BurgerFi prides itself in running restaurants with the smallest carbon footprint. This is very apparent when you first walk in and see the mismatched chairs and reclaimed wood making up the dining area, which has a refreshing color scheme of green and neutral colors. As the “Fi” in the name suggests, the shop also has some aspects of modern style, with the menu on flat screen displays and trendy music streaming from the speakers.

At the register I was greeted by the smiling face of my friend Aviana. I knew this was her first day on the job, just like everyone else working there, and she did great. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and quick.

The menu consists of your regular burger joint grub with many fun additions thrown in. I personally liked how you can build your own burger, milkshake, or hot dog from the list of not so ordinary toppings like a fried egg or neon relish (turns out that’s just regular old pickle relish with neon green food coloring).

I eventually settled on making my own burger: a single patty, grilled diced onions, American cheese, Salt & Vinegar chips, and BurgerFi Sauce (which my friend explained in an extra perky, totally unscripted voice, “Our famous sauce made with mayonnaise and 15 other secret spices”). I also ordered  fresh-cut french fries with Parmesan Cheese & Herbs and a Red Velvet Concrete, which is house-made Vanilla frozen custard blended with a red velvet cupcake.

I didn’t have to wait long for my food after I got my number, which I was very happy about. The food came in a neat little cardboard box and the burger was toweringly large with the “BurgerFi” logo actually branded on the bun. I suppose if I’m paying $6 for a burger it better be more than enough. Not only that, but it was delicious!

The beef was perfectly seasoned, fresh and juicy, the chips gave a good crunch and did not overpower the rest of the burger with the salt & vinegar. The cheese was melty and yummy and it mixed in with the caramelized onions and BurgerFi sauce, which tasted similar to the secret sauce In-N-Out Burger is famous for, but with a little something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

As a whole the burger was fantastic and not too greasy, which was a concern I normally have. I even almost finished the whole thing, which I hardly ever do. The fries were a hot, perfectly cooked pile of gold sprinkled with green herbs and salty Parmesan. They were one of those snacks that you finish before you even realize it.

To end the meal, I had a thick, rich, creamy Red Velvet Concrete topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. When they handed over the Concrete, the server flipped it upside down to demonstrate just how thick it was. Let’s just say, don’t try to drink this frozen treat through a straw. My one  grievance: the cake could have been blended in a bit more, but other than that, the red velvety chocolate went really well with the smooth vanilla custard and was the perfect way to end the meal.

From the “secret menu”, to onion rings the size of a small child’s head, to something called the “Purple Cow”, I’ve barely scratched the surface of the BurgerFi dining experience. I highly recommend you stop by when you get the chance. With so many great options, this will surely become your new go to burger stop.

Address: 365 Coneflower Drive, Garland, TX 75040

Open from 11AM – 11PM Daily

Phone number: (972) 530-9750

BurgerFi website

Under his coaching, the boys basketball team has been district champions, bi-district champions, area finalists, and made playoffs several years including this year.

“[The memories] start to run together,” Blackmon said. “Probably my fondest memory of them all is when they cut the nets down here, at the district championship, the last game, and seeing all the guys walk up the ladder and cut off a piece of the net.”

Blackmon said his own middle school coaches inspired him to pursue teaching and coaching.

“I looked up to them,” Blackmon said. “They were great leaders and great influence on my life. I’ve wanted to be a coach since junior high.”

“It’s time,” Blackmon said.

It is not yet known who will be taking Blackmon’s position.

