Lantana Living Magazine January 2016

JANUARY 2016

O An

ut pouring of God’s Grace & Love

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JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 3

Company Argyle United Methodist Church

Y A D I L O H SE

Parties

AS

ON

’S G R

BU EETING S FROM LOCAL

S SE S E SIN

from

Thank YOU Northside A/C & Heating

Thank you for your continued support, readership and participation. Together we can continue to make Lantana the best community to live in.

Smiles for Life Dentistry

Cinnamon Creek Ranch

Cerita Loftis Realty

Southern Comfort Mechanical Jesse James Fit Jim Bridges from State Farm

Lantanaresident

Charity offered to grief-stricken family

Locals are banding together to help the family of a Guyer High School student whose life was tragically cut short this month.

Mission Moms of Lantana is serving food to the family and helping with funeral expenses.

You can donate at

www.missionmoms.org/ #!donate/c1ghi.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help with final expenses at

www.gofundme.com/ coreywest.

Corey West, 17, was a sophomore basketball player who was struck and killed by a car on Loop 288 in Denton on January 17. Visit LantanaLiving.com for more information.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 5

Contents

Featured Stories and News

14th Annual Groundhog Day Gala Benefiting Denton Public School Foundation

February 6th at UNT Gateway Center

(dentonisd.ejoinme.org/gala2016)

Sweet Deals at The Shops of Highland Village Feb 7 - 14th (see pg. 40 for details) Valentine’s Night Out Event for Kids Ages 5 - 12 at C.A.C. Februay 14th at 6pm Women of Flower Mound Mardi Gras Game Night February 19th

Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com 6 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Pg 32 On the Cover: Argyle United Methodist Church

Photos from Lantana

04 Company Holiday Parties 30 Adkins Elementary 35 Mother Son Night 38 Resident Photos: Holiday Edition 53 Holiday Cheer at EP Rayzor 61 Holiday Resident Photos Continued

32 41 44 48 50 55 58 63

Youth Club Competes Fund The Future A.S.K Community Bible Study A World In The Woods

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RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Body And Soul

Argyle United Methodist Church Lantana’s Search For Beau For The Love Of Music 5 Tips For A Positive Divorce Guyer Football Saylor Snowden Welcome Home Johnnie A Hidden Gem For Enthusiasts

Every Issue 07 08 11 27 29 37 42 47 56

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Facebook.com/EpRayzorPta

Your Plan “B”

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E.P. Rayzor Elementary’s Daddy Daughter Dance “Candyland Ball” February 5th from 6:30 - 9pm

LANT AN

Lantana Community Events

Table of

From Your Editor Inside Education Inside Community Upscale Home The Sidelines Gardening Real Estate Dr. Matt Coaching Corner

Fat

Trim The Real

From Your Life

A Message from The Community Editor

“L

ife is precious” — we often over-hear genuine, heart-to-heart, gut-level sharing. We and over-say those words with little share hurts, disappointments, confess failures, regard to the depth and meaning behind disclose doubts, admit fears, acknowledge them. The holidays always seem to capitalize weaknesses and ask for help and prayer. on the times we value with dear friends and That inner circle of people in our lives should family. Additionally, the Kleenex box seems only be real relationships with mutuality. to be a presence on the counter Mutuality is defined as, “the with emotions flooding over those art of giving and receiving and that are no longer celebrating the depending on one another.” holidays with us or that are not Building a tight circle of nearby anymore. reciprocal relationships, sharing However, during this season responsibilities and helping each of sharing and celebrating, I other are among my resolutions reflected on the true experience for 2016. of spending life together. Life is In addition to resolving to intended to be shared. My beloved Kathryn Flores, trim some real fat in 2016, I book, The Purpose Driven Life Community Relations, Marketing and Advertising Manager vow to focus intentionally on says, “It is unselfish loving, honest Argyle Living & Lantana Living gratitude and being grateful for Kathryn@murray-media.com sharing, sacrificial giving and 214.734.5783 the life I have. Did you know sympathetic comforting.” In true that gratefulness is a muscle in your state of relationships, people experience authenticity. mind that you need to practice flexing every Unfortunately, many relationships today have single day? Mine is sorely out of shape way become superficial and end up doing more too often. I need to seriously get that grateful harm than good. muscle to the “I already have everything Behind many of these superficial connections I need” gym. lie selfish intentions, ones in which sometimes Whether writing down a daily list of blessings we are not even consciously aware. Relationships is your grateful workout of choice, or spending have become all about “me” and not “we.” What’s worse is we continue to remain in emotionally time in meditation, prayer, or deep thinking, you abusive relationships because we are afraid of need to consistently zen yourself out about what leaving the “security” to which we have become you’re honestly and truly thankful for and trim accustomed. We feel obligated to stay in touch the fat on the rest. As many head back to the gym with individuals who do nothing but bring us to trim the holiday Yule log pounds, I encourage down, thus hindering our ability to live our life you to also work on trimming the fat in your life and tightening your inner circles as well as your to the fullest.

There’s a fundamental challenge that comes pledge to tighten and tone physically.

This also means trimming a lot of the good fat from these freshly formed “almost-relationships.”

They operate without the foundation of how to make ample room for the dose of greatness many of the best relationships are formed: over that lies ahead! There is nothing better to fight off envy, sadness or disillusionment than a mind time, with mutual care and interest.

The alternative, authentic fellowships, are not muscle beefed-up and ready to punch with joy mundane, surface-level chit-chat. They include and gratitude. Now, go get to trimming …

LantanaLiving.com

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

Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Contributors Steve Gamel

Advertising

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

Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill Caroline Brock

Photography

Scott Young 972.899.3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com Karen Foust 214.850.3417 FoustPhotography.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 kathryn@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. © 2016 Murray Media Group

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 7

Guyer High Students Earn High School Musicians Academic Distinctions Named To TMEA AllThe College Board honored 130 Denton ISD Region Bands high school students with distinctions for 2015, according to their annual list of recipients who are named Advanced Placement Scholars.

The national program recognizes individuals

who

have

demonstrated

college-level

achievement though exceptional scores in AP

courses and on AP exams. Students are awarded

based on four levels including: AP Scholar; AP Scholar with Honor; AP Scholar with Distinction; and National AP Scholar.

Students receive an award certificate from The

College Board and although there is no monetary award, this achievement is acknowledged on any score report that is sent to colleges.

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher

Student musicians from Denton, Guyer and Ryan high schools earned 23 of the available places on the TMEA All-Region Bands, competing against their peers from Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Keller, Northwest, White Settlement and Wichita Falls school districts.

The students listed below will join other selected musicians in at least one performance at the All-Region Band Concerts on January 16 in the Guyer High School auditorium.

From Guyer High School: Nicole Mendyka (piccolo, 1st chair, advanced to area)

on three or more AP exams are named AP

Iida-maria Raina

AP Scholar distinction.

Katelyn Golden (flute, 23rd chair)

Scholars. Denton ISD had 78 students earn the Winners from Guyer High School are:

Juniors: Ansh Pujara, Abhishek Shah, and

Daniel Wang

Seniors: Daniel Acosta, Davina Agawu, Maria

Anez, Emily Ayers, Drake Bigrigg, Corbin Born,

Joshua Erickson, Lauren Estrada, Seth Gandt, Annie Garland, Alexandra Gentile, Austin Haddock, Noah Hansen, Joshua Kasitz, Justin

Masoner, Malissa Owen, Iida Raina, Llyleila

Richardson, Anthony Rodriguez, Evan Samsky, Sydney Seavey, Jason Theriot, Dylan Towne and Andrew Wendel

Graduated: Adam Anderson, Pamela Ayala,

Quinton Ayers, Riley Carr, Jubei Del Rosario

Vin, Gabrielle Getts, Piper Gleadhill, Amber Krinner, Karissa Lambert, Charles Drake

Lawson, Heather Lewis, Henry Lim, Syed

Mahmood, Brianna McKinney, Jimmie Miller,

Preston Mitchell, Sophie Nader, Connor Olson,

(Bb clarinet, 6th chair, advanced to area) Justin Koh (Baritone sax, 4th chair) Austin Calma (trumpet, 15th chair) Connor Wooley (trombone, 3rd chair, advanced to area) Abhishek Shah (trombone, 10th chair) Michael Fletcher (trombone, 17th chair) Josh Mistrot (euphonium, 1st chair, advanced to area) Jordan Meza (euphonium, 7th chair) Luis Sanchez (percussion, 19th chair)

Rayzor Elementary Teachers Earn Grants Congratulations to Melissa Leonard and Dawn Vaughn, two teachers at E.P. Rayzor Elementary, for receiving grants through the Denton Public School Foundation. A $1000

Jacob Poole, Danielle Poyser, Benjamin Priddy,

grant for librarian Leonard will help update the

Timothy Stern, Aaron Taylor, Fiker Tesfaye,

who works with students who have dyslexia, will

and Karen Vinson

students use in class.

