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At Dana Palmer Law Group PLLC, they believe that divorce doesn’t have to be so hard. “What we try to do is get people through a divorce in the healthiest way possible so that everyone can move on to the next chapter in their lives, in the best way possible,” says Dana, creator of the Soft Divorce® brand. “We don’t define success by the other party’s failure. Instead, our goal is for our client, their children, and even their soon-to-be-ex-spouse, to be as healthy as possible after the divorce.”

A better way to divorce

Dana C. Palmer

It’s a concept that Dana created after focusing his law firm in McKinney on family law in 2011. “I opened the firm in 2006, practicing a wide variety of cases. I soon realized that family law cases provided me with the biggest opportunity to help people and that’s when I decided to narrow my focus,” Dana says. Quickly, he says,

he saw that when divorce is approached as a battle, with each spouse trying to extract as much money as possible from the other, then no one ‘wins.’ “I’m the type of person who is always looking for a better way to do something—and when I find that better way, I feel compelled to share it with others,” Dana explains. “That’s why I’m now sharing the Soft Divorce® program worldwide.” Soft Divorce® is a concept and framework of the best practices in family law and divorce procedures that aim to keep divorces civil, family-oriented, healthy and as painfree and stress-free as possible. “I believe in Soft Divorce® because it’s better than a ‘hard divorce.’” Dana says. “At the end of the day, former spouses will always be parents together and they need to have the best possible relationship with one another, as well as with their kids. A Soft Divorce® allows for that.”

Happier, healthier results Of course, the firm’s approach doesn’t mean that they’ll simply “lie down” and take whatever the other party’s attorney is offering. “There are times that we have to, and we do, ‘play hard-ball,’” Dana says. “We go into court knowing that we’ve taken the high road, but we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the healthy result we’re after.” When prospective clients first hear about the firm’s Soft Divorce brand, Dana says, they’re often relieved to discover that there’s a healthier way to go through the divorce process. “You always see on TV and hear about divorces where people end up hating each other and losing so much,” he says. “We show people a different and better way.” For more information, please call or visit our website.

Allen Image INSIDE THIS ISSUE

April 2014

cover story

lacrosse: a sport sticking around allen

Vol. 24, Issue 4

Eric Hanna, Jake Braselton, Drew Barry and coach Zack Colburn

The non-profit Allen Eagles Lacrosse Club brought Zack Colburn on board at the end of 2011. Last year, the Texas High School Lacrosse League named Zack “Coach of the Year”—the same year he was inducted into the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

feature

what’s the “buzz” about? Mark and Rose Tuck honor their daughter’s memory and help others at the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off in Dallas on May 4.

special sections

28 KIDS KORNER

Birthday Parties at Home

46 PET PAGE

Jameson

47 CALENDAR 66 business seen

Laura Mac Salon

Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club

Stadium Dog Grooming

58 26

28 6

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE civic forum

library

travel

Taking a sloooow drive down Exchange Parkway

Excellence is at the core

New location, same dedication

24 Allen Jazz Festival

Mozart Requiem

education

Trail of Tears

23 Charreada: Mexican Rodeo in Texas

18 Change the World

19 Allen Railroad Days exhibit

outdoor spaces

20 Alec Guiness Comedies

34 Outdoor kitchens are

CCMGA Scholarship

Take-Back Initiative

Edible destinations

The Axe Builder

smokin’ hot

40 Getting ready for summer 41 Paint, paint and more paint

24 publisher/editor Barbara Peavy

office administrator Carrie McCormick

advertising sales

42 contributing writers Nicole Bywater Heather Darrow Deborah Dove Darrell Hale Tom Keener

Sue Hardesty

Kathy Litinas

Kris Jones

Dawn Bluemel Oldfield Peggy Helmick-Richardson

cover photo Larry Fleming

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Simon Valentin Kathleen Vaught

Allen Image © 2014 by Moonlight Graphics. All rights reserved. Allen Image is published by Moonlight Graphics and individually mailed free of charge to the residents of the Allen area. Subscriptions are available to residents outside the delivery area at a rate of $2.50 per issue—$30 per year.

Subscription and editorial correspondence should be sent to: Allen Image, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807 or visit our website at www.allenimage.com.

civic forum

Taking a slooooow drive down Exchange Parkway by Simon VALENTIN It can test your patience. From Allen Heights to Alma it’s an aggravating amalgam of speeds, 30 MPH to 40 to 30 to 35. Argh! But you know what’s even more aggravating? Being a construction worker busting up concrete less than a foot away from thousands of impatient drivers trying to beat the lights and each other to get to their ultimate destinations. Motorists need to be more cautious and get used to these slowdowns all around Allen because they’re here for months to come. Exchange Parkway is being widened to three lanes east and west between Alma and Allen Heights. It’s only one of several traffic flow improvement projects underway in the city this year. Most are part of the City of Allen’s master thoroughfare plan—a plan that’s been in place since the 1990’s. As you participate in the daily dodge ‘em, with some cars following the speed limit, others whipping in and out between vehicles (that would be you, gigantic white SUV that doesn’t use turn signals), think about this: Nearly 30,000 cars use Exchange Parkway daily and as we get closer to our population topping out at 100,000 fine folks, that number increases as well. “We not only have to consider our current residents, but the people who are moving through our community,” says Chris Flanigan, Director of Engineering for the City of Allen.

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The Exchange Parkway construction cost comes in at 5.5 million dollars, with only a million coming out of the city treasury. “In the last year-and-a-half, funds were made available through regional toll revenue from the Sam Rayburn Tollway,” says Flanigan. “We applied for and received a 3.6-million-dollar grant, the county provided a million dollars and the city was able to widen Exchange.” As the city puts that money to good use, it would be wise to pay heed to the fluctuating speeds caused by construction. If you don’t do it to keep workers safe so they can get home in one piece, perhaps this will motivate you. “The construction firm has contacted us and asked Allen Police to keep a close eye on traffic in that area,” says Sgt. Jon Felty with the Allen Police Department. “They are concerned about worker safety.” Melanie Taylor of Tiseo Paving, the firm doing the project, says it’s about everyone’s safety. “Be careful and slow down, not only for the safety of the workers but your own as well,” she says. “Conditions like lane closures and barrel placements can change on a daily basis.” If drivers still decide to speed and they’re ticketed in the construction zone, here is how deeply it digs into their pockets. And don’t forget, fines are double in construction areas. Up to fifteen-miles-per-hour over the speed limit is a

$410 fine. Twenty-miles-per-hour over is a $460 fine. Anything above that will cost you $604. (That would be you, gigantic white SUV that doesn’t use turn signals.) Then there’s the effect it’ll have on insurance rates and, in some cases, there could be time spent in court or even behind bars. The fun never ends—having a lead foot could cost you more than a family vacation. Motorists who are stopped for speeding may not want to claim ignorance regarding the change. A flyer informing residents about the speed decrease was sent out with December’s water bill. Message boards were put up in medians announcing the change, and a week’s grace period was given when the new numbers first went up. Caution should be used all around Allen, because for the next year or so road construction and delays won’t be limited to Exchange Parkway. Come December, on east Stacy Road, between Greenville and Country Club, tons of dirt will be moved as water lines are relocated in preparation for the addition of two more lanes. On a much larger scale, in March, the Texas Department of Transportation

starts a 60-million-dollar lane expansion on U.S. 75 from Spring Creek in Plano to State Highway 121 in McKinney. That stretch includes the McDermott Road overpass and has more than 200,000 cars a day utilizing it. Enhancements will also be made along frontage roads and you can expect delays there too. So, now is a great time to look into those yoga classes you’ve been thinking about; learn how to tap your

inner calm. Or maybe you can listen to Barry Manilow as you creep down Exchange. Who wants to speed when they’re listening to “Mandy?” If that doesn’t work, tweak your schedule and leave earlier. The construction workers stuck in the middle of the parade of heavy v metal will be grateful. Simon Valentin is a freelance writer from

Allen whose daughter reminds him daily to, “Keep it slow, please.”

Allen Image | April 2014

Excellence is at the core by Kathleen VAUGHT

P.R.I.D.E. AWARDS People First: Niccole Frazier—Victims Advocate, Police Dept. Respect: Marshall Kies—Officer, Police Dept.

The City of Allen has an organizational mission to achieve excellence in managing development of the community and in providing city services so that conditions of living and public confidence are continually enhanced. To reinforce service excellence, exemplary employees are selected each year to receive P.R.I.D.E. in Excellence Awards. The P.R.I.D.E. Program represents the core service values for the employees at the City of Allen: People First, Respect, Integrity, Deliver and Excel. City employees are expected to demonstrate the P.R.I.D.E. values in working with both citizens and co-workers. Seven employees received individual recognition at a recent ceremony. In addition, City Manager Peter Vargas presented a special departmental award to the Library Department at the Allen Public Library for their outstanding efforts and exceptional work throughout the year. Last year, over 327,000 people visited the Allen Public Library. Staff presented over 800 programs that over 45,000 people attended. Consistently, the Allen Public Library staff continues to impress the community with quality programs while meeting demands related to the ongoing enhancement of the facility.

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Integrity: Jeff Holt—Golf Services Manager, Parks & Recreation Dept.

Deliver: Donna Dickinson—Construction Manager, Engineering Dept. Excel: CJ Alexander—Captain, Fire Dept.

Heart of Gold: Anne Lewis—Water Conservation Customer Service Representative, Community Services Dept.

Unsung Hero: Kay Drescher—Administrative Assistant, Community Services Dept. City Manager Special Award: The staff of the Allen Public Library

Above, l to r: Niccole Fraizer, Marshall Kies, Jeff Holt, Donna Dickinson, CJ Alexander Right, l to r: Kay Drescher, Anne Lewis

Texas Pure Products…

your local organic gardening solution If you want healthy plants, you’ve got to start with healthy soil, says Sherrian Jones, marketing manager for the City of Plano’s locally produced Texas Pure Products. “Our soil in North Texas really isn’t as bad as some people think, but you do need to amend it in order to get the best results from your landscaping and gardens,” says Sherrian, who is also a Collin County Master Gardener. “When you add equal parts of compost to your soil, you create an environment that’s going to retain moisture, be properly aerated and be a place where you can grow anything you want to.” Helping homeowners achieve great gardening results is one of the most rewarding parts of her job, Sherrian adds. “We really are a great resource that not enough people know about because these are really high-quality, but still affordable, products. When you’re growing your own fruits and vegetables, they taste so much better than anything store-bought, plus it’s way more economical than buying organic produce.” The Texas Pure product line is produced by the City of Plano and includes compost, topdressing, pro-bedding mix and (natural and colorized) mulch. These items can be purchased in bagged quantities or in bulk, and can be picked up or delivered, making it easy for homeowners with gardening projects of any size. The City of Plano has been operating a composting program since 1992, which helps divert recyclable materials away from the landfill and creates a beneficial product for the region. In 2004, they became a regional

contractor, accepting material from Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Richardson residents. The yard trimmings, which are collected from residents, are then combined with other organic material leftover from grocery stores and farmer’s markets to create Texas Pure Products. “Everything we sell meets stringent organic qualifications and is certified to be weed- and pathogen-free,” Sherrian says. “It took us about a year and a half to get that OMRI designation because the standards are so high, but we felt that it was important to do so that our residents had the reassurance that this is a highquality product.” Products are available for residential and commercial use; residents of the five-city region receive a discount on bulk product pricing. Texas Pure Products can be purchased directly at the City of Plano’s facility at 9901 Custer Road, at Ridgeview Drive, just south of SH 121 in Plano, at the regional composting facility in Melissa or at a variety of other retail locations, which are listed online.

w w w.t exasp u re produc ts . c om • 972.769.4150

New location, same dedication by Kathleen VAUGHT

On Saturday, May 3, the City Allen

Community

Services

Department, Keep Allen Beautiful (KAB) and Community Waste Disposal

(CWD) are hosting Allen’s annual Great American Cleanup™ (GAC)

where residents are encouraged to

clean out all their unwanted junk to be

trashed, or to donate household items for reuse or recycling.

This year’s event runs from 8 a.m.

to 1 p.m. and has shifted locations in Allen. The collection site for donation, electronics and metal recycling and

paper shredding opportunities will be in the Allen City Hall parking lot, 305 Century Parkway.

To drop off trash, brush, white

metal appliances and cardboard, head to just north of Allen Premium Outlets

off of Stacy Road to the intersection of

Chelsea

Boulevard

Commerce Parkway.

and Allen

Remember, for either location,

you must bring your current City of Allen water utility bill and driver’s license in order to take advantage of this great cleanup, reuse and recycling opportunity. Volunteers will be on

hand to assist with vehicle unloading. This event is for residential customers

only. No box trucks or commercial

Drop off donations, electronics and metal recycling at Allen City Hall parking lot, 305 Century Parkway. Paper shredding is also available at this location.

May 3 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 14

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quantities of recycling, electronics or shredding will be accepted.

Opportunities for donation and

recycling at City Hall include:

• Allen Animal Shelter—all types of pet accessories and pet care products

• Allen Community Outreach—

indoor and outdoor household furnishings, household goods,

clothing (please remember to wash and bag them), children’s toys and accessories

Items that will not be accepted at either location include appliances containing Freon, tires, televisions, household chemicals, paint or flammables (gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil).

If you have items not being

accepted on this day or if you are unable to bring items to the event due

to a disability, please call 214.509.4551 to request other options for disposal or

for pickup assistance. For a complete list of items being collected or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www. keepallenbeautiful.com.

