Methodist Richardson Medical Center is here to help with heartburn, GERD, ulcers, and other digestive issues. We also treat colon and pancreatic cancers, and issues with the stomach, intestines, esophagus, and liver. Many are treated with the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System, a minimally invasive option that can result in shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries. Providing the digestive care our friends and neighbors depend on. That’s community, and why so many people Trust Methodist.
MethodistHealthSystem.org/RichardsonGI
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or Methodist Richardson Medical Center. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
As we enter the holiday months of November and December, this issue we’re highlighting food. What a great topic for this time of year. So many of our holiday gatherings include food items that bring memories of years gone by or bring joy just because of who we’re sharing our food with. We hope you have a delightful season and find peace in spending time with family and friends.
The holiday months also have us looking to the new year. Many times a new year brings change and reorganization. We here at the chamber are in the midst of change as well. This past month we officially welcomed Leslie Howard and Lainee Irvin to our staff. Our staff is completed by Melissa Irvin, advertising sales representative, and Anne Hiney, creative director for The Connection magazine. This hard-working staff not only produces the magazine but also manages the work of the Chamber of Commerce with its over 425 member businesses.
Thank you for reading our magazine. We hope you enjoy your holidays and look to the new year with anticipation. •
can’t wait. Apply and register now for spring. Classes start Jan. 17.
A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication 307 N. Ballard Ave. | Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-2804 | info@wyliechamber.org www.wyliechamber.org
WYLIE CHAMBER PRESIDENT Tina Stelnicki
ADVISORY BOARD Jan Arrant Ian Halperin Craig Kelly Heather Darrow Stacie Smith
ADVERTISING SALES Melissa Irvin
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Hiney
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Judy Truesdell Donnita Fisher
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Deonna Osborne Jan Arrant Craig Kelly Ian Halperin Heather Darrow
PHOTOGRAPHY Ethan Good
For information about advertising in The CONNECTION Magazine please contact the Wylie Chamber at 972-442-2804 or adsales@wyliechamber.org. All are welcome to advertise, Chamber membership is not required. Share comments and story ideas with Anne Hiney at theconnection.anne@mac.com. Digital edition available online at www.wyliechamber.org
The CONNECTION Magazine ©2022, Wylie Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. The CONNECTION is published bimonthly and mailed free of charge to over 28,000 households and businesses with an estimated readership of over 75,000 in the Wylie area. The PROFILE OF SUCCESS cover with feature article is a paid ad placement.
Additional copies are distributed to our advertisers and high traffic local city offices. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without
permission from the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for content of all
Information published in The CONNECTION is the opinion of the sourced authors. The Wylie Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily share the editorial opinions expressed in The CONNECTION Magazine. Personal decisions regarding health, finance and other matters should be made after consultation with the reader’s professional advisors.
Just for fun, find the butterfly! Last issue it was hidden on page 18. Happy butterfly hunting!!
NOTE: The first person to correctly locate the butterfly and send an email to adsales@wyliechamber.org wins a The CONNECTION Magazine t-shirt! (It's not this one!)
Occasionally we make a mistake. Let us know if you find one so we can correct it. We love your feedback - send comments to info@wyliechamber.org. Story ideas are always welcome and appreciated. Thanks for “Connecting” with us!
Wylie Chamber of Commerce 307 N. Ballard Ave. • Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-2804 • info@wyliechamber.org www.wyliechamber.org
Demond Dawkins, Derek Draper, Trace Dennis, Tiffaney Smith, Regina Smith and Kathy Griffith
Rhonda McDowell and Kristi Denham
At the Jal Dennis Group, our clients are looking for a financial steward – an experienced advisor who will partner with them and serve as their advocate and guide on the path to pursuing their goals. Our focus is on long-term planning, not securities transactions. Our planning process is collaborative and requires your input every step of the way to ensure your goals and interests remain front and center.
