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Time to plan
One of the most important dates on the City's calendar every year is our annual opportunity to gather with the Council in a winter retreat to discuss the City's strategic plan and to formulate a roadmap for the coming year.
The Oxford dictionary defines "retreat" as to "withdraw to a quiet or secluded place."
The 21st century meaning has evolved somewhat in that technology has us perennially connected. That's why we typically will journey to a location outside Farmers Branch, away from phones and regular business, turning cell phones off, so that we can concentrate on the agenda at hand.
While many governmental bodies will travel great distances for their retreats, the Farmers Branch City Council does not leave the confines of the DFW Metroplex. This year, we will be in retreat at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine on Friday, January 31.
As is legal and customary in Texas, any meeting of the City Council is an open meeting with the public invited to attend. The retreat is no exception. For further details and directions to the meeting room, please contact the City Secretary's office at 972.919.2503.
By the end of the day, we will emerge with a fresh perspective on the City's strategic plan and the stated goals and objectives with which to achieve it.
You can find more information on the current strategic plan here. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at any time.
  
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Daddy Daughter Dance coming up fast, on February 1
 RECREATION CENTER ~ Dads and their daughters are invited to dance their way into the classic children's story, Alice in Wonderland at the annual Daddy Daughter Dance, coming up Saturday, February 1 at the Community Recreation Center, from 6 until 8 p.m. Daddys and daughters will enjoy a night of dancing, cookies and punch more. Advance admission is $5 per Farmers Branch resident, $8 per non-resident or $10 at the door.
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Firehouse Theatre announces "Charlie Brown"
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch has announced their production of the classic musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," will be staged at the Farmers Branch Manske Library on select dates in March. 
Winner of two Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards, the play will be presented March 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22.
For more information on the play, on ticket prices or season ticket prices, contact the Firehouse Theatre at 972.620.3747.
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HOV lane closure expanded
INTERSTATE 35E ~ As part of the massive overhaul of Interstate 35E, the closure of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes between Whitlock Lane in Carrollton, south, through Farmers Branch to LBJ Freeway in Dallas, is scheduled for expansion this week.
 Southbound HOV closure will now extend from FM 3040/Round Grove Road, in Lewisville, south to I-635 in Dallas. Northbound HOV lane closure remains from LBJ, north to Whitlock in Carrollton, for now. The north- and southbound HOV lanes between Whitlock Lane in Carrollton and I-635 in Dallas were permanently closed Jan. 13 as crews prepare to widen the bridges at Whitlock Lane, Crosby Road, Valwood Parkway and Valley View Lane. The HOV lanes will be replaced by a reversible managed lane system that will open once construction on the project is complete in mid-2017. Known as the 35Express Project, the endeavor is a 30-mile, $1.4 billion expansion of the Interstate 35E corridor from U.S. Highway 380 in Denton County, to Interstate 635 in Dallas. 35Express has scheduled a quarterly meeting for businesses along the corridor for Friday, February 21 at 7 a.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall. For more information, including a schedule of community meetings in 2014 and other resources available from the 35Express Public Information Office, visit www.35express.org or call 214.483.7777.
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Sculptural photography to be featured in Library exhibit
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Vanessa Lee and "Mokey" Lee Davidson will be exhibiting "Sculptural Photography and Sculpture" in the Art Gallery at the Farmers Branch Manske Library throughout the month of Februrary. Vanessa's work includes original works of sculptural photography and metal sculptures while Mokey's endeavors concentrate on ceramics and sculpture. There will be a reception for the artists on February 15 at 2:30 p.m. when new photographers are encouraged to bring their work for a professional critique. Call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Employee: Shawna Eikenberry  Position: Management Analyst Department: City Manager's Office
Employed: 10 days
Background: I've worked in the public sector, serving my community, for my entire adult life and truly have a passion for bettering the communities we all live and work in. My experience began working with juvenile delinquents, working to build safer communities through rehabilitation and community reintegration efforts. I then worked with victims of crime through a local prosecutor's office, working to protect victims' interests and rights in the maze of the criminal justice system. From that role, I grew into administrative and managerial roles in the organization that allowed me to grow more familiar with the broader needs of the community and the many, many moving parts that must all work together to make a community great for its residents, visitors, and neighbors. That's why I'm so thrilled to join the City of Farmers Branch in a position that will allow me to turn a critical eye towards many service areas in hopes of helping our community leadership discern where and how we can most responsibly assign those resources entrusted to us by our residents.
Why I like working for the City of Farmers Branch: Farmers Branch is a great community that I truly believe is moving toward an even greater future. Farmers Branch has maintained a sense of being a close knit, peaceful oasis located in the heart of the DFW Metroplex. The staff I've had the pleasure to meet and get to know have a great passion for protecting this sense of community while also helping to grow Farmers Branch in responsible ways that protect its uniqueness. We all believe in the greatness of Farmers Branch, both as it is now and as it will be in the future under the tremendous leadership of our Mayor, Council and City Manager.
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Tom Bryson Finance recognition
Farmers Branch Managing Director for Finance and Administration Charles Cox accepts congratulations from Mayor Bill Glancy for receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, and the Gold Leadership Award for Financial Transparency by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Find out more about the Farmers Branch Finance Department.
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Volume 4 | Edition 03 | Number 152 
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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JANUARY
All events subject to change
Thru FEB 11
LANDSCAPING WITH ROSES
Free classes each week
Pre-register @ 972.247.4607
FEBRUARY
All events subject to change
972.247.4607 for tix & info
FEB 4 & 18
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6:30 pm @ City Hall
Broadcast LIVE on FBTV
972.247.3131
FEB 15
972.406.0184
PLAN AHEAD
MAR 15-16
CAMPING UNDER THE STARS
APR 4-5 & 11-12 ENCOUNTERS FROM THE PAST APR 12 CITYWIDE CLEANUP DAY DATE NIGHT IN THE PARK
MAY 24 LIBERTY FEST
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Winter Tree ID Walk set Sunday
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As part of the series of nature walks occurring through the year, a Winter Tree Identification Walk will be conducted by Dallas County Master Naturalists at the John F. Burke Nature Preserve, 1111 Valley View Lane, in Farmers Branch on Sunday, January 26.
Set from 2 until 4 p.m., the walk will highlight one of the best times of year to identify shape, bark and other key tree characteristics when they're not obscured by leaves.
Appropriate for ages 10 and over, the walk is free and open to the public. For information or to reserve a space, call 972.495.4482.
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Storytelling Workshop planned at Senior Center
SENIOR CENTER ~ Author L.E. Taylor will share secrets learned about memoir-quality storytelling in a Family Storytelling Workshop, set for 1 p.m. on February 10 & 17 at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
Registration at the Senior Center is limited to ages 50 or older at a fee of $39. Call 972.919.8740.
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Rose landscaping classes continue
REC CENTER ~ The Annual Landscaping with Roses Classes are underway in January and February.
Each class begins at 7 p.m. except for the February 8 class, which will begin at 10 a.m. Most classes will be held at the Community Recreation Center and are free and open to all. Pre-register by calling 972.247.4607.
Remaining sessions include:
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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Water flows through Rawhide Creek at Gussie Field Watterworth Park near City Hall. Staff Photo |
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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