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Allen Image INSIDE THIS ISSUE

January 2015

Vol. 25, Issue 1

cover story

come and take it invites you to come and hear it

Mike Zolkoski of Allen, Sean McIver of McKinney and Scott Elfstrom of Plano created Come and Take It, a podcast of Texas history. Each week, they discuss diverse topics such as barbecue, Willie Nelson and the Civil War.

feature

18 Celebrating creativity

Allen students stretch their imaginations to turn cardboard boxes into fun arcade games An empty cardboard box has limitless possibilities. It can be anything anyone imagines it can be.

special sections

20 KIDS KORNER

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an app for that

PET PAGE

Hope

35 CALENDAR

26 18

20 6

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE civic forum

library

Health & fitness

7th Annual Allen Eagle Run

16 Literary jazz

Saving water, one house at a time

ALLen Reads kicks off 2015

53 You and the flu

12 Get fit and get involved

HIIT the cardio…burn the fat

13 Anticipating a record-breaking

Bluegrass Festival

What is infertility?

2015

14 Fun with a purpose 15

Spring into vegetable gardening

Sidekicks soccer

NCL-Allen Junior Style Show

Sherlock Holmes

Health & Fitness Profiles

education 22 AHS Orchestra 24

Digging in the dirt isn’t something you have to outgrow

16 17 publisher/editor Barbara Peavy

office administrator Carrie McCormick

advertising sales Lizabeth DeBoe

cover photo Larry Fleming

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24 contributing writers Chelsey Aprill Nicole Bywater Vicki Deerman Deborah Dove Holly Harvey Tom Keener Sara J. Mucowski, MD Jeff Mues Lara Price Peggy Helmick-Richardson Keith A. Taylor Regina Taylor Janell Wilson, MD, PhD

Allen Image © 2015 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

7th Annual Allen Eagle Run by Regina TAYLOR Registration is open for the 7th Annual Allen ISD Eagle Run, set for Saturday, February 28. The Allen Eagle Run includes a fun run/walk and 5K run that will take place in and around the Allen High School campus and downtown Allen. This is the seventh year for the Allen Eagle Run, which attracts more than 3,000 participants and benefits student and teacher scholarships in Allen ISD. The Eagle Run is sponsored by the Foundation For Allen Schools and the Allen Council of PTAs. In addition to the run, local organizations and merchants will have booths surrounding the start/finish area with samples, prizes and information. One booth is run by the students from the Allen High School Sales & Management/Business Management Practicum class. For the past three years, students from this class have worked with the Foundation For Allen Schools to select and market a product related to the Allen Eagle Run and to have a real world experience in working with a nonprofit organization. “This year’s Allen Eagle Run product is a wristband pedometer that has our eagle head on the side and comes in three colors,” said Jennifer Griffin, a senior at AHS and one of the students working on this year’s project. Previous students have sold bandanas and bondi bands. “We chose the pedometers because they are a family-friendly product that everyone can use and we could set the price so they are not too expensive—and we could get them in fun colors that kids like,” Griffin added. Students in the AHS business marketing classes learn all aspects of the retail business including researching vendors, designing products, store displays, advertising and accounting. “We like this class because it is very self-

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directed,” said Fione Boye, also a senior at AHS. “We come to class and have briefings, update our team on projects, check in with our teachers and help each other. We take shifts running the store, stocking, handling inventory and we also do individual and group projects. We’ve worked on projects for Red Ribbon Week, supporting the Swim and Dive Team and now again, the Foundation For Allen Schools and PTA.” Alanis Rivera, a junior at AHS, is the third student helping to design and implement the Allen Eagle Run project and will be part of the team working the booth on February 28. “We’ll have our prize wheel back again this year—kids loved it and they can win t-shirts, tattoos and other fun stuff from our Eagle Edge store,” Rivera explained. Louise Rochford is the teacher for the business management courses at AHS and the DECA sponsor. “There are so many benefits to the students working on the Allen Eagle Run projects. They learn organizational skills, how to meet hard deadlines and interact with the foundation staff, vendors, customers and the broadcast students who help them market the product.” The students will also utilize store displays and social media outlets to promote the wristband pedometers and the Allen Eagle Run. To register for the Allen Eagle Run, purchase a pedometer or get more information visit www. AllenEagleRun.org or call 972.727.0362. Find out more about the Foundation For Allen Schools at www. AISDfoundation.org and www.facebook.com/ AISDfoundation. v Regina Taylor is the director and grant coordinator for the Foundation For Allen Schools.

Saving water, one house at a time Allen recruits neighbors to spread the message of conservation by Chelsey APRILL

Drive down any major street in Allen and you’re bound to see a blinking reminder of our ongoing water restrictions. However, your next call to conserve may come from a friendly neighbor, not a road sign. The city is re cruiting residents to spread the message through its Block Leader program.

Untapped potential

Gail Donaldson, water conser vation manager for the City of Allen, launched the program in 2010. She was inspired by the success story of Cupertino, California—home of a little company called Apple and a looming water problem. Cupertino partnered with block leaders (a fancy word for neighborhood volunteers) to spread the word on emergency preparedness and environmental concerns. The result? Personalized communication with minimal expense. Donaldson was sold.

The best things in life are free

“We have no budget for this,” Donaldson deadpans while removing items from a drawstring bag. She pulls out a donated ruler, palm-sized calculator and stack of plastic cups that once might have held single servings of applesauce. (The bag, Donaldson informs me, was donated too.) Block leaders are trained to use these humble tools to help neighbors gauge the efficiency of their sprinklers. At first glance the program seems quite official. Block leaders receive a hefty binder during their 90-minute training containing handouts on watering schedules and tips for starting conversations. But for a program that includes the word “leader,” it is surprisingly laid back. There are no required activities or quotas to meet. Block leaders can

commit to a single street or an entire subdivision. “We actually encourage them to start small,” says Donaldson.

Teachers, not cops

The Block Leader program may have started small, but it’s growing. Last year it attracted 27 volunteers and covered 800 homes. Donaldson says the ideal volunteer is more of an educator than an enforcer. “We’re not training water cops,” she says firmly. Block leaders cannot issue citations if their neighbors break watering rules—though Donaldson admits some are so passionate about conservation, they’d probably jump at the chance. With lingering drought and explosive growth, harnessing that passion is more important than ever.

Boots on the ground

tries to sweeten the deal by offering block leaders free seminars and field trips. (Past activities have included lectures on sustainable landscaping and a trip to the Dallas Arboretum; she is still working on the schedule for 2015.) Regardless of particulars, Donaldson wants block leaders to know they’re appreciated. “They’ve done more for awareness than I ever could. I could visit every HOA in the city, but it’s all about that neighbor-to-neighbor connection.” Residents can sign up for the Block Leader program at www.cityofallen. org/blockleaders. v Chelsey Aprill is a marketing specialist for the City of Allen.

An oversized map of Allen hangs on the wall of the water con servation office, dotted with markers for each block leader currently in the program. Donaldson studies it for a moment before seeing a problem. “Our newest neighb orhoods aren’t even on this,” she says. Allen’s constant growth is one of her biggest challenges. New developm ents are popping up faster than she can recruit volunteers. She hopes to gain more ground in 2015, starting with a training day on January 24. Donaldson Allen Image | January 2015

Get fit and get involved! by Jeff MUES

It’s that time of year when many people look forward to a fresh start in life and resolve to exercise regularly and make healthier food choices. Others plan to get more involved in the community, to volunteer and to serve worthy causes. Countless resolutions are made, but how many are actually realized? Unfortunately, many of our best intentions are often derailed and

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abandoned within a few short weeks. Without anyone to hold us accountable, success can be difficult to find. If only there were an entity right here in Allen that could serve as your advocate in fulfilling such goals as improving physical fitness and increasing involvement within the community… If you’re thinking along these lines or if excuses are already starting to rear their ugly heads, stop it right now! Such an entity does exist in Allen! It’s the Allen Parks and Recreation Department, and we are standing by to make sure this is the year you finally make good on all your great New Year’s intentions! If getting off the couch and getting into a regular exercise routine is your top aspiration, then you’ll certainly want to take advantage of Member Appreciation Month. In January, Allen Senior Recreation Center, Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium, The Edge Visitor Center and Joe Farmer Recreation Center are all offering a 15 percent discount on new memberships throughout the month. If you’re keeping score at home and had saving money and exercising both on your resolution checklist, then this offer will make you two for two!

Those looking for volunteer opportunities and new ways to get involved in 2015 will want to circle January 29 on their calendars. On that day, Allen Senior Recreation Center kicks off its volunteer recruitment drive. An informative session from 10 a.m. to noon will educate potential volunteers on many of the numerous opportunities for giving back here in Allen. Among the many noteworthy volunteer opportunities is the Lone Star Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship, held March 4-7, at Allen Event Center. Volunteers are being accepted to fill such vital roles as media/courtside attendants, ushers, greeters, hospitality and locker room/back of house security. Visit LSCChampionshipAllen.com to learn more about how you can get involved with this exciting event. No matter what your New Year’s resolutions are, chances are Allen Parks and Recreation can help you attain them. Visit AllenParks.org today for more information, and get started on turning those resolutions into reality! v Jeff Mues is a senior marketing coordinator

with the Allen Event Center and Allen Parks and Recreation Department.

Anticipating a record-breaking 2015 by Vicki DEERMAN

For eleven years the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools has involved the community in generating funds to enhance the education in the Lovejoy ISD. To date, 131 grants have been awarded—for a total of $1,466,904—to Lovejoy ISD through for classroom grants and professional development. This year, the foundation is on track to raise more funds than ever before. On North Texas Giving Day in September, when the Communities Foundation of Texas offers “bonus” grants for individual donations, the foundation received $70,905 from 300 donors in a single day. By the end of the day, the foundation had received gifts from more donors than in the entire 2013 Annual Appeal campaign, more than double the number of donors in 2012. The 2014 Annual Appeal campaign ends on December 31, and it has already set records for both the number

of donors and the amount raised. The success of the Annual Appeal giving campaign sets the stage for a successful and record-breaking 2015—meaning a record-breaking number of classroom grants can be awarded this spring. Planning for the 9th Annual Denim and Diamonds Wild Wild West is underway. Gala chair Stephanie McCaffity, honorary chair Page Schreck and the foundation board of directors invite you to attend on Saturday, April 11, at Southfork Ranch. This fun community event will attract more than 650 guests for dinner and music, silent and live auctions and live entertainment by international country music star and Dallas native, Jolie Holliday. Donations for the silent and live auctions are currently being sought, along with sponsorships for the event. Businesses can also advertise in the auction program.

Tickets to the Denim and Diamonds Gala and Auction will go on sale February 23, through the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools’ website: www. foundationforlovejoyschools.org. The foundation is looking forward to a spectacular evening on April 11 and the opportunity to support LISD as it continues to provide an out standing education and opportunities for its students. For any questions and information on how to donate, contact Vicki Deerman, 469.742.8043 or vicki_ deerman@lovejoyisd.net. v Vicki Deerman is the executive director of the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools.

Allen Image | January 2015

Fun with a purpose You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to attend a performing and visual art celebration. The Allen Philharmonic and The Samantha Schmidt heARTS for ART organization are collaborating on this exciting event for families on Sunday, February 8, from 1-6 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center

(PAC) located on the campus of Allen High School, 300 Rivercrest Drive. This event, originated in memory of Samantha Schmidt, will raise funds for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) research at Cook Children’s Hospital so that, in Samantha’s words, “…other kids don’t get sick.”

Highlights for the concert portion of the event at 2 p.m. are the film Who Stole the Mona Lisa? and the Allen District Honor Choir. This auditioned chorus of fifth and sixth grade students represents every elementary school in the district. The concert’s finale features the animated film Who Stole the Mona Lisa? set to Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite”. The film is based on the historical fact that the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, was stolen from the Louvre in Paris in 1911. We invite all our guests to search for the clues in the film, and then follow their pursuit throughout the commons area of the PAC.

Samantha Schmidt The PAC commons will host art activities such as craft projects, face painting, games, performances, a bake sale and silent auction—something for everyone to enjoy! The auction will include items such as artwork, gift baskets, gift cards, etc. Outside, Carter Blood Care will host a donation site allowing donors the opportunity to donate blood and save a life. Tickets are $20/adults and $15/ students and can be purchased online at www.allenphilharmonic.org. For details and schedule, visit facebook. com/pages/heartsforart, the Allen Philharmonic website or call the office at 972.359.0656. This is an event with a great purpose and we look forward to v seeing you!

