ROCKWALL – Over 180 members and guests gathered at the Allure Restaurant at Chandler’s Landing for the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce 2011 Awards and Member Appreciation Banquet Jan. 12.

(See photo captions below)

Outgoing Board Chair Cheryl Dunlop, Director of Administrative Services for the City of Rockwall, presented awards to Ebby Halliday Realtors and the Hilton Bella Harbor Hotel for Small and Large Business Partners for the year, respectively.

Rockwall Boys & Girls Club President & Straughan Properties business owner Stephen Straughan received the “Spirit of Rockwall” and “Ambassador of the Year” awards.

Incoming Board Chair Oncor Electric Area Manager Cindy Tayem was named “Director of the Year.”

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to American National Bank board member and senior vice president Larry Parks for his outstanding long-time commitment and support to the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rockwall community as a whole.

The City of Rockwall also received a “Partner Appreciation Award.”

During the program portion of the event, Dunlop provided an overview of 2011 highlights. Tayem presented the audience with key points from the Chamber’s business plan.

She said that the overall focus for 2012 would be member retention, and explained the key objective for the campaign will be to strengthen branding and endorse the benefits that a partnership with the Chamber will bring to any business, small or large.

Chamber Ambassadors Straughan and Sheila Hair, co-owner of My Computer  Guy, gave an overview of the new Chamber Ambassador Program and spoke of the importance the Ambassadors play in its success.

New Chamber President Dana Macalik recognized the outgoing Board Members and introduced the new 2012 Board of Directors:

• Lesli Johnson, Controller, Rest Haven Funeral Homes
• Stewart Storms, Vice President of Commercial Lending, American National Bank
• Stephen A. Straughan, Owner & Broker, Straughan Properties LLC and RockwallNow.com
• Darby Burkey, Owner, Rockwall Flower & Design Studio
• Nancy Runge, Marketing Specialist, Farmers Electric Cooperative
• James Nelson, Vice President of Business Development, Alliance Bank
• Troy Reimer, Principal, Reimer Legal Services (Honorary)
• Lou Johnson, ANB Wealth Management Group/Trust Services, Vice President and Trust Manager (Honorary)

The event was sponsored by:

• American National Bank Texas
• ANB Trust Department
• Business Directories of Texas
• the City of Rockwall
• Ebby  Halliday Realtors
• Endodontic Specialists of Rockwall
• Farmers Electric Cooperative
• Hilton Bella Harbor
• Lake Pointe Medical Center
• My Computer Guy
• Rockwall Economic Development Corporation
• Rockwall Flower & Design Studio
• Texans for Bob Deuell
• Timpa Law Firm
• TX Health Presbyterian Hospital – Rockwall

Photos (Click to enlarge):

Top Left (from left):

• Margie Hooper, former Chamber President
• Larry Parks
• Cheryl Dunlop

Top Center:

• Dana Macalik
• Judy Harris, Branch Manager, Ebby Halliday Realtors-Rockwall
• Cheryl Dunlop

Top Right:

• Dana Macalik
• Cindy Tayem
• Cheryl Dunlop

Bottom left:

• Dana Macalik
• Stephen Straughan
• Cheryl Dunlop

Bottom right:

City of Rockwall Council Members & Staff

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

A huge number of major Internet websites are expected to go offline tomorrow to stage a blackout to protest the SOPA and PIPA web censorship bills now in Congress.

According to a non-profit group leading the blackout, Fight For The Future, the Senate will vote next week on forever altering the free and open internet by instituting a new regime of extra-judicial, corporate-led website takedowns.

“This is a fundamental fight about who has power in society – the people with the means to communicate freely or the governments and corporations that feel threatened,” said spokesman Donny Shaw.

“The clock is ticking, and we’re still 35 senators short of the number we need to kill the bill.”

The non-profit is encouraging others to join the blackout.

