Life in Castle Hills Mockup

This is

not her first rodeo

Emmitt Smith

Celebrity Gala The 8th Annual Emmitt Smith Celebrity Gala was held Friday, May 12th at the Omni Dallas Hotel benefitting the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities. The theme for this year was “Celebrate”. Notable guests included Marianne and Roger Staubach, Daryl Johnston, and Dak Prescott. WFAA’s Dale Hansen served as the evening’s emcee with Bishop T.D. Jakes opening the dinner program in prayer.

photography by Thoms Garza

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LantanaLiving.com

Summer G o e s B y S o

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Contributors

Steve Gamel Susan Neuhalfen

Advertising

Kristen Whelan 972.998.7565 kristen@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com

Production

Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Stephanie Hansen Caroline Brock

Photography

Your Candid Memories 469.583.2819 yourcandidmemories.com

Letters

Lantana 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 972.899.3637 or email

artwork@murray-media.com Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100, Ste. 101

Flower Mound, TX 75022 Lantana Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Lantana 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. © 2017 Murray Media Group

T

Quickly his year, instead of getting to August and wondering what was accomplished, I decided to make a list of five things I plan to do every day in order to consider this summer a success.

Live in the present – So often we’re thinking about what we need to do next, we forget to be where we are. Be present, especially for your family. Kids want your time and your attention. Play a board game, go on a hike, do something without thinking about what you have to do next.

Smile – I look forward to my first out loud laugh of the day, which is usually courtesy of one of the girls at the Murray Media offices because they could moonlight as comedians (if you don’t believe me, read “Yummy Bites”). Smiles are infectious.

Give yours to others.

Learn something new – This old dog loves new tricks. Take a trip to a nearby historical location and learn all about something you didn’t know. Better yet, learn a new word every day and share it with your kids.

There are plenty of sites with ACT/SAT words that your kids need to learn anyway.

Help someone - Sometimes this is as simple as calling an elderly parent or donating your time to a community cause.

Involve your kids so that they may see how important it is to put others first.

Kitchen dance – I have a friend that gets up every morning and does a kitchen dance. She posts the video on Facebook and asks everyone to join in.

It’s usually something from Soul Train, which is fun for us old folks. It’s a great way to start the morning.

I urge you to make your own list though you are certainly welcome to mine. Have a great summer and remember; time flies when you’re having fun so make time fly and make it the best time ever.

Happy Summer!

Sincerly, Susan Neuhalfen

Writer and Editor for Argyle Living, Lantana Living and Lake Cities Living Susan@murray-media.com 972.899.3637 Ex. 101 6 | LANTANA LIVING

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Table of

Contents

32

On the Cover: Cassandra & Sloane Homer

Featured: Balancing Career & Motherhood

61 Editor’s pick: Creating The Perfect Burger

Yourself

Family

Lifestyle

08 4th of July Area Celebrations

24 Inside Community

44 Guyer Valedictorians & Salutatorian

10 Makeover with Cloud 9

25 Inside Education

48 Gardening with Complete Solutions

12 Nutrition with Savory Bistro

26 Roddy Adams Leaves Guyer

51 Ban on Texting & Driving

17

27

52 Should You Hire a Home Designer?

Fitness with Jesse James Fit

College Prep with Vanguard CP

18 Summertime Blues or Summertime Cruise?

28 Roller Derby Queen

20 Finding Wide Open Spaces for Sale

36 Is It Safe to Let Your Kids Play Outside?

22 Lunch Time Indulgence at Verf’s Grill & Tavern 23 Women’s Wellness with Cheryl Smitherman

35 “Dry Drowning” And What to Know

38 Edit This with Steve Gamel

56 Low Carb Summer Snacks

Photos from Lantana 02 Emmitt Smith Gala 63 Auxiliary Appreciation Dinner

41 Dentistry with Dr. Matt 42 Life Lessons Learned on the Mound June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 7

Yourself

of 4 th

July Area Celebrations

by Susan Neuhalfen

W

hen it comes to July 4th celebrations, families in the area will have a variety of parades, concerts and fireworks from

which to choose for an unforgettable family fun-filled day. Most, if not all, are free, so you can even move between them if you so desire. Here are some of the activities going on so that you may plan your day accordingly.

36th Annual Double Oak 4th of July Parade and Picnic It all starts with the parade at 9:30 a.m. The parade line-up is at Simmons and Oak Trail (North) at 9:00 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m. the picnic begins at John B. Wright Memorial Park along with hot food, live music, bounce houses, water slides and lots of fun.

Triple Lindy, the world’s greatest cover band, will also be playing.

Bring lawn chairs, flags, and sunscreen. EVERYONE IS INCLUDED in the invitation even if they don’t live in Double Oak. The more the merrier. www.dovfd.org for more info.

“America is a tune.

It must be sung together.”

– Gerald Stanley Lee

4th of July Denton

Kid’s arts & crafts show 11 a.m. to noon in the Civic Center.

The entire City of Denton will be abuzz

FREE kid’s carnival games from 10a.m. until noon in the Civic Center and outdoor inflatable fun.

with July 4th fun all day long. It all starts

with a Liberty Run 5K and One Mile Walk at the North Lakes Rec Center. Check

in at 6:30 a.m., race begins at 7:30 a.m.

Register at Denton Parks and Rec website.

The Yankee Doodle Parade then makes it way through Downtown Denton at 9:00 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m. the Family Fun Jubilee

opens at Quakertown Park and Denton

Civic Center will have lots of free family fun activities including:

Adult Lucky Horseshoe Tournament

9:30 a.m. to noon

11 a.m. Adult Hot Dog Eating Contest 11 a.m. Senior Center luncheon with music by the Young at Heart band; $3/person.

Plus, from Noon to 6 p.m. $1 admission to Civic Center Pool It will all be followed by spectacular fireworks display at UNT Apogee Stadium by the Kiwanis Club. Live music by Raised Right Men. Doors open at 6pm and the event is free though parking in all lots is $10.

Lake Cities 4th of July This is a spectacular, one-of-a-kind celebration uniting the communities of Lake Dallas, Corinth, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores. The festivities begin with a patriotic parade from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. sponsored by DATCU. Following the parade is a flag raising ceremony for the event with the singing of the National Anthem performed by a police /active duty military officer.

Brothers Osborne - 8:15 p.m. Country

At 3p.m., the Lake Dallas City Park, 101 E. Hundley Dr, will have food, contests, vendors, and great live music. At the spirit squad tent, they will have lots of fun for the kids including a frozen t-shirt contest, an apple pie bake off at 4p.m. (slices will be sold for $1 after, benefitting the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter), a watermelon eating contest, a seed spitting contest and much more. All the while the stage will have live music entertainment including:

The Brothers Osborne is a two-time

Doubledown Band - 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.

GRAMMY nominated country duo with

Terry Strange - 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.

Flower Mound Independence Fest 2017 Independence Fest 2017 in Flower Mound starts at 9:30 a.m. with the annual Children’s Parade, where decorated bikes, trikes, wagons, and strollers will parade from the corner of Eaton and Timber Creek Road to the LISD School Administration Building (1800 Timber Creek Rd.), to enjoy hot dogs, drinks, kids activities, and live entertainment at the FREE Kid’s Zone. The parade itself starts at 10:00 a.m. and is open to all who may wish to take part (non-motorized vehicles only).

A.A. Bottom - 5:00 p.m. Blues/Southern

The gates at Bakersfield Park (1201 Duncan Lane) open at 5:00 p.m. There will be food, local vendors, and a vintage car show, in addition to several live performances. Admission is free.

Free shuttle services are available as

Classic Rock

Le Freak - 6:15 p.m. Disco

songs like “Stay a Little Longer”, “Rum”, “21 Summer”, and “It Ain’t My Fault”.

Fireworks will finish off the night, beginning just before 10:00 p.m. there is no on-site parking. For more information about Independence Fest 2017, please visit http://www.flowermound.com/festival

Neci Hamilton - 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.

Eleven Hundred Springs - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

A huge fireworks display sponsored by Classic of Denton will end the evening.

Admission is free. Outside, food and drink (including alcohol) are not allowed.

Pets must be on a leash. http://www. lakedallas.com/210/Lake-Cities-4th-of-July for more details.

