“I met Gary Carley in 1976 when I was 12 years old as he called on our family-owned business. Gary made me my first loan to buy a car in 1979. The loan was for $1,100.00. Now decades later he has been the banker for four generations of the Hauk family. The loan volume over the years has increased substantially to millions of dollars. I still love the relationship with Gary and Texas Republic Bank and I would not change."
Summer seems to have flown by in the blink of an eye. I loved spending two solid weeks watching the Olympics unfold. The solidarity, the mutual respect the athletes show one another, and the incredible athleticism on display are so inspiring! I wonder if we have any future Olympians living in Canyon Creek. Wouldn’t that be great?!?
If there’s one thing fall brings consistently, it’s change. And this year Canyon Creek Elementary will have a new principal. Her name is Jennifer Martin and I am lucky to call her a friend. We asked her to share a little bit about herself here so that you can “meet” her. And speaking of CCE, we also spotlight Jim Van Orden and his lovely wife Grace as our Golden Couple of the Month. Jim has been a crossing guard at CCE for several years, delighting kids and parents alike with his joke of the day.
Student Athlete Braden Hawkins is no joke and is featured in this issue. He’s a long snapper on JJ Pearce’s football team who has lived all his life in Canyon Creek. I got to watch Braden and his sister Brynn grow up thanks to my time at Sweet Firefly. He’s a senior now. Time flies!
If you’ve shopped at Get Noticed Boutique, you know Annie Clark. She’s starting a second business called DFW Clearance Sale. You’ll want to mark your calendars for this bi-annual event scheduled for early September. And say hello to Stella, our pet of the month. She’s the sweetest cocker spaniel.
We couldn’t keep bringing you this magazine without BryJo, Canyon Creek Insurance, Energy Attic, Angela Green and other faithful advertisers. Please consider each of these businesses as you make decisions about where to shop and what businesses to support.
We look forward to telling more of your stories each issue. Please submit article ideas as you have them. It’s always great to hear from you!
Patti Otte
Publisher Kyla Obert
Editor Patti Otte
Ad Sales Mike Obert
Designer Open Look Business Solutions
Contributors
Wilson Allen, Lisa Parelli-Monaghan, Angela Green, Ryan Amerson, Morgan Ferrell, DVM, Jeremy Thomason and Patti Otte
Special Thanks
Grace and Jim Van Orden, Annie Clark, Braden Hawkins, Jennifer Martin and Elinor Henry
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
In 1962, Jim and Grace Van Orden met as teens in Sunday school. Fast forward a few years and the young couple had a summertime wedding in New Jersey, their home state. 58 years later, our golden couple of the month is still thriving!
Both Grace and Jim worked hard throughout their lives. Grace earned a degree in education and taught elementary students in New Jersey, Alabama and Texas; she also worked as a service rep for Illinois Bell in Chicago and Southwestern Bell Telephone in Austin.
Jim earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Miami and University of Alabama, respectively. He worked as a writer and editor at several large newspapers and magazines; was vice president of operations at a public relations firm; and, at the end of his 23-year AT&T career, was the company’s PR director for the Southwest.
After retirement from AT&T, Jim and Grace started their own PR firm, Van Orden Communications, Inc., which they operated in Richardson for ten years. The couple has been retired since 2008.
Eleven moves took place for career reasons before the couple settled permanently in Canyon Creek, where they have now lived happily for 38 years. Their Gettysburg Lane house has Spanish-style, second-floor bedroom balco-
nies that were, according to Jim, “sometimes climbed by amorous boyfriends (who were intercepted by savvy parents).”
The couple reflects, “Our pool has been rebuilt several times and has hosted holiday parties, receptions, birthdays and anniversary get-togethers. The original old-growth trees have mostly died off, but now young trees we planted are as large and handsome as the originals.”
