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CONTENTS
6
Lighting Effects for the Home
26 Travel Insurance 101
10 Get To Know Your HOA Board
27 The Merry Mat Makers
20 The Canyon Creek Chronicle
28 In the Kitchen
24 Richardson Library New Online Library Card Registration
4
8
PETS OF THE MONTH
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Front Cover photo courtesy of Beth Richards
12
FAMILY OF THE MONTH
18
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Letter from
the PUBLISHER
Publisher Kyla Obert Ad Sales Mike Obert Designer Open Look Business Solutions Contributors Lisa Parelli-Monoghan, Ryan Amerson, Wilson Allen, Angela Green, and Jessica Wedge Photographer Jessica Wedge, Beth Richards, and Stephanie Marchant Portraits Special Thanks Ashley & Michael Tatum, Audrey Baergen, Tara & Dan Hardin, and Sarah Kaushik For Advertising Questions, please email mobert@hylogroup.com
We are making our holiday time to-do list and checking it twice! 1. Make sure we have our holiday reservations lined up at The Fifth. 2. Stop by Texas Republic Bank to open a new savings account for my kids to save some of their holiday cash. 3. Schedule Bry-Jo to come give us a quote for the bathroom remodel I have on my Christmas wish list this year. 4. Call Turf and Earth for the new Golf Cart wheels my hubby has on his wish list. 5. Make sure our attic is properly insulated with Energy Attic (especially if 2022 has another snowmageddon in its weather patterns). 6. Drop off old family pictures at Canyon Creek Scanning to be digitized for preservation for years to come. 7. Get the ball rolling on refinancing our home with Willow Bend Mortgage before the interest rates go up. 8. Make an extra stop at II Creeks for all my hard to shop for family members: gift cards to eat, shop, and relax make the perfect gift. 9. Stop at the UPS store to drop off the packages I need to get to my out-ofstate family in time for Christmas. 10. Check the Wolfe Team Network & Service Directory (à) for any last second home repairs before my holiday guests arrive. We hope everyone has a very healthy and happy Holiday season! From your friends and neighbors at Canyon Creek Life magazine.
For Editoral Requests, please email kobert@hylogroup.com HyperLocal Media 224 W Campbell Rd, STE 428 Richardson, TX 75080
Managing Partners Mike and Kyla Obert
The Wolfe Team
“It’s Your Move, Make it a Smart One!”
Neighborhood Network & Service Directory 2021 - 2022 ACCOUNTING / CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
RONALD J. POFF, PC – Ronald J. Poff, CPA and Brian A. Poff, CPA 833 East Arapaho, #220, Richardson, TX 75081 ron@poffcpafirm.com
(972) 690-6023 Fax (972) 680-1166
ADVERTISING, PRINTING AND SHIPPING
THE UPS STORE CANYON CREEK SHOPPING CENTER (469) 677-6678 224 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 store6894@theupsstore.com Printing & Document Finishing, Mailbox Services, Packing and Shipping
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING
SHERRELL AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING, INC – Steve Sherrell A/C & Heating Service and Installation sherrellair.com
(972) 216-1961 schedule@sherrellair.com
ATTORNEY
PRAGER & MILLER, P.C. – Robert A. Miller 14911 Quorum Drive, #320, Dallas, TX 75254 rmiller@prager-miller.com
AUTO REPAIR
NORTHRICH AUTOMOTIVE – Rochelle Gotsdiner www.northrichauto.com All Makes and Models
(972) 661-9211 Fax (972) 661-9859 www.prager-miller.com (972) 669-9990 rochelle@northrichauto.com
ICE CREAM, CATERING AND EVENTS
SWEET FIREFLY – Patti Otte & Angie Conard 2701 Custer Pkwy #810, Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 635-5635 info@sweetfirefly.com
IRRIGATION SERVICES
COMMUNITY IRRIGATION - Jeremy Lucky (214) 608-7649 www.communityirrigation.com info@communityirrigation.com Installation • Upgrade • Maintenance • Conservation
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
BLOOMING VISTAS - Noemi Quillin noemi@bloomingvistas.com
(972) 897-0326 Landscape Design & Installation
MORTGAGE LOANS
HIGHLANDS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE - Donna Hambek (NMLS: 396728) (214) 693-4488 501 W. President George Bush Hwy., #125, Richardson, TX 75080 www.donnahambek.com dhambek@highlandsloans.com
MOVING COMPANY
FULL HOUSE MOVING - Mike Sarnacki (972) 699-7411 www.fullhousemoving.com mikesarnacki@tx.rr.com Household Moving and Packing • Local and Long Distance • 7 Days a Week
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLICATIONS
BANKING
HYPERLOCAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS - Mike and Kyla Obert
TEXAS BANK AND TRUST – Cindi Jackson 401 W. George Bush Frwy., Suite 101, Richardson, TX 75080 cjackson@texasbankandtrust.com
(214) 403 - 3755 mobert@hylogroup.com
(972) 470-1562
PEST CONTROL
BUSINESS CONSULTING
BUG ZONE, INC - Jeff Overstreet and Tyler Overstreet (972) 867-9800 bugzoneweb@hotmail.com General Pest Control including Bees, Termites & Rodents
