Lantana Living - January 2015

JAnuARy 2015

Guyer Rules District 5-6A Football All District Team

Local Attorney Relies On Her Roots

Show Me The Love Lantana Love Stories

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January 2015 lantana living 3

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Table of Contents In Every Issue

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . 08

Family Law . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Am I Getting Married and Do I

Need a Pre-Nuptial Agreement?

Wearing Love on Your Sleeve

Inside Education . . . . . . . . . 10 Blanton Students Learn About Proper Nutrition in Pilot Program Guyer Senior Trio Selected as National Merit Semifinalists

KoonsFuller Family Law . . . . 14 Local Attorney Relies on Her Roots

Resident Spotlight . . . . . . . . 18

Registration Remains Available for Jan. 31 Groundhog Day Gala Top Guyer Students, Staff for December Honored

A Little About Dr. Rebecca Butler

Healthy Living . . . . . . . . . . 19

Guyer Students Shine in DISD Region Band

Facing a Firm Foundation: Have You Hugged Your Dermis Today?

Inside Community . . . . . . . . 12 Lantana Ladies League to Host Mardi Gras Event Feb. 17

Business Spotlight . . . . . . . . 25 Southern Comfort Mechanical

Dr. Matt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Two Dozen Elected Officials Sworn in on New Year’s Day

Resolve to Work on Your Oral Health in 2015

Denton County Offices Closed for Upcoming Holiday

Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Donnelly Seeks Another Term as Double Oak Mayor Denton Attorney Appointed to Handle County Family, Civil Cases

Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Lantana: The Year in Review

Try This Simple Flat Belly Formula

Children and Sleep . . . . . . . 09 Be on Your Way to Sleep-Filled Night

Guyer’s Pink, Windle Achieve National AP Scholar Certification

Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Features

20

Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Curves in All the Right Places

Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 My Kitchen Isn’t Working for Me!

Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Creating Your Outdoor Space

See You on the Sidelines . . . . 48 The Case for Instant Replay in High School: What’s the Holdup?

February is National Pet Dental Health Month

Argyle Living . . . . . . . . . . 38

New Magazine Coming to Area Thanks to Lantana Living Success

Counselor’s Corner . . . . . . . 40

4 Keys to Mental Success in 2015: Setting Resolutions You Actually Will Keep

Restaurant Spotlight . . . . . . 45 Fresco’s Mexicana

UIL Playoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 No Change Likely in Current Format

District 5A Football . . . . . . . 50 Guyer Rules All-District Team

Valentine’s Day . . . . . . . . . 52 Show Me the Love

Win Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 It’s You and Me Baby

On The Cover

KoonsFuller PC managing shareholder Charla H. Bradshaw

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Your Local CPAs . . . . . . . . 59 It’s Time to Gather Information for 2014 Returns

update?

January 2015 lantana living 7

ana Living Lant LantanaMagazine.com

publisher & editor Scott & Kelly Murray

contributors Eric Williams Mark Miller Steve Gamel

advertising Kathryn Flores

kathryn@lantanaliving.com Kelly Murray

kelly@lantanaliving.com production graphic designers Becky Flanders-Ballering, Supriya Srinivasa Liz Wallace, Zulma Martinez Stephanie Hansen

photography robertpaynephotography.com 214-437-9568

administration managing editor Jana Melton

sub-editor Kristin Maurer

letters Lantana Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email kelly@lantanaliving.com. All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising inquiries call 214.734.5783 or email kathryn@lantanaliving.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.

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from the community editor

Wearing Your Love on Your Sleeve In this new year, we often are challenged for resolutions, making changes, and putting our best feet forward. I again have joined this voyage with a new pledge and commitment to myself (the biggest of my challenges)… to wear my heart outward!

I was blessed with a very tender and giving heart. Many, many times in my life it often has left me tearing up at commercials, movies, weddings, births and the general giving of others. It absolutely blows my mind to see generosity at its best and I just LOVE it and want more, more, more! I want it so bad sometimes that it physically hurts.

I love hearing the “pay it forward” stories. I love seeing the goodness in a neighbor by doing the right thing when no one else was watching. I love seeing our generation still have so much respect for the ones who came before us. I love watching the curiosity and exploration in the eyes of a child. I just love life when I can push myself to slow down and truly see it. I resolve to do that more.

I have numerous memories both past and more current that people have told me I need to toughen up, or get thicker

skin, or let it go in one ear and out the other. It’s only somewhat recently that I came to a realization that those people often wanted me to be something I am not.

While there are many things I’d like to change, my sensitive heart isn’t one of them. It allows me to love unconditionally, give wholeheartedly and love furiously. Therefore, my resolution is to take that up a notch. No one really knows how you feel unless you tell them and show them and often. I resolve to wear my heart and love on my sleeve so that others know, without a doubt, how much I appreciate them, love them and pray for them.

All people have hearts and goodness and it’s by saying and doing more that invites love. As the next retail celebration, Valentine’s Day, approaches please join me in wearing your love on your sleeve. Surround yourself with loving friends and family who lift you up. Tell those close to you that they are important. Show a stranger your heart.

Bless others.

Happy 2015 and Valentine’s Day, Lantanaians. I cherish each of your friendships and look forward to many more!

Kathryn Flores

and childreN

Sleep

Post-holiday exhaustion is something we all typically experience. The kids are getting back into school and a regular routine is welcomed by most everyone. How do you get yourself and your children back into a good sleep schedule?

Be on your way to sleep-filled nights with these pointers:

children to sleep, because if they wake in the middle of the night they may need you to sing or rock them back to sleep -- a condition known as sleeponset association disorder. (If you have already been doing this, try to phase this behavior out gradually.) Instead, have them get used to falling asleep with a transitional object, like a favorite blanket or stuffed animal in her own bed.

1. Avoid feeding your children big meals close to bedtime, and don’t give anything containing 6. Make sure your children are caffeine less than six hours comfortable.

Clothes and before bedtime. blankets should not restrict movement, and the bedroom 2. After dinner, avoid all temperature shouldn’t be too stimulating activities. Try to warm or too cold. keep things as calm as possible in the evenings.

7. If your children call for you after you’ve left their room, 3. Warn your children that bedtime wait a few moments before is in five minutes, or give them a responding. This will remind choice -- “Do you want to go to them that they should be asleep, bed now or in five minutes?” -and it’ll give them the chance but do this only once. to soothe themselves and even fall back asleep while waiting 4. Establish a consistent and for you. relaxing bedtime routine that lasts between 20 and 8. If your children come out of 30 minutes and ends in your their room after they’ve been children’s bedroom. It’s better put to bed, walk them back and to read a favorite book every gently but firmly remind them night than a new one because that it’s bedtime. it’s familiar.

9. Give your child tools to 5. Avoid singing or rocking your overcome his worries. These can

three stars, give them a prize.

include a flashlight, a spray bottle filled with “monster spray,” or a large stuffed animal to “protect” him.

By age 4-6 months babies will start to quit nighttime feedings, and usually are ready to sleep through the night anywhere from six- to 12-hour stretches. Research shows about 60 percent of babies sleep through by 6 months, and up to 80 percent do so by 9 months.

Remember, all babies wake up sometimes during the night, but those who “sleep through” have learned how to nod off on their own.

10. Set up a reward system. each night your children go to bed on time and stay there all night, they gets a star. After

How much sleep do your children need? There is not one definitive answer but some general guidelines for children by age:

AGE

Total Sleep (hrs)

Nighttime sleep (hrs)

Naps (hrs)

Newborn2 months

16-18 hours

8-9

7-9 (3-5 naps)

2-4 months

14-16

9-10

4-5 (3 naps)

4-6 months

14-15

10

4-5 (2-3 naps)

6-9 months

14

10-11

3-4 (2 naps)

9-12 months

14

10-12

2-3 (2 naps)

12-18 months

13-14

11-12

2-3 (1-2 naps)

18 months 2 years

13-14

11

2 (1 nap)

2-3 years

12-14

10-11

1-2 (1 nap)

3-5 years

11-13

[10-11] 10-13

0-1 (naps usually stop by age 5)

5-12 years

10-11

10-11

n/a

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.

Rebecca D. Butler, M.D., FAAP

OFFICIAL

LANTANA

Resident BUSINESS OWNER

74 mcmAkiN roAd suiTe 100 BArToNville, TX 76226 www.LantanaPediatrics.com

Now offeriNg Allergy TesTiNg & immuNoTherApy! January 2015 lantana living 9

inside education Blanton Students Learn About Proper Nutrition in Pilot Program If reaction of Blanton Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade students was any indication, a pilot program on proper nutrition they took part in before the holiday break could be deemed a success.

Students filled out “nutrition score cards” of what they ate for lunch each day including what food group each item fit within. The program coincided with National School Lunch Week which encouraged students to “find a better balance between healthy eating and physical activity,” according to the School Nutrition Association.

Students said the program helped remind them of what’s nutritious to eat and meet the daily recommended amounts of each food category. Each score card gave students six categories to fit their food choices in – fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, dairy or other – with teachers helping if they were unsure where each food fit.

Guyer Senior Trio Selected as National Merit Semifinalists Guyer High School seniors Max Malone, Eliza Price and Zachary Wade have been chosen as the lone Denton Independent School District semifinalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship program.

They were among just 7,600 students selected for the honor nationwide and joined nine other Guyer students among 23 DISD overall program honorees.

They will learn in the spring if they earn finalist status based on their abili-

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ties, skills and accomplishments. This distinction earns students scholarships and college sponsorships.

Other Guyer honorees were Maxwell Herbig, Remi Nadeau, Youjung Song, and Michael Tabet as Commended Scholars, Allison Reibach, Eric Sandoval, and Jubei Del Rosario Vinales in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, and Vinales and Derek Watson as National Achievement Scholars.

All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen for recognition based on taking the Preliminary-SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – a test taken by 1.5 million students each year.

Guyer’s Pink, Windle Achieve National AP Scholar Certification Recent Guyer High School graduates Jessica Pink and Natalie Windle were among four Denton Independent School District students to receive the highest possible honors in the 2014 Advanced Placement Scholars program.

Pink and Windle were among just four DISD students to earn National AP Scholar certification for an average score of 4 on all of their AP exams and a score of 3 or higher on eight exams.

Denton High School’s William Root and Ryan’s Jared Allen were the others.

Another 14 Guyer students were among 26 from DISD to achieve the AP Scholar with Distinction certification for a 3.5 overall average on all exams and 3 or higher on five tests. They were Current students Alicia Downard, Zachary Freeze, Eliza Price, and Carol

Scott and the graduated Pink, Windle, Kade Goodchild, Chimezie Iieje, Bailey Lewis, Troy Lucas, Jackie Peterson, David Quintanilla, Christina Suikkari, Esther Weaver.