We have a team, not a single advisor, who can assist you with all your financial planning needs. Each member of our team specializes in a different aspect of planning and has the experience to support you in all your personal and professional financial endeavors.
Leading the team is Trace Dennis, Jal’s son. Trace joined the firm in 2014 after serving in the Marines in the Iraqi War and earning his accounting degree from the University of New Mexico. In addition to holding several securities licenses, Trace holds the designation of Chartered Market Technician and enjoys analyzing market trends and investment research.
The Jal Dennis Group’s team of licensed advisors includes Demond Dawkins, who joined the firm in 2017 after 25 years in the banking industry. Demond brings a wealth of knowledge to the community; he serves
on the board of the Wylie Economic Development Corporation, has expertise in Social Security, and is licensed with Medicare (he’s the resident Medicare expert in Wylie!). He also serves as a pastor in Fate. Demond holds the Certified Kingdom Advisor and Accredited Asset Management Specialist designations. Demond and Derek Draper offer educational webinars on our unique Faith-Based Investment platform.
Julia Thorman, Certified Financial Planner, brings over 36 years in the financial industry. Julia works with a wide range of clients from her office in McKinney. She is very active in the local community including becoming a foster parent after raising her own family.
Advisor Kristi Denham holds the designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist and joined the group in 2019 with over a decade of customer service experience. Kristi has passion for the community and is often seen representing the Jal Dennis Group at Chamber events and visiting local businesses. Kristi also hosts a regular educational webinar series on financial topics unique to women.
Rounding out the advisory team is Derek Draper, who is known to many as a former pastor at First Baptist Wylie (now The Cross Church). The Draper name is
well known in the community, and Derek is active in the Wylie athletic and camp community as well as broadcasting the Wylie High School football games. Along with Demond, Derek is an advocate for our FaithBased Investment platform.
Heading up the office staff is our office manager Rhonda McDowell. Rhonda has been with the Jal Dennis Group since 2011. She ensures that all clients have an enjoyable experience, and she serves on the LPL Service and Operations Council. She makes sure that the entire team is up to date and trained on the latest technologies and procedures. Rhonda’s personal life centers around church and family. She and her family have participated in several missionary trips.
When you first contact our office, you will be instantly greeted with a warm smile and pleasant introduction. Regina Smith joined the firm in 2016 and has endeared herself to everyone as she makes sure all clients and visitors speak with the person best equipped to help them. It would be impossible to list all the ways Regina keeps our office organized. Her primary duties are scheduling client meetings and maintaining the calendar as well as assisting everyone in all of our projects.
Kathy Griffith joined the Jal Dennis Group in 2021. Kathy brings 13 years of experience leading back-office operations, analytics, and customer support teams
for major energy companies. She has spent the last 12 years volunteering and serving in a variety of leadership roles on various boards in her church and community while raising her two children with her husband.
Our newest team member is Tiffaney Smith, who joined us in March of this year. Tiffaney is an Air Force veteran who enlisted right after high school and served 20 years before retiring from activeduty service. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University and has 20 years of administrative support and resource management experience from her military career as an Aviation Resource Manager and Government Flight Representative Chief. Tiffaney provides administrative support to the Jal Dennis Group by assisting clients with account setup, access, and account maintenance. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children and loves to cook and travel.
Our team offers a wide variety of licenses, skills and life experiences to meet the needs of our growing community and client base. We still strive to maintain the highest level of client satisfaction to provide the best and most personal experience. We believe in investing in our clients before they invest in us. If we can help in any way, please give us a call at 972-429-0603 or email us at info@jaldennis.com.
Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial Representatives
to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., and affiliate of LPL Financial.
In Texas, and especially in our Wylie community, we are particularly proficient at providing food. Whether in time of celebration or of mourning, the southern way is to bake a cake or make a casserole.
In this portion of Collin County, we are blessed with a rich volunteer base, members of which contribute to the community in partnership with local nonprofits.
