Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News

June 14, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 24

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

A couple of years ago, Chuck Norris visited a Texas Tornado game here in Frisco. I had forgotten that I had this picture until he called me recently and asked for a copy of it. I was naturally curious as to why he wanted this picture so I returned his call.

As you may know, an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger” was filmed in Frisco while the series was still in production. Since Chuck is in the process of filming several movies, “Walker, Texas Ranger: Beating Up Anybody Who Says Anything Bad About Texas”, “Missing in Action in Texas”, and “Invasion Texas”, he was looking for some stunt doubles. I told him I really don’t look very much like him but would appreciate the opportunity to have some role in the movies anyway.

After using some verbal negotiating skills, rather than the way Chuck likes to negotiate most of his deals (i.e. fists, roundabout kicks to the head, etc.), we couldn’t come to an agreement so he said to just go ahead and show the picture of the two of us enjoying some happier times at a Tornado game.

Ok, none of that is really true but Chuck was in town to promote his KickStart program and was gracious enough to pose for a picture with me. Thanks Chuck!

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.

Flag Day – June 14:

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Inspirational Quote of the Week:

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” – Ann Landers

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…

Final Texas Legislative Report: 31

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!:

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.

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.

The Citizen of the Month for June is… Teresa Taylor, a teacher at Corbell Elementary School!

Hilary George, whose son is a student of Mrs. Taylor, submitted this entry. Here is what Hilary has to say about Teresa Taylor and why she is so deserving of this recognition.

I would like to nominate Teresa Taylor for citizen of the month.

Mrs. Taylor is a teacher at Corbell Elementary. She teaches Functional Academics to a variety of grade levels (Kindergarten-Fifth grade).

Functional Academics helps children with special needs and learning disabilities. She is the best teacher! My son has PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder/Autism Spectrum) and can be very challenging to teach.

Not only does she teach my son, but she truly cares about him and all the other kids she works with. I often wonder how she can be this caring of a child that is not hers and that can be so challenging. She works with and supports the staff at Corbell, which in turn, trains so many teachers on how to cope with some of these issues in the regular classroom.

My son is improving in every way academically and socially, because Mrs. Taylor finds resolutions and is so imaginative in helping these children with their every need.

With 1 in every 150 children being born with Autism or on the Autism Spectrum, this is the fastest growing developmental disability. Mrs. Taylor is a teacher that continually seeks out new information and ways that she can help these kids in the classroom. She shares this information with the parents to assist them at home also.

Our city needs more teachers like Mrs. Taylor, teachers that love what they do and accept the new challenges that each child gives them. We all know they are not the highest paid profession and are under-appreciated.

She is definitely a person that contributes to the well-being of our smaller citizens and their parents.

Thank you Mrs. Taylor, and all the great teachers out there who are so passionate about teaching and caring for our children.

City of Frisco Related Question of the Week:

Q. I am curious as to what is the construction status of 121 in Denton County up to the tollroad.  It appears
most of the outer roads are complete and bridge installation is close.  There are several people I know that drive the 121 route toward DFW and are ready for it to be operational.  Can you provide a 121 update as it pertains to west of the tollroad toward DFW?

A. According to TxDOT the current schedule shows a completion date of October 2007.  However, they believe this is probably optimistic.  They think best case is December and January or February 2008 is looking more likely.

This Day in History – June 14, 1951: UNIVAC Computer Dedicated:

From the History Channel…

On June 14, 1951, the U.S. Census Bureau dedicates UNIVAC, the world's first commercially produced electronic digital computer. UNIVAC, which stood for Universal Automatic Computer, was developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, makers of ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. These giant computers, which used thousands of vacuum tubes for computation, were the forerunners of today's digital computers.

The search for mechanical devices to aid computation began in ancient
times. The abacus, developed in various forms by the Babylonians,
Chinese, and Romans, was by definition the first digital computer because it calculated values by using digits. A mechanical digital calculating machine was built in France in 1642, but a 19th century Englishman, Charles Babbage, is credited with devising most of the
principles on which modern computers are based. His "Analytical Engine," begun in the 1830s and never completed for lack of funds, was
based on a mechanical loom and would have been the first programmable computer.

