Lantana Living Magazine - FEB 2015

February 2015

Epilepsy Awareness Local Child Gets Community Support

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FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 3

4 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

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Contents

Lantana Community Events

Table of

In Every

07 08 11 15 16 19 21 25 26 29 34 39 40 43 57

Kinder Aviators of Adkins Kick Off Event

February 24 3:00-3:30 P.M. at The Playground at Adkins Elementary Harpool Band Golf Tournament

March 9 March 13

51 55 58

Candy Land Ball: Daddy Daughter Dance Adkins Literacy Night Lantana Submits Their Photos

Spring Break

March 16 March 20

Story Time & Guidance Lessons

March 24 10:45-11:25 A.M. in The Library at Adkins Elementary

Inside Community Real Estate Body & Soul Resident Spotlight Fitness Tips Business Spotlight Local Style Gardening Counseling Corner Living Healthy Upscale Home The Sidelines

12 13 14 22 30 33

36 Pg 36

44 46 49 52

Chamber Connection Harpool Builders Club Unrivaled Customer Service Wildcats Continue to Grow Children’s Dental Health Family Creation Methods

More Than Just Numbers Guyer Signing Children: Casualty of War Create Stronger Marriage Epilepsy Awareness

A

L IV

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MAG

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E ’S

6 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

ADHD Facts

Featured Stories and News On The Cover: Kristina Knowles, Rochelle Chandler,

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

Inside Education

’S TOR EDIPICK EN

T

Teacher Appreciation Week

Photos from Lantana

From Your Editor

LANT AN

March 2 @ Lantana Golf Club Contact Michele Diaz 469-394-4706

Issue

2015 R E C

IPI

Spring Really Learning to

FORWARD A Message from The Community Editor On Sunday, March 8, we will take notice of

the spring forward that inevitably makes our weekend one hour shorter…major bummer

This is something that doesn’t change. It’s

constant. It’s definite. However, last month I

spoke and challenged you to change a little… ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’ and actually

tell and show your passions, compassions and empathy to those in your life. Have you done that? Have I? While

we

always

may

have

good

intentioned hearts to do greatness, we often find ourselves back in the patterns of our own ‘groundhog days.’ It’s humorous as we have just commemorated this day/event, it really

does parallel the life I share with so many of

you. We wake up with a routine that too often

repeats in much of the same series of actions and activities every single day. In continuation

to wearing our hearts outwardly, I am striving to be more intentional also taking my life and “spring it forward.”

Recently, I was put in the lives of two

amazingly gracious and wonderful people

who have presented me with an incredible opportunity to introduce them to our

community of like-minded, wondrous people

while also personally touching me to the point of tearful determination. I developed a passion and drive within myself to help take this organization to the next level.

you are in turn presented with the honor to make a difference?

I look forward to next month’s introduction to you, our beloved community, to an organization that will change your life. You will wear your hearts on your sleeves and want to challenge yourselves to spring forward to the rescue. Stay tuned…life just keeps getting better. Spring yours forward…do the things you are passionate about and make a difference in yourself and unavoidably, someone else.

We are part of an amazing community of greatness! Carry on and be intentional about shining an outward light!

Kathryn Flores

Community Relations & Marketing Manager Argyle Living & Lantana Living

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

Sub-Editor

Kristin Maurer

Contributors Eric Williams Mark Miller Steve Gamel

Advertising

Kathryn Flores kathryn@lantanaliving.com Kelly Murray kelly@lantanaliving.com

Production Graphic Designers Liz Wallace Zulma Martinez Stephanie Hansen Whitney Hill

Photography

Robert Payne (214) 437-9568 robertpaynephotography.com Scott Young (972) 899-3536 ScottYoungPhoto.com

Letters

Lantana Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email artwork@lantanaliving.com. All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising inquiries call (214) 734-5783 or email kathryn@lantanaliving.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. © 2015 Murray Media Group

I want to “spring forward” to seeing these

ideas and passions take flight. Isn’t life amazing how when aiming to do the right things that

make you happy and wearing them outward, FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 7

Famous Artist/Illustrator Visits Blanton Students Students at Blanton Elementary School received a special treat the last week of January when artist/ illustrator Michelle Romo of the Land of Nod company stopped by as part of the Blanton ParentStudent Association’s Artist in Residence program.

The Los Angeles-based Romo, a featured artist for Land of Nod and owner of a company called Crowded Teeth, designs everything from bedding to toys to art prints. She worked with Blanton students on special projects throughout the week.

Owned by Crate and Barrel, Land of Nod is among the country’s leading children’s home furnishings catalog/retail chain.

Golf Tournament to Benefit Harpool Middle School Band The inaugural Harpool Middle School Band Golf Tournament will be held March 2 at Lantana Golf Club.

Limited to 36 four-man teams, the event will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. followed by a

1 p.m. shotgun start with a scramble format. There will be a post-tournament awards dinner at 6 p.m.

Individuals can enter for $100 with foursomes costing $400. Fees include 18 holes and a cart on tournament day plus range balls and a card for a free round at Lantana Golf Club.

A silent auction and a raffle to win prizes from area businesses also will be held.

Sponsorships ranging from $150 to $2,000 remain available. For more information or to register, contact Michele Diaz at 469-394-4706 or at michele.diaz@postnet.com.

the Mean Green women’s basketball game that evening. The student-athletes from all schools competed in a series of stretching, relay and skill station rotations.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was founded in 1987 as a way to honor Olympic volleyball athlete Flo Hyman and her work striving to reach gender equality in sports. The day has been celebrated annually ever since as a way to recognize the progress of girls and women in sports and the benefits sports and fitness activities can bring to their lives.

Harpool Girls Student Athletes Pay Visit to UNT in February

Harpool to Host 5th Grade Transition Meeting

A group of girls from Harpool Middle School joined student-athletes from two other Denton Independent School District campuses Feb. 5 as part of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrations at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Joining students from Crownover and Strickland middle schools, the Harpool attendees met with UNT female athletes during the day and attended

An information session geared for parents and students to learn about their respective feeder middle schools and what they have to offer will be held Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Harpool Middle School.

Parents of current fifth graders will be able to meet principals, counselors and teachers; learn about elective choices; obtain information on athletic teams and extra-curricular clubs; and get tips on how to make a smooth transition from elementary to middle school.

“Elementary school and middle school are very different. Our middle school counselors and administrators want to help make that transition as smooth as possible so students can focus on being successful,” said Rene Shelton, elementary counseling coordinator. “This is a great time for parents to meet the people who will be involved with their children the next three years and get any questions they have answered.”

For more information, contact the district’s counseling services department at 940-369-0160.

Guyer’s Only Principal Barbara Fischer to Retire Barbara Fischer, principal of Guyer High School since its opened in 2005, will retire after 30 years in the Denton Independent School District.

Fischer, who will stay through the current school year, has been instrumental in the school achieving significant success in academics, fine arts and athletics.

“It’s a very bittersweet decision for me because I love Guyer High School, and the kids and people at Guyer are the best around, but I know now is the right time,” she said.

Guyer has annually outpaced the state average in the STAAR academic test by significant margins, and routinely has students recognized nationally for their achievements. All three of DISD’s 2014 8 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

National Merit semifinalists came from the school with dozens of students annually recognized as Advanced Placement Scholars.

The school’s academic success under Fischer has been matched in extracurricular activities, as Guyer has won three state championships in its short history: the 2013 and 2014 UIL 4A Division I state football championships and the 2013 UIL 4A state girls’ soccer championship.

Athletic Physicals Available March 11 for DISD Students The Denton Independent School District Athletic Department is offering athletic physicals for the 2015-16 school year March 11 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex, located at 1504 Long Road in Denton.

Physicals costs $10 per athlete and can be paid by cash or a check made payable to Denton ISD Athletics. Copies of athletic physicals also will be made available. Any student wishing a copy must submit a self-addressed legal-sized envelope and a $1 payment at the checkout table.

Athletic physicals are required for all seventh-, ninth- and 11th-grade students and any studentathlete new to Denton ISD who is planning to compete in a sport during the upcoming school year.

Students are asked to wear shorts, t-shirts and flip flops or slide sandals and should enter the ATC at its north end near the Cosmetology Department.

Information packets available on the dentonisd.org web site must be completed prior to physical being performed, with physicals performed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on requirements for athletic physicals, contact the athletic department 940-369-0073.

Guyer’s Gillman, Jensen Named to All-State Choir Guyer High School junior Kylie Jensen and sophomore Kate Gillman were among four Denton Independent School District students recently selected to the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Choir.

Both students are scheduled to perform with the state’s other top-rated choral singers at the TMEA State Convention in February. Jensen is sixth-chair alto 2 while Kate Gillman is seventh-chair alto 2.

The Guyer choir is led by director Stephen Evans and assistant Rebecca Ginez.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 9

10 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Some Quick Facts About

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

ADHD ttention, learning, and behavioral disorders make up a large number of office visits in a pediatric office. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis that is becoming more and more prevalent with today’s youth.

