Plano South | March 2023

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PLANO SOUTH EDITION

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 MARCH 18APRIL 21, 2023

Sheriffs see staffing woes

SHORT-STAFFED

Collin County has seen jail stang challenges at its sheri ’s oce. OPEN POSITIONS FILLED POSITIONS

The Dream Tacos by Chetra coming to Plano

90%

10%

detention ocer turnover rate

25.9%

SOURCE: COLLIN COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

A Collin County Sheri’s O ce vehicle sits outside the sheri’s o ce in McKinney. (Shelbie Hamilton/Community Impact)

Regional sheris’ departments see sta ng challenges at detention centers

Texas Forever Fest returning to Plano CAMP GUIDE 2023

BY SAMANTHA DOUTY

state and across the nation are fac- ing serious stang challenges,” Collin County Sheri Jim Skinner said. “Because many sheri s pro- vide not only law enforcement ser- vices but also supervise the county jail, a sheri ’s challenges extend to the corrections eld as well.” Skinner said economic factors contribute to public safety stang, such as the future of interest rates, ination, job growth and even the possible ripple e ects of layo s in Silicon Valley. Skinner also serves as the chair of the Government to serve as a fast track for students looking to work as technicians in Toy- ota or Lexus dealerships. The pro- gram will launch in fall of 2023. Brenden Mesch, Collin College Technical College provost, said hav- ing the program in the county is very prestigious. “It’s considered the Harvard of these [programs],” Mesch said. “It’s a great opportunity for students, because in the TTEN world, all the students that are going to school are also working in a dealership.” The program focuses on training students on technology in the latest

A airs Committee for the National Sheri s’ Association. The job market is also on the rise, according to the Workforce Solutions data. From 2016-21, jobs increased by 22.4% in Collin County from 420,897 to 515,163. This change outpaced the national growth rate of 1.9% by 20.5 per- centage points. In Dallas County, jobs increased by 5.1% during that same time. In Denton County, jobs increased by 21.6%. And in Tarrant County, jobs

Like neighboring counties, the Collin County Sheri ’s Oce has experienced stang shortages at its detention centers. These shortages, which have also been seen in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties, have been, in part, the result of a growing job market with more competitive sal- aries, according to data from the Workforce Solutions for North Cen- tral Texas. “Like other agencies in law enforcement, sheri s across the Toyota partnership gives Collin College unique opportunity BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY As Collin College’s technical cam- pus continues to grow, a new partner- ship with Toyota will o er students the chance to get into the automotive technician profession. School ocials announced in Feb- ruary the campus would be o ering Toyota’s Technician Training & Edu- cation Network, or TTEN, program

Local summer camps

CONTINUED ON 16

TECHNICIAN TRAINING The T-TEN program will train Collin College students on the latest Toyota technology.

Texas Chess Center continuing growth

Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries

students in program’s rst year

dealerships within 25 miles of campus

162

$750K

*auto tech jobs listed in Collin County *FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2023

rst-year investment from Toyota

CONTINUED ON 19

SOURCES: COLLIN COLLEGE, TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TOYOTACOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Water Wisely Help Plano

• Water early in the morning or later in the evening. Watering with sprinklers between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is prohibited, as these are the hottest hours of the day. • Reduce runoff by shortening your watering times. Run your sprinklers in short cycles and wait 30-45 minutes in between to allow grass to absorb the water. • Direct spray onto landscape. Avoid accidentally watering the fence, sidewalk, street or driveway. • Inspect your irrigation system monthly. Check for broken, damaged or missing sprinkler heads to avoid wasting water. Ensure hoses and pipes are connected properly to avoid leaks and fix any breaks. Watch for upcoming sprinkler repair classes at Plano.gov/SEEDPrograms • Use compost and mulch in your yard. Compost creates nutrient rich soil that holds moisture, allows better root penetration and releases water and nutrients to plant roots. Mulch around plants keeps temperature consistent and reduces evaporation. Consider using Texas Pure Products mulch and compost – shop at • Prevent water evaporation by covering your pool. Pool covers can prevent up to 90% pool water evaporation. Visit Plano.gov/Water for more guidance. TexasPureProducts.com Twice per week watering is permitted April 1 through October 31. Once per week watering is permitted November 1 through March 31. Resident addresses with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) as their last digit and HOA common areas water Mondays and Thursdays. Resident addresses with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) as their last digit water Tuesdays and Fridays. • Only water when needed and only on assigned watering days. You may not need to water if rain is in the forecast. Subscribe to WaterMyYard.org for weekly watering recommendations. Plano.gov/Watering

Water is our most precious resource, so it’s important we protect it. If we all do a small part to conserve, together we can make a big impact.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

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THIS ISSUE

ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 30 localized editions across Texas to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes. MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Candice Trevino EDITOR Michael Crouchley REPORTER Teri Webster GRAPHIC DESIGNER David Bravo Moreno ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tay Pavey, Scott Fritsche METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Leanne Libby MANAGING EDITOR William C. Wadsack MANAGING COPY EDITOR Beth Marshall ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 7460 Warren Parkway, Ste. 160 Frisco, TX 75034 • 2146189001 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES plnnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING plnads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM CANDICE: For parents, spring break is a reminder that it is time to begin thinking about summer plans for your children. In Plano, there is no shortage of diverse options. As you’ll nd in our camp guide (See Pages 12-13), parents have their choice between STEM camps, coding, Roblox, sports, music, theater, chess and so much more. On the topic of resources for our parents, readers can check out our front page to learn more about the latest partnership Collin College has with Plano’s own Toyota corporation to roll out the Technician Training and Education Network program this year. Candice Trevino, GENERAL MANAGER

