MAY-JUN 2022 Plano Magazine

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Learn more at GetBetterTexas.com Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2022 Baylor Scott & White Health.

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CONTENTS 14

MOM PODCASTER

20 PROM SEASON 24 THINGS TO DO 26

STEVE FIELDS IS BACK

30 SHIRLEY SCHELL 34 ARTIST LEIF PRICE 38 PEOPLE OF PLANO

PLANOMAGAZINE.COM | editor@planomagazine.com | sales@planomagazine.com | 214.560.4212 President Jehadu Abshiro | FOUNDERS Luke and Jennifer Shertzer | WRITER Joshua Baethge DESIGNERS Jynnette Neal | Jessica Turner SALES Michele Paulda | Frank McClendon | Linda Kenney

CONTRIBUTORS Kathy Tran • Sally Wamre • Ashley Turner •Ashley Madonna

Windows comfortably fit large heads and floppy ears. A solid five paw rating!

— Buddy, The Dog

EWINGSUBARUOFPLANO.COM | 972.801.9900 | 1555 DALLAS PARKWAY

2022 SUBARU OUTBACK

MEET PEDIATRICIAN AND NEW PARENT, DR. JAEON ABRAHAM Olive Branch Pediatrics increases resources as part of Plano Children’s Healthsm

D

r. Jaeon Abraham has a tender heart. And in his profession, that’s a handy attribute.

“I enjoy most watching the little ones in nurseries as newborns, then seeing how they’ve grown at subsequent checkups,” says the board-certified pediatrician at Olive Branch Pediatrics in Plano. “It’s bittersweet watching them not be babies any more, but I try to see each child as my own and practice that way.”

Olive Branch Pediatrics was recently acquired by sm Children’s Health . Dr. Abraham started the practice in 2017 with his wife Rebecca, a registered pediatric nurse, taking over the 35-year-old Piga Pediatrics. The Abrahams are Christians and say they chose the Olive Branch name for their new practice because it’s approachable and reflects their personal values.

Patients become my extended family, like they are my own kids, I’m committed to helping them grow into healthy adults.

— Dr. Abraham Becoming a part of the Children’s Health system is a winwin for both sides. Dr. Abraham says Children’s Health was looking to expand its area network, and he was interested in focusing more on clinical care and less on day-to-day back-office administration responsibilities.

Olive Branch Pediatrics can extend a greater pool of resources to parents” by affiliating with Children’s Health, Dr. Abraham says, including providing an in-office registered nurse and after-hours complimentary nurse advice line.

Parents are able to reach the After Hours Nurse Advice Line by calling the main clinic number after hours and selecting the appropriate option to be transferred to the group.

Dr. Abraham graduated from and completed his pediatric residency at UT Southwestern Medical School, working

at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Parkland Hospital.

He currently provides clinical instruction for medical students and pediatric residents from Children’s Medical Center Dallas who come to study at Olive Branch where they receive training ranging from prevention and wellness checks, sick visits, prenatal consultations, immunizations, newborn nursery care and inpatient hospital care, in addition to sports physicals and travel advice, among other services.

The Abrahams practice pediatrics at home, too. They’re parents to 15-month-old Sophia and will be welcoming a baby boy in a few months.

“Patients become my extended family, like they are my own kids,” he says. “I’m committed to helping them grow into healthy adults. I like working with parents and delivering a continuity of care. I’m most proud of that.”

Looking for a tender heart to entrust your child’s medical well-being? Connect with Dr. Abraham and his staff at olivebranchpediatrics.com. 3105 W. 15th St., Suite D, in Plano. 972-867-2869.

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PRIMARY CARE YOU CAN COUNT ON CLOSE TO HOME.

Children’s Health is pleased to announce that Olive Branch Pediatrics is joining our primary care system, right here on W 15th Street in Plano. Enjoy the same exceptional care we’ve always delivered to families in the community, now backed by Children’s Health.

SM

SM

Learn more at childrens.com/primary-care.

FEATURED FILMS:

CHECK OUT THE

EarthX

FILM FESTIVAL Films, music, food — at the Dallas Arts District May 12-15 — the only film festival dedicated to the environment and sustainability!

The 2022 EarthX Film Festival theme is “A Celebration of the Outdoors” and is the first film festival ever hosted in the Dallas Arts District.

The festival highlights films that celebrate nature and outdoor adventure stories exploring the environment, conservation, climate challenges and science while honoring the heroes working to protect our planet. By engaging the audience with spirited and diverse films, we deliver the message that the more time one spends in nature, the more moved they are to protect it.

This year’s festival has 24 features and 54 shorts along with an art installation and panel discussions. The festival’s opening night is the world premiere of Ben Master’s film Deep in the Heart, narrated by Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey. It’s the first blue-chip wildlife documentary ever produced about Texas and celebrates conservation success stories while discussing some of the most important ecological issues through the eyes of wildlife and wild places.