COMPUTER SERVICES
DEBORAH ALDRIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY (214) 293-0584 www.deborahaldridgephotography.com d.aldridgephotography@gmail.com Engagement • Bridal • Maternity
CUSTOM JEWELRY MANUFACTURER
HOBERT POOLS -Victor Fimbres (972) 690-8118 www.hobertpools.com 1 vfimbres@hobertpools.com New Construction and Remodel of Swimming Pools
RWB CONSULTING CFO - Roger W. Burns (214) 724-7507 Richardson, TX 75080 roger@rwbconsultingcfo.com Business Consultant • Interim CFO and ”as needed” CFO services to bring CFO-level insight PRIME IT DFW - Joe Hanold (972) 432-4842 www.primeitdfw.com joe.hanold@primeitdfw.com Small Business IT Support • Networking • Hardware • Software • Security PREMIER DIAMONDS, INC. – Andy Feist (972) 994-9292 1011 Hampshire Ln., #100, Richardson, TX 75080 afeist@premierdiamonds.net Custom gold & platinum manufacturing • Diamonds, colored gems, pearls & fine watches
DENTIST
WATSON FAMILY DENTISTRY James M Watson DDS, PA / J. Mathew, Jr. DDS 291 West Renner Parkway Suite A, Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 234-0626 drjmwatson@aol.com
DESIGN SERVICES
SERENDIPITY DESIGNS – Sandra Taylor Moore (214) 232-2276 serendipityds.com serendipityds317@gmail.com Draperies • Upholstery • Pillow • Roman Shades • Bedding • Custom Furniture
FINANCIAL SERVICES
WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, LLC - Shelley Turner, CFP®, Financial Advisor (972) 473-5973 2400 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75093 shelley.turner@wfadvisors.com Well Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC. A registered broker-dealer and nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo and Co.
HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE
CANYON CREEK ALLSTATE – Wilson Allen 291 Renner Pkwy. Ste 104, Richardson, TX 75080 wilsonallen@allstate.com
PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
POOLS
ROOFING / EXTERIOR REMODEL
PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION - Ryan Jones ryan@platformconstructionusa.com
TITLE INSURANCE
CHICAGO TITLE – Celeste Hamid 18111 Preston Road, #170, Dallas, TX 75252
TREE SERVICE
S&S TREE SERVICE - Kevin Sides Tree Trimming • Tree Removal • Cabling • Stump Grinding
(817) 776-0302 Roofing Restoration
(972) 931-1552 Ext. 103 hamidc@ctt.com (972) 276-2503 s.streeservice@yahoo.com
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
KELLER WILLIAMS CENTRAL 75 - The Wolfe Team (972) 740-5079 www.dallasduo.com thewolfeteam@dallasduo.com Helping Clients with Residential Sales and Purchases
(972) 810-4149
Auto • Home • Life • Business
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK PLEDGE: All members have individually signed an agreement to provide quality service and products to home owners at fair prices. These reliable service providers will work professionally to earn your return business and referrals. 9/21
Pets of the Month
Hank, Val, and Toffee
Tell us your names and your pet’s name. We are Dan and Tara Hardin. We have four kids, Riley, Morgan, Cammy and Cade. We also have three loving pets: Hank, a black Lab mix, Val, a Great Pyrenees, and Toffee, a calico cat. Share with us how your pets came to join your family!
Val, our most recent addition, was brought to us to foster while a local rescue group found her a permanent home. Tara signed up for a few weekends of fostering Val, which led to Tara and kids applying to adopt her (unbeknownst to Dan!). Although a surprise, she has become a loving part of the family. Toffee, our calico cat, was found by an acquaintance who had a feral cat that had kittens. Our friend asked Tara if we wanted one, and the answer was obviously “yes”. Who says no to kittens?!? All three animals are part of our family because of Tara. And we couldn’t love them more. Tell us about your pets. Hank has an interesting story! He was a stray living on the streets in Sherman, TX. When we got him, we noticed he had a small lump at the corner of his mouth. As the years went by, we started to see the lump get bigger. We 4
took him to the vet and after a small surgery, they pulled a bullet out of the corner of his mouth! That same year, Hank was literally run over by a van in front of our house and drug along the street past several house before popping out from under the van. The driver didn't even know he had hit him! Good ol’ Hank has literally been shot and run over by a car, and still lives, with no permanent damage to show for it. Val is a big goofball that uses her paws almost like a pair of hands. We think Tara taught her that!
photos courtesy of Dan Hardin
Our oldest pet, Hank, joined our family when one of our neighbors found him living on the streets in Sherman. It wasn’t a good fit for him to join their family, so they asked Tara if we would like adopt him. Although we weren’t looking to add a dog to our mix at the time, Hank has been an awesome addition to our family.
