Dear Friends,

 

This week’s newsletter is proudly sponsored by Frisco Square, one of the most exciting developments taking place in Frisco, which I get to experience first-hand every day since I live and work there. Stay tuned for many great upcoming events to be held in and around Frisco Square.  Also check out the spotlight on Jim Goon and Geeks on Call with his two great offers on “Kids Club” and identity-theft protection. I have used Jim’s services in the past and he is great. 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.

 

If you would like to advertise in this newsletter and reach more than 35,000 captive residents and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding communities, many different opportunities are available to you. It’s the most efficient and cost effective form of advertising in this area so please email sales@mattlafatamarketing.com for more information.

 

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. 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. 

 

Last week I stated that the water restrictions over the past four months have allowed us to save over 800 gallons and as many of you wrote to me, that number should actually have been 800 MILLION gallons. Please continue to conserve water wherever you can as we remain in a serious drought condition. The rain earlier this week was great, and should allow many of us to avoid having to water this week. Thank you to those citizens who help us by reporting violators. It is a shame that people don’t realize how serious this is and continue to try and get around the restrictions.

 

Don’t forget that Randy’s Steakhouse on Main Street in Frisco is offering 20% off an entrée until midnight October 14 for newsletter readers only. Just stop by and mention you read about them in this newsletter while this great offer lasts. I was there Thursday night and the food and service is always great. Treat yourself to a special night out this weekend and take advantage of this offer before it expires.

 

Speaking of great places to eat, Josephine’s Wine Bar and Bistro just opened in The Shops at Starwood at the SW corner of Lebanon and the Tollway. We had the opportunity to sample some of the food last week and it was great. This is a really cool place that you need to check out at your earliest opportunity. I’ll be writing a review about them in an upcoming issue.

 

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 thirty-five thousand residents and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please send them to me at matt@mattlafata.com 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.

 

 

Newsletter Sponsor – Frisco Square:

 

Frisco Square is a pedestrian-friendly urban development that features a unique blend of shopping, dining, office space, apartment living, town homes, park space and Frisco's new city hall and library.   When complete, the 147-acre project will include 4.4 million square foot project, showcasing approximately 1.5 million square feet of office space, 500,000 square feet of retail space, 1400 apartments, 500 town homes/stacked-flats/condominiums, and 144,000 square feet of municipal facilities.   Designed by nationally renowned architect, David M. Schwarz and recently re-designed by RTKL, Frisco Square is located in the heart of Frisco at the southeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Main Street, directly across from Pizza Hut Park, the world’s largest soccer complex and home to FC Dallas. Additional information on Frisco Square is available at www.friscosquare.com or through the Frisco Square information center at 469-633-1721.

 

 

If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in advertising and reaching more than 35,000 individuals and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please email us at sales@mattlafatamarketing.com for more details. 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 way to reach a large segment of the Frisco population. You may want to also consider providing a special offer to newsletter readers only.

 

 

Spotlight on…Geeks on Call:

 

This interview was conducted with Geeks on Call franchise owner, and Frisco resident, Jim Goon…

 

Tell us about your business, Jim

 

Geeks On Call provides on-site computer support to homes, home offices, and small-to-medium-sized businesses.  Because Geeks On Call is a franchise company, our customers have the advantage of receiving service from a local franchise owner but still have the backing and support of a national headquarters. 

 

As the owner of the Geeks On Call franchise in Frisco, I take pride in servicing the high-tech needs of local businesses so they can stop worrying about their computers and instead focus on growing and expanding.  I also enjoy helping the residents of Frisco secure and protect their computers and make technology easier to use in their everyday lives.

 

I chose Frisco as the place to open my Geeks On Call franchise because it is such a vibrant market.  I enjoy the small-town feeling here, as well as the quality of the schools and the overall quality of life.   

 

So what makes you different from your competition?

 

Unlike most of our competitors, Geeks On Call is strictly an on-site computer-service company, which means we don’t have retail stores and don’t sell retail products.  As a result, our customers never face any pressure to buy things they don’t need—which often occurs with some of our competitors.  At Geeks On Call, our single focus is to provide outstanding customer service with no strings attached. 

 

Additionally, Geeks On Call offers a more comprehensive collection of services than our competitors, including: repairs; computer security solutions; wired and wireless networking; troubleshooting for hardware, software and networks; data backup and recovery; hardware and software upgrades; and systems configured for your specific needs. 

 

Another factor that separates us from our competitors is our high level of computer expertise.  Geeks on Call technicians have a minimum of industry standard A+ certification.  In addition to my A+ certification, I also have my MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) certification.  Certifications are important, but it was my work as an engineer at Texas Instruments for 19 years, that allowed me to hone my analytical skills in preparation of the challenges offered by constant real-time troubleshooting. 


Jim, I’m very impressed with your credentials and it sure helped when I needed some stuff recovered from a failed hard drive a while back. So tell me, how does someone get in touch with you?

 

You can contact Geeks On Call toll free at 1-800-905-GEEK, you can schedule service online by visiting www.geeksoncall.com, or you can e-mail me directly at jim.goon@geeksoncall.com.  And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for my signature blue Geeks On Call PT Cruiser driving around town!

 

Jim, everybody loves a special. Any special offers for newsletter readers?

