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August 30, 2007 – Volume 6, Issue 35 |
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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:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King Jr
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 1 Newsletter Sponsor – BayGrill: 2 Spotlight On…Frisco Association for the Arts and Its Upcoming Gala: 3 Interview to be Mrs. Frisco 2008!: 4 KLUV’s Deal of the Week – Randy’s Steakhouse: 4 Brand Your Business With The Largest Radio Group in DFW!: 5 Frisco Citizens Police Academy: 6 Frisco Fire Department Now Accepting Applications for Upcoming Classes!: 6 Frisco Quilt Guild Fall Festival: 7 Third Annual MK5K Fun Run/Walk Benefiting the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation: 7 Registration Nearing Capacity for 21st Annual John Weinberg Golf Tournament Presented by AT&T: 8 Feeding 5000 Golf Tournament hosted by First United Methodist Church of Frisco: 9 Ebony Ladies Golf League to Host Golf Tournament to Benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation: 9 The 6th Annual Wachovia Securities Tennis Spectacular: 10 Vendors Wanted for Holiday Bazaar at Grace Avenue UMC: 10 St. Francis 6th Annual Holiday Bazaar: 10 Third Annual 343 Memorial Climb To Benefit Fallen Firefighters At Pizza Hut Park In Frisco: 11 “BIG CATCH” Bass Tournament - October 20, 2007 - $4,000 Cash Guaranteed!!: 12 Frisco Women’s League Fall Membership Social: 12 American Business Women’s Association Meetings: 13 Frisco Youth Volleyball Registration: 13 i9 Sports Winter Frisco Basketball League Registrations Under Way: 13 Happenings in Frisco ISD by Sarah Ianace: 13 Barktoberfest Needs Sponsors: 14 Upcoming Meeting for the Association of Frisco Retired School Personnel: 15 2007 Chrysalis Ball Benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County: 15 Legacy Christian Academy Auction Fundraiser: 16 Heroes for Children 5K Run/Walk 2007 Event Information: 16 Miracle League of Frisco Registration for Fall 2007 Baseball: 17 Frisco Area Republican Women's Meeting: 17 Abundant Life in Christ – New Leadership, New Direction: 18 Greater Dallas Walk to Cure Diabetes: 18 Artist's Gathering - Tuesday, September 4th at 7pm: 18 Leadership Empowerment Lecture at DBU-North: 19 Shawnee Trail Elementary Hosting First North Dallas Area Boosterthon Fun Run: 19 CALM Charity Golf Tournament: 20 Frisco-OnLine.com’s Spotlight: 20 DBU-North: Collin County’s University for Christ Centered Education: 21 Fall Membership Social – Frisco Allen Texas Area Alumnae Panhellenic: 21 Town Hall Meeting with State Representative Ken Paxton and the Texas Conservative Coalition: 22 Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano Upcoming Programs: 22 Dance Lesson Open House and Free Lessons: 23 Landscape Design/Detail (Late August - Early September): 23 Pets to go. Stonebriar Centre hosts SPCA Pet Aoption Booth Saturday, September 15: 25 Hathaway Academy of Ballet Opens New Studio in North Central Plano: 26 Investigators Say Arson is Cause of Early Morning House Fire on August 29: 27 State Highway 121 Project Agreement Completed: 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 do publish a sampling of the comments along with some commentary on my web site at www.makemattmayor.com in the “Issues” section.
Some people like to have a well-lighted city and others like to keep it dark. There are arguments on both sides but I’d like to know from you, “What do you think about the amount of street lighting on our streets?”
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.
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. Is there any city ordinance requiring live trees on residential properties? There are several residences in my neighborhood that are unoccupied that have dead trees and it just looks really bad.
A. To report a landscape concern, please contact a City Landscape Architect at (972) 292-5352 or (972) 292-5351 for inspection. You may also contact Code Enforcement at (972) 292-5302 or via e-mail to code@friscotexas.gov.
This Day in History – August 30, 1963: The U.S.-Soviet “hot line” goes into operation:
From the History Channel…
Two months after signing an agreement to establish a 24-hour-a-day "hot line" between Moscow and Washington, the system goes into effect. The hot line was supposed to help speed communication between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union and help prevent the possibility of an accidental war.
