Downtown Denton’s The Chestnut Tree—which started out as an antique shop with a tea room in the back in 1994—has transitioned into a tea room and bistro, sans antique shop, featuring a bustling catering business.

“I love this place so much,” restaurateur Suzanne Johnson said. “I've been very fortunate to be a part of an institution that has been here for a very long time—it's the oldest restaurant downtown—but catering allows me to flex my creative chops.”

On the menu: Johnson said some food items, like the complimentary made-in-house biscuits and butter, have remained consistent since the restaurant’s inception. However, she has tweaked the menu over time to stay relevant and to honor customers’ requests.

Top-selling menu items are from the brunch menu, including lox and bagels, the Monte Cristo sandwich and The Dentonite, which is a French toast sandwich featuring ham, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, hollandaise, poached egg and a balsamic glaze.

• 107 W. Hickory St., Denton

Voters in Denton can cast their ballot for the upcoming May 2 local election during the early voting period from April 20-28 with the exception of April 21.

What you need to know: Denton County residents can vote at any of the 42 county voting locations during the early voting period but only at their precinct location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on election day.

Early voting polling location operating hours vary, according to the Denton County Election Office’s website, and are as follows:

• April 20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 22-25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 27-28, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Community Impact sat down with the president and chief executive officer of the TurfMutt Foundation, Kris Kiser, to discuss the importance of lawn maintenance and a few tips to ensure your yard looks good year-round.

The TurfMutt Foundation is a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor living and the care and stewardship of yards, parks and other green spaces, according to its website.

Responses have been edited for length, clarity and style.

Why should homeowners take care of their lawns?
Our outdoor spaces, particularly our lawns, are an extension of our home. During COVID, people really did reconnect to the outdoors. It was a safe space where you could entertain, cook and meet with friends and family. It created a connection to the outdoors that we used to have.

What common mistake should homeowners watch out for when planting?
Time of year. You want the ground to essentially be thawed, so you don't want a hard freeze. Remember that newly planted plants will need water, likely supplemental water, until they're established.

From new H-E-B locations in Denton to airport construction updates, check out five trending stories from Community Impact's Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

H-E-B gives updates on two new Denton locations

Cracker Barrel shifts opening date for new Prosper restaurant

Upgrades coming to Terminals D, F at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Single-family zoning case in north McKinney heads to council

McKinney to enter negotiations with Parkhill for proposed sports complex

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.