During winter months, I happily embrace nights cozied up by the fire reading a book I can’t put down, taking naps, making warm and comforting food like chili and drinking lots of hot tea. I love the cold. I like being stuck at home during an ice storm. But I recognize that not everyone appreciates wintertime and some folks find it downright depressing.
I recently read how happy Nordic people are during the coldest, darkest winter months and it made me wonder…how are Scandinavians so happy despite the country’s frigid February weather, and what can we learn from them that would help us thrive as we wait for spring?
First, Swedes have a concept called “fika,” meaning “to have coffee.” In practice “fika” suggests that connecting with others (having coffee and socializing) is critical to our overall wellbeing. It means putting our phones and books away, turning off the tv and simply talking. The importance is the togetherness.
Another cornerstone of Danish culture is “hygge” (pronounced hoo-guh), defined as “a quality of coziness and conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” It encourages comfort, peace and self-care. Typically, the setting is one’s home or another quiet location. If you prefer the company of people, unwind and share a meal with no agenda other than to experience the joy of being together. Imagine bringing more “hygge” into your life…light your favorite candle, curl up in warm pajamas, sit by a fire under a warm blanket with a cup of cocoa and a copy of Canyon Creek Life , and enjoy learning about your wonderful neighbors.
For our February issue, you’ll meet Kirk Dreyer’s bearded dragon named Mike. You’ll learn about the Canyon Creek Wetlands and Wildscape project just north of Renner Road. We’ll introduce you to Gavin Green, an outstanding basketball player at JJ Pearce whose family lives in the neighborhood. We celebrate the Amerson family, the Canyon Creek North Garden Club and the Prairie Creek Garden Club. You’ll also get to see the winners of the CCHOA’s Christmas Lights contest. This and so much more awaits you as you embrace “hygge” these last two months of winter.
Happy reading!
PattiPublisher Kyla Obert
Ad Sales
Mike Obert
Designer
Open Look Business Solutions
Contributors
Wilson Allen, Lisa Parelli-Monaghan, Angela Green, Ryan Amerson, Warren Caldwell and Patti Otte
Editor
Patti Otte
Photographer Kyla Obert
Special Thanks
Julia Koch, Cayce Ashby and the Prairie Creek Garden Club, Gavin Green, Gail McAda and the Canyon Creek North Garden Club, Kyle Dreyer, Tiffany and Ryan Amerson, Gabe Meadows and Jay Dalehite
For Advertising Questions, please email mobert@hylogroup.com
For Editoral Requests, please email nominations@hylogroup.com
HyperLocal Media
224 W Campbell Rd, STE 428 Richardson, TX 75080
Managing Partners
Mike and Kyla Obert
Serving the DFW area, including Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, The Colony, Garland, Addison, Sachse, Murphy, Wylie, Lucas, Rowlett, and all surrounding areas.
And if your mind runs like mine when I try to plan, I wrestle with the answers to money questions like,
Tell us your name and the name of your pet.
My name is Kyle Dreyer and Mike is my bearded dragon. Our family also includes Remi Lu the Aussiedoodle and Bessie Blue the Great Dane.
We understand that Mike has quite a story. Will you share it with our readers?
I’ve had Mike since I was the ripe old age of ten. I got him on Christmas morning in 2010. Because my mother was hesitant to have a pet lizard in the house, she made me work to get it. So I struck up a contract with my parents stating that if I showed responsibility by making my bed every single day for one full year, I could get one. Santa must have caught wind of this deal because he surprised me with Mike the following year. The agonizing days of being responsible were finally over.
Through my thorough research into bearded dragons, I realized that many owners name their beardies “Spike” due to their physical appearance. Striving to be different, I decided to name my beardie “Mike.” Later that night while visiting my grandparents, I was surprised with another beardie from my aunts and uncles (who clearly didn’t coordinate with Santa). So now with two lizards on my plate, I figured what better name to give the second one than “Ike.” Just like the candy.
Mike and Ike were best pals for about two years until I found out that they were much more. They were in love. They even tried starting a family together. But we had a big problem. This meant that one was actually a girl, so the duo became Mike and Mikayla. But wait…there’s more. I had misgendered my lizards. Mike was actually Mikayla and Mikayla was actually Mike. Their eggs didn’t last long because one day
Mikayla decided to eat the eggs as if they were scrambled.