Guyer had 15 of the district’s 22 students earn AP Scholar with Honors certification for a 3.25 overall average and 3 or higher on four exams. They were Current students Damian Crow, Maxwell Herbig, Max Malone, Jeffrey Miyata, Andrew Rieder, and Michael Tabet and the graduated Connor Bourgeois, Phillip Carnell, Allison Flack, Madison Franklin, Ashley Krinner, Jordan Reyes, Charis Rodgers, Teodoro Santiesteban, Camille Sutton, and Travis Ware.

Earning AP Scholar distinction were 64 from Guyer of 104 DISD students with 3 or higher on three exams. They included current students Maria Harmjanz, Adam Anderson, Emily Apt, Quinton Ayers, Bryce Babcock, Thomas Carpenter, Jubei Del Rosario Vinales, Samantha Donovan, Jacob Herbig, Devin Horton, Andrew Hunsberger, Ryan Koch, Remy Nadeau, Sophie Nader, Jessica Nguyen, Jacob Poole, Allison Reibach, Brooke Scherer, Bassam Smadi, Hunter Snowden, Aaron Taylor, Megan Temple, Darby Traylor, and Zachary Wade. Those graduated were: Isaac Akintitan, Ricardo Barerra, Bronson Bledsoe, Kendall Bose, Savannah Bradley, Kaitlyn Caro, Maxwell Conradi, John Cowan, Jon Debruin, Stacey Detvo, Ariana Fehr, Thomas Ferguson, John Gilbert, Thomas Gray, Christien Hunt, Joshua Jordan, Silvia Kim, Logan Lockhart, Brandi Marriot, Sophie

Martin, Kaitlyn McClaine, Sydnie McCormick, Baley McGraw, Jasmine Montemayor, Eduardo Montoya, Kayla Mullin, Haley Neu, Jimmy Nguyen, Melissa Petrie, William Phelan, Kassie Prichard, Mikaela Pyle, James Reinauer, Edie Scott, Natalie Seavey, Tristan Spray, Michaela Thompson, Savannah Thomson, Adam Vollmar, and Alexandria Windle.

body and soul

Registration Remains Available for Jan. 31 Groundhog Day Gala There’s still time to reserve a spot for the Denton Public School Foundation’s 13th annual Groundhog Day Gala to be held Jan. 31 at the University of North Texas Gateway Center.

Reservations will be accepted until Jan. 20 at the dentonisd.org/foundation website. Tickets are $75 per person with table sponsorships available at various price levels. A portion of all tickets and table sponsorships are tax deductible.

The event, which provides community members with an opportunity to give funds back to Denton Independent School District students, teachers and staff members, begins with silent auction at 6:30 p.m. A new mobile bidding feature will allow those who can’t make the event to bid alongside attendees. Volunteers also will be available for those without a smartphone needing help bidding.

A seated dinner will take place at 7:45 p.m., followed by a live auction. Attire for the event can be either formal or casual.

All proceeds will directly benefit Denton ISD students, teachers and staff through a variety of programs.

The Denton Public School Foundation has awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to teachers, staff scholarships and funding for classroom initiatives since 1995. More than $581,000 has been provided in student scholarships to Denton ISD graduates over the same time span.

More information is available at dentonisd.org/foundation.

By Meredith S. Tittle, PT, MPT

Top Guyer Students, Staff for December Honored Eight students and one staff member were selected for monthly Guyer High School honors for at a recent breakfast.

Named Students of the Month were: Education, cont. on page 23...

Restore Your Flat Stomach After Pregnancy!

Regularly I have friends ask me, ‘Meredith, what can I do about this separation in my stomach? My doctor told me that my abdominals tore during pregnancy and I would like to know how to prevent further injury and make it go away?’

What is a Diastasis Recti?

This condition is called diastasis rectus abdominis, or DRA. This condition is very common during and following pregnancy secondary to the growing uterus and the tension this places on the abdominal wall.

The abdominal muscle that lies on the front of your abdomen and runs up and down is known as your rectus abdominis muscle, or as most call it, one’s “six-pack.” It is connected into right and left halves by a thick band of connective tissue known as your linea alba.

As your muscles stretch during pregnancy, this band can separate leaving a gaping ravine as big as several inches wide. This is known as the diastasis.

Other than a popular target muscle for exercise, the abdominals assist in posture, breathing, and support of your internal organs. The busyness and chaos of having a new baby coupled with housework and lifting the baby can worsen the problem and lead to more serious injury, not to mention negatively affecting one’s quality of life.

How to Fix It Research and evidence show that physical therapy can both prevent and restore a diastasis recti. Upon review of your medical history and a physical exam, a physical therapist can assist in the diagnosis of a DRA. Some of a patient’s symptoms may include: flabbiness of the abdominals, a palpable separation in the middle of

the stomach wall, low back pain, poor posture, and incontinence. A physical therapist can assist you in improving posture, providing education regarding lifting techniques and proper exercise.

The most important muscle for assisting in restoration of a DRA is your Transverse Abdominis. This muscle lies deep to the rectus, or “6-pack” muscle and helps hold your stomach flat while also supporting your lower back. The TA runs horizontally and originates on a connective tissue in your back. It actually has the appearance of a built-in back brace.

Once your pain and function have improved, a physical therapist can assist you in returning to a safe exercise routine. Pilates is a great method to make a lifelong practice as it helps assist in muscle balance and focuses on advanced training of your transverse abdominis!

S2S Functional Performance Whether you are concerned about the chance of an injury or have already obtained one, our highly-qualified staff is here to help.

About Wellness: Our certified performance enhancement specialists will design a unique plan for athletes and weekend warriors alike to help them become a top performer.

About Rehabilitation: Physical therapy performed by a skilled, knowledgeable therapist will get you safely back to your sport or life activity.

At S2S, our interdisciplinary team of licensed physical therapists, certified personal trainers, certified pilates instructors, and certified performance enhancement specialists are striving to share with you the most current evidence in maintaining a healthy, energetic, and injury free lifestyle! From preventative to restorative, we’ve got you covered!”

Call us or visit our website for more details s2sperform.com Follow S2S Functional Performance on Facebook at facebook.com/s2sperform, Instagram @s2sperform, Twitter @s2sperform.

January 2015 lantana living 11

inside community Lantana Ladies League to Host Mardi Gras Event Feb. 17 Member and non-members alike are invited to the Lantana Ladies League Mardi Gras Bunco slated for Feb. 17 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Lantana Golf Club.

The event will feature plenty of food and drink to celebrate Fat Tuesday.

There will be generous prizes and raffle giveaways plus contests for Best Mask and Best Beads. And games of Mardi Gras Style Bunco will be available.

Admission and beneficiaries have yet to be determined. More information will be available on the organization’s website at lantanaladiesleague.com and Facebook page.

Two Dozen Elected Officials Sworn in on New Year’s Day While New Year’s Day is a holiday where most people spend their time at home, for 24 Denton County elected officials, it was the first day of the rest of their lives.

The two dozen people spent part of the day being sworn into their positions.

Among those taking the oath of office was County Judge Mary Horn, whose re-election made her the longestserving Denton County judge.

Other re-elected officials included Precinct 4 County Commissioner Andy Eads and District Attorney Paul Johnson.

Others sworn in on Jan. 1 were: -Sherri Adelstein, district clerk -Margaret Barnes, 367th Judicial District Court judge

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-Gary Blanscet, justice of the peace, Precinct 6 -Joe Bridges, County Criminal Court 4 judge -Cindy Yeatts Brown, county treasurer -Steve Burgess, 158th Judicial District Court judge -Jim Crouch, County Criminal Court 1 judge -James DePiazza, justice of the peace, Precinct 2 -David Garcia, County Criminal Court 3 judge -Johnny Hammons, constable, Precinct 1.

-JW Hand, justice of the peace, Precinct 4 -Joe Holland, justice of the peace, Precinct 1 -Becky Kerbow, justice of the peace, Precinct 3 -Juli Anne Luke, county clerk -Ron Marchant, county commissioner Precinct 2 -Kimberly McCary, County Court-atLaw 1 judge -Mike Oglesby, justice of the peace, Precinct 5 -Robert Ramirez, County Court-atLaw 2 judge -Bonnie Robison, County Probate Court judge -Brody Shanklin, 211th Judicial District Court judge -Virgil Vahlenkamp Jr., County Criminal Court 2 judge -Coby Waddill, County Criminal Court 5 judge

Denton County Offices Closed for Upcoming Holiday Denton County government offices and all three library branches will be closed on two upcoming Mondays because of national holidays.

The first occurs Jan. 19 in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. That will be followed by Feb. 16 which is President’s Day. Regular hours will resume on Jan. 20 and Feb. 17, respectively.

Donnelly Seeks Another Term as Double Oak Mayor Mike Donnelly recently announced his intent to run again for mayor of Double Oak. If elected it would be his second consecutive term and third overall.

In addition to being elected mayor from 2009-2011 and again in 2013, he served as mayor pro-tem in 2013 after the death of Tom Pidcock. He has been elected three times to the town council and served as town liaison to numerous county, state and federal organizations including the Denton and Lewisville school districts.

Elections will be held in May. Denton Attorney Appointed to Handle County Family, Civil Cases Attorney Tiffany Haertling has been appointed judge of the new 442nd Judicial District Court by outgoing Texas Governor Rick Perry.

An attorney and partner at Denton’s Holmes, Diggs and Earnes, Haertling Community, cont. on page 44...

January 2015 lantana living 13

Local Attorney

Relies on Her Roots

C

“I enjoy helping families, and I guess that is where the therapist part in me comes out. It all runs parallel to being a therapist because I can take a chaotic situation and help a family move forward.”

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By Steve Gamel

Charla H. Bradshaw has spent more than 20 years building her reputation as a trusted family law attorney in Denton County.

The driving force behind that success, she says, is her deep North Texas roots.

Bradshaw, the managing shareholder of KoonsFuller P.C. Family Law’s Denton location, is very much that little girl from down the street who dove feet first into everything she did, made it big, and eventually came home to serve the community that helped raise her. It’s what her parents and grandparents did, and she clearly sees why.

“I like it because I get to be around people I’ve known since I was a kid,” Bradshaw said. “My dad was a home builder here and my mom was a realtor. Both graduated from Denton High School, as did my grandparents.

They were all very plugged into the community, and I got my work ethic and drive from them.

“I can practice law anywhere, but my office is here in Denton because it’s where I was raised.”

Her roots certainly run deep. Her father, Charles E. Hopkins, served on the city council for as long as Charla can remember, and at one point also was Denton’s mayor pro tem. Her mother, Mary Carolyn Hopkins, was a very successful realtor and respected member of the community until she passed away.

“My dad and I are very close, and I’d like to think he’s very proud of me,” Bradshaw said. “I think it’s rewarding for him to see me become the business person I am today.”

Bradshaw is far from your everyday, run-of-the-mill divorce attorney.

Putting her various accolades aside – there will be plenty of time for that later on in this story – would you have guessed she once strongly considered a career in marriage counseling? It’s true. After graduating from Denton in 1980, Bradshaw got her undergraduate degree from Texas Woman’s University in marriage and family therapy.

