Coppell ● Las Colinas ● Valley Ranch RamblerRamblerRambler Coppell ● Las Colinas ● Valley Ranch ●● IrvingIrving ● PAINTING & CONSTRUCTION on any interior paint job SAVE 25% over $1000 Not valid with any other oer. Expires 1/31/13 972-745-1888 RamblerRamblerRambler January 19, 2013 50¢ Council considers changing food/alcohol sales ratio for restaurants By Amanda Casanova in restaurants in north Irving, but to 30/70. Those areas would be able to petition City’s image and also create an envi- The Irving City Council capped a keep the ratio restricted in south “From an economic develop- the Council for higher alcohol limits. ronment for bars “on every corner.” lengthy and divisive public discussion Irving. ment standpoint, we need more “It’s obvious if we’re going to Supporters, however, said on Jan. 10 about changing the alcohol “I don’t think there’s a one size destination type development,” Chris come up with a solution, it needs to changing the ratio would pump laws in restaurants with a proposal fits all plan,” Mayor Beth Van Duyne Wallace, president of the Chamber of be thought out,” Van Duyne said. more money into the City by bringing that would set different rules for dif- said. Commerce, said at the meeting. “We have a tremendous amount of in high-end restaurants that would ferent neighborhoods. The current City ordinance sets Under the proposal, the City people on both sides who are telling favor the changed ratio. Without After hearing more than two a ratio of 60/40 for food/alcohol would still have the 60/40 law except us opposite things. I think this is a the change, the City is poised to lose hours of public comment, the Council beverage sales at restaurants, but the for in five areas: Las Colinas, Valley good solution.” business. finally agreed after midnight to post- Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber Ranch, the Highway 183 overlay Opponents of changing the ratio “We are bleeding tax dollars,” pone the vote and consider relaxing of Commerce and area businesses district, the Highway 161 overlay dis- said at the meeting that a relaxed Council member Rose Cannaday the ratio on alcoholic beverage sales have asked that the ratio be changed trict and the Urban Business district. ratio could negatively impact the See RESTAURANTS, Page 5 YOUNG PROBLEM SOLVERS School Board approves Coppell team IISD annex renovation By Amanda Casanova a choice that brings the total project wins award at The Irving Independent School cost to $905,221. The other option for District Board of Trustees voted the board was to use modular walls, Lego Robotics on Jan. 14 to spend more than which can be moved around, but pro- $900,000 to renovate the adminis- vide less privacy. The second option tration annex building. would have cost about $100,000 less. Tournament The administration annex build- The renovation would take ing houses services for homeless and about six months. By Sissy Courtney pregnant parenting students as well “There have been many times Team Smileyface, sixth and seventh as adult education programs, but the we’ve moved people for a short graders from Coppell Middle School aging facility is cramped and in need amount of time,” Board President North, won the Strategy and Innovation of updates, trustees said. Ronda Huffstetler said. “We’re Award at the 5th annual North Texas The board voted 4-2 for the ren- talking about safety updates, ADA FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) Champion- ovation to the building. Only trustees updates. This building is going to ship Robotics Tournament Jan. 12, at the Steven Jones and Gail Condor Wells have to be renovated and updated Hockaday School in Dallas where they voted against. to accommodate our programs. The competed with 54 other teams. North Photo by Sissy Courtney “I can’t support spending money is there to do it.” Texas FLL started with 202 teams, but the Alex Wu and Renzo Teruya set up their robot $900,000 for a building that is To pay for the renovations, the others were eliminated in previous events. (below) before the Championship Robotics functional,” Jones said. “Yes, it could district is using money generated One segment of the competition in- Tournament presented by the Perot Museum at be nicer, but it is working fine. I just from the sale of school buses to Dal- volved a robot designed by the group that Hockaday School in Dallas. can’t justify spending that kind of las County. could complete designated tasks. money on this building.” The board will consider hiring “It is supposed to do missions on the The board decided to renovate a contractor for the work at a later boards such as quilts, pushing the dog, a the building with permanent walls, meeting. ball game and bowling,” Smileyface team member Alex Wu