In June 1963, American and Russian representatives agreed to establish a so-called "hot line" between Moscow and Washington. The agreement came just months after the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis, in which the United States and Soviet Union came to the brink of nuclear conflict. It was hoped that speedier and more secure communications between the two nuclear superpowers would forestall such crises in the future. In August 1963, the system was ready to be tested. American teletype machines had been installed in the Kremlin to receive messages from Washington; Soviet teletypes were installed in the Pentagon. (Contrary to popular belief, the hot line in the United States is in the Pentagon, not the White House.) Both nations also exchanged encoding devices in order to decipher the messages. Messages from one nation to another would take just a matter of minutes, although the messages would then have to be translated. The messages would be carried by a 10,000-mile long cable connection, with "scramblers" along the way to insure that the messages could not be intercepted and read by unauthorized personnel. On August 30, the United States sent its first message to the Soviet Union over the hot line: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog's back 1234567890." The message used every letter and number key on the teletype machine in order to see that each was in working order. The return message from Moscow was in Russian, but it indicated that all of the keys on the Soviet teletype were also functioning.
The hot line was never really necessary to prevent war between the Soviet Union and the United States, but it did provide a useful prop for movies about nuclear disaster, such as Fail Safe and Dr. Strangelove. Its significance at the time was largely symbolic. The two superpowers, who had been so close to mutual nuclear destruction in October 1962, clearly recognized the dangers of miscommunication or no communication in the modern world.
Though the Cold War is over, the hot line continues in operation between the United States and Russia. It was supplemented in 1999 by a direct secure telephone connection between the two governments.
August is National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month:
So far this month we have covered Immunization Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, Medicine Abuse Awareness and Cataract Awareness.
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year.
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:
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 Connection – 214-544-0666 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…
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,
This week’s newsletter is proudly Sponsored by BayGrill. BayGrill is a fantastic seafood restaurant located at the NW corner of SH121 and Legacy that Erika and I really love. The food and the people are fantastic so be sure to go check them out soon. You won’t be disappointed. Also check out the Spotlight on The Frisco Association for the Arts and their upcoming annual fundraising gala. As a huge supporter of the Arts in Frisco, I encourage you to attend this event. If you can’t, please consider supporting the Arts in Frisco by joining the Frisco Association for the Arts today by visiting their web site at www.friscoarts.org. 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.
Since I mentioned food up above, I thought I would also mention that Frisco's only CiCi's Pizza store's last day of business at its present location was this past Sunday. The corporate office says they plan to open a new store near the Custer Rd. / SH 121 intersection in February, 2008.
With school back in session, please be aware that we have additional “school zones” throughout the city where the speed limit is 20 mph. Please drive cautiously and friendly in Frisco and always pay attention to the road. Children aren’t always paying attention to passing cars and you never know when a child is going to run into the street. Please drive slowly throughout our neighborhoods in Frisco and help to keep our streets safe.
Thank you to everybody who responded to last week’s “Issue of the Week: “What do you think about the new Frisco logo?” 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. I also 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 issue, “What do you think about the amount of street lighting on our streets?” 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 – BayGrill:
As we pass the critical point in the year of the kids heading back to school and life returning to a set routine, BayGrill is looking forward to upcoming fall specials and events.
The summer months have provided a backdrop for Frisco’s newest and finest (Frisco on Line, ‘*****’) seafood restaurant to work on some finishing decor touches. The dining room sports new chalkboards for featuring fresh daily seafood specials, and the expo station is topped with a piece of art glass etched with the wave motif from our banguette fabric. More significantly, the menu has been revised to include new appetizer choices of Seared Ahi Tuna (with maple glaze dipping sauce and wasabi), and Shrimp Alexander (jumbo shrimp dusted with parmesan and garlic seasoned breadcrumbs, baked and lightly broiled, and served with a buerre blanc sauce). These items have proved to be instant hits and a great accompaniment to a new Specialty Martini or a bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (an addition to our wine list).
September is a great month for hosting lunch and dinner events at BayGrill! The semi-private section in the rear of the restaurant is a perfect area for hosting book clubs, committee meetings, and ‘meet and greet’ happy hours. It’s not too early to start thinking about upcoming holiday events and BayGrill provides a perfect venue for outstanding event quality and service.
