Lake Cities Living Magazine September 2017

September 2017

BREAST CANCER

Prevention Is Key

NORTH TEXAS

Harvey Heroes

FINDING THE

Leader in Me

Practice

Heart from the

Corinth - Hickory Creek - Shady Shores - Lake Dallas

See Inside for More Information

on

oust

For H

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 3

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| September 2017

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 5

Be The Help

LakeCitiesLiving.com

Someone Needs

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Staff Writer

Susan Neuhalfen

Contributor Steve Gamel

Advertising

Becka Materne becka@murray-media.com Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com

Production

Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Caroline Brock Stephanie Hansen

Photography

David Simms Photography 480.202.4254 dwsimms1@yahoo.com

Letters

Lake Cities Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.

Email artwork@murray-media.com.

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Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising Inquiries call 972.899.3637 or email

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Flower Mound, TX 75022 Lake Cities Living is published monthly

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No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2017 Murray Media Group

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

- Albert Einstein

I

n the wake of what we've all been watching happen down south of us, it's

pertinent that we take time out of what we talk about locally

and express our prayers and concern for those in South

Texas. I know our team here at

Murray Media along with

our family of advertisers expresses our

Something we've introduced to Lake Cities over this past month is Live In Lake Cities every Wednesday. You can find this exciting live spotlight on the Lake Cities Living Magazine Facebook Page. Every Wednesday, I am making my way to Lake Cities to spotlight a local business that is actively advertising with Lake Cities Living.

Already the response has been exciting to

support and prayers as many begin their

watch and even more exciting is the effect

a horrific disaster.

businesses. If you're interested in being

long journey towards recovery from such As I drove home tonight from picking

up groceries after work, I noticed how

quickly the sun had set. It was that yearly reminder that the long days of summer

have now drifted away and early evenings

have made their decent upon us. Not only is fall on the horizon, but many seasonal

changes are beginning. School is back in

full force, football season is off and going

and fall events are actively being planned.

it will have on the growth of these local spotlighted please reach out to me. I’d be happy to provide you more information.

As always, it has been such an adventure to continue making new discoveries as I'm daily learning more and more about the Lake Cities area. I'm here to help your business grow by offering you many avenues through the art of advertising.

Let's not forget to be the help someone may need. As we have all watched in

Lake Cities is excited to be preparing for many upcoming events including

the last few days many are in need of a

whole family. You will find many more

we, as a community, have many hands.

Issue of Lake Cities Living.

around us.

Pumpkin Palooza, which is fun for the

helping hand. Let this be a reminder that

local events highlighted in this September

Let's use them to help those in need

Sincerly, Becka Materne

Community Relations and Advertising Consultant Lake Cities Living becka@murray-media.com 972.800.8548 6 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

Table of

Contents

16

On the Cover is the Starshine Dentistry Team

Featured: Practice from the heart

Yourself

08 Breast Cancer: Prevention is Key 12 Insurance with Dave Reese

28 Edit This with Steve Gamel

Family

Photos from Lake Cities

20 Football: Split Divisions in Class 5A

Finding the leader in me

24 North Texas Harvey Heroes 26 Gardening with Complete Solutions

15 Inside Education

Editors pick:

Lifestyle

10 Fitness with Jesse James

14 Inside Community

18

22 Back to School Learn How to Burn Fat and not Time on pg

10

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 7

Yourself

Breast Cancer:

Prevention Is The Key

by Susan Neuhalfen

C

hances are, you’re in a room right now with a woman who has or has had breast cancer, and probably more than one woman. That’s because one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Think about that: one in eight.

Breast cancer is the #1 cancer killer among women but the good news is, if you catch it early, there’s a very good chance you can beat it.

While there are many factors that contribute to breast cancer, most doctors will agree that prevention is the key.

The first step to prevention for women is to remain up to date on their regular exams. Though

most women are urged to begin mammograms at the age of 40, many doctors recommend that women should start their own self-breast exams by the age of 30. There’s no risk so the earlier a woman starts, the better. It may cause an unnecessary alarm but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Yearly mammograms after the age of 40 are another necessity. If you have

a family history of breast cancer, you may want to consider a screening mammogram before the age of 40.

