When physical therapy, medicine and even surgery don’t offer the relief you’re looking for, Advanced Pain of Texas always seems to have a few extra solutions in its pain management toolbox.

“We are trying,” Dr. John Broadnax said. “Even those chronic pain issues that we haven’t quite found a solution for yet, we’re working hard to get them all covered. There is hope—you should never stop looking for solutions.”

One highly effective solution Dr. Broadnax and Dr. Eric Anderson want to share with the masses is a lower back pain treatment that addresses chronic pain on the front side of the spine (also known as anterior column pain). For most people, the pain they experience in their back comes from the back side of the spine (posterior). But every so often, a complex case will arise where a patient exhibits pain from the front side. In these situations, they may struggle to stand up straight or even bend forward because of pain from the vertebrae itself or the discs between them.

An increasing number of treatment options are available to address anterior column pain. One is to inject a steroid directly into the disc itself. If that results in symptom relief, great. But if not, another option is a procedure called basivertebral nerve ablation. With this procedure, Dr. Broadnax or Dr. Anderson directly treat the painful nerves, thus creating longer-lasting pain relief. 

“This procedure has proven very successful, and there’s a lot of data to back it up,” Dr. Anderson said. “These patients have tried everything, and they are at their wit’s end. The best part is that it’s an outpatient procedure with minimal downtime afterward.”

Dr. Broadnax agreed, adding that, “Everyone deals with back pain. We want to help.”

To learn more about how the Advanced Pain Institute of Texas can help you, visit apitexas.com or call 972-866-4246. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Sponsored content written by Steve Gamel)

The post Yes, chronic lower back pain can be a thing of the past appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

In many ways, Regina’s mom is the inspiration behind her current career as a board-certified behavioral analyst. She has a doctorate and is the owner of Therapy & Beyond. And yet, the most striking element of this story is that until Regina, an Argyle resident, became a therapist, she’d never interacted with another family with a child with a disability.

“I just realized that the other day, but it’s also not that surprising,” She said. “There was a time not long ago when you simply didn’t know other families like you. There was no one else to talk to or anyone in your shoes. That can feel extremely isolating—especially for moms. I saw the difference that my brother’s diagnosis made, and I often think to myself, ‘Wow … mom really had to navigate a lot on her own.'”

She added, “Mom was our family’s superhero, and my goal is to create the community she never had.”

The community Regina is referring to is the local non-profit, Labeled & Loved, an organization dedicated to supporting, connecting, empowering and “loving on” moms of children with disabilities. Nearly 21,000,000 families in the United States have a household member with a disability—yet the vast majority aren’t connected in any way, shape or form. Regina and co-founder Julie Hornok started Labeled & Loved seven years ago to buck that trend by embracing and strengthening families with disabilities through nationwide retreats, free local gatherings, virtual support groups and faith-based resources that create spaces for moms to feel seen, understood and uplifted—no matter where they are on their unique journey. 

To date, Labeled & Loved has already impacted over 3,000 special needs families across 34 states and three countries. 

Does that mean they are there to fix a diagnosis or promise developmental breakthroughs? No. Many of the children these moms care for will never move away from home, get a job, graduate or care for themselves. What Labeled & Loved offers is validation, healing, a lifeline of hope and a chance to get plugged in with a sisterhood that gets you and has your back. 

“There are so many existing resources for the child. That’s important, but no one says, ‘Hey, mom and dad, here is what you can do to stay healthy and feel supported,'” Regina said.

She added that 126 cities are currently being served with support groups. And as an organization, over 144 diagnoses are being represented.

“Many parents don’t go to a counselor. They don’t know how to process their grief. They are desperate to get help for their child, so they often don’t take the time to invest in themselves. We are there for the caregiver,” said Regina. “Regardless of their child’s diagnosis—autism, cerebral palsy, etc.—they all have something in common. The grief and loss of milestones are the same, and the care and comfort are all the same. This is a room they can walk into, and everyone gets you.” 

There are several programs they rely on to achieve this high level of sisterhood.

The first is Moms Mingles. Created for mothers who have children with disabilities (any age or diagnosis), their one-night events are free opportunities to form relationships with other women who fully understand. Participants enjoy food, drinks, giveaways, immersive art, inspirational speakers, lots of hugs and, most importantly, lasting connections with other special needs moms in that city. As soon as a mom walks in the door, she is greeted by a procession of hugs. This kicks off an immersive experience like no other.

From there, the hope is that they will take the next step by participating in a three-day weekend retreat for moms. Nineteen research studies have identified parents of children with disabilities to have an increased risk for depression (95%) and anxiety (90%). The divorce rate is over 85% for parents of children with a disability. At this retreat (they are held all over the country), every moment is carefully curated to empower moms and families to combat these statistics, all while relaxing, having fun, finding community and equipping them to return home with the tools to best care for their child and themselves. They will also meet other moms who will act as lifelines. Again, no one should feel alone during this unexpected version of motherhood.

Labeled & Loved’s third program is Sisterhood Circles. These are smaller, mom-led groups that discuss specific hope-based topics that arise within special needs motherhood. The best part is that they can be formed anywhere. Labeled & Loved provides curriculum written by Regina’s mom, Mary Urban. Mary is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and published author who takes the time to interview moms and create lesson plans built around real-life stories of hope.

Currently, the Moms Mingles program supports over 700 moms, and 403 women are enrolled in support groups. Another 229 women are enrolled in a retreat. Statistics aside, Regina said heartfelt stories of sisterhood are everywhere.

