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Ideas matter
Former President George H.W. Bush turned 90 recently. Even though in increasingly fragile health, he still jumped out of a plane to celebrate.
Thinking about that kind of spirit prompted me to reflect on one of the more important things he once said.
"If you have a plan, we want to hear it," the President once said. "Tell your community leaders, your local officials, your governor, and your team in Washington. Believe me, your ideas count. An individual can make a difference."
I like to think that we live that every day in Farmers Branch. Opportunities abound for you to tell us what you think about programs, projects, services and issues.
We had a Town Hall Meeting a few weeks ago and will have another one this Fall. Fire Chief Steve Parker is hosting a neighborhood meeting tonight to talk about relocating Fire Station No. 2 to a more productive place from which to better serve our citizens.
Citizen Comments at City Council meetings offer residents a chance to let us know what's on their minds. All of the City Council has contact information published on our website and Mayor Bob Phelps revisits an old practice of his beginning next week - holding open office hours at City Hall on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 3 until 6 p.m. If you even click on my picture in this column, you'll be taken to a webpage where you can send an email directly to me.
The public input gathered from a series of meetings helped formulate the Central Area Plan and told us you want revitalization efforts in your neighborhoods.
Your input is especially important this time of year, as we're in budget preparation season. There will be ongoing discussions on the proposed Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget during Council Meetings in August and September. This will include a workshop on the proposed budget at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19 as part of the next regular City Council meeting study session. We hope you can join us.
But, whether you are an active attendee at public meetings, watch our proceedings on TV or online or just have an idea, it's always sharing season. Here are as many ways as I can think of to get in touch with us:
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Homegrown talent
Years of Farmers Branch experience result in quality candidates for leadership roles
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Completing a series of events, set in motion by the retirement of longtime Recreation Superintendent Texx Stewart, the Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Department found it didn't have to go far to find perfect people for leadership positions.
Wimberly Phillips
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Maria Minter
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After an extensive search and interview process, involving both internal and external finalists, Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Harting announced in July that Wimberly Phillips had been selected to replace Mr. Stewart as Recreation Superintendent.
Then, today, Mr. Harting confirmed that Athletics Coordinator Maria Minter has been chosen to replace Ms. Phillips as Manager of the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center.
With more than 40 years of Farmers Branch-specific experience between them, the two are better equipped than anyone to implement a seamless transition into each of their new positions, Mr. Harting
explained.
"There were some formidable external candidates in the mix for each of these positions," he said. "But, at the end of the day, we couldn't get past the wealth of institutional knowledge that both Wimberly and Maria bring to the table.
"We have extreme confidence in their abilities to build on their years of specific experience in Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation to do a tremendous job for us."
Ms. Phillips' Farmers Branch experience began in 1981 when she was hired as a part-time Recreation Leader. She transitioned to full-time in 1989 as a Recreation Programmer and has been in charge of the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center, in its various incarnations, since 1993.
VIDEO  EXTRA
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Pool's Closed!
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Ms. Minter joined the Parks and Recreation staff in 1995 and has been full-time since 1999. She has served in various capacities, including Recreation Programmer and Athletics Coordinator.
In addition to her other duties, Ms. Minter and her family appeared in a public service announcement for the 2014 swimming season earlier this year.
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 Empty the Shelter Day  Pets adopted at no cost, one day only
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In an effort to reduce the population at the Animal Adoption Center, Farmers Branch will be joining with dozens of other participating cities, counties and non-profit organizations in sponsoring "Empty the Shelter" day, when dozens of pets will be available for adoption, at no cost to citizens.
Participating cities include Carrollton, Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Irving, Lewisville, Plano and Richardson, among others.
Set for Saturday, August 16, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., event organizers hope to adopt as many pets as possible. Regular adoption fees are up to $85 but will be waived for the special event, but only on that day.
For more information, visit www.emptytheshelter.org.
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Resident wildlife photographers
 to present Aug12
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Accomplished
wildlife photographers, authors and Farmers Branch residents Greg and Mary Beth Dimijian will be at the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. for a photography presentation and book signing.
