BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch
ThisWEEK 
A Message from the Mayor
 

   One of the most important steps that can be taken by stewards of any institution, in times of societal and organizational change, is to ensure continuity of  leadership. It is with this in mind that your City Council recently renewed City Manager Gary D. Greer's contract.

Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy
By Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy 

   The City Manager's job is one of the most difficult positions a person can have in local government as he must supervise hundreds of employees, keep services running at peak performance and balance the good of the many against the special interests of the few.

   We have been pleased with Mr. Greer's performance during the past few years. His expertise, management style and level of professionalism have been significant assets to the Farmers Branch community. During a period of economic and organizational change, Mr. Greer's leadership has been a constant and for that, following his annual review, we are proud to keep him at the helm of our ship.

 
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Memo from the MANAGER
9/12

   Everybody remembers where they were on September 11, 2001, what they were doing and how they felt. But, do you remember the four or five days that followed? Memo from the Manager
   It seemed like there wasn't a cloud in the sky that week. Neither was there a plane since the full groundstop had eliminated air traffic over the country for the first time in the modern era. The normally busy airspace was clear and crisp and as open as the oncoming autumn. But it was only a part of the surreal atmosphere that permeated our society in that first week following the attacks in New York and Washington and Pennsylvania.
   Bipartisan patriotism ran rampant through our cities and towns like a wave of emotion that purveyed a sense of American reassurance, even in the face of abject tragedy. Members of Congress joined together on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Republicans and Democrats side-by-side, to solemnly sing "God Bless America." Full page advertising in USA Today was pulled in favor of open letters of support and condolence to the American people from foreign governments and multi-national corporations. Late night comedy shows went off the air for a week, out of respect for the 3,000 souls that didn't come home that night. 9-11
   You couldn't buy an American flag. Stores sold out of Old Glory as fast as new supplies could be stocked. The Stars & Stripes flew from pickup trucks, store windows, fire engines, front porches and so much more.
   And, we were transfixed by the incomprehensible images that showed the smoldering rubble where the Twin Towers stood the day before, the blaze that consumed a section of the Pentagon and the charred earth in Shanksville where regular Americans became heroes.
   You see, to alter context on an old saying, 9/12 was the first day of the rest of our lives - an existence that now knows the intense and deep injury of an attack on our soil.
   We were all a little nicer to each other that week, whether it was in the supermarket checkout line or in bumper-to-bumper traffic, giving a reassuring wave to the drive that needed into our lane. We were all Americans that week, and whatever our background or politics or personal circumstance, we all had 9/11 in common.
   Today, shouldn't we still  remember that we're all Americans? Can't we put away our disagreements and solve our problems in the same spirit that brought us together 11 years ago?

 
> Send Gary a Message   
 
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BreakingNEWSEarlyCouncilMeeting
September 18 City Council Meeting to start one hour earlier
 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Due to scheduling issues, the September 18 regular meeting of the Farmers Branch City Council will begin one hour earlier than usual, at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway.  

   The Council's Study Session will convene in the second floor conference room at City Hall at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Agendas are available after posting on Fridays prior to all regular Council meetings. Coverage on FBTV will begin at 5 p.m. that day.  

   Regular Council meetings resume the traditional 6 p.m. start time in October. For questions or further information, call 972.247.3131. 

  
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TimeSENSITIVEFEATURED 
Citizen Satisfaction Survey closes MondayGreen check

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Time is running out for Farmers Branch residents to participate in the 2012 Citizen Survey, which closes Monday, September 17.
   The bi-annual survey is one of the most important measures of local resident satisfaction with Farmers Branch activities, events and services. More than 8,000 surveys were randomly mailed to Farmers Branch residences in mid-August but any resident is invited to take the survey online at www.farmersbranch.info.
   The survey has been conducted since 2008 and includes 27 questions, focusing on resident satisfaction with city provided services, ranging from public safety to residential trash pickup to special event offerings and more.
   Once compiled, the results will be compared against the surveys of 2008 and 2010, shared with the City Council and released to the public.
   Mail surveys must be postmarked by Monday, September 17. The online link will remain active until 6 p.m. that day.

