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LIFESTYLE LETTER
DECEMBER 2018 PUBLISHER
Tim Miller | tim.miller@lifestylepubs.com EDITOR
Trey Garrison | trey.garrison@lifestylepubs.com MANAGING EDITOR
Kristi Anderson | kristi.anderson@lifestylepubs.com
It's that most wonderful time of the year
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mayor Jeff Cheney, Nicolette Martin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brandon Frakes, Rakeisha Cunningham
YOUR FIRST MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS ARE THE ANTICIPATION OF SANTA CLAUS COMING TO VISIT. It’s about the time with family, the turkey dinner and most importantly, the GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip. (Okay, your mileage may vary.) When you have your own family, it’s about seeing that look of surprise on your child’s face when they wake up Christmas morning. But when you reach beyond the immediate and think in terms of your community, it’s about the real spirit of Christmas – the giving, the service and general feeling of happiness you get when you see good souls doing good things. I got to experience some of that a month early putting together this issue. From the remarkable young musicians on our cover to our “power service couple” profile. The holidays can bring out anyone’s best or their worst, and we brought out some of the best of Frisco. Enjoy.
CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson EDITORIAL MANAGER Nicolette Martin EDITORIAL Kate Baxendale AD MANAGER Chad Jensen AD COORDINATORS Cyndi Harrington | Alicia Huff | Jessica Soetaert LAYOUT DESIGNERS Cyndi King | Dana Rudolph | Emily Stout Hailey Stepanek | Adella Wrisinger FIELD SUPPORT Carli DiMarco | Victoria Perry PUBLISHER SUPPORT Melanie Carlisle ACCOUNTANT Austin Park APPLICATION ARCHITECT Michael O’Connell WEB DEVELOPERS Tejaswini Jagarlamudi | Harshith Potu
Trey Garrison, Editor
ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | FLORIDA | GEORGIA IDAHO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MARYLAND | MINNESOTA | MISSOURI | MONTANA NEVADA | NEW JERSEY | NORTH CAROLINA | OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON
514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAKEISHA CUNNINGHAM LOCATION THE GREEN GATOR 4
Frisco Life | December 2018
FriscoLifePubs.com
Proverbs 3:5-6 Frisco Life™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Frisco areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Frisco Life™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
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INSIDE THE ISSUE DECEMBER 2018
FEATURES 12 The Stars are Rising in Frisco This could be Frisco’s Christmas gift to music
18 Christmas Gifts Outside the Box Give something that will last
24 A Profile in Service They live it everyday
26 24
26 Get Away To Winter Park A White Christmas After All
12
18
DEPARTMENTS 4
Lifestyle Letter
8
Good Times
10
Around Town
12
Back Stage
24 Open House 26 Hot Spot 30 Trend Setter 32 Lifestyle Calendar 34 Parting Thoughts
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Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Raises $270,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research Frisco came together in the fight against childhood cancer, as local events raised $270,000+ to benefit the Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation in memory of Jonny Wade, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015. The eighth annual Lemonade Stand attracted hundreds of people to Newman Village as did the second annual Gold Party at the Star in Frisco.
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Frisco Life | December 2018
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AROUND TOWN The event is open to the public. It will be at 7380 Stonebrook Pkwy, It will be December 8th from 1:00-5:00pm to take pictures with your pets and families! Tacky Christmas sweaters and jingle bells are encouraged! There’s also a new surprise selfie station this year!
CHRISTMAS IN THE SQUARE Christmas in the Square at Frisco Square opens November 23, 2018 and continues through New Years. Christmas in the Square Light Show will be open nightly from 6 pm – 10 pm. Skate the Square is located at the corner of Main and Coleman Boulevard across from Toyota Stadium is returning on November 23, 2018. This
THE 2018 FRISCO BOWL
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The 2018 Frisco Bowl will air on ESPN on
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ET live from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
over 750,000, making it one of the largest events
Toyota Stadium is the home of FC Dallas of Major
in North Texas.
