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SPECIAL EDITION: Tunes, Blooms & Crafts for triple play weekend
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Blue sky
To most people, the words "blue sky" are descriptive. They refer to what they see when they look up on a clear day.
However, they can carry a couple of different meanings.
In creative circles, "blue sky" can refer to a process of brainstorming where everyone's idea is important. There are no wrong answers and it is from that collage of thought, that winds up on the white board, that ideas begin to emerge.
Those ideas turn into action which become great projects, services and events - like the one we're set to celebrate this weekend.
For five years, Alan Tompkins and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, have been our partners in staging the Bloomin' Bluegrass in Farmers Branch event. And, for each of those five years, we've seen the event grow into one of the most anticipated dates on our calendar of celebrations.
Whether you're coming to hear exceptional live music or shop for arts and crafts or just the chili cook off, I have no doubt that this weekend's event will be the best yet.
Every member of every City department that played a part in putting on this event deserves to take a bow, but, they're too busy making it all happen. Still, if you enjoy yourself this weekend, tell someone in a green "Staff" shirt. They'll appreciate you saying so.
So, in this context, "blue sky" can also refer to the forecast which looks picture perfect to spend a couple of days in the meadow at the Farmers Branch Historical Park and/or browsing our Gardens during the Celebration of Roses and/or shopping for handmade items at the Senior Center's Craft Fair.
Finally, "blue sky" is also a metaphor for the unlimited potential we have in Farmers Branch to make life better every day. Some days we do that by fixing a street. Some days we do that by beautifying a median. And some days we do that by bringing world class musicians to celebrate musical heritage.
And, eat chili.
To contact Gary, click on his picture
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Derrick Birdsall
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Dubbed the "new queen of Bluegrass" by the Wall Street Journal, the Grammy-nominated and 12-time International Bluegrass Music Award winner, Rhonda Vincent recently reflected on the attraction of bluegrass music as she prepared for travel to Texas and this weekend's Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff in Farmers Branch. Set for Friday night and all day Saturday, October 17 & 18, the Festival combines some of the top names in Bluegrass music with competition-caliber chili, a KidZone for children's activities and an Arts & Crafts marketplace for shopping in the sunshine. Admission and parking are both free.  Performers scheduled to appear include Bluegrass favorites Seldom Scene, Rambling Rooks, Gibson Brothers, along with Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers. Also featured will be the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Balsam Range and Flatt Lonesome. Ms. Vincent will be performing with her band, The Rage, at 8:30 Friday night to highlight the opening evening of the event.
She attributes the allure of Bluegrass to the authenticity of the music, itself. "There is great skill required in playing the instruments, and immense care given to the choice of the instrument, the sound of the wood, and the type of strings used," Ms. Vincent explained. "When you hear the music, you are hearing the natural sounds of the voice and the tone created in the wood of the instrument. She said that true sound differentiates bluegrass from many other genres of music where technology can create any sound desired.  "In bluegrass music, the same voice is heard whether that person is standing in the midst of the audience without amplification, or front and center on stage. It's what you see is what you get. "You may not know how or why, but you can feel the realness in the music." Ms. Vincent was born in Kirksville and raised in nearby Greentop, Missouri as the oldest of three children. Her musical career began at age 5 when she began singing gospel songs with her family's band, the "Sally Mountain Show." Soon came snare drum, then mandolin, guitar and fiddle. She said that performing at local festivals, like Bloomin' Bluegrass is almost second nature. "I grew up in a musical family, traced back five generations of the Vincent family in northern Missouri," Ms. Vincent said. "We performed most every weekend during the summer at festivals, so this is like coming home to me. It's family entertainment and one of my favorite type places to perform." |
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Everyone can be a chili judge, Saturday
HISTORICAL PARK ~ The Chili Cookoff part of the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff is a Chili Appreciation Society International-sanctioned event where festival-goers can sample all manner of chili on Saturday, beginning at noon and running until the chili is gone.
For a $3 tasting cup, everyone can taste every chili represented at the festival and vote for their favorite as "People's Choice."
Tasting lasts from 12 noon until the chili is gone.
Awards will be presented on the main stage at 3:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to compete in the Chili Cookoff can do so for a $20 entry fee and can find out more information on the Bloomin' Bluegrass website.
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Annual Craft Fair marks start of holiday shopping season
SENIOR CENTER ~ The traditional head start on shopping for the holiday season gets underway Saturday, October 18 with the annual Craft Fair at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
Planned for the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the show will feature hundreds of local artisans selling handmade wares for the upcoming holiday season. Frequently a family affair, the annual craft fair attracts all ages to peruse the items handcrafted for consideration at the event.
