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Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News

April 25, 2008 – Volume 7, Issue 17

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

Lafata Family Web Site

Matt’s Blog – Last Updated 4/23/08

Erika’s Blog – Last Updated 4/10/08

Matt for Mayor of Frisco Web Site

Mayoral Campaign Update –

Thank you to the Frisco Fire Fighters Association for honoring me this week with their endorsement of our campaign for Mayor. I am extremely grateful and look forward to being the next Mayor of Frisco.

The storms continue to do a job on our signs so if yours has blown away or is damaged, please let us know so we can get you a new one. Also, if you don’t yet have a sign and would like to proudly display a yard sign and your support for the next Mayor of Frisco, please let us know.

Thank you to everybody who has been helping in any way with this campaign. We are so excited about what we plan to accomplish after I get elected as your next Mayor of Frisco and need your continued help in spreading the word and encouraging people to vote starting April 28. More details are where and when can be found in the newsletter.

Mornings with Matt:

“Mornings with Matt” takes places each Wednesday morning from 7:30-8:30 at It’s A Grind located at the Shops at Starwood (SW corner of Lebanon and the Dallas North Tollway). Stop by on Wednesdays to talk about issues facing our great city, or really anything for that matter. As an additional note, somebody asked if I will continue doing this after the good citizens of Frisco elect me as their next Mayor. The answer is a big YES as I want to make sure the Office of the Mayor is as open and accessible to the public as possible. I guess we will then change the name to “Mornings with the Mayor”.

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 forty 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, rented, or given to anybody else for any reason as your privacy is of the utmost importance to me. All newsletters can also be found on our web site at www.mattlafatamarketing.com.

Inspirational Quote of the Week:

“Good will conquer evil, and the truth will set me free” – from the song, “Trapped”

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As always, this newsletter is absolutely packed with information – something for everyone. In fact, it’s one of the longest newsletters to date. There is always something going on in our great city and I try to include everything I can. In this jam packed issue, you will find lots of great information. There is something for everyone including the following…

Craddick Announces Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform: 43

Newsletter Staff Members and Contributors

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

Kaleigh Lafata – Tornado Talk and Thunder Happenings

Sarah Ianace – Happenings in the

Frisco ISD

Glenn Kopanski – Landscape Design

Pedro Checo – Advice from Dr. Checo

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

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 or group in Frisco who has been nominated by another individual. He, she or they could be a person or a group 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.

City of Frisco Related Question of the Week:

Q. In a shared fence situation is it allowed to place two fences side-by-side? The homebuilder in our neighborhood is doing this next door to us. How will either fence owner be able to access that side of the fence for maintenance purposes?

If side-by-side fences are allowed is there anything preventing me from tearing down my portion of the fence (five years old) and using the new fence for that part of the yard?

A. There are no regulations to prevent property owners from installing separate fences on a common property line. This practice is not recommended since, as you stated, it makes it difficult for maintenance of the fences, maintenance of vegetation that grows between them and can negatively effect drainage between lots.

Shared fences are typically installed by the first completed home. It is important to have cooperation between neighbors before connecting to an existing fence that may not be on your side of the property line. You could remove your fence, but I recommend discussing the situation with your neighbor before doing so.

Please contact Building Inspections if you have questions at 972 292-5301.

This Day in History – April 25, 1983: Andropov writes to U.S. student

From the History Channel…

On this day in 1983, the Soviet Union releases a letter that Russian
leader Yuri Andropov wrote to Samantha Smith, an American fifth-grader from Manchester, Maine, inviting her to visit his country. Andropov's letter came in response to a note Smith had sent him in December 1982, asking if the Soviets were planning to start a nuclear war. At the
time, the United States and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies.
President Ronald Reagan, a passionate anti-communist, had dubbed the
Soviet Union the "evil empire" and called for massive increases in
U.S. defense spending to meet the perceived Soviet threat.

In his public relations duel with Reagan, known as the "Great Communicator," Andropov, who had succeeded longtime Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in 1982, assumed a folksy, almost grandfatherly approach that was incongruous with the negative image most Americans had of the Soviets. Andropov's letter said that Russian people wanted to "live in peace, to trade and cooperate with all our neighbors on the globe, no matter how close or far away they are, and, certainly, with such a great country as the United States of America." In
response to Smith's question about whether the Soviet Union wished to
prevent nuclear war, Andropov declared, "Yes, Samantha, we in the
Soviet Union are endeavoring and doing everything so that there will be no war between our two countries, so that there will be no war at all on earth." Andropov also complimented Smith, comparing her to the spunky character Becky Thatcher from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.

