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Point Bank named Business of the Year
Photo by Jim Manning
PointBank of Little Elm was named Little Elm Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Shown is Jean Beaty, branch manager.
LAEYSA organizes breakfast fundraiser at Pick 6
Photos by Jim Manning
LEAYSA Softball Director Erin Martin organized a breakfast fundraiser at Pick 6 to help during the upcoming season. The season begins March 24 with opening day ceremonies on March 23. This is open to ages 3-4 (Blast Ball) to ages 6-14. Contact Erin Martin at 972-342-8408 for any information.
Winter in Little Elm
Photo by Justin Wilkerson
Winter scene in Little Elm.
Little Elm Lions Club discusses business for 2012
Photo by Jim Manning
The Little Elm Lions Club met and discussed their business for the coming year.
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This Week
February 2, 2012
PointBank chosen as Little ElmBusiness of the Year
By Jim Manning LittleElm.com
Point Bank in Little Elm was voted as the Business of the Year by the Little Elm Chamber of Commerce. Jean Beaty is the Branch Manager and has a personality you enjoy meeting. Jean has been with the bank for two years and in Little Elm for one and a half years. The branch, under Jean’s leadership, has been involved in many community activities while supporting the Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to promote good business in the area. The bank revived the “Newcomer Bag Program” with the town to ensure business information was distributed to all new families coming in.
During the year, many opportunities to help in the local community always appear and PointBank in Little Elm reaches out and help where they can. Some of these areas include:
*Supporting the “Friends of the Library” trivia night that raises funds for the Little Elm Library to provide books and programs for our citizens.
*Supporting the Little Elm Food Bank, which in turn helps our less than fortunate residents in their times of need.
*Supporting the Caw Coo Parrothead Club, a local community club, in their toy drive for needy children. This last year the kids received more than 100 toys at the Texas Education Center in Little Elm.
*Helps with the ticket sales for the town’s events such as the Autumnfest celebration that brings the carnival and barbecue cookoffs to Little Elm to enhance the Little Elm Park facilities.
*Sponsor the Chamber Golf tournament and help sell tickets for the chamber’s Father/Daughter dance to further advance the Chamber of Commerce programs which go back into the community business exposure opportunities.
*Introduces new members to the Chamber of Commerce in Little Elm. She has a presence on the Chamber Board of Directors.
Most recently Jean has helped the Chamber align with the Little Elm Economic Development Corporation in the Town of Little Elm to support business growth and enhance communications that will help the businesses and promote future success in Little Elm.
County awaits I-35E funding numbers By Tim Glaze LittleElm.com
As the expansion of I-35E draws near, Denton County representatives have continued to request project funding from the Texas Department of Transportation. According to TxDOT officials, the amount of money available for the project will be revealed in the coming weeks.
“This is a priority project for many – not only in the county, but in the region, and of course, at the state level,” said TxDOT representative Cynthia Northrop White. “Currently, all partners are working to see if any additional funds can be identified for the project, including TxDOT, as quickly as possible.
“We will share that information as soon as it is available, and we are hoping it will be in February or March.”
Once all funding questions have been answered, the 1420 Committee – a group stemming from Senate Bill 1420, which authorizes the use of public-private partnerships to fund the project – will decided what construction group will work on the project. The committee must decide the builders by April.
The current highway has four to six regular lanes and four lanes of frontage roads.The project would expand the highway to eight regular lanes, four tolled HOV lanes and four to six frontage lanes.
White also reported that the RFQ for the I-35E project has been issued.
According to the RFQ, which allots $818 million to what officials in Austin are calling the “Horseshoe Project,” upgrades have been approved for the I-30 bridge, part of the Mixmaster in Downtown Dallas and both the north and southbound I-35E bridges – the final directly impacting the I-35E expansion project.
An RFQ was published on Dec. 9 to solicit qualification submittals from teams interested in entering into a design-build contract to design, construct and potentially perform capital maintenance on the Horseshoe Project.
“This project is made possible by legislation passed this year which provided transportation stakeholders with additional tools in the form of design-build authorization,” said Bill Meadows, TxDOT Commissioner. “The new tools provide the opportunity to close the project funding gap and construct the project at least two years sooner than conventional project development methods could.”
According to TxDOT officials, the I-35E project’s current estimated cost is $3.3 billion in construction, $1.2 billion to purchase right of way and another $800 million for operations. Some cities that will be directly affected by the expansion have already pledged to give money towards the project: Denton pledged $250,000; Lewisville pledged $2 million; and Carrollton pledged $5.4 million.
TxDOT has also sent out requests for qualifications from engineering firms to learn what the potential cost and construction details would be. Firms have until Feb. 17 to get their responses back to TxDOT. Once the requests are answered, TxDOT will decide which firms could best build the expanded lanes as planned.
Denton County Transportation Authority officials are already planning for a boost in A-Train ridership once the highway construction begins.
“Our president likes to say that the first day the Lewisville Lake Bridge goes under construction [as part of the I-35E expansion] will be our highest ridership day,” said Dee Leggett with the DCTA. “We see that we can serve as an alternate to the construction-related congestion.
“We are mainly monitoring the timing and sequencing of construction so that we can step up marketing and communications efforts during that time.
“Obviously, we will want to manage access to our Highland Village and Lewisville Lake station as it is the closest to the construction effort.”
Zebra mussel test results on North Texas lakes reported
Boaters urged to continue to Clean, Drain and Dry boats moved between lakes
Despite recent test results showing zebra mussel DNA to be present in several North Texas reservoirs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials remain hopeful that the invasive aquatic species is still confined to Lake Texoma.
Dr. Robert McMahon, Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Texas at Arlington, has been monitoring 14 North Texas reservoirs for the presence of zebra mussels using three techniques. One technique looks for zebra mussel DNA in the water, another uses a microscope to look for zebra mussel larvae (veligers) in the water, and the third uses a submerged monitor to look for newly settled juvenile mussels.
Lakes involved in the study include Eagle Mountain, Lewisville, Lavon, Ray Hubbard, Ray Roberts, Arrowhead, Bridgeport, Tawakoni, Caddo, Wright Patman, Fork, Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo and Texoma.
Of those lakes, only Lake Texoma is known to be infested with zebra mussels.
Despite rigorous and repeated sampling in North Texas, Dr. McMahon has detected no zebra mussels of any life stage in any Texas lake other than Lake Texoma. Nevertheless, the most recent tests, carried out in October 2011, showed low levels of zebra mussel DNA in six lakes: Eagle Mountain, Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Arrowhead, Bridgeport and Caddo.
“Lakes Lavon, Ray Hubbard, Tawakoni and Wright Patman had no detected zebra mussel DNA in the samples,” said McMahon. “Lavon and Ray Hubbard tested positive for zebra mussel DNA in the spring of 2011, so the absence of any veliger DNA in the fall samples suggests that mussels have not become established in those lakes. Lakes Fork, Lake O’ the Pines and Bob Sandlin were not examined for mussel DNA in the fall of 2011, because they were considered inhospitable to zebra mussels based on high summer temperatures and low calcium levels.”
The presence of zebra mussel DNA in the water is not an indication that zebra mussels have become established in a lake or that they will become established. “There are cases in the western U.S. where positive DNA results indicated the presence of zebra mussels, but those results could never be confirmed,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “In fact, Lakes Ray Hubbard and Lavon tested positive in the spring of 2011 for zebra mussel DNA, but the presence of zebra mussels could not be confirmed by microscopy or settlement samplers. The spring 2011 samples were taken right around the time that contaminated boats were found on both lakes, so that may be why they tested positive. Both boats were removed and decontaminated, and subsequent monitoring on these two lakes, by three different entities, has not confirmed the presence of zebra mussels.”
McMahon noted that he was surprised by the positive result for Caddo Lake. “I consider the lake’s calcium levels to be too low and the summer water temperatures too high to support zebra mussels,” he said.
Microscopic examination of water samples from the 14 lakes in both June and October 2011 showed zebra mussel veligers present only in Lake Texoma. “During June juvenile mussels were found on settlement monitors only in Lake Texoma, while no juvenile zebra mussels were found on settlement monitors in any of the 14 lakes in October, including Texoma,” McMahon added.
McMahon suspects that boats being transported from Lake Texoma to other lakes are the source of the DNA found in the six lakes. “The data suggest that mussels and/or mussel larvae are being carried into these lakes by recreational boaters but are not becoming established as a sustainably reproducing mussel population,” he said. “This is a sign that mussels are being introduced to Texas lakes, and if such introductions continue, some of these lakes may eventually become infested with zebra mussels.”
“TPWD will continue monitoring these lakes for the presence of zebra mussels and doing everything it can to encourage boaters and anglers to Clean, Drain and Dry their boats for at least a week before moving them to another lake,” Van Zee said. “We encourage boaters and anglers to visit http://www.texasinvasives.org/ to learn more about how they can help protect the waters they enjoy.”
Concern over the possible transport of zebra mussels between bodies of water prompted TPWD to propose new regulations governing movement of boats or fish between lakes in North Texas. Details on the proposed regulations can be found at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20120126b.
Rain welcome but lake levels still dangerous
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
Some much-needed rain finally came to the Little Elm area, but water levels remain low days after.
Last week’s thunderstorms were well-received by residents in Little Elm who have, once again, been in the midst of a dangerous drought.
The Lewisville Lake Corps of Engineers reported that on Wednesday, Jan. 25, the lake and surrounding areas got a refreshing 3.84 inches of rain after the most the area had seen in the past month was a three-day stretch of a combined 1.71 inches on Jan. 9, 10 and 11.
To put Wednesday’s rainfall even more in perspective, Lewisville Lake and the Little Elm area only got 4.33 total inches of rain for the entire month of December.
