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History made daily
As we watch the area around the DART Green Line station rapidly take shape, the sense of anticipation for the future, and what this development means to Farmers Branch, becomes more tangible every day. For as much as historical Farmers Branch grew into a strong community on the strength of the railways of the 19th century, it's fitting that much of our transformational growth in the near future, again comes forward on the rails, of the 21st century.  History is vitally important to any culture, country or community. A famous quotation, commonly attributed to Winston Churchill, says, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." In Farmers Branch, I am exceedingly proud that we not only learn from our past, we celebrate it. Right now, there is a very unique opportunity before us to commemorate our history in photos, drawings and illustrations in a pictorial history book being compiled by the incredible team at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Through the end of this month, pre-orders of this collector's edition book will remain available for $35. After June 1, the price goes up to $50 so now is the time to go to the City's website and download the order form, or call the Historical Park at 972.406.0184. In Farmers Branch, we're making history every day. But, today we're not only adding to the pages of our story as a community, we're creating a legacy for generations of Farmers Branch residents that will follow. We're not just planning for the next 10 or 20 years, but we want to envision, and empower, what life will be like in Farmers Branch in 50 years. We do that by remembering our history, by honoring our heritage and by learning life's lessons along the way - taking positive cues from our successes and, more importantly, constructive critiques from our challenges. Investing in this visual history book is one of the ways I intend to maintain my link with where we've been, in order to better see where we're going. I hope you'll join us.
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New aquatics facility approved for construction at Rec Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Moving to replace the 50-plus-year-old Don Showman Pool, the Farmers Branch City Council Tuesday approved construction of a new aquatics facility that will update and enhance the opportunity for water play and exercise, beginning in 2014. Taking advantage of historically low interest rates, the Council approved $6.5 million in certificates of obligation at a rate of 2.25 percent.
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An overhead perspective shows the new aquatics facility, with the indoor component in the upper right.
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Drawing on community feedback as well as input from expert consultants in the field, the new aquatics facility will include a lazy river, water slides, children's interactive play structures, an indoor lap pool and an indoor therapy pool. Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Harting said the new facility will encompass the area occupied by the current pool, some of the skate park area and a portion of the park space between the existing pool and the Community Recreation Center building.  | |
The indoor section of the new aquatics facility will feature a therapy pool and lap pool that will be open year-round.
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"We are embarking on an aggressive construction schedule," Mr. Harting explained. "We will relocate the skate park to the current Barney Wood tee ball field this summer and begin demolition of the existing facility once it closes for the season in August. "If all goes according to schedule, we should be ready to open the outdoor portion on Memorial Day weekend, 2014 with the indoor portion ready by Fall of next year."   
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Police Department completes rigorous state accreditation
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Tom Bryson
Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller receives his department's Certificate of Recognition from the Texas Police Chiefs Association while Deputy Chief Mark Young looks on.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ Signifying that the local department is "one of the best in the state," the Texas Police Chiefs Association has recognized the Farmers Branch Police Department for achieving renewal of its rigorous state accreditation process. In praising Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller's department, retired Southlake Police Chief, and TPCA accreditation program coordinator, Marlin Price said the voluntary program reflects the best practices of contemporary law enforcement. "This program has become the new gold standard for professional law enforcement in Texas," he said. "Agencies across the state are working diligently to met these (165 separate) requirements." Chief Price explained that Farmers Branch was the thirteenth of 72 agencies, of the 2,800 in Texas, to achieve this status and is currently only one of 12 to have been re-recognized. "The Farmers Branch Police Department has become the leader in law enforcement in north Texas," he concluded. "You should be very proud of their accomplishments."
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Facade improvements coming to Shops at Branch Crossing building
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Taking advantage of the wave of positive change in the retail area, the property owner of the building from 2914 to 2920 Valley View, near the corner of Valley View and Josey in the Shops at Branch Crossing, has announced a major exterior renovation to commence later this month.
Current home of a convenience store and former home of a dry cleaning business, the building will take on a whole new exterior facade to better blend in with the new development and renovations going on with the addition of nearby Walmart Neighborhood Market and Panda Express, along with major facade renovations on the southwest corner.
The new facade is expected to be completed by late summer/early fall.
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Marsh and Midway to close at LBJ
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Marsh Lane and Midway Road are scheduled to be closed in both directions at LBJ for additional work on the following dates and times: > Fridays - May 10 & 17 from 9 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Saturday
> Saturdays - May 11 & 18 from 7 p.m. until noon on Sunday
> Sundays - May 12 & 19 from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.on Monday
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Prevention emphasized for West Nile virus as weather warms up
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Hoping to avoid another serious season of West Nile virus, Farmers Branch Environmental Health officials have posted an informational diagram on the City's website that can help local residents eliminate mosquito breeding areas before they become a problem. Find out more at www.farmersbranch.info.
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New desk now in service at Manske Library
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Indoor renovations completed last week have resulted in a new service desk now in use at the Manske Library.
In order to better serve the public, a new service desk, and new computer work stations are being installed. For more information, call or come by the Manske Library at 972.247.2511 or 13613 Webb Chapel.
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Councilman Tim Scott delivers remarks following the presentation of an award in recognition of his six years of service on the City Council. Mr. Scott's term expires this month.