Smith, born June 29, 1972, accepted Andropov's invitation and flew to
the Soviet Union with her parents for a visit. Afterward, she became an international celebrity and peace ambassador, making speeches, writing a book and even landing a role on an American television series.

In February 1984, Yuri Andropov died from kidney failure and was succeeded by Konstantin Chernenko. The following year, in August 1985, Samantha Smith died tragically in a plane crash at age 13.

April is National Stress Awareness Month:

So far this month we have covered Rosacea Awareness, Mathematics Awareness and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month…

During the month of April, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will annually join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@mattlafatamarketing.com

Homeowner Association Meetings and Other Group Meetings:

If you have an upcoming meeting that you would like a city official at, just to be available to answer any questions, please let us know. If Matt’s schedule permits, he would love to attend.

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.

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.

Clubs, Groups and Organizations in and around Frisco:

Frisco is home to a very diverse and numerous set of clubs, groups and organizations. If your group or organization is missing, and you would like to get it listed, please send me an email so we can list it and continue to maintain the most comprehensive list available.

 
AARP – 972-335-2478

Adopt A Pet – 972-668-4311

Alcoholics Anonymous Frisco – 972-708-5086

Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parent Group

American Cancer Society of Collin County – 214-819-1221

American Legion Post 178

American Red Cross of North Texas – 972-542-5642

Angel Food Ministries – 214-282-5576

AroundTown Kids

Arts of Collin County

Association of Frisco Retired School Personnel – 972-335-3040

Boy Scouts of America – 214-902-6754

Boys and Girls Club

CASA of Collin County – 972-529-2272

Celebrate Recovery – 214-282-5576

Chamber of Commerce

Christian Community Action – 972-436-4357

Chronic Hugs: Chronic Pain Support Group – 214-726-9060

City of Frisco – 972-292-5000

Collin County – 972-424-1460

Collin County Association of Realtors – 214-618-3800

Collin County Central Appraisal District

Collin County Community College

Collin County Community College Education Foundation

Collin County Connection – 214-544-0666

Collin County Early Childhood PTA – 972-712-3634

Collin County Event Professionals – 214-542-1317

Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance – 214-521-5342

Collin County Genealogy Association – 972-231-4190

Collin County Republican Party

Dallas Athletic Rugby Club

Daughters of the American Revolution – 972-307-5906

Democratic Party of Collin County

Denton County

Denton County Central Appraisal District

Downtown Advisory Board – 972-292-5108

Downtown Merchants Association – 972-292-5108

FamilyWatchdog.com

FC Dallas

Frisco A&M Club – 972-897-7765

Frisco American Business Women’s Association (ABWA)

Frisco Al-Anon Family Group – 972-978-8757

Frisco-Allen Texas Area Alumnae Panhellenic

Frisco Area Children’s Theater – 972-377-2675

Frisco Area Republican Women

Frisco Association For the Arts

Frisco Athletic Network

Frisco Bar Association

Frisco Baseball/Softball Organization – 972-712-2288

Frisco Business and Professional Women – 972-377-0335

Frisco Cares

Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Frisco Chorale

Frisco Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.s)