League Soccer and host to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Championship Game since 2010. The second year of the bowl will showcase a team from the American Athletic Conference and an at-large team.
NEW YEAR'S EVEN COUNTDOWN TO NOON Can't stay up until midnight to ring in the new year? That's okay, we can't wait either! Join SciTech Discovery Center for New Year's Eve day at 8004 Dallas Pkwy. as they celebrate the coming new year. Face painting, hands-on science experiments, balloon twisters, liquid nitrogen ice cream with iCream of Frisco, explosive stage shows and
PAW PICTURES WITH SANTA LazyPaw Animal Hospital is hosting their annual Paw Pictures with Santa! Tacky Christmas sweaters and jingle bells are encouraged. Don't miss the Winter Wonderland Selfie Station while waiting for The Big Guy.
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Frisco Life | December 2018
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BACK STAGE
12
Frisco Life | December 2018
THE STAR S ARE RISING IN FRIS CO THIS COULD BE FRISCO'S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO MUSIC ARTICLE TREY GARRISON | PHOTOGRAPHY RAKEISHA CUNNINGHAM
THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF FRISCO BUT THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE ISN’T PROBABLY ONE OF THEM. And that would be a mistake. A rising group of young artists from all around the Dallas area and representing a variety of musical types seem to gravitate to the Frisco area. What’s most remarkable about them is despite their collective young ages, they seem to have an instinctual knack for navigating the business side of the music world. These are kids who grew up on social media and understand how to amplify their presence in ways that musicians of a generation ago wouldn’t fathom.
Front row (l-r) Josh Reed, Trent Rush, Travis Hepler, Sophia Annello Back row (l-r) Harper Grace, James Wilson, Ron Bultongez, Kasey Wilson
CONTINUED >
December 2018 | Frisco Life
13
BACK STAGE
(CON TI N U ED)
THE REDEEMED Harper Grace may have had the roughest start to
THE ROCK BAND
rendition of the national anthem at a nationally televised FC Dallas game that is considered possibly among the top 10 worst performances of the song in history. The dead-
The Wild Frontiers have already recorded two albums with
enders at news sites like Deadspin piled on a young girl for
Warner Brothers in Nashville and have a hit single “Drive” that
something that, turns out, wasn’t her fault at all but rather
you can find on Spotify. They’ve played gigs throughout the
serious audio problems at the live venue.
Dallas area including at the Grenada Theater and Trees.
Grace didn’t just survive the onslaught of hateful com-
“Drive” has a richness that belies the youth of this band. Frontman
ments online that ensued. She overcame them. The devoutly
Trent Rush, who comes across like a glam version of Joey Ramone
Christian adolescent lived up to her last name when she
but in another life could have been a hot shot national brand sales-
spent the next year every night praying for forgiveness for
man based on his innate grasp of the business side of music, leads
all of her vitriolic critics, and getting her family to join her.
guitarist James Wilson, drummer Josh Reed, lead guitarist Travis
And meanwhile she practiced. And sang. And wrote.
Hepler and bass player Kasey Wilson, James’ brother.
She’s drawn to country music because it’s about the
These aren’t kids with pie in the sky dreams. They have a plan.
story telling and, of course, because it’s a friendlier medium
“Within a year we want to move to LA, and go on national tour
for those who want. To be open about their faith. And faith
as an opening band,” Rush says, talking as much like a market-
is something that positively glows from Grace.
ing executive as a musician. “If we have to buy into it it’s worth
Last March, during the season premiere of Idol on
it, because we can make three times the investment on merch if
ABC, Grace was showered with praise after performing an
we have a good product.”
original country song on guitar about having a yard sale
They may talk about “product” but they are artists. Reed says
following a heartbreak.
it can be tough trying to build what they’re building because,
“I spent four hours in my prayer closet on whether I would
“When you really write and put your heart into a song, you’re put-
go to American Idol. They kept asking me and I didn’t want
ting yourself out there naked in front of the world.”
to, but I kept talking to God and asking for a sign. Finally he
James Wilson says it’s critical to just keep writing, and be truthful, but that you also have to balance that with making the music accessible.
showed me a vision of Him blindfolding me and pushing me from a cliff, and whispering in my ear, ‘Do you trust Me?’”
