Allen Imag September 2019 by Allen Image

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Allen Image inside this issue September 2019

Volume. 29, Issue 9

Allen Image

science meets passion

publisher/editor

feature

Allen native Sahana Srinivasan is poised to take the acting and filmmaking world by storm. Sahana is the host of Brainchild, a Netflix original series, which premiered in November of 2018.

Barbara Peavy

advertising sales Nora Bollman

cover photo John Nervig

special sections

on the cover

14 CALENDAR 22

KIDS KORNER

Kids Eat Free (or almost free)

Sahana Srinivason

contributing writers Matt Cobb Steven Dawson

David Hicks Deborah Dove Tom Keener

6 civic forum

6 Volunteer of the Year 7 Happy Fall Fest 8 The Carnival is Back 9 Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Help Save the Farmhouse!

11 Allen Folk Festival

Mayan Brupo Pakal

Finance

The Family ATM

education

library

All Aboard…How Allen ISD Bus Drivers Go Above and Beyond

The Making of a Myth

Talk About Cool Music!

Television’s Bobbie Wygant

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cooking

28 Sweeeeet!

Allen Image © 2019. 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, visit our website at www.allenimage. com or email us at contact@ allenimage.com.

civic forum

Volunteer of the Year by Matt Cobb

Anyone who’s played bingo at Allen Senior Recreation Center has likely encountered Bob Hanna. Having been a member of the facility since it opened in 2006, Bob has been an integral figure leading bingo and has also always been willing to help out where needed, which is why he has been named the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for Allen Senior Recreation Center. “Having moved to Allen from Oklahoma, Allen Senior Recreation Center has been a great place to meet people,” Bob said. “I’d recommend anyone to come up here and look around and get involved!” Bob’s volunteerism all started with his interest in bingo. An experienced bingo caller, Bob took on the initiative to direct the facility’s weekly bingo games, which is solely dependent on volunteers. Bob’s involvement with bingo over the past 13 years has left a tremendous mark,

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always bringing a positive attitude, enthusiasm and excitement for the hundreds of players he’s impacted. In addition to bingo, Bob has made himself available to volunteer in many areas throughout the facility. Bob has a food hander certification to serve meals and has assisted with many events, including the annual health fair, Happy Fall Fest and even as a part of the grilling crew for the Hot Dog Hoedown. For the past two years, Bob has served on the Senior Advisory Committee, lending his knowledge and experience to help advance Allen Senior Recreation Center. Around the facility, Bob is known for his sense of humor and jokes. In

the mornings, Bob is often found socializing over coffee in the dining room. “Bob is such an integral figure at Allen Senior Recreation Center, having been around just about as long as anybody here,” said Julie Olles, the facility supervisor. “His tireless commitment and dedication has left a tremendous impact on the facility.” Allen Senior Recreation Center is open to ages 50 and older and spouses. For more information, including how to join and upcoming programs, please visit LifeInAllen. org/ASRC or call 214.509.4820. v Matt Cobb is the marketing manager for the City of Allen Parks and Rec Department.

Happy Fall Fest by Matt Cobb Celebrate fall with a day of fun for the entire family! One of Allen’s favorite annual traditions, Happy Fall Fest, is returning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 14 to Allen Senior Recreation Center, which is free to attend and will have fun festivities for all ages! “Fall is one of our favorite times of year, and Happy Fall Fest is always such an exciting way to celebrate for adults and children alike,” said Denise Fenner, the event’s organizer at Allen Senior Recreation Center. “From unique crafts for purchase to scrumptious food and a car show, there is no better way to welcome in the new season and cooler weather.” Back again this year will be a craft and specialty gift market with over 50 vendors from throughout the DFW Metroplex, selling a variety of unique and one-of-a-kind items. In the parking lot, the Morning Maniacs car club will have a variety of classic and muscle cars on display for the public to view. (Anyone

interested in participating in the car show can contact Charles Chewning at 214.507.5856.) Children will have the opportunity to get their faces painted! Also, balloon artist Andrea Miller, who holds a Guinness World Record and has twisted 718 balloons in two hours, will be at the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. making balloon creations. Directly across the street, Allen Heritage Guild will be holding an open house of Allen Heritage Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be free, motorized trackless train rides from the trailhead behind St. Mary Church to the bridge behind Allen Senior Recreation Center, and children will be able to participate in a “Historic Wash Day” with metal tubs and scrub boards. Nick Ensminger, recently featured on WFAA’s Giggybytes segment, will be juggling from noon until 2 p.m. If all of the excitement works up

an appetite, scrumptious treats will be available for purchase, and Texas Roadhouse will be selling lunches. “Free remote parking will be available next door at The Edge Skate Park and Visitor Center and at Allen Public Library,” Fenner said. “We’ll even have a free limo-style golf cart shuttle that will drive you from the parking lot over to the event!” For more information about Happy Fall Fest, visit LifeInAllen.org or call 214.509.4820. v Matt Cobb is the marketing manager for the City of Allen Parks and Rec Department. Allen Image | September 2019

THE CARNIVAL IS BACK The 2019 St Jude Catholic Church Carnival returns on Thursday, September 26, and runs through Sunday, September 29. This annual event has become a North Texas tradition, as people of all ages come from miles around to enjoy the food, games and rides. The St. Jude Carnival Committee began preparation in February, and has put together an event designed for the enjoyment of people young and old. The committee’s ultimate goal is to make this year’s carnival the best one yet! Talley Amusements, Inc. creates a picturesque carnival setting with their renowned Ferris Wheel, spin rides and traditional carnival food. Stroll the midway, as you take in the sights and sounds, play a game and purchase your favorite carnival food, there is fun to be had by the whole family! Please note: all who wish to

ride the rides must meet the posted height requirements, and there will be no refunds rain or shine. Additionally, Saturday’s St. Jude Parish activities will run from noon to 7 p.m., and include children’s games, inflatables, a silent auction, wine pull and a raffle. The Knights of Columbus will have food and drinks available for purchase in the Parish Hall, including their famous brisket tacos. Catholic Radio of Dallas will be broadcasting live from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and our Carnival sponsors, as well as

the Allen Police and Fire Departments, will all be present. Please visit our website, www. stjudeparish.com, for more detailed information. There, you will be able to find info on Talley’s Magic Money card; place bids on silent auction items; and see the list of our 2019 Carnival Sponsors Like us on Facebook (http// www.facebook.com/pages/St-JudeCatholic-ChurchAllenTX/ 161131773935099) and follow us on Twitter @stjudeparish. For more info you may call the St. Jude office at 972.727.1177. St. Jude is located at 1515 N. Greenville in Allen. For the safety of all, no firearms. v

Midway Hours

THURSDAY September 26, 6-10 p.m. FRIDAY September 27, 6-11 p.m. SATURDAY September 28, noon-11 p.m. SUNDAY September 29, 1-10 p.m. 8