About a year after finally getting their pronouns correct and then living through the egg scandal of 2012, Mikayla tragically passed away in her sleep on the first day of summer. Since then, Mike has recovered and has been my righthand man ever since. He even traveled to Baylor University with me, riding on my shoulder to and from campus. He was the life of the party and quite the ladies’ man himself. Now we are back home in Richardson enjoying our sweet time.
Tell us about Mike’s fun tricks, unique talents, quirky personality, etc.
Mike is not the most talented thing in the world but he tries. He is really good at staring contests, seeing who can be still the longest and, most importantly, seeing how many crickets he can take in one sitting. He also loves to take trips outside in the grass and snuggling.
How long have you lived in Canyon Creek and what do you love most about living here?
I have been a resident of Canyon Creek since I was five years old. I love everything about Canyon Creek. It was the perfect place to grow up: fifteen minutes from the city, good suburban neighborhoods nearby and a great school district. Growing up, one of my favorite things to do would be to go ride my bike and meet up with my friends at the park. I still hang out with these guys to this day.
Please share with us a funny or awesome story of living in the neighborhood.
When I was younger, we would go play “gutterball” at the Canyon Creek Pool during the summertime. I loved that and playing golf at CCCC.
Is there anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you or Mike?
I will be moving sometime later this year to Dallas with some college buddies of mine. I now work for a company called Residential Capital Partners selling investment property loans. I am enjoying life as a postgraduate.
by: Lisa Parelli-Monaghan
Renovating a home means updating or restoring a home or room. Remodeling a home means changing the functionality of a room or home as well as updating. Typically, most homes fall into the remodeling category in the Richardson area as most homeowners are looking to change functionality by removing walls or converting spaces. By adopting the latest trends through renovation or remodeling, you will likely increase your home’s value while also having a chance to flaunt your style preferences. The saying “what goes around comes back around” seems to be true in some of the top renovation and remodeling trends for 2023.
Bold Wallpaper – Yes, it is back! Some of us just removed it all from our homes, but it is back with a splash. We are seeing boldly printed wallpaper on at least one wall or accent area. It catches the eye and, in some cases, completes a room. Wallpaper is a great way to show your personality while staying on budget. We are also seeing bold colors in rooms as well. The shift away from mostly neutrals and whites is something many pros attribute to the pandemic. These days, homeowners seem more adventurous and willing to take a chance on creating brighter, more vibrant spaces.
Multifunctional Rooms – If the COVID work reset taught us anything, we quickly discovered there is not enough workspace in our home for everyone. Homeowners are looking for ways to get the most out of their spaces. They now have offices that double as rooms for schoolwork to kitchens that can be used as work zones
when needed. Kitchen islands with seating are an excellent way to add workspace as well. Multifunctional rooms are needed in every home today.
Large Window Banks – Everyone loves natural light in a home and the quickest way to add light is to add windows. Homeowners are now adding full bank windows at the back of their homes which open to the outside living area or to their backyards. Bring the outside in!
Mudrooms – Everyone needs this room. It’s a place to drop shoes, backpacks, coats, groceries or whatever is being brought in from the outside. These rooms have always been popular in cold weather climates as the perfect place to enter when coming in from the snow and removing wet snow boots, coats, etc. But they are a perfect space in any home, especially within a laundry room.
Spa Bathroom – Spa bathrooms have continued to make the “trend list” for remodeling the past several years. It seems like homeowners are looking for a quiet, serene environment where they can unwind and relax. They are still gravitating toward a large bathtub and standup shower with soft lighting and calm colors. Some homeowners are even taking over closet space to make the bathroom larger and more spa-like.
Whether you follow the trends or not, there is no right way to renovate or remodel your home. Let your style and personality shine through as you decide what you will do in your home. The happiest homeowners are the ones that create their space exactly the way they want it!
by: Patti Otte
Ryan & Tiffany Amerson’s story began at a Joe’s Crab Shack more than two decades ago. Ryan didn’t realize that crashing Tiffany’s sixteenth birthday party would change the course of his life in the most wonderful way. He was warmly welcomed by Tiffany’s friends that evening and even made it into the group birthday photo! Two years later, they reconnected when Tiffany was a senior and Ryan a junior at Rockwall High School. Romance blossomed and they dated most of the year until Tiffany left for Texas A&M.