 

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FeaturedSTORIESFEATURED 
Farmers Branch Health and Wellness Expo
Full schedule of health screenings, demonstrations & information available at this year's event

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Free biometric screenings are among the services offered to local families at the annual Farmers Branch Health and Wellness Expo, set for Saturday, September 15 from 9 am til noon at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center, 14050 Heartside.
   Biometric screenings capture "critical health numbers" such as cholesterol, glucose, waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure. Results ready in less than 10 minutes and will be reviewed on site by a registered nurse from Baylor Medical Center. A limited number of biometric screenings are offered and a pre-scheduled appointment is required at 972.247.4607.
   Other services include vascular screenings, vision screenings, flu and pneumonia vaccinations (needle-free option available), pet micro-chipping, pet adoptions, medical provider consultations, chair massages, the annual "Battle of the Badges" blood drive, product sampling, health and wellness information, and prize drawings.
   Activities for kids include a bounce house, teddy bear clinic, face painting, and more.
   Admission to the event is free, however, some services require payment. Call 972-247-4607 for additional information.
   The annual event is sponsored by the City of Farmers Branch and Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton.

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Blood feud continues between Fire and Police Departments, Fri & Sat
BLOOD 
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In a never-ending blood battle, Battle o the BadgesFarmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller hopes to keep his department's perfect winning streak alive while Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker tries to rally his department's supporters for a win as this year's Battle of the Badges will bear witness to which public safety agency can proffer the most blood donations.
   Carter Blood Care will be on hand at the Farmers Branch Health and Wellness Expo this weekend to collect blood donations from willing volunteers. Two bloodmobiles will be on site, one to collect on behalf of Police, one for Fire. The winning department collects a traveling trophy and, more importantly, bragging rights for the coming year.
   Donations are welcomed from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, September 14 & 15 at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center, 14050 Heartside Place. The Health and Wellness Expo is set for Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. All donors will receive a commemorative t-shirt for their participation.

 

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OnlineNOW 
Citizens asked to contribute to LibraryTIMECAP 50th anniversary time capsule

FARMERS BRANCH ~ As a means of offering library patrons of the future a glimpse into the lives and mindsets of today, as part of the Manske Library's 50th anniversary, organizers are accepting submissions for a time capsule to be opened in 2037, when the Library turns 75.
   Through September 18, Library staff are collecting submissions in two categories: "Perspectives" and "Life" from 2012.

YouTube Video Extra seeks to explain proposed budgetBUDVIDEO
 
 
View our videos on YouTube Click to Play 
FARMERS BRANCH ~ An explanation of the City of Farmers Branch proposed 2012-2013 fiscal year budget, presented to the City Council in August, is now available by video on YouTube.
   Finance Director Charles Cox narrates the 34-minute presentation that details the $73.6 million proposed budget.
   The Farmers Branch City Council is set to consider the budget in their regular meeting of September 18 which will include a public hearing. The fiscal year begins October 1. The video presentation also airs on FBTV at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock - both a.m. and p.m.


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SnapPOLL SNAPPOLL 
SNAP POLL: End of Summer 
PartingSHOTS SNAPPOLL 
Retirement Ceremony
Retiring Farmers Branch Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Duffield
Photo by Tom Bryson
Farmers Branch Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Duffield
pauses for a moment with Fire Chief Steve Parker prior to retirement ceremonies earlier today. Chief Duffield leaves Farmers Branch after 25 years of service to assume the position of Fire Chief for the City of DeSoto in south Dallas County.
Pedal Power
Stars and Spokes 2012
Photo by Derrick Birdsall
One cyclist leads the pack on Valley View near the west side water tower in Farmers Branch during the Stars & Spokes Bike Race, held to commemorate the victims and heroes of 9/11. All proceeds from the race will go to benefit the Texas Association of First Responders.

Elliott Electric announces move to Farmers Branch
 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Electrical products  wholesaler, Elliott Electric, has announced the move of their North Texas regional distribution center from Grand Prairie to a new site in Farmers Branch, at 13405 North Stemmons Fwy.

   Elliott's west Dallas store will also relocate to the same building. The move takes the firm from a 75,000 square foot facility to more than double the size at 155,000 square feet in Farmers Branch. 

 
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Farmers Branch records seventh West Nile case
 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Dallas County Health Officials have confirmed that a 79-year-old female resident of Farmers Branch has been diagnosed with symptoms related to West Nile Virus.

   This latest case is the seventh recorded in Farmers Branch this year, among the more than 200 in Dallas County.

   Farmers Branch Environmental Health officials said that even though cooler weather is approaching, mosquito breeding season is not over until the first freeze and encouraged continued vigilance for standing water areas.

