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Getting excited
It's time to start getting excited.
While we're digging out the heavy coats for this early season cold snap, we shouldn't put the swim suits too far away.
Yes, it's almost the holiday season. But, soon thereafter, comes swimming season.
Last night, the Farmers Branch City Council was updated on the status of the new Farmers Branch Aquatics Center and the news gets more exciting every day.
Our new Aquatics Manager, Miklos Valdez, told the Mayor and Council that the project is on target to open its two components on time in 2015. First, the Margaret Young Natatorium should be open in the spring while the outdoor "Frog Pond" will be ready by Memorial Day Weekend.
He said new advances are being made every day on the construction project. The 30-foot, dual slide tower is in place and should be completed by the end of the month while concrete has been poured on the Lazy River structure. Excavation on the lap pool and therapy pool is also ongoing inside the largely completed natatorium structure.
The bottom line is, as anyone that has been by there more than once in the past few weeks can tell you, the site is changing rapidly.
And now, our Parks and Recreation staff has unveiled one of the greatest opportunities for gifts this holiday season that we've ever offered - give Aquatics Center memberships for Christmas.
Starting December 1, various levels of membership to the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center will be available for purchase and gifting. Even better, the first 150 to come in will get an Aquatics Center gift package as well. Stocking stuffers, perhaps?
Miklos also showed the Council two features that the community should get to know. First, the new Aquatics Center website should be up and running in the next few weeks. You will be able to get there at  www.fbh2o.com.
Finally, you should get to know the Frog family. These are the amphibious mascots that will serve as our hosts, guides and informational characters for guests to the Frog Pond. And, rumor has it these are tree frogs that live in the tree on the City logo.
Disney has its mouse, we have our frogs.
To contact Gary, click on his picture
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City offices to close for Thanksgiving, no garbage pickup 11/27-28
FARMERS BRANCH ~ All City of Farmers Branch offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, November 27, in observance of Thanksgiving Day.
On Friday, November 28, most offices remain closed except for the Community Recreation Center and Historical Park, both open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Historical Park reopens at 6:30 p.m. for the first night of the Christmas Tour of Lights.
There will be no garbage pickup either day and the Citizen Collection Center will be closed.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ An early holiday treat for Farmers Branch residents happens Thanksgiving Eve as the Dallas Stars hold their annual open practice at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Farmers Branch, 12700 North Stemmons Freeway. Set for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26, the Stars players will go through a full practice on the Farmers Branch ice while Norm Hitzges, from Sportsradio 1310, The Ticket, broadcasts live from the location. The event is free and open to the public. The practice is the first of a series of events planned for the day at the Dr Pepper StarCenter. Residents can ice skate, build a snowman or play broomball from 2:15 until 3:15 p.m., followed by a free curling event from 3 until 4.
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Parks & Recreation Department honored for excellent work
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In recognition of their work that exceeds expectations at every turn, members of the Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation staff have been honored at recent events.
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From left are Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Program Manager Mitzi Davis, Parks Landscape Manager Pam Smith, Parks and Recreation Board Chair Margaret Young and Special Projects Manager Meredith Dowdy.
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At the annual Texas Recreation and Parks Society conference, held recently in Grand Prairie, Parks Landscape Manager Pam Smith was honored as "Park Professional of the Year," while Special Projects Manager Meredith Dowdy received an Excellence in Programming Award for the innovative event, "Date Night in the Park."
In addition to her daily work in maintaining the Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch, along with beautifying parks, medians and public areas, Ms. Smith is widely regarded as an expert in landscaping and is frequently sought out as a speaker for the work she does in Farmers Branch.
"Date Night In the Park" was recognized as an outstanding, ongoing program. Ms. Dowdy initiated the program in the Spring of 2013 as an opportunity for parents to drop their kids off for childcare at the Community Recreation Center, then go to the Historical Park for music, food trucks and an outdoor movie.
Last month, members of the Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation maintenance crew took first place, of 26 cities participating in the 2014 TRAPS Equipment Rodeo, hosted by the City of Carrollton.
Events in the the Rodeo competition were trailer backing, mower (zero turn only) and backpack courses; plant identification; irrigation assembly; backhoe operation; and nail driving. Other top five finishers included the cities of Denton, Garland, Murphy and Rockwall.
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VIDEO 
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Farmers Branch: In the Air, 2014
A literal overview of Farmers Branch from an aerial perspective, outlining major City achievements in the past year.
