Matt Lafata’s Weekly Email Newsletter

February 15, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 7

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

Erika and I attended a Texas Municipal League (TML) event in Austin this past weekend for elected officials. Also pictured are Val and Maher Maso. Councilmember Maso received an award of recognition for receiving 42 credit hours in 2006

Meadow Hill Estates is the February winner of Neighborhood of the Month. Pictured with me, from left to right, are neighborhood residents Lisa Miller and Casey Gaudet – both members of the Social Committee. Neighborhood resident Melanie Ellsworth was kind enough to take the picture.

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.

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 me an email 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 this from somebody else and would like to be added to the list, just send me an email. Your email address will never be sold or given to anybody else for any reason. All newsletters can also be found on our web site at www.mattlafatamarketing.com.

Inspirational Quote of the Day:

“I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

In this action packed issue you will find the following…

Capitol Steps by Rep. Ken Paxton: 31

Restaurant Review – Josephine’s Wine Bar and Bistro:

Since Erika and I love to eat out (almost as much as we also love to cook), I’ve been meaning to start this restaurant review section for many months now. We spent our Valentine’s Eve dinner (since we had all the kids on Wednesday) at Josephine’s Wine Bar and Bistro. We both collaborated on this review, and we hope you have a chance to visit them soon.

I love Italian food and we have recently gotten a couple of new choices in town. Owner and Frisco resident, Chris Gangi, named the restaurant after his grandmother and when you think about it, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate name. As an Italian, I grew up having a big Sunday dinner at my grandmother’s house every week where anywhere from ten to thirty of us would get together for some great food and conversation. In a sense, my grandmother, with her Italian cooking, was really the heart of the family. Given that, I can fully understand and appreciate where Chris got the name for this great new restaurant in Frisco.

From the moment you walk into Josephines at the Shops at Starwood (SW corner of Lebanon and the Tollway), you are immediately struck by its ambiance. As you walk through the welcoming, oversized wooden doors, you will see a wine bar and sitting area to your right, the kitchen straight ahead, tables throughout, and a small function room towards the back right. As you look around, you will see great authentic photographs from Italy itself, many of which were taken by Chris and wife Cyndi on trips to Italy.

The next thing you will notice is how everyone makes you feel like you are the only customer that matters. We have been to Josephine’s numerous times for lunch and dinner since they opened last fall, and the service has been consistently great. Chris is usually there checking on everybody and Chef Chris Peters also walks through the dining area on a regular basis. It’s also not unusual to see Cyndi, an amazing “Superwoman” who has a full-time job as the “Director of First Impressions” for Curtsinger Elementary, make sure everyone feels comfortable and has what they need. It’s obvious that family is the heart of the matter, as even their teenaged children get involved in the day-to-day aspects of a family business between their busy school & extra-curricular obligations.

While Josephine’s has an extensive wine list (Hall Vineyards is one of their many gems) and you can go there just for the great wine, don’t let the name mislead you. They have fantastic dishes including salads, pizzas, paninis, pastas, and entrees, as well as off-the-menu specials on weekends. (We sampled the Lobster Ravioli appetizer and wished it was a staple on the menu!) They’ve also recently started serving Sunday Brunch, which we are excited to try, as the menu looks fantastic.

Some of our favorite appetizers include the Portabella Mushroom Fritters which are fried and served with a basil pesto aioli. Although we have been trying to cut down on fried food, these are really tasty and it’s hard to say no. We also love the Tuna Carpaccio which, if you are a sushi fan, you must try.

They have a choice of four or five different salads and Erika really likes the Mixed Greens Salad, which is an excellent mixture of mixed greens, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, red onion, caramelized pears and gorgonzola cheese topped with a balsamic vinaigrette. I like the Caesar salad, as well as the Smoked Salmon salad which is surrounded by a display of baby spinach, hearts of palm, carrots, and chopped eggs.

I’ve tried several of their paninis, including the Chicken and the Vegetable Panini and both were excellent. For entrees, the Sea Bass with the eggplant spinach ravioli is a fan favorite (and what Erika had on our recent visit).

Although we are not big dessert eaters, they have several choices, including some great sounding Italian desserts, that we are sure are just as good as everything else on the menu. They have a sinful chocolate dessert that you must ask for!

Another thing you will notice at Josephine’s is the attention to detail in the presentation. Every dish we have tried has not only tasted great, but was equally impressive.

Josephine’s is open for lunch and dinner, and we highly recommend that it should be on your list of next great places to go out and eat at in our great city of Frisco. Visit their web site at www.josephineswinebar.com for more information and their complete menu.

