Adding Value by Dennis O'Hagan

14 More Schools For Frisco...

Frisco ISD continues to grow at a very high rate, and opened this school year with 46,500 students.  Conservative projections show 66,000 students by 2020.  A May 2014 bond campaign election is preliminarily scheduled that will include 14 new schools – 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools – with a total bond package of $758 million.   This is in addition to the 3 elementary schools scheduled to open this August, and a middle and 8^th high school scheduled to open August 2015.  All together, the district is planning 19 additional new schools over the next 7 years.

-        TexasISD Information, January 19, 2014

Go Allen - 2014 Weight Loss Challenge...

Are you ready to face the new year with a new challenge and take control of your health once and for all?

Come join us at Go Allen Weight Loss RESET Challenge (12-weeks: 1/18-4/12) and win cash prizes for losing!

Average weight loss in 12 weeks: 35 pounds

You can sign up online at http://www.goallen2014.com/jointhechallenge.html or you can come to the sign up party if you're local.

Go Allen 2014 Weight Loss RESET Challenge Sign-up Party!

Time: Saturday 1/4/2013 @11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Place:  Allen Judo & Jujitsu/The Jym: 1223 W McDermott Dr. Ste 100 Allen TX 75013
Info: The first 10 people who sign up will win a FREE blender bottle! Come early and bring friends and family!

More info at http://GoAllen2014.com
Like Us at Facebook.com/GoAllen2014

See you all there!

 

Team Go Allen 2014

Where to Invest in Housing in 2014: Best Buy Cities...

Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex., and Dallas-Plano-Irving, Tex., top the list of our Best Buy Cities, at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Both cities offer homes that would be within reach for middle-class Americans, at $168,383 in Fort Worth-Arlington and $180,645 in greater Dallas. Prices in greater Fort Worth are considered 20% below their actual value, according to Local Market Monitor. Homes in the greater Dallas region are 12% down, so less off, but they are expected to rise more–29%–over the next three years.

- Forbes, December 26, 2013

The NEW Southlake Park Village...

The next shopping district to open in Southlake is the sprawling Southlake Park Village, a planned retail development.  The project will consist of over 200,000 square feet of upscale shops and restaurants with an emphasis on fashion and fine dining.  The project is strategically located at the southwest corner of one of the most exciting and vibrant intersections in North Texas at Southlake Blvd and Carroll Avenue.  Across the street are Central Market, Nordstrom Rack and Southlake Town Square.   Big name upscale retailers will open beginning in 2014.

Oktoberfest Returns to Downtown McKinney...

McKinney Main Street is preparing for non-stop activity during the upcoming annual Oktoberfest in Historic Downtown McKinney. The event launches on Friday, Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and continues Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

McKinney Oktoberfest is known for an authentic German appeal with traditional food, drinks and music, all set in the 164-year-old downtown area. This year, the consumption area is expanded to 14 blocks, up from a four-block radius in previous years. The festival boasts attractions for all ages amid a diverse array of specialty stores and restaurants in the historic downtown. Admission and parking is free. 

At 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, local dignitaries and friends of the festival will lead the Oktoberfest March. Afterwards, the first keg of Franconia beer, brewed in McKinney, will be tapped by hammering the bronze spout into an over 200 year-old keg with a wooden mallet. Live entertainment will take place on two stages during the event and features evening headliners Brave Combo and Alpenmusikanten.

McKinney Oktoberfest isn’t just for those ages 21 and up. There are plenty of activities for kids and families, like a petting zoo, face painting, rock wall, Bier barrel races, Weenie Dog races, a bungee quad jump and Hans, the mechanical bull. Some children activities are free, and some activities require a nominal fee.

Even though Oktoberfest comes to us from Germany, McKinney adds its own flare to the event through opportunities to give back to the community. On Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., Spoons Cafe, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association will host the McKinney Walk – A walk to end Alzheimer’s. After the walk, guests are invited to the second annual Fastnachtsdienstag (Pancake
Day). Donations from the complimentary pancake breakfast benefits the Alzheimer's Association. Also Main Street has partnered with Das Klub for the Volkstoberfest VW Car Show on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

Free parking for Oktoberfest is available in 12 public lots surrounding downtown. Detours are marked to access outer lots, as streets will be blocked to through traffic beginning Thursday night, Sept. 26 through early Sunday morning, Sept. 29. TAPS will offer shuttle service to Oktoberfest from three
McKinney lots from 4 – 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Shuttles leave every 30 minutes from First Baptist Church of McKinney (1615 West Louisiana St.), the Ballfields at Craig Ranch (6151 Alma Rd.) and the parking lot at Gateway (1870 Gateway Blvd.).

