The Cross Timbers Gazette December 2018

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December 2018

Flower Mound Band to Strut Stuff on International Stage

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Cycling Group Leaves No Rider Behind

By John English, Contributing Writer

By Lyn Rejahl Pry, Editor

On New Year’s Day, the Flower Mound High School Marching Band will step out with its first performance of 2019, down five-and-a-half-miles on Colorado Boulevard ‌ in Pasadena, California.

The award-winning Flower Mound Competition Band will make its national TV debut in the 130th Annual Rose Parade for a television audience of 52 million, in addition to the approximately one million people watching the parade in-person. “One band was selected last year to represent the Bands of America from Grand Nationals at Lucas Oil Stadium [in Indianapolis, Indiana],� said Brent Biskup, the director of Bands at Flower Mound High School. “It’s [the Rose Parade invitation] a little bit different; most [participants] go through a big process and need to send a video and more. But, the selection committee saw us perform at the Bands of America Grand Nationals, so we didn’t have to do anything more.�

As official participants for the 2019 event, Biskup and Associate Director Janna Harvey were invited to the 2018 event. “In Pasadena, it’s a community event,� said Biskup. “Some volunteers have been involved with the event for decades. The focus is on what’s positive. It’s built on people volunteering their time and meeting people from other communities.�

Each year, more than 80,000-hours of combined service are supplied by 935 volunteer members of the Tournament of Roses Association. Nicknamed “White Suiters,� because of the distinctive white suits every volunteer wears, the community-spirited men and women give up their evenings, weekends and holidays to ensure the event’s

Members of Pathfinders Fun Cycling, including Debby Quisenberry, Ruth Solow, and Shane and Tom Clark, enjoy miles of fun and exercise every weekend.

When Mark Solow of Highland Village started Pathfinders Fun Cycling in December 2010, it was often just him and his wife, Ruth, going on rides together at the beginning.

Eight years and hundreds of rides later, the group has grown exponentially. “We thought it would be fun to ride with other people,� Solow said. “So I started contacting the local bike clubs I found online. Thankfully, one of them

was brutally honest when he wrote me back and said, ‘You will need to be able to maintain at least a 17-mph average speed for 30- to 40-miles to ride with us.

If you can’t, we’ll drop you.’ “So, not able to find a local group that we could keep up with-- and figuring out how to create a Facebook Page and create an Event on Facebook-- Pathfinders was born; at probably the worst time of the year to organize group bike rides.�

Today, there are more than 1,200 local area cyclists in the Pathfinders group and 300 more online members. One must ride a bicycle and live in the DFW area to be eligible for the group. “We are not a club,� Solow said. “There are no fees or costs to ride with Pathfinders. We just organize rides and people are welcome to join us. We only ask two things: One, that you wear a helmet; and two, be able to average 10- or more-miles-per-hour for at least five-miles on your own before joining a ride. We are a no-drop group and don’t want to hold up the group. As a group, we typically average 12- to 14-mph, depending on the riders that day.�

The group draws mostly from the southern Denton County and northern Tarrant County regions, but has riders from as far away as Sanger, Ft. Worth and Mesquite. “Pathfinders rides are typically in the 15- to 20-mile range,� Solow said. “Often, we have multiple distances you can choose, like when we ride to Denton, you can choose to ride 8- (beginner), 18(intermediate), or 33- (advanced) miles.

The longest we ride as a group is usually the Superbowl Ride every year (36 miles) when we ride the White Rock Trail to White Rock Lake, then the Santa Fe Trail to Downtown Dallas; and, then shared lanes to the West End. It is an annual lunch event that the oldest bike See PATHFINDERS Page A18

Inside This Section Mayor’s Columns Real Estate Corner Local Experts

December 2018

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December 2018

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Here is a roundup of some of the most popular articles posted the past month at CrossTimbersGazette.com: LISD Considers Elementary School Rezoning The Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees is proposing to rezone boundaries for several Flower Mound elementary schools.

The board proposed a boundary adjustment for Bridlewood Elementary to take the western portion of Flower Mound Elementary’s zone. Bridlewood currently has 400 students and is at 51 percent capacity, while Flower Mound has 484 students and is at 84 percent capacity.

Community meetings have been scheduled to discuss the proposed boundary changes on Dec. 5 at Bridlewood Elementary and Dec. 6 at Flower Mound Elementary. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Similarly, a zoning boundary change is proposed to take a portion of the Bluebonnet Elementary zone and assign it to Old Settlers Elementary. Community meetings for this proposed rezoning were held in late November.

If approved, all changes will take effect for the 2019-20 school year.

Tractor Supply Close To Approval Tractor Supply Company is one Conditional Use Permit away from full approval to build a new store in Bartonville.

Tractor Supply is proposing a 19,000-square-foot enclosed building with a 17,500-square-foot outdoor display on the northwest corner of Hilltop and FM 407.

On Nov. 14, the Bartonville Town Council took the Planning & Zoning Commission’s recommendations and approved three requests, tabling the Conditional Use Permit until this month.

Council is expected to make a decision on the Conditional Use Permit at its Dec. 18 meeting.

Edmonson Wins Precinct 4 Chair Dianne Edmondson of Robson Ranch will replace Andy Eads as County Commissioner for Precinct 4, which encompasses southwest Denton County.

The former Denton County GOP leader defeated former Flower Mound council member Bryan Webb in the election with 62 percent of the vote.

Edmondson said she’s already looking forward to getting to work, starting with hiring staff, meeting local mayors and evaluating roads in the precinct to see what shape they’re in and what needs to be done.

Edmondson will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2019.

THANK YOU for voting us THE BEST for the 3rd year in a row!

Flower Mound Adds Cameras to Dog Park Within the last six months, there have been eight car burglaries at the Hound Mound Dog Park on South Garden Ridge Boulevard in Flower Mound.

The town recently installed security cameras at the dog park that can be accessed by the Flower Mound Police Department.

Signs have been placed around the park, signaling the area is now under surveillance.

Park visitors still have to do their part.

The vast majority of car burglaries occur when valuables are left in plain sight, police said, adding, “having cameras in the area does not guarantee the ability to identify and locate criminals.”

Flower Mound Approves Senior Housing The town last month approved a rezoning request for apartments catering to residents 55-years-and-older.

The gated NEM Senior Living property, planned for 9-acres south of Rippy Road and east of FM 2499, will be capped at 183 units.

The main four-story 61,380-square-foot building will hold 118 one-bedroom, 61 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom units.

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From the Desk of Andy Eads Denton County Commissioner, Pct. 4

County Judge-Elect Reflects on Past 12 Years; Reveals Plans for a Bright Future As my time as Precinct 4 Commissioner winds down, I have many people to thank for all they have done in the past 12 years to help us accomplish significant goals.

Together, we experienced the widening of FM 1171, FM 407 and U.S. 380 West as well as the extension of FM 2499, which now serves as a major north-south connector across Denton County. We also saw the completion of road construction on Copper Canyon, Chinn Chapel and Country Club roads – to name just a few of the many roads rebuilt, resurfaced and widened for easier access. Construction is now underway on FM 156 and soon will begin on U.S. 377.

We would be remiss not to mention the widening of Interstate 35E, which took coordination across our region to widen a well-traveled highway burgeoning from growth. And in the not too distant future, completion of the I-35E/Loop 288 interchange will allow for a better experience for residents and visitors alike as they pass through Denton County from north to south and vice versa.

This would not have been possible without the dedication of staff, consultants, crews and the cooperation among all of our communities, representatives, state officials, utility companies and, especially, the patience of our residents. The collective efforts helped us leverage $700 million to $3 billion in road construction improvements in the past decade.

Since 2006, Denton County’s population has grown from 589,882 to 836,210 as of July 2017, according to the U.S. Census

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Bureau. One day soon, we will top the 1 million mark. This growth will necessitate ongoing road construction projects to deal with increased traffic throughout the county.

In the past 12 years, we have expanded services across the county by adding new district courts, expanding the jail as well as patrols, offering more services to the estimated 48,000 veterans in Denton County, opening two new health clinics and adding space for Child Protective Services as well as providing a new juvenile probation center.

Denton County’s work has not gone unnoticed as we’ve been recognized for our budgets, purchasing and transparency while achieving an AAA+ rating with Moody’s and Standard and Poors.

Economic development in Precinct 4 has brought new job opportunities and continued to diversify our tax base. Farmer Brothers relocated from California to Denton County in 2017. Tanger Outlets opened its 45th outlet mall with more than 80 retailers in Denton County the same year. Charles Schwab will open its 70acre Westlake campus in 2019 with plans to grow to 6,000 employees in the coming years. Buc-ee’s opened not one but two locations in Denton County and Peterbilt continues to grow and expand.

Each of these economic wins demonstrates that Denton County is known nationally as the place to be. Moreover, we plan to keep spreading the word to attract similar economic opportunities to our area.

Over the years, I have met and worked with many of you on local, regional and state boards, volunteered with you for area service agencies and attended many community fundraisers with you. We have talked on the phone, met in person and even greeted each other in the grocery aisles.

We might have even spoken while picking up our children from school or waiting for services to begin at church.

See EADS on Page A22

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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From the Desk of Bobbie Mitchell

and the town’s first council meeting in the new facility set for Monday, Dec. 17.

The ribbon cutting is at 5:30 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

Lee Walker Government Center to open soon In a few short weeks, we will be celebrating the opening of the Lee Walker Government Center at 190 N. Valley Parkway in Lewisville.

This building, designed similar to the Precinct 3 Government Center, sits directly across the street with a new pavilion.

The facility will provide ample space for the southern branch of the Denton County Health Department as well as the Women, Infants and Children program and juvenile probation.

The Precinct 3 Government Center houses the Commissioner’s office and staff as well as offices providing services from the Department of Public Safety, Justice of the Peace, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Clerk, Veterans Services, Constable and the Community Supervision and Corrections.

Together, these two facilities provide Lewisville area residents with the county services they need.

We look forward to the grand opening.

Look for an invitation to join us in your local newspaper or on social media.

Register for the Candlelight Tour of Homes The Women of Flower Mound nonprofit organization will host a Candlelight Tour of Homes on Thursday evening, December 13. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at Bridlewood Golf Club, 4000 West Windsor Drive, where guests will receive maps and a tinsel ticket, qualifying them to win a gift basket valued around $1,000.

Three estate size homes are featured on this year’s tour, beautifully decorated for the holidays. Guests will be greeted at each home by Flower Mound High School acapella choirs singing Christmas Carols.

Proceeds will benefit the Women of Flower Mound Scholarship Fund. Last year, WOFM awarded three $4,000 scholarships to local high school seniors.

Ticket costs and other details are available at www.womenofflowermound.org.

Denton County Commissioner, Pct.3

New Flower Mound Town Center to open soon Construction of the 46,000-squarefoot Flower Mound Town Hall is nearing completion at FM 1171 and Morriss Road.

Staff expect to move in during the first week in December with a ribbon cutting

Two new major companies arrive in Flower Mound, Lewisville Last month, we celebrated the arrival and ribbon cutting of two major companies in Flower Mound and Lewisville.

Thirty-One Gifts announced plans to ramp up a 651,000-square-foot distribution center that will bring 650 jobs to Denton County.

The direct-sales company is moving its distribution center from Ohio due to its central location, proximity to all modes of transportation and the feel of the area, according to Founder and CEO Cindy Monroe.

The new distribution center is located See MITCHELL on Page A20

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December 2018

Around Argyle

By Argyle Mayor Don Moser

As 2018 draws to an end, I want to say what a pleasure and an honor it is working with all the volunteer citizens and staff that make Argyle what it is today.

I also want to let everyone know to watch your mailboxes for the upcoming “Year in Review” that will be coming out soon. This will outline many of our accomplishments over the past 12-18 months and many of our goals for next year. We are truly excited about the next couple of years and the opportunities that will be coming our way.

From the entire Town Council and Town Staff, we want to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and safe New Year.

See ya next year!

Argyle P&Z Denies Proposed Development Argyle Planning & Zoning Commissioners last month recommended denial of a small

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commercial and office development to replace a trailer park on FM 407, just east of Hwy 377.

The nearly 4-acre tract of land is located just east of CVS and Kimzey’s Coffee and is part of the Waterbrook mixed-use development across FM 407. The developer, Terra Manna, is seeking approval of a zoning change from Manufactured Home to Village Center Mixed Use and Village Center Transition districts.

The development’s concept plan shows two multi-tenant small commercial buildings, a total of 11,200 square feet, along FM 407, according to the meeting agenda.

Terra Manna Founder Bret Pedigo said during the meeting that he does not have specific tenants or uses in line for those buildings, and Terra Manna may prefer to just build one larger building, depending on what a future tenant would want.

Behind those buildings is a proposed twostory office building with more than 23,500 square feet. Pedigo said the office building would be occupied by an oil industry business relocating its headquarters from Southlake, and construction on it would begin immediately.

See AROUND ARGYLE on Page A17

The Argyle High School Band placed second at the State Marching Band Contest in November.

Pictured from left to right: Superintendent Telena Wright, Walker Santone (Drum Major), Lois Robertson (Color Guard Captain), Jacy Haynes (Drum Major), AHS Principal John King. (Photo

by Erin Lemish)

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Bartonville Town Update

By Bartonville Mayor Bill Scherer

Happy Holidays from Bartonville!

Blue Santa’s elves are busy working to provide toys to children in need in Bartonville. Like they do every year, Blue Santa and his elves need your help. A program of the Bartonville Police Department, Blue Santa provides toys and clothing to approximately 10 families (27 children) in Bartonville each year.

The Bartonville Town Hall Christmas tree is currently located inside Town Hall, 1941 E. Jeter Road and houses Blue Santa ornaments. These ornaments list specific wants and needs of the children. You may take one or several of the ornaments to support Blue Santa; please attach the ornament to the gift upon drop-off.

Monetary donations and grocery store gift cards are also being accepted and may be taken to Town Hall. For more information please call 817-6935280.

The deadline for ALL donations, including Town Hall ornaments, is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th.

This annual drive could not be a great success without the generous support of a caring community. We look forward to receiving your contri-

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butions that will assist the Blue Santa’s goal in making this a successful and joyful holiday for the families in need of assistance this holiday season.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, don’t forget about Olde Time Christmas on Saturday, December 8 from 5-8 p.m. at The Bartonville Town Center. There will be live reindeer, carriage rides, lots of vendors and fun activities for the whole family.

With road work on Rockgate Road almost finished, the Town will now begin work on Dove Creek from Gibbons Road to Noble Champions Way. No thru traffic will be permitted on Dove Creek Road until the project is finished in late January 2019. Please seek an alternate route. Your continued patience while this project is completed is appreciated.

Local elections are just around the corner. The next General Election for Town Council is May 4, 2019. The dates for filing for Place 1, Place 3, and Place 5 on the ballot are January 16, 2019 – February 15, 2019. Candidate application packets for qualified citizens will be available at Town Hall or can be downloaded from the Town’s website after January 2, 2019.

Town Hall will be closed in observation of Christmas on Monday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 25th It’s been a great 2018. The council and I wish you and your families a blessed holiday season.

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Rose

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success.

The thing that really sticks-out is the Rose Committee turning it to be about the communities,” said Biskup. “Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny and his wife, Trina, came to Flower Mound to see the town. We had a pizza party and they went to dinner with LISD administrators.”

The majority of the band-- 340 total with color guard members-- five band staff members, Flower Mound Principal Sonia Lail and one assistant principal, plus LISD Superintendent Kevin Rogers will board

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seven flights to California on Dec. 29.

Biskup said they’d investigated the cost of chartering the flights, but it was too expensive.

“We exist in an environment where the bands are really good and the focus is to compete,” he said. This trip, we get to just go and see some different things and experience new things.”

Among the additional performances are: Band Fest, at which all the Rose Parade bands get to perform for each other; as well as a Disneyland parade in Anaheim.

“We get to tour the float preparation area at the Rose Parade staging area and get to go backstage at Disneyland and see how

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it works and meet [Disney] artists,” said Biskup.

The 2019 Grand Marshal for the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade, themed “The Melody of Life,” is singer, songwriter and philanthropist Chaka Khan.

The Flower Mound entourage will return on Jan. 3.

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The Jaguar band’s recent awards include: 2015 and 2016 BOA Regional in Dallas and Super Regional wins in San Antonio; the 2016 Class 6A State title; 2014 sixthplace at BOA Grand Nationals; 2017 fifthplace at the BOA Grand Nationals.

The band’s 2018 performance focuses on See ROSE Page A19

Members of the Flower Mound High School band are warming up for their International appearance this January. (Photos by Zach Ashcraft)

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Argyle, Bartonville, Canyon Falls, Harvest, Lantana: Call 469.481.2863 Flower Mound, Highland Village, Double Oak, Copper Canyon: Call 817.498.0077

December 2018

What’s Happening in Copper Canyon

December 2018... from the desk of Mayor Sue Tejml

Saturday December 1st 3-5 p.m. Santa Party for Copper Canyon Kids at Town Hall.

(All children must be accompanied by an adult Town resident.)

The highlight of the Santa Party for our kids is always their traditional ride atop the big red fire engine of our Argyle Fire District! Parents are welcome to ride atop the engine, too. And our very fit and muscular firefighters will help adults safely up the vertical metal ladder on the rear of the engine. If your child wants to ride atop the fire engine, be sure they have a jacket to wear. Though the fire engine wanders slowly through our Woodlands subdivision, it can be breezy up on top.

For children who prefer not to ride on top, they can ride inside the cab and make the siren ring out! (Many thanks again to the residents of the Woodlands who very good naturedly abide the repeated sound of the fire engine siren!)

Argyle Fire Chief Mac Hohenberger is a long time Copper Canyon resident and has always reliably provided the fire engine rides for our children’s pleasure! Unless – there is a fire call – and then the engine and firefighters must respond promptly! Our Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Mangum is also a volunteer Fire Captain with the AFD, and he always comes to help assist the children and their parents up atop the fire engine.

This year we have special guests in future Copper Canyon residents U.S. Army Captain veteran Jake Murphy, who served in Afghanistan, and his wife Lisa Murphy and their son Nolan 4 and daughter Lela almost 2. The Murphys will be moving into their new home in Copper Creek in a few months. Please come by and introduce yourself and welcome the Murphy family

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to our Town!

Our Town Administrator Donna Welsh has been organizing this well attended traditional event for many years. She provides a variety of crafts and fun games for the children. Council Member and professional photographer Bill Castleman always donates his time to take special photos of each child with Santa. Our Building Inspector Steve Koehler kindly volunteers his time to go up in Town Hall’s attic and bring down our Christmas decorations.

Then he sets up our Christmas tree in the Council Chambers. (The tree was donated to Copper Canyon years ago by former residents of Canyon Oaks.) And the members of the Copper Canyon Women’s Club have for years decorated Town Hall for Christmas and provided homemade cookies for the Santa Party!

Copper Canyon’s Trail Clean-Up Day was Saturday November 17th 9-1 Copper Canyon’s longtime Trail Committee Chairman Deb Valencia-Schmitz has re-scheduled our annual Fall Trail Clean Up Day FOUR times due to the incredible number of rain days this fall! The Town of Copper Canyon has had a 30-year formal Agreement with the Corps of Engineers to maintain trails on the Corps land in this immediate area. Usually volunteers contribute 150 to 175 hours each year.

However, this year the rain has reduced the volunteer hours to an estimate of 80 to 100 hours. Deb wanted to particularly thank Copper Canyon resident Kyle Crecelius and his teen son Jeremiah Crecelius for their help on Trail Clean-Up Day and for three young adult volunteers from Double Oak: Zach Elders, Zachary Miller, and Samantha Sedar. You do not have to live in Copper Canyon to volunteer your personal labor, though Town residents are always reliable helpers.

Trail Chairman Deb Valencia said both the Loop Trail accessed from Chinn ChaSee MAYOR SUE on Page A16

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News From Town Hall

By Double Oak Mayor Mike Donnelly www.double-oak.com - 972-539-9464 @DoubleOakTx

Greetings Double Oak Neighbors, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your Double Oak Town Council and staff.

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the J.B. Wright Park and Santa Rides with the DOVFD The annual Christmas Tree lighting will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018 beginning at 6 p.m. Please join your family, friends and neighbors for caroling, refreshments, the Christmas Tree lighting and the arrival of a “special guest” on a DOVFD fire truck.

A DOVFD-Town communication will be sent out when the date is confirmed for the Annual Santa Rides with the DOVFD around Double Oak. May 4, 2019 Municipal Election Day Town administrative staff are preparing for the May 4, 2019 municipal election. The first day to file an application for a place on the ballot is Wednesday, January 15, 2019. The last day to file an application for a place on the ballot

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is Friday, February 15, 2019. Town officials’ seats expiring in May are: Mayor – Mike Donnelly; Council Member Scott Whisenhunt; Council Member - Ginger Brittain.

Council Members Whisenhunt and Brittain intend to seek re-election.

Please check the town website for future May 4, 2019 election information and you are always welcome to contact town administration staff who will be glad to assist you.

Check the town website for town hall holiday closings and trash service schedule.

Mission Moms There are many wonderful organizations that help families here in Denton County. One of these community caring organizations is Mission Moms which was founded by a friend of mine, Kathryn Flores. This Thanksgiving, Mission Moms provided approximately 600 meals to families.

The organization is currently asking for donations to assist families at Christmas.

Kathryn, her volunteers and donors also provide school backpacks and lunchboxes to students. Please take a moment and go to www.missionmoms.org website and read about this local community organization and consider helping in some way. Teach. Serve. Act. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Town of Double Oak!

December 2018

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December 2018

Flower Mound Mayor Message

By Steve Dixon Flower Mound Mayor

Did you know almost 100 residents serve on one of the Town’s 14 active Board and Commissions? Our many Boards and Commission members each have a role in helping the Town accomplish its goals and initiatives to keep our community moving forward.

These Boards and Commission members carve out time from their families, jobs, and other obligations to read and write hundreds of emails, examine documents and plans, and contemplate what is best for Flower Mound. Each of them hopes to leave a positive thumbprint on the community they love so much. This is often a thankless job but it’s a great feeling passing a park, attending a ribbon cutting, or seeing a change in Flower Mound and knowing you were a small part of that.

I salute our outgoing Boards and Commission members for their hard work. The Town of Flower Mound thanks you for devoting your time and energy to Town matters, without ever receiving a paycheck in return.