She completed all her coursework with the exception of her thesis. Her decision to switch careers wasn’t made lightly, and in a lot of ways, it parallels what she does today.

Bradshaw had been accepted into the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and wanted to see that through after working as a paralegal temp at a family law firm in Houston.

“That (working as a paralegal) is where I first got exposed to family law, and I loved it,” she said. “I enjoy helping families, and I guess that is where the therapist part in me comes out. It all runs parallel to being a therapist because I can take a chaotic situation and help a family move forward.”

Charla said one of the best parts of her job is that there are thousands of ways she can help her clients, and her resources are limitless. No divorce case is the same, she said, and there are so many factors that come into play, such as property, children, paternity and pre/ post nuptial agreements. It’s important to have someone representing you who will look out for your best interests first.

Bradshaw is known for summarizing some of the most difficult cases, both locally and internationally, and her vast experience in family law has made her a clear choice as an expert for television and radio stations looking to discuss divorce-related matters.

“There is never a dull moment,” she said. “I truly love what I do.”

Now for the accolades. According to the KoonsFuller website, Charla is listed among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas (2005) and rated one

of the Best Women Lawyers in North archaic bill that needed to be redone.

Texas by D Magazine in 2010. She has I spent three years of my life working made the list of Texas Super Lawyers to get it into a position to get passed.” published now by Thomson Reuters Bradshaw had her own practice until each year it has 2008, when she been chosen merged it into (2002-2014) and KoonsFuller.

I became passionate is AV Peer Review KoonsFuller (Top) Rated provides the about the alimony statute by Martingalelocal community because it was an archaic Hubbell.

She a family law firm bill that needed to be is immediate with a strong past chair of reputation for its redone. I spent three years the State Bar of resources and of my life working to get it Texas District 14 results. The firm has offices in into a position to get Denton, Plano, passed.”

Houston, Dallas and Southlake.

“We have every level of attorney you can think of, and are extremely well staffed, so it provides our clients with a wide-range of resources that are right at our fingertips,” Bradshaw said.

One could go on and on about how successful KoonsFuller has been over the years, and the hundreds of cases Bradshaw has taken on as if they involved her own family. But Bradshaw would rather be known more as someone who uses her business to benefit the community she lives and works in.

She owns a 27-acre ranch in Denton County with her husband, Rick Hagen, who is a criminal defense attorney.

They’ve hosted 11 fund-raising events over the last 12 months and Charla has had her name alongside several community endeavors, including the Grievance Committee and still Lantana Ladies League, countless serves as a member. teacher appreciation events, and the During the last session of the Texas children’s museum.

Legislature, Bradshaw – who was “I’m very big on Denton County,” once mayor pro tem of Westlake – was Bradshaw said. “We are very active a member of the legislative committee in the chamber of commerce and I for the family law section of the State promote Denton County in everything Bar of Texas and helped write and I do. I can’t think of anything better to lobby for a new alimony bill. do with my life than give back to the “That was one of my favorite community I grew up in.” moments,” she said. “It’s very Simply put, Charla Bradshaw is a rewarding to write statutes and defend local girl who never forgot where she bills. I get to read every bill that’s filed, came from. analyze it and decide which position to take. I became passionate about the alimony statute because it was an

January 2015 lantana living 15

real estate Lantana: The Year in Review

By Mark Barnes

D

o you recall these words I wrote a year ago: “In summary, 2013 was simply ‘excellent.’

And my sense is that I may be dusting off that word and bringing it back a year from now to describe 2014.”

Well, that’s exactly what 2014 turned out to be. Simply “excellent.”

Once again, we finished the year with strong double-digit volume growth in Lantana resales, up 20 percent. That’s

16 lantana living January 2015

roughly the same rate we experienced to contract at 56. And the lower the price in resale volume growth in 2013. And, category a home is in, the lower the to put in perspective how great the days-on-market number. For example, past few years have been, 2014 volume resale homes under $300,000 sold in was well more than double the volume an average of 45 days, and if you only accomplished in 2010. looked at homes under $250,000, that The market segment that has been number was a mere 34 days. Additionmost active are those homes of less ally, of the 58 Lantana homes that sold than 2,500 square feet in size, as that for under $250,000, 41 percent sold in group shot up 43 two weeks or less.

Values grew percent last year.

While mathematically as well.

While And at year-end, mathematically there were only two there certainly is an there certainly Lantana homes available for sale “average” price-per-square is an “average” in that size range. foot number for the market, price-per-square foot number for I don’t foresee that number is relatively the market, that anything happening number is relatively in the coming year meaningless. meaningless. that would change Lantana homes this remarkable vary in size from 1,700 to 5,700 square performance.

Days-on-market numbers remained feet, and have a myriad of different strong, with the average days from list amenities, room counts, improvements, etc. So I don’t like reporting out on an “average” number.

So to give you an idea of value growth, let’s just look at four-bedroom homes in the 3,200-3,800 square-foot range, not on the golf course, and without a pool.

In this group alone, values rose by an average of about 4 percent in 2014.

Are there still great deals in Lantana?

Yes, if you consider that our average pricing remains below other nearby hot markets like Flower Mound, Highland Village and Coppell. But if you are looking for a foreclosure deal to jump on, don’t hold your breath. Last year, there only was a single lender-owned sale in the entire community. That kind of stability is good for all homeowners in Lantana.

The bottom line is that we’ve seen another great year for resale homes in Lantana. Inventory is down, volume is growing, pricing is up, and homes are selling faster.

What’s ahead for 2015? Well, I have a feeling that I may need to hold to that ”excellent” word for next year’s “Year In Review.” We just aren’t seeing anything ahead of us that can derail our continued growth. And that’s GREAT news!

OFFICIAL

LANTANA

Resident BUSINESS OWNER

January 2015 lantana living 17

A Little About Dr. Rebecca Butler Expect the Best

Q: Where is your family from?

A: Lubbock, Texas. And proud to be Texas Tech Red Raider fans!

Q: Why did you choose to live in Lantana?

A: I wanted to live and practice in a smaller community. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Doc Hollywood,” that’s always how I imagined my practice. I want to be able to know my patients and watch them grow up. I don’t have children of my own (yet!) so being able to have a small part in the lives of the children away from the office is very rewarding.

Q: What are the names of your family members?

If you have school age kids please include their grade and what school they attend?

A: Gus my loving and supportive fiancé.

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Jasmine - my loyal companion, and running partner, for 10 years now. Suri - a recent addition to my “fur family” and one spoiled mess.

Q: Where is your favorite local place to eat?

A: Does the Cheese Board at Grapes to Wine count? Also, Chipotle - Gus and I are there 4 times a week.

Q. How long have you lived in Lantana?

A. We’ve lived in Carlisle for a little over three years. We moved to Lantana one month before opening the practice.

Q. What activities are you involved with?

A. Jasmine and I love running through Lantana together, it is stress relief for us both. I play golf (another reason we love Lantana) and I am in love with yoga; both the practice and its healing principles. I would love to complete a teacher training in the future and teach/offer classes to children.

Q. What advice would you give to new residents of Lantana?

A: If you have children get them involved quickly. There are so many opportunities for kids within this community and the best resource is the people of Lantana.

The Lantana Moms Group, Mission Moms, and Lantana Ladies League are great groups to check out to get plugged into Lantana’s community. Chances are you have moved onto a street with more than a dozen children anyway so word spreads quickly.

healthy living Facing a Firm Foundation

Have You Hugged Your Dermis Today?

By Rebecca Romanucci, RN Advanced Aesthetic Registered Nurse Injector Owner/Manager RSR Medical MEDICAL SKIN REJUVENATION, L.L.C.

E

ven the most exquisite creation is sunk without a firm foundation.

It is important to understand the factors which contribute to the destruction of any foundation, to provide the opportunity to protect it from weakening the structure which it supports.

Our skin has a delicate outer layer (epidermis) which provides a living barrier, protecting us from harsh weather, chemicals and infections. The outer layer is the one we spend so much time and money to protect and enhance.

We purchase creams, ointments and make-up attempting to present our best face for all the world to see.

But, it is the two layers of skin UNDER the epidermis that provide the foundation for your appearance.

The dermis is the second layer and is the actual ‘work-horse’ of your skin. It provides collagen and elastin which assist with skin tightness, elasticity and suppleness. Below the dermis is the subcutaneous layer which is primarily fat and other structural

supportive tissue which provide cushion and insulation as well as form and lift, defining our features such as full lips and plump cheeks.

As we age and expose our skin to harsh elements, the dermis becomes less efficient, producing less elastin and collagen and our skin becomes lax and loose. The subcutaneous tissue loses volume in the cheeks, around the nose and mouth, eyes, temples and lips. Thanks to gravity pulling down on our skin at all times, our loose, sunken skin not only sinks, but also sags.

Wearing sunscreen, not smoking and eating anti-oxidant rich foods such as carrots, apricots, blueberries and salmon contribute to the protection of the foundation.

Many options are available to assist with strengthening your foundation. FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Voluma, Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane are hyaluronic acids (a substance naturally created

in our body) which can be injected by a trained doctor or registered nurse, to replace lost volume, filling and lifting the skin and providing a more youthful appearance. There also are prescriptive skin care products, such as Obagi, which are incredibly successful with healthy cell production, reducing hyperpigmentation (brown spots) and skin tightening.

The condition of your skin is a direct result of the health and strength of its foundation. The next time you see a person who you believe has plump and radiant skin, be sure to complement him or her on that healthy foundation: “Your dermis is beautiful. I wish I had a dermis like that!”

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January 2015 lantana living 19

fitness Try This Simple Flat Belly Formula

By Chani Overstreet Owner, Strada Fitness & Wellness

T

he new year is here and you’ve decided to make some body-shaping changes. Let’s talk about a flat mid-section, the six pack.

Having a nice tight tummy really boils down to two things. Getting rid of belly fat and toning, or strengthening your abdominal muscles.

The following three tips will help you achieve your goal of an attractive mid-section: Your first step; cut out the junk food.

Sugar is your worst enemy. Processed and convenience foods, sodas, alcohol, pastries and sweets need to be a thing of the past. Eat a protein (lean meats, eggs or protein powders) whenever you eat a carbohydrate to balance your energy

levels and support your muscle growth.

Your body will thank you for eating whole nutritious foods by shedding fat and relieving that bloated belly.

Remember, fat stores on the mid-section are created by excess sugar intake.

I have to add; stay hydrated, drink water.

Shoot for half a gallon or a little more each day. Hydration is a big part of a flat stomach.

Second, just like building biceps or any other muscle in the body, you need to work your abdominals with a challenging resistance to strengthen and tone them up. Perform abdominal exercises at least three times a week.

