As you'll read on Thursday (on Allen Noteworthy) or Saturday (in the print edition), my Editor's Note this week is about my lack and discovery of maternal instincts.

In my breif Editor's Note, I tried to sum up my feelings about having kids as concisely as possible without dragging them out onto a jump page.

I thought I should preface the Editor's Note with a little more detail about my feelings towards having kids and why posts from parents on neighborsgo influence my desires - well, cause maternal notions to filter through me periodically.

When I read stories or see photos of adorable children smiling, playing, giggling and winning awards for community service, I feel excited about having kids one day. Your children are doing so much within their community and are having so much fun that you decide to post stories and photos about them everyday. That's encouraging to a wannabe mother (give me five years though) that hasn't had any experience with kids younger than 10 - aside from brats trashing my tables when I was a waitress at Carrabbas during college. They would destroy their clothing, the coloring-book menus, throw food, spill milk, scream, cry, run around the table, go to the bathrooms by themselves...PURE CHAOS.

So, my opinion of young kids hasn't been too favorable due to my subjective experiences - until now.  Now, I get to read about good kids that are making a difference at young ages, participating in school and church activities, enjoying the summer months by the pool and in the yard, etc. I've been able to meet some of these good kids, too(like sweet-little Lindsay Underwood, who stopped by with her beautiful mom, Catherine Underwood to say hi this afternoon).

You're posts are changing my perspective - so, thank you proud parents!

Read more about my parent phobia and maternal instincts surfacing in my Editor's Note coming later this week.

Don't forget to keep posting stories and photos of your family enjoying the summer and preparing to go Back2School (Back2School information will be featured Aug. 9, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23).

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

You can find quick links to all of them and lots more on the “Noteworthy” blog.

Allen ‘Fresh Picks’

Groundbreaking at Grace Church begins

Small Blessings Preschool names new director

Allen Sunrise Rotary Club elects new officers

Tallenettes win big at officer camp

Proposed charter school moves closer to approval

Connemara Conservancy Honors Volunteers

Collin Theatre Centre at CollinCollege announces 2008-2009 schedule

Outdoor burn ban in effect for rural CollinCounty

Cooper FitnessCenter at Craig Ranch launches new program

Next-door Neighbors

McKinney “Noteworthy”: Best of the Week

neighborsgo.com/blog/mckinney_noteworthy

Plano/Murphy “Noteworthy”: Best of the week

neighborsgo.com/blog/planonoteworthy

Like some of you, I hate sweat. I hate sweating, looking at other people who are sweating, smelling sweat – you name it – I hate it.

But, living in Texasduring the summer kind of makes my efforts to avoid sweat futile, and, now that I am out of college and have a full-time job, I can’t just pack up and head to Colorado to golf with my dad in the natural air conditioning.

Recently, Allen’s Weller family was able to flee the blazing heat and shared a photo with us on neighborsgo.com from its “sweat escape” to Vail, Colo.See Page 8 in the July 26 issueto see it.

Now, I know the women out there are thinking, “Gross, why are you talking about sweat,” which, of course, proves my point. And, the men out there are thinking, “You’re being a wimp;” we’ll you’re wrong. Even though I hate sweat, sometimes it is worth the trouble of smeared makeup and ruined bangs.

So, what things do I consider worth sweating for?

A good workout, lying on the beach, playing 18 holes of golf (when I break 100) and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys from the stands at Texas Stadium – these are worth sweating for.

My major complaint with sweat is that it wrecks your entire day. Once you’ve sweated and your forehead starts dripping, it’s all over. You’ve spent 30 minutes getting ready for nothing and you feel sticky even once you’ve cooled down.

No, I don’t have hyperhidrosis (an excessive sweating disorder), my bitterness stems from my high school sports days. In 10th grade,we had to practice in the mornings for junior varsity basketball and were only given 30 minutes to shower and get ready for school after practice.

Think about it. High school girls only given 30 minutes to shower, blow dry their hair, put on clothes and apply makeup – all while gossiping and socializing?

It worked for the most part, but I always rushed, which caused me to perspire again as I ran around the locker room and hustled to first period.

Then, my senior year, during varsity fast pitch softball, they had us practice before the team photos. As you already know, Texas in the spring isn’t always a comfortable 72 degrees, especially when you are running bases, doing drills and swinging bats during practice. Nope, I was covered in sweat by the time the photographer arrived. We tried to dry off the sweat and re-applied our lip gloss, but the damage was done.

That photo was never purchased – and I was the only one to see it – that is, until the senior sports banquet when the booster club managed to round up our photos to display to all in attendance. I was mortified to say the least.

Melodramatic? Maybe.

Nevertheless, the summer months in Texas are filled with other things besides sweating. In Allen, you are beating the heat and/or battling through it by participating in activities with your church, community service and ASA sports.

