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October 2007

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

FT. WORTH, TXPERMIT NO. 711

TeachingOur FutureTeachingOur Future

A Seasonof ChangeA Seasonof Change

A Trio of TalentA Trio of TalentAt Home With

Tony and Charlotte Bennett

At Home With


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www.nowmagazines.com 1 RedOakNOW October 2007

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Publisher, Connie Poirier

General Manager, Rick Hensley

Managing Editor, Becky Walker

Editorial Coordinator, Sandra McIntosh

Creative Director, Jami Navarro

Art Director, Chris McCalla

Sales Assistant, Jessica Vasquez

Red Oak Editor, Diana Merrill Claussen

Contributing Writers, Ashley Carlino

Melinda Hines n Andrea Walton

Contributing Editors/Proofreaders, Pamela Parisi

Jamie Ruark n Beverly Shay

Photography, Rod Cordsen n Ivey Photography

Sandra McIntosh n Terri Ozymy

Advertising Representatives, Terri Yates

Will Epps n Amy Farrar n Lacy Hightower

Carolyn Mixon n Linda Moffett n Terri Ozymy

Steve Randle

Graphic Designers, Allee Brand n Dale Frie

Marshall Hinsley n Arlene Honza n Steve

Koldjeski n Angela Lucas n Brande Morgan

On the Cover: A pumpkin canisterhelps Cindy Belote set the moodfor the fall season.

Photo by Rod Cordsen.

ContentsOctober 2007, Volume 2, Issue 10

ArtsNOWA Trio of Talent

6

18SportsNOW A Season of Change

20BusinessNOWPatients Come First

24EducationNOW Teaching Our Future

28

10

Returning the Favor A Family-built HomeAt Home With Tony and Charlotte Bennett

Red OakNOW is a NOW Magazines, L.L.C. publication. Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved. Red OakNOWis published monthly and individually mailed free of charge to homes and businesses in the Red Oak, Ovilla.Glen Heights and Oak Leaf zip codes.

Subscriptions are available at the rate of $35 per year or $3.50 per issue. Subscription and editorial correspondence should be sent to: NOW Magazines, P.O. Box 1071, Waxahachie, TX 75168. For advertisingrates and other information, call (972) 978-5151 or e-mail us at: [email protected].

26 Around TownNOW

30 Who’s CookingNOW

32 FinanceNOW

34 HealthNOW

36 OutdoorsNOW

37 Community Calendar

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Editor’s Note

Dear Neighbors,

Fall is a time to celebrate change. Whether it is thechange in weather or in foliage, many within ourcities will be celebrating and sharing their colorful andinspiring tales about transformations within their ownlives and in the lives of others.

In this issue, we hope you are awed by the Bennettfamily of Red Oak who hand-built their entire home as their “family project.”They are great examples, showing the power of togetherness. Meet local teacherand resident Cindy Belote who encourages the city’s first-graders to grow andmature through lessons of kindness and compassion. Good examples of thesetraits are also reflected by local artists Branden and Daniel Bernheimer and BearCooper, who use their art to help others; while John and Mary Young showtheir dedication by making a difference to those within our communities.

Although the colors change and the leaves may fall, there is much splendorradiating throughout our towns!

Diana Merrill ClaussenRed Oak [email protected]


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J


— By Sandra McIntosh

John and Mary Young are parents, grandparents,business owners and the best of friends. Throughout their20-year union, they have learned the importance of givingback to the community thatonce took care of them.“When we were first married,I remember eating beans andrice,” Mary said. “We didn’thave a car, so people in theRed Oak community helpedus out.”

Looking back, the couplerealizes they will never be ableto give back as much as theyreceived. Yet they will continueto find joy and satisfaction inknowing they are returning the favor as often as humanlypossible. “What goes around comes around,” John said. “Wejust can’t give back enough.”

The humble, volunteer spirit found within the pair is evidentjust minutes into the conversation. Working in tandem overthe years has grown them closer, not only to each other, butalso to the community they love to call home.

When the couple’s four children were small, John was amember of the Red Oak Lions Club. “Once the kids got to acertain age,” he said, “they became my priority.” John’s namemay no longer be listed on the Lions Club roster, but he hasalways remained actively involved. “Even if you aren’t amember, you can still get involved in giving back to thecommunity by participating,” he said. “A good example isthe spaghetti supper. It’s not only an annual social event, it’sa time where a person can give back.” John said giving backcould include, but is definitely not limited to, donating timeto help prepare the meal, making a monetary donation to helplessen the financial burden or by attending and purchasing aspaghetti dinner while spending an evening with friends.

John also finds great satisfaction ingiving back to his hometown as anactive member of the Methodist Men,an organization that meets at 8 a.m.on the second Saturday of each monthat the First United Methodist Churchof Red Oak. John remembers how the

group first got started, “We needed a smoker for our annualLord’s Acre event,” he said, “but, we also wanted to share thesmoker with the community.”

Over the years, sharing with the community has grown toencompass not only the Lord’s Acre event held the lastSaturday of September, but the Methodist Men have alsobeen called upon to help in the fundraising efforts for localBoy Scout Troop No. 652, the North Ellis County OutreachCenter (NECO), Relay for Life and, most recently, the annualgathering for the families with autistic children. “We smokea lot of meat at these events,” John said, “but we’ve alsobeen able to give several monetary donations, too.” Thosedonations included $1,000 to help purchase gear for theScouts’ trip to summer camp, as well as an annual donationof $50 to what is known as “God’s Band-Aid,” a charitywithin NECO. “They help NECO stock nonprescriptionmedications and items for families in need,” Mary explainedfurther. “The congregation is small, so the Methodist Menare starting small within their own community.”

The Methodist Men have their annual fundraising event

Returning

the Favor

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during Red Oak’s Founders Day.Throughout the entire day, weatherpermitting, they grill meat on thesmoker for a donation. In fact, it hasbecome somewhat of a tradition.

