Dear Friends,
This week’s newsletter is proudly sponsored by Mardi Gras Frisco 2007 and their great event coming up on February 2. Be sure to contact them today and get your tickets so you don’t miss out on this hot event! Also check out the spotlight on Quick-Cater and their great February special for newsletter readers. A lot of work goes into putting this newsletter together and I greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors so please patronize them wherever possible.
This newsletter and information source is designed to bring us all a little closer together each week by providing coverage of so many things going on in our community. There are so many amazing things in this newsletter, as there are every week. Please forward this newsletter to all your friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up to receive it themselves. They will greatly appreciate you for it as no citizen should be without this important information at their fingertips. Let’s work to get all Frisco citizens on this list as a more informed society is a more functional society.
Congratulations to Lora Hess who won the Los Lonely Boys tickets. Many of you answered but Lora was the first with the correct answer of “Willie Nelson” to the question in last week’s newsletter of “Who is the iconic music artist that has been a mentor to and strong supporter of Los Lonely Boys since the days they played in Austin?” Stay tuned for more contests in future newsletters.
Congratulations also to Sheila Elliott, who was the winner of the Mrs. Frisco interview competition this past weekend. She will compete as Mrs. Frisco in the Mrs. Texas United States pageant to be held at the Westin this coming May. She will also appear in the newsletter in a future Spotlight.
The Frisco Storytelling Festival, one of Frisco’s signature events, has grown up and in 2007 will be called the Lone Star Storytelling Festival! This name reflects the broad audience draw from all over north Texas and beyond. During the next few months we will be putting out information about the new name and other exciting changes to this event so stay tuned!
A lot of you have been asking about my blog. I haven’t had time to write anything since mid-December but I hope to have an update out soon. Thanks for reading…and for your patience.
If you have questions or have any community events, people or groups you want to recognize, fundraising events, or any newsworthy items you would like to see added and shared with more than thirty-five thousand residents and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please send them to me at matt@mattlafata.com so I may include them. The newsletter goes out each Thursday and I need materials by the end of the day on the preceding Wednesday if you want something to be included.
If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in advertising and reaching more than 35,000 individuals and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please email us at sales@mattlafatamarketing.com for more details on the various options available to you. The newsletter is also included on the web site www.mattlafatamarketing.com and www.frisco-online.com for additional exposure. It’s a great way to promote your business, promote an event at your place of business and is the most cost effective and efficient way to reach a large segment of the Frisco population. You may want to also consider providing a special offer to newsletter readers only.
Newsletter Sponsor – Mardi Gras Frisco 2007 and Reverse Raffle:
2006 was the coolest event in town, 2007 will be the hottest! Mark you calendars for Friday, Feb 2, 2007. The Second Annual Mardi Gras Frisco 2007 is hosted by Knights of Columbus #12480. Come prepared to enjoy live music and Cajun food in the Crescent City. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler…Let the Good Times Roll!
In addition to a great Mardi Gras Celebration you will have an opportunity to participate in our 2nd annual Reverse Raffle. For those of you not familiar with this type of fun, simply stated, the last person standing in the raffle will win. Prizes will be awarded in American Express gift cards. Complete rules and details are now available at:
Event tickets are just $35 and are available at Classique Jewelers in the Tom Thumb shopping center, or by visiting our website at www.mardigrasfrisco.org or by calling 972-814-1052. Proceeds from the event will benefit the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and community outreach.
Spotlight on…Quick Cater:
This interview was conducted with Stacey Wetzel, head chef and CEO of Quick-Cater and winner of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year
Wow, Frisco Chamber’s Small Business of the Year! Tell us about it Stacey
Matt, what an incredible evening that was! I am truly honored to have been standing there in front of so many businesses that I respect and who have had such a huge impact on my business. So many who have trusted me with their events, those who hopefully use us in the future and at the wonderful business owners who have cared enough to teach me about being a better business woman were standing and applauding me. I applaud them, too. I was shocked and honored. We also recently received certification as a Woman-Owned Business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Quick-Cater joins only six other woman-owned companies in Frisco to achieve national certification by the WBENC. With all of this in January, we are looking forward to an awesome year.
Well then, tell us more about Quick-Cater
Quick-Cater was founded right here in Frisco in 2001 on the simple principles of quality food, creative menus and attentive service. We originally focused on deliveries and quickly evolved into a full-service operation. Quick-Cater still offers quick menus through our partner restaurants, but also offers full service events that are custom-created and most often cooked fresh on-site.
Stacey there’s so many caterers and restaurants who cater in the market, what makes you different from your competitors? What’s your true Unique Selling Proposition?
