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Allen Image inside this issue August 2019
Volume. 29, Issue 8
feature
Allen Image
18 Local involvement, global view
publisher/editor
Vatsa Ramanathan, who holds place seven on Allen ISD’s Board of Trustees, has a commitment to the community, experience in education and a global perspective.
Barbara Peavy
advertising sales Sherri Russell Nora Bollman
special sections
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cover photo
PET PAGE
John Nervig
Slick
on the cover
14 CALENDAR 22
KIDS KORNER
Touring Dallas
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Vatsa Ramanathan
contributing writers Chelsey Aprill Heather Darrow
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Deborah Dove Tom Keener
6 civic forum
6 Meet Allen’s New City Manager 8 Nutcracker Auditions
Summer Concert
library
10
Classic Country Review
Dear Hippie…We Met at Woodstock
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Trio Los Vigilantes
AMON! The Ultimate Texan
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24 education
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Sky-High Medical Care
Travel
28
Hill Country Heaven
Allen Image © 2019. All rights reserved. Allen Image is published by Moonlight Graphics and individually mailed free of charge to the residents of the Allen area. Subscriptions are available to residents outside the delivery area at a rate of $2.50 per issue—$30 per year. Subscription and editorial correspondence should be sent to: Allen Image, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807, visit our website at www.allenimage. com or email us at contact@ allenimage.com.
civic forum
Meet Allen’s New City Manager
by Chelsey Aprill
W
hen Eric Ellwanger was a kid growing up in Iowa, his career dreams always involved baseball. Playing, maybe, or possibly coaching— just like his dad Jim. “He was quiet, yet competitive,” recounts Ellwanger. “He liked to win, but he coached because he cared about people.” With over 500 victories, Jim earned a spot in the Iowa Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. His steady, compassionate leadership is something Ellwanger hopes to emulate in a new role as Allen City Manager. Ellwanger was appointed to the role by Allen City Council in June. His love for the community, however, started more than a decade ago. “My wife and I were driving all around north Texas looking for the right spot to call home,” Ellwanger recalls. “And no matter where our realtor took us, we kept coming back to Allen.” Ellwanger and wife, Tara, decided Allen’s family-friendly community was a perfect fit for their daughters, Allison and
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Megan, now ages 13 and 9. When an administration job at City Hall opened years later, Ellwanger jumped at the chance to work for his new hometown. Longtime City Manager Peter Vargas offered him the position and served as an “incredible mentor” during their seven years together. “Nothing prepared me more for this opportunity than learning every day from Peter Vargas,” Ellwanger says. “I firmly believe this city is on the proper path, and I intend to guide it in a similar direction with confidence and integrity.” During his tenure in Allen, Ellwanger has overseen key city departments including Community Services and Engineering. He led the successful effort to prevent the installation of an unnecessary electric transmission line and substation along Allen’s important SH 121 corridor and worked with DART to provide transportation assistance to residents ages 65+ and those with a disability. “I had no desire to be the city manager in just any city,” admitted Ellwanger. “But, the idea of being the next city manager in Allen was something I absolutely relished. I take great pride in calling Allen home, and I can think of no higher honor than serving in the community that I love.” When you’re handed the keys to a financially stable, highly regarded city, “change” isn’t the first thing on your mind. Yet Ellwanger knows he’ll bring his own style to City Hall—one modeled on his dad’s servant leadership, with a focus on collaboration and listening. “Whether you run into me at the grocery store or church or wherever, don’t hesitate to stop and talk. I want to know how you feel about Allen— good or bad,” says Ellwanger. “I’m eager to hear ideas about how we can make Allen an even better place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.” v Chelsey Aprill is the senior marketing specialist for the City of Allen. Allen Image | August 2019
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snippets
Nutcracker Auditions On August 17 and 24, the Allen Civic Ballet will hold auditions for its production of the “Nutcracker” ballet that will be presented at the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School on December 21 and 22. The production features professional costumes, scenery and guest artists, as well as live orchestral accompaniment provided by the Allen Philharmonic. The Allen Civic-Ballet is seeking dancers ages 5-12 for a variety of roles. Please visit allencivicballet.org for more information, or call 972.727.5959. v
Summer Concert Join us on August 24, 8 p.m., at McKinney Performing Arts Center, Courtroom Theater, 111 North Tennessee St. in
McKinney, for Soul Revival with blues guitar virtuosos. Brothers Glenn and Alex Peterson were just twelve and ten years old, respectively, when a box of old records purchased at a garage sale changed the course of their young lives. The boys purposely chose records they’d never heard—The Isley Brothers and Brothers Johnson, for the obvious “brothers” connection. By sheer chance, out came B.B. King and Earth, Wind and Fire. Fast forward ten years and you can hear their never-the-same-way-twice, signature, funk-laced style of blues and soul at some of the most respected venues in Austin, and opening for the likes of Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Texas’ own Gary Clark Jr. Their self-titled first album was recorded live in 2015 at the Continental Club in Austin where they have a weekly residency. Cost is: $25/adults; $20/senior 65+; and $15/ child or student ages 6-22. Please visit: tickets. mckinneyperformingartscenter.org. v
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library
The Allen Public Library presents… by Tom Keener
Classic Country Review Skip Pilgrim and the City Lights Band will present a tribute to the Grand Ole Opry in a free concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 24, at the library. The show will feature country favorites made famous by Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Jack Green, Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubbs, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and many others. Playing the pedal steel guitar for over 45 years, Skip has performed with several Grand Ole Opry stars and was the staff steel player at the Branson Opry House in Branson, Missouri. City Lights band members include Bobby Germany on bass guitar and lead vocals, Bob Chapman on drums and vocals, Russ Allen on lead guitar and vocals, and Jeff Pitts on keyboard.
In addition, the evening will include special guest performers Jade Flores, a 2019 Hollywood contestant for American Idol; Dr. Bill White, a pastor and recording artist who has been performing country and gospel music for over 60 years, will be performing the classics that his uncle, “Gentleman Jim” Reeves, made popular; Brent Frailicks, a talented singer-song writer, guitarist, mandolin and fiddle player, who performs with his band at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma; and Annette Herndon Skelton, who performs at the Red Oak Opry as soloist and backup vocalist, will sing country classics in the style of Loretta Lynn. v
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Dear Hippie…We Met at Woodstock But, when I played Woodstock, I’ll never forget that moment looking out over the hundreds of thousands of people, the sea of humanity, seeing all those people united in such a unique way. It just touched me in a way that I’ll never forget. —Edgar Winter
Dan Carlson was with the New York State Police and one of the few police officers assigned to work at the Woodstock music festival. He will recount his memories of that iconic event and how the experience affected him both personally and professionally in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 15, at the library. Dan is the author of Dear Hippie… We Met at Woodstock: One Cop’s Memories of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 days of Peace and Music,” the 1969 Woodstock Festival was held in the tiny community of Bethel, NY, August 15-18, 1969. Offering only the minimal infrastructure for traffic, water and sewage, concert organizers and government entities had not anticipated the prodigious crowds of over 400,000 and were overwhelmed. With inevitable chaos, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller was prepared to summon the National Guard. However, a grassroots spirit of cooperation and collaboration between hippies and police officers averted catastrophe, ensuring three days of peace, love and music, or as some music critics declared, ”An event that defined a generation.” v
Trio Los Vigilantes Trio Los Vigilantes will recreate the glory of La Epoca de Oro—The Golden Age of Latin American music and cinema in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Friday, August 16, at the library.