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Snippets

Spring into vegetable gardening The Collin County Master Gardeners Association will host “Spring into Vegetable Gardening” on January 24, 8 a.m.noon, at the Landing at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney. Vegetable garden experts will discuss specifics on when and what to plant in Collin County, with month-to-month guidelines for January through May. Attendees will learn about soil and soil preparation, how to propagate seeds and which plants grow well in our area. Master gardeners will answer questions on: water conservation with rain barrels and drip irrigation, gardening resources, soil amendments, compost, vegetable container gardening, raised bed construction and more. Representatives from Texas Pure Products will be on hand with examples of compost and mulch. Register online at www.ccmgatx.org. There is a $10 per person fee, payable online (credit card only) or at the door with cash, check or credit card. Contact Kathleen Brooks at 469.401.3873 for more information. v

Sidekicks soccer

The Sidekicks’ 2014-15 season is more than half finished and they are looking to make a strong push to win a fifth indoor soccer championship. The Dallas Sidekicks mix amazing indoor soccer with fun family entertainment to provide an unforgettable night for fans of all ages—high-scoring action on the field and contests and promotions for fans during timeouts and breaks. The Sidekicks play Hidalgo La Fiera at home on January 3, and will hold a second-annual Alumni Game at halftime—former stars, including Head Coach Tatu, face off in a scrimmage. “I think it’s a treat for the fans to see all of us old guys out on the field again,” Tatu said. The team takes on Oxford City FC on January 11 and Saltillo Rancho Seco on January 31. The latter is the Sidekicks’ Faith and Family Night and will also feature a Parade of Teams—all soccer players are invited to march the field during halftime in their jerseys to show team spirit. All Sidekicks home games are played at Allen Event Center and tickets start at just $9. Order online at ticketmaster. com or 469.200.GOAL. So come cheer on your Sidekicks! v

NCL-Allen Junior Style Show The Allen Chapter of National Charity League, Inc., one of the nation’s most distinctive mother-daughter service organizations, recently honored its junior class at the fourth annual NCL-Allen Junior Style Show. The Class of 2016 took the stage at the Lowery Freshman Center showcasing fashions from local shops. v

L to R: Caroline Brugge, Sarah Jane Landsaw, Holly Dierl, Lynnae Hodges, Taylor Finney, Emma Lescher, Riley Morris, Elizabeth Petsos, Samantha Sult, Ashleigh Wood, Sarah Pickle, Caroline Zander, Maddie Schafer, Isabella Panko, Jordan King, Rachel Johnston, Emma LeGare, Natalie LeBlanc, Jessie Green, Madison Dowell, Reagan Miles, Morrison Dean. Allen Image | January 2015

library

The Allen Library presents… Literary jazz

by Tom KEENER

The 2015 ALLen Reads program is launching with a free night of jazz provided by the John Adams Group at 7:30 pm, Thursday, January 29, at the Allen Public Library. This year’s selections, Orphan Train and Notes from a Midnight Driver, make extensive reference to the healing power of music and its ability to connect us to each other. Under the direction of Janet Flynn, drama students from Allen’s Lowery Freshman Center will read selections from the two novels in and around the jazz performances, highlighting the value of music in our lives. Don’t miss what will prove to be an exciting introduction to the works by this year’s authors! John Adams is an accomplished acoustic and electric bassist. A former jazz bass instructor at the John Adams University of North Texas, Adams is an arranger, composer and workshop clinician. Through his Sessionbasstracks.com website, Adams provides bass parts for recording clients across the U.S., as well as internationally. He has backed, toured and/or recorded for diverse artists such as Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Woody Herman, Bobby Lyle, Carl Fontana and others. Through his independent Congruent Music label, Adams has released eight highly acclaimed and widely varied CD

projects, including John and Mark’s Excellent Rock Adventure (2012) that incorporates unique instructional/ play-along tools. On drums, Mike Drake has backed an array of artists such as Rosemary Clooney, The Fifth Dimension, The Platters, The Inkspots, The Mamas and the Papas, Jerry Jeff Walker and many others. Drake has been an instructor at The University of North Texas, UT-Arlington and Texas Wesleyan University. Tony Hakim provides and vocals and guitar. His first CD, Postcards From You, is packed with a delightful assortment of original tunes, while his latest CD’s, Summer Place and Two For The Road, show off his definitive style as he interprets the works of the legends of the music world. On keyboard, Stefan Karlsson is on the staff of the jazz faculty at North Texas and has been a member of the Eddie Gomez Trio and Quartet since 1996, and been part of six of Eddie’s CD projects. His solo piano recording “Smilin’ Eyes” (Bebyne Records) received praise from critics, and his original music has been featured in movie releases such as Sugar Hill and Twenty Bucks, as well as on several television series such as Melrose Place. v

ALLen Reads kicks off 2015 ALLen Reads is very excited to introduce the main book and companion books for 2015. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. A heart-wrenching, heart-warming blend of the stories of two women—one young, one old—who learn and benefit from each other’s experiences. Based on the true occurrence of trains that carried orphaned and other impoverished children from the slums of the east coast to hopes for better lives on the farms of the midwest in the late 1800s-early 1900s. For our readers 9th grade-adult. Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick The well-told story of an angry young man in emotional crisis—one with whom many this age will be able to identify— who grows and learns from an older man. For our 6th-8th grade readers. The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. The poignant story of an immigrant retelling his story to the newest generation through his diary—items kept in matchboxes. The story and the art will keep our pre-K through grade 5 readers enthralled. All three ALLen Reads books will be available for purchase at a discounted price before and after the performance. v

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During January and February, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Depot, train history in Allen and family photos from an Allen family who adopted two children from an actual orphan train will be on display. Sam Bass Day, February 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sam Bass Day Art Contest theme will relate to the theme(s) of Orphan Train. Check www.allen heritage.org in December for rules.

Sherlock Holmes The Crew of the Barque Lone Star (Sherlock Holmes Society) will present The Crime at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 28, at the Allen Public Library. Also in January, the library’s gallery will feature artifacts and items on loan from The Crew of the Barque for viewing during normal business hours.

Bluegrass Festival

Ready for an unforgettable foot-stomping bluegrass experience? The library will feature two outstanding bands for its annual Bluegrass Festival. On stage will be both Bluestem and Quibble Brothers at 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 23.

Bluestem

In The Crime, Inspector Lestrade and four other inspectors are called in to investigate the “murder” of Allen’s beloved Mayor Steve Terrell. To celebrate the anniversary of the Allen Library, the mayor asked five world-renowned celebrities from the DFW area to donate a priceless memento of their own for permanent display at the library. Sadly, the mayor discovered that one of the pieces is a fake. He notified the celebrity and asked for a private meeting to discuss the scandal, which would include going to the press to ensure transparency of the entire event. The night of the meeting, the mayor told a fellow librarian of the deception without revealing which personality or item was involved. The next morning, the mayor was found dead in the library. Being extremely vain, the killer has posted five clues within the library that will prove the innocence of four of the personalities and confirm the validity of four of the items. Audience members will become inspectors, discovering fingerprints and blood splatters throughout the auditorium and gallery while seeking the clues. The inspectors must decipher the five clues to narrow down the list to the actual killer. As their associate, Sherlock Holmes, is fond of saying, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the answer.” The inspectors have limited time to complete the investigation and deduce the killer, as he or she will be boarding a plane at DFW Airport soon after nine o’clock to leave the country for good, escaping justice. Sponsored by Bach to Books, this program is free. v

Under the direction of Jimmy Strawn, Bluestem incorporates different styles and forms of music into each song. Jimmy plays rhythm guitar as well as performs lead and backup vocals for the band. Vocal harmonies round out their sound and honor this uniquely American music. Other band members include Phil Elery on a classic 1955 Kay upright bass, Alan Tompkins, Meredith Brown and on mandolin, James “Goose” Hayhurst.

The Quibble Brothers For the second set, The Quibble Brothers offer a mix of energy and talent. Bandleader Patrick Bouldin will captivate the audience with his mandolin. Bassist Drew Phelps played with the Quebe Sisters Band. Linda Relph is a four-time California State Ladies Fiddling champion and was a founding member of The Killdares. Banjo and fiddle player Chris Plumlee is also a firefighter for the City of Allen. Performing at coffee houses and venues throughout Texas, songwriter Richard Gilbert has written numerous bluegrass and folk songs. Free tickets will issued on a first-come, first-served basis at 7 p.m. v

The library is located at 300 N. Allen Drive. Call 214.509.4911 for information. Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library. Allen Image | January 2015

feature

Celebrating by Nicole BYWATER

Allen students stretch their imaginations to turn cardboard boxes into fun arcade games An empty cardboard box has limitless possibilities. It can be a rocket ship, a fort, a lemonade stand or even a time machine. It can be anything anyone imagines it can be. When nine-year-old Caine Monroy saw empty cardboard boxes in his dad’s auto shop in East L.A.—he saw arcade games. Using imagination and the materials he had, Caine created an arcade at the front of his dad’s shop and captured the attention of a filmmaker named Nirvan Mullick.

Discovering the arcade

“I met Caine randomly,” Nirvan explains in his first short film, ‘Caine’s Arcade.’ “I had to get a door handle for my ’96 Corolla so I pulled into this used auto parts store and came across this elaborate cardboard arcade.” After learning that $2 could buy a Fun Pass for 500 turns in the arcade, the filmmaker became Caine’s first customer. Amazed by the boy’s creativity, Nirvan organized a flash mob of customers to surprise Caine and make his day. His 11-minute film about the experience, made in 2012, became an Internet sensation with over one

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million views on its first day. Charmed by its message of creativity, hard work, perseverance and community, the film has since been viewed more than eight million times. When he first posted the video, Nirvan says he hoped to raise $25,000 for Caine’s scholarship fund. That goal was far surpassed, with over $60,000 in donations in just the first 24 hours. More importantly though, Nirvan says, it quickly became clear that there were kids like Caine in every community around the world, and the question became: What can we do to foster their creativity as well? So, in the days after the video posted, a nonprofit called the Imagination Foundation was formed—with the mission to find, foster and fund creativity and entrepreneurship.

Joining the celebration

One of the many viewers of “Caine’s Arcade” was Allen High School art teacher Sarah Arago. “I first saw the video on an art website about two years ago,” she says. “I showed it to all my students and they all thought it was really cute, sweet, fun and inspiring.” Last year, Sarah’s classes participated in the 2nd annual Imagination Foundation’s Global Cardboard Challenge—an event held each October, honoring the anniversary of the original Caine’s Arcade flash mob. Overall, more than 90,000 participants from 49 countries participated in the 2013 challenge. Sarah teaches 3D art as well as sculpture, and says that the problem-solving aspect of creating something fun out of cardboard appealed to her. “I noticed that kids were really having fun with people playing their games,” she explains. “They were throwing balls around and coming up with inventive stuff. This wasn’t just art that had to sit on a fancy pedestal, but something everyone could touch and have fun with.” For 2014, organizers opened the event up to all grade levels, inviting Allen ISD’s art teachers as well as some of the AIM (Gifted & Talented) teachers. “There’s normally not a lot of interaction between the high school and elementary levels so it was great to see so many different students and projects all mixed together,” Sarah says. “Plus, it was really fun to see these ‘tough, jaded’ high school students playing like little kids and getting excited about cardboard games.”

video, the students all said things like ‘Wow, that’s cool, I want to do that!’ and ‘Are we going to do that?’” Diane adds. “They were all so excited and loved being part of this.” During the evening, students video-conferenced with Nirvan, asking him questions about the “Caine’s Arcade” video as well as his next film project. “Nettie entered us into the lottery for a Skype session and we were thrilled to have won a spot,” Sarah explains. “I think that having the opportunity to talk directly with Nirvan made it really special for the kids and just that more real. Plus Nirvan was so nice.”

How is Caine doing now?

Nettie Powell, an art teacher at the Lowery Freshman Center, says she really liked the idea of posing a design question to her students in a challenge with few limitations. “I also told them that this was all about problem solving and that I expected them to encounter problems with their design—and that they needed to dream big and crazy and struggle to make their idea work,” she says. “We don’t learn from doing things flawlessly, we learn from messing up.”

Taking time to play

Now in middle school, Caine is doing great, Nirvan says in an article on The Huffington Post. “Caine’s dad told me that before the film, Caine was behind in reading and that his school considered him ‘slow’ and wanted to hold him back a year. After the film, Caine became a poster child for gifted children everywhere—his grades improved and he even stopped stuttering. Caine is still a regular kid who loves to work on his bike, play basketball and build things. On his 11th birthday, Caine officially “retired” from running his arcade to focus on school and his next big dream—starting a bike shop. “I can’t help but imagine how bright the future would look if the creativity of every child was fostered. I don’t mean that we need to make every kid a YouTube celebrity, but simply that we can do more collectively to foster the individual talents and abilities of kids. Seeing kids like Caine receive support from a global community makes me optimistic for our collective future.” v Nicole Bywater is a freelance writer from Allen.

