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Allen Image INSIDE THIS ISSUE July 2019

Volume. 29, Issue 7

Allen Image

FEATURE

26 YOUTUBE TWINS: BROOKLYN & BAILEY

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Barbara Peavy

Local identical twins Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight have made YouTube stardom a reality, with almost six million subscribers, as well as their own mascara and fashion accessory line and a budding music career.

ADVERTISING SALES Sherri Russell Nora Bollman

COVER PHOTO Hanna Rose Hun

SPECIAL SECTIONS

ON THE COVER

14 CALENDAR

Brooklyn & Bailey

KIDS KORNER

Road-Tested Games

Knight

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chelsey Aprill Matt Cobb

13 22

Deborah Dove David Hicks Tom Keener Simon Valentin

7 CIVIC FORUM

Mary Sorensen Jazz Quintet

Have a Pet?

National Buffalo Soldiers Day

The Tortoise Versus The Hare

Last Stand at Khe Sanh

The Toughest Sport on Dirt Returns to

DINING IN

Allen

eSports Rocks Allen Event Center

Red, Hot & Blue Recipes for Summer

EDUCATION

LIBRARY

Kenny & the Kasuals

Shoot for the Moon

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A Bright Future

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

Have a Pet? Online registration is now available in Allen

by Chelsey Aprill

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Registering your pet with the City of Allen is now easier than ever, thanks to a new website. Allen Animal Shelter has partnered with PetData to offer online pet registration to Allen residents. After a current rabies vaccination is verified, each registered pet receives a unique license tag which helps to quickly reunite it with an owner, if lost. More than 96% of lost animals with the tags are returned to their owners within 24 hours, many without ever entering a shelter. The modern and durable registration tag comes with a free online pet profile, where pet owners can update existing contact information and enter additional phone numbers, email addresses, family and veterinary contacts and more. By city ordinance, registration is required for all dog, cats and ferrets in Allen who are at least four months old. Fees range from

$10-20 for sterilized dogs, cats and ferrets, depending on the expiration of the rabies vaccination. Senior citizens receive a discounted rate of $5 to $12. Unsterilized animals carry higher registration fees of $35 to $50. “It’s a very low price for peace of mind,” says Animal Control Supervisor Deborah Michnick. “With a registration tag displayed on your pet’s collar, we can have your lost pet back in your arms within minutes of finding it. Without the tag, that process takes much longer.” A $2 online processing fee is charged for online registration. Residents can also submit paperwork to Allen Animal Shelter in person or by mail. Start the registration process now, at CityofAllen.org/ PetRegistration. v Chelsey Aprill is the senior marketing specialist for the City of Allen.

The Tortoise Versus The Hare by Matt Cobb Children of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in a theater performance from start to finish in Allen! Missoula Children’s Theatre is hosting one week of rehearsals for “The Tortoise Versus The Hare,” July 15-19, followed immediately by public performances of the play on July 20 in the Allen Public Library auditorium. “This is a really fun and unique opportunity for children in elementary through high school to put on a play locally,” said AnnaMarie Underwood, the Special Events Coordinator for the Allen Parks and Recreation Department. “With professional instruction, all actors will be able to learn and showcase their performance skills on-stage.”

Open to children entering the first grade through 18 years old, everyone who registers will receive a part in the performance. Rehearsal times for the play will vary for the week. Performances of the play will be held at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on July 20 and are open to the public. Tickets will be sold at the door of the Allen Public Library auditorium on the day of the performances. Ticket cost is $3 for ages 6-17, $5 for ages 18-59 and $3 for ages 60 and above. (Entrance is free for children ages 5 and younger.) “Seating is first-come, firstserved, so be sure to get there early to save your spot,” Underwood said. “The theater performances include detailed stage designs and creative costumes, making it an unforgettable

experience for the actors and audience alike!” Missoula Children’s Theatre, which prides itself as the nation’s largest touring children’s theater, has the mission of using performing arts to help develop life skills in children. Missoula Children’s Theatre will be back August 5-10 in Allen, putting on a production of “Jack and the Beanstalk” in the Allen Public Library auditorium. For more information and to sign up to participate in the play, please visit LifeInAllen.org or contact AnnaMarie Underwood at aunderwood@ cityofallen.org or 214.509.4700. v Matt Cobb is the marketing manager for the City of Allen Parks and Rec Department. Allen Image | July 2019

