Canyon Creek Life Volume 4 Issue 16

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 16 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017



8 Canyon Creek Insurance 27 Is a Home Re nance10 Neighborhood Newcomers Right for You?20 15 Ways to Prepare 29 Fitness Your Home to Sell 30 Real Estate22 Canyon Creek Chronicle 32 In the Kitchen4 Athlete of the Month 12 Pet of the Month14 Business of the Month 16 Family of the Month www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 1

Letter from Publisher Kyla Obertthe Publisher EditorI have many fond memories of the small Teri Hebert Kansas town that I grew up in. As a teenager, I remember thinking how I Ad Sales couldn’t wait to get out of that small town Mike Obert and spread my wings. And spread my wings Nancy Luttinger I did, all the way to Dallas, Texas. Not long after getting married and starting my own Designer family in Texas did I realize how much I truly Gia Mari L. Pintoy appreciated that small town upbringing and close knit community that helped mold me. Contributors I even tried to convince my husband to move Wilson Allen, Lisa Parelli, our family back to that same small town. Jeremy Thomason, Angela Green Lucky for me, my husband and I found that Special Thanks same small town feel -- right here in Canyon Addy Gadoci, Addyson Green, Creek. It isn’t always perfect, living in a Madison Riley, Teagan Pham, close-knit community like ours. But there is Taryn Pham, Erik and Tara Wilkinson, nowhere else I’d rather raise my kids than with my friends and fellow neighbors. Jason the Golf Ball Retriever, Becky Twiss, The Berry Family As you meet our Families of the Month, the Berry families, you’ll soon see that they too loved growing up in this small community. In fact, three of the four Berry For Advertising Questions, please email children started their own families right back here in Canyon Creek, where their [email protected] parents Woody and Elizabeth raised them. We hope you enjoy getting to know the Berry families and why they love this neighborhood so much that they put down For Editoral Requests, please email another generation of family roots here. [email protected] [email protected] from the Editor HyperLocal MediaI can’t even believe it is February! Seems 2701 Custer Parkway, Suite 823 like we were just talking about the holidays, right? I hope everyone had wonderful Richardson, TX 75080 holidays and has had a great start to your 2017. Managing Partners We love putting together every issue of Mike and Kyla Obert Canyon Creek Life, and this issue is no exception. If you love salsa (the food, not the dance), we’d Principals like to introduce you to your very own local Campbell Kerr and Dustin Shaffer salsa maker. If you think dogs have nothing to do with golf, we’ve got a pet this month that might change your mind about that. Some of your newest neighbors, The Wilkinson Family, are very excited to introduce themselves to Canyon Creek. And we’ve included some helpful nutrition tips to consider that can help either keep your first of the year healthy momentum going, or that can help you get started if your first of the year health and fitness goals have not yet gotten off the ground. As always, thank you so much for letting us tell your stories in every issue! And don’t forget, we rely on the great people of Canyon Creek to submit great story ideas and neighbors to be featured. Let us know if you know of someone we need to highlight in an upcoming issue. We’d love to meet them!2 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com



Athlete of the Month “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”—William ShakespeareI t’s easy to see why this month’s Athletes of the Month nomination was submitted for these young ladies. These young athletes may be small, but they are strong, disciplined, dedicated and passionate. They have a love for a sport that demands much of their time and physical ability. These girls work hard to balance their countless hours in the gym each week, keeping up with their studies, playing other sports and evenmaking time with their friends and family. We hope you enjoy getting to know these mighty and fierce young gymnasts! Addy Gadoci What’s your favorite subject in school (your sport doesn’t count!)?Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and whatyear you are in school. Art because I get to create stuff. Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, Addy Gadoci work, etc.? Trinity Christian Academy 1st grade Fashion design, singing, and helping others learn gymnastics.What other schools have you attended? How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? NoneTell us what sport you play and why you enjoy it. My whole life. Gymnastics. I like gymnastics because it helps you be flexible. What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek?Brag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school andfor your sport. Having friends close to me and Sweet Firefly Ice Cream. I am level 3 in gymnastics and can do a double flip flop. Tells us a favorite story or two about a big moment or fun moment playing your sport. One time I was holding a lock and my dad was making funny faces at me, trying to make me laugh. Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you? I love my family. They are nice and they love me.4 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

Athlete of the MonthAddyson Green Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.? I like to read and draw. I love art. I also love soccer and swimming!Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and what How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?year you are in school. 3 years Addyson Green – Prairie Creek Elementary – 1st Grade – What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek?6 years old I have lots of nice friends!What other schools have you attended? Tells us a favorite story or two about a big moment or fun Canyon Creek Christian Academy - Preschool moment playing your sport.Tell us what sport you play and why you enjoy it. My favorite moment was the day I did my back handspring by Gymnastics – I like gymnastics because we get to do all sorts of fun myself. It was at our gym’s practice meet. I was very excited! I also likeskills. My favorite event is the balance beam. I like balancing up high! our gym play days where we get to play games with our teammates. IWhat’s your favorite subject in school (your sport like to play “Links.”doesn’t count!)? Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you? My favorite subject is science because I like to do experiments. I have a little brother that I love to play with. Madison Riley Brag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school and for your sport.Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and whatyear you are in school. At school, I have a perfect attendance award for 2 years. In gym, I won a headstand contest and lots of medals! Madison Riley. I am in 3rd grade at Aldridge Elementary School. What’s your favorite subject in school (your sportWhat other schools have you attended? doesn’t count!)? I went to preschool at the Heights. Science Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.? I like to play with my friends, jump on my trampoline, and watch YouTube videos.Tell us what sport you play and why you enjoy it. How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? Gymnastics. I love to be with my friends and get stronger. We moved here when I was one year old. www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 5