 

Actually, I have two special offers.  The first is a program called “Kids Club” that Geeks On Call developed in an effort to teach children and parents about Internet safety and to raise money for local schools.  Thanks to Kids Club, parents in Frisco can receive simple “how-to” advice that will help them to shelter their kids from Internet predators and other online hazards.  At the same time, participating schools in Frisco can receive monetary donations from Geeks On Call.  Plus, I am giving away free copies of a 20-page Kids Club booklet titled “A Parents’ Guide to Internet Safety.”  To get your copy, simply sign up for one of my free monthly newsletters by visiting http://www.friscoitconsulting.com/mailinglist.

 

My second offer pertains to identity-theft protection.  I’ve used several credit watch services over the last 10 years.  Several years ago, I received a quarterly statement informing me of credit checks.  This service was strictly reactive.  By the time I became aware of any activity, it might have been too late.  Several years ago I switched to a service that provided similar information, but in a monthly email. It had the added benefit of a modest insurance policy to help offset the cost of credit repair but was still largely reactive.  Although identity theft has been around for decades, the Internet and modern technologies have made it worse. 

 

Recently, I switched to a service called LifeLock, which offers the only proactive credit protection currently available.  LifeLock’s guarantee is simple: if your protection policy is active and your identity is stolen, LifeLock will fix the problem, no matter what it takes, up to $1 million dollars.  This protection is available for adults and teenagers ages 16 or older for only $10 per month (or $110 per year/per person).  Protection for children ages 15 and under is only $10 per year/per child (so long as at least one adult in the home has a subscription paid annually).  For a limited time you can get 10% off LifeLock’s fees.  Just visit http://www.lifelock.com, click on “Enroll Now”, then enter the promotion code BLUESKY.  


Thanks Jim, those are fantastic offers that I hope our newsletter readers take advantage of. We are running out of time but one more question. Since I love to eat, tell us what is your favorite restaurant in this area?

 

One of my favorites is La Hacienda Ranch.  As one of my uncles from South Carolina used to drawl, “the hotta, the betta”, but he was talking about the weather.

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Because this newsletter continues to grow in size with so much going on in Frisco and the surrounding areas, I have added a table of contents. It’s not a clickable table of contents, yet, it is simply a listing, in order, of everything in this newsletter. For those of you who submit things to me to be added to the newsletter, you may want to consider using descriptive titles for your submission in the future, otherwise I will continue to make them up..

 

 

 

Frisco StarFest:

 

Join us Saturday, October 14, for Frisco StarFest at Frisco Commons Park as we view deep sky objects.
 
This free event begins at dark for the night sky viewing and will conclude by 10:00pm. Bring the entire family for spectacular views through telescopes operated by StarFest volunteers. The event occurs the second Saturday of every month at Frisco Commons Park. Inquiries can be sent to starfest@comcast.net.
 
The Texas Astronomical Society's public observing website (check here for cancellations due to weather): http://www.tasobserving.org/

 

 

Telling It Like It Is! The 2006 Frisco Storytelling Festival:

 

On October 20th and 21st, six of the nation’s most talented storytellers will gather at the City Hall Plaza in Frisco Square for the third annual Frisco Storytelling Festival.  These six award-winning performers will illuminate the stages and ignite the imagination of Festival goers with ancient folktales, myths, legends, personal stories, and musical performances.  Regional and local student performers will also tell at Frisco’s annual showcase of one of the country’s fastest growing performing arts.  Tickets are available at the three locations of First National Bank Southwest or at www.friscofest.org.  

 

 

The Sentry Marketing Group:


Vigilant Guardian of your Customer Service Standards

 

Does your business rely on consistent employee/customer interaction? Does your product or service rely on key retail placement, the knowledge of sales consultants or a superior customer experience? How do you assess your team’s performance against your organization’s standards?  Let The Sentry Marketing Group help you in this crucial area of your business.

 

Our mystery shopping programs are custom designed based on your business’ size, industry and organizational standards.  Unlike comment cards, call center contacts or general customer feedback, our mystery shopping programs will measure the customer experience against criteria that you define.  The result is a report that delivers specific, timely and actionable feedback based on observation rather than vague comments based on opinion.

 

Today's hypercompetitive environment has dramatically changed the rules for all business. Being good isn't good enough and meeting the demands of your customers is crucial to keeping a business healthy and growing.  The Sentry Marketing Group was founded to help businesses of all sizes gauge their customer service expertise, identify areas of strength and weakness and improve the overall guest experience.  Our mission is to provide you with real time market intelligence that can help you sharpen your processes, increase customer satisfaction and improve profits.

 

Contact us today and see how we can help your business. Phone 214-783-9461, dave@sentrymarketinggroup.com or visit our web site at www.sentrymarketinggroup.com

 

 

2006 Main Street Village Fall Festival:

 

Who: Everyone is invited!

When: Saturday, October 14 from 12-8pm and Sunday, October 15 from 1-7pm

Where: Kroger Shopping Center at the corner of Main and Teel

Details: The Festival is sponsored by 25 Main Street Village businesses and is absolutely free for everyone to attend.

 

Attractions include: Bounce houses, bands, and clowns Appearances by: Mayor Mike Simpson, Rough Riders mascot Deuce, Texas Tornados Mascot, Radio Disney, and FC Dallas players Free Food provided by businesses in the area including: Coldstone Creamery, Double Dave's Pizza, Kroger, and Quizno's Sub

 

 

Westfalls Village Annual Fall Community Garage Sale:

 

Westfalls Village HOA is sponsoring their annual Fall community garage sale on October 14th.  Over 25 families are planning to participate with items such as furniture, household items and children's toys and clothes galore!  The sale will be held on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Westfalls Village is located in west Frisco on the south side of Main Street and west of Teel.  In the unlikely event of heavy rain, the back-up date will be October 28th.  We hope to see you all there!

