People, Places & Events

Ask SCORE
A new business starts with preparation and planning
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–The United States has nearly 23 million small business owners, and about 500,000 new businesses launch each year.
These range from engineering firms to bakeries, from high-tech R&D laboratories to home-based accountants, and from fashion design studios to popular restaurants.
What does it take to start and manage a successful small business?
At its most basic level, it requires research, planning, commitment and hard work – all of which exemplify the truly dedicated, innovative and motivated entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurs are both dreamers, who see all the possibilities, and realists, who recognize the truths and risks of building a viable enterprise.
They know that not every aspect of running a small business is glamorous. Yet, they also understand how each necessary task factors into profits, financial independence and personal satisfaction.
If you are considering becoming your own boss, you can appreciate the need to gather information and obtain advice on entrepreneurship, even if you are already familiar with the nuances of running somebody else’s business.
A good place to start is SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”
SCORE is a nonprofit organization that offers small business counseling and mentoring to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in full confidence and at no charge.
Its 11,000 volunteer counselors are knowledgeable business experts who have “seen it and done it.” They are eager to share their insights and experience with those just starting out.
You can access SCORE’s small business resources in a variety of ways.
By visiting the local chapter office, you can have a face-to-face meeting with SCORE counselors and take advantage of a wealth of reference materials.
Many SCORE-sponsored workshops and seminars are held at these locations.
You can also find an online counselor at www.score.org  to tap the knowledge of small business experts from across the country.
Whether online or on-site, your SCORE counselor will work with you to discuss the elements of a sound business plan and begin putting those ideas in writing.
Remember, that you are the decision-maker in your new enterprise.
SCORE counselors act as guides, advisors and information resources.
There is a SCORE Chapter at The Greater Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Call (903) 887-3152 for an appointment.

New therapeutic riding center to open
Customized programs provided for each individual
Special to The Monitor
SCURRY–A new addition to Kaufman County will open its doors from 2-6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, with an Open House.
Everyone is invited to come. Volunteer and student applications will be accepted.
Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, was formed to enhance the lives of persons with physical, intellectual or psychological challenges.
We provide equine assisted programs customized to meet the objectives of each individual students needs.
What started as a dream is becoming a reality. The first volunteer training class took place Tuesday, Jan. 5, with 10 wonderful, willing hearts coming together to learn and explore all the possibilities this facility can provide to the students.
Most had no horse knowledge, but by the end of the afternoon all could groom and saddle a horse, mount and dismount a student, lead and sidewalk the horses.
It takes three volunteers for each student to make the class possible.
One volunteer exclaimed “this is more than I could have expected and I get to start at the beginning with a new upcoming center.”
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Prospect Mountain.
From an uncultivated pasture there now stands a 66x132-foot riding arena, the beginnings of an ADA bathroom, two mounting ramps, a mounting block, two walkers, two round pens and a 30x30-foot tack room.
“The facility is still not quite complete, but will be the only theme-based therapeutic riding center in this area. Designed as an old miners camp, we find value in all abilities,” owner operator Teri Lisenby said.
“Prospect Mountain is a recognized center through the North American Handicapped Riders Association (NARHA), and we will be working toward our Premier Accreditation over the next two years,” Lisenby said.
Lisenby has been in the health care field since the young age of 14 years (starting as a volunteer) and has worked as a registered nurse since 1991.
She graduated from Kaufman County’s Trinity Valley Community College Nursing Program.
Loving to teach, she has taught many other nurses, students and patients and for more than 10 years she has taught a children’s Sunday School class.
Now, by blending her gift of teaching and the great love she has for people and horses, she will help children and adults enhance their lives and abilities to their fullest potential.
Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center is located at 7471 Farm-to-Market 3094 in Scurry.
If you have an interest in becoming a volunteer or know of a child or adult that would like to be a student, please e-mail us at contactus@pmtrc.org  or call (972)452-3337.
For more Information, check out our web site at www.pmtrc.org.

Fire safety expert speaks to Rotary
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Elementary school students are the usual audience for Mabank Deputy Fire Marshal Mat Ewaskiw.
Members and guests of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake were the beneficiaries of his knowledge at Friday’s luncheon.
He began with the basics such as changing the batteries in smoke detectors at each daylight savings time change.
“Make an escape plan. You need at least two ways out, and practice at night,” Ewaskiw said.
Being able to get out of your home takes planning, just like for a large building, he explained.
“We can completely evacuate the new high school in two minutes,” he said.
During the evacuation procedure, call 9-1-1 (not the number for the local fire department and get help on its way.
“This is a rural area and volunteers must come from home and work, so the fastest response will be from calling 9-1-1,” Ewaskiw explained.
Mabank Volunteer Fire Department has a training facility consisting of two small buildings, located behind the Mabank Pavilion.