Athlete of the MonthWhat do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? the gym, played games, set up forts to sleep in, and watched a movie. I love that most of my friends live in the neighborhood. I had lots of fun!Tells us a favorite story or two about a big moment or fun Anything else you would love for your neighbors to knowmoment playing your sport. about you? My favorite is our team sleepover. We went to the Heights pool and I adopted a dog from the Richardson Animal Shelter that I met athad it all to ourselves. While we were waiting for the pool to open, we the Wildflower Festival while my team was performing!went to the park and had a water balloon fight. Then we went back to Taryn Pham Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.?Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and whatyear you are in school. I love to play with my sister and my friends. I like to play pretend school and family. I also like doing arts & crafts, cooking and baking. Taryn Pham, 1st Grade at PCE How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?What other schools have you attended? Almost 2 years None What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek?Tell us what sport you play and why you enjoy it. I love living close to my school friends because in our old I am on Richardson Gymnastics Team Level 3. Gymnastics is fun neighborhood we didn’t have any friends to play with.and you learn new skills. I also love to compete. Tells us a favorite story or two about a big moment or funBrag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school and moment playing your sport.for your sport. I was really happy when I made my front hip circle on the bars. I am the first one to finish timed math quizzes for addition and Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know aboutsubtraction facts in my class. you?What’s your favorite subject in school (your sportdoesn’t count!)? Taryn: “No” Parents: “She is very competitive. She is an all-around athlete who Math and Science also swims and plays soccer.” Teagan Pham Outside of schools and sports, what do you do for fun, hobbies, work, etc.?Tell us your name, what school you currently attend, and whatyear you are in school. I love to play with my sister and my friends. We jump on the trampoline and flip around. Teagan Pham, 3rd Grade at PCE How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?What other schools have you attended? Almost 2 years Campbell Christian Academy for Kindergarten What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek?Tell us what sport you play and why you enjoy it. I love living close to my school friends I am on Richardson Gymnastics Team Level 4. I love gymnastics Tells us a favorite story or two about a big moment or funbecause I get to learn amazingly cool skills. Also, I can beat all the moment playing your sport.boys on a handstand challenge and prove that girls can have biggermuscles than boys. My first big moment was when I made my back handsprings on theBrag on yourself: Tell us your honors and awards in school and floor. Now, I can do aerial cartwheels.for your sport. Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you? At one of the gymnastics meets last season, I placed 3rd all-around.What’s your favorite subject in school (your sport Teagan: “No”doesn’t count!)? Parents: “She is a hard working perfectionist. She trains 4 hours a day 3 times a week and this season she has not complained once about Reading and Writing going to gymnastics.”6 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com



Canyon Creek Allstate InsuranceHow to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Steps to TakeProtect Pipes Before a Freeze • Be sure to insulate all accessible pipes well before a cold snap. If you’re not sure what type of pipe insulation to use, ask your local hardware store. • Disconnect all hoses from hose spigots and install insulating covers over them. • Look for water pipes in unheated areas of your home (like the garage) or areas where pipes might be set next to an exterior wall (like the cabinets under kitchen or bathroom sinks), and apply pipe insulation. • Shore up all cracks and holes you find on your home’s outside walls (a task for next spring if you haven’t already done it; caulk typically needs to be applied in temperatures of at least 40 degrees). Use only a sealant or caulk approved for exterior use.Take Action When Temperatures Drop out at all, then you should suspect a frozen pipe. The source of the • Regularly listen to your daily weather report, and be prepared for freeze is most likely near an exterior wall or where the main water freezing temperatures. supply enters your home so leave the faucet on and use a blow dryer • During severe cold snaps, keep exterior doors to unheated spaces, to help heat the pipe until there’s a steady flow of water. Of course, such as garages, closed. if you can’t locate the frozen pipe or just aren’t comfortable doing • If kitchen or bathroom pipes are located near exterior walls, leave it yourself, call a licensed plumber, who may also have advice (like the cabinet doors open or use a fan to circulate the warmer air relocating certain pipes) to help prevent a similar freeze in the future. around the pipes. • Although it doesn’t conserve water, let all taps slowly drip during Every referral you send me that results in a quote puts $20 in your extreme cold snaps to help prevent water from freezing and to pocket. No strings attached! They do not have to sign up with us, just relieve pressure in the event that some water does freeze. get a quote . . . it’s that easy. You will also be entered into a monthly $50 drawing.How to Check for Frozen Pipes (and Thaw Them) To check on your pipes turn on each faucet (both hot and cold). Ifthere’s only a trickle of water or, even worse, there’s no water coming Do you have a New Roof? It could save you hundreds or More on your Home Owner’s Insurance!8 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com



Neighborhood NewcomersThe WilkinsonsShare with us the names and ages of everyone living in yourhouse, including your pets. Erik, Tara, Kate (8), Ryan (8), and Ella (6). Our goldendoodlepuppy Daisy is 4 months old.Where do your kids attend school? All three girls attend Prairie Creek Elementary. Kate and Ryan (twins)are in 3rd grade and Ella is in 1st. The girls love their new school!Tell us about your dog: Where did you get her? Does she haveany unique tricks or quirks? Daisy has been part of our family for 2 months. She was an earlyChristmas present for the girls. When we moved to the neighborhood,it seemed like everyone had a dog. The girls had been asking for onefor a while, so we decided to surprise them with a new puppy.Tells us a favorite story or two about your family (funny,sentimental, etc.). A few weeks after Daisy came to live with us, a classmate of Kate andRyan was visiting. He said, “Daisy looks just like our dog, Teddy.”After a quick bit of research, we learned that the two puppies arelittermates! We have since gotten Daisy and Teddy (and the kids, ofcourse) together for some seriously chaotic play dates.What do you do for a living? Erik is the Global Sales Director for Eton, a luxury shirt makerbased in Sweden. Tara is a CPA, but currently works from home inthe complex field of child development. (“Stay-at-home mom” makesthe job sound so simple and straightforward.)How did the two of you meet? We met as college students on Spring Break in Destin, Florida.We say that meeting was our “Destin-y,” because we had somethinginteresting in common: we were both sophomores at TexasA&M University.What brought you to Canyon Creek? Where did you live before What do you do for hobbies or for fun?you came here? We enjoy entertaining, food, tennis, traveling, and spending time The girls were all born in Norwalk, Connecticut, when Erik’s job was with family.located in NYC. We moved back to Dallas when the girls were little andlived near Firewheel golf course. We looked for homes in the Canyon What do your kids do outside of school? Sports teams, etc.Creek area for a couple of years. We were drawn to the good schools. How do they like the neighborhood so far? Tara grew up in Richardson and knew that the area would be the The girls take piano lessons, voice lessons, and they also dance on aperfect place to raise our family. team. They love that we have so many kids on our block and that they can almost always walk outside and find someone to play with. ThereWhen did you move to Canyon Creek? are 23 kids ages 12 and under on our street alone and we have lots of We officially started the process back in April 2015 when we organized and impromptu events with our neighbors.contracted with a builder. Our house was completed and we finally Anything else you would love for your new neighbors to knowmoved in September 2016. It was a long process, but well worth it! about you?What do you love most (so far) about living in Canyon Creek? We are enjoying the neighborhood so much and look forward to We love the community. The neighborhood is perfect for kids and life-long friendships.everyone is so friendly. We feel truly blessed to be here.10 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com



