Richardson | April 2025

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Richardson Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8 APRIL 26MAY 27, 2025

Opening enrollment RISD opens inter-district transfers amid budget decit, enrollment decline

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

With Richardson ISD enrollment numbers expected to decrease by more than 4,000 students over the next 10 years, the district is opening campuses up to students from outside its boundaries. Executive Director of Communications Tim Clark said the expanded inter-district transfer policy is expected to bring in between 100 and 300 new students, result- ing in additional revenue between $616,000 and $1.85 million. The district was initially projected to have a $27 million shortfall for the 2024-25 school year; however, Assistant Superintendent David Pate said because attendance was higher than expected, state revenue was also higher than expected. State revenue is calcu- lated based on student attendance—districts typically receive $6,160 per student. As a result, RISD is expected to end the school year with a $10 million decit, which will have implications for the 2025-26 budget, Pate said.

CONTINUED ON 16

Also in this issue

Pearce High School students in education courses welcomed visiting Mohawk Elementary students. More students could be coming to RISD with plans expand inter-district transfers to help address budget decits.

Impacts: Discover a new brewery, other businesses coming to Richardson (Page 6)

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breakfast tacos and more. It also has several craft beers on tap. A company representative said the restaurant, which closed last year, will open under new ownership. • Opening April 17 • 744 S. Central Expressway, Ste. 210, Richardson • www.doghaus.com 5 Noorsha Cafe and Catering The restaurant will serve dishes such as gozleme—a savory, stuffed turnover—baked goods, paninis, breakfast and more. It also offers catering services. • Opening in May

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6 Oak Highlands Brewery The brewery offers a number of craft beers, which will be available in the taproom. It will also offer live music, food events and competitions, private parties and more. • Opening in spring

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7 Paleteria Nuevo Leon The restaurant will serve Mexican-style ice cream and other treats. It will open next door to Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo León in the space formerly occupied by Burning Rice, which closed in January. • Opening in Spring 2025 • 2069 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 200, Richardson • www.instagram.com/paleterianuevoleon/ 8 Shalimar Banquet Hall and Conference Center The wedding venue and event space has broken ground on a 45,202 square foot building located across Renner Road from Methodist Richardson Medical Center • Opening TBD • 260 Wyngate Blvd, Plano, TX 75074 • www.shalimarbanquets.com

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3 Good Shepherd Academy The business offers faith-based childcare services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. • Opening April 7 • 1006 Hampshire Lane, Richardson • www.goodshepherdacademynorthtexas.com

1 X Smoke Shop The business offers a number of smoke and vape accessories, including hookah, pipes, vaporizers and more. • Opened March 10

• 804 W. Shore Drive, Richardson • www.instagram.com/xsmokeshop1

2 Alohahola The restaurant menu includes Hawaiian BBQ, seafood, fried rice, wings and more. • Opened March 18 • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 104, Plano

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Meraki Head Spa will operate out of a 1,580-square- foot space located next to Daiso, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Once open, the business will offer services focused on hair and scalp health. • Opening in summer • 1310 W. Campbell Road, Ste. 123, Richardson

Closings

Now Open

12 Apollonia’s Italian Kitchen The restaurant served Italian dishes such as lasagna, pastas and more. While the restaurant is closed, the business will still offer catering services, according to the company website. • Closed Feb. 22 13 Comet Cleaners The business offered laundry services including dry cleaning, wash and fold, alterations and cleaning household items such as comforters. • Closed in January • 281 W. Campbell Road, Richardson • www.cometcleaners.com • 3610 Shire Blvd., Ste. 108, Richardson • www.apolloniasitaliankitchen.com 14 TLC Vegan Cafe The restaurant served a number of plant-based dishes including pasta and veggie burgers, appetizers and more. • Closed March 27 • 1930 N. Coit Road, Ste. 140, Richardson • www.tlcvegankitchen.com

Relocations

10 Staycation The coffee shop will relocate over the summer, a company representative said. Staycation serves specialty drinks, tea and drip coffee. • Relocating summer 2025 • 707 S. Floyd Road, Richardson • www.staycationtx.com