The

SPORT on

Returns to Allen

On Saturday, August 3, at 7 p.m., professional bull riding returns to Allen for its 3rd annual event— the Zimmerer Kubota PBR Challenge—at the Allen Event Center. Dubbed the toughest sport on dirt, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) was founded in 1992. Professional Bull Riders, Inc. is the world’s premiere bull riding organization and the sport of bull riding has been described by Forbes magazine as “America’s Fastest Growing Sport.” Annual attendance of PBR events has grown from a modest 310,000 fans attending in 1995 to 3,000,000 fans attending live-events annually. PBR events are currently held and conducted all across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. This year ’s Zimmerer Kubota PBR Challenge will showcase 40 of the world’s best bull riders from around the world and 40 of the best bucking bulls from around the country. This action-packed event includes pyrotechnics, fan of the night buckle giveaway and more.

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A PBR bull ride is an 8-second contest of wills between man and bull, wherein the rider can use one hand secured tightly in a bull rope. The rider must stay atop the bull until the 8-second buzzer sounds with his hand in his bull rope and have not touched himself, the bull or the ground at any time during the 8 seconds. This familyfriendly event is highly patriotic and will focus on celebrating our military and first responders while working to raise money for local area military charity—Boot Campaign. Boot Campaign was founded in 2009 by five Texas women with the goal of inspiring civilians to show gratitude to our military while providing life-improving programs for both veterans and military families. Tickets for the Zimmerer Kubota PBR Challenge are currently on sale and available at both the Allen Event Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $25 and discounts are available at the Allen Event Center Box Office for current first responders, active military and former military with proof. v

Esports Rocks Allen Event Center by Simon Valentin Allen Event Center had rarely been rocked like this. The energy of more than 4,500 fans building until they let loose with a roar that exploded like a thunderclap. Fans of two Texas teams tangling for dominance were clearly divided, blue and grey versus black and green, in a battle never before seen in the Lone Star State. We’re not talking football, hockey or baseball. We’re talking Esports. It’s like video gaming on steroids. The Dallas Fuel were taking on the Houston Outlaws. Allen’s sold out event center was hosting the Overwatch League’s first home games—video gamers traveling cityto-city like a traditional sports team.

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At one time, they played from their home country or at an Esports stadium in Los Angeles. Over two sold-out days, fans watched eight teams of six gamers play the video game Overwatch. They came from the U.S., U.K., China, South Korea and France, and the action was broadcast globally by ESPN, Disney XD and Twitch. The fantasy hero shooter game features characters ranging from a healer with wings to a brilliant genetically engineered gorilla. At this tournament, players were seated on stage, an over-sized monitor in front of them providing fans a

glimpse of their faces and a massive screen highlighting the computer action hanging overhead. Fans

followed every shot, every defensive move, pumping their fists, screaming, waving signs and chanting. Folks from six to seventy-six generated excitement that is normally reserved for the World Series or Stanley Cup, a tough thing for gamers who use to play alone. “It gets crazy, even though we wear the headsets that they use on aircraft carriers, you still hear and feel the crowd’s excitement,” says Dallas Fuel member Zachary Lombardo. “There’s pressure when you’re on stage with a ton of fans screaming for you!” There are different leagues that play everything from basketball to fantasy shooter games (Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones and Shaquille O’Neal are investors). Overwatch has twenty teams competing and traveling like traditional sports franchises. The competition at the event center sold out weeks before, with seats running anywhere from $35 to $145 each. Why would thousands of people pay to watch someone play a video game? “Why would anyone pay to watch golf?” one fan responded. Mid-twenties Outlaw fan Braden

