BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch
Memo from the MANAGER
The thin blue line

   When visiting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., its hard not to be affected by the sheer magnitude of the more than 1,900 names on its low, sloping walls.
Gary 2013
  These are men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect you and me here on the front line, at home.
   Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day across the country and was observed locally with a Metrocrest Service for the departments from Farmers Branch, Coppell, Carrollton and Addison. 
   In Farmers Branch, we have our own police memorial, outside the front doors of the Justice Center, that bears only one name. And, while we can be thankful that others haven't been enshrined on that wall, we must be mindful of the sacrifice of Farmers Branch Police Officer L.C. Tribble, who
Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller speaks at today's Metrocrest Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony.
was killed in the line of duty in 1983. The 30 years since then have not dimmed Officer Tribble's memory in the minds of his fellow officers or of this community. Nor shall the next 30 or 30 beyond that. We will always be grateful for the sacrifice Officer Tribble made for Farmers Branch and we will always remember.
   Likewise, Peace Officers Memorial Day also reminds us to be appreciative of the men and women both yesterday and today who take that extreme risk and who deal with the darker elements of our society, so we won't have to.
   Next time you see a police officer, let them know you appreciate what they do.
   It's important. 
 
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Traffic ALERT
Right lane closed on eastbound Valley View at I-35E

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Construction crews have had to close the eastbound right lane of Valley View, just under Interstate 35-E for work associated with the continuing expansion of the freeway.

   The closure began almost a week ago and is expected to continue through Friday. Eastbound Valley View traffic has been heavy during rush hours. Alternate routes of travel are recommended during the work.

 

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Featured STORIES
Mustang StationMustang Station development tops out at station area

FARMERS BRANCH ~ Workers began building the roof on the four-story Mustang Station development at the DART Green Line platform in Farmers Branch this week, keeping the project on schedule for opening later this year.

   Literally decades in the making, the new, mixed-use development will include 257 multi-family dwelling units on the upper floors with up to 10,000 square feet on the ground floor that could be used for retail.

   The project developer, Western Securities, expects to start pre-leasing in the next few weeks, in advance of opening the project later this year.

    Development around the Farmers Branch DART station, just south of Valley View and just east of Interstate 35E, has been the subject of intense planning for more than 20 years. In addition to Mustang Station, 29 patio homes are under development by KHovnanian, just south of the platform area.  

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Liberty Fest 2013
Reserved seating remains for Liberty Fest concerts

FARMERS BRANCH ~ A quality concert experience with Easton Corbin, Randy Houser and Jack Ingram is within reach while reserved seating is still available for Liberty Fest in Farmers Branch on Saturday, May 25.
   Admission to the event, and general admission lawn seating for the concerts, is free. However, a limited number of reserved seats are available for $50 each on the event website at www.fblibertyfest.com.
   Now in it's fourth year, Liberty Fest has become a Memorial Day weekend tradition for many in north Texas. The 2013 edition opens at 12 noon at the Farmers Branch Historical Park and will include activities throughout the afternoon, featuring the Burgers and Brews tasting area, the Arts & Crafts Marketplace, free Kidzone activities and more daring fun in The Zone, with a mechanical bull, 100-foot zip line and more. 
   All activities are included in free admission except for Burgers & Brews ($3 per tasting) and The Zone ($2 per ride or unlimited rides for $10). Additionally, there will be plentiful concession vendors with Mexican food, pizza, barbecue, wild game, beer, wine, margaritas and more.
   Find out more and order reserved seats at www.fblibertyfest.com.

