Keller - Roanoke - Northeast Fort Worth | November 2023

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Keller Roanoke Northeast Fort Worth Edition VOLUME 5, ISSUE 7 NOV. 28DEC. 20, 2023

2023 Higher Education Guide

One of the new buildings features a “learning staircase” where professors can hold class, and students can collaborate with each other.

MARK FADDENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Tarrant County College’s Northwest campus gets new spaces

their place.” The new facilities will blend the latest in edu- cation technology with open and multipurpose spaces designed to support modern learning, ocials said.

all four will wrap up by 2026. “An engineering study showed that it would be less expensive to replace the buildings rather than undertake repairs,” Vice Chancellor Emeritus Bill Lace said. “As a result, the four core buildings are being demolished, and four new buildings will take

BY MARK FADDEN

In the wake of a March 2016 wind storm, four buildings that were constructed in 1976 on Tarrant County College’s Northwest campus in Fort Worth needed to be replaced. Seven years later, two of the four buildings are completed, and construction on

CONTINUED ON 13

Also in this issue

Impacts: New diner opens in Northeast Fort Worth (Page 6)

Government: Police recruitment eorts explored (Page 9)

Events: Local and regional things to do for the holidays (Pages 2425)

Business: Fencing business marks six years (Page 26)

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Correction: Volume 5, Issue 6 A map on Page 6 incorrectly showed where The UPS Store is located. It is located at 720 US 377, Ste. 140, Roanoke.

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35W

Impacts

377

Northeast Fort Worth

dentistry and Invisalign and is open seven days a week. • Opened in October • 3200 Tracewood Way, Ste. 100, Fort Worth • www.weekenddentistryedc.com 3 Black Bear Diner The Alliance area-restaurant features breakfast, lunch and dinner options. • Opened mid-November • 9501 N. Freeway, Fort Worth • www.blackbeardiner.com 4 Carhartt The outdoor apparel shop opened its second store in Texas in the Alliance area of Fort Worth. • Opened Nov. 13 • 2217 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth • www.carhartt.com

TROPHY CLUB DR.

114

LAKE GRAPEVINE

BYRON NELSON BLVD.

Roanoke

SOLANA BLVD.

TROPHY LAKE DR.

DOVERD.

170

WESTPORT PKWY.

OTTINGER RD.

SAM SCHOOL RD.

BLUE MOUND RD. E.

TIMBERLAND BLVD.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

RANDOL MILL AVE.

ALTA VISTA RD.

T H LAKEBLVD.

KELLER PKWY.

Coming soon

HARMON RD.

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

CONTINENTAL BLVD.

35W

E. HILL ST.

377

5 Good Company Coffee The coffee shop will offer coffee, pastries and reservable meeting space. • Opening in early 2024 • 5729 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth • www.gccoffeehouse.com 6 Houghton Horns The instrument shop owners will renovate a vacant funeral home into a performance hall and retail store. • Opening 2024 • 137 E. Hill St., Keller • www.houghtonhorns.com 7 Siemens The company will establish a manufacturing plant that will make low-voltage switchgear and switchboards. • Construction to start 2024 • 7200 Harris Legacy Drive, Fort Worth • www.siemens.com

BONDS RANCH RD.

G E R D R .

SHADY GROVE RD.

287

E. HARMON RD.

Keller

TARRANT PKWY.

HARRIS LEGACY DR.

HIGHTOWER DR.

WESTERN CENTER BLVD.

WATAUGA RD.

MID CITIES BLVD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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Now open

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Relocations

In the news

Now open

8 Cook Children’s Pediatrics The clinic has relocated to Trophy Club Town Center. It provides well checks, immunizations, school and sports physicals, injury treatment, and more. • Opened Oct. 11 • 2300 Hwy. 114 Ste., 300, Trophy Club • www.cookchildrens.org 9 Jolley Orthodontics The company moved to a new office across the parking lot from the previous location. It offers comprehensive orthodontic treatments. • Opened Oct. 31 • 925 Trophy Club Drive, Ste. 100, Trophy Club • www.jolleybraces.com

11 Solana Hills Zoning for a new housing development near The Plaza at Solana was approved. The proposed project will offer 55 single-family detached homes on 32.88 acres of land. • Located between Sam School Road and SH 114 • www.lovettcommercial.com 12 Kroger Kroger officials reopened the store in northeast Fort Worth after renovations to enhance decor aesthetics. • Reopened Oct. 18 • 5241 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth • www.kroger.com

