Life in Castle Hills Magazine March 2018

LOCAL EASTER

Services

National

SIGNING DAY

6 RULES

for Eating Healthier

MARCH 16 - APRIL 20, 2018

INDEPENDENT NON-SECTARIAN

EXPERIENTIAL

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISVILLE, TX PERMIT NO. 977

Photos were submitted by area residents. If you’d like to submit your photos for publication or if you have any questions please email us at artwork@murray-media.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY “We are blessed to be raising our first child in the Castle Hills Community!

These were taken in our alley way where a car nicely waited and yelled happy birthday!” — Misti Wilks

SHARE YOUR EASTER & SPRING PHOTOS WITH US As a community publication we will gladly feature any special occasion photos, acknowledgments and news from residents around Castle Hills.

Just submit them to artwork@murray-media.com.

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 3

4 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 5

CastleHillsMagazine.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Writer & Editor Steve Gamel

Advertising Manager

Lizzy Hoffman 972.900.7302 lizzy@murray-media.com

Production

Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Caroline Brock Stephanie Hansen Savannah Halfmann

Photography

Guy T Photography 469.500.5657 WhatsThatGuysName.com

Letters

Life in Castle Hills 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 972.899.3637

or email artwork@murray-media.com www.Murray-Media.com

Address: 3513 Yucca Dr., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75028 Life in Castle Hills is published monthly

by Murray Media Group. Opinions

expressed in articles or advertisements

do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Life in Castle Hills 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. © 2018 Murray Media Group

Everyone Needs

EXTRA ENCOURAGEMENT

I

want to share a story about an email I received recently from a young freelancer who writes for the same local newspaper as I do. In that email, he frantically apologized for misidentifying a mascot in his high school basketball game story from the previous night – he apparently referred to them as the Panthers instead of the Raiders.

No one, not even the copy desk, caught the flub before going to print. So he wasn’t the only one to blame. But he went on and on about how horrible he felt and that he understood if we decided to cut ties with him.

When I read his email, I couldn’t help but laugh – not at him, but rather the situation.

Finding errors in your copy isn’t fun, and I’ve freaked out plenty of times during my 20-year career over mistakes I’ve made. To me, it’s as if I let the entire world down. I still go pretty hard on myself.

That’s the way this poor kid was reacting.

He was correct that the mistake shouldn’t have happened, but he legitimately thought we’d stop using him because of one mistake that we ultimately were able to fix in our online edition of the story.

This was my chance to tell him everything would be OK and offer encouragement.

Below is an excerpt from my response to him: I know you are beside yourself with frustration given your mistake last night, but the fact you noticed it, took ownership, and then sent an email to us apologizing shows you truly care about your craft. ... At the end of the day, the mistake is what it is, and it’s unfortunate. Just try not to make the same mistake again. And above all, don’t lose any sleep.

In many ways, I acted like I was writing to my younger self. I’ve had plenty of mentors give me similar advice, and I know I’m a better storyteller now than I was even a year ago. Still, you can never hear too much encouragement. This gentleman needed to hear a little more than usual.

I just hope my words helped him regain some of his confidence.

We hope you enjoy reading this month’s magazine. If you’ve got a story you’d like to see, send me an email. I’m also the owner of Edit This®, check out my article in this magazine (find it on the right hand side).

Sincerely, Steve Gamel

Writer for Life in Castle Hills, Argyle Living, Lantana Living, Lake Cities Living steve@murray-media.com 972.899.3637 Ex. 101 6 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

16

08

On the Cover is: Selwyn School

Independent, Non-Sectarian, Experiential

FEATURED:

ASK THE EXPERTS

ARTICLES

14 Counseling with Life Works

08 Facebook News Feed

15 Reading with Reading Ranch Tutoring Center 20 Edit This with Steve Gamel 26 Gardening with Complete Solutions

PHOTOS FROM CASTLE HILLS 02 You Submit We Print

EDITORS PICK: FACEBOOK NEWS FEED CHANGES AFFECT BUSINESSES

Changes Affect Businesses 10 Inside Community 11 Inside Education 12 Local Easter Services 18 National Signing Day 22 6 Rules for Eating Healthier 24 Scam Alert 28 Sick of Being Sick?

30 Emma Garfield at State

THIS MONTH: We’re focusing on health.

Learn from your local experts what you can do to be happier with your health. Look for the icon.

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 7

FACEBOOK:

The Recent News Feed Changes &

HOW THEY AFFECT

YOUR BUSINESS

by Steve Gamel

F

acebook is doing an overhaul of its news feed algorithm to again make changes to what we see and

interact with on the popular social media site. While this is nothing new to any of

us – how many updates have there been over the years? – the latest change will reportedly affect businesses the most.

Facebook president Mark Zuckerberg

said his goal with the latest change is to prioritize posts from friends and family

who we are likely to have “meaningful”

conversations with and de-prioritize posts from public content – including the many

small-business pages you willingly follow but don’t interact with as much.

In other words, more posts from friends and family and a lot less from everything else.

So why is this happening? Zuckerberg said much of the original intentions of

Facebook had been lost with the addition of “extra stuff” to everyone’s news feeds.

For example, you may see two or three posts from Uncle Bob in Michigan and fake news sites, quizzes to see which

Brady Bunch character you most closely

identify with, mindless videos, and pages you follow.

