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 City offices to close for Thanksgiving holidays
CITY HALL ~ All City of Farmers Branch offices and  facilities will be closed on Thursday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving Day. Then, on Friday, November 25, the holiday continues as most facilities remain closed except for the Community Recreation Center and Historical Park, both open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be no garbage collection either day. |
Memo from the Manager 
Why wait for New Year's?
OK, show of hands, back in August, how many of you thought the oppressive heat of the summer of '11 would never end? My hand is up, too. I know it gets hot in Texas, but this year was, literally, one for the books.
Well, the important thing is the record heat of this summer is now history and, seemingly all of a sudden, it's time for Thanksgiving. A special holiday, Thanksgiving means different things to different people: The gateway to the holiday season, non-stop football on 3,241 channels, getting together with close family and with other family you wouldn't otherwise see during the year, save for weddings and funerals.
And, for those of us lucky enough, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to indulge in the traditional feast, which typically gives us license to continue eating for the next five weeks, until we change our calendars.
This of course gives way to the most popular New Years resolution in the history of man - to lose weight and get in shape.
My point is simply this - why wait til New Years? Rather than throwing caution to the wind and abandoning all hope of reasonable diet for the month of December, why not resolve now to do it differently this year? Why not enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner and the special treats that come your way during the leadup to Christmas, but otherwise be smart about your holiday health? Simply watching portions and engaging in moderate exercise can keep us from needing a new belt for Christmas and, in turn, free up those resolutions for something more productive - like building that backyard deck.
Or not.
However you choose to celebrate, from all of us at the City of Farmers Branch to all of you, Happy Thanksgiving!
Click Gary's picture for background and contact info
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Community to watch Stars shine
Free food, "Ticket" broadcast set for hockey practice
STARCENTER ~ The first 300 to arrive at the December 5 Dallas Stars practice in Farmers Branch will be treated to a free box lunch, along with a live radio broadcast from SportsRadio 1310, "The Ticket."
The NHL team practices at least once every year at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Farmers Branch, 12700 North Stemmons Freeway, near the Farmers Branch DART station.
The practice is free and open to the public and is tentatively scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Watch for more details in BRANCH BULLETIN and other City of Farmers Branch media.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ Drawing on available federal grant dollars, the Farmers Branch Police Department has put into service a new locator system that lets dispatchers know where all public safety units are at any given time.
The Automated Vehicle Locator system constantly updates those police and fire vehicle locations on a map of the City mounted on the wall in the public safety communications center at the Farmers Branch Justice Center. The system was funded by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Infrastructure Protection Grant.
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Officers in the field are also able to access AVL information via onboard computers.
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Police Chief Sidney Fuller said the system not only shows the location of police and fire units, but can also show the location of active calls for service, location for all landline and most cellular 9.1.1 calls and provide owner information for parcels of land.
"When we know what unit is close to what call, we can respond faster," Chief Fuller said. "Especially in emergency situations, the AVL system can not only tell us who is close to any given location, but also provide response guide data for chemical and toxic spills and even plot the plume of a toxic cloud to aid in emergency evacuation efforts."
Additionally, the Chief explained that the AVL system can show the location of every fire hydrant as well as the locations of schools, churches and all parks and City buildings.
  
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Season sets for official kick off with Tree Lighting, Dec. 3
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In keeping with decades-old tradition, the holiday  season in Farmers Branch will officially get underway on Saturday, December 3 with the Christmas Tree Lighting festivities at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. The ceremony to light the City's tree, along with the 300,000 lights that line the buildings and streets from the park to City Hall, will begin at 7 p.m. There will also be fireworks, tubing on a real snow hill, the Dallas Puppet Theater, cookies, hot chocolate and punch. Following the lighting, Santa will arrive in style and all historic structures will be open for tours. Parking will be at Metrosquare Business Park, two blocks south of the Historical Park with a free shuttle to the gate. Disabled parking will be at the DART Station, also with a free shuttle to the gate.