Grace and Jim have two daughters (Jenne, 52, and Tori, 50), five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They also have a white cat, Ms. Abbey, who is 17. Jim and Grace, affectionately known as Grandma and Grandpa Van Orden, have been hosting regular visits from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren since the early 1990s. Family members now travel from Colorado, Arkansas and even Sweden, where daughter Tori and her family live.
When they aren’t spending time with family, the couple enjoys staying active. Grace was a member of the Cottonwood Creek Garden Club for several years, did neighborhood safety patrols as part of Crime Watch, and worked with the City to promote and distribute blue recycling bags. Jim is completing his ninth year as a school crossing guard at Canyon Creek Elementary School, a labor of love he considers to be the “best job” he has ever held.
When asked about their hobbies and activities, Jim replies, “As octogenarians, our ‘extra-curricular’ activities are focused on caring for and providing support to our family, as well as maintaining our house and property.” These lovebirds also know how to keep the romance alive. After each of the couple’s moves, Jim has always carried Grace across the threshold of their new houses, as he did here in Jan. 1986 and again this summer. What an amazing love story!
“I thought it would be easy. After all, my decades-long friend, Norm Gaut, sure made it look that way. Nearly 25 years of helping children across a busy intersection at Richardson’s Canyon Creek Elementary School gave him a fine-tuned air of professional ease and flow.
We met and talked almost daily at Lawnmeadow and Copper Ridge, a four-way stop, in the late afternoons for 21 years. He never seemed harried or worried. I was always amazed when he saw a little boy or girl before I did who wanted to cross the intersection. Did he have eyes in back of his head? Or perhaps his 84-year-old vision was better than mine?
Norm got me started as a school crossing guard after a conversation one fall day in 2015. I asked if I could have his post when he retired. Telling me he would never retire, he referred me to the city’s police coordinator and I was hired as a substitute. The job had me hopping from one school intersection to another filling in for crossing guards when they were ill or on vacation.
‘What are you doing this summer?’ I asked Norm on the last day of school as we stood under a tree that spread over a bench the school had dedicated to him during a special ceremony. At its base was a plaque bearing his name and honoring their “beloved” crossing guard. ‘Beverly and I have put off planning until I get my heart checked,’ he told me. Sadly, he never woke up from that procedure.
That was the summer of 2016...and that was the reason I was asked by the city to take his post. Kathy Hennion, the city's crossing guard coordinator, told me Norm had spoken to her about my request and had recommended me. She called me right after he passed and told me that he wanted me to have his post. I was so honored and flattered!
I love the work...it is fun and enjoyable, particularly my interactions with the children, parents and teachers. Now they call e 'Mister Jimmy' and I always wear my 'trademark' white Mickey Mouse hat."
By Jim Van Orden
The following excerpt is from a piece “Mr. Jimmy” wrote about being a crossing guard at Canyon Creek Elementary.
Telling jokes was always hard for me. I could remember them but inevitably forgot or messed up the punchlines. It took becoming an old man and a school crossing guard to correct this “problem.” As I stood at my busy four-way stop a few years ago, I noticed that parents and children looked deadly serious. No one laughed or even smiled. It bothered me so much I bought a joke book at the HalfPrice Book Store and memorized a joke. Then I practiced it over and over until I knew it cold.
My first “victims” were the two oldest Berry girls, Maggie (7) and Millie (5), who approached with their father, Joe, one fall morning. Holding my stop sign high and waiting for drivers to obey, I blurted it out. “What do penguins order when they go to a Mexican restaurant?” Their expressions registered shock and silence. “What, Mister Jimmy?” Maggie asked. “They order Burrrrrr-itos,” I said, emphasizing the “Brrrrrrr” part of the word.
Daddy Joe laughed hard, but his daughters were stone-faced. I watched Joe ex-
plain the joke as they walked away. I had more success when I told the joke to other kids that morning. They laughed when I changed my voice and expressions to sound and look like a penguin. As I discovered, it was I, not the joke, who became the joke and got the laughs.