Matt’s Blog - Blog - an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page – LAST UPDATED 1/30/07

Newsletter Staff Members and Contributors

Matt Lafata – Editor and Publisher – 214-336-3355

Kaleigh Lafata – Tornado Talk

Sarah Ianace – Happenings in Frisco ISD

Glenn Kopanski – Landscape Design

Pedro Checo – Advice from Dr. Checo

Joe Hockaday, CPA – Today’s Tax Talk From Joe!:

State Representative Ken Paxton -- Capitol Steps

Citizen of the Month and Neighborhood of the Month

If you have a citizen or neighborhood you would like to nominate for March, please send it to me by the end of February…

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.

“Dear Neighbor” Column:

Hi Neighbors, in attempt to assist The City of Frisco Residents with their Spring Projects this newsletter would like to start a ‘Dear Neighbor’ column for questions and inquiries about home improvements.  Such improvements might include questions regarding accessory buildings, sheds, patio covers, gazebos, fences (new or replacements) foundation repairs, re-roofing projects, arbors, room additions or alterations, tall grass, trash, outdoor kitchens, fire-pits, spas and pools.

It would be something similar to the famous ‘Dear Abby’ or ‘Heloise’ column, where readers submit their questions or concerns and the response is printed in this newsletter.  This newsletters’ reader’s, as the citizens of Frisco, will be able to ask for information in regards to home improvements, general building practices and property nuisances. 

So, if you have questions or home improvements, general building practices property nuisances or any newsworthy items you would like to ask and have shared with all our readers, please send them to me at community@mattlafatamarketing.com so I may include them.

Question of the Week:

Q. Does the City of Frisco have facilities or park amenities that can be reserved and rented?

A. Yes. The Parks & Recreation Department has several facilities that can be reserved and rented for birthday parties, social activities, athletic functions, family reunions, company picnics and more. These facilities include park pavilions, amphitheaters, the Frisco Community Center, the Senior Center at Frisco Square, the Downtown Gazebo and the Municipal Outdoor Pool. Please visit the Rentals & Reservation Opportunities page or call 972-335-5515 for more information.

Wine Question of the Day:

Since we enjoy a glass of wine from time to time, we have become more fascinated with wine in general and in trying to learn more about wine. This week’s question…

Q. At a restaurant what are you supposed to do when the server hands you the cork?

A. You don’t need to sniff the cork if you don’t want to. But by squeezing the bottom end of the cork, a little of the wine can be sniffed to be sure it smells like wine and does not have a moldy odor of tainted cork. One wine steward told us that if it smells like wet newspaper, send it back. Also, you can look to see if there is any indication that any wine has seeped out of the bottle. The real proof, though, is in the smell and taste of the wine itself--let your own good taste be your guide.

How to “Whitelist” this Frisco Community Newsletter in Your Spam Filter:

With the advent of outrageous volumes of unwanted email these days, of which I get a ton, it's unfortunate that legitimate email publications like this are not being seen by some of the readers who enjoy those publications. There is much fear today that the email publishing/marketing industry is in serious trouble, due to mistakes in filtering when legitimate email is erroneously tagged as unwanted email.

While we applaud the anti-spam industry for removing the plethora of unwanted email from many of our mailboxes, from time to time, some legitimate email publications are mistaken as unwanted.

Sometimes, this results in our mailings bouncing back, with requests for us to respond to challenge/response messages to prevent future filtering. However, due to the size of our list, it's nearly impossible for us handle the volume of such requests.

To that end, please realize that we want our readers to always anticipate and enjoy the valuable information that this community newsletter delivers.

If you currently use an anti-spam program or service, we ask that you take just a minute or two to add this newsletter to your "safe" or permitted email sender list. This usually involves simply adding our sending address (From:) to your whitelist, safelist, or list of privileged senders. This is commonly known as whitelisting a publication. Simply add the email addresses of matt@mattlafata.com and matt@mattlafatamarketing.com.

Just a reminder - this newsletter is put together with information from many different sources. You can also view this newsletter and past newsletters in the News section of my web site at www.mattlafatamarketing.com. If you do not receive your emailed newsletter for some reason, please visit www.mattlafatamarketing.com each week as some mail servers block emails that are sent to multiple recipients. Just remember that if you don’t get it by each Friday, you can read it on the web site.

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@mattlafatamarketing.com

Brief History of Presidents’ Day

Presidents' Day is the common name for the United States federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday. It is celebrated on the third Monday of February.

As the official title of the federal holiday, Washington's Birthday was originally implemented by the federal government in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. In 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February as a result of the “Uniform Monday Holiday Bill” of 1968.

