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contents

May 2013

Vol. 23, Issue 5

cover story 50 Lovejoy students experience “pura vida”

A group of Lovejoy iEducate students traveled to Costa Rica in January. Juniors Olivia Griffin and Sidney Frimpong, and sophomores Michael Berman, Colin Cross and brothers Alec, Jacob and Seth Comerford volunteered at Escuelita and Delicias. by Peggy Helmick-Richardson

feature 26 Allen Eagles Wrestling

Allen Eagles Wrestling is a powerhouse. This past season they won their fourth UIL title and their fifth Dual State championship. That’s unprecedented in Texas high school wrestling. by Simon Valentin

special sections 28 kids korner

Nature—up close and personal by Deborah Dove

32 pet page Scooby

38 business seen

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The Law Office of Vonda Kay Bonnie Ruth’s Bistro Francais et Pattisserie Simply the Best Cleaning

40 calendar 58 people seen

contents departments civic forum 10

The “travel effect” in Allen by Heather Newman

New archery program by Ashley Swadley

Summer Sounds Concerts

Allen Image publisher/editor Barbara Peavy

office administrator Carrie McCormick

advertising sales Sue Hardesty Kris Jones

by Jeff Mues

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Allen Garden Club’s 2013 Tour by Nicole Bywater

Nicole Bywater

COAST celebrates 25 years of “family”

Heather Darrow

by Jeff Mues

Denim & Diamonds breaks all records by Vicki Deerman

Auditions for Children’s and Youth Choruses

Deborah Dove Tom Keener Jeff Mues Heather Newman Dawn Bluemel Oldfield

2013 Community Builder Award

Peggy Helmick-Richardson

Scooby Dooby Doo! Jeepers!

Ashley Swadley

7th Annual Lovejoy Country Run

Walking tour of Myers Park Gardens

5th Annual Fine Arts Festival

cover photo Larry Fleming

library 24

French Film Noir

education 30

Fit mind and body by Heather Darrow

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Vicki Deerman

by Tom Keener

contributing writers

gardening 34

Fabulous foliage! by Dawn Bluemel Oldfield

Allen Image © 2013 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

The “travel effect” in Allen by Heather Newman

May 4-12 is a special week for people employed in the travel industry. This is the week that the U.S. Travel Association calls attention to the importance of travel as they celebrate National Tourism Week and share the benefits of the “travel effect”. The national effects of travel by foreign and domestic visitors resulted

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in an economic impact of $1.9 trillion and supported 14.4 million jobs in 2011 alone.

While the national numbers are impressive, the travel effect has been just as significant in Allen the last few years. Based on 2011 statistics, tourism in Allen had a $122 million impact on our local economy and supported more than 1,340 jobs. With more than 190 restaurants, a variety of enter tainment options like Hydrous Wake Park and TopGolf and shopping that attract visitors from across the globe, Allen has become a true destination point within the DFW metroplex. In addition to visitors looking to relax, Allen attracts visitors here for everything from sporting events to business meetings. The growth of destination assets in Allen along with the work of the Convention and Visitors Bureau has helped define Allen as a location many would like to visit. While Allen has long been a destination for youth sporting events, the list of tournaments calling Allen home continues to expand as groups like the U.S. Navy book events such as the upcoming lacrosse camp at Allen Station Park this June. The addition of Allen Event Center

has also expanded our popularity as a destination for sports tournaments. While serving as a home to our own hockey, soccer and indoor football teams, Allen Event Center continues to host a variety of other events, from tradeshows to rodeos to college sports tournaments, which all generate a significant boost to the local economy. In March, Allen Event Center played host to both a college basket ball tournament and a college wrestling tournament as the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship returned for a second year and the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) held their annual champ ionship here. “Both of these tournaments were a great success!” said Karen Cromwell, Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau tourism manager. “Both of these tournaments had a major impact on Allen’s economy.” It’s not just athletes that find Allen attractive, beauty queens like us too! In 2012, the Miss Texas organization selected Allen Event Center as the new home for the Miss Texas and Miss Texas Outstanding Teen competitions. This July will mark the second year that 80 young women will spend six days in Allen competing for their chance at the Miss Texas crown. During that time many of these contestants will not only stay in our hotels but will shop and dine here as well. “The 2012 Miss Texas Competition was a great success for Allen. With more than 4,800 people in attendance over the course of the event; the pageant attracted quite a crowd in Allen,” said Cromwell. Of course, visitors come to Allen to get down to business too. Our conference hotels host numerous meetings and conventions each year. While a number of these meetings are primarily local, there are quite a few like the State of Texas Purchasing Association, Texas Trophy Association, Texas Association of School Business Officials and the World Ventures

Convention that attract visitors from across the state and nation. While events like these fill our hotels, restaurants and shops with travelers, we are not the only ones who reap the benefits from these events. The travel effect of our local tourism efforts reach into many of our neighboring Collin County communities as well. “To continue Allen’s success as a destination, we need the ongoing support of the community. Our

residents are the best ambassadors we have to make visitors welcome in Allen, to provide volunteer support for host events when it is needed or to tell us about groups and organizations that might be looking for a new host home,” explained Cromwell. To find out more about CVB services and activities, go to www. VisitAllenTexas.com. Heather Newman is a specialist with the Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Allen Image x May 2013

New archery program By Ashley Swadley

In recent years archery has gained popularity, due in part to the wildly successful teen novels and movie sensation, The Hunger Games. Keeping with the trend, Joe Farmer Recreation Center (JFRC) in Allen is adding new archery classes to their summer programming. It has been made possible by Preschool and Youth Recreation Specialist Travis Glick, who in the last two months has acquired more than $7,000 in free equipment for the facility. Glick, who began shooting archery around age five, joined the JFRC staff in 2012 and brought with him an interest in starting a recreational archery program in Allen. Living previously in Austin, he taught an archery program for a local recreation center where his passion for teaching the sport he loves progressed. “A lot of kids find they don’t have

that niche they fit in at school. Archery can be that sport for them to fit into and to be involved in. Not everyone can play peewee or do ballet but with practice, everyone can shoot an arrow with a bow,” says Glick. “In fact, Allen High School has a remarkable archery program, one of the best in the state. With an organization that good in the schools, there is no reason not to have an equally competitive program in our recreation facilities to prepare them for the sport. Developing that program has been a goal of mine.” In pursuit of this goal, Glick took part in a certification process earlier this year through National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP)accredited curriculum, which can only be found in school outdoor educational courses and now at JFRC. Through NASP, Glick was introduced to the Explore Bow Hunting program and its

training program, which he participated in and as a result, was awarded more than $2,000 in equipment, courtesy of the Archery Trade Association. Next up for Glick in his quest to get more equipment to launch the program at JFRC was the USA Archery Workshop in March. During the event, a competition sponsored by the Archery Trade Association ranked 28 participants through three shots on different types of archery bows. Glick scored 78 out of 90 points to put him in third place. During the one-onone shoot out, competitors had to launch three arrows with their preference of bow. The competition came down to two cities, Allen and Wylie. Glick, representing Allen, scored a total of 29 out of 30 points for the win. The grand prize valued at more than $5,000 was awarded to Glick and the City of Allen. “With enough practice anyone can hit a bull’s eye at any distance,” Glick says. Certainly, the City of Allen has hit a bull’s eye with Travis’ efforts. The department is excited to make excellent use of the $7,000 in new equipment offering Archery 2 this summer. For more infor mation on how to register for this program or other programs offered by Allen Parks and Recreation, please visit AllenParks.org or call 214.509.4700. Ashley Swadley is a marketing coordinator for Allen Event Center and Allen Parks & Recreation Deptartment.

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As has become tradition, the Market Street Allen USA Celebration is once again set for the last Saturday in June (June 29) featuring enter tainment from Radio Disney, the Emerald City Band and headliner Dennis DeYoung, performing the music of the band, Styx! You can always count on one of the largest and most magnificent fireworks displays in North Texas again lighting up the sky following the concert. While those are some big sounds, Market Street Allen USA’s enter tainment is just the tip of an iceberg that would melt so fast in the Texas heat. Leading up to the big event, live music will filter through the evening air at the Joe Farmer Recreation Center Amphitheatre every Monday for six great weeks as the 16th Annual Summer Sounds Concert Series kicks off on Monday, May 20.

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The music will range from Celtic rock to contemporary pop hits to Elvis’ greatest hits and cover just about everything in between. Thanks to the City of Allen and the Parks and Recreation Department, all Summer Sounds concerts are free and begin at 7 p.m. each Monday night. Light concessions are available for purchase. Ground blanket seating is preferred so that concert-goers of all ages can enjoy the best line of sight. The Kildares get the fun started May 20 with their unique brand of alternative Celtic rock music. Blending traditional Celtic playing skills, powerpop accessibility and straight up rock n’ roll hooks, they have a fresh sound that’s blended with enough commercial edge to be instantly recognizable, always engaging and appealing to fans of all ages! The Summer Sounds Concert

series takes a week off, making way for a special production on Monday, May 27 when the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus returns for its wonderful Memorial Day concert and tribute event. Not only will you delight in traditional Patriotic Pops music, but there will be activities designed to honor our veterans and servicemen and women. As always, the event concludes with a patriotic fireworks show. Traditional symphony etiquette applies. On June 3, the concert series returns in a big way with Vince Vance and the Valiants. The band, which hails from New Orleans, has performed nearly 6,000 shows in 13 countries and 34 states, including two shows at the White House. Having recorded 11 albums and released 22 singles, the band was on top of the charts in the 1980s and hasn’t let up a

bit since then. When Vince Vance and the Valiants turn it loose, you know it’s time to party! “Any way you want it, that’s the way you need it,” and that’s the way Summer Sounds gives it on June 10 with Escape, a musical tribute to the arena rock supergroup, Journey! The band consists of veteran musicians who bring a dynamic, high energy presentation, that will have you singing right along with the band to such rock staples as “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Wheel in the Sky” and “Any Way You Want It”. On June 17, you know there will be “a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on” as Kraig Parker brings his spot-on Elvis tribute to Allen, hitting the stage with a full Las Vegas-style show band that is second to none. From Las Vegas to London, Kraig has been astonishing crowds for more than 15 years with amazing performances and an uncanny likeness to Elvis in look, voice, moves and stage presence. All ages will be “shook up!” The final concert in the series,

June 24, features The Good Question Band who perform in the classic style of great horn bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Chicago and Kool and The Gang. With two beautiful and talented female vocalists, lead male vocals and an outstanding horn and rhythm section driving the groove, the group promises to deliver great music, energy and a huge “wall of sound” that will have attendees up and dancing. Certainly, this is one of the most

impressive and diverse lineups of entertainment ever offered by the Summer Sounds Concert Series, which has been a mainstay of the Allen Parks and Recreation Department for well over a decade. For more information on all the great music this summer in Allen, visit AllenParks.org. Jeff Mues is a senior marketing coordinator with the Allen Event Center and Allen Parks and Recreation Department.

