INSPIRING PARENTS • MOTIVATING KIDS • CELEBRATING LIFE September 2009 / parkercountyfamily.com / PRICELESS INSIDE Wise Words / Parenting Tomorrow’s Leaders / Life Skills / Laying Down the Law / Dave Says page 23 NSPIRING PARENTS • MOTIVATING KIDS • CELEBRATING LIFE September 2009 / parkercountyfamily.com / PRICELESS A Lifetime of Learning
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INSPIRING PARENTS • MOTIVATING KIDS • CELEBRATING LIFE September 2009 / parkercountyfamily.com / PRICELESS
INSIDE Wise Words / Parenting Tomorrow’s Leaders / Life Skills / Laying Down the Law / Dave Says page 23
NSPIRING PARENTS • MOTIVATING KIDS • CELEBRATING LIFE September 2009 / parkercountyfamily.com / PRICELESS
A Lifetime of Learning
2 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
The Burch School of MusicNow offering
KindermusikFor children, newborn – 7 years-of-age. Designed by national experts in the fi eld of Music Education.Recommended bySpeech Therapists –a delight for theentire family.
Piano InstructionFor children and adults –superior instruction in bothindividual and group settings.
8 for 88Beginning classes for adults(8 weeks of instruction on the piano’s 88 keys for $88).
817-341-2345 metrowww.burchschool.com
Weatherford, Texas
Helping you make memories…817.341.2749
817.304.1135
913 N. Elm Street
Weatherford, Texas 76086
www.MemoriesInBloomFlorist.com
Free delivery with mention of this ad.
Call for details.
MonteLagoBuilders
www.montelagobuilders.com817.739.6565
Haley Hewitt receiving a game ball from one of the players during a Fort Worth Cats game.
Weatherford White All-Stars Coach Pitch team got to go to see the Ft. Worth Cats play against the Wichita Wingnuts. The boys were introduced on the fi eld during the
opening ceremony. They had a blast!
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 3
Parker County 4-H would like to thank Jerry Durant Auto Group for sponsoring our 5K run / 5K walk on October 10th, that will benefi t the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Parker County 4 H would like to thank Jerry Durant Auto Group for sponsoring our 5K run / 5K walk on October 10th
Looks like football is back! Jacob King, Millsap High School varsity player, holds his own against Wichita Falls City View offense. Millsap high school varsity players, Casey Eller and Jacob King, take a break
during the scrimmage against Wichita Falls City View on August 15th.school varsity players Casey Eller and Jacob King tak
Parker County Aggie Moms Club Ice Cream Social, July 25th. Jackson McGlasson class of 2029 with three Aggie Yell Leaders.
4 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Now enrolling for Voice, Piano and Beginning Flute
Lakeshore DriveAcademy of the Arts
All teachers have a degree in music education.Limited openings available. To register please call 817-596-0100, ext. 105 or for more informationvisit www.lakeshorebaptist.com
Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church • 200 S Lakeshore Dr. • Hudson Oaks, TX 76087
Seguin Elementary kindergartners Blake Jeter, Tara Bayless, Eliseo Padillo, and Paizley Wallace take a break from the 100-degree weather during
recess on the fi rst day of school.
Curtis Elementary kindergartner Johnny Cruz Salinas in the cafeteria.
It is a jungle out there. Brandi Erwin, Jodi Erwin and Sam (the bearded dragon) swing into action as the new school year starts at Millsap Elementary.
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 5
Advertise your business in our FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE
for as little as $50 per month(6-month minimum – ad design is free)
Call us at 888-878-8465 ask for Kim
Life is Busy – Busy families need to know about YOUR sales or services fast – 12,000 readers can find that information here every month!
Family Res urce Guide
Chicken Scratch Bistro
From Our Family To Yours!
“On the Square”105 College Avenue
Weatherford, TX 76086
817.594.6226www.chickenscratchbistro.com
School Zones When you approach a school, be
mindful of your speed in that school
zone. Each school zone might have
different times and speeds. This
can also include some private
schools, too. Most of the school
zones are marked with the new
fl ashing warning signs. We
need to thank the folks
with the city’s Traffi c
Division for getting
those installed–great
job, crew. Th ese signs
have the posted
maximum speed
limit when the yellow
light is fl ashing. Th e
fi nes for speeding in
these school zones can be very high
so please slow down.
Driving through a school zone is
only half the story…what about the
kids? You guessed it; there are kids in
the school zones too. Some parents rely
on their children to get themselves to
school. Th ey might walk, ride a bike or
skateboard. Keep your eyes peeled for
young children that might be crossing
the street or in the parking lots at the
schools. If you see a young child that
looks lost or scared, call the school or
the police. I do not recommend that you
try to pick up the child unless you both
know each other.
If your child has to walk to school,
remind them of “stranger danger.” Tell
them not to take rides from people they
don’t know and try to avoid walking in
the street as much as possible. Have
you walked that route with your child?
