one with wind an educated investment more than · 2018. 3. 2. · cord opens the parachute top,...

June 2009

At Home With

Jerry and Shirley Chapman

At Home With


More Thana BirdhouseMore Thana Birdhouse

An EducatedInvestmentAn EducatedInvestment

AmazinglyDedicatedAmazinglyDedicated

One With the WindOne With the Wind

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Publisher, Connie Poirier

General Manager, Rick Hensley

Managing Editor, Becky Walker

Creative Director, Jami Navarro

Art Director, Chris McCalla

Billing Manager, Lauren De Los Santos

Office Manager, Angela Mixon

Waxahachie Editor, Sandra McIntosh

Contributing Writers, Faith Browning

Nancy Fenton . Danielle Parker

Adam Rope . Jaime Ruark

Betty Tryon

Contributing Editors/Proofreaders,Pat Anthony . Jaime Ruark

Beverly Shay

District Sales Manager, Carolyn Mixon

Advertising Representatives,

Eddie Yates . Rick Ausmus

Linda Dean . Will Epps

Steve Hansen . Linda Moffett

Steve Randle . Linda Roberson

Shane Smith . Terri Yates

Graphic Designers/Production,

Julie Carpenter . Allee Brand

Cherie Chapman . April Gann

Marshall Hinsley . Arlene Honza

Brande Morgan . Pamela Parisi

Jennifer Wylie

Photography, Natalie Busch

Ivey Photography . Terri Ozymy

WaxahachieNOW is a NOW Magazines, L.L.C. publication. Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved. WaxahachieNOWis published monthly and individually mailed free of charge to homes and businesses in the Waxahachie zip codes.

Subscriptions are available at the rate of $35 per year or $3.50 per issue. Subscriptions should be sent to: NOW Magazines, P.O. Box 1071, Waxahachie, TX 75168. For advertising rates or editorial correspondence, call(972) 937-8447 or visit www.nowmagazines.com.

On the Cover: Ron Thompson,pilot of the BeeDee2, treatedNOW Magazines ManagingEditor Becky Walker to a hot airballoon ride during the 2008DFW Summer Balloon Classic.

Photo by Ivey Photography.

ContentsJune 2009 Volume 6, Issue 6

34 Around TownNOW

36 Who’s CookingNOW

38 FinanceNOW

40 HealthNOW

42 OutdoorsNOW

44 Community Calendar

ArtsNOWMore Than a Birdhouse

6

22SportsNOW Amazingly Dedicated

26BusinessNOWBeautifully Guaranteed

30EducationNOW An EducatedInvestment

32

14

One With the Wind Making Dreams RealityAt Home With Jerry and Shirley Chapman

www.nowmagazines.com 3 WaxahachieNOW June 2009


Hello, Waxahachie!

The seasonal change from spring to summer bringsmany exciting events to the Waxahachie area — fromthe Paint Historic Waxahachie art sale and exhibitionto the annual Pancake Breakfast Fly-In and the DFWSummer Balloon Classic. Last year, I was lucky enough to experience the hot air balloon extravaganza firsthand. As one who is deathly afraid of heights, Idebated with myself for a very long time before I jumped into the basket andtook flight with my female pilot to actually conquer a fear.

The weekend event begins Friday evening, June 19, and comes to a high-flyingend on Sunday evening, June 21. I encourage you to hop in the car, drive out toMid-Way Airport and make some family memories.

Sandra McIntoshWaxahachieNOW Editor

Editor’s Note



IIn a single moment nearly 30 years

ago, Debby Standefer saw her first hotair balloon. “I fell instantly in love,” shesaid, as she fondly remembered that day so long ago in Colorado Springs,Colorado. Three years passed beforeDebby was able to actually take herfirst flight. During that period of time,she learned all she could by helping“crew” for other balloonists and byattending as many balloon shows as shecould. “There is no feeling of movement,”she said, recalling her first ride duringa small balloon festival held in ColoradoSprings. “You and the balloon becomeone with the wind.”

In 1985, Debby moved to Texas andstarted saving her money. She wanted aballoon she could call her own. In 1988,she began taking flying lessons and in1989, Debby earned her pilot’s license.

“I also bought my first balloon that sameyear,” she smiled. “I named it BananaSplit because it was bright yellow withrainbow chevrons.” Debby explainedfurther the reason why most pilotsname their balloons. “That way whenyou see someone up flying,” she noted,“you know who they are. Balloonistsare like one big happy family.”

On January 24, 2007, when Debbymarried Wayne, she sold her first belovedballoon. “His preference is a two-burner,four-sided balloon,” she said, notingBanana Split was a three-sided, one-burner balloon. Rather than argue thepoint, she sold her first one and now isthe co-owner of 18 balloons. “Waynegot involved with balloons in the mid’90s,” Debby stated. “He does it as a

business, and I do it because it’s mypassion. You either love it or you don’t.”

Over the years, Debby has met andbefriended many balloon pilots. Some, likeher, enjoy the sport for the anticipationand relaxation it provides as the balloonglides through the air, while others areknown as the NASCAR drivers of thesport. “They are the very competitiveballoonists,” she said. “The average balloon ascends at about 200 feet perminute. The competitive balloons willtravel up to 800 feet per minute.”Surprisingly enough, there is no steeringto the balloons. Sometimes, the pilotwill take a ride straight up and straightback down, while others have masteredthe art of “working with the wind.”