ADHD is continually being studied with the exact cause still unknown. ADHD is a multi-faceted condition extremely difficult to discuss in a 500word column. But maybe a few highlights will help some families recognize and find help for children who struggle with ADHD. Your pediatrician will determine whether your child has ADHD using standard guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

These diagnosis guidelines are specifically for children ages 4-18. It is difficult to diagnose ADHD in children younger than age 4 because these younger children change very rapidly. It also is more difficult to diagnose ADHD once a child becomes a teenager because of other compounding factors including puberty.

There is no single test for ADHD. The process requires several steps and involves gathering a lot of information from multiple sources. You, your child, your child’s school, and other caregivers should be involved in assessing your child’s behavior.

The Following Guidelines are Used to Confirm a Diagnosis of ADHD:

• Symptoms (see chart below) occur in two or more settings, such as home, school, and social situations, and cause some impairment.

• In a child age 4-17, six or more symptoms must be identified.

Rebecca D. Butler, M.D., FAAP OFF IC

Resident TAN A

BUS

INES

OWN E

R

• Chronic illness being treated with a medication that may interfere with learning • Trouble seeing and/or hearing • History of abuse

• Symptoms significantly impair your child’s ability to function in some of the activities of daily life, such as schoolwork, relationships with you and siblings, relationships with friends, or the ability to function in groups such as sports teams.

• Severe aggression

• Symptoms have continued for more than six months.

Your pediatrician may refer your child to a pediatric sub-specialist or mental health clinician if there are concerns in one of the following areas: • Intellectual disability (mental retardation)

Symptom Inattention

Hyper Activity

Impulsivity

S

• Developmental disorder such as speech problems, motor problems, or a learning disability

• In a child age 17 and older, five or more symptoms must be identified.

• Symptoms start before the child reaches age 12.

However, these may not be recognized as ADHD symptoms until a child is older.

IAL

LAN

• Major anxiety or major depression

• Possible seizure disorder • Possible sleep disorder

If you are concerned about your child and the ability to learn and excel in school and life, contact your pediatrician for a full evaluation.

Dr. Rebecca Butler is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is proud to be a resident of Lantana and the owner of Lantana Pediatrics. For more information on Dr. Butler or to schedule an appointment, call 940-455-7200.

How a child with this symptom may behave Often has a hard time paying attention, daydreams Often does not seem to listen Is easily distracted from work or play Often does not seem to care about details, makes careless mistakes Frequently does not follow through on instructions or finish tasks Is disorganized Often forget things Frequently avoids doing things that require ongoing mental effort Is in constant motion, as if “driven by a motor” Cannot stay seated Frequently squirms and fidgets Talks too much Often runs, jumps and climbs when this is not permitted Cannot play quietly Frequently acts and speaks without thinking May run into the street without looking for traffic first Frequently has trouble taking turns Cannot wait for things Often calls out answers before the question is complete Frequently interrupts others

www.LanatanaPediatrics.com

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New Harpool Builders Club Already Making a Difference!

By Mark Miller

Leadership can surface at any age and any time as has been quickly demonstrated this school year by a group of sixth graders at Harpool Middle School.

Approximately 50 students are members of the new Builders Club designed to develop such skills through community service projects.

Right from the start of the 2014-15 school year, the group has made Teresa Nelson glad she is the adviser.

“It’s a great little group this year,” said Nelson, in her second year of teaching sixth-grade science after starting at Harpool in 2008 as a library aide.

“We’re very proud of them. They are go-getters.

They are self-sufficient. I’m not having to really do much. They’re coming up with the ideas to implement.”

She also says, “They are over-achievers. This is probably the first year I’ve had an entire group of over-achievers. I also see that in my science classes. Any project they have to do they go above and beyond.”

The Harpool Builders Club is the first public middle school equivalent of the high school Key Club sponsored by the Denton Kiwanis Breakfast Club which meets Wednesday mornings at the El Chaparral Grille. Students manage the organization including leading meetings, electing officers and deciding on projects.

The club started when someone from the

Kiwanis Breakfast Club contacted Harpool Principal Jeff Smith last year. After Smith and Nelson discussed the idea over the summer, word went out about the club’s formation at the start of school.

While only open to sixth graders this year, the plan is to expand to sixth and seventh graders next year and all three grades in 2016-17.

Since school started, members have visited classrooms to pick up, bundle and deposit recyclables daily. They also collect trash around the school’s perimeter about every 2-3 weeks.

The first project outside the school occurred Jan. 22 when members helped the Adkins Elementary Parent Teacher Association at that school’s Winter Wonderland Literacy Night.

Next up is assisting Guyer High School students collect clothing, school supplies, toiletries, and health and beauty items for the Peru Mission project to help needy people in that South American country.

Plans also are underway for a project to read to Blanton Elementary School kindergarten and 1st-grade students. If all goes well, that should occur by early March.

The Harpool Builders Club’s collective efforts so far have made Nelson proud.

“These guys are going to be leaders for the next three years,” she said.

See how you can help out at buildersclub.org

2015 PERU MISSION SUPPLY LIST For boys & girls (6 to 18 years old): Clothing, underwear, socks, shoes, tennis shoes, soccer shoes, sandals, flip flops & swimwear School Supplies, such as, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, erasers & glue sticks (no paper or notebooks) Soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs, Legos & Play-Doh Glucosamine, natural tears, Centrum (junior/silver), multivitamins (children & adults), Aspirin 100 mg, Ibuprofin, sunblock, triple action ointment, itch relief cream, hand sanitizer (small bottles), antiparasitics, fungicides, Band-aids, gauze pads, digestive tablets, magnesium tablets & Excedrin for migraines Baby clothes (boys & girls), prenatal vitamins Toothpaste & brushes, floss, deodorant, soap, shampoo, disposable razors, foot powder & towels Note: Clothing needs to be new as Peruvian Law does not allow used clothing for health reasons.

Exception: gently used with certifícate of fumigation For information contact: Oscar Salas osalas@verizon.net (940) 453-5484 Peggy Salas peggysalas5@yahoo.com (940) 453-4996

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 13

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Committed to

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e all know how fickle North Texas weather can be — especially this time of year. One day it’s sunny and 75, and the next it’s near freezing, rainy and miserable.

There are plenty of heating and air companies that can keep your home feeling comfortable year-round, but none do it the Berkeys way.

Berkeys is celebrating its 40th year in business in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and prides itself on being the go-to source for all your air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical needs. Besides being fast and reliable, Berkeys can handle everything from furnace or A/C repair to new installs, garbage disposals, water heaters, tankless heaters, water filtration systems, slab leak repairs, and all things electric, including whole home back-up generators and surge/ lightning protection.

Getting set up on our industryleading Peace-Of-Mind maintenance plan — we inspect your home up to four times per year, ensuring you are safe, comfortable, and getting the best possible efficiency out of your home’s mechanical systems. If it involves your home or office, Berkeys can help.

“We work so hard to make sure that our customers’ experience is first class, from the very first contact we have with them over the phone to when our service tech shows up at their front door.”

14 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

by Steve Gamel

“We work so hard to make sure that our customers’ experience is first class, from the very first contact we have with them over the phone to when our service tech shows up at their front door,” Berkeys president Jamie Wooldridge said.

“We don’t claim to be perfect, but we’ve been around a long time, we plan to be around for a long time to come, with the mission to make it right for each and every one of our customers.”

Berkeys started in 1975 as a plumbing company and has evolved to handle HVAC, electrical and plumbing for residential and light commercial customers. Approximately 95 percent of Berkeys’ business comes from residential clients, and 65-70 percent of its business is referral based, said Wooldridge, who added that Berkeys grew by 30 percent over last year.

Berkeys main office is in Southlake, but services the entire Metroplex. Wooldridge added that Berkeys prides itself on honesty, integrity, teamwork and respect. The company has a strong reputation for its work, is trained to handle the latest technology and is a strong community partner.

“All our technicians are the best of the best,” Wooldridge said. “We are very selective in our hiring process; we probably interview 10 potential techs to get one. With that comes tenure. While there may be a lot of turnover in other companies, we have techs who have been with us for a long time. We are proud of that.”

Denton County Earns “A” Rating for Transparency

Taste of North Texas Set for March 20 at UNT

Denton County was among a small number of local governmental agencies to receive the highest possible rating among 113 of its peers in a year-long audit about open government by the Dallas Morning News.

The county’s A rating came courtesy of high marks for request best practices, request compliance, web customer service and online meeting notices. The study aimed to determine how well agencies follow state laws guaranteeing access to information on how taxpayer money is spent and how well they follow best practices.

Additional criteria included customer service, handling open record requests, processing request costs, and if opinion was needed from the state attorney general.

The 26th annual Taste of North Texas event, organized by the Denton Kiwanis Club, will be held March 20 from 5:308 p.m. at the University of North Texas Coliseum.