14 Rosati’s Pizza The restaurant expanded in to Trophy Club. It serves different styles of pizza, including Chicago deep dish, as well as Italian beef sandwiches, pasta and wings. Rosati’s opened seven months after Trophy Club City Council approved its request for a liquor license in February. The restaurant opened its first location in 1964 in Chicago with recipes passed down from generations. • Opened Aug. 29 • 2210 Hwy. 114, Ste. 250, Trophy Club • www.myrosatis.com

Closings

Expansions

13 Shannon Brewing Company The Keller brewery has closed. Shannon Carter opened the brewery in Keller in 2014, brewing beer by fire and producing thousands of barrels per year. • Closed Nov. 8 • 818 N. Main St., Keller • www.shannonbrewing.com

10 DrinkPak DrinkPak is expanding with two facilities in the Dallas- Fort Worth area, including one in Northeast Fort Worth. • Opening November 2024 • 2501 Eagle Parkway, Fort Worth • www.drinkpak.com

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Government

City introduces new town manager Trophy Club’s new town manager was introduced to the community at the Town Council meeting Oct. 23. The details Council hired Brandon Wright, who is still serving as the city manager in DeSoto, on Oct. 9 and approved his contract as Trophy Club town manager. It will be eective on the rst day of employment with the town, which shall occur on or before Dec. 11.

The Texas Motor Speedway TIF district has grown in value by 2,798.8% since inception.

COURTESY VISIT FORT WORTH

Financing districts increase in value by 3.6% Fort Worth’s Economic Development Depart- ment reported a 3.6% increase in taxable property values for the city’s 11 active Tax Increment Financing districts in scal year 2022-23. The specics Two TIF districts in the area are the Texas Motor

Speedway and the area called Lone Star, which generally encompasses the area along the Alliance Gateway Freeway from Alta Vista Road to I-35W. • Texas Motor Speedway was valued at just over $5 million when it was created in 1996; that value has risen to just shy of $150 million— almost a $3,000% increase. • The Lone Star TIF was created in 2004 and valued at about $16 million. That value has increased to just over $140 million, which represents a nearly 800% increase.

“I’m so glad to be here. I’m so glad to be serving the residents of Trophy Club, so glad to be working with the Town Council here. This is really a great opportunity.”

BRANDON WRIGHT, TOWN MANAGER

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BY MARK FADDEN, COLBY FARR & DON MUNSCH

AllianceTexas developer buys Fort Worth block Real estate development company Hillwood announced the acquisition of a city block in downtown Fort Worth, according to an Oct. 25 news release. What you need to know It’s the rst time Hillwood has purchased land in downtown Fort Worth, per the news release. Specic development plans are still under review, but Hillwood will consider a variety of land use and development options, per the release. The background Hillwood’s partnership with the city of Fort Worth stretches back 35 years. • Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development spans 27,000 acres with more than 560 companies and has generated $111 billion in economic impact for the region.

Fort Worth police ocials announce new recruiting eorts Executive Assistant Chief Robert All- dredge outlined to Fort Worth City Council on Nov. 7 eorts to recruit new police ocers. These eorts would help ll the 211 positions that the department has open. The context Alldredge noted several factors that aect the current number of vacancies, including ocers in training and on leave. To improve recruiting, the department is: • Creating a designated recruiting unit • Making the policy academy curriculum more ecient • Changing the physical tness requirements

Real estate development company Hillwood announced it had acquired land previously owned by Oncor Electric Delivery in downtown Fort Worth.

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Election

BY MIRANDA JAIMES & DON MUNSCH

Keller voters broadly approve sales tax for road projects

With all vote centers reporting, unofficial results show Keller residents voted to reapprove a proposi- tion that provides funds for city road projects. With approval, one-fourth of a cent of the city’s sales tax will continue to provide revenue for the maintenance and repair of the city’s streets. The tax allocation is required by law to appear before voters every four years. Unofficial results show 4,429 votes in support of the tax and 859 votes against, or 83.76% in support and 16.24% against, respectively. Explained Rachel Reynolds, communication and public engagement manager for the city of Keller, said the sales tax revenue allocation is expected to generate approximately $2.36 million this fiscal year. The means roughly $9.5 million will be generated over a four-year timespan. For additional context, she said street maintenance is one of three sales and use tax allocations in Keller:

• Quarter-cent for street maintenance, which must be reauthorized every four years • Quarter-cent for the Crime Control & Prevention District, which was reauthorized in 2021 for another 15 years • Half-cent for the Keller Development Corpora- tion, specifically for parks and recreation capital projects, which was approved in 1992 and does not have to be reauthorized In addition to those allocations, 1 cent goes to the general fund. What else? In early voting, there were more than 62,100 bal- lots cast countywide—about 5% of Tarrant County’s more than 1.2 million registered voters. What they’re saying Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said the sales tax ded- ication was first approved as a one-eighth of a cent

Results breakdown

For

Against

Proposition A

The proposition asked if the city of Keller should contin- ue its one-fourth of a cent sales tax dedicated to street maintenance.