You probably need to. Look for hazards
such as road construction, mean dogs
or a house and/or people that give you
the “creeps.” Your gut feeling could be
correct. How long does it take? Does
your child know where to go if they
need help? Can they call 9-1-1 and do
they know the street names? ■
Back To School Safety
Did you know the State of Texas has passed a new law making it a crime to use your cell phone while driving in a school zone? It’s true! As of September 1, 2009, you can receive a citation if caught talking or texting on your cell phone while you are driving in a school zone. The only exception is to call 911 in case of an emergency. http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/pe.toc.htm
IMPORTANT. . .
6 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
September 2009In our 3rd year of “Making A Difference”
Keep up with the latest events of interest to your family!Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty
On The Cover: Lindsay and Kaylie Taylor with Mrs.Caroline Borkey.
Mrs. Borkey was Lindsay’s teacher in the 3rd grade and
now is teaching Kaylie. Mrs. Borkey teaches 3rd grade
at Garner ISD.
Photo sent in by Lindsay and Kaylie’s mom.
Editor’s note: Mrs. Borkey, you should hear all the nice things that Mrs. Taylor had to say about you as a teacher. You have made quite an impression on this family.
Want to be our next cover model? Visit our website at www.parkercountyfamily.com and click on “send pics.”
Get our reminders of happenings and events by following us at Twitter.com/parkercounty. Sign up today!
Pick up a copy of Parker County Familyat heavy foot-traffi c businesses
who support the youth and families of our community.
You can also fi nd a copy of Parker County Family to read while you are waiting in many of the
lobbies in our area or read us on-line atwww.parkercountyfamily.com, click on “current issue.”
Thank you advertisers for making Parker County Family possible!
Win A Prize:Find Doright in the magazine (it’s not easy) and email us at [email protected] will be entered in a drawing for a prize.
Our AUGUST winner is: SAMANTHA SWIFT Thank you for playing! Please contact us for your prize.
Proudly sponsored by
In a time when many people
exist never knowing their
passion or purpose, Parker
County Family would consider
our “mission accomplished” to
have caused the spark that lit
the fi re of purpose of just one
child.
— Scott Tinkham
Our Next Issue:OCTOBER is our “Being Brave” issue.What do you do when you need to be brave? Send us pictures of you in your Halloween costumes and you being brave to [email protected] is our “Ready for the Holidays” issue. Wow! The year is really fl ying by us fast. Send us your pictures and quotes on what makes you thankful and why you love the holidays to [email protected].
Publisher & Parent Company TinkInkPublications.comEditor & Sales, Kim Tinkham [email protected] Artist, Donnelle CooperDistribution Guys, Scott Tinkham and Don Tinkham Offi ce Dogs, Max and BuddyOur Reason For Doing This, YOU!Advertising Sales [email protected] submit . . . . . . www.parkercountyfamily.com Information . . . . . . . . . . . click on “send info” Photographs . . . . . . . . . . click on “send pics“
Parker County Family is published monthly by Tink Ink Publications, LLC and distributed free of charge through merchants who support our mission of “Inspiring Parents, Motivating Kids, Celebrating Life.” Copy and photographs are welcome and must be submitted by the 20th of the month prior to publication. PCK reserves the right edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. Reproduction in whole or part without express written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.
If you educate
a man you
educate a
person, but if
you educate a
woman, you
educate
a family.
– Ruby Manikan
In a time when many peo
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Hello Parker County! It’s that time of year again here at all Chili’s Grill and Bar.
September is our Nationwide Fundraising Campaign for St Jude
Children’s Research Center. Our Company goal is to donate $50
Million in 10 Years!
When you visit our restaurants this month, you’ll have the
opportunity to donate in several ways. You can color a Chili
Pepper that we hang in the restaurant, or get a Cool St Jude
T-shirt that you can customize with permanent markers. We
especially look forward to seeing you on Monday, September 28th!
Th is is “Donate our Profi ts Day,” where All Chili’s restaurants, will
donate 100% of profi ts to St Jude.
Together, we can save children’s lives. Austin Elementary kindergartner Haylie Barnes
enjoys her fi rst day of school on Monday.Jaylee Hindman says goodbye
to another summer.Jaylee Hindman says goodbye
Moms: cut out the Create-a-Pepper and have your child color it. Then drop it off on your next visit to Chili’s with your donation of $1 or more.
100% of the purchase price of this coloring sheet will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ®. Thank you for giving.
8 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Wise WordsBy Kim Tinkham, Editor
My mother says that I
started reading when I
was three years old. I can still
remember the feeling when
I figured out the words by
sounding out the letters. It was
a feeling of immense pride. I
knew that other people could
read but for some reason I
always felt that my ability to
read was even more special.
Reading came easily to me;
due in part to how I felt when
I held a book in my hands and
turned the pages. It was as if
the book had a message for me
and only me. Learning how
to read allowed me to create.
In sounding out the letters I
created syllables, then words,
then sentences and finally
paragraphs. As I became older
I turned those paragraphs into
pages, then stories and then
Lifetime of Learning
Th e important thing is not so much that every child
should be taught, as that every child should be given
the wish to learn.
John Lubbock
books. Reading opened up my
mind and in turn opened up
the world to me.
I remember thinking
that because I could read I
could teach myself anything.
Obviously, it takes much more
than reading about something
to become an expert at it but
reading about it will get you
started down the right path.
