Lantana Living Magazine January 2017

JANUARY 2017

STAY CLOSE To Home With Your

VALENTINE

INSPIRATION

COMES IN SMALL

PACKAGES EAGLE SCOUT CONNOR HUBERT

Where the

WORLD

is Their Classroom

to Give

’Tis Better

by Susan Neuhalfen

W

hen Maddx Nguyen found out that the Adkins Librarian, Mrs. O’Rear, had been diagnosed with cancer, he said he felt bad and wanted to do something to help her.

“I’ve known her since third grade,” said

Maddx who is now in the fifth grade at Adkins Elementary in Lantana. “I thought about it and came up with an idea of how to help.”

Maddx said he talked to one of his close

friends about doing a fundraiser for Mrs. O’Rear

and then told his mom when he got home from school. She agreed to help him but reminded him that this was going to be a lot of work.

Their idea was to get donations for a raffle

basket and raise money for

Mrs. O’Rear to help her pay for her medical bills. Maddx and his mom, Vy, went to Adkins

Elementary Vice Principal Erin Vennell to ask permission to

raise money for Mrs. O’Rear.

She agreed and they started contacting

donate prizes.

businesses

to

“I’ve known her since third grade...

I thought about it and came up with an idea of how to help.”

“We learned so much during

the process,” said Maddx’s mom, Vy. “Because we

weren’t a 501(c) registered charity and just people raising money it was a problem with many of the bigger organizations.”

For example, many of the sports teams and

big chain companies were not able to donate because it is against their policy to donate to 4 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

an organization that is not legally recognized as a non-profit. It is a safeguard for companies.

The 501(c) title means that the donation will be tax-deductible, but more importantly it keeps them from donating to a cause that may, in some cases, be a scam.

So that was one hurdle though it didn’t turn out to be a very big hurdle, because they had so many local businesses that were willing to donate.

With the help of his mom, Maddx put together a presentation and letter for local businesses.

Some of the first to donate were Cathy Miller at Lawyer’s Title, Alex King of King Financial and Tony Pickett at Body Bionics. They also received donations from WinKids and Romney Pediatrics, some giving gift cards and money, some giving goods and services.

The top prize was the donation of an Xbox One S from Microsoft.

“Everyone wanted to win that,” said Maddx.

Maddx started selling raffle tickets by going to all of the kids in the fifth grade and asking for their help. About half of the class agreed and those who volunteered were given 20 tickets to sell at $5 per ticket. Maddx and his mother sold raffle tickets every morning and every afternoon outside Adkins Elementary. They went to the

Pictured aboved is Maddx with his mother Vy Nguyen Harpool Orchestra concert and sold over $400

in raffle tickets outside that concert alone. They

sold tickets at the Adkins Winter Concert.

Bahama Bucks donated 20% of their proceeds

one evening while nine Adkins students with signs directed people into the store. They also promoted sales online with Facebook and other social media sites. All of these activities took nearly two months of collecting, promoting and selling.

On December 16, Maddx and his family

waited for Mrs. O’Rear to come back to school

from her doctor’s appointment. A special announcement came from the office for all of the

teachers to turn on the closed circuit television

systems in their rooms. There, for all of the school

to see, was Maddx and a surprised Mrs. O’Rear.

photo courtesy of Vy Nguyen Pictured aboved is Maddx Nguyen holding the donation check given to Mrs. O’Rear.

photo courtesy of Vy Nguyen Pictured aboved starting from the left is Maddx Nguyen, Mrs. O’Rear, and Adkins student.

He presented her with a check for $4,185 toward her medical expenses.

Mrs. O’Rear then drew the names of the

winners for each of the prizes in the raffle basket, making for a very attentive audience with the kids waiting to see who won each prize.

“Everybody saw it,” beamed Maddx. “We got

to do the whole thing live in front of the school.”

The outcome was better than they could have

imagined. Mrs. O’Rear was so touched and they

raised such an enormous amount of money, they couldn’t have asked for a better result from all of that work.

“He’s learned a lot about project management,”

smiled Vy. “It was a lot of time and effort, but definitely worth it.”

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 5

Lantana Community Events Bingo

January 25th, 1pm- 2pm

Contents Table of

Featured Stories and News 04

‘Tis Better to Give

08

Your Choices Will Change Your Life

Story Time

16

Eagle Scout Does a Good Turn

10:30am - 11:30am

19

The Practice of Family Law is Seasonal

20

Former Guyer Football Star Joins The Coaching Ranks

at Lantana North Amenity Center

January 27th

at Lantana North Amenity Center

Call for info 940.728.1660 Board & Brush Night January 30th at 7pm at Lantana North Amenity Center

Surrounding Areas Flower Mound Rotary Vine & Dine

Saturday Jan. 28th at 7pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Contact www.

flowermoundwinestroll.com Bartonville Farmer’s Market

from 8 a.m. every

Pg 32 22 On the Cover (left to right): Annika, Cade,

On Jack, the Cover: Students from School Meredith, Bradley ParkSelwyn and Devon

Ask the Experts 07 10 14 18 31 38 45 46 50 54

From the Editor

6 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

from Lantana

PHOTOS

Want to feature your school’s or organization’s event? Contact us at artwork@murray-media.com

Inspiration Comes in Small Packages

27

Inside Community

28

Ranch Hand Rescue Makes History Again

Where The World Is Their Classroom

34

Expand Your Cooking Skills & Save Time With Yummly

37

Guyer’s Noah Cain

40

Stay Close to Home With Your Valentine

Nutrition

43

Morgan’s Patio A Gift For Teens in Need

Sidelines

49

What’s New In Beauty

Women’s Wellness

52

Name the Last Book You’ve Read

Gardening

57

Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipe

58

Guyer Holds Its Own

12

59

Pre Game Chicken Sliders

You Submit, We Print Holiday Edition

59

Classic of Denton Plays Santa

61

Screen Time Duration

Dr. Matt Fitness Restaurant Review

Wednesday & Saturday

Bartonville Town Center

24

School Body & Soul

Inside Education

S

“Simple

urprises”

The unexpected moment is always sweeter…

L

A Message from The Community Editor

life matures us, the simple joys of kindness, love, empathy and compassion coupled with moments

ife is full of coordinating sport and of surprise can be life-changing. school schedules, planning playdates, As common people, we are designed to crave weekly meal menus, grocery lists and the unexpected. I find that surprise changes organized chaos of everyday life. The behavior, turbocharges emotions and is often need to pre-plan every plan is my biggest strength cheap. Combine happiness with surprise, and and weakness. These life tools can certainly you hit the upper register of the feeling-good make our lives and professions more efficient. scale. Whether it’s sending flowers on a random However, they also can make people less exciting Tuesday or buying a coffee for and surprising. With so much the person in line behind you, at our immediate disposal, the selfless act will certainly I wonder, if we are robbing leave a mark on the heart each other of opportunities of someone else. It really for serendipity—the delightful surprises that happen when we comes down to a question least expect them. of imagination, bravery and Don’t misunderstand, even a bit of coordination. coordinating schedules is And, I suspect, being open to essential, but that doesn’t situations where you might be mean we should ignore the surprised yourself. In the end, element of surprise, because Kathryn Flores, most people are inherently surprise is still probably the Community Relations and good-hearted and want to Advertising Consultant most powerful happiness please others. My guiding Argyle Living & Lantana Living tool of all. In fact, I’ve found Kathryn@murray-media.com philosophy is this: the most surprise is quite addictive.

214.734.5783 valuable things we possess are Recently, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to deliver two surprises our time and attention. The greatest gift someone to family by showing up unannounced at monumental moments. Seeing my 90-year-old grandmother unexpectedly open the door to her great-grandsons with tears streaming from her eyes is a moment that will never been forgotten.

As Christmas approached, so did illness for my father. His heart is full, but it has significantly weakened, therefore my parents were unable to make the trip to share the holidays, so we drove hours to surprise them on Christmas evening.

As we walked down the sterile hallway of the hospital, nurses saw us and squealed, already knowing who we were (you see, his grandsons are the biggest joy in his life). Opening the doors, it was clear he is weak, but the fullness of love in his eyes will be a moment I’ll remember forever. As

can give me is to share their time and give me

their full attention. What a rare gift in these days

of excessive screen-time and devices! Eventually, the simple surprises of undivided attention is what stays in our remembrance and leaves the greatest impact on our lives and what most of us crave.

As we walk into 2017 together, I hope we

won’t be afraid, look forward to the surprises in

life. Each day, let’s take a couple of minutes to jot down what surprised us that day. Those notes

are what makes our life special. Celebrate being

LantanaLiving.com Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray Administration Managing Editor Jana Melton

Sub-Editor Bobbi Byrne

Contributors Steve Gamel Susan Neuhalfen

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

Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Stephanie Hansen Caroline Brock

Photography Eric Priddy 817.907.7040 www.ericpriddy.com

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

All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising inquiries call 972.899.3637 or email artwork@murray-media.com Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100 Ste. 101 Flower Mound, TX 75022 Lantana Living is published monthly by Murray Media Group.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Lantana Living is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine.

Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content.

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

special and enjoy the surprises in your life. I wish for each of you, my friends, a special year filled with joy. Happy New Year.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 7

YOUR CHOICES

WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE I

by Susan Neuhalfen

am glad I grew up at a time when social media wasn’t around,” quotes a popular Facebook meme. “I did so much stupid stuff and there’s no record of it anywhere.”

8 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Yes, parents may rejoice in the fact that there were no camera phones or social media to record their every move, good or bad, Unfortunately the same cannot be said for today’s students.

“Your choices will change your life,” said Argyle attorney Rebecca Lively. “You are free to make any choices you want but you are not free to escape the consequences of those choices.”

Rebecca Lively Oehlers is a criminal defense attorney and an Argyle resident and mom. To

keep her legal life and personal life separate, she’s Rebecca Lively, the lawyer, and Rebecca Oehlers, the wife and mom.

Lively says that social media can be a sticky situation for kids and parents. What may seem minor, is in many cases, considered a criminal offense today on social media.

For example, sending a message from another person’s social media account and leading the receiver to believe that it is from the owner of

the account (without the owner’s permission) is considered online impersonation. If it is proven that it was done with the intent to harm or defraud anyone, then the “prankster” has committed an offense.