Even if it isn’t covered by insurance, a screening mammogram isn’t very expensive and it would be worth it to be certain.

If you have dense breasts, it may be necessary to request a breast MRI or ultrasound. Ask the radiologist who performs your mammogram to inform you of your breast density score and find out if a different test is right for you.

So how do you know if you are at risk for breast cancer?

While many like to point to family

history, there are, in fact, many other

factors that contribute to breast cancer.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime

While some are not within a patient’s

plan may be established early.

Some contributing lifestyle factors include:

•

Smoking

•

Excessive alcohol use

•

The most important thing a woman can do it simply limit risk. Some things are out of Family history is another important

component. If a patient has a sister,

(1-2 drinks per day)

mother or daughter diagnosed with breast

Unhealthy diet (refined foods,

If more than one of these relatives has

meats, saturated fats, sugars)

cancer, the risk for the patient is doubled.

times higher than average. As strange

the better your chances of avoiding

though it is rare. However, if a patient has

lifestyle. The less risk factors you have,

as it sounds, men can get breast cancer

breast cancer.

a brother or a father with breast cancer,

have had children in their 30s and women

our control, but if there are risk factors that you can control, you should.

Here is a quick list of things you should do: •

Start by having a conversation with family members. Knowing your family medical history

been diagnosed, the patient’s risk is five

This is another reason to adopt a healthy

Women over the age of 50, women who

accounts for about 5% of all breast cancer genetic testing available and, if found, a

lifestyle choices.

Obesity

tied to a genetic mutation, though it only diagnoses. The good news is, there is

control, most have to do with everyday

•

chance that a patient’s breast cancer is

can help you avoid a lot of medical issues, including breast cancer.

•

The next thing to do is stick to your regular OB-GYN exams and mammograms. For most

her chances of developing breast cancer

of us, that’s only once a year – not really a

will increase.

big commitment.

who had a menstrual cycle prior to age

Any instances of family cancer, on either

•

Perform breast self-exams whenever you shower.

breast cancer.

reason for concern. There is also a small

•

Above all, keep a healthy lifestyle.

12 also have a higher risk of developing

side of the family, should give a patient

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 9

Yourself | Fitness

the gym you get the most use of your time

Change your workout

to change your body H ave you ever wondered if those minutes you spend in the gym are

burning fat or just time? Unfortunately if

you are like 80% of gym-goers, time is the primary thing you’re burning.

I don’t want that to be you.

Here are the top 3 outdated,

time-burning exercise techniques to NOT DO:

1) Slow and Steady Cardio Sessions:

Walk into most gyms and you’ll see every

movements and intensity to accelerate fat burn. Not only will you burn calories while you exercise, but long after you’re done.

2) Weight Machine Wandering: You’ve seen this character: he wanders among the weight machines, plops down on an open one and cranks out a set (without adjusting the weight or seat). Make the most use of your time in the gym by contacting one of our personal trainers to discuss a plan of action towards your goals. This way the next time you are in

with an effective results-driven workout.

3) Chronic Low Intensity: When you

simply go through the motions during your workout, that’s classic low-intensity.

You’re not pushing yourself and you’re also not burning any fat. If you find yourself just-going-through-the-motions then quickly pick up the pace. Intense exercise= intense after-burn.

So what’s the secret to burning fat? It’s a challenging routine that incorporates strength-training, intervals of intense cardio and is done with intensity. We are here to provide you with the most cutting-edge workouts that deliver results while burning fat. Contact us today and let’s get moving towards your goals.

single piece of cardio equipment full of people in a slow, steady state of cardio.

Instead maximize calorie burn with HIIT

(high intensity interval training): the idea

of utilizing your entire body with different

10 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

by Jesse J. Leyva, Owner of Outlaw Bootcamp, Outlaw Fitcamp & Jesse James Fit www.OutlawBootcamp.com • www.JesseJamesFit.com

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 11

Yourself | Insurance

Changes In Your Life I

t’s a good idea to review your life insurance needs annually, or if significant changes or life events occur such as:

•

The birth or adoption of a child or grandchild

•

Getting married or divorced

•

Home purchase

•

Job change

•

Planning for retirement or college

What Kind Of Life Insurance Fits My Needs?

You have more than one option when it

comes to choosing a life insurance policy.