Pretty soon, I was telling jokes to everyone who crossed my path. Kids yelled out, “Mister Jimmy, what’s today’s joke?” It soon became obvious that parents needed jokes, too. After walking their children to school, they’d return to my corner on the way home and look at me with a “Where’s the joke?” expression.
Going into my best “Groucho” mode, I was ready for them with “sophisticated” questions. “You look old enough to know the answer to this one,” I often started. “What’s the difference between a Hippo and a Zippo?” “One’s very heavy and the other is a little lighter” brought a puzzled look to faces and then a hearty laugh when the humor dawned on them.
Every Friday is devoted to Star Wars jokes. Waving my retractable “light saber” and wearing an official Star Wars hat, I ask “What did Yoda said when he gave Luke Skywalker a sports car? (May the Porsche be with you).” Other jokes flow in rapid-fire order. “Why couldn’t Hans Solo eat his steak? (It was ‘chewy’).” “What do you call potatoes that have turned to the dark side? (Vader-Tots).”
Sometimes I visit the school’s front office after hours and get the staff laughing and telling jokes. Hard working, serious teachers often loosen up after I comment that they “look cross-eyed” and then ask, with a smile, “Did you lose control of your pupils?”
Two years into my joke-telling, I find my memory has improved and there’s no sign of dementia. Just ask my dear wife, Grace, who never has to remind me about anything. I remember everything she says, of course.
Tell us your name, what school you attend, and your grade level.
My name is Braden Hawkins. I am a Senior at JJ Pearce High School.
What other schools have you attended… grade school, middle school, etc.?
I attended Prairie Creek Elementary and North Jr. High.
Tell us about yourself…what are your hobbies and interests? How do you like to spend your time when you are not in school?
In my spare time, I practice long snapping, hang out with friends, and go to Ranger games.
Brag on yourself: tell us your honors and awards in and out of school.
I am in National Honor Society and have been ranked as a 4-star long snapper recruit.
Recruits are ranked on a scale of 1-5. A long snapper snaps the ball to the holder for field goals and extra points after a touchdown. The long snapper also snaps to the punter.
You are an accomplished football player. What do you love about football that has kept you committed to the sport?
I enjoy football mainly for the competition.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school is any kind of math.
Tell us about your family, including pets if you have any. How long have y’all lived in Canyon Creek?
I have lived in Canyon Creek my whole life. I live on Grandview with my mom and younger sister, Brynn, who will be a sopho -
more at Pearce. We have 3 dogs - Ella, Bear and Rory - and 2 cats, Bro and Pumpkin.
What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? Do you have a fun or awesome story of living in the neighborhood that you can share with us?
My fondest memory of growing up in Canyon Creek is running up and down our street playing as a kid and hanging out with friends at the Country Club.
By Lisa Parelli-Monaghan
With the second decade of the 21st century underway, many things that looked like science fiction are now firmly rooted in our way of life. From the communicators kids now carry in their pockets to the voice controls that play music and turn on the lights, these innovations, once unthinkable, are now commonplace.
If you want to create a high-tech home for you and your family, there are some elements you absolutely need to include. Here are the foundational elements of the connected home.
Charging ports/outlets throughout your home for USB and USC
We must stay connected these days and the best way to make sure we do so is to have your devices charged and ready for use.
Motion-activated lighting
Lights that come on when they sense movement can enhance the safety of your home as well as its beauty. Adding a motion-controlled spotlight above the front door or lights with sensors in the driveway will make you feel safer in your home.
Smart home assistants
These tiny devices are insanely useful, able to do everything from provide a timely weather forecast to playing your favorite songs and pod-
casts. With prices so low, you can blanket your home with Alexa and Google devices for a few hundred dollars.
Lighting is a vital part of any home and smart lights are far superior to their dumber counterparts. You can control these smart light bulbs and other fixtures with nothing more than your voice, making your life easier and giving you one less worry.