83.76% 16.24%

SOURCE: TARRANT COUNTY ELECTIONS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

dedication in 2003, and increased to a one-fourth of a cent in 2007 with voter approval. “The re-authorization means nonresidents will help pay for our roads,” he said in an email. “Otherwise the burden would have fallen on Keller taxpayers solely.” Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/elec- tion-results to see more election results.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY MIRANDA JAIMES & CODY THORN

Higher Education Guide

2023

Local college enrollment

Fall student enrollment

Largest academic programs by enrollment Fall 2022

Two local higher education institutions saw different changes in total enrollment over the past five years. Tarrant County College nearly doubled, while North Central Texas College saw a dip in enrollment.

50K

4,994 Liberal Arts and Sciences

40K

571 Health Professions and Related Programs

North Central Texas College 3440 Hwy. 114, Ste. 101, Fort Worth www.nctc.edu/campus/champions-circle Tarrant County Community College 4801 Marine Creek Parkway, Fort Worth www.tccd.edu Texas Christian University 3101 Bellaire Drive North, Fort Worth www.tcu.edu

Liberal Arts and Sciences

30K

28,709

Health Professions and Related Programs 2,822

20K

1,713 Business Studies

10K

788 Nursing

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

SOURCES: TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Less than 9th grade Associate degree

9th-12th grade, no diploma

High school graduate

Some college, no degree

Highest educational attainment

Bachelor's degree

Graduate or professional degree

Keller

Roanoke

Fort Worth

NOTE: TOTALS MAY NOT ADD UP TO 100% DUE TO ROUNDING.

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2021 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5-YEAR ESTIMATES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Texas degrees awarded in 2022

By public institutions

By gender

By ethnicity

Female

Male

56.79% 164,369

59.11% 178,304

300K 250K 350K 200K 150K 100K 50K

Hispanic/Latino: 116,016 White: 105,401

All other races/ethnicities: 10,048 International: 13,093 Asian: 22,375 African American/Black: 34,726

2018

2022

43.21% 125,084

40.89% 123,355

2018 2019 2020

2021

2022

SOURCE: TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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From the cover

Tarrant County College’s Northwest campus gets new spaces

BY MARK FADDEN

By the numbers

The outlook

Lace said the funds for the project came from an $825 million bond program approved by Tarrant County voters in 2019. Lace said the Northwest Campus redevelopment was $373 million. While construction is ongoing to improve the campuses, Lace noted the students won’t have to see hefty increases in the cost of education. On Sept. 21, the TCC board of trustees approved the following increases to tuition rates—the first increases since the 2018-19 academic year—begin- ning in spring 2024: • In-county resident tuition will increase by $5 to $69 per credit hour, which translates into $1,035 per semester for a full-time, in-county resident taking 15 credit hours. • The out-of-county resident tuition will increase from $126 to $131 per credit hour. Even with the increase, TCC maintains the second-lowest tuition of Texas’ top 10 community colleges, according to a district news release.

The new building, Northwest 1, serves as what Lace called the campus’s “front door” where campus administration is housed. He said there are also 16 classrooms in the building to help foster connections between students and staff. Lace also mentioned several upgrades in the new buildings that will help the learning environment evolve, including: • Classrooms being modernized to support the latest in technology and create collaborative learning environments • A computer network lab offering state-of- the-art technology for students to learn how to build networks • Library additions, including a “maker space” and an Anatomage table, which portrays the human body and can be adjusted to show various layers of the body

While the completed project of four new buildings is still more than two years in the future, Lace said the first two buildings are in use for the 2023-24 school year. “Because the new buildings have to occupy the same general footprint as the old ones, the demolishing of the old ones and the erection of new ones have to be done in stages so that there’s enough classroom space for classes to continue,” Lace said. Officials with Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm, worked with TCC officials to design the new buildings to create a “knowledge hub” to accommodate the different learning styles students have. Allison Marshall, Gensler senior associate and studio director, said in a June news release that officials did a survey and found “the main reasons students come to campus and stay on campus are for socializing and working with classmates.”

