Developer Jeffory Blackard looked to the Croatian harbor village of Supetar for inspiration when he began work on the European-style community he’s replicating in McKinney. Now he’s peering across the Adriatic to Italy for its centerpiece.Blackard plans to recreate Venice’s St. Mark’s Square at Adriatica, a 45-acre, $400 million mixed-use development that lies within Stonebridge Ranch.Plans call for 122,900 square feet of retail, 113,300 square feet of office space, a 35,000-square-foot performing arts center, 207,000 square feet of education space and 197,000 square feet of residential, which will be comprised of 200 condos, or flats.Blackard won't attempt to duplicate St. Mark’s Basilica, which anchors the Venice square, but he hopes his plaza will be a landmark gathering place for McKinney residents and visitors. The Adriatica plaza will be called St. Paul’s Square. Story...

Developer Jeffory Blackard looked to the Croatian harbor village of Supetar for inspiration when he began work on the European-style community he’s replicating in McKinney. Now he’s peering across the Adriatic to Italy for its centerpiece.Blackard plans to recreate Venice’s St. Mark’s Square at Adriatica, a 45-acre, $400 million mixed-use development that lies within Stonebridge Ranch.Plans call for 122,900 square feet of retail, 113,300 square feet of office space, a 35,000-square-foot performing arts center, 207,000 square feet of education space and 197,000 square feet of residential, which will be comprised of 200 condos, or flats.Blackard won't attempt to duplicate St. Mark’s Basilica, which anchors the Venice square, but he hopes his plaza will be a landmark gathering place for McKinney residents and visitors. The Adriatica plaza will be called St. Paul’s Square. Story...

What's coming to the former Hank Haney Golf Ranch?

Check back soon for details!


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What's coming to the former Hank Haney Golf Ranch?

Check back soon for details!


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Rich History: Plano Tops Census' Affluent List

The accolades continue to come for Plano. On Tuesday, the Census Bureau named the Collin County city "the most affluent city in the USA." The annual report presents a snapshot of income and poverty levels in America. Plano had the highest income and lowest poverty rate among cities with populations of 250,000 or more. Just last month, Salary.com named Plano as the best city in which to build vast personal wealth. Plano's median household income in 2007 was $84,492, up 10% from 2006, which was the same year Wal-Mart opened the experimental luxury Wal-Mart Supercenter on Park Road and the Dallas North Tollway as part of the Prestonwood Town Center. San Jose, Calif., was second in the most recent report with a median income of $76,963. Frito-Lay, JCPenney, EDS and other companies are head quartered in Plano and , Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin trains at her father's gym there. "We've got the lowest taxes and highest level of services in North Texas," Mayor Pat Evans told the newspaper. For two years in a row, 2005-2006, the city CNN Money was ddesignated the best place to live in the Western United States. The poorest city in the nation was Detroit, with a median household income of $28,097. It fell to the bottom spot this year, replacing Cleveland. Plano as is sister city to Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Rich History: Plano Tops Census' Affluent List

The accolades continue to come for Plano. On Tuesday, the Census Bureau named the Collin County city "the most affluent city in the USA." The annual report presents a snapshot of income and poverty levels in America. Plano had the highest income and lowest poverty rate among cities with populations of 250,000 or more. Just last month, Salary.com named Plano as the best city in which to build vast personal wealth. Plano's median household income in 2007 was $84,492, up 10% from 2006, which was the same year Wal-Mart opened the experimental luxury Wal-Mart Supercenter on Park Road and the Dallas North Tollway as part of the Prestonwood Town Center. San Jose, Calif., was second in the most recent report with a median income of $76,963. Frito-Lay, JCPenney, EDS and other companies are head quartered in Plano and , Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin trains at her father's gym there. "We've got the lowest taxes and highest level of services in North Texas," Mayor Pat Evans told the newspaper. For two years in a row, 2005-2006, the city CNN Money was ddesignated the best place to live in the Western United States. The poorest city in the nation was Detroit, with a median household income of $28,097. It fell to the bottom spot this year, replacing Cleveland. Plano as is sister city to Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Nan Lee Jewelry

Make sure you stop by Nan Lee Jewelry in Adriatica and take advantage of the 10% savings!

