If you could invite any five people, from any era, to dinner, who would it be?

   While not quite a dinner party involving Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Sam Cooke, Encounters from the Past is a unique experience that offers Farmers Branch residents an opportunity to learn about their history "from" the people that made it happen.

   Yes, it is a cemetery tour that involves hearing stories from its residents.

   No, it is not scary.

   But, much like the mythical village of Brigadoon, these special tours of the historic Farmers Branch Keenan Cemetery only emerge for so long, then disappear again until next time. This time, however, is Fridays and Saturdays, March 23-24 and 30-31.

   Through the wonderful skills of friends and volunteers from the Farmers Branch Historical Park along with the talents of the R.L. Turner High School Drama Department, the past comes alive as different tales are told by re-enactors portraying the people that lived the experiences. On certain nights during the run of the event (March 24 & 31), there will even be a horse-drawn hearse on display.

   On top of it all, tour participants get to stroll through the fascinating Keenan Cemetery, one of the great historic areas of Dallas County. Aside from the stories being told, pay particular attention to the intricate artwork that went into the creation of these monuments - especially the older ones. Did you know the oldest resident of Keenan was born in the 18th century during the American Revolutionary War? What else is there to see? Only one way to find out.

   The modest $5 per ticket price goes exclusively to offset the cost of the event and to support Historical Park programs and projects.

   Of course, this event is one more example of the things that make Farmers Branch great. In this case, it is the attention and care this community takes in preserving its heritage and teaching its history. 

   So, stop by and learn about the historic figures that shaped this area and enjoy a stroll through time.

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. The 2012 tax filing deadline has been extended to Tuesday, April 17.

FARMERS BRANCH ~ The meadow will be full of kids on Sunday, April 1 as the annual Easter Eggstravaganza returns to the Farmers Branch Historical Park from 1 until 3 p.m. There will be egg hunts for age groups 1-4, 5-7 and 8-10 along with bounce houses, Easter bunny visits, a petting zoo, tree planting and more. Admission is free with canned food donations accepted to benefit Metrocrest Social Services. Call 972.247.4607. 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ All Farmers Branch City offices will be closed on Friday, April 6 in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Likewise, there will be no garbage collection that day. The only facilities that will be open include the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center and Historical Park, both open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Residents can start their Spring cleaning in April with the annual installment of CityWide CleanUp Day on Saturday, April 14 at the parking lot of the Barney Wood Athletic Complex and Community Recreation Center. Document destruction and electronics recycling will be augmented by the opportunity to donate canned goods and previously owned clothing to Metrocrest Social Services. For more information, call 972.919.2510.