Richardson | May 2025

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Richardson Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 9 MAY 28JUNE 26, 2025

Road work ahead INSIDE 12

PGBT TOLL

W. RENNER RD.

Community Impact spoke with Amir Omar on his vision as Richardson’s mayor Meet the new mayor 10

Construction projects are ongoing on Custer Parkway and Renner Road.

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Dustin Butler Karen Chaney Mark Fadden Colby Farr Hannah Johnson Heather McCullough Alex Reece Cody Thorn Jacob Vaughn Graphic Designers Nicolas Delgadillo José Jiménez

Tracy Ruckel General Manager truckel@ communityimpact.com

Chelsea Peters Armando Servin Quality Desk Editor Deekota Diaz Managing Editor Miranda Jaimes Senior Product Manager Breanna Flores

Michael Crouchley Editor mcrouchley@ communityimpact.com

John Alper DFW Metro President jalper@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

4 Phenix Salon Suites The company will provide individual salon suites for hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians, massage therapists, make-up artists and more. • Opening in the fall • 650 N. Coit Road, Ste. 2320, Richardson • www.phenixsalonsuites.com

PLANO PKWY.

WYNGATE BLVD,

STATE ST.

RENNER RD.

BRECKINRIDGE BLVD.

5 Shalimar Banquet Hall and Conference Center

TELECOM PKWY.

CAMPBELL RD.

The business is a Chicago-based banquet hall and conference center, the company’s social media states. • Opening TBD

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COLLINS BLVD.

• 260 Wyngate Blvd., Plano • www.shalimarbanquets.com

ARAPAHO RD.

78 6 The Wash Laundromat The laundromat will offer clothing pickup and delivery services, according to the website. • Opening in May • 400 N. Coit Road, Ste. 1902, Richardson • www.thewash-texas.com 7 We’re Dough The eatery’s menu will feature manoush, a Lebanese flat bread, and kaak, a Lebanese street bread. Breakfast options will include fakhar which are eggs cooked on a traditional Lebanese clay pot. • Opening in July • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 107, Plano • www.we-re-dough.com

Richardson

LOCKWOOD DR.

BELT LINE RD.

MCKINNEY ST.

SPRING VALLEY RD.

BUCKINGHAM RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

SHERMAN ST.

The business offers leases for single, double, triple or spa suites for lifestyle professionals. Services include hair cuts and styling, braiding, lash extensions and more. • Opened in mid-May • 700 E. Campbell Road, Ste. 250, Richardson • www.salonsuitesateastside.com 3 Las Lomas Mexican Cuisine The menu will include tacos, enchiladas and more. It will also offer live performances featuring mariachi bands and other regional music. The restaurant will also host cultural events such as Mexican Independence Day and Dia de los Muertos.

Now open

1 Noorsha Cafe and Catering The restaurant serves dishes such as gozleme—a savory, stuffed turnover—baked goods, paninis, breakfast and more. It also offers catering services. Noorsha Cafe and Catering currently has two locations, one in Garland and one in Dallas, according to the company’s website. • Opened in May

What’s next

8 Mesorah High School for Girls The school offers Orthodox Jewish-based instruction. It is currently located in Dallas, but will relocate to Richardson. Documents filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation indicate renovations to the space will wrap up in December. • 2101 Waterview Parkway, Richardson • www.mesorahhighschool.org

• 1057 S. Sherman St., Richardson • www.noorshacafecatering.com

Coming soon

• Opening in late May or early June • 520 Lockwood Drive, Richardson • www.instagram.com/laslomasmex520/

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BY DUSTIN BUTLER, MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & KAREN CHANEY

Lone Chimney Mercantile The Richardson-based company will be opening a new location at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Lone Chimney Mercantile sells gifts, cards, stickers, jewelry and more. The new location will be located in Terminal D. • 2400 Aviation Drive, DFW Airport, Terminal D, Gate D33 • www.lonechimneymercantile.com