Frisco Community Band – 972-668-5315

Frisco Community Theatre – 972-377-3868

Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau

Frisco Cycling Club

Frisco Democratic Party

Frisco Dog Park

Frisco Ducks Unlimited – 972-712-5049

Frisco Early Childhood PTA

Frisco Economic Development Corporation – 972-668-5550

Frisco Education Foundation – 469-633-6066

Frisco Family Services Center – 972-335-9495

Frisco Family YMCA – 972-335-3222

Frisco Fire Department – 972-335-5525

Frisco Football League – 972-712-0558

Frisco Garden Club – 972-335-3812

Frisco Gymnastics Center – 972-377-0888

Frisco Housing Authority

Frisco Humane Society – 972-498-8980

Frisco Independent School District – 469-633-6000

Frisco Kiwanis Club

Frisco Lion’s Club – 972-335-2487

Frisco Music Teachers Association

Frisco Neighborhood Watch

Frisco Parents of Multiples

Frisco Police Department – 972-292-6000

Frisco Police Officers’ Wives Association

Frisco Post Office – 972-335-7453

Frisco Pride

Frisco Public Library

Frisco Quilt Guild

Frisco Republican Men’s Club

Frisco Republicans – 972-335-9176

Frisco Residents of Color

Frisco Rotary Club – 972-701-2801

Frisco RoughRiders

Frisco Soccer Association – 972-712-4625

Frisco Square

Frisco Sunrise Rotary

Frisco Swim Team

Frisco Thunder Professional Football

Frisco Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8273 – 972-712-5611

Frisco Women’s League – 972-712-8890

Frisco/Plano Christian Women’s Club – 972-668-4464

Frisco Youth Volleyball Leagues

Hall Office Park

Heritage Association of Frisco – 972-335-6684

Heroes for Children – 214-256-5824

Inside Collin County Business

Kids Kaleidoscope

KittiCo Cat Rescue – 214-826-6903

Labrador Retriever Rescue of North Texas

Legacy Christian Academy

Lewisville Independent School District

Meals on Wheels – 972-562-6996

Miracle League of Frisco

MOMS Club of Frisco – East Central Chapter – 972-712-1789

MOMS Club of Frisco – South Chapter – 214-336-8001

MOMS Club of Frisco – SE Chapter – 214-2272418

MOMS Club of Frisco – SW Chapter – 469-384-8002

MOMS Club of Frisco – West Central Chapter

MOMS Club of Frisco – West Chapter – 214-504-9223

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) – 972-668-7458

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Collin County – 214-509-0085

Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano

North Texas Tollway Authority – 214-461-2000

OU Club of Collin County – 972-797-9708

Overeaters Anonymous – 972-832-5263

Play Pals – 972-839-0312

Prosper Independent School District

Senior Center at Frisco Square – 972-292-6550

SPCA of Texas – 972-562-7387

Speak Up – Frisco Toastmasters Group – 972-881-9989

Stonewall Democrats of Collin County

Texas Democratic Women of Collin County

Texas Tornado Hockey

Toastmasters Club of Frisco – 972-712-4611

Visual Arts Guild of Frisco

Volunteer Center of North Texas

Voter Registration Information – Collin County

Voter Registration Information – Denton County

Women Encouraging Business – 972-335-9522

Word of Mouth Productions

WOVI-Frisco: Women of Visionary Influence – 469-252-4528

Young Life Frisco – 972-424-6339

Youth Leadership Frisco

Churches and other Places of Worship in and around Frisco

One of the wonderful things about Frisco is the many diverse religions you can find. If your Church is not listed, please contact me at matt@mattlafata.com so we can list it and continue to maintain the most comprehensive list available.