Bassam Smadi, Rachel Smith, Hunter Snowden,

school’s media center. A $500 grant for Vaughn,

Katherine Tester, Quinn Tidwell, Darby Traylor

be used to purchase keyboards for the iPads her

8 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Harpool Basketball Girls Win Summer Creek Tournament Harpool Middle’s 7th and 8th grade girls’

basketball teams won the Summer Creek M.S. tournament in Crowley over the weekend of December 12-13! All teams A, B, C - 7th and 8th grade - have a 15-3 record.

Adkins Elementary Students Get Crash Course In Coding Adkins Elementary School joined in the

largest learning event in history last month. The Hour of Code, which was held during Computer

Science Education Week, has now been part

of the lives of more than 100 million students around the world.

“Our Hour of Code is a statement that Adkins

Elementary is ready to teach these foundational 21st Century skills,” said Principal Emily

McLarty in a statement on the school’s website.

“To continue bringing programming activities

to your students, we want to make our Hour of Code event huge.”

In order to create excitement and promote our

event, students were asked to wear their favorite

Star Wars t-shirt on December 4, the day of the event.

Local Ribbon Cuttings!

The Chamber

Connection

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Support your community by shopping local.

See a full list of local businesses at the Flower Mound Chamber!

700 Parker Square Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028 (972) 539-0500 • www.flowermoundchamber.com

18/8 Fine Men’s Salons

Amazing Lash Studio

3701 Justin Road, Suite 120 •Flower Mound, TX 75028 Contact: Elizabeth Rogan •469.331.9188

2500 Cross Timbers Road, Suite 110•Flower Mound, TX 75028 Contact: Tommy Tran • 817.371.5613

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 9

10 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

What’s On Tap At Lantana Town Center

Spate Of Burglaries In Nearby Double Oak

Tokyo Samurai Restaurant, Marble Slab

Creamery, Lantana Spa and Nails, Terry Donuts, SuperCuts, Nathan Romney DDS and The Tutoring Center are all up and

running in Lantana. Plans have been approved

A crime alert was issued in nearby Double Oak last month as several reports came in of burglary of storage sheds. It happened in the 300 block of Meadowknoll Drive. During the incidents,

for Lantana Eyecare and Hollywood Feed at

someone went gone into the storage sheds

Two strip center buildings on the north

blowers, a chain saw and a generator. Police have

Lantana Town Center.

without permission and stolen weed eaters, leaf

side of the Kroger at Lantana Town Center

also received dozens of reports of car burglaries

also are under construction. One building is approximately 9,800 square feet. Three lease

spaces are designated as food establishments, which will include Dickey’s BBQ, Dominos

and Subway. Another tenant will be Oak Creek

Family Dentist. A second adjacent building

is about 4,200 square feet large. One of the

in nearby Flower Mound and Highland Village.

New Lantana Neighborhood Close To Adkins Elementary Lantana’s new Reatta neighborhood includes 70-foot home sites and Highland Home and Standard Pacific Homes are building the homes on them. The new area backs up to the 16th hole on the Lantana Golf Course, and many of the new homes will line the course.

Also, Reatta residents will have a quick and easy access to Dorothy P. Adkins Elementary School. Lots are expected to be delivered in spring, and homes will be up for presale early in the year.

Most of them were unlocked, police said.

Police are encouraging residents to keep their cars locked and to take their valuables inside with them. It is also important to make sure storage sheds and other outbuildings are locked.

spaces will be a Starbucks coffee location with a drive through.

Traffic Light Installation Planned A new traffic signal is coming to the

intersection of Branch Crossing and FM 407.

The signal has been approved and funded by TxDOT. It is expected that the signal will be installed by March.

Fitness Facility Coming To Corner Of Simmons And FM 407 Links

Construction

completion

of

the

is

closing

construction

in

of

on a

10,474-square-foot, multi-tenant, retail strip

building at the northeast corner of Simmons

and FM 407 adjacent to a nearby dry cleaner.

The exterior finishes are completed and the

parking lot and drives have been paved. Plans have been approved for Anytime Fitness, a 6,100-square-foot fitness center at the south end

of the building. The building will also have two additional lease spaces.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 11

By Steve Gamel

Competes at National Level

Local Youth Run Club

12 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

W

hat began as a just-for-fun running club has morphed into a competitive outlet for several area youth.

Below is a complete list of where everyone finished at junior nationals.

2K (7-8 year olds)

Eleni Jo Browne:

Avery Anderson:

3K (9- 10 year olds) Cady McPhail:

Photos courtesy of The North Texas Road Warriors

138 out of 197 (10:30.4)

82 out of 197

(9:42.4)

171 out of 294 (14:30.5)

Samatha Humphries: 48 out of 294 (13:09.9) Nicole Humphries: 53 out of 294 (13:15.5) Dashiell Browne:

175 out of 306 (13:44.5)

Noah Tepera:

220 out of 306 (14:13.0)

Lukas Valdez:

3K (11- 12 year olds)

265 out of 306 (15:19.9)

Isabel Browne:

278 out of 300 (15:28.9)

Rachel Sutliff:

32 out of 300 (12:12.4)

Riley McGarry: Natalie Cook: Asher Leslie:

Ethan Borge: 4K (13- 14 year olds) Johnathan Flint:

266 out of 300 (14:50.2) 82 out of 300 (12:39.3) 104 out of 312 (11:56.8) 283 out of 312 (14:08.7)

215 out of 345 (16:04.8)

The North Texas Road Warriors, led predominately by runners from Denton County, had a strong showing at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on Dec. 12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Of the Road Warriors’ 15 runners, 13 were from Lantana, Flower Mound and Highland Village. All runners had to finish in the Top 15 in their age group at a regional meet in November to qualify.

“The club really has taken on a life of its own,” Road Warriors coach Matt Celone said. “I started this as a way to just keep everyone in shape. Then about three years ago we started getting serious.”

This was the club’s third trip in as many years to junior nationals. Some of its top finishers included Flower Mound twin sisters Samantha and Nicole Humphries. Samantha finished 48 out of 294 runners in the girls 3,000-meter run (9-10 age group) with a time of 13:09.9. Nicole finished 53rd with a time of 13:15.5.

Rachel Sutliff, a Grapevine resident, finished 32 out of 300 runners (12:12.4) in the 11-12 age group. Natalie Cook of Highland Village finished 82nd in the same race with a time of 12:39.3. Avery Anderson of Flower Mound finished 82 out of 197 runners in the girls 2,000meter run (7-8 age group) at 9:42.4.

Other runners who competed at nationals

included Lantana residents Cady McPhail, Isabel Browne, Eleni Jo Browne, Dashiell Browne and Riley McGarry; Flower Mound runners Asher

Leslie, Johnathan Flint, Lukas Valdez and Ethan Borge; and Keller resident Noah Tepera.

Celone, who also coaches the track team

for the Town of Flower Mound, said he loves coaching kids so much that he doesn’t charge

to be a part of the North Texas Road Warriors.

The club competes in various events throughout

We run everywhere and sometimes even the parents come out and run with us, Celone said.

the year, and parents are simply asked to cover race entry fees.

Three years ago, Celone took eight runners

to the regional qualifier in Denton and six of

them advanced to junior nationals. In 2014, 11 of the 14 runners who competed at regionals

qualified for nationals. Celone said he brought

21 runners to this year’s regional meet, which was in Carrollton.

“It’s very organized and structured, and it has

good support from the area. All of these kids are

very strong runners, and they certainly won’t have stage fright by the time they get to high school.”

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 13

P

arents of Denton ISD students now have a way to shop for their families and help raise funds as part of a new initiative by the Denton Public School Foundation.

Through the “Fund Our Future” program, participants can shop at over 600 merchants who will then rebate a portion of what is spent and send it back to the district. And it’s free to all who are interested.

“The money goes into a general fund,” said Jacqueline Jackson, the foundation’s executive director. “The board can decide from there how to best use it.”

These 600 online merchants, including 1-800-PetMeds, Amazon, eVitamins, and hotels.com among dozens more, will give back an average of 3 percent of each purchase to the DPSF. Some, however, are rebating even more.

By Contributing Writer Jackson said there is a gap between what Jackson said she doesn’t yet know when this fundraiser will conclude, but right school taxes bring in and what is needed to now, there’s plenty of time to shop ’tip provide the type of education Denton ISD desires for its students. In you drop for the good of fact, the foundation was the students.

“DPSF recently gate started 20 years ago for The Denton Public just that reason.

School Foundation, begun away more than The DPSF recently gate in 1995, works to raise $77,000 in grants away more than $77,000 funds to and enhance the in grants and scholarships quality of education in and scholarships to teachers for classroom Denton ISD. Usually, that to teachers projects, Jackson said. happens in the classrooms, Most of the time, teachers but it can include things for classroom pay for their own classlike teacher inservice days projects. . . ” room supplies, which can and additional training. get expensive.

“Things come up From time to time, teachers want to do throughout the year,” Jackson said.

“A particular department might need something above and beyond with their [money] for a training session … or other students, things that might require audio/ video equipment or special technology. ongoing needs.”

“It’s amazing to read some of these [proposals] to see how creative these teachers are,” she said. “Most school districts don’t have those kinds of discretionary funds that kind of give the little extras.”

The foundation also offers scholarships for graduating seniors. Last year, almost $100,000 was given, Jackson said.

To help this project, you can create an account and start shopping by visiting dpsffundourfuture.com.

