May City Update & Notice of Passing
Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to all of the residents who showed up to vote on Saturday as we elected a new mayor and District 2 representative. I am happy to report that I was elected Mayor and that Martin Baird was elected to represent District 2. We are very excited about the challenges that are ahead of us and we, along with the rest of the City Council, are working to deliver better local government to all of the residents of Farmers Branch.
I would like to invite all residents to attend a reception on Tuesday, May 16, at 5pm, at City Hall, for our outgoing and incoming mayors and council members. The City Council swearing-in ceremony will take place at 6pm.
Special note of thanks to Mayor William Glancy who stepped-up and served as the interim mayor for the past 7 months. Mayor Glancy served as a voice of reason and brought his experience as a former member of Planning & Zoning, a former council representative and mayor to the city when we needed it most. Mayor Glancy and his wife, Francis, have contributed much of themselves to make Farmers Branch a wonderful place to live.
NOTICE OF PASSING
It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of Brother Eddie Ketchersid, Community Minister at The Branch Church. He passed away early this morning.
Brother Eddie was a true servant to God and his community. He was active in so many organizations, too numerous to list. He touched the lives of thousands of people, probably hundreds of thousands of people with his infectious personality and welcoming smile. To meet and know him was truly a blessing.
Arrangements are pending.
Below are a number of items of community interest that you should be aware of. Our city is full events and opportunities for fun and entertainment for the whole family.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETING & SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
MAY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The next City Council meeting for May will take place on Tuesday, May 16th, at 6pm, in the City Council Chambers. The Study Session will take place at 3:00pm prior in the upstairs meeting room.
There will be a reception in the lobby of City Hall at 5pm for the outgoing and incoming mayors and council representatives. The public is invited.
The public is welcome to speak at City Council meetings during Citizen Comment and on agenda items. Just sign a Speaker Form when you get to City Hall and turn your form into the mayor. Citizens are given 3 minutes to speak to any topic during Citizen Comment as long as they are cordial and don’t make disparaging remarks to Council or staff. This is your time to bring issues to the attention of Council and the City.
The agenda for the Council Meetings and Study Sessions may be found by clicking on AGENDA. Be sure to search for March 2023.
GREEN GRABBER PICK-UP SCHEDULE FOR BRUSH AND BULK
The week of June 5th will be Bulk Item Pick-Up Week. The Green Grabber will pick up BULK items on the same day as your recycling bin pick-up. Bulk consists of furniture, mattresses, appliances, etc.
The other weeks of the month the Green Grabber will only pick-up BRUSH.
Please do your part to help us save our landfill by separating your brush and green items from bulk items and put brush out the remaining three weeks of the month.
Residents may call for a “special pick-up” by The Green Grabber if needed. Special Pick-ups are done on Wednesdays as available. Call 972-919-2597.
Need more information about Trash and Recycling? Click T&R INFO
FREEBIES FOR ACTIVE ADULTS AT THE BRANCH CONNECTION
The First Monday Breakfast for June takes place Monday, June 5th, at 8:15am at The Branch Connection and will be limited to the first 100 active adults. Free for TBC members and $5 for non-members. Come join us for some good food, meet new neighbors and see what’s happening at TBC!
Join The Branch Connection today and take advantage of a myriad of fun activities! Click NEWSLETTER for The Branch Connection Newsletter and see all the great things happening there!
FREE HOT DOG LUNCH FOR ACTIVE ADULTS AT THE BRANCH CONNECTION
Friday Franks is back, Friday, May 19th, from 11:30 to 12:30 at The Branch Connection. Come and enjoy delicious grilled hot dogs with all the fixins’ courtesy of the Senior Advisory Board. Non-members, $5.
A city’s comprehensive plan is the road map that establishes the vision and goals for a city’s future, and provides the overall foundation for all land use regulation in the city. We’d like to hear from everyone. The more input the City receives from the community the more the plan will reflect the vision and goals of the people who live and work in Farmers Branch.
Join us at one of the planning review sessions below:
West Side
Tuesday, May 9 – 6:30pm-8:00pm
Mercer Crossing Amenity Center – 1801 Mercer Parkway
Central
Wednesday, May 10 – 6:30pm-8:00pm
Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center – 14050 Heartside Place
East Side
Thursday, May 11 – 6:30pm-8:00pm
Providence Tower – West Tower, Suite 500W – 5001 Spring Valley Road
See if the Farmers Branch Power Switch can help you save on your electricity bill. If your current electricity contract expires between May 8 and September 26, register for the Power Switch to receive an offer for a new, 100% renewable electricity rate.
The Power Switch is a group energy buying program that allows residents to benefit from lower electricity rates through bulk purchasing.
There’s no cost to participate and no penalty should you choose not to accept the electricity rate offer. Click HERE to learn more and register for the program.
Mosquito season is here… And that means mosquito trapping and fogging season will start soon.
Help us ‘Fight the Bite’! Standing water is the number-one culprit. Dump it daily.
If the City finds a mosquito that tests positive for West Nile Virus, we will begin spraying in that area. Learn more HERE.
Denton Drive Live!, the award-winning, free outdoor concert series produced by the City of Farmers Branch, returns May 13th! Each month thru July, some of Texas’ premier bands perform to bring you the best in rock, zydeco, Texas swing/rockabilly, blues, pop, disco and funk! Plus, lots of great food options.
May 13 6:15 The Elton Johns 8:30 Hard Nights Day
Groovy Chicken & Waffles
Famous O’s Catfish & Shrimp
June 10 6:15 Jean Pierre and the Zydeco Angels 8:30 Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
Roots Southern Table, Crawfish Boil and Burgers
July 15 6:15 Run to You 8:30 Texan Fool
Crown Catering, Yummy Burgers
Luiege Pizza Truck, Authentic Italian Food
Sign your kids up now for Summer Funshine, before it fills up. Summer Funshine is a day camp offered to ages 6-12 during the summer at the Farmers Branch Recreation Center. Kids experience all the fun that summer has to offer, from field trips to swimming, games and crafts. They’ll have a blast.
Financial assistance is available to qualifying families. Learn more by calling the Rec Center at 972-247-4607 or register HERE.
Citizenship classes will be available at the Manske Library on Saturdays starting May 13th through June 17th from 10 am – 12 pm.
Registration is required. Students must meet the basic requirements of Naturalization and be able to read, write, and understand spoken English. The class will cover basic U.S. history and government.
Please contact Rick Lyon at 972-268-0322 for further information.
English classes are offered twice a week to anyone who wants to enhance their English language skills. Lessons are week-to-week, so continual attendance is not required. All skill levels are welcome.
Las clases de inglés se ofrecen dos veces por semana para cualquier persona que desee mejorar sus habilidades en el idioma inglés. Las lecciones son semanal, por lo que no se requiere asistencia continua. Todos los niveles de habilidad son bienvenidos.
Monday & Thursday, 7 pm, Free at The Library
FB 100 CLUB
Do you know someone in Farmers Branch who is about to turn 100 years old? I cannot think of a bigger milestone for an individual and they deserve to be recognized by our City.
Let me or the City Secretary, Stacy Henderson, stacy.henderson@farmersbranchtx.gov know in advance and we will prepare a special proclamation for them to be delivered and read by the Mayor.
As you can see, there’s a ton of things happening in our city… Click on the following links to see what else is going on:
Farmers Branch Historical Park
Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce
Please let me hear from you regarding any questions, comments or concerns you have about our great city. Thank you again for allowing me to be of service to you.
Terry