About 40 area restaurants, caterers, bakeries and other food service providers will be offering samples of their wares.

Tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students and military members with youth ages 6 and under free.

For more information, visit tasteofnt.com or call 940-387-6323.

Lantana Golf Club to Host Youth Spring Break Clinic Youth ages 5-12 looking for something to do during spring break should check out the Lantana Golf Club’s annual youth camp March 17-20.

Campers will learn full-swing and short-game fundamentals in a fun, safe and learning environment. Skill and inventive based activities will be introduced to facilitate learning and promote an enjoyable experience for participants who will be in groups based on age, skill and gender.

Sessions for ages 5-8 will be held March 17-19 from 9-10:30 a.m. and March 20 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Youth ages 9-12 will be held March 17-19 from 11 a.m.

-1 p.m. and March 20 from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

The cost for club members in the younger age group pay $145 and non-members $160. Older youth members will pay $185 and non-members $200. To register contact the golf shop at 940-728-4653, extension 2 or email mbrooks@lantanagolf.com.

Public Comment Available on North Texas Air Quality The 30-day period for public feedback on a proposed reclassification of North Texas air quality was expected to be available on the federalregister.gov web site.

The proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency that would reclassify the region’s air quality from serious to severe was to be posted to the site this month to trigger the public comment period.

If approved, the 10-county region that includes Denton County, could see higher gas prices from reformulated gas and increased business permit fees.

The proposal is expected to be final

by October.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 15

Real Estate

Interest Rates:

When Will The

Good Times

End?

By Mark Barnes

I

t was just more than a year ago that the feds announced the end of their bond buying program, and the expectation grew quickly that interest rates would rise, potentially putting the damper on the housing market recovery. Though the anticipated rise in rates was meager, it just didn’t have an effect on the market at all.

In fact, not only did rates stabilize quickly and begin to actually fall again, the current benchmark 30 year fixed rate mortgage is again below 4 percent.

As of early February, the rate was 3.8 percent, according to bankrate.com. And the 15 year fixed also fell to an amazingly-low 3.13 percent.

How can we explain this? Not only did the feds slow their bond buying program, but ended it completely in late 2014. Yet, in the past month alone, rates have fallen by roughly 0.2 percent. Many experts believe that the continued growth in both the jobs sector and relative stability in the stock market have helped to keep rates down, as investors still see stocks as a safe enough haven to park their money.

Sounds a bit odd to see a market in which the Dow Industrials can rise or fall 200 points in a day and we can call it stable. But what we used to consider volatile now is more recognized as a pattern of money in and out of the market and back in again quickly, so those fluctuations are appearing to be less stressful on the investors’ psyche for the long term.

Also helping to keep rates low is the feds’ commitment to keep the overnight rate at 0.0 percent. While that can’t last forever, according to the Federal Open Market Committee statement released Jan. 28, they will keep rates “low” until at least mid-year. Once they do start to go up, the increases will be gradual, perhaps to a 0.25 percent rate, then to a 0.5 percent rate.

When that occurs, you should expect mortgage rates to rise. But it won’t be overnight sticker shock.

I anticipate rates at that time will be in the low 4s 16 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

(for 30-year notes) and could reach mid-to high 4s by year-end.

How bad is that? While many buyers panic when they see upticks in interest rates, the math shows that those small increases really don’t have that much of an effect on a monthly payment. For example, on a $300,000 mortgage, the monthly payment difference between a 3.8 percent loan and a 4.1 percent loan is only $52.

If that $52 is a make or break deal for a buyer, they can reduce the amount of their mortgage by just 3.3 percent, and their payments will remain exactly the same. The decrease in the amount of the loan will completely offset a 0.3 percent rise in a 30 year mortgage.

And savings exist elsewhere in today’s market.

Buyers using FHA financing with less than 20 percent down pay a PMI, or Private Mortgage Insurance. This year, that rate was dropped from 1.35 percent of the loan balance to just 0.85 percent, and that can make a demonstrative impact on mortgage payments. For the typical FHA applicant, according to CoreLogic’s chief economist Sam Khater, the reduction in premiums means a monthly savings of about $80.

The message here is twofold.

First, interest rates likely will rise, albeit slowly, later this year. So you can walk, not run, to your local lender and get your mortgage approved for your home purchase. There are several other factors more important than slight fluctuations in the interest rate that a buyer needs to consider when making their purchase (e.g., job stability, credit worthiness, cash on hand, etc.).

Second, even if rates were to rise, they likely won’t rise higher than somewhere in the 4s, and the effect on the housing market probably will be insignificant. What will continue to help home sales in DFW, including Lantana, is a robust and growing economy, and exceptionally low inventory levels. The raw effect of demand and supply will continue to bolster the local market.

So, when will the good times end? They may change from what we see today, but they certainly won’t come to an end anytime soon.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 17

18 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Body & Soul

Where is My Sciatica Coming From?

By Meredith S. Tittle, PT, MPT

As a health care provider, I often feel that the term sciatica is commonly used and perhaps somewhat misunderstood. However, overall there truly is a condition known as sciatica, so let’s get to the “bottom� of it!

Lumbar Spinal Nerves Simply stated, there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves that travel the course of our spinal cord. The sciatic nerve arises from the levels of L4-S3 in your lower back. The sciatic nerve exits from the spinal cord at the level of your sacrum, travels through a bony notch in your pelvis (the sciatic notch) and innervates the muscles in your buttocks and the back side of your leg. It is the largest nerve in the body.

Treatment To reduce the horrible pain in the buttocks, tingling down the leg and/or numbness through your hamstring you must determine the location of the nerve entrapment. The reason you feel the aggravating and sometimes completely debilitating irritant depends on its source of compression.

Nerves, unlike muscles, do not like to be stretched. In fact, they really like to glide similar to dental floss through your teeth. The nerves send information to our legs as a water hose distributes water flow. If the hose is pinched or tangled, the amount of flow decreases at the terminal end. To fix the flow of water, you must fix the entanglement, not just stretch the opening where the water comes out. Make sense?

Through a thorough musculoskeletal exam, a licensed physical therapist can assist in the diagnosis and discovery of the place of nerve entrapment. Possible causes of entrapment may

be any of the following or a combination of them all: a problem in the spine such as a disc bulge or a narrowing of the spinal canal, a tight muscle in the buttocks or hamstring, or more rarely complications from a surgery or other abnormality.

It is important to discover the area of entrapment to properly treat the condition. The good news is that with proper physical therapy the pressure can be reversed.

Take Home Message Seek help to determine the cause of your symptoms. It is important to have a proper diagnosis as not all sciatica is the same. In some cases, specific movements can be taught to reduce the irritant, provide for healing and restoration of the tissue and structures. Do not let the symptoms continue, the sooner the pressure is relieved, the better chance there is for full and healthy recovery!

Learn more at S2SPerform.com

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FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 19

20 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Rangers’ Loss Meant Big Win for Local Couple

By Eric Williams

A stranger walked up behind Rose, put his hands over her eyes and said, “Guess Who?” She liked the voice, but it wasn’t familiar. She’s not sure why she blurted out, “You are the love of my life.” It turned out she was right.

Bob Baird was meeting friends in a bar to go to the Texas Rangers game in August 1995 and saw Rose from behind with some mutual friends. He didn’t immediately recognize her, but assumed she was one of about 30-40 friends and acquaintances who gathered regularly at the bar.

When he realized she was a stranger, John and

Charlotte introduced him to a dear friend from Tennessee in town for a conference.

In their late 40s, Bob and Rose were single, Rose for 17 years and Bob, recently divorced.

As they conversed, Bob was impressed by Rose’s intelligence and common sense.

“It probably didn’t hurt that I was wearing a sexy dress from Victoria’s Secret,” Rose added with a laugh.

But they soon parted. Bob’s friends showed up and headed for the Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers fell behind early, as they did often in 1995. Bob kept thinking about Rose and decided he wasn’t much interested in baseball that night.

He left after a couple of innings and returned to the bar.

“The Rangers lost that night, but I won,” Bob said with a laugh.

Bob, then an American Airlines pilot, managed to arrange a date before Rose left town to go to her Nashville, Tenn., home. However, something came up and he missed the chance. He called to apologize, then began bidding on flights that would result in Nashville or Huntsville, Ala., layovers. The couple started dating and quickly became close.

“He is awesome,” said Rose. “We have a framed comment that says ‘Once in a while in an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.’ That describes my life.”

Soon Bob moved to Nashville and the couple wed in April 1996 with just a couple of witnesses. They were married by a judge.

Though the arrangements were informal, the judge made some heartfelt remarks that almost brought tears from Bob, a military veteran who won a purple heart in Vietnam.

After the ceremony, Rose was on her cell phone, sharing the news with her five sisters.

Bob could hear squeals of delight.