Reading started me down
my path towards a lifetime of
learning. Just as other interests
do for other people.
For instance, a young boy
takes apart his fi rst toy truck
and studies the bits and pieces
and eventually puts it back
together. In doing so he begins
down the path of a lifetime of
learning how things work and
fi nds that he has an aptitude
that not everyone has. Others
soon ask him to fi x things for
them and he gains a sense of
pride and accomplishment to
be able to do this for others.
A young girl watches as
her mother and grandmother
knead the dough for an apple
pie that has become a family
trademark. She watches as
they peel the apples, measure
out the sugar and is delighted
when they allow her for the
fi rst time to crimp the edges of
the doughy crust with a fork.
She will remember the aroma
of the kitchen and the oohs and aahs of family members
when the freshly baked pie is
ceremoniously pulled f rom
the oven and placed on the
table fi rst to be admired and
then to be shared. She takes
those memories, makes them
her own and soon is proud
to produce her own delicious
baked delicacies.
We all learn from watching
and then doing. We want to
learn more about a subject
because of the way it makes us
feel. Th at sense of comfort in
our ability. We are relaxed when
we are doing what we love and
often we love sharing that
ability with others. We thrive
off that nervous energy we feel
just before we are able to share
our talent with someone else.
As parents it is our
responsibility to share our
passion for our abilities with
our children and to allow them
to develop their own special
talents. We must share our
stories of accomplishments,
big and not so big, with the
children in our lives. We must
tell them the story of how
we practiced, how we made
mistakes and finally how we
came out victorious on the
Now EnrollingPRE-SCHOOL
Cutting Edge Curriculum
817-441-19065073 I-20 service road north
(Beside Whataburger)
Transportation
Kim Tinkham (and some very close friends) celebrate the name change from Parker County Kids to Parker County Family Magazine and the beginning of the magazine’s third year in Parker County at a Weatherford Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.
other side.
Let us commit our lives
to learning how to be better
at what we are good at now.
Let us make time in our day, if
only fi ve minutes, to do what
we love. Let us share our talent
and passion with those around
us and allow them to share
theirs with us. Th at, my friend,
is what a lifetime of learning is
all about.
Enjoy the issue! ■
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 9www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 9
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN PARKER COUNTY
10 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Today, the college admissions process is becoming more competitive than
ever, and understanding what is needed for college admissions and prep success is sometimes the toughest part of the preparation. Th ere are simple steps you can take that will help you prepare for college. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, is off ering a three-tiered approach to help students ace their college entrance exams and develop the skills needed for lifelong success. Plan For College: Your starting point for a successful academic life is to understand the process and lay the groundwork for college in junior high and high school. And, getting ready for college isn’t just a job for students - it also requires parents to be prepared.FREE “Test Stress: A Parent’s Real Guide to College Test Prep” Seminars Obtaining a college education requires time, eff ort and careful planning by students and parents working together.
A Th ree-Tiered Approach for College Admission: Plan, Prepare, Practice
By John Lee, Director Sylvan Learning Center
To help navigate the college prep process, the Sylvan Learning of Weatherford is off ering free workshops for parents, “Test Stress: A Parent’s Real Guide to College Test Prep,” dedicated to helping families navigate through the SAT/ACT and the complex college admissions process. Th e fun, interactive seminar features advice from Sylvan educators and leading college admission experts, college coaches and guidance counselors to help parents understand how to create a successful plan for the college application season. Families can then use Sylvan’s f ree, customized College Planner, Parent Resource Guide and High School Tracking Program to ensure their teenagers are college admission ready. Prepare For College: Equipped with the knowledge of what college entails, the next critical step is to assess your strengths and areas that need improvement and then map your plan to prepare for admission tests.“Reduce the Stress: Ace the Test” School Fundraisers
Th e Sylvan Learning of Weatherford is teaming up with area high school guidance counselors and principals to implement “Reduce the Stress: Ace the Test” SAT/ACT practice test events that serve as fundraisers for participating schools. Schools provide SAT/ACT practice exams (for a nominal fee), with proceeds going to the schools’ designated improvement funds to help pay for extracurricular programs, fi eld trips and other school or classroom activities. Sylvan Learning with its College Prep professionals will then review and score the results and provide students with in-person improvement sessions to pinpoint areas of success in order to guide them as they prepare for the actual SAT or ACT. Improve Your Test Scores During this time of the year, families are looking for ways to increase their children’s chances for college acceptance and increase their SAT/ACT scores. Th is will help increase their chances for college scholarship opportunities. To aid students in their preparation for these high-stakes tests, Sylvan Learning of Weatherford off ers targeted, individualized SAT/ACT programs that help students improve their test scores. A majority of students in the Sylvan College Prep program increase their scores which helps them improve their chances to earn scholarships. Off ered in one-on-one, small group and larger seminar settings, these classes are fi ve to eight weeks in length. A student takes a practice exam before the classes begin, at the halfway point and at the end of the series of classes. Th e program focuses on the exact skills needed to successfully answer test questions and off ers specialized instruction in specifi c subject areas such as advanced mathematics, college prep writing and advanced reading. Practice For College: Practice helps a student become college ready. The key to realizing your college potential lies in understanding that academic prowess is cumulative. Academically, high placement in math courses and mastery of mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills are critical to lifelong success. To help students succeed under pressure, the Sylvan Learning of Weatherford off ers a variety of tools to improve mathematical fl uency.SchoolMathPrep.com Recognizing the need for supplemental math resources, the Sylvan Learning of Weatherford is off ering SchoolMathPrep.com, a free, online math resource, to our
