Keller | Roanoke | Northeast Fort Worth

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Keller Roanoke Northeast Fort Worth Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 5 SEPT. 30OCT. 28, 2025

2025 Voter Guide

$12M boost Voters to consider school tax rate proposal in November Northwest ISD is looking to increase its tax rate through voter approval this November. If approved, the increased tax rate would go toward teacher salaries and reducing classroom sizes. The voter approval tax rate election comes after the district eliminated more than 100 teaching positions and maximized stang ratios to close a $16 million budget gap for the 2025-26 school year.

INSIDE

Also in this issue

Impacts Page 4 Portillo’s to serve up Chicago-style hot dogs, see where

Transportation

Page 9

See what roads are under construction nearby

Northwest ISD students at Sonny and Alegra Nance Elementary listen to a lesson in class. The new tax rate, if approved, would fund classroom needs.

Events

Page 16

Find a local event this fall

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3751 Matlock Rd Arlington, TX 76015 817-466-3882

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

35W Impacts BE THE FIRST TO KNOW! Scan to get business openings to your inbox. Northeast Fort Worth

377

4 Echo Suites The hotel now provides a space for extended stays in Fort Worth. Some onsite amenities include a fitness center, laundry facilities and kitchens with cooktops and refrigerators. • Opened early August • 11228 Timberland Blvd., Fort Worth • www.wyndhamhotels.com 5 Market on the Stage The convenience store offers a variety of everyday essentials like household items, snacks, drinks and a selection of beer and wine. The business also has a drop-off and pickup location for dry cleaning. • Opened Sept. 2 • 1320 N. Main St., Ste. 300, Keller • 945-985-4973 6 Cornerstone Health and Wellbeing This business specializes in functional and integrative medicine. Some services it offers include primary care, hormone optimization and weight management. • Opened in June • 351 W. Byron Nelson Blvd., Ste. 110, Roanoke • www.cornerstonewell-being.com

114

GRAPEVINE LAKE

BYRON NELSON BLVD.

Roanoke

DOVERD.

170

WESTPORT PKWY.

OTTINGER RD.

BLUE MOUND RD. E.

TIMBERLAND BLVD.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

ALTA VISTA RD.

T H LAKEBLVD.

HARMON RD.

KELLER PKWY.

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

CONTINENTAL BLVD.

BONDS RANCH RD.

377

35W

G E R D R .

ANDRETTI KARTING DR.

287

Coming soon

Keller

MAP NOT TO SCALE

7 Portillo’s The restaurant will serve Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, chargrilled burgers and Portillo’s famous chocolate cake. It currently has locations in

HIGHTOWER DR. and emphasizes leverage, angles, pressure, timing and an understanding of human anatomy. • Opened Aug. 9 • 1500 N. Main St., Ste. 102, Keller • www.jrootskeller.com MID CITIES BLVD. 3 Soho Wine Bar The restaurant offers an experience rooted in the traditions of Italian cuisine and offers seafood, steak and a wine bar. • Opened Aug. 29 • 201 Town Center Lane, Ste. 1101, Keller • www.sohowinebarrestaurant.com

Now open

Allen and The Colony. • Opening late 2025 • 15877 N. Freeway, Fort Worth • www.portillos.com

BASSWOOD BLVD.

WESTERN CENTER BLVD. 1 Italian Table The restaurant serves a variety of Italian dishes and offers items such as lobster ravioli, fresh pastas, pizzas, subs and a full beer and wine bar. • Opened Aug. 11 • 1520 N. Main St., Keller • 682-593-0208 2 JRoots Academy The academy brings an at-your-pace environment for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes. It focuses on ground fighting

WATAUGA RD.