Kathleen Vaught is the senior marketing specialist for the City of Allen.

• Allen High Noon Lions Club—

eyeglasses, eyeglass accessories and cell phones

• Cyclone Aluminum and Steel—TVs are not accepted. Computers,

computer peripherals and small

office machines, printers and ink

cartridges, lawn mowers and grills (with the gasoline removed), as

well as small kitchen appliances (items accepted on a first-come,

first-served basis until the Cyclone trucks are full)

• Friends of the Allen Public

Library—books, CD’s, DVD’s,

magazines and books on tape.

• Re-Cycles of McKinney—bicycles, tricycles or accessories.

• Secure On-Site Shredding—shred

personal documents with binders and clips removed.

• The Shoe Bank—adult athletic

shoes and all children’s shoes (no

flip flops) Trash, brush and cardboard collection at Chelsea Blvd. and Allen Commerce Pkwy: • CWD—yard trimmings and brush

and household appliances without Freon (appliances that previously contained Freon will not be

accepted without a certificate of removal by a licensed agency).

They will also accept clean, empty

cardboard boxes. Large, bulk trash items will also be accepted at this location.

Allen Image | April 2014

Mozart Requiem by Kathy LITINAS

Mozart. “The Marriage of Figaro Overture” gives the listener a delectable foretaste of the mood of its opera—fleet, witty, often acerbic in its humor. Typically Mozart’s overtures would introduce themes appearing later in the work or its ending would fade into the opening measures of the opera. “The Marriage of Figaro Overture” does none of this; it is selfcontained allowing it to be performed as standard orchestral repertoire. Gold Medalist Jennifer Cho, a junior from Allen High School, will perform the first movement of Camille Saint-Saens’ “Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor”—her winning concerto. Written and dedicated to fellow composer-virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate, who performed as the soloist at its premiere in 1880, its melodic invention and impressionistic subtlety present int erp retive oppor tunities for the soloist, making it a major work by Saint-Saens that is heard today. John Rutter ’s musical career has Roger & Ella Jo Adams Concerto Competition Gold Medalist been replete with a Jennifer Cho with her family, parents Michelle and Edward variety of musical Cho, younger brother Edward. compositions, from

Join the Allen Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at First United Methodist Church of Allen as we present a special concert performance that features the Allen Symphony Chorus and the Gold Medalist of this season’s Roger & Ella Jo Adams Concerto Competition. This concert performance, a contrast of light and dark, features the work of Mozart, Saint-Saens and Rutter, legends in the orchestral and choral repertoire. The opera The Marriage of Figaro is the first of Mozart’s three collaborations with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. Figaro, first presented on the stage of Vienna’s Burg Theater in May of 1786, was conducted from the keyboard by

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the most challenging works for choir and orchestra, to relatively simple works suitable for church choirs. “O Clap Your Hands,” in its first publication, was an anthem for choir and organ. The fully orchestrated version to be performed at this concert broadens the music’s jubilant text. “Te Deum,” one of the most ancient and inspiring of Christian liturgical texts, is a hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered as “Thee, O God, we praise.” The music is jubilant, straightforward and appealing. “Mozart’s Requiem,” one of the giants of the choral/orchestral repertoire, is one of the most mysterious pieces of music ever written. Mozart’s impending death, and his firm belief that the “Requiem” was killing him, greatly affected the mood of this piece, allowing him to compose his most frightening and compelling masterpiece. For tickets and information, visit our website, www.allenphilharmonic. org. Special pricing for students in the performing and visual arts programs in all school districts as well as group discounts are available by contacting the office by e-mail: office@ allenphilharmonic.org or by phone: v 972.359.0656. Kathy Litinas is the president of the APSO Board of Directors.

Paying attention to the Oral Systemic Connection Studies show that three out of every four Americans have signs of mild periodontal disease or gingivitis; and almost 30 percent have signs of the more severe disease, chronic periodontitis. While this statistic is alarming in itself, Dr. Carla Spann Lopez the larger concern lies in the relationship between oral disease and other medical conditions in the body, which is known as the Oral Systemic Connection. “We now know that the health of your teeth and gums may have a significant effect on your overall health and wellness, making it especially important to see a dentist every six months,” says Dr. Carla Spann Lopez of Bethany Heights Dental Care in Allen. “These visits are important even if a patient doesn’t have any pain or think there are any problems, because issues below the gum line often go unnoticed.”

3 Pathways to Oral Bacteria Problems According to the research, there are three ways oral disease can affect overall health. • First, bacteria from your gums enter the saliva, where it can then adhere to the air you breathe and be aspirated into the lungs. This can be very troublesome for elderly people or those who suffer from generalized weakened immune systems. • Secondly, bacteria associated with periodontal disease can enter the body’s circulatory systems through the

gums and travel to all parts of the body. As the oral bacteria travels, it may cause secondary infections or can contribute to the disease process in other tissues and organ systems. • Finally, inflammation associated with periodontal disease may stimulate a second systemic inflammatory response within the body and contribute to, or complicate, other disease entities that may have an inflammatory origin such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, orthopedic implant failure and kidney disease. Whatever the route oral bacteria takes, it’s in every person’s best interest to maintain his or her mouth in an optimum state of health.

Compassionate, Conservative Care At Bethany Heights Dental Care, Dr. Spann Lopez and her staff play an active role in the oral systemic connection. They will screen at-risk patients for the common signs of periodontal disease, which include bleeding and/or swollen gums, shifting teeth, chronic bad breath and family history of periodontal disease. Dr. Spann Lopez practices a compassionate and conservative approach to dentistry. She believes that patient education is important for success in both resolving and preventing oral health issues. “Patients need to remember that there is a definite link between oral health and general health,” she explains. “And it’s one reason why it so is important for people to have a thorough dental exam that includes gum evaluation and oral cancer screening annually.”

On May 16-18, there will be a three-day weekend of serving others in the Allen, Fairview and Lucas community. Right now, event leaders from 39 local businesses, service organizations and churches are working together to map out schedules and build teams to staff 72 unique service projects that will all take place within a 54-hour time frame. Change The World Allen was conceived in 2012 by the missions team at First United Methodist Church of Allen. Committee leaders teamed up with Rethink Church and joined a national program called Change the World Weekend. In May 2012, FUMC Allen sent out 650 local volunteers to deliver meals, collect food and clothing for Allen Community Outreach (ACO), assemble care packages for military troops overseas, gather books for local elementary children and package 28,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger (KAH) in support of the House of

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Hope in Honduras. The Allen volunteers sorted, stacked and cleaned at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, Samaritan Inn, ACO food pantry,

ACO resale shop and the ACO Treasure Chest to log a total of 2,500 service hours. The 2013 event expanded exponentially with the sponsorship and help of six service organizations, five local businesses and four churches. The number of volunteers, service hours and projects grew as well. Volunteers helped 18 local homeowners with home repairs and lawn projects. Children hosted 13 lemonade stands to raise $800 for charity. Volunteers delivered food for eight Meals on Wheels routes. Daisy Girl Scouts Troop #5578 alone collected more than 40 pairs of shoes. Anyone can be part of Change The World Weekend 2014. The goal is to recruit 2,000 volunteers to complete 72 projects, ranging from home improvement and yard work/area beautification to collecting and packaging donations in support of local service agencies. The goal this year is to log a minimum of 6,000 service hours. To volunteer or learn more about Change The World Weekend Allen 2014, visit our website at www.changetheworldallen.org or call project leader David Wuensch, 214.470.5599. v

Allen Railroad Days Exhibit

by Tom KEENER The Allen Heritage Guild presents a free modular train exhibit in April at the Allen Train Depot, 100 E. Main. Over 100 models of freight, passenger and work trains drawn by diesel engines, representing various southwestern railroads, including Southern Pacific, Rock Island and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe will be featured. To enhance the experience, the trains meander through scenic vistas, bridges, mesas and towns. Even the Allen train depot, a typical Houston and Texas Central station is represented in miniature, as it appeared in 1942 before it was destroyed.

Exhibit hours are: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays, April 5 and 12; 1-3 p.m., Sundays, April 6 and 13 A traveling exhibit of the Dallas Fort Worth O Scale Model Railroad Club, this 34-foot-long modular display is part of their permanent exhibit located at South Side on Lamar in Dallas. This year the DFW Club will be joined by modular layouts in N Scale by Roy Durrell and Jack Rettig of the Allen Senior Center. O scale trains are built to a ratio of 1: 48; for example, a 40-foot boxcar is 12 inches

long as a scale model. HO Scale is approximately half the size of O scale and N is about 30% smaller than HO. Local Allen resident Stan Schwartz is an active Dallas-Fort Worth O Scale Club member and is organizing the Allen exhibit. Stan has been collecting model trains for over 60 years. In 1952, he bought his first Model Railroader magazine and continues teaching, collecting and having fun with this pastime. Model train experts will be available during the exhibit for a free model train road show. Free appraisals and identification will be given. In addition, Stan will present a talk on Allen’s railroad history. Visit your closet and attic and bring your trains for a free appraisal or to sell! Also shown will be the Lionel Modular Group’s 8 x 16 setup. Some of their trains are over 50 years old and still operational. Founded over a century ago by Joshua Lionel Cowen, Lionel was a leader in O scale model trains. For the youngsters, there will be wooden railways that they can operate. For information, call Stan Schwartz at 972.359.8242. v Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

Allen Image | April 2014

Snippets

Alec Guinness Comedies All films begin on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and are free. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Drive. Call 214.509.4911 for more information. April 1—Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), starring Dennis Price, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood and Alec Guinness. A distant poor relative of the Duke of D’Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession. April 8—The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), starring Alec Guinness, Audrey Hepburn and Stanley Holloway. A meek bank clerk who oversees the shipment of bullion joins with an eccentric neighbor to steal gold bars and smuggle them out of the country as miniature Eiffel Towers. This film garnered an Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. April 15—The Man in the White Suit (1951), starring Joan Greenwood, Alec Guinness and Michael Gough. An altruistic chemist invents a fabric that resists wear and stain as boon to humanity but both capital and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons. April 22—The Captain’s Paradise (1953), starring Yvonne De Carlo, Alec Guinness and Sebastian Cabot. The bigamist captain of a ferry boat between the restricted British colony in Gibraltar and Spanish Morocco has a woman of differing appeal and temperament in each port.

April 29—The Ladykillers (1955), starring Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness and Cecil Parker. Five diverse oddball criminal types planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians. v

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CCMGA Scholarship The Collin County Master Gardeners Association, an integral part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System will be awarding one $1,000 scholarship, on or before by May 20, for the 2014 academic year to students interested in the study of horticulture related fields. The scholarship is available to high school seniors graduating in 2014 who are verifiable residents of Collin County and who intend to select any one of the following as their college major: botany, entomology, environmental science, forestry or horticulture. Applications, accompanied with a 400-word essay describing the applicant’s college goals and two teacher references, must be received by Dr. Greg Church, Collin County Extension Agent for Horticulture, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Collin County, 825 McDonald Street, Suite 150, McKinney, TX 75069, no later than 4 p.m., April 25. Applications are available online at http://www.ccmgatx.org/ community-service/youth-educational-program/ccmgaacademic-scholorship.aspx. v

Take-Back Initiative Allen Police Department, in partnership with Texas Health Presbyterian and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, will be at the Lowery Freshman Center, 601 E. Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, as part of the national Take-Back Initiative to collect and safely dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and vitamins. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The nationwide initiative seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft as well as protecting the environment. Medications should never be flushed down drains. v

Trail of Tears library

The Trail of Tears devastated the Cherokee people and cast a shameful shadow on American history. In the winter of 1838, the Cherokee began the U.S. government-forced thousandmile march with scant clothing and far too inadequate supplies. Cherokees were forced to take an arduous journey

to an unfamiliar destination—the Indian Territory or what today is known as Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Dr. Julia Coates will discuss the Trail of Tears at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Allen Public Library. Author of the Trail of Tears, Dr.

by Tom KEENER

Coates recently published the first book that takes a Cherokee perspective of the forced removal of an Indian tribe from its homeland in the Southeastern United States to the Indian Territory. Dr. Coates will give a reading of “Seven Stories: An Intuitive Cherokee Understanding of the Trail of Tears.” The program will explore seven vignettes from Cherokee social and cultural history that reflects the meaning of the Trail of Tears. “The Trail of Tears was an event that has shaped the Cherokees’ sense of themselves ever since,” notes Dr. Coates. The removal resulted in a loss of an estimated 4000 Cherokees, either by death or desertion. Dr. Coates notes, “Everywhere I go to meet with Cherokees today, people share with me that their great, great-grandparent was on the Trail of Tears. It’s the way we define ourselves to each other and to the larger world— we are the descendants of the survivors. We relate to the event in a very intuitive way, and this book reflects that in its style.” A citizen of the Cherokee Nation and an elected representative to its Tribal Council, Dr. Julia Coates has a PhD in American Studies and works in Research and Special Projects for the American Indian Studies Center at UCLA, and is an interviewer with UCLA’s Center for Oral History Research. This free program is sponsored by Bach to Books. Books will be available for purchase and autographs. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Drive. For more information, please call v 214.509.4911. Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