During the 1950s, Latin American music enjoyed an exciting period of heightened creativity. The Bolero garnered enormous popularity, especially those sung in three-voice harmony by the famous trios of Mexico such as Los Panchos. Combining Spanish melodrama and sentimentality with American jazz and pop, Los Vigilantes is a rare group that sings classic songs in the tradition of the trios of old. Inspired by his father who had his own trio in the late 50s in South Texas, Trio Los Vigilantes was organized in Austin, by Isaac Peña. When Isaac met Mexico City expatriate Luis Angel Ibáñez, their mutual affinity for the Bolero became the cornerstone of Trio Los Vigilantes. Aware that the Bolero and the tradition of the Trio had faded decades ago, the two were convinced that their shared vision of nostalgia would captivate the current generation. Both being baritones, they searched for a tenor to complete the group—a high, pure voice to carry the melody. Though not Spanish speaking, John Pointer had the passion in his voice and his command of Italian (and its similarity to Spanish) made him the ideal candidate for Trio Los Vigilantes. v
AMON! The Ultimate Texan Texas history includes sagas regarding legendary giants, both real and fictional. One of those characters of our state’s past is Amon Carter, known as Mr. Ft. Worth and the King of West Texas. Raised in meager circumstances, Amon Carter became a publishing magnate who later created one of America’s first radio stations and one of the earliest TV stations (1948). He is now known as the namesake for a school in Ft. Worth, a mountain in Big Bend National Park and the Amon Carter Museum, that features one of the country’s premiere American art collections. Dave Lieber will discuss this giant among Texans in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 22 at the library. Dave Lieber is the author of AMON! The Ultimate Texan: The Amon Carter Story, which is also a hit play having sold out performances.
When asked why he penned this fascinating biography, Dave Lieber explains, “Even though ‘Mr. Fort Worth’ was a media tycoon, he cared more about others than himself. His identity was wrapped into making Texas better, through roads, parks, schools, hospitals, museums and so much more. My favorite quote of his—and one reason I highlight his life— is that, “A person can’t live off a community. They must live with it.” During his 50-year run he may have teased and tortured Dallas a little too much. But, he also showed generations of North Texans what it means to give and help others. The true meaning of the Ultimate Texan.” Dave Lieber’s biography of Amon Carter will be available at the program for a library discount of $20. v
Tom Keener is the cultural arts manager with the Allen Public Library. The library is located at 300 N. Allen Drive. Call 214.509.4911 for more information. Allen Image | August 2019
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pet page
“Slick” Slick is a two-year old mix that was rescued from a local shelter. His previous owner kept him tethered to a post outside, but that is not his idea of fun. Slick’s favorite things are cuddles on the couch, chewing on bones and learning new tricks!
He is neutered, up to date on shots, heartworm negative and house and crate trained. Slick will get along great in a house where he can get lots of his favorite things—attention and cuddles. If Slick sounds like the dog for you and your family, please fill out an application online and his foster family will get in touch. Just visit: legacyhumanesociety.org/adoptfoster/ adoption-application/. v
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formarketplace your health
Allen Image | August 2019
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calendar
August CLUBS
2ChangeU Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday, 7 pm, Plano Family YMCA, 3300 McDermott Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. More info: www.2changeu.org. A Place To Go (APT G), meets 3rd Saturday each month, (SeptMay), 7-9:30 pm, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville, Allen. Volunteers, high school age & up paired with special needs teen/young adult. Eat, play games and make crafts in a parent’s night out environment. Free. More info: 214.385.8850 or email specialkids@fumcallen.org. Allen Area Patriots, meets the 4th Thursday each month, 7-8:45 pm, Allen Municipal Building, 301 Century Pkwy., Allen. Local Tea Party presents speakers, encourages citizens to participate. More info: www. AllenAreaPatriots.com Allen Garden Club, meets 1st Thursday each month, 7 pm, gardening talks by area experts, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. More info: Denise Webre, 972.390.8536 or www.allengardenclub.org. Allen Heritage Guild, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 6:30 pm, Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main. Guest speakers on topics of historical significance. More info: 972.740.8017 or www. allenheritageguild.org. ALLen Reads meets 2nd Monday each month, Board Room, Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Drive. More info, www.allenfriends.org. Allen Retired Educators meet 3rd Monday each month, 10:30 am, Heritage Ranch Country Club, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview. RSVP: Sondra Long, billysondralong@tx.rr.com. Allen Toastmasters’ Club, meets every Monday, 6:30 pm, Train Depot, 100 E. Main, Allen. Guests welcome. More info: Joe Nave at 214.566.3100. American Assoc. of University Women-Plano/Collin County Branch, meets 2nd Monday each month, 6:45 pm, 2nd Floor Conservatory, Senior Living Center, 6401 Ohio Dr., Plano. Open to anyone with assoc. or bachelors degree interested in helping women. More info: Carol, 972.862.3460. Art History Brown Bag Series, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 12:30-1:30 pm, Heard-Craig Carriage House, 205 W. Hunt St.,
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McKinney. Lectures by Annie Royer. Bring lunch. More info: 972.569.6909 or www.heardcraig.org. Bible Study, meets every Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am, Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Ave., McKinney. Bible study for women and children. Studying Luke. Reg. req. More info: katpf@att.net or mckinneyallen.cbsclass.org. Camp Gladiator, meets every Saturday, 8 pm, parking lot (or inside) Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, 1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway. Adult outdoor fitness group for all fitness levels. Free community workout. More info: jeanettelintzen@campgladiator.com. Collin County Aggie Moms, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7 pm, Texas A&M Ext. Center, 17360 Coit Road. More info: 972.382.3124 or www.collincountymoms.aggienetwork.com. Collin County Archaeology Society, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Texas Star Bank, McKinney. More info: archaeology@ netzero.net. Collin County Genealogical Society, meets 2nd Wednesday each month, 7 pm, Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano. More info: ccgs. programs@gmail.com. Collin County Libertarian Party meets 2nd Wednesday each month, at 5th Street Pizza, 111 Central Expwy., Allen. More info: collinlp.org or email collinlp.org@gmail.com. Collin County Master Gardeneers tour of Myers Park, meets 1st Wednesday each month, 10 am, 7117 County Rd. 166, McKinney. Reservations required. More info: 972.548.4232 or mgcollin@ag.tamu. edu. Collin County Republican Men’s Club, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, locations vary. More info: www.ccrmc.org. Dallas Dog Lovers, events for dogs and owners in the Dallas area. More info: www.dallasdoglovers.com Department 56 Village Collectors Club meets 2nd Saturday each month in Plano/North Dallas to share ideas. More info: www.bigd56ers. com. Ericsson Village Toastmasters Club, meets every Monday, noon-1 pm, Ericsson, 6300 Legacy, Plano. Guests welcome. More info: Per Treven, 972.583.8273 or per.treven@ericsson.com. First Nighter African Violet Society, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7-9 pm, Collin Higher Education Center, 3452 Spur 399, McKinney. More info: www.beautifulviolets.com.