For detailed information on McKinney Oktoberfest please contact (972) 547-2660 or visit www.downtownmckinney.com/.  Event sponsors include the City of McKinney, Star Local Media, Franconia, Bavarian Grill, Time Warner Cable Media, McKinney Community Development
Corporation, PepsiCo, 97.5 KLAK, Independent Bank, Carey Cox Company, FIAT of McKinney, iCandy Graphix, Emerson and TAPS.

Want to be a part of Oktoberfest? If you are 18 or older contact us to volunteer on Friday or Saturday evening and be part of the fun.

Rising home prices in DFW brings influx of new listings...

Dallas-Fort Worth's rising home prices -- reaching double-digit increases year-over-year -- have prompted more homeowners to put their houses on the market.   The North Texas area increased its new listings by 18 percent year-over-year in July to 10,176 listings, after the median home prices rose 14 percent in the same time period.  The median home price in Dallas was $192,500. In the U.S., the number of new home listings rose 14 percent, with a median home price of $282,034. 
Dallas-Fort Worth area homes sold at an average 98.7 percent of list price, compared with the national average of 99.1 percent of list price, according to the data.  With the new listings and an increase in inventory, home prices will moderate in coming months, but the housing market shows no signs of stopping.

Dallas Business
Journal, August 12, 2013

Mobile Notary...

Ever needed a document notarized but didn't know where to go or who to call?  Look no further...

Stuart Pearlman will come to you if you ever need anything notarized.  Here is his contact info:

Stuart J. Pearlman

Mobile Notary

213 Lake Village Dr.

McKinney, TX  75071

Cell:  917-488-8282

Email:  [email protected]

 

TERMITES...

• The Dallas/ Ft. Worth Metroplex is # 6th in the United States for subterranean termite infestations.

• Once a year termites "swarm", usually around April 15th. March or April is mating season: Lots of male termites meet lots of female termites by "swarming" or flying around generally in your bathroom or kitchen, to mate and form new colonies outside your house.

• "Swarmers" do very little damage, but can give you a fright, and must be treated as soon as possible. You can spray them with an insect repellent or even hair spray while you are waiting for a treatment.

• Because they generally HIT in a short time period when the temperature and humidity is just right, you will probably have to wait for service. Do not be alarmed. They will not do any damage in the short time it will take us to come to your home. The reason you have to wait for a pest technician is that there will be 1,000s of infestations happening in such a short time.

• Having a home warranty is a major benefit when termites are involved. Company contractor fees $60-$300, while major companies will charge at least $900 + depending on square footage.

• Your friends or family can buy a home warranty and pay the termite co-pay for the same amount most termite companies charge for a subterranean termite treatment.

BIG THANKS to Nations a Home Warranty Company for this timely article.  Please call Nations at 888.737.7070 for a quote.

The City of McKinney will host Texas Trash-Off...

The Don't Mess with Texas Trash-Off, a partnership event with the Keep Texas Beautiful program and the Texas Department of Transportation, is the largest one-day clean-up event in the state. Residents are invited to clean up McKinney, picking up litter along roadways and creeks within the city. Civic groups, schools, businesses, homeowner associations, faith-based organizations and individuals are encouraged to take part in this community event. Students can earn community service hours, and Boy and Girl Scouts can earn patches.
 
Participating teams will receive shirts, trash bags, gloves, and a detailed map of a specific area to clean up. After collecting trash from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., teams will gather for music, prizes and a lunch sponsored by Progressive Waste Solutions (formerly IESI) at Old Settler’s Park. Prize categories include Most Trash Collected, Most Unusual Item Found, Most Recyclable Material and the Team with the Most People. 
 
Volunteer teams can pre-register for the event until April 11 to guarantee t-shirts for all team members. On-site registration will be available on the day of the event from 8 - 8:45 a.m. at the community room at Fire Station #5, 6600 Virginia Pkwy., or at Old Settler’s Park, 1201 E. Louisiana.
 
For more information or to register visit www.mckinneytexas.org/texastrashoff or call the City of McKinney Environmental Education office at 972-547-7335.

Frisco Announces New Texting and Driving Enforcements...

REALLY???  I'm all for controlling texting and talking on cell phones while driving because it is very dangerous...  According to the below announcement (see below) the Frisco police are asking people to text them "anonymously" via a "two-way" chat to report other people that are using their cell phones...  REALLY???  Isn't the snitch also using their cell phone while driving? 

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The Frisco police announced on Monday the launch of tip411, an internet-based tool that allows the public to anonymously text tips to the police.  Police can then respond back to create a two-way anonymous “chat.”  The program is reserved specifically for public safety purposes, and one of the major items is to report drivers in other vehicles who are texting and driving. 

-         CBDFW Channel 11 online, November 27, 2012