Filmed over two years, it showcases the breath-

taking beauty and hidden wilds of Texas and recognizes Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.

Also, the lineup includes We Feed People, which follows renowned Chef José Andrés and his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, on their decade’s long campaign to serve meals to disaster affected zones all over the world. It chronicles the evolution of a scrappy group of grassroots volunteers as they become one of the most highly regarded humanitarian aid organizations and is directed by Academy Award Winner Ron Howard. U.S. Military Veteran, Eric Grandon, is transformed when he discovers beekeeping as a way of mending the deep wounds of his PTSD. Eric shares the healing power of beekeeping with other veterans and first responders.

The festival features stunning venues with food and beverages in close proximity to the screenings.

We are showcasing talented singers and speakers to what will be an amazing and unforgettable weekend.

For more information and tickets, go to earthxfilmfestival.org.

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80º North American Scar An Eye for Detail Bad Boy of Bonsai Bastards’ Road Battle for the Heart of Texas Before they Fall Big vs Small Breaking Trail California Natural Camp Yoshi Chasing Ice Chasing the Sublime Coextinction Community Power Arizona: En Nuestrxs Manos (In Our Hands) Deep in the Heart Eric and the Bees Ferngully: The Last Rainforest Finding Gulo Fire of Love From My Window Godspeed, Los Polacos!

Going Circular Humanity Has Not Yet Failed I am One of the People If I Tell Them Inhabitants Kāhuli Learning to Drown Life in the Slow Lane Like a River Listen to the Beat of our Images Loon Mission Mountain Mother of the Sea Mountain Revelations Mylo Newtok No Soy Óscar Nuisance Bear One Star Reviews: National Parks Patagonia Provisions: The Ocean Solution Film Raised from the Earth Rebirth of a Reef REEL ROCK: Black Ice Return to Earth Rockies Repeat Saving the Florida Wildlife Corridor Slim Pickins Spirit of the Peaks The Ants and the Grasshopper The Captain The Diamond The Endless Wave The Interconnectedness of all Living Things The Land of Griffons The Last Last Hike The Monster in our Closet The Seeds We Keep The Seeker The Territory The Wilderness Within They Carry Us With Them Thomas Deininger. Trash Artist.

Tigre Gente To Live Here (sông ö dây) To the End Wastewater: The Tale of Two Cities We Decided to Become Farmers We Feed People What Remains When It Comes From Earth When it’s Good it’s Good Zero Gravity

Karim Elsharkawy, M.D. Kwame Ennin, M.D.

Richard Reitman, M.D. Roger Emerson, M.D.

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COMING SOON [+] Hopdoddy Burger Bar opened its first location in Plano last month in place of Grub Burger Bar. This was the first Grub to be converted to a Hopdoddy since it acquired the Grub chain. [+] Italian restaurant Sfereco will open

EDUCATION NEWS

in the Preston Park development this summer. The Plano location will be the fourth of the North Texas chain.

n WILEY LIOU, a senior at Lebanon Trail High School, earned the $2,500 Communicorp See What’s More Scholarship. It recognizes students who show passion, perseverance, leadership and academic excellence. n PLANO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL student Harshal Bharatia received the ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing and a $10,000 cash prize for his “Thermocloud” project. The senior built a cloudbased collaborative learning thermostat to maximize comfort and energy savings.

[+] Graze Craze, a store

n THERESA WILLIAMS was named Plano ISD’s new superintendent. Williams, who served as the district’s deputy superintendent, will replace Sara Bonser, who announced her retirement in January.

offering charcuterie boards and “grazing boards,” recently opened on Ohio Drive. The company was founded in Oklahoma by a U.S. Air Force veteran.

LIT LIBRARY The Texas Municipal Library Association awarded Plano Public Library the Library Excellence Award. Of 544 public libraries in the state, 59 have received the honor this year.

100 IDEAS LATER COMES A PODCAST LOCAL CHILD CARE PROVIDER & MOM LAUNCHES HER SHOW story Joshua Baethge | photos courtesy of D. Golden

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P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

D. GOLDEN, THE CO-OWNER OF HAPPY TREE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, recently decided to start a podcast. Real Deal Childcare is a fun but informative look at child care from the perspective of someone who not only works in the child care industry but is also a mom.

“I started looking around and saw that nobody was doing this,” she says. “It’s pretty general information, but it’s also the real deal.”

The podcast has been in the works for about three years. Originally, the idea was for D. and her business partner (who also happens to be her mom) to put together a checklist of things to look for in a child care center. Together, they came up with more than 100 ideas but had no idea how to share them. That’s where the idea for a podcast was born.

She started recording a couple of months ago and can now be found on Apple, Spotify and other podcast outlets.

