The Allen ISD Silver Eagles Club was launched in 2021 with the goal to connect local senior citizens with the school district.

The full story: Through the club, members can participate in special events and activities around the school district, Community Services Director Ashley Crowson said. Senior citizens aged 55 and older can sign up for the club at no cost, according to Allen ISD’s website.

Those events can include a behind-the-scenes look at the Allen Performing Arts Center as theater students prepare props and costumes for an upcoming musical. Members also receive information directly from district officials about initiatives and campus renovations, Crowson said.

Diving in Deeper: While they get some perks from being part of the club, members have also made an impact on the district through volunteering, said Sylvia Gage, a Silver Eagles Ambassador.

“Word of mouth has proven that the Silver Eagles' volunteer support has made a huge difference in our school district,” she said.

Community members can find internships and networking opportunities through the Allen Chamber Foundation, Allen Chamber of Commerce CEO Kyle Jacobson said.
The Allen Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by the Allen Chamber of Commerce in early February that is designed to support workforce development and local entrepreneurs.

Looking ahead: The goal of the foundation is to prepare the next generation of business leaders for success, Jacobson said.

“I hope that we just see really strong alignment between all of the local education institutions and some of our top employers in the area, and that both parties are confident that the students are being well prepared for careers that are available, not just today, but in 5 years,” he said.  

• 210 W. McDermott Drive, Allen

Check out five recent updates from Allen City Council, including new library policies, playground renovations and more.

1. Overdue book policy, facility rental fees to be updated at Allen Public Library: Allen Public Library patrons will no longer pay late fees for overdue books. Allen City Council approved the removal of fines for overdue library materials at a Feb. 10 meeting. Council also approved adjusted rates for renting Allen Public Library facilities. The new policy for late materials is an account freeze, meaning patrons cannot check out new items until overdue items are returned, Library Director Jeff Timbs said.

2. Ford Park in Allen to get new playground following $750K grant: Allen’s Ford Park renovation project will now include an additional playground. Texas Parks and Wildlife awarded a $750,000 grant to the Allen Parks and Recreation Department, according to a Jan. 30 news release. The city plans to use this money to add a playground to the north section of Ford Park, Director of Parks and Recreation Kate Meacham said.

Mark Newgent is challenging incumbent Keith Self in the Republican primary to compete in November for the U.S. House District 3 seat.

What voters should know: The winner in March will face Democratic candidate Evan Hunt in November. Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. The questions include:

• What would your top priorities be if you are elected? 
• Why are you running for this position?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the cities in your district?

During an arctic blast last month, the Texas power grid remained stable throughout the storm and the state came away largely unscathed. The Lone Star State has not seen widespread blackouts since February 2021, when millions of Texans lost power and nearly 250 people died.

The response: In Uri’s wake, state lawmakers and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas made changes to restructure ERCOT’s governing board, mandate earlier public alerts during tight grid conditions and require that energy providers “weatherize” their facilities to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Roughly 40,000 megawatts of power—enough to serve about 10 million residential customers—have been added to the grid since 2021 and the state’s energy supply has become more diverse.

Looking ahead: State leaders have expressed confidence that the grid would hold up during “a storm similar to Uri.” Yet some energy analysts caution that rapidly rising electric demand, driven by the construction of new data centers throughout Texas, means challenges may still lie ahead.