Kristen Watson | Journalist | Photographer

articles, Chestnut Tree, Chestnut Tree Denton, Denton, Photos, Valeree Clegg, Valeree Clegg Chestnut Tree, Video

Chestnut Tree offers community and collaboration

11:37 AM

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Chestnut Tree offers community and collaboration

By Kristen Watson

The bell attached to the Chestnut Tree’s door dings once again and owner Valeree Clegg perks up as she sees the new customer. Her eyes light up and a smile creeps to her face as she gets up to greet the new arrival.

Clegg opened the Chestnut Tree with her mother in 1994. The Chestnut Tree started out as a teahouse or tearoom with seven tables and today is a full service restaurant that offers over 30 teas and a full food menu to her customers.

“My mother and I opened the business and were 50/50 partners,” Clegg said. “She passed away in April. It will be two years in April. Family owned businesses are going by the wayside. There’s just not that many anymore and I think that’s what makes me special.”

The Chestnut Tree doesn’t have an average customer, Clegg said. With customers ranging from young adults to a 96-year-old customer that’s been coming for 20 years.

Terri Guthrie has been a Chestnut Tree customer for over 10 years and considers it her go-to place to bring out of town guests.

“I do know Valeree personally and I always speak to her when I come in and see her smiling face,” Guthrie said. “I think she’s done a great job with this place. She keeps it really trendy and the food is always delicious.”

The restaurant bakes their own pies, cakes and cookies and serves them in a glass case in the front. Clegg said the thumbprint cookies and chocolate pie are some fan favorites.

Before opening the Chestnut Tree with her mother, Clegg held an office job that didn’t allow her to socialize much.

“My favorite part about owning the business is getting to meet the people I get to meet,” Clegg said. “I had an office job before this and it never really gave me the chance to meet the customer base, it’s not just the customer base, it’s the community. You get to meet the people in the community and you get to know people in the community that I would never have otherwise.”

This attitude is one that keeps her longtime customers coming back. Clegg mentioned that a group from Austin was coming to Denton the following weekend just to come to her tearoom.

Suzanne Johnson is the Chestnut Tree’s chef and before that was a longtime customer of the restaurant. She loves working in the kitchen and thinks one of the coolest aspects of the restaurant is their collaboration with other small businesses.

“We have a server named Ryan, who’s known Scott from Audacity for many, many pears,” Johnson said. “So, when they came into town and wanted to open a brewery, she introduced us to him and we’ve developed a friendship.”

The Chestnut Tree offers growlers, empty beer bottles, that can be filled up with one of their local beers on tap and taken home. Clegg loves the fact that her business is a small business that is family owned and takes every opportunity to assist others in the area.

“We had a beer dinner with [Audacity] in December and we roasted a pig and paired their beers with our food and that sort of thing,” Johnson said. “So, we have a friendship, a partnership, but more than that, we are local businesses taking care of each other.”

articles, Denton, Ice Day, Ice Day Denton 2015, Ice Denton 2015, J&J's Pizza, Multimedia, Open Businesses, Photos, Video, West Oak Coffee, West Oak Coffee Denton

Icy Businesses

1:37 PM

ICY BUSINESSES

By Kristen Watson

When snow and ice roll in to most towns in Texas, the entire town shuts down. In downtown Denton, it is an entirely different story. With the majority of shops and restaurants choosing to remain open, including local favorites J&J’s Pizza and West Oak Coffee, Denton is a haven for those who love to explore the winter wonderland but also want something fresh and hot.

Jeremy Ottens, a barista at West Oak Coffee, had to work during both ice days but felt it was a good business decision for the shop.

“Yesterday we were only open from 1:30-6:30,” Ottens said. “I think what ended up happening is that they said there was a lot of people during that little trial period of time like our place filled up and so honestly people just wanted coffee So, they decided to go ahead and open and I mean it’s pretty evident they want to be here so I think it was a good decision.”

Carlee Niemeyer and Dafne Rojas were just two of the many customers who braved the snow and ice to snag a table at West Oak on Tuesday afternoon.