FROM MICHAEL: When talking to readers out in the community, I often hear that our “Impacts” section is their favorite part of the paper. As someone who’s learning more and more about Plano everyday, I have to agree, and I’m always excited to write about new restaurants and businesses in the area. Check out all of our business updates from the last month on Pages 6-9. To get all of our business updates along with the rest of the news in Plano as it happens, sign up for our free daily newsletter at communityimpact.com/ newsletter. Michael Crouchley, EDITOR

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PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

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NORTH IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

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Black Rock Coee Bar

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COURTESY BLACK ROCK COFFEE BAR

BISHOP RD.

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

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NOW OPEN 1 Mobility City held a grand opening for its Plano location Feb. 9, according to a spokesperson for the company. The store is located at 9720 Coit Road, Ste. 180. Mobility City oers a wide range of mobility-related equipment, including scooters, hospital beds, wheelchairs, canes and more. The store also pro- vides select deliveries and service calls. 972-640-9073. www.mobilitycity.com 2 Black Rock Coee Bar opened in Plano on Feb. 24, according to a press re- lease from the company. The new coee shop is located at 710 W. Parker Road. Black Rock Coee Bar serves roasted cof- fees, teas, smoothies and energy drinks. The Oregon-based coee chain now has 19 locations in Texas, ve of which are in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. 214-463-2721. www.br.coee 3 Champion Physical Therapy opened in Plano on Feb. 1, according to a spokesperson for the company. The clinic is located just o of SH 121 at 3465 National Drive, Ste. 115, near the border of Frisco. Champion Physical Therapy oers a variety of physical therapy and P L A N O P K W Y . PARKBLVD. SOUTH PLANO DNT TOLL

rehabilitation services. 469-361-2303. www.champion-pt.com 4 Warrior Martial Arts Academy , located at 3400 Preston Road, Ste. 220, in north Plano, held its grand opening Feb. 25. The academy oers classes on mixed martial arts for kids, Brazilian jiujitsu and muay thai-style kickboxing, according to its website. Warrior Martial Arts academy also has locations in McKin- ney, Frisco, Little Elm and Flower Mound. 972-544-7063. https://.warriormarti- alartsacademy.com 5 The World Champion Center opened in its rst Texas location Feb. 27 at 9720 Coit Road, Ste. 240, Pla- no, Vice President Jessica Jung said. The center oers taekwondo classes for children, teenagers and adults, according to its website. The center also oers options for hosting birthday parties. The World Champion Center has opened three other locations in Florida. The location’s class schedule can be accessed via its website. 972-697-5458. www.worldchampioncenter.com 6 Herb’s House opened in a new kiosk March 10 inside the Walmart located at 8801 Ohio Drive in Plano, according to 15THST.

a spokesperson for the store. The kiosk serves Herb’s House’s specialty coee blends and K-cups. Herb’s House oper- ates a store in Dallas and a coee truck, nicknamed “The Herbster,” that acts as a full-service coee shop on wheels, according to its website. 469-399-0311. www.herbshousecoee.com 7 Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya opened in Plano in February, according to a spokes- person for the restaurant. The restaurant is located at 5760 Legacy Drive, Ste. B4, in the Shops at Legacy. The eat- ery oers diners traditional Japanese ramen. Among its signature dishes are garlic tonkotsu, yuzu shio and more. 945-800-9183. www.kizuki.com 8 Spenga Plano, located at 3400 Preston Road, Ste. 215, held a grand opening March 13, Regional Man- ager Sammy Acosta said. The workout studio specializes in oering one-hour workouts with a focus on cardio, strength and ¡exibility, according to its website. Instructors will lead classes through 20 minutes of spin, strength and yoga workouts, Acosta said. 972-559-3204. https://spenga.com 9 Vie D’Elite , a salon and medspa, opened in December at 1 4 T H ST. 75

Champion Physical Therapy

COURTESY CHAMPION PHYSICAL THERAPY

5945 Dallas Parkway in Plano. The salon oers hairstyling services, such as haircuts, coloring and extensions, along with med spa services that include Botox, hydrafacials, laser hair removal and more. 945-899-0001. www.viedelite.com COMING SOON 10 Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Sea- food and Crab is expected to open in its new Plano location in The Shops at Legacy in May. Truluck’s specializes in fresh seafood, cocktails, wine and live entertainment. The eatery is also known for its Jewels of the Sea selection that features fresh crab claws, South African cold-water lobster, prime king crab and more. Truluck’s will be located at 7161 Bishop Road. A phone number and exact opening date are not yet available. www.trulucks.com 11 The Dream Tacos by Chetra is opening at 8245 Preston Road, Plano,