Still, Lewisville Lake is currently sitting at an elevation of 519.61 feet – after the 3.84 downpour on the 25th – and the Corps has reported that a normal reading for this time of year should be closer to 522 feet. From Jan. 16 until Jan. 25, the lake was at or below 516 feet.
The lack of rain has been frustrating for the Lake Cities area; even moving from north to south, storms of any type have not moved much further south than Denton. Ray Roberts Lake, located near Sanger, is currently sitting at 630.23 feet, more than 100 feet deeper than Lewisville Lake.
With the lake so low, officials are stressing lake safety for hunters, fishermen and the brave souls that are currently using the lake to swim in.
Little Elm Police and Fire Reports
Monday, Dec. 26
12 a.m. – Fraud was reported at the 3000 block of Bigleaf Drive.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
8:05 a.m. – A carbon monoxide detector was activated at the 2600 block of Powederhorn Drive.
8:34 a.m. – A smoke detector was activated at the 1000 block of Port Aransas Drive.
9:55 a.m. – Theft was reported at the 1100 block of Eldorado Parkway.
12:15 p.m. – Credit card fraud was reported at the 2600 block of Little Elm Parkway.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
4:37 p.m. – A lock-out was reported at the 1600 block of Lionheart Drive.
Thursday, Dec. 29
12:48 p.m. – An odor investigation was reported at the 2000 block of Lake Fork Lane.
4:32 p.m. – A motor vehicle accident was reported at the 2100 block of Oak Grove Parkway.
Friday, Dec. 30
3:31 p.m. – A lock out was reported at the 100 block of Main Street.
3:40 p.m. – A person in distress was reported at the 100 block of Main Street.
6:34 p.m. – A motor vehicle accident was reported at the 2700 block of Eldorado Parkway.
Saturday, Dec. 31
4:38 p.m. – A motor vehicle accident was reported at the intersection of FM 423 and Eldorado Parkway.
5:44 p.m. – A building fire was reported at the 1200 block of Sand Jack Drive.
Thursday, Jan. 5
6:52 a.m. – Shoplifting was reported at the 8000 block of FM 423.
Friday, Jan. 6
7:55 a.m. – Assault was reported at the 2400 block of Texoma Drive.
4 p.m. – A building burglary was reported at the 2200 block of Gulfstream Drive.
4:15 p.m. – A building burglary was reported at the 3100 block of Tropica Drive.
Sunday, Jan. 8
12:54 a.m. – A building burglary was reported at the 1100 block of Eldorado Parkway.
10:04 p.m. – Assault was reported at the 1900 block of Jackson Drive.
Monday, Jan. 9
3:54 a.m. – A medical call was made at the 900 block of Eldorado Parkway.
Tuesday, Jan. 10
6:33 a.m. – Criminal mischief was reported at the 1000 block of Ponderosa Ridge.
6:41 a.m. – Criminal mischief was reported at the 2600 block of Round Up Trail.
Wednesday, Jan. 11
1:30 p.m. – Arson was reported at the 400 block of Lobo Lane.
1:46 p.m. – Driving while intoxicated was reported at the 2300 block of Tailburton Court.
9:26 p.m. – Criminal mischief was reported at the 2200 block of Bradford Pear Drive.
Saturday, Jan. 14
9:47 a.m. – A lock out was reported at the 2600 block of Little Elm Parkway.
3:18 p.m. – A burning was reported at the intersection of Sycamore Drive and Mimosa Lane.
Sunday, Jan. 15
2:43 a.m. – A motor vehicle accident was reported at the 400 block of Castleridge Drive.
Tina’s Tidbits
By Tina Hagar
LittleElm.com Contributing Columnist
Basketball Experience
What is the first thing that you think of when you hear someone whistling “Sweet Georgia Brown”? The first thing that I think of is the Harlem Globetrotters. I remember a number of years back when I took my daughter to see them play and she really enjoyed it because she likes basketball. I just recently was able to take my husband and it was just as fun this time as when I took my daughter. The cool thing is that I was able to get a really good deal on seats due to purchasing tickets from an email I received from Groupon.com. The big surprise was when we found out our seats were in the fourth row right on the floor behind the basket. Talk about front row seats! Of course, I just had to buy a basketball and we were able to get Bone’s signature on the ball. Now maybe I can spin the ball better now that I have a Harlem Globetrotters ball! Have you seen the Harlem Globetrotters play and what was your experience? For those of you who have not seen them play I know they normally come to Dallas in January of each year. I would highly recommend seeing at least once!
Free Tea Sample
Not only do I like great deals but I also like free samples so I can try before deciding to buy. I happen to like persimmons and I also like different kinds of teas so imagine my surprise when I learned that there was such a thing as persimmon tea. And to top it off I found a place that sends a free sample. I am looking forward to trying it and if I like it I will know where to buy the tea. If you would like to receive a free sample then visit http://www.naturalpersimmon.com. Also, please tell me if you know of good places to buy different flavor teas.
Food for Thought
Another cool thing about subscribing to receive information from various deal sites such as Living Social and Groupon is that you learn about different businesses, organizations, and events that you might not know about otherwise. A perfect example of this is when I received a Groupon deal about the Earthwise Local Food Festival at Earthwise Gardens in Denton (728 N. Elm St., Denton, 76201), held on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Earthwise Gardens is holding its first annual Local Food Festival that will include free samples, art, live music and more. This will be a great event for the whole family. For more information visit their site at http://www.earthwise-gardens.com/. For more information about their food festival check them out on Facebook. Following the Earthwise Local Food Festival on Facebook will also keep you posted on new events being added. For example, just recentlyTexas Photo Classes (http://www.txphotoclasses.com) was added that they will be raffling one free admission to a classroom or photo safari of your choice.
That’s all for now but if you have any questions or comments please send an email to me at tinahager147@yahoo.com. See you next week!
January 26, 2012
Little Elm ISD to hostevent for parents, students
Little Elm ISD is hosting an event for parents and current students in grades 6-11 on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Little Elm High School, 1900 Walker Lane, to aid with course selection for the 2012-2013 school year.
Middle School parents are invited to attend informational meetings according to grade level to begin the process of graduation planning.
-Current 6th Grade (Class of 2018) Meeting is in the LEHS Auditorium at 6 p.m.
-Current 7th Grade (Class of 2017) Meeting is in LEHS Auditorium at 7 p.m.
-Current 8th Grade (Class of 2016) Meeting is in LEHS Cafeteria at 7 p.m.
LEHS students, current 9th-11th graders (Classes of 2015, 2014, 2013), and their parents are invited to explore booths and information tables. Career clusters, core electives, PreAP/AP, clubs and campus organizations information will all be available and represented. Parents may review transcripts and schedule meetings with staff to address graduation needs. Childcare and refreshments will be available.
District counselors will meet with current fifth graders (Class of 2019) on their campuses in the coming weeks to begin the process of registration for middle school as well.
For more information, please contact the Support Center by calling 972-292-1847 or your student’s campus.
Highway guideline placed on hold
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
Last week, county officials presented guidelines they wanted met within the new construction and expansion of I-35E to the Regional Transportation Council. For now, some of those guidelines will be put on hold, according to RTC officials.
The biggest of those requests to be put on hold was the county’s plea to include a “free lane” for every “managed lane” when constructing the new highway.
Within that guideline was the county’s request that any managed toll-lane revenue should go toward the whole corridor. Then, once the corridor is complete, the revenue should stay in the county of origin in order for Denton and Dallas counties to retain revenue from their respective pieces. This was a topic of discussion late in 2011, when county officials said they wanted at least one free lane for every managed toll lane.
Managed toll-lanes will vary in cost depending on what time of day it is, according to Texas Department of Transportation officials. For example, during rush hour, the lanes will cost more than during, say, one in the afternoon.
County Commissioner Hugh Coleman, who has been involved with the I-35E expansion talks since the beginning, expressed his displeasure in the RTC’s decision to hold off on certain guidelines.
"I disappointed that the RTC agreed to allow toll revenue from the tolling of I-35 to be potentially diverted to other transportation projects before the entire protect is complete,” he said. “Additionally, their failure to adopt the principle that a general purpose lane be built for every toll lane shows that they failed to remember the promises to the public that were made during the last legislative session. Our saving point is that they recognized that they can't spend Denton County's $600 million on I-35 without our permission, so we need to stick to our guns and make sure the free lanes are provided that the project to fully completed.”
The other guidelines the county presented included a request to begin building bridges and service roads across Lewisville Lake that would eventually be part of the expansion project. These bridges, according to officials, will also aide in the construction process and could be used to alleviate traffic congestion that is forecasted for the area once construction begins.
County officials also asked the RTC to acknowledge that any regional toll revenue generated in the county cannot be spent without the express authorization of the Denton County Commissioners Court, and that the Texas Transportation Commission provide supplemental funding to expand freeway lanes in proportion to the number of managed toll lane improvements – or, an expansion of the first guideline, with an added focus on free lanes.
TxDOT should begin asking firms to submit their qualifications for the I-35E project beginning in February or March.
Initially concerning was the stance of several Dallas County representatives, who wanted certain guideline language taken out of the request. This included, at least for now, the fact that local county officials wanted all toll revenue to remain in the Denton Count corridor. However, officials said that should not affect revenue collected in Denton County.
Financial contributions to the I-35E project have yet to be decided on.
Valentine’s Day
Prof researches origin of kissing
Some believe that kissing as we know it is instinctive and began millions of years ago among other mammals when mothers fed their young. Later, some believe that human kissing grew out of ancient kissing habits humans inherited from our ape ancestors. According to Texas A&M University anthropology professor Vaughn Bryant, however, kissing is not instinctive and in fact is very recent and is strictly a learned cultural pattern.