Pet of the MonthJason, the Golf Ball RetrieverWhat is your name and your pet’s name? go out in the backyard, he would always find golf balls (one, two My name is Ken Ord and my dog’s name is Jason. sometimes three in his mouth at the same time). He can smell a ball in the brush from 15 feet away. He will dig and dig andWhere did you get your pet and how long have you had him? come up with balls buried in the ground. When he goes into the We adopted Jason from a lady in College Station when he was 7 backyard, his purpose is to find golf balls and bring them back to the door (he could care less about squirrels or rabbits). He’syears old. Since both of our boys graduated from Texas A&M, we feel collected well over 1,000 balls in the last three years. We don’tlike we have 3 Aggies in the family. know where this passion for golf balls came from. We save all of the balls except for several hundred we’ve taken to use playing golf.How long have you lived in Canyon Creek? When our boys come over they sift through the balls and take the Susan’s family originally moved to Canyon Creek in 1976 when she Titleist and Callaways.was in 9th grade. Several years after we married, our family moved to In Jason’s early life, he won Best of Breed in numerous dogCanyon Creek in 1994. shows throughout Texas, but that was before he gained his excess weight. When we first adopted him, he weighed 108 lbs. Now he’sWhat do you love most about Canyon Creek? a lean 95. Good friends and sense of community. He’s also excellent at catching balls in his mouth from longTell us about your pet: fun tricks, unique talents, quirky distances. We kid him that he should have played shortstop forpersonality, etc. the Rangers. We live on the 15th green on Canyon Creek Golf Course. Sowhen we first started taking Jason on walks on the course or to12 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com



Business of the MonthPrairie Creek SalsaWhat is your name and the name of your business? How long What inspired you to do what you do?have you been in business? I started making Prairie Creek Salsa for family and friends for free. My name is Becky Twiss and my business is Prairie Creek Salsa – in A good friend ultimately pushed me into selling it by telling someonebusiness for 21 years. a price and that was my first sale. Thanks C.W.!Tell us about your business (what do you do, where do you do Tells us a favorite story or two about your business.it, etc). I had a call from a previous customer ordering a case of salsa. She I do it all! One man show! Purchase all ingredients, do all prep work. said it was a gift for herI make, jar, label jars, sell and deliver to retail stores. In the beginningI made Prairie Creek Salsa in my kitchen, thus the name Prairie Creek 6th graders birthday. She had asked her daughter what she wantedSalsa. Then, I researched and realized that I needed an inspected for her birthday and she replied, “A case of Prairie Creek Salsa!”kitchen or manufacturer. Did that, but it didn’t taste the same. NowI am back doing it myself in a facility that meets the requirements. I put a cooler on my porch with salsa orders inside so it’s easy for me and for customers. During the holidays the size of the cooler increases dramatically.14 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

Business of the MonthHow long have you lived in Canyon Creek? Elementary, North Junior High and J.J. Pearce High School. They 25 years also are all graduates of Texas Tech University. Our daughter, Martin, got married in October and she and her husband, Scott, live in Ft.What brought you to Canyon Creek? Worth. Our son, Ben, got married six weeks later and he and his wife We moved from north Dallas to Richardson in 1992 to our home Alex live in Dallas. Bryan, our oldest son, lives in Dallas as well so it is very nice having them all nearby.on West Prairie Creek. We wanted to live in RISD and fell in lovewith the charm of our neighborhood and the beautiful park across Share with us a funny or awesome story of living inthe street. We have called it Mayberry for years, a perfect little Canyon Creek.neighborhood with a wonderful elementary school within walkingdistance for our three children! My salsa business started from my front porch. Friends would call and say that they needed salsa for dinner and I’d put it in a cooler onWhat do you love most about living in Canyon Creek? the porch and they would come by and get it. We love living here for many reasons. When we moved into It is amazing how the business has grown. I used to know everyonethe area our children were 2, 4, and 6 years old. It was the perfect who bought it! Now, I go places around here and out of the areaneighborhood to raise a family. We had football and soccer practices and people have had Prairie Creek Salsa as a gift and are hooked! I’macross the street, many birthday parties in the park, endless photo known as the “Salsa Lady”.opportunities in the wildflowers in the Spring, 4th of July Parades,Prairie Creek Garden Club to meet new friends and keep the park/ Anything else you’d love for your neighbors to know about yourneighborhood beautiful and great neighbors. Our children fished in business or you?the creek, explored outdoors, rode their bikes and we always felt likethey were safe. One of David’s college roommates was building a home in this area. We decided that they had done all the research and if Prairie CreekTell us about your family (names, ages, schools, work, etc). was right for them, it was for us too! I drove the neighborhood A My husband, David, grew up in north Dallas and attended RISD. LOT! When I was at Market visiting with someone in a showroom, she said she lived in Canyon Creek and knew of someone who mightI grew up in Tyler. We met at Texas Tech University and have been be interested in selling their home. We put a note in their mailbox andmarried for 31 years. Our three children all attended Prairie Creek 25 years later we are still here!www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 15