15 Malabar Kitchen The restaurant serves Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine and menu items include vegetarian and non-vegetarian curry, fried rice, biryani and more. It also offers a small market place where patrons can buy snacks and baked goods. The restaurant does not have a dining area and is open for takeout and delivery, according to its website. • Opened Feb. 8 • 510 N. Coit Road, Ste. 2025, Richardson • www.malabarkitchentx.com

In the news

11 Jeng Chi The restaurant celebrating its 35th anniversary is most known for their hand-rolled dumplings. Other menu items include green onion pancakes, pot stickers, noodle soups, fried rice, seafood dishes and more. • 400 N. Greenville Ave., Ste. 11, Richardson • www.jengchirestaurant.com

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Government

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

City sees multiple drone-related developments taking shape

Since Richardson City Council approved an ordinance update to allow drone operations and maintenance centers in the Collins/Arapaho Innova- tion District in February, the city has seen increased interest in drone-related businesses. The gist The Richardson City Planning Commission recommended approval for a special permit to allow drone delivery company Zipline to operate a maintenance center in the Innovation District. The facility will be located at 1155 Kas Drive, according to city documents. The commission also recommended approval for an update to the Amazon Distribution Center’s planned development to allow drone operations during its March 18 meeting. If approved, a drone delivery hub would be built adjacent to the current distribution center. The launch area will be fenced in and two modular buildings will be added to the facility for battery charging, maintenance and

storage, according to city documents. Another drone delivery company Wing has also partnered with Walmart to offer drone delivery services in Frisco and Garland. Zipline is working with Walmart in McKinney to offer the service there. Diving deeper Pending final approval, Zipline will establish a regional headquarters to support drone mainte- nance, business operations and customer supporter services, Peters said. “This will not be a delivery hub; this will be where drones come for maintenance,” Senior City Planner Derica Peters said. Zipline uses drones with an 8-foot wingspan, capable of carrying 8 pounds and traveling 70 miles per hour. Along with drone maintenance, 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

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engagement. Sam Bailey, senior manager for economic devel- opment and public policy for Amazon, said the company chose the Richardson distribution center for a drone operations center because it is a high-per- forming, same-day delivery facility. Additionally, Bailey said customers who do not want drone delivery can opt out of the service.

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Government

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & ADAM DOE

Council updated on tree planting efforts Richardson City Council received an update on staff’s efforts to plant trees throughout the city as part of the Richard- son Replants program. The program offers Richardson residents free trees and tree care information follow- ing damage to the city’s tree canopy during a storm last May, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Shohn Rodgers said during the March 24 meeting. The overview Following the May storm, Rodgers said staff set a goal of giving away 1,000 trees and planting 100 trees in city parks. Over 500 peach trees, desert willows and chinkapin oaks have been distributed at various community events. “[The program] has gotten a lot of support from the community,” Rodgers said. “It was a really good way to spread the joy of trees.” Also of note Rodgers said tree plantings began March 17 on Renner Road to replace trees removed for work to a waterline. In total, 40 trees were removed and 122 trees will be replanted with 72 trees planned for the median and 50 in the surrounding areas. Ornamental trees were selected for the median, Rodgers said, because of their smaller root system, less conflict with traffic and lower impact to utilities.

Richardson Fire Department and EMS calls

EMS calls

Fire calls

14,982

15,000

9,853

10,000

5,000

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Fire Department responded to nearly 15K calls in 2024

Richardson Fire Department personnel responded to nearly 15,000 calls for service last year, Fire Chief Curtis Poovey said during the March 24 Richardson City Council meeting. A closer look During a presentation to council covering the department’s annual report, Poovey said the department is an “all-hazard” department, responding to fires, hazardous materials inci- dents, EMS calls and rescues. The department is one position away from being fully staffed, Poovey said, adding that about 50% of personnel have been on the job for more than 10 years. Additionally, 39% of staff have five years or less, and 11% have six to 10 years on the job. Poovey highlighted several accomplishments, including replacing equipment, incorporating mental wellness evaluations for personnel and maintaining the Heart Safe Community designation.

By the numbers In total, Poovey said the department received 14,982 calls for service, with 10,335 of those calls for EMS services. “Our EMS calls are down just a little bit, but our fire calls are up significantly this year,” Poovey said. “There’s no rhyme or reason to it; that’s just the way it happened.” Additionally, the department saved $290 million in property value. The total value of property lost was $4.476 million. Looking forward Poovey provided updates on renovations to Fire Station No. 5, which are behind schedule but set to be completed in June. Poovey also said the department is partnering with the Dallas County Health Overdose team. The department reports the incident to the orga- nization, which follows up with the individual.