neighborhood middle and high schools. Grade 7-12 teachers and students can use SchoolMathPrep.com at school during school hours - for remediation, enrichment or test preparation. Th e educator-created site delivers more than 2,000 instructor-led videos covering 750 lessons in pre-algebra, algebra and geometry. Each lesson includes sample problems, summary notes, a quiz, a worksheet and a deep thought question. Additionally, SchoolMathPrep.com off ers specifi c lessons designed to address the math concepts assessed on the SAT/ACT exams. Educators interested in learning more about this free math resource from the Sylvan Learning of Weatherford are encouraged to visit www.SchoolMathPrep.com.SylvanMathPrep.comSylvanMathPrep.com complements Sylvan’s superior in-center math programs and supplements SchoolMathPrep.com. SylvanMathPrep.com is an online math resource for families and students in grades seven through twelve that utilizes the same instructor-led video format and the same educational features as the free school product - including powerful search functions by concept, keyword and textbook (for a majority of U.S. middle and high school math textbooks). Parents and students can search for topics or select a teen’s textbook and enter the page number of the homework problem. Th en, a one to three minute, “how-to” video corresponding to the specifi c homework assignment is available for viewing. Most importantly, parents can utilize the video math lessons to work with their teenagers to recall “forgotten” math concepts so students are ready to tackle math throughout the school year. Families can access lessons in a variety of topics including pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and math test preparation programs for the SAT and ACT. With SylvanMathPrep.com, students can experience on-the-spot and around-the-clock math homework support from the comfort of home. Parents and students interested in a f ree trial of this cost-eff ective, “just in time” math homework help resource are encouraged to visit www.SylvanMathPrep.com. Using this three-pronged approach while preparing for college will ensure students have years of fun and discovery ahead of them as they enter into college life and, eventually, successful careers in the fi elds of their choosing. ■
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 11
The idea of lifetime learning as a goal for all people –
young, old, man, women or child – speaks to the uniqueness of the human experience. Everyday new experiences present themselves to us. New challenges, new opportunities loom in the shadows of possibility. Teaching your children to approach learning as a lifetime joy often will mean a mind changing challenge for you, the parent fi rst. Somewhere in history, children began to dread the idea of study and learning. But by my defi nition, children are learning machines. They can quote countless lyrics to songs; recite sports stats with unbelievable skill, construct complex structures from sand or Legos® or clay; regal their friends with histories of their favorite television programs and characters; amaze parents with
Lifetime Learning Improves Daily Life
A mind that is
stretched by education
can never go back to its
old dimensions.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
new and often shocking food combinations like a chemist or chef. Th ey – we - were born to learn. I have always believed that children should never be punished with learning or study. They should be encouraged to seek new answers and try new adventures. They should be challenged to learn new tasks daily. As a retired school administrator, I watched children bloom under the simple directive to learn three new things each day. To change this negative mindset in parent and child, you must begin to see the possibilities that lay before you. Can something be accomplished more effi ciently? Is there an easier way to improve expected results? Most importantly, can you make the task of learning as rewarding as the end result?
It has been said that man learns until the day he dies. If you stop learning, does that not mean you have begun the process of dying? Change you mind. Change your mindset. Begin by looking at learning as a growth process. Reward yourself and your child as you increase your learning. Discover new things together. Share the growth. Read with your child. Read more than storybooks. Share the newspaper. Use the paper as a tool to increase interest in the world around them. Turn off the television and let your child teach you what they learned today. Nothing is too small. Use the information passed on to learn more about your child. Challenge your child with thoughts more mature than their years; for example, ask for a way to end hunger, poverty, or war. Ask for their
insight into household tasks. Most importantly, listen. Learning should have a personal reward and purpose. School often teaches learning for the sole sake of learning. Teach yourself and your child, math improves logical thinking skills and problem solving. You may never use algebra in your life but you will need logic and problem solving. History teaches us what not to repeat in our behavior and what is good and purposeful about man. Science teaches orderly thinking – putting things in progressive order like planning for the future step by step. Music and art teach the beauty of life and production value. Holmes was correct in his understanding that a mind expanded by education will never return to its original shape. Learn for a lifetime for a lifetime of joy and pleasure.■
Keitha Story-Stephenson, DS, owner of BlueSky Wellness Center, provides private consultation in Nutritional Wellness, Weight M a n a g e m e n t , A D D / A D H D Nutritional Management, and other Alternative Health Care, including private, alternative individual behavior counseling. Services are available by appointment in Decatur at 506 West Walnut, . Call 817-239-9525 or 940-626-9898 for appointment or visit us www.blueskywellnesscenter.com for more information.