Not-for-profit organizations, by definition, raise money with the goal of funding community objectives, rather than to turn a profit for the organization itself; the only funding that stays within the organization is used to keep it up and running and pay for day-today activities. Wylie’s extensive patchwork of such entities fosters civic engagement, promotes education, encourages health of both people and animals, and works to inspire, protect, and enlighten the lives of all ages of residents from many socioeconomic conditions. Several of our nonprofits offer food and other resources for those in need.
With the holidays just around the corner, it is a fantastic time to begin thinking about our neighbors who may be slightly less fortunate or even food insecure.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
2022 definition, food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Hunger is an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity.
The organization Feeding Texas says that 13% of Texans qualify as food insecure. That equates to one in eight Texans or nearly 4 million individuals. That same resource tells us there are approximately 138,000 food-insecure people in Collin County alone, equating to 16% of the population. Of those foodinsecure individuals, 48,000 are kids. That means 20% of the children right within our own neighborhoods are experiencing food insecurity.
Many factors contribute to food insecurity: poverty, unemployment, or low income. The truth is that any of us could fall subject to this condition at any time, should we experience a significant change in one major life factor, so now is the call to awareness. Now is the call for action.
Wylie is blessed with a number of non-profit organizations, serving every sector of the community and surrounding cities. These organizations provide not only food, but goods and services as well. Three that are major contributors of food are Amazing Grace Food Pantry and Wylie Community Christian Care Center in Wylie and 5 Loaves Food Pantry in Sachse.
Wylie Community Christian Care Center is staffed solely by volunteers and, in addition to a few fundraisers, depends on donations from the community, businesses, organizations, individuals, and schools, as well as grants from sources like Farmers Electric Cooperative, TXU, and Nourishing Neighbors (that is a part of Albertsons/Tom Thumb).
According to its director Mary Warkentine, Wylie Independent School District is the largest donor of food. Each year, the district hosts a food drive to benefit the organization. It is a great time for students and families to learn about food insufficiency and to come together toward the common goal of help ing their fellow neighbor. This organiza tion has celebrated over 40 years of service to the Wylie community. “The district con ducts a food drive every fall that is amazing,” Mary stated, adding that the facil ity receives no government fund ing and works in conjunction with other local food pantries to share excess items. “Our goal is to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry. We don’t turn anyone away for food,” she said.
Mary also said that the number of new clients was up 100% this year. Wylie Community Christian Care Center also supplies basics such as diapers and gently used clothing and works with local school counselors to help families get much-needed resources. Somewhat unique to this organization, financial assistance is provided for rent or utilities once per year, and these requests are up 71% so far for 2022.
The center serves an average of 250 families each month and anticipates that by the end of this year it will have paid out $150,000 for rent and utilities. Current food needs are listed on the website and Facebook page to allow community members to be more intentional in their donations.
www.amazinggracepantry.org
Karen Ellis, director of Amazing Grace Food Pantry in
Wylie, said, “Amazing Grace Food Pantry is exclusively a volunteer organization, committed to providing nutritional food to our community struggling to make ends meet. Food insecurity can strike anyone at any time. Meeting essential needs every week with dignity, without judgment, tailoring each family box to their special dietary needs in a clean, organized and safe environment are some of the frequent comments clients have given about Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Each new client soon realizes they are welcomed and greeted like family.”
She said that the food pantry has already served over 2,100 families and over 9,500 individuals during 2022, providing over 1.7 million meals to our community. Amazing Grace also works with area school counselors, providing weekly weekend meals to five area schools for 180 students in need.
Loss of jobs, reduced hours, relocation to the area, and cost-of-living increases are just some of the causes Karen listed as
reasons for increased hardship for many families. Some families are experiencing food insecurity for the very first time, and Amazing Grace Food Pantry does an excellent job of making sure each client is treated with the utmost respect.