As he reports, "References to kissing did not appear until 1500 BC, when historians found four major texts in Vedic Sanskrit literature of India that suggested an early form of kissing. There are references to the custom of rubbing and pressing noses together. This practice, it is recorded, was a sign of affection, especially between lovers. This is not kissing as we know it today, but we believe it may have been its earliest beginning. About 500 to 1,000 years later, the epic Mahabharata, contained references suggesting that affection between people was expressed by lip kissing. Later, the Kama Sutra, a classic text on erotica, contained many examples of erotic kissing and kissing techniques."
Investigating the laws of attraction
Psychology professor Paul Eastwick investigates how people initiate and maintain romantic relationships and why people are attracted to some individuals instead of others. He says that, although people say appearance doesn’t matter, his research shows they are more strongly drawn to attractive people. His other major programs of research are:
1. What people desire in an ideal romantic partner and how those ideal preferences affect people's choice of romantic partners. Although people often have strong preferences about what they want in a partner, these preferences do not do a good job of predicting who people will eventually be attracted to.
2. Attachment bonds between romantic partners: how are they formed, when do they form, and what do they tell us about our mating psychology?
3. Evolutionary approaches to mating – which he does by incorporating anthropologists' and archaeologists' knowledge of the timeline of evolutionary events in the lineage leading up to modern Homo sapiens.
Don’t share your Valentine’s Day goodies with your pet
Sweet treats and fancy meals are hallmarks of Valentine’s Day celebrations, but for many of our furry friends, these same indulgences can be dangerous. Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says chocolate is a major food danger to pets. Eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can cause toxicity in dogs and cats, which can result in death.
“While chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, we see chocolate toxicity much more often in dogs. This is simply because dogs are much more likely to eat it,” notes Stickney, “However, it is important to keep it away from all pets just in case.” Other foods and vegetation can also be very harmful to dogs. For instance, grapes and raisins can cause renal failure in dogs, while Easter lilies -- or really any flower from the lily family -- can cause kidney failure in cats, Stickney says.
Giving a pet as a Valentine gift is not a good idea
“It is never a good idea to give a pet as a surprise gift,” notes Stickney. “There is no such thing as a ‘free’ animal. Proper care of a pet requires a lot of time and resources, which the receiver of the pet may not be able to spare.”
If you find yourself the surprise recipient of an unwanted pet, do not panic or do anything drastic, such as turning the animal loose. This can cause problems for not only the animal, but also for any people who find the animal. Try giving the pet back to the giver. If he or she can return the pet, then the situation is out of your hands. If that fails, however, another option is to take the pet to an animal shelter or try and find it a good home.
Other Favorite Valentine Gift Ideas:
Marketing professor Cheryl Holland Bridges, director of The Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M, offers the following tips for gift-shopping this year:
For her or him:
—Personalized accessories engraved or monogrammed
—An e-reader with a book that your loved one would treasure
—Fragrances (look for gift-with-purchase promotions to expand the fragrance gift with extra goodies)
—Music (your favorite artists or your “song”)
—A great movie or sports event to watch over and over again
—Decorative letter box to store treasured cards like the Valentines for this year
—Chocolate anything
—Gift cards to favorite restaurants to keep celebrating throughout the year
—Travel maps, a pocket compass and packing cubes for future trips together
—Photo “story” album or calendar or coffee mugs with past favorite times together
Especially for her:
—Flowers
—Jewelry with a “heart” inspired theme (bracelet, necklace, earrings, or pin)
—Accessories – silk scarf, wallet, handbag or chick tablet case
—Loungewear/lingerie
Burgess ready for additional term
As a fifth term Congressman, Michael C. Burgess, M.D., announced that he will run for re-election in the United States House of Representatives in the 2012 election. The Congressman filed with the Republican Party of Texas to seek re-election to the 26th seat of the United States House of Representatives.
As a physician who practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology in Lewisville, Burgess delivered more than 3,000 babies.
Having returned home to North Texas almost every weekend since he ran for Congress in 2002 and served his first term in 2003, Dr. Burgess said he is known for frequently hosting town halls and speaking to various groups throughout the 26th Congressional District.
“It is an important time and it is a critical juncture and I am committed to keeping patient centered care at the heart of any health care reform,” said Burgess.
Burgess is a member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also serves as the Vice Chairman on the Subcommittee on Health as well as serving on the Oversight and Investigations, and Energy and Power subcommittees.
In 2009, Burgess founded and currently serves as Chairman, of the Congressional Health Care Caucus.
Because of his medical background, Burgess said he has been a strong advocate for health care legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, improving choices, reforming liability laws to put the needs of patients first, and ensuring there are enough doctors in the public and private sector to care for America’s patients and veterans. He said he has played an important role in bipartisan efforts to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and consumer products, and has introduced legislation to strengthen our ability to stop dangerous products from coming into the country.
As a Member of Congress representing one of the fastest growing areas of the country, transportation is also a top priority, he said.
A fiscal conservative, Burgess said he believes Americans deserve a federal government that is more efficient, effective, less costly, and always transparent. He follows a strict adherence to the Constitution.
Lawrence announces candidacy
Republican candidate Bill Lawrence has announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in 2012.
“I have decided to run as a Republican Primary candidate for the United States House of Representatives because I'm convinced that America is headed in the wrong direction and that I am one of the best qualified people to help bring a much needed fiscally conservative approach to problem-solving in Washington,” Lawrence said. “My varied and successful career has been guided by an unwavering sense of fairness, hard work and personal integrity. I have political experience at the national, state and local levels. Overall, my experience includes military service, government work, corporate management, business ownership, state board and commission appointments, elected public office at the local level and a Republican grass roots activist, who has been there in the trenches.”
Lawrence has a law degree from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Lawrence received his bachelor's degree from Tuskegee University. He is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of B. Lawrence Consulting, LLC, a mostly dispute resolution firm, and a former three-term Mayor of Highland Village. He has served on the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, responsible for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct or inability and for the discipline of over 3,700 judges throughout the State. Lawrence is a board member of the Medical Center of Lewisville, the Denton County 911 Board of Managers, the North Texas Tollway Authority and the Business Diversity Advisory Council.
“I'm a proud American, a Texan and a Conservative Republican, who is committed to the political principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,” Lawrence said. “My key priorities in Congress will include; keeping taxes low, strengthening the economy, creating jobs growth, limiting the size of government and safeguarding the security of the American people.”
Lawrence is also a member of the Texas Bar Association's Dispute Resolution section, the Global Mediation Association.
Moffitt announces candidacy
Marc Moffitt officially filed his paperwork with county officials for a place on Republican primary ballot for the Denton County Tax Assessor and Collector position.
Moffitt said he is excited and energized by early support from family and friends across the county. Moffitt said he will work to bring a higher level of customer service to Denton County residents by leveraging available technology.
“My message of bringing the county’s Tax Assessor office into the 21st century is resonating well with Denton County residents,” said Moffitt. “Residents all over the county tell me they are tired of waiting in long lines when they pay their taxes with the county, especially when there are cost-effective alternatives.
“The focus of this campaign will be to bring better customer service to the people by utilizing 21st century technology, so the people of Denton County can do their business online and not in line.”
Moffitt envisions a county website where residents can easily pay their county taxes and fees from their personal computer and not in person at one of the county’s tax offices. He says this will minimize the hassle related to paying county assessed fees and taxes, such as vehicle registration.
“There is no reason why people should have to stand in line for up to an hour or more to do simple transactions,” said Moffitt. “As Denton County Tax Assessor, I will work hard to make it possible for most transactions to be performed from the comfort of your own home, by using innovative technology where possible to streamline the process, and make it more efficient.”
Moffitt is a native of Denton County, having grown up in Lewisville. He attended the University of North Texas where he received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) specializing in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate. He now lives in Denton with his wife and two young sons. Moffitt said he is in the final weeks of completing a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) in Local Government Finance.
Moffitt has nearly 10 years of experience in the property tax industry.
Fulton seeks State Rep post
Republican Amber Fulton has officially filed to run for Texas State Representative for Denton County’s new House District 88. Initial redistricting maps had the House district listed as 106, but the court-imposed redistricting map recently released changed the district number to 88.
“The politicians in Washington and Austin have done very little to help our families and small business in this tough economy,” Fulton said. “As your Representative for Denton County’s new House district, I will focus on cutting wasteful spending in Austin and prioritize our efforts on things that matter most to our families like a stronger economy with more jobs, low taxes and schools of excellence.”
Fulton is the only candidate in the race who has lived in the district. She and her husband Donny have resided in HD 88 for 21 years where they have raised four children and currently attend Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco.
“With her leadership and hard work, Amber Fulton has made our community a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Hon. Libby Maus, a former Frisco Independent School District Trustee. “We need more leaders like Amber working for us in Austin, representing our families, schools and businesses. She is the choice of conservatives in Denton County.”
Fulton has a long history of community leadership including her service on the Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees. She also served as a member of the Texas PTA Board of Directors, President of the Communities in Schools of North Texas and a member of the UNT College of Education Development Board. Amber earned a Bachelors of Arts & Science degree from the University of North Texas where she also earned certificates in Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Volunteer/Community Resource Management. She is the owner of Amber Fulton & Associates, a consulting business specializing in leadership development, mediation and non-profit management.
Brucia seeks State Rep post
Denton County Republican Mike Brucia has announced his intention to run for the position of State Representative for District 64.
Brucia is the President of the Denton County Republican Tea Party and supports the ideas of a constitutionally-limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets and secure borders.
A neighborhood leader, according to his website, Brucia recently worked to organize and lead the Z8 Coalition, a group of more than 60 homeowners, to oppose the construction of a high voltage, multi-circuit power transmission line through neighborhoods, parks, school and church yards of northeast Denton and unincorporated Denton County. He coordinated efforts with the Greenbelt Alliance, elected officials, as well as other neighborhood groups.
