McKinney & Prosper, TX August 2024

Children + Pets = Unconditional Love

This edition is always one of my favorites of the year, because of the immense joy that children and pets bring to their families and the significant impact they make on their communities.

Children aren't merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow; they're the foundation upon which our society stands. Their innocence, curiosity and boundless potential have the power to shape the world in ways we can only imagine. Kids represent some of our hardest work and greatest investment.

Who could forget pets? The special kind of companionship with our fur kids can be a transformative experience for children and adults alike. Pets provide us with unconditional love, the opportunity to learn, grow and develop essential life skills in a nurturing environment. And who could ignore the bond between kids and their furry or feathery friends? The bond is often deep and meaningful, fostering qualities like empathy, responsibility and companionship.

I'm dedicating this edition to Rigby, my devoted furry sidekick (shown here).

Although children are of infinitely more value, what children and pets share in common is that they need us. Our care, attention and intention shapes how they're raised and who they become. We hope this edition inspires you to pour a little extra into the pets and children in your life this month.

Cheers!

SHARON DUFFY, PUBLISHER @MCKINNEYANDPROSPERLIFESTYLE

August 2024

PUBLISHER

Sharon Duffy Thomas | sharon.duffy@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

William Thomas | william.thomas@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Julie Brown Patton | julie.patton@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITER

Alexis Jacobs | alexis.jacobs@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alexis Jacobs, Leann Parker, Julie Brown Patton, Lisa Moyer, Linda Ditch, Katie Currid

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Janie Jones, Julie Brown Patton

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

2024

city scene

WHERE

NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: LEAN Kitchen McKinney celebrating their ribbon cutting with the McKinney Chamber of Commerce. 2: Direction 61:3 supports and helps aging out foster youth thrive as adults. 3: Prosper Ladies Association ensures children of PISD have nutritious meals all summer long. 4: Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney reopened the Native Texas Butterfly House/Garden. 5: Texas Legends' networking luncheons also include professional development guest speakers who cover varied topics. 6: Prosper Chamber of Commerce members welcomed Black Hawk Brewery to 390 W. Broadway St. 7: Thanks to Prosper Independent School District officers for keeping everyone safe.

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business monthly

LEAN Kitchen McKinney

A new health food store, LEAN Kitchen, opened in McKinney at 2107 Eldorado Parkway, #109, with an emphasis of offering fresh, never-frozen meals and energy beverages that are convenient for busy lifestyles. They also offer supplements to help maximize nutrition and workout goals, including vegan/vegetarian-friendly options. They offer pick-up or delivery when customers order online. They reportedly deliver to McKinney, Prosper, Frisco, Allen and Fairview.

Near $1M Grant To Fund McKinney Recycling: Every Bottle Back

A $986,000 million grant from American Beverage will fund new curbside recycling carts for 58,000 McKinney households. The initiative includes an education campaign to reduce recyclable contamination. This investment is part of 64 initial projects that the leading members of the beverage industry — The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo — and their sustainability partners have committed to fund through the Every Bottle Back program to collectively reduce plastic waste at significant levels.

McKinney Student's Bee-Inspired Art Is Texas Entry For Google Contest

Alice Kim, a Lizzie Nell Cundiff McClure Elementary student in McKinney, was named the Texas winner in the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest. Each design entered had to be accompanied by an entry form explaining the artwork's meaning. Inspired by Lizzie's grandfather's love of beekeeping, her Doodle highlights the importance of bees for the environment. Winners reportedly were chosen based on artistic merit, originality and how well their work embodied the contest theme.

RTX Raytheon In McKinney Receives Large Order For Radar System

RTX Raytheon in McKinney was awarded a $33.7 million order to upgrade the Silent Knight radar system for US Special Operations forces, with a potential six-year deal worth up to $293 million. The work is scheduled to be completed by June 2030. Silent Knight reportedly is a multi-aircraft terrain-following/ terrain-avoidance radar designed to enable Special Forces aircraft to infiltrate dangerous areas undetected, and at night, with reduced risks of crashing while flying at low altitudes.

Helping Generations of Texas Families Protect Their Money and Preserve Their Estate

ESTATE PLANNING (WILLS & TRUSTS)

Our attorneys create customized estate plans based on your family structure, life plans, goals, values, principles, and vision. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all estate planning.