Done consistently your abdominals will start to take on that six-pack look. Keep variety in your ab workouts. Crunches are great, but your body will get used to them quickly. Change it up by using a decline bench for sit-ups, go for leg lifts, and rope crunches. Or simply hold a dumbbell or other weight on your chest as you do crunches.

Keep in mind that your routine

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must keep changing.

Your results won’t come near as quickly if you do the same exercises over and over.

Challenge yourself and be progressive in your workouts, it must be difficult to create change.

Step three; HIIT cardio. Two to three times a week take 30 minutes and get after it. HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. The benefits of short bursts of effort over long steady state cardio have been proven over and over.

You will create muscle tone and pump up your metabolism with the use of the HIIT method.

It’s fun, easy to do, and HIIT can be done inside or outside. For example, walk for two minutes and blast out a sprint for one minute. Continue this for 20 to 30 minutes, you will feel exhilarated, and sweaty. You can do all kinds of exercises while incorporating HIIT. Here are a few examples; jump rope, step ups, kicking in the pool, elliptical intervals, even just walking on the treadmill and adding incline will work. The most important aspect is to make it fun. Then you are sure to get it done.

Eat for nutrition, challenge your abdominals, and HIIT your cardio! All three steps done consistently will fulfill your flat ab quest!

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22 lantana living January 2015

...Education, cont. from page 11

Megan Woods, freshman; Mylie McPherren, sophomore; Elliott Evans, junior, and Darby Traylor, senior.

Selected as Wildcats of the Month were: Kiara Bruce, freshman; Nathalie Wertherington, sophomore; Cheyenne Hunsucker, junior, and Johnathan Yamashita, senior.

Chosen as Staff Member of the Month was Cameron Killian. Mr. Killian is a life skills aide at the school.

All were honored for their outstanding display of school pride and character.

ensemble, alternate; Julie Song, alto saxophone, symphonic band, 1st chair; Tim Stern, tuba, symphonic band, 6th chair; and August Worley, bassoon, 9th grade band, 3rd chair.

Guyer Students Shine in DISD Region Band Fifteen Guyer High School students were among 40 from the Denton Independent School District to be selected as all-region by the Texas Music Educators Association.

Led by director of bands Amy Woody and assistants Ellis Hampton and Zack Anderson, the contingent earned honors in Class 6A Region II. Five students – Maddy Pasdernick, flute, wind ensemble, 5th chair; Iida-Maria Raina, Bb clarinet, wind ensemble, 4th chair; Alli Reibach, percussion, wind ensemble, 5th chair; Abhishek Shah, trombone, wind ensemble, 5th chair; and Connor Wooley, trombone, wind ensemble, 1st chair – advanced to the area round.

Others selected to all-region were: Courtney DiMarco, flute, 9th grade band, 11th chair; Katelyn Golden, flute, symphonic band, 7th chair; Justin Koh, alto saxophone, 9th grade band, 6th Chair; Bryce Lawler, trumpet, 9th grade band, 11th chair; Trevor Marsh, tuba, 9th grade band, 5th chair; Josh Mistrot, euphonium, wind ensemble, 3rd chair; Lizzie Rivera, Bb clarinet, wind

January 2015 lantana living 23

style Curves in All the Right Places

By Heather Patterson Lead Fashion Stylist mrsstyleseeker.com

N

or some, it may be easy, but for many, deciding which parts of your body have gorgeous, figure-flattering curves can be a struggle. Did you know, however, that wearing the right clothes could put an end to the curvy crusade? From a form-fitting blazer that accentuates your hips to high-waisted jeans to enhance your derriere, below are five tips that will give you curves in all the right places!

Accentuate Your Hips

Want to whittle your waist while showing off your lower body curves?

Structured/form-fitting blazers will do the trick. By diminishing your waistline, in addition to accentuating your hips and rear, they highlight your figure’s best curvy features.

sweater at the natural waist, your mid-section will appear much smaller while your hips appear curvier.

Flatter Your Derriere

If you are looking for a fuller bottom, make high-waisted jeans your go-to.

The cut, which sits high on the waist, lifts up your bum and makes your rear appear rounder.

Minimize Your Waist

Wrap tops are a win-win since they taper in toward the waist, making it appear smaller.

Cheers to figure-flattering curves and a prosperous new year!

Have a style question or fashion dilemma? I would love to hear from you!

Send me a message via Facebook at facebook.com/LantanaLiving or email me at heather@MrsStyleSeeker.com.

Enhance Your Bust

Ruffle blouses are the easiest way to create the illusion of a bigger bust.

The extra fabric around the chest area will trick the eye into thinking you have more curves up top.

Create a Waist

By belting a dress or even a long

The Nelsons

24 lantana living January 2015

southern hospitality while doing so.

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: Coming up on eight years.

Southern Comfort Mechanical

Owners Jason and Laurie Fraser took the time to answer a few questions for us.

Q. What is the name of your business?

A. Southern Comfort Mechanical.

Q: Why did you choose that business name?

A: Simple. Running any business is about how you treat people. We provide comfort to your lives and bring good ol’

Q: Why did you decide to go into business?

A: Jason began as a helper to an A/C contractor years ago and caught a glimpse of how the industry was taking advantage of some homeowners. He was appalled at their dishonesty. He wanted to change that and to this day that is why we have grown. Just being honest with people.

service vehicles and working out of an office now.

Q. Do you have any words of wisdom you can pass along to other business owners?

A. Perform your work with patience and care as if it were your own home. Hire others who are of the same thought process.

Q: What is your favorite business memory?

A: (Jason) I guess my favorite memory is just looking back on how far we’ve grown in business. From working out of my home and a truck to having a fleet of

January 2015 lantana living 25

26 lantana living January 2015

The Barresi kids

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January 2015 lantana living 27

28 lantana living January 2015

Advertisement

Resolve to Work on Your Oral Health in 2015

By Dr. Matt Artho

I

t’s the new year, and while the word “resolution” resonates in our heads, we stock up with fresh staples from the produce aisle, dust off DR. MATT the running COUNTRY LAKES FAMILY shoes, and DENTAL overflow the gym with a relentless determination to improve our overall well being.

As we work to trim our waists and tone our frames, I encourage everyone not to forget one other important area inseparable from your bodies and your health: your mouth. It is my resolution to help remind us that oral health also is a part of our overall health, and to do

so, here are three simple steps to follow begins as a biofilm that is formed just 14 this year to keep those mouths healthy. hours after removed from your teeth. If Brush your teeth daily. I know coming the biofilm is removed before it hardens from a dentist this one seems obvious to plaque, you have won the war for (spoiler alert: the next one is flossing), gum health.

Visit your dentist at least twice a but correct brushing can make a world of difference. Appropriate brushing year. Your appointments with a dentist includes circular motions around the are your report card for your oral health, and a lot can happen to gums with the bristles at a 45-degree angle for Appropriate brushing your oral health in just six months. Regular efficiency. Brush after includes circular visits not only prevent every meal, but at least motions around the oral complications from twice a day after breakfast and before you go to gums with the bristles going unchecked, but it gives your dentist a bed when oral bacteria are most active. Finally, at a 45-degree angle chance to guide your for efficiency. oral care. remember it is not how I wish everyone a hard you brush, but how long. Brush for at least two minutes per happy 2015, and I look forward to many smiles throughout the year. Happy session with a soft bristle brush.

Floss your teeth daily. I warned you Smiling!

Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist at it was coming, but it is such a crucial habit. Plaque that remains prevalent Country Lakes Family Dental and can beneath the gums can lead to bone be reached at drmatt@countrylakesloss and eventually tooth loss. Plaque dental.com.

January 2015 lantana living 29

home My Kitchen Isn’t Working for Me!

By Paula Kratohvil, Owner Creative Design Solutions

R

emember that your kitchen should have or needs to use the basic principle of kitchen design: A work triangle. That always is a basic workflow space no matter what your floor plan — L shape, U shape, galley, whatever. If your kitchen isn’t working for you, look at your triangle. If it’s not there, it should be.

Start laying out a workspace that would work within the triangle. For your space to work the most efficiently you may have to reconfigure your work space somewhat. If moving a refrigerator 3 feet and reworking a section of cabinets is what is needed, weigh that

30 lantana living January 2015

“Open trash expense against the time you plan to be in the home, how often you are in the bins, cabinets kitchen, the overall hassle it is to you the and dishwashers way it is now, etc. Just know if it bugs you shouldn’t block it will probably bother any future buyer. the path from one part of the triangle Also consider optional ways to obtain to another,” recommend fixture supply a possible compromise by changing the companies such as Kohler. “Help keep hinges on some the pathways of your cabinet clear by opting doors to open in Help keep the pathways clear for smaller paired a different direcdoors for cabinby opting for smaller paired tion or changing etry, rather than single the direction of doors for cabinetry, rather than larger larger single doors that can doors that can the door swing out to on a refrigerator swing out to create obstacles. swing create obstacles.” or microwave.

Once all of your This might save you some time and money to get your design kinks are resolved, it’s time to pick materials and products to continue triangle flowing.

The following work triangle dimen- work on “Your Kitchen.” Here are some ideas to steal: sions suggestions usually work well: • Open shelving is not for every Each leg of the work triangle should kitchen, but if you have enough measure between 4 and 9 feet long, and storage, exposed shelves can make the total length of all three legs should a room feel spacious and bright. be between 12 and 26 feet.

• Don’t be afraid to step outside the box with edgy fixtures.

• Large industrial-style pendants can feel right at home in a traditional kitchen for an interesting pairing.

• Glass tiles are ideal for a kitchen backsplash, but back-painted glass also is an affordable way to get a durable and easy-to-clean surface.

There’s no need to settle for stone or solid surfaces.

• Pigmented concrete is a durable countertop that also can add an unexpected splash in a kitchen.

• Don’t be afraid to use alternative materials. Think about using a stainless steel backsplash and recycled wood veneer for the cabinets.

• Mix and match work surfaces in a single space. Stone countertops for the perimeter surfaces and a woodtopped island in the center makes for a unique and airy feel.

Have fun and don’t make it so stressful. Call us before you get to that point. We would love the opportunity to help with kitchen challenges or any of your design needs. We’ll make it happen and make it enjoyable!

January 2015 lantana living 31

Advertisement

February is National Pet Dental Health Month

By Leigh Anne Robertson, DVM

H

ave you noticed that your pet’s breath, well….smells really bad?

Have you noticed that your pet seems painful or is eating and chewing slowly? Have you noticed blood on your pet’s toys or chews? Has your pet lost teeth?

These could be symptoms of dental problems or other serious health issues.

Did you know that more than 85 percent of cats and dogs over age 4 are affected by periodontal disease? Painful toothache, gingivitis and periodontal disease have mercy on no one, human or beast.

Combining good dental hygiene at home with preventive veterinary dental care can help keep your pet healthy, pain free and save you money in the long run.

An untreated dental infection not only is painful, but can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the heart, kidneys and other organs, and suddenly become life-threatening.