1. Mike McCall, Planning and Zoning and PALS Board (now Parks Board), 11 years (combined) 2. Cynthia Paterson, Animal Services Board, 7 years 3. Doug Fulmer, Board of Adjustment, 4 years 4. Ann Handren, Parks Board, 4 years 5. Denise Johnson, Parks Board, 4 years 6. Brian Smiley, Transportation Commission, 2 years; Planning and Zoning, 1 year 7. Andy Allen, Transportation Commission, 3 years 8. Thomas Moore, Board of

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Adjustment, 2 years 9. Jessica Douglas, Cultural Arts Commission, 1 year 10. Michael Lamminen, Environmental Conservation Commission, 2 years 11. Joanna Crowell-Dreiling, LISD Liaison, 2 years 12. Micheal Kelly, Parks Board, 2 years 13. Firoz Vohra, Parks Board, 1 year 14. Heth Kendrick, Planning and Zoning Commission, 2 years 15. Robert Gunter, Transportation Commission, 3 years Each Board and Commission has a unique role. Here is a quick look at just a few of our many groups that advise Town Council and Town staff: • The Animal Services Board generally serves in an advisory capacity to the Town Council in matters pertaining to the Animal Adoption Center complying with the laws set forth in the Texas Rabies Control Act. • The Cultural Arts Commission is charged with advising the Town Council and Town staff on policies, services and programs related to cultural arts programs, art in public places, and library services.

• The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends or determines any matter relating to zoning, planning, or subdivision control as they may be specified or required under the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance or applicable laws of the State of Texas.

• The Parks Board advises the Town Council and Town staff in policy matters regarding parks and recreation: goals, objectives and programs.

• The purpose of the Transportation Commission is for members to advise Town Council and staff regarding changes to See FM MAYOR on Page A23

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Highland Village Update

By Charlotte Wilcox Highland Village Mayor

It seems just yesterday we were enjoying the warm weather of summer; but winter weather has arrived right along with the holiday season. We just celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with Our Village Glows at The Shops at Highland Village. This event is a Highland Village tradition and we are grateful to the Highland Village Women’s Club, The Shops at Highland Village and our city staff for organizing this family event. Listening to the Christmas carols, watching the lighting of the beautiful tree and seeing the excitement of the kids as Santa arrives always puts me in the Christmas spirit.

It’s also time to shop for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers, new outfits for holiday parties, food for your family gathering or holiday party, and maybe even a little pampering to take away the stress of the year. You can wrap it all up right here in Highland Village. I encourage you to shop our local retailers, dine at our local eateries and purchase your food and beverages at our local stores. We have a lot to offer you in Highland Village. As you make your shopping list, I encourage you to check the Highland Village Business Association’s online directory at www.thehvba.com. The directory is separated into categories that include Shop, Taste, Go, Play and Do and every brick and mortar building in the City is included. The holiday shopping season offers you an opportunity to discover the stores of Highland Village. Support our local businesses this holiday season, you can wrap it up in Highland Village!

As we celebrate the season and reflect on the blessings we have, let’s not forget those who are less fortunate. We have many great nonprofit organizations that help those in need. This season I hope

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you’ll help where your heart leads. This time of year is the busiest and most draining for our nonprofit organizations. They are working hard to make sure everyone, young and old, has a special holiday. Help them spread some holiday cheer this year.

And speaking of assisting a nonprofit, I, along with some of your Council members, will be at our Highland Village Walmart on Saturday, December 8 ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. We have been challenged to a fundraising competition between Mayor Durham of Lewisville and Mayor Dixon of Flower Mound.

I hope you’ll stop by and help us win this competition while at the same time support the Salvation Army in their mission to assist families this holiday.

We have many family activities lined up for you this month: • Parade of Lights holiday lighting contest – Entry deadline is December 7.

Decorate your home and compete in multiple categories, just complete the application at hvparks.com • Santa at the Fire Station on Saturday, December 1 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. You can also write a letter to Santa, enjoy a bounce house, coloring, facing painting, popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate.

• Santa will be in our neighborhoods beginning December 16 through December 21. You can follow Santa throughout the City and see when he will be in your neighborhood by following him on the Santa Tracker website. Just visit highlandvillage.org and search Santa Day for the link to the Santa Tracker.

• Christmas at the Ranch at Doubletree Ranch Park opens on Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and will be open weekends through December 29.

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December 2018

Meet Lantana HOA Board Member: Kharl Mena Since everything operated smoothly from the day Kharl Mena moved to Lantana, he never gave much thought as to why.

“The place always looked good and my neighbors were awesome,” he said. “I loved Kharl Mena everything about Lantana. Nothing really changed since the time we’ve been here in 2007. So, really, I didn’t know about it [the HOA].”

When he was asked to join the Lantana Homeowners Association Advisory Committee in 2015, he thought it was a great opportunity to become directly involved and understand how things worked.

“I was looking for something to do from that perspective and it fell in my lap,” he said. “I have learned an enormous amount by just sitting and listening and really just understanding the process.”

He’s also found out about the easy access residents have to information online.

“Transparency is something I didn’t realize existed, so much, until I got on the committee,” he said. “A significant number of residents don’t know what’s available to them.”

Two years later, he was appointed to the HOA Board of Directors. Since then, he has put his business background-- steeped in customer service-- to the best use by helping the community maintain and improve on the good things he already saw.

The 51-year-old Mena has learned that, while Lantana’s governance structure is not government per se, groups like the Denton County Fresh Water Supply District Board and Homeowners Association have enough attributes to make it similar in scope. And, he’s able to ask questions that other residents might not.

He developed those skills long before he and his wife, Denise, moved from their na-

Best of ty Denton Coun Winner 2009-2018

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tive Long Island, New York, to North Texas in 1995.

After earning a Business Administration degree at St. John’s University in New York City, he started his working career with the major consumer electronics retail company, Nobody Beats the Wiz, in New Jersey. Before leaving there as district sales manager, he came to understand customer service, something he says is important in his current role with the community.

“You learn how to interact with people, something that you cannot teach; you have to experience it,” Mena said. “And, the key element of customer service is listening and understanding. The customer may not always be right – though they always are in the end – but, if you can listen and understand what their concerns are, then you have an opportunity to fix it or take care of it.

“A lot of what you do in an HOA environment is listening and understanding someone’s position. If you understand all the elements about it, you can make the proper decision.”

Mena joined a Connecticut-based company, Warrantech-- a third-party administrator for extended warranties-- to lead its training activities. Warrantech moved him to North Texas.

By 2003, he was named vice president of business development for North America after being recruited by a similar company named Warranty Corporation of America to build up its retail space. He played a key role in growing that business from $6 million to $90 million. After the company was acquired by Asurion in 2006, he served as senior director until 2015.

It was while he was with Asurion that the Menas moved into their current Lantana home near the North Community Center, after previously living in Euless and Keller.

“We found Lantana by accident,” he said.

“We were frustrated not being able to find what we were looking for. I opened the Sunday paper and saw an ad for a community near Denton called Lantana, so we decided to take a ride up there and loved it.

“I had the opportunity to see the genesis of Lantana and the growth it has gone through.

Nothing was around here. A lot of friends moved here around the same time, so we See LANTANALINKS on Page A17

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December 2018

Harvest Happenings

By Page Austin, Lifestyle Manager

Last month, we hosted our first ever Jingle Bell Market!

The vendors were

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

our talented homeowners. There were so many homemade treasures from wreaths, holiday pillows, custom wood pieces to homemade soaps, blankets, jewelry, makeup, and Brazilian bread! We had more than 150 people visit the market with several of our vendors selling out!

Thank you to everyone who came out to

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

support our neighbors!

Bringing unique events to Harvest that create lasting memories is something that I strive for when creating the Harvest events calendar.

Last month, we were fortunate to have Audrey McGinnis and her daughter Ryan at Harvest. Audrey is well known for her appearances on Master Chef, Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship, and Cake Wars. This fall, Audrey and her daughter appeared on ‘Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro’s new TV show called ‘Bake It Like Buddy.’

The mother and daughter team competed against other mother daughter teams

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in a four-hour unicorn cake challenge.

Audrey and Ryan’s cake was close to 3 feet tall, weighed between 50-70 pounds and had 18 individual cakes. They WON first place!

Audrey and her daughter Ryan taught our neighbors how to create fun cupcakes such as holiday wreath, snowman, and unicorn—which was inspired by their winning cake! More than 40 neighbors spent the evening learning tips from the pros and walked away with beautiful cupcakes!

Creating memories and building community is what it’s all about! #HarvestBetterTogether

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Harvest residents created cupcakes and shopped at the Jingle Bell Market in November.

Epilepsy & Seizure Treatment Center Expert Care Close to Home The Epilepsy and Seizure Treatment Center at Texas Health Flower Mound offers technology and services for people affected by seizures, epilepsy, and numerous other neurological disorders. The center utilizes an approach to care that allows patients to utilize hospital-wide comprehensive services. To learn more call (469) 322-7767 or visit epilepsy.texashealthflowermound.com Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound is a joint venture owned by Texas Health Resources and physicians dedicated to the community and meets the definition under federal law of a physician-owned hospital. Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

December 2018

ICYMI

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407 BBQ will be moving less than a mile east into a larger, 4,000-square-foot “full size restaurant” in front of 407 Gun Club, on FM 407 east of I-35W. The restaurant will remain open in its current location through the end of the year, and plans to open the new restaurant in January.

Continued from Page A3

Four outbuildings are two-stories each with garages below. A total of 222 parking spaces are planned.

Barbecue Joint Will Grow The popular 407 BBQ opened in October 2016 in a small food trailer with a handful of outdoor picnic tables in Corral City (now called Draper), on FM 407 just west of I-35W.

Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

SafeWise, a community-focused security organization, recently published its annual report of “Texas’ 50 Safest Cities of 2018,” using the most recent FBI crime data from 2016 and population data to analyze and rank each city in Texas.

Flower Mound ranked No. 9, the fourth straight year it has been in SafeWise’s top 10. Highland Village came in at No. 13. Both municipalities often fare well in similar studies.

Flower Mound, Highland Village Ranked Among Safest Cities Flower Mound and Highland Village have again been ranked among the safest cities in Texas by a new study.

Tom Thumb to Close The 22-year-old Tom Thumb grocery

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store at 2600 Flower Mound Road, on the northeast corner of FM 3040 and FM 2499 will shut its doors for good on Dec. 1.

The parent company, Albertsons Companies, included the south Flower Mound store as one of four low-performing stores in North Texas it has decided to close.

Tom Thumb has three other stores in Flower Mound.

If you miss a day, you miss a lot! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and on the web at CrossTimbersGazette.com.

& HAPPY NEW YEAR ARGYLE BARTONVILLE CANYON OAKS

HOMES ON THE MARKET HOMES SOLD PENDING HIGH SALE LOW SALE MEDIAN AVERAGE AVERAGE PRICE PER SQ.FT. AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET AVERAGE % OF LIST TO SALE PRICE

COPPER CANYON

DOUBLE OAK

FLOWER MOUND

HIGHLAND VILLAGE

LANTANA

60 16 7 $980,000 $280,000 $384,000 $417,501 $140.54 93

99 14 34 $887,000 $27,500 $403,500 $435,037 $135.42 78

37 10 5 $569,900 $245,000 $369,000 $402,780 $176.23 45

98%

98%

98%

143 21 21 $990,000 $65,000 $465,000 $461,483 $153.20 72

12 3 3 $1,300,000 $429,000 $1,193,000 $974,111 $244.67 9

2 1 0 $450,000 N/A N/A N/A $147.45 51

13 1 1 $404,000 N/A N/A N/A $183.39 10

12 2 1 $962,000 $354,000 $658,000 $658,000 $175.62 75

353 101 56 $1,385,000 $190,000 $399,247 $439,845 $152.13 47

97%

99%

100%

98%

101%

96%

ROBSON RANCH

Statistics for the Month of October 15 - November 15, 2018 Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

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December 2018

Northlake Notes

By Peter Dewing, JD Mayor of Northlake

The Good and Unpleasant:

The Good: Northlake’s policies, location, and regulations continue to attract new business. A lot of development is occurring down at SH 114: which includes, 1.2 million s.f. under construction for “Project Forge” (tenant to be announced in early December; 500k s.f. building under construction; Site Plans & Final Plats submitted for two 225k s.f. buildings; Dale Earnhardt Way extension from I-35W to SH 114 has begun; Chadwick Commons ground breaking was held last month that consists of a 249-unit apartment complex and retail center; New Holiday Inn

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

Express is planning their opening in December; Current Holiday Inn Express is being rebranded to La Quinta; and we received site plan and re-plat for Tru by Hilton.

Chisholm Trail BBQ is now open on SH 114.

We received applications for two new buildings for Northlake Commons located in the Harvest Development.

As always, we are still in discussions with additional commercial and retail businesses to bring jobs and modern conveniences to the residents of Northlake.

Having a comprehensive plan and following it, the current regulations, responsiveness, low municipal tax rate, exceptional schools, and housing options are major factors companies find favorable and have been attracting businesses to locate in Northlake.

As a reminder: Please, review your utility bill to learn how to set up an account to pay bills online or call the Town and ask for finance for further assistance.

The Unpleasant: I attended a meeting with TxDOT concerning improving/ expanding FM 407 and many surrounding municipal officials attended. TxDOT is planning to have the first of two public meeting during the first quarter of 2019. I encourage attending and providing your comments and ideas at the public meetings.

Over 8,000 vehicles travel FM 407 between 35W and FM 156, and over 6,000 commuting from the Justin area. FM 407 is being impacted by developments outside of Northlake. The three principles TxDOT will consider are safety, expandability and cost-effectiveness.

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If you cannot attend I would encourage submitting your thoughts or make comments to their website not on local Facebook pages. We have had a lot of incorrect information posted on Facebook about the FM 407 bridge replacement that is currently underway. This project is federally funded to replace a functionally deficient bridge and included shoulders to improve safety (preventing further deaths on that part of the road) for all who use FM 407; the Town had zero input during the meetings, just individual property owners were involved.

Looks like we will be moving to the new Town Hall in December at “1500 Commons Circle, Suite 300, Northlake, TX 76226,” barring any additional weather delays. The current location will be staffed for a short period of time (about a month) to accept utility bill payments. Please check the website for updates and additional information.

Yes, I am going to continue to repeat this portion; I think it is important to emphasize: Are you concerned about school financing? Then you might find it interesting to learn that during the next State Legislative session, the current plan is to reduce school funding. The proposed plan is to shift approximately $3.8 billion to property owners (Texas Education Agency Estimates, TML.org, www. tml.org/legis_updates/texas-educationagency-estimates-state-share-of-schoolfunding-continues-to-plummet (last visited September 26, 2018). I have been told by state representatives/senators that fixing the State’s school finance system is a major issue and is being looked at: let the state legislators know their plan is not fixing school financing and they need to be a leader and pass legislation to fix the problem.

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Last word: With all of the consternation and garbage in politics we hear about, I hope all residents of Northlake can agree to be civil with each other, obey the laws, agree to talk openly with each other and bring ideas to make Northlake better for all not just one’s own personal agenda.

If you have suggestions or comments on how to enrich and improve Northlake for all, please let me know. If you like the stability, services, and projects the Town is working on let the Staff and Council know. Additionally, I encourage everyone to take the time to attend at least one Council meeting in the next year to see how your Town Officials communicate and make decisions, all agendas and Council packets are posted on the Official website to ensure we remain transparent to you.

I encourage communications to be on public record. I believe in total transparency, and when statements are made by public officials via their official e-mail, they are available to the public without hiding behind social media. If you hear or see something on social media that interests you, contact the Town to voice your views. All voices should be heard and not only a few who hide on the internet. Your voice and opinions matter. Contact information for staff and councilmembers is located at www.town.northlake.tx.us I am excited that the Town has a bright future and will continue to welcome everyone for generations to come. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve your quality of life in Northlake, please let me know. If you have recommendations to improve public communications/information, please let me know.

Thanks for your time.

Peter Dewing, JD., CWO3/USMC (ret), Mayor. 940-390-4303, PDewing@town. northlake.tx.us

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December 2018

Robson Ranch Roundup

By Don Duff, Denton City Council, District 3

The Mayor of Denton presented a Proclamation to the Robson Ranch Support Our Troops organization on November 6 at the regular Denton City

Council meeting.

The proclamation states that Robson Ranch residents formed Support Our Troops (SOT) in 2006 and there are currently 300 members who support some 80-90 military personnel. More than 400 greeting cards have been sent annually to military personnel. The SOT conducts a Veterans Day patriotic service at the Robson Ranch Veterans Park with a flyover, and an annual spring golf tournament complementary for up to three dozen military personnel. The SOT has also raised $80,000 which supports the organization and provides for comfort items to military personnel as well as other groups who support them such as the USO, Patriot Paws, Roll Call and Intrepid Soldiers. Also SOT ships 500 care packages annually to military personnel to help provide for the material, physical and emotional needs of our service men and women.

Additional water volume to Robson Ranch will be added in the spring of 2019 to the Southwest Pump Station. Securing the required easement was approved at the last City Council meeting. The added flexibility will insure a reliable water supply to Robson Ranch.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of Robson Ranch!

Robson Ranch Rambler

By Larry Varnes, Vice President, Resident Director, Robson Ranch HOA

We hope you are enjoying our weather extremes. After all, it’s North Texas. But

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

despite the crazy weather, there is always time to play a little golf at the Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch. For many years this hidden gem has been well known and respected by our active adult residents. But the secret was quickly getting out to other North Dallas/Fort Worth communities. Case in point, Avid Golfer named Wildhorse Golf Club to its Top 15 list.

Our new PGA Director of Golf, Roger Martinez, calls Wildhorse “One of the best Community-Links style designs he has seen.” That’s a pretty nice plug from a tenured Golf Digest Ranking Panel Member.

Martinez will tell you; “There are so many hidden nuances to this course. Resistance to scoring is not in the distance, especially for the young high school players that hit it so far nowadays. It’s subtler. Every hole is either well-bunkered, peppered with gorgeous rock or concrete edged ponds, or bordered

by Environmentally Sensitive areas, which play just like a lateral water hazard. This is a thinking golfer’s course where strategy is important. Our greens are fast and firm - a golf rater’s paradise.”

If you’re just looking for a leisurely Sunday afternoon round of golf, Wildhorse is also incredibly playable - you just have to pick the right set of tees. The course has the standard Blacks. Blues, Whites, Golds and Reds for all levels of players.

We have also recently added Silver tees that are far more forgiving of various hazards and are perfect for those new to golf. To make a tee time just log on to: robsonranchgolfclub.com For those of you looking to fine-tune your golf skills, Wildhorse has two of the top golf academies in the state. The Lone Star Golf Academy and Dave Bowles Golf School are headquartered at Robson Ranch. With topnotch practice facilities in your own backyard, there’s no better place to hone your skills. Look for more from our teaching pros in the months to come!

Director of Agronomy, Ryan Coffman, and his team, have done an amazing job on this course. In fact, they will be hard at work in the next few months as Wildhorse begins to add the long-awaited Palomino nine to its

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

arsenal. You read it correctly! Come fall of 2019, Wildhorse Golf Club will have 27 holes.

This is certainly going to give us the opportunity to reach out and connect to our community. Not only will we have enough inventory to accommodate our homeowners, but we will now be open to hosting more

Page A15

company, corporate, high school and league play at the Club.

Wildhorse Golf Club also boasts one of the finest food and beverage establishments in the area. The Wildhorse Grill, and Clubhouse next door, can accommodate golf tournaments with up to 144 golfers and weddings or private dining functions of up to 400.

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December 2018

Mayor Sue

Continued from Page A8

pel Road and the Lake Trail beside Lake Lewisville in Highland Village both remain partially under water. And there is a tremendous amount of litter that has washed onto the shoreline from boat traffic. She also asked that landscapers quit using the Trail Parking Lot in Highland Village on the east side of FM 2499 as a dumping ground. There were dead shrubs obviously pulled from a landscape site and many dead tree limbs. Unfortunately, the dead wood can harbor copperheads, and the Clean-Up volunteers did see one poisonous copperhead snake. The large dumpster that Jeri Harwell, Municipal Services Manager for Republic Services, provided gratis for litter and limbs cut from the trails was three-fourths filled with leftover landscapers’ debris. The culprit may be just one landscaper, but that person is giving other conscientious landscapers operating in our area a bad reputation.

The trails are provided for hikers and horseback riders, so for their safety no bicycles or motorbikes are allowed on the trails. Either type of vehicle can cause a horse to rear, which is dangerous and increases the chance of a horseback rider being thrown. The horse’s powerful kick can also possibly hurt the bike rider and/ or his vehicle. So, for the safety of all concerned, the Corps strictly enforces its restriction of no bikes on the trail, whether pedaled or motorized. Unfortunately, one of the low pipe cross over bars has been demolished at the FM 2499 Trail Parking Pad in Highland village, so four-wheelers can now easily access the trails. The Corps of Engineers may have to get involved in mitigating this problem.

The Original 2004 Copper Canyon Master Plan The original 2004 Copper Canyon Master Plan was the brain child of former Mayor Larry Johnson, who is now the CEO of the “Fogo de Chao” restaurant

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

chain of Brazilian beef specialties. (During his two years as Mayor of Copper Canyon, Larry would spend one week a month in Brazil, as a principal of his international legal firm. Larry and several of his older sons learned to speak fluent Portuguese during those years.) Serving on the Master Plan Committee were our current Council Members Steve Hill and Bill Castleman and Copper Canyon landowner Paul Vickery (now deceased.)

No East-West Roads Crossing the Center of Town: One of the Master Plan’s guiding principles was to not have any east-west roads crossing the center of Copper Canyon. This helped to keep the heart of our Town rural without any outside vehicular traffic cutting through. The only east-west routes were Orchid Hill Lane in the north and FM 407 in the south.

Minimum one acre Residential Lots: Residential areas other than in the Town Center along FM 407 were zoned a minimum of one acre, two acre and five-acre home sites. The one exception was several half acre lots that had existed on Chinn Chapel Road prior to Copper Canyon being incorporated as a Town in 1973.

Those few lots were legally required to be “grandfathered” at a half acre in size.

Broaden the Town’s Tax Base: Another goal of the Master Plan was to broaden the tax base of Copper Canyon from solely single family residential property taxes to additional sales tax revenue from retail and commercial entities. But the retail-commercial entities were to be located only along FM 407 in the Town Center, leaving the heart of Copper Canyon remaining strictly residential.

Town Center South: Town Center South was designated as the 85 acres owned by the Vickery Family south of FM 407, plus the 5 acres of the Living Word Church which were not then included within Copper Canyon’s Town limits. However, the

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Vickery Family had sold the 5 acres to the church and limited its use to religious purposes. The Church agreed to petition to be annexed by Copper Canyon, so that it could participate in the wastewater agreement Copper Canyon negotiated with the Town of Flower Mound.

NOTE: Copper Canyon is a General Law municipality under Texas State Statutes.

Our Town cannot unilaterally annex any land, even though it is within our Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Canyon Oaks subdivision is within Copper Canyon’s ETJ. But their residents have never sought to be annexed by our Town. Much of Lantana is within our Town’s ETJ. But Copper Canyon would not seek to annex that portion of Lantana because of its high property tax debt.

Copper Canyon would need a minimum of 5,000 residents to pass a Home Rule Charter. At a current population of an estimated 1,500 residents, our Town is probably never going to qualify for the 5,000 minimum population required to pass a Home Rule Charter.

Wastewater Contract with Flower Mound for the FM 407 Town Center.