Toffee is great at sleeping and hissing at Val, like any good cat does. How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? We moved into our house in November 2010. What do you love most about living in the Canyon Creek? Our kids can go out and play with friends without setting up a "playdate". Share with us a funny or awesome story of living in Canyon Creek? When our middle kid (Morgan) was in Kindergarten, I walked with her about halfway to a new friend's house. I pointed to www.CanyonCreekLife.com
the street she would then walk to and told her which house it was and I went back home. Turns out, I pointed to the wrong street so she ended up knocking on some stranger's door and got a very confused adult looking at her who then closed the door on her. Luckily a friend of ours happened to see it all happen and followed Morgan and took her to another friend's house who had my number and called me to ask where she was supposed to be going. It's good to know your neighbors!
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Lighting Effects for the Home There are more benefits to room lighting than meets the eye by: Lisa Parelli-Monaghan
L
ighting effects improve the look of a home. When you think about the activities that occur in each room, it’s easy to imagine why they benefit from distinct lighting arrangements. Gone are the days of simply turning on the light in the middle of the room. Today, lighting is placed all around the room for a variety of reasons and effects, not just to see more clearly. Lighting creates ambience and sets the mood for a room…let’s all agree…it is fun to play with and can go as far as your own imagination takes you.
1
The obvious – lighting makes it easier to see everything in a room by utilizing both general and task lighting. General lighting is for the entire room or a particular section (i.e. downlights); task lighting is for a specific use in a smaller area (i.e kitchen 6
countertops or a desk). As an example, Pendent lighting is a popular task lighting source. It is a way to highlight a section of a room, such as an eating area while adding a decorative touch.
2
Lighting can change the mood of an entire room -- or just a corner. By utilizing color and placement, lighting can reflect a specific personality or help set the tone of a special event or party in the home. In a home theater setting, LED lighting can be adjusted at the touch of a button to match the “mood” of the movie.
3
Lighting can emotionally “brighten” a room. A well-lit room can make occupants feel better and more energetic. In fact, lighting therapy is known to help fight depression and physical ailments caused by emotional stress. As an example, Chandeliers www.CanyonCreekLife.com
create a bright light source from a central point in the ceiling. These fixtures also serve decorating needs in bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, family rooms and foyers.
4
Not only can lighting be used to highlight art, it can be art. LED tape behind a wall ornament makes it come alive and pulls it from the wall; colored lights overlapping at angles and directed to a section of wall creates an artsy feel; lighting can also be installed within an alcove and directed downward across an entire wall, changing colors to coincide with time of day. Lighting effects make it easy to appreciate other home décor effects in any room. If you aren’t sure what lighting arrangements will work in your home, hire a certified remodeler or designer to recommend lighting arrangements.
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Business of the Month
What is your name and the name of your business? I’m Sarah Kaushik and my home bakery is called Love & Lou Bakery. How long have you been in business? I officially launched Love & Lou in 2020 but I have been a long time home baker. Sharing baked treats with neighborhood friends brings me so much joy, and thanks to their encouragement I made the jump into offering those treats for purchase. Tell us about your business. Love & Lou primarily focuses on selling French macarons, not to be confused with the also delightful coconut macaroons. During the holidays, I offer a seasonal selection of macarons. This year’s box will have: candy cane, toasted sugar and vanilla with dark chocolate filling. Most of my business comes from word of mouth, Instagram (@ loveandloubakery), and special orders for baby showers, birthday parties and other events. I’m hoping to offer a monthly flavor on a regular basis in 2022! What inspired you to do what you do? Baking is a source of so much joy and contentment for me. I love the precision and chemistry involved in getting macarons just right. And even more than the process itself, I love sharing my baking with others. I know how it makes me feel to have a fresh baked treat, and being able to give that to someone else is just the best. Macarons in particular are well known for being challenging to bake at home. When I was able to consistently bake them successfully and started sharing them with friends, it felt like an extra special treat. I started Love & Lou to focus my love of baking, and it’s a great feeling to be a small part of people’s celebrations. 8
photos courtesy of Sarah Kaushik
Tells us a favorite story or two about your business. One of my favorite orders was for a virtual baby shower in 2020. The hostess had a Paris theme, I boxed up 30 mini cubes with pairs of blue and white macarons that she put into virtual party packs she then delivered to everyone attending via Zoom. The momto-be reached out after and said she was so happy to feel connected to her family and friends when they had a toast and macarons together virtually. www.CanyonCreekLife.com
How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? Our family moved to Canyon Creek in the summer of 2016. What brought you to Canyon Creek? When our twins were toddlers and in a phase when they would only nap in the car I spent a lot of time driving around North Dallas and Richardson. I kept finding myself driving past Prairie Creek Park. We were living in Far North Dallas when we found out we were
photo courtesy of Stephanie Marchant Portraits
