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Allen Image INSIDE THIS ISSUE June 2019
Volume. 29, Issue 6
FEATURE
Allen Image
18 NOT ALL SUPERHEROES WEAR CAPES
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Bruce Heller is part of an elite international group of less than 200 individuals who are rigorously tested physically, mentally and emotionally, before being accepted to work with Shelter Box.
ADVERTISING SALES
SPECIAL SECTIONS
COVER PHOTO
Barbara Peavy
Sherri Russell Nora Bollman
John Nervig
14 CALENDAR 22 KIDS KORNER
ON THE COVER
Outdoor Parks and Playgrounds
18 15
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Bruce Heller
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marjorie Vaneskian Burr Matt Cobb Heather Darrow Deborah Dove
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6 CIVIC FORUM
6 Market Street Allen USA Celebration 8 Summer Sounds Concert Series 9 Concerts by the Creek
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Paul Reed
Texas Courthouses
New Horizons Band
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Singapore Slingers
America’s First Female Astronaut
Swing Sisters
w w w. a l l e n i m a g e . c o m
A Message from Allen Community Outreach
EDUCATION
24
LIBRARY
4
HELPING HANDS
Rock-Solid Impression
TRAVEL
28
Beaches of the Eastern Gulf Coast
Tom Keener
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
Market Street Allen USA Celebration by Matt Cobb
T
he City of Allen once again will be “First to the Fourth,” kicking off the Independence Day celebration early on the last Saturday in June with live entertainment, delicious food and fun festivities for all ages. The 2019 Market Street Allen USA Celebration presented by Texas Health Allen is FREE to attend and will happen at 4 p.m. on June 29 at Celebration Park. “This will be the ultimate Independence Day celebration,” said Tony Hill, Resource Development Manager for Allen Parks and Recreation. “It will be show time in North Texas with musical acts from the show The Voice, a ninja course with
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contestants from American Ninja Warrior, and even an appearance from a Cowboy football player.” Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a variety of fun festivities! The Ninja Challenge presented by Ninja Nation will include an obstacle course led by American Ninja Warrior contestants. The “Are You as Tough as a Cowboy?” Combine Challenge powered by Michael Johnson Performance will give competitors the opportunity to compete in football combine drills—such as the 40-yard dash—for a chance to meet Cowboy legend Ed “Too Tall” Jones. Music entertainment will include performances from Hannah Kirby and Taylor Phelan from The Voice, and the
Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra will perform Top 40 hits! The Jurassic Zone presented by The Dinosaur Company will be filled with animatronic dinosaurs that provide a sampling of prehistoric fun. Also, the Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm Kid Zone will include inflatables, mechanical rides and a Kid’s Craft Tent. After working up an appetite, the Food Zone presented by Credit Union of Texas has more than typical fair food, ranging from gyros to corndogs and healthy options. Then guests can cool off in the VisitAllenTexas.com Cool Zone and the kidMania Spraygound. There will be Pop-Up Performances presented by Chick-
fil-A Allen, and new this year will be a Car Show presented by Clay Cooley Auto Group. VIP guests will be able to lounge in the Andrews Distributing VIP Party Zone, and there will even be The Tailgate with fun yard games. Honoring those who have served our country, the PFS Military Zone will feature military vehicles and a military salute. Wrapping up the evening will be the Fireworks Finale presented by Harley-Davidson of Dallas in Allen, choreographed to popular and contemporary music. For more information, including parking and transportation, please visit AllenUSA.org. v Matt Cobb is the marketing manager for the City of Allen Parks and Rec Department. Allen Image | June 2019
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Summer Sounds Concert Series by Matt Cobb The Summer Sounds Concert Series is returning to Allen with a diverse lineup of bands, from 7-9 p.m., every Monday in June, outdoors in the Joe Farmer Recreation Center Amphitheater, leading up to Allen’s signature event, Market Street Allen USA Celebration, on June 29. “We are very excited about the diverse lineup of bands performing at this year’s Summer Sounds Concert Series,” said Anna-Marie Vermeire, Special Events Coordinator for Allen Parks and Recreation. “ Also, In-N-Out Burger will be serving free burger meals to the first 1,000 guests on June 3, 10 and 24, and a Food Truck Day will be held on June 17 offering a variety of delicious meal options for purchase.” Kicking off the Summer Sounds
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concert lineup on June 3 will be D City Rock, who will be performing fun classic rock hits with a music catalogue that includes the Eagles, Journey, Tom Petty and ZZ Top. Following on June 10, the eightpiece group, Memphis Soul, will bring the best hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Frank Sinatra. Having performed with musicians from Earth, Wind and Fire and The Supremes, Memphis Soul has been billed as Dallas’ top Motown band. Next up on June 17 will be a warm-up performance for 2019 Market Street Allen USA Celebration by Hannah Kirby, who went national on Season 8 of The Voice and has already been heralded as a great Texas blues and rock singer. Also
performing that night will be Texas singer-songwriter Michael Carubelli, who has shared the stage with acts including Aaron Watson, the Eli Young Band and Roger Creager. The final performance of the concert series will be on June 24 by Party Machine, who will put on a fun, upbeat show with your favorite Top 40 hits and more. Party Machine is a branch of the Dallas cover group Emerald City Band, and is known for their high-energy and fun shows. Hosted annually by the City of Allen and Allen Parks and Rec, the concerts are open to all ages and completely free to attend. For more details, please visit LifeInAllen.org. v Matt Cobb is the marketing manager for the City of Allen Parks and Rec Department.