There are term and permanent insurance policies, as well as hybrid policies.

Determining which type of life insurance policy is best for you depends on your individual circumstances and financial goals.

Term Life Insurance Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period and offers the greatest

amount of coverage for the lowest initial

12 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

cost. With a term life insurance policy, your premiums will stay the same for a set amount of time, usually 10, 20, or 30 years.

Term life insurance may be a good choice for debts that end, such as a mortgage, or if your funds are limited.

For many people, a combination of term

Permanent Life Insurance

Index Universal Life Insurance can be used

Permanent life insurance is different than term life insurance because it provides benefits while you’re alive and can remain in force as long as you live and as long as premiums are paid. Permanent life insurance premiums may build taxfree cash value. This means the cash accumulated can help pay your premiums in the future. You can borrow the cash value or if the policy is canceled, the cash value is sent to the policy owner.

you need while providing the opportunity

Whole life insurance, which has fixed premiums and a guaranteed cash value, and universal life insurance, which has flexible premiums and benefits, are popular types of permanent life insurance.

Permanent life insurance may be a good option if you have long-term needs like income for a spouse, an inheritance for children or end-of-life expenses.

and permanent life insurance is the best solution.

Hybrid Products Life insurance products like our Farmers to get the life insurance protection that low-risk cash value growth you want.

This product combines a traditional life insurance policy and the ability to hold

accounts with growth levels based on the performance of two major stock indexes.

These accounts have a “floor” that protects you from market related losses in years that the indexes perform poorly.

Let The Dave Reese Agency- Framers at

Oakmont help you walk through your life insurance planning. Give us a call at

940-387-2181 or come by to see us at 1420 Robinson Road, Corinth, TX.

by Dave Reese The Reese Agency (Farmers Insurance at Oakmont) 940.387.2181

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 13

Know

Be in the

Family

Inside Community

Divorce Workshop Coming Up

A Divorce Workshop for Women is being held on Wednesday, September 27th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Denton South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley.

This 2 ½ hour workshop is taught by a family law attorney, a certified divorce financial analyst, and a life coach addressing the legal, financial and emotional issues associated with divorce. There is no cost to attend but you must register on Facebook at Stocker Woods Divorce Solutions or call Sonja at 940-566-1212.

LDISD Receives Check from Rotary The Denton Morning Rotary Club presented a check for $8,100 to Lake Dallas ISD for the Texas Reads One Book Program this year. Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett kicks off Texas Reads One Book with his videotaped reading of the first chapter of The Lemonade War. All three Lake Cities elementary schools will be participating in the program.

SOC Run October 7

SYATP September 28

The annual Spirit of Christmas Fun Run is scheduled for

This year, citizens of Lake Cities will come together for

Hickory Creek. Register for either a one mile run/walk

8am at Hickory Creek Town Hall. SYATP was inspired

October 7 beginning at 8am at Sycamore Bend Park in or the 5k. All proceeds go to the Lake Cities Spirit of

Christmas, an organization that provides Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas to over 400 children in the Lake

Cities community annually. Register at www.socrun.org.

See You At the Pole. Thursday, September 28 from 7amby students who wanted to find new and unique ways, places and times to pray throughout the week. The

movement, started in 1990, has grown from a small

Texas youth group to national and international groups.

Inside Education Palio’s Pizza Recognizes LDMS photos courtesy of B. MacDougall

Palio’s Pizza Café in Hickory Creek is awarding an LDISD Student/Teacher/Staff Member of the Month. Recipients will receive a gift certificate for a free meal at Palio’s, a certificate from the district, and will be featured on the district homepage and social media. This month’s recipients include: student-

First Responder Week Community Event

Britton MacDougall, Lake Dallas Middle School; teacher - John

Sept 15 from 5 - 7pm Tailgate w/ First Responders before game at Falcon Stadium

Fabro, Lake Dallas Middle School, and staff member - Dawn Shonk, Lake Dallas Middle School.