“Join us on the historic day by blacking out your site,” the non-profit leader explained. “Copy the code below and paste it into the header of your theme (WordPress users: use the SOPA Strike plugin) to black your site out in protest of SOPA/PIPA. It will activate automatically on Jan. 18th, displaying this page and directing visitors to contact Congress, and will deactivate at the end of the day.”

For the full state of play on the censorship bills , visit this infographic.

TheRockwallNews.com will remain online as most news websites will do.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROWLETT – The first baby born in 2012 at Lake Pointe Medical Center was Corey Bryland Blackshear, the third child of Shanitra Barton and Corey Blackshear of Garland.

He was born Jan. 3, at 8:13 am, and weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20” long.

Presenting a basket of goodies to the family on behalf of the Lake Pointe Health Network are Sharon Groves, RN, Director of the NICU (left) and Debbie Moeller, RN, Chief Nursing Officer.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – The Rockwall County Committee On Aging delivered 37,618 “Meals On Wheels” to local senior citizens in 2011.

According to Board Member Kristy Bailey, when school is in session during the week, Rockwall ISD’s Quest Academy kitchen keeps busy preparing meals for a cadre of volunteers to pick up and deliver on their various routes. The volunteers use their own gas and time to make deliveries on a regular basis.

Holidays, however, are different, when Quest Academy is closed. That’s when generous business owners or civic groups donate the money needed to purchase meals from area restaurants, often at a reduced rate. The volunteers who do the delivery are often from service clubs.

“Our small staff works tirelessly to provide programs for our growing elderly population,” said Margie VerHagen, Executive Director. “One of the key elements is the sponsorship and delivery of holiday meals.”

“The RCCOA would like to thank the following participating restaurants and financial donors who made delivery of holiday meals possible this past Christmas.”

Restaurants:

• Taco Casa
• CiCi’s Pizza
• Lenny’s Subs
• Culvers
• NoNa’s Cafe
• Zanata’s
• El Chico

Financial donors who made it possible included:

• Dr. Les Sandknop
• Farmer’s Electric
• Heart of Texas
• Rockwall Breakfast Rotary
• Dr. Buffington
• Dr. Turner
• Soroptomist Club
• Kiwanis Club
• Farmers Insurance

Rockwall County Committee on Aging offers more than Meals on Wheels. Programs include the Diabetic Seminars, Caregiver Conference, Information and Referral, Benefits Counseling, Books-to-Go, and the popular Pet Food Program, where seniors get pet food for their cats and dogs.

For more information about the RCCOA programs, visit: www.rockwallmow.com or call 972-771-9514.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – The public is invited to a chili dinner to meet the new officers of the Rockwall Co. Republican Women Jan. 9 at 6:30 pm at the Harry Myers Community Center. Officers are from left:

Ann Easterwood – VP of Finance

Ann Hettinger – VP of Legislation

Judy Dickson – VP of Programs

Vicki Jolley – Secretary

Jerry Fisher – President

Marcia Gilbert – Treasurer

Jane Buie – VP of Membership

Sheila Kirkley – VP of Campaign Activities 

Not pictured is Brenda Zielke – Past President.

ROCKWALL – A dazzling display of Christmas lights can be seen in The Shores subdivision at 1520 Meadows Circle. Here’s the Google map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl

ROCKWALL – For over 25 years Rockwall County Helping Hands has held a Christmas toy drive for children up to age 16 whose parents are not able to provide gifts.

Last year, Helping Hands Toy Drive provided toys for 1,265 children (479 families).

If you’d like to participate this year in the annual program, you’ll need to drop off unwrapped toys valued at $15-30 by Dec. 13 at the 13 locations listed below.

This year Helping Hands hopes to provide at least three toys per child and needs all the toys they can get, according to Executive Director and City Council Member Margo Nielsen.