Friends of the Allen Public Library meets 3rd Wednesday each month, Board Room, Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Dr. More info: www.allenfriends.org. Gaslighters Book Review Club meets 3rd Wednesday each month September thru May at Heard Craig House, 205 W. Hunt Street, McKinney, refreshments noon, speaker 1 pm. More info: LaRue Whatley, 423.585.4983. Greater Collin Kennel Club, meets 3rd Wednesday each month, 7 pm, FUMC of Plano, 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. All welcome. More info: www.greatercollinkc.org. Legacy 4-H Club (Allen & Lucas), meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Lovejoy High School, Lucas. More info: kathrin_esposito@ asus.com or 214.616.2460. Lone Star Parliamentary Unit, meets 2nd Monday each month (Sept. thru May), 10:30 am, Allen Public Library. Promotes parliamentary education. More info: 972.727.3090, Mae Shaw, Pres. Lovejoy Preschool PTA, meets 2nd Thursday each month, Creekwood UMC, 261 Country Club, Fairview. Different topic & speakers. Free lunch; babysitting available for nominal fee. More info: www.lovejoypa.org, meetup.com/Lovejoy-Preschool-PTA/. McKinney Amateur Radio Club, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Spring Creek Bar B Que 1993 N. Central Expressway, McKinney. More information: 972.814.4190. McKinney Area Republican Co-Ed Club, meets 2nd Thursday each month, 7 pm, Collin County GOP Hdqts., 8416 Stacey Rd., #100, McKinney. Location varies. More info: collincountyconservativerepublicans.com. McKinney Area Newcomers’ Club, meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 9:30 am, social; 10 am meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney. August program: Cheryl Brasuell, Director of Community Engagement for Traffick911, a local organization working against human trafficking. More info: www.mckinneynewcomers.com. NARFE Chapter 559, meets 3rd Monday each month, 1:30 pm, Village of Stonebridge Assisted Living, 3300 S. Stonebridge Drive, McKinney. All current government employees and retirees invited. Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, refreshments 9:30 am, meeting 10 am, Noah’s Event Center, 351 Southwind Lane, Fairview. August program: author Monica Shaw will introduce he novel Rainwater Secret. All welcome to join. More info: www.newcomerfriends.org.
North Dallas Newcomers, meets 1st Thursday each month, 11 am, various country clubs. More info: www.northdallasnewcomers.net. Open Forum, meaningful discussions, meets 1st Saturday each month, 3 pm, Delaney’s Pub, 6150 W. Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney. More info: Charlie, 214.585.0004. Plano Amateur Radio Klub, meets 3rd Monday each month, 7 pm, FUMC of Plano, 3160 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano. All welcome. More info: www.K5PRK.net. Plano Photography Club, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, W. Plano Presbyterian Church, 2709 Custer Rd., Plano. Visitors welcome. More info: www.planophotographyclub.com. Plano Republican Women’s Club, meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 11:30 am, Reflections on Spring Creek, 1901 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. More info: www.planorepublicanwomen.com. Prelude Clubhouse, community center for adults living with mental illness meets at Collin Creek Church, 1905 E. Parker Rd, Plano. Open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9 am-4 pm. More info: 469.301.6639 or www.preludeclubhouse.org. Preston Persuaders Toastmasters, meets every Monday, 7:15 pm, Champions School of Real Estate in the Rangers Room at 3721 Mapleshade Ln, Plano. More info: Ed Meissner, 469.323.0538 or Todd Richardson, 214.497.4495 or www.prestonpersuaders.org. Random Events Dallas, laid back, fun, diverse social group with meetups in Dallas area. More info: RandomEventsDallas.com. Reasonable Faith Discussion Group, meets every Tuesday, 11am12:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Church Rm. B1116. More info: www. RFCCTX.org. Reasonable Faith Collin County Chapter, meets 2nd and 4th Thursday, 6:45-8:30 pm, Cottonwood Creek Church, Rm B202. More info: www.RFCCTX.org; email: ReasonableFaithCollinCO@gmail.com. Single Side Up, meets 3rd Saturday each month, 7 pm, This Side Up Family Center, 1100 Capital Ave., Plano. Single parent support group. Low cost childcare. More info: www.singlesideup.org or info@ thissideupfamily.org. St. Jude Carreer Alliance, meets most Wednesdays, 9 pm, lecture Hall, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville, Allen. Helping to develop career strategies for students, career builders & unemployed. More info: Jack Bick, jbick@stjudeparish.com or www. stjudecareeralliance.net/aboutus/. Texas Nationalist Movement-Collin County Chapter, meets 1st Tuesday each month, 6:30 pm at Scotty P’s restaurant in Allen, 109 Central Expy N #501, Allen. If you love Texas and value our independent spirit, come join us! Toastmasters SpeakUp Allen, meets every Wednesday, “Become the Speaker and Leader You Can Be,” 7 pm, IHOP, 315 Central Expwy, Allen. More info: Bill Peterson, 972.523.9425. United Methodist Women’s Reading Group, meets 1st Sunday each month, 2 pm, FUMC, 601 S. Greenville. Book discussion & refreshments. We encourage women of all faiths to participate. More info: http://www.fumcallen.org. Volunteer Master Gardeners offer landscaping and gardening advice, every Tuesday & Thursday, 9 am-4 pm. Texas A&M’s Co-op Extension, 825 N. McDonald #150, McKinney. More info: 972.548.4232 or 972.424.1460. Voyagers Social Club of McKinney, meets 4th Thursday each month, 10 am, Eldorado Country Club, 2604 Country Club, McKinney. Social club open to women in McKinney and surrounding areas. More info: voyagersofmckinney@gmail.com.