Wells, who likes to go by the nom de guerre, Sir Lifts A lot, says it’s generational. “Our generation, instead of watching football, we got behind the computer and started gaming,” he said. “To see it at such a high level is incredibly exciting, just like football… back in the day.” His significant other, American Ninja Warrior competitor Chynna Hart, says a sport that counts whipping around a computer mouse as physicality is pretty amazing. “I started playing a couple months ago and found there are a lot of nuances, like chess,” she said. “I’d like to see the perception of eSports change.” It is changing, starting with some of the nation’s institutions of higher education. More than 150 colleges are members of the National Association of Collegiate eSports. That’s right, it’s a varsity sport offering scholarships. In Texas, those colleges include Texas Weslyan, Concordia University, University of North Texas and University of Texas Dallas. One fan who traveled from Houston with his family tapped into

that eSports scholarship pipeline. Eighteen-year-old Myles Moise is a determined, hard working student who scored in the top four percent of the nation on the SATs. But, that’s not what got him into the University of Missouri. “I got more scholarship money from their eSports program than I did for academics,” he said. “It wasn’t long ago I told him to quit playing because gaming wouldn’t get him a scholarship,” said his dad David Moise. “He proved me wrong!” That could translate to a professional career. On average, eSports athlete’s salaries start at $50,000 a year. In Overwatch, a bonus of more than $1,000,000 is split by the championship team. The industry is a money maker, estimated to generate more than a billion dollars revenue in 2019. “We’re getting in on the ground floor of something amazing,” said Bill Herman, Allen Event Center general manager. “This is good for Allen, good for the region, and we’re ready to do it again!” v Simon Valentin is a freelance writer from Allen.

Allen Image | July 2019

library

The Allen Public Library presents… by Tom Keener

Kenny and the Kasuals

Are you ready to rock to the great sounds of one of Dallas’s early rock bands? Enjoy the celebrated music of Kenny and the Kasuals at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 26, in a free program, at the library. Dress up like the 1960s and one person will win a prize! During the 60s, Kenny and the Kasuals released their

singles, all of which became psychedelic classics and are now highly collectible. At the famed Studio Club in Dallas, Kenny and the Kasuals opened for Sonny and Cher, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. Bandleader Kenny Daniel was drafted into the Army, and after returning from his deployment in Germany, Kenny and the Kasuals adopted a punk rock style. The new band took advantage of the revival of their music by touring as openers for such acts as Pattie Smith, Iggy Pop and The Boomtown Rats. Music historian George Gimarc observes, “How did a high school group from Dallas become one of the most sought-after garage bands in the punk rock era? They cut a full-length album, which was promoted as if it were a live album from the Studio Club in Dallas. A few hundred copies were pressed up and sold. A dozen years later, a rising interest in garage bands got this LP on the radar of a few collectors. Mentions in music magazines fueled the fire, and soon copies of Impact were trading hands for $500 or more.” v

Shoot For The Moon Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. – Norman Vincent Peale This year marks the golden anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing on the moon—people were glued to their televisions to witness this triumphant event. On the day after Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on this distant lunar satellite, banner headlines on newspapers around the world declared, “MAN ON MOON!!” Hear James Donovan, author of Shoot for The Moon, in a free program, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 11, at the library. Donovan chronicles the personal, political and scientific backgrounds behind the journey for catapulting humans to the lunar surface. Reasons for the decision to choose Neil Armstrong as the first person to descend the ladder to the moon’s surface are detailed. Mike Collins, command module pilot of Apollo 11 declares, “This is the best book on Apollo that I have read. Extensively researched and meticulously accurate, it

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successfully traces not only the technical highlights of the program but the contributions of the extraordinary people who made it possible.” James Donovan is also the author of several other books, including The Blood of Heroes and A Terrible Glory. He has been a literary agent since 1993 and resides in Dallas. v

Mary Sorensen Jazz Quintet

Savor the clear crystal sounds of the Mary Sorensen Jazz Quintet at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 12, in a free concert, at the library. This group’s arrangements are lucid and light, giving ample room for an exciting evening. Band leader Mary Sorensen’s knack for deploying individual players gives improvisations distinctive character. A singer, songwriter, teacher and composer, Mary transcends an expanse of styles both vocally and instrumentally. Playing in a quintet affords her the freedom to scat, her favorite vocalist style. Once opening for Grammy award-winner Faith Hill, Mary also provided background vocals for B.W. Stevenson. Formerly a soloist for a band in Wiesbaden, Germany, Mary toured extensively in Europ. A graduate of the University of North Texas Jazz program, Mary was featured as a guest vocal soloist and recorded with the UNT One O’clock Lab Band, UNT Jazz Singers and the UNT Zebras. v

