BRANCH BULLETIN: Enews from Farmers Branch
Memo from the MANAGER
One day closer to rain 

 

   In the dust bowl years of the mid 1930s harsh farming, combined with severe drought and the economic depression resulted in a bleak outlook for millions of Americans in the heart of the country, from Texas, north through Oklahoma, Kansas and beyond.

   For the optimistic souls of the era, their forecast became a mantra of hope that better times were ahead. When asked how bad things were, they'd simply say, "We're one day closer to rain."Memo from the Manager

   It is crystal clear that today's environment, speaking of both the climate and the economy, does not begin to mirror the extreme hardship of those days. In fact, we have been blessed by rain as recently as the past week. And, in this region where it is not unusual for there to be no precipitation between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it is impossible to complain about rain in July.

   That said, we all still vividly remember the record-setting scorcher that was last summer and now, although we hope for more rain in the coming weeks, the forecast spells triple digits as we enter the proverbial dog days of summer. And, as you can see from the reports across the country, we're all in this blast furnace together.

   So, let's make some rules that we should all abide by during these days of dangerous heat:

  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. We all have to spend some measure of time outside and there's no better defense against the heat than keeping ourselves hydrated. Water, water, water.
  2. Speaking of water, we are still in Stage 1 "Water Awareness" which calls for voluntary conservation of water use. You have responded to this call in major fashion so far this year, so I'd like to encourage you to continue to "use what you need, but save the rest."
  3. Even though many pets are accustomed to being outside, they can be affected by the heat just as much as we can. To that end, please be sure your outside pets always have access to water and shade to avoid heat stress.
  4. The downside of a wet and mild winter is the increased potential for mosquito-breeding this summer and the accompanying threat of West Nile Virus. The best defense is to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas including standing water in commonly overlooked places, like 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.
  5. Look forward to autumn.

   This list isn't meant to be anywhere near comprehensive. If you have other ideas of things that are necessary or desirable to do in extreme heat, or even if you have ideas on how to beat the heat, let us know. We're going to post these "rules" on the City's Facebook page and hope that you'll join in with your contributions.

   Or, just fill in this blank, "We're one day closer to ____________."

   Let us hear from you.

 

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EcoDEVO
Branch Business Brief for July now available online

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Detailing business done by the City of Farmers Branch in the month of July, the current edition of the video news update, "Branch Business Brief" is now available online.
Branch Business Brief - July 2012 
Branch Business Brief - July 2012

   Hosted by Economic Development Director John Land, the "Brief" outlines the City's experience last week with the Premier Baseball national championships, a figure skating open at the Dr Pepper Star Center, new housing starts in the City and much more. 
   Log on at www.youtube.com/fbtv16. 

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FeaturedSTORIES
Library to offer amnesty on fines for two week period in August
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ School supplies can be your ticket to good standing with the Manske Library during the Library Amnesty Program, set for August 6-20.
   For this two week period, fines for overdue Library items can be wiped out in exchange for a donation of new, unused school supplies to benefit Metrocrest Social Services and the local families that they serve.
   A list of needed supplies can be found on the City 's website at www.farmersbranch.info. Colored pencils
   Only overdue and late fines will be cleared and not charges associated with lost, billed, damaged or otherwise missing items. Fines paid in the past are not subject to refund under the Library Amnesty Program.
   However, one need not have a Library fine to donate school supplies as there will be collection boxes available at all City facilities for the same period of August 6-20. Anyone wishing to take advantage of the amnesty offer must donate at the Library.
   For more information, call 972.247.2511 or come by the Manske Library at 13613 Webb Chapel, at the corner of Webb Chapel and Golfing Green.
 
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CityStaff Snapshot
Employee: Lee Hammock Lee Hammock
Position: Purchasing Agent
Department: Finance
Years of Service: 10 years
Background: I have a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A & M University-Commerce. I have a Certified Purchasing Manager designation that was awarded by the Institute of Supply Management. I am married and have two grown sons, and one granddaughter. I like to ride my Harley Davidson and cook outdoors on the grill..
What I love most about working for the City: I really enjoy working in an organization that provides its citizens the best quality services and programs in the Metroplex and do my part by assisting the various departments of the City in obtaining the various goods, services and equipment necessary to maintain this quality of services and program levels.
 
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LBJUPDATE
LBJ work advances in the coming week 

   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 18, 2012.
Denton Drive: Denton is open between the LBJ frontage roads as 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 & Ford.
Josey Lane: Atmos relocation was not completed last week as scheduled and one lane of Villa Creek remains closed. The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ has been restarted with one lane closed in each direction. The work on Josey has been delayed because of an unexpected new utility
conflict. The Josey drainage work may extend through August.
Treeview Road: Treeview remains closed for pavement construction at the LBJ frontage road.
Webb Chapel Road: No work scheduled.
Marsh Lane: Bridge demolition was completed last weekend. Marsh Lane traffic has been switched to the newly completed bridge. Demolition of the southbound lanes of Marsh Lane is scheduled to begin late this week or next week.
Rosser Road: Rosser remains closed for Atmos relocation and is expected to be reopened August 7.
Valley View Lane: No work scheduled.
Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes are now closed. Dallas Water Utilities relocations began this week on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection with one lane closed in each direction. The utility work should be completed by mid-August.
Welch Road: The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened which 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:
  • There will be intermittent nigh-time closures of various LBJ entrance and exit ramps.
For updates and more information, visit www.lbjexpress.com. 
Water: Use What You Need, Save the Rest
BranchBRIEFS
Base hit
Base hit
A young batter gets metal on the ball during a special game at the Premier Baseball national championships last week in Farmers Branch. This young man and others from the locally based "Miracle League," for special needs young people, played a game with the Premier competitors in a special exhibition at Oran Good Park.

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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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Moon Landing celebration set FridayApollo 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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ComingUP
Now through July 26
Summer Reading Club 
@ Manske Library

August 7
City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 6 p.m. 

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More info @ 972.247.3131
 
BannerThe heat is on
After a reasonably mild winter and wet spring, the dog days of summer are here with triple digits predicted through the weekend.
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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