Allen ISD’s 2014 Cardboard Challenge took place October 10 at the district’s performing arts center, with parents, teachers, students and siblings coming together to play cardboard games and celebrate art. Participants included Chandler, Lindsey and Anderson Elementary Schools along with Allen High and Lowery Freshman Center. Other schools took part in creating games, but didn’t bring them to the event; and there was a student art exhibit held in the gallery space at the same time. In Chandler’s AIM program, students have previously made games and machines from cardboard, says teacher Diane Moore, but this was the first year to showcase the creations. The students’ enthusiasm was evident from their eagerness to play with the games and check out what others had made. “After we watched the ‘Caine’s Arcade’ Allen Image | January 2015

kids korner

There’s an App for That By Deborah DOVE Did your child get an iPad or iTouch for Christmas? Looking for games that are appropriate, fun or even (is it possible?) educational? There’s an app for that! Here’s a round-up of some of the best apps on the market for kids of all ages. Toddler/Preschool

Tozzle—This puzzle game features 44 colorful, child-oriented puzzles that are solved by dragging and dropping the pieces, improving shape recognition and motor skills. Once the puzzle is solved, children can tap on the pieces for fun sound effects. After the third try, an arrow helps children find the right spot so frustration is kept to a minimum. There’s a free lite version to try before you buy. $1.99 iWriteWords—This app has too many awards to list, including one of “The Best iPhone Apps for Kids” by the New York Times and one of “The Best iPad Apps for Special Needs Kids” by the Washington Post. The app teaches handwriting (and spelling) using fun games and features 70 words/levels each of uppercase and lowercase and 20 levels of numbers. $2.99 Toca Town—This popular app geared toward kids age three and up features open game play in a colorful virtual town with no advertising or in-app purchases. There are 21 characters and six locations to explore, including a store where you can buy groceries and a restaurant where you can cook lunch. Each location is loaded with interactive elements for creative, open play. There are numerous other separate Toca apps, including a hair salon, band, pet doctor and many more. $.99 Phonics Letter and Sounds School—This Parents Choice award winner features a colorful, mysterious island of phonics sounds where children trace letters, recognize letter sounds and match letters. Free Funbrain Junior—With the help of cute and quirky characters, preschoolers can practice skills in literacy, math and problem solving with five fun games. Free

School/ Elementary

Faces iMake —An art-driven app that promotes creativity, Faces iMake lets kids create faces with collage materials. $1.99 (premium) or $.99 (lite) Dinorama—Kids learn about money, time management, and even interest as they build a dinosaur park where they’re in charge of everything from buying food and habitats for their dinosaurs to selling popcorn and hiring employees. $2.99 Minecraft—Arguably one of the most popular games for kids ages five to preteen, Minecraft is an open-ended game where you construct and play in elaborate worlds, recreating famous pieces of architecture or creating make believe worlds by “mining” resources and building with blocks. The game teaches creative thinking, geometry, and problem solving skills. There’s no blood or gore, but there are spiders, zombies, and skeletons that might be frightening to the youngest players. $6.99 Poptropica —Created by Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this popular online game is now an app. Explore a virtual world, traveling to different islands to uncover a mystery and collect medallions when you solve them. A kid favorite! Free Sushi Monster—Created by Scholastic, this app strengthens math

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fluency in whole number addition and multiplication as players use speed and accuracy to place sushi pieces near the monster and make correct equations to feed the monster. Free Stack the States—This award-winning app helps kids learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations and more with five different games—stacking states into a pile, locating selected states on a map, a state jigsaw puzzle, Pile Up and matching states with their capitals. In addition to being educational, this game is a ton of fun! $1.99

Preteen

Draw Something 2—The concept of this interactive game is simple: draw something and your opponent (it can be a random player or a friend) tries to guess it. Then it’s your turn to guess. Although there is an online component that might not be a good idea for younger children, you can also play only with people you know, even mom or dad! Free and paid. Marble Math—Who knew math could be so fun? Answer different questions as you move a marble through the maze. Designed for kids ages 9-12, there’s also a junior version for younger mathematicians. $2.99 Hopscotch —A fun and creative app that teaches coding, Hopscotch teaches players to program characters to move, draw, and collide with each other by using the iPad or iPhone. Fre Skyview—Point your iPhone at the sky to find stars, over 88 constellations, the planets in our solar system and distant galaxies, witness satellite fly-bys and more (there’s a night mode for better visibility). The app also has fun facts and a time travel feature. It doesn’t require Wi-Fi, so it’s perfect to take camping, boating or flying. $1.99 DinnerTime—Technically a parental app, this works from a parent’s iPhone to link to up to two kid’s devices to pause an activity for a set time up to two hours (during dinner, perhaps?), pause an activity for a set time up to 24 hours (punishment mode) and put in bed time mode (alarm clock is still accessible). Free

Teen

Find my iPhone —Install this app, open it and sign in. If your child ever loses their iPhone, iPad or iTouch, the app can help you locate it on a map, remotely lock it, play a sound or erase the data on it. Parental hint: You can also use it to see where your child is if they forget to text you. Not that anyone’s teen would ever do that. Free SAT Word Slam—Get an edge on the SAT with this app that uses humor, rhyming poems and mnemonic clues to teach players hundreds of SAT and ACT words. $3.99 (free lite version) iMovie —Use this cool app to create HD movies with titles, transitions, music, narration and special effects. You can also make Hollywood style movie trailers and book trailers, enhance video clips and share videos on social media. Varies (free to $4.99)

education

AHS Orchestra by Keith A. TAYLOR

In 2014 the Allen High School Orchestra placed in the Texas Music Educators Association top 10 String Orchestra finals and six students earned All-State Honors for the first time. Both are remarkable achieve ments, especially when you consider that the high school has had an orchestra for only 12 years. For all of those years, the orchestra has had one director and conductor—David DeVoto. Of course, DeVoto is proud of the orchestra’s achievements and credits its successes to motivated students and supportive parents. “Students who perform in the orchestra tend to be extremely selfmotivated,” he said. “They are usually high-achievers with very strong family involvement.” When DeVoto arrived at the high school in 2002, orchestra classes only existed in the middle schools and the Lowery Freshman Center. One of the Abilene native’s first jobs was to identify and recruit talent to lay the foundation for a strong, ongoing program. “It’s a lot like a great football or other sports program,” he said. “You start looking for talented kids at the elementary level and encourage them through middle school and into high school.” That was exactly what Fine Arts Director Anthony Gibson was looking for when he brought DeVoto on board. “We knew the district would be growing and there would be the expectation from parents that the high school would have a top-flight

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David DeVoto and orchestra orchestra program,” he said. “David has been able to build a competitive, successful orchestra. That is a real asset for the district.” In the first year of orchestra classes at AHS, DeVoto taught 23 students. Today, the program boasts more than 400. In 2002, the district employed four orchestra instructors. Today, nine directors work throughout the district supporting orchestra students beginning in the sixth grade. “High quality fine arts depart ments have large, successful orches tras,” Gibson said. “To be successful, you have to have the right staff, eager students, the right equipment and a very supportive school board and administration. Allen is very lucky to have all five.” The district also boasts a state-ofthe-art Performing Arts Center, which not only showcases student talent, it also draws significant attention to the district’s music department. “All of our music students, including orchestra, have a tremendous resource in our Performing Arts Center,” DeVoto said. “It is as good, if not better, than most college facilities. I think most

of the kids realize how fortunate they are to be able to perform there.” Two students involved in the orchestra are very enthusiastic about the program—and Devoto. Both Arielle Verdeflor and Amy Huang started playing the viola in the sixth grade at Boon and Green Elementary Schools . Now a senior, Arielle enjoys the collaboration from playing in the orchestra. “Getting together in class and hearing the music come out so beautifully is really cool,” she said. “I think that’s my favorite part. Orchestra has also helped me learn the importance of setting goals and setting aside time to practice and study.” She also appreciates the work ethic that DeVoto brings to class. “Mr. DeVoto pushes us to be our best,” she said. “He’s kind of like a parent. He keeps pushing you and pushing you and it can get hard. Then we go to competitions and we do really well and all we want to do is thank him for pushing us so hard. Amy, a junior, also said that being part of a group was a big motivator for joining orchestra. “I didn’t want to be in the

Amy Huang marching band, but I did want to create music as part of a group,” she said. “I wanted the chance to meet new people and make friends. I also liked the sound of an orchestra. I had heard music from movie scores and I wanted to make music like that.” Her chance to make friends has evolved into a remarkable talent— Amy is the first viola student from Allen High School to attain All-State honors. She gives a lot of credit for her success to DeVoto. “Mr. DeVoto is very enthusiastic about our music,” she said. “His spirit makes us all want to perform as well as we can, and he works hard to help us become better. I can’t imagine not going to orchestra.” For his part, DeVoto said the program is only as successful as its people and supporters. “We have had a booster club since 2002 and they are extremely helpful,” he said. “They support our scholarship program, help with trips and events and host our annual banquet. “We also have strong support from the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Dallas Strings,” DeVoto said. “The combination of those three has been instrumental in our achievements.” He also praised the district’s orchestra staff. “We have created a vertically aligned system that begins in the sixth

Arielle Verdeflor grade,” he said. “Our students are learning the same thing regardless of their campus. So, when they move to middle school or Lowery or the high school, there is not a lot of re-teaching. The district’s orchestra instructors are Matt Cross, Ellen Townley, Valerie Curry, Ann Grosshans, Amanda Su,

Monika Bartley, Joanna DeVoto and Hannah Hong. “We have great teachers and a great system,” DeVoto said. “I don’t v think we can help but grow.” Keith Taylor is a public relations specialist for Allen ISD.

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Digging in the dirt isn’t something you have to outgrow by Holly HARVEY

Since he was a little boy, Collin College alum Nathan Van Vranken always had an interest in the past and exploring various museums and the outdoors. His childhood was filled with different explorations and studying dinosaurs. “The dinosaur craze most little kids have never really left me,” Van Vranken said. No longer a child staring in at awe at dinosaur skeletons, Van Vranken gets into the nittygritty details of fossils as he runs his own lab at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin analyzing and detailing fossil specimens. “I’ve been involved with excavating the Arlington archosaur site and working at the UT Permian Basin mammoth site,” Van Vranken explained. “I also do personal specimen collecting across the United States, and a lot of it is in the Dallas/ Fort Worth and Big Bend areas.” The Arlington archosaur site is where more dinosaur fossils have been recovered than from any other site in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The UT Permian Basin site serves as the focus of Van Vranken’s current research in marine invertebrate layers. Spending hours preparing and cleaning specimens comes after excavation and is necessary to learn

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more about fossils. “In the lab, you use different types of solvents to remove some rock sediments from fossils, and you use different types of acids to break things down,” Van Vranken explained. “Then, you use

small air-powered chisels and work inch by inch removing excess rocks. Once the specimen is cleaned up, you take measurements and describe it in detail.” But not everything that occurs in a fossil lab is exciting or ground breaking. “A lot of the work is just general things such as prepping specimens, data entry, ordering supplies and looking over student projects,” Van Vranken said. But it wasn’t until Collin College that Van Vranken decided to turn his dino-digging passion into a prosperous career. “I came to Collin College because

the college offered the science classes I wanted, such as geology and biology,” Van Vranken said. “Collin College had a lot of science courses offered, and I knew I would need those classes to pursue paleontology.” In addition to science courses, Collin College is home to the nationally-recognized Center for the Advanced Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, a specialized program at Collin College for highly motivated and talented students majoring in mathematics or natural sciences. During his time at Collin College, Van Vranken became an active member in various professional, science-focused groups, such as the Geographical Society of America and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Through his courses and memberships, he was able to get a foothold in academia. “My first official research paper was published while I was at Collin College,” Van Vranken said. “I knew I needed to get my name out there and be known in my field and Collin College definitely helped with that.” After graduating from Collin College with an associate’s degree, Van Vranken transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington where he received his bachelor’s degree. Currently, he is a graduate student and lecturer teaching historical geology at the University of Texas at Permian Basin. He is pursuing a graduate degree and wants to eventually work in a museum. “The goal is to pursue a Ph.D. from there, work in a museum and specialize in a fossil collection,” Van Vranken said. “Right now, I’m working on ocean research from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. Particularly, the creatures that swam in the cretaceous period called a mosasaurus—there’s so much still to be learned.” For more information about academic programs at Collin College, visit www.collin.edu. Holly Harvey is a public relations writer at Collin College.

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In our exploding Information Age, podcasting has not only changed how we get our knowledge, but also from whom. It lets us open the doors to our cars, homes and minds to those with the insight and entertaining stories, but not necessarily the big bucks of media giants. Although free podcasts have been around for over a decade, they were pretty much limited to the more technically savvy. Today, podcasts are pouring out of the home computers, tablets and smart phones of the more tech-challenged crowd because not only do they have much to offer, they are also more easily accessed. Podcast fans can pick and choose what they listen to. By subscribing to preferred programs, new episodes will be down loaded automatically and played back at the subscriber’s convenience.

