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As we’re writing this,
Plano citizens are voting in an election to choose the candidates who will take up some of the positions on city council, Plano ISD board of trustees and the Collin College board of trustees. By the time y’all read this, we will have elected a new mayor. So as the last few days of his tenure as Plano mayor were winding down, we caught up with Harry LaRosiliere. He reflected on the highs and lows of the past eight years, and shared some honest feelings on where he thinks the city is heading. The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of our Asian American and Pacific Islander American neighbors. We felt there was no one better to discuss this month of recognition than Jan Xie, the founder of Asian Culture And Education Society USA, a North Texas-based nonprofit. She shared her thoughts on why it’s important to honor and celebrate our different cultures while embracing our collective identity as Americans. We also chatted with Feng Han-Hirt and Jackie Skye Muller, two women who discussed how their Asian American identity affects their current business endeavors. Feng stays connected with her heritage through the ritual of preparing and drinking tea, while Jackie and her husband have created a clothing brand that allows people of color entry into the historically exclusive country-club world. The return of Plano AsiaFest in May – albeit virtual – also gives Planoites a way to celebrate Asian American culture while also signaling a slow but steady return to old times, or as a friend recently called it, the B.C. times – “Before COVID.” We hope that over the next few months, as spring turns to summer, you will find ways to get out safely and stay connected with your neighbors and enjoy all the good stuff in Plano.
Luke & Jenn Founders Luke and Jennifer Shertzer
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Cover artwork: Elyse Harlow
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ISSUE NO.34
CONTENTS 14 URBAN SEAFOOD CO 18 MAYOR LaROSILIERE’S GOODBYE LETTER 22 LONG COVE 24 ASIAFEST 2021 26 GRAZING BOARDS 30 JAN XIE FOUNDER OF ACAES USA 32 YOU CAN STITCH IT 34 PLANO’S PAST: LARRY McDAVID 38 RECREATIONAL HABITS 42 SPROUTING TEA AND LEAF 44 ROBINSON FINE ARTS CENTER 47 PEOPLE OF PLANO: JOHN BROOKS PLANOMAGAZINE.COM | editor@planomagazine.com | sales@planomagazine.com | 972.489.8301 PUBLISHER Jehadu Abshiro | FOUNDERS Luke and Jennifer Shertzer | WRITER Hunter Lacey DESIGNERS Jynnette Neal | Jessica Turner SALES Michele Paulda | Frank McClendon | Brian Beavers
CONTRIBUTORS Emilee Prado • Esther Huynh Felicia Lopez • Joshua Baethge • Kathy Tran • Daniel Rockey Katie Kelton • Mary Jacobs • Stephen Hunt • Sally Wamre
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URBAN SEAFOOD COMPANY story Daniel Rockey | photos Kathy Tran
F
inishing up construction at 1104 14th Street, the team behind Urban Crust and Urban Rio is adding a new sibling to the Urban Family Restaurants. Focused on serving the freshest fish, lobsters and most anything edible that swims, Urban Seafood Company will take up residence across the entire first floor when it opens this spring. Urban Seafood Co. is owned and operated by Bonnie and Nathan Shea and their business partners Jeanne-Marie and Salvatore Gisellu. The foursome has certainly done its part in bringing quality dining to neighbors. The first culinary venture together was Urban Crust in 2009, which many locals believe sparked the area’s transformation from a sleepy downtown into a vibrant, diverse neighborhood. Formerly the location of a Rodenbaugh's
P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M Nathan Shea and Salvatore Gisellu with their custom, adjustable wood-fired grill.
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Outlet store, the new four-story building house s U r b a n S e a f o o d C o . o n t h e fi r s t fl o o r, U r b a n Core — a Lagree fitness studio run by the Shea’s three daughters on the second — and office space at the top. “It's been a while, but we’re just about there,” Shea says, hopeful for a May opening. “Our biggest challenge right now is the City b u i l d i n g t h e p a r k i n g l o t . We ’ r e k i n d a a t t h e mercy of them, but we’re close.” The new restaurant will have Gisellu, affect i o n a t e l y k n o w n a s C h e f To r e t o r e g u l a r s , a t the helm as executive chef, a position he commands in all three Urban Family Restaurants. In his role, he’s helped shape and refine both the menu and the interior space at Urban Seafood Co. One of his favorite aspects about the kitchen? The adjustable, wood-fired grill that allows complete control over the temperature and char level of dishes. “It’s amazing,” Gisellu says. “It’s almost like a Maserati; it’s one of a kind.” The custom-built piece of equipment is complimented by his other pride and joy in the kitchen — a fully climate-controlled prep room for fresh seafood. “ We w i l l b e a b l e t o g e t whole fresh fish to break d o w n h e r e ” h e s a y s . “ We w o n ’ t e v e r h a v e t o remove it from this room.” By keeping the fresh fish and seafood at a constant low temperature, as opposed to removing it and cutting it in the warm air of the kitchen, the team helps ensure quality throughout every step of the preparation process. The menu at Urban Seafood Co. will have a coastal focus, a fresh take on New England-style seafood. Items such as lobster rolls, house-made pasta and of course fresh-grilled seafood will take center stage. The restaurant will also have an assortment of fresh and grilled oysters served barside.