Mary, always the supportive wife, isquite the volunteer herself. Whenasked to list what all she is currentlyinvolved in, Mary’s first response wasteaching Sunday school. “I’ve taughtthe 3 and 4 year olds for the past 17years,” she said, without a moment’shesitation. “When they come to me,they are unable to cut with scissors,color within the lines and properly usea glue stick. After two years with me,I feel like I help set the foundation asthey go on to kindergarten.” Knownas “Miss Mary” to her young charges,Mary knows without a doubt that sheis learning more from them than shecould ever possibly teach. “I love thisage group,” she added.

As the toddlers grow into youth,the “Miss Mary” label becomes“Mama Mary.” “I go on mission tripswith the youth,” she said, referring toher position as cook within the CentralTexas Conference Youth in Missionsgroup. “I’m not all about pizza andhot dogs. One night, we even hadbrisket with all the fixings.” Mary isalso a member of the Central TexasConference Volunteers in Mission, thechancel choir and serves as the disasterresponse coordinator at First UnitedMethodist Church. “If another bighurricane should hit South Texas,” shesaid, “we’re ready.”

As if she is not busy enough, Maryplans on participating as a member of



the “Beth Brigade” at this year’s SusanG. Komen Race for the Cure three-dayevent. “I walk for several differentreasons – my mom, Millie Jeffers;John’s mom, Joyce Coate; and mybrother, Jon Jeffers – and they allhappen to be survivors,” she said. “Nowthat I’m able to leave home for threedays, I couldn’t find one reason not towalk.” The hardest part of the walk,Mary said, will be collecting the $2,250in donations needed to participate.

As a couple, John and Mary thoroughly enjoy working in theirgarden. They garden the same waythey volunteer – all out and full speedahead. “This year’s garden would havebeen great,” Mary explained, as Johnagreed. “We had to till the entire garden up,” he added. “We just hadway too much rain.”

The youngest two children, Travis,19, and Whitney, 17, still live athome. It is common for John andTravis to spend a couple evenings aweek at a friend’s house. “They playpool and foosball,” Mary laughed,“while I stay home and cross-stitch.”Whitney is a senior at Red Oak HighSchool this year, so Mary has been aregular visitor on campus.

A blizzard in Iowa brought Mary toTexas, and a hailstorm in Red Oakwhich damaged John’s roof, causedtheir paths to cross when he went toask his cousin for assistance with there-roofing project. John’s cousin justhappened to live across the street fromMary, and it was at this time that theyfirst saw one another. As a couple whothrive on volunteering, they havebecome somewhat of a welcome stormwithin the Red Oak community. Goodthings just seem to happen when theyare part of the forecast. “We are alsoinstilling the spirit of volunteeringinto our children, as well as our fivegrandchildren. It’s all about beingthere for others when there’s a need,”Mary said. “We give back to ourcommunity because they willinglygave to us first, and because it’s theright thing to do.”



CI

Calling a house your own usuallymeans having a place in which to build memories.To Tony and Charlotte Bennett of Red Oak, thebeginning of their journey of memories waswrapped up in a home they had not yet built. Itall began in 1996 when they decided to buy a 12-acre tract of land located on Bells ChapelRoad. “When we originally bought the acreagefrom one of our friends, we knew we could build ahouse out here,” Tony said.

Early in the process, the Bennetts decided topay for their home one truckload of constructionsupplies at a time. Charlotte said constructing their home inthis manner kept them free of a mortgage, and it also gave

A Family-built — By Diana Merrill Claussen

them the opportunity to plan the home down to its smallestdetails. The designs drawn up by the couple and their twochildren, Chris and Carolyn (who has since moved out on herown) produced a stunning, two-story, 4,250-square-footbeauty that leaves every guest with a feeling of awe.

The exterior of this lovely home is accented with dualwraparound porches, one located on each floor. The interiorfeatures four bedrooms, a front parlor, formal dining room,built-in bookcases throughout, over 100 custom cabinetsand a soon-to-be-completed library that showcases one oftheir three fireplaces. “Anywhere you have two pieces ofwood stuck together, we did it,” Tony said, emphasizingthat the project was truly a family one. They made sure thechildren were included every step of the way.

Upon entering this spacious home, it literally captivates

At Home With



Home

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you. The first noticeable thing is the28-foot ceiling in the entryway, whichseems to go on for miles. To the rightof the entry is a front sitting roomreflecting the style of a Renaissance-eraparlor. Ornate touches are found inthis room: golden crown molding,

corner appliqués and intricatelydetailed and scrolled headers (whichcan be found in most of the home’srooms) accent the parlor doors andwindows. The parlor’s two main wallsare emphasized with wood framing,which Tony designed himself.


The Bennettshave become part of

Home Depot’s advertising campaigns.

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the rooms,”Tony said. “Shealso painted andsponge-finished some of the wallpapered areas, too” Many ofCharlotte’s other talents can be seenthroughout the home. From drapeswith matching pillows and tablecloths,

to crocheted blankets, she handcrafted

many of the home’s woven treasures. To navigate from the entry and

parlor area into the family room, youonly have to follow the Bruce brand,hardwood oak flooring. This beautiful

“To create the framing, I usedthree-quarter-inch plywood and cut itinto strips,” he said. “Then I addedframing for the raised paneling, whichsurrounds the room.” Charlotte commented on Tony’s artistic talents,and he also praised hers. “Charlottewas the official painter for many of


and functional flooring is locatedthroughout the home. A sense ofinviting warmth greets each guest asthey pass through one of the columnedentries into the family’s main gatheringarea. This room features a large fireplacesurrounded with many art niches.

Adjoining the family room is theBennetts’ 168-square-foot kitchen. Inthe kitchen Charlotte pointed out theirexceptional use of space. “Behind thestove, there was an open area betweenthe wall and the butler’s pantry. So, wemade that area into a broom closet,”she said. “I used every square inch ofspace all throughout the house.”