How Come and Take It took off

On September 8, 2013, Mike Zolkoski of Allen, Sean McIver of McKinney and Scott Elfstrom of Plano posted their first Come and Take It podcast, “L’experience Française au Texas.” For their inaugural program, the three discussed the influence the French had on early Texas. Each week, they added a new Texas-themed podcast with diverse topics such as barbecue, Willie Nelson, the Civil War and the first Polish colony. Their fan base—as well as a list of other Texas topics they are planning to cover—is steadily growing. Native Texans hailing from differ ent areas of the state, Mike, Sean and Scott met as scholarship freshmen at the University of Texas at Dallas. With an appreciation for technology, a love of movies and science fiction and a fascin ation with all things Texas, the three have remained best friends for 20 years. With his family roots in West Texas, Sean was born in Sweetwater and moved to several other Texas communities before graduating from Normangee High School, northwest of Huntsville. Born in San Antonio, Mike

spent most of his early years in Corpus Christi then moved to a number of small towns before graduating from Lamar Consolidated High School in Richmond. Scott grew up in the coastal town of Texas City and graduated from Texas City High School. Mike points out, “Scott’s a Gulf Texas guy, Sean has the West and North Texas experience, and I’m a little more of a South Texas guy, so we cover most of the compass points.” The three friends had been listening to podcasts for several years and noticed a lack of any weekly program on one topic they all loved—Texas. “We said here’s a niche for us because it’s something we know and care about,” Mike explains, “So we got out a little strip of paper and started writing out a list—‘we can talk about this, and this, and this…’—and we listed 40 things that night! “And we are all into media,” he continues. “I’m into audio production and music, Sean is a really good writer and Scott is a web developer.” They had the necessary knowledge and skill set, all that was lacking was the budget for the high production value they wanted. But they would not allow that to stand in the way. Although there are off-the-shelf programs available for podcasting,

they opted to design their own in order to meet their specific needs. Mike even used a song he wrote and recorded several years earlier for the show’s intro tune. “From the beginning we said, ‘look, there are a lot of podcasts out there,’” Mike states. “They set up a mic, get some people together, have a conversation and record it, but the audio quality is middling and the conversation is a little too organic.” He adds that this type of program also offered an advantage. “It’s like entering someone’s parlor each week and listening to them talk about something.” Grimacing, Sean points out that the other common option sounds more like a dry university lecture. “So we decided to combine these two ideas,” Mike concludes. ”While I enjoy listening to a podcast as a conversation between people and the spontaneity of that, when you are talking about history, you need to do research so you can get your facts right. So that’s what our format evolved from.” And the title of the show? For those who did not have seventh grade Texas history, this refers to the slogan on a flag hung by Texas revolution aries during the 1835 Battle of Gonzales, defiantly taunting the

Sean McIver, Scott Elfstrom and Mike Zolowski Allen Image | January 2015

Mexican army to try and capture their coveted cannon. The first show the trio recorded was on the Battleship Texas. A subject close to Sean’s heart, he jumped into the research and script writing for this topic. He recalls, “We set microphones up around Mike’s kitchen table, then hit the ‘record’ button and started talking—and it was a disaster!” Sean laments, “I came in with all this information on the Battleship Texas, but I was the only one who knew about it and was expecting to have a conversation about the subject!” He laughs that he came across sounding more like “Professor” Sean discussing the Battleship Texas. In unison, Mike and Scott nod and respond, “Uh-huh!” In keeping with their primary goal of producing a podcast that not only had accurate content but was also fun to listen to, it was agreed that the original recording would be scrapped. As a result, the trio went back and

Mike Zolowski rewrote and rerecorded the Battleship Texas episode, bumping it to episode number two. “One thing we quickly figured out is that the first person writing the episode is the one who is going to know the most about it,” Sean states. “But it’s the responsibility of that person to provide the other two with the information in the content. We know all three of us cannot do all the research.”

Gaining momentum Eventually, the program devel oped a structural rhythm that continues today. “We do an intro and then a short snippet about what the program is about,” Mike explains. “Then we do a non sequitur about our favorite Texas something or other— like ‘What’s your favorite Chuck Norris movie?’—just to lighten the mood. If you’re listening to this for the first time, you know these guys are having fun. And that’s the big thing, it’s all supposed to be fun.” They have done an occasional interview with other history buffs such as Stephen Guerra of Buffalo, New York, who produces the History of the Papacy podcast. “We did an episode with him talking about the missions of Texas,” Sean recalls. “He took it from the perspective of the Catholic Church

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and we took it from the perspective of Texas and combined our efforts.” Once an episode is recorded, usually 45 minutes to an hour in length, Mike edits it down to a more listenable length of 25 to 35 minutes. In addition to the podcast being a well-developed pastime, the three men relish the knowledge they have acquired about their home state. As an example, Scott cites the story of Harmon Dobson. “He was everything from a car salesman to a gold miner, a self-made man who a tried bunch of different things before he came here to start Whataburger.” And Sean adds that ragtime composer Scott Joplin and 1920s aviator Bessie Coleman were both from Texas. Other favorite, but long forgotten, characters of the early Lone Star State the three unearthed are Britt Johnson and Creed Taylor. A freed slave who moved his family to west Texas; Johnson lived with the Comanche for a year in order to ransom his wife and children who had been taken during a raid. Taylor—fighting at the first battle for Texas independence, part of the Runaway Scrape, and present at Santa Anna’s capture—was a famed Texas Ranger as well as father to two of Texas’s most notorious outlaws. And of course, they cover the wellknown legends such as Jim Bowie and

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Sam Houston. Sean laments that limiting these Texas giants to one episode proved an impossible task. “I started writing about Jim Bowie and had five pages, which is about 30 minutes, and he hadn’t even left Louisiana yet!” he laughs. “So I started part two and at five pages, he had just gotten to the Alamo. And there’s a bunch of stuff to tell about him at the Alamo. And then I got to thinking, what if the listener doesn’t know about the Alamo…” “We also want to tell more than the Anglo Texas story,” he continues. ”We’ve told some stories of forgotten Tejano heroes. Juan Seguin, Jose Antonio Navarro and Lorenzo de Zavala have fascinating stories.” He notes that the latter wrote the Mexican constitution after it won independence, fled to Texas to be a part of its independence movement, and later became the first vice-president of the new Republic. But the three don’t limit their podcasts to long-ago historical figures or events. They have devoted episodes

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Sean McIver to Texas icons like the late Texas Instruments’ co-founder and Dallas mayor J. Erik Jonsson, barbecue, beer, Six Flags Over Texas and the Texas Rangers (of both baseball and law men fame). Scott points out, “One of the themes that has emerged over and over again as we have worked on these

stories is that Texas is a place where people can come from wherever and, no matter who they are, reinvent themselves.” He names Jim Bowie as an example. “He was a real scoundrel, ripping people off with land grants, but ultimately he got past that and became a true Texas patriot and a true Texas leader!” “I tell people this is our love letter to Texas, because we love Texas, warts and all,” Mike asserts. “We don’t shy away from telling the dark tales. And we are not professional historians; we want to keep it interesting and teach you something you didn’t know.” That means listeners may hear about bloody feuds and momentous disasters in some episodes, but in others learn why Popeye and Alley Oop can claim to be Texans or where to find the world’s largest pecan. Two topics are off the list for potential Come and Take It episodes— politics and religion, except in how they relate to an historical event. In addition, Mike stresses, “We don’t go back and say this was right and this was wrong. ” But after a momentary pause, he adds, “Now I’m gonna make a call here and say that slavery was wrong; that was a bad call all the way around.” Sean adds, “And we take a pretty hard stance on secession and the Civil War.” Despite the demands of family

and jobs, Mike, Sean and Scott can boast that in the 16 months since Come and Take It started, they have not missed a single weekly episode. They credit James Abendroth, another friend from their college days and cradle Texan, for helping out with research and writing on occasion so they can keep up with the demanding schedule. The trio usually records every other Wednesday, making two to three episodes in one sitting. Mike estimates that between the recording, research, writing and audio editing, each spends between 10 to 20 hours a week to get Come and Take It out to their fans. One time saver has been Google Docs, a web-based application that allows the three to share research and written scripts with each other several days prior to recording. Considered the organizer for the group, Sean maintains the list of potential topics, upcoming episodes, when they are scheduled to be recorded and aired and who is assigned to write and research them. As the audio editor, Mike aspires “to sound as good as NPR,” a national non-profit media organization that has served as a long-time and well-respected podcast leader. To achieve this goal, Mike, Sean and Scott will often do multiple takes for the same episode and then Mike will work his audio editing magic with professional audio software to remove superfluous noise, verbal flubs and unnecessary dialog. “The real secret is to get a quiet room, set up the mics as best you can and practice good mic technique,” Mike emphasizes. “We are learning to be better podcasters—how to speak extemporaneously and cut out the ‘ums’ and ‘ahs.’” “But decent equipment gets us ahead of the game,” Scott asserts.

has passed the 500 mark, they aspire for a much larger listener base. “We want our audience to be everyone,” Scott emphasizes. “We are making a good show and are proud of the product we are producing. So now we are at phase two—how do we spread the word? Because we are doing something that a lot of people would be interested in.” Although their primary goal is producing a high-quality podcast, all three also acknowledge that earning

money to cover their hosting and equipment expenses would be a significant benefit. “Most people who make money with podcasts do it through sponsorships and sell ad spots,“ Scott explains. “But to get that sort of sponsorship you have to have an audience.” Since building an audience also takes money, Scott, Mike and Sean are exploring on-line funding sources. “My thing is that I want you to have the best possible production experience. I want you to say this

What comes next? As their skill in creating podcasts develops, so has their subscriber list, with listeners from as far away as England and South America. Scott estimates that although this number Allen Image | January 2015

and Heroes,” “The Legends of Texas Wrasslin’” and “Willie Nelson.”

Join in the fun

Scott Elfstrom sounds like a professional show,” Mike explains. “And Sean’s big passion is about the integrity of the history.” Sean continues, “And Scott’s in between that because he’s interested in the quality but also the human interest— it has to be creative and entertaining.” “The sum is greater than the parts!” Mike concludes. That sum equals weekly shows that all three are proud

of and feel a sense of pride and connection to. Because of their varied interests, each has his own favorite shows. Even their recommendations for Come and Take It newcomers varied wildly. The episodes that got multiple thumbs up as good introductions include “Texas BBQ,” “Deep Ellum,” “The Fracas at Daileyville,” “Whataburger,” “Tough Guys, Wildmen

To expand your own knowledge of Texas and be well-entertained to boot, the Come and Take It podcast is available through a number of options. You can subscribe via iTunes or a variety of other podcatchers and listen through your smartphone or tablet. “A podcast is a free program of digital media delivered over the Internet. It’s the best parts of talk radio with the convenience of a TiVo. And with modern smartphones, you can take these shows with you wherever you go,”Mike explains. “Podcasts are distributed using a format called RSS (Really-Simple Subscription). Your phone, tablet or computer has a program that subscribes to a particu lar show, much like you would subscribe to a traditional print magazine. When the show is ready, it is automatically distributed over the Internet for your enjoyment.” iPhone users can download the free podcast app and then subscribe to Come and Take It directly from iTunes. A variety of podcasting apps are available for Androids and the RSS link on the brainstaple.com website will assist you in subscribing to these. For those who would prefer listening directly via their computer, each episode can be heard at the Come and Take It website brainstaple.com. In addition, the website offers links to other resources on the topics covered when the episode is clicked. And if your curiosity has the best of you, you can learn about Santa Anna’s wooden leg in the Come and Take It episode “Santa Anna, Part 2” and the Lee-Peacock feud in Collin, Fannin, Hunt and Grayson Counties in “Reconstruction in Texas, Part 2.” That should make the long drive home a lot more interesting and maybe even make household chores downright fun. v Peggy Helmick-Richardson is a freelance writer.

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pet page

“Hope” Hope is a female Catahoula leopard/cattle dog mix that weighs about 40 pounds and is about two years old. She was rescued by a Legacy Humane Society foster home from a shelter just in time to save her life. She is a sweet, loving and loyal family dog that loves playing with other foster dogs and gets along great with them. Hope also enjoys being around people and loves to cuddle. She would make a wonderful addition to any home as she is nondestructive inside and out, knows her toys and loves to play with them. Hope would do great with an active family or a home with another pet that she can pal around with. She is housetrained, but needs a yard to run in. She is current on all her vaccines and is waiting for her forever family! If Hope is what you are looking for, all you have to do is fill out the online application at http:// legacyhumanesociety.org/adoptfoster/ adoption-application/ and her foster mom will be in touch. v

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calendar

JANUARY 8

Allen Early Childhood PTA Meeting and Seminar, 9:30-11:30 am, First Christian Church, 1207 Twin Creeks Drive, Allen. Please join us for a seminar on time management and family organization by professional organizer, Sara Genrich! Nursery reservations are requested, but not required. Be sure to include the name and ages of each of your children. Food and drinks are provided. For more info: www.aecpta.com.

24 Collin County Master Gardeners Association will host “Spring into Vegetable Gardening,” 8 am-noon, Myers Park and Event Center, McKinney. Discussions on when and what to plant here in Collin County, with month-to-month guidelines for January through May. There is a $10 per person fee, payable online (credit card only) or at the door with cash, check or credit card. For more info: Kathleen Brooks at 469.401.3873.

30 Allen Early Childhood PTA Open House, 10 am-noon, First Christian Church, 1207 Twin Creeks Drive. We will be hosting Grisham Farms and Pure Movement and Dance. Grisham Farms will bring animals. Pure Movement and Dance will be doing a showcase dance class for children to participate. The final activity is making Valentine’s Day cards for elderly residents of Mustang Creek Estates. There will be Valentine’s Day snacks and drinks for all. For more info: www.aecpta.com. 31 Bingo hosted by Allen Eagle Home Run Club, 6 pm, doors open, 6:30 pm, bingo start time, Allen High School, 300 Rivercrest Boulevard. This is traditionally our largest fund raising event for the Allen High School baseball teams. The evening is for the entire community and offers bingo games and prizes, door prizes, a silent auction, drawings, food and lots of fun for the whole family. For more info: www.facebook.com/pages/ Home-Run-Club/440755780536?v=wall.

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.