This week marks the launch of BayGrill’s Martini Club. As you enjoy your Mojito Martini, Peach Cosmo, or infamous BayGrill ‘Tackle Box’ Martini, you can be working on a free martini of your choice! Ask our bartenders: Jessica, Scott, or Matt for details.
Finally, Thursdays mark the day each week we provide our select customer list a preview of the upcoming weekend specials. Join our email list today at: baygrill@grandecom.net to be included in this best kept Frisco secret! We will be sending out advance notice of our upcoming September wine dinner through this list.
Thank you for your ongoing support and business! We look forward to seeing you soon in BayGrill!
John Ingram and Deborah Lloyd, Owners Brent Campbell, General Manager
Spotlight On…Frisco Association for the Arts and Its Upcoming Gala:
Arts in Frisco on the Rise with Corporate Support
Newman Village and Capitol One take the lead in Investing In Frisco Arts: Le Rêve…Art Inspirations Gala Benefiting Frisco Arts
In an increasingly hurried world, the arts provide depth and reflection. The Frisco Association for the Arts invites art supporters to pause and be inspired by attending its annual fundraising gala, “Le Rêve….Arts Inspirations” presented by Newman Village on Saturday, September 29, 2007. Le Reve translates to “dream” and represents the unlimited possibilities and inspirations for the arts in Frisco. The 6th annual black tie event at Stonebriar Country Club is a sought-after gala for Collin County leaders and arts patrons. Several of Frisco and Collin County corporations have joined the Frisco Arts to be a part of Frisco’s commitment to a creative and cultural community.
Bill Darling, President of Darling Homes and Frisco Partners explain, “We’ve always understood the importance of how the arts impacts lives. Just as the City of Frisco has distinguished itself with public works of art, Newman Village is like no other community. Neighbors will be able to walk to the park and attend a concert or see an art show. At Newman Village success is measured in smiles as much as square feet and doors are seen as opportunities for friendship.”
As presenting sponsor of the Frisco Arts gala, Newman Village also features unlimited possibilities for its homeowners. Inspired the City of Frisco’s emphasis on the importance of the arts, amenities at Newman Village will do the same. Neighbors will be surrounded by a tranquil, exquisite European fountain, original works of art, and a stunning 2.6-acre central plaza. A staging area within this plaza will provide opportunities for live concerts and art exhibits.
The gala will be a memorable evening featuring international performers, Realis, former Cirque Du Soleil and nationally televised entertainers provided by World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. The evening includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, “afterglow” libation lounge with dessert buffet and dancing and auction.
Le Rêve will feature a motivational presentation of “Living Vicariously” to encourage guests to provide financial support for scholarships to support Frisco ISD students, families and seniors to participate in the arts.
Advance reservations are required. You can reserve your table now by calling 972-668-5180. Sponsorship opportunities are also still available by contacting the Frisco Arts office at: director@friscoarts.org
Background: Frisco Arts, formerly the Frisco Association for the Arts, is a 501c-3 non-profit, community-based organization formed by citizens and business leaders of Frisco, Texas who believe that the arts play a vital role in the economic development and well-being of the community. The umbrella organization is “where art starts in Frisco” through grants, sponsorships and support to grow the arts in Frisco. Frisco Arts beneficiaries include the Frisco Area Children’s Theater, Frisco Chorale, Frisco Community Band, Frisco Community Theatre, The Frisco Ballet, Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, Word of Mouth Productions, Collin County Ballet Theatre, Frisco Story Telling Festival, Frisco Grooves Concerts in the Park, Great Steak of Texas Symphony Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra, Frisco Education Foundation, Collin County Community College and Frisco Elementary String. Family and Corporate Memberships encouraged. For more information, visit www.friscoarts.org
About Newman Village, Presenting Sponsor: Newman Village is the result of years of planning by the Darling family and the Newman family, who originally settled in Frisco over 150 years ago. To help turn their vision into reality, developer Frisco Partners has selected a small group of custom homebuilders based on their reputation, product quality, attention to detail, and long-standing history within the community. Located just off the tollway at El Dorado Parkway, 207 home lots will be available for purchase in the summer of 2008. www.newmanvillage.com
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.
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