When passing through a pair ofFrench doors from the kitchen into theoctagonal-shaped, formal dining room,you are guaranteed to lose your breath.Exquisite accents display Charlotte’sintricate creations. “I hand-painted themedallion accents located on the wallsand around the chandelier,” she said.“I also re-upholstered all of the chairsto match the tablecloth and drapes.”

On the far side of this royal banquet

room is another pair of French doorsopening to the home’s entryway. Afterrevisiting the entry, you may choose tomeander up the winding staircase,which is accented with fine wainscoting.The top of the stairs gives way to asecond story of equal grandness thatincludes: a 40-foot-long, hardwoodhallway complete with custom, built-in



bookcases, the master suite, an officeand Chris’ room.

“Chris came up with the design ofthe landing, hallway and some of thebuilt-in bookcases,” Charlotte said.“We really gave a lot of thought tothe impact this project would have onthe kids.”

One of Charlotte’s favorite projectswas decorating the master bedroomsuite, which contains a regal fireplace,complete with marble trim, and a sitting area with a picture windowand a built-in cedar bench that houses

the family’smany cloth and crochettreasures. Thisfine room features anentry leadingout to the second-storybalcony thatextends theentire length ofthe home. Thebalcony wasinspired by ahotel theBennetts visitedin Jamestown,

California. “We love the balcony becausewe can open the doors and listen to thespring-fed creek,” Charlotte commented.

The master bath is complete with a blue-marbled Jacuzzi spa and over 40glass cabinets. The cabinets are aspectacular sight, which leaves you wondering if the home is real or simply a dream.



As you stroll down to the other endof the spacious hall, you will findroomy storage closets, an office andChris’ room. Yet you might want to

call his room more of a theater than abedroom. It is a media-lover’s dream,featuring hundreds of DVDs storedon built-in bookcases, autographedpictures of movie and TV stars andmovie memorabilia. Not until you see the California King bed do you

remember you are in a bedroom. Each room was created with its own

“theme.” The Bennetts always keptthis idea in mind while building their

home brick-by-brick, one truckload ata time. Another fact that makes thishome unique is 95 percent of thosetruckloads came from local HomeDepot stores. Eventually, word of thefamily’s successful creation reached thecompany’s executives. Since then, the

Bennetts have become part of HomeDepot’s advertising campaigns, andcurrently, their home-building story is featured in training videos and onthe company’s Web site. “We will alsobe featured in HD’s local and nationalmagazine ads by the end of the year, andin Better Homes and Gardens, People andOprah magazines,” Tony said.

It took a lot of work, time andeffort to build their home, butCharlotte said it has been worth it.“The best part of this journey is thatwe did it all as a family,” she said.They are looking forward to sharingthe upcoming holidays together intheir family-built home.


“The best part of this journey is thatwe did it all as a family.”


L


— By Diana Merrill Claussen

A Trio of TalentLocated in the heart of downtown Red Oak

there is a family with talents and skills, which defy theimagination. This family of artists consists of husband andwife team Daniel and Branden “Chaos” Bernheimer, andstepbrother “Bear” Cooper. This talented trio is becomingquite well known for creating works covering a wide rangeof the artistic realm.

Daniel has been involved in creating walls, windows anddoors using glass block, while Branden and Bear originallystarted creating their masterpieces through painting. “Wehave done many painting and faux finishing jobs especially inthe DFW area,” Branden said. “One of our works we createdis located on the Renaissance Tower building in Dallas andit is a 4,000-square-foot mural which we painted on glass.We’ve also done some work for Pegasus Bank and donatedour talents to help many nonprofit organizations.”

One organization the family has volunteered to help isthe North Ellis County Outreach Center. “They are such awonderful organization, and when we heard they were in needof having their truck painted, we decided to donate both thesupplies and labor and painted the truck for free,” Bear said.

Branden, who feels blessed to have her talents and loves usingthem to help others said, “I love Pennies from Heaven at theoutreach, they do so much good with the money they receive.Bear and I just did all the work for free because we wanted theoutreach to keep on doing good things for the community.”

Although Branden and Bear still do custom painting,they have also branched into creating custom glasswork forbusinesses and homes across the globe. “While I was doing alot of painting, my husband never saw much of me, so Idecided to find something closer to home,” Branden said.“Since my husband already works in block glass, I decidedI’d start working in glass, too.”

Five years after Branden and Bear’s decision to add glassinto their repertoire of artistic mediums, they now createevery type of custom glasswork imaginable: housewares,accessories, sculptures, windows, doors, countertops, dishes,

shelving, waterfalls and fountains are some of the many typesof pieces they create for their clients. “I had never worked inglass until five years ago, although Daniel has over 20 years ofblock glass experience,” Branden said. “Now, we are one of eightstudios in the world that creates three-dimensional glasswork.”

Whenever they have a customer, the first step of theirprocess is to learn what the client wants them to create. “Wetell our customers if they can imagine it, we can create it,”Branden said. “Once they share their needs with us, we drawit out, mold cut and then carve the design. Then we meltglass over the piece to create the finished 3-D glass design.”

Sometimes during the process, a piece might need a touchof etching, molding or sandblasting as well. When theproduct is ready, they may also use methods of glass fusingor slumping to add additional depth and accent. During andafter the creation of the piece, they use their own customkilns to fire the glass. “We have our own custom kilns whichwe hand built ourselves,” Branden said. “The kilns can fire apiece as big as 55” inches wide and 120” long. The kiln alsoworks in a range of temperatures from 1,300 – 1,500 Fdepending upon the product and the thickness of glass.”

The finished product always reflects their amazing talents.From custom-etched, 3-D glass shower doors to fireplacemantel waterfalls and fountains complete with copper accentsand water pumps, their talent knows no bounds. They havebeen known to create custom glass jewelry and holiday

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decorations, as well as creating innovativeone-half inch thick glass countertopsas seen in the Argumaniz family’s homehere in Red Oak.