Concerts by the Creek
Join us for Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms’ popular, free, outdoor music series, Concerts by the
Creek. All concerts are 7-9 p.m., on The Green. The spring series features: June 1—All Funk Radio Show
(Motown/R&B); June 8—The Slim Chance Band (Classic Rock); June 15—Southern Couch Band (Country Pop); June 22—Desperado (Eagles Tribute Band); Friday, June 28—Allen Philharmonic Winds Patriotic Pops. Blankets allowed for comfortable seating. All outdoor chairs must sit to the side or back of the lawn so as not to block the view of another guests. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be cancelled. A determination of weather-altered plans will be made by 3 p.m. on the day of the concert. Check our Facebook page for updates the day of the concert. Watters Creek is located at the intersection of US 75 at Bethany Drive in the heart of Allen, Texas. For more information, call 972.747.8000 or visit www.watterscreek.com. v
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library
The Allen Public Library presents… by Tom Keener
Paul Reed
Texas Courthouses
Hear the harrowing combat stories and path to healing of Vietnam veteran Sergeant Paul Reed in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, at the library. Sgt. Reed is the author of Kontum Diary, and includes a lengthy forward by the late General William Westmoreland. Serving from February 1968 to February 1969, Sgt. Reed participated in horrific military campaigns in which he recalls, “the threat of venomous snakes and death from snipers were constant.” Although he was a recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Parachute Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, like many military men and women at that time, Sgt. Reed was confronted by offensive and rude comments upon returning to the United States. A Dallas native, Sgt. Reed soon experienced classic symptoms of PTSD. His mother returned a box of things he had captured from a Vietcong soldier and left with her years before. The contents of that box—the writings of that Vietcong soldier— would change his life forever. Today, Sgt. Reed mentors and counsels veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and Viet Nam. In 2017, he received the Congressional Veteran Commendation. v
Visit the courthouses of Texas from the comfort of the library’s auditorium in a free program at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 27. Texas has 254 counties and each courthouse has a unique history. From the majestic edifices of Bexar, Comal, Caldwell, Dallas and Tarrant counties to modem construction, join Allen residents John and Anne Gifford as they give a guided tour. Hear the stories of the demise of clock towers and their resurgence and Hudspeth County with the only county that has an adobe exterior. When asked about their favorite courthouse, their response was unanimous—Caldwell County because of its beauty (see photograph). Anne and John are members of the Allen Heritage Guild. A retired schoolteacher, Anne is a board member of the Texas Lakes Trail and assists the Collin County Historical Society with grant writing. v
New Horizons Band Experience the exciting sounds of the New Horizons Band of Dallas in a free concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 21, at the library. Offering marches, patriotic songs, collections from Broadway, love songs, and popular tunes, the concert promises a delightful evening of musical memories. With over 65 musicians, New Horizons Band of Dallas rehearses Fridays at the Carrollton Senior Center. Most of the band members performed in their high school and college bands, graduated and then pursued careers. Later, they resumed their musical interests with the New Horizons Band. Band director Lorenzo Parker has taught music in the Dallas Independent School District for decades, including Hillcrest and Molina High Schools, where his bands received superior and excellent ratings in competition. The New Horizons Band performs at retirement centers, churches, and schools, including the Veterans Hospital and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. v
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Singapore Slingers
America’s First Female Astronaut
Prepare for daring grooves of original jazz in a free program with The Singapore Slingers at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at the library. Combining the rhythms of the 20s and 30s with the edgy energy of contemporary music, The Singapore Slingers captivate audiences with amazing fox trots, waltzes, marches, one-steps, twosteps, rags, tangos and rumbas. For a special treat, Michele Guess and Marcela Mercer, granddaughters of the famed vocalist and actor Smith Ballew will introduce the concert. Smith Ballew recorded the song “As Time Goes By” for The Columbians Dance Orchestra in 1931. The song achieved legendary status when Sam (Dooley Wilson) performed it for the classic film Casa Blanca. Dave Oliphant, author of Texas Jazz and Jazz Mavericks of the Lone Star State, will discuss Smith Ballew’s musical legacy via Skype. The Singapore Slingers has performed at the Sons of Hermann Hall, Kessler Theatre, Pocket Sandwich Theatre and a host of festivals throughout the nation. Specializing in the baritone and bass sax, director Matt Tolentino is a true multi-instrumentalist, equally at home on accordion, clarinet, tuba, piano, tenor guitar, banjo and saxophones. He brings the music of yesterday to the audience of today with playful authenticity. v