expecting our third baby and we knew we wanted more space. I knew where I wanted to look first. The house we ended up buying happened to be on a street with two other sets of twins, one set, Cammy & Cade, are the same age as ours! What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? The sense of community here is truly unique. Our street is full of neighbors who are also close friends, Halloween is epic, and people are always out enjoying the park. I love that our kids can walk home from school, and explore the creek with their friends. Tell us about your family. My husband is Samir, he is a Partner at Jones Day. We recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. We have 3 kids. Deven and Reena are 9 and are in 4th grade at Prairie Creek Elementary. Elena is almost 5 and in
her last year of preschool at the Northaven Cooperative Preschool. We also have 2 dogs. Max, our covid pet, and Elvis our elderly beagle. Share with us a funny or awesome story of living in Canyon Creek. Our house sits on a hill. During snowmageddon in February at breakfast we would hear neighborhood kids sledding in our front yard. It was really fun because it was the signal to our kids that it was time to go play in the snow. The adults got to get out of the house and see our neighbors and check in with them, while we all watched our kids sledding. We ended up getting creative trying www.CanyonCreekLife.com
out different non-sledding items on the hill like cardboard, storage box lids, and pool floats. Anything else you’d love for your neighbors to know about your business or you? Love & Lou’s best seller is macarons, but I’m always tinkering with cookie recipes. I really enjoy working with customers to find what fits their needs. But at heart, I just really love to bake what I think sounds delicious. After watching Ted Lasso I had to make his famous biscuits, if I can track down those tiny pink boxes I might have to make them a regular item for sale! 9
GET TO KNOW YOUR
HOA BOARD
SUSAN KASSEN
Years on Board - 10
Who lives with me? Husband David, Son Cole (21), Son Kyle (19) when not at A&M, dogs Sydney and Mel Community Involvement: Richardson Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul Women's Guild, Richardson Symphony League Why do you like serving on the HOA?: I enjoy getting to know my neighbors and helping to make Canyon Creek a wonderful place to live. At the Canyon Creek Homeowners General Membership Meeting held on October 27, Susan was awarded a Plaque of Appreciation for her central role in organizing the Canyon Creek Independence Day Parade. She has been instrumental in pulling off so many Canyon Creek events the past 10 years. She makes the 4th of July Parade better each year and we are so grateful to have her in our community. Susan increases the thread count in the fabric of our Community.
NOMINATIONS NEEDED! Do you know someone who lives in the neighborhood that we should feature in an upcoming issue of Canyon Creek Life? Let us know!
WE ARE LOOKING FOR: • • • • • • •
Outstanding Athletes Newcomers to the Neighborhood Pets looking for 15 minutes of neighborhood fame Unique or Interesting Clubs (Mom’s groups, stam collecting club, etc.) Richardson Business Owners Golden Couples or Individuals (retired, semi-retired, or long-time pillars of the community) • Anyone who has something unique to share with your neighbors!
This is YOUR neighborhood magazine and we want to tell YOUR stories in your community. Send nominations to Mike Obert at mobert@hylogroup.com. 10
www.CanyonCreekLife.com
www.CanyonCreekLife.com
11
Family of the Month
Happy All Holidays from
the Tatums by Jessica Wedge
A
shley and Michael wanted to move into Canyon Creek long before they were even married. They had house alerts turned on for anything that came on the market and they were willing to wait however long was needed. In 2015, two years after being married, the stars aligned
for the new Tatum’s and they closed on their dream home. Unfortunately, due to foundation issues, the Tatum’s had to make the difficult decision to tear the house down and begin a rebuild. After multiple rounds of designing, both completely planning a house without kids and then needing
photo by Beth Richards
12
www.CanyonCreekLife.com
to replan the house with kids, Ashley, Michael, and their two new sons, Charlie and Luke, moved into their long-awaited home in Canyon Creek two weeks before Christmas. They have taken advantage of every moment and turned their house into a home ever since.
Ashley and Michael met in college at Baylor University and were in the same friend group, but they didn’t start dating until many years after graduation. When asked who made the first move, Michael hesitated and Ashley laughed, “…I did,” he said, “I poked her on Facebook.” After a little Facebook poke war back and forth, Michael finally got the nerve to call Ashley to ask her out. She didn’t answer her cell phone. He was still determined and feeling confident, so he called her office, a Public Relations firm, where she was pulled out of a meeting and he happily asked her to go to a Cowboy’s game. “I was so mad,” Ashley said while still laughing, “It was an important meeting! I said no!” Michael knew he needed to rethink his approach. He needed romance, he needed to make a lasting impression. Two weeks later he asked her out again for a night full of adventure and she said yes. They spent the night riding the McKinney trolley around Uptown with a pack of beers and Ashley delivered the news that, unfortunately, she had a boyfriend. Three years and a hiatus from social media later, Ashley logged into Facebook to find 10 pokes from Michael. Charmed by his commitment and dedication, Ashley poked him back, called him up, and they have been together ever since. “When we finally moved into the house I was so excited for Halloween and trickor-treaters,” Michael said, “but then I was told our part of the neighborhood didn’t get many trick-or-treaters, so I was determined to change that.” Michael went to Home Depot to find some Halloween decorations to put up one year and was immediately blown away by a display of a 12-foot skeleton. “I found the store manager and begged him to let me buy it,” Michael laughed, “It took a lot of convincing but eventually he gave in. As soon as I set it up in front of the house I knew he needed a friend!” Michael said. Ashley was shaking her head, adding, while laughing, “I want everyone to know we aren’t weird! It’s not like that at all inside the house!” After searching and searching, Michael finally found a skeleton buddy for his original. Since putting them up in the front yard, they have drawn a crowd to their house and to the park. Every day all day long, the family watched little kids run up to the skeletons with the largest grins as if they were seeing a friend, and people take countless photos and selfies in front of them. They even got to see
