Matt Lafata’s Weekly Email Newsletter

March 15, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 11

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

NHL All-Star Mark Messier, one of the greatest hockey players of all-time, posed with me for a picture at a Texas Tornado game last year. You can watch Mark play this weekend in Frisco at the Pros vs. Prospects III game this Saturday night. Call 972-335-9800 or visit www.tornadohockey.com to get your tickets.

Rosemarie Jean Odom, the March winner of Citizen of the Month, visits with me in Frisco Square.

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 Week:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@mattlafatamarketing.com

In this jam packed issue you will find lots of great information. There is something for everyone including the following…

The County Line by Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes: 32

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.

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 Details

If you have a citizen or neighborhood you would like to nominate, please send it to me.

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. I've lived in Frisco since '99 and my neighborhood is several years older than even that. Yet today, the ONLY high speed access that is available is through cable only from Time Warner, which used to be Comcast, which used to be AT&T, etc.

What is up with our city that we don't have choices at all? We should have at least DSL and better yet Verizon FIOS access in this modern city...yet here I am beholden to Time Warner's poor service and expensive cable-only access.

Why has the city not pursued more choices for its residents? Is there anything the city can do to help us? It took me 3 years just to get cable where I live...it's unreal that Frisco should be so behind every other city in this regard.

A. Choices for high-speed internet access vary across the City as the different companies have rolled out various products at different speeds and within different areas. There is nothing that the City of Frisco does to impede the roll-out of high-speed internet within the City. In fact, we have met with different data providers encouraging them to bring their products to Frisco. We have shown them the demographics and requested that they provide services here. In the end, it is a market-based decision and I cannot speak for the telecommunications companies as to why we are still limited to two choices in most areas (and as you point out, one available choice in some areas).

We have met with Verizon and requested that they consider providing their FIOS product here. They have yet to respond. We have been meeting with AT&T (formerly SBC) for the past 5 years trying to get them to invest the necessary capital dollars to increase their coverage and offerings. They have shown a continued interest, but we don't have any timelines with which we are comfortable.

While I don't believe that we are "behind every other city", we will continue to work with the providers and attempt to get more choices in Frisco. It is as frustrating for us as it is for you. It seems as though keeping up with the growth is their primary focus, and retrofitting other areas of the City is a secondary focus.

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. What is “Pinot Noir”?

A. One of the most renowned red grapes in the world for its supple silky texture and mesmerizingly earthy flavors. Pinot noir, like riesling, requires a cold climate and in fact, its ancestral home is the cool Burgundy region of France. The grape, which is very difficult to grow and make into wine, is also grown in Oregon and California, but rarely elsewhere.

March 15 – 44 BC: The Ides of March:

Gaius Julius Caesar, dictator of Rome, is stabbed to death in the Roman Senate house by 60 conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and
Gaius Cassius Longinus.

Caesar, born into the Julii, an ancient but not particularly distinguished Roman aristocratic family, began his political career in 78 B.C. as a prosecutor for the anti-patrician Popular Party. He won influence in the party for his reformist ideas and oratorical skills, and aided Roman imperial efforts by raising a private army to combat the king of Pontus in 74 B.C. He was an ally of Pompey, the recognized head of the Popular Party, and essentially took over this position after Pompey left Rome in 67 B.C. to become commander of Roman forces in the east.

In 63 B.C., Caesar was elected pontifex maximus, or "high priest,"
allegedly by heavy bribes. Two years later, he was made governor of
Farther Spain and in 64 B.C. returned to Rome, ambitious for the
office of consul. The consulship, essentially the highest office in
the Roman Republic, was shared by two politicians on an annual basis.
Consuls commanded the army, presided over the Senate and executed its decrees, and represented the state in foreign affairs. Caesar formed a
political alliance--the so-called First Triumvirate--with Pompey and
Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome, and in 59 B.C. was elected consul. Although generally opposed by the majority of the Roman Senate, Caesar's land reforms won him popularity with many Romans.