Great question. Quick-Cater’s unique selling proposition comes from 2 areas. First, we have incredible meals from backyard barbecues to custom gourmet meals that are often cooked on-site. It’s hassle-free entertaining. Second, we also have a partnership with several local restaurants that allow our clients to order their menus directly from our website. Partnering with area restaurants enables us to have a very quick response time during the lunch rush and in emergency scenarios. I can’t tell you how many times a panic-stricken client has called with a seemingly impossible request and has been delightfully astonished that we can make it happen with ease.
What’s the easiest way to contact you or someone at Quick-Cater?
You may call the company directly on 1-877-CATER-10 or go to our website to view all of our delivery menus and the restaurants that we partner with. They can even order online. Many of the full service cooked on-site menus are also on the website. Our website address is www.quick-cater.com
Stacey, the new expansion of Quick-Cater sounds great! So what special feature are you offering our newsletter readers?
In celebration of our Small Business of the Year award we are doing a Fab February. For anyone who schedules a full service event or refers someone that schedules an event by February 28th (event doesn’t have to be in February, just scheduled) will receive a free breakfast for 10! Additionally, we will give your readers and their referrals 10% off any deliveries in the month of February! Your readers and their referrals can reach us at 1-877-CATER-10.
Stacey, I’ve eaten many of your great cook on-site breakfasts at The Frisco Chamber meetings. So, what are some of the favorite menus that you are cooking onsite?
Well, if you really want to impress, have us in to prepare an Italian pasta bar. We prepare the sauces from scratch, several pastas, multiple add-ins like spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, shrimp, chicken and meatballs. Another show-stopper has been our cooked on-site quesadillas. We bring the authentic cheeses and ingredients that make quesadillas great. You can’t beat a quesadillas, just the way you love it, hot and crispy off our grill. Honestly, there are endless options; just let your imagination go wild.
Table of Contents:
To go directly to an item of interest, highlight that item, hold down the CTRL key and click. For those of you who submit things to me to be added to the newsletter, you may want to consider using descriptive titles for your submission in the future, otherwise I will continue to make them up..
2007 Honda Accord LX $239 Month**: 5
Tornado Talk…by Junior Sports Reporter, Kaleigh Lafata: 6
DeBonair Custom Cleaning Update: 8
CCSA News and Recommendations: 10
Commission-Based Sales Positions At HRchitect: 10
11th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance: 11
Third Annual Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish: 12
Today’s Tax Talk From Joe!: 13
North Texas Baseball Alliance: 13
Happenings in Frisco ISD by Sarah Ianace: 14
Crossroads Family Services Looking for Volunteers: 15
WOGA Classic International Women's Invitational: 15
Kurt Thomas Invitational Gymnastics: 16
Frisco Residents of Color to Host Black History Month Celebration: 16
Mother Earth’s Valentine’s Day Gift: 17
An Evening of Rising Stars!: 18
Sem Elementary Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction: 18
A Plea to all businesses, home based or corporate! (and individuals): 19
Brand your Calendars for an Evening of Western Elegance!: 19
DBU-North: It’s not too late to take classes for the spring semester!: 20
Frisco A&M Club Kicks off 2007 with the Power of 12: 20
Junior League of Plano Hosts Community Board Fair: 20
Collin County Ballet Theatre Presents "Romance & Revelry": 21
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Hosts Wedding Vow Renewals: 21
St. Philip’s Episcopal Preschool Announces Expansion and Enrollment Schedule: 22
Greater Collin County Pachyderm Club: 22
The Living Opera Presents our 2007 Gala: 22
Next home weekend for Tornado: February 9 and 10 vs. Springfield!: 23
Volunteers Needed for American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Frisco: 24
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – National Wear Red Day: 24
News from Frisco Gymnastics Center: 25
Congratulations to Sheena’s Dance Academy Student, Morgan Keith: 25
Dancing with the Collin County Stars: 26
City of Frisco Recreation and Aquatic Center: 27
Capitol Steps by Rep. Ken Paxton: 30
Paxton Crafts Bill to Expand Transparency on Lobbying by Public Entities: 30
Two New Columns - Citizen of the Month and Neighborhood of the Month
Starting in February, we will have two new monthly columns.
The Citizen of the Month will focus on a person in Frisco who has been nominated by another individual. He or she could be a person who has recently done something special that contributes to the well-being of our city and/or its citizens, or it could be somebody who has had (or currently has) an interesting career or experiences that could be shared with our readers.
The Neighborhood of the Month will highlight a particular neighborhood in our city. I am looking to hear from you as to why your Neighborhood is so special.
Please send an email to community@mattlafatamarketing.com to nominate and explain why a Frisco citizen or a neighborhood should be honored with this monthly recognition.