“Some of these moms will drive over two hours and walk into the room without knowing anyone. For many of them, it’s the first night in years that they’ve been away from their child,” Regina said of the Moms Mingles program. “I remember one we had recently in Frisco… there were over a hundred moms from all over. One, in particular, had a child who could not be separated for long. So, her husband drove her and sat in the car with the child to provide care—just so his wife could attend the event.”

She added, “We are loving these women—it’s really as simple as that.”

As word spreads about Labeled & Loved and its ministry, the hope is that more women will get involved. The organization will be featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on May 13. They also recently hosted their annual Birdies & Big Hearts golf tournament at Denton Country Club. All money raised goes to supporting Labeled & Loved’s programs.

“It feels purpose-driven. It’s a huge thank you to my mom for being our family’s superhero, and we want to keep showing our community how much we love them,” Regina said. “Moms are powerful, and when we love, more love happens.” 

For more information on Labeled & Loved, including ways to get involved, attend the fall retreat in Dallas, or donate, please visit labeledandloved.org.

The post Local nonprofit loves on moms of children with special needs appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

It’s been five months since O’Keefe—an inspiration to so many in her fight against drug addiction—lost her battle to liver cancer. She was 68.

For those O’Keefe left behind, the loss still feels all too fresh. And yet, her confident and unwavering resolve lives on in the hearts of those who loved her and can’t imagine not continuing the mission she started 13 years ago.

“I miss her greatly—I look up at that picture and think,’Kathy … where are you?'” Travis said. She joined O’Keefe at Winning The Fight in 2016. Both lost a child to drug overdoses and have shared a sisterly bond ever since. “It was shocking, but we knew we had to keep going. Kathy wouldn’t want it any other way. I promised her husband, Ben, and son, Kyle, that I wouldn’t let anything happen to WTF.”

She added, “I didn’t start this, but it’s my passion, too, and we will keep going. We will keep fighting.”

Since its inception in 2012, the local non-profit Winning The Fight has spearheaded drug education to area youth, their families, and communities near and far to ensure everyone has the necessary support and resources for those suffering from the disease of addiction. That includes people like O’Keefe and Travis standing in front of large assemblies of middle and high school kids to talk about the dangers of doing drugs. They’ve worked one-on-one with grieving parents and partnered with law enforcement and other organizations to raise awareness. For her efforts, O’Keefe received the Flower Mound Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in 2016. 

She also attended a White House Opioids Summit in 2018.

According to the organization’s most recent statistics, they provided counsel to 290 families in 2023, of which 201 were new. They also provided 209 referrals for therapists, treatment facilities, IOP, and more. Winning The Fight’s documentary, “Just Once,” was shown to 7,489 people that year, and 20,934 people received drug education. 

They now have four documentaries that they use for educational purposes. “Not Me” continues to be shown in schools and churches, and the Flower Mound Municipal Court has used the program for many who face charges for drugs and paraphernalia.

The ongoing drug overdose epidemic kills over 100,000 people annually. In recent years, many of the talks mentioned above have centered on Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is reportedly 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It was initially developed for pain management treatment for cancer patients, anesthesia, etc., but has now made its way into the illicit drug world disguised as legitimate prescription drugs, other illegal drugs, and even candy. O’Keefe and Travis have always stressed that the people affected by drug addiction aren’t always psychologically disturbed, junkies, or criminals. They are normal people—including innocent children—from very normal families. State and federal officials echo those sentiments and are warning families that fentanyl use, overdoses, and deaths are in every suburb, HOA, gated community, and school bathroom.

“Kathy and I have spoken together at many assemblies. People called us ‘Kathy Squared’ because if she couldn’t go, I’d always be there,” Travis said. “It’s too soon to tell how border policies are impacting the amount of drugs coming across the border, but there has been a slight decline in Fentanyl overdoses due to the strong push in 2024 and the DEA and all law enforcement agencies working together to fight the battle of drugs coming over our border. That said, the DEA is still warning people about illegal online pharmacies. You think it’s Xanax or Adderall, but it’s not. If you sell or help sell drugs, you can be charged with a felony if a person dies.”

As for the future of Winning The Fight, Travis insists that they are as strong and committed as ever. 

Over the past several months, Ben O’Keefe has been added to the organization’s board of directors. He and his wife co-founded the non-profit shortly after their 18-year-old son Brett died from an accidental drug overdose. While Kathy O’Keefe quickly became the face of the organization and executive director, Ben was always involved behind the scenes and has already taken on a more prominent role.

Travis is also excited to announce the additions of Paige Furin and Haley Smithwick. Smithwick is the new part-time administrative assistant. Furin was hired as the director of programs before O’Keefe passed away. She discovered her passion and purpose in helping others overcome substance use challenges after finding sobriety in November 2018. She is heavily involved with speaking at local schools and overseeing the organization’s documentaries, sponsorships, and events. In fact, she just recently talked to almost 900 9th-graders at Marcus High School and is promoting their Winning Strides Derby on May 8. 

“It has been hard without Kathy here, and you wonder how you can grieve and still keep something like this going simultaneously,” Travis said. “But we’ve made a lot of adjustments, including building stronger relationships with the Denton County courts and keeping all the great things happening behind the scenes going. That’s what keeps me going—the fight. Every time I talk to someone—I don’t care if it’s just two people who show up—we go in thinking that we will save a life. We’ll keep fighting every single day.”

To learn more about Winning The Fight and the Winning Strides Derby fundraiser, visit wtf-winningthefight.org. 