Ryan ended up at Texas Tech the following year, but the two would hang out on breaks when they came home to Rockwall. After time away at their respective colleges, Ryan and Tiffany started dating again when Tiffany started graduate school at Dallas Theological Seminary. According to the couple, “The rest is history!”
Both Tiffany and Ryan are local entrepreneurs. Ryan has owned and operated Energy Attic since 2012. The company specializes in attic insulation, radiant barrier and air conditioning, and helping people create homes that are comfortable and more energy efficient. Ryan has thoroughly enjoyed serving the Canyon Creek neighborhood and making a difference in the community.
Tiffany is a Licensed Professional Counselor with fifteen years of experience in a variety of private and nonprofit settings, all of which have contributed to her expertise with anxiety and depressive disorders, postpartum and perinatal mood disorders, substance abuse, trauma and Christian counseling. She has her own private practice here in Richardson, Holding Hope DFW, where she serves women of all ages.
The couple moved to 75080 as quickly as they could, but they first landed in Richardson Heights, where they lived for five years. Seven years ago, they found a home in Canyon Creek and have absolutely loved living in the neighborhood. Tiffany is a proud member of the Brookshire Babes, an impromptu club of moms residing on or around their street. Says Tiffany, “You might find the Babes out on the town celebrating events such as Babesgiving, Babes Christmas, or our annual Babes Birthday Bash. [The Babes] also look for ways to support nearby neighbors who are going through a tough time or might need prayer.”
The couple sees Canyon Creek as the perfect place to raise their growing family. Dylan, their oldest, is twelve years old and attends Canyon Creek Elementary. He is involved in club baseball, youth group at church, and plays the oboe in the sixth grade Viking Band. Taryn is ten and a fourth grader at CCE. She’s creative and friendly and enjoys piano, Girl Scouts and gymnastics. Lauryn is the Amersons’ eight-year-old and a second grader at CCE. She’s involved in Girl Scouts, cheer prep and piano. Edyn is a sweet, spunky three-year-old who is really into Cocomelon, stealing sips of Mommy’s coffee, tagging along with the big kids, and saying, “No, please.”
The Amersons also have a six-year-old neighborhood favorite, a “Texas Brown Dog” (aka mutt). The family loves watching the Despicable Me movies so much that they named their dog Kevin after one of the minions!
Halloween at "The Creek"
Ryan and Tiffany absolutely love Canyon Creek Elementary and the staff and parents there. After a strange few COVID years at school, Tiffany felt called to step into leadership as CCE PTA President to continue fostering the amazing culture of programming and volunteerism that is the elementary school’s hallmark. According to Tiffany, the older Amerson kids get a kick out of seeing Mom and baby sister up at school and oftentimes ask why Tiffany can’t make decisions regarding recess and holidays!
When they’re not at school, the Amersons’ favorite spot to hang out is II Creeks, where they enjoy dinner and sweet treats. According to Tiffany, they “also get [their] mom & dad bod probs (aches & pains) addressed by [their] favorite neighborhood chiropractor.”
The Amersons are a typical, funloving Canyon Creek family. They enjoy watching their kids’ activities and spend many weekends at the ball field. Ryan has developed new friendships at the Canyon
Creek Country Club golf course and can’t wait for the new renovations to be completed. Tiffany can be found with her nose in a book or baking one of the most sought after chocolate chip cookies in the neighborhood. She loves learning new things and adding skills to her counseling practice, hanging out with friends and practicing Pilates.
When the weather is nice, they enjoy Sunday grilling with burgers or steaks and like chatting with neighbors of all ages on Brookshire Lane as well as hanging out with church friends who also live in the neighborhood. Ryan and Tiffany are both very active at CityBridge Community Church in Plano. Ryan serves with the men’s ministries and Tiffany helps with the New Moms Ministry, sharing about postpartum and perinatal mental health.
The Amersons aren’t ones to sit still for long. In addition to all the fun at home, they take impromptu trips to the deer lease, which include riding four wheelers, wearing
camo, and chasing turkeys, ducks and deer. They like to do puzzles and play games together and enjoy dining at their favorite local eateries: Dos Arroyos, Yoshi Shabu Shabu, Maru Ramen, Shady’s, Greenville Avenue Pizza Co. and Olive Garden.