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MICHAEL CROUCHLEY¦COMMUNITY IMPACT

in the rst week of June, according to owner and chef Chetra Chau. The Dream Tacos oers global fusion tacos curated by Chau. Chau said The Dream Tacos by Chetra will be “right on the borderline of Frisco and Plano,” to help attract residents from all over Collin County. Chau takes inspiration from French, Japanese, Southern barbecue, South- east Asian and Mexican cuisine to create tacos. The menu features tacos ranging from crispy sushi to banh mi to tan- doori chicken and more. 817-846-5844. https://thedreamtacos.com CLOSINGS 12 Premier Grilling in Plano closed its doors in early 2023. The building located at 3308 Preston Road, Ste. 380, still sports the store’s branding on the outside, but the interior is cleared out, and “for lease” signs are being displayed in the windows. Premier Grilling oered a variety of grills, smokers and grilling accessories. The store still has one loca- tion in Frisco at 4775 Eldorado Parkway, Ste. 300. Premier Grilling also sells grills and accessories in its online store. https://premiergrilling.com Eddie’s Diner, which was named after Miftari’s son, serves a variety of breakfast and lunch options. The menu features omelets, pancakes, eggs Benedict, fried chicken, sandwiches, salads and more. Miftari added that the Plano community has shown her restaurant a lot of support over its ve years in business, making the ve-year anniversary even more special. FEATURED IMPACT ANNIVERSARY Eddie’s Diner celebrated ve years in business in Plano on Feb. 12, according to owner Lydia Miftari. The restaurant is located at 4709 W. Parker Road at the corner of Parker Road and Ohio Drive.

“We’ve been able to stick out as a little family-owned business, and it’s been really awesome how the Plano community has rallied around us,” she said. 469-931-2353. www.eddiesdiner.co

W. Parker Rd.

SAUSAGE - SMOKING WOODS

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

1301 W. PARKER RD., SUITE #100, PLANO, TX | 972-633-5593

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COURTESY THE DREAM TACOS BY CHETRA

PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

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SOUTH IMPACTS .

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

LEGACYDR.

3371 E. Renner Road, Plano. Spec’s, which has three other locations in Plano and none in Richardson, specializes in a variety of wines, spirits, beer and seltzers. In addition, the store sells salsa, crackers, cheeses and other snacks. 214-440-5776. https://specsonline.com/location/ renner-road 5 FiveStar Pulmonary Associates held a grand opening event for its new Plano oce Feb. 24, according to Practice Manager Diana Nebor. The clinic is located at 4712 Dexter Drive, Ste. 100., in south Plano. FiveStar Pulmonary is a full-service pulmonary practice that oers treatment for asthma, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more. The practice has two other locations in McKinney and Allen. 972-526-0007. www.vestarpulm.com 925 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 100, in Plano, Assistant Manager Stephen Franklin said. The store, which is named 5.11 Tactical , sells boots, bags, backpacks, ashlights and more, according to its website. The store also sells law enforce- ment, re and EMS gear, Franklin said. The retailer has locations across the world, according to its website. 469-613-2002. www.511tactical.com 7 Endo Dispensary opened Feb. 23 at 601 W. Parker Road in Plano. The dis- pensary specializes in THC, delta and CBD products. Products include edibles, 6 A new store specializing in tactical gear opened Feb. 11 at

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NOW OPEN 1 A new Starbucks location opened in Plano on Feb. 10, according to signage on the store’s door. The new coee shop is located at 1405 N. Central Expressway. The Seattle-based chain serves hot

2 Starbucks opened a new location Dec. 12 on the border of Richardson at 3381 Renner Road in Plano. Starbucks has 18 existing stores in Plano and 11 locations in Richardson. 469-750-1338. www.starbucks.com 3 Chipotle Mexican Grill opened an eighth location in Plano on Dec. 28 at 3391 Renner Road. The restaurant, which is located at the border of Richardson

and Plano, features a Chipotlane, the company’s digital order drive-thru pickup lane. The restaurant chain oers burritos, burrito bowls, salads, tacos and more. Chipotle has more than 3,000 restau- rants worldwide, according to its website. 945-800-9651. www.chipotle.com 4 Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods added a new location Dec. 2 on the border of Richardson and Plano at

and iced coee drinks, teas and breakfast food. 469-838-3439. www.starbucks.com

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tinctures, pet CBD treats, prerolls, vape cartridges and more. 469-366-9694. www.endoplano.com 8 De Ra Coee opened its new Plano location at 2320 Los Rios Blvd., Ste. 101, on Feb. 3. The shop specializes in hand- crafted coee and espresso drinks, and features traditional Arabic coee avored with cardamom, saron and ginger. Sandwiches, salads and other grab-and-go items are also available. Additionally, De Ra Coee serves unique Mediterranean desserts, including basboosa. The shop’s name, De Ra, is a variant of an Arabic name that means hometown. 469-213-2135. https://deracoee.com CLOSINGS 9 To cut costs across the company, Bed Bath & Beyond is closing 150 stores nationwide, including the Plano loca-

tion at 6400 W. Plano Parkway, Ste. 125. The Bed Bath & Beyond location on West 15th Street will remain open. The 150 closures build upon 200 previously closed Bed Bath & Beyond stores that were considered “lower-producing,” according to a ling with the Securi- ties and Exchange Commission. Per the release, the company initiated incremental store closures with the goal of cutting down to 360 stores across the U.S. www.bedbathandbeyond.com 10 The Vineyard Vines store in Plano closed Jan. 15, according to signage on the storefront’s door. The store was on the second oor of the Willow Bend Mall, located at 6121 W. Park Blvd. Vineyard Vines specializes in a variety of clothing items and accessories for men, women and children. The closest Vineyard Vines to the closed Plano store is located at 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. www.vineyardvines.com

