Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News

May 3, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 18

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

Photo by SDS Photography

It’s been a busy week as I went to Las Vegas for a conference and to give a presentation early in the week and then had to fly to Oakland from there to give another presentation. Stayed at the Red Rock Resort in Vegas, which is fairly new and off the strip. If you are looking for some place different to stay in Vegas, this place is beautiful. I have no vested interest except to relay my good experience there. Of course if anybody from the Red Rock is reading this and wants to send me a coupon for a free pull at a slot machine, I’d be happy to try my luck. When I was in Oakland, I rode the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to Walnut Creek, where my meeting was. Good public transportation system that they are looking to expand over the next few years. In any event, had a great dinner at Bing Crosby’s restaurant in Walnut Creek while I was there as well and the bus driver at the rental car return thought I was Mario Andretti (I’m sure he meant a YOUNGER version!). J

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 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:

“"The person saying that it can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it." - Chinese proverb

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: 31

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.

City of Frisco Related Question of the Week:

Q. Are there any new updates on the construction of Grand Park?
Where could I find out more information on this future park?
I have not seen any recent media since the article in The Dallas Morning newspaper a couple of years back. Will there be some other posting soon regarding Grand Park?

A. Over the past year to eighteen months, the City has been acquiring the necessary land for the Park and has developed a master plan of the park. You will be able to view these images on the Parks and Recreation portion of the City web site within several weeks.

Currently, Staff is presenting a contract to Council for their consideration at the first Council meeting in May for engineering work associated with the park.

The first phase of construction will be contingent upon receiving permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers. The process of obtaining the permits can range from twelve to twenty four months depending on the Corps work load.

Once we have completed the engineering and the Corps has had a chance to review the permit submittal we should be able to gauge the amount of time needed for permitting. This will allow us to more accurately predict when the first phase of construction can begin, but as you can see we may be several years away from starting construction.

This Day in History – May 3, 1947: New Japanese Constitution Goes Into Effect

From the History Channel…

On May 3, 1947, Japan's postwar constitution goes into effect. The progressive constitution granted universal suffrage, stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power, stipulated a bill of rights, abolished peerage, and outlawed Japan's right to make war. The document was largely the work of Supreme Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur and his occupation staff, who had prepared the draft in February 1946 after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable.

As the defender of the Philippines from 1941 to 1942, and commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific theater from 1942 to 1945, Douglas MacArthur was the most acclaimed American general in the war against Japan. On September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, he presided over the official surrender of Japan. According to the terms of surrender, Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese government were subject to the authority of the Supreme Commander for Allied Powers in occupied Japan, a post filled by General MacArthur.

On September 8, Supreme Commander MacArthur made his way by automobile through the ruins of Tokyo to the American embassy, which would be his home for the next five and a half years. The occupation was to be a nominally Allied enterprise, but increasing Cold War division left Japan firmly in the American sphere of influence. From his General Headquarters, which overlooked the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, MacArthur presided over an extremely productive reconstruction of Japanese government, industry, and society along American models. MacArthur was a gifted administrator, and his progressive reforms were for the most part welcomed by the Japanese people.

The most important reform carried out by the American occupation was the establishment of a new constitution to replace the 1889 Meiji Constitution. In early 1946, the Japanese government submitted a draft for a new constitution to the General Headquarters, but it was rejected for being too conservative. MacArthur ordered his young staff to draft their own version in one week. The document, submitted to the Japanese government on February 13, 1946, protected the civil liberties MacArthur had introduced and preserved the emperor, though he was stripped of power. Article 9 forbade the Japanese ever to wage war again.

Before Japan's defeat, Emperor Hirohito was officially regarded as Japan's absolute ruler and a quasi-divine figure. Although his authority was sharply limited in practice, he was consulted with by the Japanese government and approved of its expansionist policies from 1931 through World War II. Hirohito feared, with good reason, that he might be indicted as a war criminal and the Japanese imperial house abolished. MacArthur's constitution at least preserved the emperor as the "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people," so Hirohito offered his support. Many conservatives in the government were less enthusiastic, but on April 10, 1946, the new constitution was endorsed in popular elections that allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time. The final draft, slightly revised by the Japanese government, was made public one week later. On November 3, it was promulgated by the Diet--the Japanese parliament--and on May 3, 1947, it came into force.

In 1948, Yoshida Shigeru's election as prime minister ushered in the Yoshida era, marked by political stability and rapid economic growth in Japan. In 1949, MacArthur gave up much of his authority to the Japanese government, and in September 1951 the United States and 48 other nations signed a formal peace treaty with Japan. On April 28, 1952, the treaty went into effect, and Japan assumed full sovereignty as the Allied occupation came to an end.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month:

In 1989 National Stroke Association received the Presidential Proclamation recognizing May as National Stroke Awareness Month. The goal of this annual campaign is to raise public awareness about stroke risk factors, prevention, symptom recognition and acting fast to treat stroke. In addition, this is a time for remembering those who have survived a stroke and to let them know that we are here for them throughout their lifelong recovery journey. Because women are uniquely affected by stroke, this year’s campaign will once again focus on “The Women in Your Life” and the impact of stroke on our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. It is also the goal of National Stroke Association to engage men to learn more about stroke, by asking them to think about the personal impact it can have on the women in their lives. Visit www.stroke.org for more information.

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

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.