Richardson commission recommends approval of 89 new townhomes The Richardson City Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval an 89-unit townhome community on Shiloh Road in an April 1 meeting. City Council will have final say. In a nutshell

the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, according to a presentation to the commission. The proposed community places each townhome on a 1,300 square-foot lot with a minimum unit size of 1,700 square feet, topping out at three stories, according to Commission documents. “We have precious little spots, precious little open space and this open space is now turning into housing, which is what we need,” Commissioner Jeremy Thomason said.

Atlanta-based real estate developer Pulte is planning to build the new townhomes on the undeveloped lot at 3600 Shiloh Road. Pulte currently has 28 actively selling communities in

E . R E N N E R R D .

RICHARDSON EDITION

Education

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & SHELBIE HAMILTON

RISD received over $23M in federal funds, staff say Richardson ISD received more than $23 million in federal funding last school year, according to district staff. By the numbers RISD Title I funding amounts

Collin College keeps current tuition rate Collin College students will continue to pay the school’s current tuition rates for another semester, according to a March 28 news release from college officials. The specifics The college’s current tuition rates are: • $67 per credit hour for in-district residents • $127 per credit hour for out-of-district residents • $202 per credit hour for out-of-state and out-of-country residents The school’s in-district tuition rate is the lowest in the state, the release states. The rates are applicable for students regardless of what level of degree or certification they are seeking.

Denise Beutel, executive director for grants and federal programs for RISD, said the district received $23.87 million in recurring federal fund- ing in fiscal year 2024-25 against a total general fund expenditure of $403 million, according to the presentation. Beutel said federal grants are given to the Texas Education Agency, which then acts as a pass- through entity to distribute the funds to school districts, which must apply for them. Assistant Superintendent David Pate said trust- ees do not adopt a budget for most federal grants, with the exception being the Child Nutrition Fund. Additionally, the district is reimbursed for many federal grants, meaning it must have a healthy fund balance to pay for expenditures.

2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Fiscal year

Child nutrition funding breakdown

Federal award

Total expenditures

FY 2022-23 $16.66M $15.5M FY 2023-24 $14.44M $16.56M FY 2024-25 $14.61M $17.995M

SOURCES: RICHARDSON ISD, ZONDA EDUCATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & COLBY FARR

2 road projects begin, close lanes in Richardson Richardson motorists may experience lane closures as two road projects begin. What you need to know The right lane of eastbound Arapaho Road between US 75 and Plano Road may be closed in segments as sidewalk repairs have begun. The work is expected to be completed in mid-April, according to a news release from the city. Additionally, fiber optic installation also began on Shiloh Road. As a result, the right lane of southbound Shiloh, extended 400 feet north and south of Breckinridge Boulevard. Work is expected to be completed in June. What else? City Manager Don Magner said the construction work on Glenville Drive is “progressing well.” “The good news is that a vast majority of the

DART plan includes refunding sales tax Dallas Area Rapid Transit is moving forward with plans to send some of its sales tax reve- nue back to select member cities, including Richardson, as soon as next fiscal year. In a nutshell The resolution states DART will establish a general mobility program funded by 5% of its annual sales tax collections. Those funds will be available for use by some member cities as an equity adjustment to support local mobility needs, according to the resolution. DART staff will design policy guidelines and a plan for the program to be considered by the board at a later date. The program is expected to launch in fiscal year 2025-26, according to the resolution.

BRECKINRIDGE BLVD.

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sub-grade utility work has been completed,” Magner said. “So now, it’s really just mostly about paving.” Paving the remaining segments is expected to be completed quickly, Magner said, adding that work should be completed in April. More information on the city’s capital improve- ment projects can be found online.