photo by Beth Richards www.CanyonCreekLife.com
13
photo by Beth Richards
photo by Jessica Wedge
an engagement happen on their front lawn! “This year, we had about 400 trick-or-treaters come up to the house,” Michael said with pride. He added a Halloween-themed fence to the front to protect all the people who wanted to come directly up to see the skeletons, and he plans to add a new piece of decoration every year. Ashley and Michael’s sons, Charlie, 6, and Luke, 4, love playing sports and being creative. Recently, Charlie has been inspired by the character Kevin in Home Alone and has started setting up booby traps throughout the house to catch bad guys. Luke, like his dad, loves Halloween. So much so that he wakes up every morning wanting to listen to “This is Halloween” from A Nightmare Before Christmas. He’s very brave and doesn’t get scared easily, but he loves doing whatever his older brother does and stays right by his side. Something the boys love to do together is hunt for buried treasure in the park that has been left behind by the infamous Captain Willie; a pirate who was bad but moved into the neighborhood to become a good person. “It’s a lot of work,” Michael explained, looking over his shoulder for peeping eyes, “but of course it’s worth it.” Captain Willie initially wrote to Charlie and Luke one day after the creek flooded and a message in a bottle washed onto their front yard. Now, Charlie, Luke, and Michael get to spend time together looking at treasure maps, finding clues hanging on trees, and exploring other parts of the park. It’s not completely an all-boys house anymore, though. Palmer is Ashley and Michael’s one-year-old daughter. “She is the princess of the house,” Ashley explained, “the boys are especially great with her. They even wanted a sister!” Palmer’s name was inspired by Ashley’s father’s alma mater, Palmer College of Chiropractic, but it wasn’t until she heard the name used for a girl in a movie that she realized that’s what she wanted to name her daughter. “It was such a household name for me growing up, and I knew it would be the perfect tribute to my father who has passed,” Ashley explained, proud of the unique and special name. 14
Ashley looks forward to creating traditions around the holidays for the kids as they’re getting older. “We can start doing things like decorating cookies and building gingerbread houses, now that the boys are able to work with their hands more.” Something that Ashley didn’t expect, though, was the new difficulty of picking out gifts for her kids. “We don’t have the paper delivered so they aren’t seeing print ads or toy catalogs and we only have streaming TV so they aren’t seeing toy commercials. I can only guess based on what they’re into now and what they point at the few times they see something in the store.” One of their favorite things to do that they see turning into a tradition is decorating the golf cart with lights and going Christmas light looking around the neighborhood in their PJs and drinking hot chocolate. As far as Christmas decorations, Michael fully plans to go big for that, as well. “I already have a sled in the garage! I just need to put it together…and put up the Halloween decorations…”
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wantere’s to change the Th world, homewe and love your said. family.” added, “Th a Mother eresagoquote love, ” Guy “ ‘IfHeyou want to “we’re all creating healthy, comfortable homes so our and change theabout world, go home and love your family. ’ We’re allfriends about creating neighborscomfortable can do just that. What you accomplish if your home healthy, homes socould our friends and neighbors can was do just comfortable dust andac-complish allergies were an home issue?”was comfortable and that. What and could you if not your dust and allergies were not an issue?” HERE’S HOW THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN:
• Air Quality, Comfort, BillIT Assessment HERE’S HOW THEYEnergy MAKE HAPPEN: Insulation and Duct Work Removal •• Air Quality HVAC Systems •• Complete AtticAssessment Makeoversand Tune Up Radiant Life Barrier, Ventilation, Ductwork Install •• Longer ForInsulation, Your Major Equipment Customer Experience and Satisfaction Follow Up •• Attic Specialists • Dramatic Energy Savings Visit www.energyattic.com • Reliable Professionals or
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FREE ATTIC OVERHAUL ESTIMATE.
www.CanyonCreekLife.com www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com
your
photos provided by Kara Baergen
Athlete of the Month
Audrey Baergen Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and what year you are in school. My name is Audrey Baergen and I’m a senior at J.J. Pearce High School. What other schools have you attended? I attended elementary school at Prairie Creek Elementary and junior high at North Junior High. Tell us what sports or activities you were involved in and why you enjoy it. Volleyball is my passion. I’ve been on the Varsity volleyball team at Pearce for 3 years and love it. I am also involved in National Charity League, DECA, Sideline Sweethearts, Diamond Darlings, Chandelle Committee, Young Life, and Club Volleyball. Tell us your honors and awards in school. Sophomore Year - Academic All City Team, Academic All District Team, All City Honorable Mention Team and All District Honorable Mention Team.
What’s your favorite subject in school. My favorite subject in school has always been science. I am currently in Honors Anatomy which I’m really enjoying! Recently, I was able to dissect a cow's eye and a sheep’s heart. Tell us about your plans after graduation. After graduation I plan to attend a 4 year university and major in Business Agriculture. My current top choices are Oklahoma State, University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.? Outside of school I spend a lot of my time with Young Life. I am on the leadership team and have weekly campaigners. Besides YL, I also spend time reading, hanging out with friends and baking.