5loavesfoodpantry.org
Audrey Wallace is the founder and director of 5 Loaves Food Pantry in Sachse. The organization’s humble beginnings were in a ministry house of North Pointe Church of Christ. Audrey said the idea for the organization was the result of an impactful trip to Honduras several years ago. When she returned, she was struggling with how to help food-
insufficient individuals far away, but a lady at her local church asked whether she would be willing to oversee the church’s Benevolence Program. It had been started to assist local families with food and other needs right here in the community. Audrey accepted the challenge, and the program expanded, became 5 Loaves, and physically outgrew the church ministry house. A grant from the City of Sachse and the City of Wylie funded a new facility, enabling 5 Loaves to provide for more families.
Audrey said one of her favorite quotes was from Mother Teresa: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
Today, 5 Loaves serves over 2,500 families each month. They have also expanded their offerings to include diapers, baby formula, clothing, and personal hygiene. They are home to a pet pantry and a commu nity garden tended by Sachse Lions Club. The newest ministry is the beacon of hope. Audrey said, “We come alongside people and families that are struggling, be it with homelessness, mentally, physically, and emotion ally, and help them take the next step with counseling, job searches, and other ways to give them a hand up to succeed in life – helping guide them to a better life.”
The pantry has a growing coffee ministry; 5 Loaves Coffee is ground and bagged by local Wylie Independent School District special needs students learning life skills. The program continues to build and flourish, and the goal is to educate and encourage local businesses to use and sell the coffee in their own shops. Every 1-pound bag of coffee sold provides 28 pounds
of food to the pantry. In addition, it is giving back to the community in the form of providing valuable work skills for young adults through partnering with the district.
The pantry began its seventh year in September of 2022, and Audrey said she is very excited
Whether you are
©2022
to see where God is leading her and this ministry, 5 Loaves Food Pantry.
Representatives of all three pantries noted how the COVID pandemic has altered their experiences, whether through means of distribution or volunteer needs. Some commented on the changes in meat and other grocery
and availability being felt throughout the country; prices are being driven up, leading to the need for more donations in order to keep the doors open. Although local pantries relied on food overages contributed by grocery stores, many of the supermarkets are finding they simply do not have excess food to spare. The organizations, therefore, must buy food or rely on community donations at a time when the economy is causing challenges for all.
All three organizations stressed the need for volunteers and donations. If you are able to donate your time, resources, or food to any of our local food pantries, please consider doing so. These volunteers work extremely hard for our community. They provide an invaluable service to the good people of Wylie and surrounding areas. We can all use a helping hand every now and then.
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109 N. Ballard Ave. Wylie, TX
www.RaymondJames.com/CWA
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Qualifications to be a member of the American Legion:
If you have served at least one day of active military duty since December 7, 1941 and were honorably discharged or you are still serving active military duty honorably, you are eligible for membership with the American Legion.
Applicant’s relationship to the veteran to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary:
Male or female spouse, mother, grandmother, sister, self, direct or adopted daughter or granddaughter.
The American Legion was Founded in 1919 Upon Four Pillars of Service to: Our Veterans... Our Youth... A Strong National Defense... And Americanism.