These artisans live and producetheir work in Red Oak, but their twoshowrooms are in Dallas. “Illuminationsin Waxahachie also carries some of ourpieces,” Branden said.

The Bernheimers’ creations can alsobe seen annually at the ScarboroughRenaissance Festival in Waxahachieand the Irish Fest Trunk Show. Duringthe month of October, they will beattending the Texas Architect Show inAustin where they will be representingtheir studio and work.

Whenever she travels or speaks withother artists, Branden tries to impartan important lesson she learned manyyears ago. “If you’re going to be an artist,you need to learn to create in multiplemediums of art,” she said. “Many peopleask me what it’s like to be an artist. Itell them, ‘I don’t know what it feelslike to be anything else.’”

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W4A than there were in 2A. It’s a busierjob, and I like it.”

“Busy” is Mike’s unofficial middlename. Not only is he the head varsitycoach, he is also one of the highschool’s Algebra II teachers, holdingtwo classes per day. On most days,Mike’s work schedule is from 6:30 a.m.until about 6 p.m. “During game daysthough, I usually work until 10 or 11p.m.,” he said.

With few planning periods throughoutthe day, Mike’s hours are mainly spentat the high school and junior highcampuses. You might find him in thefield house, his classroom or on the fieldwith the high school teams. “I also liketo pop my head in on the 6:30 a.m.seventh grade practice to get to knowthe kids a little better,” he commented.

When asked about his plans for theseason and how he will lead his playersfrom the seventh grade up, his eyes beganto shine as he spoke about learningfrom the district’s past and allowingthose lessons to play a large part informulating the future. “The coaches

— By Diana Merrill Claussen


When a team has a change ofplayers, that team will be impacted.When one of the key team players is anewly assigned head coach, the impactcan be felt from the field, throughoutthe school and even within an entirecity. Red Oak recently experiencedsuch a change, and thankfully, theimpact has been positive, re-kindling aspirit of playoff hopes and dreams.Who is this new head coach instillinga renewed sense of team vitality in theRed Oak Independent School District’sfootball program? He is a very optimistic,humble and well-mannered man namedMike Shields.

This season is Mike’s first year inthis position, and his goals and desiresto see his football teams succeed areinfectious, even to those who are notnormally interested in the sport.“Before coming to Red Oak, I was thehead coach in Italy, Texas, for five yearsin 2A. Then in the 2006 season, Istarted as an assistant coach here inRed Oak,” Mike said. “Red Oak is 4A,and there are more kids and coaches in

A Season of

Change

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recently had a meeting with the schools’new superintendent, Scott Niven,”Mike said. “Mr. Niven asked some ofus why we hadn’t been winning inprevious seasons, and we all came to afew conclusions.”

He also reflected on some of thereasons they were not able to achieveplayoff advancement in recent years. Afew of those reasons were not what youmight expect. “For starters, we didn’tbelieve we could win,” he said. “Weknow we can’t win every game, but we

definitely will have a good chance towin, if we believe we can. We also sawa need to increase our number of playersfrom the previous years. A good 4Aneeds to have 200 kids; this year wehave increased to about 150.”

According to Mike, the staff andsuperintendent have also realized thatensuring a long-term coaching staffwill be instrumental in the success ofthe district’s football teams. “If we havecoaches that stay awhile and establishprograms from the seventh grade onup, that would be great,” Mike said.This would help ensure success becauseby the time the students reach highschool, they would be very familiar withthe coaching styles, terminology and


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expectations, giving them a better edgeon the field and over their opponents.

Although Mike has hopeful expectations, he does admit the districtis pretty tough. Yet he does not letthat phase him. After all, he camefrom a team in Italy, which not onlywon numerous district games, butcarried an overall record of 47-14

during his five years as their head coach. Moving from Italy to Red Oak was

something Mike and his wife considereda good career move. They also thoughtit would benefit their three children.“When I started coaching, I decided I wasn’t going to be a coach that continually moves my kids around,”he said. “So we thought Red Oakwould be a great place to be and raiseour family; so we bought a house here.”

Mike cosiders his football teams asfamily. With 19 football coaches onhis team, it is clear Mike values eachof them for the skill and determinationthey are contributing to this season.“I always say anytime a program issuccessful, it takes more than one person to make it a success,” he said.“We’re only as good as the wholeteam, and our staff truly wants thisprogram to continue to be heading inthe right direction.”

“My entire objective is to teach youngkids the values and traits needed toensure their success,” he commented.“Yes, I want to win the games, but themost important thing is to be here forthe students and the kids.”


“My entire objectiveis to teach young

kids the values and

traits needed to

ensure their success.”

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UUpon entering the Red Oak Chiropractic and

Therapy Clinic, you might sense you are entering a peacefulretreat instead of a doctor’s office. As friendly staff membersgreet you, you might notice this practice offers more thanjust standard service. “When our clients come in, the firstthing they notice is the tranquil, sconce-infused lighting andrelaxing music,” Co-owner and Operations Manager TamraZuber said.

Tamra said the clinicdoes not overbook, keepsall appointments and provides quality care,while remaining cognizantof their patients’ needs andschedules. “Our patientscome first,” she said. “We strive to provide personal patientcare and focus on having a quality-, not quantity-based practice.We want to cater to our patients’ every need.”

Those who visit Red Oak Chiropractic come in with various medical problems and needs. The doctors and staffare ready and able to help their patients through almost any

condition or diagnosis. The practice uses state-of-the-artequipment, and their doctors have over 40 years combinedchiropractic experience.

According to Tamra, the clinic looks at all of a patients’needs and provides multiple varying methods of care forclients of all ages. “The ages of our clients range from infantto elderly,” Tamra said. “Besides providing chiropractic care,

we also offer massage,occupational andrehabilitation therapy,along with nutritionalcounseling and specialized rehabmethods such asART,” Tamra said.