MICHAEL CROUCHLEY¡COMMUNITY IMPACT Owner Noe Benitez started Noe B. Music Studio with only drum lessons. FEATURED IMPACT ANNIVERSARY

“You get emotional thinking about it, because it’s been a lot of hard work and dedication,” he said. 972-951-3786. www.noebdrumlessons.com

Noe B. Music Studio celebrated 10 years operating in Plano on Feb. 7, according to owner Noe Benitez. The music school is located at 2301 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 150. The school started only o ering drum lessons, but the o erings have grown to include guitar, piano, voice and bass lessons as well. Benitez added owning the music school was “a dream” for him and his wife, Diana Benitez.

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PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

TODO LIST

March & April events

COMPILED BY WILLIAM C. WADSACK

hosts the Red Tent Farmers Market that regularly features more than 20 local vendors. Customers can buy locally grown produce as well as baked goods, salsa, plants, sweet treats and more. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free (admission). The Shops at Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd., Plano. 972-965-1144. www.shopwillowbend.com 19 & 26; APRIL 2, 9 & 16 EXPLORE A FARMERS MARKET AT THE BOARDWALK The Local Farmer’s Market at the Boardwalk hosts around 15 vendors selling items, such as local honey, pasta, handmade gifts and in-season produce. The market is located under The Boardwalk’s pavilion across the pond from the restaurant patios. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (admission). The Boardwalk at Granite Park, 5800 SH 121, Plano. 972-731-2380. https://boardwalkgranitepark.com APRIL 1 ATTEND AN EASTER EGG HUNT FOR DOGS Four-legged friends have the chance to sni out dog treat-lled Easter eggs at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Dogs can nd one of the golden eggs and win a special prize. 9-10 a.m. $5 (per dog). Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve,

5901 Los Rios Blvd., Plano. 972-941-7250. www.visitplano.com/event/easter-egg- hound-hunt-2023/ 15 CHECK OUT DFW NERD NIGHT Farm + Feed hosts an all-ages board game night once a month for those interested in playing. Organizers select a local charity to support, and 100% of all voluntary donations go directly to the designated charity. According to the description for this month’s event, Farm + Feed is raising money for Ronald McDonald House, which supports families whose children are receiving essential medical care. And organizers are looking to teach and play the game Wingspan. 1-4 p.m. Free to attend. Farm + Feed, 7401 Lone Star Drive, Ste. B120, Plano. 432-356-3467. www.farmandfeed.com 22 SCORE SOME EXCLUSIVE VINYL Josey Records’ new Plano location is participating in this year’s edition of Record Store Day, an annual event where independent record stores can order exclusive releases from a variety of artists in a wealth of genres. Among the limited-edition records being released this year are discs from Taylor Swift, Duran Duran, Dio and Beach House. Hours to be announced. Free to attend. Josey Records 6940 Coit Road, Ste. 202, Plano. 214-227-2333. www.joseyrecords.com

MARCH 25

CELEBRATE TEXAS FOOD,MUSIC AND CULTURE HAGGARD PARK

Texas Forever Fest returns to Haggard Park for a celebration of the state’s food, music and culture. Sponsored by H-E-B and organized by Plano Arts & Events, the festival features live music, vendors and more. Attendees can enjoy Texas country and Americana music before headliner Casey Donahew takes the stage. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (admission). Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St., Plano. 972-941-7000. https://texasforeverfest.com

WILLIAM C. V¢COMMUNITY IMPACT

MARCH 17 THROUGH 19

is directed by Mary Ann Morrow with musical direction from Kathy French. The show features Frank Loesser songs, such as “Adelaide’s Lament,” “If I Were a Bell” and “Luck Be a Lady.” 7:30 p.m. (March 17-18), 2 p.m. (March 18-19). $20-$25. Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Ave., Plano. 214-531-4712. www.moondancetheatre.com 18 & 25; APRIL 1, 8, 15 &22 SHOP LOCAL VENDORS Each Saturday, The Shops at Willow Bend

TAKE IN A MUSICAL ROMANTIC COMEDY The Moondance Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls” at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. The play follows con artist Nathan Detroit’s eorts to nd new life for his notorious game of chance, according to the event’s description. The local production

Find more or submit Plano events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

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to trac at all times with a second lane closed daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Timeline: March-June Cost: $6.47 million Funding source: city of Plano 4 Hedgcoxe Road pavement and sidewalk repairs Crews will be making pavement and sidewalk repairs on Hedgcoxe Road from Custer Road to Legacy Drive in both directions. One lane will remain closed to trac at all times with a second lane closed daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Timeline: August 2022-August 2023 Cost: $3.3 million Funding source: city of Plano 5 Plano Parkway at Independence Parkway improvements A project to improve this intersection will widen the road, improve trac signals, update pedestrian facilities and add full trac capacity to all four approaches at this intersection. Those improvements will include the installation of dual left- turn lanes and dedicated right-turn lanes. The completion date for the project was moved back from January to February. Timeline: August 2022-March 2023 Cost: $1.8 million 6 Parkwood Boulevard pavement and sidewalk repairs Crews will be making pavement and sidewalk repairs on Parkwood Boule- vard from Park Boulevard to Windhaven Parkway in both directions. One lane will remain closed to trac at all times with a second lane to be closed daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Timeline: October 2022-March 2023 Cost: $550,000 Funding source: city of Plano