In 58 B.C., Caesar was given four Roman legions in Cisalpine Gaul and
Illyricum, and during the next decade demonstrated brilliant military
talents as he expanded the Roman Empire and his reputation. Among
other achievements, Caesar conquered all of Gaul, made the first Roman inroads into Britain, and won devoted supporters in his legions.
However, his successes also aroused Pompey's jealousy, leading to the
collapse of their political alliance in 53 B.C.

The Roman Senate supported Pompey and asked Caesar to give up his
army, which he refused to do. In January 49 B.C., Caesar led his
legions across the Rubicon River from Cisalpine Gaul to Italy, thus
declaring war against Pompey and his forces. Caesar made early gains
in the subsequent civil war, defeating Pompey's army in Italy and
Spain, but was later forced into retreat in Greece. In August 48 B.C.,
with Pompey in pursuit, Caesar paused near Pharsalus, setting up camp at a strategic location. When Pompey's senatorial forces fell upon
Caesar's smaller army, they were entirely routed, and Pompey fled to
Egypt, where he was assassinated by an officer of the Egyptian king.

Caesar was subsequently appointed Roman consul and dictator, but
before settling in Rome he traveled around the empire for several
years and consolidated his rule. In 45 B.C., he returned to Rome and
was made dictator for life. As sole Roman ruler, Caesar launched
ambitious programs of reform within the empire. The most lasting of
these was his establishment of the Julian calendar, which, with the
exception of a slight modification and adjustment in the 16th century,
remains in use today. He also planned new imperial expansions in
central Europe and to the east. In the midst of these vast designs, he
was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C., by a group of conspirators who
believed that his death would lead to the restoration of the Roman
Republic. However, the result of the "Ides of March" was to plunge
Rome into a fresh round of civil wars, out of which Octavian, Caesar's
grand-nephew, would emerge as Augustus, the first Roman emperor,
destroying the republic forever.

Featured holiday of the week

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day…

Here is a little history of St. Patrick’s Day…

St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish. But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.

Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D.,
while the other school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place is said to be in either Scotland or Roman England. His real name was probably Maewyn Succat. Though Patricius was his Romanicized name, he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.

Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer. He was growing up as naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy along with many others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland. He was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned. This was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God. Legend says, he was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.

Finally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France. There he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training.
And when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him back to Ireland to tell them about God. The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most important
document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."

So he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a kinglet here and a lawgiver there, but accepted none from any.

Indeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. Through active preaching, he made important converts even among the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids.
Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. For 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion. He developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism, established dioceses, and held church councils.

Patrick's doctrine is considered orthodox and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian. Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning, a few of his writings remain extant: his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters. The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick, may date to a later period.

By the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the legends have continued to grow since then. There are many legends associated with St Patrick. It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence its strong association with his day and name.
Legend also has that Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland. And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.

True, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years, these legends have been inseparably combined with the facts. And together they have helped us know much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration of the day.

Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years. He died on March 17, AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. Or, rather, 'be an Irish Day '. And the Irish has borne it as part of their national tradition in everywhere they populated and prospered. The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday in celebration of the Irish and Irish culture. The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy, has become entrenched as a chief symbol for this holiday, as is the shamrock an ancient symbol for the triple goddess Brigit. It is fitting that this holiday should fall at the time of the year when the return of spring begins to seem at hand.

Deep Thoughts from The Boss

Since I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, and he is such a profound and prolific songwriter, I’ve decided to include some of my favorite lines from his vast collection of music.

“God have mercy on the man, who doubts what he’s sure of.” – from Brilliant Disguise off the Tunnel of Love album

This Day in Disney History –

Being big fans of Disney, I thought I would include a little bit of Disney history…

1904:

Actor J. Pat O'Malley is born in Burnley, England. His Disney credits include Robin Hood, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Son of Flubber and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He also played the role of of Perkins, the English servant assigned to watch over Monty Markham in The Adventures of Spin and Marty. Along with Paul Frees, O'Malley voiced many of the pirates for Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

1910:

Nick Stewart (sometimes credited as Nicodemus Stewart), the voice of Br'er Bear in the 1946 Song of the South, is born in New York City.