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Charreada: Mexican Rodeo in Texas by Tom KEENER El charro (man on horseback) plays an important role in the history of the United States, Central and South America. The Mexican version of the American cowboy, only much older, el charro arose from the ranch culture first brought to Mexico by the Spanish. Famed San Antonio photographer Al Rendon took this ideal subject for the camera and created a collection of splendid photographs for his book Charreada: Mexican Rodeo in Texas. His photos juxtapose the grit of the arena with the poise and polish of the charros, charras and their horses. View images and learn more about Mexican rodeo at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17 at the Allen Public Library. In 1981, Al Rendon began photographing Charreada. Capturing the images of elegant pageantry, the thrilling action and the colorful crowds. Texas historian and curator Bruce Shackleford wrote, “Dodging moving horses, ropes and the excited crowds for over 20 years, Al Rendon has artfully captured the action and excitement of the Charreada for the rest of the world to see.” The result is well-documented in Charreada: Mexican Rodeo in Texas, published by University of North Texas Press in 2002. His photos have been exhibited throughout the country. Al Rendon is a professional photographer and the owner of Rendon Photography & Fine Art, a photo

graphic fine arts gallery located in historic San Antonio. Al captures the people and culture that surround him in this graceful, expressive city. Whether it’s an historic landmark or a famous conjunto band, a charro in the midst of a paso del muerte or a muralist in front of his latest creation,

when the light is right and the comp osition is fully balanced, Al Rendon captures the essence of the moment. Sponsored by Bach to Books, this program is free. v Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

Allen Image | April 2014

Allen Jazz Festival Cool jazz that sizzles the soul can be heard when String Theory Manouche and Carolyn Lee Jones perform at the Allen Public Library on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. Melding elements of traditional French Roma (Gypsy) tunes, the acoustic ensemble String Theory Manouche plays music in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. A member of the internationallyacclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band, guitarist Kim Platko has performed at the Dallas Museum of Art, Van Cliburn Rehearsal Hall and McDavid Studio at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. On violin, Mark Menikos has composed film and dance scores, including source music for the Chuck Norris film Lone Wolf McQuade. He has played in numerous country music groups, including legends Ray Price and Johnny Gimble, as well as bluegrass fiddle grand-master Marc O’Connor. Whether fronting a roots/ rockabilly/twang/soul band, or subbing as a guitarist for a wide variety of singer-songwriters around Dallas

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and Fort Worth, guitarist James Miller feels a deep connection to the culture and music of the gypsies who were a crucial component to the environment that gave birth to Gypsy swing. Bassist Marla Sporrer is a much sought-after multi-instrumentalist who performs on several stringed instru ments including banjo, guitar and upright bass. She has extensive experience in all the jazz styles, but especially in Dixieland and blues. Carolyn Lee Jones’s eclectic jazz repertoire reflects influences ranging from Diana Krall to Anita O’Day and Shirley Horn. Her current CD Bon Appetit! garnered excellent reviews and has been featured for multiple rotations on jazz radio stations. Noted reviewer for Jazz Times Magazine, Christopher Loudon writes: “Jones attacks each song with the vigor of a wildcatter yet maintains a dusky undercurrent that drips with sensuality.” Dallas appear ances include Dallas Museum of Art Jazz in the Atrium Series, Denton Jazz and Arts Festival Main Stage and New York Cabaret-Jazz.

By Tom KEENER

Carolyn will be joined on stage by other talented North Texas musicians. Pianist Brad Williams holds a masters degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious music program at the University of North Texas in Denton. A veteran of the Dallas jazz scenes, bassist Jonathan Fisher teaches at the University of North Texas as well as his own private teaching studio. Drummer Andrew Griffith has been a fixture on the DFW jazz scene for over 20 years and he has played with many visiting national artists such as the late David “Fathead” Newman and The Duke Ellington Orchestra. A member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra since 1989, Shelley Carrol hails from family of gospel singers and musicians and has studied with the legendary Texas Tenor greats Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson. Sponsored by Bach to Books, this program is free. Tickets will be issued at 6:30 p.m. v Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

feature

What’s the

“Buzz”about? by Nicole BYWATER

Mark and Rose Tuck honor their daughter’s memory and help others at the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off in Dallas on May 4 Even though it’s been 24 years since her daughter passed away from a rare form of soft tissue cancer, Rose Tuck still remembers the names of the nurses they saw at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She remembers the little red shopping cart she used every month to carry a quilt and other special decorations that made her daughter Jennie’s hospital room feel less like a doctor’s office and more like a regular teenager’s bedroom. She remembers Friday nights spent taking her daughter to cheer and play in the band at the middle school football game, followed up with blood work at the hospital and then pizza with her youth group at St. Jude. “Even as we were going through treatment, she never lost her identity,” Rose says. “That was important to her, important to us and I think important to the kids she was around. Nothing stopped her.” The importance of being able to keep some normality even as you’re fighting cancer is what Rose remembers. And it’s why she and her husband Mark are supporters of One Mission, a childhood cancer foundation dedicated to enhancing the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families. “I can relate to this because I know what it’s like to be stuck in a hospital room with a very sick child, yet somehow the world continues on,” Rose says. “One of the things One Mission does—and it’s just a small part of what

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they do, but it makes a world of difference—is that they create a personalized package of items and décor to make a patient’s room more special. It’s not curing cancer. But it’s a big thing.”

One Mission focuses on patients Mark and Rose have lived in Allen since 1986. Mark’s job requires him to commute to Boston, which is where he first heard about One Mission in 2012, through a co-worker and friend who is the neighbor of the group’s founders, Ashley and Ari Haseotes. One Mission was born out of the Haseotes’ personal journey with cancer, when at seven months old, their son Nicholas was diagnosed with AML, a rare form of leukemia. They spent six months living at Boston Children’s Hospital—their lives turned upside down. Thanks to advancements in research and the compassionate care and expert treatment their son received, today Nicholas is cancer-free. “As soon as I heard Ashley’s story and about One Mission and the amazing work they were doing at Boston Children’s Hospital, I immediately thought about our experience at Children’s in Dallas,” Mark says. “They’re not just about fundraising, but instead, they create endowments so that these programs are long-lasting and sustainable.” That first year, Mark made a donation to his friend’s

team, but it was too late to participate himself. In 2013, Mark became what’s known as a “Buzzee,” and had his head shaved—something he hadn’t done since his Navy boot camp days some 40 years ago. Mark brought Rose and their son, David, to the event known as The Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off, held at Gillette Stadium, near Boston. After getting buzzed, (along with 865 other men, women and children) Mark got some signatures from current and past New England Patriots players. “Surprisingly, [New England tight L to R: Mark, David, Reece and Steven Tuck end] Rob Gronkowski shaves his head for this event every year,” Mark says. “He Team Tuck will be represented this year with four then goes to Boston Children’s Hospital to show the kids. “buzzes”: Mark, his sons David, 22, and Steven, 36, and That’s just greatness. And we spent the remainder of the grandson Reece, 5. Having attended last year’s event with day touring the Boston area in our special t-shirts noting his parents, David says he was blown away by its magnitude our status and the reason we ‘buzzed.’ The effort really and knew immediately that he wanted to participate this raises awareness for those kids and also tells them that so year. “I remember thinking that it was ironic that every many people love them and are thinking enough of them to “buzzee” was cloaked in a (salon) cape as they were shave in solidarity.” converted into real life superheroes,” David says. “I couldn’t Since it began in 2010, the Kids Cancer Buzz-Off has help thinking how paradoxical the scene was—everyone raised nearly $2 million, with 1465 people getting their looked like Dr. Evil, but so much good was being exercised.” heads shaved in honor and support of kids with cancer— David remembers feeling exceptionally proud of his kids who don’t have the choice to lose their hair. In dad for what he was doing, and how happily he donned addition to raising funds for One Mission, seeing a freshly that cue-ball look once the hairstylist removed his apron. shaved head is a great conversation starter and allows “As we toured the city that afternoon, my dad exhibited a participants to bring greater awareness to the cause. tremendous amount of joy revealing the background of his “When you’ve got a shiny bald head, people always new haircut,” adds David, who will be getting buzzed in ask, ‘Why’d you do that?” Mark says. “And for us, it’s in honor of Jennie, as well as Cameron Lindsay, a friend who memory of our daughter, but also in the larger scheme it’s recently passed away from the same rare form of cancer. showing solidarity to the thousands of kids sitting in In addition to the Dallas event, The Buzz-Off will also hospital rooms wondering if anyone cares.” take place again in Boston on June 8. Between the two events, Mark was so impressed by his experience in Boston organizers hope to raise an additional $1.6 million; which that he invited the organizers to bring the Buzz-Off to will go a long way in providing help, hope, care and support Dallas and Children’s Medical Center. They agreed that the to over 2,000 pediatric cancer patients and their families. city would be a good fit and the first Buzz-Off to be held For Mark and Rose Tuck, being part of this event outside of Boston will be Sunday, May 4 at AT&T Stadium couldn’t be more meaningful. “This year is the 20th (home of the Dallas Cowboys). reunion for the class that would have graduated with Jennie and they’ve done so much in remembering her,” Rose says. “When she was fighting cancer, that just became So far, the support for the event in Dallas has been part of our norm. She continued to live life to the fullest tremendous. Mark says, “We’ve had Studio J and Rod’s and I think that’s one reason she has impacted so many Barbershop both volunteer their services for the day and people’s lives, even to this day.” v we’re really excited about the momentum the event is gaining.” Nicole Bywater is a freelance writer from Allen.

Team Tuck

A l l e n I m a g e | Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 4

kids korner

Birthday Parties at Home By Deborah DOVE While it’s often easier to host your child’s birthday at an outside venue, there’s nothing like the fun of planning and hosting a unique themed birthday party at home (not to mention the money you will save and the memories made). Following are tips and inspiration to help you host the best birthday party ever, plus ideas for an at-home Lego party. Tricks and Tips

• Punch circles from colored paper that matches the rest of the party decor with a 1-inch circle punch for simple, festive confetti to sprinkle along the center of the table or package up for guests to throw (if you don’t mind a mess). • Use apothecary jars or square, wide-mouth jars in different sizes to hold everything from crayons for an art party to assorted candies in your party colors. • There are lots of websites that allow you to create and send cute customized invitations via e-mail or social media or even print them at home. A few of my favorites are Evite, Smilebox, tinyprints, Celebrations and Punchbowl. • Use a chalkboard to personalize the party. List party activities, welcome guests or simply wish your child a happy birthday in chalk. • Tape balloons in the shape of your child’s age to the garage or front door. • Serve fruit kabobs or small sandwich squares of PB&J alternately threaded on a skewer with a hunk of banana for fun and easy food.

Websites for Inspiration

www.birthdaypartyideas.com—If you need inspiration, this website has ideas for every theme you can possibly think of and then some. Those flagged as “Runner Up,” “Special Mention,” “Honorable Mention” or “Winner” typically have the most details. www.onecharmingparty.com—Although this party website sells complete party plans for at-home parties that include invitations and other printables along with party activities and cake ideas with detailed instructions for $25, there are also a wealth of free ideas to use or be inspired by, such as a Circus Party, Pink First Birthday, Mad Scientist, Outer Space, Dog Party and more. www.gigglesgalore.com—This blog has lots of great ideas for unique parties such as Hansel and Gretel, Rainbow Art and Cowboys, with gorgeous photos that are sure to inspire. There are also links to order your own printables, cookies, favors and more. www.catchmyparty.com—Browse party themes with photos submitted by readers for ideas and inspiration and get free party printables for a variety of themes and occasions. Pinterest—You can find literally anything, from cakes to decorations to party activity ideas here.

Host Your Own Lego Party

Made even more popular by the Lego movie, this party theme works for boys and girls of all ages. Provide plenty of Legos for free play/ build while guests arrive. Then, choose from the following activities.

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Timed Lego Build—Give the kids a prompt (build a piece of furniture, an animal, something you would find outside, things that go, etc.) and a set amount of time. Ready, set, build! Award prizes for each creation. Alternately, give everyone three minutes to build the tallest tower they can. Guess How Many Legos—Fill a jar with Lego pieces and provide paper for guests to make their guesses. Pin the Head on the Lego Mini-figure—Draw a Lego figure (minus the head) on a piece of large poster board. Print and cut out Lego head shapes. Write each child’s name on one of the head pieces and affix a glue dot to the back. Play like “pin the tail on the donkey.” Lego Scavenger Hunt—Hide Lego pieces around the house or yard and let the guests search for them. For younger kids, count the number of pieces they bring back. For older kids, award different point values for different colors and have them compete for the highest score. Who’s Got the Lego—Have one child be “it” and leave the room. The rest of the kids decide who is going to hide a Lego in their hand. Call the “it” child back into the room and have them guess who has the Lego. Once they figure it out, the child who had the Lego is now “it.” Lego Car Races—Have each child build a car (pre-attach wheels to flat Lego pieces for younger children). Create a ramp using a sheet of melamine, foam board, cardboard or plywood marked with lane dividers and a finish line (use markers or colored tape) and have races. Lego Pictionary—Print out cards with pictures of simple objects. Each guest picks a card and tries to build what’s on the card, while the other guests try to guess what it is. Food—Rectangular Club Crackers topped with two cheese circles (use an apple corer for perfect circles), pizza cut into rectangular pieces with pepperoni circles to resemble Lego bricks, Jell-O Legos (make Jell-O using clean Lego bricks as molds), Lego brownies/cake (frost brownies or cake cut into small rectangles with frosting tinted with food coloring, then top with six mini M&Ms the same color to create a Lego brick). Create your own cake topper out of Legos, or top the birthday child’s cupcake with a mini figure holding a goblet with a candle in it. Favors—Create party bags using primary-colored bags with foam circles in the same color attached to the bags so they look like Lego bricks. Fill with a mini-figure, a mini-figure mask, (download free printable mini-figure masks at http://minifigures.lego.com/en-us/ Downloads/cat212364.aspx), and block candies or Jolly Ranchers.

education

The Axe Builder Former Collin student crafts guitars for famous musicians by Heather DARROW

It was a day Rob Bridges will never forget. Just outside the Cotton Bowl Stadium, renowned musician Bo Diddley invited Bridges inside his trailer. He sat on the couch beside the rock and roll pioneer. Just when he thought it could not get any better, Eric Clapton—the only musician to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times—sat down next to him. Mere inches away from fame, fortune and immeasurable talent, Bridges was in awe. “For the first time ever I had to tell myself to breathe,” Bridges said. It was the antithesis of his life in 2009. Bridges held his breath as the construction industry took a dive, leaving him without a job. However, instead of dwelling on the lack of work, this former band manager decided to merge his two loves. The door of construction slammed shut, but the window of opportunity was wide open, and Bridges did not miss a beat. He began constructing guitars, and today his creations travel from one end of the country to another, slung over the backs of musicians playing with Miranda Lambert, Poison and Heaven Below.