In 2005 Mayor Sue Tejml and Town Administrator Paulette Hartman and Town Attorney Terry Welch negotiated a 400,000 MGD wastewater contract between Copper Canyon and the Town of Flower Mound. By contract the wastewater could only be used in Copper Canyon’s Town Centers north and south of FM 407 and nowhere else in Copper Canyon. (i.e. not in the residential subdivision of the Estates of Copper Canyon which bordered the North Town Center.)

However, Copper Canyon’s Town Council did not agree to pay for the construction of the pipeline to bring the wastewater connection from Flower Mound to Copper Canyon, as the Council reasoned that it could be the “connection to nowhere.” The Vickery Family agreed to pay for the cost of connecting the sewer line from Flower

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Mound’s current wastewater line on Valley Parkway to the southeast corner of the Vickery Family’s southern 85 acres. The original cost of the connecting sewer line was approximately $600,000, but the cost has increased to over a million dollars with the Vickery Family’s financing expenses over the years. Copper Canyon agreed to allow the Vickery Family over ten years to recoup the proportional cost of the wastewater line from any other land owners in the north and south Town Centers who eventually utilized the wastewater line.

Having access to wastewater, instead of using septic systems, greatly increases the value of the acreage in the North and South Town Centers.

Living Word Church (now called BridgeWay Church) had 5 acres in the South Town Center, but has since sold 3 acres to Toll Brothers for its proposed Vickery Park residential subdivision. The church’s other two acres are occupied by its church development.

North Town Center: The Vickery Family has 16 acres in the North Town Center fronting on the north side of FM 2499.

There are three other landowners, besides the Vickery Family, who have acreage in the North Town Center and can access the wastewater line from Flower Mound.

No Developers offer to build Retail/ Commercial properties in the Town Center In the next few years, only a pair of residential developers offered to purchase the 85 acres of Vickery land in the South Town Center – but only if they could build at a density of approximately 400 homes. So, Copper Canyon retained the original planner of the Southlake Town Center to evaluate why Copper Canyon’s Town Center along FM 407 was not attracting retail and commercial developers. The planner was very honest and helped Copper Canyon’s Council, Staff, and Residents understand See MAYOR SUE on Page A24

December 2018

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Around Argyle Continued from Page A6

The property used to be the Evans Trailer Park, with multiple mobile homes and one single family home.

They have been recently removed.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to recommend denial of the zoning change — two commissioners had recused themselves from the agenda item.

The land will remain a trailer park for the time being.

-Written by Mark Smith Argyle Seniors fellowship at the annual Thanksgiving Seniors Update The Argyle Seniors had a blast at its Luncheon. wiener roast and hayride. will be Friday, Dec. 21. Everyone is asked to Our thanks to The Argyle Police Departbring a $10 wrapped gift to play the rightment for supplying the wieners and all the and-left game. trimmings, also to everyone who brought a The Argyle Police Department will be furside dish. nishing the ham and everyone is asked to The seniors send thanks also to The Well bring a side dish.

Church for furnishing a delicious ThanksgivThe seniors meet every month on Monday, ing Luncheon for the seniors and the Fire DeWednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. to exercise partment. and play games.

We were happy to have with us our Mayor For more information, contact Stella McDon Moser, City Manager Kristi Gilbert, Fire Daniel at 940-464-7438, or Karen Kiel at Chief Mac Hohenberger and Director of Fi940-464-0506. nance Kim Collins, also Argyle ISD SuperinMerry Christmas! tendent Telena Wright.

-Submitted by Stella McDaniel The Argyle Seniors’ Christmas Luncheon

LantanaLinks Continued from Page A11

have better friends than we’ve had in our entire lives. That sense of family and community is something we never had in New York.

Our friends there were 30-minutes away and our friends here are next door. That’s something very dear to me.”

In 2016, Mena and a former colleague started OCCI Services, which represents companies that provide support products or services to small- or medium-sized businesses that work with other businesses seeking to bring new products to market-- like distracted-driver and active-shooter education.

His current job allows him to work from home, providing even more opportunity to understand the community’s history and how it affects decisions for the future. He agrees with the theory that HOA members can’t have their own agenda and must see things for the greater good of the community.

“When I am involved in the HOA the only thing I care about is three things,” he said.

“Number one is, what we’re going to do improve or maintain the value of our homes?

Secondly, will it improve or maintain the quality of life in Lantana. And, lastly, any decisions we make all come down to one thing-- is what we’re doing in the Bylaws and are we following it to the letter. If the answer is yes, we move forward. If the answer is no, we don’t move forward. It’s that simple.”

It’s that philosophy that has made Mena glad to be involved with the approval to build basketball courts, add canopies to the tennis courts and construct a new community center, set to open next year.

“The community is growing and wants to maintain the value of the homes and continuation of the lifestyle,” he said. “These amenities will help us do that.”

Get Your Party Clothes Ready The Lantana Ladies League is hosting a Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 11th, benefitting Kyle’s Place – Journey to Dream.

You don’t have to be a member of the Lantana Ladies League to attend this festive event.

Kyle’s Place is a Transitional Living Program for homeless youth working toward independence. Residents of Kyle’s Place receive the support and skills required to become self-sufficient, independent adults.

Many residents at Kyle’s Place learn a new way of life—experiencing love and support for the first time—while breaking negative cycles, achieving goals, and feeling hopeful about the future.

This event is also in memoriam of Morgan Donoghue, a beautiful young woman who believed in the mission of Kyle’s Place.

It would be very hard not to have a good time at this event. Enjoy live music while munching on hors d’oeuvres and sipping

cocktails from the cash bar. Participate in a silent auction and raffle. Enjoy a sit-down dinner with dessert by Denton Country Club Executive Chef Andrew Barlow. Show off your best dance moves when the DJ plays party favorites.

Tickets are $50 per person, $100 per couple. You may purchase a table for 6 for $300.

You may buy tickets online on the Lantana Ladies League new website (lantanaladiesleague.com).

If you need a larger table, or if you would like to pay by cash or check, please contact Berdie Archer at 940-395-8636.

For those who wish to do more, we are collecting $25 gift cards from Target or Walmart to give to the youth at Kyle’s Place. Please donate your gift card at the event.

Dig out your festive, holiday attire and don’t miss out on this holiday bash for a great cause!

December 11, 2018 6:30 p.m. - Hors d’oeuvres & cocktail hour 7:30 p.m. – Dinner & dessert Denton Country Club 1213 Country Club Rd, Argyle For more information, please contact: Berdie Archer at 940-395-8636.

For more information on Lantana Ladies League, go to lantanaladiesleague.com or to the Lantana Ladies League Facebook page.

–Submitted by Eileen Weidman Development Watch Lantana had 3,723 occupied homes as of November 21 with an estimated population of 12,100.

There were 2,105 single-family building permits issued in Fresh Water Supply District #6 and 1,752 permits issued in Fresh Water Supply District #7 for single-family homes through the month of October, for a total of 3,857 permits. Total build-out is estimated to be 4,003 homes.

L.H. Lacy Company is nearing completion on the construction of Barrington Addition Phase C. This will be the final residential subdivision within Lantana, and consists of 139 additional 50, 60 and 70-foot-lots.

Shellman’s Fine Wine & Spirits will open a second location in Lantana Town Center Phase II on the north side of FM 407 in February 2019. Plans have been submitted to add a drive-through lane to the store. Jim Shellman of Lantana opened his first location on FM 407 in Highland Village in May 2006.

Casa Mia Mexican Restaurant & Bar is now open in Lantana Town Center Phase II. Bank of America is building a completely automated teller-less branch in the center, where customers can use ATMs and conduct video conferences with offsite bank employees.

Kroger has completed their interior reset/ remodel and expansion of their ClickList online ordering pick up service.

SAY HELLO TO WORLD-CLASS MEMORY CARE. Salize by Avanti is a proprietary memory support program based on National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded research.

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Why? Because it offers upscale assisted living and memory care under the same roof.

Salize by Avanti offers many unique features, including: • Beautifully designed, private apartments • Individualized programming, fitness classes and healthy meals • Lots of light and outdoor spaces

Visit SalizebyAvanti.com or call (469) 294-1080 today to schedule a visit.

Avanti at Flower Mound 4041 Long Prairie Road Flower Mound, TX 75028 ALF #106336

December 2018

Pathfinders

Continued from Page A1

club, Greater Dallas Bicycle Association, has been organizing for more than 20 years.”

The Pathfinders group has pharmacists,

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

pilots, retirees, computer programmers, nurses, and teachers among its ranks and, for some people, the group provides an opportunity to help cope with personal difficulties.

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berry, a compounding pharmacist from Highland Village. “I needed a healthy and fun outlet. My friend told me about the Pathfinder’s cycling group. I only have a hybrid bicycle, so I was a little reluctant about riding with a group. But, I was hooked after the first ride. Not only was it fun, but I was better able to focus on taking care of my husband. Since then, we have all become great friends.”

When Bill Featherstone joined the group, he was riding a Schwinn 10 from the 1970’s and said he was persuaded by Solow to invest in something new.

“Mark convinced me that I should upgrade and get a Trek Hybrid,” Featherstone said. “He went with me to Bicycles Plus to purchase the bike. About a year later, I upgraded again to an Orbea Orca, a moderately priced road bike. Mark also purchased a bike for himself and Ruth, his wife. He called me on the phone and said that I should go to this local bike shop and get the same deal that he did.”

Pathfinders has discounts at several area bike shops.

Featherstone, an equipment salesman from Lantana, said he was not only impressed by how welcoming Solow was to him, but also how knowledgeable he was about cycling.

“Mark is the consummate bike enthusiast, knowing what to purchase and where to purchase it,” Featherstone said. “I have purchased a bicycle rack for my car and he told me what I should get and where I should purchase it. If it is for a bicycle and Mark suggests buying it, I do. He is like the Consumer Reports of bicycling.”

Pathfinder’s organizes weekly, yearround rides, some of which are charitable, designed to raise funds for various causes. These includes the St. Jude’s North Texas Bike Rally and Ride Ataxia, a ride in Denton that supports fighting the disease Friedreich’s Ataxia, a neuromuscular disease often misdiagnosed as MS

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that also affects a Pathfinders member.

The mission of Pathfinders Fun Cycling is to introduce and get people back into cycling by creating fun and safe group bicycle rides, primarily on MUPs (Multi-Use Paths).

Solow said, while most of the riders are experienced, he does consider Pathfinders to be a “farm team” to help new riders build the legs and lungs, so that they may one day join one of the area road clubs that ride further and faster than Pathfinders.

The Pathfinders founder said he finds many aspects of the group to be satisfying, but one thing that stood out in particular came during a picnic with the Carrollton Cycling Club last year.

“Ruth and I ride with them a couple times a week during the bike season,” Solow said. “When their president, Bob Wallingford, asked how many (members) started riding with Pathfinders, I couldn’t believe that somewhere between a third and one-half of the people there raised their hands. That was my most rewarding experience personally.”

Solow said anyone who is interested in joining Pathfinders Fun Cycling can feel free to contact him and said he asks the same question to anyone considering taking up cycling.

“I have helped lots of people get started,” Solow said. “I advise them on what equipment to buy and sometimes even go with them to a local bike shop. My basic advice for new riders is, ‘What is your health worth?’ Don’t buy a mountain bike to ride on pavement or a cheap big-box store bike and expect to be able to keep up with a group. Go to a local bike shop and invest in your health.”

Contact Solow at marksolow@gmail. com or visit facebook.com/groups/Pathfindersfuncycling for more information.

5 QUALITY. EVERY TIME. AT DFWORALSURGEONS.COM 972.539.1491

December 2018

Rose

Continued from Page A7

pop art and is called “Pop!” It highlights artwork by Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe imagery and graffiti art from Keith Haring.

The music features a positive message using wind band songs from Julie Ann Gi-

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

roux, “The Speed of Heat;” John Mackey, “The Ringmaster’s March;” as well as Cindy Lauper’s “True Colors.”

In 2018, the band won the Dallas Regional event, then won BOA Super Regionals-out of 84 bands-- in San Antonio on Nov. 2-3; and took second-place out of 41 bands in the Class 6A UIL State Marching Band

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Transportation, hotel accommodations and meals are no small expense. A year of fundraising has been ongoing, but additional donations are being accepted.

All donations go directly toward getting band members across the country and are greatly appreciated. To visit the FMHS

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Booster Club site for more information or make a donation, go to: fmhsband.org.

[The Cross Timbers Gazette will post an update and a video featuring the FMHS Competitive Marching Band’s experience in California in January at www.crosstimbersgazette.com.]

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724 W Main Street Lewisville, TX 75067 214-222-4711

3651 Justin Road, Suite 100 Flower Mound, TX 75028 214-285-6500

View all MLS on www.rmccdfw.com

(972) 317-9586

1405 Bregenz, Lewisville Beautifully maintained home with great outdoor living space. 8 foot cedar fence, quiet neighborhood in a very good location. Very comfortable and flowing space. Bordering Flower Mound and South of Main Street this home has the location, location, location!

Updated counter tops, master bath and flooring makes this home a pleasure to tour. $244,900 Call Ben DeAnda 972-342-5029

WHY WAIT TO BUILD? 15-Months new, beautiful DR. Horton home located in the Fairways at Championship Circle! Corner lot near clubhouse, pool and playground.

Home has several upgrades…diagonal set tile and simulated wood tile throughout. Granite counter tops in kitchen and master bath. Stainless Steel kitchen appliances and set-top gas stove.

Master bedroom, two bedrooms, formal dining and a family room downstairs with a large guest room and game room upstairs. $305,000 Call Raisa Wilfong 817-371-3946

9100 Brownwood Avenue, Lantana Situated on an oversized corner lot this home boasts hardwood floors & tons of storage.

This home is excellent for entertaining as it has an open concept great room with crown molding and Austin stone floor to ceiling fireplace & wood ceiling beams. It also has a rear entry onto the large covered patio for all family BBQs. Private downstairs master suite with luxurious ensuite. $448,000 Call Brent Nelms 214-616-7092

This home is a complete remodel with all the modern updates and great access to I-20 and I-35.

The kitchen boasts new mahogany cabinets, granite countertops and new stainless steel appliances. All new lighting, fans, closet doors and knobs. Entry nook with reclaimed wood in the foyer (coming soon). New bathroom vanities and roof. In addition, there is a stone fireplace that spills over with character. This home will not last long. $179,900 Call Jay Scarpinato 214-507-1795

Gina has a long history in the corporate business world and brings deep management, problem solving, continuous improvement, and negotiation skills to her new role in real estate. Her varied background includes office space planning, commercial lease negotiation, and facilities management. Gina has always been a go-getter, excelling and advancing in the corporate world and this job will not be any different. She is excited to share her varied background and vision while helping to match people with their perfect home.

Call Gina Johnson 972-664-4462

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5105 Queen Ann, Forest Hill

3521 Jersey, Melissa Absolutely BEAUTIFUL LIKE NEW 1-story home. MOTIVATED SELLER. Upgrades galore, not a typical builder grade home. Bedrooms split from master bedroom, master bath has separate shower and spa tub, 2nd bath has double sinks. Game room between two bedrooms can be converted into a 4th bedroom. Open bright floor plan with kitchen, dining and living area. Corner FP surrounded with natural stone to ceiling in living area with large windows over-looking extended covered patio. $315,000 Call Cynthia Pierce 214-632-3636

1990 Justin Road Highland Village, TX 75077

5417 Palisades Court, Fort Worth This one owner home had many updates at build with additional storage, extended space garage, Tankless Water Heater, Picture Frame Molding, inset custom Wood Bookcase in the Foyer nice lighting & a bonus Media-game room up. All beds and baths are down with a very open and welcoming floor plan. The back yard is beautiful. $377,777 Call Sherry Griffin 214-794-6045

4233 San Pedro, Fort Worth Sitting on top of a picturesque hill on almost an acre you will find this lovely one story home in a gated community.

Impressive views out the back! Recent interior and exterior paint. Light and bright throughout. Great open floor plan with split bedrooms. Spacious Kitchen with granite counters and lots of cabinets. Second living has a built in desk area.

Formal dining room has built in china cabinets. Cozy and private master suite with bay windows and lovely bath. 2nd and 3rd bedrooms are split from the master side of home. 3 car garage. Shows extremely well and very well maintained.

Community pool and playground area all within the gated community. $324,900 Call Cammy Turgon 214-724-0331

I enjoy family, church and working with people. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. I enjoy watching college football and my favorite team is the South Carolina Gamecocks. I am an Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified Home Marketing Specialist, Texas Affordable Housing Specialist, Military Relocation Professional and Seniors Real Estate Specialist. I received the RE/MAX Executive Club Award for 2014, 2015 & 2016, the 100% Club for 2017. I am a member of the Argyle Chamber of Commerce.

Call Cerita Loftis 972-841-1379

December 2018

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Mitchell

Continued from Page A4

at 951 Garden Ridge Boulevard in Flower Mound.

Thirty-One Gifts offers purses, bags, totes and accessories through independent sales consultants. In addition, the company is committed to giving back to the community, Monroe said.

Also in November, Lewisville welcomed the opening of Mary Kay’s new research and development and manufacturing facility. The global company invested more than $100 million to build the 470,000-square-foot building that will house 650 employees.

The new facility sits at Denton Tap Road and Oak Bend with enough room to grow as Mary Kay continues to broaden its reach around the world. Currently, it serves 35 markets across the globe.

Mary Kay officials also dedicated their 1 millionth tree at the facility as part of their initiative on world reforestation. As part of their commitment to giving back, officials presented a $50,000 check to the Denton County Friends of the Family.

Consider giving to your favorite charities Speaking of a commitment to giving back, now is the perfect time to donate to your favorite charity. Each dollar counts as area service agencies work to assist others in need, especially as Denton County continues to grow.

There are many wonderful charities from which to choose. And, remember, a donation this month means you can write it off for taxes due next year.

Area holiday events Several holiday events are still occurring in the area including:

Thirty-One Gifts and Mary Kay are bringing a combined 1,300 jobs to southern Denton County.

• Lighting up the Season from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 at 212 Main St. in Lake Dallas • A Shady Shores Christmas from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Shady Shores Community Center, 101 Shady Shores Road • Old Town Holiday Stroll from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Wayne Ferguson Plaza in Lewisville • Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 at the Community Activity Center at 1200 Gerault in Flower Mound • Gingerbread house decorating from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Community Activity Center at 1200 Gerault in Flower Mound • The annual tree lighting in Corinth from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at

Corinth City Hall • 2018 Tree Lighting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Hickory Creek Town Hall with movies, snacks, face painting, train, photos with Santa, music and more • The annual Flower Mound Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 8 along Spinks Road to Gerault Park where a tree lighting ceremony and other events will occur • Christmas at the Ranch on Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doubletree Ranch Park, 310 Highland Village Road, in Highland Village • Santa Paws from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter • Christmas at the Cabin from 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 at LLELA, 201 E. Jones St., in Lewisville.

Holiday Message This holiday season, we want to wish you and your friends and family a safe, happy and healthy time making memories. After all, those precious memories with those you love are the most important part of life.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Connect With Us: Be sure and connect with Denton County on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DentonCountyTX and on Twitter @DentonCountyTX. If you have any questions or comments, please let me hear from you. My email is bobbie.mitchell@dentoncounty.com and my office number is 972-434-4780.

December 2018

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Temple Baptist Church a place to call home

Sundays

Morning Worship: 9 & 10:30 am Bible Study: 9:30 am Evening Worship: 6 pm

Wednesdays Prayer Meeting: 7 pm Teen Program: 7pm AWANA: 6:45 pm

templebc.org 972.874.8700 2501 Northshore Blvd. Flower Mound, TX 75028

Pastor Richard Wallace Senior Pastor

Christmas Eve Services

5 pm

Family Candlelight Service

7 pm

Communion Service

December 2018

HV Update

Continued from Page A10

out for this event. Doubletree Ranch Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland with Christmas lights, lawn ornaments, carriage rides and Santa and his reindeer.

As we close out 2018, I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for your generosity, your love of our community, and your support for me as I serve as your Mayor. I’d also like to thank all the employees of the City of Highland Village.

You often see myself or Council members out and about and think we are the ones that make things happen in Highland Village. The reality is it is the hard-working city staff who work behind the scenes to ensure our roads are safe to travel, our parks are prepared for our enjoyment, our community is safe, our toilets flush and water is available when we do dishes or shower, emergency medical care is close

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

by, and we have events that bring our community together. When you see an employee of the City around town, I hope you’ll thank them for their service to Highland Village.

This holiday season, consider the safety of you and your family. Remember to be aware of your surroundings when you are shopping. Never leave valuables or your gifts in plain sight in your car. Always lock your car and remember to take your keys with you. I am surprised every year to learn how many of us take the safety of our city for granted and leave valuables and even our keys in an unlocked car. When we do this we become easy targets for theft. Also remember to be responsible when you attend holiday parties. If you plan to drink, designate a driver, call a taxi or use the DCTA discounted Lyft service.

I’m looking forward to celebrating the Christmas holiday and spending time with family and friends. I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year! See you around town!

Excellent selection of wine, spirits and specialty beers

Offering a full Deli and Market

Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Eads

Continued from Page A4

Wherever we have met, it has been my privilege to serve as your Commissioner.

And, now, as I look forward to new responsibilities and duties as County Judge-Elect, I bring the wisdom shared and lessons learned along with me.

Over Thanksgiving, as my family gathered around the table, I thought of how all of us are united in our thanks for the simple but important things in life – spending precious time with loved ones, enjoying a tasty yet wholesome meal and maybe even enjoying a game outside or on TV. It also brought to mind some of the initiatives I will bring to my new position starting on Jan. 1, 2019, to ensure everyone has those same opportunities to enjoy life’s precious moments.

Mental health and teen homelessness are among the top concerns in Denton County.

Around 19.8 percent of residents in Denton County could suffer from mental illness in a single year, according to a 2017 needs assessment by the United Way of Denton County. Ten school districts and Texas Education Centers classified an estimated 2,229 teens as homeless in the 201617 school year and the numbers continue to climb.

Together, with your help and the collaboration of our social service agencies, we can begin to identify ways to tackle these issues and develop the resources needed to help those less fortunate among us.

We also will work on what I like to call the “Four Cs:”

940-648-3573

• Culture of Engagement – Encouraging county employees and our citizenry to engage with our communities through volunteering with local government committees and area service agencies.

Liquor: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm / Closed Sunday Market: Mon-Sat 6am-10pm / Sunday 8am-10pm Deli: Mon-Sat 6am-8pm / Sunday 8am-6pm

• Culture of Communication - increasing our outreach to keep you informed

Exxon gas available

www.Paradise35w.com Paradise Liquors & RV Park 1217 FM 407 Argyle, TX 76226

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through videos, social media, profiles of businesses and nonprofits and an annual State of the County report (I’d like to say a special thanks to Max Miller, owner and publisher of The Cross Timbers Gazette who has graciously published my columns and has been instrumental in helping me keep you informed.)