8 Luna Loco The Mexican restaurant will offer fajitas, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. There will also be a full-service bar

that will specialize in margaritas. • Expected opening Dec. 2025 • 228 S. Main St., Keller • www.facebook.com/lunaocokeller

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

• 4212 Heritage Trace Parkway, Keller • www.safesplash.com

Relocations

Now open

9 Bella Vie Salon The salon moved from Fort Worth to Keller. Some services the salon offers include hair cuts, blowouts, and retouches. • Relocated Sept. 3

12 Bellah Cleaning Company A Keller-based window cleaning company is now one of two in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to use power- wash drones for commercial buildings, which is new

technology for the business. • 1103 Keller Parkway, Keller • www.bellahcleaningco.com

• 950 N. Main St., Ste. 118, Keller • https://bellavie.glossgenius.com

13 Andretti Indoor Karting & Games The entertainment venue offers a variety of attractions from go-kart racing to bowling. The Fort Worth location opened in September 2024 celebrating its first anniversary at the location.

In the news

10 Hawaiian Falls Three locations of the water park, including the Roanoke location, were sold to the parent company of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2026 Hawaiian Falls season ticket holders will have one free admission to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Theme park in Grand Prairie. • 290 W. Byron Nelson Blvd., Roanoke • www.hfalls.com/roanoke.php 11 SafeSplash Swim School Four former AquaKids swim school locations, including the one in Keller, now go by the new moniker SafeSplash. The school offers swim instruction and water safety education for all ages.

14 Hideaway Pizza The Oklahoma-based company serves salads, sandwiches, baked pastas and specialty pizzas. • Opened Aug. 18 • 9800 N. Freeway, Fort Worth • www.hideawaypizza.com

• 2700 Andretti Karting Drive, Fort Worth • www.andrettikarting.com/fortworth

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Government

BY CODY THORN

Fort Worth saves money on vehicle repairs with fleet services

Fort Worth is saving millions by fixing its own vehicles instead of relying on outside vendors. During the City Council work session Sept. 9, council members had a chance to review the presentation from Property Management Director Marilyn Marvin, who oversees the Fleet Services Division. Put in perspective According to the report, the fleet maintenance performed internally is saving the city money compared to going to contracted vendors. The city did have to contract out some work, but according to data, the city staff is doing about 94% of the work that is needed. The city does leverage the use of outside vendors for heavy or specialized work and surge capacity for low-frequency, high-complexity repairs, which is the industry standard, according to city documents.

The backstory During the past three full fiscal years, the city has had more than 31,000 work orders for mainte- nance and repair work. Fort Worth can keep the in-house work cost lower due to a partnership with NAPA Auto Parts and lower hourly labor rates. The labor rate charged to city departments by Fleet Division Technicians is $116 per hour. That cost is a savings over the six outside vendors the city has used in FY 2024-25. The range is $195 per hour to $240 per hour, according to city documents. The city has a contract with NAPA as a parts ven- dor, with the most ordered parts being batteries, reflective safety tape, brakes, tires, wiper blades, filters, wheel nuts and headlight lamps. The discount provided, compared to the retail price, is nearly 50%. City documents show the city price for batteries is $100.52, compared to the

During the past three full fiscal years and an estimated fiscal year, the outsourcing of work has been:

2021-22: 4.17% 2022-23: 4.95% 2023-24: 5.61% 2024-25: 6% —estimated total

SOURCE: CITY OF FORT WORTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT

retail price of $199.99. Brake pads, rotors and other brake parts retail price is $118.23, while the city spends $46.35. The breakdown In terms of labor and parts, the city can save more than $1,000 on a number of major projects. The in-house work can save the city between $352 on brakes and more than $2,000 for transmis- sion work.

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Government

BY PATRICIA ORTIZ, CONNOR PITTMAN & CODY THORN

Fort Worth OKs $180M water plant project A water expansion project coming to Fort Worth will impact the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The setup During an Aug. 26 Fort Worth City Council meet- ing, a nancial agreement with the Texas Depart- ment Water Development Board was approved for an expansion project at Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant. The expansion will deliver an additional 35 million gallons per day to the city, which will then be available to 33 wholesale customer cities. The agreement is part of the State Water Imple- mentation Fund for Texas Program with a 14% interest rate, according to city documents. Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant currently delivers 105 million gallons of water per day, and expansion will raise capacity by 33.3%, according to city documents.