Parks and Recreation Events

2 Allen Americans vs Rapid City Rush 3 Dallas Sidekicks vs Hidalgo La Fiera 4 Allen Americans vs Wichita Thunder 10 Allen Americans vs Missouri Mavericks 11 Allen Americans vs Missouri Mavericks 16 Allen Americans vs Wichita Thunder 17 Allen Americans vs Wichita Thunder 18 Dallas Sidekicks vs Oxford City FC of Texas 19 Allen Americans vs Missouri Mavericks 22-24 Dallas Trampoline & Tumbling Cup 29 Allen Americans vs Rapid City Rush 30 Allen Americans vs Rapid City Rush 31 New Year New You Blood Drive and Health Fair Dallas Sidekicks vs Saltillo Rancho Seco 1 Membership Drive. Receive 15% off on all City of Allen facilities such as Joe Farmer Recreation Center, Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium, Allen Senior Recreation Center and The Edge Visitor Center. Memberships must be paid in full no later than January 31 to receive 15% off one year membership. 9 SNAP Dance, Recreation Hall. SNAP your fingers and shuffle your feet at this Special Needs and Adapted Program! Enjoy music, a fun disco theme and snacks. Register early, fee increases to $15 at 5 pm Wednesday prior to

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each dance. For info, contact Dana Gillespie at Dgillespie@cityofallen.org or 214.509.4707. 10 Saturday Night Rec N Roll. A fun and safe social program for students, 3rd-6th grade. Gym games, music, dancing, dodge ball, pool, theme nights, table tennis, contests, prizes. Supervision is provided and concessions are available. An ID card (annual $5 fee) is required to participate. Walk up admission, $10 at the door. 29 Volunteer Kick-Off, Allen Senior Rec Center, 10 am-noon. Learn about volunteer opportunities at the Allen Senior Rec Center and for the City of Allen. Returning volunteers are also invited to attend. Open enrollment, January thru February.

ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY Films

All films begin at 7 pm and are free. 6 The Bourne Identity (2002) starring Franka Potente, Matt Damon and Clive Owen. 13 Goldeneye (1995) starring Pierce Brosnan, Judi Dench, Sean Bean and Izabella Scorupco. 20 Hunt for Red October (1990) starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin and Scott Glenn. 27 Mission Impossible (1996) starring Jon Voight, Tom Cruise and Emmanuelle Béart.

Children’s Programs

Story Times run January 19-April 23. Baby & Me—For pre-walkers with adult, Thur., 10:15 am Fun Ones—For 1 year-olds with an adult, Mon., Tues. & Wed., 10:15 am. Family Together Time—For ages 2-6 years and their family Mon., Tues. & Thurs., 11:15 am. All By Myself—For 4 & 5 year-olds ready to attend independently, Wed., 11:15 am.

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Pajama Story Time—For children 2-6 years and their family, Tues. & Thurs., 7 pm. Winter Reading Club for children and teens ends Jan. 11. Children 0-11: Read 5 books and return your reading log to get a free book! Teens 12-18: Read 3 titles for a free book!

Adults

5 Adult Winter Reading 2015—Destination Anywhere, Jan. 5-Mar. 1. No registration required. Win prizes for reading books. Prizes include a Kindle Paperwhite and $20 gift cards to Amazon, Target and Top Golf. Reading logs will be available online and at the reference and information desks on Mon., Jan. 5. Call the Reference desk at 214.509.4905 for more details. 1 Finger Knitting, 2:30-4:30 pm. All you need is a skein of bulky weight yarn and your fingers. We will make infinity scarves and holiday ornaments. Arm knitting will also be demonstrated. Registration preferred. Ages 16+; free, 2nd floor program room. 7 Noontime Pageturners, noon, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. Bring a lunch and friend and join us for a lively discussion! A relaxed environment to share the joy of reading. 8 “Discover a Healthier You”, T’ai Chi, Carole Booth, Lu T’ai Chi Players, Allen Chapter, noon-1 pm, 2nd floor program room. Promotes relaxation, balance and harmony of body, mind and spirit, and can reduce stress to help you sleep better, become calm and gain inner peace. Join us for a sample class and learn basic moves. Comfortable clothes, shoes and water recommended. Age 18+. Free. Register online at www.allenlibrary.org or call 214.509.4913. Trivia Night, 7-8:30 pm, 2nd floor program

room. Test your knowledge in literature, history, science and more! Ages 18+. Limit teams to 4 members. Free; register online at www. allenlibrary.org or call 214.506.4905 or 214.506.4913. Contact Emily Plagens at eplagens@cityofallen.org. 11 Cultural Awareness: India, 2 pm, 2nd floor program room. In conjunction with our Winter Reading Program, “Destination Anywhere.” There will be food, music and a short presentation about Indian culture. We are happy to have Kavita Ravinuthala share her culture with us! Free. Call 214.509.4905 or email abraid@ cityofallen.org to register. 12 Become an E-Reader Expert! 7 pm, 2nd floor program room. Are you totally confused about how to download e-books? In this come and go program, learn the easiest way to download library e-books on your device, and learn some tips and tricks to make your reading experience even better. Nooks, Android tablets, iPads, and Kindles will be covered. Free; call 214.509.4905 or email abraid@cityofallen.org to register. 13 Coffee Cupping with Coffee del Rey, 7 pm, Meeting Room. Coffee del Rey presents a coffee tasting of original blends and roasts from around the world. Additional snacks provided by Food for Thought Market and Café. Coffee del Rey is a for-profit organization that uses profits to support charities and causes. In Bean for Seeds, they partner with GAiN ministries to provide seeds and training to create a sustainable community garden in third world countries. For each pound of coffee they sell, they provide 5 packets of seeds to this organization. Ages 18+. Free; registration is preferred. Register online or call 214.509.4905. Contact Susan Wedding at swedding@cityofallen.org.

14 DIY@APL—Quilled Greeting Cards, 1011:30 am, 2nd floor program room. Create a personalized greeting card using the traditional art of quilling and 3-D paper craft. Instructions and supplies will be provided. Age 16+. Free; register online at www.allenlibrary.org or call 214.509.4913. Twisted Threads—A Fiber Craft Circle, 6:30 pm, 2nd floor program room. A social group for knitters, crocheters, quilters and other crafts with thread or yarn! All skill levels welcome! Bring your project. 15 Talking History—The Civil War Comes (Almost) to Texas, The Red River Campaign of 1864, 7 pm, 2nd floor program room. 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Learn about the time when the war almost came to Texas, with Dr. Richard Lowe of the University of North Texas. Dr. Lowe will discuss the Red River Campaign of 1864, which saw Union troops try to occupy east Texas and cut off the rest of the state from the Confederacy by attempting to seize control of the Red River in Louisiana. Registration is required. Register online or contact the Reference Desk at 214.509.4905. 22 Twisted Threads Fiber Craft Circle—Morning Edition, 10:30 am, 2nd floor adult program room. Do you knit? Or crochet? Or make spectacular things with thread and yarn? Twisted Threads is a social group for knitters, crocheters, felters, quilters and any other crafters who use thread or yarn! All skill levels welcome! So, bring your latest project and work on it in the company of other fiber crafters. 27 Armchair Travelers Visit Switzerland, 7 pm, 2nd floor program room. Join Maya Quinn as she shares stories and pictures from her time in Switzerland. You’ll also have the opportunity to see some Swiss souvenirs, sample a few Swiss snacks and gain an understanding of Swiss culture, travel, and history. Free. Registration is required. Register online or contact 214.509.4905. 28 Social Security Seminar, 6:30 pm, 2nd floor program room. What is social security? Do you know how to find your benefit information? Steve Meeks of Educators Advantage Group discusses the basics of Social Security, the planning process, strategies and techniques to maximize benefits.This program is geared for adults ages 58-62. Register online or call 214.509.4905

Connemara Conservancy Connemara Meadow Preserve

3 Bird Walk at 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. Wearing long pants, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent is reccommended. 25 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. 1-31 Dinosaurs Live! exhibit. Encounter the 46-foot T-Rex and eight new life-size animatronic, dinosaurs along the Heard Museum nature trails. The exhibit always gives families and friends a fun, educational activity to enjoy together.

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24 Night Hike, 5:30-7 pm, explore the sights, smells and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers are encouraged to sharpen their senses to spot signs of animal life and learn more about inhabitants of the Heard.

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. Urban Explorers, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups throughout Dallas area. For more info: www.meetup.com/getoutandabout. 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 kids age 0-5. 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. Heart Link Women’s Networking group, women only business networking. Monthly meetings—days and locations vary. For more info: www.75013.theheartlinknetwork. com. Baylor Health Care System offers support groups, medical information and events. For more info: www.BaylorHealth.com.

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Texas Health Presbyterian, a variety of events. For more info: www.texashealth.org. Plano Bicycle Association, club rides, social activities, monthly meetings, newsletters. For more info: Chris Mathews, 972.964.2869 or www.planobicycle.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. 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. Every Monday-Friday 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. The Shores AA Group, noon, Raceway Prof. Bldg., 200 W. Boyd, Suite C (Adjacent to Dayrise Recovery), Allen. Open AA discussion group. Everyone welcome. For more info: 469.854.9593. 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 Allen Toastmasters’ Club, 6:30 pm, Train Depot, 100 E. Main, Allen. Guests welcome. For more info: Joe Nave at 214.566.3100.

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. Allen Symphony Chorus rehearsals, 7-9 pm, choir room at First UMC. For more info: Henry@ WealthManagementGroupLLC.com 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. 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. 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 The MOB (Men of Business), 11:30 am-1 pm, TopGolf USA, Allen for male bonding and networking over lunch. $20 chamber mem; $25 non-mems/general public. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com. McKinney Ladies Association (SRLA), 7 pm. Various locations and service projects monthly. For more info: www.mckinneyladies.org. Collin County Early Childhood PTA, 9:45 am, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700

Dallas Pkwy., Plano. Nursery reservations required. For more info: Suzanne Judkins, 972.712.3634. Heard Museum Collin County Hobby Beekeepers, 7 pm, Heard Craig Center, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566 or www. northtexasbeekeepers.org. Sons of Confederate Veterans, William H. L. Wells Camp, No. 1588, 7 pm, Tino’s Too Restaurant, 2205 Ave. K, Plano. Speakers, programs, etc. Open to anyone interested. For more info: Lloyd Campbell, 972.442.5982. American Association of University WomenPlano/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. Veterans of Foreign Wars “Lone Star Post 2150,” 1710 N. Church St, 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. Third Monday Allen Retired Educators, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. RSVP: Janeen Chattaway@ janeen03j@yahoo.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.

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. First Nighter African Violet Society, 7 pm, Stacy Road Pet Hospital, 451 Stacy Road, Fairview. Promotes widespread interest in African violets and study of their growth habits. For more info: 972.398.3478 or www. beautifulviolets.org.

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 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. 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.

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Toastmasters Creative Expressions, 11:15 am12:30 pm. Raytheon, McKinney. Guests welcome. 2ChangeU Toastmasters, 7-8:45 pm, Plano Family YMCA, 3300 McDermott Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.2changeu.org. Every Tuesday & Thursday Allen Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 7 pm, 1st UMC, Wesley House, 601 S Greenville. Offers strength & hope to friends & family of alcoholics. For more info: 214.363.0461 or www.al-anon.alateen. org. 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. First Tuesday Heard Museum Native Plant Society, 7:30 pm, One Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566. First and Third Tuesday Common Threads of Allen, 7 pm, Whole Foods Market Café, Stacy Rd. Share needle-work projects, learn 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. Legacy 4-H Club (Allen and Lucas), 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas. For more info: kathrin_esposito@asus.com or 214.616.2460. Second Tuesday Allen Senior Citizens Luncheon, 11:30 am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville. For more info: 214.509.4820. 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 Archaeology Society, 7 pm, Texas Star Bank, McKinney. For more info: archaeology@netzero.net. Collin County ADD/LD Parent Support Group, 7-9 pm, parlor, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. For more info: Shirli Salter, sscaroline@aol.com. Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, 9:30 am, SMU in Plano, 5236 Tennyson Parkway. Program: “Laissez les Bon Temps.” Actress, writer and humorist, Glo Jenkins will regale us with a witty and informative view of Mardi Gras. Attendees are encouraged to wear Mardi Gras attire.Visitors, guests welcome. For more info: www.newcomerfriends.org. McKinney Amateur Radio Club, 7 pm, Spring Creek Bar B Que 1993 North Central Expressway, McKinney. For more information: 972.814.4190. Plano Pacers run at Schimelpfenig Library parking lot, 5024 Custer, in Plano, 7 pm. For more info: www.planopacers.org. Third Tuesday Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter meets Aug.-May. For more info:txshawm@sbcglobal.net. Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group provides support & resources for parents

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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. McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, 9:30 am, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. Jeremy Turner, General Manager, Texas Family Fitness will show some exercises age-appropriate and gender-specific that can be done at home, as well as what programs are available at the club for women. For more info: www.mckinneynewcomers.com. 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 Sunrise Rotary Club, 7 am, Savour Tasting Room & Social Club, 968 Village Green Dr., Allen. For more info: 972.673.8221 or www. allensunriserotary.com/ Allen Rotary Club, noon, Courtyard by Marriot, 210 East Stacy Rd. For more info: www.allenrotary.org. 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. Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, “Become the Speaker and Leader you can be,” 7 pm, IHOP, 315 Central Expy, Allen. For more info: Bill Peterson, 972.523.9425. 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 guided tour of Myers Park, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Res. req. 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. Third Wednesday Greater Collin County Kennel Club, 7 pm, Joe Farmer Rec Center, 1201 E. Bethany, Allen. For more info: www.greatercollinkc.org.