“Floaters are those who fly around

OneWind— By Sandra McIntosh

Balloonists’ Prayer The Winds have welcomed you with softness.

The Sun has blessed you with its warm hands.You have flown so high and so well,

that God has joined you in your laughter,and set you gently back again

into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

With the


“He does it asa business,and I do itbecause it’s my passion.”

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and land wherever the wind takesthem,” Debby noted. “Flyers are pilotsthat work the wind to their advantage.”

As aforementioned, balloons comein all shapes and sizes, as do the baskets.Balloons used simply for flying aregenerally 77,000 cubic feet. “They canhold up to 77,000 basketballs,” sheadded, providing a visual which mostindividuals can relate to. “The balloonis up to seven stories tall. The basketon the average balloon will carry a pilotand two extra people.” The competitiveballoons — smaller in size — are56,000 cubic feet and their shape

resembles a football. “They are able togo up and come down faster because oftheir pointed shape,” Debby explained.“That’s also why they are so good forcompetitions.” The big-ride balloonscan easily hold up to eight people. Theyrange in size from 140,000 to 160,000cubic feet and can be up to 10 storiestall. “They have a much bigger envelope,or opening, at the top of the balloon,”Debby added. “A bigger envelopeallows for more weight to be carried.”

The science behind a hot air balloonmay seem difficult, but in reality is asimple concept. To get the balloon to“stand up,” the air in the balloon mustbe the same temperature as the outside



air surrounding the balloon. To lift off,the air inside the balloon must be hotterthan the outside air. “To go higher, thepilot hits the burner, adding more hotair to the balloon,” Debby said. “As youcontinue to fly, the pilot will hit theburner when needed to keep the balloonat the altitude they desire. Allowingthe air in the balloon to cool off bringsthe balloon to a lower altitude level.”

Pilots will pull what is known asthe vent cord to cool the air. “The ventcord opens the parachute top, allowingthe cooler outside air into the balloon,”Debby said. “This automaticallydecreases the balloon’s altitude. Youcan decrease slowly or rapidly; it alldepends on the length of time the pilotpulls on the vent cord. To land, youmust pull on the vent cord constantly.”

Last year, Debby had an idea for alocal balloon festival — the Dallas/FortWorth Summer Balloon Classic — heldat Mid-Way Airport off Highway 287between Waxahachie and Midlothian.“I had to go out and get the sponsorshipsneeded for an event of this magnitudeso admittance to the event would befree. The only thing spectators paid forwas parking,” she said. “We are in thefinal planning stages of the SecondAnnual Dallas/Fort Worth SummerBalloon Classic, which will be heldlater this month from June 19-21.”This year’s competitive event, onceagain sanctioned by the BalloonFederation of America, promises to bebigger and better than last year’s event.Some balloonists will come to compete,



while others will come to fly andentertain the massive crowds that willbe on hand for the balloons, as well asthe helicopters, gliders, airplanes, skydivers, powered parachutes, radio-controlled aircraft and CommemorativeAir Force air show.

Debby’s three main goals for bringingan idea to fruition are simple. “Balloonfestivals cross all demographics. Theidea was great for the airport and italso promotes the [local] area, while

bringing people together,” she explained.“Secondly, it brings revenue into thelocal area and last but not least, it’s awonderful event for pilots, spectatorsand local nonprofit organizations.”Several nonprofits Debby mentionedfrom last year’s event included theECSPCA, the Lions Club, the CivilAir Patrol and the Waxahachie PoliceDepartment Explorers.

In Texas, the most ideal times to flyare at sunrise and dusk. The sightsinclude wildlife, gorgeous sunrises andunforgettable sunsets. Debby has somany stories to share: from a swarm ofbumblebees to the artistry needed whentaking part in “splash and dash” events.Her love for the wild blue yonder hasnot wavered. “Ballooning still holdsthe same magic for me,” she admitted.“Every ride is different, but the peacefulness is the same. You are literallyin God’s hands. You are one with natureand one with the wind.”



Waco, but grew up in Corsicana, andmy mother is still there. My father wasraised in Waxahachie. My grandmother’shouse is actually the one catty-cornerto ours now. We always knew we’d comeback here; we both had a warm spot inour hearts for Waxahachie.”

The Chapmans had an idea about thehouse they wanted. “We wanted an oldhome to redo. We wanted it to be brickand one-story, and we wanted it to beon Marvin or Main or Sycamore — oneof the old streets in town,” Jerryremembered. The couple had a difficulttime finding a house to match the dreamhouse in their heads, so they decided tobe proactive and make their dreams a

— By Jaime Ruark

Making Dreams Reality


WWhen Jerry and Shirley Chapman

decided it was time to retire, they knewthey wanted to settle in Waxahachie.Not only did their son live close by inDallas, but they also both had ties andmemories of growing up in the area.“Shirley was born in Waxahachie andgrew up in Ferris. Her mother still livesin Ferris,” Jerry said. “I was born in

At Home With


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reality. “We picked out five or sixhouses we liked, and I wrote letters tothe owners asking if they would want tosell,” Jerry smiled at his unusual tactic.

The response to Jerry’s letters wasboth surprising and exciting. “Whenwe’d drive around town looking athouses, we’d park under the shade treesjust across the street from this house totalk things out. I used to play herewhen I was a little boy. My dad’s bestfriend lived here. It was the Eastham’shouse then,” he recalled. “So, of course,

this was one of the letters I wrote, andthe people who owned the houseended up writing me back. Turns outthey had been thinking of selling.”