Helping kids grow mentally, spiritually, physically,and socially through learning stations that instruct in:
WRITING READING PHONICS PRE-MATH COMPUTERS BIBLE MUSIC DANCE GYMNASTICS ART SOCIAL PLAY and MORE!
Call or stop by today to check out all of our exciting programs!
1308 Santa Fe Dr. Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 596-9689visit us online at www.therockinfo.org
12 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Managing your administrativetasks from MY office!
Providing Professional Assistant Services –virtually
Deborah Reynolds, Owner and Virtual Assistant817-501-6019
For scheduled events and reminders of happenings, go to our website:www.parkercountyfamily.com or get reminders by following us at Twitter.com/parkercounty.Sign up today!
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 13
Walt & Gail Tilley817-304-0778 (Walt)817-296-2010 (Gail)
30%-50% Savings On Your Laser Cartridges
Lifelong learning – “the lifelong, life-
wide, voluntary and self-motivated
pursuit of knowledge for personal or
professional reasons” – is not just an
adult concern. Th ose seeking to gather
new skills, to expand their knowledge
in any number of fi elds, to meet others
interested in similar pursuit – or all
of the above – have most likely been
curious for that which was known
for many years simply as “continuing
education.”
But a love for lifelong learning
need not be for adults alone. It can and
should also be encouraged among all
family members. Children are especially
capable of fostering a love for learning.
Th eir young, eager minds are specifi cally
adapted from birth to be in a constant
search for new information.
Th e complex organ we call the brain
continues to reveal its mysteries through
numerous scientifi c studies. Among the
knowledge that has been gleaned in
recent studies are the following:
♫ At birth a baby has 100 billion
unconnected neurons in their
brains, all of which are looking for
networks.
♫ As a child grows, thousands of
networks are formed through
junctions called synapses.
Music From The Heart By Holly Hughes
After spending twenty years as a university professor of music, Dr. Holly Hughes moved to Weatherford and founded The Burch School of Music with her husband, Fred Burch. For more information about them and about the Burch School, log onto www.burchshool.com.
♫ By age 10 a child has developed
trillions of complex synapses within
their brains.
Dr. Don Campbell, in his book Th e Mozart Eff ect for Children, writes that
those things which children see, hear,
touch, and experience during their fi rst
10 years infl uences not just their general
development, but it actually aff ects, on
a moment-to-moment basis, how their
brains are wired.
Music plays a critical role in this
process of wiring the brain.
Dr. Campbell further reveals that:
♫ Young children who receive regular
music training demonstrate better
motor skills, math ability, and
reading performance.
♫ High school students who sing or
play an instrument score up to 52
points higher on SAT tests than.
♫ College students who listen to ten
minutes of Mozart’s Sonata for Two
Pianos in D Major, (K. 448) tend to
score higher on the spatial-temporal
portion of IQ tests immediately
afterward.
♫ Adult musicians’ brains exhibit more
EEG (brainwave) coherence than
non-musicians – and even differ
anatomically in musicians who began
their training before age seven.
Music develops the area of
the brain that controls math,
language, and abstract thinking.
By fostering a love for music,
we can also foster a thirst for
continued learning. As music
teachers we see first-hand
the benefi ts of music study in
developing habits needed for
lifelong learning.
The wide-eyed look of
amazement and the beaming
smile of a child who has
mastered a diffi cult passage of
music are sure signs that they
are developing a thirst for
more. Th is same satisfaction –
sometimes expressed through
tears – of an adult who has
realized their dream of “making
music” means that in achieving
that goal, they will be eager to
press forward.
Why not make music a
part of your daily routine, no
matter what your age? You may
be surprised at all the benefi ts
and joys you will fi nd in this
engaging – and lifelong –
activity! ■
I really enjoy your publication and my family and I look forward to reading it every month. The “Doright Guy” as we call him is always a lot of fun to fi nd. It is wonderful to have something my whole family can enjoy together. — Stephany Ashcraft
Why I readTh e advice I am giving always to all my students is
above all to study the music profoundly... music is like
the ocean, and the instruments are little or bigger
islands, very beautiful for the fl owers and trees.
Andres Segovia
14 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Did you know…Chiropractic is safe for kids and expecting moms?
Want to learn more? Call us at 817-594-5944 or visit our website www.drwright.topchiro.com
Wright Chiropractic Health Center, PA, Dr. Heather Wright, BS, DC, CCEP
702B Eureka St., Weatherford
Enjoying New River Kids Camp 2009.Pearce Lancarte and his teacher,
Mrs Leeper.
Wright Elementary kindergartner Zoe Boles enjoys her fi rst day of schoolwith a nutritious meal in the cafeteria.
Curtis Elementary kindergartner Rachel Tesi enjoys her sandwich in the cafeteria during Monday’s fi rst day of school.
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 15
Sharing the roads and supporting the families and youth of Parker County since 1985.
Samantha and Caitlin Ainsworth give mom a smile before heading off back
to school.
A Lifetime of Learning in Parker County. Deborah Cron, Superintendent of Weatherford ISD is the mother of Jessica Robert who is the Assistant
Principal at Aledo Middle School and mother of Dylan Robert, 5 years old, kindergartener at Austin Elementary.
