Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News

July 19, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 29

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

At a recent event at CrossRoads Winery to raise money for the Airborne Angel Cadets, I was fortunate to be flanked by two beautiful women. On the left, Karen Griggsby and on the right, my fiancée Erika.

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:

“Every choice one makes either expands or contracts the area in which he can make and implement future decisions. When one makes a choice, he irrevocably binds himself to the consequences of that choice.” – Marion G. Romney

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…

Update From Recent Planning and Zoning Meeting: 28

Issue of the Week:

I’ve started this new column where I will post a different issue each week for discussion. Your opinions mean a lot to me and I’d love to get your feedback on the subject. Please send me an email with your thoughts. While your feedback is for my own use at this time, I may publish comments in a future issue with just your first name…

This week’s issue has to do with whether Frisco should have a municipal golf course. Frisco has a number of golf courses presently, and some cities offer a municipal course. Should Frisco?

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.

City of Frisco Related Question of the Week:

Q. Are there any specific regulations in regards to low power model rockets in Frisco?

A. The Frisco Noise Ordinance discusses rockets:
(Ord. No. 97-04-13, § 5, 4-15-1997)

(12) Powered model mechanical devices.
a. The flying of model aircraft powered by internal combustion engines, whether tethered or not, or the firing or operating of model rocket vehicles or other similar noise producing devices, within a residential district or quiet zone, or within 500 feet of any residence or quiet zone, in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance. Furthermore, any such activity shall create a noise disturbance per se if conducted between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
b. The flying of model aircraft powered by internal combustion engines, whether tethered or not, or the firing or operating of model rocket vehicles or other similar noise producing devices within a nonresidential district in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance.

As well as the Parks Ordinance:
(Ord. No. 03-06-44, § 6, 6-3-2003; Ord. No. 05-07-51, §§ 3--6, 7-5-2005; Ord. No. 06-06-55, § 2, 6-6-2006)

(21) Use of park property for flying radio controlled model aircraft.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to ascend, descend, operate, or launch any aircraft, except in areas or at times specifically designated for this purpose or by special permit issued by the parks and recreation director.
b. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to launch or operate model rockets or unteathered radio controlled model airplanes, except in areas or at times specifically designated for this purpose or by special permit issued by the parks and recreation director.
c. The model aircraft user will be responsible for furnishing an annual list of members of any club or chapter to the parks and recreation department.
d. The model aircraft user will be responsible for following all park rules and regulations, all national association rules and regulations, and any amendments thereto. It shall further be the responsibility of any club or chapter to adequately and fully inform all members of said rules.
e. All persons flying remote controlled aircraft must restrict their use to the established flight zone as established by the parks and recreation department.
f. All model aircraft users shall furnish proof of liability insurance acceptable to the city naming the city, its council members, officers, agents, representatives and employees, as co-insured, with a minimum amount of $2,500,000.00 per occurrence.
g. Failure to abide by any provision of this section shall result in the immediate termination of the privilege to use any park for the flying of model aircraft.
h. It shall be unlawful for any person to launch or operate model rockets and/or model vehicles, including, but not limited to, model gliders, model boats and/or model cars in any park in any manner that would or could endanger any other person or property.

This Day in History – July 19, 1799: Rosetta Stone Found

From the History Channel…

On this day in 1799, during Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign, a
French soldier discovers a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta, about 35 miles north of Alexandria. The irregularly shaped stone contained fragments of passages written in three different scripts: Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian demotic. The ancient Greek on the Rosetta Stone told archaeologists that it was inscribed by priests honoring the king of Egypt, Ptolemy V, in the second century B.C. More startlingly, the Greek passage
announced that the three scripts were all of identical meaning. The artifact thus held the key to solving the riddle of hieroglyphics, a written language that had been "dead" for nearly 2,000 years.

When Napoleon, an emperor known for his enlightened view of education,
art and culture, invaded Egypt in 1798, he took along a group of scholars and told them to seize all important cultural artifacts for France. Pierre Bouchard, one of Napoleon's soldiers, was aware of this order when he found the basalt stone, which was almost four feet long and two-and-a-half feet wide, at a fort near Rosetta. When the British defeated Napoleon in 1801, they took possession of the Rosetta Stone.

Several scholars, including Englishman Thomas Young made progress with the initial hieroglyphics analysis of the Rosetta Stone. French Egyptologist Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832), who had taught himself ancient languages, ultimately cracked the code and deciphered the hieroglyphics using his knowledge of Greek as a guide.
Hieroglyphics used pictures to represent objects, sounds and groups of sounds. Once the Rosetta Stone inscriptions were translated, the
language and culture of ancient Egypt was suddenly open to scientists as never before.

The Rosetta Stone has been housed at the British Museum in London since 1802, except for a brief period during World War I. At that time, museum officials moved it to a separate underground location, along with other irreplaceable items from the museum's collection, to protect in from the threat of bombs.

July is National Hemochromatosis Awareness Month:

So far this month we have covered UV Safety and Group B Strep Awareness…

Hemochromatosis (HHC) is a leading cause of iron overload disease. People with HHC absorb extra amounts of iron from the daily diet. The human body cannot rid itself of extra iron.