Eventually Bob accepted a management job in Dallas to which he commuted by air.

“If you will move to Dallas, I’ll take you all over the world,” Bob told Rose. She agreed to retire and move from her beloved Tennessee.

In his new job, Bob would take frequent trips and always tried to bid on flights that would have some vacant seats, so Rose could fly standby. It was routine for the couple to fly to Frankfurt, Paris or Buenos Aires for just a day or two.

But it takes more than fun to cement a relationship, according to Bob and Rose.

You put in work to support one another and connect with the extended family. Each had grown children.

The Bairds share religious values and are in tune on matters of politics.

“Thank God we are both Republicans,” Bob said.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 21

Building a Winner:

Lantana

Wildcats

By Steve Gamel

Continue to grow

& Win s popular as it’s been over the last two years, the Lantana Wildcats Youth Football Association hasn’t been around long enough to build itself a huge name among youth sports leagues – not yet, anyway. But when its fourth-grade team won a league title this past November against some pretty stiff competition, it opened a world of possibilities.

A

The 16-0 win came against another youth team from Southlake, which many fans consider the epitome of a football town. Athletes are everywhere in Southlake and show up in droves at area leagues in a continued effort of feeding the beast that is Southlake Carroll High School.

Carroll is tied with Celina for the most state title wins (eight) in University Interscholastic League history.

Seeing the LWYFA – whose players feed into Guyer High School – meet and eventually 22 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

exceed that same level of superiority in the near future doesn’t appear to be out of the question.

They clearly have the talent, so for all intents and purposes, the sky is the limit.

“As we continue to grow, I think you will start to see even more improvement because we won’t be starting from scratch,” said Craig Mikolajchak, the league’s vice president and coach for the fourth-grade champs and a sixthgrade team. “We are playing against teams that are more established, but our kids have bought in to what we do. I think, over time, we will be in the same position.”

The idea of forming a non-profit youth football league in Lantana was a winner from the start. Mikolajchak was one of the three original board members with current president Greg Lewis and Scott Noble. All three are dads and had kids who originally were competing in an area organization called DRIVEN. When that league folded, Lewis said they scrambled to find an alternative place for their boys to compete. That’s when the idea of starting their own league came up.

“We figured, Lantana is big enough, so we can probably start our own and see where it goes,” Lewis said. “The original goal has always been to create a sense of community. We have three elementary schools in Lantana and all these kids see each other all the time anyway. When they all get to the sixth grade, they’re going to be at Harpool (Middle School) and playing on the same team. So why not try to start something?”

Lewis and crew filed paperwork in August 2012, started fund-raising and began their first slate of games in September 2013. The LWYFA has maintained steady participation numbers in each of its first two seasons, and Lewis expects to continue putting a solid product on the field when registration for the 2015 season opens April 1.

The LWYFA has approximately 150 kids between its tackle, flag and cheerleading groups.

Flag football is offered to kids in kindergarten through first grade, with tackle slated for grades 2-6. The league has fielded at least one team at every grade level, and each team’s roster is set at

“Tradition has to start somewhere”

a maximum of 25 kids to ensure every kid has a chance to play.

It’s worth noting that each team is built on registration alone. There are no tryouts, which means the first 25 kids at each grade level automatically make the team while the rest are wait-listed to determine if there are enough to field another team in the same grade level.

The LWYFA stresses safety above everything else. All coaches must be certified through USA Football and it’s Heads Up Tackling program.

There is a class held each year, and all equipment is fitted to comply with those standards. Lewis also said there is a Baylor-certified trainer on hand at every game. There were no instances of concussions or major injuries this past season at LWYFA games.

In its first season, the LYWFA competed against teams from Lake Dallas, Little Elm and The Colony under the umbrella of the North Texas Youth Gridiron League. Each team played its home games at Guyer, and player uniforms mirrored those of the high school.

This past season, Lewis said they switched to the North Texas Football League, where they were pitted against teams from Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, Coppell, Justin Northwest and Trophy Club. All LWYFA teams remained competitive, and the fourth-grade team embodied that improvement.

A year after finishing 1-7, that team went 8-2 and won its Super Bowl. The Wildcats didn’t give up a single point in their three playoff games, winning by a combined score of 84-0. Two of those wins were against Southlake teams.

“We lost our very first game of the season, then lost our last game of the regular season,” Mikolajchak said. “I think that last loss was a bit of a wake up call because it was against a team that had won just one game coming in. We had lost some kids from the previous season, so it was rewarding to see the kids that stuck through it have success. They bought into it and it was a major turnaround.”

Lewis added that even the league’s board of directors has grown to 15-20 members. The

league continues to receive tremendous support from the players and coaches at Guyer, who have attended various events, including conditioning clinics, combine events and the league’s Spring Fest. At that event, a representative from Riddell comes out to properly fit each kid with his own helmet, shoulder pads and jersey.

“We also get to run out of the tunnel every year at a Guyer home game,” Lewis said. “It’s all in the name of good will, and coach ( John) Walsh and his players have been great over the years.”

Mikolajchak agreed, saying that type of support will only benefit the league going forward.

“We just had that conversation after our board meeting last month,” he said. “It truly is amazing to see where we are at now in comparison to two years ago. Just from the sheer size of our board now to the interest in the community. We are part of a league that is extremely well-run, and these kids are in a position to have fun and learn a lot.”

And perhaps, build some traditions of their own along the way.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 23

24 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Can Women Do

Fitness Tips

Pull-Ups?

By Chani Overstreet Owner, Strada Fitness & Wellness

According to a study conducted at the University of Dayton, the answer is no. The study used 17 women with no previous pull-up experience. The women worked with trainers for three hours a week for three months. The exercises used were to specifically strengthen the biceps and latissimus dorsi (back muscles).

After the three-month period, the women had gained strength and lost body fat, but only four of the 17 women were able to a pull-up. Yes, just one pull-up!

The researchers were stunned by this, thinking they could get all of the women to do at least one pull-up by the end of the 12-week study. The conclusion is this: being able to do pull-ups does not show how fit and strong you are. Think of a female soccer player, she might not be able to do a pull-up, but we know she’s extremely fit.

Does the idea of even trying a pull-up intimidate you? Maybe it’s horrible memories of gym class and everyone watching you squirm and make strange faces only to leave the dreaded bar in defeat that you find so unappealing.

I wish I could tell you that I have a simple solution to “do a pull-up today” but sadly I don’t. Interestingly, your physical build has a lot to do with being able to get that chin above the bar.

Pull-ups (I’m talking about real pull-ups, military style, no throwing your self at the bar and swinging your legs) are actually one of my favorite moves. But do they really show how fit you are?

By looking at men and women who can perform pull-ups, it’s more about total body strength, low body fat and usually people who are shorter in stature, in general, the longer the limb the harder the move. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. One of my sons is 6 feet 3 inches tall and can pump out pull-ups like its nobody’s business. He’s also a Marine and takes on all challenges with extreme enthusiasm.

OK, proud mom aside, I do have some exercises that will help you get to the goal of pull-ups. They might be modified, but you’ll still feel very accomplished doing them.

A great way to get started is by using a bar at an incline and pulling up to it, this move is also called an inverted row. It looks like the reverse of a push up. When you begin this exercise, keep your legs bent and let them support you as you pull up to the bar. Start out by just doing four or five and increase your repetition count as you get stronger.

Keep good form through all of your “pull-ups.” When you start to falter you are done. Do three sets like this at the beginning of your workout. Let your body rest at least one to two days before you do this again. Avoid trying to do as many as you can each session. Get your rep count up to 10 in each set. As that becomes easier, start lifting the bar. Incorporate the “chin-up” as well. A chin-up is a pull-up with an underhand grip.

Remember, one of the main factors in pretty pull-ups is low body fat. Stay consistent in your nutrition and keep the cardio going. Good Luck!

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 25

Owner Steve Harris tells us about his business Why did you choose that business name?

In 2014 I found myself out of work after layoffs at my previous employer of 16 years. I had a strong desire to start something of my own that we could build into a successful business, while also doing something that I loved. Travel immediately came to mind and after extensive research into available franchises, I determined that Cruise Planners was the best fit for me.

How long have you been in business?

Cruise Planners started in 1994 when three travel industry veterans joined forces to create a cadre of franchised travel advisors to book travel out of their own homes. I joined the Cruise Planner family last fall. I went through extensive training at the corporate office in Florida in September and immediately came back and started working on the launch of my franchise.

Steve Harris and his loving family

26 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Why did you decide to go into business?

My family loves to travel. Both my wife and I have been on over 35 cruises and traveled extensively to the Caribbean and Mexico. We love sharing our experiences with others and are excited about the ability to continue our travels while helping others plan their own dream vacations.

What is your favorite business memory?

