Argyle living Magazine September 15

September 2015

Titensor Dental A Family Practice That

Argyle - Canyon Falls - Harvest - Robson Ranch Argyle Welcomes New Church Chloe Shines as Miss Teen USA Hilltop Hosting Fun Run in October Strongman: Scottish Highland Games

september 2015 | Argyle living | 3

Argyle resident

Contents

Featured Stories and News 18

Liberty Christian Fall Theatre Performance Oct 2, 7:30pm Pops in Prayer Chili Cookoff @ Warrior Stadium Oct 9, 6pm Liberty Christian Alumni Tailgate Party Meet @the old Bonnie Brae Campus Oct 23, 6pm-7:30pm Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com 6 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Pg 18 On The Cover: From left: Lisa , Dr. Steven, Livia, Dr. Brett, Brittany and Rex Titensor

Photos from Argyle 09 30

Thank You From Hero Back to School in Argyle

Hilltop Fun Run

Titensor Dental Gives Back Area Coaches Beat Heat Empowering Children Strong Man Argyle Welcomes New Church Argyle Chamber Miss Teen USA

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VI

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NG

ZIN

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Liberty Christian Varsity Football vs Bishop Lynch High @ Warrior Stadium Oct 2, 7:30pm

22 24 26 28 33 34 36 37

Move Forward Today

R’S K ITO C D I E P T

Liberty Christian Varsity Volleyball vs Bishop Lynch High @ LCS Gym Sept 29, 6:30pm

Child Custody

EN

08 11 12

Liberty Christian School Events

ARGY LE

Argyle Community Events

Table of

2015

RE C

IP

I

Run for Our Sons Keep Argyle Beautiful

Every Issue 04

Eagles Nest

07

From Your Editor

10

Inside Education

13

Inside Community

14

Real Estate

15

Dr. Matt

17

The Sidelines

21

Gardening

25

Rejuvenation

32

Upscale Home

Conversations

The Small Ones That Will Become the Big Ones A Message from The Community Editor

“L

isten earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big because to them all of it has always been big stuff.” – Catherine M. Wallace With transition from summer to school and sports schedules, we find ourselves back into the conflicting battle of time management. This is excruciatingly true for those of us with younger children who simply need “talk time” in the crazy busy day.

In our house, that usually comes in the car to and from events and/or at bedtime when we are still rushing. Sometimes my boys will want to talk about their day and sometimes they won’t. If they do want to talk, it’s important that I STOP and offer them a space and time to share their stories, emotions, and ask questions. For me, it takes practice to actively listen to their thoughts, attend to their body language, validate their emotions, and encourage respectful conversation and discussions.

To many of us, this also involves carving out precious time in the day, but as my boys are growing, so are their minds and hearts. I love their brutal honesty, creative thinking and usually innate kindness (to others, but rarely to each other).

These conversation skills with our children seem to be more relevant as another anniversary passes…the attacks of 9/11. For many, the day

recedes further into the past. However, for those who lost someone close or otherwise experienced that day – whether in person or on television – thinking and talking about 9/11 may still evoke strong emotions that transport us back to the tragedy and can jar emotions long forgotten.

Many others will have little or no recollection of the event itself, yet understand its details and ramifications through media coverage of the event. Between managing these difficult emotions and conveying the details of such a tragic event, discussing 9/11 isn’t an easy task and especially to our children. We’ve all heard the steps of speaking to our children about tragedy: Don’t avoid difficult conversations, use age-appropriate language, reassure them of their safety and acknowledge we don’t have all the answers.

We understandably don’t want to cause anxiety in our kids with any conversation. With the tragedies of 9/11, it is the attacks themselves that are upsetting, not the conversations about them.

Isn’t that the case much of the time when listening to our children? My favorite part of talking with our kids is they readily are willing to listen to the emphasis of hope. The attacks of 9/11 showed us the worst in people. But it also was a time when many wonderful, compassionate, and heroic deeds occurred.

“Heroes” were everywhere on 9/11 and for a longtime afterwards. The shock and the sadness also brought people together. It’s our job to help our children recognize how their own compassion can prevent future acts of intolerance and violence by reminding them to express their ideas respectfully and to treat people who are different from themselves with kindness.

I’ve said it time and time again, in my opinion, kindness should be an instinct. Too often many of us are more empathetic and kind to perfect strangers than we are to those close to us. It’s so important to treat those close to you, as well as your acquaintances, with an abundance of understanding, positive intent and forgiveness.

You have one chance to make this footprint so make it count!

Kathryn Flores, Community Relations, Marketing and Advertising Manager Argyle Living and Lantana Living Kathryn@murray-media.com (214) 734-5783

ArgyleLivingMagazine.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray Administration Managing Editor Jana Melton

Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Contributors Eric Williams Mark Miller Steve Gamel

Advertising

Kathryn Flores kathryn@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com

Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill Josh Burkham Caroline Brock

Photography

Scott Young (972) 899-3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com

Letters

Argyle Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email artwork@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising Inquiries call (214) 734-5783 or email kathryn@murray-media.com Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100 Ste. 101 Flower Mound, TX 75022 Argyle Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Argyle Living is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2015 Murray Media Group

september 2015 | Argyle living | 7

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

8 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Thank You for Your Support!

SSgt Johnnie Yellock II is almost home! Many residents have come out over the last few months to support him into the community. We’d also like to give a big thank you to all the businesses who have donated to ensure our local hero receives a big welcome.

Supporters of Johnnie

september 2015 | Argyle living | 9

New Argyle Athletic Venues Honored at Ribbon Cutting With

construction

finally

complete,

the

new Argyle Indoor Activity Center and newer

Every student who goes the entire period without

the staff, hear from current students, and have

receive a key with one starting the car.

Rodney Haire. Upper School students will conduct

drawing in May. Ten finalists will be selected to each To be eligible, students must be enrolled in Argyle

neighboring athletic facilities were scheduled for its

ISD for the entire nine-week grading period, may

The 6 p.m. ceremony was to be followed by

earn five tickets per semester, 10 tickets for the entire

official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 18.

student-led tours of the facility along with The

Ballpark in Argyle baseball/softball complex,

girls fieldhouse, football field seating and visitors’

earn one ticket per nine-week grading period, may year and maximum of 24 tickets overall. The Argyle

ISD will use state guidelines to report average daily attendance to determine perfect attendance

restrooms and tennis courts open earlier this year.

contest eligibility.

issue passed in May 2014. It also includes the new

or strivetodrivetx.com. Contact Belinda Kelley t

the intersection of FM 1171 and U.S. highway 377

information on Waxahachie Autoplex.

The projects were part of a $45 million bond

middle school being built at the northwest corner of scheduled to open next year.

Duck Dynasty Star to Help At Liberty Christian Auction Willie Robertson, one of the key people involved

in the Duck Dynasty television show, will attend the Southern Nights Auction Gala slated for Sept. 26 at Liberty Christian School.

The evening, presented by Bill Utter Ford, will be

held from 6-9 p.m. In addition to the auction, the event will feature music, food, and friendship.

The gala will support Phase II of the Great

Expectations Capital Campaign that includes

building a worship and performing arts center and new double gymnasium

Argyle ISD Students to Enjoy Time Off in October Students attending Argyle Middle School and

Argyle High School will have an early release Oct. 7 while all Argyle ISD pupils will be on holiday the entire day Oct. 11.

Students and teachers at Argyle Intermediate

School and Hilltop Elementary School will be involved in conferences Oct. 7 while district staff will take part in a development day Oct. 11.

Perfect Attendance Could Net Big Prize For AHS Student Argyle High School students with perfect

attendance

during

each

nine-week

grading

period of the 2015-16 have a chance to win a

new automobile thanks to Waxahachie Autoplex

Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ford, Ram and the Strive To

Drive TX! program.