The episodes are relatively short because, as D. puts it, she simply can’t talk very long with everything else going on in her life.

On one recent episode titled “Hansel and Gretchen,” she talks about the procedures child care providers follow when parents are late picking up their kids.

She recalled one time when a parent didn’t show up. Local ordinances for that type of situation say the children should be taken to local police. In this instance, D. decided to look after the child herself until the parents could be located.

“The mom ended up calling the police on me saying that I’d kidnapped her child,” she recalls.

Other episodes cover things like what makes a good infant program for kids, who needs child care and what you need to consider if you want to start your own child care business. D. says that she aims to be informative without calling anyone out. Her goal is to get people thinking about the reality of child care and how care providers should relate to parents as well as how they should relate to child care workers.

“I think I can give good insight into what a high-quality child care facility should look like and feel like,” she says. “The podcast is meant to be fun and not offensive.” P

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Meet Namrita S. Notani, PLLC, a Plano lawyer you should know Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Elder Care, Real Estate & Business Law

L

ocal attorney Namrita S. Notani is happy to say she isn’t a run-of-the mill lawyer.

“I’m old-fashioned,” she says. “I’m not transactionfocused; I like to build relationships with my clients and become friends with them.”

A daughter of senior parents who live close to her, Namrita says she has a special compassion toward older family members and helping them pass along generational legacies.

Namrita has a soft heart and a fun side.

The soft heart: She often donates pro bono legal services to those who can’t afford it The fun side: “I love karaoke and I host a local radio Bollywood show every Sunday,” she says.

“People come to me because they know I am here to help, and I genuinely care. If they need me, I am always only a phone call away,” she says.

“There’s a lot of emotion behind what I do,” Namrita says.

“I’m a small-business owner and want to stay small so that when a person contacts my office, they are actually reaching me and not being relegated to someone else they’ve never heard of. I intentionally don’t have lots of clients because once I accept one, they are mine.”

Namrita says she enjoys putting at ease clients who call in a panic. “If I have a client going to a hospital or nursing home, someone who needs immediate assistance, I’ll meet them there. I’m accessible, fast and above all, personally available to help.”

A practicing dentist for 20 years, Notani understands small-business dynamics. She decided to pursue law as a second career after undergoing i nvasi ve n eck a n d spine fusion surgery, which she says put things in perspective.

“I came face-to-face with mortality, and that made me aware that I didn’t have my affairs in order — it resonated with me,” she says. “My experiences have taught me the importance of estate planning for everybody.”

“I’m the old-school one who will go meet homebound clients. I’ll take papers for signing over to those who aren’t computer-savvy and only want to sign actual ‘paper’ and not ‘DocuSign.’”

“People come to me because they know I am here to help, and I genuinely care.”

469-929-9439 | Notanilaw.com 5700 Tennyson Pkwy., Ste.300, Plano, TX 75024 Advertisement

Don’t be “just a number” to your attorney. Reach out to the Law Office of Namrita S. Notani, PLLC, talk with Namrita personally, and get your personal affairs in order today.

469-929-9439. Notanilaw.com.

5700 Tennyson Pkwy., Ste.300, Plano, TX 75024.

Christene “Chris” Krupa Downs, Attorney 12 YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE: Wills | Estate Planning Guardianship | Probate Law GET TO KNOW CHRIS: In addition to her practice, Chris writes and lectures for local and state bar associations. Besides her membership in Collin County Bar Association, the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Bar College, she is active in the State Bar of Texas and serves on the board of the Bar’s Computer and Technology Section Council.

As part of giving back to the Texas community, Chris served on the board of This Side UP! Family Center, an organization providing parenting and family-based education, and City House, a homeless shelter for youth in the Plano and northern Texas. She is a former Treasurer, Executive Vice President and public affairs representative for the Junior League of Collin County.

krupadownslaw.com · 214.556.3862 17

FRIENDSHIPS FORMED

A look inside life at trendsetting 55+ condos Gatherings at Twin Creeks by Beazer Homes.

A TURNKEY APPROACH TO A SIMPLIFIED LIFE The growing population of active adults aged 55 and better are discovering Gatherings at Twin Creeks, the 55+ condo community by Beazer Homes in Allen. Gatherings is designed for those looking to downsize without sacrificing the must-haves in their homes.

“Our residents are usually at a phase where they just want more time to enjoy the lifestyle they’ve been working toward. They’re drawn to Gatherings because they can focus less on home maintenance and more on the things they want to do, like pursuing their passions,” says Jason Oates, Division President for Beazer Homes Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Gary Pemberton, current Gatherings residents in the Dallas area, says “Low maintenance life is really great. I thought I would miss not having a swimming pool to maintain or yard to mow, but I was wrong! I have plenty of other things I can do beside that.”