Junior Year - Academic All District Team, Academic All City Team, All District 2nd Team and All City 2nd Team
How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? I’ve lived in Canyon Creek for 18 years. The same house on the corner that some of y'all may know! I love this neighborhood because I’m friends with all the families, I always feel safe here and everyone really looks out for one another.
Senior Year - All State Academic Team, Academic All District Team, Academic All City Team, All District 2nd Team and All City 2nd Team.
What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? I love having Two Creeks nearby. It is great for food and a fun place to hangout
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with family and friends. It’s always nice to be able to stay in the neighborhood to grab a bite or hangout with friends. Tell us a favorite story or two about a big moment or fun moment playing your sport. Volleyball is a very high intensity sport and that definitely applied this year when we played Lake Highlands in round one of district. Lake Highlands is our biggest rival so we all had a lot of emotion in the game and wanted nothing more than to win. We took the first set, they took the second, we took the third set, they took the fourth. In the fifth set it was back and forth, point for point. We ended up beating them 15-13 and the rush was insane, it felt so good to win! Share with us a funny or awesome story of living in Canyon Creek. Growing up in Canyon Creek I’ve gotten to experience a lot of fun things with my friends. When we were little we went trick or treating and would run from house to house as quickly as we could to be able to get as much candy as possible. (We knew the best houses to hit of course.) After we had made our rounds, we would come back to my house and take our pillowcases, full of candy, dump them out on the f loor and trade each other for our favorite candy.
The Canyon Creek Chronicle
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Echoes From The Canyon Christmas 2021
I
n December 1914, during the Great War (later to be known as World War I), German and British soldiers were engaged in brutal trench warfare on the western front of a war-torn Europe. At 8:30 on Christmas Eve, an Irish Officer reported that the Germans were singing and wishing the British Troops a Merry Christmas. The air filled with a German version of Silent Night and was met with a British chorus of The First Noel. Men began to exit the trenches and small gifts of whiskey and cigarettes were exchanged. An impromptu soccer match followed. One Brit became friends with a German artilleryman who spoke English. As they parted, the German said, “Today we have peace. Tomorrow, you fight for your country, I fight for mine. Good luck”. Sadly, the Christmas Truce ended, war senselessly resumed and went on to wound and kill 25 million people. If it is possible for the Season to inspire men fighting a monstrous war to lay down their arms and seek companionship with their fellow man, it should serve as an inspiration for us to lower the volume on that which divides us as Americans. Beware of those who profit from our division. If we do not readily discern their motive, then as long as discord is profitable, there will be discord. Regardless of one’s Faith tradition, there resides a spirit in each of us that the modern cacophony subsumes. Unplug and listen with
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unfettered ears and an open heart. Miracles occur much more frequently than our myopic vision views. Let’s close with the final stanza of The Christmas Guest. (The Johnny Cash version happens to be my favorite.) “But as he entered his own darkened door He knew the Lord was not coming today For the hours of Christmas had passed away So he went to his room and knelt down to pray And he said, “Dear Lord, why did you delay What kept you from coming to call on me For I wanted so much your face to see.” When soft in the silence a voice he heard. “Lift up your head for I kept my word. Three times my shadow crossed your floor And three times I came to your lonely door. I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet And I was the woman you gave something to eat. I was the child on the homeless street. Three times I knocked and three times I came in And in each time, I found the warmth of a friend. Of all the gifts, love is the best. And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.”
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HOA ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
T
hank you to everyone who came out to attend the October 27 Annual Homeowners Association meeting held at Canyon Creek Country Club. It was so refreshing to see our residents in person again. The 2021-2022 Board of Directors was introduced and we are very excited to introduce some new faces to the Board. Richardson Chief of Police Gary Tittle made a great presentation about the importance of neighbors watching out for each other and gave a great overview about the current rates (or lack thereof) here in Canyon Creek. Biggest tip to prevent crime? LOCK YOUR CARS AT NIGHT! And always make sure to take guns or weapons inside. City Manager, and fellow Canyon Creek resident, Don Magner gave an overview about the how the 2021 Bond election affects Canyon Creek and a fantastic overview of the upcoming work to be done on West Prairie Creek. He also gave a reminder that if you witness illegal parking, call RPD. We thank them both for their services to Canyon Creek and for listening to the residents.
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE President
Warren Caldwell
Past President
Jeremy Thomason
Treasurer
Richard Luttrell
Secretary
Doris Benner
Director of Membership
Jay Dalehite/Susan Kassen
Director of Flag Program
Jay Dalehite
Director of Community Relations
Chip Pratt
Director of Events
Julia Porter
Director of Communication
Shelley Hicks
Director of Crime Watch
Sharon Odell
Director of Beautification
Gabriel Meadows
Director of Large (focus on Website)
Ross Sivertsen
Director of Large
Open
CANYON CREEK CRIME REVIEW OFFENSE
2020 (DECEMBER YTD)
2021 (OCTOBER 25)
Residential Burglary
6
5
Business Burglary
3
1
Simple Assaults
16
8
Aggravated Assaults
2
2
Auto Theft
8
5
Theft
28
19
Burglary MV
40
23
Criminal Mischief
19
15
Fraud
3
1
Robbery of Individual
1
2
Robbery of Business
0
0
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YARD OF THE QUARTER
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7 Willow Creek
437 Valley Glen
2115 Flat Creek
2402 Custer Pkwy
www.CanyonCreekLife.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY Ryan Miles
sr. loan officer nmls: 184358
469-737-5710 r yan.miles@primelending.com canyoncreekhomeloans.com All loans subject to credit approval. Rates & fees subject to change. ©2021 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. NMLS: 13649 Equal Housing Lender. PrimeLending is a wholly owned subsidiary of a statechartered bank and is an exempt lender in TX. V010918
FOR ALL YOUR GRAPHIC DESIGN NEEDS Call Mike Obert (214-403-3755)
18111 preston #500, dallas, tx, 74252
Look no more, your lender lives next door.