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snippets

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Samantha Schmidt heARTs for ART invites you to celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and make a difference to a family affected by childhood leukemia! Please join us September 7, 6-10 p.m. at Nine Band Brewing, 9 Prestige Circle, for a Cornhole Tournament and live music by Mr. Hat & Good Therapy. This event has something for everyone— cornhole, excellent music and a delicious fajita dinner. Get your tickets for this event at www.hearts-for-art.org. On September 19—North Texas Giving Day—help us fill up gas tanks for those families affected by childhood leukemia by donating at https://www. northtexasgivingday.org/heartsforart. And, on September 28, visit Saltlight Station, 1500 Greenville Ave, for live music. Samantha Schmidt heARTs for ART is Saltlight’s Charity of the Month, so stop by all month for their specialty drink, which benefits heARTs for ART. We are fighting leukemia so other kids don’t get sick! v

Help Save the Farmhouse! Join the Allen Heritage Guild with boot stompin’ music and delicious BBQ at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at the Allen Senior Center in their efforts to save the farmhouse located in Heritage Village. Entertainment will be provided by The Bodarks. Combining western swing, blue grass and roots Americana, The Bodarks offer a stunning performance. Superb fiddle playing, vocals with layered harmony, and ole fashion banjo and mandolin picking produce an unforgettable evening. Tickets are $50 each. The preservation of historic buildings is a one-way street. There is no chance to renovate or to save a historic site once it’s gone. And we can never be certain what will be valued in the future. This reality brings to light the importance of locating and saving one of Allen’s last farmhouses― because once a piece of history is destroyed, it is lost forever. The Allen Senior Center is located at 451 E. St. Mary Drive. Call 469.342.6674 for more information. v Allen Image | September 2019

library

The Allen Public Library presents… by Tom Keener

The Making of a Myth George Custer’s famed military career began during the Civil War and ended with his death at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Although Custer is the subject of over four dozen books, the public’s perception of Custer was largely created by his widow Elizabeth “Libbie” Bacon Custer. Paula Paschal will discuss the life and legacy of Libbie Custer in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 12, at the library. George and Libbie Custer were married for 12 years, and the adoration and romantic sentiments expressed in their letters demonstrated a heightened devotion. After her husband was killed in 1876, she feared that he was going to be blamed for the defeat and made a scapegoat, so she began writing articles and scheduling speaking engagements throughout the country. Her first book Boots and Saddles continues to remain a highly valued collector’s item. She even collaborated with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show to perpetuate the Custer mythology. Living until 1933, Libbie never remarried, but continued to speak on her late husband’s behalf. A retired schoolteacher, Paula Paschal is a speaker at book and history clubs. v

Talk About Cool Music! Nominated for four Grammys, Shake Anderson has played with, or produced for, a number of performers including Curtis Mayfield, Ruben Studdard and the Indigo Girls. You can hear him perform in a free concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 13, at the library. Performing in Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theatre and Radio City Music Hall, this multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer has also worked on numerous films. As a result, he garnered gold and platinum albums for his work on Blue Streak, Dr. Doolittle, Boys on the Side and Austin Powers. Shake spent six years as musical director for soul music legends, The Impressions, and later formed the Grammy-winning gospel group New Breed with Israel Houghton. v

Television’s Bobbie Wygant Bobbie Wygant spent more than seven decades interviewing thousands of celebrities as Dallas/Ft. Worth’s KXAS-TV Channel 5 arts and entertainment reporter. Her diverse list of icons includes Julie Andrews, Bette Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Debbie Reynolds, Denzel Washington and Mark Hammill.

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Allen Folk Festival

This year’s Allen Folk Festival is being hosted Friday, September 27, at the library and features an incredible performance by Mathew Bell and the Next of Kin. This free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. A popular performer at diverse venues throughout North Texas such as Deep Ellum and the Frisco Rail Yard, Mathew sings straight from the heart. The beauty of folk music is its limitless ability to evolve. Mathew Bell is no exception with his eclectic style that offers a unique blend of soul music, but maintaining the lyricism of a lot of folk songs. This band values audience interaction, both from the stage (telling the song story) or becoming acquainted with guests after the show—bonding with guests is their goal. Combining mellow voices and a variety of instruments, Mathew Bell and the Next of Kin will deliver a mesmerizing performance that possesses a mystique and style that defy musical formula. v

Mayan Grupo Pakal Grupo Pakal offers insight and new appreciation for the highly advanced Mayan culture through festive dance rituals and elaborate ceremonial regalia in a free program at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 15, at the library. With a stunning wardrobe and elaborately feathered headdresses, each a handcrafted work of art, Grupo Pakal captures the essence of the advanced Mayan culture. According to ancient tradition, each unique design utilizes natural materials including leather, shell, semi-precious stones and exotic feathers. Audiences of all ages are amazed and delighted by Grupo Pakal performances. Much of the contemporary rural population of the Yucatán Peninsula and Chiapas, in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, is Mayan by descent. Contrary to the popular myth that the Mayan people “disappeared,” millions still live in the region, and many still speak one of the Maya family of languages. Artistic director Ricardo Alarcón’s training in Mayan ceremonial dance was passed down from family tradition. A descendant of the Aztec Indians of Mexico, he represented Mayan culture for more than a decade at Xcaret, Mexico’s popular ecological park located in the Mayan Riviera. v

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

Bobbie will share stories about her experiences with luminaries and discuss her book, Talking to the Stars: Bobbie Wygant’s Seventy Years in Television, in a free program at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 19, at the library. Started in 1948 by publisher magnate Amon G. Carter, WBAP (now KXAS) was the first television station west of the Mississippi. Bobbie was there from the beginning. Like all members on that early Channel 5 staff, Bobbie assumed multiple tasks including writing copy, performing live on-air skits and presenting commercials. Her ability to

connect with celebrities soon became apparent. Even though stars may assume extroverted roles on the screen, they can be shy in real life. Evoking insightful answers from reticent celebrities is a special gift Bobbie possesses. Don’t miss Bobbie’s account of a particularly tedious interview with Julie Christie. Bobbie will also reflect on her personal observations of television broadcasting as it emerged as a family-owned WBAP-TV, and offer fascinating insights into today’s multibillion-dollar industry. v Allen Image | September 2019

finance

The Family ATM by Steven J. Dawson Over the years, my staff and I have seen many scenarios where people were engaged in behaviors that, unbeknownst to them, were detrimental to their financial and mental health. However, there is one situation that I’ve seen that can be harder to shake and can be extremely stressful and a huge financial threat. From my experience many people don’t actually realize that they in fact have this condition that I refer to as being The Family ATM. The Family ATM is simply a person whom has done well for themselves financially and has built somewhat of a reputation of being generous and has a big heart. Now before I go on, I believe it would be appropriate to state that there is nothing wrong with being charitable or being a giver, however, as with most things, it requires a balance. The Family ATM is a person whom has exceeded that balance so much so that it is potentially to their own or detriment of others. I wanted to share a couple of thoughts on how not to be the Family ATM.