In the news

Now open

9 Del’s Charcoal Burgers The restaurant is currently closed after a fire in the restaurant’s vent system. The restaurant is known for its hamburgers, french fries and house-made root beer. Del’s staff are working with city officials to reopen the restaurant, City Manager Don Manger said. Del’s will reopen after repairs, according to the company’s social media. • 110 S. McKinney St., Richardson • www.delsburgers.comhttp://www.delsburgers.com 10 Geico The company is moving forward with an expansion plan that is bringing 1,500 jobs to Richardson. In December, Geico expanded its insurances offerings to include commercial insurance options. To support the new offerings, the Richardson location was designated as the commercial insurance operating hub. Additionally, the company announced plans to open a second office in Richardson. The new 165,000-square-foot building is scheduled to open in the fall. • 2375 N. Glenville Drive, Richardson • www.geico.com

Closings

11 Fernando’s Mexican Cuisine The restaurant is closing both its CityLine location in Richardson and the Dallas location, Managing Partner Anna Cowden said in a social media post. The restaurant served Tex-Mex cuisine, including tacos, quesadillas, nachos, Mexican shrimp cocktail and more. The Dallas restaurant operated for more than 20 years, according to the post. • Closed May 18 • 1250 State St., Ste. 100, Richardson • www.fernandostexmex.com

12 Dog Haus Biergarten The restaurant has a dog-friendly patio and offers hot dogs, hamburgers, breakfast tacos and more. It also has several craft beers on tap and serves vegetarian options. The restaurant closed last year but reopened under new ownership. • Opened April 16 • 744 S. Central Expressway, Ste. 210, Richardson • www.doghaus.com

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Government

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & ADAM DOE

Council approves 89-unit townhome development A new housing development is set to bring 89 townhome units following action taken by Richard- son City Council at the April 28 meeting. The details Council heard a request to rezone a 7.1-acre lot located at 3600 Shiloh Road to allow for a new housing development. The development includes a 2,000-square- foot dog park and a 5,000-square-foot gathering space with lighting and seating, according to city documents. The townhomes will be limited to three stories and will be 45 feet tall; however two-story options will be available with the minimum lot size of 1,700 square feet. Each unit will also have a two- car garage and 67 visitor parking spaces will be provided throughout the development. City OKs drive-thru lane at Chick-l-A Chick-il-A on West Campbell Road in Richardson is set to build an additional drive-thru lane. Richardson City Council approved the construction of the drive-thru lane at its April 14 meeting. The gist Currently, the location’s drive-thru has two ordering lanes that merge into a single pickup lane in addition to a bypass lane. The expansion will add an additional drive-thru lane for mobile order pickups, and another merged lane, resulting in three lanes that merge into two, and eliminating the bypass lane.

What they’re saying Rob Lavinsky, who owns the building behind the proposed development, opposed the rezoning. Two other letters were submitted in opposition to the development, one citing trac as a concern and the other citing a potential increase in criminal activity. At the April 1 Richardson City Planning Commis- sion meeting, resident Scott Bratcher spoke in favor of the development. The outcome Council member Jennifer Justice said the development would help the city address mid- dle-missing housing, a term that refers to the lack of medium-density housing.

W. SPRING VALLEY RD.

Zoning change to help new restaurant Dallas restaurant La Salsa Verde Taqueria may relocate to Richardson, following the City Planning Commission meeting May 6. Two-minute impact The restaurant’s one-story plan doesn’t meet zoning. So the proposed building would appear as a two-story building. Instead of a second oor, the restaurant would have a mezzanine, which would allow for special events and overow seating.

89-unit townhome development

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E. RENNER RD.

Drone maintenance center approved

Richardson City Council voted to approve a special permit during the April 28 meeting for a drone maintenance center operated by Zipline. Zipline uses drones with an 8-foot wingspan, capable of carrying 8 pounds and traveling 70 miles per hour. The center will not be a delivery hub, Senior City Planner Derica Peters said, adding that drones in need of maintenance will be delivered to the site where technicians will repair them. Zipline Project Manager Stefanie Cooke said the center will have a showroom and classroom. Additionally, a space will be dedicated for customer support and community engagement. The details The center, located at 1155 Kas Drive, will serve as the company’s regional headquarters and will support maintenance, business opera- tions and customer service. It will require ground infrastructure, which will be required to be placed behind a screening wall. The station includes two 28-foot docking poles and a kiosk that allows the drone to land

The delivery system consists of the drone and a delivery droid, which lowers a customer’s order on a tether.

on the structure. The conditions Conditions for the special permit include requiring the center to be at least 300 feet from residential properties, maintenance activities must be conducted indoors and equipment and structure cannot extend more than 10 feet above the center’s roof. The company will work with city staff to inalize their permits. Zipline is the second company, the other being Amazon, to apply for a drone-related special permit.

