness around your kids: • Speak in full sentences. Don’t use baby talk. • Use good eye contact and be clear with your message. • Read to your child regularly. Have them read to you. The same goes for writing. • Correct their grammar regularly, without discouraging them. • Don’t be afraid to say something to teachers. Reinforce your expectations of them as educators. It’s their job to shape young minds. • When your child is upset, ask them to use words instead of crying or screaming. Explain to them, “How am I suppose to know what you want if you don’t use your words?” • Sit down and go over your kids’ English homework with them. Who knows, it may be a good refresher for you, too. by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 www.edit-this-npsteve.com
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 21
L Re anta sid na en t
Getting YOUNG CHILDREN
TO GO TO BED 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 Lantana Pediatrics, Dr. Butler and/or Melanie Bitzer, CPNP or to schedule an appointment with one of these providers, call the office at 940-455-7200.
A
common discussion in our office revolves around getting children to go to bed, stay in bed and sleep well. Some children refuse to go to bed, while others will go to bed, but take a long time to fall asleep. If these problems become chronic, it can be very frustrating for parents. While you cannot force someone to sleep, there are behavioral modifications that may make a difference. If you are having difficulty with this in your home, talk with your pediatrician regarding the specifics of your situation.
HERE ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT MAY HELP: 1. Select a temporary bedtime based on when your child is naturally falling asleep. For example, if you put your child to bed at 8 p.m., but your child is not falling asleep until 9 p.m., move the bedtime temporarily to 9 p.m. 2. Develop a bedtime routine that takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The routine should involve four to seven activities that are not physically stimulating. Your interactions with your child during these activities should be very positive. Follow the routine every night with activities in exactly the same order. Consistency is critical.
6. Monitor this behavior. You should start to see major improvements within the first couple of weeks of following the program. 7. After seeing consistent improvements at the temporary bedtime, the next step is to start moving the bedtime back to the original time. Each week, the bedtime routine is begun 10-15 minutes until the goal bedtime is reached. 8. During the initial weeks of the program, it is important to reinforce improvements. In the morning, your child should be praised and rewarded if he or she stayed in bed. Do not punish or lecture your child if the bedtime did not go well. Focus only on improvements. Courtesy of Center for Effective Parenting www.parenting-ed.org
5. If your child comes out of his or her bedroom, he or she should be placed back in bed with little physical contact and told to stay in bed. If your child repeatedly comes out of the bedroom, you should consider locking the door. Closing the door is a way of enforcing this rather than to punish or scare your child. If you truly
NEW EXPANDED HOURS
Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-6:30pm Friday: 7:30am - 5pm • Saturdays: 9am - 12pm
Sponsored Content
3. When the bedtime routine is completed, put your child to bed and leave the bedroom. It is very important that your child be awake when put to bed. Children must learn to fall asleep by themselves.
4. Ignore your child’s crying and/or protesting when he or she is being put to bed. After five minutes, you may go into the bedroom briefly (for one minute) to check on your child. You should gradually increase the amount of time before going into your child’s room each night. For example, wait five minutes the first night, ten minutes the second night, and fifteen minutes the third night. The purpose of going back into the bedroom is not to comfort your child until the fussing stops. The purpose is to ensure yourself that your child is ok and to let your child know that you haven’t forgotten about him or her.
believe that your child is very frightened, you can offer reassurance by talking to him through the closed door. Do not threaten or scream.
940.455.7200 www.LantanaPediatrics.com
74 McMakin Road, Ste. 100 • Bartonville, TX 76226
Family
Guyer Trio Lands ON ALL-REGION TEAM by Steve Gamel
A
trio of basketball players from Guyer, including one decorated female who will soon transition to college ball, were recently recognized by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
Lauren Heard, a TCU signee, capped a
dominating high school career in which she played all four years on varsity by
being named to the Class 6A All-State
team as well as the Region I All-Region
Despite her team not making the postseason, Heard was practically untouchable while averaging 24.5 points, nine rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals
Harmon and Wilson weren’t far behind in terms of dominating play. The duo helped the Wildcats earn a share of the District 6-6A title before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs.
Harmon, who continues to garner
per game – all team highs. She also shot a
attention from big time college
team by her male counterparts in
staggering 49.1 percent from the field and
programs, led Guyer with nearly
and Jalen Wilson.
points. She was the District 6-6A MVP.
team. She was joined on the all-region
sophomore sensations De’Vion Harmon
finished her high school career with 2,018
19 points per game to go with 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Wilson finished the year averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches was officially organized in 1975, and has more than 5,000 member schools (public and private). Among other duties, the TABC provides weekly rankings of all teams in each classification during the season. It also hands out a slew of postseason awards, including all-state, all-region, and academic all-state. According to its website, the TABC awards are based on nominations by Texas high school basketball coaches and voted on by regional coordinators and committees. All awards are announced between the boys state basketball tournament at the end of the school year. For more information on the TABC, visit TABChoops.org. APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 23
Family
Sophomore De’Vion Harmon was the
Guyer Basketball
DOMINATES District 6-6A All-District Teams by Steve Gamel
district’s co-most valuable player with McKinney’s EJ Clark. He was the Wildcats’ lone superlative honor other than head coach Grant Long, who was named coach of the year. Overall, Guyer had five players, including Harmon, make the all-district team. Teammates Grayson Carter and Jalen Wilson were on the first team while Jake Roberts and Le’tre Darthard came in on the second team. On the girls’ side, the Lady Wildcats’ Lauren Heard was named MVP despite playing for a team that did not qualify for the playoffs. Heard, a TCU signee, averaged nearly 25 points per game and just more than four steals per game.
T
he Guyer boys and girls basketball teams dominated their respective District 6-6A all-district teams last month, including the boys, who were co-champs of their league and regarded as one of the top teams in the state.
DISTRICT 6-6A GIRLS MVP Lauren Heard: Guyer, Sr. Offensive Player of the Year Jaden Owens: Plano West, So. Defensive Player of the Year Temi Alao: Allen, Sr.
The only other Guyer player to make the all-district team was Sydney Meador, who was a second-team selection.
