As I sat in George Coffee Co + Provisions, the restaurant was buzzing with energy, chatter and excitement.

People from all ages enjoyed the clean, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere George provides. People studying used the closed table space, the booths were available for more privacy and sofas for lounging and interacting with others.

Since I don't usually drink caffeine, the barista recommended a latte. Although it was a hot summer day, I thoroughly enjoyed it indoors. The mocha latte was frothy, rich and had a design made of cream on top, a simple but great last touch.

My friend ordered the iced version of the latte that I also tried. It was a perfect combination of chocolate milk and coffee, reminding me of my childhood favorite drink and also giving me a caffeine boost.

Owner Christian Hemberger interacted with guests and staff members, evidence of George’s commitment to creating a family atmosphere.

Since its soft opening, on July 18, customers have expressed their satisfaction and excitement about the coffee shop through social media and the shop did not disappoint.

In addition, the shop now has kombucha drinks, a fermented tea, yogurt drinks, bottled juices and fruit boxes available for purchase.

The coffee shop has been a hit in Coppell and a perfect fit for Old Town Coppell.

During the week of July 10, Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt issued a city wide call to action through her column that was published in notable news outlets including the Citizens’ Advocate and Coppell Gazette.

Hunt emphasizes the potential interference from State government that residents should be wary and watchful of. The decisions during the upcoming Texas Legislature special session could especially alter the City’s “Vision 2030”, the growth of property taxes and hinder local spending.

Below is Coppell Mayor Karen’s column, “The legislature and local budgets”.

The Texas Legislature entered in to Special Session on July 18, and cities across Texas are bracing against the state’s efforts to takeover decision making at the local level.

As a matter of timing, your City Council and I have also begun holding budget workshops to discuss various issues and items for consideration in the upcoming fiscal year. Budget workshops are intended for the City Council to review projects, priorities and potential plans for the upcoming fiscal year and take public input regarding what the community would like to see in their city.

The state’s effort to centralize power over Texas cities would detrimentally impact our budget and financing ability without providing any real tax relief for our citizens. Over the years, city councils have worked to responsibly maintain the assets that make Coppell a Community of Choice.

From reconstructing aging roadways, sewer and water lines to redeveloping park facilities and working with community groups on special projects, elected and appointed officials invest in our city to ensure Coppell remains one of the most desirable places to live in the DFW Metroplex.

In 2017, based on the average home value in Coppell, property taxes paid by the homeowner totaled approximately $165 per month. For those dollars, Coppell residents receive emergency lifesaving services, cultural and recreational opportunities, well maintained roads, sidewalks and trails, parks and open spaces, various public facilities to enjoy, and a beautiful community with a high standard of maintenance and care.

Coppell citizens receive a tremendous amount of high value services for the city taxes paid.

Consider this: Coppell home, property and commercial values have increased steadily over the years, and as a result the City Council has lowered property tax rates for the past five years. Taxes paid by the average homeowner in Coppell have increased $73 over the past seven years. Thanks to conservative financial practices, Coppell is one of six cities in Texas that holds a AAA Municipal Bond Rating from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

In 2010 the community came together and adopted the Vision 2030 plan. The plan was developed with Coppell citizens who wanted to help guide future city leaders with priorities and a road map for community needs and services. We have a plan for our community and do not want the State limiting what our local elected representatives decide to do to meet the needs and vision of our citizens.

So what can you do? I urge all citizens to contact the two individuals representing us at the State. Ask them to turn their attention toward the real problem – the formula of school funding.

Contact your state lawmakers: State Rep. Matt Rinaldi – matt.rinaldi@house.texas.gov, 972-247-8994, 512-463-0468; State Sen. Don Huffines don.huffines@senate.texas.gov, 214-239-6131; 512-463-0116. 

Whether rain or shine, weather does not deter Coppell residents from fulfilling their Saturday morning farmers market tradition. Each weekend, the market attracts over 1700 customers from Coppell and nearby cities with almost 45 vendors to choose from.

“The people were friendly and the samples are really nice and good to try. It is especially nice that it is not crowded and the weather's nice,” farmers market attendee Pallavi Nanu said. “They have food fit for various types of people, you could be vegetarian or vegan and be fine.”

Popsicles, pies, tamales, empanadas, spices, herbs, produce, pastas, soaps and more, were available for purchase.

Just over a year ago, a pavillion was specifically constructed for the farmers market, allowing vendors to sell goods outside in tents and also in a covered space.

Unlike the Dallas Farmers Market that charges vendors $50 for a booth, having a space in Coppell is much more reasonable.

Patty Alford has been a fresh produce vendor for four years at the Coppell market and is part of her family-owned farm Alford Farms that is located in Emory, TX.

“The people who run the market are very friendly, helpful, efficient, the price they charge to have booth here is very reasonable,” Alford said. “It’s a very diverse group of people who come here it’s good for vegetable vendors because what one group of people do not enjoy another group of people do.”