Contact American Legion
Hale-Combest Post 315 Wylie, TX Commander@Wylielegion.org
Contact American Legion Auxiliary Hale-Combest Unit 315 Wylie, TX Mary Lange at 972-658-3835 1948mml@gmail.com
Nov. 5 Honoring Our Veterans: The 1Lt Robert F. Welch Charity invites you to an afternoon of family fun to honor those who served. 2 - 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 700 Spring Creek Pkwy., Wylie. Info: www.1ltwelchrunforourheroes.org
Nov. 26 In-Sync Exotics Fowl Fling: Join us to give our big cats a Thanksgiving treat - Cornish game hens!! The cats get Thanksgiving birds starting at 1 p.m. Sanctuary location: 3430 Skyview Dr., Wylie. Ticket Info: www.InSyncExotics.org
Nov. 26 Small Business Saturday: Shop local and support Wylie small businesses. Small Business Saturday is a big day for small businesses. #iShopWylie
Dec. 2-11 A Christmas Story: Wylie Acting Group presents this timeless story. Ticket info at: www.WylieActingGroup.org
Dec. 3 Wylie Arts Festival: Do your holiday shopping at the Wylie Arts Festival! With over 150 vendors, this event is a great chance to support local small businesses and find something truly unique. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Info: https://fb.me/e/31D7hXeH1
Dec. 3 KCS Holiday Express: This fun holiday train event will be getting started just as the Wylie Arts Festival comes to a close, at 4 p.m. Get there early as the lines can be long! This is a popular event for anyone who likes trains. Info: https://fb.me/e/36psJ0coq
Dec. 4 2022 Christmas Parade: Hosted by The Cross Church and The City of Wylie travels through historic downtown Wylie on Ballard Ave. It concludes with Santa and the lighting of the official City of Wylie Christmas tree in Olde City Park. 6–7 p.m.
300 Country Club Rd., #300, Wylie www.wylietexas.gov/library
Nov. 2022 - Jan. 2023 Photos from the Haley, in the Library Lobby. We are proud to present pieces from this private collection preserving the history of Texas and the American Southwest.
Nov. 18-23 Turkey Scavenger Hunt: Choose the easy or choose the hard but find all the hidden pictures and receive a prize! One prize per day per child while supplies last. This is a self-directed activity.
Nov. 15 Rare Birds of Texas - Come and learn about some of the rare and colorful birds of Texas as well as the upcoming Bird Census. Meets in the Multipurpose Room. Register on Eventbrite.
Dec. 8 Pencil Calligraphy Class - Looking to make your next note pop? Want to make those gift tags shine? Andrea Tosten from AScribe Calligraphy will teach the basics of copperplate calligraphy using a regular #2 pencil. Meets in the Multipurpose Room. Register on Eventbrite.
Need some extra treats for your family and friends during the upcoming holiday season? The 544 Café Bakeshop is a full-service bakery operated by Wylie ISD culinary students and offers several dessert favorites including handdecorated cookies and homemade pies. All items are made fresh at the district kitchen located in The 544 Café adjacent to Wylie High School.
“We started baking cookies and pies as a way to get more students involved and to help raise funds for scholarships,” says Chef Emily Guynes, Wylie ISD culinary arts teacher. “We received such positive feedback from the community that we have expanded our menu.”
For the past several years the bakeshop has offered cookies and pies for holidays and spe cial events like gradua tion. The current menu now includes muffins, two sizes of cookies, bar cook ies (brownies, blondies, s’more bars, lemon bars, and other seasonal favor ites), pies, cheesecakes, sheet cakes, and layer cakes.
Some items, like cookies and pastries, are prepared as part of the baking practicum class and are available during normal restaurant hours but most of the items are made fresh as customers place their orders.
“The items available each day in the café are based on what the students are learning to prepare in the classroom,” adds Guynes. “You get to eat their homework.”
The full menu is available online: www.wylieisd.net/
Special events like holiday cookies are posted on The 544 Café’s Facebook page and generally require preordering.
Because students do the baking and decorating, there are some guidelines for ordering:
• Please plan orders a minimum of one week in advance, not including school holidays.
• Pickup for orders will be in The 544 Cafe at Wylie High School, Tuesday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Payment is due at pickup. The 544 Cafe accepts cash and credit cards.
• Due to the school schedule, we have a limited number of orders we can complete each week.
• We may not be able to recreate exact decorations on orders. We will happily work with you to create a design that our employees can achieve.
• Please note we are not able to guarantee a nut, dairy, egg or gluten-free environment.
Money raised from the sales of these items goes toward the baking class, cooking contest entry fees, scholarships, and ingredients for future recipes.