W. CAMPBELL RD.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

Election results breakdown

Several races took place affecting Richardson on May 3.

Incumbent

Winner

Richardson

Plano

55% Amir Omar 42% Bob Dubey 4% Alan C. North Richardson City Council, Mayor 62% Arefin Shamsul 38% Lisa Kupfer Richardson City Council, Place 6

50.09% Vanessa Pacheco 43.19% Pamela Hughes 6.72% Elaine Bonavita Richardson ISD board of trustees, District 2 87% Rachel McGowan 13% Christina Angelina Neria Richardson ISD board of trustees, District 5

57% Elisa Klein 13% Andrew Rettke 30% Dash Weerasinghe Plano ISD board of trustees, Place 6 71% Nancy Humphrey 29% Harper Weaver Plano ISD board of trustees, Place 3 86% Sam Johnson 14% Xiomar Pierre Plano ISD board of trustees, Place 2

For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

SOURCES: COLLIN COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION, DALLAS ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Election

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

Q&A: Meet Amir Omar, Richardson’s new mayor Richardson has a new mayor in Amir Omar, who previously served on City Council. Omar won the May 3 election, defeating incumbent Bob Dubey with 55% of the vote. Omar spoke with Community Impact on his

largest issues we face. What values will guide your decision-making as mayor? It is important that we look at every decision through the lens of the plans we have invested heavily in. We should always consider how even small changes to the plan can affect future via- bility as well as perceptions of small businesses or residents that have invested into the plan. I also feel it is important that we drive towards things that add up to being a city that our kids or grandkids would want to call their home when they have a choice. What do you want your legacy to be at the end of your term? I don’t necessarily think of things like “leg- acy” per se. As I have this honor to serve, I am hopeful that along the way people feel I have been thoughtful, proactive and accessible in my actions. How do you plan to balance short-term fixes with long-term investments? Our city does a great job balancing these items currently. When you think of infrastructure for example, prior councils have done a great job doing as much “pay as you go” budgeting while also recognizing that some longer term invest- ments are important to consider and prioritize. What role do you see for community input in shaping city policies? This is the community’s city and their role is critical and their input is a priority. Richardson has done a great job soliciting input when it comes to things like our comprehensive plan

vision for his term as Richardson mayor. What was your reaction to winning the Richardson mayoral race?

There was an immediate feeling of the incred- ible honor it is to serve our great city in this way. Following so many great leaders that have held this role, I recognize the importance of keeping things on track and continuing to move the city forward. What are some of the priorities you want to focus on as mayor? My campaign focused a great deal on acces- sibility and transparency as well as the work I hope to do to complement our economic development efforts. I am also looking forward to working independently as well as in concert with the City Council on policies that can support these and other initiatives important to our residents. What is the biggest issue facing Richardson at the moment and how do you plan to address it? Richardson is already a respected and highly thought of city. As any great city, we recog- nize a need to continue to evolve as market changes occur. We are actively promoting our [Innovation Quarter] district as well as working with our commercial office owners on ways to stay attractive and relevant for future tenants. Continuing on these paths will best address the

COURTESY AMIR OMAR

or specific studies and master plans. I believe it is important to always look for unique ways we can improve gaining feedback by going to the residents where they are and soliciting that additional input.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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Transportation

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & COLBY FARR

State legislation that would have redirected 25% of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s sales tax revenues back to its member cities has died in the House though an identical bill can still move through the Senate. House Bill 3187, filed by Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano did not reach the House floor for a second reading before May 15, the deadline to read House bills a second time. Senate Bill 1557, filed by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, can still move through the legislative process from the Senate however. SB 1557 was referred to the Transportation Committee in March but has not been scheduled for a hearing. The bill would have to progress through both chambers by May 27, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Both bills would require DART to allocate a quarter of its sales tax collections for general mobility projects in its member cities. These proj- ects could include sidewalks, trails, highways, streetlights, and traffic signals. Each city would submit a list of intended projects to DART. Shaheen argued DART is financially harming member cities. In contrast, DART’s board in March approved a separate resolution to voluntarily commit 5% of annual sales tax revenue to general mobility projects. In a nutshell DART President and CEO Nadine Lee warned City officials talk DART funding at Texas House

Expenses vs. sales tax contribution by member city A report by Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors showed seven of DART’s 13 member cities contributed more sales tax revenue in 2023 than operations, capital and interest expenses cost to maintain transit service.