32 lantana living January 2015

Here’s a guide to help you keep your pet’s teeth and gums happy and healthy.

Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

While it might seem difficult at first, with enough patience and plenty of yummy rewards, you can turn tooth brushing into a bonding experience with your dog or cat. It’s never too early to start familiarizing your pet with the toothbrushing routine. Be sure to only use toothpaste designed for pets because human toothpaste has too much fluoride and can be toxic to pets. If you are worried your pet may bite you during tooth brushing or if your pet simply won’t tolerate the toothbrush, ask your veterinarian for alternative home dental care options.

Start by rubbing your pet’s teeth with your finger and some tasty pet enzymatic toothpaste. This will familiarize your pet with the brushing process and help your pet learn to accept and even enjoy tooth brushing.

Work your way up to a pet toothbrush.

Specially-designed cat and dog toothbrushes, as well as toothpastes, are available through most veterinarians and pet stores.

A finger brush is a great choice after teaching your pet to enjoy a gum massage.

You also may want to try a

regular pet toothbrush and then determine what seems to work best for you and your pet.

Focus on the gum line. The line where the teeth meet the gums is the most critical area to scrub.

Consider Dental Toys, Treats and Food

While not as effective as brushing your pet’s teeth, giving your pet treats, food and toys specifically-designed to promote oral health will help maintain healthy gums and teeth by minimizing the development and progression of plaque, tartar and gingivitis. CET Hextra Chews are one of the most effective choices for both dogs and cats, especially when combined with CET Oral Hygiene Rinse. There also are excellent prescription dental care diets for both dogs and cats that can be used as treats or meals. Your veterinarian can discuss these fun and tasty home dental care options and help you choose effective options that best suit your pet’s individual needs.

Take Your Pet To Your Vet

Pets are like people and need routine dental examinations, cleanings and care. Your vet will perform the initial screening dental exam as a part of the comprehensive physical examination. Your veterinarian will talk with you about past and current medical history including any problems you may have noticed or concerns you may have about your pet’s health. Be sure to tell your vet if you have noticed any then ask if you’ve Dental, cont. on page 41...

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January 2015 lantana living 33

34 lantana living January 2015

Max gottwald

January 2015 lantana living 35

gardening Creating Your Outdoor Space

and spots that might be blocked by seating or patio cover posts. To balance the soft and hard space is essential, but this does not mean you have to mirror what you do on one side with the other just keep it natural and change it up.

By PJ Kratohvil Sometimes just using a couple Complete Exterior Solutions common plantings or similar stones 214.735.1364 through these spaces will carry enough similarities to tie it all together. Privacy What are you looking for? Deciding screening, especially out here in exactly what you want often times can Lantana, is very much needed. Creating be the hardest part of the entire project. a wall out of some dense plantings is a Try not to get so caught up in all your great way to frame in the back area, specific backyard limitations or budget balance the height of the patio cover at this point and think bigger picture. and get you that privacy you want.

“What do I want to do out here…cook, Staggering the plantings will offset the entertain, sit back flat affect all the wood and enjoy a water and iron fence leaves Sometimes just using a feature with some us looking at while bed spaces, or all of couple common plantings helping add depth. the above?” Almost With the fun stuff or similar stones through laid out (patio in any situation can be manipulated to fit landscape) there still these spaces will carry your scenario so do are a few commonnot get overwhelmed enough similarities to tie it ly-overlooked items by the details too that need to be all together. soon. addressed.

Make Start with the patio sure the irrigation has or main feature of the backyard and been set up to accommodate your new design out. When extending or adding a spaces. Plants, grass and trees all need new patio/outdoor living space, always different amounts of water throughout budget for more room then you think the year so save yourself future replaceyou will need. About 25-30 feet per ment costs and make sure all areas are person typically is suitable for sitting on separate zones and are adequately space with little room to move around. set to the different run times.

Setting up your furniture in the lawn and Don’t mix and match your spraying some outline is a great way to rotor heads with pop-up come up with what will work best for style heads or you will regret you, whether you’re looking to create an it in the summer. Check the outdoor kitchen or living space. drainage as most lots will Once you have the layout of your patio/ have a swell that goes across sitting space you can start to overlay beds or soft areas to the design. Keep in mind your fields of view from the rear windows of the house and new patio sitting areas. You do not want to create any focal points that are features 36 lantana living January 2015

the backyard to direct and discharge water coming from neighboring lots and your own. Make sure a new drainage system is in place to keep the water flowing so you don’t end up drowning the plants and/or a flooded patio.

With a solid vision and the right contractor creating your space it should be a blast. There are many other things that will come up during the process but just remember to not let any one thing overwhelm you and try to have fun!

January 2015 lantana living 37

Argyle

Living New Magazine Coming to Area Thanks to Lantana Living Success

By Mark Miller

Lantana residents, thanks to you, your neighbors and the businesses you have patronized through Lantana Living magazine, residents of Argyle soon will reap the same benefits you have had for more than year.

T

he success of Lantana Living prompted the leadership at Murray Media Group to move forward with a plan to expand its print and online reach to the city of Argyle and surrounding planned communities with the February launch of Argyle Living magazine. The full-color, glossy printed publication will be mailed the third Friday of every month, the same as Lantana Living.

“The reason we are able to do Argyle Living is because of Lantana Living,” said Murray Media Group co-owner Kelly Murray. “The success of Lantana and its community and seeing how a community can really make a magazine, we see that in Argyle.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for our company and the only reason we’re able to do it is the success of Lantana Living.”

Argyle is considered one of the

38 lantana living January 2015

upcoming communities with several families who started in Lantana moving there in recent years. As one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, Argyle is estimated to double in size in the next seven years and Argyle Living plans to grow right with it starting with an initial print run of nearly 4,000 copies.

“It’s a progression here,” said Kathryn Flores, community editor for both magazines who with Murray will sell ads for both magazines. “People are moving. It’s so crazy. You ask if people are being transferred and they say ‘no, it’s Argyle.’ They want a little bit more land and it’s a little bit quieter out there.

“Argyle residents are slowing down.

It’s not just as fast-paced as in Lantana right now but it may get there if the projections are correct. There’s lots of beautiful land out there that’s going to have to be developed.”

Like in Lantana Living, the focus will be on local stories. Editorial content will not only concentrate on the men, women and children who call Argyle home, but also the businesses located there. Readers will find information on community events, school news, resident and business spotlights, and Argyle-related sports in each monthly issue.

“I think it’s going to be awesome,” Flores said. “It will have more of a country feel. I think it’s going to be killer.”

Copies will be mailed not only to those living in Argyle itself, but also to residents of new master planned communities including Canyon Falls, Argyle Town Village, The Oaks of Argyle, Harvest, Country Lakes, and more.

Among the things that make Argyle different than Lantana is having it’s

own school district, police department, municipal court. That’s on top of a mayor/town council governance system.

The success of Lantana Living and launch of Argyle Living are testament to the success hyper-local magazines have achieved in recent years. Such growth goes in the opposite direction of the “print is dying” trends of general-interest publications.

In advance of the magazine, Flores said one of the biggest needs is uncovering the many interesting feature stories of Argyle residents, workers and others who come in contact with the community.

Anyone with story ideas can contact Flores at 214-734-5783 or at kathryn@ murray-media.com. Ideas also can be submitted to the Argyle Living magazine page on Facebook.

TriSharks Team Christmas party (based in Lantana)

January 2015 lantana living 39

counselor’s corner 4 Keys to Mental Success in 2015:

Setting Resolutions You Actually Will Keep

By Jessica Burrow, MA, LPC, CFLE NextGen Counseling, Owner

H

appy New Year! All too often people around the globe make resolutions in the beginning of a new year to make a positive change in their lives. Some want to lose weight, some want to quit smoking, and still some just want to slow down their busy lives. It often is exciting for so many people to hit the gym and eat healthy, only to find that one-month into their resolution…they quit. Is their some secret formula that will help us get

over the resolution hump and achieve reality?

1) Fail to Plan and Plan to Fail: My kindergarten teacher once told me that a man or woman without a plan comes up short every time.

Stop the mindset of resolution and instead create a mission statement.

Setting realistic goals driven by purpose, passion, and intention mean so much more than wishful thinking.

2) Imagine Yourself Reaching That Goal: Marathon runners have to train for months and months to build up the endurance to finish the race. One of the most important aspects of that training is to imagine crossing the finish line. What will be different in your life once you reach that goal?

Visualizing the goal and imagining that you already have reached it can help you push through any plateaus you may face.

3) Conquer Negativity: Sit down and make a list of all the things that may keep you from reaching your goals and come up with positive ways to conquer those obstacles.

This will help you realize those obstacles before you ever have to face them.

4) Failure Does Not Equal Forfeit: Failure happens, just embrace it, learn from it, and keep moving forward. When you find yourself slipping just get back up and keep trying. So often we are immobilized by our weaknesses, but the most successful people in life become stronger when they fail. Learning from weakness is the key to success. So go ahead…make your New Year’s resolution and this time reach the goal. Good luck!

Jessica Burrow, MA, LPC, CFLE specializes in children 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 child please call 940-228-2171 or visit nextgencounseling.org.

THe patels 40 lantana living January 2015

...Dental, cont. from page 32

noticed any dental health warning signs such as bad breath, oral pain, bleeding, drooling, and changes in eating habits or lost teeth.

During the examination, your vet will check out your pet’s mouth, teeth and gums for bleeding and inflammation, tooth loss, loose, cracked or damaged teeth, exposed tooth roots, plaque and tartar as well as oral foreign bodies and potentially cancerous lumps. This exam usually can be performed without sedation, unless your pet becomes aggressive or the mouth or teeth are very painful. If your vet feels that a dental cleaning or other dental procedure is needed, be sure to follow through on your vet’s recommendations for dental care. If a dental cleaning is not needed, be sure to spend some of the appointment time discussing good at-home dental care that will help keep your pet’s teeth and mouth healthy and pain free.

While February is National Pet Dental Health Month, dental health should be a daily ritual for pet owners all year long.

January 2015 lantana living 41

42 lantana living January 2015

January 2015 lantana living 43

...Community, cont. from page 12

will oversee a court that will handle family and civil cases in the country.

She was scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 13.

Haertling is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her other roles include secretary of the Denton County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Denton County MHMR Center Board of Trustees finance chair, volunteer at Liberty Christian School, and past chair of Denton County Adoption Day.

Because you are always looking after the health of others.

Free

Women’s Health Screening Event Saturday, February 21st, 2015 8:00am – 11:30am

• Cholesterol • Sleep Apnea

• Body Composition • Blood Pressure or Body Mass Index • Heart Screening

• Glucose Checks

For a more accurate reading, do not eat or drink (except water and black coffee) after midnight if you are taking the cholesterol screening. You should continue to take your medications as instructed by your physician.

