Dear Friends,
This week’s newsletter is proudly sponsored by Frisco Square. Read below for a
message from them about one of the most exciting areas and ongoing projects in
Frisco. If you are looking for office space or a place to open a restaurant or
store, this is the place to be. 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.
If you are interested in reaching more than 30,000 Frisco residents and
businesses by sponsoring a future newsletter or having your business
highlighted, see the details in the Newsletter Sponsor section below. If you
have enough business and name recognition, you probably don’t need to sponsor
the newsletter. Otherwise, it’s the most efficient and cost effective form of
advertising to individuals and businesses in Frisco and surrounding areas.
Happy Groundhog Day! The groundhog saw his shadow so it looks like six more
weeks of winter. If winter is anything like it has been lately with 65-70 degree
days, bring it on!
If your favorite team is playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, good luck to
you. Since my favorite teams are not there, the Patriots and the Cowboys, I’m
hoping for some great commercials to keep me entertained.
If you like soul/blues/country music, I’ve been listening to Marc Broussard
lately and you can check him out at www.marcbroussard.com.
Great stuff!
Our Texas Tornado hockey team is in town Saturday night if you are looking for
something to do. Visit
www.tornadohockey.com or call 972-335-9800 for tickets. Go Tornado!
The Frisco Mardi Gras event is also this weekend. Visit www.mardigrasfrisco.org for more information.
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors and encourage
them to sign up to receive it themselves. No citizen should be without this
important information at their fingertips.
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 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 received it from somebody else and would like to be added to the list,
just send me an email at
matt@mattlafata.com. Your email address will never be sold or given to
anybody else for any reason. This newsletter, along with lots of other
information about Frisco can also be found on my web site at
www.mattlafatamarketing.com.
Newsletter Sponsor – Frisco Square:
Under new ownership and financing, Frisco Square is a multi-generational, master
planned development consisting of 147 acres and as much as 4.4 million square
feet of office, retail, multi-family and municipal facilities. When complete,
the pedestrian-friendly urban environment will include approximately 1.5 million
square feet of office space, 500,000 square feet of retail space, 1400
apartments, 500 town homes/stacked-flats/condominiums, and 144,000 square feet
of municipal facilities. Designed by nationally renowned architect, David M.
Schwarz, Frisco Square is also home to Frisco’s new city hall and library which
are currently under construction and scheduled for occupancy in the Spring of
2006. The property is located at the southeast corner of the Dallas North
Tollway and Main Street/FM 720, directly across from Pizza Hut Park, new home of
FC Dallas (formerly Dallas Burn) and the world’s largest soccer complex.
Additional information on Frisco Square is available at
www.friscosquare.com or through the
Frisco Square information center at 972-668-5000.
If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in having
your business highlighted or sponsoring this newsletter, which reaches more than
30,000 individuals and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please
email us at
sales@mattlafatamarketing.com for more details. 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 way to reach a large segment of the Frisco population. You may want to
also consider providing a special offer to newsletter readers only.
Frisco’s Population:
Frisco’s residential population is estimated to be 83,692 as of February 1,
2006.
Spotlight On…The Friends of the Frisco Library Organization:
Be a Friend. Join the Friends of the Frisco Library Today!
The Friends of the Frisco Library Organization was formed in 1990 to aid and
promote the start of a library in Frisco. With $10,000 donated by developers
George Watson and Stark Taylor Jr, $3,000 and a building on 5th and Main donated
by the city, and books donated by Frisco residents, the Frisco Public Library
was born.
The Friends sorted and shelved books and ran the first Summer Reading Club “Camp
Wanna Read” in 1991. 150 children attended and read over 1,000 books.
In June of 1992, the library opened its door at the current location on McKinney
Road, with a part-time Librarian Olga Rudy on loan from Collin County Community
College. Friends’ members Vivian McCallum and Sandy Hansel headed the volunteer
group that supported Ms. Rudy.
Over the next 15 years, the Friends have had many fundraisers ranging from Quilt
Raffles and Book Sales to the popular Annual City-Wide Adult Spelling Bee. This
year, the 11th Spelling Bee will be held on Feb. 11 in city council chambers at
the McKinney Road location next to the library.
The funds raised through these efforts have been used to provide funding for:
summer interns to help with the Summer Reading Program; purchasing Newberry and
Bluebonnet collections for the children’s area; enlarging collections of
reference materials and books on tape/ CD; and helping the Library with its move
to automation in 1998. The Friends have also been a proud sponsor of the
Frisco Storytelling Festival since its inception two years ago.
We excitedly look forward to the opening of the new Frisco Public Library in the
spring of 2006 in Frisco Square and will continue to support this vital
“Physical Fitness Center for the Mind.”
An ongoing fundraiser includes the sale of the annual Frisco Heritage ornament.
The 2005 ornament, of “The Caboose” in Bi-Centennial Park, can still be
purchased at the library, or through Friends’ members. Because we sold out of
the popular inaugural 2004 ornament, the original red Frisco water tower, we
placed a special order for more and still have a few remaining. These brass
decorations are wonderful collector items and are $15 each. Whether for
holidays, birthdays, or Mother’s Day, these items make a wonderful and memorable
gift.
Won’t you join us as a Friend of the Frisco Public Library? The Friends are
just like you! We’re working people who recognize the benefits of knowledge and
information in a free society. We believe in the library and what it
contributes to our area and to society as a whole! We are library advocates
who, by our contributions of time and/or money support to the Frisco Public
Library, and who together, Make A Difference! Won’t you join us?
The Friends currently meet the 2nd Monday of the month at the library. To
become a Frisco Friend of the Library, call Judy Clark at 972-335-9508 or
complete a membership form (available at the library). The levels of support are
as follows:
Junior Member $ 1.00
Teen Member (12-19) 2.50
True Friend 10.00
Emerson Circle 25.00
Madison Guild 50.00
Lamar League 100.00
Jefferson Society 250.00
New Friends joining at the Emerson Circle Level or above receive a discount on
our ornaments and Frisco Storytelling Festival tickets, plus pre-sale buying at
2006 Book Sales.
Frisco Family Services Center's Annual Gala:
It will soon be time to put on your blue suede shoes and Shake, Rattle & Roll
with Frisco Family Services Center at its twelfth annual gala. "Shake, Rattle &
Roll," presented by Countrywide Financial Corporation on February 25, 2006 will
be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Frisco Conference Center. There will be
great food provided by many of our local restaurants, hundreds of silent auction
items and wonderful live auctions! From a ride of your life in a true military
fighter jet, to a Cruise to Venice, an autographed Peyton Manning mini helmet,
jewelry, gift baskets, and more, you will delight with the choices you have,
while benefiting Frisco's only social service agency. In addition, there is
also casino gaming and a raffle to win a 2006 Lexus IS 250 courtesy of Park
Place Lexus and FFSC. Attire is "fun fifties".
Please give for your chance to win a 2006 Lexus IS 250
ONLY 750 Tickets will be sold (great odds) @$100 per ticket... or be a member of
the " Grease Lightning Crew" " buy 10 for $1,000 and receive one (1) "FREE"
ticket making your odds even better or two (2) "FREE" tickets to the gala (your
name will be highlighted in the gala program, unless you would rather remain
anonymous).
The winner can apply the retail value to a different model (if preferred).
Please check out www.parkplacetexas.com
for their entire selection. You can purchase tickets on-line (stub will be
mailed to you) @ www.friscocenter.org
or feel free to have a ticket delivered to your house by contacting:
Randy Forwark (car raffle co-chair) @cell: 214-498-9654 or Suzette Massey (car
raffle co-chair) @ cell: 972-989-3236
This is the agency's largest fundraiser and with a 90% increase in the number of
clients served over the last three years, this event needs to be more successful
than ever before. Please help us meet this goal by being a sponsor or by
donating auction items. For more information call 972-335-9495 or visit their
website at www.friscocenter.org.
Many volunteers are also needed, so if you would like to be a volunteer for the
evening, please contact Wendy at 972-335-9495 or
wendy@friscocenter.org .