Sales tax contribution Expenses

$0M $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M $120M

Carrollton

Farmers Branch

Highland Park

Plano Richardson University Park

Addison

SOURCE: ERNST AND YOUNG INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

funding model is outdated. If SB 1157 were approved by the Texas Senate and Texas House and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, it would mandate that 25% of DART’s sales tax revenue is made available to its member cities for projects on city highways, sidewalks, trails, traffic signals and more. Also of note In response to the bill, a proposed program would let DART participate in Richardson’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). The city and DART would agree on a sales tax baseline, with any revenue above that split between them for improvements such as sidewalks and streets. Richardson also partnered with DART and CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, to redevelop the 15-acre DART Arapaho Station to include residential, retail and commercial aspects. The multiphase project could begin initial construc- tion in 2027 or 2028.

that a permanent 25% cut would reduce revenue by $7 billion over 20 years, leading to “devastat- ing” system-wide cuts. Richardson City Council member Joe Corcoran testified against the bill, citing the city’s decades- long investment in DART, including four train stations and a fifth opening soon with the Silver Line. Richardson City Manager Don Magner said the city fully supports funding DART, noting the agency’s regional importance. “Even giving 5% back is going to limit [DART’s] ability to expand,” he said. “It would really undermine what we’ve all been working towards, which is trying to make them a more valuable asset to the region.” Plano Mayor John Muns and Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick supported the bill. Muns cited a 2024 Ernst & Young study showing Plano con- tributed $109 million to DART in 2023 but got less than 50 cents on the dollar in return. He said Plano supports transit but that DART’s current

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Road work ahead From the cover

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

What next?

A closer look

About the project

PGBT TOLL

W. RENNER RD.

A majority of funding, about 55%, for the road projects comes from the 2021 bond program. Additional funding comes from certificates of obligation and various city funds totaling about $155 million. Construction on Renner should wrap up by the end of 2025, Kohel said. Magner said the next major road project is likely to be West Shore Drive, which has already started construction south of Arapaho Road. Magner said West Shore is a complete rebuild of the road and will also have a significant impact on drivers. Construction on the portion of West Shore from Arapaho to Campbell is expected to begin this summer and will cost about $13 million, according to the city’s website.

Magner said the city conducts internal planning to minimize disruptions and impact on the com- munity. Project managers regularly explore ways to reduce traffic impact while maintaining safety. In addition to the Custer and Renner projects, work is also underway one block to the east along Canyon Brook Drive, Kohel said. The $4 million project includes pavement, utility and drainage improvements, and is expected to be completed in the summer. At the April 14 City Council work session, Kohel reported 44 active road projects citywide, with another 12 in planning or design. “Orange cones are the sign of progress,” Magner said. “One day these orange cones are going to be gone and we’ll have a great improved road.” Some local businesses, however, are already feeling the impact. Eric Litton, general manager of Wingstop on Renner, estimated sales are down about 10% since construction started. Barriers around the parking lot have confused patrons.

Ongoing construction

FOREST GROVE DR.

Richardson drivers can expect delays near Renner Road and Custer Parkway as two major infrastructure projects are underway. The city is rebuilding Custer from Campbell Road to President George Bush Turnpike, a curb-to- curb rebuild that includes replacing water, sewer lines and sidewalks. Construction is divided into four segments, said Nick Kohel, Richardson’s director of engineering and capital projects. The second phase began in December, and the full project is expected to finish in fall 2026. Nearby, a project on Renner Road west of Custer Parkway is underway as the North Texas Municipal Water District installs a new water line. The upgraded line supplies water pressure to northeast Richardson. “That area [of Richardson] will be the most impacted for the next six months or so as both projects are underway,” City Manager Don Magner said.