Allen Image x May 2013

Allen Garden Club’s 2013 Tour By Nicole Bywater The Allen Garden Club will showcase beautiful gardens at five local homes and two historical churches during its garden tour on June 1. The tour is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held rain or shine. The tour theme is “Cottage Gardens—Texas Style” and features gardens utilizing many native and adapted plants. “The gardens on this tour reflect the personality of the gardeners,” says club president Denise Webre. “Many homeowners are conservation-minded and have learned that you can reduce or stop the use of toxic chemicals when the right plants are used. Maintenance is even reduced when there is less grass to mow.  These homes are wonderful examples of using the right plants for our environment.” Featured gardens have land scaping around pools, whimsical features such as a wine bottle border, outdoor entertaining areas and lots of ideas for the home garden. One home in Lucas will show how chickens can be incorporated into a backyard environment. This year, the Allen Heritage

Guild is collaborating with the garden club by including the two churches at the Allen Heritage Village—St. Mary’s Church and the Christian Church. Members of the Allen Heritage Guild will be present to answer questions about the historical significance of the buildings in the Allen Heritage Village. Guests are invited to go at their own pace to visit the gardens, which are in Allen, Fairview and Lucas. Each location will feature bottled water, along with baskets filled with garden gift items to be raffled off. Raffle tickets will be sold at each garden for $1 each or six for $5. The mission of the Allen Garden Club is to educate residents of Allen

and surrounding areas about natural gardening practices and the benefits of gardening, encourage people to conserve our natural resources and exemplify public spirit by participation in community service projects. Funds raised from the garden tour are used for beautification projects and to pay for supplies at events such as EarthFest and Arbor Day. Tour ticket booklets are available throughout May at Puckett’s Nursery and Landscape, 811 East Main Street in Allen for a $10 donation. For more information, please visit www.allengardenclub.org or contact Denise Webre, AGC President, at 972.390.8536. Nicole Bywater is a freelance writer from Allen.

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COAST celebrates 25 years of “family” by Jeff Mues

If you could turn back the clock to 1988, you wouldn’t find much in the way of parks or recreational opportunities in Allen. Back then, Allen had no recreation centers and less than 600 acres of parks to serve a population of less than 20,000. Just 25 years later, Allen’s 85,000 plus residents enjoy more than 1200 acres of parks, over 40 miles of hiking and nature trails, five recreation facilities, a new municipal golf course and the list goes on. In 1988, one popular recreational amenity that did exist, however, was Ford Pool, which was built just two years earlier. While swimming has seemingly always been a welcomed pastime, particularly in the Texas summer heat, facilities like Ford Pool were really just starting to become popular for competition in the mid-tolate ‘80s. Many experts point to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, as a turning point for the popularization of the sport as American swimmers Matt Biondi and Janet Evans brought home ten medals, including eight golds between them. Even in Allen, which still wasn’t much more than a one-stoplight town, competitive swimming was catching on. A group of volunteers came together that year and organized the City of Allen Swim Team—COAST—putting the time and effort into coordinating practice and swim meets at Ford Pool. The organization consisted of just a couple dozen swimmers and a group of dedicated parents. Fast forward to 2013 and COAST is still going strong with this summer

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marking its 25th anniversary. While some things have changed since 1988—notably home swim meets are held at Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium (DRN) and the program is now managed by the Allen Parks and Recreation Department—some other things remain the same. Among them, COAST still calls Ford Pool home for practices. Participants are still able to decide how competitive they want to be—competing in swim meets or just swimming during the week for fun. Also, the program remains extremely affordable. “There isn’t a better value out there than COAST,” says Miklos Valdez, Aquatics Program Supervisor and Region 7 Swimming Commissioner. “At just $95 for DRN members and $105 for non-members, you’re getting eight weeks of top instruction every day of the week, plus swim meets around North Texas for those who choose to participate. When you price

that out or compare it to the hundreds of dollars that club swimming costs, you realize how much of a bargain COAST really is.” The number of participants has nearly doubled since Miklos took over the program in 2007. Last year the COAST program was at maximum capacity with 210 swimmers. When the 2013 season starts June 10, all spots will likely be filled again— registration is through May or until capacity is reached. Certainly, the efforts of Miklos and DRN Center Supervisor Kenny Walsh have been instrumental in growing the program. But the success of COAST really belongs to all the swimmers, parents and volunteers who have been involved over the past 25 years. “One of the unique aspects of COAST is that it’s a program where we really get to know the families,” explains Miklos.

Throughout its 25-year history, COAST has been influential in shaping the lives of men and women. It’s a passion that drives Miklos and another staff member at DRN. Recreation Specialist Justin Kelley started swimming in COAST in 1994 as a seven-year-old. His entire family— brother, dad and mom—also got involved to varying degrees, with his mother, Laurie, eventually serving a term as president of the parent association that ran the organization in the ‘90s. Swimming took such a grip on Justin—beginning with his time in COAST—that after those days were long gone, he’s never strayed too far from Ford Pool where it all began. Holding jobs as a lifeguard, COAST coach, Water Safety Instructor, Head Guard and Recreation Specialist among others, there isn’t much Justin hasn’t done with Allen aquatics. He’s still heavily involved with COAST and has on multiple occasions changed into his superhero costume—full scuba gear—to act as an unofficial under water maintenance man. Justin’s scuba heroics make for a

good story, but over the past 25 years many heroes have emerged—putting in long and thankless volunteer hours, dragging bleachers into Ford Pool for swim meets, making last minute miracle fixes to equipment and the list goes on. “I’m proud that my two sons are learning to swim in Allen,” says Justin. “My youngest is just one but he’s enrolled in the Parent/Child Aquatics program, and my oldest (four) is doing well in swim lessons. He’s

at the point where in a few years I can definitely see him getting involved in COAST.” To learn more about the program, which starts June 10, and how to join the COAST family, visit AllenParks. org. Miklos and Justin can also be reached at the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium at 214.509.4770. Jeff Mues is a senior marketing coordinator with the Allen Event Center and Allen Parks and Recreation Department.

Allen Image x May 2013

Denim & Diamonds breaks all records! By Vicki Deerman

The 7th annual Denim & Diamonds—the Beat Goes On—was held on March 2 at Southfork Ranch and was a huge success, profiting $234,000. The night began with a VIP reception to celebrate the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools’ 10-year anniversary. The entire event was underwritten by our generous sponsors, enabling everything spent at the auction to go directly to Lovejoy School District grants. Guests were entertained by the Friday Night School Band, led by Sloan

Creek Middle School principal, Kent Messer. They also had the opportunity to ride a mechanical bull and bid on a great assortment of items in the silent auction. During dinner the winner of the live surprise—a $5,000 diamond— was announced. There were trips and parties and even a signed helmet from “Johnny Football”! This year’s Denim & Diamonds raffle was a choice of a trip to Paris, France or Barbados. The winner was Penny Beauchamp who chose the trip to Paris. The evening was topped off by

music and dancing with the Anson Carter band. This success and fun would not have been possible without our generous sponsors who contributed $105,000 to underwrite the event. Next year’s Denim & Diamonds— Past ‘N Present—has already been scheduled for April 5, 2014. Chairperson Nancy Fisch and the foundation board of directors invite the entire community to attend. At the March board meeting, the foundation board of directors awarded $275,000 in grants to LISD for the 2013-2014 school year. The grant recipients are listed on the foundation’s website. In the foundation’s 10 years it has granted a total of $1,188,000 to enhance the educational experience in the Lovejoy School district. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this year ’s success. For more information on the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools, visit www. foundationforlovejoyschools.org. Vicki Deerman is the executive director of the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools.

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Snippets

Auditions for Children’s and Youth Choruses

2013 Community Builder Award

Carnegie Hall, The Eisemann Center, Nokia Live and many other local theaters and performance halls have been the most recent performance venues for the Children’s and Youth Choruses of Collin County. These premier choirs are searching for additional boys, girls and teens to be part of the 2013-2014 season. In order to find those talented singers, auditions will be offered Saturday, May 18 through Saturday, May 25 in Plano. To schedule an audition time, please contact the Chorus office at 972.618.4536 or Janie@ ChildrensChorusOfCollinCounty.org. Baine Brooks was born in Dallas and graduated from OU before moving back to North Texas where he took over leadership of Two Rows restaurant in Allen. He is the past president of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and has served on the board of directors for the North Texas Food Bank. In 2009, the Allen/Lovejoy Council of PTAs honored him with the Lifetime Membership Award. He has also served on the board for the Foundation for Allen Schools. Baine was awarded the Allen Millennium award for promoting excellence in business, promoting Allen, encouraging employment growth and contributing back to the community. The Children’s Chorus is for boys and girls in grades 3-4 and 5-7 who have unchanged voices. The Youth Chorus is for teens in grades 8-12. Space is limited so call early to schedule your audition time. The auditions will be held at the Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, in Plano. For general Chorus information, visit www.ChildrensChorusOfCollinCounty.org. v

Baine is also known for his college baseball career—he was named the 1980s All-Decade Centerfielder at OU and National Junior College Baseball All-American in 1985. He brings this same skill and enthusiasm to his position as a member of the Allen City Council. Baine plays a big part in the Allen Masonic Lodge and is the recipient of the 2013 Community Builder Award! v

Scooby Dooby Doo! Jeepers! Allen Event Center is pleased to welcome SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! Musical Mysteries on May 18. Shows at noon, 3 & 6 p.m., this one-day engagement is your only chance to see the Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang solving an epic mystery. And what a mystery it is as a trouble-making ghost is haunting a local theater! It’s a mystery that only Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma and Scooby-Doo can solve, with a little help from the audience. The production features big musical numbers including the classic theme song, “ScoobyDoo, Where Are You?” Filled with wacky new characters and hilarious antics, SCOOBYDOO LIVE! Musical Mysteries will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Check AllenEventCenter.com for more details and links to purchase tickets via Ticketmaster. And be sure to follow the arena on Twitter and Facebook for SCOOBYDOO-related contests and fun leading up the show! v

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7th Annual Lovejoy Country Run Join us May 18, at 8 a.m. for the 7th Annual Lovejoy Country Run. Race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. The 5K race and the 1K Fun Run will begin at the back of Lovejoy High School, 2350 Estates Parkway in Lucas. The 5K run is a chip-timed, certified, flat and fast course. Awards will go to overall male and female winners and male and female master winners in the 5K in age groups up to 70+. All 1K participants will receive ribbons. Take the McDermott exit east. McDermott becomes Main and then Estates Parkway in Lucas—you will see Lovejoy High School on your left!

