|
|
Surf's Up!
Sometimes I feel like a surfer in my capacity as city manager. Economic activity comes in waves, and these waves are hard to predict and measure.
It takes great skill/luck to ride the waves to move the community in the farthest and most positive direction. Additionally, staying on the board is sometimes difficult when you have to balance the needs of elected officials, city employees, and the citizens.
Recently, I have been thinking about all the positive things that are going on and how high the tide is up for the community. It seems everywhere I go something new is being built, and the general look of the city is improving. Housing options are expanding with developers bringing progressive residential options throughout the community. New business prospects are flooding in and jobs are increasing monthly.
We are actually reviewing TWO development plans for the long under-developed west side (Mercer Crossing). Truly, the surf's up in Farmers Branch.
Now is the time to maintain an aggressive but balanced approach to growth and assure that we extend the long term vitality of the city. We may be catching a big wave right now, but we have to prepare for when the tide is not so high. This can be achieved by choosing the right development opportunities and recruiting the businesses that share our values and long term perspective.
The city council and city staff are focused on making this happen. So, everybody should "hang loose." It's going to be an exciting and gnarly ride the next few years.
|
Teen Fire & Rescue Academy launches next week
FIRE STATION NO. 3 ~ Enlightening teens on the rigors and challenges of firefighting and rescue work, the Teen Fire & Rescue Academy gets underway June 10 at Farmers Branch Fire Station No. 3, 13333 Hutton Drive.
Space is limited but a few spots remain available for the sessions that run through June 14.
The Academy features hands-on training, challenges and drills, including fire ground operations, search and rescue, emergency management, basic CPR and First Aid instruction, along with demonstrations and tours.
The Academy is open to teens, ages 13 to 18 and is $50 for members of the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center and $65 for non-members.
Call 972.247.4607 for more information.
  
|
Summer Reading Club 'Digs into Reading' with kickoff
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The 2013 Summer Reading Club gets underway in exciting fashion on Wednesday, June 12 with a kickoff party at the Farmers Branch Manske Library from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.
 The theme of this year's children's summer reading is "Dig into Reading," and encourages young readers to continue building reading skills while out of school during the summer months.
Everyone is invited to "dig into" the kickoff festivities and explore the construction trucks, tractors, police cars, and firetrucks that will be outside the Library. Additionally, there will be games, a bounce house, and refreshments. Afterwards, kids can register for summer reading to be eligible for prizes all summer long.
After the kickoff, Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy will read for the first Readers are Leaders storytime at 2 p.m.
The kickoff party, Summer Reading Club and storytime are free and open to the public. For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
|
Calling all teens
Library looking for summer volunteers
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Teen volunteers are being sought for Summer Reading Club and other tasks at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
Teens between the ages of 12 and 17 years interested in volunteering over the summer at the Library are required to attend one of two orientation sessions on either June 6 or June 20, both at 5 p.m.
During the course of the summer, teens will have several opportunities to fulfill their volunteer hours, including running the Summer Reading Club registration table, being a program assistant to Library staff, and even making Facebook and blog posts.
For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
|
Blowing in the wind
Caution urged when putting out trash
FARMERS BRANCH ~ With the weather during the past month, an ever-increasing amount of trash seems to blowing from refuse bags set out for collection.
Farmers Branch Solid Waste officials reminded residents that bags should be closed, secured and only put out after 6 p.m. the night before scheduled pickup and by 7 a.m. on your pick up day.
For more information, call 972.919.2597.
|
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, June 5, 2013.
 | |
LBJ Express Finished Project Animation
|
Westbound LBJ, Midway Road, and Marsh Lane will be closed for major bridge construction work during night-time hours of June 7 and June 24. Closure hours may vary due to the pace of work but will be confined to 9 pm and 10 am. 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. After the closure scheduled for June 24, there should be no more similar closures involving both Marsh and Midway.
LBJ freeway westbound main lanes have been reduced from four lanes to three lanes in both directions from the Midway exit to the Marsh entrance (near Webb Chapel). On June 8 the eastbound main lanes will also be reduced from four to three from IH35E to the Marsh exit 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.
|
Volume 3 | Edition 23 | Number 119 
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
|
|
Instant input to be gathered from audience at
Town Hall Meeting
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Bringing technology to the town hall meeting, Farmers Branch Planning Director Andy Gillies will be soliciting instant feedback from the audience, via handheld voting devices, during the Community Visioning discussion at next week's Town Hall Meeting.
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.
Mr. Gillies, along with Senior Planner Alexis Jackson, will review local development during the past several years and facilitate a discussion on steps to take moving forward.
Following the Community Visioning presentation, 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.
|
Kids invited to follow 'Pied Piper'
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The Firehouse Theatre will present the "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," at the Farmers Branch Manske Library theater, with two performances on consecutive Saturdays, June 8 and 15 at both 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Based on the legendary German tale, the play follows the people of Hamelin as they look to a brightly dressed piper for help in ridding their town of rats, and the circumstances that follow. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit their website or call 972.620.3747.
|
 | |
Farmers Branch Police Officers Alfredo DeLaPaz (left) and Michael Dunn (right) were given the DWI Enforcement Hero Award by MADD North Texas Chapter Outreach Program Sponsor Cathy Quaid (center).
|
Farmers Branch officers recognized
by MADD
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Two Farmers Branch Police Officers were among some of the Metroplex' finest honored at a recent Mothers Against Drunk Driving 'Take the Wheel' campaign luncheon.
Officer Alfredo DeLaPaz and Officer Michael Dunn were presented with a DWI Enforcement Hero award for their 2012 records of 18 DWI arrests, each, out of the 196 made by the entire Farmers Branch Police Department.
MADD describes the 'Take the Wheel' campaign as an effort to raise awareness of the community commitment needed to stop drunk driving.
|
Monthly video updates Economic Development activity
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Detailing accomplishments, updating developments and looking at local sports marketing is the focus of the May 'Branch Business Brief' video update just released by the Farmers Branch Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
VIDEO EXTRA
 | |
Branch Business Brief ~ May 2013
|
|
Rose!
Photo by Derrick Birdsall
|
Next Week:
Watching Out for Scammers
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