Winners by category were:

• Best Show:  ”Play it Again, Sam” and “Neverland”
• Best Actor  in Comedy:  Zac McCoy
• Best Actor in Musical: Dane Sowers
• Best Actor in Drama: Cesar Van Cleave
• Best Supporting Actor – Musical:  Cesar Van Cleave
• Best Supporting Actress – Comedy: Meghan Riley
• Best Supporting Actress – Musical: Taylor Nash
• Best Cameo Actor – Comedy: Zack Taylor
• Best Cameo Actor – Drama:  Zac McCoy
• Best Set: “Neverland” and “Les Miserables”
• Best Costume: Jessie Clites for “Neverland” and “Les Misrables”
• Best Lighting: Riley Warner for “Neverland” and Justin Fivash for “Les Miserables”
• Best Sound:  Anthony Lazarin for “Neverland”
• Best Run Crew: Chloe Lively (stage manager) for “Les Miserables”
• Best Publicity: “Play It Again, Sam”
• Scholarship Winner: Justin Fivash

West, a small town just an 1 1/2 hours away from Rowlett, was suddenly struck with devastation when a local fertilizer plant caught fire then erupted on Wed. April, 17. It has been confirmed that 15 people were killed and some 200 residents were injured.

“Any penny counts to rebuild this broken community,” Stu Co Vice President Courtney Spencer said.

Spencer’s uncle, a volunteer fire fighter in West, was actually at the scene of the explosion. He arrived on the scene just after the explosion. Twelve of the first responders died.

Stu Co is collecting money during lunches until Mon. April, 29.

“I’ve been playing for nine years,” Pikulinski said.

She was unsure if she was good enough to make Varsity, so it was a surprise to her when she got the news.

“I was extremely excited to get the opportunity to play with upperclassmen,” she said.

Lindsey said the older girls are nice to her except for the fact that they make her carry the equipment with the rest of the freshmen.

Despite the fact that only 27% of high school athletes receive scholarships, Pikulinski hopes to play in college.

“I don’t feel that I will definitely get a scholarship,” Lindsey said. “But if I work really hard and stay focused who knows what’s possible.”

Lindsey also play select softball with American Freedom. Pikulinski said she play with 16u and 18u.

“My favorite part of softball is that it challenges your physical and mental abilities every time you step on the field,” Lindsey said.

Pikulinski said she sometimes gets worn out by softball, but in the end it’s the sport she loves.

Coach Hale, Varsity softball coach, said Pikulinski and the other freshman who made Varsity, Pierson Jones, are hard workers.  “Their skills were above and beyond the other freshmen that tried out.”

Rowlett was nominated for best musical, stage lighting, best music direction, and best stage crew and tech. Senior Dane Sowers was nominated for best actor, along with senior Hunter Howard as best supporting actor and sophomore Preston Hart for best featured performer.

“I was really shocked that I got nominated,” senior Dane Sowers said. “I’m excited to perform on May 7.”

The Patty Granville Awards (PGAs) were announced April 7 and include nominations throughout the GISD schools. Rowlett’s “Les Miserables,” “Play it Again Sam,” and “Neverland” productions were all nominated for different categories. To see what Rowlett was nominated for click here.

Playing Eponine in “Les Miserables,” sophomore Stacey Williams was nominated for best actress in the PGAs.

“I was so proud of myself when I found out I was nominated,” Williams said. “I really hope I win.”

The winners will be announced May 7 from the Dallas Summer Musical Awards and on April 30 for the Patty Granville Awards.

To get tickets or more information for the DSM awards go to http://dallassummermusicals.org/index.shtm.

“It’s difficult when your family isn’t vegetarian and they go out to eat, and I have to try and find something to eat,” Ayars said. “It’s also hard when you’re always surrounded by meat and you want to eat it, but you can’t.”

Ayars said being a vegetarian is something she looks forward to.

“I chose to be a vegetarian because the idea always sounded interesting to me,” Ayars said. “It’s fun now because I get to be creative and find new recipes for vegetarian meals.”

Ayars has been a vegetarian for three months now.

“Being a vegetarian keeps you from making bad eating choices,” Ayars said. “Plus it helps save some animals.”

Studies show that being a vegetarian fends off heart disease, obesity, diabetes, kidney stones, and osteoporosis.

She said that every day is a challenge especially as a student dealing with school lunches.

