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contents December 2012 Vol. 22, Issue 12

60

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cover story60 The sum of their paints

Contemporary realists, Allen artists Bill and Carolyn Patterson not only add beauty to the world through their art but also extol the creative expression of each other as well as other artists. Both still return annually to their beloved Rome, Umbria and Tuscany for their summer workshops. by Peggy Helmick-Richardson

feature24 Allen Special Olympians compete

in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Four Special Olympics athletes and their parents had the experience of a lifetime in September, when they traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the first ever Special Olympics World Aquatics Invitational.by Nicole Bywater

special sections26 kids korner Christmas Lights, Camera, Action

by Deborah Dove

44 living green Ho ho ho–no! Don’t let the holidays

unwrap all your green-living effortsby Peggy Helmick-Richardson

46 pet page Justice

48 calendar

66 people seen46

8 www.a l l en image . com

Allen Imagepublisher/editor

Barbara Peavy

office administrator

Carrie McCormick

advertising sales

Jill Edelman

Joy Dickschat

contributing writers

Nicole Bywater

Heather Darrow

Vicki Deerman

Deborah Dove

Tom Keener

Kathy Litinas

Jeff Mues

Peggy Helmick-Richardson

Keith A. Taylor

Kathleen Vaught

cover photo

Larry Fleming

Allen Image © 2012 by Moonlight Graphics. All rights reserved. Allen Image is published by Moonlight Graphics and individually mailed free of charge to the residents of the Allen area.

Subscriptions are available to residents outside the delivery area at a rate of $2.50 per issue—$30 per year.

Subscription and editorial correspondence should be sent to:

Allen Image, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807 or visit our website at www.allenimage.com.

contents

40

departments civic forum10 Celebrate the season!

by Jeff Mues

12 The Nutcracker

14 Holiday Magic with the Allen Philharmonic

by Kathy Litinas

16 Christmas Through the Decades

by Tom Keener

17 ’Tis the Season

18 Don’t invite crime—prevent it!

by Kathleen Vaught

20 New Chemical Reuse Center

Marion Mavericks earn grant

21 Journey to the Manger

Holiday film classics

Masonic Award

libraryby Tom Keener

22 Sidekicks kick off to library

Ukrainian Christmas

23 How Christmas carols began

Unwrapping the history of Christmas in America

education28 Allen students get an edge in English

by Keith A. Taylor

32 Invest in Excellence

by Vicki Deerman

36 Riding rhyme and rhythmn

by Heather Darrow

cooking40 Hot chocolate!

by Deborah Dove

36

22

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1 0 www.a l l en image . com

civic forum

In Allen, December offers many unique events and opportunities for soaking up the spirit of the season. As has become popular tradition, area residents will be reminded the holidays are upon us in spectacular fashion with the grand lighting of the 35-foot Christmas tree featuring more than 20,000 lights. Presented by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Raintree Health, the event promises surprises, live entertain -ment and even a visit from Santa and his elves on the evening of Friday, November 30.

December 1Then on the first morning of

December, it’s time to break out the running shoes and if you’ve got them, reindeer antlers! Participate in the non-competitive one-mile fun run, the USATF registered Rudolph Run or partake as a spectator to the holiday cheer and merriment that will fill the streets of downtown Allen.

December 7Next event up is Joe Farmer

Recreation Center’s Holiday Hayride with Santa. When else can you enjoy a hayride with jolly ol’ Saint Nick through Bethany Lakes Park and some of Allen’s wonderfully decorated neighborhoods? Holiday sing-alongs with Santa are the perfect accom-paniment to taking in the lights and festive scenery.

December 8 This is a great day to get your

holiday shopping done at Joe Farmer Recreation Center’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. There you will find unique crafts and gifts you won’t find anywhere else.

The Edge @ Allen Station Park has a Holiday Bash with BMX, skateboard and in-line competitions plus video games and dodge ball tournaments.

December 10Classical pianist Dino Kartsonakis

and his wife, Cheryl, will perform. Often referred to as America’s Piano Showman, Dino lives up to his nickname with a show at the Allen Event Center that has thrilled audiences in Branson and around the world.

December 12Speaking of things you won’t find

anywhere else, how about Santa in a swimming pool? It’s true. Santa is planning to take a refreshing dip at Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium and he’s inviting everyone to join him. So grab your swimsuit, bring your cameras and

join us for the Swim with Santa event. Another great party being held is

Allen Senior Recreation Center’s Tacky Christmas Sweater Party.

December 13 & 15Getting that classic holiday photo

is a must. Have lunch with Santa and get that picture as Santa visits with the little one(s) in between cookies. Santa takes a break from his toy shop and comes to Recreation Hall in Allen on both Thursday and Saturday.

December 14In between those two photo

opportunities, showcase your creative side and gather the family to build a gingerbread house at Joe Farmer Recreation Center. Compete against other families for the “Most Creative” and “Most Edible” awards.

Celebrate the season!by Jeff Mues

A l l e n I m A g e x D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2 11

December 16Multiplatinum recording artist

and three-time Grammy award winner, Brian Setzer and his 18-piece orchestra will perform Setzer’s signature brand of blistering rockabilly and swing music as well as rocking versions of many of your favorite holiday tunes at the Allen Event Center.

December 28The Allen Senior Recreation

Center will throw yet another party, this one a New Year’s Eve-themed affair featuring music from the talented Norris Perry and delicious hors d’oeuvres from Allen Event Center’s Executive Chef, John Orshonsky.

December 30 The Allen Event Center will bring

in a new touring show, Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. Mickey Mouse joins characters from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Toy Story, remixing the sounds of today featuring

hip hop, pop, swing, reggae, rock, country and much more!

December 31To ring in the New Year, Allen

Event Center hosts an Allen Americans game on New Year’s Eve.

Of course, nothing says “winter wonderland” like a little time on the ice. Various learn-to-skate and hockey camps will be held over the holiday

break and a holiday-themed open skate is scheduled for December 24.

Young or old, there is some thing for everyone this holiday season in Allen. For details about Parks and Recreation events, visit the merriest website in Allen, allenparks.org. v

Jeff Mues is a senior marketing coordinator with the Allen Event Center and Allen Parks & Recreation Department.


Allen Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker will return this year to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Allen High School. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, December 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 23 at 2 p.m. “The PAC is a marvelous venue,” says Stefanie Best, Artistic Director of the Ballet. “We are very excited to perform there again.”

The Allen Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra will return to play the score for the ballet. Richard Giangiulio, music director and conductor of the Allen Philharmonic, says, “The true art of the dance was always conceived to be danced spontaneously to live music and this is what we are proudly able to do in Allen at the new Performing Arts Center. This is a combination not to be missed.”

The audience will follow Clara as she saves her beloved Nutcracker from the evil Mouse Queen and earns a trip through the Snow Queen’s forest to be feted in the Kingdom of the Sweets. Allen Civic Ballet dancer Moira Maloney is especially excited to be dancing her first major pas de deux with guest artist Paul Tillman. “I’ve wanted to dance the Snow Queen for a really long time,” says Moira, “I think I’m ready.” Moira was the recipient of scholarships from the Allen Civic Ballet and the Allen

Arts Alliance, which allowed her to study this summer at the famous Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C.

The Allen Civic Ballet is reaching out to several community charities to offer free tickets to the Nutcracker. “Part of the joy of having a theater that seats 1500 is that we have the ability to give families who wouldn’t normally be able to attend the ballet the opportunity to enjoy this experience,” says Best.

The “Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy” fundraiser will also return this December. Guests are welcomed into the Snow Queen’s Kingdom

and served tea, lemonade and treats. Mother Ginger tells the story of the Nutcracker with the help of the

characters, after which guests may take pictures with the cast, or get autographs on anything from toe shoes

to Christmas ornaments. This year’s Tea will be held on Saturday, December 8 at the Allen Conservatory of Dance at 602 E. Main Street, Suite E.

The Allen Civic Ballet is a non-profit organization. For information on how to purchase Nutcracker tickets and Tea reservations, please call 972.727.5959 or visit www.allencivicballet.org. v

NUTCRACKERTH

E

Getting a sleep study and treatment for snoring or sleep apnea (OSA) used to be difficult. You had to visit your primary care physician, who would likely refer you to an ENT. They might suggest surgery or a sleep specialist who would then refer you for an “in lab” study. After all of that, you would be left with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to use at night. The CPAP basically blows air down your throat to splint your airway open in hopes of reducing snoring and apnea. Many find the mask difficult or impossible to tolerate. Now a proven new solution is easily available.

Simple Sleep Services, located at 6101 Chapel Hill, in Plano near Willow Bend Mall, has taken this process and made it more convenient and comfortable. They have streamlined the diagnosis and offer custom manufactured dental solutions for snoring and apnea, making everything easier on the patient.

At Simple Sleep Services, the testing is done in the comfort of your own home by wearing a soft headband with a small recording device. You take it home and sleep in your own bed. Then simply bring it back to the office and

the medical director, a board-certified sleep physician, interprets the test results and they contact you with a diagnosis.

The therapy and devices used by Simple Sleep Services have been around for a while, but they are the first to streamline the process, making it an all-around easier experience for the patient. In 2006, the American Associa-tion of Sleep Medicine recom mended the oral device Simple Sleep Services provides as a first line therapy for

snoring, mild and moderate sleep apnea and second line therapy for severe sleep apnea when

patients fail or refuse a CPAP mask.

Local residents Missy and Steve Duffle decided years ago the only way to get a good night’s rest was to sleep in separate rooms. Steve’s loud snoring had become such a disturbance he started retreating to the couple’s guest room soon after they were married. The device from Simple Sleep Services worked on the very first night.

Missy claims, “The Device is an absolute miracle! Thank you Simple Sleep Services for providing relief for my husband and our entire family. We are all getting uninterrupted sleep—thanks to you guys”!

They knew about sleep studies and the CPAP mask, but decided that the mask or surgery was not an option. Then they learned how Simple Sleep Services is changing the way sleep issues such as snoring and sleep apnea are being diagnosed and treated. “The profes-sionals at Simple Sleep Services went over and above to make sure the device fit properly and eliminated Steve’s snoring. We are all very im-pressed with this product and the customer service provided by their team,” says Missy.

The solution is easy and affordable. Simple Sleep Services works with all private insurance companies including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna, Humana and others. They take Medicare, and they are a Medicare approved facility. Simple Sleep Services also offers affordable and convenient payment options including interest free financing.

Whether you’re looking to restore harmony in the bedroom or worried about sleep apnea, Simple Sleep Services is the streamlined, easy and effective solution for diagnosis and treatment. For more success stories or to set up your consultation, visit www.simplesleepservices. com or call 469.685.1700.

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Join the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus for two very special holiday events the entire family can enjoy.

Sunday, December 9, we will cohost our fourth annual Christmas in the Park Celebration to be held at Stacy Ridge Park located on Country Brook Drive and Prescott in Stacy Ridge Estates. Warm your hands and hearts with holiday cider and hot cocoa as guests of the local home-owners associations.

Activities include caroling, kid’s crafts and games, horse drawn carriage

rides and visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Live music will be presented throughout the 2:30-5:30 p.m. time frame. We encourage all guests to bring a new, unwrapped toy that will be given to ACO for their Toys for our Tots Campaign. Visit our website www.allenphilharmonic.org for a complete listing of activities.

“Holiday Fantastique”, our annual Christmas festival of song and story, will take place on Friday, December 21, in the Performing Arts Hall on the Allen High School Campus located at 300 Rivercrest Drive. Our concert

begins at 8 p.m., with pre-concert activities for families scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

We welcome special guest soloist, Kristen Simchik Lassiter, Allen High School class of 2003 alumnus. Kristen holds a Bachelor ’s degree from Oklahoma City University and a Master ’s Degree from The Boston Conservatory. She has been hailed as a “standout” with a “bell like, clear soprano.” Her versatility as a performer allows her to excel in the genres of opera, oratorio, musical theater, and art song. In 2012, Kristen made her debut as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Seagle Music Colony in New York. She was also selected to be a part of the company’s newly established post-season outreach program.

On the concert stage, Kristen has performed with Oswego Opera Theater in a performance featuring a variety of works from the operatic and musical theater stage. She has also appeared alongside David Gaschen, the original Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera German tour, for the Allen Arts Alliance Black Tie Gala “Panache!”

Holiday magic with the Allen Philharmonic

by Kathy Litinas


Kristen was a featured soloist with the East Longmont Methodist Church in Massachusetts for their performance of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Oklahoma City University Choir’s production of Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” Currently, Kristen is an active member of Concurrence Recital Artists and the Highland Park Chorale in Dallas.

The Allen District Honor Choir—an auditioned choir of fifth and sixth grade students representing every elementary school in the Allen ISD—will perform with the orchestra and holiday favorites will be performed by the Allen Symphony Chorus. Musical selections include “March of the Toys”, “Sheep May Safely Graze”, “The Very Best Time of the Year” and “Christmas Memories.” The evening would not be complete without a surprise guest conductor, audience sing-a-long, and a special Christmas story narrated by perennial favorite Carl Johnson.

