BRANCH BULLETIN: Enews Magazine from Farmers Branch
ThisWEEK
Memo from the MANAGERMMEMO
Lend a hand
  
   How do you spend your Saturday mornings?
Memo from the Manager   Many may spend time unwinding from the week or catching up on some sleep or any of a dozen different things people do on their down time.
   There is, however, a group of volunteers you've probably never seen. They get up early on Saturdays to help clean up homes that the residents or owners are otherwise unable to do themselves.
   This group, from the Farmers Branch Rotary Club, is an offshoot of a project started and headed up through the years by Charlie Bird, former City Council member and longtime rock in the foundation of Farmers Branch. Charlie leads by example and inspires others to service.
   He's not the only one. 
Rotary clean up crew
Charlie Bird (left) leads the Farmers Branch Rotary Club's Saturday morning cleanup crew.

   Whether it be your church or a civic organization or a service club, opportunities for volunteerism are out there, waiting for able bodies to lend a hand.
   This year is a leap year, meaning we get one extra day in 2012. What if half the people in Farmers Branch were to dedicate that extra day - just 24 hours - to volunteerism until the next leap year. If you do the math, that equates to nearly 40 years of volunteer service to the community in four years time.
   That's how a little commitment of time can go a long, long way.
   It is my great pleasure to play a small part in the Saturday morning Farmers Branch Rotary group. The work can be hard, but the most satisfying work typically is.
   Do you have a few hours to spare?

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TrafficALERTTRAFFIC
Westbound closings 
TxDOT work unrelated to LBJ Express construction

FARMERS BRANCH ~ In order for the Texas Department of Transportation to perform work this weekend, three westbound lanes of I-635/LBJ will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, August 4 through 5:30 a.m. Monday, August 6.
   Officials said two lanes will remain open during the weekend.
   This work is not related to the LBJ Express construction stretching from I-35E east to the Dallas North Tollway.

FeaturedSTORIESLEADSTORY
West Nile VirusMosquito breeding sites promote the spread of West Nile Virus
Second human case confirmed as heavy mosquito breeding season continues

FARMERS BRANCH ~ A second confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Farmers Branch is prompting city officials to urge residents to eliminate standing water on their property that can result in mosquito breeding.
   Both cases in Farmers Branch are confirmed in elderly male patients. Mosquito spraying has occurred in all residential areas of the City this summer with some receiving multiple treatments depending on numbers of complaints.
   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 these are the first human cases in Farmers Branch since 2006 and adds to the dozens recorded in north Texas so far this year.
   As a preventative measure, mosquito spraying will continue throughout the summer months in residential sections of the City. 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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Atticus 450
CityStaff Snapshot
Employee: Jay Siegel Lt Siegel
Position: Lieutenant
Department: Police Department
Years of Service: 14 years
Background: I have a B.A. in Psychology, and I am a Master Peace Officer. I enjoy reading, running and playing the guitar.
What I love most about working for the City: In two words - the citizens. They are respectful and appreciative of the Police Department. Serving a community that supports us the way they do makes our job that much more rewarding.
  
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LBJUpdateLBJUPDATE
Pedestrian bridge expected to open by first day of school

    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, August 1, 2012.
Denton Drive: Denton is open between the LBJ frontage roads. The work area has moved south into Dallas. On August 15 Denton is scheduled to be closed between LBJ and Villa Creek for several weeks. Traffic will be detoured via Harry Hines and Ford.
Josey Lane: The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ has been restarted with one lane closed in each direction. The Josey drainage work should be completed by mid-August.
Treeview Road: Treeview remains closed for pavement aInterstate 635-LBJnd drainage construction until mid-August.
Webb Chapel Road: Various lanes closed for drainage work Thursday night through the weekend.
Joe Ratcliff Pedestrian Bridge:
The bridge is expected to reopen prior to school starting on August 27. 
Marsh Lane: Expect pavement and bridge work to continue on the west side of Marsh Lane south of Ridgeoak until November.
Rosser Road: The reopening of Rosser has been delayed from August 7 to August 27. Trinity will begin sidewalk construction on the west side of Rosser from LBJ to Ridgeoak this week.
Valley View Lane: No work scheduled.
Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes are closed. Dallas Water Utilities relocations on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection has one lane closed in each direction. The scheduled completion of utility work
has been extended from mid-August to early September.
Welch Road: The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened. The lane closures on Welch north and south of the bridge should be reopened by next week. The entire bridge, including the U-turn lanes, is expected to be reopened by the end of August.
Other locations: Various main lanes of LBJ will be closed frequently during night-time hours. There will also 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
Citizen Police Academy readies next session

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. > Read More

> Ask a Question

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Central Area Plan to draw comments at August meetings

FARMERS BRANCH ~ With an update to the Comprehensive Plan for the central area of the City in the works, public hearings have been scheduled before the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 13 and before the City Council on August 21.> Read More
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New school supplies can cancel Library fines, August 6-20

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 the 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 they serve.> Read More
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ComingUP
August 2
Special City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 6 p.m.

August 7 & 21
City Council Meetings @ City Hall, 6 p.m.

August 12
Don Showman Pool closes for the season

September 3
Labor Day Holiday
All offices and facilities closed except Rec Center and Historical Park, both open 8-5. No garbage collection

September 4 & 18
City Council Meetings @ City Hall, 6 p.m.

September 8
Stars & Spokes Bike Race
Library Amphitheater Movie - "The Music Man"

September 15
Health & Wellness Expo @ Rec Center, 9 am to 12 noon
Library Amphitheater Movie -
"How the West Was Won"

September 22
Library Anniversary Carnival, 11 am to 2 pm
Library Amphitheater Movie - "To Kill a Mockingbird"

September 29
Movie in the Park @ Barney Wood Athletic Complex,
"The Lorax"

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More info @ 972.247.3131
 
Economic Development Branch Business Brief for JulyBIZ
Olympic Rings Banner
Olympic Hopefuls

Olympians Zain and Mona Shaito train at the Fencing Institute of Texas in Farmers Branch earlier this year. North Texas residents and undergrad students at Ohio State University, Zain and Mona are in London at the Games of the XXX Olympiad, fencing for their father's native country, Lebanon.
Photo provided by
Fencing Institute of Texas     
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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