Most Americans can name at least one of the Mercury 7 astronauts who were the first to fly into outer space, but what about the women who were considered for this endeavor? Wally Funk had “the right stuff,” but was denied the possibility of traveling into outer space because of her gender. In the early 60s, 13 women endured secret tests to determine if they could become astronauts. The Mercury 13, as they are now known, underwent and passed the same rigorous mental and physical tests as the men of Mercury 7. Featured on the BBC, NPR and Netflix, Ms. Funk is in high demand as a speaker. An aviator for over 63 years and a member of the Mercury 13, she will share her story in a free program at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 29, at the library. Women lobbied the White House and Congress for inclusion in the astronaut program, even appearing before a congressional committee. The highly respected playwright Clare Booth Luce wrote an article for LIFE magazine publicizing the Mercury 13 women and criticizing NASA. Ms. Funk will reveal the “excuses” given as to why women could not be selected. As a result of this bias, the Soviet Union beat America in 1963 with the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. v
Smith Ballew Films After departing the music industry, Smith Ballew became a singing cowboy. Two of his films, Rawhide and Hawaiian Buckaroo, will be featured in the library’s auditorium at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 18. Rawhide (1938), starring baseball legend Lou Gehrig and Smith Ballew, is the only Hollywood film in which Gehrig made a screen appearance, playing himself as a vacationing ballplayer visiting his sister on a ranch in the fictional town of Rawhide, Montana. Rawhide premiered in March 1938 in St. Petersburg, Florida, while the New York Yankees were in town for their annual spring training. Hawaiian Buckaroo (1938), starring Smith Ballew, Evalyn Knapp, Pat O’Brien, George Regas and Benny Burt, combined cowboys and cows amidst Hawaiian scenery and song and produced a delightful film. 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 | June 2019
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helping hands
A Message from… ighbor, Dear ACO Friend and Ne itating injury. car accident with a debil A . er th mo gle sin ng gli Real life. A strug me and a warm meal. ho fe sa a of ed ne in n re . Job loss. Child mom, Diagnosis of colon cancer us. For Megan, an Allen of y an to en pp ha d ul co tions All of these real life situa e tragedies at once. r right leg. she was facing all of thes r accident that injured he ca a ter af job r he t los s alone, A year ago, Megan e had colon cancer. She wa sh ed rn lea e sh y, jur in r the state While being treated for he rgery, she got a call from su ’s an eg M re fo be y da e Th use and with two young children. to live after suffering ab ce pla a g in ed ne , 10 d 9 an about her nephews ages 6, just too much for Megan, en be ve ha d ul co is th of home. All neglect in their temporary ). Community Outreach (ACO egan began had it not been for Allen After contacting ACO, M through our pantry, receiving food assistance rticipate in our Kids and she was thrilled to pa ere her daughter and Summer Food program, wh of kid-friendly food nephews all received bags ring the summer. items every other week du ed coming to ACO “My youngest nephew lov dies” and the first to pick up his bag of “goo h was the macaroni thing he wanted for lunc tance thing and new shoes assis clo s, lie pp su l oo sch he “T egan. and cheese cups!,” said M the fall.” family to begin school in my r fo g vin sa elif so al were neighbors like you and om fr lp he th wi d an , in remission as they Today, Megan’s cancer is w to deal with struggles ho g in rn lea d an n, re ild ch could ACO, she is raising four d have been more than we ul wo s ge len al ch e es th of t one to come. For many of us, jus e. Soon, she will be back nc ta sis as r fo k as to e er m knew wh r. face, but this resilient mo , ACO will be here for he en th il nt U t. fee r he on e this, work full-time and back insecurity or tragedies lik od fo g cin fa s lie mi fa l al ACO While ACO can’t reach of children like Megan’s. ds re nd hu lp he ly in ta cer we can together with your help, 12