In the late 1980s, with a push from advertisers (everybody loves those Presidents’ Day sales!), the term Presidents' Day began its public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another February President, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the U.S. as well. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. It is also interesting to note that "Presidents' Day" is not always an all-inclusive term. In Massachusetts, while their state holiday honors "Washington's Birthday", there is also a Presidents' Day Proclamation honoring the Presidents that have come from the New England area. Alabama uniquely observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day," even though Jefferson's birthday was in April. In Connecticut, while Presidents' Day is a federal holiday, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week.

In Washington's home state of Virginia, the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day."

All the opinions, endorsements or recommendations in this newsletter are mine 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 made in this newsletter as evidenced of how I may act as a member of any organization or group.  Inclusion of news, events and other information in this newsletter does not imply an endorsement; it merely serves as my effort to be of service to the readers.

All About Frisco:

In our continuing efforts to bring information to our great community, we have updated our web site with listings of:

·         Frisco Neighborhoods and Homeowner Associations

·         Churches and other places of Worship

·         Clubs and Organizations

·         The Frisco Independent School District and other Schools

Visit www.friscocommunity.com to access this information and I look forward to your feedback. This site will continue to grow and evolve over time.

About Matt Lafata:

Matt Lafata is the proud parent of three children and moved to Frisco from Gloucester, MA in January, 1999. Mr. Lafata has helped build several highly successful businesses for more than 20 years. A long-time business consultant and entrepreneur, he is the Director of Sales and Marketing 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). 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 2^nd term as a Frisco City Council member and is also involved in the following…

·         Former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem on the Frisco City Council

·         Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner

·         Graduate of Leadership Frisco

·         2005 recipient of the “21 Leaders of the 21^st Century” by Inside Collin County Business

·         Graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy and a member of the Alumni group

·         Youth sports coach

·         Past board member for the Frisco Family Services Center

·         St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Member

·         Member of the Frisco Heritage Association

·         Member of the Frisco Association for the Arts

·         Community Advisory Board member for the Frisco Women’s League

·         Board member for the Frisco Square Municipal Management District

·         City of Frisco Technology Committee member

·         City of Frisco Budget and Audit subcommittee member

·         Tax Increment Finance board member

·         Co-Director of the Mrs. Texas United States Pageant

Matt recently became engaged to Erika Howe of Frisco, who also has three children.

If you wish to be removed from this list, please send an email to matt@mattlafata.com.

Dear Friends,

This week’s newsletter is proudly sponsored by Salon M. Check out the discounts they are offering to newsletter readers. Also check out the spotlight on The Frisco Family Services Center, the only non-profit social service agency in Frisco that provides emergency assistance to low-income households and families in crisis. They also operate the Frisco Resale store on Main Street where you can find some great deals and 100% of the proceeds support the agency. 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.

The Frisco Family Services Center annual gala – Boots, Bandanas & Bowties – is coming up soon and whether or not you attend this great event, you can buy a raffle ticket now for a chance to win a 2007 Lexus IS 250! See details in the newsletter below.

The February Neighborhood of the Month is…Meadow Hill Estates! Read more about why they were chosen, a little further down in this newsletter, and how your neighborhood could be next!

I hope everybody is staying warm! I moved away from the Boston area years ago to get away from this cold and I am ready for it to start warming up!

Be sure to check out our restaurant review located in the left hand column. We have been meaning to start this feature for many, many months now and have finally kicked it off with a review of Josephine’s Wine Bar and Bistro!

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 – Salon M:

At Salon M our hair stylists, skin care technicians, nail care technicians and massage therapist use their technical ability to consult with clients to obtain the best collaborative results possible for hair, skin, nails and well-being.

Imagine a contemporary environment where you can pamper your body, energize your senses and soothe your soul.  At Salon M, we are dedicated to offering you an experience that is unique to your needs.  Our commitment to you is to provide excellence in personal service, technically ability and the education necessary for you to recreate your individual style at home. 

We are offering a $5.00 discount on any service at Salon M for new clients only…please mentioned this advertisement.  Discount expires on 3.15.2007.

NOW OFFERING –The Newest Wave in CELLULITE Treatment.

Diet, exercise, creams…do you need a more powerful cellulite treatment?  Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) is a non-invasive procedure that impacts connective tissue using gentle acoustic waves – releasing dimples, increasing blood flow and reducing the appearance of cellulite.  Improve your body confidence today – please call Marsela at 972-571-6161 to schedule an appointment and learn more about AWT.