National Buffalo Soldiers Day Come celebrate National Buffalo Soldier Day in a free program at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 28, at the library. Tributes will be given for the bravery and heroism of Buffalo Soldiers that served America. Guest speakers include: SFC Retired Terry L. Anderson, 24 years active duty, 13M Field Artillery and 79R Recruiter; SSG Retired Rodney Sparks, 20 years active duty; 1SG Clinton Warren, 23 years active duty, Company E 24 Infantry, member of Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association; and Rosieleetta Reed, 25 year member of Texas Buffalo Soldier Association.

African Americans have fought in military conflicts since the American Revolution. However, the Buffalo Soldiers, comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, were the first to serve during peacetime. The story of the Buffalo Soldiers remains one of unsurpassed courage and patriotism and will be forever be a pivotal part of American history. v

Last Stand at Khe Sanh Investigative journalist, foreign correspondent and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Gregg Jones will discuss his book, Last Stand at Khe Sanh: The U.S. Marines’ Finest Hour in Vietnam, in a free program, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 25, at the library. Gregg chronicles the story of the agonizing and deadly 77-day siege of a Marine combat base at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, in 1968. No battle during the Vietnam conflict received more attention on the home front. American forces fought bravely against numerically superior enemy forces, but their heroic efforts are largely forgotten. Last Stand at Khe Sanh received the 2015 General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction from the Marine Corps Foundation. 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 | July 2019

calendar

JULY 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., McKinney. Lectures by Annie Royer. Bring lunch. More info: 972.569.6909 or www.heardcraig.org.

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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, 12-1 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, 7:30 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. July program: Mrs Bozena Cloutier will speak about “World War II throuth the Eyes of a Child” and her escape to freedom. 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. July program: Dr. Sarah’s Seven Steps to a Heart Smart Lifestyle. 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.

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 Image | July 2019

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, Suite 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. 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.

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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 2nd Monday each month, 7 pm, Tino’s Too Restaurant, 2205 Ave. K, 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.

formarketplace your health

Allen Image | July 2019

dining in

Red, Hot & Blue Recipes for Summer by Deborah Dove

As long, sun-drenched days ease into (slightly) cooler nights, the weather lends itself to Fourth of July picnics, cold homemade treats enjoyed after an afternoon of swimming or playing outside, and casual evenings entertaining friends or dining al fresco on the patio. Summer is my favorite time to cook, because fresh fruits and vegetables are extra-delicious and abundant, and my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s typical crazy schedule during the school year

BBQ Havarti Burgers 1 lb. ground beef 1 Tbs. butter 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. Havarti cheese, sliced 1/2 tsp. pepper 4-6 brioche or sesame buns 3 Tbs BBQ sauce Spring greens 1 Tbs. olive oil Bread & butter pickles Sliced tomatoes and onions Place the beef in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the BBQ sauce and gently mix with your hands to incorporate, forming 4 to 6 patties. Heat a large skillet (or your grill) over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. Cook the patties until browned on both sides and your desired doneness is reached. A minute or two before they are done, cover the tops with the sliced Havarti and cover the skillet or grill to let the cheese melt. To serve the burgers, add a dollop of BBQ sauce on the bottom of the bun, cover with spring greens, then the patty, topped with a bit more BBQ sauce and pickles, tomatoes and onions.

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eases up, allowing me the luxury of actually cooking, making fresh sides and salads, grilling and eating at home. Take advantage of the fruits and vegetables of the season, including perhaps a visit to a pick-your-own farm or country roadside stand. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting or attending a 4th get together, or just enjoying the lazy days of summer with your family, these recipes make the most of summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bounty and laidback vibe.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs 3 Tbs. soy sauce 3 Tbs. brown sugar 2 Tbs. sherry 1 Tbs. sesame seed oil 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 2â&#x20AC;? pieces 1-20-oz. can pineapple chunks, drained, or fresh pineapple cut into chunks Skewers In a shallow glass dish, mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, sesame oil, ginger and garlic powder. Stir chicken pieces and pineapple into the marinade until well coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken and pineapple alternately onto skewers. Grill 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until chicken juices run clear.