The buying process was completed ina matter of weeks, and the remodelingof the house from Jerry’s childhoodbegan. “We didn’t change anything onthe outside because we have the historicmarker,” Shirley said. “We bought thehouse a little over two years ago, in April,but because of the remodeling, we didn’tmove in until the following October.”While the inside was remodeled, the




Chapmans were nomads, vacationing inEurope for a month and staying in a fewof the local downtown inns, includingthe Rogers Hotel. “They actually closedthe hotel for remodeling while we werethere. We were the only guests,” Jerryrecalled. “We were remodeling; theywere remodeling. They suggested weleave, but we told them we didn’t carebecause we were working on our houseall day, and we just wanted somewhereto come home to!”

Historic homes can require a lot of

work and upkeep, but the Chapmanswere happy to find the 2,600-square-foothouse, built in 1923, needed few repairs.Mortar on the chimneys was crumbling,so a mason was hired to re-brick themand remove one interior chimney, butlittle restoration was needed. “Thehouse was really in good shape. Thechanges we made were really all justour personal style. We wanted a biggerkitchen, bookcases, a powder room andmore modern bathrooms,” Shirleyremarked. “We changed quite a bit on



the inside,” Jerry added. “We wanted to see all the woodworkand windows. We made it lighter and brighter.”

The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home is surroundedby greenery and flowers. The Chapmans enjoy relaxing onthe porch, accessible from three different front doors, thatcurls around the side of the house. “I did all three flowerbedsmyself,” Jerry said proudly. Shirley laughed and added,“Well, he had some help. Rollins did our landscaping, plantingall the crape myrtle trees and all the trees along the outside.We still have some work to do.”

Most of the interior walls of the home are painted a lightgray, set off by the bright white of the intricate wood trim.“The man who built this house, Bertram C. Hill, was anarchitect, so there’s a lot of artistry in the woodwork,” Jerrynoted. The flooring is original wood, with gorgeous rugs inmany rooms. Numerous windows with plantation shutters


let in the sun, and French doors give thefront rooms the open, airy feelingShirley loves. “I guess in the old days,they’d close off rooms to keep the heatin, but we’ve never closed them,” Jerrysaid. “The house is built up four or fivefeet off the ground, so we can open thewindows and get a pretty good breezein the summertime.”

The front door opens to a den on theright and a front sitting room to the left,both with Rookwood tile fireplaces.The sitting room houses many antiques;a hutch displays a hand-painted, gilt-edged china set and the painting ofa winter scene above the mantle wasdone by Jerry’s grandmother. “A lot ofour antiques were Jerry’s grandmother’s,so some of the things we have were inthe house across the street when Jerrywas a little boy,” Shirley said. “Many ofthe paintings we have throughout thehouse were done by his grandmother.”

The formal dining room is lit by agorgeous crystal chandelier, original tothe house. Antique light fixtures andchandeliers, purchased in antique shopsor estate sales are found in almostevery room. “My dad had four sisters,one of them named Rosa Lee, so wecall a lot of stuff by that name,” Jerryexplained, pointing out a display ofcranberry-colored glasses. “She likedred; it was her favorite, so all the stuffyou see in the house that’s red was hers.”




A room, dedicated to a particularcollection of Shirley’s, holds cabinetsfilled with an endless supply of dishes.“We call this room the Dish Room.When we moved from Memphis, themovers said they’d never moved somany dishes,” Jerry laughed. Shirley’sdish collection continues into the kitchen,where her light and bright walls areaccented by yellow, aqua, navy and red

Fiestaware. Chairs painted in teal andnavy give ‘pops’ of color, and one wallis decorated with small, brightly painted,framed canvases of sunflowers, poppiesand roses.

The Chapmans plan to include theirhome on the Gingerbread Trail HomeTour now that their remodeling iscomplete. With a smile, Jerry said, “Thishouse has history and character, and it’snever been on the Trail or opened to thepublic. People are anxious to see it, andwe’re anxious to show it off.”


He also finds great pleasure in theaccolades he has received since beginningthe hobby, which quickly became apassion for him.

He and his wife, Durene, have alwaysloved looking at woodworking and homeimprovement magazines. One day,Durene ordered a birdhouse kit fromone of these magazines and presented itto Ken as soon as it arrived. “It wasplain, but very nice,” she noted, as shepointed to the one that started it all.“The first one he built and gave awaywent to my sister. It was a barn with abarnyard theme.”

Before Ken retired, he used to buildsmall office buildings, commercialbuildings and houses. His partners andcontractors were always available tohelp him when a challenge arose. Anychallenges Ken faces with his birdhousesfall solely on him. The birdhouses heconstructs in his shop these days are so

much more than houses with four walls,a hole and a perch. They are detailedmasterpieces, which take a great deal ofthought and preparation before Kenconsiders them complete. “Once thechallenges are met,” he said, “I feelrewarded, because I figured the problemout all by myself.”

Some of Ken’s birdhouses are madefrom recycled wood, while others startout as shipping crates, old barn woodand small sections of fencing material.Ken has even used an existing wagonto fashion a birdhouse. The early housesboasted of galvanized copper roofs, eachshingle cut and attached individually.Roofs on the current birdhouses includelicense plates and full sheets of metalor copper, while details include antiquedoorknobs, well-worn horseshoes andmetal hinges. Some are glued andsome are hammered. Several on displayhave workable lights. All Ken has to


— By Sandra McIntosh

More Than Birdhousea

WWhat do expired license plates,

outdated doorknobs, rusty horseshoesand pieces of a picket fence have incommon? When mixed with a vividimagination, wood glue and carpentrynails, they become one-of-a-kind, original birdhouses designed and builtby Ken Vess. “I’ve only been buildingthe birdhouses for the last two years,”he said, as he opened the door to thepart of the garage, that houses hisbirdhouses. “I’ve probably made at least300 in that length of time, and I’venever sold a single one. People have triedto buy them, but I just won’t sell them.”