Family of the Month December 1989 The Berry Families by The Berry FamilyWoody and Gigi Berry T heir birth names are Woodrow Berry and Elizabeth Sciantarelli, but their countless neighborhood friends know them as Woody and Gigi, their four kids who all live within five minutes of their home in Prairie Creek know them as Dad and Mom, and their ten grandkids affectionately know them as Happy and Grandma Gigi. Both born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX, Woody’s father was a door-to-door milkman and Gigi’s father owned and operated a local pizza joint called Angelo’s Pizza, while both their mothers worked at home raising their large families. Woody managed to earn a full academic scholarship to SMU, while Gigi, a talented dancer, combined a dance scholarship with some other grants and loans to also attend SMU where they dated all four years. As Gigi puts it, “Woody wanted to be a doctor and was pre-med initially, but Beta Theta Pi and Budweiser got in the way. As for me, I just kind of flew by the seat of my pants and didn’t really worry much about anything; it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but that’s how it was back then.” With their degrees in hand, they got married five days after graduation and started a family the following year.16 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

Family of the Month As the family grew, Gigi stayed at home raising their four children Matthew, Elena, Nathan, Luke, and Joseph Berrywhile Woody excelled in the restaurant industry, relocating hisfamily wife and kids nine times from 1975 - 1988 as he worked hisway up the management ladder of various restaurant chains. After theninth move took them to England for a little over a year, it was timefor the Berrys to move back to the U.S., and Richardson became thedesired location. It was that tenth and final move back in 1989 that landed themin Prairie Creek for good. When asked why they chose Richardsonand the Canyon Creek area in particular, Gigi said, “We had lived inCanyon Creek before on Gettysburg Ln. for a short time and knew weliked the schools and the people.” Woody added, “There was only oneplace to go. We loved Richardson after living there in ’84 and wantedour kids in Richardson schools. It was a no-brainer.” After renting for a couple years, they bought a house on SuttonPlace where they have now lived for 25 years. At that time, Woodyagreed to buy the house under the condition that they added on, butGigi lovingly points out that since that conversation 25 years ago,they have added on a grand total of zero square feet to the house.Woody remembers it a little differently: “I’m not sure if I said that ornot, but I know that I never had any say in any of the houses we everbought. Gigi picked every one of them. I usually got to see them, butI certainly didn’t have a vote.” On a more loving note, he added thathe knew she would spend more time in the house than he would dueto his work/travel schedule and added, “I just wanted her to be happy-- I really mean that.” As for their kids, the oldest Berry child, Matthew, attendedRichardson North Junior High (RNJH) and Pearce High School(PHS) before leaving Texas to enroll at Georgia Tech where he admitsto doing a lot of dumb stuff before finding his beautiful wife Elena, anAtlanta native and fellow Georgia Tech grad. They settled in Atlantawww.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 17

Family of the MonthAdam, Christine, Parker, Connor and Anna Beth Berry Joe, Melanie, Maggie, Millie, and Ruby Berryafter school but made the decision to move back to Richardson shortly and Christine have three awesome kids, Parker (10), Connor (8), andafter their first son was born. As Elena tells it, Matthew wouldn’t look Anna Beth (5), who also attend CCE with their three cousins.anywhere in Dallas outside of the Canyon Creek area. When askedwhy that was the case, she recalls him telling her, “There is something Joe, the youngest Berry boy who spent the most time as a childspecial about this neighborhood, something you won’t find in a home exploring all that Canyon Creek has to offer, took his love for thelisting or school scores. You just have to trust me.” They bought outdoors to the state of Alabama by enrolling at Auburn Universitythe only house available in Canyon Creek at the time and now after attending PCE, RNJH, and PHS. During college, he becamehave three boys, Nathan (11), Luke (9), and Joseph (6) at Canyon very involved in Young Life, a passion that would later lead him toCreek Elementary. meeting his wife Melanie, also a Richardson native, back in Dallas when Joe was on Young Life staff and Melanie was volunteering. When asked about his time growing up in the neighborhood,Matthew recalled his fond memories as the “zero quarter” punter on Years after getting married, they were living in Richardson Heightsthe football team at North and also wanted to formally thank the when Joe’s brother Adam called with a random, never discussed beforeRichardson PD for showing mercy when he and a friend were caught proposition. “Hey Joe, wanna buy our house and we’ll move a fewon Lawnmeadow Dr. drawing what he calls “mildly inappropriate” streets over?” Without talking to his wife Melanie, discussing a price orpictures on a fence with a Super Soaker water gun. These days, the timing or terms or even inspecting the actual property, Joe took about“Bunker Hill Berrys” can usually be found on the baseball field at one second before responding, “Sure.” So in the spring of 2015, Joe andCCE or smoking meats in their backyard. Melanie moved into Canyon Creek, becoming the third Berry family to live on Gettysburg Ln. over the years. Looking back on his childhood, Younger brother Adam attended Prairie Creek Elementary (PCE), Joe describes living in Prairie Creek as “living in your own magical littleRNJH, and PHS before leaving the state to attend UCLA. After beautiful, nature-filled town that feels isolated from the suburbs evengraduating, he had just moved back in with his parents on Sutton though it’s not. We would leave early in the morning and come home atPlace when his father asked him when he was going to start paying night like kids in the 50s.” He jokingly added, “Maybe that was becauserent. When Adam told his old man he didn’t have a job lined up I was the third kid and our parents didn’t really care that much by then.”yet, Woody not so sympathetically replied, “That sounds like your Joe and Melanie have three incredibly cute daughters, Maggie (4),problem, not mine.” Millie (2), and Ruby (10 mos). When Maggie starts Kindergarten in the fall, seven Berry cousins will be roaming the halls of CCE. Adam moved out the next month and met his wife a year later whenhe ran into a former friend and classmate from RNJH and PHS, As for the baby of the family, Woody’s wish came true when sweet littleChristine McAteer, the red-hat wearing Pacesetter captain from the Sarah was born in Atlanta, GA in 1984. Two moves later, Sarah wouldclass of ’97 at PHS. After initially living in McKinney, they relocated spend her entire elementary career at PCE before going to RNJHto Canyon Creek as soon as they could and bought a house three and then Ursuline Academy. Capping off the trend of Berry childrendoors down from the house on Gettysburg Ln. where the Berry family leaving the great state of Texas for college, Sarah attended Sainthad briefly lived in ‘84. Looking back on his time in Prairie Creek, Louis University (SLU) and moved back to Dallas after graduation toAdam said, “The two things I remember the most about growing up teach Theology at her high school alma mater. Years later, she wouldin Prairie Creek were going to Triangle Bowl every day of the summer attend a SLU Dallas Alumni event with one of her friends at a bar into bowl the one free game they gave every student over the break Addison, where only one other alumnus showed up; that third wheeland then going ‘creek stomping’ afterwards on our bikes in the creek. was a great guy by the name of Kelly Halaszyn, a Houston native withBasically, we would just ride our bikes in the shallow water of the a weird last name but a great heart who Sarah would end up marryingcreek, but it sounded a lot cooler if you called it ‘creek stomping’.” He just 18 months later. After a short time living in Houston, the Berry18 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