February 4th Mardi Gras Frisco 2006 and Reverse Raffle:
Are you ready for a celebration like no other? The Knights of Columbus #12480
and the Ladies Auxiliary will proudly be sponsoring the 1st Annual Mardi Gras
Frisco 2006. Come prepared to enjoy music performed by Damon Troy & Louisiana
Beat along with Hunter Hayes & Louisiana Hot. Additionally you can enjoy Cajun
food and the sights and sounds of down home Louisiana as it has never been
experienced in Frisco.
Ticket sales will benefit Frisco Family Services with the donation earmarked for
local disaster relief efforts.
In addition to a great Mardi Gras Celebration you will have an opportunity to
participate in our inaugural Reverse Raffle. For those of you not familiar with
this type of fun, simply stated the last person standing in the raffle will win
$7,500 in American Express gift cards. Complete rules and details are now
available at: www.mardigrasfrisco.org.
Proceeds from the reverse raffle will benefit the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic
Community.
Volunteer Opportunities
* Coat and hat check
* Ticket takers
* Greeters
Please contact Sara Hood at
texashoods@yahoo.com or call (972)335-0246
To purchase tickets for Mardi Gras Frisco 2006 or Reverse Raffle tickets,
contact John Castillo at: pmcig@msn.com or
call (972)377-7722
Tickets are also available at Classique Jewelers. (See Bob Sirois)
For complete event details, please see the following website.
www.mardigrasfrisco.org
Be The Next Mrs. Frisco!:
The Mrs. Texas United States Pageant is looking for the next Mrs. Frisco! The
current Mrs. Frisco, Amy Klimczyk, has done a fantastic job & had a great year
representing the city this past year. The winner will be chosen via a personal
interview on Sunday, February 19th at Lenz Boutique in Frisco. The new Mrs.
Frisco receives her entry paid to the state contest to be held April 28-30 here
in Frisco at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Frisco Convention Center. The new Mrs.
Texas advances to the nationally televised Mrs. United States in Las Vegas this
summer. Entry fee is $50 and contestants must be 21 and married by July 30,
2006. Email
info@mrstexasunitedstates.com for an application, or visit
www.mrstexasunitedstates.com
for more info.
Road Closure – Main Street at Dallas North Tollway:
Zachary construction will be closing Main Street between the NB and SB Dallas
Parkway frontage roads from Saturday, Feb 11, 2005, through early Monday, Feb
13, 2005. The contractor will be hanging bridge beams for the Main Street/DNT
overpass. The closure will last from 7:00am on Saturday through 4:00am on
Monday. Traffic will not be interrupted on the frontage roads of the Dallas
Parkway.
The following are the proposed detour routes:
On DNT to exit onto Main St
NB DNT to go WB Main – right on Main St; left on World Cup; left on
Technology; left onto SB Dallas Pkwy
SB DNT to go EB Main – left on Cotton Gin/Platinum (south of Main St) to
“u-turn” onto NB Dallas Pkwy
To continue straight on Main St through DNT closure
EB Main – right on SB Dallas Pkwy; left on Cotton Gin to “u-turn” onto NB
Dallas Pkwy
WB Main – right on World Cup; left on Technology; left onto SB Dallas Pkwy
(NB = northbound; SB = southbound; EB = eastbound; WB = westbound)
Marked detour routes will be in place.
Texas Tornado - Pros vs. Prospects II Charity Hockey Game Tickets Now On
Sale:
Brett Hull and Neal Broten added to already star-studded line-up for charity
game
Tickets for the Pros vs. Prospects II Tornado Charity Classic are now on sale.
The game will be held on Wednesday, February 15th at 7:30pm at the Dr Pepper
StarCenter in Frisco, matching the two-time defending Junior A National Champion
Texas Tornado in a game against a team of former NHL Stars. Ticket prices for
the game start at only $15.00 and can be purchased at the Texas Tornado office
at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco, or by calling the Tornado office at
972-335-9800, or via
www.tornadohockey.com
The former NHL superstars that have been confirmed playing in the game are
former Dallas Stars’ players: Brett Hull, Guy Carbonneau, Dave Gagner, Craig
Ludwig, Shayne Corson, Brent Severyn, Shawn Chambers, Grant Ledyard, Mike Lalor,
and Bill Huard. It has also been announced that former Dallas Stars forward and
1980 USA Olympic Gold Medal winner Neal Broten will serve as the Head Coach for
the Pros team. Other former NHL stars that will be participating will be Rick
Zombo and Kelly Chase formerly of the St. Louis Blues.
"This is going to be a wonderful event for all of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area,"
said Texas Tornado President and Owner Kirby Schlegel. “The collection of former
NHL players that will be competing for charity against the Tornado will make for
a very entertaining evening. We are also happy to announce that all proceeds
from the Pros vs. Prospects Tornado Charity Classic will again be donated to the
Texas Tornado and Mike Modano Foundations and the various charities of the
former NHL stars participating in the event.” Following the game, there will be
a live auction for the fans to bid on all of the game-worn jerseys worn by the
Pros.
Last season, the Pros defeated the Tornado, 6-2 in the first annual Pros vs.
Prospects Charity Classic, as Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov was named as
the game’s MVP, playing along side Dallas Stars teammates Mike Modano, Marty
Turco, Brenden Morrow, and Stu Barnes. Last year’s game sold out in less than
four hours and raised money for the Texas Tornado and Mike Modano Foundations.
Actor Chuck Norris and former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul were among the
celebrities who were in attendance. Following the game, there will be a live
charity auction for the fans to bid on all of the game-worn jerseys worn by the
Pros team.
11th Annual Adult Spelling Bee:
The Friends of the Frisco Public Library are sponsoring the 11th Annual Adult
Spelling Bee on February 11, 2006 in the City Council Chambers at 2:00pm.
Teams of three adults compete for trophies and other prizes and are encouraged
to wear costumes and bring a cheering section. The best costumed team also win
trophies.
There will be an Audience Participation Game, Silent Auction, pizza, pop and
popcorn (for sale) and join us after the Bee for complementary pie, coffee and
Library Punch in the Programming room. Pictures of the Silent Auction
Items/baskets can be seen at the Library beginning February 1st.
Teams pay an entry fee of $30.00 and are supplied with a 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.
The proceeds from this year’s Spelling Bee and Silent Auction will be used to
start a collection of Resource Tools for teachers of children who are Home
Schooled.
You may pick up an entry format the Library or by contacting Judy Clark at
972-335-9508 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 form in soon.
Frisco-Online.com Can Help You Plan Your Special Valentine’s Day Dinner:
Looking for the perfect restaurant to take your sweetheart this year? We can
help! Check out our Restaurant Guide at
http://www.frisco-online.com/restaurantguide.cfm to see what people are
saying about the various dining establishments in the area. Look here before
you go eat to see if your neighbors and friends would recommend this
restaurant. We’ll also be adding Valentine’s Day Restaurant Specials at
http://www.frisco-online.com/article.cfm?id=542 as we receive them. Happy
Valentine’s Day from your friends at Frisco-Online.com!
Sign Up For Get Fit Frisco! At The Heart Truth Program This Weekend:
Only one more week until the kick-off of Get Fit Frisco! It’s time to form your
teams and sign up for the inaugural Get Fit Frisco! event which runs from
Saturday, February 11th through Friday, April 21st. It’s easy to develop teams
– partner up with those you work with, those on your cul-de-sac, etc. The
options are endless. Get Fit Frisco! is both a competitive and enjoyable
wellness program which and is open to all ages. The purpose of this community
initiative is to encourage Frisco Residents to develop healthy eating habits and
increase physical activity while raising money for the Frisco Education
Foundation. Get Fit Frisco! aims to provide the tools, the motivation and the
mentoring for both the individual and the community to lead healthier and more
active lifestyles. Long term, our goal is to have Frisco recognized as the
fittest community in DFW - and then sustain that title.
You’ll have the opportunity to sign up for Get Fit Frisco! on Saturday, February
4 at the Heart Truth Program. For more information visit
http://www.frisco-online.com/article.cfm?id=512. We look forward to seeing
you there!