WEB: The Winning Strides Derby fundraiser is slated for 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on May 8 at Sparrow on Main in Lewisville. Ticket prices can be found here.

The post Carrying the Torch: Winning The Fight pushes forward after founder’s passing appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

For weeks, Bosserman had practically begged people to buy her flowers at a farmers market a few miles up the road. She’d set up a table each weekend without fail, artfully arrange her homegrown blooms, put a welcoming smile on her face, and wait.

And wait.

Sales were so slow that she often gave away her pretty bouquets to businesses on her way home—just so they wouldn’t go to waste. 

But on that one Friday afternoon four years ago, she couldn’t sell them fast enough.

“I called my girlfriends and said, ‘You’ve got to come help. I’ve got people coming; it’s insane over here,'” Bosserman said with a laugh.

Frustrated at the lack of sales from the farmers market, she’d posted on Facebook that she had leftover fresh market bouquets for anyone interested in buying them. That one post set off a frenzy among local flower lovers.

“I ran back out to the field and cut more because there were so many people.” said Bosserman. “I still have some of those first customers that came that day.”

As wild an afternoon as that was, it was exactly the spark she needed. Entering her fourth growing season, Bosserman hasn’t slowed down since. In fact, her business—Bosserhouse Blooms in Argyle—is busy year-round and has become the go-to local provider of distinctive and stunning farm-to-table flower arrangements that make any special moment or occasion unforgettable. 

In Bosserman’s words, she grows happiness. Every bloom is planted, nurtured, harvested and designed by Bosserman herself on her family’s small flower farm off Old Justin Road—often just hours before they end up in the outstretched hands of customers who appreciate the care, creativity and beauty in every bouquet. Even the flower farm itself is Bosserman’s creation. When she and her husband, Paul, moved from Aubrey to Argyle in 2021, there was an unused quarter of an acre section of grass next to their home. Within months—and hundreds of hours of watching DIY YouTube videos—Brandi transformed it into her own floral paradise.

In December, they added a 2,200 square-foot greenhouse.

“My passion is local flowers because they last longer, often as long as 10 to 12 days. And during the high season, our entire front room will be full of buckets and flowers. It’s funny because I can quickly take over the kitchen, the dining room and the yard. I also have an office and a studio room—everything is full of beautiful flowers,” Bosserman said. “I didn’t want to take the easy path and just open a flower shop. There was something special about growing them. I’m a flower farmer first, then a florist.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Bosserhouse Blooms is the perfect floral arrangement partner for your next wedding, party, shower or holiday. Bosserman also routinely offers workshops for flower-growing enthusiasts. And for those who crave a constant supply of fresh market bouquets, Bosserhouse Blooms has six-week subscription services. 

Clients can set it up for weekly or bi-weekly deliveries, which are made every Tuesday and Wednesday. Pickups are on Fridays.  

“I genuinely love what I do,” Bosserman said. “I’m even trying something new this year called Petals on the Porch, where I’ll put any extra stems we have available out on my porch for people to scan, pay and take whatever they want.”

Being surrounded by beautiful flower arrangements is nothing new for Bosserman. She and Paul have been together since they were 17. They grew up in the Pacific Northwest and he has religiously bought her flowers every week for the past 37 years. Her father also always made sure his daughter had flowers—right up until the day before he passed away from cancer in 2020. 

Ironically, the thought of being a flower grower and florist one day didn’t cross her mind for many years. Bosserman spent 13 years in education, including a lengthy stint as a middle school history teacher for Lewisville ISD. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which also coincided with her dad’s cancer treatments, she realized it was time for a change.

“I didn’t have a plan, but I found myself watching YouTube videos about being a flower grower. I realized, ‘Hey, I can do this,'” she said with a laugh. “I taught for one more year after that, and in the meantime, I was learning all I could about flowers.”

In flower growing, there is a very detailed science behind every decision that’s made. Bosserman soaked it all in like a sponge and isn’t afraid to try new things each season. Listening to her talk about her thriving business and her deeply personal connections with her customers, it’s clear that Bosserman’s new life is about so much more than just flowers. It’s about comfort, joy, memory, meaning and being surrounded by beautiful flowers.

“We cover every event in life, from joyous to sad moments,” she said. “There is a personal touch with everything I do and I genuinely love sharing those moments with my customers.”

“It’s an honor to be part of their lives.”

Visit Bosserhouse Blooms at bosserhouseblooms.com and on Facebook and Instagram (@Bosserhouseblooms) to learn more about their featured flowers, special events, workshops and subscriptions. Or better yet, stop by. Just make sure to call ahead at 509-554-9215 to see if someone is on-site.

The post Homegrown Success Story: Bosserhouse Blooms blossoms in Argyle appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

As it turned out, countless local parents noticed the same behavioral struggles in their kiddos. Give them a smartphone, iPad or gaming computer for screen time and unfettered internet access, and they’ll be in hog heaven. 

Tell them it’s time to get off YouTube and rejoin the real world—well, let the meltdowns, anger issues and emotional outbursts begin.

“I’ve seen kids in the second grade with phones and social media. By the time they reach fifth grade, almost 60% have them,” Boyden said.

She and other moms at Blanton Elementary have since been inspired by an organization called ‘Wait Until 8th’ to empower parents at Blanton and across Denton ISD to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade.

