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In 1920, a group of crazy Canadians in Vancouver decided it would be a good idea to jump into English Bay in the dead of winter. There is no credible evidence to support what kind of encouragement, dares (or spirits) may have been involved in this decision, but the sport of polar plunging was born.
Since then, thousands of people take to the icy water around the globe every year to prove their mettle and usually to raise money for charity.
 Well, polar plunging is heading south. This Saturday, the forecast high in Vancouver is 43 degrees. Here it will be close to 70. But, make no mistake, after an overnight low in the 40s the water at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center will be plenty chilly as dozens will make a splash at the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Texas. As in many parts of the country, plungers can register as a team or as an individual and frequently engage in serious costume play to generate even more excitement for the event. I hate cold water. But, in order to benefit the great kids of Special Olympics Texas, it will be my honor to don a giant penguin outfit and make the biggest splash that I can Saturday morning. If you are so inclined to donate some of your dollars to this very worthy cause, you can find the local event's information and teams at sotx.org/polarplunge. Any of the teams or individuals involved would be honored to have your sponsorship. All donations are deeply appreciated and none is too small. And, if you want to plunge yourself, it's not too late. Go to the website for registration information or you can register that morning. Details? The event will be at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center, 14032 Heartside Place, next door to the Community Recreation Center. Yes, this will be outside where the water is cold - not inside where the pools are heated. Every last penny goes to Special Olympics Texas and helps them serve more than 50,000 athletes across the state in 22 sports and 300 local competitions per year. Walk-up registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the plunges commencing at 10. So, if you've never seen a City Manager in a penguin outfit jump into a pool of freezing water, now's your chance. And, seriously, how often can you say that?
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New curbside recycling service to begin April 4
FARMERS BRANCH ~ A calendar for rollout of the new curbside recycling service in Farmers Branch has been announced, along with a new web page to provide detailed information to residents.
 The new service will involve 95-gallon rolling containers for recyclable materials that will be delivered to residents, starting the week of March 21. Anyone wishing to decline participation in the program has until February 26 to opt out of receiving a recycling cart.
Curbside recycling service will begin the week of April 4.
Under the City's new solid waste contract with Community Waste Disposal, current trash service days and location of pickup will not change. However, the City will no longer provide paper bags to residents.
For recycling pickup days and additional information about what can be recycled, visit fbrecycles.com.
Opting Out?
- Fill out the form @ fbrecycles.com
- Call 972.919.2597 with your name, address & phone number
- Drop an email to fbinfo@farmersbranchtx.gov with your name, address & phone number
- Come by City Hall with your name, address & phone number
- Use the prepaid postcard coming in your February mail
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Deadline is February 26.
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Thursday meeting to solicit residents' input on senior housing
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In an effort to spread information and get feedback on a proposed senior living development in Farmers Branch, the City's Planning Office is inviting residents to a public meeting on Thursday, January 28 at 6 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
The City owns property at 13605 Webb Chapel Road, just south of the Library, between there and Fire Station No. 1, and is considering redeveloping the land into a new senior, independent living development.
 As a result of a process to seek developers with a specialization in senior living communities and redevelopment efforts, the City has partnered with the Henry S. Miller Company for this project. The proposed development would have about 150 units for independent living. Neighbors in the area and interested parties are invited to attend the Thursday meeting to find out more. Handheld voting devices will be used to obtain spot feedback on specific questions. For more information, call 972.919.2551.
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Professional narrator to tell tales of telling tales, Saturday at Library
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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AARP tax help only available at Senior Center this season
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Trained volunteers from AARP will be available for questions and assistance in preparing returns at the Farmers Branch Senior Center by appointment on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. through mid-April.
Volunteers were scheduled to also be on hand at the Manske Library this season, but AARP informed Library officials earlier this week that the Senior Center would be the only Farmers Branch location in 2016.
Call the Senior Center for appointments at 972.919.8740.
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Polar Plunge splashes Saturday at Farmers Branch Aquatics Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Special Olympics Texas' coldest event of the year, the Polar Plunge, is coming to the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center on Saturday, January 30.
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This Polar Plunger showed the crowd how it was done in Mesquite earlier this month.
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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 receive 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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'To Bee or not to Bee' buzzes into Winter Landscaping class, February 2
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.
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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'Steel Magnolias' opens Friday at TFT
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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Camping reservations start 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.
Reservations are $50 per family campsite. Pre-registration is required and is non-refundable.
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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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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 04 | Number 257
Wednesday, January 27, 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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VIDEO  Extras
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Economic Development 4th Quarter Update & Year in Review
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FBPD 'Open Carry Law' Meeting Presentation
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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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Celebrating 10 years of service in 2016, the Westside Water Tower, just north of Valley View and east of Luna, stands as a massive signpost to inform travelers that they are, in fact, in Farmers Branch.
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FBPD plans Spring Citizen Academy
FBTX ~ Once again embarking on their multi-week block of instruction, the Farmers Branch Police Department is inviting residents to be a part of their Citizen Police Academy, set to begin in March.
The 30-hour instructional course is broken up into classes over 10 weeks, designed to give adults a working knowledge of the Farmers Branch Police Department policies, personnel and procedures.
Enrollment is free. Call 972.484.3620.
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Coffee with a Cop coming February 27
FBTX ~ The next opportunity to chat up some of Farmers Branch's finest will be Saturday, February 27 when Coffee with a Cop moves to the Victoria restaurant, 13435 Bee Street.
The informal gathering will be held from 9 until 10 a.m. Residents are invited to spend time with Farmers Branch officers and ask questions.
For more information, call 972.484.3620.
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Citizen Fire Academy seeking applicants
FBTX ~ The Citizen Fire Academy still has about 10 spots open for interested citizens in its upcoming class.
The 10-week program begins March 17 and affords residents the chance to learn more about the policies, procedures and personnel of the Farmers Branch Fire Department.
For more information, call 972.919.2640.
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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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