The restaurant’s concept was inspired by the Sheas’ love of traveling around New England, e n j o y i n g f o o d a t p l a c e s a l o n g t h e w a t e r. A n d Gisellu is the per fect partner for that concept. Growing up in Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy, he’s no stranger to preparing fresh seafood. Customers looking for to-go options can enter the restaurant from a smaller side door that leads directly to the seafood market. The market will have an assortment of freshly caught and freshly prepared seafood on ice, as well as unique dips, spreads and sides of Gisellu’s creation. The interior of Urban Seafood Co. is about as varied and flexible as the menu. The restaurant’s wide footprint holds room for a main dining area, a private r o o m , o y s t e r b a r, c o c k t a i l b a r, s m a l l s e a f o o d market and enormous outdoor dining patio. “The patio is our big focus,” Shea says. “All the windows open up, so you can get that nice breeze in the summer to cool off. And we’ve got an area over here just for a live band.” Inside the space a saltwater fish tank separates the private dining area from the main room. Although not yet complete, it already exudes a warm, comfortable atmosphere that has been suited to fit most occasions. While the exact opening date for the building hasn’t been set, they’re aiming for sometime in early May. With the inevitable economic rebound slated to bring customers back out in droves, the Sheas and Gisellus are confident that Urban Seafood Company will become another welcome member of restaurants dotting our town.
Urban Seafood Company will take up residence across the entire first floor when it opens this spring.
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A MAYOR BIDS FAREWELL TO PLANO story Joshua Baethge | photos Jennifer Shertzer 18
A
s the final days of his tenure ticked down recently, now-former city Mayor Harry LaRosiliere admitted to feeling a little bittersweet about leaving office after two terms. He says he’ll miss going into Plano’s municipal center and talking with the dedicated employees. He is thankful for having had a position that allowed him to touch lives and make decisions for community betterment. He will particularly miss working with young people through initiatives like his summer intern program. What he won’t miss are the politics. It’s something he says has gotten more hyperactive with each passi n g y e a r. S o m e t i m e s h e s a y s i t f e l t l i k e there was a group of people looking to fight him no matter what he did. “It seemed like they are trying to have this fight and I’m not even in the ring fighting with them,” he says. “They’re fighting alone, like they’re s h a d o w b o x i n g . ” LaRosiliere’s path to Plano has been fairly well documented. He was born in Haiti and immigrated to Harl e m w h e n h e w a s a l m o s t f o u r. H i m mom earned a living cleaning office s i n N e w Yo r k C i t y . H e w o u l d o f t e n think of her when he returned to his municipal center office late at night and saw the cleaning staff vacuumi n g f l o o r s o r t a k i n g o u t t h e t r a s h . “I remember talking to one custodian about what she did and how long she had been in the States. She said she was attending night school and learning English and had a daughter going to Plano ISD schools,” he says. “ T h a t w a s m y m o t h e r. T h a t ’ s w h a t s h e u s e d t o d o . ” His dad worked in a factory and drove a cab on weekends so that LaRosiliere and his sister could afford a good education. The future mayor would go on to study geology at City C o l l e g e o f N e w Yo r k . A y e a r i n t o t h e master’s degree program he left to s t a r t a p h o t o g r a p h y b u s i n e s s . For almost eight years, he specialized in baby portraits. A larger company eventually bought him out. As
he puts it, his company had become just enough of a thorn in his competitor’s side to make the deal possible. It didn’t make him rich, but the buyout allowed him to pay off college debt and get his life on more level footing. While contemplating his next move he read a book called “What is the C o l o r o f Yo u r P a r a c h u t e . ” I t t a l k s about careers and finding a passion for what you do. LaRosiliere realized that his passion was helping people. This led him to become a financ i a l a d v i s o r, t h e j o b h e s t i l l h o l d s t o day. “On a personal level, it opened up my eyes to my calling that I wanted to help the world,” he says. “I just had to define what my world was.” That definition became more clear following a 1991 incident in the C r o w n H e i g h t s s e c t i o n o f B r o o k l y n . A n Orthodox Jewish man driving in a funeral procession struck two Black c h i l d r e n w i t h h i s c a r. O n e d i e d a n d the other was severely injured. Controversy arose after an ambulance rescued the driver while the children were still injured at the scene. Accusations flew, leading to violence and riots. L a R o s i l i e r e f e l t t h a t t h e n - N e w Yo r k Mayor David Dinkins was passive during a moment when he could have been great. He vowed that he would o n e d a y b e c o m e a m a y o r. I t w a s a line that his then-girlfriend, Tracy, now his wife, didn’t put much stock in. Reflecting on the Crown Heights incident now, LaRosiliere said that being mayor has given him a more sympathetic view of Dinkins compared to 30 years ago. “Looking back, I understand there may have been things he wanted to say due to circumstances,” he says. “It’s interesting coming full circle. The reality as mayor is that it’s not that easy. There’s a little more nua n c e t o i t . ” When LaRosiliere came to Plano in 1994, he and Tracy had a threeyear plan. They were going to live in
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the area for a few years, then head back east. “That was kind of the game plan, but then we fell in love with the community,” he says. The couple had two daughters who grew up with a dad always involved in public service, first in the c i t y c o u n c i l , a n d t h e n a s m a y o r. H i s o l d e s t d a u g h t e r, B r i a n n a , h a s n o w graduated from University of San D i e g o , w h i l e t h e y o u n g e r, M a y a , i s a junior at Colgate University. The fact that their dad no longer holds office doesn’t really matter to them, and he thinks Tracy will like having him around more. A s m a y o r, L a R o s i l i e r e s a y s h e t r i e d to make each decision with integrity, good intent and plenty of in-
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formation. One of his first decisions was boosting Plano’s visibility. He got involved with initiatives like the U.S. Conference of Mayors to purposely shine a light on the city. “When I got elected, the first conversation I had with then-City Manager Bruce Glasscock was that we were no longer going to be the best minor league team,” he recalls. “We were going to put ourselves on a national platform and compete with any city in the count r y , o r t h e w o r l d f o r t h a t m a t t e r. ” He believes this strategy paid off with numerous companies moving to our city. Several national lists ranked Plano as one of the best places to live in the country during h i s t e n u r e . B y n e a r l y e v e r y e c o n o m -
