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Halloween in the Park | Saturday 5-10 pm | FB Historical Park
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Haulin' dogs
When you really think about it, the hot dog is a marvelous feat of engineering. Such a simple concept embodies such a tradition of patriotism and Americana, frequently linked with baseball, apple pie and a domestic automaker.
 Coming up in a couple of weeks is our annual Veterans Day Ceremony which is our annual opportunity to test the capacity limits on the Senior Center. Invariably, hundreds of people show up to help us honor those who have served. Well, at this event, it is my honor to serve those who have served. It is the Farmers Branch Rotary Club's proud duty to prepare and grill the free hot dog lunch that our Veterans Day crowd enjoys at the conclusion of the ceremony and show. And, it is one of my favorite days of the year. Not only do I have the opportunity to get down in the trenches with my fellow Rotarians, it is my very small way of giving back and saying thank you to the men and women who have kept us, and our way of life, safe and secure for a couple of centuries now. My particular job in years past has been 'hauler.' I've hauled the 500 or so hot dogs from the grill to the preparation area after others have engaged the gas that turns the dog from a chilled one of many in a package to an individually charred masterpiece on a bun that awaits a Veterans Day guest. As we get a bit closer to the new year, we'll start talking more about the Leap24 challenge that Mayor Phelps recently unveiled. It involves taking your extra 24 hours in the upcoming leap year and dedicating them to volunteer service of some kind. But it's important to remember that however you choose to give back to your church, your community or the location of your choice, the act doesn't need to be dramatic or splashy. Sometimes haulin' dogs helps to make a difference.
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Shredding event scheduled for Saturday, November 7
FBTX ~ The second of two annually scheduled document destruction opportunities for Farmers Branch residents, has been set for November 9. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway. There is also a Household Hazardous Waste collection event on schedule for Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Oran Good Park. Call 972.919.2597 for more information.
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FBTX ~ Festive and fun frights will fill the air on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31 for "Halloween in the Park," set from 5 until 10 p.m. under the starry sky of the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
Admission and parking are free. Concessions will be available for purchase. Once again, people will line up for the experience of the "Haunted Hedge," opening at 7:30 p.m. and taking brave adventurers deep into the dark recesses of the Historical Park's scary shrubbery.
The theme for this year's Haunted Hedge will be "Freak Show" (a nod to the recent season of TV's American Horror Story).
The event will also feature "Trick-or-Treat Row," carnival games, pony rides, a petting zoo, state fair-style food vendors, photo buttons and more.
The Farmers Branch Historical Park is located at 2540 Farmers Branch Lane, between Denton Drive and Ford Road and a quick five minute walk from the Farmers Branch DART Green Line station. Parking will be available at the MetroSquare Business Park, two blocks south of the Historical Park on Ford Road with a free shuttle to the gate.
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Help solve the Victorian Murders & Mayhem at the Historical Park, Oct 29 & 30
FBTX ~ Famous and infamous Victorian-era murders and mayhem, inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and real historical events, will be presented in entertaining fashion at the Farmers Branch Historical Park Halloween week, October 29 & 30. 
Tours will be held from 5 until 7:30 p.m. each day. Admission is free. The Historical Park's Danielle Brissette said the tours will highlight some of the more interesting and haunting stories of the Victorian era. Those attending will learn about the "Servant Girl Annihilator," a serial killer who stalked Austin in 1885, spot the "murder weapon" in the Victorian kitchen and explore the perils of Victorian clothing. Tours are presented in partnership with the Dallas Public Library. Themes are intended for a mature audience so no one under 16 will be admitted.
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Writers Organization book signing to feature authors in character costumes
FBTX ~ Donning the costumes of their characters, a group of local authors will be hosting a book reading and signing event on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Manske Library. 
The Halloween Book Event will feature local authors launching six new books, including science fiction, historical biography, poetry, romance and children's picture books.In addition to dressing like their characters, the authors will share Halloween treats and raffle original artwork and books at this free event. The Writers Organization meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month and welcomes new writers to join them. Membership is open to anyone and is free.
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FBTX ~ Everyone is invited to attend the Boo-Ville Bash and Pumpkin Patch on Wednesday, October 28 at 6 pm.  Guests can come dressed in their favorite costume for a chance to win the costume contest, explore the Pumpkin Patch, or take part in activities like Spider Toss and Pin the Tie on Mr. Bones.
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35Express lists construction update
I-35E ~ The 35Express group, responsible for the 30-plus mile overhaul of Interstate 35E, has listed construction updates for October that affect Farmers Branch. 
- Harry Hines under I-35E will be closed nightly for bridge beams.
- Work on the northbound exit ramp at Valley View Lane has been postponed until early 2016. The ramp will be closed for approximately three months.
