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Quiet dignity
I was told a story recently that might resonate with those of us that have had the occasion, from time to time, to take a taxi. Someone on my staff and his family recently jumped into a taxi to get from their hotel to the airport after a weekend getaway in another state. Cab drivers, of course, are an interesting bunch. Sometimes they are very chatty. Sometimes it's difficult to carry on a conversation and, sometimes, they're just quiet.  On this occasion, the driver was a very nice man, perhaps in his middle 50s, that was originally from Hawaii, but now made his home in the western U.S. Further conversation revealed that he was intensely proud of his two children - his daughter who was in her freshman year at UNLV and his son who was finishing up at UCLA. He even joked that when his son graduates, he would be getting a raise. When asked how he wound up in the Nevada desert after growing up in Hawaii, the gentleman very modestly said that he retired there after spending 25 years in the United States Army. He did his basic training at Fort Hood and spent a quarter century moving around the globe, including two stops in Afghanistan. And, because of his time in Texas, he's a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. Today, he's a happy cab driver, taking care of business and taking care of his family after spending 25 years taking care of us all. It is that kind of quiet dignity that exemplifies the active duty service members and the veterans of the U.S. military. They don't do it for the money or for the glory, they do it because its the right thing to do. As such, the right thing for us to do is to be sure our veterans know we are forever in their debt. So, please join us on Monday at the Senior Center as we come together as a community in celebration of those that have done so much to protect our families and our way of life. |
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Town Hall Meeting to rely on Twitter for external input, November 14
FARMERS BRANCH ~ For anyone unable to attend the upcoming Farmers Branch Town Hall Meeting, they can rely on social networking to relay their comments and input on possible bond issues.
Set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 14 at Farmers Branch City Hall, the meeting is designed to focus on soliciting input on a possible bond election for next year.
For the first time ever, this Town Hall Meeting will be broadcast live on FBTV (Time Warner Cable Channel 16 in Farmers Branch, AT&T Uverse Channel 99 and online at www.farmersbranchtx.gov).
Anyone not able to make it to City Hall will be able to submit their ideas for bond projects or questions via Twitter @fbtx.
Additionally, those in attendance will be able to weigh in on potential bond ideas and priorities by use of portable voting devices that will be passed out to the audience that night.
Farmers Branch City Hall is located at 13000 William Dodson Parkway, just south of Valley View Lane, about one mile east of I-35E. Call 972.247.3131.
  
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Victory Belles
National WWII Museum song & dance trio return for Veterans Day
SENIOR CENTER ~ Making a return appearance, the World War II - era song and dance troupe, the Victory Belles, will entertain the crowd at the 2013 Veterans Day Celebration, set for 10:30 am., Monday, November 11 at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
Representing the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the vocal trio travel the globe delighting audiences with their spirited performances, featuring dazzling costumes, audience interaction and revered musical hits, including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "God Bless America."
The event will also feature traditional patriotic elements and conclude with the traditional free hot dog lunch.
The Farmers Branch Senior Center is located at 14055 Dennis Lane, between Josey Lane and Valwood Parkway. Everyone is invited to the Veterans Day Celebration and admission is free.
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Firefighter Combat Challenge Team places in World top 20
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Members of the Farmers Branch Fire Department team compete at the Firefighter Combat Challenge World Championships last month.
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LAS VEGAS, NV ~ After a year of grueling competition, the Farmers Branch Fire Department's Firefighter Combat Challenge Team recently competed in the World Championships in Las Vegas, placing in the top 20 for both singles and relay events.
The Firefighter Combat Challenge is a series of events that simulate the physical demands of firefighting, from climbing a four-story tower to dragging a victim to safety and putting water on a target. Events are grouped into singles and relay (team) competitions.
Farmers Branch Fire Chief Steve Parker said the Farmers Branch team travels and competes on their own time.
"Yes, the competition is a lot of fun and provides a great atmosphere of camaraderie through friendly competition between departments in the fire service," he explained. "But the specific level of skill and high level of physical fitness needed to execute these challenges provides a great training program for these guys that only makes them better at their jobs here at home."
The Farmers Branch team placed 11th in relays and 16th in the world in the singles competition.
Plus, they ended up third overall in national points for the singles team this year. Their top 20 world finish also means the Farmers Branch team will be invited to compete at the Combat Challenge Exhibition at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington in 2014.