One client wanted to book a family all-inclusive vacation to a brand new property in Costa Rica. They had a lot of questions and some special requests to ensure their vacation was perfectly matched to their needs. I directly contacted the resort’s management team to arrange for their special requests plus others who already had experienced this property firsthand to obtain answers to specific questions on the property location and amenities. The client was extremely happy with their travel arrangements and experienced peace of mind, knowing that we were working hard to ensure the best vacation possible for their family.

Do you have any words of wisdom you can pass along to other business owners?

Focus on your customers and deliver top-notch service to everyone you work with, regardless of whether they end up purchasing your product or service.

For more information about Cruise Planners, call 940-489-4756 or visit lantanaworldtravel.com or facebook.com/lantanaworldtravel.com

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 27

28 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Introducing

Local Style

Color

Has your daily eye makeup routine been pretty basic lately?

If so, I can’t blame you.

When it comes to makeup, it is easy to stick with what you know. With an abundance of choices in lipstick, liners, shadows, blushes and foundations, the term ‘overwhelmed’ becomes an understatement. And if you’re not overwhelmed, you may find yourself being ‘color shy’… leaving you with a fear of looking too much like our spirit animal, My Little Pony, that makes you retreat into makeup normcore in an instant!

Reservations or not, stepping out of your normal ‘makeup box’ may be exactly what you need for a little confidence lift. Anyone can pull off colored lips and liner. You simply adjust the intensity or amount of color to suit any function or personality. Below are some great tips and rules for bringing color to your eyes.

The Prep Work Keep skin super fresh and clean. Even out your skin

to Your Makeup Routine

By Heather Patterson, Lead Fashion Stylist, mrsstyleseeker.com

tone with a tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation and only use a concealer where needed, like under the eye area. Use an eye primer to keep the color in place. Use a soft blush to warm up the cheeks and light natural lip tone to compliment your colorful eyes.

The Best Match The basic rule of thumb when choosing a colored liner: Think opposite colors on the color wheel to bring out contrasting colors.

For Brown Eyes Brown eyes often have shades of amber and warm tones, so use shades of blue like navy or cobalt or go for green shades from pastel to deep forest.

For Blue Eyes Blue eyes can pop when complimented by golden tones, bronze, yellow or even (dare I say) orange.

For Green Eyes Choose hues of purples (anything from lavender to deep eggplant) to emphasize your green eye color.

For Hazel Eyes Because hazel eyes change their color depending on the day, it’s suggested that you opt for golden-bronzy tones or purples.

Grey and silver are a great choice here too.

Finally, regardless of your eye color, add a matching color mascara. It will bring more definition to the eye and will be super polished.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 29

A Word from Dr. Matt . . .

Celebrating National

Children’s Dental Health Month!

By Dr. Matt Artho Quite often, I find myself blessed to have someone new enter into my life, and with the anticipation of our intersecting paths drawing closer, filled with endless possibilities of harmonious endearment and lifelong devotion, I’m filled with ecstatic bliss, until I hear the words, “I hate the dentist.”

No doubt, like most dentists, I have learned that this usually is a result of past experiences.

That’s why I so strongly encourage starting your children off with good dental experiences from the beginning with good oral hygiene and preventative care.

Of course, with February now upon us, I am pleased to remind everyone that it is National Children’s Dental Health month. When it comes to our children, we all care a great deal about their health, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that those little teeth are more than mere little pearls

used for smiling. Children’s teeth are important for eating, speaking, and most important, making room for their adult teeth.

When it comes to caring for your children’s teeth preventative care is essential and delaying dental treatment can be disastrous. The thin enamel of baby teeth can easily allow bacteria to propagate through the tooth resulting in tooth decay.

The first line of defense always starts with a proper brushing routine that includes using an appropriate amount of children’s fluoride toothpaste (just a smear for children unable to spit on their own). Brush after every meal or at the very least after breakfast and definitely before bed. If flossing is difficult for the parent and child, consider using floss handles for easier access and control.

A proper diet also is important and should include plenty of fruits and vegetables while avoiding sugary snacks and drinks. Of course, when allowing treats, try to reduce the frequency and duration to allow their little mouths time to recover.

Finally, don’t forget your regular dental visits. Good dental experiences always will pay off with good oral health and vice versa.

Happy smiling!

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

30 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Dr. Matt Artho of Country Lakes Family Dental

d

an L y d n Ca Ball

Spring Break See What Fun Things Your Kids Can Do While Away from School

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 31

32 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Family Creation Methods

“Assisted Reproduction and Gestational Agreements:

Who Knew!"

By Charla H. Bradshaw

The methods for having children in Texas can involve up to five people. They include an intended mother, an intended father, an egg donor, a sperm donor, and a gestational mother.

Legal issues can arise when some or all of these people disagree.

Assisted reproduction involves two people who wish to become parents. In Texas assisted reproduction means causing pregnancy by one of the following ways: artificial insemination (known in the scientific community as intrauterine insemination) donation of eggs donation of embryos in-vitro fertilization and transfer of embryos intracytoplasmic sperm injection (an in-vitro fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg) If a child is conceived as the result of assisted reproduction a sperm donor or egg donor are not the parent of the resulting child. The donor can neither sue to establish parental rights, nor be sued and required to support the child. In

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement In Texas, it is possible to have children in many ways. We now have laws relating to assisted reproduction and gestational agreements. And our law is developing regarding embryos in the case of death or divorce.

sum, donors are eliminated from the parental equation. However, to be protected as a “donor” the eggs/sperm must be provided to a licensed physician to be used for assisted reproduction.

A recent case in Kansas made headlines when a man provided his sperm to a lesbian couple by agreement, and a child resulted. The couple split up and the partner with the child applied for state benefits. The sperm donor was sued for past and future child support. The result was that the donor was found to be the father and had to pay child support. The same result would occur in Texas because the law requires that egg and sperm donors must donate to a licensed physician to be used for assisted reproduction.

A gestational agreement (previously known as a surrogacy agreement) involves at least three people: the couple who wish to become parents (the intended mother and father), and a woman who agrees to bear the child for them (the gestational mother) through the use of assisted reproduction. However, it is possible for additional people to be involved. For example, if the gestational mother is married, her husband must be included in the gestational agreement to deal with his paternity of the child since the child is being born to his wife. An egg or sperm donor, or both, may be involved, although neither will be part of the gestational agreement.

A child born pursuant to a gestational agreement will have to have his/her maternity as well as paternity established.

The term “gestational mother’’ means a woman who, through assisted reproduction, provides the gestational heritage of a child, who is to be raised by the intended parents. The term also means a woman who supplies both functions (gestational and genetic). Having a woman perform both functions is generally disfavored by the assisted reproduction community.

This is because experience has shown that the gestational mother’s genetic link to the child sometimes creates additional emotional and psychological problems in enforcing a gestational agreement.

The Texas adoption of laws governing gestational agreements is an important advancement for couples desiring to use such methods for having children. However, there are restrictions for gestational agreements in Texas. First, gestational agreements are restricted to married couples who are the intended parents. Second, the intended mother must demonstrate that she is unable to give birth to a child. Finally, the gestational mother may not contribute her own egg for the embryo, and therefore the gestational mother is not genetically linked to the child.

The award of embryos upon divorce is a tricky and interesting issue. If a divorce occurs before the placement of eggs, sperm, or embryos, the former spouse is not a parent of the resulting child unless the former spouse agreed in writing to be the parent. And, if the former spouse agreed, the former spouse can withdraw the agreement at any time before the placement of the eggs, sperm, or embryos.

In a Texas case, the husband and wife had an embryo agreement. The court awarded the frozen embryos to the wife. The case was overturned and the embryo agreement was enforced. The court said that an embryo agreement that satisfies certain criteria (e.g. made before the embryos are preserved) does not violate the public policy of the State of Texas.

All of these parentage issues arise because of the multiple methods of family creation available.

Unfortunately, there are tragic cases that involve the most significant rights of individuals. Courts are continuously challenged to protect the rights of all involved, and to determine the best interest of the child.

“Imagination is the beginning of creation.”

— George Bernard Shaw

320 Eagle Drive Denton TX (940)442-6677 Koonsfuller.com FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 33

Gardening

Trimming

The Whens and Whys of

ions, 214.735.1364

By PJ Kratohvil, Complete Exterior Solut

F

ebruary and March definitely can be considered wild-cards when it comes to trying to predict the weather. We never know if school is going to be shut down with a couple inches of ice on the ground or if it's going to be 70 degrees and sunny.

There are some things we can keep in mind either way when it comes to our plant maintenance to ensure we have our bases covered. So whether you're hunkered down trying to stay warm or sitting out on the patio enjoying a spring-like day, file it away and use it when you need it.

Plant management is one of the most important topics when it comes to maintaining a healthy landscape. Natural pruning techniques promote the natural beauty of the shrubs, trees and ground covers in your landscape. The term "plant rejuvenation" means basically a HEAVY pruning of the plant that typically is performed through the late winter and early spring months.

Why perform a "pre-spring cut back?"

1) To revitalize a regularly-maintained shrub.