Zuckerberg said Facebook received

complaints from users whose news feeds 8 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

©Marcel De Grijs/123RF.COM

your mom in Houston, and 10 posts from

are bogged down. Zuckerberg said it’s putting people in a bad mood, and he

would rather prioritize posts that spark meaningful engagement.

Join more Facebook groups Facebook groups are extremely popular, and there are many out there that are specifically catered toward business

Where this can hurt small businesses

owners. Take advantage and increase

relationships with their clients – many of

Diversify your social media presence

who are merely trying to foster organic those clients are family, by the way – is

that there will be fewer opportunities to advertise or share blogs, updates, and upcoming specials.

your audience.

Hopefully, you are using more social

media sites to engage with clients than

just Facebook. If not, look into sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Google

While this won’t affect every business,

Plus, etc. Another way to increase your

engagement moving forward:

Ask your audience

Create meaningful content

Have you considered asking your

here are a few tips to improve your

The goal is always to engage your

audience. Live videos, photos, and

content that is value-added and written for relationship driving rather than a boring sales pitch will drive more likes, shares, and comments.

Tell your clients about the

audience and reach.

followers what content they’d like to see more? Listen to what matters more to them and fulfill those needs.

Change your post frequency Try to avoid multiple posts in a day. Think about how many times you post and exactly what you want to post.

“see first” option

Live Video

Even though Facebook is making

On Facebook, Live Video is now a much

changes, those who love the popular site can still choose what they want to see

more. Direct followers to your page and

ask them to select “see first” under news feed settings.

higher priority instead of standard content with blocks of words. Live Video will be shown more in the feed algorithm. Be

sure to post live to get the most out of this strategy.

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 9

INSIDE COMMUNITY

PAWS ON THE SQUARE Pawrents! Get ready to bring your pet to an afternoon Paw-ty in Downtown Carrollton.

Paws on the square is a free event that brings people, pets, animal welfare organizations, and pet-friendly companies together to make Carrollton a better place for our pets. This event takes place on Saturday April 7 at 11am. For more information, visit www.cityofcarrollton.com/downtown.

MOONLIGHT & MARTINIS

Come celebrate Discovery Village at Castle Hill’s one year anniversary in style with

heavy appetizers, specialty martinis, and live entertainment! The event will be held on March 22, 2018 from 6:30-8:30pm at Discovery Village at Castle Hills. They will have impersonators performing popular music by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Liza Minnelli and more! You won’t want to miss out on this entertaining evening with the Rat Pack! RSVP today, call 972-810-0200!

CASTLE HILLS SPRING GALA

SPRING EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Castle Hills Spring Gala presents The Great Gatsby with all

Watch your kids have a ball as they gather eggs filled with

proceeds benefiting 1 Pour Life. Tickets include deluxe open

an assortment of candy and prizes. Take your picture with

bar, heavy hors’ d’oeuvres, carving station, photo booth, DJ & dancing. The gala will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 7-10pm at The Lakes at Castle Hills.

10 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

Peter and plant a flower to take home and watch bloom. This event takes place on March 29 from 5:30-8pm at the Five Star Complex - 4100 Blair Oaks Dr, The Colony 75056. Admission is $3 per child in advance or $5 per child on event day.

INSIDE EDUCATION SECONDARY SUMMER SCHOOL LISD Summer School is an option for recovery of credit. A student must have previously failed a course in order to enroll in that course during summer school. The LISD Summer School session begins June 8 and ends June 29, 2018. Any questions should be made through the student’s home campus counselor or assistant principal. Transportation is available for a fee, but breakfast/lunch are free of charge for all students.

Prom will be held on April 21 from 8pm-12am at Andrew Ormsby

Catering at Cityplace Events and the theme is A View From Above.

Boys Soccer vs Carrollton Smith (district) JV and Varsity March 20, 2018 5:30pm and 7:15pm at Polk Middle School

Ticket prices depend on date of purchase ($70-$85). Food and beverages included. Event Security and The Colony Police Officers will be on site during the entire event. Dress code policy and event information can be found on tchs.lisd.net.

photo courtesy of LDISD

ACADEMIC DECATHLON

LATIN COMPETITION WINNERS

The Hebron Academic Decathlon Team

Hebron Latin students earned 49 awards

The team even broke several school records!

students advanced to State. State Qualifiers:

competed in the STATE meet in San Antonio.

Hebron won 4 individual medals including a Silver in Math and a Silver in Social Science thanks to Brendan Glascock, a bronze in

Literature courtesy of Jordan Springer, and

a GOLD in Literature from Debbie Kim. They had the highest ever team score in school history and the students broke the school record in their respective divisions.