Brucia traveled back and forth between North Texas and Austin to represent the interests of Denton County residents and to provide testimony before the Public Utility Commission. The combined efforts led to success. The PUC ruled that the line be re-routed, minimizing impact on Denton area residents. Subsequently, Brucia was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Greenbelt Alliance of Denton County.
Brucia believes in stewardship of the land and waterways of Texas.
He has organized a number of group clean-up projects working with volunteers and a variety of public and private entities including LCRA, Keep Denton Beautiful, PADI Project Aware and various corporate sponsors.
Brucia said he became an active Republican in 2010, working for the “Debra Medina for Governor” campaign. He attended his first Precinct Convention following the primary election.
He was sent to the Senatorial Convention where he was selected to become a delegate at the 2010 State Republican Convention in Dallas.
“I didn’t think that I would be very welcome at the state convention since I had never been active in the party before.” With this in mind, Brucia almost didn’t go to the convention in Dallas.
French seeks Tax Assessor Collector post
Denton County Republican Michelle French has announced her intention to run for the office of Tax Assessor Collector.
French began her career with the Denton County Tax Office in 1983 where she started as a registration and title clerk. She earned her Registered Texas Assessor/Collector License and throughout her 28-year career, she has served in nearly every capacity. She has served as Chief Deputy for over 10 years.
“When I began working at the Tax Office nearly 30 years ago, I did not expect it to become a career,” French said. “Throughout the years, I was provided with wonderful opportunities that allowed me to have a career. That career turned into a passion. Now I hope to have the opportunity to use my years of experience as an employee of the Tax Office to serve as Tax Assessor/Collector”.
French became involved with the Denton County Republican Party soon after her youngest son graduated high school. She said was ready to devote her time to volunteering and becoming more involved in what makes America so great. Upon the current Tax Assessor/Collector’s decision to retire, she felt it was time to use her years of experience to serve Denton County taxpayers and entered the Tax Assessor/Collector race. French has lived in Denton County since 1971 when her family moved to Lewisville. She attended Lewisville high school and in 1981 Michelle married Robert French. French believes in hard work and dedication to a purpose. Her future plans include holding information forums around the community and a commitment to professionalism in the Tax Office. She also plans to bring more innovation to the office; and has helped do that as Chief Deputy.
French was the 2011 recipeint of the National Association of Professional Women’s “Woman of the Year” Award; was named the “Volunteer of the Year” for the Denton Republican Women’s Club in 2011; and was nominated for the Texas Association of Assessing Officers “Rising Star” Award for 2011.
Little Elm Police Department Encourages safety resolution
It’s not too late to make a New Year's Resolution! Resolve to do it right, or perhaps start up a new habit or activity that will make your life (or somebody else's life) better. While this is not the normal resolution that you might consider, with all the road construction and high volume of traffic in Little Elm, maybe it is time to consider a traffic safety resolution. Here is a list of resolutions we can all adopt, making 2012 a safer year for everyone on our road
DUI Prevention:
*I resolve not to ask anyone who has been drinking, "Are you okay to drive?", because I know that they really aren't.
*I resolve not to drive when I've been drinking.
*I resolve to call 911 if I see someone I think is driving drunk.
*I resolve to be the designated sober driver for my friends or family whenever they ask.
*I resolve to stay sober if I am the designated driver.
*I resolve to support the sober driver in my group.
*I resolve not to drive buzzed.
*I resolve to give my kids a safe ride home -- no questions asked.
*I resolve never to give alcohol to minors.
*I resolve to not let friends or family drive buzzed or drunk.
Cell Phone/Mobile Devices:
*I resolve to not text or talk on my cell phone while driving.
*I resolve to not call or text anyone when I think they may be driving.
*I resolve to turn off my phone when I'm driving so I don't get distracted.
*I resolve to be a good example for my kids and not text and talk while driving.
*I resolve to remember, whenever I'm tempted to use a cell phone while driving -- "It's not worth it!"
Buckle Up:
*I resolve to make sure everyone in the car is buckled up on every ride, day or night.
*I resolve to have my child safety seats inspected by a certified professional.
Safe Driving:
*I resolve to follow speed, red light, safe turns and all other traffic laws.
*I resolve to be a courteous commuter.
*I resolve to share the road with motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.
Discuss this will everyone in your household, including your children.
Humor, Wit and Commentary
Compiled by Jim Manning
LittleElm.com
Life's Truths for Adults
1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. There is nothing worse than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. Really, how ARE you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection... again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my 10-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Shoot!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what was going on when I first saw it.
22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take two trips to bring my groceries in.
23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28. Is it just me, or do high school kids get dumber and dumber every year?
29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
30. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch three consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
31. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'll bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from three feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
Tina’s Tidbits
By Tina Hager
LittleElm.com Contributing Writer
Libraries—More Than Meets the Eye
I was not intending to do an entire column about libraries, but as I started working on this week’s tidbits, I kept running into interesting library information that I thought you would like to know about. There are also some things that are happening next month that you need to add to your calendar now before your calendar fills up. So bear with me as we explore “Libraries—more than meets the eye.”
Librarian Look is in Top Five
It is so exciting to find out that the librarian look is on a “5 outfits guys secretly hope you’ll wear” list and that glasses are considered “hot.” Unfortunately, long skirts are still not in the top five but I am sure they are on someone’s sexy list. Check out this link to see what other looks made the list. http://shine.yahoo.com/the-thread/5-outfits-guys-secretly-hope-youll-wear.html. I would love to hear from our guy readers which outfit mentioned would be on your “list” so send an email to tinahager147@yahoo.com or send a comment to me in Face Book. If you don’t agree with the “list” let me know that too and I will share the results next week.
Have answers? Friends Have Questions!
Speaking of library Friends, join the Little Elm Friends of the Library for their 14th Annual Trivia Contest, Tuesday, February 21 at Lakeside Middle School. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with mouth-watering barbecue, pizza, candy and drinks. Trivia team members must be seated by 6:45 p.m. VIP Table - $250 for up to 8 team members; Regular Table - $80 pre-registration and $90 registration at the door. Prizes awarded for Best Costumes and Team Spirit. Visit www.littleelmfol.org for more information and registration forms, or contact Virginia Berney at 972-294-1742 or vberney@cebridge.net.
Libraries, More Than Books
Imagine going to a library and getting a chance to check out a real person to discuss their life for 20 minutes in the library. Though this topic is not new, it is always intriguing when it gets in the news. Libraries have been conducting various types of programs for a number of audiences for years. The one-on-one human discussion concept is a great correlation to the intimate one on one experience of reading a book. After reading the article from the National Post, let me know if you would like for your local library (wherever you live) to do this type of program and if so who would you like to check out?
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/18/ottawas-lending-out-judge-prostitute-for-chats-as-part-of-its-human-library-program/. See you next week!
January 19, 2012
Little Elm tax revenues up 22 percent
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced today that state sales tax revenue in December was $1.98 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to December 2010.
“Sales tax revenue continues to grow in almost all major economic categories and revenue has now increased for 21 consecutive months,” Combs said. “Sales taxes from retail trade and restaurant activity continue to improve, with tax revenue from the oil and natural gas sector also providing a lift to overall collections.”
Combs will send January sales tax allocations totaling $495 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 9.1 percent compared to January 2011.
Little Elm’s payment for January was $280,386.10, up 22 percent from the January 2011 payment of $229,717.81.
Lakewood Village’s payment for January was $7,097.21, down 3.87 percent from the January 2011 payment of $7,382.98.
Oak Point’s payment for January was $8,500.09, down 2.24 percent from the January 2011 payment of $8,695.48.
Hackberry’s payment for January was $1,351.25, up 45.92 percent from the January 2011 payment of $926.02.
Tina’s Tidbits
Written by Tina Irene Hager
And the Winner Is…
Many thanks to Editor Emily Hill of the Little Elm Journal for helping to choose the title name for the “formally known as Page by Page” column. I also want to thank those of you who turned in title ideas. The winning title name that was chosen came from Diana’s suggestion entitled “Tina’s Tidbits”. I have to admit it is fitting in more ways than one because I do happen to like to eat and I also like to try a lot of different things. So, herrrrrreeeeeeeeeeess….Tina’s Tidbits…
Experience a Taste of Guatemala in Carrollton
Speaking of food, and you will notice I do a lot, there is a new restaurant in Carrollton called Los Guichitos (authentic Guatemalan and Mexican food), and we found out that it was named that because there is a Father, a Father’s Father, and a Father’s son in the family (say that three times fast). The prices are reasonable, they have very good customer service, and the food is wonderful. The restaurant is located at 2515 E. Rosemeade Pkwy, #115 in Carrollton, and their phone number is 972-306-0222. My husband tried the Sopa de Mariscos (which had extremely large shrimp) and I had the Guichito mix which had three different kinds of food to try. We also had the Ceviche de Camaron y Pescado which was very good (it tasted like the way we make it). If you go, let me know what you think and make sure to ask them how the restaurant got its name.
Simply Charming
As I mentioned earlier I do like to try different things and for those who know me you know that I like ‘bling.’ Well, imagine my surprise and excitement when I learned that a Charming Charlie store was in Lewisville! I accidently happened on it when my husband and I were going to Half Price books to find some karaoke CD’s (another story) and, lo and behold, there was a Charming Charlie store right next door (420 E. Round Grove Road Suite 680, Lewisville, TX, 75067, 972-315-8502). Though I was not able to spend very much time that night, I will be going back. If you have never been you need to put it on your to do list. All kinds of jewelry in color coordinated areas. Some other items they have are hats, purses, reading glasses, shoes, and headbands (another weakness of mine). I would encourage men to visit as well because it is a great place to shop for those women in your life. Not sure what to buy? They sell gift cards too!