There’s event a reminder service you can install on your computer.

14 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 15

She Helps You Find Out

YOUR Plan “Be”

By Contributing Writer

L

ibby Spears is a woman on the move, now that she knows what she wants to “be” when she grows up. The Lantana mother of two is a communication specialist, focusing on helping people get from a point of change to the next chapter of their lives.

“There’s a fundamental question that we all need to ask of ourselves before we start … ‘What do you want to be?’ From there you can make plans.”

Spears taught communication studies and did graduate work at UNT, then went on to teach at TCU. “It was at that time that this business I have now started getting a lot more momentum,” she said. “I love what I do. I get to educate no matter what stage I’m on or what room I’m in.”

Although Spears speaks locally from time-to-time, she normally works with state-level chambers of commerce and corporate leadership training. Right now, she’s working with a Canadian engineering/ architecture/science firm, facilitating a nine-month long program with its U.S. locations.

Her topics are varied, but include emotional intelligence, communication, management, public speaking and storytelling – topics that inform the topics that are important to leaders who want to be successful.

Spears’ keynote talk, “What’s Your Plan Be?” also has a book and program connected to it. She often speaks on this and other 16 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

topics at social events. Another of her topics is about how different generations relate to each other in the workplace.

“There’s just a big difference between how young professionals think about the workplace and how Gen Xers and Baby Boomers do,” she said.

In fact, in the past 2-3 years, this has been Spears’ most popular workplace talk.

“...when you come from a place of that’s not enough, that absolutely changes the opportunities that come your way.”

Additionally, Spears’ business, Bravo Communications & Consulting, also hosts fundraisers and offers scholarships. One of her biggest initiatives is a Girls Night Out fundraiser held just this past month.

“This is how I want to start my year,” Spears said. “I want to give before I receive.

The idea behind it is I love the idea of a fun party that’s raising money to do something that’s important.”

Each table at the event, held in Lewisville this past year, sells at a price. About 250 women attend, including some teachers.

Spears reaches out to people in the community who care about a particular school, then enlists them to help buy a table for 10 teachers from that school or district.

For the past five years, this fundraiser has benefited girls in Denton ISD schools through the Denton Public Schools Foundation. This year she is also doing the same scholarship with Lewisville ISD and is also starting to awarding scholarships to boys.

Spears has daughters who are a freshman and a junior at Guyer High School.

“As a business owner I want to provide the opportunity for others …,” she said. “I live in this community, this community is important to me. I’m raising a family here.

This is just that thing that I do to say this is what I care about the most.”

Bravo’s leadership committee is composed of women who have kids who are in Denton schools. Many have been friends since kids were in kindergarten.

One of them has directly seen Spears’ approach change her life’s direction.

“I’ve done this for 10 years. Every time it happens I still am amazed by how many people come to me and say, ‘I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.’ Then I’ll have them also say, ‘I guess it doesn’t really matter because it’s too late. I just need to stay miserable in this job that I have.’

“There has to be a better way to have this conversation and to address these challenges and have a system in place where you can really address what you want to do.”

Sometimes that means doing small things. Sometimes the steps taken are more life changing.

A friend on Spears’ committee held degree in marketing, used it for a few years and decided to be a stay- at-home mom.

“Her kids got older – she’ll be 50 in two years – and she kept saying to me, ‘I’m unhappy and I don’t know where to begin.’

“Finally one day she said it out loud. ‘I want to be a nurse. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do.’”

Spears helped her explore different options to make that happen and now she’s two classes away from filing nursing school applications.

“She had to get over that internal dialogue that was telling her, ‘You’re too old. It’s too late. You can’t do this thing.’ [Now] she’s so happy,” Spears said. “That’s the kind of thing that I try to help people achieve.”

“It’s all a matter of perspective. When things go wrong like the economy so many people panic. I think when you come from a place of that’s not enough, that absolutely changes the opportunities that come your way.”

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 17

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Now Merged Into One

18 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Come Visit Our New Showroom!

972.539.8258 CompleteInteriorSolutions.net C-Exteriors.com 4401 Long Prairie Road, Suite 400 Flower Mound, TX 75028

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JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 19

A.S.K. C o m m u n i t y

B i b l e

S t u d y

By Contributing Writer

Photos Courtesy of Jennifer Pender

T

he young, impressionable, tender hearts of children can easily be swayed with each new promise or crushing disappointment. A Lantana group is hoping to stem the tide that threatens to knock their youngsters off the narrow way.

And it all starts with building a foundation of knowledge, wisdom and understanding what anchors their little lives.

“I think as parents we just always want to try to encourage our kids to seek the truth and to be able to know about God,” said Jennifer Pender, who runs A.S.K. Bible study in Lantana. “If that is kind of your avenue this program helps to give you something to actually walk through a Bible study with your kids at home – a 5 minute study to talk about throughout the week.”

A.S.K. is an arm of Community Bible Study, an organization that provides group studies for people based on their location. For 10 weeks in the spring and again in the fall, parents can drop their kids off at Crossroads Bible Church for a time of play, worship, study and group discussion.

This coming semester began on January 5 and the theme is “the truth and power.”

“Basically that God gives us the power to do things through the Holy Spirit,” Pender said of this coming semester.”

20 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Kids get to play on a playground, get a snack and do worship, hear from a speaker who talks on the lesson, then divide into small groups – girls and boys, then by grade levels.

“We had about 60 people and that was our first semester,” Pender said. “It was a great semester. It was really amazing.”

The 2-hour program is held on Tuesdays from 3:15-5 p.m.

“It’s just a good way to really set aside some time each week and you’re accountable to do those lessons with your kids. It’s just been really good,” Pender said.

“Another reason is – kids start to see who’s in their Bible study at school because they wear their t-shirts on Tuesdays. It kind of creates a community within the school.

“The idea is just that you have some godly friends around to help you. You know that that’s a buddy that could help you if you needed something at school.

Those interested in starting an A.S.K. study in their community are required to pray for a

year before they can start. Pender said that’s how the adult volunteers came to offer their help to her group.

“None of these people were my friends before we even started. All of them were brought by God,” she said.

This year there are two new leaders starting for the next semester because their kids were in the study and they saw how much their kids enjoyed it.

Each adult volunteer has to do a training about child safety. The must also answer a thorough questionnaire about their faith and have a background check done before they can start working with the children.

For $25 per semester, kids get a Bible, a t-shirt and a study curriculum book. A.S.K. also has scholarships for families who aren’t able to afford the fee.

“It’s just so nurturing,” Pender said.

“Everybody seems to get a lot from it. It just creates a community that we didn’t realize can happen. I think that’s really neat for Lantana.”

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 21

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By Contributing Writer

O

n a hill in Argyle stands a house that healing built, a place of serenity and tranquility for those on their journey to finding deliverance from addiction and dependence on things that have worked to destroy their lives.

22 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

The Santé Center was founded by Deb and Rip Corley, siblings from North Texas who were fustrated with how managed care in traditional hospitals was dictating some of the treatment for recovering addicts.

“They wanted to start their own facility that people could receive the best treatment possible for addictions and mental health issues,” said Sam Slaton, Santé’s COO and an Argyle resident.

“They wanted to have a treatment center where people could work on everything holistically.”

The center offers a variety of levels of care provided within the mental health addiction field, from sub-acute medical detox to outpatient

counseling. A residential program is mainly for clients who have a dependency or have had one in the past.

Intensive outpatient and transitional living opportunities are also available. Those in transition were formerly in primary treatment and are now in the outpatient program but are living off-campus in one of Santé’s apartments.

There is also a stand-alone clinic offering community-based services such as counseling and psychiatric services for anyone in the community.

Slaton said at Santé, treatment isn’t measured in number of days but in the amount of goals achieved.

The Slaton Family Photography By: B Faith Photography

“Recovery is not a light switch fix … it’s a

lifetime focus,” he said. “It can be like a cancer that will never have a remission date … That’s the power of addiction, that’s the power of mental

come from anywhere in North America. When someone calls in, it’s usually a loved one or a professional looking for information.

health issues.”

Slaton grew up in Highland Village and

attended UNT, where he also had an internship role at the Santé Center. He said a lot of

people, even those who live nearby, don’t know the center exists.

“The town and community of Argyle is

growing and recognizing what Santé offers,” he said. “When I first started no one knew what it

“Very few people understand that the Santé Center for Healing is an internationally recognized treatment center.”

was. The word is spreading about who we serve.

Slaton has never heard anything negative

about Santé being in located in Argyle. He said

the center has positive relationships with the neighbors on either side

That remote locale, shrouded in nature and

away from the business of the world, can have a healing impact on the clients who live there.

“Environment definitely plays a big role,”

Slaton said. “Being in a tranquil environment where people can disconnect … where it can be

“What we offer here is individualized

treatment,” Slaton said, adding that while

For more information call 800.258.4250 or visit us at www.Santécenter.com 914 Country Club Rd. • Argyle, TX 76226

like the Santé Center offers, there are some ways of determining how many clients feel healthy again.