Snippets

Walking tour of Myers Park Gardens

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Collin County Master Gardeners Association will conduct a guided walking tour of beautiful Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The tour will feature the EarthKind ® Perennial Research and Demonstration Gardens, Crape Myrtle, Kordes Rose and vegetable trial gardens. One of the largest rain gardens in Collin County and state-of-the-art rainwater harvesting systems will also be on display. This exciting tour will provide gardeners a first-hand opportunity to see which plants grow well in our area and the knowledge they need to have successful gardening experiences at their own homes. Tour guides will be available at all the demonstration and research gardens to provide visitors with information and to answer questions. Myers Park is located at 7117 County Road 166 in McKinney. The tour is free and children are welcome. Please call 972.548.4232 or visit ccmgatx.org for more information. v

5th Annual Fine Arts Festival The arts will come alive in Allen this Mother’s Day weekend. The Allen Arts Alliance Fine Arts Festival at Watters Creek returns with over sixty juried artists, children’s activities, live music, entertainment and more. Watters Creek will also turn into an art-lover’s mecca, with tented artist booths lining Village Green Drive and adjacent streets for the three-day festival. Gallery-quality artwork will be on display and for sale, featuring a variety of media and styles, from paintings and sculpture to jewelry and photography. Lovejoy Country Run was established seven years ago to support all athletic booster clubs at Lovejoy. The event will also be offering a pancake breakfast—free for runners with entry. Non-race participants may buy tickets at the door (5 and under eat free). There will also be vendors, a health fair and face painting! Register online at www.LukesLocker.com or in-store at Luke’s Locker in Allen. Early registration is $25/adults and $15/students. Race day registration is $5 more. All preregistered runners will receive a custom race shirt. Visit www.thelovejoycountryrun. org for information, course map and sponsorship opportunities. v

Children will have the chance to be artists for the day as they visit art and craft stations and make sculptures, weavings, stained glass crafts, chalk art and more. Live music and entertainment will fill the air during the festival weekend, with performances for all musical tastes. For more information, visit the Allen Arts Alliance website at www.allenartsalliance. org or call 972.727.7272. v Allen Image x May 2013

library

French Film Noir by Tom Keener

Á Bout de Souffle Enjoy your warm and bright spring evenings with cool and dark French Film Noir. All films begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the library, 300 N. Allen Drive, and are free. May 7—À Bout de Souffle (Breathless) (1959). In this groundbreaking film, starring Jean Seberg, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Danile Boulanger and Liliane David, a romanticized gangster hero and an American girl are chased by the police for stealing a car and killing an officer. May 14—Tirez Sur Le Pianiste (Shoot the Piano Player) (1960). A 1960 French crime drama film directed by Francois Truffaut, the genre mixing and changes in tone make this a film classic. Starring Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois and Nicole Berger, it is based on the novel Down There by David Goodis. May 21—Le Samouraï (The Samurai)

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(1967). Melville adapted the conventions of the American noir novels and movies that flooded post-World War II France to create mesmerizing metaphors. Starring Alain Delon, François Périer and Nathalie Delon, it tells how unplanned events can suddenly challenge a narcissistic but successful French assassin. May 28—Diva (1981). In this movie, two tapes, two Parisian mobsters, a corrupt policeman, an opera fan, a teen-aged thief and the coolest philosopher ever filmed make for an intricate and stylistic French thriller. Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix and starring Wilhelmeia Fernandez, Frédérick André and Richard Bohringer, it played in French theaters for over a year. v Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

How do you tell your kids about divorce!

s a parent as well as a family lawyer, I would caution divorcing parents to be very careful with how they talk to their children about the “D” word. You might be sick and tired of your spouse, but you will be co-parents after your divorce. For the sake of your children—work together to share the news of your divorce. In my practice, I have heard hundreds of gutwrenching stories from clients about how they told their kids that it is “over” between mommy and daddy. The pain is far worse than breaking up with a lover or firing an employee—mainly because the recipient of this pain, this rejection, is a child. The following ten items outline a course for telling the kids in the least painful way possible: BEFORE you break the news… 1. Consult a child or family therapist together with your soon-to-be-ex to process the messaging. 2. Write a script for the conversation. 3. Pick a time and place that is safe and that does not involve friends or relatives. Avoid conflict with important dates or deadlines i.e., child’s birthday or right before a big test.

DURING your discussion … 4. In your discussion, focus on the positives of how the child has two people who love her so much that they both want special time with her. 5. Focus on how things at home are going to stay as similar as possible to what the child experienced pre-separation. 6. Tell the child that it is not their fault—that mommy and daddy are just their best selves in two different houses, and that this will be the best way for them to do the best job of loving her. 7. Do not blame. Make it appear as a joint decision. 8. Expect tears. You are not being mean—you are not kicking a puppy. Rather, you are being honest. And sometimes, honesty hurts … a lot. AFTER the discussion… 9. Expect more questions after your initial announcement. Answer them honestly but while considering the advice above (especially number 6 and number 7). 10. Avoid creating a sense of abandonment—try staying in the same home (if at all possible) the night you tell your child. Above all, put your child first. As I often tell my clients: You can love your kids or hate your spouse…but you cannot do both at the same time.

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feature

Allen Eagles Wrestling by Simon Valentin

Allen Eagles Wrestling is a powerhouse; a hardworking, steamrolling, record-breaking, make-the-otherteam-wish-they’d-stayed-home kind of club. This past season they won their fourth UIL title and their fifth Dual State championship. That’s unprecedented in Texas high school wrestling. It’s like winning the Super Bowl four years in a row. Eagles wrestlers also took more individual championships than ever before in the high school’s history. (They compete individually and their scores are tallied to get the team result.) You’d think with this kind of success they’d do a little chest thumping during interviews, a little victory dance, throw out some “in your face” trash talk, right? Nope. You know what they want to talk about? Getting better. Working harder. Being respectful. That attitude starts with Head Coach Jerry Best and his staff. “We stress discipline. It’s like life, the more you put in the more you get out,” Coach Best says. “You train

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everyday; you live a good life; you treat people with respect; and in the long run good things will happen.” Though state competitions have wrapped up this year, there is no off-season, no downtime for Allen’s wrestlers. Right now it’s strength and conditioning at 7:30 in the morning, and in the evening, it’s technique and drilling. “Sometimes I question why I do this,” says junior and one-hundred-sixty-pound state champion Bo Nickal. “I don’t want to go to practice, my friends are eating cheeseburgers and going to the movies, but then I remember how it feels to get your hand raised when you win a tournament and it’s the best feeling in the world.” Senior Vanessa Smith, one of Allen High School’s few female wrestlers, knows that feeling. She’s the ninety-five pound state girls champ. But she doesn’t brag about how she brought Allen its first female wrestling championship, instead she redirects the spotlight. “Coach pushes you, he wants you to do your best. Without him, I don’t think I could have won a state title.

Now I have a scholarship and I’ll be wrestling for Wayland Baptist University next year,” she says. “Coach Best has ‘that’ attitude. He has ‘it’”, says onehundred-and-fifty-two-pound state champ Oliver Pierce, a senior. “That’s why he was successful when he wrestled and why the program he built has been successful.” But “that” attitude isn’t just about what wrestlers do during a match. It’s also about what goes on when they’re off the mat. “The kids know they’re going to be held accountable for their actions,” says Coach Best. “In some places a kid will do something inappropriate and it’s brushed aside. Others see that and think ‘if he can get away with it so can I’. That doesn’t happen here.” Making the kids toe-the-line is noticed by plenty of folks. “We’ve traveled all over and everywhere we’ve been, the people we meet tell us, ‘your kids are the best team, the most respectful we’ve met,’” says Coach Best. “That means as much as winning a state championship, people telling you that your kids are doing the right thing.” He says one hotel was so impressed they even offered a discount if the Eagles returned.

Young wrestlers see these reactions and realize the grueling time spent training does more than create talented athletes. “Wrestling makes you tougher, makes you better in all things in life,” Oliver Pierce says. “Dan Gable, a wrestler and ambassador of our sport, said ‘Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.’” Daniel Cartagena, a junior and the one-hundred-thirtyeight-pound state champion is experiencing that. “Wrestling is helping me to be determined and push through difficult situations. To figure out how to deal with

challenges and to find the solutions that will work best,” he says. More and more kids are learning those lessons as Allen’s program morphs into what is becoming a dynasty since Coach Best took over in 2002. In elementary school, from kindergarten to sixth grade, there are ninety-eight wrestlers. In middle school, seventh and eighth grades, there are one hundred ten wrestlers. And in high school one-hundred-and-sixteen students are involved. Sophomore Howard Smith is one of them. He’s Vanessa’s younger brother. He wrestles at one-hundredand-six pounds and took second place this year in the state competition. (Another first, a brother and sister wrestling in the state finals in the same year.) He’s not very happy with the outcome of his matches. “I’m going to work harder, do better. I want to be a national champion,” he says. “When you do this, you know you’re making yourself a better person, wrestling shows where your heart is and how dedicated you can be.” The Smiths are so dedicated they have a mat room at home and go through drills in their free time. In fact, they say if there are issues between them, instead of fighting, sometimes they take it to the mat to settle things. Howard may have the edge now because he’s been wrestling longer, but he’s showing Vanessa some of his tricks, a decision that could haunt him down the road since his sister is as driven as he is. “If you don’t give up in the practice room, you’re not going to give up in school, you’re not going to give up in your job, you’re not going to give up in anything you do,” says Vanessa. What else can be said about this championship team? You have kids who are setting records left and right, who’d rather spend time training on the mat than wandering at the mall, and a head coach and his staff who stress the value of discipline and treating others respectfully. What else can be said? How about, well done! If you’d like more information on Allen’s wrestling teams, go to www.allenwrestling.com. Simon Valentin is a freelance writer from Allen. Photos by Ray Shoaf. Allen Image x May 2013

kids korner

Nature—up close and personal by Deborah Dove Make A Fairy Garden Rumor has it that if you build a miniature garden, then fairies will come and inhabit it! Essentially, fairy gardens are miniature container gardens that have all the fun and none of the sweat associated with regular gardening and is a place where pint-sized plants become huge trees, acorn caps become tea cups and glass pebbles become an enchanted path. Best of all, they are sure to capture your child’s imagination. 1. Start with a planter pot, barrel or other container with drainage holes. Fill the container with potting soil. 2. Plant a combination of several small plants, herbs, flowers and succulents. 3. Bury a small bowl up to the rim and fill with water to make a pond. 4. Add a small birdhouse, if desired, for the fairy to live in. 5. Fill in spaces in the dirt with moss. 6. Use small glass pebbles or stones to make garden paths. 7. Add fun extras, such as a tree branch “tree” with a Matchbox car tire “swing” tied to a string, a clothesline or zip line made with string tied to two sticks, a gazing ball (marble glued to a golf tee), watering cans and other accessories from the miniatures section of craft stores, etc.