• Culture of Coordination - bringing all entities together from the private sector, schools and cities to state officials and entities as well as nonprofit organizations to join Denton County in achieving our collective goals • Culture of Enterprise – supporting local businesses, attracting a diverse employer base, diversifying the tax base, strengthening relationships with local chambers of commerce and Texas Workforce partners in addition to promoting tourism Each of these four components are vital to the future of Denton County as we look ahead. An engaged and informed citizenry can help the coordinated efforts of all entities to ensure a bright future for everyone.

As we celebrate the holidays and welcome a new year, know that your welfare is at the forefront of our plans. We welcome your input and we invite you to join us in these collaborative efforts.

Together we can accomplish much.

Connect With Us We would love to have you connected to the county by subscribing to our newsletter. Just use this link and enter your email and you’ll be up-to-date on everything going on in Precinct 4: http://bit.ly/ Pct4newsletter Be sure to find us on Facebook.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me hear from you. My email is andy.eads@dentoncounty.com, and my office number is 972-434-3960.

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December 2018

FM Mayor

Continued from Page A10

regulatory traffic control, prioritization of transportation improvements, changes to the thoroughfare plan, and recommend the short-term and long-term transportation needs of the Town.

For the complete list, visit flower-mound. com/85/Boards-and-Commissions.

Finally, I’d like to welcome our incoming Boards and Commission members. Thank you for volunteering to ensure Flower Mound continues to be a great place to call home. Your questions, emails, and decisions

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

helps the Council make better decisions.

Animal Services Board: · Carol Stephens · Kelly Harrington Board of Adjustment/Oil & Gas Board of Appeals: · Denis Toth · Greg Wilson Community Development Corporation: · Mehul Desai · Kristia Leyendecker · Michele Langenberg

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Cultural Arts Commission: Thomas Williams Environmental Conservation Commission: Kathryn Wells Lewisville Independent School District Liaison: Asit Kini Parks: ·Alan Pichon · Daniel Cummings · Dale Olson · Jennifer Romaszewski

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Planning & Zoning Commission: · Robert Cox · Tom Pickering Transportation Commission: · Adam Schiestel · Justin Thomason If you or your family knows one of these people, please shake their hand and thank them. They could be spending their time doing many other things, but they are choosing to serve Flower Mound.

December 2018

Mayor Sue

Continued from Page A16

our dilemma.

First, our Town Center did not include a major intersection – and never would.

Second, our Town Center was situated “mid-block” between two highly developed retail-commercial areas: just two blocks to the east the FM 407 and FM 2499 intersection in Flower Mound/Highland Village, and to the west the Lantana Town Center/Kroger complex. The negatives of our “location” for a retail/commercial development could not be overcome Cross Timbers Waters’ Moratorium on Fire Hydrants Besides “location”, a second major deterrent arose to any kind of development of acreage in Copper Canyon along FM 407.

Cross Timbers Water Supply Corporation became involved in a lawsuit that did not allow it to erect a second elevated water tower in the Town of Bartonville. The lawsuit with the Town of Bartonville was resolved, but lawsuits continue with homeowners in Saddlebrook. Though CTWSC states that it has plenty of water for drinking and landscaping in Copper Canyon’s Town Center acreage on FM 407, it does not believe it has enough water pressure for fire suppression for new developments in the Town Center acreage without a second elevated water tank in Bartonville.

The Vickery Family and Toll Brothers decided to share the costs of a solution for “fire suppression” in the proposed Vickery Park Subdivision. Every home would have fire sprinklers regardless of its size.

The sprinklers would add several thousand dollars of fixed costs to each home. Copper Canyon’s ordinance only requires fire sprinklers of homes and structures of 5,000 square feet or more.

In addition, two constant level ponds would be built in Vickery Park supplied by a dedicated onsite water well. Engineers

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THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

would need to certify that the well’s pumping capacity and the volume of water held in the ponds would suffice for fire suppression in the proposed subdivision. Toll Brothers would also share the proportionate cost of a mobile fire suppression system that another developer in Bartonville had already bought and delivered to our Argyle Fire District. The mobile system consists of a special truck to pull a trailer with fire hoses totaling a length of 1.5 miles, with two high velocity dedicated pumps. In case of a fire, the pumps could draft from the dedicated ponds and the hoses could deliver the fire suppression water to any structure in Vickery Park. Water lines for future fire hydrants would be installed, but the hydrants would not be installed because the developer did not want the warranties on the hydrants to begin running before their active use. And, CTWSC currently had a moratorium on any water hydrants being installed - period.

Toll Brothers Spends several thousand dollars Designing Vickery Park Vickery Park was designed as a gated community, because those types of subdivisions are safer with limited access to the public. Those types of homeowner enclaves usually are fairly crime free, which certainly appeals to Copper Canyon’s current residents. The only access to Vickery Park would be from FM 407, with a central gated entrance and exit and two separate exit-only gates at the east and west ends of the subdivision. There would be no entrance or exit through the town of Double Oak. The interior streets would be concrete and maintained by a Homeowner’s Association and not by the Town of Copper Canyon. The perimeter fence around the subdivision would also be uniform in appearance and maintained by the HOA. Sixteen percent of the land (18 acres) would be Green Space and maintained by the HOA. The central heavily wooded

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grove of thick trees would be preserved with natural walkways through its length.

There would also be Green Spaces separating the traffic along FM 407 from the subdivision of homes.

Toll Brothers had even considered moving its cedar fence on the west side of Vickery Park five feet inside its boundary line. This would help preserve the roots of the tree canopy in the eastern right-of-way of Double Oak’s Tanglewood Drive.

Toll Brothers realized that drainage from their proposed development could impact Double Oak homes to the south. Therefore, they surveyed the perimeter of the lake at the center of the Double Oak subdivision to the south and measured the depth of the existing silt in the lake. Toll Brothers invited Double Oak residents to an information session and told them that when the Vickery Park project was built-out, they would restore the Double Oak lake to its current size, capacity for water retention, and current silt depth. They also showed Double Oak residents two retention ponds on the south border of the Vickery Park project that could hold any run-off drainage water from impacting Double Oak. All of this was done BEFORE Toll Brothers even approached Copper Canyon’s Town Council.

Toll Brothers proposed Copper Canyon Master Plan Amendments for the Vickery Park Project June 11 – 291 Homes: This past June Toll Brothers proposed a density of 291 homes for Vickery Park and asked that the retail/ commercial requirement be removed. The separate Public Meetings before Planning and Zoning and the Town Council were both packed with Copper Canyon residents. And, the residents almost unanimously spoke against that density of homes. Both the P&Z and the Town Council unanimously rejected the 291-home density. The Council maintained the Mas-

Page A24

ter Plan requirement of a one-third net acre per home site. (This is the same lot size that Toll Brothers used in its Terracina residential subdivision across Chinn Chapel from The Shops of Highland Village.)

After deducting green space and streets, the remaining home density was approximately 198 lots. The Council did remove the requirement of a retail/commercial component for the South Town Center.

September 10 – 240 Homes: Toll Brothers designed Vickery Park in two distinct sections with two different sized homes.

Their rationale was that it is easier to market to two distinct types of homebuyers. In September Toll Brothers proposed a Master Plan Amendment for 240 homes or 51 less homes than their original proposal for 291 homes in June.

West Side: The 88 lots in the western half of the subdivision were increased by Toll Brothers from 72’ wide to 86’ wide by 145’ deep. By further eliminating every sixth lot, five lots could have their width increased from 86’ to 100’ wide. 100’ width times 145’ depth is 14,500 sq. ft. or a NET one third acre lot size as then required in Copper Canyon’s Master Plan for the South Town Center (which is the proposed Vickery Park area.) Only minor adjustments would have to be made to the roads, retention pond, and green space on the West Side. This adjustment would reduce the total proposed lots by 14 or 15 to a total of 226 or 225 lots East Side: Toll Brothers increased the width of the 152 lots on the East Side from 60’ wide to 72’ wide by 120’ deep or 8,640 sq. ft. per lot. An acre is 42,520 sq. ft. Each home in Copper Canyon’s Woodlands subdivision and on the streets off Rolling Acres Drive sit on a one-acre lot.

The proposed density of the homes on the East Side of Vickery Park is FIVE homes See MAYOR SUE on Page A25

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December 2018

Mayor Sue

Continued from Page A24

on the equivalent of a one-acre home site currently in Copper Canyon. (Similar density of homes can be viewed in Lantana, via the entrance off Copper Canyon Road just south of the Fire Station.) Redesigning the East Side of Vickery Park to meet the one third net acre density in Copper Canyon’s Master Plan would be a major revision. The 152 lots would need reduced by 27 lots to meet the 198 Council suggested maximum total density of homes.

However, possibly one of the east-west cross streets on the East Side could be eliminated and this would be a cost savings to the developer.

October 8 – 225 Homes: Toll Brothers asked for a Workshop with the Council and no Public Hearing and no Joint Meeting with Planning and Zoning. Rob Paul, Toll Brothers Vice President, had called our Town Administrator and asked if a 225-lot number was a hard number. Donna said “No,” it was just the Mayor’s suggestion for an “easy start” in the reduction of lot numbers starting with the West Side of the proposed subdivision. Council Member Steve Hill suggested that Council approve a 2.25 density times the 88.05 gross acres of the proposed Vickery Park, as this would give Toll Brothers some flexibility in the design of lot sizes. But, ultimately the number of lots was still an estimated 198 maximum.

November 12 – Joint Meeting of Town Council and Planning and Zoning: Last December the Council passed an ordinance that allowed one Council Member to propose an Agenda item by 1 p.m. of the Tuesday before a Council Meeting and that item must be included on the Agenda.

A Council Member proposed a November 12th Joint Meeting of the Council and P&Z to vote on a Toll Brothers proposed

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

Master Plan Amendment of 225 homes for the proposed Vickery Park.

However, several key persons had already indicated they would be absent for that Council Meeting. Our Town Attorney would be in Alaska teaching his annually scheduled legal seminar. The Chairman of our P&Z Andre Nicholas would be out of town. And Council Member Steve Hill would be traveling on business. Our Town Administrator asked if the Council Member would consider postponing the Agenda Item and vote to the December 10th Meeting, when the above persons could be present. The Council Member did not want the item postponed.

Several P&Z members asked why the “notice” for the November 12th meeting was so short for both them and Town residents. Friday afternoon notice for a major Monday Council Meeting is very short notice. But, notice was passed on to interested Town residents by email and phone.

And Town residents again came in person to object to the density of homes proposed for Vickery Park.

My sincere thanks to our Planning and Zoning members who gave a lot of thought to their November 12th deliberations.

Present were Paul Bosco, Kaki Lybbert, Mark Pape, Tom Reid, and alternate Deb Valencia. They elected Tom Reid to be their Acting Chairman. And they voted 4 to 1 to postpone their decision on allowing a maximum of 225 homes in Vickery Park until the December 10th Joint Meeting of P&Z and Council. They also asked that our Financial Advisor Steve Hill please update his Pro Forma for the coming 20 years in Copper Canyon.

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December 10th Council Meeting. If you wish to express an opinion in an email, please address it to our Town Administrator at dwelsh@coppercanyontx.com or to any of the Council Members on our website. Your email will be included in the December 10th Council packet which is available to the public.

Just my thoughts on the Pros and Cons of the Toll Brothers Project: Pros: (1) Toll Brothers is a quality Developer and stand behind their homes.

(2) They probably have the financial backbone to ride through an economic downturn in residential home building – which may be coming.

(3) Dealing with one developer and one homebuilder is preferable to the Town dealing with 5-6 homebuilders of varying financial backgrounds.

Residents in Copper Canyon love living here because: (1) An old-fashioned sense of “neighborhood.” People move here to live “forever.” They both know and treasure their neighbors.

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(2) The above fosters a “crime free” neighborhood.

(3) Property Taxes are low and stable. Copper Canyon has not raised its property tax rate in 5 years.

(4) The Town Council is stable and the Town Staff is small and stable.

Our Town Administrator has been with us 11 years and our Town Secretary with us for 7 years. Our Town Secretary lives in Copper Canyon and was named by the North Texas Town Secretaries Association as their Outstanding Secretary for 2018.

(5) The Town only has two more part time employees.

All of the above reasons are why Copper Canyon was named by the Dallas Morning News two springs ago as one of the Top 10 Residential Communities in North Texas.

So, friends and neighbors – where do we go from here. I have mixed feelings.

I LOVE the Copper Canyon I know.

But, I want to protect us financially in the future. Please do send in your thoughts. I do so value your insights. Mayor Sue

December 10th Joint Meeting of Planning and Zoning and Council: A majority of Council (3 votes) can override a recommendation from Planning and Zoning. The issue of allowed residential density in the proposed Vickery Park subdivision should be finally decided at the

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December 2018

Should I Look Into an Annuity?

By Matt Tobben, Retirement Income Certified Professional

An annuity is a retirement-based investment product designed to generate income payments for the owner. Annuities were created to provide protection against outliving your income.

Because they offer guaranteed lifetime income, annuities might be a great way to prepare for retirement.

Annuities can help replace a paycheck when you retire, and are a great way to cover your future fixed expenses. Fixed expenses are costs you know you’ll have every month, like rent, utilities and food.

Variable expenses include things like traveling or spoiling the grandkids--the fun stuff.

An annuity establishes a foundation for your retirement income plan. From that foundation, you are able to invest your remaining retirement money more comfortably, knowing your fixed expenses are

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

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Page A26

LOCAL EXPERTS taken care of.

Annuities also provide flexibility. They can be purchased in one lump sum or with a series of payments over time. You can also choose an immediate annuity, which generates income immediately after purchase, or a deferred annuity, which allows your investment to grow until you decide to start receiving income payments at a point in the future. You’ll have a variety of payment options to choose from as well.

In addition, annuities purchased outside of a qualified retirement plan, like an IRA or 401(k), provide tax-deferred growth prior to receiving income payments.

The best way to know if an annuity is right for you is to have a conversation with a trusted advisor. Considering the variety of options available, sitting down with a professional, who can help you sort it all out, will help you decide if an annuity makes sense as part of your retirement plan.

For more information, contact Matt Tobben, RICP at 972.724.7033 or Matt@TobbenAgency.Com

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Legal Talk Texas

tuition. You can make a gift of any size completely gift-tax-free if the payment is Tax-Free Gifts made directly to the educational instituBy Kendra L. Rey tion. So make as many tuition payments We are officially as you’d like to private primary or secin the season of ondary schools, or to colleges, and you’ll giving! If you are never pay a gift tax. Payments must be one of those gen- made directly to the school, and they canerous types that not cover room, board, books, or even everyone loves, fees.

Last, pay someone’s medical bills. consider some of Again, the payment must be made dithese options to give large gifts completely free of federal rectly to the health care provider. Payments must be for unreimbursed medical gift tax: First, you can give a gifts up to $15,000 expenses, including fees for diagnoses, to each recipient, with an unlimited num- treatment, mitigation, and prevention of ber of recipients each year, without hav- disease; care affecting any structure or ing to report them on your tax return. If function of the body; or essential transyou’re married, your spouse can join in portation to the care facility. Direct paythe gift to each recipient, making it a total ments for medical insurance also qualify.

What could be a better gift than that of of $30,000 to each lucky family member or friend! You even have the possibility of health or education (or a $15,000 check giving up to $75,000 to a single 529 plan in your stocking)? in one year, with that gift “averaged” over the following 5 years. That means you Kendra Rey is an attorney with Hammerle and your spouse can make a whopping Finley Law Firm. Her practice focuses on $150,000 up-front gift to a child’s 529 with wills, trusts and estate planning. She no gift tax, even on the income or appre- may be reached at contact@hammerle. com. This article does not constitute leciation.

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Traveling Tips for the Holidays

By Dr. Sarah E. Laibstain

The holiday season is one of the most popular times to travel, and chances are you and your family may be preparing for holiday travel now. While vacations are a great way to relax, travel can also take a toll on your health. When traveling there are many obstacles to making healthy decisions, but following a few tips and recommendations can help your family have a healthy yet fun holiday season.

Whether you are traveling by plane or car, getting enough sleep the night before is essential to starting off your trip right. Research has proven that fatigue can lower the immune system causing you to be more susceptible to catching a virus. Thus, begin packing early so you and your family are well rested for the day of driving or air travel.

Since air travel increases the risk of catching the cold or flu, we recommend increasing water consumption to stay hydrated during your trip as well as packing bacterial wipes in your carry-on luggage. Using a bacterial wipe to clean immediate surrounding objects such as your headrest, armrest, and tray table is a simple way to eliminate germs that can be contracted on an airplane. Also, check with your family physician for suggested multivitamins that would be most beneficial to you.

This will ensure you get the best vitamins for your specific immune system.

These prevention tips can help decrease

the chances of your catching a virus, but managing your food intake is important as well. As you pack for your trip, plan to a pack a small meal or snack for the drive or flight.

Gas stations and airports do not always offer the healthiest of options. Packing a few healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts or protein bars can help you steer away from unhealthy decisions.

When you and your family reach your destination, continuing to exercise and maintain healthy food selections is key. Vacations can offer a variety of family fitness activities; you just may have to get creative. If you are in a cooler climate, ice-skating can be a great fitness option. If you are in a warmer climate, snorkeling could be a fun and fit option. The holiday season is a time filled with unhealthy foods, especially when on vacation.

While indulging in a few of your favorite treats during the holiday season isn’t detrimental, we recommend following the 80/20 rule. This “rule” allows for 80 percent of your food intake to be healthy foods with 20 percent being everything else. This gives you the flexibility to still enjoy the foods you love but maintain healthy portions.

The holidays are a time for joy and celebrations. We hope following these tips and recommendations allows you and your family to enjoy a healthy holiday season.

Dr. Sarah E. Laibstain is a general family medicine practitioner at Family Medicine Associates of Texas in Carrollton. She thoroughly enjoys improving the health and lives of individuals ranging from young children to adulthood. For more information, call 972394-8844, or visit texasmedicine.com.

December 2018

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

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LOCAL EXPERTS New Wedding Rules—Who Pays, and How to Save

By Jeffery Price

Wedding protocol used to be so much simpler. And nothing was more certain than that the bride’s dress would be white. Yet according to almost half of Americans polled by Harris in 2014, white is on its way out.

And then there is the all-important matter of who pays. A generation ago, the answer was obvious—the bride’s parents got the bill. But demographic and social changes have long upended that rule.

In 2015, only about 44% of expenses in traditional weddings were paid for by the bride’s parents, and roughly 12% of weddings were paid for by the bride and groom themselves, according to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study. For samesex weddings, that percentage runs as high as 84% for men and 73% for women, according to the Gay Wedding Institute.

Paying their own way gives couples more power to call the shots. And with the average cost of a wedding running more than $32,000, any financial contribution from the kids comes as a relief to many parents.

“If you intend to share costs, sit down with both sets of parents and discuss how you are going to divvy up the expenses,” says Stacy Allred, managing director of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management’s Center for Family Wealth Dynamics and GovernanceTM. Splitting the bill certainly can help take the stress out of planning for the big event.

But there are many other relatively simple and surprising ways to reduce costs, no matter who pays. Here is what wedding experts have to say.

Pick Your Venue Carefully Respecting a budget sometimes can mean making uncomfortable decisions. When Gloria Boyden, the director of education for the Asso-

ciation of Bridal Consultants, planned her own daughter’s wedding, the family had two choices— either a smaller event in downtown Chicago or a bigger wedding at a more affordable but beautiful venue in northwest Indiana. “We wanted everybody there, so we chose Indiana,” Boyden says.

Timing Is Everything Consider holding the wedding on a day other than Saturday. By simply shifting the wedding to a Thursday, Friday, Sunday or holiday weekend, costs can drop by as much as 25%. Also look into seasonal pricing—a February ceremony, for instance, can result in substantial savings.

Do Sweat the Small Stuff Little trade-ups can add up to thousands of dollars. Ask yourself: Do you really need a horsedrawn carriage to get you to the reception, or will a friend’s nice car do just as well? Do you need waiter service, or will a buffet-style meal suffice?

Go down your budget line by line and think about whether there is a more cost-effective way to do things without putting a damper on the event.

“Taking the time upfront to define the elements of the wedding that are most important to both of you, and then seeing the direct contribution to the overall budget, is incredibly helpful to prioritize different tradeoffs,” says Valerie Galinskaya, a director of Merrill Lynch’s Center for Family Wealth Dynamics and GovernanceTM. It can also help in negoatiating with vendors, once you have greater clarity on how important an element is to you and the maximum you’re willing to spend on it.

such as tendr.com to your wedding registry. This site and a handful of others allow invitees to send e-cards with money to put toward a honeymoon, a down payment on a first house or the cost of the wedding itself.

Above and beyond the cost of the wedding, finances are top of mind as a young couple prepares to walk down the aisle and create a financial life together, says Allred. “Parents and future inlaws who want to guide their kids to something of lasting value might even encourage some premarital sessions with a financial advisor, so that they can develop a shared approach to their financial lives,” she adds.

Rock Your Vows!

You want your wedding to be wonderful and memorable. But, says Micki Novak, executive director of the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners, “a wedding is not just about the ceremony or the reception. What matters most of all is the couple’s commitment to each other.”

So rock your vows, and keep them in your hearts every day.

For more information, contact Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor Jeffery Price, in the Southlake Texas office at 817-410-4940 or jeffery_price@ml.com.

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Do You Really Need Another Silver Candelabra?

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Parent WARNING: Vaping—The Lesser of Two Evils-or is it?

By Dr. Bridget “Dr. B” Melson, MFT, PsyD.

I have been working with teens for many years and there always seem to be new trends for each teen culture I encounter. One such “trend” that is growing exponentially, is vaping or e-cigarettes. Stats now show that up to 84% of our teens/tweens are now vaping or have tried. Although difficult to purchase in stores, anyone can purchase vaping products online.

Is it safe? Legal? Let’s take a look.

Safer is not SAFE. Safer than smoking? Perhaps. Completely safe? No. Nicotine is one of the prime ingredients used in these vaping devices and studies continue to show that nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine. Even without the use of nicotine, vaping flavoring by itself has been linked to respiratory illnesses and disease.

Remember, you are inhaling unnatural vapors into your lungs, along with vegetable Glycerin and Propylene Glycol, and again, often times Nicotine in concentrated amounts. Propylene Glycol is used by companies as anti-freeze and has been linked to increased risk of developing numerous respiratory and immune disorders in children, including asthma, hay fever, eczema, and allergies, with increased risk ranging from 50% to 180% if inhaled.

Without knowing the dangers, teens are also vaping drugs like Fentanyl and oils, both of which

can cause instant death. Vaping is especially dangerous if you have pre-existing health issues such as asthma and can cause cardiac arrest, arrhythmia and other severe health issues.

The FDA now regulates electronic nicotine delivery systems which they call ENDS. This includes: • E-cigarettes • E-pipes • Hookah Pens • Vape Pens • Vaporizers It is illegal. Texas Law states: “Minors are penalized…and must attend an Awareness Program or do community service. Failure to attend…may result in a suspension of the minor’s driver’s license.

A violation is punishable by a fine…” (texastobaccolaw.org) So what can you do as parents?