Follow-up surveys are done 30, 60, 90 and 180

days post treatment.

live in the area. Between 50 and 60 percent of

treatment at Santé, close to 90 percent are still

clients are from Texas and Oklahoma. The rest

“Our goal with the financial piece is to rule people into treatment, not rule them out of it,” Slaton said.

The center works with several insurance companies for client treatment and has never asked a client to leave treatment because of financial issues, he said.

“There’s no cure for addiction. It’s a battle that you can definitely fight and have a long, meaningful, joy-filled life if you’re willing to put in the effort to fight for your recovery.”

success rates can be subjective for what facilities

calm and soothing.”

The Santé Center gets some walk-ins who

Santé is a private pay facility that has the option to work with people financially in any way that they can.

“We have found that people who complete

sober after one year,” Slaton said.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 23

Lantanaresident Lantanaresident 24 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Most children with bronchiolitis can be diagnosed with just a physical exam. When we listen to the lungs, the airways are congested with mucus. With RSV bronchiolitis, all areas of the lungs sound about the same which helps to rule out bacterial pneumonia.

We’ll often hear some wheezing and many children will breathe harder or faster than normal.

Sure, we could order a chest x-ray or a test to look for the RSV virus, but just because we can order tests doesn’t mean that we should. If a child’s symptoms and physical exam make sense for bronchiolitis, a slightly abnormal chest x-ray often leads to unnecessary antibiotics. RSV is a virus and does not improve with antibiotics.

Once the diagnosis is made, we have to decide what to do about it. For the majority of kids, with relatively mild symptoms and without significant distress, the best treatment is “symptomatic care.” That means staying home, using saline drops and suction to keep the nose clear, encouraging fluid intake, and keeping an eye out for worsening symptoms.

The symptoms tend to peak around day 4 and then gradually resolve over the next few days. Children with more severe symptoms may need to be admitted to the hospital overnight or for longer periods. But even there, the mainstays of our treatment are sucking out the snot and keeping kids hydrated.

Here are some signs that your child may need medical attention: • An infant under 2 months of age with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher requires medical evaluation to rule out other possible life-threatening causes for the fever.

Lantanaresident 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 Dr. Butler or to schedule an appointment, call 940.455.7200.

• Any child who stops breathing, turns blue or gray, or doesn’t respond to stimulation needs emergent medical attention.

• Children who are not able to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated should be evaluated for dehydration.

I

t’s that time of year again, RSV season. Respiratory syncytial virus or “RSV” is a particularly nasty virus that can cause a variety of symptoms in children–anywhere from common cold symptoms to respiratory problems bad enough to be potentially fatal.

• Any child who is breathing harder or faster than usual or seems to have difficulty breathing should be evaluated.

• In kids who seemed to be recovering, worsening symptoms or a new fever could indicate pneumonia, an ear infection, or other complications.

RSV tends to circulate in the winter and early spring–roughly December to March here in North Texas.

RSV infections are very common, occurring in 90% of children before their second birthday. Fortunately, the majority of these infections cause relatively mild congestion and runny nose. For some children the virus travels deep inside the lungs, resulting in a disease called bronchiolitis. This condition causes the small airways within the lungs to fill up with thick mucus and dead cells from the lining of the airway. When this happens the child has to work harder to move air through the lungs.

If your child needs to be seen, try your best to get an appointment with her regular doctor. It’s much easier to evaluate a child at her worst when you’ve seen her at her best. And if your child’s doctor isn’t available, try to find an urgent care or emergency facility that sees children frequently (or exclusively).

New Expanded Hours Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-6:30pm Friday: 7:30am - 5pm Saturdays: 9am - 12pm

74 McMakin Road, Ste. 100 Bartonville, TX 76226 www.LantanaPediatrics.com

Call to schedule appointment with Dr.Butler or our NEW Nurse Practitioner, Melanie Bitzer.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 25

Body and Soul

Secondly, learning the appropriate way to land from a jump will also assist in injury prevention. Proper body mechanics include keeping your weight forward, knees over your toes and maintaining a parallel line from your hip, knee and ankle. When you land with your weight too far back in skis, it presses the calf forward, which when added to increased force, can tear the ACL. “Train to Live Healthy, Energetic, and Injury Free.”

– Meredith S. Tittle PT, DPT, OCS

By Meredith S. Tittle PT, DPT, OCS

I

njuries to the knee joint account for 30-40 percent of all skiing injuries. Did you know that most knee injuries are caused due to an inability of the skier to control the position of his/her legs while flying down the slope? Multiple factors lead to an increase in the likelihood one will sustain a knee injury.

But by improving your muscular endurance (the ability to withstand a loaded position over a duration of time), and increasing stability at the hip and knee, you can reduce your risk of injury.

How to decrease your chances of injury

1. Know when it’s time to rest. When our bodies are tired, we lose the ability to hold our legs in a good position. Additionally, we lose the ability to react properly to stressful situations.

2. Get trained by a professional before hitting the slopes. Adequate conditioning prior to your trip, as well as understanding proper body mechanics while skiing, will reduce your chances of seeing the mountains from a ski medic’s sled.

3. Increase muscle endurance and proprioception. It’s simple: Do lots of cardio! Having an improved cardiovascular endurance will assist in your overall ability to ski a long day. Additionally, performing exercises that simulate a skiing movement will train your body specifically to react to uncertainties and withstand prolonged leg work.

Proprioception is defined as your nervous system’s way of knowing where your body is in space. For instance, sensory nerve endings travel from your knee to your brain when you step on an uneven surface, allowing you to stabilize and respond without falling. You can find a list of ski-specific TRX exercises on our webpage at s2sperform.com.

4. Build core strength and increase stability in your lower extremities.

26 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Poor form is one of the top causes of injury.

Many beginner and intermediate skiers use a snow plow or wedge, where you turn the front of your skis in toward each other, to decelerate.

Our legs can fall into this same knock kneed position when we are skiing downhill, or even when we are just getting tired. A position that causes your knees to angle inward from your hips places increased stress on the medial ligaments in your knee. This can sprain and eventually tear them. Performing exercises that strengthen the muscles on the outside of your hips as well as your quadriceps will assist in avoidance of this posture.

S2S Functional Performance Whether you are concerned about the chance of an injury or have already obtained one, our highly qualified staff is here to help.

About Wellness: our Certified Pilates Instructors and Performance Enhancement Specialists will design a unique plan for athletes and weekend warriors alike to help them become top performers!

About Rehabilitation: Physical therapy performed by a skilled, knowledgeable therapist will get you safely back to your sport or life activity!

Call us or visit our website for more details. 940.241.1215 or www.s2sperform.com Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ s2sperform, Instagram @s2sperform, and Twitter @s2sperform 2652 FM 407, #115 • Lantana, TX 76226 Striving 2 Share At S2S, our interdisciplinary team of licensed physical therapists, certified personal trainers, certified Pilates instructors and certified performance enhancement specialists are striving to share with you the most current evidence in maintaining a healthy, energetic and injury-free lifestyle. From preventative to restorative, we’ve got you covered!

Upscale Home Here are some ideas to steal: • Open shelving is not for every kitchen, but if you have enough storage, exposed shelves can make a room feel spacious and bright.

R

emember that your kitchen should have or needs to use the basic principle of kitchen design: A work triangle. That always is a basic workflow space no matter what your floor plan — L shape, U shape, galley, whatever. If your kitchen isn’t working for you, look at your triangle. If it’s not there, it should be.

Start laying out a workspace that would work within the triangle. For your space to work the most efficiently you may have to reconfigure your work space somewhat. If moving a refrigerator 3 feet and reworking a section of cabinets is what is needed, weigh that expense against the time that you plan to be in the home, how often you are in this kitchen, the overall hassle it is to you the way it is now, etc. Just know if it bugs you it will probably bother any future buyer.

Also consider optional ways to obtain a possible compromise by changing the hinges on some of your cabinet doors to open in a different direction or changing the direction of the door swing on a refrigerator or microwave. This might save you some time and money to get your triangle flowing.

The following work triangle dimensions

suggestions usually work well:

• Don’t be afraid to step outside the box with edgy fixtures.

• Large industrial-style pendants can feel right at home in a traditional kitchen for an interesting pairing.

• Glass tiles are ideal for a kitchen backsplash, but blackpainted glass also is an affordable way to get a durable and easy-to-clean surface. There’s no need to settle for stone or solid surfaces.

Each leg of the work triangle should

• Pigmented concrete is a durable countertop that also can add an unexpected splash to a kitchen.

total length of all three legs should be between

• Don’t be afraid to use alternative materials. Think about using a stainless steel backsplash and recycled wood veneer for the cabinets.

measure between 4 and 9 feet long, and the 12 and 26 feet.

“Open trash bins, cabinets and dishwashers

shouldn’t block the path from one part of the triangle to another,” recommends fixture supply companies such as Kohler. “Help keep the

pathways clear by opting for smaller paired doors

for cabinetry, rather than larger single doors that can swing out to create obstacles.”

Once all of your design kinks are resolved, it’s

time to pick materials and products to continue to work on your kitchen.

• Mix and match work surfaces in a single space. Stone countertops for the perimeter surfaces and a wood-topped island in the center makes for a unique and airy feel.