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Thanks to Jeff
Less than a week after naming the multi-purpose room at the Farmers Branch Senior Center in honor of retired Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Fuller, Farmers Branch Dance Club President Linda Sebesta (left) and Dance Club CEO Buford Watson (right) joined Mr. Fuller at his retirement ceremonies at City Hall last week. Widely regarded as the best senior Dance Club in the nation, the Farmers Branch Dance Club was responsible for naming the room in honor of Mr. Fuller's 25 years of service to the City of Farmers Branch. Also on hand to congratulate Mr. Fuller on his retirement were the chairs of the Parks and Recreation Department boards, including (from left) Barbara Sisserson-Honnoll, chairwoman of the Historical Preservation and Restoration Board, Katie Roberts, chairwoman of the Senior Advisory Board, and Margaret Young, chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
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Name: J. Read
Position: Patrol Officer
Department: Police
Years with the City: 2 1/2
Background: After graduating from North Garland High School, I enlisted in the United States Army. My training and focus was in military intelligence. I served a total of 4 years active duty in which I was stationed in Germany for 3 years, and Irag for 1 year. After 4 years active duty, I enlisted in the Texas National Guard for 2 years. I am currently continuing my education working toward my Associates degree.
Personal: My hobbies and interests include playing softball, golf, watching movies and the Cowboys, Rangers and Mavericks games. I also enjoy teaching my oldest son to play baseball and football and can't wait until my youngest joins in the fun. Most of all I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife and watching our two handsome boys grow up.
What Do You Like Most About Working for the City of Farmers Branch? What I like the most about Farmers Branch is that the residents are involved in the community and they support and appreciate the police department.
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Parting Shot: Ready, Set, Twinkle
 Farmers Branch Staff PhotoThe drive through the midst of the historic buildings at the Farmers Branch Historical Park sits ready for guests on the 2011 Christmas Tour of Lights, beginning Friday, November 25 and continuing through New Year's Eve. For more, visit www.farmersbranch.info.
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Tour of Lights set to start Thanksgiving weekend
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The annual tradition of the Farmers Branch Christmas Tour of Lights will get underway this year while turkey leftovers are still in the fridge. The 2011 edition of the "Tour," featuring 300,000 twinkling lights, will open on Friday, November 25 and remain open through New Year's Eve, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. each evening. The Historical Park portion of the driving tour will be closed on Mondays, as well as December 3, 25 and 31. |
Pearl Harbor remembrance set December 7
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The City of Farmers Branch will remember the heroes of Pearl Harbor with a brief ceremony of commemoration on the 70th anniversary of the attack, Wednesday, December 7.
Set for Farmers Branch Liberty Plaza at 10 a.m., the ceremony will feature excerpts from FDR's famous speech to Congress following the attack, remarks from local officials and the unveiling of the next in a series of plaques at Liberty Plaza, marking significant turning points in American military history.
The public is invited to attend. Farmers Branch Liberty Plaza is located at 12700 North Stemmons Freeway, just south of the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Farmers Branch and is most easily accessible from Denton Drive. For more information, log on at www.farmersbranch.info or call 972.919.2620.
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Free yoga classes to be offered week of Nov. 28
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Free trial classes of Flow Yoga will be offered at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center the week of November 28 through December 2.
Rec Center officials said that Flow Yoga invites students, ages 18 and up, to stretch and strengthen the body without force, flowing smoothly from one pose to another while maintaining natural, rhythmic breathing.
Classes will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. and Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. After the trial week, fees will apply for additional classes. Call 972.247.4607 for information. |
Pie r Round
Whether blackberry, cherry, apple or coconut,Thanksgiving goes better with pie and other homemade goodies this holiday.
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LBJ Express is the name given to the five-year project that will renovate and expand capacity for Interstate 635, the LBJ freeway, from Central Expressway to Stemmons Freeway through parts of Dallas and Farmers Branch. Begun in 2011, the project team updates its status, and lane closure information weekly, including weekend bridge construction that could have serious traffic impacts.
For More, Click Here
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www.lbjexpress.com
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Branch Bulletin is the 
recipient of the 2011
TAMI Award
for Best
E-Newsletter in Texas, bestowed by the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
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About the City of Farmers Branch
Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, Farmers Branch is a vibrant and vital community with a residential population of 28,800 but a daytime population of 66,000. The City's 28 parks and lush greenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The Farmers Branch Historical Park allows residents to step back in time and the John F. Burke Nature Preserve offers the opportunity to experience a real, 104-acre wilderness in the middle of one of the busiest metro areas of the world. The City's location in the geographical center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, only 15 minutes away from both DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information about Farmers Branch, visit www.farmersbranch.info or call 972.919.2515.
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