KEY:

NW05 Early College High School and sciences Now open

NW03 Fine arts and general purpose classrooms In progress

Existing building New building

N.W. COLLEGE DR.

TCC Northwest enrollment (fall semester)

12,000

10,000

N.W. COLLEGE DR.

NW01 Onboarding student services Now open

Fort Worth

8,000

6,000

NW02 Learning commons theater/ Multipurpose center In progress

4,000

MARINE CREEK LAKE

2,000

820

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Renovation review

What they’re saying

Students like Vexa Balderas are excited for the new buildings because of how the design allows for interaction and collaboration. She said the new buildings feel more open and welcoming, and the old buildings were cramped and dark. She added the old buildings didn’t have much open space, where the new buildings allow students to hang out and talk to other people. A first-year student, she started school in the spring semester of the 2022-23 school year.

March 2016 A wind storm

November 2019 Tarrant County voters approve an $825 million bond proposal.

May 2021 Northwest Building 5 is completed October 2021 Northwest

March 2024 Construction of Northwest Building 2 and Northwest Building 3 to begin

February 2026 Target date for opening of buildings 2 and 3

causes damage to some Northwest campus buildings.

Building 1 is completed

SOURCE: TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Education

BY MARK FADDEN

KISD reports strong retention, recruitment Chief Human Resource Ocer Tracy Johnson had good news to give Keller ISD board members Oct. 23 about the district’s retention and recruit- ment eorts for teachers. The details Johnson said not only are all general class- room teaching vacancies lled, but the teacher turnover rate is steady and low at 7.8%, which is lower than the state’s 16% average. Furthermore, 77 new teachers were referred to the district by existing employees. “We’re substantially lower than the state average and we’re getting referrals—that tells me we’re doing a good job,” Place 5 trustee Chris Coker said. On the other hand While classroom stang is at full capacity,

Northwest ISD to extend school day The school day will extend by ve minutes in the 2024-25 school year for all Northwest ISD schools. In a nutshell According to an Oct. 26 district news release, NISD school days will extend to add enough time to absorb an additional two days of school closures. The move was made based on feedback from families during inclement weather closures in previous academic years. Adding minutes only extends the duration of the school day. It will not add new school days to the calendar, the release stated. Next school year, elementary schools will end their days ve minutes later while mid- dle and high schools will begin ve minutes earlier each day.

The teacher turnover rate in Keller ISD is steady at 7.8%, which is lower than the state’s 16% average.

COURTESY KELLER ISD

Johnson reported other sectors of employment in the district have vacancies. However, many of the vacancies this year are lower than last year. She also pointed out the district’s bench strength when it comes to substitute teachers, with 850 substitutes in the pool. “There are over 200 [substitutes] in the pipe- line for processing,” Johnson said.

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Transportation

BY MARK FADDEN & DON MUNSCH

Improvements on Keller Hicks Road get approved Fort Worth City Council approved a contract Oct. 17 to make several improvements to Keller Hicks Road in northeast Fort Worth just west of US 377. The details Council authorized a $7.2 million contract for work on Keller Hicks Road from Lauren Way to US 377. The project will improve the existing two- lane asphalt road with a three-lane concrete road including a center turn lane. What you need to know With this, council authorized two temporary road closures for construction: • Keller Hicks Road between Lauren Way and Katy Road from Feb. 5-May 6, 2024 • Keller Hicks Road at the Union Pacic Corp. railroad crossing from Aug. 5-Oct. 6, 2024

Roanoke, county to partner for projects On Oct. 24, Roanoke City Council OK’d an ordinance to fund four road projects. The city will partner with Denton County to complete the four projects, with total costs of about $12.7 million, to which the county would contribute 50% funding. One of these requests include work on North Dorman Street. The project will include adding sidewalks and drainage improvements.

Construction of Keller Hicks Road from Lauren Way to US 377 is anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

MARK FADDENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

LAUREN WAY

377

KELLER HICKS RD.

LOIS ST.

114

Construction of Keller Hicks from Lauren Way to US 377 is anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

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Real estate

Number of homes sold

September 2022

September 2023

Residential market data

76248

76177

Collin County Area Realtors reported home sales were down across the area in September compared to last year. Each ZIP code except for the 76177 ZIP code saw an increase in average days on the market.