• Watch for physiological symptoms, any new rashes around the mouth or face and chest, as well as more coughing than usual, dry mouth syndrome, bloodshot eyes or nosebleeds.

• Familiarize yourself with e-cigs and what they look like. Know how to recognize them and how they work. Look for flash drive “jewels”.

• Sit down and have a casual discussion. ASK your tween or teen what they know. Educate them in love.

• Play it casual. Ask open ended questions.

This is not a time for anger or judgment. You want them to be open with you.

Be vigilant parents and keep fighting the good fight!

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December 2018

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December 2018

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Old Town Hall Holds Many Memories

Parker Square Filling Back Up

By Lyn Rejahl Pry, Editor

By Lyn Rejahl Pry, Editor

The council chamber in Flower Mound’s current Town Hall has had its share of excitement over the past 25 years. (Photo by Helen’s Photography) After 25 years and a month, Flower Mound will open the doors of its new Town Hall on Dec. 17. An additional three months will be used for demolition of the existing building and construction of new parking spaces.

The $15-million, 46,000-square-foot project is located on the same property as the current Town Hall-- 2121 Cross Timbers-- on the southeast corner of FM 1171 and Morriss Road. The current facility opened back on Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993.

Prior to 1993, the municipal staff and government offices shared space with the town’s first responders in the main fire station on Cross Timbers, which used to stand on the same spot as the new Town Hall.

It seems to be an unusually long time between the time when pioneers settled the area back in the mid-1800s, to finally having an official Town Hall; but town residents See TOWN HALL Page B5

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Edison Coffee is more than doubling their space in Flower Mound’s Parker Square on Main.

(Photo by Helen’s Photography) If you haven’t stopped by Parker Square on FM 1171 in Flower Mound lately, you may be missing something. A quiet revitalization is in progress.

“We’ve been working on tenants for about four years and it seems like things happen all at the same time,” said Phyllis Garcia of Bridge Realty of Texas. “It has taken a lot of work and time over the last few years and it is now coming together with a great mix of tenants that are excited to be in the Parker Square community again.”

The most recent increase in activity follows the opening of Midwest State University’s satellite campus this summer.

In addition to the school, recent openings include Hive Bakery, C2 Learning, Proper Design and Kama Jiu-Jitsu, as well as the lease renewal of the popular Yellow Rose Steak & Chop House, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this spring. In addition, the popular Flower Mound Farmers Market has been a weekend attraction since late 2016.

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YOUR 2 CENTS Editorials, Opinion, Letters to the Editor, Forum Posts Future Focused

By State Representative Tan Parker

The election has passed and the people of the great state of Texas have voiced their opinions on those they are placing their trust in to lead on the issues that are important to them.

I am most honored to continue serving you in the Texas House of Representatives and am eager to work together on the many opportunities ahead.

On January 8th, lawmakers will convene in the people’s house and begin the 86th Legislative Session. During that 140days, your legislature will address many key issues to protect and continue Texas’ path of prosperity. In the 2017 session, legislators in both the House and Senate debated a wide range of issues ranging from enhancing border security, reforming child protective services, and increasing funding for mental health to enacting laws that further honor our veterans, help homeowners with improved lending options and put more funds into the Teacher Retirement System.

Ultimately, more than 6,600 bills were filed in the 85th regular session alone with Governor Greg Abbott signing more than 1,000 bills into law.

As we look ahead to 2019, the process begins again when lawmakers are sworn in at the Capitol to immediately engage in the flurry of activity that follows. While I ex-

Year of Change: How DCTA Plans to Positively Move the Region and Itself Into the Future

By Raymond Suarez, DCTA CEO

The word “change” can be scary to some and difficult for others, but for us at DCTA, we’re embracing it! We take great pride in the many milestones and accomplishments we’ve achieved, but we’re aware of our region’s drastically changing landscape and know that we need to change the way we do business to meet the increasing mobility needs of North Texas. In the upcoming year, DCTA will continue its commitment to provide innovative mobility options to improve the quality of life where our residents live, work and play.

Providing Mobility Solutions and Adding Value to the Region We’re implementing a new, strategic process to better engage with our member cities, board of directors and stakeholders so we can meet their expectations. Identifying key priorities and concerns of our key stakeholders, partners and riders will enable us to better serve our many communities.

In addition, we’re strategically restructuring how we do business to better align ourselves to address the changing mobility demands and rider behaviors. Listed below are key projects we plan to implement next year: • Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Provider Request for Proposal (RFP) – Next January, we plan to issue a RFP for mobility services that is intended to qualify vendors to enter into service contracts with us to provide customized service proposals to

pect a large number of bills to be filed, there will be a few that will emerge as key priorities for Texans.

Without question, the biggest priority ahead for lawmakers is how we keep our students and teachers safe at school. As a father and elected official, I believe we must be prepared to look at the many solutions before us and take bold steps to prevent another horrific tragedy. There has been much work over the interim to address school security, and I am eager to join with my legislative colleagues to translate viable concepts into meaningful changes. Parents must have confidence that their children are safe when in the hands of our schools across the state.

Another key legislative item that has impacted Texas homeowners is increasing property taxes. While lawmakers have taken action in this area of policy to pass overall property tax reductions and also decrease the burdens on our veterans, survivors of first responders who lost their lives while serving, and disabled populations, we must now enact meaningful property tax reform across the board.

However, we cannot provide property tax reform until lawmakers address public school finance. These two are tied together which is evident to those who receive a property tax bill and realize over 50% of the assessment consists of public school costs.

In the 2017 Special Session, House Bill 21 was passed establishing the Texas Commission on Public School Finance. During the interim, this workgroup was charged with developing and making recommendations for improving our current funding model. I look forward to reviewing the comprehen-

sive work that is being finalized and to making a revitalized funding formula for our schools a top priority.

Though there are many important issues that need attention in the 86th Legislative Session, I want to remind Texans that Hurricane Harvey sewed devastation that the state will bear for years to come. Along with the other important issues we face, our coastal region will not be ignored as measures are established for present and future reconstructive purposes, and we keep the wellbeing of all Texans at the forefront of our work.

Outside of these many critical issues, I have been passionate over the years about passing laws that protect children and our vulnerable populations, stops human trafficking, enhances medical innovation, promotes educational opportunities, and stimulates our economic vitality. I look forward to continuing to lead in these areas of public policy and am grateful to represent an engaged constituency who shares their thoughts, ideas, and personal stories with me every day.

While I will be in Austin a majority of the time during the next session, I am always accessible to you. Please know there are many resources to follow each bill that is filed so that you can stay informed. The Texas House of Representatives website provides a lot of educational tools, and my office is happy to help you navigate your areas of interest. Also, if you are ever in Austin during the legislative session, always feel free to stop by my office and say hello! One of my favorite parts of being at the Capitol is seeing people from home

meet the mobility needs of our regional clients and member cities. We will solicit proposals from a wide range of vendors including shared mobility companies, software developer and third-party mobility providers. This approach will leverage the most innovative technologies and transportation service models under a DCTA service contract and will be regularly reissued to maintain relevance and ensure the contract stays up-to-date on the mobility tools that are constantly evolving.

• Having more transparent communications with our board of directors, partners, cities, etc. about our goals and how we can best address their needs • Doing a better job of building brand recognition in the community

• Microtransit Services – Earlier this year, we launched a microtransit pilot service that serves the Denton Enterprise Airport and other businesses in the designated zone. Microtransit service offers real-time flexible routing and scheduling of minibus vehicles. Similar to Uber and Lyft, DCTAbranded vehicles carry a handful of riders at a time. Next year, we plan to launch additional microtransit services in other key areas in the communities we serve.

• A-train Rail Trail – We’re slated to complete construction of our entire 19mile rail trail which runs alongside our Atrain from Denton to southern Lewisville.

Once complete, the trail will provide pedestrians and cyclists a safe opportunity to travel the entire trail or take a break and ride the A-train.

Key Priorities for Next Year We’ve already made great strides internally to address the way we do business, and have identified key priorities to enable us to better engage with our communities, increase ridership and provide innovative mobility solutions which include: • Improving engagement with customers and stakeholders to enhance partnerships in our region • Strategically addressing the changing landscape of our service delivery and innovation in mobility

and knowing they too are passionate about Texas’ future.

If I can ever be of service, please never hesitate to call 512-463-0688 or email tan. parker@house.texas.gov. Wishing you and your family a very blessed Christmas and holiday season!

At DCTA, we’re not making excuses for the past, and we’re striving to do things differently to ensure we’re ready for future mobility demands to keep our riders moving forward.

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December 2018

Parker Square Continued from Page B1

Bridge Realty has also expanded its office space to 400 Parker Square, Suite 270H. The landlord, Parker Assets I, has been working to rebrand the development as “Parker Square on Main.”

Phyllis and Lionel Garcia of Flower Mound started Bridge Realty of Texas in 2016 and- with more than 22-years of experience in Denton County-- have now added new agents to reach more clients. As a result, the office and retail space inventory in the nearly 20-year-old center has been shrinking.

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Edison Coffee The popular coffee shop that came to Parker Square in mid-2017 is expanding into larger space at the center.

This will be our flagship shop and long-term home for our company,” said Edison Coffee owner Melanie McWhorter. “Because of this, we’re working closely with our architects on elements that not only highlight our company values, but also provide a unique and curated atmosphere designed to fill our community’s many needs.”

Customers can expect to see the traditional Edison lighting, complemented by steel and glass dividers, concrete countertops and tables,

warm tones and ample comfortable seating options by Dustin Wekesser of Total Art Design and Architecture.

“We are waiting until our soft opening to share specific details, but I can tell you that we will be growing through multiple avenues,” she said. “Those avenues will include new bakery and breakfast options, lunch, grab and go plus expanded catering. We’ll be expanding our vegan and gluten free options as well. We are already putting a lot of thought, creativity and care into what we’re exploring with food.”

The new Edison Coffee, in a former restaurant space at 420 Parker Square, is adding a commercial kitchen to provide Edison with a new and expanded food program.

“We are adding a small selection of rare and incredible craft beers and wines that will be unique to the area,” said McWhorter. “Our new space will also showcase our creative side with art, merchandise, and lots of plants/greenery. It is our hope that this space is marked by beauty, inspiration, and comfort.”

The expanded cafe will also feature meeting room space designed for study groups and small gatherings that will be able to be reserved.

A Coffee Education Lab area will be dedicated to coffee research, coffee cuppings (tastings) and classes for coffee consumers and enthusiasts, as well as its partner shops that serve Edison Coffee.

“With the large space, we’ll be hosting community events often,” said McWhorter.

“Look forward to live music, local maker showcase days, events for nonprofits and, of course, more of the fun community parties that we’re known for.”

The new Edison Coffee is expecting to open its doors in mid- to late January. The dedication to Parker Square is related to, “the timeless feel of the center, the trails behind us, the park, the amazing property management/owners and, of course, our awesome business neighbors,” said McWhorter.

“When it came down to our business growing and needing a larger space, we knew we wanted to grow here with Parker Square.”

For more information, visit: edisoncoffeeco. com

Space Available!

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Happy Holidays from the NEW Parker Square on Main!

We have lots of NEW tenants with additions coming monthly.

ABC PEDIATRICS • ADVENTURE KIDS PLAYCARE • ALLSTATE BACK-N-TIME BARBER SHOP • BRIDGE REALTY OF TEXAS C2 EDUCATION • EDISON COFFEE • ENZO’S NY PIZZERIA FLOWERS ON THE MOUND • GABRIELLA SOFIA’S TEX MEX HIVE BAKERY • INDIGO ART & FRAMING • KAMA JIU JITSU LASH CAFE & SPA • LONESTAR FITNESS • POKEY O’S MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY • PROPER HOME DESIGN PRIMAL EVOLUTION • SORELLA SALON • YELLOW ROSE STEAKHOUSE LITTLE VOGUE - COMING SOON!

Indigo Art and Frame Shop Opening back on Sept. 25, with its official Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting on Nov. 14, is Indigo Art and Frame Shop at 350 Parker Square.

Fifteen-year Flower Mound resident Sibyl Alleyne is the owner; while the framer has lived in Lewisville for 10-years, for a total of 30-years in framing experience and design expertise.

Services offered include: custom framing; a full-service frame shop; quick turnaround; and, 100-percent acid-free conservation materials to protect framed artwork at affordable pricing.

In addition, it’s an art supply retail store

1500 Cross Timbers Road, Flower Mound www.parkersquare.com

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featuring fine supplies by Golden, Liquitex, Canson, Qor, Daniel Smith, Pan Pastel and more quality materials acquired from local suppliers.

“Our mission is to support local talent and give back to the community by supporting the Visual Arts,” she said. “We have a passion for Art and are overwhelmed by the amount of talent in the Flower Mound Area.”

Indigo Art and Frame features a local artist from the Flower Mound, Lewisville and Denton area in the shop and on its website each month.

Artists are invited to display their art and sell completed works on consignment in the store. It also hosts artistic technique demos by local artists.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit: indigoartandframing.com or call 972-537-5006.

Lil’ Vogue Lil’ Vogue is an upscale children’s consignment store located at 840 Parker Square, which will be opening soon.

“The family business is owned by Dorothy and her two daughters,” said family spokesman Jerome Paclibare of Flower Mound.

Just like the name suggests, Lil’ Vogue is a store where “consignment meets boutique” and customers will find name-brand, “gentlyloved,” children’s clothing and shoes, plus maternity and baby equipment.

Customers can shop with confidence that items are hand-selected, carefully checked for quality, and are in excellent condition.

“We will offer cash on consignment or store credit for the latest styles that your little ones have outgrown,” said Paclibare. “Finally, we will be providing embroidery and heat press services to customers who would like to personalize their children’s clothing and accessories.”

He added the reason the owners decided to open in Parker Square was because: “Everyone in Flower Mound knows about Parker Square and the location was ideal. Also, with the revival of Parker Square, with its new retail shops … we want to grow with it.”

More Coming Next door to Edison’s new space in the former Sonoma Grill & Wine Bar will be a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, said Garcia. It will be operated by an experienced restaurant owner that has an existing location in Frisco.

Garcia said there are only three retail/office spaces remaining on the street level, ranging in size from 3,200- to 6,000-square-feet. A variety of office spaces with different floorplans are available on the second floors.

For more information about Parker Square on Main, visit: BridgeRealtyTexas.com or parkersquare.com.

December 2018

Town Hall

Continued from Page B5

didn’t vote to incorporate until Feb. 25, 1961 to avoid annexation by the City of Irving.

So, what took so long? The town’s first official census in 1970 counted only 1,685 residents. Flower Mound’s population increased substantially when Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport opened to the south in 1974.

Between 1980 and 1990, Flower Mound’s population increased from 4,402 to 15,896. It reached 50,702 in 2000-- an average annual increase of nearly 13-percent per year during the 1990s-- making it the nation’s tenth fastest-growing community.

By the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 64,699, reflecting a 28-percent increase in a decade. The most recent 2016 estimate lists 73,547 town residents.

Six mayors have served in the current Town Hall: Larry Lipscomb (1992 - 1998), Lori DeLuca (1998 - 2004), Jody Smith (2004 - 2010), Melissa Northern (2010 2012), Tom Hayden (2012 - 2018) and Steve Dixon (2018 - Present) In the 25 years Town Hall has been operating, there are numerous stories-- and possible “closet skeletons”-- within its walls.

Former mayor Jody Smith served during a period of rapid growth in Flower Mound’s population, the national economic recession and homeowner crisis, plus the local impact of oil and gas companies drilling in the Barnett Shale.

Council meetings took on divisive and heated emotional exchanges, which lasted into the early hours of the following morning.

While her actions may have more than “ruffled some feathers,” her ability to broker compromises to reach the best result for the town as-a-whole managed to avoid fist fights in the Town Hall.

“When Tom Hayden was on council, it must’ve been around 2007, he brought in a duffle bag with a mason jar full of dirty water and put it on the dais calling it ‘fracking fluid,’” she said laughing at the memory.

“Some of the meetings had so many people attend, it was amazing having chairs going back down the hallway past “the donut” [the reception area] back to the area with all the mayor portraits,” Smith remembered.

“I remember being so excited when the library opened in the back of Town Hall,” she

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Member] Jean Levenick had been overheard saying: “If Tom doesn’t quit talking, I might have to choke him.”

Hayden also recalled Flower Mound Fire Department Captain Mike Baldree challenging him to an arm wrestling contest, as well as Town Manager Jimmy Stathatos going Flower Mound’s new Town Hall will allow the town to consolidate two office down on one knee to locations. (Photo by Helen’s Photography) propose to his [now] wife during a council said. “I also remember how tight the drivemeeting. thru bill payment was … I don’t want to say I Of the building itself, Hayden recalls scraped my car, but … saying: “Hello [Town Manager] Jimmy “Then there was the speculation about an Stathatos, is the HVAC broken … again?” alleged ‘pinching’ incident,” Smith laughed. Plus, “I had no idea 500 people could fit “No, it didn’t happen.” into that building; someone call the Fire The holiday season was always a big hit Marshall.” for Smith.

Assistant Town Manager Debra Wallace “My favorite thing was the Christmas tree said the new facility will house both the and decorations,” said Smith. “One year I current Town Hall’s 61 staff members, as well had to Photoshop in a missing son for our as those who currently office at The Atrium family photo.”

Former mayor Melissa Northern recalled a humorous personal story in the building.

“After a late council meeting-- it was probably around 2 or 2:30 a.m.-- I was staying to sign some official documents; and, I got stuck in a bathroom stall,” she laughed. “I called out and tried everything, but eventually I had to crawl under the stall in my suit and high heels, just as Linda (from the janitorial staff) walked in. It was quite a moment.”

She also recalled arranging for the 50th town anniversary dinner for all the previous mayors-- it was actually held in the fire department-- and the $200 budget caused quite a controversy.

“My favorite time at Town Hall has always been Christmas,” she said. “It’s great to see her all decorated-- dressed up. It is really special.”

Perhaps it’s a good thing that the building’s walls really don’t have ears-- especially the council chamber’s private room.

Former mayor Tom Hayden, not known for being a wallflower, said that [former Council

It’s never too late to complete your degree!

Page B5

down the road, for a saving of $300,000-peryear in rent.

She added that offices in areas of expected future growth are included, in addition to second-floor expansion space, if needed in the future. The new Town Hall will also provide more meeting space room, storage areas and an emergency command center, in the event of severe weather or other crisis situations.

The Atrium-based staff members are scheduled to transition to their new offices in the spring of 2019.

“It is my honor to be in the Office of Mayor during the last few months of our current Town Hall,” said Mayor Steve Dixon, who has been serving the town since 2004 on various boards, commissions and as a former council member.

“I have a lot of great memories here-both as a resident, council member and now Mayor. It’s been nice to reflect on all the important decisions, both big and small, that were made in this building that helped our community become the wonderful place it is today.

“I look forward to being a part of the Town’s first chapter at our new Town Hall and continuing our work moving Flower Mound forward.”

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December 2018

Watson Wants to Serve Those Who Served

By John English, Contributing Writer

Sean Watson

Sean Watson recently received some news that served as the crowning jewel of an impressive academic career.

The Marcus High School senior was selected as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist and said the nomination for him has been humbling.

“It is really an incredible experience,” Watson said. “Truly it feels like a blessing. I have four siblings who all aspire to attend college and graduate school, and I would love being able to take some of the burden of paying for college off of my parents.”

Watson, 18, scored a 1510 on his SAT and is ranked 41st in his graduating class of 861 students.

The Flower Mound teen, who is a defensive lineman on the Marcus football team, and has also played basketball and

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

run track at Marcus, said that he attributes his academic and athletic successes to values instilled in him by a number of people.

“I have had innumerable daily challenges for which I am enormously thankful,” Watson said. “I am a firm believer that learning and growth come as the result of overcoming adversity and viewing failure as opportunity. I have learned from my parents, coaches and teachers to never quit, but to come back stronger after each failure or loss I have faced. In retrospect it is through failures that I have received my motivation to succeed.”

Watson, who is also a member of the National Honor Society, will attend Texas A&M University and plans to study Biomedical Engineering.

“I would like to pursue a career developing prosthesis for those with physical disabilities,” Watson said. “In particular, I would like to serve war veterans. I have always wanted to serve others because I think that is what life is all about, and it would be a joy and an honor to serve the people who bravely and unselfishly serve us.”

Watson’s Favorites Favorite Athlete: JJ Watt Favorite Sports Team: Texas A&M Aggies Person Who Most Inspires You: My brother Blake Favorite Subject: Math Favorite Food: Steak Favorite Movie: Miracle Favorite TV Show: How I Met Your Mother Book Currently Reading or last book read: The Bible Favorite Musical Group or performer: The Eagles

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

FMHS Senior Eyes Nursing Career

By John English, Contributing Writer

Brooklyn Ternes

Flower Mound High School senior Brooklyn Ternes likes to help other people.

She is Vice President of Circle of Friends-a club in which students interact and form relationships with special needs students-and said she ultimately hopes to make a career out of helping others.

“One day, I would love to be a Neonatal Nurse,” Ternes said. “I love making a difference and I believe there’s no better way than helping care for the sick little ones who still have a whole lot of life ahead of them. Aside from caring for the babies, I would love to have the opportunity to pour love and hope into the families of the sick babies; allowing them to see the good in a bad situation.”

Ternes, 17, is headed to the University of Arkansas to study nursing and said she is grateful for her time at Flower Mound High School for a couple of reasons.

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“I love all of the opportunities available at FMHS,” Ternes said. “Flower Mound has a club for every personality. It makes me so happy seeing people find a place where they feel comfortable and people they can relate to. Our administrators are so good about making sure all of our students get plugged in and have a solid support group.”

Ternes is also the Secretary of the FMHS Student Council, a member of the National Honor Society, a student ambassador and a bible study group called “I Am Second.”

“I love being productive and an active contributor to my school and community,” Ternes said. “Being involved in a variety of things has also brought me friendships that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.”

The Flower Mound teen is also a member of the English Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta and said she believes the biggest issue affecting young people today is “limited face-to-face interaction.”

“Today, the majority of our socialization occurs through technology,” Ternes said.

“When faced with conflict, we often hide behind our phones because we fear confrontation. As a result, our social skills lack and we may not know how to respond when adversity comes our way in the future.”

Ternes carries a 3.95 grade point average and is ranked 121 in her graduating class of 891 students.

Ternes’ Favorites Favorite Subject: Science Person who most inspires me: My mom Favorite Food: Açaí bowls Favorite Movie: Safe Haven Favorite TV Show: Big Brother Book Currently Reading: The Orphan Train Favorite Musical Group/ Performer: Jason Aldean

December 2018

Bartonville Police Department Activity Report The following is a list of recent police calls reported by the Bartonville Police Department:

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On October 6, police responded to Marty B’s for a noise complaint.

On October 7, police responded to the Bartonville Town Center for citizen stuck in the elevator. Argyle Fire Department was able to free the citizen without incident.

On October 9, police responded to a theft report at Kroger.

On September 29, police responded to the 9000 block of Blanco Drive in Lantana for a traffic complaint regarding people riding ATVs.