Some smart devices are all about convenience, but others can also save you money. The programmable thermostat clearly belongs in the latter category and this simple device could save you hundreds of dollars a year by adjusting the temperature automatically and maximizing the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
If you are tired of trudging down to an empty mailbox multiple times a day, this gadget could save you a lot of steps. A mailbox sensor can be connected to your smartphone to alert you when the mail carrier has arrived,
reducing the risk of mail theft while making your life more convenient.
If you have resisted installing a security system because of the wires and complexity, you have one less thing to worry about. Wireless security systems are easy to install, portable and effective at deterring burglaries and other types of property crimes. You can also control them from wherever you are, especially if you add cameras.
If you have ever had a long-awaited package disappear from your front porch, you will appreciate the value of a wall-mounted porch camera. These handy devices can catch a porch pirate in the act, making it easier to file an insurance claim and locate your stolen loot. It is also a deterrent.
The completely connected home is no longer the stuff of science fiction and you do not have to be especially tech savvy to enjoy the many benefits. If you want to enjoy the advantages of 21st century living, these eight gadgets and gizmos can help you get started.
By Patti Otte
Annie Clark, longtime owner of Canyon Creek’s beloved Get Noticed Boutique, has embarked on a new business adventure. In addition to providing elevated clothing, gifts and accessories at GNB, you will now find Annie twice a year at the helm of her latest passion project, DFW Clearance Sale.
First it was dance...
Annie didn’t always have her sights set on a career in fashion. A Kilgore College Rangerette, Annie loved dance and went on to SMU to earn a degree in fine arts. She wanted to open a dance studio but quickly realized that sacrificing her nights and weekends to own her own studio was not something she was prepared to do. Instead, she began working for a special events company related to dance and
then moved on to become a buyer for the pro shop at Premier Athletic Club, at the time an upscale health club and spa located in Dallas.
Along the way, Annie met and married Marsh Clark and got pregnant with her oldest, Drake. Daughter Addie soon followed. Once Annie became a mom, the desire to own her own business and have that flexibility inspired her to approach Premier about opening a boutique there. They said yes and Get Noticed Boutique became a reality. GNB is now celebrating its 20th anniversary and her newest brick-and-mortar location is here in Canyon Creek on Lookout Drive.
Annie’s specialty is making everyone who encounters her feel like they are the
most important person in that moment, which has been a key to her success. She genuinely cares about people and wants each customer to look and feel her best.
Over the years, Annie has realized that small boutiques and brands like hers haven’t had a way to move inventory that didn’t sell in a particular season even though the demand for these items exists. She had the answer: create a massive sale under one roof that brings upscale, one-ofa-kind vendors together and give shoppers a unique, exciting buying experience.
The genesis of DFW Clearance Sale
Annie was inspired to create DFW Clearance Sale in part because of the impact the sale will have on the community. She states,
“It’s a win-win: shoppers get to discover new brands and receive deeply discounted items while having a great time shopping and small business owners gain exposure to a new audience while moving inventory. Plus, a percentage of ticket sales will be donated to programs benefitting adults with disabilities like my brother Chad, who turns 50 this year. He has Lesch Nyhan Syndrome and has outlived his life expectancy by decades. I want to support programs like To Be Like Me and Everyone’s Dayhab, which provide such incredible support to individuals like Chad and their families.” In addition, at the end of each sale, vendors will have an opportunity to donate their remaining inventory to various nonprofits benefiting women.
Annie held her first sale under this model last winter. Since then, she has changed the event’s name to DFW Clearance Sale and refined the experience, adding more vendors and providing an “early bird” VIP shopping experience for interested buyers. At the September sale, customers can expect to find 31 booths with a variety of vendors curated to
create a diverse, deeply discounted sale. Her target audience is ladies aged 20-80.
The sale will be held twice a year - once in spring and once in fall. Annie is excited about
the future of her newest business and looks forward to being of service! For more information about DFW Clearance Sale, visit their website at http://dfwclearancesale.com or online @dfwclearancesale.
