The story of a business that takes the game out of dating

The Arts of Denton

A guide to local culture for the new year

HeadRush the Salon Makeover Contest

Click here to download the latest issue.

Denton, we ask you to nominate someone deserving of a complimentary makeover.  Mail us or
facebook private message us a 200 word or less summary of why they deserve the makeover along
with a picture of the nominee. Please include your name, address and phone number and the same
information of the nominee.   This contest is open to anyone 18 or over and does not have to be a
client of our salon. The winning names will be posted on our facebook HeadRush the Salon on
February 1, 2012 and each winner will be contacted by their stylist that same day.  Thank you Denton,
for making our jobs so much fun and allowing us to keep giving even after the holiday season is over!

Oxide Gallery it is a gallery “where local art is exposed” offering fine art, pieces from local artists, and works from all genres. It is one of Denton best treasures.

A Creative Arts Studio serves the community with classes in oil and acrylic painting, stained glass, jewelry, mosaics, watercolor, drawing, writing workshops and on and on. Buy, learn or enjoy!

Wonderful museums like Courthouse-on-the-Square and Selby House recall the history of Denton. The opera at UNT is both amazing and world renown. Our celebrated One O’clock Lab band is internationally known.

Denton Arts and Jazz Festival is a weekend long event that is attended by not just locals but extended area art enthusiast. Studios such as Denton Ballet Academy teaches superior ballet, Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a twenty three year production and a denton tradition. The Campus Theatre is a performing community theatre delivering high quality plays and musicals.

Materials: Hard & Soft, an annual competition and exhibition of contemporary crafts is now in its 25th year. It is recognized nationally and attracts hundreds of entries from every state in the union. (February 3 – March 30, 2012)

The Thin Line Film Festival, beginning February 15th, is an international documentary film festival held at the Campus Theatre on the Square. See the interesting and exciting films before anyone else in Texas, then meet and socialize with the filmmakers after the screenings.

These are just a few examples of the art of Denton, getting exposed to this enriching culture will open a new space in your heart and your mind.

Denton no longer has to depend on the arts from Dallas and Fort Worth museums, music scenes and galleries. We are setting the pace now and have come into our own with our acclaimed area. Known for its long, rich history of both music and art, Denton welcomes unique individuals and celebrates their contribution in enhancing the lives of the entire community. Get out and enjoy the galleries, performances and music of Denton…it will awaken your senses.

Bubbling laughter, rosy faces, warm smiles. No, you are not at a theme park or a party, you are in a face-to-face interview with the wonderful people at Great Expectations Dallas (GE). The interview is the second step in the program’s simple process.

Great Expectations Dallas, a “personal matchmaking program,” for lack of better words, acts more as a life coach and best friend than what the name entails. Greeted by the blushing, friendly, outgoing character Stefanie Hogan, Dallas Center Director, you will immediately feel at ease, no nervousness and no awkward conversations. Stefanie and her team make you feel like you are having a conversation with an old friend. She remembers your name, your likes, dislikes and has one specific, helpful personality trait in particular: the ability to read people and match them with their soul mates.

Companionship – such a result is worth the meeting. Great Expectations is different than online dating sites. Having been in business for more than 35 years, Great Expectations knows what they are doing. They conduct thorough background checks and personal screenings, ensuring the utmost protection for their members. Their discreet team also guarantees personal involvement. “We hold your hand until you find someone; we are like a personal liaison for your dating life,” says member services manager Lindsey Barton. From guiding you in the right direction, marketing you the way you need to be marketed and giving you a chance to get in front of your desirable audience, it is evident that Great Expectations is dedicated to your happiness and personal improvement.

In fact, there is a good chance that your advisor will give you a few necessary truths to spur on this personal improvement. Do you know that pit-in-your-stomach, sick feeling you get when you look in the mirror after being with friends all day and find a big piece of spinach in your teeth? This will not happen with your new friends at Great Expectations – guaranteed. Much like scenes from the well-known movie Hitch, the representatives at Great Expectations will guide and support you, resulting in better first impressions. “People who think they are unmarketable and will never find love, find it through our program. It’s such a rewarding business,” Stefanie states, beaming.

Curious where Stefanie’s passion for matchmaking came from? In April of 1996, long before her career at Great Expectations, Stefanie’s family went through the tragic time of her father’s passing. Empathizing with the void in her mother’s heart, Stefanie purchased a membership to Great Expectations for her mom as a Mother’s Day gift in May of 1999. Although her mom was a bit skeptical, she used her membership for a couple of months and went on a few dates, meeting Scott within five months of joining the program. Scott and Marsha were married in November of 2001 and have been together for 10 years this month! “My mom’s success story is proof that anyone can find true love,” muses Stefanie. “She is a tough one – very picky – but we did it and she and Scott are incredibly happy together.”