10 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Attendees will be able to tour the campus, meet

missing a day will earn tickets to be entered into a

More information is available at argyleisd.com

940-206-4039 or Belinda@strivetodrivetx.com for

Liberty Christian to Host Breakfast Preview Day On Oct. 20 Students and parents interested in attending

Liberty Christian School are invited to take part in the Fall Preview Day on Oct. 20.

breakfast with school founder and President Dr. the tours and answer any questions.

Registration is available at libertychristian.com/

visiting-liberty.

Coaching Corner

T Move F-o-r-w-a-r-d oday A

s I talk with people, I notice two common things that can keep us stuck mentally, physically and spiritually: regret over the past and fear of the future.

When we spend too much energy disappointed about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow, we miss living today.

Regret over the past First, stop looking behind you. We don’t have eyes in the back of our heads for a reason. We’ve all made mistakes. Life is more about where we’re going than it is about where we’ve been. Our past negative choices and experiences can become valuable if we let them. Make an agreement with yourself that, from this point forward, you will choose to use what you have learned to grow personally and to help someone else. Forgiving yourself and others often is necessary to clear the negativity of the past from your heart and mind.

By Stacy L. Allen, CACP

Don’t allow your past to define you. Simply live today wiser, stronger and healthier because of what you now understand.

Worry about the future Next, quit straining to look too far ahead in the distance. Making some plans is necessary and beneficial, but when the focus is too much on what may or may not happen, it becomes counterproductive. Why should we borrow trouble from tomorrow when today needs our best investment? Much of what we worry about never happens, and many problems we feel anxious about are beyond our control. Worry has zero power to change the future, but the choices made today definitely will. Simply take action now.

Do your best today Instead, look directly at the steps you want to take today. This is the day that needs your

attention. This moment is the one you can

maximize to the fullest. Laugh, work, play, sing,

help, try, speak, dream, give, breathe, think, exercise, believe – each moment has unique potential. Regardless of what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future, we

have the power to make now as wonderful as it

can be. Choosing a positive path and moving

forward one step at a time is a gift we can give

ourselves each day. Our minds, bodies and spirits will thank us.

Stacy L. Allen, CACP is a Certified Coaching

Practitioner who helps people find their value and

reach their personal, relationship or professional

goals. Ask Stacy your questions at questions@ stacylallen.com or contact her for more info about her services at 972-965-6487.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 11

o t p l l i H

F tin H os

ler

What also makes the event successful are the many volunteers.

“They are the key because it’s big job,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of tasks leading up to it. It takes an army. That’s just to get ready for the

Mil

more than last year. It’s another sign of the continued growth of the Argyle area.

“It’s also in line with Hilltop Healthy, our program that teaches healthy awareness to the kids,” added Stephanie Wilson, the PTA’s vice president of fund-raising. “Everything from eating right to living an active lifestyle and just overall health and wellness.

“Hilltop Healthy helps coordinate the fun run in terms of warming up kids with exercises and a piece of fruit and water. They treat the whole day as an educational experience about living a healthy lifestyle. Instead of selling cookie dough, we’re taking the opposite approach.”

While the students are the primary participants, many of their teachers also take part.

The community is involved through business sponsorships that help tremendously toward raising funds. There are three platinum sponsors so far this year ($1,000 level) – iteachTEXAS, Argyle Orthodontics, and an anonymous donor.

Other contributors include Country Lakes Dental and several area realtors.

ark

12 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

2 . t Oc

By M

W

here can you find an event that provides fun for young children, education on healthy lifestyles and helps a good cause all at the same time?

In Argyle that’s where. It’s called the Team Eagle Fun Run and the seventh-annual edition will be held Oct. 2 during students’ physical education hours on the playground of Hilltop Elementary School. Sponsored by the Hilltop Parent-Teacher Association, it will raise money to help the PTA fund a variety of projects and programs for Hilltop students and teachers.

“This is our only fund-raiser for the whole year,” said Hilltop PTA president Jennifer Willis. “Every PTA is different but this PTA we buy levelled reading books and field trips for the school so we pay for a lot of the things that enhance their learning experience.

“The fund-raiser is huge for us and it’s fun for the kids. It’s their big event too.”

Last year’s event raised $34,000 not only for books and field trips but also camp scholarships for kids, continuing education training for teachers and money for teachers to help defray classroom costs. The hope is to raise more this year since Hilltop has 758 students in pre-kindergarten to fourth grades, about 200

un

g Popular

event. The day of is all hands on deck. Most parents will come help.”

“That’s the great thing that it’s not just for

the kids,” Lillis said. “The parents come together with the kids and the teachers and members of the community. It’s really a community event.”

Students will run 12 laps on the course that

totals between 1.25 and 1.5 miles and earn prizes based on their results.

“We want to make it a doable goal so we

make the course so that all can reach their goals,” Lillis said.

Sponsorships of money and/or merchandise

are still being accepted. Those signed up by Sept.

18 will have their business name/logo on all promotional materials.

For more information, contact Wilson at

214-862-0665 or stephsellshomes1@gmail.com.

Town Council to Vote on 2015-16 Budget, Tax Rate on Sept. 22 Following public hearings in August and

September, the Argyle Town Council will vote on

National Night Out Celebration Coming to Argyle on Oct. 6 Festivities for the 2015 National Night Out event

will take place from Oct. 2 from 6-8 p.m. in the parking lot of Argyle Town Hall.

National Night Out annually raises awareness of

preventing crime by encouraging people to come outside their homes and meet their neighbors. The Argyle event will showcase community non-profit

groups raise awareness of the work they for worthy causes in Argyle and Denton County.

Spots Available to Serve On Argyle Boards And Commissions Applications for available spots on the various

Town of argyle boards and/or commissions are

adopting the 2015-16 fiscal year budget and tax rate.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at Argyle

Town Hall.

The proposed budget would raise revenue from

property taxes by an additional $213,030 than in 2014-15, an 11.8 percent increase. That includes $95,556 from new properties.

Denton County Non-Profits Benefit From Grande Communications Donations The Denton County Friends of the Family and

the Boys and Girls Club of North Central Texas

were the recipients of recent donations from Texasbased Grande Communications.

Friends of the Family received $1,200 and the

Boys and Girls Club $1,500 from the company’s employee philanthropy club, Grande Cares.

Friends of the Family plans to use its funds to

available now with the deadline to submit them set

support programs that help people affected by

Advisory boards, commissions and committees

and Girls Club will help update its Lake Dallas

for Sept. 30.

rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Boys

help the Argyle Town Council with specified

technology center.

two-year, staggered terms beginning Nov. 1 and

New Hope Therapy to Hold Fall Festival on Oct. 17

advisory tasks. Appointments generally are for ending on Oct. 31 of each year.

Vacancies are filled by the Town Council as they

occur with the council considering appointments and re-appointments in October.

For a list of the various boards and the seats

available and applications, visit the

argyletx.com website.

The Fall Festival will feature live music, food and

beverages plus horse and hay rides, a cake walk, a

petting zoo, a paint a pony area, and a horse and rider parade.

More information is available at newhopeequine.

com or by calling 817-729-5315.

Lewisville Resident is County’s First Human With West Nile A resident of Lewisville was reported to be the

first human in 2015 to be reported infected with the West Nile Virus, according to the Denton County Health Department.

The Texas Department of State Health Services

confirmed the case in late august which even though

it was the first case this year points out how residents can reduce their West Nile Virus risk, to

“It is important for residents to take precautions prevent

mosquito

bites

by

minimizing

outdoor exposure during peak mosquito activity, dressing appropriately and using DEET or other EPA-approved repellents,” said Denton County Chief Epidemiologist Juan Rodriguez.

More information is available at DCHD’s West

Nile Virus website dentoncounty.com/WNV.

Argyle’s New Hope Assisted Equine Therapy will

host a Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17.