-32%

-53.85%

76244

76262

377

-21.62%

+7.14%

114

170

35W

Median home sales price

2022

2023

76177

76244 76262

76177

+2.4%

$390,000

$381,000

76248

76244

-3.13%

$402,000

$415,000

Homes sold in the Keller, Roanoke and Northeast Fort Worth area by price point

76248

+5.34%

$621,500

$590,000

September 2023

76262

+5.97%

$630,000

$594,500

$1 million+

$700,000-$999,999

Average days on market

$300,000-$699,999

-25.7%

+20.83%

+19.23%

+36.59%

$100,000-$299,999

<$99,999

MARKET DATA COMPILED BY COLLIN COUNTY AREA REALTORS • WWW.CCAR.NET

76177

76244

76248

76262

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News

BY DON MUNSCH

Additions mulled for Keller Sports Park improvement project

Bids opened Nov. 15 for improvements at the Keller Sports Park, a project that will expand oerings and seeks to have area-wide appeal. Keller Community Services Director Cody Maberry said council will consider a guaranteed maximum price for the park as part of its Dec. 5 agenda. Around 25 people attended a public meeting for the park additions on Nov. 2, Maberry said. Ocials are planning many upgrades and renova- tions, such as: • adding a new splash pad • upgrading restrooms throughout the park • replacing backstops for all baseball and softball elds. This list is still subject to change, and council members have not taken their nal votes on issuing debt or awarding the project to a contractor, said Rachel Reynolds, communication and public engagement manager for the city.

“We won’t have a nal gure until bids come in,” Reynolds said, explaining the costs. “The approved budget anticipates issuing about $27 million in debt from the Keller Development Corporation Fund.” What happens next? Ocials will break ground in January. The list of improvements will be approved by council at an upcoming meeting. “This planning process has run about two years, with representatives from each user group and other stakeholders meeting numerous times to craft a project that would provide improvements for all of the park’s participants,” Maberry said in an email. He said city ocials received positive feedback, including about the overall design concepts. “The improvements proposed for the Keller Sports Park will be unlike any other, making it the premier youth sports complex in Dallas-Fort Worth,” Mayor Armin Mizani said in an email.

Replacements of the backstops at all baseball and softball elds are proposed in the Keller Sports Park project

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Events

BY MIRANDA JAIMES & JONATHAN PERRIELLO

Keller Indianettes Craft Show Keller High School will host a holiday market now marking its 40th year. The Keller Indianettes Craft Show features over 300 vendors, pictures with Santa, Christmas decorations, holiday crafts, food trucks, a silent auction, a bake sale and more. • Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • $5 (adults), $3 (students), free (age 5 and under) • 601 Pate Orr Road N., Keller • www.indianettes.com

Hometown Holiday Roanoke residents can enjoy the annual holiday street festival complete with a tree lighting and parade in Downtown Roanoke. Festivities include an alpaca petting zoo, balloon twisting, carolers, chainsaw carving, children’s activities, face painting,

Trot Through Trophy Club Christmas Tour Living Hope Equine Therapy will host a tour inside three Trophy Club homes decorated for the Christmas season. The event will provide food and beverages, and guests can register for the silent auction and bid on items, including trip destinations. The homes hosting the tour are located at 2212 Stirling Ave., 511 Asheville Lane and 517 Asheville Lane in Trophy Club. All proceeds will benet Living Hope Equine Therapy, a nonprot that oers horsemanship lessons to veterans, children and adults with cognitive, physical and emotional challenges. • Dec. 9, 2-4 p.m. • $50 per ticket • Starting locations vary • www.livinghopetherapy.org Santa 5K Fort Worth residents can participate in running a at and fast 5K race in Trinity Park. Awards will be given for overall male and female racers and dierent age groups. Refreshments will be oered following the race. • Dec. 17, 8 a.m. • $15 (preregistration), $20 (day of race) • Trinity Park Pavilion No. 3, Lightscape Lightscape returns to the Fort Worth Botanical Garden with 80% newly designed displays. This year the event will feature an all-new “Christmas Village,” complete with re pits, s’more roasting, hot cocoa, holiday music and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. • Dec. 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m. • $15 per ticket • 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth • www.fwbg.org 2401 University Drive, Fort Worth • www.santa5k.athlete360.com a gingerbread house competition, live music, photos with Santa and vendors. • Dec. 2, noon-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 500 S. Oak St., Roanoke • www.roanoketexas.com/271/hometown-holiday

• Keller Town Hall, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway, Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/visitors/special-events