In the spirit of the season, the Allen Philharmonic encourages our guests to bring nonperishable food items for Allen Community Outreach’s Food Pantry. For a complete listing of the program and to order tickets, please visit our website: www.allenphilharmonic.org or call our office at 972.359.0656. v

Kathy Litinas is the president of the APSO

Board.

Kristen Simchik


Allen Heritage Guild presents “Christmas Through the Decades”, noon-4 p.m., Saturday, December 8, at the Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Drive. This event will be hosted at the Allen Christian Church.

At 1:30 and 3 p.m., veteran actor and film star Burton Gilliam will read the holiday classic, ’Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Moore. Star of Blazing Saddles and Back to the

Future Part III, his television credits include Charlie’s Angels and The Dukes of Hazard.

At 2 p.m., the Collin College String

Ensemble will perform old-fashioned classic Christmas carols. Visitors can view the beautiful stained glass windows featuring the names of Allen’s early pioneers. Fresh gingerbread and apple cider will be offered and guests can view a 1930’s style tree with decorations and gifts of the period and the 1960’s style aluminum tree—complete with all the trimmings.

Visitors may also view a special exhibition of German Steinbach Nutcrackers. A local resident and collector has graciously allowed the guild to display them during this special event and she will be avail -able for questions and address purchasing inquiries.

The Allen Heritage Guild is proud to open the doors to this beautifully restored historic building. The churches have been the site of numerous weddings and the on-site bride’s parlor is a not only a complement to both buildings, but is very convenient for the bride and her family.

For more information, check out the website www.allenheritageguild.org or call Paula Ross at 972.740.8017.v

Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with

the Allen Public Library.

Christmas Through the Decades by Tom Keener

Burton Gilliam


The Children’s and Youth Choruses of Collin County, composed of more than 100 of the finest singers in North Texas, have prepared a concert of holiday music for your enjoyment. ‘Tis the Season will help you relive the magical moments that make this time of the year so special.

“This concert has one objective,” comments Janie Oliver, artistic director for the chorus. “We want to fill your hearts and minds with the sounds of the season.”

’Tis the Season will begin with a processional of all the choruses singing “Christmas Is the Best Time of the Year!” Following that, the Prelude Chorus (grades 3-4), the Children’s Chorus (grades 5-7) and the Youth Chorus (grades 8-12) will take the stage and present their selection of holiday songs. There will also be a special appearance by the Frisco Chorale. The concert will conclude with all three choruses singing “Sleigh Ride”.

Join us on Monday, December 17,

in the auditorium of the Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road in Plano for a delightful holiday event. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. The cost of admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

The Children’s Chorus of Collin County is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing children and teens the opportunity to perform the finest in choral literature. To learn more about the chorus visit: www.ChildrensChorusOfCollinCounty.org. v

’Tis the Season


Whether your holiday celebrations resemble a Norman Rockwell painting or are closer to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, they are almost always filled with gift giving and gift getting. Many of us spend so much time running from store to store or placing orders online from all corners of the globe, we might forget a few simple tips to help keep our loved ones and valuables safe from crime.

“This is one of the most festive times of the year for families and our community,” said Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey. “While we focus on the joy of the season and several holiday celebrations, it is also important to remember that there are those out there who attempt to take advantage of the situation. Together, we need to do everything we can to reduce the opportunity for crime.”

This holiday season the Allen

Police Department wants to remind you of a few simple things you can do to protect yourself and your family from criminal activity.

Out shopping• Ifyouhavelarge-sizedpurchases

or more than you can carry alone, ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.

• Whenshoppingfromstoretostore,make sure to lock purchases out of sight, preferably in the trunk of your vehicle. Lock all car doors and keep windows closed.

• Whenwalkingtoandfromyourcar,carry your purse close to your body and have your cars keys in hand.

• Don’tforget,theAllenPoliceDepartment has storefront locations at the three largest shopping centers in Allen—Allen Premium Outlets inside the food

court; The Village at Allen a few doors down from Allen Event Center; and Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms behind Market Street on Garden Park Drive

At home• Makesurealldoorsandwindows

are locked and in good repair.• Makesuretocloseshadesor

window coverings when leaving the house.

• Ifyouutilizeanalarmsystem,make sure it is set, operating properly and monitored.

• Alwaysremembertokeepyourgarage door closed when unattended.

• Ifyouaretraveling,putholidaylights on a varied timer and have a neighbor pick up your newspaper and mail.

Life or death situations should always be reported to 9-1-1 first. Outside of those types of situations, if residents see or hear something suspicious, report it to Non-Emergency Dispatch by calling 214.509.4321. Using this number for non-emergencies helps make sure the remaining 9-1-1 phone lines are open for true life and death emergency situations.

Residents can also send an anonymous tip via text message to Allen Police by simply texting keyword ALLENPD followed by your tip to 847411. To learn more about crime prevention and programs offered by the Allen Police Department, visit www.allenpolice.org or contact the Community Relations Unit at 214.509.4359. v

Kathleen Vaught is the senior marketing

specialist for the City of Allen.

Don’t invite crime—prevent it!by Kathleen Vaught


SnippetsSnippets

Marion Mavericks earn grant

Marion Mavericks earned a $25,000 grant for their school by showing that their school knows how to exercise, eat healthy and have fun doing it! Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) is a program that empowers students to choose good-for-you foods and be active at least 60 minutes a day.

In 2011, teachers Kera Williams and Connie Beaney learned of this initiative and rounded up a core team of Marion fourth graders. They met after school to learn more about healthier eating alternatives and to discuss ways to have fun while being active. In addition to their meetings, they completed three FUTP60 challenges including “Back to School, Back to Football”, “Cooking Show” and a “Physical Activity Skit”.

The grant money was specifically designated for cafeteria, PE and wellness initiatives, all aimed at making a healthier lifestyle more appealing to our younger generation.

On October 26, the team appeared on WFAA Channel 8 Daybreak in recognition of their hard work. Upon their return to campus, former NFL player and 3-time Super Bowl winning champion Jay Novacek joined the celebration to encourage kids to have fun being active, eat right and make healthy choices.

What a proud day for Marion Elementary, AISD and our Allen community! v

New Chemical Reuse Center

The City of Allen Waste Services Division recently opened the Allen Chemical Reuse Center (ACRC). The ACRC redistributes household products such as bleach, ammonia, household cleaners, latex paint, spray paint, wood stains, herbicides, pesticides, grout sealers, automotive products, pool chemicals and more.

“We are very excited about being able to open this reuse center,” said Donna Kliewer, Waste Services Manager for the City of Allen. “All of the items collected come from Allen residents that use the City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) curbside pickup program. We partnered with Plano’s Reuse Center to start our HHW program and are very pleased to open this satellite facility to redistribute household chemicals back to the residents free of charge.”

The ACRC is located inside the Allen Municipal Service Center, 900 S. Greenville and is open every Thursday, noon-2 p.m. Hours are subject to the availability of city staff and volunteer support and are subject to change. In order to pick up products, a current utility bill and driver’s license must be provided for address verification.

The ACRC is not a HHW drop-off location. If you have household chemicals that need to be disposed of, simply fill out the online request form at www.CityofAllen.org/HHW-Request or visit www.CityofAllen.org/HHW-Reuse for more information.

To volunteer at the ACRC, please contact Casey Bennett at 214.509.4555 or email [email protected] for details. v


SnippetsSnippetsJourney to the Manger

St. Paul Lutheran Church presents its 22nd annual “Journey to the Manger” live nativity drama. See a re-creation of a market place as it would have been in Biblical times in the little town of Bethlehem, complete with bakers, weavers, potters, candy makers and other merchants. Also witness six live action scenes depicting the major events leading to the birth of Christ.

Over 100 members of the church participate in this lively production, dressed in costumes from that era. The event also features live camels, donkeys, sheep and other animals. Drama scenes start every 10 minutes, 7-9 p.m. on Friday, December 7 and 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, December 8. St. Paul is located at 6565 Independence Parkway in Plano, between Spring Creek and Legacy.

This free event is open to the community. It begins inside the Fellowship Hall. Visitors step back in time as they experience the sights, sounds and smells of a Middle Eastern marketplace from over 2,000 years ago. They are then guided through the six outdoor scenes and finish up with refreshments inside the church. The program is presented rain or shine (outdoor scenes will be moved indoors in case of inclement weather). v

Masonic AwardAllen Masonic Lodge 1435 met recently at Cyclone Anaya’s for dinner and presentation of awards. A 50-year Masonic anniversary pin and certificate were awarded to Dr. E.T. Boon by Worshipful Master Lynn White. Dr. Boon is a Past Master, Past District Deputy and a charter member of the Allen Masonic Lodge, which was chartered in 1975.

Dr. Boon was a local dentist for many years, a long time member of the Allen ISD Board of Trustees and the Collin County Community College Board. He also has a school named after him—Boon Elementary. v

Holiday film classics Bring your family to spend the holidays with ours and take in terrific seasonal classics. All films begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. For more information, call 214.509.4911.

December 4—The Shop Around the Corner (1940), starring Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart and Frank Morgan. Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand one another, and don’t realize they’re falling in love as each other’s anonymous pen pal. Uncanny twists of fate can lead to a powerful romance.

December 11—The Bishop’s Wife (1948), starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. A bishop strives to build a new cathedral and prays for guidance. An angel arrives, but his guidance does not involve fund-raising. Combines drama and comedy supported by the charm of three Hollywood legends and inspires all of us to embrace what is most important—family and friends.

December 18—Scrooge, adapted from A Christmas Carol (1951). A bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by uninvited ghosts on Christmas Eve. This adaptation is thought to be one of the definitive films of the story, and Alastair Sims’ performance is a holiday gift.

Dr. E.T. Boon and Lynn White.

Mike Morgan


library

Meet some of the most popular soccer stars in Texas history—Tatu and Sagu—at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 8. Participants will be treated to tales of their exciting soccer careers in the Metroplex, including the challenges they faced and their strategies for victory.

Born Antonio Carlos Pecorari, Tatu was a member of the Dallas Sidekicks during the years they won national championships—1987, 1993, 1998 and 2001. Famous for throwing his jersey into the crowd every time he scored a goal, his nickname Tatu means armadillo in Portuguese.

Although a well-respected sports figure, it is Tatu’s community involvement that earned him an endearing respect from sports fans and players. When the Olympic Torch journeyed through Dallas for the 2002 Salt Lake City games, Tatu served as the Torch Bearer.

In 1998, Tatu was named the Dallas Sidekicks Player of the Year. Later that year he became head coach of the team and was also designated the Coach of the Year. Tatu is now co-owner, general manager and head coach of the Dallas Sidekicks.

After playing his first five U.S. professional indoor seasons with the Sidekicks, Sagu, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, spent the last eight seasons with the Baltimore Blast. There he was named All-League seven times, Goalkeeper of the Year five times and helped the Blast win three championships.

Sagu expects to spend several more seasons in goal with the Sidekicks. “Goalkeepers are like fine wine—they get better with age,” he joked. “But now that I am in the later stages of my playing career, I want to give something back to the younger generation. I look forward to teaching younger goalkeepers and I want to coach after my playing days are over.”

“Before I moved to Baltimore, I lived in Dallas and I always wanted to go back after my retirement from the Blast,” said Sagu. “I got an excellent opportunity to go back and I can’t let it pass. I’m thinking now about my future coaching goalkeepers and this is a choice I made for my future.”

The program will be moderated by Robert Trammell, a broad-caster for high school and college sports for over two decades. He served as the radio/TV analyst for the Dallas Sidekicks 2001-2004 and is currently Public Relations Director for the Dallas Sidekicks. v

Sidekicks kickoff to libraryThe Allen Public Library presents…

“Z Rizdvom Khrystovym!” Have a merry Ukrainian Christmas!

Veselka, a Ukrainian folk singing group of Dallas, presents Ukrainian Christmas carols, dance and instrumentals, 7:30 pm. Saturday, December 8. In the tradition of the Ukraine, some carols will be performed a cappella while others will be accompanied with a violin, guitar, accordion and keyboard. Zorya, the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Dallas, will feature the intensity and colorfulness of the Ukrainian culture through exciting dance numbers. Band and dance members will wear their beautifully ornate Ukrainian national costumes.

Joining Veselka with the chromatic accordion is Allen resident and virtuoso, Vladimir Kalizine, a graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Vladimir is currently a member of the bands Kalinka and Café Noir, participates in national tours, teaches music and is a regular performer at Jorg’s Cafe Vienna in Plano. Vladimir will also perform Ukrainian Chanukah songs.

According to the Julian calendar used by traditional Ukraines, Christmas Eve begins on January 6 and concludes on January 19 with the feast of Jordan or the Epiphany. The Christmas Eve Holy Supper begins when the first star appears in the eastern sky, symbolizing the trek of the Three Wise Men. It is the children’s job to look for the first star and when it appears, the feast begins.