COMPILED BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY ONGOING PROJECTS 1 Shiloh Road expansion Crews are expanding Shiloh Road from 14th Street to Park Boulevard. The road- way will expand to two lanes in either direction due to trac volume. Along with the widening of the road, crews are set to replace water lines; put in signal improvements; and add new bike lanes, sidewalks and trail connections. The channel structure under the two bridges crossing a tributary of Rowlett Creek has also been expanded to mitigate localized ooding and drainage concerns in the area. Timeline: May 2022-February 2024 Cost: $13.8 million Funding sources: Collin County bond, city of Plano bond 2 Spring Creek Parkway turn lane improvements A project to improve this intersection will add a dedicated right-turn lane in the westbound direction approaching US 75 along Spring Creek Parkway and modify the through lanes to better align through the intersection. Signal improvements and updated pedestrian facilities and sidewalks are also included. Crews have begun pavement removal and new pave- ment improvements. Timeline: October 2022-March 2023 Cost: $1.5 million Funding source: city of Plano 3 Legacy Drive pavement and sidewalk repairs Crews will be making pavement and sidewalk repairs on Legacy Drive from Preston Road to Coit Road east- and westbound. One lane will remain closed

Unmatched Academic Results Join us for Open Houses:

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Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic classes for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence. Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077 6700 Communications Parkway, Plan o Independence (PS–G1) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano

eleating 60 years

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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF FEB. 28, 2023. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT PLNNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

CAMP GUIDE

GUIDE

A noncomprehensive list of camps in the area

Club SciKidz

Edge Dance and Performing Arts

Heritage Farmstead Museum

Pipe & Palette

COURTESY CLUB SCIKIDZ

COURTESY EDGE DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS

COURTESY HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM

COURTESY PIPE & PALETTE

14 Outcry Theatre These camps include learning about acting, behind-the-scenes production, sword-ghting classes and more. ART Dates: June 19July 23 Ages: 718 Cost: $350 (weekly) Outcry Theatre 1915 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 120 9728367206 www.outcrytheatre.com 15 Pipe & Palette Pipe & Palette inside Willow Bend Mall hosts art camps throughout the summer that focus on canvas painting, sculpture and more. ART Dates: May 29Aug. 11 Ages: 512 Cost: $95 (day), $250 (three days), $350 (weekly) Pipe & Palette 6121 W. Park Blvd., Ste. C118 9724820755 www.pipeandpalette.com 16 Plano Sports Authority The Plano Sports Authority oers camps throughout the summer with a focus on sports camps, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, martial arts and dance. SP Dates: May 30Aug. 8 Ages: 613 Cost: $55 (daily), $269 (weekly) Plano Sports Authority 6500 Preston Meadow Drive 9722085437 www.psaplano.org 17 School of Rock These music camps provide workshops, clinics and private instruction. Students will learn about working in a studio, band rehearsals and performing live. ART Dates: June 5July 31 Ages: 718 Cost: $550 (weekly) School of Rock 1501 Preston Road, Ste. 550 4695673962 https://locations.schoolofrock.com/plano 18 Studio 3 Dance This camp oers a variety of children’s dance classes and workshops with one-day, three-day and multiweek options. Each of the classes has a dierent theme and musical style. ART SP

Parents looking for camps for their children have a number of options to choose from in Plano. This list is not comprehensive.

emphasis on science, technology, engineering and the arts. A+ Dates: May 28Aug. 5 Ages: 618 Cost: $399-$499 (weekly) iCode Plano 7200 Independence Parkway, Ste. 210 9726653888 www.icodeschool.com 10 CodeWiz CodeWiz oers half- and full-day camps that teach game design, robotics and web design. A+ Dates: June 5Aug. 4 Ages: 617 Cost: $279-$489 (weekly) CodeWiz Plano 6905 Coit Road, Ste. 104 4698243463 https://thecodewiz.com/plano-tx 11 KidStrong These themed multiday camps focus on physi- cal, brain and social-emotional development for children. DAY SP Dates: May 30July 31 Ages: 49 Cost: $220-$275 (weekly) KidStrong West Plano 6101 Windhaven Parkway 4699916101 www.kidstrong.com/westplano 12 Master Chang’s Martial Arts This camp will have kids learn taekwondo, attend eld trips, create art projects and take part in team-building games. SP Dates: June 5Aug. 4 Ages: 514 Cost: $189-$229 (weekly) Master Chang’s Martial Arts (North Plano) 2300 McDermott Road, Ste. 500 9727477300 https://masterchangsdallas.com 13 North Texas Performing Arts North Texas Performing Arts will host a variety of half- and full-day camp options that will ex- plore art, drama and theater, and the students will put on live productions. ART Dates: June 5Aug. 4 Ages: 518 Cost: $275 (weekly, half day),$425(weekly, day)

A+ Academics ART Arts DAY Day SP Sports

1 Bricks Bots & Beakers Students can enroll in a variety of themed half-day and full-day hands-on STEAM classes to learn about basic science and engineering concepts. A+ Dates: May 30Aug. 4 Ages: 512 Cost: $45-$360 (weekly) Brick Bots & Beakers 2011 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Ste. 800 2143268225 www.bricksbotsbeakers.com 2 Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County This organization oers camps that focus on creativity, science, technology, arts and more. Dates: June 5July 29 A+ ART DAY SP Ages: 518 Cost: $500-$550 Boys & Girls Club of Collin County Plano 1111 H Ave.