ART/MUSIC/THEATRE
Allen Folk Music Society, meets 3rd Saturday each month, 7-10 pm, The Blue House, 102 S. Allen Dr. Bring snacks to share. More info: www.twiceasfar.com/news. Allen Symphony Chorus rehearsals, every Monday, 7-9 pm, choir room at First UMC. More info: Henry@WealthManagementGroupLLC. com.
CRAFTS
Allen Quilters’ Guild, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 6:30 pm, Blue House Too, Watters Creek. More info: www.allenquilters.org. Common Threads of Allen, meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays each month, 7 pm, Whole Foods Market Café, Stacy Rd. Share needle-work projects, learn techniques, etc. More info: contact Debi Maige at 214.704.0994 or debik@verizon.net.
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HEALTH
Allen AA meets every Monday-Sunday, 601 S. Greenville. Mon.-Fri., 7 pm; Sat., 9 am; Sun., 7:30 pm. More info: Joe, 214.564.9403 & Tina, 214.566.7561. Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parents Group meets 3rd Tuesday each month. Support & resources for parents of children with autism and other related developmental disabilities. Join online group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismparentsupport. Allen Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, meets every Tues & Thur, 7 pm, 1st UMC, Wesley House, 601 S. Greenville. For friends and family of alcoholics. More info: 214.363.0461 or www.al-anon.alateen.org. American Cancer Society Road to Recovery needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to appointments. If you have a car and have time 9 am-5 pm, you can help. More info: Debbie Moen, 972.712.5711. Baylor Health Care System support groups, medical info and events. More info: www.BaylorHealth.com. Cancer Support Ministry, meets 2nd Sunday each month, 4 pm, 1st Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E101. More info: Jimmy Smith, 972.727.8241. Heart Link Women’s Networking group, women only business networking. Meets monthly. Days & locations vary. More info: www.75013.theheartlinknetwork.com. Nar-Anon Family Group, meets every Wednesday, 7:30-8:30 pm, at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas. Fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. More info: Nar-Anon.org or 800.477.6291. National Alliance of Mental Illness (for Collin County) Support Groups meet every Thursday, 6:30-8 pm, LifePoint Church, in the LifePoint Kids Bldg, 4501 Hedgcoxe Rd, Plano. There is one support group for persons with a mental illness and another group further down the hall for friends and/or family. More info: NAMI Dallas, 214.341.7133. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, meets every Tuesday, 6:15-8 pm, Good Shepherd UMC, 750 W. Lucas Road, Lucas. More info: 1.800.YEA.TOPS or www.tops.org. Texas Health Presbyterian, variety of events. More info: www. texashealth.org. The Shores AA Group, every Monday-Friday, noon, Raceway Prof. Bldg., 200 W. Boyd, Suite C, Allen. Open AA discussion group. All welcome. More info: 469.854.9593. Weight Watchers, meets every Thursday, 12:15 & 6 pm, 1st UMC, 600 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. South entrance, 2nd floor.
HOBBIES/SPORTS/FITNESS
Allen Classic Cars, meets every Thursday, 7-10 pm, 103-111 N. Central, parking lot of Stacy Furniture.
Collin County Hobby Beekeepers, meets 2nd Monday each month, 6:30 pm, Collin College, Central Park Campus Conference Center, 2200 W. University Dr., McKinney. More info: www.cchba.org. Fit and Funky Fit Club, meets every Monday, 7:30 pm, & every Sunday, 7 pm, Unlimited Success Martial Arts, 604 W. Bethany #208, Allen. Work out to p90x, Insanity, etc. Free. More info: fitandfunky@att. net. Infinity Personal Fitness Charity Workout, meets every other Saturday at 9 am, 1201 W. McDermott, #106, Allen. Min. donation $5. Proceeds donated to local charities. More info: email cattaneo.ray@ gmail.com. McKinney Chess on the Square, meets every Wednesday, 4-7 pm, Downtown McKinney Performing Arts Center. Open play & lessons. More info, 214.620.0527 or mckinneychess.org. McKinney Chess Club, every Saturday, 10:30 am-1:30 pm, McKinney Public Library, 101 E Hunt St. Free. And, every Friday, 2-5 pm, Senior Center, 1400 South College Street, McKinney. Adults 50+(Free). More info: 972.547.7491. Plano Bicycle Association, club rides, social activities, monthly meetings, newsletters. More info: Chris Mathews, 972.964.2869 or www.planobicycle.org. Plano Pacers run at Schimelpfenig Library parking lot, 2nd Tuesday each month, 5024 Custer, Plano, 7 pm., and at Bob Woodruff Park on San Gabriel Rd., Plano, last Saturday every month, 8 am. More info: Bob Wilmot, 972.678.2244 or www.planopacers.org. Pure Athlete Volleyball Club offers high-performance volleyball skills training and club teams for boys and girls ages 6-18. Free player assessment. More info: Mischelle Slaton, 214.803.0311 or www. pureathleteclub.org. Skilled Motorcycle Riders Association promotes motorcycle safety through rider training. Monthly practice courses, social activities, etc. More info: www.skilledmotorcycleriderassociation.com.
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Stroller Strides Classes. For class information, check out Fairview. fit4mom.com. First class Free. More info: Fairview.fit4mom.com, email Lolo@fit4mom.com. The Experiment Aircraft Association, Chapter 1246, meets 1st Saturday each month, McKinney National Airport. Everyone interested in aviation is invited. More info: eaa1246.org.
MOM’S CLUBS
Allen Early Childhood PTA, support for parents & caregivers kids age 0-5. Fun activities. Play groups, park days, lunch w/friends, field trips, Mom’s Night Out, Dads & Kids, etc. More info: www.aecpta.com or information@aecpta.com. Allen/McKinney Area Mothers of Multiples, new and expectant moms’ forum, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7 pm, First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt, McKinney. More info: www.amamom.org or 972.260.9330. Collin County Early Childhood PTA, meets 2nd Monday each month, 9:45 am, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. Nursery res. required. More info: Suzanne Judkins, 972.712.3634. Moms Club, meets 1st Friday each month (Sept.-May), 10 am-noon, at Grace Church, 2005 Estates Pkwy, Allen. Moms of preschool children. Relax with hot brunch & speaker. Childcare-$3 per child/$6 max. More info: www.grace-efc.org/womens-ministry/. MOMS Club of Allen, for moms & children in Allen, Fairview & Lucas. Monthly playgroups, kid field trips, business tours, special events, Mom’s Night Out and more. More info: momsclubofallentx@gmail.com. MOMS Club McKinney Central, support group for stay-at-home moms. Play groups, daytime activities, Mom’s Night Out, parties, babysitting co-op. More info: MckinneyMoms@yahoo.com. Moms in Prayer, join prayer movement—bringing mothers together and seeing God change children through prayer. More info: MomsInPrayer.org or Amy Guthrie at amyguthrie@verizon.net.. MOPS, support group for moms with kids 0-5 years, meets every other Friday, 9:30-11:45 am, First Baptist Church, Allen. Childcare. More info: 972.727.8241. MOPS of Hope Plano, Hope Community Church, meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month, 9:30-11:30 am, 3405 Custer, #200, Plano. More info: 214.762.0037. Walking by Faith, prayer and support for mothers of children with special needs. Meets 3rd Wednesday each month (during the school year), 6 pm, First Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm B214. Childcare provided with advance reservations. More info: Stacie Smith, staciesmithslp@gmail.com.
mUSEUMS/preserves allen heritage guild museum Open second and fourth Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm, 100 E. Main St., Allen. Permanent and rotating exhibits, DVD programs on Allen history and historic photo collages. More info: www.allenheritageguild.org.