- The southbound exit ramp to Valwood Parkway is expected to reopen toward the end of October as crews work to widen and lengthen the ramp.
- The southbound entrance ramp at Valwood will move into its final alignment in October.
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'Tell it to the Mayor' schedule changes for upcoming holiday season
FBTX ~ Mayor Bob Phelps will be available for conversation and questions during his 'Tell it to the Mayor' sessions, set for single dates in November and December. There will be a holiday alteration to the schedule in November and December as the fourth Wednesdays of each month fall on holiday weeks. In November, the only 'Tell it to the Mayor' session will be held on Wednesday, November 11. In December, it will be Wednesday, December 9.
Regularly set for the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Farmers Branch City Hall, the sessions are held between 3 and 6 p.m. and anyone is welcome to visit with the Mayor without an appointment, but on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call City Hall at 972.919.2515.
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Firehouse Theatre prepares for Poppins
FBTX ~ Based in part on the classic movie and on the original books by P.L. Travers, the musical 'Mary Poppins' will be presented by The Firehouse Theatre on select nights November 5 - 22. The adaptation, which blends elements of the classic 1964 Disney film with narrative from the Travers books, premiered in London in 2004 before moving to Broadway in 2006. This will be the north Texas stage debut for the show. For tickets and more information, call 972.620.3747 or visit thefirehousetheatre.com.
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Free smoke alarms available for those who qualify
FBTX ~ Renewing their participation in a long-standing program, the Farmers Branch Fire Department is offering free smoke detectors to local residents who qualify.
"The Farmers Branch Fire Department wants residents to have the early warning needed to escape a fire," said Fire Chief Steve Parker. "If anyone is over the age of 55 or cannot afford a smoke alarm, they may qualify to have smoke alarms installed in their home at no cost."
Chief Parker added that supplies are limited and alarms will be installed on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, call 972.919.2640.
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Water/sewer rate increase offsets fixed costs
FBTX ~ The record rainfall of 2015 in addition to a legal battle over the source for local drinking water is combining for a perfect storm that will likely result in higher water and sewer rates for the new fiscal year.
Most costs associated with water service come from Dallas Water Utilities, the City's water provider, and the Trinity River Authority, the City's wastewater service provider.
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Tom Bryson
Tree Swing
Parks crews work to remove a downed tree from the playground area in Gussie Field Watterworth Park, on the banks of Rawhide Creek, near City Hall. The tree was pushed over, into the bench swing, during last Friday's midday storms. The swing was unoccupied during the storm, so no one was injured.
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Volume 5 | Edition 43 | Number 244
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office of the
City of Farmers Branch, Texas since March 5, 2011
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VIDEO  EXTRA
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Farmers Branch Economic Development Third Quarter Update 2015
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Farmers Branch - Carrollton Art Show
The Farmers Branch - Carrollton Art Association holds its annual Fall Juried Show this month in the Manske Library Art Gallery with members displaying original artwork in various media. Concludes October 30.
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Zombies Just Wanna Have Fun
You never can tell what or who you will run into inside the Haunted Hedge at the Farmers Branch Historical Park during Halloween in the Park, set Saturday, October 31 from 5 until 10 p.m.
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City Council to meet with P&Z
FBTX ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and the City Council will conduct a joint meeting with members of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Originally scheduled for Thursday, October 29, the meeting has been reset for Monday, November 9 in the Viewpoint Room on the second floor of the Dr Pepper StarCenter, 12700 North Stemmons Freeway.
Designed as a discussion session on plans for the west side of Farmers Branch, the meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m.
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Seniors set Halloween party for October 30
FBTX ~ Halloween isn't just for kids, as illustrated by the Farmers Branch Senior Center's Halloween Celebration, planned for Friday, October 30 at 1 p.m.
For $3, local seniors will enjoy carnival games, scary storytelling, costume contest, carved pumpkin contest and more. Call 972.919.8740.
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Applications are being accepted for membership on several of the City's volunteer advisory boards and commissions, according to City Secretary Amy Piukana.
Currently, the following boards have vacancies:
Community Watch Committee Family Advisory Board
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OCTOBER 29-30VICTORIAN MURDERS & MAYHEM
5 to 7:30 pm @
Farmers Branch Historical Park
Free
972.406.0184
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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6 pm @ City Hall
Study Session begins @ 4 pm
LIVE on FBTV
Free admission | Lunch provided
Only Opportunity This Month
3 to 6 pm
Open office hours with Mayor Bob Phelps at City Hall
972.919.2515
Study Session begins @ 4 pm
LIVE on FBTV
972.247.3131
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS
Most City offices closed
No garbage collection
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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