Denton County adopts $452M budget Denton County commissioners unan- imously approved adopting a more than $450 million budget and lower tax rate at its meeting Sept. 9. The $452.2 million scal year 2025-26 budget includes funding for new employees, including around eight additional positions for the county auditor’s oce, according to county documents. Denton County Budget Ocer Alejandro Moreno said the adopted budget is $35.7 million more than the scal year 2024-25 budget—an 8.58% increase. The overview The adopted tax rate for FY 2025-26 is $0.185938 per $100 of assessed value, which is a reduction from $0.185938 per $100 of assessed value for the 2024-25 scal year.

Expanding water services

287

Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant

114

377

199

183

820

360

287

377

Retail service area: 450 sq. miles Wholesale service area: 770 sq. miles

SOURCE: CITY OF FORT WORTH WATERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Approved Keller budget lowers property tax rate The scal year 2025-26 operating budget for the city of Keller will be used mostly on personnel services and would lower the property tax rate for homeowners. The breakdown Keller ocials approved an operating budget of $111.3 million at a regular meeting Sept. 16. Keller ocials also approved a $0.287 tax rate for FY 2025-26, which is a $0.004 decrease from FY 2024-25. This is the seventh consecutive year ocials approved a “no new revenue” tax rate. The approved budget will decrease by about $3.5 million from the previous scal year. City Manager Aaron Rector said most of the funds will go toward the general fund and the water and wastewater fund.

Operating budget

General: $47.3M Water and Wastewater: $32.2M

Improvements: $2.9M Crime Control and Prevention District: $2.3M Drainage Utility: $2M

Other: $7.6M Development

Corporation: $5.1M Self Insurance: $5M Debt Service: $3.5M The Keller Pointe: $3.4M Street and Sidewalk

Total: $111.3M

SOURCE: CITY OF KELLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Education

BY PATRICIA ORTIZ

Homeschool students now allowed in all Keller ISD UIL Keller ISD’s board of trustees approved a new policy that allows homeschooled students to participate in all University Interscholastic League, or UIL, activities in the district during a regular board meeting Aug. 28. “The resolution and subsequent policy update will be accompanied by strict

NISD seeks approval for new drone course Northwest ISD ocials unanimously approved sending an advanced drone course application to the Texas Education Agency during a regular board meeting Aug. 25. What you need to know The proposed course would be the rst in the state to allow high school students to pilot and y small unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. Donny Pharr, NISD’s aviation and aeronau- tics academy facilitator, said the district’s existing introductory program supports a market need. The State Board of Education approves and denies new course applications from September through April. If the TEA approves the course, NISD will begin oer- ing the course in the 2026-27 school year.

guidelines for participation to ensure there’s minimal additional administrative burden on sta.” CORY WILSON, SUPERINTENDENT

Board trustees John Birt, Heather Washington, Chris Coker and Charles Randklev voted in support of the motion, while trustees Randy Campbell, Jen- nifer Erickson and Chelsea Kelly voted against it. The gist UIL is a program that provides educational extracurricular academic, athletic and music contests for public schools in Texas, according to its website. Trustees who voted in support of the updated policy said it welcomes more people into the community and would not burden the district. Trustees who voted against the updated policy said the district needed more time to consider what it would entail.

The background Randklev said KISD voted unanimously to allow students to participate in UIL athletics last year. New legislation this year changed the process so that districts must opt-out of permitting home- schooled students to participate in UIL activities.

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114

GRAPEVINE LAKE

Transportation E

BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH

BYRON NELSON BLVD.

