City of Burleson, TexasSeptember 10, 2010
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Greetings!

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Welcome to the City of Burleson, Texas, E-Newsletter! You are one of more than 1,030 subscribers who want to be in the loop and stay informed about what's happening in city government in Burleson!  If you've missed an issue of the E-Newsletter, click on the E-Newsletter button on the new City website, www.burlesontx.com.  If you have questions or suggestions about City programs, services and events, call the public information office at 817-426-9622.

Buddy Ball team members are throwing/catching first pitch at grand opening of Chisenhall Fields Saturday 

Two Buddy Ball team members - Katie Walsted and Devin Claflin - will handle the first pitch, and catching, duties for the grand opening of Chisenhall Fields on Saturday, Sept. 11. Photo of arched entry sign for Chisenhall FieldsWalsted will pitch to Claflin. Buddy Ball is a baseball/softball program for special needs children, aged 4-21. Each special needs child is partnered with an able-bodied child. Opening ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m. on the Arabian Field of the complex, located at 500 W. Hidden Creek Parkway. The complex, made possible through voters in the May 2007 election, features 10 baseball fields and three softball fields, all lighted; two softball fields (not lighted); two practice softball fields; one football field; two concession stands; and double the parking available at Bartlett Park (now home to the Burleson Recreation Center and future soccer fields). Chisenhall Fields has two entrances, both accessed from Hidden Creek Parkway.

Heavy rains brought end to drought

How much rain fell Tuesday? The City's rain gauges measured 5.70 inches on Sept. 8 and an additional 1.48 inches on Photo of Turn Around Don't Drown road signWednesday. The only day that soaked up more than an inch of rain since Aug. 26 was Wednesday, Sept. 2, when gauges measured 1.20 inches. Always watch for fast rising water in low lying areas and intersections and heed the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" warnings. Never drive around barricades. You don't know the depth of the water or the condition of the road under that water. For more about the National Weather Service campaign, go to http://tinyurl.com/c3m63l.

Photo of Trash Bash volunteersJoin the Burleson Trash Bash efforts Sept. 18! 

Show your community pride Sept. 18 by joining the City and Keep Burleson Beautiful in cleaning up the city's retail corridors and residential drainage channels. Volunteer to join the Burleson Trash Bash, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.  Following the cleanup, volunteers will convene at Warren Park for lunch and a prize ceremony. To sign up to beautify Burleson, call Environmental Programs Specialist Bianca Chafin at 817-426-9842 by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16.

City website will have a new look, today! 

The City of Burleson is rolling out its new website tonight. The City contracted with CivicPlus to redesign the current website, which has been in operation since 2005. City staff members, citizens and council members weighed in with what they wanted to see. At least one staff member from each City department went through training in August in order to learn how to build website pages to complete the 300-plus pages started by CivicPlus. Tuesday night, city council members voted unanimously to authorize the new website, which goes by the same name, www.burlesontx.com,  to launch on Sept. 10. 

Photo of First Baptist Church band at Founders DayCelebrate 18th annual Founders Day Oct. 9 in Old Town

Founders Day fun will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., in Old Town. This is the 18th annual Founders Day. Mock gunfights and great food, arts and crafts, carnival rides and entertainment are on tap. Burleson was founded Oct. 10, 1881. For more about Founders Day, call 817-426-9104 and ask for David McDowell. For a booth application, call Neal Jones at 817-447-3522 or 817-343-2589.

Punt, Pass & Kick at the BRiCkPhoto of helmet and football Oct. 16

October means football, which means it is the Pepsi PP&K (Punt, Pass & Kick) at the Burleson Recreation Center! Register at the BRiCk for the event that is slated for Saturday, Oct. 16, at 9 a.m. There are five age groups - 6-7 years old, 8-9 years old, 10-11 years old, 12-13 years old, and 14-15 years old. Call Roderick Thomas at 817-426-9106 to register!

Sept. 20 is final vote on budget, tax rate

Burleson City Council members approved, on first reading, adoption of the 2010-2011 annual operating budget on Sept. 7 by a vote of 4-3. The 2010 ad valorem tax rate, revised from what was proposed, also passed first reading by a vote of 4-3. Council members voted 5-2 in favor of water and wastewater rates on the first reading. To see streaming video of the Sept. 7 council meeting, go to http://burlesontx.swagit.com/ on the new City website, click on the Sept. 7 council meeting, then go to Items 4B-4D (it is in three parts). To look at the proposed 2010-2011 City budget, click on "Budget and Annual Financial Reports" on the new City website home page, then click on the budget planning tab. The final reading of the budget and the tax rate will take place at the city council meeting on Sept. 20.