Community News
New Online Library Card Registration Need a Richardson Public Library card but can't make it to the Library just yet? Check out our new online library card registration. Residents and non-residents within the Library's service area, ages 18 and over, can apply for a library card online and get automatic access to four of the most popular online resources: OverDrive for ebooks and eAudiobooks, EBSCOhost for research, A to Z databases for market research information, and Access Video on Demand. This
card is good for 60 days. After 60 days, please visit the Library to receive your full privilege card. Reciprocal borrowing agreements apply to receive your full privilege card. For more information, please call 972-744-4363 To apply for your temporary Library card, please visit https://rson. ent.sirsi.net/custom/web/registration/index.html
Exchange Zone If you need a location to meet a seller or buyer after making an online purchase with a stranger, our Exchange Zone can help. Look for the designated parking with “Exchange Zone” signage, located at the Richardson Police Public Safety Campus (200 N. Greenville Ave.) on the southeast side of the visitor parking lot. This area is under 24/7 video surveillance and has access to an emergency call button adjacent to the Exchange Zone.
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BBHC Beckloff Behavorial Health Center
WHERE KIDS BECOME KIDS... AGAIN! A counseling and educational center focused on helping kids, teens, & families. Play Therapy ADHD Coaching Testing & Assesment Parenting Teen Counseling
972.250.1700
Family Counseling Divorce Care Parent Facilitation Speech & Language Therapy •
drbeckloff.com
Canyon Creek Allstate Insurance
S
Travel Insurance 101
ince COVID does not appear to be going away anytime soon, I figured Travel Insurance would be good to discuss.
1. TRIP CANCELLATION COVERAGE: IF YOU CAN'T TRAVEL When you have to call off your trip and you've already paid for nonrefundable tickets or put down deposits, travel insurance may help reimburse you for those costs. 2. BAGGAGE COVERAGE: WHEN YOUR BELONGINGS ARE LOST OR STOLEN Baggage loss/damage coverage: If your bags are lost or stolen, you may need to replace the clothing and other items that were inside them. This coverage may help reimburse you for your personal items, up to a certain maximum amount, says the III.
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Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
WHAT DOES TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER? Travel insurance helps reimburse you for nonrefundable deposits and other costs related to your vacation if something goes wrong, such as lost or stolen baggage or unexpected medical expenses. To decide whether travel insurance is right for you, it's helpful to understand the types of coverage available in a policy. Most policies include the following types of coverage: Baggage delay coverage: If your baggage is delayed or misdirected for 24 hours or more, this coverage may help reimburse you for the reasonable additional purchase of essential items during your trip. 3. EMERGENCY MEDICAL COVERAGE: IF YOU GET SICK OR INJURED WHILE TRAVELING Emergency medical benefits may be helpful if you're traveling internationally or in remote areas. This coverage may help pay for: Prolonged stays in a foreign hospital, Airlifting after a skiing or hiking accident, Flight home if you're seriously sick or injured and more.
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4. OTHER TYPES OF COVERAGE: TRIP INTERRUPTION, TRAVEL DELAY AND MORE Depending on your policy, additional types of travel insurance coverage may be available. Some travel policies may also include: Trip interruption coverage, Travel delay coverage, Missed connection coverage 24-hour telephone assistance. Call Canyon Creek Insurance agency (972810-4149) to discuss travel insurance if you have more questions.
The Merry
Mat Makers
by Jessica Wedge
E
very day you’re reminded of the blessings around you, but it’s usually the little things in life, the hot coffee in the morning or the comfortable bed at night, that can be taken for granted. Sherma Brown was feeling drawn to give, but she didn’t know where to begin. She knew she liked to work with her hands and she wanted something she could do on her own time. Her sister in Oklahoma introduced her to Plarn Mats for the Homeless, and after a few Google searches and YouTube videos, Sherma was inspired and excited for all of the good it could bring. Plarn, also known as Plastic Bag Yarn, is crocheting together strips of plastic bags leftover from the grocery store and turning them into something durable and sturdy, such as tote bags, doormats, or, in Sherma’s case, sleeping mats to provide for the homeless. At the beginning of 2019, she introduced this idea to her church, First Baptist Church of Richardson. She knew there was a large senior citizen group that would be willing to help her create these mats. She quickly formed a group of 26 people and they soon had scheduled plarning meetings at the church. Within a year, the group was able to produce 92 mats that were 3 feet by 6 feet. Each mat was then delivered by the mission pastor of the church and his assistant around the area. During the pandemic in 2020, the group needed to move their meetings to Sherma‘s home in Canyon Creek. Soon after, word traveled and neighbors became interested in joining the group as a way to keep busy and give back. The group grew and so did the production. By the end of 2020, the Merry Mat Makers, as they now call their plarning group made up of church members and Canyon Creek neighbors, produced over 300 mats with matching pillows made out of newspaper sleeves. When the Richardson senior center opened back up, one of the neighbors took the activity to them and they now have a group with eight people involved. Then, a woman in that group took it to her senior community with a large population and they started another group that now has 22 people involved.