Nan Lee Jewelry

Make sure you stop by Nan Lee Jewelry in Adriatica and take advantage of the 10% savings!

A McKinney company signed an exclusive contract Monday with the Netherland-based company Home Energy to manufacture wind turbines for all of the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.McKinney-based VAWT Manufacturing, Inc. will manufacture the V100 Energy Ball wind turbines -- 800 to 1,000 the first year -- that resemble a small airplane engine and produce 4 kilowatts each of energy. The company hopes to begin production by the end of this year, company officials confirmed.The turbines will be manufactured at the McKinney-based company Vector Systems. The two companies are not related but do have similar ownership and common managers, Vector System vice president Smith said."We'll be manufacturing wind turbines in McKinney and we hope we can hire 10 to 12 employees," he said. "We hope we can go beyond the wind turbines as Home Energy is totally devoted to renewable energy products and produces solar energy collectors and biomass products."The McKinney Economic Development Corp. worked with VAWT before it relocated to McKinney and David Pitstick, corporation president, isn't surprised the company landed the deal.City manager Frank Ragan said that the development of the turbines will attract attention to the growing "green," or environmentally-friendly identity in McKinney.The city is even considering using a wind turbine to generate electricity at the city's Fire Station No. 8 that will be built in southwest McKinney, Ragan said.

A McKinney company signed an exclusive contract Monday with the Netherland-based company Home Energy to manufacture wind turbines for all of the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.McKinney-based VAWT Manufacturing, Inc. will manufacture the V100 Energy Ball wind turbines -- 800 to 1,000 the first year -- that resemble a small airplane engine and produce 4 kilowatts each of energy. The company hopes to begin production by the end of this year, company officials confirmed.The turbines will be manufactured at the McKinney-based company Vector Systems. The two companies are not related but do have similar ownership and common managers, Vector System vice president Smith said."We'll be manufacturing wind turbines in McKinney and we hope we can hire 10 to 12 employees," he said. "We hope we can go beyond the wind turbines as Home Energy is totally devoted to renewable energy products and produces solar energy collectors and biomass products."The McKinney Economic Development Corp. worked with VAWT before it relocated to McKinney and David Pitstick, corporation president, isn't surprised the company landed the deal.City manager Frank Ragan said that the development of the turbines will attract attention to the growing "green," or environmentally-friendly identity in McKinney.The city is even considering using a wind turbine to generate electricity at the city's Fire Station No. 8 that will be built in southwest McKinney, Ragan said.

McKinney, Texas (CaymanMama.com) — Although it may seem cliche to use the saying “get it while the getting is good”, never has it been more apparent than in the world of real estate. Home buyers should heed that saying as deeply discounted house prices are enticing more and more buyers to take the plunge since rates have never been so low and the inventory has never been so great.In a new report by the Associated Press, the sales of existing homes rose 3.1% in July in parts of the nation that were hardest hit by the housing slump. Although this comes as a silver lining to the dark cloud of real estate, still, the number of unsold properties marked an all-time high indicating to the public that the darkest days of the real estate depression are still in full force. Housing prices across the nation are no expected to hit their lowest rates until the early part of 2009.According to the report, “The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 million units, down from June’s downwardly revised rate of 4.85 million units. Sales had been expected to rise by only 1.6 percent, according to economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR.” An economic adviser told the Associated Press that although an upswing as been observed, the relief will not be quick but it is good that it has already begun.In addition, property sales are approximately 13% lower than they were one year ago and have dropped dramatically. The average price for a home sold in July dropped to $212,000, down by 7.1% from 2007. The states that saw the most eager buyers taking advantage of the low prices and high inventory were California, Florida and Nevada while Texas who was formerly a stable real estate location is seeing a sluggish trend emerge.
Although the public is responding to lower prices and taking advantage of the buyer’s market, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding the housing market’s future to mark a clear bottom. Even with that unclear forecast, real estate agents across the nation are continuing to invite the public to take a chance and do their part in helping the economy recover while the prices are low and the choices are large.