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ic measure, the city has thrived over the past eight years. LaRosiliere downplays the impact of being Plano’s first African-Ameri c a n m a y o r. W h e n a s k e d a b o u t i t s significance during his first campaign, he would typically respond that his goal was being the mayor for all. Since the country had already elected a Black president, he says he didn’t think being a Black mayor was that big of a big deal. Once in office, his perspective began to change as he learned how much his achievement meant to many people. “I realized the importance of it. It wasn’t about me, it was about the position,” he says. “When I went out to schools and saw young girls a n d b o y s o f c o l o r, I realized that me being in this position actually meant something to them because they saw something that they were not used to seeing.” Another lesson LaRosiliere says he learned was to speak less and listen more. He’s always been enthusiastic about sharing ideas, but being a leader taught him the importance of listening to others first. “ Yo u c a n s t i l l g i v e y o u r i d e a , b u t your idea can be so much better after you’ve heard everyone else because you might be able to bring in a morsel of their thoughts,” he says. “It doesn’t mean that you have to change your vision, but it does mean that your vision can be more inclusive.” LaRosiliere says he has no plans for future political office. He considers being mayor of Plano his Mount Everest. The pandemic changed his per-
spective on work. Before, he could never see himself regularly working from home, but now sees it as more of a possibility. It’s also helped reveal that his biggest passion now is working with young people to help them open new doors. He plans to remain engaged in that arena, and may do some traveling as well. But no matter where he goes, he intends to remain here, in the city he now truly considers home. As for his legacy, he will leave that for others to decide. He contends that criticisms don’t affect him. What he was most concerned about as mayor was making sure that his decisions were made with the intention of making our city b e t t e r . When discussing his most important achievements, he cites the economic advances and higher profile the city achieved during his tenure. He is also extremely proud of the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship program, where nearly a third of participants have been first-generation college students. Despite having more opposition on the council the past two years, he says the experience made him a better mayor because he had t o b e m o r e o f a c o n s e n s u s b u i l d e r . LaRosiliere remains extremely optim i s t i c a b o u t w h a t l i e s a h e a d . H e s a y s leaders before him helped put him and the city in a position to thrive today. He does not doubt that today’s visionaries will ensure that Plano has a bright future for decades to come. “ B e f o r e I b e c a m e m a y o r, I t h o u g h t a mayor was the soul of a city,” he says. “What I’ve come to learn is that the mayor reflects the soul of the city, and that’s what I tried to do.”
“IT SEEMED LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE THIS FIGHT AND I’M NOT EVEN IN THE RING FIGHTING WITH THEM.”
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LONG COVE: THE ULTIMATE IN QUICK GETAWAYS
getting lost in nature away from the city. There’s plenty to explore and discover at Long Cove.”
story STEPHEN HUNT What if there were a place just a little over an hour’s drive from Plano where you could escape from life’s stressors every weekend? A place where there’s fishing, golf, tennis, boating, a marina, lakeside fire pits, beautiful sunsets, great food, hiking trails, plenty to occupy the kids and special events to boot. Long Cove, situated on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson and Kaufman Counties, is just such a spot. This community was started by Don McNamara, the developer behind popular Dallas neighborhoods Cityplace and the West Village in Uptown. Don is a longtime resident of Cedar Creek Lake and has a vested interest in making Long Cove the perfect family-friendly destination for residents making the short trip from DFW. His goal was to create a luxury lakeside community close to Dallas that has all the comforts of home without any of the maintenance. “Longcovians escape to the lake all year long,” Long Cove Marketing Director Ashleigh Carlton said. “Because we have 1,200 acres and so many ways to play, there’s a nice balance of community socializing and
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In Henderson Bay, prospective homebuyers will find wooded lakefront home sites with rolling lawns, beachfront fire pits, beach volleyball and hiking trails connecting all the neighborhoods. First-time visitors can take a shoreline tour, where a pontoon boat carries you to see the sites with a lakeside view, followed by a jaunt around the community on a golf cart. For those unsure about the commitment to buy, Long Cove offers a three-day, two-night package, the Stay and Play, for $1,495, the cost of which can be credited at closing. The concierge service offers its residents everything from house cleaning to maintenance so they don’t have to lift a finger while at the community. Golfers love the driving range, nine-hole course and two-acre putting green. Long Cove also has plenty to offer boaters with a full-service marina offering boat storage, fuel pumps, maintenance, valet service
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and the latest equipment for wakeboarding, water skiing or tubing. The Regatta Grill serves up delicious food poolside for all ages, and the Lake Club features an area for lounging and playing table tennis, a hot tub, water slides and shallow and deep swimming pools. Another big draw is the multitude of special events this community offers its residents. Spring Fling is an annual celebration including an Easter Egg Hunt, live music and hamburgers. Memorial Day offers a fishing competition and Cajun feast while the Fourth of July includes a neighborhood parade and fireworks shot off near Henderson Bay. Father’s Day is also a big occasion at Long Cove, and last year dads celebrated with wake-surfing lessons, Ferrari test drives and a dinner truly fit for a king. The Labor Day Luau bids farewell to summer with games and activities during the day, and a roasted pork feast served poolside in the evening with fire performers, a day punctuated nicely with the launching of sky lanterns to officially put summer in the rearview mirror. Other special events throughout the year include movie nights and Farm to Fork dinners. Among the newer amenities are pickleball courts, a second stone amphitheater and stage for events, plus four miles of hiking and biking trails. Construction is also underway on a Lakeside (Bayside) Infinity Pool which will include cabanas, a kid’s pool and an outdoor grill kitchen. Long Cove homeowner Robert Elliott said the community feeling is what makes it the perfect second home for his family. “There are other places you can have a lake home, sure, but the community is what really makes Long Cove worth a lot more. That’s one of the big reasons we built our own family lakehome here.”