“You can write without compromising your artistic integrity, but
And with that her decision was made. After all, she
without also being musically self-indulgent to the point the only
lives by Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work
one who wants to hear it is you,” he says.
together for good to them that love God, to them who are
The energy, friendship and connection between the members
the called according to his purpose.”
of Wild Frontiers is as obvious as their commitment to their craft
And she lives that. When she’s not recording in Nashville
and the complete embrace they have of their growing fan base.
or auditioning in LA (she was cast as the lead in Pitch
And until they hit it big, they know how to enjoy the little things.
Perfect 4 before the project was canceled) she and her
“There’s nothing in the world like playing and seeing someone
14
a musical career possible. At age 11 she went viral for a
family do missionary work in Uganda.
in the audience singing along with lyrics you wrote five years
“I love the music and want to pursue my career but it’s all in
ago when you were in high school, never knowing if you would
the end about serving Him,” she says. “It’s a means to an end.
ever get this far,” Rush says.
The missionary work is my true calling.”
Frisco Life | December 2018
CONTINUED >
The gang is all here.
James Wilson, Harper Grace and Ron Bultongez.
Three of the Wild Frontiers: Josh Reed, Trent Rush and Travis Hepler December 2018 | Frisco Life
15
BACK STAGE
(CON TI N U ED)
Ron goofing off with Sophia.
Just hanging at Gator's in Frisco. 16
Frisco Life | December 2018
THE UNDERDOG Ron Bultongez escaped the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child to settle in North Texas. That alone was lucky. Even here in America he faced challenges we don’t think of as part of the Plano/Frisco life – being homeless, he didn’t have his own bed until he was 17, and he thought the McDonald’s dollar
THE WRITER
menu was something for rich people. He faced abuse and the stress of his memories of his war-torn homeland, images no 10-year-old should see. But today the 22-year-old is a father of one with several albums
Sophia Annello is 17 and of the artists Frisco
under his belt. He’s so busy with gigs he can barely keep up –
Life talked to, she’s still at the earliest stage of
though he still prioritizes his family over work every time – and
her career. But there’s a certain something – an
he’s moving to LA full time after his successful turn on the same
earnestness and modesty – about the singer
American Idol season that saw Grace’s redemption.
you can’t put your finger on. She’s still working
He impressed the judges and winning fans across the coun-
through her AP classes while writing music
try, progressing through Hollywood Week and showing his
and performing for small venues in Frisco,
humility throughout.
Plano and downtown Dallas.
What they didn’t know is that while he is a natural singer
She gets gigs because she’s so persistent,
with a style that defies description, for Bultongez music is just a
and she writes a lot like Ed Sheeran in the sense
means to an end. (It’s not being flippant to say his style is hard
of the soulfulness of her songs.
to pin down. Professional musicians have trouble categorizing
“I get to sing my songs and covers,” she says. “I mean it’s three and a half hour gigs and I don’t have that much material yet.”
it, and it’s like a Rorschach test of sorts – if you listen expecting to hear blues, you hear the blues, or the pop, you hear the pop.) “Initially I wanted to be a quarterback, because I saw it as a
She does have an EP on Spotify and iTunes,
way to do that, and my heroes were Michael Vick and Tom Brady
and she’s working on a new album. All this while
– both were underdogs, because Vick is short and Brady isn’t a
many of her peers are just thinking no further
natural athlete,” he says.
than weekend plans. “All I care about is getting paid enough to do what I love, which is writing songs. I don’t mind
But after some injuries, and with the encouragement of his friends and extended family including the Wilson brothers, who were his foster brother, he started developing his singing.
if it’s just being a songwriter for others,” Annello
That was just two years ago. Two years later and he’s pro-
says. (Though it would be a waste if it wasn’t her
duced records through Warner Brothers in Nashville. He’s
voice behind her lyrics – she really is that good.)