1. Rockwall Fire Station #1
   305East Boydstun,  Rockwall  75087
2. Rockwall Fire Station #2
   920 Rockwall Pkwy.   Rockwall   75032
3. Rockwall Fire Station#3
   191 E. Quail Run Rd.,  Rockwall   75087
4. Rockwall Fire Station #4
   2915S. Goliad,  Rockwall  75032
5. RockwallCountyLibrary
   1215 Yellowjacket, Rockwall  75087
6. RockwallCity Hall
   385S. Goliad, Rockwall  75087
7. Fate Fire Dept.
   105 E. Main Place, Fate  75132
8. Heath Fire Dept.
   200 Laurence Dr.,  Heath 75032
9. WalmartSupercenter
   782 East Interstate 30, Rockwall  75087
10. Walmart Neighborhood Market
    850 West RuskSt., Rockwall  75087
11. Belk
    1027 East Interstate 30,  Rockwall 75087
12. RockwallCountyHelpingHands
    950 Williams St., Rockwall  75087
13. Centsible (Thrift Store)
    117 E. Main St.,  Royse City 75189

For more information, visit http://rockwallhelpinghands.com/helping-hands-toy-drive.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – Want to quickly find out what’s going on across DFW tonight, this weekend or even next month?

Now you can on TheRockwallNews.com, which has just added a DFW-wide “Find Events” calendar to our news website which will show you hundreds of free and paid events – including time, place & price – happening across the Metroplex on a daily basis.

Just look for the “widget” display on our website Homepage, where you can click on the day, date or event type and be taken immediately to a separate page on the Find Events calendar powered and compiled by our content partner PegasusNews.com.

In the near future, Rockwall events will also be included on the lengthy list of concerts, music, plays, shows, dining, movies, festivals, sports, walks/runs, markets, expos, parades, museums, classes and much, much more.

PegasusNews.com is Dallas Fort-Worth’s most complete source for local entertainment and community news, providing the most comprehensive databases for events, dining, and local music available online.

The news & entertainment website offers stories and events, as well, that traditional media don’t cover from across the Metroplex. Many of the website’s news stories about Rockwall are written by and linked to TheRockwallNews.com.

PegasusNews.com also customizes content and advertising for each individual user in a mechanism called “The Daily You.” Register with the site and see how it enhances your online experience.

“We hope that by adding the Find Events calendar to TheRockwallNews.com, it will provide our readers with an even better online experience,” said Publisher J.J. Smith.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

By J.J. Smith. ROCKWALL – This local food critic can’t wait to return to eat at El Cayote Rojo Cantina & Grill, Rockwall’s only Austin-style Tex-Mex restaurant, located on Hwy. 66, just before leaving Old Downtown Rockwall to the east towards Fate.

There are two simple reasons why.

First, on two of the four times that my wife & I have eaten there, the food, atmosphere and service have been absolutely perfect! Exceeded expectations! Delicious food; friendly & attentive waitstaff; beautifully-designed, spacious & well-lit interior & exterior; plus even a talented singing owner – Norma Valles Rocha!

On those four occasions, my wife said she’s thoroughly enjoyed the Chile Relleno, Tacos Al Carbon, Chicken & Beef Flautas, plus Shrimp Cozumel.

I always order Carne Asada (marinated, charbroiled skirt steak) with ranchero sauce.

The second reason, and the same reason I always order Carne Asada? Because the only problem I’ve had with El Cayote Rojo is they have been a little inconsistent, a challenge which most restaurants seem to have. But the first, second and third times that I ordered my favorite, the Carne Asada was so delicious that I just had to have it again!

For Mexican food in Rockwall, El Cayote Rojo has definitely become our favorite. Now, if they can just get that Carne Asada perfect each time I order it!

Each time we’ve visited, we’ve been greeted by a pleasant, smiling hostess who’s shown us to our spacious booth or comfortable table quickly – once on the back patio, when the weather was warm – plus provided us with the menus. The Cantina has been full twice but we only had to wait a few minutes to be seated.

Next, either a friendly waitress or waiter greeted us immediately to ask what we would like to drink. After ordering, we never had to wait more than 10 minutes or so to be served. Each time, the food was hot and displayed in a very appetizing manner.

