What do you think about noise?

Have you had a chance to hear about the City's proposed noise ordinance and give your input? If not, stop by the Burleson City Hall council chambers on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Police Chief Billy Cordell and City staff - police, neighborhood services, parks and recreation, public works, legal, and municipal court - will be on hand to present the proposed changes, take your input and answer your questions. The proposed changes include daytime and nighttime hours and recommended appropriate decibel levels in residential, commercial and industrial zoning districts. This is a link to Chief Cordell's Nov. 25 presentation to community members at the BRiCk. The proposed changes were Item 4F on the Nov. 10 council agenda. City hall is located at 141 W. Renfro St. 

Valentine dance tickets on sale Jan. 8

The City's parks and recreation department is hosting their annual Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Valentine Dance at the BRiCk on Saturday, Feb. 7. There will be two times, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., so if your little ones need to be home in bed they can attend the first dance while the older ones attend the second. The fun includes pictures, corsages, dinner, dancing, and games. The games aren't just for the children! Parents, start practicing now for the three-legged race and the limbo. Pre-event tickets are $16 per couple ($8 per person) and are available at the BRiCk, 550 N.W. Summercrest Blvd., starting Thursday, Jan. 8. If you wait until Feb. 7 to buy your tickets, the cost is $25 per couple or $12.50 per person.

Adults, this fire academy is for you!

Have you ever wanted to be a firefighter, or just understand what it is they do? If you can spare five nights, for one week, in April, you can find out firsthand. The Burleson Fire Department is hosting a Citizens Fire Academy for residents who are 18 or older. It's three hours a night, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., April 6-10. You'll learn CPR and first aid, learn about the fire equipment, personal protective equipment, search and rescue, vehicle extrication, and more. This is just a glimpse into the world of firefighting, and it's free. The applications will be available in March, so stay connected for more information. 

Recycle your Christmas tree

If you live inside the city limits of Burleson, it's easy to recycle your Christmas tree when it begins dropping needles. The City's compost/mulch/recycling center is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The center is located at 620 Memorial Plaza, behind Fire Station #2. You have to be a resident of the city of Burleson to use the City's center. More

Food, books, check! Now you are ready for the cold weather . . .

January can bring the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up next to a fire with a good book. So, check out books the normal way at the Burleson Public Library, or check out one of their E-Readers! The library has 10 nooks that are preloaded. Choose from a Christian Fiction Reader, Fantasy Reader, Fiction Reader(#1 and #2), Mystery Reader, Non-Fiction Reader, Romance Reader, Science Fiction Reader, and Western/Historical Fiction Reader. The Non-Fiction E-Reader has multiple books, including Marcus Luttrell's "Lone Survivor: the Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10," Bill O'Reilly's "Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever," and Michael Hingson's "Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero." For more go to the E-Reader Checkout page on the City website. 

Start the new year off by saving lives!

Sign up now and start the new year off by saving lives! Carter BloodCare and the City of Burleson will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the city hall parking lot at 141 W. Renfro St. Carter BloodCare is a provider of blood components and transfusion services for north, central and east Texas. Approximately 1,100 blood donors a day are critical to meeting the community's need. Are you eligible to donate? You must be at least 16 years of age (must have written parental consent); bring a valid photo ID; weigh at least 110 pounds; and you must be feeling well and healthy on the day of donating. Check out the blood donation FAQs on the Carter BloodCare website, then sign up for the City's Jan. 13 blood drive. For more information call Deidre Hall in the City's Human Resources department at 817-426-9642 or call Carter BloodCare at 1-888-480-8200 or Metro 817-412-5603. 

Bunny Daze moves to Hidden Creek Sports Complex in 2015

Location change! If you are making plans for the City's annual Bunny Daze/Easter Egg Hunt, the 2015 location has changed to Hidden Creek Sports Complex, Field 1. Bunny Daze is a free two-hour event slated for noon-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. Parents, bring your children, camera and Easter baskets. There will be onstage performances, carnival games, face painting, and more. The Easter egg hunt starts at 1:30 p.m. in the sports complex. The children, up to age 12, will be divided into age groups to hunt for eggs, including prize eggs. If you want to be a vendor, the booth spaces are $20 for a 10x10 space. A cover over your booth is recommended. The park is located at 295 E. Hidden Creek Pkwy., next to Hidden Creek Golf Course. For more information about the event or to become a vendor, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104. 

Do your achy muscles need a break?

Do you need a good massage following the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Check out what the BRiCk has to offer - - - Swedish Massage, Integrated, Deep Tissue, Ortho or Prenatal Massage, the Cupping Technique, Chair Massage, Warm Up or Cool Down Stretching (Chair or Table), Cold Stone Migraine Therapy, and Ear Candling with Paraffin Candles. All massages are by appointment. Call 817-426-9104 or 817-426-9106 or go to the Massage Therapy page on the City website for more information.

City facilities close for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Trash and curbside recycling will be collected on Monday, Jan. 19, but City facilities will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Hidden Creek Golf Course will be open, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., but the Burleson Recreation Center (the BRiCk), library, animal shelter, and Senior Activity Center will be closed. The Burleson City Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 19 has been moved to Tuesday, Jan. 20. 

Library's Story Time hours change in January

Things are switching around soon at the Burleson Public Library. Beginning this month, Story Times will have new times and age groups. Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m., is Toddler Time, 18 months to 3 years old. Staff and families will read stories, sing songs, and participate in other fun activities. Thursdays, 10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m., is Baby Time for newborns up to 18 months old. Staff will read stories and have music movement for the babies. Also on Thursdays, 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m., will now be Preschool Time for children ages 3 to 6 years old. Staff and preschoolers will read stories, sing songs, and more. The library is located at 248 S.W. Johnson Ave. 

BARSEA hosts Connect with Council

The Burleson Area Retired School Employee Association will host Connect with Council on Monday, Jan. 12. Mayor Ken Shetter and Councilmember Ronnie Johnson will speak to the group at 2 p.m. BARSEA meets at the Burleson Senior Activity Center, 216 S.W. Johnson Ave.

Pick up candidate packets in January

City council candidate packets for the May 2015 City election will be available this month at Burleson City Hall. The three seats on the ballot include Place 1 held by Councilmember Stuart Gillaspie, Place 3 held by Councilmember Jerry Allen, and Place 5 held by Mayor Pro Tem Dan McClendon. Council profiles are available on the City website. The 2015 election is for three-year terms. Candidates must be at least 18 years old on the date they apply for a place on the ballot; a citizen of the United States; a qualified voter of the city; a resident of the city or have resided in the city for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election; and not be delinquent in the payment of property due to the City. The filing period is Jan. 28-Feb. 27. Candidate packets will be available online. City hall is located at 141 W. Renfro St. For more information, contact the city secretary's office at 817-426-9662 or email.

Help senior citizens and their pets via Ani-Meals

If you want to make a difference in the life of an elderly or homebound resident and their pets, become a part of Ani-Meals. Ani-Meals is a partnership between Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties and area animal shelters. Ani-Meals started because Meals-on-Wheels volunteers found that homebound elderly clients were sharing their meals with their pets because they could not afford to buy pet food. The Burleson Animal Shelter helps coordinate the program and stores donated pet food. On the first Saturday, Meals-on-Wheels volunteers meet at the animal shelter to pick up and deliver donated pet food to 10-20 Meals-on-Wheels recipients in Burleson. If you want to donate pet food, toys, or treats, call the animal shelter at 817-426-9283.