It’s Okay to Say No It’s important as one tries to establish a balance between

financially helping out their family or close friends that saying “no“should always be an option. Saying no doesn’t make you a bad guy; it also doesn’t make you selfish; it makes you responsible. Consider this, if one finds themselves continuing to help someone pay a bill on somewhat of a regular basis and there appears to be no timeline for improvement, is that truly helping that person? I would submit to you that after too many occurrences it maybe enabling. Remember, it’s okay to hold others accountable and to have expectations of progress when you are the person loaning the money.

Before You Say Yes Again Ask that person to show you progress that they’ve made from the last time you gave them money. Specifically ask them to show you what efforts have been attempted to help better their own situation so they won’t continually be in need. For

example, showing proof that they’ve sent out resumes or cut spending in certain areas to help themselves. For some this may seem a bit too personal of a request to ask of another, however if they’re asking for your money, its appropriate for you to have an understanding of their personal circumstances. If that bothers them too much, there are other options for them to consider. You owe it to yourself and your values to be a good steward of the finances you have accrued over time. Learning how to say “no“ at times, can definitely help you in the long term. v Steven Dawson, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is an Allen resident, educator, national speaker and president of Dawson Private Wealth in Allen. Views expressed are the current opinion of the author, but not necessarily those of Raymond James or RJFS, and are subject to change without notice. Any information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. Dawson Private Wealth is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc, owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™in the U.S.

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formarketplace your health

Allen Image | September 2019

calendar

SEPTEMBER CLUBS

2ChangeU Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday, 7 pm, Plano Family YMCA, 3300 McDermott Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. More info: www.2changeu.org. A Place To Go (APT G), meets 3rd Saturday each month, (Sept-May), 7-9:30 pm, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville, Allen. Volunteers, high school age & up paired with special needs teen/ young adult. Eat, play games and make crafts in a parent’s night out environment. Free. More info: 214.385.8850 or email specialkids@ fumcallen.org. Allen Area Patriots, meets the 4th Thursday each month, 78:45 pm, Allen Municipal Building, 301 Century Pkwy., Allen. Local Tea Party presents speakers, encourages citizens to participate. More info: www.AllenAreaPatriots.com Allen Garden Club, meets 1st Thursday each month, 7 pm, gardening talks by area experts, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. More info: Denise Webre, 972.390.8536 or www.allengardenclub. org. Allen Heritage Guild, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 6:30 pm, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. Guest speakers on topics of historical significance. More info: 972.740.8017 or www. allenheritageguild.org. ALLen Reads meets 2nd Monday each month, Board Room, Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Drive. More info, www. allenfriends.org. Allen Retired Educators meet 3rd Monday each month, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. RSVP: Sondra Long, billysondralong@tx.rr.com. Allen Toastmasters’ Club, meets every Monday, 6:30 pm, Train Depot, 100 E. Main, Allen. Guests welcome. More info: Joe Nave at 214.566.3100. American Assoc. of University Women-Plano/Collin County Branch, meets 2nd Monday each month, 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. More info: Carol, 972.862.3460.

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Art History Brown Bag Series, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 12:30-1:30 pm, Heard-Craig Carriage House, 205 W. Hunt St., McKinney. Lectures by Annie Royer. Bring lunch. More info: 972.569.6909 or www.heardcraig.org. Bible Study, meets every Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am, Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Ave., McKinney. Bible study for women and children. Studying Luke. Reg. req. More info: katpf@att.net or mckinneyallen.cbsclass.org. Camp Gladiator, meets every Saturday, 8 pm, parking lot (or inside) Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, 1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway. Adult outdoor fitness group for all fitness levels. Free community workout. More info: jeanettelintzen@campgladiator.com. Collin County Aggie Moms, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7 pm, Texas A&M Ext. Center, 17360 Coit Road. More info: 972.382.3124 or www.collincountymoms.aggienetwork.com. Collin County Archaeology Society, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Texas Star Bank, McKinney. More info: archaeology@ netzero.net. Collin County Genealogical Society, meets 2nd Wednesday each month, 7 pm, Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. More info: ccgs. programs@gmail.com. Collin County Libertarian Party meets 2nd Wednesday each month, at 5th Street Pizza, 111 Central Expwy., Allen. More info: collinlp.org or email collinlp.org@gmail.com. Collin County Master Gardeneers tour of Myers Park, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Reservations required. More info: 972.548.4232 or mgcollin@ag.tamu.edu. Collin County Republican Men’s Club, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, locations vary. More info: www.ccrmc.org. Dallas Dog Lovers, events for dogs and owners in the Dallas area. More info: www.dallasdoglovers.com Department 56 Village Collectors Club meets 2nd Saturday each month in Plano/North Dallas to share ideas. More info: www. bigd56ers.com. Ericsson Village Toastmasters Club, meets every Monday, noon-1 pm, Ericsson, 6300 Legacy, Plano. Guests welcome. More info: Per Treven, 972.583.8273 or per.treven@ericsson.com. First Nighter African Violet Society, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7-9 pm, Collin Higher Education Center, 3452 Spur 399, McKinney. More info: www.beautifulviolets.com.

Friends of the Allen Public Library meets 3rd Wednesday each month, Board Room, Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Dr. More info: www.allenfriends.org. Gaslighters Book Review Club meets 3rd Wednesday each month September thru May at Heard Craig House, 205 W. Hunt Street, McKinney, refreshments noon, speaker 1 pm. More info: LaRue Whatley, 423.585.4983. Greater Collin Kennel Club, meets 3rd Wednesday each month, 7 pm, FUMC of Plano, 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. All welcome. More info: www.greatercollinkc.org. Legacy 4-H Club (Allen & Lucas), meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas. More info: kathrin_ esposito@asus.com or 214.616.2460. Lone Star Parliamentary Unit, meets 2nd Monday each month (Sept. thru May), 10:30 am, Allen Public Library. Promotes parliamentary education. More info: 972.727.3090, Mae Shaw, Pres. Lovejoy Preschool PTA, meets 2nd Thursday each month, Creekwood UMC, 261 Country Club, Fairview. Different topic & speakers. Free lunch; babysitting available for nominal fee. More info: www.lovejoypa.org, meetup.com/Lovejoy-Preschool-PTA/. McKinney Amateur Radio Club, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Spring Creek Bar B Que 1993 N. Central Expressway, McKinney. More information: 972.814.4190. McKinney Area Republican Co-Ed Club, meets 2nd Thursday each month, 7 pm, Collin County GOP Hdqts., 8416 Stacey Rd., #100, McKinney. Location varies. More info: collincountyconservativerepublicans.com. McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 9:30 am, social; 10 am meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. September program: Lorraine Brock of Get Organized.. More info: www.mckinneynewcomers. com. NARFE Chapter 559, meets 3rd Monday each month, 1:30 pm, Village of Stonebridge Assisted Living, 3300 S. Stonebridge Drive, McKinney. All current government employees and retirees invited. Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, refreshments 9:30 am, meeting 10 am, Noah’s Event Center, 351 Southwind Lane, Fairview. September program: Annual Activity Fair—Pumpkin Extravaganza 9:15-10:15. More info: www. newcomerfriends.org.