Our Featured STYLIST of the month is Debi Perot.  Debi has been a stylist for almost 9 years and specializes in highlighting, color and hair cutting.  Debi is offering a special $10.00 discount for new clients only.  Discount expires on 3.15.2007.  To make an appointment with Debi, please call 214-934-3046.

Please check out our website at www.salonm.org or call 972-377-3466 for appointments or questions.

Spotlight on…the Frisco Family Services Center:

This interview was conducted with my friend and executive director of the agency, Jill Cumnock…

Jill, please tell us a little bit about the agency:

Frisco Family Services Center is the only non-profit social service agency in Frisco that provides emergency assistance to low-income households and families in crisis.  In 2006 FFSC served more than 1200 client families and distributed over 295,000 pounds of food.  Our agency also provides emergency financial assistance to help with rent/mortgage, utility bills, gasoline costs and prescription medication.  Furthermore we offer life skills classes to our clients covering topics such as budgeting, meal planning on a budget, interview skills, resume writing, etc.  We also provide school supplies and new clothes at the beginning of the school year, Thanksgiving food boxes, and holiday gifts for children and seniors.  We also operate Frisco Resale and we distribute vouchers to our clients so they can select clothing, furniture and household items at no cost to themselves. 100% of the proceeds from Frisco Resale is used to support FFSC and our services and programs.

You guys are doing a great service for Frisco. So what makes the agency so unique?

We are truly a local grassroots organization.  The agency was founded in 1995 by residents of Frisco and continues to be supported by our community.  We only provide services to those living in Frisco or in the Frisco Independent School District (which includes parts of Plano, McKinney, and Little Elm).  We are not a United Way agency nor are we a part of a national organization. 

Since I know there are folks in Frisco who would like to offer some kind of assistance to the agency, how does somebody get in touch with you?  

They can email us at info@friscocenter.org, or call 972.335.9495.  We are located at 8780 3rd Street and our mailing address is P.O. Box 1387, Frisco, TX 75034. 

Jill, I know that 100% of the proceeds from the store support the agency but we want to get more people to the store to shop. What kind of special can you offer our newsletter readers?

We will offer $5.00 off a $20.00 minimum purchase at Frisco Resale.  Readers can print this page and take to Frisco Resale to receive this savings.  Offer is good until March 2, 2007. 

That’s great. I hope people take advantage of that offer and check out some of the great deals they can get at the Frisco Resale store. So how else can readers support the Frisco Family Services Center?   

As a nonprofit organization, we depend heavily on our community to help us meet the needs of the people we serve.  We appreciate monetary contributions, food donations, volunteers and donations and shoppers at Frisco Resale. 

Thanks for taking the time with us today, Jill, to provide us with more information on this great organization. Many people would be shocked to know that this need even exists in Frisco. Anything else you would like to let our readers know about you and the agency?

The affluence in Frisco is not universal as many believe.  While much attention is placed on the exciting boom, Frisco has also witnessed a growing population of families who are experiencing a financial crisis.  Loss of employment, medical issues, death and divorce are all contributing factors to the rise of families and individuals needing assistance. 

Brand your Calendars for an Evening of Western Elegance and Take a Chance to Win a New Lexus IS 250!:

WIN A 2007 LEXUS IS 250 from Park Place – Only 750 tickets will be sold!
$100 per raffle ticket or ten tickets for $1,000 plus one free raffle ticket ($100 value) or two tickets to the gala ($130 value). Winner need not be present to win…you will receive a call that evening if you are the winner. To purchase tickets, visit www.friscocenter.org or call 972-335-9495. Ticket stubs will be mailed to you.  Tickets can be purchased through Thursday, March 1st or at the event on Saturday, March 3rd.

This is the Frisco Family Services Center’s signature fundraising gala and one everyone should attend.  This year’s event – “Boots, Bandanas & Bowties” - the 13th annual event is Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Frisco.  Event Co-chairs, Joni Klarin and Carol Wilson anticipate welcoming more than 800 guests who will dust off their boots, dress in their best western attire, and  enjoy an evening of entertainment and fundraising benefiting those in need in our community. 

The evening will include mechanical bull riding, armadillo races and a Texas Shoot Out Challenge.  Guests can perform the Texas Two-Step to live music by Jon Christopher Davis - Lonestar Attitude and enjoy fabulous food from area restaurants. New to the event this year is a Margarita Bar Drawing.  Attendees can purchase a special margarita that will enter them in a drawing for an extraordinary prize.  For those who like to press their luck, there will be a casino with black jack, craps, roulette and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.  