Have fun and don’t make it so stressful. Call us before you get to that point. We would love the opportunity to help with kitchen challenges or any of your design needs. We’ll make it happen and make it enjoyable!

By Complete Solutions 972.436.9083

Lantanaresident JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 27

28 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Sidelines

By Steve Gamel

O

ne of the first things I did when I got to NRG Stadium in Houston for this year’s high school football state title games was go down on the field and snap a few hundred photos to send to my family back home in Dallas. The only problem was most of those photos had empty seats dominating the background.

The emptiness of the stadium didn’t hit me at first – I’m early for every game I cover and it was likely most diehard fans were still in the parking lot tailgating. But as the games wore on, the stands didn’t fill up.

By the time the Class 4A Division I state title game between Argyle and Waco La Vega on Friday afternoon was nearing its end, the

University Interscholastic League announced the attendance for that one game was 7,932.

Wow. In 2014, Argyle’s game drew 20,853. I know, because I was there.

That was the way the entire three-day slate of games went. As reported by several media outlets, the total attendance for all 10 games in 2015 was 156,143. In 2014, that number was 250,652.

That’s a massive drop in one year.

So what changed? From talking to several of my media brethren and reading fallout articles online, it’s pretty obvious no one really has the answer. Some say it’s the venue – the UIL moved state title weekend from Arlington’s AT&T

2014 Championship Weekend at AT&T Stadium, Arlington

250,652 total

Stadium to Houston’s NRG Stadium early last year due to a scheduling conflict with the NFL – while others are more apt to believe Dallas area fans don’t travel well.

It’s all speculation, but I think everyone is hoping it was simply a down year.

Here are game-by-game 2014 and 2015 attendance numbers, as reported by Darren Lauber of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.

2015 Championship Weekend at NRG Stadium, Houston

156,143 totaL Thursday 2A Division I: Canadian 61, Refugio 20 (6,528) 2A Division II: Bremond 35, Albany 20 (6,619) 3A Division I: Brock 43, Cameron Yoe 33 (10,357) 3A Division II: Waskom 33, Franklin 21 (9,291)

Friday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

4A Division I: Waco La Vega 33, Argyle 31 (7,932) 4A Division II: West Orange-Stark 22, Celina 3 (13,635) 5A Division I: Richmond George Ranch 56, Mansfield Lake Ridge 0 (15,743)

2A Division II: Bremond 28, Albany 21 (8,175 attendance) 2A Division I: Canadian 34, Mason 7 (13,076) 3A Division II: Waskom 41, Newton 22 (13,942) 3A Division I: Cameron Yoe 70, Mineola 40 (13,561)

4A Division II: Gilmer 35, West

5A Division I: Aledo 49, Temple

Orange-Stark 25 (14,953)

45 (40,281)

Saturday

4A Division I: Navasota 42,

6A Division II: Cedar Hill 23,

Argyle 35 2OT (20,853)

Katy 20 (46,289)

5A Division II: Ennis 38, Cedar

6A Division I: Allen 47, Cypress

Park 35 (27,214)

Ranch 16 (52,308)

5A Division II: Cedar Park 22, Frisco Lone Star 6 (13,479) 6A Division I: Galena Park North Shore 21, Austin Westlake 14, OT (28,841) 6A Division II: Katy 34, Austin Lake Travis 7 (43,718)

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 29

Adkins Elementary

Photos Courtesy of Lynsie Osteen

30 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

FEATURED ARTICLE Local Sponsored Content

“We want them to feel ownership and excitement over being part of this church, instead of having them simply plug in to what the church is already doing.”

O An

32 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

ut pouring of God’s Grace & Love

By Steve Gamel photography by: Scott Young Photography

P

astor Chris Schoolcraft and his staff would love to take credit for every out-of-the-box idea that has made Argyle United Methodist Church the unique and inviting place of worship that it is today.

But they know better than to believe they could do any of it on their own. It takes a community.

“We have a bunch of people just sitting in a room in the back of the church [thinking of ideas],” Schoolcraft said with a laugh. “In all seriousness, my experience is that everything we do has to be driven by the people of the church.

We invest in our lay people.

That is why AUMC, in conjunction with its volunteers, is happy to introduce a new Saturday evening worship experience called Outpouring.

This new service will be in addition to the church’s regular slate of three Sunday services but caters to those families and folks who can’t

– or in some cases wouldn’t – normally attend church, yet are searching for a casual, familyoriented worship service.

This is an opportunity to join something that is still being formed. Schoolcraft said they have been running preview sessions of Outpouring before launching into weekly services in March, and the services are completely flexible and open to suggested changes to better meet the needs of the community.

“We do it at 5 p.m., so it’s late enough for people who have athletics, but not too late so that they still have time to eat dinner as a family and spend time together,” Schoolcraft said.

“I had people telling me, ‘We want to come on Sundays, but when we do that, that’s the only time our family has time to spend together. So when we come, we feel guilty because we’re not doing things as a family. And when we are with our families, we feel guilty because we aren’t at church. So can you give us a reason to stay in Argyle and worship as a family while still having a day to ourselves?’”

Krystal Stroud, the church’s director of communications, said the church jumped at the idea of giving people what they want, and she loves the idea of Outpouring because of its inclusiveness.

“It’s more relaxed than your typical service,” of the church started bringing their friends, she said, adding that there is a group of 12-15 family and coworkers. And from there even more volunteers constantly searching for ways to ideas were born.

All Schoolcraft and company needed to do perfect Outpouring. was take action.

“Why attend Outpouring? Well, we are Some of their ideas over the last few years still discovering that. It’s not one thing; it’s included soul-searching sermons such as evolving. Parents can bring their kids in their Undaunted and large-scale projects like Worship cleats and not feel guilty. People who work Without Walls, a continuing community project Sundays have a chance to worship. It’s a great where, instead of holding regular services, the out-of-the-box concept.” church has its members go into the community Like previously mentioned, Schoolcraft, to visit nursing homes, beautify neighborhoods Stroud, and the rest of the staff didn’t need their or bring food to malnourished children. arms twisted to make Outpouring happen. They Those initiatives include other goodwill just wanted to make sure they did it right. projects and simple, yet effective, random acts “There are churches that do some great things of kindness. This past Thanksgiving, the church with weekend services, but their culture is very served meals to the more than 180 clients, staff much that every service is the same,” Schoolcraft and volunteers for Health Services of North said. “On Sundays, we were able to recognize we Texas, even going so far as to send vans to pick have three different worshiping communities of people up who could not drive to church.

“I’ve been with this church for two years people, so the people that come to the 8:15 a.m. and I don’t know if service are different than “The reason the church I’ve ever been a part those that come to 9:30 or of an organization 11. We wanted to create exists is because of God’s that cares this much. another community People are excited to outpouring of love.

We that is shaped by the be here.” Stroud said. people that want to be want to be an outpouring “I think we’ve created connected to it.” of love and hope in our an environment Schoolcraft said where we empower community.” society is moving past people to talk to us, the times where people are committed to just and we ask a lot of questions along the way. We one brand. People want to connect with churches are approachable.”

The church also kick-started a financial that are willing to connect with them. They want strategy campaign called Revolution last year. to be engaged.

Which echoes the church’s open line of It is based on the teachings of financial expert communication with its congregation – and Dave Ramsey and is designed to educate both the community. If you haven’t guessed by now, members of the church and the community at communication has always been at the heart of large on ways to make better financial choices.

All of it plays into what Schoolcraft wants – what this church does. an environment where worshiping God meets When Schoolcraft came in 2013, one of people’s spiritual needs. Outpouring is another the first things he noticed was how eager his example of that. congregation was to approach the staff with “There is a passage in the Bible and it talks ideas. And they weren’t just any ideas, they were about how God pours out love and grace on fresh and representative of the different sects of people. And when that happens, he sends us out the community – all of which were thirsty to be in the world to share,” Schoolcraft said. a part of something special.

9033 Fort Worth Dr. • Argyle, TX 76226 As word spread about the great things For more information, call Argyle United Methodist Church at 940.464.1333. happening at this church, those devout members

The key is keeping it casual.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 33

34 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Night

@ E.P. Rayzor

Nov. 13, 2015

mother |

Photos courtesy of Annette Rogge JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 35

36 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Gardening

Creating

Your Outdoor S

W

p

a

c

e

hat are you looking for in your home’s outdoor experience? A little softness?

The rugged look? How about a living retreat?

Deciding exactly what you want often times can be the hardest part of the entire project. Try not to get so caught up in all your specific backyard limitations or budget at this point and think bigger picture.

Ask yourself this question: “What do I want to do out here … cook, entertain, sit back and enjoy a water feature with some bed spaces, or all of the above?”

Almost any situation can be manipulated to fit your scenario so do not get overwhelmed by the details too soon.

Start with the patio or main feature of the backyard and design out. When extending or adding a new patio/outdoor living space, always

budget for more room then you think you will

need. All those extra guests can really fill up the patio chairs.

About 25-30 feet per person is just about

right for sitting space with little room to move around. Setting up your furniture in the lawn

and spraying some outline is a great way to come

up with what will work best for you, whether you’re looking to create an outdoor kitchen or living space.