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Contemporary Cottage Willow Model is one of three designs available on Long Cove’s 40-acre park and cove with waterfront custom homes, harbor front townhomes offering concierge service, lake access, luxury pools and golf oasis. Photos courtesy Long Cove
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Plano AsiaFest Returns On May 8 the City of Plano will issue a proclamation declaring it Asia Day here. This important date coincides with Plano AsiaFest, a family-friendly festival that celebrates Asian American heritage. AsiaFest has occurred in Haggard Park every May for the past 18 years – except for last year – and this time it will be presented online. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Saturday, and is free for the public to watch. “We’re excited and interested to gauge the success of it.
It could inform the way we promote the event in the future,” says Feroz Alpaiwalla, AsiaFest chairman. The event is organized by the Celebrating Asian American Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit all-volunteer organization. This year’s festival will include some familiar activities that locals have grown to love. There will be both livestreamed and prerecorded performances showcasing traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese dance, as well as martial arts, cooking, calligraphy, flower ar-
ranging demonstrations and a magic show. AsiaFest has garnered a large following that stretches to nearby towns, counties and even states. The virtual format this year will allow faraway attendees to participate. “This festival gives the viewers an idea of the art, culture and flavors from various Asian countries condensed in a short amount of time,” says Alpaiwalla. In addition to entertainment, there will be helpful information sessions available for the audi-
story Hunter Lacey | photos Jennifer Shertzer 24
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ence. This includes a question-and-answer session in which the Plano police department will educate viewers on how to protect themselves. Dr. Francis Lung will also be holding an information session about breast cancer. “There are a lot of barriers for Asian-American women. Information does not flow as well because of language issues, so Dr. Francis Lung will provide information about where people can go to get exams,” Alpaiwalla says. Visitors can also enjoy the AsiaFest Art Exhibition in the lobby of the Courtyard Theater throughout May. In lieu of event food vendors typically available, AsiaFest encourages attendees to support local Asian restaurants on festival day. planoasiafest.org
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Grazing Boards for International Picnic Day story Hunter Lacey
International Picnic Day is June 18, and we think the best way to celebrate is with a delicious grazing board. Picture yourself in one of our 85 award-winning Plano parks with some loved ones and enough cheese, bread, and meat for everyone to enjoy. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the end of the pandemic is in sight (hopefully) and you’re enjoying some fresh gouda. We’re here to help you make that happen. These are some of the best local places that will deliver your per fect grazing board to a Plano address.
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La Charcuterie Cherie
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LA CHARCUTERIE CHERIE Kathy Anet, originally from New Orleans but now a Plano resident, was inspired to start La Charcuterie Cherie during the pandemic. She creates custom boards with an array of meats, cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, crackers, spreads and more. Kathy can even create dessert boards, brunch boards or carved words on your board for a special occasion. La Charcuterie Cherie’s name is an homage to her French heritage and hometown. instagram.com/lacharcuteriecherie
HAVIN A BALL Havin a Ball is a Dallas-based catering company owned by Kim Whiting. Among many offerings, charcuterie boards happen to be one of her specialties. Havin a Ball’s boards offer at least four different types of cheese and four different types of meat. Havin a Ball will also create custom charcuterie boxes that each serve one or two people with seven cheese options, four meat options and a homemade candy treat – perfect for your picnic! Kim says her boards include more meat and cheese than similar companies, with less use of bread and crackers as filler. facebook.com/havinaballfunfood
CHARCUTERIE LOVE Charcuterie Love is a family-owned business located in McKinney. Owner Rania Fakhouri prides herself on the fact that every item served is high quality and fresh, with produce bought daily. Customers may choose from an array of charcuterie platters that feed just one person to enough for 20 people, including your choice of 10 cheeses, six meats and 14 condiments. There are also options for smaller boards with cheese, fruit and crackers only or even large grazing tables for a special event. charcuterielovetx.com
MEET AND CHEERS Howard and Lisa Patty own and operate Meet and Cheers out of Plano. They offer charcuterie boxes that are easily portable and delivered ready to serve. They source ingredients locally when possible; for instance, their honey is processed in McKinney. Meet and Cheers prides itself on offering an affordable option. They are able to create value for their customers by gathering orders for a specific delivery day, then sourcing fresh ingredients in bulk to lower costs and reduce waste. They also offer custom charcuterie boards for events and weddings in a variety of sizes. meetandcheers.com
THE MODERN BOARD Judy Yang is a Plano local with her own grazing board company, The Modern Board. She offers boards in a range of sizes with options including artisan cheeses, charcuterie meats, olives, cornichons, seasonal fresh fruits, dried fruit, nuts, spreads, chocolates and assorted crackers. What makes The Modern Board unique is that Judy will also create custom boards that spell out a word or number for special occasions, or in shapes, like an engagement ring – perfect if your picnic is to pop the big question. She also offers board-building workshops that teach the tricks of her trade. sociatap.com/modernboardtx
Jan Xie
Fosters Cultural Connections Through Asian Culture and Education Society USA
story KATIE KELTON photos ESTHER HUYNH