On October 9, police responded to the 800 block of Nobile Champions Way for a terroristic threat report.

On September 29, police responded to the 400 block Meandering Way for an agency assist with Argyle PD.

On October 9, police responded to the 300 block of Porter Road for a criminal trespass.

On September 30, police responded to the 800 block Nobile Champions Way for a criminal mischief report.

On October 1, police responded to the 1800 block of E. FM 407 for an agency assist with Argyle PD. On October 4, police received a report of an assault family violence that happened in the 800 block Noble Champions Way. On October 5, police received a CPS referral.

On October 6, police issued a criminal trespass warning.

On October 6, police responded to the 1000 block of Kentucky Derby Drive for a suspicious person.

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On October 16, police responded to S. HWY 377/FM 407 for an agency assist with Argyle PD.

On October 16, police responded to the 1000 block of Roadrunner Road for a harassment report.

On October 19, police responded to the 60 block of McMakin Road for a single-vehicle See BARTONVILLE POLICE Page B9

On October 10, police responded to the 13000 block of Hilltop Rod for a one-vehicle crash without injuries.

On October 11, police responded to the 3000 block of FM 407 for a two-vehicle minor crash.

On October11, police responded to FM 407 and Chinn Chapel Road for an agency assist with Double Oak PD.

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On October 12, police responded to the 1600 block of Broome Road for a domestic disturbance.

On October 13, police responded to the Lantana Town Center for a 911-hangup.

On October 14, police stopped a vehicle in the 1000 block of IT Neely for a traffic offense. The driver was arrested possession of methamphetamine, marihuana, and hydrocodone.

On October 15, police responded to Seals Road for a 911-hangup.

Image by Helen's Photography taken at Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures in Argyle

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On October 16, police responded to the 300 block of Old Justin Road for an agency assist with Argyle PD.

On October 8, police responded to the 1500 block of Post Oak Lane for a terroristic threat report.

On September 29, police responded to the 700 block McMakin for an alarm.

On September 29, police responded to 1200 block of Saddlebrook Way for a motorist assist.

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December 2018

Double Oak Police Beat Submitted by Chief Derrick Watson

Season’s Greetings to all! As we are in the midst of many important holidays, a few reminders about sober driving from a law enforcement point of view.

DWI task force officers are going to be active in Denton County. I absolutely understand that a lot of social drinkers have a hard time “believing” they are drunk.

It’s not necessarily about your belief system but more about the science associated with determining whether a person is operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol. A significant number of law enforcement agencies are eschewing the intoxilyzer (an instrument that measures the amount of alcohol contained in your breath...samples obtained traditionally by blowing in to a tube for a certain amount of time). Our agency has a mandatory blood draw policy on drivers believed to be operating a vehicle impaired on alcohol (yes we obtain search warrants prior to blood draws, no we haven’t had any medical personnel refuse to draw the sample, no we haven’t had any motorists resist the obtaining of a sample). Evading an officer’s attempt to obtain a sample of the alcohol concentration in your blood by intentionally failing to follow the intoxilyzer operator’s instructions is becoming a thing of the past.

The following information is courtesy of www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/ traffic/safety/sober-safe/intoxication. html: About every 20 minutes in Texas, someone is hurt or killed in a crash involving alcohol. We urge you to take responsibility for your actions. Don’t drink and drive.

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

How Much Is Too Much?

Impairment begins with the first drink.

Your gender, body weight, the number of drinks you’ve consumed and the amount of food you’ve eaten affect your body’s ability to handle alcohol. Two or three beers in an hour can make some people legally intoxicated. Women, younger people and smaller people generally become impaired with less alcohol.

Data provided by the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission indicates that a 200 lb. man is likely legally intoxicated after four drinks in one hour. A drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor (40%), 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine. A 140 lb. woman is most likely intoxicated after 3 drinks in one hour. Alcohol does not leave the body as rapidly as it was ingested.

All of this being stated...this reminder isn’t for the hard core drinker who’s going to go out on the streets and create mayhem. We know who you are by your driving history, motor vehicle accidents, and your internet advice site coached behavior on traffic stops. This is for the person who has rarely had contact with law enforcement and might be considering that 4th drink at the office Christmas party. Please consider having a designated driver or choose not to drink and drive. Ride sharing services and taxi cabs are available throughout Dallas Fort Worth and are far cheaper than a defense attorney, court costs, fines, bail bonds, alcohol awareness classes, steering wheel interlock devices, wrecker yard fees, and increased insurance rates. Not to mention the soul crushing guilt that accompanies hurting another person because you chose to drive impaired.

What really happens to the person who decides to overindulge and then wander into the path of an officer? Let’s walk through a typical Driving While Intoxicated arrest.

An officer is on patrol at 1 a.m. and observes a lone motorist struggling to maintain a single lane of traffic, driving

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

slower than the speed limit (yep...you’re not fooling us by driving slower than the speed limit) and then failing to stop their vehicle for several blocks after the officer has signaled for them to pull over (stuffing bottles of booze under the passenger seat, while slowly refusing to stop, usually just results in spilled alcohol). All of the exhibited driving behaviors are clues that a reasonable person might view as indicators of intoxicated driving. In 2018 there is a high probability that the officer has captured the driving behavior on video.

As the officer prepares to exit the patrol car they broadcast their location to dispatch, look for traffic approaching from the rear, aim the vehicle spotlight and takedown lights into the stopped motorist’s passenger compartment and assess if they can safely approach the driver. Generally speaking the driver and any passengers will have an extremely difficult time looking through the wall of light. As the officer approaches the vehicle they will look at driver and passenger behavior and also observe the interior of the vehicle.

The officer’s first priority is to ensure that no weapons are being displayed and that the driver is compliant and not preparing to engage in a fight.

Upon greeting the driver most officers operate off of departmental training (there are some variations) and they announce their name, department, the reason for the stop and then request driver’s license and insurance. At this time, based upon a totality of circumstances, the motorist may be asked about alcohol consumption, what restaurant, bar or party they are returning home from or other situationally relevant questions. The officer may have observed that the interior of the vehicle smelled like alcohol upon the window being rolled down. Our officer has observed that the driver has blood shot eyes, slurred and incoherent speech and has an alcohol bottle laying on the passenger seat.

The officer will return to their vehicle,

Page B8

run the motorist for wanted, obtain registration information for any potential citations and request from dispatch a cover officer. Upon arrival of another officer the motorist will be asked to step from their vehicle and ideally to the side of the road, on a flat smooth surface, where they will be requested to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (a surprising number of times a neighbor or a friend will drive by and ask or demand to know what’s going on). The officer will look for horizontal and vertical gaze nystagmus (the involuntary jerking of the eyes beginning at 45% and when held at maximum deviation...this is the classic follow the pen or penlight with your eyes while keeping the head still test). Nystagmus can be an indicator of alcohol intoxication.

If the motorist is still compliant they will be asked to walk heel to toe for nine steps, in a straight line, turn and return to the start point while counting their steps out loud.

The officer will next have the driver perform the one leg stand where the motorist is asked to stand straight, place their arms at their sides and maintain that position while keeping a foot raised six inches off, and parallel to the ground. While holding that position the driver will be asked to count “one-thousand-one, onethousand-two...until told to stop.”

Officers are looking for the driver’s inability to maintain their balance, and follow simple instructions.

Officers take note of “clues” such as counting the wrong number of steps, starting the tests to early, or stopping the tests before completion, hopping, swaying or using their arms to balance.

The driver may be asked questions about whether they are operating a motor vehicle? What road are they on? Who owns the car? What was their destination? What is today’s date? When did you last eat? Are you under the influence See DO POLICE Page B12

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December 2018

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

Frenchtown Road. The turkey trotted off before the responding officer arrived.

The following is a summary of incident reports from the Argyle Police Department: On Oct. 27 at 9:22 p.m., someone called police concerned for the welfare of a woman on Hickory Hill Road because she said she had spoken to her an hour ago and now can’t reach her. An officer went to the house and found the resident was fine. She said she had just spoken to the caller within the last 20 minutes.

On Oct. 28 at 11:43 a.m., a driver reported “50 to 500 motorcyclists” were headed north on I35W, and one of them stopped in the roadway and flipped the caller off. The motorcyclists then took the FM 407 exit.

On Oct. 29 at 1:32 p.m., an officer stopped on I-35W when he saw an elderly man standing on the shoulder. The man said he was picking up a screwdriver. The officer advised him to be more careful.

On Nov. 3 at 4:51 p.m., a caller reported a “big turkey” holding up traffic on Hwy 377 at

Flower Mound Police Calls

The following was compiled from Flower Mound Police Department incident and arrest reports: On Oct. 25 at 6:36 p.m., a 20-year-old man was arrested in the 3700 block of Long Prairie Road on suspicion of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a first-degree felony, and evading arrest and resisting arrest, both Class A misdemeanors.

On Oct. 26 at 2:41 a.m., a 24-year-old man was arrested in the 4000 block of South Broadway Avenue on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a state jail felony.

On Oct. 26 at 8:53 a.m., a woman reported that her electronics valued $3,300 were vandalized in the 400 block of Northwood Drive.

On Oct. 30 at 7:55 p.m., a man reported that his $500 gun was stolen from a vehicle in the 1100 block of Woodbine Street.

On Nov. 4 at 9:23 a.m., a caller reported a turkey south on Hwy 377 south of FM 407. The responding officer said the turkey crossed the road for unknown reasons.

On Nov. 7 at 8:15 a.m., the turkey wreaked havoc again on traffic at Frenchtown and Hwy 377. It eventually left the roadway. It happened again on Nov. 11 at 9:47 a.m. and on Nov. 16 at 7:58 a.m.

Multiple people called police last month, as they have in the past, about a horse in a field on Crawford Road near Hwy 377 that the callers believe looks too skinny. The horse’s owner has confirmed that the horse eats well and is under a veterinarian’s care, but it is very old and is unable to maintain proper weight because of health issues.

On Nov. 20 at 2:45 p.m., a man on Old Town Boulevard called police because there was a male subject he believed to be homeless laying on the back step and covered with blankets, and the caller wanted him removed from the property. An officer found he was not homeless, but waiting on his friends to pick him up. The officer gave him a ride.

On Nov. 1 at 6:01 p.m., a woman reported the theft of jewelry valued $4,000 from the 800 block of Tealwood Circle. The stolen property was recovered.

On Nov. 3 at 4:17 a.m., a 23-year-old man was arrested at the intersection of Canyon Falls Drive and Cross Timbers Road on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a state jail felony, and DWI, a Class B misdemeanor.

On Nov. 9 at 9:28 a.m., someone reported the theft of property valued between $2,500 and $30,000 from the 1300 block of Sweetwater Lane.

On Nov. 11 at 4:12 p.m., someone reported the burglary of a habitation in the 1900 block of Kipling Drive.

On Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m. there was an armed robbery at Texas Trust Credit Union, 2501 Flower Mound Road. Two male suspects went inside, displayed handguns and ordered employees to open the vault. A third suspect was waiting in a beige Tahoe in the parking lot.

The Tahoe was later found unoccupied in a residential neighborhood behind the business.

Call the Anonymous Crime Tip Line at 972874-3307 if you have information about this incident.

Bartonville Police

with Double Oak PD.

crash without injuries.

On October 23, police responded to Lantana Town Center for an alarm.

On October 19, police responded to the 7100 block of FM 407 for an agency assist with Double Oak PD.

On October 24, police responded to Marty B’s for a vehicle burglary report.

Continued from Page B7

On October 19, police responded to the 300 block of Thornhill Circle for an agency assist with Double Oak PD. On October 20, police responded to the 8000 block of Watson Road in Lantana for an agency assist with the Denton County Sheriff’s Department.

On October 20, police responded to the 1000 block of IT Neely for an ordinance violation.

On October 21, police responded to the 2900 block of FM 407 for a criminal trespass.

On October 21, police responded to the 100 block of E. View Court for an agency assist

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Lantana Crime Watch

By Tracy Murphree, Denton County Sheriff

As of press time, Lantana had 203 calls for service for the month of November. The Denton County Sheriff’s Office responded to 36 alarm calls, 52 related traffic calls and 52 selfinitiates calls for service.

The Denton County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Unit consists of (1) Captain, (1) Personnel Assistant, (1) Administrative Assistant, and (3) Background Investigators.

Personnel handles responsibilities related to the onboarding and out processing of all employees within the Sheriff’s Office. Personnel is the liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and Denton County Human Resources for all fleet, workers comp, and first report of injury paperwork.

Investigators conduct preliminary interviews and background investigations into all internal and external applicants who apply for positions within the Sheriff’s Office. We are currently hiring Detention Officer to work all shifts. Our Detention Officer’s starting pay is $17.36 per hour plus benefits. The Detention Officer Job description, requirements, and

Highland Village Police Blotter The following incidents were provided by the Highland Village Police Department: 11/1 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 100 block of Branch Park Drive 11/3 – Forgery – 3200 block of Justin Road

application can be found on our website, www.dentoncounty.com/sheriff.

Our Training Unit is responsible for meeting the training needs and requirements for all the agency’s 600+ personnel. The Training Unit also maintains all training records, schedules training and manages the Denton County Firearms Training Facility. The unit consists of (1) Lieutenant, (1) Training Coordinator, and (1) Training Deputy. Training is very important in keeping our skills sharp. We train mentally and physically every day in order to maintain the highest mindset.

Nothing is “routine” in Law Enforcement, we all want to make sure we go home to our families after our shift.

The Quartermaster is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, inventory management of uniforms, equipment, and surplus of all Sheriff’s Office personnel and vehicles. The Quartermaster’s duties also include the management of the Sheriff’s Office vehicle fleet. This fleet includes marked and unmarked patrol cars, trucks, boats, watercraft, ATV’s and trailers. The unit consists of (1) Sergeant, and (1) Vehicle Outfitter. We expect our employees to be outfitted with the best equipment so they are able to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Denton County Sheriff’s Office!

11/9 – Theft – 3400 block of Mayfair Lane 11/9 – Theft – 100 block of Village Estates D rive 11/12 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 200 block of Scenic Drive 11/13 – Harassment- 2400 block of Park View 11/14 – Burglary of Vehicle – 3100 block of Justin Road

11/6 – Theft – 2200 block of Tartan Trail

11/14 – Driving While Intoxicated – Justin Road / Village Parkway

11/6 – Theft – 100 block of Canyon Creek Drive

11/16 – Possession of Marijuana – Highland Shores Boulevard / Lake Highlands Drive

11/8 – Animal Complaint / Bite Report – 2800 block of Justin Road

11/17 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 2300 block of Justin Road

11/8 – Theft – 100 block of Barnett Boulevard

11/19 – Animal Complaint – 3200 block of Justin Road

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On October 25, police responded to Lantana Town Center for an alarm.

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On October 26, police responded to the 60 block of McMakin Road for a suspicious vehicle.

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On October 26, police responded to 1800 block of FM 407 for a two-vehicle crash without injuries.

On October 27, police responded to a noise complaint at Marty B’s.

On October 28, police responded to the 3400 block of FM 407 for two-vehicle minor crash without injuries.

Page B9

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December 2018

Flower Mound Chamber Corner

By Lori Walker, President

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

New Members The Coder School Glenn Smith Executive Coaching The Knot Hair Studio Lisa Y. Pierce, MD, PA Parker Square on Main Mannatech, Inc. Mud Pie

1M Newonth Fre *Lant Custome for ana lo catio ers* n only

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

New Businesses From Oct. 2 to Nov. 15, the town issued certificates of occupancy to two marketing companies, a gardening store and an eye doctor’s office.

Living Earth, 3901 Haynes Road.

Provides a variety of mulch, compost and soils.

Visia Marketing, 2605 Long Prairie Road, Suite 305. A digital marketing firm specializing in strategic marketing programs for businesses.

Personal Eyes Vision Care, 2600 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 180. Provides medical and retail vision services.

Frontier Marketing, 3204 Long Prairie Road, Suite B. Specializes in PPC, social media marketing, analytics, CRM, sales

Page B10

funnel creation, site testing and optimization.

Shout Out! Flower Mound Chamber member Debbie Sardone, founder of nonprofit Cleaning For A Reason and owner and president of Buckets & Bows Maid Service, was recently honored with the Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award. The award is considered the cleaning industry association’s highest honor.

Let Us Serve You! Start the New Year off right and join our chamber! Call 972-539-0500 or visit us at flowermoundchamber.com to learn more about your chamber.

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November Ambassador of the Month: Kristin Clark, owner of GYMGUYZ North DFW

www.LakeLewisvilleRVBoatStorage.com

November Business of the Month: Gronberg Orthodontics

Your Local

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“I believe that financial planning is about more than just investing.

I am committed to helping you understand the investment process. I am here to help you with your financial needs and help you reach your goals.”

Shelly Dodge is a SmartVestor Pro, recommended by Dave Ramsey and the Ramsey Solutions organization to help with your retirement, college savings and other investments.

Honored to Serve Denton County

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Winners are chosen by Denton County residents. Residents from around Denton County are asked to nominate their favorite businesses. The top 3 from each catagory are voted by Denton County residents for “Best of Denton County”.

®

December 2018

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Page B11

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

“A Place for Mom” Helps Simplify Decisions With so many people already age 65 and older and millions more from the Baby Boom generation on the way, having information on where they might live and be cared for in their Golden Years is vital.

Fortunately, A Place for Mom is the nation’s largest assisted senior living referral service currently helping nearly 200,000 families through more than 20,000 providers. Its services are paid for by its participating communities, and therefore are offered at no-charge to families.

In southern Denton County and beyond, the first point of contact often is Kimberly Pardi, area community relations advisor and a long-time heath care resource consultant.

“I’ve always been an information center for seniors, because I’ve been working with seniors my entire career,” she said.

Pardi-- and the 25 advisors she works with-- connect approximately 125 people daily with more than 400 area providers.

They first find out what services are needed, how much money is available for those services and when and where they are needed. They then tap into their extensive database to match the right providers with those clients.

“By calling me with A Place for Mom, they [the advisors] will get them all the information, which saves the family time,” said Pardi. “They don’t have to get on the internet and Google and look up everything. Within a few hours of calling with all of their information, we can have them touring a place.”

Whether it’s independent living, assisted living, residential care homes, Alzheimer’s care, specialized memory care, skilled nursing, home care or any other daily living activities, A Place for Mom knows about them. It can even

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New CBD Shop Offers Natural Healing

Kimberly Pardi with A Place for Mom helps find living arrangements for area seniors. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

connect people with respite (short-stay) care needs during the busy upcoming holiday season.

Pardi also knows senior providers in the community, including healthcare experts, social workers, discharge planners, home health companies, hospice companies, senior centers, financial planners, attorneys and caregiver companies.

“We’re not just a high-income referral source,” Pardi said. “We will see what resources we can gather for you and what you can afford to move into. If there is someone out there that really doesn’t have an income, we can furnish a list of income-based housing and Medicaid.”

Pardi and the advisors also can research additional income sources such as Veterans’ benefits to allow clients better options.

For more information, contact Pardi at 469-222-0134, or kimberlyp2@ aplaceformom.com.

- Written by Mark Miller

Thomas Edwards extolls the merits of CBD oil at his new shop in Flower Mound. (Photo by Helen’s Photography) A husband and wife team is bringing a booming holistic medicine product to Flower Mound after they quickly became raving fans of the benefits of Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. In June, Viviana Edwards of Carrollton learned of the potential medical benefits of CBD, a non-intoxicating marijuana and hemp extract that is used by a growing number of people as a natural remedy for common ailments.

Edwards, seeking relief from her gout symptoms, went to the CBD American Shaman store in Carrollton and tried the water-soluble CBD product.

“Within 15-minutes, she was feeling better,” said her husband, Thomas Edwards.

“Since then, she has not had any problems with her gout.”

Thomas said Viviana continued to rave about how much better she was feeling, and he read that it could help with his mild case of bipolar disorder; so he tried it.

“It is helping tenfold,” he said. “After talking to my psychiatrist, I am off all my meds. I’m just taking CBD.” Viviana-- who works at a Dallas law firm-

- and Thomas-- who had retired-- learned that CBD American Shaman was looking to expand. On Oct. 6, they opened a new CBD American Shaman on FM 1171 in Flower Mound.

Everything sold in the store has ultraconcentrated terpene-rich hemp oil derived from all natural, high quality industrial hemp, from water-soluble oils to chocolates and gummies. There’s vape juice, ointments, lotions, lip balm and more. There are even products for pets, “that I can’t keep on the shelf,” Thomas said.

“It helps pets with different things like arthritis, separation anxiety, aggression and loud noises by calming them down,” Thomas said.

He said many customers buy CBD products to relieve pain and tension. Some use it to help them focus and athletes are using it to recover.

CBD American Shaman of Flower Mound is located at 2001 Cross Timbers Road, Suite 103. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Call 214-876-2921.

-Written by Mark Smith

Local Realtor Specializes in Senior Housing Transitions “When our parents or grandparents need assistance, it’s a learning curve for all,” said Edwena Potter, REALTOR®, Certified Senior Housing Professional and Flower Mound resident.

“Many have heard the child becomes the parent at some point. I have a different view.

The child becomes the ‘partner’ with the older adult to help with whatever is needed to ‘age safely.’

“We aren’t given a handbook to tell us how to deal with life’s changes,” Potter said. “The key is in the planning rather than making decisions in a crisis situation.”

When her Mother was diagnosed with cancer, she was fortunate to have her motherin-law, who owned a non-medical in-home health care business, as a guide.

“I was blessed to have that resource that most people don’t,” she said. “We don’t realize the great need out there until we need it. Then we are shocked and, in my case, appalled at the lack of affordable senior living. We don’t realize what Medicare and long-term care do and don’t pay for and how expensive care can be without proper planning and help of knowledgeable professionals along the way.”

Potter is presenting webinars twice a month called “Moving Mom and Dad: The 5 Common Mistakes Children of Older Adults Make and How to Avoid Them,” which provide talking points and a roadmap to reduce as much stress as possible when our parents or grandparents need to transition to a more supportive environment.

To register for the webinars, go to

Researchers and Scientists have published data on the following Health Benefits of CBD-Rich Hemp Oil

Edwena Potter specializes in helping seniors right-size. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

DFWSeniorRealEstate.com and click on “Moving Mom and Dad webinar.” Options are live at 9 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month or 10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month. If you can’t attend the webinar live, register anyway and the recording will be sent to you.

In addition to senior housing transitions, Potter serves first-time homebuyers, moveup buyers, “right-sizing” sellers and buyers and Probate related sellers in southern Denton County and northeast Tarrant County.

For more information contact Edwena Potter, REALTOR® Keller Williams® Realty Dallas Metro North at 469-616-0561.

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2001 Cross Timbers #103, Flower Mound, Texas 214-876-2921 | cbdamericanshamanfm@gmail.com cbdamericanshamanFM.com

December 2018

DO Police

Continued from Page B8

of alcohol? Do you see a doctor? Do you have a head injury, are you sick...etc.?