McKinney, Texas (CaymanMama.com) — Although it may seem cliche to use the saying “get it while the getting is good”, never has it been more apparent than in the world of real estate. Home buyers should heed that saying as deeply discounted house prices are enticing more and more buyers to take the plunge since rates have never been so low and the inventory has never been so great.In a new report by the Associated Press, the sales of existing homes rose 3.1% in July in parts of the nation that were hardest hit by the housing slump. Although this comes as a silver lining to the dark cloud of real estate, still, the number of unsold properties marked an all-time high indicating to the public that the darkest days of the real estate depression are still in full force. Housing prices across the nation are no expected to hit their lowest rates until the early part of 2009.According to the report, “The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 million units, down from June’s downwardly revised rate of 4.85 million units. Sales had been expected to rise by only 1.6 percent, according to economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR.” An economic adviser told the Associated Press that although an upswing as been observed, the relief will not be quick but it is good that it has already begun.In addition, property sales are approximately 13% lower than they were one year ago and have dropped dramatically. The average price for a home sold in July dropped to $212,000, down by 7.1% from 2007. The states that saw the most eager buyers taking advantage of the low prices and high inventory were California, Florida and Nevada while Texas who was formerly a stable real estate location is seeing a sluggish trend emerge.
Although the public is responding to lower prices and taking advantage of the buyer’s market, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding the housing market’s future to mark a clear bottom. Even with that unclear forecast, real estate agents across the nation are continuing to invite the public to take a chance and do their part in helping the economy recover while the prices are low and the choices are large.

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Honda Cars of McKinney

After being kicked out of Honda Cars of McKinney (HCOM) for asking questions that apparently weren’t supposed to be asked, I found myself lost, at least for a moment, in a glorious bubble of giddy glee. “If asking tough questions and getting kicked out of a joint is a measure of a (journalism) man,” I found myself thinking, “then perhaps I haven’t been cutting through the crap near enough.”Journalists aren’t, contrary to what many businesses have come to expect, cheerleaders, i.e., pompom waving blind enthusiasts not willing to pull out the hammer every once in a while and start banging in an effort to see what falls apart.Speaking of falling apart…I dropped by HCOM last week to see if they had any Fits on their lot. Gas costs have started pinching my wallet more than a bit and I thought the Honda Fit (MPG = 27-34) might be worth checking out.Upon arriving at the dealer, I noticed something that concerned me. Full story....

Honda Cars of McKinney

After being kicked out of Honda Cars of McKinney (HCOM) for asking questions that apparently weren’t supposed to be asked, I found myself lost, at least for a moment, in a glorious bubble of giddy glee. “If asking tough questions and getting kicked out of a joint is a measure of a (journalism) man,” I found myself thinking, “then perhaps I haven’t been cutting through the crap near enough.”Journalists aren’t, contrary to what many businesses have come to expect, cheerleaders, i.e., pompom waving blind enthusiasts not willing to pull out the hammer every once in a while and start banging in an effort to see what falls apart.Speaking of falling apart…I dropped by HCOM last week to see if they had any Fits on their lot. Gas costs have started pinching my wallet more than a bit and I thought the Honda Fit (MPG = 27-34) might be worth checking out.Upon arriving at the dealer, I noticed something that concerned me. Full story....

$2.99 BBQ sandwiches today only!

Sony Bryan's BBQ Special

$2.99 BBQ sandwiches today only!

Sony Bryan's BBQ Special

Collin County commuters paying for poor HOV lane design

There is indeed much to dislike about the Central HOV. It is hard to get on, impossible to get off. The rubber stanchions are frequently broken, inviting “lane jumpers”. There is nowhere to pull over in the event of an emergency, and there is no enforcement, so more than 10% of those in the lane are single occupant.Lost in the general conversation was the reason Collin County got stuck with such a dysfunctional, goofy HOV. What happened? Did the engineers go brain dead?Read More...