On the first occasion, my wife said her Chile Relleno was most tasty. For those who don’t know, it’s a big roasted poblano pepper (not spicy) stuffed with your choice of beef, chicken, or cheese, topped with their special ranchero sauce & cheese, plus served with rice, refried beans, guacamole & pico de gallo.

On ensuing occasions, she said she’s also thoroughly enjoyed Tacos Al Carbon, which are either two flour or three corn charbroiled fajita steak tacos, served with pico de gallo, guacamole, refried beans, rice & sour cream.

She liked the Flautas, which are tightly rolled fried corn tortillas, filled with your choice of beef or chicken, served with refried beans, guacamole, and sour cream.

She said her favorite was the Shrimp Cozumel, large shrimp marinated & charbroiled in shrimp sauce with one chicken sour cream enchilada, served with guacamole & pico de gallo.

So the inconsistency has only really occurred with my food and some service on the fourth visit, when the waiter mysteriously disappeared for the night after he served us. On every other visit, our waitstaff has double-checked each time to be sure we were pleased.

On my first visit, the Carne Asada was very tasty but too rare when they first served it. After they took it back one time, it was much better. That happens at times when ordering steak, I’ve learned. It’s generally topped with onions and served with tender rice, refried beans, guacamole and pico de gallo. But since I don’t like the beans or other, I asked to substitute what was a delightful melted cheese enchilda, plus some shredded lettuce and tomato. “No problem,” the waitress said. So they do accept substitutions without difficulty, we learned.

By the way, the tomato-based ranchero sauce is the best! Not too spicy and smooth, it tops off the charbroiled steak perfectly. They also offer other sauces.

On the second visit, I couldn’t have asked for a better steak dinner. Delicioso!

On the third, it was duplicated, except they decided to charge me a bit extra for the cheese enchilda for the first time. Oh well, it was worth $2 or so.

On the fourth visit, well…this was the most inconsistent one, as far as the steak was concerned. Instead of another properly-prepared steak, they served me what my wife and I swear was a portion of overcooked beef roast. Even the waiter admitted that’s what it looked and felt with a fork like slightly burned beef roast. It didn’t taste very good so I didn’t finish it. I left feeling very disappointed. That’s when I decided the place is great, just somewhat inconsistent. But so are most restaurants, from my experience.

Now the management was very nice and very concerned when I told them about my steak. They offered to bring me another, but by that point I just wasn’t in the mood. I know that I shouldn’t have waited to complain. I certainly don’t usualy mind speaking up when my food’s not right, as my sweet wife has too often experienced! But on this occasion, management did provide us with a coupon for a discounted meal upon return. They said they would have provided me with a free meal, but since we were paying for this meal with a Restaurant.com certificate, we only had to pay a few dollars anyway ($2 for a $25 meal certificate).

Now before I end my critique, let me repeat that the first three times our meals were quite superb, with only a minimum of imperfection. So we highly recommend El Cayote Rojo Cantina & Grill. It doesn’t get any better in Rockwall or surrounding areas!

Lunches and dinners range from $7.95 to $15.95, with plenty of appetizers and desserts to choose from. They serve lunch specials weekdays, 11 am – 2 pm, for $7.97 & $8.95. They even serve breakfasts, from $2.95 – $7.95.

I should also mention that, every Friday night, Norma sings some tunes and singing, guitar-strumming Mariachis will serenade your table (hoping for some tips!). On Saturday nights, live blues & country music bands play.

A full-service bar with all your favorite adult beverages is located on the side of the Cantina, but it’s basically separated from most of the tables. Happy Hour is from 3-7 pm weekdays. They also can accommodate groups upstairs.

So if you like Mexican food ( and who doesn’t in Texas?), in a most pleasant atmostphere with friendly staff and customers, do yourself a favor and visit El Cayote Rojo Cantina & Grill, 308 N. Fannin St! You’ll be very glad you did!

For info & reservations, call 214-771-4062 or visit http://ElCayoteRojo.com/aboutus.html.

When in Dallas, visit their second restaurant, Nueva Casita Restaurant, located at 5807 Blackwell St., phone: 214-750-5441.