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ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IS A TIME TO HONOR, RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Americans celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander neighbors who enrich our nation’s history and our future. The commemoration was officially created by former President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and later expanded to the entire month by former President George H.W. Bush. May 7 was cited as the day the first known Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States in 1843, and May 10 as the completion of the transcontinental railroad, largely constructed by Chinese immigrants, in 1869. Jan Xie, a Chinese American living here in North Texas, says that the monthlong celebration makes her especially proud of her heritage. “Asian Americans want to build a better life for our next generation and all Americans,” she says. “This month gives us the opportunity to honor, recognize and celebrate.” Xie views the month of May as an opportunity for Americans to learn from each other, as well as learn to respect the differences between our cultures through family life, food, films, books, music and more. Xie is from Tsingtao, China, and moved to the United States when her husband’s job relocated to Dallas. Her sense of patriotism is strong as she expresses gratitude for the past kindnesses she received from Texas neighbors. However, she sensed a need for deeper understanding of her heritage, catalyzing the launch of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she now leads as president, Asian Culture and Education Society (ACAES) USA. ACAES USA began as a platform to showcase the contributions of Asian Americans. Xie references the 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese immigrants who labored over the railroad stretching from California to Nebraska in the 1860s. United States residents have always bene-
Jan Xie oversees a deliver as ACAES USA donates PPE to Parkland hospital.
fited from the presence and culture of their Chinese American neighbors. Xie encourages all to “respect the culture’s diversity, the history and the contributions of Asian Americans” through the organization’s programs. Community celebrations of Asian holidays, international volunteerism and pandemic relief work are among them. The nonprofit helps schools celebrate the Lunar New Year. It cultivates leadership skills for young Chinese American students by sending them to Hubei, China, each year to teach English and share tidbits of their American culture. Budding young artists also recently participated in a “Creativity against COVID-19” art contest, while athletes could register for sports clubs. ACAES USA has offered pandemic relief services to frontline workers, police stations, nursing homes and post offices, as well as vaccine education and registration events. The team donated PPE and meals, held lectures on health education and helped residents with language barriers register for the vaccine. In addition to bearing the titles of nonprofit director, volunteer, wife and mother, Xie is a community activist. She is president of the DFW chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans. She also partners with United Chinese Americans, Asian American Unity Coalition and Gendercide Awareness Project to propel equal citizenship for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders along with education for Asian American girls. In Xie’s words, “We must stand united, not divided.”
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Jan Xie emcees as children perform during a Lunar New Year celebration. (pre-COVID) P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M
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MADE IN PLANO:
YOU CAN STITCH IT story Hunter Lacey|photos Jennifer Shertzer 32
MADE IN
Eleven years ago, Elyse Harlow was pregnant with her daughter, Pearl, and decided she wanted to embroider something for her. “I had learned to cross stitch when I was young. My mom taught me, and my grandma did it, too. I always felt enabled to craft,” Harlow said. After her daughter was born and the embroidery project was done, friends and family began asking if Elyse could make something for them, too. She began taking commissions then, but it wasn’t until 2019 that her endeavors became a full-fledged business, You Can Stitch It, featuring an Etsy shop and website. Originally from Houston, Elyse moved to Plano in 1996 as a teenager with her family. She swam in high school, and her team would work out at Plano’s Jack Carter Pool. When she went house-hunting with her husband, Chris, many years later, they found a plaque mentioning Jack Carter Pool in one of the houses. It turned out to be the previous home of the widow of Jack Carter, our city’s first Parks board chair, and they decided to move in. The couple lives there with their kids, Hannah, Cash and Pearl. “I feel like Plano is my hometown even though I wasn’t born here. We’ve been in Downtown Plano for almost a decade. I like where we’re at; it has a small town feel, but Target’s five minutes away,” said Harlow. Shortly after she began sharing her embroidered creations, Harlow realized that teaching others how to embroider wouldn’t be difficult. “It is so relaxing for me, and I knew teaching it to other people would be a benefit to them. It’s
a lot like sitting down with a box of crayons and coloring. It’s very relaxing to have a creative outlet. I knew it wasn’t difficult to do, just something people weren’t exposed to,” she said. Her primary mode of teaching others her craft is through the sale of her custom embroidery kits. She also shares videos to Instagram and YouTube to offer a more visual how-to of her process. She has found that once learners understand the basics, the rest is easily self-taught. When creating, Harlow is inspired by color palettes. Once she plans out the design, her favorite part of the process is picking out thread colors. As for her personal style, she describes it as “completely random.” In perusing her shop, it seems that her randomness leaves plenty of room for variety and creativity; each piece is uniquely beautiful. Lone Chimney Mercantile, a funky boutique in Richardson that features local artists, sells Harlow’s art. Her DIY kits are for sale at Stitches Boutique and Lounge on 15th Street, as well as in her Etsy shop and website. “There’s a little bit of nostalgia wrapped in it. I have old pieces from my grandma that aren’t anything to look at, apart from it being something that she made with her hands 40 or 50 years ago that I’m going to have with me forever. Not everything I make is going to be that, but having that potential is meaningful.”