Dani Perasell works at Abundantly Aromatic, a small-scale business near Mesquite that has been coming to the Coppell Farmers Market for eight years. The company specializes in soy candles, handmade soaps, salt and sugar scrubs and bath bombs.

Abundantly Aromatic uses a cold process that starts with the fats in shea butter or olive oil that are stirred into lye butter, creating glycerine. Next, essential oils and fragrances are added to the mixture that is poured into a mold that is later cut into individual bars of soap.

“The community that runs it really appreciates the vendors, there’s vendor appreciation day, the rent isn’t crazy,” Perasell said. “The Coppell Farmers Market made a conscious effort to be small, they only let in a certain number of people, it’s very heavily screened and they physically go to the farms to check it out to make sure everything is on the up and up.”

In the last three years, Old Town Coppell has been developed to include a variety of restaurants, coffeehouses, small businesses, homes and the farmers market at its heart.

Coppell Farmers Market Manager Amanda Austin believes that the emphasis on the community gardens, the farmers market and biodiversity education center are factors that make Coppell special.

“There are different communities going on, there’s the customers who use this place as a meeting space to get together with each other but the customers have also built relationships with the vendors,” Austin said.

In our modern world, almost any ache or pain can be relieved with what is often known as a medical miracle, but the longterm effects of these treatments are not always obvious.

Cryo Coppell owners Bobby and Kerri Colclasure hope to change this reality with an alternative medicine form known as cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy is a hyper-cooling process that lowers a patient's body temperature to 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of three minutes.

Patients, whether competitive athletes, someone with ankle problems or anyone who does not want to be heavily medicated for pain, can receive relief at 722 S. Denton Tap Rd. #240, Coppell.

Benefits of cryotherapy include increased calorie burning, smoother and tighter skin, weight loss, increased energy, higher quality sleep, increased performance, reduction of arthritis, and many more wellness, performance and lifestyle advantages.

The business came to fruition when couple’s daughter, Tenley, needed quick and effective relief from the physical demands of competitive gymnastics.

“Everyday [Tenley] would come home and ice her ankles, ice her knees, ice her elbows and she would do that while she was doing her homeschool and someone said why don’t you start trying cryo with her,” Bobby said. “Within two weeks of taking her everyday, she’s not icing anymore and we were pretty amazed because our icemaker would run out everyday.”

As she trained 30 hours a week, she started going to Cryo daily and saw immediate results, inspiring her parents to start a family business in their hometown of Coppell.

While the Colclasures have other careers, they are at Cryo whenever they get the chance including lunch breaks, after work and on the weekends.

“We are all family oriented, my wife’s here, my three kids are here working and I think people like that,” Bobby said. “It’s a really personable and friendly place.”

While Cryo is a business, faith and family are an important part of their mission to help the Coppell community.

“Coppell is a very close-knit community, it’s a small town and probably 90 percent our business comes through Coppell,” said Bobby. “I think people in Coppell like to do business in their town and support each other.”

To schedule a cryotherapy appointment, visit http://cryonationcoppell.com or call (469) 763-3096.

While the Cozby Library and Community Commons already hosts a handful of resources, books and study spaces for teens, this summer, librarians have even introduced workshops where teens can gather relevant skills.

During an hour-long session on Friday’s, teens can practice sketching techniques, make healthy snacks and even learn CPR to maybe one day save a life.

Behind all these new opportunities designed for teens is librarian Sarah Silverthorne who has been a key part of organizing and planning these workshops.

Silverthorne has been a librarian at the Coppell Library for eight years and was motivated to take full advantage of the new renovated Cozby Library and Community Commons.

The new library now includes private study rooms, a teen center and two large meeting rooms where many of the workshops take place.

This past Friday, professional artists from Fort Worth-based Shonuff Studios were invited to teach participants how to sketch as part of a series of workshops specifically designed for teens.

“We had an artist come in and he kind of teaches the kids, shows them sketches and how to draw things and they can ask questions,” Silverthorne said. “We try to be very hands on so they get sketch paper and pencils and rulers so they can sketch along.”

The workshops have been successful, evident by the number of participants, averaging 20 per session.

“For the teen workshops, [the reception] has been really positive, they seem to like it and it's fun because it's not just sitting and listening to they get to participate,” Silverthorne said.

Silverthorne has also partnered with local organizations such as the Coppell Biodiversity Education Center, Natural Grocers and Living Well in Coppell to enhance workshops.

Her efforts are complemented by “The League of Extraordinary Teens” which is a select group of teens who suggested the themes and came up with ideas for the workshops.  

“We are definitely trying to utilize the new space and building and do more activities and get more people involved,” Silverthorne said.  

The library is located on 177 N. Heartz Rd and the workshops are free and for teens entering grades 6 through 12.