“My family has never been large device users, and I think that [weekend iPad usage] made it obvious to us because I know how mild-mannered my son is Monday through Friday,” she said. “The funny thing is, finding parents who want to take the pledge has been easy. It’s not like we have to convert anyone—they’re like, ‘Where do I sign?’ There’s so much social pressure to give your kid a phone. Let’s create social pressure in the opposite direction.”

Boyden does not work for and is not affiliated with Wait Until 8th. That said, she is one of over 99,000 parents nationwide who have said yes to waiting on smartphones and other devices for their kids. Research suggests the average age at which children get their first smartphone is 10, and they spend between three to seven hours in front of a phone or other device each day. That does not include educational time.

The result is a litany of negative consequences. This includes addictive behavior, academic distractions, sleep impairments, behavioral struggles, eating disorders, access to sexual content, anxiety and depression and relationship issues. 

Wait Until 8th points out that playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family often take a backseat to hours of gaming, snap-chatting, Instagramming and catching up on YouTube.

Their concept is simple: By signing the Wait Until 8th online pledge, parents promise not to give their child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. They can do this independently or share it with as many parents as possible on a grassroots level.

Once 10 families have signed the pledge in your child’s grade and school to delay smartphone access, Wait Until 8th notifies you that your cohort’s pledge is active. You will receive a list of families from your child’s grade and parent emails to connect and offer support.

Within three weeks of this group of mothers introducing the concept to fellow Blanton parents, 40% of the parents from Boyden’s son’s grade had signed up. Roughly 25% of parents representing other grade levels also signed up. 

And those numbers are growing, not just at Blanton but throughout Denton ISD.

Boyden’s outreach has included opportunities to speak to school administrators and PTA members at other elementary schools throughout Denton ISD. Recently, she presented at a district-wide PTA delegate meeting.

Overall, responses have been supportive and through this initiative, she’s met many parents who felt isolated in their decision to delay smartphones for their children and were glad to find the community support of the Wait Until 8th pledge.

“There are a lot of like-minded people who aren’t giving their elementary or middle-school kids access to phones and other electronics. It’s nice to know you’re not alone and we should be supporting each other,” Boyden said. “However, I realized what I was trying to do wouldn’t be as helpful if I stopped at just Blanton Elementary. So, I began reaching out to all the schools that feed into Harpool Middle School and talking to as many people as possible. The feedback has been nothing but positive because every parent can relate.”

She added, “If parents can see the data and know they’re not alone, they can make more informed decisions.”

While the Wait Until 8th pledge encourages parents to delay smartphones, it also offers digital training, tips and resources for parents who don’t quite want to go cold turkey for personal reasons—such as wanting to ensure they can reach their child in an emergency. 

“Many times, your child only needs access to a fraction of what a smartphone does—such as texting and calling,” Boyden said. “They don’t need the app store or Instagram. It’s OK to get a basic flip phone. There are also safety tips, such as ensuring you don’t allow your kids to access their phones at night in their rooms. We also plan to have a device-blocking day at Blanton, where a technology-savvy person comes out and teaches parents how to block certain apps on a child’s smartphone. Kids are creative in getting around blocks—you think you’ve blocked something but haven’t. These are just a few best practices to be aware of.”

The bottom line is that childhood is too short to be wasted on smartphones. If you’d like to learn more, contact Boyden directly at watsmegan@gmail.com. You can also take the Wait Until 8th pledge at waituntil8th.org.

The post Lantana moms lead charge to delay kids’ smartphone use appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

It was 1989 and Verdi, a wide-eyed 24-year-old kid from Brooklyn, had just scored his first full-time gig as a morning show producer at Star 105 in Dallas. 

It was a run-of-the-mill adult contemporary hits radio station, yet they made their mark by inviting stars like Dana Carvey, Joe Piscopo, Jim Belushi and Leslie Nielsen onto the show for small bits. You never knew who’d be on next, and Verdi was at the center of it all. That is, until he wasn’t.

Verdi was constantly looking over his shoulder at a general manager who didn’t like him. To make matters worse, they sold the station and changed the format. In an instant, Verdi was unemployed.

“I was rehired months later by the country station that the 105.3 FM frequency had flipped to. Young Country was born,” the long-time Flower Mound native said in his book, “The Dan Bongino Show Survival Guide.” “I didn’t really want the job, but I was in a position where I had to take it. A kid from Brooklyn and country music? Are you kidding?” 

“I was hired to produce the morning show,” said Verdi. “It was the best job I ever had.”

Anyone who knows Verdi may argue that last statement is overblown. After all, this is a guy who went from wanting to be an archaeologist as a kid (Indiana Jones, anyone?) to cobbling together a radio career that’s spanned 36 years, countless format shifts, roles such as executive producer, on-air personality, music director, anchor and network writer, and lengthy stints working for the likes of Radio Disney and ESPN. The contact list in his cell phone is peppered with celebrities, politicians, athletes and any other public figure you wish you could pick up the phone and text on a whim.

That includes conservative political commentator, radio host and former police officer Dan Bongino, the former host of “The Dan Bongino Show” and newly-minted deputy director of the FBI. Verdi, now 59, was the executive producer on Bongino’s show for four years. Their syndicated radio show and daily podcast replaced the late Rush Limbaugh in 2021.

“The Dan Bongino Show” was the sixth-most popular podcast in the United States before it ended on March 14. 

“I’m going to miss talking to Dan every day, but I’m also super thrilled for him,” Verdi said. “In his soul, he’s a law enforcement officer and now he has a chance to fix the agency. I know him and [director of the FBI] Kash Patel. They are fantastic people.”