 

 

4th Annual Frisco Fall Festival:

 

Preston Ridge Baptist Church is hosting their 4th Annual Frisco Fall Festival on October 31st from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  There will be a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables and concessions.  Everyone is invited to "Trunk or Treat" from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  A special area of the parking lot will be block off from traffic and the kids will be able to “Trick or Treat” in the parking lot.  Admission is free for everyone! Preston Ridge Baptist Church is located at 5849 Hillcrest Road.  Call 972-712-7007 or visit www.prestonridge.org for more information!

 

 

St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary 5th Annual Holiday Bazaar:

 

St. Francis of Assisi (8000 El Dorado Parkway) on October 28 (new date this year!) from 9am to 3pm

 

Over 90 Vendors, both Indoors and Outdoors Crafters, Home-Based businesses, Artisans, and food vendors

 

Start your holiday shopping early and don’t forget to get something for yourself!

 

Come visit our 4th Annual Christmas Tree Silent Auction. Trees are decorated and donated by groups and businesses from St. Francis. The funds will be going to the St. Francis Youth Group this year. Couldn’t you use a second tree in your office or home?

 

 

First United Methodist Church Annual Pumpkin Patch:

 

First United Methodist Church Frisco will be having their annual Pumpkin Patch through October 31st.  Pumpkins of many different sizes are available for purchase.  The Pumpkin Patch will be open Monday - Saturday 10 am - dusk and Sunday 12 noon - dusk. Proceeds benefit the Youth Group and their missions at the church.  The church is located at 7659 Preston Road, corner of Preston Road and John Wesley. For information, please call 972-335-4380 or www.friscofumc.org.

 

 

Frisco Boy Scout Troop 298 Selling Christmas Wreaths and Greenery:

 

Frisco Boy Scout Troop 298 is selling Christmas wreaths and greenery again this year.  This is the 3rd year Troop 298 is selling these fine, handmade greenery pieces and would like to encourage those of you interested in ordering some for gifts to give a scout a call.  Troop 298 is chartered by St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and will be taking orders after Masses Oct 21 and 22.  If you are interested, please contact Mitchell Garrett, Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 298 at 972.668.6021 or Angela Garrett, Fundraising Chair at 214.681.5665.

 

 

Frisco Square to Host Pumpkin Patch in Support of Cub Scout Pack 298:

 

Frisco Square will host a pumpkin patch on Main Street in Frisco Square on Saturday, October 28 from 10:00AM until 6:30PM and Sunday, October 29 from 11:00AM until 6:30PM to support Cub Scout Pack 298. Pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, mini-pumpkins and corns stalks for decorating your home at Thanksgiving will sell out quickly, so come early!  All sales must be made with cash or check and all proceeds will go to the Scouts.

 

 

Frisco High School Star's Bazaar:

 

November 11th - 9AM - 4PM

 

Attention Shoppers!  Mark your calendars now for the 3rd annual FHS Star's Bazaar.  This event, which benefits the Stars dance team, features many vendors offereing such items as candles, home decor, children's items, gourmet food, jewelry, holiday arts & crafts, and much more.  Admission is FREE and raffles will be held throughout the day.  Make plans now to start your holiday shopping with the award winning Stars.  Frisco High School is located at 6401 Parkwood Dr. (Dallas N. Tollway @ Stonebrook)

For additional information please contact: starbazaarmom@sbcglobal.net

 

 

Fall Tree Identification Tour:

 

The Frisco Parks Department and the Frisco Urban Forestry Board will be hosting their annual fall tree identification tour at Frisco Commons on October 14, 2006.  The tour will begin at the main pavilion at 9:00 a.m.   Anyone interested in urban forestry is invited to attend this enjoyable and educational tour.  With more than thirty species of trees growing throughout the park, this will be an excellent opportunity to experience the brilliance of the many different fall colors.  Frisco Commons is located at 8000 McKinney Road.

 

 

NTEC, Inc.  Presents MedTech North Texas Breakfast Series:

 

October 25, 2006, 7:30 am – 9:30 am

Embassy Suites Frisco Conference Center, 7600 John Q. Hammons Dr., Frisco, TX

 

“MedTech Innovation and Investment: Working With Doctors and Hospitals”

 

NTEC will host a breakfast and discussion featuring the following physicians and hospital administrators, who will share their experiences as entrepreneurs, investors, development partners, buyers and users of medical devices:

 

* Phil Buttell, Chief Operating Officer, Centennial Medical Center in Frisco

* Ramon Guerrero, M.D., Board certified anesthesiologist and founder of IntraSafe Medical

* Jimmy Laferney, M.D., Board certified anesthesiologist and Vice-President for Medical Staff Affairs at Baylor Medical Center at Frisco

* Richard Yonker, Vice President, Corporate Sourcing for Tenet Healthcare

* Jeff Crilley, Emmy Award Winning TV Reporter, will open the program with inside secrets to getting positive publicity without spending a dime.