Potato Salad 3 lb. red potatoes 2 stalks celery, chopped 1/4 c. chopped pickles 1 sm. red onion, chopped 2 Tbs. Dijon mustard 1/2 c. mayonnaise 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar 3 hardboiled eggs, roughly chopped Place potatoes in a large pot and fill with enough cold water to cover. Season water with 1 tsp. salt and bring to a boil. Cook potatoes until tender all the way through. Drain. When cool enough to handle, chop the potatoes into 3/4-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot or cold.

Best Grilled Corn on the Cob To prepare the corn, just strip the husks back, remove the silk, and then fold the husks back up. Fill a sink with cold water and 1-2 tablespoons of salt. Drop the silk-free corn in the water and let it soak for a good 10-15 minutes. (Soaking the corn will allow the corn to stay moist, the husks wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t burn, and the corn will be more flavorful.) Grill corn over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, rotating it every 5-6 minutes. Once the corn is ready to eat, you can turn it to medium high or high and allow grill marks to appear. While hot, slather with butter and sprinkle with a 3:1 ration combination of salt/sugar. Allen Image | July 2019

Southern Peach Cobbler 8 fresh peaches, peeled & cut into slices 1/2 c. white sugar, divided 1/2 c. brown sugar, divided 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 tsp. lemon juice 2 tsp. cornstarch 1 c. flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 3 Tbs. sugar mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 c. boiling water Preheat oven to 425ยบ. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 c. white sugar, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly and pour into a 2-qt. baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine flour, remaining white and brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend in butter with fingertips or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined. Remove peaches from oven and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes. v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.

dining

out

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dining

out

Allen Image | July 2019

education

A Bright Future by David Hicks

here are plenty of sights to behold at Allen High School’s graduation ceremony. The graduates’ flowing robes, the beaming smiles on parents’ faces, and the exciting moment when the caps are tossed in the air. Lauren Flener was a member of the graduating class of 2019, but this legally blind teenager relied on her other senses to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony. Lauren was born with underdeveloped optic nerves and has been blind since birth. She has attended Allen ISD most of her life, starting with preschool classes at the age of three all the way through high school. Lauren looks back at her educational career fondly. “I’ve always felt included at school, and the teachers have been accommodating to my needs,” Lauren said. “Like any student, there may be a few hiccups along the way, but overall it’s been very positive.”

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Lauren is one of about 60 students who have some form of visual impairment in Allen ISD, and a team of specialists work to ensure they can thrive in the classroom. Andi Payne is one of those specialists and her goal is simple: to prepare students for life after high school, whether that be college or the workforce. Andi is constantly on the lookout for new technology that can make classwork more accessible for her students, such as software that can read text aloud. “Allen ISD has been so supportive in providing these students with the tools they need,” Andi said. “If we can prove that a piece of technology will put these kids on a level playing field, the school is dedicated to fulfilling that need.” Visually impaired students are also supported by Dora Garcia, the braille specialist in Allen ISD. Dora receives coursework and reading materials from teachers and then translates the materials into braille for her students. This process not only involves translating basic writing, but also complex math equations that can easily fill an entire page in braille. She is also responsible for translating foreign language assignments in Spanish or German into braille for her students. “I am so thankful to have Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Garcia in Allen,” Lauren said. “My educational experience wouldn’t have been half of what it was without their support.” Despite the large footprint of the high school, Lauren is able to navigate the hallways between classes with relative ease. Lauren visited the campus in the summer before school began and conducted a test run to find her classes. She credits her “mental GPS” for helping her get around, as well as her other senses when walking the halls. “I can sense light, and some hallways are always brighter than others,” Lauren said. “Each hallway even has its own specific smell, and I’ll use those clues to let me know where I am.” Allen Image | July 2019