Collin County commuters paying for poor HOV lane design

There is indeed much to dislike about the Central HOV. It is hard to get on, impossible to get off. The rubber stanchions are frequently broken, inviting “lane jumpers”. There is nowhere to pull over in the event of an emergency, and there is no enforcement, so more than 10% of those in the lane are single occupant.Lost in the general conversation was the reason Collin County got stuck with such a dysfunctional, goofy HOV. What happened? Did the engineers go brain dead?Read More...

Check back for updates

Check back for updates

Recently I received a request from the visionary behind Adriatica, Mr. Jeff Blackard, in regards to meeting face to face. Friday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Blackard at his office, located on site next to the bell tower. Mr. Blackard was very friendly and wanted to meet me to discuss my fascination with the Adriatica development. It is apparent that he is dedicated to this project and that this is his dream project. He tells me that he has made over 100 trips to Croatia and that he has collected a very large digital library of places and architectural pieces that he uses in creating and the best of the best in the Adriatica development. It appears that his biggest passion currently is getting the performing arts center built in Adriatica and convincing the city of McKinney that they should contribute to this project. He tells me that all of the dirt that was excavated recently from the Adriatica site was transported to be used in the Highway 121 tollway project. If you live in Stonebridge Ranch, you probably remember the Rodman Excavating trucks full of dirt going in and out of the development 24/7 for several weeks. I had once heard that there would be a bridal suite at the top of the bell tower, but Jeff tells me that that is not the case, it will be the home of his office. I was told that he receives inquiries about the Adriatica project from all around the world, including Dubai. He also mentioned that one of the largest movie location studios, located in Texas, has their eyes on the development for future location shootings. Mr. Blackard his high hopes and expectations for Adriatca and is committed to making this one of the most unique developments in the US. I share the same passion for this project and the believe that the citizens of McKinney and the city government need to support this project. This project has, and will continue to draw worldwide attention to McKinney. What are your thoughts? Feel free to use the "comments" button below to be heard!

Recently I received a request from the visionary behind Adriatica, Mr. Jeff Blackard, in regards to meeting face to face. Friday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Blackard at his office, located on site next to the bell tower. Mr. Blackard was very friendly and wanted to meet me to discuss my fascination with the Adriatica development. It is apparent that he is dedicated to this project and that this is his dream project. He tells me that he has made over 100 trips to Croatia and that he has collected a very large digital library of places and architectural pieces that he uses in creating and the best of the best in the Adriatica development. It appears that his biggest passion currently is getting the performing arts center built in Adriatica and convincing the city of McKinney that they should contribute to this project. He tells me that all of the dirt that was excavated recently from the Adriatica site was transported to be used in the Highway 121 tollway project. If you live in Stonebridge Ranch, you probably remember the Rodman Excavating trucks full of dirt going in and out of the development 24/7 for several weeks. I had once heard that there would be a bridal suite at the top of the bell tower, but Jeff tells me that that is not the case, it will be the home of his office. I was told that he receives inquiries about the Adriatica project from all around the world, including Dubai. He also mentioned that one of the largest movie location studios, located in Texas, has their eyes on the development for future location shootings. Mr. Blackard his high hopes and expectations for Adriatca and is committed to making this one of the most unique developments in the US. I share the same passion for this project and the believe that the citizens of McKinney and the city government need to support this project. This project has, and will continue to draw worldwide attention to McKinney. What are your thoughts? Feel free to use the "comments" button below to be heard!

Updated Photos

Work is progressing quickly on Samson's Restaurant in the Adriatica development. Check out the Samsons Blog for new photos of the patio!

Updated Photos

Work is progressing quickly on Samson's Restaurant in the Adriatica development. Check out the Samsons Blog for new photos of the patio!

Nan Lee Jewelry, in Adriatica, Now Open!