Every Thursday Allen Kiwanis Club, Noon, Café Del Rio, on 75 just south of McDermott. 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: nntchorus@hotmail.com or www. nntchorus.org. Speak Up! Frisco Toastmasters Club, 77:30 pm social, 7:30-8:30 meeting. U of D-Frisco campus, 6843 W. Main. For more info: http://speakupfrisco.freetoasthost.ws. Weight Watchers, 12:15 and 6 pm, 1st United Methodist Church, 600 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Enter south entrance, 2nd floor. Bible Study, 9:30–11:30 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. Allen Classic Cars, 7-10 pm, 103-111 N. Central, parking lot of Chipotle & Stacy Furniture. First Thursday Allen Garden Club, meets 7 pm, gardening talks by area experts, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. For more info: Denise Webre, 972.390.8536 or www. allengardenclub.org. North Dallas Newcomers, 11 am, Canyon Creek Country Club, 625 W. Lookout Dr., Richardson. Program will be presented by photographer Warren Paul Harris titled “Texas As I See It.” Exploring his coffee table book through a media presentation, Mr. Harris will give all of us an enhanced appreciation of the wonderful state of Texas. For more info: www.northdallasnewcomers.net. Second Thursday W.I.S.E. (Women in Support of Enterprise), 11:30 am. Location varies. Networking & discussion of women’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/. FUMC Legal Aid Clinic, 6-8 pm, First United Methodist Church, 601 S. Greenville, Allen. Legal assistance for civil matters for low income individuals in partnership with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas. Food & fellowship provided. For more info: kim.klieger@gmail.com or ww.lanwt. org. PSA:NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] of Collin County, 7:30 pm, Custer Road UMC, 6601 Custer Road, Plano. Enter 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.

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. Second and Fourth Thursday Allen Area Patriots, 7-8:45 pm, Failth Fellowship Church, 415 West Lucas Road, Lucas. Local Tea Party presents speakers, encouraging citizens to participate in the political process. For more info: www.AllenAreaPatriots.com. Allen High Noon Lions Club, 5th Street Pizza (inside Stacy Furniture), 111 Central Expwy. S. For more info: Peter Young, 972.849.4952. 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. Allen Quilters’ Guild, 6:30 pm, 1st Presbyterian Church, 605 S Greenville. For more info: www.allenquilters.org. 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. 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/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. Every Friday Allen Senior Rec Center Dances, 1-3 pm. Ages 50+. Mem. free/Non-mem. 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 Friday Italian Lovers of North Dallas, 7 pm, Italian Villa, 121 N Greenville Ave, Ste B, Allen. Do you like Italy? Many bilingual Italian-Americans meet here every month to chat in Italian and find new friends. For more info: email ITALOVERS@tx.rr.com. Allen Image | January 2015

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 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. Open Forum, meaningful discussions, 3 pm, Delaney’s Pub, 6150 W. Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney. For more info: Charlie, 214.585.0004. Second Saturday Department 56 Village Collectors Club meets in the Plano/North Dallas area to share ideas. For more info: www.bigd56ers.com.

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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 teaches children to serve their community. For more info: 972.396.8010. 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 Dr. Musicians 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, FUMC, 601 S. Greenville, Parlor. Join us for book discussion and refreshments. Book selections are determined at the January meeting. We 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.

For Your Health

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For Your Health

Allen Image | January 2015

health & fitness profiles

TLC Pediatrics

1105 Central Expwy. N., Suite 250 • Allen • 972.747.5437 • www.tlcpedi.com The mission of TLC Pediatrics is to provide exceptional health care to children—care that fosters their health and prepares them for the future. We strive to share with you in the nurturing of your child from birth to adolescence so that they may reach their full potential. We bring our skills, knowledge and passion to help care for your child’s physical, emotional and developmental needs. We invite you and your child to come experience TLC Pediatrics—Where Kids Come First! Meet The Doctors! In order for you and your child to get to know us, we set aside a special time each month for you to come and meet our board certified pediatricians as well as our two certified pediatric nurse practitioners. Please give our office a call and plan to attend our next “Meet The Doctors” night! Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Dan Moulton established his pediatric practice here in Allen in October 2000. Dr. Dan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his residency training in pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. A board certified pediatrician, Dr. Dan’s special interests include childhood immune deficiencies, allergies and pediatric sports medicine. He is the proud father of three boys and enjoys being home with his family, as well as softball, flag football, fishing and the occasional video game. He is an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan. Dr. Jenna O’Brien is originally from the DallasFort Worth Metroplex area and attended the University of North Texas as an undergraduate. She graduated from UNT’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth and completed her pediatric residency training at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jenna is board certified with the American Academy of Pediatrics and joined TLC Pediatrics in January 2012. Her special interests include newborn, developmental and adolescent medicine, as well as ADHD. She is also educated in American Sign Language and deaf culture. She enjoys volunteering as a sorority advisor to the Gamma Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi at UNT.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen 1105 Central Expressway • Allen • 1.877.THR.Well • TexasHealth.org/Allen Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen has been serving residents in Allen, McKinney and surrounding Collin County communities since 2000. Texas Health Allen offers a broad range of health care programs and services with more than 500 medical staff physicians practicing in specialties including breast surgery, cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedics, cosmetic/reconstructive surgery, urology and wound care. The Family Birthplace allows expectant mothers to labor, deliver, recover and bond with their new babies in the same location. Texas Health Allen is also the first and only hospital in Collin County to offer cord blood donations through the Texas Cord Blood Bank. For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.

Allen Family Dental

1420 W. Exchange Pkwy., Suite 170 • Allen • 469.342.6644 • www.allentexascosmeticdentist.com Dr. Lina Lizardi graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2007, and from the University of Santo Tomas de Aquino in Colombia in 1994. She has been practicing dentistry since 1995. Dr. Lizardi lives in Allen with her husband Rafael and their two children, Alex and Sofia. Dr. Lizardi and her team recognize that many patients come to the practice with previous negative experiences. She and her staff are committed to spending extra time helping patients feel comfortable and understand their treatment options. From your very first phone call, Dr. Lizardi wants you to know that you have her undivided attention. Dr. Torrens-Parker was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She received her DDS degree from La Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela in 2002. After practicing for one year as a general dentist, she decided to continue her education and attended Columbia University in New York City for three years where she completed a Master’s Degree in Prosthodontics. Dr. Torrens-Parker has enjoyed practicing dentistry for over 10 years. She is a member of the American College of Prothodontists (ACP), and the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA). She is fluent in English and Spanish.

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health & fitness profiles

Jupiter Kids Dentistry and Orthodontics 601 E. Bethany Drive, Suite 130 • Allen • 972.396.8080 www.jupiterkidsdentistry.com Dr. Sal Taiym and Dr. Elizabeth Kamali are committed to providing exceptional oral healthcare to infants, children and adolescents. They have been married since 2008 and have two beautiful daughters that keep them busy at home. As parents and dentists, they understand the importance of nurturing a positive attitude toward dentistry and emphasizing good oral health habits from an early age. Kids feel at ease when they first step into the office, with the kid friendly atmosphere, video games and movies above chairs.

Dr. Kamali

Dr. Kamali is a native of the Allen/Plano area. She studied biology at UT Arlington. In 2004, after graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry, she was eager to begin working with children. Upon completing her general practice residency at the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, she was ready to return to Allen and give back to the community. Dr. Taiym attended UT San Antonio for his undergraduate studies and Baylor College of Dentistry for dental school and his pediatric dentist training. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is on the medical/dental staff at Children’s Medical Center of Plano/Dallas, where he participates in emergency call coverage.

Dr. Tayim

Jupiter Kids Dentistry and Orthodontics welcomes Dr. Jared K. Corbridge. Dr. Corbridge graduated from UCLA school of Dentistry and received his orthodontic training and Masters of Science degree at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. He loves helping patients achieve confident smiles! His commitment to excellence and outstanding training will help ensure that your children receive the individual quality of care they deserve. We love to make your children smile and are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide the best orthodontic care for your family! Call us today for an appointment at 972.396.8080. Dr. Corbridge

Brookwood Family Practice and Pediatrics 865 Junction Drive • Allen • 214.547.8300 Practicing in Allen since 2005, family physician Adam Smith, MD, and pediatrician Kimberly Smith, MD, recently joined their practices to provide the best care for the entire family. Married for 17 years and with two children of their own, our physicians understand the importance of long-term relationships and continuity of care. Whether it is for an annual checkup or the sniffles, we hope to provide convenient care with a down home feel. We are proud of our newly constructed medical office located just south of Exchange between Watters and Highway 75 at 865 Junction Drive. Our medical family includes family nurse practitioners Sabrina Dorris, NP-C and Nicole Broderu, NP-C. Call us today for an appointment at 214.547.8300, or feel free to stop by and check out our new office.

North Dallas Plastic Surgery/ Dr. Todd Pollock

1105 Central Expwy. N., Suite 2310 • Allen • 8305 Walnut Hill Ln., Suite 210 • Dallas 214.363.2575 • www.drpollock.com North Dallas Plastic Surgery has been providing a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to North Texas for over 40 years. Offices are conveniently located in both Dallas and Allen. Cosmetic procedures include facial rejuvenation (facelift, browlift, eyelid surgery), breast surgery (breast augmentation, lifts and reduction) and body contouring (liposuction, tummy tuck, thigh and arm lifts) Dr. Pollock is nationally recognized for the development of the “Drain-free Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). We offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures to treat changes related to facial aging. Our approach is individualized and employs current techniques to minimize incisions and downtime. Our medical treatments include Botox, Restylane, Radiasse and Juvederm; all of which are administered by a physician. Dr. Pollock is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. All consultations include comprehensive evaluation and discussion face-to-face with the surgeon. Our educational website: www. drpollock.com, reflects our professional, caring and ethical philosophy—“Beauty begins with knowledge.” Allen Image | January 2015

health & fitness profiles

Premier Foot and Ankle

8080 Hwy. 121, Suite 200 • McKinney • 6309 Preston Road, Suite 1200 • Plano 972.424.8999 • www.premierfoot.com Dr. Jaryl Korpinen of Premier Foot and Ankle offers the newest technologies for the treatment of foot and heel pain. Podiatherm is a non-surgical, insurance approved treatment using radiofrequency to cure heel pain as well as pain in the ball of the foot called Morton’s neuroma. The EPAT is a non-invasive in-office treatment to heal conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Although Dr. Korpinen was surgically trained at the Harris County Surgical Residency, he has invested in these new, conservative technologies for better solutions for foot pain without the need for surgery. As a former college basketball player, Dr. Korpinen has a special interest in sports medicine and works closely with various running clubs, triathlon clubs and races. Dr. Korpinen has been recognized by his peers as a D Magazine Best Doctors in Collin County. Premier Foot and Ankle also has on-site x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, treatments for neuropathy and vascular testing for diabetics. New technology for the treatment of toenail fungus is now available as well. Please call for an appointment or more information.

Dallas IVF

3000 Communications Pkwy., Suite 200 • Plano • 5301 W. University Drive (Hwy 380) • McKinney 469.219.8210 • www.DallasIVF.com The physicians at Dallas IVF are fellowship-trained experts in fertility and have been helping local families grow since 1997. With convenient full-time offices in Plano, McKinney and Frisco, our team of physicians and embryologists are here to guide you through your journey to having a healthy child. By utilizing the most advanced technologies in the world at our state-of-the art facilities, we provide patients the highest standard of reproductive medicine care through personalized treatments. Our physicians, Dr. Brian Barnett, Dr. Lowell Ku, Dr. Dara Havemann and Dr. Sara Mucowski, have extensive experience with patients who are having difficulty conceiving—over 6000 children have been born with their assistance. We offer full fertility testing and treatment including bloodwork, ultrasounds, semen analysis, hysterosalpingogram (testing for tubal obstruction), insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (for both screening and for gender selection) and egg freezing for female fertility preservation using the latest technology (vitrification). At Dallas IVF, we’re sensitive to your individual needs and are here to help you achieve your goal of parenthood. Please visit us at www.DallasIVF.com or call our office to schedule a consultation today.

Allen Dental Center, PC 300 West Boyd • Allen • 972.727.3941 • www.allendentist.com Allen Dental Center is a family and cosmetic dental practice that offers state-of-the-art dental services. Patients enjoy receiving regular check-ups with as much quality and care as crowns, bridges, implants, dentures, root canals or cosmetic dentistry services. Whether it is a smile makeover or restorative work, we offer sedation dentistry for those apprehensive about dental treatment. Bringing over 30 years of combined experience to Allen, Dr. Jeff Williams, Dr. Steve Williams and Dr. Brad Wyatt provide a special brand of quality care. “The people who come to see me are more than just patients,” says Dr. Jeff Williams. “For me, practicing dentistry has always been about connecting with the patient,” adds Dr. Steve Williams. “That’s why we make sure that all of our patients know all about the procedure we’re performing and the status of their oral health. We offer the kind of care we would want for our own families.”  Allen Dental Center strives to consistently provide a superior level of treatment and comfort with state-of-the-art dental products and services at affordable prices. Call for an appointment today and see how Allen Dental Center is helping to make Allen more beautiful, one smile at a time.

Infinity Personal Training

1201 W. McDermott Drive, Suite 106-108 • Allen • 469.675.3378 • www.personaltrainingallen.com Infinity Personal Training, formerly Fitness Together, is a one-of-a-kind personal training studio that helps their clients look and feel their best while achieving their fitness goals in a fun and upbeat atmosphere. The unique setup of three private training rooms and a new 2000-square-foot open space facility allows trainers to focus solely on their clients, leading to maximum results. Whether it’s 1-on-1, semi-private or small group training, we design workouts to meet each individual’s needs while focusing on form, injury prevention and maximum results! Our program is the only complete solution with personal training, metabolic conditioning sessions and nutrition coaching. Numerous challenges and prize-winning opportunities are conducted throughout the year to keep clients motivated and on their toes! The trainers are all well educated and have experience training a variety of clientele including teenagers, sedentary or active adults, diabetics, rehabilitating individuals and young athletes. If you are looking to get in shape, drop weight, increase energy or take your fitness to another level visit www. personaltrainingallen.com.