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Find a doctor at MethodistHealthSystem.org/Dallas or call (469) 457-3947

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 1. Please refer to the Deposit Account Agreement, Account Disclosure, Deposit Rate Sheet and the applicable schedule of fees, or speak with a banker for more details. 2. Advertised premium rate effective as of 04/01/2025 available on Personal or Business Money Market accounts for account balances of $1,000.00 to $99,999,99 when you link a Personal Premium Interest Checking, Personal Premier Checking, Premier Elite Checking, Business Connect Checking, Business Interest Checking, or Community Checking accounts. Your interest rate and annual percentage yield (APY) may change at our discretion at any time. The APY assumes that interest paid remains in the account. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. We use the daily balance method to calculate the interest on your account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the collected balance in your account each day. Interest compounds daily and will be credited to your account monthly. If you close your account before interest is credited, you will not receive accrued interest. Interest begins to accrue no later than the business day we receive credit for the deposit of noncash (checks). 3. Premium rate tiers are applied automatically to linked money market or savings accounts, CDs, and IRA accounts when the primary owner of the checking account is also an owner of the linked interest bearing account. Please see Deposit Rate Sheet for details.

RICHARDSON EDITION

Development

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

GEICO to expand in Richardson with 1,000 jobs, new oce all those boxes,” Andrukonis said. “Our investment here is a down payment on the future success of our commercial business and the future of Richardson and North Texas overall.”

Months after designating its existing Richardson oce as the company’s operating hub, GEICO is expanding with a second oce location in the city. Two-minute impact The company designated Richardson as its new hub in December, which added 500 new jobs. Since then, the company has experienced “signicant growth,” per the release. The new 165,000-square-foot building will be located at 2375 N. Glenville Drive, in building B of the Galatyn Commons corporate campus. The oce is expected to open this fall, according to the release. The background The company chose Richardson as its oper- ations hub based on the “workforce and a business-friendly environment,” GEICO Head of Commercial Operations Jason Andrukonis said. “It’s not surprising that it didn’t take us long for Rich- ardson and North Texas overall to rise to truly check

A company spokesperson said the expansion will allow the company to oer services to new customers and open new career opportunities for employees. With the expansion, GEICO also expanded its insurance oerings to include commercial insurance and options for small businesses. Quote of note “The outstanding talent pool in North Texas has been instrumental in driving GEICO’s success and we are thrilled to expand our presence in Richardson,” Senior Vice President Melissa Gallaro said in the news release. “The skilled workforce in the region has enabled us to achieve signicant growth while creating valuable career opportunities for the local community.”

Geico’s new oce will be in Galatyn Commons Building B.

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Richardson 1901 N. Central Expressway Richardson, TX 75080

1. Please refer to the Deposit Account Agreement, Account Disclosure, Deposit Rate Sheet and the applicable schedule of fees, or speak with a banker for more details. 2. Advertised premium rate effective as of 04/01/2025 available on Personal or Business Money Market accounts for account balances of $1,000.00 to $99,999,99 when you link a Personal Premium Interest Checking, Personal Premier Checking, Premier Elite Checking, Business Connect Checking, Business Interest Checking, or Community Checking accounts. Your interest rate and annual percentage yield (APY) may change at our discretion at any time. The APY assumes that interest paid remains in the account. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. We use the daily balance method to calculate the interest on your account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the collected balance in your account each day. Interest compounds daily and will be credited to your account monthly. If you close your account before interest is credited, you will not receive accrued interest. Interest begins to accrue no later than the business day we receive credit for the deposit of noncash (checks). 3. Premium rate tiers are applied automatically to linked money market or savings accounts, CDs, and IRA accounts when the primary owner of the checking account is also an owner of the linked interest bearing account. Please see Deposit Rate Sheet for details.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Development

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Several restaurants set for Dal-Rich Towne Square in 2025 1 ShareTea: opening May 8th 2 Cafe de Selda: opening TBD

Shopping center Dal-Rich Towne Square in Rich- ardson will soon have several new dining options. What you need to know The center, located at southwest corner of Belt Line Road and Coit Road, is owned by Weitzman, and has four new restaurants set to open this year. The center is anchored by Cottonwood Market, which houses vendors showcasing a variety of items, including home decor, clothing and furni- ture. City Manager Don Magner said new incoming restaurants can benet from foot trac in the area created by Cottonwood Market. Dal-Towne Square also saw signicant changes in 2024 as well. The Antique Table Cafe and Mid- town Barbers both opened late last year, while The Burger Stop and Imperial East African Cuisine both closed within the shopping center last year.

3 Doner Kebab & Gyros: opening TBD 4 Dona Maria: opening in April or May

BELT LINE RD.