I will once again be a judge for this event and hope that some of you can get teams together and enter…
The Friends of the Frisco Public Library are sponsoring the 12th Annual Adult Spelling Bee on February 24, 2007 at 2:00pm in the City Council Chambers located on the first floor of the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center.
Teams of three adults compete for trophies and are encouraged to wear costumes and bring a cheering section. The best costumed team will also win trophies. Our theme this year is “007” License to Spell”.
There will be an Audience Participation Game, Silent Auction, and then after the Bee the Friends will be serving pie, coffee and Library Punch in the McCallum Room.
An entry fee of $30.00 per team is collected and then each team is supplied with a “Top Secret” Study List. Mulligans can be purchased for $25.00 each. The mulligan or “pass” may be used when a team decides before spelling the word that they want another team to spell it.
Spectator Seats are just $2.00 and include pie, coffee and punch.
The proceeds from this year’s Spelling Bee and Silent Auction will be used to enlarge the foreign language collection at the Frisco library.
You may pick up an entry form at the Library or by contacting Judy Clark at 214-387-0128 or Vivian McCallum at 972-335-2656. A Study List and the Rules will be mailed to your address. We are limited to 15 teams, so round up your spellers and get your entry form in soon.
0.9% Financing Available *
See Mack Parker at David McDavid Honda of Frisco: Northwest corner of Hwy 121 and the Tollway 972-731-3000 www.myhondacar.net mack@myhondacar.net
*0.9% available on 2007 Honda Trucks (Odyssey, Pilot, Element, Ridgeline) except CRV. Not available with any other offer. Contact Dealer for Details
**Contact Dealer for Details
The past 3 Tornado games this weekend couldn’t have been better. If you were the St. Louis Bandits! They won 2 out of the 3 games that were played. And, since they are the 1st place team, the Tornado are even further out. Like 10 points out. Let’s hope they can fix that during their 3 games vs. the Santa Fe Roadrunners this weekend.
Thursday night was going the Tornado’s way, until the 3rd period. In the 1st period, Stephane Da Costa had a power play goal to start off the scoring. Close to the end of the 1st, Nielsson Arcibal gave the Tornado a nice 2-0 lead with Brian Reagan and Justin King assisting. But it wasn’t him that finished off the period. St. Louis scored with 53 seconds left to let it be 2-1. In the 2nd period, Justin King made it seem like it was going to be their game by making it 3-1. Let’s just say all this was turned around come time for the 3rd period. Derek Danowski, who played on the Tornado last year, scored 2 goals for the Bandits to tie the game up and send it into overtime. And, well guess what? Overtime did not go the right way for the Tornado. 32 seconds in, St. Louis scored and ended it 4-3. Shots on goal were 32 to 30.
Friday night was their only win and it was a close game, with only 1 point periods. St. Louis started it off first with a goal towards the end of the 1st period. In the 2nd period, defenseman Colin Long had a power play goal with Ryan Fuller and Nielsson Arcibal assisting. Going into the 3rd period tied 1-1 isn’t exactly fun, it’s nerve-wracking. Luckily the Tornado took this one with Dylan Cooper scoring the winning goal and Lyon Messier assisting. Shots on goal were 26 to 25 in favor of St. Louis. And the 3 stars of the game were Dylan Cooper, Thomas Tragust and Lyon Messier.
Saturday was a bad turnaround as we lost, 5-3. Again St. Louis scored first towards the end of the period. Ryan Fuller responded a minute later with Julian Mikola and Colin Long assisting. Now, the 2nd period was totally downhill. St. Louis scored the 1st of their 4 goals in the 2nd period only 54 seconds in. The second and third goals came less than a minute apart. And 3 minutes later, their last goal came to let them lead 5 to 1 only 7 minutes into the 2nd period. Goalie Thomas Tragust was pulled about 5 minutes later and Corson Cramer was sent it to finish off the game strong. In the 3rd period there was a lot of penalties and one goal from Stephane Da Costa on power play. But that wasn’t good enough as St. Louis won 5-3. Shots on goal were 34 to 30, again in favor of the Bandits. And in the entire game, we had fights from Paul Yovanic, Adam Flink, and Lyon Messier along with a lot of roughing from everyone.
This weekend the Tornado play three games against the 2nd place Santa Fe Roadrunners, in Santa Fe. And the next home games aren’t until February 9th and 10th against the Springfield Jr. Blues, but you can buy your tickets now by calling 972-335-9800 or go to www.tornadohockey.com. Thanks for reading have a great weekend!!
In just this past year alone Auto Burglaries in Frisco have risen dramatically. For example, In December of 2006 there were 102 reported vehicle burglaries, up from 64 in December of 2005 – a 59.4% increase in one year’s time. Burglary of Motor Vehicle (BMV) cases can be very difficult to solve as little physical evidence is left behind in most cases.
