June is recognized as Men’s Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. At Carrollton Regional Medical Center, we are committed to helping the men in our community lead longer, healthier lives by promoting preventive care, education, and lifestyle changes.

Statistics show that men are less likely than women to visit the doctor regularly and often delay seeking medical help. This can lead to the late detection of serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.

This month, we encourage you to take charge of your well-being by: 

✔ Scheduling your annual physical
✔ Checking your blood pressure and cholesterol
✔ Staying active and eating balanced meals
✔ Talking openly about mental health
✔ Encouraging the men in your life to do the same

Men’s Health Month serves as an important reminder to take charge of your health, not just for yourself, but for the people who count on you every day.

Carrollton Regional Medical Center is a 216 - bed Acute Care Hospital managed by Sana Healthcare. CRMC serves Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Lewisville, The Colony, and other surrounding communities. CRMC offers an array of services including 24/7 Emergency Care, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Imaging Services, Rehabilitation and Therapy Services, Cancer Care, a 16- bed Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Services, and an Inpatient Orthopedic Center of Excellence. Our Women’s Imaging Center is just 2 blocks north of the hospital and provides 3D digital mammography and other specialized breast procedures. CRMC is here to serve its community with high quality, patient-focused care, close to home. Visit www.crmc.health.

Celebrating its 13^th anniversary, the Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit on May 29at the Longhorn Ballroom raised more than $173,000—a new record—for Grant Halliburton Foundation with 640 in attendance. The evening included a VIP party for sponsors with food from Eddie’s Tex-Mex Cocina where Nadel visited with and took photos with guests. The evening included live and silent auctions and music performances by double headliners The Secret Sisters and Shinyribs. The event was presented by Haynes Boone, and the media sponsor is KXT 91.7.

Eric Nadel, Texas Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster and mental health advocate, hosted the annual birthday benefit and welcomed guests.

“I’m thrilled that you are here to help celebrate my birthday,” Nadel said. “We started off at The Kessler, but we ran out of space because more people wanted to attend. So we moved to the Longhorn Ballroom, which is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. Five years ago, I decided to partner with Grant Halliburton Foundation, a Dallas nonprofit that provides mental health education, resources, and support to children, teens, and their families. The work they do is important, and I want you to know more about them.”

Nadel then introduced Kevin Hall, Grant Halliburton Foundation president.

“Eric, we’re grateful for your courage and inspiration as a dedicated mental health advocate and for the impact you’ve made for us,” Kevin Hall said. “We’re honored to be the beneficiary again. I want all of you to know more about our organization through this video.”

After the video played, Ronnie Conger, auctioneer, invited those who purchased beads to stand up to play a spirited game of heads or tails. Then he led the live auction, which included watching a Texas Rangers game with Eric Nadel, a Jazz Cruise getaway with Elvis Costello and Boz Scaggs and a dinner with Texas Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy.

Following the live auction, Alabama-based The Secret Sisters played their emotional songs and ended by singing happy birthday to Nadel who joined them on stage. Then, Shinyribs, led by the animated Kevin Russell performed their blend of Texas blues, New Orleans R&B funk and horn-inspired Memphis soul music. Russell even took to the floor dancing enthusiastically with several guests, while others danced.

For more information and a complete list of sponsors, visit https://www.granthalliburton.org/ericnadel.

About Grant Halliburton Foundation: Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of a Dallas teen who battled depression and bipolar disorder for several years before his suicide death at the age of 19. The Foundation that bears his name works to help families and young people recognize the signs of mental illness through a variety of avenues including education, conferences, collaboration and encouragement. Since 2006, the Foundation has provided mental health education, training and support to more than 350,000 students, educators, parents and professionals. The Foundation also offers Here For Texas, which includes HereForTexas.com and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These free community tools aim to offer easy access for North Texans seeking mental health and addiction information and resources. Learn more about the Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org.

Join McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails for an unforgettable Father’s Day on Sunday, June 15. We are opening early at 10:30am for the celebration so, make plans to honor dad with bold flavors and warm hospitality on his special day.

