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Here come families
You know, as I was looking around at our Independence Day Celebration last Friday, I came to an inescapable conclusion. I can't think of a single place in the Metroplex where I'd rather raise a family than Farmers Branch.
Honestly.
Nothing against other communities, but we have most everything a  family could want - expansive parks, world-class facilities, events and recreation activities all the time, the best-looking public spaces in Texas and a central location in the Metroplex that puts us in pretty quick proximity to, well, everywhere else in the Metroplex.
We've got new housing options cropping up every year. We've got a great school system as well as a selection of private schools if that is your inclination. Our seniors can take advantage of a dynamic and progressive Senior Center and its programming. And our parks offer both playgrounds and walking trails where the young and the "mature" can spend time together.
We've been making a concerted effort to become more family-oriented. We want to know how everything we do affects families because we want to get better at it as we collectively move forward as a community.
As we undertake park enhancements, we want to be sure that we're doing it with "walkability" in mind. We are undertaking a trail master plan that will offer people-powered routes connecting different areas of our City with each other and with surrounding communities.
Reaching for new and improved activities, events and housing options remains at the top of our collective to-do list.
If you have ideas, please let us know.
We think family life in Farmers Branch is pretty good already, but we want to continually improve our programs to become even better.
   
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Town Hall Meeting set to discuss recycling issues, July 30
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and members of the Farmers Branch City Council are inviting everyone to a community discussion on recycling and sustainability at a Town Hall meeting planned for July 30, 7 p.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall. 
The Council is considering the resumption of a curbside recycling program and wants to hear from the community. For more than a dozen years, Farmers Branch residents have used a drop-off recycling program with containers located at Oran Good Park and near the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center. Records indicated that program has yielded an average of 394 tons of recyclables each year since 2010.
The potential return of curbside recycling services continues to be a high priority issue in Citizen Satisfaction Surveys, compiled every two years. Most recently, in 2014, 40 percent of respondents rated the City's recycling services as "excellent or good."
However, another 40 percent said those services were "fair or poor," up sharply from 17 percent in 2012. Citizens' comments from the surveys have included: "Need curbside recycling services," "It is inconvenient to take recyclables to a drop off location, it prevents many residents from participating in recycling" and "Provide recycle and trash containers."
Anyone unable to attend the meeting is encouraged to send their comments to recycling@farmersbranchtx.gov or tweet them @fbtx. Farmers Branch City Hall is located at 13000 William Dodson Parkway, Call 972.247.3131.
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City joins with Rotary Clubs to build all-inclusive playground
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The City of Farmers Branch has joined with the Rotary Clubs of Farmers Branch and Carrollton-Farmers Branch to create an all-inclusive "Rotary Playground" at Gussie Field Watterworth Park.
The playground will be uniquely designed to allow children with disabilities to play alongside their sibilings and friends. Estimated to cost $160,000, Rotary officials report fundraising to be more than halfway there, but additional donations are needed.
Donors can be rewarded for levels of giving with a brick ($500), paver ($1,000), large stone ($5,000) or bench ($10,000).
The playground site at Gussie Field Watterworth Park is next to Farmers Branch City Hall at 13000 William Dodson Parkway, and along Rawhide Creek with its tall trees and paved walking trails.
Nearby are amenities including restrooms, water fountains and a large covered pavilion.
For more information, visit www.cfbplayground.org or forward a donation to Rotary Playground Project, P.O. Box 819010, Farmers Branch, Texas 75381.
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Tastes & Tunes to return in July with Bad Monkeys and good food trucks
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Tropical rock band, The Bad Monkeys, will evoke the essence of Jimmy Buffett as they breeze into Farmers Branch for the July edition of Tastes & Tunes, set Thursday, July 16 at The Grove @ Mustang Crossing. 
Planned for 5 to 8 p.m., the summertime series features a different band at each of the three planned events along with a variety of food trucks to satisfy a variety of appetites.