These offenses occur during all hours of the day, affecting both residential and business areas. However, in many cases these vehicle burglaries have been crimes of opportunity and could have possibly been avoided if preventative measures were taken.
Here are some simple vehicle burglary prevention tips to follow that may help keep you, your family, friends or neighbors from becoming a victim. These steps should be used whenever and wherever you park your vehicle, whether you are just “running in for a minute” or parking for the evening.
• ALWAYS close your windows, lock your vehicle and garage doors - an open or unlocked window/garage door is an invitation to a criminal and an easy target.
• Park in well lit areas close to the building - or if at home in the garage (always the best option).
• If you must park in your driveway utilize (or install) floodlights - installed above/around your garage set on a motion detector to illuminate your driveway, as this will help discourage a Burglar (lighting is one of the best property crime deterrents).
• ALWAYS remove loose valuables from your vehicle - including the garage door opener (if taken an easy way for a Burglar to gain entry into your home).
• This includes purses, wallets, cellular phones, laptop computers, loose change, briefcases, etc. A car burglar loves to see items that can be grabbed easily and carried away without much effort.
• A brick through the window takes only seconds and is all it takes to gain access to these loose items.
• ALWAYS set your car alarm (if so equipped) and take note of any car alarms you hear going off in your vicinity.
• Don’t hesitate to call 911 to report suspicious persons - seen wandering around in parking lots/neighborhoods (particularly after hours) and/or looking into cars as they walk by. Police Officers cannot be everywhere, so we count on citizens to be our “eyes” and “ears” and report these types of suspicious activities.
• Record the make, model and serial number of all your commonly used electronic equipment (even if you plan on never leaving these devices in your vehicle). Having this information available is necessary in order to enter the items into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer database This will aid police in trying to locate the items if the offender(s) are found with them or if they are pawned. This will also ensure the property is returned to the rightful owner.
• Get involved in neighborhood watch efforts - Become a Frisco Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. Go to www.frisconeighborhoodwatch.com for more information
The Frisco Police Department has enacted a vehicle burglary action plan designed to increase both detection/apprehension and public education/awareness efforts. The Frisco Police Department is asking that every citizen to do their part in helping to fight crime by taking both preventive action and spreading the word about this ever growing problem. Working together we can make a difference.
Should you have any questions concerning vehicle burglaries, other crimes or neighborhood watch, please contact the Frisco Police Department Community Services Division at (972) 292-6139/6134.
To report a crime or suspicious activity:
Emergency: 911
Frisco Police Department Non-Emergency: (972) 292-6010
Happy New Year!
As you know, 2006 was our first full year in business. It was a year of learning, growing, making corrections where needed, etc, but we made it through the year and now we are off and running to make our second year even stronger! I truly appreciate you giving us an opportunity and helping us achieve a truly remarkable first year in business.
DeBonair Custom Cleaning primarily serves the Frisco and Plano area. To continue our growth trend, we needed to add additional cleaning employees to our already established team. I have new employees that are already on board and I'm getting great feedback regarding their work.
If you know of anyone that would benefit for our services, please refer them to us. Feel free to forward this email to your friends and family for contact information.
Thank you very much for your continued business. Please always let us know if we can do anything to improve our level of service for you.
Debbie Childers - DeBonair Custom Cleaning - www.debonaircustomcleaning.com - debonair-cleaning@sbcglobal.net - 214-886-2588
How common is autism?
· Autism is a national crisis. It is the fastest growing disability in the United States. A child is diagnosed with autism every 21 minutes and it now affects one in every 166 children.
· More than a disorder, autism is a national crisis affecting at least one million Americans and costing the country more than $90 billion annual. As the rate of autism accelerates, so do our efforts.
The DFW Chapter of Cure Autism Now, which includes members in Frisco, is having a fundraiser on Tuesday, January 30th from 5pm-10pm at Tin Star Restaurant (NW Corner of Gaylord & Preston). That evening, 20% of dinner checks will be donated to CAN, but only when presenting the coupon found here:
Please call Joey at (972) 741-6914 for more information.
Frisco Families and Friends Use Hearts and Feet to Fight Cancer:
Walkers (and joggers) will go around the clock in the battle against cancer during the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Frisco.
Teams of Frisco residents will gather at Pizza Hut Park, Dr. Pink field on Friday, April 20, 2007 at 7 pm for an overnight relay against cancer. Relay For Life is a family-oriented team event where participants can walk relay-style around the track and take part in fun activities off the track. Teams can include coworkers, club members, family and friends who have gathered donations prior to the event.