The hallmark of Gatherings is the low-maintenance way of living, which includes everyday conveniences like trash valet service, professionally maintained grounds, secure building entrances, and a garage for every home. And just outside the property is a thriving neighborhood bursting with amenities and shopping.

NEW FRIENDSHIPS TAKE ROOT In a community of neighbors who have all decided Gatherings is where the next best chapter of life begins, a natural social network emerges.

“A pleasant surprise for me was just how easy it

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was to make friends. It was just automatic. Everybody was just so welcoming, and everybody gets along so very well. It’s been a blessing for us to fraternize with a whole lot of folks our own age. It’s a lot of fun.” explain Glen & Bettie LaBlanc, current Gatherings resident.

The new amenities at the center of the community are reserved exclusively for Gatherings residents.

A lap pool is outfitted with shade cabanas and surrounded by a BBQ grilling area. The area has become a resident favorite day and night.

“We use the pool for water aerobics at night. In fact, I have been in the pool now probably more than I have been in the past 10 years,” says Harriet Wright, a current homeowner. “We meet almost every evening, even with the weather getting cooler. We will get in the pool, then sit by the firepit.”

The club house includes a serving kitchen, restrooms, and a large activity space for get-togethers like Friday night happy hours and the monthly “Bunco and Mimosa” party. Residents have fitness at their fingertips too—an exercise room includes several treadmills, ellipticals, yoga mats and light free-weights. The onsite pickleball court and putting green give residents fun ways to hone their hobbies or pick up new ones. Outdoor seating with firepits, community gardens and a beautifully landscaped event lawn rounds out this extensive amenity center.

“Our homebuyers are drawn to condo living at Gatherings both as a strong financial decision, and to join a community of neighbors in the same life stage,” says Division President Jason Oates. “We’re excited that the new amenity center is host to a rich social experience.”

In addition to homeowner organized activities at the amenity center, there are also walking clubs that meet daily for up to a 6-mile walk, monthly book clubs, and lunch clubs. The homeowners also threw parties for Independence Day and Labor Day for all residents to enjoy.

DELIGHT IN A LOWER COST OF LIVING Gatherings homes are more than just beautiful spaces at affordable prices. Underneath it all is a series of built-in energy efficiencies to help homeowners save on utilities.

Energy savings is central to the value Beazer delivers in all their homes. So that homeowners know just what to expect, they share an estimated monthly energy cost for each home. “We like to help buyers anticipate their expenses from the start,” Oates explained. “We’ve put this practice in place not only for single-family homes, but for our 55+ condos as well.

With our construction practices, the average monthly energy costs for Gatherings at Twin Creeks are about $95* per month.”

DISCOVER YOUR DREAM HOME Each single-story home offers four floorplans ranging from 1,529 to 2,031 square feet, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an optional office, a private balcony, and a garage. Thoughtfully designed in a variety of styles, home finishes are professionally selected to provide quality and style for years to come. In fact, Valerie Pemberton a current Gatherings resident, says “One of the things that really pulled me into buying a condo here is they had a lot of top quality items like our quartz countertops, nice fixtures in the bathroom, nice wood floor, the tile in the shower is really pretty. And that was really important to me.”

Gatherings at Twin Creeks is located at Bray Central Drive and North Watters Road in Allen. The homes range in price from the $480,000s to the $560,000s. Four model homes at Gatherings will be open for private touring Sunday and Monday from 12 to 6 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments recommended.

Please visit gatherings.com or (469) 640-3810 call for more information.

A night to remember story Joshua Baethge photography Geroge Weems

S

tudents were decked out in thei r best at ti re recently fo r the big dance at Plano East Senior High School. But this was no o rdina r y p rom. The distr ict-w ide “sensational senso r y ball” was a s p e c i a l e ve n i n g f o r s t u d e n t s w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s .

T h e e ve n t w a s o p e n t o a l l h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s who at tend classes at Plano I SD schoo l s.

Rega rd l ess of w hethe r they we re i n specia l e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s o r n o t, a l l s t u d e n t s w h o h a d a specia l need we re welcome to come.

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Plano East special education teache r Anthony Rut tenbu rg was the p r i ma r y o rgani ze r beh i nd the dance. Befo re the pandem ic, he h o s t e d a n a n n u a l a u t i s m a w a r e n e s s e ve n t a t the schoo l. It was someth i ng ak i n to a la rge pep r a l l y, o f t e n f e a t u r i n g a s p e c i a l b a s k e t b a l l g a m e w i t h o f f i c e r s f r o m t h e P l a n o o r M u r p h y Po l i c e Depa r tments.