Kara Norman looks forward to another exciting school year.
Enjoying summer music camp with friends.
Samantha and Caitlin Ainsworth give Lifetime of Learning in Parker County. Deborah Cron, Superintendent
Seguin Elementary School kindergart-ner Hannah Keahy receives a comfort-ing hug from Tabitha Psencik during Monday’s fi rst day of school at Weatherford ISD for the 2009-10 school year. WISD welcomed 498 new kindergartners to the District.
16 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Students “took a trip” to
the rainforest this summer
during Rainforest Camp at Th e
Burch School of Music. Students
learned about the value of our
rainforests and the price we pay
when we lose these wonderful
ecosystems. Th ey learned about
the fl ora and fauna of the various
forests across the globe, while
singing, reading, moving and
listening. Here Jasmin Patterson
is being swallowed by a boa
constrictor while classmates
Mason Shaw, Leah Tell and July
Patterson are helping. Although
the humorous song by Shel
Silverstein ends with “and I don’t
like it one bit!” you can see from
their faces that this was one of
their favorite activities. Dr. Holly
Hughes was the instructor, and
Hannah Penny (background) was
teacher’s aide during this week of
educational fun. (Not pictured
was camper Mathias Harmer.) ■
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Attorneys & Counselors at LawTim Mendolia and Tim McWilliams
Willow Park, Texas 76087
www.mayofirm.com
MECHANICAL, INC.
Com
mitted to Excellence Brendon Barker, Comfort Consultant
24 hour service • www.lightfootmechanical.comTACLA001791C
FreeComfort & Healthy Air Home Inspection$79 Value
Members of the WHS Ninth Grade Center JV Jazz dance team recently took home a platinum trophy while attending their Extreme Dance
Camp over the summer.
A performance of “The Noize,” a new music and dance ministryof New River Fellowship.
The WHS Ninth Grade Center cheerleaders would like to thank Roger Grizzard, owner of The Pizza Place, for his continued support in
helping the girls throughout their recent fundraiser.
About a dozen students enrolled in a summer camp at The Burch School of Music called “I Write the Songs.” Over the course of several weeks they had private instruction on their skills as young composers. Eleven of the twelve chose piano solo as their medium, while the twelfth, Angie McCullough, tried her hand at a song for voice and piano. Many of these students will continue to fi ne-tune their works for competitions throughout the year. At the end of the camp, a recital was held for students to perform their pieces for parents and friends at Bethel United Methodist Church, and they were very well received. Shown here are students who performed their own solos at Bethel UMC: Seated Emily Pruitt and Jessica Peterson; Standing: Noah Patty, Brayton Mitchell, Abby Patty, Matthew Thomas and Matthew Mize.
18 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Deborah King is President of Final Touch Finishing School, Inc. which she founded in 1989 in Seattle. As a certifi ed image professional, with over 30 years of experience, she presents her programs nationally and internationally for youth and corporate clients. She is co-author of “Image Power” and developer of several educational tools. www.fi naltouchschool.com
Life Skills By Deborah King, AICI CIP
The role of women in society
cannot be filled by any
other. Women uniquely impact
the family and the community.
Typically, they manage the
home, provide the meals, select
the clothing, chauffer the
children, volunteer at school,
church and other clubs. Over
ninety percent of women also
work a part of full time job.
Balancing all the roles a
woman embraces is not easy.
Th e Power of Clothing and Behavior
John Adams, the second president of the United States said: “From all that I had read of history and government of human life and manners, I had drawn this conclusion, that the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation.” (Dee Jepsen, Women Beyond Equal Rights (Waco: Word, 1984), quoted in James Robinson, Attack on the Family (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981), 33.
Learning how to set priorities
and how to say ‘no’ is essential.
Women simply cannot, nor
should not, do everything that
comes their way.
One area women have a
unique opportunity to infl uence
others in is through their
clothing choices. Unfortunately,
many have followed the
trends set by the media.
Fashion continually pushes
the boundaries of what is
acceptable with little regard for
the impact on women. Super
thin models, scantily dressed
and airbrushed to appear
flawless create an unrealistic
ideal of what it means to be
beautiful. These images fill
the fashion magazines and the
minds of our girls resulting in
a loss of self-esteem and the
belief that they must dress and
look the same if they are to be
‘pretty’ and acceptable in our
society.
Unfor tunate l y, many
mothers have also yielded to
the media pressure. Th ey shop
where their daughter shops
and wear what their teenage
daughter wears affirming
that being young and sexy is
the goal. Modesty has all but
evaporated from most closets.
A woman who knows
how to use fashion to dress
appropriately for her age, to
enhance her body type and
coloring, to be fashionable and
yet modest, is a joy to all who
meet her. Th e truth is, one is
always more interesting when
they leave some things to the
imagination. A beautifully
groomed and dressed woman
is a gift to all who meet her
and provides an excellent role
model for others.
Another area women
have opportunity to infl uence
others in is by the practice and
use of good manners. A child
learns what they live. A child
who is raised in a home where
good manners are modeled and
valued will always benefi t.