Veselka art director Oksana Toporina states, “Ukrainian carols highlight the beauty of our language more than anything else. We are proud to bring Ukrainian culture and traditions to Allen Public Library.” v

UkrainianChristmas

The Allen Public Library is located at 300 N. Allen Drive. For more information on these free programs, call 214.509.4911.

Tatu (foreground)


The Allen Public Library presents… by Tom Keener

What would Christmas be without music? Choirs and carolers, church bells and jingle bells, music has always been a part of Christmas. But have those customs always been followed? What were the sounds of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and how did today’s carols evolve?

Prepare for a musical journey through milieus of the earliest Christmas music to the beginnings of today’s familiar carols at 7:30 pm, Saturday, December 15.

Dr. Phyllis Tippit, writer and narrator for the evening, became interested in the early history of Christian music during her studies of the Psalms, the hymnbook of Jews and Christians for 3000 years. As a lecturer at Baylor University, she taught Old Testament, ethics and world cultures until retiring in 2011.

Dennis Brown, pianist and musical director, became interested in ancient Christmas music while doing research for a national TV program, Life Lessons with Ron Hembree. He has served as Minister of Music, organist and choir director in several churches, been featured on TV numerous times and played for audiences in 34 states and Canada.

On vocals—Janis Roscoe Stillings, actress, singer and dancer who has performed in New York City, Hawaii and Dallas; Jessica Parker, senior chorister for the Royal School of Music; and Cynthia Burns, choir director at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in McKinney. Other singers include: Sue Brown, Kevin Housh, Jennifer Milner, Brian Milner, Steven Shayle Rhodes and Teri Tippit. On cello is Kathy Decker.

Dennis and Phyllis are also choir members at Church of the Savior, the Episcopal Church of Allen. Like most of the singers and other musicians of the group, they share a love for the history of Christmas music that began with hearing and singing old carols during their youth. v

How Christmas carols began

For many, Christmas means traditions like decking the halls, trimming the tree, hanging stockings, attending open houses and taking the kids on their annual pilgrimage to visit Santa Claus.

But is Christmas sacred or secular? Pagan or Christian? A commercial event or a season of hope?

These cherished traditions and rituals will be discussed by Dr. Penne Restad, professor of history and distinguished lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Christmas in America: A History. A regular feature on the History Channel during the holiday season, Dr. Restad chronicles the origins of America’s yuletide customs at 7:30 pm, Thursday, December 13.

Drawing from journal entries, newspaper articles, books and illustrations, Dr. Restad reveals the rise and transformation of Christmas, from colonial times to present day. During the 17th century, celebrating Christmas could result in severe fines, jail time or flogging. William Prynne’s Histriomastix (1633) railed against plays, masques, balls and the decking of houses with greens. “Into what stupendous height of more than pagan impiety have we now degenerated!” Prynne declared.

Christmas celebrations did not become acceptable until the 18th century and Christmas was not an official national holiday until 1870. Christmas cards, candy canes and Santa Claus seem to be cherished customs, but according to Dr. Restad, many of these holiday activities are recent developments.

When asked about her reasons for researching the history of Christmas, Dr. Restad noted, “I find the process of ‘discovery’

interesting, for usually that idea (or topic or ‘thing’) is so much a part of our lives that we don’t even see it as separate and therefore as something to inquire about.”

A recipient of the inaugural Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2009, Dr. Restad explains Christmas appealed to her because, “it seemed so obvious that is was almost invisibly embedded in our yearly routines. It was not something that “happened’ like a battle or an election. The holiday presents a cultural mirror of sorts.” v

Unwrapping the history of Christmas in America

Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library.

Dr. Penne Restad


feature

A group of Allen Special Olympics athletes and their parents have formed lifelong bonds after competing in the first-ever World Aquatics Invitational in Puerto Rico.

Four Special Olympics athletes and their parents had the experience of a lifetime in September, when they traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the first ever Special Olympics World Aquatics Invitational. The Allen athletes were among 15 randomly chosen from Texas—joining others from Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia to represent the United States.

“We feel so honored to have been selected to represent Allen, Texas and our country at such an amazing event,” says Elizabeth Seba, who served as team coach along with husband Don. “This was our first international event and even if they never get to do anything like this again, it was worth it. We’re able to say that we were part of the first one and that’s something that we’ll always have with each other.”

A great competition The international event included over 300 swimmers,

representing 29 countries. For the Allen athletes—Rachel Seba, Emmily Blackburn, Andrew Dennett and Jennifer

Shepler—the event led to stronger friendships among themselves, as well as athletes from all over the world.

“For years, they’ve competed against a lot of the same athletes, so they all sort of know each other,” Elizabeth says. “But to now have that opportunity to all be together and get to know each other better was a wonderful experience.”

“It won’t just be us swimming against them,” Jennifer says of future competitions such as state and regional swim meets. “You’ll know them and root for them too. And they’re kind of like family because you get to know them and build a friendship. Just like Special Olympics in Allen is a family.”

Emmily, 18, is a senior at Allen High School. Rachel, 22, and Jennifer 20, are both Allen High graduates and were members of the school’s swim team. Andrew, 21, lives in McKinney and is a McKinney North graduate, but Allen Special Olympics is his aquatics home team.

In Puerto Rico, Rachel competed first in the 100-meter IM—butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. She held on to second place through 3-1/2 lengths, but was passed by the Costa Rican swimmer in the final freestyle leg and came home with a bronze medal. Rachel’s second race was the 100-meter and she earned the silver medal.

Allen Special Olympians compete in San Juan, Puerto Ricoby Nicole Bywater

L to R: Chuck Shepler, Roxanne and Emmily Blackburn, Elizabeth and Rachel Seba, Jennifer and Nancy Shepler, Don Seba and Andrew Dennett.


Also on the first day, the other swimmers had preliminary heats for each of their events to determine divisions for finals the following day. Emmily competed in the 25-meter freestyle and the 25-meter backstroke and brought home a silver medal in each event. She had her best times ever in those two events and came in four seconds faster than her 25-meter backstroke preliminary time.

Jennifer competed in the 50-meter breaststroke and the 50-meter freestyle, finishing with a gold medal and fifth place, respectively. Jennifer also had her best finishes ever in competition.

Andrew competed in the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter freestyle finishing seventh and sixth place, respectively. His final time in both events was 20 seconds faster than his qualifying times. He is always in the fastest heats of the Texas State Fall Classic competition so the competition in Puerto Rico was tough, Elizabeth says.

Both Jennifer and Andrew also had the opportunity to swim in 4x50-meter freestyle races with other Team Texas athletes. The male relay team earned a silver medal and the female team brought home the gold medal, which happened to be the first gold medal of the competition for Team Texas.

Exploring Puerto Rico In addition to coaches Don and Elizabeth, four parents

also went on the seven-day trip—Emmily’s mother, Roxanne Blackburn; Andrew’s father, Walter Dennett and Jennifer’s parents, Chuck and Nancy Shepler.

For most of the athletes and their parents, this was their first time traveling outside of the U.S. This only added to the thrill of the competition, as the group bonded over the shared experience of an unfamiliar culture and language. Their excursions included exploring historical Old San Juan, visiting the beach and a nighttime kayak tour through a bioluminescent lagoon, a rare natural phenomenon where the water literally glows.

“It was scary at first because I had never been outside of the United States,” Jennifer added. But having her group of family and friends made it a lot easier, she adds.

While kayaking was obviously an unforgettable experience, Emmily is quick to point out that it wasn’t nearly as much fun as their attempt at getting back to the hotel after visiting Old Town.

“The trolley had stopped running so we had to walk, but then we ended up running because it started raining really hard,” she says. “We ended up soaking wet, gathered under the palm trees for about 30 minutes.”

The memories of these experiences—both planned and

unplanned—are what the families and the athletes take home from this event. Then, of course, there are the physical mementos such as trophies and medals from the competition and T-shirts they swapped.

Team Texas T-shirts turned out to be a popular attention-getter among the crowd. The back of the shirts were titled, ‘Texas Swimmin’ Hole,’ showing a large outline of a cowboy hat, and the slogan ‘Everything’s bigger in Texas.’

“It was a little weird at first,” says Rachel, of the trip overall. “But it was fun because my friends were there.” When asked what her favorite part was, Rachel replied, “meeting a lot of people from the whole wide world.”

The Special Olympics World Aquatics Invitational will be every two years, with the next one scheduled in Miami, Florida. Because this year was the event’s debut, there were some hiccups in the planning and overall administration, the parents say. Despite any problems, their experience with the event and Special Olympics overall is invaluable.

“Special Olympics has given all of our athletes a tre-mendous amount of confidence in their abilities,” Elizabeth says. “They’re able to do stuff that they wouldn’t have gotten the chance to do as regular athletes, except on rare occasions like Jennifer and Rachel, who just happen to be good enough at that time to be on the regular swim team.”

But even with their natural talent, Elizabeth points out, without Special Olympics and the experience of competitive swimming, the girls might have never thought to try out. “They all want to do their best,” she says.

Emmily nods in agreement, “It definitely helps with the confidence because you see that you can compete against someone. Plus it’s fun and you make a ton of friends.” v

Nicole Bywater is a freelance writer from Allen.

L to R: Andrew Dennett, Jennifer Shepler, Emmily Blackburn and Rachel Seba.


kids korner

LIGHTSOur list of some of the best places to view Christmas lightsDeerfield—Located in Plano north of Legacy Drive between Preston and Coit Road, this is one of the closest and most elaborate neighborhood displays. There are lights on practically every house, as well as yard displays, nativity scenes, inflatables, lights synchronized to music, as well as occasional live music and Santa sightings. Visit www.deerfieldplano.org for suggested routes. SpringPark—This small neighborhood at Jupiter and SpringPark in Garland features cul-de-sacs decked out in holiday themes. Past themes have included a holiday train, a Caribbean Christmas, a redneck Christmas, Peanuts, angels and more.Christmas in the Square at Frisco Square (Main & Coleman Blvd.)—Over 175,000 holiday lights are choreographed to music (available on 95.7 FM), while snow machines create snow flurries on the sidewalks of Frisco Square every 15 minutes on the weekends. Model trains are on display Friday/Saturday, 6-10 pm through December 15, and the Square hosts a Christmas extravaganza on December 15 with a trackless train ($3/ride), Santa Claus, a three-lane inner tube snow slide, food trucks and more family fun. Open nightly from 6-10 pm, now through January 6. Carriage rides are available Thursdays-Sundays from 6-10 pm for $6 per person.Gaylord Texan’s Lone Star Christmas—Now through January 1, the Texas-sized resort’s atriums will be decorated with over 1.5 million sparkling lights, a 52-foot rotating Christmas tree and lavish holiday displays—electric trains, a life-size gingerbread house, stilt walkers, singing cowboys and Santa. This year’s ICE! Exhibit, an interactive walk through exhibit carved from two million pounds of ice that ends with a 20-foot ice slide, features characters of Madagascar. Visitors can also go snow tubing on Kung Fu Panda’s awesome 8-lane tubing hill covered with snow and participate in character meals, meet and greets, gingerbread decorating and more. You don’t have to pay to walk around the hotel and look at lights, but there is a charge for most activities. Snow tubing is $16.95 for 10 runs, and tickets to Ice! are $11.95-$26.95 (depending on age and when you go); or you can purchase a snow tubing/Ice! combo ticket $35.95/adults and $25.95/kids. Visit www.gaylordtexan.com to purchase tickets and for pricing.Heard Holiday Trail of Lights—On December 14 and 15, 6:30-9 pm, bundle up the family and enjoy the holiday season outdoors with Heard Natural Science Museum’s Holiday Trail of Lights featuring holiday décor and lights, many of which are synchronized to music, along a half-mile nature trail. Have a photo taken with Father Christmas, enjoy hot beverages and treats, and listen to strolling carolers and live holiday music. Tickets are $9/adults and $6/kids at the door for non-members. Tickets are cheaper if you are a member or purchase your tickets in advance.CityLights—This holiday season more than five blocks of downtown Dallas will be transformed with holiday decorations, light displays and a 65-foot holiday tree. However, the main attraction is the holiday window displays

at Neiman Marcus. This year’s outer space theme, Big Encounters of the Little Kind, features out of this world displays, a rocket inspired tree and crawl tubes, which allow kids to physically enter a journey of fantasy and wonder. Free.Villages at Allen and Fairview—The Kaleidoscope of Dreams light show by the Macy’s fountain entrance at the Village at Fairview delights viewers with 250,000 sparkling LED lights choreographed to music every 30 minutes from 5-9 pm daily. Visit the Grove at the Village at Allen for its interactive Christmas tree with 100,000 lights that dance to music.

