BRANCH BULLETIN: Enews Magazine from the City of Farmers Branch
Memo from the MANAGER
What if the Hokey Pokey is really
what it's all about?

 

    Dancing has never been my strong suit. However, when it's a collection of three and four-year-olds that have invited you to Hokey Pokey, you Hokey Pokey!Memo from the Manager

   I found this out earlier this week when I had the great pleasure of participating in Storytime at the Farmers Branch Manske Library, reading "Snowy Day" to this group of wonderful kids. It was a unique experience in and of itself, made even more special as "Snowy Day" is on the list as the children's book for the "Farmers Branch Reads" project. Ongoing this year as part of the Library's 50th anniversary celebration, "Farmers Branch Reads" is encouraging all members of the community to read a selection of bestsellers from 1962 when the Library opened. In addition to "Snowy Day," Farmers Branch residents are also reading "A Wrinkle in Time" and the all-time classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

   Back to the kids.

   After we finished reading, but before craft time, it was time to dance. As I put my left arm in, the title of another song occurred to me. "What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?" To the wonderfully bright-eyed faces in my group, it's true. The extent of their world, right now, is stories and craft time and, well, the Hokey Pokey.

   Why, exactly, does life have to be that different?

   For sure, as adults and leaders in our homes, churches and community, we have priorities and issues to consider on a regular basis.  But, look above the din of the everyday life and find the broader perspective, the simple pleasures that make life livable - family, friends, books, hobbies ... maybe dancing.

   Now, shake it all about.  

Gary participating with kids on their craft.
Gary's craft is on display in the City Manager's Office at City Hall.
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NewsNOW
Lucky Star Party to focus on summertime constellations
FARMERS BRANCH ~ A solar observation picnic at 7 p.m. will be followed by a starclustersStar Party at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 13 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
  The celestial viewing will be through high powered telescopes provided by volunteers from the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas who will also be on hand to answer questions in a telescope "how to" clinic. Telescopes will be focused on summer constellations of the Milky Way as well as Saturn, Mars, Neptune along with star clusters and asterisms.
   The party is expected to last until around 11 p.m. Call 972.406.0184 or visit www.texasastro.org. 

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FeaturedSTORIES
Problem Pests
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Following notification by the Dallas County Health Department that there has been a confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Farmers Branch, City officials are urging local residents to take precautions to eliminate standing water on their property that can result in mosquito breeding.
   Experts have predicted a mild winter combined with a wet spring will lead to increased mosquito breeding activity this summer. Farmers Branch Environmental Health officials said this human case is the first in the City since 2006 and adds to the seven recorded in Dallas County so far this year.
   As a continued preventative measure, mosquito spraying will occur tonight in the central residential part of the City and will continue through the summer months. Officials are actively responding to mosquito complaints and attempting to educate the public on prevention or elimination of breeding sources. They said commonly overlooked breeding areas include the collection pans at the bottom of flower pots, bird baths, leaf-clogged roof gutters, old tires, stagnant swimming pools and other containers that hold water.
   For questions or other information, call the Farmers Branch Environmental Health office at 972.919.2539.

 

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Strange images link Farmers Branch visitors to local info

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Squiggly lines that look like something out of a 1970s video game are providing out-of-state guests a lifeline to Farmers Branch hotels, restaurants and facilities.
   Premier Baseball is holding two tournaments here this week that are bringing in an estimated 1,400 people from as far away as New York who are getting some much-needed Farmers Branch navigation by way of QR codes.QR Code Visit Sign
   From a distance, they may look like fingerprints, but they are as unique. QR Codes present a specific set of lines and squares that, when captured with a code reader-equipped smartphone, will immediately direct the user to a specific website.
   This week, Premier Baseball visitors from other parts of Texas, as well as New York, Indiana and Missouri are taking advantage of signs stamped with the QR code for the "Visit Farmers Branch" mobile site which immediately provides them with options for dining in Farmers Branch, booking a hotel room, locations for shopping and recreation as well as maps to local facilities and complexes.
   The Premier Baseball tournaments continue through the weekend at fields in Farmers Branch and other area cities, but all participants are staying locally in Farmers Branch hotels, expected to generate 1,200 room nights.
   For more information, visit www.visitfarmersbranch.com. 

 

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CityStaff Snapshot
Employee: Kevin Muenchow
Position: Director
Department: Equipment Services
Years of Service: 4.5 years
Background: I have worked in the Fleet Maintenance field for over 28 years, and have a Bachelors degree in Business. I like to shop for bargains, golf, fish, and cruise the back country on my motorcycle.
What I love most about working for the City: The thing that attracted me to work for the City and that I like best is the strong emphasis on customer service. It is the best I have ever experienced which comes from quality staff.
 