Nan Lee Jewelry's hours are 11am-6pm Monday-Saturday and closed on Sundays. The grand opening is tentatively planned for the week of Sept 8th-13th with giveaways and a Dian Malouf trunk show scheduled for that week. Stop in and say hello to Nan!

Nan Lee Jewelry, in Adriatica, Now Open!

Nan Lee Jewelry's hours are 11am-6pm Monday-Saturday and closed on Sundays. The grand opening is tentatively planned for the week of Sept 8th-13th with giveaways and a Dian Malouf trunk show scheduled for that week. Stop in and say hello to Nan!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The foreclosure juggernaut lurched forward in July as banks took back 77,295 homes - up 8% in a month and 183% in a year, a report issued Thursday shows.Total foreclosure filings - delinquency notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions - were up 8% from June and 55% year-over-year, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes. One of every 464 U.S. households received at least one filing during the month. Story....

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The foreclosure juggernaut lurched forward in July as banks took back 77,295 homes - up 8% in a month and 183% in a year, a report issued Thursday shows.Total foreclosure filings - delinquency notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions - were up 8% from June and 55% year-over-year, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes. One of every 464 U.S. households received at least one filing during the month. Story....

Tucker Hill Updates!

Check out the Tucker Hill Blog for upcoming events and new details!

Tucker Hill Updates!

Check out the Tucker Hill Blog for upcoming events and new details!

Carey Cox Memorial Park coming to Stonebridge.

The City of McKinney is proposing to construct a neighborhood school park (Carey Cox Memorial Park), on 10.25 acres at the southwest corner of Lacima Drive and Stonebridge Drive. The neighborhood school park is associated with Wilmeth Elementary School. The proposed park includes an existing office building to be renovated for Parks and Recreation Staff, two playgrounds (ages 2-5 and 5-12), pavilion, climbing boulders, hike and bike trail and an open play area. Read the details here.



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Carey Cox Memorial Park coming to Stonebridge.

The City of McKinney is proposing to construct a neighborhood school park (Carey Cox Memorial Park), on 10.25 acres at the southwest corner of Lacima Drive and Stonebridge Drive. The neighborhood school park is associated with Wilmeth Elementary School. The proposed park includes an existing office building to be renovated for Parks and Recreation Staff, two playgrounds (ages 2-5 and 5-12), pavilion, climbing boulders, hike and bike trail and an open play area. Read the details here.



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PBJ Open House Photos

PBJ Open House Photos

PBJ Clothiers Open House!

Looking for some free entertainment this weekend? PBJ Clothiers is hosting an open house Saturday, the 9th of August from Noon to 3:00 . Take the kids along to enjoy the bounce house, food, fun. Visit PBJ's site here.

PBJ Clothiers Open House!

Looking for some free entertainment this weekend? PBJ Clothiers is hosting an open house Saturday, the 9th of August from Noon to 3:00 . Take the kids along to enjoy the bounce house, food, fun. Visit PBJ's site here.

Coffee and Pastries at Tucker Hill

Looking for a good cup of coffee and pastries on the 16th? See more at the Tucker Hill Blog!

Coffee and Pastries at Tucker Hill

Looking for a good cup of coffee and pastries on the 16th? See more at the Tucker Hill Blog!

The Appleseed Project

Below is a response I recieved fron the developer in charge of the Appleseed Project as noted in my prior entry (below). If you want to see what the future holds and input your thoughts, please attend the meeting!

Thanks for your note. We really appreciate your interest in The Appleseed Project. It's like nothing this area has ever seen. We like to think of The Appleseed Project as an antidote for the times, giving neighborhood residents a place to connect, grow, and have a positive impact. Please feel free to publicize our neighborhood meeting on your blog. The meeting is set for Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 2705 Virginia Parkway starting with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation at 7 p.m. We're hoping to attract people like you who have an interest in shaping the future of the neighborhood.

We hope to see you there. We really want to hear your ideas! Our project along with the Adriatica project will undoubtedly put McKinney on the cutting edge of neighborhood design.