The message may be something as simple as bashing another student or talking about the size of one of the girls in class. It seems petty but it’s a Class A Misdemeanor which could mean up to a year in county jail.

“Just because you’re anonymous doesn’t mean you’re untraceable,” said Lively.

Sexting, which includes lewd images, has changed from a felony to a misdemeanor for minors in Texas because lawmakers felt the punishment was harsh for young people. It was meant to give them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

When it comes to sexting which includes sending naked pictures, if everyone involved is a minor (17 and under), meaning the sender,

the receiver, the picture taker and the subject(s), then no one involved will have to register as a sex offender. There will, however, be consequences including a fine, educational classes and the parents will have to appear in court ensuring their child attends the classes.

Once someone 18 and over is involved, all bets are off. Then it may be considered distribution, possession and/or promotion of child pornography and a host of other issues, all of which will

“Just because you’re

ANONYMOUS

doesn’t mean you’re untraceable,” said Lively.

and check top ten sites

2) Google your child’s first and last name

and check images

3) Google their first and last name

with quotation marks (i.e. “first last”)

4) Google their first and last name

followed by the city you live in

5) Google their first and last name

followed by their school

6) Google their first middle and last

name followed by public records

7) Google their email address

• Allows anyone on the app to contact your student • User only needs an email to get an account • Based in Canada and not subject to U.S. sepoena power

Vine

registered

• It’s all public

as

sex offenders.

“You

know

what the smarter thing to do is?”

Lively

said.

“Don’t do it.”

Lively

said

the best thing that parents can do is to keep an open dialogue with children and explain to them what the consequences may be when faced with the choices they make. She used examples like Johnny Manziel and Ethan Couch to make Then she urged the parents not to be so

1) Google your child’s first and last name

Kik

get the involved

her point.

Lively asked all parents to go to Google and do the following:

Also, while checking your student’s phone, check for the following apps:

trusting of the kids.

“Don’t just look at their phones, look at old iPads, computers, the cloud, all of the places where they could store pictures,” said Lively.

She says if you do the Google searches once a week, you’ll be amazed at what comes up. This is what colleges do. This is what employers do. This is where parents will find something they didn’t want to know but they need to know. Starting in elementary school, children form an online reputation and it stays with them.

“Once it’s online, it’s online forever,” said Lively. “It never goes away.”

Emphasize to your students that everything eventually is going to be public so hiding any apps, pictures or videos is fruitless.

The most important thing that Lively says is to remind your kids to be safe and smart.

“Make good choices,” said Lively. “Don’t put yourself in a bad position. Step back and make the choice to do something else.”

• It has very crude humor

Omegle

• Pairs you with another user at random • They have an adult chat room and unmoderated chat room • “Talk to Strangers” is their tagline

Whisper

• Anonymous • Reveals your location • Lots of dark information such as suicide, cutting, etc.

Snapchat

• Says it will delete in a matter of seconds, so kids do crazy things • Snapchats are deleted after they are sent but users can take screen shots and can share be shared again

After School

• Cyberbullying, porn, sexting, drugs, bomb threats have come through site • It’s anonymous so kids say horrible things to each other • Police are constantly monitoring this site

Secret Calculator & Smart Hide Calculator • It looks like a calculator app,

but is designed to hide photos and videos • Go to the App store and type in“secret calculator” to see if your student has downloaded it at any time.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 9

School

Teaching Little Hands to

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE Primrose’s Caring and Giving Program in Action

E

very parent hopes their child will develop compassion and generosity, but in today’s digital world, teaching

children the joy of giving back and helping others can be more of a challenge.

skills as part of our Balanced Learning® curriculum. For example, during our Caring

and Giving program, our students earn money by performing household chores in order

to provide food items for families in need.

Students combine and learn to count their

But there is hope.

earnings, create a detailed shopping list, and

A study conducted by two Harvard

anthropologists, John and Beatrice Whiting,

observed

the

altruistic

practices of children in six world

cultures. Their findings indicate that children assigned more household responsibilities

and giving.

are

more

helpful

By helping to instill the value of giving

back in young children, we introduce

“Children who learn the value of helping and giving back at a young age are able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship,”

them to the sense of fulfillment that is derived from helping others, ultimately

helping them become more well-rounded in

visit the grocery store to purchase the food.

that young children who have high prosocial

math, nutrition and planning skills. The

– are also among the most cognitively ready

a fun way to encourage household chores,

At Primrose School of Lantana, we

of generosity. Some students even create

the classroom and in life. And research shows

This hands-on approach helps them develop

skills – or behaviors meant to benefit another

annual event provides Primrose parents with

for school.

and it helps students understand the value

integrate activities and lessons that encourage

Thanksgiving or caring message cards to send along with the donated food.

responsibility and help develop these prosocial

10 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

“Children who learn the value of helping and giving back at a young age are able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship,” said Frank and Erin Lundie, franchise owners of Primrose School of Lantana. “By encouraging Primrose students to participate in a meaningful, hands-on way, we are empowering them with the character traits and tools necessary to continue making a difference in their communities and to enjoy doing it.”

At Primrose School of Lantana, we are passionate about helping children learn the joy and fulfillment of lending a helping hand to others from a young age so we can prepare them for greater success in school and in life.

To learn more about Primrose Schools or how to enroll your child at Primrose School of Lantana, please visit www.PrimroseLantana.com or call 940-455-2550.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 11

Holiday Edition

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

12 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 13

Body and Soul

Sleep•Eat•Exercise Work•Play•REPEAT A

s we enter 2017, let’s face it, as a rule, resolutions fail. A study performed by Scranton University states that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. Why? Most often, goals are too lofty, forcing us to change a behavior our brains just don’t have the power to overcome. We all have habitual responses to certain events programmed in our brains– altering those neural pathways is not as easy and individually possible as resolution makers think.

This year, I challenge you to focus on what

you can and will do. Find activities that make

you smile and that enable you to find joy while

progressing towards healthier habits. In taking smaller, but intentional and scheduled steps toward fitness, you can alter your brain’s neural

pathways toward permanent progress. With new neural pathways, your brain can react

differently to situations, and over time, you may

choose exercise to ward off stress rather than less positive choices. A recent article published in Sports Medicine suggests that those of us who

habitually exercise will exercise more in the face of stress than those who are new to exercise.

Therefore, in 2017, I challenge you to make

exercise a priority, an intentional activity. Let’s not force ourselves into unrealistic goals, knowing that when life gets busy and hectic, our brains

will fall back into those normal stress reactions and drop those exercise intentions. This year, let’s

focus on making exercise a regular part of our routine, something that happens on repeat, so

that we miss it when it is not there. Have you ever tried to go 24 hours without sleep or food?

14 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Physical activity can become just as noticeably

is our goal to accommodate you WHEREVER

make it necessary.

goals WHATEVER they may be.

missing as those other imperative activities if we

To create a new habit of exercise, it is

important to identify common obstacles to

physical activity that can prevent us from being

intentional in setting our daily schedules. Often, both time and injuries get in the way of allowing

us to stay on the pathway to exercise or fitness

you are and to help you accomplish your fitness

“Train to Live Healthy, Energetic, and Injury Free.”

– Meredith S. Tittle PT, DPT, OCS Call us or visit our website for more details!

940.241.1215 www.s2sperform.com

goals. At S2S, our mission is to help you find a

.com/s2sperform

each person has different needs and abilities, it

@s2sperform

way to overcome these obstacles. Knowing that

@s2sperform

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 15

“I wanted the students to have the same learning experience that I had,” said Connor. “I also wanted to make some improvements so the space was more teacher-friendly.”

pictured to the left is of Doug (Left) and Conner (right) at the newly reconstructed Outdoor Learning Center.

Eagle Scout DOES A GOOD TURN

FOR HIS FORMER SCHOOL

by Susan Neuhalfen

16 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

photos courtesy of Troop 99

A

s a child, one of Connor Hubert’s favorite memories was going outside for science class.

A former student at E.P. Rayzor Elementary, Hubert had the opportunity to learn about environmental science in the Outdoor Learning Center located behind the school.

As with most outdoor projects, Mother Nature took its toll over time and years later, the center was in disrepair. Mrs. Williams, a 5th grade science teacher at E.P, Rayzor, contacted Lantana’s Boy Scout Troop 99 to see if they would be willing to take on the project. Connor, one of the founding members of Troop 99, decided to make this his Eagle Scout project, not only as a project to help his community, but as a labor of love.

“I wanted the students to have the same learning experience that I had,” said Connor. “I also wanted to make some improvements so the space was more teacher-friendly.”

This was more than an average Eagle Scout project. The scout leaders who reviewed his Eagle project warned him that he might want to consider something a little less ambitious.

He was determined, however, and Connor went above and beyond just bringing the center back to its original condition, he made improvements that were not in the original design.

Hubert began by clearing the grass and cutting back the trees and shrubs. Then he and his crew went to work to prepare the ground with mulch—five truckloads from 1-2-Tree to be exact—which took several days to spread.

Because of the August heat, they had to take it in three hour shifts making for a much longer project than anticipated.

A makeshift classroom of benches was already in place, but the wood had splintered over the years.

Connor and his team used pressure treated wood with weather coating and expanded the benches to a larger size to make them more comfortable for sitting. He then crafted two picnic tables, an idea that Mrs. Williams suggested, which were placed in the classroom area not just for extra seating, but to work as desks when necessary.

While most Eagle projects are finished in a matter of weeks, Connor’s project ranged from

March through August. He also had the help of

many scouts in his troop. Anywhere from 12-25

scouts came for each scheduled work day. Though all planning and execution was up to Connor, his father, Doug, was a rock throughout the whole process. However, he and his father both had to take a hiatus at one point as Connor was in the

hospital for surgery (and recovery) and his father had an overseas work project.

“If you really BELIEVE IN SOMETHING and stick with it, nothing is impossible.”

“We just hung in

there and stuck with it,” said Connor, a senior

at Guyer High School.

“When I brought Mrs. Williams back to see it, seeing her reaction was

worth all of the time and effort we put in.”

In fact, Mrs. Williams

was so excited she ran

back to get the principal

to see all of the work that Connor and his team had done.

When asked what he’d learned from the

project, Connor didn’t hesitate to answer.

“If you really believe in something and stick

with it, nothing is impossible,” said Connor.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 17

Dr. Matt

Before You See a Shadow,

See Your Dentist!

“If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again.”

