Plano-Living

Dallas Directory

2009-08-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

DallasDirectory.org is the new directory for local businesses in the DFW Metroplex. This website, created by The Marketing Shop.com, gives small businesses and entreprenuers exposure to people in need of their products and services. The directory offers listings for the following types of businesses:

Dallas Pest Control

Dallas Hair Removal

Dallas Hair Salons

There are over 150 categories of Dallas area businesses listed on DallasDirectory.org. The site ofers content, advice, articles and other goodies as well. Small business owners can purchase text ads and banner ads on the site on the pages that matter the most to their target customers.

The directory covers not only Dallas businesses, but businesses that are in cities surrounding cities. The site is called "DallasDirectory.org" because more people type "Dallas" in the search engines than they do the smaller city names.

The site is marketed via search engines such as Google and Yahoo, as well as through social networking channels and feeds. If you are interested in advertising your business on Dallas Directory.org, please go here: Advertise on Dallas Directory.

More categories on DallasDirectory.org:

Dallas Custom Home Builders

Dallas Golf Communities

Dallas Home Builders

Dallas Neighborhoods

Dallas Real Estate Agents

Dallas Realtors

Dallas Suburbs

Dallas Homes

North Dallas Real Estate

Fort Worth Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate

Plano ISD Education Foundation receives $50,000 from AT&T

2009-08-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Stephanie Flemmons and Kim Nguyen / Plano Star-courier
August 17, 2009

The AT&T Foundation gave a $50,000 grant to Plano Independent School District Education Foundation in an effort to decrease the high school dropout rate.

The gift allows the Plano ISD to bring Destination: Graduation — a successful high school dropout prevention program run by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas — to expand and include more Plano middle schools.

Holly Reed, AT&T’s regional vice president, said this is the first year the grant money will be used to fund this program in middle schools. The program will initially be offered to students at Armstrong and Bowman middle schools, which feed into Williams High School. About 30 eighth grade students were selected to participate in the program and spent two summer weeks attending “Fish Camp,” where they learned about WHS and the school’s administrators, college preparation and goal planning.

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Spending money in Plano makes cents: Chamber helping city encourage spending in Plano

2009-08-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

By Kim Nguyen / Plano Star-courier
August 12, 2009

While the city council and staff are working to keep the city’s budget deficit at bay, the Plano Chamber of Commerce is helping out with a campaign to boost sales tax revenues in Plano.

On Monday, the Chamber launched “Plano First -- It Makes Cents,” an awareness campaign that encourages Plano residents to spend their money within city limits.

With the city’s sales tax revenue falling, the city council is considering a property tax increase to offset the city’s projected $3.9 million deficit. Should the hike be approved in October, Plano residents would see an additional $30 on yearly property taxes for the city.

Mayor Phil Dyer is grateful that the Chamber has stepped up in a time of need to help the city generate sales tax dollars.

Full Story

STEM partners support Plano ISD secondary mathematics initiatives

2009-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Plano Star-courier
August 9, 2009

With generous support from leading area STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- focused corporations and foundations, the Plano Independent School District Education Foundation will complete funding this year for more than $280,000 in district-approved initiatives to improve student performance in secondary mathematics education.

STEM organizations partnering with the Plano ISD Education Foundation and the school district are AEGON District Marketing, Inc., EDS Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation and Texas Instruments Incorporated.

To date, more than $280,000 has been raised to fund the four-year, incremental transition of Algebra I instruction from the ninth grade to the eighth grade.

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Plano Public Library system receives grants

2009-06-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

By Heather M. Smith / Star Community Newspaper
June 18, 2009

Plano Public Library Systems will increase its inventory thanks to two grants from the Texas Book Festival.

“We’ve gotten lots of grants over the years from the Texas Book Festival,” said Tammy Korns, Plano Public Library spokesperson. “As far as grants, we feel that if it’s out there we try to get it. We want to match up the funding to what we need in the libraries.”

Plano’s libraries were awarded two $2,500 grants from the Texas Book Festival. Davis Library will use grant funds for children’s technology, health and science materials. Harrington Library will use the funds to add adult and children’s materials for patrons whose first language is Spanish.

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Plano Camp sheds new light on learning

2009-06-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

By Heather M. Smith / Star Community Newspaper
June 18, 2009

About 45 Plano Independent School District female students are taking part in a camp meant to increase their confidence and open their eyes to new careers.

The fourth-annual Plano ISD physics camp for women targets those who have completed either Algebra II as sophomores, and are eligible to take pre-Advanced Placement Physics, or who have completed pre-AP Physics as juniors.

“I’ve always been interested in science,” said Setti Testaye, Plano West Senior High junior. “They’ve really explained what physics is during this camp.”

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Texas home building expects fast rebound

2009-05-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - By Mario Zavala

By Mario Zavala
Special to the Business Press

There is a light at the end of the tunnel and Texas will likely be the first to see it, according to state and national leaders in the home building industry.