Butterflies Create a butterfly garden—Help your child identify and observe these beautiful insects by planting flowers they like. Butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes, such as butterfly bush, lantana, marigolds, nasturtiums, zinnias, hollyhocks, cosmos, butterfly weed and daylilies. You can also plant “host” plants that provide caterpillar food such as parsley, dill, milkweed, passionflower and fennel. Be sure to include a few flat rocks for the butterflies to rest on while they warm their wings. Make a butterfly feeder—Hot glue brightly colored silk flowers around the edge of a pie dish or plant saucer (an adult’s job). Place brightly colored yellow or orange scouring pads in the dish for the butterflies to rest on. Fill with butterfly food by mixing a solution of four parts water to one part granulated sugar, boiling the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Extra solution can be stored in the refrigerator for a week. Watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly—There are few things cooler than watching caterpillars make a chrysalis and turn into a butterfly. You can find a great butterfly habitat kit at www.insectlore.com for $19.99, complete with a mesh butterfly habitat for easy observation, five caterpillars with food, and a feeding pipette that can be used to drop sugar water on fresh flowers for the butterflies to eat once they emerge (they also like fresh watermelon and orange slices). Be sure and release them with fanfare! Visit a butterfly house—From May 25-September 29, children can walk among free flying native butterflies at the Heard Museum’s Butterfly Garden and Butterfly House. Cost is included in general admission to the Heard, which runs from $6-$10/person, depending on the season

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and the age of the guest. Visit www.heardmuseum.org for more information. The Butterfly House at the Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park also houses approximately 500 tropical butterflies (wear bright colors so they might land on you), with butterfly releases of newly emerged butterflies each day at noon. The garden is open daily from 10 am-5 pm and admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-11.

Bird Watching Make a bird feeder—Kids can make and hang this fun homemade feeder to encourage feathered visitors: 1. Using a plastic knife, spread peanut butter over an empty toilet paper roll. 2. Give each child a paper plate filled with birdseed and let them roll the peanut butter covered toilet paper roll in it until it is covered with birdseed. Slip the roll onto a tree branch. Count birds for science—Sign up to participate in Cornell University’s Project Feederwatch (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/) and help scientists count feeder birds in North America from November through April. Enrollment (open now) is $15 and includes a bird identification poster, bird feeding information sheet, tally sheet and more.

Grow A Garden Windowsill garden—Using biodegradable egg cartons, let your child fill each cup with dirt and poke a few seeds into the soil. Let them water their seeds with a sport top water bottle (so it doesn’t get too much water) and place indoors in a sunny spot. Water regularly. Once seeds have sprouted, the whole egg carton can be planted in an outdoor garden space. Gardening tips for kids • Give them a space of their own—It might be an outgrown sandbox, a plastic kiddie pool, a large pot, a small raised bed or a section of your garden, but give them ownership of their own garden plot. Set them up for success by ensuring it is in a sunny, well-drained spot that will be easy to water. • Give them the right equipment—Kids will appreciate having kidsized tools, but make sure they are high quality, metal tools that can get the job done, not cheap, plastic ones that will break. Young gardeners will need a pair of gardening gloves, a shovel and a watering can. • Grow a pizza garden—Outline a circular, pizza-shaped garden plot with stones to resemble the crust. Divide plots into triangular shaped “slices.” Plant pizza topping plants inside the circle—plum tomatoes, green peppers, onions and/or herbs such as oregano, basil and rosemary. This is also a good idea for a defined circular garden space such as an empty tire, plastic pool or sandbox. • Plant kid-friendly crops—Start with plants that are easy to grow and yield quick results such as lettuce, radishes, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, bush beans, carrots, potatoes and pumpkin. Good flower choices include sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums.

education

Fit mind and body Class reveals the health of America’s presidents by Heather Darrow

It was a big secret. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on one side but very few people knew. No weakness could be shown. Only vigor was acceptable for the man in the Oval Office, and yet he

was gravely ill. When two U.S. senators came to visit the leader of the country they were ushered into a candlelit room. A blanket partially covered the ailing president, obscuring his health issues, and later his wife, Edith, answered his

Linda Adams and Professor of History Matt Coulter.

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correspondence. Statements about the president never conveyed the magni tude of his condition. Years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s physician, the surgeon general of the United States Navy, misdiagnosed his hypertension and enlarged heart as bronchitis. Even after a cardiologist correctly, but belatedly, treated FDR, the original physician told the public that the president was in great health. It seems like the text of historical fiction, and yet, according to Dr. Matthew Coulter, these events really occurred. Students in a unique Collin College class get a rare glimpse into the health of former presidents and delve into an extraordinary depth of comprehension of the decisions made by America’s leaders. “The President’s Health Club: Personal Health and the Modern American Presidency” is a learning community class taught by Dr. Coulter, history professor, and Dr. Linda Adams, health professor. Learning communities are classes in which two or more professors teach different disciplines. The material is centered around a common theme which unites the curriculum in a distinctive fashion. Collin student Vayunandan Chennamaneni finds this class fascinating because he plans to become a physical therapist. “This is the best class of all the classes I am taking. One of the most important advantages is that I get six credit hours in a single class. Since the two classes are combined, it is easier for me because the homework is combined and there is less traveling.

I love learning about how the presidents handled situations in WWII and the stresses in their lives. Dr. Adams talks about the presidents’ personal lives and families. It makes the history easier to remember,” he said. Students are engaged in this class, which boasts frequent small group discussions and a constant banter between the pro fessors. A member of the Collin College tennis team, Gino Raneri says history has always been one of his favorite subjects. “I love the way Dr. L to R: Collin students Dylan Auvance, Michelle Mackey, Vayunandan Chennamaneni and Gino Raneri. Coulter teaches history. This president. I like how I can change our past presidents were so busy is one of my favorite classes because I history,” said Dr. Adams, laughing. running our country that their health am a very practical learner. I like to Michelle Mackey is planning to was put on the back burner. Today, learn what is applicable and most of the attend the University of North Texas in health plays a much bigger role. material in this class is applicable. I the fall and major in music or journalism. Surprisingly, when Truman arrived in retain more from this class than others “I thought this was an interesting the Oval Office after Roosevelt’s death, because the subjects are merged juxtaposition of two disciplines. Also, he knew nothing about the atomic together. Also, it is easier to pay it is a great schedule for me. I am bomb. Before, transfer of information attention because the professors feed off taking a full class load but I only have between the president and vice each other. It keeps you on your toes.” classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. president was not as sophisticated as it According to Coulter, the lynch I’ve never been a history buff before is today,” she said. pins around which the professors built but I am remembering 90 percent of The 1800s and 1900s are no longer the course are the presidents’ health what I am learning in class. I like just dates for students in this learning and decisions but there are many more knowing about history because I am community, but discernable time connecting points. politically minded and I think the frames. Coulter explains that WWI “We’ve covered every president history is relevant to the conversations and WWII prompted the government with health problems and we’ve also we have today,” she added. to get involved in nutrition. He adds looked at health-related topics in Time will tell if a future president that almost 30 percent of potential American history. When I talked about is sitting in one of the seats of this draftees in WWI could not pass the Prohibition in the 1920s, Dr. Adams class. However, one thing is fairly physical exam and one of the reasons discussed alcohol and health issues. For certain. If a future president passes was malnutrition. Adams uses many students, it is hard to imagine this class, the chances are high that breadlines as a launch pad for a living during Prohibition or the Great he or she will be far more knowledge discussion on the current diabetes Depression. By putting a focus on the able about health than many of his or epidemic and teaches the proper personal health of the presidents, her predecessors. cholesterol levels and amount of students can see that these presidents For more information about protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, from another time can have the same learning communities classes, please vitamins, water and fiber that people problems that they might have.” visit www.collin.edu/academics/ should consume for enhanced health. Dana Bernstein is planning to learningcommunities/. “If we got FDR on a program work in the medical field. She took this where he stopped smoking and class because she needed health and drinking and started exercising, he Heather Darrow is a public information writer history for her core classes. might not have had that stroke in 1945, for Collin College. “History has never been so and Truman might not have become Photos by Nick Young, Collin College. enjoyable. I was surprised to learn that Allen Image x May 2013

pet page

“Scooby” Scooby is a shepherd/hound mix that was found as a stray and taken to a local shelter. Due to over crowding, he was put in a run with another dog and subsequently mauled. He may have lost part of his ear, but he hasn’t lost his spunk! Scooby has healed up and put it all in his past.

Scooby is looking for his forever home Scooby is a big goofy boy and currently goes to doggie daycare sometimes, so we are positive he is great with humans and dogs alike, as he loves to play. Scooby will need to be with an active family or have another active dog in his life to keep him busy.

Scooby is crate-trained and housebroken. He is super friendly with dogs of all sizes, good with cats and loves people. While he loves toys and chews, he seems to be past the teething stage. Scooby is approximately six months old and up to date on shots, is neutered and microchipped. Since he is still a puppy, he still needs some training and he would do best with a fenced yard. Would you like to be Scooby’s forever family, if so, please complete an application online at http://www.collincountyhumanesociety. org/adoption-application.html and his foster family will be in contact with you. v 3 2 w w w. a l l e n i m a g e . c o m

For MarketPlace Your Health

Allen Image x May 2013

gardening

Fabulous foliage! by Dawn Bluemel Oldfield

Lavendar

When spring arrives, gardeners’ hearts swell with anticipation. Warmer temperatures and longer days mean more time to enjoy the outdoors, digging in the dirt and shopping. Yes, shopping! Shopping for veggies and lots and lots of flowers! Every season I admonish myself to stick to my guns and buy only what is on my list, yet I know I am weak when it comes to gardening. My will power quickly wanes and I am easily seduced by the lovely blooming plants on display in garden centers. Their pretty petals practically shout, “Look at me! Buy me! Plant me!” My husband, having grown accustomed to my addiction, simply smiles and rolls his eyes as I happily carry my new-found treasures from the car. Numerous flats of annuals and perennials quickly obscure the brick courtyard. Once they are tucked into the earth and covered by a blanket of mulch, my new lovelies will provide instant color to the landscape. Many flowers come and go during the growing season, putting on a good show during the cooler temperatures of spring and early summer, and then blooming sporadically

in hotter months. But, that doesn’t mean just because it’s the dog-days of summer you have to have a lack-luster garden. There are many foliage plants that fight through the heat and are vibrant nearly non-stop until the first frost, keeping your garden exciting all season long. Build on the beauty of your garden by mixing foliage plants in with the flowering varieties in your landscape this spring. When temperatures rise and blooms are fading, foliage plants will provide texture and a kaleidoscope of color possibilities all summer long. The foliage plants in your garden should share the same light exposure and water requirements as the flowering plants, so make sure your choices are compatible. Some foliage plants do produce flowers, though most often they are insignificant, making the leaves the stars of the show. Readily available, Coleus comes in both sun- and shade-loving varieties, so be sure to read plant labels before purchasing. These scene stealers come with leaves that range from chartreuse to green, pink, red, purple, burgundy, copper and vibrant yellow. They add zest to any