North Dallas Newcomers, meets 1st Thursday each month, 11 am, various country clubs. More info: www. northdallasnewcomers.net. Open Forum, meaningful discussions, meets 1st Saturday each month, 3 pm, Delaney’s Pub, 6150 W. Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney. More info: Charlie, 214.585.0004. Plano Amateur Radio Klub, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7 pm, FUMC of Plano, 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano. All welcome. More info: www.K5PRK.net. Plano Photography Club, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, W. Plano Presbyterian Church, 2709 Custer Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. More info: www.planophotographyclub.com. Plano Republican Women’s Club, meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 11:30 am, Reflections on Spring Creek, 1901 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. More info: www.planorepublicanwomen.com. Prelude Clubhouse, community center for adults living with mental illness meets at Collin Creek Church, 1905 E. Parker Rd, Plano. Open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9 am-4 pm. More info: 469.301.6639 or www.preludeclubhouse.org. Preston Persuaders Toastmasters, meets every Monday, 7:15 pm, Champions School of Real Estate in the Rangers Room at 3721 Mapleshade Ln, Plano. More info: Ed Meissner, 469.323.0538 or Todd Richardson, 214.497.4495 or www.prestonpersuaders.org. Random Events Dallas, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups in Dallas area. More info: RandomEventsDallas.com. Reasonable Faith Discussion Group, meets every Tuesday, 11am-12:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Church Rm. B1116. More info: www.RFCCTX.org. Reasonable Faith Collin County Chapter, meets 2nd and 4th Thursday, 6:45-8:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Church, Rm B202. More info: www.RFCCTX.org; email: ReasonableFaithCollinCO@ gmail.com. Single Side Up, meets 3rd Saturday each month, 7 pm, This Side Up Family Center, 1100 Capital Ave., Plano. Single parent support group. Low cost childcare. More info: www.singlesideup.org or info@thissideupfamily.org. St. Jude Carreer Alliance, meets most Wednesdays, 9 pm, lecture Hall, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville, Allen. Helping to develop career strategies for students, career builders & unemployed. More info: Jack Bick, jbick@stjudeparish.com or www. stjudecareeralliance.net/aboutus/. Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, meets every Wednesday, “Become the Speaker and Leader You Can Be,” 7 pm, IHOP, 315 Central Expwy, Allen. More info: Bill Peterson, 972.523.9425. United Methodist Women’s Reading Group, meets 1st Sunday each month, 2 pm, FUMC, 601 S. Greenville. Book discussion & refreshments. We encourage women of all faiths to participate. More info: http://www.fumcallen.org. Volunteer Master Gardeners offer landscaping and gardening advice, every Tuesday & Thursday, 9 am-4 pm. Texas A&M’s Co-op Extension, 825 N. McDonald #150, McKinney. More info: 972.548.4232 or 972.424.1460. Voyagers Social Club of McKinney, meets 4th Thursday each month, 10 am, Eldorado Country Club, 2604 Country Club, McKinney. Social club open to women in McKinney and surrounding areas. More info: voyagersofmckinney@gmail.com.

ART/MUSIC/THEATRE

Allen Folk Music Society, meets 3rd Saturday each month, 7-10 pm, The Blue House, 102 S. Allen Dr. Bring snacks to share. More info: www.twiceasfar.com/news. Allen Symphony Chorus rehearsals, every Monday, 7-9 pm, choir room at First UMC. More info: Henry@ WealthManagementGroupLLC.com.

CRAFTS

Allen Quilters’ Guild, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 6:30 pm, Blue House Too, Watters Creek. More info: www.allenquilters.org. Common Threads of Allen, meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays each month, 7 pm, Whole Foods Market Café, Stacy Rd. Share needlework projects, learn techniques, etc. More info: contact Debi Maige at 214.704.0994 or debik@verizon.net.

HEALTH

Allen AA meets every Monday-Sunday, 601 S. Greenville. Mon.Fri., 7 pm; Sat., 9 am; Sun., 7:30 pm. More info: Joe, 214.564.9403 & Tina, 214.566.7561.

Allen Image | September 2019

Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group meets 3rd Tuesday each month. Support & resources for parents of children with autism and other related developmental disabilities. Join online group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ autismparentsupport. Allen Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, meets every Tues & Thur, 7 pm, 1st UMC, Wesley House, 601 S. Greenville. For friends and family of alcoholics. More info: 214.363.0461 or www.al-anon. alateen.org. American Cancer Society Road to Recovery needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to appointments. If you have a car and have time 9 am-5 pm, you can help. More info: Debbie Moen, 972.712.5711. Baylor Health Care System support groups, medical info and events. More info: www.BaylorHealth.com. Cancer Support Ministry, meets 2nd Sunday each month, 4 pm, 1st Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E101. More info: Jimmy Smith, 972.727.8241. Heart Link Women’s Networking group, women only business networking. Meets monthly. Days & locations vary. More info: www.75013.theheartlinknetwork.com. Nar-Anon Family Group, meets every Wednesday, 7:30-8:30 pm, at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas. Fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. More info: Nar-Anon.org or 800.477.6291. National Alliance of Mental Illness (for Collin County) Support Groups meet every Thursday, 6:30-8 pm, LifePoint Church, in the LifePoint Kids Bldg, 4501 Hedgcoxe Rd, Plano. There is one support group for persons with a mental illness and another group further down the hall for friends and/or family. More info: NAMI Dallas, 214.341.7133. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, meets every Tuesday, 6:15-8 pm, Good Shepherd UMC, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas. More info: 1.800. YEA.TOPS or www.tops.org. Texas Health Presbyterian, variety of events. More info: www. texashealth.org. The Shores AA Group, every Monday-Friday, noon, Raceway Prof. Bldg., 200 W. Boyd, Suite C, Allen. Open AA discussion group. All welcome. More info: 469.854.9593. Weight Watchers, meets every Thursday, 12:15 & 6 pm, 1st UMC, 600 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. South entrance, 2nd floor.

