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Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News |
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August 23, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 34 |
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Photo courtesy of SDS Photography
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:
“Some men see things the way they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things that never were, and ask "Why not?" – George Bernard Shaw
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 – 1st Choice Foundation Repair: Interview to be Mrs. Frisco 2008!: Brand Your Business With The Largest Radio Group in DFW!: The 98.7 KLUV Cabana at Visions Women’s Expo!: Frisco Citizens Police Academy: Frisco Fire Department Now Accepting Applications for Upcoming Classes!: Frisco Farmer’s Market at Frisco Square: Frisco Quilt Guild Fall Festival: Young Chefs Academy Open House: Third Annual MK5K Fun Run/Walk Benefiting the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation: 21st Annual John Weinberg Golf Tournament: Feeding 5000 Golf Tournament hosted by First United Methodist Church of Frisco: Ebony Ladies Golf League to Host Golf Tournament to Benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation: The 6th Annual Wachovia Securities Tennis Spectacular: August 26th Auditions for Cross Timbers Youth Orchestras: Vendors Wanted for Holiday Bazaar at Grace Avenue UMC: St. Francis 6th Annual Holiday Bazaar: Third Annual 343 Memorial Climb To Benefit Fallen Firefighters At Pizza Hut Park In Frisco: “BIG CATCH” Bass Tournament - October 20, 2007 - $4,000 Cash Guaranteed!!: Gala Sponsorship Opportunities Available: Upcoming Meeting of the Texas Democratic Women of Collin County: Frisco Women’s League Baby Shower Benefiting FFSC: Junior Frisco Women’s League Applications Available: WANTED--Teens seeking a new level of Adventure....: American Business Women’s Association Meetings: Toby Mac to Headline Faith and Family Day at Pizza Hut Park: Frisco Youth Volleyball Registration: B’nai Israel -- Frisco’s First Synagogue Has Arrived: Word of Mouth Productions Cordially Invites you to our Broadway Extravaganza Benefit Concert: Happenings in Frisco ISD by Sarah Ianace: OU Club of Collin County Fall Kick-off Party: Upcoming Meeting for the Association of Frisco Retired School Personnel: 2007 Chrysalis Ball Benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County: Legacy Christian Academy Auction Fundraiser: Heroes for Children 5K Run/Walk 2007 Event Information: Miracle League of Frisco Registration for Fall 2007 Baseball: Blessing Sunday and Ministries Fair-First United Methodist Church: Reminder from Frisco-OnLine.com: Frisco Area Republican Women's Meeting: Abundant Life in Christ – New Leadership, New Direction: Food Drive With Complimentary Back-to-School Haircuts: Luke's Locker at the Shops of Legacy, Now Open!: Landscape Design/Detail (Late August into Early September): 2007-2008 City of Frisco Budget Highlights: It’s Kids Time Tour heads to Stonebriar Centre on Saturday, September 8: Frisco Public Library’s Fourth Floor is Haven for Adults: Emergency Animal Plan by Denton County Commissioner Cynthia White: New NTTA Toll Rates Go Into Effect in Late September: NTTA Board Approves Transition to All-Electronic-Toll-Collection: Tollway Extension to Open in Late September: South End of Tollway to Close Part of Aug. 25 Weekend: Cable Line Installation Causes Temporary Closure on I-45 in Dallas: TxDOT Releases List of State’s Structurally Deficient Bridges: FM 35 at Sabine Creek to close for bridge replacements:
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 do publish a sampling of the comments along with some commentary on my web site at www.makemattmayor.com in the “Issues” section.
This week’s question pertains to the new City of Frisco logo. You have probably seen the logo around town, and if you haven’t, visit www.friscotexas.gov. There was a lot of debate about the new logo and I would like to hear from you about what do you think about the new Frisco logo?
