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Dallas Observer •

Plano ISD To Close 4 Schools, Move Elementary School for the Deaf

The Plano ISD school board has voted to close Davis Elementary School, Forman Elementary School, Carpenter Middle School and Armstrong Middle School. The unanimous vote came after more than four hours of deliberation during a special called meeting on Monday. The closures will take effect for the 2025–26 school year.“Our district has experienced a consistent decline in enrollment for more than a decade, and tonight’s recommendations will make the necessary adjustments to create better learning a
NTDaily.com •

DME awarded highest honor in public power sector

Denton Municipal Electric has been awarded the Diamond Reliable Public Power Provider designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA).

DME got a perfect score of 100 out of 100, putting them in diamond category, where the score ranges from 98 to 100. Only 112 out of the over 250 public utilities recognized nationwide reach the achievement.

“We’re excited not because the department earned it, but it’s really a testament to what all our employees do,” said Stuart Birdseye, DME publ
NTDaily.com •

New research facility at Discovery Park opens doors for opportunities in unmanned vehicles

University president Neal Smatresk cut the ribbon on April 4 at the grand opening for the Center of Integrated Intelligent Mobility Systems’ new unmanned aviation research facility at Discovery Park.

It is one of the biggest in the state and will allow students and businesses in the Texoma region to conduct research on unmanned vehicles.

“No one else has anything like this,” University President Smatresk said. “It’s going to give us a lead in the in the region and in the state.”

The testing f
NTDaily.com •

Denco 9-1-1 and nonprofit PulsePoint looking for the public’s help to build AED database

Denco 9-1-1, in partnership with PulsePoint, is working to register every Automatic External Defibrillator in Denton County on the PulsePoint AED app and is asking for the public’s help.

When an AED is registered on the PulsePoint AED app, those with the app can see all the nearest AEDs in their area. The app is free and can be found on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. PulsePoint is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

“Personally, for me, you kind of go through your whole life knowing w
NTDaily.com •

Warm Feet for Warriors program gives back to service members and veterans

The university is participating in the Warm Feet for Warriors program for the third year in a row.

From Feb. 1 to March 1, the program will be accepting sock donations, which can be dropped off at the donation box located in the Student Veteran Services office in Sage Hall or made electronically through the Soldiers’ Angels official website. The donated socks will go to active-duty service members and veterans at Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Socks are the most requested donation item at the non
NTDaily.com •

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center cleanup and outdoor expo educates Denton community about the environment

The Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center held events on Jan. 26-27 to educate the Denton community about the environment and how to take care of it.

The center was selected as a 2024 "Spotlight" by Leave No Trace, an environmental organization that promotes conservation.

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center held a volunteer clean-up session on Jan. 26. On Jan. 27, it held an outdoor expo.

“I like to call it kind of the hidden treasure of Denton, not as many people know about it,” Carin Zeman, o
NTDaily.com •

35th Annual Denton Holiday Lighting Festival kicks off holiday season, gives back to community

As the sun set, the crowd of hundreds of people gathered around the giant white, red and green dotted Christmas tree, counting down from 10 in unison. As the count ended, the trees surrounding the courthouse on Denton Square lit up in unison with the golden star-topped Christmas tree.

Every year, members of the Denton community and their families gather on The Square for the annual Christmas Lighting Festival. While the lighting ceremony was the main attraction, there were several family-orient
NTDaily.com •

Beaujolais and More event brings food, fundraising together, supports Denton theatre

The aromas of different types of cooked food filled the air of the small indoor venue as people walked around from table to table looking at food samples from local restaurants in Denton. At the entrance in the middle, there was a table selling souvenir wine glasses with “Beaujolais and More” printed across the clear glass.

Once simply a historical landmark, Beaujolais and More has grown into a community event and fundraiser that sells tickets to raise money to benefit the Denton Community Thea
NTDaily.com •

Arab Student Association introduces cultural staples with fashion show

Editor's Note: This article was updated to reflect accurate terminology and locations of certain pieces of clothing and update terms about the Amazigh people and specific origins of garments.