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 9

Yourself | Makeover

Makeover of the Month

Cheyenne marquez

Hair by Amanda Baires Amanda used a mixture of blond red shades with a base of that provided a “shadow root” and added an additional few blonde foils. She usually has to go 5 months between hair services so Amanda did what she could to maximize her time transition in between. She trimmed it and layered it up to take some of that weight off, and framed her face with a long swoop bang.

Makeup by April Linex Because of her beautiful warm chestnut hair and blue eyes, April used the colors of a Texas sunset. Warm amber and bright violet and orchid on eyes and finished with a violet lip.

Makeover and clothes provided by

214.415.4806 www.cloud9salon.com 10 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

Photography by Caroline Simpson

C

heyenne Marquez is the stuff that heroes are made up. Cheyenne is former military and still performs her reserve duty every year despite working full-time as a nurse midwife at Parkland Hospital. On top of that, she is a mother of five who never puts herself first and yet, never complains. Her 5 year-old daughter, who was born with numerous medical problems, was put in hospice a few weeks ago. As she is consumed with medical bills, there isn’t any money for hair or makeup or any extras. Cheyenne’s friend Lacey asked the good people at Cloud 9 to please consider her for this makeover and they gladly accepted. As stylist Amanda said, it didn’t take much to bring out how gorgeous she was!

Before Want to be the next Makeover? Email cloud9salon@cloud9salon.com and tell us why you deserve it!

after

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 11

Fresh HERBS

Yourself | Nutrition

Dear Annette:

Rosemary excites the memory part of our

I bought a house that has an herb garden and the herbs are in abundance right now.

I notice a lot in the stores as well. How should I use fresh herbs in my cooking?

brain. Lavender and lemon balm keep us

Dear Reader:

minerals but they are full of essential oils.

calm and relaxed. Peppermint wakes us up.

They are not only full of vitamins and

The earth truly gives us all we need to be healthy. Once you start eating and cooking fresh herbs you will find everything else tastes stale and dull. Herbs bring foods to life with flavor and color.

When we eat herbs, we ingest these oils

Cup for cup herbs are a nutrient superfood. They affect our mood.

bacterial, anti-viral, so they deliver an army

and they make out gut biome extremely happy.

Herbs are our greatest protectors as they are almost all anti-inflammatory, anti-

to fight disease with. But cooking with them takes just a little practice.

stews, soup, root vegetables roasted, and, roasted meats or proteins.

Milder herbs like parsley, dill, and, chervil do better with lighter fare like mild fish and spring vegetables.

The best way to discover an herb is to

make a simple vinaigrette and add one

herb with a little salt and pepper. Let the

dressing sit an hour or two to get the oils released out of the herb and try it on a

simple salad, roasted vegetables, grilled

chicken, or fish. Try some different herbs

like anise, hyssop, borage, lovage or sorrel to grow your herb palette.

Here is a simple vinaigrette: When to add herbs:

Ingredients

cilantro should be added to a dish at the

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed

Soft leaves herbs such as dill, chervil, basil, end for the best burst of flavor.

Hardy herbs like rosemary,

thyme, oregano, sage, and bay leaf should be added during the cooking process.

Paring herbs:

Robust or strong-smelling herbs like rosemary are

best with heart

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Combine and stir.

This dressing is so versatile and adding any herb totally changes the dressing.

Play with different additions and find your

favorites. Think outside the box. I love this dressing with basil on roasted zucchini. I

add mint and pour over watermelon and

cucumbers. Herbs are friendly and easy to use. Here is a great site to explore herbs a little more and to use a good beginners’ guide to cooking with herbs.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ articles/guide-to-fresh-herbs

Sincerely Yours, Annette Doody

Savory Bistro Owner & Wellness Coach

www.thesavoryteam.com

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years

Fitness | Yourself

milestones

A

successes

lot can happen in 10 years, and for Jesse James Fit, it has. This year marks our 10thth anniversary, and we want to thank the community and our clients for making it all possible. So what are our proudest moments over the past 10 years?

1.

both Marcus & Flower Mound high

Jesse James Fit Begins

schools sports activities and local

Jesse Leyva started working on Jesse

wounded veterans.

James Fit in early 2007. Jesse’s vision

was to be different than other area big box fitness centers. It was a new idea,

5.

and it worked.

2.

Best of Denton County

Not once, but for 6 consecutive years, JJF has been named best Personal

Expansion #1

Trainer, Best Weight Loss Studio and

With an increase in clientele, we knew

Best PT Facility.

an expansion was a must. In 2010, we

took on additional space and grew to 3,300 square feet.

3.

Wall of Fame We created the Wall of Fame to

celebrate our clients’ successes. They

work hard to achieve their weight loss goals and should be recognized.

4.

Sponsorship Being part of a community means actively participating within the

community. JJF has donated to local charities like Cloud 9 Charities for

over 10 years, as well as sponsored

6.

Expansion #2

Responding to our

photos courtesy of Jesse James Fit

clients’ needs, in mid-

2011, we extended to

7,700 square feet, adding a

hair salon, massage rooms and more workout space.

7.

Product Expansion

In 2014, Jesse James Leyva

developed Outlaw Bootcamp LLC,

an indoor group fitness, 30-minute structured workout model growing to four locations to date.

8.

Remodel In 2016 JJF remodeled to add space for bootcamp classes and business offices, making JJF the headquarters for Outlaw Bootcamp, JJF and all DFW locations.

9.

Privately Owned In 2017 JJF is the only privately owned personal training studio in the country to offer employees health care, a tiered salary program, background checks and a top pay structure.

10. Future Growth In 2017 preparing for growth, Jesse and his team solidified our mission and vision for the future. Jesse is now including plans for franchise growth of Outlaw Bootcamp product later 2017.

It’s because of our clients and community that we’ve enjoyed such success. To mark the big event, we’re launching a new milestone program for personal training.

Existing clients receive a percentage when they hit milestone weight loss. For new clients, we’re offering 10 percent off now and forever, the 10th month free, 10 Bootcamp credits and 10 free passes. It’s our way of saying thank you to our community.

Visit www.facebook.com/ JesseJamesFitness for more celebration news.

by Jesse J. Leyva, Outlaw Bootcamp & Jesse James Fit www.OutlawBootcamp.com www.JesseJamesFit.com

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 17

Summertime Blues or

Summertime

Cruise?

by Charla Bradshaw, KoonsFuller Family Law

W

e’ve all heard the Alan Jackson song “Summertime Blues”: “Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues”. Nor is there a cure for a difficult ex-spouse! A difficult ex-spouse can make it impossible for a divorced parent to travel with their child. This is because the other parent’s consent is necessary to obtain or renew a passport for a child or for a child to travel out of the country. If the proper provisions for obtaining a passport for a child and for a child to travel out of the country are not in the court order, then a difficult ex-spouse can prevent the child from traveling.

Some divorced parents can be difficult for the sake of being difficult and

unfortunately, passports and travel are an area where we see it a lot. Such difficult parents usually do not have a legitimate reason for preventing the travel and do so to get back at the other parent.

Unfortunately, many final custody orders do not contain provisions regarding obtaining a passport for a child or consent to travel out of the country. The rules for obtaining a passport for a child and for a child to travel out of the country have become very strict.

In order to obtain court ordered provisions for passports and out-of-the-country travel, this will require the traveling parent to return to court to obtain such orders.

Unless there are strong reasons why a child should not travel out of the country, for example medical reasons, dangerous travel conditions, etc. the courts will more than likely issue orders to obtain a passport and allow the child to travel out of the country.

Minors under the age of 16 cannot apply for a passport by themselves.

Both parents/guardians must appear

by a signed, notarized “Form DS-3053:

applying parent/guardian.

In addition, many airlines require a “Letter of Consent” to be signed by the

If the minor only has one parent/guardian,

other parent no matter what the court

the minor must be submitted with the

require a parent to sign such a letter.

evidence of sole authority to apply for

orders say. Part of the court’s order would

application in the form of a:

Even if the traveling parent has a passport

•

U.S. or foreign birth certificate,

Consular Report of Birth Abroad,

or adoption decree, listing only the applying parent •

Court order granting sole legal custody to the applying parent

(unless the child’s travel is restricted by that order) •

Court order specifically permitting

applying parent’s travel with the child

•

Judicial declaration of incompetence

•

Death certificate of the non-applying

of the non-applying parent parent

for the child, most airlines still require this letter. When a mother’s name is not the same as their child’s name, this can cause extra problems at the airport. Any divorcing mother desiring to change her name should consider making the child’s last name their middle name if they ever plan to travel out of the country with their child. The laws are becoming stricter and it is uncertain what the future holds in this regard.