The fact that he gives them away iswhat makes Ken’s birdhouses special tothose lucky enough to be on the receivingend. “I’ve probably given 200 away,and I’m proud to say that no two areexactly alike,” he added. “The pleasurecomes from trying to decide how tomake each one different and unique.”

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do is “flip a switch.” Always the perfectionist, Ken may

be his worst critic, but Durene is herhusband’s biggest fan. “There’s somethingspecial about each of the birdhouses,”she said. “I can always find at least onething I like about every one of them.”The post office birdhouses are assembledusing actual mailboxes. They come with

their very own combinations. Thebirdhouses reminiscent of the old GulfFilling Station from the days of AndyGriffith and the ones that have a countryjail theme, with metal bars over thewindows, bring the past to life. Ken,always thinking of his grandchildren,also constructed a Winnie the Poohhouse using toys considered unusable.His barn- and country store-themedhouses include small bales of hay andhorses tied to posts. Some take on thelook of English cottages, fully equippedwith two stories and rabbits in theyard. The watermelon houses representsummer, while the Texas Flag evokespride and patriotism in one’s state oforigin. One birdhouse even has a pondin the front yard area. “The animalsand other items I use to decorate thebirdhouses are purchased from localstores and Canton’s First MondayTrade Days,” he said. “All my postalcars and vehicles are special ordered.”

Ken can cut the wood for his birdhouses with “his eyes closed,” butthe painting is another thing altogether.“Painting is definitely the hardest partof the process,” he admitted, “especiallywhen the houses are more than one


The birdhouses he constructs in his shop

these days are so much

more than houseswith four walls, a hole

and a perch.



color. You have to stop working on oneand start on another while the paint isdrying.” Each birdhouse takes anywherefrom six to eight hours to complete,from start to finish. Those made fromsimple barn wood take half the time.

Ken finds the recipients of his birdhouses in the most unique way. “I

read about them in the local media,” hesaid. “I learn about them through whatI read and then I design a birdhousearound what I learn.” Several people inWaxahachie have at least one of Ken’sbirdhouses, if not two or three. Hetakes great pride in being able to donateto area churches, fire departments andnonprofit organizations for their silentauctions and fundraisers. He hasrecently expanded his craft to includehandmade crosses and wall hangings.Two signs —“Organize for Success”and “Don’t Let Yesterday Cloud Today”— hang in his workshop, and what aworkshop Ken enjoys! Does he actuallyneed all the tools that he has available tobuild his birdhouses? “Probably not,” hesmiled, “but don’t tell my wife!”


limited experience as a coach, but I wasalso sure to mention the fact that I’mmotivated and disciplined.”

The district needed a coach whowould be dedicated to the swim team.Following a couple of impromptumeetings, Tamra was offered the positionshe has come to love. In her first twoyears, she has proven to be the coachthey needed and so much more. “It’sbeen difficult to keep a coach for theswim team,” she stated, “mainly becausewe have no indoor pool in which topractice.” The year before Tamraagreed to the challenge, the swim teamwas comprised of five members. Thefirst year she coached, 15 students triedout for the team, but even fewer madeit to the end of the season. Last year,the numbers grew to 23 and the team’soverall success in district and regional competitions doubled. “MichaelPhelps’ success at the Olympics may

T— By Sandra

McIntosh

“As a coach, Ican only pushthem so far.”

league in Dallas and also seeing herhusband coach, Tamra thought she hadenough experience to at least apply forthe position. “I called Sandy Faussett,the girls’ athletic director,” Tamra said.“I made it a point to tell her about my


The Waxahachie High School (WHS)swim team will take to the water forpractice when all area public pools closedown after a long, hot summer. AsLabor Day comes and goes, high schoolstudents, both male and female, willstand ready at the edge of the YMCApool. These athletes will dive in at thesound of Tamra Pruitt’s whistle as sheannounces the start of her third seasonas the coach of the WHS swim team.“I read about the need for a swim coachthrough the campus e-mail,” Tamrasaid, also mentioning she has taughteighth-grade English and the giftedand talented program for the past eightyears in the Waxahachie IndependentSchool District (WISD). “I thoughtabout it for a day or two before tellingmyself, ‘I can do this.’”

As the wife of an agriculture teacherwithin Ellis County, Tamra wouldspend her afternoons waiting on herhusband to finish his duties in theclassroom. After remembering the yearsher father coached the summer swim

Amazingly Dedicated

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have helped the program,” Tamra commented. “Or it could be that thesehigh school students are the same students I taught back in eighth grade.”

Daily after-school practice for the swimseason begins in September; athletes

work on the backstroke, the breaststroke,the butterfly and the freestyle. Thereare 22 competitive events for swimmers,which originate with these four basicstrokes. “They vary, based on length andnumber of laps, as well as combinationsof the four,” Tamra added. The seasonends for the swim team in mid- tolate-February, but only if the team isconditioned and disciplined enough tomake it to the regional meet. “Athletesonly attend seven meets, with the mainmeet being district. It’s the one inFebruary we are constantly workingtoward,” she explained. “If a swimmer,whether as an individual or a relay team,ends up in the top six at the districtmeet, they automatically get to competeat regionals.”