Family of the MonthParker, Anna Beth, Joseph, Connor, Luke, Nathanfamily reunion was completed when Kelly and Sarah moved back to Kelly, Sarah, and John-Paul HalaszynRichardson in the summer of 2016. 19 As for growing up in Prairie Creek, Sarah said, “I just rememberalways being outside, but that could have been because my brothersnever let me watch anything I wanted to watch on TV.” Kelly andSarah have a son, John-Paul, who turns two in March, bringing theRichardson Berry grandchild population to an even ten. When Woody and Gigi are not loving on their grandkids or spendingtime on the weekends with their family and friends, they both workfull time as owners and founders of Woody B’s BBQ on NantucketDr right in the heart of Richardson. After “retiring” in 2004, Woodyhad begun smoking and selling BBQ at the request of local residentsin order to stay busy. Seven years later though, every possession insideand outside their house smelled like mesquite smoke, so Gigi said she“strongly suggested” that things had to change. “Even the dog smelledlike mesquite wood at that point,” she remembers. And with that,Woody B’s BBQ was opened in 2011, and they encourage you to stopon by anytime. In his free time, Woody also serves as the P.A. announcerfor the PHS Varsity Baseball team, his little way of giving back to thebaseball program where all three of his boys played in the 90s. Reflecting on more than 25 years in Canyon Creek and why theyhave stayed, Gigi believes that “It’s really all about the people. Housesare just houses that make up a neighborhood, but the people makethem homes and a community. I can think of over 20 families weknow who moved but still stayed within the neighborhood. That’s thebiggest endorsement I can give; nobody wants to leave.” Woody addedhis own spin by saying, “Canyon Creek really keeps its youth. Thereare second and third generations everywhere, including our own kids.We also became very invested in All Saints, our church where we havebeen parishioners for 27 years, so we have never wanted to leave.” Hecloses by saying, “I mean, how cool is it that we had four kids go toGeorgia, California, Alabama, and Missouri for college, and now theyall live with their families right here?” www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

15 Ways to PrepareYour Home to Sell by Lisa ParelliT he Dallas- Fort Worth real estate market is one of the hottest 8. LANDSCAPING: You don’t have re-landscape and spend in the country. Many homeowners are contemplating whether thousands of dollars. Keep your yard cut, watered and healthy. to sell their home while values are higher or to remodel and Keep trees and bushes trimmed.stay where they are. Of course, remodeling can help increase the valueof your home, especially if you are remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. 9. ROTTED WOOD and FASCIA: Replace it. If you need to get new siding, do it. Rotted wood makes the home look like it If you are leaning towards selling, there are definite steps you need to is in disrepair. It is one of the first signs that the home has nottake in order to be market ready. Prospective buyers want to see your been maintained.home in “move-in ready” condition. Most buyers select their homebased on emotion and then justify their decision with all the “real” 10. CHECK YOUR ROOF: When was the last time it wasfacts about the home. It is so important to make your home look great replaced? Are shingles worn? Does it leak? You definitely wantby creating a winning first impression. You have a great deal of control to make sure the roof is secure or the buyer may expect anover how your property is perceived and how to maximize its value. entirely new one.Here are 15 ways to prepare your home to sell that will hopefully aidin a faster selling process: 11. GET RID OF CLUTTERED SPACES: Buyers always want to get a good feel for the layout and space within the house. 1. GET YOURSELF READY: Keep in mind that selling is You may consider removing some furniture in rooms to make “strictly” business and you must separate your emotions from the room appear more open. This allows the buyer to get a the selling process. Your home is no longer viewed as a home good feel for the actual space. Clear kitchen and bathroom but a commodity. You will hear all kinds of criticism from countertops, shelves and miscellaneous knick-knacks. They say realtors, potential buyers but do not take it personally. to pack up 30% of your stuff. You want it as clutter free as possible. 2. NOTHING PERSONAL: Once you have made your mind up to sell, remove all items that are “personal” or deem the 12. CLOSETS, DRAWERS, CABINETS AND MORE: Buyers home yours. Remove all family portraits from the walls or will look everywhere! They will open drawers, closets and photos placed around the home, remove diplomas, trophies cabinets! Clean them out and rent storage space if necessary. and awards, or any other personal item that could potentially This includes your garage! Clutter causes confusion to the distract the buyer. buyer. 3. HOME INSPECTOR: Consider a professional home 13. FRESH COAT OF PAINT: A new coat of interior paint for inspection. It is usually easier if you identify any potential the walls and ceilings in a neutral, muted color gives your home problems or repairs that you will need to address before putting a very fresh clean look. It helps cover any old dings or stains. your home on the market. Most importantly, you get rid of any color schemes that may be too loud. And, a good coat of paint on the exterior of your 4. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN: Your home should be spotless. home never hurts! Now is the time to cleanfrom top to bottom. If you don’t like cleaning, bring in a professional cleaning crew to get your 14. FLOORING: If you have carpets, they should be steam-cleaned home in shape. to remove stains, dirt or odors. You may want to consider having them replaced. Today’s trend is tile or wood flooring. 5. PLUMBING and HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING: Make sure to fix or replace broken or cracked floor tiles. Check for leaks or water pressure problems. Make sure your furnace and air conditioning are working properly. 15. FIXTURES: If you are not doing a full-blown remodel in your There is almost always a home inspection, so find out any kitchen or bathroom, consider changing out your fixtures. issues beforehand. Fashionable and working properly are important! 6. DRIVE BY FIRST IMPRESSION: Believe it or not, some Selling your home is never easy, but if you take the time to prepare buyers don’t even come inside a home if they don’t like how it the whole process goes that much smoother. looks from the outside. Paint your exterior, mow and clean up your lawn and flowerbed, trim bushes and trees, clean windows inside and out, power wash stains off driveway . . . your home needs to sparkle. 7. FRONT DOOR: This is where the buyer will come into your house. Your door should be clean and freshly painted. Even your door knob should be new and working well. Place a flower pot outside your door. Make your home inviting!20 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