• A Rare Bird
• Lucy's Looks
• Anatomie
• MB Jewelry
• Ivy Jane
• Cotton Island
• Nala Designs Dallas
• Distinctively Hers
• The Brave Bohemian
• Julio Designs
• Martha Mae
• Europa Designs
• Sister Mary
• Get Noticed Boutique
• Southern Roots
• Honeysuckle Rose Boutique
• Touch of Gallup
• LaFoofaraw
• Uncle Frank
• Winton and Waits
• Designer Lulu's Bowtique
the difference between night and day. She loves attention and likes it when her mom is around. Her favorite time of day is going on a short evening walk with her momma. She will not budge if anyone else tries to take her!
What is your favorite story/memory about Stella?
One of our favorite memories of Stella is her wanting to go with us in the car. She could tell when we were getting ready to go somewhere and she would sit by the door hoping we would give her the okay signal. If we told her she could go, she would race out to the car and jump in. Another favorite memory is of walking at Prairie Creek Park. It has always been one of Stella’s favorite places. And lastly, at every birthday celebration, Stella sings along when we sing the Happy Birthday song.
Tell us about your family. How long have y’all lived in Canyon Creek?
My name is Elinor and I live with my mom, dad and two sisters. Besides Stella, we also have a cat named Gracie. Amelia is a freshman in college and Charlotte is a junior in high school. I have lived in Canyon Creek since I was three years old and I am currently a junior at UTD.
Tell us the name of your pet. What type of pet is he/she?
Stella is a chocolate brown cocker spaniel. She will be 13 years old in October.
How did Stella become a member of your family?
We adopted her as a puppy at the end of 2011.
Tell us more about Stella. Does she have certain quirks, tricks, talents? We'd love to know what makes her unique.
Stella is a sweet girl and has only gotten sweeter with age. As a younger dog, she was a bit feisty, but has mellowed out in her older years. Four years ago she went blind in one eye due to glaucoma and two years ago she lost her vision completely. Due to the severity of the disease, she underwent surgery to remove both of her eyes in August 2022.
Losing her vision has only heightened her sense of smell. Her nose guides her! When we approach her, she sniffs the air to tell who it is.
She is a very resilient dog and sometimes we forget that she is blind! After an initial learning curve, she learned how to navigate the house to find her food and water and her bed. She goes to the door when she wants to be let out, walks around in the yard, then finds her way back to the door again. She uses the furniture in the house as a guide, purposely bumping into things so she can find her way around. We try not to leave things out that she can trip over. And we cannot rearrange the furniture!
A quirky thing about Stella is that she loves fruit…especially apples, blueberries and bananas. If you are eating a banana anywhere near her, you better be willing to share it.
Does Stella have a "favorite" family member? If so, how does she express that preference?
There is no doubt that Stella loves her momma the best! She used to search the house looking for her, but now when she wants some attention from her mom, she whines. She whines at night sometimes because she doesn’t know
What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? Do you have a fun or awesome story of living in the neighborhood that you can share with us?
Canyon Creek has been a great place to grow up. My family and I have always enjoyed the annual 4th of July parade, the pool, having dinner and getting ice cream at II Creeks, walking at Prairie Creek Park, feeding the turtles in the creek, trick or treating around the neighborhood, and the fun block parties. We love the sense of community and our wonderful neighbors. Having grown up with them my whole life, I think of them like family. One summer when we were little, a neighbor took us down the creek in his canoe. My sisters and I thought it was great! We also used to set up lemonade stands on the golf course and the golfers were nice enough to buy some!