Door Prize Drawings | Physician Speakers | Wellness Booths Located in Hospital Lobby | 4400 Long Prairie Road | Flower Mound, TX 75028 | 469.322.7085

No RSVP needed! Visit TexasHealthFlowerMound.com for more information.

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2420 Justin Road | Highland Village January 2015 lantana living 45

No Change Likely

in Current UIL Playoff Format

By Steve Gamel

84R3037 KKA -D By: Perry S.B . No. 237 A BILL TO BE ENTITL

ED AN ACT re lating to cert ain petitions spo ns o re d or sanctione University Inte d by the rscholastic Le ague.

BE IT ENACTED

BY THE LEGISLATUR E OF THE STAT TEXAS: E OF SECTION 1.

Subchapter D, Chapter 33 Code, is am , Education ended by ad d in g Se c tio n 33.0832 to as follows: read Sec. 33.0832.

UNIVERSITY INT ERSCHOLASTIC LIMITATION ON LEAGUE: PARTICIPATION IN POSTSEASON COMPETITION . In designing the format fo extracurricul r ar athletic c ompetitions sponsored o sanctioned by the Unive r rsity Interscho the high scho lastic League ol level that at occur after c regular seaso onclusion of n and are de th e signed to resu of a state cha lt in the awa mpionship, th rd e league ma more than tw y not permit o athletic te a m s fro m e district to pa ach league rticipate in th e competitio SECTION 2. n.

This Act app lies beginning 2016 school with the 2015 year.

SECTION 3.

This Act take s effect imm ediately if it receives a vo te of two-thi rd s o f a ll the memb elected to e ers ach house, a s provided b Article III, Texa y Section 39 , s Constitutio n. If this Act receive the does not vote necess ary for imme diate effect, Act takes effe this ct Septembe r 1, 2015. athletic com

Last month, a state senator filed a bill hoping to reduce the number of playoff teams in each University Interscholastic League district from four to two. While the current playoff system for all sports is considered by many to be watered down, it appears coaches and UIL officials don’t agree it’s enough to make a drastic change.

S

enator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, pins his argument for SB 237 on what he said is an unnecessary number of teams who make the postseason despite 0-10 and 1-9 records at the end of the regular season.

“This not only devalues the hard work of the firstand second-place teams in a district, but it costs our school districts thousands of dollars that could be spent in the classroom,” Perry said in a statement.

Perry does have an interesting point. According to the Dallas Morning News, 56 percent of the 1,209 Texas high school football teams made it to the playoffs this past season. The article went on to say that, under Perry’s bill, 384 teams would have still been playoff-eligible, or roughly 32 percent.

Houston Scarborough was believed to be the first winless team to ever make playoffs in Texas, per the Dallas Morning News. That team lost 64-0 in the first round to push its overall losing streak to 58 games.

Locally, Argyle beat two-win Lake Worth 70-7 in the first round. Guyer ousted Plano in a slightly more respectable 59-28 decision, though over the last three years, the Wildcats have combined to outscore their first-round opponents 170-49.

46 lantana living January 2015

“I’m not sure what the logic is behind four teams. When I played it was only two per district, but then again, I didn’t understand the logic behind that, either,” Guyer football coach John Walsh said. “What I do know is that regardless of how many teams start it, the best teams end up being the state champions.”

Guyer won back-to-back Class 4A state titles in 2012 and 2013.

“It is my hope that this bill will help us celebrate triumph, give school districts more flexibility with their budgets and reduce the burden on families during the holiday season,” Perry said.

The UIL did issue a response to Senator Perry, per the Dallas Morning News.

“We look forward to working with Senator Perry and his colleagues in the 84th legislature to ensure that the interests of those in his district as well as student participants in all UIL activities are best served. The current system for UIL playoffs has been developed through the UIL rule-making process, which is governed by UIL superintendents and member schools with opportunities for public input. UIL member schools believe the current playoff system best serves the schools and students of Texas.”

“What I do know is that regardless of how many teams start it, the best teams end up being the state champions.”

— John Walsh, Head Football Coach, Guyer High School Walsh agreed with the UIL and believes having four teams per district make the playoffs gives more kids the experience of being in that type of spotlight. While there are plenty of teams that suffer lopsided losses in that opening round, there are plenty of examples of those who become Cinderella stories.

Just this season, The Colony finished third in its district only to make the third round. Two years ago, the Lewisville softball team finished fourth in its district but went on to win the Class 5A state title.

In 2011, Walsh’s team technically finished third in district despite sharing identical 5-2 records with Keller Central.

The Wildcats made the playoffs and won their opener before falling to Mansfield.

“I’ve heard it talked about in the past, but I just don’t see it (playoff format) changing anytime soon,” Walsh said.

“There are teams out there that don’t deserve to make the playoffs, but it is what it is. With the exception of a few lopsided scores, it’s better to give the kids the experience.”

January 2015 lantana living 47

see you on the sidelines The Case for Instant Replay in High School: What’s the Holdup?

By Steve Gamel

I

never really had given instant replay for high school games much thought until last month’s University Interscholastic League state title football games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It simply didn’t seem necessary; almost overkill, really.

I’ve disagreed with many a call — as you likely have — in my day. At the same time, I recognize being an official for any sport is perhaps the most scrutinized job on the field. Nothing you

48 lantana living January 2015

do is going to please everyone, and it’s impossible to make the right call every single time in the heat of the moment.

When you have a gigantic jumbotron providing playback in front of recordbreaking crowds on the state’s grandest stage, the situation clearly begs for it.

That’s the situation officials for state title games are facing now that Jerry World is the single site for all 10 championship games. Not only are there replays of every play on the stadium’s jumbotron, but each game is being broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest. I was there for the games played on Dec. 19, and for the Argyle-Navasota Class 4A Division I final alone, the announced attendance was 20,853 fans.

There were reportedly 52,308 fans in attendance — stadium crews were forced to open the upper deck — for the 6A Division I final between Allen and Houston Cypress Ranch on Dec. 20.

As you can imagine, scrutiny is everywhere.

One play stood out to me on that

Friday. In the Argyle-Navasota final, Rattlers’ wide receiver Tren’Davian Dickson caught a short pass and pivoted toward the sideline as he went for the goal line. Dickson was called down at the 1-yard line, but the ball was clearly fumbled out of the back of the end zone.

The fumble was confirmed on the jumbotron and fans in attendance were immediately infuriated by the no-call.

Navasota scored one play later to tie the game, then went on to win in double overtime, 42-35.

As was reported by the Dallas Morning News, a third-quarter onside kick Temple recovered against Aledo on Saturday appeared to be claimed out of bounds. The article went on to say the UIL’s football rules committee has been discussing the possibility of instant replay for years.

I’ve got to ask though, what’s the holdup?

One argument is that teams go the entire year without using it, so why create an extra set of rules for the title games? Um, how about the fact that these are the most important games of the season? Furthermore, having every game at AT&T Stadium offers so many more resources. Regular high school facilities, which is where practically all regular-season games are played, don’t have things like that at their disposal.

Most smaller schools around the state are lucky to have a press box or a working scoreboard.

I say, if you have the resources, use them. Even if the officials have to convene at midfield and watch the replay on the jumbotron, do it. With these games being broadcast on television, the various TV timeouts drag down the speed of a game more than an instant replay conference.

It makes perfect sense if not for the fans, for the kids who might have a win taken away due to a no-call.

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

final

January 2015 lantana living 49

Guyer Rules

District 5-6A Football

All-District Team

By Steve Gamel

As was expected, Guyer sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson was named the Most Valuable Player for District 5-6A and leads a solid list of Wildcats on this year’s all-district team.

50 lantana living January 2015

he list, which was officially announced last month, saw Guyer land 23 selections.

That includes three superlative honors. Along with Robinson, linebacker Michael Carrillo was named the district’s Defensive Most Valuable Player and the Guyer coaches were collectively named Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a 10-2 finish in Class 6A, where they lost to Southlake Carroll in the area round.

It started with Robinson, who is the top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2017 according to 247Sports. In his first year at Guyer, Robinson finished the year (including playoffs) having completed 145 of his 238 pass attempts for 2,799 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,416 yards and 17 scores.

Robinson fit in perfect with

T

Guyer, which was in need of a strong quarterback to replace three-year starter Jerrod Heard (now at the University of Texas).

Robinson transferred to Guyer from Saginaw Chisholm Trail when his mother, Andrea Robinson, was named the school’s new girls basketball coach last summer.

Of Guyer’s 23 selections, 13 were first-team picks. Running back Anthony Taylor led the first teamers after a season in which he rushed for 1,133 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was joined by tight end Xavier Brown, receivers Alex Honey and Adam Scott and offensive linemen Gunnar Chance, Cesar Vidana and Bernie Santos.

Defensively, Carl Thompson made the list despite missing most of the season with injuries.

Cameron Wax, Dharius Timmons, Jordan Wallace, Ian Edwards and Trey Woods also made first team.

District 5-6A All-District Team MVP — Shawn Robinson, Guyer, So. Offensive MVP — Emmanuel Moore, Justin Northwest, Sr. Defensive MVP — Michael Carrillo, Guyer, Jr. Offensive Sophomore of the Year — Nick Rischer, Keller Central Defensive Sophomore of the Year — Tyreke Davis, Ryan Special Teams Player of the Year — Houston Miller, Keller, Jr. Coaching Staff of the Year — Guyer

First-team offense

Quarterback — Jake McClurg, Keller Central, Sr.; Jesse Drummer, Justin Northwest, Sr. Running back — Anthony Taylor, Guyer, Sr.; Keshaun Mitchell, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Courtney Miles, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr. Tight end/fullback — Xavier Brown, Guyer, Sr.; Connor Killian, Keller, Jr. Wide receiver — Alex Honey, Guyer, Sr.; Adam Scott, Guyer, Sr.; Cameron Castleberry, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Cameron Johnson, Keller, Jr.; Dillon Smith, Keller, Jr.; Caleb Cilumbia, Keller Central, Sr. Center — Gunnar Chance, Guyer, Jr.; Michael Pena, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr. Guard — Cesar Vidana, Guyer, Jr.; Tristan Brown, Ryan, Sr.; Duke Smith, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr.; Aaron Traylor, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr. Tackle — Bernie Santos, Guyer, Sr.; Maea Teuhema, Keller, Sr.; Bobby Reynolds, Keller, Sr.; Dakota Laws, Ryan, Sr.; David Bolisomi, Ryan, Sr. Kicker — Chris Hamilton, Justin Northwest, Sr.

