For the love of the craft
In his lifetime, leather craftsman and custom saddle maker Mark Hurley has made 819 saddles. Many of them he made while he worked at the iconic Luskey’s/Ryon’s shop in Fort Worth. “I made 623 there,” he said.
Karina Ramirez: Labinal celebrates new headquarters with ceremony
On Tuesday, Safran Group’s Labinal Inc. inaugurated its new site at the former Russell-Newman building, 3790 Russell Newman Blvd.
Scott Burns: 10 years in, Prius still roadworthy
It’s hard to believe, but it has been 10 years since I bought a funny-looking car, the 2003 Prius. It was the first model, a tiny sedan. It looks nothing like the now-iconic 2004 Prius, which was introduced a few months later.
Janet Laminack: Keep West Nile from making resurgence
Last year, Denton County had a high number of West Nile virus occurrences, along with the rest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This is something that we hope not to repeat. There are steps that you can take as an individual to protect yourself and make the community safer.
Side by side
Verus Real Estate finally has a new home at the corner of Carroll Boulevard and Hickory Street. The renovated building houses not only the company’s business offices but also a new restaurant, Smiling Moose Deli.
Karina Ramírez: Leadership Denton graduates 27th class
The 17 members of Leadership Denton’s 27th class graduated on April 26. The ceremony was part of the Denton Chamber of Commerce’s membership luncheon at Buffalo Valley Event Center.
Personal profile: Scott Robinson
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Maggie Jover: Yes, you can can, but put safety first
With the spring planting season here, gardeners’ anticipation of an abundance of homegrown fruits and vegetables often triggers the desire to can foods at home. While this can be a fun and rewarding way to keep foods long after the harvest season ends, take care to ensure that home-canned foods are safe to eat.
Scott Burns: Enormous wealth has its downsides
Hold those guillotines! I’d like to say a few words to provoke your sympathy for the well-off, particularly those who “have money” and don’t work for a living.
Sally Beauty profits dip from last year’s records
Denton-based Sally Beauty Holdings Inc., which sells hair, skin and nail products to consumers and salons, reported a 4.3 percent decline in second-quarter profit and weaker than expected sales. Comparisons with last year’s record growth in some categories, specifically nail polish, hair extensions and appliances, were tough to match, the company said Thursday.
High-end home set to go on auction block
A house on the south shore of Lewisville Lake will be sold next month at auction — a method the auction company says is growing in popularity, especially in the Southwest.
Magnolia Station reopens with new owners
PILOT POINT — Last year, when its owner wanted to close the Magnolia Station in Pilot Point, Richard Howell and business partner Charlie Miller decided to take over the business.
Karina Ramirez: Best Buy adding area for Samsung products
The Best Buy store in Denton will be getting a new shop area in the next couple of months. The Samsung Experience Shop will allow customers to purchase new mobile products from smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, accessories and other items.
Personal profile: Tamera Hall Bennett
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Scott Burns: Today, the big financial risk is in bonds
Few investment research reports become turning point documents. But I have kept one for nearly 30 years because it was so important and powerful. It still says a lot to us today, but in reverse.
Find&Save for shoppers now available online
The Denton Record-Chronicle recently launched an online community for shoppers. Called Find&Save, the tab is available at DentonRC.com under the tab “Circulars/Coupons.” The site allows shoppers to easily flip through all the latest sales in the Denton area, keep track of what they need and want and share their discoveries with other shoppers.
Janet Laminack: Landscapes that use less water can be done
In the summer months, our landscapes drink up a lot of our good, clean water. People bristle when this fact gets mentioned. “Please don’t make me turn my beautiful lawn into gravel,” they are thinking. Many people even tell me, “I don’t like cactus and I’m not going to do zeroscape.”
Karina Ramirez: Rayzor Ranch to add variety
Shops offering footwear, items for teens and preteens, and fresh-baked goods will open their doors later this year at Rayzor Ranch Marketplace on University Drive.
Personal profile: Douglas Alan Hay
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Scott Burns: Owning some silver makes sense
Gold and silver aren’t lining a cloud these days. They’re under it, big time. Both precious metals dropped sharply last week, extending a nasty slump. Silver, for instance, has lost nearly 50 percent of its value over the last two years.
Maggie Jover: Water-saving tips worth your while
What would you do if you turned on the tap and no water came out? Fortunately, most of us don’t have to worry about that. However, with the limited rainfall and increasing population, water is becoming a commodity in short supply.
Fast and fresh: Target Distribution Center in Denton now shipping produce
High traffic and movement began last week at the new Target Distribution Center in Denton. April 12 was the first day the center shipped produce to local stores.
Teacher at heart
Paula Ann Hughes recognized from an early age that going to college and receiving a college degree was the quickest way to make sure people achieve their goals. Hughes said she believes she’s always been a teacher at heart and has dedicated 45 years of her life to passing on her desire for learning to her students.
Karina Ramírez: Frenchy van goes pink for breast cancer awareness
On Monday, Andre J. “Frenchy” Rheault showed up to his Dallas Drive van corner, complete with his pink shirt, ’80s-themed glasses and a cowboy hat. He would not say why he had invited his wife, Teri Rheault, Bette Sherman, a breast cancer survivor, and Linda Luster and Barb Young of On the Cuff Embroidery, along with members of Frenchy’s staff and other guests. Even Mr. Sunshine, Teri’s service dog, was present.
Personal profile: Clayton David Rozell
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Scott Burns: How we lose in the mutual fund casino
Las Vegas is profitable because most gamblers know little or nothing about the game they are playing and the odds against winning. Basically, players go to be entertained by the unexamined possibility of winning.
