BRANCH BULLETIN: Tour of Lights draws record crowds in 2012

BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch

Memo from the MANAGER

Save the date

   There is going to be a "can't miss" event on April 5th in Farmers Branch. No, it's not a City event, but it is important to the community. I'm pretty excited about this occasion to the point that I want to spill all the details and make everyone else excited about it also.
   But I can't. Not just yet.
   I have to be patient and let the process work and the information go out in an orderly manner.

   The problem is I'm not good at keeping secrets. In my profession it is important to be transparent, open and free with information. The City's business is the public's business and it is important to let the citizens know what is going on in every department, all the time. It is also important that we help people find the information they need and make sure their experience with the City is DQ (Disney Quality).
   That is why it is killing me to not broadcast what is happening on April 5th. This event is going to be one that will appeal to all citizens in Farmers Branch and will bring everyone together for one night to laugh, honor and socialize with each other. I think such a community event can move us towards common goals and help us focus on what is really important in the "City in a Park."
   So, please save the date of April 5th, and join me and other people who love Farmers Branch at the event of the year.
   I should probably keep this short, as I am going to let the cat out of the bag if I keep typing. Keep your eyes and ears open for an announcement in the near future.
   In the meantime save the date.You won't be disappointed.

FeaturedSTORIES

FARMERS BRANCH ~ With years of experience as a leader in the field of Code Enforcement, Farmers Branch Community Services Director Jim Olk is now sharing that experience with the world via the Building Department Administration guide.
   Although the operational manual spans all manner of topics from "Records Management" to "Disaster Mitigation," it is the Mr. Olk-written, 30-page eighteenth chapter that deals specifically with "Housing, Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement Inspection Programs."
   "Farmers Branch is pretty well known around the country for leadership in Code Enforcement programs," said City Manager Gary D. Greer. "It is that progressive reputation for innovative Code Enforcement solutions that led the powers-that-be to ask Jim to write the chapter on such programs.
   A past president of the Building Officials Association of Texas, Mr. Olk is a frequent speaker at state, national and international conferences, including the International Code Council.
   "We're lucky to have a staff member with such far-reaching expertise and international recognition as Jim," Mr. Greer said.
   In addition to the chapter on Code Enforcement programs, Mr. Olk acted as a peer review editor for four other chapters, of the 21, in the book.
   Endorsed by the International Accreditation Service and the International Code Council, the thick volume serves as a blueprint for best practices for building officials and building department managers across the U.S. and around the world.

Contact Mr. Olk

Financial responsibility for children presented at Library

MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The importance of financial responsibility for children will be the topic of a lively presentation set for Saturday, January 12 at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.

   Presented by Ashley Parks, author of The Saving Seed and a certified financial planner in north Dallas, the session is set for 3 to 4 p.m. in the Library's meeting room. Ms. Parks promises to provide useful insights and practical tips for helping children be financially responsible and savvy with money.
   Positive and negative modeling on the part of parents will be explained along with time for questions and answers.
   For more information, call the Library at 972.247.2511.

BusinessNEWS

Mayor expected to attend Panda Express ribbon cutting Thursday

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bill Glancy and members of the Farmers Branch City Council are expected to be present, along with City Manager Gary D. Greer and Economic Development Director John Land, at grand opening ceremonies for the new Panda Express restaurant on Thursday at 11 a.m.
The new business is located directly in front of the new Walmart Neighborhood Market, just south of the intersection of Valley View and Josey Lanes, in the Shops at Branch Crossing area.

Volume 3.01 | Number 97
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

QuickHITS

Tour of Lights reports record numbers for 2012

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Even though the lights went dark less than 48 hours ago, it now seems clear that an early Thanksgiving gave the 2012

edition of the Farmers Branch Christmas Tour of Lights the potential it needed to see record crowds with donations to match.

   According to statistics released by the Parks and Recreation Department, an estimated total of more than 33,600 people took in the Tour during its 37 days this past season. This is based on a total of 10,470 cars, trucks and buses, up 5 percent from the 2011 total of 9,933 (and up 14 percent from 2010).
   Likewise, the voluntary donations contributed to the non-profit groups working the tour totaled $27,414, a 16 percent increase over the 2011 totals and 30 percent higher than 2010.
   "Even with other light tours in the area, you just can't beat a classic," said Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Harting. "I think this proves the Farmers Branch tour is a staple of so many family holiday traditions, but also that Farmers Branch residents are generous when it comes to helping organizations that help others."
   The 2012 Tour also featured a first-time partnership with WFAA's "Santa's Helpers" resulting in 375 new, unwrapped toys being donated by Tour of Lights-goers during the early weeks of the event.
   Mr. Harting invited everyone to mark their calendars for the start of the 2013 Christmas Tour of Lights, set for Friday, November 29.

Daddy Daughter Dance coming in one month

COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER ~ Renewing a Farmers Branch Valentine's tradition, the immensely popular "Daddy-Daughter Dance" is coming back to the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center on Saturday, February 2 from 6 until 8 p.m. with a "Red Carpet" theme for this year's event, exclusively for daddies and their daughters.
Advance tickets are $5 per person for residents or $8 for non-residents or $10 at the door.
There will be a live DJ, dancing, face painting, keepsake photo and refreshments. For more information, visit the Rec Center on Facebook @ fbreccenter or call 972.247.4607.

EcoDEVO

VIDEO EXTRA

November 2012

Branch Business Brief

IN the BANNER

Happy New Year from everyone at the City of Farmers Branch

LBJUpdate

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Weekly updates are provided by LBJ Express Project, the construction company responsible for the 5-year project that will completely renovate the freeway from the Dallas North Tollway to Interstate 35E.
Denton Drive: AT&T work requires continues to require a lane closures on the west side of Denton.
Josey Lane: Construction of the permanent paving and drainage on Josey and the east end of Villa Creek requires various lanes closed until late January.
Marsh Lane: The pavement and bridge work on the west side of Marsh south of Ridgeoak will continue until April.
Dallas North Tollway: LBJ is narrowed to 3 main lanes in each direction at the DNT.
Other Locations:
The new westbound frontage road from Valley View to Marsh will open in January. The new section of eastbound frontage road from Marsh to Midway should also be opened by January.

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.

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 greenbelts 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.