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Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News |
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June 20, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 25 |
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A few months ago, Erika and I were at Disneyworld where I was attending a conference. We had some free time so we visited the theme parks. As I usually try to do when I leave our great city, I try to wear something related to Frisco. It’s a pride thing. You can see the Curtsinger Elementary shirt on in the above picture, but on the particular day I am going to tell you about, I just had on a regular Frisco shirt.
Well, we were walking through Epcot Center and had just gotten off one of those rides where they take your picture at a certain point and try to sell it to you later. As we were walking along, several park security members came up to me and asked me to come with them. I couldn’t remember doing anything wrong except perhaps not singing along to “It’s a Small World” earlier on. In any event, I agreed to go with them and they ushered me into a back room behind Italy in Epcot.
One of the Disney executives must’ve noticed the shirt during one of the rides because he asked if I was from Frisco, Texas. I told him I was, and that I was a big fan of Disneyworld and that I have been many times. He said that was great to hear, and asked me what I thought about the idea of a theme park in the Frisco area. I indicated it would be a great idea, and would love to discuss it in more detail and offered them a key to the city to come and talk about it. He agreed and said he would be in touch to set up a meeting.
A few days later, I get a call and they ask if they can come meet me with and talk further about the idea. I agreed and next thing I know they are knocking on my door. Mickey shows up in overalls and the outfit you see him wearing in the above picture. I commented on his outfit and he got a puzzled look on his face (actually the expression on his face never changed, but I could tell he was puzzled) as he thought everybody in Texas dressed that way. I told him no, and I guess I insulted him because as far as I know, Disney has no plans to build in this area. And that folks, is how rumors can get started. If you don’t remember the story about Pinocchio, his nose grew with every tall tale he told so I better end this story now.
I did manage to get a picture with him though. 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:
“So often times it happens, that we live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.” – The Eagles from “Already Gone”
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…
Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News Newsletter Sponsor – PRstore- Your Marketing Superstore: Spotlight on Monte Carlo Night 2007: Panther Creek Estates Neighborhood Holds First Community Garage Sale: Frisco Soccer Association Registration Now Open: Frisco Baseball and Softball Fall 2007 Registration: Frisco Special Olympics Volunteers!: Join the Heritage Association of Frisco: Second Annual Chandler Jackson Youth Foundation Event: Sunday Brunch Returns to The Westin Stonebriar Resort!: Get in the Game at Game Day Central: Genesis Metro Church Vacation Bible School: FRISCO GROOVES Returns with Free Live Music Every Friday in June: Frisco Community Band Summer Concert Series – Frisco Commons Park Pavilion: SUMMER CAMPS on the Savvy Source…what are your kids doing this summer?: 97.5 KLAK Summer Concert Series at McKinney’s Myers Park: Call for Directors, Stage Managers, and Set Designers!!!: Capital One Boys & Girls Clubs Charity Golf Classic: Totally Crafty OPEN HOUSE!!! Friday June 29th 6-9 PM: Christmas in July Stamp-A-Stack Workshop: Genesis Metro Church Mission Golf Tournament: 21st Annual John Weinberg Golf Tournament: Art is All Around Us! From Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano: Friends of the Frisco Public Library to Host Mystery, Murder, and Mayhem: Hansel and Gretel at The Eisemann Center: August 26th Auditions for Cross Timbers Youth Orchestras: Frisco Area Republican Women 6th Annual Luncheon & Style Show: National Police Motorcycle Championship set for August 22-25: Word of Mouth Productions is Currently Casting for our 2007-2008 Touring Company: Happenings in Frisco ISD by Sarah Ianace: Frisco Square to Host “Movies in the Square” Every Friday Evening this Summer: Congratulations to New City Council Members and City Council Candidates: Upcoming Neighborhood Park Planning Meeting: Public Works Monthly Update for May: National Night Out – August 7, 2007: Building Permit Update for May: Update From Recent Planning and Zoning Meeting: First Time in Collin County Two Minority Chambers of Commerce Form Partnership: On A Winning Track! - Frisco Thunder Boast Winning Record in 1st Season!!!!: South End of Tollway To Be Closed Late Evening of June 22 Through Early Morning on June 25: Collin County Seeking Input for Mobility Plan Update: FISD and City Win Keep Texas Beautiful Award:
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 went to a restaurant in Frisco the other night and somebody was smoking. I thought we had a “no smoking” ordinance?
A. There are four
establishments that qualified for the exception in Section 5 of the new
ordinance. This has to do with when they installed their ventilation
systems under the old smoking ordinance.