An array of silent auction items including: jewelry from Classique Jewelers, sporting event tickets, furniture, entertainment, weekend getaways, clothing, spa treatments, unique theme baskets and more will provide many bidding opportunities.  An exciting live auction promises to be a highlight of the evening, giving guests the opportunity to bid on exceptional big-ticket items such as a summer vacation home in Winter Park, Colorado, a trip to Florida, a golf and spa resort in Arizona, a ride in a fighter jet, professional photography session, an exquisite piece of jewelry, a Girlfriends Getaway to name just a few. Participating in these auctions is also a great opportunity for guests to demonstrate their compassion for those in need in our community.  “The services and assistance we provide are made possible only through the caring generosity of citizens, organizations and businesses in Frisco.  Helping families and individuals in crisis become self-sufficient serves to strengthen our community,” says Joni Klarin.  The best part of the evening will be the conclusion when one lucky person will be the winner of a 2007 Lexus IS 250.  Tickets are $100 and only 750 tickets will be sold.  Everyone is encouraged to attend and reservations are $65 per person or $850 for a reserved table for 10. For more information on sponsoring, donating an auction item, or to purchase tickets, visit www.friscocenter.org or call 972-335-9495.

Countrywide Home Loans is this year’s Title Sponsor, once again demonstrating their commitment to enriching and improving the quality of life in Frisco.  Frisco Style Magazine has partnered with FFSC as the Signature Media Sponsor.  Other major sponsors showing their support are: Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, The Boxer Family, Centennial Medical Center, Citibank, Darling Homes, First Choice Emergency Room, Dickey’s BBQ, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Keller Williams-Jan Richey Group, Land Rover Frisco, Red Planet Design, and Strasburger & Price.    

12^th Annual Spelling Bee:

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.  

Saving Cash:

Visit 100.3 Jack FM’s website at www.jackontheweb.com  to find great deals in Jack’s 1/2 Off Emporium….you can get gift certificates to area businesses for half the price. Every Friday at 9am at the website, a new business is featured and a limited number of certificates go on sale for purchase online. Friday (tomorrow) you can get $50 Gattitown gift certificates for $25 while they last!

Car Safety Seat Checks:

Speaking of Jack FM, they have partnered with McDavid Honda here in Frisco to do free car safety seat checks this Saturday, the 17th, at the dealership (Hwy 121 and the Tollway) from 11am-1pm. They’ll also have free pizza from Gattitown while it lasts. Check into the Jack FM booth inside the dealership to sign up to have your carseat checked to make sure it is properly installed. Extra special thanks to the City of Frisco Police Department for having certified car seat technicians out there.

FDA Warning of Salmonella Contamination:

Since most of us eat peanut butter, I wanted to provide this article to you.  ConAgra Foods is recalling all Peter Pan Peanut Butter from batch 2111 due to possible Salmonella contamination. 

Please see the FDA Warning at:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01563.html

and the official ConAgra Foods Recall Notice at: 
http://investor.conagrafoods.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97518&p=irol-newsArticlemedia&ID=963451&highligh=

The Frisco Public Library Presents "Download Me!":

This is a free demonstration about using MP3 Downloadable Audiobooks that are available to library patrons.  Please join us on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in the first-floor computer lab inside the Frisco Library. The library is located in the new library/city hall building in Frisco Square, off Main Street.

Answering Questions for Kids and Young Adults:

As you know, communication and sharing information is something that I spend a lot of time doing. I frequently get asked to answer questions for kids and young adults for school projects or leadership programs. Usually the project involves getting these questions answered from somebody in a leadership position, and as a City Council member, I’m always happy to take the time to do this. If your son or daughter ever needs questions answered from a leadership figure for projects of any kind, please feel free to contact me or have them contact me directly.

Alternatively, if your child is interested in learning more about city government and has questions, feel free to contact me.

Finally, if you are looking for a speaker to talk to a group of kids or young adults about city government or Frisco in general, I’m happy to try and schedule something.

Tornado Talk…by Junior Sports Reporter, Kaleigh Lafata:

This past weekend was split between the Tornado and the Springfield Jr. Blues. Friday night was a nice win and Saturday was one of the closest games I’ve seen this season. They haven’t been able to achieve a full sweep since December 29 and 30^th. They are now back in 3^rd place and 10 points out of 1^st.

Springfield struck first 16 minutes into the game. In the 2^nd period, Ryan Fuller scored a power play goal with Stephane Da Costa assisting. That would mark Ryan’s 27^th goal of the season and he leads the team with 52 points. The next goal came from Springfield to make it 2-1. Colin Long clin