DISTRICT 6-6A BOYS Newcomer of the Year Jordyn Merritt: Plano, Fr. Sixth Man of the Year Audrey Fry: McKinney, Sr. Coach of the Year Rodney Belcher: Plano
Co-MVP
Co-Newcomers of the Year
De’Vion Harmon: Guyer, So.
Isaiah Stevens: Allen, So.
EJ Clark: McKinney, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year Cam Christon: Allen, Sr. Defensive Player of the Year Mikail Simmons: Plano East, Sr.
FIRST TEAM:
Katie Ferrell: Plano, Jr.
Grayson Carter: Guyer, Jr.
Lolo Davenport: Plano, Jr.
Jalen Wilson: Guyer, So.
Carli Kauffman: McKinney Boyd, Sr. Tavi Diggs: Plano East, So. Madi Miller: Wylie, Jr. Jamiya Braxton: McKinney, Jr. Lyric Robins: Plano West, Sr. Andrea Martinez: Plano East, Sr.
Dylan Ditzenberger: Allen, Sr. Jermitt Dixon: Allen, Jr. Jaylen Walker: Allen, Jr. Camryn Givens: McKinney, Sr. Aidan O’Brien: McKinney, Sr.
Quincy Noble: McKinney, Jr.
Ryan Birt: Plano West, Sr.
Sydney Meador: Guyer, Sr.
Matt Garriga: Wylie, Jr.
24 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Nathan Dominick: Plano, Fr. Coach of the Year Grant Long: Guyer
photography by Robert Payne
FIRST TEAM:
Freshman of the Year
Photos were submitted by area residents. If you’d like to submit your photos for publication or if you have any questions please email us at artwork@murray-media.com APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 25
Living a Life of IMPACT by Susan Neuhalfen
Lifestyle
T
he voices of angels filled Bridgeway Church for two days as their annual women’s connection weekend took place on April 7-8. The theme this year was “Conversations with God.” The weekend was designed for busy women and high school aged girls to get away, have fun and renew their commitment to Christ.
Friday evening began with dinner
time with God. She urged
Rebecca Carrell. Rebecca is a radio
morning in the Word.
and a great talk from keynote speaker
attendance to pray with what she calls “shameless audacity”.
keep from being distracted,”
said Carrell. “I need God to get to me before the world does.”
“If you keep begging and pleading to buy something at the grocery
store, you WILL hear from God,” said Carrell. “He promises to answer, but
remember, it may not be the answer you want.”
Lantana
resident Joanna
Boisjolie agreed. “The importance of being in the Word and to worship and “getting to know you”
games. Tables of women grew closer
know God is so
imperative,” said Boisjolie. “We need to be more deliberate.”
and more lively. Lantana resident Ann
Boisjolie also said that she felt women
weekend was the speaker but it was
they always have so much going on
Beitler said her favorite part of the
also the group of women she got to know at her table.
should live more in the moment, that
it’s as if we have to plan everything to the minute.
When Carrell gave her second
Women in attendance then broke
competition that women allow in their
arts & crafts and holy yoga. There
talk, it was about getting rid of the lives to take them away from their
Ca
r re
ll
“I need God to get to me before the world does.”
with God like your children beg you
Saturday began with breakfast,
ca
c
student. She charged the women in
“Use your Bible every day to
be
blogger, speaker and seminary
Re
personality, wife, mom, author,
women to spend every
out to activities including games,
were also several periods throughout
the weekend of worship with songs including three female singers accompanied by percussion and acoustic guitar. There were women readily available to pray with anyone at any time. It was truly a special event as those in attendance felt enveloped in a warm and safe environment. Carrell ended the conference by calling all of the women to spend 20 minutes every day in the scripture for the next 21 days. “Will you stay in your comfort zone or will you live a life of impact?” questioned Carrell. “We aren’t called to be vanilla milk toast, we are called to be salt and light.”
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 27
Lifestyle
Mother’s Day
GIFTS
That Suit Her
Love Language by Susan Neuhalfen
A
uthor Gary Chapman wrote an amazing book called The 5 Love Languages®. Do you know Mom’s love language? Read through and see which one would best describe your mother. The explanation for each language is listed in this article along with Mother’s Day gift ideas that suit Mom’s love language.
WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: Verbal compliments that express your love
Okay, now we’re talking. After consulting
with a few boutiques in the area, here are
and appreciation.
some of the top Mother’s Day ideas:
Mom doesn’t hear thank you enough, so
• Sheila Fajl “Everybody’s Favorite Hoop”
why not put it into words? Take the time to create a card, poem or picture depicting your sentiment for her selflessness.
featherweight earrings. They come in
products are 20% off and come with
silver, rose gold and gunmetal. Also,
purchase of $125 or more. New Cool
3 different sizes and 4 colors — gold,
look at anything from the Kendra Scott
Spring collection at Palm Tree Boutique.
ACTS OF SERVICE: Any act that eases the burden of responsibility.
• Pajamas - something super soft and comfortable. They have tanks with
The kids can all pitch in and work on a meal and clean up, leaving mom to relax and enjoy her day.
shorts or capris as well as chemise gowns at Envy Boutique.
• Johnny Was® tops with beautiful
stitching and high quality material is
QUALITY TIME: Focused and undivided attention
both feminine and chic at JT Clothiers.
spent together.
PHYSICAL TOUCH:
This is by far the most popular gift. Most
your presence (hugging,
moms just want to spend time with their families, uninterrupted by phones, iPads or video games. Put together a picnic lunch and take her to a park or on some kind of outing. Go to a restaurant where everyone is comfortable - nothing stuffy or overpriced. Tangible symbols that reflect your thoughtfulness and effort. 28 | LANTANA LIVING
A non-sexual touch that reinforces handholding, massage)
• Cloud 9: A mani-pedi with a glass of wine is always fabulous, but you can
get the works at Cloud 9. There is a full spa upstairs with massage, facials and
more. Of course, there are also several stylists on hand.
GIVING GIFTS:
| APRIL 2017
pictured above: Kendra Scott: Lane Shoulder Duster Ear Jackets In Crackle Ivory Pearl. thepalmtreeboutique.com
• The MedSpa of Flower Mound: Special Mother’s Day package For every $100 spent get $20 spa credit. All Obagi®
a free gorgeous product bag with
IPL for $150 each or package of three for $299.