Best of Texas Artists and Artisans Book Series:
Deadline: MARCH 1st, 2006
Kennedy Promotions is producing a unique new book series, the Best of Texas
Artists and Artisans 2005, 200+ winners featured in a beautiful hardcover book
listed with Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Borders.com. Open to all Artists
and Artisans in Texas; overall Best in Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable
Mentions in 10 categories. $25/3 CD entries, 4x6 photos, or slides $5 for each
additional Entry. For more information or to download an entry visit our
website at www.bestofartists.com
E-mail: artbestof@yahoo.com Or send an
SASE to: BEST OF P.O. Box 6876 Williamsburg, VA 23188
Frisco Community Directory - InsideFrisco.com:
Local business owners - Looking for Internet exposure? Inside Frisco (http://InsideFrisco.com)
is a local community directory with excellent rankings in Google. They offer
free basic listings to any local business. These listings include a description
of your business, a link for a map to your location, and access to statistics to
see how many people are viewing your listing.
Premium listings include links to your website, a "contact us" feature, and
display of your logo (with link to your full entry) throughout the directory
website.
These premium listings are normally $159, but if you enter my name, Matt Lafata,
in the "referred by" part of the signup screen, your free listing will be
upgraded to a premium listing at no charge when it is reviewed. (This isn't a
trial offer that you'll have to pay for later -- it will stay a premium listing,
and you won't be asked to pay later.)
Inside Frisco is provided as a community service by the Frisco Business
Association and WebGusto.
DBU-North Is Now In Frisco’s Hall Office Park!:
On Tuesday, February 7, at 5:30 p.m. Dallas Baptist University will be hosting a
free Information Session at DBU-North for adults interested in completing a
degree. The information session will involve a discussion on DBU’s masters
degrees as well as detailed information on how an adult can gain up to 30 hours
of college credit towards a bachelors degree based on life and work experience.
You can earn an entire bachelors degree in Communication, Psychology, Business
Administration, and Management, as well as, a Master of Business Administration
(MBA), Master of Arts in Organizational Management, Master of Education, and
Master of Education in School Counseling at DBU-North in Frisco. The information
session will be held at DBU-North’s new regional academic center located right
here in Frisco at the corner of Warren and Internet in Hall Office Park (3211
Internet Blvd, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034). If you have any questions or would
like to reserve a seat please contact DBU-North at (214) 333-5777 or
dbunorth@dbu.edu. For more information
about the new Frisco location go to:
http://www.dbu.edu/dbunorth
Women of St. Francis 4th Annual Fashion Show/Silent Auction:
The 4th Annual Fashion Show/Silent Auction Event hosted by the Women of St.
Francis Church will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the
Stonebriar Country Club. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the Church
after all Masses on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, or you can contact Adriana Merigliano
at amerigliano@msn.com or call her at
(214) 387-8766. If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction,
contact Adriana Merigliano at (214) 387-8766 or Amy Pearson at (972) 762-3848.
"The Eyes Have It" Spring 2006 Photographers Exhibit, April 15 - May
15:
The Visual Arts Guild of Frisco is sponsoring a Photographers Exhibit this
spring, April 15 - May 15, and is looking for photographers of all ages to
participate. This is a great opportunity to meet local artists, learn more
about photography and showcase art in a gallery! For complete details regarding
participation, donations, and/or volunteering for this event, please contact
Julie Pici at piciprints@aim.com.
(Limited space is available, please register early.)
The exhibit opening will be held at the McKennon Art Center, 6975 Main Street,
Frisco, on Saturday, April 15th, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., and is sponsored by The
Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, MoyaCapital and Richard & Kayla McKennon.
For a complete list of events, classes and information on becoming a VAGF
member, please visit our website www.vagf.org
Frisco Stein Mart Trade-In, Trade-Up Event:
On Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19, the Frisco Stein Mart store will
partner with Hope's Door, a Collin County Domestic Abuse Shelter, to host a
Trade-In, Trade-Up event. During this three-day period, individuals can drop
off "gently used" clothing at the store located at 3333 Preston Rd.
For each item donated, a 20% coupon (limit 4) will be presented, as well as a
tax receipt. Donations to Trade-In, Trade-Up will be used to help Hope's Door
restock their resale benefit store and aid them in providing for women and
children that are victims of domestic violence.
For more information call 972-713-9497
Frisco Citizens Deliver Technology Donation to Rich Center for Autism:
Two Frisco citizens were part of a team at Avalon Consulting that recently
created and donated an E-learning course on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome for
the Rich Center for Autism. Casey Green provided project oversight and Mimi
Garten added instructional design and writing support for the effort.
The purpose of the project was three-fold:
1) to memorialize the charitable contributions to the Rich Center of Roberta
Ann Larcinese (who passed away in February 2005),
2) to help raise general public awareness of the Rich Center, and
3) to provide a resource to the community-at-large regarding these critical
illnesses
Additional details on the project are available in the news article found here:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060124/20060124005101.html and the course itself can
be linked to from inside the Rich Center website or can be directly linked to by
clicking on this link:
http://www.richcenter.org/Subsite/Austim_interactive/index.html
According to Rich Center personnel, the course has already generated a
tremendous response and has led to interest from around the globe!
This is a fine example of how we can all volunteer our time and talents
creatively to charitable causes not just in the local Frisco community, but also
in ways that can create an impact outside of our area.
Collin County Ballet Theatre - “Winter Works 2006”:
Collin County Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Kirt & Linda Hathaway will
open the 2006 spring performance season with the “Winter Works 2006” concert,
Saturday February 25th, 2006 7:00pm at McKinney North High School Theatre.
Collin County Ballet Theatre received a grant from the City of McKinney to
present this performance of a mixture of Classical and Contemporary
choreographic works. This will be the first time that the company will present a
major public performance in the city of McKinney. With a mission of bringing
quality ballet performances to the citizens of Collin County this performance
will be a part of the organizations growth and development in the county at
large.
The concert will include works choreographed by two resident choreographers of
Collin County Ballet Theatre. Micki Saba, a well known choreographer in the
Dallas area will present her new work entitled “Core Fire” with music of Henri
Torgue, a unique work that blends modern dance with ballet point work. Dallas
resident Michael Mayes has just returned to the Dallas area to work with Collin
County Ballet Theatre from San Francisco where he was a part of the West Coast,
new fusion dance scene. He will create a new work blending his unique jazz style
with ballet. His work will be set to the music of Moby and will feature the
dancers of the Collin County Ballet Theatre Youth Ensemble. Also on the program
will be a classical ballet set by artistic director, Kirt Hathaway, and two
other works presenting the talents of the younger apprentice and junior company
members.
For tickets please call 469.877.6905. Ticket Prices: $12 student/seniors $15
side orchestra $20 center orchestra. Master Card/Visa accepted. More information
at www.CCBallet.com
City To Release Rainbow Trout At Second Annual “Trick-A-Trout” Kid Fish:
Got bait? Want to fish? The City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Department is
releasing 3,000 Rainbow Trout in the pond at Frisco Commons, 8000 McKinney Road,
on Saturday, February 11, starting at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. 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,” said Bobby Johnson, Parks Superintendent.
“Since we are only allowing kids, ages 4-12, to fish for the first three hours,
they’ll have a chance to really hone their fishing skills,” he said. Johnson
added 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 keep what they catch. “Since most trout cannot
survive when water temperatures rise later this spring, we want everyone to go
ahead and keep whatever they catch,” he said. The event will happen, rain or
shine. Free, commemorative t-shirts will be given to the first 200 kids at the
event.
Tips for successful fishing include using a light-weight line (4-6 lbs. test)
small hooks and sinkers. Baits can include live worms, artificial lures, whole
kernel corn, cheese, salmon eggs, marsh mellows or your own “family secret”.
Open season for adult anglers starts at noon that day. Anyone 17 years old and
over is required to have a Texas fishing license. Licenses 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 972-335-5517, or visit the web at
http://www.FriscoFun.org.