Located at 6151 FM 1820 and opened since

2014, New Hope is a non-profit organization that focuses on therapeutic horseback riding.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 13

Real Estate

be one of the most desired areas in DFW for the

enjoying historically-low interest rates. We know

remembered as one the best times to buy and sell a

options that were not there previously. We also are

Following Argyle’s

AMAZING

Summer of Real Estate, ttttttttttttttt

Are You Trying to

Time the Market for Your Sale?

W

on line this next year providing buyers with many

By Will Woods

e have just finished up an amazing summer of real estate sales in Argyle!

Our beautiful city continues to be a

desired location for the schools, quality of life, rural settings, low crime, and fantastic location.

This year to date there have been approximately

173 real estate transactions compared with 123

transactions the same time in 2014. There are many

these will go up, just not when they will go up.

Another factor is that new home construction

prices, whether in a master planned community

or custom built, are increasing due to building material, labor, and land price increases.

We continually encourage our clients to deal

with what is known and make decisions with the

Sellers enjoyed a seller’s market this summer

large amount of buyers looking for homes. More

than 100 transactions in Argyle were sold in less than 90 days this year. Many sellers actually found

themselves looking at offers from multiple buyers

and received significantly above list price for their homes. Again this was an amazing summer for sellers in Argyle.

Will it continue is the question? We have many

clients considering selling and they want to wait to make sure they don’t sell their home too soon

or for less than it could be sold for at a market

peak. They want to wait to find the perfect home to purchase before they put their home on the

market. Unfortunately, that is incredibly risky to do and almost impossible to time. There are definitely exceptions and it can be done, however, it is unlikely

that you will get the highest price possible for your current home and find your dream home for the lowest price possible at the same time.

Waiting also brings additional risks that must be

considered. Available home inventory is increasing

right now, not decreasing. New construction is adding available homes to the market daily in Argyle and several new developments are coming 14 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

realized it was a great time to sell their existing

home and a fantastic time to buy due to low prices

agents and being known as consultants. It is our

got the home of their dreams since timing the sale

the upside and the downside risks. You should be

attractive buyer to a seller is one who does not

they may have to move twice to make sure they

team’s job to make sure you understand the market,

and purchase can be incredibly difficult. The most

provided with the most relevant market information

have a home to sell and already is pre-approved

available to make a great decision regarding your real estate transactions.

Historical information regarding real estate

transactions, information on current lending and economic factors all come into play when deciding to sell and buy a home. It is a complex task to

perfectly time the market and our opinion that it can not be done perfectly.

We know that interest rates still are historically

for homes in Argyle, and Argyle will continue to

due to low inventory of preowned homes and a

and truly understood the opportunity at hand. They

We pride ourselves on being more than real estate

accessible, low interest rates, and there was huge consider selling and making the move to Argyle.

The sellers and buyers who had the most success

this summer were those who were the most flexible

and interest rates. Most understood the reality that

low, there is a low inventory of existing homes for

demand for pre-owned homes allowing sellers to

home in Argyle for the next 5-7 years.

data at hand, not what might happen next year.

factors that contribute to this amazing increase in home and land sales. Primarily credit goes to

near future. I truly believe today is and will be

sale, there are still a large amount of buyers looking

with a lender.

Keep in mind this is a great market we are in;

however, it will not stay this way. It will shift back to a buyer’s market. Don’t miss this fantastic

opportunity by attempting to time the market or

not being flexible as you go through the process.

Looking back in 3-5 years you will be able to say you made a fantastic decision.

If my team can provide you with more detail

regarding your specific real estate questions or needs, please let us know.

Getting a

From Dr. Matt

Second Opinion

By Dr. Matt Artho

M

y 4-year-old son is one of those “rowdy” boys. Not only is he a roll-down-the-stairs, swingfrom-the-rafters, and bounce-off-the-wall kind of rowdy, he’s also a great mentor for his 2-year-old brother.

Of course, when I find myself in the midst of him jumping to me off the couch or tackling me from behind, what fascinates me is not necessarily his pure lack of fear, but more so, his unwavering sense of trust. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all felt that same amount of trust in everything?

In the dental field, there is nothing more important than a relationship between patients and their dentist. However, sometimes that relationship of trust needs reinforcement. This is where the worth of a second opinion can be invaluable. Here are some tips and information about second opinions.

When you receive a second opinion from

a dentist, it is important to explain the entire

situation to the dentist so he can properly assess

and determine your treatment needs. Providing the dentist with any X-rays or treatment plans will

help the dentist evaluate your initial diagnosis.

You may be expected to take new X-rays as each dentist uses different systems and X-rays from other offices may not be decipherable.

Always ask a dentist to show you any tooth

lesions or defects that he finds either visually or

able to visualize or diagnose an issue, illustrating this to the patient verbally and visually should be straightforward.

Finally, ask lots of questions. Never hesitate to engage in conversation with your dentist until you feel comfortable with your understanding of the situation.

Remember, every dentist is different, but you should always feel comfortable with understanding and receiving dental care.

Happy smiling!

with X-rays. With the advent of technology it is easy to illustrate on a digital X-ray or intraoral photo exactly where any defects exist.

A good dentist will educate patients on how

cavities or restorative deficiencies are identified

Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental

www.CountryLakesDental.com

and why they require treatment. If the dentist is

september 2015 | Argyle living | 15

16 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

See You On The Sidelines

MISSING MY SIDEKICK

I

don’t usually get caught up in nostalgia, but I got to work one day late last month and couldn’t stop staring at this ugly red metal chair in my office. It’s been there for so long, kind of off to the side near my cubicle, and I honestly have no idea where it came from.

It’s so ugly, I don’t even sit in it. No one does.

Well...almost no one.

I stare at it because it’s the one chair my 8-year-old son Christian sat in all summer. Why he chose that chair, I don’t know, but now that he’s back in school it’s weird not seeing him curled up in it – like he owns the place.

He certainly made an impression. For the better part of the last few months, he got a crash course in what it’s like to be a reporter like dear old daddy. While most kids his age were stuck in daycare or at some far away summer camp while their parents continued to work, my kid was following me around.

Trust me, the summer wasn’t all work and no play, but he definitely sat in on everything from interviews with high school coaches and athletes to client meetings and even more interviews

By Steve Gamel

with some of the wonderful business owners you have enjoyed reading about in the pages of this magazine.

And when I was in the office writing, he sat patiently in that red metal chair with his Kindle.

Occasionally he would peer up from the tiny screen and incessantly ask me when I would be done, but for the most part he was an awesome sidekick. I did feel bad for him at times because I can’t imagine my job is glamorous in the eyes of a child. There’s lots of running around, stopping and going with last-minute appointments, and lots of writing. I tried to teach him a few things, but most of what really enticed him was catching a glimpse of some of the gigantic high school stadiums where his daddy gets to go cover games.

If it was anything else, he simply had no interest.

It wasn’t all bad, though. In June, we went to the Marcus Smart summer basketball camp at Marcus High School. It had been so long since I got to chat with the former Marauder and current Boston Celtic, and Christian was absolutely mesmerized. We got to watch Smart

practice, coach the young campers, and Christian even got his picture taken with him.

And because he was around so much, my coworkers and most of the coaches I saw so often made it a point to strike up a conversation with him. He didn’t know what to say most of the time, and got so nervous in Argyle football coach Todd Rodgers’ office one day that he accidentally kicked over a small trash can.

Slightly embarrassing for dad, but coach Rodgers laughed it off and was very gracious.

So here I was, staring at this stupid red metal chair, wishing my son were there to fill it up.

Sometimes as adults, we get so caught up in what we think is important at work. I’m just as guilty as anyone, but I’ve got to say, I miss my sidekick.

When I got home later that night, he asked me how work was.

I said the only thing that was in my head. “It wasn’t the same without you, big man.”