EVENTS

Girls Soccer vs Newman Smith (Sr. Night) JV and Varsity Girls 5:30pm and 7:00pm at The Colony High School March 20, 2018

TCHS 2018 PROM

photo courtesy www.lisd.net/hhs

THE COLONY

at thee TSJCL Area competition, and 23 Abigail Rieger, Alisha Patel, Grace Lee,

Hannah Mobley, Rocio Montiel, Vincent

Nguyen, Nathan Wise, Victor Doan, Chance

Hoang, Sarina Attri, Jospehine Lee, Magnolia Luu, Celeste Karraker, Aisha Aslam, Maddie

Freeman, Annable Wei, Huy Tran, David Cho, Hannah Rosenberg, Braden Ireland, Brittany Fang, Dinh Nguyen, Raegan Whiteley

HEBRON

EVENTS Varsity Baseball vs Byron Nelson March 13, 7pm - 9pm at Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, TX) Varsity Softball vs Flower Mound March 13, 7pm - 9pm at Flower Mound

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 11

Local

EASTER Creekwood Christian Church 2660 Forest Vista, Flower Mound www.creekwood.org April 1 Easter Services

First Baptist Carrollton 2400 N. Josey Ln., Carrollton www.fbcc.org April 1 at 10 am

8101 Justin Rd, Double Oak www.crossroadsbible.org April 1 Easter Services 9 am, 10:45 am

on the Mound The Flower Mound - NE of 2499 & 3040, Next to Tom Thumb

www.flower-mound.com

9 am, 11am

Crossroads Bible Church

Flower Mound Easter Sunrise Service

April 1 at 6:30am

First Baptist Church of Argyle 414 Why 377 N., Argyle www.fbcargyle.org April 1 Easter Worship 10:45 am

Freedom Church 2435 E. Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton www.findfreedom.church

Good Friday Communion Service: March 30 at 7 pm

Life to Life Easter Service: March 31 at 5 pm

Sunrise Service: April 1 at 7:30 am, Life to Life Easter Service at 6 pm

Faith Lutheran Church 6000 Morris Road, Flower Mound www.faithchangeseverything.com March 30 Good Friday Service 7 pm April 1 Easter Services 9 am, 10:45 am

12 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

First Methodist 2201 E Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton www.firstchurch.net April 1 Easter Worship at 9am & 10:30am

Holy Covenant United Methodist 1901 E. Peters Colony, Carrollton www.hcumc.org

Sunrise Service: April 1 at 6:30 am, 8:30 am & 11 am

SERVICES

by Steve Gamel

Lamb of God Lutheran Church

St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

1401 Cross Timbers Rd, Flower Mound

4700 Wichita Trail, Flower Mound

www.log.org March 30 Good Friday Service 7:15 pm

www.stnicksonline.org

April 1 Easter Services 8:30 am, 11 am

April 1 Easter Services

Valley Creek Church 5800 Long Prairie Rd, Flower Mound www.valleycreek.org/flower-mound

March 29 at 6:45 pm March 30 at 6:45 pm

Saturday, March 31 at 4 pm & 5:45 pm

6:30 am, 8 am, 10:30 am

Sunday, April 1 at 9 am, 10:45 am & 12:30 pm

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church St. Mark Catholic Church

1897 W. Main St., Lewisville

6500 Crawford Rd, Argyle

www.stphilipcc.org

www.stmarkdenton.org April 1 Easter Services 7 am, 9 am, 1:30 PM (Spanish)

March 30 Good Friday Service 3 pm March 30 Good Friday Stations on the Land 7 Ppm April 1 Easter Services 7:15 am, 10 am (on new property 1171 Flower Mound Rd) April 1 Easter Services 9:30 am, 11:30 am (at the Lewisville church)

The Village Church 2101 Justin Rd, Flower Mound www.thevillagechurch.net/flower-mound March 30 Good Friday Services 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm

March 31 Easter Services 5 pm, 7:15 pm

April 1 Easter Services 7 am, 9 am, 11:15 am

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 13

Ask The Expert: Counseling

TOP 10 REASONS Why You Need A Life Coach

L

ife isn’t always the easiest, and sometimes we just need someone to talk to. Sure, friends and family

are great to chat with, but not always the

perfect listening ear. Do you want to hear the same song and dance over and over again from your spouse, mom, or Aunt

Mildred? When you need guidance, think about reaching out to an expert. It is just

like when your car breaks don’t work, you

call a mechanic. Consider the following to start a conversation with a coach.

1. A life coach can help you with being more efficient with your time by

evaluating your present situation and keep you focused toward your goals.

2. A life coach can help you with

maximizing your accomplishments.

Get assistance and guidance from your life coach and achieve your

dreams without any anxiety or doubt.

3. A life coach can help you overcome your obstacles. Feel motivated to

stay focused on your desired goals

by helping you eliminate them with a step-by-step plan.

14 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

4. A life coach can help you become more accountable in order to

overcome your fears and take more

responsibility for your own personal and professional growth.

5. A life coach can help you have a

balanced lifestyle. Often we find it

hard to balance work, health, home, family, and personal pursuits. A life coach can help you recognize the

and stress. Your day and your task at hand will become clearer.

9. A life coach can boost your

confidence so you can focus on

building your own successful reality by improving your self-esteem.

Doubt and negative self-talk will no longer be part of your day.

10. A life coach can help you have peace

important aspects of your life and

of mind in order for you to create

will feel positive and satisfied.

Leave your coach feeling refreshed

help you flourish in these areas. You 6. A life coach can promote growth.

positive feelings and strategies. and revived.

Seek the guidance of a coach to

Contact Life Works for a free 20-minute

a stereotyped life and bring new

with a Coach” to start the conversation.

remove the complacency of leading

session during March and April for “Coffee

changes to achieve new levels of

Limited space is available.

success and happiness.

7. A life coach can help you with

support during tough times and

assist with navigating through life’s difficult situations.