said. The other segment of the competition Councilman Santoscoy required the team to design an innovative product to help senior citizens improve will not seek re-election their lives. “The theme of the tournament is Se- By Amanda Casanova ated the support of the staff. We have nior Solutions,” said parent coach Vivien Council member Roy Santoscoy a wonderful staff. Moore. “What particularly interested announced at the Jan. 10 Council “I’m appreciative of my fellow them was fall prevention, because they meeting that he would not seek re- Council members and the citizens learned that over a million seniors fall election of his Council seat in May’s of Irving. It’s been amazing to make each year and that there are thousands election. some friendships. I have the desire to of fall related deaths each year. As they “I have been very privileged to one day do this again, but my kids are were looking into how to prevent seniors serve on the City Council for the last at an age where that window is clos- See LEGO TOURNAMENT, Page 2 three years,” Santoscoy said. “I’ve ing, and I want to make sure that I enjoyed it greatly and have appreci- See COUNCIL RACE, Page 9 Up and coming WE CARE ABOUT YOU star to shine in & YOUR FAMILY Houston début 972-253-4200 IRVING TEXAS IRVING PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE By Jess Paniszczyn PERMIT #024981 PERMIT Born and raised in Irving, Karis www.mscitx.com Office Hours: Nichole Danish, the little girl with Courtesy Photo the big voice, is preparing to début Originally from Irving, Karis Mon-Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM in her most important role to date Nichole Danish will portray After Hours Clinic: Lab & Radiology: No appointment necessary as Phoebe Saint-Anne in the play Phoebe Saint-Anne in the Mon-Fri 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Hit-Lit. Mon-Fri 5:00 PM–9:00 PM Not available for After Hours Clinic play Hit-Lit written by Robert Sat & Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM The daughter of John and Debo- Wuhl. rah Danish, Karis graduated from Main Location: Nimitz High School in May 2000. the Wheaton College Conservatory, 2021 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, 75061 While attending Nimitz, she was she was in a performance of ‘Into the Other Locations: selected as a member of the Texas Woods’, and that is when she decided Baylor MOBI: All-State Choir as Soprano II. she would rather sing in Broadway 2001 N. MacArthur Blvd. #425 “Karis was always selected to be musical type things.” Valdez Clinic: Las Colinas: The Irving Rambler Box 177731 P.O. Irving, TX 75017 in these choirs when she would go After finishing her education, 3501 N. MacArthur Blvd #400 6750 N. MacArthur Blvd. #250 to summer camp,” Mr. Danish said. Karis decided to move to New York Tuscan Cardiovascular Center: OB/GYN: “But when she went to Nimitz High to pursue her career. 701 Tuscan Dr #205 6750 N. MacArthur Blvd. #255 School, she joined the choir, and “Her mother and I are very suddenly we found out that she had proud of her dedication, persistence a remarkable voice. I flew her out to and commitment to this goal she has a voice instructor in Alabama. After- been working toward,” Danish said. wards he said, ‘Imagine having all the “A lot of people think we must sup- equipment of a Stradivarius violin. port her in Manhattan, because it is Irving Rambler $0.50 Now, can she learn how to use it?’ such an expensive place to live. But “She was on the Opera track we do not. She knows this is some- for two years at TCU. But she wasn’t thing she is going to have to be able happy performing in foreign lan- to function in if she wants to sing as guages. While she was studying at See DANISH, Page 7 A “new” musical from the creator of GUYS AND DOLLS 972-252-2787 Pleasures and Palaces lyricstage.org Historical hijinks in a masterpiece from Carpenter Hall at the Irving Jan 24–27 2013 musical theater legend Frank Loesser Arts Center Page 2 January 19, 2013 THE RAMBLER www.IrvingRambler.com Flowers Foods signs agreements to acquire Home Internet IRVING SUNRISE access provided ROTARY certain Hostess Bread brands and bakeries to Irving ISD families Flowers Foods, Inc. recently brands and expect to select additional quality baked foods at a good value As part of a $125,000 announced it has signed two asset stalking horse bidders as soon as through existing and new retail and grant from the Texas Educa- purchase agreements with Hostess reasonably practicable.” foodservice customers.” tion Agency, the Irving ISD August 9 Sandra Forster Brands, Inc. as the “stalking horse The transactions are subject Based on the current bid price, technology department will be Rotary District Governor bidder” for certain Hostess assets.