Tastes & Tunes is staged in The Grove @ Mustang Crossing, at the southeast corner of Bill Moses Parkway and Denton Drive, near the Farmers Branch DART Light Rail Station. Blankets and lawn chairs are suggested for the lawn seating event. Admission to the area is free.
The series will conclude on Friday, August 14 with Live 80.
For more information, visit www.fbspecialevents.com or call 972.919.2620.
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Final Home Depot workshop of the summer coming July 13
MANSKE LIBRARY~ Bring your little builder to the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Monday, July 13 at 12 pm to participate in the third and final Home Depot Workshop of the summer.
Children, ages 6-12, are invited to attend this event under the supervision of a parent or guardian. This will be a fun and educational experience where kids can roll up their sleeves and build cool stuff. Tool kits will be provided for each child in attendance.
As space and supplies are limited, everyone must sign up in advance to attend and each child may only attend one session. Call or come by the library to make sure that your child's name is on the list.
For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Hop over to the Frog Pond for Ribbit Story Time
AQUATICS CENTER~ Join the Manske Library staff as they combine love of books and water with a new summer reading program, Ribbit Story Time, beginning July 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center Frog Pond.
Remember to bring suntan lotion for a hoppin' good time with stories, songs and other activities designed to help young readers ages 2 to 7 years enhance their reading skills. Then everyone can stick around for Toddler Swim Time at 10 a.m. for the regular pool admission fee.
Participants that are interested can also sign up for the Summer Reading Club which features fun activities, family movies, reading and chances to win prizes.
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Mayor will be dropping by for Readers are Leaders
MANSKE LIBRARY~ Join Mayor Bob Phelps at the next edition of Readers are Leaders program, Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m.
The Mayor will be reading storybooks aloud while promoting the importance of reading to all the children attending.
This program features community leaders who welcome the opportunity to stop by for some storytime. For more info about this or other Library programs, call 972.247.2511.
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Volume 5 | Edition 27 | Number 228
Wednesday, July 8, 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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Craft Fair registration begins tomorrow
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Artisans from Farmers Branch that want to sell their handmade wares at the annual Craft Fair, held each October at the Senior Center, can begin registration on Thursday, July 9.
Non-Farmers Branch residents may register after July 22 for available spaces.
The event is planned this year for Saturday, October 17 from 9 am to 4 pm.
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Town Hall Meeting planned for City Hall, July 30
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and the members of the Farmers Branch City Council invite the community to a Town Hall Meeting on Recycling, planned for Thursday, July 30 at Farmers Branch City Hall.
On the agenda will be discussion of a curbside recycling plan for the City. Meeting time is 7 p.m.
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Did someone say pie?
Back for another round at the 2015 edition of the popular Uncle Willie's pie eating contest, participants got their plate and faces full of pie at the July 3 Independence Day celebration.
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JULY 14
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6 pm @ City Hall
LIVE Coverage on FBTV
972.919.2515
JULY 16
TASTES & TUNES
5 to 8 pm @ The Grove @ Mustang Crossing
w/ "The Bad Monkeys"
972.919.2620
FIREHOUSE THEATRE
presents "Oklahoma!"
Select Nights thru Aug 2
972.620.3747
JULY 30
TOWN HALL MEETING
on RECYCLING
7 pm @ City Hall
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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AUGUST 4 & 18
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
6 pm @ City Hall
LIVE Coverage on FBTV
972.919.2515
AUGUST 12 & 26
TELL IT TO THE MAYOR
3 to 6 pm @ City Hall
Repeats every 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month
972.919.2515
AUGUST 14
TASTES & TUNES
5 to 8 pm @ The Grove @ Mustang Crossing
w/ "Live 80"
972.919.2620
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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SEPTEMBER 18-19
ENCOUNTERS from the PAST
SEPTEMBER 26
DATE NIGHT in the PARK
OCTOBER 6
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
OCTOBER 16-17
BLOOMIN' BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL and CHILI COOKOFF
OCTOBER 31
HALLOWEEN in the PARK
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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Make a SPLASH with your NEXT BIRTHDAY BASH!
Click on the Frog
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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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