2 Elm Street reconstruction Project: Elm Street will be widening and reconstructed. Update: The northbound lane will be closed during construction, Reynolds said. • Timeline: expected completion by summer 2028 • Cost: $28.01 million • Funding source: city of Keller, Tarrant County 3 Mount Gilead Road Trail expansion Project: A hike and bike trail will be added to the current trail along Mount Gilead Road from Woodborough Lane to Roanoke Road. Update: The project is still on schedule for completion. • Timeline: August 2025-May 2026 • Cost: about $567,000 • Funding source: city of Keller 4 SH 114 reconstruction Project: The project will create a six-lane freeway on SH 114 between FM 1938 and Dove Road. Update: The remaining work includes finishing

Roanoke

170

DOVE RD.

377

OTTINGER RD.

WESTPORT PKWY.

PARK VISTA BLVD.

WOODBOROUGH RD.

35W

KELLER HASSLET RD.

BLUE MOUND RD. E.

TIMBERLAND BLVD.

MOUNT GILEAD RD.

RANDOL MILL AVE.

JOHNSON RD.

ALTA VISTA RD.

T H LAKE BLVD.

CHANDLER RD.

HARMON RD.

KELLER PKWY.

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

CONTINENTAL BLVD.

BONDS RANCH RD.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

287

BEAR CREEK PKWY.

SHADY GROVE RD.

G E R D R .

MAP NOT TO SCALE

E. HARMON RD.

TARRANT PKWY.

Keller

HIGHTOWER DR. of September, said Rachel Reynolds, Keller’s communication and public engagement manager. • Timeline: expected completion by the end of September • Cost: $685,566 • Funding source: city of Keller

Ongoing projects

crosswalks, signals and installing barriers. • Timeline: estimated completion this fall • Cost: $99 million • Funding source: state of Texas

1 Chandler Road reconstruction Project: The project will reconstruct and repave Chandler Road. Update: Striping is planned for the last week BASSWOOD BLVD.

WESTERN CENTER BLVD.

WATAUGA RD.

MID CITIES BLVD.

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KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

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Development

BY CODY THORN

Housing developments planned within Keller ISD, Northwest ISD

North Richland Hills

114

377

35W

SHADY GROVE RD.

Roanoke

N . T A R R A N T P K W Y .

The Grove • 4832 Livi St., North Richland Hills • Gated community in Keller ISD with multiple bedrooms, bath and garage options. • Estimated completion fall 2025 • 47 single-family lots • www.maykus.com

Circle Park Apartments • 15836 Championship Parkway, Fort Worth • Four-story apartments that will be gated, with a single entry from Outlet Boulevard. There will be a clubhouse, pool, grill and a small dog park • 269 units • Rezoning approved Aug. 12; site plan still pending council approval • www.ohtpartners.com

Watermere on Oak • N. Walnut Street Roanoke • 8 additional single-family lots approved Aug. 12. • Construction starting Nov. 1; completion of houses and adjourning a 55-and-older community is May 2028. • 38 single-family lots • www.integratedseniorlifestyles.com

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KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

377

Election

BY ADAM DOE

114

GRAPEVINE LAKE

Tarrant County will have 117 fewer Election Day polling places and 11 fewer early voting locations for the November election following the county court’s decision to cut the number of polling places at an Aug. 19 Tarrant County Commission- ers Court meeting. Precinct 3 Commissioner Matt Krause, Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez and Judge Tim O’Hare voted for the elimination of the voting centers, while Precinct 1 Commissioner Roderick Miles and Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons voting against the proposition. In a nutshell Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clinton Tarrant County cuts 117 polling Election Day sites

reduction in polling sites will save the county roughly $1 million, he added. What they’re saying “We couldn’t just take the 12-highest turnout locations and throw those on a map because it clearly puts them all in specic areas, and you have big gaps all over the map,” Ludwig said. “We also had to look at, how do we get locations spread around the county to ensure that there is accessibility.” “Everything was just driven by pure voter turnout, and I think that’s the right way to do it,” Krause said during the meeting. On the other hand Miles opposed the polling place cuts, saying they disenfranchise minority communities and the cost savings doesn’t justify the loss of voter access. “It’s not about money. It’s about access. If it’s only one person that goes to a voting site, so be it. That’s one person that got to participate in the democratic process,” Miles said. “Many of the closures are concentrated inside the 820 loop, leaving central Fort Worth, including historic Black

and brown neighborhoods, disproportionately aected.” Simmons also opposed reducing the number of polling places. Simmons attempted to delay the vote on reducing the number of polling sites because the commissioners did not have a chance to provide feedback or make recommendations to the elections department, Simmons said. “This plan presented today makes it harder for people to vote, not easier,” Simmons said during the meeting. “We’ve got a perfectly good list of polling places from 2023, use it.”