Th i s yea r he found h i m self d i scussi ng the u p c o m i n g e ve n t w i t h c o l l e a g u e s a n d s t u d e n t l e a d e r s . A t s o m e p o i n t d u r i n g t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n , the idea of a special p rom was b roached. It

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

d i d n’ t t a k e l o n g f o r t h e a u t i s m a w a r e n e s s e ve n t t o b e s c r a p p e d i n f a vo r o f t h e n e w idea. “ We t h o u g h t, l e t ’s g i ve t h e m s o m e t h i n g that can be mo re memo rab le fo r them and t h e i r f a m i l i e s ,” R u t t e n b u r g s a y s .

D ue to senso r y i ssues, many students a re unab le to at tend the t rad itiona l p rom. Loud music, lase r l ig ht shows, and othe r t ypica l pa r t y trappings could cause undue stress o r e ve n a d ve r s e e f f e c t s l i k e s e i z u r e s .

At the sen so r y ba l l, k id s had a n envi ron ment mo re su ited to thei r need s.

H o w e ve r, t h a t d i d n’ t m a k e i t a n y l e s s o f a spectacle. “ We s e t i t u p j u s t l i k e a p r o m ,” R u t t e n b u r g s a y s . “ We h a d a l l t h e b e l l s a n d w h i s t l e s o f a p r o m , t h e r e d c a r p e t a n d e ve r y t h i n g .”

S o m a n y p e o p l e r e s p o n d e d t o t h e e ve n t, Rut ten b u rg decided to m a ke it f ree so that t h e y a l l c o u l d e n j o y t h e s p e c i a l e ve n i n g .

T h e e ve n t w a s n e a r a n d d e a r t o h i s h e a r t, t o o, s i n c e R u t t e n b u r g’s 15 - y e a r - o l d s o n i s on the autism spectrum.

Rut tenbu rg i s quick to poi nt out that many people helped pull of f this special p rom. A smal l contingent of col leagues h e l p e d g e t t h e e ve n t o f f t h e g r o u n d .

St u d e n t l e a d e r s vo l u n t e e r e d t h e i r t i m e a n d help sp read the wo rd.

T h e P l a n o E a s t Pa n t h e r P r i d e B o o s t e r Cl ub and loca l nonp rof it Life Com m un it y E n r i c h m e n t a l s o h e l p e d s p o n s o r t h e e ve n t.

W h i l e h e m a y p r e f e r t o d e f l e c t a l l t h e c r e d i t, Life Communit y en r ichment e x e c u t i ve d i recto r Dawna H ube r t says the re was no doubt who led the p rog ram.

H ube r t f i r st became awa re of Rut tenbu rg when she hea rd about him sponso r ing Plano E a s t ’s s p e c i a l n e e d s b a s k e t b a l l t e a m . T h i s y e a r, h e r e c e i ve d t h e D i ve r s i t y L e a d e r s h i p Aw a r d f o r P l a n o I S D s t a f f a s p a r t o f t h e a n n u a l M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g J r. D i ve r s i t y Celeb ration “A n t h o n y i s a s p e c i a l m a n w i t h a passion fo r specia l needs k ids that i s j ust u n m a t c h e d ,” s h e s a y s . “A s a m e m b e r o f t h e P l a n o I S D D i ve r s i t y A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e, I f e e l i t ’s m y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o b r a g o n h i m a b i t f o r t h a t r e c o g n i t i o n .” “ T h e r e’s been such a tremendous outpouring from the communit y and b u s i n e s s e s ,” R u t t e n b u r g s a y s . “ L o t s o f p e o p l e w e r e ve r y h a p p y a b o u t t h i s . I t w a s a w e s o m e .” P

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STEVE FIELDS STEAKHOUSE REOPENS IN WEST PLANO story Ashley Madonna| photography Kathy Tran

A BELOVED NAME IN THE PLANO DINING INDUSTRY IS BACK TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY. Steve Fields Steakhouse reopened at 4900 West Park Blvd., diagonally opposite its previous location, in late February.

The classic steakhouse closed Sept. 1, 2019, over 14 years ago in business. Owner Steve Fields says he sold the building in 2014 as a real estate move, and the new owner agreed to lease back the space to the restaurant for five years. When that lease ended, and Steve lear ned the building had a new tenant lined up, Velvet Taco, he took it as a sign that it was time to close shop.

While he was ready to have some time off, a few years later, he wondered if there would be interest in a new location. It didn’t take long to find hungry investors.

“It only took three phone calls, and we were up and running,” Fields says. “I had my energy back to do it again.”

After scouting the Plano dining scene for available properties, Steve landed back in his old neck of the woods, West Plano. At first couldn’t picture the for mer Brick House Taver n + Tap building as his dream location, he says.

But Bruce Russo of B. Russo Designs helped him see the potential.

Fields knew he wanted the space to be a moder n take on the for mer location. So instead of filling the open-concept dining room with dark woods and mood lighting, he and his design partner wanted to create a contemporary and airy environment that would help guests feel lighter when they walked in.