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The Canyon Creek ChronicleLetter from the President by Jeremy ThomasonA ccess to city leaders in a city with over 100,000 people can This event is a unique privilege in sometimes seem hard to accomplish as an individual, but our neighborhood each year. We in Richardson and our neighborhood in particular we are are working now on the questionsblessed to not have this problem. The city has long used the HOAs to that we want to ask, so if youhelp distribute information and solicit feedback. In fact, Richardson have any please contact me oris often asked to share their best practices on HOA engagement with any of the board members withother cities of all different sizes. Every month the city hosts all of the your input. Yet another way youHOA Presidents where the Mayor and City Manager give a detailed have access is through your HOAupdate on everything that is going on. For us (Canyon Creekers) we Board members themselves. Wealways have one or more of our board members at this meeting to all work very hard to develop deepmake sure we are up to date on initiatives. This also provides a forum relationships with the city council,for me to let the city leaders know if we have any concerns or ideas city manager’s office, and cityfrom a Canyon Creek point of view. This is just one channel for our departmental staff. Almost all ofvoice to be heard. There are other channels as well, like the recent your HOA board members are graduates of Leadership Richardson,state of the city address on 2/1 at the Eisemann where ALL citizens and many of us serve or have served on Richardson’s Boards and(and many of your HOA board) have an opportunity to attend to Commissions. Serving in this manner really accentuates the crediblelisten to the address and then stay for the reception afterwards to ask influence that we have and helps us immensely when issues arise inquestions and develop relationships. I highly recommend you spend our neighborhood. So, you have many channels to engage. As anthe time to watch the state of the city online if you did not attend individual citizen you certainly can develop relationships at city hallin person. Additionally, on Wednesday February 22nd our HOA will and stay in the know by paying attention. I highly encourage this,host our annual “Coffee with the Council” at 6:30PM at Canyon but am also not naïve enough to believe that this often falls very lowCreek Country Club. Usually, we have the entire council present and in most people’s priority list. That said, I do want you to realize thatwith this being an election year for them we are expecting a full house. your voice matters and the HOA is here to help amplify it.GOOD NEWS !! Congratulations to our Christmas YardY our Canyon Creek Homeowners Association has contracted with a professional Curb Painting Company to apply address Decoration Winners: numbers to all curbs starting on Monday, February 6, 2017. The numbers will be applied with reflective paint that is used 1st Place: Colin & Gina Sledge of Canyon Ridge Dron airport runways, and they will have black numbers on a white 2nd Place: Richard & Roberta Milne of Custer Pkwybackground (like they are now). 3rd Place: Ed & Carla Woyewodzic of Tam O’Shanter Ln Personalized address numbers (Schools, Texas Flag, etc.) will be Thank you to all that decorated to make our neighborhood festive.skipped unless we are told otherwise., ALL other numbers will be Our neighborhood sure looked Merry & Bright.painted over for consistency – even those recently applied. Residentsnot wanting their curbs repainted should request exclusion by Coffee with the Council,e-mailing us at [email protected] February 22nd, 6:30pm at Canyon Creek Country Club. We plan to work closely with the Contractor as they move throughthe neighborhood (2,830 homes), and place painting notificationsigns on streets just prior to application. When notified, PLEASE donot block your address number with a vehicle. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us [email protected] www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