Glynda Thompson & Joni McClure
Canyon Creek resident Liz Wright
Glynda Thompson
Christy Vaupel, assistant missions pastor
When it comes to making the mats, there are four different jobs involved, like an assembly line: one person smooths and folds the bags, the next person cuts them into strips, then someone ties each strip together to make the plarn, and finally someone crochets the plarn into the mat. “I never crocheted before,” Sherma said, “but I watched YouTube videos to learn and now I can do it!” When the mats are finished, they are rolled up and tied with a crocheted rope that makes them easier to be carried. Each one is wrapped with a pillow, a power bar, and a note, which includes: “This mat is for you! It took many people, working many hours, to make. It is made from 500 to 700 grocery bags. We pray for your protection, provision, and your direction.” At the beginning of 2021, the group went back to meeting at the church but also maintained their meetings in the neighborhood. More and more new people have joined the group and so far this year they have made www.CanyonCreekLife.com
Sherma Brown
450 mats. The group not only enjoys making something useful from trash items, but the friendships that have been made have been delightful. “I just want people to know about it and I encourage everyone to try it,” Sherma explained, “it’s something great for anyone to do on their own or with friends.” The Merry Mat Makers meet once a week in the neighborhood and they encourage anyone to reach out for more information or to join. 27
In The Kitchen
Apple Cider Mojito • 2 or 3 lemon squeezes • 1 shot of rum • 1 cup apple cider Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
Santa Baby Cocktail • ½ oz Chambord • 5 oz Champagne • 5–6 pomegranate seeds Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
Cranberry Old Fashion
Blood Mary Holiday • • • • • • • •
• • • •
1 teaspoon g salt 1 cup ice cubes 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka ¾ cup spicy tomato-vegetable juice cocktail 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce 1 dash hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco) salt and pepper to taste celery stalk
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
MIKE OBERT
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
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2 cubes of sugar 2-3 shakes bitters 1 shot of whisky or bourbon 1 shot of cranberry juice
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CANYON CREEK REAL ESTATE 10/1/21 - 11/30/21 SOLD PROPERTIES
SQFT
LIST PRICE
SOLD DATE
515 W Lookout Drive #111
700
$155,000
10/25
2638 Custer Parkway #B
1,728
$230,000
10/15
2650 Custer Parkway #B
1,728
$240,000
10/27
2011 Sage Valley Drive
2,091
$425,000
11/01
318 Canyon Valley Drive
2,131
$425,000
10/18
501 Cap Rock Drive
1,738
$465,000
10/15
317 Ridgebriar Drive
2,668
$485,000
11/05
2917 Whitemarsh Circle
2,200
$499,000
10/07
331 Oakcrest Drive
2,491
$510,000
11/08
409 Valley Cove Drive
2,647
$540,000
11/04
2503 Overcreek Drive
2,275
$589,900
11/04
2516 Little Creek Drive
3,153
$595,000
10/26
412 Canyon Creek Drive
2,721
$604,900
10/19
1124 W Lookout Drive
3,939
$623,000
11/04
301 Fall Creek Drive
3,107
$695,000
10/12
315 Oakcrest Drive
3,376
$710,000
11/15
9 Pebblebrook Circle
2,862
$774,900
10/12
323 Meadowcrest Drive
3,214
$825,000
10/12
2402 Grandview Drive
2,729
$844,450
10/18
204 Long Canyon Court
3,693
$874,900
11/17
2410 Skyview Drive
3,199
$899,900
10/22
ANGELA GREEN Keller Williams Central angela.green@kw.com
Phone: 214-893-4171
Serving Dallas, Collin and Denton Counties 24 years FULL TIME experience!
Each office is independently owned and operated.
Information above was obtained from NTREIS. Properties were listed and/or sold by many Brokers between 10/1/21 - 11/30/21.
Each office is independently owned and operated.
If you are considering selling, please call me for a complimentary market analysis to find out what your home is worth. Don’t leave money on the table! CANYON CREEK
CANYON CREEK
10/1/2020 - 11/30/2020
Properties Sold: 32 Price Range: $125,000 - $1,499,000 Average Price: $447,556 Average Price PSF: $179.31
10/1/2021 - 11/30/2021
THEN & NOW
Properties Sold: 21 Price Range: $155,000 - $899,900 Average Price: $571,950 Average Price PSF: $220.74
“Best wishes for the holidays, and for health and happiness throughout the coming year!” 214-893-4171
DON’T LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE!
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FULTON, MO PERMIT 38