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Fields took the same approach to his food program and found new dishes to freshen up the menu, while catering to the loyal diners who were familiar with his offerings.

“We did bring back probably 70% of our menu,” he says.

Some guests may be disappointed to not see whole Maine lobsters readily available, but lobster pizza has become a bar staple, Fields says.

Indulgent favorites are worth the splurge. The blue cheesestuffed filet cuts like butter and oozes rich yet balanced flavors, while the 20-ounce bone-in prime rib delivers that homey yet elevated bite that’s expected from the fine dining establishment.

The restaurant’s 108-label wine list has something for everyone.

“We have aggressively priced our wine to sell,” Fields says.

The Chilean sea bass and Atlantic salmon filets are just as satisfying as the steakhouse’s prime cuts. And sides like roasted garlic par mesan mashed potatoes and fried onion straws offer savory delights.

Massive slices of cake, like the buttercream caramel and creme brulee cakes, are the cherry on top of any celebration. After all, that is what has made Steve Fields Steakhouse special to so many.

“When we closed over there, a lot of people got upset at me,” he says. “Now it’s just the opposite. Our regulars run up and hug me. It’s almost like we’re bringing back some of those memories of that restaurant.” P Steve Fields Steakhouse, 5013 W. Park Blvd. 972.596.7100 stevefields.com Hours: 4:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday

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Shirley Schell Takes Her Rightful Place in Plano History story Joshua Baethge | photos courtesy of The Schell Family PLANO LOST ONE OF ITS BIGGEST CHAMPIONS when Shirley Schell passed away recently. She died a little more than a month after tur ning 95, leaving behind a legacy of service that few can match.

Among many achievements, Schell may be remembered most for her efforts to preserve the city’s history and her longtime support of First United Methodist Church. Her son

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Jamie says what he will miss most are her encouragement and smile.

“In the last couple of years, the dementia had set in, but she was still cheery and fun to talk to,” he says. “Memory was obviously an issue, but other than that, she was still just a fun person to be around. She was very loving and supportive in every way.”

Shirley grew up in Tulsa, where she was an energetic kid who played softball and tennis.

After finishing high school, she went off to Randolph-Macon Women’s College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg, Virginia, to study English and French.

She later transferred to SMU to be closer to her ailing father. While attending school, she met her future husband, Alex Schell. They both graduated in the spring of 1948 and were married the same year. The newlyweds settled in Plano, where Alex joined the family insurance business. Shirley would later ear n a master’s degree in French. She would go on to teach French at Hillcrest High School and work as a French tutor.

“Growing up, she would always correct me for my grammar,” Jamie recalls. “But she was always fun and just a joy to be around — energetic, enthusiastic and always upbeat.”

He recalls how she loved poetry, whether it was reading great works or writing her own.

She and the rest of the Schells also loved taking family vacations. Just about every Christmas, they would go skiing in Colorado.

While Alex stuck to the bunny hills or went into town to talk with real estate agents, Shirley kept up with the kids skiing to their hearts’ content.

Compared to Tulsa, 1940s Plano seemed like a small country town to Shirley with its population of around 2,000. She and Alex moved into a home off East 18th Street and began to raise a family. It didn’t take her long to become socially active. In 1949, she started a bridge club with other women called the 49ers.

As she settled into her new community, Shirley became passionate about preserving its history. Her work led to the installation of Plano’s first historical marker. It notes the spot of the Muncey Massacre near where Collin County College stands.

She also spear headed efforts to install historical markers at the National Bank/IOOF Lodge building Downtown (now A.R. Schell & Son Insurance Agency), at the Farrell-Williams Heritage Far mstead Museum and First United Methodist Church.

Her passion for research led to many hours

she spent scouring the archives at SMU, in Austin and even the national archives in Washington, D.C. “Anything related to history, she absolutely loved,” Jamie recalls.

That love led her to co-found what are today the Collin County Historical Commission and the Plano Heritage Commission. Starting in the 1970s, she along with Mozelle Jones Campbell, Maribelle McLaurine Davis, Betty Harrington Stranz and Frances Bates Wells began writing a book that would become one of the definitive works on Plano’s history.

Released in 1986, Plano, Texas: The Early Years delves into the lives of the people who founded the city and the area they settled upon. It contains biographies of many early settlers and infor mation on various local landmarks. Shirley’s contributions included chapters on early mercantilists, the civil war and Plano’s postal history.

She was also the primary researcher for a historical book about First United Methodist Church’s history from 1847-1997.

Shirley Carter Schell is survived by her children Richard Schell, Margaret Schell Thur mond and James “Jamie” Schell, as well as six grandchildren. P

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HSNT is a lifeline providing life-giving care. Why visit Dr. Ellepola?