Ronald J. Poff PC - Brian A. Poff, CPA
833 East Arapaho, Ste. 220, Richardson, TX 75081
The UPS Store Canyon Creek – The Casaday Family
224 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 brian@poffcpafirm.com
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING
Sherrell Air Conditioning & Heating – Steve Sherrell
Kish Manktelow & Bailey, PC
972.690.6023 Full-Service Printing, Notary, Shredding, Packing & Shipping
469.677.6678 Fax 972.680.1166
972.216.1961 schedule@sherrellair.com sherrellair.com
Greg Kish Wills & Estates • Trusts • Business, Real Estate & Injury Matters
214.276.6820 gkish@kmblegalgroup.com
AUTO REPAIR
Northrich Automotive - Rochelle Gotsdiner
972.669.9990 rochelle@northrichauto.com All Makes - All Models • Routine Maintenance, Service & Repair
Texas Bank & Trust
W. George Bush Frwy., Ste. 101, Richardson, TX 75080
BUSINESS CONSULTING
RWB Consulting CFO
Roger W. Burns Consultant • Interim CFO and “as needed” CFO services
214.724.7507 roger@rwbconsultingCFO.com
COMPUTER SERVICES
Prime IT DFW – Joe Hanold
Small Business IT Support • Networking • Hardware • Software • Security
Premier Diamonds, Inc.
972.432.4842 joe.hanold@primeitdfw.com
By Appointment
972.994.9292 afeist@premierdiamonds.net 1011 Hampshire Ln., Ste. 100, Richardson, TX 75080 – Andy Feist
Watson Family Dentistry
Dr. Mat Watson & Dr. Andre Carvalho 291 W Renner Pkwy., Suite 101, Richardson, TX 75080
Serendipity Designs - Sandra Taylor Moore
Serendipityds.com Window Coverings • Bedding • Pillows • Upholstery
972.234.0626
214.232.2276 serendipityds.317@gmail.com
2701 Custer Pkwy., Ste. 810, Richardson, TX 75080
Angie Conard
Wells Fargo Advisors
Shelley Turner, Financial Advisor Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC A registered broker-dealer & nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Co.
Petals and Stems Florist - Brad Weinstein
972.473.5973
shelley.turner @wellsfargoadvisors.com
972.233.9037 brad@petalsandstems.com petalsandstems.com Full Service Florist Since 1972
972.755.9457 services@aresplumbingdfw.com Ares Plumbing We specialize in providing top-notch plumbing repair and response services in the Dallas-Forth Worth and surrounding areas. Our team of skilled plumbers is
POOLS
Hobert Pools
Victor Fimbres New Construction • Remodel of Swimming Pools
972.690.8118
vfimbres@hobertpools.com
We asked CCE’s new principal Jennifer Martin to tell us a little bit about herself so we can all get to know her. In her own words…
Hello, Canyon Creek readers! My name is Jennifer Martin and I am thrilled to serve as principal in a district I respect and value. Upon graduating from Stephen F. Austin, I started my career in RISD as a teacher at Terrace Elementary while simultaneously working to obtain my master’s degree in administration. I then
became the assistant principal of Dover Elementary before serving as principal at Merriman Park Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary and Spring Creek Elementary.
After 15 years of school administration, I stepped into a consultant role with the state of Texas Region 10 Education Ser-
vice Center to support aspiring and new principals. This role brought me so much joy as I learned about all the great things happening across schools in Texas. But the more I connected with other districts, the more my heart missed the one district I’ve always called home. I missed working directly with students and teachers,
supporting their growth, and cheering on their progress. My heart is now ready to explode, realizing I get to do this once again at Canyon Creek Elementary!
My first goal as CCE principal is to get to know our students and explore all the ways we can make learning personable and meaningful for every single student. We know our parents are sending us amazing kids and we can’t wait to push them to higher limits. My goal is for Canyon Creek to be a school where students want to go, staff want to be, and parents are proud to send their kids!
Patti asked me what I think makes RISD so special. It’s a district I’ve always loved and valued because of the people. From the top down, we care about each other and lead our students with servant’s hearts. It’s a place where everyone is welcome and differences are not only embraced but celebrated. I’m proud that all three of my children have thrived in RISD, are surrounded by a community that loves them, and have built relationships that will last a lifetime.