“No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden.” – Hugh Johnson

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garden. Some plants have variegated leaves, while others are a single color. “Plum Parfait” and “Burgundy Sun” are listed as Texas Superstar varieties. Another standout, the copper plant thrives in our summer heat; its coppery red foliage intensifies as falls cooler temperatures arrive. With their dainty flowers and bold leaves, hostas and impatiens are old garden favorites, adding charm to shady or morning sun areas. Heartshaped caladiums, with their mix of foliage hues, harmonize with flowers in the garden. Add leathery leafed ferns such as evergreen holly or wood ferns and shamrock shaped oxalis for an eye pleasing, calming effect. Include dark green English ivy on a trellis or other support for vertical visual interest. Grasses are growing in popularity in Texas landscapes. Grasses require little irrigation once established and their spiky leaves add texture and movement to the garden. Pink Muhly produces airy pink plumage in the fall. Annual purple fountain grass is worth growing for its striking red-purple foliage and cattail plumes. There are many grasses available, but be sure to read labels to find one that fits your garden space and isn’t invasive. Some plants visually make the

Pink Muhly grass Allen Image x May 2013

garden look and feel cooler on hot days. The silvery white leaves of velvety lamb’s ear and ruffled wooly dusty miller brighten the garden during the day and have a dramatic effect at night. Drought-tolerant Artemisia is also known for its silvery gray, feathery foliage. Relatively easy to grow, this perennial is a great plant to add for a cooling splash of color in the landscape. Powis Castle is one of the most popular, but there are several varieties available. Cut Artemisia back occasionally to encourage bushy growth. Looking for low maintenance annuals? Persian Shield, with its large purple leaves, is one of the most beautiful plants for adding color to a shade garden. It is easy to grow and thrives in our hot Texas summers. Sweet potato vine is easy to find, easy to grow and makes an interesting color contrast to borders and containers. This hardy heat-tolerant plant is available in lime green, purple/black, bronze and a variegated color.

Lamb’s ear Another clear winner in the foliage department—herbs. Don’t be afraid to think outside the potage garden and mix and mingle them in your landscape! The fragrant evergreen

needles of rosemary make it a favorite culinary and landscape herb. Curly parsley is not only a tasty garnish, but a lovely edging plant and a wonderful host plant for butterflies—so grow enough to share! The gray-blue leaves and striking flower spikes of lavender make it an excellent landscape plant. Thymes tiny leaves pack a landscaping punch! Its flavorful foliage makes it a popular herb for both cooking and landscape design. The airy, feathery leaves of dill add texture and interest to the garden and sage not only has aesthetic qualities, it is delcious, too! Attention to detail can make a big difference in your homes landscape. A balance of texture, shape and color in the garden makes it more interesting and attractive. So, next time you go to the garden center give as much thought to foliage plants as you do flowering ones. After all, it is the little touches that make your garden truly unique. For more information about fabulous foliage plants that grow well in our area, visit a trusted nursery professional or call the Collin County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service at 972.548.4232, or visit www.ccmgatx. v org for more information. Dawn Bluemel Oldfield is a freelance writer.

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For MarketPlace Your Health

Allen Image x May 2013

business seen by Nicole Bywater

The Law Office of Vonda Kay

When someone is thinking about filing a divorce, custody or child support case—or if they have been served with this type of case— Vonda Kay can help. She has been practicing family law for over 10 years and worked for a nonprofit firm before opening her practice in Allen. “I know these situations are very hard for people, and I can help them through the entire process to reach the best long-term solution,” she says. “I have empathy for my clients and I don’t make empty promises. Instead, what I try to do is lay out the ‘best-case’ and the ‘worst-case’ scenarios so that they understand what could happen.” In addition, Vonda makes it a priority to offer affordable services through a method known as limitedscope representation. What this means is that instead of fullrepresentation, where a law firm handles an entire case, representation is limited to certain parts of the legal process. “So if a couple has already worked out their divorce agreement and just needs an attorney to draft the documents, I can help with just that part,” Vonda explains. “It’s not right for every case, but it’s a great option for anyone who can’t afford, or doesn’t need, a full-retainer attorney—and it’s becoming more common, especially in today’s economy.” The law office of Vonda Kay is located at 825 Market Street, Bldg. M, Ste. 250 in Allen. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 972.996.4773, or visit vondakaylaw.com.

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Bonnie Ruth’s Bistro Francais et Pattisserie

Bonnie Ruth brings the best of France to Allen. Her classic French bistro would fit in on the streets of Paris, yet offers something more— an American twist. “We want our restaurant to become a neighborhood favorite,” explains executive chef and co-founder Bonnie. “While the food is decidedly French, we’ve adapted our menu to fit North Texas tastes.” Alongside classic French cuisine such as duck leg confit and steak frites, you’ll also find gourmet pizzas and half-pound Angus cheeseburgers. “It’s upscale, but casual, with a lively atmosphere,” she explains. Located in Watters Creek, the patio a great place to relax. An a la carte breakfast menu is offered on Saturdays. Sundays feature a brunch buffet, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with mimosa and Bloody Mary specials. In the evening, the bar gets hopping with live music and a retro cocktail menu. Bonnie Ruth’s is also known for its patisserie, where all of the bistro’s breads, as well as a full selection of desserts, are produced from scratch. The patisserie is available—with a custom menu— for bridal/baby showers or afternoon tea parties. Party favor offerings include Parisian macaroons and decorated cookies. For people hosting parties in their own home, they offer tea sandwiches, quiche, cakes and cupcakes for take-out. Bonnie Ruth’s Bistro Francais et Patisserie is located at 916 Garden Park Drive. For more information visit www.bonnieruthsallen.com or call 214.383.6777.

Simply the Best Cleaning

Brenda Towns first began cleaning homes because it was a job she could do while her twin sons were in preschool. As she discovered, it turned out to be a job she has a passion for. “It’s something I found that I loved, so I’ve stuck to it—and now I’ve been doing this for over 25 years,” says Brenda, owner of Simply the Best Cleaning. “I have a team of people, but I’m always in every house, right there cleaning alongside my team so customers can be sure that the job is done right.” Brenda specializes in providing individual attention to her clients. “I know that there are certain cleaning tasks that are more important to some people than others, so I make it a point to learn what those priorities are for each of my clients,” she explains. “I stand behind my work and I’m always dependable.” Simply the Best services both residential and commercial accounts on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or as-needed basis. “I can also be flexible with the schedule when needed,” she says. “For example, if I have someone who’s regular cleaning day is Friday, but they have company coming in on Thursday, I can come over on Wednesday to clean and help get the home ready.” Brenda lives in Fairview and her business is bonded and insured, with references available. For more information or a free in-home estimate, contact Brenda at 972.921.0536.

For MarketPlace Your Health

Allen Image x May 2013

calendar

may

The Heritage Ranch Chorale Annual Spring Show, 7 pm, Heritage Ranch Ballroom, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview, thru May 3. Come hear the Chorale perform music from the 50’s to the 70’s, from New Orleans to Broadway, from coast to coast, the “Music from America”. For reservations and ticket information, call 972.886.4700.

Wildflower Festival, Galatyn Park Urban Center, US 75 and Galatyn Parkway, Richardson. An award-winning, multi-day eclectic arts and music festival featuring six performance stages, the Wild! Marketplace, the Taste of Texas Food Garden, the family friendly Kidz Korner, and a whole lot more! For more information, visit wildflowerfestival.com.

Birdfest Texoma Birding and Nature Festival featuring David Allen Sibley and Jonathan Woods Raptor Project, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, thru May 5. The event will include nature and photo field trips, walks, talks and workshops. There will be programs for families and children. Visit www.BIRDFESTTEXOMA.org for more details.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Collin County Master Gardeners Association will conduct a guided walking tour of beautiful Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 7117 County Road 166 in McKinney. Please call 972.548.4232 or visit ccmgatx.org for more information.

Collin County Christian Prayer Breakfast, 6:30 am buffet, program, 7:07 am, Plano Centre. June Jones, the head football coach at SMU, will be sharing his testimony. Details are available at http://www. collinchristianprayerbreakfast.com.

Allen Arts Alliance Fine Arts Festival, Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms, Allen, thru May 12. Highlights of the festival include tented artists booths located throughout Watters Creek, featuring gallery-quality work from local, state and nationwide artists displaying and selling a variety of styles and mediums. Plenty of fun for the entire family. For more information, visit www. watterscreek.com.

7th Annual Lovejoy Country Run. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m., back of Lovejoy High School, 2350 Estates Parkway, Lucas, 8 a.m. Awards for overall male and female and male and female master winners in age groups up to 70+. All 1K receive ribbons. Pancake breakfast (free for runners). Register online at www.LukesLocker.com or in-store at Luke’s Locker in Allen. Visit our website at www. thelovejoycountryrun.org for information, course map and sponsorship opportunities. Blessing of the Animals, 9:30 am, front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church, 605 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Rain or shine. Please have pets crated or on a leash.

Summer Sounds Concert, The Kildares, 7 pm, Joe Farmer Rec Center. Blending traditional Celtic playing skills, power-pop accessibility and straight up rock n’ roll hooks, The Killdares have a fresh sound that’s blended with enough commercial edge to be instantly recognizable, always engaging and appealing to fans of all ages! For details, call 972.912.1097 or visit www. AllenParks.org.

Bike the Bricks 2013, 4-11 pm, Historic Downtown McKinney. The event will include interval races, activities, food and drink. The climax of the event will draw in racers from across the state and beyond as these cyclists square off and chase a purse worth over $20,000. Call 972.547.2660 or visit www. downtownmckinney.com for details.

Head for the Cure 5K, 8 am, Amphitheater at Oak Point Park, 2801 E Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano. Proceeds benefit the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative (BTTC) through the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Legacy Brain Foundation in North Texas. Visit www.headforthecure.org/north-texas for further details.

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Memorial Day Concert and Tribute, 7 pm. The Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus returns for its wonderful Memorial Day concert and tribute event. The event concludes with a patriotic fireworks show and traditional symphony, etiquette applies. For details, call 972.912.1097 or visit www. AllenParks.org.

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. 3

Texas Revolution Football vs. Chicago Slaughter, 7 pm.

Texas Revolution Football vs. Green Bay Blizzard, 7 pm.

Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries, noon, 3 pm, 6 pm. Jeepers! Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang are called in to help solve an epic mystery.