opened for Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl at the Beverly
He mother was a singer and her father
Hills Autism Speaks event and he has trouble keeping up with
an actor before they settled down into safer careers, and Annello just wants to pursue her dream as far as it will take her.
the number of gigs he's booked. “I want to be the father to my son that I never had, and that means putting him first,” he says. “Life has given me too many
“It’s just so important to do what I love,” she
signs that it’s bigger than me. Success just means doing what
says. “That’s what will make me happy no mat-
you want with the people you want how you want. It’s not a
ter where it takes me.”
dollar amount.”
December 2018 | Frisco Life
17
CHRISTMAS GIFTS OUTSIDE THE BOX GIVE SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST ARTICLE TREY GARRISON | PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF
01
CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT PERFECT GGIFT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES AND FAMILY. But brainstorming exactly what that gift would be is always the hardest part. Never fear! Here are some high-end and creative options that Santa will definitely green light.
18
Frisco Life | December 2018
02
ALL I WANT FOR
CHRISTMAS IS... 03
The Gift of Art Milessa Murphy Stewart is a prolific Frisco artist whose work takes you away from the mundanity of everyday life and makes you feel happy. “Too often we don’t have time to daydream and feel the joy of life,” she says, which is why her artwork makes such a perfect gift. “I think that giving a painting is an extremely good gift. You get to see it all year long. It’s not a fashion statement. It’s not something that will not fit us, or go out of style. You’ve got varied sizes and prices – if you can’t afford one item, you can afford another,” Stewart
04
says. “It’s something that can move you. It should be the joy of life. Monet painted those gardens because those were his passion.” She does personal tours of her studio and supports the Frisco Fine Arts Gallery. You can see her work at www.milessa.com
01 Finding Fall Color at Barrier Lake_ Milessa Murphy 02 Canyon Road Santa Fe by Milessa Murphy
05
03 Duck Duck Goose by Milessa Murphy 04 Canoeing at Lake Louise in the Snow by Milessa Murphy 05 Cabaret Tropicana Havana by Milessa Murphy
CONTINUED >
December 2018 | Frisco Life
19
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
(CON TI N U ED)
ALL I WANT FOR
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Frisco Life | December 2018
01
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ALL I WANT FOR
CHRISTMAS IS...
The Gift of Time Since 200-7 the place to shop in Frisco for fine time pieces has been DFW Watches. From classics to virtual investment pieces, they have a wide variety of precision luxury watches,
03
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01 A Breitling beauty. 02 The incomparible Rolex. 03 A must-have Omega.
December 2018 | Frisco Life
21
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THEY MAY SHY FROM THE LABEL “POWER COUPLE” BUT THE MEDINAS DEFINITELY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN FRISCO. Lorie Medina is the Chief of Staff for Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, where her role is to advise him, drive strategic projects and efforts and produce all the writing and communication for his office. Her husband, Russ, a native of Maui and a West Point graduate, meanwhile, is the Executive Director for NPower Texas, whose mission is to create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for young adults, military veterans and veterans’ spouses. “It’s been a calling for both of us,” Russ says. “We’re best friends and we support each other’s efforts in all we do.” 24
Frisco Life | December 2018
NOW OPEN NOW OPEN The two met in Dallas and worked in the telecommunications. They hit it off and, one thing led to another, and they married. They have two daughters, Meredith and Elise, and they’ve called Frisco home since 2004. Collectively they have 5 children
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Work doesn’t stop for them at the end of the day. “We talk shop – we met in telecommunications – and we’ve both worked in the high-tech field,” she says. “Even back then we worked deals together in different companies. So very early on before we got to where we are now, we looked at each other as life partners.” There’s a secret to that integration of work and life. “We’re really best friends,” Russ says. “We both have a heart for serving. When Lorie has to get to a meeting, I understand, and she understands vice versa. You see it as joyful. You’re doing something bigger than yourself.” Lorie says this Christmas season her family is more dedicated to service, because of the blessings they have. “Those of us who live in Frisco are very blessed. Even though we all have blessings of enjoying Christmas in a wonderful city with our family and
P U T YO U R C IT Y O N O U R M A P. Start a magazine & build a legacy.
friends, we can look to serving others. We have so many non-profits serving the people of Frisco – we
Life is short. Love what you do.
can all plug into one of them that you’re passionate
LifestylePubs.com/OwnIt
about and make a difference,” she says. December 2018 | Frisco Life
25
HOT SPOT Sunset - get the hot chocolate.