Lauren and Andi Payne Every day at lunch Lauren would sit in the same location. “I can’t find my friends, but they know where to find me,” she said. Lauren has a core group of friends, but knew that some of her classmates were reluctant to talk to her for fear of offending her. “I’m OK if people want to ask about my visual impairment and learn more about it,” Lauren said. “I want

to educate people and show them that my blindness isn’t a disability, but just a characteristic that I have.” While at Allen High School, Lauren was heavily involved in both choir and the robotics club. Now that Lauren has graduated, she plans to attend Collin College for two years before transferring to the University of North Texas to study computer

science. Her passion for computers and programming stems from her time in the robotics club, and also in her desire to make more technology accessible to everyone. She realized at a young age that many everyday necessities, such as computers, calculators or websites were not accessible to people with disabilities. Greg Burnham is the engineering and robotics instructor at Allen High School and he says that he and his students learned to adapt their communication style after working with Lauren. Saying “Look over there,” or “Put this piece here,” was no longer effective. “I may have been the teacher, but I learned so much from working with Lauren,” Greg said. “We all realized that various people communicate in different ways, and we have to find a way to get past those barriers to complete our project.” The team worked with Lauren to find a specific style of LED light that she could sense, which allowed her to guide and control the robot. Lauren filled a variety of roles on the robotics team and settled in as the inclusivity chair, eventually transforming the team’s website to make it more accessible to all people. Her goal is to merge these two passions—computer science and her desire to make the world more accessible—and turn it into her dream job of working for Apple. “I would love to be able to work on voice-over technology and have a positive impact on people throughout the world,” Lauren said. “I may have a disability, but that doesn’t mean it will disable me. I want to help people.” Before Lauren changes the world, she’ll continue to be a normal teenager. She’ll spend the summer with friends and use her free time to play guitar and sing. With high school in her rearview mirror and college on the horizon, her future is as bright as ever. v David Hicks is the Director of Communications for Allen ISD.

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formarketplace your health

Allen Image | July 2019

feature

Just about every teenage girl dreams of becoming a YouTube star, but it’s one of those pie-in-the-sky aspirations, right up there with becoming the next Taylor Swift, starring on a Disney Channel show, meeting a Jonas brother or winning the lottery. In fact, according to Business Insider, in 2016, only .01 percent of YouTubers had attained over one million

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subscribers, and it’s even harder to achieve big YouTube fame—generally those with at least three million subscribers. But, local identical twins Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight have made YouTube stardom a reality, with almost six million subscribers, as well as their own mascara and fashion accessory line and a budding music career.

by Deborah Dove

Banking on a wholesome image and big sister mentality that their young subscribers—typically girls ages 13 to 15—relate to, Brooklyn and Bailey can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/ BrooklynAndBailey and post weekly videos on topics that cover the everyday life of a teen girl. Some videos cover those questions all young girls have, but are afraid to talk about with others, such as periods, “Ten Things Not to Do with your Bra”

Bailey

and “How Not to Flirt.” Some are DIYs—nail tutorials, DIY flip-flops, how to make frozen banana pops, airport hacks, and more. Others offer fashion advice, such as “Brooklyn’s Natural Everyday Beauty Routine” and “Back to School Fashions.” But, their most popular videos are challenges— everything from slip-n-slide gymnastics to a smoothie challenge to a Fortnite dance challenge—and the intimate glimpses into the real life of Brooklyn and Bailey. The girls, now nineteen, invite their viewers into their everyday life by chronicling the big and small events that teens can relate to…taking their driver’s license test, trying on dresses for prom, a day in the life on drill team (both girls were members of the Lovejoy Majestics), what’s in their backpack or on their iPhone, and more. As twins, their twin-specific videos are also popular, such as a recent video where the two secretly switched places to see if anyone could tell, making it their third mostwatched video with 8.2 million views. So, how did two young girls become a YouTube sensation? Brooklyn and Bailey got their start in 2009 on their mom’s YouTube channel, “Cute Girls Hairstyles.” “With five females in our family, my mom had to learn to do hair,” explains Bailey.