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Larry McDavid
The Plano Star-Courier (Plano, Texas) · 9 Oct 1969
A Beloved Citizen from Plano’s Past
News clipping from The Plano Star-Courier, October 9, 1969.
story MARY JACOBS
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Downloade
Even though his time on Earth was short, and even though he died almost 50 years ago, Larry McDavid’s name still inspires praise from many long-time residents of Plano. A talented musician and a popular standout student, McDavid was among the first African American students to attend Plano High School when it was integrated in 1964. He graduated with honors in 1967, was named “Outstanding Young Religious Worker of the Year” by the Plano Jaycees in 1970 and was appointed by the Plano City Council in 1972 to serve on the Human Relations Commission. “God sent him just for a short period of time, but he touched a lot of lives,” said Henrietta Levier, McDavid’s sister, who still resides in the Douglass community where he grew up. “He was a leader who loved people and loved Plano,” said McDavid’s nephew, Victor Denson. McDavid passed away in a one-car accident in 1972, cutting short what would’ve certainly been a bright future. He was just one month shy of completing his undergraduate degree in music education at East Texas State University at Commerce, had just gotten engaged to be married and had been hired as a teacher in the Plano schools. Many remember McDavid’s extraordinary singing voice. Larry was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in the Douglass Community, but also sang with the Contemporary Christian Singers, a touring youth choir based at First Baptist Church of Plano, then a “solid white” congregation, according to Tom Fineout. Tom’s father, Jim Fineout, was the music minister in the 1960s. Through family connections, the Fineout family and McDavid became friends; Jim Fineout invited him to sing with the choir. McDavid became the first and only Black member of the group. As part of the group, he toured
around the country, per formed at the State Fair of Texas and on the nationally televised “Ted Mack Amateur Hour.” Many still vividly recall McDavid’s signature solo in the hymn “Amen.” Relatives say McDavid’s loving family gave him a strong sense of self-worth and high expectations. McDavid’s father, James McDavid, owned a lawn service in Dallas; his mother, Geneva, was active in the church and attended many church conferences, often with McDavid tagging along. The family shared dinner every night and went to church together every Sunday. “We grew up in a Christian home,” said McDavid’s sister, Kay Gibson, who lives in Florida. “We were neighbors to everyone in the Douglass Community. We were taught to love the Lord and respect everyone.” In the 1960s, prejudice was still common, but Larry somehow managed to transcend it. “There was not a lot of racial blending of students,” recalled Cynthia “Joette” Hudson Reed, a Plano High School class of 1967 graduate. “The Black kids were friends with the Black kids, and the white kids were friends with the white kids, to put it politely. Except for McDavid. He was a friend to everyone. I truly thought he saw no racial dividing lines. He was confident and composed for a scrawny little 15-year-old, and excelled at everything he did.” Cynthia added that Larry was the only Black student appearing in several group photos in her yearbook, including the Future Business Leaders, Future Teachers, the National Honor Society, the Wildcat Tales yearbook staff and the High School Choir. “It wasn’t that racial overtones didn’t exist,” she said. “It was that he didn’t choose to pay attention to them. He also had a great sense of humor and was fun to be around with-
“[McDavid] was a friend to everyone. I truly thought he saw no racial dividing lines.”
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Larry McDavid’s senior portrait in the 1967 Plano High School yearbook.
out betraying his own sense of worth.” While many in Plano embraced him, McDavid did encounter hatred. While traveling in Tennesee with the Contemporary Christian Singers, a few of the young men in the choir stopped for a meal at a restaurant. With no provocation, a local man lobbed a sugar dispenser at McDavid, injuring him in the head. Members of the choir quickly surrounded the assailant. “They told me they thought my dad was going to kill [the assailant],” said Tom Fineout. “But Larry was just very calm. His head was bleeding profusely, so he reached across the counter and asked for a cloth for his head.” Henrietta Levier, McDavid’s sister, believes Larry’s faith helped him stay positive and courageous. “When you are a saved person, and live for God, you don’t see color,” she said. “He was a people lover, and people loved him.” “Larry had such an air of class,” said Tom Fineout. “He would always expect more out of you. If you were going to be a believer, you were expected to act accordingly. Your walk needed to match your talk. And he was one of the funniest people ever.”