See for yourself – this issue is filled with stories and photos of your summer pastimes posted by you.

I’d like to see more of them as the summer continues – continues to get hotter! Where are you headed for vacation? Where are your children going to summer camp? What community organization are you involved in? Share your stories and photos with us at neighborsgo.com. Posting is easy and you can do it from the comfort of your air-conditioned home.

Halleluiah!

I have a bad habit of being on losing teams.

But as a reader, I know you must be saying, “Why on Earth would we want a loser with the Olympics around the corner? We want Michael Phelps, or at least an out-of-retirement Michael Johnson.”

Even with my history of laughable pee wee sports teams, a loser I am not. I am, however, an athlete (many moons ago), a writer and a b-movie fan.

So, that’s my broad introduction to you readers of neighborsgo and I hope that you will enjoy hearing from me in the future.

One of my first projects since signing on with n-go was to put together a video profile over Senior Olympic gold medalist Mary Day. This was a two-part work that has been revealed over the past week. Part 1 was meeting Mary and Part 2 was yours’ truly challenging the 76-year-old with a killer forehand.

I think I got a couple winning shots in there, but I believe the phrase I used to describe her serve returns was “Like taking flak from a battleship in Leyte Gulf.”

As the new assistant editor, I am sending out an open invitation for any of readers to challenge me to any kind of contest that seems fitting.

I am open to things that include but are not limited to: eating, baseball, croquet, rock climbing, hiking, anything with the word bungee, trying to conquer anything with the title of “world’s something-est something,” stuff about Texas, rodeo, golf – both miniature and full-sized, juggling, forestry, science and much more.

Additional props in the community need to go to young Samuel Miller of Richardson and his epic Star Wars collection at Fretz Park Library. As a Star Wars enthusiast, I can’t help but be proud of this young Padawan and his journey to become a Jedi Knight. Samuel’s mom submitted the story online at neighborsgo.com and he is now featured in print.

It is that easy for all of you to have a chance to be published so keep giving us your stories, photos and videos and we hope to see you in the print edition every Saturday. I expect those challenges and fan-mail to inundate my neighborsgo.com profile which can be found online at neighborsgo.com/marcusmurphree.

Marcus Out.

You can find quick links to all of them and lots more on the “Noteworthy” blog.

Allen ‘Fresh Picks’

VBS pairs with mission project to teach kids about God

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18222

CentennialMedicalCenter supports breastfeeding mothers

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18219

The Heritage at the Stoneleigh launches new Web site

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18173

Three AISD bus drivers win Road-e-o Awards

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18166

Third Annual MOMS Club Patriotic Parade brings stars, stripes, smiles to residents at Victoria Gardens Nursing Home

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18150 

MHS Humanities students cross the pond

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18147 

Friendship easily battles the Allen heat

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18144 

Allen football season begins

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18143 

Second Saturday in McKinney always a success

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18142 

Residents leave Allen to get ‘cool’ in Colorado

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/18141

Next-door Neighbors

McKinney “Noteworthy”: Best of the Week

neighborsgo.com/blog/mckinney_noteworthy 

Plano/Murphy “Noteworthy”: Best of the week

neighborsgo.com/blog/planonoteworthy

First Baptist Church of Allen member and volunteer, Crystella McIvor, posted this week's cover photo and photo package about FBCA's week-long Vacation Bible School to neighborsgo.com.

Find the photos here.

Pick up your issue of Allen neighborsgo at any Allen Starbucks or inside the Saturday edition of your Dallas Morning News.

As I continue to establish myself as a part of the neighborsgo team, my knack for finding fantastic photos online at neighborgo.com is improving by the minute.

Every workday, I begin my routine of logging onto neighborsgo.com and searching for pictures related to the Allen community – this week, I hit the jackpot.

As you’ll see, this issue is filled with photos of your summer and some late-spring activities.

In particular, Crystella McIvor has been posting pictures of outstanding quality and quantity. You might remember her photos from the June 21edition’s cover story about Marion Elementary’s production of TomSawyer. And, she’s done it again.

This week’s cover photo and cover package came straight from her camera lens. She also submitted some photos of her daughter, Cheryl McIvor, sacrificing 12-plus inches of her tresses to Locks of Love. Click here for more pictures.

Captured poolside, the second annual Ashwood Kids Fourth of July Popsicle Picture was posted online over the weekend by Allen resident Richard Tate. He happily supplied names and information for this summerfun here.

One amateur photographer, D.R. Peritz of Allen, posted weekend shots his son that stirred warm andfuzzies throughout Allen and the neighborsgo office; for those photos go here and here.

This issue also features two high-intensity sports photos that were posted by volleyball dad, Steve Loe. His daughter’s team placed nationally in an Olympic tournament earlier this month. Check the pictures and story out here.

What would pictures be with out the words to describe them? We’ve got that for you, too.