With Bongino firmly entrenched in the FBI, no one needs to worry about Verdi’s future. When the show ended on March 14, he quickly transitioned into the same role at Westwood One with “The Vince Show” hosted by Vince Coglianese. 

“I won’t miss a beat, and I’ll keep coming back for as long as they’ll let me,” Verdi quipped.

Most people would never imagine a radio guy who’s seen and done it all, like Jim Verdi, has been in Flower Mound this entire time. His family moved to Irving when he was 16. He was a self-professed Dallas Cowboys fan from Brooklyn; his dad loved Roger Staubach and didn’t waste any time driving past the old Texas Stadium upon their arrival. It may have taken a little bit for young Jim to fit in at a new public school with four times the student body of his former Catholic school in Brooklyn, but once he did, he was off and running. 

He and his wife, Toni, were married in 1992 and, after living in Mesquite for half a heartbeat, moved to Flower Mound in 1995. They had two kids, Nicolas and Mia. Both went through Lewisville ISD and graduated from Flower Mound High School.

During that time, Verdi’s career on the airwaves had more twists and turns than an old Chubby Checker song. Nicolas was three years old and Toni was pregnant with Mia when Verdi found himself out of a job at Young Country. On top of that, Toni subsequently lost her job.

As luck would have it, ESPN was moving into DFW. Verdi was convinced that his experience could land him a gig as a sportscaster, but all they had left was a job as a morning board operator for SportsCenter reports. The pay was less than what he was making at Young Country and, in many ways, he was starting from the bottom of the barrel. But beggars can’t be choosers. 

He took the job and kept pushing for new opportunities. In the years that followed, Verdi was offered a job at Radio Disney in 2004. He was there for 10 years before the organization moved to Burbank. As Verdi planned his next move, an executive with Westwood One approached him to do some “vacation fill-in work producing a famous national talk show host.” 

The rest, as they say, is history. Verdi has been with Westwood One for 11 years. 

He published his book in 2024. And, of course, it quickly became a best-seller. 

“We had a lot of inside jokes at Dan’s show, and he suggested that I write a book about it,” Verdi said. “The funny thing is that he was thinking more like a pamphlet. It turned into something much bigger, and he loved it. Basically, it goes into detail about how we put the show together for all those years and all the things that could go wrong. We call them goofy glue incidents… major technical breakdowns like Dan vanishing in the middle of the broadcast and me trying to scramble to get him back on the air.”

He added, “There was also the Pantera incident. Pantera is a heavy metal band, and I had played some of their music going into a break. Dan didn’t think too much of it and said on-air that we didn’t need to play that anymore. I told him, ‘You’ll hear about that later—Pantera has quite a loyal fan base.’ Sure enough, his phone started blowing up while he was at the dentist. All these people were so upset that he’d disrespect Pantera. Needless to say, we played Pantera from that moment on.”

Through it all, Jim Verdi has remained the same affable and approachable kid from Brooklyn who dreamed the biggest dreams possible and always found himself in the right place at the right time throughout a remarkable career. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with family, sharpening his skills as an award-winning pitmaster and volunteering as a docent at the Gibson-Grant Log House in Flower Mound. 

Where his story goes from here is uncertain, but one thing is certain: wherever he ends up next, it’ll be precisely where he needs to be.

The post Flower Mound’s Jim Verdi reflects on wild ride through the airwaves appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

Or the way a student’s face instantly brightens upon hearing that their mentor will be on campus later that day to spend time with them.

Over the years, she has also seen those small moments ripple out to families. The relief on a parent’s face when they learn that their child’s school now offers after-school care—a space for tutoring, a hot meal to hold them over and even a ride home when needed. Meanwhile, countless individuals and businesses donate their time, money and resources to support these efforts.  

To some, these might seem like minor victories spread out over Communities In Schools of North Texas’ rich 31-year history.

To the kids and families who benefit, they are life-changing.

“I was impressed with what this organization was doing from the first day I started as a Site Coordinator at Hedrick Middle School (in Lewisville) in 2012. We were in four school districts back then, but my predecessors had incredible foresight to help us keep growing, and I knew this was something I wanted to keep being a part of,” said Moore, who has been the CEO for two years. “Today, we’ve doubled and tripled in size regarding the schools we serve and programs we offer.”

“The things I’ve seen might seem like they are simply a part of the daily lifecycle of being in school,” she said. “But for the kids and parents, it’s huge. It’s extremely humbling to think about the monumental impact we can all make when the community comes together.” 

It’s easy to assume schools are well-oiled machines that can meet these needs and more independently. It’s also easy to assume that all kids lead healthy, happy and supported lives in and outside school. But it’s not always that simple.

In North Texas, one in two kids is at risk of dropping out of school. According to the Texas Education Agency, students are considered at-risk if they meet one or more of 14 criteria, including homelessness, Limited English Proficiency, pregnancy or parenting, foster care and if they have one or more incarcerated parents. Many students are also economically disadvantaged and have barriers to academic success.

These realities exist even in thriving local school districts such as Lewisville, Northwest, Denton, Lake Dallas, Gainesville and Bridgeport. Communities In Schools of North Texas partners with these six districts (59 total schools across three counties) to support more than 34,000 students yearly.

By addressing physical, academic, social, emotional and mental health barriers, approximately 99% of students in these districts stay in school and on track for graduation. Last year, 98.2% of CISNT seniors graduated high school, a stat Moore was all too excited to share.