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 FARMERS BRANCH ~ In an organizational restructuring, designed to offer increased efficiency and effectiveness, Farmers Branch City Manager Gary D. Greer announced today that longtime department heads Charles S. Cox and John Land have been promoted to Managing Directors. |
 FARMERS BRANCH ~ More than a century in the making, 'Farmers Branch: A History in Pictures' has been published and is now available at the Farmers Branch Historical Park, while supplies last. |
 Tom Bryson Silent sentinel
The aging World War II veteran, depicted in the bronze sculpture, known as "Poppies," quietly surveys Farmers Branch Liberty Plaza from his bench on the Veterans Walk of Honor. Donated to the City by the Arts Foundation of Farmers Branch, "Poppies" was dedicated on Veterans Day, 2000.
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Volume 3 | Edition 45 | Number 141 
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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Voters approve 19 proposed Charter amendments
FARMERS BRANCH ~ According to unofficial results, released by the Dallas County Elections Department, Farmers Branch voters have approved all 19 proposed amendments to the City Charter.
The results will be canvassed and made official by the Farmers Branch City Council at their special assembly for the November 14 Town Hall Meeting, set to begin at 7 p.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall.
>> Unofficial result totals
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Brookhaven College Classical Guitar Ensemble to perform at Library
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ With duets and solo renditions of traditional guitar music, the Brookhaven College Classical Guitar Ensemble will perform at the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m.
The ensemble is comprised of adult students in classical guitar class from all skill levels and backgrounds.
Instructor Carlo Pezzimenti, a faculty member at both Brookhaven College and Texas Woman's University, has been playing classical guitar for more than 40 years.
  
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Star Party reset for Thursday night
HISTORICAL PARK ~ After being postponed due to dreary weather on Tuesday, clear skies are forecast for a rescheduled Star Party, set for Thursday night at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. 
Free and open to the public, the event will run from dusk until about 9 p.m.
Volunteers from the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Astronomical Society will be on hand to assist guests with telescope viewing of celestial objects both near and far.
Call 972.406.0184.
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NOVEMBER
Nov 7
Dusk til 9 pm @ Historical Pk
Nov 11
10:30 am @ Senior Center
Nov 14
Nov 19
6:30 pm @ City Hall
Nov 28-29
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS
Nov 30
TOUR OF LIGHTS KICKOFF
6:30 pm @ Gussie Field Watterworth Park Amphitheater near City Hall
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City offices to close for Thanksgiving
FARMERS BRANCH ~ All City of Farmers Branch offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, November 28 in observance of Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, November 29, most offices remain closed, except the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center and Historical Park, both open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be no garbage collection either day.
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Kickoff event to launch Tour of Lights during holiday
GUSSIE AMPHITHEATER ~ While all forms of turkey leftovers are still in the fridge, a new event will usher in the 2013 Christmas Tour of Lights Thanksgiving weekend, while also offering the opportunity to support WFAA's Santa's Helpers.
The amphitheater at Gussie Field Watterworth Park, near City Hall, will be the setting for the event with live entertainment, sweet treats food trucks, hayrides through the Tour of Lights and costumed holiday characters.
Admission is free but everyone is asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to help Santa's Helpers make the season a bit brighter for less fortunate kids in north Texas.
The 300,000+ twinkling lights will first come on Friday, November 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continue nightly through December 30, closed only December 7 and 25.
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Senior Center offers iPad intro class
SENIOR CENTER ~ New owners of Apple iPad tablet computers that need assistance in learning to navigate the device can get help at the Senior Center's iPad introduction class, set Tuesday, November 12 at 10 a.m. Call 972.919.8740 for more information.
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The massive U.S. flag unfurls over the Farmers Branch Veterans Walk of Honor at Liberty Plaza. |
VIDEO GALLERY
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Fire Department Dinner Brigade
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Dr. Gilbert's Diary
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Farmers Branch Business: Anything but Usual
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Check the latest weekly report on the five-year reconstruction of Interstate 635 that includes:
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Check the latest information on the 28-mile, $1.4 billion reconstruction of Interstate 35E from LBJ, through Farmers Branch, to U.S. Highway 380 in Denton County.
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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 farmersbranchtx.gov, visitfarmersbranch.com, lovethebranch.com or call 972.247.3131.
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