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Malice towards none
In his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln suggested that the impending reconciliation with the southern states be exercised "with malice towards none" and "with charity for all."
Regardless of how well his message may, or may not, have been taken to heart, President Lincoln's words echo through the ages as the best formula for the resolution of conflicts or disagreements.
Monday, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in the Farmers Branch legal battle over renting apartments to illegal aliens. This leaves the lower court ruling in force and effectively ends a legal odyssey that lasted seven and a half years.
This has been an issue that has stirred great passions on both sides of the coin and, if nothing else, has helped to raise the level of debate on immigration issues.
Now, we have an opportunity.
If there's anything that has been a constant in the past seven years, it has been there are a great many people that have a love for Farmers Branch and want nothing but the best for this community.
Therein lies our opportunity. We must recognize the common threads upon which we all agree - housing options, transportation and infrastructure, the integrity of neighborhoods, economic development, quality of life, public safety and more.
Once we all stand upon that common ground, it is much easier for us to go forward, working together to achieve those goals for the betterment of Farmers Branch.
This legal battle is a chapter in our history that has now been written and concluded. What will the next chapter be?
It's up to us.
  
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Rescheduled Star Party set Thursday at Historical Park
 HISTORICAL PARK ~ In search of temperatures somewhat higher than frigid, Tuesday's Star Party at the Farmers Branch Historical Park has been pushed to Thursday, March 6, from dusk til about 9 p.m.
Star Parties are free opportunities for anyone to take advantage of high-powered telescopes to view celestial objects. Telescopes and volunteer expertise will be provided for guests by the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Astronomical Society.
Additional parties are set for April 8 & May 6 with inclement weather, or heavy cloud cover, days set for the Thursday following each date. For more info, visit www.texasastro.org.
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HISTORICAL PARK ~ It is with a great deal of excitement that the City of Farmers Branch announces "Stars & Strings," a new event featuring a concert by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra followed by a spectacular, low-level fireworks finale.
Families are invited to the event to celebrate liberty and honor our country and the men and women who serve her.
Set for Saturday, May 24, the gates of the Farmers Branch Historical Park will open that evening to include music, food trucks, fireworks and a tribute to our nation's heroes.
Families can set up their lawn chairs and blankets in the meadow to enjoy an evening under the stars. Admission will be free.
More information will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, call 972.919.2620 for more information or visit www.fbspecialevents.com.
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Voter information for upcoming City elections published on web
FARMERS BRANCH ~ With the conclusion of candidate filing, information for voters on the upcoming City election, including early voting dates and times, have been published on the City of Farmers Branch website. 
The May 10 election will not only feature balloting for the offices of Mayor and Councilmember, District 2, there will also be questions of a local option for legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption and a $23.5 million bond issue.
Running for Mayor to replace the retiring Bill Glancy are (in drawn ballot order) Bob Phelps, Carol Dingman and David Koch. For District 2 Councilmember, candidates are Luther Bernstein, incumbent Harold Froehlich and Garrett Smith.
Early voting will be held according to the following schedule:
- Monday, April 28 - Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, May 4, from 1 until 6 p.m.
- Monday and Tuesday, May 5 & 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Farmers Branch residents may vote early at any Dallas County early voting location, including Farmers Branch City Hall. Additionally, special close-to-the-door parking spaces will be available at City Hall for all days balloting takes place.
For more information, call 972.247.3131.
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Limited number of Community Garden plots still available
FARMERS BRANCH ~ After operating at full capacity for a number of years, a limited number of plots have become available in the Farmers Branch Community Garden, at 12411 Templeton Trail.
 A partnership between the City of Farmers Branch, Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and Metrocrest Social Services, the garden represents a commitment to nurture the earth through sustainable gardening while growing healthy food for both the family and the community. Plots are available to members of the Farmers Branch community who live or work here, go to school or attend church here or are, in some way, an active member of the community. For more information, visit the Community Garden page on the Farmers Branch website or call 972.919.2625.
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Warrant round up wraps up Saturday
 FARMERS BRANCH ~ In coordination with law enforcement agencies across Texas, the Farmers Branch Police Department is participating in the Statewide Warrant Round Up, going on now through March 9.
Farmers Branch Police officials said arrests are being scheduled and if anyone has an outstanding local warrant and wants to avoid arrest at their home or place of employment, they should call Farmers Branch Municipal Court at 972.484.4112 as soon as possible.
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Employee: Jessica Jones
Division: Police - Communications
Title: 9-1-1 Dispatcher
Employed: 8 months
Background: I am a Beginner telecommunicator. I have been at Farmers Branch since June 22, 2013 and dispatched at Texarkana Police Department for a little over year before coming here. I am a student and have a year left to obtain my bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. My hobbies include shopping, reading, going to the gym and traveling.
