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I know that I make note of this every year, but it is for very good reason. With each new year comes the opportunity for planning the future of Farmers Branch that kicks off with the City Council's Planning Retreat.
We're keeping it simple. Tomorrow morning, the Mayor and members of the Council will meet with senior members of the City's management team to take a look at where we are and figure out where we're going in the short and long terms.
This is the genesis of the budget process for the coming fiscal year but also reinforces the Council's goals that the staff bring to reality under our Strategic Plan.
For 2016, between the City's mission statement, guiding principles, Council goals along with the activities and deliverables that staff has brought to the table to make that happen, there are 516 elements to the Strategic Plan this year.
516.
That's a Herculean effort for most organizations, much less an organization of our somewhat modest size.
However, our City staff accomplishes more in a day than most do in a week. Then, add to that the simple fact that the Mayor and Council are some of the most progressive folks you will ever come across. Every one of them sincerely wants to make decisions with the best interests of all citizens in mind. That's tough, sometimes.
American society is a representative republic which means the people elect leaders to make decisions in their best interests. When those interests don't always mesh, the job becomes one that requires wisdom, judgement and the ability to balance the interests of the many against the interests of the few.
That's why our City Council gets together with staff for these planning sessions. They want to map out the clearest possible route to consensus on issues that move the City forward. In doing so, they will be criticized a lot and thanked a little.
Still, whether you agree or disagree with elected officials at the national, state or local level, they deserve your respect and your trust.
Without it, our system doesn't work.
After all, all politics is local.
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Camping Under the Stars
Reservations for rite of Spring open Feb 1
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The early spring edition of Camping Under the Stars at the Farmers Branch Historical Park will open reservations at 8 a.m. on Monday, February 1.
Set for Saturday night into Sunday morning, March 12 & 13, the event is designed for the whole family and includes star viewing, a community campfire, s'mores and entertainment.
Reservation are $50 per family campsite. Pre-registration is required and is non-refundable.
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Firehouse Theatre to open 2016 season with 'Steel Magnolias'
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Equipped with fresh renovations to their former fire station home, the Firehouse Theatre is planning to open their 2016 season with "Steel Magnolias," Robert Harling's bittersweet drama of family and friends, January 28.  Directed by Jason Leyva, the play will be presented on specific nights through February 7 at the theatre, 2535 Valley View Lane. For ticket information, or for more about the 2016 season, call 972.620.3474 or visit thefirehousetheatre.com.
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Special Olympics supporters are 'freezin' for a reason' at Polar Plunge
Beginning at 10 a.m., the event will see the brave surrender their warmth and plunge into the freezing water in support of Special Olympics Texas.
Supporters are invited to register as an individual or as a team. Cost is $30 for youth (under 18) and $60 for adults. All registration fees include a t-shirt.
Walk-up registration will be available that morning beginning at 8:30. Individuals and teams who raise more money than the minimum registration fee will recieve other commemorative incentives, commensurate with the level of donation.
All proceeds from this Polar Plunge will go on to help provide programming and training for more than 6,900 Special Olympics Texas athletes in the Greater Dallas area.
Awards will be presented to the individual that raises the most money, team that raises the most money and to the individual with the Best Costume following the plunges.
For more information or to volunteer at the Polar Plunge, call 214.943.9981.
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'Compost: Gold for Your Soil' up next for winter landscaping classes
FBTX ~ Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to participate as the annual series of winter landscaping classes, continue on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center. 
Sponsored by Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation, Landscaping 2016 is designed as a series of standalone topics so participants can "pick and choose" what is of interest to them - or attend them all.
On January 26, "Compost - Gold for your Soil" will be presented by Stephen F. Austin University Adjunct Professor, Dr. George Damoff.
February sessions include "To Bee or Not to Bee" with North Texas Master Naturalist Janet Smith on February 2. Claude Graves, of the Dallas Area Historical Rose Society, presents "Suppressing the Thorns of Rose Growing" on February 9. Then, the Tuesday night series concludes with "No Fail Container Gardens" with Lee Alexander, Texas Certified Nursery Professional.
The finale of the winter program is the "hands on" rose pruning clinic at the Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch, 2610 Valley View Lane, on Saturday, February 20 from 10 am to 12 noon.
All classes and clinics are free and open to the public but pre-registration is requested by calling 972.247.4607.