During the 2023-2024 school year alone, Communities In Schools of North Texas had 5,499 case-managed students and provided 875,678 total services to students, families and the community. Examples of those services include providing academic assistance, supplying basic needs such as weekend food support, professional mental health counseling, health and human services, behavioral interventions, college and career prep assistance, community and service learning and parent and family engagement. 

Students in these programs ultimately displayed better attendance records, behavior, and academic performance.

Moore said it takes a village to achieve such amazing results nationwide. Communities In Schools of North Texas was founded in 1993 and is one of 27 affiliates in Texas that sprouted from the national organization, which started in Harlem in 1977. 

In 1998, CISNT served eight schools. By 2002, that number expanded to 11. Today, it has 110 full-time staff comprising site coordinators, program directors and administration. They also have a part-time crew, over 80 interns and close to 650 volunteers.

“In 1993, a group of educators and leaders in the community recognized that school isn’t always easy, and sometimes, things happen that are beyond a student’s control and directly impact their academics and ability to thrive,” Moore said. “They asked a simple question, ‘How can we put support in place so our kids can be successful?’ As we continued to grow, they noticed how much more work needed to be done. Seven or eight years ago, we started a licensed mental health team that could work in collaboration with our site coordinators to ensure students received the necessary counseling while at the same time reducing the amount of time they were pulled from class for those services. It helped the students, and it also helped their families because it was a service they could access free of charge. It removes a lot of barriers and it’s just one example of what we’ve managed to do over the years.”

Communities In Schools’ reach extends beyond K-12 education. For 14 years, it has partnered with local colleges and universities to provide college students with opportunities to develop professional skills in school settings. In partnership with AmeriCorps, college students receive enhanced career training, leadership development and educational financial credit.

Moore said their goal is to continue adding to their services so they can always be ready when needed. There isn’t a month that goes by when she’s not fielding a phone call from a school district that would like to learn more about what Communities In Schools does and how they can get involved. And there isn’t a day when students don’t face another hardship that must be addressed. 

“Our big goal is to be in every school district across our three counties that needs us,” Moore said. “It’s a reminder that so much work is left to be done. We can do more, but it also takes time and help. There’s the financial piece, but we also need more volunteers, and we’d love to have a mentor for every student we serve. Volunteering doesn’t take any special qualifications or certificate—just a willingness to commit 45 minutes a week and a passion to pour into kids.”

She added, “A lot has changed over the years with how we do things. One thing that hasn’t is our commitment to kids.”

Please visit www.cisnt.org to learn more about Communities In Schools of North Texas, including job opportunities, upcoming events and ways to donate time, money and resources to help today’s students. 

The post Communities In Schools of North Texas celebrates 31 years of changing lives appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

For instance, get her talking about Kaylee, who is now 29, and she’ll point out that, despite relying on a wheelchair for mobility, Kaylee is one of the most independent young women you’ll ever meet.

She has an apartment in town, is actively involved at church and is rising the ranks as an assistant manager at the Crayola Experience in Plano. 

Then there’s Keaton, whom the Andersons adopted internationally when he was little. Keaton is now a busy 8th-grader at Lamar Middle School in Flower Mound and is a starter on his nationally-ranked wheelchair basketball team. 

Shannon would love to pat herself on the back for these and many more of her kids’ successes, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. 

The real credit belongs to the local adaptive sports community—specifically, the Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks Basketball program.

“We are blessed in North Texas to have an abundance of adaptive sports opportunities for kids with disabilities,” Shannon said. “Kaylee and Keaton did everything from track and sled hockey to tennis, basketball and other events put on by worthy organizations. But to have something like the Mavs in our backyard has been an honor and a privilege. My kids needed a group and the Mavs gave them that. What hooked me was the amount of self-independence that the program requires.”

“The coaches don’t do things for the kids—they prompt them to do it themselves,” she said. “The expectation is that you’re going to try. As parents, it’s fun to see where our kids are today and how far they’ve come because of that mindset.”

According to numerous online sources, over 100,000 adults and children with physical disabilities and mobility impairments play wheelchair basketball worldwide. This includes recreation and club play as well as college, professional and elite national teams. Wheelchair basketball was also one of the eight original events played at the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960.

Kaylee was introduced to Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks Basketball when she was five and continued playing until she reached high school. Keaton has been playing since the third grade. But the Mavs’ competitive and recreational roots date back much further than that.

The organization has served North Texas’ adaptive sports needs since the late 1970s. According to the Mavs’ website, the Variety Wheelchair Arts & Sports Association created the first junior team in 1979. 

They offer several programs, including a Futures Team and Prep Team for kids ages five to 13. There are also JV and Varsity squads for kids 14 to 18, though they do accept participants as old as 20.

There are currently 50 kids in the program, and while some are from as close as southern Denton County, others travel from as far away as Midland and the Texas-Louisiana border. 

The program aims to offer a wheelchair basketball team for children with physical disabilities otherwise not served by local, community-based programs. Practices are held on Saturdays at the Bachman Recreation Center in Dallas, and for the older athletes, at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound.

Tournaments can involve traveling to San Marcos, Kansas, Atlanta, Wisconsin and more.

“This organization plays an important role in a child’s development,” Anderson added. “Kaylee wasn’t a competitive player when she was there; she used it as her friendship group. She had her church, school and Mavs group, which all did wonders for her. It’s important to know other kids with differences like you who are aspiring and fulfilling their life tasks.”

Mavs coach and Paralympian Darlene Hunter couldn’t agree more. She could have easily given up on life when she suffered a spinal cord injury that changed her life forever.