Connemara Meadow Preserve Bird Walk at the Connemara Meadow Preserve, 3-hour walk, monthly alternating 1st Saturday and 1st Sunday, 8 am, Oct thru Apr; 7 am, May thru Sept., Alma and Tautm Rd., Allen. Bring binoculars and field guides; wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen & insect repellent; learn habits, calls and characteristics from Gailon and Rodney, Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society. All ages. More info: www. connemaraconservancy.org.
HEARD MUSEUM Saturday Bird Walk Educational Program, 8 am. Learn more about birding! These walks are intended to help beginning and intermediate birders with bird spotting and identification techniques. Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7-9 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Visitors welcome. More info: www.bptmn.org or email info@ bptmn.org. Heard Museum Native Plant Society, meets 1st Tuesday each month, 7:30 pm, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Heard Museum Nature Photography Club, meets 2nd Saturday each month, 1:30 pm, Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Heard Museum Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society, meets 4th Tuesday each month, 7 pm, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. More info: 972.562.5566. Third Saturday Nature Talks: Nature Journaling. Learn new ways to experience nature through nature journaling! An intro to journaling techniques thru hands-on activities.
SENIORS
Allen Senior Citizens Luncheon, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 11:30 am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville. More info: 214.509.4820. Allen Seniors Genealogy Club, meets 4th Monday each month, 1 pm, Allen Seniors Center. Must be member of ASRC. More info: www.asgconline.com. Classic 55+ Game Night, 1st and 3rd Friday each month, 6:30 pm, 1st Baptist Church Allen, 201 E. McDermott, Rm E104. Snacks, fellowship, games. More info: 972.727.8241 or Eddie Huckabee at huckgolf@hotmail.com. Singles Mingle 60+, meets 1st Monday each month at Delaney’s Irish Pub, 6150 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney. A social forum for active men and women singles who enjoy meeting new people and like getting together twice a month. Various social activities throughout the month. More info: For meeting information on the 3rd Monday each month at 5:30 pm, call Bill, 214.544.5835. Xtra Years of Zest Seniors Luncheon, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 11:30 am, Sept. thru May, First UMC Allen, 601 S. Greenville, Fellowship Hall. Lunch ($5), fellowship, speakers and entertainers. More info: jgarling@swbell.net.
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Allen High Noon Lions Club, meets 2nd & 4th Thursday each month, 5th Street Pizza (inside Stacy Furniture), 111 Central Expwy. S. More info: Peter Young, 972.849.4952. Allen Kiwanis Club, meets every Thursday, noon, Bonefish Grill, 190 E Stacy Rd #100. Visitors welcome. More info: www.allenkiwanis.org. Allen Masonic Lodge No. 1435, meets 2nd Tuesday each month, 7:30 pm at 101 North Allen Drive. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm. More info: www:allenlodge1435.org. Allen Rotary Club meets every Wednesday, noon, 1st UMC, 601 S. Greenville, Allen. More info: www.allenrotary.org. Allen Sunrise Rotary Club, meets every Wednesday, 7 am, Warm Springs Hospital, 1001 Raintree Cir., Allen. More info: 972.673.8221 or www.allensunriserotary.com. Assistance League, Greater Collin County Chapter, meets 3rd Wednesday, 10 am at Gleneagles Country Club, Plano. Guests welcome. More info: algcc.org or call 972.769.2299. Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, The General Bernardo de Galvez Chapter, meets 3rd Tuesday each month. More info:GenBernadoDeGalvez@gmail.com. Fairview Rotary Club, meets 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, Stacy Rd, Fairview. More info: 214.893.5360. FUMC Legal Aid Clinic meets 2nd Thursday each month, 6-8 pm, First UMC, 601 S. Greenville Ave., Allen. Legal assistance for civil matters to low income individuals in partnership with Legal Aid of NW Texas. No reservation required. Food & fellowship provided. More info: kim.klieger@gmail.com or www.lanwt.org. Knights of Columbus, meets 3rd Thursday each month, 7:30 pm, St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville Ave., Allen. More info: Steve Nagy, 469.569.3357 or www.stjudekofc.org. Knights of Columbus Council 13044 meets 4th Thursday each month, 7:30 pm, Our Lady of Angels, 1914 Ridgeview Drive, Allen. More info: Jason at jason.beckett.1@gmail.com, or visit us at https:// kofcknights.org/CouncilSite/?CNO=13044. Sons of Confederate Veterans, William H. L. Wells Camp, No. 1588, meets 4th Tuesday each month, 7 pm, Norma’s Cafe, 605 W. 15th., Plano. Speakers, programs, etc. Open to anyone interested. More info: Lloyd Campbell, 972.442.5982. VFW Armistice Memorial Post 2195, meets 2nd Wednesday each month, 7:30 pm, Allen Heritage Guild Train Depot, 100 E. Main St., Allen. More info: Jack Rettig, 972.529.8504 or www.vfw2195.org. VFW “Lone Star Post 2150,” meets 2nd Monday each month, 6:30 pm, 1710 N. Church St, McKinney. More info: 972.542.9119, gmlsp2150@gmail.com or visit on web: www.vfwpost2150.org. VFW “Lone Star Post 2150” Motorcycle Group 33, meets first Saturday each month, 10 am, 1710 N. Church St., McKinney. More info: “Driveway John” 971.822.4483, gmlsp2150@gmail.com or visit www. vfwpost2150.org.
Please keep us informed of any local activities or events of general interest to our readers by fax to the Allen Image at 972.396.0807 or email to contact@allenimage.com.