ALA Midwinter comes to Dallas
There may be a few longer lines and more people in various places across the Metroplex because the American Library Association midwinter conference is coming to Dallas! The conference will be held from January 20th to 24th. Just to give you an idea how big this conference is, last year when it was held in San Diego there was a total of 10,110 attendees! On Sunday, your very own Ms. Tina will be one of the presenters at the forum entitled “A Small But Powerful Forum for Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library”, along with Dr. Robert S. Martin and Jennifer Peterson. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.alamidwinter.org .
Let me know if you try out any of these tidbits or have any to share of your own by sending me an email at tinahager147@yahoo.com or reply on Face book. See you next week!
Hugh Coleman seeks re-election
Hugh Coleman has announced his bid to seek re-election to the office of County Commissioner Precinct One for Denton County. “It has been an honor for me to serve the citizens of Denton County and I am proud of what I have done while in office,” said Coleman.
Coleman listed his major accomplishments in office as working with NTTA to ensuring that the North Texas Tollway Extension be placed along the Denton County line with Collin County to ensure that the citizens of Denton County benefit from the subsequent economic development along the corridor, assisting Cities with their transportation and infrastructure needs, while at the same time improving and maintaining the over 400 miles of county roads in Denton County Precinct One.
In Denton, he partnered with the City to provide funding for the expansion of Mayhill Drive and improvements for the South Branch Library Driveway. He also provided funding for the FM 2181 stoplight near Guyer High School and improved and repaired numerous County roads in the unincorporated areas near the City of Denton.
In Corinth, Coleman partnered with the municipality to undertake the paving and improvement of Parkridge Boulevard in anticipation of the construction and pending TxDOT expansion of FM 2181 in order to relieve the traffic congestion that is likely to occur.
“I would like the opportunity to continue working as County Commissioner to continue my conservative policies of using tax payer dollars wisely, promoting common sense in government, supporting law enforcement, improving county roads, encouraging municipal transportation infrastructure, and advancing appropriate development that supports quality of life for our families, ” said Coleman.
Coleman took office as County Commissioner Precinct for One on Jan. 1, 2009. He is seeking re-election to a four year term in the March 2012 republican primary.
Crownover files for re-election
State Representative Myra Crownover has filed for reelection to Texas House District 64 in Denton County. Crownover has served on the powerful Appropriations Committee for the last five sessions of the legislature, and during the most recent session served as a member of the Conference Committee on the budget.
Crownover is also Vice Chair of the Energy Resources Committee and Vice Chair of the House Republican Caucus.
Since joining the legislature in 2000, Crownover has passed important legislation dealing with energy and the environment, expanded the newborn screening program in Texas, and filed legislation to protect workers from the health effects of secondhand smoke.
Crownover was recently named a "Champion of Free Enterprise" for the fourth straight legislative session by the Texas Association of Business and a "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition.
"I am proud of my track record in the Legislature," said Crownover. "Conservative fiscal principals, low taxes, and reasonable tort reform have made Texas the job creation engine of the United States.
“However, there is still important work to be done and I am committed to continuing the fight to make sure Denton County is a place where people want to raise a family."
Crownover has represented District 64 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2000.
Crownover offices in Downtown Lake Dallas and has been a featured speaker at the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce several times.
At the 82nd Texas Legislature is 2011, Crownover helped oversee the balancing of the state's budget with the first overall decrease in state spending in 50 years.
House District 64 includes Denton, Lake Dallas, Corinth, Shady Shores, and Hickory Creek.
In 2013 District 64 will also include the northwest part of Denton County and the City of Krum.
Nelson seeks re-election
Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, has filed for re-election in the newly drawn Texas Senate District 12, which includes portions of Denton and Tarrant counties.
"We must continue our fight to improve education; secure our streets and borders; protect our most vulnerable citizens; and maintain the economic success we have worked so hard to achieve," Senator Nelson said.
Because legislative maps approved by the Texas Legislature are still awaiting approval from a federal court in Washington, D.C., those maps will not be applicable until the 2014 election.
A federal court in San Antonio last week issued interim maps for the 2012 election. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has asked the United States Supreme Court to grant an emergency stay to block the maps, stating that the San Antonio court exceeded its authority by substituting its judgment for that of the people's representatives.
“Having represented every inch of Denton and Tarrant counties over the years, I will be a candidate for the Texas Senate, regardless of what the final map looks like," Senator Nelson said.
"I'm disappointed that the court needlessly divided 17 cities and 18 school districts in its version of Senate District 12.”
Upon her re-election, Senator Nelson will become the highest-ranking Republican in the Texas Senate, making her the Dean of the Senate Republican Caucus.
A former public school teacher who served two terms on the State Board of Education, Senator Nelson is chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and also serves on the powerful Finance Committee.
Her many legislative accomplishments include establishing the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas; dedicating lottery proceeds to education; reforming the state's foster care and child protective services; returning physical activity to the school day; strengthening domestic violence laws; and reducing fraud and abuse in Medicaid.
Humor, Wit and Commentary
Compiled by Jim Manning
LittleElm.com
Us older people need to learn something new every day... Just to keep the grey matter tuned up.
Where did "Piss Poor" come from? Interesting history...
They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot. And then once it was full it was taken and sold to the tannery... if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor."
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot... They "didn't have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low.
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature
Isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.
Here are some facts about the 1500's…
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.
When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings. It could mess up your nice clean bed.
Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing.
As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door,
It would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables
and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.
Hence the rhyme: “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.”
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence, the custom of “holding a wake.”
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be,
“saved by the bell” or was "considered a dead ringer.”
Final Riverdance tourmakes Dallas stop
Recently, the producer of Riverdance, Moya Doherty, announced that the United States touring production of the internationally-acclaimed worldwide phenomenon will close in June 2012. Riverdance, presented by The Dallas Pops, will play The Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas Feb. 7-8 for three performances only. The performances will be at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 and 2 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Tickets for Riverdance are on sale now, ranging from $35 to $65, and are available at TicketMaster, by calling 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more should call 214-426-GROUP.
“When we opened Riverdance in New York in March 1996, we never thought for one minute that our show would still be running 15 years later,” said Moya Doherty. “Three years ago we embarked on our farewell tour, saying good-bye to every city in North America we have ever played in over the years, and next June 17th in our 16th year this current production of Riverdance will end and we will say our final good-bye. It has been a source of immense pride for me as Producer that America took Riverdance to its heart to such an amazing extent, and I would like to pay tribute to every dancer, musician, singer and all the crew and staff who served Riverdance so well over the years. “
The show that started it all, Riverdance, has been performing in the United States since March, 1996 when it had its U.S. premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Since then, the show has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe.
While the touring production in the U.S. will close on June 17, 2012, productions of Riverdance will continue to tour the world.
From Los Angeles to Louisville, Seattle to Boston, Chicago to Chattanooga or Memphis to Miami, the power of Riverdance - its music and more than 50 stomping feet - has captured the hearts of millions.
Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, to date, Riverdance has played more than 10,000 performances, been seen live by more than 22 million people in over 350 venues throughout 40 countries across four continents. They have traveled well over 600,000 miles, played to a worldwide television audience of two billion; sold more than three million copies of the Grammy Award-winning CD (certified Platinum in the US) and more than 10 million videos making it one of the best-selling entertainment videos in the world. Riverdance had its world premiere at the Point Theatre in Dublin in February 1995 where it opened to unanimous critical acclaim.
What began as a seven-minute dance segment on the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest (televised to more than 300 million people throughout Europe) quickly turned into a full-scale production has become much more than an international theatrical success. "I believe Riverdance has been basically a pathfinder,” said Niall O’Dowd, founder of Irish America Magazine and the Irish Voice newspaper. Along with the peace process in Northern Ireland and the economic miracle in Ireland proper, the show “has been a hugely important part of a transformation of the image of Ireland in the last 20 years."
In a flash, Riverdance became Ireland’s greatest ambassador and the thirst began. Riverdance changed the face of Irish dance and despite its imitators, has remained on top and was voted the #1 Variety/Family Entertainment Show in the US (1998).
There have been many milestones along the way including the distinction of being the largest Western musical to play China; a record-breaking line of 100 Irish dancers mesmerizing 85,000 people at the 2004 Special Olympics in Dublin; a 15th Anniversary celebration at Radio City Music Hall; dancing in Red Square and on the Great Wall of China, two standing room only engagements in South Africa and much more.
Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland in the past decade, nothing can compare to the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance. An innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song, Riverdance draws on Irish traditions and the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music to the present day capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. This extraordinarily unique show features an international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s music.
Lakewood Village residentmakes Dean’s Honor Roll
Lakewood Village resident Jade Marie Laverell has been named to the Dean’s Honor Roll for their work in the fall 2011 semester, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards.
To be included on the Dean’s Honor Roll, a student must record a 3.5 grade point average or better for the semester and no grade lower than a B for their work in qualifying classes.
Additionally, students must complete at least 12 hours of on-campus class credit for the semester. Correspondence credit is not included in determining those included on the honor roll.
Ideally located just north of Oklahoma City in Edmond, Okla., the University of Central Oklahoma is the state’s largest metropolitan university, serving more than 17,000 students pursuing degrees in 114 undergraduate and 54 graduate major areas of study and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Central prides itself as a smart investment for success, preparing future leaders in an opportunity-rich environment, with access to more than 200 student organizations and the internship, employment, entertainment and cultural offerings of the rapidly growing Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
Founded as a teachers’ college in 1890, Central considers itself an institution where teaching comes first, and, with a 19:1 student/faculty ratio, students can enjoy personal relationships with faculty and staff who are committed to transforming lives.
For more information about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.
Transportation council agrees on I-35E guidelines
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
Talks between county officials and the Regional Transportation Council have continued to heat up as the construction and expansion of I-35E draws near.
Guidelines approved by Denton County commissioners will be considered by the RTC Council and will then be used to lay out the county’s goals and desires for the upcoming construction of I-35E.