The preceding poem of lore depicts the

forecast of Candlemas, the precursor of modern

Groundhog Day. It is the amusing, yet trivial tradition where our little woodchuck became

the beast of burden that prophesied the coming weather. Though I think if we were to look at

the accuracy of the most famed groundhog,

However, many key components are involved in the diagnosis of dental disease outside of mere sensation or unaided visual inspection.

With advances in radiology, immunofluorescence and other technologies, dental decay, for instance, is a condition that can be detected long before an actual cavitation occurs or before bacteria infringes on the nerve

by accumulated bacteria beneath the gums, and

Periodontal disease is a disease of the supporting structures of teeth that affects about half of American adults.

with

Punxsutawney Phil, his accuracy of 39% would have us question his method of diagnosis.

In the same manner, diagnosing dental disease

is one that requires a true scientific method. The

common responses I receive from patients who

ignore a diagnosis is that, “It doesn’t hurt” or “I can’t see it”. They therefore do not seek treatment

based on their own approach of self-diagnosis.

18 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

of the tooth causing pain. When confined to the enamel and dentin only, a cavity can be treated minimally without the need of either a crown or root canal or both.

Periodontal disease is a disease of the supporting structures of teeth that affects about half of American adults. It is a condition caused

is therefore known as the “silent” dental disease.

If untreated, the chronic nature of the bacterial induced inflammation can cause bone loss around the teeth and eventually tooth loss.

Many dental treatments are preventative in

order to decrease the risk of further treatment.

Though elective, choosing not to proceed preventative

associated risks.

treatment

comes

with

When it comes to diagnosing dental disease,

remain with what’s tried and true. Stick only

with the facts, and keep your dental visits regular to prevent dental surprises. Happy smiling!

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

The Practice of Family Law is

Seasonal,

Our Choices Shouldn’t Be

Sponsored Content

by Brett Nelson

I have found over the years that the practice of family law can be seasonal. During the holidays, my new business slows down a bit and I believe this occurs because people are focusing on spending quality time with their family and finding joy in the season. It seems all of life’s problems, or whatever negative aspect of their life they may have been focusing on, fades away.

This time of year naturally allows us to focus on what really matters and to see the important things clearer, and for many folks, that means finding the light in their relationships and putting off the decision to move forward with ending it. People seemingly choose to be happy.

I have written at length about the sanctity of marriage, and how important it is to find a healthy balance of give and take. It’s not an easy process, but those who choose to focus on it year-round can and have made out better in the long run. But one thing I’ve found is that – with the exception of twice a year during Thanksgiving and Christmas – we oftentimes struggle to choose that proactive path. Why? Some might say we are a busyness product of our environment. I say we are a product of our own choices.

I am not sure of the exact statistics, but the number of times per week a family sits down together for dinner is on the decline. We either get busy with the kids’ practice schedules, our own work keeps us away from home late, or we’re too focused on the negatives to notice what we ourselves could be doing better.

Meanwhile we choose to make the most of the holidays, to take that extra time to spend with loved ones. Fences are mended and relationships are strengthened.

I suggest we choose to make improving our home life a focus throughout the year. I know in my life when our family gets too busy, we sometimes need to make the conscious choice

to say no to others and yes to our family. It is hard but the positive impact on the family dynamics is immeasurable.

I’m not naive. I know there are families out there facing real problems. And I am always here to help. But who knows where we might land by the end of 2016 if we take a step back from the busy things in life and/or focusing on the negative and instead choose to be honorable, equitable and gracious throughout the year.

What I’m most passionate about in my role as a family lawyer is helping people find a common ground so that disputes can be resolved without all the collateral consequences that occur when the focus is on what “I am getting.” Or better yet, help them resolve the issues they are facing so they can go back to living their lives – together.

Sometimes it’s all a matter of choice.

Which path will you choose?

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

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 19

Pictured is of Guyer head coach John Walsh (left) with his son J.W. Walsh (right) who was Guyer’s former quarterback

Former GUYER FOOTBALL STAR JOINS THE COACHING

photo courtesy of John Walsh

20 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

RANKS

by Steve Gamel

J

.W. Walsh, a former Guyer quarterback who went on to have a short career at Oklahoma State, has joined the coaching ranks as the new running backs coach at Abilene Christian University.

Walsh, the son of Guyer head coach John

the step he wants to take, and there’s several ways

ACU coach Adam Dorrel in an article published

and getting on the recruiting trail at his age is

Walsh, was reported to have been hired by new

by the Denton Record-Chronicle on Dec. 23.

This is Walsh’s first coaching gig, as he spent

to get there, but getting his own position group invaluable experience.”

J.W. Walsh, 24, was named the Big 12

2016 as an offensive graduate assistant coach

Freshman of the Year in 2012 while at OSU

“The college game is what he wants to do,”

passing and 1,036 rushing yards. While at

at TCU.

Guyer coach John Walsh told the DRC. “This is

and finished his career with nearly 4,000 yards

Guyer, he led the Wildcats to playoffs each year

as the starting quarterback, including a loss to Cibolo Steele in the Class 5A state title game his senior year.

Walsh is one of a host of new hires by Dorrel, who won three Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State over the last four seasons. “[OSU coach Mike] Gundy gave him good advice. He told him last year that he knew the Oklahoma State way and he needed to go learn a different way,” John Walsh said. “[TCU coach Gary] Patterson is one of the best in the business. I think he’s learning this business on fast-forward.”

J.W. Walsh’s Career Highlights While At OSU COMPLETIONS

PASSING TD

32 vs. Iowa State, 10/20/12

4 twice last at UTSA, 9/7/13

ATTEMPTS

LONG PASS

47 twice, last at West Virginia, 9/28/13

74 vs. Iowa State, 10/20/12

YARDS

RUSHES

415 vs. Iowa State, 10/20/12

16 at West Virginia, 9/2813

RUSHING YARDS 125 vs. Mississippi State, 8/31/13 RUSHING TD 2, twice, last vs. Florida State, 8/30/14  LONG RUSH 50 vs. Texas, 9/29/12

CONGRATS! Guyer High wins championship title in the boys orange division at the 59th Whataburger basketball tournament.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 21

New Assistant Principal Named At E.P. Rayzor Elementary Sarah Critton has been named the new assistant principal at E.P. Rayzor Elementary in Lantana.

Critton is replacing Linda Bozeman, who served as the assistant principal for E.P. Rayzor Elementary School for six years. Bozeman is the new principal of Blanton Elementary School, also located in Lantana.

Critton comes to E.P. Rayzor with more than eight years of experience in public education, all within Denton ISD and most recently as the math specialist at Borman Elementary. She is the former Expo Specialist (gifted and talented program) at WS Ryan Elementary, where she helped develop curriculum and established the school’s first robotics club, and has also taught at the second and fourth-grade levels.

Critton has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Drum Fit For The Whole Family On February 9 At Blanton Elementary There’s been family yoga, family runs and other family fit ideas, but has your family tried Drum Fit? It is the most popular PE program in schools today. Every participant has a stationary exercise ball and a pair of drumsticks. Everyone plays along with the beat and exercises together.

It’s a great way to get parents and kids enjoying together time while working out and getting healthy. Blanton Elementary will be teaching drum fit to its students on February 8-9 and then having a Family Drum Fit Night on February 9.

E.P. Rayzor Remains Perfect In Turn 2 Of Speeding To Read Two-time defending champion E.P. Rayzor continues to be perfect through Turn 2 of Texas Motor Speedway’s Speeding to Read competition.

22 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

100% of E.P. Rayzor’s student body has either met or exceeded the pre-set program reading goals for the eight week scoring period. This year, however, they have competition with B.B. Owen Elementary in Lewisville staying neck and neck with the defending champ through both turns 1 and 2.

Rayzor led the K-2 division with Renee Clark’s kindergarten class averaging 397.41 books per student.

Speeding To Readis an incentive-based, NASCAR and INDYCAR-themed reading program that encourages elementary school students to read more frequently during the school year. E.P. Rayzor has won the competition for the last two years, competing against other DFW area elementary schools.

Guyer High School AP Scholars Recognized

AP Scholars with Distinction

(Students who earn an average score 3.5 on all AP exams taken and score of 3 or higher on five or more exams.)

Katelyn Golden, Jordan Goldstein, Alexander Koh, Ansh Pujara, Abhishek Shah, Riley Steward, Sana Syed, Connor Wooley

AP National Scholars

(Students who earn an average score 4 on all AP exams taken and score of 3 or higher on eight or more exams) Jordan Goldstein, Ansh Pujara, Abhishek Shah

Adkins 5th Grader Artwork Showcased One Adkins Elementary 5th grader had his artwork displayed in an exhibit for the Texas Association of School Boards and School Administrators Conference in Houston this fall.

Billy Windschief, a fifth grader from Adkins Elementary, had his artwork selected among several entries from school districts and private schools across the state. It was displayed in the exhibit hall at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the TASA/TASB Conference.

Several Guyer High School students have been recognized as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars for the 2016-2017 school year. 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: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar.

The following is a list of Guyer High School honorees for this year:

Ford Named DISD Executive Director Of Curriculum, Instruction And Staff Development

(Students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams) Nathan Gates, Anna Laura Harmjanz, Andrew Winn, Pierce Brodersen, Ashley Emory, Kimberly Flack, Benjamin Gillick, Kurt Gscheidle, Ethan Hedges, Rebecca Hernandez, Mariana Lopez Cervantes, Mason Mazurek, Theoren Moore, Danielle Quintanilla, Erick Quintanilla, Bianca Ramirez, Nabeera Rao, Riley Roder, Nolan Vaughn, Garion Washam, Amy Whang, Launa Wilson, Zachery Wright, Ryan Yeatts

Dan Ford, principal of Denton High School, has been named Denton Independent School District’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and staff development. Mr. Ford replaces Vicky Christensen who announced her retirement shortly after the school year began this fall.

Mr. Ford, an administrator with 19 years of experience in education, joined the district in 2012 as principal of Denton High School.

Prior to that, he served for six years at Vivian Field Middle School in the Carrollton Farmer’s Branch ISD.