“Well,” he said. “I’ll come back next summer, daddy. I miss my red chair.”

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

september 2015 | Argyle living | 17

FEATURED ARTICLE Local Sponsored Content

Titensor Dental:

A Family Practice That Gives Back

By Steve Gamel

Starting from Left: Dr. Steven and Dr. Brett Titensor. Photography by Scott Young Photography

Being a family and having the training and experience to do all phases of dentistry -- locally and all over the world -- is what separates them, and it has loyal customers coming back.

E

verywhere you look in Denton County, there are dental offices galore. In most cases, they are separated by only a few miles, and some are seemingly on every street corner.

But if you were to peel back enough layers, it’s clear that Titensor Dental is the one-stop practice everyone in Denton County craves -- offering everything from vast dental knowledge to community outreach services and a rare family atmosphere.

Being a family and having the training and experience to do all phases of dentistry -- locally and all over the world -- is what separates them, and it has loyal customers coming back.

“We are busier than ever,” said Dr. Brett Titensor, who joined his father, Dr. Steven Titensor’s, practice in 2014. “Dentists are everywhere, but some offices are becoming corporate. The dentist no longer owns the dental practice in some cases. We have a traditional, family-run practice.

“It feels good when you have your [last] name on the front of the building.”

When patients first visit the office, located at 1901 Long Prairie Rd. in Flower Mound, they are taken aback by a tireless father-son combo who are

18 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

committed to providing exceptional and unrivaled dental care to all patients.

It is for that reason that Titensor Dental was

recently voted Best Cosmetic Dentist and Best Implant Dentist in the 2015 Best of Denton County awards.

Residents of Argyle, Lantana, Flower Mound,

Highland Village, Double Oak and all over the metroplex make it a point to seek out Titensor

Dental for their needs, and the various awards

and accolades that adorn the perfectly-manicured front lobby symbolize exactly what Denton County thinks of the Titensor’s hard work.

For the Titensor’s, it’s all in a day’s work. On

any given day, Dr. Steven Titensor can be found

out in the lobby giving a longtime client a hug or personally welcoming a new patient before they

step in the exam room. He doesn’t think anything of it, because it’s simply part of his routine.

Dr. Brett, though still new to the office, has

become beloved in such a short period of time and many longtime clients have no problem seeing him as an extension of his father.

“He [Dr. Brett] takes a lot of pressure off me, and it’s fun teaching him,” said Dr. Steven Titensor, who started his practice about 30 years ago in the area. “I’m amazed at how much he knows and how much he can do. We’ve built trust, and we’ve been able to maintain that with both of us here. I’ve never pressured him to do this. He absolutely loves it.”

When he was younger, Dr. Brett was one of those little kids who loved working with his hands and being creative. He said it was easy to fall in love with topics like science, and for as long as he can remember, he wanted to be just like his dad -- who he still believes is the perfect mentor.

“I remember growing up and seeing him come home tired from a long day,” Dr. Brett said. “Dentistry can be difficult, and for him to accomplish so much in his career has always impressed me. Especially now that I have done a lot of those same things, it makes me appreciate even more what he has done. There isn’t a dentist I’ve ever spoken to that knows more than him. He’s probably the best dentist around.”

Dr. Steven Titensor graduated in 1986 from the Baylor College of Dentistry as a general dentist, and

has built a solid reputation as a master of family, implant, cosmetic and sedation dentistry.

The thing that made him so different was his insistence on never settling for status quo. His vision was to give patients more than the accepted standard of a “drill and fill” practice.

There’s a conference room in his office that has a wall full of plaques/certificates representing years of continued education taught by some of the top clinicians in the world. Dr. Steven Titensor has obtained the International Dental Implant Association’s highest accreditation of Diplomate status and has emphasized his training in dental implants, TMJ, Invisalign, oral/IV sedation and advanced cosmetic dentistry including the much sought after DURAthin prepless veneers.

That resume was more than enough to convince Dr. Brett where he needed to go in life.

“He brainwashed me a long time ago,” Dr. Brett joked.

Dr. Brett Titensor graduated in 2014 from the Baylor College of Dentistry. All the while, Dr. Steven Titensor worked with his son, helping to fill in the gaps of his classroom education with hands-on training.

Dr. Brett proved to be as sharp as a tack. He currently holds memberships in the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association and is the youngest member in the 20-year history of the Crown Council. He also travels to Scottsdale, Arizona once per quarter to mentor other dentists in the Cerec same day crown technology.

“The technology has been so easy for him to pick up,” Dr. Steven Titensor said. “Because he excelled so quickly at it, he was hired by the Cerec team to train other dentists. He is probably one of the youngest dentists ever to do that, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

With Dr. Brett now in the fold, the immediate benefit of working side by side is being able to offer clients more appointment times. The Titensor’s make it a goal to never have a time during work hours where a patient can’t come in on short notice if they need help.

“We’re basically able to do double the work,” Dr. Brett said.

They have also incorporated some of today’s newest and latest digital dental technology in their office. Key advancements like digital impressions allow the Titensor’s the ability to make a crown for a patient in one day.

The goal is to make a difference in their clients’ lives with hometown, personalized customer service. Dr. Steven and Dr. Brett treat their customers like family, and they are proud to offer a level of care that can reach patients right here in Denton County and beyond -- even in several foreign countries.

“We hardly take impressions for crowns anymore, everything is done with a digital camera,” Dr. Steven Titensor said. “No more temporary crowns, no more coming back for that second or third appointment.

“We also have a CT Digital X-ray machine in the office. Everything can be quicker and more precise with this technology. Most general dentists don’t do implants, they refer it out,” Dr. Steven Titensor said.

“But because of this technology and our training, we are able to do all phases of implants here in our office -- no more going from one office to the next to have implants completed.”

Dr. Brett is also excited to bring to the area the Perfect Start program at Titensor Dental, which is Starting from Left: Livia, Dr. Brett, Rex and Brittany Titensor

a non-invasive, natural way of straightening teeth rather than relying on traditional orthodontics. It has proved to be a miracle system for many children and adults to help correct everything from crooked teeth to sleep disorder breathing.

The goal is to make a difference in their clients’ lives with hometown, personalized customer service.

Dr. Steven and Dr. Brett treat their customers like family, and they are proud to offer a level of care that can reach patients right here in Denton County and beyond -- even in several foreign countries.

Looking back, perhaps the most endearing memory of Dr. Brett’s childhood was when he was 13 and his dad took him on a trip to Guadalajara to perform dentistry work in impoverished areas and orphanages.

Since then, making those trips have become a key part of what the Titensor’s do.

For a limited time each year, Titensor Dental offers professional teeth whitening services where all proceeds go directly to the Smiles for Life Foundation (SmilesforLife.org) to help provide care for underprivileged children all over the world.

The program -- which runs for four months from March-July -- also helps fund dental humanitarian trips to places like the Dominican Republic, Nepal, Guatemala, Mexico and China.

Both dentists have spent time providing school supplies, dental work, equipment and time to various villages, schools and orphanages in these struggling parts of the world. They have also been able to use their language skills in these areas -- Dr. Steven Titensor being fluent in Spanish while Dr. Brett Titensor is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

It’s a lot of work, but that’s what a family does.

And the Titensor’s wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Growing up with my dad, I’ve seen a lot and it’s all been a blessing. I’m getting the best benefit by learning from him,” Dr. Brett said. “I have young children and I can only imagine how cool it would be to watch them accomplish the same things I have.

I’m sure that would be so rewarding for a dad to see.”

Come see what Titensor Dental is all about.

Visit them at www.titensordental.com or call 972-355-9545.

WINNER

BEST OF DENTON COUNTY

2015

MURRAY MEDIA GROUP

Committed to Community Excellence.