Youth Fishing Derby, 7:30-10:30 am. Don’t let your child miss the Youth Fishing Derby. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish caught per age group and overall. Pre-registration is required by May 3. Check in time is 7:30 am, fishing instruction by Willis Hudson and the McKinney Bass Club to follow.

Mom’s Swap Meet, 9 am–2 pm. An assortment of deals on children’s clothing and other items at a fraction of the retail cost. Browsing is FREE! Moms are invited to make a little extra money by selling outgrown kiddos wardrobes etc. All proceeds from sales are yours to keep.

Senior Line Dance Mixer, 5:30-8 pm, Allen Senior Rec Center. 50 years or older and looking for a place to line dance with non-stop music? Dance with other line dance lovers.

SNAP Dance, 7-10 pm, Recreation Hall. Special Needs Adapted Program! Dances feature live music, a fun and creative theme, snacks and photo. For information, email tharben@cityofallen.org or call 214.509.4707.

For more info: 972.912.1097 or www.AllenParks.org.

Parks and Recreation Events

Adult Athletic Leagues Athletic Leagues & Programs For more information, visit AllenParks.org or call the Athletic Information Hotline: 214-509-4810 Softball—Early Reg. through May 13/$345 per team. Late Reg. May 14–May 19/$360 per team. 8 games + playoffs. Play begins June 3. Kickball—Early Reg. through May 13/$345 per team. Late Reg. May 14–May 19/$360 per team. 8 Games + playoffs. Play begins June 3. Flag Football—Reg. through May 13/8-on-8 $350 per team, 4-on-4 $305 per team. Late Reg. May 14–May 19/8-on8: $365, 4-on-4: $320. 7 Game Season + playoffs. Play begins June 4. Men’s Basketball—Early Reg. through May 13/ $425 per team. Late Reg. May 14–May 19/$440 per team. 8 games + single-elim. tournament. Play begins June 4. Ultimate Frisbee League—Reg. through May 19/ $305 per team. 14 games + playoffs. Play begins June 6. Volleyball—Thru May 13/$235. Late Reg. May 14–May 19/$250. 8 Games + single-elim. tournament. Play begins June 3. Allen Community Ice Rink Allen Adult Hockey I League (AAHL)—$249 per player. Play begins in May for AAHL I league. Learn basic skills and concepts of hockey. For information, call ACIR at 972.912.1097 or stop by during CS hours. Ice Hockey Skating Beginner—T/Th/S, 5/07-6/01 (4 weeks). T/Th/S, 6/10-8/02 (8 weeks). Cost: $88 for 8 weeks /$44 for 4 weeks. 30-minute intro. class teaches basic hockey skating skills, includes skate rental. For information, call ACIR at 972.912.1097 or stop by during CS hours.

Introduction to Ice Skating—T/Th/S, 5/07-6/01 (4 weeks). T/Th/S, 6/10-8/02 (8 weeks). Cost: $88 for 8 weeks/$44 for 4 weeks. Weekly 30-min. intro class— basic skating skills, includes skate rental. Helmets recommended for skaters under 5. For more information, call the ACIR at 972.912.1097 or stop by during CS hours.

Allen Image x May 2013

ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY Children Storytime Schedule There will be no storytime or special programs for children in May. The regular storytime schedule will resume in June.

Adults 1

Noontime Pageturners Book Club, noon, The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson, Adult Program Room. Bring lunch and a friend and join a discussion!

Twisted Threads Fiber Craft Circle, 6:30 pm., 2nd floor program room. A social group for knitters, crocheters, felters, quilters and any type of craft done with thread or yarn. All skill levels. Bring your latest project and work on it in the company of other fiber crafters.

2nd Tuesday Chess Night, 7-8:30 pm., 2nd floor program room. Age 16-adult. Open chess play for all skill levels in a fun, noncompetitive setting. Free. No reg. required. Newcomers welcome. Chess boards & pieces provided. For more info: Rebecca @ 214.509.4913.

Armchair Travelers Visit Greece, 7 pm, 2nd floor adult program room. Guided tour provided by Anna Kostamo. Registration required. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 214-509-4905. Passport not required. For more info: 214.509.4905.

Watters Creek Concerts by the Creek, 7 pm. 2

Limelight—Variety

White Noise—Current Hits

Diva G—Variety Dance Band

Mojo Filter Band—Beatles Tribute Band

Good N Gone—Country

Connemara Conservancy

Connemara Meadow Preserve 5

Bird Walk at the Connemara Meadow Preserve, 8-11 am, Allen. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them; learn what to watch for in habits, characteristics and calls from Gailon and Rodney, with Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society. All ages welcome. We recommend wearing long pants, closedtoed shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent.

Guided Meadow Walk, 9-11 am, 300 Tatum Road, Plano. Join Rich Jaynes for a Guided Walk in the Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve.

Astronomy Walk, 9-11 pm, Connemara Meadow Preserve. Join Clyde Camp for an Astronomy walk. Meet at the Suncreek Park circular parking lot at 9 pm sharp and walk to the meadow the back way. For more info: www.connemaraconservancy.org.

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.

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. Allen Early Childhood PTA, support for parents and caregivers of preschoolers. A new calendar each month with fun activities for all. 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 & locations vary. For more info: http://75002.TheHeartLinkNetwork.com.

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MOMS Club of Allen, New group for moms and children who live in Allen, Fairview and Lucas. Monthly playgroups, kid field trips and local business tours, special events, Mom’s Night Out and more. For more info: http://momsclubofallentx.weekly.com or momsclubofallentx@gmail.com Baylor Health Care System offers support groups, medical information and events. For more info: www.BaylorHealth.com. MOMS Club McKinney Central, support group for stay-athome moms. Play groups, daytime activities, Mom’s Night Out, parties, babysitting co-op, etc. Monthly bus. meeting. For more info: MckinneyMoms@yahoo.com. 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. Urban Explorers, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups throughout Dallas area. Something for everyone! For more info: www.meetup.com/getoutandabout. 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. Support Group? Wanted: Anyone interested in starting a support group for Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder?) For more info: Megan at trichhelpallen@gmail.com. Texas Health Presbyterian, a variety of events. For more info: www.texashealth.org.

Kids Helping Kids, bring new or gently-used toys to Kids Pediatric Dentistry, donate to kids in the area. Receive chance to win prize. For more info: 972.727.0011 or www.kidspediatricdentistry. com.

Second Monday

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.

Collin County Early Childhood PTA, 9:45 am, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. Nursery res. req. For more info: Suzanne Judkins, 972.712.3634.

Heard Museum Collin County Hobby Beekeepers, 7 pm, Heard Craig Center, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566 or www.northtexasbeekeepers. org.

The MOB (Men of Business), 11:30 am-1 pm, TopGolf USA, Allen for male bonding and networking over lunch. $20 chamber members; $25 non-members/ general public. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com.

Sons of Confederate Veterans, William H. L. Wells Camp, No. 1588, 7 pm, Tino’s Too Restaurant, 2205 Ave. K, Plano. Speakers, school programs, etc. Open to anyone interested. For more info: Lloyd Campbell, 972.442.5982.

McKinney Ladies Association (SRLA), 7 pm. Various locations and service projects monthly.

Every Monday-Friday

The Shores AA Group, noon, Raceway Profesional Building, 200 W. Boyd, Suite C (Adjacent to Dayrise Recovery), Allen. Open AA discussion group. Everyone welcome. For more info: 469.854.9593.

Every Monday

Ericsson Village Toastmasters Club, 12-1 pm, Ericsson, 6300 Legacy, Plano. Guests welcome For more info: Per Treven, 972.583.8273 or per.treven@ ericsson.com.

Allen Toastmasters’ Club, 6:30 pm, Allen Train Depot, 100 E. Main, Allen. Guests welcome. For more info: Joe Nave at 214.566.3100.

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, Ste. 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.

Every Monday, Thursday & Saturday

Allen AA meets, 601 S. Greenville. For more info: 972-359-7383.

For more info: www.mckinneyladies.org.

Third Monday 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

Plano Amateur Radio Klub, 7 pm, all welcome. For more info: www.K5PRK.net.

Allen Image x May 2013

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.

2ChangeU Toastmasters, 7-8:45 pm, Custer Rd. United Methodist Church, Rm B5, 6601 Custer Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.2changeu.org.

Allen Retired Educators, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. For more info: or RSVP: Jerri Caldronia@ jlcaldronia@ suddenlink.net.

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.

Legacy 4-H Club (Allen and Lucas), 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas. For more info: kathrin_esposito@asus.com or 214.616.2460.

Texas Democratic Women of Collin County meets at 6:45 pm, Collin College, Frisco campus, Rm F148. For more info: www.tdwcc.org or Barb Walters, 214.477.5183.

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/ $7 non-mem. 1st visit free. For more info: 972.727.5585.

Toastmasters Creative Expressions, 11:15 am- 12:30 pm. Raytheon, McKinney. Guests welcome.

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Allen Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 7 pm, 1st United Methodist Church, Wesley House, 601 S. Greenville. Offers strength and hope to friends & family of alcoholics. For more info: 214.363.0461 or www.al-anon.alateen.org.

Every Tuesday & Thursday Volunteer Master Gardeners offer landscaping & gardening advice, 9 am-4 pm. Texas A&M’s Co-op Extension, 825 N. McDonald #150, McKinney. For more info: 972.548.4232 or 972.424.1460.

Allen Senior Citizens Luncheon, 11:30 am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville. For more info: 214.509.4820.

Plano Pacers run at Schimelpfenig Library parking lot, 5024 Custer, in Plano, 7 pm. For more info: www.planopacers.org.

Allen Democrats, 6:30 pm, Reel Thing Catfish Cafe, 600 E. Main St., Allen. For more info: Deborah Angell Smith 214.893.3643.

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

Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, 10:30 am social time, 11 am meeting, Stonebriar Country Club, 5050 Country Club Drive, Frisco.Installation of next year’s officers followed by Annual Spring Luncheon.Guests are welcome! For more info: www.newcomerfriends.org.

First Tuesday Heard Museum Native Plant Society, 7:30 pm, One Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566. First and Third Tuesday Common Threads of Allen, 7 pm, A Real Bookstore, 113 Praire Rd., Village at Fairview. Share needlework projects, learn new techniques, make friends. For more info: contact Debi Maige at 214.704.0994 or debik@verizon.net.

Allen Lions Club, 7 pm, Kelly’s at the Village, 190 E. Stacy Rd., Suite1204, Allen. For more info: kevin_carlson@sbcglobal.net.

Third Tuesday

McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, welcomes new residents, 9:30 am, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. Local author Jim Gatewood will talk about his latest book, Bonnie and Clyde, legendary partners in crime. For more info: www.mckinneynewcomers.com.

Plano Republican Women’s Club, 11:30 am, Southfork Hotel, 1600 N. Central Expwy., Plano. For more info: www.planorepublicanwomen.com. Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group provides support & resources for parents of children with autism & related developmental disabilities. Join online group at http://health.groups. yahoo.com/group/autismparentsupport.

Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter meets Aug.May. For more info:txshawm@sbcglobal.net.

Second Tuesday

Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, 7 to 9 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Visitors welcome. For more info: www.bptmn.org or email info@bptmn.org. Collin County ADD/LD Parent Support Group of Collin County, 7-9 pm, parlor, First United Methodist Church, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. For more info: Shirli Salter, sscaroline@aol.com.

Fourth Tuesday

Allen/Fairview Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon and speaker, 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, One Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566.

Porcelain Art Guild of North Texas, 9:30 am, Carriage House, 306 N. Church St., McKinney. Open to anyone, beginner to expert For more info: Gayle Harry 214.509.0787.

Every Wednesday

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

Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, “Become the Speaker and Leader you can be”, 7 pm, Market Street, 985 W. Bethany Drive, Allen. For more info: Marlene Byndon, 816.456.6803.

Allen Sunrise Rotary Club, 7 am, Twin Creeks Hospital, 1001 Raintree Circle. For more info: 972.673.8221 or www.asrotary.org.

McKinney Chess on the Square, 4-7 pm, Downtown McKinney Performing Arts Center. Open play & lessons. Promotes creativity, imagination and strategic thinking. For more info, 214.620.0527 or mckinneychess.org.

First Wednesday

Allen Heritage Guild, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St, 6:30 pm. For more info: 972.740.8017 or www.allenheritageguild.org.

Art History Brown Bag Series, 12:30-1:30 pm, HeardCraig Carriage Hosue, 205 W. Hunt St., McKinney. Lectures presented by Annie Royer. Bring lunch. For more info: 972.569.6909 or www.headcraig.org.

Collin County Master Gardeners Assoc. guided tour of Myers Park, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Res. requested. For more info: 972.548.4232 or go to mgcollin@ag.tamu. edu.

First and Third Wednesday

MOPS of Hope Plano, Hope Community Church, 9:30-11:30, 3405 Custer, Ste. 200, Plano. For more info: 214-762-0037 or www.mopsofhope.com.

Second Wednesday

Collin County Genealogical Society, 7 pm, Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. For more info: ccgs.programs@gmail.com.

VFW Post 2195, 7:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, 1015 Hwy. 121, Allen. For more info: Larry Nordgaard, 972.727.9956 or www. vfw2195.org.

Every Thursday

Sweet Adelines, NoteAbly North Texas Chorus, 7 pm, Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2005 Estates Pkwy, Allen. Women of Allen & surrounding area invited. For more info: nntsing4fun@yahoo.com.

Allen Kiwanis Club, Noon, Twin Creeks Clubhouse, 501 Twin Creeks Blvd. Visitors welcome. For more info: Sandy McNair, 214.548.5483 or www. allenkiwanis.org.

Allen Classic Cars, 7-10 pm, 103-111 N. Central, parking lot of Chipotle and Stacy Furniture.

Community Bible Study, 9:30–11:30 am, Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Avenue, McKinney. Bible study for women and children. Studying Luke. Registration required. 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, 6:308:30 pm, Custer Road UMC, 6601 Custer Rd., Plano. For more info: 214.509.0085 or www.namicco.org.

Allen Image x May 2013

Weight Watchers, 12:15 and 6 pm, First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Enter at the south entrance, second floor.

Speak Up! Frisco Toastmasters Club, 7-7:30 pm social, 7:30-8:30 meeting. U of D-Frisco campus, Frisco Chamber, 6843 W. Main St. For more info: http://speakupfrisco.freetoasthost.ws.

First Thursday

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

North Dallas Newcomers, 11 am., Stonebriar Country Club, Frisco. Program by the Mary Notes who will entertain with a variety of songs. We love to have new members join the many fun activities that this group offers. Guests are welcome. For more info: www.northdallasnewcomers.net.

Allen Garden Club, meets 7 pm, monthly gardening talks by area experts, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main Street. For more info: Denise Webre, 972.390.8536 or www. allengardenclub.org.

Second Thursday

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.

Osteoporosis Support Group, 6:30 pm, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, Community Education Rm-Medical Office Bldg. 2. For more info: 972.747.6036.

PSA:NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] of Collin County, 7:30 pm, Custer Road UM Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano. Enter at the SE end, room B2. Peer support group, B6, and Family support group, B1, meet from 6:30-7:20. For more info: www.namicco.org.

Lovejoy Preschool PTA. Monthly gen. meetings at Creekwood United Methodist Church, 261 Country Club Road, Fairview. Different topic and guest speakers each month. Lunch provided free and babysitting available for nominal fee. A list of speakers is available on website. For more info: www.lovejoypa.org, meetup.com/LovejoyPreschool-PTA/.

Legal Aid Clinic, 6 pm, First United Methodist Church. For more info: www.lanwt.org or 1.888.529.5277.

Second and Fourth Thursday

Allen Area Patriots, 7-8:45 pm, Failth Fellowship Church, 415 West Lucas Road, Lucas. Local Tea Party presents speakers, enlightening and motivating citizens to participate in the political process. For more info: www.AllenAreaPatriots.com.

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

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Xtra Years of Zest Seniors Luncheon, noon, First United Methodist Church Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Fellowship Hall. Lunch and fellowship. Speakers and entertainers. For more info: griflkl@sbcglobal.net.

Collin County Republican Men’s Club, 7 pm, locations vary. For more info: www.ccrmc.org.

Cancer Support Ministry, 7 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E101. For more info: James Craver, 972.727.8241.

Allen Quilters’ Guild, 6:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 605 S. Greenville. For more info: www.allenquilters.org.

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.

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.

Live @ 5 Business After Hours, 5-6:30 pm at various member businesses. Free. For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com. Breast Cancer Support Group, 6:30 pm, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, 1105 Central Expwy. N., Community Education Room-Med.Office Bldg. 2. For more info: 972.747.6036.

Fourth Thursday

Voyagers Social Club of McKinney, 10 am, HeardCraig Hall Gallery, 306 N. Church St., McKinney. Social club open to women in McKinney and surrounding areas. Meet new people. For more info: voyagersofmckinney@gmail.com.

birth to 5 years, 9:30-11:45 am, First Baptist Church in Allen. Childcare provided. For more info: 972.727.8241.

First & Third Friday

Every Saturday

North Texas Referral Group, 11:45 am, Friday’s (121 & Preston by the mall). For more info: www.ntrg.info.

Every Friday

Allen Senior Rec Center Dances, 1-3 pm. Ages 50+. Members free/Non-member Allen resident $3. For more info: 214.509.4820.

McKinney Chess Club, 2-5 pm, Senior Center, 1400 South College Street, McKinney.Adults 50+(Free). For more info: 972.547.7491.

Every Other Friday

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), nondenominational support group for moms with kids

McKinney Chess Club, 10:30 am-1:30 pm, McKinney Public Library, 101 E Hunt St. Any age. Free. For more info: 972.547.7491.

First Saturday

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

Second Saturday

Heard Museum Nature Photography Club meeting. 1:30 pm, Heard Museum, One Nature Place, McKinney. For more info: 972.562.5566.

Department 56 Village Collectors Club meets in the Plano/North Dallas area to share ideas. For more info: www.bigd56ers.com.

Vrooman’s Regiment, Children of the American Revolution, service organization to teach children to serve their local community. For more info: 972.396.8010.

Every Other Thursday

Classic 55+ Game Night, 6:30 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E104. Snacks, fellowship and games. Open to the community, no res. required. For more info: 972.727.8241 or Eddie Huckabee at huckgolf@hotmail.com.

Third Saturday

Single Side Up, 7 pm, This Side Up Family Center, 1100 Capital Ave., Plano. Single parent support group. There is no charge to attend. Low cost child care is available. For more info: www.singlesideup.org or info@ thissideupfamily.org.

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

Fourth Saturday

American Sewing Guild, 10 am-noon, Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Rd (at Parker), in Plano. For more info: Jane Johnson, 972.841.6854 or www. planoasg.org.

Last Saturday

Plano Pacers run at Bob Woodruff Park on San Gabriel Rd., Plano, 8 am. For more info: Bob Wilmot, 972.678.2244, or www. planopacers.org.

Every Sunday

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

First Sunday

United Methodist Women’s Reading Group, 2 pm, First Methodist Church of Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Church Parlor. Join us for book discussion and refreshments. Book selections are determined at the January meeting. We do encourage women of all faiths to participate. For more info: cynannrobinson@gmail.com.

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

Allen Image x May 2013

For Your Health

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For Your Health

Allen Image x May 2013

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cover story As a 17-year-old exchange student assigned to Costa Rica, Dina Gundelfinger faced an intimidating challenge. She spoke no Spanish and her host family in the town of Puntarenas spoke no English. “It was total immersion, and it was the best summer of my life!” she asserts. “The family lived in the back of a shop with one bathroom and no hot water, and we washed our clothes by hand.” Now the mother of two daughters, Hannah, 13, and Emma, 10, and resident of both Fairview and Telluride, Colorado, Dina also mentors Lovejoy High School students trekking to this Central American nation on service trips. Despite most living in conditions that Americans would deem as poverty, Dina describes Costa Ricans as “loving and welcoming.” This is not surprising considering this Central American nation scored highest for happiness both in 2009 and 2012 by the New Economics Foundation’s Happy Planet Index. It was a number of years later before Dina returned to Costa Rica after her student stay, this time touring with her sister’s family. In 2009, Dina decided to rent a home in Nosara by Guiones Beach. “I felt God was calling us down there,” she notes. “Initially it was for our girls to experience a third world country and understand that happiness doesn’t come from material wealth. We also needed to make a difference, but I just didn’t know what that was.” While living there, Dina opted to enroll her daughters in the local school that met only half-days. Since the girls did not speak Spanish and the teachers had only limited English skills, Dina tagged along for the first two months. Here she learned how the public Costa Rican schools functioned and the scarcity of resources. “The teachers were stretched so thin and sometimes they even taught two classes at once,” Dina recalls. “And they had no books. It was heartbreaking.” Because of this, she homeschooled her girls in the afternoon, but this left the compassionate mother wondering about the Costa Rican children who had no other educational resources. Another alarming issue Dina discovered was lack of proper

