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My advice about advice
As we wind down this high school graduation season, thousands of local students have heard all manner of reflections, life lessons and career advice from all manner of classmates, parents and keynote speakers.
Well, here's a little more rhetoric for the freshly minted high school graduates of 2015.
First of all, congratulations!
It is not a given that every kid goes through 12 years of school and emerges on the other side with a high school diploma. So, please know that the work you've engaged in - particularly for the past four years - has been worth it. Well done.
Many of you are going on to college. Some have been accepted to multiple universities in different states. Some have considered it a triumph of monumental proportions to simply be accepted to one, because, if it's the right one, one is all it takes.
Some of you may be headed for technical school and some may be going directly into the workforce. Whatever your situation, right now, you're on top of your world and you think you've got this "life" thing figured out.
But, bear this in mind. There's a reason that you've been getting advice from people over, say age 35. Most people over 35 may or may not be experts at what they do, but they are experts at one thing - having lived longer than you, so far. They've experienced many of the great things that are in your future, and they've stumbled across many of the hurdles that are coming your way.
You might think your parents have no clue where you're coming from when, in truth, they not only know where you're coming from but where you're going.
So, my advice about advice is to take it for what it's truly worth. And, pay attention when people like me quote the great innovator Steve Jobs, who once said, "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."
Now, the grad parties are done, the ceremonies are over and the tassels are hanging from rear-view mirrors. It's very valid that they call this "commencement" because the rest of your life starts right now.
The world is waiting for you.
Will you simply exist in it, travel across it, or change it forever?
To contact Gary, click on his picture
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In case you missed it, please check out these links for the most recent month of 'Memos from the Manager' and complete editions:
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Trash collection returns to normal schedules Thursday
FARMERS BRANCH ~ While floodwaters have still cut off access to the Camelot Landfill in Lewisville, Waste Management, the City's residential trash collection contractor, can now get into the neighboring DFW Landfill.
As such, regular trash collection schedules in Farmers Branch is expected to resume Thursday with trash temporarily going to DFW until access to Camelot is restored.
If this weekend's rainy forecast stays south of Denton County, officials hope to be able to reopen the Camelot Landfill next week.
For questions, call 972.919.2597.
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Record rainfall means many mosquitoes
City to be sprayed tonight
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The record rainfall in May, followed by the introduction of summer heat in June, has predictably led to a higher than average proliferation of the mosquito population in north Texas, according to Farmers Branch Environmental Health Manager Katy Evans.
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Something as common and unassuming as a bird bath can harbor stagnant water that can, in turn, breed mosquitoes.
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As a proactive measure, the entire City will be sprayed for mosquitoes, beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday night and concluding no later than 5 a.m. Thursday morning.
Three trucks will be used in order to cover the entire City in a single night. Residents are advised, as a precaution, to bring in pet dishes or cover them, cover aquatic ponds, fish ponds and birdbaths and do not go outside during the posted hours.
Combined with prevention efforts, City officials believe that spraying will impact mosquito populations.
"But, it's an ongoing effort throughtout the warmer months," Ms. Evans said. "As always, we remind residents to drain standing water, use insect repellent with DEET, and to avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active."
Mosquito dunks (larvacide briquettes), for the treatment of standing water, are available free of charge (limit one per household) at Farmers Branch City Hall and at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
For more information, please call our Mosquito Hotline at 972-919-9868 or visit our website at farmersbranchtx.gov/mosquito.
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Beatles cover band up for first Tastes & Tunes event, June 18
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Food trucks have been so popular at other events, they're getting one of their own.
Actually, three.
The Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Department has announced that "Tastes & Tunes" will be featured one night per month in June, July and August at The Grove @ Mustang Crossing, adjacent to the Farmers Branch DART Station at the corner of Bill Moses Parkway and Denton Drive.
Admission will be free to the food truck area where live music will be played each evening. Dates and bands are: Thursday, June 18 with "A Hard Night's Day"; Thursday, July 16 with "The Bad Monkeys"; and Friday, August 14 with "Live 80."
Each event will be scheduled from 5 until 8 p.m. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged for the lawn seating event.
For more information, visit www.fbspecialevents.com or call 972.919.2620.
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Coffee with a Cop moves to Bee Street June 20
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The immensely popular 'Coffee with a Cop' series, which offers citizens the chance to visit with Farmers Branch's finest over a cup of joe, moves to the Bee Street area at the Victoria Restaurant located at 13435 Bee on Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m.
The series regularly moves to different locations across the City in order to afford all citizens the chance to visit with police officers during the informal chat sessions.
For more information, call 972.484.3620.
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Household Hazardous Waste collection event coming June 27
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Dallas County will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event in Farmers Branch on Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Oran Good Park.
Residents will be able to dispose of common household chemicals such as paint, antifreeze, lawn and garden chemicals, aerosol sprays, pool chemicals and more.
Check the Solid Waste page on the City's website at www.farmersbranchtx.gov for more information on what types of materials will be accepted.
Call 972.919.2597 for questions.
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Volume 5 | Edition 23 | Number 224
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office since March 5, 2011
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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"Summer Sunshine"
Now that May storms are done, the summer sunshine is on full display for patrons of the Aquatics Center Frog Pond. Let the summer fun begin!
Photo by Tom Bryson
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Toddler Time, River Walking new programs at Frog Pond
FARMERS BRANCH ~ What's old is new again as the Frog Pond at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center is bringing back Toddler Time on Mondays from 10 until 11:30 a.m.
The daily admission fee is required but patrons may keep their wristbands for entrance to the Frog Pond later in the day.
The Frog Pond opens to the public at 12 noon. 
In addition, a new River Walking fitness class is now underway. Participants walk against the current from the outdoor lazy river for a fun, invigorating, not-so-lazy workout.
The class is $25 per month for members and $29 for non-members.
Find out more about the offerings at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center at fbh2o.com or drop by at 14032 Heartside Place, next door to the Community Recreation Center.
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Teen Fire Academy to open June 22
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Teen Fire & Rescue Academy, a summer program to give youth a closer look at the workings of the Fire Department, is now enrolling for their one week session, beginning June 22.
The Academy is limited to ages 13 to 18 and there is space for 20 participants. Cost is $50 for Farmers Branch residents and $65 for non-residents.
Activities include hands-on training, challenges and drills. Topics will feature fire operations, search and rescue, emergency management, basic CPR, medical equipment, thermal imaging and more.
For more information, call 972.247.4607.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch City Council will meet one time in regular session in both June and July, on Tuesdays, June 16 and July 14, according to City officials.
Regular meetings begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway. Study Sessions are held prior to the regular meeting, typically at 4 p.m. but times are subject to change.
Meetings can be seen live on FBTV, cable channel 16 in Farmers Branch, AT&T Uverse Channel 99 throughout the DFW area and online at www.farmersbranchtx.gov.
The City Council returns to the regular first and third Tuesday meeting schedule in August.
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Firehouse Theatre to close classic comedy June 14
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Long before there was "Modern Family," there was the Sycamore family, depicted in "You Can't Take It With You," and presented by the Firehouse Theatre on select nights May through June 14.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy has everything from ballet dancers and snake charmers to rocket makers and xylophone players.
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall
4 pm - Study Session
6 pm - Regular Session
** ONLY MEETING IN JUNE
LIVE on FBTV
972.247.3131
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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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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