Voted Best Cosmetic & Dental Implant Dentist

september 2015 | Argyle living | 19

20 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Gardening

Do Your Homework When

Planning Fall Outdoor Projects

W

e are so glad that August is over and hoping those 100+ temperatures are as well. Now that school has started for most and the vacationing is over it's time to get out the to-do list and focus on prepping for fall.

It's a great time to get the ball rolling on that outdoor space or landscaping project but as you do remember to protect yourself by keeping an eye out for quality, ensure the estimates you are entertaining are going to be able to deliver on what's promised and not drag you through a long list of change orders and weeks of frustration. As we all know any project’s success isn't viewed by the price but more important by the experience, outcome and follow up. Look through the lowest price and into the company behind it. We say it every year but it still amazes me how many patio and landscape companies that pop-up here in our area in early spring but are gone by winter.

With this growing trend throughout Lantana and neighboring communities (but especially in Lantana) we are seeing so many "recently-completed builds" that already are falling apart or not at all the quality that was expected or promised.

There always will be those out there who get taken by the enticing "lowest bid" even though we all know typically you will get what you pay for. But in the last 11 years we have not seen what we have seen so far in 2015 pertaining to the poor quality of work.

As a contractor it's our job to establish ourselves in the community, build a solid reference list and give you a level of comfort moving forward with anything we do. Make us work for it, look through the initial pricing and into the company behind it go through the details in comparison to the finished product you're being promised, check references, look at some jobs and speak to your neighbors.

Anyone can show you a bunch of pictures and say they built it but a reputable contractor will have no problem taking you by a couple active projects and or completed jobs to give you a real-time view of their work and how it comes together. Make sure your contractor has an anchor in the community or gives back in some way. The only way to make our community better is to SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE GIVING BACK TO IT! If we could all only pass on the cheapest bid it will probably thin out some of this fly-by-night competition we are running into.

In our area there are a ton of talented people who have built great businesses on being creative, building relationships and doing things the right way the first time. Just remember when organizing your next project don't put yourself in a situation where you've paid less and then left hoping for more.....

Three things to remember when hiring a contractor:

1) Ask to meet to the job foreman, can he take me to a project he is managing?

With even the smallest businesses there typically will be a guy who will be on your job daily making sure things get done how they were described and in a timely manner. If the contractor says he'll be running the job itself just ask whether he'll be there every day.

Whatever the response that will be something you can hold them to and ask the references about to get an accurate account.

2) What is your payment schedule?

Most professionals will have a draw type payment schedule or a 50-50 split upon completion as well as a binding contract that is for the protection of both client and contractor. If they are asking for majority of funds upfront without any type of agreement you're probably not dealing with someone you should be.

3) Are you insured and registered here in our city?

Any company that is worth doing business with will carry insurance coverage and local registrations wherever they are working. Expect to pay more for dealing with a legitimate business but rest easy knowing you are protected.

By PJ Kratohvil Complete Exterior Solutions 214-735-1364

september 2015 | Argyle living | 21

By Steve Gamel

Coaches, Players Beat the Heat

Football

T

exas is hot. Yet every year, football coaches

showed a decline in the average number of heat

teams for another long season with doing

from 2010 to 2014, there was an average of 2.6 heat

juggle the demands of preparing their

all they can to avoid anything that would cause a serious health risk for players.

The simple answer is to make sure athletes

stay hydrated, but area coaches know they can’t stop there.

“I can tell you my coaches weren’t very smart

(about safety procedures) when I was in high

school,” said Guyer head coach John Walsh. “It’s a lot different now.”

According to an annual survey done by the

National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury

Research, there have been 140 heat stroke deaths from 1960 through 2014. Since 1995, 54 football

players have died from heat stroke – 42 high school, 9 college, 2 professional and 1 sandlot. The survey

went on to state that 90 percent of recorded heat stroke deaths occurred during practice.

stroke deaths per year. During the five-year period stroke deaths per year compared to 3.6 per year during the previous five year period (2005-09), the study showed.

Those statistics are encouraging in that they

support continued efforts to educate coaches, administrators, medical providers, players, and

parents on the proper procedures to follow when playing in the heat.

Unlike the old days where football practices were

held in the heat of the day with a limited supply

of water, coaches today are doing everything from giving players access to frequent water breaks to breaking away from two-a-days all together and shifting practice times to mornings and evenings.

At Guyer, Walsh and his coaching staff have

made it a top priority to provide an unlimited supply

It’s a harsh reality, and one that coaches must

of Pedialyte for their players and ask them to drink

“The No. 1 important aspect for us is to maintain

just like Gatorade, contains electrolytes to prevent

take seriously.

it throughout the day while at school. Pedialyte,

the health and safety of our students,” said Argyle

everything from dehydration to excessive cramping.

and we tax them pretty good with two-a-days.”

always has been marketed as the go-to product for

head coach Todd Rodgers. “These are teenage boys, It’s important to note that the survey above

Pedialyte may sound like a weird option since it

infants and children. But an increasing number of athletes – including at the pro level – swear by it.

“I’m no doctor, but when you are sick, they tell

you to drink it,” Walsh said. “We’ve had Pedialyte

since I’ve been at Guyer. From my playing days to now, coaches are much smarter about

protecting players.”

Coaches and athletic trainers are trained in the

first signs of heat exhaustion, and most programs

like Guyer and Argyle have ice baths available and

ready to help keep a player’s core temperature down.

Rodgers also pointed out that, due to University Interscholastic League rules, teams don’t subject their athletes to full pads during practice every day of the week. Having exposed skin helps cool the body better, he said.

There have been zero known cases of serious

incidents of heat exhaustion at Guyer or Argyle.

“I know what happens here. When I was with

Que Brittain at Marcus, we never had an issue there either. I was taught well,” Rodgers said. “You hear stories of extremes, but those need to be handled

on a case-by-case basis with those schools. For the

most part, the kids themselves are well-trained.

Year-round training is common, and they are exposed to the heat more.

“Unfortunately you have to play in it (heat), but

22 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

you have to manage it.”

Argyle resident september 2015 | Argyle living | 23

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

24 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Boot Camp Begins Now:

Be Skin Fit for the

W

hy does the word ‘Procrastinate’ begin with ‘pro’? I admit, there have been times that I have benefited by putting-off an assignment to the last moment, but for the most part, procrastinating does not have a positive outcome.

The field of aesthetics becomes quite busy in November and December as people prepare for parties and events. Unfortunately, they seem to arrive in a state of crisis, seeking a skin transformation, for an event that is less than a week away.

Meeting with a medical professional such as a physician or registered nurse who specializes in skin care and being on a treatment plan which is monitored every three months is optimal.

Waiting until days before an event to call and make an appointment will produce much less

than optimal results. Most times, your first choice for where you would like to be treated will have no openings during the holiday season and you will be tempted to go to a place that does not have a medical professional treating you. When it comes to your face, one size does not fit all, and finding the bargain may have less than desirable, even dangerous outcomes.

Beginning treatment approximately three months prior provides an opportunity to be carefully assessed and to establish a plan to implement for optimal results. The skin cycle (one transformation of skin cells from new to expired) is approximately six weeks. The old skin cells need to be sloughed off and fresh cells need to be cared for so when they reach the surface, they have everything they need to be healthy and protected.

Rejuvenation

By Rebecca Romanucci,

RN Advanced Aesthetic Registered Nurse Injector Owner/Manager RSR Medical Skin Rejuvenation, L.L.C.

Being on the correct treatment system, such as Obagi Prescriptive Skin Care, within the first six weeks, the skin transforms with tightening of pores, lightening of freckles, age spots, and sun damage. Skin tone becomes tighter, has less laxity and fragility. Redness and flaking lessen and smoother, softer, healthier skin is evident.