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also offers programs and services for income suppor t assistance with rent, ut clothing and medical visits ilities, . Education and Employm en t se rv ices go beyond immediate needs to offer guidance an d coaching for long-term se lfsufficiency. BUT WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU . These services are made through local donations fr possible om YOU. Please GIVE W HE RE YO U LIVE this summer an support the families and d individuals in need. Below are a few ways you can ge t involved: 1. Make a positive differe nce by hosting a Give Whe re You Live party to benefit ACO. “I hosted a Give Where You Live party at my ho use last summer and invited my ne ighbors. We had a great time. I got to meet new neighbors, helpe d raise awareness about ACO and also raised donations to suppor t this great mission.” (Amy Gnadt, ACO Board President) 2. Be a Social Fundraiser for ACO using a Facebook page. Tracey Cline, a member of our Development Council and a longtime friend of our organization, has been ho sting a Birthday Fundraiser for ACO for the past two ye ars, and we are grateful for her su pport and others like her. 3. Volunteer. Fill out the online Volunteer Form at www. acocares.org and join our 3,000+ caring volunteer s who together give more than 21 ,000 hours of service ev ery year. “I am so appreciative of all the help that ACO ha s offered me and my wife, and we really like to give back by volunteering to support th e community,” shared John Bettinger, a committed volunteer wh o helps at the Food Pantry weekly. Please visit our website ww w.acocares.org today to ge t involved! Together we ca many local families preven n help t hunger and homelessnes s and coach them towards security. financial Many thanks,
Marjorie Vaneskahian Bu rr Chief Executive Officer
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calendar
JUNE 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, (Sept-May), 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, 78:45 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. June program: David Damaske of Beaker Pharmacy will discuss the compounding pharmacy and how it differs from a regular pharmacy. 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. June program: The Texas Central High-Speed Train: Connecting people, creating jobs and a new American industry. 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, 11am-12:30 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 needlework 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.
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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, 7:308:30 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.
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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 amnoon, 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-athome 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 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.
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feature
Not All
Wear Capes by Deborah Dove
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Part of an elite international group of less than 200 individuals who are rigorously tested physically, mentally and emotionally before being accepted, Bruce Heller receives a phone call from headquarters at his home in Allen. He’s quickly briefed and given a checklist and a packing list.
Within 48 hours, he’s on a plane heading halfway across the world. The destination may or may not be exotic, but it will most certainly be dangerous. He spends the 18- to 20-hour flight trying to prepare for the unpreparable, because when the plane lands, he has to hit the ground running. There’s no time for jet lag at the other end. He’ll be deployed for two to three weeks, and when he returns, he won’t be quite the same person he was when he left. It will take some time for him to decompress, to readjust to the business world and its first-world problems after the things he’s seen and experienced. While it sounds like some covert Special Ops mission worthy of a Navy SEAL, or perhaps even a bit James Bond-like, in reality, Bruce Heller is a very ordinary guy with an extraordinary mission—he’s a volunteer and team leader for Shelter Box, a UK-based humanitarian organization that provides emergency disaster relief to people around the world who have been made homeless by natural disasters and conflict. Since Heller began working with Shelter Box in 2012, he has been deployed nine times. He has helped Somalian refugees displaced by drought in Kenya and Syrians seeking safety from the conflict in their own war-torn country in Iraq. He’s been to parts of Peru along the Amazon that can only be accessed by boat or plane, as well as the Philippines, Fiji and Haiti, assisting hundreds displaced by typhoons, cyclones, floods and other natural disasters. In between deployments, he evaluates, tests and
trains new volunteers and completes monthly mandatory continuing education, all while running his own real estate development company, JaRyCo Development. His company has built numerous commercial properties throughout the metroplex, including the DART headquarters in Dallas and more than a dozen properties in Allen. He also serves on the U.S. Board of Directors for Shelter Box and as an ambassador, traveling the country to raise funds and awareness for the organization. So, how exactly does a middleaged businessman become superhero, saving lives around the world? For the Chicago native, who moved to Allen with his wife, Cynthia, in 1986, it began innocently enough at a Rotary Club meeting. Heller had volunteered in the past locally for Habitat for Humanity, but when the Allen Sunrise Rotary Club donated money to Shelter Box to help those affected by the earthquake that
devastated Haiti in 2010, he became interested in the organization and applied to volunteer.