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Local Involvement, Global View by Deborah Dove 18
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llen’s Team of Eight—Allen Independent School District’s very own “dream team”—carefully and strategically lays the foundation for education in Allen, both present and future. Helping to guide that ship is Vatsa Ramanathan, who holds place seven on Allen ISD’s Board of Trustees. His commitment to the community, experience in education and global perspective has shaped both the city and the district since he first moved to Allen in 1999. With a steady stream of innovative ideas and the knowledge to make them reality, Ramanathan is poised to take Allen ISD to the next level along with the other board members. Although he’s an engineer by profession, education has always been a cornerstone of Vatsa Ramanathan’s life. Education is a priority
in his hometown of Mysore, India, where he was born and raised, and it was highly important within his family as well. “I come from a family of teachers and educators,” Ramanathan says. “My grandfather was a teacher, my two uncles were teachers, my aunt was a teacher... But, my dad was not a teacher,” he adds. Instead, his father started a school in Mysore in 1984 for students in grade kindergarten through tenth grade (in India, the equivalent of America’s grades eleven and twelve go to pre-university courses before choosing the course of their four-year college degree). In 2003, his father left that school, which he owned as part of a trust with several other individuals, and started a family-owned school that Vatsa and his brother have run since their father passed in 2015. The school, Sri Sharada Public School, was named after his father’s mother (Vatsa’s grandmother). “He saw that the private schools were very expensive for the families in that area, so his goal was to provide the same quality education the other private schools offered but at an affordable price,” Ramanathan explains. “My dad’s mentality was to not burden the family with education, because that is the best thing you can do for the future.” With the legacy of their father’s knowledge and the foundation he laid, Ramanathan and his brother continue to run the school according to his wishes. They currently charge 30 percent less than other schools in the area, yet make enough profit to reinvest in the growth and betterment of the school, proving it is possible. Surprisingly, Ramanathan’s own educational background is not in education. He earned a bachelor’s of engineering
degree in computer science, and currently works for Fujitsu in Richardson in the Product Lifecycle Management department. “The education part of my life is mostly passion,” he says. “It comes from my dad. He was very passionate about education.” In 1997, Ramanathan got a job in Dallas and moved to the United States. “That was during Y2K,” he says, adding that at the time, many companies were bringing consultants in from abroad to fix the applications that would not work after the date change precipitated by a new century. He began working for Interstate Batteries, but a year later, the project he was working on came to an end and he began looking for other opportunities. Fujitsu had an opening and would process his green card immediately, so Ramanathan applied, got the job, “and here I am twentyone years later,” he says with a laugh. However, a passion for education still ran deep in Ramanathan’s blood, and he opened Rivercrest Private School across from Allen High School in 2008. Along with running the school came Ramanathan’s opportunity to become involved in community service. “I’d always wanted to be involved in the community and volunteer,” he says. He joined the Allen Chamber of Commerce, where he found out about the Leadership Allen Program. He enrolled, and completed the program in 2010. “I came in touch with many great people involved in community service, and many of them encouraged me to become involved in serving on committees and boards,” he says. Over the next few years, he would join the Allen Parks Foundation, the Allen Library Board, the Library Endowment Fund Board, the Capital Investment Committee and the Sunrise Rotary Club, among others. “I loved doing that,” he says. “I love being out there doing community service and being with the people.” Allen Image | August 2019
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Although he was involved in many diverse organizations, his primary desire to be involved in education never wavered, and he was placed on the Strategic Planning Committee in 2012. He ran for a place on the school board in 2013, but was unsuccessful, so he continued his instrumental work on the Strategic Planning Committee, which created the phrase “Where Eagles Soar” and the current graduate profile. He also volunteered on Project Kids, where he was part of the team that created the bond package for the new freshman center and the renowned STEAM center, among other improvements. When a school board member stepped down in the middle of their term in 2017, he applied and was appointed to the position. He was then elected to the position in 2018 and will run for reelection again in 2020. As a new school board member, Vatsa went through orientation within Allen ISD, which gave him a greater understanding of the intricacies of the district and an appreciation for the work involved in managing eighteen schools. “It is like a well-oiled machine,” he says. He also attended a course through
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TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) to, in essence, learn how to be a good school board member. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose!” he says of the quantity of information covered in the three-day course. In addition to their other responsibilities, each semester, board members are assigned to specific campuses, where they interact with the principals to understand how the campus is managed, the challenges they face, and how they’re planning their school year. Board members also show up at the school’s events, sit through PTA meetings, and chat with the parents. “Being on the school board is a fantastic experience,” he says. “It is also a great responsibility, as we make decisions on policies, budgets and specific plans the district will adopt. We also get to give our input,” he adds, a part of the job that he embraces. As a native of India, and with his experience in education both there and here, Vatsa Ramanathan has a unique perspective, and compelling ideas about how to give Allen students a competitive edge in an increasingly global world. “After high school and college when they’re ready to go into the
workforce, they will not be competing with kids from Allen, Texas. They’ll be competing with kids worldwide. They are going to go places—whether it’s Europe, India or China. How are we preparing these kids for that kind of career? We want to bring a global education to our learning experience of the students of Allen,” he says. This might include offering global languages such as Hindi, Mandarin and Arabic, as well as implementing cultural exchange programs. Another innovative objective he brings to the school board is data warehousing, something he is intimately familiar with in his day-today job with Fujitsu. “We have disconnected databases and applications in Allen,” he says, citing Skyward, Canvas, attendance software and numerous other applications. “We should have one central repository for data, so the management of the school is making decisions based on the facts, not opinions.” He is currently working with AISD’s IT department to bring the data together to make a central repository. Another of Ramanathan’s passions is increasing the number of Allen students attending Ivy League schools—currently only six to eight per year, compared with Plano’s forty plus students. Ramanathan recently visited with a student from Coppell who turned down a full ride to Johns Hopkins because she was choosing another Ivy League scholarship. “I asked her how she did this, and it turns out Coppell ISD has a program to groom students with the potential to attend Ivy League schools, providing them with guidance regarding financial planning, scholarships, SAT preparation and more,” Ramanathan says. “Allen should have a program to help children who are capable of going to Ivy League schools, but need a little push. A lot of Allen students have the potential, but need a catalyst. We can provide them with resources to make this a reality.”
Ramanathan feels fortunate to have the ear of the district and the power to positively impact the lives of Allen’s students. “This is what gives me a feeling of satisfaction,” he says. “When I can bring something to the school district and feel like I did something.” Vatsa and his wife, Shubha, have been married since 1996 and have two daughters—Nandita, who is completing pre-med at University of Miami, and Namrata, a rising junior at Allen High School. In addition to his involvement in Allen, he also serves as president of Mallige Kannada Association of North Texas, and enjoys cooking. He is also passionate about cricket, a sport that’s not very well-known in Texas, although Ramanathan is doing his part to change that. Working with the Dallas Cricket Club, Ramanathan has set up a cricket tournament at Celebration Park for the last two years to raise money for the Allen Parks Foundation. He put together teams from both the rotary club, and the school district, which included Superintendent Dr. Scott Niven.
