Luke scores his 1st goal of the season in soccer

I had a beer with Rudy!

Last Saturday Lochrann’s Irish Pub & Eatery brought in the movie Rudy and showed it on their large screen in Devin Hall.  As a special treat, the real Rudy- Daniel Ruettiger - was on hand after the movie to talk about making the movie and to sign autographs.  Cost of admission was only $5 and the proceeds went right to Frisco Family Services Center.  The crowd was full of Notre Dame Grads and the questions were awesome.  After it was over and the band began to play, many of us joined Rudy as he ate and spoke some more. What a great time!

 

        

Today We Vote

From today until May 5th the City of Frisco has early voting locations up and running.  Right before I sent this Weekly I was out in the rain to cast mine.  I hope you will join me and vote early. If you wait until Election Day, May 9th, something might come up and you may miss your opportunity to be counted.  Please join me and pull the lever for both Pat Fallon and Bob Allen to become our next two City Councilmen.  They are ready, able and qualified for service on Council.  If you have yet to meet Pat- view one of the short video’s he did.

Earth Day was GREAT! Did you get out and pick up?

Two of the clubs I am a member of adopt and clean streets here in the City of Frisco.  Frisco Cycling Club has John Hickman Parkway and Frisco Sunrise Rotary has Coit Road.  When Earth Day came around and both clubs were set to clean, some organization was needed.  So that the bike riders could make the 9am Richardson Bike Mart rides, we started that cleaning at 7:45am.  Then, to stay on target for the official Earth Day times, Rotary cleaned at 9:30am.  My boys came and joined me as we did both streets (Seth not in photo- on my back in backpack). We still made it to Luke’s 10am soccer game- just a hair late.  Here is my challenge to all of you in power- shut down the other events on this day!  This is a great opportunity of us to come together and change the way the City looks.  If all City and club-run sporting events were canceled or at least postponed to start later in the day, think of the overwhelming turnout of families we would have.  Make a difference next year! Plan your events around your City’s Earth Day!  And if your City does not do an Earth Day event, come to Frisco! As our Earth Day event is like none you have ever participated inand I always give credit back to Pippa Couvillion and her amazing group!

And speaking of signs…

Frisco is getting 300 new road signs and I could not be happier.  Last Friday, City workers began “planting” the “Share the Road” signs and Channel 11 was on hand!  As a group, the Frisco Cycling Club will have a bigger event soon to praise and bring attention to the efforts of the City, its citizens and club members in their success of this accomplishment.  The routes were combined efforts from a committee of cyclists, the Parks and Recreation Department and an engineering consulting firm.  The placement of the signs can be found here. 

Frisco Sunrise Rotary

We meet at the Randy’s Steakhouse at 7:30am each Tuesday morning and our speaker will be Tammy Taylor of Hope’s Door.

Frisco Early Voting

Monday April 27th – Tuesday May 5th.  All Days- 8am-5pm until May 4th and 5th- 7am – 7pm

 

Election day- May 9th – 7am to 7pm

Quote by Will Rogers

“The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has.  Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don’t know when it’s through if you are a crook or a martyr.”

Hope you had a Great Easter

 A friend played a part in the Last Super at a performance at Grace Avenue Methodust church-

The Refi Mail

I like to warn folks after a purchase or a refinance to get ready for the mail.  If they don’t already have a good shredder, it’s time to invest in one as these guys can obtain lots of information about you and your loan.  It is not always the lender “selling” your name; many times it is from lists at the county courthouse or other places. 
 
Here are the three most common letters you will receive and my advice for each:

1. The Homestead letter.  Here in TX you are allowed to claim your home as your homestead which means a reduction of your property taxes.  It is free to do and, when you refinance and already have a homestead in place, you don’t have to do anything.  But many times you will receive a letter advising you that, for $35, the company mailing you the letter can set that up for you.  Again, it is free and you just need to log into the appraisal district for the county you live in and download the form to mail in.
2. Bi Weekly payment programs: These are confusing when they come straight from the lender.  Not that it could not happen, but why would a lender help you reduce the amount of interest you pay to them if there was not a set-up fee and per transaction fee for establishing the program?  Don’t misunderstand me; it is wise to pay extra on your mortgage and reduce the amount of interest owed, but to pay a fee to do that is wrong.  In my opinion the By Weekly is close to adding one extra payment per year to your mortgage.  It comes down to this- – whatever you think the best way to pay down your debt is the way you should do it. Just research all the options.
3. Mortgage Protection Insurance Program.  We are going to see more and more of these letters. Just look at the auto industry. There are two types of programs: the 1st pays off your home loan at time of death per the contract details and the 2nd covers your mortgage for a few months in times of trouble or job loss.  Both are wonderful programs but in my opinion the 1st can be taken care of with a good life insurance policy and the 2nd by establishing a savings account with an amount equal to at least 6 months of your mortgage payment that you leave untouched until it is needed.  The cost of these two programs just don’t hold up when you run the numbers. You should speak with a qualified life insurance agent and financial planner about all those options before you go with either plan.

Again- this is just my opinion about a few of the mailings I have received since our refinance. What letters have you seen?