BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch
Memo from the MANAGER  
Salute
   Many of us have a desire to serve our communities, to give back or to make a difference. Some do it with careers in public service or government, others may make a habit out of volunteering for the public good.
Memo from the Manager   All of these are deserving of our appreciation, but none so much as those we honor this weekend.
   Our men and women who wear, and have worn, the uniform of the U.S. armed forces have made more of a difference protecting our way of life than any of us can possibly imagine.
   And, as we gather for this Veterans Day weekend, let's all stop to honor, appreciate and just say "thank you" to everyone, active duty or veteran, who has ever donned the uniform and taken the oath.
  Especially, we want to remember those families whose loved ones went off to preserve, protect and defend and never came home. Those members of our military left their homes and their families to keep the rest of us safe. Then, they gave what President Lincoln so eloquently described as "the last full measure of devotion." It is these families that we should gather around with our support, our encouragement and our prayers.
   At the same time, we should note that the youngest who served in World War II are now entering their eighties. This Greatest Generation, who changed the course of history, are leaving us now at an accelerating rate.We should strive to hold onto those stories, to that firsthand account of Iwo Jima, of Pearl Harbor and of Omaha Beach. Those of us who are lucky enough to have family members who served in World War II should take the time now, this weekend, to encourage them to share their stories, especially with our kids. For the caliber of their generation may not be seen again.
   On Friday, as a community, we gather together again in celebration of our veterans, at 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center. I hope you will join us.


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FeaturedSTORIESFEATURED 
Victory Belles to play Veterans DaySENIOR CENTER ~ Harkening back to the golden age of military melodies, the three-part harmony singing and dancing troupe, the Victory Belles, are scheduled to perform at the 2012 Farmers Branch Veterans Day Celebration, set for Friday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the Farmers Branch Senior Center. Veterans Day 2012 is set for the Farmers Branch Senior Center
   The Belles perform regularly at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and around the country at special events.
   The annual  Farmers Branch Veterans Day celebration invites all who have served or are currently in uniform to gather for a day of celebration and appreciation in ceremony and song.
   Following the event, all in attendance are invited to stay for a free hot dog lunch. For more information, call 972.919.2620. The Farmers Branch Senior Center is located at 14055 Dennis Lane.
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See the Victory Belles in action on YouTube or find them on Facebook
  
Next Council meeting set December 4
 
CITY HALL ~ With the holiday cancellation of the second City Council meeting in November, the next regular meeting of the Farmers Branch City Council is now set for Tuesday, December 4, beginning at 6 p.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway.
   In another scheduling move, the Council has announced that regular meetings in January will be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays, rather than the traditional first and third as the first Tuesday is New Year's Day. Those meetings will be Tuesdays, January 8 and 22. Call 972.247.3131 for more info. 
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Firehouse Theatre plans second annual Christmas Spectacular, December 13-16
 
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The second annual production of the Firehouse Theatre's "Christmas Spectacular" is set for 6 p.m., December 13-15 and 1 p.m. December 16 at the Victoria restaurant at 13435 Bee Street.
   Thursday through Saturday will feature dinner at 6 p.m. with the show at 7:30. The matinee performance on Sunday will include lunch at 1 p.m. with the show at 2:30. Tickets are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $30 for students. For reservations and ticket information, call 972.620.3747. For more information, visit www.thefirehousetheatre.com.  
CityStaff Snapshot
Tiffany Bailey

Employee: Tiffany Bailey
Title: Information Librarian 
Department: Manske Library
Years of Service: 2 Years
Background: I have a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Masters in Library and Information Science. I am actively interested in running, dancing, reading and knitting.
What I like most about working for the Library and the Farmers Branch Community: What I enjoy the most is the involvement I have in the transformation and growth of the Library as it continues to evolve into a place that is valued by the community.