When asked what they love most about living in Canyon Creek, the Amersons mention all the things that help foster closer relationships…like more neighbors with kids and seeing more restaurants and small businesses that care. States the couple, “Sometimes it’s really easy to look at other families and think they have it all together, or that life seems easy. We all have our struggles! Our family wants to be Trustworthy, Respectful, have Integrity, be Bold, and Extremely Kind. We think that if we pursue these biblical principles, even when life seems to be chaotic and messy, we’ll be a blessing to everyone around us.”
We’re glad you’re in Canyon Creek, Amerson family. You ARE a blessing!
Canyon Creek Elementary Canyon Creek Elementary PTA
In 1972 my parents moved our family from St. Louis, Missouri, to Richardson, Texas. In those days, Renner Road was a twolane blacktop road. My siblings and I were like a small band of Huckleberry Finns…exploring every nook and cranny of the thenclear Prairie Creek, jumping off the Lookout bridge with our friends in the summer (the creek was MUCH deeper then) and crossing over Renner Road to put pennies on the train tracks. We’d come back the following day and try to find the pennies in the rocks beside the tracks. Much of what is north of Canyon Creek now was still farmland in the 1970’s.
Wetlands Site North of Renner RoadI now live next door to the house I grew up in on Tam O’Shanter Lane. It’s been incredible to see the changes that have occurred in Canyon Creek during the past fifty years. I particularly love the green spaces which are a hallmark of our neighborhood. In 2020 I applied to the Texas Master Naturalist program; one of my special interests has been the restoration of our native Blackland Prairies. I’ve been volunteering in the north Texas area, helping others to restore lands to their original prairie states that served our native insects and animals so well more than 150 years ago.
In January 2021 I approached the City of Richardson about the possibility of having a group of Master Naturalists work on the city’s property north of Renner Road behind the Hilton Garden Inn, a place where I had discovered remnants of Blackland Prairie plant material and a nice variety of wildlife. They agreed…and so began the long process of removing invasive species and making sure that the existing population of native grasses and pollinator plants thrive.
We call the site The Canyon Creek Wetlands and Wildscape. The deep retention pond has significantly filled in with the silt that comes from the creek and years of development north of Richardson. However, as we are still in the migration flyway and have a good source of water, many species of birds visit the site year-round and the creek serves as a sort of superhighway for many species of wildlife.
The inspiration for the Wildscape project has grown from my weekly experience working with the Connemara Conservancy (working on converting farmland back to native prairie at the Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve), Frankford Preservation Foundation (where I serve as a board member and a weekly volunteer keeping this virgin prairie in North Dallas free of invasive species) and Beck’s Prairie (a large virgin Blackland prairie in Plano that has been sold for development). My hope for Canyon Creek Wetlands and Wildscape is that we can capture all the best of each of these places and create a wonderful place for us to experience nature and increase our community’s mindfulness of these fragile ecosystems.
This Wildscape is a special area with lots of potential and a great place to observe our precious wildlife. It is so meaningful to me to see spaces like this kept wild and underdeveloped so that each of us can get a glimpse of the beautiful grasses, plants and wildlife that depend on the landscape. We are hoping that in the spring of 2023, we will start to see significant signs of our past year’s efforts.
Want to get involved? Master Naturalist volunteers gather monthly on the third Saturday from 8:00 – 11:00 am and we welcome community volunteers. We have had several groups of Scouts as well as Richardson Symphony debutantes helping us from time to time and we recently partnered with the Texas Conservation Alliance to plant more than 700 very small North Texas pollinator plants and native grasses.
These are a few of the activities that we might be doing on any given workday:
• Planting very specific types of plants and seeds that would have been found here decades ago
• Installing nesting boxes for eastern bluebirds, wood ducks and owls
• Building brush piles for wildlife habitat
• Removing flood debris/trash
• Creating small pathways to improve access for wildlife photography
• Removing invasive species of plants
• Participating in the rescue and replanting of native grasses from nearby areas that are under development
The site is located behind the Hilton Garden Inn at 1001 George Bush Frwy, Richardson, Texas. To volunteer, no prior experience working in this capacity is required. Enthusiasm and a love of working outdoors – or the need for volunteer hours – is all that’s needed. Anyone who wishes to volunteer must sign a City of Richardson waiver and be dressed appropriately with sturdy boots/shoes. Volunteers needs gloves, sun/bug protection, a hand spade and small garden clippers if available. A water bottle to stay hydrated is also a must.
