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Stars on the water
It is about every first week of August when the weather really heats up, swim season winds down and kids start to realize that the new school year is right around the corner. Of course, it's also when parents realize the new school year is right around the corner.
Perspective is everything.
This August is a bit different, though, in that we're not just winding down the swim season, but the final few days of the venerable, but outdated, Don Showman Pool.
While the old facility can no longer keep up with the demands of an active summertime population, it's permanent closing on Monday, August 12 is worthy of some reflection. After all, for more than 50 years, its waters have served as a place for rest, relaxation, fun and exercise for generations of Farmers Branch residents. Five decades worth of summer months saw swimming, jumping, diving, splashing, and the occasional kayaking, during the day, and stars reflected on warm breezes in the calm water at night.
Many of you literally grew up at Don Showman Pool. To you folks, we say thanks for the years of use that gave this facility its warm weather personality. That includes kids on the frog slide, teens teaching young ones to swim, parents reading books in poolside chairs and watchful lifeguards keeping everyone safe.
So we hope you'll join us on Monday as we say a fond farewell to this summertime spot, but then start building a lot of excitement for the new aquatics park that will be ready for splashing by next May. It's not an ending as much as it is a transition.
And, we're glad you'll be a part of it.
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LBJ/DNT interchange ramps to close Wednesday and Thursday nights
LBJ EXPRESS ~ As part of the ongoing renovation of Interstate 635, certain ramps between LBJ and the Dallas North Tollway will be closed Wednesday and Thursday nights, August 7-8, according to the North Texas Tollway Authority. 
The northbound Dallas North Tollway ramp to westbound LBJ and the westbound LBJ to southbound Tollway ramps will be closed from 10 p.m. each specified night, until 5 a.m. the next morning.
The interchange is located at the southeast corner of Farmers Branch where it borders Dallas. More information on these closures or on the LBJ project can be found at www.lbjexpress.com.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ Five decades of splashing in the sun gives way to the excitement and anticipation of things to come on Monday, August 12 as the Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Department says goodbye to Don Showman Pool, on the last day of the season, and hello to the new Aquatics Park with a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m.
"The last day of the swimming season will serve both as an opportunity to reflect on a facility that a lot of folks grew up with and a chance to get really excited about the new park that will take it's place," said Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Harting.
The community is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony that will take place at 10 a.m. at the site, adjacent to the Community Recreation Center, at 14032 Heartside Place. From 10:30 until 12 noon will be the opportunity for one last swim in the Don Showman Pool, before it closes forever. Hot dogs and shaved ice will be served.
 | Don Showman Pool, circa 1960s. |
Taking advantage of historically low interest rates, earlier this year, the Farmers Branch City Council approved certificates of obligation for construction of the new $7 million Aquatics Park, which will begin almost immediately. The facility will include a lazy river, water slides, children's interactive play structures, an indoor lap pool and an indoor therapy pool. Mr. Harting said the new facility will encompass the area occupied by the current pool, some of the skate park area and a portion of the park space between the existing pool and the Community Recreation Center building. He added that the skate park will be relocated in the coming weeks to the current tee ball field on the north side of the Community Recreation Center.
"If all goes according to schedule, we should be ready to open the outdoor portion on Memorial Day weekend, 2014 with the indoor portion ready by Fall of next year."
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Summer utility bill assistance available through state program
AUSTIN ~ Seniors and low-income Texans have until Tuesday, August 13 to apply for a state program that could help pay their electric bills during these hot summer months, according to State Representative Bennett Ratliff.
As part of the recently completed session, the Texas Legislature authorized use of the System Benefit Fund to assist those Texans in the greatest need with their high utility bills. In his July newsletter, Representative Ratliff said qualifying residents could see discounts of up to 82 percent on their September power bills if they sign up by the August 13 deadline. He said that similar discounts could apply in their May through August bills in 2014.
For questions or qualifying information, call the Texas Public Utility Commission at 866.454.8387 to request an application or online at www.liteuptexas.org.
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
Employee: Brian Beasley Position: Human Resources Director
Employed: 3 months
Background: I grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas with a Human Resources BBA. I have been in Human Resources for 20 years and the last 7 at Dr Pepper. I am married with two boys ages 15 and 11, and we do a lot of camping for fun. I also sing and write songs, enjoy Church and being a part of the City.
What I like most about working for the City of Farmers Branch: In my short time here, I have realized that I made the right decision to join this incredible team and look forward to a continually building this team of employees at Farmers Branch.
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
Photo by Tom Bryson Golden Girl Mayor Bill Glancy shares a laugh with Margaret Young during her recognition at Tuesday's Council meeting for representing Farmers Branch in the National Senior Olympics last month. Mrs. Young brought home a gold medal in the 70s Silver division in the volleyball competition.
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With the impending close of Don Showman Pool and groundbreaking for the new aquatics park coming up on Monday, this aerial photo of the complex from the late 1960s seems appropriate. |
Volume 3 | Edition 31 | Number 127 
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office
of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
Two-time TAMI Award Winner for Best eNewsletter in Texas
Given by the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
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Council schedules public hearings on proposed budget
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In preparation for adoption of the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget, the Farmers Branch City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed plan on August 20 and September 3, in addition to a Saturday morning workshop on August 24. 
Finance Director Charles S. Cox said the public hearings will be held as part of the Council's next two regular meetings, set for 6:30 p.m. each evening at City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway in Farmers Branch.
The public is also invited as the City Council will meet in special session to study and discuss the proposed budget in a workshop, set for Saturday morning, August 24 at 8:30 a.m., also at City Hall.
For more information, call City Hall at 972.247.3131.