The kitchen and prep areas are run like a commercial facility. All students working in The 544 Cafe and the bakery have at least one year of safety and sanitation training and must have a valid Texas Food Handler's Certification. In addition, all food is prepared under the direct supervision of a Chef Instructor or Restaurant Manager who all hold a Texas Food Manager Certification. The café is visited twice a year by the Wylie Health Department and must pass inspection like any other restaurant. •
Have you ever wondered if you could live off the land and grow enough food to support your family? It sounds like the teaser for a new survival show, but it’s not. After wandering through rows of empty grocery store shelves in early 2020, area residents like retired Army infantryman Coty Jacobs began to contemplate possibilities that are literally underfoot.
“I thought, ‘let’s use what we’ve got,’” said Jacobs, a father of four and the vice president of Collin College’s new agriculture club. “We have one and a half acres of land. We started with chickens, looked into bees, and then I saw a Collin College event about homesteading at the Rita and Truett Smith Public Library.”
That’s where Jacobs met Anne Thornton, Collin College director of agriculture. With decades of farming and animal husbandry experience, she currently raises chickens, cattle, and pigs.
“I typically go to the grocery store every six to eight weeks for things I cannot grow myself and freeze,” said Thornton, who leads the college’s Urban Sustainable Agriculture program.
This program’s professors provide students with the opportunity to learn sustainable practices, incorporate precision technology, and develop food solutions for an ever-increasing population.
“My goal is to start a small urban farm using hydroponic freight containers to save space,” Jacobs said. “Collin’s program works perfectly for me because it has the classes I want and it’s affordable. You get the whole system with all the details.”
Collin College Adjunct Agriculture Professor Michaela Bledsoe teaches small farming and takes the guesswork out of quandaries like how many vegetables to grow to feed a family of four.
“We address sustainable horticulture and crop production from an urban viewpoint,” Bledsoe said. “Students gain hands-on skills for classroom concepts
from hydroponics and greenhouse management to student-run raised beds where they germinate and propagate plants to grow as a community garden. Courses in animal science, sustainable agriculture, agriculture marketing and economics, and agriculture construction help students build an ‘agriculture toolbox.’ These skills equip them to achieve their goals after earning associate degrees or jumpstart them on their paths to earning bachelor’s degrees.”
Jacobs is excited to continue his homesteading journey and put his knowledge to the test.
“I can capture rain and feed my family and not have to rely on anyone,” he said. “The most exciting thing is to see my kids watering plants, feeding chickens, and gathering eggs. When you are doing this yourself, it brings a sense of pride. It is like therapy. You just go out in your yard and see what you’ve got for the day.”
For more information about urban sustainable agriculture classes at Collin College, visit www.collin. edu/department/agriculture/.
For more information about the Wylie Campus seed library, visit collin.libguides.com/seedlibrary.
To register for classes at the Wylie Campus, visit www. collin.edu/campuses/wylie.
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Do you think you eat well? Think again. The truth is, most of us could do better. A lot better. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 87% of us don’t eat the recommended 5-9 servings of fruit and veggies a day. Guilty much?
Eating green is not a diet. It’s a way of life. “With a few small changes, such as a side salad at dinner, a piece of whole fruit with breakfast, or adding extra veggies to your sandwich, you can easily attain the recommended serving goal,” says Methodist Richardson Registered Dietician Jyosna Balakrishnan RDN, LD, CDCES.
Keep this in mind. Fruits and vegetables should take up most of your plate during meals. Dark greens and fruits are rich with antioxidants, loaded with fiber, and will help lower your risk for heart disease. Here’s another bonus. Filling up on veggies can also help with portion control.
If you hated Brussels sprouts as a kid, chances are you still do. Research has shown it can take as many as 10 to 15 tastes before you can appreciate a new flavor. That’s not to suggest you should hold your nose and eat Brussels sprouts until you learn to like them, but you can mask some vegetables in foods you love.
Instead of meatloaf made with ground beef, try meatloaf made with 99% fat-free ground turkey, mushrooms, and pureed spinach. The veggies add moisture, flavor, and vitamins. You’ll be eating less meat and getting in your veggies, and chances are you won’t know the difference.