When shrubs are continually trimmed the plant becomes very exhausted and barrel looking, flowers are continually being removed never giving the plant/shrub a chance to rest in its natural growth cycle.

2) To keep the plants contained within their budgeted space without having to continually trim them.

Replacing plants in this situation also is an option but when you don't have to why would you?

34 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

3) Rejuvenating the planting by removing older growth and leaving younger, healthier structures. This helps promote flowering since most flowering shrubs bloom better on 1-year-old growth or newer.

What should my expectations be with doing the "pre-spring cut back?"

Typically in the first 30 days you will see new growth appear. As we start into spring-summer you will begin to see more and more flowers on several of the different shrubs and groundcovers.

Summer is the growing season for a majority of the plants, so this is the time that we want to help control the growth through the use of "selective pruning.�

Selective pruning is a method of only pruning the unwanted growth from the plant. This would include awkward growth, crossing branches and deadwood. The goal is to keep the natural look of the planting and help promote flowering.

Please remember that pruning is an invigorating process and one of the most important parts of managing your landscape.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 35

I

ncome tax season is in full swing and some may think companies that surface now to help fill out forms are the only ones who handle the always-changing laws. Firms like Chandler & Knowles CPAs, PLLC are available year-round for their needs.

Than Just

By Mark Miller

Founding Partner Rochelle Chandler and partner Kristina Knowles are experts at knowing the right structures and strategies that not only help businesses and individuals prepare their tax returns but know advanced planning measures to keep their clients on the right path.

“We do more than just put numbers in a box,” Chandler said. “One of the real values we can provide to people is significantly reducing their liability while improving asset protection. The key is using the right structures and the right strategies.”

Chad Chandler. “We have the resources and tools to reduce administration time and we also offer advanced planning for them personally to help ensure a successful financial future.”

So what tools does Chandler & Knowles use to accomplish this?

Chandler founded her Flower Mound-based CPA practice in 1996 with Knowles joining her in 2000 and becoming a partner in 2007. The partners began their careers in accounting with Chandler attending the University of Texas-Arlington and Knowles earning her degree from Stephen F. Austin University.

At the request of clients, the duo expanded into financial planning since it so closely followed accounting. That reflects the firm’s objective to help their clients implement tax reduction strategies plus set, achieve, and measure other financial goals and objectives.

Chandler & Knowles prides itself on its collaborative and comprehensive way it approaches tax planning and preparation. The full-service staff also offers a variety of services in business accounting, and business consulting.

Besides helping individuals and businesses with their taxes, the firm works with clients on partnerships, state, estate, gift, trust, and non-profit tax returns.

Advanced tax strategies include tax-free retirement plans, estate planning, captive insurance companies, and irrevocable trusts. Business accounting services feature bank reconciliations, bookkeeping, financial statements, sales tax services, and payroll administration. The staff also offers financial forecasting and projections, cash flow and budgeting analysis, and corporate structuring.

“We have been told by our business owner clients that after partnering with us they were able to focus more on the things they do best like growing their business, working with clients, etc.. rather than spending time on the accounting,” said Marketing Director

36 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

“We use a process called LEAP (Lifetime Economic Acceleration Process) which organizes and coordinates clients’ financial lives,” he said.

“Most people make financial decisions one at a time, at different times, with different people, and under different economic circumstances. Making decisions in this manner often results in a financial junk drawer that can leave financial products unorganized, uncoordinated, hard to manage, out of date, inefficient, and difficult to review which often results in lost opportunities.”

LEAP uses three key principles or tools to achieve success.

Game Board that gives order to the financial world by organizing all of your financial products into three different sections – Protection, Savings, or Growth.

Financial Rule Book which teaches how to make financial decisions to avoid wealth erosion

Back row: Chad Chandler, Shannon Allen, Front Row:Mary Smith, Chris Hammer, Kristina Knowles, Rochelle Chandler, Meagan Sneed, Julie Monk, Photography by Scott Young Photography

factors such as taxes, fees, inflation, planned obsolescence, etc.

Macro Manager that helps coordinate all of the professionals. Having a macro manager is like bringing together real estate and insurance agents, money manager, accountant, and attorney, all in one room to make a decision.

Developed in the 1980s by economic students at New York University, the basis of LEAP is financial modeling software that helps clients manage their financial lives. LEAP was not built by a sales team as a way to sell product. It was built in academia as a way to test and verify financial decisions and understand how to become successful in personal finance.

The LEAP Model is unbiased toward financial products and has a place for every single product.

It is able to show any financial strategy, every financial move, and every financial document. It also contains a weighted value system just like the periodic table. It has established rules and principles and a controlled means for testing and comparing. Most important, it is fair, honest, and equal.

In the game of personal finance, the Leap Model acts as a financial game board. The Leap Model is designed to help you know how financial products work, learn how to coordinate financial products, measure performance, compare financial decisions, eliminate financial errors and omissions.

It also empowers clear decision making.

With the game board, you see all your financial decisions at once. Understanding the impact of our decisions, we can create measurable strategies to build, protect, and grow your wealth.

The Rulebook of The Leap Model establishes the standards for navigating your financial game board, and ultimately, your personal finance. It

helps you learn effective money strategies, better protect your wealth, build wealth more efficiently, increase retirement income, and maximize your legacy.

Leading the process is a macro manager like Chad Chandler who acts like a conductor to a symphony.

“Imagine gifted musicians, some not showing up or bringing their instruments, seated randomly on stage, each with a different sheet of music, and no one to conduct them,” he said. “Having a financial macro manager helps us better conduct our “financial symphony,” increasing our chances of succeeding financially. Most CPA firms don’t have a macro manager.”

Chandler said most financial consultants offer advice independent of one another. But how might their recommendations and the potential results be different if they had worked together? He uses LEAP to coordinate advice while eliminating opinion and sales hype.

“Using the model, we verify the advice provided is in client’s best interest, not the advisor and his/ her company,” he said.

“My role as a macro manager while working through The Leap process is to accomplish four things,” Chad said. “One, we want to increase protection and benefits. Second, we want to decrease our risk exposure. Third, we want to increase our wealth. And finally, we want to do all of this without decreasing our clients’ current lifestyle meaning no additional out-of-pocket cost.

Our goal is to identify dollars within their current situation that can be redirected to accomplish these goals.

“Most financial planners want you to focus on the building your castle. Our strategy is to first build the moat around the castle so that when the castle is built, nobody can come and take it

from you. What happens if you get disabled and can’t work anymore, you get sued, or you die prematurely? Our goal is to help ensure financial success can be accomplished under any scenario.

That’s why we say protection should come first.

“When working with us, clients typically tell us they feel happier, have a better feeling of success, and now more than ever understand how to use and enjoy more of their wealth.”

So how would clients proceed with this process through Chandler & Knowles? It starts with a discovery meeting to go over the steps involved.

Next, the client would gather all financial documents and have them entered into the model to allow them to see where they currently stand. A review and education follows.

“Everyone has an ideal position on the model,” Chad Chandler said. “Everybody has a place they need to be in order to be most successful.”

Strengths and weaknesses are analyzed with different options offered to increase strengths and limit weaknesses. Clients would then choose which options they want to follow, implement their strategy and achieve more success.

“This is the most holistic approach to planning that there is,” Chad Chandler said. “There is no pressure whatsoever and we do not push products on our clients.

“Perhaps the best news is the entire process is free. We feel that by helping our clients to become more successful we will strengthen our relationships and create long-lasting relationships.

In a sense, we are investing in our community and our clients.

To take advantage of Chandler & Knowles and its LEAP Model, visit formycpa.com/ financial-planning or call 817-430-3000, extension 104.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 37

38 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Sound Advice from Jessica

Counseling Corner

Help Your Children Reach Their Full Potential by

Making Their Dreams a Reality T

hinking back to when I was a child, I can’t help but think about all the dreams I had while I was growing up. I remember that I always wanted to be like Super Woman and save the day or like Neil Armstrong and walk on the moon.

Dreams were my playground that helped me realize my true potential in life. If no one dreams then how can we grow as a society and as individuals? Thus the first step as parents is to ask your children the details of their dreams.

It is so easy to pass on our own desires to our children and forget to listen to their aspirations. Thus the second step and the most important step is to be there for your children and give them the support

they so desperately need without altering their imaginations. Without support, dreams never come into fruition. Therefore listen to your children’s hopes and support their dreams.

Through active dream building your children will grow confident in their own imaginations and reach for the stars. So with a little love, patience, and positive advice you will help turn your children’s dreams into realities.

Jessica Burrow, MA, LPC, CFLE specializes in children who struggle with anxiety, depression, and self-injury. She is the owner of NextGen Counseling, PLLC. For more information regarding the services she may provide for you or your child please call 940-228-2171 or visit www. nextgencounseling.org.