While there were no predictions on when the current building and housing downturn may come to an end, Joe Robson, the chairman of the National Association of Homebuilders, said he thinks the state, and the Dallas and Fort Worth area in particular, is a step ahead in the recovery process.

“Real estate is all local,” Robson said while speaking at the Homebuilders Association of Greater Dallas in Plano. “It gets a little crazy when all you hear about is the national market, everyone starts thinking that its their own town that’s struggling, but Dallas, and Texas in general, has held up real well.”

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PepsiCo rents 90,000 square feet of office space in Plano

2009-05-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

May 21, 2009

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
stevebrown@dallasnews.com / The Dallas Morning News
Karen Robinson-Jacobs contributed to this report.

PLANO – A unit of PepsiCo Inc. has leased more than 90,000 square feet of office space in Plano for a large operation.

PepsiCo rented space in a complex of buildings owned by developer KDC at 5340 Legacy Drive, real estate brokers say. The sprawling office complex called the Campus at Legacy once housed EDS offices but was remodeled by KDC – formerly Koll Development Co. – for other tenants.

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February existing home sales rise by 5.1 percent

2009-03-23T10:29:00.001-07:00

March 23, 2009
By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate Writer

WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes jumped unexpectedly in February by the largest amount in nearly six years as first-time buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures and other distressed properties.

Economists said sales, while still at levels not seen since 1997, may finally be coming back to life after declining sharply following the stock market plunge last autumn.

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Collin, Denton debate future Dallas North Tollway extension

2009-03-23T10:20:00.001-07:00

March 23, 2009
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News

A simple line on a map could translate into billions of dollars for either Collin County or Denton County.

That line represents a proposed extension of Dallas North Tollway, and the adjacent counties are squabbling over the alignment because of the economic bonanza it could bring as homes and businesses spring up around it.

Collin and Denton county officials had agreed the 7-mile stretch should be on the counties' common border to let each share in the riches.

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Plano: Police join forces to protect citizens from internet fraud

2008-10-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer

Plano Police reached out Saturday to spread the word about the fastest-growing crime in the nation.

The North Texas Crime Prevention Association, Plano Police Department and more than 25 law enforcement and government agencies organized a “SCAM JAM” event to educate the community about crime prevention, most notably Internet safety.

Some of the topics discussed included protecting children from sexual predators, Internet safety, identity theft, mortgage fraud and healthcare fraud.

Tammy Snider, president of the NTCPA and Plano crime prevention officer, said these type crimes affect 10 million people a year.

DK

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Plano: National Night Out participation record high

2008-10-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

October 5, 2008

Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer

Neighborhoods throughout Plano are being invited to join with thousands of communities nationwide for the 25th annual National Night Out. Linda Barnes, Plano public safety officer, said this year the participation has doubled.

"We have over 60 neighborhoods and five apartment complexes," Barnes said. "This is the first time we have had the event in October. Texas is the only state (celebrating in October) because of the weather. It proves it's a better time."

Barnes said the idea of National Night Out is simply for neighbors to get to know each other and for citizens to meet their beat officers.

DK

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Plano: Program empowers parents

2008-10-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

October 5, 2008

Heather M. Smith, Staff Writer

The Plano school district hosted the Empowering Parents program, out of San Diego, for an informational meeting Wednesday night at Williams High School.

“I want to educate myself about what more I can do for my kids,” Gary Hehemann said. “I want to learn how they can get an advantage in their education.”

Speakers Martha Parham and Dr. Darlene V. Willis delivered a dynamic performance to parents of Plano ISD students. Parham and Willis walked down the aisles of the auditorium speaking about their “Mean Ole Mamas.”

“When my friends could have candy for breakfast, we had to have bacon, eggs, toast, oatmeal, you name it. But when my friends could have candy and Coke for lunch, my mama said we ain’t having that,” Parham said. “We had to have bologna sandwiches or peanut butter. Dinner at my friend’s home was quite different than dinner at my house.”

DK

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Carrollton hosts nearly 100 hurricane evacuees

2008-09-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Nearly 100 people from Louisiana and the Texas coastal region took up residence at the Rosemeade Recreation Center this week while fleeing Hurricane Gustav.

At the request of State Emergency Operations Center, the city opened an evacuee shelter for the first time.

full story

Plano soon to see 800 acre park development

2008-08-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

Star Community Newspaper - August 16, 2008

A long anticipated park project will soon break ground after the Plano City Council approved a $7.3 million contract, Monday.

Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, Plano’s largest park consisting of 800 acres, is on its way to become a regional attraction.

“It’s going to be one of our crown jewels in Plano,” said Tom Muehlenbeck Plano’s city manager.

The phase-three bid will consist of a 276 space parking lot, a concrete trail, which will connect into the trail at Bob Woodruff Park, Jupiter Road., Los Rios Blvd. and the Oak Point Amphitheater.

The bid will also include three pedestrian bridges, a restroom building, pavilion, tree planting, irrigation, erosion control and native grass establishment.