Last year, 14 out of the 23 studentspersevered throughout the entire season,


Blake Wright prepares to dive into the pool during swim practice.



and qualified for the regional meet.“Kristi Clem qualified in two individualevents and placed sixth in both events,”Tamra said. “The relay team took seventhplace; while the boys’ team ended upin eighth place overall.” Tamra is soproud of the teamwork the athletesshared to earn these accolades. “Toexcel in the sport of swimming, theyeach need to be self-motivated andself-disciplined,” Tamra claimed. “As a coach, I can only push them so far.They have to want to push themselvesto beat the best time to the wall.”

Tamra went on to say that the WHSswim team is probably the only teamin Texas that practices in an outdoorpool in the dead of winter. “The pool isheated,” she said, “but the dedicationthese kids need to possess is amazing.The weather conditions are such thatdedication is a must.” Practice timesfor the WHS team are probably shorterthan most other schools, too, becausethey are constantly fighting the elements.“But the swimmers from Waxahachiealways have the best tans,” she laughed.

Many of Tamra’s peers were surprisedwhen she took the job. They did notsee her functioning in the realm ofswim coach. “Those that really knowme, knew I’d coach with a competitivespirit,” Tamra said. “They also knewthe kids and I would have fun whilemaking the school proud.” The schooldistrict has been very supportive of theswim program and whatever it hasneeded. Tamra was quick to mentionthe support of a very special individualduring last year’s regional meet. “WHSPrincipal David Nix drove all the wayto Conroe to see the kids compete,”she said. “The kids were thrilled.”

Four members of the team graduated last May, but Tamra is veryhopeful for the swim team this year. “Iexpect the athletes to work hard andbe supportive of one another,” she said.“We should be very strong during the2010 season.”

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Reliable Service Begins with

Reliable People

Pool ServicesCleaning

Polaris RepairsRe-Plumbing

Mastic RepairsEquipment Repair

Acid Wash

(214) 577-4843Bob Bauer

[email protected]


R— By Sandra McIntosh


Richard Dobson, owner of First Floors Carpet One locatedconveniently at 2261 Highway 77 N., saw an opportunity inEllis County nearly four years ago. He wasted no time acting on it. “Waxahachie had a Carpet One affiliated store where theowner had decided to retire,” Richard explained. “I saw that asa chance to open a second store. I transferred his employees tothe new store — same area just a different owner.”

As a third-generation flooring expert and second-generationstore owner, Richard has seen and done it all. “I’ve done everyjob imaginable,” he said. “I did what I had to do to get to thenext level.” He and his father opened their first store in theDallas area. Richard remembers going to work as a young manright out of high school. He took over as the sole owner of theDallas store when his father retired seven years ago.

First Floors has been affiliated with Carpet One for 22 years. They enjoy a 1,000-store buying power through this partnership. First Floors Carpet One offers 10,000 styles, colorsand textures of flooring, including all the biggest brand namesin flooring. “Anything floor-related we can do,” Richard stated. “At one time, carpet was the standard. Hardwoods are

the leading sales now.” Hardwoods include pre-finished, custom, dust-free and authentic. “Hardwood is the only thingyou can put on your floor to increase its value,” Richard added.“It’s an investment that pays great dividends.”

Customer service is key when it comes to operating a successful business. First Floors Carpet One was the first carpet store to offer a customer service department, which wastotally separate from the installation department. First FloorsCarpet One provides their exclusive “beautiful guarantee,”which states customers will love the way their new floor looksor it will be replaced for free! “We set ourselves apart by thecustomer service we provide,” Richard said, sure to mentionthat he will not personally do anything he would not sign hisown name to.

The sales staff at First Floors Carpet One is made up ofhighly trained professionals, who can provide suggestions andsolutions for every room in a customer’s home. Whether a customer knows exactly what they want or they come to theretail showroom undecided, the sales staff is always ready tohelp in any way they can. Regardless of their choice — carpet,

Beautifully Guaranteed

WAXJune09p30-31Bus.qxd 5/19/09 2:30 PM Page 30

hardwood or linoleum — First FloorsCarpet One will help their customersmake a decision that is right for boththe home and the homeowner.

First Floors Carpet One also pridesitself in working closely with insurancecompanies on a wide variety of insurance claims. “We repair, replaceand fix the damage the right way,”Richard said. “In this business, you have to.” They also offer excellent “nointerest” programs with specific termsand conditions, which allow qualifiedcustomers the opportunity to purchase a new floor without the worry of payingany interest on their purchase.

Richard learned from his father, whohad learned from his father. The experience of three generations of flooring experts means only one thing

— customer satisfaction guaranteed.“Our customers in Dallas andWaxahachie have been so good to ourfamily,” he said, answering the questionon why he does what he does. “Weenjoy it. It’s just what we do!”

For more information on the offeringsat First Floors Carpet One, customersare encouraged to call the office at (469) 517-8611. The staff will be more than happy to help in any waythey can.


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natural to me. I made a list, while working on my bachelor’sdegree, of what I wanted to do, and on that list I wrote ‘teach’and ‘become an admissions counselor.’ Somehow I knew thiswas the route I wanted to take.”