Newsletter Staff Members and Contributors
Matt Lafata – Editor and Publisher – 214-336-3355
Kaleigh Lafata – Tornado Talk
Sarah Ianace – Happenings in the Frisco ISD
Glenn Kopanski – Landscape Design
Pedro Checo – Advice from Dr. Checo
Joe Hockaday, CPA – Today’s Tax Talk From Joe
Citizen of the Month and Neighborhood of the Month Details
If you have a citizen or neighborhood you would like to nominate, please send it to me.
The Citizen of the Month will focus on a person or group in Frisco who has been nominated by another individual. He, she or they could be a person or a group who has recently done something special that contributes to the well-being of our city and/or its citizens, or it could be somebody who has had (or currently has) an interesting career or experiences that could be shared with our readers.
The Neighborhood of the Month will highlight a particular neighborhood in our city. I am looking to hear from you as to why your Neighborhood is so special.
The August Citizen of the Month goes to…Marsha Clark! Resident Nikki Miller submitted this entry and here is what she had to say about Marsha Clark and why she is so deserving of this recognition.
I would like to Nominate Marsha Clark as the citizen of the month. Marsha is a Frisco resident and former EDS executive who, after leaving EDS, invested her time and money to develop a leadership program for women.
The program named "Power of Self" is designed for women who are already leaders in their organizations or communities to help them be more effective. Power of Self is a 9 month program that covers a variety or topics all designed to help women be more successful in their personal and professional lives. As part of the program each woman is assigned a coach who reinforces the knowledge received in the classes by encouraging her to implement it in real life situations. Marsha’s program provides the support to women so they can continue in the work force, take on volunteer opportunities, and give back in their own communities. Currently, this program is not well known, but with its incredibly powerful content, it is gaining momentum and becoming notable.
Marsha is now working on a program geared towards younger women earlier in their career/life to assist them in moving into leadership roles. She does this while traveling all over the world consulting and training for companies and organizations such as Texas Instruments, Sabre, Bell Helicopter, and even the City of Frisco. She is tireless in her service to other women, which is a true testimony of her value to the community.
Marsha is a phenomenal woman and Frisco should be proud to have her.
To learn more about Marsha’s programs go to www.marshaclarkandassociates.com.
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. I have just recently move to frisco and was wondering if it is possible to purchase fire department tshirts? if so where and how much?
A. We do have shirts for sale in the lobby of Frisco Fire Safety Town. There are both t-shirts and polo-style shirts available. The adult t-shirts are $15.00 and the polos start at $35.00.
This Day in History – August 23, 1913: Cars and Bears Share Yosemite for First Time
From the History Channel…
Automobiles were legally allowed to enter Yosemite National Park, California, for the first time on this day, marking a huge change in the national park system. Prior to 1913, most park visitors traveled by train to the park and then took scheduled stagecoach tours. The advent of motor tourism changed the face of Yosemite forever, for it demanded modern, high-quality park roads. The National Park Service's landscape architects, along with the Bureau of Public Roads, developed a systematic approach to the design and construction of park roads. From the mid-1920s through World War II, a "Golden Age" of park road development flourished as designers attempted to create roads that would "lie lightly on the land."
August is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month:
So far this month we have covered Immunization Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness and Cataract Awareness.
Recent studies have spotlighted medicine abuse as an alarming trend among young people, including over-the-counter cough medicines, in which teens are intentionally taking large amounts of cough medicine to get "high" from the active ingredient dextromethorphan.
The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), which represents the leading makers of over-the-counter cough medicines, applaud this effort to increase awareness about the problem of medicine abuse and commend Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., (D-Del.) for his leadership on this issue and the U.S. Senate for its swift passage of this initiative.
S. Res. 225, introduced by Senator Biden and adopted June 26, encourages parents to educate themselves and to talk to their teens about the dangers associated with medicine abuse. According to research conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in 10 teenagers—or about 2.4 million young people—reports having abused cough medicine to get high.
