Northlake, TX August 2023

Babies and fur babies

Our babies and fur babies bring infinite joy to our lives, and if we’re being honest, a little bit of stress.

But the gifts of parenting — two- or four-legged children — far outweigh those trying times.

We celebrate our love for kids and pets in the August issue of Northlake City Lifestyle.

Children are not merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow; they are 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 our hardest work and greatest investment.

Secondarily, who could forget pets? 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.

All of us can recall our bundle of joy, a puppy or kitten, that was there to cheer us up after a long day at school and provide us a needed cuddle. Even as adults, nothing is better than coming home to a happy bark and excited greeting.

As summer starts to fade and the start of school soon arrives, let’s celebrate our children and furry friends with a little extra love this month.

August 2023

PUBLISHER

Crystal Hobbs | crystal.hobbs@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Richard Greene | richard.greene@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kristen Tribe, Kate Jones

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Savanna Romano, Lacey Whitmer, Leslie Christine

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen

Proverbs 3:5-6

We design timeless spaces with your wellness in mind.

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @northlakecitylifestyle

Michele Nemecek

Lamar National Bank

From its founding more than 40 years ago, Lamar National Bank has been dedicated to Relationship Banking and supporting the needs of its customers and the community. That same culture of caring is shared at its Northlake branch, where the staff uses its collective talents to make the community stronger one customer and family at a time, with personal, business and online banking options. Visit the branch at 100 Plaza Place, Ste. 100, Northlake.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Northlake

McClain’s RV SuperStores

The service center at McClain’s RV SuperStore in Corinth hit an impressive milestone, celebrating its 60th anniversary. The dedicated team celebrated with specially designed T-shirts and the limited edition Solitude camper. The dealership, which has stores in Corinth, Fort Worth, Rockwall, Oklahoma City and Sanger, is proud to say they’ve been bringing you a great camping experience since 1963. Service doesn’t stop when you buy a new RV; they will continue providing professional service work.

Belax & Co

Therapeutic massage is a general term that describes any type of massage that helps relieve pain, reduce stress and work on a specific problem area. People tend to think therapeutic massage means deep tissue massage. This is not always the case and it may not be what you need. A great therapist will apply specific techniques to address your need. Book your therapeutic massage with Belax & Co to get the right treatment.

local experiences

All kids and those young at heart enjoy a sweet treat, especially during a hot  Texas summer. Here a few suggestions to fill that craving.

SANTINI'S SWEETS AND GELATO: Cool off with gelato at Santini's Sweets and Gelato.  407 North Sealy Avenue, Justin, TX

SWEET ADALINE'S BAKE SHOP: Enjoy delectable fun treats at Sweet Adaline's Bake Shop.  @sweetadalines_bakeshop

ARGYLE PARTY & GIFT: Who doesn't love salted caramels and carmelita bars served by Argyle Party and Gifts.  409 Hwy 377 S, Argyle, TX

IMPROV COOKIE COMPANY: These beautiful cookies at Improv Cookie Company are nearly too nice to eat.  @improvcookiecompany

A TASTE OF PARIS: You don't have to travel around the world to get tasty macaroons, thanks to A Taste of Paris.  @atasteofparisinharvest

for more photos and the full list. LOCAL EXPERIENCES

MEET THIS MONTH’S CURATOR Crystal

OPENING MOVE

Northlake resident rises quickly to top 100 of 7-year-old chess players

When buying a chess set for her son Benjamin, Reina Sutantri thought it would give him a fun hobby to play around with. She didn’t know just how quickly the then 5-year-old would take to the game.

“I got it thinking he’d learn how to move the pieces. He really got into it and started checking books out at the library like ‘Beginner’s Chess.’ Then he got really good,” Reina recalled. “For his sixth birthday, his present was to go to his first tournament.”

The young Northlake resident won the tournament and even took out a player twice his age.

“It was so much fun. I got first place and even beat a 10th grader,” Benjamin said.

The now 7-year-old hasn’t slowed his pace in his two years of playing the game, earning a spot among the top 100 players nationally in his age group. He is currently ranked 78th, moving up seven spots in the past month.

“His rating goes up and down, depending on how he places at tournaments. About six months ago, we got the email saying he was in the top 100 for his age in the United States,” Reina said.