1927:

Jack Lindquist, Disneyland's first advertising manager who went on to become President of Disneyland, is born in Chicago, Illinois. While an advertising manager, Lindquist created Disney Dollars.

1957:

David Silverman, who co-directed Monsters, Inc., is born in New York City. (He's also directed episodes of the TV animated series The Simpsons.)

1973:

Tenor Bob Mathis of the Dapper Dans of Disney World, performs with the popular barbershop quartet for the last time. A member since their inception, he leaves to direct a choral society in Atlanta, Georgia.

1975:

The revised film America the Beautiful opens at the Circle-Vision 360 Theater at Walt Disney World.

1987:

TV's The Wonderful World of Disney airs the biographical movie "Young Harry Houdini."

1998:

PB&J Otter, a half-hour animated television series, premieres on the Disney Channel.

2001:

The Disneyland Resort in California officially welcomes its 450-millionth guest, first-time visitor to Disneyland, Mark Ramirez of Texas, a civilian production management specialist for the U.S. Air Force. Ramirez, his wife, and three daughters are honored during a ceremony where he is presented with a lifetime pass to the Disneyland Resort (Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure), a stay at the new Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and a gift pack. He is also given the honor of changing the official attendance sign at Disneyland's Train Station from 400 million to 450 million.

2002:

The Lizzie McGuire episode "The Rise and Fall of Kate" debuts on the Disney Channel.

2005:

The Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar animated feature The Incredibles is released on DVD.

Walt Disney Records releases 2 CDs - The Ice Princess soundtrack (a compilation of music by such artists as Diana DiGarmo, Michelle Branch and Jesse McCartney) and Disney's On The Record (a 2-disc original cast recording based on the touring stage musical).

2006:

In another first for Disney and Apple, High School Musical, Disney Channel's hit, becomes the first full length movie to be sold on Apple's iTunes Music Store.

This Day in Music History –

Since Erika and I are very passionate about our music, I thought we’d start including some music history here in the newsletter…

1999: Bruce Springsteen and Bill Joel gracefully thank their beaming mothers. Paul McCartney mourns the loss of his wife Linda. And the three lead a jam session that has a star-studded audience up and dancing during the 14th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

1999: Jeff Beck begins a headlining U.S. tour at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., in support of his current Epic album, "Who Else!"

1996: Violinist, Olga Rudge dies at the age of 101.

1995: Seal, Porno for Pyros, Biohazard, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, the Goats and Face to Face perform at Warp magazine's second annual Board AID rock 'n' ski benefit on the slopes of Big Bear, Calif.

1966: Herb Alpert's "Taste of Honey" wins a Grammy as Record of the Year. Frank Sinatra's "September of My Years" wins a Grammy as Album of the Year. Tom Jones wins a Grammy as Best New Artist.

1962: Terence Trent D'Arby is born in New York City, the son of a minister. Before launching his singing career he is a member of the U.S. Army boxing team. His biggest hit is the No. 1 song "Wishing Well" in 1988.

1955: Dee Snider of the heavy metal group Twisted Sister is born in Massepequa, N.Y.

1947: Ry Cooder is born in Los Angeles.

1944: Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) is born in Dallas. Sly & the Family Stone's biggest hit is "Everyday People," a million-selling song that tops Billboard's Hot 100 chart for four weeks in 1969.

1944: Mike Love of the Beach Boys is born in Baldwin Hills, Calif.

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

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

Since 2001, Matt has produced a very popular e-newsletter that goes out every week to over 38,000 people which keeps the Frisco community in touch with local events and businesses.

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

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.

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 CGREEN, who specializes in lawn, landscape, irrigation, and drainage needs. Also check out the spotlight on Frisco Square, one of the most exciting developments happening in Frisco. 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.

Since Daylight Savings Time (DST) occurred last week, and I always hear people ask questions about why it still exists, I thought I would include this link to some history about DST.