Quest for perfection

The perfect moment with Diddley and Clapton drives Bridges to continually pursue the dream of creating flawless guitars. According to Bridges, there are some aspects of guitar making that can be perfect if you use technology and machines. To accomplish his goal, Bridges decided to take Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) classes at Collin College. “I want a perfect product. The better it is, the more fun it is for me. When I started classes at Collin College, the customers were coming one after the other. I was making four guitars at a time,” Bridges said. The classes at Collin provided the

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information and assistance Bridges needed and kept him riveted to his seat. “I didn’t want to miss a second. I was computer illiterate and AutoCADD has so many commands. Professor Warner Richeson is laid back. Whatever problem you had he would help you with it. He is an artist and knows all of the programs so well. By the end of the intermediate class, I was able to create a perfect drawing. That was amazing!” Bridges exclaimed. A retired TI engineer, Professor Richeson has been teaching at Collin College for 15 years. A CADD expert, he designed hundreds of homes and close to 40 churches in north Texas. He says it is not uncommon for professional engineers and architects to enroll in Collin College CADD classes. “I tell my students, ‘You cannot make a mistake I have not already made. If you make a mistake it is good because you learn more.’ I love to use practical assignments. Students know that if they go to certain addresses they can see the buildings we are working on in class,” Richeson said. After mastering CADD, Bridges designed guitars and sent electronic files to a company in Washington that used a Computer Numerical Control machine to cut out the guitar body. Sending the specs out to have a guitar made saves Bridges six hours, but the real advantage is the precision. “It was dead on perfect. It is easy to get .065 thickness using CADD. You can add as many zeros as you want and it is still perfect. There’s no way it can be that perfect by hand,” Bridges said. Not every guitar lends itself to the mechanized process. Destroyers have a special angle in the neck that cannot be cut on a machine, so Bridges still constructs many guitars by hand.

with Miranda Lambert on George Strait’s final tour. “Rob’s guitars are so striking. He made Miranda a purple, Flying V guitar. The first thing you notice is how pretty the wood is and how vibrant the colors are. Rob makes beautiful, precise guitars. You can get exactly what you are looking for from the wood to the size of the neck or the types of pick-ups. I have some guitars that fight you. Rob’s guitars make it easy to do what I do.”

Bridges made three guitars for Bubeck, an orange bass, a blue bass with a unique, extended sustained sound and a special guitar Bubeck dubbed “Sardine,” which is made from a plank of the stage of the former Sardines Ristorante Italiano in Ft. Worth which featured jazz seven nights a week. “The blue bass has an aggressive sound, and it cuts through other electric guitars. It is the most aggressive sounding bass I own. It works well in

Grinding the axe

Aden Bubeck, bass player for award-winning country artist Miranda Lambert, has performed on television, in music videos and in Carnegie Hall. He commented on Bridge’s guitars from San Diego where he was opening Allen Image | April 2014

big rooms. It is hard to get guitars to be heard in arenas. Our sound guy and monitor engineer commented on how clear the blue guitar was and how well it sat in the mix. I played the blue guitar all night in Houston at The Woodlands. Being a Texas boy, it was special because Dusty Hill from ZZ Top was there,” Bubeck said. Bubeck says he played Sardine during several Miranda shows at the end of the 2013 tour, but he especially likes this guitar for recording. “Sardine is more mellow and better for the blues. Rob makes very special instruments that have character. So many companies make guitars that don’t have personalities. Rob’s guitars have personalities, and you can tell with all the time he takes that he cares about his guitars,” Bubeck added. Perfect may be a pipe dream for other people, but Bridges learned that a perfect body is possible with CADD design. Today, he continually tweaks his guitars in an effort to exceed the

Rob Bridges shows a photo of a perfect moment with Bo Diddley and Eric Clapton. standards of renowned musicians. It’s Bridges’ special touches that make all the difference, like the last guitar ever made for Diddley, a triple nickel, rectangular guitar with special foot pedal switches you can control with

your hands to accommodate the fact that Diddley’s toes were amputated. Soon people across the U.S. will be able to view another Bridges’ masterpiece made for NASCAR legends Leonard and Glen Wood, slated to be housed in the Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Virginia. Within the year, Bridges plans to open a high performance guitar shop in Deep Ellum, and soon he will be tweaking Bubeck’s guitar during the 2014 Miranda Lambert tour. The construction industry has its perks, but for Bridges standing backstage while a musician evokes a sound from a guitar he made, bringing thousands of people to their feet screaming for more, is infinitely better. In the words of Rob Bridges, “It is pretty cool when you see your guitar in front of 20,000 people.” For information about Bridges’ guitars, visit www.brimstoneguitars. com or www.facebook.com/rob. bridgesbrimstoneguitars. For more information about CADD classes at Collin College please visit www.collin.edu/academics/ v programs/cadd.html. Heather Darrow is a public information writer for Collin College.

Photos, Nick Young, Collin College.

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MARKET PLACE

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outdoor spaces

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After a long, cold winter, north Texans flee the confines of their homes, retreating to the fresh air and tranquility of their patios and decks. The weather in spring and early summer is usually perfect—not too hot and not too cold—and the mosquitoes and flies aren’t bugging you, yet. The landscape is alive with the chirping of songbirds; and flowers and trees have emerged from their winter slumber. The sound of lawnmowers buzzing and children laughing reverberate throughout neighborhoods and the aroma of food grilling fills the air and tantalizes taste buds, making mouths water. Whether your outside cooking plans revolve around flipping burgers on the Weber with a cold one in hand (for flame-ups of course!), firing up the gas grill to roast seasonal veggies or slow cooking ribs on a smoker, chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time entertaining outside. There is nothing better than cooking and dining al fresco! While humans have been cooking outside since the invention of fire, there has been something of a movement over the past several years to take all the elements of the indoor kitchen out. According to Glenn Miller, owner of Cutting Edge Pool and Patio, installing an outdoor kitchen IS the trend for 2014! “Complete outdoor living areas have become very popular in our area due to the fact that, for the most part, we have great weather for most of the year. I don’t know whether it is the desire to become one with nature, or an attempt to escape our hectic, busy lives that inspires people to build exterior kitchens, but adding full-blown kitchens to the outdoor landscape makes an area not only an extension of the home, but creates a feeling of being somewhere else…it becomes an area of entertaining, unlike inside the home which caters to the daily grind.” At its basic core, an outdoor kitchen is quite simply a place to cook outside. It can be as easy as a portable grill that can be moved from the home patio to the beach for a

“The more you know, the more you can create. There’s no end to imagination in the kitchen.” – Julia Child

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casual picnic. Or, it can be a more complex permanent installation equipped with a built-in grill, wood-fired oven and major appliances with electric and gas hook-ups. Options abound for outdoor gourmets and grilling gurus! Glenn says, “Often a homeowner will have one built-in feature that is the steadfast piece that reflects their personal cooking passion. Each person has their own reason for wanting an outdoor kitchen and everyone will use it for different purposes. Most of our homeowners that build outdoor kitchens do a lot of entertaining at their homes, be it family or friends, so they require a lot of working space for prep and serving, as well as extended patios and covered patio areas.” Glenn cautions, “Before you start building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams, think not only about how you plan

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to use the space, but about how the area will look from both inside the house and outside. It’s important to keep dimensions in mind so that the space is in-line with the

scale of your home, and is neither too big nor too small and compements your home’s architecture.” Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or using a company contractor, there are some things you need to be aware of when installing an outdoor kitchen. First, what are the features you might want? How do you envision yourself using the space? Some things to consider include: grill, cook top, food prep counter space, food and utensil storage, refrigerator, sinks, cabinetry, bar, fire pit, lighting, smoker, pizza oven, seating and entertainment such as a television or sound system. Glenn shares, “What most people don’t realize is that the structure of an outdoor kitchen is very affordable. It is all of the appliances that you put in the kitchen that will exceed the price of the structure. The cost can be as low as $3,500 for a kitchen with a good quality grill, prep counter and patio; and can exceed $20K-$30k for higher-end versions depending on the overall size and appliances.” Durability is also a critical factor in outdoor kitchens. Glenn adds, “You want high quality, durable appliances and materials that can withstand the extreme Texas elements. If the kitchen is easy to clean and maintain, the more you will use it and

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enjoy your investment. Lastly, don’t forget to research construction costs, city codes, safety and length of time it will take to complete the project.” Glenn advises, “There is also electrical work that is done to accommodate wine coolers, refrigerators, rotisseries, etc. And, there is most often a gas line that will

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need to be run unless you choose to keep propane under the grill and continue to switch it out. Additionally, to build a structure like this you must pull a permit from the appropriate city. During the build there will be several inspections: framing, electrical rough, gas line, building final and electrical final. The permitting itself can take up to 10 days and the total build, including inspections, will typically take two weeks unless there are other structures involved in the project, then it could be three-four weeks,” Glenn shares. It has been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and by adding one outside you have the conveniences of prepping food, cooking and even cleaning up without missing all the fun. Additionally, you will gain an outdoor room that will be a natural gathering spot, and enhance the value of your home. Bon appetit! v Dawn Bluemel Oldfield is a freelance writer.

HOME PLACE

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Getting ready for summer by Dawn Bluemel OLDFIELD

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Paint, paint and more paint by Darrell HALE

Have you ever been to a paint store and tried to figure out w h i c h grade of paint to use? The truth is, there are numero us qualit ies of paint no matter what brand you use. There are fair, good and better paints from every paint m a n u facturer. M o s t builders and many consumers, ignorant of the choices, will often opt for the most economical choice. However, the most inexpensive paints come with caveats—you get a paint that is barely

better than a primer. In fact, many painting contractors will use the builder-grade paints instead of primers when first painting a house or covering fresh texture on a wall. You should stay away from these lower quality paints when it comes to repainting your home. As a general rule, the better the paint, the more it will cost, but it will last longer and cover better than the most economical options. You should ask the store clerk about the paint’s ability to cover surfaces. This is where the “paint and primer in one” marketing gimmick has come from—there really is no such thing. Covering just means that it will go over the old paint better and result in fewer coats of paint. You should also ask about other components such as Volatile Organic Compounds—the amount of harmful emissions from the paint. Some manufacturers add special features such as anti-microbial agents, streak resistance, long warranties, etc., so ask about special features as well. Lastly, sheen doesn’t always mean

better scrubbability, it still all comes back to the quality of the paint. Generally, the shinier the walls the more washable they are. However, with most top quality paints you can get flat (dull) or matte (tinge of shine) and still get some washability without the paint getting rubbed off. Not so with the more inexpensive grades. If you try scrubbing a builder-grade paint (even the shinier paints) with a rag, there might not be any paint left on the wall. If you have dogs or kids, it can be worth opting for the better quality paint for its anti-microbial, scrub resistance and general washability properties. The old adage of “you get what you pay for” is especially true in paint. Since most of the cost of painting is your time or the labor of a contractor, it pays to go with quality every now and then. So, the next time you see a deal too good to be true on paint, you will know to ask a few questions. v Darrell Hale is the owner of Freshcoat Painting in Allen.

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travel

by Deborah DOVE

Do you love to cook or maybe wish you knew how to cook better? Have you ever wanted to take a cooking class but never seem to be able to find the time? Do you enjoy eating good food? If so, then maybe a culinary vacation is for you.

Numerous bed and breakfasts across Texas have begun offering packages that combine the relaxation and charm of a weekend getaway at a bed and breakfast inn with the opportunity to take cooking classes with professional chefs. Of course, participants also get to enjoy eating

Blair House Inn

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the tasty foods they prepare, usually paired with the appropriate wine for the dish. Whether you want to turn up the heat in the kitchen with your spouse or that special someone or experience a unique girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; weekend where you leave with more than just memories, check out one of the following inns that offer culinary getaway packages.

One of the first bed and breakfast inns to offer guests a premier culinary experience and voted one of the top ten cooking schools in the country according to USA Today, the Blair House Inn offers three-day Texas Hill Country cooking classes once or twice a month covering a variety of cuisines.