Unfortunately, the media has
also set the tone for much of
today’s behavior. Television and
movies portray children and
teens mocking adults and being
disrespectful while viewers
laugh and enjoy popcorn. Th e
family dinner table has been
replaced with drive through
menus and playgrounds. Gifts
are expected and thank you
cards are neglected.
Mastering the skills for
appropriate dress and behavior
is a must for every woman. If
you have not learned these
skills, make time to do so now
and watch the power of your
infl uence soar!
Civility Tip #8Body ManagementYou demonstrate kindness and
respect for yourself and others
through how you manage your
body, appearance and behavior.
1. Maintain a healthy weight.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Be well groomed.
4. Dress appropriately for the
situation you are in.
5. Practice good manners.
Now enrolling for the Fall Semester!
Happy Day Christian Learning Center
Tuesday and Thursday
from 8:30 to 2:30
beginning September 1, 2009
There are a few spaces available,
please call 817-596-0100, ext 108 –
for more information visit:
www.lakeshorebaptist.com
Carey Hix, an adjunct instructor for Weatherford College has just been promoted to a full time position teaching in the English department. Carey attended Aledo High School, and is a TCU Journalism Graduate and has her Masters degree of Humanities from the University of Dallas. Congratulations!
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Parker County Church Directory
Attention Churches: Would you like to be listed in our church directory?Contact us today for special pricing and availability.
Can summer camp really be this much fun?Learning and playing at Music camp.
Can summer camp really be this much fun?
Recognizinga Stroke…
REMEMBER THE STEPS
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the syptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:1. S* Ask the individual to SMILE2. T* Ask the person to TALK, SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (coherently) (i.e. … It is sunny out today)3. R* Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH
ARMS. Note: Another sign of a stroke is this: Ask the person to “stick” out their tongue. If the tongue is “crooked,” if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Mary Martin Elementary kindergartner Austin Garretson places a sticker on a graph to show whether or not he was nervous on the fi rst day
of school. Garretson is in Mrs. Willoughby’s kindergarten class.
All the world is a laboratory
to the inquiring mind.
Martin H. Fischer
20 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Laying Down The Law By Timothy J. Mendolia
Ask us about solutions that meet your financial needs.
817-598-2241 • bbvacompass.com
BBVA Compass is a trade name ofCompass Bank, Member FDIC.
Timothy J. Mendolia, a Weatherford native, graduated from Baylor Law School in 1994 and soon after founded, along with partner, Keith Mayo, another Weatherford native, what has become Mayo Mendolia & Starr, LLP, a law fi rm of 15 attorneys and offi ces in Willow Park, Southlake, Dallas, Royse City, and Tyler, Texas. Willow Park offi ce located at 5189 E. I-20, N. Service Rd., Suite 104, Willow Park, Texas 76087, 817.546.4100.
Families with Children with Special Needs need Special Planning
Timothy J Mendolia a Weatherford
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 21
Shop LocallyInvest in YOUR CommunityLocal Sales Tax Supports YOUR City and County Services
Healthy Sales Tax Receipts Keep YOUR Property Taxes low!
Kalyn’s Country Day 817.596.9596 817.594.9990
Reading Friends Academic Preschool 817.441.6060 Sprouts Learning Center 817.441.1906sproutslearningcenter.net
Childcare
Parker County Committee on Aging 817.596.4640 -Senior Center-Meals on Wheels-Transportation- Residential Repair and moreAdult Protective Services Hotline 800.252.5400 940.325.6959AARP 888.687.2277 Local 817.599.8601The Weatherford Senior Center 817.596.4640Legal Hotline for Older Texans 800.622.2520
Senior Citizens
Disabled American VeteransTransportation Network817.347.7352Veterans Services of Parker County 817.598.6152
Veteran Services
Burch School of Music817-341-2345
Reading Friends Academic Preschool 817.441.6060 Sylvan Learning Center 817.594.4461
Weatherford College 817.594.5471
Education - Private THE ROCK 817-596-9689 Weatherford Little League 817.599.0456
Sports/Recreation
East Parker County Library201 FM 1187 NorthAledo, TX 76008www.epclibrary.com817.441.6545Tues-Fri 10am-6pmSa 11am-3pmStory Time Fridays 10:30am
Springtown Public Library626 N. Main StrettSpringtown, TX 76082(817) 523-5862Sun-Mon ClosedTues 10am-8pmWed - Thus 12-6pmFri 9am-5pmSat 9am-12noon
Weatherford Public Library1014 Charles StWeatherford TX, 76086817.598.4150www.wpltx.comMon–Thu 10am– 8pmFri–Sa 10am–6pmSu 2pm– 6pmStory Time Wednesdays 10:30am
LibrariesParker County Animal Shelter 817.598.4111
Animal Control
Aledo Children’s AdvoCats 817.31.0777
A Place for Grace 817.613.9947
CASA of Parker County 817.599.6224
Center of Hope (Aledo) 817.441.2442
Center of Hope (Weatherford) 817.594.0266
Crossroads Youth Ministries of Parker County, IncJeff Johnson817-304-7472
Freedom House 817.596.7543
Goodwill Store 817.613.0825
Grace House Pregnancy Assistance Center 817.599.4700
Manna Storehouse, Inc. 817.599.6569
United Way 817.596.5986
on-Pro ts
Aledo Community Lions Club 817.441.9053
East Parker County Genealogy and Historical Society 817.441.7517
Parker County 4-H 817.598.6172Parker County Heritage Society 817.596.8108
Parker County Master Gardener Association 817.598.6168
Parker County Sheriff’s Posse 817.599.9076
Parker County Extension Education Clubs call 817-598-6168
22 Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty 888-878-8465
Texas Drinking Water Systemsof Weatherford
817-598-0626www.txdrinkingwater.comServing Parker, Palo Pinto,Wise and Jack Counties
We Fix Water!