Niemeyer and Rojas both complained of cabin fever, thus their trek to the downtown area in search of a place to study.

Niemeyer was “really glad that the coffee shop [was] open so that [they] could come” but felt that businesses should take into consideration how far a worker must travel to work before deciding to remain open or not.

The packed house at West Oak buzzed with life and coffee grinders as the world outside remained frozen.

A few doors down, J&J’s Pizza’s open sign was also glowing bright.

Daniel Villanueva, an employee of J&J’s Pizza was working the storefront on that frozen Tuesday, although he had no say in whether or not the store opened.

“Our owner Jamie Ham decided. He’s been here for awhile so he knows that people kind of wander on the square just to see what businesses are open,” Villanueva said.

Mostly groups of friends and families came in to J&J’s for some hot pizza and some even came just for a warm place to play chess.

Laura Drapac was sitting with Ron Lechler as she told him the story of her falling on the ice, even though she is from Ohio, where weather like this is quite common.

“I slipped down the stairs at my house,” Drapac said. “Even being from someplace that this normally happens, you still know something stupid is going to happen. So, just be as careful as you can and go enjoy yourself.”

articles, dance, North Texas dance, North Texas Emeralds, University of North Texas, UNT dance, UNT dance team

North Texas Emeralds sparkle bright

9:30 AM

Photo courtesy of the North Texas Emeralds Facebook page.

By Kristen Watson

It was the summer of 2013 when Andrea Allen, University of North Texas dance sophomore, and a few other fellow students noticed there was a lack of a multi-genre dance organization that was open to students outside of the dance major.

The North Texas Emeralds dance team was born.

The North Texas Emeralds are an all-student run dance organization that meets three times a week to practice and performs at various campus events. Unlike the other dance organizations on campus, they practice and perform various dance styles including, jazz, hip-hop, kick, and contemporary.

“Originally, the name of our team was Emerald Fusion,” North Texas Emeralds Director Shadi Layegh said. “But, the group as a whole did not really like the name, so we voted and changed it.”

As a student-run organization, each fall new officers are selected that work tirelessly to maintain the team and continue to make the team a possibility for future members. Everyone on the team has input in all that they do with the officers having the final approval.

“My dance team…is quite diverse from other dance teams, including the North Texas Dancers, because we do all types of dance,” Layegh said. “We usually perform jazz and hip-hop dances because they are more…exciting for the crowd to watch.”

Photo courtesy of the North Texas Emeralds Facebook page.

Members of the team join for all types of reasons including, wanting to continue dancing without having to major in it, needing a place to let off steam, or to just be a part of an organization on campus. But, no matter why they joined, they are all connected by their love of dance.

“I joined the team because I used to be in drill team back in high school,” Social officer Carol Cubias said. “Dancing has become a big part of my life and it is a great stress reliever.”

Andrea Allen, the team’s president for this year, reminisces on the bond the team made throughout the year.

“My favorite part of being on the North Texas Emeralds team is the sisterhood that forms between the members,” Allen said. “We’ve become so much more than teammates, which makes everything that much more enjoyable.”

The team holds a special event every Tuesday called Technique Tuesday from 7:30-9 p.m. where each week a new dance technique is taught. The event is open to former members as well as the public.

There will be tryouts for the spring semester, but the time and location has yet to be announced.

“As a team, we are open to having dancers who can bring something different to the table,” Layegh said. “So, if you are an experienced dancer and want to be a part of our team, please do not hesitate to try out.”

To stay informed and up to date on upcoming performances and tryout information, follow the team on Twitter@UNTFusion or like them on Facebook by searching North Texas Emeralds.

articles, christmas volunteering, Denton, denton holiday, denton volunteer, Good Samaritan Society, holiday volunteer, Our Daily Bread, Volunteer, volunteer in denton

'Tis the season for giving back

11:59 AM

articles, Max Quimby, Photos, pot, pothead, University of North Texas, University of North Texas pothead, UNT, UNT pot, UNT pothead

Your friendly university pothead

7:10 AM

Max Quimby poses with his holiday-themed balancing prop on UNT's campus on October 31, 2014.