>> View the proposed budget
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Mortgage banker opening on west side named DBJ 'Deal'
DALLAS ~ Announced plans for Las Colinas-based Pacific Union Financial to open a 59,000 square foot office in Farmers Branch was named by the Dallas Business Journal as their 'Deal of the Week.'
 Planning to accommodate up to 250 employees, the mortgage banker will move into the Browning Place complex at Luna Road and LBJ Freeway.
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Tollway grace period extends thru Sep 13
AUSTIN ~ Any driver with past-due bills from travel on area toll roads has the opportunity to come clean as part of a grace period for cleaning up these accounts.
Until September 13, drivers can address outstanding tolls at a potential discount by contacting the North Texas Tollway Customer Service center at 972.818.6882.
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Two-part genealogy class begins tonight
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ Learning the ABCs of 'Genealogy Basics' is the focus of a two-part class coming to the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Wednesdays, August 7 and 21.
Led by J.T. McKinney, the class will focus on building a family tree, the dos and don'ts of genealogy research, as well as free websites that can come in handy. Call the Library at 972.247.2511 for more information.
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Firehouse Theatre invites kids to the 'Rumpelstiltskin' tale
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The age-old fable of the miller's daughter who must turn straw into gold will be retold by the Firehouse Theatre in "Rumplestiltskin" with performances August 10 in the theater at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
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MANSKE LIBRARY ~ 'Art Focus XC Presents: Visions,' an exhibition of 15 different artists from the Dallas area, now on display in the gallery at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
Since its founding in 1992, Art Focus XC has shown the work of its participating artists in more than 15 exhibitions ranging from museums to corporate buildings to college campuses. Additionally, they have been featured in Southwest Art magazine and have supported Metrocare Services and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
The exhibition runs through September 6.
For more information, call the Manske Library at 972.247.2511.
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Residents can recycle chemicals at Dallas drop off truck
DALLAS ~ Farmers Branch residents will soon be able to participate in a city of Dallas mobile truck drop off program that will dispose of batteries, oils, such as motor oil and oil filters, latex paint and antifreeze, known collectively as BOPA (Batteries, Oils, Paints, Antifreeze).
The program begins August 24 and will include drop off at Southwest Center Mall, 3662 West Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., on the fourth Saturday of each month. Proof of residency may be required and the truck may be available only until filled.
More >>
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ After a single meeting in July, the Farmers Branch City Council is set to return to the traditional first and third Tuesday schedule in August with meetings on the 6th and 20th, at the new start time of 6:30 p.m.
Regular meetings of the Farmers Branch City Council are held at Farmers Branch City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway. Replays of the most recent meeting air at 6:30 p.m. seven days a week on FBTV. For more information, call 972.247.3131.
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Farmers Branch Environmental Health officials have
posted information online
that can help local residents and business people guard against
the West Nile threat by eliminating potential mosquito breeding areas.

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Countdown: 863 days to project completion
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The weekly update on the Interstate 635 expansion project has been made available by LBJ Express, the construction team responsible for the five-year project that will completely renovate the freeway from the Dallas North Tollway to Interstate 35E. This update is for Wednesday, August 7, 2013.
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LBJ Express Finished Project Animation
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Valley View (at IH35E): Expect the northbound right lane to be closed again through August. There may be various off-peak lane closures along Valley View between the IH35E frontage roads for several weeks to facilitate construction of a new IH35E northbound entrance ramp over Valley View.
IH 635/IH35E Interchange: The ramp connecting westbound LBJ to northbound IH35E and the westbound Josey entrance ramp will be closed on the nights of August 7 and 8 and again on the nights of August 14 and 15. Northbound IH35E will be closed on the night of August 15. Eastbound LBJ will be closed on the nights of August 18 and 19.
Denton Drive: Northbound Denton will be closed for bridge work August 12-16. The westbound frontage road from Josey to Denton will be closed nightly through September.
Josey Lane: Construction of the sidewalk on Josey will require various lanes closed through August 16. The eastbound frontage road is closed between Josey and Bankway until August 30. Frontage road traffic is detoured via Forest Lane to Webb Chapel. Josey will be closed for bridge work on the night of August 8. The eastbound Josey exit is now open. The westbound exit to Josey will close on August 23 with the reopening of the Webb Chapel exit. The westbound Josey bypass bridge will open by August 30.
Webb Chapel: The eastbound Webb Chapel entrance ramp has reopened. The Webb Chapel westbound exit ramp will reopen on August 23. The Webb Chapel westbound bypass bridge will open by August 30.
Marsh Lane: The westbound Marsh entrance ramp is closed through August 19. The westbound LBJ frontage road from the Midway entrance ramp to Marsh will be closed on the nights of August 8, 9 and 12.
Valley View at IH635: Valley View will be closed for bridge work on the night of August 9.
Midway Road: The southbound left turn lane on Midway Road at LBJ and both U-turn lanes are closed indefinitely. Expect various additional lanes to be closed on Midway at LBJ during off-peak hours. The eastbound Midway exit is scheduled to be closed on the nights of July 31 and August 1. Midway Road will be closed for bridge construction on the nights of August 16 and 23. The eastbound frontage road east of Midway will be closed during off-peak hours daily through August. The westbound Midway bypass bridge is scheduled to be opened by mid-September.
Welch Road: Welch is narrowed to one lane in each direction south of LBJ through August 9 for drainage work.
Other Locations: Various main lanes of LBJ will be closed frequently during night-time hours. There will also be intermittent night-time closures of various LBJ entrance and exit ramps. All scheduled work is tentative as permitted by weather conditions and other factors.
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About the City of Farmers Branch 
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 farmersbranchtx.gov, visitfarmersbranch.com, lovethebranch.com or call 972.247.3131.
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