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McDavid was 23 when he passed away, just a month shy of graduation from college. His body lay in state at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, but the funeral was held at First Baptist, the only gathering place in Plano large enough for the standing-room-only crowd for the funeral. A processional of cars traveling from Plano to Restland Cemetery in Dallas, where Larry was buried, stretched over one mile and a half. McDavid’s legacy continued in the months after his death and beyond. Jim Fineout at First Baptist organized a musical program, titled “LOVE,” as a tribute to McDavid and to raise funds for music scholarships. In 2009 Mayor Pat Evans declared Feb. 23 as “Larry Kenneth McDavid Day,” with a proclamation citing his many accomplishments as “a fine young man … who made a lasting difference in his short life and in the City of Plano.” Victor Denson hopes the story of his Uncle Larry will inspire other young people, just as McDavid’s example inspired him and continues to inspire him. “He always encouraged me to do good, no matter what,” he said. “I hope people will remember him as a Christian guy who loved Plano and who was a servant to all.”
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Recreational Habits Fashion Designer’s Plano Childhood Inspires Clothing Line story Hunter Lacey | photos courtesy Recreational Habits
Jackie Skye Muller grew up in Plano, attending school at Brinkley Elementary and Prestonwood Christian Academy. While living here, she worked as a model for Kim Dawson Agency which sparked her interest in fashion. After graduating high school, s h e h e a d e d t o N e w Yo r k U n i v e r sity and shortly thereafter began i n t e r n i n g a t B a r n e y s N e w Yo r k . Before her internship at Barneys, Jackie was lucky enough to intern for the renowned fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz. “It’s a very serendipitous story, but my neighbor at the freshmen dorm had an older brother who was Annie’s archivist at the time. I showed my portfolio and he was able to help me get an internship there,” Muller remembered. Her time with Annie prepared her for the internship at Barneys, and after she graduated from NYU, she stayed at Barneys for many years. “I was at Barneys for a long time until I left to be the women’s director at Kith. At Kith I oversaw both the in-house brand as well as the multi-brand retail side of
our business,” Muller said. “It helped me keep one foot in the market where I was still able to curate the best, buzziest brands that were in the world.” Now, after a full career in the fashion world, Muller has partnered with her husband, Marlon M u l l e r, t o c r e a t e a n e w b r a n d called Recreational Habits (RH). Their mission: celebrating the preppy, country-club lifestyle through an inclusive lens. Jackie is Asian American and Marlon is African American; they are excited to have created a brand that welcomes all people into an elite world that has been historically exclusive. “Because Marlon and I are b o t h p e o p l e o f c o l o r, w e f e l t i t was important to recreate the visual narrative of the preppy American spirit because it had been exclusive for so long.” Muller’s past work as associate fashion director at Barneys New Yo r k a n d M a r l o n ’ s p a s t w o r k a s an investor in the fashion world make them the perfect team to develop and advance a fashion brand. Their clothing emphasizes comfort while not leaving behind
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the importance of aesthetics. When creating the designs, Muller found inspiration in her youth in Plano. R e c r e a t i o n a l Habits’ clothing is an extension of its mission. Each season, they design a capsule based on a club sport. The spring collection launched at the end of April, and is inspired by sailing culture. The products are sold exclusively on the RH website. Muller and her husband live in Middleburg, Virginia, but their Plano roots still keep them tied to Texas. Jackie has cousins who live in Plano so does her husband whose cousin is Dallas Cowboys’ Hall of Famer Drew Pearson. “I grew up taking golf and tennis lessons at Gleneagles Country Club, and riding lessons at Sky Ranch,” Muller said. “The inspiration for RH comes from these cherished memories. The feeling of playing sports mixed with a touch of glamour is the essence we want to capture.”
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Jackie Skye Muller and Marlon Muller
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Feng and her husband photos by Sayde Meador
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Sprouting Tea and Leaf STAYING CONNECTED TO CHINESE HERITAGE THROUGH TEA story HUNTER LACEY Feng Han-Hirt, who goes by Fay, lives in Frisco but was born in the province of Guangxi, China. Growing up, she was surrounded by tea culture. Tea is not only communal throughout China, but it is also central to a way of life that focuses on both physical and mental wellness. When Han-Hirt moved to the United States in 2016 to be with her husband, she knew a love of tea would keep her connected to home. “In China, tea culture is related to the philosophy of how to live life. The process teaches how to be a good person, live a good life. There is a meditation to it, the brewing process. It forces you to calm down and relax. Either you’re preparing for guests to come or for a tea event. That preparation applies to life in general, too. We have to prepare for the future well,” Han-Hirt says. Tea is widely known for its health benefits, but the process of preparing and enjoying the drink with family, friends or on one’s own is a time to recenter. She has used tea as a way to stay centered when she missed home. After just a couple years in the States, she knew she wanted to share that with others. “Every time I went back to China, my friends and family gave me a lot of tea as gifts. I ended up bringing a whole suitcase of tea back here. All my friends and coworkers loved it, so they came to drink my tea every day,” Han-Hirt says. “I was like, ‘Why not start a tea business here?’ I always feel good when I share my culture.” In 2019, she quit her corporate job and started Sprouting Tea and Leaf, an Etsy shop where she sells high-quality Chinese teas, tea balls, tea wares, teacups and teapots. She has hopes to soon have a physical tea room where customers can spend time with one another. Han-Hirt uses Gongfu Cha methods, which essentially mean “to brew tea with skill.” It assumes that the brewer is focused only on the teamaking process, dedicating one’s mind to it so that the tea is as high quality as possible. “I love to share my passion for tea with others, and a life focused on Cha Dao, or The Way of Tea,” she says.