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Firehouse Theatre to close
Annie Warbucks this weekend
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Firehouse Theatre completes its production of Annie Warbucks, the first to be housed in Old Fire Station No. 1, this weekend, November 21- 23.  Since taking over the retired fire station, the theatre has been producing shows in and around Farmers Branch while preparing the venue for use. "We have had two thrilling weekends opening the inaugural show in The Firehouse Theatre," said Business Director David Moore. "Audiences have loved the show and expressed excitement regarding the transformation of historic Fire Station No. 1." Tickets for closing weekend 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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Abatement group urges recycling cooking oil this holiday season
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The North Texas Grease Abatement Council is  co-sponsoring the Holiday Grease Roundup, to properly dispose of cooking oil, December 6-13. Several cities have volunteered to be drop-off locations for residents in the DFW area to get rid of used cooking oil, without introducing it to the sewer system. Locations around the Metroplex are featured on the website ceasethegreasentx.com/roundup.asp. However, Farmers Branch residents can take advantage of the year-round drop-off location at Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Lane, near the baseball fields. Organizers of the roundup say the used cooking oil will be "primarily recycled to help produce biodiesel for school buses."
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Volume 4 | Edition 46 | Number 195 
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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SoftLayer moving corporate HQ
FARMERS BRANCH ~ After growing by leaps and bounds since their relocation to Farmers Branch a few years ago, global cloud infrastructure provider SoftLayer has announced plans to move their corporate headquarters from Alpha Road to Stanford Corporate Center on Dallas Parkway, in Farmers Branch. SoftLayer will maintain their Alpha Road location as a data center, but double the size of its headquarters into 125,000 square feet with room for 700 employees.
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Christmas Tree Lighting event coming Dec. 6
HISTORICAL PARK ~ Countdown to the official lighting of the Farmers Branch tree and a special holiday fireworks show will all be a part of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event, set for Saturday, December 6 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7. The night also features a visit from Santa, a snow hill for tubing, a free KidZone, letters to the North Pole, holiday treats and more.
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Dallas International Girls Cup adds teams
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Adding to the list of teams coming to the Dallas International Girls Cup in 2015 are soccer clubs from Colombia and Canada. Sponsored by the Dallas Texans Select Soccer Club, the tournament is planned for April of 2015 and is based, in part, at the Ross Stewart Soccer Complex in Farmers Branch.
The team from Bogota, Colombia along with three teams from Ontario, Canada join top clubs that have been invited from Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Australia, and England.
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Valley View to close at night most of December
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Officials with the 35Express project are reporting they intend to close Valley View Lane under I-35E during nighttime hours for most of the month of December.  In order to finish bridgework, crews will reportedly close the intersection at 9 p.m. each evening, December 1 -24, reopening at 6 a.m. the next day.
For additional information on this closure or the 35Express project, visit www.35express.org.
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Police Explorers win at competition
ARLINGTON ~ Farmers Branch Police Explorer Post #676 garnered four awards at the recent Texas Law Enforcement Explorer Advisors Association competition, held at the University of Texas at Arlington. The state competition consists of four team scenario/role play events.
Farmers Branch Explorers took first place in Active Shooter, 2nd in Intoxicated Driver, and two 3rd place finishes in Crisis Negotiations and Felony Traffic Stops.
Participating were Nicholas Harler, Jeffrey Hong, Derrick McCausland, Emily Patterson, Dominique Peillard, Nesta Street, Veronica Gutierrez and Eric Torres-Guevara.
The competition included more than 40 agencies from Texas and Oklahoma.
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The red edges on the Historical Park windmill seem to pop in contrast with the fall colors on the adjacent trees.
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NOV 21-23
ANNIE WARBUCKS
@ Firehouse Theatre
7:30 pm Fri & Sat
2 pm Sat & Sun
972.620.3747
Rec Center & Historical Park Open 8-5
No Garbage Collection
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS OPENS
6:30 to 9:30 pm each night
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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DEC 2
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall @ 6 pm NEW TIME
DEC 6
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
@ FB Historical Park @ 7 pm
972.919.1433
DEC 13
BROOKHAVEN COLLEGE HOLIDAY HANDBELL ENSEMBLE
972.247.2511
DEC 16
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall @ 6 pm NEW TIME
DEC 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
All City Offices Closed
No Garbage Collection
DEC 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
All City Offices Closed
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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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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