By the 1920s, companies such as the International Business Machines
Corporation (IBM) were supplying governments and businesses with
complex punch-card tabulating systems, but these mechanical devices
had only a fraction of the calculating power of the first electronic
digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). Completed by
John Atanasoff of Iowa State in 1939, the ABC could by 1941 solve up
to 29 simultaneous equations with 29 variables. Influenced by Atanasoff's work, Presper Eckert and John Mauchly set about building the first general-purpose electronic digital computer in 1943. The sponsor was the U.S. Army Ordnance Department, which wanted a better way of calculating artillery firing tables, and the work was done at the University of Pennsylvania.

ENIAC, which stood for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator,
was completed in 1946 at a cost of nearly $500,000. It took up 15,000
feet, employed 17,000 vacuum tubes, and was programmed by plugging and
replugging some 6,000 switches. It was first used in a calculation for Los Alamos Laboratories in December 1945, and in February 1946 it was
formally dedicated.

Following the success of ENIAC, Eckert and Mauchly decided to go into private business and founded the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation. They proved less able businessmen than they were engineers, and in 1950 their struggling company was acquired by Remington Rand, an
office equipment company. On June 14, 1951, Remington Rand delivered
its first computer, UNIVAC I, to the U.S. Census Bureau. It weighed
16,000 pounds, used 5,000 vacuum tubes, and could perform about 1,000
calculations per second. On November 4, 1952, the UNIVAC achieved
national fame when it correctly predicted Dwight D. Eisenhower's
unexpected landslide victory in the presidential election after only a
tiny percentage of the votes were in.

UNIVAC and other first-generation computers were replaced by
transistor computers of the late 1950s, which were smaller, used less
power, and could perform nearly a thousand times more operations per
second. These were, in turn, supplanted by the integrated-circuit
machines of the mid-1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, the development of
the microprocessor made possible small, powerful computers such as the
personal computer, and more recently the laptop and hand-held computers.

June is National Home Safety  Month:

Last week we covered Potty Training Awareness…

This year’s Home Safety Month campaign theme – Hands on Home Safety – asks the public to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury – falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking/suffocation and drowning.

Visit the Home Safety Council web site 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

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.

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, 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 development, marketing, 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 has been 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
• Wakeland High School PTA Technology/Publicity Committee Chairperson
• Co-Director of the Mrs. Texas United States Pageant
• Honorary Chair for World AIDS Day 2007 in Collin County

Since 2001, Matt and his marketing company have 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 S.O.M. Productions and their Father’s Day Weekend Community Event – a community event you won’t want to miss! The first 100 adults to respond from this newsletter will get free admission!  Also check out the spotlight on 1^st Choice Foundation Repair Company, located right here in Frisco. They offer free consultations for newsletter readers and if you have any of the symptoms that they describe below, I would strongly encourage you to call them right away. 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.

This Sunday is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, and to all the Dads out there!

This Saturday is election day for the runoff. It is a very important election as Frisco citizens will elect two new council members. Please keep in mind that local officials have a greater impact on your daily lives than any state or federal official and I hope that you will get out and vote for who you believe is the strongest candidate to keep this city going in the right direction. I have been asked many times who I like in this election and as I have stated, it is my personal opinion that it is simply not right as a current public official that I endorse one candidate over another. Each of the candidates will have to win on their own merit and with that being said, I encourage you to take the time to vote this Saturday. One thing that many people may not realize is the fact that it is a matter of public record who votes. Nobody knows who you voted for, but the fact of whether you voted or not is available. I say that because many times people will say that they support a candidate, and the candidate counts on your vote, and then people get busy, or whatever, and neglect to actually go vote. The candidates look at the voting logs very carefully to see who has actually taken the time to vote. Please get out and support your candidate and voting information can be found on the city’s web site.

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 – S.O.M. Productions and the Family-Fun and Freedom Expo:

Coming This Father’s Day Weekend A Community Event You WON’T WANT TO MISS!

