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Let's all take a vow
This is a pretty big week for me and the rest of the Greer family. You see, Saturday, our son Andy is getting married. He is the first of our three children to tie the knot, so, it is a new experience for us.  The excitement of this big day has been building since Andy met his fiancee, Janae over 4 years ago. His engagement has gone by so quickly over the last year and half, I almost feel like I missed this special time.
The problem is that in my job things change constantly and the challenges are never ending, and this kind of creates a problem for me to be in the moment. I am conditioned to keep moving and strive for more without taking the time to completely experience every precious minute. It's kind of ironic, me being enthralled with roses, (even have my own Rose Gala), that I have a hard time stopping to smell them.
So, I have vowed to myself that I am going to not only attend the wedding as father of the groom, but I am going to be there in the moment for Andy and Janae. I have even taken off this week to make sure I am really prepared to share the event with my family.
I wrote this column very quickly and I know it is not my best work. However, with the powers vested in me (as City Manager) I grant permission to everyone who reads this to also take time to be in the moment with friends, family and loved ones this entire week.
Maybe if everyone takes this opportunity we will all live happily ever after.
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Town Hall Meeting to focus on Community Visioning
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The June Town Hall Meeting will take a focused look at Community Visioning with the City's Planning Department reviewing development in the past several years and asking the crowd what they see going forward. 
One of two Town Hall Meetings planned annually, this event is set from 7 until 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 13 at the Farmers Branch Manske Library, 13613 Webb Chapel Road, at Golfing Green Drive.
Following the session led by Planning Director Andy Gillies, the Mayor and Council will take the stage for a question and answer period.
City Staff will be on hand at 6:30 p.m. prior to the meeting as well as afterwards, at 8:30, for individual discussions with citizens.
  
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Fire Chief offers advice for sheltering in a storm event
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Following tornado tragedies in Granbury, Cleburne and Moore, Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker says sheltering in place is still the best chance for protection, rather than a public storm shelter.
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Fire Chief Steve Parker
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"The City does not have public storm shelters because while they may seem like a good idea, they often come with more risks than benefits," he explained. "Traveling to a public storm shelter could put you at greater risk than if you sheltered in place, public buildings offer no more protection than a well-built residential structure and it would be impossible to build a shelter massive enough to hold the entire population.
"In addition, severe storms also happen at night," Chief Parker added. "If you are awakened by storm sirens at 2 a.m., you will not have time to gather your family, load them into a car and drive to a shelter."
The Chief added that sheltering in place affords the quickest and best protection for a short notice event.
"We encourage all of our citizens to maintain situational awareness during severe weather events and be prepared to shelter in place if necessary," he said, listing basic tornado safety tips:
- The lowest possible level of a building or structure (Ex: First floor, basement, storm cellar)
- Interior room with no windows, such as a closet or bathroom
- Get underneath a sturdy piece of furniture, cover neck and head
- If stranded outside lie down in a ditch or low lying area away from the vehicle, but remain aware of possible flash flooding
- Do not seek shelter underneath a bridge or overpass
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Tesla Motors adds regional customer service headquarters in Farmers Branch
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Although their
regional sales centers are in Houston and Austin, all-electric auto manufacturer Tesla Motors has located its regional customer service headquarters in Farmers Branch.
The Farmers Branch City Council recently approved a specific use permit to allow Tesla to operate a repair center at 13725 Welch Road. As the DFW area is home to a number of customers for Tesla's 26,000 vehicles produced every year, they chose to locate a repair center in the area.
Tesla will handle simple customer warranty and repair issues at their Farmers Branch location. However, as the electric automotive business grows, Tesla hopes to provide a wider range of repairs at the site.
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TexasLending.com adds to its Farmers Branch office space
FARMERS BRANCH ~ According to D Magazine's Real Estate Daily, TexasLending.com is expanding its presence at the 52-acre, 11 building development, known as The Centre, near Midway and LBJ in Farmers Branch.
The D eNews blast reports that TexasLending.com is adding more than 11,000 square feet, bringing the total to 79,153.
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CCS Medical lands major Medicare contract
FARMERS BRANCH ~ CCS Medical, after relocating to Farmers Branch from Florida in 2012, has announced that they will be one of only 18 Medicare mail order suppliers, providing diabetic testing supplies nationwide.
According to PRNewswire, the company was named a winner last month in the national competitive bidding program of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The new contract becomes effective July 1.
A provider of mail-order medical supplies, CCS Medical relocated their operations from Clearwater, Florida to Farmers Branch in 2011
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As winners of the "Ride to School on a Fire Engine" item in the Janie Stark Elementary School PTA fundraising auction, Jacob and Johnny O'Quinn got a first class ride to school this morning aboard Farmers Branch Fire Engine 132. The boys were afforded a firsthand look at a working fire engine and what it is like to ride in one.
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Volume 3 | Edition 22 | Number 118 
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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Final deadline to preorder history book is Friday
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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New Councilmember Ana Reyes is sworn in earlier this month.
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Newly elected Council members take office
CITY HALL ~ After finalizing the canvassing procedure that declared the results of the May 11 election as official, Ana Reyes and Kirk Connally took their respective oaths as new members of the Farmers Branch City Council, earlier this month. Ms. Reyes was elected to the District 1 City Council seat while Mr. Connally was elected to the southeastern-oriented District 4. Outgoing Councilman David Koch took the opportunity to congratulate the two new members of the Council and thanked elected officials and City staff for the work and accomplishments of the past six years.  | |
Kirk Connally is sworn in as District 4 Councilman.
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Anderson County records Texas' first case of West Nile
AUSTIN ~ The Texas Department of State Health Services on Friday confirmed the state's first case of West Nile illness of the season.
DSHS is urging people to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne illness. 
West Nile illness was confirmed in an adult male from Anderson County, southeast of Corsicana.
"This is a serious illness that can take a long-lasting toll," said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner. "Last season was unprecedented, with record numbers of cases and deaths reported in Texas. People need to do all they can to protect themselves from mosquito bites."
Last year, Texas reported 1,868 human cases of West Nile illness, including 89 deaths.
Farmers Branch Environmental Health officials have posted information online that can help local residents and business people guard against the West Nile threat by eliminating potential mosquito breeding areas.
For more information, visit these online resources.
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A young man tries his hand at taming the mechanical bull in The Zone at Liberty Fest, held Saturday.
Photo by Tom Bryson
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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 29, 2013.
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LBJ Express Finished Project Animation
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Westbound LBJ, Midway Road, and Marsh Lane will be closed for major bridge construction work during night-time hours of May 31, June 1 and June 7. Closure hours may vary due to the pace of work. Southbound 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.
LBJ freeway mainlanes will be reduced from four lanes to three lanes in both directions beginning on June 3 for an indefinite period during construction.
Find detailed information below regarding these streets and intersections:
Valley View at IH35E
IH - 635/IH35E Interchange
Denton Drive
Josey Lane
Webb Chapel Road
Marsh Lane
Rosser Road
Valley View at LBJ
Midway Road
Welch Road
For more information, visit www.lbjexpress.com.
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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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