 
Enjoy seven days of free fitness classes!

Enjoy seven days of free fitness classes at The BRiCk! The BRiCk provides the workout room, DVD, and projector screen for classes that include The Biggest Loser, Insanity and P90X. Even if you are not a BRiCk member, you can participate in the free classes by purchasing a daily pass. For more, call 817-426-9104. For the schedule for Sept. 13-19, go to the

BRiCk page on the City website, www.burlesontx.com, or call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.
Register for Fall Kickball 2010

Remember the days of playing kickball in the park? The Burleson Parks and Recreation department is bringing that fun back with Fall Kickball 2010. Registration is Sept. 13-29 and league play begins Tuesday, Oct. 5. The team fee of $150 covers a game official and game balls. Games are 45 minutes or seven innings. Kickball will be played at Hidden Creek Sports Complex, 295 E. Hidden Creek Pkwy. Call Paula Benjamin, 817-426-6611 for more information.

Dance plus fitness equals Zumba!

Photo of dance and fitnessIf you like Latin and International dance, sign up for Session 1 of Zumba at the Burleson Recreation Center. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 14-Oct. 7, 6 p.m.-6:55 p.m. The class is open to those 16 and older. The fee is $35 per session for BRiCk members and $50 per session for nonmembers. Zumba incorporates aerobic/fitness interval training. Call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

Burleson City HallThank you for your interest in what the City of Burleson has to offer you! You can post the City of Burleson E-Newsletter on your Facebook profile, Twitter, or a number of other social networking sites by clicking on "Share," above "Forward E-mail" at the bottom of this newsletter. Please forward this by clicking on the "Forward e-mail" or "Share" it with your friends, neighbors, family and co-workers.
 
Enjoy your weekend!
 
 
Sally Ellertson
City of Burleson
Public Information Officer 
Do you subscribe to the City of Burleson's weekly E-Newsletter? It's easy, and it's free! Go to the new City website at www.burlesontx.com, click on the E-Newsletter button on the home page, then scroll down and click on "Join Our Mailing List." All we need is your e-mail address.
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The City  has a Facebook page! After 15 months, the City of Burleson, Texas, Facebook page has more than 2,930 fans! We want to know what you think! Comment on the wall posts and the photo albums and start your own discussion thread. Click on the Facebook icon on the City web site at www.burlesontx.com.
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SAVE THE DATE! The  third annual Burleson Old Town Boo Bash is Saturday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., in Old Town!
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Parents, it's your turn to have a night out! The Burleson Recreation Center is hosting a Parents Night Out on Saturday, Sept. 18, 3 p.m.-7:45 p.m. The festivities are for children 6-12 years old. The fee is $10 for BRiCk members and $15 for non-members. Kids will play games, create art, watch a movie and eat pizza. Call  817-426-9104.

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Senior citizens,sharpen your skills! The Burleson Senior Activity Center is hosting Wii Bowling on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The fun takes place, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The center is located at 216 S.W. Johnson Ave. Call 817-295-6611.

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PhoneDo  you have a question about City services or programs or a suggestion about what you would like to see happen? The directory for City staff and city council members is on the new City website,
www.burlesontx.com. Go to "I Want To" in the header and drop down to "Contact."
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The Burleson Recreation Center is hosting an Open House, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 17. The center will be offering 10 percent off on all upcoming activities. Excluded from that 10 percent offer are memberships, rentals, special events, lifeguarding classes, CPR and first aid classes and Ameriflex trainers. Call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

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Photo of The Glass Castle book cover

The Sept. 27 Book Discussion Club book at the Burleson Public Library is "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. Jeannette and her family moved among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains, before retreating to the West Virginia mining town -- and the family - her father had escaped. For more, call the library at 817-426-9210. 
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There are puppies, dogs, kittens and cats ready for adoption at the Burleson Animal Shelter. Go to www.burlesontx.com and click on "I Want To" then "Adopt A Pet" or call the shelter at 817-426-9283.
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Burleson City Council

First and Third Mondays
5:30 p.m. worksession
7 p.m. council meeting
Go to "Agendas and Minutes" on the home page of the new website, www.burlesontx.com.
Agendas are posted by 5 p.m.
 on the Friday before a city
 council meeting.
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