CAMERAHoliday productionsJunie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells—Everyone’s favorite, sassy first grader is back in this play adaptation of the book by Barbara Parks put on by Dallas Children’s Theater. It’s the holidays, but how can Junie B. enjoy the festivities when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? Worst of all, Junie B. draws Tattletale May’s name for Secret Santa. Will Junie B. give May the gift she deserves? Shows run through December 22. Visit www.tickets.dct.single or call 214.740.0051 for ticket information.The Nutcracker—The Allen Civic Ballet, along with the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, performs this holiday classic about Clara, her Nutcracker Prince, and the Land of Sweets at the Allen High School Performing Arts Hall on December 22 at 7 pm and December 23 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15-$25 at the door (plus a small transaction fee).Disney on Ice Presents Mickey and Minnie’s Musical Festival—What to do after Christmas? Check out more than 25 Disney stars including Mickey and Minnie, Ariel, Jasmine, Woody and Buzz and all of their friends as they remix Disney hits with the sounds of today in this musical celebration. Shows are December 30, at 2:30 and 5:30 pm at the Allen Event Center. Visit www.alleneventcenter.com for ticket information.

ACTIONFun activities The Trains at NorthPark—This miniature train exhibit, located on the upper level of NorthPark Center near Barney’s, is the most elaborate in Texas. Over 1,600 feet of track carry trains past some of America’s best loved landmarks, including downtown Dallas, New York City’s Times Square and Grand Central Terminal, the White House, New England’s fall foliage, the Grand Canyon, Route 66, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more. The exhibit runs through January 6th and costs $6/adults and $3 children ages 2-12.Santa’s Village—The first three weekends of December (Thursday-Sunday from 6-9), families can see what it’s really like at the North Pole at Santa’s Village, located in front of Richardson’s City Hall. Various kid-sized dwellings offer different activities, such as a post office where kids can mail a letter to Santa, an ornament house where they make a craft, the fire station where they can try on firefighter gear, and a gingerbread house where Mrs. Claus hands out cookies. Free.

Christmas Lights, Camera, Action

By Deborah Dove


education

As Allen has continued to grow, the cultural diversity of the com-munity has expanded with it. One person who can attest to the change in Allen is Lisa Geib, the English Language Learner (ELL) teacher at Rountree Elementary.

“It’s surprising to some people to see the number of languages we have in Allen,” Geib said. “Of course, we expect to have Spanish-speaking children and parents. However, we are seeing more and more from India, South America, China, Korea and Thailand.”

Geib and more than 50 other Allen ISD ELL and Bilingual teachers and staff help instruct about 1,300 students

who speak more than 50 languages and don’t use English as their primary language.

“It can be a challenge with so many kids speaking so many different languages,” Gieb commented, “It’s very gratifying, though, to see them work so well together and help each other. They may speak different languages, but they understand they have similar challenges.”

Formerly known as English as a Second Language (ESL), Allen’s ELL program works with parents, schools teachers and the administration to make sure all students become fluent in the language.

“Our goal is to make our students English-proficient,” stated Evans Elementary ELL teacher Julie Hill. “They have to have the language skills to understand what is being taught whether its math, or science, or history. Teaching a few phrases to make sure they can get around doesn’t work. They have to pass the Texas standardized tests just as other students.”

In the 2012-2013 school year, about 8 percent of almost 20,000 Allen ISD students speak Spanish as their primary language. Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese follow Spanish. What is interesting, though, is that “other” language speakers total almost as much

as many as Spanish-speakers. “We work with students who speak anything from Urdu to French,” Gieb said.

Geib speaks two other languages well and can get by in a third. However, she and Hill agree that knowing another language is not as important as having the expertise and training to teach English to non-native speakers.

That’s why Allen ISD emphasizes the importance of language profi ciency and teacher training, according to Special Programs Coordinator Bobbi Taylor.

Allen students get an edge in Englishby Keith A. Taylor

Rountree ELL instructor Pam Gieb with sixth-grade students.


“Of course the first thing we have to do is to make sure we are in compliance with state and federal regulations,” she ex plained. “But we want to make sure our program goes the extra mile to assure students can be successful regardless of grade level.”

The district is in the process of certifying all of its elementary instructors as ELL qualified. This helps both the students and the faculty.

“We no longer have to take children out of the classroom for English instruction,” Taylor empha-sized. “That allows our ELL teachers to go to the classroom and assist in the normal teaching environment.”

Besides a dedicated staff, the district uses sophisticated testing to identify students’ needs and levels of comprehension. That’s where the district’s Early Childhood and ELL Support Center comes into play. The bilingual staff of the Support Center provides testing and educational services to non-English speaking families. When a new student enrolls in school, families have to answer a questionnaire about the primary and secondary languages spoken at home.

If the questionnaire indicates they come from a non- or limited-English home environment, they are tested for English proficiency by the center staff. Based on the results of the test, students are assigned to one of four different levels of English proficiency: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Advanced High. Students with no English proficiency are taught in the Bilingual Education program at Boyd Elementary School.

“When we are helping ELL students, we find two common themes,” Hill said. “If they have a strong foundation in their native language, they generally do much better in learning English. Also, the more advanced students are helpful in raising the level of comprehension of the beginner students.”

Both Hill and Geib also said that encouraging children to maintain cultural connections while assimilating

into the U.S. educational system also helps with learning English.

“I think it’s very important that the children keep their cultural ties and traditions,” Geib says. “It gives them a foundation that they can fall back on when they have trouble. It also gives them a sense of security that is extremely important when it is difficult to communicate with most of the people around you.”

Hill said parents often are a key factor in success. “Kids do much

better when parents want them to learn a new language,” she said. “Some parents can be very enthusiastic about their kids learning English. However, we want them gain a new skill without losing the connection to their native language.”

Taylor said the job of the ELL staff continues even after the students gain English proficiency.

“Once our instructors identify a student as English proficient, the district uses a special committee—


the LPAC—to evaluate the student’s perform ance and potential,” she said. The LPAC (Language Proficiency

Assessment Committee) consists of Allen ISD administrators, parents and teachers.

When students leave the ELL pro-gram, they continue to be monitored by the district for two more years to make sure they continue to perform up to academic standards.

For Hill and Geib, helping students learn English is not just a job, it’s a privilege.

“I truly love what I do,” Hill, a 28-year teaching veteran, said. “It is so wonderful to see children learn a new language and open up to a new world.”

Geib has been an ELL teacher for her entire eight-year career. She decided on her career path while working as a student teacher in Allen ISD.

“In terms of ELL, Allen ISD’s program is the gold standard,” she said. “The quality of the teachers is outstanding and the district gives us the best tools possible to execute our profession. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” v

Keith Taylor is a public relations specialist for

Allen ISD.

ELL instructor Julie Hill talks with first grade students at Evans Elementary School.


Last winter, parents and teachers stood at a Lovejoy Elementary School display case amazed by the pottery bowls their fifth-graders had been able to create. Thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools, each of the three elementary schools in the district received a new pottery wheel, and all 300 fifth-graders used them to make bowls. Why bowls?

Keelee Kennington, Lovejoy Elementary art teacher, explained that the pottery had been sold through the Empty Bowls Project at the district’s annual Fine Arts Festival. Students donated all the proceeds to the Samaritan Inn homeless shelter in McKinney.

“At the pre-sale event before the festival, our campus raised nearly $700,” she said. “The grand total for all campuses at the end of the

festival was nearly $3,000! There’s no telling how many community members were impacted.”

Kennington pointed out, “My first experience with a pottery wheel was my junior year in college, so it is an amazing opportunity for our young fifth-graders to experience working on the wheel. That alone is great, but then students also had the opportunity to give back to the community through their creations. They saw an entire grade level and an entire district come together for the benefit of others. That’s pretty awesome.”

Fine Arts was not the only area the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools touched last year. Another grant, enhancing science instruction for all first- through third-grade students, was hugely successful in sparking excitement among students.

“The students love ‘High Touch, High Tech’,” said Britni Haskin, a second-grade teacher at Puster Elementary. “There really isn’t another way to say it. This program does a fantastic job of teaching science in a high-interest, hands-on way that fosters a passion for science in children. As a teacher, I’ve observed lessons that sparked ideas for our own lessons. The professionals who present this program make sure that every child learns. Their passion for science is evident and it rubs off on the kids.”

A student at Puster echoed Haskins’ excitement: “This is soooo cool! My mom never lets me play with gross stuff!”

These are just two examples of the many investments the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools has made. Since its inception in 2003, the foundation has

Invest in Excellenceby Vicki Deerman


granted a total of $913,000 to support education in Lovejoy ISD and invested another $133,740 in an endowment account for the long term.

These grants have touched every campus and every curricular area—from the basics like reading and math to equipment for fine arts and technology. In addition, the independent, community-led non-profit organization makes a signifi cant annual investment in the district’s professional education program, which attracts educators from across the country.

The Foundation raises funds to support education in Lovejoy ISD through two primary channels: an Annual Appeal campaign (going on now through December 31, 2012) and the popular springtime Denim and Diamonds Gala and Auction. This year, the Denim & Diamonds Gala will be held on March 2, 2013, with the theme of “The Beat Goes On,” appropriate for the Foundation’s 10th anniversary.

To make a donation or learn more about the foundation, please visit www.foundationforlovejoyschools.org. v

Vicki Deerman is the executive director for the

Foundation for Lovejoy Schools.

When Bonnie Ruth decided to create her namesake restaurants, she knew what she wanted: a classic French bistro that could fit in on the streets of Paris. But it needed something different—an American twist. She spent a month in Paris, immersing herself in the food and culture, and brought it all back to North Texas.

“We want our restaurant to become a neighborhood favorite,” explains Bonnie, executive chef and co-founder. “And while the food is decidedly French, we’ve adapted our menu to fit North Texas tastes.” What this means is that alongside classic French cuisine such as duck leg confit and steak frites, you’ll also find gourmet pizzas and half-pound Angus cheeseburgers. “It’s upscale, but casual, with a lively atmosphere,” she explains.

Bonnie has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and opened restaurants in a variety of cuisines before creating her namesake concept in the Casa Linda neighborhood of Dallas. A second location is in Frisco.

Bonnie, and partner Ernie Ianace, opened the Allen location

in Watters Creek two years ago. “Watters Creek offers such a unique, beautiful setting,” Bonnie says. “We wanted something that was more special than your average strip center, and this location certainly fits that.”

The ability to enjoy indoor/outdoor dining alongside picturesque views is one of the best features of Bonnie Ruth’s in Allen. “With the hills, the greenery, lighted trees and views of the fountain, this is really a great place to enjoy an evening out,” Ernie adds.

In France, cafés often flow into the appropriate atmosphere depending on the time of day, an idea that has been adopted at Bonnie Ruth’s. Their casual lunch menu is served weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. until closing with an expanded dinner selection Thursday through Sunday. “We also aim at being a very family-friendly restaurant, so we offer selections that appeal to the entire family,” Bonnie says.

On weekends, the bistro offers their lunch options as well as a

special brunch menu. On Saturdays, classics like eggs benedict, pain perdu (caramel French toast) and boysenberry cream cheese crepes are available until 3 p.m. On Sundays, the brunch buffet is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “The buffet includes a combination of our most popular dinner and lunch entrees, along with all of the breakfast items you’d expect—pancakes, bacon and sausage, etc.—as well as an omelet station,” Bonnie says. With the buffet, guests can enjoy $2 mimosas and $3 Bloody Mary specials.

In a recent addition, on Friday evenings, the bistro morphs into a more intimate, late-night atmosphere, with live music in the classic style of Frank Sinatra/Rat Pack.

Happy Hour is 4-9 p.m. on Monday and 4-7 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday. Happy Hour offers specials on all drinks, as well as half-price appetizers. On Saturday, Happy Hour pricing applies 11 a.m.-7 p.m., plus there are specials on burgers and college football on TV.

In addition to its full menu, Bonnie Ruth’s is also known for its patisserie, where all of the bistro’s breads, as well as a full selection of deserts are produced from scratch. The complete bistro menu can be ordered ‘to-go’ in that area.

Individual and family-size servings of cakes, cupcakes and pastries can be bought out of the bakery cases or ordered ahead of time. “With its hardwood floors and crystal chandeliers, the patisserie is also a beautiful place to sit, enjoy a delicious croissant and a cup of coffee, and just unwind,” Bonnie says.

Many customers purchase deserts from the patisserie to take out and serve at holiday parties and other events. For customers in need of a location, both the bistro and the patisserie can accommodate gatherings such as anniversaries, birthday parties and bridal or baby showers. “These special events work well here because we can section off different areas to suit groups of any size,” Bonnie says. “We offer seated dinners, buffets, cocktail party set-ups, shower packages, custom menus, color coordinated tablescapes and more. And, all events can be specially tailored to fit your budget and taste.”

On New Year’s Eve, Bonnie Ruth’s will offer a special prix fixe dinner. After the meal, guests will enjoy music and dancing the New Year in.

Bonnie Ruth’s 916 Garden Park Drive in Watters Creek

214.383.6777 www.bonnieruthsallen.com


Laura Ault could not believe it was happening to her. The red carpet and long, velvet ropes beckoned her forward. Ten photographers and a video crew rushed in to preserve her experience for eternity. She was standing on the corner of 23rd and 8th in New York at the We Made This Movie world premiere.