5 Collin College Collin College oers a variety of summer camp programs at its Plano campus. Camps oered include photography, art, writing, American Sign Language, nance and more.

A+ ART DAY SP Date: June 5July 27 Ages: vary Cost: $150-$225 (weekly)

Collin College Plano Campus 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway 9725486790 www.collin.edu 6 Destination Science

Destination Science has three types of classes available for kids, including Artemis Moon Mission Camp, BioBot & Roller Coaster Camp, and Rescue Robot Mystery Camp. A+ Dates: June 12July 21 Ages: 511

Cost: $289-$359 (weekly) John Paul II High School 900 Coit Road 8889092822 www.destinationscience.org

9724246301 www.bgccc.org 3 Camp St. Mark

Operated by Kidventure, these camps provide a camping experience for children to learn and experience activities, such as archery, rock

7 Edge Dance and Performing Arts This studio oers camps that focus on dance and theater classes, and they culminate in a live performance with the students. ART Dates: June 19Aug. 4 Ages: 318 Cost:$225-$295(weekly),$495(two-weekcamp) Edge Dance & Performing Arts Center 4101 E. Park Blvd., Ste. 101 9727367826 www.edgedance.com 8 Heritage Farmstead Museum Camps at the Heritage Farmstead Museum give children the chance to experience outdoor activities with a focus on history and farm life. A+ Dates: June 12July 28 Ages: 512 Cost: $250 (weekly) Heritage Farmstead Museum 1900 W. 15th St. 9728810140 www.heritagefarmstead.org/summer-camps 9 iCode iCode oers computer science camps with an

climbing and more. A+ ART DAY SP Dates: June 5Aug. 4 Ages: 312 Cost: $340 (weekly) St. Mark Catholic School 1201 Alma Drive 2143039789 www.kidventure.com 4 Club SciKidz

This camp oers various science themes for kids to take part in, including Video Game Maker, American Girl STEAM, Young Surgeon and Robot Engineer. A+ Date: June 1230, July 1021 Ages: 413 Cost: $275-$349 (weekly) A One Community Church, 2400 SH 121 B Willow Bend Church, 5701 W. Park Blvd. 2145305979 www.clubscikidzdallas.com

North Texas Performing Arts 6121 W. Park Blvd., Ste. B216 9724222575 www.ntpa.org/camps

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

T A 2023 C YRD.

COMPILED BY COLBY FARR AND MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

RIDGEVIEW DR.

SRT TOLL

MCDERMOTT RD.

4A RIDGEVIEW DR.

B ETHANYDR.

HEDGCOXE RD.

DNT TOLL

PLANO

Twinkle Star Dance Academy

COURTESY TWINKLE STAR DANCE ACADEMY

LEGACYDR.

Dates: June 6July 20 Ages: 36 Cost: $42 (one day) $150 (three days) Studio 3 Dance 2200 Coit Road, Ste. 440 9729643838 www.studio3dance.com 19 Texas Chess Center

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

WINDHAVEN PKWY.

PARKERRD.

Texas Chess Center oers six dierent levels of camps for players, including Intro Camps, Be- ginner Rank Camps, Intermediate Rank Camps, Advanced Rank Camps, Expert Rank Camps and Champion Camps. Camps feature instructive learning, play time, special game time and more. DAY SP Dates: May 30Aug. 11 Ages: 516 Cost: $190-$215 Texas Chess Center 4105 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Ste. 610 4694987296 www.texaschesscenter.com 20 Texas Dynamix Gymnastics These camps will focus on a variety of games while campers learn gymnastics techniques. Campers will also spend time working on arts and crafts projects. ART SP Dates: May 30Aug. 4 Ages: 412 Cost: $45-$70 (daily) Texas Dynamix Gymnastics (Plano location) 1901 Preston Park Blvd. 9724911916 https://texasdynamixgymnastics.com

13 15

PARKBLVD.

PRESTON PARK BLVD.

DNT TOLL

15THST.

ST.

P L A N O P K W Y .

H AVE.