About Shelter Box Shelter Box was founded nineteen years ago by an ex-Royal Navy diver in Great Britain who saw how aid was being distributed around the world after disasters and thought it could be done better. Instead of throwing food out of the back of a truck while people scrambled for it, he envisioned helping them recover not only physically, but also emotionally, and in a way that restored their dignity. He took the idea to his Rotary Club, and Shelter Box was born. Back then, the organization put together a green box that contained the basic necessities for shelter—a tent, a stove, blankets, ground cloths and things to cook with. The current Shelter Box offers more than one solution. There are four different types of tents (depending on the Allen Image | June 2019
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environment and needs)—shelter repair kits and boxes include solar lights and water purification kits. “There’s nothing magic in that box,” Heller says. “It’s basic stuff, but if you just lost your house, it’s what lets you start over. And, when we’re handing that aid to families, for free with no strings attached, it shows them that someone cares.” The process to become a Shelter Box volunteer is grueling; not for the feint of heart. After filling out a long application and passing an extensive reference and background check, candidates participate in a two-hour interview where, according to Heller, “they ask all kinds of things you could never ask in a corporate interview.” Heller’s not at liberty to disclose the details of the four-day evaluation that follows should you pass the screening interview, but he says candidates are tested physically, emotionally and mentally to ensure they can withstand the pressures of the intense situations they will be thrown into as volunteers. Many don’t pass (during the last evaluation Heller conducted, only four of eighteen candidates made it through to the next level), but those that do then spend nine days in the UK working alongside Royal Marine commandos under similar conditions. Candidates are sleep-deprived and, according to Heller, “We try to break them. We don’t want you to fly
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halfway around the world as a part of team of four and then not be able to cut it.” After acceptance into the program, volunteers then put themselves on call whenever they’re available. Teams of two to four volunteers are deployed for two to three weeks at a time, and are then rotated out and replaced by a new team. The majority of team members are from the U.S. or the UK, with a handful from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Europe, and they come from all walks of life. Volunteers range in age from fresh college graduates to those in their sixties and beyond.
Heller’s Shelter Box Journey Begins With a degree in architecture and his own development business, Bruce Heller applied to become a volunteer, thinking Shelter Box could use his skills. He was accepted and quickly became a team leader but, he says with a laugh, “I don’t think my skills had anything to do with it.” Instead, he says, they’re looking for individuals with leadership skills who can make good decisions in chaotic situations and who get along with their team members. Each mission is different, and there’s no manual for dealing with earthquakes and typhoons. “You end up being able to do stuff
you never thought you could do,” Heller says. When a Shelter Box response team arrives, the first order of business is making contact and meeting with the country’s government officials. According to Heller, sometimes it gets political when governments don’t want to be seen as needing aid. Once “in country,” the organization—which doesn’t pay bribes or accept government funding because they don’t want to be told who to help—assesses the situation and figures out logistics. Is the aid they can provide helpful? How will they get the supplies in and will they arrive in a timely manner? (Shelter Boxes are pre-deployed and housed in warehouses around the world for easier accessibility during times of crisis) Will it be used appropriately? Then it’s a matter of getting the shelter boxes to the people so they have a place to live and cook postdisaster. The Shelter Box team must determine who needs it most, because there’s never enough. The sick, elderly, ill and single, pregnant and nursing mothers top the list. Shelter Box often teams up with other organizations that provide food or medicine. Sometimes governments step in to help. Following the biggest storm that ever hit the Pacific Coast in Fiji two years ago, Heller led the first team in to help. The New Zealand Air Force flew the supplies in from where
they were housed in New Zealand to Fiji. Other times, they don’t, even when it’s their own people needing help. It can be dangerous for the volunteers, not only because of the conditions inherent to a disaster area, but because they may be taken for ransom. Sometimes they’re escorted by heavily-armed police or the military. Taking precautions such as never going the same way twice or leaving at the same time becomes second nature. Heller recalls Mindanao Island in the Philippines being the most dangerous of the missions he’s been on because of political unrest caused by Islamic terrorist groups on the island, and a communist party trying to overthrow the government. Heller can get choked up thinking about the things he’s seen and the experiences he’s had. “It works on you emotionally a little bit,” he says, adding that there’s never enough to help everyone. “It’s a wake-up call. We don’t realize how good we have it.” His deployment to Iraq, helping 45,000 Syrian refugees crossing the border to escape their own war-torn country, was particularly memorable for Heller. Not only because he got to know the people he helped there so well, but also because it made him realize how quickly life can change for all of us. “These were accountants, teachers, taxi drivers, professionals who were living a life similar to ours, then a war broke out and changed everything. In a matter of months, the most beautiful place to live became a hell.” He often wishes he could go back and see what has happened to the people he’s met. But, although he’s seen people in the worst situations of their life, Bruce Heller has also seen them at their best. “Disaster brings out the best in people,” he says, citing the immense gratitude of the Peruvian people along the Amazon that Shelter Box helped, to the Filipinos whom he watched help others erect their tents before their own. “It’s tremendous to watch.” To donate to Shelter Box or apply to volunteer, visit www.shelterboxusa.org. v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen. Allen Image | June 2019
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kids korner
Outdoor Parks and Playgrounds by Deborah Dove Playing outside gives kids the obvious health benefits of exercise and active play, but also makes children happier, calmer, more social, more independent, more creative, and more successful! Here’s a collection of the best playgrounds to explore in Allen and beyond.