PROBATE

The probate process helps to ensure that your deceased loved one’s estate is distributed according to their wishes. Mourning the loss of a loved one is difficult, and the thought of dealing with legal issues and piles of paperwork can make you feel overwhelmed.

GUARDIANSHIP & SPECIAL NEEDS

Appointing a guardian is necessary when a person can no longer make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. A special needs trust allows a person with a disability to have money put aside for their care.

TRUST ADMINISTRATION

Trust administration includes settling any debts, paying taxes, transferring property titles and other administrative tasks that must be handled to close out or settle the estate of the decedent.

ASSET PROTECTION

Asset protection planning involves making prudent decisions today to protect yourself, your business, and your hard-earned assets from loss due to lawsuits, creditors or bankruptcies.

BUSINESS PLANNING

An effective business plan is not only a roadmap that outlines your goals, strategies, and potential hurdles, but also helps protect your business from death, divorce, or disability by preparing in advance.

Start School Year With Confidence To Excel

ACADEMICS PLUS TEAM DEDICATED TO INCREASING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS

ARTICLE BY ALEXIS JACOBS

For more than three decades, Academics Plus professionals have been committed to enhancing students' academic performances by fostering a nurturing environment that makes learning enjoyable while also motivating students to excel in their studies, both inside and out of the classroom.

"Going beyond traditional tutoring, Academics Plus offers personalized instruction that's tailored to each learner's unique profile, ensuring every student receives targeted support to reach their full potential," states Stephanie Talley, owner/director of Academics Plus in McKinney.

She says with the evolving educational landscape, Academics Plus's role is to support students and educators.

"Many school districts have had major administrative changes over the past year, and education in general is struggling with teacher burnout," says Stephanie. "We're just glad to be able to offer much-needed support to children, parents and school personnel."

A key element to the success of Academics Plus is its tailored tutoring programs. These programs begin with comprehensive diagnostic testing to identify each student's unique strengths and weaknesses. "We also want to hear from the student's parent and review existing documentation from the school to get a broad picture of their needs," Stephanie explains.

This holistic approach enables the setting of targeted, time-bound goals around which individualized instructional plans are built. Stephanie says collaboration with parents and teachers ensures maximum impact, with regular assessments facilitating progress checks and necessary adjustments.

She emphasizes the importance of a consistent study routine for academic success. "Academic progress is very similar to athletic progress: just as a successful football player must have a consistent practice routine to stay in shape, hone their skills, and remember plays, a successful student must have a consistent routine to keep the content fresh, hone their skills and store learned skills in their long-term memory."

owner/director , A

Tutoring at Academics Plus is not exclusive to students struggling with select topics. Stephanie compares the continuous need for academic enrichment to ongoing training for athletes and musicians. "While schools provide some opportunities for academic enrichment, many academically talented students underperform at school due to boredom or lack of rigor," states Stephanie. "Our programs can work ahead in content, provide enrichment activities, begin college prep early, and uphold rigorous standards to elicit higher performance from students with high academic potential."

Beyond academics, tutoring at Academics Plus fosters advanced study skills and instills a love for learning. "We teach students that they're here to learn how to think. The content is important, sure, but the ability to think critically and problem-solve is what is most important," Stephanie emphasizes.

This focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills boosts students' confidence in their abilities, promoting self-esteem and long-term success, she adds.

An example of Academics Plus's impact is a former parent who saw her children, who were once called "struggling learners," achieve great success in school and their careers. She shares, "Our children's stories serve as a reminder that hard work and determination can surpass any expectations or limitations. It's not about innate intelligence but rather the dedication and effort one is willing to invest. Micah views her learning difference as a 'gift' that has taught her not to take education for granted, and she hopes her children will face similar challenges to appreciate the value of learning."

Stephanie says Academics Plus remains committed to proving that with hard work and the right support, every student can overcome limitations and achieve their fullest potential.

972.548.8788

AcademicsPlus.com

“We're so happy to be here serving our students and engaging with classroom teachers,” says Stephanie Talley, owner/director of Academics Plus.

Fostering SAVES LIVES

VOLUNTEER TO CARE FOR ANIMALS AWAITING

ADOPTION AT COLLIN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

Note that pets shown here are examples of the local adoptables.