ART (Active Release Therapy) is an active, stretching andmassage technique used by Dr. Neil Dukes who practices atthe clinic. ART is good to use in conjunction with chiro-carebecause it helps relax the muscles before many adjustments.“Sometimes with ART, the patient doesn’t even need a chiropractic adjustment,” Dr. Dukes said. “This method is


Patients Come First— By Diana Merrill Claussen

“We love that weare able to spend timewith our patients andget to know them.”

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innovative and gets great results.”Through Dr. Dukes, the clinic alsooffers insight on personal training,nutrition and sports-muscular therapy.

“We see patients also going throughpre- and post-surgery, or there are somein need of Kinesio Taping,” Tamra said.“We have one of the few accreditedKinesio Taping specialists in the state.”This taping method for treating injuriesis credited with providing the maximumamount of benefits and healing in theshortest amount of time – especially forthose with sports-related injuries.

These are not the only benefits tobe found from the highly accreditedand certified providers at Red OakChiropractic and Therapy. “We alsohave an occupational therapist on staffand a therapy and rehab room,” Tamrasaid. “Plus all of our massage andtreatment rooms provide a relaxedenvironment that is warm and inviting.Since we are a family-oriented business,we provide a play area for our clients’children as well.”

The clinic is a big proponent offamily-based businesses and Tamra’shusband, Marc, is even one of theirpracticing doctors. Dr. Bob Hollanderis also a part of the Red Oak Chiropracticfamily. He is the former president ofthe Texas Chiropractic Association.

“At our clinic, patients come first,”Tamra said. “We love that we are ableto spend time with our patients andget to know them.”

With the combined experience ofhighly trained and qualified doctorsand staff, the family at Red OakChiropractic and Therapy said theirdoors are open Monday - Thursday, 8a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.and on the first and third Saturdays ofthe month from 9 a.m. - noon.

This month the clinic will offer a freehalf-hour massage to all new chiropracticpatients. They are located at 200 EastOvilla Road in Red Oak and can bereached at (972) 576-5501.


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The Red Oak Hawkeye Band, top left,held a car wash fundraiser in Ovilla. TheRed Oak Girl Scouts, top right, rode in acovered wagon during the Founders DayParade. “Uncle Stinky” and his “ghoul-friends,” middle left, had a hauntingly good time on Founders Day.A “Meet the Hawks” pep rally, middleright, was held recently. Sierra, bottomleft, gets her pretty face painted. QueenAbdullah and her little sister, Jadore, bottom right, had fun playing with theirpuppy at the Harmony neighborhoodpark.

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Children from Venture Crew 3 and thelocal Boy Scouts, top left, helped “digin” to get Reindeer Manor ready forHalloween. Girl Scouts of Red Oak,top right, took a “step back in time” asthey modeled uniforms dating back to1928. A ribbon cutting, middle right,was held at Allstate Nickie Weyrauch.Emma Sanden and her dad, Randal,bottom left, enjoyed time in the warmsunshine. Denise Butler of the NorthEllis County Outreach, bottom right,received the Businesswoman of theMonth award from CouncilmanGoodwyn.

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WWhat qualities make a

good teacher? Are they patience,kindness and intellect? Maybe it is the ability to be empathetic andchild-like, or perhaps it is a job forthe young at heart. Whatever theanswer, it takes a special and dedicatedperson to do it well.

Being a good teacher goes wellbeyond preparing lesson plans andgrading papers. It takes a yearning tosee children grow. “I really likewatching kids learn – that spark intheir eyes, that inquisitiveness. I likehelping them believe in themselves,”said Cindy Belote, first grade teacherat Donald T. Shields Elementary.

A graduate of the University ofTexas at Arlington, Cindy obtaineddegrees in physical and elementaryeducation. Her career began as a swiminstructor and a gymnastics teacher.Cindy taught second grade in DeSotofor several years, then moved toDuncanville to teach at MerrywoodSchool. She was later hired at DonaldT. Shields Elementary, where she hastaught first grade for the past seven years.

“Our principals are very supportive,and so are our parents. There areopportunities for working parents tovolunteer as well. Just helping theirkids do their homework is the bestthing,” Cindy stated. The parents arealso very influential in teaching these

first-graders to read. “There are somany different ways to teach reading.We have such a battery of people tohelp,” Cindy noted. In her class, mathand reading homework are assignedMonday through Thursday nights. Byworking as a whole class, in smallgroups and individually, Cindy canidentify a student who might be havingtrouble with a particular subject. “Smallgroups allow for more one-on-oneattention,” she added.

“Our Reading Recovery Program is really good. We screen the studentson the first day to figure out who ishaving the most trouble,” Cindyexplained. “To me, reading is power. Ihelp them to learn how to find goodbooks to read, and to use the dictionaryif they can’t figure out a word.” Duringautumn months, the children have a lotof fun studying pumpkins, scarecrowsand participating in what Cindy refersto as an “advanced leaf collectinglearning experience.”

Cindy also teaches important lifeskills. She teaches her students how

— By Ashley Carlino

Cindy and Bill Belote value their family time with daughters Lexi and Chelsea.

important it is to help others and to bekind. “You’ll never regret being kind tosomeone,” she said. She also emphasizesto the students the importance ofbelieving in themselves. “Our goal isto teach them how to go out on theirown,” Cindy said.

These same principles are incorporatedinto her own role as a parent. She andher husband of 25 years, Bill, havereared two very successful, intelligentand mature young ladies. Lexi is asophomore at Red Oak High Schooland her sister, Chelsea, is a sophomoreat the University of Texas at Austin.“Our rules are consistent. Be present.You can’t parent from far away. Be readyto talk to your teenagers whenever theyare ready to talk,” Cindy said, referringto those 11 p.m. conversations.