Driving demand

PLEASANT VALLEY LN.

Several road projects near the intersection of West Renner Road and Custer Parkway are underway or starting soon.

CANYON BROOK DR.

TAM O SHANTER LN.

CUSTER PKWY.

Renner Road carries approximately 24,000

Custer Parkway carries approximately

13,000 vehicles daily

CANYON VALLEY DR.

vehicles daily

SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

4A Canyon Brook: Forest Grove to Canyon Valley 4B Canyon Valley: Canyon Brook to Brook Glen 4C Forest Grove: Canyon Ridge to Pleasant Valley

1 Renner Road • Design start : fall 2021 • Timeline: spring 2023-spring 2026 • Cost: $74.4 million • Funding source: CO bond, water/sewer 2 Custer Parkway • Design start : winter 2021 • Timeline: fall 2024-fall 2026 • Cost: $23.1million • Funding source: 2021 bond

3 Silver Line rail • Design start : spring 2020 • Timeline: spring 2020-winter 2026 • Cost: $2.1 billion • Funding source: Dallas Area Rapid Transit 4 Pavement, utility work • Design start : spring 2022 • Timeline: fall 2024-summer 2025 • Cost: $4.1 million • Funding source: 2021 bond

“Everyone thinks we’re closed,” Litton said. “We had to put up flags saying we’re open.” Litton said the flags went up at the restaurant’s expense and city officials informed him construc- tion would be underway for four to six months. Nearby Subway franchisee Sandip Patel said his sales are down 40% and his request for rent relief was denied. “It took me 11 years to build my business,” Patel said. “It will take them six months to tear it down.”

SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

DALLAS 9500 N Central Expy (214) 369-2800 ADDISON 15055 Inwood Rd (972) 239-5891

Transportation

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Road work to close lanes on Floyd Road, Jupiter Road in Richardson Drivers may experience delays as two Richard- son road projects are beginning, which may close various lanes of traffic. The details Alternate right and left lanes will be closed at the intersection of Jupiter Road and Collins Boulevard from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for a traffic signal rebuild and pedestrian ramp installation. The project is expected to finish in early June. Additionally, Floyd Road between Brandy Sta- tion and Wilderness Trail may be reduced to one lane for gas utility work. Flaggers will be onsite to direct traffic. The project is expected to wrap up at the end of June.

Northbound Lakeside Boulevard closed Roadwork on Lakeside Boulevard in Rich- ardson will close a lane until early August. The specifics The project started in March and will end Aug. 1. The work stretches along the full length of the road from US 75 to West Campbell Road. Both northbound lanes are closed for the duration of the work. All of Lawnview Drive will be completely closed.

C A M P B E L L R D .

COLLINS BLVD.

B R A N D Y S T A T

LAKESIDE BLVD.

LAWNVIEW DR.

M I L L S P R I N G

WILDERNESS TRAIL

CAMPBELL RD.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

RICHARDSON EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

RICHARDSON EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

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Education

BY DUSTIN BUTLER, MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & SHELBIE HAMILTON

RISD scores ‘C’ rating for the 202223 school year Richardson ISD earned a “C” rating from the Texas Education Agency for the 2022-23 school year, according to accountability ratings released by the agency. The ratings were delayed because of a lawsuit led by more than 120 districts, including RISD. The districts argued the agency’s revamped guidelines did not follow state law. Districts were not rated in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a nutshell RISD scored a 75, or a “C,” overall. The rating system measures how much students are learning in each grade and whether they are ready to move on to the next grade. The score is calculated based on performance in three key areas, or domains—student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.

District sta outlines compensation plan To keep and attract new teachers, Rich- ardson ISD board members directed sta to move forward with a proposed pay increase plan during the May 1 meeting. The details The plan would increase starting salaries for new teachers from $61,000 per year to $63,000. A returning teacher’s pay would increase by $500 every year until a teacher reaches 10 years in the district, then annual increases would be $1,000. Additionally, all sta would receive a 3% pay increase. Under the new plan, certain job types, such as assistant principals, bus drivers and aides would receive pay adjust- ments to match market considerations. The plan will cost about $14.4 million, according to a board presentation.