“I think Oak Point is going to be the equivalent of Central Park for North Texas in years ahead,” said Shep Stahel, former councilman and member of the Park Board that created the Oak Point master plan. “With the 800 plus acres, trails, lakes and visitors pavilion, it will be the center piece and a magnet for people who like to be one with nature. The bottom line, it’s a tremendous access for the entire region and I’m delighted to see it get started.”

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Texas man charged with firing on random motorists

2008-07-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

A Texas man is facing hate crime charges, accused of randomly shooting at motorists in suburban Dallas over a three-day period.

Several people were injured in the incidents in Garland, Mesquite, Richardson and Plano. Garland police say the suspect is a native of Vietnam. They say he told detectives he was targeting Asians and Hispanics because he had been involved in two altercations with those two ethnic groups months earlier. But not all of shooting victims were Hispanic or Asian.

Full Story on WWUP-TV

Briefcase Prompts Evacuation At Plano Mall

2008-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 12 - NBCi5 - PLANO, Texas -- A forgotten briefcase prompted the evacuation of the Shops at Willow Bend Mall in Plano Friday afternoon.

Plano police were called about the suspicious item located inside the mall near one of the entrances at about 11:30 a.m. Friday.

A section of the mall's parking lot, located on the 6100 block of Park Boulevard near Macy's, was blocked off while members of the Plano Police Department's Bomb Squad evaluated the scene.

Full Story on NBCi5

Plano, Texas Neighborhoods

2008-06-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Plano Neighborhood / Avg. Home Listing Price

Haggard / $362,500
Village Creek / $297,500
Dallas North Estates / $204,070
Park Forest / $135,014
Plano Park / $134,900
Old Towne / $126,391
Briarwood / $115,419
Ridgewood / $109,933
Meadows Addition / $86,797

Plano Real Estate

18 year old man with autism missing in Collin County

2008-06-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

By SCOTT GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News sgoldstein@dallasnews.com Plano and Allen police were searching late Wednesday night for a missing 18-year-old man with autism. Full Story

7-ON-7 FOOTBALL: Plano qualifies for state tourney field

2008-06-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Plano Sports News - Star Community Newspapers

Jack Graham Statement on Prestonwood Baptist Church Preacher

2008-05-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

12:43 AM CDT on Sunday, May 18, 2008

Prestonwood Baptist pastor: Church appalled, disgraced by minister's sex sting arrest. PLANO – A Prestonwood Baptist Church minister arrested for soliciting a minor online has resigned from the church, Pastor Jack Graham told his congregation Saturday evening. (Dallas News)

Plano Navigating Through Rough Financial Times

2008-03-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

As already tough economic times continue to get worse, cities across Texas are finding ways to cut back.

The City of Plano is facing a forecasted defect of $17 million for the 2008 - 2009 budget year.
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Holiday Inn Express Planned for Far North Dallas

2008-03-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

Atlantic Hotels Group plans to start construction by July on a Holiday Inn Express at the northeast corner of Interstate 635 and Preston Road, said Sonny Babu, director of operations and openings for the Carrollton-based group. The hotel is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, he said.

Atlantic Hotels already owns three Holiday Inn Express hotels in Allen, Plano and DeSoto. It plans to break ground later this month on a 100-suite TownPlace Suites by Marriott in DeSoto, set to open next year.

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Landscaping Issue Leads to Warrant for Plano Man

2008-03-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

A Plano home owner said he is shocked that a few bushes he planted in front of his home ultimately led to a warrant for his arrest.

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Defunct Mortgage Bank Accused of Diverting Funds

2008-03-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

In the 30 days before Maverick Residential Mortgage closed its doors for good, the Plano-based lender twice took money intended to fund a series of loans and used it to cover its payroll and other expenses, according to a lawsuit.

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More Plano real estate information at Remax Plano.

Mixed-use Project Planned at Preston and 121 in Plano

2008-03-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

Lincoln Property Co. is preparing to start work on the last vacant corner at the intersection of Preston Road and State Highway 121 in Plano. It will be a huge booster in the Plano real estate market. The Dallas developer's 80-acre project will include a large shopping center plus housing, office space and a hotel. The first phase of the development – called Village 121 – will open in 2009 and will be anchored by a Market Street grocery store.

Full Story

Plano TX News Sources

2008-02-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

Inside Collin County Business - Collin County Business Magazine
Plano Profile Magazine
Plano Star Courier - Plano Community Newspaper
Star Community Newspapers - DFW Community Newspaper

Plano City Information

2008-01-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

Plano, Texas is a wealthy northern suburb of Dallas located mainly within Collin County with a 2006 population of 250,100. Plano was ranked 11th in CNN Money Magazine's 2006 list of top 100 places to live. This city is home to many corporate headquarters, including Perot Systems, Electronic Data Systems, Frito-Lay, Cinemark Theatres, UGS, and JCPenney.

Schools - Plano schools consistently score in the top few percent of the nation.

Outdoor Amenities - Numerous parks, playgrounds, nature preserves, bike trails

Homes - Median home price is $228,760.