Celebrate Family-Fun & Freedom Expo

A Weekend of Enrichment, Enlightenment, and Entertainment with Events, Activities, and Opportunities For the Entire Family….

Sat & Sun, June 16th & 17th 2007 at The Richardson Civic Center, 411 West Arapaho Rd. Richardson, TX 75080

FEATURING

DFW’S # 1 DAD GAMESHOW!

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE:

• CHILDREN w/ THE KIDS KORNER- FREE Entertainment and activities for the kids including: Face Painting & Balloon Animals, Arts & Crafts, Games & Prizes!
• WOMEN, CELEBRITY STYLE as we roll out the Red Carpet w/Hair & Fashion,

            Jewelry & Accessory Shows, Gift Bags & Other Celebrity Treatment!

• MEN, OUR FATHERS, OUR FOUNDATION w/ Father’s Day Shopping, Gift Ideas, And Tributes! Also DFW’s #1 Dad Gameshow On Father’s Day!
• FREEDOM, though Entreprenuer & Home-Based Business Opportunities!

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!!! Visit www.somproductions.com for more info.

KIDS UNDER 13 ARE FREE! 13 & UP JUST $5.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will go towards various charities and non-profits.

Have your kids email us at dfwdad@somproductions.com and tell us why they have DFW’s #1 Dad to win a chance to have their dad participate in the games how that will be videotaped live!

For Matt’s Readers Only: The first 100 adults to request tickets will receive free admission!!! So don’t wait. E-mail us at tickets@somproductions.com

Spotlight on 1^st Choice Foundation Repair Company:

Say it ain’t so….. I’m afraid it’s true.  Foundation problems are creeping into Frisco.  1^st Choice Foundation Repair Co., your locally owned and operated, full-service foundation repair company is seeing an increased demand in Frisco.  Although 1^st Choice is based in Frisco, most of our work has been in Dallas county and even some parts of Plano.  As the houses mature in Frisco, so do the foundation issues…. NOT TO WORRY… 1^st Choice Foundation provides FREE CONSULTATIONS for ALL your foundation needs.  Check us out at www.FixYourFoundation.com or call Jason at 214-537-9407 TODAY!

Signs of Foundation Trouble

Ø      Are you noticing exterior cracks in your brick, seems, or joints?

Ø      Are you noticing interior cracks in your walls?

Ø      Are your doors sticking or ceramic tile cracking?

Ø      Are you trying to sell or a purchase a home?

Ø      Do you have drainage issues, i.e. pooling water, dead grass, evidence of water marks, inadequate guttering?  This causes 90% of foundation problems

Ø      Is your house 10 years old or more?

What Do I Need to do if I Have Foundation Issues?

Ø      Don’t distress!!!  They say in Texas there are 2 kinds of houses…. Those who have had foundation work done and those who will have foundation work done.  It is fixable and your house will be fine.

Ø      Get multiple bids… That’s right!  We suggest at least 3 bids in order to get a full assessment of the foundation condition.  Compare their price, service, and professionalism with ours.  We love competition.  They always drive clients to us! 

Ø      Utilize a certified structural engineer prior to any repair in order to have the exact diagnosis and remedy for your situation.

Ø      Perform your due diligence on the foundation repair company you chose.  Check their references, Better Business Bureau status, experience, etc. 

Ø      Ask questions!!!  Make sure you understand what’s going on.  It’s the best way to ensure you are happy with the results!

1^st Choice Foundation Repair Co. has been serving the DFW metroplex since 1990.  As Frisco demands more of our attention, we strive to be your 1st Choice.  We are members of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau.  You can even check us out or make a comment about us on www.Frisco-Online.com.

Here’s what others are saying about us:

“You guys really took pride in your work.  I appreciate how much care you took with our landscaping.  It was hard to tell you had even been here.”

-          Hazel, Dallas

“…Jason, your team did a wonderful job and Omar was fantastic at explaining what was being done.”