Benjamin doesn’t get caught up in the rankings. He just enjoys the game and the opportunity to match up with other players.

“My mom got me a chess set, and I just started loving it,” Benjamin said.

“It’s so much fun. When you play, you have access to other people and can make friends. You meet new people every time you play.”

— Benjamin Sutantri

Benjamin

“It’s so much fun. When you play, you have access to other people and can make friends. You meet new people every time you play.”

Earlier this year, he competed at his first national tournament — a threeday event.

He practices regularly online but also attends open play in Irving at the Texas Chess Center.

“I play every day. Usually I’m playing by myself and seeing what I miss,” Benjamin said.

“The game is always a struggle, so it’s really nice to win.”

He also takes online lessons, working with a coach.

He’s become a true student of the game, rattling off his various favorite opening moves from the Queen’s Gambit to the Sicilian Defense.

But chess is not the only talent for the precocious 7-year-old. He plays the classic guitar with near perfect precision.

“We tried a music lesson to see his rhythm. After that, the teacher told us to get him a guitar,” Reina said.

He hopes to upgrade to an electric guitar.

But for now, he’s busy perfecting his rhythm on the guitar and moves on the chess board.

Their journey started 24 years ago when Erik started working with his dad for a well known franchise in Puerto Rico. After several years they both started working in the private sector and quickly realized they missed helping people. That was when they opened Its Bugs Or Us in Northlake to serve all of the community and their surroundings.

It’s Bugs Or Us is your local pest company. When you need us, we will be there for you. That’s how the Its Bugs Or Us family works. To contact us please call

HAPPY HIVE

CHILDCARE FACILITY PROVIDES

UN-BEE-LIEVABLE OPTIONS, FLEXIBILITY

Families are buzzing about The Hive – a Northlake facility, offering peace of mind for parents and a fun, stimulating environment for children.

The upscale playcare facility offers flexible, drop-in childcare by the hour, providing parents the opportunity to run errands, enjoy a date night or simply take a nap.

“The intent is to support flexible needs, such as shift workers, parents who need just a day or two of childcare or even an hour here and there,” co-owner Jennifer Lankford said. “You can go to the doctor by yourself or the grocery store. There are moms who haven’t had a break in years because of the pandemic. We can give them that sense of self back.”

Lankford and co-owner Alysha Clarke worked together for years as pediatric nurses at Cook Children’s Medical Center, and they developed the concept for The Hive after struggling to find childcare for their own kids.

“I was looking for something different,” Clarke said. “I was working a night shift one or two days a week, and my husband works 24 on and 48 off as a firefighter, so I never needed true daycare.”

Clarke said she and Lankford were discussing options when Lankford suggested they find a way to fill the childcare gap themselves.

“I was stuck in my routine, and I’d been at the hospital for years, so the thought of doing anything different, let alone going out on our own, was nauseating,” Clarke said with a laugh. “But Jennifer is the opposite, and we began dreaming.”

The friends began researching and outlining every aspect of the facility, drawing on their medical experience and knowledge of child development.

“We didn’t want it to look like a daycare,” Lankford said. “We wanted the kids to have a feeling of awe, like you’re walking in a big garden and you’re the size of an ant. You want those ‘wow’ elements for the kids because the first thing you have to have for a child to trust you is appeal.”

Clarke said the architect and the firm’s design team helped bring all their ideas to life, creating specific spaces for all ages and abilities.

The Hive is a screen-free facility with a focus on developmental play with a purpose. There are planned activities, including crafts, and caregivers facilitate playtime that incorporates exercise and use of gross motor skills.

Clarke noted they also have different expectations of staff than most childcare facilities.

“We expect staff to interact and play with the kids, not just supervise,” she said.

In addition to the required state training, Clarke and Lankford also ensure all staff complete emotional sensory training and are educated on caring for special needs children.

“My whole professional career has been taking care of special needs children,” Clarke said, “so we wanted to ensure we could continue that here. We can say ‘yes’ to a lot of people who other care facilities would turn away. The fact that we can give those parents a break is huge.”

Parents may make reservations for their children, but it’s not necessary. Drop-ins are welcome and can stay just a few minutes or all day.

“We prorate down to the minute, so if mom needs to go to work and dad’s not home yet, she can drop off the kids,” Clarke said. “They may only be here 10 minutes; we’re truly drop-in.”