Following the course Renee said was innate to her, she hasstepped into her calling as an academic advisor at Navarro,helping students find where their career paths lead. “I helpstudents select a major that fits and fully understand thecourse requirements for them to complete an associate’s degreein that field,” she explained. “Most of my job deals with students wanting to transfer to a four-year university whenthey are finished here, so I hope to ensure they have the properclasses and credits that will transfer to their major of choice.People come here for different reasons, but no matter what thecase, I want to help them get to where they want to be.”

With an open-door policy, Renee is easily accessible for students as they discover their future aspirations. Throughoutthis process, she has been able to see many of the goals they setfulfilled. “The most rewarding thing is to see them graduate,”Renee said. “Every single graduation brings tears to my eyes.You see them when they come in their first year when theyregister and the road that leads them up until the big day, andit’s pretty exciting. It makes it all worth it to see them walkacross the stage.”

Over the years, many of the advisor-student relationshipshave developed into lifelong friendships, according to Renee.“A lot of former students are now some of my best friends,”


WWhen it comes to education, Renee Ramsey, an academic

advisor at Navarro College in Waxahachie, can be consideredan expert. Yet, her expertise has never been for herself alone.Renee is taking the experience and knowledge she has gainedin her life and is translating it daily to her students.

Renee, who is committed to educating herself and others,attended Texas A&M University for her bachelor’s degree,Texas A&M University International for her master’s degreeand Utah State University for her doctorate course work. Itwas then time for her to share all her learning. “After I went to school in Utah, I taught for a while but didn’t really enjoyteaching at the upper college level,” Renee said. “I knew Iliked the sociology field, and I knew I wanted to teach in ajunior college setting.”

Circumstances brought Renee back to Texas and, eventually,to Navarro College. “The stars were aligned just right, and Ihave now been here for five-and-a-half years,” Renee said. “Iwas hired as a sociology professor, and a few weeks later, as afull-time academics advisor. I was teaching classes during the day and then staying late to work in the counselingdepartment. So my first semester was a little hectic. Since that semester, I now teach mostly online and night classes.”

Teaching is what Renee does, but it is academic counselingthat she loves. Renee can recall when she first found her niche.“At Texas A&M, we had to make advising appointments wayin advance,” she said. “So I would help people in the dormsfigure out degree plans and class schedules. It came kind of

— By Danielle Parker

An Educated Investment An Educated Investment

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she said. “I don’t really know how ithappens; I have just established a goodconnection with them.” Through thoseconnections she has seen a return on her simple investment of time and

encouragement. “Some people want tocome back and update me,” Renee said.“I have attended a few four-year graduations. I have remained prettyclose to some of them. One in particularwas an education major who had topush past a lot, and in the end, she hasdone really well. I saw her go frombeing a student here to having threekids and almost dropping out, to finishing her bachelor’s degree, andtoday she is a teacher.”

Learning has always been an important value to Renee. Educatorsinfluenced the development of her passion. “Education is something youalways have with you; no one can evertake it away from you,” she said. “Ihad a high school teacher who wouldalways get me thinking about a majorand careers. While getting my master’s, it was the department headwho encouraged me to apply for mydoctoral studies.”

As students share their goals, Reneebelieves she, too, can enable them toachieve short- and long-term ambitions.“You can see the impact we are makingevery day,” she said. “I still look forwardto their future successes, but we don’thave to look in the long run to see it.”Renee’s desire is to guide her students to pick more than a major, so they, likeher, can be passionate about their careerchoice. “I hope to retire here,” she commented. “I’m not complacent; I justreally like what I do. I don’t know a lotof people that can say that.”


I just really

like what I do“

”

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2 tsp. vanilla1 tsp. fresh lemon juice1 tsp. fresh lime juice1/2 cup milk1/2 cup reserved cherry juice

FROSTING:1 cup butter, softened1 cup shortening1/4 tsp. lime zest1/4 tsp. lemon zest2 lbs. powdered sugar1/4 tsp. fresh lime juice1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. Maraschino cherry juice 24 Maraschino cherries with stems drinking straws

Preheat oven to 325 F. Drain cherries, reservingjuice for frosting. Cut cherries in half (if not usingcherry halves already); dry cherries thoroughly. Siftflour and baking powder together. Coat cherrieswith a little of the dry mixture; set aside. In mixingbowl, cream butter and sugar; add eggs, one at atime, mixing well. Add vanilla, lemon and lime

KEY LIME PIE

2 10-oz. cans sweetened condensed milk1/2 cup sour cream3/4 cup Key lime juice1 Tbsp. grated lime zest1 prepared graham cracker crust, 9-inch

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine condensed milk,sour cream, lime juice and lime zest. Mix welland pour into graham cracker crust. Bake inpreheated oven for 5-10 minutes, until tiny pinholebubbles burst on the surface of pie. Do not brown!Chill thoroughly before serving. Serve with limewedges and whipped topping, if desired.

SHIRLEY TEMPLE CUPCAKES

16-oz. jar Maraschino cherries (no stems) 4 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 cups butter 2 cups sugar4 eggs

IN THE KITCHEN WITH TRACEY PIM

LookWho’s

Cooking

juice; combine well. Add dry mix, milk and cherryjuice alternately and beat until batter is smooth. Fillcupcake liners 1/2 full with batter; drop in cherries(approximately 4 in each cupcake). Fill the remain-der of the cupcake liner with batter, almost to thetop of liner. Bake for 25-28 minutes, until toothpickinserted comes out clean. Cool completely on wirerack before icing. FROSTING: Cream butter andshortening until light and fluffy. Add lime andlemon zest, mix. Alternately add powdered sugarand fruit juices. Beat until smooth and creamy. Addmore cherry juice, if needed, to reach desired con-sistency; frost cupcakes. If desired, pipe frostingonto cupcake with a large star decorating tip. Topeach cupcake with a stemmed Maraschino cherry.For an additional fun decoration, cut drinkingstraws into thirds and push one straw piece intothe top of each cupcake.