ARTICLE BY ALEXIS JACOBS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLLIN COUNTY ADOPTABLE PETS VOLUNTEERS

Within the heart of the Collin County Animal Shelter lies a linchpin  that nurtures and supports its most vulnerable residents: the foster program. From young animals in need of nurturing care to injured animals requiring specialized attention, fosters provide a safe haven for these animals to grow and thrive. Fosters not only play a crucial role in preparing these animals for adoption, they also help alleviate shelter overcrowding, creating space for more animals in need.

Lacy DeHorney, CCAS animal services manager, explains that placing pets in

a home setting enables the shelter to gather valuable insights into their behaviors that may not be apparent within the shelter environment. "This information, including the animal's training status, interactions with various individuals, and response to common household sounds, is essential for ensuring pets are matched with suitable forever homes."

Prospective fosters need to fill out an application. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside within a 50-mile radius of the shelter, have their resident pets spayed/neutered and current on rabies vaccinations, and have access to email. For individuals fostering a dog, a meeting with any resident dogs is necessary. Additionally, fosters play a

role in the adoption process by engaging with potential adopters to facilitate a successful match.

CCAS is always in need of more fosters, Lacy affirms. For those who cannot commit to full-time fostering, the shelter offers a Doggie Day Out Program. This initiative allows individuals to take a dog out for the day, providing a break from shelter life and offering valuable insights into the dog’s behavior. Individuals can apply and note their interest in this program specifically.

Participating as a foster home makes  life-saving differences for these animals. By fostering, Lacy says community members help create better futures for these deserving pets.

Making Moments Together Extraordinary

Soak up the fun at Paradise Springs Water Park! Prepare for heart-pounding slides, refreshing pools, a lazy river, private cabanas, and an extraordinary day you’ll never forget.

At Gaylord Hotels, bringing people together is what we do best.

Did you know…

That an Orthodontist is a dedicated specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of the smile? So don’t even think about having your general dentist attempt to correct you or your child’s bad bite, crooked teeth or wacky smile.

SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING PARENTS

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAMBIE'S LOVE

Lambie's Love Volunteers Extend Compassionate Care Through Curated Bereavement Boxes

Lambie’s Love is a newly established 501(c)(3) charity nonprofit serving the DFW community by providing compassionate care through thoughtfully curated bereavement boxes to Neonatal Intensive Care Units. This group offers support and resources to grieving families who experience the tragedy of infant loss.

“We operate entirely through volunteer efforts, ensuring 100% of donations directly support our cause and the purchase of items needed for our bereavement boxes,” says Jamie Farrar, Lambie’s Love founder and president.

She founded the group in memory of her own daughter, Katherine Rose Farrar.

In addition to providing special bereavement care packages, Jamie says they maintain a comprehensive resources list on the group’s website to offer valuable local resources for families dealing with challenging pregnancies and infant loss.

“Additionally, we regularly share information about infant loss and grief support events on our Facebook page, providing a space for families to come together to remember, honor and celebrate their precious children, fostering a sense of community and understanding,” she adds.

817.851.2883

LambiesLove.org

Love volunteers support existing families of infant loss by making every donation in honor of an infant loss baby's name who was born that month. They want families to know "their child matters, is loved, and will not be forgotten."

Whether your pup has the obedience of a dog show finalist, or social behavior that makes you want to play dead around others, you can develop more owner confidence with help from this expert trainer.

ARTICLE BY LISA MOYER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

STYLED BY ANGELA BROOCKERD

“Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”

“Socializing your dog is beneficial for both dogs and their owners,” says Taryn Tyler, a certified dog trainer. “It creates confidence for both dogs and owners and displaces the anxiety we feel when our dogs aren’t behaving like we want them to.”

Taryn says that boundaries can be learned by dogs of any age.

“There’s a nasty perception along the ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ line of thinking,” she says.

“While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you can make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you. Dog training isn’t just for struggling pups either. Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”

Taryn stresses that teaching a dog to sit or stay is less about tricks and more about the relationship that builds between animal and owner. “That, in turn, fosters an environment where the next time a family hosts Thanksgiving or has friends over, the owner and their dogs fall into the habit of obeying commands because of the confidence built through all the work put in beforehand.”

Even dogs with a troubled history can achieve improvement.