They also spend a lot of time togetheras a family. “He was always supportiveof us,” Lexi said, referring to her father,who walked Chelsea into school everyday until the third grade. “He wantedthe girls to know they were worth theextra effort,” Cindy remembered. They

Teaching

Our Future


“I really like watchingkids learn – that spark

in their eyes, thatinquisitiveness. I likehelping them believe

in themselves.”

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have spent many Sundays at churchtogether, and they always look forwardto the annual Lord’s Acre event. Everyfall, they visit the Texas State Fair, watchthe Texas Longhorns play football andpick the perfect family pumpkin.

Consistency, guidance and closeparental involvement have contributedto the girls’ success. They each sharetheir mother’s passion for learning.Lexi favors biology, math and writing.She is an anchor for the HawkeyeNews at ROHS. “I enjoy learning,”Lexi said. This 15-year-old studentkeeps herself busy with numerousactivities and clubs, from cheerleadingto the National Junior Honor Society.Whatever she does, she does withenthusiasm. One reason Lexi tries sohard in school is her deep respect forthe teachers – for their time and effort.Lexi had perfect attendance last year.“If you always hear the teacher, ithelps. I listen in class, but I have tostudy,” she added.

Chelsea, 19, was also very active inhigh school, and has adjusted well tothe college environment. “[Red OakHigh School] has excellent teachers. Ifyou do what they say, you’ll be prepared[for college],” she noted. This ambitiousyoung lady is studying to become alawyer. She enjoys subjects such aslinguistics, communication and psychology. Her strong determinationand drive to excel compelled her tostay on campus after all other studentshad gone home for the semester. Shedid so only to retake a final exam,improving her grade from a B to an A.

Whether it is teaching first-gradersor learning about her growing daughters,Cindy uses her kind spirit and giftedteaching ability to help others feel goodabout themselves. Her gentle and creativenature makes those around her want tolearn and grow. She instills hope in herstudents that anything is possible. Whatgreat lessons to carry these studentsinto a promising future!

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Cream shortening and sugar. Add molassesand eggs and beat well. Add flour, bakingsoda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. Forminto 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place onungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.Bake at 375 F for 8 minutes. * Can befrozen for later use as indicated in theSnickerdoodles recipe.

OLD-FASHIONED CINNAMON ROLLS5 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided use1 pkg. dry yeast1 cup milk5/6 cup butter, divided use1/3 cup sugar1/2 tsp. salt3 eggs3/4 cup packed brown sugar1 Tbsp. cinnamon (or to taste)3/4 cup chopped pecans1 Tbsp. half-and-halfPowdered sugar glaze

In large mixer bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups offlour and the yeast. In a small saucepanheat the milk, 1/3 cup butter, sugar and saltjust until warm and butter is almost melted,stirring constantly. Add to flour mixture. Addeggs. Beat with an electric mixer on lowspeed for about a minute, scraping sides ofbowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3minutes. Stir in 2 cups flour. Turn outdough onto floured surface. Knead inanother 1/2 cup flour. Knead for about 5minutes. Shape into ball. Place in agreased bowl and let rise for an hour in awarm place. For filling, combine 1/2 cupbutter, 1/4 cup flour and cinnamon. Cut inbutter till crumbly; set aside. Punch dough

SNICKERDOODLES3 cups sugar1 cup butter, softened1 cup shortening4 large eggs5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour4 tsp. cream of tartar2 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1/2 cup sugar2 tsp. cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 F. Mix sugar, butter,shortening and eggs in a large bowl. Stir inflour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.Shape into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/2 cup sugarand the cinnamon. Roll balls into cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on anungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 - 10 minutesor until set. Remove from cookie sheet.Cool on wire rack. Makes 6 dozen.* After they have been rolled in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, I place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them for about30 minutes. Afterward, I put the cookieballs in Ziploc bags and keep them in thefreezer. When I want a fresh batch ofcookies, I thaw a dozen for 15 minutes andthen bake as directed.

MOLASSES COOKIES1 1/2cups shortening2 cups sugar1/2 cup molasses2 eggs4 cups flour4 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt3 tsp. cinnamon

IN THE KITCHEN WITH JULIE WEYAND

Look Who’s Cooking

down. Turn onto a floured surface. Rolldough into a 12" x 18" rectangle. Sprinklefilling over dough; add pecans. Roll up;pinch edges to seal. Cut slices about 1 1/2inches. Arrange in a greased 13x9x2-inchbaking pan. Cover dough with plastic wrap.Refrigerate for 2 - 24 hours. Uncover andlet stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.(Or, for immediate baking, let rolls rise in awarm place 45 minutes.) Brush dough withhalf-and-half. Bake at 375 F for 25 - 30minutes. Remove from oven. Drizzle withPowdered Sugar Glaze. Serve warm.Makes 1 dozen.

POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE1 1/4 cups powdered sugar1 tsp. corn syrup1/2 tsp. vanilla1 - 2 Tbsp. half-and-half

In a bowl, stir together all ingredients untilwell blended.

GRANDMA’S APPLE PIE7 - 8 Granny Smith apples1/4 cup flour3/4 cup sugar2 - 3 Tbsp. cinnamon1 recipe Never Fail Pie Crust1 stick butter

Peel, core and slice apples. Mix flour, sugarand cinnamon together. Place a layer ofapple slices into crust. Sprinkle sugar mixture over slices enough to cover. Dotwith thin slices of butter. Continue layeringwith apples, sugar mixture and butter. (I liketo make my apple pies piled high!) Roll out

— By Melinda Hines

Julie comes from a long line of chefs and bakers and enjoyed watching her mother and grandmothers

in the kitchen. “I got an Easy-Bake Oven when I was4,” she said. “My mom wanted me to feel like I was contributing to the family, so she bought me real pans,mixes and utensils, too.”

Julie has always enjoyed being in the kitchen, and stillloves to bake for her husband and three children. “I enjoybaking the most, from cakes, to cookies and cheesecakes.It’s not good if it’s not full of calories,” she jokingly said.As the administrator of Ovilla Christian School, Julie alsoenjoys baking treats for her staff, and her cheesecakes areamong the top sellers at the annual school auction.