Ludwig presented a list of 214 Election Day polling locations for the Nov. 4 general election, down from 331 in 2023, according to county documents. Early voting locations were also reduced from 44 in 2023 to 24 in Ludwig’s new list. Simmons and Krause added nine locations to the list, bringing the total number of early voting locations up to 33. In the Keller, Roanoke and northeast Fort Worth area, Fort Worth Public Library at Golden Triangle was the only early voting site removed from the 2023 list and no new locations were added. After reviewing turnout and operations data, the elections department determined the county needed a minimum of 12 early voting sites to process voters on the busiest day of early voting. Ludwig recommended 24 sites with an option to add more, in an eort to maintain access to voting locations. The elections department used voter turnout data at each location to determine which sites to cut, removing the sites with the lowest turnout, while maintaining an even spread of polling sites throughout the county, Ludwig said. The

WESTPORT PKWY. Voting sites removed 1 Eagle Ridge Elementary School 2 Fort Worth Public Library - Golden Triangle 3 Independence Elementary School 4 Lone Star Elementary School 5 Hidden Lakes Elementary School 6 Indian Springs Middle School

TROPHY WOOD DR.

2025 Voting Sites

Roanoke

1 *Bette Perot Elementary School 2 Caprock Elementary School 3 *Freedom Elementary School 4 *Friendship Elementary School 5 Northpark YMCA | YMCA of Fort Worth 6 The Met Church 7 Woodland Springs Elementary 8 Light of the World Church 9 Bear Creek Bible Church 10 Keller Town Hall 11 Keller United Methodist Church 12 Ridgeview Elementary School 13 Westwind Church 14 John M Tidwell Middle School 15 Town of Trophy Club Town Hall & Police Department 16 O A Peterson Elementary

WOODLAND SPRINGS DR.

HASLET ROANOKE RD.

OTTINGER RD.

170

PRESTON LN.

BRAY BIRCH DR.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

KELLER PKWY.

Tarrant County Registered Voters

377

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

287

WALL PRICE KELLER RD.

1,4M

ALTA VISTA RD.

1,282,825

1,2M

WINTER HAWK DR.

GENERAL WORTH DR.

SHIVER RD.

800K

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Keller

SOURCES: TARRANT COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE COMMUNITY IMPACT

WESTERN CENTER BLVD.

WATAUGA RD.

MID CITIES BLVD.

KELLER 101 Keller Smithfield Rd S (817) 482-8295

WESTLAKE 2341 Highway 377 (817) 490-9072

CITADEL 9564 Citadel Way Dr (817) 200-3080

$12M boost From the cover

The breakdown

The current situation

district will attempt to increase its revenue. A tax rate increase for the district failed to pass last year.

The district-proposed tax rate would generate at least $12 million for the district if approved by voters. This is the second consecutive year the

If approved, only one of the district’s two tax rates would increase, while the other would remain flat. The total tax rate would be a decrease from the last fiscal year. In that situation, the district would have a maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate of $0.6631 per $100 valuation for the 2025-26 school year. This rate is higher than what the district approved before the school year began, but is less than the tax rate for the previous year.

Northwest ISD 2024-25 VATRE results 44.16% of voters within NISD said yes to the 2024-25 VATRE. However 55.84% said no.

Roughly $2M of the funds for class sizes and student programs would help maintain current student programs and restore fine arts cuts, according to the district. Proposed voter-approval tax rate

The generated $12 million from the proposed rate would directly fund classroom needs.