By Kristen Watson

Bright-eyed and full of wonder, a group of eager University of North Texas hopefuls slowly walked slowly through the winding paths of campus.

A tall, young man with a planted pot balanced perfectly on his head almost passed them when one hopeful's father stopped the man to ask what he was doing.

The man in question spun around with a friendly grin on his face and spoke with cheer in his voice.

“I'm just your friendly university pothead.”

Wholehearted, gut laughter erupted from the father, as the grin on Max Quimby’s face grew as large as his face would hold.

Max Quimby, your friendly university pothead, is a 21-year-old biology junior who started balancing things on his head when he was a kid.

Quimby routinely poses with other UNT students on campus as they pass by. Photo courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page.

During the ample downtime between his swim meets as a child, Quimby started with coke cans and now can balance almost anything. Among the list of items he’s attempted include: pizzas, books, pumpkins and even a bowling ball on top of another bowling ball.

Other than a combination of a “mildly-flat head” and the classic marching band roll-step technique, walking without moving your upper-body, Quimby swears there’s no special trick to his talent.

Many have speculated Quimby’s reasoning behind the pots, or pumpkin, depending on the holiday. His reasons are far more levelheaded than the rumors would lead one to believe.

Max Quimby, Biology junior, poses with his perfectly balanced pumpkin in front of the Biology complex on October 31, 2014.

“When I got to college, I'm also a big fan of puns, so I thought being your friendly university pot-head would be pretty good,” Quimby said. “I did it to kind of put myself out there and to meet new people…it makes people happy and I like that."

Quimby keeps a list on his phone of all the people who have stopped to get to know him. Quimby estimates there are over 150 names on the list and admitted he hasn’t maintained it very well in the past months.

Quimby’s pots and quirkiness sparked a multitude of rumors. He is doing it for a charity and people can pledge money to his cause. His brother went to UNT and balanced pots and Quimby is just carrying on family tradition. He’s a hardcore marijuana activist and that is his statement to the world. And the latest, found on the new anonymous chat app Yik Yak: he has scoliosis and he started balancing pots as a way to help correct it.

Example of the outlandish rumors surrounding Quimby's pot balancing. Screenshot courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page.

“There are all kind of rumors about me,” Quimby said. “I've never caught them written down until now. I can't for the life of me understand why scoliosis and they talked with such authority. They talked with authority like they knew me."

Besides the rumors, Quimby has also experienced a few physical and cyber threats.

“One time I got assassinated,” Quimby said. “That was funny. Okay, it wasn't very funny. It was pretty tragic actually.”

After pausing to check his cell phone, Quimby felt a swift smack to his perfectly perched pot and watched it crash to the concrete.

As it turns out, Quimby said a fraternity had placed a “bounty” on his head and as he later found out, the whole stunt was filmed.

Quimby likes to balance all manner of items and frequently poses for photos around campus. Photo courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page.

But in Quimby’s naturally positive nature, he chose to focus on the new relationships he made during the experience. After his pot fell, several people came over to help pick up the pieces.

“There was even one girl named Destiny,” said Quimby. “And I thought that was pretty funny. She came and helped me pick up my pot. It was destiny.”

Despite all of the excitement, Quimby says he has no plans to stop balancing pots, or anything for that matter.

"It kind of reminds me to always be kind to everybody," Quimby said. "Because you don't really know what they're about. There are a lot of people who think that I'm just doing it for attention or just being stupid, but I just do it because it's something I enjoy."

articles, Denton Career Planning Fair, Denton Chamber of Commerce, Denton ISD, DISD, Jordan Malone, Jordan Malone Denton, Jordan Malone Olympics, Photos

Olympian hopes to inspire youth at upcoming career planning fair

11:35 AM

Malone looks at the “Career” card all students will be given when they enter the Career Planning Fair and hopes to base some of his speech on different themes presented in the card.