Any divorced parent desiring to travel out of the country with a child needs to ask for passport and travel orders in their final orders. And, any parent desiring to travel

“Sole legal custody” is one of the

should ask the other parent in plenty of

a passport without the other parent’s

to obtain such passport and travel orders.

requirements for a parent to obtain

consent, however most custody orders do not contain sole legal custody, but rather joint custody (termed “joint

conservatorship” in Texas). Unless the order says “sole managing

conservatorship” then the traveling parent will not be able to obtain a passport without the other parent’s consent.

time in case they need to return to court Acting early can lead to the Summertime Cruise rather than the Summertime Blues!

www.koonsfuller.com Denton

320 West Eagle Dr., Suite 200 • Denton, TX 76201 (940) 442.6677 • (940) 442.6671 fax Principal Office in Dallas

Sponsored Content

in person with the minor and provide consent, authorizing passport issuance to the minor. If one parent/guardian is unable to appear in person, then the DS-11 application must be accompanied

Statement of Consent” from the non-

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 19

Finding

Wide Sale Open Spaces for

by Susan Neuhalfen

photography location: Circle R Ranch

“The clients really love him because he’s a real cowboy as well as a businessperson.”

936.499.8749 will@CapitolRanch.com CapitolRanch.com

I

t’s almost impossible to move to Texas and not think about the idea of owning land. With Texas’ wide variety

“When you walk outside and can just take in that view, you know you’ve found the right one. It is truly satisfying to see the joy it brings to clients, which solidifies my purpose.”

of landscapes, it’s hard to know which

is best suited to your needs or where to

start before making that investment. That’s why you need a real cowboy like Lantana resident Will Sorenson at Capitol Ranch Real Estate to help you make the right

decisions when it comes to investing in farm and ranch acreage.

“There are so many contributing factors to owning land,” said Will, who grew up on

a ranch himself. “There are mineral rights, water rights, hunting rights, easements

and so much more. Ranch sales are all we do and all we focus on.”

He then spent 16 years as an airline pilot,

Whether it’s on a river, covered in forest,

back to ranching.

purely recreational or a working cattle

operation, Will and his team dive through all of the details to find the property that

clients are looking to purchase. The folks at Capitol Ranch only work with large

farm and ranch properties so they have the experience to sell or find the best properties in Texas.

“That’s all that we do and we’re passionate about it,” said Will. “All of our team

members work together and share our combined expertise and knowledge.”

Will spent his childhood on a farm

and ranch in El Campo on the Texas

Sponsored Content

photography by Eric Priddy Photography

Gulf Coast. He was heavily involved in every part of his family’s ranch, including spending nearly every

weekend rodeoing. He learned to farm

and work cattle and developed a passion

for flying planes while working for his late

but he always felt like he wanted to get “Being a pilot was a great career but I

wanted to get back home to my family

and to get back to my roots,” said Will.

Will and his wife, Jena, have two

young boys. In addition to her job in pharmaceutical sales, Jena uses her

background in sales and marketing to help the family business. They have a

ranch between Bryan and Austin where the boys are learning to love the great outdoors, just like their father did.

Will is Capitol Ranch’s North Texas agent.

He says most people in the area are

searching for property within a couple of hours from the DFW metroplex for

a getaway. He also lists lots of ranches

because they have the knowledge and the database to understand the value of the

property and to find just the right buyer.

grandfather’s crop dusting business.

Some of the properties are hundreds and

hunting and fishing. He even has an

Will’s other career comes in handy.

Will is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys extensive background as a partner in a variety of properties in the oil and gas

industry. His Ag roots run deep and he

managed to keep all of those connections after getting an Agricultural Business

degree with a minor in Land and Natural Resources in college.

even thousands of acres, which is where He’s able to fly his clients over the

properties for a better view and many of

these places have their own landing strip, making it easy to visit several ranches in a day if needed.

The marketing at Capitol Ranch is different in that the listing is much more detailed

than what is found on a standard listing.

They have a lot of prime properties and do their own high quality videography so any buyer may log on to their site from an office or home and see the whole area. In addition, they have an entire network of clients that are contacted the moment a property that matches their search is coming to the market.

As one can imagine, Will’s clients are some very unique and highly intelligent people. They are businesspeople and very knowledgeable about big transactions like these, so he’s on top of his game at all times.

“The clients really love him because he’s a real cowboy as well as a businessperson,” brags Jena. “He has a great attention to detail and it’s important to them to have someone who can truly appreciate their land.”

Whether he’s helping heirs sell their estate, helping a client find just the right place to develop or helping his own neighbors find their weekend getaway, Will loves the satisfaction he feels in his job.

“It’s a lot of fun to help people find a beautiful place,” said Will. “When you walk outside and can just take in that view, you know you’ve found the right one. It is truly satisfying to see the joy it brings to clients, which solidifies my purpose.”

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 21

Yourself

Lunch Time

Indulgence Visit Verf’s Grill & Tavern

R

ecently, we had the fortune of having a Friday off and decided to have lunch at a local eatery. It was a

beautiful day in May and we were set on

enjoying the sun. Now there many places that offer a great lunch menu and a nice

patio, however Verf’s has an outstanding covered patio that lets you enjoy the

sunshine without being baked. Needless to say, we chose Verf’s since some of us are a tad on the pasty side.

A legit squabble erupted at our table over just who had jurisdiction over the potatoes.

our first time during the lunch hour so

we were excited to try their lunch menu.

Seriously, if you have not tried “The

Bread” at Verf’s you have not lived. It’s a scored round artesian bread filled with

mozzarella, green onions, poppy seeds and roasted garlic butter that is baked until crispy and heavenly. Our fitness

contributor would be ashamed to know 22 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

embarrassing ourselves. We made sure to dip our sandwich frequently as that pan gravy deserved to be devoured.

After finishing off “The Bread” with much gusto we ordered the Seafood Trio Sliders as an appetizer. Now the sliders don’t come on your standard burger bun, for the humble bun is not worthy of enveloping Verf’s delicious seafood. No,

We’re going to devote a whole paragraph to a side dish: the Crispy Au Gratin Potatoes. Now we don’t know what sort of magic is going on over in the kitchen, all we know is that our potatoes were served to us as a fried triangle. When we cut into it with a fork it revealed to us a creamy

To continue with our lunch date we ordered the Pot Roast Hoagie. It was served with buttermilk fried onions and a side of pan gravy to dip. The meat was tender and so juicy we had to keep asking for a few more napkins to keep from

Would it have been easier to order another side? Yes. Had we not been so full from bread, sliders and a hoagie, we most certainly would have.

dear readers, these sliders came on pita bread. The trio consisted of fried shrimp, pecan salmon, and a bacon wrapped scallop. All were topped with a spicy cream sauce and served with a side of jicama slaw. Again, we didn’t come up for air until it was all gone.

and cheesy center. There is nothing better than cheese covered potato slices. A legit squabble erupted at our table over just who had jurisdiction over the potatoes.

In the end the person who ordered the potatoes in the first place won. There was no amount of begging that could convince her to share. Not that we could blame her. photos courtesy of Verf’s Grill & Tavern Facebook

It was not our first time at Verf’s but it was

we didn’t even hesitate to chow down on this carb-heavy delicacy. He’ll probably be sure to give us “extra attention” when we visit bootcamp after reading this article.

Women’s Wellness | Yourself

Is it Menopause

or a Medical

Problem?

B

eginning in a woman’s 40’s, the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen which causes changes in the menstrual cycle due to changes in ovulation. These changes include longer or heavier cycles, shorter or lighter cycles, an increase or decrease in the length of time between cycles or skipping cycles altogether. This is phase is called perimenopause and may last for 8-10 years with the largest drop in estrogen levels during the last 1-2 years.

It is during this time that women may

determine if the symptoms are related

of menopause such as hot flashes, night

condition. Symptoms that should be

begin to experience signs and symptoms sweats, vaginal dryness, low libido, urinary urgency, difficulty sleeping, irritability,

mood swings, depression, dry skin/eyes/

mouth, breast tenderness, and worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Some

women may also experience headaches, joint and muscle pain, difficulty

concentrating, weight gain, a racing

heart, and hair thinning or loss. Although menstrual cycles are irregular during this time, pregnancy can still occur.