"Consumers have trusted the makers of over-the-counter medications with the health of their families for many years. Now, it's our turn to alert communities and educate parents about a growing problem: the intentional abuse of cough medicines," said Linda A. Suydam, D.P.A., president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).
"We know that far too many parents are unaware of the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse. This resolution will help us build awareness to this problem and get the message to parents and teens that abusing medicine to get 'high' is very dangerous."
Dovetailing this effort, CADCA and CHPA will be taking its educational programming on the road, through its participation in town hall meetings nationwide with local CADCA affiliates throughout the month of August.
These groups will be hosting town hall meetings in several states and encouraging leaders across the country to host a town hall meeting in their own community in order to build on this national awareness momentum. Tools will be available for all communities wishing to participate in this inaugural awareness initiative.
In February 2007, CADCA and CHPA launched a campaign to educate communities about how to prevent cough medicine abuse among teenagers. A centerpiece of the campaign was the educational toolkit, "A Dose of Prevention: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse Before it Starts" which arms parents, educators, retailers, community leaders and others with critical information to address the problem of cough medicine abuse.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Senate recognizes the importance of addressing cough medicine abuse," said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA chairman and CEO. "Designating August as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month provides community coalitions leaders with a national platform to raise awareness, form partnerships, and work together to reverse this troubling trend."
More information about the CADCA/CHPA town hall initiative and the Dose of Prevention Toolkit is available online at www.StopMedicineAbuse.org.
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. Alcoholics Anonymous Frisco – 972-708-5086 American Cancer Society of Collin County – 214-819-1221 American Red Cross of North Texas – 972-542-5642 Boy Scouts of America – 214-902-6754 CASA of Collin County – 972-529-2272 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 Downtown Merchants Association Frisco A&M Club – 214-618-5079 Frisco Al-Anon Family Group – 972-978-8757 Frisco Area Children’s Theater – 972-377-2675 Frisco Association For the Arts Frisco Baseball/Softball Organization – 972-712-2288 Frisco Business and Professional Women Frisco Community Theatre – 972-377-3868 Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau Frisco Ducks Unlimited – 972-712-5049 Frisco Economic Development Corporation – 972-668-5550 Frisco Education Foundation – 469-633-6066 Frisco Family Services Center – 972-335-9495 Frisco Family YMCA – 972-335-3222 Frisco Fire Department – 972-335-5525 Frisco Football League – 972-712-0558 Frisco Garden Club – 972-377-4024 Frisco Humane Society – 972-498-8980 Frisco Independent School District – 469-633-6000 Frisco Music Teachers Association Frisco Police Department – 972-292-6000 Frisco Post Office – 972-335-7453 Frisco Republicans – 972-335-9176 Frisco Rotary Club – 972-701-2801 Frisco Soccer Association – 972-712-4625 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 North Texas Tollway Authority – 214-461-2000 OU Club of Collin County – 972-797-9708 Senior Center at Frisco Square – 972-335-5515 SPCA of Texas – 972-562-7387 Toastmasters Club of Frisco – 972-712-4611 Volunteer Center of North Texas Young Life Frisco – 972-424-6339
About Matt Lafata:
Matt Lafata and his fiancée Erika share six children between the two of them. In January 1999, Mr. Lafata moved to Frisco from Gloucester, MA. Mr. Lafata has helped build several highly successful businesses for more than 20 years. A long-time business consultant, entrepreneur and human resources professional, he is the Director of Business Development with the Frisco-based HR strategy and technology consulting firm HRchitect (www.HRchitect.com). He is also the founder of several marketing and public relations agencies including The Matt Lafata Marketing Group (www.mattlafatamarketing.com). Previously, Mr. Lafata was an Executive Vice President of a computer software company where he was responsible for corporate 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 · 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.
In July 2007, Matt announced his bid for Mayor of Frisco in the May 2008 election. Visit www.matt4mayor.com for more information about his candidacy.
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,
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