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Volume 3 | Edition 19 | Number 115 
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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Look for Updates & Reminders on Friday in
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 Election Day set Saturday, 7 to 7
FARMERS BRANCH ~ With early voting concluded, Election Day for Farmers Branch City Council Districts 1 and 4 is set for Saturday, May 11 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. According to Dallas County elections officials, residents in precincts 2302, 2305, 2306, 2307 and 2308, will vote at Farmers Branch City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway.
Residents in precincts 2303 and 2311 will vote at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center, 14050 Heartside Place.
Only residents of newly created Council Districts 1 and 4 will vote for those respective positions. A District map is located online, new voter registration cards were mailed to voters and additional resources are available from the Dallas County Elections Department.
In District 1, candidate Ana Reyes faces William Capener. In District 4, Kirk Connally is running against incumbent David Koch.
All residents are eligible to vote in applicable school board races.
For more information, visit www.dallascountyvotes.org.
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Voting now underway in Liberty Fest  Facebook Singing Contest
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Having rounded the field to the final three, voting is now open on the Liberty Fest Facebook page to determine who will sing "God Bless America" at this year's event. Submitting the top three audition videos were Sydney Anderson, Aden Black and the duo of Laura Burnett and Bonnie Dillingham. Each of those videos is available now on Facebook for viewing and voting by "Likes." The video with the most "Likes" by 12 noon on Wednesday, May 15 will win a prize package to include Liberty Fest reserved seating for four, a VIP parking pass, four Liberty Fest t-shirts and a place on stage to sing "God Bless America" at Liberty Fest on May 25. The winner will also be invited to join the Farmers Branch delegation to appear on "Good Morning, Texas" on Friday, May 17. More more information on Liberty Fest, visit www.fblibertyfest.com.
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Pictorial history book advance order deadline is May 31
HISTORICAL PARK ~ Advance orders are now being taken for a limited edition pictorial history book of Farmers Branch, set for publication later this year. The Farmers Branch Historical Park says the volume will be full color with expanded history and an index that will provide a great historical reference of the City. >> MORE >> PRESALE ORDER FORM
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 Kayak fishing proved to be a cool, if not cold, addition to Fishin' Fun Saturday at Rawhide Creek in Gussie Field Watterworth Park. Photo by Derrick Birdsall
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Click on the video or print links to download different media for the Farmers Branch Office of Economic Development and Tourism Year End Report
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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
Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
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LBJ Express Finished Project Animation
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Westbound LBJ, Midway Road, and Marsh Lane will all be closed for major bridge construction work during night-time hours of the weekends of May 10-12 and May 17-19. Closure hours may vary due to the pace of work but will be confined to 8 p.m. and noon on Friday/Saturday night-Saturday/Sunday morning and 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Sunday night-Monday mornings. SB Midway and Marsh will be detoured on Valley View to Webb Chapel. All westbound LBJ traffic will be detoured along the westbound frontage road from the Midway exit to the Marsh entrance ramp.
The LBJ westbound frontage road will be closed between Marsh and Midway on the night of May 13. LBJ traffic wishing to exit to Marsh and Webb Chapel will be detoured to the Josey exit.
Valley View (at IH35E):
The IH35E northbound frontage road left lane will remain closed at Valley View through June. In addition, there will be various lane closures along Valley View between the IH35E frontage roads for several weeks to facilitate construction of a new IH35E northbound entrance ramp over Valley View. Bridge demolition will require Valley View to be closed in both directions tonight, May 8 and possibly tomorrow night, May 9.
IH 635/IH35E Interchange: Several major closures are being planned for May. The ramp from IH35E southbound to LBJ eastbound will be closed tonight, May 10. Eastbound LBJ will be closed at IH35E on the night of May 11. Westbound LBJ and Southbound IH35E as well as the ramp from LBJ eastbound to IH35E northbound will be closed on the night of May 25. Northbound IH35E and the ramp connecting IH35E northbound to LBJ westbound will be closed on the night of June 1.
Denton Drive: The westbound LBJ frontage road between Josey and Denton will be closed on several nights during the next week for bridge construction.
Josey Lane: Construction of the permanent paving and drainage on Josey will require various lanes closed through May. Josey will be closed for bridge construction on the nights of June 3 and June 10 through 14.
Webb Chapel: Webb Chapel will be closed on the nights of May 20 and 28. Various lanes of Webb Chapel will be closed for paving following completion of work at Marsh. The expected duration of the paving work is May 20-July 10.
Marsh Lane: The pavement and bridge work on Marsh south of Ridgeoak will continue through May 20 when all through lanes should be reopened. All through lanes on Marsh are now open during peak periods.
Rosser: Expect intermittent one-lane operation of traffic across the Rosser bridge May 13-27 for installation of the ornamental pedestrian fence.
Valley View at LBJ: Valley View will be closed on the night of June 8 for bridge construction.Midway Road: The southbound left turn lane on Midway Road between the LBJ frontage roads and the westbound to eastbound U-turn lane will remain closed indefinitely. Expect various lanes to be closed on Midway at LBJ during off-peak hours. The right southbound lane of Midway south of LBJ is closed until May 28 for drainage installation. The eastbound frontage road east of Midway will be closed during off-peak hours daily through June. Midway will be closed on the night of May 21 for bridge construction.
Welch Road: Welch is narrowed to one lane in each direction at LBJ for through May 25 for drainage work.
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. All scheduled work is tentative as permitted by weather conditions and other factors.
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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 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. |
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