AP Scholars

AP Scholars with Honors

(Students who average 3.25 on all AP exams taken and score 3 or higher on four or more exams) Savannah Dali, Allison Damrau, Madison Freeze, Giselle Galax, Jefferson Knight, Thomas Nunez, Madeline Spears, Megan Vennell

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 23

Inspiration Comes in

Small Packages

9

year old Lantana resident Sadie Keller was diagnosed with leukemia in the spring of 2015. A remarkable young woman, she has been through more than most adults seven times her age. Yet through it all, she has always managed to think of others first.

“It is amazing how Sadie has taken her cancer diagnosis Special and made it good,” said anta, gift from S her mom, Sarah. “We are ’s Bell.

The Giver so proud of her and she it dly wears Sadie prou inspires us, too.” . neck Plumbing When Christmas 2015 around her donated one truck and was approaching, Sadie worried labor to deliver to Cook Children’s Hospital about the children who were not lucky enough to come home for Christmas and while Around the Clock Movers donated how they would receive their gifts at the hospital. two trucks and labor for the second year in a As a result, she started Sadie’s Sleigh, a toy drive row to deliver to Children’s Medical Center. for the kids fighting cancer who could not go The toys not only went to patients, but also to forty children with cancer and their siblings home for Christmas.

The first year her goal was to collect 300 toys. who aren’t in the hospital but who might not With the help of local businesses, friends and have had much of a Christmas otherwise. They family, as well as promotion on social media, she were also able to provide 20 parents bags that surpassed her goal in only one week. She ended included a travel coffee mug, fleece blanket and up collecting 1,300 toys which she delivered to Visa gift card.

Sadie and her crew handed off the presents to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

This year, Sadie’s goal was to collect 3,000 the big guy himself, Santa. Then Santa had a very toys for the kids. Being the overachiever she is, special present for Sadie.

Santa told Sadie that every two years the she collected 4,400 toys which she delivered to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth as well elves change the bells on the reindeer then give as Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Malone the bell to very special girls or boys who have a 24 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

by Susan Neuhalfen

giver’s heart and help others. He called it The Giver’s Bell. He told her how proud he was of her and that he had chosen her to receive this very rare gift. She proudly wears it around her neck.

That, however, was not the end of her amazing day. After seeing her story on the news, Starlight Flight from Dallas gave Sadie and her family a tour of the Christmas lights in what Sarah described as “the smallest plane she’d ever seen.”

Sadie acted as co-pilot and was even given the opportunity to take the plane’s controls.

“It’s all you,” David from Starlight Flights told Sadie. “It’s just like a video game controller.”

2015 Goal: 300 Collected: 1,300

2016 Goal: 3,000 Collected: 4,400

Sadie and her brother Grant agreed that their favorite part of the ride was the “fake landing” when the plane almost touched the ground and then shot back up and quickly dropped back down.

Many Lantana residents and businesses came together for this amazing cause. It Works!®, the company for which Sarah is an independent distributor, collected many of the one thousand gifts in September that helped kick off Sadie’s Sleigh.

Lantana-based Fixd gave up their holiday party to spend the money on Sadie’s Sleigh. They gave each group of employees money and had a competition to see who could get the best toys for the money. They delivered 500 toys to the Keller’s house.

Blanton Elementary, where Sadie attends school, held a toy drive during two weeks in December. There was a competition between classes to see who could bring the most toys.

Heather Shimala, Keller Williams realtor and president of the Lantana Ladies League helped recruit drop off points and made signs and boxes for each. The Lantana Ladies League also had a kickoff party for kids to get their picture with Santa and bring gifts for Sadie’s Sleigh. It was at this event where Sadie was introduced to Deni Stritch with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

“She emailed a few weeks later and let us know that BSA was planning on participating in Sadie's Sleigh for their Christmas party,” said

In addition, about 30 friends and family, mostly residents of Lantana, also helped carry and place the toys for Sadie’s big picture which took place in their cul-de-sac in Lantana. They then sorted the toys by hospital and bagged them up for the deliveries.

“It was so awesome to see how many people Sadie’s mission has inspired,” said her mom.

“Several of her friends were there, teachers, and even people who had just been following her journey.”

Just when you thought this little girl couldn’t do more for others she has plenty of other stuff in the works. The Sadie Keller Foundation will start collecting BIG toys for milestone gifts. These toys will be presented to children fighting cancer as they reach a milestone such as remission, end of treatment, getting past a long hospital stay, getting out of the ICU, or if the child just needs to be cheered up and reminded to keep fighting.

Sadie is also an advocate for childhood cancer and recently went to Washington D.C. to speak to some members of congress about providing more funding since only given 4% of their funding comes from the government. She has been invited back to Lobby Day where she will be meeting with senators and congressmen Starlight Flight from Dallas about funding as well. gave Sadie and her family a She will also continue her work with tour of the Chris Snowflake the be tmas lights ar Sadie’s Sleigh, which has far surpassed anything imaginable already. It does take a village, or in this case, a great community like Sarah. “We attended the party where they gave Lantana, to make this project such a success.

Sadie over 800 toys and a check for $2,900 to “There was so many people that donated, The Sadie Keller Foundation.” supported, prayed and helped Sadie blow her BSA also presented Sadie with a life size bear goal away,” said Sarah. “We are grateful to live in just for her. She named it Snowflake. this amazing community!”

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 25

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OR PHOTOS TO SHARE?

Email your family photos, article ideas & special events to artwork@murray-media.com

by February 2nd, 2017

to be included in the February issue 26 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Science Saturday Fun On February 4 Join us for Saturday Science with Science Adventure Labs on Saturday, February 4th from 10:30am until 11:30am. This is a fun and educational program for grades 3-5 that will be held in the North Amenity Group Fitness Center. The session is limited to 25 students but if there is a demand, an additional session will be scheduled at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $5 email aslovak@insightam.com to register.

Free Women’s Health Screening At Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital In Flower Mound A women’s health screening event for women of all ages will be held at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Flower Mound on Saturday, February 4th from 8:00am-11:30am.

The staff will be conducting a variety of health screenings including cholesterol, sleep apnea, blood pressure, glucose checks and more.

A Q&A physicians panel will take place from 8:30am-9:30am. with keynote presenter Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Rebekah Gregory.

In addition to wellness booths in the lobby there will also be chair massages, eyebrow threading, and a complimentary breakfast. No RSVP is necessary. For more information please visit www.texashealthflowermound.com.

It’s Roller Derby Time!

Nationally-ranked co-ed junior roller derby team the Rolling Rebellion is holding an open house and info session on Monday, January 30th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. at Interskate Roller Rink, 1408 TX-121 Bus, Lewisville, TX 75067. All kids and parents are welcome to attend.

Right now the Rolling Rebellion has open registration for kids ages 7 to 17 until February 8th. The Texas-based club has kids from all over Denton County already participating.

Though helpful, no prior skating experience is required. The Rebellion takes pride in its rigorous training program that takes absolute beginners and builds them into top-flight athletes.

They are currently the 16th ranked junior roller derby team in the nation. Last year four of the Rebellion members were included in the Junior Roller Derby Olympics.

For more information contact media@ rollingrebellion.com or call (940) 395-1936.

Volunteers Needed For Homeless Teen Shelter Kyle’s Place, an emergency shelter for teens and adults is looking for sponsoring families, mentors and tutors for homeless teens in Denton County.

Currently it is estimated that over 400 teens ages 13-18 are homeless in Denton County. Most of these kids have been forced out of their homes by abusive parents and stepparents.

“Most of these kids just come from unfortunate situations,” said Christy Daniel, Program Administrator and Clinical Coordinator. “The most important thing we can do as a community is to help them become functioning adults.”

In addition to the volunteer positions, Daniel mentioned some other ideas to get the community involved. There are those who want to come in and visit them, just to lend an ear and they are welcome. On Wednesday nights, a volunteer may have a Bible study and fix a meal for all of the kids (the shelter houses up to 16).

On Fridays volunteers could fix a meal and host a game night or movie night. There is even an opportunity for interested parties to purchase food and have it delivered to the shelter as a treat.

They are also looking for people who teach life skills such as creating resumes, budgeting and nutrition.

To volunteer for one of these opportunities contact Jessica@journeytodream.com. Those who are coming into the building to volunteer will need to go through training, a background check and other tests.

Ranch Hand Rescue Presented Check By Lantana Community Ranch Hand Rescue, the benefactor for the 2016 Run Lantana 5k and 10k, was recently presented with a check from the Lantana Community Association in the amount of $14,125. Over 200 runners and residents from the Lantana community participated in the event, which is now in its seventh year.

Ranch Hand Rescue is local, non-profit organization that works to rescue and rehabilitate abused and neglected farm animals.

The organization integrates these animals into their Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy Counseling programs that serve victims of child and sexual abuse.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 27

Ranch Hand Rescue

History Makes

AGAIN

by Susan Neuhalfen

A

rgyle-based Ranch Hand Rescue has once again made history. Yoda, their fifteen month old sheep, is the first to have surgery to correct a congenital heart problem called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Veterinarians at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences performed the surgery.

A PDA is a blood vessel that allows blood to

bypass the lungs. It should close off at birth but Yoda’s did not.

“If left untreated, Yoda would have succumbed

to his congenital heart disease sooner than he

should,”

Dr.

Ryan

Baumwart, a board certified

veterinary cardiologist at

the Center for Veterinary Health

Sciences

at

Oklahoma State University.

At first they tried to

correct the problem by

going in through a blood

vessel in the sheep’s leg, but

the

blood

vessel

was too large according to

he

Pictured above is Bob William holding Yoda. photo courtesy of Ranch Hand Rescue 28 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Dr.

over

Dr.

and

Baumwart. his

Robert to

Dr.

animal surgeon.

So

colleague,

Streeter,

Danielle

Dr. Dugat opened up Yoda’s chest and secured

a suture around the vessel and tied it down, closing the vessel completely.

“Blood flow could no longer pass through

that shunt pathway,” said Dr. Dugat. “As a result, the

“I believe with all my heart that God brings them to me for a reason, we are their last hope.” handed

Dugat,

the a

case

small

murmur

disappears

and Yoda can begin the recovery process.”

All of the animals at

Ranch Hand Rescue are

not only animals that have been rescued in one form or

another, but they each act as counselors to the human patients as well.

Ranch

Hand Rescue founder Bob

Williams said that Yoda is

one of their most popular therapy animals, especially

connecting with children.

“All of the animals here see clients daily in

our counseling program,” said Williams. “But

for children who suffered severe trauma from physical and sexual abuse, he gives unconditional

love and snuggles which makes him a special partner to all who meet him.”