Congratulations to Matt Lafata Marketing Group staff member Sarah Ianace and her husband Peter on the recent birth of their baby girl. Little Ava will join 2-year old twin boys in the Ianace household.

If your kids’ Spring Break wore you out, maybe *you* should take a break now….Kokopelli’s Wellness Spa here in Frisco is offering Half-Priced Gift Certificates through JACK FM. See the details below on how you can get a $100 certificate for $50.

The March Citizen of the Month is…Rosemarie Jean Odom! Read more about why she was chosen, a little further down in this newsletter, and how you could be next!

If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in advertising and reaching more than 38,000 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 – CGREEN:

CGREEN Landscape Irrigation is your one call solution for Sprinkler System Repair, New Sprinkler System Installation, Drainage Solutions, Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance, Fertilization & Weed control, and Tree Trimming. Some of our credentials are: Landscape Architects, Licensed Irrigators, Certified Landscape Professionals, Horticulturists, Certified Pest Control Applicators, Certified Water Auditors & Master Certified Nurseryman.

Chuck Green, president and owner, founded the company in 1980 and CGREEN has grown substantially since then with 25 trucks to serve you and still growing!  All CGREEN technicians and installers are company employees and not subcontractors. All vehicles are new, clean & clearly marked. All employees are uniformed, and the company carries liability insurance.

As Chuck says, “We want to be your one-call solution for all of your lawn, landscape, irrigation & drainage needs. Our goal is to have the customer to feel like a fool to go anywhere else but CGREEN! We know that we are not perfect; however we will always aim for excellence. We have experienced people who know what they are doing. Our crews don’t just rush through a job. They take pride in their work, take the time to do it right, and pay attention to detail.

Chuck has lived in Frisco for 9 years now with Cathy, his wife, and their 4 boys (all their names start with a ‘C’!). He is involved in Cub & Boy Scouts, active in the Chamber of Commerce and other local volunteer organizations. Thanks in advance for considering CGREEN and keep smilin’! Gotta support those 4 growing boys!                   

CGREEN can be contact at 972-231-2870, cgreen@cgreens.com or visit their web site at www.cgreens.com.

Spotlight on… Frisco Square:

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.

A true town-center concept, Frisco Square was designed by world-renowned architects to create a unique urban community centered around the pedestrian. Located at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and Main Street, Frisco Square is at the nexus of the growing Frisco/North Dallas area.

Frisco Square has something no other development in the area has—access to local government. Frisco Square is the official town center for the City of Frisco, home to Frisco’s new City Hall, Library and Heritage Center.

For more information, including an interactive map, please visit www.friscosquare.com

Mrs. Texas United States® Pageant – Be a Part of It:

The Mrs. Texas United States Pageant is the premiere competition for married women. The state contest has called Frisco home for the last three years, with this year’s competition May 11-13 at the host hotel Westin Stonebriar Resort. A souvenir program book, with a long shelf life, is produced each year. Ads and event sponsorships for activities during the pageant weekend are available, tailored to your business’ needs. Contact the pageant office at info@mrstexasunitedstates.com or Marketing Consultant Tina Grimes at tina.grimes@yahoo.com or 214.228.4401 for advertising and sponsorship information.

Additionally, entries are still being accepted until April 15th. If you want to have a fun, girls’ weekend meeting new friends, consider entering the competition. Contestants must be married, living in Texas, and children are not a factor. Our winners have been all over the age and lifestyle spectrum; we’ve had stay-at-home moms win, as well as those with full-time jobs outside the home. No experience is necessary, and there is no talent competition. Most of the women who enter a pageant for married women have never done so previously. The new Mrs. Texas competes at the televised Mrs. United States Pageant in Las Vegas this summer.  Limited local titles are available. Visit www.mrstexasunitedstates.com for more information.

Still Saving Ca$h:

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 Frisco 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. This week’s featured business is Kokopelli’s Wellness Spa. Get a $100 gift certificate for $50 while supplies last! If you are interested in participating in this program which requ