By Kristen Watson

The second annual Career Planning Fair is just around the corner, next Wednesday, Nov. 7. We recently got the opportunity to sit down with this year’s keynote speaker, Jordan Malone, to pick his brain on what it takes to be successful, discussing the need for parent involvement, and closing the gap between the business community and the educational experience.

Jordan Malone is a fellow Dentonite and U.S. Olympian. He participated in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, medaling in both. Since the last Olympic games, Malone has spent the majority of his time working for and attending the University of North Texas, where he is currently working on his Electrical Engineering master’s degree.

Malone wants to convey to the students he will be speaking to that planning is a crucial role in the pathway to success. Malone also stated that his mother always made planning for his future a priority.

“When you’re in university, you just sort of expect that, ‘oh I will just figure it out once I get there,’” Malone said. “No, you need to have an understanding before hand. Planning ahead is the first step towards any form of success, in my opinion.”

Malone speaking to Denton Chamber Membership Director, Angelica Del Rosal about different aspects he hopes to incorporate into his speech.

Malone hopes to give these kids a “Rocky-type setting” where the kids feel like they have a mission and goals. He wants kids to come out of his speech feeling like they have a path set before them.

“A lot of elements of my speech will allow me to talk more about outreaching towards opportunity,” Malone said. “And I think I can offer a unique perspective because I’m out there talking to them without that sort of disconnect. I am a fellow student, so I am serving as a role model and an example.”

Director of UNT’s Outreach office, Patrick Vasquez, also had thoughts on the disconnect between the business and educational community.

“There is a disconnect,” Vasquez said. “And I wanted to be able to try to fill that gap because Denton is a very resource-rich community when it comes to education and also very rich in corporations. So, the idea that we could find a way to merge these two parts together and then to really fulfill what should be an obligation to any business, and certainly to a university, and that is to give to the community.”

Malone speaking with Vasquez about possible speech topics for the upcoming Career Planning Fair on November 5, 2014.

Businesses are somewhat cautious when considering participating in events like this. Vasquez and Malone both feel it is a business’s duty to be more engaged in the community they live in and to help the imminent growth it is sure to see.

“The businesses, I think they were a little bit weary about, ‘What’s my return on investment,’” Vasquez said. “But those who participated last year, a bunch of them are returning this year, really walked away saying, ‘Okay, I think I get it now. We have to start early. We can sell the brand that we represent, but then we can go back to our businesses and develop outreach programs to continue the education.’”

“I think as a business, there is a fight to either stand off, where you just stand off and be a business, or to be a part of the environment you’re placed in,” Malone said. “There’s a huge difference between a business and a hometown company and I think this is an opportunity for those businesses to become a hometown company. I think it’s always a good idea to invest in your own backyard.”

Malone is still drafting his keynote speech for the upcoming Career Planning Fair, but left us with a little taste for what he has in store.

“Hopefully, I can metaphorically lay out the willingness to go towards challenges,” Malone said. “The single characteristic that got me anywhere in life is just thriving on the challenge. I just want to help these kids see the reality that you are not just going here to earn money and sit on your butt, you’re here because everybody else is going to want to earn money and do something fun, but the fact is: the fun is the challenge. If you go after the things that are more difficult, you’re going to set yourself apart from the rest.”

“One other element besides the challenge, one of the statements I’m going to be making is that half of being successful is just showing up. You won’t believe how many people have the talent and just never show up.”

This blog can be found published on the Denton Chamber of Commerce Blog.

2014 Election, articles, Early Voting, Live Tweeting, University of North Texas, UNT, UNT Early Voting

Early Voting at UNT

8:22 AM

articles, disability, disability awareness, disability awareness month, october, Photos, University of North Texas, UNT

October: dispelling disability myths

9:26 AM

Devin Axtman poses in his office at UNT's Office of Disability Accommodation after his interview on October 16, 2014.

By Kristen Watson

When October comes around, for most it means the arrival of fall and Halloween with Christmas on its heels. But for two University of North Texas students, October holds a more significant meaning.

October is National Disability Awareness Month, a time when schools, organizations and ordinary people take the time to educate others and themselves about different disabilities. According to a 2012 U.S. Census Bureau report, nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States live with a disability.