The Dimijians' second title, For the Love of Wild Places, explores the most remote habitats on the planet with breathtaking photographs and personal narrative, capturing the wonder, beauty and fragility of vanishing wild places.
The presentation is free and open to the public.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Call 972.247.2511.
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Aquatics Center construction update
Updated: August 6, 2014
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Construction continues throughout the summer on the new Aquatics Center to be located next to the Community Recreation Center on Heartside Place, near Valwood Parkway.
The year-round, indoor section of the new complex is expected to be open next winter with the outdoor portion ready for the summer, 2015 swim season. Call 972.247.4607 for more information.
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Tom Bryson
Hello, Dolly
Farmers Branch Historical Park volunteer Dolly Graul thought the group she was with was presenting a general report on volunteer service at the park to the City Council at their meeting last night.. She reacted with extreme surprise when she found out that the presentation was actually in praise of her very specific and extraordinary volunteer work at the park, through the years.
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Volume 4 | Edition 31 | Number 180 
is published weekly by the Communications Office
of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
Three-time Award Winner for
Excellence in E-Newsletters in Texas
Awarded by the
Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
www.texastamio.org
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Cool cat
This reclining feline looks quizzically at the camera in the Cat Condos inside the Farmers Branch Animal Adoption Center.
As the local shelter, the AAC will be participating in "Empty the Shelter" Day along with dozens of other cities, counties and non-profits, on Saturday, August 16 when adoption fees will be waived for adoptable pets, that day only. See more info in today's featured story. Photo by Tom Bryson
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Brookhaven
Big Band set tonight at Library
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Under the direction of Keith Umbach, students from the Brookhaven College music department will perform at theFarmers Branch Manske Library on Wednesday, August 6 at 7 p.m.  With Brookhaven since 2000, Mr. Umbach is currently the director of the jazz big band and the director of the digital music program. In addition to his director roles, Mr. Umbach is the applied percussion instructor as well. This performance is free and open to the public. For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Focus on Film Noir scheduled Saturday
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Local author Brandi Boddie will provide an introduction to Film Noir in a presentation set for Saturday, August 9 at 2 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
The stylistic film genre took the world by storm in the 1940s and continues to hold audiences enthralled today.
Ms. Boddie will cover Film Noir's origins, the actors, techniques used to make the movies as well as the genre's archetypes. Both new and veteran movie fans are welcome.
The presentation is part of the North Texas Dieselpunks monthly meeting. The session is free.
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Tell it to the Mayor
Farmers Branch Mayor Bob Phelps will be available for open office hours on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month, 3 to 6 p.m., at Farmers Branch City Hall, beginning in August. Anyone is welcome to come by, without an appointment, to chat with Mayor Phelps on any topic. Call 972.919.2515 for more info.
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Citizen Police Academy
The Farmers Branch Police Department is gearing up for the Fall session of its Citizen Police Academy. The 30-hour block of instruction is broken into classes over 10 weeks designed to give adults a working knowledge of Farmers Branch Police Department policies, personnel and procedures. Enrollment is free. Call 972.406.0184.
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FBHP Volunteers
The Farmers Branch Historical Park is seeking volunteers to assist with school tours, special events and projects. No experience with museum work is necessary. A training sessions for prospective and veteran volunteers is set for Thursday, August 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Historical Park. For more information, call or email Museum Educator Danielle Brissette at 972.919.8731.
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Vintage Base Ball
The Farmers Branch Mustangs Vintage Base Ball Club is seeking new players to engage in the great game as it was played by 1860s rules - no glove, no ungentlemanly conduct, no stealing of bases and more. Residents are encouraged to come and play ball with the Mustangs or join the Mustang's Fan Club. No sports experience necessary. Upcoming open practices are from 6 until 8 p.m. on August 12 and September 16 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Call 972.919.8731.
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 | | Teen Camp Video Blog |
 | | "Pool's Closed!" |
 | | "Above & Beyond" |
 | | "John F. Burke Nature Preserve: An Overview" |
 | | "Farmers Branch Connections" |
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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
lovethebranch.com or call 972.247.3131.
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