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 39

Living Healthy

The Power of Partnership:

Choose A Health Coach

By Dan Nevitt of Health in Motion

We are familiar with Einstein’s definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Yet how many of us seeking better health still find ourselves caught up in this trap?

People seeking improved health and weight management fuel a multi-billion dollar industry. According to a report by research firm IBISWorld, it is predicting weight loss industry revenue to hit $2.7 billion by 2018.

Your personal health is paramount, thus it’s time to consider a different approach to ramp up results when seeking to improve overall wellness.

Enter...the health coach.

When attempting to implement positive changes to your health, a qualified health coach is an important piece of the healthcare puzzle.

40 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Health and wellness coaching is a service provided by trained professionals whose skill sets assist clients to set and achieve sustainable health and wellness goals. A health coach guides clients to become proactive in their wellness journey by eliminating unhealthy behaviors and making health and wellness a priority.

Health coaches work one-on-one to guide and empower clients to get in shape, lose weight, reduce stress, identify blocks and create balance in their lives. By addressing emotional, physical, behavioral, nutritional and lifestyle factors, each program a health coach creates is personal and unique to enhance overall health and well-being.

Health coaching differs greatly from personal training. A personal trainer tends to tell clients how much to exercise and in some cases, what to eat. But a health coach does that and

so much more, focusing on improving the overall quality of life – not just in the gym.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree. They report health coaching programs can be an effective way to help patients achieve their wellness goals related to healthy weight, healthful eating, and physical activity.

Of those participants who had completed two or more coaching sessions, 70 percent reported being satisfied with the program and 71 percent would recommend health coaching.

When looking for a health coach to partner with, it is imperative to find a licensed professional, preferably holding degrees in health education and/or medicallyrelated fields with diverse backgrounds in psychology, health education, physiology of exercise, nutrition and weight management.

Sharing past successes, failures, attitudes, and self-beliefs regarding personal health will allow a qualified health coach to establish short- and long-term goals that are continually revisited, taking a client’s aspirations and transforming them into realities.

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FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 41

Your Community . . . Your Lantana

Kevin Mercer General Manager

For information on the latest community updates please visit lantanatx.org.

42 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Upscale Home

Introducing the

Color of the Year!

T

he new color of the year...Seriously, how can it be that time again? The powers that be have made a decision that is suppose to impact every part of the world we live in for the upcoming year. The color that we will be seeing as a choice in what we wear, walk on, accessorize with, paint our walls, put on our windows, sit on with the color of our sofas, etc. has been chosen.

Well, I’m sure it will just blow your socks off if I revolt and just say “no” that I’m not “buying” into the latest choice. I mean every color deserves its time but give me something to celebrate. I thought we were supposed to be going lighter and not so heavy. The “trend” is to have a little more fun with our wares. How so with...

Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year: Marsala!

According to the New Jersey-based Pantone Color Co., wine lovers will rejoice as Marsala is inspired by the fortified wine. The color “embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness.”

I don’t want to eat it or drink it. I need to make it look good in your home or office. Call it what you want but it’s a glorified “wine” color with a little brown in it, dressed up with a nice name that rolls off the tongue kind of pretentiously.

With my southern accent I can make it work without my fingers directing you to the sample with bend back of the wrist and slight tilt up of the chin.

Pantone, the self-proclaimed color authority, continues to describe Marsala as a “hearty, yet stylish tone that is universally appealing.

OK, enough, I’m a professional and can make anything look good right? Sure!

Here’s what I see. Since it is such a rich, dark color use it as a backdrop or a contrast color. You could have a lighter, warmer contrast color on the wall and use the Marsala as your drapery color. I could definitely see an accent chair in Marsala or bedding pillows.

By Paula Kratohvil, Owner Complete Interior Solutions (972) 436-9083

blues, pinks and neutrals. Another color pallet could be Marsala with mustard gold, several different greens to choose from and amber and umber tones.

Actually there are so many different pallets that would work with Marsala it would be rather easy to translate into fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings, and interiors and bring the color into your home or office.

Maybe I was a little hard on Marsala.

Stop by the studio or give us a call today and let’s explore how we can blend the 2015 color of the year into your home or office! We’d love to help with any decor projects you have now or plan in the future.

Time to get to thinking them through!

What would I pair it with? For a fun look try turquoise or deep yellows and beige. Love it! I could see it with grays and as Pantone agrees pale

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 43

Guyer Athletics

National Signing Day 2015 Another Big Success

By Steve Gamel

A

nother national signing day is in the books, and once again, Guyer athletics had a stellar showing.

The Wildcats had 20 signees from four sports take part in its annual recruitment ceremony on Feb. 4, the first day college football teams could officially sign 2015 freshmen. Many athletes from around the area, including those at Guyer, made their verbal commitments well in advance – but this was a chance to make everything official.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Guyer football coach and athletic director John Walsh. “There was a lot of money on the table on Wednesday, and when you can see athletics and extracurricular pay for a kid’s school...it’s very rewarding.”

Of Guyer’s 20 recruits, 13 were from the football team. That particular class included standout defensive linemen Carl Thompson, who de-committed from Kansas and switched to Rice just days before signing day. Kevin Dillman, a highly-touted move-in from Sweden who had his own topsy-turvy season and was never ruled eligible by the University Interscholastic League to play for Guyer, signed with North Texas.

The next highest signee class was from the girls’ soccer team. Brittany Crabtree, who helped

lead the Lady Wildcats to a state title in 2013. made it official with Texas A&M. She was one of three soccer signees.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me was the quality of schools involved. When you look out and see Harvard, SMU and Rice, that’s pretty impressive,” Walsh said. “You need to have all your stuff in order to sign with them, both on the field and academically.”

Perhaps one of the bigger feel-good stories of the day, Walsh said, was the Dillman signing.

Dillman was a top quarterback in California when he transferred to Guyer to live with friends of his parents, who still live in Sweden. His arrival created a quarterback controversy very early in the summer as Walsh looked to replace former standout Jerrod Heard.

The team ultimately chose Shawn Robinson as its starter and Dillman eventually was ruled ineligible for varsity play by the UIL and spent the rest of the season as a converted tight end on junior varsity.

To make matters more interesting, his original scholarship offer from Nebraska was pulled for unspecified reasons.

“It doesn’t get any better to see a kid like

that realize his dream after getting knocked down over and over again,” Walsh said. “It all worked out.”

Guyer’s 2015

signees Football

Carl Thompson, Rice Kevin Dillman, North Texas Adam Scott, Harvard Alex Honey, SMU Anthony Taylor, Texas State Jordan Wallace, Iowa State Trey Woods, Evangel Ian Edwards, Northwestern State Derek Watson, New Mexico State Austin Colpean, Oklahoma Panhandle State Xavier Brown, Cisco College Joe Silvaggio, Mary Hardin-Baylor Isiah Correa, Northwestern Oklahoma State

Girls Soccer

Brittany Crabtree, Texas A&M Caitlyn Abreu, Ouachita Baptist Olawumi Akinniyi, Southern Mississippi

Volleyball

Keeley Zeigler, NCTC Vivianna Solis, St. Gregory’s

Golf

Piper Gleadhill, Schreiner Jeremiah Earle, Texas A&M-Commerce 44 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 45

How to Keep My Children from

Becoming a Casualty of War W

hile divorce is never easy, it can be especially painful when children are pulled into the battle. Some parents will take extreme measures to ensure their children side with them against the other parent and the effects can be devastating on the children. But there are many ways parents can help lessen the impact of their break-up on their children.

1. Reassure your children that they are loved and the divorce is not their fault. Many children assume they are to blame for their parents’ separation and the ultimate hostility between their parents.

2. At every step during your divorce remind yourself that your children's interests, not yours, are paramount, and act accordingly. Lavish them with love at each opportunity.

3. Do not use your children as messengers.

Children are just that – children. Don’t put your children in the middle of the battle because this action may put them into a position of “taking sides.” The children should not be responsible for remembering details that should be discussed between parents.

4. Never disparage the other parent in front of your children. Because children know they are “part of mom” and “part of dad,” the criticism can batter the child’s self-esteem.

5. Encourage your children to see the other parent frequently. Do everything within your power to accommodate the visitation between your children and the other parent to facilitate their relationship.

6. Your children may be tempted to act as your caretaker. Resist the temptation to let them. Let your peers, adult family members, and mental health professionals be your counselors and sounding board. Let you children be children.

7. If you are the non-custodial parent, pay your child support. The loss of income facing many children after divorce puts them at a financial disadvantage that has a pervasive effect on the rest of their lives.

8. If you are the custodial parent and are not receiving child support, do not tell your children.

It feeds into the child’s sense of abandonment and further erodes his or her stability.

9. If at all possible, do not uproot your children. Stability in their residence and school life helps buffer children from the trauma of their parents’ divorce.

46 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

The Law Office of Dale A. Burrows, P.C. is ready to help you through these emotional times.