OLIVE AND SUN DRIED TOMATO PASTA SALAD

1 12-oz. pkg. tri-color Rotini1 10-oz. jar pimento-stuffed green olives, drained1 6-oz. can medium, pitted black olives, drained

— By Faith Browning

Raising her three teenagers, Abby, Colton andHannah Due, keeps Tracey Pim very busy.Being a supervisor for the Child Nutrition

Department of Waxahachie ISD, plus teaching TexasAssociation of Child Nutrition certification classes and,occasionally, classes for Lighthouse for Learning gives hervery little time for anything else. “I love to read but rarelyfind the time anymore,” she explained. “When I am notworking, I am watching Top Chef, the Food Network ortrying out a new recipe.”

Tara credits her mother for developing her desire to cook.“I have been cooking and baking since I was old enough topull a chair up to the kitchen counter and help my mom,”she recalled. “My mother was always cooking wonderful,homemade meals for my father, brother, sister and myself.She is an awesome cook, baker and cake decorator.”

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1 14.5-oz. can basil, garlic and oregano tomatoes1 16-oz. bottle Kraft Sun Dried Tomato

Vinaigrette Dressing & Marinade

Cook pasta according to package directions.Rinse under cool water and drain. Add pasta toa medium-sized bowl; mix in green olives, blackolives and tomatoes. Add 3/4 bottle of dressing;toss. Cover; chill at least one hour or overnight.After chilling, the pasta will have absorbed thedressing, so just before serving, add desiredamount of remaining dressing to coat pasta.

GARLIC-LIME CHICKEN

2 Tbsp. olive oil6 cloves garlic, minced1/2 large onion, diced4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinlesssalt, to tastepepper, to taste1 lime

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Addminced garlic and diced onion. Season chickenbreasts with salt and pepper to taste. Place chickenbreasts in skillet. Brown chicken breasts,approximately 6 minutes on each side. Squeeze thejuice of one lime over chicken; continue cooking untilchicken is cooked through and tender 5-10 minutes.


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5-year CD in equal amounts of $5,000. After one year, whenyour first CD matures, you would invest it in a new 5-yearCD. Each year, a CD will expire and, if the funds are notneeded, they will be reinvested in a new 5-year CD to takeadvantage of the higher interest rate typically offered by a 5-year CD as compared to the 1- or 2-year CDs.

This approach allows you the comfort of knowing that aCD will mature each year in case you need the money, yetstill take advantage of the higher rates typically offered forlonger maturities. Staggering your maturity dates also helps

smooth out the volatility of the market.If interest rates rise during the year, youwill have money available to invest in a

higher rate CD. Or, if rates fall, only aportion of your investment dollars willneed to be reinvested at the lower rate.CD laddering may be a strategy that’s

appropriate for your lifestyle. Plus, withthe guaranteed interest rate offered on CDs,you will be able to plan your future withconfidence. Talk with your insurance agent

or financial expert for more information.Adam Rope is a State Farm agent based in

Waxahachie.

Is CD Laddering Right for You?— By Adam Rope


WWith the recent volatility in the stock market, people are

hesitant to put their entire nest egg into the market.Additionally, with the economy creating tight times forfamilies, it’s often necessary to make sure funds are availableif and when we need them. For those investors who areeither reluctant to jump head first into the market or thosewho may have a need for cash, the strategy of ladderingCertificates of Deposit (CDs) may be appropriate.

CD laddering is the process of structuring your investmentinto CDs to take advantage of the higher rates afforded bylonger-term time deposits, yet maintaining liquidity byarranging it so that equal portions of the invested money isavailable periodically. To accomplish this, youbegin by buying numerous CDswith various maturities.

For instance, let’s say you have$25,000 to invest. Rather thaninvesting the $25,000 in oneCD that matures at a designated time, by ladderingCDs, you may choose toinvest $5,000 in each offive separate CDs. In this example, youwould then purchase a 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and

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likely to get the disease. A sedentary lifestyle also increases yourrisk. Exercising places more stress on your bones, which sends a signal to them to increase bone mass. The more active you wereas a child, the greater chance you have of building up strongbones, lessening your risk of developing osteoporosis. Your“bone bank” is off to a good start.

The importance of calcium and Vitamin D in your diet cannot be underestimated. Your body needs calcium for morefunctions than simply being a necessary ingredient for bonesand teeth. When the calcium level in your blood drops, yourbody will take the calcium it needs from bones. As your dietsupplies additional calcium, the proper amount is restored tothe bones. Most adults and teenagers do not get the dailyrequirement of calcium from their diet, so a calcium supplement is necessary. Vitamin D aids with the absorption of calcium and helps to regulate the amount of calcium in your

blood. Vitamin D can be obtained throughsupplements, diet or exposure to at least 10minutes of sunlight every day.

Becoming stronger is all up to you.With appropriate exercise, watching yourweight, a diet rich in calcium or supplements,and foods or supplements fortified withVitamin D, osteoporosis is a disease you canlive with. Your physician will help you determine how much calcium and VitaminD you need and whether you need additional medication. Get your BoneMineral Density Test!