“My lifelong dream came true. I walked the red carpet. They flew me to New York. It was very surreal. It happened so fast I couldn’t believe it was really happening. My song, ‘Like a Star’, was selected,” Ault said.

A Collin College graduate, singer and songwriter, Ault submitted her song online—with about 1,200 other people. It was a grueling, three-month process. She was selected as a finalist, made the top 25, then the top six and finally her song and three others were selected for the new movie.

“My song is played in a really touching scene. The main character has had a crush on a girl for a long time, and when he walks her home you can hear the chorus ‘Like a star in the sky, floating up so high, I’m gonna fall for you. Catch me when I do,’” Ault said.

Long before you could hear Ault’s songs on ABC, CBS, MTV, E! and VH1, the songwriter dreamed of becoming an actress. Her musical journey started when she began taking piano lessons at six years old. At 10, she abandoned sheet music and began playing by ear. She was writing her own songs at 16.

“I spent a lot of time at home on the piano, but I was just playing around. I didn’t think I would use it,” she said.

Riding rhyme and rhythmCollin College graduate writes national hits

by Heather Darrow


Ault selected Collin College because of the nationally recognized theatre program and because she says the equipment is top of the line.

“You cannot really compare Collin College’s program to any other program in the state. It is unbeatable. I really came into my own in musical theatre. I was in The Apple Tree and Gypsy and had a starring role in A New Brain at the college. Professor Brad Baker can really read people and push you and give you confidence. He believes in you and gives you the skills to do well. When I went to New York, I knew what to do and got the callbacks right away. He and Professor Gail Cronauer both taught me that when you are performing you have to embrace the uniqueness of who you are.”

Ault’s tale could be a scene in a play. In between performances, she worked as a waitress in a New York restaurant. When she wrote “Sunshine in My Mind,” her notepad had orders of cheeseburgers and fries, surrounded by scribbles of emerging song lyrics she could not get out of her head. She won second place in the Latin genre in the National Intel Superstars com-petition and her song was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

“I would not stop until I finished the song. I walked around and would sing it. It’s about living in the city but dreaming of being on the beach.”

The idea came to Ault as she was riding the subway and dreaming of a tropical vacation. She realized that being surrounded by people while mentally relaxing on the beach had the makings of a good song. Typically, something in a chord or group of notes resonates with Ault, and instinctively she knows there is a song trying to break out. She is like a sculptor, letting the untouched music settle into her subconscious, and then slowly fashioning it into the right shape, feeling her way as she goes. When it all comes together, she cannot turn off the stream of creativity until she has the final, polished product.

“The initial idea comes organically.


I write things down, but I know I can make it better, so then I start tweaking the words. It is a fun challenge. What is wonderful is that instead of singing somebody else’s words I am able to

write my own, and that is so much more fulfilling.”

Recently, Ault visited Collin College and sat in on a musical theatre workshop. She watched her former

professors molding students and was reminded of her own experience.

“So many people are afraid because they want people to like them, but those choices are what make you, you, and ultimately make you great. Figuring out who you are and being confident enough to show it translates to any art including songwriting be cause you are writing who you are.”

Though a teenage Ault, performing with her hairbrush in the mirror, chalked songwriting up to a mere hobby, the skilled and humble songwriter of today has a great respect for those childlike passions. She has learned the lesson that the best work often comes from creative playtime.

“When something comes out and I look at the words and they snap into place, it feels like it came from above and landed on my paper. I’m not that clever, but I love songwriting. I need it and I couldn’t live without it.”

To hear Ault’s music visit lauraault.com or download her songs on iTunes. To learn more about musical theatre at Collin College, visit collintheatrecenter.com. v

Heather Darrow is a public information writer

for Collin College.

Photos: Nivk Young Collin College.

For Your HealthMarketPlace



cooking

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. I love the festive decorations, the first nip of winter in the air, the smell of cookies baking, watching The Polar Express and the spirit of giving. I

also love the opportunity to get together with friends and family.

One of the hottest new trends in holiday entertaining this season is the hot cocoa bar. Simple yet impressive,

it is relatively inexpensive, easy to set up and prepare in advance, and it is immensely cus tomizable for a variety of groups and ages—it is equally perfect for an after caroling party, a Girl Scout meeting or get together with friends. After all, who doesn’t love hot chocolate?

Presentation is key, so designate a table or kitchen counter as the hot cocoa bar and add decorative napkins, holiday serving pieces and decorations. You will need several carafes or thermoses (or even a crock pot) filled with premade hot chocolate, or hot water with packets of instant hot chocolate or sticks of chocolate (see recipe below).

Set out enough mugs or styrofoam cups for each guest, along with an assortment of small bowls filled with fun toppings and add-ins such as M&Ms, chocolate chips, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, crushed pepper-mints and toffee chips.

For an adult party, you can include a variety of liquid mix-ins such as Kahlua or Peppermint Schnapps. Be sure to include some fun stirrers, such as Pepperidge Farms Pirouettes, candy canes, chocolate dipped spoons and/or marshmallows on stir sticks. And don’t forget the whipped cream!

Keep it simple with just hot chocolate, or add plates of the following tasty treats for your guests to nibble. Most of these recipes also make great stand-alone munchies to take to a party, enjoy at home or give as gifts.

Hot ChocolateCrock Pot Hot Cocoa1-1/2 c. whipping cream14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk6 c. milk1 tsp. vanilla2 c. of milk chocolate chips

Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla and chocolate chips in a crockpot. Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted.

Hot chocolate!by Deborah Dove


Chocolate on a Stick1/2 c. heavy cream14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk

(1-1/4 c.)3 c. semisweet chocolate (chopped

chocolate bars or chips)3/4 c. unsweetened baking chocolatewooden sticks

Line an 8 x 8” pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Heat the cream and condensed milk over low heat until steaming. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate; allow it to gently melt. After about 10 minutes, return the chocolate mixture to low heat to completely melt the chocolate. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick and shiny. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan; shake the pan gently to level. Let sit overnight to set.

Run a knife around the edge of the pan and turn out onto a clean cutting surface. Slice into 1-1/4” cubes. For the smoothest cuts, heat a knife in hot water and wipe dry before each cut. Stick a wooden stick into the center of each block. Roll in cocoa or crushed peppermint candy, if desired. Wrap in

waxed paper, parchment, or plastic wrap to store. Swirl into mugs of hot milk to make luscious hot chocolate, or nibble from the stick.

MunchiesMoose Munch 6 Tbs. butter3 Tbs. corn syrup3/4 c. brown sugar1/4 tsp. vanilla1/4 tsp. baking soda1-1/2 to 2 bags popped popcornM&M candies

Preheat oven to 300º. Remove all unpopped kernels and pour popcorn into a bowl. Combine butter, corn syrup and brown sugar over medium heat. Cook and stir until mixture boils. Continue boiling gently at a steady rate for 4 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir to coat. Spread onto greased cookie sheet, and bake for 10-15 minutes (10 for chewy, 15 for crunchy). Remove from oven and add M&M candies. Let cool briefly before returning to bowl.


Ginger Cookies2-1/4 c. flour2 tsp. ground ginger1 tsp. baking soda3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon1/2 tsp. ground cloves1/4 tsp. salt3/4 c. margarine, softened1 c. sugar1 egg1 Tbs. water1/4 c. molasses2 Tbs. sugar

Preheat oven to 350º. Sift together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and stir in water and molasses. Gradually stir sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls and roll in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Place cookies 2” apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels1 (16 oz.) bag pretzel twists2/3 c. vegetable oil1/2 c. sugar2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300º. Pour pretzels

into a roasting pan. In a medium sized bowl mix together vegetable oil, cinnamon and sugar. Pour over pretzels and stir to coat. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, removing twice to stir.

Crock Pot Sugared Pecans16 oz. pecans or walnut halves1/2 c. melted unsalted butter1/2 c. powdered sugar1/4 tsp. ground cloves1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Turn slow cooker to high about 15 minutes in advance. In hot slow

cooker, stir together nuts and butter. Add powdered sugar, stirring to blend and coat evenly. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to low and remove lid. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 hours, or until all the nuts are coated with a crisp glaze. Transfer the nuts to a bowl. In another small bowl combine all spices thoroughly and sift over nuts, stirring to coat evenly. Cool before serving. v

Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.

living green


What sort of a holiday Greenie are you? Take this simple one question test to find out.

When I hear that old classic tune “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”, I:

a. Long for the old-fashioned holiday of the past, when the emphasis was on visiting with family and friends, and the sound of electronic gadgets did not drown out conversation and carols.

b. Heave a sigh of relief, grateful that here in North Texas a white Christmas most likely won’t happen, freeing me from the added burden of higher heating bills along with holiday bills.

c. Turn to whoever is next to me at the moment and begin pointing out that more and more places no longer are having white Christmases due to global warming, and we must do our part to stop this worsening disaster.

d. All the aboveWhatever your response to this quiz, you should be able

to find some greener holiday suggestions here to appease your environmentally-responsible conscience, not crater your budget and please your guests and gift recipients. Try a few and earn yourself some “Greenie” points.

Eco-holiday décor• Replacethetraditionalholidaylightswithenergy-

saving LED lights. While creating a soft, festive glow, LED lights last considerably longer than incandescent and, unlike CFL bulbs, they don’t contain mercury. They are also cooler to the touch and use up to 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Don’t throw your old Christmas lights in the trash though. City of Allen’s Waste Service Manager Donna Kliewer shares that Home Depot will swap your old lights in exchange for money-off coupons for LED lights.

• AlmostallrealChristmastreessoldonlotsoratstoresare grown on farms, not harvested from old growth forest, so don’t despair if you can’t bear the thought of having a plastic tree. Finding someone who sells Christmas trees grown without pesticides is best. And, avoid trees that have been chemically “flocked” with artificial snow.

• Ifyouoptforarealtree,pleasemakesurethatitisrecycled after the holiday is over. Allen will have holiday tree pick up for the two weeks after Christmas.

Those who don’t get their trees down in time can take them to the Custer Road Transfer Station for free when presenting a water bill. For those in apartments, the city will pick up trees from a specific spot on a designated day with participating complexes. Trees will also be picked up any time if they are treated like bulk yard trimmings. Donna Kliewer notes that trees set out for recycling must be “naked” and all are recycled into Texas Pure compost.•Fora“green”alternativetoacutChristmas tree, consider using an indoor potted plant. Our 7-foot-tall pencil plant festooned with holiday decorations has made a lovely and creatively eye-catching substitute for several years now, and it serves double-duty as a houseplant for the rest of the year.

Ho Ho Ho–No! Don’t let the holidays unwrap all your green-living effortsHo Ho Ho–No! Don’t let the holidays unwrap all your green-living efforts


• Replacethrow-awaymetallictinselandgarlandswithpopcorn and cranberries strung together using a needle and thread. Your tree will not only have a quaint homey look, the neighborhood birds will appreciate it when you toss it over your bushes or back lawn after taking the tree down.

• Didyouknowthatmost“fancy”giftwrappingpapercannot be recycled? If the paper is glossy it likely has been coated with plastic, and especially avoid the metallic finishes. So, if you must have holiday wrapping paper, look for those labeled as being recyclable, made from recycled paper or even those that are made of sturdier fiber intended for reuse. And if gift bags are your choice, these can certainly be re-used.

• Consider“thinkingoutsidethebox”asfarasgiftwrapgoes. Use paper products already destined for the recycling bin: color comics, old road maps, children’s art work or redecorated store bags. Or bestow gifts in reusable items such as hand towels, scarves, aprons, tin or wood boxes, cloth drawstring bags…the potential here is almost endless.

Green Gift Suggestions• Forchildren,considerimagination-basedratherthan

battery-operated toys. There is a reason that adage about kids preferring the box over the toy is so universal—because it’s true!

• Forthepersonwhohaseverything,consideradonationto a charity group or membership to an organization that is significant to them, but you get a bonus “Greenie” point if it is environmental-based.

• Buylocal.Shopclosetohomeandsupportcommunity-based businesses whenever possible. Another excellent shopping option is purchasing items labeled, “Made in the USA”.

• Considernon-tangiblegifts,butbesurethisissomething the recipient would appreciate—a massage, foot reflexology, dietary consultation, concert tickets, maid service, babysitting, a weekend away, etc.

• Tapintoyourinnerartistandmakegiftsforfriendsandfamily that suit their personalities—your cousin who has read every word Jane Austen wrote would probably love

a crocheted lace shawl, but my money is on your NASCAR-loving uncle never wearing that hand knit purple necktie.

• Giftsfromthekitchen can be a yummy and eco-conscious way of sharing your love. No store-bought gift can beat the flavor of home made pickles or jellies or freshly baked breads or muffins. Do be aware of dietary needs and preferences, though. Your divine homemade fudge could be devastating to a diabetic and the gluten-free vegetarian neighbor will be far from appreciative of your sausage pies. Once again, extra “Greenie” points are given if you use locally-grown ingredients, with bonus “Greenies” if they come from your own garden.