HOBBIES/SPORTS/FITNESS

Allen Classic Cars, meets every Thursday, 7-10 pm, 103-111 N. Central, parking lot of Stacy Furniture. Collin County Hobby Beekeepers, meets 2nd Monday each month, 6:30 pm, Collin College, Central Park Campus Conference Center, 2200 W. University Dr., McKinney. More info: www.cchba. org. Fit and Funky Fit Club, meets every Monday, 7:30 pm, & every Sunday, 7 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany #208, Allen. Work out to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free. More info: fitandfunky@att.net. Infinity Personal Fitness Charity Workout, meets every other Saturday at 9 am, 1201 W. McDermott, #106, Allen. Min. donation $5. Proceeds donated to local charities. More info: email cattaneo. ray@gmail.com. McKinney Chess on the Square, meets every Wednesday, 4-7 pm, Downtown McKinney Performing Arts Center. Open play & lessons. More info, 214.620.0527 or mckinneychess.org. McKinney Chess Club, every Saturday, 10:30 am-1:30 pm, McKinney Public Library, 101 E Hunt St. Free. And, every Friday, 2-5 pm, Senior Center, 1400 South College Street, McKinney. Adults 50+(Free). More info: 972.547.7491. Plano Bicycle Association, club rides, social activities, monthly meetings, newsletters. More info: Chris Mathews, 972.964.2869 or www.planobicycle.org. Plano Pacers run at Schimelpfenig Library parking lot, 2nd Tuesday each month, 5024 Custer, Plano, 7 pm., and at Bob Woodruff Park on San Gabriel Rd., Plano, last Saturday every month, 8 am. More info: Bob Wilmot, 972.678.2244 or www. planopacers.org. Pure Athlete Volleyball Club offers high-performance volleyball skills training and club teams for boys and girls ages 6-18. Free player assessment. More info: Mischelle Slaton, 214.803.0311 or www.pureathleteclub.org. Skilled Motorcycle Riders Association promotes motorcycle safety through rider training. Monthly practice courses, social activities, etc. More info: www.skilledmotorcycleriderassociation. com. Stroller Strides Classes. For class information, check out Fairview.fit4mom.com. First class Free. More info: Fairview.fit4mom. com, email Lolo@fit4mom.com.

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The Experiment Aircraft Association, Chapter 1246, meets 1st Saturday each month, McKinney National Airport. Everyone interested in aviation is invited. More info: eaa1246.org.

MOM’S CLUBS

Allen Early Childhood PTA, support for parents & caregivers kids age 0-5. Fun activities. Play groups, park days, lunch w/friends, field trips, Mom’s Night Out, Dads & Kids, etc. More info: www. aecpta.com or information@aecpta.com. Allen/McKinney Area Mothers of Multiples, new and expectant moms’ forum, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt, McKinney. More info: www. amamom.org or 972.260.9330. Collin County Early Childhood PTA, meets 2nd Monday each month, 9:45 am, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. Nursery res. required. More info: Suzanne Judkins, 972.712.3634. Moms Club, meets 1st Friday each month (Sept.-May), 10 amnoon, at Grace Church, 2005 Estates Pkwy, Allen. Moms of preschool children. Relax with hot brunch & speaker. Childcare-$3 per child/$6 max. More info: www.grace-efc.org/womens-ministry/. MOMS Club of Allen, for moms & children in Allen, Fairview & Lucas. Monthly playgroups, kid field trips, business tours, special events, Mom’s Night Out and more. More info: momsclubofallentx@gmail.com. MOMS Club McKinney Central, support group for stay-athome moms. Play groups, daytime activities, Mom’s Night Out, parties, babysitting co-op. More info: MckinneyMoms@yahoo.com. Moms in Prayer, join prayer movement—bringing mothers together and seeing God change children through prayer. More info: MomsInPrayer.org or Amy Guthrie at amyguthrie@verizon.net.. MOPS, support group for moms with kids 0-5 years, meets every other Friday, 9:30-11:45 am, First Baptist Church, Allen. Childcare. More info: 972.727.8241. MOPS of Hope Plano, Hope Community Church, meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month, 9:30-11:30 am, 3405 Custer, #200, Plano. More info: 214.762.0037. Walking by Faith, prayer and support for mothers of children with special needs. Meets 3rd Wednesday each month (during the school year), 6 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm B214. Childcare provided with advance reservations. More info: Stacie Smith, staciesmithslp@gmail.com.

mUSEUMS/preserves allen heritage guild museum

Open second and fourth Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm, 100 E. Main St., Allen. Permanent and rotating exhibits, DVD programs on Allen history and historic photo collages. More info: www. allenheritageguild.org.

Connemara Meadow Preserve

Bird Walk at the Connemara Meadow Preserve, 3-hour walk, monthly alternating 1st Saturday and 1st Sunday, 8 am, Oct thru Apr; 7 am, May thru Sept., Alma and Tautm Rd., Allen. Bring binoculars and field guides; wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen & insect repellent; learn habits, calls and characteristics from Gailon and Rodney, Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society. All ages. More info: www.connemaraconservancy.org.

HEARD MUSEUM

Saturday Bird Walk Educational Program, 8 am. Learn more about birding! These walks are intended to help beginning and intermediate birders with bird spotting and identification techniques. Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7-9 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Visitors welcome. More info: www.bptmn.org or email info@bptmn.org. Heard Museum Native Plant Society, meets 1st Tuesday each month, 7:30 pm, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Heard Museum Nature Photography Club, meets 2nd Saturday each month, 1:30 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Heard Museum Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society, meets 4th Tuesday each month, 7 pm, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Third Saturday Nature Talks: Nature Journaling. Learn new ways to experience nature through nature journaling! An intro to journaling techniques thru hands-on activities.

SENIORS

Allen Senior Citizens Luncheon, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 11:30 am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville. More info: 214.509.4820. Allen Seniors Genealogy Club, meets 4th Monday each month, 1 pm, Allen Seniors Center. Must be member of ASRC. More info: www.asgconline.com. Classic 55+ Game Night, 1st and 3rd Friday each month, 6:30 pm, 1st Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E104. Snacks, fellowship, games. More info: 972.727.8241 or Eddie Huckabee at huckgolf@hotmail.com. Singles Mingle 60+, meets 1st Monday each month at Delaney’s Irish Pub, 6150 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney. A social forum for active men and women singles who enjoy meeting new people and like getting together twice a month. Various social activities throughout the month. More info: For meeting information on the 3rd Monday each month at 5:30 pm, call Bill, 214.544.5835. Xtra Years of Zest Seniors Luncheon, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 11:30 am, Sept. thru May, First UMC Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Fellowship Hall. Lunch ($5), fellowship, speakers and entertainers. More info: jgarling@swbell.net.