“What I bring for lunch are salads, Mediterranean wraps, hummus, and fruits and vegetables,” Ayars said.  ”Although I bring my own food from home, I still know that the cafeteria food isn’t vegetarian friendly, and it’s hard to find anything that doesn’t have meat.”

Even though it’s hard to be a vegetarian, Ayars says she doesn’t regret it. She recommends that everyone should try being a vegetarian at least once in their life, even if it’s just for a short amount of time.

Due to the construction of the new addition to the school, the power keeping the science room freezers running was shut off in the science storage area on the first floor. The specimens and some light chemicals held in there thawed,  releasing an unpleasant stench. The specimens and the freezers had to be thrown out. The damage left the freezers unusable.

“I thought it was a stink bomb at first,” senior Ellie Hernandez said.

The district will be covering the damages and lost equipment.

“I don’t really now [how much it will cost] yet,” biology teacher Shelley Meyers said. “My biggest concern is getting our things back and payed for.”

During February students in fine arts organizations like band, theater and choir are playing “Assassins”. This almost entirely student organized game consists of two student partners. Each is assigned a target and both partners help each other “assassinate” their targets in order to knock them out of the game.

Senior Jamie Kelley heard of the concept of a school wide “Assassins” game from Rockwall High School and thought it could be done at RHS with the arts department.

There are two ways to “kill” a target, either by shooting them with a hand-held, concealable water gun or “poisoning” them. In order to poison a student, the assassin must draw an “X” and their initials on the bottom of the target’s water bottle or drink. There is no “safe zone” when it comes to assassination by poison, but water guns are not permitted on school campus.

“I just like how everyone has alliances and enemies,” band junior Kayla Anderson said. “It’s like a big game of hide and seek or cat and mouse with water guns and poison. It’s a game about backstabbing and lying, but you also have to be honorable at the same time. The experience has been pretty bomb.”

Anderson has garnered a bit of fame during this game. She’s already killed two targets and is working on the third.

“The way mine worked out was I killed my partner’s target. Then their former target becomes my new target. It passes down like that,” Anderson said. “The way it worked out was my assassin was killed by my friend Casey, so then she was coming after me. At the same time, I found out who her assassin was and killed them and tricked Casey into going out for ice cream with me and shot her. Literally, every day of the game is exciting.”

Along with students, there is an unknown teacher named  ”The X” who plays as the middle man, assigning partners and targets. He also acts as final referee for any disputes within the game.

The first round of the game ends March 1. All students who have not “assassinated” any other players will be eliminated in order to weed out anyone who maybe coasting through.

The final assassin will win a $120 cash prize.

Those who are interested in joining pay must pay $1. Over a 120 upperclassmen are playing.

“You never really understand the importance of it until you actually go through it,” senior Sarah Heckman said. “This trip made me realize why I wanted to be a doctor.”

Heckman didn’t know what to expect when she packed up her items and took off in a plane to Fort Liberte, Haiti, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s largest city. Heckman went with some of her church members and a few doctors to help in the clinics.

“When we got there, and every day after that, we were runners to the doctors to go get medicines for the people who were sick,” Heckman said.

Getting prepared for this trip was a challenge for Heckman when she had to get three shots, and had to shop for several ordinary items such as water bottles, food, and mosquito nets, however the desire to help people outweighed the preparations.

“I love helping people, and seeing the people in Haiti suffer like they do and still be hospitable and friendly really took me by surprise,” Heckman said.  “Especially since many of the people don’t have health care, so they can’t really get help.”

Many of the people in Haiti suffer from malnourishment or curable diseases that go untreated because of lack of resources.

“It was such a humbling experience,” Heckman said. “It made me remember why I would want to be a doctor and go to other countries and help out.”

Although this is the first time Heckman has been to Haiti, she made it quite clear it wouldn’t be the last.

 Heckman said, “If I was ever given the opportunity to go to Haiti, or another country and help out like I did, I would definitely do it.”