There are plenty of other success stories. In fact, the current owner of Great Expectations Dallas, Mr. John Meriggi, met his wife through the Houston location and they recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. After his wonderful experience at the Houston location as a client, Mr. Meriggi felt compelled to purchase and run the Dallas office. Norine, Assistant Director, who’s been at Great Expectations for 20 years, met and married through Great Expectations as well. Members Hettie and Jerry describe their experience as “very personal; the ladies at Great Expectations were very encouraging and thoughtful. We got support every step of the way.” Member Monica was looking to “date someone with family values who was loving, successful, funny and independent,” which she found in her husband, Kent, within one month of joining the program. Another member, Roger, decided to join GE because he was “tired of the set-up and bar scenes.”

The process of joining this confidential, professional service is simple. First, take a quick look at the website, greatexpectationsdallas.com, or call the office at 214-390-5200, and answer a few pre-screening questions. On the phone you will have the opportunity to set up a face-to-face interview with an advisor where your identification will be checked, a background screening will be conducted and they will screen for emotional stability. Your representative will then review your membership options and give you access to the private website database that is for members only, where you can conduct searches to find potential dates. Complete the member profile and set a date for your professional photo shoot with Mary McAlister and her warm, friendly team, and voila, you are ready to meet and mingle. Your advisor will give you suggestion profiles, from which you will choose your top picks to go on dates. The process is based on mutual consent and you will always get to see the other person’s pictures and profiles before you date them so there is no awkward blind dating.

“The main basis of our program is to choose someone who is right for the member. If I’m doing my job correctly, you shouldn’t have to meet more than five people,” states Stefanie. “People are looking for the right person, not to date a hundred different people. They are allowed to search the website to pick whomever interests them. There is no limitation to the number of searches they get. And we are there for the entire process, there is no room for misrepresentation.”

Privacy and lack of misrepresentation are the most important differences between Great Expectations Dallas and other competitors. “Online dating services are a breeding ground for misrepresentation,” says Stefanie. According to a 2002 Wall Street Journal article, “more than 30% of visitors to the top three stand-alone personals sites are married.” Although other sites claim to reject profiles that are “inappropriate,” screeners “rely on the applicants to tell them. So, obviously, married people can get past the screeners.” The thorough interview process at Great Expectations ensures that each member is sincere and safe.

Great Expectations’ staff is dedicated, creating an environment in which they each know their members on a personal level. Most of the staff have worked at Great Expectations for more than 15 years. They dedicate their quality time thinking about the betterment of their members and especially enjoy brainstorming for the popular and fun future events. When you are a member, you get to enjoy summer musical events, speed dating events, happy hours, limo pub crawls, cruises, the annual Christmas gala, sporting events and much more. There is something for everyone.

Whether you are too busy to date, are tired of the bar scene, don’t feel comfortable placing your personal information online or can’t seem to find the type of person you are looking for, Great Expectations Dallas will meet you where you are. Whatever your reasoning may be to quit your current social habits, Great Expectations will be there to back you up and point you in the right direction. They guide you through the process of finding your “other half,” as well as introducing you to a new, exciting social circle.

In the words of success story couple Ruth and David, “Just give it a shot. What do you have to lose?”

Great Expectations Dallas
14180 Dallas Pkwy | Suite 100 | Dallas

214.390.5200

Great Expectations Ft Worth

1300 S. University Dr | Suite 502 | Ft Worth

817.332.8009
greatexpectationsdfw.com

The name sounds a bit ominous doesn’t it, but Black Friday is a good thing.  Well, we hope it is, and come to think of it I guess even Black Friday is in the eye of the beholder.

If you like waking up in the middle of the night to rush to stores to fight for the noted specials, if you enjoy bouncing from one major box store to the next in rapid succession, or if you get excited about choosing which line to stand in, then this day is just right for you. The specials will be out there.  Advertisers have been working and planning for weeks upon weeks to make sure you will have an abundance of options to lure you into their stores.  Bargains will be fabulous and your choices will be hard ones to make.

Black Friday has become a tradition in itself for so many families and friends.  Getting together for the sleep deprived early morning trek has made some pretty great memories for us.   And when you add on the toppings of a few great gifts that will be opened Christmas morning, then yes, it is all worth the half closed, scratchy eyed day.

In the days approaching, we are like little kids grabbing for the ads in the local paper to see who has what on sale and the time the item goes on special.  If you are new to the Black Friday early morning sprint don’t try this without some kind of master plan.  If you do, you will find yourself in a frenzy, running from place to place and just missing the perfect items for your Christmas list.  There is only one of you and you have to make the best of the time and develop a game plan for getting that special gift. Once the turkey is carved, eaten, and everyone is drifting off in their food induced comas, this is the time to peruse the ads and develop a plan of attack.