Not all women experience all of these

symptoms, and these symptoms could

be related to other medical conditions.

It is important to see a provider to

to perimenopause or another medical

reported include heavy vaginal bleeding,

menopause is 51, but is considered normal between the ages of 45 and 55. Post-menopause is the years after menopause in which symptoms can lessen, but can also can increase the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes can reduce the risks of these conditions, and should be discussed

prolonged bleeding, bleeding that occurs

with your provider. Any bleeding which

bleeding that occurs after sex, or spotting/

considered abnormal and should be

more often than every three weeks,

occurs after menopause is always

bleeding between cycles. These can be

investigated for hormonal imbalance,

caused by naturally occurring hormonal imbalance or by hormonal treatment, pregnancy, uterine fibroids, clotting disorders, cancer or several other medical conditions.

Menopause begins when a woman has

gone without a period for 12 consecutive months. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped producing estrogen and

ovulation ceases. The average age of

uterine fibroids, cancer or other abnormal conditions. If you notice any of these symptoms please call your medical provider for an appointment immediately.

by Cheryl Smitherman DNP, CNM Women’s Wellness at Flower Mound 972.355.9436 womenswellnessfm.com

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 23

Know

Be in the

Family

Inside Community

Try Roller Derby this Summer Rolling Rebellion Roller Derby welcomes all kids ages 7-17 regardless of skill level to join. Kids are welcome to join practice for free at any of the team’s regular practice times (M, W 6:30-8:30) at Premier Event Center in Lewisville.

Try-outs for the season will be held on August 21. For more information about the Rolling Rebellion, check out their website at www.rollingrebellion.com or Facebook/therollingrebellion.

Strength and conditioning camp

AYSA is offering summer conditioning for 1st - 6th graders courtesy of Coach Jerod McCloud, Strength & Conditioning Coach at Denton Ryan High.

Dates: June 19-22 (Hilltop Elementary) June 26-29 (Joe’s Gym, Argyle) Times:1st -3rd : 10:30-11:30 • 4th -6th : 11:45-1:00 • (Based on 2017-18 school year.) Through a variety of drills, exercises, and skill sets; boys and girls will develop and improve athletic skills and overall conditioning. Sign up at www.argyleyouthsports.com.

Join the Summer Reading Challenge

Free Yoga at Golden Triangle Mall

The Denton Public Library is challenging the community

For those of you looking for a new way to start your

to read a total of one million minutes this summer. Stop by any of the three Denton Public Library locations to

sign up and get your first reading log. Anyone can join.

Participants can earn free books, passes to a special

water park party, and enter for the chance to win prizes like Chromebooks for teens and adults.

summer Wednesdays, Twisted Bodies Pilates is offering free yoga classes every Wednesday morning at Golden Triangle Mall near the food court area. All you need to bring is a mat, a towel and water. Come at 8:30AM for a little Namaste to start your day!

Inside Education Guyer Actor Wins Best Leading Actor Congratulations to John Fredrickson of Guyer High School for winning Best Leading Actor at the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards. Fredrickson won for his performance as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. In all, Guyer High School Theatre earned 18 nominations and one win. The school’s performance was evaluated by a panel of judges who are all working professionals in the areas of entertainment, arts and theatre education, arts administration, talent management and production design.

Lantana represented at Baylor graduation The following Lantana residents have graduated from Baylor University during spring commencement exercises May 12 and 13 in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus: Shannon Lynn Sandridge, Bachelor of Arts, University Scholar, cum laude Kath Son, Bachelor of Science, Biology Baylor University conferred degrees on more than 2500 graduates during the spring graduation. Congratulations to our Lantana students who have once again, made our community proud.

guyer

ISD Events Guyer High School Girls’ Basketball Camps June 26-June 29

Basketball Skills Camp Grades 6th-9th:

8:30am-12:00pm Grades 2nd-5th:

Denton ISD Summer Hours Summer hours for Denton ISD/Lantana schools are as follows: the Denton ISD photo courtesy of www.dentonisd.org

Stephens Central Administration building, located at 1307 N. Locust, will be open

Guyer High School Graduation Photos Online Denton ISD is sharing over 1400 photos taken at the Guyer High School graduation

from 7:30am-5:30pm, Monday through

on Friday, June 2, 2017. Just go to the

30. Guyer High School summer hours

org/guyerhs and click on the Guyer 2017

Thursday. All elementary and middle school campuses

to the Denton ISD Flickr site and save your

Thursday from June 5 through July

Denton ISD site at http://www.dentonisd.

are from 8 am - 4 pm Monday through

Graduation Photos Link which will take you

will be closed from June 7 through July 31. Student

favorites. Congratulations to all of the 2017

registration information may be found at DentonISD.org.

John H. Guyer graduates and their families!

1:00pm-3:30pm

Athletic Performance Camp Grades 2nd-5th:

10:00am-12:00pm Grades 6th-9th:

1:00pm-3:30pm

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 25

Family

Longtime Golf Coach

Leaves Guyer

For Rival School

by Steve Gamel

R

oddy Adams may not be Guyer’s golf coach anymore, but he’s not leaving Denton.

The longtime Wildcat coach confirmed late last month that he is now the new head coach at Denton Ryan, Guyer’s

longtime Denton ISD rival. Interestingly,

his departure ends a 12-year stint at Guyer yet renews his former relationship with the Raiders.

Adams previously coached at Ryan, and at neighboring Denton High, before helping open Guyer.

“I think this is a good time for me to do this,” Adams told the Denton RecordChronicle in May. “We’ve got a lot of

trophies in the case now, and so I’d like to go see what I can do [at Ryan].”

Adams coached Denton High until 2005 while at the same time running the Ryan golf program from 1999 to 2002. Guyer

opened in 2005 and Adams immediately left to help start that program. Some of his career highlights at Guyer include

taking both the boys and girls teams to

the state tournament in 2014. Adams was

later named girls coach of the year by the North Texas High School Golf Coaches Association.

Lantana Living wrote an article on Adams in July 2014, shortly after he won that

award. His girls finished 12th at state that 26 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

“I think this is a good time for me to do this. We’ve got a lot of trophies in the case now, and so I’d like to go see what I can do [at Ryan].”

year while the boys – who were there for a second straight year – finished in a tie for sixth place. It was the first time a girls golf team from Denton ISD appeared at state in nearly three decades.

Adams is a longtime Denton resident. He graduated from Denton High in 1979.

College Prep | Family

Get Into Your Top College:

Make Your Summer Count

S

ummer is not just a time to vacation and hit the snooze button. Have you considered building a portfolio

that

showcases

your

strengths

and

lays the foundation for your future?

Vanguard students, under the guidance of experienced college counselors, have

Volunteering can expose you to a potential career-field and provide meaningful contributions to an organization.

allow you to build connections with like-

Almira, a sophomore, will be volunteering at Scottish Rite Hospital this summer, helping organize special events while interacting with patients, staff, and administrators.

recognition for her ACT Duke Tip score.

Internships give you hands-on experience in a field of your choice while demonstrating your ability to work in a team.

Sara, a junior, will spend her summer in NYC interning for Fork Films, a company headed by Abigail Disney that focuses on social activism. She will assist the chief-ofstaff with cutting-edge art projects.

been exploring new interests, gaining real life experiences, and building life-long connections in the following ways:

Summer study opportunities at universities, online, or at Vanguard, will

minded individuals and learn in a new context.

Shruti, a middle schooler, received state

This summer, she will take public health classes through the Duke Tip program to explore her interest in the medical field.

Unique and meaningful experiences set you apart from other college applicants.

In addition to his job as a performer for children at Lake Point Church, Dawson has spent his memorable summer singing at Carnegie hall.

by Natasha Chan Director of Language Arts Vanguard College Prep 214.488.3181

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 27

Family

The Roller Derby

Queen

by Susan Neuhalfen

T

here’s no two ways about it: roller derby gets a bad rap. The movies and television have given us

images of tough women on roller skates brawling like the American Hockey League in short shorts and tube socks.