Over time, these excesses build up in major organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas, joints and pituitary. If the extra iron is not removed, these organs can become diseased...

Visit http://www.hemochromatosis.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

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 and Organizations in and Frisco:

Frisco is home to a very diverse and numerous set of clubs 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

Alcoholics Anonymous Frisco – 972-708-5086

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

American Legion Post 178

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

AroundTown Kids

Arts of Collin County

Boy Scouts of America – 214-902-6754

Boys and Girls Club

CASA of Collin County – 972-529-2272

Chamber of Commerce

Christian Community Action – 972-436-4357

City of Frisco – 972-292-5000

Collin County – 972-424-1460

Collin County Association of Realtors – 214-618-3800

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

Collin County Genealogy Association – 972-231-4190

Daughters of the American Revolution

Denton County

Downtown Merchants Association

FC Dallas

Frisco A&M Club – 214-618-5079

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

Frisco Area Republican Women

Frisco Association For the Arts

Frisco Bar Association

Frisco Baseball/Softball Organization – 972-712-2288

Frisco Business and Professional Women

Frisco Chorale

Frisco Community Theatre – 972-377-3868

Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau

Frisco Democratic Party

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 – 972-731-6244

Frisco Family YMCA – 972-335-3222

Frisco Fire Department – 972-335-5525

Frisco Football League – 972-712-0558

Frisco Garden Club – 972-377-4024

Frisco Humane Society – 972-498-8980

Frisco Independent School District – 469-633-6000

Frisco Kiwanis Club

Frisco Music Teachers Association

Frisco Neighborhood Watch

Frisco Police Department – 972-292-6000

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 Rotary Club – 972-701-2801

Frisco RoughRiders

Frisco Soccer Association – 972-712-4625

Frisco Square

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

Heritage Association of Frisco – 972-335-6684

KittiCo Cat Rescue – 214-826-6903

Labrador Retriever Rescue of North Texas

Meals on Wheels – 972-562-6996

Miracle League of Frisco

North Texas Tollway Authority – 214-461-2000

Senior Center at Frisco Square – 972-335-5515

SPCA of Texas – 972-562-7387

Texas Tornado Hockey

Toastmasters Club of Frisco – 972-712-4611

Visual Arts Guild of Frisco

Volunteer Center of North Texas

Word of Mouth Productions

Young Life Frisco – 972-424-6339

Youth Leadership Frisco

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
• Member of the Frisco Community Theatre
• 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.

Earlier this year, Matt became engaged to Erika Howe of Frisco, who also has three children, and they will be getting married in late 2007.

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 the Frisco Farmers Market. Come out this Friday or Saturday morning to Frisco Square to support this exciting new weekly event. Also check out the spotlight on this year’s National Night Out event, which takes place August 7. 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.

Please drive slowly through our neighborhoods. I see too many people driving too fast. Everybody is in a hurry to get somewhere and it only takes a second for a child to dart out into the street. Please be careful. Please also be careful at red lights. I continue to see too many people running through red lights. If you are waiting at a red light and it changes to green, wait a couple of seconds before proceeding. It could save your life.

Thank you to everybody who responded to last week’s “Issue of the Week: Public Transportation – How Important is it to have in Frisco?” I really appreciate everybody’s input and if I haven’t emailed you back personally, please know that I will. Every person’s response is important to me. This week’s issue, “Does Frisco Need a Municipal Golf Course?” is now posted in the left hand column. If you have an opinion on this, please write in.

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 – Frisco Farmers Market to open this Friday, July 20:

The Frisco Noon Lions Club and Frisco Square will host the NEW Frisco Farmers Market at Frisco Square this Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – or until sellout.  The address is 6048 Frisco Square Boulevard, directly across from the Frisco City Hall and Library.  

Keith Copp, the farmer who caused much excitement at Freedom Fest is returning, along with a new producer, The Honey Pot Store from McKinney. We’re recruiting more vendors too, but the official “Grand Opening” will be next weekend, July 27-28 and will run through October.

PLEASE come out on Friday and Saturday! We are very grateful to these first two participants and want to show them there IS a market for fresh produce and products in Frisco. We want them to COME BACK and to tell other vendors how great it is in Frisco! 

The effort to start a Farmers Market started with the Frisco community. The City staff, the Lions, the Main Street Merchants and everyone else seems to really want this to want it to succeed. If we continue to get that support, our market will become a regular weekend feature of life in Frisco.  If you interesting in participating, contact Bob O’Bannon, Frisco Farmers Market Coordinator at bob@friscofarmersmarket.com or 214-538-8161.

Spotlight on National Night Out – August 7, 2007:

National Night Out is one of my favorite community events. Residents have block parties throughout the city and police, fire and public officials visit them, as long as they are registered. I personally wish we could do this every month as I love to visit with people. If you are having a party and would like for me to stop by, please let me know. I would love to visit everybody but I will visit as many parties as I can…

As our city has continued to grow we have been faced with more issues/challenges related to crime. Now more than ever we encourage every community to get involved proactively by partnering with the Frisco Police Department and Frisco Neighborhood Watch.