Whatever he does, Vatsa Ramanathan is guided by the wisdom of his father, the educator, whose motto was: “He only lives who lives for others. The rest are more dead than alive.” “Those are powerful words,” says Ramanathan. “What you do for other children so they can be successful will give you happiness. I try to do as much as I can.” v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen. Allen Image | August 2019
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kids korner
Touring Dallas by Deborah Dove Whether you’re trying to eek out a few last summer outings (with air conditioning!) before school starts, or looking for something to do with the littles once the “bigs” have gone back to school, Dallas area tours fit the bill, full of educational fun about how things are made and work.
Candytopia 8021 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, www.candytopia.com Although not technically a tour, this pop-up museum is as close as you’re likely to get to visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Candytopia features 14 interactive and immersive themed rooms filled with every kind of candy you could imagine. Enter through the garden and lollipop treehouse, then slide into the jungle with tree swings and a lion made of jellybeans. You can also pet an Airheads-breathing dragon and spend time in the aquarium and art gallery, where visitors are encouraged to touch the paintings—all made of candy. Kids will love being showered with confetti in the room and “swimming” in the four-foot deep marshmallow pool. Download the app/QR code ahead of time to take advantage of the numerous photo ops, and each room has treasure chests full of free candy, so be sure and bring a bag. Adults/$30; ages 4-12/$23; ages 0-3/Free! Tickets must be purchased in advance.
George Bush Presidential Center 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas www.bushcenter.org The 226,000-square-foot George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, situated on the SMU campus, is one of only thirteen presidential libraries, and offers daily self-guided tours of the permanent and special exhibits. Get a glimpse into what it’s like to be president with numerous state-of-the-art interactive displays, a full-scale walk-through replica of the Bush Oval Office, and a 22-foot tall ravaged steel beam from the World Trade Center. Also on view are items like the Glock pistol Saddam Hussein had when he was captured, the bullhorn Bush used when he visited ground zero after 9-11 and some of the 43,000 gifts given to the President and First Lady from foreign Heads of State. Tours are $21.
American Airlines Center 2500 Victory Avenue, Dallas Budding superstars will enjoy an insider’s view of this venue on a tour that’s both educational and interactive. You begin in the bowl where guests learn about building logistics and event conversion, then it’s off to the event level where the magic begins. You will also visit the press box, a luxury suite, party rooms, as well as other facilities in the building. Tours are scheduled by appointment only on Mondays-Fridays on non-event days. Call 214.665.4213 to schedule. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 17 and under.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing 9000 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth https://www.bep.gov/ fortworthtxtours.html Half of the country’s currency is made right here in Dallas/Fort
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Worth! Visitors can see where billions of dollars are printed from an enclosed walkway, which is suspended above the production floor. The free, self-guided experience includes an informative theater film, and visitors have the opportunity to walk through two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing currency history and the art of currency manufacturing. Then visit the Moneyfactory Gift Shop where you can purchase souvenir items including uncut currency sheets.
Dallas Cowboy AT&T Stadium One AT&T Way, Arlington AT&T Stadium is more than the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Take a guided VIP tour, making tour stops that include a private suite, the print media press box, the Cotton Bowl Office vestibule and the Dr Pepper Star Bar or the Ford Motor Company Fountain. Then, on to the event level where you’ll see all of the stops on the self-guided tour, including stepping onto the field (throw passes, run across the field, and take pictures on the famous star), the Miller Lite Club, the postgame interview room and both the Dallas Cowboys’ and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ locker rooms. Tours end in the AT&T Stadium Pro Shop. Ticket prices vary, so visit https://tours. attstadium.com/ for more information.
Texas Motor Speedway 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth If your child has ever dreamed of being a racecar driver, this tour is a must! Tours are $10 for adults and $8 for kids under 12, and include pit stops at the gift shop where you can see the authentic Dale Earnhardt Sr. fire suit, a luxury suite, Victory Lane, Pit Road, the Concourse, and then make a few track laps in the tour van (subject to availability). Visit ttps://www.texasmotorspeedway. com/fan-guide/at-the-track/speedway-world-gift-shop-tracktours/ for hours and ticket information or call 817-215-8565.
Panera Bakers In Training Various locations Part tour, part interactive culinary experience, this 1-1/2-hour program for kids ages 5-12, lets each child put on a cotton baking hat and apron, observe a baker’s demonstration of the store’s favorite baked goods, take a tour of the “back of house” (including the walk-in fridge), sample from the kid’s menu, and decorate a cookie. Cost is $20, and must be booked three weeks in advance. Visit http://bitkids.panerabread.com/ for more information. v
formarketplace your health
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education
Savannah Rosenberg
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Sky-High Medical Care Collin College Alumna Prepares to Take Flight by Heather Darrow
It was more than 100 degrees outside, and the ROTC team was completing the last leg of a physical fitness assessment. They had already marched in uniform and completed sit-ups, push-ups and a run when it happened. One of the girls collapsed. “She was slumped on the ground,” said Savannah Rosenberg. “She looked like a doll. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.” The non-commissioned officer (NCO) called out for Rosenberg’s assistance. Though the other ROTC members did not know what to do, that was not the case for Rosenberg, who holds an EMS certification. “Hearing my name and seeing the girl on the ground, I immediately thought of the ABCs of CPR—airway, breathing and circulation—that my Collin College EMT dual credit professor, Leslie Teel, drilled into us,” Rosenberg said. “If you don’t have the ABCs, you are dead.” Rosenberg began to evaluate the situation and used whatever she could find to administer first aid. “We moved her into the shade,” Rosenberg said. “I put a t-shirt under her and checked her pulse. It was fast, and she was clammy, so we knew it was bad. She started waking up and apologizing, but didn’t know what was happening.”