• Onelovinggiftideaforthenextgenerationoffamilymembers is to pass down a family treasure. If possible, include a clearly written and detailed story behind the item, such as how old it is, who was the original owner, where it was made and how it came to be in your possession. Fans of PBS’s Antiques Roadshow know that this accompanying fact sheet or provenance adds significant historical (and financial!} value to the item.

Wishing everyone a happy and green holiday! v

Peggy Helmick-Richardson is a freelance writer.

Ho Ho Ho–No! Don’t let the holidays unwrap all your green-living effortsHo Ho Ho–No! Don’t let the holidays unwrap all your green-living efforts


pet page

Justice, a Staffordshire terrier/boxer mix, was found in January 2009 in McKinney close to death, emaciated, covered in mange and had a collar embedded in his neck. Collin County Humane Society (CCHS) took him in and rehabbed him back to health. Spindletop Rescue assured CCHS that they could find him a loving home quickly with all their contacts and he was driven to Spindletop by a CCHS representative. Shortly after, CCHS was informed Justice went to a forever home and was very happy.

Subsequently, Spindletop deteriorated and when it was raided, the dogs were found in horrible condition. Justice was identified and CCHS quickly got him transported back to Dallas and placed in a loving foster home. Justice’s mange had come back on about 50% of his body and he was a little underweight.

After everything Justice has gone through, he still has the same zest for life he had two years ago. He is funny, playful, loving, devoted and flourishing in his foster home with a trainer as his foster mom, learning manners very quickly!

He is being treated for mange and is eating well. He is now five years old and weighs 60 pounds. He is crate trained, house trained and gets along great with dogs and kids. Justice is heartworm negative, neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Justice is happily waiting for the forever home that will cherish him like the diamond he is! To adopt Justice, visit collincountyhumanesociety.org/adoption-application.html.

“Justice”


calendar


DECEMBERKiwanis Pancake Breakfast with Santa, 7-11 am, First Baptist Church in The Curb, Cedar Street. Photo opportunity with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis programs. Visit www.allenkiwanis.org for details.

Rudolph Run, 8:15 am, Downtown Allen, 100 E. Main. A one-mile run and the USATF registered Rudolph Run. For more information visit www.cityofallen.org.

A Christmas Carol Theater, Sat. at 7pm, Sun. at 2 pm, McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Tennessee. Dickens’ classic holiday story for the whole family. For further information, visit www.mckinneyrep.org.

Birthday Party for Jesus & Drive Through Nativity, 5:30-8 pm, First United Methodist Church of Plano, 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. Visit www.firstmethodistplano.org for more information.

Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Fri. at 8 pm, Sat. at 2 & 8 pm, Sun. at 2 pm, Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. Call 972.744.4650 or visit www.eisemanncenter.com for more details.

22nd Annual Journey to the Manger live nativity drama sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fri., 7-9 pm and Sat., 6-9 pm, 6565 Independence Pkwy., Plano. For more information visit www.stpaulplano.org.

Pancake Breakfast with Santa at Chili’s, 903 W. McDermott Dr., 8-10 am. Cost is $5 for all the pancakes and sausage you can eat. Proceeds go to Allen Community Outreach’s efforts during this holiday season. We will also collect unwrapped

toys to help with their toy drive.

“Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy” fundraiser presented by the Allen Civic Ballet, seatings at 11 am, 1 & 3 pm, Allen Conservatory of Dance, 602 E. Main, #E. For further details, call 972.727.5959 or visit www.allencivicballet.org.

Plano Civic Chorus Presents “Night of Miracles”, 8 pm, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Pkwy. Holiday concert with music and traditions of Christmas and Chanukah. Chorus is joined by: Cast of Bronze Handbell Choir,

Imperial Brass, Temple Emanu-El Choir of Dallas and Cantor Richard Cohn, and Clarece Candamio, organist. For details, [email protected] or 972.606.5220.

4th Annual Christmas in the Park Celebration, 2:30-5:30 pm, Stacy Ridge Park, Country Brook Dr. and Prescott (Stacy Ridge Estates). Warm your hands and hearts with holiday cider and hot cocoa as guests of local homeowners

associations and the Allen Philharmonic. Caroling, kid’s crafts and games, horse drawn carriage rides, and visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus and live music.We encourage all guests to bring a new, unwrapped toy for ACO’s Toys for our Tots Campaign. Visit www.allenphilharmonic.org for further details.

4th annual Heard Holiday Trail of Lights, 6:30-9 pm, Heard Musuem, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. See thousands of holiday lights—many synchronized to music—along a half mile Heard nature trail.

Photos taken with Father Christmas and Mother Nature. Support the Heard and have fun with the whole family at this holiday fundraiser. Advance online tickets will be available at www.heardmuseum.org beginning November 30.

Plano Symphony Orchestra presents “Home for the Holidays”, 4 & 7:30 pm, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 West Plano Pkwy. Hector Guzman and the Plano Symphony are joined by the Plano

Civic Chorus, Bradley Reznicek, organ, and Shilah Phillips, soprano.Favorite carols, holiday classics, audience sing-along, visitors from the North Pole and the magnificent pipe organ. For more information, visit www.planosymphony.org.

Horns for the Holidays by the Dallas Wind Symphony, 2 pm, Allen Performing Arts Center, Allen High School. Features guest conductor Peter Bay and soprano Mela Dailey. Contact www.dws.org or 214.428.2263.

‘Tis the Season Concert by the Children’s and Youth Choruses of Collin County, 7 pm, Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano. For details, visit www.

childrenschorusofcollincounty.org.

Allen Philharmonic presents Holiday Fantastique, 7 pm (pre-concert activities), 8 pm concert, Performing Arts Hall, Allen High School Campus, 300 Rivercrest Drive. Guest soloist, Kristen Simchik Lassiter. Allen

District Honor Choir and the Allen Symphony Chorus will perform. Guests are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for ACO. For tickets, www.allenphilharmonic.org.

Allen Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker, Sat. at 7 pm and Sun. at 2 pm, Allen Performing Arts Center, Allen High School. The Allen Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra will play. Contact 972.272.5959 or www.

allencivicballet.org for tickets.

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CITY OF ALLENAllen Event Center

Tickets on sale now through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), charge by phone at 800.745.3000 or at the Allen Event Center Box Office. For more information, visit www.alleneventcenter.com.

1 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Arizona Sundogs

2 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Fort Worth Brahmas

7 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Denver Cutthroats

8 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Wichita Thunder

10 Dino & Cheryl Kartsonakis: Sounds of the Season. Grand pianist, international television star and revered entertainer Dino Kartsonakis and wife Cheryl in a special holiday engagement. “America’s Piano Showman,” Dino performs his majestic piano styling to thousands of people each year in Branson and around the world.

13 Fox 4’s Toys for Tots Drive. Fox 4 will broadcast live from Allen Event Center to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program during newscasts from 5-6:30 pm and 9-10:30 pm. Stop by and donate an unwrapped toy and receive a great goody bag while supplies last!

14 Legacy Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts (MMA) event, Legacy Fighting Championship 16, features Will

Campuzano and Jimmy Flick, fighting for the Legacy Flyweight Title plus other great matches.

15 Dallas Sidekicks Soccer vs. Texas Strikers16 The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas

Rocks! Extravaganza. Multiplatinum recording artist and three-time Grammy award winner, Brian Setzer and his 18 piece orchestra will soar through blistering rockabilly, big band swing and popular Christmas tunes with the full force of his signature smokin’ guitar licks.

22 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Wichita Thunder

29 Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. Mickey Mouse and friends rock the world with the stars from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story. Disney hits are remixed to the hottest sounds of today featuring hip hop, pop, swing, reggae, rock, country and much more!

31 Allen Americans Hockey vs. Quad City Mallards

Parks and Recreation Events1 Saturday Night Rec and Roll, Joe Farmer

Recreation Center offers fun and safe social program for students grades 3-6. Gym games and dancing with music by a DJ, dodge ball, pool table tennis, theme nights and contests with prize giveaways. Supervision provided & concessions available. Party Packs $12—$5 concession credit for only $4 (20% savings). An ID

card (one-time $5 fee) is required and must be purchased at JFRC anytime before 5:30 pm on the day of the event.

7 Holiday Hayride with Santa, Joe Farmer Rec Center. Hayride with jolly ol’ Saint Nick! This 45-minute hayride will make its way through Bethany Lakes Park and through a festively decorated neighborhood. Enjoy singalongs with Santa and enjoy bright, festive lights on this merry holiday hayride.

8 The Edge @ Allen Station Holiday Bash. Come to the skate park for a fun-filled day of BMX, skateboard and in-line competitions plus video games and dodgeball tourna ments. This is a free event that will include action sport vendors from around the area.

Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair, Joe Farmer Rec Center. This free event brings the family together and puts them in the holiday spirit with creative crafts and a festive atmosphere.

12 Swim with Santa, Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium, 6-8:45 pm. Join Santa for a swim before for his long night of delivering presents. Santa will be available for photos and will listen to children make their Christmas requests. Parents swim free with paid participant. Children under seven must be accompanied by an adult in the water.

Allen Senior Center’s Tacky Christmas Sweater Celebration. Gather up those awful woolly sweaters hiding in your


closet, or create your own and wear them with pride as you mix and mingle with friends and family at an ugly Christmas sweater party. There will be contests, trivia, entertainment by Tommy Ray Williams, food and more!

13&15Lunch with Santa. Have lunch with Santa at Recreation Hall as he takes a break from his toy shop and refuels for the day. Bring your cameras to get a photo. Lunch is included for children and parents may order lunch for an additional $6. Pre-registration is required.

14 Gingerbread House Making, 6:30-8:30 pm, Joe Farmer Rec. Center. Build a gingerbread house for the holidays. Participants compete against other families for the “Most Creative” and “Most Edible” awards. This is a great way to spend time with the family while also getting into the holiday spirit!

SNAP Dance, (Holiday Party), 7-10 pm, Recreation Hall. Special Needs Adapted Program! Dances feature live music, a fun and creative theme, snacks and a commemorative photo mailed to each participant’s home. For complete information or to get on the email distribution list, email [email protected] or call 214.509.4707.

19 It’s a Wrap. Tired of hiding presents under the bed or wrapping presents on Christmas Eve? Come over for a Wrapping Party! Bring 3-4 of your presents and let us do the wrapping. Get in the holiday spirit with fresh scones, pastries and Christmas Wassail! Thanks to Twin Creeks Hospital for helping to sponsor this new event!

24, 26-28 Holiday-Themed Open Skate and Ice Hockey Camps. Nothing says “winter wonderland” like a little time on the ice at Allen Community Ice Rink. Open Skate on Christmas Eve and hockey camps for varying skill levels and ages December 26-28.

28 New Year’s Eve Dance New Year’s Eve-themed affair at Allen Senior Recreation Center features music from Norris Perry and delicious hors d’oeuvres from Allen Event Center’s Executive Chef, John Orshonsky.

31 New Years Eve Lock-In. Kids get to stay up all night at the Allen Community Ice Rink playing games and enjoying ice time deep into the night.

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

Adult Athletic Leagues & Special Registation

For more info: www.allenparks.org or call Athletic Information Hotline: 214.509.4810.

Athletic Leagues—Registration for adult leagues will begin in January 2013.

ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARYChidlren

7 beTween the Lines Book Club, Children’s Program room, 4 pm, 4th-6th grades. Come by the children’s desk to borrow your copy of this month’s book (while supplies last).

10 Crafternoon, 2:30-4 pm. Recommended for ages 3+. Caregivers must stay with children under age 9. Come craft your afternoon away! A come-and-go program.

13 Globetrotter’s Book Club, K-1st grade, 4 pm, Children’s Program room. Space is limited.

19 Family Sing Along, 11-11:45 am. Preschoolers and younger are welcome.

20 Kids Explore Books, Children’s Program room, 4 pm. 2nd-3rd grades. Space is limited.

Teens 1 Mystery Play, 2 pm, Auditorium. Join us

for a Sherlock Homes inspired afternoon as the Allen Public Library Teen Advisory Board entertains you with five short plays!

3 Winter Reading Club Starts. Stop by the library and pick up a reading log. Read 3 books before Jan. 13 to earn a free book and be entered into a prize drawing! ($25 gift cards to Cinemark, Game Stop or Starbucks.)

8 Into the Hobbit Hole, 2 pm, 2nd floor Program Room. Get ready for the first Hobbit movie with an afternoon in the Shire.

13 An Anime Afternoon, 4:30 pm, 2nd floor Program Room. Join us for an hour of anime and a manga inspired craft!

20 Game On, 4:30 pm, 2nd floor Program Room. Come try your hand at the pirate version of the card game Munchkin!

Adults1 “Discover a Healthier You,” noon, 2nd

Floor program room. Join us for a series of six monthly programs. Breathe Your Way to A Stress-Free Holiday. Sip some chai tea while you learn some yogic tools and techniques to reduce your stress this holiday season (and year round)! Learn to slow down and connect with the joy that is at the heart of the holiday season. No previous yoga experience required. Age 18+. Free. Reg. requested; walk-ins welcome, space permitting. For more info: www.allenlibrary.org or Debbie Vavra 214-509-4913 [email protected] or Kara Phillips 214-509-4905 [email protected].