The committee has met several times to decide the size and scope of the project, as well as the possible ways to finance the work. Last week, county commissioners discussed four major points for the guidelines during their meeting with the goal of making sure everyone was on board with the guidelines.
The guidelines centered on toll lanes, service roads, length of construction and supplemental funding.
The first guideline decided on was that any managed toll lane revenue should go toward the whole corridor. Then, once the corridor is complete, the revenue should stay in the county of origin in order for Denton and Dallas counties to retain revenue from their respective pieces. This was a topic of discussion late in 2011, when county officials said they wanted at least one free lane for every managed toll lane.
Managed toll lanes will vary in cost depending on what time of day it is, according to TxDOT officials. For example, during rush hour, the lanes will cost more than during, say, one in the afternoon.
The second guideline is to begin building bridges and service roads across Lewisville Lake that would eventually be part of the expansion project. These will also aide in the construction process and could be used to alleviate traffic congestion that is forecasted for the area once construction begins.
The third guideline says the Regional Transportation Council should acknowledge that any regional toll revenue generated in the county cannot be spent without the express authorization of the Denton County Commissioners Court.
The last guideline asks the Texas Transportation Commission to provide supplemental funding to expand freeway lanes in proportion to the number of managed toll lane improvements – or, an expansion of the first guideline, with an added focus on free lanes.
The 30-mile stretch between Carrollton and Denton has been on the minds of North Texas county officials for some time now. The new DCTA A-Train was finished, along with subsequent train stops, along I-35E between the two towns in 2011. The A-Train will be relied on heavily for transportation during construction of I-35E.
DCTA unveils new facility, A-Train vehicle
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
The Denton County Transportation Authority introduced “the last step in the A-Train program” on Friday, Jan. 13 in Lewisville with the unveiling of the new DCTA A-Train vehicle and the Highway 121 facility.
The new vehicle, which will be running on the A-Train route between Carrollton and Denton, is a state-of-the-art, diesel-electric car made by the Stadler Rail Group, based in Switzerland. The interior has room for wheelchairs, stroller and bicycles, and consists of 104 seats as well as standing room for 96 persons. The units also have enhanced fuel tank protection, an emergency roof access system and emergency intercoms in the passenger sections.
The DCTA ordered 11 of these vehicles, which can reach a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour, to service the A-Train line.
The new facility, which is located on Business Highway 121 North, resembles a large warehouse with its wide-open floors and high ceilings, but includes spacious offices and an outdoor construction area.
Several county commissioners, mayors, councilmembers and representatives from partner companies, such as the Texas Department of Transportation, were in attendance at the acceptance ceremony.
DCTA President Jim Cline opened the ceremony with a welcome and quick word of thanks.
“Thank you all for coming out today to welcome this new vehicle and this facility to the region,” he said.
Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell could scarcely contain her excitement.
“Years ago when we thought about transportation, we were all about keeping it regional,” she said. “So, what did we do? We implemented DCTA. We wanted to go from Point A to Point B, and even be able to take a detour to Points C and D. We are here today to make sure that our citizens have access to transportation today and tomorrow.
“Mobility matters here in Denton County.”
Added Jungus Jordan, a member of the Fort Worth Regional Transportation Council: “The Chinese have a saying: ‘may you live in interesting times.’ Everybody in this room is making history today. We’ve all worked together to make this happen as a community.
“We just cannot build enough roads for our customers. This railing is an important element for our future. This is truly going to be the backbone of regional transportation.”
According to Bill Glavin, the Rail Division Director for TxDOT, 17 million people rode on the DART system in 2011 – or, 80,000 trips per day.
“Imagine how many more roads we would have to build to service 80,000 extra people per day if we didn’t have the DART? Texas is growing by a thousand people per day, and TxDOT’s job is to alleviate congestion,” he said. “This vehicle is the first of its kind in the nation. Denton County is to be congratulated on this vehicle.”
Glavin noted that, when businesses are looking to open or relocate, they take into account accessibility for their employees and possible customers. With the new rail system, he said, more businesses should find Denton County a compatible place to operate in.
“It is so important for people to be able to move around in their home communities,” he said.
Charles Emery, the Chairman of the DCTA Board of Directors thanked everyone who had a hand in opening the facility and the new vehicles.
“Transportation use to just be local,” he said. “Now, it’s necessary to connect with the entire region. I believe we have the best transportation minds in the region.
“What’s next? We’ve opened the door for new members to join, and we will be more active in developing seamless rail transportation.”
A-Train adds rides to schedule
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
As the Denton County A-Train and bus system continues to operate smoothly and successfully, the Denton County Transportation Authority is tweaking bus and train schedules as it sees fit to offer the most rides possible for North Texas residents.
Recently, the DCTA released a new schedule that includes a few changes.
The major changes to the schedule involve adding two more train rides in the morning to accommodate later-morning commuters.
The previous morning schedule did not offer many rides between 8 and 9 a.m., so one ride was added going northbound in that time frame and one was added going southbound.
According to a statement released by DCTA, the goal of the changes was to “provide better connections to Dallas Area Rapid Transit and better overall service for new and existing DCTA riders.”
The new schedule now has A-Train rides going northbound from Trinity Mills at 7:56 and 8:21 a.m.; from Hebron at 8:03 and 8:28 a.m.; from Old Town Lewisville at 8:09 and 8:34 a.m.; from Highland Village/Lake Lewisville at 8:16 and 8:41 a.m.; and from Denton Medical Park at 8:29 and 8:54 a.m.
All northbound trains end at Downtown Denton Transit Center. The last morning trains arrive at 8:36 and 9:01 a.m.
The new schedule for southbound A-Train rides begins at the Downtown Denton Transit Center at 7:55 and 8:48 a.m.; from Denton Medical Park at 8:01 and 8:54 a.m.; from Highland Village/Lake Lewisville at 7:51, 8:14 and 9:07 a.m.; from Old Town Lewisville at 7:58, 8:21 and 9:14 a.m.; and from Hebron at 8:04, 8:27 and 9:20 a.m.
DART Green Line rides will then depart after rides from Trinity Mills that take off at 7:44, 8:10, 8:33 and 9:26 a.m.
The agency also made modifications to the current Denton Connect route schedules to better align with the A-train connections. The changes also serve to provide reliability and on-time performance, including a trip added to Route 9 – which will connect to the Downtown Denton Transit Center.
This change, in particular, will benefit students and other Denton residents who wish to travel south more often.
The DCTA may also be looking to add more rides to their schedule with an eye on the future – Interstate 35E, which runs parallel to the A-Train route between Carrollton and Denton, is scheduled to be completely remodeled and expanded soon, which may cause drivers that wish to escape traffic jams and construction to convert to the A-Train.
January 12, 2012
Little Elm Lobo Boysto be featured on broadcast
The Little Elm High School boys basketball team will be taped for broadcast by ESPN and Paragon Marketing Group on Friday, Jan. 13 when the team plays Denton Ryan at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Elm High School competition gym.
“We need all fans to come out and support both the girls and boys as they have a double header this Friday with the girls varsity playing at 6 p.m. and the boys again at 7:30 p.m.,” said Sandra Howell, Little Elm ISD Director of Athletics.
Ticket prices are $4 for adults and $3 for students.
“We want everyone to wear blue and gold and be loud and proud for both games but, especially the telecast,” Howell said. “Both varsity teams are coming off of victories against Lake Dallas and we need to keep the winning ball rolling! Fans cheering positively and being loud are always a home court advantage so come out and represent your Lobo Pride!”
The boys game will be repeatedly broadcast on tape-delayed basis on Verizon FiOS Channel 1 or “FiOS1” channel on Friday, Jan. 20 at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Only subscribers will be able to watch at those times. Within a week, the game will also be available Video on Demand for free for any Verizon FiOS customers.
Little Elm Community Chorus begins; Schedules auditions in January The new Little Elm Community Chorus is a self-supporting, co-ed volunteer chorus committed to promoting choral singing throughout the City of Little Elm and surrounding cities in North Texas. Members are accepted by audition by singing a solo of their choosing, demonstrating their vocal range and quality; as well as sight reading skills. This is an entry level chorus so the sight-reading expectancies will be comparable. The chorus is endorsed by the Little Elm Cultural Arts Council.
The chorus sings a broad repertoire that offers something for every taste including folk music, show tunes, classical works, pop, jazz, sacred, ballads and spirituals using SATB arrangements. We draw on the talents of residents in Little Elm and surrounding communities as well as the staff, faculty and students of the second largest music school in the world at the University of North Texas in Denton. In the future, additional choruses will be developed, designed to provide greater challenges in choral music performance.
There are opportunities for members to sing in ensembles and sing solos related to the pieces we are performing. Also, a night during the year will be dedicated to chorus members “showing off their talents” through solo and ensemble performance.
Founder and Artistic Director Stan Hayes holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Mississippi State University, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and has done graduate studies on the Masters of Music Education at the University of North Texas. With more than 40 years experience directing choirs and teaching voice, Stan has sung in the Dallas Symphony Chorus for 26 years. In that time, he has performed over 150 major classical works under 27 world renowned conductors.
Stan provides a complete approach to choral singing. Most conductors are instrumentalist, who, many times focus mostly on the notes, rhythms and technical aspects of the music. Stan adds to that emphasis by yielding importance to how the chorus sounds and providing an enhanced aesthetic experience for the audience. “Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
Auditions will be on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and Tuesday, Jan. 31. Auditions and rehearsals will be held at Button Memorial Methodist Church, 101 Eldorado Parkway in Little Elm on Tuesday nights.
Founder and Artistic Director Stan Hayes says, “If you know how to sing and love to sing all kinds of music, come join us for a fun time serving our community with your talents.” For more information please contact Stan Hays at stan@crystalproductiongroup.com.