PGBT TOLL

21 Twinkle Star Dance Academy Campers will learn about dance and music as well as give live performances. Crafts and snacks are provided daily for campers. ART SP Dates: June 19July 28 Ages: 310 Cost: $99-$129 (weekly)

22 YMCA Plano Camp Chippewa, the YMCA camp oered in Plano, will have themed activities, including nature walks, outdoor learning, creative and performing arts, and more. ART DAY SP Dates: May 30July 28 Ages: 512 Cost: $179-$219 (weekly)

City of Plano The city of Plano oers a variety of summer camps with outdoor and indoor options that feature activities, such as sports, arts and crafts, community service, and more. A+ ART DAY SP Dates: vary throughout the summer

Ages: 616 Cost: varies

Twinkle Star Dance Academy 3400 Preston Road, Ste. 225 4698401445 www.twinklestardancers.com/plano

Chase Oaks Church 2815 Legacy Drive 2147059459 www.ymcadallas.org

Locations vary 9729417250 www.planoparks.org

K RUPA D OWNS L AW

C HRISTENE “C HRIS ” K RUPA D OWNS , ATTORNEY WILLS | ESTATE PLANNING GUARDIANSHIP | PROBATE LAW

214.556.3862

PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

CITY & SCHOOLS

News from Plano, Plano ISD & Collin College

District seeking input from public

Ballot set for school district, city races

BY TERI WEBSTER

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

PLANO ISD The school district is seeking community input as the district begins mapping its long- range planning goals. Through a series of brainstorming sessions, the board and district leaders have identied three key areas for public input. The areas of discussion include a new Career and Technical Education center, which is covered by the district’s recent bond. Another key area is classroom technology, which could potentially be funded through recently passed bond propositions. A third topic is advanced academ- ics, special education and multilin- gual programs. The rst meeting was held on March 15. The two upcoming meetings are set for 9-10 a.m. March 18 at Vines High School and 7-8 p.m. March 21 at Shepton High School.

PLANO & PLANO ISD The May 6 election will see contested races for City Council and Plano ISD trustees. Running unopposed for council Places 1 and 7 are incumbent council members Maria Tu and Julie Holmer. Colleen Aguilar-Epstein and Rick Horne are running for council Place 3. That seat is held by Rick Grady, who is at his term limit. Incumbent Council Member Shelby Williams is running against Brett Cooper for Place 5. Tarrah Lantz, Lydia Ortega and Margaret Turner-Carrigan are running for PISD Place 4, which is held by Heather Wang. Michael Cook, Khalid Ishaq and Greg Jubenville are running for Place 5, which is held by David Stolle. Katherine Chan Goodwin, Simon Salinas and Nancy Schilre are running against incumbent Place 7 Trustee Cody Weaver.

Collin College students will see no change in their tuition. (Courtesy Collin College)

Collin College planning to maintain current tuition rates through fall

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

products, it is important to keep college aordable for students,” board of trustees Chair Andrew Hardin said in the release. Trustees also voted to extend President Neil Matkin’s contract through Aug. 31, 2026. Matkin has served as the college’s president since April 6, 2015. During Matkin’s tenure, Collin College has expanded its oering of degrees while adding four new campuses, including the technical campus in Allen.

COLLIN COLLEGE Tuition will stay at $62 per credit hour for in-district Collin College students through the fall. The Collin College board of trustees voted to maintain the district’s tuition rates during its Feb. 28 meeting. The college has the lowest in-district tuition rates in the state, according to a news release from Collin College. “With the rising costs of

Plano City Council meets at 7 p.m. on March 27 and April 10. Meetings are held at 1520 K Ave., Plano, and can be streamed online. 972-941-7000. www.plano.gov MEETINGS WE COVER Plano ISD board of trustees meets at 6 p.m. on April 4 and April 18 at the PISD Administration Center, 2700 W. 15th St., Plano. 469-752-8100. www.pisd.edu HIGHLIGHTS NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT The smell or taste of chlorine disinfectant may become more noticeable to North Texans during a routine maintenance period for the water district. The temporarily change will last from March 6-April 3, according to a district news release. TEXAS The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is oering a new loan aimed at increasing the number of Texans who complete degree programs for high-demand occupations, such as nursing, teaching, energy and more. For more information on the loan process, visit the loan website at https://bit.ly/3muS65B, or contact 800-242-3062.

10th Street in Plano expected to see $4.5M reconstruction project

Trail remodel The city is spending over $318,000 to revamp the trail.

PARK BLVD.

BOB WOODRUFF PARK

Bob Woodru Park trail Bob Woodru Park pond

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

PLANO A portion of 10th Street in Plano is set for almost $4.5 million of upgrades. Plano City Council approved a contract for the replacement of pavement, sidewalks and 1,320 linear feet of water line from N Avenue to Jupiter Road during a Feb. 27 meeting. The project will also include improvements to the drainage system along 10th Street, according to the agenda item. The item states the system is “undersized” and causes minor ¢ooding when it rains. The $4.43 million contract was awarded to McMahon Contracting and Construction, and the project will be funded by the city’s 2022-23 street improvements and water capital improvement project funds.

PARKER RD.

SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO COMMUNITY IMPACT

City trail at Bob Woodru Park North set to get major upgrade

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

PLANO The trail at Bob Woodru Park North will be getting a major upgrade. Plano City Council approved a contract that will pro- vide plans for the removal, replacement and relocation of the existing trail at the park during its Jan. 13 meeting. The trail is 33 years old and in poor condition, according to the agenda item. The replacement is meant to update the trail and address drainage issues. Council awarded the $318,450 contract for the project to Talley Landscape Architects. The project’s funding will come from the city’s 2022-23 Park Improvements Community Investment Program, leaving $431,430 for future projects.

