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Common loss
We would not be the close-knit family of communities we're known to be if we did not stop to note and to mourn, with our neighbors to the north, the passing of former Carrollton Mayor Milburn Gravley.
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Milburn Gravley
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A Carrollton institution, Mayor Gravley got into politics only after his retirement from the hardware retail industry. He served on the City Council and as Mayor and retired from that in 1994, after 12 years. But Carrollton needed him back and he heeded the call, being re-elected to a non-consecutive term in 1996, retiring yet again in 2000. He served on dozens of community, regional and county boards and was actively supportive of civic groups, including the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club for as long as he could make meetings. Milburn Gravley presided over Carrollton's transformation from a distant, northern suburb to a vital and thriving inner-ring community. Much of Carrollton's success today is attributable to Mayor Gravley's paving the way in the decades before. And, he knew the value of cooperation with other cities. He knew that Carrollton and Farmers Branch and Addison and Coppell were much stronger as a coordinated region, than as individual communities. To that end, his support of Farmers Branch was always respectful and thoughtful. But, beyond all that, Milburn Gravley was a nice man. He was the kind of man you'd want your kids to know, the kind of man you'd want to emulate. In fact, he was the kind of man that was much more interested in human relationships than political gamesmanship. Farmers Branch had a friend in Milburn Gravley and our region, as a whole, is better off because of his service. I had the great pleasure to see him regularly at meetings of the Valwood Improvement Authority and he never failed to greet me like I was his long-lost best friend, with a firm grip and a "How're you doing, young man?" In fact, during the past few decades, if you ever attended a function of the Farmers Branch or Metrocrest Chambers of Commerce, Metrocrest Mayor's Prayer Breakfast or any other event where our region was featured, you'd likely have run into Mayor Milburn Gravley. And, after receiving his warm smile and hearty handshake, you'd remember that you did.
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Shuttle service to ferry folks between bluegrass, crafts, roses
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FeaturedSTORIES
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FARMERS BRANCH HISTORICAL PARK ~ Fans are expected from around the country to descend on Farmers Branch this weekend, October 19-20, for the third annual Bloomin' Bluegrass free music festival, celebrating this very distinctly American musical art form.
The festival opens on Friday evening, from 5 until 10 p.m. and goes all day on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Also on Saturday will be the first Bloomin' Bluegrass Chili Cookoff.
Scheduled to appear on stage are Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Blue Highway, Travelin' McCourys with Peter Rowan, Gibson Brothers, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Gold Heart, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Bluegrass Band and Alan Tompkins. Admission is free with no ticket required. For more information, visit www.bloominbluegrass.com or www.facebook.com/bloominbluegrass.
Spicy chili in the park to complement hot music on stage
FARMERS BRANCH HISTORICAL PARK ~ While the music on stage will be red hot, chili cooks of all skill levels are invited to create spicy concoctions of their own in the first Bloomin' Bluegrass Chili Cookoff on Saturday.
Operated under the rules of the Chili Appreciation Society International, the event will include prizes for the first 10 places, as judged by a team of experts, a People's Choice Award, awards in a separate "beans" division and a top award for "Show Team" that not only cooks chili but is entertaining in the process.
Registration is $20 for each participating team. Festival goers can sample as much chili as they want, from 11 a.m. until the chili is gone, for $3.
Just like the Bloomin' Bluegrass music festival, admission is free with no ticket required. For more information, visit
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RED ALERT: Chili judges still needed
HISTORICAL PARK ~ One cannot really have a chili cook-off without chili judges, can one? As of Wednesday, there were still slots open for volunteer judges that will decide who brought their "A" game to the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff, Saturday at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Anyone with taste buds is invited to register as a judge by visiting www.bloominbluegrassjudge.eventbrite.com.
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SENIOR CENTER ~ The holiday shopping season begins on October 20 with the annual Holiday Craft Fair at the Farmers Branch Senior Center from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Dozens of artisans and craftspeople will be on hand, selling handmade holiday items. A free shuttle will take guests between the Holiday Craft Fair, the Rose Show at City Hall and the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff at the Farmers Branch Historical Park, between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Admission is free. The Farmers Branch Senior Center is located at 14055 Dennis Lane, between Josey and Valwood. Call 972.919.8740.
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New honors announced for Celebration of Roses presenters
ROSE GARDENS OF FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Celebration of Roses event, set for Saturday in Farmers Branch, just got a bit more exciting with the announcement of a new honor for presenters William C. Welch and Greg Grant. Dr. Welch and Mr. Grant are just announced recipients of a Garden Writers 2012 Silver Award Achievement for their new book, "Heirloom Gardening in the South."