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City Council retreat set Thursday
FBTX ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and members of the Farmers Branch City Council will meet with senior City staff for their annual winter Planning Retreat, set to begin at 9 a.m., Thursday, January 21 at the Farmers Branch Fire Department, 13333 Hutton Drive.
The retreat is an annual part of the City Council's schedule that provides background on key issues and helps set the agenda for the year to come.
For more information, call 972.919.2515.
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Tell it to the Mayor session planned Jan 27
FBTX ~ Mayor Bob Phelps invites anyone to come by City Hall to discuss any matter, without an appointment, during his "Tell it to the Mayor" open office hours, held the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month, from 3 until 6 p.m. at Farmers Branch City Hall.
The next occasion will be Wednesday, January 27 at Farmers Branch City Hall.
In February, "Tell it to the Mayor" will be held on February 10 and 24. For more information, call 972.919.2515.
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Daddy-Daughter Dance tickets on sale
COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER ~ Under the mystique of a masquerade ball, daddies and daughters from across Farmers Branch will kick up their heels at the annual dance held in their honor, Saturday, February 6, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center.
There will be dancing, a live DJ, keepsake photos, refreshments and more. Advance tickets are $5 per person for Farmers Branch residents and $8 for non-residents. Tickets at the door are $10 per person. The event is limited to Daddies and Daughters only. For more information, call 972.247.4607.
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Professional narrator to speak
MANKSE LIBRARY ~ Recorded Books Narrator, Johnny Heller, narrator of nearly 600 titles for adults, young adults, and children, will be at the Library on Saturday, January 30 at 3 pm.
Heller will read passages and describe what it's like to be a professional narrator. Not only is Heller an Audie Award winner with even more Audie nominations in his list of accomplishments, he was selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the 20th Century.
Heller is also a professional speaker, stand-up comic, playwright, actor, and commercial voice over artist. Listen to the voice that has been praised by the School Library Journal as being "so much fun it's difficult to imagine simply reading the book." Audiobooks narrated by Heller will also be given away to a few lucky winners.
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Tax help opens January 26
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As tax season approaches, trained volunteers from AARP will be available for questions and assistance in preparing returns at both the Manske Library and Senior Center during designated hours, through mid-April.
At the Manske Library, AARP Tax Aides will be available on Tuesdays, from 1 until 5:30 p.m., beginning January 26.
Assistance at the Senior Center also begins January 26 and will be available by appointment on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call the Senior Center for appointments at 972.919.8740.
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Lifeguard classes set January 28-31
AQUATICS CENTER ~ Anyone looking for challenging skill development is invited to participate in an American Red Cross Lifeguarding class, set January 28-31 at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center.
Designed for ages 15 and up, the course helps participants develop lifesaving rescue skills, CPR and first aid training, valued by colleges and future employers.
A prerequisite swim on the first day must be passed in order to continue the course. Class hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on January 28 & 29, then 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 30 & 31.
Cost is $165 for Farmers Branch residents and $185 for non-residents. The class is offered through the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center as an authorized American Red Cross provider.
For more information, call 972.919.8752.
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Volume 6 | Edition 03 | Number 256
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office of the
City of Farmers Branch, Texas since March 5, 2011
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Curbside recycling returns this spring
FBTX ~ Curbside recycling is coming back to Farmers Branch in a new program slated to kick off this Spring.  In December, the City Council directed that the new solid waste collection contract for Farmers Branch include curbside recycling in rolling containers and continued twice a week garbage collection in either plastic or paper bags.
Residents would be responsible for purchasing their own trash bags. Beyond that, there will be no additional cost to citizens.
The current drop-off recycling locations at Oran Good Park and at the Community Recreation Center will both close when the new system is inaugurated.
However, those wishing to drop off recyclables will still be able to do so at the Citizen Collection Center, 1399 Valley View Lane, during their limited hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Additional information, including instructions for opting out of recycling service, will be made available to citizens later in January.
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Even in the midst of the wintertime in the Metroplex, there's aways some wildlife to be found in Farmers Branch branches.
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This eclectic work is part of the Falak Art Exhibition, now on display at the Farmers Branch Manske Library Art Gallery, through January 29. The exhibition features artwork from "children, ages 5 through adult."
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CANDIDATE FILING
. 972.919.2503
EARLY VOTING
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN MAY 7 ELECTION
ELECTION DAY
LOOKUP HELP
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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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:
Library Board
Community Watch Committee
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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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