From May Day to Memorial Day, the upcoming month brims with sun-soaked activities.

On May 1, May Fest, a four-day festival celebrating spring, kicks off in Trinity Park in Fort Worth. The festival features local artists, a 5K run, and musical events. 

The Allen Arts Festival runs from May 9 to May 11, at Watters Creek, showcasing varied styles of art and live entertainment from local bands. 

On May 10, Alliance for a Healthier Allen hosts the first Allen Bike Rodeo, where families are invited to join in on games and get a bike safety check-up. 

Starting off the annual Summer Sounds concert series, the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus will perform traditional "Patriotic Pop" May 27 at the Joe Farmer Recreation Center.

Tucked snuggly between Smoothie King and Freebird's World Burrito in the Villages at Allen, Pane Vino offers quaint and classic Italian fare for the casual customer at moderate prices. 

When I first stepped inside the bistro after walking through the covered outdoor seating area, I was welcomed by a roaring brick-oven fire that wafted the scent of baking pizza throughout the cozy restaurant. Half booths lined the side wall, and square tables filled the center of the room. I also noticed extensive wine options lining the walls up by the ceiling and in the bar. 

My guests and I were seated quickly at a center table, which was a little small for a party of four. After taking in the rather small menu, which offered classic pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads and pizzas, we decided to start with the Spinach and Artichoke Dip. The creamy dip contained chunks of artichoke mingled with spinach flakes, and just a touch of balancing lemon. It paired well with the crunchy grilled crustini bread it came with, although there were only six pieces of the bread, which was not nearly enough to eat all the dip with. 

For my meal, I decided to go with the Basil Pesto Pizza to try out the quality of their wood fire oven. My party and I waited about 15 minutes for our food, but it was understandable because when it arrived it was obviously freshly baked. The pizza's crunchy flatbread crust was topped with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and a flavorful basil pesto. Gooey and warm, it was delicious - the ingredients were fresh and high quality, and at 10 inches, plenty filling. 

Although customers were sparse at the time of day I went to Pane Vino, service was still superb - welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu items. Pricing was moderate, and the bistro can be considered a little more upscale than its neighboring stores, perfect for a date night or just a nice night out. 

Cozy Pane Vino's quality food and service make it a hot spot worthy of consideration for your next dining adventure. Visit them online at http://panevinoallen.com/ 

He’s held nearly every educational position available over the last 23 years, from World Geography teacher and Physical Education coach to Technology Director and high school principal. And on March 24, Dr. Lance Hindt joined Allen ISD as the new Superintendent of Schools.

“I'm happy to be here. I really am,” Hindt said. “I'm blessed to be here and have this opportunity, and be in a great school district around a lot of great people.”

Hindt comes to Allen following a three-year term as superintendent of Stafford ISD in Stafford, Texas. Before that, he served as assistant superintendent of schools for Fort Bend ISD in Sugar Land. He said the similarities between Allen and his old district, like Allen High School’s College and Career Center, drew him to the position.

“Allen ISD is a great school district, it’s a progressive school district,” Hindt said. “When I looked into the programs at the high school, at the elementary schools, I found a lot of similarities in some of the things I was doing in my previous district.”

For the closing months of the school year, Hindt said he plans on getting to know the district by visiting school campuses and speaking with students and staff.

“I'm just going to get out, and my goal is to make sure I am able to visit every single campus not just once, but quite often,” Hindt said. “If you talk to folks from my previous district I came from, I do my very best not to spend too much time in central administration, but really [spend time] getting out to where all the work takes place, and that’s in our buildings and in our campuses.”

Hindt’s wife, Kathryn, is a sixth grade math teacher, still working in Houston until the school year ends, when she and their 10th grade daughter Alex will join Hindt in Allen. He said he’s learned a hands-off teaching philosophy from her classroom insight.

“My philosophy is, as a superintendent, that you provide the teachers and the staff with resources, within our means, give them direction, and then get out of their way and let them do what they do best,” Hindt said. “I know that’s where the rubber meets the road, is in the class room.”

A self-proclaimed supporter of extracurricular activities, Hindt played football and ran track in high school. However, he said he still believes in academics over athletics.

“I do believe that student athletes are called student athletes for a reason,” Hindt said. “Students first, athletes second. But I’ll be the guy sitting in the front row with my face painted at any athletic event with the kids to cheer on our Allen Eagles.”

And as a former teacher, Hindt said the only drawback to his job is that he does not have the opportunity to spend time more with students, another reason why he plans to spend time visiting every campus in the district.

“All of my memories of teaching were being around great kids,” Hindt said. “I don’t believe there’s one kid that somebody would classify as a ‘bad kid’. I think they’re all good and it’s our job as educators to find the potential in every child.”

Although still in the first few weeks of the position, Hindt said he doesn’t plan on making changes to the district any time soon.

“By all appearances, we’ve got great things happening here in Allen,” Hindt said. “Great programs, good teaching and learning, the extracurriculars and sports are all in great shape. I'm just looking forward to getting to know the district.”

The Allen Americans finished up a three game in three nights weekend with a 4-3 shootout lossagainst the Denver Cutthroats on Sunday afternoon. Cam Reid of Denver scored the gamewinner for his team in the 7th round of the shootout. 

Allen currently sits in 4th place in the Central Hockey League standings, one point behind the Rapid City Rush. They will play Wichita Thunder this Wednesday at home at 7:05 p.m. 

In a press conference on Thursday, Allen ISD officials announced the closing of the Allen Eagle Stadium until at least June. The nearly $60 million facility will undergo a full evaluation and repairs after cracking was found in the concrete of its elevated concourse.

“We decided to close this facility during this examination out of an abundance of caution,” AISD Interim Superintendent Beth Nichols said. “Our number one priority must always be the safety of our students, our community and our staff.”

Because of the closure, Allen High School graduation, scheduled for June 6, will have to move. Also, next fall’s home football games will likely be affected. Allen High School senior Hope Bostrom said the she was disappointed by the development.

“I am disappointed graduation can’t be held in our stadium,” Bostrom said. “But honestly I’m so excited to graduate, it doesn’t matter where [it happens].”

Senior Kaitlyn Eymard said she was also upset graduation wouln’t be held in the stadium.

“It’s what I’ve looked forward to since the stadium opened,” Eymard said.

The stadium opened in August 2012, designed by PBK Architects and built by Pogue Construction. The cracks were first noticed right before the stadium opened. 

“The initial cracking was determined to just be normal shrinkage of concrete,” Nichols said. “As the time wore on, we noticed that they seemed to grow and get wider and more pervasive, which is why we ordered an independent review.”

Nelson Forensics, a national engineering and accounting firm, is conducting the investigation. The firm has completed 10 percent of its evaluation.

“We have hired experts to come in and review the issues and we make a pledge to make it right, and I think that both Pogue and PBK also wants to make it right and so that is our pledge,” Nichols said. “Things happen, but we are doing the best we can to get it resolved and get it resolved quickly.”

Ben Pogue, president and CEO of Pogue Construction, estimated that the cracks were a quarter of an inch to three quarters of an inch. He said the stadium would be fine long-term.

“I think that extreme measures are valid, but the stadium is going to be OK long term,” Pogue said. “To the taxpayers, you will have a wonderful product that will continue to generate sales and income and revenue and income for Allen. This is a roadblock, and as we go through life we have roadblocks.”

Pogue and PBK Architects are both also currently working on the district’s $36 million service center. An independent review of that facility is also underway.