 

> West Nile Prevention 

> West Nile FAQ 

 
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Narrator to bring "Mockingbird" to life at Library
 
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ In honor of Farmers Branch Manske Library's 50th Anniversary Celebration, narration ace and  professional writer, CJ Critt, will bring to life several performance selections from "To Kill a Mockingbird," in a spirited reader's theater narration of this beloved classic on September 18 at 7 p.m.  

Manske Library 50th Anniversary Logo   In the spirit of the book, where the young heroine, Scout, tells the story through the eyes of a child. Ms. Critt, a produced playwright and staff writer at Radio Disney will lead a lively interactive writing workshop, where participants will have an opportunity to re-create, on-the-spot, their most colorful childhood memories and characters.
   Once completed, volunteers will be encouraged to take their turn in the spotlight, reading their newly created works. This optional portion of the program will immediately follow the live reading. Open to all and the workshop is suggested for ages 13 and up.

 
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Farmers Branch Citizen Survey
Coming Up
SEP 15
SEP 29
OCT 2 & 16
OCT 9
National Night Out
Star Party 
OCT 20 
OCT 19-20
Halloween in the Park
NOV 1
Town Hall Meeting 
NOV 9 
Veterans Day Celebration 
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Bloomin' Bluegrass 150sidebar
Branch Business Brief - September 2012  
Manske Library Vintage Movie Series
How the West Was Won
To Kill a Mockingbird

InTHEBanner 
What's Old is
New Again
  
Wooden framework begins to represent the modern incarnation of a 1920s-era general store, now under construction at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.  The replica structure will add to the historical buildings already there, representing various stages of Farmers Branch history.  
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LBJUpdateLBJ
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The weekly update on the Interstate 635 expansion project has been made available by LBJ Express, the construction team LBJ Express
responsible for the five-year project that will completely renovate the freeway from the Dallas North Tollway to Interstate 35E. This update is for September 12, 2012.  
Stemmons Freeway: The northbound Stemmons entrance ramp, south of Valley View Lane was closed on Monday August 27. The ramp will ultimately be replaced by a new ramp near Valley View. A schedule for the completion of the new ramp is not yet available. 
Denton Drive: Denton is closed between LBJ and Villa Creek until October 5. Traffic is detoured via Harry Hines and Ford. 
Josey Lane: The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ continues with one lane closed in each direction. Following the completion of drainage work, construction of the permanent paving of Josey and the east end of Villa Creek will begin. Various lanes will be closed on Josey until December. 
Treeview Road: Treeview will be closed for paving at the LBJ frontage road from Friday, September 14 until Tuesday, September 18.  
Marsh Lane: Pavement and bridge work will continue on the west side of Marsh south of Ridgeoak until December. 
Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes are closed. Dallas Water Utilities relocation on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection has one lane closed in each direction until late September. Telephone relocation on the south side of LBJ will require closure of the northbound right turn lane for several weeks following completion of the DWU work. Atmos will also be installing a new gas line crossing Midway south of LBJ following the telephone project. The Atmos line is expected to require the closure of the outside (right) lanes of Midway in both directions. All utility work on Midway is expected to be completed by late November. In addition, bridge construction will require off-peak lane closures northbound and southbound between the frontage roads through October.  
Welch Road: The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened. The entire bridge, including both U-turn lanes, is expected to be reopened by October.  
Dallas North Tollway: LBJ is narrowed to three main lanes in each direction at the DNT. 
Other Locations:
Various main lanes of LBJ will be closed frequently during night-time hours. There will also be intermittent night-time closures of various LBJ entrance and exit ramps.  
   Full updates and additional information can be found at
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Volume 2.37 | Number 81
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office of the City of Farmers Branch, TX. 

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Two-Time TAMI Award Winner 
 
About the City of Farmers Branch 
Farmers Branch Logo
An historic community in the geographic center of the DFW Metroplex, Farmers Branch boasts a residential population of 28,800 and a daytime employment population of 66,000. Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, the City's 27 parks and lush greeenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The city's location in the center of the Metroplex and only 15 minutes away from both DFW Airport and Love Field, along with the 2,200 hotel rooms within the city, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information on the City of Farmers Branch, visit farmersbranch.info,  visitfarmersbranch.com, lovethebranch.com
or call 972.247.3131.