One more note, this day is not for the faint of heart. If you are daydreaming about  getting your significant other to accompany you so you can turn a double play…we wish you best of luck.  This plea has been whimpered in the past by many hopeful Christmas List Moms, with not much success.  He distantly mutters something about way too early, too much hassle and not worth the effort.  So you are more than likely on your own, as will be the sisters, moms and friends who are meeting you that morning ready to grab their own delightful bounty.  Be brave, be focused and plan for a nap when you drag back home that day.

Why shop Denton?
By Shopping Here on Purpose (S.H.O.P.), we are saying YES to a strong, vibrant, local economy , which translates into a unique and interesting City. Isn’t that a place where we all want to live and work? This free program educates consumers and businesses. Its goal is to optimize the quality of life in Denton by increasing the available sales tax that supports essential City services.

Tell me more about sales tax
•    Sales tax is charged at the point of purchase for certain goods and services such as; clothing, household items, and dining out. Sales tax rates are set by the state, county, and City.
•    Taxable purchases contribute to the general fund for the City, which provides essential services such as police, fire, libraries, and parks—all of which enhance our quality of life.

What can I do?
•    Shopping options are abundant. Take a day and check Denton out; all the same services you find out-of-town are conveniently located here.
•    Time is money. The less driving you do, the more money you’ll save at the gas pump.
•    To learn more about what you can do, visit www.ShopDentonTexas.com.

Pharmacists are incredibly busy.  You remember what it is like to “run” into the pharmacies to “grab” your prescription?  There just isn’t any running to it anymore and the grabbing is a thing of the past. The norm now-a-days is easily a half hour to a full hour wait.

Pharmacists are multi-tasking; they may have half a dozen people waiting for their medications, people calling on the telephone with questions, and customers walking up to ask about over-the-counter medicines.

They do have some help, there are technicians who prepare the medicine labels (still another area of error potential) and bottles and work the cash register and that is needed help but actually those people too will need some additional direction or a little help, adding one more interruption into the mix.

With all the activity, it’s no wonder that a mistake could be made. It’s completely understandable, but a mistake could cause serious, sometimes really serious problems.

You need to consider, plan and make a habit of things you can do to add an additional layer of stay safe checks to your side of the process.

•    Take personal responsibility for your prescription. Know what the doctor ordered, what the dosage is and what effect you should notice.
•    When you are with your Doctor ask him/her to read the prescription to you and spell it out.  Write down the name of the medication, the strength and the dosage.
•    Each time you have the prescription filled or refilled, check to see if it’s the right medicine, the right strength and the right dosage instructions.
•    Look; does it look the same as before, are there any changes in the visual, and do you recognize the medication as before?
•    Ask; this is not a time to be timid.  If anything is different, ask about it.

If you have any questions, see the pharmacist before you leave the store.

Prescription medication is now a very common part of our lives, whether they are given for treatment of a long term medical condition or simply a course of antibiotics to treat an infection.

One in three prescriptions has some kind of error (according to research by Ken Lee, How Safe is Your Prescription) and about 3% of all hospital admissions are related to problems with medications. Pharmacy malpractice statistics show more deaths related to prescription errors annually than breast cancer, AIDS, or traffic fatalities and few people are even aware of the error (malpractice) statistics that exist on record.

So, how do these statistics affect you? Well first, they probably shock you. They should also make you aware that you could suffer injury because of a prescription error and that you need to play a significant role in your prescription safety.  Plan safe checks for your prescriptions and their refills; help yourself so you do not become one of the statistics.

The bank has made the Denton County Library System its major philanthropic focus for over 20 years, and is committed to raising funds to maintain and grow library resources and services, and impact library-based literacy programs.

Raymond David, the bank’s CEO states, “We believe strongly that libraries serve a critical role in fostering a prosperous, successful and healthy future for the local communities.” As their major fundraising effort, POINTBank hosts an annual charity golf tournament benefiting literacy and the Denton County Libraries.

Donations from the event have contributed to building expansion and improvements, technology, books, job search tools for unemployed citizens, reading programs for children, and child education and development, just to name a few.

The event is Saturday, September 17, 2011 at The Cowboys Golf Club, a premier resort-style, NFL-themed golf course located in Grapevine. To be a part of helping our libraries and our community, or to take advantage of a great opportunity to play golf and network, contact Whitney Ortmeier at 972-434-3238 or wortmeier@pointbank.com.

Celebrate the fourth at Denton Civic Center and Quakertown Park with carnival games, live entertainment, a hot dog cookout, and more.  Prior to the Jubilee, the 12th Annual Liberty 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk begins at 7:30 am, and the Yankee Doodle Parade begins at 9 am. Live entertainment until noon. Lucky Horseshoe Tournament, children’s carnival and Great Gutter Race, arts and crafts show.  Civic Center Pool admission $1.00 from 12 noon until 6:00 pm. For more information, call 940-349-8733.

