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Memo from the MANAGER |
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Muscle memory
Usually, the term "muscle memory" refers to an action or activity that we perform without really thinking about it. Driving. Walking. Certain tasks we do every day are automatic. We couldn't "not do" them if we tried. 
In that context, and to reverse the reference, couldn't we also think of our memory as a muscle? Those memories that are vivid in our minds, both the good and the bad, have shaped us as people, as organizations and as communities. We cannot "undo" those images, sounds, flavors and people that are burned into our consciousness.
We may "flash" on a day or a person or an event when we hear an old song or pass a house we haven't seen in a while. Those of us that have been blessed with children will always remember the day they were born. Conversely, none of us will ever forget where we were or what we were doing on 9/11. We think in terms of our memories when we consider our personal growth. We certainly mark them as milestones along life's journey for our children, as our parents did before us.
And in times of stress, or times of loss, our memories become a defense mechanism that helps to lighten the load. If we're lucky, the flood of warm memories can overcome any adversity.
The old saying is those that do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it. It is also true that those who honor the past are better for it.
To that end, those who have gone before us and times we fondly recall can be just as vital to our lives today as long as those memories stay healthy and vibrant.
  
Click Gary's picture for background and contact info |
FARMERS BRANCH ~ With barely a year under his belt as the fourth Fire Chief in Farmers Branch history, Steve Parker has presided over the construction of the second new fire station for Farmers Branch in the past five years. Approved by voters in a 2009 bond election, the $5.5 million project came in ahead of schedule and under budget. In advance of the grand opening ceremonies for new Fire Station No. 1, Branch Bulletin sat down with Chief Parker for a conversation on his new station and how it came to be.
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Artists rendering of new Station No. 1
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BB: Opening the second new fire station in the past five years has to be pretty special for you. Beyond having a new facility, what does the opening of new Station No. 1 mean for Farmers Branch as a whole?
SP: Opening Station No. 3 on the West side in 2007 and then moving Station No.1 into the heart of the City in 2012 has allowed the Fire Department to balance our first responders across the entire City. What this means to our residents is that they now have faster 24 hour access to a highly trained staff of dedicated firefighter/paramedics who respond on a modern fleet of fire apparatus and ambulances that are equipped with state of the art live saving equipment.  | |
Old Fire Station No. 1
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BB: So, why close down old Station No. 1?
SP: Station No. 1 was over 50 years old, and had met the end of its operational life as a Fire Station. Also, with the opening of Fire Station No. 3, we needed to address a significant portion of the City that had response times outside of our performance benchmark. By moving Station No. 1 to its new location on Webb Chapel, we addressed that need. However, old Station No. 1 will still serve the community well into the future as it is the new home of the Firehouse Community Theatre group.
BB: How much did location play a part in this relocation? | |
New Station No. 1 in service
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SP: Location was the driving factor for the move. Webb Chapel is in the middle of the City, and its four lanes of roadway allow for rapid movement to the northern and southern areas of the community. Station No. 1's new location will also allow for a much faster response for a second call for service into other areas when those units are committed on an earlier call for service in their primary response area.
BB: Two years ago, there was a change in the ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating for Farmers Branch, concerning fire protection, that positively affected many homeowners' insurance policies. Do you expect this relocation of Station No. 1 to the residential center of the City to further affect the ISO rating for the better?
SP: After Station No. 3 came online in 2007, we requested ISO come in and re-rate the community. The additional staffing and expanded coverage to the far west of the City provided by Station No. 3 allowed Farmers Branch to qualify for an ISO 2 rating. During this evaluation, our consultant advised us that if we could improve coverage to the central part of the City, an ISO 1 rating could be possible. As we go into the FY 2012-13 budget cycle, we will be asking for funding to bring back our ISO consultant to assist us in attempting to attain an ISO 1 rating.
BB: This new station was built state-of-the-art. What are some of the contemporary enhancements for new Station No. 1?
SP: As the community tours its new station, I know that they will be impressed by the quality of workmanship that went into the facility. As this will be the home for the next 50+ years for up to 11 of our firefighter/paramedics, the attention to detail to ensure that the building is comfortable and functional was my main focus during the construction process. Residents will appreciate the design of the kitchen and main living area, and how easily accessible the fire apparatus are from any area of the building. The main enhancement over the old Station that is getting the most raves from the firefighters is that they no longer have to share a huge bunk area with their brother and sister firefighters as the new station was built with individual sleeping areas.
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Name: John Glenn
Position: Public Service Officer
Years with City: 27 years total
Background: I worked for the City for 11 years in the Fleet Maintenance Department, then 4 years in the Water Department, and have spent the last 12 years with the Police Department. On my own time, I stay busy with home improvement projects. My wife and I have an Australian Shepherd and a cat, and for Christmas last year I got my wife a pot belly pig she calls Precious. I collect both large scale "outdoor garden railroads" and miniature model trains.
What Do You Like Most About Working for the City of Farmers Branch? I like the responsibility I have and the people I work with. Most people don't have a chance to get to know police officers but they are really nice guys! The past 12 years working with them have been the best.
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Police Alert Network keeps neighbors in the know
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Drawing on 21st century information technology to keep citizens informed about what's going on in their neighborhoods, Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller has unveiled the Police Alert Network. >>> More
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Certified Tourism Ambassador class set for March 8
FARMERS BRANCH ~ There is still an opportunity to get in on a class that will enable local residents to act as Certified Tourism Ambassadors for the City of Farmers Branch.
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March 3
Grand Opening @ Fire Station No. 1
March 20
Star Party @ Historical Park
March 23-24 & 30-31
Encounters from the Past @ Keenan Cemetery
March 24-25
Camping Under the Stars @ Historical Park
April 1
Easter Eggstravaganza @ Historical Park
April 6
Good Friday Holiday ~ Most City Offices Closed
April 14
CityWide CleanUp Day @ Barney Wood Athletic Complex
May 5 Fishin' Fun @ Gussie Field Watterworth ParkMay 25-26
Liberty Fest @ and around City Hall & Historical Park
More info @ 972.247.3131 |
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Tax help on hand Tuesdays at Rec & Senior Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Helping residents sort out the different tax forms and find answers to tax questions are among the duties of AARP volunteers offering free tax assistance at two Farmers Branch facilities every Tuesday through this year's slightly extended tax deadline.
Volunteers will be on hand at the Farmers Branch Senior Center every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and at the Manske Library from 12 noon through 7 p.m.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the 2012 tax filing deadline has been extended to Tuesday, April 17.
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Firefighters in Action
Farmers Branch firefighters have a new tool in their daily endeavors to keep the City safe with the opening of new Fire Station No. 1 at 13601 Webb Chapel, just south of the Manske Library. Grand Opening ceremonies are set for Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the new station. The public is invited.
Staff Photo by Tom Bryson |
CITY
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
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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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