• Mod Facial Spa: this new open concept style brings a “happy hour” feel to
getting your facial. Facials are fun and affordable in a friendly environment.
There are privacy rooms for those who desire them - just make a reservation. • Dr. Bradley Axline: Everything a girl could need for her body including
coolsculpting, Botox®, Juvederm®,
Kybella®, Voluma®. These services are all performed by a Registered Nurse who is a Certified Cosmetic Skincare and Injection Specialist.
Whatever her love language, make sure to
ask Mom exactly what she wants. Chances are, she really wants some family time and just to know that you love her. These are
just some ways to show her just how much you appreciate what she does for you, unconditionally, every day.
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 29
30 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 31
“We treat people the way we want to be treated.”
10-YEARS
STRONG a n d H e r e t o S t a y!
W
e know what you’re thinking: look, the great folks at Southern Comfort Mechanical are
on the cover of Lantana Living again. Haven’t we heard this story before?
Yes, a few times. But with every chapter comes a different wrinkle to share –
making the story about this amazing
AC/heating company better each time you read it.
“We are constantly changing. But in many ways, we’ve stayed exactly the same,”
Don’t be fooled by the competition.
owner Jason Fraser said. “Hopefully,
Southern Comfort Mechanical is YOUR AC Company For Life!
continues to speak for itself for years
the stable and quality service we provide to come.”
by Steve Gamel
972.420.1700 | www.scmdfwair.com 32 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Nothing screams the words strong and
stable like Southern Comfort Mechanical, which is celebrating its 10-year
anniversary. Jason and wife, Laurie, have
Celebrating 10 years in a competitive industry is no small feat. But the Frasers are looking forward to the day when their sons, Drew and Austin, will take the helm and extend the next generation of homeowners and small businesses. Photographed to the left is Laurie and Jason with their sons Drew and Austin.
come a long way from the days when
there for you when they break? We are.
a return air duct that’s slightly undersized,
while Laurie served as dispatcher out of
customers and the service we provide.
person to mention this.’ You wonder why
Jason was in his truck on service calls their home.
Now, they stand alongside their team in front of a fleet of trucks before the start of another amazing work day.
Centrally located in Lewisville, Southern
Comfort built its reputation on providing reliable service for residential and light
commercial customers from the Lewisville and Flower Mound area to Denton and
Dallas. They are a Best of Denton County winner every year, giving them quite the loyal following.
They are “10 years strong,” as Laurie
boasts, but they’re quick to add they’d be nothing without their staff and loyal clients.
“I think that is the biggest contributor to
our growth as a company, and as people,” Laurie said. “We treat people the way we
want to be treated. I believe that mindset
is from the best book out there, The Bible. photography by Eric Priddy Photography
Love God and love His people. Those are our values, and they’re not going to change.”
Regardless of which air conditioning
company you choose to keep your family
comfortable year-round, Jason and Laurie want you to be wary of some companies
out there who promise the world but don’t have your back when it matters most.
You know you have options. Choosing the Sponsored Content
right company is important with summer fast approaching.
“What we sell is a service – not parts,”
Laurie said. “You can go online and buy parts for cheap, but who is going to be
We’ve grown so much because of our
We are here to stay and to grow with our Lantana community.”
Jason added, “We’ve made it 10 years. Our next goal is to make it 20 years.”
and then they say, ‘Funny, you’re the first no one else caught it before.”
Many of you have heard Southern
Comfort Mechanical’s story, but for
those of you who are new to Lantana,
Competition comes in all forms. We did
it is important to know just how “different”
436 results for AC companies in Denton
Not only do they offer the latest in
a quick search of the Internet and found County. While some seem like they’ve
been around for awhile, others have a “fly by night” vibe.
they are from the competition.
technological advances, including new installations, duct cleaning, Trane Wi-Fi
Thermostats and REME Air Purification,
“Customers – and even some of the
but they guarantee all their work. It’s not
parts, but they won’t be quality and
the office and talk to the owners, and the
companies – can go online for cheaper
uncommon for a client to be able to call
typically don’t come with a warranty,”
staff is equally accessible.
Laurie said. “Customers may go for the
price of the unit but forget that warranty
and after-installation support are equally
as important. Sooner or later, stuff breaks.” So who do you trust? That’s not an easy
question to answer – unless, of course, if your Southern Comfort Mechanical. “We are not afraid of competition, but it is important to us that our
customers know to choose wisely,”
Jason said. “Don’t fall for gimmicks like
‘free tune-up’ or ‘$20 tune-up.’ They may give that to you, but that’s exactly what you get ... a $20 tune-up with hidden
The goal is to sleep well every night knowing they bent over backwards for a customer.
Celebrating 10 years in a competitive
industry is no small feat. But the Frasers
are looking forward to the day when they can celebrate 20 and 30 years. Hopefully
by then, their sons, Drew and Austin, who attend Adkins Elementary, will take the
helm and extend the next generation of homeowners and small businesses who trust Southern Comfort Mechanical’s quality service and reliability.
fees just for showing up. Hopefully
And that would make for another great
people can see through these ads.”
chapter to this story.
Jason added, “I’ll walk into a homeowner’s
“I still can’t believe we have been able to
say is that they’ve always had problems
Jason said. “We can’t wait to start work
different companies come out. You get to
the chance to take care of your family
house and one of the first things they’ll
grow this company into what it is today,”
with the system and that they’ve had 10
each day, and we hope you will allow us
checking and it’s something as simple as
someday soon.”
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 33
Lifestyle
Keeping Your
PROPERTY
SAFE
While You’re
AWAY
by Susan Neuhalfen
S
ummer is coming and in addition to making travel plans comes the concern about the security of your home, car and belongings while you are away.