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Allen High Noon Lions Club, meets 2nd & 4th Thursday each month, 5th Street Pizza (inside Stacy Furniture), 111 Central Expwy. S. More info: Peter Young, 972.849.4952. Allen Kiwanis Club, meets every Thursday, noon, Bonefish Grill, 190 E Stacy Rd #100. Visitors welcome. More info: www. allenkiwanis.org. Allen Masonic Lodge No. 1435, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7:30 pm at 101 North Allen Drive. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm. More info: www:allenlodge1435.org. Allen Rotary Club meets every Wednesday, noon, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville, Allen. More info: www.allenrotary.org. Allen Sunrise Rotary Club, meets every Wednesday, 7 am, Warm Springs Hospital, 1001 Raintree Cir., Allen. More info: 972.673.8221 or www.allensunriserotary.com. Assistance League, Greater Collin County Chapter, meets 3rd Wednesday, 10 am at Gleneagles Country Club, Plano. Guests welcome. More info: algcc.org or call 972.769.2299. Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter, meets 3rd Tuesday each month. More info:GenBernadoDeGalvez@gmail.com. Fairview Rotary Club, meets 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, Stacy Rd, Fairview. More info: 214.893.5360. FUMC Legal Aid Clinic meets 2nd Thursday each month, 6-8 pm, First UMC, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Legal assistance for civil matters to low income individuals in partnership with Legal Aid of NW Texas. No reservation required. Food & fellowship provided. More info: kim.klieger@gmail.com or www. lanwt.org. Knights of Columbus, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7:30 pm, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville Ave., Allen. More info: Steve Nagy, 469.569.3357 or www.stjudekofc.org. Knights of Columbus Council 13044 meets 4th Thursday each month, 7:30 pm, Our Lady of Angels, 1914 Ridgeview Drive, Allen. More info: Jason at jason.beckett.1@gmail.com, or visit us at https:// kofcknights.org/CouncilSite/?CNO=13044. Sons of Confederate Veterans, William H. L. Wells Camp, No. 1588, meets 4th Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Norma’s Cafe, 605 W. 15th., Plano. Speakers, programs, etc. Open to anyone interested. More info: Lloyd Campbell, 972.442.5982. VFW Armistice Memorial Post 2195, meets 2nd Wednesday each month, 7:30 pm, Allen Heritage Guild Train Depot, 100 E. Main St., Allen. More info: Jack Rettig, 972.529.8504 or www. vfw2195.org. VFW “Lone Star Post 2150,” meets 2nd Monday each month, 6:30 pm, 1710 N. Church St, McKinney. More info: 972.542.9119, gmlsp2150@gmail.com or visit on web: www.vfwpost2150.org. VFW “Lone Star Post 2150” Motorcycle Group 33, meets first Saturday each month, 10 am, 1710 N. Church St., McKinney. More info: “Driveway John” 971.822.4483, gmlsp2150@gmail.com or visit www.vfwpost2150.org.

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

dining

out

Allen Image | September 2019

feature

Science

Passion meets

by Deborah Dove

illed as one of the only female leads of color on an internationally distributed science or documentary series, Indian-American actress, comedian and Allen native Sahana Srinivasan is poised to take the acting and filmmaking world by storm. Sahana—a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s renowned film school—is the host of Brainchild, a Netflix original series, which premiered in November of 2018. The show, geared toward kids ages seven to twelve and executive produced by Pharrell Williams, teaches kids about science, technology and current events. The show uses interactive games, experiments and skits to push the core concepts and principles of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to its viewers at home, although each episode explores a different topic. “It’s not just the typical science topics kids learn at school like space or the ocean,” says Sahana, “but also things like the science behind social media, creativity and

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getting motivated to do things. The stress is on science in everyday life. It shows kids that science and creativity go hand-in-hand.” She adds that the show reminds kids to stay curious and ask questions, “because science isn’t lame or nerdy. It’s cool!” The personable and funny host of the popular series, who’s pretty cool herself, has been acting since she was young. Her parents, Balaji and Krithiga, both of whom are from southern India, noticed right away that their oldest daughter was very animated and liked to perform for the camera whenever they were recording home videos. Supportive of helping her pursue her passions, they signed her up for plays, skits, local talent shows and classes, including Indian dance, art and piano lessons. “It was the reverse stereotype,” Sahana says with a laugh. “They kept signing me up for all this art stuff, which I really wanted to do, although I didn’t really know it at the time.” Sahana soon realized what she enjoyed most was acting on stage. That quickly transformed to acting in front of the camera. However, living in Texas, she had no idea how to break into the entertainment industry.

“I thought everything was in New York or LA, and out of my reach,” she says. Then, when she was thirteen, Sahana discovered Katherine Sullivan’s Acting School, a mere thirty-minute drive from her home in Allen, which has produced many prominent stars such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Debby Ryan. “It was nice to see a local resource like that,” she says. She signed up for acting lessons and began attending workshops, many of which were conducted by agents. As a result, she was soon signed by the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas when she was fourteen, followed by Innovative Artists—a talent agency in LA—a few years later. She did a few print ads that didn’t require height, since she’s only five-foot-three, but she primarily focused on acting, which was quickly becoming her passion. From there, she started auditioning for acting roles. “Since I wasn’t in LA, I was sending in a lot of tapes, which is both good and bad,” she says. “It’s good because you have the advantage of recording as many times as you like, but it’s bad because you can be in your room all day recording that one tape.”

However, in a highly competitive business, rejection was “an early and integral lesson” according to Sahana. “There were, of course, a lot of projects that I didn’t get booked for, and learning that at a young age was good, because it definitely humbled me from the start and redefined why I was doing it,” she says. “You can tell when an actor is just trying to book the part as opposed to actually enjoying it.” Sahana’s first official role came when she was fifteen—a supporting role in a small film called Space Warriors. Originally released in India before eventually getting picked up by Walden Media, the movie, which was filmed in Alabama, is a family-friendly story about kids competing against each other at space camp who must help rescue three astronauts whose ship got stranded in space. Capitalizing on the on-set experience she got working on Space Warriors, Sahana did a sketch comedy for Nickelodeon shortly thereafter, this time playing herself. The project, an SNL-like workshop where she got to improvise and flex her comedic muscles—ultimately didn’t go through, but Sahana had fun and met a lot of people she still keeps up with, in addition to getting to celebrate her Allen Image | September 2019

sixteenth birthday in LA during the filming. “It was a fun way to spend my birthday,” she says. At Allen High School, Sahana signed up for film classes and audio production, which piqued her interest in filmmaking and the other side of the industry. In addition to starring in musicals and plays during high school, she also started making her own films. “I made a couple of short films, which were pretty bad,” she says with a laugh. “But not that bad for the limited amount of experience I had.” Although she had previously considered going to college in Los Angeles, as graduation grew near, she instead decided to enroll in the University of Texas at Austin, which boasts one of the top ten film schools in the nation. “It was a good distance,” she says. “I was able to be independent, but still close to family.” She’s quick to credit her parents and sister Malavi with helping her achieve the success she has. Sahana’s big break finally came while she was in college. She had sent in an audition tape for the Netflix

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series Brainchild (recorded, as usual, in her room), and felt good about it. After years of doing auditions as a young girl, she had learned how to make an audition tape and just have fun with the part instead of worrying if she got the job or not. The show’s producers liked that element of fun and what they saw on the tape, and she got a call back. She flew to New York—alone—and made the most of her first visit to the Big Apple, which was, she says, “pretty magical.” While most twenty-one-year-olds might have been nervous to be auditioning for a TV show in an unknown city, Sahana, who had more recently been focusing on stand-up comedy, decided to test out some new material at an open mic night in Manhattan. “I had the mindset that I’m here for one night, I might as well try it, although I expected it to go poorly, being New York.” Not only did open mic night go well, but Sahana also got the job as the host for Brainchild. She took a semester off school to go to New York to film the show’s thirteen episodes,

living in a studio apartment on Wall Street for the duration of the filming, which started in early December of 2017 and finished at the end of February 2018. “I was excited, but didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “It was a definite change of pace from Austin and Texas.” Although she says she got used to what she calls “the brutal honesty of New York” after filming there for several months, it was easy to feel alone, even amongst a big crowd. She surrounded herself with friends from the show, and went to more open mic nights. “I missed Texas and wanted to come home, but as soon as I got back, I was ready to go back to the hustle and bustle.” In New York, Sahana clocked in twelve-hour days of shooting four to five days a week. But, she says the days didn’t feel long because she was doing such a variety of things, from interviewing astronauts or football players in a locker room, to talking to the audience on set—inserting her own personality and wit in the