Admission is free. Call 972.919.8740.
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Floral fascination fuels the fall's
Celebration of Roses
CITY HALL ~ Completing a trio of high profile events, the Farmers Branch Celebration of Roses is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, along with the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff and the annual Craft Fair.
Planned for 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the free event will celebrate roses in the gardens of Farmers Branch, with a rose show and with a slate of speakers at Farmers Branch City Hall.
Mike Shoup of the Antique Rose Emporium will spotlight "The Pioneer Roses" which he bred to both enhance the garden and honor fellow Texans.
Garden Designer and international lecturer Scott Ogden will speak on " The Moonlit Garden." Cody Hoya, General Manager of Northaven Gardens will share his ideas and inspirations on "Container Gardening."
Shuttles will provide easy access to the rose gardens and the Bluegrass Festival at the Historical Park.
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City Council to meet with P&Z October 30
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a joint meeting with Mayor Bob Phelps and the Farmers Branch City Council on Thursday, October 30 in the training room at the Bob Phelps Fire Administration Building. Designed as a discussion session on plans for the west side of Farmers Branch, the meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m.
The Bob Phelps Fire Administration Building is located at 13333 Hutton Drive, just north of Valley View Lane.
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Town Hall Meeting planned November 13
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and the members of the Farmers Branch City Council will meet members of the public at a Town Hall Meeting, set for Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Senior Center. The second of two such meetings set this year, after an update the Mayor and Council will engage in a question and answer session with the public on any desired topic. There will be Spanish language translation services available for those in need of assistance.
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AARP safe driving course set for Senior Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Volunteers from AARP will teach a Safe Driving Course at the Farmers Branch Senior Center from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23. Fees for the course are $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Organizers noted this course does not count for dismissal of a traffic violation. For more information, call 972.919.8740.
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DNA Geneaology program canceled
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The Manske Library has announced that the DNA Genealogy program, originally scheduled for October 18, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. For questions or concerns, call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Miklos Valdez
The play structure and other elements of the outdoor "Frog Pond" are now being installed at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center. Find out more about the project at www.fbh2o.com. |
Volume 4 | Edition 41 | Number 190 
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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Farmers Branch
Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
Main Stage
FRIDAY
4:30 pm
GATES OPEN
5 pm
FLATT LONESOME
6 pm
BALSAM RANGE
7 pm
JOE MULLINS & RADIO RAMBLERS
8:30 pm
RHONDA VINCENT &
THE RAGE
SATURDAY
11:30 am
GATES OPEN
12 pm
FLATT LONESOME
2:30 pm
KENNY & AMANDA SMITH BAND
3:30 pm
CHILI AWARDS
4 pm
BALSAM RANGE
5:30 pm
RAMBLING ROOKS
7 pm
GIBSON BROTHERS
8:30 pm
SELDOM SCENE
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Arts & Crafts
Marketplace Vendors
- B In-Tune
- Beau Tye
- Designs by Chris
- DNR Collections
- Eileen's Pralines
- Geo-Designs
- Kanzart
- One Busy Lady
- Paige's Paper & Art
- Pampered Chef
- SnK Creations
- Snobby Sauces
- Tree on the Hill Pottery
- Valwood Park Baptist Church
- Whitley's Welding & Custom Iron
- Your Dream Gifts & Collectibles
- Southwest Bluegrass Club
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Concession Vendors
- Camp Corn
- Concession Connection
- Carnival Catering
- Gypsy Scoops
- Lolo's Concessions
- Mess Hall
- Nuevo Leon Mex-Mex
- Uncle Willie's Pies
- Jazzy Fat's Cajun Classic
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Free Parking
Metrosquare Business Park
12300 Ford Road
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
Free Shuttle to the Gate
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OCT 17-18
BLOOMIN' BLUEGRASS
FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL &
CHILI COOK-OFF
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
OCT 18
CELEBRATION OF ROSES
@ Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch
972.919.2550
CRAFT FAIR
@ Senior Center
9 am to 4 pm
972.919.8740
OCT 21
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall
Study Session @ 5 pm
Regular Meeting @ 6:30 pm
972.247.3131
* All meeting dates & times subject to change. Call for verification.
OCT 22
TELL IT TO THE MAYOR
Open Office Hours with Mayor Bob Phelps @ City Hall
3 - 6 pm
972.919.2515
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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OCT 25 
HALLOWEEN IN THE PARK
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
NOV 11
VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION
@ Senior Center
10:30 am
972.919.2620
NOV 13
TOWN HALL MEETING
@ Senior Center @ 7 pm
972.919.2515
DEC 6
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
NOV 28 thru DEC 30
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS
972.919.1433
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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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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