The Village at Fairview Fountain
329 Fountain Place, Fairview (northeast corner of Stacy Road and Hwy 75) www.fairviewtowncenter.com The Fountain at the Village at Fairview offers plenty of room for kids to run and play in multiple water “fountains” that spurt up from the ground. The Village also offers special activities for kids throughout the summer, including fountain shows nightly at 7 and 8 pm. The Summer Kids Entertainment Series on Tuesdays at 11 am brings exciting programs like a magic show, bubbles, animal shows, mad science and more. Thursdays are free kid movie days at The Park at 10:30 am, and Friday night “Kids’ Nights,” from 6-8 pm, offer entertainment extras like glitter tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, jugglers, clowns and more.
Celebration Park
Malone and Angel Parkway, Allen Definitely the biggest (and most colorful) park in Allen, Celebration offers a sprawling multi-leveled playground, including the largest handicap-accessible playground in Texas. There’s also a fun spray ground, plenty of open space to fly a kite or kick a soccer ball, and wooded trails to explore.
Waterford Park
1225 Hueco Drive, Allen A perennial kids’favorite, the crowning jewel of this neighborhood playground is the giant rocket ship play structure with two threestory enclosed tube slides, three different climbing walls and a steep straight slide for the brave-hearted. A separate play structure for younger children features a mini rock wall, swings and rocket rideons, while the creek behind the playground is the perfect place to explore and practice rock skipping. The park is nicely landscaped, and there are paved trails for bike riding or scootering.
Bethany Lakes Park
745 S. Allen Heights, Allen This park features a “big kid” play structure with lots of slides, bridges and climbing features, plus a separate toddler area and a huge boulder to climb. Lots of trails wind around the picturesque lakes, and there are always hungry ducks to feed. During the summer, kids can play on the lawn of the amphitheater while mom and dad listen to music during the city’s Summer Sound Concert series (visit www.allenspecialevents.org for a schedule).
Watters Creek
970 Garden Park Drive, Allen In addition to the Village Green—a large open green space with room to run and bronze statues and rocks to climb—kids will love the Treehouse play area, a giant tree house complete with a slide
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and tunnel. Free “Kids Club” activities (suitable for ages 2-6) are held on the third Thursday of each month from 11-11:45 am, with themed craft activities, treats and entertainment.
Twin Creeks Park
803 Shallowater Drive, Allen Although relatively small, the two zip lines make this park a standout. There’s also a small climbing rock and playground equipment.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
6701 W. Parker Road, Plano There’s no better place to escape city life and explore the outdoors than this beautiful 200-acre park with nature hike trails (3-mile paved hiking trail and 3-mile unpaved hiking trail), a 2.8-mile offroad bike trail, playground and geocaching. Slightly hilly with trees, creeks and wildlife, it’s the perfect place to play and have a picnic.
Frisco Commons Park
8000 McKinney Road, Frisco There’s a lot to love about this park with three separate play areas geared to different age groups. In addition to the huge playground with little buildings to play in, there’s also a splash pad, a fishing pond, a hiking trail that winds through the woods and a Veteran’s Memorial with a huge rotating granite ball on water.
Frontier Park
1551 Frontier Parkway, Prosper Nicknamed “the windmill park,” this playground has a ropes course, ladders and little playhouses to enter, all named after Prosper businesses. This almost 80-acre park also has a splash pad, a decent amount of shade and a half-mile trail.
Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rogers Freeway, Dallas (www.klydewarrenpark.org) Where else can you play over a highway in the shadow of skyscrapers? Despite being in the heart of downtown Dallas, this 5.2-acre public park over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway offers plenty of space to play. In addition to green space to run, it features a reading and games outdoor room and the Children’s Playground, with spider web-like playground equipment to climb, turf-covered hills to slide down and a water feature to splash in. Free activities are offered periodically—larger-than-life playground blocks on the great lawn, balloon animals, science experiments hosted by the Perot Museum, music, stories and more. Top off your visit with a gourmet popsicle from Steel City Pops. v
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education
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Rock-Solid Impression Ancient Footprints Forge New Future by Heather Darrow
More than 200 million years ago our planet went through a major extinction. Unique creatures vanished from the land, sea and air — never to be seen again. The Triassic-Jurassic extinction paved the way for dinosaurs to flourish. While these marvels of flesh and bone diversified and roamed the earth, tiny insects invaded fresh water lakes for the first time, making their mark on the world via miniature, fossilized footprints.