Voted yes

Voted no

Teacher compensation Class sizes and student programs

Property tax rates are made up of two different rates. The M&O rate generates revenue for day-to-day needs, while the interest and sinking, or I&S, rate generates revenue for buildings, renovations and land. The I&S rate would remain the same at $0.421 per $100 valuation, which was approved for the 2025-26 school year. Districts are required to call a voter- approval tax rate election when a proposed rate is above the state-approved maximum compressed tax rate. “[The VATRE is] the only avenue that school districts have to increase their revenue,” NISD Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Pastusek said. District officials said new legislation from the 89th Texas legislative session could also contribute to property tax reductions, which would affect how much money the district will receive in local funding. Senate Bill 4 would raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, if approved by voters in November, according to previous reporting.

$4M

31,530

39,865

$8M

SOURCES: NORTHWEST ISD; WISE, TARRANT AND DENTON COUNTY ELECTION OFFICES/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

The backstory

The district projected a $16 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year in January 2025. In order to close the budget gap, the district eliminated more than 100 teaching positions and maximized staffing ratios in February. The maximized staffing ratios led to classroom sizes increasing. Grades 2-4 went from a 1:22 teacher-to-student ratio to a 1:24 ratio, while middle and high schools went from 1:165 to 1:180. This means NISD middle schools have about 25.7 students per class period while high schools have about 30. The TEA recommends classrooms for grade levels 2-4 not exceed a 1:22 ratio, while secondary schools do not have a classroom size limit. Pastusek said some programs, like reading recovery, were also eliminated due to low enrollment.

NISD’s board previously called a VATRE August 2024 to generate more local revenue. The district will receive $6,215 per student from the state after the 89th Texas legislative session. Basic allotment for students had not changed since 2019 before this year. Multiple districts in the region have pursued VATREs for additional funds, according to Educa- tion Service Center Region 11, the state-appointed service center for NISD and other nearby districts. “Each district’s decision is based on local needs, priorities and financial circumstances,” said Hailee Fojtasek, ESC Region 11 senior director of communications. Fojtasek said inflation and growing enrollment can also increase the cost for staffing and services. NISD officials said record turnout for the presi- dential election and misunderstandings regarding the item may have contributed to the results of last year’s VATRE.

Maintenance & operations Interest & sinking Tax rate breakdown

Total: $1.0879 Total: $1.0841 $0.421

2024-25 tax rate:

$0.6669

Proposed 2025-26 rate:

$0.421

$0.6631

Average homeowner bill $4,351.60 in 2024-25 $3,902.76 if VATRE passes this year $3,794.76 if VATRE does not pass this year

SOURCE: NORTHWEST ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY PATRICIA ORTIZ

The need

What’s next?

The district will continue to share information about the proposed tax rate. If the new tax rate is approved by voters Nov. 4, Pastusek said some program changes could happen immediately. Staffing increases would likely come in the next school year.

Pastusek said the district is prepared for the next year or two if the proposed tax rate is not approved by voters. “If we go another two, four, six years without increases in funding, that may make a big impact on what we have to do in the future,” he said. “But we don’t know what that is until that comes.” If the new tax rate is approved, it will generate three golden pennies, which is tax revenue that is not subject to recapture by the state. These pennies can only come with voter approval. “These are local tax dollars that [would] stay in our local schools,” NISD Superintendent Mark Foust said. Officials said NISD could return to the same operating level it was a year ago and continue efforts to remain competitive with nearby districts. “We’re sharing what our plan would be if we had the additional revenue. If we don’t have the additional revenue, we can’t necessarily execute all those plans,” Foust said.

2024 M&O tax rates and pennies for local school districts Districts like Arlington ISD have already received 12 golden pennies, while districts like Northwest ISD have not received any.