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PartingSHOT  
Code Enforcement officers before the Town Hall Meeting last week
Tom Bryson
Code crew
Gathering for a group photo on stage at the Manske Library, prior to last week's Town Hall Meeting on Code Enforcement, were (from left) Code Enforcement Officers Gabriel Rojas, Amanda Earl, Wes Caperton, Building Official Jim Olk, Administrative Assistant Rebecca Albin and Code Enforcement Officers Gilbert Fernandez and Rose Ann Baumer. The fake graffiti wall was meant to convey the effects of poor code enforcement, namely "lower property value," "poor curb appeal" and "blight."
Volume 2.45 | Number 89
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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Autumn in Farmers Branch
QuickHITS   
Star Party set for Thursday
 
HISTORICAL PARK ~ The telescope-gazing Star Party originally scheduled for Election night has been moved to Thursday, November 8, from dusk until about 9 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Admission is free. Log on at www.texasastro.org for more information. 
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Senior Center has tickets for Eisemann comedy show
 
SENIOR CENTER ~ Lovers of comedy and improv, of all ages, are invited to join the Farmers Branch Senior Center in attending the production of the Broadway hit, "The Next H!t Musical," Thursday, November 8 at the Eisemann Center in Richardson.
   Tickets are $37 and include reserved seating and round-trip transportation from the Farmers Branch Senior Center. The bus will depart the Senior Center at 7 p.m., returning after the show at about 10:30 p.m.
   Call 972.919.8740 for more information. 
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EcoDEVO   
Branch Business Brief ~ October 2012 
Branch Business Brief 
VIDEO View our videos on YouTube UPDATE 
October 2012
 
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IntheBANNER     
BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch  Entitled "Field of Blue," this poignant sculpture of a young boy holding a folded flag evokes all manner of emotions and reactions when people view at its location  in Liberty Plaza.  This, and the other sculptures in the park, will be ready for visitors this Veterans Day weekend.
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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 responsible for the five-year project that will completely renovate the freeway from the Dallas North Tollway to Interstate 35E.
Denton Drive: Denton between LBJ and Villa Creek is reopened. However, ATT work will require lane closures on the west side of Denton through December 15. Southbound Denton between the LBJ frontage roads is reopened. Denton will be closed during night-time hours on November 9, 10, 16 and 17 for placing beams on new bridges over Denton.
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. A newly discovered ATT utility conflict may delay completion until early January.
Webb Chapel: The eastbound Webb Chapel entrance ramp is scheduled to be closed for up to two years beginning on November 13. Webb Chapel traffic will be able to use the new eastbound frontage road and enter LBJ at the Marsh entrance ramp.
Marsh Lane: 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 was completed ahead of schedule last weekend. Southbound Marsh will be closed from 10pm to 5am nightly for up to five nights beginning on November 12 for bridge deck panel installation. An additional westbound lane will be opened on the westbound frontage road approach to Marsh by November 19.
Valley View: Valley View westbound is scheduled to be closed at LBJ for 12 hours, from 7pm Monday November 19 until 7am Tuesday November 20, for partial bridge demolition.
Midway Road: Utility work on Midway requires the closure of the two right lanes and one northbound lane of southbound Midway approximately 200 feet north of LBJ. All utility work on Midway is expected to be completed by late November. A new drainage crossing of Midway will require closure of two lanes in each direction on Midway south of LBJ during the weekend of November 16.
Dallas North Tollway: LBJ is narrowed to 3 main lanes in each direction at the DNT.
Other Locations: New sections of frontage road are scheduled to be opened soon. The new section of eastbound frontage road from Webb Chapel to Marsh will open on November 13. The new westbound frontage road from Valley View to Marsh will open later in November. The new section of eastbound frontage road from Marsh to Midway should be opened by early December.
   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. All scheduled work is tentative as permitted by weather conditions and other factors.
 
For the most current updates on the LBJ Express expansion project, visit
ComingUP      
NOV 9 
Veterans Day Celebration
NOV 23 
Christmas Tour of Lights Opens
NOV 23-24
Thanksgiving Holiday - most facilities closed
DEC 1
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
DEC 4
City Council Meeting 
DEC 18 
City Council Meeting
DEC 25 
Christmas Holiday - City Facilities closed
 
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Farmers Branch logo  
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.