5 Noontime Pageturners Book Club, noon, Allen Public Library, Adult Program Room. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. Bring lunch and a friend and join us for a lively discussion! Please note meeting day is now Wednesday.

¡Papel Picado! 6:30 pm, Adult Program Room. Treat yourself to a relaxing holiday break! Learn to craft Mexico’s traditional cut-paper banners. Program limited to adults and teens. Register through the Library Calendar at allenlibrary.org, or at the Reference Desk.

11 Second Tuesday Chess Night, 7-8:30 pm, Program Room on the 2nd floor, ages 16- adult. Free. Open chess play for teens and adults of all skill levels in a fun, noncompetitive setting. Chess boards and pieces will be provided. No children under 16 will be allowed in the room.


Mom’s Night Out Bookclub, 7 pm, First Floor Meeting Room (please note change of location), Registration required. Open now. Be one of the first five to register and receive a free copy of the book! come and join in a discussion of Girls In White Dresses by Jennifer Close.For more info: 214.509.4905.

Connemara ConservancyConnemara Meadow Preserve

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

9 Open House, 1 pm, Connemara Meadow Preserve, join us to wander (and wonder) at the Meadow by hiking the trails, watching the flora and fauna. Enter at Wooded Gate on East side of Alma, south of Bethany.

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

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONSSupport Group? Wanted: Anyone interested in

starting a support group for Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder?) Please contact Megan at [email protected].

City of Allen offers a variety of affordable recreational classes and programs. Register at Joe Farmer Rec Center, 214.509.4750 or Rodenbaugh Natatorium, 214.509.4770.For more info: www.allenparks.org.

Allen Early Childhood PTA, support for parents and caregivers of preschoolers. A new calendar each month with fun activities for all. Activities—play groups, park days, lunch with friends, field trips, Mom’s Night Out, Dads and Kids, and other great events. Come play with us!For more info: www.aecpta.com or [email protected].

Heart Link Women’s Networking group. Industry specific, women only business networking. Monthly meetings—days and locations vary.For more info: http://75002.TheHeartLinkNetwork.com.

MOMS Club of Allen. New group for moms and their children who live in Allen, Fairview and Lucas. Monthly playgroups, kid field trips and local business tours, special events, Mom’s Night Out, and more. For more info: http://momsclubofallentx.weekly.com or [email protected]

Baylor Health Care System offers support groups, medical information and events. For more info: www.BaylorHealth.com.


Plano Bicycle Association, club rides, social activities, monthly meetings, newsletters. For more info: Chris Mathews, 972.964.2869 or www.planobicycle.org.

MOMS Club McKinney Central, support group for stay-at-home moms. Play groups, daytime activities, Mom’s Night Out, holiday parties, babysitting co-op, etc. Monthly bus. meeting.For more info: [email protected].

Divorce Care, 13-week courses—biblical teaching for recovering from divorce. For more info: Kim Tedford: 214.544.8050 ext. 109, [email protected] or www.creekwoodumc.org.

Texas Health Presbyterian, a variety of events.For more info: www.texashealth.org.

Urban Explorers, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups throughout Dallas area. Something for everyone!For more info: www.meetup.com/getoutandabout.

American Cancer Society, Road to Recovery needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to appointments. If you have a car and can spare time 9-5, you can help.For more info: Debbie Moen, 972.712.5711.

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

Every Monday-Friday

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

Every Monday

Ericsson Village Toastmasters Club, 12-1 pm, Ericsson, 6300 Legacy, Plano. Guests welcomeFor more info: Per Treven, 972.583.8273 or [email protected].

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

Allen Symphony Chorus rehearsals, 7-9 pm, choir room at First UMC.For more info: [email protected]

Fit and Funky Fit Club, 7:30 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany, Ste. 208, Allen. Work out to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free.For more info: [email protected].

Preston Persuaders Toastmasters, 7:15 pm, Custer Road United Methodist Church, Rm B2, 6601 Custer Road, Plano.For more info: Ed Meissner, 469-323-0538 or Todd Richardson, 214.497.4495 or www.prestonpersuaders.org.

Every Monday, Thursday & Saturday

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


Second Monday

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

McKinney Childcare Association, non-profit org. of state-listed, reg. and lic. home childcare providers McKinney area, 7 pm, locations vary.For more info: Alice Lang, 972.346.2280 or www.mckinneyareadaycareassociation.org.

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

American Association of University Women-Plano/Collin County Branch, 6:45 pm, 2nd Floor Conservatory, Senior Living Center, 6401 Ohio Dr., Plano. Open to anyone with bachelors or assoc. degree interested in helping women.For more info: Carol, 972.862.3460 or www.aauwplanocollin.org.

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

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

McKinney Ladies Association (SRLA), 7 pm, Brothers Pizza in McKinney. Bring a $5 ornament for an ornament exchange.

For more info: www.mckinneyladies.org.Third Monday

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

Breast Cancer Support Group for patients, family & friends, noon, N. Central Medical Center, 4500 Medical Center Dr., McKinney.For more info: Kelly Finley Brown, 972.540.4984.

Allen Retired Educators, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. For more info: or RSVP: Jerri Caldronia@ [email protected].

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

Fourth Monday Allen Seniors Genealogy Club, 1 pm, Allen

Seniors Center. Must be a member of ASRC. For more info: www.asgconline.com or Richard Henry, 972.390.7402.

Plano Photography Club, 7 pm, Grace Presbyterian Church, 4300 W. Park Blvd., Plano. Visitors welcome.For more info: www.planophotographyclub.com.

Legacy 4-H Club (Allen and Lucas), 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas.For more info: [email protected] or 214.616.2460.

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

Every Tuesday

Allen/Fairview Chamber of Commerce Tuesday Morning Live networking breakfast, 7:30 am, 5th Street Pizza, 111 Central Expwy., #102, (Inside Stacy Furniture). $1 member/$7 non-mem. 1st visit free.For more info: 972.727.5585.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:15-8 pm, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas.For more info: 1.800.YEA.TOPS or www.tops.org.

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

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


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

Every Tuesday & Thursday Volunteer Master Gardeners offer

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

First Tuesday Heard Museum Native Plant Society, 7:30

pm, One Nature Place, McKinney.For more info: 972.562.5566.

First and Third Tuesday

Allen Lions Club, 7 pm, Twin Creeks Golf Club, 501 Twin Creeks Drive.For more info: [email protected].

Common Threads of Allen, 7pm, A Real Bookstore, 113 Praire Rd., Village at Fairview. Share needlework projects, learn new techniques, make friends.For more info: contact Debi Maige at 214.704.0994 or [email protected].

Second Tuesday

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

Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, 7 to 9 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Visitors welcome.For more info: www.bptmn.org or email [email protected].

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

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

Collin County Archaeology Society, 7 pm, Texas Star Bank, McKinney.For more info: [email protected].

Collin County ADD/LD Parent Support Group of Collin County, 7-9 pm, parlor, First United Methodist Church, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen.For more info: Shirli Salter, [email protected].

Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, 10 am, Annual Holiday Luncheon and Live Auction, Stonebriar Country Club, 5050 Country 12th Club Drive, Frisco. Cost is $35 and reservations must be received by December 4. Guests are welcome!For more info: www.newcomerfriends.org.

Third Tuesday

McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, Welcomes new residents, 9:30 am, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. Speakers, prizes and refreshments each month. For more info: www.mckinneynewcomers.com.

Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group provides support & resources for parents of children with


autism & related developmental disabilities. Join online group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismparentsupport.

Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter meets Aug.-May.For more info:[email protected].

Fourth Tuesday

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

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

Porcelain Art Guild of North Texas, meets at 9:30 am, Carriage House, 306 N. Church St., McKinney. Open to anyone, beginner to expert, interested in china painting and porcelain art.For more info: Gayle Harry 214.509.0787.

Every Wednesday

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

Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, “Become the Speaker and Leader you can be”, 7 pm, 5th Street Pizza inside Stacy’s Furniture, McDermott & Hwy. 75, 1223 W. McDermott. For more info: Marlene Byndon,

816.456.6803.

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

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

First Wednesday

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

Collin County Master Gardeners Assoc. guided tour of Myers Park, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Res. requested.For more info: 972.548.4232 or go to [email protected].

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

First and Third Wednesday MOPS of Hope Plano, Hope Community

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

Second Wednesday Collin County Genealogical Society, 7 pm,

Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. For more info: [email protected].

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

Every Thursday Sweet Adelines, NoteAbly North Texas

Chorus, 7 pm, Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2005 Estates Pkwy, Allen. Women of Allen & surrounding area invited.For more info: [email protected].

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

Community Bible Study, (September 13, 2012 to May 9, 2013), 9:30–11:30 am, Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Avenue, McKinney. Bible study for women and children. Studying Luke. Registration required. For more info: [email protected] or mckinneyallen.cbsclass.org.

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

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


NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness of Collin County), Recovery support group for adults living with mental illness. Led by trained individuals. Free, 6:30-8:30 pm, Custer Road UMC, 6601 Custer Rd., Plano.For more info: 214.509.0085 or www.namicco.org.

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

First Thursday

W.I.S.E. (Women in Support of Enterprise), 11:30 am. Location varies. Networking & discussion of women’s issues. Fun & informative meeting for women in Allen & surrounding areas. $20 member/$25 guest. Payment expected unless reservation cancelled 48 hrs. in advance.For more info: www.allenchamber.com

North Dallas Newcomers, 11 am, Stonebriar Country Club, Frisco. Many of our members who are in the “Mary Notes” will entertain us with wonderful holiday songs.We love to have new members join the many fun activities that this group offers. Guests are welcome.For more info: www.northdallasnewcomers.net.

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

Second Thursday

McKinney Area Republican Co-Ed Club, 7 pm, Collin County GOP Headquarters, 8416 Stacey Rd., #100, McKinney. Location sometimes varies.For more info: collincountyconservativerepublicans.com.

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

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

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

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

Second and Fourth Thursday

Allen Area Patriots, 7-8:45 pm, New Heritage Church, 8 Prestige Circle, Allen. Local Tea Party presents speakers, enlightening and motivating citizens to participate in the political process. For more info: www.AllenAreaPatriots.com.

Allen High Noon Lions Club, 5th Street Pizza (inside Stacy Furniture), 111 Central Expwy. S.For more info: Tony Pritchard, 214.293.1598.

Third Thursday

Live @ 5 Business After Hours, 5-6:30 pm at various member businesses. Free.For more info: www.allenfairviewchamber.com.

Knights of Columbus, 7:30 pm, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville, Allen.For more info: Steve Nagy, 469.569.3357 or www.stjudekofc.org.

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

Cancer Support Ministry, 7 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E101. Our goal is simple—to support you any way we can.For more info: James Craver, 972.727.8241.

Allen Community Theatre presents Improv Night, 7:30pm, Escape Coffee House, corner of Jupiter & Bethany. Free to watch or join in the fun!For more info: www.allencommunitytheatre.net.

Allen/McKinney Area Mothers of Multiples, new & expectant moms’ forum, 7 pm, First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt, McKinney. For more info: www.amamom.org or 972.260.9330.

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

Xtra Years of Zest Seniors Luncheon, noon, First United Methodist Church Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Fellowship Hall. We are an inspiring group of retirees and soon to be returees who gather once a month for lunch and fellowship. Speakers and entertainers throughout the year. For more info: [email protected].

Breast Cancer Support Group, 6:30 pm, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, 1105 Central Expwy. N., Community Education Room-Med.Office Bldg. 2.For more info: 972.747.6036.

Fourth Thursday

Voyagers Social Club of McKinney, 10 am, Heard-Craig Hall Gallery, 306 N. Church St., McKinney. Social club open to women in McKinney and surrounding areas. Meet new people and enjoy social activities.For more info: [email protected].

Every Other Thursday

North Texas Referral Group, 11:45 am, Friday’s (121 & Preston by the mall). Beginning April 1.For more info: www.ntrg.info.


For Your HealthEvery Friday

Allen Senior Rec Center Dances, 1-3 pm. Ages 50+. Members free/Non-member Allen resident $3. Non-Allen residents $24/annually. Allen resident annual membership/$5.For more info: 214.509.4820.

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

Every Other Friday

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), non-denominational support group for moms with kids birth to 5 years, 9:30-11:45 am, First Baptist Church in Allen. Childcare provided. For more info: 972.727.8241.

First & Third Friday

Classic 55+ Game Night, 6:30 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E104. Snacks, fellowship and games (dominoes, Skip Bo etc.). Open to the community, no reservations are required.For more info: 972.727.8241 or Eddie Huckabee at [email protected]..