Resource: Patients from preemies to age 17. The practice offers assessments for general health, nutrition and exercise, ADD, ADHD, childhood obesity and mental health issues, preventing chronic illnesses.

Accessibility: Same-day sick visits.

While the practice has regular office hours, Dr. Ellepola understands parents have work schedules too, so she comes early and stays late to accommodate all patients.

Parent Education: Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals. Dr. Ellepola spells out everything parents need to know, from umbilical cords to diapers, what to do when, and what’s normal and what’s not, helping eliminate unnecessary emergency room visits.

A FAMILY AFFAIR HEALTH SERVICES OF NORTH TEXAS PLANO PROVIDES ALL-INCLUSIVE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE

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here’s something different about Health Services of North Texas Plano (HSNT).

Sure, it offers a wide selection of general medical services.

But its Plano pediatric services, headed by Dr. Achala Ellepola, is a gem appreciated by in-the-know locals.

So what’s the buzz?

“We have a family practice provider and family nurse practitioner. This is one place where the whole family can get help. If parents are sick, they can’t take care of children. We get much accomplished. The goal is to keep kids healthy and in school; reducing the amount of missed-school time is a priority.”

Dr. Ellepola leads a robust pediatric program featuring accessible care for the entire community.

“I have a patient-care philosophy. I’m here to provide for all children regardless of insurance status: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid, CHIP or no insurance at all,” she says.

Dr. Ellepola is passionate about her rapport with Plano ISD, its school nurses and other professionals in reaching our local immigrant population. HSNT offers communication in a variety of languages because patients learn best about proper medical options in their native dialects. Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Dari are just a few examples of languages spoken in the practice.

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Specialty Referrals: Her network of colleagues collaborate as needed so patients don’t need to worry about whether a doctor is available to help.

One-stop: The practice offers lab services onsite, along with an in-house pharmacy and pharmaceutical pricing help for the uninsured.

What are patients saying about HSNT Plano? : “Dr. Ellepola did more in two visits than my son’s previous doctors had done in six months. Very appreciative of her paying attention to his history of illnesses and taking action.”

“They are great and took really good care of my newborn daughter!”

“They take care of you well, they are very attentive, everything is very accessible — that's why I recommend it.”

Visit Dr. Achala Ellepola today at Health Services of North Texas Plano, and find a one-stop home for your child’s medical needs. 5501 Independence Parkway, Suite 110. 940-381-1501. Healthservicesntx.org.

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Leif Price story Ashley Turner | photography Sylvia Elzafon

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echnol o g i s t by day, metal artist by night – Leif Price’s journey into the arts was an unexpected one. While he never thought he had an artistic bone in his body, he soon discovered his life-long love for bikes could turn into a longterm reward. From the use of motorcycle engines to various other car parts, this self-taught welder is creating some really cool works of art.

Plano Magazine inter viewed Leif to learn about his start into the metal arts world, some of the most memorable pieces created so far and what he’s learning along the way.

How did your journey to metal arts begin?

It was kind of an interesting path to get here.

I’ve been riding motorcycles my whole life, mostly motorcross dir t bikes and about 12 years of street riding as well, but about 5 or 6 years ago I star ted having some real problems with my neck. I thought it was because of motorcross because it’s a ver y high impact spor t, so I sold my dir t bike and thought, “what am I going to do for a hobby or passion?”

I decided I would like to tr y my hand at a custom motorcycle or old project truck, so I bought a welder. I still don’t have a project motorcycle or truck.

On Instagram, I stumbled across people do ing metal ar ts, and one of the motorcycle forums I’m a member of – a guy was giving away a BMW

motorcycle engine. No one was taking it, even though it had a lot of viable good par ts in it so I said, “I’ll take it.” I created a lamp from some of the par ts from that engine, sold it, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

What are some of the favorite pieces you’ve created so far?

The last commission piece I created was for my neighbor’s business par tner called, ‘exhaustopus.’

It was created from motorcycle headers (those were the tentacles), and then I formed the body using masonr y nails. That was fun because my neighbor got to play an active par t and see the progress.

Another piece I created was a woman’s torso that was all made using about 70 bicycle chains.

I found this huge stack of bicycle chains I had for years, so I star ted welding. You have to weld ever y

single link, so it was a tedious process but it came out fantastic.

How often are you creating new art?

I have a fairly low volume because I do have a fulltime job. I do this on the side, mostly just on weekends where I only spend about 5 -6 hours working on projects. So far, I’ve done about 10 commission pieces. I tr y not to do the same thing, so no t wo pieces are the same.

What’s been the most interesting thing you’ve learned on your path as an artist?

One of the things that’s been interesting on my journey is just the learning process as you go. When you first star t off, you’re just kind of sticking stuff together. Then over time, you star t progressing and focusing a lot more on the details and taking a lot more thought and time before creating something. I have been tr ying to focus more on organic looking pieces and have even star ted to incorporate other mediums such as wood and epoxy resin.