Lantana Crime Watch Captain Christy
also said many people fail to lock the
Wong who has trained with the
door between the house and the
Denton County Sheriff’s Department through Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) had many good tips to help keep property safe while you’re away, whether on vacation or at work.
garage, leaving easy access
“If the police don’t know about it, they can’t fix it,” said Wong. “Make sure you report anything, even if you think it is insignificant.”
their cars,” said Wong. “Most burglars are looking for a quick way to make money and it’s easy to steal from a car or house
of the crime activity they saw in Lantana last year was attributed to thieves in their early teens and 20s, breaking into unlocked cars. Once inside the car, they can access the garage door remote and get right into the house. She 34 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
don’t assume it won’t happen to you,” said Wong. “If you do get robbed, make sure you report it to the police.”
the kids involved in the break-
Lantana is that people do not lock
Wong reported that the majority
“Harden the target,
That’s how they caught
“The biggest problem in
that’s left unlocked.”
for criminals.
ins happening a few months back. The Denton County Sheriff’s office has software that tracks the crimes and where they happen. They connected the dots including the times the break-ins were happening and they caught the culprits. The problems soon
“The biggest problem in Lantana is that people do not lock their cars.”
went away. “If the police don’t know about it, they can’t fix it,” said Wong. “Make sure you report anything, even if you think it is insignificant.”
Wong had a few other pieces of advice for neighbors: 1. Put your home on vacation watch with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office. 2. Train with Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) who act as liaisons between the Sheriff’s office and residents. They need more volunteers. 3. Contact the post office and have your mail put on vacation hold. 4. Get to know your neighbors and let them know to keep an eye on your house when you’re away. 5. Be active in the neighborhood and know what’s going on. Wong herself is the president of Lantana Cares, a group of concerned residents who clean up any garbage along bike trails and fields around Lantana. So she stays active in the community helping to make the property a better place. She is also very active on the Lantana Crime
Watch Facebook Page. For those Lantana residents who want to know what’s going on in the neighborhood this is a good page to join to converse with your neighbors and spread awareness of any suspected crime occurring in the community. “It’s never going to stop completely,” said Wong. “But we need to do what we can to help each other.”
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 35
Lifestyle
Essential Oils Is It All Just Snake Oil? by Susan Neuhalfen
A
s the search continues for perfect health, it seems that our society has begun to look back to nature instead of toward modern science and man-made medicines. The latest craze in health, however, can be traced as far back as 5,000 years and remains a staple in many cultures’ medical practices. Essential oils have been documented as far back as 4500 B.C. when the Egyptians used them for mummification. There are also scrolls of recipes with them included from 1500 B.C. Essential oils are mentioned over 150 times in The Bible. The three wise men brought frankincense and myrrh as gifts to Jesus upon his birth. What is it about these ancient products that has made them popular again? Here are the questions that were asked of several Dallas area essential oils users:
So what are essential oils? Essential oils come from extracting and distilling different parts of trees, plants and flowers. It is a long and complicated process resulting in a small amount of oil for sale and distribution. Luckily, the oil is very concentrated and, if in its purest form, very little is needed.
How are they used and for what? Essential oils have been and continue to be used in many cultures for medicinal and health reasons. They are used for medicines, skin and beauty treatments, home cleaning products and more. They may be used topically, ingested or in aromatherapy. 36 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Do they really work? Many swear by them while others may see minimal results. One of the biggest problems is that the FDA has not properly regulated them, allowing some producers to put impure products on the market at a cheap price. Several sources state that in order to be classified as an essential oil, a bottle need only contain 5% of actual oil. Most have been diluted or mixed with other products during the processing phase again, because the regulation standards are so relaxed. Some come from plants using pesticides or other chemicals that also alter the product. It is important to find reputable companies and better understand their processes before investing in the product.
How do I know if I’m getting the real deal?
• You get what you pay for. If it’s cheap
and comes in a big bottle, it’s probably not the real thing.
• Is the Latin name of the plant provided
on the label?
• Does it specify that it is an essential
oil? If it doesn’t, it may just be a
therapeutic properties.
perfumed oil and won’t have the same
• If it smells of alcohol, it is not pure.
•
The container should be dark blue or amber glass in order to be properly stored and keep the oil from reacting with heat.
• Essential oils are not thick. They should immediately evaporate when dripped onto a piece of paper. •
Place a few drops of the oil into a small container of water. The oil should float on top of the water. If it mixes with the water it is not pure oil.
The most important thing is to research the products and companies that produce them as thoroughly as possible. Go to their websites and read what ingredients are included (there shouldn’t be any other than the oil itself) and see what processes they use to distill the oil. Most importantly, see that the product is organic or wild-crafted, meaning it is absent of pesticides and other chemicals.
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 37
40 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
HAIL DAMAGE? Be Patient
Lifestyle
by Susan Neuhalfen
L
antana insurance agent Jim Bridges said that State Farm anticipates 10,000 auto insurance claims and 8,000 homeowner insurance claims from the latest hail storm to hit the DFW area. Because many are new to the area or have never made a claim, Jim has advice for anyone affected by the storm.
Before You Call the Insurance Adjuster:
• Take pictures and videos
of the damage if you can
Before You Choose a Contractor:
numbers, credit card statements
or receipts for items that have
been damaged or lost.
• Check that the contractor is licensed, insured and bonded
- this can be done online
• Get references - the contractor could upload pictures from the internet. Actually
• Get three bids minimum. If one bid is really low, chances are the contractor
• Understand the schedule. Somebody taking on too many jobs could take
• Do not pay everything up front or even before the work is done.
go and see the work and, if possible, talk to the homeowner for reference. doesn’t understand the scope of work. forever to finish yours.
• Find owner’s manuals, serial
• Compile a line item list of
damage to home and make a copy
for your adjuster.
• Don’t throw away any damaged
items until your insurance adjuster
has seen them.
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 41
Lifestyle : Gardening
APRIL SHOWERS BRING… Warmer weather, rain, hail, tornadoes, stormy nights and even cold snaps…yep, it’s April in Texas!
