During my sophomore year of college, I received a citation for – let’s say – having a little too much fun.

The punishment: complete 10 hours of community service, write a letter to the judge apologizing for what I had done, and return to the thriving metropolis of Robinson for my court date.

I worked on three different projects to tally up the hours needed to have my record cleared. Two hours were spent volunteering at a secondhand store, three hours organizing books at Miller Library and five hours weeding and dragging a hoe through the garden outside the soup kitchen in downtown Beaumont.

“Fresh Picks” features the top stories posted by our contributors at neighborsgo.com for and about the Plano/Murphy area after the deadline for this Saturday’s print edition.

Samaritan Inn receives support from Ruby Tuesday restaurant

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18345

Frisco community wraps Project Linus in support

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18445

Plano student receives DHA scholarship

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18440

The Heights VBS returns to Hawaiian Fallas

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18427

Tutoring club offers free SAT practice test

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18425

Kiwi-Koala Club to meet at Rockwall restaurant

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18412

Senior artists gather for Friday art session

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18400

Kohl’s recognizes Plano’s Roberto Avitia

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18394

Plano Early Lions present awards

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18336

Bishop Lynch students participate in Pete Sessions leadership program

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18331

McKinney author writes novel

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18334

SPCA announces pet of the week

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18379

McKinney “Noteworthy”: Best of the Week

neighborsgo.com/blog/mckinney_noteworthy

Plano/Murphy “Noteworthy”: Best of the week

neighborsgo.com/blog/planonoteworthy

“Fresh Picks” features the top stories posted by our contributors at neighborsgo.com for and about the Plano and Murphy areas.

You can find quick links to all stories and more on the “Plano Noteworthy” blog at neighborsgo.com/blog/planonoteworthy.

Members of our community who submit stories, photos and news for publication continue to impress me with their talents and dedication.

When I returned to the office after the Fourth of July weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find a story and photos submission from new contributor Hoang-Kim Cung of Plano, the Miss Texas Junior Teen for 2007-08. I’m always especially impressed when I don’t have to ask for the story; she sent it in on her own. The piece was such a great personal perspective of her participation in the Plano Independence Day Parade that I chose to use it as this print edition’s cover story.

More opportunities are available to serve others in our community during summer’s warm temperatures and extra free time or vacation.

Eiron Young and her son Cameron have a new home in Plano’s Douglass Community thanks to more than 750 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity of South Collin County and Thrivent Builds, a Lutheran organization that gathered 21 area Lutheran churches to both financially support and help at the build.