The truth is, roller derby has evolved and with it has emerged a genuine sport: a sport that is today recognized by the Junior Olympics and under consideration to be an Olympic sport in 2020.

of Lantana

“There are still ladies that play ‘old school’

particularly interested. Then a friend of

Jessa Huffman, mom of roller derby

to a roller derby practice. The Harpool

today are focused on being amazing

her third year in the sport, skating with

roller derby,” explained Lantana resident

hers, also a Lantana resident, brought her

player, Maddy. “But the kids coming up

8th grader was hooked and is now on

athletes so there’s a little bit of a

the Rolling Rebellion, a nationally-ranked

culture clash.”

junior team based in Lewisville.

Lantana resident Maddy Huffman has

When asked how she felt when her

been skating since she was a toddler.

Like most of the kids in roller derby she

tried soccer and other sports, but wasn’t

daughter first exhibited an interest in roller derby, Jessa said she was a bit apprehensive.

“Maddy was always a very shy, quiet

person, I was a little surprised that she

“Over the years, I’ve seen her develop incredible leadership skills. Roller derby has taught her that it’s okay to be a powerful woman.”

was interested,” said Jessa. “Over the

years, I’ve seen her develop incredible

leadership skills. Roller derby has taught her that it’s okay to be a powerful woman.”

Her father, on the other hand, was all for it from the start.

“Roller derby has given her the freedom to create whatever it is she wants to be,”

said father Chad who is very involved with the sport. “She has honed her skills and we’re very pleased with the work she’s put into it.” photography by Loud Mouth Photography

28 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

Chad also had misconceptions about

roller derby. He had always thought of it

16

We find ourselves here because of a

dedication to something our kids love.”

Roller derby is ranked on four separate levels – beginning, lower middle, high

middle and then full contact. Players must be specially assessed for full contact, and trainers work with the team at all levels.

The beginner level is for kids who don’t even know how to skate, so entering roller derby is easy at any skill level.

Teams are not necessarily divided by age.

Players move through the ranks based on

“You get to meet new people and

everyone is really nice,” said Maddy. “We connect on Instagram and Facebook, we all have a common interest.”

Maddy’s home team, the Rolling Rebellion, is part of the JRDA (Junior Roller Derby

Association). This year, as in many years, Rebellion played in Nationals (top 10 in country) and four members of the

Rebellion were selected to play in the Junior Olympics.

experience and are on teams with players of equal skill level.

Another thing that has changed is focus on safety. Safety is a top priority for this as a girl-power thing, but Maddy plays on coed teams with some incredible kids.

“Her team is just so great and kids are all kind to each other,” said Chad. “They’re

very competitive on the track, but they are

all friends outside of the game, even those

contact sport. Every time they go out on the track there’s a gear check and they are required to wear elbow, wrist, and

kneepads as well as quad skates. Players cannot hit below the hip or above the

shoulders, and they are forbidden to hit

“Her team is just so great and kids are all kind to each other.

They’re very competitive on the track, but they are all friends outside of the game, even those on the other teams.”

with hands or lock arms.

Despite her calm personality, Maddy says

When asked how long she wants to play,

she loves the defensive part of the game.

Maddy just beamed.

different cloth according to Chad. They

“I love blocking people when I can,” she

“Until I age out (usually 18) though I’d love

very dedicated to the sport for the sake of

I really love playing.”

have scholarships for roller derby so

on the other teams.”

Roller derby parents are also cut from a come from all backgrounds, but are all their kids.

“We’re all at the roller derby games

because our kids play it,” said Chad. “We didn’t play it; none of the parents did.

smiles. “I still get butterflies when we start.

Her favorite part, aside from blocking,

is meeting other players. Maddy travels

many weekends to tournaments all over the country.

to keep playing,” she said. “Some colleges maybe I’ll get to keep playing.”

For more information about the Rolling Rebellion check out their website www.rollingrebellion.com or Facebook.com/therollingrebellion

photos courtesy of Huffman family

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 29

30 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 31

by Steve Gamel

I

t’s a typical weekday morning and Cassandra Homer keeps apologizing for a cluttered office that really isn’t as messy as she’s letting on. Sure, there’s the occasional stack of real estate paperwork on her desk and not one — but two — laptops fired up and ready to go. But what do you expect from a Monday?

“I just hate for you to come in with it looking like this,” Homer said with a laugh.

What we saw from our visit with this Lantana resident and real estate guru wasn’t clutter, but rather the perfect blend of work and family. To her left was the busy work life as the proud Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Elite and Team Leader of

The Homer Group. But to her right were several framed photos of her nearly one-year-old, cute-as-a-button daughter, Sloane, and husband, Travis.

As it turns out, Homer was smack dab in the middle of the balanced and increasingly fulfilling life she has carved out.

“I always feel like Bambi learning to walk,” said Homer, 33. “I’m not sure I’m

doing it right, but then I realize I need to take a minute to see how far I’ve come — because when you’re in it, everything moves so fast. Happiness isn’t about being perfect. Happiness is in the moments. I’m just trying to do right by my family, myself, and my clients.”

When we last spoke with Cassandra a year ago, she was days away from being a first-time mother. And she was showing no signs of slowing down. At eight

months pregnant, she was still at her best with eight or nine things on her plate.

32 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

But over the last year, Cassandra has struck an even bigger balance between being that successful agent you know and love, and the successful and doting mother she’s waited all her life to become.

Since 2013, Cassandra and her team at

schedule includes recruiting, training,

a trusted partner and friend for home

business coach through the number one

The Homer Group have steadily become buyers and sellers in Bartonville and

Lantana. They promise and deliver an unmatched level of commitment to

the community as well as a consistent

understanding of the individual needs of

Sponsored Content

photography by Your Candid Memories • www.yourcandidmemories.com

their clients.

Bringing that mantra under the umbrella of RE/MAX Elite created the perfect

marriage between the unrivaled resources and reach of an internationally recognized real estate company and a local agency that loves the community it represents.

Cassandra has always been the perfect representation of that dedicated and

driven mindset. She moved away from her parent’s home in New Hampshire when

she was 18 to chase her dream of being in

real estate. Despite being a small-town girl with 88 dollars in her pocket, she wasn’t afraid to move all the way to California

to get what she wanted, and eventually

Raleigh, North Carolina before finding a permanent home in Texas.

She worked her way up the ladder, never saying no, and to this day, her daily

and managing agents. She’s a successful

listening to her talk lovingly about Sloane will melt your heart.

real estate coaching company in North

“The hardest part about going back to

she works with 25 young agents, and she

was hugging me back,” Cassandra said.

America, Tom Ferry International, where

work [after maternity leave] was when she

still finds time to help about 30 clients a

“I could feel her chubby fingers around

year buy and sell their homes.

my neck. If I could get 15 more minutes

But over the last year, Cassandra has

with her before going to work, or five

being that successful agent you know

or even cleaning up the blowouts, I’d do

struck an even bigger balance between and love, and the successful and doting

mother she’s waited all her life to become.

“I crave work, but I’m doing a better job of turning it off,” Homer said. “Every minute I get to spend with Sloane and Travis …

that’s what matters. These young agents

more minutes before she goes to bed — it. Sometimes I wish I could build a tiny house somewhere and we could spend the day hugging while I home school her forever. But then again, that would be weird.”

get into the business and they think they

The goal now is to continue striking that

I started, and I’m telling them, ‘No, you

It’s still new for this constantly on-the-go

need to work 24 hours a day. That’s how

don’t need to do that!’ The reason you do all this is to provide a great life for your family, not the other way around. It’s a hard balancing act, but I’m doing the best I can.”

perfect balance between work and family. gal, she appears to be balancing it all just fine – even if her office is a little messy.

“I think all of us working moms are doing the best we can trying to figure it out,” she

Cassandra said being a mother, wife, and

said. “Am I the perfect mom? No. Am I the

comfortable being uncomfortable, and

it hell trying.”

business owner has forced her to get

perfect business owner? No. But I’m giving

The Homer Group | 940.584.0800 | TheHomerGroupTX.com | 3600 FM407, #185 | Bartonville, TX June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 33

34 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

L Re anta sid na en t

“DRY DROWNING” And What to Know

S

ummer is in full swing, the kids are out of school, and the community pools are starting to crowd. This is an important time to go over some pool safety tips, especially for those of you with young children.

Symptoms of “Dry Drowning”

Most people recognize a drowning event, and most understand that emergency medical care is absolutely necessary in addition to initial resuscitation. What is a little less well known is “dry drowning” or “secondary drowning” and therefore poses a great risk. Most people do not realize that drowning can happen out of the water.

