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Gratitude
This may be something of a stereotype but it seems that our society is much more focused on being gratified, than on being grateful. That seems especially true this time of year.
I suppose there's a lot of analysis that can delve into the mass of prevalent politics and economic theory to derive notions of why this is so. But, beyond identifying the source, what if this was one instance where we can just concentrate on correcting the behavior?
Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar, says that every person on earth shares one common attribute - the desire to be happy. Further, he suggests, true happiness is the result of real gratitude.
Think about that for a minute.
Material possessions are what many of us will gain when we open gifts either late tonight or early tomorrow morning (which you opt for is a completely different discussion). But, those possessions, by and large, bring comfort, not happiness. What makes each of us happy is that someone cared enough about us to provide for us a gift this Christmas season. And there, whether you realize it or not, is the aforementioned gratitude - the real catalyst for happiness.
Brother Steindl-Rast's point was that we all need to slow our pace, look where we're going and concentrate on being grateful for what we've been blessed with. As another philosopher once said, "It's not having what you want - it's wanting what you've got."
On this Christmas Eve, I am grateful for a wonderful family, lifelong friends, the ability to work in and for an extraordinary city and the continuing opportunity afforded to us every day by visionary forefathers and guaranteed by brave and selfless Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Marines.
May this season of giving inspire that renewed sense of gratitude in each of us that leads to happiness and understanding in the new year.
Merry Christmas.
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City offices to close at 12 noon Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As this year's Christmas and New Year's holidays fall in the middle of the week, and in an effort to afford employees extra time with their families, most City of Farmers Branch offices and facilities, including City Hall, will close at 12 noon on Tuesdays, December 24 & 31. 
Many other City facilities will close early on those days, including the Senior Center, Historical Park and Manske Library, all of which will close at noon. The Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center will close at 5 p.m. each of those days.
Finally, the Farmers Branch Christmas Tour of Lights Historical Park Drive Thru will not be open on Christmas Day. For additional information, please call the facility in question directly.
All City offices and facilities will be closed on Wednesdays, December 25 and January 1 in observance of Christmas and New Year's Days. There will be no garbage collection either day.
  
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LBJ Express opens first managed toll lanes of massive project
DALLAS ~ The first managed toll lanes of the LBJ Express makeover project are now open from just east of Preston Road to Greenville Avenue, past Central Expressway, in Dallas. 
The LBJ Express group guarantees the new "TEXpress" lanes will run at 50 mph at any time of day, but with a variable toll assessed depending on volume of traffic. However, that doesn't happen until after the first six months. During the "test drive" phase, there will be a fixed price for sampling the new roadway.
"It's a comprehensive new way of how to manage the traffic in congested areas," said Heather DeLapp, a spokeswoman for the LBJ Express, in the Dallas Business Journal. "Upon completion of construction, then we'll be able to manage that traffic at 50 mph on the LBJ Express and all of these projects across the North Texas region."
The entire LBJ makeover is scheduled for completion in 2015. For more information, visit www.lbjexpress.com.
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No garbage collection Christmas or New Year's Days
FARMERS BRANCH ~ There will be no garbage collection on Wednesdays, December 25 or January 1, in observance of Christmas and New Year's Days. All regular routes will resume on December 26 and January 2.
Additionally, all City offices and facilities will be closed on each of those holidays.
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Tour of Lights closed Christmas Day, then continues through December 30
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The holiday night will be alight each evening with the Farmers Branch Christmas Tour of Lights, through December 30. The tour will be open each night from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m.
However, the Historical Park segment of the driving tour will not be open on Wednesday, December 25 (for the Christmas Tree Lighting Event and in observance of Christmas Day). The driving tour begins at Valley View Lane and I-35E and concludes at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Admission to the Historical Park portion of the drive through is free with donations accepted by the non-profit groups working the tour.
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 Derrick Birdsall Wow! A slow shutter on a good camera yields this zooming swoosh of light and color from the archways and displays on the Christmas Tour of Lights at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. The tour is open Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, the concludes its run December 26-30. |
Volume 3 | Edition 52 | Number 148 
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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DECEMBER
Click on an event to find out more
DEC 24 & 31
Some facilities closing early
Call for details
DEC 25 & JAN 1
All facilities closed
NO GARBAGE COLLECTION
No Tour of Lights Dec 25
DEC 30
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Winter series on rose landscaping returns in January
REC CENTER ~ The Annual Landscaping with Roses Classes are coming back in January and February. Each class begins at 7 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center. All classes are free and open to all. Pre-register by calling 972.247.4607.
Jan 14 - Roses for the Landscape
Jan 21 - DIY Drip Irrigation
Jan 28 - The Informed Gardener - Are you really?
Feb 4 - Inspirations from Chandor Gardens
Feb 8 - Rose Pruning: Hands on in the Garden
Feb 11 - The Elephant in the Room: Rose Rosette Disease
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ Coming back from the holiday schedule, the Farmers Branch City Council plans to meet in regular session next month on Tuesdays, January 7 & 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall.
Meetings can be seen live on FBTV, cable channel 16 in Farmers Branch, and on replay at 6:30 p.m., seven days a week.
  
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Senior Center plans meeting on 2014 European trip
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Senior Center will host a "Travel Party" on January 10, to share information on a Paris, France to Normandy cruise, coming up in late October, 2014.
The nine-day trip is planned for the small cruise ship 'Avalon Creativity,' October 20-29. Details, deadlines and pricing will be discussed at the gathering. Call 972.919.8743.
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The home of Farmers Branch's first Mayor, William Dodson, stands illuminated in the Farmers Branch HIstorical Park on the Christmas Tour of Lights, which continues tonight, closed tomorrow, then open through December 30. Photo by Derrick Birdsall |
VIDEO GALLERY
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Chimney Safety
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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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