Free onsite registration for the Celebration of Roses will be held at the Gussie Field Watterworth Park Pavilion, near City Hall, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Shuttles will be available to transport participants through the various Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch. The bluegrass band, Copper Canyon, will serenade the complimentary grilled hot dog lunch. Then, City Hall will open at 12 noon for the Dallas Rose Society's Fall Show, Farmers Branch Rose Show, and slate of expert presenters. Farmers Branch Landscape Manager Pam Smith said the beautiful display of blooms provides great insight to which roses perform best in the Metroplex. Consulting rosarians will be on hand to answer rose questions. Exhibiting in the Dallas Rose Society Rose Show is open to anyone interested.
Speakers include Dr. Welch author of "Antique Roses for the South" and the newly released "Heirloom Gardening in the South," his co-author, Mr. Grant, who was recently featured in Southern Living magazine, and renowned rosarian Gregg Lowery who, along with Vintage Gardens, has announced a gift of rose plants to the City of Farmers Branch. Ms. Smith said these roses will be put up for a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch. For more information, call 972.919.2625 or visit www.fbroses.com.
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PartingSHOT
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Branch-O-Lantern
The elements of the Farmers Branch City logo are well-illuminated in this pumpkin creation, sent in from a creative citizen, via the City's website.
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Volume 2.42 | Number 86
Branch Bulletin
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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Senior Center selling tickets for outdoor comedy
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Senior Center is offering a limited number of tickets to the comedy "Deer Camp," performing on stage Thursday evening, at 7 p.m., at the Eisemann Center in Richardson. Tickets are open to anyone, at any age, and are $37, including reserved front, center seating and transportation from the Senior center. The bus will leave the Senior Center at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The play stars Tony Papenfuss and John Volstad, best known to television viewers as Larry's brothers, Darryl and Darryl, from the 80s sitcom, "Newhart." Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 972.919.8740 for more information.
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Economic Development offers October update on video
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Halloween in the Park set next weekend
FARMERS BRANCH HISTORICAL PARK ~ The annual unleashing of thrills and chills is in the works for the 2012 edition of Halloween in the Park, set for Saturday evening, October 27, from 5 until 10 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Admission is free with canned food donations accepted to benefit Metrocrest Social Services. Highlighting the event again this year will be the "Haunted Hedge," opening at 7:30 p.m. which takes brave adventurers deep into the recesses of the Historical Park's dark and mysterious shrubbery. Additionally, there will be trick-or-treat row, carnival games, pony rides, a petting zoo, state fair-style food vendors, teen zone, living statues, photo buttons, giant sandbox and more. Call 972.247.4607 or visit www.farmersbranch.info.
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Town Hall Meeting to focus on Code Enforcement
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Veterans Day to feature the Victory Belles
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Single Council meeting set for November
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Firehouse Theatre plans amphitheater performance
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In the Banner
A wandering troubadour plays in the park as one of the dozens of musicians that set up impromptu jam sessions during the Bloomin' Bluegrass free music festival, coming up this weekend at the Farmers Branch Historical Park
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Coming Up
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 October 17, 2012.
Denton Drive: Denton remains closed between LBJ and Villa Creek for Atmos relocation. Traffic is detoured via Harry Hines and Ford. Two-way traffic on Denton north of LBJ will be restored this week. However, AT&T work will require lane closures on the west side of Denton through December 15. Southbound Denton is closed between the LBJ frontage roads until October 31 to allow for placing beams on new bridges over Denton.
Metro Blvd: Metro is closed at the LBJ frontage road until October 27. Traffic is detoured via Ford Road.
Josey Lane: Construction of the permanent paving and drainage on Josey and the east end of Villa Creek continues. Various lanes will be closed on Josey until December.
Webb Chapel: The westbound entrance ramp to Webb Chapel was closed on October 5 for approximately one year.
Marsh Lane: On October 18, there will be a one-night closure of the eastbound Marsh exit ramp. The eastbound Marsh entrance ramp will be closed for one night on October 20. 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 closures of Marsh for two nights on November 2 and 3.
Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes have been reopened. The left turn lanes between the LBJ frontage roads were closed on October 8 and will remain closed until October 22. Additional lanes will be closed during night time hours. Telephone relocation on the south side of LBJ will require closure of the northbound right turn land through October. Atmos began installing a new gas line crossing Midway on October 15. The Atmos line is expected to require the closure of the two right lanes of southbound Midway approximately 200 feet north of LBJ. All utility work on Midway is expected to be completed by late November.
Welch Road: The right land of southbound Welch is closed for pavement work until October 21.
Dallas North Tollway: LBJ is narrowed to 3 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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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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