For more information, to receive a waiver to join us on one of our monthly workdays, or to coordinate a group volunteer event outside of our scheduled workdays, email me (Julia Koch) at juliakoch@live.com or call me at (214) 226-2328. I would love to see our Canyon Creek neighbors joining in this effort to restore a piece of native wildscape.
Julia Koch and RSO Debutante Sonya Levy
TThe mission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Transform lives. They operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working humbly to make an eternal difference. Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this Christian-owned and operated business since 2005. Energy Attic Owner Ryan Amerson begins and ends each day asking himself how he can make life better for his clients, his employees, and his community. “Our efforts have resulted in 10x growth over the years, and lots of positive impact on our industry!” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so your home can be all that it should be”. It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home. “There’s a Mother Theresa quote we love,” Ryan said. “If you
he mission of Energy Attic is so simple it’s brilliant. Transform attics. Trans-form lives. ey operate by doing what’s right, loving people, and working hum-bly to make an eternal di erence. Based on Micah 6:8, that vision has been the driving force behind this Christian-owned and operated business for 13 years. Energy Attic Founder and Owner Ryan Amerson and COO Guy Charles be-gin and end each day asking themselves how they can make life better for their clients, their em-ployees, their community, and their world. And their e orts have resulted in 10-fold growth over the years.
“We want people to live their best life at home,” Ryan said. “We do our part by making your home more comfortable, improving your indoor air quality, and saving you money on your utility bills. Put simply, we want to transform your attic space which will transform your living space, so you can live your best life.” It’s something they’ve done for over 10,000 happy families, creating environments where people can love others through a comfortable and safe home.
want to change the world, go home and love your family.” He added, “we’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just that. What could you accomplish if your home was comfortable and dust and allergies were not an issue?”
“ ere’s a Mother eresa quote we love,” Guy said. “ ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ We’re all about creating healthy, comfortable homes so our friends and neighbors can do just that. What could you ac-complish if your home was comfortable and dust and allergies were not an issue?”
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“Wintery Spring”. An attempt to hedge my bet which in retrospect could also serve as a mean parlay.
Time flies. Tempus Fugit. There is never enough time. Time is on our side. Time out. Big time. Crunch time. To everything turn, turn, turn. Time is such a fascinating and frequently misunderstood subject. It is a reality that the mind can twist into a construct. We all have the same 24/7/365 so when we say we don’t have time for something, it means you actually do (emphasis added) have the time but choose, by responsibility or any other perfectly valid reason, to invest it elsewhere.
The aforementioned paragraph on time is a hopefully somewhat philosophical prelude to introducing the subject that local elections aren’t yet knocking on the door but the pitter patter of footsteps on the sidewalk are audible. Mayor Voelker has served long and admirably, has elected to reapportion his time and will pass the ball to another candidate to serve as our future Mayor. Next time you see him or any other member of Council, please take a moment to tip your hat and thank them for investing a hefty portion of their 24/7/365 for the betterment of our City.
Please resist the temptation to genuflect at the prescience of this sentence from the previous issue of Echoes From the Canyon: “Let’s resume the ability to disagree and still be miserably happy together as friends as we watch the Cowboys again disappoint.” It certainly didn’t take a prophet much less an inciteful analyst to stumble into that prediction. Sigh….. Luka, it’s a heavy burden but we need ya’, Buddy!
It is with wistful sadness to report that Shelley Hicks, our redoubtable Communications Director, is going to depart from our HOA Board to return her focus to RISD volunteerism. Her absence will be palpable but we in turn welcome our shiny new Communications Director, Patti Otte! Seventy-six trombones also herald the arrival of our neighbor Matt Walker who brings to the table a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Board! Thank you for adding to the texture, patina and special sense of place that our Canyon Creek enjoys!
Our thanks to Canyon Creek Life for ably filling an otherwise void in our neighborhood. Not all use social media and not all that do use it, use it for good. Whenever I crack open an issue of CCL, I am greeted with much needed positivity that stomps a mudhole into the miasma of negativity that seeks to invade. It is an indispensable thread that bonds us together in our proximity with a purpose. Please continue to enjoy this important periodical and patronize its advertisers.
Farewell for now and I hope something good happens to you today.