This is not Ranch Hand Rescue’s first rodeo, so

to speak, with regard to breakthroughs in animal

surgeries. In 2011, Ranch Hand Rescue made history by placing a prosthetic leg on Midnite, a

miniature horse known as “The Horse of Hope” who now acts as a sort of mascot for Ranch

Hand Rescue. In 2012, Dr. John Bitter and Dr. Sammy Pittman used stem cells and nano fiber technology to perform a first ever procedure on

a Ranch Hand Rescue therapy horse named

Phoenix. In 2014, they worked with Oklahoma State University to perform the first ever double

fusion to straighten a leg on Spirit, another therapy horse at Ranch Hand Rescue.

Williams is firm believer that all life is

precious. The majority of the RHR animals have

special needs and Williams will go to any extent for them, regardless of health issues.

“I believe with all my heart that God

brings them to me for a reason, we are their

last hope,” said Williams of the animals at Ranch Hand Rescue.

“I call them the throwaways because most people won’t spend the money to save an animal’s life.”

The successful surgery for Yoda will be

published in veterinary medical journals so

that others may benefit from the example these ground-breaking veterinarians have set.

Located in Argyle, Ranch Hand Rescue acts as a sanctuary for animals and a counseling

center for people. The Counseling Program

is the only mental health counseling program in the country that partners counseling

clients with abused and neglected animals under the guidance of fully Licensed Professional Counselors.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 29

Fitness

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? Practical Goal Setting Can Bring About Positive Changes

DID YOU KNOW

that statically only 8 to 10 percent of people who made New Year’s resolutions successfully achieve them? Don’t be a statistic. If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight or get in shape, be fair to yourself and set realistic, attainable goals.

Realistic, attainable resolutions aren’t loaded promises. They are achievable goals. When you make a promise to yourself and put your plan into action, you’ll quickly find that you are on a road toward healthier habits. You will also be less likely to become discouraged and more likely to make new goals.

For example, instead of telling yourself, "I'm going to lose weight and get fit," resolve to be consistent with exercise, resolve to say no to sugary foods, and resolve to not quit when it gets hard. Then put a timeline to it. I will make

a 3-month commitment to myself to wake up early and fit in the exercise I need to reach my goal. I will not quit in this 3-month timeframe and will put in the work consistently to earn my results.

So when making New Year’s resolutions this year, be fair to yourself, even if your resolution is as simple as being consistent with workouts.

For 2017, make a resolution – a promise – that you can and will keep. If this year’s resolution is weight loss, be specific in your plan of action and how you plan to achieve your resolution.

There are many fads out there, and there are lots of options. Pick something you enjoy and with which you can be consistent.

At Jesse James Fit and Outlaw Bootcamp, we believe in teaching our members the tools they can use for a lifetime in maintaining weight loss.

We offer accountability, nutrition knowledge and challenging workouts in a comfortable, fun environment.

Wishing you much success toward your goals in the year to come!

As a New Year’s special, we’re offering a

FREE Class or Training Session!

So you can try our facilities and workouts for yourself. Visit us at

www.OutlawBootcamp.com to learn how you can make big life changes with realistic, attainable steps.

by Jesse J. Leyva, Jesse James Fit & Outlaw Bootcamp www.JesseJamesFit.com JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 31

“THE

Febr

Families wh school are invi for the event students in

Pl or

Where the

WORLD

is Their Classroom

by Susan Neuhalfen

W

hen the Selwyn School started in 1957, it was founded by parents who were looking for a more balanced educational curriculum for their college-bound children. Nothing about that has changed.

What has changed is that Selwyn School, which was originally a boarding school in the NW corner of Denton, is now moving closer to Argyle in order to better serve those same families looking to send their children of our to a smaller, more student-focused college prep school.

“We are moving from a 90 acre campus to a 10 acre campus because we’re now a day school and

100

we don’t use dorms,” said Deborah Hof, Head of School. “We want to be closer to the community and the families and we’re looking forward to our new facilities.”

Selwyn School is the only independent go to school north of Dallas.

They are a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

They are non-profit and run by a private board of trustees. They still

%

students

COLLEGE

32 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

value parental input and focus on quality teacher to student relationships that allows for a more personal education.

“When you have 10 kids in a class, it’s easier

to focus one-on-one with the students when needed,” pointed out Hof. “Not only do the kids

better understand the curriculum, we can work on what interests them specifically so that they may expand their knowledge.”

From kindergarten through 12th grade,

every student must study art, drama, physical education, music and Spanish. Hof emphasized

that they are not tied to standardized tests so they have flexibility with their studies.

“100% of our students go to college,”

said Hof. “We do everything possible to

make sure these kids are academically and independently prepared.”

You are Invited to Our Annual International Night

E WORLD IS OURS”

ruary 25 at our new Argyle Campus, 2270 Copper Canyon Road .

ho wish to find out more information about our ited to join us at 4:30 P.M. and welcome to stay at 5:00 p.m. We’ll have hors d’oeuvres and the each grade will perform beginning at 6 P.M.

lease RSVP to Gail at 940.382.6771 r email gsummers@selwynschool.com

by Feb. 10.

“We graduate bright, well-mannered and curious students “They

after

cook

and

themselves

clean

when

up

they

are out on these trips,” said Miller.

“We help them to become self-sufficient very quickly.”

Through the perspectives program all of the

kids travel from day trip as a kindergartener to

a science/social studies camp for three days as a 3rd grader and then in high school they have

a real opportunity for independent studies. The

point is to take them out of the classroom and give them the opportunity to learn as well as to tackle problems on their own.

“My daughter traveled to Key West to study

marine biology which was life changing for her,” said Miller. “They also went to museums

and other places which encompassed the arts, Grades 3-5 science and social studies teacher

Sponsored Content

photography by Eric Priddy Photography

Connie Miller has the unique perspective of

being both a teacher and the parent of one of the students. She is quick to point out that every school has its great teachers and unique classes

and for the Selwyn School, it’s the perspectives

sciences and social studies. She grew so much.”

Miller and Hof talked about how the high

schoolers have a choice in where they travel for their independent studies citing one student who went to England to study Shakespeare as well as

the history of the country. Their passion will lead them and the teachers are there to help them

program that sets them apart.

develop their further study.

to experience the things they are learning,”

students on global leadership. They are spending

“We believe in getting the kids into the world

said Miller. “We start them on overnight trips

when they’re young to make sure they develop independence early on.”

Miller talked about her daughter who has

since graduated from Selwyn and how she came home after one of her trips when she was much younger and offered to make breakfast for her mother.

They are also working with their high school

a great deal of time studying the middle east

competing in the Model Arab League, a

multi-regional competition where students

the opportunity for dual credit. Selwyn works with both TWU and UNT in areas of interest for individual students.

There are roughly 50 students on campus right now but that number is expected to grow once they reach their new facility in January.

Anyone interested in applying may go to www.selwynschool.com and go to the admissions tab. The staff is happy to have parents and potential students spend a day on campus to see if it fits for them.

The best part of the school, according to Miller, is the real sense of community they have on campus.

“The staff and students are very close,” said Miller. “We all help each other to be successful.”

They would especially like for people to take a tour of their new campus on Old Alton Road now that the structure is almost complete.

“We graduate bright, well-mannered and curious students,” said Hof. “We hope people in the area will give us a chance to introduce ourselves. We want everyone to get to know us.”

SELWYN SCHOOL

learn about politics and history. They also have

940.382.6771 phone 940.382.6773 fax

competitive sports.

admissions@selwynschool.com

history bowls and spelling bees as well as some

Despite the wide range in classes, Hof said

that the students also look for opportunities for

college credits. Students can take advantage of

2270 Copper Canyon Rd. • Argyle, TX 76226 JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 33

Expand Your

Cooking Skills

Yummly & Save Time With

by Christine Olmstead of Distillery Creative

I

f your New Year got off to the same start as mine, you’re probably running around at a million miles an hour and finding yourself already playing catchup. It’s a new year with new goals, schedules, upcoming events, family calendars…the list of things to occupy brain space is too long. I love cooking, and it’s a lifelong goal of mine to eat healthy, but the worst part of cooking is deciding what to make. So, I usually end up making the same things over and over, or going out to eat.

Not anymore! I am inspired to cook delicious meals with the Yummly App. Yes. Yummly is just like it sounds. A place to find yummy, delicious meals. And it includes yumptious photos! So you can see what you are making—you don’t have to wonder. Once you create an account, begin selecting the number of people you normally cook for and their ages. You can input any allergies or food dislikes that you want to avoid. You then select your favorites among the different ethnic food preferences, like Mexican or Italian food. (Can you tell my preferences?)

The app then curates a list of recipes that you, and those you cook for, will enjoy. Simply hit the “yum” button to save the recipes that inspire you. Add different recipes together to make meal plans. You can scroll through the ingredients needed for the recipe, and with the tap of a button, quickly add all the

34 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

ingredients to a shopping list; or simply click the specific groceries that you need to add to your grocery list.

I find Yummly better than simply browsing Pinterest, my former inspiration. Yummly filters specific to your allergies, preferences, and number of people you’re cooking for. It makes grocery shopping easier with the click of one button instead of writing down all the items that you need, and it is constantly updating, adding new recipes, and curating your feed based on your specific preferences.

Taking the decision-making process out of meal planning is already saving me a ton of time, and I’m expanding my cooking skills to make dishes that I’ve never ventured to cook.

Thai food is next on my list to tackle! Try Yummly and see if it makes cooking easier for you too.

The Yummly App, available for free for iPhone and Android.

Christine is the lead designer at Distillery Creative Marketing Group, a local graphic design firm that specializes in custom web and print design for small businesses. See their work at www.distillerycreative.com

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 35

36 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

GUYER’S NOAH CAIN LANDS ON ALL-STATE TEAM

by Steve Gamel

G

uyer has never been at a loss for quality workhorses at running back. Sophomore Noah Cain, though young in comparison to his predecessors, is no exception in 2016.

Cain, who recently transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, turned every head imaginable in his second year with the Wildcats and, as a reward, was recognized as one of the top running backs in the state with his second-team selection to The Associated Press’ Class 6A all-state team.

The all-state team was released last month just prior to the state championship games and was voted on by sportswriters across Texas. It only takes into account regular-season stats over the course of 10 games. Cain, who was the only Wildcat to make first or second team, rushed for 1,407 of his 1,683 yards during the regular season with 19 touchdowns.