WIN-GEN POWERA subsidiary of Loree Long, Inc.
3249 FM 51 NorthWeatherford, Tx 76085-8216
817-599-4528817-304-2418 817-304-3042
Learn To Love The
Wind
Wright Chiropractic Health Center thanks the following sponsors for their contribution in making the
Inaugural Hot Dog Trot benefi ting Parker Paws a
dog gone success!
PLATINUM SPONSORSThe Weatherford Democrat
Parker County Family MagazineThe Community News
GOLD SPONSORSFirst Financial BankDillard Feed & SeedPower House GymIESI Corporation
SILVER SPONSORSAledo Vet Clinic
Jeannie Wood RealtySouthwest Ford
New River FellowshipPlains Capitol BankStovall Corporation
C.J. Services
Presented by Wright Chiropractic Health Center
817-594-5944www.drwright.topchiro.com
TAKE A RIDE TO AND FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND TAKE A SPIN ON THE TRACK
BENEFITING SPRINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 2010 PROJECT CELEBRATIONSeptember 19, 2009
We have a great evening planned for all ages! We will start out at Ft. Worth Harley Davidson where registration will begin at 3pm. Enjoy the Springtown High School Jazz Band play some great music during registration. The cost will be $20.00 per bike for the ride; cars are also welcome and will be behind the bikes. (This will be an escorted ride) At about 5pm we will fi re them up and head out to Lake Worth to Boat Club Rd. to HWY 114, then to Texas Motor Speedway. We will have a staging area set up and the bikes will go onto the Speedway as groups of 50 at a time. The fee to ride the track will be $5.00 per person for 3 laps. If you would like to take addition laps there will be another fee of $5 per person and you must go to the end of the line. (This is only if time allows) After your ride around the track, you may proceed to Victory Lane for your photo of you and your bike. If you don’t have a camera we will have one ready and will send your photo to you by email for $5.00. At 9pm we will take off back to Ft. Worth and go through North Side’s Old Stock Yard and then head to Sundance Square to see all the lights of Downtown Ft. Worth( not escorted). Our fi nal destination will be the Brand new OMNI Hotel! The hotel has great food and drinks, and a great band, “Three Fools on Stools”, will be awaiting our arrival. If you would like to stay the night, we will have blocked off rooms for you at a great rate. We hope you will enjoy this event and know that some great kids are very thankful for your help in sending them off from High School. For more info, about sponsorship or ride info email Larry at [email protected]. NOTE: Helmet required on track.
Sponsors: Texas motor speedway, Omni Hotel Ft. Worth, Fort Worth Harley, Elegant Waters Pool & Spa 817-371-2866, www.lets-ride.com, Ride Safe Roadside Rescue For sponsors info call Larry Dorman.
Fiction is not my forte, but I’m
always in the middle of two or
three books. All my reading
is in an eff ort to obtain
knowledge on one
subject or another,
f rom gardening
to f rugality and
health concerns to
Christian living.
M y a b s o l u t e
favorite Christian author
is Elizabeth George. Growing
up without a female role model, I
absorbed everything she wrote. She
became my “Titus 2” woman. One thing
she taught that I never forgot is called
“Th e Five Fat Files.” You select fi ve areas
that you’d like to become
an expert in and label a
fi le for each of them.
To determine your
topics, ask yourself what
you want to be known for
and what interests you?
Some of your fi les may
be on child-raising,
organization, gardening
or prayer.
Once you have your topics,
start fi lling the fi les. Anytime you fi nd
an article, book, specialized magazine,
news clippings, or attend seminars, place
the information in your fat fi le. You are
not limited to those fi ve. Once you have
learned what you want to know or your
Five Fat FilesBy Rose Jordan
interest in the topic is on a temporary
respite, you can start a new fi le.
One of my fi les is on genealogy.
I visit it in spurts. I’ ll work at it
passionately for a time and then get
bored with it. Th en, I’m off on another
pursuit. Since I’m often involved in
many projects simultaneously and there
is always something more I want to
learn, this advice has helped give focus
to my learning endeavors.
Tell me about your fat fi les. Find me
on Facebook. Maybe we can compare
notes!! ■
Facebook: Rose McCombs Jordan
www.parkercountyfamily.com Follow us at twitter.com/parkercounty Inspiring Parents! Motivating Kids! Celebrating Life! 23
For more fi nancial advice, plus special offers to our readers, please visit www.davesays.org