The Appleseed Project

Below is a response I recieved fron the developer in charge of the Appleseed Project as noted in my prior entry (below). If you want to see what the future holds and input your thoughts, please attend the meeting!

Thanks for your note. We really appreciate your interest in The Appleseed Project. It's like nothing this area has ever seen. We like to think of The Appleseed Project as an antidote for the times, giving neighborhood residents a place to connect, grow, and have a positive impact. Please feel free to publicize our neighborhood meeting on your blog. The meeting is set for Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 2705 Virginia Parkway starting with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation at 7 p.m. We're hoping to attract people like you who have an interest in shaping the future of the neighborhood.

We hope to see you there. We really want to hear your ideas! Our project along with the Adriatica project will undoubtedly put McKinney on the cutting edge of neighborhood design.

The Appleseed Project

Despite McKinney's amazing growth over the past few years - yes, we're at 120,000+ and counting - there is still something about the city that says "small town community." There is a difference here, a more natural progression of things. Citizens see it and city leaders see it. Witness the city's "Unique By Nature" logo. Others see it, too.Behold, The Appleseed Project. Simply put, The Appleseed Project is an attempt to redefine how neighborhoods interact. It's a bold move in this day and age of strip malls, text messaging and home theaters. Dallas-based Salvo Real Estate, the company behind the project, envisions a neighborhood center in which residents and McKinney townspeople can get out, meet, congregate, eat and interact, a place surrounded by local merchant storefronts and office space.




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The Appleseed Project

Despite McKinney's amazing growth over the past few years - yes, we're at 120,000+ and counting - there is still something about the city that says "small town community." There is a difference here, a more natural progression of things. Citizens see it and city leaders see it. Witness the city's "Unique By Nature" logo. Others see it, too.Behold, The Appleseed Project. Simply put, The Appleseed Project is an attempt to redefine how neighborhoods interact. It's a bold move in this day and age of strip malls, text messaging and home theaters. Dallas-based Salvo Real Estate, the company behind the project, envisions a neighborhood center in which residents and McKinney townspeople can get out, meet, congregate, eat and interact, a place surrounded by local merchant storefronts and office space.




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Representative Ken Paxton's Office

The "Paxton" building in Adriatica is well underway and the stone veneer is nearly complete. Take a moment to look at the clouds in the photo, I believe this is the remanants of Tropical Storm Edouard.
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Representative Ken Paxton's Office

The "Paxton" building in Adriatica is well underway and the stone veneer is nearly complete. Take a moment to look at the clouds in the photo, I believe this is the remanants of Tropical Storm Edouard.
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Thousands of visitors clad in their cowboy hats and boots will flock to McKinney, Texas on Saturday, October 18, 2008 to experience an unforgettable day of family fun at the third annual Roundup on the Range fundraiser for Volunteer McKinney Center. Dedicated to presenting and preserving the traditions of the Old West, McKinney will once again play host to authentic chuckwagon contestants, western musicians, artisans and equestrian demonstrations on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Roundup on the Range.

Thousands of visitors clad in their cowboy hats and boots will flock to McKinney, Texas on Saturday, October 18, 2008 to experience an unforgettable day of family fun at the third annual Roundup on the Range fundraiser for Volunteer McKinney Center. Dedicated to presenting and preserving the traditions of the Old West, McKinney will once again play host to authentic chuckwagon contestants, western musicians, artisans and equestrian demonstrations on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Roundup on the Range.

When Adrian Pavon stepped out of a limousine with his parents and sister and into a Hawaiian luau held in his honor Saturday, he stopped in awe, looking at the 400 cheering guests. "Wow! Is this all for me?" the 10-year-old asked his mother. "Why would people that don't even know me do all of this?" Full story...

When Adrian Pavon stepped out of a limousine with his parents and sister and into a Hawaiian luau held in his honor Saturday, he stopped in awe, looking at the 400 cheering guests. "Wow! Is this all for me?" the 10-year-old asked his mother. "Why would people that don't even know me do all of this?" Full story...