The Hive, 1485 Commons Circle, Suite 200, in Northlake, is open 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

“The big thing for parents to know is we’re here for them,” Lankford said. “This is not traditional daycare; we’re not trying to take over that piece of it. It’s just to be the support and love on these kids.”

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Friends to the four-legged

Trio provide extra love, attention to furry friends

For many of us, our pets truly are family. Their care and well-being is of the utmost importance.

A happy dog (or cat) truly makes a happy home.

Luckily, we have three groups of dedicated professionals to help us provide the best for our furry friends.

WAG SHACK

Carrying out the dream of their mother Shannon for a doggy daycare, twin brothers Ben and Andy Hedric opened the Wag Shack in 2019.

For the past three years, the twins and their dedicated staff have provided a quality play date for puppies, along with a good home away from home for boarding.

“He and I grew up around dogs and have a deep passion for dogs,” Ben said. “It’s crazy. I forget people don’t really

experience walking in a room with 30 dogs. It’s a regular experience that I sometimes take for granted.”

The playcare is becoming increasingly popular as a way for pet owners to ensure their dogs exercise, burn off extra energy and socialize with others. It also provides a more controlled setting than a trip to the dog park.

“The daycare stimulates them and helps them develop,” Ben explained.

It also helps dogs who need to be boarded when the owners are headed out of town. Ben said dogs who have been to the facility, 308 E. FM 1830, Building 15, in Argyle, acclimate faster.

“When they come to board they are less stressed,” Ben said. “It’s a second family. They are coming to a place they know.”

In June, the Wag Shack launched grooming services to completely spoil your pooch.

MY JOY UNLEASHED

When Joy Leavitt was 9, her unruly dalmatian went for training, and at the insistence of her father, she went also.

“I learned to deal with the dog. It was the beginning of my dog training,” Leavitt said.

After careers as an elementary teacher and flight attendant, it was her own goldendoodles, River and Skye, who started her new business of teaching others how to train their dogs.

“I have two really good dogs and people started asking me to help them,” Leavitt said.

She works with clients in their home teaching them how to sign to their dogs. Many of the lessons are picked up quickly by children.

She works with all ages of dogs, including many rescues.

“I love going into people’s homes and helping to teach them,” Leavitt said.

BLAIR’S RUFF HOUSE

When returning to the workforce, Blair Munger had one prerequisite — spending as much time with animals as possible.

That led her to start her own mobile pet care service, making drop-in visits to take care of animals while their owners are at work or out of town.

“Our tag line is pets love us and humans trust us,” Munger said. “We provide a piece of mind to pet owners."

Munger points out the pet being able to stay in their own home and be visited is helpful for everyone.

“It’s less stress on the pet parent, and the animals are so much more comfortable in their place,” she said.

The business has grown to currently 12 service providers, who take care of all sorts of pets from dogs, cats, horses, llamas, goats and even lizards and insects.

“We’re happy to meet all kinds of animals,” Munger said. Many of the pets make their way to the Blair’s Ruff House Facebook page. But she also shares pictures with owners as an extra reassurance their loved ones are being care for.

“We send a lot of pictures. We’re big on communication,” Munger said.

“I forget people don’t really experience walking in a room with 30 dogs. It’s a regular experience that I sometimes take for granted.”

— Ben Hedric

No job too small

To Ben Huso, there’s no construction job too small. He is happy to take on any construction task to help a customer.

“It’s where I started, with small jobs,” Huso said. “The small jobs are just as important as the bigger jobs. Also, if you get the smaller jobs completed and the customer likes your work, they will hire you or refer you for the bigger jobs.”

In the past six years, the Northlake resident has completed construction jobs across the Metroplex, from pouring concrete for patios and building brick mailboxes to roofing homes.

“We completed a patio in Weatherford, a roof in Sherman and bricked homes in Midlothian,” Huso said. “I’ve worked all across the area.”

Huso first got into construction helping his father with smoke, fire and water restoration as a summer job in Minnesota.

After a stint in the military, he returned to Minnesota before a job brought him to Texas. He worked for a box plant in Fort Worth and later at Peterbilt in Denton.

While working at Peterbilt, he began returning to his roots of construction, completing small jobs for a contractor.

He then started Huso Construction and has seen the business grow to the point he was able to do it full time and help his many customers.