November

Harvest Fest The second annual Harvest Fest will have a cake walk, food, candy, a bounce house, games and more. • Nov. 29, 5-7 p.m. • Free • Harvest Christian Center, 880 N. Main St., Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/Home/Components/Calendar/ Event/38718/ Holiday Lights Contest Trophy Club will host its annual holiday lights competition for residents. Participants are encouraged to decorate their homes and nominate themselves or a neighbor for a chance to win across dierent categories. This year’s categories include: Griswold Award, Santa’s Favorite Theme, North Pole Award, Best Character Use, Outdoor Christmas Tree, Best Use of Animation and Judge’s Favorite. • Registration is Nov. 22-Dec. 12; judging is Dec. 13 from 6-10 p.m. • Free (contest submissions) • Throughout Trophy Club • www.trophyclub.org/294/holiday-light-contest

Metroport Business Awards 2023 The Metroport Chamber will hold its annual awards luncheon. The event will award chamber members and the regional business community from the past year. • Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • $55 (member admission by Dec. 1), $70 (nonmember and member admission after Dec. 1) • DFW Marriott Westlake, 1301 Solana Blvd., Bldg. 3, Westlake • www.metroportchamber.org/mba First Responder’s Breakfast with Santa The city of Roanoke’s rst responders will host their annual breakfast with Santa. Tickets are required as there will be there will be limited space at this event, which will have three breakfast opportunities. • Dec. 9; 9 a.m, 10:30 a.m. and noon • $10 (ages 2 and up) • Roanoke Community Center, 312 S. Walnut St., Roanoke • www.roanoketexas.com/606/breakfast-with-santa Sensory Christmas The Keller Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a holiday event specically designed for children with developmental disabilities. The event will feature Christmas crafts, doughnut decorating and opportunities for photos with Santa. • Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-noon • $2 per child, registration required • Keller Senior Activities Center multipurpose room, 640 Johnson Road, Bldg. C, Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/visitors/special-events

December

Holly Days: Christmas in Keller Town Center The city of Keller hosts The Very Merry Light Parade, the illumination of the Christmas tree, a snow hill, photos with Santa, live stage entertainment, the Santa Scurry 5K, vendors and more in this event kicking o the holiday season.

• Dec. 1, 6-10 p.m. • Free (admission)

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Community

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & JONATHAN PERRIELLO

Holiday Events Guide

2023

Christmas on the Square in Celina Celina’s Downtown Square will host a family-friendly holiday festival. The event will feature photos with Santa, cupcakes with Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, tree lighting and more. In addition, food and beverage vendors will be available.

November

Frisco’s Christmas in the Square Families are invited to experience the largest light and music display in North Texas. This year’s event will also feature Skate the Square, an outdoor ice skating rink, and a Christmas tree lot. • Nov. 18-Jan. 19, 6-10 p.m. • Free (admission) • Frisco Square, 8874 Coleman Blvd., Frisco • www.visitfrisco.com/event/christmas-in-the- square/4526 Christmas in Grapevine Craft Show Grapevine will host its third annual Christmas in Grapevine Craft show offering residents two days of shopping. The event venue will be filled with over 90 vendor booths, holiday music, holiday decor, drawings and prizes, thousands of gift items, and more. There will also be a photo opportunity with Santa. • Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • $5 • Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine • https://iwokeupin2014.wixsite.com/icevents/ christmasingrapevine Light up the Highlands Kick off the holiday season with a countdown to a Christmas tree lighting and other activities for the family to enjoy, such as pictures with Santa and a reindeer petting zoo. The event will feature Reverse Food Truck, an outreach of NorthPark Presbyterian Church, which collects donations for local food pantries. • Nov. 26, 4-6 p.m. • Free • Lake Highlands Town Center, 7100 Wildcat Way, Dallas • www.lhjwl.org/event-information

• Nov. 29, 5-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 142 N. Ohio St., Celina • www.lifeincelinatx.com/christmas

December

Prosper Christmas Festival The Prosper Christmas Festival is the town’s premier event and features a tree lighting. Other activities include Santa’s workshop, community stage performances, a Kids Christmas Shoppe for young shoppers and more. • Sat. Dec. 2, 3-7 p.m. • Free (admission) • Prosper Town Hall, 250 W. First St., Prosper • www.prospertx.gov/580/prosper-christmas-festival Grapevine Parade of Lights The city of Grapevine and the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to host the 44th annual Grapevine Parade of Lights. The parade through historic downtown Grapevine is the largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas. • Dec. 7, 7 p.m. • Free • Historic Downtown Grapevine, 530 S. Main St., Grapevine • www.grapevinechamber.org/events/ grapevine-parade-of-lights