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health & fitness profiles

Allen Kids Dentist Jessie Hunter, DDS • Tammy Gough, DDS, MS • Karen Coe, DDS 201 North Alma Drive, Suite 100 • Allen • 972.727.0737 • www.allenkidsdentist.com All three of our doctors are board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. They are experts in the growth and development of the oral structures of infants, children and adolescents and are specially trained in behavior management and sedation techniques for apprehensive or special needs patients. Dr. Jessie Hunter was raised in Oklahoma, did her undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and received her dental degree from the University of Oklahoma Dental School. Jessie earned her Pediatric Certificate from Louisiana State University. She currently lives in Frisco with her husband, Brandon, and their children. Dr. Tammy Gough has served as president of the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentistry. She has been active in the Texas Pediatric Dentists Political Action Committee and previously served on the Texas State Dental Board. Dr. Karen Coe is the newest addition to our team. Dr. Coe completed her Pediatric Dental residency program in Massachusetts with the Lutheran Medical Center of New York. She currently lives in McKinney with her husband, Josh, and their new baby girl, Kamila. “Our office is committed to making every visit a fun and positive, yet educational, visit for the children.” The office provides its young patients plenty of fun with a video arcade for their enjoyment before and after their appointment. The doctors and staff provide the highest quality of dentistry through continuing education on new procedures, products and equipment.

Vision Source Fairview

1546 E. Stacy Road, Suite100 • Allen • 214.383.5400 • www.visionsource-fairview.com Vision Source! Fairview provides the most advanced eye health care available with the ultimate combination of technology and personal attention from caring doctors. Dr. Carey Patrick is a Board Certified Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. In addition to comprehensive eye exams for the entire family, Dr. Patrick also cares for eye conditions including infections, injuries, ocular allergies, cornea dystrophies, dry eye syndrome, cataracts, diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration. One of the most exciting special programs available is CRT—Corneal Refractive Therapy—to reshape the patient’s eyes, without surgery, to see well without daytime glasses or contact lenses. Specific services are also available for sports vision and custom contact lens designs for hard-to-fit patients as well as pediatric eye health and vision development evaluations for patients six weeks to four years old. We provide complete eye health care using advanced technology—including the new digital Optomap imaging system. See the inside of your eye without getting dilated! Vision Source! also offers a large selection of glasses, sun wear and top quality contact lenses in prices to fit every family’s budget. That’s the difference you’ll experience at Vision Source!

Creekview Orthodontics 1780 W. McDermott Drive, Suite 100 • Allen • 214.547.0001 At Creekview Orthodontics, Dr. Jay Ghosh, Dr. Trent Lofgren and their team strongly believe in preventive care with a conservative treatment philosophy. In addition to practice experience, both doctors have taught orthodontics at the university level—Dr. Ghosh full-time for many years. Their belief is to use the latest technology, but only that which is backed up by peer-reviewed research. While creating beautiful smiles is their goal for each patient, the most satisfying part of orthodontics is the relationships created with patients and their families. Orthodontics provides beautiful smiles that improve self-esteem, while contributing to overall health. Other benefits include better function, ease of cleaning and greater longevity of teeth. Since detecting a problem early makes prevention and correction easier, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be screened by an orthodontist at age seven. Since newer materials— like tooth-colored “invisible” braces and special alloyed wires—have made treatment more cosmetically appealing and comfortable and has shortened treatment time, more adults are accepting orthodontic treatment as well.

Dr. Lofgren

Dr. Ghosh

Allen Image | January 2015

health & fitness profiles

Master’s Hand Dental 935 W. Exchange Pkwy., Suite 300 • Allen • 972.905.9091 www.mastershanddental.com Your Smile. Our Passion. The entire team at Master ’s Hand Dental is excited about the latest high-tech developments to make your dental treatment a high-comfort, low-stress experience. Our practice features general dentistry, oral sedation, cosmetic dentistry, whitening, orthodontics, non-surgical periodontal treatment and so much more. With our popular oral sedation dentistry, you can complete your entire dental treatment while you sleep and wake up with a new smile! We pride ourselves in individual service with state-of-the-art equipment and sterilization techniques. Dr. Koons and our caring, knowledgeable staff provide you with a comfortable and warm atmosphere. We would be delighted to welcome you to our office as our new patient! Call today.

Craig Ranch OB-GYN

7900 Henneman Way, Suite 100 • McKinney • 214.544.6600 • www.craigranchobgyn.com Conveniently located off of the Sam Rayburn Tollway between Alma and Custer, Craig Ranch OB-GYN provides OB-GYN services to the north Collin County area including Frisco, Plano, Allen and McKinney. We offer complete obstetrical care with management of both high-risk and low-risk pregnancies and perform deliveries at several of the local hospitals including Medical Center of McKinney, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Baylor Medical Center at McKinney. We are one of the leaders in all of Texas for in-office procedures such as endometrial ablation and Essure for permanent sterilization. For the convenience of our patients, we have also added in-office mammograms, making us the first and only OB/GYN group in the area to do this. The group consists of Andrew Shimer, MD, Shea Joyner, MD, Sara Robert, MD, Heather Sloan, MD, Christine Wan, MD, Allison Atlas, WHNP and Kristan Rhone, WHNP. Please call for a consultation.

Allen Ophthalmology

400 N. Allen Drive, Suite 108 • Allen • 972.727.7477 • www.heritageeyecenter.com Heritage Eye Center • 1501 N. Redbud Blvd. • McKinney • 972.548.0771  The city of Allen’s premier ophthalmology center is in the expert hands of Dr. James Norbury who provides state-of-the-art treatment while maintaining the personalized service of a small town practice. An avid hockey fan, Dr. Norbury was recently selected to be the team ophthalmologist for the Allen Americans, caring for team players and attending to any game injuries. By partnering with his associates at Heritage Eye and Surgery Center—Drs. Rudolf Churner, Sanjay Patel, Joe Constable, Grant Gilliland (oculoplastics), Henry Choi (retina) and Santosh Patel (retina)—he can ensure quality care in all facets of eye care. For patients who require surgery, the Heritage Surgery Center team specializes in the treatment of cataracts offering Crystalens and ReSTOR lens implants, as well as LASIK, laser treatments for a variety of eye conditions and oculoplastic surgery. For the best sight of your life, make an appointment with Dr. Norbury. Allen Ophthalmology and Heritage Eye Center are eager to serve your vision needs.

Acupuncture & Herbs • Dr. Julie Qu 2305 Coit Road, Suite D • Plano • 972.832.1584 • www.jqclinic.com. Americans are increasingly interested in acupuncture and herb treatment because of the great results achieved and the lack of associated side effects. Dr. Qu has extensive training and twenty-two years experience in acupuncture and herbal medicine. She graduated in 1985 from Hei Long Jiang University in China, a school of traditional Chinese medicine. In 1993 she earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Chinese Medicine and became a member of the first generation of Ph.D.s in Traditional Chinese medicine. Through combinations of acupuncture and herbs, Dr. Qu has treated patients with a variety of disorders including pain, injury, fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraine headaches, vertigo, TMJ, stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, allergies, PMS, infertility, digestive problems, IBS and more. She can also help patients to quit smoking or lose weight. She has been teaching Acupuncture and Herbology at the Dallas College of Oriental Medicine since 2003, where she works as a professor, a clinic supervisor and a clinic director. To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call or visit her website.

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health & fitness profiles

Advanced Foot & Ankle Center 4501 Medical Center Drive, Suite 300 • McKinney 221 N. Preston Road, Suite C • Prosper 972.542.2155 • advancedfoottexas.com At Advanced Foot and Ankle Center, we strive to deliver foot and ankle care that is safe, effective and compassionate all at the same time. Eric Silvers, DPM, Robert Hadfield, DPM and Dustin Lloyd, DPM provide experienced care for the entire spectrum of podiatry, including reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. “Our extensive training and experience provides a solid foundation for uncompromised comprehensive medical and surgical foot and ankle care,” says Dr. Silvers. “By staying current with the latest medical trends, patients can be assured that we employ state of the art procedures and equipment that have been proven to be safe and effective.”

Dr. Silvers, Board Certified

“We are located in a very active part of Texas,” states Dr. Silvers. “On a daily basis we see all types of acute and chronic foot injuries from foot and ankle fractures to foreign bodies to tendon tears and ruptures. Of course, we also see many ingrown toenails, heel pain issues, bunions, hammer toe deformities as well as various skin and bony growths.” In addition to adults and geriatrics, we also treat many pediatric patients. According to Dr. Hadfield, “Ignoring a problem and hoping it will go away is ill advised, particularly when it comes to pediatric foot issues. Caught early, many problems such as flat feet or in-toeing can be corrected with shoes, orthotics or braces. Also, most foot conditions, like flat-footedness, tend to be genetic. Fortunately these problems, when caught early, can often be treated without surgery. Dr. Silvers and Dr. Hadfield often treat patients who have had unsuccessful procedures done elsewhere, giving patients much appreciated relief.

Dr. Hadfield

We are excited to welcome Dustin Lloyd, DPM to the practice and also back home as he is an Allen, Texas native. “I strive to know each of my patients and provide a personalized treatment plan for them,” states Dr. Lloyd. Advanced Foot and Ankle Center will soon relocate its McKinney office to 5531 Virginia Parkway in Stonebridge Ranch. The state-of-the-art facility will offer digital x-rays, diagnostic ultrasound, laser therapy, procedure rooms, in-office sedation for minor surgical procedures such as wart excision and ingrown toenails, a physical therapy department with licensed physical therapists and a retail store that will be open to the public. The retail end of the practice will offer podiatrist-recommended athletic shoes, sandals and therapeutic footwear. In addition, there will be many products that will assist with foot health. Take a step in the right direction and come visit us at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center. We offer early morning, lunchtime and evening appointments.

Dr. Lloyd

Maryam Mojdehi-Barnes, DDS, MS

604 S. Watters Road, Suite 150 • Allen • 972.390.1100 • www.AllenOrthodontist.com Dr. Mojdehi-Barnes and her team have been specializing in creating healthy and beautiful smiles for patients of all ages since 1999. They provide their patients and their families with the highest quality of orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. Dr. Mojdehi-Barnes uses the latest technologies and involves other specialists, as needed, to customize unique treatment plans that address each patient’s specific needs. They focus on patient education and personalized care while emphasizing comprehensive, preventive and interceptive therapy. Dr. Mojdehi-Barnes received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Texas A&M University with summa cum laude honors. She was the Valedictorian of her dental class at Baylor College of Dentistry and went on to complete her orthodontic residency and master’s degree at the world-renowned program of Baylor, as well, with top honors. She is also certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Mojdehi-Barnes is active in her community and numerous national and local organizations. To learn more about the practice visit their web site at www.AllenOrthodontist.com or call 972.390.1100.

Ross J. Miller, DDS, PA

915 W. Exchange Pkwy., Suite 200 • Allen • 972.727.1200 www.2thboy.com Dr. Ross J. Miller earned his B.S. from Texas A&M University and his DDS from Baylor College of Dentistry. He is a lifelong resident of the Dallas area and practiced dentistry in Plano for 17 years before moving his practice to Allen in 2007. He and his team built a modern, comfortable office, combining Old World sophistication with cutting-edge technology. He focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry and incorporates digital xrays, intra- and extraoralphotography and Cerec (CAD/CAM, or Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) as integral parts of his restorative work. Dr. Miller does not believe in simply running the maximum number of patients through his office, preferring to keep the pace relaxed and manageable. Long-time staff members (some over 15 years) ensure continuity and a personal approach to patient care. Allen Image | January 2015

health & fitness profiles

Bethany Heights Dental

1208 E. Bethany Drive, Suite 7 • Allen • 972.390.8500 • www.bethanyheightsdentalcare.com Dr. Carla Spann-Lopez earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from the Texas A & M Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. Before attending dental school, she graduated from Duke University School of Engineering in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. A believer in keeping her skills current, she has completed numerous continuing education courses and is an alumnae of the Pankey Institute in Florida where she has expanded her knowledge of principles of general dentistry to incorporate all aspects of patients’ oral health, nutrition and medical systemic conditions in her practice philosophy. With a compassionate and conservative approach to dentistry, she believes that patient education is paramount to success in resolving and preventing oral health issues. She is particularly skilled in helping fearful patients relax during their dental care and is certified to provide sedation for these patients when necessary. This former Associate Professor at Baylor College of Dentistry is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Dallas County Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. She and husband Gino attend Fellowship Christian Center Church of Allen. Her son Carson attends Ford Middle School and son Cameron attends Chandler Elementary School here in Allen.

Steve Duffy, MD, FACS 1105 Central Expwy. N., Building 1, Suite 370 • Allen • 972.335.7874 • www.drsteveduffy.com Dr. Duffy is proficient in all areas of general surgery, which include gallbladder removal, hernia repair, thyroid and parathyroid procedures, surgery of the colon, intestines and stomach, with a particular interest in surgical options for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux, or heartburn. He performed more anti-reflux operations while stationed in San Antonio than any other military surgeon and received referrals for tough cases from outside the state of Texas. He has instructed over 20 surgeons on techniques of anti-reflux surgery and lectured to many audiences on the disease causes, symptoms and treatments. His approach is to treat the patient suffering from chronic heartburn, and not to merely perform an operation. Dr. Duffy grew up in Wylie and became a prolific medical scientist at UT Southwestern Medical Center after earning degrees at UT Dallas and publishing a dozen research articles. He graduated magna cum laude from UT Medical Branch in Galveston and studied surgery for an additional five years. Dr. Duffy served 13 years in the Air Force, with a six-month tour in Afghanistan. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. He lives in Prosper with his high school sweetheart wife, beautiful four-year-old daughter and an assortment of pets.