“We all love our dogs, but they can be stressful when they can’t seem to click in our home environments.

DOG SOCIALIZING TIPS:

• Socializing is more than taking your dog in public. A guy can dump a bunch of mulch in your driveway and spread it , but he’s not a landscaper until he’s following a plan. When the doorbell rings or a visitor comes into the house, what’s our expectation for the dog? When we’re in public and the dog’s attention is diverted, what’s our plan to refocus them? Socialization is 99 percent working on small steps as part of a larger plan.

• Socializing isn’t about our dogs being the center of attention in public. Everyone loves seeing a dog, but our best outcome for the dog is to go unnoticed. Sitting by our side, ignoring external stimuli, remaining calm— those are things we strive for when socializing a dog.

“While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you can make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you.”

• When socializing dogs with other dogs, start small. Take a walk with another dog to get them to just exist in the same vicinity. Once they’re able to not be excited by the other dog, work on limited playing in controlled environments.

• If someone comes into your home, let them know what boundaries you’re working on with your dog. You can even suggest asking them to carry a few treats and work on some of the behaviors your dog is already comfortable with.

Once your dog is able to socialize with other pets, playdates are a great way to encourage good play behavior. One way to celebrate your pup’s birthday is to celebrate with their favorite furry friends. Here are a few helpful tips for making your gathering a success.

• Set up play areas for your furry guests to enjoy. This can include a doggy pool or splash pad, chew toys, frisbees, and don’t forget the pet-friendly bubbles.

• Offer party guests birthday attire such as a birthday hat, bandana or party outfit. Set up a photo wall for pet owners to get photos with their furry friends in their birthday outfits. Better yet, make it a costume competition, and invite guests to come dressed up ready to show off their pup’s attire.

• Create a treat display with a pet-friendly birthday cake and various chewy snacks for guests to give their pups.

• Party favors are a must to end your festivities with a bang. Fill party bags with bouncy balls, treats, and pet-friendly bubbles to send your guests off with a smile.

HOW

TO THROW A BIRTHDAY BASH FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS:

summer is POPSICLE SEASON

KIDS AND POPSICLES ARE THE PERFECT SUMMERTIME PAIR

ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

As temperatures rise, children race to the freezer for this frosty treat or wait anxiously for the approach of the musical ice cream truck. Making homemade popsicles is a fun, kidfriendly activity. These recipes feature kid-favorite flavors with an added taste twist. The only tricky part is waiting for them to freeze.

SPICED GRAPE POPSICLES

ingredients:

Makes 18 to 24

• 2 quarts Concord grape juice

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 12 whole cloves

• 4 cinnamon sticks

• 3 tablespoons whole allspice

directions:

Put all of the ingredients into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to barely a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the juice through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl or pitcher to remove the spices. Allow the juice to cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.

CHERRY LIMEADE POPSICLES ingredients:

Makes 18 to 24

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup lime juice

• 2 cups tart cherry juice

directions:

In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat. Add the cherry juice and taste. Add additional sugar or water if needed. Let come to room temperature and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.

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Summertime is busy time, and that often means eating on the go. Whether you’re at constant baseball games or meeting up for a regular play date, you’re probably bringing food along with you to feed your crew. And there’s no meal that’s as on-the-go friendly as the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

And don’t get me wrong — I love a PB&J. But months of eating anything can get a little old, and this summer, I started to wonder if there was a way to zhuzh up the ol’ standby.

I was actually inspired by a sandwich at one of my favorite places to eat. All the restaurant’s sandwiches feature cheese. So color me surprised when I found that they had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the menu — with the addition of sheep’s cheese. And cue more surprise when I discovered that it was absolutely delicious.

IT’S PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME

CHANGE UP YOUR PB&J GAME BY DISCOVERING NEW WAYS TO ENJOY THE OL’ STANDBY

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID

All summer, I was craving this sandwich, a fresh PB&J sandwich on sourdough. I decided to try my own at home with what I had on hand, which was goat cheese. And it opened up a whole new world for me.

The PB&J with goat cheese started being my standard poolside sandwich this summer, and then I started talking to other people about it, spreading the gospel of the PB&J with cheese, and they would share their PB&J innovations with me. You could toast them! Put chips on them! Add bacon! The possibilities were endless.