Kiwanis Fireworks Show & Independence Day Celebration

5:30 pm:    Gates Open – only west side stands are open
6:30 pm:    City Folk Band- Set #1
7:50 pm:    Kiwanis Welcome and Announcements
8:00 pm:    Color Guard, National Anthem
8:15 pm:    George Dunham and the Bird Dogs Band
9:45 pm:    (Approximate time) – Fireworks Show
10:15 pm:    Happy Trails

George Dunham from Sports Radio 1310 “The Ticket” (and the Mean Green Radio Network) is lead singer for the Bird Dogs.  Veteran Dallas/Fort Worth guitarist, Steve Porcari anchors both bands who will perform a blend of covers from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, as well as original country/rock songs written by Dunham.  Denton Kiwanis, 940-390-7869.

Lake Cities Celebration

The Lake Cities of Corinth, Hickory Creek, Shady Shores and Lake Dallas unite for a one-of-a-kind, 4th of July blow-out Celebration!  City Park of Lake Dallas will be filled with Independence Day festivities including our hometown parade at 9 AM, contests for cash prizes, great food, and a vendor market along with live entertainment throughout the day.

Children will enjoy a free play area with water slides, bounce houses and games. Back by popular demand, the Lake Cities Idol returns with ten talented artists performing for cash prizes. Justin Cash performs at 4 PM followed by the evening’s headline entertainment, Eleven Hundred Springs at 7 PM with a spectacular fireworks show to follow at 9:15 PM.

Red, White & Lewisville Fireworks

The city’s annual fireworks show, will be held July 4th around Vista Ridge Mall. The show will start at approximately 9:30 pm.  The best viewing opportunities will be on the South side of Vista Ridge Mall and along the 121 Bypass.  For more information please call 972-219-3401.

11th Annual Freedomfest

July 4th, gate opens at 5:30 pm. Event benefits Peace of the Rock Ministries and local and international missions.  Cost is $5.00 per person, kids 3 and under are FREE.  Family Fun including: pedal boats, canoes, fishing (bring your gear), playgrounds, inflatables, mechanical bull, and Old McDonald’s Kiddie Train.

Food and drinks may be purchased at the Chicken Coop Cafe.  No alcohol or pets please.  Firework Show begins at 9:30 pm, bring your lawn chairs and blankets. First time at the ranch is family bluegrass gospel band John Grubb & the Full Quiver performing from 7:30-8:30 pm.

Located at Rancho De La Roca Retreat Ranch, 2459 W. Blackjack in Aubrey, 940.365.7625, www.peaceoftherock.org

Flower Mound Annual Independence Day Celebration

Come join the Town of Flower Mound in celebrating the annual Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza, a free family event at Bakersfield Park, 1201 Duncan Lane.

Gates open at 7 pm with concessions and children’s activities including a bounce house, giant slide, obstacle course, and rock wall, and face painting.

The Walton Stout Band will play from 8:00 – 9:30 pm and the fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:25 pm. No glass, alcohol, or tobacco products may be brought to the park.

The free fireworks show and parking at Bakersfield Park are sponsored by the North Texas Tollway Authority. The rainout date for the event is Monday, July 5. Please call 972.874.7275 or visit www.flower-mound.com for more information.

You can choose your type of fun in the sun; splash, squirt and dribble around, slip’ n’ slide down a wild slide, ride the winding and ever moving river or lay back in a comfy lounge chair and soak up the rays. When that Texas heat begins to rise, we will undoubtedly be looking for ways to cool off. Luckily, Denton is home to one of the best water parks in the area.

Denton Duck Derby

The Denton Parks Foundation is hosting the Second Annual Denton Duck Derby on June 4th, at Denton Water Works Park. The Duck Derby will raise money to help support park enhancements and recreation programs of Denton and encourage participation in those programs through scholarships.

Duck Derbys all over the country have proven to be a great way to draw the community together for a fun event and to raise money for a good cause.  Businesses can participate as sponsors and underwriters of the Denton Duck Derby.  Individuals can adopt ducks for participation in two races, a kids race and an adults race. Individually numbered rubber ducks will be dumped into the continuous river at the Denton Water Works Park.  The first ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes for their lucky adopted owners.

Come have fun, watch the race and cheer the ducks to the finish line at the Denton Water Works Park.  We will have live entertainment, opening ceremonies and much more during the Duck Derby benefiting the Denton Parks Foundation.

Water Works Park is located next to Denton Natatorium and Skate Works Park at 2400 Long Rd. off FM 428 (Sherman Drive), near Loop 288. Discount season passes are available until May 22 at Denton Civic Center or Denton Natatorium.  For more information, contact 940-349-8810.