delivery—to performing experiments. Although Sahana was a little nervous about the role at first because she wasn’t a scientist, it turned out to be an asset, because her reactions were more genuine. She enjoyed working with the talented group of writers and researchers, and found everyone to be incredibly supportive and understanding. The premier of Brainchild was met with positive reviews, which praised the show for its presentation of science as fun, as well as for featuring a woman of color as the host, inspiring young girls interested in STEAM fields. While Sahana, the show’s producers and the public are hoping the show will be renewed for another season, a decision regarding additional shows had not yet been announced as of press time. However, Sahana’s career is just beginning. After honing her stand-up comedy after Brainchild, Sahana took a break from that to focus on

filmmaking and final projects for her graduation in May. “Having experience on both sides of the camera is really beneficial and makes both jobs much easier,” she says. With graduation now behind her, Sahana plans to stay in Austin for a while and travel, then decide if she’s going to move to Los Angeles or New York. “The industry is unpredictable. I have no idea what I’ll be doing next

year,” she says. “But I’ll feel good as long as I’m doing the things I can control— such as filmmaking and standup.” v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.

Allen Image | September 2019

kids korner

Kids Eat Free (or Almost Free) by Deborah Dove September means back to school, back to schedules, and back to trying to make time to cook dinner. Don’t stress! We’ve got you covered with all the local places where kids eat free, so you can take the night off without breaking the bank. Kids eat free options often change without warning, so call ahead to verify.

CiCi’s Pizza—204 North Greenville Ave., Allen and other locations

Kids 3 & under eat for free at this pizza, pasta and salad buffet every day, but it’s still a good deal for older kids too, who can enjoy the allyou-can-eat buffet daily for $3.49. Denny’s—209 Central Expressway, Allen Kids ages 10 & under eat free from the kid’s menu on Mondays and Tuesdays, 4-10 pm, with meal choices such as the birthday cake pancake breakfast, Grand Slam breakfast, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, burgers and more. IHOP—315 N. Central Expressway, Allen (and other locations) Pancakes for all! On Tuesdays, kids 12 & under can eat for free, 4-8 pm, with every adult entrée purchase. Dickey’s—405 Central Expressway S., Allen Get one kids meal for free on Sundays with each adult purchase of $10 or more, dine in only. Valid for kids ages 12 & under. Options include a kid’s meat plate, sandwich or grilled cheese with one side, drink and a roll. Freebirds—190 E. Stacy Road (Village of Allen), Allen Kids 12 & under eat free all day on Sundays with purchase of an adult entree, all day. Choose from a mighty burrito or quesadillas with a side of chips and a drink. Pluckers—190 E. Stacy Road (Village of Allen), Allen Catch the game and feed the kids at the same time! Kids eat free all day Tuesdays. Bonus round: Teachers get a free appetizer, 3-7 pm, on Fridays with a badge. Roman Cucina—201 E. Bethany, Allen This local favorite serving pasta, pizza and subs offers one free kids’ meal with the purchase of a regular entrée (dine in only). Firehouse Subs—503 W. McDermott, Allen and other locations Every Wednesday, get one free kid’s meal for every adult entree you purchase. Jason’s Deli—Twin Creeks Village, Allen and other locations Kids eat free on Wednesday with the purchase of an adult meal. Cristina’s—2811 Craig Drive, McKinney; 5105 Eldorado Pkwy., Frisco; 8300 Preston Road, Plano Kids enjoy American favorites such as hot dogs and chicken fingers, plus Mexican cuisine such as nachos, tamales, quesadillas, tacos and more for free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Drinks not included. Genghis Grill—1920 Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney and other locations Make your own Mongolian bowl on Tuesdays and kids 11 & under get theirs for free.

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IKEA—7171 IKEA Drive, Frisco You can’t beat IKEA’s Swedish meatballs (or any of their other kids’ meals) for free all day on Tuesdays, followed by a little shopping solo while the kids play in the kid zone. For each adult entrée purchased, two kids ages 12 and under can claim a free meal. Steak ‘N Shake—3440 Preston Rd., Frisco and 1820 Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney This chain offers burgers, fries and shakes, plus a free kids’ plate for kids 12 & under for every adult purchase of $9 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dine in only. Café Brazil—2017 N. Central Expressway, Richardson From Sunday through Thursday, kids ages 12 & under get a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. Romano’s Macaroni Grill—7205 N. Central Expressway, Plano Get your Italian food fix on Mondays and Tuesdays, when kids ages 12 & under get a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. Buffalo Wild Wings—3625 N. Central Expressway, Plano Get a kid’s meal for $1.99, from 4-10 pm on Wednesdays. Fuddrucker’s—2025 N. Central Expressway, McKinney; 741 N. Central Expressway, Plano On Mondays, 4-9 pm, kids 12 & under eat for just 99 cents. Not exactly free, but still really cheap! Mellow Mushroom—218 E. Louisiana, McKinney Every Thursday, buy a large specialty pizza and get up to two kid’s meals for free. Blue Mesa Grill—The Boardwalk at Granite Park, Plano On Sundays, 9 am-3 pm, kids 5 & younger eat free with the purchase of one adult brunch meal. Simply Fondue—2108 Greenville Ave., Dallas Looking for somewhere special to celebrate a special occasion? Kids 12 & under eat free with each adult Fondue Brunch or Fondue Feast. Culvers—4200 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney While Culver’s doesn’t offer free kid’s meals, every kids meal includes a free scoop of their tasty frozen custard. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream—7650 Stacy Road, McKinney If your child is less than 40 inches tall, they can get a free baby ice cream cone every day. Sometimes not being tall enough to ride rollercoasters pays off. v

formarketplace your health

Allen Image | September 2019

education

All Aboard…

How Allen ISD Bus Drivers Go Above and Beyond by David Hicks Dee Dee Lewis is happiest when she’s behind the wheel of her big yellow bus. Dee Dee is a bus driver in Allen ISD, and she enjoys nothing more than making a child smile on the way to school. “If there’s a kid who’s having a rough morning and I can make him smile, then I’ve done my job,” Dee Dee said. “Hopefully it starts their day in a positive way.” How does Dee Dee connect with the students on her