 

To register, visit https://www.123signup.com/servlet/SignUpMember?PG=1523128182300&P=1523128191154236100

For more information, visit www.ntec-inc.org, or contact Kim Cogbill via email at kcogbill@ntec-inc.org

 

 

Gary Burns Frisco Fun Run at Hall Office Park, October 28:

 

The 5K Run will be followed by a 1 mile walk where strollers, children, leisure walkers and anyone who wants to participate is welcome (registration required). There will be food and entertainment for all ages. Refreshments will be provided. Local celebrities and dignitaries will be on hand to show their support of the Frisco Fun Run. The event is named after Frisco Assistant Fire Chief Gary Burns who passed away in September of 1999. His life and work continues through the Gary Burns Scholarship Fund. This is the Frisco Education Foundations main funding source for the scholarships awarded to graduating seniors in the Frisco Independent School District. Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Allison Miller, Director, Frisco Education Foundation at (469) 633-6860 or millera@Friscoisd.org for more information.

 

 

Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure:

 

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) will be hosting the 1st Annual North Texas Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure.  More than 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies, and over 2 million of those are school-aged children.  Help us help FAAN continue its mission to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

 

Janet St. James, WFAA Channel 8’s Medical Reporter, is this year’s Honorary Walk Ambassador, and the Walk has earned the endorsement of the Texas Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness.  Join us on Sunday, October 22, 2006 at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano for an afternoon of free family-friendly activities as we walk together to raise funds for food allergy education, advocacy, and research. On-site registration and sign-in begins at 12:00 pm and the Walk will begin at 1:00 pm. Registration is FREE, and you may register in advance by visiting FAAN online at www.foodallergy.org or by calling 800-929-4040.

 

 

Revolution Youth Rally ’06:

 

Revolution Youth Rally '06 featuring Rustik, P149, and Blake Porter will be held at the Frisco Convention Center on Saturday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m.  This event is completely geared toward Jr. High and High School age students from the local Frisco community and will feature alternative Christian rock bands and hip hop dance groups in a youth environment.

 

Local radio station 89.7 PowerFM will be making an appearance at the event as well as airing artist interviews with Rustik and Blake Porter during the month of October.  Listeners can also tune in daily to hear Youth Waves with Blake Porter.

 

Tickets for the event are $7.00 each, $10.00 at the door and can be purchased on our website at www.revolution06.info.

 

The event is being sponsored by Revolution Ministries and Blake Porter Ministries in Frisco, Texas.  Revolution is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization dedicated to reaching out to the local teenage community with a positive Christian message of hope and reconciliation. 

 

We encourage the local community to attend and get their local youth pastors involved in bringing their youth group.  Tickets are discounted to $5.00 for youth groups of 10 or more.  Call today for more information (469) 324-3602 or email info@friscoyouthrevolution.com

 

 

Riddle Elementary will be holding its 4th Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 21st from 11am - 3pm:

 

There will be games (everyone wins a prize), food and lots of fun for the entire family!! 

 

Many wonderful vendors are joining us this year in our Vendor Fair and there will be plenty of choices for both Mom, Dad at the Silent Auction.

 

Riddle Elementary is proud to be part of FISD and is situated at 8201 Robinson Road, Plano, TX 75024.

 

For further information please contact Melissa Tollinger, Melissa.tollinger@gmail.com

 

 

Country Christmas Craft Bazaar:

 

Oct 21st, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church - The Colony, 4901 Paige Road, The Colony

 

Shop early for Christmas at the 18th Annual Country Christmas Craft Bazaar at First United Methodist Church in The Colony.  Over 60 crafters – including candles, jewelry, stained glass, Christmas crafts and ornaments, embroidery, crochet and knitted items, baby quilts and gifts, kids crafts, scrapbooking, sand art, dolls, ceramics, denim purses, floral wreaths, chair massages, fruit smoothies, yard art, rustic home accessories and SO MUCH MORE!!  A live band (Romo's Band) will be performing. Breakfast and lunch will be available. Plus a pumpkin patch and Opportunity Drawings (raffle) with over 100 donated items available. Bring a non-perishable food item in exchange for a raffle ticket! No admission, free parking. Located at 4901 Paige Road, The Colony, TX 75056. For more info, call 972-625-1281 or visit our website at http://www.fumcthecolony.org/   

 

 

2006 Frisco Ornament On Sale Now!:

 

The Friends of the Frisco Public Library are proud to announce the arrival of the 2006 Frisco Heritage holiday ornament. This year's hanging ornament depicts the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, which houses both the Frisco Public Library and City Hall. The building was dedicated just a week ago at its Grand Opening, this ornament is sure to be a collector's item! 

 

You can purchase your finely-detailed brass ornament at the first floor library reference desk in the new library, for just $15. They make a wonderful gift or addition to your collection!

 

If you need to add to your collection, the library still has a few of the 2004 Frisco Watertower ornaments for $17 and the 2005 Frisco Caboose for $16. 

 

The ornaments will also be sold at the Library's Storytelling Festival on Oct 20-21. For more information, go to www.friscostorytellingfestival.org  For library hours, go to www.friscolibrary.com

 

 

Collin County Ballet Theatre – Sugar Plum Fairy Teas:

 

Collin County Ballet Theatre Guild is excited to announce the dates for this year’s Sugar Plum Fairy Teas.

 

Sunday, November 26, 2006 and Sunday, December 10, 2006 from 2-4pm.