Christie Elementary School PTA to Host Spring Carnival:
The Christie Elementary School PTA will host a "spring" carnival on Saturday,
March 4 from 1 until 5 p.m. Vendors are encouraged to contact Kristi Taylor at
(972) 335-9055. Join us for an afternoon of fun!
Support Group for Parents of Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder:
Support Group forming for parents of children and teens with bipolar disorder.
Group meets in Frisco once a month usually on a selected Thursday evening at
7:00pm. If you have a child with bipolar disorder, suspect you do, or just want
to listen how to live with and/or help someone you know who has this disorder,
this is a wonderful opportunity to learn practical guidance and find emotional
reassurance in your local area. Bipolar or manic depression is a very real and
treatable physical brain disorder. Frequently, this disorder coexists with
other mental illnesses such as ADHD, anxiety disorder, eating disorder,
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse (which is self medicating), and
Tourette's syndrome. Bipolar symptoms in a "manic " state may include: elation
and grandiosity, racing speech, impulsive behavior and boundless energy.
Symptoms of a bipolar "depressive" state may include: low energy, irritability,
aggressiveness, overly sensitive to change and transition, profound sadness,
apathy, hopelessness, morose negativity and even thoughts of suicide. These two
poles of energetic extremes are best dealt with by professional psychiatric
diagnosis as EARLY as possible. If you have ANY suspicions, the best gift you
can give your child is to take action and start by seeing a psychiatrist who
"specializes" in bipolar disorder. Bipolar is not easily or quickly diagnosed
and family background knowledge is extremely important since it is most always
genetically passed down. For more information, please contact: Janie Murphy
by email: janie.murphy@comcast.net,
or call 972.335.1778 or 214.551.1520.
St. Philip’s Episcopal to Sponsor Wedding Vow Renewals:
“Will you marry me…again”? This year, make Valentine’s Day more than just a
‘Hallmark holiday’. Join St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Frisco on Sunday,
February 12th and renew your wedding vows in celebration of Valentine’s Day! Vow
renewals will take place during both the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services, followed
by a ‘cookies and punch’ reception. The event is open to the community at no
charge.
St. Philip’s meets for worship each Sunday at 9:30 am and 11:00 a.m. at Bright
Elementary School (7600 Woodstream Drive in Frisco). For more information, call
214-387-4700 or visit
www.StPhilipsFrisco.org.
Frisco Family Services Center Needs Your Help:
With increasing needs at the agency, Frisco Family Services is in great need of
food. Whether it's your family, neighborhood, religious group affiliation, your
work, your efforts to help provide food for hundreds of families in your
community is greatly appreciated! (Frisco Family Services Center had a 32%
increase in food from 2004).
Volunteers are also needed. Come volunteer at the annual gala and fundraiser,
Shake Rattle and Roll, on February 25th at the Embassy Suite Hotel. Contact
Wendy at 972-335-9495 or
wendy@friscocenter.org.
Volunteers also needed for the Frisco Resale Store tent sale, February 25-28.
Please contact Wendy to sign up!
Cancer Support Group:
A safe place for patients, survivors, caregivers, family and friends to find
hope and encouragement. Beginning on Feb 9, we will meet at 7:00 pm on the
second and fourth Thursday of each month at Grace Avenue United Methodist Church
(West Main Street). For more information, please call David Cozart, a 9 year
testicular cancer survivor, at 214-886-7810 or e-mail him at
david@lifefellowshipfrisco.com
Childcare may be available at future meetings. Additional locations and groups
currently being planned.
Bankruptcy Filers Who Require a Debtor Education Certificate:
For bankruptcy filers requiring a certificate for Debtor Education, the CCCS
Education department is providing the Mandatory Debtor Education Course for
pre-discharge bankruptcy filers at the Plano Chamber of Commerce event room on
Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 6:30—8:30 PM. Must register by Feb. 6th at
972-542-0257 ext 322 or 305. Two-hour course is open to anyone interested in
learning how to manage their money more effectively. The fee is $45 (couple) -
$30 (individual).
DeBonair Custom Cleaning:
Since opening in the summer of 2005, DeBonair Custom Cleaning is quickly
developing a very specialized niche in the cleaning business! DeBonair is
making a big impact upon the single and professional man that is just too busy
to clean, cook and run personal errands. DeBonair hires only English speaking
and mature employees to clean the client’s home. At request, a home cooked meal
such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes, chicken casserole, pot roast, etc will be
left in the refrigerator too! DeBonair also runs personal errands such as:
going to the grocery store, picking up/dropping off dry cleaning, and picking up
various supplies, etc.
For more information, contact DeBonair's owner, Debbie Childers, at
debonair-cleaning@sbcglobal.net or
call 214-886-2588. Fully insured. References will be provided upon request.
Main Street Phase 4 (Preston – BNSF Rail Road) – Construction Update:
The driveways along Main Street from Dogwood to Preston Road should be complete
this week. As for the sidewalks, the crews are expecting to be complete in the
next two weeks. The wall contractor has begun installing the necessary
retaining walls along Main Street. If all continues as planned, the traffic
switch to the newly paved north side of Main Street (Dogwood to Preston) will
occur in February 2006.
Preparations have begun to install new traffic signal equipment at the
Main/County and Main/Fifth intersections. These installations are scheduled to
be complete by the end of February 2006.
Street lights have been installed from 6th Street to Dogwood and along South
County Road. Service to these street lights will be provided once the remaining
street lights from Dogwood to Preston Road have been installed later this year.
The street light contractor is still installing the electrical system to provide
outlets to the median trees from 7th Street to 3rd Street. Once complete, the
westbound traffic will be shifted south allowing the paving contractor to
install the chokers on the north side of Main Street. The traffic switch is
expected to occur the third week in February 2006.
On Thursday, January 26, 2006, the striping on Main Street from 3rd Street to
John Elliot was completed and all lanes are now opened to traffic.
Please continue to be mindful of traffic control devices and use caution when
driving along Main Street.
The Frisco RoughRiders Want You:
The RoughRiders are looking for singers, trios, quartets and musicians to
perform the National Anthem for the 2006 season.
Auditions will begin promptly at 10am with registration beginning at 9:00am at
the Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark on Saturday, March 18, 2006.
All singers & musicians need to prepare Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled
Banner. Singers must sing acapella. All performances must remain under 90
seconds.
Selected performers will receive five game tickets and a parking pass for their
scheduled performance day.
Open Call For Frisco RoughRiders 2006 Season
The Frisco RoughRiders are looking for:
Actors/Actresses – Strong improvisation skills for late 1800s Wild West
characters. Trick rope, bullwhip, card handling, and close up magic skills a
plus.
Dancers – strong freestyle hip hop, and break dancers with acting and
improvisation skills.
When: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 10:00 am (Audition registration begins
promptly at 9:00am.)
Where: Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark, 7300 RoughRiders Trail, Frisco, TX 75034
Requirements: Actors/ Actresses should be prepared to read a short monologue
given to them upon registration. Character descriptions will be available at the
registration table.
Dancers should prepare and perform 30 seconds of their best moves. A CD player
will be available at the audition.
Payscale: will vary depending upon character and experience.
You must be at least 16 years of age to audition.
Rehearsals/Performance Run - Rehearsals begin in March. Games run from
approximately March 25 through mid-September. Please check
www.ridersbaseball.com for game
dates and times. Make note of any conflicts you have and bring them to the
audition. Detailed rehearsal schedules will be available at the audition.
For more information, please call Marianne Sexton at 972-334-1971 or via email
at msexton@ridersbaseball.com
The Frisco Ballet Annual Golf Tournament:
The Frisco Ballet, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, will host their annual
Golf Tournament at Plantation Golf Club in Frisco, Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30
am. Golf enthusiasts interested in playing in this upcoming tournament must act
quickly. Space is limited. This tournament is sure to keep golfers on their
toes! A luncheon and silent auction will follow tournament play. For
reservations, silent auction donations, and sponsorship information, please
contact The Frisco Ballet Board President, Michelle Bilderback, at (972)
731-0361 or email,
thefriscoballet@yahoo.com. All proceeds will benefit The Frisco Ballet and
their busy upcoming season. The Frisco Ballet, Frisco’s Ballet Company.