Warren Caldwell Canyon Creek HOA President
Our Canyon Creek Homeowners Association plays an integral part in our neighborhood’s attractiveness and vitality. Dues to join the CCHOA are $15 a year. Annual dues are billed on a "CALENDAR YEAR BASIS" rather than a twelve-month one. In other words, residents are current members in the year they make their payment. If you joined the CCHOA in September 2022 and paid your $15 dues, you will receive a $15 bill in January for the 2023 calendar year.
The Flag Lease Program is somewhat different. While CCHOA dues are never prorated, the cost of the flag program is discounted $10 after every installation date. However, to participate residents must be current on their $15 CCHOA membership dues in addition to paying the flag program fee.
The flag lease program is one of our more successful programs and the profits from it fund many of our neighborhood projects. We pay Scouts BSA members to install and retrieve our 1,700 flags on the Saturdays before and after the actual date of the patriotic holiday being observed. They do a great job in a short period of time using the list of paying residents that I give them a few days earlier. After I have given the Scouts their delivery list, adding addresses is logistically challenging, so I am going to set a deadline on all late orders this year. To make sure a flag is placed in your yard, please send in your payments SOONER than LATER.
We observe four patriotic holidays with flag placements and flags are left up for one week:
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Patriot Day
Veterans Day
Monday, May 29
Tuesday, July 4
Tuesday, September 11
Saturday, November 11
We also observe other special days by placing flags at our five neighborhood entrance signs :
Texas Independence Day
San Jacinto Day
National Flag Day
Thursday, March 2
Friday, April 21
Wednesday, June 14
We thank all of you for your support.
Jay Dalehite CCHOA Membership/Flag DirectorProud Canyon Creek resident for 50 years
from the Honorable Paul Voelker, Mayor of Richardson, a personal 8x10 inch mounted family portrait and a letter from the president of the CCHOA and yours truly, Gabe Meadows, CCHOA Director of Beautification.
But the most important gift these winners received was the gift of knowing that they brightened up Christmas for so many boys and girls and their parents as they drove through the neighborhood to view the Christmas light displays! I made several “scenic drive bys” through “The Creek” myself and I was never prouder of my neighborhood!
For the first time ever, the Canyon Creek HOA featured the “Best Christmas Light” competition this past December. The proud winners are displayed and celebrated in this edition of Canyon Creek Life Magazine . In addition to being recognized with photos published in the magazine, each winner received a $250 debit card, $50 in gift certificates from Bruce Miller Nursery, a personal letter
What better way to get to know another neighbor than to walk right up to the front door and knock to introduce yourself and thank that new friend for making your Christmas a little brighter. Simply look for the “Yard of the Quarter” sign in the yard from now through March 2023 and go thank them! I have done just that and I’m always greeted with a broad smile on a proud face and a big “Thank You.”
Thanks!
Gabe Meadows, CCHOA Director of Beautification
And remember: Your home is your neighbor’s view!
photo courtesy of Shutterstock
For volunteer information and other information about your Canyon Creek HOA, please visit the CCHOA website at https://canyoncreekhomeowners.com.
9 Walnut Creek - NW Quadrant
313 Canyon Ridge Dr. - NE Quadrant
2027 Sage Valley - SW Quadrant
2417 Prairie Creek -SE Quadrant
Kati and Clay Houser with Palmer and Lexi
Colin, Gina, Christopher, & Stephan Sledge with Annie
Patricia, Clint, and Eva Lowry
Beth and Mike Howard
Depending on the extent of the flood damage, you may or may not be able to do the cleaning yourself. If the damage is extensive, you may want to call a professional to help.
If you decide to do the cleanup yourself, you must wear protective gear like gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator, says the Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are some other basic tips from the Environmental Protection Agency on how to start cleaning mold after a flood:
1. If there's still water in your home, use a wet vacuum to remove it.
2. Open all windows, doors, cabinets and drawers to help get the proper ventilation before you start working. You may also want to remove doors and cabinets from their hinges.
3. Use fans and humidifiers to help air out the space.
4. Remove mold with water and detergent. Make sure never to mix bleach and ammonia, as this can be toxic.
5. Separate the debris you want to throw away into six categories: 1) household garbage, 2) construction (i.e. dry wall, carpet, etc.) 3) vegetative (i.e. tree branches, leaves, etc.), 4) electronics, 5) hazardous waste (i.e. batteries, paint, etc.) and 6) large appliances.