UNT Office of Sustainability provides tips for a greener 2012
As a new year begins many individuals are looking for ways to tighten their purse strings and lower their consumption. The Office of Sustainability at the University of North Texas put together a short guide to make 2012 a little greener.
A few tips to get started are:
*Set your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Using a programmable thermostat can lessen energy use by 10 percent and save up to $150 a year.
*Lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit also can save you money in the new year.
*Install a water efficient showerhead; it can reduce water use by up to 60 percent and save up to $145 a year.
*Fill an empty 2-liter bottle with water. Flush your toilet and place the bottle in the back of the toilet as it starts to fill. Leave it there and now you have a low cost water efficient toilet that saves up to 2-liters per flush.
*Slow down and avoid aggressive driving and you can improve your fuel economy by 5 percent if driving in town, or by up to 33 percent on the highway. Typically, every 5 mph you drive over 60 is equivalent to paying an additional 20 cents a gallon for the gas you use.
For the full guide and other sustainability resources, visit http://sustainable.unt.edu/resources.
Nature’s water filter
By Eddie Baggs
Denton County Extension Agent
As the population increases so does the demand for water. Our reliance on water for agriculture and household use has been very prevalent during the severe drought across the state this year.
Texas has more than 191,000 miles of rivers and almost 2 million acres of lakes. Texas rangelands play an important role in the quality of the water we depend on.
Rangelands, grasslands, shrub-lands, marshes, deserts and woodlands account for about 60 percent of Texas’ land. These rangelands support livestock production as well as habitat for native wildlife, but most importantly they serve as the state’s watershed.
Most of Texas’ water supply comes from captured surface sources such as lakes and ponds or is pumped from underground aquifers, both are dependent on precipitation that falls on rangeland so that re-charging can take place. These areas have an impact on the quantity and quality of water on which we depend.
It is estimated that in an average rainfall year about 42 percent of precipitation evaporates into the atmosphere and 47 percent is lost through plant transpiration and only 1 percent re-charges the aquifers and the remaining 10 percent runs down stream.
Rangeland influences the amount of water that evaporates, infiltrates and runs off. Researches have found that with 60 percent ground cover, run off can be kept to 5 percent, thus protecting water quality. Ground vegetation filters sediment particles in which pesticides, nutrients and other pollutants bind to, therefore increasing water quality.
As human populations grow so do the number of homes and roads to reach them, reducing the amount of land available to absorb precious rainfall and limiting natures filtering system and avenues to re-charge our aquifers. Fortunately due to the efforts of our fore fathers there are millions of acres of rangeland protected from development and misuse, but will it be enough to sustain us with the quality of live we have become accustom to or will there be other resolutions to be made?
Formally known as Page by Page
By Tina Hagar
LittleElm.com Contributing Columnist
Formally Known as Part Two
In last week’s column I had put out a request for possible name ideas for the formally known as column Page by Page. The new column will be written in much the same way, just encompassing more generalized and broader areas including things going on in the area along with county, state, nationally and sometimes internationally events because today it is a lot easier to experience international activities through the computer. It will also include websites to visit, personal thoughts of the writer, etc. The goal is to give it a warm fuzzy feel while keeping everyone aware of cool things that are either happening in the area or to let you know of things you might want to put on your wish list to do later. I also hope that it will be an interactive column where people can send feedback responding to something that was written, send questions, or even their own suggestions. It would be nice to have a large comfortable community feel. One suggestion that I received from Diana was “Tina’s Tidbits.” Steve recently sent in “Tina’s Timely Topics” and “Hager’s Happenings.” Some ideas that I have come up with are “Neighborhood News,” “Backyard Travels” and “Journal Journeys.” It would be great to have a title that is fun, warm and inviting. So, with that said, I am reaching out one more time to encourage people to send their ideas for the “Formally known as Page by Page.” The goal is to have a new name for next week’s column so
I am looking forward to seeing your responses at tinahager147@yahoo.com or you can also reply through my Facebook account at Tina Hager.
Year of the Girl
Girl Scouts have been around for a number of years, so many years in fact that 2012 marks their 100th year anniversary. One way that you can help them celebrate is by buying Girl Scout cookies, which are on sale for a few weeks. I plan on buying at least 10 boxes. The Thin Mints are one of my favorites to make pie crust with. My daughter taught me how to eat the Samoas by putting them in the microwave for about 10 seconds or so to let the coating melt just enough and then I add my own special touch of whip cream. Combine the warm cookie and whip cream with a cold glass of milk and life is good. For more information about Girl Scouts and to learn about the various ways they are celebrating their 100 years visit www.girlscouts.org.
Road Trip
According to the National Park Service site ; Big Bend National Park; Fort Davis National Historic Site; Guadalupe Mountains National Park; and Padre Island National Seashore in Texas are waiving their entrance fees for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (Jan. 14th-16th). If you are not able to visit during this weekend, visit the National Park service site for other designated fee free dates at National Parks. For those of you who have kids or work with kids, the National Park Service also has a cool site for kids called WebRangers where you can play 50 games to learn about National Parks. For planning road trips to other State parks in Texas this year visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife site at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/. Make time to visit the great outdoors in 2012 by taking road trips to State parks.
Cup of joe or Star
Speaking of local road trips… what is better than a nickel cup of coffee? Free coffee tasting at Starbucks! According to the site http://roast.starbucks.com you can go to Starbucks for a free coffee tasting to “vote on the roast you love the most.” Afterward you will get a little something as a thank you. The US event is from Thursday, Jan. 12th to Saturday, Jan. 14th.
That’s it for now, I look forward to seeing you next week!
Humor, Wit and Commentary
Compiled by Jim Manning
LittleElm.com
I was looking through my junk box and came upon a small book published by the Blind Federation and written by Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind in 2000. The book is titled “Corny Humor, More Wit and Witticism” Here are some shared humor for you.
Did you hear about the part-time orchestra leader? He was a semi-conductor.
What relaxes a chess player? Taking a knight off.
Why did the hardware store owner go to the psychiatrist? He had a few loose screws.
What do you give a sick bird? Tweetment.
Why couldn’t the leopard escape from the zoo? He was always spotted.
Why can’t you reach a zoo by telephone? The lion’s always busy.
What do snakes do to end a fight? They hiss and make up.
When can’t astronauts land on the moon? When it’s full.
January 5, 2012
Little Elm trustees acknowledge eight campuses as Gold Performance Award winners
The Board of School Trustees honored eight campuses with Certificates of Commendation for earning Gold Performance Awards that are based on improving student achievement in one or more categories. Schools earned a total of 17 awards for the 2010-2011 school year, three more than the previous year.
The alternative education accountability (AEA) Gold Performance Acknowledgment (GPA) system acknowledges campuses for high performance on indicators other than those used to determine state accountability ratings.
The GPA indicators are in statute (Texas Education Code) or determined by the Commissioner of Education. Acknowledgment is given for high performance on the indicators and awarded separately.
Hackberry Elementary School
Commended in Reading/ELA
Commended in Mathematics
Commended in Writing
Zellars Elementary School
Commended in Mathematics
Acknowledgement for Comparable Improvement in Mathematics
Lakeview Elementary School
Commended in Reading/ELA
Commended in Writing
Oak Point Elementary School
Commended in Reading/ELA
Commended in Mathematics
Comparable Improvement in Mathematics
Brent Intermediate School
Commended in Reading/ELA
Commended in Science
Comparable Improvement in Mathematics
Powell Intermediate School
Commended in Reading/ELA
Commended in Science
Comparable Improvement in Mathematics
Lakeside Junior High School
Acknowledgement for Attendance
Little Elm High School
Acknowledgement for Recommended High School Program
Distinguished Achievement Program for Class of 2010
Commended in Social Studies
For more information or a definition of each category, log on to the Texas Education Agency website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us.
Help your student succeed on STAAR!
Beginning this school year (2011-2012), STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) will begin replacing TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) as the new student assessment program of Texas. STAAR will assess the same TEKS standards in a deeper, more rigorous way. Little Elm ISD is working hard to prepare each of our students and teachers for a smooth and successful transition to this new program.
Students in grades 3-8 will take STAAR instead of TAKS. This year STAAR tests will be given to the same grade and subject levels as TAKS tests were each spring. These assessments will be more rigorous and will test content students studied in the current grade level, as opposed to content covered in multiple grades. The only exceptions to this are the science tests, which will continue to address TEKS taught in previous years, while focusing on those taught in the current year.
STAAR 3-8 Grades beginning in 2011-2012
- 3-8 Mathematics
- 3-8 Reading
- 4 and 7 Writing
- 5 and 8 Science
- 8 Social Studies
The district wants all students to be prepared and do their best! The meetings will have activities and tips you can practice at home with your student. Join us to learn more and to hear first hand how our teachers and staff are working for your student’s success at one of the following meeting opportunities:
Zellars Elementary School
Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Brent Elementary School
Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Hackberry Elementary School
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Lakeview Elementary School
Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.
Chavez Elementary School
Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.
Oak Point Elementary School
Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
The same information will be covered at each elementary campus meeting, so feel free to attend any of the meetings.
All of the information is based on the most recent legislative session and the Texas Education Agency. For more information on STAAR and EOC assessments, visit TEA’s website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/.
Schools donate more than 10,745 pounds to local food bank
This year’s drive was an overwhelming success that resulted in the collection of 10,745 pounds of food donated to local families.
Beginning in October with the celebration of “Red Ribbon” Week and culminating with the holiday break, students collected non-perishable items for those in the Little Elm area who are in need. This year’s drive was an overwhelming success that resulted in the collection of 10,745 pounds of food donated to local families.
To support the Little Elm Food Bank, students across the district participated in canned food drives, granted free admission to events for non-perishable items and solicited donations from local businesses and service groups in this system-wide effort.