Students typically participate in picking and collecting the fresh herbs used in many of the dishes and actively participate in preparing two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. After preparing each meal, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor in the dining room with wine that complements the meal. On the third day, guests prepare a picnic lunch to be taken to a local Texas vineyard or farm where you are given a tour and can enjoy your picnic on the picture sque grounds. Perfect your technique on the grill at Barbecue Camp, held April 21-23, where you will prepare cedar-planked wild king salmon with jerk spice and mango salsa, St. Louis-style baby back ribs with cherry Coke glaze, chicken fajitas, Texas brisket and Fredericksburg peach cobbler with home-made vanilla bean ice cream. May classes include Cooking with Herbs (May 5-7) and Classic French (May 19-21), while summer classes offer Italian Cuisine classes and more Barbecue, Cooking with Herbs and French Cuisine. When guests aren’t cooking, they can relax and recharge at the romantic inn located on 22 scenic acres in the beautiful artists’ community of Wimberley. The inn features beautifully appointed rooms in the main lodge as well as stand-alone cottages, an outdoor pool, spa facility and of course, exceptional dining. There’s plenty to do in the charming town of Wimberley with wineries, an exciting zip line tour over the trees and numerous art galleries. Single occupancy price is $769.33 (includes two-night room stay, taxes, gratuities, classes and 15-35 recipes) and double occupancy (two cooking pants in one room) is school partici $631.53 per person. There’s a tagalong price of $213.16 (added to the single occupancy rate) for friends or family who don’t want to take the cooking class but still want to eat the fabulous food and enjoy the bucolic beauty of the inn.

Perched atop one of the highest rolling hills of the Blanco River Valley in the Texas Hill Country just southwest of Austin, Juniper Hills Farm is a quiet sanctuary where you can indulge yourself with a massage, connect with nature, take a yoga class, unwind and learn how to cook something new! Upcoming culinary class offerings include “An Evening in Italy” ($85) on

April 12, Cooking with Con’Olio Oils and Vinegars ($95) on May 3 or “An Afternoon in Italy” ($95) on May 17. The inn will also customize a cooking event for one person or thirty and classes are geared for all levels. Classes are held in the “Kitchen in the Grove,” the inn’s fully equipped, stateof-the-art, commercial kitchen and dining space. All four of the farm’s rooms include access to the farm’s sauna, fire pit, bocce ball court and the infinity-

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your stay and an outdoor hot tub situ ated in a vintage, restored smokeh ouse surrounded by soft romantic lighting and stained glass. Rooms start at $179 a night.

Murski Homestead edge pool. One of the rooms—Casita Verde—offers the added charm of an outdoor private shower than can be accessed from the indoor rock shower. Room rates start at $165 per night.

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Located in Brenham, Murski Homestead offers Texas cooking classes and lessons in culinary herbs within the setting of a romantic bed and breakfast. The inn offers threeday/two-night “Foodie Event” packages where custom-tailored menus focus on a mix of seasonal, fresh and ethnic fusion style cuisines. Guests participate in hands-on cooking classes, visit an authentic Texas-style farmer’s market, harvest herbs and vegetables from the B&B gardens and enjoy a tasting of local wines with the meal they prepare during class. Foodie Event packages are $995 for two, plus the cost of the room. Visitors can also sign up for an individual class (typically lasting about four hours) during their stay for only $200 per person. Any weekend prior to Easter, guests can book a two-night stay and add the special Easter Brunch demostyle cooking class for only $197 for two, where guests enjoy brunch cocktails while learning how to make a delicious Easter brunch. The inn offers four charming guest rooms, a sumptuous breakfast each morning of

Also located near Brenham, Lillian Farms is a Victorian mansion situated on 230 acres of blue bonnet country that offers small cooking classes where partici pants get hands-on experience in the inn’s spacious gourmet kitchen. Cooking classes are available any weekend with four or more guests and cost $100 per person (not including room or wine). In addition to luxurious accom modations, guests also enjoy a full country breakfast, a spa and a refrigerator that’s always stocked with Brenham’s own Blue Bell ice cream. The inn also offers wine tasting weekends, hot air balloon rides over the property’s 14-acre lake (additional charges apply), hiking, biking, bird watching and a library stocked with rare old books. The farm offers beautiful guest suites as well as private cottages. Rates start at $139 per night.

You don’t have to leave town to take advantage of a weekend cooking class. The Dallas Farmer’s Market, an outdoor market located in downtown Dallas at 1010 S. Pearl, offers demonstration-style cooking classes for $25 per class. Visit their website at www.dallasfarmersmarket.org for the spring class schedule. v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.

MARKET PLACE

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pet page

Jameson

Jameson is a 1-year-old shepherd/greyhound mix that weighs about 40 pounds. He is a super sweet boy who just needs a family to call his own. He is good with other dogs and cats and he loves people of all ages (especially kids). He was found in a shelter and put into the CCHS foster program until he can find his forever home.

Jameson is looking for his forever home—is it yours? Jameson loves, loves, loves tennis balls. He loves to play fetch or just carry them around. You aren’t overrun by tennis balls are you? You are? Then I think you need Jameson to come fix the problem for you. Although he is cautious with new people, once he gets to know you he becomes quite cuddly. And he doesn’t ask for much, just lots of loving, some cuddle time and a few tennis balls. He is completely up to date on his vaccinations and he has been microchipped and neutered. If you would like to play fetch with Jameson. I know he would love to meet you. To apply for this sweet boy, go to: http:// collincountyhumanesociety.org/adoptionapplication. 46

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calendar

APRIL

Our Town presented by Plano Children’s Theatre, 1301 Dolphin Drive #706, Plano. Through the 12th. One of the most celebrated and performed plays in American theatre. For more information visit www. planochildrenstheatre.org.

The Legacy of Love Benefit and Fashion Show, 7 pm, Park Place Lexus, Plano. Lauren Scruggs, fashion journalist and blogger will speak at the event and serve as a model in the fashion show. All net proceeds go directly to Children’s Medical Center! For more information http://www.childrensauxiliary.org/ legacyoflove.

Boy Scout Troop 1299 Annual Garage Sale, 7 am-2 pm, Suncreek United Methodist Church east parking lot, 1517 W. McDermott Dr., Allen. We are accepting gently used donations— furniture, household décor, kitchenware, toys, lawn equipment, patio/outdoor furniture, sports equipment and clothing—to be sold to raise funds to support our troop activities and purchase equipment. Tax receipts will be provided upon request. To make donations please contact Laurie Sprecher atsprechers@ bellsouth.net. Allen Heritage Guild Railroad Days Exhibit, 10 am2 pm, Sat., Apr. 5 & 12, 1-3 pm, Sun., Apr. 6 & 13, Allen Train Depot, 100 E. Main. Over 100 models of freight, passenger and work trains will be featured. Free appraisals and identification will be available. And a wooden railway for the kids to operate. Call 972.359.8242 for details.

Allen Philharmonic presents Mozart Requiem, 7:30 pm, First United Methodist Church of Allen. This special concert performance features the Allen Symphony Chorus and the Gold Medalist of this season’s Roger & Ella Jo Adams Concerto Competition. This concert performance, a contrast of light and dark, features the work of Mozart, Saint-Saens and Rutter, legends in the orchestral and choral repertoire. Contact www. allenphilharmonic.org or 972.359.0656. for tickets or information. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 9-11 am, The Westin Stonebriar, 1549 Legacy Drive, Frisco. Join us for a delicious breakfast buffet, Easter egg hunt, crafts, silent auction and raffle, goodie bags and…an appearance by the Easter Bunny! Proceeds support Journey of Hope Grief Support Center. For additional information, visit www.johgriefsupport.org or 972.964.1600.

Lucas Community Garage Sale, 9 am-1 pm, Fri. & 8 am-3 pm, Sat., 950 Ingram Lane, Lucas. The sale is open to the public. Spaces are 10x20’ and cost $10 each. Placement is assigned as registrations are paid. To reserve a space or for more information on the sale, contact Libby Bardwell at threesisters2013@yahoo.com. In the event of rain, the community sale will move to May 16-17.

Red River Art Fest & Run for the Arts, 8:30 am-6:30 pm, Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th St., Bonham. This event includes a Fun Run and 5K, artist/crafter vendor tent open all day, silent auction in the gallery, Painted Chair and Sidewalk Art contests with $1000 in prize money, children’s activities, BBQ dinner and live auction starting at 6:30 and free admission to the public. Benefits the Creative Arts Center, a project of the Fannin Community Foundation. For details, 903.640.2196. Concerts & Cars hosted by Tucker Hill, 5-8 pm, 7216 Percy Dr., McKinney. A free classic car show, free outdoor concert with The Southern Couch Band and free wine tasting. Free hamburgers, hot dogs and water bottles (while supplies last) and Tucker Hill Hospitality Committee will sell sodas, snacks and home-baked goodies.

Heritage Ranch Theatre Guild presents Arsenic and Old Lace, a classic dark comedy by Joseph Kesselring through May 1, each night at 7 pm. Open to the public. For ticket information and reservations, call 972.886.4700.

11th Annual CCMGA Plant Sale, 9 am-3 pm, Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. First come-first served event includes hundreds of varieties of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs, vines, roses, grasses and new Texas superstars that thrive in sun, part-sun and shade. Collin County Master Gardeners will answer questions and offer tips. Contact www.ccmgatx.org or 972.548.4219.

MAY

6th Annual Allen Masonic Lodge Community Golf Tournament, Ridgeview Ranch Golf Club, 2701 Ridgeview Drive, in Plano. Registration begins at 11 am, light lunch at noon and shotgun start at 1:30 pm; awards follow completion of play. Door prizes, hole prizes, team prizes, poker challenge and chipping challenge. Cost is individual/$150; foursome/$500. Sponsorship opportunities available. Visit www.allenlodge1435.org or call 214.544.5863 to register or sponsor. Allen Image | April 2014

CITY OF ALLEN Allen Event Center

Tickets on sale now through Ticketmaster (www. ticketmaster.com), charge by phone at 800.745.3000 or at the Allen Event Center box office. For more information, visit www.alleneventcenter.com. 5-6 Allen Gun Show 19 Texas Revolution vs. Colorado Ice 25 Texas Revolution vs. Cedar Rapids Titans

Parks and Recreation Events

5/12 Saturday Night Rec n Roll, Joe Farmer Rec Center. Fun, safe social program for students in 3rd through 6th grade. Gym games, dancing, music, dodge ball, pool, table tennis, theme nights, contests and prizes. Supervision provided, concessions available. An identification card (annual $5 fee) is required to participate. Walk up admission available for $10 at the door. 4 Pancake Breakfast, 8-9:30 am, Allen Senior Recreation Center. Come out to a morning of maple and pure deliciousness. Make new friends and check out what the Senior Recreation Center has to offer! The cost is $2 for members and $3 for guests. Under the Sea Easter Adventure. Come out 5 to the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium. This is an opportunity for children to participate in an Easter egg hunt in varying depths of water to allow participation for all swimming levels. Advanced swimmers can collect weighted eggs from the bottom of the pool while lesser swimmers can collect eggs floating on top. All will receive treats

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for their efforts and the Easter bunny will be present for parents to take pictures. Craft activities will be available and pizza will be served! Pre-registration is required by April 4. Fee includes pizza, chips and drink. Summer Athletic Leagues Registration. Summer Adult Sports Leagues offer a fun way to stay active, have fun and make some new friends. Summer leagues include Kickball, Softball, Flag Football, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee and new this year, Sand Volleyball. The games begin June 2, 3 and 5 depending on sport. Call 214.509.4810 for more information on Summer Leagues! SNAP Dance, 7-10 pm, Recreation Hall. Special needs adapted program! Dances feature live music, a fun and creative theme, snacks and photo. Email tharben@ cityofallen.org or call 214.509.4707. Eggcellent Family Adventure. Bring your Easter basket and come stroll through Allen Civic Plaza. Kids can visit tables hosted by civic organizations and local businesses to receive eggs, candy and other goodies. The event would not be complete of course without a visit from the Easter Bunny. Also games, crafts, face painters and a bounce house. For more information contact Tony Hill at ahill@cityofallen.org or 214.509.4712 Community Garage Sale. Discover a variety of treasures at bargain prices at this community-wide garage sale provided by the Joe Farmer Recreation Center. Browsing is FREE! Become a vendor by registering today and make some extra money selling

the items you were thinking of throwing away. Each space is 17’ x 10’. Vendors must provide their own tables and chairs. Walk with a Doc. The Alliance for a Healthier Allen presents this free, nonprofit program for anyone interested in taking steps for their health. Bring friends or come alone and enjoy a refreshing, rejuvenating walk in the park. Physicians, specialists and healthcare professionals will provide support and answer questions. Come out to Allen Station Park the second Saturday of each month from 9-10 am. Fitness Orientation by Dr. Troy Allam. Learn about safety, exercise and health tips to stay happy and healthy this year! Come out to the Allen Senior Recreation Center from 12:30-1:30 pm. Dive-In Movie. Grab your swim suit and towel and join us at the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium. While you and your friends lounge in and around the pool, you’ll be entertained by one of the latest and greatest movies! Concessions will be available. Noodles and tubes can be rented. Motivate to Move. The Alliance for a Healthier Allen (AHA) will kick-off the Motivate to Move program at all Allen elementary schools. This two-month campaign encourages make healthier eating choices. Each month children will take part in physical/nutritional activities and will receive prizes based on participation. Activity cards can be dropped off at the location listed on the activity card.

ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY Children’s Programs

Story times end April 17 Baby & Me—For pre-walkers with an adult Thurs., 10:15 am Fun Ones—For 1 year-olds with an adult Mon. & Tues., 10:15 am, Wed., 10 am Family Together Time—For children 2-6 years and their family Mon., Tues. & Thurs., 11:15 am, Wed., 10:45 am All By Myself—For 4 & 5 year-olds ready to attend independently, Wed., 11:30 am. Pajama Story Time—For children 2-6 years and their family, Tues., 6:30 pm, Thurs., 7 pm. 2

Adults

Noontime Pageturners, noon, 2nd floor program room. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Bring a lunch and a friend and join us for a lively discussion! Free. No registration. Twisted Threads—A Fiber Craft Circle, 6:30 pm, 2nd floor program room. Do you knit? Or crochet? Or make spectacular things with thread and yarn? If so, Twisted Threads is for you! It is a social group for knitters, crocheters, felters, quilters, and any other type of craft done with thread or yarn! All skill levels are welcome! So, bring your latest project and work on it in the company of other fiber crafters.

Discover a Healthier You—Walk This Way, 12-1 pm, 2nd floor Program Room. Laura Weinman, Recreation Specialist for City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department. Age 18+. Walk your way to a healthier lifestyle in this fun cardio workout. The one-time sample class will begin inside, and if weather permits, we’ll head outside where you’ll learn to incorporate lowimpact weight training using items found around the library. Comfortable clothes, shoes and water recommended. No experience necessary. Reg. requested www. allenlibrary.org. Walk-ins welcome as space permits. For more information, contact Debbie Vavra, 214-509-4913 dvavra@ cityofallen.org.

Talking History-The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West, 7 pm, 2nd Floor Program Room. Through a multigenerational family saga, explore the critical role that interracial Native-white relationships had in the development of the American West. Dr. Andrew Graybill of Southern Methodist University will trace the history of the Clarke family, from 1844, with the marriage of Montana fur trader Malcolm Clarke and his Piegan Blackfeet bride, Coth-co-co-na, to the first half of the twentieth century, when Clarke’s children and grandchildren often encountered virulent prejudice. Dr. Graybill is the author of the book The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West, and is the director for the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies at SMU. Registration is required. Register online or contact 214509-4905. DIY@APL—Flower Power! 10-11:30 am, 2nd Floor Program Room. Celebrate spring with us! Create an easy to make, fun to wear felt flower brooch. Ages: 16+. No

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children, please. All materials supplied. Register online at allenlibrary.org or call 214.509.4905.

Connemara Conservancy

Connemara Meadow Preserve Bird Walk at the Connemara Meadow Preserve, 8-11 am, Allen. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them; learn what to watch for in habits, characteristics and calls from Gailon and Rodney, with Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society. All ages welcome. We recommend wearing long pants, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent. Open House, 1 pm, Connemara Meadow Preserve. Join us to wander (and wonder) at the meadow hiking the trails, watching flora and fauna. Enter at Wooded Gate on East side of Alma, south of Bethany.

Heard Museum

For more info: www.heardmuseum.org. 6 Zip Line Day, 1-4 pm, Ropes course. Soar through the treetops of the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary as you travel down the zip line! Purchase one ticket for each time you would like to go down the zip line.! 12/13 Spring Plant Sale, 9 am-5 pm. For over 20 years, veteran and novice gardeners have purchased plants from a huge selection of hard-to-find herbs, native and well-adapted plants. This year, the Heard will have some of the best plants for North Central Texas gardens and an opportunity to obtain many rare plants. Sales are tax free and proceeds benefit Heard Natural Science Museum &

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Wildlife Sanctuary. Please feel free to bring your own cart or wagon to facilitate your purchase! Please note that the plant list is subject to change. Plant list coming soon.

Heritage Day, 10 am-4 pm. Celebrate the history of the Blackland Prairie. The Heard will host demonstrations, entertainment, educational programming and vendors to give visitors a view into our region’s culture and history. Also features the grand opening of the Heard’s new Pioneer Village.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

City of Allen offers a variety of affordable recreational classes and programs. Register at Joe Farmer Rec Center, 214.509.4750 or Rodenbaugh Natatorium, 214.509.4770. For more info: www.allenparks.org. American Cancer Society Road to Recovery needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to appointments. If you have a car and can spare time 9-5, you can help. For more info: Debbie Moen, 972.712.5711. Kids Helping Kids, bring new or gently-used toys to Kids Pediatric Dentistry, donate to kids in the area. Receive chance to win prize. For more info: 972.727.0011 or www. kidspediatricdentistry.com. Baylor Health Care System offers support groups, medical information and events. For more info: www.BaylorHealth.com. Texas Health Presbyterian, a variety of events. For more info: www.texashealth.org.

Heart Link Women’s Networking group, women only business networking. Monthly meetings—days & locations vary. For more info: www.75013.theheartlinknetwork. com. MOMS Club of Allen, group for moms and children who live in Allen, Fairview and Lucas. Monthly playgroups, kid field trips and business tours, special events, Mom’s Night Out and more. For more info: http://momsclubofallentx.weekly. com or momsclubofallentx@gmail.com. Allen Early Childhood PTA, support for parents & caregivers of preschoolers. Each month has fun activities. Play groups, park days, lunch with friends, field trips, Mom’s Night Out, Dads & Kids and other events. Come play with us. For more info: www.aecpta.com or information@aecpta.com. Plano Bicycle Association, club rides, social activities, monthly meetings, newsletters. For more info: Chris Mathews, 972.964.2869 or www.planobicycle.org. MOMS Club McKinney Central, support group for stay-at-home moms. Play groups, daytime activities, Mom’s Night Out, parties, babysitting co-op, etc. Monthly bus. meeting. For more info: MckinneyMoms@yahoo.com. Urban Explorers, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups throughout Dallas area. Something for everyone! For more info: www.meetup.com/ getoutandabout.

Every Monday-Friday The Shores AA Group, noon, Raceway Profesional Building, 200 W. Boyd, Suite C (Adjacent to Dayrise Recovery), Allen. Open AA discussion group. Everyone welcome. For more info: 469.854.9593. Divorce Care, 13-week courses—biblical teaching for recovering from divorce. For more info: Kim Tedford: 214.544.8050 ext. 109, ktedford@creekwoodumc.org or www. creekwoodumc.org. Every Monday-Sunday Allen AA meets, 601 S. Greenville. Mon.Fri., 7 pm; Sat., 9 am; Sun., 7:30 pm. For more info: Joe, 214.564.9403 & Tina, 214.566.7561. Every Monday Ericsson Village Toastmasters Club, 12-1 pm, Ericsson, 6300 Legacy, Plano. Guests welcome For more info: Per Treven, 972.583.8273 or per. treven@ericsson.com.

Preston Persuaders Toastmasters, 7:15 pm, Custer Road United Methodist Church, Rm B2, 6601 Custer Rd, Plano. For more info: Ed Meissner, 469.323.0538 or Todd Richardson, 214.497.4495 or www. prestonpersuaders.org.

Fit and Funky Fit Club, 7:30 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany #208, Allen. Work out to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free. For more info: fitandfunky@att.net.

Allen Symphony Chorus rehearsals, 7-9 pm, choir room at First UMC. For more info: Henry@ WealthManagementGroupLLC.com Allen Toastmasters’ Club, 6:30 pm, Train Depot, 100 E. Main, Allen. Guests welcome. For more info: Joe Nave at 214.566.3100. First and Third Monday

Singles Mingle 60+, 5:30 pm, Zin Zen Wine & Bistro, 6841 Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. A group for single men and women 60+ living in McKinney and surrounding areas who are active and enjoy meeting new people. For more info: Bill, 214.544.5835. Second Monday McKinney Ladies Association (SRLA), 7 pm. Various locations and service projects monthly. For more info: www.mckinneyladies.org. The MOB (Men of Business), 11:30 am-1 pm, TopGolf USA, Allen for male bonding and networking over lunch. $20 chamber members; $25 non-members/ general public. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com.

Veterans of Foreign Wars “Lone Star Post 2150”, 1710 N. Church Street, McKinney. Post Members, 6:30 pm; Ladies Auxiliary, 5:45 pm; Men’s Auxiliary, 6:30 pm. For more info: 972.542.9119, gmlsp2150@gmail. com or visit on web: www.vfwpost2150.org. Heard Museum Collin County Hobby Beekeepers, 7 pm, Heard Craig Center, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566 or www. northtexasbeekeepers.org.

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American Association of University Women-Plano/Collin County Branch, 6:45 pm, 2nd Floor Conservatory, Senior Living Center, 6401 Ohio Dr., Plano. Open to anyone with assoc. or bachelors degree interested in helping women. For more info: Carol, 972.862.3460 or www. aauwplanocollin.org. Collin County Early Childhood PTA, 9:45 am, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. Nursery res. req. For more info: Suzanne Judkins, 972.712.3634. Sons of Confederate Veterans, William H. L. Wells Camp, No. 1588, 7 pm, Tino’s Too Restaurant, 2205 Ave. K, Plano. Speakers, school programs, etc. Open to anyone interested. For more info: Lloyd Campbell, 972.442.5982. Third Monday Allen Retired Educators, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. For more info: or RSVP: Jerri Caldronia@ jlcaldronia@suddenlink.net.

Collin County Aggie Moms, 7 pm, Texas A&M Ext. Center, Coit between Bush Tollway & Campbell. For more info: 972.382.3124 or www. collincountymoms.aggienetwork.com

Breast Cancer Support Group for patients, family & friends, noon, N. Central Medical Center, 4500 Medical Center Dr., McKinney. For more info: Kelly Finley Brown, 972.540.4984. Plano Amateur Radio Klub, 7 pm, all welcome. For more info: www.K5PRK.net. NARFE Chapter 559, 2 pm at Golden Corral, 475 S. Central Expressway (75 & Virginia Pkwy), McKinney. All current government employees and retirees are invited. Fourth Monday Allen Seniors Genealogy Club, 1 pm, Allen Seniors Center. Must be a member of ASRC. For more info: www.asgconline.com or Richard Henry, 972.390.7402. Plano Photography Club, 7 pm, Grace Presbyterian Church, 4300 W. Park Blvd., Plano. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.planophotographyclub.com. Every Tuesday Allen/Fairview Chamber of Commerce Tuesday Morning Live networking breakfast, 7:30 am, 5th Street Pizza, 111 Central Expwy., #102, (Inside Stacy Furniture). $1 member/$10 non-mem. 1st visit free. For more info: 972.727.5585. 2ChangeU Toastmasters, 7-8:45 pm, Custer Rd. United Methodist Church, Rm B5, 6601 Custer Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.2changeu.org. Toastmasters Creative Expressions, 11:15 am-12:30 pm. Raytheon, McKinney. Guests welcome. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:15-8 pm, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas. For more info: 1.800.YEA.TOPS or www.tops. org.

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Every Tuesday & Thursday Volunteer Master Gardeners offer landscaping & gardening advice, 9 am-4 pm. Texas A&M’s Co-op Extension, 825 N. McDonald #150, McKinney. For more info: 972.548.4232 or 972.424.1460. Allen Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 7 pm, 1st United Methodist Church, Wesley House, 601 S Greenville. Offers strength and hope to friends & family of alcoholics. For more info: 214.363.0461 or www.al-anon. alateen.org. First Tuesday Heard Museum Native Plant Society, 7:30 pm, One Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566. First and Third Tuesday Legacy 4-H Club (Allen and Lucas), 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas. For more info: kathrin_esposito@asus.com or 214.616.2460. Common Threads of Allen, 7 pm, Whole Foods Market Café, Stacy Rd., Fairview. Share needlework projects, learn new techniques, make friends. For more info: contact Debi Maige at 214.704.0994 or debik@verizon.net. Allen Lions Club, 7 pm, Kelly’s at the Village, 190 E. Stacy Rd., #1204, Allen. For more info: Bob Schwerd, Secretary, 214.402.0982. Second Tuesday

Allen Senior Citizens Luncheon, 11:30 am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville. For more info: 214.509.4820. Allen Democrats, 6:30 pm, Reel Thing Catfish Cafe, 600 E. Main St., Allen. For more info: Deborah Angell Smith 214.893.3643.

Collin County Archaeology Society, 7 pm, Texas Star Bank, McKinney. For more info: archaeology@netzero.net.

Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, 9:30 am refreshments, 10 am program, SMU in Plano, 5228 Tennyson Pkwy., Plano. Program: Skip Hollandsworth will bring entertaining details from the movie, Bernie; a low-budget, black comedy that he co-wrote with Richard Linklater. Based on his own 1998 article in Texas Monthly. Skip is a journalist, screenwriter and executive editor for Texas Monthly magazine. Visitors and their guests are welcome at no charge. For more info: www.newcomerfriends.org. Plano Pacers run at Schimelpfenig Library parking lot, 5024 Custer, in Plano, 7 pm. For more info: www.planopacers.org. Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, 7-9 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.bptmn.org or email info@ bptmn.org. Collin County ADD/LD Parent Support Group of Collin County, 7-9 pm, parlor, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. For more info: Shirli Salter, sscaroline@aol.com. Third Tuesday McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, welcomes new residents, 9:30 am, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia

Pkwy., McKinney. Program: Beauty in a Life Repurposed. Our guest speaker, Kimberly Moore will share her passion for discovering new uses for vintage costume jewelry that is often in need of being restored, revamped or repaired. For more info: www.mckinneynewcomers.com. Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group provides support & resources for parents of children with autism & related developmental disabilities. Join online group at http://health.groups. yahoo.com/group/autismparentsupport. Plano Republican Women’s Club, 11:30 am, Southfork Hotel, 1600 N. Central Expy., Plano. For more info: www.planorepublicanwomen. com. Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter meets Aug.-May. For more info:txshawm@sbcglobal.net. Fourth Tuesday

Allen/Fairview Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon, 11:30 am-1 pm. $20 member/$25 guest. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com.