This article is for general information only and doesnot constitute medical advice. Consult with yourphysician for questions regarding this topic.


Scan It for Health

— By Betty Tryon, R.N.

WWhat is the big deal about osteoporosis anyway? Our TV

shows are inundated with commercials of the latest and greatestmedication to take for this problem. If you are female and over50, your physician frequently encourages you to have a bonescan. Is it important to have a Bone Mineral Density Test? In a word, yes.

Osteoporosis means porous bones. Porous bones are less solidor less dense and become more fragile; therefore, they are moreprone to fracture. This disease is a silentone in that it has no symptoms. Usually,you will not know if you have it until abone breaks and a closer examination ismade. Typically, as you grow older, yourbones become weaker. Older females aremore likely to get this disease than menare. Women also lose bone rapidly aftermenopause. Estrogen, in conjunctionwith other hormones and minerals,works to build bone. When a womanbecomes post-menopausal, that buildingblock is compromised and bones are atrisk to thinning and breakage.

Other risk factors include your familyhistory. If a member of your family suffers from this affliction, you are more

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of mulch, 4 inches of mulch, 6 inches of chipped tree trimmingsand one with 4 inches of rock. Comparing the temperature ofthe bed with no mulch to any of the others was an eye-opener.All of the mulched beds registered from 10 to 28 degrees coolerduring the hotter parts of the day. The beds with 4 to 6 inches

of mulch had the added benefit of blocking lotsand lots of weeds and grass. Perennials willcome up through the mulch, so there is no needto clean out all that good organic stuff in thespring. New, little plants can have the mulchpulled back until they grow tall enough to peekover the top; then move the mulch back in closeto the root base.

Whatever mulch you use, it works. Just putit on thick or put it on thin and you are good togo. Fewer weeds, fewer bugs and lower waterusage — what more could you ask?

Nancy Fenton is a Master Gardener.


How Much is Too Much?

TThe Ellis County Master Gardeners ran a test in July and

August of 2008 on several different types and depths of mulch.The long and short of it was that when compared to non-mulched flowerbeds, any amount of mulch (from 2 to 6inches) did a reasonable job of reducing the soil temperature —sometimes as much as 28 degrees. The organicmulches, such as chipped tree limbs, bark, etc.have an added advantage of becoming fertilizeras the year moves on. Think of it like covering abucket of water with a lid to slow evaporation.The shade provided by the mulch also cools the root zone so you can avoid the “baked rootsyndrome” of several years ago.

A friend asked me recently if you could puttoo much mulch on your beds. Of course youcan. It really is a question of moderation. Twoto 6 inches of mulch is a good range to shootfor. The test mentioned above had five 8-foot-by-8-foot beds with no mulch, 2 inches

— By Nancy Fenton

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June 5The Gingerbread Classic Golf Tournament will beheld at the Old Brickyard Golf Course, located at605 North I-45 in Ferris. Lunch will begin at 11:00a.m. with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. $110 perplayer. For more information, call (972) 937-2390.

June 6Four homes and one local business will welcomevisitors to the annual Gingerbread Trails Historic HomeTour from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. For more informationor to get trail addresses, call (972) 937-0681.

Annual Pancake Breakfast Fly-In will be held from8:00-11:00 a.m. at Mid-Way Regional Airport.Breakfast tickets are $6. One child under the age of8 eats free with a paid adult ticket. The event andparking are free to the public. For more information,contact Tammy Bowen at (972) 923-0080.

June 6 and 7Paint Historic Waxahachie will culminate with an art sale and exhibition at the ChautauquaAuditorium, located at Getzendaner Park, from10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Common Threads Quilting, in conjunction with theWaxahachie Chamber of Commerce and theWaxahachie Downtown Merchants Association, willpresent Covering Waxahachie in Color duringGingerbread Trail Weekend. There will be a non-judged quilt show around the courthousesquare. For information on soliciting entries for theshow and to secure an entry form, call (972) 935-0510or e-mail [email protected].

Trade Days of Waxahachie Grand Opening.Drawings for prizes will be held all weekend.For more information, contact Les Clemons at (972) 617-8156.

June 12-144th Annual North Texas Lakes Rally Ray Guns andScooter Fun will be held at Spring Park at LakeWaxahachie. There will be camping, live music,barbecue, refreshments, organized rides and more.Call (214) 532-5795 for more information.

June 19-21DFW Summer Balloon Classic, an AviationExtravaganza, will be held at Mid-Way Regional

Airport in Midlothian. Admission is free. Parking is$10. The event will feature 40 magnificent hot airballoons. Five mass ascensions will be followed bytop ranked competitors flying their balloons in achallenging competition. “Lite the Nite” balloonglow will be held at sunset on Saturday evening.Aviation Extravaganza during the day features airplanes, helicopters, military aircraft, gliders,skydivers, powered parachutes, RC aircraft andmore in-flight and static displays. Some flightsavailable to the public. Attractions include exhibits,food, arts and crafts and areas for the children.For more information, visit www.summerballoonclassic.com.

June 2723rd Annual Cow Creek Classic Bike Ride will beheld at the Waxahachie Ninth Grade Academy. Formore information, call (972) 937-2390.

June 2009 Community Calendar

For more community events, visit our online calendar at www.nowmagazines.com.

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one with wind an educated investment more than · 2018. 3. 2. · cord opens the parachute top,...

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