W
e hope everyone’s staying safe and weathering these last rounds of storms. We are going to focus this month’s article on your turf areas. Seeing as spring is such a transitional time, there’s a lot to keep in mind.
of nutrients and oxygen resulting in your grass thinning and dying out. The quickest way to tell if it’s time to aerate is by sticking a knife down into the ground. If it stops 1.5-2.5” down then call your grass guy, if it goes further then you’re probably good for another year.
is to establish a fertilization schedule and
As the weather begins to change so should the aesthetics around your property. One of the most noticeable is the grass starting to turn. To ensure you get a healthy lawn this year, check out our TOP 3:
WATERING: A good rule of thumb is to ensure your grassy areas get on average 1 inch of water per week, and if you have not done so NOW is the time to get the irrigation system on and evaluated. Broken pipes, busted heads and/or clogged nozzles can all lead to under or over watering.
Typically cheaper chemicals will not treat
AERATION: With our terrible north Texas soils ensure that you aerate every third year at a minimum. Not doing so will allow the soil to get hard, cutting off the amount
42 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
FERTILIZATION: Another way to ensure your grass is thick and healthy this season
stick to it. Being consistent with this CAN offer immediate results BUT more often
will take a few treatments before you really see improvements. Being realistic with
your goals and paying more for quality
products are two things to keep in mind. as well and will wear out a lot faster than a name brand product with a slower release schedule.
by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 43
ALL UNDER ONE ROOF Y
our home is oftentimes your family’s biggest asset and your roof is your first line of defense in protecting this investment. When a disaster strikes and your home is damaged it can be difficult to determine the best plan of action for restoring your home and property. Adding to what is already a difficult situation is the flood of roofing salesmen knocking on your door and the countless differing bits of advice from friends, neighbors, family, insurance agents, and contractors. Deciding how to best proceed with your insurance restoration can easily be overwhelming. As one of the less that one percent of roofing contractors in the state of Texas licensed through RCAT (Roofing Contractors Association of Texas) with ten years of insurance restoration experience in the state of Texas, I would like to give you some helpful guidelines to assist you in your insurance restoration process.
HOW TO CHOOSE A ROOFING CONTRACTOR: 1. Do online research - a bad reputation is hard to hide and a good reputation speaks for itself. ALWAYS google the company and check these five sources for starters: Google reviews, BBB, Angie’s List,
Facebook, and Yelp. Then go to their website. Does it have actual content that informs you about the company or is it simply a single page thrown together so they can be found on a Google search?
2. Use a licensed and certified roofer The state of Texas does not currently require a roofing license or a general contracting license. Therefore, anyone can print a business card, buy a hammer, nails, and shingles and call themselves a roofer. Many of them are good-hearted, but uninformed and inexperienced, and leave the customer with an inferior roofing system while at the same time missing out on all of the opportunities afforded in the insurance claims process. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas offers a voluntary licensing program to help raise the quality of contractors and the work being done in the state of Texas. Roofingcontractors-texas.com. 3. Verify proof of insurance - Ask to see a COI (Certificate of Insurance) for any contractor that you are considering using. Call the phone number listed on the COI and verify that the policy is in good standing. Don’t skip this step. It is easy for forge one of these documents.
4. Ask for references - And actually call them.
5. Don’t use someone who promises to “Waive” or “Cover” your deductible - Companies that tell you they can
automatically “Waive” or “Cover” your deductible are committing insurance fraud. Knowingly participating in insurance fraud will put you at a
risk for criminal prosecution. If a contractor is willing to defraud insurance companies that are
actively seeking out and prosecuting this activity how can you be sure
he won’t do the same to you? The best contractors will collect your
deductible and leave you with the
best service, products and warranties in the market.
6. Choose a contractor that can do all
of the work - A qualified restoration contractor will oversee and
coordinate all of the necessary trades to complete the restoration of your home and property. Don’t take on
the headache of collecting estimates
and bids on all of the trades that need done and the hassle of scheduling multiple crews.
NORTH TEXAS • TYLER • LINDALE • JACKSONVILLE • LONGVIEW • SULPHER SPRINGS • TULSA, OK
7. Avoid salesmen, find a qualified roofing contractor - Many people knocking on your door are simply sales people, hired to get as many contracts as possible, as soon as possible. Salesmen will come by and pressure you to sign a contract. Contractors will look to conduct a thorough inspection, identify the relevant damage, prevent further damage, and help you with a plan to restore your home.
Heath Hicks, CRRL (Commercial and Residential Roofing Licensee) RCAT (Roofing Contractors Association of Texas) License number: 03-0306
can weather our and become more difficult to find as time goes on. Make the call while the best and most experienced adjusters are still here working your area.
DO’S AND DON’TS OF AN INSURANCE CLAIM: 1. Do get a thorough inspection from a qualified contractor - A qualified contractor will help you determine what damage your property may or may not have and protect your property from further damage. A salesman will pressure you to sign a binding contract before they even get their ladder out!
4. Do have your contractor present for the adjuster’s inspection - It is vitally important to have your contractor of choice present at the initial adjusters inspection. This can help insure that all of the damage is found and the scope of work is agreed upon up front, saving a lot of back-and-
Sponsored Content
2. Don’t be afraid to call in your claim right away - According to your policy you are required to perform due diligence in protecting you home from further damages as soon as possible. You can always wait to get the work done after temporary repairs have been made. Also, collateral damage on your property such as fences, pergolas, and window screens
3. Don’t go with the cheapest estimate If you were to collect three estimates for the replacement of your roof which estimate would you choose? The cheapest or the highest quality? Your insurance company is willing to pay for the best, and the price of your deductible remains the same whether you choose the cheapest or the most expensive contractor. So take advantage and choose the best contractor that you can find!
AVCOROOFING.COM
•
214.893.5033
•
forth with your insurance company, which can delay the restoration process. 5. Don’t give any money up front - A reputable contractor will not need
any money until work has begun. The most common scam surrounding a storm event is criminals who collect a first check but never return to actually perform any work. Tell your contractor nothing will be paid until materials are on site and a crew is on the roof!
AVCO roofing currently services three areas in north Texas: DFW, Tyler, and Longview. We have restored thousands of homes and hundreds of commercial properties over the last ten years. We would be honored to help you through this difficult time.
If you need an inspection, want to understand more about your claims process, or are uncomfortable with the roofers you have met so far give our DFW area manager, Ronnie Lollar, a call at 214.893.5033 to schedule an appointment today!