The Canyon Creek ChronicleThe DART Cotton Belt RailA long time coming, but worth the wait. The main concern for the neighborhood is noise. The trains that Just in case you haven’t followed the saga of this soon to be DART plans to use on the Cotton belt will be 3rd or 4th generation incredible amenity to our neighborhood, The Cotton Belt versions of the cars that Denton is using on the A-Train. These trainsRail is that rail line that runs parallel and just South of The Bush. It runs are designed to safely coexist with heavy rail, while being lighter andEast through Murphy all the way to Greenville, and West to Benbrook quieter. Each car is self-powered by a diesel generator buried in theon the Southwest side of Fort Worth, and of some significance, across center of the car for noise suppression, which powers the electricthe North end of DFW, and oh by the way, DART owns it. drive wheels. The crossings in Richardson (Alma Rd and Custer Rd) will be silent crossings meaning that the engineer will only blow a A short history is in order. In 1983 when those of us willing to admit horn if there is an unsafe situation. The tracks pass closest to ourwe could vote on the 1% sales tax that funded DART was passed, The neighborhood as they cross above Renner near the retention pondCotton Belt was on the plan for service in 2010. Since then it fell off and Point North Park s they head towards DFW. DART is awarethe plan for a few years meaning there was no plan to build it within that this is a noise concern for the neighborhood. Your HOA andthe 20 year planning horizon. It was put on the 2025 plan, and most concerned homeowners from this area of the neighborhood will berecently it was on the 2035 plan. Several factors played into the delays working with DART on sound a mitigation plan. (DART has alreadyincluding the telecom melt down in 2001, and the 5 year recession shown renderings of possible sound mitigation for neighborhoods).that started in 2007 that both affected available funding. The good On the plus side, there will also be funds set aside for amenities suchnews is, this last October, the DART board approved a plan that as landscaping and bike trais that Richardson will have input into howwould have the corridor from Shiloh Road on the East side of Plano these get used across our corridor.to DFW in service in 2022. You should know that our RichardsonCity Council, Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and City staff along For those of us that travel regularly or for extended vacations, thewith Addison’s provided significant support to help overcome the ability to catch the train at City Line or UTD to DFW, and not haveopposition from North Dallas and the Deep Ellum areas. This DART to worry about traffic and paying over $10 a day for parking cannotapproval is on top of Fort Worth (The TEX Rail known commonly happen soon enough. This will be an incredible amenity for theas The T) breaking ground last August on the segment of the Cotton neighborhood that will attract class A employers, increase propertyBelt that will run from the North end of DFW to downtown Ft. values, and make commuting easier.Worth, and has a planned service date late 2018. As you can imagine, this rail will have both local and regional impact.As Canyon Creekers, we will have access to the Cotton Belt via stationsat City Line, and at UTD, that will give us access to DFW, Fort Worth,and much shorter connections to Irving, and the A-Train to Denton.You can see the details and all the other options on the map below. (Note:The map still shows a possible bypass of City Line as an option, howeverthose involved are all indicating there is no way it will bypass City Line). Thank You! Wayne & Ginger Mayo of Whitemarsh Cir Scott & Tara McPherson of High Brook DrI f you enjoyed seeing the Christmas Wreaths placed throughout the neighborhood, you can thank your neighbors. We had many Tom & Jenny Perez of Flat Creek Dr volunteers this year decorating our neighborhood to make it Ralph & Joanne Terry formerly of Skyview Drfestive for the Christmas Season. The Canyon Creek HOA would like Sam & Meredith Watkins of High Brook Drto thank everyone who volunteered. James & Paula White of Stonebridge Dr The Wreaths were placed by the following families: We would also like to acknowledge our students that received Community Service Hours for their participation: Scott & Sarah Bell of W Prairie Creek Dr Susanna Kendall Victor & Sidanelia Benavente of Skyview Dr MacKenzie McPhersonDanny & Mary Ann Fraley of Tam O’Shanter Ln Mia Perez Scott & Mary Gironda of Sage Valley Dr Elisa White Clay & Kati Houser of Walnut Creek Pl Trey & Danielle Ivey of Canyon Creek Dr We also appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Prairie Creek Gary & Diane Kendall of Northview Dr Garden Club that has been decorating our neighborhood for many years.www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 23

NE Quadrant YARD OF THE MONTH NW QuadrantDecember January306 Canyon Ridge Dr 3005 Tam O’Shanter LnSW Quadrant SE QuadrantDecember January2219 Shady Creek Dr 8 Vista Cliff Pl MEMBERSHIP INFORMATIONMembership in the Canyon Creek Homeowners Association (CCHA) is voluntary, but we hope you will become a current memberby paying your affordable $15 annual membership dues. Current Members receive a copy of our current Residents Directory,receive our periodic email messages about neighborhood activities, and can subscribe to our successful Flag Lease Program. Justcomplete the Membership Application below and mail it to our mailing address:508 West Lookout Drive, Suite 14-102, Richardson, TX 75080 with the appropriate payment (cash or check made out to CCHA).Our successful Flag Lease Program is available to only to current dues paying members. Subscribers get a 3’ x 5’ American Flagon a 10’ flag pole placed at their curb on four Patriotic Holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, 9/11 Observance Day andVeterans Day). The Flag Lease Subscription is $35 a year, and it can be paid with your dues payment (total $50.00). After eachholiday, the Flag Lease Subscription charge is reduced, so check with our Membership and Flag Lease Headquarters in the AllstateInsurance Agency in II Creeks Plaza for the exact amount after Memorial Day. The annual $15 Membership Dues is not reducedsince it is based on a calendar year basis. CANYON CREEK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONLast Name First Name Spouse NameAddress Preferred Phone Number Email Address(s) Please write legiblyMail to: 508 West Lookout Drive, Suite 14-102, Richardson, TX 7508024 www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Community NewsIs a Home Refinance Right for You? If you plan to keep your home for the long haul, the key is to pay by Ryan Miles the home off ASAP and be mortgage free. Also, if you have small Senior Loan Officer children, the notion of having a paid off mortgage by the time the NMLS#184358 kids are off to college would be a monumental achievement towards www.canyoncreekhomeloans.com your retirement goals.D o I need to refinance? This may be a question you find The other primary type of refinance is when you take out existing equity yourself asking, especially with the recent jump in on a new first mortgage, also called a cash-out refinance. This allows you interest rates. to pay off other higher interest rate debt compared to your new mortgage Although it’s possible to reduce the length of the term of your rate. You can also invest in home improvements, the stock market, or startmortgage by making extra payments towards the principal, refinancing a college savings account for your kids. Cash out refinances are a greatyour mortgage can be a more fruitful option for lowering your overall option for borrowing cheap money while rates are still historically low.borrowing costs. The most common type of refinancing, known asa rate and term refinance, occurs when a homeowner lowers their The third refinancing option is to renovate your existing home,interest rate or changes the term of their mortgage without taking out which does not require a separate construction loan and a subsequentany additional equity. refinance back to a permanent mortgage. This option allows you to hire a contractor and update your house while putting the cost into a For example, if you have a 30 year mortgage with a $280,000 balance loan based on what the home will be worth after updates. This optionin the mid-to-high 4% interest, you can save at least $65,000 by is great because it allows you to roll refinance and renovation costsdropping to a 20 year term compared to making additional payments into one loan, allowing the borrower up $250k in renovation dollarson your 30 year mortgage. If you moved to a 15 year term with the to improve the value of your property.same scenario, it will knock off an additional $35,000 in interest overthe life of the loan. That’s huge! If any of these three options make sense for your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for a fast quote on how much you might be able to save or increase the value of your property.www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com 27