It’s yet another accolade for Cain, who finished the season listed as the No. 1

W

IL

sophomore running back in the country according to popular recruiting website 247sports.com.

He has more than a dozen scholarship offers, including one from LSU. With Cain in the backfield, the Wildcats averaged nearly 320 rushing yards per game while turning themselves into a run-oriented machine. Guyer lost just twice in the regular season before being eliminated by Cedar Hill in the second round.

On the year, Guyer rushed for 3,803 yards with 49 rushing scores. Along with Cain, running back Myron Mason rushed for 1,035 yards. Both combined for 33 touchdowns in 12 games.

Though Cain was the only Wildcat to make first or second team all-state, three of his teammates were listed as honorable mentions.

Brian Polendey, a senior tight end who is committed to Miami, made it as an offensive lineman, as did left tackle John Lanz.

Safety Bryce Jackson, a Northwestern pledge, was listed as a defensive honorable mention.

Cain’s decision to transfer to IMG Academy was first reported by the Denton Record-Chronicle earlier this month.

Despite losing Cain to IMG Academy, which arguably has a rough history among Texas High School football coaches for recruiting some of the state’s best players to its program, Guyer is expected to return practically everyone next year from an offense that averaged nearly 36 points per game. Its only losses were to state powers DeSoto, which won the state title, Allen and Cedar Hill. Cain will obviously be the focal point again heading into his junior year.

DC A

TS

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 37

Restaurant Review

Tokyo Samurai =

FOOD + FUN T

okyo Samurai in the Lantana Town Center (next to Kroger) is FUN. F-U-N! It’s fun for kids and it’s fun for adults and the food is great!

photos courtesy of Tokyo Samurai’s Facebook

They have all kinds of delicious traditional Japanese food as well as sushi and sashimi.

For those of you who are a little hesitant to try raw fish we suggest trying the Shrimp Tempura roll. It’s panko fried shrimp with a bit of avocado and thin slices of cucumber that is wrapped in seaweed and rice. A sweet sauce is drizzled on top which compliments the creamy flavor of the avocado.

If you’re feeling like trying something a bit more daring than the standard California Roll we recommend the Eel Roll. Don’t let the name scare you. It’s a cooked roll that features broiled eel that is coated in a rich sauce that is made from mirin, soy and eel

38 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

bones, commonly referred to as eel sauce.

The richness of the eel is mellowed out with avocado. We usually ask for extra eel sauce since we like it on EVERYTHING. There are bento boxes and lunch specials as well as special sushi rolls for both lunch and dinner. A bento box includes miso soup, house salad, and the daily side. For beginners we suggest sticking to the Teriyaki Bento Box but we highly suggest trying the Katsu Bento Box with pork. It’s panko fried crunchy pork that is drizzled in Tonkatsu sauce that is just amazing. Seriously.

It’s fine to sit at the tables and get a great meal.

But if you really want the whole experience at Tokyo Samurai, go to the Hibachi area.

You’ll belly up to a bar with other families and watch the chef actually make your meal while

he entertains everyone. One great part of the experience is meeting the other families at the table. The other includes all the fun tricks that the chef does while preparing your meal (it usually always includes an onion volcano).

He takes turns flipping food into everyone’s mouth while you watch him cook (don’t try this if you’re horrible at catching like we are).

The Hibachi meals include your choice of white or fried rice and stir fried vegetables with house soup and salad. Then you have a choice of add-ins including chicken, salmon and even lobster. It can get a little bit pricey, depending on the type and number of add-ins, but remember, you’re getting LOTS of good food AND entertainment.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 39

STAY CLOSE TO HOME

With Your Valentine

by Susan Neuhalfen

S

ome of the best ideas for Valentine’s Day are right here in the area. Here is a list of local businesses bringing some unique ideas so that you and your love (or your whole family) may enjoy a date night while staying close to home.

ESCAPE ROOM HQ

THE TABLE

469.312.8777 1565 W. Main St. #495, Lewisville

972.874.1010 3701 Justin Rd #150, Flower Mound

If you’re looking for an out of the ordinary Valentine date idea, this is it. At Escape Room HQ, you and your “Bond girl” will race against the clock to solve all of the clues and not only save the day, but escape the room. For the entire month of February, sign up at erhq.com and use promo code SWEETHEART. This will get you two hour-long escape adventure tickets for $50.

All of their rooms were designed by a former Army Ranger intelligence officer turned undercover police officer so these rooms are based on real-life mysteries, offering you and your Valentine an unforgettable night. Voted the BEST PLACE TO MEET PEOPLE in Denton County 2016 it’s a great way to know your sweetheart, too.

This restaurant has the quality and service that usually requires a trip to downtown Dallas, but it’s right in Flower Mound. The Valentine’s Day menu includes a 3 course tasting paired with various wines. The courses include roasted chestnut agnolotti, cold water lobster tail and duo of beef. This restaurant is usually booked well in advance…and for good reason.

COYOTE DRIVE IN

PIRANHA KILLER SUSHI

BARLEY AND BOARD

214.222.9208 1901 Midway, Lewisville

972.539.6052 5801 Long Prairie Road #870, Flower Mound

940.566.3900 100 W. Oak St., Denton

Take a drive down nostalgia lane and take your sweetie to a drive-in movie. Bring your own snacks and a blanket to cuddle up in the back. It may not be as comfortable as a movie at home, but there’s no chance of the kids interrupting.

Just don’t stash in any of your friends in the trunk this time around.

Fabulous sushi and other amazing asian food served in a trendy atmosphere. They have Valentine’s Day food and drink specials so look for the website or their Facebook to see what’s on the menu.

This is first class food and drink with a really terrific atmosphere. Located in the Denton Square you can get anything from a cheeseboard to Quail with a huge variety of beers and cocktails from the bar. You really need to have reservations…and not just for Valentine’s Day.

40 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

SAVORY BISTRO

940.584.0255 2650 FM 407, Bartonville Town Center At Savory Bistro on Valentine’s Day you will have your table for the night so there’s no feeling rushed, it’s just a calm, romantic evening full of great food and wine. They make sure it’s a special night for their customers by serving a wildly romantic chef tasting menu with paired wines.

They are taking reservations and have since before Christmas so you’d better call now.

BISTECCA STEAK HOUSE

CINNAMON CREEK RANCH 817.439.8998 13794 Old Denton Rd, Roanoke Here’s a new twist to Valentine’s Day: Couples by the Creek which is date night at Cinnamon Creek Ranch (and it’s not just Valentine’s Day, they have it every month). Have a great time with archery including archery tag and archery hover ball. The food is spectacular and it’s BYOB. At $100 per couple for food and archery, you just can’t beat that.

CLOUD 9 SPA AND SALON

HANNAH’S OFF THE SQUARE

972.318.0515 2300 Highland Village Rd, Lewisville

972.317.4384 1651 Justin Rd, Flower Mound

940.566.1110 1111 W. Mulberry St., Denton

This Italian restaurant is a great place to take a cooking class if that would be a better Valentine’s Day present (but that’s not offered on Valentine’s Day). For a Valentine’s Day date, however, it’s a elegant, romantic dinner location with simply magnificent food.

His and hers pedicures are always a nice way to start a date night or how about his and hers massages (you won’t be in the same room, but you’ll be relaxing at the same time)? There are also facials and other amenities and the atmosphere is very comfortable for men so there’s no chance he will feel uneasy. It’s a wonderful way to relax together.

It calls itself casual, fine dining but it truly is a romantic, beautiful restaurant with extraordinary food. Call in advance for Valentine’s Day reservations. Way in advance…

THE WILDHORSE GRILL AT ROBSON RANCH

PRIME FARM TO TABLE

940.246.1080 9400 Ed Robson Blvd., Denton

972.539.1902 5810 Long Prairie Rd #200, Flower Mound

972.355.6363 951 Lone Prairie Road, Flower Mound

The restaurant is on a golf course and is reminiscent of an elegant Texas style ranch.

It’s a beautiful, hunting lodge atmosphere with amazing food. It’s warm and cozy and you won’t have traffic problems or parking issues because you’re in the opposite direction of the busy shopping areas.

The ever-changing menu is created daily depending on what is fresh from the local farmers.

That is what makes the restaurant unusual and an incredible choice for dinner. Tucked away in the plaza behind Compass Bank, this is not only upscale but very unique. The food choices are always different and always spectacular.

This really is a great date night. Watch a movie in the comfort of a SERIOUS recliner.

The wait staff is at your disposal with full bar, wine, beer, great food and endless popcorn.

You do have to reserve seats ahead of time so go to themoviehouse.com/flowermound/movies to purchase tickets.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 41

42 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

KYLE’S PLACE MORGAN’S PATIO

A Gift FOR TEENS IN NEED

Under the direction of Lantana resident Berdie Archer, many ladies (and some gentlemen) from Lantana and surrounding areas gathered at the Denton Country Club to raise money for Kyle’s Place, an emergency shelter for homeless teens in Denton County. Kyle’s Place will be building a patio courtesy of BMR Pool and Patio, naming it after Berdie’s granddaughter, Morgan. The crowd raised $750 in raffle money and over $800 in gift cards.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 43

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Dear

Nutrition

Annette,

Sincerely yours, Annette Doody

Savory Bistro Owner & Wellness Coach thesavoryteam.com • 940.584.0255

It is truly cold and flu season. Are there foods that help protect us from these bugs?

Dear Reader:

Our immune system depends on the fuel we give it. So yes, there are certain foods that help boost your immune response to protect you from these bugs, or at least keep them from knocking you down and out. The reverse is also true. Eat the wrong things and you weaken the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to attacks.

So what should we eat?

Clinical immunologists have studied this for years. The following list of foods will help boost the immune system and slow inflammation, which is the major cause of disease and degeneration of cells.

So yes, they can also help slow down aging while protecting you from seasonal bugs.

• Fish (such as salmon, herring, and anchovies) with high omega 3’s is potent for the immune system.

• Almonds, peanuts and sunflower seeds have antioxidants that protect cells and fight off infection.

• Chicken, turkey, beans, seafood and kale contain iron which is vital for the immune system.

• Garlic, broccoli, sardines and tuna contain selenium which slows down an over-reactive immune system.

• Garlic, dandelion greens and onions contain prebiotics.