The officer, after considering the motorist’s driving behaviors, the smell of alcohol from their person and the vehicle compartment, the empty alcohol bottle on the seat, the driver’s admission that they had been consuming alcohol “...two drinks!..”, the onset of nystagmus at 45%, the inability of the subject to count, maintain their balance, or to follow simple instructions, will then take the motorist taken into custody.

The officer will have the person turn around, place them in handcuffs, pat the arrestee down for weapons, and then secure the defendant in the rear seat of the patrol car. Patrol vehicles are notoriously uncomfortable, cramped, and hot and smell like the last drunks urine and body odor. The arrestee’s field of view will be restricted to a piece of Plexiglas and the side window.

While the driver’s car is being placed on a flatbed wrecker the arrestee will be given a statutory warning by the arresting officer. In brief that statutory warning is notification that the driver is under arrest for the allegation of operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated.

The driver will be asked to give a specimen of their breath and / or blood to determine the concentration of alcohol or presence of a controlled substance, drug, dangerous drug or other substance in their body. The driver, ironically being asked to make a very important decision while most likely impaired, will have to decide to consenting or refusing the breath or blood test. If the driver refuses to permit a taking of a sample their license will be suspended for 180 days. The driver can appeal the suspension and request an administrative hearing to have their driving privileges restored.

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

If the suspected intoxicated motorist is stopped in Denton County there is a very good chance that the officer will apply for a search warrant and obtain a sample of the driver’s blood for analysis. That sample will be sent to a Texas Department of Public Safety laboratory for analysis and that evidence will possibly be used in a future prosecution.

Post having a sample of their breath or blood obtained the arrestee will be transported to a local jail or detention facility.

In my experience the rarified atmosphere of your average detention facility contains the interesting mix of cleaning agents, sweat, dirty socks, unwashed bodies and either freezing cold or swamp moist climate control. The intoxicated driver usually finds the detention officers abrupt, controlling and seemingly unconcerned about anything other than getting them into a cell. Once in the cell, or sometimes at the book-in desk, the arrestee gets to place an irrational and emotional collect call to a loved one (rarely an attorney) where they get the opportunity to explain where they are, what happened, and please come get them out of jail!

Once out of jail (usually after the spouse or parent posts bond with the assistance of a helpful bail bond company) the arrestee has the adventure of retrieving their car, finding an attorney, explaining to the boss why they missed a day of work, and quite probably finding rides to work, school and home for the next 180 days.

In my experience (any particular defendant’s may vary) it takes up to two years to see the inside of a courtroom for a Driving While Intoxicated prosecution. The overwhelming majority of cases are not resolved in a trial but in a plea bargain where the defendant agrees to straighten up and fly right, visit with a probation officer every now and then, pay fines and court fees, attend alcohol awareness counseling and to have “x” number of days deferred over “x” number of years

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

(meaning the defendant only spends time in jail if they violate the conditions of their probation).

There is an entire industry devoted to defending people arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. There are awesome billboards, radio ads and websites promoting the services of highly trained attorneys. You can easily spend thousands of dollars fighting a DWI arrest or maybe, just maybe, you can make that decision to spend fifty or one hundred dollars on a cab. You won’t have the interesting story about how the cops bad rapped you into jail...you won’t be able to talk about all the nice people you met during jail intake...you’ll miss out on those jail made baloney sandwiches...but you will have your job, your life and the peace of mind that you didn’t endanger someone else by driving while intoxicated.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Stay safe this holiday season!

Recent Police Calls 10-25-18 – Welfare Check – Double Oak – Concerned residents had an officer check on the welfare of an elderly neighbor. The senior citizen was fine and their adult child was contacted.

10-25-18 – Fraudulent Use of Identifying Information – An adult male, 49 years of age, is alleged to have used a former employer’s personal information to create and cash a fraudulent financial instrument.

10-30-18 – Drug Paraphernalia – Double Oak – During the conduct of a traffic stop an officer found suspected drug paraphernalia (multiple needles). Suspected methamphetamine was also found and will be sent to the State of Texas crime lab for analysis and possible future prosecution.

10-30-18 – Arrest – Double Oak – During

Page B12

the conduct of a traffic stop a Double Oak Officer determined that an adult male, 23 years of age, was wanted for driving on a suspended license with one previous conviction. Further investigation revealed that the motorist was also in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia. With the assistance of a Denton County Sheriff’s Deputy the subject was taken into custody for the active warrant and transported to Denton County Jail.

10-30-18 – Arrest – Double Oak – During the conduct of a traffic stop a Double Oak Officer determined that an adult male, 29 years of age, was wanted for multiple misdemeanor warrants issued by Denton County Precinct 4. Further investigation revealed that he was in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia.

11-01-18 – Theft by Deception – Double Oak – A cash only transaction for a vehicle sale took place in Double Oak. Further investigation revealed that the “seller” of the vehicle did not actually own the car and that he is suspected of defrauding the buyer out of $5,000 United States currency. The suspect, a 45 year old male, was taken into custody for an outstanding parole violation and an investigation is ongoing into the theft offense.

11-02-18 – Harassment – Double Oak – Complainant reports that they are receiving unwanted electronic communications from a known person.

11-12-18 – Arrest – Double Oak – During the conduct of a traffic stop a Double Oak Officer determined that an adult male, 21 years of age, was wanted for a Theft of Property Warrant, class a misdemeanor out of Denton County. Subject was taken into custody with the assistance of a Flower Mound Officer and transported to Denton County jail.

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December 2018

Gardening: Oh, Christmas Tree!

By Noelle M. Hood, Resident Green Thumb

Ever wonder where those live Christmas trees for sale come from?

If they’re Texas born and bred, they’re probably Virginia Pines that grew-up in the tasty acid soils of east Texas, let’s say from the far side of Sulphur Springs on toward the sunrise. In decent climatic conditions these fast growers reach six- to eight-feet-tall in three- to five-years.

The Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Texas Forest Service germinate the seeds, then sell the eight- to 12-inch baby conifers to tree farmers who plant acres of them in the straightest rows you’ve ever beheld. A woodland of one variety of trees of nearly identical height is impressive if you like things pin neat.

But, just for grins, let’s say you want to grow your own Christmas tree. Don’t be in a rush. Your first concern is the soil. Get it tested, then obtain advice on how to make it sufficiently acid. Heavy clay soil will be a problem to be solved before planting. You are aiming for a good size hole filled with loamy top soil. The best source of guidance for these parts of the project is the County Extension Office.

Christmas trees like to grow in full sun on a slope because, except for the first year of life, they prefer reasonably dry tootsies.

Water that pools in the suburban landscape means a drainage problem that must be fixed, so take care of that before asking, “What’s next?”

Seedlings need to spend year-one in a pot in greenhouse conditions. The growing mix should be 1:1:1 peat, vermiculite, perlite, plus ¼-teaspoon of lime for each gallon of

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mix. The goal is neutral pH for new roots.

In the soil test results, that’s the number 7 on a scale of 1-14.

If the roots look plentiful, add a pinch of slow-release fertilizer on the soil surface in the pot. During spring and autumn that first year water the wee-tree once a week. Make sure the pot drains. And don’t forget light; they like full sun.

Ideally, the young tree will spend yeartwo out of the greenhouse-- as what people in the business call a transplant-- in the ground. Avoid pot-bound roots. Clear out weeds before transplanting.

Let’s say you cover all the bases by planting more than one tree.

If soil conditions are just right-- and small trees are planted seven- to eight-feet-apart from the get-go-- you probably won’t have to dig and transplant a second time. Christmas trees need good air circulation to avoid diseases and pest problems, so be generous with spacing.

After they venture outside, only water during dry periods and drought.

To make the tree look like a triangular Christmas tree start pruning and shearing by the third year when the needles are oneinch-long. Step back, like an artist, to view your work as it progresses. If you wreck the shape who knows how long recovery will take? Shaping is an annual chore usually done in mid-summer.

Pine trees normally have a 30-percent needle loss each year. This stuff is called pine straw and decomposes into acidic material that can be used in the garden.

Don’t apply it too thickly or it will prevent water getting into the soil.

At years six-to-nine, the tree will be ready for harvest. Do this in late autumn when moisture is high in the tree’s tissues.

Place a harvested tree IMMEDIATELY in a container of water to stop the cut from resealing-- the equivalent of blood clotting-which, in the case of a tree, will prevent water absorption.

Contact the writer at noellemhood@gmail.com

Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

Rain Took a Break in November

By Meteorologist Brad Barton

After two months of record rains, November’s weather gave us a break and a much-appreciated opportunity to get started on fall gardening. And from the look of things, December may be relatively quiet, as well.

November was much cooler and drier than normal. As of the 24th, our warmest afternoon high temperature was 80 degrees on November 5th, while our coldest early morning low was 21 on the morning of the 14th. Our first official freeze of the season occurred on the morning of November 10th with an early morning low of 30 degrees, only slightly earlier than our average first freeze around the 15th. Our average temperature for the month turned out to be around 50 degrees, which is over 5 degrees cooler than normal for November.

Rainfall was sparse. Denton Enterprise Airport recorded .24” on the 3rd, .04” on the 7th and 8th, and 1/10th of an inch on the 12th which gave us a total of .38” which was 1.92” below normal. So far this year, Denton has recorded approximately 38.48” of rain, which, counting a nearly two-inch deficit in November, leaves Denton roughly 2 inches above normal for the year.

No storm damage was reported in Denton County from the severe thunderstorms that struck North Texas on November 3rd, but a 66 mile-per-

Page B13

hour wind gust was reported in West Fort Worth at the Joint Reserve Base (Carswell). It’s likely fences were tested and a few trees were “wind-pruned” in the storms on November 3rd.

Looking ahead, the Climate Prediction Center is leaning in favor of a weak El Nino developing this winter. A weak El Nino is probably meaningless for North Texas. Stronger El Ninos have produced wet, stormy winters and occasional droughts, but there’s no strong signal either way.

Government forecasters predict December will be near normal in terms of temperature and precipitation, while the December/January/February indicates normal temperatures but slightly-abovenormal precipitation. For what it’s worth, some private meteorologists are forecasting an unusually harsh winter in parts of the mid-south in the months ahead, but the worst of the cold air outbreaks and precipitation would tend to miss Texas.

As we seal up our houses for cold weather ahead, please be sure to contact a licensed professional to inspect your gas furnaces and water heaters to check the gas lines, the heat exchangers and combustion chambers for any carbon monoxide leaks. We know we can expect at least a handful of cold weather outbreaks and on average, about three days in which measurable snow or ice falls during the winter months.

Have a safe and meaningful Holiday season!

Brad Barton is Chief Meteorologist for WBAP820/570KLIF/99.5, ‘The Wolf.’

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December 2018

PATIENT CHOICE ... or PATIENT MANIPULATION?

By Tad Tomaseski

When a patient is ready to discharge from an acute care hospital, legally, they are supposed to be given choices on where they will discharge to and/ or from whom they will receive post-discharge services. These unbiased choices are required by Medicare and State regulations, to be presented to the patient without discrimination on the hospitals part. This is intended to make sure the patient has been given all choices available without concern of there being ulterior motive to push them in a direction that benefits the hospital or hospital staff rather than what is in the patients best interest.

I would like to say our local hospitals are

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adhering strictly to these regulations, but sadly, I am seeing too much evidence to the contrary. That is why it is so crucial for you as the patient, or as an advocate to a patient (family member or friend) to be educated on all of your choices, which is the best choice for you, and be insistent on your right to make that choice regardless of the pushback you may receive from hospital staff.

Due to there being so many different services and discharge options that depend on a patients particular condition, I will only focus on the choices of discharge to rehab.

First let’s understand your two choices when it comes to discharge to rehab as this can be very, very confusing. The primary reason it is so confusing, is because “Skilled Nursing Facilities” (SNF) are being referring to as “Rehabilitation”, which can make a person think they are receiving the same services they will receive at an “Rehabilitation Hospital” also known as a “Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility” (IRF).

The first important difference between SNF and IRF is that an IRF is licensed as a hospital and has to pass the same inspections and are held to the same regulations as the acute care hospital, and additionally

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are held to hospital level rehabilitation standards. Whereas the SNF is held to nursing home regulations and nursing home level rehabilitation. Another important difference is the nurse to patient ratio. icare Rehabilitation Hospital has a nurse to patient ratio of 1 to 3-5 (depending on patient acuity) and most other IRF’s in the area are 1 to 7-10, whereas most SNF’s are 1 to 20.

Yet another very important difference to consider is that IRF’s are required to have their Physical Medicine Physician evaluate the patient within 24 hours of admission to establish a plan of care and are required to see the patient at least 3 times per week. At icare we have both a Physical Medicine Doctor and Internal Medicine Doctor rounding 7 days a week (much more than we are legally required, to assure we give excellent care), whereas SNF’s are only required to have a physician visit within 30 days of admission.

At an IRF you will have a minimum of a Physical Medicine Doctor, Internal Medicine Doctor, Case Manager, Licensed Dietician, Rehab Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech Therapist, all evaluating, treating, and communicating as a team to maximize your outcomes, while providing at least 15 hours of skilled therapy per week, whereas SNF’s are not required to offer this level of care or therapy. We have taken patients from local SNF’s upon families request, once they learned we were an option, as we were not given as an option at acute hospital discharge and we have discovered these SNF patients receiving as little as 15 minutes a day in therapy.

Let me make myself clear that I am not saying this is the case with all SNF patients, or at all SNF’s, but what I am saying is that an IRF operating at these standards would be shut down by both the State and Medicare, as we are held to a much higher standard of care requirement. These are two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT levels of care that should not be confused or be considered comparable to one another. SNF is a lower level of care which is reflected in the fact that they cost insurance companies less money. I am not saying IRF is necessarily the right choice over SNF for all cases. I’m just saying you need to know

the differences to make sure you make an educated decision that best suits your medical rehabilitation needs.

So why would an acute care hospital be motivated to sway or manipulate you to choose a SNF rather than an IRF? The number one reason is due to “bundling” programs. What this means is that the hospital has entered a “bundling” program that splits the money between all of those giving care between hospitalization and home, until that medical episode has been discharged from all services. So therefore, if the hospital discharges you to a level of care that is “less expensive” then that hospital gets to keep “a bigger piece of the pie.”

How do I know for a fact this sort of “manipulation” is happening? Because many family members and patients in SNF hear about us through a friend or the internet, unfortunately too late. Many times they have not received the level of care they needed and either made poor progress or went backwards in their rehabilitation. They show us the list they were given that was labeled “Rehabs” which only included SNF’s. When these patients records were reviewed by us, they easily qualified for Inpatient Rehabilitation but were not given IRF as a choice. This breaks my heart to see patients choices being manipulated and potentially compromised for the better financial good of health care institutions.

The rehab outcomes are so grossly different between IRF and SNF and can be found on the web. When talking to your hospital staff about discharge, ask them to specify whether the “rehab” choices you are being given are SNF or IRF. I don’t have enough room to write all I have to say on this subject, as there is so much to cover to understand the differences. I hope I at least stirred enough interest to make you want to do your homework and learn more. Feel free to stop by icare (icareHospital.com) and ask for me, if you would like to discuss this in greater depth.

Remember, you have rights as a patient.

Know your rights. You have choices as a patient. Know your choices. Let us know if we can help.

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Hometown Gifts For the Holidays

By Mark Miller, Contributing Writer

Now that another Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, new and longtime “brick-and-mortar” businesses in The Shops of Highland Village are ready for the home stretch of holiday shopping.

There’re plenty of excellent gift ideas available right here in southern Denton County, no matter who remains on your “nice” list.

Mud Pie

Sherry Craft and Tiffany Craft Jenkins have brought Mud Pie to Denton County.

One of the newest businesses in The Shops opened in October, four years after Tiffany Craft Jenkins and her mother, Sherry Craft, launched the nation’s first Mud Pie store in Frisco in 2014.

Jenkins calls it a gift store for everybody that focuses on three main lines: women’s clothing and accessories (jewelry, bags and totes); kids’ clothing and accessories; and, a home furnishing accessory line

with products including dishes with fun sayings, wreaths, flowers, vases, serving pieces, wine glasses and cheese boards.

The most popular holiday items are anything with copper lettering of peoples’ initials on them, such as cutting boards and matching coasters, plus throws and blankets.

“You can kind of make them anyway you want,” said Jenkins, a former forensic scientist.

Craft is a former office manager and Certified Public Accountant who handles Mud Pie’s financials, while Jenkins’ husband, Brian, helps with social media and computers.

“We have tons of other gifts, like wine glasses, that have fun sayings on them for Christmas,” Jenkins said. “Our other most popular items are Tex-Mex sets with statements like my favorite, ‘Holy Guacamole,’ on one piece and, ‘It’s 5-O’Guac Somewhere,’ on another. It’s just fun things like that.”

Brightside Boutique Ann Wolf has had her store for 11-years and is among approximately 100 stores nationwide with the Brighton Heart designation directly connected to the Brighton family.

She focuses on women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry, plus an extensive cosmetics section with full skin care lines and makeup artistry for proms, weddings and other special occasions. She also stocks a selection of men’s wallets and belts.

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Gifts

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WE ARE MORE THAN A RESALE STORE.

Continued from Page C5

Among the most popular items are Brightonbrand charm bracelets, lockets and handbags, many of which can be personalized.

Also popular are UGG robes, jackets and shoes and Ivy Jane specialty women’s clothing.

On the cosmetic side, Merle Norman is a topselling brand with 13 product lines to address different needs.

“Skincare and anti-aging is the key,” Wolf said. “Anything that reverses and prevents the aging process is always popular.”

HOME DECOR, FURNITURE, CLOTHING, JEWELRY, & MORE

Décor to Your Door

Christine Beck, whose business has been open in Highland Village for five years, has three primary gift suggestions.

One is a gift certificate for an interior designer personal consultation for a fresh change for your home.

Another is the MOS B. Bear, MOS B. Bear from Décor which stands for to Your Door.

“My Old Shirt” and is a memory bear for anyone made from the shirt of a loved one.

Finally, there’s the Scripture Rock, “your favorite bible scripture in calligraphy on Carrera marble,” Beck said.

Beck also offers these holiday decorating tips.

“With a tree that is less full and requires more ornaments, run an organza-like material scarf through the middle of the tree from bottom to top and spread the material to give a full look,” she said. “Use a variety of different sized ornaments, including a few that are considerably larger to give focal areas to the tree.

“Change out solid ornaments every year or so to offer a new color of the season. A wellplaced garland, on a table or fireplace, is a nice addition to a Christmas tree.”

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Ladies’ fashions at Briesly’s Boutique and Hello Daffodil (below)

Hanaya Hibachi, Sushi & Asian Fusion

Nasr Bros Jewelers

The Highland Village location of Nasr Bros, opened in 2006, is one of five owned

by Eli Nasr, his brothers, Louis and Peter, as well as their father, Paul. They specialize in a wide variety of jewelry for any budget.

“We’ve always done well with diamond products Eli Nasr can help pick out like diamond earthe perfect gift. rings, diamond rings, diamond wedding bands and tennis bracelets,” said Eli. “Next, we do very well with our silver lines, like John Hardy-- a high-end silver and 18-carat gold line. They are hand-made in Bali with lots of attention to their work. If you are a John Hardy customer, you always want to add three-to-five pieces to your collection.”

Also, popular in silver is Pandora, which Nasr says continues a decade-long trend.

“Its price-point is in the middle, but it is quality jewelry,” Nasr said. “We have stuff from $30 up to $5,000.”

Nasr said this time of year also brings in much custom-design and repair work. And, of course, watches remain great gifts, especially Hamilton, a new line [for Nasr] handmade in Geneva, Switzerland, that has sold well in a short time.

The Lakeside Boardwalk and Sunset Point

Moviehouse

Carvao Brazilian

Lakeside tonight?

New merchants opening W in The Shops at Lakeside Personal Eyes Lakeside Tavern Flower Mound Med Spa Gusto Wine Bar

Now open Opening January Opening January Opening March

eeknights or weekends, the charms of Lakeside beckon — from the trails and street life to the shops and restaurants.

Stroll through The Shops at Lakeside and then walk The Lakeside Boardwalk to Sunset Point for views over Grapevine Lake. Where else but Lakeside?

2314 Lakeside Parkway in Flower Mound • www.lakesidedfw.com

December 2018

THE CROSS TIMBERS GAZETTE

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100's of fabrics to choose from.

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Cross Timbers YMCA 2021 Cross Timbers Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028 972-539-9622 www.crosstimbersymca.org Mission: To put Christian values into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

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*$10 OFF valid for any one-hour Massage or Facial guest-priced gift card excluding waxing and cash denomination purchases. Not valid toward Introductory Offers. **Free Promotional one-hour Massage or Facial gift card with purchase of guest-priced Spa Package valued at $150 or more. Limit 2 per customer. Not valid with purchase of cash denomination or waxing gift cards. Not valid towards introductory offers. Not valid online. Promotional gift card valid at issuing location only and expires one year from issue. Rates and services may vary by location. Offers may not be combined. Offers Expires: 12-31-2018. Sessions include time for consultation and dressing. Independently Owned & Operated. ©2018 Hand & Stone Corp. Franchises Available. ME2783/746769 ME3090/750503

December 2018

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Christ was born for you Experience the joy of Christmas

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church

Christmas Eve

4 PM | 7 PM | 12 Midnight

Christmas Day 9:30 AM

Visit us at stphilipcc.org 1897 West Main Street | Lewisville, Texas | 75067 | 972-436-9581

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December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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2303 COLORADO BLVD, DENTON, TX 76205 | 940-382-4340 | THEDESIGNHOUSEDFW.COM

December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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100's of fabrics to choose from.

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Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM

TRIETSCH MEMORIAL UMC 6101 MORRISS ROAD FLOWER MOUND

December 2018

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Church Directory

Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

The Pastor’s Place Give Thanks in All Circumstances

By Kyle Cunningham, Lead Minister, Bridgeway Church

Connecting to God. Connecting to People.

SUNDAYS

CHAPEL 8:30

8201 FM 407 Copper Canyon, TX 75077 972-317-9500 bwchurch.org Sunday Worship: 9:30 & 11:00 AM

MODERN 9:45 TRADITIONAL 11:00 SUNDAY SCHOOL AT 9:45 & 11

Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m.

1001 Cross Timbers Rd, Suite 1050 Flower Mound, TX 75028 469-464-3940 www.calvarychapelflowermound.org

Chinn's Chapel United Methodist Church

Some people just need a little church!

Worship - Sunday at 10:30 AM 1 mi. north of FM 407 on Chinn Chapel Rd

www.chinnschapel.org

Flower Mound Presbyterian Church

2840 Village Pkwy Highland Village, TX 75077

SUNDAYS WEDNESDAYS

10 AM 7 PM

2525 Forest Vista Flower Mound, TX

fmgrace.org 972.724.7223

1501 Flower Mound Road

Sunday School: 9:30am Worship Services: 10:30am www.fmpcweb.org

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and I am not feeling very thankful.

My wife, two sons and I are currently traveling back to Dallas from a Thanksgiving trip in Colorado.