Their mom, Mindy, created the YouTube channel to showcase her creations, using Brooklyn, Bailey and their younger sisters as her models. The channel became popular (it currently boasts 5.6 million subscribers), and viewers were soon asking who Brooklyn and Bailey were, and wanting to get to know them, although according to Bailey, because they were never shown together on the videos, viewers thought they were the same person, not twins. As a result, the girls decided to start their own YouTube channel in 2013, when they were thirteen years old. “It wasn’t a career aspiration at the time,” says Bailey. “We didn’t know what we were getting into.” Nonetheless, their parents Mindy and Shaun, whose own YouTube channel was growing, helped their daughters create a brand and platform they could build on if they wanted to. Before long, Brooklyn and Bailey hit a million followers. “My dad drove us to the nearest college football stadium, which held about sixty thousand people, and said, ‘Now multiply that number by 100, 200, 300, 400…that’s how many people are following your YouTube channel,’” Brooklyn says. “It really gives you a visual of the influence we have.” Their dad added that because they had such a strong influence, they Allen Image | July 2019

needed to be responsible about it and use their influence for good, and for promoting things they were happy about and that encouraged people to be positive. Taking his words to heart, Brooklyn and Bailey portray a wholesome image, which is, in fact, authentic. Even when talking about boys and college life, their content is very clean and family friendly. “We think of our role as a big sister,” says Brooklyn. “Our goal is to have someone leave feeling more confident in themselves, finding out who they are and feeling happy about who they are. It’s easy for girls to compare themselves with others, especially with social media, so our goal is to lift up these girls and make them feel empowered by our videos.” Having watched their mom be tied to one category, they made the conscious decision to let their channel be whatever they wanted, which they describe as a lifestyle/personality channel. However, Bailey says, “Brooklyn and I always had a dream of creating our own mascara,” so in 2016, at the age of sixteen, they began working with a lab to create their own mascara line. “That was the start of our shop,” she says. In late 2017, they began selling their Lash Next Door mascara, adding scrunchies to their online shop at the same time. They have gradually added more hair accessories, and are looking into developing skincare products to add to the line in the near future. The accolades began coming in as

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Brooklyn early as 2015. In February of 2015, Brooklyn & Bailey made Business Insider’s list of “13 YouTubers Who Should Be on your Radar,” followed by a Streamy nomination in the fashion category. More nominations and awards followed over the next few years, including Forbes’ Top Influencers—Kids; a Streamy “Lifestyle” nomination (2018) and “Kids and Family” win (2017); a Shorty Awards nomination for YouTube Ensemble (2019) and YouTube Musician finalist (2018); and winner of the Webbly Awards People’s Voice Webby for Social Celebrity/Fan in 2017. But, it was their People’s Choice Award nomination in 2018 for Beauty Influencer that was most memorable, even though they didn’t win. “It’s one of the bigger nominations you can get as an

influencer, and we got to meet some incredible people. It was amazing to be a part of that crowd and someone the audience thought of for that award,” says Bailey. They got to walk the red carpet and shared the room with the Kardashians, Jimmy Fallon and other A-list celebrities. In 2017, they added singer/ songwriter to their list of achievements. They co-wrote three songs which they put on YouTube, then went on a sixteen-city tour throughout the U.S. every weekend in October, performing the songs and putting on an interactive show for their fans. “It was very hectic and very busy, but it was probably one of the most fun things we’ve ever done,” says Brooklyn. One of the advantages of having their own platform is the ability to bring their passions to life and do things on their dream list they’ve always wanted to do. “This was a passion project,” says Bailey of their music career. “Brooklyn and I have sung and danced our whole lives, and those are two things we’re super passionate about. We were excited to dive into that process.” Their first track, “Dance Like Me”, debuted in March of 2017 and hit the pop charts at number eleven the weekend of its release. The corresponding music video, which was filmed at Lovejoy

High School, garnered over one million views its first day. Brooklyn and Bailey don’t just run a business together—they do everything together, including attending the same college, pursuing the same major, and belonging to the same sorority. “We try our best to make ourselves individuals, but we are very much alike in the way we think and often choose the same things in life in general,” says Brooklyn. However, they have different strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out. Brooklyn is more analytical—good with titles, thumbnails and content development— while Bailey is the creative one who works on scripts, video ideas, makeup and costumes. Brooklyn is a bit of a tomboy and Bailey is more of a girlygirl; Brooklyn has long hair, and Bailey, who is more adventurous with her hair, has shorter hair. “We are best friends and we like doing things together,” says Brooklyn. As the girls entered college last fall, the content of their channel has naturally changed a bit. More recent video topics have included a peek into college life—“10 Things We Don’t Miss About Living at Home,” “The Truth about Sororities,” “What is College Homecoming Like” and most recently, the twins moving out of their dorm and saying goodbye to freshman year. Bailey acknowledges their channel is changing a bit, but not in a bad way. It’s still clean, fun and relatable—to their fans and a growing slightly older audience. “I don’t think we could have ever predicted this would happen or we would be able to do the things we’ve been able to do with our platform, and definitely not at the age of thirteen,” says Bailey. “But looking back, we’re extremely grateful for the opportunity we’ve been given. It’s been amazing, and I can’t wait to see where it will go.” v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen. Photos by Hanna Rose Hun. Allen Image | July 2019