The year was 1986, and Hunter, just four years old at the time, was paralyzed from the belly button down after being tragically run over by a road grader. While she would never walk again, she refused to let her disability define her.

She started competing in adapted track and field at seven years old. Eventually, she received a track scholarship to the University of Arizona, where she also co-founded the university’s women’s wheelchair basketball team. 

In the years that followed, she made it clear that she was more than a casual hoopster. 

Fast-forward to today and Hunter is revered as a three-time Paralympian, having won gold with Team USA in 2016 and bronze in 2020. 

“There are probably 2,300 kids and adults in the United States who play wheelchair basketball and it’s up to people like me and the legendary people I’m surrounded by to grow awareness for adaptive sports and make them realize their lives aren’t over,” Hunter said. “At the end of the day, we all do better when we have a purpose and are part of a group that accepts us for who we are. We want kids with physical disabilities and mobility impairments to know their lives are valuable and that they can achieve anything. Sure, how they approach the game and life may look different than a non-disabled friend. But nothing is impossible.”

Hunter echoed Anderson’s sentiment that the secret sauce with adaptive sports programs like the Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks Basketball program is that their goals extend well beyond basketball skills. Participants learn the value of independence, self-esteem, social interaction, physical fitness and self-confidence. 

“I took a group of kids to New York, and we flew on an airplane, got on boats, escalators, and the public bus system,” Hunter said. “In one weekend, they navigated all that and learned that they can overcome challenges in life and sports. They can move out of their parents’ houses someday. They can go to school, take trips, work for a living, and get a good education. We want them to have the tools they need to succeed. This is why we do what we do.”

Anderson agreed, adding, “It’s been such a blessing for my kids and our family.”

To learn more about Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks Basketball and how you can sponsor a child, become a volunteer, enroll a new athlete or keep up with everything going on in the organization, please visit www.dallasjuniorwheelchairmavericks.org.

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At 53, the effortlessly likable owner of Fix It Felix Heating and Air Conditioning in Argyle has redefined what it means to be truly open—unashamedly sharing every detail about his checkered past and blessed present with friends, family, and even strangers. From being homeless to the 15 years he spent in jail and everything in between, he holds nothing back, believing his journey is 100% a God thing.

These days, Rodriguez shares his raw yet inspiring story and relationship with God so openly at networking meetings, church, and other community gatherings that those closest to him sometimes must remind him to mention his company.

“I’ll be given 15 minutes to talk somewhere, and I never end up mentioning my business,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. He started Fix It Felix in 2018, prioritizing unparalleled HVAC services, hard work, respect, and a deep connection to the community. Today, it has over 500 5-star reviews across all platforms. “I want you to know me as a person. When I go to someone’s home to fix their AC, many of them have heard my story and already know I’m a man who has been transformed by the power of God.”

He added, “I went from being an evil person to the most loving person in the world.”

He’s not lying. Every interaction with Rodriguez feels like a slice of heaven, starting and ending with a hug, firm handshake, and an appreciative smile befitting a man who stops to smell life’s many roses every chance he gets. He can’t walk into a local restaurant, coffee shop, or grocery store without bumping into someone he knows—and if he doesn’t know you yet, give him five minutes.

He also never stops talking about his wife, Libby, daughter, and two granddaughters.

He thanks God for these and many more blessings every day—mainly because he never experienced anything like it growing up.

A TROUBLED BEGINNING

Rodriguez grew up poor on the streets of Puerto Rico. At the time, he lived with his great-grandmother, but she struggled to keep up with a teenager getting into trouble every time she turned around. And this wasn’t just typical teenage rebellion. One minute, young Felix was in knock-down, drag-out fistfights with street thugs and criminals, and the next, he was selling and using drugs.

By the time he was 17, he was hanging out with an even more dangerous crowd. Even when he wasn’t committing crimes, his associations made him a target. As a result, many of his adversaries were actively trying to kill him.

“I’ve been shot at with AK-47s numerous times; they were coming to my house looking for me,” he said.

Fearing for his life, Rodriguez fled Puerto Rico to live with an uncle in Philadelphia under the condition that he clean up his act. But he never did. In the blink of an eye, he found himself homeless in Connecticut.

Rodriguez was homeless for nearly nine months before he was recruited by another drug dealer who brought him back to Puerto Rico, took him under his wing, and gave him a place to stay. Sadly, his situation continued to spiral out of control.

“We started robbing banks, and during one of them, we got into a shootout with the cops,” he said.

Rodriguez was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was just 25 years old.

GOD HAD A PLAN THE ENTIRE TIME

As bad as that sounds, it led him straight to Christ.

“I was three years into my prison sentence and still the same person I’d always been. But one day, I was in the main area with the rest of the inmates and noticed them going into a chapel to hear the word of God. I figured, ‘What the heck … I’ll see what this is all about,’” he said. “The chaplain told us the story of Paul and how God redeemed him despite all the bad things he did. God changed his life, and I’m not kidding when I say it was like a switch went on inside my head. God showed me flashes of my life like a movie clip, and he protected me many times without me realizing it.”

From that day forward, Rodriguez was a changed man. He started reading the Bible and even got his GED while in prison. He also signed up for as many educational courses as he could, even as he was transferred to other facilities in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and eventually Fort Worth.

By the time he was released in 2012, he had a degree in marketing management and 8,000 hours of education under his belt.

BUILDING A NEW LIFE

As Rodriguez was finishing out the final three years of his sentence in Fort Worth due to good behavior, he heard they were starting a new program for HVAC classes. Even though he knew nothing about the industry, he jumped at the chance for a new career path.