RISD TEA scores

2018-19 2021-22

2022-23

100

Student achievement

Closing the gaps

School process

NOTE: 2020 DATA

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Quote of note Branum said data collected at the district level shows academic growth in RISD students. “While 2022-23 ratings may be useful for archival purposes, we are looking forward to how our campuses perform when 2025 ratings are released this fall,” Branum said.

Collin College adds 5th bachelor’s degree program

Frisco Campus and will build on the school’s exist- ing program that oers an Associate of Applied Science degree in software development. Students in the program will learn “real-world software development practices” and modern programming frameworks through hands-on experience, the release states, including learning how to create, test and maintain software applica- tions and systems.

Collin College will oer a new baccalaureate degree this fall, per a news release. The Bachelor of Applied Technology in software development is the college’s fth baccalaureate degree program. The college received nal approval for the program April 4. Zooming in The program will be housed at the Collin College

A new software development degree will start fall 2025 at Collin College.

COURTESY COLLIN COLLEGE

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Events

BY ADAM DOE

May

Karaoke at the Mad Hatter Belt out your favorite tunes every Wednesday at the Mad Hatter Neighborhood pub. The pub has three locations in the Metroplex and offers $1 wings and $5 whiskey on Wednesdays. • May 28, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (every Wednesday) • Free • 120 West City Line Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/hatterkaraoke

June

Satisfaction: A Rolling Stones Tribute Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction will perform at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. Satisfaction is currently on their 25th anniversary tour, according to their website. • June 7, 7:30 p.m. • $55-$90 • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/Richstones Paula Poundstone Enjoy a performance from award-winning comedian Paula Poundstone at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. Poundstone was the first female comedian to host the White House Correspondent’s Dinner and hosts a weekly comedy podcast. • June 14, 8 p.m. • $25-$65 • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/richpoundstone Second Saturday at Cottonwood Market Head to Cottonwood Park the second Saturday of each month to peruse antiques, collectables and clothing from local vendors and craftsmen. The park also hosts a farmer’s market in the parking lot. • June 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free

Father’s Day Market Celebrate Father’s Day at Lockwood Distilling with merchandise from local vendors and craftsmen. The market will be a dog friendly environment, with baked goods and lawn games in addition to vendors. • June 15, 12-5 p.m. • Free • 506 Lockwood Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/lockwoodmarket Quilting workshop at Stitchhouse Spend the weekend at sewing studio Stitchhouse and create quilts under the tutelage of Susan Smith, a well-known quilter. • June 20 and 21 • $199 per day Live music at the CityLine Plaza CityLine Plaza hosts live music every Friday and Saturday in April and May. CityLine is home to over a dozen bars and restaurants and frequently hosts live music. The current lineup includes local country musician Jason Hatch and multidimensional musician

Emsy Robinson. • May 30, 6-9 p.m. (Jason Hatch); May 31, 6-9 p.m. (Emsy Robinson) • Free

• 1150 State St., Richardson • tinyurl.com/citylinelive

• 1002 North Central Expressway, Richardson • tinyurl.com/stitchhouse

Total Keith Another tribute band at the Eisemann Center, Total Keith will celebrate and perform the music of country

musician Toby Keith. • June 21, 7:30 p.m. • $40-$65 • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/totalkeith

• 101 S Coit Road, Richardson • tinyurl.com/Junecottonwood

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Real estate

The cost of homes across Richardson was down year over year in April, as was the number of homes sold. Residential market data

April 2024

April 2025

Number of homes sold

Average home price in the last 6 months

-37.68%

-7.14%

-31.58%

75080 $489,000

75081 $444,500

75082 $650,000

PGBT TOLL

75082

75080

75081

75082

75080

75081

Median home sales price

PGBT TOLL

BELT LINE RD.

April

2024

2025

$489,000

$450,000

75080

Homes sold by price point

$444,500

$420,000

75081

April 2025

$650,000

$570,000

$1 million+

75082

$700,000-$999,999

$400,000-$699,999

Average days on the market

Number of new listings

$100,000-$399,999

-4.7%

+123.81%

+22.06%

+80%

+18.18%

<$99,999

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

75080

75081

75082

75080

75081

75082

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