Here’s another easy substitute. Instead of spaghetti with beef meatballs, try zucchini noodles with turkey meatballs. Switching from beef to extra lean turkey saves saturated fat. “Zoodles,” as they’re known, are fun and easy to make with a simple kitchen device called a spiralizer. Add a low-sugar, no-salt-added marinara sauce and you’ve got a much healthier meal.
Craving pizza? No problem. But, instead of pepperoni on a white-flour crust, how about replacing those white processed carbs with a cauliflower crust? Cruciferous vegetables are heart healthy and protect blood vessels against the buildup of plaque. While you’re at it, skip the greasy meat toppings and just add veggies like mushrooms and peppers. Swapping some of the mozzarella for smaller amounts of a more flavorful cheese like Parmesan or using fresh mozzarella instead of shredded, which is lower in fat and sodium, will make your pizza even healthier.
Another good place to hide vegetables is in casseroles. Add finely shredded zucchini or summer squash to your favorite casserole. The mild flavors will blend seamlessly, while boosting important vitamins and minerals.
Are you big on Bolognese? Lighten it up with finely chopped mushrooms. The meaty texture of mushrooms is similar to ground beef, plus they absorb the rich flavors of the sauce.
See? You don’t have to make radical meal makeovers to make a difference. If you ease in to adjusting your eating habits you, will likely find yourself living a healthier lifestyle in no time. You might even lose a few pounds in the process. •
Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Dallas-based Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated healthcare to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Twelve hospitals proudly carry the Methodist Health System brand, as owners or through affiliation. More than 50 Methodist Family Health Centers and Methodist Medical Group specialty physician office locations are among the facilities served by the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at MethodistHealthSystem.org.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.
What has changed for you in 2022? This year has been as complicated as learning a new dance for some. Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? That's one step. Did you remarry? There's another step. Did you retire? That's practically a pirouette. If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, you might want to review your finances before this year ends and 2023 begins. Proving that you have all the right moves in 2022 might put you in a better position to tango with 2023.
Even if your 2022 has been relatively uneventful, the end of the year is still an excellent time to get cracking and see where you can manage your overall personal finances.
Keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes and is not a replacement for real-life advice. Please consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals before modifying your tax strategy.
Do you engage in tax-loss harvesting? That’s the practice of taking capital losses (selling securities worth less than what you first paid for them) to manage capital gains. If you are thinking about this move, consider seeking some guidance from a professional who can provide insights.
You could even take it a step further. Consider that you can deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses over capital gains from ordinary income. You can carry any remaining capital losses above that amount forward to offset capital gains in upcoming years.
Do you want to itemize deductions? You may want to take the standard deduction for the 2022 tax year, which
has risen to $12,950 for single filers and $25,900 for joint. If you think it might be better for you to itemize, now would be an excellent time to get the receipts and assorted paperwork together.
Are you thinking of gifting? How about donating to a qualified charity or non-profit organization before 2022 ends? Your gift may qualify as a tax deduction. For some gifts, you might need to itemize deductions using Schedule A.
While we're on the topic of year-end moves, why not take a moment to review a portion of your estate strategy? Specifically, take a look at your beneficiary designations. If you haven't checked them for some time, double-check that these assets are structured to go where you want them to go, should you pass away. Lastly, look at your will to ensure it remains valid and up-to-date.
Check on the amount you have withheld. If you discover that you have withheld too little on your W-4 form, you may need to adjust your withholding before the year ends.
What can you do before ringing in the New Year? New Year's Eve may put you in a dancing mood, eager to say goodbye to the old year and welcome 2023. Before you put on your dancing shoes, consider speaking with a financial or tax professional. Do it now rather than in February or March. Little year-end moves might help you improve your short-term and long-term financial situation. • Trace Dennis may be reached at 972-429-0603 or tracedennis@jaldennis.com.