Teams of eight to 15 members gather with tents and sleeping bags to participate in the largest fundraising walk in the nation. Relay For Life unites friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools and churches ... people from all walks of life. Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of supporting a cure for cancer.
Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, coordinate logistics, find refreshments and prizes, plan entertainment and lend their support in any way.
For more information on the April 20th event, or if you would like to volunteer on the Relay For Life committee, please contact René Sinclair at 972-816-9816 or Lisa Flowers at 972-365-6268. or visit www.cancer.org. Funds raised at Relay For Life will enable the American Cancer Society to support local services and resources for cancer patients and their families. Funds also support critical cancer research and community education programs designed to teach people how to reduce their risk of developing cancer.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.
FISD's art program will shine once again this year as the community celebrates Youth Art Month which is celebrated each March. Frisco Art Teachers from every campus in our district will proudly display beautiful works of art created by many of their students. The show is to be held at Wakeland High School this year. Wakeland is located at 10700 Legacy Drive. Two receptions and viewing of artworks will be held on both Tuesday, February 27, 2007 and Thursday March 1, 2007 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. The Tuesday evening open house reception will honor Wakeland High School, Frisco High School, and all feeder schools. The Thursday open house reception will honor Centennial High School, Liberty High School, and all feeder schools.
Please make the time to come out and support the district's art program and enjoy admiring these young talented artists' hard work!
The Thursday Night Songwriter Showcase is going strong at Poppy’s Pizza and Pasta at Frisco Square from 7-10PM every week. This week’s exceptional line-up (that’s RIGHT NOW folks) is Brian Bertrand (lead singer for Day Job Refugees), C. Aaron Moore, and Diane Hart (w/Eric Sykes). This promises to be a wonderful night of entertainment, with influences of Folk Rock, Jazz, Funk and R&B. The music is a mixture of great original music and familiar cover songs.
Ryan Michael Galloway’s Gigster Clinic Textbook (art, science and business for modern performing artists) is now available in paperback at www.gigsterclinics.com/merch.htm. This proprietary text is the backbone of his acclaimed Gigster Clinic program. His new songwriting book, Writing Hit$ and Heartbreaker$ (songwriting fundamentals) will be available soon.
HRchitect, a small nationwide and fast growing human resources technology consulting firm based in Frisco, TX, is a leading provider of consulting services to major corporations. We sell our services to mid-size and Fortune 500 companies.
We are currently searching for highly motivated individuals to drive sales within existing and new clients. We are searching for entrepreneurial-minded people who would like to work in a unique environment with independent and flexible work hours (part-time or full-time territories available), and great earning opportunities. Primarily focused on inside sales – you’ll be able to work from home and our new offices in Frisco Square.
Sales representatives earn a straight forward and lucrative commission. The majority of leads come from HRchitect, our business partners, and numerous other sources. This is a commission only position where our sales representatives make great money and enjoy uncapped commissions. The right candidates have the potential to build a six figure income stream very rapidly.
This is the perfect opportunity for people who want the flexibility to enjoy their family life, enjoy what they do and make great money while doing it.
Requirements:
* Outside or Inside, commission sales experience
* Proven record in a challenging, fast-paced environment
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Commitment to excellence and customer service
* Ability to work independently
* Very Organized
* Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
If you are a success-minded, goal oriented person who enjoys a family friendly work environment, we are ready to give you the opportunity to achieve your goals.
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to:
Matt Lafata
Director, Sales and Marketing
HRchitect
Saturday, February 10, Senior Center at Frisco Square, 6670 Moore Street from
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Take a twirl with your sweetie or friend to the country rhythms of Southern Pride. Refreshments and exciting door prizes will be provided. Tickets are $5 per person and may be purchased at the Senior Center beginning Jan. 10. Any remaining tickets will be sold the night of the event. Attire is western or casual. For more information, call the Senior Center at 972-335-5515.
11th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance:
The Daddy Daughter Dance is one of Frisco’s premier events, and we are proud to boast it is one of the largest in the nation! The dance will be held in the beautiful ballroom at the Frisco Conference Center. A third dance has been added, which will allow for more dancers to attend than ever before!
Date: Saturday, February 17, 2007
Dance Times:
Ages 4 – 6 4 – 5:30 pm
Ages 7 – 9 6 – 7:30 pm
Ages 10 – 12 8 – 9:30 pm
Location: Frisco Conference Center, 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive
Dance Fee: $10 per ticket ($2 Convenience Fee will be assessed to tickets sold online)
Parking: Limited FREE Parking available at the Conference Center
Parking Garage – $3 per vehicle
Valet Service – $12 per vehicle
FREE Shuttle service provided from the Dr Pepper Ballpark
Visit www.FriscoFun.org to download a map
Theme: “Once Upon a Time…”
Portraits: Innovative Images will be onsite to commemorate your special night with professional portraits. Portraits are $20 (cash or check only) and include two 5 x 7 prints and eight wallet-size photos.
