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Old Codgers
According to the old saying, "nice guys finish last."
Well, apparently, old Codgers finish first.
That, at least, is the news from Grand Prairie last Friday as the Codgers senior league softball team from Farmers Branch capped a storybook playoff run by besting the arch-rival Sachse Rangers for the DFW Championship.
Charlie Bond has been playing for the Codgers for 22 years. He said the 17 members of the over-65 team enjoyed a "magical year."
Making their home at Oran Good Park, the Codgers play their 40+ game schedule in the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association.
Charlie said that even though the Codgers were the defending champions, they faced a tough road in the double-elimination championship tournament last week as the Sachse Rangers went undefeated in the regular season, winning 44 consecutive games. Eight of those 44 were against the Codgers.
So, you can imagine the celebration when the Codgers pulled out their first game against Sachse 11-10 in the last half of the last inning.
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The Farmers Branch Codgers are (front row, from left) Bill Daniel, Bill Tucker, Claude Parson, James McWilliams, Mike Farrar, Charlie Bond, Vic Jones, Jeff Small; (back row, from left) Fred Preston, Walt Minigutti, Don Couch, George Clayton, Don Collinsworth, Ron Salfen, Wayne Abramski, Tommy Baer, Joe Cotter, Bill Skaggs, Dexter Clemens, Joe Yakamavich.
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But, Charlie knew the Rangers would likely emerge from the losers' bracket to face them again. And, he was right. However, remember, it is double-elimination. So, with the Rangers and the Codgers facing off for the championship, Sachse would have to win twice to take the title.
Charlie said the Codgers rose to the occasion and didn't make them play two games. They beat Sachse 27-7 in the decisive game for the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association title - successfully defending their championship.
This story shouldn't surprise anyone. It only reinforces my view of the very active and progressive senior community in Farmers Branch.
By the way, the team name "Codgers," Charlie says is a badge of honor that they wear with pride. They're going to come to a City Council meeting in the near future and let us properly honor them for their championship. We invite you to come out and help us cheer them on.
P.S. - I hope the Kansas City Royals play like the old Codgers in tonight's World Series Game 7.
To contact Gary, click on his picture
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West side discussion set for joint Council / P&Z Meeting, Thursday
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and the City Council will host a joint meeting with the Planning & Zoning Commission to discuss the future direction of development on the West Side of the City, at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 30 in the Fire Department Training Room, 13333 Hutton Drive.
During the past three months, the Planning Department has received strong development interest in the possibility of developing a substantial portion of the underdeveloped land known as Mercer Crossing, near Luna Road and Mercer Parkway, into a large, master planned residential development.
The purpose of the meeting is discussion only with no action to be taken. For more information, call 972.247.3131.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ For more than 53 years, firefighters kept Farmers Branch safe out of the grand old house known as Fire Station No. 1, on Valley View Lane, across from City Hall.
Opened during the waning days of the Eisenhower administration, on July 11, 1959, construction of the station cost $71,000. She served the City for those five decades, housing scores of firefighters through the generations, ever-improving firefighting and life safety equipment, and more than 58,000 meals for her crews.
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Producing Artistic Director John Wilkerson plays Oliver Warbucks in the new production, along with Mary Strauss as Annie, which previewed a scene at last weekend's 'Halloween in the Park.'
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However, as the size of contemporary firefighting equipment and vehicles began to outpace the size of the house, Old Fire Station No. 1 was shuttered on February 10, 2012 as the Farmers Branch Fire Department moved into the more centrally-located new Station 1 on Webb Chapel, just north of Valley View. The 12,500 square foot new, state of the art station, was approved by voters in 2009.
But, the old building didn't stay idle for long.
Shortly after it closed, a community theatre group formed as The Firehouse Theatre and began making big plans for the renovation of the former public safety facility as a performing arts theatre, after reaching agreement with City.
For three years, The Firehouse Theatre has been performing musicals, comedies and Shakespeare at venues in and around Farmers Branch, until the old firehouse was ready for its first performance.