Janet Laminack: Plenty of educational events coming up
If you are in the mood to learn, I’ve got some great news for you. There are upcoming educational events and opportunities throughout Denton County coming up in the next few weeks. Mark these on your calendar and come out to join us.
Buckle store coming to Golden Triangle Mall
A clothing store for young men and women will be one of the new tenants added to Golden Triangle Mall, where renovation work is well under way.
Portrait studio closes
When Kelly Pugh got to work at the Sears Portrait Studio inside the Golden Triangle Mall at 10 a.m. Thursday, she had a message waiting on her work computer. “Do not clock in, your studio is closed,” she read.
Real-life experience
Texas Woman’s University students are gaining experience with real clients as part of a small business management class that recently worked with the Denton Chamber of Commerce to create a marketing plan. “The purpose of the class is to give students real life experience,” said Pushkala Raman, an associate professor of marketing in the school of management at TWU who leads the class.
Karina Ramirez: Bookkeeper Girl opens new location in Abilene
The bookkeeper girl went home to Abilene and opened her fourth business office this month. “It is kind of a homecoming for me,” said Kim Pollard, CEO of Bookkeeper Girl Inc., an online bookkeeping and payroll firm with its roots in Denton.
Personal Profile: Ben Clark
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Scott Burns: Social Security: Best-funded part of government
Today’s quiz: Which part of our government has banked enough money to pay its bills for more than three years? Yes, believe it or not, part of our government has actually done that: put aside enough money to cover its expected spending that far in advance. It’s called Social Security.
Maggie Jover: Fruits, vegetables can help increase bulk to one’s diet
There are many ways to increase bulk in your diet so that your meals are more satisfying and filling. Fruits and vegetables in puree or chopped forms can be added to smoothies, quick breads, main dishes or desserts. Doing this not only cuts calories but adds bulk to your diet and increases your fruit and vegetable intake. Here are some additional tips to eat foods that are low in calories and high in density:
Shabby chic
Robin “Tricia” Boyd loves the shabby chic style, and Brad Jeffery likes a more finished look when it comes to his furniture. They are bringing both their styles to The Boyd Girls Vintage Market, the shop they opened on East Oak Street at the beginning of March. The shop offers vintage items Boyd and Jeffery have repurposed or created from scrap pieces.
Profile: Chrissy Lynn Mallouf
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6879 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com
Karina Ramírez: Lewisville ISD awards construction contract
Officials with Dallas-based Satterfield & Pontikes Construction announced March 19 that the company was awarded a $93 million contract to build two new campuses for the Lewisville school district.
Scott Burns: Simple test can determine if you’re wealthy
Are you wealthy yet? Don’t laugh. It’s a serious question. You’ll know if you are wealthy depending on your answers to a simple four-question test later in this column.
Janet Laminack: Denton County Master Gardener Association to host annual plant sale
Now that the first day of spring has passed, it’s time to start competing with the Joneses on the greenest, most lush lawn and beautiful landscape in the neighborhood.
Report: Jobless rates continue to decline
Unemployment dropped by four-tenths of a percentage point in February for Denton and Denton County, according to data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission.
For Queenie -- Chef Tim Love to open new restaurant named after his mother
Chef Tim Love told his mother, Margaret Love, that he was going to name his new restaurant after her. “It was Christmas morning,” Margaret Love said Thursday. “It was one of my Christmas presents. He gave me a tray with the name of the restaurant on it. It was quite a surprise.” Love’s new concept at 115 E. Hickory St. in downtown Denton will be called Queenie’s Steakhouse. The name “Queenie” is his mother’s nickname. The restaurant will open for business April 4.
Karina Ramírez: Yoga, Pilates instructor offering classes at studio
Carissa Laitinen-Kniss said yoga is the kind of exercise people have to enjoy in order to embrace it. “People who have never tried it end up falling in love with it,” she said.
Personal Profile: Gricelda Samano
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6879 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com
Scott Burns: And now, a few words about reality and context
The media have eagerly trumpeted all this whining with a remarkable lack of context. Here’s an example: The White House released a report on the expected damage from sequestration in late February. The report was carefully broken down by state. The report for Texas, a state that happens to contain my five grandchildren, warned that 280 fewer schools would receive funding and 172,000 fewer students would be served. Not mentioned: Texas has 8,317 public schools and 4,329,841 students.
Maggie Jover: Six strategies show how to take control of your finances
With a fragile economy, high unemployment rates, employee benefit cutbacks and other negative economic realities, many people feel out of control with their personal finances.
Meals on wheels
Food truck owners are happy about the new ordinance that allows them to obtain an annual permit but say it could use some work. Many food trucks gathered last weekend for 35 Denton. But despite the new ordinance, many of the locally owned food trucks, such as Shiitake Swerve and Happy Camper’s Shaved Ice, Lemonades and Floats, were using temporary permits for the music festival because they don’t meet all the requirements for an annual permit yet.
Karina Ramirez: Barber reopens shop with a new vision
Alton Phillips began cutting hair when he was 24. Now at 28, he is reopening a hair salon at 318 E. Oak St. “We have four barbers total — one Hispanic, one Caucasian and two African-Americans,” Phillips said on Thursday. “It is multicultural.” Originally from California, Phillips took over Jenesis Barbershop and has spent the past month and a half remodeling the 800-square-foot location.
Personal profile: Tara Lynn Smith
If you know of someone in the business field who would make an interesting profile, call Karina Ramírez at 940-566-6878 or e-mail her at kramirez@dentonrc.com.
Scott Burns: Minimum distributions can change your tax bracket
Scott Burns is a principal of the Plano-based investment firm AssetBuilder Inc.