                                    - Ramona, Wylie

In short, foundation problems are nothing to worry about.  Just call the Pro’s at 1^st Choice Foundation Repair co. and fix it right the first time. We offer:

• Lifetime, Transferable Warranty
• Credit Card Payments
• Piers starting at $275 (Our prices are not based on the size of your bank account)
• Pressed, Concrete Pier drive all the way to bedrock/refusal
• Quality, reliable service
• Locally owned and operated in Frisco

Don’t let cracks bring you down.  Contact us at 214-537-9407 to set up your FREE CONSULTATION or e-mail us at Jason@FixYourFoundation.com.  We are committed to being a resource for all the residents of Frisco with their foundation repair needs.  Check out our website at www.FixYourFoundation.com .

Texas Hold’em Tournament (06/15/2007) Benefiting the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community:

Come enjoy the fun and excitement at the Collin County Association of Realtors Banquet Room on Friday, June 15^th. The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Texas Hold’em Tournament, benefiting the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community and the many charities of the Knights of Columbus.

The Top 10 finishers will walk away with great prizes.  Top prize is a $1,500 American Express gift card and a Champions Bracelet; Second place will receive a 3 Night Stay in Las Vegas (Airfare included).  Several door prizes will also be awarded throughout the night. Aside from these great prizes, fellowship will be even greater.

Tournament entry (donation) is $80 and includes BBQ sandwich, light snacks, drinks, and your playing chips to enter the tournament. To reserve a seat at the hottest Texas Hold’em tournament around, purchase tickets one of three ways: 1) online via PayPal at http://www.texasholdemfrisco.org, 2) contact Bob Sirois at Classique Jewelers (972-712-1934), or 3) Don Dyson at dysonswtsu@yahoo.com or (214) 395-6965.

Donation and Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  Please contact Ken LaPlante at klapl1@hotmail.com.

Visit www.texasholdemfrisco.org for complete details.

Frisco Soccer Association Registration Now Open:

Players must be 4 prior to August 1st. Official birth certificate required for all new players

Games start September 8th

REGISTER ONLINE ANYTIME.  NO LINES, NO WAITING. WWW.FRISCOSOCCER.ORG
 

Walk in registration at the FSA office Saturday, June 9th and Saturday July 14th.

Registration also accepted during regular office hours

Regular Registration: June 4- July 14

*Late Registration Period:  July 15 - July 21

(*add $10 per player, online only)

Mailing Address:  Frisco Soccer, PO Box 1479, Frisco, TX  75034

Office Location:  9741 Preston Rd, Suite 303, Frisco 75034

Phone:  972-712-GOAL (4625)

www.friscosoccer.org

Frisco Baseball and Softball Fall 2007 Registration:

Walk-up registration will be Saturday, July 14 from 10am to 3pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Stonebriar Mall.

Online registration will be available through July 14, 2007 at www.fbsa.org.

Registration fee is $50 per child and family/sibling discounts are available. Visit the web site or call 214-537-3272 for more information.

Tornado Talk…by Junior Sports Reporter, Kaleigh Lafata:

After coaching the Texas Tornado for eight years and winning a very high percentage of games, along with several championships, coach Tony Curtale won’t be returning this coming season. He led them to 3 USA Hockey National Championships as well. Also in the up and coming season, there is a new team in their division, the Kenai River Brown Bears. The Santa Fe Roadrunners are now the Topeka Roadrunners, having moved to Michigan. Another big change is that the St. Louis Bandits, who beat the Tornado in winning the division title and went on to win the Robertson Cup, are now out of their division. Could all these changes bring back their winning ways?

The Tornado announced that Dwight Mullins has been named the team’s new Head Coach and General Manager. Former Dallas Stars defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Craig Ludwig has been named the Assistant Coach.

To keep up-to-date with the Tornado this summer, or to order tickets for the upcoming season, visit www.tornadohockey.com

BayGrill- Father’s Day Feast with Frisco’s Finest Seafood:

If you haven’t been to BayGrill yet (located at the NW corner of SH121 and Legacy Drive), you are in for a real treat. This i