Heard Museum Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society meets at 7 pm, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566.. Every Wednesday

Allen Rotary Club, noon, Courtyard by Marriot, 210 East Stacy Rd. For more info: www.allenrotary.org.

Allen Sunrise Rotary Club, 7 am, Twin Creeks Hospital, 1001 Raintree Circle. For more info: 972.673.8221 or www.asrotary.org. Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, “Become the Speaker and Leader you can be”, 7 pm, IHOP, 315 Central Expy,Allen. For more info: Daniel Dodd, 972.571.7527.

McKinney Chess on the Square, 4-7 pm, Downtown McKinney Performing Arts Center. Open play & lessons. Promotes creativity, imagination & strategic thinking. For more info, 214.620.0527 or mckinneychess. org. First Wednesday Allen Heritage Guild, 6:30 pm, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. For more info: 972.740.8017 or www. allenheritageguild.org. Art History Brown Bag Series, 12:301:30 pm, Heard-Craig Carriage House, 205 W. Hunt St., McKinney. Lectures presented by Annie Royer. Bring lunch. For more info: 972.569.6909 or www.headcraig. org. Collin County Master Gardeners Assoc. guided tour of Myers Park, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Res. requested. For more info: 972.548.4232 or go to mgcollin@ ag.tamu.edu. First and Third Wednesday MOPS of Hope Plano, Hope Community Church, 9:30-11:30, 3405 Custer, Ste. 200, Plano. For more info: 214.762.0037 or www. mopsofhope.com.

Second Wednesday Collin County Genealogical Society, 7 pm, Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. For more info: ccgs.programs@gmail.com. VFW Post 2195, 7:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, 1015 Hwy. 121, Allen. For more info: Larry Nordgaard, 972.727.9956 or www.vfw2195.org. Every Thursday Allen Kiwanis Club, Noon, Hilton Garden Inn on 75 just North of Bethany. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.allenkiwanis.org. Sweet Adelines, NoteAbly North Texas Chorus, 7 pm, Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2005 Estates Pkwy, Allen. Women of Allen & surrounding area invited. For more info: nntsing4fun@yahoo.com. Allen Classic Cars, 7-10 pm, 103-111 N. Central, parking lot of Chipotle & Stacy Furniture. Bible Study, 9:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11:30 am, Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Avenue, McKinney. Bible study for women and children. Studying Luke. Reg. req. For more info: katpf@att.nett or mckinneyallen. cbsclass.org.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness of Collin County), Recovery support for adults living with mental illness. Led by trained individuals. Free, 6:30-8:30 pm, Custer Road UMC, 6601 Custer Rd., Plano. For more info: 214.509.0085 or www.namicco. org. Weight Watchers, 12:15 and 6 pm, 1st United Methodist Church, 600 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Enter south entrance, 2nd floor. Speak Up! Frisco Toastmasters Club, 7-7:30 pm social, 7:30-8:30 meeting. U of D-Frisco campus, Frisco Chamber, 6843 W. Main St. For more info: http://speakupfrisco.freetoasthost. ws. First Thursday North Dallas Newcomers, 11 am., Various locations. For more info: www.northdallasnewcomers.met. Allen Garden Club, meets 7 pm, monthly gardening talks by area experts, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main Street. For more info: Denise Webre, 972.390.8536 or www.allengardenclub.org. Second Thursday W.I.S.E. (Women in Support of Enterprise), 11:30 am. Location varies. Networking & discussion of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues. Fun & informative meeting for women in Allen & surrounding areas. $20 member/$25 guest. For more info: www.allenchamber.com Lovejoy Preschool PTA. Monthly general meetings at Creekwood UUMC, 261 Country Club Road, Fairview. Different topic and guest speakers each month. Lunch provided free; babysitting available for nominal fee. For more info: www.lovejoypa.org, meetup.com/ Lovejoy-Preschool-PTA/. Osteoporosis Support Group, 6:30 pm, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, Com. Education Rm-Medical Office Bldg. 2. For more info: 972.747.6036. Allen Image | April 2014

McKinney Area Republican Co-Ed Club, 7 pm, Collin County GOP Headquarters, 8416 Stacey Rd., #100, McKinney. Location sometimes varies. For more info: collincountyconservativerepublicans.com. Legal Aid Clinic, 6 pm, First United Methodist Church. For more info: www.lanwt.org or 1.888.529.5277. PSA:NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] of Collin County, 7:30 pm, Custer Road UM Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano. Enter at the SE end, room B2. Peer support group, B6 and Family support group, B1, meet from 6:30-7:20 pm. For more info: www.namicco.org. Second and Fourth Thursday Allen High Noon Lions Club, 5th Street Pizza (inside Stacy Furniture), 111 Central Expwy. S. For more info: Peter Young, 972.849.4952. Allen Area Patriots, 7-8:45 pm, Failth Fellowship Church, 415 West Lucas Road, Lucas. Local Tea Party presents speakers, enlightening and motivating citizens to participate in the political process. For more info: www.AllenAreaPatriots.com. Third Thursday

Knights of Columbus, 7:30 pm, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville, Allen. For more info: Steve Nagy, 469.569.3357 or www.stjudekofc.org. Live @ 5 Business After Hours, 5-6:30 pm at various member businesses. Free. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com. Xtra Years of Zest Seniors Luncheon, noon, First United Methodist Church Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Fellowship Hall. Lunch, fellowship, speakers & entertainers. For more info: griflkl@sbcglobal.net.

Breast Cancer Support Group, 6:30 pm, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, 1105 Central Expwy. N., Community Education RoomMed.Office Bldg. 2. For more info: 972.747.6036. Cancer Support Ministry, 7 pm, 1st Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E101. For more info: James Craver, 972.727.8241. Collin County Republican Men’s Club, 7 pm, locations vary. For more info: www.ccrmc.org. Allen Quilters’ Guild, 6:30 pm, 1st Presbyterian Church, 605 S Greenville. For more info: www.allenquilters.org. Allen/McKinney Area Mothers of Multiples, new & expectant moms’ forum, 7 pm, First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt, McKinney. For more info: www.amamom.org or 972.260.9330. Fourth Thursday

Voyagers Social Club of McKinney, 10 am, Heard-Craig Hall Gallery, 306 N. Church St., McKinney. Social club open to women in McKinney and surrounding areas. For more info: voyagersofmckinney@gmail.com. Every Other Thursday North Texas Referral Group, 11:45 am, Friday’s (121 & Preston). For more info: www.ntrg.info.

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Every Friday Allen Senior Rec Center Dances, 1-3 pm. Ages 50+. Members free/Non-member Allen resident $3. For more info: 214.509.4820. McKinney Chess Club, 2-5 pm, Senior Center, 1400 South College Street, McKinney.Adults 50+(Free). For more info: 972.547.7491. Every Other Friday MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), nondenominational support group for moms with kids 0-5 years, 9:30-11:45 am, First Baptist Church in Allen. Childcare provided. For more info: 972.727.8241. First & Third Friday Classic 55+ Game Night, 6:30 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E104. Snacks, fellowship and games. Open to community, no res. required. For more info: 972.727.8241 or Eddie Huckabee at huckgolf@hotmail.com. Every Saturday McKinney Chess Club, 10:30 am-1:30 pm, McKinney Public Library, 101 E Hunt St. Any age. Free. For more info: 972.547.7491. First Saturday

Open Forum, meaningful discussions, 3 pm, Delaney’s Pub, 6150 W. Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney. For more info: Charlie, 214.585.0004.

VFW “Lone Star Post 2150” Motorcycle Group 33, 10 am, 1710 N. Church St., McKinney. For more info: “Driveway John” 971.822.4483, gmlsp2150@gmail.com or visit www. vfwpost2150.org. Second Saturday Heard Museum Nature Photography Club meeting. 1:30 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566. Vrooman’s Regiment, Children of the American Revolution, service organization to teach children to serve their community. For more info: 972.396.8010. Department 56 Village Collectors Club meets in the Plano/North Dallas area to share ideas. For more info: www.bigd56ers.com. Third Saturday Single Side Up, 7 pm, This Side Up Family Center, 1100 Capital Ave., Plano. Single parent support group. No charge to attend. Low cost child care is available. For more info: www.singlesideup.org or info@ thissideupfamily.org.

Allen Folk Music Society, 7-10 pm, The Blue House, 102 S. Allen Drive, Allen. Musicians aged 15-100. Bring snacks to share. For more info: www.twiceasfar.com.

Fourth Saturday

American Sewing Guild, 10 am-noon, Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Rd (at Parker), in Plano. For more info: Jane Johnson, 972.841.6854 or www.planoasg.org. Last Saturday Plano Pacers run at Bob Woodruff Park on San Gabriel Rd., Plano, 8 am. For more info: Bob Wilmot, 972.678.2244, or www.planopacers.org. Every Sunday Fit and Funky Fit Club, 7:30 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany #208, Allen. Work out live to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free. For more info: fitandfunky@att.net. First Sunday United Methodist Women’s Reading Group, 2 pm, First Methodist Church of Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Church Parlor. Join us for book discussion and refreshments. Book selections are determined at the January meeting. We do encourage women of all faiths to participate. For more info: http://www.fumcallen.org.

Please keep us informed of any local activities or events of general interest to our readers by fax to the Allen Image at 972.396.0807 or email to contact@ allenimage.com.

Allen Image | April 2014

For Your Health

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For Your Health

Allen Image | April 2014

by Peggy Helmick-RICHARDSON

cover story Although banned in areas because of the game’s sometimes violent treat ment, lacrosse gradually developed in North America as a league sport. The first U.S. club was established in Troy, New York, in 1868. Today, there are not only youth and college lacrosse teams and club leagues, but also national professional leagues—Major League Lacrosse for outdoor field lacrosse and National Lacrosse League for indoor lacrosse. A safer version than its earlier incarnations, the game is growing in popularity. Allen’s first organized high school lacrosse club began in 1996 by teacher and coach Bryan Baker. In 1997 and ’98, low roster numbers meant no games, but by 1999, enough players signed on to begin competing and the team scored its first winning game. From 2002 to 2007, coach Tom Rintoul worked with the team, followed by Mark Baggett for two years before Wendell Lee came on board in 2010. In 2011, Coach David Wang led the Allen Eagles Lacrosse team to Division I status and far tougher competition. To meet the demands of the more aggressive Division I North District, the non-profit Allen Eagles Lacrosse Club brought Zack Colburn on board at the end of 2011. Last year, the Texas High School Lacrosse League named Zack “Coach of the Year”—the same year he was inducted into the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame. “I got my start in Wilton, Connecticut, I had watched a couple of games but didn’t know anything about lacrosse,” Zack recollects. “The high school varsity coach for lacrosse happened to be the freshman football coach. He would see athletes failing as freshman and he would ask them, ‘Have you considered lacrosse?’ I had been a baseball player and not a particularly good one. I was finally converted the week before the season started of my freshman year.” Zack’s junior and senior year, the Wilton High School team won state championships. Attending the University of

Pennsylvania from 1981-1985, Zack played lacrosse while studying civil engineering. From 1985 to 1992, he worked as an assistant lacrosse coach at the University of Pennsylvania. The following year, he served as the assistant lacrosse coach at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and then worked as the head coach for the next two years. At that time, there were no professional lacrosse leagues. “Back then, all the lacrosse players who had played in college played in a United States Club Lacrosse league, and there was no pay,” Zack notes. “In Philadelphia, we traveled to Baltimore almost every other weekend because we were in the southern division.” His lacrosse skills landed him spots on the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1990, ’94, and ’98 to play in the world championship games in Perth, Australia; Manchester, England; and Baltimore, Maryland. In 1995, he was awarded the U.S. Lacrosse Association’s prestigious Krongard Award. In the 1990s, Zack’s lacrosse skills led to his induction into both the University of Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association Hall of Fame. In 2002, he landed a coveted spot in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. All of this was in addition to his full-time work in the building industry. When the demands of a job, family and playing on club leagues became too much, Zack temporarily stopped coaching. When his son decided to try out for lacrosse in third grade, Zack offered to assist with coaching his team. When the northern housing market fell into a steep decline in the late 2000s, Zack found himself out of work and bored. “A bunch of my buddies said ‘You should be a coach because you love it so much!’ and I did. So I decided to give it a shot,” he recalls. “I latched on with a friend of mine who was the head coach at Rutgers, and I was their volunteer assistant coach in 2010 and 2011.” The three-and-a-half hour drives

for as often as 6 days a week during competition season started taking its toll. Zack resigned from his Rutgers position to take the plunge into a coaching career. On October 1, 2011, Zack settled into his new North Texas home to begin his job as head coach for the Allen Eagles Lacrosse. The Texas High School Lacrosse League boasts 90 member school programs, divided into three Divisions from four districts—North, Central, South and San Antonio. The highest ranking Division I requires an established lacrosse program in good standing with its host school with a head coach, president, and both a varsity and junior varsity team with full schedules. Currently, the state has 28 schools in Division I. In addition to Allen, the powerhouse North District is comprised of Coppell, Dallas Jesuit, Episcopal School of Dallas, Highland Park, Plano, Plano West, Southlake and St. Marks. Played on a 110-yard by 60-yard field, lacrosse has been compared to soccer, hockey and basketball. For men’s games, there are 10 players on the field from each team, all with sticks ranging in length from 40 to 72 inches, with offensive players using the shorter lengths. Using the nets on the sticks, a hard rubber ball is passed through the air to the intended 6-foot by 6-foot goal of the opponent. Zack readily admits that playing lacrosse can be an expensive venture. In addition to annual dues averaging $1250, the 9th through 12th grade players need to purchase uniforms and equipment such as speciallydesigned lacrosse sticks that can run up to $300, helmets, shoulder pads, padded gloves, cleats and mouth pieces. In addition to coaching salaries, the club also pays for field rentals, transportation costs and referee fees. Fundraisers are held to help cover expenses. Limited scholarships are also available on a need basis. “The spring before I was down here was their first year in Division I and that year, they made the playoffs Allen Image | April 2014

but lost in the first playoff game,” Zack points out. “My first year, we lost 3 and 13; we didn’t do well at all and didn’t make the playoffs. But last year we made a great turnaround and did make the playoffs. Our goal is to be one of the top six of the North District.”