The PB&J is so nostalgic and, yeah, sometimes, you just want a really basic one on white bread with grape jelly and creamy Jif like you had when you were a kid. But it’s also fun to be playful about it, which is nostalgic in its own way, too — being innovative and doing something a little weird or against the rules, just like when you were a kid.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO CHANGE UP YOUR PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH:

Change up your bread: One easy way to liven up your sandwich is to use different bread. That sourdough you may have learned to make during the pandemic is a perfect bread to use, or you could opt for milk bread, a Japanese option that is fluffier and sweeter than white bread.

Get nutty: While most toddlers would balk at crunchy peanut butter, you’re an adult! You can try new things! If you don’t have the crunchy type on hand, you can also just add peanuts between your layers of peanut butter and jelly to get that crunchy fix.

Toast it: One of my favorite ways to make an “elevated” PB&J is to simply toast it. It’s really similar to grilled cheese — make your PB&J, and then spread some butter on the outside on both sides. Melt some butter in a pan and add your sandwich, flipping once browned. If you want to get really fancy, sprinkle some powdered sugar on before you cut into it. I promise it will be your new late-night craving.

Fresh fruit: This is probably the simplest way to up your PB&J game, since technically, you’ve already got fruit on your sandwich in the form of jelly. Try adding some smashed raspberries or cut strawberries to yours next time you make one!

Say cheese: As I said earlier, you’ve gotta try cheese on your PB&J. I’m a fan of goat cheese, specifically the honey variety, but plain versions or those with dried fruit are great, too. The trick is to set it out for 15-20 minutes before making your sandwich to soften it a bit, so it’s easier to spread on delicate bread.

AUGUST 2024

AUGUST 2ND - 10TH

McKinney Performing Arts Center Courtroom Theater | 8:00 PM

McKinney Repertory Theatre presents one of the most popular musicals in recent memory. This fun revue is chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies. Once, there were four guys who discovered they shared a love for music and got together to become their idols: The Four Freshmen, The HiLo's and The Crew Cuts. Go online to  McKinneyPerformingArtsCenter.org.

AUGUST 17TH

Del Castillo Live At The Courtroom Theater

McKinney Performing Arts Center Courtroom Theater | 7:00 PM

McKinney Main Street & MPAC present Del Castillo. Del Castillo original music blends rock, Latin, blues and world music into a cinematic celebration of sound that lifts your soul. Del Castillo are a high-energy Chicano band from Austin that sings in Spanish, combining old-school Gitano with flailing nuevo flamenco flourishes and churning polyrhythmic percussion. Visit  McKinneyPerformingArtsCenter.org.

AUGUST 17TH

Downtown McKinney Classic Car Show

Historic Downtown McKinney | 8:00 AM

Join a nostalgic journey through automotive history at the Downtown McKinney Classic Car Show! Rev up your engines and don't miss this chance to showcase your classic beauty or attend for free. Whether you're a car owner or a car enthusiast, this is the

event for you. Registration deadline is Aug. 10. Register online at:  McKinneyPac.wufoo.com

AUGUST 17TH

Nature Connection Walk

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary | 9:30 AM

Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, this walk immerses guests with nature in the sanctuary. Participants spend about 2 hours outside, walking at an easy pace, and standing and/or sitting on the ground quietly for up to 20 minutes at a time. Trails are not handicap accessible; some trails include walking up and down hilly areas.

AUGUST 22ND

Prosper Planty Pop Up

Prosper Wine House | 5:00 PM

Discover new green friends. Join a Planty Pop Up with 15-plus vendors; plant bar; permanent jewelry; hat bar; handmade goods; charm bar; photo ops; wine and charcuteries. It will take place from 5-9 p.m. It's a free event, but spots can be reserved online via EventBrite.

AUGUST 24TH

Marshall Crenshaw MPAC's Summer Concert Series

McKinney Performing Arts Center Courtroom Theater | 7:00 AM

McKinney Main Street & MPAC present Marshall Crenshaw. Marshall Crenshaw's career has spanned four decades, 13 albums, Grammy and Golden Globe nominations, film and TV appearances (Buddy Holly in “La Bamba”) and thousands of live performances. His musical output has maintained a consistent fidelity to the qualities of artfulness, craftsmanship and passion. For additional details, head to  McKinneyPerformingArtsCenter.org

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