Ticket Sales Information:
TICKETS ARE LIMITED & WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY!
1. Online tickets sales at www.FriscoFun.org.
2. Walk-in ticket sales beginning Saturday, January 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Frisco Superdrome, located on the campus of Collin County Community College at 9700 Wade Blvd.
Any remaining tickets will be sold during regular business hours at the Alumni Hall Fitness Center or online at www.FriscoFun.org.
For more information call the Frisco Special Event Hotline at 972-292-6520.
Got bait? Want to fish? The City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Department will be releasing 3,000 Rainbow Trout in the pond at Frisco Commons Saturday, February 3, 2007 starting at 8:00 a.m. This will be the third annual Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish. The park is located at 8000 McKinney Road and the pond is at the north end of the park near the amphitheater.
The Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish is a great opportunity for first time anglers to come out and learn about the sport of fishing. Only kids ages 4-16 will be allowed to fish the first three hours. The average size of the fish will be eight to ten inches and the daily bag limit is five per person.
Everyone is encouraged to “catch ‘em and keep ‘em.” Trout cannot survive when water temperatures rise later this spring, and everyone is encouraged to keep whatever they catch. This event is rain or shine so everyone needs to come prepared for the weather.”
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regularly stocks the Commons Pond, as well as the pond at Warren Sports Complex, with channel catfish and largemouth black bass.
Commemorative t-shirts will be given to the first 100 kids at the event. In addition, rod and reel combo sets will be given to the first ten kids to catch a trout.
Tips for successful fishing include using a lightweight line (4-6 lbs. test), small hooks and small sinkers. Baits can include live worms, artificial lures, whole kernel corn, cheese, salmon eggs, marshmallows or your own “family secret”.
Open season for adult anglers will start at 11:00 a.m. that day. Anyone 17 years old and over is required to have a Texas fishing license, which are available at any sporting goods store. After the Trick-A-Trout, people can fish at the pond until the trout are gone. Park hours are from dawn until dusk.
For more information call 972-292-6500, or visit the web at http://www.FriscoFun.org.
Saturday, March 10 at 12 p.m. at Harold Bacchus Community Park - Rusty
Greer/Texas Rangers Championship Field
Get ready to see the most talented bands in Frisco. For a registration form,
click
here. For more information, contact Ashley Blanchard at 972-292-6507.
Well, the holidays are over and we are all settling in for a chilly winter. And, of course, tax time rolls around again. Many have already started to receive the various documents from employers, mortgage companies, brokerage houses and the like. These documents should be in taxpayers hands by February 1. This column will offer information to help with the coming tax preparation and filing season.
For the 2006 filing year, the IRS is offering a one-time tax refund for excise taxes on long distance telephone calls. Anyone who paid federal excise taxes on landline, cell phone, voice-over-internet or bundled services after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006 is eligible for this refund. You may take as a refund on your 2006 Form 1040 the greater of actual taxes paid during this period or an amount ranging from $30-$60 (based on the number of exemptions claimed on your tax return for 2006).
Businesses, too, are eligible to claim a refund by filing Form 8913 with their 2006 return.
Happy Filing and don't let taxation be a frustration!
Joe C. Hockaday, CPA is a Frisco-based Certified Public Accountant with over 23 years of experience. Joe has served clients in the Frisco area since 1999 and also has served as Treasurer for a variety of non-profits in the Dallas area. Contact Joe at 214-460-2096 or at jhockadaycpa@yahoo.com.
The information above is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
The North Texas Baseball Alliance was established in 2004 to help support inter-city competition in North Texas. The alliance is built on strong relationships while maintaining independent leagues. We agree to provide combined competitive baseball for all age groups to develop skills, enhance learning, and cultivate personal growth
The experience of visiting neighboring cities, playing on different baseball fields, and meeting new people allows coaches and players alike to see different levels of competition and explore learning tools. We have coaches and players from all over including Frisco, McKinney, Little Elm, The Colony, Garland, Dallas, Plano, Carrolton, Richardson, Anna, Melissa, and more playing on teams associated with each select league.
Today, the alliance is supported by city leagues in Frisco, McKinney & Little Elm.
* Frisco Baseball/Softball Association (FBSA)
* Triple Crown Academy at Triple Creek Complex (TCA)
* McKinney Baseball Association (MBA)
* Little Elm Area Youth Sports Association (LEAYSA)
NTBA welcomes all teams and players to visit league websites for more information or just visit www.ntba.us for the latest 2007 spring league information.