Lantanaresident

Once you have the layout of your patio/sitting space you can start to overlay beds or soft areas to the design. Keep in mind your fields of view from the rear windows of the house and new patio sitting areas. You do not want to create any focal points that are features and spots that might be blocked by seating or patio cover posts.

To balance the soft and hard space is essential, but this does not mean you have to mirror what you do on one side with the other. Just keep it natural and change it up.

Sometimes just using a couple common plantings or similar stones through these spaces will carry enough similarities to tie it all together.

Privacy screening, especially out here in Lantana, is very much needed. Creating a wall out of some dense plantings is a great way to frame in the back area, balance the height of the patio cover and get you that privacy you want.

Staggering the plantings will offset the flat affect all the wood and iron fence leaves us looking at while helping add depth.

With the fun stuff laid out (patio in landscape) there still are a few commonly overlooked items that need to be addressed. Make sure the irrigation has been set up to accommodate your new spaces. Thirsty plants, grasses and trees all need different amounts of water throughout the year; so save yourself future replacement costs and make sure all areas are on separate zones and are adequately set to the different run times.

Don’t mix and match your rotor heads with pop-up style heads or you will regret it in the summer. Check the drainage as most lots will have a swell that goes across the backyard to direct and discharge water coming from neighboring lots and your own.

Make sure a new drainage system is in place to keep the water flowing so you don’t end up drowning the plants or wading through a flooded patio.

With a solid vision and the right contractor creating your space it should be a blast. There are many other things that will come up during the process but just remember to not let any one thing overwhelm you and try to have fun!

By PJ Kratohvil Complete Solutions 214.735.1364

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 37

Photos courtesy of Trinity Houser

Photos courtesy of Kristin Stelmazewski

Holiday Edition

Photo courtesy of

Angela Nelson

Photo courtesy of Gabriella Carnell.

Photo courtesy of Southern Comfort Mechanical

Photos courtesy of Kristin Stelmazewski 38 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Photos courtesy of Kathryn Flores

Lantanaresident Lantanaresident JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 39

40 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

The McKown’s Christmas Gift:

Beau Lantana’s Search for

O

By Kathryn Flores

n the Friday following Thanksgiving, Greg and Becky McKown’s family was out of town and received a devastating

phone call. Their beloved family dog Beau, a Bernese Mountain Dog, ran away while staying with some friends nearby.

The family, friends and residents from all over spent days driving, walking and searching Lantana, Copper Canyon and Double Oak. The cold, wet days were spent trudging through mud, climbing barbed wire fences and cutting through thorny underbrush. In typical Lantanaianfashion, the outpour of resident support was

checking in with staff. They had just seen Beau and he ran into the trees after briefly resting on the porch at the center.

Immediately, Greg and the family’s Labrador, Katie, set out walking Copper Canyon Road toward Briarwood Retreat Center. As Greg whistled and called for Beau, he heard a big rustling in the bushes. He called repeatedly and saw the glistening of eyes and Beau’s head pop up. Scared, tired and dirty, Beau wouldn’t come. Greg knelt down and called again and Katie was barking for her brother. Beau investigated a little further and it was clear he recognized the pair … he bounded right into Greg’s arms! I can only imagine his full body tail-wag!

After three weeks, the McKown family was united with Beau just in time for Christmas! It was a movie-worthy story that Lantanaians

have

been

tearfully

repeating for weeks!

“Without the help of our community, we never would have found Beau, and we are grateful to all those who aided in our search,” Becky said. “We are so fortunate to live in such a great community!”

Lantanaresident

both swift and amazing!

In addition to leaving Beau’s favorite foods out daily, setting up numerous game cameras and sending out a drone, the family hired Kat Manning and her dog, Breeze, from Dog Gone Detectives to aid in the search efforts. Three days in, Beau was tracked through Canyon Oaks and Lantana only to have the trail run cold.

McKown boys Tate, Brock and Seth continued to hold out hope that Beau would show himself.

Tears filled the family’s home while dozens kept a watchful eye in and around the area.

For days there were several sightings and Greg and Becky dropped everything to look into every one of them. However, after about 10 days, the phone calls stopped and the family’s hope was fading.

On Tuesday December 15, Becky got a message that Beau was seen in Copper Canyon.

Manning returned, tracking Beau though acres of thick underbrush. Greg then set up an additional game camera and put out food hoping to get a glimpse of him. No sign of the black, brown and white boy.

On Thursday night, after tucking three sad boys into bed and saying prayers for Beau’s return, Becky felt defeated. Moments later, she received a phone call from Briarwood Retreat Center where they had been several times

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 41

Real Estate

When is the Right Time

Move? to

By Tisha White

J

anuary is a time when most people are thinking about goals. We set goals for our family, business, fitness, financial or personal goals. A new year gets us thinking and gets us motivated.

What goals have you set?

Lantanaresident

Many families have a goal to move in 2016, which certainly makes for an exciting time of life.

Last month, we talked about the many reasons people might want to move. This month, we’re looking at the right time to move.

One of the most common questions I get at this time of year is, “Should I wait for spring to sell my home?” Great question. There are many factors to consider and you should consult with an experienced real estate agent to help you evaluate the best time to sell.

Waiting until spring works for some in terms of timing. History shows there are many more homes on the market during spring and summer.

However, waiting is not the right answer for everyone. Sellers should be looking at the current inventory levels in their price point.

Often times inventory levels drop significantly at this time of year because people take their homes off the market for the holidays. This may leave very few homes for buyers to look at. For a savvy home seller, this is the perfect opportunity to stand out in the market. Let’s take a look to see what is on the market in Lantana: As you can see in the winter, there are fewer houses on the market. In fact, for homes priced under $500K, we’re at the lowest inventory levels in the past 5 years! In that price, just 16 homes joined the market in December, making now a great time for your home to shine. Over $500K is very similar.

In the spring and early summer, as more homes enter the market, competition gets much stronger. What we also see is more new builds on the market too, and it is hard to compete with shiny new houses. For many, that means it makes sense to move during the offseason.

No matter when you decided to sell your home, you’ve got a ton to consider. Make sure you are working with a Realtor that listens to you and hears and understands your goals.

Tisha’s Tips - Brrr!!! It’s cold outside. Keep your house happy and healthy by winterizing your home inside and out. For great winterizing tips, just type “winterize your home” into Pinterest to find easy money-saving ideas to keep your home happy in winter.

42 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 43

For the Love of

Music

NEW SONG MUSIC STUDIO MISSION STATEMENT

instruction from Aaron See. Aaron is a highly qualified guitar

quality musical instruction. We impart musical knowledge that equips

performance. Patient, knowledgeable and skilled, Aaron is a valuable

“Seeking to enrich lives one note at a time through the provision of

and empowers each student to reach their fullest potential musically. We work to create an environment that

instructor who has years of experience in both teaching and addition to NSMS.

VOICE AND VIOLIN INSTRUCTION

cultivates a love for music as we patiently nurture

The studio plans to add voice and violin instruction

the student’s self esteem through each step

in the near future. We are now taking reservations

of their musical journey”. This is the mission

for violin and voice instructional slots.

statement of New Song Music Studio. Founded

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

in 1999 by Todd and Heather Parks, NSMS had

its beginnings in Lewisville, TX. Formerly known

in years gone by as New Song Piano Studio, the

expressed in the first paragraph of this short read-

studio relocated to Lantana in 2012. For many years

now the Studio has maintained a substantial waiting list,

thus leading owners, Todd and Heather, to take steps towards

expansion. Presently, New Song Music Studio is proud to announce

that we are in the initial phases of an expansion. In the Fall of 2015, Amanda Boyce was invited to join the pedagogical team at the studio. Doing so has enabled eager students on the waiting list to be accommodated with a studio spot in a much more timely manner.

Amanda is a degreed instructor and is excellent at communicating with her students and developing their musical skills.

NOW OFFERING GUITAR INSTRUCTION

New Song Music Studio desires to do

for you and your loved ones exactly what was

An additionally exciting step that has been taken in the expansion

phase is that New Song Music Studio is currently offering guitar

our mission statement. We are humbly confident that

we will enrich lives of any age and level with our quality

musical instruction. Students progress quickly by means of private instruction and the use of the latest technology available to the music

pedagogy world. Private instruction is where the teaching material is exposed, where good technique is developed, and essentially where the student is taught the difference between “just playing notes”

versus learning to “make quality music”. In addition to the private

instruction, the student enjoys “music tech time”. This portion of the

lesson is tailored specifically to meet the needs of the student. From

rhythm skill strengthening, to musical composition, to ear training and improvisation, “music tech time” is an incredible bonus offered in addition to the traditional private instruction received.

Lantanaresident

FREE TRIAL LESSON Just mention our ad in Lantana Living

Contact the studio today! 214.755.7106 • www.newsongmusicstudiotx.com •

44 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Learning to play an instrument will enrich a life forever!!

Lantanaresident JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 45

46 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

From Dr. Matt

The

heart Of The Matter

Studies have shown dental patients with moderate to advanced gum or periodontal disease are more likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums.

the bacteria found in gum disease can enter the

strict dental regimen as a matter of prevention. In

or cause inflammation of blood vessels resulting

dental appointment may be necessary for further

bloodstream resulting in certain heart infections in blood clots and elevated blood pressure. It has Dr. Matt is a practicing dentist and owner of Country Lakes Family Dental

www.CountryLakesDental.com

Before coming to our office, the wife of one of our patients told him that every time she visited our office, I was wearing a plaid shirt.