Over the next six weeks, leading into the days before special events, you and those who see you will notice significant improvements in your skin such as firmer, smooth, naturally-hydrated more resilient skin with improved clarity with a healthy glow. Your skin will have transformed to function properly as the layers of the skin receive increased supply of nutrients and blood flow and healthy, strong collagen and elastin production has increased.

Now is the time for all good men and women to seek out the medical professional of their choice, to be medically assessed and assisted with a treatment plan for their skin. Take a beforeholiday photo now, and wake up on Christmas Day and compare the two photos. It’s my gift to you.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 25

: n a ngm mes

a o G r d t n S h Highla ScooretTthisan Com

for n o i t i t pe

M

B

nt

eside R e l y g

Ar

mel

e Ga

By Stev

ob Kneip always has been addicted to

and competitors are drawn to the Scottish

this burly, mountain of a man figured he

traditional events.

competition. But at 50 years old even

would have slowed down by now.

Highland Games due to their rich history and

Some form of Highland Games have been

Instead, this Argyle resident appears to be

around for centuries, and, of course, began

Scottish Highland Games 2015 Masters World

Highland Games were organized by the

just getting started. Kneip will compete at the

Championships on Sept. 25-26 in Chesterfield, Mo. The event – a strongman competition mixed

with bagpipes, Celtic rock, kilts and plenty of

Scottish flair – will feature more than 150 athletes

in Scotland. In the United States, the first

Highland Society of New York in the mid-1800s.

Today, it continues to be a cultural and

Kneip has groomed himself into one of the

upright and hoisted by the competitor, who

“I never imagined still being this athletic at my

age, but here I am,” said Kneip, who has been a competitive strength athlete and trainer for more

than 30 years. “Doing something you love and

a long-tapered pine pole or log that is stood

balances it vertically before running forward in

an attempt to toss the pole in such a way that it

turns end over end with the larger end striking the ground first.

There also is the stone put (similar to the

being good at it is the key to life. It’s fun getting

modern-day shot put), Scottish hammer

get the sport out in the open. There’s no money

Texas Team Championship in June, Kneip set

back into something as fun as this, and I want to on the line. It’s just a passion we all have.”

So how good is Kneip? Since 2012, Kneip

has competed in close to 20 Highland Games

throw, weight throw and sheaf toss. At the

a personal record in the breamer stone toss at 33 feet, 2 inches.

That is the 10th-best throw of 2015 for all

regional events and never placed below third. He

Masters over 40 in the United States and Canada.

Scottish Festival and Highland Games on May

Kneip said. “You’re going against an international

40 age group at the Texas Team Championship

competition, but we are all out there coaching

won the Masters Class (50 and up) at the Texas

8-9 in Arlington, then won the Masters over in Plano.

Kneip – who boasts a staggering 575-pound

deadlift, 350-pound bench press and 300-pound

“For me, it’s something I simply love to do,”

field of competitors and it is very much a

each other up and cheering. Wearing kilts is required, and the environment is amazing,”

What makes Kneip’s story even more

over-head press – reportedly ranks 35th out of

interesting is that he can juggle intense training

Masters over 50.

seven children with his wife, Patti. Kneip owns

632 athletes in Masters over 40 and eighth in

It is important to note that what Kneip

competes in should not be confused with other strongman events like the “World’s

Strongest Man” competitions. Instead, these events celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture 26 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

575 lbs dead lift 350 lbs bench press 300 lbs over-head press

Some of the events Kneip will compete in

at Worlds include the caber toss. This features

best, and he’s ready to show what he can do.

who boasts a staggering

international phenomenon.

from around the world competing in various

tests of strength.

Bob Kneip

while running two businesses and raising Canine Country Inn and Functional Strength

Equipment of Texas – both located in Argyle on the same property.

Functional Strength Equipment of Texas is a

custom shop where Kneip hand-makes every item

Photo Courtesy of Bob Kneip

purchased, including various strength-training sleds, bars, racks, wheelbarrows, strongman logs

and yokes. While he has yet to overly advertise the business, FSET has become wildly popular.

“At one point I was training 60 kids during

the summer and I realized the equipment I really needed was hard to get,” Kneip said. “So I called

a friend of mine who is a welder, and started building equipment.”

The rest is history.

“None of this would be possible without my

family,” Kneip added. “When I go to compete, the older ones stay behind and run the business

and the younger ones and my wife come along

to cheer dad on. Everything I do is on the same property, so even customers will see me out in

the field training sometimes and they will come watch. There is a strong bond there.”

A strong bond for a strong man.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 27

Argyle Welcomes

New Church

By Eric Williams

T

he Well is a brand new church in Argyle that will be innovative in bringing Christ

to the community. But Pastor Matthew

Harding promises the church will adhere to the ancient Gospel and, like the first churches in the New Testament, it will work to become a community that makes a positive change for members and their neighbors.

The Well, planted by Flower Mound’s burgeoning RockPointe Church, held its first service in the Argyle High School Auditorium on Aug. 23, drawing a crowd of 181, including approximately 50 children.

Harding and his wife Jennifer counted a lot of friends and family who were there for moral support.

However, the following Sunday they were excited to have 145 after the many well-wishers went back to their home churches.

The church began in July in a home with a base of 10 families from RockPointe who live in the Argyle area and the church plans to grow organically as people come to visit, get to know the church, and find a place where they can grow in faith and contribute their talents.

The Hardings already are part of the Argyle community, living in the new Canyon Falls neighborhood and sending their children to Argyle’s Liberty Christian School. Their son, John, a junior, is 6 feet 7 inches tall and starting center for the basketball team. Jennifer describes

Besides the Hardings, the church has other church

The Hardings tell a great story about the naming

professionals on staff including Michael Armstrong,

of the church. Because the couple had a profound

the guest worship pastor who is an accomplished

rekindling of affection for one another 12 years into

musician with more than 20 years’ experience in

their marriage and experienced Christ-centered

both new and established churches. Harding said

restoration, they liked the idea of naming the

Armstrong is as an exceptional worship leader.

new church Restoration Church. However, just

“We also have an incredible children’s minister,

months before launch of their new church, another

Stephanie King,” Harding added. “She has several

church with a very similar name was founded in

years’ experience in children’s ministry at RockPointe

the south Roanoke area. So, the leadership of the

Church. She and her family recently moved to

church was left scrambling for the perfect name for

Argyle and she felt led to help us begin well with an

this new fellowship.

The Well has profound historical and scriptural

incredible ministry to children.”

The Children’s ministry is called “Waterville,” playing

off

the

theme

of

The

Well

and

life-giving water.

meaning – though the Hardings didn’t realize how much until after they had chosen the name. One of the central aspects of Argyle’s unique founding and

“Our kids are having a blast while learning the

subsequent growth was on the historical property

truth of the Bible,” Harding noted. “We’re blown

of Hardin John’s Well and religious campground,

away by how many people in Argyle who have said

presently located on Old Justin Road in Argyle.

they have been praying and waiting for a new and

John’s well was a main source of community water

fresh experience of church. These Argyle residents

until 1963 as in the early days of settlement in

want something new, but something tied to the

North Texas; John’s well often was a way-station

ancient Christian faith.”

for travelers headed to Fort Worth to rest and water

Harding said demographic studies predict around

their stock. The way-station provided more than

6,000 new homes in the area over the next decade

physical renewal. It also was a place where religious

which The Well Church will serve.

services and spiritual revivals were often for the

“There are already great churches in Argyle, but we know those churches can’t reach all those people,”

spiritually thirsty. Today, The Well Church’s motto is “Thirsty Souls Restored.”

Harding said. “We want to welcome new residents,

Despite their youthful appearances, Matthew and

people who are unchurched, or who have had bad

Jennifer have close to a quarter-century experience

church experiences. We want to be the kind of church

in the ministry. Harding said he was a junior at the

where they can feel welcome.