Guyer Earns National Recognition Guyer High School’s student body and staff have earned national and state recognition by U.S. News & World Report. Guyer

(Hosted by Quarterback Club)

Homecoming Week Sept 25 - Sept 29

LDHS Spirit Parades

Sept 28 from 8 - 9am Falcon Marching Band performs at all 3 LDISD Elementary School Campus Spirit Parades

earned a silver medal based on performance of state-required tests and how well our students are prepared for college and/or a career. Guyer scored a 32.2 on the College Readiness Index according to the scorecard in which students scored a 90% in Mathematics Proficiency and 85% in English Proficiency. The

“Just Another Win in Paradise” LDHS Homecoming Pep Rally

Advanced Placement participation rate at Guyer is 50%.

Sept 29 at 3pm in the competition gym

photos courtesy of Lake Dallas Fire Department

LCFD Donates Fire Truck The Lake Cities Fire Department has generously donated a fully functioning fire truck to the LDHS Fire Academy. Previously, the students and advisors would have to rely on the Lake Cities Fire Department for a fire truck to become available for use.

The Lake Cities Fire Department is made up of firefighters from Hickory Creek, Shady Shores and Lake Dallas. The LDHS Fire Academy started in 2016 for students wanting a career right out of high school.

LDISD launches FGP The LDISD is launching the Foster Grandparent Program, providing emotional support, mentoring and tutoring for atrisk youths in the district. The program provides seniors with meaningful volunteer experience which includes between 15 and 40 hours in the classroom. For more

HS Open House

Sept 18 at 6:30pm at Guyer

NO SCHOOL

information about the Foster Grandparent Program and how to get involved, please call

Oct 13 for Staff Development

940-484-5397.

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 15

Practice

Heart from the

9 4 0 . 4 9 7 . 3 0 0 0 | 4 2 5 1 F M 2 1 8 1 , S u i t e 2 6 4 | C o r i n t h , T X | by Susan Neuhalfen

W

hen you walk into Starshine Dentistry, there is a kind of warmth that envelops you. The staff is friendly, everyone is happy to be there and the enthusiasm is contagious. These are people who truly care about their patients’ overall health.

Despite the fact that Dr. Leena Alexander is a dentist, she treats a lot more than just

value on their teeth,” said Dr. Alexander.

“We believe in treating the whole person,

nails done.”

has been practicing for over 17 years.

“Everything is connected to the teeth.

That’s why people need to put more value on their oral health.”

Studies have shown that dental health affects overall health. Chronic bad breath and dry mouth are sometimes signs of kidney disease. Unhealthy gums usually go hand in hand with cardiovascular disease and even diabetes. Caring for your oral health, means caring for your whole self.

| September 2017

consequences of not putting the proper

the oral health of her clients.

not just the tooth,” said Dr. Alexander who

16 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

“I don’t think people realize the

“They give more value to getting their Dr. Alexander believes that spending more time on prevention will lead to

spending less time at the doctor…or

dentist…or orthodontist. For example, she has patients that come in at 7 or 8 years old and instead of preparing them for

years of braces, she has, in some cases, prevented them from having to wear braces at all.

“I studied orthodontics and I love it, but I knew I didn’t want to extract teeth,”

said Dr. Alexander. “That’s when I began

studying non-extraction orthodontics and that’s one part of what I practice here.”

While many professionals believe in

Dr. Alexander beams when she talks about

“Our patients are like family to us,” said

extracting teeth to make room for adult

her young patients.

Dr. Alexander. “My assistants and I make

“Working with children is my thing,” she

it a point to keep up with our patients,

teeth, non-extraction orthodontics practices developing the jaw to accommodate the permanent teeth. By repositioning the jaw, the teeth may come in straight after room has been made, eliminating the necessity for extraction,

Sponsored Content

photography by David Simms Photography

and, in some cases, the need for braces.

“By helping children achieve good oral health now, it can keep them healthy in their adult years,” said Dr. Alexander. “Also when we align the jaw properly at an early age, we can prevent future problems like sleep apnea.”

By starting children early, not only do they practice good oral health, they usually have better overall health. Dr. Alexander recommends bringing kids in at a minimum of 3 years old for a “happy visit”.

She does everything possible to make their visits very fun and when they’re done, they always get a treat.

said, smiling from ear to ear. “I love kids

even when we see them outside the

and I love to see them happy. I love how

office at schools, churches and other

family-oriented this practice is.”

community events.”