You see a lot of ar tists that focus on one style, but I haven’t found what some people call “their voice.” I’m still going down the path of finding what that is.

You can follow Leif on his metal ar ts journey and contact him if you’re interested in buying his work on Instagram @tempest.metal.ar ts. P

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR, SARA EGELSTON AKERS story Joshua Baethge photography Golden Light Creative

M

ay marks a major milestone in the Plano Arts community as Sara Egelston Akers steps away from her full-time role at North Texas Performing Arts after more than 30 years. Since announcing her retirement in February, she has heard from countless people including many whom she mentored at one time or another. Some are performing on Broadway. Others are now teaching aspiring performers themselves.

“It’s been very heartwarming to hear from so many people, especially from children who went through the program,” she says.

Sara first made her mark on the Plano arts scene in 1991, when she founded the Plano Children’s Theatre.

It was one of the first companies dedicated to putting children on stage. Her casting philosophy was that any child could play any role, including those from diverse backgrounds as well as those with disabilities.

Even as a child, Sara said she always knew she was an artist. It seemed she was dancing almost as soon as she could stand, she says.

When she was 3 years old, her mother put her in a tap dance class. From then on, dancing and performing motivated her to get through school, she says. In fourth grade, she started choreographing shows.

She trained under Texie Waterman, who would later gain fame as the first Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders choreographer. She then studied under Toni Beck, who later founded and chaired the SMU dance department.

After going to college at SMU and the University of Texas, she married Jeran Akers. They moved back to the Dallas area and had a son, Joshua.

At that time, she figured she would live the life of a stay-at-home mom. After not working for two or three years, she convinced her church, Grace Presbyterian, to put on a performance of the Wizard of Oz. As the end of rehearsals neared, people involved with the production began asking what was next.

After looking around and realizing there was nothing similar around, Sara set about founding the children’s theater. Three families involved in the Wizard of Oz become the founding board. They began raising money, including the first contribution from her parents.

She went through the long, costly process of establishing the nonprofit. She also printed brochures to announce the theater’s arrival. Those two tasks alone consumed about half the money they’d raised.

Around the same time, her mother’s cancer returned.

Sara brought her home to take care of her. It looked as though the Children’s Theatre would not get off the ground, but her mom had other ideas.

“The last time I saw my mother, she said, ‘promise me that you are going to start that little children’s theater,’ ” Sara recalls.

In the spring of 1992, Sara began the Plano Children’s Theatre from the double-wide trailers at Grace Presbyterian. She had 50 students and a budget of

around $800. The following spring, the number of students had jumped to 175.

“I wanted it to be a place where children could grow their skills and their life skills,” she says. “I wanted to help them learn how to communicate with each other, and I wanted some of the things that I learned growing up to be a part of it.

Sara had previously worked at the Lamplighter School in Dallas. While there, she met a child named David on the autism spectrum, but he was also a fantastic performer. She wanted to make sure that her new theater had a place for kids like David.

By 1994 the stakes were raised even higher. Sara was divorced and needed to find a way to support her and her young son. She could no longer do the Children’s Theatre as a side project. If she was going to provide for her family, the Theatre would have to succeed.

That year, the Theatre moved to its first location near the intersection of 15th Street and Custer Road.

By 2005, the Children’s Theatre had expanded into McKinney. Today North Texas Performing Art has a presence in Fairview, Frisco, Dallas and Southlake. Thanks in large part to her fundraising and networking efforts, NTPA moved into new headquarters at the Willow Bend Center of the Arts in 2017.

“Sara is the ultimate connector,” says NTPA CEO Darrell Rodenbaugh.“She has a gift for being able to find connections between people and bring them together.”

Even though the size of the organization has changed, Sara says its core mission remains helping kids improve their skills onstage, while also teaching them skills that will serve them well in life.

She considers the NTPA her family. It was a family she leaned on considerably when her son Joshua passed away in 2019. He also had been active in the organization.

“I don’t know if I would have made it without this family,” she says.

While she may be stepping back, Sara insists she is by no means fully retired. After investing so much of her life into the organization, she says there was no way she could just walk away completely. Sara will continue to serve on the NTPA board of directors and plans to volunteer for many events. She also plans to work more on her own art and spend time with her sister’s family.

In honor of her accomplishments, North Texas Performing Arts has established the Sara Egelston Akers Legacy Fund, providing a need-based scholarship intended to give more students access to performing arts classes.

“Sara’s impact on the performing arts across North Texas has been profound, and her work has impacted thousands of families,” Rodenbaugh says. “Sara is a gifted educator, counselor, leader, artist and dear friend. We wish her the very best of happiness as she moves into this next phase of her life.” P

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