8. A life coach can help you eliminate anxiety by helping you untangle

yourself from the cobwebs of anxiety

If you would like help, we encourage

you to start the conversation. Live well.

Let us help.

by Stephenie Patrick, CPC Lifeworks

businessoffice@lifeworkscc.com

6 EFFECTIVE WAYS To Build Your Child’s

Reading : Ask The Expert

READING WRITING and

Confidence

S

ummertime is coming up fast. For our children, that means more time to play, go on a family vacation or to summer camp, schedule a few sleepovers at a friend’s house, or just sit around and play the latest video game.

The great folks at The Reading Ranch®

want you and your family to squeeze every ounce of fun and excitement out of this

summer. After all, that’s what it’s for – and it only lasts for so long. But as good-

emotional impact on your child can lead to bad behavior and lack of confidence.

So, what can be done to curb summer reading loss?

intentioned parents, we need to make

As parents, the responsibility falls on us.

time for your child to read and write.

year-round to ensure our children don’t

Believe it or not, summer is a critical time

to keep your child on track during the

sure that itinerary includes some quality

when students either leap ahead or fall behind when it comes to their reading and writing skills. Without continuing education, they regress and end up

walking into the next school year lacking the proper skills to keep up in class. We

want our kids to succeed, but we’re often pulled in so many directions during the summer that we blink one day in late

July and realize little Johnny hasn’t read anything of substance since May.

Statistics show students generally lose

about two months of reading enrichment if they are not actively reading or writing during the summer. Over time, that

summer learning slide can add up to the equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of the fifth grade. And the

We need to support reading development fall behind. Here are 6 effective ways summer.

1. Place a value on literacy in the

home when the children are away from school

2. Make sure quality reading materials are available, and schedule reading time

3. www.readingranch.com/bedtimestories/” Read to your children at bedtime

4. Send the message to your

children that reading and writing

At The Reading Ranch, we offer multiple summer reading and writing enrichment programs specifically designed to fill the gap between the summer and the next school year. Our program is for kids in Pre-K through fourth grade and is phonetically based on reading, writing, and spelling.

This summer, we are getting away from afternoon-only programs to offer both morning and afternoon sessions. This will allow us to provide better quality, a structured setting, and individualized attention.

The bottom line is the Reading Ranch is here to help you. We want little Johnny walking in confidently to the next school year. After all, life is good when you’re reading well – and it’s a fun summer activity, too!

To schedule a free sample class & assessment at our new Castle Hills location: Castlehills@readingranch.com 972.428.8040

is fun – not a chore

5. Create a positive climate for reading 6. Enroll your child in a summer reading program

by Kim Southwell, Ph.D. Founder, Owner & Director Reading Ranch Tutorial Center www.readingranch.com MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 15

INDEPENDENT Non-Sectarian, Experiential

by Steve Gamel

16 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

D

eborah Hof is a self-professed Californian who isn’t afraid to try something new. That mindset

children. Hof didn’t mince words when

A senior foreign exchange student from

love for Selwyn to be an option for Castle

the Selwyn School after struggling at a

she said the school is growing, and she’d

was put to the test in 2016 when she

Hills residents. The Selwyn School is the

interviewed for the Head of School

only independent school north of Dallas,

position at the Selwyn School.

and their enrollment includes kids who

live everywhere from Argyle and Flower

“It’s a funny story because when I got

Mound to Sanger, Denton, and Pilot

hired, it sort of went like this, ‘Hi, we’re

Point. They are a member of the National

looking for a Head of School that can

Association of Independent Schools. They

turn things around, but, [as she was

warned] there’s a 30 percent chance you’ll

are also a non-profit institution run by a

South Korea recently transferred to

much larger school where individualized attention was not an option. He is now

flourishing. He has a stronger command of the English language, he’s making friends, and Hof said he would attend UNT in the fall to study business.

“There is a serious academic situation

private board of trustees.

going on here; we have a 100 percent

will fail. Basically, we need to move an

But the biggest difference with the Selwyn

our mission statement, it doesn’t even

a laugh as she recalled the interview. “My

leaders of tomorrow. They value parental

succeed and a 70 percent chance you

entire school and grow it,’” Hof said with

School is its commitment to building

answer was, ‘I can do this job,’ because

input and focus on quality teacher-to-

you could feel the passion in the room. Selwyn was a school community with a can-

daunting challenge

– the Selwyn School

Each classroom is limited

drama, physical education, music, and Spanish,

do spirit.”

she walked into a

for more personal education.

All students study art,

that was loved and had a

Hof admits that while

student relationships that allow

and because they are not tied to standardized tests, the

moved from the north

side of Denton on March

school has flexibility

curriculum spans Pre-K through high school.

All students study

art, drama, physical

education, music, and

Spanish, and because

with their studies.

20, 2017, to a 15,000 square-

to 12 students, and their

they are not tied to

standardized tests, the

foot facility off Copper Canyon

school has flexibility with their studies.