Home for the Holidays Downtown McKinney will host family-friendly activities, food and entertainment for the annual Christmas celebration. Activities will include live, traditional Christmas music; visits with Santa; a ferris wheel and carousel; and a petting zoo. • Nov. 25-26, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Nov. 27, noon-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney • www.visitmckinney.com/event/home-for-the- holidays-a-mckinney-christmas/7980

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KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Business

BY KAREN CHANEY

After working in the corporate world for many years and being a part of multiple layos, Fort Worth resident Darren Hamilton was ready for a change and tapped into career experiences he built while in his 20s. “I was tired of that circle of demise,” he said. “I had a construction background and decided to start a fence company.” The overview In 2007 he opened CenTex Fencing serving Keller and the surrounding areas, and seven years later he added the words “Outdoor Living” to his business name. “Because we did good work, people were always asking me if I could make them a pergola or this or that,” he said. “I realized I was leaving money on the table, so I hunted down good crews and jumped into this sector.” A closer look When meeting with clients to discuss their fencing needs, Hamilton discusses their end goal, measures the fence area and shows them photos of previous projects. He said although cedar is his top-selling fence material, they also work with other substances such as iron. “We do everything from basic fences all the way up to something nicer like a board on board, capped out, trimmed, stained cedar fence,” he said. The discovery phase is more involved for his outdoor living space customers. Ideas such as extending concrete patios, adding a composition roof to the patio, building a pergola, outdoor kitchen and/or a re pit and much more are discussed. What’s trending Hamilton said design trends have mostly remained the same. “Generally, people want the traditional pergola,” Hamilton said. “The majority of what we do has a little bit of a rustic look. The stained cedar is a nice contrast that blends with any type of brick, existing siding, anything.” What they’re saying Hamilton said he is proud of the great reviews he’s received for his crews. CenTex Fencing and Outdoor Living serves residents since 2007

Employees at CenTex Fence and Outdoor Living work to provide quality outdoor structures.

COURTESY CENTEX FENCING AND OUTDOOR LIVING

CenTex Fence and Outdoor Living started in 2007 in Keller, oering fence construction prior to expanding.

COURTESY CENTEX FENCING AND OUTDOOR LIVING

The business provides customers with options of outdoor shade structures, kitchens and re pits.

COURTESY CENTEX FENCE AND OUTDOOR LIVING

“You’re only as good as your hired help,” he said. “For the most part they’ve been with me since the beginning. I take care of them, they take care of me.” Hamilton said he is grateful he chose this career. “I talk to God plenty of times thanking him for giving me something I can take pride in ... and not have to be in the corporate world,” he said. “I’m not getting rich, but I’m making people happy, and I’m able to make a decent living in the process.”

Darren Hamilton opened the business in 2007.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

www.centexfencing.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Dining

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

across the Dallas metro, as recently reported by Community Impact . CI Foodie

Looking to get out of your neighborhood to try a new dining experience? Check out the following restaurant news from

Frisco

Coppell

The Taco Joint The restaurant offers Tex-Mex dishes, daily happy hour specials and serves breakfast tacos all day. Menu items include The Sophie—a vegetarian taco featuring a whole wheat tortilla filled with a mix of carrots, squash, zucchini, bell peppers and onions topped with cheese and tomatoes. • Opened Oct. 10

German Doner Kebab The brand’s first Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout, according to German Doner Kebab’s website. The restaurant serves a range of doner burgers, doner kebabs and doner wraps. Dishes can be made with beef or chicken, and the restaurant also offers vegetarian options. • Sept. 25

San Daniele It offers authentic Italian cuisine and a selection of wines but also serves a few classic American dishes. Menu items include chicken pesto served with fettuccine noodles, pancetta, pesto cream, grilled chicken, Parmesan and walnuts; a double smash burger; a caprese panini; pizza; and more. • Opened Aug. 28 • 110 W. Sandy Lake Road, Ste.150, Coppell • www.sandanieleitalianeatery.com

• 4387 Main St., Frisco • www.thetacojoint.com

• 12025 E. University Drive, Frisco • www.germandonerkebab.com

McKinney

The Common Table The restaurant, located in the District 121 development, serves a variety of “elevated American food”, Levine said. Dishes on the menu include tacos, sliders, chicken wings, sandwiches, chicken- fried steak and more, according to its website. The restaurant also offers special events each week. • Opened in September • 6551 Alma Drive, Ste. 350, McKinney • www.thecommontable.com