M&O tax rate

Golden pennies

Dates to know

Arlington ISD

0.81

Oct. 6: Last day to register to vote Oct. 20: First day of early voting Oct. 24: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Oct. 31: Last day of early voting Nov. 4: Election Day and the last day to receive ballot by mail (or Nov. 5 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election on Election Day)

0.79

Birdville ISD

Eagle Mountain- Saginaw ISD

0.75

Fort Worth ISD

0.79

0.76

Grand Prairie ISD

Hurst-Euless- Bedford ISD

0.67

Northwest ISD

SOURCES: NORTHWEST ISD, PUBLIC RECORDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH

Sound Bath Learn how soothing sound vibrations help release tension, improve sleep and enhance an overall sense of peace and vitality with holistic therapist Jessica Murillo. • Oct. 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • Fort Worth Public Library-Golden Triangle, 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth • www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/library/events

The Highwaymen Show - American Outlaw Tribute

Visit Roanoke Live to listen to American Outlaw songs performed by The Highwaymen Show. The show pays tribute to music legends Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristoerson. • Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. • $30.81-$70.86 • 309 S. Oak St., Roanoke • www.tinyurl.com/yc4r856 Teen Kitchen Takeover Experiment with spices and seasonings from dierent cultures to turn ordinary potato chips into avor-packed goodies. This class is for students in middle and high school. • Oct. 11, 2-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • Fort Worth Public Library-Summerglen, 4205 International Coee Day Learn about world-wide coee traditions while painting a monochromatic artwork with coee. • Oct. 16, 2-3:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • Fort Worth Public Library-Summerglen, 4205 Basswood Blvd., Fort Worth • www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/library/events/ coffee-day-sgn Pumpkin Splash Take a dip in the indoor pool at The Keller Pointe and pick a favorite pumpkin from the oating pumpkin patch. Basswood Blvd., Fort Worth • www.tinyurl.com/5797kc39

Celebrate Roanoke Enjoy live music, western-themed entertainment and local vendors oering handcrafted goods, boutique

• Free (admission) • 500 S. Oak St., Roanoke • www.celebrateroanoketexas.com

nds and festival treats. • Oct. 11, noon-10 p.m.

Keller Art Walk Experience artwork, live music, vendors and Old Town Keller dining options. • Oct. 25, 10 a.m. • Free (admission) • 133 Bates St., Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/visitors/special-events

• Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m. • $10 per person in advance, $15 at the door • 405 Rufe Snow Drive, Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/visitors/special-events Trick or Treat on Oak Street Trick-or-treat along Oak Street, play games and enjoy a dog costume contest in City Hall Plaza in downtown Roanoke. • Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 500 S. Oak St., Roanoke • www.roanoketexas.gov/708/trick-or-treat-on-oak-st

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Events

BY MARY KATHERINE SHAPIRO

Festival guide

September

October

Oktoberfest in McKinney Enjoy authentic German food, domestic and imported beer, live music, games, and more during Historic Downtown McKinney’s Oktoberfest celebration. • Sept. 26, 5-11 p.m.; Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 28, noon-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney • www.mckinneytexas.org/664/oktoberfest

Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson This festival features over 197 artists chosen to exhibit their work from approximately 1,400 submissions. There will also be hands-on art activities for children.

• Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission and parking) • Cottonwood Park, 1301 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson • www.cottonwoodartfestival.com/artstop

Celebrate Prosper This family-friendly event provides a petting zoo, a cornhole tournament, food trucks and more.

• 901 E. 15th St., Plano • www.planointernationalfestival.org

September

Boot Scootin’ Saturday Night in Colleyville The city of Colleyville turns the City Hall Plaza into a dance hall for a night of country dancing and live music.

Huffhines Harvest Fest in Richardson Event attendees can enjoy shopping from local vendors, a family costume contest, a pumpkin patch and live music. • Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Road, Richardson • www.huffhinesharvestfest.com Day of the Dead Festival in Denton Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival will include a parade, pumpkin patch, costume contest and coffin races. • Oct. 24-26, times TBD • Free • 225 W. Hickory St., Denton • www.dentondayofthedeadfestival.com This list is not comprehensive.