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Dal-Rich Towne Square is located on Richardson’s west border with Dallas.

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RICHARDSON EDITION

Nonpro t

BY KAREN CHANEY

Literacy center helps adults to understand, be understood Ann Banks, executive director of Richardson Adult Literacy Center, said adults come to them to learn English for a myriad of reasons. Those include communicating with health providers, their children’s teachers and friends and to feel more comfortable going beyond their cultural community. “The community beneits because the adults who show up and register for classes, no one’s making them do that, they are self-motivated,” Banks said. “They want to understand and be understood, and they want to contribute.” The setup RALC, a nonproit founded in 1990, offers English as a second language, English con- versation, career bridge and citizen test prep

programs. ESL classes are held twice a week and cost $35 for the 15-week session. English language foundations is the irst level and for students who know the alphabet but nothing beyond that. “That is an important class where much of our wait list is,” Banks said. “We want to add more of those classes because people at that level can’t go grocery shopping at an English speaking store—there’s so much they can’t do. They will say through a family member who translates that they just want to be able to understand their child’s teachers or their doctor.” The Career Bridge workshop focuses on topics such as key words to use in resumes and inter- views, and how to use job search sites. “Even though many people have masters and Ph.D.s from other countries, without English, they can’t apply for those yet, but they need

students from ive continents and 52 countries. Banks said currently, Spanish is the top language spoken by their students followed by Vietnamese then Turkish. They also have a large number of students from the Middle East and Africa. Meet the teachers All RALC teachers are volunteers whose ages currently range from those in their 20s through people in their 70s. Their professional backgrounds vary including teachers and accountants. “We have [University of Texas at Dallas] students, which are fantastic, especially from the neuroscience department,” Banks said. Get involved Banks said they can always use more volun- teers and inancial support. Another request she has is for companies to partner with RALC to have their employees attend classes and together, measure the impact RALC offerings have in the workforce.

RALC oers ve levels of ESL classes.

COURTESY RALC

E. COLLINS BLVD.

jobs,” Banks said. Meet the students

N. GLENVILLE DR.

Richardson Adult Literacy Center admin oce: 1500 International Parkway, Ste. 300, Richardson www.ralc.org

RALC students’ ages range from 18 years old to post-retirement. The nonproit has taught

From left, RALC sta members include Program Coordinator Carson Childress, Student Success Coordinator Kat Lefevere, Finance Assistant Gavin Castle, Executive Director Ann Banks and Volunteer Coordinator Sara Bramlett.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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

Opening enrollment From the cover

Two-minute impact

RISD funding gaps Several state mandated programs and services are not fully funded, which has contributed to deficits.

grade. The district would limit or deny transfers exceeding those guidelines. “We have been a net exporter of kids from our district to [other school districts] for a while,” Clark said. “We’re hoping to get our families back, or not lose families, because they’re offering [inter-district transfer] and we haven’t been.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, RISD was a growing district, Clark said. It was projected to have more than 40,000 students but instead lost nearly 2,300 students during the pandemic. Pate said student enrollment is down nationwide. He also said people aren’t moving away from cities because of the cost of housing. RISD is one of the last districts in the area to implement inter-district transfers, Branum said, with school districts like Garland ISD, Plano ISD and Dallas ISD offering similar policies. “We wanted to provide the assurance that if you buy a house, if you rent an apartment and you are zoned for Richardson ISD, that ... you can go to that neighborhood school,” Branum said.

Richardson ISD’s new inter-district transfer policy is part of Project Rightsize, a series of initiatives meant to balance the budget, Superintendent Tabatha Branum said. Superintendent of Administrative Services Matthew Gibbons said under the expanded policy, potential students will have a one month window to apply beginning May 17 and ending June 17. The district will screen these potential students based on attendance, academic performance, STAAR test results and discipline records. Placement will be based on capacity, staffing and program availability with priority given to students residing within RISD’s boundaries. Additionally, to attract new students and retain current students, the district is evaluating and strengthening magnet programs, Branum said. Magnet schools and programs offer specialized curricula or programs, often with a focus on STEM. Clark said RISD follows state and district student- to-teacher ratio guidelines, with class sizes between 22 and 28 students depending on

State revenue

RISD expense

Special education $40.7M Transportation $1.9M

$48.7M

$9.8M

School safety and security

Pre-K (basic allotment only) $1.1M $4.9M

$7.1M

$8.8M

Dyslexia

$2.9M

$4.9M

Gifted and talented

$712K

$2.9M

SOURCE: RISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

How we got here

voter-approval tax rate election, also known as a VATRE. Pate said state law requires VATREs to be held in November. Other measures to rightsize the budget include discontinuing elective classes with low attendance, such as French and Latin.