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bus? It’s simple; she always has a joke or an interesting fact in her hip pocket. She keeps track of obscure holidays such as National Pizza Day or National Kite Flying Day. The sillier the holiday the better, just as long as it produces a smile from her students. While she may be focused on bonding with her students, Dee Dee’s first priority is the safety of the children while they’re on her bus each day. Dee Dee is

among the safest bus drivers in the nation, and she has the trophies to support that fact. Dee Dee won the state championship at the School Bus Safety Competition in July and followed that up with a third-place finish at the national competition. Most people would probably be thrilled to win third place in a national competition, but Dee Dee is a fierce competitor who strives for the best. She’s an Allen High School graduate who played a number of sports including volleyball and basketball, and she’s even competed in cake-decorating contests across the nation. She plans to practice even harder to win the national championship next year. The bus driving safety competition incorporates driving challenges and a written examination. Driving challenges include passing through an alleyway with limited clearance on either side, parallel parking challenges, and a studentloading event. The drivers are judged on a number of standards, including the number of times they check the mirror, parking within a few inches of a specified area and other proper safety procedures. Drivers compete at the regional, state and national level, and Allen ISD is consistently at the top of the leaderboard. AISD swept the 2019 regional competition with Jeff Thorpe, Mitzi Bowers and Dee Dee winning first, second and third, respectively. At the state level, Dee Dee took first and Jeff earned third. Mitzi enjoys the competition because the training allows her to sharpen her skills throughout the year. “Allen ISD has a great training program that really helps all of our drivers keep our skills up to a certain level,” Mitzi said. “Some of our drivers will go the summer months without driving a bus, so the training program is helpful to get everyone ready before the first day of school.” The Allen ISD Transportation Department carries nearly 7,200 Allen Image | September 2019

students every school day. This includes not only drop-off and pickup between home and campus, but also transportation for students between Lowery Freshman Center and Allen High School. With the opening of the STEAM Center, that daily number will continue to climb. In one school year, Allen’s fleet of buses will travel nearly 1 million miles. Kyle Pursifull is the Director of Transportation in Allen ISD and he says it takes a village to ensure that students are safely transported every

day. The drivers are the most visible members of the team, but dispatchers, mechanics and shop workers keep the operation running smoothly. “Our shop staff gets in around 5 a.m. each morning, and they’re making sure our buses are ready to hit the road,” Kyle said. “A small delay can create a domino effect on all of our routes and campuses, so having a crew on-site allows us to get our buses back on their routes.” Allen ISD’s crew of mechanics can work on the buses from bumper

to bumper to help keep costs low and repairs turned around quickly. From tire replacement, wheel alignment, engine work and reupholstering seats, there isn’t much that the shop staff can’t handle. Kyle says that he is always looking for qualified drivers to join his team, but previous bus-driving experience isn’t always the first requirement. “We want people who love children and have a positive attitude,” Kyle said. “We can train people and make sure they know how to drive safely, but we can’t train a love for children. Whether the student is 5-years old or 17, they are still children and we have to know how to take care of them.” For Dee Dee, Mitzi and the many other Allen ISD bus drivers, it’s clear that they have a passion for keeping their students happy and safe on every journey. This job is so much more than driving a bus. “We have some amazing kids in Allen, and I know the parents put great faith in us every day,” Dee Dee said. “We love these kids just as much as the teachers do, and we only want the best for them.” v David Hicks is the Director of Communications for Allen ISD.

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cooking

Sweeeeet! by Deborah Dove

Several recent trips I’ve taken have made me fall in love all over again…with breakfast breads. From the still-warm banana bread bought (and devoured) from a roadside stand on the road to Hana in Maui, to beignets at Café du Monde in New Orleans, I’ve been reminded just how sweet breads and muffins can be, and not just for the taste buds. A filling and easy breakfast on the go; a delicious treat to enjoy mid-afternoon with a friend or coworker or slip into your child’s lunchbox; the perfect back-to-school gift for a special teacher; or a simple way to celebrate a lazy weekend morning after the hustle and bustle of back-to-school weekday schedules. Sweet breads and muffins are reminders to slow down and savor the good things in life.

Cinnamon Roll Muffins 2 c. all-purpose flour 3 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt ¼ c. sugar 3 Tbs. melted butter, cooled slightly 1 egg 1 c. milk Frosting 2 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 c. powdered sugar 1 Tbs. milk Dash of vanilla Topping and Filling 1 c. brown sugar, loosely packed

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3 tsp. ground cinnamon 1-1/2 c. coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts 3 Tbs. melted butter Preheat oven to 400ºF. Generously grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin. In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar). In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (melted butter, egg, milk) until well combined. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg mixture, stirring until just combined.

Combine all the topping/filling ingredients. Gently fold half of the mixture into the muffin batter. Spoon the muffin batter into each muffin tin. Top with remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until muffins spring back when pressed lightly. Remove from oven. Cool slightly, then transfer them carefully to a wire rack. Whisk together all of the frosting ingredients. Drizzle over the top of the muffins.

New Orleans Style Beignets 1-1/2 c. lukewarm water 1/2 c. granulated sugar 1 env. active dry yeast 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1-1/4 tsp. salt 1 c. evaporated milk 7 c. bread flour 1/4 c. shortening Nonstick spray Oil for deep-frying 3 c. confectioners’ sugar Mix water, sugar and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes. In another bowl, beat eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix egg mixture into the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour. Add 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour.

Remove dough from the bowl, place onto a lightlyfloured surface and knead until smooth. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours. Preheat oil in a deep fryer to 350ºF. Add the confectioners’ sugar to a paper or plastic bag and set aside. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares. Deep-fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels and then toss them into the bag of confectioners’ sugar. Hold bag closed and shake to coat evenly.

Allen Image | September 2019

Road to Hana Banana Bread 4 med. ripe bananas 4 oz. plain nonfat Greek yogurt 2 large eggs 2 tsp. water 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 c. all-purpose flour 1 c. sugar 1/4 tsp. table salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 5-1/4 oz. coconut oil (3/4 c.) 4 oz. toasted pecan or macadamia nuts (chopped) Preheat oven to 350°F. Line one 10-1/2 x 5-1/2–inch OR two 9- by 5-inch loaf pans with enough parchment paper that it drapes over each side several inches. Peel 4 bananas and mash in a medium bowl. Add

yogurt, eggs, water and vanilla. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and coconut oil. Mix on low until mixture becomes a mealy powder. Add banana mixture and continue mixing until no more flour is visible. Fold in nuts and scrape into prepared pan(s), spreading into an even layer. Bake until risen and golden brown (about 50 minutes for two smaller loaves or 70 minutes for a large loaf). Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool another 10 minutes before slicing.

Blueberry Scones 2 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 c. sugar 1 Tbs. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 Tbs. grated orange zest 1/2 c. cold salted butter, cut into very small cubes 1 large egg 1/2 c. cold heavy cream 1 c. fresh blueberries • A few tablespoons of additional heavy cream for brushing the tops • Turbinado sugar for sprinkling the tops Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer (or just a mixing bowl). Add butter and mix ingredients with an electric mixer until fine crumbs form. With mixer on low speed,

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add egg and heavy cream in a slow stream. Mix until a thick, stiff dough forms. Add blueberries and mix until blueberries are just incorporated into the dough. Flour your hands. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and place on a floured work surface. Roll into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Cut into 8 triangles; pull the triangles apart from each other and brush with heavy cream. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Sprinkle the tops again with turbinado sugar. v Deborah Dove is a freelance sriter from Allen.