Frisco High School Band invites you to one/all of our Winter
Performances:
Date Band Time
Location
Thursday, Feb. 2nd Jazz 8:00 PM Frisco High
School Auditorium
Sunday, Feb. 12th All 2:00 PM Frisco High
School Auditorium
Saturday, Feb. 25th Jazz 7:30 PM Frisco Jazz
Festival – FHS Auditorium
Thursday, March 9th Instr. Ens/Jazz 7:00 PM Frisco High School
Auditorium
The Frisco High School Band is under the direction of Dr. Daryl Trent, Alyson
Villarreal, and Jason Gonzalez. Please join us as we enjoy the talents of our
9th through 12th grade musicians.
Coffee with the Counselor at Bright Elementary:
“The Five Love Languages of Children” will be the ‘Coffee with the Counselor’
presentation at Bright Elementary at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8. Every
child has a primary language of love, and it is a way he or she understands a
parent’s love best. Parents will enrich their relationship with their children
by learning their children’s primary love language. Terry Walsh, Bright music
teacher, is the Guest Co-Presenter. Bright Elementary has parenting classes
throughout the year in their Parent Enrichment Center. The school is located at
7600 Woodstream. Parents in the community are invited. Coffee, iced tea, and
pastries will be served.
Country Fair At Rogers Elementary School:
Friday, February 10, 5-9pm at the SE corner of Rogers Road and Fisher Road.
The Rogers Elementary PTA, staff and students would like to invite you and your
whole family to the 2006 Rogers Country Fair. There will be a silent auction
where you can bid on some great items including, a fully autographed Mavericks
basketball, a year of haircuts at Sports Clips, gift certificates for Love You
More Ceramics, My Gym, Main Street Car Wash and much, much more. Try your hand
at “milking a cow”, the golfers challenge, a super fun cake walk, or many other
exciting games and challenges. We will also have a “Taste of Frisco” hosted by
local restaurants - The Abbey Grill, Mannys, Fortuna Grill, Del’s Lemonade,
Applebees, Chipotle, Taco Plus and Krogers. Let your kids burn off excess
energy on the bounce houses or obstacle course. We will even have the Stars
dance troupe performing for everyone! It will be a wonderful fun filled evening
to spend with your family and we hope to see you there.
Tickets, game wristbands, and food wristbands can be purchased at the door on
the evening of the event.
E-mail rogers_pta@yahoo.com for more
information.
2006 Kurt Thomas Invitational Women’s Gymnastics Competition:
Over 700 gymnasts from 49 teams across the U.S. will compete in this
exciting event!!!!!
The 2006 Kurt Thomas Invitational presented by Alpha Factor women’s gymnastics
competition will take place at the Deja Blue Arena in the Dr Pepper StarCenter
in Frisco, Texas, Friday through Sunday February 17-19, 2006. This gymnastics
meet is hosted by 3X World Champion and Olympian Kurt Thomas, head coach of Kurt
Thomas Gymnastics in Frisco. 49 teams from around the country with 720 top
level gymnasts Level 4-Elite will be competing in this exciting event. The meet
has grown to be one of the largest meets in Texas and one of the premier
gymnastics competitions in the United States and Canada. The top athletes in
levels 8-10 will compete for prizes in a finals competition that will take place
on Sunday afternoon, February 19th. This is the 4th annual competition in
Texas, and the third in Frisco.
“We have created a first-class event that teams look forward to attending year
after year. The athletes have an opportunity to compete against some of the
best competition in the country in a meet designed after high level national
competitions, with a prelims/finals format. We are very appreciative of our
sponsors: Alpha Factor and Boardwalk Auto Group. We are also very grateful to
the City of Frisco and to Southwest Sports Group for all of their support in
bringing this event to Frisco,” says Mr. Thomas.
Kurt Thomas Gymnastics is located inside the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco
Texas. This state of the art facility is home to Kurt’s competitive team and
recreational, preschool, dance, and tumbling programs. Athletes travel from all
over North Texas to train with Kurt in this elite facility.
Tickets- $10.00 per day, children under 6 are free. Tickets may be purchased in
advance by calling 214-387-4707 through 2/13/06 or may be purchased at the door
throughout the event.
Portions of the proceeds will go to sponsor four Special Olympic Athletes so
they may attend the National Games this summer in Ames, Iowa.
Love You More Ceramics Family Valentines Night:
On February 10, 13 and 14 from 6pm to 8pm Love You More Ceramics will host a
Family Valentines Night. The cost is $15 per person and includes painting a
piece valued at $10, pizza, drinks, and dessert. Seating is limited, so call
for a reservation. 972-712-3700
i9 Sports "Spring" League Registrations NOW Under Way:
NFL Flag Football registration going on now for ages 5-14 for the Spring Season.
Registration is open until March 2. The Spring Season starts April 2nd. All
games will be on Sundays. Players/Team registration accepted. To register please
visit:
http://www.i9sports.com/getpage.asp?contentid=1&articleID=4331&type=3
Jr.NBA/WNBA Basketball registration for the Spring season for ages 5-14 will run
through March 2. The Spring season starts March 25th. All games will be on
Saturday's. Players/Team registration will be accepted.
All leagues in the "Spring" will compete against other cities in Denton/Collin
County for the playoffs. 1 or 2 games during the regular season will be against
another city. This will allow players to compete at the highest level, and also
allow teams to see how they stack against the rest of the cities in
Denton/Collin County. Leagues will be formed in the cities of Frisco, McKinney,
Plano, The Colony, and Flower Mound.
"Kick-off" party date will be announced soon. We anticipate a "Kick-off" party
at a location TBD, that will allow participants to meet and greet select
"Professional" players that live in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, while enjoying a
fun atmosphere with a lot of fun for everyone.
For more detail call 972-377-0084 or go online at
www.i9sports.com
Frisco Aquatics Fund Raiser- 3rd Annual Swim a Thon:
Frisco Aquatics is a Non-Profit Organization. The team keeps 95% of the money
raised. The other 5% goes to USA Swimming.
Money from the fundraiser will be spent on the following:
*Clinics for FA swimmers with swimmers from SMU
*Travel trip to a swim meet in Corpus Christi on June 17th and 18th 2006.
*Swim Banquet in April at Whirly Ball
*Funds for Sectional & National Swim Meets
*Rental or Purchase Video Equipment to tape swimmers during workouts
*Social Events
Frisco Aquatics is looking for donations of any kind to help this event be a
success.
We will also have a silent auction. All items are donated by local business.
The proceeds will go to help the kids with the above items.
We will be happy to accept any form of donations i.e.: money, gift
certificates/cards, etc… 1 item or more for the top prizes or auction and or 150
items to go in to the goody bag or broken down by # of swimmers for each night
3/28/06 (65) swimmers and 3/30/06 (85) swimmers.
Donations are tax deductible!
The Swim-A-Thon Fund Raiser will be held on March 28th & March 30th 2006
A Swim Cap will be provided for each swimmer
Goody Bag (donated items so far) includes:
*Dessert Card from Friday’s
*Coupon for 1 hour of FREE play at Indoor Bounce Party
*2 FREE Parties at Indoor Bounce Party (this will be divided into 2 groups of
swimmers) includes: dancing, bouncing, and free use of interactive video games.
Come Bounce to This! They have the best inflatables and interactive video games
around. For more information go to:
www.indoorbounceparty.com
*Armstrong SWIM STRONG Arm Bands from Kiefer Swim Shop
*Double Dip Coupon
*Learning Express Coupon
Hopefully the goody bags will over flow with more donations!
Other incentives:
Prizes & Awards will be given to the top $$$ collectors in each group.
We are just getting started with collecting donations for the goody bags, the
auction and for our top $$ collectors in each group. So this goes out to all
swimmers, parents, relatives and neighbors: Please volunteer to get more
donations for our swimmers. If every family gets one donation for this fund
raiser we will have quite a successful event!