Apostolic Temple – 972-712-5673

Assembly of God Cornerstone Community Church – 972-335-4704

Celebration Covenant – 214-387-9833

Central Christian Church – 972-377-2608

Church of God in Christ – 972-377-3649

Church of Living Stones – 972-335-3499

Compass Christian Church – 972-335-7546

Congregation B’nai Israel

Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church – 469-362-7844

Cornerstone Community Church – 972-335-4704

Crossroads Community Church – 972-712-0582

Crosswalk Community Church

Destiny’s Place Ministries – 972-712-1130

Faithbridge Presbyterian – 972-377-9560

Fellowship of Frisco – 972-335-1700

First Baptist Church of Frisco – 972-335-9830

First Pentecostal Church – 972-292-3174

First United Methodist – 972-335-4380

Frisco Bible Church – 972-335-8150

Frisco Church of Christ – 972-335-2118

Frisco Masjid – 972-898-8691

Frisco Trails Fellowship Bible Church – 972-731-5999

Genesis Metro – 469-450-6277

Grace Avenue United Methodist – 972-335-2882

Grace Church – 469-633-9104

Grace Pointe – 972-292-3174

Hamilton Chapel Baptist Church – 972-377-3348

Harvest Church International – 214-632-4581

Hope Fellowship – 972-377-8855

Kingdom Life Christian Center – 214-618-1500

Lebanon Baptist Church – 972-377-3348

Liberty Baptist Church – 972-625-3546

Living Waters Family Worship Center – 214-387-9602

Lone Star Baptist Church – 469-358-7089

Newstart Church of the Nazarene – 214-282-5576

Northstar Church – 972-712-8282

Praise Fellowship Worship Center – 214-387-9397

Preston Ridge Baptist Church – 972-712-7007

Preston Trail Community Church – 972-668-1244

Rejoice Lutheran Church – 972-335-6411

Revolution Ministries – 214-649-0623

Rock Hill Church of Christ – 972-346-2710

Shawnee Trail Church of Christ – 972-377-9106

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church – 972-712-2645

St. Philips Episcopal Church – 214-387-4700

Stonebriar Church of Christ – 972-712-9264

Stonebriar Community Church – 469-252-5000

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 972-377-4724

The Journey – 214-529-8873

Turning Point CMA Church – 469-733-3196

Water’s Edge Lutheran Church – 972-712-7377

Frisco Neighborhoods and Homeowner Associations:

If your HOA or neighborhood is not listed, please contact me at matt@mattlafata.com so we can list it and continue to maintain the most comprehensive list available. For a map of where each HOA is located, along with contact information for each HOA, visit the City of Frisco HOA Directory

Autumn Park

Bella Casa

Chapel Creek

Cheyenne Crossing

Coventry Oaks

Creekside at Preston

Creekside at Stonebriar

Crestview

Custer Creek Farms

Cypress Creek

Dominion at Panther Creek

Eldorado Fairways

Estates on Legacy

Fairfield Estates

Frisco Fairways

Frisco Heights

Frisco Square

Golden Gate Village

Grayhawk

Griffin Parc

Heather Ridge Estates

Heritage Green

Heritage Lakes

Hickory Springs

Hickory Street Village

Hillcrest Estates

Hillcrest Highlands

Hillcrest Lebanon/Cecile Place

Hillcrest Lebanon/Hillcrest Meadows

Hillcrest Lebanon/Smith Estates

Hunters Creek

Kings Garden

Kings Ridge

Lakehill

Lakes on Legacy

Lakes of Preston Vineyard

Lonestar Ranch

Meadow Hill Estates

Northridge

Oakbrook Park

Panther Creek Estates

Parkside Estates

Plantation Estates

Plantation Resort

Plantation Resort 2

Plantation Springs

Prestmont

Preston Estates

Presto\n Gables

Preston Glen

Preston Highlands

Preston Lakes/Lakes of Hillcrest

Preston Manor

Preston Oaks

Preston Ridge

Preston Trace Estates

Preston Vineyards North

Quail Meadow Village

Queen’s Gate

Red Bud Estates

Russwood Acres

Saddlebrook Village

Shenandoah Village/Villages of Stonebriar Park

Shepherds Hill

Starwood

Sterling Ranch

Stewart Creek Estates

Stonebriar

Stonebriar Country Club Estates

Stonebriar Creek Estates

Stonebriar Village

Stonelake Estates

Stonelake Estates West

Stonebrook Estates

The Chase at Stonebriar

The Creeks on Coit

The Enclave at Stonebriar Creek Estates

The Trails of West Frisco

The Villas/Lakes on Legacy

The Vintage/Lakes on Legacy

Townhomes of Tuscany Square

Turnbridge Manor

Tuscany Meadows

Villages of Hillcrest

Villages of Lake Brook Farms

Villages of Stonebriar Park

Villages of Willow Bay

Waterford Falls

Westfalls Village

Willow Pond

Windsor Place

Woodstream Hills

Bios of Erika and Matt Lafata:

Erika and Matt Lafata are a great team and enjoy a great marriage and life partnership. Together they try to do everything they can to give back to the community. They are involved in so many things together and in fact, they have even been referred to as “The Dynamic Duo” by a fellow Frisco City Council member!

About Matt Lafata:

Matt Lafata and his wife Erika share six children between the two of them. In January 1999, Mr. Lafata moved to Frisco from Gloucester, MA. Mr. Lafata has helped build several highly successful businesses for more than 20 years. A long-time business consultant, entrepreneur and human resources professional, he is the Director of Business Development with the Frisco-based HR strategy and 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 deve