“We’ll do anything from concrete to roofing,” Huso said.

Heading back

The start of the school year can bring anxiety for students and parents alike. To help families and students make a smooth transition back to the classroom, Vianey Reinhardt, a Licensed Professional Counselor, at Connections Wellness Group provides five tips.

1. Get some rest

During the summer, kids stay up later and in bed a little longer.

Two to three weeks before school begins, students need to start rebuilding consistent sleep schedules.

“An important aspect of mental health is getting enough rest,” Reinhardt said. “Our brains need time to recharge. When we are able to get a good amount of deep sleep, that’s when our brains really get a chance to reset and prepare us for the next day.”

2. Set a daily routine

Build a consistent schedule to help the body and brain adapt.

“Give the body that sense of consistency. That’s really important,” Reinhardt explained. “Anything can be built into that schedule. The final product is your brain is back into that rhythm. It’s completed this task and moving to the next one.”

5 TIPS TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER

3. Eat a balanced diet

The bag of chips and soda for lunch will not give you all the energy you need to get through advanced algebra.

“Start building back a diet that includes proteins and nutrient dense foods to really fuel the brain and the body,” Reinhardt said.

4. Find time for yourself

With practices and homework, it’s tough to find time to relax. But it’s important to schedule time to read a book, take a bath or stream a TV show.

“The goal is that you’re creating a little space and time for finding something that brings you a sense of peace and a sense of joy,” Reinhardt said. “It’s OK to be a little bit selfish with your time. When we take care of ourselves in that way, we are in a much better position to be a better member of the household.”

5. Reach out for help

If the anxiety is too much, it may be time for a self assessment or to reach out to a professional.

“For some kids, particularly young teens and adolescents, school is no longer a place they find to be a haven,” Reinhardt said. “It’s a place they are looking to avoid ... If we’ve done all the things at home to take good care, maybe now we need to get some additional support in place. Go talk to a therapist. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it forever, but for a period of time that makes you feel more confident and capable about going back and facing a new school year.”

- Exodus 3:7

We are a trauma-focused counseling center treating individuals, couples, children and adolescents as well as the whole family.

Services:

Play Therapy & Parenting Skill Building Art Therapy

Substance Abuse Evaluations

Treatment of Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Codependency, Relationship Issues and much more Neuroscience Brain Center Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

EMDR Therapy

Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

Women’s Process Therapy Groups

Child & Adolescent Process Therapy Groups

Workshops

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

AUGUST 17TH Back To School

ARGYLE SCHOOLS | 8:00 AM

Oh how quickly the summer goes by. The first day of school will be Aug. 17 in Argyle. Northwest ISD students will return Aug. 16.

AUGUST 18TH

North Texas Fair and Rodeo

NORTH TEXAS FAIRGROUNDS IN DENTON

The 95th North Texas Fair and Rodeo returns to Denton Aug. 18 to 26 with hot country music, first-class rodeos and livestock shows. See the full lineup of music and activities at ntfair.com.

AUGUST 18TH

Harvey CAMPUS THEATRE IN DENTON | 7:30 PM

The Campus Theatre in Denton will present “Harvey” by Mary Chase, with showings Aug. 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27. The evening shows are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at theatredenton.com

Where Healing Occurs and Hope is Realized “I have heard them crying out... and I am concerned about their suffering”

AUGUST 19TH

Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk and Roll

CENTRAL MARKET AT THE SHOPS OF SOUTHLAKE | 7:00 AM

Put on your running shoes and get ready to sweat for a good cause, during the Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk and Roll Aug. 19 at Central Market at the Shops of Southlake. Featuring a 1 mile walk and 5K and 10K runs, the event benefits the Neuro Assistance Foundation. Register and find information at neuroassistance.org/hhchile.

AUGUST 25TH

National Banana Split Day

ANYWHERE

Do we really need a reason to eat a banana split or ice cream in general in the hot Texas summer? Well, Aug. 25 brings a great reason, it’s National Banana Split Day. We all can enjoy this holiday.

AUGUST 25TH

Friday Night Lights

FOOTBALL FIELDS | 7:00 PM

The countdown is already underway to kick off the high school football season for the Argyle Eagles, Byron Nelson Bobcats and Northwest Texans. The first Friday night for action is Aug. 25. Teams start practicing July 31.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Northlake