Ponder-Terry, Orthodontics/Stacy Ponder-Terry, DMD, MS

1505 W. McDermott Drive, Suite 145 • Allen • 214.736.3705 • www.ponderterryortho.com Dr. Terry is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Millsaps College and completed her dental school training at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry where she finished at the top of her class. It was there where Dr. Terry made history, becoming the first African American female in the school’s history to become accepted into an orthodontic specialty program. She completed her specialty training at one of the country’s top orthodontic programs—the University of Michigan. During her residency, Dr. Terry was named a Charley Schultz Resident Scholar for her distinguished thesis research project on External Root Resorption. Dr. Terry’s work was recently published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. A past orthodontic patient herself, Dr. Terry is committed to providing the best patient care possible. Dr. Terry closely listens to her patient’s concerns to develop an individualized treatment plan. She currently lives in Allen with her husband, Ryan, and their shih tzu, Gracey. Keeping busy when not working with her patients, Dr. Terry enjoys step aerobics, running, attending her patients’ extracurricular events and spending time with her family and friends.

I Choose Change PLLC 1514 N. Greenville Ave, Suite 310 • Allen • 214.547.1318 www.ichoosechange.com Jennifer Slingerland Ryan knows a thing or two about kids and families. First, she knows they are joyous, exhilarating, loving and so darn fun. Second, she knows they suck your life dry and make you weep like a baby. By day she’s a psychotherapist, by night she’s a mom and wife. She claims to love therapizing couples, educating parents, reading dystopian fiction and sleeping in her free time (read: she never sleeps), and she’s written a highly inappropriate book that no teen should ever read, but all of her couples should. Jennifer has spent over 10 years in private practice working with individuals, couples and parents who are faced with kid-drama, mamma-drama and family-drama, and she claims that although some stories make a grown woman cry, she loves it.

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health & fitness

You

and the

flu by Janell WILSON, MD, PhD

It’s that time of year again when the flu is affecting people at an all time high. Last week, the CDC announced the strain of influenza virus chosen as the basis of this year’s vaccine does not match the common strains of flu virus now circulating due to virus mutation, signifying that this flu season may be quite severe. Be educated about flu symptoms. The symptoms of the flu are similar to that of a common cold and may include runny nose, headache, congestion and sore throat. However, the flu virus usually (but not always) includes fever of 101º F or higher, body aches and fatigue. Most people describe feeling as if they’ve been “hit by a truck.” A typical flu virus lasts about seven days, with days three and four being the worst. A person with the flu is contagious until they are without fever for 24 hours, so make sure you keep kids home from school and call in to work sick to decrease the risk of infecting others. It is also a good idea to visit your doctor who may be able to prescribe an antiviral to lessen your symptoms. Get vaccinated. The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to be vaccinated. The flu vaccine does not guarantee you will not get the flu, but it will lessen your chances and, hopefully, the severity of your symptoms. Everyone over six months of age should be vaccinated. Even if you believe you already had the flu this season, get vaccinated anyway to prevent reinfection with a different strain of the virus. In addition, try to stay away from sick people and wash your hands frequently. Understand that the flu virus does not cause the flu. Many individuals believe that they contracted the flu virus after receiving the vaccine. In most cases this is just not true. Whenever you are introducing a

live or killed virus into your system (as with any vaccine) there is a chance that the immune system will be activated and cause some mild symptoms of fatigue and possibly low grade fever. However, the flu vaccine takes two weeks to provide protection. It is most likely that a person was infected with the virus just prior to or after vaccination before they were protected. Despite this recent news regarding the flu vaccine, it will still protect against certain strains of the flu, and can help reduce the risk of complications even among the strains that have mutated. The vaccine continues to be the best protection against the flu in addition to good respiratory hygiene, vigorous hand-washing—especially before meals—using tissue instead of a sleeve or hand and avoiding crowded public places, if at all possible, especially when feeling ill. v Dr. Janell Wilson is a family medicine physician practicing at Raintree Healthcare in Allen. Source: CDC

Allen Image | January 2015

HITT the cardio… …burn the FAT by Lara PRICE Fitness trends come and go, but one trend seems to be staying and getting more and more popular because of the amazing results and benefits it provides. High Intensity Interval Training, also known as HIIT, was listed as one of the top fitness trends for 2014 by the American College of Sports Medicine

When developing your HIIT workout, find the type of exercise you enjoy the most (ACSM). This type of training involves repeated bouts of high intensity effort followed by varied recovery times. The intense work periods may range from 20 seconds to 8 minutes long and are performed at about 85-95% of your estimated

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maximum heart rate. The recovery periods may last as long or be somewhat longer/ shorter than the intense work and allows your heart rate to drop down to 50-70% of your estimated maximum heart rate. An example may be sprinting for .25 miles on the treadmill and then allowing yourself 2-3 minutes to walk and recover. Then repeating this for 20-60 minutes depending on your fitness goals. Getting your heart rate into these higher zones increases the body’s need for oxygen, which causes a higher calorie burn than your typical workout. Post workout, your body is using more oxygen to help with recovery, which creates what is called Excess Postworkout Oxygen Consumption (EPOC). Depending on the length of the workout, this keeps your body burning calories at a higher rate, anywhere from 12-36 hours after your workout. This is why HIIT is great to put in

your workout regimen if you are trying to lose weight. You get efficient, fast results with a shorter workout. There are many more benefits to HIIT than losing weight. If we could see inside our body and witness first-hand what cardiovascular exercise does for us, we would all be doing a lot more of it. According to ACSM, HIIT training has been shown to improve your overall aerobic and anaerobic fitness, lower your blood pressure, increase your cardiovascular (heart) health, lower your cholesterol and reduce abdominal fat and body weight while maintaining muscle mass. HIIT is popular because of the benefits and because anyone can do it. It can be modified for people of all fitness levels. It can also be done with all modes of exercise including cycling, walking, swimming, elliptical trainers and most group exercise classes. When developing your HIIT workout, find the type of exercise

you enjoy the most. Decide how long you want your workout to be. Typically HIIT workouts do not last longer than an hour and can be as short as 15-20 minutes. Always begin with a 5-10 minute warm-up. Start out with high intensity times that equal recovery times. You may need more recovery with your first few HIIT workouts. For example, try power walking on a treadmill at a 12% incline for 3 minutes and then recovering at a 1% incline for 3-4 minutes. If you don’t

have a heart rate monitor then use perceived exertion. If you feel uncom fortable (almost miserable) and the intensity feels very hard, you are more than likely hitting 85-95% of your perceived maximum heart rate. When you feel recovered and ready to go again your heart rate has more than likely come down to 50-70% of your perceived maximum heart rate. Be sure to give yourself about 48 hours to recover before doing another HIIT workout. For years, athletes have been incorporating HIIT training into their workout program to stay lean and help with their overall performance. Achieving a HIIT workout 2-3 times a week can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. Give HIIT a try and see what it can do for you. v Lara Price, B.S., ACSM, is the head trainer at Orange Theory Fitness in Allen.

Allen Image | January 2015

What is infertility? Sara J. MUCOWSKI, MD

Infertility is a very common problem affecting up to 20% of couples. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of “trying” to conceive. Approximately 85% of couples become pregnant within one year. If a couple doesn’t conceive within that first year, the chance of conceiving de creases with each subsequent month. In addition, chances of pregnancy decrease as women age—women in their 20s to early 30s have a 25% chance of pregnancy each month; however, women in their 40s have less than a 10% chance of conceiving on their own. Given the impact that age has on female fertility in women age 35 or older, infertility treatment is considered if pregnancy has not been achieved after only six months of “trying” to conceive. Even if you have not been trying to conceive for a year (or for 6

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months if you’re 35 years old or more), you still meet the criteria for infertility if you and your partner haven’t been actively preventing conception with birth control or condoms.

What causes infertility? Infertility can be caused by many factors and are found to be a problem with the male partner, the female partner or both in equal proportions. One of the most common causes for infertility is lack of ovulation (releasing an egg). There are many reasons why a woman may not ovulate, including Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), being overweight or obese, advanced age or hormonal imbalance that disrupts the brain’s ability to communicate with the ovaries. Another common cause for infertility includes blocked fallopian tubes. No matter how healthy the sperm or eggs are, if the tubes are

blocked, pregnancy cannot occur naturally. A history of pelvic infection, appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis are potential clues that tubal blockage may be a problem. Another very common cause of infertility involves poor sperm. Disorders of both sperm production and transport commonly cause impaired fertility.

When should I see a reproductive endocrinolog y and infertility specialist? If you are younger than 35 and have not conceived within a year despite not using birth control or condoms, you should seek evaluation. If you have a family history of early menopause, medical problems that may decrease your fertility or are 35 years old or older, you should seek fertility evaluation sooner. You shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay undergoing fertility testing if you have reason to believe you have an underlying condition, such as irregular periods, potential fallopian tube damage or history of cancer treatments (chemotherapy or radiation). Your fertility doctor will start with a panel of tests to look for the most common causes of infertility. The most basic tests include a semen analysis, a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to make sure the tubes are open, a pelvic ultraÂ sound and blood tests to determine your hormone status, ovarian reserve and ovulation potential. While many causes of infertility are identifiable, in 10% of couples no cause is found and are deemed unexplained infertility. If having a baby is one of your goals for 2015, remember that your doctor can help you determine which of the many treatment options available are best to help you grow v your family. Dr. Sara Mucowski is an OB/GYN practicing

at Dallas IVF in Frisco, McKinney and Plano. Allen Image | January 2015

business seen by Nicole BYWATER

Bluebonnet Cleaners

By offering quality service at low prices, Bluebonnet Cleaners has built up a loyal following of customers over their 10 years in business here. Family owned and operated by Thu and Phuong Nguyen of Allen, the business focuses on core dry cleaning services and uses the most updated equipment in the industry. “We aim at being the best at basic dry cleaning services and keeping prices low for our customers,” Thu says. “Instead of spending money on fancy bags or tissue paper which don’t really add any value to the customer, we’ve invested in an efficient, streamlined automated system.” Another advantage to the system at Bluebonnet Cleaners is that orders are reassembled after cleaning by the computer and not by humans—reducing the possibility for error or clothing mix-ups. “At any time, we can tell exactly what step of the process a piece of clothing is in and make sure that our orders are done right every time,” Thu says. “Very few competitors have this type of technology, so it really sets us apart.” Other conveniences offered by Bluebonnet Cleaners include sameday on-site service, a covered drive-through lane for easy pickup/drop off, 24-hour drop off availability and an Express Bag VIP program. Bluebonnet Cleaners is located at 1212 W. McDermott Drive, Suite 400, near Alma Drive in Allen. For more information, call 972.747.0888 or visit bluebonnetcleaners.com.

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Serendogity

Gina Giffin is a certified dog trainer who offers one-on-one, in-home sessions that give people the tools and knowledge they need for happy, well-behaved dogs. “What I do is so valuable because most of the time, dog training is less about the dog and more about teaching owners the best way to communicate, motivate and reward their dog,” explains Gina Giffin, owner of Serendogity. “I’m in my clients’ homes to see how the dynamic is set up and to work with people in their everyday environment.” Sessions can begin with puppies as young as three months and are most effective when a new dog is brought into a home, or when an owner starts to see behavioral issues. “The best time to call is when you first think you have a problem—not six months or a year later, because now you’ve got a dog that’s behaved inappropriately for a longer amount of time and it’s going to take more time to undo that.” After an initial consultation, most clients sign up for a foursession weekly or bi-monthly program. Gina has 10 years of experience in dog training and uses positive reinforcement methods rooted in science-based learning theory. “Just like people, dogs repeat the behavior they get rewarded for,” Gina explains. “My program works so well because it’s about changing ingrained habits and giving clients the confidence they need to move forward.” For more information about Serendogity, visit serendogity.com, call 972.881.1816 or email serendogity@gmail.com.

First Presbyterian Church of Allen

First Presbyterian Church of Allen is a small, family-friendly church established in 1983 and dedicated to reaching seekers, growing disciples and sending servants to meet needs in our neighborhood and community. Worship services are held Sundays at 10:30 a.m., while Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. The congregation is excited to share with the public one of their newer ministries, the Community Labyrinth Garden. “Modeled after the Chartres Labyrinth, we have combined a labyrinth walk with 14 individual gardens that are places for prayer or contemplation,” explains Pastor Kelly YeagerChadwick. “We have left a pie shaped wedge open for worship, and this last year included the Stations of the Cross (one in each garden).” The Allen community is invited to come and walk the labyrinth and enjoy the garden any day of the week. Those with a passion for gardening are invited to come and work in one of the 14 gardens each Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Pastor Kelly adds. “During Lent and Easter, we are hoping our sister churches will make use of the Stations of the Cross and we are looking forward to having our first sunrise service in the garden on Easter Sunday.” First Presbyterian Church of Allen is located at 605 S. Greenville Ave. in Allen. For more information, call 972.727.2551 or visit www.fpcallen.org.