Every Saturday

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

Second Saturday

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

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

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

Third Saturday

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

Fourth Saturday

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

Last Saturday

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

Every Sunday

Fit and Funky Fit Club, 7:30 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany #208, Allen. Work out live to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free.For more info: [email protected].

First Sunday

Readers Book Club, 2pm, First Methodist Church of Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Church Parlor. Join us for book discussion and refreshments. Book selections are determined at the January meeting.For more info: [email protected].

Scleroderma Support Group, 3 pm, Allen Presbyterian Hospital, Conference Rm 1.For more info: 972.396.9400 or www.scleroderma.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 [email protected].

For Your Health



cover story

Contemporary realists, Allen artists Bill and Carolyn Patterson not only add beauty to the world through their art but also extol the creative expression of each other as well as other artists. This beauty comes in many forms, ranging from a humble turnip to the patchwork of green farmland in Assisi.

Laura Moore, owner of Laura Moore Fine Art Studio in McKinney, notes that since meeting the Pattersons last year, her gallery has presented two exhibitions of their art. The first was a solo of Bill’s landscapes, primarily Italian, followed by “The Still Life: His and Hers,” featuring Bill’s oil and Carolyn’s egg tempera and oil paintings.

“They have similar styles but are distinctly different artists,” Laura states. “Bill has a beautiful touch and a use of color that is just exquisite. Carolyn has extreme attention to detail and a fascination with patterns and design elements. And she uses more of a vivid color palette while Bill’s is more restrained. They are a treasure for our community and whenever they have an exhibit I would encourage people to come and look.”

Born and raised in Albany, New York, Bill studied at the Yale School of Art and Yale Summer School of Art and Music, and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts from the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, in 1965. Here he was awarded the school’s Gedney Bunce medal. He followed this with back-to-back fellowships in visual arts from the American Academy in Rome from 1965 to 1967, and in 1969, he earned his master of fine arts in printmaking from Syracuse University.

Bill taught both part-and full-time at Syracuse University and followed by The Hartford Art School from 1969 to 1970. Then from 1971 to 2002 he was professor at the University of Massachusetts, teaching printmaking, drawing and painting. The recipient of the 1993 College Outstanding Teacher award from the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, other

achievements include coordinating a printmaking exhibition at the University Art Gallery and co-directing a national printmaking workshop/symposium and exhibition, serving as the Art Department’s under graduate director, and founding and directing the school’s European Summer Program in Studio Art and Art History.

Along with an extensive list of solo, group and juried exhibitions, Bill has earned over 50 prestigious awards, grants, fellowships and scholarships. His art is now in a number of public collections around the United States including the New York Public Library, the National Collection of Fine Arts at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as well as a number of museums, universities and colleges.

Bill has two sons and two daughters. Catherine, an elementary art educator in Springfield, Massachusetts; Jeremiah, an artist and professor at the Hartford Art School; Aaron, athletic director for the Holyoke, Massachusetts, public school system; and Sarah, theater costume design in Massachusetts.

Because her father was a U. S. Air Force officer, Atlanta-born Carolyn had a childhood that involved a number of moves across the U.S. and Newfoundland. In 1963, her family settled briefly in Dallas, where Carolyn graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School two years later. She went on to Stephens College in Columbia,

Missouri, from 1965 to 1967. Carolyn studied at SMU’s Academy of Visual Communication, from 1977 to 1979. In 1992, she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Hartford Art School.

Although Carolyn’s early art education had an emphasis in illustration, her growth as an artist led to her fascination in realism.

Since 1987, Carolyn’s works have been shown in a number of exhibitions in the U.S. and Canada, including the London Regional Art Museum, London, Ontario, where she received Best in Show; Western Fair Annual Art Exhibition in London, Ontario, which earned her the Art Salon Award of Merit; and Variations: Salute to Women in the Arts at the Lincoln Center in New York City where she was presented an Award of Excellence.

Carolyn has three daughters. Dallas residents, twin daughters Jennifer and Heidi have worked in various aspects of real estate, and younger daughter Misty is a private chef in Napa, California.

Following his graduation from the Hartford Art School in 1965, Bill made his first visit to Rome via his two-year fellowship with the American Academy. He returned to Europe in the mid-80s to establish and direct the European Summer Program for the University of Massachusetts as well as to personally re-explore the history of painting.

Dining after a day of painting and sightseeing at the Italy workshop.


“I went to Italy, Holland, Belgium…and tried to absorb all the techniques,” he recalls. “For eight years I re-learned painting from the bottom up—egg tempera, fresco, all the different mediums they used to use.”

Holding up a fresco panel of a woman’s face, Bill points out that he painted it as a demonstration on materi als, techniques and history of painting for his students. “It is layers of plaster and the plaster is wet when you paint on it, making it a great medium for murals,” he explains. “You use powdered pigments mixed with water and paint directly on the wet fresco. The lime in the plaster is the binder for the paint.”

He continues. “It’s a very dark gray when you paint on it, and when it dries, it comes out white. A person who does frescoes has to know about paint and color because it is not very forgiving.”

Another ancient painting tech-nique dating back over 2,000 years, egg tempera’s popularity waned

during the Renaissance with the advent of oil paints. But what is old becomes new again through the efforts of artists like Bill and Carolyn.

“When I started doing the summer programs for U Mass in 1985, I was trying to learn egg tempera and went over to look at a Madonna’s head,” Bill recalls. “It was so delicate and luminous and you could see the brush strokes.”

“The term tempera comes from putting something with the paint.,” Bill explains. “They might have put egg whites in the paint to make it adhere to vellum and they would put egg yolks in the paint to make it adhere to a panel.”

Bill continues, “You separate the yolk from the white, and as it is literally hanging there, you puncture it with a pin. You then take your powdered pigments that have been mixed with water and slowly mix in the yolk. It may take you three hours to make your paint for the day, so you pick and choose your colors carefully.”

Carolyn adds that if the egg is really fresh, the paint can be kept in the refrigerator for a couple of days, “but once they dry, they are as hard as a rock!”

Bill describes painting with egg

tempera as being akin to a “weaving process.” He explains, “You can’t get anywhere unless you manipulate the brush and work the medium. You bring the lights out of the darks to get the luminous quality and that demands a lot of back and forth. So it is a great medium to develop your sense of touch.”

“It is challenging because it will go through a period of ugliness, but you just have to keep going until it takes shape, and that takes patience,” Carolyn notes. “You can’t think about anything else in the world because you have to concentrate, and that is wonderful!” she concludes. “It takes you away from all the stress. It is a labor of love and I found early on that it is suited for me.”

“Carolyn’s really good at it,” Bill emphasizes.

Bill’s primary medium of choice now is the only slightly more modern oil paint. Unlike the Renaissance artists who had to grind the pigments and mix them with the oil base before painting, he buys his ready-made in tubes—a modern convenience not available until the mid-nineteenth century.

“I don’t make my own oil paints because there are good quality paints

Carolyn with her grandkids.


already made for you,” he shrugs. “And they put the right additives with each pigment so with all your tubes of paint, one will act just like another.”

Bill emphasizes the importance of learning a variety of methods and techniques. “I tell my students that with oils you want to be able to work broad and loose, but you also want to be able to get the control. You want to be the master of the medium. Just having one method or style is not enough if you want to be a painter. And there are so many facets that are fun to work with!”

“I don’t think I can say there is a medium I don’t like,” Carolyn adds. “Each is a way to get to know yourself as an artist and I just love the challenge.”

On his website, Bill states, “An awareness of the Divine presence in creation permeates all of my work.” He explains, “It is not religious art, per se, but it is a part of everything I do, so I try to make my art as positive as I can. I feel so blessed to be a painter and a teacher, and we feel God’s presence, especially in nature.”

Because of their varied artistic interests, expressing this divinity on paper, panel or canvas takes many forms. In addition to more traditional forms such as altar pieces or the St. Francis Basilica, the couple also express their spirituality through their recog nition and expression of the beauty in a simple turnip or butternut squash, delicate flower or even a dead fox.

“I found this dead fox so I did all these fox drawings and watercolors,” Bill shrugs. “You don’t often get to draw a fox in nature because they don’t hang around too long. But after a while it got putrid so I finally took him out to the back of our lot and buried him. Jeremiah was just a kid when I was drawing the fox. But then he goes off to college and one of his art teachers tells him to go draw some bones, so he goes out and digs up the fox and dries those bones out and draws them.”

“Recycled still life!” Carolyn adds with a grin.

In 1992, while still teaching at the University of Massachusetts and heading up the school’s European Summer program, Bill launched his annual Art Workshops in Italy program. A “sketchbook workshop,” this offers an assortment of media instruction for novices as well as experienced artists. Participants take various side trips to Italian land-marks housing examples of art by Renaissance masters.

Although Bill and Carolyn first

met in 1989 when she was a University of Hartford student attending his University of Massachusetts summer program in Europe, they didn’t catch each other’s attention until six years later when Carolyn enrolled in his Art Workshop in Italy program.

A flight delay meant she arrived too late and had to catch a bus leaving from Milan to Rome. Bill sent a driver to intercept the bus, pick Carolyn up in the middle of the night and drive her to where the class was then staying in


Assisi. “By then, I had horrible jet lag!” Carolyn sighs.

“When she came to breakfast,” Bill recalls with grin, “she looked like a muskrat that just came out of the river!”

Despite this inauspicious re-intro-duction, the two soon became a couple.

They married in1999, living in the Old Deerfield Village Historic District, Massachusetts, in a home built in 1799.

The Pattersons moved to Allen in 2002 after Bill decided to take an early retirement from the University of Massachusetts. The couple’s home here reflects their own complementary

talents and tastes along with a passion for the art, history and landscape of Italy. Their art adorns the walls in all the rooms, and Carolyn’s exquisite hand-painted furniture showcases her skill in creating ornate designs and faux marbling on tabletops and breathtaking landscapes on drawers.

Guided to Allen by her daughters, Carolyn notes that the greatest draws to the home were two large upstairs rooms with a northern exposure ideal for art studios and a nature area just beyond their backyard that serves as home to owls, bobcats and coyotes.

Today, Bill teaches an occasional class for Collin College and has led summer classes in Cortona, Italy, for the University of Georgia. He also devotes time to writing his book Landscape Space, an artist’s perspective on open-air painting and painters. And both still return annually to their beloved Rome, Umbria and Tuscany for their summer workshops.

“Assisi is one of our favorite places to go and all the participants who go with us just love it,” Carolyn notes. “It is a small hill town and a special place of pilgrimage to the St. Francis Basilica. All the Giotto frescoes are in St. Francis, so you have all the wonderful landscape and culture and then you have the art!”

“We go to the top of the Rocca Maggiore, an old medieval castle, and when you look down, you see the Basilica, the tomb of the great Saint Francis,” Bill adds. “There is a feeling of God’s presence everywhere and also of St. Francis’.”

Even with his passion for the rural Italian landscape as well as his native New England scenery, Bill has also discovered the beauty surrounding him in North Texas. The creek that runs by the Chisholm Trail in Plano is a favorite place for his outdoor landscape classes at Collin College.

Originally introduced to the Pattersons through Bill’s outdoor landscape class, Pam Schultis of McKinney opted to follow up with the Workshop in Italy program several years ago. “It was a wonderful

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experience!” Pam declares. “We stayed at this fabulous villa in Umbria that was in the hills,” she recalls. “We would eat breakfast on the terrace and then we would get out our art supplies and paint. And then we would go to different museums in Assisi or to Florence, and then gather under the olive trees in the evening, have wine and a gourmet meal that went on for hours. It was a trip of a lifetime!”

Primarily working in watercolors and with a bachelor of fine arts as well as a master’s degree in art education, Pam praises the Pattersons’ extensive artistic knowledge and teaching skills. She also emphasizes, “You are allowed to paint your own style, but if you want help, you will get it.”

Michael and Rhonda Kevlin of Dallas began collecting Bill’s paintings 10 years ago. “I think Bill is one of the best realist painters I’ve ever seen and his attention to detail is incredible,” Michael emphasizes, noting that he developed much of his own artistic appreciation through his grandfather who was also an artist. Hard pressed to choose which of Bill’s six paintings they have is the favorite, Michael narrows his decision to two landscapes, including one of the St. Francis Basilica in Assisi. “The St. Francis is an amazing painting,” Rhonda adds. “Every time you look at it, you see something different.”

Bill and Carolyn are now preparing for an early December show at the

Black Stallion Winery in Napa that will also feature daughter Misty’s gastronomic creations. Carolyn points out that the Napa region of California is a very small town rural atmosphere, “a little bit like Italy.”

Following this trip, the color circle comes back around and they once again begin preparations to share their knowledge and expertise with the next group of artists in Italy.

Want to see more examples of Bill and Carolyn’s art or indulge yourself with a trip to Italy to expand your artistic talents and experiences? Go to www.artworkshopsinitaly.com. v

Peggy Helmick-Richardson is a freelance

writer.

allen image december 2012

Documents

allen area

allen artists bill

comcivic forumin allen

christmas carols

history of christmas

area residents

foot christmas tree

special olympics athletes