 

The Collin County Ballet Theatre Guild is pleased to announce the dates for this year’s much-anticipated Sugar Plum Fairy’s Teas.  The teas have become a tradition for families in Frisco and the surrounding communities to kick-off the holiday season!  This premier mother-daughter (or grandparent-grandchild) event is always a desirable destination and the seats sell out quickly.  

 

Make your reservations early for either date and the elegant Westin Stonebriar in Frisco is again sponsoring the ballet guild fundraiser. 

 

The tea is a great value; all tea guests are treated to a parade of all the Nutcracker ballet characters led by Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.  There will be short performances of dances from the Nutcracker. 

 

In addition to a lovely high tea service complete with sweets, finger sandwiches, scones, strawberries and cream, each guest will get a photograph of themselves taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and other beloved characters from the ballet.  Mice, soldiers, Clara’s friends and other surprise characters mix and mingle with our wee guests during the tea for informal photo and dancing opportunities!  There is a raffle for a ballerina bear and other nice gifts; and finally a goodie-bag for our small guests to take home!

There is a holiday boutique with special ballet treasures and ornaments for purchase.

 

Put on your holiday clothes to come enjoy an old-fashioned tea.

 

For tea reservations please call: 469.951.1399. Price: $25. Master Card/Visa accepted. More information at www.CCBallet.com

 

Please note that the full Nutcracker Ballet will be performed by the Collin County Ballet Theatre at two sites again this year.  The first performance is at the elegant Eisemann Theatre in Richardson on Sunday, December 3rd at 5:00p with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. There will be two performances in Frisco at the new Wakeland High School’s “state of the art” auditorium, Saturday, December 9th at 2:00p and 7:30p. You won’t want to miss this traditional holiday event! Nutcracker performance tickets may be purchased from the Plano Symphony Box Office at 972-473-7262.

 

 

2006 Fall Festival at Storybook Ranch - October 20—October 21:

 

Join Storybook Ranch in celebrating Fall and in supporting our local Texas farmers!

 

Friday, October 20, 6-10pm - Open to the Public for one night only!

 

Storybook Ranch and Savory Catering are joining together to bring you a special dinner in our beautiful newly-renovated Clubhouse

* Menu will highlight all-natural meats and cheeses and fresh produce from our local Texas farmers and ranchers

* Casual, family-friendly atmosphere

* Walking tours of our famous Historic Western Town

* Outdoor seating available on our vaulted front patio and creek-side back deck

For a reservation, please call 214-239-1996 or email us at info@storybookranch.com

 

Saturday, October 21, 10am-6pm

 

2nd Annual Fall Festival featuring a pumpkin patch and various activities for the whole family!

 

Admission: $6 per person includes:

* Hayrides and Buckboard Wagon Rides

* Pony Rides (add’l price) / Petting Zoo

* Tours of our Historic Western Town

* Gunfight Shows on Main Street

* Relay games and activities

* Farmer’s Market

* Wine Tasting with Times 10 Cellars

* Fall Cooking Demonstration

* Fall Photo Ops with Wee Folks Photography

* Make your own photo book in our Historic Western Town

* Caricature Artist

* Hot Food sold all day

* Hot Apple Cider and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

 

Pumpkins will be sold every weekend in October!

 

For more information, call 972.369.0346 or email info@storybookranch.com - www.storybookranch.com

 

A % of Saturday’s Fall Festival proceeds will be donated to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

 

 

Barktoberfest 2006:

 

"PAWS" for a good cause:

Saturday October 14, is the date to set aside for Frisco Humane Society's Barktoberfest, from 9-1. It is a day of fun for the entire family, including the family dog! Cat lovers are more than welcome too! All proceeds will help pay the Humane Society's medical bills for all the cats and dogs they rescue, rehab, and rehome.

 

Shop: for some great gifts at our silent auction:

Golf at The Tribute; a Roger Staubach autographed NFL football; an original drawing by Bizarro Comics artist, Dan Piraro; Cooking Class at Williams Sonoma; stained glass panel by David Logue; gift cards for restaurants, shops and boutiques; Build-A-Bear plush animals; Arbonne and Origins gift baskets; Glamour Shots packages; dog items and accessories; Dallas Stars autographed item; and a lot more!!!

 

Compete: Your dogs can compete for prizes for best costume, best singer, kissiest, waggiest, biggest and smallest paw.

 

Be entertained: live music by the Collin County Songwriter’s Association. And everyone will be amazed by the dancing dogs of Top Dog Freestylers, and the Dawg agility group. 

 

Take a chance: on raffle tickets for two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines or a Brinkmann Gas Grill, or to pre-register for the dog walk and receive a T-shirt and bandana, or for more information, visit our website: www.friscohumanesociety.com or view our video for more details at: http://www.mcdcommunications.com/streaming/fhs/barktoberfest_2006.html

 

That's Saturday, October 14 from 9am-1pm.

 

 

Plano Symphony Orchestra Presents “Family Symphony Sundays” - A Fun, Interactive 5 Concert Series for Families!:

 

The Family Symphony Sundays Series is a fun, interactive series of five concerts guaranteed to be fun for children and adults alike!  Join the Plano Symphony for the Season Opener, Spooky Symphony, on October 29 at 3:00pm, and don’t forget to wear your costume!  Then, continue along with us as each section of the orchestra is highlighted in the remaining concerts: Drumshtick featuring the percussion section, Raising Cane featuring the woodwinds, Fanfare featuring the brass, and Fiddlesticks featuring the strings!  Come early before each concert and enjoy the Plano Symphony Instrument Petting Zoo, an interactive musical learning experience, and more.  You and your child will learn, have fun, and be exposed to great music, all for one low price! 