10
YEARS
STRONG
46 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Yourself
RIDING for Fun and Health by Susan Neuhalfen
F
or those asking what it takes to start biking seriously, or even casually, Josh Kerkhof, Manager at Cadence Cyclery, has some great advice.
Other important factors include
reasons, get a good helmet.
Nutrition: A biker should eat every 45
“The first question I ask a client is ‘What is your goal?’ said Josh, who spent five years racing on the U.S. National Cycling Team. “Is it weight loss? Is it mountain or road biking? Training for a triathlon or just riding with the family?”
Shorts: Though it would seem the
just something healthy in the system.
Armed with that information, he can start helping the customer find exactly the right bike. More importantly, he will begin the measurement process, which Josh claims is most vital to any customer’s long-term commitment to biking. Cadence Cyclery has a very intricate measuring machine. Over a two-hour process, the customer sits on a bike where everything is measured from the frame to the seat to make sure it’s aligned for the best fit. “If you don’t get the right fit you’ll have trouble with your neck, back or knees,” said Josh. “You should have your bike fit at a shop because if the saddle (seat) is in the wrong position, you’ll have pain and you won’t want to ride again.”
gear such as:
Helmets: Obviously, for safety
cushion is for comfort, the most
important quality is that it keeps the moisture out and releases it into the air, keeping the rider dry and comfortable. Socks: Bike socks are also designed to keep the moisture out. Cotton socks are not a good alternative and they
Water bottle cages: A must to put on the bike. You should keep hydration with you at all times.
minutes, not necessarily anything big When asked about the physical
constraints or attributes of riding, Josh loves to relay a story that happened at another shop in
Texas. He had a man come in who was 450 lbs. He wanted to ride so
they measured him and fit him to a
bike. He broke a few parts on a few
retain moisture.
different occasions, but they would fix
Shoes: The shoes and cleats are sold
kept riding. Today he’s 215 lbs. and
separately. They should be purchased together along with clipless pedals if you choose to upgrade to those. Clipless pedals have a mechanism that attaches to the cleat of the shoe which eliminates straps (and the risk of injury is reduced as well). Gloves: Gel inserts on the palm
of the glove are good, especially for beginners. Eyewear: Make sure they have
shatterproof lenses and plastic frames that bend, not break.
the bike and send him back out. He
a competitive racer. In fact, he spent so much time educating himself on
riding and coming into the shop, they
ended up hiring him at that bike shop. Biking is a great way to get to exactly where you’re going. Whether your
goal is weight loss, racing or just to
have fun with friends and family, it’s easier on your joints than running
and other forms of exercise. Above all, make sure the bike and its
components are fit to you. Do it
right from the start and make the investment in your health.
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 49
50 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Women’s Wellness : Yourself
TheDREADED
Pap Smear
M
ost women are intimately familiar with the words “Pap smear” and feel relatively certain that they need one regularly, but are honestly not sure why they should have one or what exactly is being examined. Likewise, mothers want to protect their daughters by recommending they get one regularly as well, but they are unsure when the screening should begin. A Papanicolau (Pap) smear is a screening test for abnormal, pre-cancerous or
cancerous cells of the cervix, which is the narrow passage at the bottom of
the uterus. The sample is obtained by
inserting a speculum into the vagina to
visualize the cervix, collecting cells from
the cervical opening, and examining the cells under a microscope for abnormal changes. The screening test is quick
and relatively painless. It is important to note that a vaginal speculum is a device
intended to aid in the visualization of the
cervix and vagina for many reasons other
than a Pap smear. The use of a speculum
does not always indicate that a Pap smear was collected.
Because almost 100% of cervical cancers
Cervical cancer is a relatively slowgrowing cancer and can be prevented if cell changes are detected early.
has been a moderate to severe dysplasia within the past 20 years or a diagnosis of cervical cancer at any age. Eighty to ninety percent of cervical cancer can be prevented with routine Pap screening and approximately 80% of women diagnosed with invasive cancer of
Pap screening is recommended every
the cervix have not had a Pap smear within
3 years for women aged 21-65. HPV
the past 5 years.
screening is not recommended for women 21-29; however, if abnormal cells are detected, HPV testing is typically performed. Pap plus HPV screening every
A Pap smear is not intended to detect cancers of the ovaries, vagina or uterus. These cancers may be discovered
5 years, or Pap screening only every 3
during a routine pelvic exam or with
years is recommended for women 30-65
abnormal symptoms. Although the
years of age. If Pap screening only is performed in this age group every 3 years, HPV is typically performed if abnormal cells are detected. Screening is not recommended for women less than 21 years of age
recommendations for Pap screenings are only recommended every 3-5 years, a well-woman exam is of utmost importance and should be continued annually, regardless of the need for a Pap smear.
have also been positive for human
even if they are sexually active, nor is
For a summary of the
papilloma virus (HPV), HPV DNA is also
it recommended for women greater
Pap screening guidelines,
recommended in certain populations.
than 65 years of age if there has been
visit www.asccp.org/asccp-guidelines.
HPV is the most common sexually
adequate negative screening in the past.
transmitted virus in the United States.
Women greater than 65 with moderate to
Although HPV may go away on its own,
severe dysplasia should continue routine
if it does not, it can lead to cancer of
screening for at least 20 years. Pap
the cervix as well as vulvar, vaginal, anal,
screening is not recommended for women
penile, and/or throat cancers.
who have had a hysterectomy unless there
by Cheryl Smitherman DNP, CNM Women’s Wellness at Flower Mound 972.355.9436 womenswellnessfm.com
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 51
Yourself : Nutrition
DETOXING THE HEALTHY WAY
D
ear Annette: I know certain foods help to detox but I do not know what foods they
are. What foods should I be eating? Dear Reader: Only certain foods
support detoxification. The truth is
there is no magic potion, powder or
drink to do so. In fact, you can only detox
If you are staying away from the abovereferenced list, exercising, getting lots ready to take detox to the next level. For a period of one week do •
Only put on your skin what you
release too many toxins in the body at one
and keep fragrances away unless it
a detox can make you sick as you can
moisturizer, lemons for cleaning,
time. This should only be done under the
is an organic essential oil •
Increase exercise to produce sweat
•
Increase the amount of plant based
The good news is the body detoxes daily are few basic things we can do to really facilitate that.