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He continues, “The best lacrosse in the area is in the North Dallas area. We are not only competing with these schools to make the playoffs, we are also competing against these guys to make State at the same time.” Along with co-junior varsity and

varsity offensive coach Chris Dupree and assistant coaches Scott Warren and Charles Luongo, Zack emphasizes teamwork in training. Hailing from the more lacrossesavvy Northeast, Zack points out that the most noticeable difference he has seen with the Texas teams is what he refers to as lacrosse IQ—understanding how the game works—and stick skills. He attributes this to many members of the team having only played for two to three years as compared to the not uncommon 10 to 14 years for high schoolers on Northeastern teams. A significant advantage of lacrosse over other team sports is an emphasis on skill and physical fitness over size. “When you go to a field, you see tall 6’4” guys and you see 5’7” guys,” he explains. “And you’ll see lightningquick guys and guys who weigh 230 pounds who are solid. It’s an interesting mix. If you bring certain talents and skill sets, you can be successful.” Zack sees a growing trend in lacrosse attracting college coaches to this area, thus increased scholarship potential. “If you’re a great student, that’s excellent! But if you are a great student who happens to play lacrosse, maybe lacrosse can open a door to a school that normally wouldn’t look your way.” When the school year ends and the high school championships have finished, Zack dedicates himself to another job until the end of July— working with elite all-star travel teams for Coast-2-Coast (C2C) Lacrosse. Comprised of students from several area schools, the coach describes the intent of their national competitions as primarily “recruiting tournaments” for students vying for educational opportunities. Although the C2C tournaments are held in the summer, the teams practice all year, increasing workout times as summer nears. Currently Zack works with the Highland Park lacrosse coach to coach the 2015 team and with C2C director John Marano to coach the 2018 team. Because schedules

MARKET PLACE

Allen Image | April 2014

vary from team to team, Zack notes that working with two groups may require quite a bit of quick interstate travel to keep up. In addition, Zack juggles his

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schedule to teach at lacrosse summer camps as well as personally play in three clubs. Smokey Joe’s Quakers, comprised of age 45 and older Pennsylvania lacrosse players,

competes at Lake Placid in August and the Philadelphia/Baltimorebased Team Harley Davidsons play at the annual Florida Lacrosse Classic in August. In 2009, Zack joined a Texasbased C2C club. He credits fellow C2C teammate and coach John Marano for hooking him up with the Allen Eagles. Current Allen Eagle Lacrosse Club president Mike Barry has been involved in the sport since his son Drew first started playing through the Allen Sports Association (ASA) program in the third grade. A football and basketball player in school, Mike admits that prior to his son’s participation, his exposure to the game had primarily been via ESPN. Fascinated by the sport, he learned enough to help coach ASA youth lacrosse as well as serve on the board. Once Drew joined the high school club, Mike again volunteered and soon was on the board. One of three varsity captains, Drew will be attending Rhodes University in Memphis next year. Mike notes that because the school is a Division III, an athletic scholarship was not available, but the lacrosse team there played a significant role in the decision to attend. Mike emphasizes that lacrosse is a “good cross-over sport” for talented athletes who want to play football or basketball since there are similarities in the games. He explains, “If you’re not 6’5” or 280 pounds, you’re going to be hard pressed to play on the football or basketball team. So if you can’t start on Allen’s varsity teams, you should be looking at lacrosse.” Another senior varsity captain, Jacob Braselton also began in ASA’s first 3rd grade team. While attending a showcase by the Allen High School lacrosse team, one of the members

taught him how to catch and throw with a lacrosse stick. He was hooked and has since shared his passion for the game with other younger aspirants. Coached by his father Lon during his ASA years, Jacob recalls, “He rented videos and read books to be able to teach us. He was the boys lacrosse director for ASA for a couple of years.” This midfielder will be moving on to Texas A&M in the fall. Encouraged by the growth of the Allen team and bolstered by recent successes, he laments that he most likely won’t be playing lacrosse while in College Station. “A&M is not as competitive as Allen,” he explains. “If I’m going to play in college, I want to be competitive.” Bored with football, sophomore Garrett Dodson says that he decided to try lacrosse because several of his friends had signed on with ASA lacrosse teams. The midfielder has already qualified to play on both the varsity and junior varsity teams. Drawn to the sport because of the high level of competition, he points out, “You have to know what’s going on around you and be sharp all the time.” Too soon for college decisions, Garrett notes, “Right now, I’m not

planning on going to college for lacrosse, but if I get a scholarship for it, then I’m more than likely going to that school.” Ranked number fifteen for 2014 boys high school lacrosse in the state of Texas by StudentSportsLacrosse. com, junior Adam Riestis began playing the game seven years ago along with friend Cody Sakuda. The two are still teammates today and have also played together on a Dallas select team for the last three years.

“I’ve played many other sports, but lacrosse is by far my favorite,” the midfielder emphasizes. “Lacrosse combines the best parts of basketball with similar offense and defense strategy; it has the quick passing and offensive line changes of hockey and the stamina and goal-tending of soccer. It’s a fast and exciting game. There is nothing like shooting a lacrosse ball 85-90 miles per hour into the back of the net or working a fast break to get an assist or score.”

If you would like to know more about lacrosse, go to: Allen Eagles Lacrosse Club www.allenlacrosse.com Allen Lady Eagles Lacrosse (3rd-12th grade) www. ladyeagleslacrosse.org Allen Sports Association www.allensports.org Texas High School Lacrosse League www.thsll.org National Lacrosse com

High School www.laxpower.

Allen Image | April 2014

Although Adam has not decided on a college, lacrosse definitely figures into the equation. “My goal is to play in college for a Division I school in the Northeast where lacrosse has been a very popular sport,” he declares. The Eagles counterpart, the Allen Lady Eagles for girls in 9th through 12th grade, formed in 2009. Also in Division I standing, the varsity team, coached by Shannon Parengkuan and assisted by Doug Ayers, has 23 members; and the junior varsity team, coached by Chris Smith, has 22. This year’s club president Eric Ewing had previously been involved with ASA girls lacrosse and served as the organization’s lacrosse commissioner. Playing lacrosse in Long Island, New York, since she was 12, Shannon started the lacrosse club team at Towson University in Maryland as a student there. A PE teacher for Imagine Academy in McKinney and mother of a 3-year-old, Shannon notes that job and family obligations leave her no time to personally compete in adult lacrosse club tournament. Doug Ayers’s daughter Meghan discovered lacrosse at a summer academic camp between 6th and 7th grade. By that fall, enough girls had signed up for lacrosse to make a seventh grade ASA team. Doug, who had played basketball in school, quickly became involved and honed his coaching skills through the U.S. Lacrosse Association’s

Winners of the Aggieland Classic Tournament—ASA 7th-8th grade girls’ lacrosse team

with area community teams “so the competition is level and we have an environment where they can learn.” The ASA girls teams recently made some significant accomplish ments, with the 5th-6th grade team winning the 2013 Halloween Shootout in McKinney and the 7th-8th grade team taking first at the Aggieland Classic Tournament this February in College Station. Like so many parents in Allen’s lacrosse programs, John notes that it was his daughter’s interest in the sport that first drew him in. “Since it was important to her, it became important to me!” he asserts. Another Long Island youth lacrosse player, Ted Hovivian currently serves as the commissioner of the boys youth lacrosse program for ASA. “We moved here four years ago and I joined ASA right away,” he notes. “We now have 155 boys between the first and 8th grade.” The 5th-6th grade and 7th-8th grade teams require tryouts to deter mine place m ent on division 1, 2 or 3 levels. Ted points out that the boys play not only a fall and spring season with other teams from around the Metroplex, but many from third grade on also Winner of last year’s North Texas State Championship—ASA 5th-6th grade boy’s lacrosse team play on travel teams

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online and on-field classes along with practical experience. “It fuels my competitive spirit,” he emphasizes. “It’s not just about lacrosse. There is community involve ment and life lessons that can be gained from playing sports.” Meghan, along with fellow Lady Eagle teammate Kate Davis, now plays on a new Division III team at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. ASA girls’ lacrosse commissioner John Winkeler notes that the program currently has 86 girls with two teams for each age group—2nd-4th, 5th-6th, and 7th-8th, hailing from Allen and Lovejoy schools. “The only requirement other than loving the game is to have a good time,” he declares. John explains that the girls’ games are coordinated to match skill levels

following the ASA spring season. “We are pretty competitive in most age groups,” he adds. “Last year the 5th-6th grade won the North Texas State Championship.“ The support from the high school lacrosse staff has been especially appreciated, Ted emphasizes. In addition to Eagles JV coach Chris Dupree also coaching a 6th grade boys team for ASA, Zack provides training sessions for both the boys and coaches.

Zack views working with the younger clubs as a winwin situation. “We are trying to get a united front so that they become what we want them to be when they become Allen High School lacrosse players.” As lacrosse moves forward in Allen, the future of this upstart but old sport seems bright. v Peggy Helmick-Richardson is a freelance writer.

B U S I N E S S C A R D S Allen Image | April 2014

business seen by Nicole BYWATER

Laura Mac Salon

The talented staff at Laura Mac Salon makes sure their clients come away feeling pampered and looking like they stepped out of a magazine. More importantly, though, they make sure that clients can achieve those same results in the days and weeks after their appointment. “Education is so important—both among our staff and for our clients because we want to make sure that we’re teaching people how to make their hair look the best,” says owner Laura McCullock. “We always take the time to make sure our clients are 110 percent satisfied.” Laura has over 30 years of experience in the business and is an educator for Keune Hair Cosmetics. Laura and her team’s talent in hair design and color are what has customers flocking to her salon. Many have been clients for years while others recently discovered the salon after hearing the many positive reviews. “We really focus on making customers comfortable, with complimentary beverages, relaxing shampoo massages and a friendly atmosphere,” Laura says. Tall ceilings, spacious workstations and warm décor further add to the spalike retreat. In addition, they use top-quality products including Keune’s So Pure Organic Color, a permanent hair color that is 100 percent ammonia- and paraben-free. Laura Mac Salon is located at 105 N. Alma Road, Suite 200, in the Peter Hazim Dentist building on the northwest corner of Alma and McDermott Drives. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www. LauraMacSalon.com or call 214.785.6035.

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Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club

Stadium Dog Grooming

Heritage Ranch Golf and Country Club is an active adult community surrounded by rolling terrain, aged pecan trees, creek beds and scenic ponds in Fairview. Luckily, you don’t have to be a Heritage Ranch homeowner to visit the community and take advantage of its outstanding dining and catering services, as well as their 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills. “We are a gated community, therefore, many people don’t realize we’re still open to the public and they can get a visitors pass anytime to enjoy our restaurant and golf course,” explains community events director Eric Hoyle. “Even though we’re just three miles from the intersection of Stacy and 75, when you come out here, you really do feel far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.” The hill country atmosphere and top-notch catering staff make Heritage Ranch an ideal site for weddings, celebrations and corporate events. “We do everything in-house and will take care of all the details to give our clients a great event,” Eric says. For Easter, the community’s restaurant, The Corral Grill, will pull out all the stops for their Sunday Brunch on April 20. “We’ll have a carving station, omelet station, hot foods, salads and some amazing desserts—if anyone leaves hungry, it’s their fault,” adds Eric with a laugh. Heritage Ranch is located at 465 Scenic Ranch Circle in Fairview. For more information or to make a dining reservation, call 972.886.4700 or visit www. heritageranchgolf.com.

The staff at Stadium Dog Grooming treats their four-legged clients with the same kindness and attention that they show to their own pets. Owners Carrie and Brad Hudson have three children, as well as four dogs: two Standard Poodles named Hershey and Godiva, a French Bulldog named Henri, and the newest addition to the family, a Lab/Chow mix named Brooks. “Because we’re dog owners ourselves and busy parents, we know how important it is to get your pet groomed in just the right way and with a quick turnaround,” Brad says. “Also, we know how important it is to be a place where dogs don’t have to be cooped up any longer than necessary.” The shop opened in October 2012 and truly is a canine paradise. Cats aren’t allowed and there’s plenty of air-conditioned doggie daycare and green space for them to explore. “Our goal is to provide a safe and calm location for your pup to be bathed, groomed or attend our daycare service,” Brad explains. “We really want to be your neighborhood dog grooming and daycare place.” Stadium Dog Grooming features a line of great smelling dog shampoo and other pet supplies, including custom dog beds created by Carrie and groomer Lauren. And at the end of their visit, pups get to leave looking great with a nice bandana. Stadium Dog Grooming is located at 410 N. Greenville Ave, Ste. 102 in Allen. For information or to schedule an appointment, call 214.770.8076 or visit www. stadiumdoggrooming.com.