Winter Park has it.
ARTICLE TREY GARRISON | PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF
Get Away To Winter Park A WHITE CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL
THE 2018/19 WINTER SEASON AT WINTER PARK RESORT PROMISES TO BE A WATERSHED MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE RESORT AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WITH A HOST OF EXCITING CHANGES TAKING PLACE. These additions will keep Winter Park among the top resorts in the world, preserving its storied past while also staying poised for future growth and success.
26
Frisco Life | December 2018
Quaint as Whoville.
WHILE THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE AMENITIES TO ENJOY, THE SOUL OF WINTER PARK, THAT WHICH HAS MADE IT SPECIAL TO VISITORS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, REMAINS INTACT AND AS STRONG AS EVER.
Winter Park Resort, in conjunction with the
mere five minutes. The new gondola also features a
Winter Park-Fraser Chamber and other commu-
revolutionary Direct Drive system, the first of its kind
nity leaders has developed a new logo and brand
utilized in North America, which makes the new lift not
identity designed to be inclusive of all the area’s
only whisper-quiet, but much more energy efficient.
business entities. The new logo, which incorporates
Winter Park’s world-famous ski train, Amtrak’s
Winter Park’s iconic shield into a more contempo-
Winter Park Express, is also back for a third sea-
rary design, will be used not only at the resort but
son with more Friday operation dates and a new
throughout the community as well, creating a cohe-
lounge car with food and beverage service as well
sive identity across the Fraser Valley.
as floor-to-ceiling windows for enjoying the scenic
Most exciting for visitors, however, is the $30 million in capital improvements that have been invested in
90 minute trip from Denver Union Station directly to the slopes of Winter Park Resort.
the resort over the summer, the most at one time in
Amidst all of this change however, is Winter Park’s
the 78-year history of Winter Park. The centerpiece of
core commitment to guest service which remains
this investment is a new $21 million, 10-person gon-
unwavering. While there are certainly more ame-
dola, which replaces the aged Zephyr Express and
nities to enjoy, the soul of Winter Park, that which
will increase uphill capacity to 3,600 guests per hour,
has made it special to visitors for nearly a century,
whisking skiers/riders to The Lodge at Sunspot in a
remains intact and as strong as ever.
December 2018 | Frisco Life
27
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TREND SETTER ARTICLE NICOLETTE MARTIN
W I NTER’S R E VEL YOUR GUIDE TO A SIMPLE AND STYLIZED NEW YEAR’S SOIRÉE
FOLLOWING CLOSELY ON THE COATTAILS OF AUTUMNAL AND WINTER HOLIDAYS, THE NEW YEAR CAN OFTEN BE OVERLOOKED DUE TO AN UNDERSTANDABLE DESIRE TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE SEASON. But, a holiday that celebrates past memories and the opportunity for a fresh start shouldn’t lack any of the glitz of its celebratory predecessors. Round out the final days of the year reminiscing on or saying goodbye to the experiences of the previous 12 months with a simple end-of-theyear gathering that isn’t lacking any of the glamour.
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TH E D R INK S
Champagne has long been a traditional drink to toast to the new year. Keep it simple but step up your game with your own DIY Champagne cocktail
2
THE D ECOR There’s no need to go out and buy a ton of additional decor when you just decked the halls (quite literally) with holiday ornamentation. Make those decorations work as hard as you did by repurposing all the greenery, pine cones and wood place settings you just couldn’t say no to. Throw in some neutral napkins, some natural twine and some dried orange peels for a woodsy (and fragrant) twist.
bar. Consider stocking your bar full of custom Champagne or bubbly choices, festive mixers like cranberry juice or rosemary simple syrup and unique garnishes like fresh fruit and herbs or decorative ice cubes with edible flowers.