• Oct. 4, 4-8 p.m. • Free (admission)

• Frontier Park, 1551 Frontier Parkway, Prosper • www.prospertx.gov/563/celebrate-prosper

• Sept. 27, 7-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 100 Main St., Colleyville • www.colleyville.com/residents/boot-scootin

Fall Into Flower Mound Festival The town’s inaugural fall festival will feature several cover bands, food and local business vendors. • Oct. 10, 5-10 p.m.; Oct. 11, noon-10 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4400 River Walk Drive, Flower Mound • www.flowermound.gov/2673/fall-festival Celebrate Roanoke The 28th annual Celebrate Roanoke street festival will offer entertainment, live music and food vendors. • Oct. 11, noon-10 p.m. • Free (admission) • Oak Street, Roanoke • www.roanoketexas.gov/111/celebrate-roanoke Plano International Festival The 21st annual Plano International Festival will include food trucks, a flag parade, vendors and activities. • Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission and parking)

October

Blocktober Party in Denton The block party will include bounce houses, lawn games, a pumpkin drop and a chance to meet city officials. • Oct. 1, 6-8 p.m. • Free • Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton • www.cityofdenton.com/944/blocktober-party Frisco Oktoberfest The sixth annual Frisco Oktoberfest will include authentic German cuisine, traditional Oktoberfest games and beer. • Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • The Star, 9 Cowboys Way, Frisco • www.friscooktoberfest.com

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Dining

BY CODY THORN

Sports City Taverna oers chicken wings or shrimp fried and covered in a choice of nine dierent sauces.

COURTESY BUSINESS JUNKIES

The pepperoni pizza is one of four pizza oerings at Sports City Taverna located near the Keller-Fort Worth city limits.

COURTESY BUSINESS JUNKIES

Former NBA player operates sports bar in Fort Worth

Former Weber State standout Joel Bolomboy owns Sports City Taverna in Fort Worth.

York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen in the Houston and Austin areas. Bolomboy said the plan is to bring two locations to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but the timetable is still in the works. On the menu Bolomboy said the restaurant oerings include traditional sports bar food like wings and burgers. There are four pizzas oered. Sports City Taverna also oers shrimp that is deep fried and tossed in sauce, similar to chicken wings. “The main thing is being able to provide some- one a great time and over a great meal,” Bolomboy said. “The core is being able to provide meals to people, families and individuals, and it truly does bring them together.”

Joel Bolomboy’s foray into the restaurant busi- ness didn’t include the typical background. The owner of Sports City Taverna in Fort Worth has a background in basketball, rst as a standout at Keller Central, then at Weber State, before spending time in the NBA. Bolomboy has been playing professional basket- ball since 2016, most recently with Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Serbia, during the 2024-25 season. The big picture Bolomboy launched Business Junkies, an invest- ment company in 2022. He and business partner Kevin Noe purchased Sports City Taverna, which opened in 2022, in May 2024. Business Junkies also operates Russo’s New

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Real estate

The median sales price of a home increased year over year in August in Keller, Roanoake and Northeast Fort Worth. Residential market data

Average home price in the last 6 months

Number of new listings

-18.37%

-48.48%

-4.62%

76244 $396,000

76248 $660,000

August 2024

August 2025

76262 $682,500

76244

76248

76262

377

114

76262

35W

Median home sales price

170

August

2024

2025

76244 76248

114

$396,000

$405,000

76244

Homes sold by price point

$627,450

$660,000

76248

August 2025

$1 million+

$655,000

$660,000

76262

$700,000-$999,999

$400,000-$699,999

Number of homes sold

Average days on the market

$100,000-$399,999

-26.14%

-18.75%

+9.62%

+10.05%

+58.45%

+29.91%

<$100,000

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

76244

76248

76262

76244

76248

76262

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Come home to Milestone Church—find a warm welcome, real friendships, and room for your family to thrive in all God has for you. We invite you to visit us this weekend! A place to call home .

Saturday

5pm

Sunday

9:15am, 11am, & 12:30pm

For more information about service times and locations, scan the QR code or visit milestonechurch.com

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