COST: $1500 for all age groups U9 - U14
Offering both AA & AAA USSSA League
USSSA Roster and Proof of Insurance Required
Equipment and game balls supplied by teams
Determined by players age on 4/30/2007
18 Games Guaranteed
Team and Individual Awards for 1st & 2nd place in League
Both single and double-header games will be scheduled to accommodate teams
Games are played in Frisco, Little Elm, & McKinney
SEASON STARTS - March 9th 2007
National & State Qualifying League
Two State qualifying AA & AAA Tournaments
Team and Individual Awards for 1st & 2nd place in tournament
INCLUDED
DEADLINE TO ENTER - February 15th 2007
January 29th – FISD Student Holiday/Staff Development
February 5th - Orientation at Frisco high schools for incoming freshmen
The end of January is nearing let’s take the time to thank a FISD board member for a job well done!
FISD Board of Trustees meeting, January 8th – members approved the elementary attendance zones for the 2007-2008 school year, zone for Fowler Middle School and adjustments to Wester Middle School’s zone. The Clark Middle School zone is still being discussed. Visit www.friscoisd.org for new zone maps and zone descriptions.
Frisco Music Talent
Way to Go Jung Choi, a student at Pioneer Heritage Middle School, was 2nd place winner in the Junior Winds Division of the Plano Symphony Orchestra's 2007 Collin County Young Artist Competition which was held this past Saturday, January 6, at the Collin County Community College in Plano.
Congratulations to four Frisco seniors who have been named All-State after participating in the Area A All Area Band Auditions in at Abilene Christian University this month!
Lookout for the Stars
A
display of stars will line the exterior of several FISD campuses this winter.
The Visual Arts Guild of Frisco invited schools and community members to
decorate large metal stars this past fall. The stars were on display outside
City Hall but are now traveling on. They will rotate Frisco campuses before
ending up in Historic Downtown Frisco.
Curtsinger Elementary Jan. 8 -12
Christie Elementary Jan. 15 - 19
Fisher Elementary Jan. 22 - 26
Anderson Elementary Jan. 29 - Feb.2
Borchardt Elementary Feb. 5 - 9
Crossroads Family Services is looking for volunteers to assist victims of family violence while officer remains at the scene. Weekdays and weekends. For more information, please call Maria Flores at 972-578-2802, Ext. 103 or email her at makinwunmi@fsplano.org.
Please visit www.crossroadsfamilyservices for a listing of educational programs and information about the Victims’ Assistance Program (FREE counseling to victims of crime). Located in Plano, off 75 and Park.
February 3-4, 2007 at the Frisco Conference Center
WOGA Gym is the home of the 2005 World Champion Carly Patterson and the current US National Champion, Nastia Liukin. This International Invitational Event will showcase National Team Member athletes from all over the world, from the youngest to Elite Levels of competitions. The athletes are fan-friendly and always remain after the competition to greet their fans and sign autographs. If you are a fan of gymnastics or want to see the sport's future stars compete live, this event is a must see! For more information call WOGA Gymnastics Academy at 972-985-9292 or visit www.woga.net .
February 16-18, 2007 at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco
Don’t miss the excitement of this gymnastics competition for Levels 7 through
Elite at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco! You could just be watching a
future Olympian at this event that is fun for the entire family Call
214-387-4707 or visit
http://www.kurtthomasinvitational.com/index.html
Frisco Residents of Color (FROC), a non-profit community based organization will celebrate the contributions of people of the African American Diaspora by hosting a Youth Art Competition and Cultural Marketplace on Saturday, February 24, 2007. This celebration will showcase art, crafts, and music.
Youth artists are being encouraged to compete in the art competition open to any students in grades K-12 who reside in Collin County. Submissions are open to interpretation of the theme: Standing on The Shoulders From The Past. These art collections will highlight and preserve young artist’s creative remembrance and expressions of hope and renewal.
Vendors with products or services that fit the description of being influenced by the
African American Diaspora community are being sought for the Cultural Marketplace, which will be combined with the art exhibition to create an atmosphere that promotes an informative, educational, and cultural exchange. For additional information on FROC, youth art competition guidelines, and/or vendor and sponsorship opportunities, please
Email: froc_tx@yahoo.com.
Join us at First Baptist Frisco as we enjoy Beth Moore's talk based on her new book, GET OUT OF THAT PIT.
Saturday, February 24, 2007 from 9:45 am-3:30 pm at First Baptist Church Frisco, 7901 Main Street - 972-335-9830
Cost $20 by January 28 (includes lunch). Price will go up after January 28. Everyone is welcome!
This year’s first Chunk Your Junk event will be Saturday, February 17th, 2007 from 8 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.. It will be held in the Frisco Public Works front parking lot located on 11300 Research Rd. For directions to the facility call 972-292-5900.