Thank you in advance for all the donations and the volunteers that have already
stepped up to make this a successful event.
For more information please contact Tamie W. Nelson
tamiew@yahoo.com or 972-347-2393.
Frisco Aquatics - 5729 Lebanon Road, Suite 144-146, Frisco, Texas 75034 -
www.friscoaquatics.com
2006 Frisco Youth Volleyball League Spring Registration Set:
The SportsTech, LP in cooperation with the City of Frisco, PARD is now taking
On-Line and Walk-Up registration for the 2006 "Frisco Youth Volleyball League".
The next walk-up registrations will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday
2/4/2005 and Saturday 2/25/2005 at the Alumni Hall Fitness Center, 9700 Wade
Boulevard, Frisco, TX 75035. On-Line Registration opened on Saturday 1/21/2006
and will run through midnight Saturday 2/25/2006 @
www.SportsInFrisco.com
SportsTech, LP is offering both Boys and Girls Recreational Divisions, (DII) and
Girls Competitive Divisions, (DI) for those teams that have been together for
more than two seasons or are school & club based teams.
To register simply go to www.SportsInFrisco.com and click on the Volleyball
Leagues & Tournaments Tab or just download the registration form from that page
and mail it in with your payment. Registration is as easy as click, click, and
click.
For more information please call SportsTech at 214-472-3416 or E-mail
klemley@sportspilot.com
Frisco Community Theatre Presents Crimes of the Heart:
by Beth Henley and directed by Carol Rice
February 10-26 at the theatre, 7774 Maple Street in Frisco.
Performances are at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with an additional
performance on Thursday, February 16 and a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on
Sunday, February 26.
Three sisters (a self-proclaimed old maid, a failed country singer, and a naïve
wife who has just shot her husband) reunite due to circumstances that manage to
be both tragic and hilarious at the same time.
Starring: Amber Bufkin, Andrews W. Cope, J. Christine Lanning, Jennifer
McAllister, Patrick S. O'Neil, and Jessica Wigg
Tickets are $10-12 and may be ordered online at
www.friscocommunitytheatre.com.
Please call (972) 377-3868 for more information.
Frisco Chamber of Commerce to Host Candidates Forum:
The Frisco Chamber of Commerce will hold a Candidates’ Forum to allow its
membership and citizens of Frisco an opportunity to meet and hear Federal, State
and County candidates in the March 7th primary elections.
The Forum will be held on Wednesday, February 15th, 2006 at the Collin County
Community College Preston Ridge Campus Event Center in Frisco, Texas. The event
will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end approximately at 9:00 p.m. Three members of the
Frisco Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee will moderate the forum.
Questions will be from the community, citizens in attendance and the media.
Only written questions, which are reviewed, will be used.
Candidates or their representatives for the office of Governor, US Congress,
Texas State Representative, Texas State Commissioner, County Judge, County
Chair, County Clerk, District Attorney, Justice of the Peace, District Judge,
and County Court at Law will be in attendance.
Frisco Voters are encouraged to attend this informative event. Please submit
questions for the candidates to the Frisco Chamber of Commerce prior to the
meeting on February 15th.
Please contact Teresa Nelson with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce at 972-335-9522
or tnelson@friscochamber.com for
more information.
Tutor Time Frisco Hosts Job Fair:
The Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Center located at 4577 Ohio Drive (1 block
off of Preston at Lebanon) is hosting a Job Fair on Saturday, February 4 from 10
a.m. until 1 p.m.
Tutor Time is inviting local job seekers to enjoy refreshments, tour the
state-of-the-art facility, meet the center’s directors and learn about
employment opportunities in the child care industry.
Multiple positions are now available within one of the nation’s largest child
care and learning center corporations. We are looking for qualified candidates
who love working with children. Tutor Time offers competitive salaries and
flexible work schedules.
Tutor Time offers programs specially designed for infants through school age
children. Candidates interested in learning more about the job fair, should
call Kelly Palmer at 972-668-8480. To find out more about Tutor Time, visit
www.tutortime-frisco.com.
About Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers:
As the nation’s premier child care provider, Tutor Time offers child care and
early learning programs for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years serving families
in 20 states and 5 countries. For more information, or to open your own Tutor
Time, please contact Customer Support by calling 1–TUTORTIME –1, or visiting us
at www.tutortime.com.
Dallas Sierra Club:
Have you ever wanted to get more active outdoors but felt that you didn't have
the experience. Now you can learn from the experts...Dallas Sierra Club's
Outings leaders. You can begin with a trip to Taos or by attending an all day
backpacking class....
Taos Bus Trip, February 23 - 27
The Dallas Sierra Club winter tradition continues with our annual bus trip to
Taos, New Mexico. This is our only bus trip where you have the opportunity to
stay in a lodge, complete with hot tubs and heated pool, at night and play in
the snow during the day. Getting There: Our chartered sleeper bus leaves Dallas
on Thursday, February 23 at 6:00 PM and returns at about 6:00 AM on Monday,
February 27.
Activities: We have something for everyone. You can stay at a lodge in Taos and
dayhike, snowshoe, or ski. Or, you can snowshoe into the forest and enjoy the
backcountry from the comforts of our heated yurt (cabin). For the more
adventurous, we have a trip that will camp out in the snow and attempt to climb
Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain in New Mexico.
Cost: The trip cost ranges from $185 up to $410, depending on which trip you
sign up for and whether you are a Sierra Club member.
Sign Up! If you want to sign up, first click here to read the trip description.
Please print this out for future reference. Next, fill out the forms at the end
of the trip description and send them in with your check. Remember, you are not
signed up until we receive your check and forms.
Questions: If you have any questions, please contact the bus trip coordinator,
Cari Tucker, 214 826-5461 or
cari.tucker@sbcglobal.net
Beginner Backpacking Class, Saturday, February 18
Aimed at beginners, this class is an ideal way to learn about backpacking.
Topics include: wilderness ethics, outdoor clothing, boots, backpacks, tents,
sleeping bags, cookware, food, and preparing for a trip. Instructors are
experienced Dallas Sierra Club leaders. There will be time for questions and a
hands-on look at outdoor gear. Lunch of backpacking food is included. You will
also have the opportunity to learn about, and sign up for, several beginner
backpacking trips. The fee is $20 for Sierra Club members and $30 for
non-members (cash or check) You can sign up to be a Sierra Club member at the
class. No reservations are necessary, just show up. The class will be held at
REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Farmers Branch, TX 75244 (north side of LBJ between
Midway and Welch). The class will start at 10:30 AM and end at about 5:00 PM.
For more information contact Arthur Kuehne at 214-902-9260(H) or
arthur@dallassierraclub.org.
MLS Cup Returns To Pizza Hut Park On November 12:
Success of 2005 Championship Match Prompts MLS Cup Return to Frisco, Texas
Major League Soccer announced this week that its championship game, MLS Cup
2006, will be held at the state-of-the-art Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas on
Sunday, November 12 (live on ABC Sports at 2:30 pm CT). The announcement was
made during a press conference at Pizza Hut Park featuring MLS Commissioner Don
Garber, FC Dallas Investor/Operator Lamar Hunt, Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson and FC
Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock.
MLS Cup returns to Pizza Hut Park for the second consecutive year. In the 2005
championship, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution, 1-0,
in front of an overflow crowd of 21,193 at the new stadium. The 2005
championship game was the first of many world-class soccer events for Pizza Hut
Park. The venue hosted the annual InterLiga Mexican professional club
tournament in early January and will later host two major international matches.
The United States plays Guatemala on February 19 and Mexico takes on Ghana on
March 1 at Pizza Hut Park.
“Pizza Hut Park is clearly becoming a major destination for marquee soccer
events in the United States, and we’re pleased to host MLS Cup 2006 at one of
America’s great soccer facilities,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The
tremendous support by the entire soccer community in North Texas for MLS Cup
2005 makes Pizza Hut Park – one of the premier soccer complexes in the world –
the perfect choice.”
Called a “dream facility” by ESPN.com, Pizza Hut Park opened on August 6, 2005.