Road in Argyle over Spring Break – the

For example, the eighth graders are

and by the way, she and the school defied

to younger classes. The school has one

experience was worth every minute. Oh, the odds and succeeded.

routinely asked to spend time reading junior student who has aspirations of being a meteorologist, so, when the

photography by Guy T Photography

“We’ve been driving this bus 100 miles

time is appropriate, he is encouraged

an hour ever since,” Hof said. “I’ve been

working with independent day schools for 40 years. I figured, if I can help this school make a move and it is successful, then I am doing my job.”

to be a teacher’s aid in the lower school science classroom when they are

this month and continues to be a popular

said. “We are putting out kids who are going to change the world. They have

heart, empathy, good sense. That’s the big picture for me – that these kids leave here and are going to make a difference. They

learn what it means to be a member of the world community.”

Jessica Brown, the Director of Admissions for the school, agreed wholeheartedly.

“These kids are well-rounded when they leave here,” said Brown, whose own

children attend Selwyn. “We are having our International Night on April 7, and it’s a chance for all the grade levels to

research and get to know other countries.

There are children here who come from many diverse backgrounds, and they

are all growing up together. That’s very

important in our eyes. We want to work with families who are looking for a forever school.”

“If you were to spend a day in this

Through the Perspectives Program, all

a reason to choose another school,” Hof

for independent studies locally, nationally,

school, celebrates its 60th anniversary

mention the college admissions,” Hof

studying the weather.

students have a chance to go off campus

The Selwyn School, originally a boarding

college acceptance rate. But if you read

or overseas.

building, I’m confident there wouldn’t be said. “We just want to let people know we are here and that there is another option out there. Our hope is that when they

option for parents all over the Metroplex

The smaller class setup has become a

meet us, and they see how these students

balanced educational curriculum for their

children want individualized attention.

will be intrigued to learn more.”

who are looking for a non-sectarian and

huge focal point for many parents whose

are engaged in their learning, that they

Sponsored Content

Anyone interested in taking a tour of the campus or learning about how to enroll can do so by visiting www.selwynschool.org or by calling (940) 382-6771 2270 Copper Canyon Rd. | Argyle, TX 76226 MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 17

NATIONAL

SIGNING DAY 2018

by Steve Gamel

B

oth Hebron High School and The Colony had a slew of college

prospects in multiple

moving on to the next level. Some of the more notable signings included

Paul Akere (Columbia), Braden Daniels (Utah),

sports put pen to paper

Carlos Hatcher (Tulane)

during last month’s

Jaren Mitchell (Northern

highly-anticipated

Colorado) and

National Signing Day. Both schools combined

DeMario Montez (Navy).

for an eye-popping 27 signees

Missing from that signing day

during the annual recruitment

(Oregon) and Clayton Tune

representing six sports

list were Verone McKinley

ceremony on Feb. 1, which is

(Houston). McKinley and Tune

the first day college football teams can officially sign 2018 freshmen.

Many athletes from around

Denton County, including those

from Hebron and The Colony, made their

commitments well in advance. But this was a chance to make it all official.

signed during the early signing period in December.

Below is the list of signees from

Feb. 1, 2018. This list does not

that he missed his entire senior year due

Thomas Alexander, The Colony, Texas Lutheran

Jones was one of nine football players

Major Brown, The Colony, Itasca Community College

from The Colony to sign, but what was most interesting about the Cougars’

Antonio Delacruz, The Colony, Mary Hardin-Baylor

signing day was the number of sports

represented. Swimmer Emma Garfield

Nick Dill, The Colony, Northwestern Oklahoma State

signed her letter of intent to swim at

Arkansas. She was joined by four soccer

Jay Hurd, The Colony, Texas A&M-Commerce

players, and a volleyball star from the state champion Lady Hawks.

Meanwhile, Hebron had a high-profile

signing day with eight football players 18 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

Jaren Mitchell, Hebron, Northern Colorado DeMario Montez, Hebron, Navy DeAndre Warren, Hebron, West Texas A&M Clark Whitaker, Hebron, Lindenwood GIRLS SOCCER

Loren Sanner, Lynchburg College

FOOTBALL

players, two baseball players, two softball

David Leonty, Hebron, West Texas A&M

Lauren Campos, The Colony, Richland College

dual-threat quarterback and one of the

to injury.

Carlos Hatcher, Hebron, Tulane

in December.

2018 NATIONAL SIGNING DAY LIST (HEBRON AND THE COLONY)

feel-good stories from signing day given

Braden Daniels, Hebron, Utah

Lori Baugh, The Colony, East Central

November or during the early signing day

by football player Jemel Jones Jr. Jones, who signed with Army, is a dynamic

Paul Akere, Hebron, Columbia

include those athletes who signed in

Of the 27 signees, 19 were from The

Colony. The Cougars’ list was highlighted

Abraham Olguin, The Colony, Texas College

BOYS SOCCER Patrick Caylor, The Colony, Texas A&M-Texarkana BASEBALL Chase Long, The Colony, East Texas Baptist Wesley Peerson, The Colony, Maryville College SOFTBALL Meredith Amrhein, The Colony, University of St. Mary Zariya Stiner, The Colony, Hardin-Simmons

Jemel Jones, Jr., The Colony, Army

SWIMMING

Peter Kimani, The Colony, Mary Hardin-Baylor

Emma Garfield, The Colony, Arkansas VOLLEYBALL

Andrew Nelson, The Colony, Mary Hardin-Baylor

Angelee Ng, The Colony, St. Peter’s University

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 19

Ask The Expert: Edit This

Reasons Why I

LOVE Being a Writer W

riting isn’t easy. It’s hard work and can be unnecessarily

frustrating at times. But I love it.

