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Gary Greer leaving City of Farmers Branch
FARMERS BRANCH ~ After nine years of service, Gary D. Greer has moved on from his position as City Manager in Farmers Branch.
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The Farmers Branch City Council approved the mutually agreed upon separation agreement following discussion in executive session at their meeting on Tuesday.
Mr. Greer assumed the position of City Manager in Farmers Branch in March of 2007 after management experience at municipalities in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas, as well as private industry work as an executive with a steel company.
Farmers Branch Managing Director Charles S. Cox will serve as Interim City Manager while the City Council undertakes an expected nationwide search for Mr. Greer's replacement.
"As a new, first-time grandfather, I know Gary is looking forward to spending more time with his family," Mr. Cox said. "We sincerely appreciate his dedication and leadership during his nine years with Farmers Branch and wish him the very best in all future endeavors."
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Farmers Branch Parks Superintendent Charles Cancellare, Director Jeff Harting and Program Manager Mitzi Davis pause for a photo after receiving the TRAPS Planning Excellence Award in Galveston last week.
Trail Master Plan honored with statewide award at conference
GALVESTON ~ The Farmers Branch Parks & Recreation Department showed up well at the Texas Recreation and Parks Society annual conference last week in Galveston. In addition to the number one overall ranking in the Equipment Rodeo, Parks Landscape Manager Pam Smith took first place in the Plant Identification event while Maintenance Worker Roberto Sarabia won top honors in the mower obstacle course. The Planning Excellence award for the Citywide Trail Master Plan comes as the culmination of a multi-year project involving many different City departments and individuals as well as input from the Community. Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Harting emphasized that these awards really underscore the caliber of the Farmers Branch staff. "Trophies are nice, but what they mean is that you have the best people in Texas doing what they do for the citizens of Farmers Branch every day," he said. "These honors are well-deserved and I couldn't be more proud of our people."
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Analytics website names Farmers Branch one of top 50 safest cities in Texas
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The public records analytic site backgroundchecks.org has listed Farmers Branch in the top 50 safest cities in Texas, out of more than 1,800 municipalities in the state. 
The site ranked cities according to violent and property crime statistics and other data combined from FBI Crime Reports, natural language analysis, social media sentiment analysis and their own research.
Farmers Branch was listed as the 33rd safest city in Texas based on that criteria. The site shows the Farmers Branch violent crime rate at 118.1 incidents per 100,000 population (proportionally) while the state average is 406 incidents per 100,000 people.
The site also shows the chance of being victimized by property crime in Farmers Branch at 3.7 percent.
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Special hours listed for Easter weekend
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The City of Farmers Branch has listed special hours for City offices and facilities on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday.
Most City offices and facilities, including the Citizen Collection Center, will be closed on Good Friday, March 25. There will be no garbage pickup that day. The only exceptions will be the Margaret Young Natatorium and the Community Recreation Center (both open from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.) and the Farmers Branch Historical Park, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All City facilities are closed on Easter Sunday, March 27.
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35Express outlines closings to the north
LEWISVILLE ~ For the benefit of Farmers Branch residents traveling to the north on I-35E, the 35Express construction group has announced that the following closures will be in place nightly from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. through Sunday, March 20:
- The northbound I-35E entrance ramp at SH 121 Business. While the ramp is closed, traffic will travel north on the frontage road to the entrance ramp at Fox Avenue.
 - The right lane of northbound I-35E approaching the ramp.
- The left lane of the northbound frontage road
This work is related to the 35Express project, an expansion of I-35E between U.S. Highway 380 in Denton County and I-635 in Dallas County. All closures are subject to weather conditions and may be postponed, if necessary.
The 35Express project extends approximately 30 miles, through nine cities and two counties, from US 380 in Denton County to I-635 in Dallas County. The Design-Build project is expected to relieve traffic congestion in one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the North Texas region.
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City flags at half-staff for former First Lady
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As is customary, the City of Farmers Branch is honoring a White House proclamation and lowering flags to half-staff in observance of the passing of former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
It was announced Sunday that Mrs. Reagan had died at her home in California at the age of 94.
Flags will remain at half-staff until sundown Friday when she will be interred next to her husband at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
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Shredding event announced for April 2
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In addition to the start of the recycling program in April, the City of Farmers Branch has announced the first of two document shredding events has been planned for Saturday, April 2.
A shredding truck will be on hand at Farmers Branch City Hall from 9 a.m. until 12 noon to accept household document destruction from Farmers Branch residents. Organizers emphasize this is for residential use and should not be used for commercial or home-based businesses.
The service is free to Farmers Branch residents. Proof of Farmers Branch residency may be required.
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Manske Library hosts Downton Abbey event March 13
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As the popular period piece, Downton Abbey, concludes its final season, the Farmers Branch Manske Library invites patrons to test their knowledge with a trivia contest Sunday, March 13, beginning at 2 p.m.
Along with the trivia challenge, there will also be a costume contest, with prizes awarded to the best dressed.
The Manske Library is located at 13613 Webb Chapel. For more info about this or other events, call 972.247.2511.
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CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
 (listed by ballot position) Ana Reyes
Chuck Zubarik
Terry Lynne
EARLY VOTING
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN MAY 7 ELECTION: April 7
ELECTION DAY: May 7 from 7 am to 7 pm
LOOKUP HELP
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Volume 6 | Edition 10 | Number 263
Wednesday, March 9, 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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WHAT HAPPENS TO RECYCLABLES AFTER THEY ARE PICKED UP?
City Staff decided to visit the Community Waste Disposal's Material Recovery Facility (MRF or MuRF) to find out what happens to recyclable materials after they are picked up from residents. Find out more in this exclusive video extra:
VIDEO  EXTRA
CART DELIVERY
begins March 21 as curbside recycling returns to Farmers Branch. Residents will receive 95-gallon rolling containers for recyclables beginning the week of March 21. The program begins the week of April 4. Recycling containers should be placed near the same location as trash for collection (curb or alley) and will be collected according to the schedule map that can be accessed at fbrecycles.com. The program is free to Farmers Branch residents. TRASH COLLECTION
will continue the same twice weekly schedule on the same days and from the same location either in front of or behind homes (with alley access). This service remains free for Farmers Branch residents, except that the City will no longer provide trash sacks. Paper or plastic trash sacks can be purchased at most hardware and grocery stores. For more information, call 972.919.2597.
SIGNS
will begin to appear in medians next week to inform residents of the impending delivery of recycling carts.
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VIDEO EXTRA |
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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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Flowering pear trees in various parts of town are early messengers of the coming of spring.
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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
Planning & Zoning Commission
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MARCH 13
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Set clocks ahead one hour
MARCH 15
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6 pm @ City Hall
LIVE on FBTV
972.247.3131
MARCH 23
TELL IT TO THE MAYOR
3 to 6 pm @ City Hall
Office Hrs w/Mayor Bob Phelps
972.919.2515
MARCH 25
GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY
Most City facilities including Citizen Collection Center closed
No garbage collection
Natatorium open 6 am - 5 pm
Rec Center open 6 am - 5 pm
Historical Park open 8 am - 5 pm
972.247.3131
MARCH 27
EASTER SUNDAY
All City facilities closed
972.247.3131
TUESDAYS @ Senior Center
AARP Tax Help
10 am to 3 pm
By appointment
972.919.8740
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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