Combining a world-class stadium with an extensive sports park, Pizza Hut Park is
one of the best and most unique soccer facilities in the world. The complex
includes the 20,500-seat stadium, and 17 championship-quality soccer fields
located just north of the stadium. The 145-acre site is used more than 300 days
a year, hosting MLS matches, U.S. Men's and Women's National Team soccer
matches, major concerts, international soccer matches and high school sports.
“Speaking for the Hunt Sports Group and FC Dallas, we are most appreciative
that Major League Soccer has chosen Frisco and Pizza Hut Park as the location
for the 11th MLS Cup,” FC Dallas Investor/Operator Lamar Hunt said. “The 2005
event was an unqualified success with exceptional weather and a standing-room
only crowd for the Los Angeles Galaxy – New England Revolution game. The entire
Hunt family is very proud to once again help bring this national professional
championship event to the Metroplex.”
Previous title games were held in California, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C.,
and Ohio. North Texas Soccer is the largest joint youth and adult soccer
association in the United States, representing 145,000 youth players, 24,000
adult players, 40,000 indoor players, 25,000 coaches, 6,600 referees, and more
than 1,300 administrators. The North Texas Soccer family is estimated to include
at least 500,000 people.
"We're looking forward to bringing MLS Cup back to the great city of Frisco and
our beautiful home, Pizza Hut Park,” FC Dallas President and General Manager
Michael Hitchcock said. “The decision by MLS to bring the Cup back to Pizza Hut
Park is a credit to the great soccer fans in North Texas who filled the stadium
for MLS Cup 2005 and the great Texas hospitality that everyone in Frisco and the
entire Metroplex provided our guests from around the world. This is another
showcase soccer event for Pizza Hut Park and Frisco, and on November 12th; FC
Dallas and Major League Soccer will host one of the best MLS Cups in League
history."
Ticket prices will range from $35 to $150. In early summer all FC Dallas season
ticket holders will have first priority on the purchase of MLS Cup 2006 tickets
to be followed by a private corporate sale and then a public registration for a
Random Computerized Drawing, which will assure fans on a nationwide basis that
they will have access to 10 percent of the seating capacity of Pizza Hut Park.
The Public-On-Sale-Date will then take place in the early fall for all remaining
tickets. More information on MLS Cup 2006 tickets is available by calling
1-888-FCD-GOAL or visiting www.fcdallas.net.
Pennsylvania Firm Planning Rehab Hospitals:
Select Medicals’ first two facilities here to create 500 jobs in Frisco,
Denton
From the January 27 online edition of The Dallas Business Journal by Staff
Writer, Jennifer Gordon
Two $20 million rehabilitation hospitals that will create a total of 500 jobs
are in the works for Frisco and Denton.
Mechanicsburg, Pa.-based Select Medical Corp., which operates rehab as well as
long-term, acute-care general hospitals, plans to break ground on six to eight
rehab hospitals across the country this year, including the two here, said
Select's Richard Fisk, the local projects' developer.
The Frisco hospital will be immediately west of Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s
Centennial Medical Center. Plans are to break ground on the facility in early
spring, then open the hospital in the spring of 2007.
The Denton hospital, meantime, will break ground in late spring and likely open
a few months after the Frisco facility. The Denton hospital will be on the
northeast corner of the Presbyterian Hospital of Denton grounds off Interstate
35.
Rehab hospitals treat people of all ages who need intensive physical therapy.
The Select Medical hospitals will specialize in spinal cord injury, traumatic
brain injury, stroke, orthopedic disorders, neurological impairments,
amputation, pulmonary rehabilitation, pain management and other related health
problems.
The average length of stay in such hospitals is 16 to 19 days, with outpatient
care following release. The two new hospitals also will have outpatient
departments.
Many hospitals have inpatient rehabilitation units, but the number of
free-standing rehab facilities is much lower.
In 2005 there were 217 inpatient rehab hospitals in the country and 1,105
patient rehab units inside hospitals, down from 218 inpatient rehab hospitals
and 1,141 units in hospitals in 2004, according to the American Medical
Rehabilitation Providers Association.
As of April 2005, Texas had 30 rehab hospitals with 1,669 beds, according to the
association. Texas also has 97 inpatient units with a total of 2,146 beds. In
2004, Texas had 29 rehab hospitals for a total of 1,669 beds and 117 hospital
units that had 3,088 beds.
Nationwide spending for inpatient rehabilitation increased to $5.9 million from
$4 billion in 1999, according to the association.
John Gavras, president of the DFW Hospital Council, said rehab hospitals are
becoming increasingly common and serve an important niche.
Even so, he added, they won't replace Dallas-Fort Worth's 60 traditional
hospitals. "I can assure you we don't need 60 of these facilities," Gavras said.
"They couldn't survive."
'High-growth area'
Select Medical bought 7 acres to build the one-story hospital in Frisco.
Fisk, who is a Select vice president, did not disclose the purchase price of the
land, but said it's included in the $20 million project cost. The
52,000-square-foot facility will have 44 beds and about 250 employees.
Attracting health care companies to Frisco has been a priority of the Frisco
Economic Development Corporation for about four years, said Jim Gandy, president
of the organization. He added that he was pleased about the Select Medical
project.
"This area, including Frisco, is recognized as a high-growth area," Gandy said.
"We're seeing multiple health care projects locating and expanding in Frisco."
The company did not receive any incentives, nor was it contacted by the FEDC
about expansion in Frisco.
Fisk said the location will help bring patients from around the metro area, not
just Frisco. "This rehab hospital will have a tremendous physical draw," he
said. "People like to stay as close to home as they possibly can."
The hospital will draw from across the area east of Lake Lewisville, including
both north and south of Frisco, Fisk said.
To date, there are no other free-standing rehab hospital competitors in either
Frisco or Denton.
Plans for the two new hospitals are nearly identical, though the building
facades will differ to match the surrounding facilities. Each hospital will cost
$18 million to build, including the land costs, and equipment will cost another
$2 million per facility.
Select Medical has not selected a general contractor yet, though the bidding
process is ongoing.
Fisk said the company is looking for a hospital administrator for both
facilities and a medical director who is a "physiatrist," a doctor who
specializes in physical rehabilitation medicine.
Select Medical is a privately held company that was acquired by New York
City-based private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in 2005. In 2004
the company had net income of $118 million, a 59% increase over the previous
year.
In North Texas, the company may not stop with the facilities in Denton and
Frisco.
"We're looking at other opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area," Fisk said.
"With baby boomers getting where they are now, there's going to be a crying
need."
Frisco ISD Weighs $1.2 Billion Bond Plan:
Unprecedented amount needed to keep up with growth, district says
From the February 1, 2006 issue of The Dallas Morning News by Karen Ayres
Voters in this swiftly growing city could be asked to endorse a school bond package as large as $1.2 billion in May, an unprecedented amount for suburban taxpayers in Texas.
With an average of 20 new students arriving every school day, a district committee is considering proposals, stretching from $600 million to $1.2 billion, to finance a massive building program for families lured to this Collin County suburb.
The largest proposal is more than twice the size of the district's last record-breaking $478 million plan three years ago. It tops every plan ever put before voters in the biggest cities across Texas except for a $1.3 billion package approved in the Dallas school district in 2002, records show.
Dallas has roughly 1.2 million residents. Frisco, formerly a small farming community and now the fastest-growing district in the state, is home to slightly more than 80,000 people who would be asked to shoulder what could be several hundred dollars a year apiece in additional taxes.
School leaders in Frisco, accustomed to overwhelming support for bond packages, stress that the funds are needed to maintain small schools as the district triples in size to a projected 57,000 students in eight years.
In their minds, the only difference among the plans is how many times they'll have to ask voters for more money. "I don't think there is any question that ultimately we will need all of it," said Buddy Minett, the school board president. "It's just when."
The proposal comes at the same time the city is considering seeking voter approval on a $200 million bond package for streets, police and fire equipment, fresh court facilities and other capital projects.
The push for cash has grown over the past decade as outer-ring communities like Frisco have exploded with fresh housing stock and an appealing family-oriented lifestyle close to good schools.