Here’s an example: I’m sitting around

on Tuesday killing time before covering

1. I can write about anything, from anywhere.

2. I am constantly learning something new.

3. It’s a chance to tell someone’s story first.

4. I can use my imagination.

Thanks for reading! Are you a writer, too? What are some of the many reasons you love to write? And as always, if you are a small-business owner who needs help coming up with the right words

a basketball game when I decide to jot

5. I love that moment when inspiration strikes. to communicate effectively with your

It’s supposed to be pressure-free writing,

6. I love the journey to becoming a better writer.

down some thoughts for my next blog.

but 20 minutes later I’m thinking, “Wow, I got nothin’!”

Just like that – yes, I’m about to be super

cheesy – that song Can’t Stop The Feeling

by Justin Timberlake starts blaring on the gym speakers. You know the one ...

I got this feelin’ inside my bones. It goes

electric, wavy when I turn it on. All through my city, all through my home. We’re flyin’

7. I can build relationships with total strangers.

8. I can educate (writers, clients, students).

9. I can share stories about my life and family.

10. I am constantly meeting interesting people.

get to be a writer and editor for a living at Edit This®.

There are a million reasons why I love being a writer. For the sake of brevity, here are 20:

20 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

resumes, newsletters, and more.

Many business owners don’t have the time to write or double-check their work.

In some cases, they freely admit they are mistakes in grammar or an important

14. It’s a chance to refine a rough canvass.

my bones, and it’s incredible to think I

press releases, editing, ghostwriting,

12. Every day is a different writing opportunity.

I don’t know why, but those lyrics

– anything. It really is a feeling deep inside

blogs to content writing for websites,

not good writers. This situation leads to

13. It’s a chance to research and use statistics.

I have when I sit down to write something

anything involving the written word, from

11. I love that words are like puzzle pieces.

up, no ceilin’, when we in our zone.

immediately made me think of the feeling

clients, give me a call. I like to say I handle

15. It’s just me and my computer.

message that doesn’t come across the way they hoped it would.

In this day and age, business owners might say they can’t afford to hire a

16. My clients value my ability to write.

professional writer. We say you can’t

17. It’s a chance to bring joy to people’s lives.

afford not to.

18. I have won cool awards along the way.

19. I get to partner with other business owners.

20. The finished product is worth writer’s block.

by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 EditThisLLC.com

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 21

Health Article

6

Rules For

EATING

HEALTHIER

by Diana Risell

I

used to joke that I worked out so I could eat whatever I wanted. And I realize looking back that that’s exactly what I was doing: working out to offset my terrible eating. For a long time, it worked. I ate what I wanted – sodas, fast food, deli sandwiches, pasta during my vegetarian phase -- in a diet based on cheap convenience. Then working out stopped working around mid-thirties or so, certainly after my kids were born when I had turned 40. I couldn’t work out enough to stop what came with my poor eating habits – weight gain, obese-level body fat, low energy, and sluggishness. Luckily I hadn’t (yet?) experienced what many in my family have struggled with: morbid obesity, diabetes, heart disease. Working out had helped me maintain the body I had for a long time, but it couldn’t save me from what I was eating any longer.

I lost weight, body fat and dress sizes the old-fashioned way with an Excel spreadsheet. It was like managing a large scale project: me getting healthier.

The sodas, fast food, simple carb-loaded diet -- how I had eaten for 40-plus years -- had to go. My nutrition required a complete overhaul from what I ate to when, where, how, and why I ate.

I learned that getting healthier was no different than anything else I wanted in my life. I had to work hard, read and get educated, invest time and money, and connect with like-minded people (you are the 5 people you spend the most time with!). I also had to stop saying “I know” (I didn’t!) and I had to apply a new set of rules for eating which helped me build healthier habits over time.

These are my six rules for eating healthier.

I love that they aren’t complicated to execute, are largely visual, and easy to know if you nailed them or not. Of course, 22 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

they aren’t easy; change is hard! But these six rules to eat by are a great place to start and to live by.

1. Eat in color. Shades of brown or

grey are for home décor. Your plate should be a rainbow. Color equals nutrition so long as it’s natural color.

Most of your shopping budget and time should be spent in the produce section loading up on color.

2. Vegetables at every meal.

Carbohydrates get a bad rap, but your body can’t function without carbs, and veggies should be your primary daily source. The six to eight recommended servings of vegetables per day is hard to meet if you’re only eating them at dinner. Veggie omelets or salads for breakfast, chopped vegetables as snacks, and two vegetables at dinner will build a more plant-based diet that is essential for all of us.

3. Eat breakfast. I never ate breakfast.

5. Track. You’re likely not even aware

Some days my first meal came at

of your eating habits. You just “eat”

11:00 am or 1:00 pm when I hurried

like you’ve always done. Keep a log

to the office cafeteria. What a terrible

of everything you eat and drink,

message to send to my body: I might not feed you today! A great breakfast is protein-rich (and remember the veggies): hard boiled eggs, plain Greek yogurt, real protein shakes with veggies and low sugar, and last night’s dinner make breakfast easier. It is the most important meal of the day.

4. Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water. Sixty percent of your body is water. Don’t hydrate and you’re just recycling the water you are already holding. Yuck!

Start with at least 64 ounces of water every day and work up to your target.