 

Spooky Symphony:    Sunday, October 29, 2006 – 3:00 PM

                       

Drumshtick: Sunday, December 10, 2006 – 3:00 PM (Spanish Language Performance at 4:30!)

                       

Raising Cane: Sunday, January 7, 2007 – 3:00 PM (Spanish Language Performance at 4:30!)

                       

Fanfare: Sunday, January 21, 2007 – 3:00 PM

                       

Fiddlesticks: Sunday, February 25, 2007 – 3:00 PM

 

Where:  Spooky Symphony - Charles W. Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX  75082 

 

Remaining Concerts:  The Courtyard Theatre, 1501 Avenue H, Plano, TX  75075             

 

Tickets: To order, call the Plano Symphony Orchestra Ticket Office at 972-473-7262. Subscription tickets: $25-$45 for all five concerts! Single tickets for Spooky Symphony:  $8-$18, remaining concerts $7-$11. Add $2 at the door for all performances.

 

 

Frisco Community Parade Will Salute the Troops on Nov. 11:


Parade Route and Registration Details to Be Finalized in coming weeks

 

A hallmark of the small town feel in Frisco has been the fall “homecoming parade.” With the growth of the area and the number of high schools serving students in the Frisco Independent School District growing to four, the event has evolved into a Community Parade that celebrates the community spirit of the area. It will feature all the high school bands, football teams and other school groups; community groups and businesses are invited to participate. The theme for this year’s event is Salute to the Troops in honor of Veteran’s Day.

 

This will be an opportunity for the Homecoming and Forthcoming royalty at the high schools to ride in the parade and for Frisco to celebrate its schools, businesses and civic organizations. Honor Classes from Frisco High School 1936, 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996 will be invited to participate in the parade as well. On Friday, November 10, Frisco High will host Lake Dallas at Memorial Stadium and the honor classes can be recognized prior to the start of the game. The traditional chili challenge will be held at Staley Middle School at 5 p.m. on November 10 with the proceeds benefiting the Frisco Education Foundation through the Sue Stafford Honor Scholarship.

 

As the new high schools have more graduating classes, honor classes from the other high schools will receive special recognition, but for now FHS alumni are the only honor classes.

 

Principal Mike Farish of Wakeland High School said he is excited about this event and what it means for all the schools.

 

“Wakeland is looking forward to being part of this community parade. We are beginning new traditions with our Inaugural Ball and a Dedication Queen and King. I hope the parade is something that Wakeland’s first students will remember for years to come,” he said.

 

Parade start time is 10 a.m. on Saturday and discussions indicate the route will be similar to last year traveling from Pizza Hut Park east on Main Street to North County, according to Mayor Mike Simpson.

 

The committee of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Frisco and the Frisco ISD will continue to work on details regarding traffic flow, parking and parade route. Parade registration can be accomplished on-line at www.Friscoparade.com. Registrants may also find parade map and photos of past parades at that site. Fees for registration are $150 for youth organizations and $200 for businesses and adult organizations. Schools are not charged a fee. Proceeds will go to the Frisco Education Foundation in the form of scholarships.

 

“This community has grown up looking forward to the annual homecoming parade as one of our most important elements to keep the small-town feel,” Mayor Mike Simpson, said. “With multiple high schools in FISD, the community parade concept will continue to capture the spirit of the community and become an even bigger and exciting family event.”

 

 

2nd Annual FSPN Golf Tournament:

 

Please join as a golfer or a sponsor in the 2nd Annual FSpN "Scholarship Fund" Golf Tournament on Monday, November 6th at the "Gentle Creek Golf Course in Prosper, Texas.  It will be a 4 person scramble, and the shotgun tee time is at 12:30 PM.

Last year we raised $4,000 and gave (4) $1,000 scholarships, (2) of them went to Frisco High School seniors and the other (2) went to Centennial High School seniors at the annual Frisco Education Foundation Scholarship Night.  This year we are asking you to join us again.  Contact Trent Emmons at 214-335-8081 if you have any questions or would like to register to play.

 

 

Do You Believe In Chandler?:

 

Chandler Jackson was a truly special twelve-year old boy. He had the unique ability to light up any room he walked into. He made those around him feel at ease. Chandler possessed a valuable gift. He was capable of putting a smile on any face. He was selfless, generous, and uncommonly compassionate for a young man. He was inspirational. In his 12 years, he was able to touch so many lives.

 

Chandler Jackson died during the summer of 2005. His life was taken by a tragic, sudden accident - something no one could foresee. To keep his memory alive, The Chandler Jackson Youth Foundation was established. The Foundation provides less fortunate children with life-changing opportunities and the resources needed to lead richer, fuller lives. The foundation is non-profit and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt. The foundation relies heavily on the generosity of individuals like you to continue its work.

 

This is your formal invitation to participate in The First Annual Chandler Jackson Memorial Golf Tournament. The event is being held Sunday October 22nd at The Trails of Frisco Golf Club. Entry is $125 per person and includes lunch, a BBQ dinner buffet, 18 holes of golf, and so much more! Sponsorships are still available! Registration is still open but is filling up quickly!

 

100% of the proceeds from this great event benefit The Chandler Jackson Youth Foundation and will help less-fortunate children in the DFW area. There will be a free golf clinic for kids and adults not playing in the tournament. And if you want to join us for the BBQ dinner buffet and the very special tribute to Chandler, it is only $35 per person!