With just 1,800 students in 1993, the district first saw signs of growth in the mid-1990s. What started as a few hundred additional students a year quickly turned into a few thousand.
In January, the district welcomed its 20,000th student. Demographers, eyeing developable land and an abundance of preschool students, predict that the pace will only accelerate.
In the next five years, the Frisco school district expects to add nearly 19,000 kindergarten students – more than the total number of students in the entire district last year.
When the city reaches buildout, perhaps as early as 2013, demographers predict that about 57,000 students will be enrolled in the district. That's based on an overall Frisco population estimate of between 250,000 and 300,000.
So how do you find space for all these students? You build, officials said.
Since 1998, the district has opened 21 schools. Officials speculate that they'll eventually need as many as 92 buildings. Right now, the district has 26.
Officials first went out for a bond vote to address the population boom in 1998, garnering 95 percent of the vote. It was followed by another one in 2000, with another strong approval of 96 percent. Three years ago, the district set a state record for the largest suburban bond package at $478 million, with 89 percent voting yes.
District officials – who often speak in terms of student population rather than years – say the $478 million plan was designed to get to 36,000 students. That translates into 18 elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school.
So far, the district has only opened two elementary schools and one middle school with that money, but six schools are set to open in August and many more are in planning stages.
Richard Wilkinson, assistant superintendent for facilities and finance, says all but about $80 million from the 2003 plan will probably be tied up in contracts within the next six to eight months.
The trouble, he says, is that he needs more cash to start planning for other buildings. Depending on size, a school can take up to two years to create from sketches to the opening bell.
"I couldn't wait for two years to look at another bond program because I would get behind on planning for the next round of schools," said Mr. Wilkinson, who stresses that the committee has not decided on a proposal.
Schools don't come cheap. A high school currently runs about $50 million, a middle school about $20 million, and an elementary school about $11 million. Building costs have been increasing about 6 percent every year.
Cost to taxpayers
So how much will these schools cost individual taxpayers? School leaders say
they don't yet have the answers. When voters approved the $478 million plan in
2003, the district predicted it could cost up to $444 a year for a resident with
property worth $199,000, the average at the time.
At this point, the tax rate has only increased 5 cents per $100 of assessed property value because all of the bonds have not been issued. The district's tax rate of $1.63, which includes the debt payments, is still smaller than the surrounding Plano, McKinney and Allen districts. As more people move into town, there will be taxpayers to cover the bill.
Though the committee hasn't yet reviewed the tax bills associated with any of the three proposals under review, all of them would be significantly larger than the 2003 plan.
Part of the price tag comes from the fact the district wants to maintain
small schools. Ideally, officials want middle schools smaller than 950 students
and elementary schools below 750 students. All high schools are supposed to cap
at between 1,600 and 1,800 students, which falls into the 4A sports
classification.
Officials argue that small schools help students form ties and prevent kids from
going unnoticed in the classroom.
"The primary factor is trying to keep the schools small enough so the kids can connect and be part of something," Superintendent Rick Reedy said.
Roughly nine out of 10 voters have supported every bond proposal put before them in the past – largely because many of them flocked to Frisco for the small schools and good reputation. Frisco ISD was labeled as a "recognized" district by the Texas Education Agency this year.
How to present it
Members of the bond committee and school board say they never take that
support for granted. The question now comes down to whether voters would be more
receptive to a big proposal all at once or several smaller requests.
"You always are worried about the sticker shock of any bond until you get
that education out to the voters," said Jude Rogowski, a bond committee
co-chairman.
Judy Good, an analyst with the Texas Bond Review Board, said the decision on the
size and number of requests won't make or break the district's finances, noting
that districts don't sell bonds until they actually need money for new
buildings.
"If people see this huge dollar amount, maybe they're more apt to say no," Ms. Good said. "If they break it up, maybe they'll pass it. It's kind of a gamble, but financially I don't know that it would make a difference."
The City Council will receive information on its own $200 million bond proposal on Tuesday in advance of a potential May vote. Frisco City Manager George Purefoy said he doesn't anticipate that the school district's larger construction plans would interfere with the city's plans.
The school bond committee needs to pick a final proposal to put before the
board by March in time for the board to call an election in May. School board
member Dan Mossakowski said the board would almost certainly accept the
committee's recommendation to put before the voters. "People come to Frisco
because it's a great place to live," Mr. Mossakowski said. "They want to raise a
family here. There are some costs associated with that, unfortunately."
Capitol Steps by Rep. Ken Paxton:
This is from one of our State Representatives, Ken Paxton.
Immigration Problems in Texas
Earlier this month, I joined eleven of my colleagues in the Texas House of
Representatives in sending a letter to President Bush asking him to focus on
immigration reform in Texas. In this letter, we cited the harmful economic
impact and dangerous security threat resulting from the overwhelming number of
illegal immigrants in Texas. While we applaud the President's proposed
immigration program outlined by the Administration in November, including the
temporary-worker program, we have asked the President to first focus on stopping
illegal immigrants from entering our country as well as addressing the problem
of the high number of individuals currently living here illegally before
implementing other parts of his plan, such as the guest-worker program.
Data from the Urban Institute indicates that there are currently over 1.1
million illegal immigrants living in Texas (approximately 1 person in 22 living
here). The Federation for American Immigration Reform reports that Texas'
illegal immigrant population is costing the state's taxpayers more than $4.7
billion per year for education, health care and incarceration. In fact, fiscal
year 2004 data shows that the average cost to the State of Texas per day for
incarcerated illegal immigrants is $40.06 per offender per day. With at least
3,000 illegal immigrants incarcerated in our prison system, the state easily
incurs a cost of over $44 million a year just on prisoners who are in our
country illegally.
In addition to the economic impact, there are serious homeland security concerns
ensuing as a result of our border problems in Texas. As a country, we must do a
better job policing who crosses our borders in order to best protect our
citizenry.
This is the second letter a group of Texas State Representatives has sent to
President Bush regarding Texas' illegal immigration concerns. The Texas
Congressional Delegation also received copies of both letters. While the Texas
State Legislature cannot vote on legislation debated at the federal level, it is
our hope that the efforts of a few state legislators from Texas will help lead
to better U.S. immigration policy.
Matt Lafata - matt@mattlafata.com -
Cell 214-336-3355
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alone and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of any
organization or group with whom I am affiliated or the individuals who are a
part of such organizations and groups. You should not rely on any statement
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About Matt Lafata:
Matt Lafata moved to Frisco from Gloucester, MA in January, 1999. Mr. Lafata has
helped build several highly successful businesses for close to 20 years. A
long-time business consultant and entrepreneur, he is a sales and marketing
executive and the Director of Talent Management Services with the Frisco-based
HR technology consulting firm HRchitect (www.HRchitect.com).
He is also the founder of several marketing and public relations agencies
including The Matt Lafata Marketing Group (www.mattlafatamarketing.com)
where he serves in an executive capacity. Previously, Mr. Lafata was an
Executive Vice President of a computer software company where he was responsible
for corporate development, strategic supervision of marketing and sales, product
development and more. Mr. Lafata studied finance and business management at
Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.
Mr. Lafata is involved in numerous organizations throughout Frisco. He is in his
2nd term as a Frisco City Council member, a former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem on the
Frisco City Council, former Planning & Zoning Commissioner, a graduate of
Leadership Frisco, a 2005 recipient of the “21 Leaders of the 21st Century” by
Inside Collin County Business, the Thursday morning networking chair-person for
the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy and a
member of the Alumni group, a youth sports coach, a board member for the Frisco
Family Services Center, a St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Member, a
member of the Frisco Heritage Association, a member of the Frisco Association
for the Arts, a Community Advisory Board member for the Frisco Women’s League, a
board member for the Frisco Square Municipal Management District, a City of
Frisco Technology Committee member, a City of Frisco Budget and Audit
subcommittee member, a Tax Increment Finance board member, and is involved in
several other organizations.
If you wish to be removed from this list, please send an email to
matt@mattlafata.com.