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I always wondered how turkey became most closely identified with the American holiday of Thanksgiving.
 In the process of doing a little research, I came across several websites that provided interesting facts about turkeys that I didn't know (maybe you didn't either). A turkey top 10 as it were: - Turkeys have excellent vision. By rotating its head a turkey has a 360-degree field of vision.
- Turkeys blush. When you see a male turkey, that is a gobbler, with a scarlet red wattle, well, he's in the mood for love.
- Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 mph.
- They can run up to 25 mph.
- Benjamin Franklin once said he wished the "noble and respectable" turkey had been established as our national symbol, calling eagles birds "of bad moral character."
- Turkey can make you sleepy. Thanks, tryptophan.
- Female turkeys don't gobble. They cluck.
- Turkeys sleep in trees. Really. Keeps them safe from nocturnal predators.
- An adult gobbler weighs 16 to 24 pounds on average.
- Wild turkeys were hunted to near extinction in the early 1900s, down to 30,000 birds. Not true today. Estimates are more than seven million turkeys are out there now and their numbers are increasing.
So, was turkey on the table for that first Thanksgiving? History doesn't seem to know, but does mention that a "turkey hunt" was written about in an early pilgrim journal. That's really all we know. Now, don't get me started on cranberry sauce.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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City offices to close Thursday & Friday for Thanksgiving holidays
FBTX ~ All City of Farmers Branch offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, November 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
On Friday, November 27, most offices remain closed except for the Community Recreation Center and Margaret Young Natatorium, both open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also, the Historical Park will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
There will be no garbage pickup either day and the Citizen Collection Center will be closed.
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Tour of Lights ready to switch on
FBTX ~ The half million lights on the 2015 edition of the Farmers Branch Christmas Tour of Lights will illuminate for the first time on Friday, November 27 for day one of the holiday tradition. The driving tour begins at I-35E and Valley View and continues down Denton Drive to Farmers Branch Lane and into the Farmers Branch Historical Park where an interactive light show is set to seasonal music. |
Curbside recycling to return in 2016; FAQ made available
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In their regular meeting last week, the Farmers Branch City Council approved the negotiation of a new solid waste contract that will return curbside recycling to Farmers Branch for the first time in more than a dozen years. 
While the specifics of the new contract are being worked out, it calls for both garbage and recycling to be collected curbside in rolling containers. Much like the current program, Farmers Branch residents will not be charged for the collection service or for the new containers.
To help answer questions and correct inaccurate information, the City has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions sheet now available at farmersbranchtx.gov/recycle.
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Applications available for 2016 Citizen Bond Committee
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In preparation for the prospect of presenting a bond issue to voters in 2016, the Farmers Branch City Council is seeking community volunteers to serve on a Citizen Committee to research and champion a potential quality-of-life bond effort.
The City Council will also be asking citizens to consider immediate public safety needs in a May bond election but would like to engage a Citizen Committee to consider other quality of life proposals for a possible November 8, 2016 bond election. 
The Citizen Committee would be expected to begin work in January after having had an opportunity to meet with Council for finalizing appointments. Although a volunteer effort, committee members would be expected to commit several hours and days per month towards planning the future of Farmers Branch.
The Committee will have three to four months to assess current City facilities and needs, consider Council suggestions, identify new projects for consideration, determine costs and prioritize proposals.
Members of the committee will create a written report and present their findings to the City Council in mid-June.
Organizers say the committee will likely be self-directed so people with a passion for Farmers Branch are necessary. Anyone interested in applying for service on the committee should complete an application and return no later than 12 noon on January 5, 2016.
For more information, call 972.919.2505.
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Brookhaven Music series to feature Electric Guitar and Handbell Ensemble in December
Brookhaven musical performances are planned in December with Electric Guitar on December 5 at 2 p.m. and the Handbell Ensemble on December 12, also at 2 p.m. For more information, call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Explore the lives of Texas pioneers November 29
FBTX ~ The lives of Texas pioneers will be examined in "A Little Log House on the Texas Frontier" on Sunday, November 29 at 1 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
The Log House on the grounds of the Historical Park will be the setting for the program that will include hands-on demonstrations and examination of artifacts from the time when Texas was a Republic. Call 972.406.0184.
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Volume 5 | Edition 47 | Number 248
Wednesday, November 25, 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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Happy Thanksgiving
from the City of Farmers Branch
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The Farmers Branch Carrollton Art Association Student Scholarship Fall show will feature works from CFBISD art students thru December 4.
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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
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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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DECEMBER 1-30 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS
6:30 to 9:30 pm each evening thru Dec 30 (closed Dec 5 & 25)
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Gates open 6:30 pm / Tree lighting 7 pm @ Historical Park
Only Opportunity This Month
3 to 6 pm
Open office hours with Mayor Bob Phelps at City Hall
972.919.2515
Only Meeting This Month
6 pm @ City Hall
Study Session begins @ 4 pm
LIVE on FBTV
972.247.3131
CHRISTMAS 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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