This Day in History – June 20, 1977: Oil Flows in Alaska
From the History Channel…
With a flip of a switch in Prudhoe Bay,
crude oil from the nation's largest oil field begins flowing south down
the trans-Alaska pipeline to the ice-free port of Valdez, Alaska. The
steel pipeline, 48 inches in diameter, winds through 800 miles of
Alaskan wilderness, crossing three Arctic mountain ranges and hundreds
of rivers and streams. Environmentalists fought to prevent its
construction, saying it would destroy a pristine ecosystem, but they
were ultimately overruled by Congress, who saw it as a way of lessening
America's dependence on foreign oil. The trans-Alaska pipeline was the
world's largest privately funded construction project to that date,
costing $8 billion and taking three years to build.
June is Vision Research Month:
So far this month we have covered Potty Training Awareness and Home Safety…
Since 1908, Prevent Blindness America has been the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization with the sole mission of preventing blindness and preserving sight.
City Council Strategic Focus Areas:
• Long term financial health • Public health and safety • Community Infrastructure • Unique Sustainable City • Excellence in City Government • Leisure & Culture • Civic Involvement
City Council 2007-2008 Priorities:
• Roads and Transportation • Facilities Capital Projects • Ongoing maintenance of maturing areas of the city • Continue downtown revitalization and development of Frisco Square • Park Development • Tax Base Balance • Expand Cultural Offerings • Expand Youth Involvement in the City • Social Services • Marketing, Branding and Promoting the City
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 2nd 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 21st 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.
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Dear Friends,
This week’s newsletter is proudly Sponsored by PRstore. PRstore is a one-stop marketing superstore that has just opened in North Dallas. Whatever your marketing needs may be, check them out today and see how they can help. Also check out the Spotlight on Monte Carlo Night 2007. This is their 4th annual event and is a Frisco event that you don’t want to miss! Find out more information below about all the fun, excitement and prizes and how you can get tickets, 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 newsletter is a day early this week due to the fact that the City Council will be away for a three-day annual work session where there is limited Internet access. During these annual work sessions, we usually sit around a campfire at night telling ghost stories, singing songs….about Texas, and roasting marshmallows. But during the day, we are spending time focused on reviewing what has happened in the past year in our city, visioning exercises related to what the council wants to do in the coming year(s), and setting strategic direction for the city, among other things. A report will follow in this newsletter in the coming weeks related to the work session. On the left side of the newsletter, you will find the current strategic focus areas and priorities of the city council. These can and most likely will change after this upcoming work session.
If you have been reading this newsletter for a while, you know that Erika and I love to eat out at the many great restaurants we have here in Frisco. There have been rumors recently about the closing of one of the restaurants that we frequent, Josephine’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar. I can tell you that they are not closed. They had a refrigeration problem that shut them down for a few days but they are open and we highly recommend them. We also love to meet new people whenever we go out. Tonight we made some new friends at Gloria’s, including the self-proclaimed “Ghetto Guy”, Bekah, and Sheri.
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 – PRstore- Your Marketing Superstore:
PRstore is opening THIS WEEK in North Dallas on Preston Rd. and Summerside in the Preston Trail Plaza Shopping Center, about a mile south of the President George Bush Tollway on Preston Rd.
At PRstore, we’re Marketing Small Business America.™ We make it easy and affordable for our clients to create a winning marketing strategy with:
• Marketing, advertising and PR solutions
We offer professional marketing services to fit the unique needs, time constraints and budget of your small business. Frequently small business owners just want to know one thing - "What do I do first?" At PRstore, we work alongside of you to answer that question. Together, we'll roll up our sleeves and put everything we've got into helping you grow your business.
Some great products and services you’ll find all in one place at PRstore:
· Logos · Brochures · Web sites · Direct Mail · Rack Cards · Newsletters · Press Releases (and distribution) · Flyers · Folders & Inserts · Advertising & Lead Generation · Tradeshow Exhibits · Event Planning · Billboards · Commercials · Print Ads · Letterheads & Envelopes
If you’re looking for LogoSTUFF™, browse
through our showroom. Our shelves are filled with hundreds of samples to
help you choose just the right item to build brand awareness like logo
pens, notepads, mugs and golf balls.
PRstore North Dallas 17390 Preston Road, Suite 260, Dallas, TX 75252 Phone: 972-818-PR4U (7748) Email: kellidavis@prstore.com
Spotlight on Monte Carlo Night 2007:Monte Carlo Night 2007 is extremely proud to be in the spotlight for this week's edition of the Matt Lafata newsletter.
Monte Carlo Night was envisioned as a night when our fast growing community can come together, share laughter with old friends and good times with new friends. The night is a chance to celebrate, play, cheer and grow together, making it a wonderful evening bringing together the Frisco community in shared fellowship, fun and laughter.
MCN-Frisco presents our 4th annual Monte Carlo Night: 'An Evening Under the Stars.' Join us in an evening of fun, fellowship and food. The date for this spectacular event is Saturday, August 4, 2007. Tickets are on sale now! ( www.mcn-frisco.org )
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