The information provided herein is given for general information only. The information presented should not be construed as formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

2900 VIllage Parkway Ste 330 Highland Village, TX Phone: (972) 304-6000 Fax: (972) 317-6220 www.BurrowsAtLaw.com Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 47

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Top 5 Actions to

Local Sponsored Content Advertisement

Create a Stronger Marriage

By Brett Nelson

My career as a family lawyer has afforded me the unique opportunity to evaluate relationships between people from most ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds. This experience has led me to five inescapable actions that we must take if we are going to create stronger relationships.

Get Right With God

Focus on the Reasons You Got Married

Too often I meet with a client who complains about what his/ her spouse is doing or not doing. When this occurs I generally remind these clients that love is an action, and that divorce is the worst financial move they could make. What I’ve learned in my own relationships and through the practice of family law is that if we focus on improving our relationship with God, our other relationships improve, because we are working on our own issues rather than finding fault in others.

People always come into my office telling me what they can’t stand about their spouse. I always ask if they saw these qualities when they first got married. Inevitably, the answer is yes! The moral of the story is to focus on the good in all things and be grateful. Doing so will make it easier to notice the positive, yielding a better marriage and a happier life.

Apologize

Honor

We all have heard that kids do not do what you say; they do what you do. Thankfully, I finally learned (at age 42) that my role model is Jesus, not a famous or successful person, or even my parents. However, as a parent I have an obligation to show our kids what it means to be Christ-like. Do I ever achieve His perfection? Of course not, but while I am trying to meet his standards, I grow closer to Him and in turn learn to LOVE (the action) my wife more. Remember that, whether you have children or not, you have little people looking at you, and you need to show them what they should do.

Honor is a verb – an action, just like love, and it means to regard with great respect. So honor your spouse and others in general, and you will find that they will honor you because you are acting honorably.

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

If you sense that you owe someone an apology, you do. Learn to apologize often (especially when you think you have been wronged too), and be sincere. If you find that you are repeatedly apologizing to the same person or for the same actions, talk with someone so you can figure out what is driving this choice or behavior.

Be a Role Model

IAL

IC OFF

A TAN LAN

nt e d i s e R S

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FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 49

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Candy Land Ball 6th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance February 6 at E. P. Rayzor

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 51

NG

M AG A

ZIN

E’

R’S O T I K ED PIC

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Claire with her beloved service dog Holly.

Photography by Scott Young Photography

EN

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2015

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Epilepsy Awareness Day

Community Support Makes a

Big Difference

for Family Touched by Disorder

By Eric Williams

Epilepsy is a disorder that has a powerful impact on its victims and their families, though its effects can remain practically invisible to the rest of us. “

I

t’s been in the shadows a long time,” said Argyle’s Theresa Locastro, whose daughter Claire has the disorder. The family spoke about helping provide illumination for those of us who know little about the disorder during Epilepsy Awareness Day scheduled for March 26.

If you just met Claire you probably would be impressed with her gigantic smile and winning personality. A fourth-grader, Claire has a big vocabulary and is comfortable carrying on conversations with adults. But because Claire has epilepsy her family has to be vigilant in her care, paying special attention to make sure she’s in the right educational environment and avoiding activities and circumstances likely to trigger seizures.

The family must be careful to make sure she gets enough sleep and eats the right kinds of food and never misses her medications. Seizures can cause loss of consciousness and convulsions that can result in bodily and/or brain injury.

52 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

Fortunately, Claire’s parents, John and Theresa, and older sister Victoria, are resourceful people who not only help her optimize her learning and life experiences, they’re willing to help others too.

For example, grateful for a Lions Club whose camp at Kerrville hosts Camp Neuron for young epileptics each year, John and Theresa have joined the Argyle Lions Club. They praise the camp for providing terrific recreation and life experiences for Claire, not to mention welcome relief for a family that every once in a while can use a break from administering medications

and

constant monitoring of Claire’s conditions. They have great confidence in the camp and some staff members are part of the Cook Children’s Health Care System team they praise for providing terrific care and support for North Texas families dealing with epilepsy.

The family has taken Claire to the Cleveland Clinic and participated in a Yale University study. What they learned through the processes of consulting other medical experts is that the care provided at Cook is exactly what Claire needs. They also moved into the Argyle Independent School District, where the staff is aware and very helpful with the particular educational needs for children with epilepsy.

“We’d like to mention our wonderful church family and support from Rockpointe Church,” said Theresa. “They have reached out to us many times with meals, prayers and visits when Claire was in the hospital. They have been there when we needed it most.”

The family participates in an annual Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland, where families impacted by epilepsy wear purple. The message that families are not alone in what they are experiencing is tremendously important, the Locastros say. Theresa is active in epilepsy support groups and when a family dealing with issues around a recent diagnosis contacts her through the Epilepsy Support in North Texas Facebook Group, she’s happy to share what she’s learned in five years dealing with the disorder.

The Locastro family also has demonstrated considerable ingenuity. Since John, vice president of sales for Sandlot Solutions, a software company (continued on the next page. . .) that serves the FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 53

medical industry,

skills she needs. In rare cases well-bred Golden

Internet access to a camera that monitors

oncoming seizure. However, even without that

(. . . continued from previous page.)

is frequently out of town, he actually has his daughter while she sleeps. Victoria, a

middle school student, knows about Claire’s medication

and

treatment

and

can

be

counted on to be part of the team keeping her sister safe.

Retrievers and Golden Doodles can detect an skill, the dogs are tremendously useful because they can be trained to be close to the epilepsy

victim and help break the fall and prevent

serious injury. During a seizure they can lick the face of a seizure victim, helping them come

The family also is training a service dog, a

out of the experience more quickly. They also

While a trained service dog would cost upwards

devices like a magnet or medicines that can help

professional assistance, teaching Holly the

Claire has a medical device implanted in her

bright, energetic Golden Retriever named Holly.

can be counted on to carry or quickly retrieve

of $30,000, the dog-loving Locastros are, with

minimize injury potential of the seizure.

54 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

chest that sends signals to her brain. In fact, the device sometimes causes vibrations that alter her voice for a few seconds. Claire’s last serious seizure occurred Feb. 22, 2014.

Pointing to the device barely visible beneath the skin just below her collarbone, Claire said, “Since I have this, I don’t have seizures.”

The family felt comfortable enough that with Claire’s grandmother in the house, John and Theresa took an adult-only trip to New Orleans to see Theresa’s beloved Ohio State beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win a trip to the College Football National Championship Game.

Adkins Literacy Night

FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 55

56 | LANTANA LIVING | February 2015

he Sidelines

See You On T

a,

Covering Lantan

o t t s u J r e t t e B Sometimes, It’s hut

S h t u o M r u o Keep Y ’ve been accused of sticking my nose where

Iit doesn’t belong a time or two over the years.

Considering what I do for a living, I never saw it as harmful as long as I was fair in how I reported it. That includes a few weeks ago, when a score discrepancy at a basketball game I was covering nearly led to a controversial ending.

For once, I kept to myself. Well, sort of.

I’m not saying it was easy to keep my mouth shut. I knew what really happened. With 50 seconds left, one of the star players for the team I was covering went to the free-throw line with her team trailing 45-43. She appeared to miss the first of her two shots to cut the deficit to one point. At least, that’s how I worded it in my game story.

The truth was she did miss the shot. It was obvious. No two ways about it. During the ensuing timeout after she did make the second attempt, however, the scoreboard was changed to show both teams tied at 45.

I noticed the change, but I didn’t need to say anything because the opposing coach picked up on it immediately. So did his entire bench, which was thrown into a wild frenzy as he argued the change. The officials clearly didn’t know what happened; it was obvious by the deer-inheadlights look they had on their faces as they conferred with the official scorekeeper.

What made it worse is I opened my mouth just enough for the opposing coach to hear me say, “she missed that first free throw.” He

By Steve Gamel immediately started asking the officials to talk to me – as if I was important.

Perhaps that’s why I became a sports writer instead of a referee. There was less than a minute left in the game and the score was randomly tied.

Lucky for me, I overheard the refs explaining to both coaching staffs that they had no choice but to go with the official scorekeeper who, as it turns out, counted the initial shot as a basket.

It was much ado about nothing. The opposing team was fouled on its next possession and hit two free throws to take the lead for good. That group iced the game a short while later with two more free throws, and the team I was there to cover was held scoreless the rest of the way in a 49-45 loss.

I kept thinking, though. What if giving that team the one extra point affected the outcome?

Or worse, what if, by going with my record keeping, the team I was there to cover lost the game by one point? I wouldn’t want that on my conscience, even if I knew I was correct on the missed free throw.

Ironically, we were all joking around with the officials before the game and one of them said aloud that he wanted it to be a smooth game with no issues. I guess he jinxed himself.

Thankfully, I didn’t jinx myself by getting involved, either.

Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.

Follow him on Twitter @newspapersteve FEBRUARY 2015 | LANTANA living | 57

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