Devin Axtman is a 23-year-old rehabilitation counseling graduate student who works at UNT’s Office of Disability Accommodation.

Armed with humor, Axtman spends his days counseling UNT students with disabilities, helping them to improve their college experience.

He also happens to have cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that has caused him to become a wheelchair-user.

Axtman looks at Disability Awareness Month as a time when he can help spread knowledge about not only his disability but also the effect it has on the human experience.

“I like to look at it [Disability Awareness Month] as an opportunity to shatter some of the myths and stereotypes about disabilities,” Axtman said. “I think a lot of times people think that people with disabilities can’t be successful, and I think it’s a good opportunity to kind of dispel that a little bit.”

Having cerebral palsy has given Axtman a different view on life and wants others to know is there are many stereotypes to be broken.

Axtman recounted a story where someone praised him for being a good person just because he was using his wheelchair on campus. They went as far to say that if they were him, they don’t think they would have gotten their education.

“It didn’t offend me,” Axtman said. “I just laugh stuff off, but if you think about what [she] just said, [she] basically said, ‘Yeah. You’re kind of messed up. Congrats on living your life.’ I joke about it, but I have a friend who has cerebral palsy too, and someone once said to her, ‘Oh you’d be really pretty without those crutches.’ You know, and that sucks.”

In lieu of Disability Awareness Month, Axtman shared his best advice for people who are unsure of how to treat someone with a disability.

“I guess just the first thing is to relax,” Axtman said. “And if you have questions, just ask them. I think that’s the biggest thing…Get to know me first and then talk to me about my disability.”

Janelle Van Benthem is a 20-year-old social work junior who works as a host at LSA Burger. She is also involved in an all-girls organization called North Texas Sweethearts that organizes spirit, social and service events for its members.

She also happens to have achromotpisia, an eye condition that has left her legally blind.

Van Benthem said Disability Awareness Month doesn’t affect her much personally, but she is glad there is a time where people become more aware that not everyone can function the same.

Even though Van Benthem is legally blind, she is not fully blind. When she was in eighth grade, she got her first pair of contacts that allowed her to feel more confident. Like Axtman, Van Benthem too has had her fair share of ignorant comments.

“This has happened more than once,” Van Benthem said. “People, who can even be people close to me, will say something as simple as, ‘oh she’s blind,’ or call me blind in a way. It really hurts my feelings and can offend me because I’m not blind.”

Van Benthem said she is comfortable with people asking her about her disability. In fact, she prefers it.

“Personally, I think the best way to approach it is instead of staring at them and treating them different, just ask them about their disability,” Van Benthem said. “I would much rather have someone ask me instead of just watching me and judging me. It makes me feel more comfortable and it will make them feel more comfortable.”

Lauren Tracy, a political science senior, lives a life that is also touched by a disability. Her aunt has a form of Alzheimer’s disease that stops the transfer of signals between her eyes and brain, essentially leaving her blind.

“Just ask them,” Tracy said. “I think every person has their own relationship with their disability. Have a conversation with them. Their honesty may surprise you.”

After spending much time with her aunt, Tracy wants people to understand that everyone has problems and issues to deal with in life, and for these people, it just happens to be their disability.

“I think it’s offensive to assume that people with a disability should be pitied,” Tracy said. “Many people with disabilities don’t want your pity. Rather, they just want equal footing to navigate in this world like those without a disability are able to do.”

For more information on UNT’s activities for Disability Awareness Month, visit: http://calendar.unt.edu/disability-awareness-month-events-october.

10.10, articles, minimum wage, Obama, poverty line, raise the minimum wage, weekly address

Obama calls to raise the minimum wage

7:12 PM

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Chestnut Tree offers community and collaboration

Icy Businesses

North Texas Emeralds sparkle bright

'Tis the season for giving back

Your friendly university pothead

Olympian hopes to inspire youth at upcoming career planning fair

Early Voting at UNT

October: dispelling disability myths

Obama calls to raise the minimum wage

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Kristen Watson | Journalist | Photographer | Videographer