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Plan your block parties now
It is obvious that the National Association of Town Watch, the founding organization for National Night Out, is not located in Texas.  This is why people in Pennsylvania originally thought it was a good idea to plan a nationwide outdoor gathering the first Tuesday in August. That plays a lot better in Peoria than it does in Plano. Thankfully, we are several years into NATW's recognition that Texas is hotter than a barbeque pit on the sun in August and, as such, allowing Texas to move its National Night Out celebration to October. So, now is the time to be planning those block parties for National Night Out in Farmers Branch on Tuesday evening, October 9. The whole idea behind National Night Out is for neighbors to get together, get to know each other and present a united front against residential crime. Chief Sid Fuller and the Farmers Branch Police Department, along with Farmers Branch Community Watch, are encouraging all neighborhoods to get involved in National Night Out this year.  If you do plan a block party, or a backyard party or any other kind of party, please register your gathering with FBPD at 972.919.9304 so we can be sure to get members of the Police and Fire Departments, along with City Council members and City staff to come by to say hello. We try to cover as much ground as possible that night and meet as many Farmers Branch neighbors as we can. But, the main thing is for your neighborhood residents to know each other. In the fast-pace of 21st century living, its not unusual to live next door to someone and not know their name. However, when neighbors do know each other, and their families and what cars they drive and such, everyone can better recognize suspicious activity when it occurs. And, while you might not know if something is truly amiss, when in doubt, call it in and let a police officer sort it out. So make those party plans now, register at 972.919.9304 and I hope to see you Tuesday night, October 9.
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FeaturedSTORIES
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 BARNEY WOOD ATHLETIC COMPLEX ~ Families are invited to gather their lawn chairs and blankets for the annual Farmers Branch Movie in the Park event, coming Saturday, September 29 and featuring the modern animated classic "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax  ." Kids' activities begin at 7 p.m. with showtime at sundown in the field at the Barney Wood Athletic Complex, next to the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center at the corner of Heartside Place and Valwood Parkway. Picnic baskets are welcomed but there will also be concessions available for purchase with proceeds benefitting Farmers Branch Youth Football and Cheerleading. Also, KONA Ice will be selling snocones. Admission is free. Call 972.247.4607 for more information. In case of active or pending inclement weather, the weather hotline at 972.919.1455 will be updated through Saturday afternoon. |
Kids can get back to nature at
Art in the Garden drawing workshop
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All manner of chili cooks invited to show their stuff at Bloomin' Bluegrass
 HISTORICAL PARK ~ Operated under the auspices of the Chili Appreciation Society International, the first Bloomin' Bluegrass Chili Cookoff invites ground beef gourmets of all skill levels to compete for prizes and public accolades. The top bluegrass names from around the country will be on stage while some of the (self-proclaimed) best chili cooks in the area will be whipping up tasty concoctions at this year's event. Registration for the cookoff is $20 per team. Public admission to the festival is free. Festival-goers can sample as much chili as they want for $3, while supplies last. More information on this year's Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff can be found on its website at www.bloominbluegrass.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bloominbluegrass.   
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Employee: Christina Cummings-Medina 
Title: Human Resources/Risk Manager
Length of Employment: 5.5 years
Department: Human Resources
Background: I have dual Bachelor's degrees from the University of North Texas (Business and Psychology) and 16 years practical Human Resources generalist experience. I am a three time national champion in steel tip darts and have represented the United States in England twice. When not working or darting I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children.
What I like most about working for the City: The passion and dedication the employees have for their "City" is unsurpassed. It is a joy to be able to assist my fellow employees in their times of need and to celebrate their joys.
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SnapPOLL
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PartingSHOT
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Silver screen under silvery moon
The final installment of the Manske Library's 50th anniversary Vintage Movie Series Saturday night featured the legendary Gregory Peck in his Academy Award-winning turn as southern lawyer, Atticus Finch, in the Harper Lee classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird." The crowd of about 150 enjoyed the evening on blankets and in lawn chairs in the Library's outdoor amphitheater, under a bright half moon.
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Volume 2.39 | Number 83 
is published weekly by the Communications Office of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
Two-time TAMI Award Winner for Best eNewsletter in Texas
Given by the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
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National Night Out registration now open
JUSTICE CENTER ~
Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller said he's hopeful that members of his department will make stops at all neighborhood gatherings registered for National Night Out, coming to Farmers Branch Tuesday evening, October 9.
"America's Night Out" against crime invites neighbors to get together outdoors in yards, blocks or parks to present a united front against residential crime.
In Farmers Branch, registered NNO parties will receive visits from members of the City Council, along with Police and Fire Departments.
To register a National Night Out party, call 972.919.9304.
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Magician/juggler David Slick was among the entertainment on hand.
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More than 2,000 celebrate Library anniversary
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Capping its 2012 50th anniversary celebration, the Farmers Branch Manske Library played host to more than 2,000 on Saturday for a family friendly carnival, time capsule ceremony and vintage movie presentation. Entertainers, refreshments and children's games abounded during the midday carnival. The time capsule was ceremonially sealed later in the afternoon and will reveal elements of Library life in 2012 to the staff and patrons that open it in 2037. Finally, that evening, nearly 150 came out for a classic movie under the stars with a showing of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in the Library's amphitheater.   
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Council slates single meeting for November
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 In the Banner
Although the season has not quite taken Texas to changing leaves just yet, this photo from last year's autumn is reminiscent of things to come now that Fall has officially begun in Farmers Branch.
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Coming Up
SEP 29
OCT 2 & 16
OCT 9
OCT 20
OCT 19-20
Halloween in the Park
Town Hall Meeting
City Council Meeting
(Only meeting in November)
NOV 9 Veterans Day Celebration
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LBJUpdate
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ The weekly update on the  Interstate 635 expansion project has been made available by LBJ Express, the construction team 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 26, 2012.
Denton Drive: The Denton closure between LBJ and Villa Creek has been extended to October 12. Traffic is detoured via Harry Hines and Ford. Denton will be closed for one or more nights in late October to allow placing beams.
Josey Lane: Tonight, September 26, the will be a one-night closure of the westbound Josey/Denton/Harry Hines exit ramp. 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.
Marsh Lane: On September 27 there will be a one-night closure of the eastbound Marsh entrance ramp. On October 4 there will be a one night closure of the eastbound Marsh exit ramp. The pavement and bridge work on the west side of Marsh south of Ridgeoak has been extended to April. Placing beams for the new southbound Marsh Lane bridge will require weekend closures of Marsh during late October and/or November.
Midway Road: The eastbound to westbound U-turn lane has been reopened. The other U-turn lane should reopoen in the near future. On September 27 there will be a one-night closure of the westbound Midway entrance ramp. On October 3 there will be a one-night closure of the eastbound Midway exit ramp. Dallas Water Utilities relocation on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection has one lane closed in each direction. Telephone relocation on the south side of LBJ will require closure of the northbound right turn lane through October 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 may require lane closures northbound and southbound between the frontage roads through October.
Dallas North Tollway: LBJ is narrowed to 3 main lanes in each direction at the.
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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About the City of Farmers Branch
 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. |
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ROSE GARDENS OF FARMERS BRANCH ~ Kids in the first through third grades are invited to a hands-on drawing workshop in pastels and crayons with members of the Farmers Branch Carrollton Art Association, in the rose garden at Gussie Field Watterworth Park on Saturday, October 6 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.