To get more info, please visit www.chandlersfoundation.org, send an email to tournament manager John Bishop atjohn@chandlersfoundation.org or jb@compositegolf.com, or by calling (214) 606-5980.

 

Be there October 22nd and help us honor the legacy of a young man who is missed dearly and will never be forgotten. By participating you are telling us that you believe in Chandler and all that he stood for. Chandler exemplified the amazing power people have to help one another. We are just here to continue what he started. The question is...

 

Do you believe in Chandler?

 

 

Pancake-Stacking Contest Information and Official Rules:

 

Their grand opening event is from 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 28th at the SW corner of Main and Preston

 

The pancake-stacking contest is on Saturday, October 28, 2006 and is scheduled to start at approximately 11:00 a.m.  The 2 representatives from your organization must arrive no later that 10:30 a.m. to receive instructions.

 

The Capital One Frisco Main branch is located at 8989 Preston Rd, Frisco TX 75034 at the South West corner of Main Street & Preston Road

 

Following are the official contest rules:

 

1.         Your organization must designate two people to participate in the pancake stacking competition. One person will be designated as the actual stacker and the other person will simply hand pancakes to the stacker. These participants may not seek additional help or switch stackers once the contest has begun.

2.         The contestant will have one minute to stack as many pancakes as he or she can.  At the conclusion of the contest, the number of pancakes that were successfully stacked will be counted.  If your stack topples during the one minute time period, contest judges will count the number of pancakes that were standing prior to the stack falling over.

3.         You must stack the pancakes vertically, one at a time, directly on top of the other.  The entire pancake must be on top of the pancake below it.

4.         You may not flatten or smash the pancakes down with your hands.

5.         You may not hold the stack while you reach for another pancake.  The stack must stand on its own.

6.         Smashed, broken, or crumbled pancakes will not be counted.

7.         You may not use any outside tools (ladders, butter, syrup, toothpicks, etc.) to help you stack - it’s just you and the pancakes provided to you!

8.         If your stack topples before the one minute is up, you must immediately stop stacking.  The number of pancakes that were in the stack before it fell will be counted and included in the final judging.

9.         At the end of the one-minute period, the contest judges will count the total number of pancakes that were successfully stacked, and a Capital One representative will announce the winner.  This ruling is final.

10.       The one contestant who stacked the most pancakes (prior to the stack tumbling) will receive a grand-prize donation of $1,000 to the organization they represent.  The second-place finisher will receive $700, the third-place contestant will receive $400, and the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place stackers will each receive $200. 

11.       If there is a tie between two or more people, the allocated donations for those prize levels where there is a tie will be combined and split equally among the contestants.  For example, if there is a three-way tie for first-, second-, and third-place, the $1,000, $700 and $400 prizes would be combined and each contest would receive $700.  If two people tie for third and fourth place, the $400 and $200 prizes would be combined and each person would receive $300.

 

 

Spears Elementary PTA Presents the 4th Annual Silent Auction & Carnival "Under the Bigtop ... Bring on the Show!" on Saturday, November 4th, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.:

 

The Spears PTA warmly invites the Frisco community to join us again this year for our Silent Auction and Carnival, benefiting educational shows and programs at Spears. We'll have lots of Food, Carnival Games and Attractions, Prizes, Cake Walk, live on-stage Entertainment, and Silent Auction items perfect for holiday shopping. Come on over to Spears Elementary at 8500 Wade Blvd., just 1/2 block west of Preston Rd., for exciting family fun!! Tickets on sale at the event. See you "Under the Bigtop"!!

 

 

St. Philip’s Episcopal Announces Fall Festival; Visual Arts Guild Exhibit:

 

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Frisco announces its first annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 28th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on the church campus (6400 Stonebrook Parkway). This will be a fun-filled family event for all including a bounce house, train rides and dunking booth as well as carnival games, pumpkin decorating, hot dogs and more! The event will also feature a silent auction with proceeds benefiting St. Philip’s Episcopal Preschool. Tickets for the Fall Festival are $5 per person, not to exceed $20 per family. For more information, call 214-387-4700 or visit www.StPhilipsFrisco.org.

 

St. Philip’s is also hosting an Art Exhibit in partnership with the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco on Saturday, November 4th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the work of local artists, a gourmet coffee bar, food and music! This event is free of charge. There is still exhibit space available; if you would like information on how to participate in this event, contact David Chalker at chalkerphotography@comcast.net before October 21st.

 

St. Philip’s meets for worship each Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. at 6400 Stonebrook Parkway in Frisco. For more information, call 214-387-4700 or visit www.StPhilipsFrisco.org.