• Oysters, crab, baked beans and non-sugared yogurt contain zinc which controls inflammation response.

• Citrus fruits contain vitamin C which boosts the immune system.

• Bananas, tuna and chickpeas contain B6 which is critical in how the immune system functions.

• Sweet potatoes, squash and carrots contain vitamin A which fights infections.

• Beans, peas, and leafy greens contain folic acid which boosts the immune system.

The bottom line is eat more plant-based foods and clean proteins. Eat less sugar, processed and deep fried foods. Your immune system will be stronger and you just may slow the aging process a little.

What should we not eat to protect the immune system?

•

•

•

Sugar causes inflammation, feeds bad bugs and makes you crave for more sugar Processed foods are high in sugar, trans fats, chemicals and dyes, all of which weaken the immune response Deep fried foods cause inflammation, which weakens the immune response.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 45

Sidelines

5

I

by Steve Gamel

Reasons Why Active Listening MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER

have a young journalist/friend who, before heading off to an interview, usually sits down with me to go over a list of questions he has prepared ahead of time.

Without fail, he’ll ask if he’s on the right track and if he’s left anything out.

Something I preach in those sit downs is this: rather than worry about questions you think you should ask, focus on being the best listener you can be.

Some of the best journalists, writers and storytellers are the men and women who spend more time perfecting their active listening skills — fully concentrating on whomever they are interviewing rather than passively listening or being more concerned with what the next question is on their notepad.

If you’re focused on what the next question is on your list, then I promise you’ll miss out on the real story.

Active listening skills are important in life, period.

But here are 5 reasons why being a better listener will make you a great writer.

46 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

1

You and the Person You are Interviewing are at Ease

Not everyone you interview has been interviewed before, and not everyone who has is going to share everything with you. Yes, ask the right questions, but first put them at ease by showing that you are listening. Let them collect their thoughts and relax. It also helps you relax because you’re not reading off a predetermined list of questions like a robot. Follow up questions happen naturally and show engagement.

2

You Learn Something You Didn’t Know

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone into an interview and come out with a completely different — and more poignant — story simply because I was willing to shut up and listen. If you’re actively listening, you will learn something you didn’t know and your article will have more depth to it.

JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN, GUYS.

3

You Build Better Relationships

Duh! People want to know they are being heard, that you empathize, and that you will get the story right. You will instantly become a trusted source for future articles, and that is paramount if you are a reporter assigned to a specific beat (crime, sports, politics, etc.).

4

You Avoid Misunderstandings

Just like when you get into a spat with a loved one, each person wants to know his or her individual concerns are being heard. If you aren’t actively listening to that person, you won’t realize that you were actually the one who was wrong the whole time. Active listening includes paraphrasing back to the other person what you understood him or her to be saying, that way there are no misunderstandings. It keeps the conversation respectful and gives you everything you need to understand the issues pertinent to the story you are writing.

5

It’s A Lot Easier Than Coming Up with Tons of Questions

I get to know the individuals or companies I am writing about so that I can tell the best story possible. Sure, I have questions running around in my head beforehand, but I don’t let that dominate the interview. Active listening sure does make me look a lot smarter than any predetermined question I could possibly come up with.

48 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

2016 Cloud9 Makeover Highlights

AMY VAUGHN

After

Before

CARRIE SMITH

After

Before

LIBERTY LEYVA

FREE MAKEOVER

Are you ready for a whole new look? Just email us at cloud9salon@cloud9salon.com and tell us why you or someone you know deserves a makeover. We’ll select one lucky winner from our entries to receive the full hair and make-up treatment.

ENTER TODAY!

Before

Makeover and clothes provided by

214.415.4806 www.cloud9salon.com

What’s New in Beauty for 2017

It is always fun to see what is coming for the new

year in hair, makeup and fashion.

2017 does not disappoint with fun styles and

updated trends. It has been forever since we have seen soft tendrils and curls framing the face. This dresses up

almost any style. Speaking of updos, we will continue to see uniquely styled ponytails and buns.

For those of you with waves and curls, you can

stop using heat daily. The natural hair textures will be seen, so see your stylist for how to tame and design those curls.

In the makeup sector of beauty, eye shadows in all

bright colors will be warming up the pallet for Spring.

The color will be noticeable on our cheeks too. Lip stains will continue to be hot for those of us busy and on the go.

An emphasis on skincare will be prevalent in 2017

because a natural bare face is the foundation rage, even our powder will be used more sparingly.

2017 is full of color, glitter, romance and simplicity.

Get a new do, buy fun colors in makeup. Get a makeover. You deserve it for a Happy New Year!

Kim Cloud Skidmore

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 49

photography by Caroline Simpson

After

Women’s Wellness

Colorectal Cancer Are You at Risk?

by Cheryl Smitherman DNP, CNM

Women’s Wellness at Flower Mound

C

972.355.9436 womenswellnessfm.com

olorectal cancer is the third leading cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer death in the US among women and men combined.

One in 19 women will develop colorectal cancer, 10% of which are fatal. Ninety percent of colorectal cancer is typically found in those 50 or older. African-Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and the highest colorectal cancer mortality rate in the United States, and Ashkenazi Jews have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks of any ethnic group in the world.

t risk for a is e n o y r Eve ancer... c l a t c e r lo o c

50 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Everyone is at risk for colorectal cancer with increasing age related to the progressive exposure of the gastrointestinal mucosa to ingested inflammation-producing substances.

Inflammatory bowel disease such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, smoking, heavy alcohol intake, a sedentary lifestyle, Type II Diabetes, obesity or a low fiber/high-fat diet of processed foods increase the risk of colon cancer. Frying, broiling or grilling as well as diets high in red meat or processed meats increase colorectal cancer risk. Diets high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, calcium and the use of probiotics have been linked with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal screening is recommended annually for African-Americans beginning at the age of 45 and all others at age 50. A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years for prevention, and detection with a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) performed annually. The FOBT or FIT tests can be done in the privacy of your own home. However, because these tests do not screen for pre-cancerous polyps, a direct visualization test such as flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years is recommended. A CT colonography every 5 years is an acceptable alternative to either these direct visualization tests.

Additional risk factors include a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal

polyps. History of a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer are at increased risk, especially if they were younger than 45 when they were diagnosed or if more than one first-degree relative is affected. High risk patients should begin testing at age 40 or 10 years earlier than the youngest age of the family member diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and the frequency of direct visualization testing is often more frequent.

Hereditary gene mutations account for 5 to 10 percent of people

been removed. Patients with FAP also have an increased risk of cancer of the stomach, small intestine or other organs. Patients with Lynch Syndrome may have an 80% lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer depending on the gene mutation, and are at risk for developing endometrial cancer.

Other cancers associated with Lynch Syndrome include ovarian, stomach, small intestine, pancreatic, kidney, brain, ureter & bile duct cancers.

Other colorectal cancerassociated gene mutations are associated with brain tumors, cancers of the small intestine, skin, bladder and ovaries, and non-cancerous tumors of the skin, bone and soft tissue.

Mostpatients are embarrassed to discuss bowel habits or abnormalities with healthcare providers, but a candid discussion can be crucial in the prevention, detection and treatment of colorectal cancer. Patients are usually reassured that

Cancerous polyps can form in patients with FAP as early as 20 years old and will develop colon cancer by age 40...

with colorectal cancers.

Approximately 6% of Ashkenazi Jews have a gene which increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Two of the most common inherited syndromes in the general population include Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch Syndrome. FAP accounts for an estimated 1% of colorectal cancers and Lynch Syndrome affects another 2-4%.

Cancerous polyps can form in patients with FAP as early as 20 years old and will develop colon cancer by age 40 if the polyps have not

colorectal cancer detection today is much more private than in the past due to annual in-home testing, and direct-visualization screenings for most patients are only needed every 10 years.

Contemporary genetic testing has become more reasonably priced, making it more affordable to an increasing number of patients and improving the detection and prevention rates. Likewise, more insurance companies have begun to cover the cost of testing if the family history meets certain guidelines. Genetic testing of one patient can help determine the relative risk of family members, thereby determining the need for additional prevention strategies for a group of related people.

Early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer can increase the five-year survival rate by approximately 90%. Make an annual exam appointment today to determine your risk level, complete screening tests and design a cancer prevention plan which will keep you healthy for years to come.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 51

NAME THE LAST BOOK

YOU READ

by Susan Neuhalfen

What was the last book you read? More importantly, when?

I

t seems hard to believe but 33% of high school graduates will never read a book after high school and 42% of college students will never read another book after they graduate.

It’s somewhat understandable. Lives get busy and some things get pushed aside.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that children learn from their parents. Actions, in many cases, speak louder than words. If we want our children to read, then we should lead by example. Ask yourself, do you read in front of your children or do you play on your phone?

The good news is that books—free books— are more easily accessible than ever thanks to the internet. It’s also easy to get audio books for those on the go who have trouble finding the time to actually sit and read. Here are a few examples of sites with books available at your disposal: ReadPrint.com: Free to join with lots of classics including short stories, poetry and plays in addition to classic novels. They also add new books on a regular basis and the site is easy to navigate. They have book clubs and groups for discussion and readers can keep track of the books read.

52 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Overdrive: With Overdrive, simply choose the library or libraries where you already have cards and enter the numbers. Check out electronic and audio books (up to 3 at a time) and enjoy. This is a great way to teach kids about the library by physically going and getting a card and then, if they want, they may check books out electronically as well. Book selections are not as limited as with other sites.

Free-EBooks.net has some independent authors mixed in with classics. Books are available in PDF, ePub, Kindle, TXT, MP3, iPhone, iPad and more.

Read.gov: This is the Library of Congress site containing thousands of books as well as author webcasts, podcasts and more. There is a great deal of information about the writers, their backgrounds and all of the happenings at the Library of Congress. It’s a wealth of information.

Project Gutenberg has over 30,000 free ebooks for downloading. It has a wide variety of formats as well as languages. The database is easy to search and you can see the most popular downloads as well.

Librivox: Non-commercial, non-profit and ad-free, this is an audio book site where the books are read by volunteers. If you are confused as to which version to download, the last one is usually the best. These books are mostly classics and fun for review or first time listening.

This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as free book sites. However, most other sites are not entirely free, so navigate carefully.