WHAT YOU NEED + Cheese board or serving plate + Assortment of cheeses
3
(We recommend Brie, Port Salut, Muenster, Camembert or Gruyere) PUTTING IT TOGETHER
THE SNACKS
Keep your guests happy with the perfect cheese plate. Consider how many people you’ll be serving, whether you’ll be serving before or after dinner and what cheeses you’ll want to include. According to WineFolly.com, sparkling wines pair best with creamy, sticky cheeses due to the high acidity and carbonation.
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Frisco Life | December 2018
Cheese is best served at room temperature, so be sure your cheese has time to rest prior to serving. Slice the cheeses and arrange artfully on your cheese board with labels for each. Consider providing separate serving knives for each cheese to avoid any mixing of flavors. Add any additional bites you’d like and enjoy!
Your Frisco “Star Realtors” Nancy Floyd Keller Williams Realty 972-838-3854 nancyfloyd@kw.com
Andrea Trimble JP & Associates 817-789-5591 andrea@trimbleestates.com
Tom Robertson Century 21 Judge Fite Co. 972-741-6006 tomrobertson@JudgeFite.com
Rene Burchell Keller Williams Realty 469-877-3303 rene@reneburchell.com
Kristi Reinertsen Berkshire Hathaway HS PenFed Realty 214-995-0425 kristi@kteamdfw.com
Paulette Greene Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-957-3372 pg@paulettegreene.com
Christina White Coldwell Banker 972-989-2010 christina.white@cbdfw.com
Shana Acquisto Acquisto Real Estate 972-396-7512 Shana@acquistorealestate.com
Ted Cox Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-300-1015 tedcox@ebby.com
Christi Stevens Coldwell Banker Residential 214-801-3930 christi.stevens@cbdfw.com
Bobbi Bracco Keller Williams Realty 214-395-4845 bobbi@kw.com
Patty Smith Berkshire Hathaway HS PenFed Realty 214-450-5002 pandpsmith@gmail.com
Sammy Gardner HomeCentersRealty.com 469-853-7463 Sammy@HomeCentersRealty.com
Jeff Cheney The Associates 214-550-8200 jeff@cheneygroup.com
Jacque Trulock Keller Williams Realty 972-569-7265 trulock@trulockrealestate.com
Debi Leavitt Coldwell Banker 972-567-9107 debi.leavitt@cbdfw.com
Rusty Pierce RE/MAX Premier, IV 214-850-7809 rustypierce@msn.com
Judi Wright Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-597-2985 judiwright@ebby.com
Michelle Campbell Keller Williams Realty 972-365-0916 michellecampbell@kw.com
Lynn Slaney Silguero Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-668-3079 lynnslaney@ebby.com
Zak Anderson Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-385-6564 zak@ebby.com
Jackie Dorbritz Keller Williams Realty 972-679-5089 jackie@dorbritz.com
Janice Berg Ebby Halliday Realtors 214-356-5103 janiceberg@ebby.com
Angie Boyd Ebby Halliday Realtors 972-489-3254 aboyd@ebby.com
Group One Real Estate Network
www.grouponenetwork.com
FRISCO • PLANO • PROSPER • CELINA • MCKINNEY • ALLEN • DALLAS Choose One Realtor with the Power of Many • Twenty-Four Agents • Ten Real Estate Companies
DECEMBER
LIFESTYLE CALENDAR
1
CHRISTMAS IN THE SQUARE Frisco Square
Christmas in the Square at Frisco Square opens November 23, 2018
and jingle bells are encouraged! There’s also a new surprise selfie station this year!
19
and continues through New Years.
THE 2018 FRISCO BOWL
Christmas in the Square Light Show
Toyota Stadium
will be open nightly from 6 pm – 10 pm.