Chest Pain: Seek immediate medical attention if your child starts complaining of chest pain after playing in water. The spasms from dry drowning place stress on the lungs and chest, which leads to pain. Your toddler complaining of a sore throat is also concerning.

Dry drowning happens when someone breathes in small amounts of water during a struggle. This triggers the muscles in their airway to spasm. Fluid builds up in the lungs and causes difficulty breathing. A person with a near drowning, struggle, or “close call” can be out of the water and walking around normally before any signs of dry drowning appear. If untreated, it can be fatal.

These events are not common. Only 1-2 % of drowning events occurs this way, but regardless of the rarity you should be aware of this unfamiliar danger.

Sponsored Content

Pool safety tips: I know many of these are common sense but we all need a reminder to re-evaluate.

•

Swimming pools should not be built until all children in the household are >5 years of age.

•

Parents should NEVER leave children alone in or near the pool.

•

A fence should be erected to separate the house from pool.

•

The fence should be at least 4 feet high around ALL 4 sides of the pool.

•

The fence should be completely separate the pool from the house and the play yard.

•

Gates should auto-close and auto-latch, with latches children cannot reach.

•

Parents should consider a safety cover.

•

Keep rescue equipment and a telephone near the pool at all times.

•

Know CPR!

Lethargy: As your child’s body works to protect itself by causing larynx spasms, it is common for your child to become lethargic. His energy is exhausted by trying to breathe and clear his throat. If your child seems abnormally fatigued after a trip to the pool, then that is a cause for concern.

All of these signs of dry drowning occur up to 24 hours after your child leaves the water. In most cases, there is a struggle in the water of some kind, such as a near-drowning experience or a lot of water in his face. After that occurs, you need to watch your child closely for symptoms to ensure that you seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

Dr. Rebecca Butler is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is proud to be a resident of Lantana and the owner of Lantana Pediatrics. For more information on Lantana Pediatrics, Dr. Butler and/or Melanie Bitzer, CPNP or to schedule an appointment with one of these providers, call the office at 940-455-7200.

Persistent Coughing: The number one sign of dry drowning is persistent coughing. Laryngospasm, which is the medical term for the vocal cord and larynx spasms, causes your toddler’s throat to close. Coughing occurs as your child attempts to clear his throat. The coughing becomes more persistent as bodily fluids fill the lungs.

Shortness of Breath: As your child’s throat undergoes spasms and he continues coughing, it becomes more and more difficult for him to breathe. This shortness of breath signifies that his throat is closing up and the condition is becoming more serious. If the condition is not treated, then each breath becomes shorter until death occurs.

nominate us!

New Expanded Hours

Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-6:30pm Friday: 7:30am - 5pm • Saturdays: 9am - 12pm

940.455.7200 www.LantanaPediatrics.com

74 McMakin Road, Ste. 100 • Bartonville, TX 76226

June 14

July 12

Family

Is It Safe

To Let Your Kids Play Outside?

by Susan Neuhalfen

M

any of us have fond memories of playing outside when we were children. Our parents sent us out the door after breakfast and often, we didn’t see them again until dinner. We played baseball or kickball with friends until it was too dark to see the ball. We rode our bikes to the neighborhood pool and took a trip to the 7-Eleven for a Slurpee. There was never a parent with us. So what is stopping us from letting our kids have that same freedom and fond memories?

To watch the news, you would think child abductions are as common as a cold. There were more than

465,000 missing children reported by the National Center for Missing and

1. Go with them at first.

Show the safest route and point out any hazards along the way. If walking a road, stay to the left. If riding a bike,

Exploited Children in 2016. Of those, at

stay right. Explain that if they want the

away from home multiple times and each

rules of the road.

least 90 percent were children who run

instance is recorded separately. Much of the remainder is children abducted by a

responsibility, they have to follow the

2. Buddy up.

family member in a custody dispute. Out

It’s always best if children stay with

reported every year, only about 100 are

parents a comfort level knowing that

of nearly half million missing children

at least one friend. It will give the

actually abducted by a stranger.

if one is injured, the other is there to

Thanks to mainstream media, social

media and organizations such as the

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 97 percent of these children are found and returned home safely. Child

get help.

3. Pack a cell phone.

In addition to bringing the necessities like water, snacks and money, give

abduction is still a concern for parents, but

your children a cell phone when

4. Remind them about stranger danger.

Schools do a good job of teaching stranger danger and it will do no harm to remind them of it. However, don’t scare them to the point where they are afraid to go on an adventure.

Most of the people in the world are good. You just have to watch out for those few bad ones. Make sure they know that you trust them and you’re proud of how responsible they have become.

5. Remind yourself that you’re doing the right thing.

Playing outside helps them to grow not only in responsibility but in creativity as well. Sunshine, imagination and freedom will lead to a healthier body and a healthier mindset.

6. As hard as it is to let go, the easier we make their lives now, the harder we will make their lives later.

it’s actually very safe to send your

possible. Set alarms on the phone

child outside.

to remind them to check in with you

Here are a few ideas to keep them safe,

with a simple text as to where they

parents can help their children grow

are. Apps such as Find My iPhone can

up to be healthier more responsible

needed freedom:

help you track children if necessary.

children, and later, adults.

but still give them their much

36 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

Starting with these simple steps,

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 37

Family | Edit This

It’s Ok To Point Out Grammar Errors

Just Be Nice About It! P

eople who correct other people’s grammar get a bad rap. I say that because while there are plenty who

have good intentions, others do so with a holier than thou attitude.

As a professional writer and editor, I

understand the need to correct such mistakes. But I do think there is a

difference between the person who points out errors to be snarky and the person who is simply trying to be helpful and perhaps save you from future embarrassment.

I believe there is a place in this world for the latter.

Correcting grammar and misspellings

the right way starts by having the right

motivation. For example: there’s this one

sandwich shop that I go to all the time for

lunch. They have a chalkboard-style menu above the front counter. It’s a unique

handwritten concept. I love it. But it’s always filled with misspellings.

I’ve never said anything because I didn’t

want to come across as rude. But I finally brought it to the attention of the young man at the register. As it turns out, he

knew all about it and was frustrated by

it, too. Rather than embarrass his boss, he was secretly going up there and correcting it little by little.

You could tell because the handwriting was different in certain spots.

So what’s the moral of the story? When

you feel the itch to point out a grammar

faux pas, make sure it’s something worth starting a conversation over. And when

you do, approach being a grammar nerd with courtesy and respect.

Remember, it’s not like you haven’t made

a mistake before, too. So be nice about it.

by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 www.edit-this-npsteve.com

38 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 39

40 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

Dentistry | Family

Keeping Your

Summer Cavity Free

•

Summer break allows for a variety

of events that come with their own

assortment of foods and drinks. Make sure that you make nutritious choices

in food that minimize the exposure of your teeth to sugar and acid. Include fruits and vegetables into your diet and dairy products like milk and

cheese that can help decrease your mouths acidity. Limit the frequency and duration of your snacking to

allow your mouth time to naturally buffer out acid and sugar.

•

A

s we come nearer to Independence Day, we take the time to appreciate and reflect on the many freedoms we have come to enjoy as a great nation.

However, I can think of few freedoms that are enjoyable than being “cavity free”.

So, here are a few tips for the summer to make sure you govern your habits dutifully to maintain your teeth’s independence.

A good rule of thumb, especially

during Texas summers, is to drink

plenty of water. Not only can water help keep you hydrated, it also will

help lower your mouth’s acidity. It can also aid to wash away any sugary or acidic foods recently consumed.

•

With routines out of order, it can

be easy to neglect the simplest oral

health habits of brushing and flossing.

Brushing and flossing after every meal is ideal, but at the very least make sure to brush after breakfast and

before bed. If traveling, don’t forget

to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.

•

Finally, make sure you schedule

your dental appointments around holidays and vacations. It can be

easy to forget about dental visits, but

summer breaks are great opportunity to take advantage of free time for dental care.

I hope everyone enjoys a safe and

eventful summer. Make sure you spend

it well and wisely with friends and family.