First-team defense

Defensive line — Carl Thompson, Guyer, Sr.; Ken McLaurin, Ryan, Jr.; Keith McGee, Keller Fossil Ridge,

Sr.; Da’Metrius Webster, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr. Defensive end — Cameron Wax, Guyer, Jr.; L.J. Mason, Keller Central, Sr.; Javaris Steward, Ryan, So.; Roy Sutton, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr. Inside linebacker — Garrett Blubaugh, Keller, Sr.; Dharius Timmons, Guyer, Jr.; Bryce Hines, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr. Outside linebacker — Trey Woods, Guyer, Sr.; Charlie Walker, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Aron Tabbs, Keller, Sr.; Austin Cratty, Justin Northwest, Sr.; Joel Kabongo, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr. Safety — Jordan Wallace, Guyer, Sr.; Montrel Wilson, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Landon Rowlett, Keller, Jr.; Josh Johnson, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr.; Camden Ross, Keller Timber Creek, Sr. Cornerback — Ian Edwards, Guyer, Sr.; Montriel Smith, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Logan Braden, Keller, Jr.; Taylor Robinson, Keller Central, Sr. Punter — JD DeLaRosa, Ryan, Jr.

Second-team offense

Quarterback — Bryce Baccarini, Keller Fossil Ridge, Jr.; Caleb Griffin, Keller, Jr. Running back — Tyler Tutt, Keller, Jr.; K.T. Smeby, Keller Central, Sr.; Quentin Thorpe, Justin Northwest, Sr.; Maurice Gordon, Ryan, Sr. Tight end/fullback — Jose Carrillo, Guyer, Sr.; Connor Wilson, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Blake Ibarra, Justin Northwest, Jr. Wide receiver — David Haynes, Guyer, Sr.; Cody Seidel, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Dylan Neuse, Keller Fossil Ridge, So.; Myles Merrity, Keller, Sr.; Gavin Holmes, Justin Northwest, So.; Syrus Moore, Justin Northwest, So.

Center — Sebastian Escalante, Keller Timber Creek, Sr.; Skylr Rodriguez, Keller, Jr. Guard — Austin Colpean, Guyer, Sr.; Tyler Long, Keller Fossil Ridge, Jr.; Elijah Britton, Keller Central, Sr.; Dustin Maclin, Justin Northwest, Sr. Tackle — Ricky Medrano, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Joey Kammerer, Keller Central, Sr.; Matt Briggs, Justin Northwest, Jr.; Justin Self, Trophy Club Nelson, Jr. Kicker — Cody Seidel, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.

Second-team defense

Defensive line — Isiah Correa, Guyer, Sr.; John Sloan, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Donievin Oliver, Ryan, Sr.; Chase Dennis, Keller Timber Creek, Jr.; Derek Stair, Keller, Jr.; Marshall Parks, Keller Central, Sr. Defensive end — Houston Miller, Keller, Jr.; Kellen Diesch, Trophy Club Nelson, Jr.; Spencer Misko, Keller, So.; Tevan McAdams, Guyer, Jr. Inside linebackers — Akel Beard, Trophy Club Nelson, Jr.; Hunter Powell, Keller Timber Creek, Jr.; Nick Watts, Ryan, Jr. Outside linebackers — Logan Mikesich, Keller, Jr.; Joe Greutman, Trophy Club Nelson, Jr.; Randall Friday, Keller Fossil Ridge, Jr. Safety — Thabo Mwaniki, Guyer, So.; Tyler Norton, Justin Northwest, Sr.; Noah Powell, Keller Fossil Ridge, Jr.; Landry Hutchins, Keller, Jr.; Ryan Rambo, Keller Central, Sr.; Alan Rojas, Ryan, Jr. Cornerback — Brandon Daniel, Guyer, Jr.; Devin Danford, Keller Fossil Ridge, Sr.; Saveion James, Justin Northwest, Jr.; Elijah Allen, Ryan, Sr. Punter — Logan Mikesich, Keller, Jr.

January 2015 lantana living 51

Show Me the

By Eric Williams To nearly everyone on the planet, Feb. 14 is known as St. Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day for short. For centuries, the day has been filled with a diverse number of ways for couples to express their romantic love.

From greeting cards to boxes of chocolate to roses to personal poems hidden in the classified ads of local newspapers, the ideas are endless. All are designed so one person can show the other a unique way of their affection.

While nearly every pair has a story to tell on how they became valentines, no two typically are alike. In this month’s issue of Lantana Living, we highlight three stories that while different in method, all resulted in the same thing - Lantana husbands and wives coming together again on this year’s special romantic day.

Physical Attraction Sparked Lifelong Loving Relationship Kenny Ash noticed Brandy first. Brandy, just a tad under 6 feet, was a striking figure on the apartment complex water volleyball team, as people trying to dodge her spikes could attest. She wasn’t the only one who was tall and attractive.

“The first time I saw him in his Jordache jeans it was love at first sight,” Brandy said with a laugh.

If the beginning sounds shallow and superficial, the resulting relationship is 52 lantana living January 2015

deep and meaningful.

After almost 33 years of marriage, Brandy and Kenny still hold hands and can’t wait for the next date night or time alone together talking on the patio. They aren’t cut from the same cloth. Brandy is outgoing and assertive. Shelikes to organize things and be a leader. Kenny is quiet, steady and confident. Their personalities are compatible and complementary.

They’ve had their share of struggles. When they married, Brandy was a divorced single mom with a 3-year-old daughter for whom Kenny always has been the father figure. The girl, beautiful, brilliant and vivacious, had struggles with drugs. Over the years Kenny had to play the heavy.

“The struggles really brought us closer together,” Brandy said, to Kenny’s agreement.

“The Lord is very much a part of our family and relationship,” Kenny explained, adding that somewhere in Christian counseling they were told “you didn’t choose your kids; you had them.

You chose each other. Remember that.”

So the couple is very intentional about putting their love for one another ahead of all other human relationships.

Dealing with their daughter’s destructive behaviors had its trials, but it’s also brought joy. Kenny and Brandy are the adoptive parents of their biological grandson, Lyric and the 10-year-old

is a source of happiness and satisfaction. Brandy and Kenny also had a son together, John. As you might expect, he’s pretty tall at 6 feet 6 inches.

During courtship, Kenny made a great impression on Brandy and her family by the chivalrous way he treated women…

Brandy, his mother, his sister.

While they were dating, Brandy’s father was diagnosed with aggress i v e , life-threate n i n g cancer.

Brandy took a sabbatical from her job to care for her father, while Kenny continued his career in San Antonio.

The weekend they were to wed, Kenny took a then-required blood test before leaving for Victoria. Delays meant he couldn’t get to the courthouse before 5 p.m. Friday. But Victoria County officials, alerted in advance, made arrangements for the loving couple to get a license on Saturday morning so they could be legally wed on Sunday.

That Monday, Brandy was able to pass along the details of their wedding to her hospitalized father, who was very happy to hear the news. He died later that day.

Kenny, who had delayed returning home, was there to be with the family in its time of need.

“We didn’t have a honeymoon,” Brandy said. “So on our 25th anniversary we took a trip to Cancun.”

The couple liked that experience so much they return every year and recommend adult-only vacations to other parents.

Like many couples in Lantana, Kenny and Brandy have had to make time not only for each other, but for careers which each partner has pursued with passion and success. Kenny was a homebuilder in the San Antonio area while Brandy starred in sales and sales management for Honeywell. One of her favorite clients was Accolade Home Care and

Hospice.

Brandy was impressed with the level of hospice care the organization provided, though she laughed when the founder would cheerfully ask, “when are you coming to work for me?”

Eventually though, she knew it was where she should be and with Kenny’s blessing relocated to North Texas so she could be vice president of sales for a region that includes Texas, and parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma.

At first, they lived on acreage in the country where Kenny could fish and hunt. But they realized that Lyric was missing out on opportunities to bond with friends, so they looked in Lantana.

They have been very pleased with their home, neighborhood and the warm relationships they share with others living on a cul-de-sac near the golf course. Kenny is launching a home inspection business, wanting a position that allows him to make parenting the first priority.

Dale and Peggy Burrows’ First Meeting Wasn’t Exactly Splendid

When Dale and Peggy Burrows first met, sparks were flying.

But, the “sparks” weren’t the romantic kind.

Peggy had just been handled roughly by a couple of state troopers after Dale’s inquiries over the radio had inadvertently motivated the troopers to hold her at gunpoint and frisk her because of suspected car theft.

At the time, Dale and Peggy were living in Amarillo. Both were married and in no way interested in a new romantic relationship. A claims adjuster for Allstate Insurance, Peggy was in a not especially nice Amarillo neighborhood investigating a claim. Dale, now a board-certified family law attorney, was then a motor vehicle theft investigator for the Department of Public Safety.

Two young troopers spotted an attractive blonde in a late-model Ford LTD that seemed out-of-place. They called in the license tag. Dale just happened to be in the dispatcher’s office when the dispatcher reported back that the car was registered to Allstate Insurance.

Dale was curious. Since insurance companies typically register unrecovered stolen vehicles in their own name to recoup salvage value after paying claims, he wondered if the car might be stolen. Through the dispatcher, he asked the troopers to check the VIN so it could be matched against a list of vehicles reported stolen.

The officers then ordered Peggy out of her car. One had his handgun drawn and the other was pointing a shotgun at the car’s back window. After she stepped out of the car, they pushed her against the vehicle and frisked her, though fortunately they stopped short of putting her in handcuffs. Soon the dispatcher relayed word that the car was not stolen and the troopers let an irritated and shaken Peggy go on her way.

As luck would have it Peggy’s next assignment was to adjust an unmarked DPS vehicle Dale had been driving when it was struck by an Allstate client in Pampa. He knew there might be

trouble when he asked if she was driving the light blue Ford that had been the subject of a lot of radio traffic. Sensing her anger and not wanting her to vent within earshot of DPS personnel, Dale took her aside for a brief private conversation to cool her down. He praised her for professional handling of the claim.

The next day, the troopers sent a dozen roses and personally came to the Allstate Claims Office to apologize.

Peggy or Dale didn’t see one another again for about three years. By that time both had been divorced. They were cooperating professionally in research of stolen vehicles. Soon their business relationship took a personal turn. Dale explains that while he’s not sure what Peggy saw in him, he saw the best looking woman in Amarillo.

They started courting and were very compatible. Suddenly, Dale received a promotion that would require him to relocate to Austin.

Peggy let him know that if he wanted her to move, he was going to have to marry her. Both thought marriage was a splendid idea and Allstate thought enough of Peggy to find her a great job in the Austin area. Dale’s two sons from a previous marriage came to live with them after only two weeks of marriage.

Peggy’s career progressed nicely, but as successful as he was at the DPS, Dale wanted to be an attorney. He attended the University of Texas to earn his bachelor’s degree, which he accomplished with a 3.75 grade point average, but still didn’t get into the highly-competitive UT law school.

Instead he attended St. Mary’s law school in San Antonio. He and his oldest son lived in a one-bedroom apartment there while the younger boys, including Adam born after their marriage, stayed in Round Rock. They spent three years traveling every weekend to spend time together.

After graduation, Dale returned to Round Rock to practice and eventually opened his own office. Then Peggy was offered a promotion to manage a claims office in Tyler. Considering the sacrifices she had made for his dreams to come true, Dale cheerfully closed his practice and relocated, eventually finding work as a prosecutor in Upshur County.