60 community members working with staff to find ways to save money. Since its inception, the committee has made several recommendations, some of which have been implemented, including consolidating and closing five schools and budget cuts in central and support departments. Another step the district is considering is a

Several factors have contributed to the funding gaps school districts are currently facing, Branum said, including declining enrollment rates, declin- ing birth rates and the fact the legislature has not increased school funding since 2018. As a result, staff began taking steps to balance the budget and in 2023 created the Community Budget Steering Committee, made up of more than

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

Legislative approach

The big picture

RISD enrollment numbers Richardson ISD’s student population is expected to decrease by 2,000 students over the next five years.

In a Feb. 25 Texas House of Representatives Public Education hearing, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said there is no “magic number” when it comes to the basic allotment for school funding. “I would certainly encourage the legislature to put more money into public education,” Morath said. Additionally, Morath said more local factors go into school budgets than state factors. He said districts operate in three enrollment categories—those growing, flat or declining. Each category requires different budgetary practices, Morath said. Districts shifting from years of fast growth to flat growth will face budget deficits, making budgeting district-specific. Morath added school closures are more about a lack of enrollment growth, not a need for funds. “The best way to support our schools is to fund our schools,” State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos said in an email. Ramos’ district includes Richardson. House Bill 2435, which Ramos filed, would

Gibbons said the district will not be responsible for transportation for inter-district transfer students, and nonresident students would have to reapply to the district every year. informed city staff of the change in advance. Since only about 60% of RISD is in the city limits, he said he doesn’t expect significant increases in traffic. Richardson City Manager Don Magner said district officials

Projected enrollment

40K

30K

20K

10K

RISD transfer students

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Elementary - 108 Middle - 70 High - 84

SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

increase the basic allotment by $2,787. Ramos said the bill ties funding to inflation to ensure schools and students are supported. State Rep. Angie Chen Button, whose district is in Richardson, did not respond to an interview request.

SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

RICHARDSON EDITION

Events

BY ADAM DOE

April

Fools of April Grab a drink and have a laugh at Backdoor Comedy’s Fools of April show, featuring some of the Metroplex’s finest stand up comics. The comedy club hosts and open mic night every Thursday and serves bar fare along with drinks. • April 12 and April 25, 8-9:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. • $20 • 940 East Belt Line Road, Richardson • tinyurl.com/bacdoorcomedy 15 minutes of Fame Dance Recital Join Red Door Dance Academy in celebrating their 15th year at their 15 Minutes of Fame dance recital at Richardson’s Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. • April 27, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. • $15-$19 • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/reddooracademy

May the Fourth be with You Star Wars Concert Enjoy John Williams’ iconic Star Wars score performed by the Richardson Community Band at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts this May the Fourth. Tickets are free, but require registration. • May 4, 3 p.m. Wildflower Arts & Music Festival More than 40 musical acts will perform at the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival at Galatyn Park Urban Center. The festival will also feature a youth vocal competition and an auction of artistically transformed guitars.

• May 16-18 • $30-$65; kids under 12 are free with regular ticket purchase • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/wflowerfest

May

13th Annual Crawfish Boil The Epiphany Episcopal Church will host a crawfish boil on Custer road. Along with seafood, the boil will include barbecue, turkey, hot dogs and beer. All proceeds will go to the church. • May 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • $40 for adults; $10 for kids age 5-11; kids under 5 get in free • 421 Custer Road, Richardson • tinyurl.com/CrawfBoil Cottonwood Art Festival Roughly 200 artists will show off 1,400 pieces of art at the Cottonwood Art Festival at Cottonwood Park. The semi-annual festival will host several food and beverage vendors and food trucks to provide refreshments for attendees. • May 3-4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Saturday); 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sunday) • Free • 1321 W. Beltline Road, Richardson • tinyurl.com/cwafest

• May 8, 7-8:30 p.m. • Free (registration required) • 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Richardson • tinyurl.com/droidsndruids

Mother’s Day Charcuterie Workshop With Mother’s Day coming up, enjoy wining and dining with a charcuterie workshop at Lockwood Distilling. Lockwood has been featured in several publications, and won D Magazine’s Best Pastrami Sandwich. • May 6, 7-8 p.m. • $60

• Free admission (registration required) • 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/may4richardson

Droids and Druids Book Club Discuss your favorite fantasy and science fiction novels with like-minded readers in the Droids and Druids Bookclub for adults and teenagers at the Richardson Public Library. The club meets every other Thursday with a different theme. May’s theme is dragons.