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second piecrust using wax paper. Removewax paper, turn over and place on top ofpie. Pinch edges together and scallopcrust. Bake about an hour at 350 F. Servewarm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Ilike to sprinkle ground cinnamon over icecream before serving.

NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST1 1/2 cups shortening3 cups flour1 tsp. salt1 egg, well beaten5 Tbsp. cold water1 tsp. vinegar

Cut shortening into flour and salt with pastry blender. Mix egg, water and vinegartogether. Add to flour mixture; mix well.Divide dough in half. Place between twopieces of wax paper and roll until about 1/4inch thick. Remove top layer of wax paper.Turn over and place into pie plate. Crustshould drape over sides of plate.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE30 crushed ginger snaps for crumb crust1/4 cup melted butter5 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened1 cup sugar5 eggs room temperature1 cup canned pumpkin1 tsp. cinnamon1/4 cup evaporated milk

Mix ginger snap crumbs and butter together. Press into a 9-inch springformpan. Set aside. Blend cream cheese withmixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar tocream cheese. Add eggs one at a time,mixing well. Remove about 1/2 cup creamcheese mixture. Set aside. Stir pumpkin,cinnamon and evaporated milk into creamcheese mixture. Pour into crust. Usereserve cream cheese mixture to spoonover pumpkin mixture. Use the tip of aknife to marbleize both mixtures. Place abowl of hot water inside the oven. Bakecheesecake at 350 F for about 45 minutes.Loosen edges immediately. Turn oven off.Leave cheesecake inside oven with ovendoor slightly opened until oven is cool.Refrigerate cheesecake until ready to serve.I like to top each serving with whippedcream and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.


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LLife insurance is a practical

way to protect your family’s financialhopes and dreams.

The death of a family member canbe devastating to survivors, bothemotionally and financially. Life insurance can provide cash to helpwith your family’s immediate and


long-term needs.• Immediate needs include funeral

expenses, unpaid medical bills and taxes.• Long-term needs include care for a

disabled child or elderly parent’s expensesand, in general, the chance for membersof your family to continue to live thelife to which they are accustomed.

Life insurance is not for the peoplewho die, but for people who live. It’swise to explore options while you arestill healthy; health problems can makelife insurance expensive or unavailable.Three forms of life insurance are mostcommon today:

Term life insurance. This is temporary life insurance for a specifictime period (one, five, 10 or moreyears). It can provide short-term coverage on a limited budget. Terminsurance, however, costs more to buyas you get older.

There are two common types ofterm life insurance:

• Level term: the amount of protection remains the same duringthe coverage period.

• Decreasing term: the amount ofprotection gradually declines duringthe coverage period.

Whole life insurance. Premiumsare generally level with cash valuegrowth throughout the life of thepolicy. Cash values can be borrowed(with interest charged) during theinsured person’s lifetime to help meettemporary or emergency needs.

Funds borrowed reduce the death

— By Andrea Walton

Life Insurance:It’s For the People Who Live

RONOct07p32-33finance.qxd 9/21/07 1:46 PM Page 32


benefit and cash surrender value.

Universal life insurance. Thisoffers many traditional advantages ofwhole life insurance (such as protectionfor life), but also offers flexibility.

Coverage amounts and premiumpayments are flexible to help meetchanging needs during an insuredperson’s lifetime (subject to certainconditions).

When you buy life insurance, youbuy a promise of protection againstfinancial loss caused by death. Thepromise is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Intoday’s marketplace, life insurancebuyers should be concerned about thefinancial strength of the insurer, andits level of customer service.

Andrea Walton is a State FarmInsurance agent based in Red Oak.

RONOct07p32-33finance.qxd 9/26/07 9:51 AM Page 33

IIn the U.S. alone, more than 250,000 people are

diagnosed with breast cancer every year, but if detected at anearly stage, the chances of survival are extremely high.According to Valerie Gorman, M.D., general surgeon on themedical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, everywoman should be vigilant about her own breast health,especially if she is considered high risk.

“There are many different risk factors for breast cancer,most of which you cannot change, but being aware of your risk and not neglecting your annual breastscreenings is essential for early detectionand effective treatment,” Dr.Gorman said.

Accordingto theAmericanCancer Society,major risk factors forbreast cancer include:

• Age — The risk of developing breast cancerincreases as a woman ages.

• Family History — If you have two or moreblood relatives who have been diagnosed withbreast or ovarian cancer — especially before age50 — you could be at a higher risk.

• Genetics — Most genetic breast cancer is the result of a mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.Fortunately, there are genetic tests available that can detectthis mutation.

• Menstrual Cycle — Women who began their menstrualperiod early in life (before age 12) or went throughmenopause late in life (after age 55) are at an increased risk.

Breast Cancer: Factoring Your Risk


However, Dr. Gorman said there are also risk factors you can control, including:

• Having your first child before age 30.• Reducing your use of birth control pills.• Avoiding hormone replacement therapy.• Breastfeeding for one-and-a-half to two years.• Limiting alcohol to less than one drink a day.

“There’s no way to prevent breast cancer 100 percent, butyou can further reduce your risk by

maintaining a healthyweight, exercising

and notsmoking,” Dr.

Gorman added.

For early detection, Dr.Gorman recommends followingthese guidelines:

• Monthly breast self-exams — Check yourbreasts every month after your

menstrual cycle, or on a date youwill remember, such as the first of every month.

• Clinical breast exams — Your doctorshould examine your breasts every three years

up to age 40 and yearly after that, or as recommendedbased on your risk factors.

“Reduce your risk bymaintaining a healthyweight, exercising and

not smoking.”

“Annual breast screenings are essential for early detection

and effective treatment.”