Dr. Alexander talked about how a lot of

She is especially fond of the Lake Cities

little children come in, clinging to their parents, unsure of what to expect. She considers it the best part of her day to show them how much fun it is to go to the dentist and win them over.

“They become our most loyal patients,” smiles Dr. Alexander. “They leave happy, with a smile and lots of them talk their parents into coming as well.”

Dr. Alexander takes pride in patient referrals, especially the little ones, but the truth is, she loves all of her patients.

After a large procedure, it’s not unlike her

community and she loves serving this community and its residents. Her favorite activity is being involved in the Lake Cities Spirit of Christmas, a community-wide event providing Christmas for economic disadvantaged families. She loves how it brings so many in the community together to show what the season is all about.

“We love that we can be part of this community,” said Dr. Alexander. “At the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.

We feel like we are part of a family in the

to make a post-op call to make sure the

Lake Cities and they are part of our family.

patient is doing okay.

Work is important, but so is family.”

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 17

Family

Finding the Leader in Me T

by Susan Neuhalfen

eaching curriculum and basic testing is common in all schools.

What many schools don’t teach

is leadership and life skills, especially at an elementary school level. Lake Dallas ISD is one of a select group of districts

in the country that has taken on that very task. They implemented The Leader in

Me program and have grown it to include all three elementary schools and now, as the students have grown older, they are

bringing the program into the middle and high school as well.

The Leader in Me is an initiative started by a principal in Raleigh. In an attempt

18 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

to turn her school around, she identified

that leadership and life skills were lacking among her students. She approached Franklin Covey to help her design a

leadership model for her school, based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. She has since shared this program all over the country.

Karen Dower facilitates The Leader in

Me program for LDISD. Children must

“All of the students in the elementary schools are getting The Leader in Me content as we have integrated it into everyday school life,” said Dower who said the program has become a foundational piece for LDISD. “The fifth graders in The Leader in Me class have specialized activities designed to teach leadership.”

The Leader in Me is for students who want

apply and then are selected in the

to get extra leadership training. In the

program, but LDISD ensures that

habits in depth. For example, the third

every student’s experience.

plan daily and weekly activities.

5th grade to be part of this prestigious

class they talk about each of the seven

elements of the program are part of

habit is planning. They are taught how to

They are also given situational problems and asked how they would handle certain issues from a leadership standpoint. As they begin to approach the situation, Dower has them think through the scenarios that could possibly occur. This is real life stuff and very difficult for many adults, much less 5th graders.

Dower’s personal favorite is teaching Habit 5, which is seek first to understand and then to be understood. The students practice by first listening and understanding their fellow student before making their own opinions known. Dower pointed out that despite their many means of social media there is a real loss of communication in this generation

“One of the things that students don’t realizes is how hard it is to listen,” said

Dower. “In this technology driven age,

the most valuable thing we can teach our

young people is to be really great listeners.”

Their first Leader in Me group is now in

8th grade and many have gone on to be student council leaders.

“I have watched several children who have started out quiet in a group of students

“In this technology driven age, the most valuable thing we can teach our young people is to be really great listeners.”

they didn’t know,” said Dower. “By the

end of 5th grade year, they were strong leaders in group activities.”

Most importantly, Dower says, they’ve

watched the kids become leaders on the campus. They are taught that leadership is a privilege and not something to be taken lightly.

“We teach children that everyone can become leaders and I’ve seen some

blossom into phenomenal leaders,” said

Dower. “I think it’s the very best thing we can teach kids now.”

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 19

Family

Football:

What’s All the Fuss About With Split Divisions in Class 5A?

by Steve Gamel

I

f you’ve been paying attention to high school football storylines, you may have heard about the University

Interscholastic League’s plans to move forward with a split division format before

According to a Dallas Morning News

“It levels off the disparity and creates a

is fear of the unknown. For example,

have teams with an enrollment number

article last month, the biggest concern Woodrow Wilson High School in

Dallas sits on the borderline between

the start of next season.