As you may be aware, every year on the first Tuesday of August, the Frisco Police Department, along with Frisco Neighborhood Watch, promote block parties throughout the City of Frisco for “National Night Out” (this year National Night Out will be on August 7th). This annual event serves as a culmination of our year-long crime prevention efforts and is a great way for neighbors to get out and meet each other. During NNO, police/fire personnel, Mayor and city council members, other city officials, public safety-affiliated volunteers and McGruff attend block parties throughout the city.

As a kick-off to NNO, the City of Frisco will be hosting the 12th Annual Green Home -Health & Safety Fair. The fair will be held on August 4th at The Commons Park from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The City of Frisco Green Home event is designed to promote energy conservation and environmental preservation, and will feather lots of energy and water conservation tips. The Health & Safety event will provide free screenings by Centennial Medical Center and others. Exhibitors representing numerous public safety/non-profit agencies will be on hand to promote safety, health, education and awareness. Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby, hosted by the City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Department and the “Texas DPS Mobile Drive License Express” providing driver’s license renewals are just two of the special events. The North Texas Tollway Authority will also be holding a drawing for a free toll tag.

There will be a host of other activities including face painting, fingerprinting, bounce houses, clowns, robots, and much more. During the fair we will also be holding our annual Carter BloodCare Blood Drive.

National Night Out serves as a great way to kick-off or reinvigorate neighborhood watch efforts in both new and older communities alike. We ask that all citizens, home owners' associations and other neighborhood groups support this very important crime prevention initiative by asking residents in every community to host block parties and participate in the events listed below. Feel free to go to www.frisconeighborhoodwatch.com for more information about NNO and to download the block party registration form - as well as to get information on the neighborhood watch program in Frisco.

National Night Out 2007 - Schedule of Events

ALL EVENTS FREE TO ATTEND!

12^th Annual Frisco Green Home, Health & Safety Fair Highlights – Saturday,August 4, 2007 – 9am to 2pm

• Clowns, Robots, Face Painting, Bounce Houses and Other Events for Kids
• Police, Fire and Military vehicle displays – including the Careflite helicopter
• NTTA free toll tag drawing
• Free health care related screenings
• Frisco Parks & Recreation Wiffle Ball Derby
• Green Home Fair Exhibits
• Texas DPS Mobile Driver License Express
• Exhibitors representing a wide variety of North Texas social and public service related agencies will be on hand to discuss their services, provide free information and literature
• SPCA Mobile Pet Adoption Center will be on hand
• Carter BloodCare Mobile Unit

Representatives from various public and private agencies related to citizen safety, education, community service, etc. will be on hand to distribute information

National Night Out Police vs. Fire Basketball Game to Benefit Special Olympics

Frisco High School – 6401 Parkwood Drive - 7:00p.m. to Finish

National Night Out - Tuesday August 7th, 2007

For the thirteenth consecutive year, residents throughout Frisco are asked to lock their doors, turn on porch lights, and spend the evening outside with neighbors, and “Give Crime and Drugs a GOING AWAY PARTY.” Police/Fire personnel, the Mayor, and other city officials will be visiting block parties throughout Frisco. Block parties must be registered in order to get these visits.

GO TO WWW.FRISCONEIGHBORHOODWATCH.COM TO GET YOUR NNO BLOCK PARTY REGISTRATION FORM TODAY!

Please feel free to contact me should you need further information about NNO, Frisco Neighborhood Watch, or anytime I can be of assistance.

Thanks for your help and support!

Officer Robert Monts
Community Services Division
7200 Stonebrook Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034
Telephone: 972.292.6139

To be eligible for a visit from police, fire and other city officials you must register your party. Registration forms can be downloaded at: www.frisconeighborhoodwatch.com

Or you can receive a registration form by contacting FPD Community Services Division at (972) 292-6139/6134.

Interview to be Mrs. Frisco 2008!:

Many times, wives and moms get so busy with the day-to-day activities of life that they forget to do something *just* for themselves. Sound familiar? If so, you could be on your way to a new journey of self-exploration, all the while making new friends! If you are a resident of Frisco, at least 21, and married, you’re eligible to compete for the title of Mrs. Frisco United States® 2008. Represent this amazing city and have a year you and your husband will always remember! The new Mrs. Frisco will get her state entry fee paid to compete at the Mrs. Texas United States® competition at the host hotel Westin Stonebriar Resort next May in Frisco! The new Mrs. Texas gets an all-expense paid trip to compete at the televised Mrs. United States® competition next summer in Las Vegas. Other contestants interviewing for Mrs. Frisco also will have a chance to compete at the state Mrs. Texas pageant at a discounted entry fee!

The reigning Mrs. Frisco, the amazing Sheila Elliott, will be passing on her title to a new winner on October 14. If you would like to interview for Mrs. Frisco, please email info@mrstexasunitedstates.com Deadline to enter is September 30, 2007.