If you weigh 150 pounds, then 75 ounces is your goal. Don’t drink your calories. Drink water.

including when, where, why, and how for a few weeks. Look for patterns: Are you always grazing at 3:00 pm? That’s something to work with! And you might just stop yourself from eating the donut if you have to write it down.

6. Challenge. What can you do for 30 days? Can you go without alcohol,

Diana Risell

Nutrition Coach & Certified Health Coach 469.601.2824

www.DianaRisell.tsfl.com/explore

soda, bread, added sugar? Pick one.

It doesn’t have to be about deprivation (although that list does tend to yield noticeable results).

Can you eat breakfast, drink enough water, and have veggies at every meal for 30 days? This is how you build new habits.

I also had to stop saying “I know” (I didn’t!) and I had to apply a new set of rules for eating which helped me build healthier habits over time.

Here’s to your best health!

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 23

Don’t Be a Victim this Tax Season

by Steve Gamel

G

ood, honest taxpayers all over the world, including many unsuspecting residents right here

in Lantana, lose millions of dollars every year to illegal tax scams. Some scams

are very easy to spot while others are so

highly sophisticated that even the savviest person falls for them hook, line, and sinker.

Since we are in the throes of tax season,

here are a few scams that prey on our fear of getting in trouble with the IRS. Be on high alert if you or a loved one are targeted by any of

• Phony tax preparers passing themselves off as legitimate businesses • Someone promises free money in the form of inflated refunds • Refund money shows up as a deposit in your bank account before you’ve even filed your return • The last scam on this list is perhaps the most interesting of them all. It’s also one of the more recent ways crooks are scamming us out of our money.

According to several media outlets and the IRS, crooks are finding

the following:

inventive ways to steal your data from legitimate

• Someone claiming to be an IRS agent

tax professionals,

calls demanding

including your bank

immediate payment

account number if

for delinquent

you’ve requested

According to the IRS website, the number of potential taxpayer victims from this particular scam jumped from a few

hundred to several thousand in a matter of a few days. Making things worse is

that many taxpayers who receive these

erroneous deposits end up spending the money or not following the proper steps to return the money directly to the IRS.

The IRS wants everyone to know a good rule of thumb: when in doubt, assume

it’s a scam. This is especially true if you’ve

always filed your returns on time and have never been in trouble with the IRS before.

A few more things to keep in mind – straight from the mouth of the IRS. • The IRS will never call you • The IRS will never send you a text message

tax obligations

direct deposit for a

• The IRS will never send you an email

• A third party calls

refund. The scammer

• The IRS will never reach out through

gives the IRS your

claiming the IRS has issued a warrant for your arrest

• Someone claiming to be the IRS calls

asking for credit card, bank account, or social security information

• Phishing scams through email or phony website links

24 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

information in the form of a fake return, then scares you with a phone call saying that you were a victim of tax fraud and to return the money.

Of course, when you return the money, you are actually giving it directly to the crooks.

social media

• The IRS will never ask you to divulge personal information (social security number, bank accounts)

The IRS has an entire page on its website dedicated to tax scams and consumer

alerts. Visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxscams-consumer-alerts to learn more.

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 25

Ask The Expert: Gardening

Get Your Lawn in

Spring Shape R

eady or not, with the Bradford pear

simple but the consistency is KEY. Do this

place. If not, get on it or call a professional

trees starting to turn and dogwoods

and you will see results.

before you walk outside, notice everything

in full bloom, spring is definitely upon us.

We’re focusing this article on information that should be helpful in the preparations of your own lawn/landscape.

Such a mild winter could have you looking at a lawn full of weeds about now. If so, and you’re not ready to call the chemical company just yet, then let’s get to work! For some immediate results find a point and spray post-

If things weren’t cleaned up in late fall, then get it all cut back, reshaped and ready for that spring growth. If you haven’t taken the time to remove the old mulch before adding new for the last couple

“It’s simple but the consistency is KEY.”

emergent (add some color so you can track what you’ve covered as you go). Your first pre-emergent should have been down a few weeks ago. If not, don’t waste time back-tracking, stick with the spray treatments (most retail sprays are going to be recommended on a bi-weekly basis) and consistent bagged

growing seasons, then do so this year. Make sure you cultivate the bed soil and add fertilizer while it’s exposed. Our soil can get hard over the course of a year. Turning it over and

allowing the oxygen/ nutrients to really penetrate is always a good idea. Consider your plant needs, sun exposure and soil conditions when choosing a mulch. Color typically dictates what direction people go, but there are so many other benefits

without damage.

We consider ourselves to be “small” local business, only servicing a few hundred lawns a week and having done so for the past 6+ years. In that time, the number of unlicensed, illegal and uninsured maintenance workers has at least tripled. We encourage everyone this year, especially in our competitive markets, to try and see past the benefit of the immediate cheap price and look into the future of our communities. There are hundreds of knowledgeable, tax paying local businesses that do great work, while also giving back and investing in our communities. Please consider supporting those who support our community.

to consider than just aesthetics.

mowings. As the grass starts to turn, train

We could write 10 pages on spring

it to a conservative watering schedule,

landscape prep. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer

consistent chemicals, and mowing. It’s

then you’ve probably already got a plan in

26 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

is overgrown, and it’s too late to cut it back

by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 27

Health Article

Sick of

BEING SICK?

by Steve Gamel

N

o one has time to be sick, right? Not only is being laid up in bed with the cold or flu a total bummer, but we’ve all got busy lives – kids need to get to school on time, that to-do list at work is getting longer, we’ve got an important meeting. So we keep pushing through, ignoring the early warning signs, until our body forces us to stop.