Rosenberg knew exactly how to communicate with the patient because of the knowledge she gained in Collin College EMT classes. “Usually nursing students don’t learn therapeutic communication until the third year in nursing school, but I learned that in high school. I explained what happened, and the girl explained that she hadn’t eaten. We put icepacks on her. Her pulse calmed down, and she was not sweating as much when the paramedics came.” Rosenberg’s commander presented her with a challenge coin in front of her detachment for her actions. “My commander said, ‘I’ve never seen a freshman jump like that.’ That experience cinched it for me. I knew I made the right decision to become a nurse,” Rosenberg said. Today, Rosenberg is a second lieutenant in the Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. According to Rosenberg, there were 200 applicants for her Air Force nurse transition program, and only 36 individuals were accepted. She will complete two years of med surg training before she can apply for her dream job — Air Force flight nurse. After completing EMT classes at Collin College and earning her EMS
certification in 2014, Rosenberg transferred to the University of North Texas to take nursing prerequisite classes. She ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Texas Woman’s University. The EMT training has been invaluable in Rosenberg’s journey. As a dual credit EMT student, she rode with the McKinney Fire Department and participated in two hospital rotations. The latter provided an opportunity for Rosenberg to put her medical skills to the test. CPR certified, she was at the hospital during the night shift when a patient’s wife lost consciousness. “She took a very deep breath, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head,” Rosenberg said. “She clinched and fell backward. Her pulse was irregular, and she stopped breathing. I was yelling for help, and I started compressions. I got in a round of compressions by the time the nurses came in and took over. It felt like two hours, but it was maybe 30 seconds,” she said laughing. Prior to being commissioned in the Air Force, Rosenberg had the opportunity to help teach Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) to about half of the sophomore class at the United States Air Force Academy. “I taught what to do if you are Allen Image | August 2019
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under fire, and what to do if someone is blown up by an improvised explosive device,” Rosenberg said. “My EMT training definitely came back into play for that teaching. I taught the ABCs, bleeding control, normal ranges of vitals and triage. I taught them how to keep someone alive until the medical evacuation team got there.” Reflecting back, Rosenberg remembers learning to triage patients in a mass casualty scenario at Collin College. She said she used Teel’s under-fire lesson plan and triage process when she taught the TCCC. “My EMT classes laid a strong foundation for nursing school. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Professor Teel,” Rosenberg said. “In fact, I don’t think I would have gone into nursing.”
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Looking forward, Rosenberg cannot wait for the opportunity to become a flight nurse and earn her wings. “You have to be the best to become a flight nurse. You have to know how to fly the plane and know what to do in the air. My job would be to keep patients alive until we get back to the states. I would get to treat people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their country, and I would get the honor of bringing them back home.” For more information about classes at Collin College visit www. collin.edu. v Heather Darrow is a public relations writer at Collin College. Photos Nick Young, Collin College photographer.
travel
Hill Country Heaven by Deborah Dove
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The Texas Hill Country, which is roughly the geographic region located in the Edwards Plateau at the crossroads of West Texas, Central Texas and South Texas, encompasses some of the state’s most beautiful countryside, as well as a selection of top tourist attractions, particularly water-related ones. Marked by tall rugged hills of limestone and granite, as well as the Guadalupe, Frio, Medina and Nueces rivers, the Texas Hill Country is the perfect place to end the summer, or plan a Labor Day weekend or fall break trip. Whether it’s floating the Guadalupe, experiencing the thrills of Schlitterbahn or spelunking the Natural Bridge Caverns, adventure awaits in the Hill Country. Located about 275 miles—or four and a half hours— south of Dallas (about an hour south of Austin), the New
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Braunfels area mixes the Germanic Old-World heritage of the Historic District of Gruene with the modern pleasures of good family fun built around the rivers that run through it.
Comal River Slower, easier and more family friendly than the Guadalupe, the Comal River is a great family river to tube. After you put in at Landa Park, you experience the first chute, which is the only really-fast rapids to get through. If you’re not a strong swimmer, wear a lifejacket, because you may be dunked off your tube here, and children should wear a life jacket regardless of their swimming skills, as whirlpools can be strong. From there, you will have a nice leisurely float until the second and final chute, so sit back,
relax and enjoy the sun and the scenery. The entire trip takes about three hours. Be sure and purchase a tube with a bottom for comfort, and tie your tubes together so your party doesn’t get separated.
Guadalupe River The most popular river to float is undeniably the Guadalupe, which has rapids, boulders and tube chutes. The landscape is remote and the river is more intense than other central Texas tubing areas, depending on the rainfall and flow. There are several options when floating the Guadalupe. The horseshoe is a fun loop float on the upper Guadalupe. After about an hour, you can take out at the bridge, walk about five minutes, and put back in for another go, or continue downriver to the chute. The chute is a tube chute that’s a few hundred yards long, with lots of fun rapids. When it’s over, you can continue on, or get out and tube it again. There are several sets of small rapids around the historic town of Gruene, and when water levels are low, this is one of the only places to tube on the Guadalupe. When water levels are high, it can be a very wild rapid ride. There are numerous outfitters around Gruene that rent tubes, so you can jump straight into the water from the outfitter, then shuttle back at the end. Other outfitters offer to shuttle you first, and then you take out right at your car once you’ve floated back down. If you start at the Horseshoe, you’ll get to do both the Horseshoe and the Chute if you choose a four- to six-hour float. Or, start at the Chute and see the lower regions of the river. Alcohol is allowed on both the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, but drink responsibly.
“grew” out of the banks of the Comal River over forty years ago. Tube chutes, rides, tube slides and pools in the original part of the waterpark use spring-fed river water that always stays a cool seventy degrees and flows right back into the river, with plenty of shade trees. A short tram ride away is the Blastenhoff and Surfenburg sections, which are more like modern waterparks with rides such as the Boogie Bahn, the Sky Coaster, the Torrent wave river, the Master Blaster Water Coaster and many more slides and water features.
Natural Bridge Caverns About fifteen miles west of New Braunfels, the Natural Bridge Caverns offer a cool respite, both literally and figuratively. The natural cave, located 180 feet below ground, can be explored on the discovery tour, a halfmile tour of what is arguably the most
Schlitterbahn Equally fun is the original Schlitterbahn waterpark, which Allen Image | August 2019
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spectacular cavern in Texas. You’ll see awe-inspiring, ancient formations centuries in the making and still growing today, including amazing stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers and soda straws. Above ground, there are ropes courses, a zipline, a 5000-square-foot maze, plus gem and fossil mining. And, most nights during the summer, the largest bat colony in the world, at Bracken Cave, takes flight into the Texas sky at dusk in a remarkable display that is a wonder to behold. They form a massive, swirling cloud that may be the largest single gathering of mammals on earth.
Historic Gruene When night falls, you can explore the historic town of Gruene. Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is Texas’ oldest continually-operating and most famous dance hall, and the 6,000-square-foot dance hall still features open air dancing, a bar in the front, a small
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lighted stage in the back where there’s usually a live band and a huge outdoor garden. Enjoy dinner and live music at the Gristmill, a unique restaurant housed in Texas-style 1870s cotton gin beneath the water tower with beautiful dining decks on the Guadalupe River, or Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (the Hill Country is known for its barbecue). If you love craft beer, check out the Guadalupe Brewing Company. The area also offers tours for every interest: ghost tours that explore the haunted side of New Braunfels (Gruene was once a ghost town); the Winding Road Wine Tour, originating out of Gruene and New Braunfels that takes you to visit premier vineyards nestled in the hills of Driftwood to taste the best that Texas has to offer in a customized limousine bus; and craft beer tours. There’s also plenty of unique and quaint shops to explore in the historic downtown area. v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.