He liked the work, though it was less lucrative than what he made at the DPS. But when Peggy was offered another promotion that would take her to the Metroplex, there was no need for a family discussion. She accepted the offer and soon the family moved to Coppell to take advantage of the great schools there.

They came to the Dallas area in 1996, setting up an office in Coppell. The practice was moved one year ago to Highland Village. Retired after an interesting career with Allstate that Love, cont. on page 58...

January 2015 lantana living 53

Advertisement

Family Law

I Am Getting Married, do I Need Pre-Nuptial Agreements?

A

Pre-Nuptial Agreement is a written contract signed by a man and woman in contemplation of marriage, which sets forth what their assets and debts are and how those will be divided at the end of the marriage. If you are “young and in love” and just starting out in life, you probably do not need a prenup. However, it isn’t always those just starting out on their own who marry. When a couple marries and have a child or children from a previous relationship, have accumulated valuable property, or owe a significant amount of debt, a Pre-Nuptial Agreement is needed. Every marriage ends, the statistics reflect a one hundred percent probability. The marriage will either end by death or divorce, but it will end. A Pre-Nuptial Agreement addresses the issue of what will happen to the spouse’s property and debt, when the marriage ends.

Texas law presumes all property owned by the parties is community property to be divided by the Court whether in a divorce proceeding or in a probate Court; however, not all property is community property. Often times couples have “separate property.”

Separate property is property a person owned prior to marriage, property received as a gift, or which was inherited. Debt is also treated as separate in many instances and is called “separate debt.” A Pre-Nuptial Agreement protects you and your separate property from the very beginning so that should a divorce or a probate matter occur, your assets are protected.

How can I prove my separate property is mine?

When a marriage ends, a spouse must prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that the property claimed to be separate property truly belongs only to them. Sometimes that is difficult to do years later if records are no longer available, memories do fade over time, 54 lantana living January 2015

the owner may be deceased and the executor has no way to prove the property really was the decedent’s separate property.

A Pre-Nuptial Agreement solves the problem by setting out exactly who owns what and how it will be divided at the end of a marriage.

How much will I pay to prepare a Pre-Nuptial?

Typically, fees charged are based on an hourly rate and will depend upon the time and complexity. Each person’s situation is unique and requires individual consideration. When extensive assets or debts are involved it can cost more than a standard, “run-of-themill” agreement. Generally speaking, most people should expect to spend about $1,500.00 although it can be more for an extensive Pre-Nuptial Agreement.

It is far more economically sound to execute a Pre-Nuptial Agreement when compared to the legal fees that could be incurred at the end of a marriage in the division of assets and debt.

married couples, so if you did not wish to do a Pre-Nuptial Agreement and decided to address this issue after marriage you could do so; however, in every partitioning agreement there is a clear risk of losing or signing away valuable legal rights when the agreement is executed. You should ask yourself why would you or your spouse desire to be in that position.

Of course, the answer is that you do not and neither does your spouse, thus it may be too late.

Will the Court enforce the agreement?

A Pre-Nuptial Agreement is a legally binding contract and the Court will enforce written contracts; however, like any contract there are defenses and “pitfalls” that pose a threat to such agreements. Securing a legal professional to assist you will greatly reducethe possibility of the Court failing to enforce the agreement and will avoid the more common “pitfalls.”

Where can I get help?

We urge you to call our office before you get married to set up a time that we may discuss your situation and determine if a Pre-Nuptial Agreement is right for you. Our consultation fees are very reasonably priced and typically “capped” that our client’s do not feel unduly rushed and can comfortably discuss their circumstances. Do not put this off simply to avoid an unpleasant topic or procrastinate. It is a decision too important to dismiss prior to your upcoming marriage. Give us a call. We look forward to assisting you.

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.

Is there a “Post-Nuptial Agreement” and could we do all of this after we are married?

Amazingly enough, there is a “postnup,” only we don’t call it a “postnup.” We call it a partitioning agreement. A partitioning agreement divides assets and debts between

2900 Village Parkway, Suite 330 Highland Village, Texas 75077 Phone: (972) 304-6000 Fax: (972) 317-6220 www.burrowsatlaw.com

January 2015 lantana living 55

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It’s You and Me Baby

By Coach Mike Winburn Founder of Win Kids

T

o me, there’s nothing more pure and joyful in the world than the face of a baby. It is like seeing pure innocence right before your eyes.

Babies take in every possible stimulus in such a natural way. It is amazing to watch their reactions and to get to know these adorable little tots.

I was introduced to the idea of Baby Gym classes many years ago as a young gymnastics coach. At the time, I was more interested in coaching kids who were “old enough to learn.” I was teaching cartwheels and back flips and was not there to play with babies.

A few years later, I realized these little gym tots actually were some of the most enjoyable students to teach. My real transition came when I had babies of my own and could see that when a baby gives a high five, stands up for the first time or decides to follow directions from a teacher, those developments are just as amazing and joyful as the back flips I was teaching. As a matter of fact, these experiences are even more important and more exciting.

By March 1998, something clicked and I knew I had to teach baby gymnastics classes. I launched head-first with all my energy into creating the very best Baby Gym class experiences I could. I saw that these beautiful little babies loved the gym experience and nothing at home could come close to giving them the stimulus of all the colorful mats, music, personalities and equipment at Win Kids. I brought my

56 lantana living January 2015

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guitar to the gym, wrote and sang hello and goodbye songs, name songs and activity songs to the babies in every class. I had babies learning how to say “Coach Mike,” giving me high fives and following me through gymnastics obstacle courses every morning. I studied developmental milestones and poured through studies and information on the benefits of participation for babies. I already knew that babies love music and movement...I could see the benefits right before my eyes.

What I learned was that the years between 6 months and 6 years are the most formative in children’s lives. What happens to them and the experiences they have can change them dramatically and exponentially, compared to later experiences.

A physical stimulus is the most impactful stimuli of the senses for brain growth and development. We literally can build their confidence and form positive attitudes toward learning. We develop their coordination, strength and flexibility. We help children love to learn. We build their self-esteem, teach trust, discipline, attention and focus.

Many times, we are the first person, outside the immediate family, that a baby will trust and follow. It is an absolutely great experience, as a coach, to have a whole class of babies listening, following directions and learning. Babies follow us through fun group activities like scarf games, baby hula hoops, obstacle courses, balls and bubbles. It makes it easy for parents to cheer-on their little ones. It is very

special. It’s also a great bonding time for the babies and parents. Parents make new friends, form play groups and create some very special memories.

We love what we do and we know we are lucky to be a part of helping parents build healthy, happy, responsible children. If you are interested, we still are offering these classes, singing to babies, playing group games, teaching them to swing, gallop, hop, and to enjoy learning. We created an entire separate gym space with equipment scaled down just for the babies. I’m very proud of what we do for babies and children.

About eight years ago we created a free annual baby event called the Baby Bonanza. It is a free play date for all babies newborn to age 3 and their families. Babies get to play, jump, slide, meet friends and parents can visit the baby and children’s vendors for free information, baby products, samples and more. The highlight of this event is the Win Kids Adorable Baby Contest.

We know in our hearts that all babies are adorable, so it’s all for fun.

Babies enter in three age groups and dress in their favorite sports-themed outfit. All contestants get a ribbon and a free 5 x 7 photo. Trophies are awarded for the top three in each age-group. We also award winners in fun categories like the Best Temper Tantrum, Cutest Smile and Best Outfit.

This year’s event will be held Jan. 31 from 3-6 p.m. at Win Kids. For more information go to winkids.net.

January 2015 lantana living 57

...Love, cont. from page 53

included assignments in the corporate headquarters in suburban Chicago, Peggy still works as office manager in the law practice but has plenty of time for grandmother duty.

Dale loves the arrangement because he can focus efforts on legal work.

Their youngest son, graduating from Texas A&M Law School in Fort Worth (formerly Texas Wesleyan), will join the practice after sitting for the bar exam in February. Adam and wife Jessica Burrows of NextGen Counseling, a licensed professional counselor who also is well on her way to attaining her doctorate degree, are Lantana residents and encouraged Peggy and Dale in the decision to move closer.

That proved fine with their 6-year-old granddaughter Jocelynn. Other granddaughters Trinity 12, and Ella, 8, live in Amarillo and travel to Lantana or travel with Dale and Peggy frequently.

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58 lantana living January 2015

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Your Local CPAs

IT’S TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR 2014 TAX RETURN As we turn the calendar and are looking at January again, our attention is directed towards the tax deadlines creeping up so quickly.

There may be certain instances in which you will not be able to file your return by the deadline. Fortunately, the IRS allows taxpayers to file extensions, giving you addition time to file. Keep in mind, however, that if you owe taxes, you still will be required to pay by the original deadline.

Our staff looks forward to tax season each year, though it can be quite daunting to taxpayers. We strive to serve you to our best ability, so you feel confident in choosing Chandler & Knowles CPAs. We consistently are updated on the latest tax changes and make every effort to inform you of issues that could change your returns each year.

If you are planning on filing an extension for either your business or 1040, we request that you notify us as soon as possible, so that the proper paperwork can be completed. Tax returns are only a portion of the services we provide.

If you are looking for personal service and a reputable company you can trust, give us a call. We look forward to working with you!

Of course, we can’t come to your house personally and gather all of your documents and receipts. However, we do what we can to help you collect your tax forms and other items, including providing tax organizers to our clients in mid-January. This document is created based on your last year’s return. If you are new to our firm, you can receive a blank organizer.

Chandler & Knowles CPAs, PLLC is located at 7370 Hawk Road in Flower Mound. Our phone number is 817-430-3000, and you can visit us on the web at formycpa.com.

Chandler Knowles Advertorial

We know it can be extremely overwhelming to gather information needed to prepare your tax return each year. While this list is not exhaustive, it is the basic framework of your return:

• W2s for all taxpayers • 1099s • K-1s • 5498s (IRA Contribution form) • 1098s • Real estate tax receipts • Medical expenses and receipts • Boat and car loan documents • Charitable contribution receipts (cash and non-cash) • Union dues • Receipts for tax preparation fees • Safe deposit box rental receipts • Moving expense receipts • Expenses for business use of your home/vehicle (including mileage) • Dependent care receipts • Any settlement statements for the purchase or selling of a home After we receive your documents, we make every effort to prepare your return within 10 business days, though there are exceptions. For instance, we may need more preparation time when additional information is needed. Also, if we prepare your business and personal returns, your business return has to be prepared first, which may delay the preparation of your 1040.

Chandler & Knowles CPAs, PLLC is Located at

January 2015 lantana living 59

7370 Hawk Road in Flower Mound | www.ForMyCPA.com | (817) 430-3000

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Argyleliving | Aubrey | Denton | Flower Mound | Lake Cities | Lewisville | Little Elm | Pilot Point 60 lantana January 2015