The 2018 Frisco Bowl will air on ESPN
1
2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT THE STAR
on Wednesday, December 19 at 7 p.m. CT/ 8 p.m. ET live from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Toyota Stadium is the home of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer and host to the NCAA Football Championship
The Star in Frisco
Subdivision
Taking place at The Star in Frisco
Game since 2010.
(FCS)
Championship
every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. in December, this event gives fans an opportunity to enjoy free, familyfriendly events throughout the holiday season including the Christmas Spectacular presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb and the opportunity to take a photo with Santa Claus.
31 NEW YEAR'S EVEN COUNTDOWN TO NOON
Sci-Tech Discovery Center for
Can't stay up until midnight to ring in the new year? Join Sci-Tech
1 CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AT MAIN STREET
Discovery Center for New Year's Eve day at 8004 Dallas Pkwy. as they celebrate the coming new year. Face painting, hands-on science experiments, balloon twisters, liquid nitro-
8874 Coleman Blvd.
gen ice cream with iCream of Frisco,
Kick off the Christmas season in Frisco
explosive stage shows and a 12 pm
with the Tree Lighting Ceremony at
balloon drop!
8874 Coleman Blvd.
8 PAW PICTURES WITH SANTA 7380 Stonebrook Pkwy,
LazyPaw Animal Hospital is hosting their annual Paw Pictures with Santa!
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The event is open to the public. It will
We are always accepting submissions
be at 7380 Stonebrook Pkwy, It will
for events you'd like to see included
be December 8th from 1:00-5:00pm
in our Calendar section. Submissions
to take pictures with your pets and
are accepted via the Contact Us tab at
families! Tacky Christmas sweaters
FriscoLifePubs.com.
Frisco Life | December 2018
COMING S O O N ...JAN U ARY 2019 B O O K ING CO NSULTATI O NS NO W.
IN-HOME CONSULTATION | IN-STORE PRESENTATION | VISUAL COORDINATION
2 7 0 1 DALLAS PKW Y, ST E. 175, PL ANO | 972.280.7313 BECKINT ERIORDESIGN.COM December 2018 | Frisco Life
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PARTING THOUGHTS
Dear Santa... WE TRIED TO BE A GOOD MAYOR AND COUNCIL THIS YEAR SO I AM HOPING YOU HAVE US ON THE “NICE” SIDE OF YOUR LEDGER. Because you have
ARTICLE JEFF CHENEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BRANDON FRAKES
a large number of people to track, here is a reminder of everything we accomplished this year. + Named #1 Best Place to Live. + Increased the Homestead Tax Exemption from 7.5% to 10% and kept tax rate steady even with all our record-breaking growth. + Improving transportation with 60+ road construction projects which will eventually help us move around Frisco faster. + Successfully rolled out the first publicly-accessible autonomous vehicle service in Texas which will alleviate cars on the road and conveniently transport workers and visitors to retail shopping and restaurants. + Downtown Frisco renamed, “The Rail District”, and rejuvenation is underway with private investment and development along with the City’s approved Downtown Master Plan. + University of North Texas announced their future campus in Frisco. UNT will educate our children and provide a necessary pipeline of talent for our corporations. + Frisco EDC has reorganized and is attracting many new mid-sized corporate relocations. + Frisco is becoming known as a veteran-ready community because of our Veteran Socials, Job Hiring Fairs, and an active veteran nonprofit sector. + Approved several new developments which will further define Frisco’s cutting edge like a green-roof home's neighborhood, a mall on 380 which will showcase Asian and European goods, the Dallas Cowboys distribution center, and the first luxury mixed-use development on 121. + Opened world-class healthcare facilities including Baylor, Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star, Medical City Frisco | Women, and Texas Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic & Sports Medicine. + Celebrated the opening of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Actually, Santa, Frisco residents have been good this year, too. We all count our blessings and pray for a prosperous New Year. 34
Frisco Life | December 2018
SF
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You Only Live Once. Let Us Show You Where.