In light of the Allen Event Center's grand opening Friday, The Dallas Morning News colleague Ed Housewright examines the cluster of similar Collin County cities' struggle to stand out.

McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller puts it this way: "I believe that citizens are coming to expect a portion of their tax dollars be spent on quality-of-life type development." 

Read the full story here.

For full details on the Allen Event Center and the new Dallas Stars affiliated CHL team, Allen Americans, pick up Friday's Allen neighborsgo.

In celebration of Veterans Day, your community is buzzing with activity. Here are three of the larger events that you should check out. 14,000 flags at Heritage Ranch? Sounds gorgeous. A chance to purchase game-worn camouflage jerseys right off of an Allen American's back and take a photo with the Stanley Cup? Sounds lucky. And 50 Marion Elementary students each will have a veteran to escort, introduce and parade with around the campus. Now, that sounds like a learning experience. 

Click "more" for details.

>>FEATURED STORY – ONLINE NOW
Lucas resident Mark Barratt published a five-book series based on Revelations 11:3-12 called The Guardian of Heaven. The books are available at guardianofheaven.com.

>>GO BLOGS!

Neighborsgo blog: A message of appreciation

Faces of the Military: Then and now: Kevin Campagna

Faybles: The gift of life — a family affair

Technically Speaking: There’s an app for that — photo/video edition

The Great Beard-Off of 2009: Beards.org

>>GO AND DO
This weekend: Allen HS grads to perform in UT Dallas’ <i>Best of Broadway II
Nov. 7: Garage sale to benefit Boon students
Nov. 17: International Women's Club of North Texas invites new members
Nov. 24: Allen Public Library to unveil 600-pound sculpture

>>DALLASNEWS.COM
Precision is instrumental for Allen High's 638-member band

Tracey Yukich, 37, of Allen got the boot last night in NBC reality show The Biggest Loser. Read the Entertainment Tonight story here.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

• Read an earlier Allen Noteworhty post about Yukich here.
• Read a Dallas Morning News story about her here.

TUNE IN
7 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

Six Day Dental & Orthodontics’ Mighty Molar Man will be at Allen ISD Learn 'N' Playday Preschool to teach kids about dental hygiene 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. According to its PR representative, about 51 million school hours are lost per year because of dental illness. Mighty Molar Man's visit with Allen's children is an effort to change that statistic.

The Allen Event Center, located at 200 E. Stacy Road, will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. An open house will follow at 11 a.m., providing a first look at the event center and the community ice rink.

From 4 to 5 p.m. today at the Allen City Hall parking lot, 305 Century Parkway, park operations supervisor Gary Edwards will be collecting used or new bikes and parts. This is part of a push to gather bikes to give away during the holidays.

Edwards has been helping out the Bonham-based Northeast Texas Bicycle Association with its efforts to collect, repair and distribute bikes to disadvantaged and needy children.

Currently, the organization only has 39 bikes. Normally, they'd have 300 by now. 

If you'd like to help out, dust off that bike your child has grown out of and stop by City Hall. A few players from the Allen Americans will be there to deliver some bikes, as well.

If today's not a good day for you, Edwards will collect bikes Nov. 7 and Nov. 13. 

For my story about the program and Allen's impact on it, click here.

>> FEATURED STORY – ONLINE NOW

Safety first

CurtisMiddle School students team up against drugs at Red Ribbon Week on Team Jersey Day.

>>GO BLOGS!
Faybles: Star Room to benefit Collin children
Technically Speaking: There’s an app for that: money edition
Allen Noteworthy: Allen Americans gliding on through

>>ALLEN
Ladies’ Night Out at Watters Creek
Vaughan Viking Shipmates & Captains
Big D Opry with Ty Herndon
Coffee N Cream featured on Fox 4 Good Day
Americans defeat Mudbugs 2-1
Chandler Elementary to host bazaar, chili cook-off
Registered sex offenders in Allen

>>ALLENBLOG.DALLASNEWS.COM
County creates polling place options for Nov. 3 election
Monsters Inc. shown at library on Saturday
Rich Jaynes to lead nature walk at Connemara

>>MORE ONLINE
Chamber program looking for ‘leaders’ (Allen American)
Halo Group’s Paul Williams named Dallas CFO of the Year (TransWorldNews)
Brian’s Song (NBC)

The Allen Americans remain undefeated in their inaugural  season. Most recently, they beat Laredo in overtime 5-4. Mind you, they had played together for about two weeks before they embarked on a lengthy season on the road. Read Lindsey Perkins' full story here.

This weekend will be the team's last game on the road before its home opener Nov. 7. But it isn't going far -- Allen will play the Texas Brahmas 7:05 p.m. Saturday in North Richland Hills.

Hockey is kind of a new sport to me. Actually, it scares the heck out of me. You can read about my first encounter with the Allen Americans here.

Folks, here are the links you need to stay on top of your neighborhood news. Thanks for posting; thanks for reading. Look for these in print next week!

>>GO BLOGS!
Faybles: Off to the races
Technically Speaking: There’s an app for that, Part 1
neighborsGHOSTS: Dressing the part in McKinney

KO101 Boxing Club adds another victory to list of accomplishments
Red Mango to open in Allen
Vaughan Viking Shipmates & Captains

>>DALLASNEWS.COM
Allen HeritageVillage slow to complete restorations