He mentioned it to me, pointing out that he has only seen me in my usual scrubs. So, for fun, we decided to make sure at his next appointment, everyone in the office would be in a plaid shirt.

When he first arrived, he was taken aback to see at every turn another team member in plaid. The entire spectacle warmed his heart (In fact, the photo can be seen on our Facebook page).

Why do I tell the story? Simply to prove the point that the way to a man’s heart is not necessarily through his stomach. In reality, there are several links between the heart and the mouth.

As research -based dentistry evolves, we are beginning to see strong relationships between oral health and cardiac health.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, patients suffering with chronic periodontal disease are overall at a higher risk for a heart attack. Some studies suggest that

prevention of bacterial proliferation.

Your heart health is important, as other systemic conditions including heart disease. well as your oral health. To disregard would simply be, well, For those already suffering with certain heart either conditions, your cardiologist may recommend a heartbreaking. Happy smiling! to overall health and provide warning signs for

Lantanaresident

F

ebruary is National Heart Month, and to raise awareness, I would like to share a story.

also been noted that oral health can hold clues

some instances, taking antibiotics prior to your

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 47

Tips For A

POSITIVE Divorce I

By Brett Nelson

started practicing family law in 1993 and I have worked my fair share of contested divorce cases since that time.

Unfortunately, some of these contested cases were riddled with ruthless and demeaning courtroom tactics between soon-to-be former spouses.

I saw spouses sit through hours of testimony while bringing up the most private of matters in an effort to tear each other down. Some hired private investigators, others gave the impression they had been “keeping score” throughout the marriage. In the end, this testimony had very little, if any, beneficial impact on the court’s final decision.

Thankfully, not all marriages end like that.

Some spouses are quite amicable in the face of troubling times. But the negativity has been glorified so much over the years that even people who are completely happy with their marriage believe this is the way bad relationships end ... with an unceremonious thud.

People forget when a marriage ends, if kids are involved, you are not ending the relationship with your spouse. It is actually quite the opposite – an entirely new relationship with your former spouse begins at that point. You will need to work together in this new relationship, regardless of what transpired during your marriage and during the actual divorce proceeding.

48 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

If your marriage is ending, you need to understand that positive divorce does exist. You CAN get what you want/need without tearing each other down. Here are five tips to help manage a healthy relationship during and as you move forward after a divorce.

1.Keep your children top of mind In a contested divorce case involving children, the Court’s focus will be on your children and their best interests. If you focus on what your kids need (their best interests) and less on what you want, you will make better choices during the divorce proceeding. Furthermore, if you are required to testify in your case and your actions have been motivated by your kids’ best interests, the court will take notice and that is a good thing. Finally, you must work harder to be a co-parent during and after the divorce. So be selfless. Be respectful of each other, keep adult conversations separate, share responsibility, and make sure your children understand this is not their fault. Help them feel safe and accepted even when you are hurting.

Next, remember to consider your kids perspective when you introduce a new person to them. Be mindful of how your children may react and what their wants and needs are.

Communicate with them and make sure they feel safe in their relationship with you before you add a new person to the equation. Take the transition slow. You and the kids will be better off.

4. Present a unified front in the presence of your kids It is critical you and your ex present a unified position in front of your kids. If you disagree (and you will) do so out of the presence of your kids. If your kids see a weakness in your position, they will exploit that weakness to their benefit and it will make co-parenting even more difficult. Regardless of how wonderful you may think you children are, given the chance they will manipulate their parents to get what they want.

“You CAN get what you want/ need without tearing each other down.”

2. Do not be ugly or tear each other down Divorce can bring out the absolute worst in people, and that type of implosion from within goes far beyond the courtroom because there is now a level of betrayal that likely may never be overcome. It does not have to be that way. If you feel angry and resentful, that is okay but you must deal with these negative emotions in a positive way.

Acknowledge your feelings, work through them, and let them go so your decision making is not impacted negatively by these negative emotions. If you deal with the negative emotions in a positive way, you will be better equipped to sit down and talk with your soon-to-be or former spouse and improve communication even under the worst of circumstances. Don’t be angry, be clear.

3.Accept change, handle awkwardness with grace Oftentimes there is an awkward phase before you and your former partner settle into a new routine after the separation. This is very normal and should be expected. If you can talk about this awkwardness with your ex, it may enable you to more quickly define what the new routine is.

Regardless, keep everything business oriented by setting clear boundaries, stating your expectations, and focusing on clear/open communication. Be quick to provide grace, and remember your kids are watching.

Secondly, another awkward phase occurs when one or both of the parents finds someone new. Before you “move on”, allow time to heal yourself and your children from the pain of divorce. Ask yourself what went wrong in your marriage?

What could you have done different? You need to ask these questions to gain wisdom and avoid the same mistakes.

5. Allow your kids to have fun and openly love their other parent It is absolutely critical that you make certain that your kids feel like they can be open with you about the relationship they are having with their other parent.

The best way to do this is to talk positively about the other parent and celebrate the good times your kids are having with the other parent. This can be very hard, especially when there is a large difference in the financial resources of the parents. If your kids are not talking about the other parent in front of you or they are going out of their way to say something negative ... you may need to work on this area.

Lantanaresident

Lantana resident Brett Nelson is owner of the Nelson Law Group located at 700 Parker Square Road, Suite 145 in Flower Mound. He can be reached at 972.808.7227 or at nelsonlawgrouppc.com

Lantanaresident JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 49

“If we don’t make a run [at state] this next year, I’d have to say we underachieved,” Walsh said.

Football: After Another Deep Playoff Run, Guyer Ready

To Make Statement

A

By Steve Gamel

perhaps on defense and at wide receiver, where

the team graduated three standout pass catchers.

Robinson’s passing yards suffered in 2015

– he threw for just shy of 2,800 yards the year

before – but the team found its groove after an embarrassing loss to Keller Central in District

5-6A play. Guyer won two of its final three

district games before rattling off three straight playoff wins.

s confident as he was in his team this past season, Guyer football coach

To be more specific, Guyer had won

John Walsh felt like his players overachieved during their run to the fourth

13 straight playoff games before

round of the Class 6A playoffs. He won’t be as surprised in 2016, though,

that loss to the Dragons.

when he expects the Wildcats to make an even deeper run.

Guyer has instituted a full-court press on its

After rallying to beat Hebron 41-26 in the

“This offseason is a fun one to look forward

first round, Guyer avenged its previous loss

few days after the team’s 44-7 loss to Mansfield

have a lot of star power back. The daily stuff won’t

the second round. That game was not as close

finished 10-4, has a few holes to fill but is

Even our defense will be as big as its ever been.

offseason program, which technically started a

to, there’s no doubt about that,” Walsh said. “We

in early December, Walsh said. Guyer, which

change, but we should be very good next year.

otherwise loaded with talent and experience.

We hit it hard right before Christmas break, and

Most of that experience is on offense, a unit

highlighted by junior dual-threat quarterback and TCU commit Shawn Robinson. Robinson

threw for 1,474 yards, rushed for 1,678 and

combined for 29 touchdowns. But it doesn’t stop

there. Robinson is flanked by a stable of running

backs, notably freshman phenom Noah Cain, three returning starters on the offensive line, and highly touted tight end Brian Polendey.

What’s more, Guyer didn’t graduate any of its

wide receivers.

50 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

we’re going to stay the course.”

The excitement over this offseason is in

stark contrast to last year, when the Wildcats

to Carroll with a resounding 48-35 win in as the score would indicate as the Wildcats racked up 544 rushing yards to control the pace of that game.

They then beat San Angelo Central 35-27

before falling to Mansfield in the next round.

“After a loss like we had against Keller Central

were coming off a second-round playoff loss to

in a game you should absolutely win, I’m sure

a long time since Guyer had suffered an early exit

and it was likely self-served at that point,” Walsh

Southlake Carroll. Prior to that loss, it had been – its previous two seasons ended in back-to-back Class 4A state titles.

So not only did that offseason start earlier

there were people who did [underestimate us] – said. “But we went on a roll and played well in the playoffs until the loss to Mansfield.”

Walsh’s players won’t find it difficult to use

than what Walsh and company were used to, but

that final loss as fuel for this offseason.

plugging a ton of holes. The biggest ones were

“We expect to be hard to beat.”

the coaching staff was saddled with the task of

“It’s going to be a full-court press,” Walsh said.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 51

52 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

r e e h C y a d Holi r o z y a R P E t a

Photos courtesy of Trinity Houser

Photos courtesy of Linda Bozeman

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 53

Lantanaresident Lantanaresident 54 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Photo Courtesey of Barbara Snowden

Saylor Snowden

Nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, MA

Saylor Snowden as shown above

“This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi

LANTANA, TEXAS — Saylor Snowden, a sophomore at Guyer High School of Denton is a Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Lowell, MA on June 25-27, 2016.