You can bring the following items for safe disposal, recycling, or donation: Appliances (tagged Freon free), Lawn brush and tree limbs, Carpet, Cell Phones, Computers, Exercise equipment, Fax machines, Fencing, Furniture, Metal, Printers, Old clothes and other items to be donated to charity.
Due to the popularity of the program, all Household chemicals (paints, pesticides, solvents, gasoline, all batteries etc.) will be collected at the Environmental Collection Center, located at 6726 Walnut St. in conjunction with the Chunk Your Junk event. None of these products will be collected at the Public Works Site.
There will also be a Truck Load Sale of recycled colored mulch collected from Frisco building sites for $2.25 a bag in connection with the Chunk Your Junk at Frisco Public Works. This sale is sponsored by Consolidated Construction Recycling Services.
The Frisco Green Team and Frisco ISD are teaming up to give Mother Earth a huge Valentine’s Day gift this year in the form of recycled phonebooks. Participating FISD schools will be collecting old phone books from January 16th-February 9th to be recycled. These books will not only be kept out of the landfill and be recycled into new paper but will also earn the schools extra money to support their individual Green Teams. So, send Mother Earth a valentine this year and take your old phone book to your local FISD school.
Do you want to understand your roadblocks to marketing, attract what you want instead of chasing after it, and how to deal with rejection?
Professional Certified Coach Deanna Frazier works with people who want to change and improve their lives believing that the secret to attracting what you want is to become the employee to want to hire, become the employer you want to be, or become the person you would like to be. Ms. Frazier will present her concepts to the Frisco BPW on Thursday February 1, 2007.
The Frisco BPW meets on the first Thursday of the month for dinner, guest speaker and networking at the Frisco Embassy Suites, 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive, just west of Stonebriar Mall. Networking begins at 6:30 p.m., dinner and speaker at 7:00 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. Please email/call Nina Barr at ngbarr@tx.rr.com or 972-377-0335 to make a reservation or for more information. Guests are always welcome.
The Business and Professional Women (BPW) is a national organization of women helping women through education, support and advocacy. Members and guests are encouraged to network with other professionals, share career strategies and interests and to learn from guest speakers on topics of interest to women as community members, individuals, business owners, employees, those advancing their careers, changing careers or re-entering the workforce.
Visit www.friscobpw.org for more information.
March 10, 2007 @ 8:15 p.m. at the Eisemann Center in Richardson
Few musical forms have a wider appeal than the driving and elegant rhythms of dance. From the tango to the waltz, dance has been the melody and movement of romance. Enjoy a wide range of dance music and ballet scores from the music of Dvorak’s famed “Slavonic Dances” to the strains of Johann Strauss, Jr.’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.” Enjoy young dancers and be simply dazzled by the talented top prize winners of the Collin County Young Artist Competition in concerto performances. Over the last two years, audiences have stood and cheered these young professionals for consummate performances.
Frisco's Jung Choi was 2nd place winner in the Junior Winds Division of the Plano Symphony Orchestra's 2007 Collin County Young Artist Competition which was held Saturday, January 6, at the Collin County Community College in Plano.
There were 95-contestants competing in the categories of Piano, Strings, Winds & Percussion on January 6, 2007 Winners were named in both the Junior Division (grades 1-8) and Senior Division (grades 9-12). The general public was invited to listen to the Finals free of charge at which time 3 grand prize winners were chosen from the 12-finalists. The grand prize winners will perform with the Plano Symphony Orchestra as soloists at the "An Evening of Rising Stars!" concert.
As a first year school, Sem Elementary has many projects that we would like to do for our children. In an effort to raise the needed funds, Sem PTA is hosting the 1st Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, February 9, 2007. We would appreciate any donation you would like to make to our Silent Auction. We are accepting numerous donations of practically any appropriate item; items such as guest passes, products, gift certificates, one-of-a-kind items, birthday parties, and so on.
In exchange for your support, you or your business will be recognized as a Silent Auction Sponsor in our event program. This program will be provided to the families of over 550 students at Sem Elementary and to every guest at our Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction. Help us make Sem an exceptional school!! Remember, having exceptional schools will continue to attract families to our neighborhoods which will in turn continue to strengthen our community.
To contribute, please contact Jennifer Duvall at friscojennifer@sbcglobal.net. Donations are due by Wednesday, January 31. Thank you for your consideration of a donation!
Bright Elementary School is having its third annual Sock Hop/Silent Auction
Friday March 2. We have not had much response for donations thus far and this
is supposed to be our biggest fundraiser for the year! We are a Title 1
school and really need help. If you can donate gift certificates, sports
tickets, any type of product or service at all, please contact Tammy Castillo
at 972-625-2888 or email her at