 

 

Dallas Baptist University-North Informational Sessions:

 

DBU-North: Frisco’s Premier University for Adult and Graduate Education Attend any of these upcoming Information Sessions on Tuesday, November 7, at 5:45 p.m. at DBU-North for adults interested in completing a degree. The information session will involve a discussion on DBU’s master’s degrees as well as detailed information on how an adult can gain up to 30 hours of college credit towards a bachelor’s degree based on knowledge gained from life and work experience. You can earn an entire bachelor’s degree in Communication, Psychology, Business Administration, and Management, as well as, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Management, Master of Education, and Master of Education in School Counseling at DBU-North in Frisco. The information session will be held at DBU-North’s new regional academic center located right here in Frisco at the corner of Warren and Internet in Hall Office Park (3211 Internet Blvd, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034). If you have any questions or would like to reserve a seat please contact DBU-North at (214) 333-5777 or dbunorth@dbu.edu. For more information about the new Frisco location go to: http://www.dbu.edu/dbunorth/infosessions.asp

 

 

Centennial Titan Band Brings Home Honors:

Congratulations...again... to the Centennial Band upon their fantastic performance at the 2006 Desoto Marching Classic. After a strong performance in the preliminaries, the band made finals with a 3rd place ranking. At the end of the evening the band won "Best in Class", won "Best Music" (AA), and won "Best Marching/GE" (AA) and 5th place overall.

This marks the first "top five" finish for the CHS Band at a major DFW contest. We wish the band the best of luck as they travel to the Birdville Marching Festival next Saturday

 

Frisco Women’s League 2nd Annual Blood Drive:

 

Frisco Women's League will be hosting their 2nd annual blood drive with Carter Blood on October 21st, 2006.  The time will be from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Frisco Commons Park.  There will be a bounce house, face painting and pumpkin decorating.  If you are interested in donating blood please sign up by contacting Amy Groves, 214-912-7707 or you can email Amy at grovesfamily1221@sbcglobal.net.

 

 

Frisco Jazz Band Fall Concert:

 

Sunday, October 29 at 3:30pm at Central Park in Frisco

 

The Frisco Jazz Band has planned a fall concert!  They will be performing many upbeat music selections at 3:30 pm on Sunday, October 29th at Central Park, located at 3155 Parkwood Drive, in Frisco, Texas.  Central Park is adjacent to Hampton Inn & Suites between Gaylord Parkway and Warren Parkway on Parkwood Drive.

 

The Frisco Community Jazz Band, directed by Mr. Gary Pearce, has been performing since May of 2004.  The band is made up of local Frisco residents and play charts ranging from Big Band to Dixieland Jazz to more modern themes.  The jazz band features amazingly talented soloists on trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar and drums, and many musicians in the band take advantage of the opportunity to play how they feel at the moment by improvising.

 

Karen Strauss, Vice President of Public Relations for the Frisco Community Band, says the Jazz band is looking forward to performing in the fall.  “The Jazz band is a more concentrated group of musicians that work closely together and produce a tight, hip sound- they’re just a pleasure to listen to. The music choices are so upbeat, and the audience always participates!”

 

The Frisco Community Jazz Band was formed in Summer 2004 as a part of the Frisco Community Band, which is a non-profit, all volunteer organization benefiting the City of Frisco and its neighboring communities. The Frisco Community Band provides local musicians with the opportunity to expand or continue their experience in the performing arts with the ultimate purpose of making live, symphonic and ensemble music accessible to all segments of the community.

 

The Frisco Community Band is funded by grants from the Frisco Association of the Arts and Target, also by donations and member dues. All area musicians with at least high school experience are welcome and there are no auditions for the Concert Band. Performances are free to the public.

 

For more information please visit http://www.friscocommunityband.org. 

 

 

2nd Annual Community Character Breakfast October 21st, 7:30-10:30am at Applebees in Frisco:

 

Dress up your kids, and bring the entire family out to Applebees for an All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet of eggs, pancakes, and all the trimmings.

 

This will be a wonderful photo opportunity to take your child’s picture with Superman, Batman, Batgirl, Spiderman, Snow White, Cinderella, and more…

 

Bounce House, Gattitown Train, and Frisco Fire truck will be outside for more entertainment.

 

Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children, under 2 eat free.  All proceeds benefit Faithbuilders Kids’ Day Out.

 

 

Tornado Talk…by Junior Reporter, Kaleigh Lafata:

 

Hello Frisco,

 

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting all summer for Tornado hockey to return. After winning the national championship the past three years, the excitement, and the pressure mounts with each new season.

 

As I arrived at the Deja Blue Arena at the Dr Pepper StarCenter last Friday night, a night where we had a very full moon, I was excited at the thought of seeing the Tornado unveil another championship banner.

 

The crowd, which was a little smaller than I would’ve expected for opening night, was going wild with excitement as the ceremonies wound down and the first puck was about to be dropped. A few new things were that #15 Sean Roadhouse was named Captain of the team and the Tornado have their 1st player from Frisco, #17 John Bullis

 

The first period was kinda boring with no scoring by either team. However, as the second period started, the game got much more exciting. Santa Fe struck first on a power play to make it 1-0. Then there was a good fight were our own Adam Flink beat up a player on the Sante Fe team. Sean Roadhouse tied up the game 1-1 with just over half the period left to be played; it was his 5th goal of the season.

 

As the period went on, Tornado goaltender Thomas Tragust made an amazing save on a breakaway opportunity. With about two minutes left in the period, veteran Ryan Fuller scored a power play goal to give the Tornado a 2-1 lead with assists from Rob Blanchette and Frisco’s own John Bullis.

 

In the third period, Fuller scored his second of the night, his 5th of the season, unassisted at the 12:29 mark to make it 3-1. With one minute left, Adam Flink added another goal, his first of the year, on a nice pass from Tommy Brooks and Dylan Cooper. A late, and pretty sad goal I might add by Santa Fe finished out the scoring as the Tornado won their home opening by a score of 4-2. The Tornado finished with 22 shots on goal to the Roadrunners 17.