Healthy Habits, Not “Diets” by Teri HebertW e are far enough past the New Year that it’s possible your 2. Eat the rainbow: Colorful fruits and vegetables provide new “health and fitness” resolution has already gone valuable nutrients that keep the body running smoothly. off track. If this has happened to you –don’t worry! It Vitamin C helps the healing process. Vitamin A makes whitehappens to the best of us with the best intentions of starting a new blood cells to fight infection. These vitamins and more areyear with a healthy diet and an exercise program. easily found in fruits and veggies. Never fear – 2017 can still be your year to revolutionize your health! 3. Eat “good” fats: Forget a “low fat diet”. Instead, focusRather than start and stop yet another diet, what if you could make on eating “good” fats. Fats help regulate blood sugar, repairhealthy eating a “habit” rather than a “diet”? Not a lot of people stick cells, help your brain work better, and help your body absorbto a diet. Even the word “diet” makes people cringe. “I want to be vitamins. Look for nuts, avocado, olive oils, and fish or fish oilshealthy but I don’t want to go on a diet.” Sound familiar? So . . . to give your body what it needs in this department.read this from a personal trainer writing directly to you: Don’t go ona diet! 4. Eat breakfast every day, and eat frequently: Think of every time you eat as a “meal”. Even snacks! And don’t go too long Following some simple guidelines can help upgrade your nutritional without a “meal”. Start the day with breakfast, even somethingintake, which in turn upgrades your overall health. Replace some bad small but nutritional (egg for protein, oatmeal, fruit) to kickstartthings with good things. Look for specific things when shopping for your metabolism. Then eat regularly throughout the day. Thisgroceries. Don’t count calories (what??) but instead, watch portion will help you monitor portion sizes and reduce the urge to chowsizes and target meals with a balance of key things your body needs to down on a huge evening meal because you haven’t eaten all day!be properly fueled. So, what should you look for? Here are a few key things:1. Carbs: Yes! Carbs are your friend. Carbohydrates contain key 5. Stay hydrated: Drink at least 8 ounces of water everyday.nutrients that your body needs but cannot be found in any Your body needs water to properly digest food. You’ll find itother food source. To avoid carbs completely is depriving your also helps increase energy levels and fight fatigue. Keep waterbody of something it desperately needs! So what kinds of carbs close by and drink throughout the day.are GOOD carbs? Breads (avoid white bread), cereals (avoidsugary types), grains (oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa), fruits, and Combine good eating habits with regular exercise (30 minutes 3-4vegetables. And of course, avoid the “bad” carbs that include times per week) and before you realize what’s happened, you’ll besugars and syrups. meeting your goals this year!

CANYON CREEK REAL ESTATE 11/1/2016 - 12/31/2016 SOLD PROPERTIES SQFT LIST PRICE SOLD DATE SOLD PROPERTIES SQFT LIST PRICE SOLD DATE2028 Flat Creek Drive 1,901 $230,000 11/29/16 313 Forest Grove Drive 2,427 $399,000 12/27/16531 Sage Valley 1,822 $239,999 11/09/16 2219 Eastwood 2,327 $400,000 12/07/16510 Copper Ridge 1,752 $270,000 11/18/16 418 Canyon Creek Drive 3,062 $415,000 12/19/16517 Sage Valley 2,244 $269,900 11/04/16 4 High Mesa Place 2,480 $419,900 11/09/162019 Cap Rock Circle 1,473 $277,500 11/03/16 412 Lawndale Drive 1,984 $429,500 12/06/16316 High Brook Drive 1,964 $310,000 12/21/16 427 Pleasant Valley Lane 2,420 $439,000 11/15/16317 High Brook Drive 2,338 $320,000 11/21/16 1128 Mill Springs 2,820 $469,990 11/10/16519 Lawnmeadow 1,821 $298,500 11/03/16 4 Ridgeview Circle 2,892 $530,000 12/08/16502 Copper Ridge Drive 1,766 $324,900 12/02/16 2716 W Prairie Creek Drive 3,003 $549,500 12/28/16316 W Lookout Drive 2,077 $334,756 11/17/16 409 Arborcrest Drive 2,467 $585,000 12/14/162518 Little Creek Drive 2,593 $375,000 11/29/16 213 Long Canyon Court 3,472 $659,900 12/19/1616 Crown Place 2,729 $384,000 11/14/16 332 Robin Way 3,400 $820,000 12/14/16Information above was obtained from NTREIS and properties were listed and/or sold by many Brokers. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. THEN & NOW Canyon Creek, 11/1/2015 - 12/31/2015 Canyon Creek, 11/1/2016 - 12/31/2016 • Properties Sold: 22 • Properties Sold: 24 • Price Range: $214,995 - $407,000 • Price Range: $232,500 - $820,000 • Average Price: $302,511 • Average Price: $406,306 • Average Price PSF: $134.12 • Average Price PSF: $167.17 As you can see, the averages are still on the rise, however, interest rates are starting to creep up, so if you are thinking of buying or selling, now is the time!•  2511 Custer Parkway - MLS# 13518256 - 4/3/3 Golf Course Lot - Canyon Creek Country Club - Offered at $599,900 - Plano ISDFor more information on this property, give me a call!



In The KitchenTop 10 Uses for Salsa(other than to dip your tortilla chips)I f you know how good Prairie Creek Salsa is straight up on your favorite tortilla chip, you might never have a need to try anything different with salsa. But, in case you are looking for some newideas to consume your salsa, check these out: 1. Stir into scrambled eggs or an omelet 2. Add a layer to your grilled cheese sandwich 3. Mix in with tuna salad or chicken salad 4. Replace tomato sauce with salsa as a pizza topping 5. Use salsa as sauce for spaghetti 6. Mix in with mashed potatoes or top a baked potato 7. Instead of chips and dip, try cucumber chips and salsa 8. Mix with plain yogurt or cottage cheese for a veggie dip 9. Top your meat: hamburger, fish, or poultry 10. Salsa sandwich or wrap