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Tea photos Feng Han-Hirt
George “Robbie” S. Robinson Jr. and wife Lynore Photo courtesy Plano Chamber of Commerce
Fine Arts Center renderings courtesy Plano ISD
ROBINSON FINE ARTS CENTER A Lasting Tribute to Longtime Arts Advocates story Joshua Baethge
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Last summer, the Plano ISD board of trustees voted to name the district’s fine arts facility after Dr. George “Robbie” S. Robinson Jr. and his wife, Lynore. To those involved in the local arts community, the news came as no surprise. The couple spent many years advocating for the arts. "The Robinsons have been a major force in support of the arts in the Plano community, and a venue such as this one has been a dream they shared with the district,” Plano ISD Fine Arts Director Kathy Kuddes said. “It is fitting that this building, dedicated to all of the arts disciplines, will carry their name.” The Robinson Fine Arts Center at 1800 Alma Drive is set
to open later this year. The 82,000-square-foot-facility was designed to showcase music, dance, theater and visualarts acrosstwo floors. The Robinson family moved to Plano in 1981 after Robinson completed 20 years of service as a naval officer in the Civil Engineer Corps. He came to work for Ross Perot’s Electronic Data Systems Corporation and was tasked with planning and developing the Legacy mixeduse project. It would become the catalyst for much of Plano’s rapid growth over the ensuing decades. In addition to his engineering duties, Robinson was involved in negotiations to bring companies like Frito-Lay and JCPenney
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to Legacy. He would eventually manage the Electronic Data Systems Corporation board of directors as well before retiring in 1999. The Robinsons were very involved in the community, donating financially to cancer research after their daughter, Anthea, died of the disease when she was only 14. Robinson was the founding chairman of the Plano Economic Development board and former vice-chairman of the Plano Chamber of Commerce. In April 1999, Plano proclaimed Robbie Robinson Day. The following year, he was named the chamber’s Citizen of the Year. The arts always held a special place in the Robinsons' hearts
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They were longtime supporters of the Plano Symphony Orchestra and served as board members and ambassadors. For years, they were passionate about building a local fine arts facility.Robinson pushed hard for a proposed Collin County arts center that never came to fruition. When those plans fell through, Plano ISD officials met with the Robinsons and others in the arts community to see how the district could fill the void. “I used to joke that every time I would call on Robbie, I always felt like his assistant because when I left, it seemed like I always had a list of things that I needed to do,” said Jamee Jolly, senior executive director at Plano ISDEducation Foundation. “He just always had all these
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ideas and needed someone to help execute.” The Robinsons' contribution
“[The Fine Arts Center] really speaks to what [Robinson] wanted and what he envisioned for our community.” to the Plano ISD Fine Arts Center goes beyond their name. Robbie earmarked $500,000 to start an endowment for the facility. Those funds will go toward
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operating costs, ensuring that students will have a first-class place dedicated to the arts for years to come. Robinson died in October 2020, nearly two years after Lynore.Jolly said that when the center opens, a plaque of the couple will be on display.“[Robbie] worked tirelessly on making sure that there was a proper facility,”she said. “As I walk through the building with his name on it, as it’s under construction, and I see how it’s going to be utilized by our students and our community, it really speaks to what he wanted and what he envisioned for our community.”
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MEET OUR LOCAL HISTORY ENTHUSIAST JOHN BROOKS story HUNTER LACEY | photos JENNIFER SHERTZER John Brooks has lived here since 1963. Though he was born in Austin, he considers Plano his hometown. He is a retired architect, and after a successful career of creating buildings, he has found himself continually enraptured by the world of architecture. That natural love led to his discovery of a new interest: local history. Now thousands of current and former residents enjoy the community he’s created on his Facebook group centered around photos and stories of Plano history and nostalgia.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY? My wife Kathleen and I decided to build a house near Downtown Plano in 2006. It’s in the Haggard Park Heritage Resource district so there are some special restrictions. I started doing research to find out more about who might have lived on my property and what the architecture looked like. I started going to the library. WHAT WERE SOME GEMS YOU FOUND AT THE PLANO LIBRARY? They had all the old photographs in threering binders. I thought all those photographs were interesting. “Plano History: The Early Years” is an especially good book. It was written in the early 80s, and it’s well done and well referenced. WHAT LED YOU TO START THE PLANO HISTORY (AND NOSTALGIA) FACEBOOK GROUP? One of my neighbors asked me if I’d ever heard of the doctor that attended President Kennedy when [Kennedy] came to Parkland. Well, he lived in Plano. I started Googling it, and found out that people were talking about old Plano history on Facebook. I realized I could search for pictures and ask for pictures and talk with people there. I started my Facebook group at the end of 2014. I just started with a few members and I never really promoted it. It just started growing. It’s getting close to 10,000 now. HOW WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE PLANO HERITAGE COMMISSION? The [Plano Heritage] Commission is a board that is appointed by the City Council. The Commission approves certain properties and districts for preservation assistance by the City of Plano. The Commission also approves grants for preservation activities and projects. I served two terms as a commissioner from 2014 to 2018. ANY BUILDINGS IN PLANO THAT ARE PERSONAL FAVORITES? The George House, which was moved out of Plano in the ‘70s actually. I attended the old Cox school building when I first came to Plano. That building is interesting to me. The Olney Davis House at the corner of 18th and H – that’s an especially nice house. tinyurl.com/xymnr53f
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