University of Tennessee-Knoxville planning on a

“I preach in flip flops. Our dress is very casual, but

career as a physician when he first heard the Lord’s

daughter Sarai, a senior at Liberty, as “a passionate

we have a passionate and serious understanding of the

call to full-time ministry. He said he was initially

musical theater thespian, looking to be salt and light

gospel. The truth never changes, but our methods to

“kind of bummed” about it, thinking he was about to

in that industry.”

deliver it have to change with each new culture.”

embark upon a life of humility and poverty.

28 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Argyle resident

“Then God completely changed my heart,” he said.

was visiting relatives in Knoxville and attended

“He convinced me I could not spend my time doing

Sunday school taught by her uncle at Central

anything more important than loving people where

Baptist Church of Bearden. Almost to her adult

they are at.”

height of 6 feet, she towered over most boys her age,

A lover of languages, Harding is fluent in French and the first assignment planned for him was as a missionary in Kenya helping with the francophone Rwandan refugees in crisis. However, the political

but not Matthew.

They became friends and never lost touch with one another.

Coming

from

a

not-especially

prosperous

climate changed and the Kenyan government would

background, Matthew said that he wasn’t always

not let him and Jennifer enter the country. They

comfortable at church among youth from affluent

redirected their energies to campus ministries around

households. He wants to be sure The Well is

the southeast with stops at University of North

welcoming to all.

Carolina-Wilmington, Middle Tennessee

State

Besides casual clothing, the worship service

University in Nashville, the University of Arkansas

unites families for the first half of worship as first

and Auburn University.

through sixth graders worship with their parents.

Most recently he has been on staff at RockPointe

When Harding begins to preach, the youngsters go

Church for four years as an associate pastor. Being a

into age-appropriate learning. This fall, Harding has

life-learner, Harding has earned a PhD in Theology

begun a sermon series on the Book of Acts and the

and a Doctorate in Ministry (DMin.) and has taught

beginning of the Christian Church, the ancient faith.

at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. His

All are welcome to attend the 10:45 a.m. service at

passion for teaching the unchangeable truths of God

Argyle High School. Harding added, “Come grow

enhance his present ministry as pastor of The Well.

with us as we reach this community and the nations

Though Jennifer grew up in Arkansas, she, like Matthew, is a passionate supporter of the University of Tennessee. The two met at age 12 when Jennifer

for God’s glory!”

For information on the church, its mission, and worship times visit thewellargyle.com.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 29

Back to

School

30 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

september 2015 | Argyle living | 31

Upscale Home

The Time to Start

Holiday Projects

is Now

School is back in session, the house has emptied out some and the holidays are coming up....where do you go from here? Where do you even start?

T

hose are great questions. The holidays are a great motivator. You have the things you know you want to do, along

with the projects you’ve been planning on doing

since last fall. You might as well do them before you have guests this holiday season.

How do you even get started? You need to put

a realistic list together of projects you want to get

accomplished, and then take half of them off. We always try to do too much and we give up before

we even start. The more you can accomplish the better you will feel. If you do a couple of things that aren’t on the list along the way, it’s OK to put them on the list so you can mark them off !

There are several ways to accomplish your goals. You may want to hire someone to help you put your vision together so you can make the most of your time. That always is a nice option.

If you haven’t worked with someone before you will need to find someone with whom you are comfortable. We all work differently and all have different personalities. If you have an idea of a budget that always is helpful. It lets the designer know what projects on your list can be accomplished in your time frame.

Whether you have help or want to work through your list on your own, there are several ways to organize the list. You may want to do the things that will allow you to finish the most in the available time. If so, the No. 1 thing is clean. Cleaning windows, baseboards, doors and frames and around light plates will make a huge difference and will give you a quick sense of accomplishment.

Next you want to paint. Paint is the best return on the amount of investment you can make. It adds personality to your home as well as character and flair to all areas. Paint is a giant force. It can be a subtle encounter or a striking impact. Updating accessories such as pillows, floor vases, rugs, art work, etc. will rejuvenate your areas.

Another option would be to look at the list for projects that would carry the most significant long-term value. Updating counter tops, fixtures, backsplashes, lighting or addressing your cabinet would be on this list.

Today’s smart homes are all about the simplicity and ease of window coverings.

Whether you are comfortable with screen shades or transitional/contemporary décor, blinds, shades and shutters always are a winner in our area .Window treatments in updated styles and fabrics are a great sound and heat insulator. The statement they make in your home is one that sets you apart in this market place.

The thing is to just start so you can finish.

We’re here to help. Good Luck!!

By Paula Kratohvil, Owner Complete Interior Solutions 972-436-9083

32 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

Chamber Connection

Argyle Taste for Good Event Proves a Hit Again

By Mark Miller

J

ust like the inaugural Argyle Chamber of Commerce Taste for Good event in 2014, this year’s proved at least, if not more, successful.

The second-annual Taste for Good, presented by First Choice Emergency Room, was held Sept. 8 at Lantana Country Club. For just $30, attendees enjoyed unlimited food and drink from area restaurants and vendors, blackjack, roulette, and craps casino games provided from Dallas-Fort Worth-based Deal Me in Casino, an outdoor cigar bar and bourbon tasting.

“We’re very, very happy. We got really good attendance,” said Gavin Fleten, the organization’s vice president of events and membership. “This time we had 19 food stations (compared to 15 in 2014) and then we had two wineries, two

breweries, two distilleries, and cidering. We had great support from Deal Me in Casino. We

had like seven or eight non-profits come in and everyone had a great time.”

Food ranged from tacos to sushi to finger

sandwiches to pizza with plenty of dessert

choices available. Many of the beers and wines tasted by attendees were made in Texas.

“The nice thing at 30 bucks, it’s a cheap date night and nobody gets nickel and dimed for silent auctions or raffles,” Fleten said.

“You just come in, have a good time, and have fun. It was our second successful event and we’ll be back here again next year”

About 175 people took part this year helping raise money for each member charity. Half of the proceeds go directly to those organizations.

“Our non-profit participants were again be available to share information about their projects and their needs so all those attending had the opportunity to see exactly where their money is going,” said Chamber executive director Margie Sullivan. “If they could tear themselves away from the casino tables.”

Other sponsors besides First Choice Emergency Room were Honda of Denton, Toyota of Denton, Sigma Signs and Printing, Point Bank, Sam Pack’s Five-Star Ford, Bill Utter Ford, Flower Mound Emergency Center, the Cross Timbers Gazette and Murray Media Group.

september 2015 | Argyle living | 33

Argyle’s

in

N

R’S O IT ED PICK 2015 RE

CIP

IEN

Miss teen USa

Pageant

hen Chloe Kembel was growing up near Argyle, she was the kind of girl who liked to be active and play sports. Her mother, Keri Kembel, didn’t enter her in beauty pageants or fuss endlessly with hair and makeup.

But as Chloe grew into a young beauty as a student in Argyle’s Liberty Christian School, she developed some other qualities – poise, dancing talent, ability to think on her feet and speak extemporaneously – that made her an impressive competitor who won the title of Miss Teen Texas late last year.

In turn, the skills she learned while competing will be highly relevant in her chosen career, broadcast journalism. Besides the recognition, Chloe has earned a platform to make a difference in human trafficking, a cause she cares deeply about.

34 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

AZI

T

hines

W

M AG

ARG YL E

S

IN G

E’S

Chloe Kembel

L IV

By Eric Williams

And she had a lot of fun. Competing and winning Miss Teen Texas, her first-ever beauty pageant, qualified Chloe for the Miss Teen USA pageant held at the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island of the Bahamas in August. She finished among the top 15 contestants in a field of 51 elite performers.

Her mother, father Robert, long a member of the board at Liberty Christian, and brothers Cole and Will were among 16 family members who went to the Atlantis to be part of the festivities.

Will made a surprise return trip from China to be part of the event. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins also attended the Miss Teen USA pageant.