ROOct07p34-35health.qxd 9/25/07 6:54 PM Page 34

• Mammograms — A baselinemammogram is recommendedbetween age 35 and 40 and yearlymammograms starting at age 40, orsooner if your risk is higher.

• Breast ultrasound — This testcan help evaluate abnormalities thatshow up on mammograms.

• Breast MRI — This scan canscreen women who are newly diagnosedwith cancer and those with a 20 percent to 25 percent lifetime risk ofthe disease.

* Physicians are members of the medicalstaff at one of Baylor Health Care System’ssubsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents ofthose medical centers, Baylor Medical Center atWaxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.


ROOct07p34-35health.qxd 9/25/07 6:55 PM Page 35

O

water. Actually, what is happening isthey cannot take up the available waterbecause of the reduced feeder system,and they are drowning. If you havesoggy soil under your trees, check yourdrainage and get some of that wateraway from the tree for a while! Wewould hate to lose those150-year-old trees!

Our present is upon us,and now is the time to makethose last minute trimmingdecisions on your shrubs.Freezes will be upon us inNovember and the growthstimulated by trimmingneeds at least 6 to 8 weeks toharden off. If you are through trimming,think about planting some bulbs liketulips, daffodils or crocuses. They cango in the ground now to come upearly in the spring. You can even plantthem under the trees that lose their

leaves, knowing the bulbs will get thesun they need before the trees leaf out!

Our future is a yard that is as pretty as you are willing to make it! Abalanced fertilizer can go on your irises and daylilies after Halloweenand up to 4 inches of mulch can be

added at any time on allthose shrubs and flowerbeds.Lawn fertilizer can go onafter the first freeze inNovember to be ready forthat spring growth spurt.Planning for new beds isalways a way to freshen andspruce up your landscape.

Know that MotherNature is very flexible and forgiving.So, look at the past and present andget going for the future!

Nancy Fenton is a Master Gardener inEllis County.

— By Nancy Fenton

Our gardens and landscapingare always affected by our past, presentand future. The severe drought of lastyear is still to be seen in our big trees.Maybe you have noticed a good manyleaves dropping early around youryard. After a bit of research, I realizedthat those big guys still have not hadtime to rebuild their feeder root systems.The plentiful rains this year have stressedthe underdeveloped feeder system, hencethe leaf drop. Some of our oaks havebeen mistakenly thought to need more

Past, PresentFutureand


ROOct07p36Outdoors.qxd 9/25/07 2:23 PM Page 36

Waxahachie, 1 - 5 p.m., Brookside Road and I-35. $15 entryfee. Free burgers and hot dogs; please bring a side dish.Proceeds go to the children's home. Contact Joe at (214) 587-1643 or www.midlothianclassicwheels.com.

October 2712th Annual Texas Country Reporter Festival, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. in historic downtown Waxahachie. Join Bob Phillips and enjoy a free concert by the Bellamy Brothers.

October 27 and 28“Age of Elegance” Elegant and Depression Glass Show andSale presented by Fostoria Glass Society of North Texas at theWaxahachie Civic Center. For information, contact (817) 545-5856.

October 26 - 28The Music Man, by Waxahachie Community Theatre atGetzendaner Park, Waxahachie. October 26 and 27, 7:30 p.m.October 28, 2:30 p.m. Tickets at the door. Call PJ Searsy at(972) 723-6976.

October 31City of Red Oak Halloween Carnival, 6 - 8 p.m., Red OakMunicipal Building. (972) 617-3638.

First and Third TuesdaysRed Oak Lions Club meeting, 7 p.m. at 207 West Red OakRoad. Call (972) 617-3577.

Second and Third Wednesdays Red Oak Public Library and Red Oak Fire Department host achildren's story time from 11 a.m. - noon at the library. Call(469) 218-1230 or visit RedOakPublicLibrary.org.

Every Wednesday and ThursdayRed Oak Citizens Socials. Call Joanna Johnson (972) 576-2777.

Every ThursdayCelebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery ministry, atFirst Baptist Church of Red Oak, 103 West Red Oak Road. Call (972) 617-3591.

Second ThursdayCancer dialogue support group, sponsored by American CancerSociety, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Red Oak, 600West Red Oak Road.

October 1 - November 3Reindeer Manor Haunted House and Trail Tours start at 7 p.m.,410 Houston School Road, Red Oak. www.reindeermanor.com.

October 6Ace Hardware Blood Drive 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 138 East OvillaRd. Free T-shirt with donation (972) 515-8500.

October 9 and 12Moms on Mission (Christian mom's group). Coffee Club beginsat 8:30 p.m. on the 9th and they will visit the pumpkin patch on

the 12th. Contact Melinda Hines at (972) 937-5083 for information.

October 10Ellis County Early Childhood PTA “Get Aquainted Mixer,” 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Childcare available during meeting. ContactCourtney Atwood for information at (972) 875-2668 [email protected].

October 12 - 13Ellis County Art Association's “Off the Wall” Benefit Art Sale andGarage Sale, 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Ellis County FineArts Museum, 501 West Main, Waxahachie.

October 135th Annual Bow Wow Howl-O-Ween Hustle supporting theSPCA of Ellis County, 8 a.m. - noon at Getzendaner Park,Waxahachie. Race registration: 8 - 9 a.m. Races: 9 a.m.Contests and costume judging following the races. Call (972)935-0756 or e-mail [email protected].

October 16Red Oak Mayoral Election. Early voting October 1 - October 12,200 Lakeview Parkway, Red Oak Municipal Building.

October 20Chamber Gala and Annual Auction, 6 p.m., Red Oak MunicipalCenter, 200 Lakeview Parkway. Dress: casual to cocktail. Eventis $50 per person and includes auctions, hors d'oeuvres,catered dinner and cocktails. Contact the Red Oak Chamber at(972) 617-0906.

Car show at the Presbyterian Children's Home and Services in

October 2007 Community Calendar

To have your events posted on the community calendar, e-mail us at:[email protected].


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