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 this very popular e-newsletter that goes out every week to over 40,000 people and businesses 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 Home Storage Systems. Talk to them today about getting organized with a complete garage makeover. They are very dependable and reliable and are offering free consultations so you can learn what they can do for you. Also check out the spotlight on The Embassy Suites here in Frisco and their great Mother’s Day Brunch. This is not only a great treat for Mom but a great treat for the entire family. Don’t miss it! 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 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 with the final show at Centennial High School Theatre on May 13^th at 3pm. The public is welcome; come cheer on your favorite delegate! Tickets are available online at www.mrstexasunitedstates.com

Hopefully everybody survived that scary storm we had on Wednesday. I saw a lot of damage driving around Frisco later that night and then again on Thursday. I know you hear me talk about this all the time but with all the rain we have been getting, please turn off your automatic sprinklers. We need to do everything we can to continue to conserve water now so that we have it in abundant supply later on. Thank you.

If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in advertising and reaching more than 40,000 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 – Home Storage Systems:

For a complete garage makeover, get organized with the experts! - www.Homestoragesystems.com

“Your garage is the first thing you see when you drive in to your house, and the last thing you see when you leave,” says Home Storage Systems owner Steve Cargile. Home Storage Systems has been in the “Garage Makeover” business for 15 years. “We specialize in custom building garage cabinets and garage floor coatings.”

That commitment to customers and quality product explains the longevity of this independently owned company. “Our cabinets are made from the highest grade of MDF [medium density fiberboard],” Mr. Cargile says, “for long-lasting strength that other products can’t match. “

Home Storage Systems is a local custom cabinet builder, not a franchise. Their prices cut out the cost of the middleman and guarantee our product and workmanship. An average garage makeover costs approximately, $2500-$3000 for a standard two-car garage complete with cabinets and solid floor coating. Home Storage Systems custom builds all cabinets at their Dallas cabinet shop. The turn-around time is approximately three days. Installation is complete in one day!

A key component of the garage makeover is the garage floor coatings. Epoxy floor coatings are available in 90 solid colors. Paint chips can be added for a granite look.  Granules of polystyrene additive is mixed to prevent the floor from being slippery. The epoxy floor coating is impervious to oil and other chemicals and is “simple” to clean with soap and water.

For a total top-to-bottom garage makeover, Mr. Cargile suggests overhead storage racks and garage accessories. You can order these on their website.

If you’re looking for a great Fathers Day gift or just need to get your garage organized, please call Steve Cargile at 972-467-5841 to schedule a free consultation.

Come see us at the 2007 Parade of Homes in Frisco, Shaddock Creek Estates, May 19th -June 10th . www.dallasbuilders.com Click Parade of Homes for details.  Home Storage Systems garage cabinets, epoxy floor coatings, accessories and overhead racks will be displayed in the Sotherby home at 4387 Cedar Bluff. http://www.sotherby.com/

Spotlight on… The Embassy Suites Frisco Presents Mother’s Day Brunch:

The Easter brunch at the Embassy was a big success! If you have never attended one of the holiday brunches at the Embassy, you are really missing out on something. I highly recommend it and recommend you make reservations early.

Sunday, May 8 from 10am to 1pm at the Embassy Suites, located at 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive here in Frisco.

The experience includes:

·         Unlimited Champagne & Mimosas

• Full Kiddie & Adult Buffets
• Seafood & Sushi Bar
• Carved Prime Rib
• Chocolate Fountain and Dessert Extravaganza
• And a little something for Mom

$44.95 adults, $34.95 for seniors 55+ and kids 6-12, $9.95 for toddlers to five, and babies are free. Call 972-624-7055 for more information and reservations and you can also visit www.cyprusgrille.com for full menu, details and reservations.

Population of Frisco:

The estimated population of Frisco as of May 1, 2007 is 94,652

Legendary Self Storage:

LEGENDARY SELF STORAGE your Frisco Self Storage Headquarters with all ground level units invites you to take advantage of our BEAT ANY PRICE IN FRISCO SPECIAL.  Standard and Climate Controlled Units are available.  In addition we have locks, boxes and moving supplies at our facility and a friendly, professional stall to assist you with all your storage needs.  LEGENDARY SELF STORAGE is located just west of Preston Road on Stockard Drive behind Lee Lighting.  Stockard is north of Warren and south of Lebanon.

You may visit us in several different ways.  Our address is 8747 Stockard Drive.  Our office hours are:  9-6 Monday thru Friday, 9-5 Saturday and 11-3 on Sunday.  Our office phone number is 972-712-9188 or you may want to check out our website  -  www.legendaryselfstorage.com.

Tornado Talk…by Junior Sports Reporter, Kaleigh Lafata:

Well all-good things come to an end. This year it was time for the Tornado to give up their reigning crown. Friday night was the end of their reign as they suffered through a 6-1 loss, in which Rob Blanchette scored the lone goal. This will be my last article for the season, but stay tuned for news about the Tornado during the summer. I hope you’ve enjoyed!

Preston Highlands North Estates HOA Annual Community Garage/Yard Sale:

It is that time of year again. Preston Highlands North Estates is having our annual community garage sale! Also for this year Meadow Hill Estates community sale will be on the same day so you will have more sales to view with our neighboring community. Our sale will be Saturday, May 19, 2007. Please look for a balloon or a sign on resident mailboxes on Saturday Morning to see who is participating in the sale.

Preston Highlands North is located west of Preston Road, a little ways north of Main Street.

2nd Annual Frisco Child Safety Day:

FREE EVENT on Saturday, May 5^th from 9am to 1pm at Legacy Christian Academy, 5000 Academy Drive in Frisco

·         LITE FM 103.7 Broadcasting Live at the Event