• 506 Lockwood Drive, Richardson • tinyurl.com/Lockwoodcharcuterie

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

JUST FORE! YOU

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT APRIL 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

WEEKENDER: A Big Time in Big Spring CRITTER: Gray Fox MADE IN TEXAS: A Recipe for Stunning Ceramics OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas FEATURE PREVIEW: The Texas Monthly Profile of Scottie Scheffler

Above: Hotel Settles, in Big Spring.

RICHARDSON EDITION

CRITTER

Gray Fox

HOW CAN I IDENTIFY ONE? Look for a black stripe, typically run- ning down the length of the animal’s back. Gray foxes also have a “bright orange patch on the side of their face and neck,” says Amanda Veals Dutt, a postdoctoral scientist at Sul Ross State University. That distinguishes the species from the slightly larger, non-native red fox (which settlers near Waco introduced for hunting in the 1890s) and two smaller species: the swift fox, found in the Panhandle, and the kit fox, which roams West Texas. WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT IT? It can thrive in a range of habitats, in part because it’ll eat almost anything —mice, small birds, insects—and it seems to enjoy living close to humans. Attacks on us (or dogs or cats) are rare, but rabbits and guinea pigs might make a tasty snack. And if you keep chickens? “They’re basically ice-cream cones running around,” says John Tomeček, a carnivore ecologist at Texas A&M University. ANY URBAN FOX TALES? In October 2021, in front of at least one hundred onlookers at the San Antonio River Walk, firefighters rescued a baby gray fox stranded on a window ledge about 25 feet o¥ the ground. More re- cently, Bethany Snowden, a lieutenant with the city’s animal care services department, sent colleagues to scoop up a fox that had wandered into a court- house. “We enjoy saving urban wildlife,” she says, adding that both foxes were transferred to Wildlife Rescue and Re- habilitation, a local sanctuary. —Rose Cahalan

WEEKENDER

A “Big” Secret in West Texas With a grand hotel and a rich history that includes oil, rail, and Midnight Cowboy , this Permian Basin town holds some surprises. BY COURTNEY BOND

a diner-style room complete with red vinyl– topped chrome stools. At the south end of town, the four-hundred- acre Comanche Trail Park is home to Big Spring’s big spring. Well, what’s left of it. The railroad, the ranches, and all the other busi- nesses of civilization long ago drained the water table, but ocials utilize what they call artificial outflow, making for a nice waterfall that spills into a reservoir. Continue your educational journey during lunch at Local’s, a onetime school building down the street from the park. After lunch, fill up on the town’s more modern history at the Heritage Museum of Big Spring. For supper, pop in at J Jayz Bar and Grill (across from the Train Car) for colorful cock- tails and the kind of food—burgers, quesadillas —needed to soak them up. Or head back to home base and enjoy a whiskey sour and chicken-fried steak from Settles Grill. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

FRIDAY: If you did nothing else but spend a night at Hotel Settles, your visit would be worthwhile. A dust-colored brick building rising fifteen stories, its glowing red rooftop sign visible for miles, the crown jewel of Big Spring exemplifies the word “landmark.” Catty-corner to the hotel, across Runnels Street, is what appears to be downtown’s most popular restaurant, Devour. Inside a narrow space, patrons pair giant margaritas with hearty American fare that includes burgers, pork chops, and bacon-wrapped quail with green onions and hot honey. After dinner, make tracks two blocks north and one street over to the Train Car Cigar Bar. SATURDAY: The sign outside still says Dell’s Café, but this spare restaurant with the odd name of Neutral Ways serves fat egg-filled tacos and classic American breakfast plates in

The entrance to Comanche Trail Park.

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