Cocktails are a signature feature at McRae’s, and you can rest assured an expertly crafted, Elder Fashioned, with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Elderflower, and Angostura Bitters, will be an added highlight as you toast dad and all he means to you.

Father’s Day Prix Fixe Menu

Begin with a starter of a Buffalo Shrimp & Blue Cheese Polenta or Venison Crostini followed by a second course of Wedge Salad or Shiner Bock & Cheddar Cheese Soup.

Delightful and creative entrees feature Whiskey Glazed Pork Chop ($39), Chicken Fried Chicken with Black Truffle Country Gravy ($39), Surf & Turf ($49), or Mediterranean Branzino ($39).

Save room for a sweet treat with dessert offerings of Espresso Chocolate Mousse Cake or Crème Brulee ($10 each). A kids menu for children 12 years and under is available for $14.

This menu is offered exclusively on Father’s Day (our regular brunch and dinner menu will not be offered) so make the most of the day and give Dad a savory culinary experience he will remember.

Whether you dine in our cozy dining room or outdoors on our comfortable patio, McRae’s offers an upscale dining experience in a relaxed, casual setting. Seating is limited and reservations are highly recommended. See the full Father’s Day menu and make your reservations online at McRaesAmericanBistro.com or call us at 214-792-9944.

Ghostlight

by

Kenneth Oppel

A suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel of ghosts, friendship, and family

SYNOPSIS from Goodreads:

One teen's summer job scaring tourists with ghost stories takes a terrifying turn when he accidentally summons the spirit of a dead girl—and she has demands. . . .

Rebecca Strand was just sixteen when she and her father fell to their deaths from the top of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse in 1839. Just how they fell—or were they pushed?—remains a mystery. And their ghosts haunt the lighthouse to this day. . . .

Gabe tells this story every day when he gives the ghost tour on Toronto Island. He tries to make it scary enough to satisfy the tourists, but he doesn’t actually believe in ghosts—until he finds himself face to face with Rebecca Strand.

The true story of her death is far more terrifying than any ghost tale Gabe has told. Rebecca reveals that her father was a member of the Order, a secret society devoted to protecting the world from “the wakeful and wicked dead”—malevolent spirits like Viker, the ghost responsible for their deaths. But the Order has disappeared, and Viker’s ghost is growing ever stronger.

Now Gabe and his friends must find a way to stop Viker before they all become lost souls. . . .

Ghostlight is a suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel about ghosts, friendship, and family. In addition to the fictional tale, the book includes some serious and highly discussable topics such as divorce, the death of a parent, immigrant experiences, and what happens after you die. This is definitely one I would have been glad to share with my boys when they were that age for the excellent story, superior storytelling, and the diverse conversations it most likely would have prompted. 

The ghostly aspects of the story are unique. I enjoyed the author’s vision of how ghosts exist, hidden on the edge of regular daily life. The descriptions of the evil Viker were scary, and I could clearly visualize his appearance and the changes he underwent. His consuming the other spirits and the images of the ghosts crossing the water to get to land both gave me the willies. And I worried from the start about Rebecca draining the energy from Gabe; it seemed so realistic.

 The setting was fresh (Toronto), and I enjoyed the quest the four friends conducted to find the answer to Rebecca’s terrible problem (trying to avoid spoilers there.) The kids, including Rebecca, were well-drawn, each different from the others, but a well-matched, balanced group with interesting backstories. I liked that Callie was continuously researching for clues, and Yuri was steadfast in his focus on improvising the best way to combat the evil ghosts. These kids were serious about what they were doing yet still displayed their fun, young, and modern side. (Even Rebecca is intrigued and learns to use some modern conveniences.)  They were or became friends, and some of their dialogue had me laughing out loud. 

                “Steaming pile of yak dung! Who says such a thing?”

                “Me, from now on!” 

With its unique setting, characters, and ghostly afterlife to its suspenseful and exciting plot, I recommend GHOSTLIGHT to middle-grade readers who like stories that involve puzzling out a mystery or a search, ghosts, or a setting during a summer job at an amusement facility or waterside in Toronto. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.