Chloe had to do her own hair and makeup and keep up a hectic schedule of events, competitions and on camera interviews. Continued on next pg.

“Still, she had the time of her life,” said Keri.

As a Miss Teen USA contestant, Chloe was

offered a $45,600 scholarship to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. While Chloe found the scholarship offer intriguing, especially

since Lindewood has an excellent school in broadcast journalism, Chloe went ahead with plans to begin college at Texas A&M University-

Galveston. She intends to finish her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M in College Station.

Quoted on the Miss Teen Texas website after

winning the Miss Texas competition, Chloe said “I want other teens to be made aware of the

impact important issues outside their world of school and friends; something they can become

educated and passionate about. I believe this awareness will empower my generation and help give them a vision, a desire to create change in the community and in their lives as well.”

Chloe

already

has

traveled

overseas

extensively in mission efforts and is a volunteer

for Traffic 911. She has taught orphans in the God Cares School in Uganda. She has also

traveled to Turkey, Greece, Israel, Guatemala, El Salvador and China.

In late August, not long after returning from Atlantis, Chloe departed for school in Galveston and her duties as reigning Miss Teen Texas required her presence in Houston over the Labor Day weekend.

Being close to the Miss Teen Texas and Miss Teen USA Pageants was eye-opening for Keri.

The proud mother explained that while people joke about the intellect of beauty pageant contestants, her experience was that exceptional intellect as well as exceptional beauty was on display at the Atlantis Resort.

Chloe told Argyle Living that participating in the event was 90 percent mental. Being ready to handle wide-ranging interview questions in a range from current events to the future of the world required her to know much that’s in the news and contemplate her own feelings and values.

“You have to prepare to represent yourself, your community, your family and your state,” she said.

For readers interested in helping stop domestic minor sex trafficking, Traffic 911 offers many ways for the community to help exploited and abused children.

“A well informed general public is many times the only hope a child being trafficked has,” said Angie Childers, who is connected with Chloe in child advocacy work. “It is the law we report any type of child abuse and it is written that based solely on a suspicion, a call to the hot line is required.”

Childers added that those who want to learn more can attend a Traps of the Trafficker class, learning how predators work and being ready to take action. She also provided contact numbers – the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 and the National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Childers said Traffick911.com also offers training programs and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Team that helps discover victims in juvenile detention centers, which sometimes unknowingly criminalized victims. Also there is the Big Difference Mentoring Program Team that helps redirect high-risk youth, the Internet Surveillance Team that helps identify illegal online sex ads and the Missing Children Intervention Team that helps find missing and exploited children. september 2015 | Argyle living | 35

Argyle

Popular

Set for Oct. 10

R

egistration is still open and spots are quickly filling up for the 2015 Argyle Run for Our Sons 5K/1M Fun Run, slated to take place at Hilltop Elementary School on Oct. 10.

The third-annual charity event has become a popular attraction in the Argyle area and continues to grow each year, having pulled in close to $50,000 last year. Proceeds will go to the non-profit group, Parent Project MD, and will be earmarked for continuing research on treatment for Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.

“The turnout we get every year blows my mind,” said Amy Fanning, one of several race organizers and whose 11-year-old son Corbin is one local child benefiting from the event. “I usually can’t find the right words to write thank you letters, because words can’t describe how I feel.”

Whether you are an avid runner, or simply want to come out for a good cause, this particular run offers a challenging course and beautiful scenery.

The race will kick off at 8 a.m. at Hilltop Elementary and wind through the streets of old Argyle before returning back to the school.

It will be professionally chip timed by Cox Racing Services. There also will be a one-mile fun race for the kids, which will precede the 5K. Race Day 5K registration is $30, and groups in excess of 10 runners are $18 per participant. The cost for the one-mile run is $20 on race day.

36 | ARGYLE LIVING | september 2015

By Steve Gamel

For more information on how to sign up as a runner or become a sponsor, please visit parentprojectmd.org. You also can contact race directors Doug Hollenshead at 817-510-1124 and Katie Lentini at 817-510-1158.

Wear your CRAZIEST Argyle Socks Prizes for the best socks!

Award Helps

Validate Reborn Version of

Keep Argyle

Beautiful T

By Mark Miller

here was a time, just a few years ago, when the Keep Argyle Beautiful organization that had done so much for the community since starting in 2007 was disbanding. Like so many other volunteer groups, some people and politics got in the way.

But Deborah Cottle and Kathy Salisbury weren’t about to let that last very long. Just a few months after the original KAB “fell apart,” the two town residents were instrumental in resurrecting it. They knew what was possible and wanted other community members to join them.

“We knew of so many projects we could be doing. We just needed to make people aware,” said Cottle, the group’s chair since 2012, the same time frame Salisbury has served as vice-chair.

“We started building, growing, and getting with the community. We wanted Argyle to be a clean, wholesome, beautiful environment. To do that, we had to have people get involved with the community.”

With Cottle, Salisbury and a small number of others on the new board leading the way, the organization began putting the word out. It also rejoined Keep Texas Beautiful, an affiliation that paid off this year when Argyle was named one of 10 cities to win the Governor’s Community Achievement Award which will be presented during the Texas Municipal League Conference and Exhibition on Sept. 22-25 in San Antonio.

The honor for Category 2 communities (3,0015,000 in population) includes an $110,000 Landscape award courtesy of the Texas

Department of Transportation to improve landscaping along state highway right of-ways.

Keep Argyle Beautiful won for its combination of community leadership and coordination, public awareness and education, beautification and community improvement, litter prevention and clean-up, solid waste management, and litter law and illegal dumping enforcement.

In yet another example of KAB’s legitimacy was the board being deemed official and falling under the rules and guidance of the Town of Argyle this year. Town Secretary Kristi Gilbert now serves as the group’s official secretary.

With the town’s help, the group’s bylaws were streamlined from 13 pages to two.

In little more than three years, the current board has created and executed a large number of projects with the help of the many people who have volunteered. These include: • Assisted with clean-up at the Graham Argyle Cemetery

• Helped at Town of Argyle Cleanup Day

updating its web site, working with the Argyle Chamber of Commerce on a photography contest, taking part in the America Recycle Day and associated programs and start a program to read to elementary school students.

“It’s a slow process because we only meet once a month,” Cottle said. “We do a lot and we’re fixing to maybe meet twice a month.”

And if all goes right, Keep Argyle Beautiful soon will become a member of the Keep America Beautiful organization.

“It’s really an honor to be an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful so we’ll be affiliated with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful,” Cottle said. “They work so hand in hand together.

And because we did submit for the Governor’s Achievement Award, that was part of being an affiliate.”

• Collected and recycled bottles at Argyle ISD sports events • Participated in the National Night Out • Took part in the Tree Planting event

• Planned and organized the Town’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony • Voted on the Hilltop Elementary School Christmas Poster Contest • Gave presentations at Hilltop

• Replaced the raised flower beds at Hilltop

• Provided free coffee and collected bikes for recycling for the Shoot for the Stars bicycle rally • Attended the town community Easter Egg Hunt

• Cleaned up highway 377 gateway monument signs as part of the Argyle United Methodist Church’s Worship Without Walls program “When we’ve put the word out about wanting to do a clean-up, we’ve had 30 people show up,” Cottle said. “We always have people asking ‘what can we do, what can we do. They are almost hungry to help. So we’re very excited to be bringing back the Adopt a Spot and Adopt a Highway programs. We’re starting the process of establishing the rules for those.”

With such support, Keep Argyle Beautiful not only hopes to participate in most of the same events in the coming year, but add even more to its to-do list. That includes bringing back the Yard of the Month program (renamed Argyle Pride awards and expanded beyond residences), expanding bicycle collection to year-round,

september 2015 | Argyle living | 37

Argyle resident Argyle resident

the real est

tate station

Pointbank