Division I and Division II using current

Under this format, all Class 5A teams will

states. Since Dallas ISD schools – which

be split between Division I and Division II for the regular season and playoffs based on their enrollment numbers. The goal is

enrollment figures, the DMN article

are all in close proximity to each other – could fall on different sides of the

level playing field, because you won’t

of 1,100 competing against schools with enrollment numbers at 2,200,” Young

said. “As an example, Division II could be schools with enrollments between 1,100 and 1,600. Any coach will tell you that numbers are very important.”

division cutoff number, Wilson’s district

Another benefit Young pointed to is

could in turn create scheduling and

the current format, teams are split into

mates could change drastically. This

a consistent playoff structure. Under

squaring off against schools with larger

transportation issues.

different divisions once playoffs start,

numbers and depth to pull from.

There is also the possibility that the cutoff

to match schools of similar size with one another rather than having smaller schools

The UIL will use enrollment numbers turned in on Oct. 27 to determine every team’s fate for realignment day in February.

numbers in each classification (1A through 6A) could change and force teams that

are on the bubble between 5A and 6A to

move up a weight class. Highland Park, for example, is a large 5A school, but spent

Split divisions is really not a foreign

2014 and 2015 in Class 6A and could find

which means teams that win district

don’t always get matched up with the right opponent.

“If you win your district, you’re supposed to play the fourth place team from

whatever district you are lined up with,”

Young said. “But it doesn’t always work out

concept, anyway. Teams competing in

itself moved up again.

Class 4A and below are already using

Lake Dallas football coach Michael Young

we won our district and ended up facing a

to the threat of more travel. But that’s

doesn’t make any sense. This new format

it. But with any great plan, there can always be the potential for chaos. So what’s all the fuss?

20 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

that way. We’ve had it happen here where

can see cause for concern when it comes

second-place team in the first round. That

where all the concerns should end.

should fix that.”

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 21

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.

22 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 23

North Texas

Lifestyle

Harvey Heroes

T

by Susan Neuhalfen

he rivalry between Houston and Dallas is always fun, but when disaster strikes, we’re all Texans and we all pull together. No sooner had Jim Cantore taken cover than our North Texas community started south with supplies and much needed helping hands. Though we couldn’t personally thank everyone around for their help, here are some wonderful people that went above and beyond the call of duty to help our friends in the southeast.

Dr. Matt Artho, owner and practicing dentist at Country Lakes Dental in Argyle, was deployed by the National Guard to help in the effort to rescue victims of Hurricane Harvey. Luckily for us, his activation ended early and he was back to taking care of our community on September 12.

Photos courtesy of LDPD Facebook

Lake Dallas Police Officer Sara Deville was deployed (136th Military Police Battalion - Texas Army National Guard ) to assist with search and rescue efforts.

photo courtesy of RPM Construction photo courtesy of Corinth Police Facebook

The Palm Tree Boutique, J.T. Clothiers and several other downtown Denton businesses donated their sales on August 31 to Global Giving Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and the SPCA of Texas.

City of Corinth Animal Control Officer Josh Alvarez and his family made a trip to Victoria Texas dropping off supplies to the Victoria Police Department. They took water, canned goods, non-perishable food items and more immediately following the hurricane.

Paula’s Canine Academy took in dogs in need from displaced owners due to the flooding. They also took in pets for volunteers who were traveling to Houston to help with the hurricane recovery effort free of charge.

photo courtesy of Flower Mound Fire Department

photo courtesy of RPM Construction

Donnie Finchum with RPM Construction headed straight to Port Arthur with his boat helping to rescue those stranded by Hurricane Harvey. On the first trip down they were able to rescue of 20 people, 4 dogs and 1 cat. The second trip was a supply trip with 13,000 pounds of bottled water, 6 cases of formula, 4 cases of depends, 18 cases of diapers, 2 cases of wipes, two giant bags full of brand new socks and underwear, a lot of snacks and food, pre-made hygiene kits, hygiene supplies, tarps and towels.

Flower Mound’s ambulance bus (AMBUS), along with seven firefighter/ paramedics were originally deployed to South Texas on a State Mission Assignment for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. FMFD then sent additional staff assigned to Texas Task Force 2 and Emergency Management Support Teams for search and rescue missions. Additional firefighters were sent not only from FMFD but Lake Cities Fire Department, Southlake and The Colony. photo courtesy of Pure Synergy

photo courtesy of RPM Construction photo courtesy of Cadillac Art & Frame Cadillac Art & Frame in Little Elm set the store up to take donations for evacuees coming to Dallas from Houston.