It’s been a long day—traveling with a toddler and a five-year-old will take its toll under ideal circumstances— and today, the circumstances have been anything but ideal.

This morning we drove through a snowstorm. There were crashes and delays on I-70. It was a white-knuckled ride. What should have been a two-hour trip took closer to four.

We finally arrived at our Airbnb.

We were tired but glad to rest before the final leg of our return journey.

Unfortunately, there was a check-in problem and it took us nearly an hour and a half to gain entry to our room.

Then, we discovered that our unit was

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not prepared and to my dismay, there were no clean towels. (Yes, I checked to see if there was detergent. No, there was none.)

To top it all off, an hour ago, my wife had to take our toddler to Urgent Care due to a fever that has not broken for two days.

I repeat: I am not feeling very thankful.

Why am I lacking gratitude? It’s simple—because too often, my level of gratitude is based on my present circumstances. This is a problem because we know that circumstances change! Sometimes things are good, sometimes they are not. But that shouldn’t change our level of gratitude.

There is one simple truth that should point us to thanksgiving, no matter the day you’ve had or the season you are in: God who is good, even when my circumstances are not.

In this time of Thanksgiving, let’s choose to align our perspective to this truth and allow gratitude to flow from God’s goodness, not our circumstances.

The Pastor’s Place features articles written by a different area church leader each month.Call 940-7288284 for more information.

If you miss a day, you miss a lot!

Follow us online, Facebook and Twitter.

Northcrest Community Church SUNDAYS @ 10:30A

2120 S. Garden Ridge Blvd. www.northcrest.org 972-539-2348

8:15A, 9:30A & 11:15A

9:30 AM BIBLE STUDY 9 AM WORSHIP 10:30 AM WORSHIP

Call 940-728-8284 to reserve your church directory listing!

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

NobleClassicHomes.com

December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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100's of fabrics to choose from.

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December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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100's of fabrics to choose from.

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Hope for Tomorrow

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Joy for Today

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1101 Shoal Creek, Suite 120, Highland Village, TX

The Porcelain Doll

Freedom from the Past

MARRIAGE

Uniquely You.

Like most kindergarten boys, there’s a bit of elfish mischief in my son that revels in making his sister jump, scream and run frantically from whatever torture tool he flashes, such as a snail or water balloon.

But for the most part, my two children are inseparable. Bunk beds become secret forts, pinkie promises are sacred and treats are to be divided 50-50. But even with so much friendship between them, nothing could have prepared me for the small act of kindness my son, David, expressed one Christmas.

It was a windy day in December when David and I attended the all-school Christmas boutique. I shoved a dollar into his hand and told him to go shopping. Only two minutes later he came back with a sack holding his purchase: It was a beautiful porcelain doll he’d purchased for his sister. There are not words to express how proud I was of my son, who had spent his only dollar on his sister, and got a bargain to boot. I only wish the story ended there.

On the way to the car, I heard the crash.

David sobbed as he scooped the doll out of the gutter, her feet lying shattered in pieces on the ground. I knew there was no fixing her, but I promised that with booties on her feet, no one would notice the difference. When Christmas morning arrived, I pulled my daughter aside and explained to her about the gift and how it was accidentally broken. I asked her to love it anyway.

It’s was similar to the talk God has often delivered to me. He continually taps me

on the shoulder and says, “Be gentle with your fellow man; he has flaws, personality defects borne out of a shattered life, but his heart wants so badly to contribute something of value.”

That morning, everything went as planned. My daughter was grateful and my son beamed with joy. I ran to get the nice camera, in hopes of capturing this holiday moment. As I focused through the lens on my two children, I blinked in disbelief. Slowly moving the camera away from my eye, I gazed upon the doll’s face.

I had never noticed before, but her eyes were painted closed. Blinded by love, overflowing with grace. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Merry Christmas from Pete Thompson Christian Counseling, PeteThompson.org

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December 2018

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St. Mark Christmas Mass Schedule 6500 Crawford Rd. †Argyle, TX 76226 www.stmarkdenton.org

for more information, contact the parish office at 940-387-6223

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December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

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100's of fabrics to choose from.

Make your in-home consultation today.

We come to you!

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1101 Shoal Creek, Suite 120, Highland Village, TX

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December 2018

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Online at www.CrossTimbersGazette.com

UT & AB UT Foodie Friday: Hillside Fine Grill

By Jay Marks

Residents of Highland Village and the surrounding areas anxiously awaited the grand opening of Hillside Fine Grill this fall.

Located in the former Applebee’s on FM 407, Managing Partner, Rick Valley, and his team completely transformed the space to provide a contemporary yet comfortable restaurant right here in Highland Village for local residents to enjoy.

The goal was to make it so that residents no longer felt like they had to travel to Uptown or Southlake for a delicious, contemporary restaurant experience. And that’s exactly what has happened! And our community has received them with open arms and TONS of support!

We were there at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday to chat with Rick and the place was absolutely packed the entire time we were there. Everything from birthday lunches to business meetings to people just quickly grabbing a drink and something to eat at the bar.

Hillside’s menu has something for everyone. There are lots of fresh seafood options including their Salm-

on, Quinoa & Kale Salad and their Fresh Ruby Red Trout garnished with grilled Gulf shrimp. We learned that all of their seafood is wild, not farmed, which just makes it all taste so much better.

They also offer a fantastic selection of steaks and ribs. We had a sample of some of their ribs and those slowsmoked ribs literally fall right off the bone.

You’ll also find hamburgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and even some pasta dishes. All of which we’ve heard fantastic things about and look incredible.

To pair with your meal, Hillside Fine Grill also houses an incredible bar and wine selection. At the bar, you can order one of their cocktails in-

cluding their Blood Orange Margarita or their famous Hillside Martini made with Tito’s, Cointreau, Blood Orange, Lime and a shot of Sprite.

We believe the success and adoration of Hillside Fine Grill can best be summarized by this Yelp review from Angie D: “We will make this a future date night spot, family night spot, out to lunch spot, you name it! Don’t wait to try Hillside, go now and see for yourself!”

Hillside Fine Grill is located at 3140 FM 407 in Highland Village.

Jay Marks is the owner of Jay Marks Real Estate and a top performing real estate broker with over 24 years experience and a passion for food.

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UT & AB UT The Arts in Southern Denton County and Beyond: Holiday

By Elizabeth Brannon

Add a little art to your life! There’s no easier or better time to enjoy the arts than during the holiday. We’re lucky to have many quality and varied opportunities here in our community to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday and other nonholiday arts, as evidenced by the following: Studio B Performing Arts Center presents the children’s workshop production of Deck the Halls with Drama, a collection of seven holiday skits. Show runs weekends through Dec. 9. Visit www.studiobtheater. com. This show is appropriate for all ages.

Studio B is located in Highland Village.

Annual Christmas Concert, presented by the Voices of Flower Mound, the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra, and the Trietsch Chancel Choir, Saturday, Dec. 15 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 16 (2:30 p.m.) at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Road, Flower Mound. Or, check out their Facebook page: Voices of Flower Mound.

The Flower Mound Philharmonic and Preparatory Orchestras will present a holiday chamber music concert at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1 at the Flower Mound Library. For more information, please call 972.874.6165 or visit www.

The Flower Mound Community Orchestras are composed of local musicians of all ages who volunteer their time and talents for the benefit of cultural awareness in the community.

fmco.org.

Greater Lewisville Community Theater – Now through Dec 30 – Beauty and the Beast It may not be a holiday theme, but it is art and joyful and local and something for the whole family. www.glct.org The Town of Flower Mound annual Christmas Parade - Saturday, December 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. Join the Town in celebrating its 29th annual Christmas Parade!

This year’s theme will be “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The nighttime parade will have lighted floats parading down Spinks Road to Gerault Park. At Gerault Park, there will be a tree lighting. It’s a great holiday event for the family.

The Robson Ranch Community Choir, directed by Dr. Arturo Ortega and accom-

panied by Paul Lees, presents their 2018 Christmas Concert – Christmas at the Ranch. Performances will be at the Robson Ranch Clubhouse Auditorium, on Saturday, December 15, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, at 4 p.m.

Tickets are available in advance and at the door.

Visual Arts League of Lewisville - Enjoy a collection of pieces created by members of the Visual Art League of Lewisville as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. The exhibit will be on display in the North Corridor of the MCL Grand, now through Dec. 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday, and during public events at the venue.

For those that want to venture beyond southern Denton County, consider these holiday opportunities: The Vocal Majority Chorus - presents their Christmas Show – The Greatest Snowman – at the Eisemann Theater in Richardson from December 20 – 23. Tickets are available in all price ranges and the shows are suitable for the entire family.

Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. Visit the vocalmajority.com for more information and tickets.

The Dallas Theater Center -presents A Christmas Carol at the Wylie Theater, Now through December 30. It’s a classic, not-to-be missed holiday show. If you’ve never seen a Christmas Carol, this is great way to add this work of art to your personal list of holiday favorites.

The Texas Ballet Theater - will present The Nutcracker on weekends from now until December 2 at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, and from December 7 through December 24 at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. There are matinee and evening performances every weekend and a special performance on Christmas Eve. Like A Christmas Carol, the Nutcracker is a traditional holiday treat to be enjoyed at least once in your lifetime.

Music Hall at Fair Park – presents the modern day Christmas classic, Elf the Musical through December 2.

There are numerous things to do in the area to celebrate the arts, far more this column can include. Bottom line, in the middle of this busy month, take a little time to savor the beauty of life and the season as presented through the arts.

Elizabeth Brannon serves on the Flower Mound Cultural Arts Commission.

Join Us This Holiday Season!

“Let us share the experience with you!”

For reservations please call 972-539-8555 or online at Open Table.

Hours of Operation Monday- Thursday 5pm-9pm Friday & Saturday 5pm-10pm Sunday 11:30am-2:30pm; 5pm-9pm

Located at Lakeside DFW on the corner of FM2499 and Lakeside Pkwy • www.carvaosteakhouse.com

December 2018

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ARGYLE: December 1 - 2nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting from 4-8 p.m. at Argyle Fire Station at 511 S. Gibbons. 940-294-6277 BARTONVILLE: December 8 – Old Town Christmas from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bartonville Town Center, 2652 FM 407. 940-241-3030 COPPER CANYON: December 1 - Santa Party for Copper Canyon Kids from 3-5 p.m. at Town Hall, 400 Woodland. 940-241-2677 DOUBLE OAK: December 3 - Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. in J.B. Wright Park, 300 Waketon.

972-539-9464

December 15–16 - Annual Christmas Concert at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss. www.FMCO.org

December 8 – Christmas at the Ranch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Doubletree Ranch Park, 310 Highland Village Road. 972-317-7430

December 15 - Children’s Winter Festival from 2 - 4 p.m. at Double Oak Town Hall. Activities, crafts and games. www.doubleoakwomensclub.com

December 16 - Pet Photos with the Grinch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Bow Wow Flower Mound, 3434 Long Prairie. All proceeds benefit Humane Tomorrow. 972-410-3647

Through December 9 - “Deck the Halls with Drama” at Studio B Performing Arts Center, 2400 FM 407. 972-966-2787

FLOWER MOUND: December 6 – Santa Claus is Coming to Epic from 4 to 7 p.m. at Epic Healthcare & Physical Medicine, 1681 FM 407. 972-355-0083

December 21 - Kid’s Night Out from 5 to 9 p.m. at Community Activity Center, 1200 Gerault.

972-874-6280

December 9 - O Holy Night – A Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 902 N. Chinn Chapel Rd. 855-474-0101

December 8 - Lamb of God Lutheran Church Live Nativity from 2 to 6 p.m. at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 1401 Cross Timbers. 972539-5200

HIGHLAND VILLAGE: December 1 - Santa in Highland Village from 1 to 4 p.m. at Highland Village Fire Station, 1200 Highland Village Road. www.highlandvillage. org

LANTANA: December 11 - Lantana Ladies League Holiday Party at 6:30 p.m. at Denton Country Club, 1213 Country Club Road. lantanaladiesleague. com

December 8 – 29th Annual Flower Mound Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony from 6 to 9 p.m. at Gerault Park, 1200 Gerault.

972-874-6276.

December 4 - McAuliffe MerCAntile from 6 to 8 p.m. at McAuliffe Elementary School, 2300 Briarhill. Featuring over 40 local vendors. 469713-5959

December 11 - Teen Talk to Discuss Healthy Relationships from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Flower Mound Municipal Court, 4150 Kirkpatrick. 972219-3671

December 5 - Highland Village Women’s Club Holiday Party and Auction at Lantana Golf Club, 800 Golf Club Dr. hvwclub.com

NEARBY AREAS: December 1 – Old Town Holiday Stroll & Huffines Auto Dealerships Christmas Parade from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Wayne Ferguson Plaza, 150 W Church Street, Lewisville. 972-219-3401

December 13 - Candlelight Tour of Homes from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Bridlewood Golf Club, 400 W. Windsor. www.womenofflowermound.org

December 8 - Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shoal Creek Tavern, 1701 Shoal Creek. 972-317-2250

December 1 - Old Fashioned Christmas from 4 to 8 p.m. at Justin City Hall, 415 N. College Avenue, Justin. www.cityofjustin.com December 1 - Roanoke’s Old-Fashioned Christmas from 5 to 9 p.m. at City of Roanoke

Visitor’s Center, 108 S. Oak Street, Roanoke.

817-491-2411 December 4 – Triangle Squares Dance Club Lessons from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1424 Stuart Drive, Denton. www.trianglesquaresdanceclub. com December 6 - Parade of Lights from 7 to 9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Grapevine, along S. Main Street. 817-421-2999 December 8 – Santa Paws Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gene Carey Animal Shelter & Adoption Center, 995 E. Valley Ridge Drive, Lewisville. 972-219-3478 December 8 – Reindeer Romp 4.2 mile run and 2.5 mile walk at 5:30 p.m. at South Lakes Park, 556 Hobson Lane, Denton. Includes. www. cityofdenton.com December 15 – Christmas with the Lewisville Civic Chorale from 7 to 8 p.m. at Medical City Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N Charles Street, Lewisville. 214-513-8971 Through December 30 – 5th Annual Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway from 6 to 10 p.m. at 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth. www.tmsgiftoflights.com

December 2018

Something To Muench On...

Every Ending a New Beginning

By Kimberly Muench

Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, this is the time of year when we ask ourselves, “What did I accomplish?”

Which is often closely followed by, “What are my goals for the coming year?” Am I the only one who thinks we should consider pausing for a bit between these two questions and just congratulate ourselves for all of the things we’ve done to survive another 365 days of life’s ups and downs?

Why the rush to define what the next

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year will look like? Because someone told us we had to have a list of things to do? This is what I pondered as I filled in a recent leadership worksheet.

Don’t get me wrong, I do see value in thinking through and outlining a direction for what lies ahead, I just believe there is value in pausing (at least long enough for a dozen deep breaths) to acknowledge the fact that we’ve come through another celebrated cycle of time.

When I reflect on this past year in my own life, I recognize I began a new job that, while overwhelming at times, has taught me a lot about myself and my ability to learn, execute, and grow into a role I’d not even known existed at the end of last year. That personal growth is leading me to a point of now creating a project that has the potential to positively impact every parent whose child stays inpatient at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Because I have a passion for parents, and because Cook Children’s knows the

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best advocate for a child is their parent (who can only be at their best when they are well cared for), the program is being developed around the idea of self-care for the moms and dads of the patients. The basis of which can be attributed to a book I read last holiday season about bringing simple hospitality and compassion into our community.

You see what I mean?

When I take some time to reflect on how the fact that where I am right now has been created by all of the choices and decisions I have made, I am blown away by how the events in life give us opportunity to rise to challenges we thought we’d never encounter. A year ago I didn’t even know about the job I am doing which has evolved into spearheading a program that will positively change the way we care for families in the hospital setting.

Pause.

Breathe.

As the year winds down, what moments

Best Wishes

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would you like to savor?

This column is your gentle reminder that each of us has a choice about how we will treat this holiday season. Most of us have bought into the idea that it’s a time to rush, rush, rush to see people, buy presents, over eat and drink too much, and we don’t take more than a moment to recognize the most precious gift this season can give…the ability to connect with one another.

Choose to make this a season to remember and to model the greatest offering we can give one another; the time to pause and connect. This year, I am wishing you and your family a season to remember.

Kim Muench is a writer, speaker, and certified parent coach who believes in building a more connected world. To learn more about her work, please go to realifeparentguide.com.

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December 2018

The Soapbox: Becoming Mrs. Mabel

By Brandi Chambless

When I punched in the code, the double French doors began to open. There was my mother waiting for me.

“Where is she?” I said.

“She’s on the porch.”

Before too long, my 90-year-old grandmother appeared clad in a holiday smile and a houndstooth jacket.

“I like your pearl earrings, Gami.”

“They hurt,” she said, as if someone had clipped them on her ears and she had forgotten that they were causing pain.

“Let’s take them off.”

I slipped them into my purse and escorted her to the reserved holiday table where her meal was to be served.

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getting to know one another all over again. For activities, I brought in dancers and musicians, poets and preachers. Her aged Chinese friend Sue appreciated tea time complete with fortune cookies, and I capitalized upon their interest by teaching on the history of Chinese tea.

When a former U.S. diplomat joined the crowd, we transformed the class into the history of China. It was a hit that seemed to capture everyone’s attention and bring socialization like some swank party from the 1940s.

One October, I had the residents painting little pumpkin crafts when Mrs. Mabel looked me directly in the eye and with her pristine southern diction quietly said, “I don’t know who the jackass is that has made me pick up this paintbrush, but I sure thank God that you are here!”

We’d hug goodbye each night, only to be greeted in the morning with the comment, “You are such a nice little girl. What’s your name? Who is your Daddy?” Then we would spend an entire day getting reacquainted.

So here was I at this holiday meal, watching Your Smile is your First Impression! my own Gami become Mrs. Mabel. I had seen grandparents become children again, but this one cut to the heart.

During the meal, I marveled at how many menus Gami had put together over the course of her 90 years and with what grace! The Dr. G. Robert Marye & Dr. Janet Stone Gonzalez Francophone never Our Practice is Built on Patient Loyalty approached her stove Preventive without being fully Aesthetic decked out from head to Restorative toe, including a starched Family Cosmetic linen apron of some Implant Dentistry sort. Those wrinkled 940-455-2252 hands, once young, had www.SmilesofTexas.com so delicately stirred and

Blissfully unaware of Christmas Past, she seemed to enjoy her meal with her firstborn child and grandchild.

Suddenly she paused and looked at my Mom, “Is Tim alive?”

“No Mom.” The truth didn’t seem to register on a level of grief, rather information only.

Being in this place at such a tender time of year brought me back to some years before when I worked as an activities director in an Alzheimer’s wing of an assisted living center.

Back then, my little dear Mrs. Mabel greeted me at the door with her purse hanging from her forearm.

She was the elderly wife of a former bank president who had experienced her fair share of country club scenes.

Still wearing a dress, pearls, and her red lipstick, she dressed to the nines in her nineties, as husband Milton made sure of every provision from fine china to her baby grand piano. He never missed a daily visit.

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tasted and creatively never wasted. They had sewn our clothes and placed countless pennies on the kitchen counter to show her daughters and granddaughters how to make a roux to perfection.

“Keep stirring until it’s the color of the penny,” she would say. I still put the penny on the counter even though I make the roux by heart.

The sting of her having forgotten her investment in us was overcome by our chit chat about the comfort of her room and whether she had made any friends.

This, mostly met with answers and an infectious laugh, “I can’t remember!”

She was content.

So after a little while, we made our way to the piano where the now crooked hands had also been my example as a kid.

When I began to play some old hymns, a small crowd began to gather, including other families that were experiencing the same realities. Grown men were singing nursery rhymes to their mothers, trying to call them forth from a faraway place.

Before long, one lady requested some Sound of Music and we were off to the races— “Doe, a deer, a female deer….” and so on.

After yodeling about a Lonely Goatherd, I felt it only fitting that we should end with So Long Farewell, and we did, including two crowd-pleasing little red-haired girls who had joined us.

When it was all said and done, I watched my Mom parent my Grandmother back to her room in a way that I had never seen before. We had all recaptured some Christmas joy in a lonely place and it had nothing to do with the turkey. Whether or not it would be my last visit I did not know, but today had been what we, like so many, have learned to simply call a good day.

Contact Brandi Chambless at brandichambless@gmail.com

December 2018

ONE FOR THE ROAD

By C. Stroup

Most of the time when people talk about “one for the road” they’re referring to a beverage to take long with them on the way out of the door. But in this example the one for the road included not one but four adults…destination New Orleans, LA. I’d never been but had seen different facets of the city on TV. Each member of our caravan had their own piece of the city carved out in their minds as a favorite tourist’s attraction.

My husband’s was all about taking pictures while standing under a C-47 just inside The National WWII Museum which left me cold. Once inside, however, there was a 5D movie which made your seat vibrate and you could see the rocket’s red glare as the bombs burst in midair flying low overhead through the snow. It actually was kinda cool.

We trekked onward to a couple of semi-restored Southern cotton plantations with a unique acumen into the slave life and their quarters. We found a quaint outdoor niche where we gobbled down some delicious muffulettas (say that fast seven times)--a NOLA sub sandwich special--we bought earlier. A

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mint julep or two made our lunch complete.

When I was a kid, my mom used to take me on a streetcar ride on our way to an afternoon full of fun. (Remember there was no such thing as STAR WARS back then.) I hadn’t ridden a street car since so this was a real treat.

The paddle wheel cruise was a fun thing for me although I seemed to be the only one.

You could snack on powdered sugar beignets on any street corner and while our small group did just that I went more for the exotic (who knew alligators could be so tasty?) Although we all got our fair share of walking the streets there were plenty of buses you could hop on and hop off that were designed to let the tired old dogs take a respite without missing any of the sights.

My girlfriend, like myself, is an avid gum chewer except she never brings any with her. She carries these tiny little hand bags knowing that they have zero room for anything. After she’d chewed all my gum I went into a CVS to purchase some for both of us. I was shocked to discover, that you cannot buy gum anywhere in NOLA…reason, it gets ground into the fibers of the carpet and the cobblestone streets. The hotel concierge explained it made the streets dirty. Really?

I could give you quite a tutorial on dirty streets, especial Bourbon Street.

Ick! I will say it posed constant entertainment, though, as no matter what time of day or night, the streets were flooded with parades. One of the tour guides explained that people in NOLA required no reason to party down. Gum shoes be damned!

The on/off bus ride took us down some avenues in a warehouse district home to

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(among other things,) huge buildings where many of the Mardi Gras floats are assembled. I think we all found this to be a real taste of New Orleans.

One thing that was on my list was to explore the TV sets used during the filming of the NCIS NOLA TV series.

Unfortunately, the on/off bus buzzed

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right past them. My husband and Mike would say their favorite part was standing right under an 80-year-old C-47.

This is the military version of a Douglas DC-3. (What does that even mean?) But we all agreed despite the rainy ride back that a stop at BUC-EE’s makes any trip complete and you can buy gum there!

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December 2018

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