T

he Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Saylor was nominated by Dr. Robert Darling, the Medical Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Texas based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

During the three-day Congress, Saylor will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learned about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

“This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, Executive Director, National Academy of Future

Physicians and Medical Scientists. “Focused, bright and determined students like are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.”

The Academy offers free services and programs to students who want to be physicians or go into medical science. Some of the services and programs the Academy offers are online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and much more.

The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that we must identify prospective medical talent at the earliest possible age and help these students acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career. Based in Washington, D.C. and with offices in Boston, MA, the Academy was chartered as a nonpartisan, taxpaying institution to help address this crisis by working to identify, encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to the service of humanity as physicians, medical scientists. We are excited to welcome Ms. Snowden to our program.

For more information call 617.307.7425.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 55

Coaching Corner

A

Move

By Stacy L. Allen, CACP a Certified Coaching Practitioner who helps people find their value and reach their personal, relationship or professional goals. Ask Stacy your questions at questions@stacylallen.com or for more info about her services call 972.65.6487

s I talk with people, I notice two common things that can keep us stuck mentally, physically and spiritually: regret over the past and fear of the future. When we spend too much energy disappointed about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow, we miss living today.

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

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

56 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

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

Do your best today Instead, look directly at the steps you want

to take today. This is the day that needs your attention. This moment is the one you can

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

help, try, speak, dream, give, breathe, think, exercise, believe - each moment has unique potential. Regardless of what has happened in

the past or what may happen in the future, we

have the power to make now as wonderful as it can be. Choosing a positive path and moving forward one step at a time is a gift we can give ourselves each day. Our minds, bodies and spirits will thank us.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 57

O

By Kathryn Flores

n

December

Photos courtesy of Kathryn Flores

12, there

were

Helping a Hero organization, his builder

County

local

multiple local businesses, Yellock was able

very few dry eyes when over 200

Denton

veterans, Flower Mound and Argyle Fire

Departments, Denton County Sheriff ’s Department and neighborhood children

gathered to welcome retired SSgt. Johnnie

Yellock to his new, specially adapted home.

It has been a journey of nearly a year and

Yellock definitely gained solid momentum

from the close-knit Lantana community.

From the groundbreaking, to school assemblies, to local to

Chamber

Armed

event,

to

support,

Forces

the

Day

Lantana

Golf Classic Lantanaians have rallied to support

the young veteran with an evangelic personality and contagious smile!

to provide design and guidance and be very involved in nearly every detail both interior and exterior.

Each element was thought

through and well executed by Johnnie’s family, support team and sponsors.

Johnnie remains humble and gracious for

the community’s support and open arms from

inception to completion. Yellock grinned

Living in a young, active community has been the medicine Johnnie needed to jump start his life as a Lantana resident and become a friend to so many present!

infectiously, hugged dozens

of people and expressed heart-felt gratitude to those who made his dream home

a reality. He continues to volunteer children

by

and

mentoring teaching

them about service and

patriotism while helping

them with homework in

A former combat controller in the U.S.

an after school program. Living in a young,

injuries to both of his legs in an IED blast

Johnnie needed to jump start his life as a

Air Force, Johnnie sustained life-threatening during his second deployment to Afghanistan

on July 6, 2011. A recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Medal, Yellock retired from active duty in 2013.

He has completed over 30 limb-salvaging surgeries which enables him to live a very 58 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Highland Homes and donations from

active lifestyle today. With support from the

active community has been the medicine

Lantana resident and become a friend to so many present! We all look forward to

championing Johnnie’s efforts inside and

outside of his military passions, public

speaking and various outreach programs.

Truly a Happy New Year and new beginning for SSgt Johnnie Yellock!

Quotes from a few Attendees “The event was a lovely showmanship of all active sponsors, law enforcement and neighbors. I walked away loving the community of Lantana even more than before!”

— Southern Comfort Mechanical, sponsor/resident, Laurie Fraser “Walking with a client through their design process is rewarding but this journey was sincerely special. Great relationships have been formed through this process and it’s been exciting to watch Johnnie’s home come to fruition.”

— Décor to Your Door, sponsor/friend, Christine Blythe “It was so touching to see Johnnie, who had served and sacrificed so much for our great country to be recognized the way he was but to also see the outpouring of love and support from a grateful community and country.” ­ — Windows by Will, Neighbor, Will Davis “I truly understand what people mean when they say “I have no words”. Family, old and new friends, a magnificent new home and the smile that never left my brother’s face… it truly was Christmas as I’ve ever experienced it!”

— Sister, Brandi Yellock Witte “It was heart-warming to watch the entire Lantana community rally around Johnnie to welcome him HOME. His home was literally created from the love and generosity of the Lantana community. Instead of making this day solely about his sacrifice for our country, in true Johnnie-fashion, he took the time to thank the numerous community members who helped create his house into a home. Just another reason why we all love SSgt Yellock! Eyes front Lantana!”

—Adkins Elementary, Erin Vennell

Community Sponsors/Supporters: Adkins Elementary, Argyle Chamber, Ash Home Inspections, Autotrader, Buckets & Bows, CDP Environmental, Complete Interior Solutions, Corner Bakery, Country Lakes Family Dental, Dalton Flowers, Décor to Your Door, Denton County Yard Greetings, Derek Anthony (musician), Flour Shop Bakery, Fresco’s, Garage Floors DFW, Gold Landscape Inc, Highland Homes, Ink 4 Your Soul, Jesse James Fitness, Karen Alexander, Kenny Tortorini – Eredita Plumbing Services, Kith Kitchens, Knabe Woodwork, Kroger, Luke’s Locker, Mattress Firm, Mike & Michelle Ruocco, Murray Media Group, Over the Top Windows, Point Bank, Savory Bistro, Smokin Horns BBQ, Southern Comfort Mechanical, Sunny Darden, The Shops at Highland Village, T Rock Roofing, UNT Honor Guard, Van Haasen Design.

JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 59

60 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Photos courtesy of Kristin Stelmazewski

Photos courtesy of Kathryn Flores

Photos courtesy of Kathryn Flores JANUARY 2016 | LANTANA living | 61

Lantanaresident 62 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2016

Advertisement Local Sponsored Content

A Hidden Gem for Enthusiasts with

Owners, Joe & Nola Musacchio

J

oe & Nola Musacchio, married for a very impressive 41 years, have lived in the Copper Canyon area for decades and raised their two children, Joey and Kristy. After over 20 years in the wild game industry, in 2009 they decided to embrace their love for the outdoors and opened Cinnamon Creek Ranch. Sprawled on 80 acres, the hidden gem offers a variety of activities for like-minded enthusiasts. Joey and Kristy are also part of the family business which keeps the beloved six grandkids (twins arriving this summer) close to home and family ties.

Joey manages the wild game side of the business while Kristy works part time in the office.

From monthly “Couples by the Creek” dates, to shooting tournaments, to wedding and corporate events, to adult and youth birthday parties, to retail offerings, to wild game processing, the Musacchio family runs a tight ship at Cinnamon Creek, making it a well-kept Denton County secret! The familyowned and operated business is committed to providing first-class indoor and outdoor shooting facilities to archery enthusiasts of every level and age!

Additionally, Cinnamon Creek is staffed to help the novas shooter with lessons and instruction as well as equipment rentals.

As country’s premier archery facility, Cinnamon Creek is located just 25 minutes from Argyle and Lantana and features three indoor shooting ranges, two outdoor practice ranges and multiple 3D ranges. On their retail forefront, customers experience the largest selection of archery and hunting equipment at competitive prices. They offer our customers the opportunity to try any equipment from the largest selection of manufacturers found anywhere.

Their knowledgeable staff utilizes a low-pressure, unbiased sales approach allowing customers the ability to make the best possible decision about what products are right for them.

By Kathryn Flores Joe finds his greatest pleasure in cooking exquisite meals and hosting parties that are talked about for years! His culinary skills are incredible and Nola brags he just gets better and better at entertaining everyone from appetizers to a seven course meal at “Couples on the Creek” each month or even cooking for the masses at on-site weddings and corporate gatherings. Both Nola and Joe believe strongly in community and bringing the small town feel to Cinnamon Creek. Kids are always welcome at the ranch and couples are encouraged to fellowship at monthly date nights. A longevity for family values is just what this area promotes and is an excellent nearby adventure for local families!

The Musacchio family goal is to grow the sport of archery through education, introductory archery programs; youth outreach programs and spreading our passion for this sport. They continue to encourage families and children to take part in archery. Joe and Nola are proud to have the largest youth archery program throughout numerous counties with a solid mission, “to share our passion for archery through our professional technicians, certified instructors, sales staff and shooting teams to everyone we encounter in a positive and encouraging manner.”

In the fall of 2016, Cinnamon Creek Ranch aims to launch archery programs to several local elementary and middle schools with the goal to expand and diversify the outlets for area youth to engage in positive activities that promote mental and physical strength and focused energy while promoting a love for the great outdoors! There is no better place to do that than here, in your backyard, Denton County!

Youth Events

Special Events

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Cinnamon Creek Ranch • 13794 Old Denton Rd. • Roanoke, TX 76262 • 817.439.8998 • cinnamoncreekranch.com