28 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

The flu season alone peaks between December and February, but can last as late as May. At the same time, there are a variety of other illnesses that can bog us down, from the common cold to respiratory infections, ear infections, and stomach bugs. So here we are lying in bed with two hoodies on, the blankets pulled up just below our eyes, and we’re watching re-runs of Dr. Phil. Whatever this is – the cold, the flu, or something else – just won’t go away.

So how do we get to feeling better? There are plenty of well-known remedies, including getting the flu shot, being religious about washing your hands, taking medicine, eating better, and getting more than enough rest to recharge those batteries. Here are a few more options that might get you back on your feet even faster:

USE A HUMIDIFIER

GARGLE WITH SALT WATER

SALINE OR WARM WATER WASH

Humidifiers put moisture back into the air, significantly reducing the ability of airborne viruses to cause flu infections.

Using a humidifier while you sleep – whether you are sick or not – has a myriad of benefits including improved sleep, faster healing, and decreased sinus issues.

Getting a large glass from the kitchen and gargling with salt water provides instant relief for a sore throat, sometimes faster than over-the-counter medicines or throat lozenges. It also has preventative benefits, so try it before you get sick or when you experience early warning signs.

This may seem like an unpleasant experience, but using saline, a Neti Pot, or simply filling your hands with warm water every morning and inhaling the water, clears your nose and nasal cavities. This can help with general colds, allergies, and sinus infections. Give it a try.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUT

USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

DETOX BATH AND HOT SHOWERS

If you want to be healthier next winter, start eating more foods that support a healthy gut. A healthy gut makes it difficult for bacteria that cause colds, the flu, and other viruses to gain traction and wreak havoc on your life. You can do this through probiotics/shopping or healthier foods.

We’ve mentioned several natural remedies. Apple cider vinegar in water helps kill bacteria in the body. You can get the similar benefits from coconut oil, garlic, fermented cod liver oil, a spoonful of honey, and elderberry syrup.

Try detox baths with a few dashes of Epsom salt even when you aren’t sick, as it is known to draw out toxins while easing stress, improving sleep and concentration, and reducing muscle inflammation.

PUT VICKS VAPORUB ON YOUR FEET, CHEST, AND NOSE Vicks VapoRub has been around forever, and everyone knows its benefits as a decongestant for your chest and throat as well as being a remedy for headaches and achy muscles. But have you tried rubbing it on your feet and covering them with warm socks? Do this before bedtime, especially if you have a nagging cough.

MARCH 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 29

T

he Colony High School is chock full of amazingly talented athletes in every sport. And swimmer Emma

Garfield is clearly making a strong case to be at the top of that list.

The senior and swimming phenom held

off a Lakeside Aquatic Club teammate to win a gold medal in the breaststroke at

the Class 5A swimming championship on

Feb. 17 at the Jamail Texas Swim Center at the University of Texas in Austin. Garfield finished with a time of 1:01.74 and set a

by Steve Gamel She didn’t compete at state as a sophomore, but that was only because she chose to try and qualify for the Olympic team.

According to a Star Local Media article last year,

Garfield set school records

in the 100 free, 200 free, 500

free, 200 IM, 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke as a junior.

She was one of 19 athletes

Garfield’s time barely edged the second-

national letter of intent on

School sophomore Jadyn Jannasch.

Garfield’s times are already good enough to possibly land her several SEC Championships when her college career begins. Last year, for example, it took 1:02.68 to score the C final in the 100 breaststroke and a 2:14.28 in the 200 breaststroke.

Mary Soderberg, the Razorbacks’ top 200

new Class 5A record in the process.

place time of 1:02.71 set by Frisco High

According to Swimswam.com,

from The Colony to sign a Feb. 1. She was the only

swimmer to sign from the

breaststroker, graduated last year, per Swimswam.com, adding an even bigger need for Garfield to hit the pool fast in 2018.

“[The record] was on

school, but

and it’s really fun to get

athletic

interview with the Dallas

six sports

signing class, “I am extremely

during

Last year, we signed the best

my mind before I swam,

the Cougar

that,” Garfield said in an

program had

Morning News.

represented

The gold medal highlighted an

impressive weekend for Garfield, who also won

a silver medal in the 200 individual medley with

a time of 2:02.95. It also

caps a stellar high school career. Garfield, an Arkansas signee, also finished first in the breaststroke and second in the 200 medley as a junior. As a freshman, she finished second at state.

30 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | MARCH 2018

the annual ceremony,

Arkansas swimming and diving head coach Neil Harper said on the Arkansas website of his 2018 happy with our recruiting class. diving class in the country. This year, we have signed swimmers

including

that will contend at the SEC and

swimming,

team created great chemistry and

football,

baseball,

softball, volleyball, and soccer.

Garfield was one of 10 swimming signees for Arkansas and the only one from Texas.

NCAA Championships. This year’s a culture that our recruits fell in love with. It is an exciting time to be a Razorback, as we continue to work on becoming the most improved team in the country.”