kids korner

Road-Tested Games by Deborah Dove Summer means road trips, airplane rides…and bored kids who can’t stop asking, “Are we there yet?” Games to the rescue. While iPhones and iPads offer some amazing games to entertain kids for hours, make time for a few old-fashioned family games too. Remember, while the destination is the goal, sometimes the best memories are made on the journey.

iPhone and iPad games

One person says a word—any word. The next person has to say a related word. The next player (or first player) then has to say a word related to that one. The goal is to eventually work your way back to the word you started with. License Plate Games Going in alphabetical order, try to find each letter of the alphabet on a license plate. Or, print out a map and let the kids check off each state from which they see a license plate. Twenty Questions Animals One person thinks of an animal and the other players have to guess what it is by asking yes or no questions, such as “Does it have feathers?” or “Does it live at a zoo?” Geography Good for older kids, this game is fun, competitive and educational (they don’t have to know that). One person starts by saying the name of a city, state or country. The next person has to name a city, state or country that starts with the last letter of whatever geographical location the first person named. Play continues until someone gest stumped.

Interactive Car Games

Take Along Games

Scrabble With no tiles to lose between the airplane seats, this virtual classic game is perfect for travel with two modes—Pass N’ Play (against your traveling companion), or Single Player (against a computer with four difficulty levels). 80 Days Why not travel around the world via airship, submarine, camel or train virtually while you’re traveling in a boring old car or train real life. In this interactive novel/game, players must balance their health, finances and time as they choose their path around the world, with plenty of adventures along the way. It costs $4.99 and isn’t good for travelers who get sick while reading, but it’s the most fun you’ll have traveling. What Would You Choose? Fun to play alone or start conversation in the car, this app gives players choices to choose between—would you rather be able to walk on water or breathe under water? Live without toilet paper for a week or live without Wi-Fi for a week? Categories One person names a broad category, such as colors, cartoon TV shows, candy or major league sports teams. The first player names an item in this category, and the next person has a fixed amount of time (five seconds, for example) to name another item. Play proceeds until a player repeats an item or cannot name one within the time limit. Packing a Suitcase This memory game is fun for everyone in the family, as taking turns, you pack a “suitcase” together with items starting with each letter of the alphabet. The trick is you have to remember everything that has already been “packed.” For example, the first person might say “I’m packing my suitcase and I’m taking antiwrinkle spray” (or an apple, or even an astronaut…they can make sense or be silly). The second person has to repeat what has already been said, and add the next item beginning with the next letter. For example, “I’m packing my suitcase and I’m taking anti-wrinkle spray and a band-aid.” Associations This has been one of my daughter’s favorite word games for years! You can play with two to as many players as you want.

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Mad Libs Believe it or not, kids have been creating wacky stories with fillin-the-blank Mad Libs for sixty-five years, and they’re still a favorite. Mad Libs for kids are a great way to kill time in the car (alone or with a sibling), while waiting for food in a restaurant or at the airport and in many more travel scenarios. Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game This card game for kids 7 & up features 54 scavenger hunt cards for things to find on the road, such as a red car, a license plate with the letter ‘’Z’’ or a stop sign. Available on Amazon for $7.99. A Map of the Drive Although not technically a game, kids will love having their very own map of the drive of a road trip to follow along. Simply use Google Maps to print out the map of your drive and highlight the route. If you know of favorite points of interest, cities or stops along the way, make a note so they have something to look forward to periodically. You can also give them a highlighter to mark the route as you drive. v