Regardless of the size or species, one thing is certain—life is ephemeral— and according to Dr. Patrick Getty, Collin College professor of geology, it may be more fleeting than we think because we are in an extinction period right now. “There are species going extinct every day,” Getty said as he pointed out that the last member of a particular species of tree snail, Achatinella apexfulva, died on the first day of 2019. “Ecological diversity has decreased significantly because of human influence. We affect the environment, and animals respond to that.” Getty is a paleontologist and an ichnologist, a person who studies trace fossils such as fossilized footprints. “What’s interesting about trace fossils is that they give us a lot of information about behavior,” said Getty, who is studying aquatic insect trace fossils which represent the time right after an extinction event 201 million years ago. “Trace fossils can tell us what animals were doing in the early Jurassic Period. We can see what life does to recover from a major crisis, how it rebounds from extinction events.”
Creating a career from a hobby As a young boy, Collin College student John Burnett loved dinosaurs. His room was filled with dinosaur books, toys and stuffed animals. As time went on, he began collecting fossils. Until he took Professor Getty’s historical geology class, Burnett saw his interest in the distant past as a hobby not a career. Today, Burnett is majoring in biology and plans to become a paleontologist. He recently completed two semesters of undergraduate research via the college’s Center for the Advanced Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (CASMNS). “When I joined CASMNS it became really interesting because my childhood interest in fossils was sparked again,” Burnett said. “I had the opportunity to compare two species and see that they really are one species. It was interesting figuring out the taxonomy. Through the process, I learned a lot about what paleontologists do. As a kid, you think they dig things up, and boom it is in a museum. But there is a data side; you have to be really meticulous.” Allen Image | June 2019
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The thrill of the hunt Burnett recorded trace fossil measurements of a possible ancestor of the water boatmen insect. He presented his work via a poster presentation at the Collin Stem Research Symposium (CSRS). According to Getty, Burnett’s research took two approaches to studying ancient insects, addressing behavior and taxonomy. Burnett took measurements of the insect tracks by using software and photographs of trace fossils collected by 19th century ichnological pioneer Edward Hitchcock. “As far as I am aware, this is the first trace fossil record of this particular group of insects, early water boatmen or insects that swam the same sort of way as water boatmen,” Getty said. “In the early Jurassic Period there are body records of water boatmen or similar insects of that time.”
According to Getty, water boatmen are herbivorous and will not sting or hurt people. Today, he said, this insect frequently invades swimming pools, but millions of years ago it played an important ecological role when it and other insects first began to make lakes their home. “Fishermen know many fish feed on insects and insect larvae,” Getty said. “Insects getting into the lakes formed a very important part of the ecosystem. If you were around 200 million years ago, or before then, you wouldn’t see the same ecological system because there weren’t many insects in the lakes. After this point, lakes became like what we see in modern times.” Having the opportunity to share this knowledge with students through undergraduate research is one of the aspects that attracted Getty to apply for a position at Collin College. “It is really impressive that Collin College has the CASMNS program,”
said Getty, who began teaching at the college in 2017. “I really enjoy research as well as the opportunity to engage students in research. Most community colleges do not have that option. As a first-generation college student, I am most proud of my associate degree because it was a big, scary deal when I graduated from high school.” Working one-on-one with a professor on research has been a priceless experience for Burnett, but the best is yet to come. Professor Getty and Burnett are working on a paper which will be submitted to a scientific journal. “It is amazing that I could work with a professor on a project and it could become a published paper,” Burnett said. “It is awesome that Collin College provides the opportunity for students and professors to do that. It really opens up your future.” “With all of my CASMNS students, the goal is to submit work to publications,” Getty said. “I had that opportunity as an undergraduate, and it jump-started my career working as a paleontologist.” Burnett’s future is steeped in the past. Footprints of insects that lived millions of years ago have changed his career trajectory, offering him the opportunity to transform his favorite pastime into a career. “These creatures existed,” Burnett said. “We’re trying to discover what they were and how they came about. It is interesting that we can find out so much about creatures we’ve never seen. Maybe someone will be doing that about us eventually.” For more information about the college’s CASMNS program, visit https://www.collin.edu/academics/ casmns. For more information about Collin College, visit Collin.edu. v Heather Darrow is a public relations writer at Collin College. Photos Nick Young, Collin College photographer.
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travel
Beaches of the Eastern Gulf Coast by Deborah Dove
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There’s something about the sound of the waves lapping on the shoreline, the seagulls in the distance, the wind lightly blowing, and the sun shining down on you just really helps you relax, unwind and disconnect from real life. As Texans, we have Galveston, Corpus Christi, and even South Padre, but Texas beaches lack the powdery white sands and clear water that Florida and Alabama beaches are known for. Luckily, the Florida panhandle and coast of Alabama—no further than South Padre—offers the beautiful white sand beaches, emerald water and laid-back beach town vibe you’re craving. So pack your swimsuit and flip-flops and check out these beautiful Gulf Coast beaches that are just a road trip away.