Now, it is.  The Firehouse Theatre has announced that its upcoming production of Annie Warbucks will be the first to be housed in Old Fire Station No. 1. The sequel to the Broadway hit Annie, the musical will be presented at The Firehouse Theatre on select nights, November 7-23.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students and children. Reservations can be made by calling The Firehouse Theatre box office at 972.620.3747 or online at www.thefirehousetheatre.com. The Firehouse Theatre is located at 2535 Valley View Lane, between Bee Street and William Dodson Parkway.
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Citizen Satisfaction Survey open for feedback until November 15
 CITY HALL ~ Continuing the even-numbered year practice of grading City programs, activities, services and events, the City of Farmers Branch is asking residents to give their feedback on the Citizen Satisfaction Survey, underway through November 15. Surveys were mailed to 8,000 residents on October 15, but anyone living in Farmers Branch is invited to go online at www.farmersbranchtx.gov/survey to weigh in with their opinion. Farmers Branch Management Analyst Shawna Eikenberry said the survey is a valuable tool to assist City departments in evaluating their work and prioritizing future projects and activities.
Asking questions on various departments and activities, the survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Results will be shared with the public sometime after the first of the year.
For more information, call 972.919.2515.
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E-recycling coming to Citizen Collection Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In an effort to spread the benefits of CityWide CleanUp Day throughout the year, the Farmers Branch Public Works Department has announced that residents can drop off e-waste for recycling at the Citizen Collection Center during regular operating hours, beginning in November.
Located at 1399 Valley View Lane, the Center is open to residents only Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
E-waste accepted includes computers and peripherals, televisions, printers, copiers, cell phones, tablets, video and camera equipment and more.
Items not accepted for recycling include loose batteries, propane tanks, household appliances, light bulbs, refrigerators or air conditioners.
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Veterans Day Celebration coming November 11
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The "Manhattan Dolls" song and dance troupe will entertain the assembled crowd at the Farmers Branch Veterans Day Celebration, planned for Tuesday, November 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Farmers Branch Senior Center. There will be the traditional aspects of the Farmers Branch event, including the rendering of 'Taps' along with salutes to all branches of the U.S. military. There will be a free hot dog lunch following the event.
Everyone is invited and admission is free.
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Wood-floor gym set to reopen
REC CENTER ~ The wood-floor basketball gym at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center is set to re-open on Friday, October 31. The popular gym closed October 17 for refurbishing, however, the other gym has been unaffected and remained open during the period. For more information, call 972.247.4607.
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 Heavy equipment has now been brought inside the Margaret Young Natatorium building to begin excavation for the pools in the building. At the same time, installation of equipment continues outside on the Frog Pond portion of the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center. For more, visit www.fbh2o.com. |
Volume 4 | Edition 43 | Number 192 
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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OCT 30
JOINT CITY COUNCIL / P&Z
@ Fire Administration Bldg
972.919.2515
NOV 04
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall @ 6:30 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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Valley View continues to close at night
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Officials with the 35Express project have announced that Valley View Lane, under I-35E, will be closed during overnight hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through November 3.  35Express is the group responsible for the makeover of Interstate 35E from its intersection with LBJ, north through Farmers Branch and Carrollton into Denton County to U.S. Highway 380. In addition, the LBJ Express group has announced a full closure of Valley View at I-35E on Thursday, November 6 at 8 p.m. until Friday, November 7 at 6 a.m.
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NOV 7-9 / 14-16 / 21-23
ANNIE WARBUCKS
@ Firehouse Theatre
7:30 pm Fri & Sat
2 pm Sat & Sun
972.620.3747
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
NOV 18
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
972.919.2515
Rec Center & Historical Park Open 8-5
No Garbage Collection
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS OPENS
972.919.1433
DEC 6
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
Thru DEC 30
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS
Not open Dec 6 or 25
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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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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'Tell it to the Mayor' schedule changes in Nov/Dec
CITY HALL ~ Mayor Bob Phelps' twice monthly open office hours at City Hall will see a slight schedule change in November and December, due to the upcoming holiday season.
Regularly set for the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 3 until 6 p.m., the "Tell it to the Mayor" sessions will be held on the second Wednesdays only during those two months, on November 12 and December 10. Mayor Phelps noted the fourth Wednesday in November was the day before Thanksgiving while the fourth Wednesday in December was Christmas Eve.
For questions or more information on the program, call 972.919.2515.
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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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