🌱 Patch AM: How a Plano teen turned childhood trauma into camp leadership

Hey there, Plano! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Plano teen turned childhood trauma into camp leadership
• How a local fraternity made Plano seniors feel celebrated this week
• How will a $25M grant reshape Plano’s Cotton Belt Trail access?

Also on today's calendar: FREE WEBINAR | “A Renaissance Christmas - Remix” and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Breezy in the morning; sunny, with a high of 76 and low of 48 degrees.
• Sunday: Cloudy, a shower; cooler, temps: high: 58, low: 52.
• Monday: Warmer with clouds and sun, with a high of 70 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Seeing beyond the scars: UT Southwestern Craniofacial Surgery staff hosts Camp Amigo (utsouthwestern.edu) — A young burn survivor who moved with her family to Plano as a child credits local medical care and a special craniofacial camp with helping her rebuild confidence and community. Now a high school senior, she’s returned as a volunteer counselor, supporting other kids facing similar challenges while UT Southwestern’s craniofacial team keeps the camp free for families.
   

2. Omega Psi Phi Graduate Chapter Serves Denton and Douglass Seniors in Plano (northdallasgazette.com) — Local seniors from the Denton and Douglass programs gathered in Plano at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for an afternoon of food, fellowship, and encouragement hosted by Omega Psi Phi’s Alpha Iota Iota Graduate Chapter. Pastor James Thomas shared a spiritual message, volunteers helped coordinate activities, and organizers say they plan to return next year, strengthening ongoing outreach to Plano’s senior community.
   

3. State Awards $25 Million to Advance Cotton Belt Trail Construction (northdallasgazette.com) — Plano residents can look forward to a continuous Cotton Belt Trail connection from the city all the way to DFW Airport, thanks to a new $25 million state grant. The money funds the next construction phase linking nearby Silver Line stations, building on work already underway toward Plano’s Shiloh Road Station. Once complete, the trail will expand safe biking and walking options across multiple suburbs.
   

4. Learn how to avoid gift card fraud – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (nbcdfw.com) — Plano residents are being warned about increasingly sophisticated gift card scams after North Texas law enforcement, including Plano officers, reported arrests tied to tampered cards. The piece explains how thieves drain balances, outlines a new Texas law targeting gift card tampering, and shares practical tips from police and consumer advocates on spotting fraud, seeking refunds, and safely buying cards this holiday season.
   

📸 Around Plano

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Plano

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 23

• FREE WEBINAR | “A Renaissance Christmas - Remix”
  Online,
  11:30 am

Wednesday December 24

• Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar
  Online,
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  Plano Chamber of Commerce , 5400 Independence Pkwy #200 , Plano

Wednesday December 31

• Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar
  Online
  12:00 pm

📣 Plano Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 20

• IntelliChoice Math Tutoring K-12
  Martin Luther King Jr Library and Learning Center , 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , Dallas
  10:00 am
• Winter Solstice Yule Log
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  11:00 am
• Saturday Movies
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• The Nutcracker at the Youth Discovery Center!
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• African American Genealogical Interest Group
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  2:00 pm
• The Nutcracker - Tuzer Ballet
  Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations , 2351 Performance Dr , Richardson
  2:00 pm
• Family Magic & Comedy For All Ages
  The Addison Improv · Dallas , TX , Addison
  2:00 pm
• Crafty Cinema Club
  The Colony Public Library - Library Multipurpose Room , 6800 Main St. , The Colony
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• It's A Wonderful Life
  Galaxy Theatres Grandscape , 5740 Grandscape Blvd Ste. 100 , The Colony
  2:00 pm
• The Spongebob Movie: Search For Squarepants
  Galaxy Theatres Grandscape , 5740 Grandscape Blvd Ste. 100 , The Colony
  9:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Plano PatchAM possible:

• PeakPower Learners — (469) 396-6182
  The Power Of Two: Online Classes for Dual Language Students
• Crain & Wooley — (972) 560-6288
  Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys serving DFW

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The Heights Church in Richardson to Hold Christmas Eve Services at 3 and 5 pm —Carolyn Alvey Read on Patch
• Healthy Holidays: Plano Doctors Provide Simple Tips to Relieve Stress, Back Pain —Krista Simmons Read on Patch
• Dallas PULSE Hosts Free Scrimmage Friday, December 19 at Comerica Center —Carolyn Alvey Read on Patch

• Report of police activity in Lewisville, Texas.
  6:18PM on Dec 18: Nextdoor users report over 60 police cars responding to a scene on Corporate Dr and multiple police vehicles at Fox Bridge North… (Nextdoor )
• Estrella is looking for her forever home!
  When we first met this sweet girl, she was skin and bones, had a double eye infection, was heart worm positive, had a severe upper respiratory… (Nextdoor West Plano - Willow Bend)

• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Merchandiser in Plano. Apply here.
• Harvard Maintenance posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner - Empleado de limpieza Plano, TX 32873 in Plano. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Plano here.

Ok Plano! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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