“I’m overwhelmed by the student’s efforts and their sharing. This event proves what’s right about kids today. Instead of the negative things you hear on the news about our young people, we want folks to know the students in Little Elm are making a real difference,” said Al Leistikow, director of the Little Elm Food Bank. “It is Little Elm area students helping Little Elm area people.”
The following school totals were reported by the Little Elm Food Bank:
Brent Elementary School 1,174
Chavez Elementary School 696
Hackberry Elementary School 1,913
Lakeview Elementary School 2,163
Oak Point Elementary School 1,779
Zellars Elementary School 1,359
Lakeside Middle School 604
Little Elm High School 1,057
Senator Jane Nelson discusses legislative session
By Tim Glaze
LittleElm.com
Senator Jane Nelson was a busy woman at the most recent Legislative session.
With more than 6,000 bills filed to the State and around 1,000 of those that absolutely had to be addressed, including budget bills, Nelson successfully worked several money and redistricting issues at the session. Nelson then shared her Legislative experience at a recent Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce Luncheon.
“There were two overriding issues that we had to address: the budget and redistricting,” Nelson said to the full luncheon room. “We knew that we were going to have a tight budget – our estimate was somewhere between $15 and $20 billion short than what we wanted.
“Some of us were in the mood to raise taxes. I’m never in the mood to raise taxes, but especially when people are having trouble making ends meet. So a group of us had two goals when it came to the budget: not to raise taxes and to meet essential needs of the taxpayers.”
From there, Nelson and her committee went head-first into the issue of healthcare and Medicaid.
“My sub-committee spent weeks combing through the budget, and we went page by page,” she said. “I’ve passed bills that were great programs in the past, but couldn’t afford to do it. Federal government requires us to fund certain things. So what came immediately into effect from the federal government is what the state will do in terms of Medicaid.”
So the Senate Finance Committee, of which Nelson is a long-time member, unanimously passed SB 7, which contains many of the statutory changes needed to balance the health and human services budget. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
“Our Medicaid costs are unsustainable and this legislation is critically needed to make our health and human services operate more efficiently on behalf of those who depend on state services and those whose tax dollars support the services,” Nelson said.
According to Nelson’s office, SB 7 includes portions of three bills filed by Nelson during the regular session -- SB 23, relating to efficiencies, cost-savings and fraud prevention in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program; SB 7, achieving savings in Medicaid and CHIP by re-focusing health care dollars on better patient outcomes; and SB 8, allowing health care providers to form collaboratives to better coordinate care that is free from burdensome federal regulations.
Provisions in the bill are necessary to achieve the savings assumed in the state budget, according to Nelson, such as the expansion of Medicaid managed care; utilization reviews to prevent fraud and waste; the establishment of co-pays for non-emergency visits to emergency rooms; and authorization to reduce payments for treatment associated with preventable medical errors.
“Provisions in this bill will benefit all Texans by removing red tape so that providers can take a team approach to patient care,” Nelson said. “You can’t tell the federal government ‘no.’ We asked for a waiver but we haven’t received it yet. We feel Texas is so big in its population needs, we think it would be best to design Medicaid in a way we feel would be productive. We found some abuse of the [Medicaid] system in combing through the budget.
“We ended up, my sub committee, finding $3 billion in cost containment, which is another word for ‘cuts’,” she laughed.
More specifically for SB 23, the bill implements the cost-savings measures that require statutory changes. Key provisions of SB 23 would expand Medicaid managed care, implement an objective client assessment process for acute nursing services, use technology to prevent fraud in delivering community based long-term care services and direct the Department of Aging and Disability Services to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate level of community services.
Nelson also addressed orthodontics for Medicaid patients.
“We really need to look at orthodontics for Medicaid patients,” she said. “Last year we spent $25 million on braces for the Medicaid patients. We dug deeper and found that people going to low-income schools were going to these people on campus who would say ‘Do you want to get braces for your kids? It won’t cost a thing.’ Well, we stopped that. That’s part of the $3 billion cut. There are a lot of areas for abuse in the Medicaid system.”
Nelson also reported that sales revenue in Texas is up 10 percent. She also touched on the state of Texas school budgets.
“Schools need to be more responsible in how they spend their money,” she said. “They need to do what we did on our sub-committee and go through page by page to see how they can save money. They are doing that now, which is good. Times are tough.
“The bottom line is, we got through this legislative session in meeting effective needs and not raising your taxes, and I am so happy to tell you that. It was a tough session.”
Burgess announces service academy nominees
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus, announced the thirty-two students from the 26th District of Texas who have been selected as Class of 2016 nominees to our nation’s service academies. These outstanding young men and women were nominated to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I was very impressed by the high caliber of candidates that applied to my office,” said Dr. Burgess. “The selection process was very competitive, and each of these students has a strong record of academic performance and leadership in school activities, sports, JROTC, and community and volunteer service. I proudly nominated them for admission to our nation’s service academies. If selected to attend their respective academies, I know each of these students will perform admirably, and serve honorably as officers in our country’s military services.”
Nominees were selected after a rigorous application process culminating in a personal interview with Dr. Burgess’ Academy Advisory Board. A congressional nomination does not guarantee admission to one of the service academies as the academies’ respective admissions boards decide who is offered appointment, and ultimately admitted. If appointed, the nominees will enter this summer.
The following candidates were nominated to the service academies. Several individuals have been nominated to multiple academies; if they receive appointment offers from more than one academy, the student will have to choose one to attend.
Cody Apfel of Highland Village attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Marcus Birk of Fort Worth attends Central High School in Keller and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Kim Bray of Frisco attends Frisco High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Berkley Brown of Keller attends Keller High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Dan Carlton of Flower Mound attends Flower Mound High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Shannon Chang of Lake Dallas attends The Greenhill School in Addison and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Kyle Condry of Lewisville attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
James Cooke of Flower Mound attends Lewisville High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Craig Corato of Keller attends Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Quyen Dang of Lewisville attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ben Dye of Flower Mound attends American University in Washington D.C. and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Robert Felix of Lewisville attends the U.S. Military Academy Prep School and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Preston Green of Argyle attends Coram Deo Academy in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Brock Hakalmazian of Fort Worth attends Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Reyden Harris of Fort Worth attends Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Nicholas Hernandez-Sepper of Frisco attends Wakeland High School in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Aaron Horikami of Flower Mound attends Flower Mound High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Jin Joo of North Richland Hills attends Fort Worth Christian High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Tim Mask of Frisco attends Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Andrew McNair of Argyle is homeschooled and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Michael Nathman of Fort Worth attends The Oakridge School in Arlington and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Simon Park of Flower Mound attends the Marion Military Institute and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
Morgan Pettyjohn of Keller attends Carroll Senior High School in Southlake and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Alex Preisser of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.
Joshua Raines of North Richland Hills attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Ryan Reaves of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
James Tran of Frisco attends John Paul II High School in Plano and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Leah Weber of Flower Mound is homeschooled and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Hayden Whitt of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
James Wood of North Richland Hills attends Grapevine High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Connor Yancy of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Conner Zimmerman of Frisco attends Wakeland High School in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“Formally Known as Page by Page”
By Tina Hager
Side Tracked
How are your New Year’s Resolutions going for you this year? I am doing poorly in some of my daily areas but on track with my weekly, monthly and by the end of the year activities. I have also found there are some items on my list that I don’t even need to have. We can tweak our lists, right? One item that I think I will take off my list is keeping track of what I eat every day. Not that I eat a lot, I just don’t normally have my list with me when I am eating and then by the end of the day I forget what I had. What is one resolution that you would like to tweak or plan on dropping off your list?
Young at Heart
One item that was on my list was to join my local senior center. Luckily my center considers 50 a senior and now that I have more time on my hands I thought I would check it out. Wow, senior centers have a lot going on! There are classes, events, volunteer activities and other opportunities for one to make a difference. It can also be a great place for seniors to hang out if you don’t have anything else to do. The only thing that I was turned away from was the free eye screening. The mobile unit in the parking lot told me that they were screening for cataracts for people between the ages of 60-65. If I would have known that I would not have went in the first place. There is going to be a free hearing test later this month so I will let you know how that goes. But seriously, if you are 50 or older, check out your local senior centers because they have a lot to offer.
Learn a Language @ Your Library
Another place that has a lot to offer is your local library. No matter what town you live in, find out where your local library is, their hours, how to contact them, and check out their website to see what all they have to offer. For example, if learning a new language is one of your resolutions, many libraries offer free online language tutorials such as Mango languages. Usually all it requires is a library card (which is normally free) and then you can access the tutorial from anywhere that you have access to a computer. Don’t have a computer? No problem, your local library can help in that area as well. The good thing about Mango languages is that it is good for both English speakers wanting to learn a new language and also for people wanting to learn or improve their English. So check out your local library site and see if they offer Mango languages. If not, check your surrounding libraries, get a library card, and start learning.
Site of the Week
Speaking of computers and sites, one site that I found this week that I thought was worth sharing is The Bridge Breast Network that saves lives by linking low income, uninsured individuals to diagnostic and treatment services for breast cancer. Their website is http://www.bridgebreast.org/. In the past decade, The Bridge has served over 78,000 North Texas women and connected more than 10,000 with medical treatment. According to breastcancer.org, About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer and about 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011. That same site stated that in 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US. Whether you have breast cancer or not, check out www.bridgebreast.org and www.breastcancer.org because it is good information to know and there are also opportunities to volunteer or donate in order to help make a difference.
Formally Known as Needs New Name
Okay, I need your help. I am trying to come up with a new name for this column. Keeping in mind the way it is written and the fact that future columns will be like this one, conversational and including information of a global nature (such as internet sites) but occasionally including specific information that still is accessible by pretty much anyone. For example, I may share information about an event happening in a city other than the one you live but a lot of us can either access the event by car or at least visit the site or call for more information. I have some ideas of my own but I thought it would be fun to reach out to you the readers. Send me your column name ideas at tinahager147@yahoo.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