Most of the free books on the internet belong to the public domain, meaning their intellectual properties are not protected. In some cases, authors release works directly into the public domain so that they may be freely accessed.

Usually they are there because copyright has expired or was never protected in the first place, which is why many classic literature novels are readily available.

Don’t discount reading or re-reading a classic.

There is much to be learned from classic novels.

The Jungle illustrated the suffering of working immigrants at the turn of the century which prompted the creation of unions in the United

States. Uncle Tom’s Cabin showed firsthand the struggles of African slaves in the southeast from Kentucky to Louisiana. Animal Farm is a political satire about the Russian Revolution as well as the Stalin era.

However, in the interest of getting readers back into the joy of reading, there are many modern books that are more suited to escapism and pleasure reading such as The Girl on the Train

by Paula Hawkins, Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice or even Golf Monster by Alice Cooper (very funny, by the way). There are also book series recommended such as The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo series, Jack Reacher, Alex Cross and Travis McGee. For both young and old there is Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and many, many others.

If you’re looking for more suggestions,

www.thingsweread.org lists the five favorite

books of many famous people from JayZ to JFK. This organization was started in 2011, by two platoon leaders in Iraq who consulted other

leaders in the military and distributed book lists

to soldiers based on their recommendations.

They decided to expand that to include other

influential people. Today they donate books

to soldiers across the globe based on the recommendations and generosity of donors.

Teach your children well. One night a week, skip

a television show or movie and invite the entire

family to join you for some quiet time, each with

his or her own book. A new family time tradition might instill the joy of reading in your children.

Some recent books suggested by area book clubs and avid readers:

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah A Man Called Ove

by Fredrik Backman

Other classic books that are worth reading or re-reading:

The Grapes of Wrath

by John Steinbeck Treasure Island

by Robert Louis Stevenson Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury

images from Amazon.com JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 53

Gardening

What To Do About

Leaves & Sprinklers This Winter

54 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

W

e hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is looking forward to a Happy New Year! Now that 2016 is over and the project lists have come out for 2017 it’s time to get to work. Projects can be exciting and the rewards enjoyed for years to come. Just remember, as we always say, good labor ain't cheap and cheap labor ain't good. Ensure that your time and money are going towards quality. Protect your investments by hiring legitimate local contractors.

Recent calls that might just answer something you’re wondering about...

“So with the weather being so back-and-forth our trees haven't cooperated and we still have quite a few leaves blowing around but don't want to pay for someone to come back out and bag…”

There are a couple options here, but the easiest would be to mow them back in. Using your lawn service or mulch set up on the mower, run everything over, leaving it sitting on the lawn.

Studies prove that finely ground leaves returned back to the turf are actually beneficial for both soil and grass. Soil with these finely ground leaves show increased microbial activity and better water filtration. Studies also show that when the leaves were returned, grass greened up

quicker in the spring and had fewer dandelions.

You just want to ensure that you're not leaving large pieces of the leaf in your lawn that would smother the grass. You are actually grinding it up and, as they fall more frequently, more mowings will ensure they break down as needed.

“With the recent freezing temps do we need to shut down, drain sprinkler system?"

Yes and no. It is Texas and we never know what we are going to get but I wouldn't be too worried about draining the irrigation system. IF installed properly, your lines should be able to withstand some freezing temperatures without issue. Just ensure you cover/wrap any exposed valves and

by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com

or shut-offs. Some weeks we’ll have 72 one day and high of 32 the next. Flip the controller to off when freezing and back on when we have a couple of warmer days in a row so everything can get what it needs. Obviously if we experience rain, depending on totals, that can supplement irrigation water for days.

We are off to an GREAT start here in 2017 and so EXITED about what's to come! As you’re sifting through your various project lists, remember you've got some of the best contractors in the country right here in Denton County, so shop local for your next project. Wishing you the best of luck in 2017.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 55

56 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

Red Velvet

COOKIE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with the rack in the middle position. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

2

Break the chocolate squares into chunks, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the chocolate melts, about 90 seconds. Stir the chocolate until smooth and set aside to cool.

3

In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy; pour in the egg and beat until smooth. Mix in the red food coloring and chocolate, scraping the bowl down regularly, until evenly blended, about 30 seconds. Add half of the sifted dry ingredients, stirring until well incorporated. Beat in the sour cream and mix in the remaining dry ingredients.

Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, broken into pieces 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/3 cup white sugar 1 large egg 1 tablespoon red food coloring 3/4 cup sour cream 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

4

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven until they spring back when pressed, about 9 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Once the cookies have had time to cool, frost the cookies and sprinkle with red and pink sprinkle.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING DIRECTIONS

1 2

For the cream cheese frosting, whip 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth.

Blend in the powdered sugar in half cup portions until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 57

GUYER HOLDS ITS OWN on All-District Team

T

he high school football season ended last month and postseason honors are rolling in.

Guyer, in particular, was well represented when the District 6-6A All-District team was released.

While district champion Allen dominated this year’s list with 25 total selections, the Wildcats didn’t do so bad either while nabbing five first-team selections. Overall, Guyer had 11 players named first or second team in a season where its only loss in league play was to Allen.

Leading the charge for Guyer were running back Myron Mason, tight end Brian Polendey, offensive tackle John Lanz, linebacker Gio Williams and safety Bryce Jackson.

Mason, a senior, finished with 1,035 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging just more than eight yards per carry. Mason fared well behind Lanz and a solid offensive line, which helped Guyer roll up nearly 4,000 rushing yards.

Guyer had two 1,000-yard rushers in Mason and sophomore phenom Noah Cain, who recently transferred to IMG Academy and is no longer a student at Guyer.

Polendey, who is committed to Miami, turned heads as more of a blocking tight end, but he still caught seven passes for 60 yards with one touchdown.

by Steve Gamel

DISTRICT 6-6A ALL-DISTRICT TEAM CO-OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Theo Wease, Allen, So. Christian Ziegler, McKinney Boyd, So. Kyron Cumby, Plano, So. DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Jayden Jernigan, Allen, So. COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR Allen

MVP Miklo Smalls, Plano East, Sr. OFFENSIVE MVP Mitchell Jonke, Allen, Sr. DEFENSIVE MVP Cole Maxwell, Allen, Sr. SPECIAL TEAMS MVP Michael Ewton, Allen, Sr. FIRST-TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS KICKER Michael Ewton, Allen, Sr. Blake Mazza, Plano, Sr. PUNTER Michael Ewton, Allen, Sr. Bryson Casmir, Guyer, Sr. DEEP SNAPPER Wilson Galvan, McKinney, Jr. RETURNER Taj Bickham, Allen, Jr.

SECOND-TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS KICKER Blake Post, McKinney Boyd, Jr. PUNTER Gavin Baechle, McKinney, Jr. DEEP SNAPPERS Mason Norris, Allen, Sr. Will Hodges, Plano West, Sr. RETURNER Quinton Quirrenbach, McKinney, Jr.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Emilio Ames, Wylie, Sr. RUNNING BACKS Brock Sturges, Allen, Jr. Myron Mason, Guyer, Sr. Matt Gadek, McKinney, Jr. Jonathan Meadors, Plano East, Jr. WIDE RECEIVERS Carson Schleker, Allen, Jr. Quinton Quirrenbach, McKinney, Jr. Donovan Ollie, Wylie, So. TIGHT END/H-BACK Brian Polendey, Guyer, Sr. Grayson Diepenbrock, Plano East, Sr. CENTER Barry Dubose, Wylie, Sr. OFFENSIVE LINE Trey Stratford, Allen, Jr. John Lanz, Guyer, Jr. Tyrese Robinson, McKinney Boyd, Sr. Gerard Wheeler, Plano, Sr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES Taylor Green, Wylie, Sr. DEFENSIVE ENDS Cody Dillard, Allen, Sr. Grayson Diepenbrock, Plano East, Sr. INSIDE LINEBACKERS Misi Tupou, Allen, Sr. Anthony Hines III, Plano East, Sr. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS Gio Williams, Guyer, Sr. Titus Wall, Plano West, Sr. Kevin Watts, Wylie, Jr. CORNERBACKS Jevon Jones, Allen, Jr. CJ Wall, Plano, Sr. SAFETIES Bryce Jackson, Guyer, Sr. Jonathan Hobart, McKinney, Sr.

QUARTERBACK Aaron Ragas, Plano, Sr. RUNNING BACKS Kirby Bennett, Allen, Jr. Noah Cain, Guyer, So. WIDE RECEIVERS Troydell Griffin, McKinney, Jr. Andrew Nwachukwu, Wylie, Jr. Josh Cornell, Allen, Sr. TIGHT END/H-BACK Tenio Ayeni, Allen, Sr. CENTER Dawson Dawkins, Plano, Sr. OFFENSIVE LINE Mason Grosser, Allen, Jr. Will Sherman, Allen, Sr. Dylan Alexander, Guyer, Jr. Trey Hempstead, Plano East, Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES Arian Bhat, Guyer, Jr. Justin Stewart, McKinney Boyd, Jr. Deiontae Watts, Plano East, Sr. DEFENSIVE ENDS Austin Price, Allen, Jr. Bailey Blackney, Guyer, Sr. Will Garrey, Plano East, Sr. INSIDE LINEBACKERS Jacoree Sanders, Plano, Sr. Mohamed Sanogo, Plano West, Sr. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS Ryan Bishop, Allen, Sr. Jace Waters, Allen, Jr. Carlos Bradley, Plano, Sr. CORNERBACKS Michael Newsome, Allen, Sr. Dio Williams, Guyer, Sr. SAFETIES Jaylen Ellis, Allen, Sr. Thabo Mwaniki, Guyer, Sr.

58 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

PRE GAME

Chicken Sliders • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves • 1 (17.5 fluid ounce) bottle buffalo wing sauce, divided • 1/2 (1 ounce) package dry ranch salad dressing mix • Crackers, chips & slider rolls Place the chicken breasts into a slow cooker,

and pour in 3/4 of the wing sauce and the

ranch dressing mix. Cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours.

Once the chicken has cooked, add the butter,

and shred the meat finely with two forks. Pile the meat into a heat saver bowl and splash

with the remaining buffalo wing sauce to serve.

Serve with chips as a dip or on small slider rolls.

JANUARY 2017 | LANTANA LIVING | 59

60 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

L Re anta sid na en t

C.E.S.

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62 | LANTANA LIVING | JANUARY 2017

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