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LBJUPDATE
Busy summer season continues for LBJ crews

   This week's report on the LBJ expansion project is provided by LBJ Express, the construction group responsible for the project and is updated as of Wednesday, July 11, 2012.
Interstate 635-LBJ Denton Drive: Denton is open between the LBJ frontage roads as of this week. The work area has moved south into Dallas. In early August Denton will be closed between LBJ and Villa Creek for several weeks. Traffic will be detoured via Harry Hines and Ford Road.
Josey Lane: Atmos utility relocation should be completed today. All lanes of Josey were reopened at LBJ for the June 22 Webb Chapel closure.The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ has been restarted with one lane closed in each direction. The work on Josey should be completed by the end of July.
Webb Chapel Road: No work scheduled.
Marsh Lane:The new temporary westbound exit ramp to Marsh is open. Marsh Lane is scheduled to be closed July 13-16 for demolition of the existing portion of the old bridge across LBJ. Southbound Marsh will be closed at Valley View during the weekend closure at the request of the Farmers Branch Police Department. On July 16 Marsh Lane traffic will be switched to the newly completed bridge. Next week there will be intermittent ramp closures for relocation of barriers along the ramps.
Rosser Road: Remains closed for Atmos relocation. Rosser is expected to be reopened Aug 7.
Valley View Lane: Valley View Lane will be closed at LBJ during the night of July12 for bridge deck construction.
Midway Road: The westbound to eastbound U-turn lane is closed. The eastbound to westbound U-turn lane is scheduled to be closed on July 16. Dallas Water Utilities relocations will start next week on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection with one lane closed in each direction. Paving and drainage work, impacting the Midway/LBJ intersection, is expected to begin November 1. During the next week, there will be intermittent night-time closures of one or more entrance/exit ramps at Midway.
Welch Road:The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened. The partial opening will allow for northbound and southbound traffic to use the bridge. The entire bridge, including the U-turn lanes, is expected to be reopened this month.
Other Locations:
Treeview will be closed for paving and drainage work next week.
Construction is about to begin on modifications to the LBJ/Dallas North Tollway interchange.
   For updates and more information, visit www.lbjexpress.com. 
Water: Use What You Need, Save the Rest
BranchBRIEFS
Library plans Moon Landing celebrationApollo 11
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Remembering the 43rd anniversary of Apollo 11 touching down on the moon, kids are invited to join the staff at the Farmers Branch Manske Library for a celebration of that first lunar landing on Friday, July 20 from 10:30 a.m. til 12 noon.
   Kids will be able to experience the gravity of the Rocketship Bounce House, try the Alien Survivor Obstacle Course, cool down with a sno-cone along with other games and activities. Call 972.247.2511.

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Farmers Branch Justice CenterFBPD seeks applicants for next Citizen Police Academy
JUSTICE CENTER ~ Designed to give citizens insight into the policies, positions and personnel of local law enforcement, the next session of the Farmers Branch Citizen Police Academy is now accepting applications for classes, set to begin in early September.  
   Established in 1998, the Academy has given hundreds of participants a combination of classroom instruction and "hands on" experience to demonstrate the hows and whys of law enforcement. The Academy meets for three hours on Thursday nights during the session, for 11 weeks.
   For more information, call 972.484.3620.

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OverHEARD 
Fourth of July
"I just wanted to thank everyone in your fine city for the most excellent 4th (3rd) of July Celebration that my family has ever attended. From the outstanding friendliness and courtesy of the drivers of the hayrides to the small town, old-fashioned feel of the entire event, we felt like we had stepped back in time. All personnel working the event appeared to be enjoying themselves as much as the attendees. The entire event was an absolute pleasure. Thank you SO much!
~ Michael K.
via email
Burke Preserve
"We are now parked beneath multiple flyovers of the President George Bush Turnpike, less than half a mile northeast of its intersection with the leg of Interstate 635 that goes out to the airport ... This is the John F. Burke Nature Preserve on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River ... And this is heaven ..."
~ Jim Schutze
from the July 5 cover story in the Dallas Observer
Read the rest of the story

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ComingUP
Now through July 26
Summer Reading Club 
@ Manske Library

July 17
City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 6 p.m. Only scheduled meeting in July. 

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More info @ 972.247.3131
 
BannerRocket's Red Glare
Fireworks bombs burst in the air providing Farmers Branch with a red, white and blue glow during the dramatic finale to the annual Independence Day celebration, July 3, at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
Photo by Derrick Birdsall  
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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.Unsub