Happy smiling!

by Dr. Matt who is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental www.CountryLakesDental.com

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 41

photos courtesy of Jeanna Bates

Family

Life Lessons Learned on the Mound

by Susan Neuhalfen

G

irls softball has been gaining popularity as one of the up and coming sports to watch. It has

been an Olympic sport since 1996 and

many girls are competing heavily for the

few college softball scholarships available to them. So when one of Lantana’s own is chosen as one of only six pitchers to represent Texas, Oklahoma and New

Mexico in the 2016 Future All-American Game Championship in Orlando this summer, it’s only natural to be Lantana-proud.

a simple move and takes a great deal of

control to get it right. At first Lauren said

her pitching was slow and kind of wild, but her dad was right there to help.

“We would watch videos on how to pitch

and then we’d go to the cul-de-sac on our street and practice,” said Lauren’s dad,

Dan. “Turned out she was pretty good at it so we continued down that path.”

Four years later she’s the one of the fastest pitchers, if not the fastest in her age

group, averaging 56mph, which puts her

Lauren Bates, who just finished her 8th grade year at Harpool Middle School, has been playing softball since she was 8 years old. At first she really enjoyed hitting and

at a high school and nearly collegiate level.

Lauren will be one of three

pitchers on the Midwest 13U American Team.

She tried out in

playing various

McKinney along

positions. Then

with hundreds of

a coach pulled

other girls but

her parents aside

didn’t find out that

and expressed

she’d made the

an interest in her

team until three

learning to pitch.

months later, when it

was announced

“From day one, she

could hit the ball and she’s

been a hitter ever since,” said

Jeanna Bates, Lauren’s mom. “Her dad

was her first coach and he’s the one who really helped her learn how to pitch.”

In girls’ softball, the pitch is a “windmill windup” where the pitcher circles the

arm back for momentum to release an

underhand pitch to the batter. It’s hardly 42 | LANTANA LIVING

| June 2017

on ESPN.

The tournament will be held at

the end of July at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. It is a weeklong tournament with the best of the best

softball players from all over the country

participating. She won’t actually meet her teammates or begin practicing with them until she gets there.

In the meantime, she keeps busy with her select team, Texas Christian Athletes, practicing daily and traveling for tournaments on weekends. Even her older sister, Julia, travels with them to cheer her on.

“It’s a blessing that she’s been given this opportunity and I’m just thankful that she’s having fun,” said Jeanna. “She’s so diligent and she takes responsibility for herself. It’s been fun to see all of the hard work come through.”

Her dad has told her for years that softball is a microcosm of life; you get what you put into it and it opens new doors. Lauren said that she really understands what he is saying now and that she has learned a lot from softball.

“I’ve learned that it takes time, energy and hard work and in the end, it’s worth it,” she said. “I apply it to everything now, including homework and tests.”

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 43

Lifestyle

Congrats to

GUYER

Abigail Layne Lewis Parents: Jeff and Wendy Lewis Attending: The University of Texas at Dallas Studying: Biochemistry

Alexander Cheonho Koh Parents: Patrick and Shannon Koh Attending: The University of Texas at Austin Studying: Biochemistry

Alliana Leigh Detorio Parents: Allan and Lovella Detorio Attending: University of North Texas Studying: Biochemistry

Allison Claire Damrau Parents: James and Diane Damrau Attending: Baylor University Studying: Clinical Laboratory Science

Ansh Pujara Parents: Jayesh and Dipti Pujara Attending: The University of Texas at Austin Studying: Computer Science

Bianca Nicole Ramirez Parents: Giner and Nicole Ramirez Attending: Emerson College Studying: Journalism

Jordan Frank Goldstein Parents: Aaron and Paula Attending: Georgia Tech Studying: Computer Science

Valedictorians & Salutatorian

photos courtesy of DISD

Abhishek Shah Parents: Jyoti Shah and Seema Gokharu Attending: Columbia University Studying: Biology

Kimberly Erin Flack Parents: Bradley and Lisa Flack Attending: The University of Texas at Austin Studying: International Business

Kurt Gregory Gscheidle Parents: William and Melody Gscheidle Attending: Oklahoma Christian University Studying: Mechanical Engineering

Madison Rae Freeze Parents: Kevin and Julie Freeze Attending: Brigham Young University Studying: Education

Riley Van Steward Parents: Jason and Robyn Steward Attending: The University of Texas at Austin Studying: Business Honors Program

Sana Ahmed Syed Parents: Arif Syed and Shazia Ahmed Attending: The University of Texas at San Antonio Studying: Undeclared

Seth Anthony Bedford Parents: Chris and Christy Bedford Attending: University of Texas at Dallas Studying: Computer Science

Thomas Andrew Nunez Parents: Thomas and Sandra Nunez Attending: Brown University Studying: Undeclared

Salutatorian

Katelyn Elizabeth Golden Parents: Craig and Laurie Golden Attending: The University of Texas at Austin Studying: Biology and Applied Mathematics

Sarah Nicole Vetters Parents: Joe and Mary Vetters Attending: The University of Oklahoma Studying: Nursing

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Lifestyle | Gardening

It’s Storm Season in Texas

I

f you haven’t had to deal with any flooding or storm damage, consider yourself lucky! Maturing landscapes, erosion, patios and pools being added all change the way our lots deal with the water they receive. A lot of times these obstacles will create places that hold water and/or don’t drain as well as they use to. Our crews have been busy with foundation drains, sump pumps, French drains, interior sheetrock, flooring and baseboard repairs. Being proactive can save you thousands when it comes to this type of water damage as well as reduce mosquito activity.

Drainage inspections are a must if you’re moving onto a new property or have been noticing standing water around your current one. You should include an irrigation evaluation as well.

Rain as well as neglected sprinkler systems can cause similar damage if not maintained and monitored.

Some things to look for: • Watch for water that still stands more than 4-5 hours after a rain event • Reduce your irrigation “Run” timer on spaces that won’t drain or other areas that have a noticeable drop in elevation so water doesn’t run-off and cause pooling • Take notice of areas that wash and cause

These are just a few things to keep in mind as we’re going through the rainy season here in Texas. Remember it is a good idea to address repairs or bring in a professional before you find yourself searching for towels to dry those floors or having to throw a pump in the flowerbed to keep water from getting too deep. As always we thank you for taking time out to read and hope the information we covered this month serves you well!

erosion after heavy rain • Look for loss of foundation soil, exposed house slab • Make sure sprinkler heads are distributing evenly versus being stuck in one direction or broken • Look for water coming in the weep holes from bed backup/overflow • Adjust/replace the nozzles on your irrigation heads to help reduce the amount of overwatering in certain areas • On the tighter lots you can run a common drain line addressing any standing water in the easement area as well as tying downspout lines in so that it will absorb your roof water and discharge it properly at the property’s edge or street.

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by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com

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Lifestyle

Texas Finally Passes

Ban on Texting & Driving

by Susan Neuhalfen

Beginning September 1, it will be against the law to text while driving in Texas.

pressure lawmakers to ban the use of hand held electronics while driving. Finally all of his hard work, as well as that of many residents of Lantana, has paid off.

Finally.

Shaffer’s speech at Guyer was part of an

After a long and arduous effort by many

assembly for students on the dangers of distracted driving. Attorney Rocky Haire,

and four attempts by state lawmakers,

Pro-Care Collision owner Kevin Pyle and

Texas finally passed the ban and the

Allstate Insurance Agent Mark Tucker

Governor Greg Abbot has signed it.

were featured along with other presenters

Over 100 cities in Texas, including Argyle,

including the Berry family of Houston,

had already taken it upon themselves to

who were hit by a distracted driver while

enforce their own ban.

coming home from a family vacation.

An accident that killed Lantana residents

Both parents were killed and two of the

Emma and Tita Shaffer in April of 2016

three children were paralyzed from the

was determined to be the result of

waist down. They have started the OLIE

another driver texting and driving. Many

(One Life is Enough) campaign to combat

Lantana residents as well as Liberty

distracted driving.

Christian students and parents took it

Texting would be punishable by a fine

upon themselves to make their voices

of up to $99 for first-time offenders and

heard with a #TEXTFREEFORTITA

$200 for repeat offenders. The law covers

campaign. As recently as last month,

texting only, while Internet use navigation

James Shaffer, the widower of Emma and

or music will be allowed. These changes

father of Tita, spoke to students at Guyer High School about the dangers of texting and driving. He has tirelessly worked to

photos courtesy of Michelle Ruocco

were made in order to get the support necessary to pass the ban.