Destin, Florida Located in the heart of the Emerald Coast, aptly named for its brilliant-hued water, Destin is undeniably the most popular Gulf Coast beach destination. And it’s no wonder. With stunning sugar-white sand beaches, clear emerald-green water, world-famous fishing, and some of the best dining and shopping anywhere, it’s every beach lover’s dream come true. Everyone is really there for the beach, but there are also plenty of activities when you grow tired of lolling on the beach with your toes in the sand. Parasailing and wave runners allow visitors to enjoy the water and beach, while Emerald Coast Scuba offers family-friendly snorkel trips as well as scuba diving. The underwater world of the Gulf of Mexico is teeming with life, and it’s not uncommon to see a variety of rays, brightly colored fish, nurse sharks and sea turtles. Several outfits offer affordable snorkel cruises, as well as sunset cruises, and if you book one on a Thursday evening, you’ll have the perfect vantage point to watch the city of Destin’s weekly fireworks show. Known as “the world’s luckiest fishing village,” fishing is both popular and plentiful is Destin, whether you’re casting a line from the beach or
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booking a fishing charter. A variety of dolphin tours via wave runner or glass bottom boat provide up-close encounters of these popular sea mammals. And, no trip to Destin is complete without a visit to Crab Island, an underwater sandbar at the entrance of the Choctawhatchee Bay where tourists can snorkel the shallow waters, jet ski, kayak, paddleboard, play on one of the inflatable obstacle courses, watch live music on the floating stage or stay hydrated at one of the floating bars or restaurants. When you want a break from the sand and sea, the historic Destin Harbor Boardwalk offers stunning views of the harbor and boats and a variety of restaurants, live music, shops and activities such as a zipline and many chartered water activities. Be sure and visit Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant, with waterfront seating, live music and tasty tropical drinks.
Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama Although less well-known than Destin, Gulf Shores and neighboring Orange Beach, Alabama, boast the same beautiful white beaches and turquoise water, but without the crowds. If your budget allows, spring for a gulf-front condo on the beach to avoid having to walk across the highway to get to the beach, and to take advantage of moonlit walks on the beach and watching dolphins swim by from your balcony. Affordable options such as Sugar Beach Condos (which typically average around $140 per night) are there if you look for them. In addition to plenty of beach and water activities—parasailing, dolphin cruises, sailing charters, sunset cruises and fishing charters—there are plenty of other kid-friendly attractions. Waterville USA is a small waterpark where you can cool off during the day, and even teens will love Adventure
Island, with go karts, bumper boats, laser tag, an arcade, paddle boats and a five-story volcano that periodically erupts with fire and sound. As an added bonus, Pensacola is only a 30- to 45-minute drive away. Here you’ll find one of the most untamed sections of northwest Florida’s coastline protected by the National Park Service, where endangered shorebirds and turtles nest, and where three reefs offer a glimpse of the teeming sea life below. Pensacola is also home to the National Naval Aviation Museum, where visitors can see over 150 beautifully restored aircraft and watch the Blue Angels practice their aerial feats. Members of the Blue Angels usually meet fans and sign autographs inside the National Naval Aviation Museum following most Wednesday practices.
Panama City Beach, Florida Once considered the party hotspot of the Florida Panhandle, Panama City Beach is reinventing itself as a more family-friendly beach that still offers lots of fun with a dose of adventure. Panama City Beach has 27 miles of beaches to choose from, with over 100 access points for sunsoaked days and water sports galore. Renowned for its historic off-shore wrecks and artificial reefs to explore, there are several dive outfits such as Panama City Diving or Dive Locker that you can book for excursions. Panama City Beach also has one of the highest concentrations of bottlenose dolphins in the world. You can book a dolphin cruise to see these amazing creatures in the wild, such as Allen Image | June 2019
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the Paradise Adventure’s catamaran cruise of the Grand Lagoon with a visit to a wild dolphin “playground,” where guests can watch dolphins feed, dive and swim alongside the
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boat, followed by a snorkeling session off Shell Island. You can also interact in the water with dolphins, stingrays and sea lions at the Gulf World Marine Park (they also have shows and animal feedings), or book a oncein-a-lifetime, one-day, wild dolphin swim tour with Water Planet USA. Panama City Beach now even has its own winery, The Panama City Beach Winery, featuring citrus-based wine made with 100 percent fruit. Sample wines such as Key Lime, Kiwi and Mango at their free tastings that are offered daily, with no reservation
required. You’ll also want to splurge on an over-the-top milkshake from The Yard Milkshake Bar at Pier Park, with offerings such as the 5 Pieyow— praline pecan ice cream in a chocolate iced jar topped with whipped cream, crushed pecans, fudge and maple syrup drizzle, chocolate-dipped bacon and waffle on top. And with a coastline that angles slightly toward the west, you can watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico every day of the year. v Deborah Dove is a freelance writer from Allen.