“I told everybody I was going to own my own HVAC business. I tried to motivate the other guys, but they all laughed at me,” he said. “They told me I was crazy and that no one would ever give me a job because of my background. In their eyes, I’d return to doing everything I did before. I remember thinking that if that was going to happen, at least I could say I did the best I could.”

He added, “This is where the power of Christ hit me hard. I was six months into my five-year probation after leaving prison, and the lady who was teaching the court-mandated drug class I was in pulled me aside. She said, ‘Felix. I’m not supposed to do this, but I know you won’t disappoint me. My son owns an HVAC company, and I’m going to tell him to give you a job.’”

Not only did that kind woman follow through with her promise, but Rodriguez didn’t let her down. He worked for her son, Josh, for several years while building his own HVAC business on the side. In 2018, Rodriguez finally went out independently with Fix It Felix.

“God was putting the right people in my life the entire time—the judge who sentenced me, the lady in that class, and Josh,” he said. “Even today, I continue to see examples of the right people coming into my life at the right time. It’s all because of God.”

A NEW PURPOSE

Fast-forward to today, and not only is Fix It Felix thriving, but so is the man behind it. He’s been happily married to Libby for about a year and a half. They bought a home in Azle, and they seek ways to preach God’s word every chance they get.

“I’m a chaplain now, and we are actively trying to get into youth prisons to work with those inmates,” Rodriguez said. “I just want to share everything that God has done for me and inspire others to change their lives for the better. I’m trying to build relationships, get to know people, and leave a positive mark on people’s lives.

“It’s not just about being known as the guy who owns Fix It Felix. I want to give back, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing that.”

Just like any person who calls themselves an open book would do.

Contact Felix at 817-909-1906 or fixitfelixhvac.com.

(Sponsored content)

The post Faith, Forgiveness, and Fixing ACs: Local business owner shares story of redemption appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

A Chicago native who grew up in California and moved to North Texas 45 years ago, Voigt joined his local youth chapter of the Sea Cadets, short for the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, in 1972. At the time, he was just shy of 16 and searching for more stability in his life. He would spend the next three years getting hands-on training in seamanship, sailing, and basic military instruction at nearby naval bases and other installations, and the experience ultimately set him on a path that would shape his life and career. 

Fast-forward to today, and he’s doing all he can to give back what the Sea Cadets gave him.

“I had family issues growing up, and the Sea Cadets helped me get through them and put me on a path to success,” Voigt said.

He joined the Lone Star Squadron, a local chapter of Sea Cadets comprising cadets from Denton, Wise, Tarrant, Johnson and Ellis counties, eight years ago as an instructor and is now their Commanding Officer.

“I came back to help these kids chart their courses.”

Clearly, Voigt is sold on everything Sea Cadets has to offer. He’s also confident families in southern Denton County and beyond will agree, especially since there is a unit close to home. Sea Cadets is an immersive youth program supported by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. It was started in the 1950s and chartered by Congress in 1964 to ensure that children ages 10 to 18 learn the core values of honor, respect, commitment, and service. Voigt’s Lone Star Squadron has been the nation’s No. 1 combined Sea Cadets unit seven times in the past 12 years, and that’s saying something when you consider there are 5,285 cadets in 380 units nationwide.

There are two programs to choose from with the Lone Star Squadron of the Sea Cadets.

The Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) is for middle school students aged 10 to 13. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) is for ages 13 through the end of high school. Both sections wear uniforms, train in a disciplined environment, and advance through ranks that mirror the Navy, Merchant Marines, and U.S. Coast Guard. Instruction includes everything from basic military instruction and team building to advanced training in robotics, field operations, search and rescue, submarine training, aviation, Special Forces training, and more. 

Cadet units typically meet one weekend per month or one night per week during the school year. Training away from home is during school vacation periods. Voigt said the initial cost to join is roughly $350, and the annual fee after that is roughly $100. Training fees are about $350 for a week to nine-day training program in the summer or winter. 

It is also important to note that joining the military after Sea Cadets is not required. That said, many former cadets do enlist, and dozens attend service academies or ROTC. Cadets who complete the program have a leg up on either enlisting and going to boot camp or going the officer route through ROTC or one of the service academies.

“We have quite a few overachievers,” Voigt said. “One young lady wanted to go into aviation like her father and is now in the aviation program at Oklahoma University. She is working on becoming a commercial pilot. We have another cadet who went to ROTC, got their commission, and is now a pilot training at the Naval station in Pensacola, Florida.”

Interestingly, Voigt insists that Sea Cadets remains one of the best-kept secrets. In fact, it is often overshadowed by traditional summer camps and other extracurriculars that generate more press but can cost the average family significantly more money. 

But that doesn’t mean Sea Cadets is any less important or can’t significantly impact a teenager’s life.

“It’s a shame because we’ve been around for a long time and have done some great things for kids nationwide,” Voigt said. “I’ve had kids go to four trainings in the summer because that’s what they were interested in. One of our cadets was selected for international training, where they teamed up with cadet programs worldwide. She got to go to Australia for two weeks.”

“When you’re 15 or 16, you usually don’t know what you want to do with the rest of your life,” he added. “We help these kids figure that part out and, for lack of a better term, chart their course.”

That’s what Sea Cadets did for him, and he’s confident that others will continue to experience the same life-changing benefits.

For more information on Sea Cadets, including ways to donate and how to get your child involved, please visit www.seacadets.org.

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