June 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 51

Lifestyle

Should You Hire a

I

Home Designer?

by Susan Neuhalfen

t used to be that hiring an interior

“So many people start with paint or

just a matter of economics. Many think

should do,” she said. “The biggest look

decorator was an elitist thing. Today it’s

that hiring a designer is an expensive

proposition, but when all of the factors are

taken into account, a homeowner may find that it actually saves time, money and frustration.

“I had clients tell me recently that it would have taken them five years to accomplish

accessories and that’s the last thing you is never accomplished with the smallest item. It just doesn’t happen like that.”

Another mistake people make is

decorating around a neutral piece. photography of Brittany Lee

what we did in a matter of weeks,” said

Christine pointed out that when faced with so many choices, some people feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to see how customers come home with a brown leather couch, and that’s also why designers have to come in and lighten up so many rooms.

There’s no shame in lacking the confidence and ability to coordinate everything in a home. Most of the time it’s

Christine Blythe, Senior Creator, Designer

just a lack of experience, something the

and owner of Décor to Your Door in

people at Décor to Your Door have

Highland Village. “Now they can just enjoy

plenty of.

their home.”

Another good reason to use a designer

The first question to ask is how much is your time worth? Not only is there time

like Christine is that she only uses

spent driving to them as well. Also, with

box stores sell foreign-made upholstery

spent shopping at various stores but time

American made products. Most of the big

the Internet, there is a lot of time spent on

and other pieces.

sites like HOUZZ finding pieces that, once

Designers lay out their master plan with

ordered, delivered and assembled, aren’t

a visual of the room complete on a large

exactly what the customer was expecting.

screen. Clients will know what the home

“We create a master plan and show the

will look like before they even begin

client exactly what the rooms will look

ordering a single piece, instead of buying

like,” said Christine. “Instead of getting everything piecemeal, it’s a

on chance that their last purchase is going

finished product.”

to make sense with this new purchase.

As the old saying goes, time is money.

So when decorating or redecorating your

So in addition to wasting time, sometimes

home, do a quick analysis and figure

money is wasted when you choose to

out exactly how much you’re planning

decorate yourself. Christine mentioned

to invest. If you have all of the time and

the problem of the emotional buy.

Sometimes clients will buy something they

patience in the world and you love to

love, but it really doesn’t go with anything

“No one has ever committed to a piece of

shop, knock yourself out. Remember, you

storage closet full of things that don’t

neutral couch,” she laughed. “You don’t

often, so there’s a good chance it will be

else. That’s when they end up with the

art after they have purchased a brown or

don’t decorate or redesign your home

go together.

want to go down that road.”

worth the investment for you.

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| June 2017

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Almost

Lifestyle

Low Carb

Sugarless

Summer Snacks

by Susan Neuhalfen

L

antana resident Tamara Quilty started Denton County T1 for moms of kids who have the Type 1 Diabetes. She is always looking for great ideas for low sugar summer snacks for her family. So she asked Dr. Carolyn Rachaner (also a Lantana resident) of RBC Life put together some great recipes to share for those of you looking to break or at least curb the sugar habit this summer.

Berry Green Smoothies/Popsicles (courtesy of rbclife.com) 1 c. fresh or frozen organic berries ¼ c. of powdered green superfood supplement (or 1 packet of Green Phyto-Power) 1 c. unsweetened almond milk 1 Tb protein powder in any flavor (or 1 packet of Pure Pro Base) Mix all of the ingredients (add ice to make it thicker) for a yummy smoothie or freeze for healthy popsicles.

Strawberry

Protein Balls

banana

Smoothies/Popsicles (courtesy of rbclife.com)

2 c. rolled oats 1 1/2 c. peanut butter

8 oz. unsweetened almond milk

1/4 c. unsweetened coconut flakes

½ c. frozen strawberries

½ c. raw honey

½ frozen banana

2 scoops chocolate protein powder (or 2 packets of Pure Pro Base)

1 Tb natural peanut butter

2 Tb. flax seeds ground (optional)

1 Tb protein powder in any flavor (or 1 packet of Pure Pro Base)

Mix together all ingredients and roll into balls. Place them in a container in the refrigerator or freezer for easy storage. Add semi-sweet mini chocolate chips if you’re okay with a little sugar.

Mix and enjoy! Freeze for GREAT popsicles for the kids. (add ice to make it thicker)

For more low sugar summer ideas and to learn more about RBC Life, join the Lantana Wellness Mamas site on Facebook and for more recipes go to Facebook.com/Greenfoodmom.

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| June 2017

Creating the

Perfect Burger

by Susan Neuhalfen

gruyere cheese, sweet pickled red onion slaw and arugula spinach pesto on a toasted brioche bun.

According to Chef Daniels, the taste of

the lamb really pops, giving it a sweet and bitter balance. Make no mistake, this is a gourmet burger.

“It’s hard to describe,” said Daniels of his

hef Aubrey Daniels of the Wildhorse Grill is determined to put Robson

Ranch on the map.

lunch or dinner. The most important thing right now however, is for the citizens of North Texas to get together and VOTE. The Texas Forest Burger may be voted

the United States competing for a chance

vote. The top five chefs will then fly to New

jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject/

to cook at the prestigious James Beard

York City next January to compete in the

House in New York City.

final showdown of the challenge.

The Blended Burger Project is a challenge

Everyone should take the time out to

burger possible while including one or

community in New York City. Need more

has taken this challenge and created his

their favorite blended burger online will

to chefs across the country to make best

vote and represent our North Texas

more types of mushrooms. Chef Daniels

encouragement? Customers who vote for also be entered

to win trip for two to the 2018 Blended

Burger event at the James Beard House.

right,” said Chef Daniels who has been

The point of the Blended Burger Project

an idea in mind and it just came together

to make burgers better by blending

cooking since he was 11 years old. “I had as the Texas Forest Burger.”

Wildhorse Grill’s Texas Forest burger is 50% lamb, 25% portabella mushroom/

cremini mushroom and 25% ground beef grilled to perfection and topped with

Chef Daniels loves a challenge. He also loves finding new and different ways to

mix and mesh foods that are popular in

this community. He changes up the dinner menu at Wildhorse Grill daily.

“My dad is the one that got me interested in fusion cooking,” said Chef Daniels.

“I love to get creative.”

Daniels is a 4th generation chef.

His great-grandfather and grandfather

were chefs in a more traditional fashion, while his father introduced him to more fusion cooking. He started cooking five-cheese mac and cheese at the

restaurants all over the Dallas-Fort Worth

among a handful of restaurants across

“I experimented a few times to get it just

was an exciting challenge for me.”

It’s already on the Wildhorse Grill menu

into the top five by online voting at www.

here at the Wildhorse Grill.

burger with fresh cultivated mushrooms

tender age of eleven and continued his

That’s because the Wildhorse Grill is

own blended burger masterpiece right

said Chef Daniels. “Creating a sustainable

creation. “You just have to taste it.”

so trying it for yourself it is an option for

C

Lifestyle

is to challenge chefs around the country ground meat with chopped mushrooms, creating a delicious patty that’s healthier for the patron and more sustainable for the planet.

“That’s what drew me into the contest,”

education studying under master chefs in area. His father is a member of the World

Master Chef’s Society Dallas, an exclusive

international honors association for chefs, by invitation only.

The James Beard Foundation produces programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards,

scholarships for culinary students and

much more. Its namesake, James Beard,

was a cookbook author, teacher, and the first cooking show television personality.

Beard’s mission was to make America’s

food culture more delicious, diverse, and

sustainable for everyone. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich

Village as a “performance space” for

visiting chefs including Wolfgang Puck.

The Wildhorse Grill is located at Robson

Ranch, just off I-35W. It’s rustic atmosphere and gorgeous views make it the perfect backdrop for a date, family dinner,

Sunday brunch, or lunch for business

or pleasure. Voting has already begun and goes through July 31, 2017. Vote

daily at www. www.jamesbeard.org/ blendedburgerproject/vote.

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Flower Mound Presbyterian Hospital Auxiliary Appreciation Dinner at the Lantana Golf Club

Volunteers were honored for their service hours at the Flower Mound Presbyterian Hospital Auxiliary Appreciation Dinner at Lantana Golf Club.

The theme for the evening was Bring America Together.

Scholarships were also awarded to local students.