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Quick
HITS
   
O-K Paper holds grand opening
 
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Officially christening their new 192,000 square-foot headquarters and distribution center, Olmsted-Kirk Paper held their official grand opening ceremonies this afternoon at their new location on the corner of Valley View Lane and Luna Road.
   Having moved from their Dallas location to make way for the expansion of Parkland Hospital, O-K CEO John Taylor said they couldn't be happier to be in Farmers Branch.
DART program set for Library, Saturday

MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Learn more about what DART has to offer the community on Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
   Everyone is invited to climb on a DART bus to take a ride, even see a DART police car up close, and watch a DART canine performance. There will be plenty of chances to win prizes, including a weekly promo pass. Additionally, an informational session will take place between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more about DART.
    This event is free and open to the public. For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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.
Other
STORIES Online
Parting SHOT
Margaret Young
Tom Bryson 
Forever Young

Longtime Parks and Recreation Board Chair Margaret Young received the Community Builder Award from the James A. Smith Masonic Lodge earlier this month, in recognition of her decades of community leadership.

 
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Volume 3 | Edition 20 | Number 116
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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Look for Updates & Reminders on Friday in 
Branch Bulletin Weekender Flag

Happening
NOW
Election Day results posted by Dallas County
 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Dallas County elections department has issued unofficial results in Saturday's city council elections in Farmers Branch.

   According to the county elections website, in District 1 Ana Reyes received 319 votes while William Capener received 190 votes. In District 4, Kirk Connally received 313 votes while David Koch received 289 votes.

   Results are unofficial until canvassed by the Farmers Branch City Council at their regularly scheduled meeting on May 21. The elected council members for Districts 1 and 4 will be sworn in at that time. For more info, visit

www.dallascountyvotes.org.
Current NEWS
Aden Black wins Liberty Fest Singing Contest for 2013

 

FARMERS BRANCH ~ After a week of voting for favorite vocalists, Liberty Fest Facebook users have selected 12-year-old Aden Black to sing "God Bless America" at Liberty Fest on May 25 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
Liberty Fest Tree
Watch Aden's Audition Video
   Aden, along with Sydney Anderson and the duo of Laura Burnett and Bonnie Dillingham, were selected as the top three video auditions and posted to Facebook, looking for "Likes." 
   At the deadline, today at noon, Aden's audition had garnered 577 votes, Laura and Bonnie had 364 while Sydney posted a respectable 193.
   Aden, a sixth-grader at Dewitt Perry Middle School, will be singing onstage during the Patriotic Ceremony that will open the Saturday evening performances at Liberty Fest.
   More more information on Liberty Fest, visit www.fblibertyfest.com.
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

Liberty Fest 2013
IN the BANNER
BRANCH BULLETIN: eNews from Farmers Branch  A new pedestal clock, complete with the "City in a Park" slogan now stands in the City's rose garden at Gussie Field Watterworth Park, near City Hall.
Photo by Derrick Birdsall
ECO devo UPDATE
Click on the video or print links to download different media for the Farmers Branch Office of Economic Development and Tourism Year End Report
LBJ Express UPDATE
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 15, 2013. 

LBJ Express Finished Project Animation
LBJ Express Finished Project Animation

The closure of westbound LBJ, Midway Road, and Marsh Lane for major bridge construction work during night-time hours of the weekend of May 10-12 was successfully completed ahead of schedule. The closure of these roadways planned for the upcoming weekend May 17-19 has been postponed. The tentative new schedule is now May 31-June 2.

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.

IH 635/IH35E Interchange: Several major closures are being planned for June. LBJ westbound, IH35E southbound and the ramp connecting LBJ eastbound to IH35E northbound will be closed on the night of June 1. LBJ westbound will be closed on the nights of June 7-9. IH35E northbound and the ramp connecting IH35E northbound to LBJ westbound will be closed on the night of June 14. The ramp connecting IH35E northbound to LBJ westbound will be closed on the nights of June 20-21. LBJ eastbound will be closed at IH35E on the night of June 22.

Denton Drive:  The westbound LBJ frontage road between Josey and Denton will be closed on the night of May 17 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 19, May 28 and June 4. Various lanes of Webb Chapel will be closed for paving following completion of work at Marsh and Josey. The expected duration of the paving work is June 1-July 17.

Marsh Lane: The pavement and bridge work on Marsh south of Ridgeoak will continue through May 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 nights of May 18 and June 14 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.

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 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.