sanitation at the school. Sinks and toilets were often broken and the teachers and principal provided the only janitorial service. Despite these challenges, Dina saw that the teachers were dedicated and the school provided healthy and freshly prepared lunches of rice, beans and vegetables for the children. “For most of those kids, that was their major meal of the day,” she adds. Before the Gundelfingers returned to the U.S., Dina made a commitment to help the schools and students in Nosara. “That’s when I got in touch with Sarah Antonson; she and her husband had started the Costa Rican-based Surfing Nosara Foundation. Sarah and I had similar goals and objectives—changing lives through education, so we started working together.” Friends of Nosara, a U.S.-based charity established by Mike and Alice Olson, provides the funding for a number of services including the library, environmental groups and educational services, including the Surfing Nosara Foundation. Dina notes that these organizations give 100 percent of funds donated to those in need. “We designate that our funds go to Surfing Nosara Foundation because it helps the schools and Escuelita, a summer camp for kids in January,” Dina states. Costa Rica’s schools follow the same seasonal calendar as the South American schools, with children getting their summer break at the end of December and starting back up midFebruary. Escuelita, she explains, “helps kids whose parents have to work and can’t afford child care, and it includes activities and a meal.” Dina wasn’t satisfied to simply send personal donations to Surfing Nosara though. Returning to Nosara in June and again in January every year, Dina and her daughters stay with friends, Julio and Zahira, who live in a 600-squarefoot home with no window screens or running hot water and just across the river from the tiny community of Delicias. When school is in session, Dina helps out with math and English and provides students with arts and craft activities. Dina also set up a student “adopt-

a-child” campaign at her daughters’ Lovejoy school—Puster Elementary— to raise awareness as well as funds. That’s how Dina met Lovejoy High School student Annie Tadvick. “Annie’s younger sister went to Puster,” Dina explains. “Annie con tacted me because she felt led to do this as her senior class project.” The combination of their efforts proved to be successful far beyond expectations. “We raised about $24,000 that year with Annie, and I attribute it to her tenacity, work ethic and leadership,” Dina declares. Now completing her first year at Texas A&M, 19-year-old Annie recalls, “I really wanted to do service work, but had never done any before. I emailed Dina and told her I wanted to get involved with her cause by organizing a service trip and fundraiser.” Naming her Lovejoy High School senior project iEducate, Annie was soon hard at work getting other students involved and ramping up the fund raising efforts. One of her most popular projects was the “Heartstrings” bracelets. Designed by her mother, this unique jewelry was made from guitar string supplied by the Plano Guitar Center and sold not only at the school and school events, but also at Surfing Nosara’s Costa Rican shop. For a week in January of 2012, Annie, along with seven other Lovejoy High School students, three parents and Dina, hosted a morning mini-camp for the Delicias children, and in the afternoons they volunteered for Escuelita. Their housing was provided by Delicias families. The following June, Annie returned to Costa Rica to offer her services for four weeks as her Girl Scout Gold Award project. “I organized a mini summer camp and did arts and crafts, and helped the kids with math and taught a little English…,” she lists. “Dina and her girls went down with me, as well as Jared Monroe, who is a senior at Lovejoy High School now. They were there for three weeks and I stayed one extra week by myself.” In explaining what her days were like living in the tiny community of Delicias, Annie recalls, “I had one crazy day when everything went wrong.” She Allen Image x May 2013

then recounts a tale of walking two miles to tutor a child and then walking another 10 miles to attend her own class at Nosara Spanish Institute, part of the time on a broken sandal. When she was offered a ride in a car, a wheel

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broke off while driving down a typical dirt and rock road. And to make matters worse, part of her walk was in the rain. Annie laughs off the ordeal though. “I learned to appreciate what I had and

felt really loved. In Costa Rica, they say everything is ‘pura vida—pure life.’” Annie hopes that iEducate will continue to operate as an official school organization at Lovejoy High School. She also aspires to entice a few of her fellow Texas A&M students to join the effort. “We come from a wealthy area and I think it is important for people from here to go down there so they can appreciate what they have—like a warm shower and books! These kids have no books. The kids at the school I went to this summer had only one notebook to write in.” With Delicias families once again serving as hosts, the second group of Lovejoy iEducate students traveled to Costa Rica in January. Juniors Olivia Griffin and Sidney Frimpong, and sophomores Michael Berman, Colin Cross and brothers Alec, Jacob and Seth Comerford volunteered at Escuelita and Delicias. Dina and her friend, Erin Bies of Lucas, accompanied the teens. “I thought it would be a good experience to go out and see what other people lived like,” Michael notes. “Annie had talked about how it had changed her life, and I wanted to see what made her think that.” “After her trip last year, Annie came to our Spanish class and gave a presentation on it,” Jacob adds. “I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable being thrown out in a sink-or-swim situation because I’m not very strong in Spanish. But watching how she made an impact on the people there made me want to go out and make an impact on someone else’s life.” “And I chose to participate because it would be a new experience, not just sitting in a classroom learning Spanish, but getting out and actually using the skills that I’ve learned,” Seth asserts. In addition to honing her Spanish skills, Olivia harbors a goal of one day working with Doctors Without Borders and thought this would be an excellent opportunity to test the waters. Despite all having several years of Spanish classes, each of the boys cited communication as one of the greatest challenges of the trip. “I thought my basic Spanish would get me by, but you need a whole lot more than what you learn in

ining in

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class,” Colin explains. “I wish we could have been more interactive with the kids.” Jacob affirms, “The adults knew we couldn’t speak Spanish well and would try to speak at a basic level, but the kids would talk nonstop.” Shaking his head, Alec grins, “There is Spanish and then there’s Costa Rican Spanish. You would say something and the kids would start laughing at you, so you had the feeling you had said something bad.” A photographer for Lovejoy High School’s newspaper, The Red Ledger,

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Michael took on that responsibility for this group as well. Toting all of his camera equipment to Costa Rica, he admits, “By the end I was hanging out with the kids a lot more and often left my camera gear behind.” Colin and Jacob chose the games to play with the children and acquired the needed materials for the week. Seth and Alec tackled sports. “What’s big down there is soccer, so we brought about 20 soccer balls,” Seth recalls. “We had games all week and it was almost soccer non-stop.”

Sidney selected the arts and crafts projects and purchased the necessary supplies, with the help of her friend, Molly Irwin. Pointing to Olivia, in unison the boys declare, “She’s really good in Spanish!” Because of her language skills, Olivia took on the primary responsibility for dealing with communicating and translating. Colin says, “Once we got down there our roles kind of meshed together— we all helped out in different areas.” Their Costa Rican adventure also offered them opportunities on learning how to deal with unexpected challenges—starting with their arrival at the airport. Bringing in 18 bags, many stuffed with school supplies, arts and crafts materials and sports equipment, raised a red flag for the Costa Rican airport security over concerns these were intended for sale rather than donation. “I had six bags under my name,” Alec sighs. “They were very upset and put me on their terrorist watch list.” The next obstacle was maneuvering through road checkpoints with police officers hunting for drug smugglers reportedly seen in a van matching the description of the one the Lovejoy students were in. “They all had big guns!” Alec declares. Another unnerving surprise was two earthquakes related to a sig nificantly larger tremor that struck in September. Measured at a 7.6 magni tude, the earlier earthquake had damaged or destroyed a number of homes and buildings, including schools. The first of the January quakes measured 4.1 and occurred the day after they arrived. The second earth quake that week measured 4.6. Recalling the tremor that struck after everyone had gone to bed, Colin recounts, “Alec and I were staying in the same house and I had the top bunk. At first I thought he was shaking the bed just to mess with me.” Describing his sleeping quarters in Delicias as a “loft on four tree-sized legs that was 15 feet off the ground,” Michael declares, “As soon as I felt it, I was on the ground!” Sidney admits, ”When I realized what was going on I was so scared that I didn’t move.”

Jacob confesses that he slept right through it. “I set a glass of water next to my bed and when I woke up in the morning, my bed had shifted and water was everywhere.” Improved roads and transportation topped Michael, Seth and Colin’s list of needs for the area. Seth explains, “Men, women and even the kids had to wake up as early as 4 or 5 o’clock and then walk two to three hours to get to work. Then at the end of the day, they have to walk back.” For Alec, the lack of reliable, continuous water was another significant problem. “They might have water for one hour on one day and then none the next,” he stresses. “They collect rain water, and when they do get water, they keep it in big storage containers.” So getting a daily shower, albeit cold, was a luxury. Jacob, Olivia and Sidney named the lack of school supplies as another major obstacle. “They don’t have computers, books or even paper in the classrooms,” Jacob explains. “They bring their own paper—if they have any. And there were no pens or pencils.” These more impoverished areas

also lack adequate medical care. “They said at the local clinic there was only a doctor there once a week,” Olivia points out. The Lovejoy students all agreed they felt safe in Costa Rica, which boasts surprisingly low violent crime statistics. What they had to be wary of was petty crimes like theft.

Each weekday, after breakfast the Lovejoy students traveled to their Spanish class and then to Escuelita, where several hundred children participated in activities. The last day, the teens opted to start the morning with a camp just for the children of Delicias. Surprised at the attendance from this two-street village, the group

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asserted they would choose to do more in their host town if allowed to return. The day after they arrived in Costa Rica, several went to the mountains to ride zip lines, soaring over the rain forest while being serenaded by numerous howler monkeys. On Thursday evening, they went to a local fair that included what was

referred to as “bullfights.” Pointing out that it was more like a rodeo, Seth explains, “There was a big ring with bleachers and whoever wanted to could jump in the ring, scurry around and run from the bull.” Their last evening in Costa Rica, the teens were treated to a celebration at the home of Friends of Nosara

founders Sarah and Mike Olson, followed by a bonfire on the beach. That night, as per Costa Rican birth day tradition, Michael was also honored by having a raw egg cracked over his head. All agreed that the simple meals they had in Costa Rica proved to be a treat. Along with the traditional daily rice and beans, they indulged in fruit picked fresh from trees, eggs from the family’s hens and fresh-ground coffee from locally grown beans. After a week of eating fresh and simple foods, most found that upon returning home their traditional American diets made them ill. Providing the supplies for this Costa Rican service trip required some creative fundraising by the students. Noting that his family hosts an annual Halloween haunted house at their home, Seth continues, “So this year we made it bigger and better. Then we sent out emails saying that we were doing this fundraiser, so if you stop by bring a dollar or two to drop in the bucket.” Jacob points out that their mother works at Allen’s Anderson Elementary and the students there donated a number of balls. Colin adds, “At the Friday night football games we had a table selling bracelets and blankets and a football net set up where you try to get a football through it, with a dollar getting you four throws.” Michael earned money taking photos of families for Thanksgiving and Christmas cards and Sidney and Molly hosted two bake sales. “We also collected donations from individuals,” Olivia continues. “And in late April we are going to have a ‘Coins for Costa Rica’ fundraiser at the schools in the Lovejoy District.” In addition, several area restaurants are hosting fundraiser nights, with 10% of the proceeds going to their project. For more information, go to www. surfingnosara.com/surfing-nosarafoundation and www.friendsofnosara. org. On-line donations for the Nosara schools and Escuelita can be made at the Friends of Nosara website, noting that the money is to go to the Surfing Nosara Foundation.º v Peggy Helmick-Richardson is a freelance writer.

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