What I like most about working for the City: I most enjoy working here because the job never gets boring and there is something different happening every day.
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Staff Photo This volunteer was one of several who spent their time this morning planting David Austin trial roses at Gussie Field Watterworth Park in Farmers Branch.
David Austin trail roses planted at Gussie FARMERS BRANCH ~ Now that the EarthKind Rose trial is over, the rose garden at Gussie Field Watterworth Park is becoming a trial garden for England's David Austin Roses. Volunteers from local rose societies along with Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation staff converged on the rose garden at Gussie this morning, braving chilly temperatures, to plant the 600+ David Austin trial roses. They were joined by Steve Longbottom, who traveled to Farmers Branch from the United Kingdom, to oversee installation of the trial garden. Farmers Branch Landscape Manager Pam Smith said David Austin Jr. traveled to the U.S. last year, visiting the rose gardens at Gussie and personally selected Farmers Branch as one of three trial locations in the U.S., along with sites in New York and California. Ms. Smith said the bed improvements and roses were all donated by the David Austin group. "David Austin is most well-known for hybridizing roses with an old English feel," Ms. Smith said. "David Austin Roses are also known for their fragrance." The four-year trial will feature both climbing and shrub roses of varying types. For more information, call 972.919.2625. |
Volume 4 | Edition 09 | Number 158 
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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March
All events subject to change
MAR 6
STAR PARTY
Dusk til 9 pm @ Historical Park
MAR 15-16
CAMPING UNDER THE STARS - Sold Out
Sat/Sun @ Historical Park
MAR 18
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6:30 pm @ City Hall
All events subject to change
APR 1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6:30 pm @ City Hall
APR 8
STAR PARTY
Dusk til 9 pm @ Historical Park
APR 12 CITYWIDE CLEANUP DAY 9 am - 12 noon @ Oran Good DATE NIGHT IN THE PARK
6:30 pm @ Historical Park
May
All events subject to change
MAY 3
FISHIN' FUN
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Voluntary water conservation remains in effect
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Although 2013 proved to be wetter than usual for north Texas, Farmers Branch City Manager Gary D. Greer wants to remind residents voluntary water conservation measures remain in effect.
"Although the rain we've had last summer was extremely rare for that time of year, we remain in the clutches of a prolonged drought," he explained. "That's why we implemented Stage 1 voluntary conservations measures, under our drought contingency plan, in early 2012 and that's why we're continuing that stage now."
>> MORE
  
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CleanUp Day to take clothing for Metrocrest Svcs
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Because of the tremendous response last year, City officials have announced that CityWide CleanUp Day 2014 will return to Oran Good Park, corner of Valley View Lane and Tom Field Road on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.
Again, the event will feature opportunities for electronics recycling, prescription medication disposal and document shredding, along with regular refuse disposal and recycling drop off. In addition this year, there will be household chemical collection on site, provided by Dallas County.
Metrocrest Services will be there to accept donations of clothing and shoes only.
>> MORE
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Food trucks to return for Date Night
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Thanks to a Facebook poll, the Vince Vaughn comedy, "Delivery Man" will be the featured movie at 'Date Night' in the park on Saturday, April 12 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. The southern rock band 'Prophets & Outlaws' will play at 7 p.m.
Again, there will be food trucks for dining and snacking and the outdoor movie in the meadow starting after dark.
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Rock & Mineral Club
Bill Henderson will have microphotography equipment on hand for the next meeting of the Rock & Mineral Club on Thursday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center.
Stronger After 50 Workout
The Senior Center is sponsoring this workout at the Community Recreation Center on Saturday, March 8 from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Seniors will use equipment to learn and experience exercise for posture, balance, core strength and flexibility. The workout is free but seniors should register at the Senior Center front desk or call the Rec Center at 972.247.4607.
St. Patrick's Day Party
Green will be worn at the Senior Center's St. Patrick's Day Party on Friday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. Entertainment will be the Ukulele Band, Mountain Dulcimer Group, Line Dancers, Cloggers and Tap Dazzlers. Tickets are free.
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VIDEO EXTRA
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Farmers Branch
"Above & Beyond"
A profile of Farmers Branch City employees who daily go "Above & Beyond" expectations to deliver service to citizens.
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thru April 15
AARP-Trained Volunteers on hand for tax questions and assistance on Tuesdays at:
Farmers Branch
Senior Center
14055 Dennis Lane
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Manske Library
13613 Golfing Green
1 to 7 p.m.
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Firehouse Theatre opens "Charlie Brown" this weekend
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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The squirrels are looking forward to spring, as well. Photo by Tom Bryson |
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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