Oct. 20, 2024

Garland Welcomes Planning & Development Director

Nabila Nur joined the City of Garland as the Director of Planning & Development on Oct. 14.

Nur has served several cities within the metroplex in critical roles, including being the Director of Community Development for Town of Argyle, the Planning Manager for City of Dallas and the Principal Planner for City of Arlington.

Nur also worked as a consultant with Freese and Nichols for several years focusing on long-range planning projects for municipalities across the state. She has her bachelor's and master’s degrees in City and Regional Planning.

Early Voting Starts Tomorrow for Nov. 5 General Election

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election begins tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 21, and ends Friday, Nov. 1.

Vote centers in Garland include:

• Garland Center-Dallas College, 675 Walnut St.
• Makkah Masjid, 3301 W. Buckingham Road
• North Garland Library, 3845 N. Garland Ave.
• South Garland Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd.
• Vietnamese Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road

Visit DallasCountyVotes.org for a full list of early voting sites.

The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, Oct. 25.

Garland residents have the convenience of county-wide voting and may vote at any polling location in Dallas County on Election Day. Learn more at DallasCountyVotes.org.

Diwali Celebration at the North Garland Library Thursday, Oct. 24

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the North Garland Library, 3845 N. Garland Ave.

Make Diwali decorations for your home and cards to give to family and friends! This event is free and no registration is required. If you have questions, call 972-205-2804.

Trunk-or-Treat Friday, Oct. 25

Bring the kids out for a safe trick-or-treating experience from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the parking lot of the Bradfield Recreation Center, 1146 Castle Drive.

There will be games, a kids' costume contest and more, so wear your costumes and bring your treat bags!

This event is free and kids of all ages are welcome to attend. Call 972-205-2770 for more information.

In the mood for something spookier? Be sure to check out the Garland Graveyard also!

Garland Graveyard Friday, Oct. 25

Traipse through the Garland Graveyard from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at Bradfield Recreation Center, 1146 Castle Drive.

Witches, zombies and haunted pumpkins may not be the worst of your problems. Wear your costumes and be prepared for frightful fun! All ages welcome, but may not be appropriate for younger children. This event is designed with scares in mind.

Entry is two canned goods to be donated to the Salvation Army Corps of Garland. Call 972-205-2770 for more information.

Campfire Tales Saturday, Oct. 26

Enjoy a campfire in Downtown Garland while listening to true accounts, tall tales and criminal activities.

The spooky fun will take place Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Square, 520 W. State St.

Settle in around the fire for campfire tales from 6 to 7 p.m., then stick around for free s'mores from 7 to 8 p.m. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, drink, blankets and folding chairs. The event is free and no registration is required.

Garland SWAT Scores in Statewide Competition

Members of the Garland Police SWAT team participated in the annual Texas Tactical Police Officers Association SWAT Competition in Conroe, Texas.  

Garland placed sixth out of 35 SWAT teams from all over Texas plus teams from Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico and California.

The annual competition consists of nine events requiring both physical tasks and complex shooting from various positions and platforms. Scoring is based on cumulative time, and teams are penalized for misses and procedural violations. Congratulations to our highly trained and motivated SWAT team!

Garland Public Library Celebrates Inaugural Community Read Program

In September, Garland Public Library concluded its inaugural community read event, One Book, One Garland. The initiative offered residents the opportunity to dive into the same book and partake in a whirlwind of fun activities. This year, participants enjoyed the gripping tale “Hard Country” by New York Times bestselling local author Reavis Z. Wortham.  

The One Book, One Garland grand finale featured a lineup of spectacular events, including an unforgettable evening with the author, a lively book club gathering, an engaging writing workshop and an action-packed CrimeCon day. Learn more and stay tuned for news on next year's event.

Garland in the News

Fox 4 recently featured Garland Animal Services' Christie Fuentes and Kelly, a sweet dog who has been at the Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center for more than 180 days. View the video (scroll to the 40-minute mark) to see Christie and Kelly's segment.

There are plenty more adoptable animals who need a loving forever home. View Animal Services' adoptable animals to find the one for your family.

City Council Meetings

Oct. 21 and 22

The Garland City Council Work Session will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21. Regular Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at City Hall, 200 N. Fifth St. 

Upcoming Boards & Commissions meetings can be found on the Public Meetings calendar at GarlandTX.gov. View agendas at GarlandTX.gov and be sure to click the "subscribe" button to receive notifications when meeting agendas are posted.

District 4 Town Hall

Oct. 29

Join Council Member B.J. Williams for a Town Hall meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Audubon Recreation Center, 342 W. Oates Road. Topics will include traffic monitoring and enforcement; cost-of-living adjustment for City retirees; the South Garland Library bond project; Surf & Swim; and an update on the Kroger shopping center. Learn more.