Pure Synergy Wellness Studio accepted donations and promptly delivered the first truck full of donations to the people of Rockport.

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 25

Lifestyle | Gardening

Not So Great Deal

You Get What You Pay For

N

ow is the time to get the ball rolling on that outdoor space or landscaping project. Everyone’s looking for a “great deal” but be careful! Daily we run into situations where the best price/lowest price got the job and now your paying double or triple to fix it.

Beware of all the handymen turned patio builders and lawn mowers turned landscapers. Hire someone with patio specific construction experience. Your contractor should be able to provide references and take you to a couple of completed (as well as in-progress) jobs. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you’ve paid less and been left hoping for more.

THINGS TO REMEMBERQ-What is your pay schedule on this project?

Q-How many years have you been in business here locally?

A-Most professionals will have a draw type payment schedule (depending on overall total) or a 50-50 split upon completion.

If you’re asked for a majority of all funds upfront without a binding contract and before the materials have even been dropped on site you’re probably not dealing with a trustworthy company.

A- A contractor who’s been around for 5 to 10 years has established a solid network of suppliers, subcontractors and has earned a local reputation. This will make them a safer bet than a contractor who’s either new to the business, the area or planning on commuting in from an outside location.

26 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

Q-Can you provide me with at least five local referrals?

A-All contractors should be prepared to provide at least five references for you to gauge their quality of work and woverall experience.

Q-Are you insured and registered here with our city?

A-Any company that is worth doing business with will carry both insurance and local registrations wherever they are working. You should expect to pay more for dealing with a legitimate company but you’ll also rest easy knowing that you’re protected and following city codes when taking on your project.

by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 27

Lifestyle | Edit This

10 Tips To Improve Your Writing

I

was told once that to be a better writer, all I had to do was keep writing.

That's sound advice, right? To get better at anything – like riding a bike or throwing a football through a tire in your backyard – you need practice. Writing isn't any different. Well, sort of.

There's more to being a writer than simply writing lots of stuff. I am constantly looking for ways to be better at what I do. My thirst to be a better writer than I was even a day ago is unquenchable. Like a kid who already knows how to ride a bike, I want to learn how to pop a wheelie.

Here are 10 writing tips and techniques that have worked for me over the years: 1. Be concise – Keep your writing simple and get to the point quickly. If you can eliminate words without changing the meaning or tone of a sentence, then do it.

2. Use a conversational style – There are times to be formal, but you should write the same way you speak. It's easier for the

28 | LAKE CITIES LIVING

| September 2017

6. Write down every idea – Some of the

best ideas I've had did not spring into my mind while I sat in front of my computer.

Keep a notepad handy, text them to yourself, use the recorder on your phone if you have to. It all makes for a better story for down the road.

7. Be better at interviews – If you ask the right questions, and you listen, you can

dig deeper to find elements to a story that readers truly care about.

reader to understand, it will likely be read by more people, and you build rapport and credibility as a writer.

8. Read your writing out loud – Reading

3. Don't limit your writing – I love sports

yourself stumbling over longer sentences,

writing, but I'm not afraid to branch out and tackle different topics (news, human interest, etc.). It's that ability to write about almost anything, and to engage almost any audience, that makes me a more complete writer.

4. Use the human element – I won an award last year for a piece on new concussion-sensing technology. The judge pointed to my choice to use a high school football player as the hook for the story. In doing so, I gave what could have been a dry and technical story on a common topic the human element it needed to be more impactful for readers.

5. Ask for feedback – Always bounce your content off someone else before going to print. Not only can that person catch potential typos, but they can ensure you are on the right track and that what you've written is understandable.

your article out loud will help you get into the mindset of your readers. If you find shorten them. If the article sounds robotic, rewrite it. Then read aloud again.

9. Avoid Generalities – Avoid using

hasty, unsupported generalizations. I have always been big on adding facts and figures, or anything that will add perspective, to my writing.

10. Read, Read, Read – One of the

best tips I can give any aspiring writer or journalist is to read as much as possible.

Read novels, read poetry, read the work of other great writers and journalists.

There is always someone out there worth learning from.

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

September 2017 | LAKE CITIES LIVING | 29