6. When you're done, try to leave as many windows and doors open
without leaving your home in danger of a possible theft while you're gone.
Time is key when removing mold from your home. By following the tips above, you can help minimize the damage mold can have on your home. With proper cleaning, your home can be on the path to recovery.
Tell us your name and what school you currently attend.
My name is Gavin Green and I’m a senior at JJ Pearce High School.
Where else have you studied?
I attended Prairie Creek Elementary and North Junior High School.
Tell us about how you started playing basketball and what you love about it.
I played basketball in elementary school and gave it up for awhile, instead playing other sports like football and soccer. Then when I was about twelve years old, I started playing again. Something about basketball helps me focus and clear my mind when I need it most. Every person struggles with motivation. Basketball helped me understand that motivation starts from within and it is now a mindset that I have adopted as part of my life. It helps me push through no matter the circumstances. I was never the tallest or strongest, and that alone was my motivation and drive to always give 100% every time I step foot on the court.
Tell us about your other activities inside or outside of school and why you enjoy them.
My other passion is hunting. My first time to hunt was when I was about eight years old and I have been hooked ever since.
Brag on yourself: tell us your honors and awards in school.
I am a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and last year received Honorable Mention All-District and Academic All District in basketball.
What's your favorite subject in school outside of athletics?
Math is my favorite subject. It applies to everything. It can be challenging and I enjoy
solving problems when they relate to stats and formulas.
How long have you lived in Canyon Creek, and what do you love most about living here?
I have lived here in Canyon Creek since I was a baby. I grew up on Overcreek while going to PCE. Then we moved to Meadowcrest, where I have the most memories. Living here has been great. I liked that we would have our football and soccer practices at Prairie Creek Park. Having the creek has been fun – my friends and I would fish and I remember feeding the turtles. One of my favorite memories is “booing” my friends at Halloween and the anticipation of
someone "booing" me. I would wait by the front window so I could catch them.
Tell us a favorite story about a big moment during high school.
Last year, when I was a junior, I scored 53 points in one game. That was pretty cool.
Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you?
I loved growing up here and I know that even though my friends will be graduating soon and going off in different directions, we will always be longtime friends.
Information above was obtained from NTREIS. Properties were listed and/or sold by many Brokers between 12/1/22 - 1/31/23.
In 1971, a group of Canyon Creek neighbors interested in gardening, landscaping, flower arranging and fellowship founded the Canyon Creek North Garden Club. The club hosts monthly meetings in members' homes and also visits places such as the Arboretum, the Heard Museum to learn about native plants, Dr. Delphinium to learn about orchids, North Haven Gardens for spring planning and Texas Tulips in Pilot Point. They love welcoming new members to the club.
The Canyon Creek North Garden Club has donated several benches in Prairie Creek Park over the years and has placed a bench at the Custer and Lookout fire station in honor of member Martha Waddell. The group also donates money and other items to Network of Community Ministries every year.
Members are especially excited to have their very own Master Gardener, Sue Ward, as a part of the group. Says president Gail McAda, “Many of us have lived in Canyon Creek for 40-50 years, and we are proud of our neighborhood and excited to see new young families move into Canyon Creek. We all hope that we will have left a legacy of caring about our community and developing lifelong friendships.” The group always welcomes anyone interested in joining them. For more information, contact Gail McAda at gailtxpta@aol.com
The Prairie Creek Garden Club, also founded in 1971, has been keeping the neighborhood beautiful for more than fifty years. According to president Cayce Ashby, “We value taking care of and giving back to the area where we live. We also enjoy our time together and learning from speakers on relevant topics. Our club is a great mixture of community service and social fun.” The group meets monthly with a mixture of working meetings (park clean ups and wreath hanging) and luncheon/speaker meetings in members’ homes.
The Prairie Creek Garden Club contributes to the neighborhood through park improvements, including park bridges, walking trails, park plantings, pocket park developments, forestry redevelopment, PCE gardening activities as well as park and creek upkeep and maintenance. The butterfly garden is an example of their work as are entrances and garden beds in Canyon Creek. They also decorate for the holidays and host a complimentary Easter Egg Hunt each Easter for the neighborhood.
The group raise funds for beautification projects through fall and spring flower sales. The money raised goes directly to neighborhood upkeep. They are thrilled to be a part of what makes living in Canyon Creek so special.