•
Processed foods
•
High sugar foods
• • •
•
Coriander – any herb will help the detoxification process
•
Watercress — like all greens, is very supportive of the organs of detoxification
•
Apples — are high in pectins which also support the detoxification process
•
Dandelion greens – any foods that are slightly tart are usually good for the liver
•
Ginger – helps to fight inflammation and create an alkaline base for detoxification
•
Lemons and limes – add to water for extra alkalizing properties
at least 5-6 times during the week. foods in your diet. Try to get at
cooked, raw or in smoothies. •
Drink at least 8 glasses of
•
Reduce servings of animal proteins
Fried foods
High exposure to
environmental chemicals Lack of exercise Lack of sleep
Lack of water
52 | LANTANA LIVING
Celery
vegetables a day. They can be
following are present:
•
•
least 5-6 servings of non-starch
The body cannot detox optimally if the
•
Beets – roast or boil them and add to salads
the following:
would eat. Use almond oil for
and at a rate that we can endure. There
•
sleep and drinking water, then you are
and a certain pace. Going on too strong
guidance of a good medicine doctor.
Spring provides foods that speed up the detox. During a detox week make sure to have servings of each of these everyday:
| APRIL 2017
water a day
to 4-5 ounces a day and source clean proteins if possible.
•
Take dairy out for one week
•
Take gluten out for one week.
Sincerely Yours, Annette Doody
Savory Bistro Owner & Wellness Coach
www.thesavoryteam.com
54 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
L Re anta sid na en t
Business Spotlight
Your Neighborhood
MECHANIC
SHOP
Find out why our customers voted us Best of Denton County for 2013, 2014 & 2015
by Susan Neuhalfen
T
he Kwik Kar in Lantana has reopened and is now so much more than just a place to get
your oil changed. It’s the neighborhood
mechanic’s shop, complete with full-time mechanics, techs and all the equipment needed to get your car in tip top working condition.
“Our goal was to make it a one stop shop,” said Moe Fawaz, the new owner of Kwik Kar Lantana. “We can offer all auto care
services now, conveniently close to home.”
that hometown friendly atmosphere only found in a place like Lantana.
The first thing he did when he took over
“Roughly 90% of our customers are our neighbors in Lantana and we want to make sure everyone leaves happy.”
needed to grow.
the business on March 10 was to add
an alignment machine to fix suspension
problems. They are also selling tires, the
only shop in the Lantana area doing this. They try to match any price and, in many
cases, beat the price of the big tire stores. “It’s a matter of convenience,” Moe
continued. “If you’re getting your car fixed
and you need tires, you don’t want to have
They kept the same great team of
to go to two different places and take
the shop. Neal’s parents John and Johnna
everything done here for the same or a
They couldn’t leave it to just anyone so
They are already hiring new mechanics
mechanics with Neal Bohannon managing owned the shop but decided to retire. Sponsored Content
get Neal and his staff the equipment they
they found a friend in Moe who already
owned two Kwik Kar locations. He knew
the best way to grow the business was to
more time out of your day. You can get lower price.”
and staff so customers are not
inconvenienced with wait times. The
most important thing though, is to keep
30% OFF Alignment when you mention this article in Lantana Living.
State Inspections A/C & Heater Services Tune-Ups Transmission Services Tire Rotation Oil Changes Tires 940.584.0852 • kwikkarlantana.com 7100 FM 407/Justin Rd. • Lantana, TX APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 55
56 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Fitness : Yourself
The Best Gift for Any Mom,
W
A HEALTHY FAMILY
e learn by example. The same holds true for fitness. The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services reports that more than 80 percent of adults fail to meet guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening
live an active lifestyle; and 2) you’re doing
your family. Fitness, specifically weight
and encourage one another to go the
prevent osteoporosis-related injuries. With
it together. In the gym, exercise together
extra step and to not give up. Remember you, as a parent, are modeling a fit and healthy lifestyle. Also consider a fitness
activities. At the same time, 80 percent of
trainer who can tailor a mother/child
physical activity to meet the guidelines for
personal goals, whether that’s cardio,
and teach our children about health and
Eat Healthy Together. That large order
adolescents do not get enough aerobic
program specifically to meet each of your
youth. Isn’t it time that we set the example
toning, strength building or weight loss.
fitness by leading the way?
of French fries may taste delicious, but
One of the best ways to teach children a
is it really the healthy lifestyle you want
Get everyone on board and center the
children is obese according to the Center
Mother’s Day around the corner, ask for
a healthy diet part of your everyday life.
fit and healthy lifestyle is to do it together.
for your child? One in five school-aged
new life changes around an event. With
for Disease Control and Prevention. Make
the best gift of all – a healthy family.
Cut out the chips and sodas, and stock
Children naturally look to parents as
like fruit, cheese, nuts or yogurt. Make
mentors and role models. That influence
helps mold them into who they will be as
adults and is a key factor in how they make decisions about life and about fitness. So make fitness a family affair.
Get Fit Together. Whether you walk
together, bike together or even dance
together, the important fact is that 1) you
the fridge and pantry with healthy snacks going out to eat a special event and try to prepare more meals at home as a family. Not only do you have more control over
the ingredients and quality of your food, but meal preparation becomes a family activity.
Take Care of Yourself. As a mother,
consider how important your health is to
training, can help protect your bones and strength training, you’ll gain improved
balance and coordination, which helps
you keep a steady step and not fall. It is also beneficial in preventing bone loss
and building new bone. In fact, a recent
study involving postmenopausal women, found that a year of strength training
resulted in significant increases in bone density in the spine and hips.