Speaking of family, I want you to “meet” my family. My husband Steve and I have been married for 26 years. We have three wonderful children. Our son Alex graduated from Pearce High School and is a senior at the University of Oklahoma. Our daughter Abby will be starting her senior year at Pearce and is a member of the Pearce Pacesetters and Mustang Stampede. Our youngest daughter, Kate, will be starting her 8th grade year as a cheerleader at Parkhill Junior High. We are members of First United Methodist Church Richardson. And in our free time, you might catch our family playing pickle ball or going on neighborhood walks.
I am so thankful and excited to serve your neighborhood school as Canyon Creek Elementary Principal . It hasn’t taken me long to fall in love with our community. Our teachers are passionate about their students, our parents are ready to extend a hand and be partners, and our students are ready to learn. Our staff is excited to welcome our Cougars back to school! And I look forward to meeting you!
by Jeremy Thomason
For the past 16 years, I have had the privilege of working on the Canyon Creek HOA Board. As someone who was born and raised in Richardson and has now chosen to raise his own family here, there are few things that have been more rewarding than serving my ‘hood in my hometown. The talented and selfless volunteer individuals on our Board are second to none and have become dear friends.
While I have sat in many chairs on the Board over the years, including two different terms as the president, our Board is really best described as a ‘Working Board’ in which everyone has a voice in whatever the topic of the day is, no matter their official role. For the past 7 years, I have served as ‘Past President.’ In that role, my ‘catch-all’ responsibilities have best been described as whatever Warren (and Jay) need me to do. For the most part, these have been specific tasks and the annual responsibility of wrangling up next year’s slate of Board members as chair of the nominating committee.
That changed a little recently when Warren gave me a call and let me know that he needs me to take the reins for the remainder of 2024 while he focuses on his top priority – his family. So, that is what I will do. I will sit in Warren’s warm chair for the remainder of 2024 and our Board will not miss a beat.
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the outstanding work that Warren has done leading our Board the past 7 years. He has the unique mix of leadership skills that are perfect for our neighborhood. He has represented us exceptionally well and displays the servant heart that we have come to expect from the HOA President role thanks to the modeling from Jay Dalehite (our President Emeritus).
There are so many cool and engaging ideas and initiatives that we have underway, both in our ‘hood and in the City. I am excited to serve you all again from Warren’s (and Jay’s) chair. Hopefully the only change you will really notice is no longer needing a dictionary to read the President’s message in the Echoes from the Canyon. My cell is 469.975.6074 if you need me for anything.
2,200 Canyon Creek HOA directories are on their way to the neighborhood! And this year we’ll be doing things a little differently. Whereas directories were delivered to your home the past few years, we are going to have them available for pick up by CCHOA dues-paying members at Canyon Creek Postal within the next few weeks.
Stay tuned to announcements via email and social media as to when the new directories will be available for pick up. If you have not yet joined the HOA and wish to have a directory, join today (see membership form below)! It’s the best investment you’ll make in your neighborhood.
What is pet health insurance?
Pet health insurance helps cover certain medical expenses for your pet. It can provide peace of mind when your cat or dog has an injury, or faces a serious health problem. There’s even an optional wellness plan for routine and preventative care.
What does pet health insurance cover?
Pet Health Insurance can help make sure your pet gets necessary care without an unexpected expense, such as in an emergency.
Pet health insurance may include coverage for the following:
• Accidental injuries
• Illnesses
• Breed-specific conditions
In addition, some plans may allow you to purchase additional coverage, including:
• Wellness care tiered plans, which may help pay for routine care and preventive surgeries, such as spaying or neutering at the basic
level. Higher tiers may help pay for dental care, prescription diet food and hip exams.
• Prescription drug coverage if your pet is on maintenance medication
What doesn't pet insurance cover?
Certain expenses are typically not covered by a pet insurance policy. These are some common exclusions:
• Pre-existing conditions
• Food and vitamins
• Costs related to pregnancy or breeding
• Behavioral treatments
Read your policy or talk with your insurance provider to learn what types of expenses your pet insurance plan does and does not help cover.