Models strut down a catwalk in vibrant, colorful kaftans and abayas with intricate designs and embroidery. The first model shows off a white modern-day kaftan with detailed gold embroidery that went down the middle of the kaftan’s sleeves.

The Arab Fashion Show put on by the Arab Student Association and A
NTDaily.com •

Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival celebrates diversity, honors deceased

Hundreds of tiny paper butterflies of different colors flew into the air from small handheld cannons after a countdown from 10. Each butterfly was launched into the vast gray sky, representing the soul of a loved one who had passed on. As they fell to the ground, a group of small children rushed to pick up handfuls of the paper butterflies and threw them in the air again with smiles.

The tradition, known as the Flight of Souls, was one of several events held at this year's annual Denton Day of
NTDaily.com •

Rubber Gloves Studio welcomes Plus Fest for 3rd year

Plus Fest had its 3rd annual appearance in Denton at the Rubber Gloves Studio from Oct. 14-15, featuring local, national and international math rock bands and musicians.

The festival was produced by BLVR Booking owner Danny Laake, who wanted to shine a light on math rock bands and musicians in the math rock scene of Denton. Over 30 bands and musicians performed over the course of the two-day festival, alternating between the Choke Artist outside stage and the Jordrews inside stage.

“Why I keep
NTDaily.com •

43rd Denton Jazz & Arts Festival welcomes artists old, new

Over 100 bands and musicians from Denton and across the country performed at the 43rd annual Denton Arts and Jazz Festival from Oct. 6-9. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attend the festival for a weekend of live music, food, art and shopping.

Although jazz is the main genre of the festival, many bands play a wide variety of genres, like the headliner band Brave Combo, which has attended since its inception in 1979.

“I have always been drawn to the musical elements that stir emotion
NTDaily.com •

Global ocarina community holds 1st in-person OcarinaFest since 2020

Professional ocarina players, makers and enthusiasts from across the country and around the world came together from Sept. 28 to Oct.1 for an event called OcarinaFest, celebrating their shared passion for the wind instrument.

The OcarinaFest had performances in various places around Denton like Quakertown Park, Bramblitt's Yellow Dog Art Bar & Gallery, Denton Square and the SpringHill Suites by Marriott as their main headquarters for the event. OcarinaFest also featured a wide variety of panel
NTDaily.com •

4-legged friends, local vendors make a splash at Dog Days of Denton, V.I.Paw Access pool party

A line of tents housing local vendors past the Quakertown Park bridge led the way to the main stage where a costume contest was taking place. Proud owners adorned their furry companions in outfits and costumes ready to strut in front of the crowd of smiling attendees.

Every year, thousands of people from across the DFW Metroplex attend Dog Days of Denton. The event features fun activities like a doggie bandstand, a canine couture costume contest and a splash-off contest at the Denton Civic Cent
NTDaily.com •

Harvest House general manager says bittersweet goodbye to Denton community

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with corrections.

The heartfelt comments flowed in after Harvest House founder and manager Alex Moon, posted a bittersweet letter on Twitter announcing his departure on Aug. 24 from Harvest House. People of diverse backgrounds shared their sweet thoughts and wished him well in his new chapter.

“That’s kind of why I wrote that note to our community,” Moon said. “It’s my time to move on, but Harvest House will keep living through all the beautiful peo
NTDaily.com •

Local vendors set up shop at North Texas Fair and Rodeo despite sweltering heat

School is not the only thing back in session this August. Every year, vendors, rodeo contestants and country singers bring their talents, products and food to the heart of Denton at the annual North Texas Fair and Rodeo.

The event's 95th run lasted from Aug. 18-26 and offered plenty for the North Texas community to do before the fall season rolled in.

But this year, things looked slightly different due to the hotter-than-normal weather. So much so, that carnival rides did not operate until 7 p
Photo by Xabi Oregi on Pexels

Model United Nations: The Social Distance Way

Every spring semester more than 5,000 students from over 32 different countries travel to New York City to attend and participate in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference.

Prior to the conference, schools are assigned a country and they begin the challenging task of researching their assigned country with the end goal of being as prepared as possible for a simulation exercise in which they become delegates from their assigned countries. They have the unique opportunity to deepen t