FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bill Glancy and the members of the Farmers Branch City Council invite the public to the summer Town Hall Meeting, set for Thursday, June 16, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
   Members of the City Staff will be on hand, beginning at 6:30, to greet citizens and answer questions about City departments, services and activities. Mayor Glancy will begin the formal meeting at 7 that will include a video presentation as well as a question and answer session with members of the public. The meeting will conclude by 9 p.m.
   The Farmers Branch Senior Center is located at 14055 Dennis Lane, between Josey and Valwood. For more information, call 972.247.3131.

Demolition clears way for new Fire Station No. 1

   With the empty building on Webb Chapel, just south of the Library, now gone, work is ready to begin in earnest on the construction of new Fire Station No. 1. 

   Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker said the demolition of the existing buildings at 13601 Webb Chapel took place within the past two weeks. This week, construction teams will be installing underground utilities and grading

Demolition of the existing buildings at the site took place during the first week of June. The all-new Farmers Branch Fire Station No. 1 is expected to open in late 2011 with a ribbon-cutting in early 2012.

the site for the $4.37 million station that is expected to be in service by late 2011.

   Chief Parker said the station is needed for two reasons. First, the existing Station No. 1 is in excess of 50 years old and now undersized for contemporary firefighting operations. Also, the new station will be more in the residential center of the City, allowing more equal distribution of protection zones between the three Farmers Branch stations and enhancing response in the City.

TEEN FIRE & RESCUE PROGRAM

An offshoot of Teen CSI Camp, the Teen Fire and Rescue Program meets June 20 to 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Farmers Branch Fire Station No. 3. The brand new program will feature hands-on training, challenges and drills including fire ground operation, emergency management, basic CPR and First Aid. In addition, participants will see demonstrations of medical equipment operations, vehicle extraction, fire suppression, thermal imaging, special rescue, arson investigation and more. Tours will include a local hospital emergency room, the Biotel Medical Control center and other affiliated sites. The program is open to ages 13 to 18. For more information, call the Community Recreation Center at 972.247.4607.

FARMERS BRANCH ~ The rescheduled version of "Bark in the Park" still drew hundreds of pets and their people to Gussie Field Watterworth Park on Sunday for the annual excursion of all things canine.
   The event included a silent auction, working dogs, therapy dogs, cat and dog adoptions, $10 microchipping, clowns and facepainting, children's games, concessions and more. Proceeds benefitted the Farmers Branch Animal Adoption Center and its volunteer organizations.

FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Historical Park will take a look at sports and cowgirls during the once monthly summer lecture series coming up in June, July and August. 
   On June 28, the lecture series begins with Mark Presswood who will trace the history of the great game in a town known for cows in "From Panthers to Cats: The Legacy of Professional Baseball in Fort Worth."
   "Three Strikes and You're Not Out," switches the topic from baseball to bowling as staff members from the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington present the history of bowling on July 26.
   Then, "The Cowgirl Legacy" will close out the series on August 30 with Diana Vela, Director of Exhibits and Education at the National Cowgirl Museum.   All lectures are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Church on the Historical Park grounds. Call 972.406.0184 for more information.

Slick Juggler to appear at Summer Reading Club June 22

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Slick Juggler, with slick juggling, clowning around and magic, will appear at the Manske Library as part of the Summer Reading Club's Wednesday "Live!" events on June 22. Dubbed "Dig Up a Good Book This Summer," the program will feature regular activities on weekdays.Tutoring will be held on Mondays between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. to be followed by a movie from 3 until 5 p.m. Tuesdays will feature a Teen Movie from 3 until 5 p.m. Wednesdays are "Live!" performances and include Family Games on June 29. Tutoring returns on Thursdays from 2 until 3 p.m. followed by the Teen Scene, which alternates a rock band or teen craft each week, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. For more information on the Summer Reading Club and future Live! Schedules, call the Library at 972.247.2511.