This issue is packed with stories submitted by you online at neighborgo.com about faith, charity, education, the environment, arts and entertainment.

One story about the new bishop, Scott McClellan, for the Sixth Ward in the Allen Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, stood out. Did you know he and his wife, Tami, have six children – six girls, to be exact? Now that’s going to get interesting as they start to get married. Find out more about the Sixth Ward and McClellan see Page 9 in the July 12 issue.

Deana Gepfert continues her coverage of the award-winning Allen Girl Scouts. Her stories have appeared in the last three issues, including this one; see Page 7 in the July 12 issue. Watch for two more in the following weeks as well. Your scout-ettes are keeping busy within the community and have been recognized for their outstanding service with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

There’s so much inside this issue and more that couldn’t fit in this week. Thanks for posting on neighborsgo.com – the summer is shaping up to be a hot, sweaty one, but filled with news about the Allen community, by the Allen community – just the way we like it!

I know there are a lot more of you out there with a knack for photography, storytelling, or simply have something to share with the community.

Allen ‘Fresh Picks’

Faith FellowshipChurch throw Share-a-Thon in McKinney

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17885

Jammin’ in July Thursdays continue at TowneLakePark in McKinney

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17883

Grace Church breaks ground

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17879

North Texas toll road planning now a regional effort

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17878

Hathaway hosts hip-hop ballet, ‘Lessons of a Lifetime’

http://neighborsgo.com/stories/17871

Carry along Collin returns

http://neighborsgo.com/stories/17852

SPCA of Texas’ pet of the week

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17815 

Live saving water

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17819 

Next-door Neighbors

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 Allen area after the deadline for this Saturday’s print edition.

Allen ‘Fresh Picks’

Dr. Pepper Ballpark hosts athletes, celebrities for Heroes Game

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17567

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17565

Customized ovens – the hottest trend and coolest apliances -- on the market

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17559

 Centennial MedicalCenter offers pre-pregnancy planning seminar

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17536

 Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra announces new board members

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17522 

Faith LutheranChurch hosts 2008 VBS

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17511 

VBS and Day Camp serves, impacts community

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17466

MRT's ‘Move Over, Mrs. Markham’ benefits Samaritan Inn

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17424 

Watercolor Workshop at McKinney’s Art House

http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/17488 

Next-door Neighbors

McKinney “Noteworthy”: Best of the Week

neighborsgo.com/blog/mckinney_noteworthy 

Plano/Murphy “Noteworthy”: Best of the week

neighborsgo.com/blog/planonoteworthy

After parking at Story Elementary, which I am still convinced is at least five miles from CelebrationPark, I flip-flopped my way over to the festival to meet and talk to you about neighborsgo.

It had taken me a while to find Story, which is enveloped by residences, and I was almost clipped by a teenage driver running a stop sign, but I finally pulled into the school parking lot.

Looking over my shoulder, I realized that mine was one of four cars in the parking lot. For a moment, I hesitated. Maybe I should drive around and find somplace else to park, maybe somewhere closer? It seemed odd that no one else was parking there and walking, but I shrugged the thoughts away and convinced myself that I had arrived earlier than the crowd of 65,000 that I was told to anticipate.

I lightened my load because the walk was going to be treacherous in the Texas heat, even with my water bottle in hand.

Closing my eyes, I let the air conditioning blow over my face for a moment more. I knew that in a matter of minutes, my face would be dripping sweat and I would be longing to retreat into one of the homes I would pass during my trek.

My journey started off better than expected; there was a lot of shade and I was making progress quickly.

After a few minutes, I realized that no one else was walking and I was approaching a busy intersection, but I could see red, white and blue flags flapping in the distance.

I wondered what I was going to find ahead.

Finally, I reached the park. The grounds were manicured and clean, and the large, open area welcomed a steady breeze that muffled the blazing heat of Texas.

After joining the neighborsgo team at our booth, I began meeting Allen residents, discussing how easy it is to submit photos and stories on neighborsgo.com and helping them to win fun swag on the prize wheel. Meanwhile, the wind tried relentlessly to blow our booth over.

It took me awhile, but I finally noticed the cause of these gusts; a storm was brewing.

Around 5 p.m. lightening and dark clouds approached the park a little too close for comfort and, by 6 p.m., they sent event-goers and vendors to shelter at Curtis Elementary.

Luckily, within an hour or so, guests were all able to return to enjoy Three Dog Night and fireworks as planned. But, amidst the day’s happenings, I didn’t get a funnel cake.

Regardless of my sweaty venture to the park or lack of powdered-sugar treats, I enjoyed my time at Allen USA. I had fun meeting many of you, and missed meeting more of you. I hope you learned something new about neighborsgo while enjoying the event.

You can check out photos from the event on Pages 13 of the July 5th edition of Allen neighborsgo. And, as always, continue to post your stories and photos throughout the summer - especially of your July 4th holiday weekend.