Health and fitness can be extremely
successful when you do it together as
a family. At Jesse James Fit and Outlaw Bootcamp, we encourage families to
get fit together. We work with clients of all ages and fitness levels to help them
reach their personal fitness goals. Visit us at jessejamesfit.com to learn how we can be a positive influence to you and your
family as you transform your life and begin working toward a healthier lifestyle.
by Jesse J. Leyva, Outlaw Bootcamp & Jesse James Fit www.OutlawBootcamp.com www.JesseJamesFit.com
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 57
Yourself
AMY FAIR
MAKEOVER OF THE MONTH
A
photography by April Humen
my is the mother of a 16 month old and works full-time. She is one of the most caring people, always dropping whatever
she is doing to help anyone in time of need. She mentors a North Texas middle school student, is active in her church
AFTER
BEFORE
Makeover and clothes provided by
and participates in the Texas Exes Alumni Association. She has been so busy, she needed for someone to take care of her for a change, and that’s just what the team at Cloud 9 Salon did!
214.415.4806 www.cloud9salon.com
58 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Makeup by April Linex April applied her makeup, giving her a smokey eye with pink poppy lips for the new season. Hair by April Linex She wanted something new and fun for the cut, but wanted to keep it easy. April highlighted soft blonde to make it pop and then gave her a modern bob with soft layers and shattered ends. Hannah Claire helped to curl it with big soft waves for another styling option. Facial by Pauletta Amy was given a deep cleaning facial since she’s never had a facial before. This facial helped remove all the dead skin build up and give her a luminous glow. Nails by Casie Chandler Casie gave her gel nails to keep up with her busy schedule and give her a beautiful finishing touch.
Want to be the next Makeover? Email cloud9salon@cloud9salon.com and tell us why you deserve it!
APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 59
L Re anta sid na en t
Business Spotlight
THE HAPPY HOUR
facial bar Sponsored Content
by Susan Neuhalfen
Mod Facial Bar owner and Lantana resident Sandy Nelles came up with the concept for her new business through her years as an esthetician, working on clients in quiet, dark rooms. I got depressed being in a dark room all day with no conversation,” said Sandy. “I wanted to create something that was fun and open where clients would feel comfortable but still pampered.”
“You spend money getting your nails done every week, why not spend less and get a facial every month,” said Sandy’s husband Scott, a Texas Army National Guard veteran who completed two tours in Iraq. “People don’t always look at your hands. They always look at your face and we can make you look years younger.”
The Mod Facial Bar is an open concept facial spa. Chairs are separated by a single tied-back curtain, allowing parties and At the center of friends to more readily this idea is that socialize. In addition to custom facials, they great skin care offer everything from doesn’t have to microdermabrasion to take half the day medical grade peels or half of your and acne treatments.
They also incorporate technology making the Mod Facial Bar concept a combination med spa and relaxation spa. There are machines that perform the hydrarefining facial, LED lights that heal cells and an oxygen machine for a “Red Carpet Facial”.
paycheck. At the center of this idea is that great skin care doesn’t have to take half the day or half of Most incredibly is the non-surgical face lift, your paycheck. Mod Facial Bar provides using microcurrent to lift and retrain the effective and affordable skin care for busy muscles in the face. people on the go. There are monthly packages available to suit any skin type. “You’ll see results immediately, but it’s The estheticians will analyze your skin and even better to use it over a series of help decide which package bests suits treatments,” said Sandy. “We are all your skin type. about results.” 972.876.9572 • modfacialbar.com • 3634 Long Prairie Rd., #132 • Flower Mound TX 60 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017
Mother’s Day Special
2 Day Mother’s Day Facial: Microdermabrasion, LED Facial or Oxygen Facial with Mimosas and Chocolates
For $65
(first time guest) if booked on Saturday May 13, or Mother’s Day, May 14
Memorial Day Special Veterans And Veteran Spouses Receive A Complimentary Boost ($10 Value) and Sample Eye Cream when Booking A Service the Last Week in May. Lantana Living Specials
What is
Cinco de Mayo?
C
Yourself
by Susan Neuhalfen
inco de Mayo (or May 5), a national holiday in Mexico and drinking holiday in the U.S., celebrates the victory of a small Mexican militia over the French army three times its size and much better equipped for battle. Though not a major victory,
the victory at Battle of Puebla was a huge moral victory for Mexico, proving they could defend their country and eventually force the French to withdrawal. We are happy, of course, because being a border state we have become slaves to their food and Margaritas. Here are a few recipes that you can make this May 5th memorable as we toast the underdogs.
LIZ’S CARNE ASADA GREEN CHILE RICE
(MMG employee authentic family recipe) Ingredients
AVOCADO MARGARITAS (recipe from Curra’s Grill in Austin) Ingredients •
2 cups crushed ice
•
6 oz Tequila of your choice
•
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
•
2 oz triple sec
•
4 oz lime juice
•
pinch of cilantro
•
salt
Put ice, tequila, avocado, triple sec, lime juice and cilantro in a blender until smooth. Serve with or without kosher salt on the rim. Yields 4 servings.
(courtesy of MMG’s resident California brand of Mexican - her words, not ours) Ingredients •
5 lb (1 lb per person usually) of thinly sliced beef steaks
2 cups chicken broth
•
4 lb bag of oranges
3 whole, fresh roasted green chiles, skinned and chopped OR 1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chiles
•
Chef Merito Carne Asada seasoning
•
1 large glass pan to marinate meat in
•
½ teaspoon salt
•
½ teaspoon garlic salt
•
½ teaspoon ground pepper
•
1 ½ cups monterey jack cheese (can substitute with pepper jack cheese), shredded
•
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Cut oranges in half then set aside to use later. Take out a slice of steak and place it in the glass pan. Squeeze orange half over one side then shake the steak seasoning over the meat. Flip and then drench the other side with more orange juice and shake the seasoning on it. Take out another slice of steak and repeat the process over the already drenched piece
•
1 cup sour cream
•
1 ½ cups cooked rice
• •
Mix Monterey Jack cheese, seasoned cooked rice, sour cream and green chile. Lay in 8x10 pan. Add layer of Cheddar Cheese. Sprinkle the top with Paprika. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes.
underneath it. Continue this until the all of the meat is in the pan. If you have any orange halves left, squeeze over the meat. If you want extra orange flavor you can grate some of the rind over the meat. Cover and let marinate for 2-4 hours. Grill and enjoy with corn or flour tortillas! Garnish with cilantro and onions if you would like. APRIL 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 61
62 | LANTANA LIVING
| APRIL 2017