Road work The $4.43 million project will replace sidewalks and more on 10th Street.

14TH ST.

10TH ST.

PLANO PKWY.

SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO COMMUNITY IMPACT

PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500

ALLEN 1839 N Central Expressway (972) 908-3488

EAST PLANO 3404 N Central Expressway (972) 423-6688

COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

JOB INCREASE The counties have seen an increase in the numbers of overall jobs. Collin County Dallas County Denton County Tarrant County Key:

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties have seen lower unemployment rates in all industries than in previous years, according data from late 2022. Because of this, the job market is competitive to employ people.

2.5M

2,088,756

Key: COLLIN COUNTY

Employed Unemployed

1,863,939

DALLAS COUNTY

58,044

18,625

1.5M

1.43M

626,815

1,130,578

608,190

1.37M

Total

967,575

608,712

DENTON COUNTY

TARRANT COUNTY

420,897

39,932

16,717

500K

1.13M

552,700 Total

363,203

535,983

1.08M

252,665

Total

Years

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXASCOMMUNITY IMPACT

WHAT IS A DETENTION OFFICER?

detention o cers and just under 3% openings in deputy sheris in the fall, Skinner said. The starting salary for a detention o cer is $19.23 an hour. All jail salaries were increased by the county commissioners from a total sal- ary budget of $28.68 million in 2022 to $32.07 million in 2023. “Unfortunately, in many sheri’s o ces across the country, the vacancy rate exceeds 35%,” Skinner said. “By any measure this is a crisis.” In Collin County, detention o cer turnover has been a challenge, as well. In 2019, the county’s detention o cer turnover rate was 23%, and it has increased, the county’s Human Resources Director Cynthia Jacobson said during an August Collin County Commissioner Court meeting that was part of its budget discussions. That rate increased to 27% in 2020 and up to 37% in 2021. “2021 was a rough year in terms of turnover for the county and law enforcement even more so,” Jacob- son said. That rate decreased to 25.9%, according to December 2022 turnover data, which is the most up-to-date data available. It was lower than the projected 27%. “We just can’t nd them once we have the openings for 2022, so it’s a dierent set of issues in 2022 than in 2021,” she said. In December, Dallas County had 120 vacancies in detention areas out of 1,481 positions, Dallas County Sheri Marian Brown said. The issue is county jails are regulated

by the Texas Commission on Jail Stan- dards, which comes with a required level of sta ng per inmate, Brown said. Stang incentives The local sheri’s departments have turned to recruiting, incentive pay and other perks to help ll in the sta ng holes. “I regularly speak with other sher- is and their senior supervisors about recruiting, retention and morale,” Skin- ner said. “Many counties use various incentives, including compensation, recruiting or retention pay, employ- ment and retirement benets, and training and educational benets, to improve their situations.” Dallas County has been hosting recruiting fairs to bring people to the job. Brown also regularly visits with commissioners about the issue. In Denton County, the department created temporary positions that were part-time as a way to attract people, such as retirees or people who do not want or need a full-time job, Eads said. Despite sta ng shortages, Skinner said he still wants the right people. “These professions take commit- ment and resolve,” he said. “We plan, train and budget for them. We are very selective about who we select, given the enormous responsibility that they are given in keeping our cit- izens and communities safe.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

increased by 7.7%. To combat the shortage, o cials have turned to recruiting and nan- cial incentives. Stang shortages These law enforcement sta ng chal- lenges are not limited to North Texas but have been seen statewide, Denton County Judge Andy Eads said. “Denton County is not alone in our challenges here,” he said. The Denton County Sheri’s O ce has seen a decrease in applications for law enforcement and is now expe- riencing a 35% sta ng level at its jail. Having a fully functioning jail is essen- tial to public safety and the judicial sys- tem, Eads said. “You can’t incarcerate people with- out having detention o cers,” he said. These o cers are “critical” to the public safety infrastructure, he said. The shortage has caused a burden on the jail sta, Eads said, as employees now have to take on more shifts to sta the detention center. “I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’re going to get through it,” Denton County Sheri Tracy Murphree said at a Lewisville Chamber of Com- merce meeting in the fall. Skinner, from Collin County, reiter- ated Eads’ point. Sta ng presents seri- ous challenges, and it is an issue that he manages on a daily basis, Skinner said in an email. The Collin County Sheri’s O ce had just under 10% openings in

The detention ocer, who works for the sheri’s department, performs specialized law enforcement work in the care and security of inmates in the county jail. WHAT DOES AN OFFICER DO? An ocer has the following duties:

Admits prisoners to the county jail and ensures inmates are properly booked and searched Patrols entire jail area to prevent escapes and maintain order Prepares and transports inmates to and from court, visitations or

medical appointments Inspects the cleaning of jail to meet requirements of state and local ocials

Supervises inmate trustees performing various duties, such as serving meals to inmates

DETENTION OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS A detention ocer must meet the following qualications: U.S. citizen At least 18 years old High School Possession of a valid

driver’s license

diploma or GED required

Must attain certication by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as a jailer within one year of employment

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

SOURCES: COLLIN, DALLAS, DENTON AND TARRANT COUNTIESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

PLANO SOUTH EDITION • MARCH 2023

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