Loyo Burger The restaurant is a concept from parent company Local Yocal BBQ & Grill and offers locally baked buns and an all-natural blend of wagyu ground beef from Local Yocal Farm to Market. According to the company’s website, the restaurant offers a rotating selection of beer and cocktails. • Opened Sept. 15 • 216 W. Virginia St., Ste. 102, McKinney • www.loyoburger.com

Wing Chow The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, including chicken wings in a variety of housemade sauces, sandwiches, salads, fried rice, lo mein and more, according to its website. Wing Chow also serves desserts, including stuffed churros and locally made ice cream. • Opened Aug. 11 • 1500 W. University Drive, McKinney • www.wing-chow.com

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

State

BY RACHEL LELAND, HANNAH NORTON & JESSICA SHORTEN

More than 60 Community Impact journalists across the state cover wide-ranging issues for local readers, delivering news to over 2 million mailboxes monthly and more than 100,000 inboxes daily. The stories below were curated for this community because of their impact in Texas.

Vehicle inspection to no longer be required by 2025

Texas food banks face growing need As a number of pandemic-era supplemental food programs and benefits were discontinued in early 2023, food banks statewide have faced struggles meeting demand. “There’s even some people who weren’t on [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits and weren’t benefiting from those extra allotments who we’re now seeing in our lines because they’re simply not able to make ends meet,” said Celia Cole, executive director of Feeding Texas, a statewide nonprofit that works to address food scarcity. Several bills went into effect in September providing additional thresholds for those in need of assistance, including House Bill 1287, which provides a threshold on vehicle value for applicants for SNAP benefits, and HB 1743, which allows inmates to apply for SNAP benefits before going on parole.

Beginning in 2025, Texas drivers will no longer need to get their vehicles inspected. The framework On Aug. 5, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3297 into law, which eliminates mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles. Drivers must still pay the annual inspection fee of $7.50 but will no longer need to take their vehicle in for inspection prior to registering it. If a vehicle was not previously registered, drivers will pay $16.75 instead and won’t be required to pay the $7.50 fee for the next registration year for the same vehicle. The 17 Texas counties that require annual emissions tests—including Dallas, Harris and Tra- vis counties, along with several counties around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston—will continue to do so. Only 13 other states have mandatory vehicle inspections since the federal government ended

Inspection program replacement fee The $7.50 fee supports the following funds:

Texas mobility fund ($3.50): Finances the construction, reconstruction, acquisition and expansion of state highways

General revenue fund ($2): Serves as Texas’ primary operating fund

Clean air account ($2): Safeguards Texas’ air resources, recovers the costs of permitting new or modified emission sources and recovers the costs of permit reviews and renewals

SOURCES: TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

survival of his business. “I just think it defies logic,” said Larry Harris, owner of Larry’s Auto Inspection in Houston. “If nobody is making sure the vehicles are safe, there’s going to be some unsafe vehicles on the street.” Larry Harris said he was particularly concerned about people being able to drive without their steering wheel, brakes or tires up to standard.

the program requirement in 1976. According to the professionals

While proponents—such as state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, who filed the bill—have argued mandatory vehicle inspections are unnecessary, one vehicle inspector said he worries doing away with the requirement could put drivers’ safety at risk and threaten the

2023 Texas SNAP benefits applications

Texas Senate passes education savings account bill

Statewide SNAP benefits eligibility There are 3.36 million Texans eligible to receive supplemental funding. Age ranges: 5 and under: 467,991 6-17: 1.2M 18-59: 1.21M 60-64: 135,293 65+: 352,460 Total: 3.36M

tuition, books and other educational expenses. The proposal now heads to the House, where its future is unclear. Democrats and rural Republicans in the lower chamber have historically opposed similar legislation. “Let me be abundantly clear: the Texas Senate will pass this bill over and over again until the Texas House passes it and sends it to Gov. Abbott’s desk,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement following the vote.

Texas senators approved a bill Oct. 12 that would set aside $500 million in taxpayer dollars to help families pay for private school tuition. The controversial proposal is a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott. He directed lawmakers to tackle “education freedom” and other topics during the third special legislative session of the year, which began Oct. 9. Senate Bill 1 would allow families to apply to receive $8,000 per child to pay for private school

SOURCE: TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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